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  • Palestinian activist sues Betar USA for violation of civil rights

    Palestinian activist sues Betar USA for violation of civil rights

    A landmark federal civil rights lawsuit has been initiated by Nerdeen Kiswani, a prominent Palestinian-American activist and founder of the pro-Palestinian organization Within Our Lifetime, against the far-right Zionist group Betar USA. The legal action, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges a systematic campaign of violent intimidation, threats, and harassment spanning several months.

    Kiswani, a naturalized U.S. citizen who arrived as a Palestinian refugee in childhood, asserts that Betar USA orchestrated a targeted campaign against her that transcended protected speech. The complaint details how the group utilized social media platforms to offer cash rewards for delivering beepers to Kiswani—a menacing reference to Israel’s 2024 use of exploding pagers against Hezbollah operatives in Lebanon. The lawsuit further describes physical confrontations where Betar affiliates allegedly cornered Kiswani on public sidewalks and at demonstrations while shouting threats.

    The legal team from Lee & Godshall-Bennett LLP and Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP contends that Betar unlawfully targeted their client. The group reportedly submitted Kiswani’s name to federal authorities during the Trump administration, advocating for the revocation of her citizenship and her deportation. This tactic aligns with Betar’s publicly acknowledged practice of collecting names of pro-Palestine activists for submission to government officials, which previously resulted in the harassment, arrest, and forced self-deportation of several international students in New York City.

    The lawsuit invokes the Ku Klux Klan Enforcement Act of 1871, a Reconstruction-era statute originally designed to protect freed slaves and Republican activists from organized racial terror. The legal action aims to terminate what plaintiffs characterize as Betar’s “campaign of terror” against those opposing Israel’s actions in Gaza.

    This development follows the recent dissolution of Betar’s New York chapter after an investigation by the state attorney general found the group repeatedly targeted individuals based on their faith and ethnic origin, specifically Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and Jewish New Yorkers.

    Founded in 1929 and recently obtaining US tax-exempt nonprofit status in July 2024, Betar USA describes itself as “loud, proud, aggressive and unapologically Zionist.” The group traces its origins to the right-wing Zionist ideologue Ze’ev Jabotinsky’s 1923 formation of a youth paramilitary organization in Latvia, formally named Brit Yosef Trumpeldor after a Jewish settler killed in a 1920 firefight with Palestinians.

    The case represents a significant test of civil rights protections against organized intimidation tactics in the context of highly charged political discourse surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

  • Anthropic boss rejects Pentagon demand to drop AI safeguards

    Anthropic boss rejects Pentagon demand to drop AI safeguards

    In a dramatic standoff with the U.S. Department of Defense, AI firm Anthropic has declared it will not compromise its ethical principles regarding military applications of its technology. CEO Dario Amodei stated unequivocally that the company would rather sever ties with the Pentagon than permit uses of its AI systems that could “undermine, rather than defend, democratic values.”

    The confrontation escalated during a recent meeting with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who demanded Anthropic accept “any lawful use” of its tools. The discussion concluded with the Pentagon threatening to remove Anthropic from its supply chain if the company refused compliance.

    At the heart of the dispute are two specific applications: mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems. Anthropic maintains that such uses have never been part of their contractual agreements and should not be implemented now. The company specifically objects to employing its Claude AI for these purposes, citing fundamental ethical concerns.

    Despite receiving updated contract language from the Defense Department, Anthropic representatives characterized the changes as representing “virtually no progress” on preventing objectionable uses. The company asserts that proposed safeguards contained legal loopholes that would allow them to be “disregarded at will.”

    The conflict has grown increasingly acrimonious, with Undersecretary for Defense Emil Michael personally attacking Amodei on social media, accusing him of seeking to “personally control the US Military” while endangering national security.

    The Pentagon has threatened to invoke the Defense Production Act against Anthropic, which would grant the government authority to compel the company to meet defense requirements. Additionally, officials have suggested designating Anthropic as a “supply chain risk,” effectively barring them from government contracts.

    According to sources familiar with the negotiations, tensions predate the public revelation that Claude AI was utilized in a U.S. operation to apprehend Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

    Amodei elaborated on the company’s concerns in a blog post, explaining that AI systems could potentially “assemble scattered, individually innocuous data into a comprehensive picture of any person’s life – automatically and at massive scale.” While supporting lawful foreign intelligence applications, Anthropic maintains that mass domestic surveillance contradicts democratic principles.

    Regarding autonomous weapons, Amodei stated that current AI technology remains “simply not reliable enough” for such critical applications, emphasizing that “without proper oversight, fully autonomous weapons cannot be relied upon to exercise the critical judgment that our highly trained, professional troops exhibit every day.”

    The company has offered to collaborate with the Defense Department on research and development to enhance system reliability, but reports indicate this proposal has not been accepted. Both parties appear entrenched in their positions, setting the stage for a potentially protracted legal and ethical battle over the future of AI in defense applications.

  • Pakistan’s defense minister says that there is now ‘open war’ with Afghanistan after latest strikes

    Pakistan’s defense minister says that there is now ‘open war’ with Afghanistan after latest strikes

    ISLAMABAD — Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated dramatically into overt military conflict, with Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif declaring Friday that his nation’s “patience has now run out” and characterizing the situation as “open war” between the neighboring countries.

    The declaration follows a series of reciprocal airstrikes and border clashes that began after what Pakistan described as Afghan cross-border aggression. According to Pakistani officials and Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, Pakistan conducted aerial assaults targeting Kabul, Kandahar, and Paktia province in what Islamabad claims was a retaliatory measure.

    In a significant diplomatic shift, Defense Minister Asif used social media platform X to articulate Pakistan’s transformed stance. He expressed disappointment that instead of fostering regional stability following NATO’s withdrawal, the Taliban government had allegedly transformed Afghanistan into “a colony of India” and become a hub for international militants “exporting terrorism.”

    Casualty reports from both sides conflict dramatically. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry claims to have killed 55 Pakistani soldiers, captured others alive, and destroyed numerous military installations. Conversely, Pakistani officials acknowledge only two soldier fatalities while asserting they eliminated 133 Afghan fighters, wounded over 200, and captured nine combatants.

    The confrontation represents the collapse of a Qatar and Turkey-brokered ceasefire established months earlier. Pakistani security officials, speaking anonymously, reported observing white flags raised at some Afghan border posts—typically indicating a cessation request—but emphasized continued “strong retaliatory response” to what they termed “unprovoked aggression.”

    The violence has disrupted humanitarian operations, with authorities relocating Afghan refugees awaiting repatriation at the Torkham border crossing to safer locations. This conflict emerges against the backdrop of Pakistan’s extensive 2023 crackdown on undocumented migrants, which has already compelled nearly three million people to return to Afghanistan according to UN estimates.

  • Exclusive: Ro Khanna to introduce sweeping resolution condemning Israeli settlements, settler violence

    Exclusive: Ro Khanna to introduce sweeping resolution condemning Israeli settlements, settler violence

    In a significant congressional move, US Democratic Representative Ro Khanna is poised to introduce a House resolution on Friday that delivers a comprehensive condemnation of Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. The resolution represents one of the most specific congressional challenges to Israeli policy to date, explicitly addressing escalating settler violence against Palestinian communities and calling for tangible accountability measures.

    The resolution breaks new ground by directly citing senior Israeli officials Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, urging the application of US sanctions authorities against individuals implicated in serious human rights abuses. This marks a departure from previous congressional measures that criticized settlement expansion in broader, less specific terms.

    While the resolution is non-binding and wouldn’t become law, it would formally place House lawmakers on record regarding Israeli settlement activities considered illegal under international law. The measure specifically references Israel’s recent sweeping changes to land registration and civil control in West Bank Areas A and B, which Palestinian authorities claim violate the Oslo Accords and advance de facto annexation.

    The resolution calls for multiple policy changes, including an immediate halt to home demolitions and a pause on demolition orders across the occupied West Bank. It urges cancellation of land confiscation actions in historically significant areas like Sebastia, while demanding meaningful opportunities for affected residents to challenge such decisions through fair procedures.

    Notably, the resolution targets US policy dimensions, highlighting how American double-taxation and foreign tax credit policies may effectively reduce taxes for US citizens living in Israeli settlements, potentially indirectly subsidizing settlement expansion. It urges the administration to utilize available sanctions tools, including the Global Magnitsky Act, against entities and individuals materially supporting settlement expansion or activities linked to demolitions and displacement.

    The resolution also calls for a verifiable freeze of development in the critical E1 corridor between East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim settlement, warning that construction in this area would undermine territorial contiguity essential for a viable Palestinian state—a long-standing US foreign policy position supporting the two-state solution.

    Khanna has emerged as a leading voice on Palestinian rights since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, occasionally working across party lines with Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who has also criticized US policy regarding the conflict. Their collaboration was visibly demonstrated when they sat together at Wednesday’s State of the Union address, presenting a united front on these issues.

  • US hockey players regret response to Trump remarks on women’s team

    US hockey players regret response to Trump remarks on women’s team

    Several members of the US Olympic men’s ice hockey team have issued public apologies following widespread criticism of their reaction to comments made by former President Donald Trump during a congratulatory call. The incident occurred as the team celebrated their gold medal victory over Canada last weekend.

    Locker room footage captured multiple players laughing when Trump jokingly remarked that he would be ‘impeached’ if he failed to extend an invitation to the equally triumphant women’s team for his State of the Union address. Both the presidential comments and the athletes’ response have generated significant controversy, threatening to overshadow what should have been a celebratory moment for American hockey.

    Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy expressed regret to reporters ahead of an NHL game on Thursday: ‘Certainly sorry for how we responded to it in that moment. Things just happened really quick there. If you know the relationships that we have with the women’s team and how we’ve supported them, it’s certainly not reflective of how we feel.’

    Carolina Panthers player Matthew Tkachuk emphasized the strong camaraderie between the men’s and women’s teams during the Milan-Cortina Games: ‘We watched other events together. We went and supported. We love the women’s team, and the women’s team loved us. And we’re so proud that we had a clean sweep of gold medals.’

    The controversy expanded when the White House’s official TikTok account published an AI-enhanced video appearing to show Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk making disparaging remarks about Canadians. Tkachuk vehemently denied the video’s authenticity, stating: ‘Well, it’s clearly fake, because it’s not my voice, not my lips moving. I know that those words would never come out of my mouth.’

    Meanwhile, the women’s team declined Trump’s invitation to the State of the Union address, citing prior commitments. Team captain Hilary Knight described the president’s joke as ‘distasteful’ and lamented how it had diverted attention from their athletic achievements. ‘How we speak about women matters, and we need to celebrate this team,’ Knight stated during an appearance on ‘Good Morning America.’

    While the women’s team has yet to decide on a potential White House visit, they are confirmed to attend a celebratory event in Las Vegas this July hosted by rapper Flavor Flav.

  • SailGP considers air bags and Kevlar safety straps after serious race accident in New Zealand

    SailGP considers air bags and Kevlar safety straps after serious race accident in New Zealand

    SYDNEY — In response to a catastrophic collision during the New Zealand regatta that left two competitors with serious injuries, SailGP officials are actively exploring significant safety enhancements for their high-performance catamaran fleet. The proposed measures include installing cockpit airbags and reinforcing vessels with Kevlar safety straps to prevent future penetrations during impacts.

    The incident occurred two weeks ago in Auckland when New Zealand grinder Louis Sinclair sustained bilateral leg fractures and French sailor Manon Audinet required extensive hospitalization for thoracic injuries following a high-speed collision between their competing vessels. This marks the most severe safety incident since the league’s establishment in 2019.

    Speaking on the eve of Sydney’s harbor races, SailGP CEO Russell Coutts—an Olympic gold medalist and America’s Cup veteran—confirmed the organization’s comprehensive review of the Auckland accident. While affirming the adequacy of emergency response protocols, Coutts emphasized the investigation’s focus on implementing advanced protective equipment to mitigate risks inherent to the sport’s extreme nature.

    ‘We’re evaluating numerous innovative solutions,’ Coutts told Australian Associated Press. ‘Potential interventions include internal cockpit airbag systems and external Kevlar reinforcement straps to create penetration-resistant barriers.’

    The sailing community acknowledges the inherent dangers of SailGP competitions, where thirteen identical 50-foot foiling catamarans maneuver at speeds exceeding 100 km/h (60 mph) within confined racing circuits. Australian team skipper Tom Slingsby, whose crew prevailed in the Auckland event, anticipates reduced collision risks during Sydney’s races due to forecasted moderate breezes, though unusual easterly winds may present navigational challenges.

    Slingsby, whose team counts Hollywood figures Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds among its investors, articulated the sport’s fundamental risk-reward balance: ‘We’ve dedicated our lives to mastering these conditions and believe in pushing athletic boundaries while maintaining respect for safety protocols. The objective is risk reduction rather than elimination.’

    The collision’s aftermath continues to impact competition logistics, with both French and New Zealand teams absent from Sydney’s event. While French technicians race to repair their vessel for April’s Rio de Janeiro regatta, New Zealand’s championship aspirations face jeopardy with potential missed participation in multiple upcoming events.

    The Sydney harbor races—SailGP’s seventh appearance in these waters—will feature twilight competitions across Saturday and Sunday, culminating in Sunday’s championship determination.

  • Lawyers for Palestine protest organisers say restrictions on BBC demo ‘unlawful’

    Lawyers for Palestine protest organisers say restrictions on BBC demo ‘unlawful’

    A pivotal legal confrontation unfolded in a UK courtroom on Thursday as government prosecutors pursued charges against prominent pro-Palestine activists for allegedly violating protest regulations. The case centers on Ben Jamal, Director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), and Chris Nineham, Vice-Chair of the Stop the War Coalition, who both entered not guilty pleas to charges stemming from a January 2025 demonstration in London.

    Kevin Dent KC, representing the government, presented video evidence purportedly showing Jamal encouraging crowds to march toward BBC headquarters—an action prohibited under Metropolitan Police restrictions. Dent characterized this as deliberate incitement, stating “Mr. Jamal incited the crowd and indeed they did.”

    The defense, led by Mark Summers KC, mounted a vigorous counter-argument declaring the police restrictions fundamentally “unlawful.” Summers referenced a Court of Appeal precedent limiting police powers to impose unlimited protest constraints. He maintained that Jamal’s speech contained no explicit encouragement to violate conditions, asserting “It is patently clear from the text of the speech that Mr. Jamal was not inciting anyone to breach conditions.”

    The disputed protest was among more than twenty national demonstrations since October 2023 demanding Gaza ceasefires and criticizing UK support for Israel. While previous marches proceeded through central London, this gathering was confined to a static rally due to concerns about disrupting a synagogue’s activities.

    Metropolitan Police Commander Adam Slonecki testified that while protesting outside the BBC was “legitimate” as a public institution, synagogue disruptions during Sabbath observances justified restrictions. The defense challenged police operational competence, presenting body-camera footage revealing officers using profanity and shouting “withdraw, withdraw” amid crowd pressure.

    Summers argued this footage revealed “operational confusion, inconsistent communication and officers struggling to manage large numbers” rather than organized attempts to overwhelm police. The demonstration’s organizers denied allegations that protesters forcibly breached cordons.

    The case emerged after pro-Israel groups, Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, and several MPs objected to the originally planned route past the BBC—a location chosen to protest perceived “pro-Israel bias” in Gaza coverage. The continuing trial represents a significant test case for protest rights and police powers in the UK.

  • ‘Letting the team down’: Obvious option to replace Brandon Smith emerges as Cody Walker opens up on being a ‘burden’

    ‘Letting the team down’: Obvious option to replace Brandon Smith emerges as Cody Walker opens up on being a ‘burden’

    South Sydney Rabbitohs veteran playmaker Cody Walker has declared himself in peak physical condition for the upcoming NRL season, a stark contrast to the injury-plagued campaigns that left him feeling like a “burden” on his team. The revelation comes as the club confronts another early setback with hooker Brandon Smith ruled out for the opening rounds due to a moderate calf injury.

    Walker, 36, identified young gun Peter Mamouzelos as the “obvious” candidate to fill the void left by Smith’s absence, with Bronson Garlick also in consideration. Coach Wayne Bennett faces a critical selection decision ahead of the season kickoff.

    The five-eighth’s personal resurgence follows two frustrating years dominated by calf and knee issues that severely limited his contributions. Last season saw Walker participate in just 11 matches while recording a career-low nine try assists, fueling his sense of having disappointed the squad.

    Now benefiting from his first uninterrupted preseason in years, Walker demonstrated his renewed vigor during Sunday’s trial victory over Manly, where he scored a try and showcased dynamic interplay with South Sydney’s formidable left-edge weapons—David Fifita, Latrell Mitchell, and Alex Johnston.

    Reflecting on his physical and mental transformation, Walker emphasized the psychological toll of persistent injuries. “When you’re in that moment when you’re in and out, you feel like you’re letting the team down and you start to feel like you’re a bit of a burden,” he confessed. The veteran star expressed renewed optimism after finally banking sufficient training loads to prepare his body for the demanding season ahead.

  • Japan PM opposes changing male-only imperial succession

    Japan PM opposes changing male-only imperial succession

    In a definitive parliamentary statement on Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi articulated her opposition to altering the imperial family’s male-only succession rules. This declaration represents her most explicit position on the contentious issue since her party’s recent landslide electoral victory, amid growing national debate over an impending succession crisis.

    Takaichi expressed explicit support for a 2021 expert panel conclusion that endorsed limiting imperial eligibility to “male-line male descendants belonging to the imperial lineage,” stating that both the government and herself personally “respect this report.” This stance persists despite her previous characterization of succession reform as “an urgent matter” that might require adopting new male members into the royal family.

    The imperial succession controversy has simmered for decades, with a 2005 government panel nearly establishing a path for female succession before the birth of Prince Hisahito—Emperor Naruhito’s nephew—effectively halted those discussions. The current Emperor has only a daughter, Princess Aiko, who remains excluded from succession under existing laws.

    While public opinion polls consistently show substantial support for a female monarch, traditionalists maintain that the 2,600-year unbroken male lineage constitutes a fundamental pillar of Japanese identity. The 2021 panel proposed alternative solutions including the adoption of distant male relatives into the imperial family and allowing royal women to retain their official duties after marriage—a significant consideration given that princesses currently forfeit their status upon wedding commoners.

    The imperial household’s challenges extend beyond succession concerns, with historical pressures on royal women well-documented. Both Empress Masako and Emperor Emerita Michiko experienced stress-induced illnesses potentially linked to the immense pressures of royal life, including expectations to produce male heirs.

  • ‘Set the standards’: Eli Katoa included in Storm’s leadership group as Harry Grant retains the captaincy

    ‘Set the standards’: Eli Katoa included in Storm’s leadership group as Harry Grant retains the captaincy

    The Melbourne Storm have officially unveiled their leadership structure for the 2026 National Rugby League season, confirming Harry Grant will continue as team captain for the third consecutive year. The star hooker, who claimed the prestigious Golden Boot award, will be supported by vice-captains Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes as the club seeks redemption following consecutive grand final defeats.

    In a significant demonstration of organizational support, the Storm have included Eli Katoa in their leadership contingent despite the edge forward unlikely to play this season. Katoa continues his recovery from severe head trauma sustained while representing Tonga, which required a two-week hospitalization period in Auckland. While participating in light training sessions, the attacking specialist remains far from match readiness according to medical assessments.

    Katoa joins forwards Josh King and Tui Kamikamica in the leadership group, highlighting the club’s commitment to maintaining his integral role within team dynamics. Todd Lowrie, Melbourne’s head of development and leadership, emphasized the value of experienced guidance, stating: “We’re really confident this experienced group will continue to set the standards we expect from our players and lead from the front. Harry was the standout choice as captain once again this year and he will be fantastically supported by complemented by Cameron and Jahrome.”

    The Storm are simultaneously cultivating their next generation of leaders, with Stefano Utoikamanu, Alec MacDonald, and Ativalu Lisati joining Trent Loiero and Tyran Wishart in an emerging leadership program.

    This announcement follows the Sharks’ revelation of their co-captaincy model, with Blayke Brailey assuming leadership duties while Cameron McInnes recovers from a significant knee injury expected to sideline him until mid-season. McInnes expressed confidence in the arrangement, noting: “The way Blayke goes about it in his own way brings such a calmness to the group. The ability to be yourself and influence the group, that’s what leadership is.”