Tamir Pardo condemns Israel’s return to war, warns hostages now face deadly consequences. 

Former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo issued a scathing rebuke on Thursday, declaring Israel’s recent decision to resume war against Hamas has effectively opened the “gates of hell,” particularly endangering the 59 Israeli hostages still held captive by the terror group.

Speaking at the Meir Dagan Conference at Netanya Academic College, Pardo sharply criticized the Netanyahu government’s choice to continue military operations, highlighting its perilous consequences: “The gates of hell might have opened on the Gazans, but for sure they have opened on the 59 hostages, and there is no savior.”

Pardo emphasized that this government’s actions have dangerously compromised both human lives and national security. He went further, asserting that internal threats—specifically the controversial judicial overhaul—present a far graver danger to Israel’s democracy and Zionist foundations than even the combined military threats from external enemies such as Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Yemen’s Houthis.

At the same event, former IDF Air Force Chief Eliezer Shkedy provided insights into efforts to integrate the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community into the military. Shkedy projected a fundamental shift by 2030, stating that the IDF is already prepared to draft all eligible individuals by 2026, marking a significant cultural and operational shift within Israel’s defense forces.

Yet, overshadowing these domestic debates remains the stark reality underscored by Pardo: Israel’s resumed offensive against Hamas has placed hostages in a perilous position, with little hope of rescue, raising profound ethical and strategic questions about the government’s ongoing tactics in Gaza.

Abdihakim Ali Ahmed becomes 45th conviction, admits diverting millions intended for children in one of America’s largest pandemic scams.

Federal authorities have secured yet another conviction in the sprawling $250 million Feeding Our Future scandal, underscoring the scale of one of America’s most egregious pandemic-era frauds. On Monday, Abdihakim Ali Ahmed, 40, of Minneapolis, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering after admitting he fraudulently pocketed over $7.3 million meant to provide food for children during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Ahmed’s guilty plea marks the 45th conviction in a case involving more than 70 defendants accused of defrauding the Federal Child Nutrition Program, a taxpayer-funded initiative designed to feed children in need. Prosecutors revealed Ahmed registered a fictitious food distribution site at Gurey Deli, a modest St. Paul market, and claimed to serve between 2,000 to 3,000 meals daily—a sheer impossibility given the deli’s small size and limited facilities.

Federal documents reveal a sophisticated yet brazen scheme. Ahmed, alongside convicted ringleader Aimee Bock, submitted falsified attendance rosters generated using spreadsheet formulas to fabricate thousands of phantom children. He then diverted stolen funds through shell companies, using the proceeds to buy luxury items including a 2022 Mini Cooper and Kelly’s 19th Hole, a Brooklyn Park restaurant now seized by authorities.

Adding layers of corruption, Ahmed admitted paying more than $49,000 in bribes to Abdikerm Eidleh, a former Feeding Our Future insider who remains a fugitive, reportedly fleeing the country after orchestrating fraudulent enrollments. Authorities estimate Feeding Our Future itself pocketed nearly $400,000 in administrative fees for facilitating Ahmed’s fraudulent activities.

Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick sharply condemned the exploitation, describing it as a “massive pay-to-play fraud scheme,” underscoring her office’s determination to pursue justice relentlessly. The case, investigated intensively by the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, has already recovered $60 million in stolen assets.

Ahmed’s guilty plea, analysts suggest, was prompted by the recent high-profile convictions of Bock and other conspirators, whose swift jury verdict sent shockwaves through remaining defendants. Ahmed now awaits sentencing in federal court, as prosecutors continue their aggressive push to dismantle a criminal network that brazenly exploited millions in funds meant for vulnerable children.

This conviction sends a powerful message: Those who profited from children’s suffering during America’s darkest days will not escape justice.

Mahmud Ali Youssouf urges global commitment as African Union peacekeeping mission faces funding crisis in Somalia.

The African Union’s newly appointed Chairperson, Mahmud Ali Youssouf, has urgently appealed for greater international funding and commitment to stabilize Somalia, warning that the AU peacekeeping mission faces a severe funding shortage at a critical juncture.

In recent remarks alongside Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Youssouf emphasized that Somalia’s security remains a global priority, urging international partners to actively support ongoing stabilization efforts. He stressed that increased resources are essential to reinforce the fight against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group, which continues to threaten Somalia’s fragile peace and security.

“I have already started discussions in Addis Ababa with some of our partners to ensure that Somalia is not neglected. Somalia remains at the centre of international interest,” Youssouf declared. He further emphasized the international community’s crucial role in addressing threats beyond Somalia’s borders, including piracy in critical waterways such as the Gulf of Aden, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Somali Sea.

Youssouf’s call highlights Somalia’s strategic importance and underscores the pressing need for continued and substantial international involvement to secure lasting peace and stability. Without swift global action, he warned, the progress made could unravel quickly, allowing Al-Shabaab to exploit the gaps left by underfunded security operations.

A surprise visit by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed to Cairo has laid bare the intensity of pressure building on Egypt to accept a large number of displaced Palestinians from Gaza — a condition reportedly tied to continued U.S. economic and military support. According to high-level diplomatic sources cited by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, this may be Cairo’s “last chance” to say yes before losing billions in American assistance.

A Quiet Ultimatum

UAE President bin Zayed reportedly delivered the message personally: If Egypt continues rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza relocation plan, American support will be redirected elsewhere. In return for accepting between 500,000 and 700,000 Gazans, Egypt would receive billions in economic lifelines from Washington and Gulf allies.

Following bin Zayed’s visit, the U.S. and UAE jointly announced a $1.4 trillion investment package over the next decade — a signal to Egypt that the financial muscle exists, but cooperation is the price of entry.

Cairo has made its opposition crystal clear. In an official statement, the Egyptian State Information Service called any effort to move Palestinians into Sinai a “red line,” warning that such displacement would be “a threat to Egypt’s national security” and “a liquidation of the Palestinian cause.”

But the pressure isn’t only diplomatic. Multiple sources confirm that security guarantees and infrastructure promises are being dangled — from weapons upgrades to tourism corridors — in exchange for Cairo’s compliance.

The Gaza relocation plan isn’t an isolated proposal. It fits into a broader U.S.-led strategy to redraw the political and demographic map of the region. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has already launched a new ministry department to manage the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from Gaza — further fueling speculation that groundwork is being laid for a large-scale population shift.

Meanwhile, Trump’s point man in the region, special envoy Steve Witkoff, is reportedly working the back channels in Baku, Riyadh, and even Amman to secure secondary relocation options should Egypt refuse.

This is Trump’s boldest move yet — not just in Gaza but in the entire Middle East. It’s a test of who wants in on the new regional order, and who gets left behind.

If Egypt gives in, it will mark the start of a new era. But if it resists, expect growing U.S. frustration — and possibly economic punishment.

President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi now finds himself cornered between national pride and financial collapse. Egypt’s economy is fragile, foreign reserves are dwindling, and inflation is squeezing millions. A deal could stabilize the situation — but at what political cost?

Refusing the deal could isolate Cairo just as the region is realigning around U.S., Israeli, Emirati, and Saudi initiatives. Accepting it could spark domestic outrage and security risks in Sinai.

The Gaza relocation plan — once seen as fringe — is now the centerpiece of a high-stakes regional gamble. Egypt is being asked to choose: bend to Trump’s vision of a post-Gaza Middle East, or hold the line and risk strategic and economic fallout.

What happens next in Cairo will shape not just the future of Gaza, but the trajectory of Middle Eastern geopolitics for years to come.

Misinformation alert: Viral posts claim Trump cut US military aid to Egypt due to Ethiopia’s regional actions. In reality? The aid issue is tied to Trump’s Gaza relocation plan, not Horn politics. 

Why These False Claims About US Aid to Egypt Are Spreading — and Why They Matter

Viral social media posts in early March falsely claimed that the United States had cut military aid to Egypt due to the country’s alleged “destabilizing role” in the Horn of Africa—specifically relating to Ethiopia and the region’s tense power politics.

The reality? While tensions between Cairo and Addis Ababa over the Nile and the GERD project remain high—and were further inflamed after Egypt sent military equipment to Somalia in response to Ethiopia’s controversial MoU with Somaliland—the U.S. has not tied military aid to these developments.

Instead, any potential aid reductions to Egypt are more plausibly linked to Trump’s Gaza relocation plan, which Egypt has publicly opposed. That plan—to relocate displaced Palestinians into neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan—has sparked regional outrage and new fault lines in U.S. alliances.

The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa debunked the viral claims, saying there’s been no official move to cut Egypt’s aid over Horn politics. Aid to Egypt remains tied largely to the 1979 Camp David Accords, and while temporary holds have happened due to human rights concerns, the GERD has not (yet) altered the calculus in Washington.

So Why Is This Misinformation Spreading?

Regional anxiety: With Egypt and Ethiopia at odds, and Somalia-Somaliland-Ethiopia relations in crisis, social media is primed for rumors that reinforce nationalistic narratives.

Distrust of U.S. intentions: Trump’s transactional approach to foreign policy—cutting aid, pushing radical plans—makes even far-fetched rumors believable to some.

Information vacuums: Lack of public clarity around shifting U.S. positions in East Africa leaves space for speculation and disinformation.

Bottom Line:

While a real debate over U.S. military aid is happening, especially due to Gaza relocation tensions, it’s not because of Ethiopia or the Horn of Africa. But in a region as politically charged as this, every rumor feels like a warning shot.

American researchers are fleeing political interference under Trump—and Europe is welcoming them with open labs.

Europe Offers Scientific Asylum as Trump-era Cuts Drive U.S. Researchers Abroad.

As Donald Trump’s administration slashes research budgets and clamps down on what it calls “ideological science,” European universities are responding with an unexpected offer: refuge. Across Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, institutions are opening doors to American researchers disillusioned or displaced by political interference and funding cuts.

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), founded in 1834 to uphold academic independence from church and state, is leading the charge. It recently announced 12 postdoctoral fellowships specifically aimed at international researchers, with a “particular focus” on Americans. “We see it as our duty to come to the aid of our American colleagues,” said Jan Danckaert, VUB’s rector, describing the current U.S. environment as one of “political and ideological interference.”

The cuts in question are far-reaching. Research arms like NASA, the CDC, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration face funding freezes. Studies involving climate change, vaccines, or social equity—deemed “woke” by the Trump White House—are increasingly targeted. For many U.S.-based researchers, the result is censorship by omission: their work isn’t banned, but quietly defunded.

European institutions see both a moral imperative and an opportunity. At France’s Aix-Marseille University, the launch of a “Safe Place for Science” program has already drawn nearly 100 applicants—many from elite institutions like Yale, Stanford, and even NASA. The program offers three-year placements to researchers facing “catastrophic” restrictions at home.

“We’re not poaching talent,” said Aix-Marseille president Éric Berton. “We’re responding to a crisis.” He and others have described this as a form of “scientific asylum,” framing it less as brain drain and more as solidarity.

France’s government has also moved swiftly. Research Minister Philippe Baptiste urged institutions to submit proposals for attracting American scientists, while Pasteur Institute Director Yasmine Belkaid noted a “daily” influx of inquiries. “You might call it a sad opportunity,” she said, “but it is an opportunity.”

The Netherlands, too, is launching a dedicated fund for incoming researchers. While it remains open to all nationalities, the announcement by Education Minister Eppo Bruins made clear that geopolitical shifts—read: Trump’s policies—are driving its urgency.

This wave of European outreach highlights growing transatlantic divergence on science policy. Where Washington appears to be prioritizing political loyalty over peer review, Europe is positioning itself as the new global capital of academic freedom. This shift could have long-term implications, from how climate science is advanced to which countries dominate the next generation of technological breakthroughs.

The irony isn’t lost on European institutions. In 2016, Trump dismissed Brussels as a “hellhole” in a Fox News interview, citing unsubstantiated fears over migration. VUB referenced that quote directly in its press materials, calling its new program “a symbolic gesture of solidarity.”

That symbolism cuts both ways. For the U.S. academic community, especially in fields like climate science, health, and the social sciences, the message is clear: if you want to keep your work alive, you may have to take it abroad.

Europe’s response marks a subtle but significant act of scientific diplomacy. It suggests that the continent is not just willing—but eager—to fill the leadership vacuum left by Washington’s retreat. And it raises a broader question: will this be remembered as a short-lived migration or the start of a long-term shift in where science happens, and who shapes its agenda?

A 27-year-old Somali man, Mahad Abdi Mohamed, was fatally shot in Tottenham on Thursday evening. As investigations continue, the incident underscores the need for deeper community engagement and violence prevention strategies in London’s most vulnerable neighborhoods.

The fatal shooting of Mahad Abdi Mohamed, a 27-year-old Somali man, in Tottenham has once again cast a spotlight on the ongoing challenge of gun violence in parts of London. Shot in the head on Waverley Road near the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday night, Mr. Mohamed died at the scene despite emergency medical efforts. A second victim, aged 26, was also shot and remains hospitalized following surgery.

The Metropolitan Police have opened a murder investigation, and while no arrests have been made yet, community unease is rising. Locals have described a heavy police presence and a longstanding fear of violence in the area. Reports of young men in balaclavas gathering shortly before the shooting underline the troubling normalization of gang-related activity and firearm accessibility in some London neighborhoods.

Mr. Mohamed’s death has shaken both the Somali community and local residents, many of whom fear for their safety in what has become a recurring scene of violent crime. His family, through a heartfelt statement, described him as a son, a brother, a father, and a friend, calling for privacy and support in the wake of a deeply personal tragedy.

This is not the first violent incident on Waverley Road. Residents have expressed frustration and despair, suggesting that early warning signs were ignored and that more preventive policing is needed. “I knew this would happen,” one resident told reporters. “There are guns around here.”

Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Woodsford has emphasized that the police are treating the case with urgency and care, calling on the public to come forward with any information. Authorities stress that any piece of information, no matter how minor it may seem, could be pivotal in bringing those responsible to justice.

While the Metropolitan Police have increased patrols and crime scene investigation is underway, the shooting reignites broader concerns about youth violence, gun access, and community-police trust—especially in ethnically diverse areas like Tottenham, where socio-economic pressures often overlap with limited institutional support.

The Somali community in London, like many diaspora communities, continues to navigate the complex intersection of belonging, safety, and visibility. Incidents like this only intensify the urgency for greater engagement, intervention programs, and grassroots collaboration to disrupt the cycles of violence claiming young lives.

Protests sweep Turkey as opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu is arrested. Streets erupt in defiance while Erdogan faces accusations of jailing rivals to hold power.

The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, one of Turkey’s most popular political figures and the main challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has ignited the country’s largest wave of protests in over a decade. Viewed by many as a calculated move to undermine a serious presidential contender, Imamoglu’s detention has triggered mass demonstrations in over 55 provinces, led to violent clashes with riot police, and sent financial markets into a tailspin.

Coming just as the opposition CHP party held primaries to nominate its 2028 presidential candidate—a process Imamoglu was poised to dominate—the arrest is being widely condemned as politically motivated. Initially charged with “aiding a terror organization” and corruption, the charges were later reframed as “establishing and managing a criminal organisation” among others.

Supporters and opposition leaders have called the arrest a “black stain on democracy”. Riot police deployed forcefully across cities—using tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons—to quash protests. Demonstrators, defiant in the face of repression, carried slogans like “Dictators are cowards” and “You will not silence us.”

Despite a protest ban, hundreds of thousands took to the streets in Istanbul, with reports of some protesters seeking refuge inside City Hall after police escalated crackdowns. Similar confrontations were reported in Ankara and Izmir, as student and civil society groups joined the growing unrest.

Imamoglu’s arrest has also rattled financial markets. The Turkish lira fell sharply and the country’s benchmark stock index dropped nearly 8% on Friday. The mayor himself warned in a statement that the incident had caused “untold damage” to Turkey’s image and investor confidence.

His political persecution fits a pattern: whenever a serious rival emerges, Erdogan’s government has responded with criminal charges, media restrictions, and legal maneuvers. Imamoglu, who has long maintained strong popularity in urban centers, was widely expected to pose a formidable challenge in the 2028 presidential race.

Notably, social media platform X (formerly Twitter) confirmed that over 700 accounts tied to journalists, students, and opposition voices had been ordered blocked by Turkish authorities—an apparent effort to control the narrative. Elon Musk’s platform vowed to fight the order, calling it an unlawful attempt to stifle political discourse.

Despite the repression, voter turnout in the CHP primary surged, with over 15 million ballots cast, reflecting the public’s determination to back Imamoglu. His wife, Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, joined the call for continued defiance, saying, “We are not afraid, and we will never give up.”

While Erdogan remains entrenched in power after 22 years, the resilience of Turkey’s opposition and civil society suggests that any attempt to quash political dissent will come at a high cost—both domestically and internationally.

Whether this marks a new chapter in Turkey’s democratic regression or becomes a rallying point for renewed opposition unity remains to be seen. But the message from the streets is clear: the fight for Turkey’s political future is far from over.