Adam Boehler, the special envoy of the President for hostage affairs, resigned from his position to avoid leaving companies he co-manages, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. On Thursday, it was reported that he was removed from handling matters related to hostages in Israel following a series of media interviews that caused controversy in both Israel and the U.S. In one interview, Boehler even referred to Hamas members as "nice" and was subsequently forced to apologize.
(ynet correspondents)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said on X that Ebrahim Rasool, the South African ambassador to the United States, is a Persona Non Grata: "South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country. Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS. We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA." This comes after Rasool said Trump is "leading global white supremacist" movement.
(Reuters)

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided two dorm rooms at Columbia University in New York last night, less than a week after the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, one of the leaders of the pro-Palestinian protest at the institution. The agents did not make any arrests. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is examining whether students who participated in anti-Israel protests at the university violated federal terrorism laws. The department noted that the nighttime raid at the academic institution was part of a separate investigation into whether the university is "harboring" illegal immigrants.
(Daniel Edelson, New York)

Turkish police have arrested five people suspected of spying for Iranian intelligence services, according to the Turkish news agency DHA. The suspects were detained in various locations, including Istanbul, Antalya, and Mersin, and are accused of gathering information on military bases in the country.
(AFP)

The leaders of all Greenland's political parties on Friday denounced US President Donald Trump's vow to take over the Danish autonomous island. "We -- all party leaders -- cannot accept the repeated statements about annexation and control of Greenland," the leaders of Greenland's five parliamentary parties said in a joint statement posted on Facebook. "We as party leaders find this behaviour unacceptable towards friends and allies in a defence alliance," they said, following an emergency meeting. The party leaders added that they "must emphasise that Greenland continues the work for Greenland that is already underway through diplomatic channels in accordance with international laws and regulations. "We all stand behind these efforts and strongly reject attempts to create division," they said.
(AFP)

Families of hostages, along with hundreds of other people, held a Friday dinner at the protest site near IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, calling for the return of all 59 hostages all at once. Adi Angrest, sister of hostage Matan Angrest, said: "My brother is alive but injured. You can see his broken nose and paralyzed hand. In 10 minutes, he might no longer be with us." Vicky Cohen, mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, added: "As a mother, I also want to get Nimrod back, hug him, and tell him I love him like other mothers. But I don’t know when Nimrod will return."
(Yael Ciechanover)

Posting on Truth Social, President Trump said he has pleaded with Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops, saying they were "surrounded". Ukrainian military has responded, saying these assertions are false and that Ukrainian troops have backed away to more advantageous defensive positions.
(Reuters)

Mark Joseph Carney was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Canada, replacing Justin Trudeau, who resigned in January after serving in the role for a decade. The newly elected Prime Minister stated that he is ready to meet with President Donald Trump, provided that "he shows respect for Canadian sovereignty," and declared his willingness to adopt "a more collaborative and comprehensive approach to trade between the nations."
(Reuters)

On Truth Social, President Trump said he has asked President Putin to spare Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield: "We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end — BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION. I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!!!"
(Gilad Meiri)

The leader of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, "considered one of the most dangerous terrorist in Iraq and the world", has been killed, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said on Friday. Iraqi security forces, together with U.S.-led coalition fighting the militant group, killed Abdullah Maki Musleh al-Rifai, known as Abu Khadija, Sudani added.
(Reuters)

Adam Boehler, the special envoy of the President for hostage affairs, resigned from his position to avoid leaving companies he co-manages, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. On Thursday, it was reported that he was removed from handling matters related to hostages in Israel following a series of media interviews that caused controversy in both Israel and the U.S. In one interview, Boehler even referred to Hamas members as "nice" and was subsequently forced to apologize.
(ynet correspondents)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said on X that Ebrahim Rasool, the South African ambassador to the United States, is a Persona Non Grata: "South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country. Ebrahim Rasool is a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS. We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA." This comes after Rasool said Trump is "leading global white supremacist" movement.
(Reuters)

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided two dorm rooms at Columbia University in New York last night, less than a week after the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, one of the leaders of the pro-Palestinian protest at the institution. The agents did not make any arrests. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is examining whether students who participated in anti-Israel protests at the university violated federal terrorism laws. The department noted that the nighttime raid at the academic institution was part of a separate investigation into whether the university is "harboring" illegal immigrants.
(Daniel Edelson, New York)

Turkish police have arrested five people suspected of spying for Iranian intelligence services, according to the Turkish news agency DHA. The suspects were detained in various locations, including Istanbul, Antalya, and Mersin, and are accused of gathering information on military bases in the country.
(AFP)

The leaders of all Greenland's political parties on Friday denounced US President Donald Trump's vow to take over the Danish autonomous island. "We -- all party leaders -- cannot accept the repeated statements about annexation and control of Greenland," the leaders of Greenland's five parliamentary parties said in a joint statement posted on Facebook. "We as party leaders find this behaviour unacceptable towards friends and allies in a defence alliance," they said, following an emergency meeting. The party leaders added that they "must emphasise that Greenland continues the work for Greenland that is already underway through diplomatic channels in accordance with international laws and regulations. "We all stand behind these efforts and strongly reject attempts to create division," they said.
(AFP)

Families of hostages, along with hundreds of other people, held a Friday dinner at the protest site near IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, calling for the return of all 59 hostages all at once. Adi Angrest, sister of hostage Matan Angrest, said: "My brother is alive but injured. You can see his broken nose and paralyzed hand. In 10 minutes, he might no longer be with us." Vicky Cohen, mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, added: "As a mother, I also want to get Nimrod back, hug him, and tell him I love him like other mothers. But I don’t know when Nimrod will return."
(Yael Ciechanover)

Posting on Truth Social, President Trump said he has pleaded with Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops, saying they were "surrounded". Ukrainian military has responded, saying these assertions are false and that Ukrainian troops have backed away to more advantageous defensive positions.
(Reuters)

Mark Joseph Carney was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Canada, replacing Justin Trudeau, who resigned in January after serving in the role for a decade. The newly elected Prime Minister stated that he is ready to meet with President Donald Trump, provided that "he shows respect for Canadian sovereignty," and declared his willingness to adopt "a more collaborative and comprehensive approach to trade between the nations."
(Reuters)

On Truth Social, President Trump said he has asked President Putin to spare Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield: "We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end — BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION. I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!!!"
(Gilad Meiri)

The leader of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, "considered one of the most dangerous terrorist in Iraq and the world", has been killed, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said on Friday. Iraqi security forces, together with U.S.-led coalition fighting the militant group, killed Abdullah Maki Musleh al-Rifai, known as Abu Khadija, Sudani added.
(Reuters)