Headline
Trump Names In-law, Massad Boulos, As Middle East Advisor
Published
9 months agoon
By
Editor
US President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday named Lebanese-American businessman, Massad Boulos, as his senior advisor on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.
“I am proud to announce that Massad Boulos will serve as Senior Advisor to the President on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs,” Trump posted on Truth Social of the appointment, which puts his daughter Tiffany’s father-in-law in a major White House position.
Boulos was a key emissary for the Trump campaign, helping to mobilize Arab American and Muslim voters, many of whom were angry over President Joe Biden’s steadfast support for Israel in the Gaza war even as the civilian death toll rose into the tens of thousands.
The businessman will take over a difficult portfolio, with Israel’s war still raging in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon seeing early violations, and rebel forces in Syria making advances against the government of Bashar al-Assad.
Boulos’s son, Michael, is married to Trump’s daughter Tiffany. He is the latest family member to be appointed to a key position.
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On Saturday, Trump named real estate executive Charles Kushner — the father of his son-in-law Jared — as his pick to be the US ambassador to France, the latest case of Trump eschewing experience or expertise as the criterion for joining his team.
“Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene,” said Trump of his appointment to the Middle East advisor job.
“He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community.”
The Republican referred to Boulos as “a dealmaker.”
Boulos was a key emissary for the Trump campaign, helping to mobilize Arab American and Muslim voters, many of whom were angry over President Joe Biden’s steadfast support for Israel in the Gaza war even as the civilian death toll rose into the tens of thousands.
The businessman will take over a difficult portfolio, with Israel’s war still raging in Gaza, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon seeing early violations, and rebel forces in Syria making advances against the government of Bashar al-Assad.
Boulos’s son, Michael, is married to Trump’s daughter Tiffany.
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On Saturday, Trump named real estate executive Charles Kushner — the father of his son-in-law Jared — as his pick to be the US ambassador to France, the latest case of Trump eschewing experience or expertise as the criterion for joining his team.
“Massad is an accomplished lawyer and a highly respected leader in the business world, with extensive experience on the International scene,” said Trump of his appointment to the Middle East advisor job.
“He has been a longtime proponent of Republican and Conservative values, an asset to my Campaign, and was instrumental in building tremendous new coalitions with the Arab American Community.”
‘Finish it quickly’
Trump often promised on the campaign trail to bring a swift end to the wars in Gaza, Ukraine and elsewhere, without specifying how he would do so.
Speaking to UK-based broadcaster Sky News in October, Boulos said it was important to finish the war “quickly.”
“What do we mean by finishing it quickly is, I mean, you have some military targets that you have to accomplish, which is to get rid of the Hamas infrastructure and ability to launch new attacks and so on,” he said.
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“Let’s move to peace, and let’s move to rebuilding Gaza and rebuilding Lebanon,” he added.
“We want Gaza to be prosperous. We want the Palestinian people to be prosperous, to live in peace, to live in harmony, side by side with the Israelis and full security on both sides.”
Boulos’s family operates at least two automotive parts distribution companies in Nigeria.
The businessman, a member of the Christian Maronite community, has in the past run in vain for a seat in the Lebanese parliament.
Controversial picks
Trump has come under fire for a series of controversial picks for important posts in his incoming White House administration.
His choices have shown a pattern, so far, of selecting people, often wealthy, who are close to his family or of proven loyalty — rather than exhibiting experience or expertise in a given field.
The elder Kushner, who is also a lawyer, served time in a federal prison for tax evasion. Trump pardoned him in 2020 towards the end of his first term.
On Saturday, Trump named loyalist Kash Patel as the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), a move that would replace the agency’s current leader before the end of his term.
A fierce defender of the incoming president, Patel supports the Republican hardliner notion of an anti-Trump “deep state” of allegedly biased government bureaucrats working to stifle Trump from behind the scenes, even having written a book on the subject.
PUNCH
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Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a major cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, in a move that could reshape the direction of his administration.
As part of the shake-up, David Lammy, a senior Labour figure and former Foreign Secretary, has been appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, taking over key roles previously held by Rayner.
The cabinet reshuffle comes at a politically sensitive time for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose leadership is under growing pressure from both within the Labour Party and the broader electorate.
The sudden resignation of Angela Rayner, a high-profile figure with strong working-class support, has exposed internal tensions and sparked concerns over the party’s unity and electoral strategy.
According to BBC News on Friday, the reshuffle is seen as a crucial test for Starmer’s leadership, especially as Rayner had been a prominent and working-class figure whose departure may weaken his appeal to core Labour voters.
READ ALSO:UK PM Starmer Urges Israel To Stop Gaza Assault
Key Cabinet reassignment
-Lammy transitions from Foreign Secretary to Deputy PM and Justice Secretary.
-Yvette Cooper moves from Home Secretary to Foreign Secretary.
-Shabana Mahmood is promoted from Justice Secretary to Home Secretary.
Other notable appointments include:
-Steve Reed as Housing Secretary
-Pat McFadden as head of a newly expanded Work and Pensions department
-Douglas Alexander as Scotland Secretary
-Liz Kendall moves to Science and Technology
READ ALSO:UK PM Starmer Urges Israel To Stop Gaza Assault
-Emma Reynolds becomes Environment Secretary
-Peter Kyle appointed Business Secretary
-Jonathan Reynolds named Chief Whip
-Alan Campbell becomes Leader of the House of Commons
Meanwhile, Lucy Powell and Ian Murray were removed from their cabinet roles.
Political Fallout and Internal Tensions
READ ALSO:UK Bars Over 100 Job Roles From Foreign Recruitment To Curb Migration
Labour now faces mounting political pressure. Observers note Rayner’s exit leaves a vacuum for constituents drawn to her working-class credentials, possibly intensifying internal party divisions.
Her resignation also triggers a deputy leadership contest, opening up a battleground between the party’s centrist and left-leaning factions.
Moreover, Labour’s popularity has waned, with opposition to policies on welfare and immigration increasing support for Reform UK.
Starmer’s government’s handling of economic pressures and an upcoming £40 billion budget shortfall deepen the political stakes.
READ ALSO:Putin Not Serious About Peace, Says UK’s Starmer
Lammy Steps into Key Role at a Crucial Juncture
Lammy’s appointment is viewed as strategically significant. Known for his reform credentials and advocacy for criminal justice reform, his new position comes as Parliament prepares for the Sentencing Bill.
The Prison Reform Trust welcomed his appointment, noting the timing offers “an important opportunity to move away from the failed cycle of overcrowding and crisis management.”
This reshuffle represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of Keir Starmer’s administration. With Labour under heightened scrutiny and internal frictions rising, the effectiveness of the newly configured cabinet will be a litmus test of Starmer’s leadership, particularly as the party approaches a difficult budget season, rising populist pressures, and internal power shifts ahead of the next deputy leadership election.
Headline
Nigerian Arrested In Poland For Using Fake Residence Permit
Published
8 hours agoon
September 5, 2025By
Editor
Polish authorities have confirmed the arrest of a 26-year-old Nigerian citizen on charges of using a counterfeit residence document.
The individual was detained by the Polish Border Guard, known as Straż Graniczna, as part of ongoing efforts to combat irregular migration and document forgery.
This information, which was obtained by PUNCH Online on Friday, was published on the Border Guard Headquarters’ news outlet on Thursday, September 4, 2025.
The BG HQs of Poland is the central unit which services the Border Guard Commander in Chief by supporting and coordinating actions of the BG units.
READ ALSO:21-year-old Nigerian Arrested For Allegedly Ass@ulting Man At Gym In Poland [Video]
The report indicated that, “the Nigerian man admitted that he ordered the document online while still in the UK, received it by post, and paid €2,000 for it.
“It turned out that the Nigerian had no legal basis for staying in Poland as he had been in the country illegally for four days.”
Consequently, the Commander of the Border Guard ordered him to leave the country within 20 days and imposed a three-year ban on entry to the Schengen Area.
In addition, he was charged under Article 270 § 1 of the Penal Code – for using a counterfeit document.
READ ALSO:Legal Chaos In Poland As President, New Govt Clash
The man pleaded guilty and voluntarily submitted to the penalty, but declined to provide further explanation.
According to sources specialising in immigration law, many individuals who use these fake documents are victims of elaborate scams.
As one legal expert noted in a report, “Until the situation was clarified, Ibrahim was detained in prison.”
READ ALSO:Poland To Pay Woman Denied Abortion €16,000 Compensation
Law enforcement agencies across Poland have been actively working to dismantle these criminal networks.
A recent, large-scale operation supported by Europol led to the arrest of dozens of suspects and the seizure of thousands of counterfeit documents, including residence permits, visas, and other identification.
Headline
US To Cut Military Aid To European Countries Near Russia — Official
Published
8 hours agoon
September 5, 2025By
Editor
The United States is to end long-running military assistance for European countries close to Russia, as it pushes the continent to play a greater role in its own defence, an official in one of the countries confirmed on Friday.
“Last week, the US Defense Department informed the countries that, starting from its next financial period, funding will be reduced to zero,” the defence policy director in Lithuania’s defence ministry, Vaidotas Urbelis, told reporters.
The decision comes as US President Donald Trump struggles to end Moscow’s three-and-a-half-year invasion of Ukraine.
Urbelis confirmed reports in The Washington Post and The Financial Times, citing unnamed officials saying the move was part of Trump’s efforts to cut US expenditure abroad.
READ ALSO:Trump Moves To Cut More Foreign Aid, Risking Shutdown
The FT said US officials had told European diplomats last week that Washington would no longer fund programmes to train and equip eastern European militaries along Russia’s border.
The Washington Post said the funding to be cut was worth several hundred million dollars.
In Lithuania’s case, the cuts would impact “the purchase of US weapons and other equipment, and training”, Urbelis said.
He added that it “will not have an impact on the US troop presence in the region”, which was funded through a separate US budget allocation.
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A White House official said the move hewed to a January executive order Trump had signed that reevaluated US foreign aid.
“This action has been coordinated with European countries in line with the executive order and the president’s longstanding emphasis on ensuring Europe takes more responsibility for its own defence,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
Trump has long been sceptical of both US defence spending in Europe and aid for Ukraine, pushing some of Washington’s closest allies to play a greater role on both fronts.
The Lithuanian defence ministry official said that the US funding for training and equipping its military covered between a third and 80 percent of total military aid received by the country.
Estonia’s Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur told the Postimees daily that he viewed the US move as “especially symbolic, in a negative way.
AFP
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