U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a blunt warning to Iran over its ongoing backing of the Houthi rebels in Yemen, making it clear that such actions won’t go unanswered—even as American officials reengage in nuclear discussions with the Islamic Republic.
Washington and Tehran have now participated in three indirect negotiation rounds, all facilitated by Oman. The aim is to strike an agreement that would restrict Iran’s ability to develop nuclear weapons while offering relief from severe American sanctions.
The negotiations are scheduled to continue this weekend in Rome.

President Donald Trump suggested on Wednesday that his administration is considering pulling federal grant money from Harvard University, expressing frustration with the school’s resistance to certain White House mandates regarding campus governance and policies on speech.
“And it looks like we are not going to be giving them any more grants, right Linda?” Trump said, addressing Education Secretary Linda McMahon, according to Reuters.
He followed up by saying, “A grant is at our discretion and they are really not behaving well. So it’s too bad.”
Harvard University and the Department of Education did not immediately respond to media requests for comment on the President’s statements.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that 18 people suspected of arson in the massive fires that spread throughout Israel on Wednesday have been arrested. Speaking at the annual Tanach Quiz held on Yom Ha’atzmaut, Netanyahu said: “There are natural disasters, there are also man-made disasters. We’re currently holding 18 people suspected of arson, one of whom was caught in the act.” “Our neighbors who claim they love this land are inciting to burn it. We are the ones who truly love it,” he emphasized. “We love the land. We protect the country. I’m confident we’ll be able to cope with this challenge as well.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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The U.S. and Ukraine on Wednesday signed an agreement granting American access to Ukraine’s vast mineral resources, finalizing a deal months in the making that could enable continued military aid to Kyiv amid concerns that President Donald Trump might scale back support in ongoing peace negotiations with Russia. The two sides offered only barbones details about the structure of the deal, which they called the United States-Ukraine Reinvestment Fund. But it is expected to give the U.S. access to Ukraine’s valuable rare earth minerals while providing Kyiv a measure of assurance about continued American support in its grinding war with Russia.

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A Fire and Rescue Authority spokesperson said on Thursday morning that the wildfires that began in the Jerusalem hills on Wednesday are not yet under control after 163 firefighting teams battled the flames overnight. “Over 150 firefighting teams are still working at full capacity in all the fire hotspots in the Judean Plain area,” a spokesperson said. About 23 firefighting teams are operating in the Beit Meir and Shoresh area, and 10 firefighting planes are assisting the forces in the field. Firefighters are still battling flames at 11 locations on the outskirts of Jerusalem and seven yishuvim are still evacuated of their residents. The winds have weakened, and until 2 p.m., the weather, which includes a chance of rain, is in favor of the firefighters.

Shas party leader MK Aryeh Deri delivered a forceful message Wednesday evening, urging Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to take immediate and forceful action in response to what he described as deliberate acts of arson across the country over the past day.
“The arsonists in times of war are terrorists in every sense of the word,” Deri said. “I call on the Prime Minister to instruct the IDF to eliminate from the air any terrorist identified as starting fires.”