PRESIDENT TRUMP: You get nothing to North Carolina and then they send $59 million to New York City for a hotel for migrants where they are making a fortune. We catch them, but a judge says even though it may be a fraud, you have to send the money in anyway.

Dear Klal Yisroel, As we continue to watch the agonizing trickle of hostages being released—three here, four there—many of us have been davening for a complete and immediate redemption for our acheinu bais Yisroel who are suffering in captivity. We know that Hashem is the one who can bring them home, and sometimes He does so through unexpected avenues. Yesterday, we saw President Donald Trump declare that all the hostages should be freed by noon this coming Shabbos—or else. Could this be the shliach Hashem is using to bring about the miracle we’ve been yearning for? Maybe. Maybe not. But what we do know for certain is that Hashem listens to our tefillos and rewards our hishtadlus. This got me thinking—what if we, as one united Klal Yisroel, took on a collective zechus this Shabbos?

At least 12 injured in unknown explosion at a restaurant-bar in Grenoble, France. An investigation is underway.

President Trump’s Message to the People of Jordan: “You are very, very fantastic people with tremendous brilliance and energy… you have a King who is a tremendous man. King Abdullah II is one of the true great leaders of the world.”

Tulsi Gabbard is officially sworn in as Director of National Intelligence by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Benny was born 18 months ago, bringing with him great joy to his parents. A healthy, thriving baby, he was their sunshine. But six weeks ago, he suddenly became sick. Very, very sick. The diagnosis was shattering: colon cancer, advanced. Benny declined quickly, turning from a happy toddler to a child unable to eat, crawl or even sit up. He had to be admitted to PICU, in total quarantine due to his fragile state, his parents can only see him in pictures taken by kind nurses. Desperate and broken hearted, they got a small ray of hope: there is a surgical protocol that might save his life. But it is an innovative procedure, and due to his young age, it will require a series of supportive tests and medical care. Estimated cost: $300,000 The parents do not have this sum.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which Congress established to monitor credit card companies, mortgage providers, debt collectors and other segments of the consumer finance industry, is the latest U.S. government agency to have its work halted by the Trump administration. Conservatives have long targeted the work of the CFPB. Critics complain the independent agency, funded by the Federal Reserve System, lacks sufficient supervision and regularly exceeds its regulatory authority. Defenders argue the bureau’s watchdog mission has strong bipartisan support. Here’s some background on the scope of the CFPB’s activities and how the agency’s tenuous status might affect consumers: What does the CFPB regulate?

Chagai Angrest, the father of abducted IDF soldier Matan Angrest told Walla on Wednesday that the family received a sign of life from Matan from the male hostages released on Shabbos. Matan was on duty on October 7 and was abducted from his tank position at Nachal Oz, seriously wounded and unconscious, and suffering from burns. The other members of the tank crew, Itai Chen, H’yd, Daniel Peretz, H’yd, and Tomer Leibovitz, H’yd, were killed in battle and the bodies of Chen and Peretz were abducted into Gaza. Matan’s mother Anat told Channel 12: “While we have received confirmation that Matan is alive, he is being held in extremely harsh conditions.

As Israel and the world demand the swift and unconditional release of all Israeli hostages, Hamas remains defiant. Senior Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri announced on Wednesday that the terror organization is “committed” to the previously agreed hostage release schedule—meaning that only three hostages will be released this coming Shabbos. This brazen refusal to release all the captives underscores Hamas’s strategy of using Israeli civilians as bargaining chips while the world watches in horror. President Donald Trump previously weighed in, making it clear that Israel should not tolerate Hamas’s manipulations any longer. Speaking on Tuesday, Trump declared that if all hostages were not freed by noon on Saturday, “I would say cancel the ceasefire.