Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Tuesday warned Lebanon that if it doesn’t enforce the ceasefire with Hezbollah, the IDF would no longer differentiate between Hezbollah and the state of Lebanon. Speaking on a visit to the northern border, Katz said: “The main message I came to convey here: our policy, together with the IDF, is clear and unequivocal – we will act with all our might to enforce all the understandings of the ceasefire agreement, and we will have maximum response and zero tolerance.” “Yesterday was the first test. Shots were fired toward Har Dov as if it were outside the usual discourse or subject to interpretation. For us, it is not subject to any interpretation.

A federal judge dismissed the gun case against Hunter Biden on Tuesday after President Joe Biden issued a sweeping pardon for his son. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika closed the case the week before Hunter Biden was to be sentenced. He could have faced up to 25 years in prison, though as a first-time offender he likely would have gotten far less time or avoided prison entirely. Prosecutors opposed dismissing the case, arguing in court documents that a pardon shouldn’t wipe away the case “as if it never occurred.” Hunter Biden was convicted on three felonies after he lied on a federal form to purchase a gun in Delaware by saying he wasn’t a drug user in 2018, a period when he has acknowledged being addicted.

President-elect Donald Trump is underscoring his intention to block the purchase of U.S. Steel by Japanese steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp., and he’s pledging to use tax incentives and tariffs to strengthen the iconic American steelmaker. Trump had vowed early in the presidential campaign that he would “instantaneously” block the deal, and he reiterated that sentiment in a post on his Truth Social platform on Monday night. “I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company” and will use tax incentives and tariffs to make U.S. Steel “Strong and Great Again, and it will happen FAST!” he wrote. “As President,” he continued, “I will block this deal from happening.

Small businesses are bracing for stiff tariffs that President-elect Donald Trump has proposed as one of his first actions when he takes office. Trump has proposed importers pay a 25% tax on all products entering the country from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China, as one of his first executive orders. He previously floated a tariff of up to 20% on everything else the United States imports. This means small businesses may end up paying more for goods and services. Small business owners say they’re waiting to see what final form the tariffs take, but are bracing for higher costs that they may in turn need to pass on to consumers.

Mayor Eric Adams announced Tuesday a shift in his stance on deporting migrants, expressing openness to deport those charged with crimes from New York City before convictions are secured. This marks a departure from his earlier position of waiting for legal outcomes before deporting immigrants involved in criminal activity. Adams revealed plans to meet with Tom Homan, President-elect Donald Trump’s newly appointed “border czar,” to discuss strategies for addressing the issue. “My position is people who commit crimes in our city, you have abdicated your right to be in our city and I am open to figure out the best way to address that,” he said.

Until last month, the Chareidi parties had despaired of the chance of passing a recruitment law, as it seemed impossible mainly due to the firm insistence of then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant not to engage in legislation that would not also be agreed upon by the heads of the opposition, Kikar H’Shabbat reported. Just before UTJ chairman Yitzchak Goldknopf announced his resignation from the government due to its failure to pass a recruitment law, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced his decision to fire Gallant and appoint Minister Yisrael Katz as the new Defense Minister. From the moment Gallant was dismissed, the Chareidi parties realized that this was a real opportunity to pass a recruitment law.

More than 400 people attended the third annual gala dinner of the Israeli emergency medical service (EMS) United Hatzalah in Paris, which was held on Sunday evening at the Hôtel du Collectionneur. The event raised 800,000 euros ($842,000) to support the organization’s emergency response efforts, against the backdrop of the ongoing state of war in Israel. Among the distinguished guests were Joshua L. Zarka, the Israeli ambassador to France, writer and actress Rachel Khan as well as Imam Hassen Chalghoumi and his spouse Raïma, who are known for their friendship with the Jewish community and Israel. Israeli-French singer Amir performed during the evening, while the event’s meal was crafted by renowned French chef Ghislaine Arabian, in collaboration with kosher caterer L’Arbre de vie.

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman There is an oustanding Rabbinic figure in Persian Jewish history that is not so well known outside of the Persian Jewish community, but he stands as the earliest and most accomplished  commentators and poets in Jewish Persian history. Mulana Shahini Shirazi lived during the time of the late Rishonim and was one of Persian Jewry’s greatest commentators – fully fluent in Shas, Yerushalmi, and the various Targumim. His writing showed intimate mastery  of the major midrashic works, including Bereishis Rabbah, Shemos Rabbah, Vayikra Rabbah, Midrash Tanchuma and Midrashim that are no longer extant.

The drinking water in New Jersey’s capital city and some surrounding communities went largely untested for more than a year, the utility belatedly told roughly 200,000 affected customers, noting that it fired a worker who falsified the relevant reports. Trenton Water Works said in a letter to customers last week that it became aware of the problem a year ago and that an investigation determined that the water sample collector fudged reports meant to monitor for disinfection byproducts, E. Coli and other things from October 2022 through last December. A majority of the water samples taken by the utility during that time were deemed to be invalid, it said. The worker, who wasn’t named in the utility’s letter and who hasn’t been charged, was put on leave and then fired.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s government early Wednesday lifted the martial law he imposed during a tense night of political drama in which troops surrounded parliament and lawmakers voted to reject military rule. Police and military personnel were seen leaving the grounds of parliament following the bipartisan vote, and the declaration was formally lifted around 4:30 a.m. during a Cabinet meeting. Yoon imposed martial law late Tuesday, vowing to eliminate “anti-state” forces as he struggles against an opposition that controls parliament and that he accuses of sympathizing with communist North Korea.