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What is a pro-Palestine protest? Here’s why U.S. college students are protesting

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Dozens of protesters at the University of Texas were arrested Wednesday during a peaceful, pro-Palestinian protest hosted on the campus by the Palestine Solidarity Committee.
“UT Austin does not tolerate disruptions of campus activities or operations like we have seen at other campuses,” the UT Division of Student Affairs said in a statement before the protest.

After about 45 minutes of the crowd marching south on the mall from the Gregory Gym area, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and campus police ordered the protesters to disperse or “be arrested as per the penal code.”

Here’s why UT-Austin students are protesting:

What is a pro-Palestine protest?

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Pro-Palestinian protests are demonstrations in support of Palestinian rights, typically calling for an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories.

Protests began in the wake of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, triggered by the Palestinian militant group’s assault on Israeli communities Oct. 7, killing almost 1,200 people.

Israel’s subsequent bombardment and invasion of Gaza has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians — militants and civilians; men, women and children — and has fueled a dire humanitarian crisis.

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Where is Palestine located?

Palestine is recognized as an independent state by the United Nations and more than 135 of its members, but it is not recognized by the U.S., according to History. The UN considers it a single occupied entity, but the official borders are undetermined, BBC News reported.

Though its borders have shifted over the years, Palestinian territories used to be what is now Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.

When searching for “Palestine” on Google Maps, the map zooms in on the Israel-Palestine region, and both the Gaza Strip and West Bank territories are labeled and separated by dotted lines. But there is no label for Palestine.

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In an email statement, Google said it doesn’t label the borders because there isn’t international consensus on where the Palestinian boundaries are located.

Why are college students protesting?

The Palestine Solidarity Committee, a registered UT student group and a chapter of the national Students for Justice in Palestine, planned a protest Wednesday at the UT campus in solidarity with students across the U.S., including at Columbia University, Yale University and New York University, who are calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas war.

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Across the country, pro-Palestinian student protesters have occupied campuses in tent encampments this week in a campaign to urge their universities to divest, an action students over the decades have demanded from their schools’ administrators.

What is ‘divest’?

The word “divest” refers to diverting money from a university’s endowment — the pool of money a college has and tries to grow through investments. Some of the biggest university endowments in the country total nearly $50 billion and comprise thousands of funds.

The protesters opposed to Israel’s military attacks in Gaza say they want their schools to stop funneling endowment money to Israeli companies and other businesses, like weapons manufacturers, that profit from the war in Gaza.

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“The university would rather enforce and put money into policing our communities and policing their own students then they would to supporting them,” said Anachí Ponce, a UT student who attended the protest. “These are students who are protesting a genocide and the lack of action from UT administration for the way that they haven’t been super helpful against hate crimes against Muslim students on campus.”

“It’s like, why is our money being used to fund bombs overseas?,” said Layla Saliba, a student protester researching endowment investments with the group Columbia University Apartheid Divestment. “Let’s reinvest this money in our community instead,” she said.

In addition to divestment, protesters across the U.S. are calling for a cease-fire and student governments at some colleges have also passed resolutions in recent weeks calling for an end to academic partnerships with Israel.

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Are universities investing in Israel?

Protesters have called for a halt to investments in Israel, but experts say that might be too simplified a take on what colleges have done with their funds. To begin with, it’s difficult to define what an “investment” in Israel entails, said economist Sandy Baum, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute who studies college finances.

She said bigger investments are more obvious than smaller ones tucked away in mutual funds — an investment tool that pools money and spreads it out over many assets, and a type of financial tool on which many colleges rely.

Universities hire private companies to manage their endowments to preserve their funds over the long run, Baum said.

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Debates about the investments of college endowments are complicated, Baum said, because some university stakeholders argue the money needs to produce the biggest return on investment possible to fund teaching and necessary programming and services.

“The purpose of the endowment is to have money that will allow the university to permanently provide educational opportunities so that they don’t have to go out and raise new money every year to continue operating,” she said.

The bigger a university’s endowment, the more is at stake. That’s one reason why pro-Palestinian student protesters at wealthy universities are fighting so hard this week, she said. There’s a lot of money involved.

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“There are always going to be differencesof opinion about what you don’t want to invest in,” Baum said.

— USA TODAY contributed to this report.

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Commentary

China’s Space Grab in Africa: How Beijing Is Winning the Final Frontier as Trump Slashes U.S. Aid

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While Trump retreats, China plants its flag in Africa’s skies—building satellites, telescopes, and alliances to dominate space and surveillance.

As Trump guts foreign aid, China ramps up space partnerships across Africa, embedding surveillance tech and satellites that could shift the balance in the global space race—and military power.

Space for Sale: How China Is Colonizing Africa’s Skies as America Pulls Back

While the United States under President Trump slashes development aid and scales down soft power, China is quietly launching a space takeover in Africa—one satellite, telescope, and military-grade surveillance system at a time.

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From a space lab outside Cairo to high-powered telescopes tracking orbital objects from Egyptian hilltops, China is embedding itself deep into Africa’s burgeoning space infrastructure. Beneath the banner of cooperation and development, Beijing is not just gifting technology—it’s harvesting data, expanding its global surveillance network, and establishing a strategic military and political footprint across the continent.

This is no secret to Washington. Intelligence veterans like Nicholas Eftimiades warn that China is “democratizing space to enhance its authoritarian capabilities”—a global dragnet cloaked in diplomacy. And it’s working. More than 23 African nations now partner with China on space ventures, from satellite launches and ground stations to a proposed joint moon base that openly rivals NASA’s Artemis program.

The Space City outside Cairo, where Chinese engineers outnumber locals, is emblematic. The “African-built” satellites launched there? Mostly assembled in China. Data ownership? Officially Egyptian—but insiders say Beijing still taps into the stream. It’s not just soft power—it’s hardware dominance with military consequences, including anti-satellite warfare readiness and real-time surveillance of joint U.S.-Egyptian exercises.

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As China builds eyes in the sky, Trump’s America is going dark—cutting U.S. Agency for International Development funds and retreating from space diplomacy. Meanwhile, SpaceX’s Elon Musk races ahead in military-grade satellite networks, but there’s little sign of the U.S. competing with China’s ground-level infiltration across Africa.

The result? A Cold War-style showdown in orbit, with Africa as the battlefield—and Trump’s retreat from development aid and soft power may have handed Beijing the launch codes for a new global order in space.

China isn’t just investing in Africa—it’s outsourcing its space program onto the continent, collecting data, projecting power, and rewriting the rules of 21st-century dominance. The moon may be next, but the race is already raging here on Earth. And right now, Beijing is winning.

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Editor's Pick

MI5 Unmasks the Real James Bonds: Secrets, Spies, and Soviet Moles Revealed in London Exhibition

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British spy agency MI5 lifts the curtain on its shadowy past, revealing gadgets, double agents, and Cold War betrayals in a rare public display.

Real Spies, Real Secrets: MI5’s Exhibition Reveals the Truth Behind Britain’s Espionage Legends

Move over, James Bond—the real spies of British intelligence have entered the room. For the first time in its 115-year history, MI5 is peeling back the layers of secrecy with a public exhibition that dives deep into its murky archives and infamous operations.

Titled “MI5: Official Secrets”, the new exhibition at The National Archives in London offers a rare glimpse into the real-world tradecraft of British intelligence. From lemon juice invisible ink to surveillance files on Soviet moles, the exhibit pulls no punches in showing how Britain’s security service battled foreign threats across two world wars and the Cold War.

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One of the most jaw-dropping features? Newly released materials on the Cambridge Five—a ring of elite British insiders who betrayed their country by feeding secrets to Moscow. Their names—Kim Philby, Guy Burgess, Donald Maclean, Anthony Blunt, and John Cairncross—still send shivers through British intelligence circles, and their confessions, reports, and surveillance records are now on public display.

Ken McCallum, MI5’s director general, stressed that unlike the glamorous espionage of Bond or the grit of Slow Horses, real spy work is “ordinary people doing extraordinary things” in silence. Still, the lemon juice used by a German spy to write invisible messages during WWI? That feels very 007.

The exhibition runs through September and is designed to both educate and provoke reflection. In a world once split by East and West—and now again fractured by new threats—MI5’s unveiling of its past is not just history. It’s a subtle message: the spy game is far from over.

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Trump Locks In $2B Drone Deal With Qatar, Signaling a New Power Shift in the Middle East

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First-of-its-kind drone sale to Doha bolsters U.S. military ties with Qatar and reshapes Gulf defense dynamics. 

This isn’t just a weapons sale—it’s a strategic realignment. President Donald Trump’s approval of an unprecedented $1.96 billion arms deal with Qatar isn’t about just eight MQ-9B drones. It’s about staking out a new American red line in the Middle East. And it’s about power—airborne, unmanned, and armed to the teeth.

Qatar, long the shadowy broker in conflicts from Gaza to Kabul, is now becoming a front-row actor. With this deal, Trump is transforming Doha from a diplomatic fixer to a drone-powered sentinel capable of conducting advanced surveillance, target acquisition, and strike operations. The sale signals the first time such high-end American drones are making their way to any country in the region—a slap in the face to traditional allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE who’ve been denied access.

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At the heart of this is Al Udeid Air Base, America’s largest military base in the Middle East, which Qatar has pumped over $8 billion into since 2003. Trump knows leverage when he sees it. While some in Washington grumble about Qatar’s cozy ties to Hamas and Tehran, Trump sees utility. He doesn’t need moral purity—he needs strategic partners.

This drone deal is a down payment on that partnership. With Hellfire missiles, radar-jamming gear, and top-tier ISR tech, Qatar just became more than a gas-rich Gulf state. It’s now an elite drone hub that can pressure Iran, monitor the Houthis, and shape conflicts from Yemen to the Strait of Hormuz.

Critics will say it empowers a country that shelters Hamas leadership. Supporters will argue it gives the U.S. another heavily armed friend who can do the dirty work. Either way, this deal turns Qatar into a decisive power broker—and proves once again that Trump plays chess, while others are still learning checkers.

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Eid Mubarak 2025: Global Celebrations Kick Off with Diverse Greetings Worldwide

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Join the global celebration by learning how to wish a blessed Eid in different languages:

With the sighting of the new moon confirmed in Saudi Arabia and neighboring regions, Eid al-Fitr celebrations officially begin on Sunday, March 30, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Eid al-Fitr, known as the “festival of breaking the fast,” is celebrated joyously by nearly 1.9 billion Muslims globally, accounting for about 25 percent of the world’s population. Countries such as Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Nigeria, home to some of the largest Muslim communities, are set to embrace this festive occasion with diverse customs and vibrant celebrations.

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Traditionally, the Eid celebration lasts for three days in most Muslim-majority nations, with activities beginning just after dawn prayers and sermons. Families and friends gather to share meals, exchange sweets, and extend heartfelt greetings as they move from home to home.

The most widespread greetings are “Eid Mubarak” (Blessed Eid) and “Eid Sa’id” (Happy Eid), but variations exist worldwide, reflecting the rich linguistic diversity among Muslim communities.

Join the global celebration by learning how to wish a blessed Eid in different languages:

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  • Arabic: Eid Mubarak (عيد مبارك)
  • Indonesian: Selamat Idul Fitri
  • Urdu (Pakistan): عید مبارک (Eid Mubarak)
  • Hindi (India): ईद मुबारक (Eid Mubarak)
  • Bengali (Bangladesh): ঈদ মোবারক (Eid Mubarak)
  • Hausa (Nigeria): Barka da Sallah
  • Turkish: Bayramınız mübarek olsun
  • Persian (Iran): عید مبارک (Eid Mubarak)
  • Malay (Malaysia): Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri
  • Somali: Ciid Wanaagsan
  • Swahili (East Africa): Eid Njema
  • French: Bonne fête de l’Aïd
  • English: Eid Mubarak

Wishing everyone worldwide peace, joy, and prosperity this Eid. Eid Mubarak from waryatv.com!

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J. Peter Pham: Somalia’s President Insults Trump by Offering Ports He Doesn’t Control

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Ambassador J. Peter Pham, a prominent former US envoy to Africa and influential figure in President Trump’s circle, has openly mocked Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, calling his recent offer of Somaliland’s strategic ports to the US an outright insult and an act of utter foolishness.

Pham sharply criticized the Somali leader’s desperate bid, declaring on social media platform X, “Hassan Sheikh Mohamud thinks the Americans are fools, offering ports in Somaliland and Puntland—ports he has absolutely no control over.” Highlighting the absurdity of Mogadishu’s move, Pham underlined that the US provides Somalia with nearly $1 billion annually, money he described as being shamefully wasted.

According to Semafor newspaper, President Mohamud wrote directly to Trump, attempting to barter control over the strategic Berbera and Bosaso ports in return for Washington halting its recognition of Somaliland. However, these ports are firmly under Somaliland’s and Puntland’s jurisdiction, beyond Mogadishu’s reach—a fact the Somali president astonishingly disregarded.

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Pham, a staunch advocate of Somaliland’s recognition, portrays this latest diplomatic blunder as proof of Mogadishu’s desperation, incompetence, and disregard for American intelligence. The move has sparked fury and disbelief within American political circles, particularly among Republicans actively campaigning for Somaliland’s recognition over the past two years.

Pham’s strong condemnation reinforces that Somaliland’s recognition campaign has significant momentum in the US, leaving Somalia’s desperate diplomatic tactics increasingly isolated. With influential figures like Pham openly ridiculing Hassan Sheikh’s miscalculations, it becomes clearer that Somaliland stands poised for a historic diplomatic breakthrough, while Somalia flounders amid strategic missteps and political humiliation.

Waryatv.com readers should take note: Somalia’s diplomatic folly has inadvertently boosted Somaliland’s credibility on the global stage, marking a turning point that could reshape the Horn of Africa’s future.

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Algeria Jails French-Algerian Writer Boualem Sansal, Igniting New Tensions with France

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Boualem Sansal sentenced to five years under anti-terrorism laws after questioning Algeria-Morocco borders, drawing fierce criticism from France.

Renowned French-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal has been sentenced to five years in prison by an Algerian court under contentious “anti-terrorism” laws, further inflaming diplomatic tensions between Algeria and France. Sansal, an outspoken critic of the Algerian government, was charged with “undermining national unity” after remarks he made questioning colonial-era border divisions with regional rival Morocco.

The verdict, delivered on Thursday in Dar El Beida near Algiers, stemmed from an interview Sansal gave to French far-right outlet Frontieres last October. Sansal argued that France had unfairly redrawn Algeria’s borders during colonial times, incorporating Moroccan territory—remarks seen as incendiary by Algerian authorities.

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French President Emmanuel Macron swiftly condemned the decision, publicly appealing to Algeria’s sense of “good sense and humanity,” citing Sansal’s reported battle with cancer. The imprisonment of the celebrated author, winner of the 2011 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, has added fuel to already strained Franco-Algerian relations, following France’s recent diplomatic shift to support Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.

Sansal, who represented himself in court, denied that his comments violated Algerian law or intended harm to national unity. Legal experts suggest his sentence, half of what prosecutors initially sought, still reflects severe judicial overreach and may serve as political leverage amid Algeria’s diplomatic feud with France.

Human rights advocates warn that Algeria continues to misuse stringent anti-terrorism laws to silence critical voices, raising fears over the broader implications for freedom of speech. As international pressure mounts, speculation grows that Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune could grant Sansal a presidential pardon during an upcoming national holiday, attempting to defuse escalating tensions with Paris.

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Captive German Nurse Makes Desperate Plea After 7-Year Somalia Ordeal

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Sonja Nientiet urges swift German government intervention, warning her health is critically deteriorating after seven years in captivity.

In a new video released after seven agonizing years of captivity in Somalia, German nurse Sonja Nientiet has urgently pleaded for the German government to intensify efforts to secure her immediate release. Nientiet, who was abducted in Mogadishu in 2018 while working for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), expressed dire concerns about her rapidly deteriorating health.

“My health is deteriorating,” Nientiet says emotionally in the video, posted by an individual named Liibaan Osman. She urgently warns that “every day that passes makes the situation more critical,” emphasizing that her prolonged captivity could soon claim her life.

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Nientiet was kidnapped on May 2, 2018, after armed assailants—allegedly with inside help from a disgruntled security guard—stormed the ICRC office in Mogadishu. Despite intensive German intelligence efforts to track down her location and captors, who have demanded millions of dollars in ransom, the nurse remains captive and vulnerable.

The release of this disturbing footage has intensified pressure on the German government to secure Nientiet’s freedom. Yet, authorities have publicly maintained their longstanding policy of silence on hostage negotiations, declining direct comment.

Before her abduction, Nientiet had provided humanitarian assistance in Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighting her commitment to aid in conflict zones. The ICRC expressed renewed urgency following the video, stating deep concern for her safety and health.

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With her desperate plea now public, the stakes for Germany have dramatically increased, shifting the crisis into an urgent test of diplomatic resolve—one where each passing day could tragically mark the difference between life and death.

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WATCH: Somali, Ethiopian Migrants Escape from Alleged Captivity in Johannesburg

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Johannesburg suburb becomes epicenter of migrant abuse as over 50 Somali and Ethiopian nationals escape horrifying detention.

More than 50 migrants—primarily teenagers and young adults from Somalia and Ethiopia—broke free from an alleged detention house in Lombardy East on Wednesday morning, fleeing into the streets amid cries for help, partially clothed, and clutching scraps of food.

South African Police responded after neighbors and community patrols reported the disturbing sight: migrants screaming and shattering windows to escape a house described by witnesses as “filthy and unlivable.” Inside, reporters found makeshift bedding, buckets used as toilets, and evidence of appalling living conditions—raising immediate suspicion of human trafficking or forced labour, although police currently label it a potential violation of the Immigration Act.

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Adise Chuafmaa Jarse, a translator for the Ethiopian community, painted a horrifying picture: migrants beaten, starved, and stripped of dignity under false promises of employment. “No food and no clothes,” she recounted. “Sometimes people die—they must throw away.”

Police spokesperson Colonel Kaha said statements are still being collected from the 32 to 34 migrants currently in custody, including children as young as 13, but authorities have yet to confirm arrests. This troubling incident closely mirrors a similar January case in Lombardy East, highlighting an alarming trend that suggests the Johannesburg suburb is fast becoming a hub for migrant exploitation networks.

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As investigations intensify, this latest escape underscores a darker reality: migrant exploitation and potential human trafficking in South Africa remains rampant, deeply rooted, and urgently in need of confrontation.

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