House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is preparing to unveil a government spending bill that could include key components of President-elect Donald Trump’s healthcare agenda. Among the priorities under consideration is reforming Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) practices, a move aimed at lowering prescription drug costs for seniors by tackling middleman-driven price inflation.
Dutch populist leader Geert Wilders was awarded the Jabotinsky Prize for Liberty during his visit to Israel, where he affirmed his unwavering support for the Jewish state. Speaker of the Knesset Amir Ohana presented the award, commending Wilders for his decades-long advocacy against radical Islam and support for Israel’s sovereignty. Wilders met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and other senior officials during his diplomatic visit.
The Department of Education under President Joe Biden has directed more than $1 billion toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives since 2021, according to a report by watchdog group Parents Defending Education (PDE).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with outgoing White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Thursday in Jerusalem, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable minorities in Syria. These groups include Christians, Druze, Kurds, and others who face significant threats amidst ongoing conflict.
Turkish-backed militias, operating under the Syrian National Army (SNA), have advanced into northern Syria, displacing tens of thousands of Kurdish civilians. The SNA captured Manbij, a Kurdish-controlled city, on Tuesday. This followed last week’s seizure of Shahba, where Kurdish officials reported over 120,000 people were forced to flee. The SNA’s offensive is part of “Operation Dawn of Freedom,” aimed at removing Kurdish forces from northern Syria.
Israel is conducting its most extensive air campaign in decades, targeting remnants of the Syrian military following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad's regime. According to Army Radio, these attacks represent the largest military actions against Syria since the Six-Day War in 1967. Israeli Air Force (IAF) strikes are aimed at completely dismantling Syria's military infrastructure to prevent it from threatening Israel or being seized by rebel forces.
The outgoing Biden-Harris administration granted $10 billion in sanctions relief to Iran just days after Donald Trump secured victory in the 2024 presidential election. This decision, which allowed Iraq to transfer funds to Iran, has drawn criticism due to Tehran’s ongoing support for terrorist groups and attacks against Israel.
