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The Trump administration has significantly expanded the authority of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers through a newly revealed government memorandum, granting them sweeping powers to detain lawful refugees who haven’t yet obtained permanent residency status in the United States.

Dated February 18 and filed in federal court, the directive empowers ICE agents to indefinitely detain legal refugees for what it terms ‘rescreening’ procedures. The policy mandates that refugees who entered the U.S. legally must submit to custody for “inspection and examination” exactly one year after their admission into the country, marking a dramatic shift from previous immigration enforcement protocols.

The Department of Homeland Security memo instructs federal immigration officers to arrest any refugee who hasn’t secured permanent residence (a green card) and subject them to custodial interviews after their one-year anniversary in the United States. This represents a stark departure from Obama-era ICE policy, which explicitly stated that failure to obtain a green card was not grounds for removal or detention.

Refugees face potentially severe consequences under the new guidelines, as they can be stripped of their legal status and processed for deportation if they raise “red flags” during examinations. This occurs despite the fact that green card processing for legal refugees typically takes between eight to 22 months according to immigration law experts.

The policy emerged in connection with an ongoing case in Minnesota where the administration faced significant public backlash, including from some allies, over its immigration crackdown. In late January, U.S. District Judge John Tunheim issued a temporary restraining order preventing the administration from arresting lawfully resettled refugees in Minnesota and ordering the release of those already detained.

Judge Tunheim sharply criticized ICE’s actions, noting that agents likely violated multiple federal statutes by arresting lawful refugees for additional interrogations. He emphasized that “refugees have a legal right to be in the United States, a right to work, a right to live peacefully – and importantly, a right not to be subjected to the terror of being arrested and detained without warrants or cause.”

The Minnesota operations, mirroring ICE activities nationwide, have involved violent arrests with immigrants and refugees being forcibly removed from their homes and vehicles before being transferred to detention facilities in Texas, where conservative judges are more likely to align with administration policies.

Despite temporarily pulling back ICE agents from Minnesota following public outrage and the deaths of two U.S. citizens during enforcement actions, the administration shows no signs of retreating from its hardline immigration stance. Recent reports indicate plans for a massive $45 billion expansion of ICE funding to construct additional detention facilities across the country.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially confirmed that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a significant diplomatic visit to Israel next week. The announcement came during Netanyahu’s televised address at a military ceremony on Thursday, where he emphasized the strategic importance of strengthening international alliances.

Netanyahu referred to Modi as his ‘close friend’ and highlighted India’s status as a ‘huge global power’ in his remarks. This upcoming visit marks the second official trip by Modi to Israel since his historic 2017 visit, which was the first by an Indian prime minister to the country. That previous visit established a new chapter in bilateral relations, with Netanyahu reciprocating with an official visit to India the following year.

Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the relationship between India and Israel has experienced substantial deepening across multiple sectors. The two nations have significantly expanded their cooperation in technology exchange, agricultural innovation, and security collaboration. This growing partnership represents a strategic alignment between two democratic nations with shared security concerns and complementary economic interests.

The timing of this visit is particularly significant given current global geopolitical dynamics and both countries’ positions on the world stage. The visit is expected to include high-level discussions on regional security challenges, economic partnerships, and technological cooperation initiatives that benefit both nations.

WASHINGTON, DC – In a significant development for Middle Eastern diplomacy, nine member nations of former President Donald Trump’s newly established “Board of Peace” have collectively pledged $7 billion toward humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. President Trump announced the commitments during the board’s inaugural meeting held at the Donald J Trump Institute for Peace on Thursday.

The contributing nations include Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait. While a detailed breakdown of individual contributions was not immediately disclosed, Trump indicated that “many more are contributing to the numbers.” The United States is separately investing an additional $10 billion, though this allocation is understood to support the board’s overall operations rather than being exclusively designated for Gaza.

Beyond member contributions, the international community is mobilizing substantial support. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs will raise $2 billion, while FIFA, the global football governing body, has committed $75 million for sports-related projects in the enclave. FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a recipient of the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize from Trump last year, attended the meeting and sits on the board. Furthermore, Japan has committed to hosting an aid fundraiser with participation expected from regional nations including South Korea, the Philippines, and Singapore, with potential involvement from China and Russia.

World Bank President Ajay Banga, serving on the board’s executive committee, outlined the institution’s role as a “limited trustee.” The Bank will manage and disperse the pledged funds for reconstruction and development projects in Gaza, leveraging its AAA rating to attract private investment and de-risk the funding process.

However, the initiative faces significant challenges. The security situation remains precarious. U.S. Major General Jasper Jeffers, appointed to oversee the accompanying International Stabilization Force (ISF), revealed that Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania will contribute troops to the force, which will be trained by Egypt and Jordan. The ISF’s mandate includes protecting civilians, training local forces, and assisting in the disarmament of factions—a point that has caused hesitation among some potential contributors. Indonesia will assume deputy command of the ISF, and deployment will begin in the Rafah sector, though no precise timeline was provided. The Trump administration confirmed no U.S. troops would be deployed on the ground.

On the ground governance falls to the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), led by Palestinian technocrat Ali Shaath. He described operating in “extremely difficult conditions” with large areas “destroyed” and humanitarian needs “acute.” Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov, appointed to oversee Gaza’s demilitarization, announced the creation of the Office of the High Representative for Gaza to guide the NCAG. A key priority is establishing security through a new 5,000-strong professional civilian police force, for which recruitment is already underway with 2,000 applicants so far. These officers will be trained in Egypt as part of a broader 20-point plan to consolidate all weapons under a single civilian authority.

Despite the focus on Gaza, the board’s official charter notably makes no mention of either “Gaza” or “Palestinian,” reflecting the Trump administration’s break from the long-standing U.S. policy goal of a two-state solution. The board has also faced international skepticism. Spain and most European nations have refused to join, with some EU representatives attending only as “observers.” The Vatican declined its invitation, and Canada’s was rescinded. At a recent security conference, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas criticized the board for its omissions. Trump, however, positioned the board as a supplement to the UN, stating it would be “looking over the United Nations and making sure it runs properly,” while pledging to work closely with the international body.

The industrial estate in Denton, Greater Manchester, houses one of Britain’s most elusive political headquarters. Reform UK’s campaign base for the Gorton and Denton by-election remained shrouded in secrecy until our correspondent tracked it down to a warehouse adorned with turquoise posters featuring leader Nigel Farage and local candidate Matt Goodwin.

The February 26th contest has emerged as a crucial political battleground, testing Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership amid internal Labour turmoil. The by-election, triggered by the previous Labour MP’s health-related resignation, has become a three-way struggle between Labour, Reform, and the Greens in a constituency historically loyal to Labour since 1935.

Inside Reform’s headquarters, the atmosphere contrasted sharply with the quiet industrial estate outside. A massive Union Jack dominated one wall, emphasizing the party’s nationalist stance. Sarah Pochin, Reform’s MP for Runcorn, described the constituency as “desperate for a strong voice” against what she called the “Westminster bubble.”

The demographic divide defines this political struggle: Gorton’s ethnic diversity versus Denton’s white working-class communities. Reform has made significant inroads among the latter, while the Greens have surged with support from young and Muslim voters.

Matt Goodwin, the Reform candidate and former academic turned GB News presenter, has courted controversy with statements about British Muslims and integration. His comments about British values and immigrant communities have drawn criticism from opponents.

The Green campaign presents a stark contrast—a small, vibrant storefront on a busy high street with diverse volunteers including pensioners and students. Their candidate, Hannah Spencer, a 34-year-old plumber and plasterer, represents the party’s working-class appeal. She criticized Goodwin’s “deeply offensive and racist” statements while emphasizing shared British values across communities.

The Gaza conflict has emerged as a significant issue, with Green MP Sian Berry criticizing Labour’s continued cooperation with Israel. This position has resonated with Muslim voters and others concerned about foreign policy.

Despite the challenges, Labour maintains substantial support, particularly among less politically engaged voters and some ethnic minority communities. Campaign billboards warn that only Labour can prevent a Reform victory.

The Conservative Party, once dominant nationally, appears irrelevant in this contest, with no visible campaign presence.

This by-election symbolizes Britain’s transformed political landscape, where traditional party loyalties have fractured and new ideological battles define the future of British politics.