Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia, in a startling interview, suggested the need to “get rid of” Donald Trump amid a heated dispute over the U.S. crackdown on drugs. The conflict escalated after Trump threatened to shut down what he called the “killing fields” in Colombia, and announced that the U.S. would reduce its subsidies to the Latin American country, following Petro’s accusation that the U.S. committed “murder” by attacking a suspected drug boat on September 15.
In a televised discussion with Daniel Coronell on Univision, Petro said, “Humanity has a first offramp, it is to choose to change Trump in various ways,” when asked about his ambition for securing the best possible deal for Colombia.
He then added, “The easiest way may be through Trump himself,” followed by, “If not — get rid of Trump,” punctuating his remark with a dramatic snap of his fingers.
When Coronell pressed him by suggesting that his primary mission was “to seek the best possible negotiation,” Petro denied that his immediate objective was to “change Trump.”
Petro conceded that his nation is “out of control,” yet asserted that Bogota is governed by its citizens and not by a monarch. “Trump said: ‘Colombia is out of control.’ Of course, it is out of his control. In a democracy, a government is under the control of the people, not Trump. He is not a king in Colombia; we do not accept kings here, period,” he declared.
He added later, “In the 21st century, some believe they can become kings and viceroys, but in republics, it is not possible,” noting, “Here, the heads of kings are cut off if they come with a king’s attitude.”
The feud between the two leaders began after the Trump administration’s strike on a suspected drug boat in September. Trump claimed the attack eliminated “confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela” who were in international waters at the time.
Petro countered, arguing the vessel was Colombian, used for fishing rather than drug transport. On X, he stated: “US government officials have committed a murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters,” explaining that “The Colombian boat was adrift and had its distress signal up due to an engine failure. … We await explanations from the US government.”
A later report by CNN indicated that one of Trump’s recent strikes in the Caribbean killed Colombian nationals, citing officials from the United States Department of Defense.
In his remarks on Sunday, Trump blasted Petro as “a very unpopular leader, with a fresh mouth toward America” and accused him of being “an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs.”
Beyond cutting off foreign aid to Colombia, Trump also threatened to increase tariffs on Bogotá, which currently pays a baseline rate of 10 %.
According to foreignassistance.gov, the U.S. has provided over $207 million in foreign aid to Colombia this year.
Trump has authorized at least seven known strikes against alleged drug-boats in the area, targeting vessels suspected of ties to Venezuela — a strategy that has raised concerns among Democrats in Congress and Republicans such as Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
The harsh rhetoric from Petro drew alarm from Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), a member of the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees. On X, he warned: “In an interview with [Univision Noticias], Colombia’s narcoterrorist-in-chief, Gustavo Petro, has just threatened to ‘overthrow’ President Trump. Petro threats must be taken seriously, he is a genuine threat to the safety & security of our hemisphere.”
{Matzav.com}
Snapple is reviving a piece of its past, bringing back its signature glass bottles — but the nostalgic comeback is short-lived and limited to just one city.
The beverage brand confirmed to Today.com that, starting this week, it’s reintroducing its old-school glass bottles complete with the beloved pop cap and hidden Snapple fact under the lid.
A company representative explained that the decision was inspired by customer nostalgia, saying there’s been a “demand for nostalgia.”
According to Today.com, the glass bottles will be sold only in the New York City area, available at select bodegas and retailers for $3.99 each — but only while supplies last.
The focus on New York is no coincidence. A Snapple spokesperson told Today.com that the limited release serves as a tribute to the brand’s Brooklyn origins.
Fans will have a small but classic lineup to choose from, including Snapple Apple, Kiwi Strawberry, Peach Tea, Zero Sugar Peach Tea, and Lemon Tea.
Snapple originally began phasing out its glass bottles in 2017, fully transitioning to plastic packaging by 2021 — but for now, at least in New York, the familiar clink of glass is back.
{Matzav.com}
The community continues to mourn the heartbreaking loss of four precious bochurim who were tragically niftar in a devastating car accident on the New Jersey Turnpike early Sunday morning.
The levayos, attended by thousands, reflected the profound grief felt across the Olam HaTorah.
Nichum Aveilim
Shiva for Habachur Shlomo Abba Cohen z”l
31 Ponderosa Pine River, Lakewood
Shacharis: 8:00 a.m.
Mincha: 1:45 p.m.
Maariv: 9:00 p.m.
Shiva for Habachur Chaim Simcha Grossman z”l
Until Wednesday noon in Lakewood at 74 Tova Drive
Shacharis: 8:00 a.m.
Mincha: 1:45 p.m.
Maariv: 8:45 p.m.
Thursday and Friday in South Fallsburg at 24 Estate Drive
Shiva for Habachur Yaakov Kilberg z”l
120 Hearth Court East, Lakewood
Shacharis: 8:00 a.m.
Mincha: 1:45 p.m.
Maariv: 8:30 p.m.
Shiva for Habachur Aharon Nosson Lebovits z”l
132 Spruce Street, Lakewood
Shacharis: 8:00 a.m.
Mincha: 1:45 p.m.
Maariv: 9:00 p.m.
HaMakom yenacheim eschem besoch she’ar aveilei Tzion v’Yerushalayim.
{Matzav.com}
President Trump has shelved plans for another in-person meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after Moscow rebuffed his call to freeze the Ukraine war along the current lines of control.
The announcement came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday. According to a source familiar with the discussion, the exchange made clear that the Kremlin was unwilling to adopt Trump’s proposed framework for ending the conflict.
“Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Lavrov had a productive call,” a White House official told The Post on Tuesday. “Therefore, an additional in-person meeting between the Secretary and Foreign Minister is not necessary, and there are no plans for President Trump to meet with President Putin in the immediate future.”
Trump had said last week that Rubio would head a senior U.S. delegation to meet face-to-face with Russian officials in hopes of paving the way for direct Trump-Putin talks in Budapest, Hungary.
Following his third White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since returning to office, Trump urged both nations to halt fighting immediately and enter negotiations toward a lasting truce.
Zelensky readily embraced the plan, issuing a call for an immediate cease-fire and for peace talks to commence without delay.
However, on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the idea outright. The proposal would have allowed Ukraine to retain about 22% of the Donbas region that Russia has failed to seize despite more than a decade of war.
“This topic was repeatedly raised in various forms during contacts between Russia and the US. The Russian side answered every time, this answer is well known: The consistency of Russia’s position doesn’t change,” Peskov told local outlets, reiterating Moscow’s insistence that Ukraine surrender territory.
By Tuesday, Zelensky had joined with leaders from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Norway, Finland, Denmark, the European Commission, and the European Council to endorse Trump’s plan.
“We strongly support President Trump’s position that the fighting should stop immediately, and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations,” the coalition declared in a joint statement.
The leaders accused Moscow of dragging out the process, saying that “Russia’s stalling tactics” have “shown time and time again that Ukraine is the only party serious about peace.”
“We can all see that Putin continues to choose violence and destruction. Therefore we are clear that Ukraine must be in the strongest position possible — before, during and after any cease-fire.”
The allied leaders are slated to meet again later this week to weigh new measures aimed at forcing Moscow’s hand — including the potential use of frozen Russian funds to help sustain Ukraine.
“We must ramp up the pressure on Russia’s economy and its defense industry until Putin is ready to make peace,” the group’s statement concluded. “We are developing measures to use the full value of Russia’s immobilized sovereign assets so that Ukraine has the resources it needs.”
{Matzav.com}
Millions of Americans struggling under student debt are set to gain long-awaited relief after the Trump administration agreed to reinstate key loan forgiveness programs it had previously suspended during an extended legal fight.
The administration reached a settlement with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), paving the way for widespread debt cancellation for borrowers who have been making consistent payments under income-driven repayment plans.
According to a joint filing submitted Friday, the AFT and Department of Education finalized the deal to resume processing loan forgiveness for qualified borrowers enrolled in those programs.
“This is a tremendous win for borrowers. With today’s filing, borrowers can rest a little easier,” said Winston Berkman-Breen, legal director for Protect Borrowers, the organization representing the teachers’ union in the case.
The AFT, which represents about 1.8 million members, had filed suit in March, charging that Trump officials illegally blocked borrowers from accessing repayment and forgiveness programs that were active when they originally took out their loans.
Earlier this year, the White House halted forgiveness under certain income-driven repayment plans that base monthly payments on a borrower’s earnings. Those who completed the required number of qualifying payments had expected their remaining balances to be canceled.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon’s department defended the pause, arguing it was legally justified under a court order that temporarily froze the Biden-era “Saving on a Valuable Education” (SAVE) plan, another income-driven program. The freeze left only one pathway to loan cancellation available: the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan.
After months of litigation, the administration reversed course, signing an agreement to bring back the suspended forgiveness options.
“For nearly a decade, the AFT has fought for the rights of student loan borrowers to be freed from the shackles of unjust debt—and today, a huge part of that affordability fight was vindicated,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten in a statement. “This year, we took on the Trump administration when it refused to follow the law and denied borrowers the relief they were owed. Our agreement means that those borrowers stuck in limbo can either get immediate relief or finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.”
The settlement applies to borrowers participating in income-based repayment (IBR), income-contingent repayment (ICR), pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) plans, and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, according to the union’s announcement. Borrowers must still complete the required number of payments under their plan before receiving forgiveness.
As part of the deal, the administration agreed to refund borrowers who made extra payments after qualifying for cancellation through income-driven repayment. The Education Department will also process buyback applications under both IDR and PSLF programs, including for those who no longer meet a “partial financial hardship” test, which was scrapped under Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Borrowers can log into their StudentAid.gov accounts and select “My Aid” or “View Details” to review their loan types and repayment plans to determine eligibility for cancellation.
The administration also confirmed that anyone who qualifies for forgiveness this year will not owe federal income tax on the canceled amount. To address future concerns, it clarified that the government will use the date a borrower becomes eligible for forgiveness—not the date of processing—to determine whether the debt is taxable.
That provision ensures that borrowers who qualify by December 31, 2025, won’t face an unexpected tax bill caused by bureaucratic delays or court-related slowdowns. The AFT called this an important step in preventing what it described as a looming “tax bomb” from changes scheduled to take effect in 2026 that would treat canceled debt as income.
The agreement still awaits judicial approval. Once the court signs off, the administration must file monthly progress reports for six months tracking application reviews and loan cancellation activity.
If finalized, the settlement will offer long-overdue relief to countless Americans who have spent decades paying off federal student loans while waiting for the government to fulfill its promises. The timeline for the court’s decision remains uncertain.
{Matzav.com}
[COMMUNICATED]
Chaim Simcha Grossman had a pure heart and always wanted to do the right thing. Whenever he learned he got very involved and wanted to get to the truth. He invested so much in his learning and was always striving to understand and clarify the depth of the sugya. His rebbeim always enjoyed his questions and his involvement in the shiur. He was a talmid in the true sense of the word. He was always close to his rebbeim and as a true talmid, he followed their guidance and advice.
Chaim Simcha was a בעל אחריות to the fullest extent. Well beyond his years, he went above and beyond to fulfill his responsibilities. Chaim Simcha, we are now all your תלמידים.
He truly personified his name and was full of life and שמחה. He was taken at such a young age yet he left such a powerful impact on all who knew him. With the twinkle in his eyes, his lovable personality and heart of gold, he uplifted all who knew him. In his humble way, he did so much for so many! His whole being was enveloped in מדת האמת. His honesty in all his dealings was unparalleled. In every area of his life, he was driven by the truth to do the ‘רצון ה!
His last words were, “TYH – WE OUT“ not knowing this would be his last trip… to ישיבה של מעלה.
We, his family have undertaken the writing of a ספר תורה to memorialize his love for תורה! Join us in this great zechus of writing a ספר תורה to honor his שמחת התורה and שמחת החיים.
לעילוי נשמת הב’ חיים שמחה בן גרשון ישעיה
Israeli hostage Segev Kalfon, abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, revealed that Hamas terrorists viciously assaulted him for refusing to change his name and forced him to live underground in Gaza for months under constant threat of execution.
Kalfon, 27, was held for 738 days before being released earlier this month. In an interview with Ynet and Yedioth Achronot, he recalled how his captors mocked his name after hearing “Segev,” which sounded to them like the Arabic word for “ceiling.”
“They didn’t believe me and started beating me,” he said. “When they began calling me ‘Steve,’ I stopped correcting them. That’s when I realized I was a prisoner.”
Upon his arrival in Gaza, Kalfon said he was taken to what he thought was a mosque. “Someone pressed a knife to my neck and asked my name. I said ‘Segev.’ He pressed harder. Every time I said it, I was beaten again,” he said.
Captured while fleeing the Nova festival, Kalfon described being tied up, blindfolded, and repeatedly hit with rifle butts. “They hit me in the knees, the stomach, the head, from every side. After a few minutes, you stop feeling the blows — only silence, a minute before life ends,” he recounted.
He was eventually shuttled between various safe houses as Israeli airstrikes pounded Gaza, before spending 11 months trapped in a tunnel with fellow captives Ohad Ben Ami, Elkana Bohbot, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Maxim Harkin, and Bar Kuperstein. At times, he was left completely alone.
“We dug a pit for a toilet — for us and for them — because they called us ‘worthless Jews,’” he said. “We dug tunnels. They forced us to work. When you go down into a tunnel, you become a rat. The life you had above ground no longer exists.”
Kalfon said he refused Hamas’s demands to appear in propaganda footage. “I thought about my parents and my family,” he explained. “I didn’t want to say that I was suffering or starving, or that a tunnel collapsed on me. Even though every day there was a danger to your life, every minute you survived was a miracle.”
He recalled one bombing so intense that he and two others prepared to die. “We said to each other, ‘If something happens, know that I love you, that you’re my brothers.’ After that day they took us down into the tunnel.”
“Death becomes your best friend,” Kalfon said. “You talk to death all the time. Nothing is certain. You have no food, no communication, and they do everything to make you suffer.”
He added that the captives were beaten whenever Hamas fighters saw National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on television or heard news about Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails. “We knew the light at the end of the tunnel meant beatings were coming,” he said.
Describing his life underground as sheer torment, Kalfon said, “You sleep on an uneven floor, on a mattress as thin as a sheet. I made a pillow from scraps of mattress. The little water we had, I filtered through gauze. A bottle of water was like gold,” he said. “Today, nothing is taken for granted.”
{Matzav.com}
