News of the World
USA
Quote:Attorneys filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration Saturday to halt the transfer of 10 migrants detained in the U.S. to Guantánamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.
This marks their second legal challenge in under a month against plans to use the facility for large-scale immigrant detention before deportation.
Why It Matters
In a memorandum released in January, President Donald Trump outlined a plan to detain up to 30,000 immigrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally at Guantánamo Bay as part of his immigration crackdown.
Trump was elected president after promising the largest mass deportation operation in the U.S. history. Guantánamo Bay is widely recognized for its military prison, established after the September 11, 2001, attacks.
What To Know
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Center for Constitutional Rights, the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), and the ACLU of the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit on behalf of migrants who face the risk of being transferred to Guantánamo Bay.
The latest lawsuit argues that the transfers violate the men's right to due process, as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
It also claims that federal immigration law prohibits the transfer of non-Cuban migrants from the U.S. to Guantánamo Bay, that the U.S. government lacks authority to detain individuals outside its territory, and that the naval base is legally part of Cuba. The lawsuit further describes the transfers as arbitrary.
The federal lawsuit was filed less than a month after the same attorneys sued for access to migrants already detained at the U.S. naval base in Cuba after living in the country illegally. Both cases, backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, were filed in Washington.
The attorneys also submitted translated statements from Spanish into English from two men still detained at Guantánamo Bay, four men held there in February before being returned to Venezuela, and a Venezuelan migrant sent back to Texas. The men described being confined in small, windowless cells with lights kept on 24/7, making sleep difficult.
They also reported inadequate food and medical care. One man stated he attempted tried to take his own life, while two others said they were aware of similar attempts by others. Additionally, the men alleged verbal and physical abuse by staff.
Quote:Massive wildfires across the Carolinas have forced evacuations of multiple neighborhoods, particularly in the Carolina Forest area near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where a fire has grown to approximately 1,200 acres.
According to the State Fire Marshal, there are ongoing response operations to more than 175 wildfires, impacting 4,200 acres across the state, including Horry, Spartanburg, Oconee, Union, and Pickens Counties primarily due to dry, windy conditions.
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The rapidly spreading wildfires threaten thousands of residents in populated areas, with hundreds already displaced from their homes.
These fires come amid unusually dry conditions in the region, with February rainfall 1.5 to 2.5 inches below average in the Carolinas, creating perfect conditions for wildfires to spread quickly when combined with gusty winds and low humidity.
Why To Know
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has declared a State of Emergency to support wildfire response efforts, and the state's Forestry Commission has implemented a statewide burning ban.
Evacuation orders have expanded overnight to include multiple Carolina Forest neighborhoods including Indigo Bay, the Farm, Summerlyn, parts of Walkers Woods, Avalon, and sections of Covington Lakes, Spring Lake, and Blackberry Lane, according to officials. International Drive has been closed between Highway 90 and area schools to facilitate emergency response.
In North Carolina, 400-500 acres have burned in the Blue Ridge mountains near the towns of Tryon and Saluda, forcing residents to evacuate.
The U.S. Forest Service is responding to wildfires in all four national forests in North Carolina, with the largest fire currently in Croatan National Forest where at least 114 acres have burned. Horry County Fire Rescue has deployed 410 personnel with 127 fire apparatus to battle the blaze, using drones to monitor fire movement.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Red Flag Warning for much of the Southeast due to critical fire danger conditions.
Quote:President Donald Trump's close confidant and billionaire backer Elon Musk has supported a call for the U.S. to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations (UN).
In a post on Saturday night, Musk endorsed a suggestion from user @GuntherEagleman, who wrote: "It's time to leave NATO and the UN."
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Musk's influential relationship with Trump is well-documented, and his endorsement adds weight to growing skepticism within the administration toward international alliances. The U.S. has been critical of NATO, with Trump frequently questioning its value and pushing allies to increase defense spending.
Musk, leading the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), is focused on cutting federal spending and has already dismantled multiple federal agencies.
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Although Trump has not directly stated plans to exit NATO, he has consistently urged European nations to increase their defense spending, warning that the United States should not shoulder the alliance's financial burden alone.
Days after his inauguration, Trump said he was not sure the U.S. should be spending anything on NATO, telling reporters the U.S. was protecting NATO members, but they were "not protecting us."
Trump reiterated his call for trans-Atlantic alliance members to allocate 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to defense—more than double the current 2 percent target and a level that no NATO country, including the U.S, currently meets.
In 2024, Trump said that he would encourage Russia to do "whatever the hell they want" to any NATO member that fails to meet defense spending guidelines—a striking admission that he would disregard the alliance's core collective defense commitment.
NATO, a transnational military alliance, comprises 32 member states—30 from Europe and 2 from North America.
Musk's endorsement comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions following a tense Friday Oval Office meeting between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Quote:Billionaire Elon Musk issued a new order on Saturday over the Department of Government Efficiency's (DOGE) ultimatum, which asked government employees to document in an email what they have done in the last week in terms of their work.
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The order comes after Musk announced on X, formerly Twitter, last weekend that federal workers would receive "an email requesting to understand what they got done last week." He added that "failure to respond will be taken as a resignation."
The announcement—as well as the subsequent email, which did not include the threat of termination—sent federal agencies into a tailspin as there has been a lot of back-and-forth from department leaders over how employees should handle this.
The situation has culminated in the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) telling agency heads on Monday that compliance with Musk's demand was voluntary. The Pentagon previously told employees to disregard the email. Trump's FBI director Kash Patel also previously sent a similar message to his staff telling them not to respond.
OPM's update came hours after President Donald Trump publicly backed Musk, calling his decree a "pretty ingenious idea," adding that those who don't respond by Monday's midnight deadline are "semi-fired or fired."
What To Know
In a post on X on Saturday, Musk announced a new order in which he reiterated Trump's support for the email.
"The President has made it clear that this is mandatory for the executive branch. Anyone working on classified or other sensitive matters is still required to respond if they receive the email, but can simply reply that their work is sensitive," he wrote on X.
Musk's remarks were made in response to a post on how Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an updated guidance directing all of the Pentagon's civilian employees to respond to the email with five bullet points detailing their previous week's accomplishments.
According to an internal unclassified memo, obtained by DefenseScoop and authenticated by two officials Friday, it instructs the DOD's civilian employees to reply to the email, which is slated to be delivered on March 3, within 48 hours and to "CC" their supervisors as recipients.
It follows after employees were initially told to delay responding to the "what did you do last week" email from DOGE.
This comes after confusion and alarm rippled across the federal bureaucracy after Musk's initial email went out last Saturday, demanding workers submit a response by 11:59 p.m. ET Monday.
Quote:...
What Trump Allies Have Said
Following the exchange, Trump said it would prove difficult to move forward with the current dynamic, and GOP Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina suggested that if Zelensky could not fix things with Trump, Ukraine would "need to get somebody new."
"This was a missed opportunity, and the question for me for the Ukrainian people: I don't know if Zelensky can ever get you to where you want to go with the United States," Graham said during an appearance on Fox News. "Either he dramatically changes, or you need to get somebody new."
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, on Sunday during an appearance on NBC News' Meet the Press told host Kristen Welker that "something has to change" in order for peace to occur.
"Either he [Zelensky] needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude or someone else needs to lead the country to do that," Johnson said, while adding that the administration and Republicans understand the danger Russian President Vladimir Putin poses.
Meanwhile, national security adviser Mike Waltz told CNN's Dana Bash on Sunday that Ukraine needs "a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war."
"If it becomes apparent that President Zelensky's either personal motivations or political motivations are divergent from ending the fighting in this country, then I think we have a real issue," he said.
Who Could Replace Zelensky?
Zelensky last month indicated he would be willing to step down from his role if it would ensure either a peace deal or a guarantee for Ukraine's entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), but his tone changed after the clash with Trump.
Zelensky has strong support within Ukraine, still. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, passed a resolution entitled "Statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Support for Democracy in Ukraine in Conditions of Russian Aggression" on February 25 that affirms Zelensky's presidency and mandates that elections cannot be held during periods of martial law.
The parliament passed the resolution following Trump's insistence that the country should hold elections due to his belief that Zelensky had a "4 percent" approval rating.
However, within the country, there has already been some discussion about possible candidates.
Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Valery Zaluzhny
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Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko
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Ukraine Parliament Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk
EUROPE
Quote:President Volodymyr Zelensky met King Charles in London Sunday, following the heated spat between the Ukrainian leader and U.S. President Donald Trump Friday, as pressure grew on U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to withdraw his royal visit invitation to Trump.
His talks with the British monarch came after meeting Starmer, who later convened European leaders for emergency meetings on Ukraine.
Why It Matters
Ukraine, its European allies and many U.S. lawmakers are still reeling from Zelensky's Oval Office visit, where Trump peppered the Ukrainian leader with accusations of "gambling with World War Three" in front of the world's media and broadcasting cameras.
In one of numerous barbed exchanges, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Zelensky: "Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who's trying to save your country." Zelensky then departed the White House early.
Zelensky arrived in the U.K. shortly afterward, to a show of warm support and an embrace from Starmer, who admitted during a BBC appearance on Sunday he was "uncomfortable" watching the White House interactions.
What To Know
King Charles received Zelensky at Sandringham, the private country retreat for the king and queen. The meeting took place following a summit of European leaders on Sunday morning that aimed to address how to end the war in Ukraine.
Local residents, some holding Ukrainian flags, gathered outside the estate ahead of his arrival by helicopter, the BBC reported. The outlet reported that the King "warmly received" his guest.
Quote:U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain and France have agreed to work with Ukraine on a ceasefire plan to present to the United States, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's Oval Office clash with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Starmer's announcement comes as European leaders, along with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, NATO chief Mark Rutte, and Turkey's foreign minister Hakan Fidan, gather in London to discuss ending Russia's war in Ukraine.
"This is a once in a generation moment for the security of Europe and we all need to step up," Starmer told leaders, flanked by Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Why It Matters
European NATO leaders and Ukraine have fretted over how ceasefire talks between the U.S. and Russia could come at Kyiv's expense, and jeopardize the security of the rest of Europe.
But European officials have struggled to show cohesion as the Trump administration rewrites the U.S.'s long-standing relationship with the continent, although French President Emmanuel Macron and Starmer have both visited the White House in recent days. An emergency summit convened last month in Paris failed to conjure up concrete plans.
What To Know
Starmer said that he had agreed that the U.K. and France, and "possibly one or two others," would "work with Ukraine on a plan to stop the fighting and then we'll discuss that plan with the United States."
Speaking to the BBC on Sunday, the prime minister said he had met with Zelensky in London on Saturday, before speaking with both Macron and Trump. Zelensky said in a separate statement on Saturday that he had a "meaningful and warm meeting" with Starmer on ending the war in a "just" manner.
"I think we've got a step in the right direction," Starmer said.
Starmer addressed the highly public spat that broke out between Zelensky and Trump during the Ukrainian leader's visit to the White House earlier this week, describing how he had been in his office when he saw the clips coming out of Washington.
"Nobody wants to see that," he said. The prime minister said he "took to the phones," making it his "driving purpose" to "bridge" the widening rift by speaking to both Zelensky and Trump.
Trump berated the Ukrainian leader in front of reporters and cameras trained on the two men, accusing Zelensky of "gambling with World War Three." In amongst various barbed exchanges, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Zelensky: "Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who's trying to save your country."
Starmer described feeling "uncomfortable" watching the footage.
Quote:ANorwegian oil and shipping company, Haltbakk Bunkers, said it will not deliver fuel to the U.S. Navy following Friday's Oval Office clash between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Despite the move, Norway's defense minister reassured that American forces won't face disruption, stating they will "continue to receive the supply and support they require from Norway."
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The unprecedented Oval Office meeting, which turned into a fiery exchange, has drawn widespread attention, with some Trump supporters praising how the president handled the situation, while others expressed concern, and many international leaders and Democrats criticized the president and voiced their support for Zelensky and Ukraine.
Under the Biden administration, Zelensky was a close U.S. ally. Since taking office, however, Trump has called him a "dictator," and falsely claimed Ukraine started the war with Russia.
Haltbakk Bunkers' decision to cut ties with the U.S. Navy marks one of the first international acts of economic and political resistance against Trump, particularly on his stance on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
What To Know
On Friday, a fiery exchange took place between Trump, Vance, and Zelensky, which was a striking moment of open antagonism in the Oval Office, a space typically reserved for formal diplomacy. The moment highlighted Trump's shifted approach to the war, now in its third year.
Many European and international leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, immediately released statements in support of Kyiv and Zelensky, who was repeatedly cut off and told he was being "disrespectful" during the meeting.
Haltbakk Bunkers, a private Norwegian marine fuel supplier owned by Gunnar Gran, posted a statement calling out Trump and Vance, writing that the exchange was "the biggest sh**show ever presented 'live on TV' by the current American president and his vice president." The post has since been deleted and the company's Facebook page is now private, with screenshots of the post circulating on social media.
The company then applauded Zelensky, writing, "Huge credit to the president of Ukraine (for) restraining himself and for keeping calm even though the USA put on a backstabbing TV show. It made us sick. As a result, we have decided to immediate STOP as fuel provider to American forces in Norway and their ships calling Norwegian ports. 'No Fuel to Americans!'"
The post also encouraged other Norwegian and European companies to follow suit.
In an interview with the local outlet Kystens Næringsliv, Gran said the company has barred dealings with Russians since the country's February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He said the decision cost the company revenue but was made because "we have a moral compass."
Gran also told Kystens Næringsliv, "not a liter will be delivered until Trump is finished," noting that the company supplied around 3 million liters of fuel to U.S. ships in 2024.
Norway's defense minister, Tore O. Sandvik, released a statement on Sunday regarding the matter, saying: "We have seen reports raising concerns about support for U.S. Navy vessels in Norway. This is not in line with the Norwegian government's policy."
He added: "The U.S. and Norway maintain a close and strong defense cooperation. American forces will continue to receive the supply and support they require from Norway." Norway is one of the founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," 1 Thessalonians 5:9
Maranatha!
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My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
Give me a free copy of your completed game if you include at least 3 of my scripts!
Just some scripts I've already published on the board...
KyoGemBoost XP VX & ACE, RandomEnkounters XP, KSkillShop XP, Kolloseum States XP, KEvents XP, KScenario XP & Gosu, KyoPrizeShop XP Mangostan, Kuests XP, KyoDiscounts XP VX, ACE & MV, KChest XP VX & ACE 2016, KTelePort XP, KSkillMax XP & VX & ACE, Gem Roulette XP VX & VX Ace, KRespawnPoint XP, VX & VX Ace, GiveAway XP VX & ACE, Klearance XP VX & ACE, KUnits XP VX, ACE & Gosu 2017, KLevel XP, KRumors XP & ACE, KMonsterPals XP VX & ACE, KStatsRefill XP VX & ACE, KLotto XP VX & ACE, KItemDesc XP & VX, KPocket XP & VX, OpenChest XP VX & ACE
Maranatha!
The Internet might be either your friend or enemy. It just depends on whether or not she has a bad hair day.
My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
Give me a free copy of your completed game if you include at least 3 of my scripts!
Just some scripts I've already published on the board...
KyoGemBoost XP VX & ACE, RandomEnkounters XP, KSkillShop XP, Kolloseum States XP, KEvents XP, KScenario XP & Gosu, KyoPrizeShop XP Mangostan, Kuests XP, KyoDiscounts XP VX, ACE & MV, KChest XP VX & ACE 2016, KTelePort XP, KSkillMax XP & VX & ACE, Gem Roulette XP VX & VX Ace, KRespawnPoint XP, VX & VX Ace, GiveAway XP VX & ACE, Klearance XP VX & ACE, KUnits XP VX, ACE & Gosu 2017, KLevel XP, KRumors XP & ACE, KMonsterPals XP VX & ACE, KStatsRefill XP VX & ACE, KLotto XP VX & ACE, KItemDesc XP & VX, KPocket XP & VX, OpenChest XP VX & ACE
