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Tensions between the United States and Colombia have escalated with the State Department announcing it was revoking a visa for Gustavo Petro, president of the Latin American country, after he participated in a New York protest where he called on American soldiers to disobey President Donald Trump’s orders. The department said on social media that “we will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.” Petro was visiting for the annual U.N. General Assembly. During a nearby protest Friday over the war in Gaza, he said “I ask all the soldiers of the United States’ army, don’t point your rifles against humanity” and “disobey the orders of Trump.” Petro returned to Colombia on Saturday as intended, in accordance with a Sept. 18 decree on the delegation of powers during his absence. He said on X that he found out about his visa status upon his arrival. The State Department did not answer questions about whether the revocation would affect future visits. Petro, Colombia’s first leftist president, used a post on X addressed to Trump to say that “international law grants me immunity to go to the U.N. and that there should be no reprisals for my free opinion, because I am a free person.” Petro, who has a history of speaking off the cuff in meandering, ideologically charged speeches, also said on social media that “I don’t care” about the punishment because he is also a European citizen. That means he does not need a visa to travel to the U.S. Colombia broke diplomatic ties with Israel last year over the Israel-Hamas war. Petro has repeatedly described Israel’s siege of Gaza as genocide. Colombia has long been a top U.S. ally in Latin America, cooperating closely on the fight against drug trafficking. But there have been repeated clashes between Petro, a former rebel group member, and Trump’s Republican administration. In his General Assembly speech Tuesday, Petro called for a criminal investigation of Trump and other officials involved in this month’s deadly strikes on boats in the Caribbean that the White House has said were transporting drugs. The White House has offered scant information about how the operations came together or the legal authorities under which they were carried out. Earlier this year, Petro resisted deportation flights using American military aircraft, leading to a diplomatic crisis as Trump threatened to retaliate with higher tariffs and visa suspensions. The U.S. is Colombia’s largest trading partner, and Petro’s government relented, saying it would accept the planes. The U.S. accused Colombia earlier this month of failing to cooperate with anti-narcotics efforts. Although the designation did not include sanctions that would have slashed U.S. assistance to the country, it was a sharp rebuke that frustrated Petro. He said his country had lost the lives of “policemen, soldiers and regular citizens, trying to stop cocaine” from reaching the United States. (AP)

All 21 elements of President Trump’s peace proposal for Gaza were released on Saturday, with the plan centering on the immediate release of all Israeli hostages within 48 hours of signing any agreement, a call to dismantle extremism in Gaza, and a pledge to halt the fighting.

The proposal also sets out a path that could eventually lead to Palestinian statehood, outlines steps for rebuilding Gaza, and makes clear that Hamas will have no role in governing the territory, according to the Times of Israel, which obtained a copy of the complete plan.

Trump unveiled the framework to allies on Tuesday at the United Nations, though Hamas has not yet been fully presented with the plan. It contains sweeping demands of the terror group alongside promises of significant benefits for Gaza’s population.

Under the initiative, Gaza would be redeveloped with large-scale aid flows, at levels no lower than those provided under the January 2025 hostage deal.

The Israeli military would conduct a phased withdrawal from the Strip, while Israel would free high-profile Palestinian prisoners. Hamas members willing to renounce violence would receive amnesty, while those choosing to depart Gaza would be granted safe passage abroad.

Importantly, the plan also states that anyone who leaves Gaza will be able to return at a later date if they wish.

This approach represents a shift from Trump’s February comments suggesting Palestinians might need to be temporarily relocated to allow Gaza to be rebuilt as a “Riviera of the Middle East.”

“I think it addresses Israeli concerns as well as the concerns of all the neighbors in the region,” U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said Wednesday at the Concordia summit, held on the sidelines of UNGA.

“We’re hopeful — and I might say even confident — that in the coming days we’ll be able to announce some sort of breakthrough.”

The blueprint also calls for a temporary administration in Gaza run by an international coalition of the U.S., Arab states, and European nations. That body would introduce a new economic strategy, including reduced tariffs for a designated economic zone inside Gaza.

Regional partners would guarantee compliance, forcing Hamas and its affiliates to uphold the terms. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Arab states would form a stabilization force tasked with improving security in the enclave.

Israel, for its part, would commit not to annex or occupy Gaza and would pledge to refrain from striking Qatar again — a reference to the recent attack that unsettled American allies in the region.

Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu at the White House on Monday to discuss the proposal.

On Friday, Netanyahu vowed to press forward with the war until Hamas is completely eliminated. Israel confirmed last week that its ground operation in Gaza City is already underway.

“The United States remains focused on ending the conflict in Gaza in a way that frees all hostages, ends Hamas’ terrorist rule, and facilitates the delivery of critically needed humanitarian assistance to civilians,” a State Department official told The Post when asked about the plan.

European leaders, including France’s president, have also voiced support for aspects of the plan. He said he was optimistic that “we can have a result” if the U.S., Arab nations, and Europe unite behind it.

Earlier in the week, Trump stressed he would block any move by Israel to annex the West Bank, despite calls from officials such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to do so.

“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. Nope, I will not allow it. It’s not going to happen,” Trump told reporters Friday.

“It’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”

{Matzav.com}

Fresh reports have revealed new information about a 21-point peace plan drafted under U.S. leadership to try to end the conflict in Gaza. According to details published by Saudi outlet Al-Hadath, the plan sets out a gradual, multi-step process involving a ceasefire, prisoner and hostage exchanges, an incremental IDF withdrawal, and a roadmap for Gaza’s future governance and rebuilding.

The proposal’s first stage calls for an immediate halt to fighting, along with the release of all Israeli hostages within 48 hours. In return, Israel would free thousands of Palestinian prisoners, among them 100 to 200 serving life terms. The deal also envisions unlimited humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza under the supervision of the United Nations and other international agencies, while the current humanitarian fund for Gaza would be dissolved.

In terms of security arrangements, Hamas would be required to hand over its arsenal, which would be seized and secured by a combined Arab and international force. Israeli forces would begin withdrawing in phases from the Strip, though the plan does not commit to a definitive timeline. A demilitarized security buffer, ranging from 500 to 1,000 meters, would be established along Gaza’s perimeter.

Once the fighting ends, Gaza’s administration would temporarily be managed by a joint Arab-international authority at the request of the Palestinian Authority. Day-to-day governance would be overseen by a PA-appointed Palestinian committee. Security on the ground would fall to Palestinian forces operating under regional and international supervision.

The plan also provides for a massive reconstruction initiative, financed by Arab states and the global community, which is projected to last over five years. Oversight would be entrusted to a special international-Arab body. Under the deal, Hamas leaders would receive amnesty on condition they give up their weapons and step aside from governing. Gaza’s administration would eventually transition to the “State of Palestine” once the interim period concludes.

Other provisions in the framework include a U.S. assurance that Israel will not annex areas of Judea and Samaria, a ban on future Israeli strikes against Qatar, and a guarantee that civilians in Gaza will not be forcibly displaced.

President Donald Trump confirmed the negotiations in a post on Truth Social, stating: “I am pleased to report that we are having very inspired and productive discussions with the Middle Eastern Community concerning Gaza. Intense negotiations have been going on for four days, and will continue for as long as necessary in order to get a Successfully Completed Agreement. All of the Countries within the Region are involved, Hamas is very much aware of these discussions, and Israel has been informed at all levels, including Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. There is more Goodwill and Enthusiasm for getting a Deal done, after so many decades, than I have ever seen before. Everyone is excited to put this period of Death and Darkness behind them. It is an Honor to be a part of this Negotiation. We must get the Hostages back, and get a PERMANENT AND LONGLASTING PEACE!”

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Trump announced today that he has instructed the Department of War to send “all necessary” forces into Portland, Oregon, to restore order and provide protection for Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel.

He further stated that he is “authorizing Full Force, if necessary,” following weeks of escalating protests outside the ICE detention center in Portland that have intensified since June.

“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary.”

The president’s directive follows a series of violent incidents targeting ICE officers, as well as a Justice Department announcement from Attorney General Pam Bondi pledging stricter action against those who attack federal agents.

Portland has been a frequent staging ground for Antifa-related demonstrations. DHS reported that rioters have “attacked and laid siege” to the city’s ICE center multiple times.

Among the incidents cited were attempts to blind an officer with a laser, the throwing of a smoke grenade at several officers, and efforts to destroy government equipment.

These attacks have resulted in an expanded federal law enforcement presence in Portland, while city officials have simultaneously urged demonstrators to remain nonviolent.

Just this past Friday, a federal grand jury indicted three women accused of tailing an ICE officer to their residence and broadcasting the address on Instagram.

Earlier in the week, a gunman opened fire on an ICE facility in Texas, wounding at least three migrants. Investigators later found a bullet at the scene with the words “anti ICE” written on it.

Trump has also ordered National Guard deployments in other cities, including Washington, DC, and Memphis, to combat rising violence. Earlier this year, Guard units were briefly dispatched to Los Angeles during fears of rioting.

On Friday, heavily armored DHS vehicles were seen entering Portland, carrying federal officers tasked with protecting government facilities.

Later that evening, Bondi confirmed that the Justice Department would assign federal agents to ICE sites nationwide.

She said the Joint Terrorism Task Forces will pursue “domestic terrorism,” promising to bring “the most serious available charges against all participants in these criminal mobs.”

“I have witnessed the continued onslaught of violence perpetrated against ICE officers across our country,” Bondi wrote on X. “The Department of Justice will not stand idly by in the face of such lawlessness.”

“The rule of law will prevail.”

Bondi also cautioned that the administration would have “zero tolerance” for any assaults on federal officials.

“If you so much as touch one of our federal officers, you will go to prison,” she warned in a video statement.

White House policy chief Stephen Miller, a strong advocate for tough immigration measures, praised the aggressive response. On Friday, he declared, “this campaign of terrorism will be brought down.”

“We are witnessing domestic terrorist sedition against the federal government,” Miller said later. “All necessary resources will be utilized.”

In recent weeks, ICE has been the target of repeated attacks. On Friday, three women were indicted for doxxing an ICE agent, and two days earlier, the Texas sniper attack left multiple migrants shot.

Trump has reinforced his crackdown with additional National Guard deployments to Washington, DC, and Memphis, along with a previous, short-term Guard presence in Los Angeles earlier this year.

{Matzav.com}

The United Nations reimposed sanctions on Iran early Sunday over its nuclear program, further squeezing the Islamic Republic as its people increasingly find themselves priced out of the food they need to survive and worried about their futures. After last-minute diplomacy failed at the U.N., the sanctions took effect Sunday at 0000 GMT (8 p.m. Eastern). The sanctions will again freeze Iranian assets abroad, halt arms deals with Tehran, and penalize any development of Iran’s ballistic missile program, among other measures. It came via a mechanism known as “snapback,” included in Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, and comes as Iran’s economy already is reeling. Iran’s rial currency sits at a record low, increasing pressure on food prices and making daily life that much more challenging. That includes meat, rice and other staples of the Iranian dinner table. Meanwhile, people worry about a new round of fighting between Iran and Israel — as well as potentially the United States — as missile sites struck during the 12-day war in June now appear to be being rebuilt. Activists fear a rising wave of repression within the Islamic Republic, which already has reportedly executed more people this year than over the past three decades. Sina, the father of a 12-year-old boy who spoke on condition that only his first name be used for fear of repercussions, said the country has never faced such a challenging time, even during the deprivations of the 1980s Iran-Iraq war and the decades of sanctions that came later. “For as long as I can remember, we’ve been struggling with economic hardship, and every year it’s worse than the last,” Sina told The Associated Press. “For my generation, it’s always either too late or too early — our dreams are slipping away.” Iran sanctions set to ‘snapback’ Snapback was designed to be veto-proof at the U.N. Security Council, meaning China and Russia could not stop it alone, as they have other proposed actions against Tehran in the past. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called them a “trap” for Iran on Saturday. France, Germany and the United Kingdom triggered snapback over Iran 30 days ago for its further restricting monitoring of its nuclear program and the deadlock over its negotiations with the U.S. Iran further withdrew from the International Atomic Energy Agency monitoring after Israel’s war on the country in June, which also saw the U.S. strike nuclear sites in the Islamic Republic. Meanwhile, the country still maintains a stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% purity — a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90% — that is largely enough to make several atomic bombs, should Tehran choose to rush toward weaponization. Iran has long insisted its nuclear program is peaceful, though the West and IAEA say Tehran had an organized weapons program up until 2003. The three European nations on Sunday said they “continuously made every effort to avoid triggering snapback, bring Iran back into compliance and reach a durable and comprehensive diplomatic resolution.” But Iran “has not authorized IAEA inspectors to regain access to Iran’s nuclear sites, nor has it produced and transmitted to the IAEA a report accounting for its stockpile of high-enriched uranium.” Tehran has further argued that the three European nations shouldn’t be allowed to implement snapback, pointing in part to America’s unilateral withdrawal from the accord […]

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HEARTBREAKING: Thousands of Jewish families left without this most basic need In Sharona, a community in central Israel, thousands of residents live minutes from everything they need, schools, shopping, parks. Everything, except a mikvah taharah. The nearest one?  A 50-minute walk across a busy highway to a building that’s been deteriorating for five decades. So they don’t go. And it’s tragic. Countless families in this growing community face the choice every month: make the uncomfortable trip or skip taharah entirely. But, imagine what will happen when the all-new, Mikvah Sharona is built just minutes away, including:  An elegant entrance lobby to welcome every visitor (that doubles as a safe-room/bomb shelter in case there’s an alarm)  6 comfortable preparation rooms  A fully accessible preparation room for individuals with disabilities  Two beautiful immersion pools With luxurious amenities and a calm atmosphere, this will be a place they will not just keep taharah, but embrace it.  Because of Mikvah Sharona, thousands will look forward to coming for the first time, and returning for a lifetime, ensuring children and grandchildren are born in purity for generations to come.  This is why we’re building Mikvah Sharona.  When HaGaon HaRav Chaim Feinstein shlit”a declares: “There’s nothing greater than this,” you know this is something unique.  When HaGaon HaRav Moshe Sterbuch shlit”a declares: “Whoever joins will be zocheh to children who are עמלים בתורה,” you know this is a rare chance. CLICK HERE TO HELP. When the Gedolei Hador unanimously promise: “When we bentch our family Erev Yom Kippur, we’ll bentch those who join with chaim and shalom,” you know this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.  Give $219 and the Gedolei Hador will daven for you when they bentch their children Erev Yom Kippur. Opportunities don’t wait. Neither should you.  Donate $219 to Mikvah Sharona and send your kvitel now. Merkaz L’Taharas HaMishpacha
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President Trump blasted a new report claiming the FBI had hundreds of undercover agents present during the January 6, 2021 events — insisting that then-Director Christopher Wray “has some major explaining to do.”

According to a report from The Blaze, the FBI privately admitted to deploying 274 plainclothes personnel in connection with the day’s protests, despite a Justice Department Inspector General review that previously rejected such claims.

“It was just revealed that the FBI had secretly placed, against all Rules, Regulations, Protocols, and Standards, 274 FBI Agents into the Crowd just prior to, and during, the January 6th Hoax,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“This is different from what Director Christopher Wray stated, over and over again!” he continued. “I want to know who each and every one of these so-called ‘Agents’ are, and what they were up to on that now ‘Historic’ Day.

“Christopher Wray, the then Director of the FBI, has some major explaining to do. That’s two in a row, Comey and Wray.”

It remains unclear whether all 274 agents were positioned among the mob that stormed the Capitol itself or if some were embedded in other protest groups elsewhere in Washington that day.

The Inspector General’s office, in its official report last year, stated, “we found no evidence in the materials we reviewed or the testimony we received showing or suggesting that the FBI had undercover employees in the various protest crowds, or at the Capitol, on January 6.”

That same report, however, did acknowledge that 26 confidential informants working with the FBI were present in the January 6 crowd. Four of them even entered the Capitol building, despite not having approval to do so.

Earlier this month, Republicans in the House voted to create a new subcommittee to further examine the events of January 6.

“With that many paid informants being in the crowd, we want to know how many were in the crowd, how many were in the building, but I also want to know, were they paid to inform or instigate?” Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), who chairs the subcommittee, told “Just the News” on Sept. 23.

Wray has previously denied allegations of FBI involvement in sparking the riot, telling Congress that while informants were present, the bureau did not direct the violence.

“If you’re asking if the violence at the Capitol was part of some operation orchestrated by FBI sources or agents, the answer is no!” outgoing FBI director Christopher Wray testified in July of last year.

Adding to the controversy, on Thursday Wray’s predecessor, James Comey, was indicted for allegedly lying to Congress. Prosecutors charged him over testimony in which he denied authorizing leaks about FBI investigations into Trump and Hillary Clinton.

The indictment came just before the statute of limitations was set to expire on the case.

Trump earlier this year granted pardons to numerous January 6 defendants convicted of offenses related to the Capitol breach.

“Many Great American Patriots were made to pay a very big price only for the love of their Country. I owe this investigation of ‘Dirty Cops and Crooked Politicians to them!” Trump declared.

{Matzav.com}

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez delivered a stark warning to New Yorkers, cautioning them of grim consequences if they elect socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani as their next mayor.

Suarez, whose parents fled Cuba as children in the early 1960s after Fidel Castro rose to power, drew a sharp comparison between Mamdani and a young Castro during an interview with The New York Post on Friday.

The mayor said he is “genuinely worried” about the direction New York City could take under Mamdani’s leadership, noting that the Democratic nominee is currently favored to win the November 4 election.

“[New York City] is going down a very dark path, and it’s sad,” said Suarez, son of Xavier Suarez, Miami’s first Cuban-born mayor.

“There’s some people that say — and I am not one of them — that maybe [electing a socialist mayor in NYC] is best for America in a backwards way because, once you see the abject failure that it will be, there will be a correction and a reset. But I don’t want people to suffer for that to happen.”

The Republican mayor stressed that socialism and communism are systems New Yorkers should fear, not welcome.

“My parents fled [Cuba] . . . because a young charismatic leader said ‘Give us all your property, give us all your businesses, and don’t worry, we’ll make everybody equal.’ And he did,” Suarez recalled.

“He made everybody equally poor, equally miserable, and equally repressed. And that’s all that communism has delivered throughout the history of humanity.”

Suarez has previously taken aim at Mamdani, mocking him last month on Instagram with a side-by-side video. The post showed Suarez easily bench-pressing 225 pounds 13 times next to a clip of Mamdani struggling to lift 135 pounds at a Brooklyn “Men’s Day” event. Suarez captioned it: “Socialism VS Capitalism.”

The mayor also touted Miami’s upcoming America Business Forum, scheduled for November 5-6, which he said highlights how the “Capital of Latin America” is positioning itself in stark contrast to what he called New York’s “socialist-loving” trajectory. He argued the event will underscore Miami’s bid to become a “truly great global city.”

Suarez, who has been mayor since 2017, is barred from seeking another term due to term limits. His father, Xavier Suarez, who led the city from 1985 to 1993 and briefly again in the late 1990s, is now making a political comeback and running for the office once more.

Although his father is in the race, Francis Suarez said he has not endorsed anyone in Miami’s mayoral contest. “I wish him very well,” he told The Post. He added that he does not intend to make an endorsement in the New York City race either, but noted that he maintains a “good relationship” with Mayor Eric Adams, who is seeking re-election as an independent.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he will send troops to Portland, “authorizing Full Force, if necessary” to handle “domestic terrorists” as he expands his deployments to more American cities. Oregon Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek responded by saying Trump is abusing his authority by ordering troops into a city that she said is doing “just fine” on its own. She was joined by other government, police and business leaders who all said soldiers are not needed and Trump is presenting a patently false picture of the city. Trump made his announcement on social media, writing that he was directing the Department of Defense to “provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland.” Trump said the decision was necessary to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities, which he alleged are “under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists.” The White House did not immediately respond to a request for details on Trump’s announcement, such as a timeline for the deployment or what troops would be involved. Governor says troops not needed In an afternoon news conference, Kotek said she directly told Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem earlier in the day that troops are not needed and she believes he does not have the authority to deploy the military there. “We can manage our own local public safety needs. There is no insurrection. There is no threat to national security,” Kotek told reporters. The governor said she “tried to understand his reasoning” during their conversation and his response was just, “Let’s keep talking.” “This is an American city. We do not need any intervention,” Mayor Keith Wilson said at the news conference. “This is not a military target.” Kotek said the president did not give a timetable for troops arriving. She said she told him the Oregon National Guard is not needed and she does not plan to call it up. Trump, however, previously deployed guard soldiers and active duty Marines in Los Angeles even though California Gov. Gavin Newsom opposed it. The federal government is appealing a judge’s ruling that Trump’s use of the guard was illegal. Kotek urged the public to stay calm, saying any kind of property damage or violence will not be tolerated. “Let’s not take the bait,” she said. “Let’s not respond to what the president is trying to do.” Residents ask, ‘Where’s the emergency?’ Earlier Saturday there was no sign of any federal presence downtown, where people jogged along the Willamette River, relaxed by a riverside fountain or rode bikes on a sunny fall day. “Where’s the emergency?” asked resident Allen Schmertzler, 72, who said he was “disgusted” by the president’s decision. Another, John McNeur, 74, called Trump’s statement “ridiculous.” He pointed out that he was taking “a leisurely stroll” along the river on a peaceful, sunny day. “This place is not a city that’s out of control,” he said. “It’s just a beautiful place.” Trump has also named Chicago and Memphis Trump previously threatened to send the National Guard into Chicago but has yet to follow through. A deployment in Memphis, Tennessee, is expected soon and will include only about 150 troops, far less than were sent to the District of Columbia for Trump’s crackdown on crime or to Los Angeles in response to immigration protests that turned violent with the troops’ arrival. In Memphis, about 80 to […]

Court records obtained by The NY Post reveal that Mikie Sherrill’s husband was also linked to the Naval Academy cheating scandal now complicating the Democratic candidate’s bid for governor in New Jersey.

Jason Hedberg was among nearly fifty midshipmen who, back in 1994, filed suit against senior Naval Academy leaders, the Navy, and the Pentagon. Their legal challenge sought to stop an Honor Board from determining whether they should be expelled over allegations of cheating.

“In compliance with the orders of their superior military officers, each named plaintiff was compelled to make inculpatory statements to Navy Inspector General investigators,” the complaint read, accusing officials of violating the students’ due process rights.

While it remains unclear what “inculpatory statements” Hedberg may have given, his name later appeared in the academy’s 1994 commencement program, indicating that unlike Sherrill, he was allowed to participate in graduation exercises three months after the lawsuit was submitted.

Sherrill told the New Jersey Globe, which first broke the story of her being barred from commencement, that her penalty was the result of her refusal to “turn in some of my classmates.”

But a source aligned with a rival campaign disputed her explanation. “Nobody, including Mikie Sherrill, was barred from graduation ceremonies for covering for their friends,” the source argued. “That’s a bunch of bulls—. Midshipmen were, however, punished for lying to Naval investigators.”

Although no proof has surfaced that Sherrill was penalized for misleading investigators, critics suggest her public account has not been fully transparent.

Her campaign has also resisted calls to release her academy disciplinary files, which could clarify her role in the affair.

Asked about the matter by The Post on Friday, campaign spokesman Sean Higgins defended both Sherrill and her husband, saying: “The fact [GOP candidate] Jack Ciattarelli and MAGA Republicans are going after Mikie’s family is sick and desperate — Jason graduated [and] served honorably as a Naval Officer.

“The illegal disclosure of Mikie’s unredacted personal military records, including her Social Security Number, and the unlawful dissemination of those records by the Ciattarelli campaign is a disgrace and must be investigated.”

The scandal itself revolved around the December 14, 1992, Electrical Engineering 311 exam, a required course for non-engineering students. According to court filings, dozens of students shared the test in advance among the 663 enrolled.

In a later CBS News “48 Hours” report, one participant estimated that “probably 80% of the people who took that test had knowledge and had seen it the night before.”

Once academy officials discovered what happened, they launched multiple probes — involving NCIS, the Office of the Naval Inspector General, and several Honor Boards.

Ultimately, 88 midshipmen were found guilty of spreading or using the test. The Washington Post reported at the time that 24 were expelled while 64 others received lesser punishments such as delayed graduations.

The Naval Academy’s honor code lays out its expectations bluntly: “Midshipmen are persons of integrity: They stand for that which is right. They tell the truth and ensure that the truth is known. They do not lie.

“They embrace fairness in all actions. They ensure that work submitted as their own is their own, and that assistance received from any source is authorized and properly documented. They do not cheat.”

Hedberg went on to serve as a Navy intelligence officer, while Sherrill became a Navy pilot. The couple later married and are now raising four children.

Attorneys representing Hedberg and the other students argued in February 1994 that the inspector general’s inquiry had trampled their Fifth Amendment protections. They sought to halt the “Allen Board,” a disciplinary panel formed in January 1994 to address the scandal.

Among the government lawyers defending the Navy and Pentagon in court was Eric Holder, who would later become U.S. Attorney General.

The government’s position was that the case should be dismissed because the students were not facing criminal prosecution.

A judge ultimately agreed, ruling that the cadets’ claims of Fifth Amendment violations were irrelevant since “no proceeding of a ‘criminal’ nature is either pending or contemplated.”

The resurfacing of these details comes just as a new Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey shows Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli locked in a statistical tie, with the election less than six weeks away.

No Republican has managed to win New Jersey’s governorship since Chris Christie captured reelection in 2013.

{Matzav.com}

The Israeli Air Force carried out strikes on roughly 120 sites across the Gaza Strip today, hitting structures, tunnels, and a surveillance facility it said were being used by terror organizations, as Israel continued its military campaign in the enclave.

According to the Times of Israel, several armed men were killed during the operations, and stockpiles of weaponry—including rockets and grenades—were uncovered.

The IDF also distributed video showing a drone attack on two individuals digging in the ground, identifying them as Hamas members who were attempting to place explosive devices in Gaza City.

Gaza health officials reported that at least 44 people were killed in the overnight attacks. Their tally does not differentiate between civilian casualties and militants.

The wave of bombings comes amid growing calls from the international community for a ceasefire and a resolution to the conflict, now entering its second year.

At the same time, Israeli authorities are examining complaints from hundreds of citizens who said they received suspicious phone calls in Hebrew promising payment in exchange for becoming agents of Iranian intelligence.

Officials described the pre-recorded calls as both a recruitment attempt and an intimidation tactic.

“Iranian intelligence is looking for official agents — competitive salary, comprehensive security,” one of the automated messages declared on this morning, according to Ynet, which also released a recording of the call.

In Lebanon, Hezbollah marked one year since the killing of its leader Hassan Nasrallah by publicizing what it claimed was the final image of him inside its “command operations room.”

The Times of Israel noted that Nasrallah was assassinated only days later in an Israeli airstrike on Beirut. Today, thousands gathered at his gravesite in the Lebanese capital for a memorial ceremony.

{Matzav.com}

Fast-moving floodwaters tore through Globe, Arizona, Friday night, sweeping away cars and killing at least three people.

The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to uphold his order restricting birthright citizenship, which declares that children born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily are not citizens. The appeal, shared with The Associated Press, could lead to a high court ruling by early summer, though lower courts have blocked the restrictions from taking effect and the administration is not seeking to enforce them before a decision.

The US said it would revoke Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa after he joined a pro-Palestinian rally in New York.

A number of Palestinian families are pressing the British government for both an apology and financial compensation, claiming that war crimes were committed under British colonial rule in the region.

Their demand came shortly after Britain formally recognized a Palestinian state earlier this week. Representatives of 12 families went to the Foreign Office in London to insist that the UK acknowledge its alleged misconduct during the Mandate period in Palestine.

The families submitted a 400-page legal document asserting that they and their relatives experienced forced exile, repression, and acts of violence under British rule prior to 1948. Victor Kattan, a public international law professor at the University of Nottingham and spokesperson for the petitioners, told the BBC after Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement of recognition that Britain must admit to the war crimes committed during the Mandate period “in order to promote understanding and knowledge of its past.”

Kattan continued, “Britain denied self-government to the Palestinian community… It empowered a high commissioner to behave like a dictator [and] Palestinian people bore the brunt. Recognition alone does not deal with all these historic problems which for Palestinians are not history but the living reality to this day.”

In their petition, the families outlined what they described as three decades of systematic abuses, ranging from killings and torture to expulsions and collective punishment. They accuse British forces of suppressing the Arab population in ways that amounted to war crimes and crimes against humanity. Alongside acknowledgment of these claims, the petition calls for reparations and an official apology from the UK government.

{Matzav.com}

Hundreds of Israelis have reported receiving strange phone calls that authorities say were likely made by Iranian intelligence operatives trying to enlist collaborators.

Both the Israel Police and the National Cyber Directorate confirmed that citizens had complained of calls from unfamiliar numbers. The recordings on the line, delivered in heavily accented Hebrew, carried the message: “Iranian intelligence is looking for qualified agents.”

Cyber officials described the wave of calls as a deliberate campaign meant to spread fear while simultaneously probing for potential recruits. They added that the phone numbers used in the calls were traced back to prefixes beginning with 03-6817 and 03-3067.

To counter the attempt, the Directorate released guidelines to the public, warning people not to respond to such calls. If someone does answer, they advised hanging up without delay and not pressing any keys.

The Directorate stressed in its statement: “Simply answering the call does not harm your phone. The matter is under investigation and is being handled by the Directorate in coordination with the relevant security authorities.”

Police also confirmed the scale of the incident, noting: “Hundreds of citizens reported to the 100 hotline about phone calls they received from a number unknown to them and with which a person spoke, who offered to enlist to an Iranian organization”. The update continued, “These are calls intended to cause public alarm during wartime and attempts by Iranian intelligence elements to recruit Israeli citizens at home and abroad to advance intelligence collection and terrorist activity in Israel”.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Four people died after heavy rain caused flooding in Arizona, including three in a rural 19th-century mining town where floodwaters forced people to seek safety on their rooftops and washed out a propane distributorship, scattering about 1,000 tanks downtown. About 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) of rain fell in Globe, a city of about 7,250 people about 88 miles (142 kilometers) east of Phoenix, on Friday, and another storm moved in Saturday, temporarily halting the search for people possibly missing in the flood. The bodies of two people were earlier found in a vehicle and another person was found in the floodwaters in Globe, Carl Melford, emergency manager in Gila County, said. They were not immediately identified by authorities. Another person was found dead Saturday morning near a vehicle caught in floodwaters in suburban Phoenix the night before. The vehicle appeared to be empty after it was spotted partially submerged in about 8 feet (2.4 meters) of fast-moving water on Friday evening in a greenbelt park area, the Scottsdale Fire Department said. After the water dropped a bit overnight, crews found the body of a person pinned underneath a walkway bridge, the department said. In the rural community of Globe, one of Arizona’s oldest mining towns, sheriffs’ officials were looking into reports of people who may be missing, Melford said, but could not specify a number. “We now have a massive search and rescue underway,” he said. Rain poured down and quickly flooded the downtown area Friday, Melford said. One of the first areas hit was a propane tank distributor, sending about 1,000 residential-sized tanks throughout the community, he said. “There’s propane tanks everywhere through downtown Globe,” he said, adding that hazmat workers have been sent to the scene. “Luckily none of them ignited or exploded.” The area previously experienced flooding in 2021 after a wildfire, but it didn’t happen like this, Melford said. The city is near canyons that can funnel water from the mountains into the community very quickly. “This was an extremely heavy amount of rain in an extremely short period of time,” he said. Videos shared on social media show vehicles in Globe being swept away by rushing, muddy water, with some smashed up against poles and large propane tanks scattered around. Authorities are asking residents to not go out searching in the floodwaters because search and rescue officials are accompanied by dogs who might pick up the scent of aspiring volunteers instead of possible flood victims. If people want to help, they should start by assisting friends and neighbors in need, Melford said. Globe city council members declared an emergency, saying they have never seen anything like the flooding. Scores of people have stepped up to volunteer, said Mayor Al Gamero, adding that many buildings in the community’s downtown have been damaged. Officials asked people to stay away from the area until they could ensure it is safe to go in there. “Our primary, again, is search and rescue,” Gamero said Saturday. (AP)

The United Nations announced early Sunday that it has reinstated broad sanctions on Iran, aimed at crippling both its nuclear program and military power, according to a report from The Associated Press.

The decision was enacted through the “snapback” clause of the 2015 nuclear agreement, initiated by France, Germany, and the United Kingdom after diplomatic negotiations collapsed at the UN. On Friday, a final effort by Russia and China to stall the process was rejected by the Security Council, clearing the way for the sanctions to take effect before the deadline.

The measures, which went into force at 0000 GMT (8:00 p.m. Eastern), include freezing Iran’s overseas assets, blocking arms transactions with Tehran, and restricting further work on its ballistic missile program. Iranian leaders had argued that the United Nations had no authority to restore the sanctions, but the regime is now facing renewed global isolation while struggling with worsening domestic conditions.

The economic fallout has already deepened, as the Iranian rial collapsed to all-time lows, sending the cost of food soaring. Many ordinary citizens are now unable to buy essentials like rice and meat. The sanctions also follow June’s 12-day conflict, during which Israel struck Iranian positions and the United States targeted nuclear facilities.

Reacting to the European move, Tehran recalled its ambassadors from Paris, Berlin, and London for consultations, state media outlet IRNA reported.

Iran continues to reject the validity of the snapback procedure, pointing to the fact that the United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under President Donald Trump during his first term.

With the sanctions now restored, tensions between Tehran and Western powers are set to rise further. Iran’s leadership has yet to reveal its next step, but has previously warned it could abandon the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty — the same course North Korea followed in 2003 before advancing its nuclear weapons program.

{Matzav.com}

IDF troops together with Border Police entered the village of Al-Qubeiba, located north of Har Adar, late last night to carry out the demolition of the house belonging to terrorist Mutna U’mar. U’mar was killed on the spot after carrying out the deadly shooting rampage at the Ramot Junction in Yerushalayim.

U’mar committed the Ramot Junction massacre alongside terrorist Mohammed Taha. In that attack, six Israelis lost their lives and many more sustained injuries.

The victims of the atrocity included Levi Yitzchak Pash, who worked at Yeshiva Kol Torah; 25-year-old Yaakov Pinto, a recent immigrant from Spain who had married only months earlier and was an instructor at Yeshiva Chedvas HaTorah in the Ramat neighborhood; 43-year-old Yosef David from Ramot; 31-year-old Yisrael Matsner of Yerushalayim; 79-year-old Dr. Mordechai Steintzag, owner of the well-known “Dr. Mark” bakery; and 60-year-old Yerushalayim resident Sarah Mendelson.

Following the attack, and beyond the demolition of the terrorists’ homes, Defense Minister Yisroel Katz announced additional punitive measures targeting the attackers’ relatives and the communities they came from.

Among the sanctions ordered were the destruction of unauthorized buildings in the villages and the cancellation of 750 work and entry permits into Israel. The move was implemented based on guidance from the security establishment and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Major General Ghassan Alian.

{Matzav.com Israel}