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A deeply moving story of chesed surfaced during a recent Israeli radio program hosted by Menachem Toker, when a listener shared a personal encounter that revealed a lesser-known side of singer Meidad Tasa.

The caller, identified as Dovid, recounted that several years ago, as a young yungerman shopping for Shabbos on a tight budget, he found himself short on funds at the checkout. “I got to the register and realized the total was more than what I had,” he said. Standing nearby at the time was Meidad Tasa.

According to Dovid, Tasa did not know him and did not wait to be asked for help. “He called me over to the side while the cashier was scanning the items and said to me, ‘I get tips at events,’” Dovid recalled. Moments later, Tasa quietly handed him money—almost exactly the amount he was missing. “He gave me 200 shekels; I was short 190-something,” he said, still emotional. The entire act was carried out with complete tznius, without drawing any attention. “He really did it humbly, quietly, from his jacket.”

Toker was visibly moved by the account and immediately tried to reach Tasa live on air. At first, the singer’s wife answered the phone and expressed surprise upon hearing the story. “About Meidad, who is a tzaddik, I can testify to that in every sense of the word,” she said. Shortly afterward, Tasa himself joined the broadcast, explaining that he had just woken up from a nap and was on his way to pick up his children from gan.

When Toker mentioned the supermarket incident, Tasa sounded both embarrassed and taken aback. “Wow, wow, wow, I can’t believe it,” he said. He then shared a personal story that sheds light on his approach to giving.

He described how, on the day of his wedding, as he was heading to the mikveh, he realized he had only two shekels in his pocket. “I said to Hashem, I’m a chosson and I only have two shekels in my pocket?” At that moment, he encountered a poor person and chose to give him the last coins he had. “I said: Ribono Shel Olam, I’m giving him these two shekels and You will take care of me.” Since then, he said, he has felt that he is constantly being taken care of from Shamayim.

During the conversation, Tasa also repeated a phrase he often attributes to his mother, which has become a guiding principle in his life: “Minus in the bank, plus in the home.” When asked what he meant, he explained, “A person shouldn’t worry too much about the bank… The main thing is that there should be a plus in the home.”

The story left a strong impression on listeners, as Tasa emphasized that for him, the ability to help another Yid is itself a privilege. “I feel it’s a great merit that I was even able to give to him. He did a chesed with me,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

A widow of the Meron tragedy has come forward with a painful account of her experience traveling to the tziyun of Rav Shimon bar Yochai, describing what she calls a ten-hour ordeal marked by mistreatment and insensitivity at the hands of police, as she attempted to mark her husband’s yahrtzeit.

Racheli Goldberg, whose husband was among those killed in the Meron disaster five years ago, set out with her yesomim to visit the kever despite ongoing restrictions and the security situation. Armed with all the necessary legal permits, she expected a journey of hisorerus and tefillah. Instead, she says, it became a distressing experience of “mistreatment under the auspices of the Israeli police.”

According to Goldberg, the difficulties began early in the trip, at the Gush Halav junction, where they were left waiting for hours in the rain and cold. She recounted that a police officer at the scene refused to recognize their official permits. “I stood in the rain, I pleaded respectfully, and in response I received brutal treatment and a police officer who shined a flashlight into my eyes as if I were a criminal… The insensitivity reached its peak at the Safsufa junction. The officer saw the permits and still chose to violate the procedures and block us. When I told him it was illegal and that we had the right to enter, he simply shouted: ‘There is no entry, the hilula is over.’”

She said the most painful aspect of the experience was its impact on her children, who continue to carry deep trauma from the tragedy in which they lost their father. Goldberg described how the conduct of police on the scene triggered those emotions once again. “My children carry deep trauma from the first year after the Meron disaster, where the police also behaved with brutality and a lack of sensitivity. When they were forced to again see uniforms acting with aggression and shouting, the result was a severe anxiety attack in the middle of the road.”

Goldberg also expressed anguish over what she described as a glaring contradiction throughout the ordeal. While her family was being held back for hours in harsh conditions, she said they saw police vehicles freely entering and exiting the area, along with empty buses passing by without allowing them to board. “The absurdity cried out to the heavens the entire time,” she wrote. “While they blocked us and forced my children to stand in the rain and cold, we saw police vehicles going in and out constantly with no apparent purpose.”

She concluded her account with a demand for accountability from authorities, calling on the state and senior officials to answer for what took place. “The State of Israel sent me with a legal permit in hand, but officers on the ground decided they were above the law. We reached the tziyun after 10 exhausting and unnecessary hours, after the emotional damage to my children had already been done. I will not remain silent about this bizayon.”

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rebbetzin Meira Edelstein a”h, widow of the revered rov of Ramat HaSharon, Rav Yaakov Edelstein zt”l. She was 89.

The Rebbetzin was the devoted eizer kenegdo to Rav Yaakov Edelstein zt”l during the later years of his life, standing faithfully at his side as he led the community and received the many who came seeking brachah and eitzah.

Her life story was widely regarded as one of the most remarkable and moving teshuvah stories of recent generations.

In her earlier years, she was a well-known and respected figure in Israel’s cultural world, enjoying success and recognition at the highest levels.

In the year Tav Shin Mem Beis, at the height of her career, she began a profound journey of teshuvah. With unusual courage and unwavering determination, she chose to leave behind the world of acting entirely and dedicate herself fully to avodas Hashem. She changed her name first to Mira and later to Meira, and undertook a life marked by exceptional prishus and tznius.

In her second zivug, she married Rav Avraham Lewis zt”l, a talmid of the Chazon Ish and among the early talmidim of Yeshivas Kaminetz, known as a tzaddik and a parush. She stood by his side with complete devotion until his petirah in Tav Shin Ayin Beis.

Following his passing, she was introduced—through the efforts of the rov of the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein—to her third zivug, Rav Yaakov Edelstein zt”l, rov of Ramat HaSharon.

Despite her advancing years, the Rebbetzin merited to serve Rav Yaakov with extraordinary dedication during his final years. She played a central role as his eizer k’negdo in guiding the kehillah and in welcoming the many thousands who came to their home seeking brachos and hadrachah.

Those who knew her spoke of a woman of rare refinement and greatness, whose entire life reflected unwavering emunah and bitachon. Members of the community said, “She was a living example that one can leave behind the hevel ha’olam hazeh and rise to true kedushah.”

She is survived by a son and descendants who continue to walk in the path of Torah and yiras Shamayim.

Tehei nishmasah tzerurah b’tzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

In a major development in an ongoing defamation case, a court has instructed Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to submit his complete and updated medical records for the judge’s confidential review, as part of a legal battle over claims regarding his health.

The directive was issued Thursday by Judge Menachem Mizrachi, president of the Magistrate’s Court in Ramla, in connection with Netanyahu’s lawsuit against protest activist attorney Gonen Ben Yitzchak and journalist Uri Misgav, whom he accuses of publishing false reports about his medical condition.

Under the ruling, the medical file must be delivered in a sealed and secured envelope directly to the judge’s chambers for private examination. Judge Mizrachi specified that the submission must include a signed statement from Netanyahu’s personal physician, Dr. Tzvi Herman Berkowitz, confirming that the file represents the most up-to-date and comprehensive account of the prime minister’s health.

The central issue in dispute is the timing of the discovery of a cancerous finding in the prostate. Judge Mizrachi noted that although an official annual health report released by the Prime Minister’s Office stated that Netanyahu underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumor, it did not clearly indicate when the condition was first detected.

“This point is critical to the dispute at the center of the trial,” the judge wrote. About two weeks ago, the Prime Minister’s Office published a medical update stating that on December 29, 2024, Netanyahu underwent a procedure due to benign prostate enlargement, and that a later MRI scan revealed a small area with suspicious characteristics. The key legal question is whether the defendants’ claims were false or based on information that had not been made public.

The lawsuit was filed after attorney Gonen Ben Yitzchak posted allegations on social media claiming that Netanyahu was suffering from pancreatic cancer. “Following your visit last night to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, I received information that you were treated for pancreatic cancer,” he wrote in a post that sparked widespread attention. “I wish you good health, but it is appropriate that the person leading the system stand courageously before the public and reveal his true condition.”

Journalist Uri Misgav later echoed more general claims about Netanyahu’s health, asserting that his condition was impaired in a way that affected his functioning. These claims were strongly rejected by the Prime Minister’s Office, which described them as “absolute lies.”

In addition to requesting the medical file, the defendants asked the court to summon for testimony Prof. Aharon Popovtzer, head of the oncology department at Hadassah, and Dr. Berkowitz. At this stage, Judge Mizrahi declined to call them immediately in order to avoid unnecessary harm to medical privacy, though he left open the possibility for later.

“At the stage of presenting evidence, after the plaintiff’s testimony, the court will issue a further decision regarding the request to summon the two doctors,” the judge ruled. The decision reflects the careful balance between preserving medical confidentiality and establishing the truth in the legal process.

According to the court’s timetable, the medical documents are expected to be submitted by May 13. The judge’s review is expected to clarify the timeline of diagnoses and treatments and help determine whether the contested publications were false or based on undisclosed facts.

Sources close to the prime minister have consistently argued that the claims, including the allegation of pancreatic cancer, are entirely unfounded and were intended to damage Netanyahu’s reputation and public trust. With the medical file now set to be reviewed by the court, further clarity is expected.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump is moving ahead with plans for a grand meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping next week, but uncertainty over the White House strategy for ending the Iran conflict along with tensions over Beijing’s support for Tehran suggest the two-month postponement of the summit did little to strengthen Washington’s hand.

Trump said that he and Xi would discuss the war in Beijing next week, praising the Chinese president as “very respectful.” The remarks came despite anger in the Chinese capital over sweeping U.S. sanctions targeting trade with Iran, culminating last week in the unusual step of Beijing ordering companies and ships to openly defy the measures.

Diplomatic dust-ups over the Iran war have injected uncertainty into preparations and overshadowed potential deliverables from the high-level summit, at which the two leaders are set to discuss a packed agenda on trade, Taiwan, fentanyl and artificial intelligence.

“It’s a huge distraction,” said Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington. “The original date had to be postponed because Trump couldn’t handle two things at the same time, so the war obviously has already had an impact. But now, the question is, is the war going to critically affect the substance of the trip?”

Behind the scenes, U.S. and Chinese officials have been working to broker a deal that experts say is likely to include Chinese agricultural purchases, investment agreements, a consensus statement on AI guardrails and orders of U.S. commercial aircraft – a package of deliverables Trump could bring back to Washington as a foreign policy win. Analysts say Beijing, meanwhile, is hoping to extend a trade truce, ease sanctions and technology restrictions, and potentially secure assurances the United States will pull back on arms sales to Taiwan.

Those discussions will unfold amid rapid developments in the Iran conflict. On Tuesday, Trump abruptly paused an operation to escort trapped ships through the Strait of Hormuz less than two days after it began, citing ongoing peace negotiations – precisely the kind of high-intensity diplomatic management Trump had hoped to avoid when he postponed his original meeting with Xi in March.

Underscoring how deeply the Iran conflict is entwined with the summit, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, in Beijing on Wednesday, where the Iranian envoy briefed Wang on the Pakistan-mediated negotiations with Washington, according to the semiofficial Iranian Students’ News Agency.

“I think it’s a deliberate design that the Iranians are coming to tell the Chinese what is their bottom line position, what they think that China can help deliver and what China can do to massage Trump,” Sun said.

Beijing has avoided taking a strong public position on the war and has quietly urged Tehran to consider a U.S. peace deal. At the same time, it has maintained support for the regime, holding a number of official calls with Iranian officials in recent months while lashing out at what its Foreign Ministry has described as “dangerous” U.S. tactics in the strait.

In recent weeks, the U.S. has sharply escalated pressure on Beijing, imposing sweeping sanctions on dozens of entities and a major Chinese oil refinery tied to the shadow trade that funnels hundreds of millions of barrels of Iranian oil to the country each year, roughly 13 percent of its total imports.

Washington also took the unusual step of physically seizing two Chinese-linked vessels transporting Iranian goods – one of which Trump said was carrying “a gift from China” which “wasn’t very nice.” Beijing condemned the sanctions, calling them “illegal.”

With a week to go before the summit, senior U.S. officials expected to form part of the sizable delegation to Beijing have zeroed in on China’s role in the war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday urged Beijing to use its meeting with Araghchi to help loosen Tehran’s chokehold on the strait.

“I hope the Chinese tell him what he needs to be told, and that is that what you are doing in the straits is causing you to be globally isolated,” Rubio said ahead of Wang’s meeting with Araghchi.

That request could soon be tested. Rubio on Tuesday urged China not to veto a U.S.-backed U.N. resolution calling on Iran to halt attacks and mine-laying operations in the Strait of Hormuz. The measure could go to a vote just days before Trump’s visit. Last month, Beijing vetoed a separate U.S.-backed resolution supporting a coordinated international effort to secure the strait.

On Monday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, a key figure in preparations for the U.S.-China summit, accused Beijing of helping fund a “state sponsor of terrorism” through its support for the Iranian regime.

Analysts have downplayed expectations for major breakthroughs from the summit, saying both sides are likely to focus instead on stabilizing relations and extending a fragile trade truce.

“After all these years of ups and downs, China has significantly lowered its expectations,” said Ren Xiao, a former Chinese diplomat and director of the Center for Chinese Foreign Policy Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai.

Since Trump first previewed the summit in February – saying he hoped it would be the “biggest display you’ve ever had in the history of China,” the agenda has been scaled back from three days to two. It is also unclear whether he will receive the lavish welcome he has anticipated. Beijing does not publicly confirm high-level meetings in advance, wary of last-minute hiccups, and preparations have been kept under wraps.

On the U.S. side, preparations have forged ahead amid continuing distractions in the Middle East and periodic clashes with Beijing over the war. This week, images appearing to show U.S. military C-17 transport planes landing at Beijing airport circulated widely on Chinese social media, fueling speculation about what advance equipment Washington may be sending ahead of the summit.

Such flights are a routine part of advance preparations for presidential travel, which typically involve transporting security personnel, communications systems and armored vehicles including the presidential limousine known as “The Beast.”

Trump in February spoke enthusiastically about wanting a grand display of parading Chinese uniformed guards, and said last month that Xi will give him a “big, fat hug” in Beijing following his efforts to reopen the strait.

China maintains a tiered system of welcome ceremonies for foreign leaders, including 21-gun salutes and elaborate receptions at the Great Hall of the People on Tiananmen Square or more muted meetings depending on expected outcomes and the standing of the guests in Beijing. Privately, Chinese officials are concerned that an overly extravagant welcome could send awkward signals that it Beijing is being too accommodating toward the U.S. amid the fracturing conflict, according to the official.

“We know that Trump loves grand ceremonies, but China also hates to be seen as fawning over him at this sensitive point, worried that a grander-than-2017 welcome would contradict China’s role as a peacemaker and friend of the Middle East,” said Wang Yiwei, a former Chinese diplomat who is now a council member in the state-affiliated Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Cate Cadell 

Global health authorities are scrambling to contain a deadly outbreak of hantavirus linked to the polar expedition ship Hondius, tracing some 30 departed passengers from at least a dozen countries – as well as two flights linked to an ill woman – as epidemiologists investigate how the rare strain made its way onto the ship.

World Health Organization Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a briefing Thursday that five of the eight reported cases of hantavirus have so far been confirmed, but officials emphasized that the public health risk remains low. Three passengers have died.

The Andean strain is the only type of hantavirus known to spread through prolonged close contact between household members or intimate partners, he said, adding that this “appears to be the case in the current situation.” Still, the number of cases could rise given the incubation period of the virus, he said, which can last up to six weeks.

The ship is en route to the Canary Islands, where the cruise operator said it expects to arrive early Sunday. Physicians from the WHO, the Netherlands, and the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control are on board conducting interviews with each person to assess their exposure and risks, WHO officials said. The WHO is developing a step-by-step plan for how passengers and crew can safely disembark and return home once the ship docks.

Hantavirus is normally linked to exposure to the urine or feces of infected rodents, but the Andes virus has been known to spread between people, WHO officials have said. The organization has said it is working on the assumption the initial patients were infected off the ship, either before they boarded in Argentina or on an excursion.

U.S. officials in at least five states – Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas and Virginia – are monitoring symptoms of seven returning passengers, according to state health officials. None of the travelers have reported symptoms, officials said. Two passengers are in Texas and two are in Georgia, health officials said.

State public health officials in Texas and Georgia say they have contacted and are monitoring individuals who’ve returned home from the cruise. The two people in Georgia and two in Texas show no signs of infection or are not experiencing symptoms, the state health departments said.

“They have agreed to monitor themselves for symptoms with daily temperature checks and contact public health officials at any sign of a possible illness,” a statement from the Texas health department said.

The Trump administration is “closely monitoring the situation,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement, with the State Department leading a coordinated response that includes direct contact with the passengers. “At this time, the risk to the American public is extremely low,” the CDC said. “We urge all Americans aboard the ship to follow the guidance of health officials as we work to bring you home safely.”

Despite the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO that became effective earlier this year, WHO experts said during the briefing Thursday that they have had excellent technical collaboration with counterparts at the CDC.

Referring to the United States and Argentina, which has also withdrawn from the WHO, Tedros said: “I think they will reconsider their decisions because they can see how important universality is for health security. Because viruses don’t care about our politics, don’t care about borders, don’t care about all the excuses we may have.”

Tom Frieden, a former CDC director, said in a Substack post that the outbreak highlights the importance of international coordination, information sharing and global surveillance to protect against emerging infectious-disease threats. He noted the laboratory testing in South Africa, preparation for port reception in Spain and sequencing of the virus by the WHO.

Frieden said American doctors and public health officials will be relying on the WHO’s expertise in defining cases and exposure windows, as well as contact tracing data, to identify exposed travelers who may have flown through U.S. airports.

“None of this can happen without WHO,” wrote Frieden, president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives.

In the U.S., the CDC, which in years past has held regular – sometimes daily – briefings during infectious-disease outbreaks, has not held a briefing. A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services did not return a request for comment about briefings.

The initial information that American passengers had returned to the U.S. was first reported Wednesday by MedPage Today, a medical news publication.

Public health experts are growing increasingly alarmed about the lack of public communication from the CDC. Questions about where the returned passengers are going and the risk for the public are fair questions in the public’s mind.

“Three people died of a viral disease we have neither treatment nor vaccine for acquired in a setting that millions use (cruise ship),” said Jeanne Marrazzo, chief executive of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and a former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “The information gap created by CDC’s silence is a breach of trust and scientific integrity,” Marrazzo said.

On Thursday, the Dutch Health Ministry said in an emailed statement that a flight attendant is in a hospital and being tested for the virus, declining to elaborate. The Dutch news outlet RTL cited the ministry as saying she had come into contact in Johannesburg with a cruise ship passenger who died of the virus a day later.

A passenger who left the cruise in St. Helena was one of 82 people who boarded an Airlink flight to Johannesburg on April 25. The same day, she boarded a KLM flight to Amsterdam, but the crew decided not to allow her to travel because of her medical condition, the Dutch airline said in a statement. Both airlines are working with health authorities and tracing passengers.

Oceanwide Expeditions said Thursday that it has contacted all 29 guests who disembarked the ship at St. Helena on April 24, before the first case of hantavirus was confirmed. The cruise operator said that included six Americans, but state health department officials report seven passengers who have returned to the U.S.

The second of two medical flights has arrived in the Netherlands, with three individuals – two with symptoms and one asymptomatic – under medical care, the company said. There are no passengers with symptoms on board, it added, with the ship sailing for Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Spanish Health Minister Mónica García said Wednesday that international passengers will be evacuated for repatriation, while Spanish citizens will be taken to a military hospital in Madrid where they will be tested and placed under quarantine if necessary.

Three passengers have died since the outbreak began – two Dutch nationals and a German. Two of them died aboard the ship. A British man is in intensive care in South Africa, and a Swiss man who departed the ship in late April was also confirmed to have the virus.

Several cases have been confirmed to be the Andes virus by health authorities in South Africa and Switzerland, while testing is taking place in other suspected cases in Germany and the Netherlands.

Ruhi Cenet, a Turkish documentary maker who got off the ship in St. Helena, said the company should have considered earlier that the first death on board could have been from an infectious disease.

“It turns out the situation was much worse than we were told,” he said in a video posted on Instagram. “People who may have been carrying the virus should have been quarantined,” he said, adding that meals were eaten together and group excursions continued after the first death was reported.

The outbreak is likely to be challenging to investigate, according to experts with experience in global disease investigations, because the first known patients – a Dutch couple – have died. Key details about how they were exposed may never be known.

By the time the outbreak was recognized, some travelers had already dispersed across countries, boarding commercial flights or moving through multiple ports – a dynamic that can complicate efforts to trace who may have been exposed.

“That’s the big lift,” said Martin Cetron, a former senior CDC official who oversaw global migration and quarantine efforts for more than two decades. Investigators must simultaneously define cases, determine how the virus is spreading and trace contacts, sometimes across multiple countries, to understand the outbreak’s scope.

Argentina’s Health Ministry said the Andean strain has been reported to circulate only in the southern provinces of Chubut, Río Negro and Neuquén, as well as in southern Chile. It is tracing the movements of the Dutch citizens who first presented symptoms. They arrived in Argentina on Nov. 27 and undertook a lengthy trip through the country, including Neuquén province, and also stopped in Chile and Uruguay before departing from Ushuaia in southern Argentina on April 1.

No cases associated with the Hondius outbreak have been reported in Argentina, the health agency said, but teams are heading to Ushuaia to capture rodents and conduct an analysis. In a separate statement this week, the agency said 101 hantavirus cases had been detected in the country this year, including three in one family cluster in which authorities suspect person-to-person transmission.

The cruise had carried 149 people of 23 nationalities, according to Oceanwide Expeditions, coming from places such as Spain, France, the United States, Belgium, New Zealand, Turkey and Argentina. It also had an international crew, with members from the Philippines, Russia, India and Montenegro.

Health authorities in Switzerland and the United Kingdom said Wednesday that some nationals who had left the cruise and their close contacts are isolating following official advice. In the Swiss case, which authorities confirmed to be the Andean variant, the man noticed symptoms upon returning from his trip, while his wife is self-isolating as a precaution.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Victoria Craw, Lena H. Sun

As the summer session of the Knesset approaches and concerns grow over the ongoing gezeiros affecting the olam haTorah, members of Knesset from Degel HaTorah met last night with Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, at his residence.

The MKs spent approximately twenty minutes in a private audience with the rosh yeshiva, discussing the evolving legislation surrounding the draft law and the status of bnei yeshiva.

During the meeting, Rav Landau expressed appreciation to the representatives for their efforts and dedication in working to secure proper legal standing for lomdei Torah within the proposed law. He indicated that their hishtadlus until now was necessary and encouraged them not to be shaken by criticism from various quarters.

Regarding the advancement of the legislation through the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee ahead of a potential vote, Rav Landau said that he would issue his final position at the beginning of next week, with the opening of the summer session, after reviewing several additional factors.

{Matzav.com}

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that Washington is looking for an answer from Iran on potential negotiations and made clear that any move by Tehran to assert control over a major international shipping route would not be tolerated.

Speaking in Rome after meeting with Pope Leo, Rubio told reporters that the administration expected to hear from Iran shortly. “We should know something today. I mean, we’re expecting a response from them,” he said.

He indicated that the United States hopes Tehran’s reply will move the situation toward meaningful diplomacy. According to Rubio, the goal is for the response to “put us into a serious process of negotiation.”

Rubio also responded to reports that Iran may be working to create a body that would oversee maritime traffic through a strategic strait. He warned that such a step would raise serious concerns.

“That would be very problematic. That would actually be unacceptable,” Rubio said. “The normalizing of their controlling of international waterways is both illegal and it’s just something that’s unacceptable.”

He broadened the warning, urging the international community to consider how it would react if Iran moved ahead with such plans. “And the world has to start asking itself, what is it willing to do if Iran tries to normalize a control of an international waterway? I think that’s unacceptable,” he added.

While no official reply had yet been received, Rubio suggested that internal challenges within Iran could be delaying a response. “their system is still highly fractured and a bit dysfunctional as well, so that may be serving as an impediment,” he said.

Despite that, Rubio expressed hope that any proposal from Tehran would be substantive. “I hope it’s a serious offer. I really do,” he stated.

Turning to the situation in the Middle East, Rubio said additional discussions involving Israel and Lebanon are anticipated in the near future, though no specific date has been finalized.

“We expect talks. I don’t know if we’ve set the exact date yet, but we expect that there will be additional talks,” he said.

Rubio pointed to Italy as a country that could contribute meaningfully to stabilizing Lebanon and assisting its government.

He said Italy could play “a very productive role and a constructive role” in supporting the Lebanese government.

He emphasized that all sides ultimately seek stronger ties between Israel and Lebanon’s recognized leadership. “In the end, we all share the same goal, and by all I mean, including the Lebanese government and the Israeli government, that we want the relations between Israel and Lebanon, its legitimate government, to be very strong,” Rubio stated.

Rubio also addressed Hezbollah’s influence, describing the group as closely tied to Tehran and blaming it for ongoing unrest in Lebanon.

He called Hezbollah “an Iranian agent” and said the group was responsible for instability in Lebanon.

“The reason why Lebanon faces bombings, the reason why Lebanon faces violence, is because of Hezbollah. It is Hezbollah that’s imposing this on them,” Rubio said.

According to Rubio, the United States is aiming for a Lebanon governed solely by its official authorities, without interference from armed factions.

He said the objective is “a strong Lebanese government that doesn’t have an armed Hezbollah operating within its national territory imposing a threat to any of its neighbors.”

Rubio added that Italy could help curb the financial networks that sustain Hezbollah.

He noted that Italy could assist “in cutting off the illicit financing that supports Hezbollah and the danger they pose.”

Addressing whether resolving tensions with Iran is a prerequisite for progress in Lebanon, Rubio said Hezbollah’s existence is tied directly to Tehran.

“Hezbollah wouldn’t exist without Iran’s support,” he said.

Even so, Rubio maintained that diplomatic progress involving Lebanon remains achievable.

“I think Hezbollah has been both weakened, but still capable of inflicting damage and doing terroristic activities, as we’ve seen,” Rubio stated.

He stressed that the United States would not engage Iran in talks specifically centered on Hezbollah unless Tehran ends its backing of the group. “We’re not going to negotiate with Iran over Hezbollah, because Hezbollah is dangerous other than if they’re willing to stop funding them and supporting them,” he added.

Rubio concluded by underscoring that Lebanon’s sovereignty must be upheld by its own government, not undermined by armed groups operating within its borders.

He said Lebanon “should be governed by the Lebanese government” and not by “a terrorist group operating within its national territory that poses a threat both to its own people, including the Shia population, and to the government, and to Israel, and to its other neighbors.”

{Matzav.com}

MK Meir Porush of United Torah Judaism has appealed to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, asking the American administration to step in and influence Israeli policy regarding the detention of chareidim who avoid military service.

In a letter titled “Urgent Request for the Protection of Yeshiva students in Israel in Honor of ‘Jewish American Heritage Month,’” Porush expressed appreciation for the current U.S. leadership, including President Donald Trump, for what he described as consistent backing of Jewish values and tradition.

“Throughout the generations, the United States has proven itself to be a nation that can be defined as ‘Righteous Among the Nations,’” Porush wrote.

He continued by highlighting what he views as a favorable approach by the current administration, stating, “we see an administration that also honors the Torah of the Jewish people, cherishes its values, and works tirelessly for the security and prosperity of the Jewish people.”

Porush then drew a sharp comparison between the American stance and what he described as Israel’s treatment of yeshiva students who do not enlist.

“While in the US, the government goes out of its way to celebrate and honor the Jewish religion and heritage, in Israel, the military and judicial authorities act in ways of persecution and arrests against yeshiva students whose sole occupation is Torah study,” he wrote.

Expanding on this point, Porush argued that respect shown by American institutions should be mirrored in Israel.

“If the American government, through all its branches, finds it appropriate to honor the Jewish religion and respect its values, it is only fitting that the authorities in the State of Israel act with similar respect toward yeshiva students, who have been the guardians of our people’s eternal flame for thousands of years.”

He concluded by calling on Huckabee to use his position to influence Israeli authorities.

Porush urged that the U.S. should “exercise its moral influence and call upon the judicial authorities in Israel to immediately and completely cease the arrests of Torah scholars and yeshiva students.”

“There is no more fitting time than ‘Jewish Heritage Month’ to clarify that the protection of yeshiva students is a supreme Jewish and democratic value,” he wrote.

[Video below.] Authorities on Thursday evening made public rare video footage from a raid conducted at a residence in the town of Yavne’el, after receiving information that a marriage involving a minor was taking place.

According to officials, when police entered the home, relatives present insisted that the gathering was only a vort, which is permitted under the law and does not constitute a violation.

Despite those claims, a search of the premises revealed items that appeared to contradict that version of events. Officers discovered a kesubah that they believe had been intentionally concealed, along with a glass designated for the customary breaking at a chasunah and a wedding ring.

The released footage shows the kallah, a 16-year-old girl, wearing a white gown, standing near what appeared to be a tefillah for the kallah. Outside the residence, police found a decorated vehicle prepared for the chosson and kallah.

Police said that the chosson is an adult man, and they suspect that the families involved attempted to present the gathering as a simple engagement while in reality conducting an unlawful marriage.

The release of the footage comes as tensions have been rising over a separate incident in the past day, in which a notice circulated announcing a vort between a man said to be around 30 years old and a minor. That situation sparked clashes in the area, as family members confronted local residents and activists who came to protest the planned event.

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They arrive in cheerful bottles with names that sound like promises – Daily Brain Boost, Brain Drive, Brain guard+. And Americans, in turn, spend billions of dollars each year chasing the idea of a sharper mind.

This is the logic of the moment: that the self is something to be tuned and upgraded, its limits negotiable through the right regimen of diets, workouts, injections, pills, powders and gummies. Cognitive health, once the domain of aging and illness, has become another frontier for optimization.

“Is this all real or is it all marketing hype? It’s a combination I think,” said Gary Small, a professor emeritus of psychiatry and former director of the UCLA Longevity Center, now at Hackensack Meridian Health. “The science is changing so fast it’s hard for even experts to sort it out.”

About 1 in 5 adults over age 50 use vitamins or supplements specifically to try to boost brain functions like memory, attention or focus, according to a 2021 AARP survey, the most recent update. The global market for nutritional supplements was estimated at $517.1 billion in 2025 and projected to be $862.5 billion by 2033, according to Grand View Research.

Supplements occupy a distinctly permissive corner of American medicine – one where products can be sold without the kind of large, rigorous, double-blind trials federal authorities require for pharmaceuticals, which often involve thousands of people. The Food and Drug Administration provides limited oversight of dietary supplements only after they are on store shelves, largely leaving it to manufacturers to ensure their products are safe and accurately labeled.

Many brain health products are built on how the brain changes in disease – stress that can lead to cell damage, inflammation linked to cognitive decline, amyloid buildup tied to Alzheimer’s.

But showing an effect on those pathways in a lab involving a Petri dish or on animals – or even on patients with illness – doesn’t translate cleanly to improvement in otherwise healthy people’s memory or focus. The industry often blurs that line, marketing disease-adjacent science as everyday enhancement, said Pieter Cohen, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Cohen says the words “brain health” basically mean you “use your imagination and the benefits can be anything you want. … There’s no process by which these claims are vetted, so the consumer can’t rely on anything that is said by the companies or the label itself.”

Jason Wachob, founder and co-CEO of Mindbodygreen, which sells Brain guard+, said skepticism about the supplement category is fair: “The market is noisy and not all products are created equal.”

He asserts his company is built on patented ingredients, clinical doses, and rigorous testing for purity and potency in laboratories certified by the International Organization for Standardization; the company lists relevant studies supporting claims on the product site.

“Our product development starts and ends with science,” Wachob said.

Midi Health Chief Medical Officer Kathleen Jordan said the company selects “our supplements very carefully and only choose to get behind ones we believe in and are the most science supported – and ones we often use ourselves.” Momentous, maker of Brain Drive, declined to comment.

As more interest and money flow into the space, more serious human research is beginning to take shape. The findings, however, remain modest and uneven.

There is some concern that the placebo effect may be doing more of the work in some cases than the pills, powders or gummies. Some research on cognition-enhancing drugs known as nootropics and over-the-counter brain supplements suggests that perceived improvements often track closely with expectation rather than measurable changes. The benefit, in other words, may come from belief, routine or increased self-monitoring rather than the ingredient list.

Even some promising research results have not panned out. In 1997, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that high doses of vitamin E – 2,000 units – delayed functional deterioration in moderately severe Alzheimer’s disease patients. The findings were compelling enough that many physicians began recommending this dose, but enthusiasm waned after later findings raised concerns about increased bleeding risk.

Mónika Fekete, an assistant professor of preventive medicine and public health at Semmelweis University in Budapest, led a review of nutritional supplements’ impact on cognitive function in the journal Nutrients. Fekete and her colleagues found that vitamins B, C, D and E each contribute uniquely to brain health, but studies about dietary supplements more generally are frequently limited by differences in methods, small sample sizes and a lack of clear goals.

“The strongest and most consistent evidence regarding brain health and prevention of chronic diseases does not support the widespread use of isolated dietary supplements,” she said.

Researchers say the most reliable ways to protect brain health remain decidedly unglamorous: exercise, sleep and social connection.

Here’s how Small, 74, thinks about supplements in his own life:

1. Curcumin A number of years ago, Small came across epidemiological studies noting lower rates of Alzheimer’s disease in parts of Asia where diets are rich in turmeric, the golden-yellow root long used in cooking. Around the same time, laboratory research began to suggest that curcumin, one of turmeric’s active compounds, had anti-inflammatory properties and might reduce tau and amyloid beta – proteins closely associated with neurodegeneration. Intrigued, Small helped conduct a small, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 40 adults and reported improvements in memory and attention in the group that took curcumin.

The study was never expanded, but he found the results suggestive enough to begin taking the supplement himself. He remains uncertain about its effects on the brain, he said, but is comfortable with the possibility that it may offer broader anti-inflammatory benefits.

A 2024 review of published studies on curcumin found a “statistically significant improvement in cognitive performance,” while cautioning about potential gastrointestinal side effects. There have been recent concerns about whether it could cause liver damage as well.

2. Coenzyme Q10 There have been a few studies that suggest Coenzyme Q10, a naturally occurring compound that helps cells produce energy and helps protect them from damage, could aid the brain. But Small mostly takes it because he takes a statin for cholesterol and his doctor told him there is some evidence CoQ10 lowers the risk for side effects such as muscle aches and fatigue.

3. Multivitamin One of the more convincing findings to date about supplements comes from the cognitive substudies of the Harvard-led COSMOS trial, which involved over 2,200 participants followed over roughly two to three years. A paper published in 2024 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that adults over 60 who took a daily multivitamin scored modestly better on tests of episodic memory than those given a placebo – a gap researchers say amounts to about two years of cognitive aging.

What he doesn’t take:

1. Vitamin D “Vitamin D is good for the body, definitely, and there are some suggestive evidence it may help with cognitive health,” he said. But Small said he gets plenty of it by being outdoors and does not believe in supplementing unless a person is deficient.

2. B12 Low vitamin B12 levels can lead to “fatigue, numbness, tingling and memory loss,” Small said. “But if your levels are normal, I think the evidence it’s going to help you much is pretty flimsy.”

3. Omega-3 When it comes to taking omega-3 in supplements, Small said, “When benefits are seen, they are small, inconsistent and often not clinically meaningful.” On the other hand, observational studies have consistently shown that people who eat fish regularly have a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia. “Randomized trials haven’t confirmed a causal effect, but sushi, sashimi, branzino, salmon and other fish are some of my favorite foods, so I enjoy a fish dish twice a week,” he said.

4. Creatine A number of Small’s patients are taking creatine for their physical health, and some randomized controlled trials link it to better working memory and processing speed. Although he doesn’t take it himself, Small said it falls into the category of “if somebody feels very strongly, I won’t argue – as long as I don’t think there are side effects.” He said older adults, as well as athletes, may benefit from creatine supplementation, though some people may experience side effects.

5. Phosphatidylserine This is part of the brain cell membranes and is believed to support cognitive function, memory and nerve health. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrition in 2010 of 78 older people in Japan who complained of memory issues found that phosphatidylserine derived from soybean given for six months resulted in improved memory function, especially delayed recall and the ability to remember information after a period of time has passed. But Small is not convinced enough to take it himself, and it can be found naturally in fish, soybeans and eggs.

6. Nicotinamide riboside A form of vitamin B3, this ingredient has been getting a fair amount of attention recently as a popular antiaging supplement. A 2025 clinical study of people with long covid published in eClinicalMedicine found high doses were associated with positive changes in cognition, fatigue and mood. But the research is still in the very early stages.

Ask your doctor. Bring the bottles and canisters of everything you are taking to your doctor to evaluate, because there’s often overlap between different brands and formulations. “You may be wasting money or, at worst, creating a situation of drug interactions you’re not aware of,” Small said.

Vet the companies. There are two main issues with supplements: whether they work or might cause harm, and whether they contain what’s advertised or include dangerous contaminants. Research whether a manufacturer is a reputable company and if there any lawsuits or complaints against it.

Be skeptical. Instead of taking the claims on a label for granted, assume the pills or powders don’t do anything until you’ve done your own research. “With social media and the Internet, supplement marketing is on steroids,” Small said. “Whoever has the loudest voice in the room seems to prevail.”

“Exercise is good for you” is about as groundbreaking as florals for spring. But the flip side of that somewhat obvious health advice is also true: Spending too much time sitting isn’t great for you.

We’ve all read the headlines claiming that “sitting is the new smoking” even if you exercise. It seems as if there’s a regular cadence of research coming out to suggest that anyone with a sedentary lifestyle or occupation is doomed.

So how bad is it, really, to sit all day? And how can you combat the effects – considering that you may not feel like you have much of an alternative if your job requires it of you most days?

We dug into the research and asked experts to explain what sitting all day does to your body and what you can do to counteract the effects.

The health risks of sitting too much
A lot of sedentary time really is bad for you. We’ve known this for more than a decade. “I started talking about this 10 years ago, and it’s only gotten worse,” said Keith Diaz, the Florence Irving Associate Professor of Behavioral Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, who has researched the health effects of sitting too much.

Over the years, various studies have linked too much sitting with shorter lifespans, including higher rates of death from heart disease and from any cause. How much sitting is “too much” can vary by study, but generally it looks like more than eight to 10 hours per day.

Sitting for 10 hours a day once in a while isn’t the end of the world. Rather, researchers look at sedentary behavior over the course of years. When sitting all day becomes a regular habit, it’s also tied to a higher risk of cancer, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, depression and cognitive impairment.

A February 2024 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) of nearly 6,000 older women found that those who spent more than 11 hours sitting per day had a 57 percent higher risk of death from any cause during the 10-year study period and a 78 percent higher risk of dying from heart disease compared with women who sat for fewer than nine hours per day. Women who sat the most during the day and had the longest bouts of uninterrupted sitting had the highest chances of dying.

This study and others point to two main hypotheses underlying this association between sitting and negative health outcomes.

The first is that “when we sit, our muscles are not working and are not taking up glucose, and that can negatively affect our metabolism,” said Steve Nguyen, assistant professor in residence at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California at San Diego and lead author of the JAHA study.

“What we’re learning is that our muscles are really important for regulating blood sugar and triglycerides, or fats in our blood,” Diaz added. “For muscles to do that well, they need regular contraction,” which they don’t get when you’re sedentary.

The second has to do with blood vessels. When we sit, the bend in our legs is like a kink in a hose that can affect blood flow, Diaz said. Over time, that can contribute to blood vessels becoming stiffer, a risk factor for heart disease and stroke, Nguyen said.

People who sit a lot are also more likely to report having back and neck pain. While more research is needed, this could be due to how sedentary time affects posture. “Sitting results in muscle inactivation, and that could lead to lower muscle strength,” Nyugen said. Lower muscle strength makes us more likely to slouch, which can, over time, contribute to musculoskeletal imbalances and pain.

The phrase “sitting is the new smoking” is attributed to a Mayo Clinic professor of medicine and the inventor of the treadmill desk. But that’s not actually true.

When one meta-analysis tried to quantify just how bad sitting is compared with smoking, smoking was still worse. Per 100,000 people, 190 might die each year because of the health effects of sitting, while 2,000 would die because of heavy smoking.

How to combat the effects of sitting
So what can you do if you sit too much? The answer is simple in theory and harder in practice for the vast majority of U.S. adults: If you have healthy joints and muscles and no reason you can’t move more, then just don’t sit all day.

Here are some practical tips for incorporating a bit more movement into your life.

If your job is sedentary, make sure your weekend isn’t
Some sitting is probably unavoidable, especially if your work requires it. So look for opportunities to move more when you’re not at your job. That means no matter how tempting it is to spend a lot of your weekend scrolling on social media, try not to spend all of your downtime being sedentary, too.

Start exercising regularly if you don’t already
Exercise alone doesn’t seem to completely negate the harmful effects of sitting, but it can help. “Even if you exercise, how much sitting you do can still influence your disease risk,” Diaz said. “But if you didn’t exercise, you’d be far worse off.”

And a little bit goes a long way. Swapping 30 minutes of sitting for 30 minutes of light activity was associated with a 17 percent lower risk of death in a 2019 study of adults over age 45 that Diaz co-authored. And if those 30 minutes of activity were moderate to vigorous, risk of death decreased by 35 percent.

Change your position frequently
The fix for sitting all day isn’t necessarily standing all day. Standing too long can lead to back pain and still cause blood to pool in your legs, but it can be a helpful way to interrupt longer periods of sitting, Diaz said.

“The goal here is: Don’t sit all day, don’t stand all day, don’t move all day,” Diaz said. “It’s really just about doing everything in moderation and avoiding doing one thing for long periods of time.”

If it’s available and appropriate for you, consider an adjustable standing desk that allows you to sit or stand while you work. These devices reduce sedentary time and have also been linked to improvements in back and neck pain, productivity and feelings of engagement at work, according to a 2021 study. Treadmill and pedaling desks are other options, Nguyen added.

Schedule regular movement breaks
You should also break for movement regularly. In a small 2023 study Diaz co-authored, taking a five-minute activity break every 30 minutes that you’re sitting resulted in improvements in blood pressure and blood sugar management compared with people who didn’t get up and move at all.

Even taking less-frequent breaks is still a good idea. “What we were reassured with is that if you move every hour for five minutes, it didn’t help as much with blood sugar, but it helped with blood pressure, and it helped with people’s mood and their feelings of fatigue, which are two of the hidden costs of our sedentary lives,” Diaz said.

So whenever you can, take a quick walk around your office, do simple exercises like calf raises or squats, climb some stairs or even just march in place until you have to sit again.

To make this easier to actually do, think about where you can add in movement throughout your day tied to habits you already have, Diaz said – a popular concept known as habit-stacking. This might look like taking a short walk after every time you finish a work call, instead of diving into another project or checking your email, he said. You can also try scheduling movement in your calendar, setting an alarm on your phone to remind you to move more, or wearing a fitness tracker that regularly nudges you.

Think about ways in which you can permanently change sedentary habits, too. For example, maybe you make your weekly check-in meeting with your direct report a walking meeting or go for a stroll during your monthly phone call with your long-distance friend. These small changes can add up to decreased total sitting time.

“While it’s very important to move around throughout the day, movement and exercise are not a free pass,” Nguyen said. “We should still work on reducing our sitting where we reasonably can.”

(c) The Washington Post · Sarah Klein 

A federal judge ruled Thursday that the U.S. DOGE Service did not have the authority to cancel National Endowment for the Humanities grants, which made up more than $100 million in congressionally appropriated funds.

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon said DOGE selected grants for termination last year in ways that violated the First Amendment and the equal-protection component of the Fifth Amendment, calling the case “a textbook example of unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination.”

Citing depositions of two members of DOGE who had directed the grant cuts, McMahon wrote that the cost-cutting group had used ChatGPT to decide which grants would promote diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, but did not tell the AI chatbot how it defined the term.

The decision comes after more than a year of litigation over the grant cuts, which revealed new information about DOGE’s inner workings and influence over key decisions.

Humanities organizations – made up of the American Council of Learned Societies, American Historical Association and Modern Language Association of America – argued the grant cuts were arbitrary and capricious because the funding was terminated en masse without considering the specifics of each grant. In depositions, the DOGE members, Justin Fox and Nate Cavanaugh, testified they were focused on eliminating grants they viewed as promoting DEI and other grants they believed contributed to debt. (State humanities councils, which receive funding from the NEH, have also sued over the cuts.)

In depositions and government documents made available through discovery, it was revealed Fox and Cavanaugh had directed the NEH’s acting chairman Michael McDonald in the grant cutting. McDonald’s signature appeared on the letter that canceled grants, but it was placed there by DOGE.

The grants DOGE chose to cancel included funding to provide educational programming about the Holocaust at Seton Hall University, a virtual reality demonstration of Indigenous culture at the Mesa Verde National Park and Wupatki National Monument and a book about HIV in prisons.

McMahon said Congress had conferred no authority on DOGE to cut funding it appropriated, and it was President Donald Trump’s “duty to execute the laws Congress has enacted.”

“DOGE had no statutory authority to terminate NEH grants,” McMahon wrote. “And on the undisputed evidence, DOGE – not the NEH Chairperson or anyone else at NEH – effectuated the terminations at issue here.”

Plaintiffs called the decision a “complete victory.”

“We are gratified that justice was done, grateful to our amazing legal team at Fairmark Partners, and we will be watching closely to make sure every one of these grants is restored,” said Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger in a statement.

The White House and NEH did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the decision.

The judge ordered the government to rescind its termination letters to grantees but said the order does not require the government to immediately pay grant funds.

McMahon also highlighted Fox and Cavanaugh’s lack of understanding about the grants and experience in government. The two had come from tech backgrounds and were recruited through Elon Musk’s allies to join DOGE at the beginning of the administration.

They relied heavily on AI to sort the grants into spreadsheets, asking ChatGPT: “Does the following relate at all to DEI? Respond factually in less than 120 characters. Begin with ‘Yes.’ or ‘No.’ followed by a brief explanation.”

While the government suggested that it was ChatGPT’s determinations of what DEI was and not the government’s, McMahon did not accept that reasoning.

“That argument brings to mind, for someone of my generation, the great comedian Flip Wilson, whose character ‘Geraldine Jones’ would excuse her behavior by saying, ‘The devil made me do it,’” McMahon wrote. “That excuse did not work for Geraldine Jones, and it does not work for the Government.”

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Meryl Kornfield

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President Donald Trump said Thursday night that negotiations with Iran are ongoing, even after a confrontation earlier in the day near the Strait of Hormuz.

He also revealed that Pakistan had urged the United States to hold off on moving forward with his proposed “Project Freedom,” which would involve escorting ships through the strait, while diplomatic discussions are still underway.

“We’re negotiating with the Iranians. We have, you probably heard, we took our three destroyers and we rammed them through some pretty big stuff today, and we knocked the hell out of them,” Trump said, describing the exchange of fire with Iranian forces.

President Trump on Iran:

"We're negotiating with the Iranians.

We took our three destroyers and we rammed them through some pretty big stuff today and we knocked the hell out of them. The destroyers weren't hurt in any way.

The people weren't hurt but they were firing at us… pic.twitter.com/ZMZHn6M1bV

— World Source News (@Worldsource24) May 8, 2026

He added that American vessels and personnel were unharmed despite the incident. “The destroyers weren’t hurt in any way. The people weren’t hurt, but they were firing at us, and we were firing back at them. And our firepower was a hell of a lot stronger than theirs, and they knocked the hell out of them,” he said.

Addressing a proposed agreement to resolve tensions with Iran, Trump said the plan goes far beyond a simple, short document.

“Well, it’s more than a one-page offer. It’s an offer that basically said they will not have nuclear weapons, they are going to hand us the nuclear dust and many other things that we want,” Trump told reporters.

When asked whether Tehran has formally accepted the terms, Trump expressed skepticism about the reliability of any such agreement. “They have agreed. When they agree it doesn’t mean much because the next day they forgot they agreed.”

He noted that shifting leadership within Iran complicates the process. “And you know, we’re dealing with different sets of leaders,” Trump added.

Trump reiterated that the United States will not permit Iran to develop nuclear weapons. “We’re not going to give them the right to have a nuclear weapon, there’s zero chance, and they know that, and they’ve agreed to that. Let’s see if they are willing to sign it.”

Earlier in the day, a senior U.S. official told Fox News that American forces carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Port and Bandar Abbas.

The official emphasized that the actions were not intended as the start of a broader conflict.

A later update from another U.S. official indicated that additional strikes targeted Iran’s Bandar Kargan naval checkpoint in Minab.

Iranian media, however, offered a different account. The Tasnim news agency reported that Iran’s navy launched missile and drone attacks against three U.S. destroyers operating near the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement, the Iranian military’s Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters accused the United States of breaching the ceasefire by targeting Iranian ships.

“We will respond to any attack with force and without any hesitation,” the statement read.

Despite the flare-up, Trump downplayed the significance of the U.S. response in remarks to ABC News, calling the strikes a “love tap.”

Asked whether the ceasefire had collapsed, Trump insisted that it remains in place. “No, no, the ceasefire is going. It’s in effect.”

In a follow-up post on Truth Social, Trump warned Iran that failure to finalize an agreement could lead to stronger action, writing that “we’ll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don’t get their Deal signed, FAST!”

Earlier in the week, Trump announced that Project Freedom would be paused to give diplomacy a chance, just two days after unveiling the initiative to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

On Wednesday, he issued a public warning to Iran, writing on Truth Social, “Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran.”

He added that failure to comply would trigger renewed military action: “If they don’t agree, the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before.”

Later, speaking at the White House, Trump said recent discussions with Iranian officials have been encouraging, while emphasizing their desire to reach an agreement.

“They want to make a deal badly. And we’ll see if we get there. If we get there, they can’t have nuclear weapons. It’s very simple,” Trump stated.

Sen. John Fetterman is rejecting suggestions that he is breaking with the Democratic Party, insisting he remains committed even as his positions continue to draw backlash from progressives over issues like border enforcement, cooperation with Republicans, and his strong backing of Israel.

In an opinion column published Thursday in The Washington Post, Fetterman addressed the criticism head-on, arguing that his principles have remained consistent despite claims that he has shifted politically. The Pennsylvania senator said his willingness to collaborate across party lines and occasionally align with the Trump administration has fueled misplaced concerns.

“Being an independent voice that works with the other side to deliver for Pennsylvanians might put me at odds with the party that I have stayed committed to and have no plans to leave — but I will continue to put the commonwealth and the country first,” Fetterman wrote. “Plus, I’d be a terrible Republican who still votes overwhelmingly with Democrats.”

The essay, titled “John Fetterman: I haven’t changed. Here’s what has,” was framed as a direct rebuttal to growing talk that he is distancing himself from Democrats as the party moves further left, particularly on immigration and support for Israel.

Fetterman maintained that many of the stances drawing criticism today were once widely accepted within the party.

“My values have not changed, and I have always turned to those kinds of ideals that defined being a Democrat,” he wrote. “I refuse to cave on my conscience because Pennsylvania deserves someone who is honest and can work across the aisle.”

Reflecting on his early political career as mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania, Fetterman said his focus was always on delivering tangible help to working-class residents, not engaging in partisan maneuvering.

“I wasn’t interested in playing political games. I wanted to help deliver change,” Fetterman wrote, adding that he still believes government should focus on results instead of ideological warfare.

He also criticized what he described as a reflexive tendency among Democrats to oppose President Donald Trump on nearly every issue.

“My party cannot simply be the opposite of whatever President Donald Trump says,” he wrote. “The president could come out for ice cream and lazy Sundays, and my party would suddenly hate them.”

Fetterman defended his stance on immigration, including support for stricter enforcement measures aimed at curbing illegal crossings and deporting violent offenders.

“I strongly believe that someone who comes here illegally and commits a violent crime should be deported. Full stop,” he wrote.

He further justified his votes to avert government shutdowns, arguing that Democrats should not have allowed federal workers or national security operations to be jeopardized over political disputes.

On international matters, Fetterman reiterated his firm support for Israel and voiced approval for efforts targeting Iran and its allied terror organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah.

“These once-common views have become increasingly toxic in the Democratic Party,” he wrote, blaming “the fringe and agitated parts of our base.”

Despite the pushback he has faced, Fetterman emphasized that he continues to back core liberal priorities, stating that he remains “strongly pro-choice, pro-weed, pro-LGBT, pro-SNAP, pro-labor.”

He also pointed to his bipartisan efforts with Republican colleagues on issues such as infrastructure, mental health services, and nutrition assistance, arguing that constituents expect practical solutions rather than ongoing political conflict.

{Matzav.com}

A political storm is brewing after comments attributed to Ateres Shlomo Rosh Yeshiva Hagaon Rav Chaim Feinstein, with a sitting member of Knesset calling for financial repercussions against the yeshiva he leads.

MK Vladimir Beliak of the Yesh Atid party sent an urgent letter on Thursday to Tax Authority Director Attorney Shay Aharonovitch, urging him to revoke the Section 46 tax-deductible status granted to donations made to Yeshiva Ateres Shlomo in Eretz Yisroel.

The request follows sharp remarks made by the rosh yeshiva, Hagaon Rav Chaim Feinstein, during a recent gathering of roshei yeshiva and rabbonim in the south addressing the issue of drafting bnei yeshiva into chareidi army frameworks.

In his letter, Beliak pointed to statements attributed to Rav Feinstein and cited in Channel 12 News, in which the rosh yeshiva said: “We must understand what we are facing — this is a terrible war, the enemy is not playing games.”

Earlier this week, a major gathering of roshei yeshiva and rabbonim from southern communities took place, at which Rav Feinstein delivered a powerful and uncompromising address warning of the dangers posed by enlistment initiatives targeting the chareidi public. His words generated significant reaction and were widely reported across the general media.

Letters of support for the gathering were also sent by leading gedolei Yisroel, including HaGaon Rav Dov Landau, HaGaon Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman and HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch.

Senior figures within the chareidi political parties strongly pushed back against the move, declaring: “The attempt to use economic terrorism to silence the cry of Torah emanating from the mouths of gedolei Torah will not succeed. These are Soviet-style tactics imported from the exile, and the gedolei Yisroel will continue to proclaim the daas Torah clearly and without fear.” They added that there had even been “a disgraceful attempt to silence voices” by inserting a provision into proposed draft legislation that would make a yeshiva’s eligibility for arrangements contingent on preventing roshei yeshiva from speaking out against the draft.

{Matzav.com}

Governor Kathy Hochul informed representatives of Agudath Israel of America on Thursday that New York State will take part in the federal Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), a sweeping initiative expected to generate $5 billion annually in K-12 scholarships nationwide starting in 2027.

The update was delivered during a closed-door meeting at the Manhattan offices of Outerstuff, hosted by Agudah Chairman of the Board Mr. Shloime Werdyger.

ECCA was enacted earlier this year after President Trump signed it into law as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The framework mirrors tax credit scholarship programs already operating in more than 20 states across the country.

Under the legislation, individuals who contribute to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) will receive a full federal tax credit for their donations. Those organizations will then distribute scholarships that families can apply toward private school tuition and other qualified educational costs.

Beginning next year, residents in participating states will be eligible for the federal credit when donating to approved scholarship funds. These funds will in turn provide K-12 financial assistance to qualifying students. Contributions are capped at $1,700 per individual each year, and the program carries no overall national funding limit, having been written as a permanent part of the federal tax code.

Qualification for scholarships will depend on income thresholds that vary by region. Agudath Israel indicated that, based on current guidelines, a large percentage of frum households are likely to qualify for assistance under the program.