The Murdoch media empire has intensified its criticisms of Vice President JD Vance, echoing a strategy it previously used in its failed effort to block Donald Trump’s selection of Vance as his 2024 running mate, Breitbart reports. The Wall Street Journal, Fox News, and the New York Post—all under the control of billionaire Rupert Murdoch—have each taken part in the onslaught, with the Journal leading the charge through an unrelenting stream of editorials and letters targeting Vance’s policies and statements.

At a farewell ceremony held at the “Alika” base in the Golan Heights, Maj. Gen. David Zini delivered an emotional parting message as he stepped down from his role as head of the IDF Training and Doctrine Command, officially bringing his 33-year military service to a close. During his speech, he looked back on his time in uniform, offered thanks, and addressed key challenges facing Israeli society and the military.

During an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” Thursday night, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas launched a forceful rebuke of the Democratic Party, accusing its members of stoking hostility toward Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and endangering their lives.
Host Sean Hannity pointed to what he described as indifference from the left regarding the safety of ICE officers, saying, “Senator, it sounds to me like they have no problem on the left putting these guys’ lives in jeopardy. That is outrageous to me, and I frankly think we should pass legislation against it.”

As tensions flared online between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk on Thursday, Musk briefly declared he would start shutting down one of SpaceX’s most crucial spacecrafts — the Dragon capsule — used to transport both astronauts and cargo to the International Space Station. The dramatic statement came as a direct response to Trump’s warning that government contracts with Musk’s aerospace and satellite ventures might be cut.
Musk took to X, formerly Twitter, to say that SpaceX “will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately.” The severity of the claim was unclear at first. But hours later, Musk walked it back in a reply to another user on the platform, confirming he didn’t actually plan to follow through.

New York state education leaders have made it clear they will not back down from their decision to prohibit the use of Native American-themed mascots and team names in public schools, despite mounting pressure from the Trump administration, which warned that continuing the ban could result in the loss of federal funding.
In response to the U.S. Department of Education’s criticism, New York officials sent a letter on Thursday suggesting that rather than reversing the ban, they may expand it to include mascots and nicknames referencing any racial or ethnic identity that could be viewed as offensive by federal standards.

In an appearance on Al Arabiya English’s “Global News Today” on Friday, Errol Musk, father of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, weighed in on the recent tensions between his son and President Donald Trump, expressing confidence that Trump would ultimately come out on top.
“It seems a bit silly to me,” Musk remarked when asked about the conflict.
During the interview, host Tom Burges Watson posed a question about whether the situation signaled a permanent rift or a temporary clash. “Do you think this is a bump in the road, or do you think this is the end of the road for the relationship between your son and Mr. Trump?” he asked.
“Just a bump in the road. It will fizzle out in a few days,” Errol Musk responded.

A French rabbi reported being physically attacked for the second time in just a week, underscoring a disturbing increase in hate crimes sweeping across the country. Speaking with Reuters, Rabbi Elie Lemmel described the assault as part of a troubling pattern of antisemitic violence.
Rabbi Lemmel recounted that the incident took place while he was sitting peacefully at a café in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a suburb of Paris. Without warning, someone struck him on the head with a chair.
“I found myself on the ground, I immediately felt blood flowing,” he says.
At first, he couldn’t make sense of what had happened. He thought an object might have fallen on him from above before realizing the painful truth—it had been a deliberate attack.

President Trump remained unfazed Friday morning when asked about his recent rift with Elon Musk, steering the conversation during a brief exchange with The New York Post toward economic achievements and his strong polling, rather than diving into the fallout with his once-close supporter.
“Nothing catches me by surprise. Nothing,” the president remarked when questioned about Musk’s pointed attacks from the previous day, made in the wake of his resignation from the Department of Government Efficiency.
“The numbers are through the roof, the stock market is up, billions are pouring in from tariffs, and my poll numbers are the highest they’ve ever been. Other than that, what can I tell you, right?” he added, sounding upbeat and relaxed.

President Donald Trump urged the Federal Reserve on Friday to slash interest rates by a full percentage point, referencing recent rate cuts in Europe and taking a jab at Fed Chairman Jerome Powell in the process.
“’Too Late’ at the Fed is a disaster! Europe has had 10 rate cuts, we have had none. Despite him, our Country is doing great. Go for a full point, Rocket Fuel!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
This latest demand comes just two days after a similar message from Trump, who reacted immediately to weak job data released by payroll processor ADP, calling on Powell to respond with aggressive rate cuts, according to CNBC.

The identities of two Israeli soldiers who lost their lives in Gaza have now been made public after their families were informed.
Sergeant Major Chen Gross, 33, a reservist from Gan Yoshiya who served in the elite Maglan Unit of the Commando Brigade, was killed in action during an operation in southern Gaza.
Also killed was Staff Sergeant Yoav Raver, 19, of Sde Warburg. He served in the Yahalom Unit of the Combat Engineering Corps and was killed in the same operation.