Six Secret Service agents have been suspended without pay or benefits in connection with the stunning security failure that nearly cost Donald Trump his life at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last July. The move comes amid scrutiny of the agency’s leadership and preparedness following what one official called an “operational failure” of the highest order. Matt Quinn, deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service, confirmed the disciplinary action in an interview with CBS News on Wednesday, stating bluntly: “Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler.” The agents received penalties ranging from 10 to 42 days of unpaid leave and have since been reassigned to restricted, low-responsibility roles.

Italian confectioner Ferrero, known for brands like Nutella and Kinder, is buying the century-old U.S. cereal company WK Kellogg in a deal valued at approximately $3.1 billion. The Ferrero Group said Thursday it will pay $23 for each Kellogg share. The transaction includes the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of WK Kellogg Co.’s portfolio of breakfast cereals across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. WK Kellogg’s shares were up 30% in premarket trading Thursday. Kellogg, which was founded in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1906, makes Fruit Loops, Special K, Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies. The current company was formed in 2023, when Kellogg’s snack brands like Cheez-Its and Pringles were spun into a separate company called Kellanova. M&M’s maker Mars Inc.

A Detroit man pleaded guilty Tuesday to concealing cryptocurrency donations intended to support the Islamic State (ISIS), 14 months after his arrest on terrorism charges, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Jibreel Pratt, 26, admitted in federal court to attempting to finance the foreign terrorist organization using Bitcoin and encrypted communication tools. He now faces a recommended nine-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal, with formal sentencing scheduled for November 13. “Today’s guilty plea by Jibreel Pratt underscores the serious threat posed by individuals who attempt to support foreign terrorist organizations known for violence and human rights abuses,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has introduced an amendment to strip $500 million in military aid to Israel from the U.S. defense appropriations bill currently working its way through Congress. The firebrand congresswoman, who has previously faced accusations of heing an antisemite – announced her proposal in a Facebook post she described as “a sprinkle of a slight rant and sarcasm delivered on a bed of raw truth,” sparking immediate backlash for its tone and substance. The amendment wouldn’t just target Israel — Greene also called for slashing an additional $500 million earmarked for Taiwan, $500 million for Jordan, $118 million in overseas disaster relief, and $15 million in HIV prevention programs abroad.

Taiwan on Wednesday launched annual military exercises intended to guard against Chinese threats to invade, including using so-called “gray zone tactics” deployed by China that stop just short of open warfare. This year’s 10-day live-fire Han Kuang drills are the longest yet and follow the delivery of a range of new weaponry from tanks to waterborne drones. The drills in Taiwan come as regional tensions and harassment by China and its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are increasing. China claims Taiwan as its territory to be annexed by force if necessary, while the vast majority of Taiwanese wish to become fully independent or retain their current status of de facto independence.

A psak from HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein urging the preservation of cholent as a uniquely Shabbos dish sparked widespread discussion this week — especially among bochurim accustomed to Thursday night cholent. But in an important clarification released, Rav Zilberstein explained that his original words were intended for a specific context, and not meant as a blanket issur. Rav Chaim Malin, a grandson of Rav Zilberstein and a prominent talmid chacham in his own right, published the update in response to the many inquiries that followed the initial psak.

All 31 construction workers who were far inside a huge industrial tunnel in Los Angeles made it to safety after a portion of it collapsed Wednesday evening, an outcome officials called a blessing after they initially feared much worse. The cave-in apparently happened between the tunnel boring machine, 5 miles (8 kilometers) in from the only entrance, and the construction crew working 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) in, said Michael Chee, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, which is in charge of the nearly $700 million project. The workers were about 400 feet (121 meters) underground. The tunnel is being constructed almost entirely underneath public right-of-way.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart met Thursday in Malaysia as tensions between the countries rise over Moscow’s increasing attacks on Ukraine and whether Russia’s leader is serious about a peace deal. Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, which brings together 10 ASEAN members and their most important diplomatic partners including Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, European nations and the U.S. The meeting lasted around 50 minutes. Rubio was seen winking at Lavrov afterward as reporters shouted questions, which they both ignored. The meeting was their second encounter since Rubio took office, although they have spoken by phone several times.

A hiking tour company based in Puerto Rico denied service to a Jewish tourist, sending a blunt email with the subject line “No thanks” and the message “Free Palestine!” — and later doubling down in a WhatsApp exchange that confirmed they refuse to serve “so called israelis.” Paradise Tours PR, which offers guided hikes and eco-tours throughout Puerto Rico, appears to have engaged in blatant antisemitism after a Jewish American woman reached out to inquire about a hike during her upcoming vacation. The only information provided on the contact form was her name, travel dates, and email address — no political content, no mention of Israel.

Russia pounded Ukraine’s capital with another major missile and drone attack overnight into Thursday, killing at least two people and causing fires across Kyiv a day after the heaviest drone attack so far in the more than three-year war, Ukrainian officials said. In another tense and sleepless night for Kyiv residents, with many of them dashing in the dark with children and blankets to the protection of subway stations, at least 19 people were wounded, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Regional Administration. The night was punctuated with the chilling whine of approaching drones that slammed into residential areas, exploded and sent balls of orange flames into the dark during the 10-hour barrage.