Trump’s Controversial Plan to “Own” Gaza Incites Global Backlash

U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly targeting the United States and its allies, including Israel. According to a White House official, an executive order will be signed on Thursday that will institute financial and visa sanctions against individuals and their families who assist in ICC investigations involving U.S. citizens or allies. This move underscores ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the ICC, which has been scrutinizing actions taken by U.S. forces in conflict zones. Official support for Israel and its operations in disputed territories further complicates U.S.-ICC relations. The sanctions are part of a broader strategy to protect American personnel overseas from perceived legal overreach. The announcement comes as many experts view the ICC's actions as a challenge to U.S. sovereignty, with Trump stating that such measures are necessary to uphold national interests. The formalization of these sanctions is expected to escalate diplomatic tensions with institutions that the U.S. has historically critiqued.

WhatsApp has accused Paragon Solutions, an Israeli spyware firm, of breaching the privacy of 90 users, including journalists and activists, last year. The allegations emerged shortly after WhatsApp's legal victory over NSO Group, another Israeli company known for its powerful hacking tools. According to WhatsApp, the targeted individuals included Italian journalist Francesco Cancellato, NGO founder Luca Casarini, and Libyan activist Husam El Gomati. Researchers at the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto plan to release a report detailing the breaches. Paragon Solutions’ spyware, Graphite, can reportedly access mobile phone data without user knowledge, raising alarms regarding its use by government clients globally. The firm maintains a "zero-tolerance policy" for illicit targeting and recently terminated its contract with Italy following these revelations. This incident underscores growing concerns about the potential misuse of spyware, especially in the United States, where Paragon had reportedly signed a $2 million contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, later paused amid scrutiny.

A recent study has identified shared genetic variants among eight psychiatric disorders, suggesting a potential unified approach to treatment. Researchers from the University of North Carolina discovered that conditions including autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anorexia share a common genetic basis. This revelation builds on previous findings where 109 genes linked to these conditions were identified, demonstrating why many exhibit overlapping symptoms. "The proteins produced by these genes are highly connected to other proteins," stated geneticist Hyejung Won, emphasizing that alterations in these proteins could lead to extensive brain effects. The team analyzed nearly 18,000 genetic variations, identifying 683 variants affecting gene regulation during brain development, raising hopes that understanding these genetic components will foster targeted therapeutic strategies. This research, published in the journal *Cell*, underscores that approximately 1 in 8 individuals live with a psychiatric condition, highlighting the significance of developing effective interventions targeting shared genetic factors.