White House teleprompter operator fired over insider betting allegations

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the Peace Council has reached an agreement on the complete disarmament of Hamas and all other armed groups operating in Gaza. The announcement marks a significant development in ongoing efforts to broker a lasting ceasefire and political settlement in the region. Trump attributed the breakthrough to the work of the Peace Council, a body involved in mediating the Gaza conflict. The declaration signals a potential shift in the trajectory of the war, though details on implementation and verification remain unclear from the excerpt. If realized, full disarmament would represent one of the most consequential outcomes of international diplomatic efforts since the conflict escalated. The announcement is being closely watched by regional and global stakeholders given its far-reaching implications for Middle East stability.

Curaçao's UPB party has withdrawn its support from coalition partner MPB effective immediately, according to a letter sent to acting Island Governor Jeannine Wong Loi Sing. The move signals a collapse of the coalition arrangement between the two parties and represents a significant political shake-up on the island. The decision was formalized through official correspondence to the acting governor, indicating the split carries immediate institutional weight. The withdrawal of support effectively ends the political trust between the two parties, raising questions about the stability of the current governing coalition. The development could trigger a political realignment or force negotiations to form a new governing majority. This latest rupture adds to the ongoing political volatility that has historically characterized Curaçao's coalition politics.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov stated this week that the Kremlin labeled him a terrorist because he refused to cooperate with mass surveillance and censorship demands from Russian authorities. Durov was formally charged in Russia earlier this week, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing tension between the messaging platform and the Russian government. Telegram, which has hundreds of millions of users worldwide, has long resisted government requests to hand over user data or restrict content. Durov, who was born in Russia but holds citizenship in several countries including France and the UAE, has previously faced pressure from multiple governments over Telegram's encryption and privacy features. The charges in Russia come months after Durov was briefly detained in France in August 2024 in connection with a separate investigation into illegal activity on the platform. The situation highlights the growing global clash between governments seeking to control digital communications and tech platforms that champion user privacy. The case is being closely watched by free speech advocates and digital rights organizations worldwide.