Hegseth acknowledged those concerns but said the Pentagon must “operate on a wartime footing” to stay ahead of global threats.
Trump Administration Appeals Judge’s Order to Pay Full SNAP Benefits During Shutdown
The Trump administration asked a federal appeals court on Friday to block a judge’s order requiring it to issue full November food assistance payments under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the ongoing government shutdown.
The Justice Department argued that forcing full payments would exceed available contingency funds and violate constitutional limits on spending authority.
The move came as the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) informed states that it was working to release funds for full payments, and several states—including California, Wisconsin, and New Jersey—reported that recipients had already received their benefits.
The program, which aids roughly one in eight Americans, has faced weeks of uncertainty since the administration said shutdown funding would only cover 65 percent of normal benefits.
President Trump’s administration asked a federal appeals court Friday to block a judge’s order that it distribute November’s full monthly SNAP benefits amid a U.S. government shutdown, even as at least some states said they were moving quickly to get the money to people.…
— PBS News (@NewsHour) November 7, 2025
Federal judges in separate rulings ordered the government to use emergency reserves to pay full benefits, rejecting partial payments. While some states are distributing funds using federal or state resources, others are waiting for further guidance.
Critics say the administration’s legal appeal risks delaying aid for millions of low-income families who depend on SNAP for food.
US Air Force Commander at Naval Station Rota Relieved of Duty After Four Months
Colonel Ryan Herman, commander of the US Air Force’s 521st Air Mobility Operations Group at Naval Station Rota in Spain, was relieved of duty Friday due to a loss of confidence in his ability to lead, the 521st Air Mobility Operations Wing said in a statement.
Herman, who took command on July 10, had previously led the 725th Air Mobility Squadron at Rota from 2019 to 2021. The wing, based at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, did not release further details about the decision.
Lieutenant Colonel James Johnson, the group’s director of operations, has assumed command on an interim basis.
Col. Ryan Herman was removed from his post as head of the 521st Air Mobility Operations Group because of a loss of confidence in his ability to command.https://t.co/xQLRUuXp3v
— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) November 7, 2025
The 521st Air Mobility Operations Group manages three squadrons that support the deployment and sustainment of US and allied forces across Europe, Africa, and Asia.
US Navy Warns Sailors Against Eating Protein Bars Containing Hemp
A US Navy detachment in Italy warned sailors this week that eating Dave’s Killer Bread Amped-Up Organic Protein Bars could trigger a failed drug test due to their hemp content, which is banned under Navy regulations.
The warning, issued by Naval Support Activity Naples’ Gaeta detachment, emphasized that hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) products are prohibited for sailors regardless of THC levels.
The bars, which contain hemp protein powder, were reportedly found at a Navy Exchange store, though officials later clarified they are not currently sold at any exchange worldwide. The Navy Exchange Service Command said it routinely reviews product offerings to ensure compliance with regulations.
Sailors who may have consumed the bars were advised to notify their chain of command and retain purchase receipts in case of a positive drug test.
The Defense Commissary Agency recalled the product earlier this year because hemp was listed as its main ingredient. The Navy reiterated that packaging cannot reliably indicate THC levels and that only FDA-approved cannabinoid drugs prescribed by authorized medical providers are permitted.
US Military Takes Over Gaza Aid Oversight From Israel Under Trump Peace Plan
The US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) has officially assumed control of humanitarian aid operations for Gaza, replacing Israel’s role in overseeing relief access under President Donald Trump’s peace plan, US and regional officials confirmed Friday.
The CMCC, led by US Central Command (CENTCOM) and based in southern Israel, now coordinates aid deliveries with input from more than 40 countries and organizations. Israel remains involved but no longer has final authority on what enters Gaza.
The transition follows months of international criticism that Israel’s restrictions kept vital supplies out of the enclave despite last month’s ceasefire. While humanitarian access has improved, aid groups say deliveries remain severely limited and many restrictions persist.
Trump’s administration argues that direct US management will streamline distribution and improve transparency, but officials familiar with the CMCC described its early operations as disorganized and slow-moving.
Breaking news: The U.S. military-led “coordination center” charged with implementing President Trump’s peace plan in Gaza is replacing Israel as the overseer of humanitarian aid to the enclave. https://t.co/2IOZ1JRgKr
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 7, 2025
The change reflects Trump’s broader effort to consolidate control over Gaza’s postwar reconstruction and push Israel to comply with the 20-point peace plan, which includes disarmament of militant groups and the creation of an International Stabilization Force.
US officials said no American troops will enter Gaza, but CENTCOM is conducting drone surveillance to monitor aid delivery and ceasefire compliance.
Aid organizations and European governments remain cautious, warning that US and Israeli military involvement could undermine neutrality and complicate rebuilding efforts.
Red Cross Transfers Another Hostage’s Remains as Violence Flares in West Bank
The Red Cross transferred the remains of another hostage to Israeli forces in Gaza on Friday, the Israeli prime minister’s office said, marking at least the 23rd body returned by Hamas since the October 10 ceasefire began.
The exchange came the same day hundreds attended the funeral of Israeli-American soldier Captain Omer Neutra, whose body was handed over earlier this week. Neutra, 21, was killed and abducted during Hamas’s October 2023 attack.
Under the ceasefire, Israel has returned 285 Palestinian bodies, though only 84 have been identified due to limited forensic capabilities in Gaza.
🛑 Hamas handed over remains of another Israeli hostage to ICRC under Gaza ceasefire agreement, Israeli army said
👉 Military statement said coffin of deceased captive was transferred to ICRC and was on way to Israeli troops inside Gaza https://t.co/mSgOpxWllp pic.twitter.com/kjOZHfY8LS
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) November 7, 2025
Meanwhile, violence escalated in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Israeli troops killed three Palestinian teenagers this week and withheld their bodies, according to Palestinian officials.
Rights groups and UN agencies reported a sharp rise in military and settler violence in recent months, with at least 42 Palestinian children killed in the West Bank so far this year.
Battle for Pokrovsk Reaches Critical Stage as Russia Seeks Breakthrough and Leverage in Peace Talks
The battle for the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk has reached a decisive phase, with Russian and Ukrainian troops fighting block by block for control, according to soldiers and analysts.
Russian forces now occupy about 70 percent of the city after advancing steadily over the past year, while Ukrainian commanders acknowledge that their defenses are severely strained.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the situation as “difficult,” saying Moscow’s top priority is to seize the city.
Pokrovsk, once a vital logistics hub, now serves both as a military and political battleground.
NEW: The Russian military command is reportedly augmenting its troop presence in the Pokrovsk direction, likely to consolidate the gains Russian forces initially secured through infiltration missions and advance further through the town. More⬇️(1/3)
Russian forces are… pic.twitter.com/S6rke7dFpz
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) November 7, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin claims his troops are close to victory and has renewed demands that Ukraine cede the Donbas region as a condition for peace. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, is working to convince US President Donald Trump that Russia’s progress is overstated, hoping to maintain US support.
Analysts say the fall of Pokrovsk would be a symbolic and psychological win for Russia, bolstering its leverage in negotiations but coming at a steep cost in manpower.
Ukrainian troops continue to resist with elite units and counteroffensives, though the fight has devolved into intense street-level combat. The outcome could shape not only the battlefield in Donetsk but also the diplomatic landscape surrounding the war.
Pakistan-Afghanistan Peace Talks Collapse After Border Clashes Renew Tensions
Peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Istanbul collapsed Friday after both sides traded blame for deadly border clashes that killed four Afghan civilians and wounded five others, threatening a fragile Qatar-brokered ceasefire.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed the talks had ended without agreement, and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the Pakistani delegation was returning home, though the ceasefire remains formally in place.
Tarar accused the Afghan Taliban of failing to uphold commitments under the 2021 Doha accord to curb cross-border militancy, warning that Pakistan would take “all necessary measures” to protect its sovereignty.
Afghan officials countered that Pakistani forces initiated the shooting but said Afghan troops refrained from responding because of the peace talks.
Pakistan’s defence minister says peace talks with Afghanistan in Istanbul have failed, but the ceasefire will hold if no attacks come from Afghan territory. pic.twitter.com/EP2AhRMgPd
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) November 7, 2025
The breakdown follows weeks of heightened tension and repeated border skirmishes linked to Pakistan’s claims that Taliban-controlled Afghanistan shelters Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan militants.
The renewed violence has underscored the deep mistrust between the neighbors despite ongoing international mediation efforts.
Taiwan’s Vice President Urges EU to Deepen Ties, Warns Against China’s Military Pressure
Taiwan’s Vice President Bi-Khim Hsiao on Friday urged the European Union to strengthen security, trade, and technology partnerships with Taiwan, warning that peace in the Taiwan Strait is vital to global stability.
Speaking at a China-focused conference in the European Parliament, Hsiao called on European lawmakers to oppose any attempt by Beijing to change the regional status quo by force and to collaborate with Taipei on trusted supply chains and artificial intelligence development.
Hsiao’s unpublicized visit, which drew a standing ovation from attending lawmakers, is expected to anger Beijing, which considers Taiwan part of its territory. She likened China’s cyber and hybrid attacks on Taiwan to Europe’s experience since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and said the EU should work with Taiwan to build a “reliable technology ecosystem rooted in democratic values.”
TAIWAN VP CALLS OUT CHINA’S MILITARY, ECONOMIC AGGRESSION
WATCH: In a rare appearance, Taiwan Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim directly calls out China’s aggressive military and economic actions.
She spoke before lawmakers at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China summit held at… pic.twitter.com/Th9cB8XyUi
— NewsWatch Plus PH (@newswatchplusph) November 7, 2025
The appearance marked one of the highest-level engagements between an EU institution and a Taiwanese leader, underscoring growing European concern over China’s military and economic coercion amid deepening global tensions.
Sources: News Agencies
Evening Brief: Pentagon Overhauls Weapons Buying, US Military Takes Over Gaza Aid Oversight, Battle for Pokrovsk Reaches Critical Stage
Pentagon speeds up weapons buying as Gaza aid shifts, Pokrovsk fight intensifies. Here’s what’s making headlines this Friday evening.
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