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Deborah Birx said Thursday that while the threat posed by a recent hantavirus outbreak connected to a cruise ship appears limited, health authorities must remain alert and communicate clearly in order to restore public confidence following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on Newsmax’s “National Report,” Birx pointed to what she described as a stronger global response compared to the early days of COVID-19, noting that governments are acting more decisively to contain the situation.

“The good news is, as opposed to what happened early on in COVID, countries are responding and governments are responding really well,” Birx said, noting that authorities are “taking precautions of contact tracing, staying in touch with them, monitoring them.”

The outbreak has been tied to the Andes strain of hantavirus and has drawn widespread attention after multiple passengers aboard a cruise ship contracted the illness following a stop in Argentina. The World Health Organization reported that three individuals have died.

Birx explained that hantavirus spreads less easily than COVID-19, stressing that it is not as well adapted for human-to-human transmission. At the same time, she cautioned that the United States has its own dangerous variant of the virus.

“We do have a different strain of hantavirus, but a deadly one in the Southwest,” she said. “Really being careful in the Southwest, when you see deer mice droppings, this can get aerosolized and cause hantavirus, as it has in the U.S. for years.”

She recommended that anyone who traveled on the affected cruise ship get tested, emphasizing the virus’s extended incubation period and the importance of early detection.

“Everyone who was on that ship, they should get tested for hantavirus, just to be reassuring to themselves over the next two to three weeks, because it has a long incubation period,” Birx said.

“We have 21st century testing. We ought to be using it because people need the peace of mind.”

Birx also said the situation underscores the erosion of trust in public health institutions that followed the COVID-19 crisis, and she called for greater openness in addressing past missteps.

“We all need to step back and really be very clear to the public about misstatements that did occur during CV,” she said, criticizing early pandemic guidance that claimed there was “no human-to-human transmission,” “no asymptomatic spread,” and that the virus “wasn’t aerosolized.”

“All of that isn’t true,” Birx said. “Breathing was enough to transmit the virus with COVID.”

She maintained that public health officials must learn from those errors and be better prepared for future outbreaks, including providing clearer guidance for schools and families.

“We have to revise our school closures to make it very clear to parents what we’re going to do when there’s another pandemic,” Birx said.

“All of us need to work with communities to reestablish that trust. It’s critically important.”

Birx concluded by warning that hantavirus infections can sometimes present with only mild symptoms, making testing and monitoring especially important to prevent further spread.

“No one wants to spread a virus,” she said. “So we need to give people the tools that they need.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday directed federal immigration officers operating in the state to refrain from wearing face coverings, a step that is expected to face legal opposition from the Trump administration following similar efforts in California that were struck down in court.

Since President Donald Trump launched a wide-ranging deportation campaign, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement have frequently worn masks during operations, citing concerns about being identified and targeted outside of work.

“For ICE, wearing masks without good cause is nothing short of an intimidation tactic, a cowardly attempt to evade responsibility,” Hochul said Thursday.

Images earlier this year showing heavily armed, masked officers in plain clothes conducting enforcement actions in cities such as Minneapolis drew widespread global attention. The scrutiny intensified after a deadly incident in which ICE agents fatally shot two Americans in that Midwestern city.

Alongside the directive on masks, Hochul announced additional limits on ICE activity, stating that agents would be barred from entering certain locations—including schools, libraries, community centers, and polling places—unless they obtain a judicial warrant.

She also instructed local law enforcement agencies not to assist in operations that are based solely on immigration enforcement.

“Our officers, paid for by local taxpayer dollars, were hired to protect their communities … they’re not there to do the federal government’s bidding,” Hochul added.

Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, recently warned that the federal government would respond forcefully to such measures.

“what’s going to happen with places like New York, and [if] people pass ridiculous legislation not to work with us, we’re going to flood the zone.”

A similar policy enacted by lawmakers in California requiring federal agents to show their faces was blocked earlier this year by a district court, with an appeals court later upholding that decision.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump minimized Iran’s attempted strike on three U.S. Navy destroyers Thursday, even as tensions continued to test a fragile cease-fire and ongoing efforts to lay the groundwork for potential negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

“Three World Class American Destroyers just transited, very successfully, out of the Strait of Hormuz, under fire,” he posted to Truth Social. “There was no damage done to the three Destroyers.”

In describing the clash, Trump portrayed it as a decisive setback for Iranian forces, saying the attackers suffered extensive losses during the encounter.

He wrote that the “Iranian attackers” were “completely destroyed along with numerous small boats, which are being used to take the place of their fully decapitated Navy.”

“These boats went to the bottom of the Sea, quickly and efficiently. Missiles were shot at our Destroyers, and were easily knocked down,” he said. “Likewise, drones came, and were incinerated while in the air. They dropped ever so beautifully down to the Ocean, very much like a butterfly dropping to its grave!”

According to U.S. Central Command, the confrontation occurred as the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason moved through the Strait of Hormuz, where they came under attack from what officials described as “multiple missiles, drones and small boats.”

Despite the exchange, the United States has not declared the cease-fire void and continues to treat it as active, with Trump characterizing the American response as limited.

“The ceasefire is going. It’s in effect,” Trump said.

The president also issued a sharp warning about Iran’s leadership, accusing them of being dangerous and willing to escalate to nuclear use if given the chance.

“But they’ll never have that opportunity,” Trump said on social media, “and, just like we knocked them out again today, 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!”

Some analysts and critics pointed out that even though U.S. defenses prevented casualties, the nature of the attack itself raised concerns about Iran’s intentions.

“The U.S. may have been successful in defending against them but Iran fired drones, missiles, and launched small boats at U.S. Navy warships with the intention to kill U.S. service members in direct violation of the ceasefire agreement,” former Pentagon official and Atlantic Council fellow Alex Plitsas posted to X.

Trump has so far avoided outlining a clear threshold for what would constitute a violation severe enough to end the cease-fire, declining to give specifics when pressed by reporters earlier in the week.

For now, the administration has refrained from launching retaliatory strikes, focusing instead on keeping diplomatic efforts alive as negotiations continue behind the scenes.

Officials have been working through a proposed 14-point framework that could open the door to formal talks, with nuclear-related provisions now included in the discussions.

Sources familiar with the process said a preliminary memorandum—reportedly condensed into a single page—would serve as the basis for a broader agreement to be negotiated later.

Among the proposals under consideration are a halt to Iran’s uranium enrichment, partial relief from U.S. sanctions, and steps to ensure the free flow of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been repeatedly threatened during the conflict.

Negotiations could resume as soon as next week in Islamabad, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal, though multiple drafts have already been exchanged between the two sides. Pakistan, acting as a mediator, is attempting to consolidate the proposals into a unified framework.

“If the framework of issues for debate is accepted, it would trigger a 30-day window for negotiators to hammer out the details,” a source familiar with mediations said.

Significant obstacles remain, particularly regarding Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium and whether it would be allowed to resume enrichment activities at any point in the future.

“The main hurdle is the duration of enrichment restrictions,” a Pakistani source told The Post on Wednesday. “There’s no final deal yet.”

Trump has insisted that any existing enriched uranium must be handed over to the United States, dismissing alternatives that would place the material under third-party supervision.

Iran, however, is expected to reject that demand and has recently held discussions in Moscow, with officials indicating a preference for transferring such material to Russia if required—an option U.S. officials have already ruled out.

American negotiators may consider allowing a temporary freeze on enrichment if Iran agrees to suspend the activity for 15 to 20 years, though Trump has repeatedly opposed any arrangement that would permit Iran to resume enrichment in the future.

Another proposal would involve gradually easing the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports if Tehran agrees to reopen the Strait of Hormuz during a 30-day negotiation period, according to the Wall Street Journal.

A Pakistani official confirmed that the draft framework includes provisions for “Hormuz de-escalation” and efforts to “restore shipping.”

As of Thursday, Iran continued to assert control over the strategic waterway and has recently pushed measures such as collecting tolls from vessels passing through it.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz accused Tehran of violating international norms through such actions and called on the UN Security Council to intervene.

“Cease attacks on commercial shipping, cease mining and remove its mines from an international waterway. Cease tolling — charging illegal tolls in the Strait of Hormuz — and allow the UN to move forward with humanitarian aid, lifesaving aid through that international corridor,” he demanded of Iran.

“It’s really that simple,” he added.

His comments followed announcements by Iranian state media about the creation of what was described as the “Persian Gulf Straits Authority,” a move that Waltz warned could force international vessels to pay fees for passage.

Iran’s determination to maintain authority over the Strait of Hormuz is expected to complicate any final agreement, according to the Wall Street Journal.

To encourage progress, negotiators have discussed offering Iran economic incentives, including sanctions relief and the release of frozen assets, though specific figures have yet to be finalized. Earlier proposals suggested those benefits would be phased in over time.

The U.S. State Department is moving forward with a plan to cancel the passports of thousands of Americans who owe substantial amounts in unpaid child support, marking a significant step in enforcing longstanding federal policy.

Officials said Thursday that the first wave of revocations will begin Friday, targeting individuals who owe at least $100,000. Based on data provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 2,700 U.S. passport holders fall into that category.

The initiative, which was first detailed earlier this year, is expected to widen considerably in the near future. According to the State Department, enforcement will soon extend to those with unpaid child support exceeding $2,500, the level set by a 1996 law that has historically seen limited enforcement.

Authorities acknowledged that the total number of people owing more than $2,500 remains unclear, as HHS continues gathering information from state agencies responsible for tracking such debts. Officials indicated that the broader enforcement could ultimately affect many thousands more individuals.

Previously, enforcement was limited to people seeking to renew their passports. Under the updated approach, HHS will regularly notify the State Department of anyone with overdue obligations above $2,500, and those individuals who already hold passports will face revocation.

“We are expanding a commonsense practice that has been proven effective at getting those who owe child support to pay their debt,” Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar said. “Once these parents resolve their debts, they can once again enjoy the privilege of a U.S. passport.”

Following initial reports in February about the expanded effort, officials said there has already been a noticeable response from affected parents.

“Since the AP reported the expansion of the program on Feb. 10, the department said it had “seen data that hundreds of parents took action and resolved their arrears with state authorities since news broke that the State Department would start proactively revoking passports.””

“While we can’t confirm the causation in all of those cases, we are taking this action precisely to impel these parents to do the right thing by their children and by U.S. law,” the department said.

Even before the latest expansion, the State Department described the policy as highly effective in collecting overdue payments. Since the program began in 1998, states have recovered approximately $657 million in back child support, including more than $156 million in over 24,000 lump-sum payments during the past five years.

Individuals whose passports are canceled under the policy will receive notice that their documents are no longer valid for travel and that they must reapply once their outstanding obligations have been settled.

Those who are overseas at the time their passports are revoked will be required to contact a U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain emergency travel papers allowing them to return home.

{Matzav.com}

A sharp dispute broke out in Albany on Thursday after Kathy Hochul declared that an agreement had been reached on New York’s overdue state budget, only to be publicly contradicted by Carl Heastie, who insisted no such deal exists.

The clash followed Hochul’s early morning announcement, made around 9 a.m., in which she outlined what she described as the framework of a finalized spending plan.

Within roughly two hours, Heastie forcefully pushed back, dismissing the governor’s claim outright.

“There’s no budget deal. There’s no deal,” the Bronx Democrat said.

“I’m not conferencing anything else until I know what the financial picture is.”

Heastie added that he had exited a high-level meeting of legislative leaders the previous evening without any agreement being reached.

Hochul has been under growing pressure to finalize a budget as the state repeatedly missed its statutory deadlines, and had been eager to present a resolution.

She had initially planned to unveil the agreement a day earlier, even arranging for the Red Room at the state Capitol to host the announcement, but scrapped those plans at the last moment.

Her assertion that a deal had been secured — seen by some as an effort to pressure lawmakers — drew pushback from both sides of the aisle.

“I would actually thank the speaker for standing up for the legislature in this process,” Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra told reporters.

“No you didn’t reach an agreement,” state Sen. Jabari Brisport posted to Hochul on X. “You do this every year. Please stop.”

The proposal Hochul presented lacked detailed specifics and comes as New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has been urging Albany for additional funding to address what he says is a $5.4 billion budget gap.

State officials are expected to provide some form of assistance to the mayor, either through direct funding or by postponing requirements to reduce class sizes in city schools — a move insiders say could ease roughly $600 million in costs.

Legislators have also been considering changes to pension fund contributions, which could yield up to $1.5 billion in savings, though negotiations over those details were still ongoing late Wednesday.

A spokesperson for the governor indicated that the city’s financial figures are still being finalized, but confirmed that the state plan is expected to include additional support for New York City.

Hochul has maintained that Mamdani must identify cost-cutting measures within his expanding $127 billion municipal budget, which is approximately half the size of the state’s overall spending plan.

For his part, the first-term mayor has yet to put forward significant proposals to rein in spending and has delayed releasing his executive budget blueprint until next week.

The governor has also sought to hand Mamdani a policy victory by advancing a tax on high-value secondary residences in the city, allowing him to claim progress on his campaign promise to increase taxes on the wealthy.

However, that measure is expected to bring in only about $320 million and is likely to encounter substantial political and legislative challenges.

The state budget had originally been due on April 1, and remains unresolved weeks past the deadline.

{Matzav.com}

Officials in Florida are reportedly engaged in discussions with the Trump administration about the possible shutdown of the immigration detention facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” as concerns grow over the high cost of maintaining the site.

The detention center, located deep in the Everglades, has emerged as a prominent symbol of strict immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

According to a report by The New York Times, officials within the Department of Homeland Security have privately determined that the facility is too costly to sustain and has fallen short of expectations in terms of effectiveness.

Newsmax reached out to DeSantis’ office for a response to the report.

The state is said to be spending more than $1 million each day to operate the center, which began housing detainees last summer at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport, situated between Miami and Naples.

Its isolated swamp location, chosen in part to discourage illegal crossings and limit escape attempts, has significantly driven up operating expenses.

Supplies such as tents, generators, and trailers must be transported into the site, while waste and sewage must be removed, adding to the logistical burden.

Despite the costs, DeSantis and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier have consistently defended the facility, arguing that it plays a critical role in supporting federal immigration enforcement efforts.

The site marked the first state-operated center to house federal immigration detainees and was hailed by officials in the Trump administration as a model that other states could follow.

President Trump and then–Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the facility shortly after it opened.

Opponents, including environmental advocates and immigration activists, have criticized the center for months, raising concerns about conditions at the site as well as its environmental impact.

Florida officials have rejected those claims, maintaining that the criticism is driven by political motives.

In April, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Florida and the Trump administration, reversing a lower court decision that would have required the facility to be closed and dismantled, according to The Hill.

The appeals court determined that the federal government did not have sufficient direct involvement in the construction of the facility to require an environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act.

At the time, a DHS spokesperson welcomed the decision, saying the lawsuit was driven by “open-borders activists and judges trying to keep law enforcement from removing dangerous criminal illegal aliens from our communities.”

Even with that legal victory, uncertainty continues to surround the future of the detention center, as Florida has reportedly yet to receive more than $600 million in federal reimbursements it has requested to cover operating costs.

Data from ICE cited in the Times indicated that the facility was holding close to 1,400 detainees as of last month, with about two-thirds classified as individuals without criminal records.

{Matzav.com}