Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his receipt of notes from aides during his corruption trial testimony in Tel Aviv on Monday, arguing it was necessary for balancing his role as prime minister with court proceedings. Following a break in the trial, during which Netanyahu was seen responding to a note handed to him by an aide, the prosecution questioned the practice, arguing the content of such notes should be known to both the judges and prosecutors. Netanyahu responded forcefully, asserting that it was impractical to consult the court on every note he received. “I want to give my testimony. But I am the prime minister,” Netanyahu said, noting the unique challenges of his dual responsibilities.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency claimed Monday that around 30 North Korean troops were killed or wounded in fighting against the Ukrainian army at the weekend in Russia’s Kursk border region. This is the first reported casualties since the Pentagon and Ukraine announced North Korea has sent about 10,000 troops to Russia to help it in the almost 3-year war. The casualties occurred around three villages in Kursk, where Russia has for four months been trying to quash a Ukrainian incursion, the agency, known by its acronym GUR, said in a public post on the Telegram messaging app. At least three North Korean servicemen went missing around another Kursk village, GUR said. It was not possible to independently verify the Ukrainian claims.

Israel’s security system and the IDF are preparing to carry out a “significant” attack in Yemen, Kan News reported on Monday. Senior security officials assess that following the ceasefire with Hezbollah in Lebanon and the subsequent fall of the Assad regime in Syria, the Houthis are trying to take the lead in their role in Iran’s Axis Of Resistance. Houthi attacks on Israel have been steadily increasing. Since the beginning of November, the Houthis have fired six ballistic missiles and five drones at Israel. Under the behest of Iran, the Houthis are attempting to strike strategic sites in Israel, including the ports of Ashdod and Haifa, power stations, and off-shore gas rigs. Israel has not attacked Yemen for about three months, since the end of September.

The Supreme Court turned back an appeal Monday from Peter Navarro, the former White House official who is set to return in Donald Trump’s second term after serving prison time on contempt of Congress charges. The court declined to hear the appeal in a brief order without explanation, as is typical. It comes after the Justice Department sued Navarro, saying he had retained presidential records on an unofficial email account he used during his previous White House tenure under Trump. The government says the records must be turned over to the National Archives. Lower courts have agreed, but Navarro argues that the Presidential Records Act doesn’t allow the federal government to search email accounts and retrieve records.

Five people are dead and others injured after a shooting Monday at a private Christian school in Wisconsin, including a child who carried out the attack, authorities said. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes was speaking to reporters when the death toll rose to five from three people. He offered no details on the victims but says others were wounded in the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School. Barnes says police officers who responded did not fire their weapons. Police had blocked off roads around the school Monday afternoon. Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives have responded to the scene to assist local law enforcement.

Americans hoping for lower borrowing costs for homes, credit cards and cars may be disappointed after this week’s Federal Reserve meeting. The Fed’s policymakers are likely to signal fewer interest rate cuts next year than were previously expected. The officials are set to reduce their benchmark rate, which affects many consumer and business loans, by a quarter-point to about 4.3% when their meeting ends Wednesday. At that level, the rate would be a full point below the four-decade high it reached in July 2023. The policymakers had kept their key rate at its peak for more than a year to try to quell inflation, until slashing the rate by a half-point in September and a quarter-point last month.

In his first news conference since winning the presidency, President-elect Donald Trump addressed pressing global issues on Monday, signaling his administration’s tough stance on international crises while offering glimpses of his foreign policy priorities. Trump fielded questions from reporters on topics ranging from ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages in Gaza to the potential for preemptive military action against Iran. Regarding his recent discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Trump stressed his commitment to resolving the hostage crisis. “I’ll be very available on January 20,” he said, referring to the day he will assume the presidency.

President-elect Donald Trump on Monday said in a far-ranging news conference that ihe would consider pardoning embattled New York Mayor Eric Adams. Separately he called on the Biden administration to stop selling off unused portions of border wall that were purchased but not installed during his first administration. “Yeah I would,” consider pardoning Adams, Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, before saying that he was not familiar with the specifics of the charges Adam is facing. Adams is facing federal fraud and corruption charges,, accused of accepting flight upgrades and other luxury travel perks valued at $100,000 along with illegal campaign contributions from a Turkish official and other foreign nationals looking to buy his influence.

President-elect Donald Trump joined SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son to announce plans by the Japanese company to invest $100 billion in U.S. projects over the next four years. Trump announced the planned investment Monday at his Mar-a-Lago resort with Son at his side, along with Howard Lutnick, head of investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald and Trump’s pick for commerce secretary. “He’s doing this because he feels very optimistic about our country,” Trump said.

Due to popular demand, the BPJCC will again offer a free series of Amazon Sellers Courses to Boro Parkers. After over 200 interested individuals signed up for the last course, the BPJCC realized the vast need for a course on this topic and, therefore, expanded the offering. This time around, there will be a separate course for both men and women. The goal of this new course, done in partnership with JCCGCI, is to assist participants in obtaining the necessary skills to earn a respectful and potentially lucrative parnasah. The in-depth, comprehensive course will be taught by veteran Amazon instructor and coach Alan Horowitz. The nine-class series will allow attendees to understand every step from A to Z of launching a new career in Amazon sales.