SAO PAULO (AP) — Sister I

The Israel Defense Forces emphasized that their foremost mission in the ongoing Gaza conflict is the safe recovery of the 59 hostages still in Hamas captivity.
This assertion stands in stark contrast to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s remarks yesterday in which he stated that achieving “victory” over Hamas is the war’s overriding objective, rather than securing the hostages’ return.
“The supreme mission that the IDF is dealing with is our moral duty to return the hostages. The second mission is defeating Hamas. We are working to advance both goals, with the return of the hostages being at the top [of the list of priorities],” the military says.
{Matzav.com Israel}

Republican lawmakers representing blue states are engaged in intense private negotiations over potential changes to the state and local tax (SALT) deduction, with proposals ranging from $30,000 to as high as $100,000. Their aim is to secure inclusion of the provision in President Trump’s sweeping new tax legislation, sources told The Post.
On Wednesday, GOP representatives from states like New York, New Jersey, and California met with House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana and House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith of Missouri. The group discussed potential figures to propose as a new cap on SALT deductions as part of a massive tax reform bill expected to total several trillion dollars.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order

President Trump has enacted a long-anticipated initiative that ties future American military support for Ukraine to a new bilateral investment arrangement based on Ukraine’s natural resources — effectively shifting the financial burden away from U.S. taxpayers.
After prolonged discussions, Washington and Kyiv finalized the agreement on Wednesday. The deal sets up a jointly managed investment fund backed in part by revenue from Ukraine’s sale of oil, gas, and mineral rights licenses. Both nations will share the profits equally.
Instead of contributing cash, the United States can apply the dollar value of any military hardware, advanced systems, or tactical training it provides to Ukraine as a credit toward its share of the investment, as laid out in the agreement.

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanese authorities warned the Hamas group Friday that it would face the “harshest measures”

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Home ownership