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Hoopoe Hub: your daily dose of news, memes, and everything in between

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More than six out of 10 people in #France support a boycott against #McDonald’s, #CocaCola, #Tesla, and other #AmericanProducts in response to #DonaldTrump’s on-again, off-again #tariffs threatening to destabilize the world #economy.

An Ifop study for https://t.co/npuKfDgrqv polled a “representative national sample of 1,000 people, representative of the French population aged 18 and over,” and it revealed that one in three French people had been actively avoiding American products.

This avoidance, which is known as “Le Boycott” and is denoted on social media by the #BoycottUSA hashtag, has already lessened the view of the United States in France’s eye.

This, according to The @Guardian, has done incalculable damage to the view of the United States in the eyes of Europeans, as France is America’s third-largest European trading partner.

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US President #DonaldTrump has launched a sweeping purge within the U.S. National Security Council following the leak of classified military plans concerning #Yemen. What is happening inside the White House?

According to The @WashingtonPost, Trump dismissed National Security Agency (#NSA) Director and Cyber Command Chief #TimothyHaugh, along with his deputy, #WendyNoble, in response to the Yemen leaks.

Meanwhile, @Axios reported that Trump has also fired several senior National Security Council (NSC) officials—up to 10 in total—while firmly standing by his National Security Advisor, #MikeWaltz.

Additionally, @CNN confirmed that the dismissals extended to the NSC’s Director of Intelligence Affairs, Senior Director for Legislative Affairs, and Senior Director for Technology and National Security.

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Amnesty International called on the Syrian government to ensure accountability for “sectarian massacres” targeting the #Alawite minority in #Syria's coastal region last month.

In a statement, the organization urged the Syrian government to "take immediate steps to ensure that no person or group is targeted on the basis of their sect,” emphasizing that uncovering the truth, delivering justice, and providing reparations are "are crucial to ending cycles of atrocities.”

“The massacres must be investigated as war crimes,” it added.

Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnès Callamard accused government-affiliated “militias” of deliberately targeting civilians from the Alawite minority in “gruesome reprisal attacks – shooting individuals at close range in cold blood.”

#Sharaa #alJolani #HTS

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US President #DonaldTrump has announced universal 10% tariffs on imports to the US, calling it "Liberation Day."

He unveiled a 10% tariff on #UK imports and 20% on #EU goods, marking a major shift in global trade. A 25% tariff on all foreign-made cars will also take effect from midnight.

Trump said he will start a "golden age" for America and added that it's time for the US to "prosper" in a speech which hit out at major trade partners #Canada and #Mexico.

#Tariffs are a tax on goods as they enter the country, proportional to the value of the import. The charge is paid by the domestic company that imports the goods and not the foreign company that exports them.

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#Qatar and the #UAE have joined Israeli and U.S. forces to participate in the ongoing multinational air exercise Iniochos 2025 at the #Andravida Air Base, #Greece.

The participation of these countries together highlights a significant realignment in regional military cooperation.

Amid escalating #MiddleEast conflicts—with U.S. rhetoric rising against #Iran and attacks on #Houthi in #Yemen— the exercise signals strengthening security ties between Arab states and #Israel.

The #UnitedStates is participating with F-16 fighters and KC-46 and KC-135 refueling aircraft. Israel has deployed a G-550 aircraft.

The UAE is contributing with Mirage 2000-9 jets, and Qatar has sent F-15 fighters, according to the Hellenic Air Force (HAF).

The exercise, which runs from March 31 to April 11, 2025, includes a diverse array of air forces from allied and partner nations, including France, Italy, Spain and India.

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Foundation:
Formed during the early years of the global war on Syria.

Location:
Based near the U.S. military base in Al-Tanf.

Composition:
A group of defected officers and soldiers primarily from Syria’s eastern provinces.

Supporting Countries:
The United States and Jordan.

Why is it back in the spotlight now?
Fighters from this force have entered the city of Al-Dumayr in the #Damascus countryside, assuming security responsibilities and managing checkpoints.

This unexpected move signals that the United States has effectively established a presence on the outskirts of Damascus, potentially altering military dynamics in the region.

It also poses a challenge to #Turkey’s ambitions of expanding southward from northern #Syria and securing control over #Palmyra in central Syria, where #Ankara is reportedly eyeing the construction of a large military base.

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Following the Signal leaks that rocked the #WhiteHouse, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary finds himself at the center of yet another major security scandal, as detailed by the @washingtonpost .

Members of the U.S. #NationalSecurity Council reportedly used their personal email accounts to exchange classified information, including details on advanced weapons systems and sensitive military sites.

Aides and the Homeland Security Secretary allegedly used #Gmail to conduct secret communications with other government agencies—bypassing secure communication channels entirely.

#Trump #DonaldTrump #SecurityScandal

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A Saudi source told @thetehrantimes that #SaudiArabia, the #UAE, and #Kuwait have secretly informed #Tehran that they will not allow the United States of America to use their airbases for any strikes against #Iran.

The source reportedly further stated that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have also assured Iran that the restriction extends to any logistical support for such operations.

This includes prohibiting U.S. aerial refueling aircraft or reconnaissance planes from participating in any mission that would facilitate an attack on Iran.

#Trump #IranWar

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The Islamic Republic of #Iran has warned that it will target the #ChagosIslands, home to the U.S.-British #DiegoGarcia military base, if the United States launches an attack on Iranian territory, according to The Telegraph.

Diego Garcia is the largest island in the Chagos Archipelago, a coral atoll in the central Indian Ocean. The UK leased it to the United States in 1966 for a 50-year period.

The U.S. established a naval and airbase there after forcibly expelling the island’s inhabitants between 1967 and 1973. Since then, the island has been closed off to tourists and media access.

Operational since 1977, the base features a 3,600-meter runway for military cargo planes and a deep-water port capable of accommodating two aircraft carriers simultaneously.

The UK extended the lease for an additional 20 years starting from 2016.

#Trump #IranWar

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According to @alakhbarnews #SaudiArabia and the #UAE are eagerly awaiting the execution of a military landing operation by #Aden forces at the port of #Hodeidah.

Persian Gulf Arab States media outlets are advocating for the necessity of providing logistical, operational, and intelligence support for the landing operation in Hodeidah—ensuring that the Aden government seizes control of one of the most strategic ports on the #RedSea without being dragged into a war of attrition.

Such a scenario, they argue, "would play into the hands of the #Houthis [#Ansarullah], who aim to turn the city into a humanitarian flashpoint to elicit international sympathy and appeal to global conscience".

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Brigadier General Saif Al-Din Boulad, known as "Abu Bakr," has been appointed as the new commander of the "76th Division," despite his faction, Al-Hamzat, being implicated in committing massacres against #Alawites, Shias and Christians in the Syrian coast over the past month.

Boulad, a former first lieutenant, was among the first military defectors from the Syrian regime in 2011. He later took command of Al-Hamza Division, a faction operating under the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army and accused of severe human rights violations against civilians in northern and northwestern #Syria.

In mid-August 2023, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on both Boulad and his faction for their involvement in these crimes.

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European far-right leaders were in #Jerusalem on Thursday for a conference organized by the Israeli government aimed at combating antisemitism.

The event was shunned by many mainstream Jewish leaders because of the guest list a who's-who of Europe's radical right.
Among the invitees was Jordan Bardella, head of the far-right French Rassemblement National Party, formerly known as Front National.

The party was founded by Jean-Marie Le Pen and other Nazi collaborators, who were known for their antisemitic remarks and for relativizing the Holocaust.

Other attendees included EU representatives as well as politicians from the Spanish Vox Party, the Sweden Democrats Party as well as the Hungarian Fidesz party.

The far-right guest list sparked criticism and cancellations.

German Anti-Semitism Commissioner Felix Klein, as well as the British Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis canceled their participation.

#Israel

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#Trump hinted that he might grant #China a slight tariff reduction if a deal over the Chinese-owned social media platform #TikTok goes through. He also suggested extending the deadline if no agreement is reached.

The U.S. president stated: “When it comes to TikTok, China will have to play a role—perhaps by giving approval, and I believe they will. Maybe I’ll grant them a slight #tariff reduction or something similar to make it happen.”

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A new security scandal has hit the #Trump administration as media reports a major data breach exposing senior U.S. security officials’ information online.

According to an investigation by the German magazine #DerSpiegel, phone numbers, email addresses, and even passwords belonging to top U.S. security officials were found online.

Among those affected are National Security Advisor #MikeWaltz, Vice-President #JDVance, #CIA Director #JohnRatcliffe, White House chief of staff #SusieWiles, U.S. Intelligence Coordinator #TulsiGabbard, and Secretary of Defense #PeteHegseth.

The group debated policy and discussed operational details about the impending US military strike on #Yemen – conversations that provided a rare near-real-time look at the inner workings of Trump's senior #nationalsecurity team.

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The Lebanese authorities did not view the cancellation of the Lebanese delegation's visit to #Syria, led by the Minister of Defense, as a diplomatically appropriate move by the new Syrian administration.

According to information obtained Lebanese newspapers, the official reasoning for the cancellation or postponement—reportedly linked to the imminent formation of a new Syrian government—might have been acceptable had the delay been announced in the past few days rather than just hours before the delegation’s scheduled departure.

Preliminary assessments suggest that the cancellation or postponement is tied to ongoing developments within Syria, as well as unfolding events in #Turkey.

Additionally, while government reshuffling in Syria has been cited as a factor, early indications do not suggest an intention to replace the defense minister.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese-Syrian border issue could also see new developments in the near future.

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Palestinian journalist Moataz Azaiza sparked widespread controversy after appearing in a sponsored advertisement for a company offering citizenship through investment. In December 2024, he announced that he had obtained a second passport, describing it as "freedom without limits."

This led some to accuse him of promoting displacement, an effort frowned upon in much of the Arab world as #DonaldTrump and #Israel seek mass emigration out of #Gaza.

A U.S.-based company that provides citizenship and residence services in the #MiddleEast created the advertisement, which debuted in December 2024 and reappeared in March 2025.

Fans reacted sharply to Azaiza's participation in the campaign, with many expressing dissatisfaction and rage at what they saw as a betrayal of his public persona as an advocate for Gaza.

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The scandal, dubbed #QatarGate by Israeli media, has unveiled a complex and tangled web of dubious dealings, transactions that are outright criminal under Israeli law.

Allegations suggest that #Netanyahu’s office and his inner circle leveraged their influence to enhance #Doha’s image both within #Israel and internationally while facilitating the transfer of Qatari funds to #Hamas.

These funds, it is claimed, were instrumental in preparations for the #October7 operation.

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In search of safety, the #UN Refugee Agency has revealed that more than 21,000 people have fled ongoing hostilities in #Syria this month, seeking refuge in neighboring #Lebanon.

According to the United Nations, the persistent violence in early March has led to a continuous daily influx of displaced individuals into northern Lebanon.

UN figures, based on data from Lebanese authorities and the Lebanese Red Cross, confirm the arrival of 21,637 new refugees from Syria.

#AhmadSharaa #AlJolani

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The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (#IRGC) has unveiled new missile systems stationed on three strategic islands in the #PersianGulf, asserting their capability to target enemy bases, ships, and assets in the vicinity, according to state media reports on Saturday.

According to Agence France-Presse (AFP), the weapons have been deployed on the islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, near the strategic Strait of #Hormuz—a vital global shipping route. The IRGC has also recently conducted military drills in the area.

Speaking to state television, IRGC Navy Commander Ali Reza Tangsiri stated, “We have a strategy to arm this group of islands.”

Saturday’s announcement comes as #Iran prepares to respond to a message from U.S. President #DonaldTrump, who urged #Tehran to resume nuclear negotiations while warning of potential military action should it refuse.

#IranUSWar

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Lebanese daily @alakhbarnews reported that #SaudiArabia remains firm in its stance, maintaining economic pressure on #Lebanon.
According to visitors to #Riyadh, the kingdom has conveyed that it will not contribute "a single penny" to Lebanon’s reconstruction efforts.
Well-informed sources indicate that President #JosephAoun indirectly received this message during his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince #MohammedbinSalman earlier this month.

Additionally, he was reportedly met with a firm Saudi refusal to lift the travel ban on its citizens visiting Beirut.

During their discussions, bin Salman reportedly questioned Aoun on whether he could guarantee the safety of Saudi nationals traveling along Beirut’s airport road, which is lined with images of #Hezbollah and Iranian leaders. He remarked, “At the very least, remove the pictures.”

Upon his return, Aoun relayed this request to Speaker of Parliament #NabihBerri, inquiring about the possibility of reducing the number of such images along the route.

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