Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government on Friday, accusing its anti-Israel policies of fostering antisemitism after an arson attack on a Melbourne synagogue. The Adass Israel synagogue was firebombed during morning prayers, injuring one and causing extensive damage. Worshippers inside reported masked assailants throwing incendiary devices through the windows.
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski called for Russia’s suspension from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) during a meeting in Malta on Thursday, accusing Moscow of attempting to rebuild its empire. Sikorski led a walkout of European delegations in protest against Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s presence.
President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his support for Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense on Friday, dismissing reports that the nomination might be reconsidered. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Hegseth’s qualifications, calling him “a fantastic, high-energy Secretary of Defense” and emphasizing his confidence in the Fox News host.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, one of the nation's largest health insurers, has reversed its decision to cap reimbursement for anesthesia care based on surgery time limits.
Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas sharply criticized the redistricting process in her state during a Thursday House Oversight Committee hearing on the 2020 Census.
Former Secret Service agent Richard Staropoli warned Thursday that President-elect Donald Trump could face a major security threat before his January inauguration, citing weaknesses in the current state of Secret Service operations.
The Boston City Council voted unanimously this week to reaffirm the "Trust Act," a local law aimed at restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The move comes as city leaders brace for the impact of President-elect Donald Trump’s planned mass deportations.
A 29-year-old illegal migrant with a history of violent felonies, Ivan Lopez-Ramos of Mexico, has been arraigned on felony charges in Seattle for unlawfully re-entering the United States after being deported in 2022. Lopez-Ramos, a registered sex offender, pleaded not guilty on Thursday in the United States District Court of Western Washington.
As cartel violence intensifies in Mexico, the U.S. State Department has increased its reward for information leading to the capture of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," to $15 million. El Mencho, co-founder and leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), remains a fugitive despite multiple U.S. indictments for drug trafficking and related crimes.