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Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu expressed appreciation Wednesday evening for President Donald Trump’s public appeal urging Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant him a pardon. “Thank you, President Trump, for your incredible support. As usual, you get right to the point and call it like it is,” Netanyahu wrote on X. He added, “I look forward to continuing our partnership to bolster security and expand peace.”

Earlier that day, President Herzog made public the letter he had received from Trump, in which the American leader praised Israel’s recent achievements and made his case for clemency. “It is my honor to write to you at this historic time, as we have, together, just secured peace that has been sought for at least 3,000 years. I hereby thank you, and all Israelis, again, for your gracious and warm hospitality, and am addressing a key topic of my speech at the Knesset,” the letter began.

Trump continued, “As the Great State of Israel and the amazing Jewish People move past the terribly difficult times of the last three years, I hereby call on you to fully pardon Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been a formidable and decisive War Time Prime Minister, and is now leading Israel into a time of peace, which includes my continued work with key Middle East leaders to add many additional countries to the world changing Abraham Accords.”

The letter went on to defend Netanyahu’s leadership record. “Prime Minister Netanyahu has stood tall for Israel in the face of strong adversaries and long odds, and his attention cannot be unnecessarily diverted,” Trump wrote. “While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli Justice System, and its requirements, I believe that this ‘case’ against Bibi, who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran, is a political, unjustified prosecution.”

Addressing Herzog directly, Trump emphasized their cooperation since his inauguration. “Isaac, we have established a great relationship, one that I am very thankful for and honored by, and we agreed as soon as I was inaugurated in January that the focus had to be centered on finally bringing the hostages home and getting the peace agreement done,” he wrote.

The letter concluded with a call for closure. “Now that we have achieved these unprecedented successes, and are keeping Hamas in check, it is time to let Bibi unite Israel by pardoning him, and ending that lawfare once and for all. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Trump ended.

Following the publication of the letter, the Israeli President’s Office issued a formal response. “President Herzog holds President Trump in the highest regard and continues to express his deep appreciation for President Trump’s unwavering support for Israel, his tremendous contribution to the return of the hostages, to reshaping the situation in the Middle East and Gaza especially, and to ensuring the security of the State of Israel.”

At the same time, the statement clarified the procedural limitations of the presidency. It added that “alongside and not withstanding this, as the Office of the President has made clear throughout, anyone seeking a Presidential pardon must submit a formal request in accordance with the established procedures.”

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The House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a spending measure to bring an end to the record-setting 43-day government shutdown, sending the bill to President Trump for his signature and final approval.

Lawmakers voted 222–209 to advance the Senate-passed plan, which will restart pay for hundreds of thousands of federal employees, reopen shuttered agencies, restore food assistance, and resume air traffic control operations that had been disrupted during the standoff.

Republicans celebrated the bill’s passage as a victory for common sense after weeks of gridlock. “The legislation finally reopens the government, restores critical services, and puts an end to the needless hardship Democrats have inflicted on the country,” said House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole of Oklahoma.

Democrats, however, expressed deep frustration, charging that their Senate allies folded without extracting any concessions on healthcare — the main issue they claimed justified the shutdown in the first place.

“I rise in opposition to this bill that does nothing, not one thing to address the Republican health care crisis, amid a cost-of-living crisis,” declared Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) in her floor remarks before the vote.

Once signed by President Trump, the legislation will immediately reopen the federal government and ensure back pay for all affected employees. It will fund key departments that handle veterans’ services, social programs, and other essential functions through January 30. Certain appropriations — including for SNAP, veterans’ programs, and military construction — will remain in effect through the end of the fiscal year on September 30.

The prolonged shutdown had left hundreds of thousands of workers and aides unpaid for over six weeks, prompting unions representing government employees to pressure congressional Democrats to reach a resolution.

The crisis had also spilled into the nation’s airports, where mounting absenteeism among unpaid controllers caused widespread delays and cancellations.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned last week that airspace operations could be reduced by as much as 20% if the government remained closed through Thanksgiving. “As of Sunday, nearly half of all domestic flights and US flights were either canceled or delayed. And it’s a very serious situation,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) cautioned Monday, urging his colleagues to act swiftly.

“Shutting down the government never produces anything,” Johnson added. “It never has.”

Six Democrats ultimately sided with Republicans to approve the measure — the first significant House action since its September recess. The Senate had already broken ranks earlier in the week, when eight Democrats joined the GOP in voting to end the impasse.

Trump, in an interview with Fox News’ The Ingraham Angle, said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer miscalculated. “I think he made a mistake in going too far,” Trump said. “He thought he could break the Republicans, and the Republicans broke him.”

Before this week’s reversal, Senate Democrats had repeatedly blocked 14 separate attempts to reopen the government. They were reportedly hoping to rally progressive turnout in several key state elections in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York.

One Democrat-aligned independent who voted with the GOP, Sen. Angus King of Maine, acknowledged that the standoff had failed to achieve its goal. “Standing up to Trump didn’t work,” he admitted.

A spokesperson for King later told The Post that Democratic leadership had been holding out to secure a vote on extending ObamaCare tax subsidies, an issue still on the table for later this year. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) has promised a vote, while Speaker Johnson has yet to commit. Without such action, Democrats warn, health insurance premiums could surge.

Some House Democrats, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), announced early Wednesday that they would oppose the funding measure over the lack of guarantees on the tax credit extension.

“Democrats will continue to press the case to say to our Republican colleagues, ‘You have another opportunity to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits,’” Jeffries said Tuesday. He added that his caucus would introduce an amendment extending those credits for another three years, matching the timeline approved back in 2022.

Many of those enhanced subsidies were first expanded under President Joe Biden during the COVID-19 pandemic but are now scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.

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The White House on Wednesday firmly dismissed claims that the Trump administration intends to establish a new American military base in southern Israel close to the Gaza border.

When questioned about the report by an Israeli journalist, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “This article was based on a single piece of paper – an inquiry that somebody in the Department of Navy made about an idea that may happen in the future, and this reporter deemed that as an official plan.”

Leavitt emphasized that after consulting with senior U.S. officials, she confirmed the matter was not under consideration. “I checked with the highest levels of the United States federal government. This is not something the United States is interested in being engaged in. Sometimes we see reporters take a piece of paper like this and just deem it as official policy, and sometimes that misleads people a little bit.”

Her remarks came after the Israeli investigative outlet Shomrim published a report earlier in the week claiming that Washington was moving forward with plans for a large military installation in the so-called Gaza envelope. According to that report, Israeli officials who reviewed the proposal said the facility would accommodate thousands of international troops responsible for enforcing a ceasefire within Gaza.

The Shomrim article alleged that the project carried an estimated price tag of $500 million and that the U.S. had already begun surveying potential sites for construction, coordinating efforts with both the Israeli government and the IDF.

Despite the detailed claims, the White House has made it clear that no such project is being pursued, seeking to put an end to speculation sparked by what it called an unfounded interpretation of internal correspondence.

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Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Wednesday that discussions are underway in the Trump administration about setting income limits for the president’s proposed $2,000 tariff dividend, potentially restricting the payments to households earning under six figures.

“Well, there are a lot of options here that the president’s talking about a $2,000 rebate and those — that would be for families making less than, say, $100,000,” Bessent said on Fox & Friends. When asked whether the administration had finalized that threshold, he clarified, “We haven’t. It’s in discussion.”

The idea of a tariff-funded dividend gained traction after President Trump, still facing legal scrutiny over his “reciprocal tariffs,” floated the $2,000 proposal following a tense Supreme Court hearing last week. While the president has continued to tout the plan as a way to return tariff proceeds directly to Americans, he has yet to outline the mechanics of how such payments would be distributed.

Bessent elaborated on ABC’s This Week that the initiative “could come in lots of forms” and “could be just the tax decreases that we are seeing,” referencing the tax cuts included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed earlier this year. He emphasized that the administration’s tax measures have already led to “no tax on tips, overtime, Social Security, and the big refunds you’re going to see are a result of that.”

The Treasury secretary also highlighted a lesser-known element of the new tax law — “Trump accounts” — automatic savings accounts the government will create for all minors between 2025 and 2028, seeded with a one-time $1,000 deposit.

The $2,000 dividend plan has drawn widespread attention and skepticism. On Sunday, Trump hinted at the idea again, posting, “a dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone.” But such a sweeping initiative would require congressional approval, something far from guaranteed.

“It’ll never pass,” said Sen. Bernie Moreno of Ohio, who was backed by Vice President JD Vance in his Senate race. “We have a $37 trillion debt.”

Funding remains a major hurdle. The tariffs enacted under Trump’s authority via the International Emergency Economic Powers Act — currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court — have generated only about $90 billion since they were implemented, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data through September 23.

For comparison, pandemic-era stimulus proposals that included $2,000 checks were estimated to cost approximately $464 billion. Even if the payments were restricted to individuals earning less than $100,000, the plan would still carry a roughly $300 billion price tag, according to Erica York, vice president of federal tax policy at the Tax Foundation.

Complicating matters further is the possibility that a Supreme Court ruling could force the administration to refund importers if the justices strike down Trump’s use of IEEPA tariffs.

Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows that total tariffs collected — including those outside IEEPA authority — amounted to $195.9 billion in fiscal year 2025 as of August 31. Because tariff rates have fluctuated throughout the year as part of Trump’s ongoing negotiations with trade partners, that figure could rise substantially in fiscal year 2026.

The debate over the proposed dividend comes amid mounting voter anxiety over living costs, an issue that played a decisive role in last week’s Democratic victories in several state elections.

“We inherited this affordability mess. It was the worst inflation, 40, 50 years,” Bessent said. “Imagine two lines. There is the inflation line; we’ve got that under control. It’s leveled out. That is going to start turning down.”

He continued, “And there’s the income line, which under Biden, because so many of the jobs were government jobs, you can’t get real wage growth from a government job, real wages are going to increase.”

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Hamas officials have acknowledged facing serious challenges in their efforts to locate the bodies of captives still held in the Gaza Strip, according to a report by Saudi media.

The officials reportedly told the outlet that “there are significant difficulties in searching for the remaining bodies in Gaza.” The statement comes as both Hamas and Red Cross teams are said to be preparing to enter the so-called “yellow zone” to search for the remains of hostages, according to Israel’s i24NEWS.

Earlier, Al Jazeera also reported that joint teams from the Red Cross and Hamas were planning to enter the “yellow zone” east of Gaza to carry out similar recovery efforts.

Sources familiar with the issue of the deceased hostages told Kan News that Hamas is believed to possess detailed information on each of the four deceased captives whose bodies remain in Gaza. They added that the terrorist organization also holds information on bodies in the possession of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Officials have emphasized the need for continued international pressure on Hamas to return all four bodies, insisting that “there must be no compromise until the last body is brought home.” The joint Hamas–Red Cross search operations are expected to continue in the coming days.

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Mossad Director David Barnea has informed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he plans to step down from his position in June, according to a Wednesday report by Channel 12. The Prime Minister’s Office later confirmed that preparations are underway to initiate the process of finding his replacement in the coming weeks.

Three figures are said to be in contention for the prestigious role. Two of them—identified only as A. and H.—are senior Mossad officials, with one currently serving as Barnea’s deputy and the other holding a top-level strategic position. The third contender is Maj.-Gen. Roman Gofman, who presently serves as Netanyahu’s military secretary.

The process of choosing the next Mossad chief is expected to be extensive, involving multiple interviews and a comprehensive assessment of each candidate’s background, leadership qualities, and operational expertise. Netanyahu will personally oversee the evaluations before making his final selection.

Once a successor is chosen, an orderly handover period will follow, allowing Barnea to brief the incoming director and ensure a seamless transition of command and responsibilities within Israel’s intelligence apparatus.

From the outset of his leadership, Barnea made clear that he did not intend to extend his service beyond the standard five-year term. His tenure has been defined by significant operational milestones, including the Mossad’s “Pager Operation” against Hezbollah and a series of daring missions conducted deep inside hostile territories.

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House Democrats ignited a media storm Wednesday by selectively unveiling three emails from the massive Jeffrey Epstein archives that referenced President Trump. The excerpts included one in which Epstein wrote that “Victim 1 spent many hours at my house with him.” Yet in a glaring omission, Democrats withheld the identity of “Victim 1” — Virginia Giuffre, who before her death this year had made clear that Trump never engaged in any misconduct and was always respectful toward her.

News outlets such as CNN and The New York Times rushed to publicize the limited release, appearing to have received early access to the material.

Republicans immediately accused Democrats of staging a political setup designed to create false impressions rather than transparency.

“The Democrats selectively leaked emails to the liberal media to create a fake narrative to smear President Trump,” said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement to The NY Post.

Leavitt continued, “The ‘unnamed victim’ referenced in these emails is the late Virginia Giuffre, who repeatedly said President Trump was not involved in any wrongdoing whatsoever and ‘couldn’t have been friendlier’ to her in their limited interactions. These stories are nothing more than bad-faith efforts to distract from President Trump’s historic accomplishments, and any American with common sense sees right through this hoax and clear distraction from the government opening back up again.”

The partisan release came from Democrats on the House Oversight Committee, whose ranks include Robert Garcia of California, Jasmine Crockett of Texas, and Ro Khanna of California. Republicans on the same panel countered by publishing the full cache of roughly 20,000 files, including references to Bill Clinton and journalist Michael Wolff — correspondence Democrats had chosen not to reveal.

Giuffre’s story dates back to 2000, when, as a 16-year-old working at Mar-a-Lago, she met Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who recruited her. In her memoir Nobody’s Girl, released after her death, Giuffre recalled being introduced to Trump by her father, who was a maintenance manager at Mar-a-Lago.

“Trump couldn’t have been friendlier,” she wrote, “telling me it was fantastic that I was there.” She further described how Trump even helped her earn extra money babysitting for guests staying at his Palm Beach properties — a depiction utterly at odds with the insinuations in the Democrats’ selective release.

The broader trove includes a January 31, 2019, email in which Epstein told Wolff that Trump had confronted Maxwell. “[T]rump said he asked me to resign,” Epstein wrote. “[I was] never a member ever.” He added, “[O]f course he knew about the girls as he asked [G]hislaine to stop.”

Trump has consistently said the renewed push to tie him to Epstein is a politically motivated “hoax.” Federal investigators concluded years ago that Epstein acted alone and that there was no secret “client list” implicating others — a determination that hasn’t stopped political opponents from attempting to resurrect the scandal.

Speaking in July, Trump explained how Epstein’s access to his staff led to a permanent ban from Mar-a-Lago. “Everyone knows the people that were taken, and it was the concept of, taking people that work for me is bad,” he told reporters. “But that story has been pretty well out there, and the answer is yes, they were.”

“I have a great spa, one of the best spas in the world, at Mar-a-Lago,” he added. “And people were taken out of the spa, hired by him. When I heard about it, I told him, I said, ‘Listen, we don’t want you taking our people,’ whether it was spa or not spa, I don’t want him taking people. And he was fine. And then not too long after that, he did it again. And I said, ‘Out of here.’”

Epstein’s death in 2019 ended his criminal trial but not the controversy surrounding his connections. Though he and Trump had once been friendly in the 1990s, they reportedly split over a real estate dispute years before Epstein’s downfall.

Michael Wolff also reappears in the cache, exchanging messages with Epstein ahead of a 2015 Republican debate. “I hear CNN planning to ask Trump tonight about his relationship with you–either on air or in scrum afterward,” Wolff wrote. Epstein replied, “[I]f we were able to craft an answer for him, what do you think it should be?”

“I think you should let him hang himself,” Wolff responded. “If he says he hasn’t been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency. You can hang him in a way that potentially generates a positive benefit for you, or, if it really looks like he could win, you could save him, generating a debt. Of course, it is possible that, when asked, he’ll say Jeffrey is a great guy and has gotten a raw deal and is a victim of political correctness, which is to be outlawed in a Trump regime.”

Meanwhile, a bipartisan House petition to compel the Justice Department to release its Epstein files reached the necessary 218 signatures Wednesday. Once Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva of Arizona is sworn in, the measure can advance to the floor within seven legislative days. If approved, the bill would still require passage in the Republican-led Senate and President Trump’s signature to become law.

President Donald Trump’s plan to rebrand the Department of Defense as the “Department of War” could come with a staggering price tag—potentially reaching $2 billion—according to six individuals familiar with early cost projections, NBC News reports.

The renaming effort, which still requires congressional approval, would demand a sweeping overhaul across all branches of the U.S. military. Thousands of signs, ID badges, letterheads, plaques, and digital assets featuring the Department of Defense name would need to be redone worldwide, said multiple senior congressional aides from both parties briefed on the estimates.

Of that sum, about half could go toward replacing printed materials and physical signage alone, insiders said. One major financial burden stems from rewriting computer code across the Pentagon’s internal and external systems, both classified and public-facing. Software updates would be necessary to align digital infrastructure with the new name, the aides noted.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that an official cost figure has not yet been finalized. “The Department of War is aggressively implementing the name change directed by President Trump, and is making the name permanent,” he wrote in an email. “A final cost estimate has not been determined at this time due to the Democrat shutdown furloughing many of our critical civilians. A nod to our proud heritage, this change is essential because it reflects the Department’s core mission: winning wars. This has always been our mission, and while we hope for peace, we will prepare for war.”

The White House deferred all cost-related questions to the Pentagon. Nonetheless, the potential multibillion-dollar expense stands in contrast to Trump’s ongoing pledge to rein in federal spending. His administration has already slashed budgets across numerous agencies, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has vowed to cut Pentagon personnel to prioritize what he calls “lethality” and a “warrior ethos.”

Speaking at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day, Trump declared, “Under the Trump administration, we are restoring the pride and the winning spirit of the United States military. That’s why we have officially renamed the Department of Defense back to the original name Department of War.”

At present, “Department of War” serves only as a secondary title under law. The official designation remains Department of Defense, and any formal renaming must pass through Congress. Still, Trump told the crowd that the new name more accurately communicates America’s readiness “to fight to win.”

Trump first revealed his intention to restore the old name in September, when he issued an executive order authorizing Secretary Hegseth to use the title “secretary of war” in all public and internal correspondence. That order gave the Pentagon a 30-day window to initiate the transition and another 60 days to submit the required documentation to the National Security Council for congressional review.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly declined to say whether those deadlines have been met. “Under President Trump’s leadership, the now aptly-named Department of War is refocused on readiness and lethality — and its title now reflects its status as the most powerful fighting force in the world,” she said. “The White House is working hand-in-glove with the Department of War on implementation of the Executive Order.”

After the order was signed, the Pentagon quickly updated its online presence—changing web domains and social media handles to reflect the new name. Secretary Hegseth even replaced the sign outside his office with one reading “The Office of the Secretary of War.” But not all identifiers have been switched. The building’s main brass plaque still welcomes visitors to “The Department of Defense.”

The executive order also mandated that all federal agencies acknowledge and use the new title in correspondence, while noting that Congress must ultimately codify the change.

Republican Senators Rick Scott of Florida and Mike Lee of Utah introduced legislation in September to formally enact the new name, along with a similar House bill from Rep. Greg Steube of Florida. “Restoring the name to Department of War reflects our true purpose: to dominate wars, not merely respond after being provoked,” Scott said. Lee added, “It should always be clear to anyone who would harm our people: Americans don’t just play defense.”

Despite those proposals, the administration has yet to make a serious push to move the legislation forward. Several GOP lawmakers have privately voiced frustration, viewing the initiative as unnecessary political theater. Senator Rand Paul has gone further, publicly opposing the change as “glorifying war” and pledging to block any related funding.

Democrats have been openly dismissive. Senator Tim Kaine criticized the proposal as “cosplay,” adding, “The department is designated by congressional statute as the Department of Defense, not the Department of War. Congress has not authorized the name change … and as far as I’m concerned, there’s no effort for Congress to make the name change.”

Ten Senate Democrats formally asked the Congressional Budget Office in September to evaluate the costs of rebranding, citing expenses for signage, ceremonial items, website redesign, and digital infrastructure updates. In their letter, they called the proposal “wasteful and hypocritical,” accusing the administration of prioritizing “political theater over responsible governance.”

The Pentagon’s name has evolved several times since its founding as the Department of War in 1789. President Harry Truman changed it to the National Military Establishment in 1947 under the National Security Act, which unified the armed services under a single civilian defense secretary. Two years later, Congress renamed it the Department of Defense—a title that has remained in place ever since.

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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been unable to confirm the whereabouts or condition of Iran’s near weapons-grade uranium since Israel’s airstrikes on the country’s nuclear facilities during June’s 12-day war, according to a confidential report obtained by The Associated Press.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog warned that the matter “needs urgently to be addressed,” noting that without updated data from Tehran, it cannot assure member states that Iran’s nuclear material remains in peaceful use.

In its last public assessment in September, the IAEA reported that Iran possessed 440.9 kilograms (972 pounds) of uranium enriched up to 60% purity — just a short technical step from the 90% threshold required for weapons-grade material. Director General Rafael Grossi cautioned in an interview that such a stockpile could be enough for roughly 10 nuclear weapons, though he emphasized that there is no indication Iran has built one.

Iran maintains that its nuclear program is strictly civilian, while Western intelligence agencies and the IAEA assert that Tehran operated an organized nuclear weapons effort until 2003.

Under its safeguards agreement with the IAEA, Iran must issue a “special report” following significant incidents such as military attacks or natural disasters, detailing the condition and location of all nuclear material and facilities. The agency stressed that this report is “indispensable” for verifying that none of Iran’s safeguarded sites or materials have been diverted to non-peaceful purposes.

Tehran halted cooperation with the IAEA after the June conflict, which also saw U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure. Although Grossi reached a temporary inspection deal in early September with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during talks in Cairo, the agreement collapsed later that month when the U.N. reinstated sweeping sanctions on Iran.

The sanctions were reimposed by European powers through the U.N. “snapback” mechanism after Tehran refused to engage in direct talks with Washington, failed to restore full IAEA cooperation, and did not clarify the fate of its highly enriched uranium.

Iran remains legally bound by the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to permit IAEA oversight of its nuclear activities.

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War Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Wednesday that the Trump administration will continue using military force to target drug-running vessels in South American waters, insisting that Washington has full legal authority to act. “We got lawyers on lawyers, all the authorities necessary to do so, treating these terrorists like the al-Qaida of the Western Hemisphere,” Hegseth declared during remarks at a defense industry conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The statement came as America’s newest and most advanced aircraft carrier entered the Southern Command’s area of operations — a region that has already seen deadly U.S. airstrikes sink numerous suspected smuggling boats. Military officials estimate that at least 75 people aboard those vessels have been killed in recent strikes.

The heightened naval presence has intensified talk that President Trump may be weighing more aggressive action in the hemisphere, possibly targeting Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro, who remains wanted in the United States on narcoterrorism charges.

Efforts by Senate Democrats to restrict Trump’s ability to launch a military operation against Venezuela were struck down by Republicans, leaving the White House with broad latitude to continue its campaign in the region.

Russia announced its willingness to return to peace negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul, according to a statement reported Wednesday by the state-run TASS news agency. The Kremlin says the initiative for restarting dialogue lies entirely with Kyiv, as the war grinds toward the end of its fourth year.

The last direct encounter between the two sides took place on July 23 in the Turkish city, marking the first attempt in months to revive diplomatic communication. That session, which lasted only 40 minutes, ended without progress.

During that brief meeting, Ukrainian officials suggested arranging a summit in August between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in hopes of breaking the deadlock. The Kremlin later declared that Putin was open to such a meeting — but insisted it take place in Moscow, a demand Ukraine flatly rejected.

TASS quoted Russian Foreign Ministry official Alexei Polishchuk as saying that Turkey has consistently encouraged both parties to return to the table. “The Russian team is ready for this, the ball is in the Ukrainian court,” he said, framing Moscow as prepared to engage whenever Kyiv agrees.

Ukrainian officials, however, have dismissed Moscow’s narrative, maintaining that Russia’s ongoing aggression and refusal to withdraw troops are the real reasons talks remain frozen. They argue that the Kremlin’s statements are merely an attempt to shift blame for the stalled peace efforts.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s initiative to phase out the penny — once dismissed as a symbolic gesture — has rapidly reshaped the nation’s cash economy, leaving retailers, banks, and consumers grappling with the sudden absence of the one-cent coin.

The administration began winding down penny production earlier this year, framing it as a move toward fiscal efficiency. In February, Trump had declared his intention to “rip the waste out of our great [nation’s] budget, even if it’s a penny at a time.” That message set off a chain of actions at the Treasury Department and U.S. Mint, culminating in the official end of penny circulation this week.

On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will travel to the Philadelphia Mint to strike the final batch of one-cent coins for general use, bringing closure to a chapter in U.S. monetary history that began with the Coinage Act of 1792.

Although collectors will still be able to obtain special-edition pennies in small quantities, the Mint’s massive penny-making machinery — responsible for more than 3.2 billion coins in the last fiscal year — is now being retired. Yet, the process has underscored how deeply the penny remains ingrained in daily commerce. Transitioning away from a coin that’s been part of American life for over two centuries has proved anything but simple.

Retailers, grocers, and gas stations have been scrambling for months to adapt. By early September, reports of shortages were already mounting, and since Labor Day, the scarcity has intensified across the country. The Federal Reserve, which manages coin distribution, has temporarily halted penny orders at more than half of its regional distribution centers, with more expected to follow.

“People didn’t realize how quickly this was going to spread,” said Austen Jensen, senior executive vice president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, which represents some of the nation’s largest retail chains.

Treasury officials are now weighing the release of guidance to help businesses adjust — including how to round cash prices and manage transactions without the one-cent coin. Still, many trade associations argue that a consistent, national policy is essential.

Groups representing retailers, restaurants, and banks are urging Congress to pass a federal law standardizing how cash transactions are rounded to the nearest nickel. Without such legislation, they warn, companies could face lawsuits under state consumer protection laws from customers claiming to have been shortchanged.

Efforts to pass that measure have been delayed by the ongoing government shutdown. Although a bipartisan bill establishing a national rounding rule cleared the House Financial Services Committee in July, it has not advanced to the full House, which was out of session for much of the fall.

Banks, too, are caught in the uncertainty. Steve Kenneally, senior vice president of payments at the American Bankers Association, said many financial institutions have been rounding check-cashing transactions in customers’ favor but need official guidance to avoid regulatory pitfalls. “We want to make sure banks don’t suffer any inadvertent regulatory mishaps, because we’re trying to do the right thing and round in favor of the customer,” he said. “We would like to have something, whether it’s from a regulator or legislation, that gives us guidance and that makes it a consistent customer experience everywhere. Having different businesses have different policies just doesn’t feel right.”

The American Bankers Association has also criticized the Federal Reserve’s decision to stop accepting penny deposits at many coin terminals, a policy that prevents banks with surplus coins from redistributing them efficiently. “This policy is accelerating the slowdown of penny circulation drastically,” the group warned in a recent letter to Treasury and the Fed.

A Federal Reserve spokesperson responded that “coin distribution locations accepting penny deposits and fulfilling orders will vary over time as localized inventory is depleted at certain coin distribution locations.”

According to Treasury estimates, ending the penny will save the government roughly $56 million each year. The U.S. Mint reports that manufacturing a single penny now costs 3.69 cents — more than triple its face value — due to rising metal and production costs. Officials concluded that “ongoing increases in production costs and the evolution in consumer habits and technology” have made the penny “financially untenable.”

Bessent’s move followed a formal finding that the one-cent coin was “no longer necessary to meet the needs of the United States,” a first in Treasury history.

While an estimated 300 billion pennies remain in circulation, the Treasury Department has clarified that all existing coins “remain legal tender and will retain [their] value indefinitely.” The penny, though no longer being minted, will continue to exist as a reminder of a bygone era in American currency — one that, for now, is ending a cent at a time.

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed Wednesday that the Biden administration is preparing major steps to ease costs on consumer staples such as coffee, bananas, and other imported goods not produced domestically.

Speaking on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends,” Bessent said Americans should expect “substantial announcements” in the coming days designed to bring prices down rapidly. “Very quickly,” he emphasized, predicting that by the first half of 2026, “Americans would start feeling better about the economy.”

Bessent also addressed a key part of President Donald Trump’s proposed economic relief initiative — a $2,000 rebate check for households earning under $100,000 annually. He noted that the payments would be funded through tariff revenues but clarified that “no decisions had been made” yet regarding final implementation.

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Chicago has seen a sharp and unprecedented drop in violent crime since the Department of Homeland Security initiated “Operation Midway Blitz,” a Trump-directed effort to dismantle networks of violent illegal aliens shielded by Illinois’ sanctuary laws.

Fresh DHS data shows that shootings have plunged by 35%, reaching their lowest level in four years. Robberies are down 41%, and carjackings have fallen a striking 48% since the campaign began in September. Homicides have decreased by 16%, while transit-related offenses have dropped 20% — a turnaround the agency called “a historic win in the fight against violent criminal illegal alien crime.”

“I am proud to announce that Chicago, Illinois, despite all of the radical opposition and obstruction we have from the Mayor and Governor, has seen Car Theft, Shootings, Robberies, Violent Crime, and everything else drop dramatically,” President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, listing the improved statistics.

He continued, “And this is with just a small initial Federal Force, not the full ‘surge’ we have done in … Memphis. As we ramp up more assets, these numbers will continue to drop.”

Trump credited the success to federal resolve in the face of what he described as open hostility from local leadership. “This has been achieved despite the extraordinary resistance from Chicago and Illinois Radical Democrat ‘Leadership,’ and the constant Violent Leftwing Terrorism against ICE Officers and Federal Agents that Insurrectionist Democrat Officials refuse to stop or prosecute, including constant physical assault and attempted assassination,” he wrote.

The operation was named in memory of Katie Abraham, an Illinois resident who lost her life in a hit-and-run accident caused by an illegal alien. The initiative’s central goal was to apprehend violent offenders who had been shielded from deportation under policies supported by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

“For decades, sanctuary policies exasperated the crime crisis in Chicago,” explained DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin. “Now, thanks to our brave DHS law enforcement, Chicago is experiencing a historic drop in violent crime. It’s common sense — when you remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from our country, crime rates plummet.”

Reports surfaced this week that Gregory Bovino, the senior U.S. Border Patrol official overseeing Operation Midway Blitz, might soon be reassigned. According to Reuters, Bovino could be transferred first to Charlotte, North Carolina, and later to New Orleans, where similar federal crackdowns are reportedly in development.

When asked by Newsmax whether Bovino’s departure from Chicago was imminent, DHS declined to comment. McLaughlin, however, dismissed talk that the initiative was ending.

She wrote on X: “We aren’t leaving Chicago.”

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. State Department delivered a blistering condemnation of Iran’s leadership, warning that decades of corruption, theft, and negligence have pushed the nation toward total collapse. The statement, issued in Farsi on the department’s official X account, painted a grim picture of a country unraveling under economic chaos and a spiraling environmental disaster.

“Iran is collapsing under the weight of the regime’s corruption and mismanagement. Economic instability, soaring inflation, and now a growing water crisis have led to nationwide water rationing, placing millions of families in Tehran at risk of potential evacuation,” the message declared.

The department accused Tehran of choosing to fund terror instead of feeding its own people. “Instead of responding to these urgent needs, the regime has this year smuggled $1 billion in hard currency to its terrorist proxy group Hezbollah. For this regime, financing terrorism and sowing instability in the region take precedence over meeting its people’s basic needs,” the statement continued.

It concluded with a scathing rebuke of Iran’s rulers, saying, “The Iranian people deserve leaders who care about their health, prosperity, and future – not a regime that sacrifices their well-being for its destructive aims.”

The warning comes amid one of the worst environmental emergencies Iran has faced in modern history. Nearly half of Tehran’s water reservoirs have been drained, forcing officials to cut water pressure each night to conserve supplies. President Masoud Pezeshkian has cautioned that unless substantial rainfall arrives by December, the capital could face formal water rationing — and even partial evacuation of residents.

At the Amir Kabir Dam, one of Tehran’s primary water sources, levels have fallen to a mere 8% of capacity. Other key reservoirs across the country tell a similar story. At least 19 major dams are now considered functionally dry, leaving major cities such as Mashhad and Isfahan struggling with dangerous shortages.

The crisis has been decades in the making, fueled by mismanagement, corruption, and poor long-term planning compounded by climate change. Officials have focused on short-term fixes, encouraging households to buy private storage tanks and limiting public water use. Critics, however, say these measures are cosmetic at best, accusing the regime of ignoring structural reforms and appointing unqualified political loyalists to oversee critical infrastructure.

While the government scrambles for emergency solutions, growing anger among Iranians reflects a deeper sense of despair — a belief that the regime’s obsession with exporting revolution has left its own citizens literally running dry.

{Matzav.com}

At a searing UN hearing in Geneva on Wednesday, Keith and Aviva Siegel — Israeli civilians who survived Hamas captivity — detailed the physical torment, humiliation, and psychological agony inflicted on them and fellow hostages during their imprisonment in Gaza. Their testimony before the UN Committee Against Torture painted a vivid and painful picture of systematic cruelty.

Keith Siegel began by addressing the committee with a plea that cut through the silence of the room: “I am not asking for your sympathy. I am asking that you ensure the horrors the terrorists committed against me and others in captivity will never happen again.” He described the months that followed his wife’s release — a blur of terror and solitude. “Altogether, I spent about six months completely alone – a 66-year-old man, cut off from the world, terrified, not knowing the fate of my loved ones,” he said.

He then described the twisted cruelty of his captors. “Just for ‘fun,’ the guards compared parts of our bodies, threatened us with knives, humiliated us, and prevented us from going to the bathroom until we could no longer hold it. Every basic human right was taken away. I was starved and denied water. More than once, I was forced to strip naked in front of them while they shaved my body.”

The emotional toll extended far beyond the physical. Siegel shared that he had clung to the thought of seeing his mother again — a reunion that would never come. “Throughout my captivity in Gaza, I imagined the moment I would come home and visit my elderly mother. The first thing I asked my wife when I returned by helicopter on the way to the hospital was how my mother was doing. She had died two months before my release. She never knew I came back. I never got to say goodbye.”

Aviva Siegel’s account echoed the same anguish. She spoke of blood, fear, and despair in the tunnels beneath Gaza. “When we were taken underground in Gaza, there was a boy from my community. Hamas terrorists tied his hands with plastic cuffs. He was covered in blood, we were covered in blood. Later, when one of the terrorists came to cut off the cuffs with a cutter, he cut the boy’s hand. I just wanted to scream, and I saw the terrorist smiling as he did it.”

Her 51 days of captivity were marked by hunger and hopelessness. “For 51 days I was certain I would die. They threatened me, starved me, didn’t give me enough water. I lost ten kilograms in 51 days. I hid food for Keith. I saw him losing weight. We were starving while the terrorists gained weight. They ate and chewed in front of us while refusing to give us anything.”

Aviva also spoke of the young female hostages who suffered unimaginable violations. “One day, a young girl came out of the shower trembling. I wasn’t allowed to hug her, but I did anyway. Later she told us that one of the terrorists had touched her.”

Her voice trembled as she recalled her helplessness. “The most terrible thing for me was watching how they tortured my husband Keith and what they did to the girls. I wasn’t allowed to hug, help, or even cry. I tried all that time to hold on to my humanity.”

The captors’ sadistic control left no space for dignity or rest. “They forced us to lie down from 5 p.m. until 9 a.m. the next morning. We weren’t allowed to move. My body ached. I wanted to stretch, to sit, to scream, ‘Just let me sit for five minutes.’ They didn’t allow it. They threatened to kill me. One night, I took my foot out from under the blanket – a Hamas terrorist came and screamed at me that I wasn’t allowed to do that. It sounds small, but that was the level of control they had over us. Most of my time in Gaza I suffered from stomach pain and diarrhea because they made us drink contaminated water. I’m 62 years old, and I had to ask permission just to go to the bathroom.”

{Matzav.com}

In a candid address, Rav Eliyahu Diskin, rosh yeshiva of Netiv HaDaas and Imrei Moshe in Yerushalayim, offered sharp insight into the current situation in Israel, declaring that the Israeli army never had any real desire to recruit yeshiva students, drawing a striking comparison to the Russian army under Vladimir Putin.

Rav Diskin’s remarks were delivered as part of the Vaad Darchei HaChizuk gatherings, which take place weekly at Yeshivas Maseches Chochmah and are led by the talmidim of the late rosh yeshiva, Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l.

Addressing the motives behind mass rallies and protests, Rav Diskin cautioned against viewing the upcoming atzeres as a battle of “us versus them.”

“Why do people go to a protest?” he asked. “Because ‘they’ are against ‘us.’ The chilonim are against the chareidim, and now ‘we’ will show them our strength. That’s the same yetzer hara that fuels nationalism — dying for the country, dying for the party, dying for the team. Boruch Hashem, our people are yirei Shamayim, but this cannot be our mindset.”

He emphasized that participation must come from a higher purpose. “We must remember — everything depends on the machshavah. We’re not fighting for honor; we’re fighting for kavod Shamayim.”

Rav Diskin continued by explaining that the protest itself would not directly impact government policy. “One of the reasons the army has never drafted bnei yeshivos until now is not because they valued Torah learning,” he said. “The army — anyone thinking realistically — doesn’t want yeshiva bochurim. It’s simple logic. When Putin went to war with Ukraine four years ago, everyone thought it would be over in a day or two. What’s Ukraine compared to Russia? But what happened in the end?”

He elaborated: “The reason is simple. Ukrainian soldiers were patriots. The Russian soldiers didn’t love Russia the way Ukrainians loved their country. An army built on coercion is worthless! You can’t build an army out of people forced to serve. It destroys the entire army. That’s why, until now, neither the army nor the state ever wanted the bnei yeshivos to enlist.”

Turning to the judiciary, Rav Diskin sharply criticized Israel’s High Court and the Attorney General’s Office. “We are now in the exile of that great klipah called the Bagatz and the yo’etz mishpati. They don’t care about the army or the country. Let everything burn down — all they care about is having a secular state, ‘al Hashem v’al Meshicho.’ That’s why protests don’t interest them at all.”

Citing Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, he explained the true purpose of attending the atzeres. “Rav Gershon said that what we need are zechuyos — merits. That’s the point. When we gather, we’re not demonstrating politically; we’re gathering to create zechuyos for Klal Yisroel.”

Rav Diskin referenced the nevuah in Malachi: “‘You have said it is futile to serve Hashem… and now we call the arrogant happy.’ This describes a situation where people lose sight of the value of avodas Hashem. Many have been inspired since Simchas Torah, but those few leading the current government — that’s another story.”

He pointed out that despite the demographic balance in Israel, a small secular elite dominates the centers of power. “Today, a third of the country is religious or chareidi, a third traditional, and a third secular — and within that secular third, only a tiny fraction truly hates religion. But they control everything — the courts, the media, the Bagatz. Nowhere else in the world does such a minority hold such power.”

Quoting the Gra on the Zohar, Rav Diskin explained that this phenomenon was foretold. “The Zohar says that in the end of days, the Erev Rav — the ‘maidservants’ — will come first, followed by the masses, and only then the bnei Torah. The Gra writes that the Erev Rav — the nefilim, gibborim, amalekim, rephaim — will rule. So even if elections take place every few years, it won’t change anything. The ruling class doesn’t represent the people. This is a gezeirah — the klipah will rule at the end of days.”

He concluded with a call to introspection and tefillah. “There’s no one to talk to — they’re deaf to reason. The protest itself may not be worth a klipas ha-shum, but what it is worth — as Rav Gershon said — is zechuyos, zechuyos, zechuyos. That’s what we need. The essence is not the demonstration itself, but the collective tefillah and the declaration: ‘Az nedabru yirei Hashem ish el re’eihu’.”

{Matzav.com}

In an address delivered Tuesday night at Yeshivas Daas Aharon in Yerushalayim, the rosh yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau, spoke sharply about the growing governmental pressure and legal uncertainty surrounding the draft law and the official status of yeshiva students.

Speaking before hundreds of talmidim and local residents, Rav Landau lamented what he described as targeted harassment against bnei yeshivos and avreichim.

“We are now living in a time,” he said, “when those who have never tasted the sweetness of Torah persecute yeshiva students and lomdei kollelim, tightening their steps through various decrees and forms of harassment.”

The rosh yeshiva expressed hope that those driving these measures would soon reconsider. “We hope, with siyaata diShmaya, that they will retract and cease these actions,” he said.

At the same time, Rav Landau called on yeshiva students not to be disheartened but to continue their mission with renewed strength. “Our role as bnei yeshiva,” he emphasized, “is to continue with full energy in fulfilling our sacred purpose — to ensure that Torah flourishes more and more here in Eretz Yisroel. And through that, we will merit the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, speedily in our days.”

A deeply emotional and tear-filled event took place this week at Yeshivas Nesiv HaDaas in Yerushalayim, celebrating the release of a new sefer authored by the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Yisroel Bunim Schreiber, titled Nesiv Binah on Perek Eilu Tereifos, written during the course of his difficult illness and ongoing treatments.

The Torah world continues to daven fervently for Rav Yisroel Bunim ben Chaya Ruiza’s refuah sheleimah. Since the discovery of his illness late last Iyar, the Rosh Yeshiva’s condition has fluctuated, and he is currently undergoing several intensive treatments. Yet even amid great suffering, talmidim have witnessed the fulfillment of the words, “Lulei Torascha sha’ashu’ai az ovadeti be’onyi—Were not Your Torah my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.”

Due to his weakened state, this week marked the first time Rav Schreiber delivered his shiur klali while seated. Nevertheless, his legendary diligence and devotion remain undiminished. Despite severe weakness, he continues to give his daily shiurim in depth—both in the yeshiva and in the nearby beis medrash Ohel Yosef—and has often been seen arriving straight from the hospital, IV still attached, to teach Torah with strength and clarity born of inner fire.

The newly released volume is remarkable not only for its scholarship but for the circumstances of its creation. Rav Schreiber began writing Nesiv Binah after the onset of his illness. The sefer delves into a lengthy and complex perek in Maseches Chullin, one rarely explored in such analytical depth. Leading marbitzei Torah who reviewed the manuscript expressed amazement that such a profound work could have been written by someone enduring such suffering. The Rosh Yeshiva himself remarked that this sefer differs from all his previous ones, carrying within it the special quality of Torah shenilmadah be’af—Torah learned through hardship—which, he said, “is what has sustained me.”

At the l’chaim held in honor of the sefer’s release, the atmosphere was one of mingled joy and tears. The talmidim were overcome by emotion, awed by the sight of Torah’s power to transcend the limits of human frailty. The Rosh Yeshiva spoke movingly about the exalted nature of Torah studied through pain, and as the event drew to a close, the crowd spontaneously broke into heartfelt tefillah for his complete recovery—that he should soon return to full health, free of pain and suffering.

{Matzav.com}

A fresh wave of polling data suggests that the political tides in New York may be turning faster than Democrats expected — and Rep. Elise Stefanik is at the center of it. Once considered untouchable in her deep-blue stronghold, Gov. Kathy Hochul now appears vulnerable heading into the 2026 election, with Stefanik emerging as the clear Republican frontrunner.

According to a survey conducted by J.L. Partners, Stefanik would cruise through a GOP primary and go toe-to-toe with Hochul in a general election matchup. Among 400 likely Republican primary voters, Stefanik commands 74% support, while Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman trails far behind at just 5%. The remainder of respondents remain undecided.

The poll, which was carried out November 9–10 and adjusted to reflect gender, age, ethnicity, and region, has a margin of error of 4.9%. The results highlight one major difference: name recognition. More than three-quarters of Republican voters hold a favorable view of Stefanik, while over 75% of respondents said they either didn’t know Blakeman or had no opinion of him.

As J.L. Partners co-founder James Johnson told the New York Post, “Stefanik seems to dominate the Republican vote. It’s a done deal.”

The real challenge, however, will come in the general election — and even there, Hochul’s position appears shaky. In a head-to-head matchup, Hochul edges out Stefanik 46% to 43%, a virtual tie within the poll’s 4.4% margin of error. Against Blakeman, Hochul leads 47% to 36%, suggesting Stefanik gives Republicans their strongest shot at reclaiming the governor’s mansion.

That same survey of 500 likely voters, taken during the same period, found that just 37% said they would vote to reelect Hochul or even consider it, while a striking 55% said it’s “time for someone new.” The numbers expose deep dissatisfaction over high costs, ongoing population loss, and controversial criminal-justice policies — particularly cashless bail and parole reforms — that critics say have made New York feel less safe.

Those frustrations have helped catapult Stefanik into the spotlight. Now serving her sixth term in Congress and a member of House Republican leadership, she has centered her message around affordability and law and order, echoing President Donald Trump’s call to roll back “cashless bail” and restore safety to New York communities.

Momentum is building quickly behind her campaign. As she officially launched her bid for governor, 12 GOP state senators — led by Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt — immediately endorsed her candidacy, describing her as “the fighter New York needs” to counter the “radical progressive agenda coming out of Albany.”

She’s also earned the backing of nine county executives from across the state, who blame Hochul’s “failed progressive policies” for driving families and businesses out of New York.

Still, Johnson cautioned that a heavy Democratic turnout could keep Hochul afloat. Yet, he noted that a spike in Republican voter registration and rising frustration among independents — fueled by the election of democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s incoming mayor — may signal a deeper political shift.

J.L. Partners, which accurately forecasted Trump’s 2024 victory over then–Vice President Kamala Harris, now rates the 2026 governor’s race as a toss-up. And for the first time in decades, Republicans see a genuine opportunity to take back the Empire State.

{Matzav.com}