Trump under fire for likening himself to Napoleon amid attacks on judges

President posted ‘he who saves his country does not violate any laws’ quote attributed to French emperor

Critics rounded on Donald Trump on Sunday for likening himself to Napoleon in a “dictatorial” social media post echoing the French emperor’s assertion that “he who saves his country does not violate any laws”.

The post came at the end of another tumultuous week early in Trump’s second presidency, during which acolytes questioned the legitimacy of judges making a succession of rulings to stall his administration’s aggressive seizure or dismantling of federal institutions and budgets.

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Hizbollah supporters protest in Lebanon as tensions rise over Iran flights – Financial Times

  1. Hizbollah supporters protest in Lebanon as tensions rise over Iran flights  Financial Times
  2. Lebanon blocked Iran planes after US warnings that Israel could shoot them down, source says  The Times of Israel
  3. Tear gas fired at Hezbollah supporters protesting Lebanon blocking Iranian flight  Reuters
  4. Iran navigates regional changes amid rising tensions in Lebanon and Syria - analysis  The Jerusalem Post
  5. Iran Halts Flights to Lebanon Over Security Risks, IRNA Says  Bloomberg
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MLK’s family fear new batch of assassination files will have FBI ‘smears’

Family of Martin Luther King Jr says Trump mandate could revive J Edgar Hoover’s efforts to discredit revered activist

The family of Martin Luther King Jr has expressed concern over Donald Trump’s executive order to release records surrounding the civil rights leader’s assassination, saying the president’s mandate could revive efforts to discredit the revered activist with the public.

Speaking to Axios, a friend of the King family said: “We know J Edgar Hoover tried to destroy Dr King’s legacy, and the family doesn’t want that effort to prevail,” referring to the late former FBI director and his agency’s years-long surveillance of King as well his associates.

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Israel’s Netanyahu signals he’s moving ahead with Trump’s idea to transfer Palestinians from Gaza – The Associated Press

  1. Israel's Netanyahu signals he's moving ahead with Trump's idea to transfer Palestinians from Gaza  The Associated Press
  2. What will DOGE do to the Pentagon?  The Economist
  3. Trump’s Proposal to Expel Palestinians From Gaza Hangs Over Rubio’s Israel Trip  The New York Times
  4. Trump says Palestinians won't have the right to return to Gaza under his plan: "I would own this"  CBS News
  5. Netanyahu: Trump presented the only plan for the Gaza issue that can work  The Jerusalem Post
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A sobering milestone for Gaza and German democracy – Financial Times

  1. A sobering milestone for Gaza and German democracy  Financial Times
  2. 500 days since Oct. 7: Hostages’ families rally, march to Knesset, urge nationwide fast  The Times of Israel
  3. The Destruction of the Israel-Hamas War—in Numbers  TIME
  4. Families of remaining Israeli hostages mark their loved ones' 500 days in captivity  Yahoo
  5. 500 Days of War: Why Now Is the Time for the Two-state Solution  Haaretz
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Congo says Rwanda-backed rebels occupy a 2nd major city in its mineral-rich east – NPR

  1. Congo says Rwanda-backed rebels occupy a 2nd major city in its mineral-rich east  NPR
  2. DRC rebels promise security after seizing Bukavu in country’s east  Al Jazeera English
  3. Rebels Take Another City in Mineral-Rich Congo  The Wall Street Journal
  4. M23 Rebels in Congo Say They Have Entered Bukavu  The New York Times
  5. EU Inaction Amidst Rwanda-Backed Atrocities in Eastern DR Congo  Human Rights Watch
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Secretary Marco Rubio With Margaret Brennan of CBS’s Face the Nation – Department of State

  1. Secretary Marco Rubio With Margaret Brennan of CBS’s Face the Nation  Department of State
  2. Transcript: Secretary of State Marco Rubio on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Feb. 16, 2025  CBS News
  3. Full transcript of "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Feb. 16, 2025  CBS News
  4. Open: This is "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Feb. 16, 2025  CBS News
  5. 2/16: Face the Nation  CBS News
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Egypt draws up Gaza reconstruction plan that would exclude Hamas

Alternative to Trump plan would involve committee of technocrats but future military status of Hamas unresolved

An alternative to Donald Trump’s plan to turn the Gaza Strip into a US-owned “Riviera of the Middle East” is being prepared by Egypt in conjunction with the World Bank, under which Hamas would be formally excluded from governance and control of the territory’s reconstruction.

The process would be handed over on an interim basis to the control of a social or community support committee. No member of Hamas would sit on the committee. But the future military status of Hamas within Gaza is unresolved, which is likely to be a barrier to Israeli endorsement of the plan.

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Bukavu in DR Congo falls to Rwandan-backed M23 rebels – BBC.com

  1. Bukavu in DR Congo falls to Rwandan-backed M23 rebels  BBC.com
  2. Rwanda-backed rebels take second major city in DRC  NBC News
  3. M23 rebels advance into eastern Congo's strategic city of Bukavu  Reuters
  4. M23 rebels are marching across eastern DRC: the interests driving players in the conflict  The Conversation Indonesia
  5. Rebels seen in center of key DR Congo city after claiming takeover  CNN
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Ukraine recaptures frontline village amid signs of slowing Russian advance

Pischane in Donetsk back under Kyiv’s control as Zelenskyy renews call for fighting to end ‘with just and lasting peace’

Ukrainian forces have recaptured a village on the frontline in the country’s east, amid signs Russia’s advance may be slowing down and as Volodymyr Zelenskyy renewed his call for the fighting to end “with a just and lasting peace”.

On Sunday, Ukrainian forces took back the village of Pischane, south-west of the city of Pokrovsk, military officials said. Russian units had made rapid gains in the area in December and January, seizing a string of settlements and threatening to cut off Pokrovsk.

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Europe tries to muscle up as US plots mediation to help end Russia’s war in Ukraine – The Associated Press

  1. Europe tries to muscle up as US plots mediation to help end Russia’s war in Ukraine  The Associated Press
  2. US-Russia talks should not rewrite Europe's security: Finland  Hindustan Times
  3. Finnish PM outlines red lines for Ukraine peace talks on example of Soviet-Finnish war  Ukrainska Pravda
  4. Europe needs 'special envoy' to take part in Ukraine peace talks, says Finnish President.  Kyiv Independent
  5. Europe Should ‘Maximize Pressure’ on U.S. Over Peace Talks With Russia – Stubb  The Moscow Times
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Witkoff says Phase 2 of Gaza deal ‘is absolutely going to begin’ – Ynetnews

  1. Witkoff says Phase 2 of Gaza deal 'is absolutely going to begin'  Ynetnews
  2. LIVE: Israeli negotiators head to Cairo amid push to extend Gaza ceasefire  Al Jazeera English
  3. Middle East crisis live: Israel sends negotiators to Cairo as Marco Rubio heads to Saudi Arabia  The Guardian
  4. Senior security official accuses Netanyahu of working to avoid hostage deal 2nd phase  The Times of Israel
  5. US Mideast envoy says phase two Gaza talks to continue this week  Reuters.com
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Squeezed Between Putin and Trump, Europe Sees a Moment of Truth – The Wall Street Journal

  1. Squeezed Between Putin and Trump, Europe Sees a Moment of Truth  The Wall Street Journal
  2. Europe scrambles for Ukraine influence after bracing Vance speech  NBC News
  3. Europeans are right to be angry with Donald Trump, but they should also be furious with themselves | Andrew Rawnsley  The Guardian
  4. Europe’s Trump dilemma  Al Jazeera English
  5. Trump strangles Europe  Axios
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Knife Attack Suspect in Austria Was Inspired by ISIS, Official Says – The New York Times

  1. Knife Attack Suspect in Austria Was Inspired by ISIS, Official Says  The New York Times
  2. 14-year-old killed, 4 injured in knife attack in Austria  ABC News
  3. Austria says stabbing attack suspect swore allegiance to Islamic State  Reuters
  4. Suspect in fatal stabbing in Austria had possible Islamic State connection, officials say  PBS NewsHour
  5. Teen Killed, 5 People Injured in Austria Stabbing — Which Ended After a Food Delivery Driver Helped Stop the Attack  PEOPLE
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Rally against Germany’s resurgent far right draws thousands in Berlin – FRANCE 24 English

  1. Rally against Germany's resurgent far right draws thousands in Berlin  FRANCE 24 English
  2. German city scarred by Nazi past grapples with rise of far right  Financial Times
  3. German elections are usually dull affairs - but it's different this time  Sky News
  4. 'Grannies Against The Right' Hit German Streets Ahead Of Election  Barron's
  5. What Germany’s East-West divide means for the election  POLITICO Europe
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15 Reported Dead in Stampede at New Delhi Rail Station – The New York Times

  1. 15 Reported Dead in Stampede at New Delhi Rail Station  The New York Times
  2. At least 18 people are dead after a stampede at New Delhi railway station in India  NPR
  3. 7-Year-Old Child Among the at Least 18 People Killed in Stampede at Train Station: Reports  PEOPLE
  4. Indian crowd crush survivors describe chaos as death toll rises  Yahoo
  5. "A Nail Pierced Her Head": Man Who Lost His Daughter, 7, In Delhi Stampede  NDTV
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