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President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer appeared together on Thursday for a joint press conference, where reporters asked about the UK government’s intention to move forward with recognizing a Palestinian state.

When pressed on the subject, Starmer explained that the two leaders had addressed the matter in their talks, stressing that they both see “on the need for peace and a roadmap, because the situation in Gaza is intolerable. The hostages have been held for a very long time, and they must be freed. We need assistance to enter Gaza quickly.”

Starmer elaborated, saying, “In that context of a plan for peace, which we are working hard on. The question of recognition needs to be seen. So part of that overall package, which hopefully takes us from the appalling situation that we’re in now, to the outcome of a safe and secure Israel and a viable Palestinian state.”

Trump then made clear his stance on the hostages, declaring: “I want the hostages released now – right now, not one, two, ‘We’ll give you three more tomorrow,’ like it’s been.”

He emphasized that his administration had been instrumental in securing the release of hostages, recalling meetings with those who had been freed. “There was no humanity, anything. I said ‘Was there any warmth shown?’ And every one of them said ‘not even a little bit.’ It’s amazing. I always ask that question, and the answer always is: ‘Absolutely not.’ I’m shocked to hear it.”

The president stressed, “We have to remember October 7th, one of the worst violent days in the history of the world.”

He went on to remark that the fighting “has been going on for a long time. This isn’t something that started over the last year or two. This has been for decades. But we want it to end; we have to have the hostages back immediately.”

Trump also denounced Hamas for threatening to place hostages in harm’s way to prevent Israeli military action. “That’s pretty brutal. I haven’t heard that one in a long time.”

Touching on the wider debate over Palestinian statehood, he acknowledged a point of contention with the UK leader: “I have a disagreement with the Prime Minister on that, one of our few disagreements.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit reported that four soldiers lost their lives after their vehicle hit an explosive device in the Rafah sector. The Hummer they were traveling in was struck by the blast.

The soldiers who died were named as Major Omri Chai Ben Moshe, 26, from Tzafria; Lieutenant Ron Arieli, 20, from Chadeira; Lieutenant Eitan Avner Ben Yitzchak, 22, from Har Bracha; and Lieutenant Eran Shelem, 23, from Ramat Yochanan.

Alongside the deaths of Major Ben Moshe, Lieutenant Arieli, Lieutenant Ben Yitzchak, and Lieutenant Shelem, a cadet serving in the “Dekel” Battalion at the Officers’ Training School sustained life-threatening injuries.

The wounded cadet was taken to a hospital for urgent treatment, and his relatives were informed. Two additional cadets suffered injuries in the same incident.

According to the IDF, investigators are reviewing the possibility that a Hamas sniper opened fire at the soldiers before the explosive device was triggered, while the unit was carrying out standard operations along the Philadelphi Corridor.

Samaria Governor Yossi Dagan, who was related to Eitan Avner Ben Yitzchak, delivered a tribute: “Eitan grew up in a value-driven, Zionist family, a Torah scholar, a strong believer in settling the land, a frontline fighter, dedicated. Naturally, they established their home in Har Bracha. At their wedding, they held a special memorial for their fallen friends. Our hearts break for the youth, for the family that should have flourished here in Samaria, but now will not.

“Dear Atara, daughter of a longstanding Har Bracha family, who grew up here and brought him to Samaria, now we must accompany him on his final journey. All of us—the council and the settlement—will support the Ben-Yitzchak and Steinbach families in every way possible during this difficult hour. We will strengthen each other and never break; we are here to build the land and prevail.”

The Har Bracha community also issued a statement: “We share in the grief of Atara, a resident who got married only about two months ago. We stand with Atara and the Steinbach family, a longstanding and rooted family in the community, who raise their eight children with dedication in the heart of Samaria.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

[COMMUNICATED]

The average 30-year fixed rate has fallen to 6.26%, its lowest since early October, following the Fed’s rate cut on Wednesday. Refinance applications surged nearly 30% last week as more homeowners rush to lock in lower costs.

WATCH: CCTV cameras show the moment a Houthi drone making struck a hotel in Eilat.

Uber is taking food delivery to new heights—literally. The company just announced a partnership with drone maker Flytrex to roll out autonomous drone deliveries by year’s end in select U.S. Uber Eats pilot markets.

Kamala Harris revealed in her upcoming memoir that she initially wanted Pete Buttigieg as her vice-presidential pick, but ultimately decided against it because she feared America would not accept such a choice. Instead, she turned to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.

In a passage from “107 Days,” an advance copy of which was obtained by The Atlantic, Harris wrote that Buttigieg had been her “first choice,” but she later concluded that including the former transportation secretary on the ticket posed “too big of a risk.”

“But we were already asking a lot of America: to accept a woman, a Black woman, a Black woman married to a Jewish man,” Harris reflected. “Part of me wanted to say, …let’s just do it. But knowing what was at stake, it was too big of a risk.”

“And I think Pete also knew that — to our mutual sadness.”

Ultimately, Harris went with Walz as her vice-presidential candidate, and together they were defeated by President Donald Trump in 2024, losing not just the Electoral College but also the popular vote and every critical battleground state.

Harris explained that Buttigieg had ranked highest among the eight individuals she seriously considered, praising him as “a sincere public servant with the rare talent of being able to frame liberal arguments in a way that makes it possible for conservatives to hear them.”

Buttigieg, who first rose to national prominence as the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and as a contender in the 2020 Democratic primaries, is already seen as one of the top prospects for the party’s nomination in 2028.

A June Emerson College poll showed Buttigieg with a slight advantage in a potential primary matchup, pulling 16% support compared to Harris at 13%. California Governor Gavin Newsom came in at 12%, while Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez both registered 7%.

{Matzav.com}

Albania just introduced the world’s first AI minister. Her name is Diella, appointed last week by PM Edi Rama. In her first speech to parliament, she emphasized: “I’m not here to replace people, but to help them.”

Chairwoman Rep. Elise Stefanik is calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Doctors Without Borders under the Anti-Terrorism Act for allegedly providing material support to Hamas.

BREAKING: Charlie Kirk’s wife, Erika Kirk, has been named the new CEO and Board Chair of Turning Point USA.

You put in the effort, maybe even spent years and a lot of money, slimming down in hopes of living longer. And now, new research suggests that being too thin might actually shorten your life compared to carrying extra weight. Suddenly, those size 2 jeans in your closet don’t seem like such a win anymore.

At the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) conference, scientists shared findings that upend much of the common wisdom about health and weight. They followed close to 86,000 people—most of them women in their mid-60s—for a period of five years, comparing their body mass index (BMI) with mortality outcomes.

The results showed that people who were underweight had a much higher death rate than those who were overweight.

The best outcomes were seen in individuals with a BMI in the “upper-normal” bracket, between 22.5 and 25. Those with BMIs in the “lower-normal” category (18.5–20) or even the “middle-normal” range (20–22.5) had significantly higher mortality than their upper-normal peers. For those with BMIs below 18.5, the risk of death nearly tripled.

Interestingly, people who fell into the overweight range (25–30) or even moderately obese (30–35) didn’t show any increased risk of dying when compared to those in the upper-normal category. This is what researchers call the “fat but fit” phenomenon, where carrying extra pounds doesn’t necessarily spell danger if other health markers are stable.

That doesn’t mean it’s wise to deliberately put on pounds with junk food in the name of health. The danger is very real for individuals with severe obesity, defined as a BMI over 40, who were more than twice as likely to die during the study period.

The type of fat also plays a role. Visceral fat—the deeper belly fat that surrounds internal organs—can wreak havoc on metabolism, posing more danger than just a bit of extra weight elsewhere on the body.

Although BMI is far from a perfect tool—it oversimplifies and ignores many nuances in the conversation about weight and wellness—this research adds to a growing body of evidence challenging our assumptions of what it really means to be “healthy.”

{Matzav.com}

Along Italy’s Mediterranean coast on Thursday, driver Fabio Barone raced across the flight deck of a navy ship while chasing a world record: the fastest car on a boat. Last year, Barone set the Italian Timekeepers Federation’s record on another aircraft carrier in southern Italy, hitting 152 kilometers per hour (94.4 mph). In Civitavecchia, on the coast near Rome, he aimed to reach 160 kph and then hit the brakes before launching off the deck’s so-called “ski jump” and smashing into the cruise ship stationed just fore. Race engineer Alessandro Tedino told The Associated Press that he wasn’t sure the record was attainable. The ship had been out at sea overnight, and the crew emerged in the early morning to find its flight deck wet. They immediately set to drying it, with the job finished by late summer sunbeams. “If it remained wet, then of course it’s impossible to have the maximum speed and best brakes. It can be very, very dangerous,” he said. As the “Top Gun” theme song rang out from speakers, the carrier’s portside elevator lifted Barone’s team to the deck where journalists, naval officers and VIPs waited. A group of children with Down syndrome, chosen to serve as honorary “mechanics for the day,” removed the red, satiny cover to reveal Barone’s steed: a red-and-black Ferrari SF90. Barone eased himself into the supercar, then drove back and forth along the length of the deck several times to warm up its V-8 turbo engine. It roared louder with each pass as he pushed its 1,085 horses harder and harder. Then he placed himself at the far end of the 236-meter (774-foot) flight deck and awaited the all-clear. “Here he goes! Here he goes!” the announcer called as Barone left his mark and zipped past the crowd. Mere seconds later he came to a safe stop, and the crowd applauded haltingly — impressed by the speedy spectacle, but unsure if he’d beaten the record. The official timekeeper approached the car and inspected the gauges within. “The detected velocity: 164 kilometers per hour (101 mph). I declare it the new speed record on a ship!” he said, prompting hearty applause from the sidelines. Barone lifted his arms to the sky, then hugged his crew, helmet still in place. Reporters swarmed. “The main thing you focus on is concentration and then you realize that you are breaking the record only when you are halfway,” Barone said. “I have two hands, two feet and I use them at the same time like a pianist.” Tedino said that Barone’s team will now submit their certified result to Guinness World Records, which told the AP in an email Thursday afternoon that “we look forward to receiving and reviewing the application and supporting evidence for his latest attempt.” (AP)

BREAKING: Dramatic footage shows a Houthi drone making impact in Eilat.

Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir seen attending slichos at the Kosel late Wednesday night.

The IDF issues evacuation warnings for two more buildings in southern Lebanon, ahead of airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure.

During an appearance on CNN’s “OutFront” Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) claimed that Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension was the result of political interference, saying, “I’m sure there will be lawsuits about this and there ought to be, right away.”

Schumer criticized the move, stating, “Trump and his allies seem to want to shut down speech that they don’t like to hear. That is not what democracies do. That is what autocracies do. And it doesn’t matter whether you agree with Kimmel or not, he has the right to free speech. And so, it is just outrageous, it is indicative of autocracy. And I am just outraged by it. Again, this is what dictators do, this is what Xi would do, this is what Putin would do. We are not that country.”

He continued by stressing that freedom of expression applies across all platforms. “They have a right to say it on ABC, they have a right to say it in newspapers, they have a right to say it to their friends and families. And this puts this country [on] a road that could go to autocracy if this keeps going.”

Schumer concluded by noting the role of the courts in protecting speech, remarking, “the courts have always defended free speech. Let’s see if they step up to the plate, because I’m sure there will be lawsuits about this and there ought to be, right away.”

{Matzav.com}

WATCH: Lebanese media captured footage of one of the Israeli strikes in Dibbin this afternoon.

Jimmy Kimmel’s remarks about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk were not only offensive and misleading, but also came at a particularly sensitive time, according to telecom insiders speaking to On The Money, the NY Post reports. The fallout, they say, could jeopardize Nexstar’s $6.2 billion purchase of rival broadcaster Tegna.

The merger — which would bring together two of the country’s largest local TV station owners — is already under scrutiny for antitrust issues and requires approval from the Federal Communications Commission, now led by its outspoken conservative chairman, Brendan Carr.

Kimmel’s comments added new uncertainty to that process. Nexstar moved quickly, announcing Thursday that it would drop “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from its lineup, insiders told On The Money. ABC, which makes and distributes the show, followed suit, mindful that it too has business matters pending before the FCC.

Sinclair Broadcasting, another heavyweight in local TV with a right-leaning reputation, raised the pressure further on Thursday. The company said ABC’s suspension of Kimmel wasn’t enough and declared it would pull the late-night program from its stations until Kimmel apologized personally to Kirk’s family and made a donation to his organization.

At the center of all this is Carr, a seasoned telecom attorney now shaping broadcast regulation with an unusually aggressive approach. He has repeatedly warned networks that he intends to use the FCC’s mandate to enforce the “public interest” in programming, even if it means brushing aside First Amendment objections.

His influence is already evident. Paramount agreed to settle a legal fight with President Trump over CBS’s controversial interview with Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign, worried that Carr’s FCC would block its $8 billion sale to Skydance.

The FCC under Carr also oversaw the cancellation of Steven Colbert’s late-night program, which had been bleeding money while leaning heavily into partisan politics.

Other networks have opted to settle lawsuits with Trump rather than take chances. ABC, for example, paid $16 million to resolve a case involving comments made by anchor George Stephanopoulos. These moves reflect the reality that the FCC controls licenses for broadcasters using the public airwaves — including stations run by ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox, as well as affiliates like Nexstar.

Traditionally, the FCC allowed networks wide freedom to air controversial opinions so long as they steered clear of obscenity. That leeway is what let Colbert, Kimmel, and even programs like “60 Minutes” air sharp political commentary despite large portions of the public objecting.

Kimmel’s monologue on Monday particularly angered Carr because he ridiculed conservatives mourning Kirk’s death and suggested a misleading story that the killer was aligned with Trump supporters: “we hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

In previous years, such speech would have been shielded by the First Amendment. Carr, however, has made clear that while comedians like Kimmel are free to speak, the Constitution doesn’t obligate the FCC to hand them broadcast licenses.

“Cleary Nexstar is sucking up to Carr,” one telecom lawyer remarked Wednesday after Nexstar dropped the show. “Kimmel’s comments are noxious but from a First Amendment standpoint they would have been protected in the past. He’s a comedian, so how is he distorting the news unless you have a deal to be approved by the FCC?”

The reality, however, is that the FCC can decline to renew or grant licenses if it concludes that overtly partisan programming fails the public interest standard — precisely the argument Carr is advancing now.

Carr made his stance explicit during a Wednesday interview with Fox’s Sean Hannity: “running a narrow partisan circus, whatever the public interest means, it’s not that.”

Nexstar, which already owns more than 30 ABC affiliates that carried Kimmel’s program, is especially exposed as it seeks to grow larger.

Its proposed purchase of Tegna, unveiled in August, would give the company control of 265 stations across 44 states, reaching 80% of U.S. households. In some markets, the combined company would dominate with three or four stations.

All of this awaits FCC approval.

{Matzav.com}

POTUS: “Just last week, a great American, Charlie Kirk, was heinously assassinated for speaking his mind… I appreciate the many British citizens who have offered their condolences.”

Humanitarian aid from Jordan to Gaza has been suspended indefinitely while Jordan conducts a full investigation into the Allenby Crossing attack at Israel’s request.