Feed aggregator

President Donald Trump revealed Monday that he has agreed to travel to Beijing in April at the invitation of Chinese leader Xi Jinping — and that he, in turn, invited Xi for a state visit to the United States later next year.

The announcement followed a phone conversation between the two leaders earlier in the day, their first extended discussion since meeting last month in Busan, South Korea. Trump said the call ranged across topics including Ukraine, fentanyl, and agricultural trade. “Our relationship with China is extremely strong!” Trump said.

China, which disclosed the call before the U.S. did, issued its own readout that mentioned nothing about state visits. Beijing said the conversation touched on Taiwan, trade, and the war in Ukraine.

During the call, Xi reiterated China’s stance on Taiwan, saying the island’s reunification with the mainland is “an integral part of the post-war international order.” He also said he hopes to see “a fair, lasting, and binding peace agreement” for Ukraine, according to China’s foreign ministry.

The exchange came on the heels of pointed remarks from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who suggested Japan’s military might intervene if China were to use force against Taiwan — a statement that infuriated Beijing and further strained relations between the two Asian powers. Japan is a key U.S. ally in the region.

The timing of the Trump–Xi call also aligned with the latest diplomatic push from Washington to bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

Interestingly, China departed from its usual language, which often notes that its leader spoke “upon request.” This time, it did not. “That means China called Trump,” said Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington.

Sun suggested Beijing’s motive is linked to escalating tensions with Tokyo. “My best guess is China is worried about the escalation (in tensions) with Japan. The reference to Taiwan and the post-WWII order directly points to the spat with Japan over Taiwan,” she said. Sun added, “They also talked about Ukraine. That is an issue China is interested in due to the new peace negotiation.”

The China–Japan rift deepened after Takaichi’s comments, prompting harsh denunciations from Beijing. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declared over the weekend that Japan “crossed a red line that should not have been touched.”

In his call with Trump, Xi emphasized historical ties, noting that China and the United States fought as allies in World War II and must “jointly safeguard the victory of World War II.”

U.S. policy on Taiwan remains one of strategic ambiguity — Washington recognizes no sovereignty claim but opposes any effort to seize the island by force and is required by law to supply Taiwan with the weaponry needed for self-defense.

Trump has kept his own ambiguity about whether he would send American troops in a Taiwan Strait conflict. His administration has nonetheless pressed Taiwan to bolster its defense spending.

Earlier this month, Taiwan announced it had been notified that Washington approved a $330 million package of fighter jet parts and other equipment. Beijing sharply objected to the sale, calling it a violation of its one-China principle. “China deplores and opposes that,” foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

According to China’s summary of the call, the two leaders also discussed Ukraine, with Xi saying the conflict must be resolved “at its root” and voicing support for “all efforts that are conducive to peace.” Western governments, meanwhile, accuse China of fueling the war through industrial and economic support to Russia.

Trump said he also spoke with Xi about “fentanyl, soybeans and other farm products, etc.” He added, “We have done a good, and very important, deal for our great farmers — and it will only get better.”

Trump noted that since the Busan summit, “there has been significant progress on both sides in keeping our agreements current and accurate.”

For his part, Xi said the relationship between the two nations has “generally maintained a steady and positive trajectory” since their meeting in South Korea, and urged both sides to work toward “more positive progress,” the Chinese foreign ministry said.

However, China’s statement offered no specifics about new trade commitments, including purchases of U.S. soybeans.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Monday that he has accepted an invitation from Chinese leader Xi Jinping to visit Beijing in April and that he reciprocated by inviting Xi for a state visit to the U.S. later next year. Trump made the announcement after he spoke with Xi by phone nearly a month after the two leaders met in person in […]

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir delivered a sweeping series of disciplinary actions, announcing that a number of senior officers would be dismissed and others formally censured for their part in the catastrophic failures of October 7, 2023.

Earlier in the day, Zamir called in the senior commanders for individual meetings, following through on his recent pledge to make “personal decisions” based on the findings of an independent expert panel. Lower-ranking officers were summoned separately by Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai.

Many of the officers whose dismissals were announced had already stepped away from the military, meaning the action is largely symbolic. Those who were censured will remain in their positions until their current terms end, with some expected to stay on for years.

In a video message explaining his decisions, Zamir said: “It is not easy to make decisions that impact people I value and who have dedicated their lives to the security of the state, people with whom I have fought for decades. Alongside this, before my eyes stands the obligation to draw a clear line for command responsibility. This is not a responsibility we choose to take upon ourselves, but one we bear by virtue of being commanders in the IDF,” he continued.

He warned that without restoring a culture of consequence, public faith in the army would crumble. “If we do not sharpen the meaning of responsibility, trust in the system will erode, and that trust is the foundation of our ability to fight, to win, and to defend the State of Israel,” Zamir said.

Zamir emphasized that the officers now penalized “are among our finest commanders.”

“All of them have dedicated most of their lives to the IDF and the State of Israel. The vast majority of them have had a direct part in the operational successes the IDF has achieved over the past two years,” he said.

One of the most senior officers sanctioned is Maj. Gen. (res.) Aharon Haliva, the former head of the Military Intelligence Directorate. Haliva stepped down in April 2024 and was replaced several months later; he will now be removed from reserve service and barred from returning to the IDF.

Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, who headed the Operations Directorate until his resignation after completing his tenure in July, will also be dismissed from reserve duty.

Former Southern Command chief Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, who stepped down in January and was replaced in March, will likewise be removed from reserve service.

Current Military Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder — who was the Operations Division chief on October 7 — received a formal censure. He will remain in his post until his four-year term ends in 2028, after which he plans to leave the army.

Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar will also be censured for the Air Force’s inability to intercept Hamas’s drones and paragliders during the attack. Even so, he will continue leading the IAF until his term concludes in April 2026.

Navy commander Vice Adm. David Sa’ar Salama will be reprimanded for the Navy’s failure to prevent Hamas’s maritime infiltration on October 7, but he will finish his tenure, which ends in the coming months.

Another officer who will be pushed out is Brig. Gen. “Gimmel,” the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate’s Operational Division on October 7, who has since transferred to a different position.

Brig. Gen. (res.) Yossi Sariel, who led Unit 8200 until announcing his resignation in September 2024, will be dismissed from reserve duty.

Former Gaza Division commander Brig. Gen. (res.) Avi Rosenfeld — who left the army in June 2024 and was replaced that September — will also be stripped of reserve responsibilities.

Col. (res.) Ariel Lubovski, previously the intelligence chief of Southern Command and later reassigned after being removed in March 2024 for an improper but consensual relationship with a subordinate, will no longer serve in reserve duty.

Col. (res.) Haim Cohen, who oversaw the Northern Brigade of the Gaza Division during the attack and resigned in March, will also be dismissed from reserve service.

Another officer being removed is Lt. Col. “Alef,” who worked in the Gaza Division’s intelligence branch before and during the assault and moved to a different MI post in early 2025.

In contrast, Zamir ruled that three senior officers — Brig. Gen. Eliad Moati, Brig. Gen. Manor Yanai, and Col. Ephraim Avni — could be promoted, overruling Defense Minister Israel Katz, who had frozen their appointments over suspected involvement in the October 7 breakdown. Moati, who had just begun leading the Border Defense Corps days before the massacre, was not considered responsible. Yanai’s Southern Command chief-of-staff role is primarily administrative. Avni served as operations chief for Southern Command during the attack.

One notable omission from the list of those summoned: Maj. Gen. Eliezer Toledano, who served as the head of Southern Command until mid-2023 and previously led the Gaza Division.

Most of the officers met Zamir face-to-face to receive their determinations, though Haliva and Sariel were unable to attend.

Speaking Sunday night, Zamir reiterated the army’s commitment to full accountability. He said the IDF was “committed to a thorough, professional, and in-depth inquiry of everything that occurred on that terrible day.”

He added: “Out of this commitment, I carried out a series of steps to advance the matter, including the establishment of an independent review team to examine the inquiries and their quality.”

His bottom line was blunt. “My conclusions present an unequivocal picture: The IDF failed in its principal mission on October 7 — to protect the citizens of the State of Israel,” he said.

“This is a severe, resounding, and systemic failure that relates to decisions and conduct before and during the event. The lessons of that day are many and important, and they must serve as our compass for the future, toward which I intend to lead the army,” he said.

Zamir underscored that the disciplinary actions were driven by duty, not politics. “Accordingly, I decided, after careful consideration, to take personal decisions regarding certain officials who served on October 7. This decision is complex and derives from my responsibility to balance systemic and command considerations with the needs of the IDF in a volatile period with threats on all fronts,” he said.

He closed with a pledge of resolve. “I will continue to lead the IDF in the light of truth, and out of responsibility and devotion to the mission,” Zamir added.

{Matzav.com}

A heartbreaking tragedy struck the community of Modi’in Illit this evening with the sudden passing of Racheil Hager A”H, an 11-year-old girl from Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai Street in the Brachfeld neighborhood. She collapsed without warning and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors fought to save her life. Despite intensive efforts, she was tragically […]

A White House draft circulating among senior officials lays out a plan that would keep Affordable Care Act subsidies in place for an additional two years, an effort aimed at shielding millions of Americans from sharp premium hikes when the current tax credits expire at year’s end.

The proposal indicates that President Donald Trump is considering extending a key piece of Obamacare even as Republicans continue searching for a long-term health care overhaul — an issue that has stumped the party for more than a decade. The administration emphasizes that nothing is final until Trump himself unveils a decision.

The subsidies, central to the Democrats’ stance during the recent shutdown standoff, were a major sticking point earlier this month. Many Democrat lawmakers refused to back any deal to keep the government running unless the existing tax credits were renewed without changes.

Under the working draft, eligibility for the expanded COVID-era subsidies would continue but with a ceiling of 700% of the federal poverty level, according to two individuals familiar with the discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The original Affordable Care Act capped eligibility at 400%, a limit suspended during the pandemic to widen access to middle- and upper-middle-income households.

The White House is also eyeing a universal premium requirement for anyone enrolled in an Obamacare plan. Every participant — even those on the lowest-tier plans — would need to contribute something toward monthly coverage. One idea being considered is a 2% income contribution or a minimum charge of $5 per month, a move Republicans argue is necessary to prevent abuse in a system that currently permits zero-premium plans for some low-income enrollees.

The possibility of maintaining any piece of President Barack Obama’s landmark law is expected to infuriate segments of the conservative base, which has spent years pushing to scrap the Affordable Care Act entirely.

“Until President Trump makes an announcement himself, any reporting about the administration’s health care positions is mere speculation,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said Monday.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt added that Trump “is very much involved in these talks” and is “focused on unveiling a health care proposal that will fix the system and will bring down costs for consumers.”

Despite early conservative frustration, initial signs point to potential bipartisan traction. Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire — one of the Democrats who voted to reopen the government in the recent shutdown episode — said the emerging White House framework “represents a starting point for serious negotiations.”

She argued that Trump’s willingness to consider an extension reflects the stakes. “The fact that President Trump is putting forward any offer at all to extend the Affordable Care Act’s tax credits shows that there is a broad understanding that inaction in this regard will cause serious harm to the American people,” Hassan said.

Back in 2017, Trump came up short in a high-profile attempt to dismantle Obamacare, exposing deep divisions among Republicans who otherwise controlled Washington. The party has not agreed on a cohesive replacement plan since, but the looming deadline for the pandemic-era subsidies gives Trump a fresh opening to reshape the health care landscape.

While the White House has been developing its proposal behind the scenes through the Domestic Policy Council, lawmakers have begun crafting alternatives of their own. Senators Rick Scott of Florida and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana are among those floating ideas to shift federal subsidy dollars into health savings accounts that consumers could use to purchase plans or cover medical expenses.

The administration’s draft would allow people enrolled in bronze-level or catastrophic plans to make contributions to health savings accounts, expanding an option typically restricted to higher-deductible insurance.

Another element under consideration is formally adopting the “program integrity rule,” an enforcement tool designed to better target fraud and misuse in the system.

The urgency behind negotiations is rising as Americans shopping for coverage are already confronting steep price increases. Open enrollment for next year began on November 1, and without new action from Congress, subsidized consumers are expected to see their premiums more than double, according to an analysis by the nonprofit health research group KFF.

Voters have made clear that health care affordability remains a top concern. Recent polls show it ranking alongside broader cost-of-living issues — themes that helped propel Democrats to victories in this month’s elections as they capitalized on economic frustrations nationwide.

{Matzav.com}

MK Tzvi Sukkot was forced to cancel a planned trip to the United States after the online visa application he submitted was denied, and a subsequent in-person request at the U.S. Embassy became entangled in questions about his criminal background. Sukkot had booked his flight weeks in advance and proceeded with the standard visa interview […]

Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion’s vehicle was attacked earlier today during a visit to the Chareidi neighborhood of Meah Shearim, according to Hebrew media reports. Rioters hurled stones at the car, shattering its rear window. Lion was inside the vehicle when the attack took place, but he was not injured and continued with his schedule as […]

President Donald Trump is directing the federal government to combine efforts with tech companies and universities to convert government data into scientific discoveries, acting on his push to make artificial intelligence the engine of the nation’s economic future. Trump unveiled the “Genesis Mission” as part of an executive order he signed Monday that directs the […]

UNRWA, the UN body dedicated to servicing so-called Palestinian refugees—and barred from operating in Israel under Israeli law—continues to expand its activities inside Gaza, reinstating multiple programs and reopening facilities across the Strip.

Its spokesman, Adnan Abu Hasna, announced new initiatives underway, saying: “UNRWA is currently working to open additional clinics and medical centers in various areas of the Strip. Three new clinics have been opened inside Gaza City, as well as a medical center in Jabalia in the northern part of the Strip, despite the complex situation on the ground.”

He further highlighted new developments in the education system, noting that the agency has brought back a functioning school structure for roughly 300,000 children. Of those, about 50,000 have already returned to physical classrooms spread across 124 learning locations.

Turning to health services, Abu Hasna underscored the scale of daily medical operations, stating: “UNRWA currently operates seven central clinics—four owned by the agency and three rented—in addition to 35 medical points, which receive about 15,000 patients daily.”

These announcements come as the agency faces ever-intensifying criticism over its conduct and its long-documented entanglement with Hamas. That criticism escalated dramatically after Israel disclosed in 2024 that UNRWA staff members took part in the October 7, 2023 Hamas atrocities.

Israeli officials later released a detailed file alleging that UNRWA employees directly assisted the terrorists—kidnapping a woman, distributing ammunition, and participating in the brutal rampage at Kibbutz Be’eri, where 97 Israelis were slaughtered.

In response to those revelations, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres convened an investigative panel led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna to examine the accusations. The panel’s report acknowledged “neutrality-related issues” within the agency, while simultaneously claiming that Israel had not yet provided proof that a substantial portion of UNRWA’s workforce belonged to terrorist factions.

Amid all this, personal testimony has added fuel to the fire. Emily Damari, freed after 470 harrowing days as a Hamas captive, revealed that she was imprisoned at an UNRWA-run site.

The concerns only deepened in April 2025 when USAID disclosed that the United Nations blocked an American probe into links between UNRWA staffers in Gaza and Hamas operatives.

Despite this extensive trail of evidence and allegations, the International Court of Justice recently ordered Israel to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza via UN channels—including through UNRWA. That decision prompted sharp objections from both Israel and the United States.

{Matzav.com}

Neurological breakthroughs once hailed as miracles of modern medicine are now triggering urgent warnings from British researchers, who fear that governments could soon turn the human brain into a battlefield. In a new report, Preventing Weaponization of CNS-Acting Chemicals, experts at Bradford University argue that the same research used to treat neurological disorders could be […]

In a display of U.S. military force, F-18 Super Hornets launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford off the Venezuelan coast and joined up with a B-52 bomber.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) says reports the agency has been dissolved is “fake news.”

PHOTOS & VIDEO: The Chuppah of the grandchildren of both the Skvere Rebbe Shlita and the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak is currently taking place in New Square. The Vizhnitzer Rebbe flew in from Eretz Yisroel to attend the chasuna.

Spotify is preparing to raise US subscription prices in the first quarter of next year. A US Spotify subscription currently costs $11.99 a month, compared with $9.99 when it launched in the country 14 years ago.

TRUMP SIGNS ORDER TARGETING MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD: President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday directing Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to begin designating certain chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. The order, invoking the Immigration and Nationality Act and the International Emergency […]

AG Pam Bondi: “We’ll be taking all available legal action, including an immediate appeal, to hold Letitia James and James Comey accountable for their unlawful conduct.”

The White House underscored on Monday that President Donald Trump continues to stand firmly behind Israel’s right to act against security threats, following the IDF’s targeted strike in Beirut that killed Hezbollah’s Chief of General Staff. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt conveyed the administration’s position while fielding questions from reporters.

When asked by Walla News correspondent Idan Kweller whether the president specifically supported the Beirut operation and Israel’s broader efforts to prevent Hezbollah from rebuilding, Leavitt noted she had not yet discussed that particular strike with him. Even so, she emphasized the administration’s consistent stance, saying, “I haven’t spoken to the President about that strike specifically, but of course the President supports Israel’s right to defend itself and to take out any terrorist threats.”

Israel’s military confirmed on Sunday that, with guidance from the Intelligence Directorate, it carried out an operation in the Beirut area that resulted in the elimination of Haytham Ali Tabataba’i. The longtime operative, who served as Hezbollah’s Chief of General Staff, had been deeply involved in the terror group’s structure for decades.

According to Israeli assessments, Tabataba’i’s involvement stretched back to the 1980s. Over the years, he took on major leadership roles, including commanding the “Radwan Force” Unit and overseeing Hezbollah’s operations in Syria. During his tenure there, he played a key role in strengthening the organization’s foothold and enhancing its military capabilities within Syrian territory.

As the conflict evolved, he was elevated to oversee the organization’s operations framework, where he managed force development and coordinated the wider combat landscape. After much of Hezbollah’s senior military leadership was taken out during Operation “Northern Arrows,” Tabataba’i effectively became responsible for directing the group’s battle strategy against Israel.

The targeted strike occurred against the backdrop of ongoing friction along Israel’s northern border, despite a year having passed since the U.S.– and French-mediated ceasefire. Israeli officials say Beirut has failed to meet its obligations to disarm Hezbollah, which remains classified by the U.S. as a terrorist organization.

Israel has conducted multiple operations against Hezbollah sites in Lebanon as the group continues pursuing military reconstruction and maintains a substantial armed presence close to the Israeli frontier. In response to mounting international pressure, Lebanon’s cabinet has instructed its army to craft a plan for disarming Hezbollah by the end of 2025.

Hezbollah’s leadership, however, has already rejected that possibility. The group’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem, harshly criticized the government’s proposal and has maintained a consistent pledge that Hezbollah will not relinquish its weapons under any circumstances.

{Matzav.com}

The White House is circulating a proposal that would extend subsidies to help consumers pay for coverage under the Affordable Care Act for two more years, as millions of Americans face spiking health care costs when the current tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year. The draft plan suggests that […]

Washington intensified its pressure campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood on Monday, as President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing federal agencies to begin the formal process of labeling select chapters as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists. His directive requires both the State Department and Treasury to prepare a comprehensive review within 45 days to determine which branches meet the legal standards for such classifications.

According to the administration, the potential designations carry serious consequences. Once approved, they would lead to sanctions, the freezing of assets, and restrictions on financial movement—steps that could drastically hinder the ability of these groups to operate across borders.

In outlining the rationale behind the policy shift, White House officials pointed to recent events that heightened their concerns. They stated, “In the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attack, the military wing of the Lebanese chapter of the Muslim Brotherhood helped terror groups launch multiple rocket attacks against both civilian and military targets within Israel.” Officials also highlighted other alleged activities, noting, “A senior Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leader encouraged violent attacks against U.S. partners and equities in the Middle East on the same day that Hamas perpetrated the October 7 attack.”

Administration aides further asserted that the organization’s influence extends beyond those incidents. As the White House put it, “Reports indicate Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood leaders have long provided material support to the militant wing of Hamas.”

The new federal initiative follows actions taken at the state level. Just days earlier, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced his own designations of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations. Those designations enable Texas authorities to impose tougher enforcement measures on the groups, and they bar them from acquiring or holding property within the state.

Momentum has also been building in Congress. Senator Ted Cruz has pushed legislation that would compel the federal government to identify the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, a step that could strike at the financial underpinnings of the movement worldwide.

Several countries in the Middle East have already classified the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, underscoring the group’s controversial standing in the region.

{Matzav.com}

Channel 12 reports that Hamas has spent the past week quietly reaching out to multiple countries, seeking asylum for 100–200 of its operatives who are currently trapped in tunnels beneath Rafah — in an area now under IDF control. Every country approached has rejected the request, Israeli officials say. According to the report, Hamas turned […]