Trump eases rules on military raids and airstrikes

The increase in the range of people who can be targeted by the U.S. military dismantles Biden-era mandates that included more safeguards.

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Niger junta to consider proposal for 5-year transition to non-military rule

Niger’s National Conference has submitted a proposal to return the country to non-military rule after a five-year transition period during which the current military government will stay in power
ABC News - Feb. 20
Judge blocks immigration raids at religious groups suing Trump administration

A federal judge Monday blocked the Trump administration from conducting immigration raids at Quaker, Baptist and Sikh places of worship that are suing over its new enforcement policy. Policy ...
The Hill - 3d
I’m Still Here review – wrenching true-life saga of a Brazilian family torn apart by military rule

When a congressman is abducted from his beachfront home in 1970s Rio, his wife and children are left reeling – for decades – in Walter Salles’s Oscar-nominated drama starring an extraordinary ...
The Guardian - 5d
Trump Plans to Use Military Bases to Detain Migrants

Also, archaeologists found a pharaoh’s tomb. Here’s the latest at the end of Friday.
The New York Times - 6d
Trump shakes up top military leadership

Late Friday night, President Trump fired General Charles "C.Q." Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called for the firing last year due to Brown's ...
CBS News - 5d
Latest news on legal rulings against Trump administration

The Trump administration was dealt several legal blows in cases involving USAID, federal grants and the refugee programs targeted by the president. CBS News' Katrina Kaufman reports.
CBS News - 1d
Trump Plans to Use Military Sites Across the Country to Detain Undocumented Immigrants

The move would be a drastic escalation by the White House to militarize immigration enforcement.
The New York Times - 6d
Trump fires top US military officer in Pentagon shake-up

President removes CQ Brown and other senior leaders who he blames for pushing diversity, equity and inclusion policies
Financial Times - 6d
Trump fires nation’s top-ranking military officer in latest job cuts

President Donald Trump fired the nation’s top-ranking military officer, the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. CQ Brown Jr. It’s the first of many more job cuts expected with thousands of ...
NBC News - 5d
Senate Democrat after Brown ouster: Trump's 'quest for power' endangers military

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) offered President Trump a fiery rebuke late Friday, admonishing the president for the administration's moves to overhaul the Defense Department, which he says are rankling ...
The Hill - 5d
Trump fires top-ranking military officer in an unprecedented move

President Trump fired Four Star Gen. Charles "CQ" Brown, the highest-ranking military officer in the U.S. Trump said he will nominate Three Star Air Force Let. Gen. Dan Caine as the replacement. ...
CBS News - 5d
Democratic Sen. Reed says Trump is trying to politicize the military

Sen. Jack Reed, ranking Democrat on Armed Services Committee, said Trump’s purge of senior Pentagon leaders is a threat to the nonpartisan nature of the military.
ABC News - 4d
Hegseth: Fired military lawyers were potential 'roadblocks' to Trump orders

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday that the three fired judge advocates general (JAGs) were potential “roadblocks” to President Trump’s orders. "It's not about roadblocks to an agenda,” ...
The Hill - 3d
Don’t be fooled by double-speak on Trump’s transgender military ban

Rep. Gil Cisneros urges the military not to return to policies that ban transgender people from serving as themselves, as such policies undermine military readiness and national security.
The Hill - 1d
Starmer to warn Trump that peace in Ukraine needs US military cover

UK prime minister heads for Washington as president reiterates need for Europe to provide the security for Kyiv
Financial Times - 1d
Keir Starmer to press Donald Trump on US military back-up to Ukraine

Also in today’s newsletter, what lawyers are saying about the US president’s ‘gold card’ visa scheme
Financial Times - 19h
House lawmakers want Trump to pressure EU to sanction Iran military group

Two House lawmakers are calling on President Trump to pressure the European Union to designate as a terrorist organization Iran’s premier military force, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ...
The Hill - 18h
Trump administration can continue mass firings of federal workers, judge rules

US judge rejects bid by group of labor unions to halt president’s government overhaul through Musk-led ‘Doge’. The Trump administration can for now continue its mass firings of federal employees, ...
The Guardian - Feb. 20
Trump Administration Stalls Scientific Research Despite Court Ruling

Using an arcane law, officials have effectively delayed funding from the National Institutes of Health, leaving medical studies in jeopardy.
The New York Times - 6d
Trump administration mass layoffs can continue, judge rules

A judge allowed the Department of Government Efficiency's federal workforce cuts to continue on Friday. Probationary workers and IRS staff are on the chopping block as the Defense Department ...
CBS News - 6d
Macron and Starmer Have Played Trump’s Game Before, but the Rules Are Changing

The leaders of France and Britain are both due to meet with President Trump this week. Approaches previously tried with him may no longer work.
The New York Times - 4d
Trump: Apple should get rid of DEI rules instead of making 'adjustments'

President Trump on Wednesday urged Apple to get rid of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) rules after the tech giant’s shareholders voted down a proposal to scrap its diversity commitments. ...
The Hill - 1d
NATO holds military drills as leaders express concerns over Trump's shifting foreign policy

In Romania, which shares a border with Ukraine, NATO is holding its largest combat exercises of the year. The drills come as European leaders are expressing rising concern over the military ...
CBS News - Feb. 20
Willingness to ease off ‘debt brake’ may decide the German election

Rule dating from 2009 that limits borrowing looks vulnerable as main political parties promise to revive stalled economy. Germany is used to running its economy with the brake on. Ever since the ...
The Guardian - 6d
Trump administration does not have to allow Associated Press access yet, judge rules

A federal judge on Monday declined to issue a temporary restraining order for The Associated Press in its effort to gain full access to the Trump administration, asking for a fuller briefing before ...
NBC News - 3d
How FDR-era Supreme Court ruling relates to disputes over Trump firings

President Trump's firings of the members of independent agencies and boards have prompted a string of legal fights that could set the Supreme Court up to reconsider and potentially overturn a ...
CBS News - 2d
Trump’s nominee for solicitor general won’t rule out ignoring court orders in ‘extreme cases’

Politico - 1d
Trump issues executive order reinforcing hospital price transparency rule from first term

President Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order designed to reinforce an older executive order issued during his first term that requires hospital to publish their prices online, a rule that ...
The Hill - 1d
HUD secretary announcing elimination of rule Trump warned would 'destroy the value of houses'

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner said he would terminate the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule on Wednesday, repealing the law which was ...
The Hill - 1d
Federal judge rules Trump administration can fire career intel officers who had DEI jobs

A judge ruled the Trump administration can fire dozens of intelligence officers with CIA and ODNI who had temporary assignments working on diversity programs.
NBC News - 16h
Gold £4.8m toilet raid 'sounded like explosion'

Three men are standing trial over the theft of a gold toilet which had been part of an exhibition.
BBC News - 1d
California family leaves the US, scared of potential ICE raid

A California family, fearful of immigration raids, has decided to pick up their lives and leave the United States.
ABC News - Feb. 20
Pakistan security forces kill 6 militants in a raid in the northwest

Pakistan's military says troops acting on intelligence have raided a militant hideout in a former stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban in the country's northwest
ABC News - 6d
In Syria, Joy at al-Assad’s Demise Turns to Fear of Israeli Raids

Villagers say they worry that incursions into border areas of Syria by Israel’s military could turn into a prolonged occupation. Israel says the raids are needed to protect the border.
The New York Times - 5d
Serbia's police raid civil society groups over USAID funding

Serbia’s police raided the offices of at least four civil society organizations as part of a probe into allegations of abuse of U.S. Agency for International Development funds in the Balkan country
ABC News - 2d
Large ICE raid near Houston leads to around 118 arrests

Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies participated in a large raid outside of Houston targeting undocumented migrants. CBS News' Karen Hua reports.
CBS News - 1d
Dortmund eases past Sporting Lisbon as Champions League focus turns to Real Madrid and Man City

Borussia Dortmund’s routine elimination of Sporting Lisbon was a tame warmup for the Real Madrid-Manchester City showdown in the Champions League playoffs round Wednesday
ABC News - Feb. 19
UK develops AI CV-writing tool to ease pressure on job support staff

Plan will free up work coaches for more ‘valuable’ employment as ministers seek to cut welfare bill
Financial Times - 4d
Rules for Staying Close to Exes

Never talk about sex. Especially the sex you had with each other.
The New York Times - 4h