Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei pushed back on claims that his AI startup supports a ban on open-weight models to support its competitive position in a letter after Anthropic was notably absent from a letter signed by many leading AI firms.

Leading companies in the AI space, including Nvidia, Palantir and others, participated in the letter and announced a partnership in the Open Secure AI Alliance, which looks to develop and share more open technologies to improve security in the AI era as risks can stem from both open and closed models.

Amodei wrote in a post on Anthropic’s website, “Anyone who has read my past writing should know that I don’t regard such bans as a useful measure, but let me state it clearly so that there is no doubt: Anthropic has never advocated for a ban on open-weight models.”

“But I don’t agree with the letter’s assertions that open-weights models necessarily make it easier to develop safeguards or that broad access to capabilities necessarily helps defenders more than attackers. It seems at least as likely to me that the opposite will be true,” he wrote, adding that biological weapons may have an edge over the defenses against them.

Amodei said he views open-weight models that don’t have dangerous capabilities as a public good, as their cost is limited to the computer needed to operate them, and they provide value to businesses, developers and researchers.

He added that he agreed with much of the open letter, particularly the value of open-weights in expanding access to the AI economy, strengthening competition and giving customers more control.

“To summarize my and Anthropic’s position, we have not and are not advocating for a ban on open-weights models as a category. We should instead focus on keeping powerful chips out of authoritarian hands, stopping industrial-scale distillation, and requiring safety testing of all sufficiently capable models, open and closed,” Amodei wrote.

Amodei’s letter was published hours after Palantir CEO Alex Karp, whose company signed the letter supporting the use of open-weight AI models, said in an exclusive interview on FOX Business Network’s “The Claman Countdown” that resistance to competition could lead to a less dynamic tech industry like in Europe’s.

Karp said he’s “not anti-Anthropic” or opposed to all closed models, but that “If you want to win, you have to compete on the battlefield.”

“Our job has to be to have the best AI in the world, if you’re going to actually say we’re going to restrict all the products to U.S. commercial, but they’re not going to be restricted abroad, which they’re not, you’re de facto setting up a two-stage thing where no one can claim we have the best products in the world. It’s complete insanity,” Karp said.

“We are building our platform in the U.S. government on the open-weight side with Nvidia. We can get the best performance in the world with a totally American company, using American open-weight companies and American GPUs. We don’t have to hide behind some kind of fake thing,” Karp said.

Iran has intensified its efforts to assassinate senior Israeli figures, including current and former officeholders, in an attempt to achieve a strategic and psychological victory over Israel, Channel 12 News reported.

Several senior officials, including cabinet ministers, have been briefed in recent days on the heightened threat. Israeli security officials believe Iran’s interest in targeting senior figures is not new, but say both the scale of the effort and the number of attempted operations have increased in recent weeks

The Shin Bet has responded by strengthening security around a number of senior Israeli officials.

Security concerns also led authorities to keep the departure time of the Wing of Zion government aircraft secret ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to the United States. The flight departed from Nevatim Airbase following recommendations from security officials.

The heightened alert comes after the Mossad announced last week that it had thwarted an Iranian Ministry of Intelligence operation aimed at infiltrating a terrorist cell into Israel to assassinate senior officials. The plot was disrupted through cooperation between the Mossad, the Shin Bet and intelligence and security agencies from several foreign countries.

Israeli security agencies have warned that Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have intensified efforts to target Israeli and Jewish interests, including attempted attacks inside Israel.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In an unprecedented move, every Rav in London’s Golders Green neighborhood has signed a joint letter directing all mosdos haTorah not to begin the upcoming school year until every child has been accepted into an appropriate educational institution. The extraordinary directive comes amid an ongoing placement crisis that has left more than 20 children without schools for the new academic year.

The letter, addressed to principals and administrators of the community’s mosdos, instructs that neither the boys’ Talmudei Torah nor the girls’ schools may open their doors as long as even one child remains without a proper educational placement.

Widely viewed as a historic step within Britain’s Chareidi community, the directive calls for postponing the start of the zeman until every student has secured a suitable place to learn. The Rabbanim said the decision reflects their commitment to stand with families who have spent months enduring the anguish of not knowing where their children will study.

The letter opens by expressing profound appreciation to the principals and administrators who devote themselves tirelessly to maintaining the community’s educational institutions, praising their unwavering dedication to the chinuch of the community’s children and to strengthening its mosdos haTorah.

The Rabbanim then explain the reason for their extraordinary ruling. They note that more than 20 children, for various reasons, still have not been accepted into an appropriate school for the coming academic year. They write that these children and their parents have spent months waiting in deep distress for a solution that has yet to come. Therefore, acting together under the authority of the city’s Rabbanim, they are instructing that the doors of the schools and Talmudei Torah for the new classes remain closed until every child has found a suitable place to learn.

The Rabbanim openly acknowledge that postponing the opening of schools will inevitably result in lost Torah learning for thousands of other students. Nevertheless, they explain that the severity of the situation justifies such a step, writing that this is a time when extraordinary measures are required for the sake of Heaven.

The letter concludes with a heartfelt tefillah that peace and truth will prevail within the community, that every child will merit an education according to his or her proper path in the traditions of Yisroel Saba.

{Matzav.com}

QUEENS, N.Y. (VInnews) — A man carrying a hammer entered the grounds of a Jewish day camp in Queens on Tuesday before being restrained by a security guard and taken into custody by New York City police, according to a letter sent to parents.

Camp officials at Ohr Avner Day Camp at the Jewish Institute of Queens (JIQ) said the man, who appeared to be mentally unwell, walked onto the Elmhurst campus and entered the front yard, where children were playing under staff supervision. He reportedly lay on the ground and asked for water before counselors approached him while keeping campers safe.

A staff member noticed the man had a hammer beside him and calmly asked him to hand it over. The man complied without incident, the camp said.

COMMUNITY UPDATE

At approximately 10:50 a.m. this morning*, Queens Shmira received a hotline call reporting an incident at a local camp in Queens. Shmira members responded within minutes alongside officers from the NYPD 112th Precinct.

Upon arrival, officers from the NYPD 112th… pic.twitter.com/pg9QQOjjXi

— Queens Shmira (@QBSPshmira) July 28, 2026

As campers exited the building to board buses for a scheduled trip, the man suddenly attempted to enter the building, pushing through several children. One camper was pushed into a fence and suffered a minor injury, receiving immediate care.

The camp said a security officer identified as Anthony immediately intervened, restrained the man and held him until NYPD officers arrived and took him into custody.

Officials described the incident as random and said there was no indication the camp, its campers or staff were specifically targeted.

Camp administrators said mental health professionals have been consulted to help support children who witnessed the incident. They added that most campers are doing well and that staff are reviewing the events and evaluating additional security measures.

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews)-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, attended a memorial dinner Monday night honoring the late U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham.

Members of the Graham family, close friends of the late senator, senior administration officials and members of Congress were among those present.

Netanyahu spoke warmly with Graham’s sister, Darline Graham Nordone, members of her family and other guests. Attendees paid tribute to Graham’s legacy and reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating antisemitism and strengthening the alliance between the United States and Israel.

“America has lost a great patriot. Israel has lost one of its greatest friends and supporters. And I have lost a dear friend,” Netanyahu said.

“Lindsey was wholeheartedly committed to the security of the United States, the security of Israel and the unrelenting fight against antisemitism. I will miss him greatly, and all of us will miss him greatly.”

Many Israeli military and political commentators have addressed the issue of Jews being blamed for the recent Arab violence in the Shomron.

Unfortunately, the phenomenon is not limited to Israel’s enemies, but is pervasive among left-wing Jewish Israelis as well—even as the blood of their own brothers is spilled, a fact slammed this week by Channel 12 journalist Amit Segal.

Israeli political commentator Gadi Taub wrote: “Most of the world is being convinced that the problem in Yehuda and Shomron is the Jews—not the Arabs. The fact that Israelis themselves help promote this false narrative is what allows it to persist, because people point to it and say: ‘Even Israeli Jews are saying it about themselves.’

“Who are the main drivers of this narrative?

“Haaretz in English — an antisemitic incitement mouthpiece loaded with lies and antisemitic writers. Of course, reports from other media outlets also have an impact. And most of the Israeli media works for the left anyway.

“Radical-left, anti-Israel libelous organizations funded by foreign sources that sell antisemitic propaganda under the guise of ‘human rights’ (Breaking the Silence, B’Tselem, Looking the Occupation in the Eye, and others).

“Ronen Bergman in The New York Times, who, together with Mark Mazzetti, wrote an article almost the length of a book that ‘proved’ to the American intelligentsia that the situation had spiraled out of control and that ‘evil’ Israel is turning a blind eye instead of enforcing the law. Israelis don’t realize how influential that newspaper is in shaping the media agenda in the United States.

“Left-wing politicians. It’s not just Yair Golan and his gang of lunatics but also includes politicians who present themselves as right-wing when it suits them—Lapid, Bennett, and Eisenkot.”

Prof. Moshe Cohen-Eliya wrote: “When I was on the left, it was obvious that everything was the settlers’ fault. It began with Yeshayahu Leibowitz, who warned that the occupation was creating a ‘Judeo-Nazi mentality’ in Israel. Later, he wrote about the ‘murderers beyond the Green Line who settled in Judea and Samaria’ and called on their opponents to take up arms. From such extreme views grew the attitude among parts of the left that settlers were not merely political rivals, but the source of all of Israel’s evil. And so, on the left, they became convinced that ‘the settlers are to blame for all our troubles.’

“October 7, of course, was also ‘because of the settlers.’ The story that a battalion and a half from the Gaza Division had been diverted to guard Tzvi Sukkot’s sukkah in Huwara spread across the country, until Maj. Gen. (res.) Dan Harel, who circulated the claim, lost a defamation lawsuit filed against him by Sukkot.

“That is not to say there are no violent individuals among the settlers. There are, and those bad apples should be dealt with forcefully. But the left took isolated incidents involving a small fringe group and, with the help of foreign funding, built an entire campaign around the ‘settler violence’ slogan.

“That campaign lumps together assaults, confrontations, property damage, intimidation, and incidents that were never criminally proven; attributes the actions of a few individuals to an entire public; obscures who initiated each incident and what the security context was; and turns collections of reports and testimonies into something resembling a collective verdict. A careful examination of the kind that can be found in the work of the serious journalist (and almost the only one in Israel), Kalman Liebskind, shows that the distinction between terrorism, a brawl, retaliation, and property damage has simply been erased. Palestinian terrorism has also been erased. What remains is a simple story that serves a narrative of hatred: that an entire community is inherently violent.

“The latest incident near Havat Gilad is a telling example. Even if the hikers made a mistake by entering the area without coordination, the basic facts are fairly clear: a Palestinian seized a weapon from a member of the local security squad and opened fire, murdering Binyahu Mellet, H’yd, and Maj. Yuval Ezra, H’yd, and wounding other Israelis. Meanwhile, security forces hesitated to open fire as the crowd advanced because of restrictive rules of engagement and because the incident was treated as just another ‘public disturbance.’ Yet before the blood had even dried, the ‘settler violence’ label was once again immediately invoked. So yes—the settlers are always the accused; the Palestinians, even when they seize a weapon and murder a Jew, are merely ‘the context.’ As Claudine Gay, Harvard’s woke president, said during the congressional hearing: ‘It all depends on the context.’

“This campaign is rooted in a deep political and sociological hostility toward the settlers—the people themselves, their way of life, their beliefs, and above all, their refusal to be ashamed of their Zionism.

“Then October 7 arrived and proved that the settlers were right: that the disengagement from Gaza, which they opposed in the most statesmanlike manner (unlike the self-styled elites of Kaplan Street, who received privileged treatment during the judicial reform protests), was a historic mistake that led us to disaster; that the Oslo Accords were a fantasy concocted by Yossi Beilin and Shimon Peres and embraced by Yitzchak Rabin; that handing over territory did not bring peace but brought the enemy closer to our homes; and that instead of communities we received tunnels, instead of farmers we received terrorists, and instead of towns we received terrorist bases.

“Because the fundamental principle of Zionism is that settlement is not an obstacle to Zionism—it is Zionism itself.

“Archaeological research identifies a broad wave of small settlements in the central hill country, mainly in Samaria and Judea, during the 12th and 11th centuries BCE. This period corresponds historically to the biblical account of Yehoshua’s conquest of Eretz Yisrael. Scholars disagree about the precise identity of those settlers, but there is no dispute that the mountain ridge was one of the primary birthplaces of the Israelite people. The historic Land of Israel did not begin in Gush Dan. It grew in the hills—in Shechem, Shiloh, Beit El, Chevron, and Jerusalem.

“Anyone who denies that denies both our historical roots and the fundamental security lesson of October 7: where there is no Israeli settlement, the enemy moves in.

“So yes, the settlers are to blame. They are to blame for seeing the truth before everyone else. They are to blame for warning against Oslo, for fighting the disengagement, and for refusing to believe that withdrawal brings peace. Above all, they are guilty of the one unforgivable sin in the eyes of the Israeli left:

“They were simply right.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

UPS raised its full-year revenue forecast Tuesday after reporting stronger-than-expected second-quarter results, signaling that the parcel carrier’s strategy of reducing lower-margin shipments and restructuring its delivery network is beginning to improve profitability. The results provide an important indicator for retailers, manufacturers and logistics companies that continue adapting to changing e-commerce demand and rising transportation costs.

The company reported second-quarter revenue of approximately $22.8 billion and adjusted earnings of $1.76 per share, exceeding analysts’ expectations. UPS also increased its full-year 2026 revenue outlook to approximately $91.2 billion, reflecting confidence that its transformation strategy is gaining traction despite a challenging shipping environment.

One of the most significant milestones announced Tuesday was the completion of UPS’ planned reduction in lower-margin package volume from Amazon, its largest customer. Company executives have spent the past two years intentionally reducing shipments that generated heavy volume but relatively limited profitability, while focusing on higher-margin business customers and healthcare logistics.

For businesses, the decision represents a major shift in strategy.

Rather than pursuing maximum package volume, UPS is emphasizing profitability and operational efficiency. The company has consolidated facilities, automated sorting operations and optimized delivery routes to improve margins while reducing operating costs.

The restructuring has not come without consequences.

During the quarter, UPS recorded approximately $891 million in after-tax transformation charges, much of which was associated with facility consolidations, automation investments and workforce reductions. Management said those costs are expected to produce long-term savings by creating a more efficient delivery network.

The announcement also highlights broader changes taking place throughout the logistics industry.

As e-commerce growth normalizes following the pandemic, parcel carriers are increasingly competing on service quality, specialized logistics and profitability rather than simply handling larger package volumes. Businesses shipping high-value products, medical supplies and time-sensitive deliveries have become particularly attractive customers because they typically generate stronger margins.

Automation remains central to that strategy.

UPS continues investing in advanced sorting technology, artificial intelligence and automated distribution centers that reduce labor requirements while increasing package-handling capacity. Those investments are expected to improve delivery efficiency and support future growth without requiring proportional increases in operating expenses.

For retailers and manufacturers, a financially stronger UPS could provide greater long-term stability throughout the supply chain.

Reliable parcel delivery has become increasingly important as businesses continue expanding direct-to-consumer sales and managing more complex inventory networks. Investments in automation and network modernization may also improve delivery speed and service reliability.

At the same time, the restructuring reflects ongoing changes in the labor market.

Facility closures and workforce reductions demonstrate how automation continues reshaping employment across transportation and logistics. While technology creates opportunities in engineering, software and systems management, it also reduces demand for certain traditional operational roles.

Investors welcomed the improved outlook because it suggests UPS is successfully transitioning from a volume-driven business model to one focused on higher returns and stronger cash generation.

The company’s performance may also provide insight into broader economic conditions.

Parcel carriers serve nearly every sector of the economy, making shipping volumes an important measure of consumer demand, manufacturing activity and business investment.

For the broader business community, Tuesday’s earnings demonstrate that logistics companies are increasingly prioritizing efficiency, automation and profitability over sheer size. The strategy may reshape competitive dynamics throughout the transportation industry while influencing how businesses move goods in an evolving global economy.

JBizNews Desk | New York

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

NEW YORK — The Multicultural Business Coalition (MBC), a statewide alliance representing approximately 50 ethnic and minority chambers of commerce, voted Tuesday to authorize legal action challenging New York City’s proposed taxpayer-supported municipal grocery store program, marking the coalition’s strongest response yet to Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to establish city-backed supermarkets.

The vote followed a meeting of coalition leadership after City Hall unveiled additional details of the initiative, which is intended to lower grocery costs for residents by opening publicly supported grocery stores that would sell essential food items at prices below prevailing market rates. City officials have described the proposal as part of a broader affordability strategy designed to help families facing persistently high living costs.

MBC leaders said they recognize the financial pressures confronting New Yorkers but believe government should pursue policies that strengthen existing neighborhood businesses instead of competing directly against them. Coalition members argue that independent supermarkets, bodegas, neighborhood grocers, and specialty food retailers already operate on narrow margins while paying commercial rent, property taxes, insurance, payroll, utilities, and regulatory compliance costs without taxpayer support.

According to coalition leadership, the concern extends well beyond a handful of grocery stores. They believe the proposal could establish a precedent for government entering additional sectors traditionally served by private businesses, creating uncertainty for entrepreneurs who have invested years building companies throughout New York City.

The coalition intends to explore several legal issues, including whether the proposed program creates an unfair competitive advantage through the use of taxpayer funding, municipal resources, and other public support unavailable to privately owned businesses. MBC leaders also plan to continue discussions with elected officials while preparing for potential litigation.

Frank Garcia, Chairman of the Multicultural Business Coalition, said the coalition’s decision reflects growing concern among business organizations that government should partner with small businesses—not compete against them.

“Our coalition represents business owners from every background who share the same concern. We support making groceries more affordable for families, but we believe there are better ways to accomplish that goal than placing government-supported competitors into neighborhoods already served by independent businesses. We hope meaningful discussions can still take place before litigation becomes necessary.”

Garcia added that many immigrant-owned supermarkets and neighborhood grocery stores have served their communities for generations, often remaining open during emergencies and investing back into the neighborhoods where they operate.

Duvi Honig, Co-Founder and Secretary of the Multicultural Business Coalition and Founder & CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, said the coalition’s position is rooted in protecting entrepreneurship while encouraging practical affordability solutions.

“Every family deserves access to affordable groceries, but government should not solve one problem by creating another. New York’s neighborhood supermarkets, bodegas, and immigrant-owned food businesses have invested their lives serving their communities. Public policy should strengthen small businesses, not place taxpayer-funded competitors in the same marketplace. We believe there are better ways to lower food costs while protecting the entrepreneurs who are the backbone of New York’s economy.”

Coalition officers said member organizations unanimously agreed that lowering consumer prices and protecting neighborhood businesses should not be viewed as competing objectives. Instead, they urged policymakers to consider alternatives such as tax relief, regulatory reform, incentives for independent grocers, expanded food assistance programs, and other measures that could reduce costs without placing government in direct competition with the private sector.

MBC leadership also emphasized that many independently owned grocery stores are themselves immigrant- and minority-owned businesses that provide thousands of jobs, purchase from local suppliers, sponsor community organizations, and serve neighborhoods where larger national chains often choose not to operate.

Supporters of the mayor’s proposal argue municipal grocery stores would increase competition, improve food access, and provide relief to consumers struggling with inflation and the high cost of living. Administration officials have said the stores are intended to complement—not replace—existing retailers and will focus on essential grocery items.

The coalition’s vote authorizes its legal team to begin preparing a challenge should the city proceed with implementation. Business leaders say they remain open to discussions with City Hall but are prepared to defend what they describe as the rights of independent businesses to compete on a level playing field.

As the proposal advances, the dispute is expected to draw national attention from business organizations, municipal governments, and public policy experts evaluating the proper role of government in retail markets. The outcome could influence similar proposals being considered in other jurisdictions across the country.

JBizNews Desk | New York

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited

The Belzer community is mourning the petirah of the dayan Rav Shmuel Pinchas Traube zt”l, who passed away Tuesday morning in Bnei Brak after enduring nearly two decades of severe illness. He was 64.

Rav Traube served for many years as the dayan of the Belzer Bais Medrash Beis Pinchas in Bnei Brak and as the senior rav hamachshir for the Machzikei HaDas kashrus organization in Eretz Yisroel.

He was also one of the foremost talmidim of the late posek, Rav Shmuel Halevi Wosner, author of Shevet Halevi, who held him in exceptionally high regard.

The levayah was held at Beis Pinchas Belz on Rechov Yoel in Bnei Brak. A second procession was held at the Sanhedria Funeral Home in Yerushalayim, passing the Belzer bais medrash in Kiryas Belz before continuing to the Machzikei HaDas section of Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.

Rav Traube was born on the 10th of Adar 5722 (1962) to Rav Ephraim Traube z”l, affectionately known in Belz as “Reb Ephraim Krakover.” His father served as a trusted aide to the Belzer Rebbe, Rav Aharon Rokeach zt”l, and for many years was the baal tefillah and baal koreh in the Belzer court.

He was educated in Belzer educational institutions in Yerushalayim before continuing to the Belzer yeshivah on Rechov Agrippas, where he quickly distinguished himself as one of the outstanding bochurim. At just 14 years old, while still in the Belzer yeshivah ketana, he was tested on the entire Maseches Chullin.

After his marriage to a daughter of Rav Shmuel Tzvi Greenwald z”l, one of the veteran and respected Belz Chassidim of Bnei Brak, Rav Traube’s extraordinary scholarship became even more evident.

He initially served as rosh kollel for Belzer avreichim before studying practical hora’ah under Rav Wosner. The famed posek later remarked during a visit to the Belzer Rebbe that throughout the many years he had examined and ordained dayanim and rabbanim, he had never encountered anyone who grasped complex halachic matters as quickly as Rav Traube. Rav Wosner predicted that he was destined to become one of the leading poskim of his generation.

For many years, Rav Traube headed the special beis din overseeing the Machzikei HaDas kashrus organization, serving as its chief rav hamachshir and supervising food production facilities throughout the country.

When the Beis Pinchas Belz bais medrash opened on Rechov Yoel in Bnei Brak, the Belzer Rebbe personally appointed Rav Traube to serve as its dayan. He fulfilled that role for many years while also serving as the congregation’s baal tefillah and baal koreh.

Approximately 20 years ago, Rav Traube was diagnosed with a debilitating muscular degenerative disease. His condition steadily deteriorated over the years. At the Belzer Rebbe’s instruction, his children and family began accepting Shabbos from midday each Friday as a zechus on his behalf, and those close to him credit that practice with extending his life for many years.

In recent weeks, his condition worsened significantly. He was hospitalized two weeks ago after developing a severe infection, and on Tuesday morning he passed away.

Rav Traube is survived by children who are accomplished talmidei chachamim, maggidei shiur, and mashpi’im within the Belzer community.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Tax attorneys and accountants are about to make bank helping owners of non-primary homes navigate New York City’s pied-à-terre tax notifications, which started landing in mailboxes before the weekend.

“If you have a second home in New York City worth more than $5 (million), check your mailbox when you’re back in the five boroughs – because you’ve got mail,” Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on social media.

Letters from the city’s Department of Finance went to owners flagged as potentially subject to the surcharge. The notices cover Phase 1 of the tax – one- to three-family homes valued at $5 million or more and condos and co-ops valued at $1 million or more — with rates running from 0.8% up to 6.5% depending on property type and value tier. Owners have 30 days to challenge or appeal their designation before formal bills follow in November.

The tax fulfills another Mamdani campaign promise to tax the rich, but it may also invite legal action, adding to a landlord lawsuit over a rent freeze filed last Thursday.

Stuart Saft, an attorney with Holland & Knight, told HousingWire TBD he expects lawsuits to emerge over the tax.

“The notices were supposed to be sent out by August 30,” Saft said. “The city is trying to get the notices out while people are away for the summer.”

He said owners won’t have time to react to new values, especially as the city’s already complicated property tax valuation process grows more complex.

Why it’s stirring backlash

The letters have amplified a political controversy that predates the mailing, after Mamdani released a video filmed outside billionaire Ken Griffin’s roughly $240 million Manhattan penthouse to promote the tax. Griffin called the video “creepy and weird” and said it put him in harm’s way. He separately threatened to pull business and jobs from the city.

Brokers say the notices are landing on top of an already jittery luxury market. From July 6 to July 12, only a single Manhattan property priced above $10 million went into contract, according to a report from Olshan Realty Inc. The report noted that this marked the lowest week for “trophy” sales since the last week in December.

Still, the report counted that sale among 29 Manhattan contracts above $4 million that week. The firm’s report for last week shows 18 contracts of $4 million or more matched the 10-year average for the third week of July. Two deals topped $20 million.

Administrative challenges

Real estate industry groups have long argued that New York City’s tax is difficult to administer fairly, warning of confusion over who qualifies.

“There’s a lot of twists and turns to it, and obviously it’s the first year,” Nick Montorio, an attorney with Eisner Advisory, said in an interview with HousingWire TBD. “Anywhere there’s ambiguity, or uncertainty, nobody knows the answer. Maybe the city might not even know the answer to how they’re going to administer it exactly at this point.”

City officials continue to defend the measure to capture roughly $500 million a year from wealthy, largely out-of-city owners who treat New York real estate as a wealth-storage vehicle rather than a home.

Regardless, the tax might spur a population boom – on paper.

Montorio said clients, who haven’t reacted positively to the tax, will balk at whether they should reestablish city residency. It comes down to a math exercise of determining if Florida, Texas, Tennessee or other tax-favorable states still offer a better deal.

“Sometimes it makes more sense to be a New York City resident and domicile in New York City at that property address, and sometimes it doesn’t,” he said.

This post was originally published on here.

A longstanding bein hazemanim tradition in Kiryat Sanz, Netanya, is facing an unprecedented downturn this summer, as widespread financial pressures and government sanctions have dramatically reduced the number of Chareidi families able to rent vacation apartments during the annual break from the yeshivos.

For decades, families living in Kiryat Sanz routinely rented out their apartments during bein hazemanim to visitors from other Chareidi communities. Depending on the size of the apartment and its proximity to the beach, daily rental prices typically ranged between ₪1,000 and ₪3,000, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement for homeowners and vacationing families alike.

This year, however, residents say the market has virtually dried up.

According to a report, telephones that would normally ring constantly with rental inquiries have remained largely silent. Even when prospective renters do call, homeowners quote the same prices they have charged in previous years—only to hear the same painful response.

“We simply have no way to pay those prices. They’ve cut us from every direction, our financial situation is extremely difficult, and we have no money at all.”

Some families attempt to negotiate, offering only ₪300 or ₪350 per day for apartments that ordinarily command several times that amount. Yet even at those sharply reduced prices, many deals never materialize, as the financial impact of sanctions and budget cuts has left many avreichim unable to afford even modest vacations.

As a result, many apartments throughout Kiryat Sanz are remaining vacant this summer, while both homeowners and would-be renters are grappling with an economic reality that has upended the familiar rhythm of bein hazemanim.

One resident of the neighborhood told the publication that the trend has become impossible to ignore.

“I know several families—even in my own building there are two or three families that were accustomed to renting out their apartments for the entire vacation period. Right now they have tenants for only a few days, and even then it’s at much lower prices.”

He added that the situation appears to be worsening with each passing day.

“Every day you see more and more families who simply can’t rent out their apartments.”

According to the resident, the slowdown extends well beyond the summer vacation season.

“Even on Shabbos you can see there aren’t nearly as many guests as there used to be. Many people say it’s become too expensive for them, so they prefer renting apartments a couple of blocks away from Kiryat Sanz rather than paying the much higher prices inside the neighborhood itself.”

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s High Court of Justice issued an interim order Tuesday freezing a recently passed law that would suspend the arrests of yeshiva bochurim who have not reported for military service.

The government chose not to be represented at the hearing. Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs nevertheless submitted a written position arguing that the court should not intervene, saying, “The state needs Chareidi recruits, not Chareidi detainees.”

Attorney Yitzchak Bart, representing the Knesset’s legal adviser, told the court that while his office is ordinarily required to defend the validity of laws passed by the Knesset, this law had been enacted in violation of a Basic Law and the Knesset’s own procedural rules.

“There apparently is no choice but to strike down the law,” Bart said, adding that the Knesset’s legal advisers had raised objections throughout the legislative process.

A representative of the attorney general, attorney Aner Hellman, argued that the law was invalid and discriminatory, saying it failed to meet even one element of the constitutional limitations clause. He said the legal concerns had been clear from the start and that a law creating unequal criminal enforcement could not remain in effect even temporarily.

The Knesset’s legal counsel had already informed the court that serious flaws occurred during the law’s passage and that the legislative process failed to meet the heightened standard required under the circumstances. The attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, also called for the law to be struck down, describing it as defective and harmful.

The measure was approved by the Knesset approximately two weeks ago by a vote of 58–54. It would have suspended arrests of full-time yeshiva students until November 30, after the upcoming Knesset elections.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WEST PALM BEACH (VINnews)- Related Ross is concentrating a pipeline exceeding $10 billion on Palm Beach County, an executive vice president for the real estate firm said, pointing to opportunities in single-family housing, business relocations and downtown development.

Jordan Rathlev made the comments at the “Rock the Market Palm Beach” event hosted by the Miami Realtors and RWorld. He told nearly 1,000 attendees that the company’s “sole effort and focus” remains in the county.

“There is a tremendous amount of opportunity for growth, whether that’s single-family homes, businesses relocating or building out the downtowns,” Rathlev said. “The opportunity is pretty remarkable here.”

Related Ross, founded by Stephen Ross, has deep roots in West Palm Beach dating to 1997. Its local portfolio includes Class A office buildings such as One Flagler, the Laurel luxury residences and the mixed-use CityPlace project in downtown West Palm Beach. The firm also supported efforts to bring Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management to the city, where a $520 million campus is planned.

More recently, Related Ross confirmed plans to acquire the Boca Raton Innovation Campus, a 1.7-million-square-foot office park at 5000 T-Rex Ave. In Wellington, the company announced Village Landing, a 71-acre mixed-use project that would include restaurants, shops, a hotel and a private school.

“As we continue to build out West Palm Beach, we’ve obviously identified markets throughout the county, particularly Wellington and Boca, where we’re expanding now,” Rathlev said.

He described the firm’s approach as generational rather than short-term. “We own these assets forever, so we invest in them on the front end. We manage them, we operate them,” Rathlev said. “If there’s issues on infrastructure or there’s issues with housing affordability, we have to think about this because our product, our projects aren’t successful without thinking about that infrastructure piece.”

Rathlev said the company tailors projects to each market. “Boca is not a high-rise market. Wellington is not a high-rise market,” he said. “We are mindful and cognizant of every market we go to, what’s appropriate and what’s the right scale.”

At CityPlace, construction continues on the 10 CityPlace office building. Plans also include a Curio Hotel by Hilton that could break ground by year’s end, a Restoration Hardware store and the fully approved 515 Fern office building.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — In a sharply critical opinion column published Tuesday, New York Times foreign affairs columnist Thomas L. Friedman—whose commentary on Israel has often drawn criticism from pro-Israel readers—argued that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s calls to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were politically counterproductive and could ultimately strengthen Netanyahu’s standing among Israeli voters.

Friedman wrote that Mamdani’s comments regarding the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Netanyahu handed the Israeli leader a powerful campaign message ahead of Israel’s October election by reinforcing his long-standing claim that Jews are safest in Israel under his leadership.

The columnist criticized both Netanyahu and Mamdani for rejecting a two-state framework, arguing that each advances opposing visions that leave little room for a lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Friedman wrote that Netanyahu’s policies point toward permanent Israeli control over the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, while Mamdani’s opposition to a Jewish state similarly offers no realistic path to peace.

Instead of calling for Netanyahu’s arrest, Friedman urged Mamdani to use his office as mayor of a city with large Jewish and Muslim populations to convene Israeli, Palestinian, Arab, Jewish and American leaders committed to advancing a two-state solution.

He proposed inviting former U.S. presidents, regional representatives, Israeli-Arab coexistence organizations, Palestinian leaders, and Israeli peace advocates to promote dialogue and demonstrate that support for both Israeli and Palestinian self-determination remains possible.

Friedman concluded that Mamdani’s rhetoric risks driving more Israeli voters toward Netanyahu by reinforcing his argument that Israel faces growing international hostility, while missing an opportunity to position New York as a forum for reconciliation and constructive dialogue.

Israeli authorities demolished several large illegal Palestinian structures in northern Samaria on Tuesday as part of a broader enforcement operation launched following recent terrorist attacks.

The operation, carried out by the Civil Administration’s Inspection Unit under the direction of Finance Minister and Minister in the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich, targeted strategic buildings near Route 60 and Junction 9.

Among the structures demolished was a four-story, 800-square-meter building used for both industrial and residential purposes, described by officials as one of the largest and most prominent structures in the area. Authorities also razed a separate 450-square-meter commercial and industrial building, along with additional illegal construction near the newly approved community of Emek Dotan.

Smotrich said the demolitions are part of Israel’s ongoing policy to strengthen Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria while cracking down on illegal Palestinian construction.

“The decision to demolish these strategic structures was deliberate,” Smotrich said. “We are exacting a price on the ground and preventing the establishment of a Palestinian terror state in the heart of our country.”

He thanked Civil Administration personnel, security forces from the Menashe Regional Brigade, and Border Police officers who participated in the operation.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews-Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday described a meeting with U.S. President Trump as “excellent” and one of the strongest conversations he has had with an American president, emphasizing full partnership and mutual support on key security issues.

“I have just finished an excellent meeting with President Trump. When I say excellent, it’s not just lip service,” Netanyahu said. “A conversation with full partnership, with mutual support, with an understanding of the common goal of ensuring that Iran will not have nuclear weapons, as well as other goals.”

He called the discussion “one of the best conversations I’ve ever had with a President of the United States, our friend Donald Trump.”

Netanyahu noted that senior officials from both sides attended, providing an opportunity to exchange ideas and coordinate on matters critical to Israel’s security and future.

The comments came after the leaders and their teams met to discuss shared strategic priorities, with Iran’s nuclear program highlighted as a central focus.

President Donald Trump defended his administration’s tariffs on Tuesday ahead of November’s midterm elections, telling “Fox & Friends” in an interview that they are bringing “a fortune” into the United States. 

Trump made the remark as his administration is set to impose new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners beginning Friday as a temporary global tariff expires. 

“Are you worried that the tariffs that you put forward over the last couple of days will hurt the economy as they adjust in bringing manufacturing home?” the president was asked by host Brian Kilmeade. 

“No, because it’s bringing hundreds of billions of dollars,” Trump responded. “I was at General Motors yesterday. They have the best year. They have the most trucks, the most cars. The tariffs have saved General Motors. What I’ve done to the auto business, what I’ve done to the chip business. We have chip companies now making, building hundreds of billions of dollars worth of chip plants in Arizona.” 

“We are going to end up with 40 to 50% of the chip business from nothing in a year and a half from now,” the president added. 

Trump also said, “It’s a shame that I have to go a harder way for the tariffs because the Supreme Court, in a very close decision, you know, ruled against me.” 

The Supreme Court in February had struck down Trump’s “reciprocal” tariffs of 10% to 50% that were imposed last year. In response, Trump implemented a temporary 10% global tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 that expires at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday. 

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced Thursday that the new tariffs, imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, will take effect immediately after the temporary duties expire. 

Canada, Mexico, India and the United Kingdom are among the trading partners that will face a 10% tariff. Taiwan and the European Union, meanwhile, are slated to face a 12.5% tariff. 

“Now I have other ways of doing the same thing. But it’s a more cumbersome process, you know, the way of doing it. But the tariffs have made this country a fortune,” Trump said. “It made the country rich. And I stopped eight wars, I would say five of them because of tariffs. The threat of tariffs stopped India and Pakistan from going into a nuclear war. The threat of tariffs stopped numerous other countries from going to war. These tariffs — it’s the greatest thing. And only the really smart people or the people that are nonpolitical and that get it, talk about it. The Democrats know how good it’s been.” 

“We have the hottest car business. We’re right now building more car plants than at any time in our history. Toyota just left Mexico. They’re building, they just announced, they’re building a $12 billion worth of plants in the United States,” Trump said. “All because they want to avoid tariffs. They have no tariffs if they build their product here.” 

The Trump administration has decided not to extend the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and will instead pursue independent trade deals with Canada and Mexico. 

When asked Tuesday if he was looking to update the USMCA, Trump said: “I don’t care. I mean I don’t really want to, I’d rather have, I’d rather be independent. Here’s the thing. Mexico and Canada need us. We don’t need them. The deal is important for them. It’s not important for us.” 

FOX Business’ Michael Sinkewicz, Eric Revell, Edward Lawrence and Sophia Compton contributed to this report.

Apple and buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment provider Klarna are joining forces to offer customers the option to lease a new Apple device in the U.S.

The tech giant announced the program, called Apple Upgrade, on Tuesday, and said that customers will be able to lease eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch devices.

Apple Upgrade offers 12- and 24-month leasing options for iPhone and Apple Watch, and 24- and 36-month leasing options for Mac and iPad. Leasing prices start as low as $17.99 per month for iPhone, $11.99 for Apple Watch, $24.99 for Mac, and $11.99 for iPad.

When customers enroll in Apple Upgrade, they can trade in their current device through Apple Trade-In to lower their monthly payments during the leasing term, Apple said. At the end of the leasing term, customers can choose to upgrade to the latest Apple device model, purchase the leased device outright or return it.

Apple announced that it would discontinue its iPhone Upgrade Program and iPhone Payments with the rollout of Apple Upgrade. Both programs allowed qualified customers to purchase an iPhone through a 24-month, interest-free installment loan, while the iPhone Upgrade Program also included AppleCare+ and an option for customers to upgrade their device after 12 payments.

The tech giant’s partnership with Klarna comes as more Americans are choosing BNPL options to finance purchases. About 51% of Americans say they have used installment plans for online purchases, according to a Gallup survey.

While Klarna is best known as a BNPL provider, Apple Upgrade is structured as a lease rather than a traditional BNPL loan.

Apple Upgrade is available through Apple’s website and U.S. Apple Store locations.

Retired Brig. Gen. Erez Winner is warning that Israel faces a growing and potentially catastrophic security threat in Judea and Samaria, arguing that the country’s greatest danger does not come from Iran, Gaza, or Lebanon, but from a dangerous combination of terrorism, weapons smuggling, criminal networks, and the Palestinian Authority. He cautioned that unless Israel changes course, the next October 7-style attack could be even more severe.

As Israeli security forces continue battling an increase in terrorist attacks throughout Judea and Samaria, Winner, who chairs the Israel Defense and Security Forum (HaBitachonistim), said the deteriorating situation reflects a much deeper strategic failure rather than isolated operational shortcomings.

Winner rejected the widespread characterization that Israel is experiencing a “new” wave of terrorism, insisting the violence has been building steadily for many months while authorities failed to confront its root causes.

“Everyone is talking about a new wave of terror,” Winner told Arutz Sheva-Israel National News. “But I believe that this is not a new wave. For many months, there have been attempts to set farms on fire, poison livestock, and attack shepherds. The recent incidents simply received greater public attention, but this reality has existed for a long time.”

According to Winner, the October 7 massacre initially transformed the IDF’s approach in Judea and Samaria. He said the military reacted aggressively, particularly through reserve forces, adopting a policy of responding decisively to every act of violence, no matter how small.

“There was shock, and the IDF responded with force, primarily through reserve forces. We did not ignore any incident – not even a single stone-throwing attack. This determined policy significantly reduced the level of violence and friction.”

But Winner said that once security conditions improved, Israel gradually relaxed that aggressive posture, allowing hostile forces to regain momentum while incitement from the Palestinian Authority continued unabated through schools, the media, and public messaging.

He also argued that intensified debate over expanding Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria has fueled even greater Palestinian incitement. At the same time, he said, international organizations and Israeli advocacy groups have amplified allegations of so-called “settler violence,” creating an atmosphere that encourages additional attacks.

“The stronger the communities became, the more intense the Palestinian incitement against them became as well. At the same time, there is a broad campaign focused on ‘settler violence,’ promoted by Israeli organizations together with international NGOs and various UN bodies. All of these factors create an environment that fuels further violence.”

Winner called on Israel to return to the assertive security doctrine it employed immediately after October 7, combining military operations with civilian initiatives designed to restore deterrence.

“We must restore the firm approach that characterized the period following October 7 – not only through raids and arrests, but also through civilian measures. Ultimately, we are judged by the response we elicit from the other side.”

He maintained that the Palestinian leadership views control of territory as its overriding objective and argued that Israel should no longer continue operating under assumptions rooted in the Oslo Accords.

“If Abu Mazen has already declared that the Oslo Accords are dead, there is no reason that only Israel should continue operating as though those agreements still exist. We must understand that the Palestinian Authority is not a partner, but a hostile actor.”

Winner further accused the Palestinian Authority of actively promoting and financing terrorism while criticizing those who continue advocating for strengthening it or restoring its control over Gaza.

“This is an armed authority that incites terrorism, supports terrorism, and funds terrorism. And yet there are still those who continue to advocate strengthening it – and even returning it to power in Gaza. It is time to call things by their proper name.”

He added that numerous members of the Palestinian Authority’s own security forces have allegedly participated in terrorist activity over the past two years, saying Israel should abandon the notion that the PA serves as a security partner.

Drawing lessons from October 7, Winner warned against dismissing those who sound alarms before disaster strikes.

“Before October 7, there were people who warned about Hamas, but many dismissed them as extremists or alarmists. In hindsight, they were proven right. We must not repeat the same mistake with the Palestinian Authority.”

Addressing arguments that the IDF’s manpower shortages are limiting its ability to respond effectively, Winner said the real problem lies in strategy rather than troop numbers.

“The issue is not the number of forces, but the way they are used. We are spreading too few soldiers across too large an area. When forces operate offensively, with focus and initiative, they can achieve far more even with fewer personnel.”

He proposed concentrating military operations in selected areas, working closely with local Jewish communities, and launching focused campaigns to seize illegal weapons instead of attempting to tackle every challenge simultaneously.

“We do not need to do everything at once. We can begin in one area, or launch an operation to collect illegal weapons in a single city. The important thing is to make a decision and begin acting.”

Winner concluded with a stark warning that Israel must not underestimate the growing dangers developing closer to home.

“The real threat facing the State of Israel is not only Gaza, Lebanon, or Iran. It is also the hundreds of thousands of weapons smuggled into the region, the criminal organizations, and the Palestinian Authority. If we fail to address this in time, October 7 may prove to have been only a preview of what is still to come.”

{Matzav.com}

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for further talks on the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, meeting with mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

The delegation brought revised proposals addressing two major issues: the future of Hamas’s weapons and the status of government employees in Gaza.

Hamas is prepared to accept the inclusion of the term “infrastructure” in discussions over its weapons and is willing to place its arms under the supervision of the mediators, the Board of Peace and Gaza’s future administrative committee.

The group has also decided to remove members of the Qassam Brigades from Gaza government payrolls. Those holding the rank of platoon leader or higher would instead be paid directly by the armed wing.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Anthropic’s head of economics said the U.S. labor market has not yet shown a significant hit from artificial intelligence, challenging warnings of an immediate white-collar jobs collapse. The assessment affects employers, software companies and investors trying to judge whether AI will quickly reduce staffing costs or take longer to reshape office work.

Peter McCrory, Anthropic’s head of economics, wrote that despite widespread concern about AI-driven job losses, “we don’t see significant impact of AI on the U.S. labor market,” according to the RSS report. His comments focus on the gap between rapid adoption of generative AI tools and the slower movement in employment data, especially for professional and administrative roles often viewed as vulnerable to automation.

The finding matters for businesses because many companies are still treating AI as a productivity tool rather than a direct substitute for large numbers of workers. Employers may be using the technology to draft documents, write code, summarize information or support customer service, but that does not automatically translate into immediate layoffs. For investors, the distinction is important: expectations for AI-related earnings gains depend not only on faster software sales, but also on whether customers can convert those tools into measurable cost savings.

McCrory’s view also helps explain why the market reaction to AI has been stronger in technology stocks than in broader labor-sensitive sectors. Cloud providers, chipmakers and enterprise software companies have benefited from heavy AI spending, while office employment has not shown the kind of abrupt downturn implied by some forecasts. If AI raises output per worker without quickly reducing headcount, companies may see margin benefits more gradually than some bullish projections assume.

The comments come as executives across finance, law, consulting, media and software development test AI systems against tasks usually performed by college-educated employees. Many companies still face practical barriers, including compliance requirements, data security concerns, workflow changes and the need for human review. Those limits can slow the conversion of technical capability into job cuts, even where the technology performs well on specific tasks.

The absence of a broad labor-market shock does not mean disruption will not arrive. McCrory’s wording leaves open the possibility that AI’s effects are delayed rather than absent. Companies may first reorganize teams, freeze hiring or reduce use of contractors before making large permanent cuts, meaning the impact could show up unevenly across industries and over several reporting periods.

Investors should watch upcoming corporate earnings calls for more specific evidence on AI-related headcount plans, productivity targets and capital spending. Labor-market reports, job postings and layoff announcements in white-collar sectors will also be key indicators. For now, Anthropic’s economist is signaling that the feared AI employment break has not yet appeared in the aggregate data.

JBizNews Desk | New York

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited

New Jersey election officials have begun removing more than 4,500 voter registrations that state officials say were created because of a software error at the Motor Vehicle Commission, Governor Mikie Sherrill announced Monday, while the remaining cases will undergo further review to avoid improperly removing eligible voters.

The update comes one week after Sherrill disclosed that a software glitch at the MVC had improperly registered approximately 6,600 individuals to vote between June 2023 and June 2024 during the previous administration.

In a statement, Sherrill said the administration has taken several steps over the past week to address the issue, including mailing notification letters to affected individuals and launching a public website with information about the voter registration review process, frequently asked questions, and available support resources.

State officials said the Division of Elections has started removing more than 4,500 registrations that were determined to have resulted exclusively from the software error. The remaining registrations will be reviewed by county election officials because preliminary findings indicate that some of those individuals may, in fact, be U.S. citizens who are legally eligible to vote.

“We are taking this extra step because our initial review indicates that a number of these individuals may be citizens,” Sherrill said. “Just as we have an obligation to remove everyone who is not eligible to vote, we also have a responsibility to protect the voting rights of eligible New Jersey citizens and ensure no one is improperly removed from the rolls.”

The governor said the administration is seeking to balance election integrity with protecting the voting rights of eligible residents.

Sherrill also defended her administration’s handling of the issue, saying officials acted quickly after discovering the error by publicly disclosing it and beginning an investigation.

She criticized former President Donald Trump and “MAGA Republicans,” accusing them of attempting to use the incident to advance voter suppression efforts and unfairly target individuals who were registered through no fault of their own.

“As I said last week, this is what accountable government looks like,” Sherrill said. “We inherited a problem. We didn’t hide it. We didn’t deny it. We’re investigating it. And we’re going to fix it, the right way.”

The administration said it will continue providing public updates as the investigation and voter registration review process moves forward.

The Passaic and Lakewood Torah communities are mourning the petirah of Mrs. Chani Eisgrau a”h, who was niftar after enduring years of profound suffering with extraordinary faith and dignity. She was in her mid-40s.

Mrs. Eisgrau was the wife of Reb Menachem Eisgrau and a daughter of Rav and Mrs. Benzion Kokis, mashgiach ruchani at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood.

For more than 15 years, Mrs. Eisgrau endured severe yissurim, accepting them with remarkable ahavah, unwavering emunah, and strength. Despite her immense physical suffering, those who knew her describe her as a true tzadeikes whose radiant spirit, optimism, and devotion to her family never diminished.

She was an exceptionally dedicated and loving mother who cared for her family with constant joy and selflessness. Even while facing tremendous challenges, she remained a source of warmth, encouragement, and faith, serving as a role model to all who had the privilege of knowing her.

The levayah took place at Yeshiva Gedola of Passaic before continuing to the Lakewood Bais Olam for kevurah.

The family is sitting shivah at 288 Aycrigg Avenue in Passaic.

Yehi zichrah boruch.

{Matzav.com}

ALBUQUERQUE (VINnews) — A former U.S. Navy SEAL was sentenced Monday to 16 months in federal prison after transporting explosives to California with the intent to use them against law enforcement officers during a protest, in a case prosecutors said was driven by extremist and antisemitic beliefs.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico, Gregory Vandenberg, 49, traveled from El Paso, Texas, toward San Diego ahead of the June 14, 2025, “No Kings Day” protests. While stopping at a travel center near Lordsburg, New Mexico, he purchased six large mortar fireworks and 72 M-150 firecrackers.

Authorities said Vandenberg told store employees he planned to throw the explosives at police officers during the protests. He allegedly asked detailed questions about the fireworks’ explosive power, discussed combining them to increase their force, and encouraged the clerk to attend the protest and distribute fireworks to others.

Alarmed by his statements, employees recorded his license plate and contacted law enforcement.

The following morning, FBI agents arrested Vandenberg while he was sleeping in his vehicle at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona.

A search of his vehicle uncovered the fireworks along with clothing displaying antisemitic, anti-Israel, and extremist imagery, including a shirt bearing the Al-Qaeda flag and another calling for the destruction of Judea. Investigators also found that the home screen of his cellphone displayed the Taliban flag. According to prosecutors, Vandenberg wore a custom-made shirt reading “AMALEK,” which he described as meaning “destroyer of Jews.”

A review of his cellphone uncovered antisemitic, anti-Israel, anti-American, and extremist material, including messages expressing hostility toward Jews and Israel. Prosecutors said the evidence showed Vandenberg believed the U.S. government was controlled by Jews and Israel and that those beliefs motivated his plan to target law enforcement officers.

Following a five-day trial, a federal jury convicted Vandenberg in January of transportation of explosives with intent to kill, injure, or intimidate, and attempted transportation of prohibited fireworks into California.

In addition to the 16-month prison sentence, Vandenberg will serve one year of supervised release after completing his prison term. Federal sentences do not include parole.

POSTVILLE, IOWA (VINnews) – A major fire broke out early Tuesday at the Agri Star Meat & Poultry plant, one of the world’s largest kosher meatpacking facilities, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky and prompting a multi-agency response across northeast Iowa.

The blaze was reported shortly after 4 a.m. at the sprawling processing plant on North West Street. Multiple fire departments from the region responded as heavy smoke billowed from the facility, visible for miles and drifting into neighboring Fayette County.

Agri Star confirmed the fire in a Facebook post around 9 a.m., stating that emergency crews had been on scene since early morning and were actively working to contain the flames. “The safety of our team members, emergency responders, and the surrounding community remains our highest priority,” the company said. Officials indicated disruptions to distribution are expected.

No injuries have been reported. The cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage remain under investigation.

The city of Postville urged residents to conserve water to support firefighting efforts. Fayette County Emergency Management issued a smoke advisory, warning of potential air quality and visibility issues, particularly near Clermont. Officials advised vulnerable individuals to limit outdoor activity, keep windows closed if smoke is heavy, and exercise caution while driving.

Agri Star is Allamakee County’s largest employer and a major supplier of kosher beef and poultry. The plant, formerly known as Agriprocessors, was founded by the Rubashkin family and acquired in 2009 by interests associated with Canadian businessman Hershey Friedman. It has faced previous incidents, including a smaller boiler-room fire in May and an explosion in 2021 that injured two workers.

The fire continued to burn for hours Tuesday morning as crews worked to bring it under control. Local news outlets shared viewer photos and video showing flames along the roof and walls and aerial ladder trucks applying water.

This is a developing story.

We regret to inform you of the Petirah of Duvy Melcer Z”L who passed away Monday night while in Florida.

Duvy was the son of Fred and Susan Melcer, and the brother of Rachel Statfeld, Tamar Epstein, Shira Fishman and Ezzy Melcer.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place at 6:30 PM today at the chapel, 613 Ramsey Avenue, Lakewood. Kevurah in Lakewood.

Shiva will be at the Melcer home, 24 Bradshaw Road in Lakewood.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

Gadi Eisenkot’s left-wing Yashar! party faced backlash after placing election campaign billboards across Cyprus, with both Cypriots and Israelis condemning the move.

The billboards were placed in Limassol and on the way to the airport. One billboard near the airport states: “Israelis, enjoy! You deserve it.” Another billboard, seen on the way back to the airport, states: “You landed? Had fun? Now it’s time to come back and win!”

Yisrael Hayom reported that Eisenot intends to install additional billboards in other countries that are popular tourist destinations for Israelis.

Phedias Panayiotou, a Cypriot member of the European Parliament, posted images of the campaign billboards on social media and stated: “This is an Israeli takeover. This photo wasn’t taken in Israel—it was taken in my country, Cyprus.”

“Today it’s political campaign ads, but it’s becoming increasingly common to see billboards across the island advertising real estate in Hebrew. This is simply not right. We must protect Cyprus’ sovereignty.”

An Israeli resident of Cyprus also slammed the move, telling Kan News. “It’s beyond me how anyone in Yashar!’s advertising department thought this was a smart or appropriate thing to do, especially at such a sensitive time for Israel’s international relations and for Israelis living abroad. I see it as rude and completely tone-deaf to how it’s perceived by the local population.”

Another Israeli, Neil Bar, wrote on social media: “If you’re driving these days on the roads around Limassol in Cyprus, you’ll come across this billboard. Aside from the fact that I don’t understand the strategy behind it, I also wonder if anyone on the campaign team even considered the implications of putting up a giant billboard like this in the middle of a major city in a foreign country.”

“The Cypriots already feel that the Israelis are taking over the country with their money. Billboards like these only reinforce the perception that we’ve turned them into our own province. That’s aside from the conspiracy theories already circulating. A Greek-language page with hundreds of thousands of followers has already translated the billboard’s slogan—apparently deliberately—as ‘Israelis, take what belongs to you,’ portraying it as evidence that Israelis view Cyprus as their own territory.”

“It was a very unwise move with little, if any, benefit.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — If you’ve ever tossed out a carton of milk or a container of yogurt solely because the date on the packaging had passed, you’re not alone.

Many people throw away food simply because of the date printed on the label. But often it is still perfectly edible, according to experts.

With no federal regulations requiring standardized labels for dates on food except for baby formula, it’s no surprise that deciphering terms like “Best Before,” “Best By,” “Best If Used By,” “Enjoy By,” and “Sell By” can be mind-boggling.

What most people don’t realize is that those labels are more about how fresh something is — not how safe the food is to eat.

California is trying to bring some clarity with a new law that requires food manufacturers to use just two labels: one for quality and another for safety.

Here are a few tips to help you understand food date labels and keep perfectly good food out of the trash even if you don’t live in California.

More than 50 different date labels are used in the US
In the United States, more than 80% of consumers discard food approaching the package date label at least occasionally, a 2019 study by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found.

“The date labels guarantee quality up until that point,” said Donald Schaffner, a food safety expert at Rutgers University. “They are not about the safety of a product.”

Food date labels vary state by state and are determined by the food manufacturer. Researchers from the University of Maryland found that more than 50 different date labels are used across the United States.

“They’re based on when the manufacturer thinks that product will taste its best, when its quality will be at its peak,” said Rachel Zemser, a San Francisco Bay Area food scientist who helps food companies design, launch and market new food products.

Food packaging helps determine how long food is safe to eat
Unopened canned food like beans, tomatoes, fruit, vegetables, and any shelf-stable food package in liquid, will last for years after the date stamped on its label. The same goes for boxes of soy milk or boxes of almond milk, or any food that’s been heat-treated and sealed to stay safe without refrigeration.

Dry goods, like cookies, crackers and cereal, also have a long shelf life because the low moisture in them doesn’t allow bacteria to grow.

“People can use their best judgment by smelling and tasting the product because dry crackers and cookies, and things of that nature, may be stale but they are not going to make you sick if you eat them,” Zemser said.

But extra precautions should be taken with beef, chicken or fish. They can go bad even if it’s in your refrigerator, but wrapping them tight in plastic and freezing it before the “best by” date on its packaging could help it last longer.

“Most bacteria needs moisture and air to grow and thrive, so very dry products will last, but I wouldn’t risk it with meat,” Zemser said.

The FoodKeeper, a website and free app developed by the Department of Agriculture, Cornell University, and the Food Marketing Institute, provides guidance on how long foods stay fresh and safe to eat.

California is trying to clarify label confusion
California became the first state in the U.S. to standardize food labels by banning “sell by” dates.

The law that went into effect July 1 requires manufacturers selling food in California to use two standardized labels: a “Best If Used By” label for peak quality and a “Use By” label for product safety. “Sell by” dates are used by stores to ensure products are being displayed for a reasonable amount of time before quality declines, said Nate Rose, a spokesperson for the California Grocers Association.

“Think of it like an internal referencing system for store managers and employees,” he said.

New York state lawmakers recently passed a similar measure for labels that is awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature.

Most labels are about food quality, not safety
The only product legally required by the federal government to have an expiration date is infant formula. It should not be consumed past that date because its nutrients decline over time.

“Infant formula is the sole source of nutrition for the infant, and the concern is that the child could have a nutritional deficiency” if given expired formula, Schaffner said.

In general, people should use their own judgment and look for signs like mold, strange odors and unusual colors to decide whether or not to toss out food.

And follow your taste buds.

“Practice your own food stock rotation, buy appropriate amounts of food, don’t buy giant amounts that you won’t be able to eat,” Schaffner said. “Because who wants to eat poor quality food?”

The United Arab Emirates is pursuing a dual-track strategy of restoring diplomatic and economic ties with Iran while simultaneously strengthening its defense and strategic partnerships with the United States and Israel, according to the Financial Times.

The effort is aimed at protecting the UAE’s economy and security after months of regional conflict. Abu Dhabi has resumed limited trade with Iran, restarted Iranian flights and begun allowing thousands of Iranian residents who were stranded abroad to return.

Emirati officials also see potential investment opportunities in Iran if sanctions are eventually lifted.

At the same time, the UAE continues to expand military and strategic cooperation with Washington and Jerusalem, including in air defense, artificial intelligence, technology and defense industries.

The UAE is also investing in more resilient infrastructure and alternative trade routes in an effort to reduce its dependence on the Strait of Hormuz.

A senior UAE official said the détente with Tehran is part of a broader strategy to manage relations with Iran while strengthening deterrence and preparing for the possibility of future conflict.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Manchester Township Police Department has welcomed two new patrol officers, Michael Batullo Jr. and Casey Jacoby, who were sworn into office during the Township Council’s regular meeting Monday night.

Officials said Ptl. Batullo brings nearly eight years of law enforcement experience, having served with the Beachwood Police Department since 2018. During his career, he held specialized assignments including Traffic Safety Officer, Drug Recognition Expert, Field Training Officer, and served with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Accident Support Team and Narcotics Strike Force. He also serves as Captain of the Beachwood First Aid Squad and has received multiple honors, including two Lifesaving Awards and three consecutive Mothers Against Drunk Driving awards.

Ptl. Jacoby began his public safety career as an ocean lifeguard before entering law enforcement as a Class II officer with the Seaside Park Police Department in 2024. He later joined the Old Bridge Township Police Department as a full-time patrol officer and holds certifications in radar, emergency medical response, CPR/AED, advanced first aid, and ocean lifeguarding.

“I’m proud to welcome two accomplished law enforcement professionals to the Manchester Township Police Department, where they can put their knowledge and experience to work for our residents on day one,” Chief Antonio Ellis said. Both officers will now complete the department’s Field Training and Evaluation Program before beginning solo patrol duties.

The United States will begin reopening cattle imports from Mexico next month after more than a year of restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of the New World screwworm, a move that could gradually ease pressure on the U.S. beef supply chain and stabilize costs for meat processors, ranchers, retailers and consumers.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Friday that cattle imports will resume in phases beginning Aug. 24 through the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry. Additional border crossings are expected to reopen in the coming months if Mexico continues meeting strict animal health, surveillance and pest-control requirements. The decision follows months of joint efforts between U.S. and Mexican officials to contain the parasite before allowing livestock trade to resume.

For the beef industry, the announcement marks the first meaningful step toward rebuilding one of North America’s most important livestock trade routes.

Before the restrictions were imposed, Mexico supplied roughly one million feeder cattle to the United States each year. The loss of those animals tightened supplies at a time when the U.S. cattle herd had already fallen to its lowest level in decades because of drought, higher feed costs and years of herd reductions.

That combination pushed beef prices to record levels, increasing costs for supermarkets, restaurants and consumers while creating supply challenges throughout the meat industry.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the phased reopening reflects confidence that enhanced inspections and ongoing monitoring can protect American livestock while restoring critical cross-border commerce. Every shipment entering through reopened ports will undergo inspection, and additional crossings will reopen only if disease-control benchmarks continue to be met.

The reopening is expected to improve supply over time, but it is unlikely to bring immediate relief at the grocery store.

Industry experts note that rebuilding cattle inventories remains a multi-year process, even with imports resuming. Domestic ranchers continue to face limited herd numbers, and beef production is expected to remain relatively tight through much of the coming year.

Some cattle producers have expressed concern that reopening imports before the New World screwworm is fully eradicated could create additional biosecurity risks. Federal officials say continued inspections and coordinated monitoring with Mexican authorities are designed to minimize that risk while allowing trade to resume safely.

For businesses across the food supply chain—from ranchers and processors to wholesalers, restaurants and grocery stores—the decision represents an important step toward improving cattle availability while maintaining safeguards against future outbreaks.

JBizNews Desk | Wall Street

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Israeli authorities have launched an investigation after Channel 12’s headquarters in Tel Aviv was targeted for the second time in less than a month, with vandals leaving behind a chilling letter threatening to continue the attacks and warning that “someone will die.” Police are also investigating a similar act of vandalism at the offices of the Haaretz newspaper to determine whether the two incidents are connected.

Employees arriving at Channel 12’s offices Tuesday morning discovered that the glass entrance door to the building had once again been smashed. Around the same time, officials reported nearly identical damage at the Haaretz headquarters elsewhere in Tel Aviv, prompting investigators to examine whether both attacks were carried out by the same suspect.

After the latest attack, a handwritten letter addressed to Channel 12 journalists was found at the scene containing explicit threats. It stated, “Until you ask for forgiveness for the Sde Teiman case, I won’t stop. Next time, the brick will be aimed at one of your heads.”

The letter escalated its warning with an even more ominous message: “Even an apology without meaning it is fine. Take this letter seriously, it’s too bad, because in the end, someone will die.” It also listed the names of current and former Israeli defense officials, branding them “dangerous traitors,” before ending with the declaration: “G-d’s judgment will be upon all of you.”

In response to the attack and the death threats, President Isaac Herzog spoke directly with Police Commissioner Danny Levi, emphasizing the seriousness of repeated acts of violence against Channel 12 as well as the growing threats directed at journalists and media organizations. Herzog stressed that violence and intimidation cannot be permitted to silence voices in Israel’s public discourse.

Levi assured the president that the police view the matter with the utmost seriousness and said he would convene an urgent meeting to address the escalating situation and determine the next steps in the investigation.

The Israel Police confirmed that detectives have opened a criminal investigation into the vandalism.

“Officers from the South Tel Aviv Police Station have opened an investigation into an incident involving damage to the entrance door of an office building in southern Tel Aviv. A short while ago, during a routine patrol, officers identified damage to the entrance door of a building on Haskalah Street in southern Tel Aviv.”

Police said investigators are already working to identify those responsible for the attack.

“Officers have begun collecting evidence and investigating the incident in an effort to identify those responsible.”

Channel 12 strongly condemned the latest assault, warning that the repeated attacks represent a dangerous escalation against the Israeli press and calling on both the government and law enforcement authorities to act decisively.

“We are waking up to another morning-the second in less than a month, in which dangerous violence has struck and smashed the entrance to our newsroom. This is a real alarm bell. The blood of Channel 12 journalists is not expendable. The Government of Israel and the communications minister must stop their inflammatory and unrestrained attacks on the free press, which also lead to serious acts. The Israel Police must act immediately to prevent this dangerous violence. We will not be deterred by the legislation, the incitement, or the violence.”

Just four days after the deadly terrorist attack near Havat Gilad that claimed the lives of Maj. Yuval Ezra and Master Sgt. (Res.) Binyahu Melet, the Israel Defense Forces announced that Palestinian laborers will once again be permitted to enter Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria beginning Tuesday.

According to the IDF, the decision was made following a new security assessment and will allow Palestinian workers to resume entering communities in the region under existing security procedures governing employment in industrial zones and residential areas.

The announcement marks a sharp reversal from the military’s position just one day earlier, when Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth ordered a halt to the entry of Palestinian workers into Israeli communities throughout Judea and Samaria in the wake of the terrorist attack.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir sharply criticized the decision, warning that it endangers Israeli lives.

“The retreat by the commander of Central Command in allowing the return of ‘Palestinian’ workers to communities in Judea and Samaria is a grave mistake that could cost us precious Jewish blood,” Ben Gvir said.

He called on Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu to intervene immediately and reverse the decision.

“I call on the Prime Minister to instruct the Chief of Staff to immediately cancel Maj. Gen. Bluth’s decision, which sends a message of surrender to terrorism,” Ben Gvir said.

{Matzav.com}

U.S. Central Command announced Tuesday that it has reached an agreement with the United Arab Emirates to establish the first bilateral task force focused on accelerating the development of military artificial intelligence applicatio

The Abu Dhabi-based unit, named Task Force Talon Synapse, is expected to formally launch in the coming weeks and will include approximately 20 American and Emirati personnel with expertise in artificial intelligence, data and cybersecurity.

“This will be a historic milestone as we work with one of our most capable regional partners to rapidly deliver evolving AI advancements to our warfighters,” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said. “Together, we and our Emirati partners share a strong commitment to adopting AI applications that will foster innovation at speed and scale.”

The task force will focus on integrating AI applications for intelligence support, protecting critical infrastructure and monitoring the regional security environment.

The initiative follows discussions last year between Cooper and UAE National Security Advisor Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. CENTCOM also met with AI industry leaders and Emirati defense officials during a visit to the region last month.

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Johnson & Johnson (J&J) on Monday said it reached a settlement that it would pay an estimated $5.5 billion to settle tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging its baby powder and talc products cause ovarian cancer, which could end years of litigation on the subject.

The company said the proposed settlement would cover about 76,000 claims – including those that have been consolidated in federal court in New Jersey and related cases in state court – to cover nearly all the outstanding claims against J&J.

J&J previously settled most of the cases alleging its talc contained asbestos and caused mesothelioma.

The deal was confirmed by plaintiffs’ law firms on Monday, saying it was a good resolution after a decade-long court battle. The deal has to be accepted by 95% of the ovarian cancer claimants in state or federal court before it becomes final.

J&J denied wrongdoing in its announcement of the settlement, saying that the plaintiffs weren’t able to prove their claims that the talc products caused cancer cases and that the settlement is a way of efficiently ending the litigation.

“While we are confident the company would ultimately have prevailed with further litigation, as it has in the vast majority of cases tried to date, this resolution allows the company to put this matter behind it and remain focused on its mission to develop medicines and devices that save lives,” said Erik Haas, worldwide VP of litigation at Johnson & Johnson.

The company expects to pay out $3 billion in 2027 and make further payments in 2028, though the deal could be worth more depending on how many people participate in the settlement.

Chris Seeger, an attorney who represents about 2,500 clients with talc claims and helped negotiate the settlement, said J&J could ultimately pay $7 billion or more as the settlement doesn’t cap the total payout and rather assigns specific values to qualifying ovarian cancer claims.

Seeger told Reuters in an interview that the plaintiffs “got a fair settlement, and our clients are going to be happy with it.”

The settlement comes after J&J secured a series of courtroom victories, including in individual trials, moves to disqualify plaintiffs’ lawyers and rulings against experts used by plaintiffs. The company won a significant court victory last week when a federal judge cast doubt on individual plaintiffs’ ability to prove that talc specifically caused their ovarian cancer.

J&J has long denied that its talc products caused cancer, saying the products were safe and didn’t contain asbestos. It stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the U.S. in 2020 and switched to a cornstarch product.

The company attempted a legal strategy in which shell-company subsidiaries declared bankruptcy in an effort to settle the cases, though that proved unsuccessful.

It had a mixed record when talc cases went to trial, winning some outright and reducing verdicts on appeal, though it was hit with a multibillion-dollar verdict in a case brought by 22 women.

The new settlement only applies to existing claims and doesn’t address future lawsuits. The exclusion of future claims made more money available to current plaintiffs and also accelerated the payments so that all claims will be paid within 18 months instead of being spread out over more than a decade, Seeger said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

A 54-year-old woman from Haifa has been arrested on suspicion of stealing a Holocaust survivor’s credit card and using it to make thousands of shekels in fraudulent purchases, Israeli police said.

The investigation began after the victim, a woman in her 90s, reported that she believed she had been defrauded. Police allege the suspect stole the victim’s credit card during a shared ride before later visiting her home under the pretense of conducting medical checks.

Authorities say the suspect allegedly stole additional property from the residence and then used the credit card to make purchases totaling thousands of shekels.

Police tracked down and arrested the suspect, later discovering she had allegedly violated the terms of her electronic monitoring while committing the offenses.

Investigators are expected to ask the Haifa Magistrate’s Court to extend the suspect’s detention as the investigation continues.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NEW YORK — China warned Monday that it will take “all necessary measures” if the United States imposes sanctions on Chinese artificial intelligence companies over allegations they improperly trained their AI models using American technology, escalating another front in the growing technology rivalry between the world’s two largest economies.

In a statement, China’s Ministry of Commerce accused Washington of pursuing “AI hegemonism,” rejected allegations of intellectual property theft and argued that the U.S. has failed to present evidence supporting its claims. Beijing also maintained that model distillation—a technique used to improve AI systems—is a widely accepted practice employed throughout the global artificial intelligence industry, including by American developers.

The dispute began after senior U.S. officials publicly raised the prospect of new restrictions.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that the administration was closely examining recently released Chinese open-source AI models for evidence of what officials describe as large-scale extraction of capabilities from leading American systems.

Attention has centered on Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3 model, released July 16, which quickly drew attention for strong benchmark performance. U.S. officials are reportedly reviewing whether the model may have been trained using outputs from Anthropic’s Fable 5 or other advanced American AI systems without authorization.

The central disagreement is not whether model distillation exists, but where legitimate engineering ends and intellectual property infringement begins.

Distillation is a common machine-learning technique in which a smaller or newer model learns from the outputs of a larger, more capable system. Researchers and commercial AI developers around the world routinely use variations of the process. U.S. officials argue the concern is not the technique itself but whether it has been employed at a scale or in a manner that improperly reproduces proprietary capabilities.

China disputes that distinction, arguing Washington has not established a clear legal or technical standard separating acceptable development practices from unlawful copying. Beijing also maintains that several Chinese AI models now compete globally based on their own research and engineering advances.

Neither government has publicly released evidence that has been accepted by the other side, leaving the dispute unresolved while political tensions continue to rise.

Any future sanctions would extend well beyond one AI company.

Among the options reportedly under consideration is placing Chinese firms on the U.S. Entity List, a move that could significantly restrict access to American semiconductors, cloud-computing services, software tools and other technologies. Such restrictions would also affect U.S. companies that provide products or services to any newly designated firms.

Monday’s warning also arrived during a difficult trading session for the semiconductor industry. Investors were already reacting to China’s advances in domestic chip manufacturing and memory production, developments that pressured shares of Nvidia, AMD and several major semiconductor equipment companies.

Taken together, the latest events underscore a broader shift. Rather than competing solely through product launches, Washington and Beijing are increasingly using export controls, investment restrictions, sanctions and regulatory actions as strategic tools in the global AI race.

For businesses across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the immediate issue is understanding which AI models are already embedded inside their operations.

Many companies now rely on inexpensive open-weight AI models through third-party software vendors without knowing which underlying systems power their applications. Marketing agencies, logistics companies, financial firms, manufacturers and software developers may be using Chinese-developed models indirectly through cloud platforms or commercial software subscriptions.

That creates a potential compliance issue if future sanctions are imposed. Businesses should confirm which AI models their vendors use, review contracts addressing regulatory changes and identify alternative U.S. or European AI providers that could replace restricted models if necessary. Preparing those contingency plans now is significantly easier than responding after new restrictions take effect.

No sanctions have been announced, and Beijing’s statement responds to actions Washington has not yet taken. Even so, the direction of U.S.-China technology policy has become increasingly restrictive, making supply-chain visibility and AI governance important business priorities for companies adopting artificial intelligence across their operations.

JBizNews Desk | New York

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Tuesday ahead of Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral, with the two leaders discussing ways for Ukraine to produce its own powerful weapons and “other ideas that could help” in its ongoing war against Russia.

A good meeting with President Trump @POTUS at the Oval Office. Thank you for everything we do together to protect the lives of Ukrainians and advance peace. First and foremost, I offered President Trump our condolences on the passing of Lindsey Graham. He was a true friend of… pic.twitter.com/56yoaeqb2B

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 28, 2026

The sit-down in the Oval Office, which was closed to the media, followed a consequential meeting at the NATO summit earlier this month in Ankara, Turkey, where Trump announced that the U.S. will give Ukraine a license to make Patriot defense systems — a long-running request from Kyiv to counter Russian missile attacks.

In a post on social media after the meeting, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the “good meeting” and the Republican administration’s efforts to aid Kyiv in the long-running war, which began more than four years ago when Russia invaded Ukraine.

“The President and I discussed licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help,” said Zelenskyy, who also noted that he offered condolences to Trump for the death of Graham, a close ally. “We also spoke about diplomacy – it’s important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated.”

The White House did not immediately return a request for comment on the meeting.

Trump welcomed Zelenskyy to the White House as the Ukrainian leader traveled to Washington to honor Graham, whose final act as a public official was visiting Kyiv and securing an agreement on a package of sanctions that seek to punish countries that purchase Russian oil, gas and other exports.

In a Fox News Channel interview on Tuesday, Trump recalled Graham’s hawkishness and said the Republican South Carolina senator’s support for Ukraine never wavered. Trump said Graham had suggested it was time to make a deal with Iran but had no similar suggestion for the Russia-Ukraine war.

“Ukraine, he’s very militant about,” Trump said on “Fox & Friends.” “I mean, Lindsey liked war, to be honest with you.”

The Trump administration’s embrace of Zelenskyy comes as a far-right activist with the U.S. president’s ear had a recent, widely publicized change of heart on Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Laura Loomer, known primarily for her incendiary social media posts and her influence with Trump, has been traveling through Ukraine, witnessing Moscow’s barrage firsthand and interviewing Zelenskyy while admitting she was “bamboozled by Russian propaganda.”

Loomer said she spoke to Trump after she met with Zelenskyy in Ukraine last week and she expects to meet with the U.S. president once she returns from her trip.

“It’s looking good for Ukraine, right?” Loomer said during an interview with The Associated Press. “Going into this meeting next week at the Oval Office is looking pretty good.”

Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskyy also warned that Russia has been aiding Iran as the war persists by capturing satellite imagery of U.S. bases in the Gulf region that later appear in Iran. The Ukrainian president also asserted that there was a “clear correlation” between Russia’s images and subsequent Iranian strikes.

“The purpose is clear,” Zelenskyy said earlier this month. “None of us in the world should turn a blind eye to one very simple fact: Evil always seeks ways to make things worse and spread further.”

But on Monday, Trump downplayed any impact of potential Russian assistance for Iran.

“I don’t think they’ve been doing it, certainly not at a high level,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One as he traveled to Michigan. “And if they have, it has been very un-impactful.”

Still, he said he would raise the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelenskyy has a busy itinerary during his latest visit to Washington. Besides his White House meeting, Zelenskyy will head to the Capitol to meet with senators on Tuesday evening after Graham’s funeral at Washington National Cathedral, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting who was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Republican leadership is hoping to advance Graham’s sanctions legislation this week, although the Senate is juggling several other priorities before lawmakers leave Washington for their August recess.

The bill has dozens of backers from both major political parties and is seen as the main policy tribute to Graham, who died unexpectedly this month from a tear in his aorta. It imposes tariffs on goods from the world’s top five purchasers of Russia oil or natural gas, including China and India.

The legislation also includes sanctions against Putin; senior Russian political and military leaders; and Russian financial institutions and energy projects.

“First and foremost, I offered President Trump our condolences on the passing of Lindsey Graham. He was a true friend of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. Graham, the longtime Republican senator from South Carolina and a strong supporter of Ukraine, died earlier this month at age 71 after a brief illness.

Zelenskyy said the leaders discussed “licenses for Patriot interceptor production and several other ideas that could help.” They also addressed diplomacy, with the Ukrainian president stressing that “it’s important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated.”

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) is openly questioning whether he is still welcome in the Democratic Party, expressing growing frustration over what he views as the party’s increasingly anti-Israel direction while Republicans continue encouraging him to switch sides.

In an interview with NBC News, Fetterman suggested that some members of his own party appear eager to push him out because of his outspoken support for Israel and his willingness to break with Democratic leadership on key issues.

“If the Democratic caucus doesn’t want me, they could just let me know,” Fetterman said, adding that he is troubled by “the very anti-Israel party that we’re becoming.”

The Pennsylvania Democrat has become one of the most vocal pro-Israel voices in his party, repeatedly condemning Hamas, defending Israel’s military campaign, and criticizing progressive Democrats who have called for cutting off U.S. military aid to the Jewish state. His positions have increasingly placed him at odds with the party’s activist base.

His latest remarks come as Republican lawmakers continue making public and private appeals for him to leave the Democratic Party. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said Republicans would welcome Fetterman into the GOP, while other Republican senators have likewise praised his willingness to challenge his own party on issues such as Israel, immigration, and energy policy.

Despite the overtures, Fetterman has stopped short of saying he intends to switch parties. Instead, he has made clear that his continued membership in the Democratic Party hinges on one issue above all others: Israel.

Earlier this month, Fetterman warned that he would leave if Democrats formally embraced an anti-Israel platform.

“If our party ever becomes, and just makes it official, the anti-Israel party, that’s when I would leave because that’s been a moral clarity for me,” he said.

Fetterman has pointed to a growing shift within the Democratic Party following votes by more than 100 House Democrats to block billions of dollars in military aid to Israel, saying he believes support for America’s closest Middle East ally should remain a core Democratic principle.

His willingness to challenge progressive orthodoxy has also made him a target on the left. Progressive activists and candidates have sharply criticized his positions on Israel, while some have accused him of abandoning the movement that helped elect him.

For now, however, Fetterman insists he has not made any decision to leave the Democratic Party. Even as Republicans continue to court him, he has maintained that his immediate focus remains representing Pennsylvania, while warning that the party’s trajectory on Israel could ultimately determine whether he stays.

{Matzav.com}

A coalition of prominent Jewish legal organizations is sharply criticizing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after he failed to appoint a single Jewish member to an influential committee that helps recommend judicial nominees, accusing his administration of continuing a pattern that has left many Jewish New Yorkers feeling excluded and ignored.

In a joint letter, the Queens Brandeis Association, the Jewish Lawyers Guild, the Brooklyn Brandeis Society, and the Bronx County Jewish Bar Association expressed outrage over the makeup of the 18-member Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary.

“Your recent announcement of appointees to the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on the Judiciary has left us deeply disappointed,” the organizations wrote.

The groups noted that, despite City Hall’s pledge that the panel would represent the diversity of New York City, none of the appointees were Jewish attorneys, judges, or legal professionals.

“Not a single Jewish attorney, former judge or legal professional was appointed to a committee your administration described as one that would be ‘truly reflective of New York City,’” the letter continued.

According to the organizations, the latest decision is not an isolated incident but part of a broader trend that has increasingly alienated the city’s Jewish community. They pointed to Mamdani’s refusal to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, as well as the omission of Jewish neighborhoods from a city map highlighting immigrant communities, as additional examples of what they view as a troubling pattern.

The organizations also emphasized that the controversy comes at an especially sensitive time, just days after a violent antisemitic attack outside an Upper West Side synagogue heightened concerns about the safety and security of Jewish residents throughout the city.

Calling on the mayor to reverse course, the groups urged him to add qualified Jewish representatives to the committee and reaffirm that the Jewish community deserves equal treatment.

“We urge you to correct this exclusion by appointing qualified Jewish members to the Advisory Committee and to reaffirm that Jewish New Yorkers are entitled to the same representation, respect and protection as every other community.”

The letter was signed by Elizabeth Forspan, Benjamin Kaufman, Jeffrey Miller, and Matthew Kluger, who also voiced particular frustration over the administration’s decision not to appoint retired Appellate Division Justice John Leventhal.

City Hall rejected allegations that religion played any role in Leventhal’s exclusion. Instead, Mamdani’s office said the decision stemmed from Leventhal’s previous legal work involving convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

“To date, Mayor Mamdani has had the privilege of appointing a dozen qualified judges from a range of backgrounds, including Jewish judges,” Mamdani press secretary Joe Calvello told Politico.

“When informed that Mr. Leventhal served on [Ghislaine] Maxwell’s legal team, the Mamdani administration chose not to move forward with his appointment. Any suggestion that the decision around MACJ was motivated by religion is false.”

The advisory committee is led by attorney Ali Najmi, a close confidant of Mamdani who has publicly referred to the mayor as his “brother.” Najmi played a significant role in Mamdani’s rapid rise within New York City’s Democratic socialist movement and now oversees the panel responsible for evaluating judicial candidates before they are nominated by the mayor.

The dispute adds to growing tensions between Mamdani and many leaders in New York’s Jewish community, who have repeatedly accused him of using anti-Israel rhetoric that they believe has contributed to a hostile atmosphere for Jewish residents.

Last week, Mamdani released a video message on social media in which he described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “war criminal” and declared that he is “not welcome” in New York City ahead of Netanyahu’s expected appearance at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

The mayor also acknowledged that New York City has no legal authority to arrest Netanyahu based on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, since the United States is not a member of the court.

Just two days after those remarks, Raul Morales allegedly carried out a stabbing attack on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, injuring an Asian man and a Jewish man wearing a yarmulke while reportedly shouting “Allahu Akbar.”

Morales has been charged with attempted murder and hate crimes and could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

The day after the attack, Jewish leaders gathered outside the synagogue where the assault occurred and blamed the mayor’s rhetoric for helping create an increasingly dangerous environment.

“Mayor Mamdani, stop fanning the flames of hatred and division. The consequences are not abstract, they are playing out on our streets,” said UJA-Federation of New York CEO Eric Goldstein.

The following is an ‘Ask The Mayor’ question submitted to TLS, and the Mayor’s response. Email your questions for the Mayor to [email protected].

Question:  Thank you for everything you do for our town. I am writing about the extremely high electric bill I got this month from JCP and L. It was almost double last month and we had many outages too! I checked with other neighbors and they told me the same thing happened to them. One even said hers was 4x the regular amount. Can you reach out to them and explain this to our town? Thanks!

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good afternoon,

We all have been feeling the pinch of higher electricity bills. The governor recently signed several bills into law to address the high-energy costs in the entire state.

I think the recent raise in our monthly bills has more to do with the recent heat waves we have had than any change in JCP&L billing.

I know my bill is through the roof. 100 degree plus temperatures make all our appliances, especially air conditioners, run for longer periods of time and under greater stress

I always see a swing in my utility bills. Because I have gas heat, my summer gas bill is extremely low but gets many times higher in the winter.

Conversely, my winter electric bill is low but shoots through the roof when the AC kicks in

It is possible to work with the utility and get an estimated bill, which will help lower the high-cost months by spreading them out over the year. We have done this for several years, & it makes bill paying and budgeting a bit easier to manage.

Ray

—————–

Have a question for the Mayor? Send it to [email protected]

Have a question for the Chief? Send it to [email protected]

Apple briefly crossed the historic $5 trillion market valuation threshold Tuesday, becoming only the second company ever to reach the milestone and reclaiming its position as the world’s most valuable publicly traded company after a sharp rally in its stock price.

The iPhone maker’s shares climbed as much as 1.8% during early trading, reaching $342.89 per share and pushing the company’s market capitalization above the $5 trillion mark for the first time. Although the stock later surrendered much of those gains, the milestone underscored Apple’s remarkable resurgence in recent weeks.

With its latest surge, Apple overtook Nvidia to become the world’s most valuable company. Apple now holds an estimated market value of roughly $5 trillion, compared with Nvidia’s approximately $4.7 trillion. Alphabet follows with a valuation near $3.9 trillion, while Microsoft stands at about $2.9 trillion.

Apple’s stock has significantly outperformed Nvidia this year despite the latter’s dominance in artificial intelligence. Shares of Apple have climbed nearly 25% since the start of the year, while Nvidia’s stock has gained just 2.6% over the same period. Nvidia shares slipped about 1.4% in Tuesday trading.

The achievement highlights how rapidly the largest technology companies have expanded over the past several years. Apple became the first publicly traded company to reach a $1 trillion valuation in 2018, doubled that figure to $2 trillion in 2020, and crossed the $3 trillion mark in 2022. Nvidia later became the first company to surpass both $4 trillion and $5 trillion as investor enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence sent its valuation soaring.

The milestone came on the same day Apple unveiled a new financing program designed to make iPhones more affordable for consumers. Beginning soon, U.S. customers will be able to lease an iPhone for up to two years through a new program called Upgrade, with monthly payments starting at $17.99. The initiative is being launched in partnership with buy-now, pay-later provider Klarna and will be available through both Apple’s retail stores and online platform.

The announcement follows recent price increases across several Apple product lines. The company recently raised the starting prices of iPads and Mac computers by at least $100, with some premium models increasing by more than $1,000, citing a worldwide shortage of memory components.

For much of the past decade, Apple held the title of the world’s most valuable company after surpassing Exxon in market capitalization in 2011. The company later alternated with Microsoft for the top position before Nvidia overtook both amid the explosive growth of AI-related investments.

Like its largest competitors, Apple has been increasing investments in artificial intelligence, though at a far more measured pace. The company spent approximately $12.7 billion on capital expenditures during fiscal 2025, well below the massive spending plans announced by its rivals. Alphabet has projected about $205 billion in AI-related investments this year, while Microsoft and Amazon have each outlined plans to spend up to roughly $190 billion and $145 billion, respectively, as the race to dominate artificial intelligence intensifies.

A new round of U.S.-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon is set to take place in Rome from August 4-6 as both sides seek to build on recent security understandings along the northern border.

According to a U.S. State Department official, technical teams will focus on expanding the pilot security zones in southern Lebanon, addressing unresolved land border disputes, and advancing implementation of the U.S.-brokered framework agreement.

The official said momentum has grown following the launch of the first pilot zone in southern Lebanon and last week’s meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and President Donald Trump.

The pilot zone is intended to strengthen the authority of the Lebanese government by disarming armed groups, including Hezbollah, while building confidence for broader security arrangements. Officials hope the mechanisms developed during the initial phase can eventually be expanded to other areas of southern Lebanon.

The U.S. official said the broader objective is to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive peace and security agreement between Israel and Lebanon, though it remains unclear whether the upcoming talks will produce any final understandings.

Neither the Israeli nor Lebanese governments have officially commented on the details of the upcoming negotiations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Nearly 70 hours of audio recordings featuring former President Joe Biden discussing classified materials with his ghostwriter have been released following a two-year legal battle, renewing scrutiny over his handling of sensitive government documents.

The recordings, originally made during interviews for Biden’s 2017 memoir with ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer, reportedly include Biden acknowledging that some of the material may have been classified. At one point, he is heard saying, “I found all the classified stuff downstairs.”

The recordings were made public after the Oversight Project won a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. Biden’s legal team had sought to keep the recordings sealed, but a federal court ordered their release.

The audio formed part of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s 2024 investigation into Biden’s retention of classified documents. Hur concluded that while Biden improperly retained classified materials from his time as vice president, criminal charges were not warranted, writing that a jury would likely view him as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”

A spokesman for Biden criticized the release, calling it a political misuse of the Justice Department and arguing that the private conversations, recorded for a memoir about Biden’s late son Beau, should have remained confidential.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

PARIS (VINnews) — More than a dozen Torah scrolls were stolen from a synagogue in a Paris suburb in what local Jewish leaders and officials described as an antisemitic attack targeting one of Judaism’s holiest religious objects.

The burglary occurred between Sunday night and Monday morning at the Grand Synagogue of Levallois-Perret, an affluent suburb northwest of Paris. Authorities are investigating.

According to local officials, two suspects entered the synagogue through a window using a rope before stealing between 13 and 15 Torah scrolls. No other property was damaged or taken. Surveillance cameras captured images of the suspects, Mayor Agnès Pottier-Dumas said.

Rabbi Chalom Lellouche said the theft deeply affected the local Jewish community.

“It is, of course, a criminal act, but it is also an antisemitic act that specifically targeted the Torah,” Lellouche said in a video statement alongside Philippe Cohen, president of the local Jewish community association.

Cohen said those responsible appeared to be professionals who bypassed the synagogue’s security systems.

“It was the Torah — and only the Torah — that was targeted,” Cohen said, describing the burglary as “a profound spiritual trauma for the entire Jewish community in France and around the world.”

En dérobant des rouleaux de la Torah de la grande synagogue de Levallois, ce n’est pas un simple vol qui a été commis, c’est toute une communauté de croyants qui a été blessée au plus profond de son âme.

Ce soir, Alexandre Brugère, préfet des Hauts-de-Seine, et les élus de la… pic.twitter.com/CUr0JsKz8V

— Préfet des Hauts-de-Seine 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@Prefet92) July 27, 2026

Levallois-Perret Mayor Agnès Pottier-Dumas condemned the burglary, saying she learned of the incident with “shock and anger” and that “the antisemitic nature of this vile act must be condemned.” She said municipal and national police were investigating.

Alexandre Brugère, prefect of the Hauts-de-Seine region, met Tuesday with local elected officials and Jewish community leaders, pledging that authorities would identify those responsible and work to recover the stolen scrolls.

“The theft of Torah scrolls from the Grand Synagogue of Levallois wasn’t just a simple crime; it wounded an entire community of believers to the depths of its soul,” the prefecture said in a statement.

🔴 Réaction de Philippe Cohen, Président de l’ACCIL après le vol de “13 à 15 Sifrei Torah” dans la nuit
– La police a sécurisé la synagogue
– “Les systèmes de sécurité ont été déjoués, des personnes sont entrées avec un pied de biche et ont escaladé des murs”
– “Nous avons lancé… pic.twitter.com/C8GzEGGhcu

— Radio RCJ (@RCJRADIO) July 27, 2026

The synagogue’s security measures are being reassessed following the burglary, Cohen said.

The theft comes amid heightened concern over antisemitism in France, home to Europe’s largest Jewish community. France recorded 1,320 antisemitic incidents in 2025, accounting for 53% of all reported anti-religious acts, according to the Interior Ministry. Jews make up less than 1% of France’s population.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday that a strike in the southern Gaza Strip killed a Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander who led a cell that abducted Israeli civilians during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.

The IDF identified the man as Muhammad Khalil Muhammad Aslam, a platoon commander in Islamic Jihad’s elite forces. The strike took place Monday in Khan Younis.

“During the October 7 massacre, Aslam commanded a terrorist cell that participated in the abduction of Israeli civilians,” the military said in a statement.

The IDF said it carried out the strike despite the ongoing ceasefire because Aslam had recently been advancing attacks against Israeli troops and civilians.

“The terrorist posed an immediate threat and was eliminated in a precise aerial strike,” the army said.

The Shwekey family has a new voice. Radio host Menachem Toker revealed this week that the mystery singer who recently released a debut song under a veil of secrecy is none other than Rabbi Moshe Dovid Shwekey, the eldest brother of renowned Jewish music stars Yaakov Shwekey and Yosef Chaim Shwekey.

Toker made the announcement during his Bein Hazmanim program on Kol Chai, ending days of speculation over the identity of the previously unknown performer. The revelation came after Toker challenged listeners during his previous broadcast to identify which famous singer’s brother was behind the anonymously released track.

One listener, Chaggai from Netanya, correctly guessed that the singer was a member of the Shwekey family and won a dinner for two at a Yerushalayim restaurant.

A noted talmid chochom and marbitz Torah, Reb Moshe Dovid has long been active behind the scenes in Jewish music, earning recognition as a composer rather than a performer. Among the songs he has written are “Lech Ami” and “Tefillas HaShelah,” along with other well-known compositions. Despite his years of musical involvement, he had never pursued a public singing career, leaving the spotlight to his younger brothers.

“The oldest brother in the Shwekey family never sang publicly and never stepped into the limelight,” Toker said. “He left the stage to his younger brother Yaakov and his even younger brother Yosef Chaim—and now, perhaps, he’s beginning a career.”

Toker explained that the debut song was initially released without identifying the performer by name, but the singer’s identity was disclosed during the radio program. The audience was then treated to the new recording.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Defense Minister ישראל כ”ץ said Tuesday that Israel is prepared to launch additional strikes against Iran but is currently being restrained by the United States, citing broader American strategic interests in the region.

Speaking at Israel’s Channel 14 Security Conference, Katz said Israel would like to target Iran’s energy infrastructure, but Washington has withheld approval over concerns that such attacks could trigger a global oil crisis and provoke retaliation against neighboring countries.

“The United States has interests in Iran that go beyond Israel’s specific concerns, including the Strait of Hormuz and global energy markets,” Katz said. He added that Israel, for its part, is prepared to inflict severe damage on Iran’s capabilities if necessary.

Katz also revealed that U.S. fighter jets and aerial refueling aircraft have been operating from Israel in support of strikes on Iran. He further claimed that Iran is actively seeking to assassinate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Shin Bet is taking extensive measures to protect Israel’s leadership.

Warning Tehran against any future attacks, Katz said Israel has instructed the IDF to be prepared to act independently if needed.

“If Iran fires at Israel, we will strike with full force,” he said. “We are ready to hit Iran again and will not allow it to rebuild its nuclear program or restore capabilities that threaten Israel.”

Turning to Gaza, Katz said Israel now controls more than 60% of the Strip and expects that figure to rise to 70% as military operations continue. He also reiterated support for establishing new Nahal settlements in Gaza if Hamas fails to fulfill commitments to disarm.

Addressing the broader region, Katz said Israel intends to maintain its security positions in Gaza, Syria, and southern Lebanon, arguing that recent military gains must not be reversed.

He also issued a sharp warning to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, saying that while Iran’s regional influence has been weakened, the Muslim Brotherhood axis led by Turkey and Qatar could pose an equally serious threat.

“Jerusalem is not Constantinople,” Katz said. “We are here forever. I suggest Erdoğan not test us or put himself in the position Iran did.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A federal judge has granted Fannie Mae’s motion to compel arbitration and dismiss a lawsuit brought by 44 former employees who allege they were fired in a discriminatory manner tied to the company’s charitable giving program.

In a memorandum opinion issued Friday, Judge Randolph D. Moss of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia held that the plaintiffs did not present evidence to create a factual dispute over whether they agreed to arbitrate “any employment-related disputes.”

The case stems from a virtual meeting on April 3, 2025, where more than 80 Fannie Mae workers were told they were being terminated for cause, the plaintiffs claim. The alleged reason was fraud related to Fannie Mae’s Charitable Giving program. But the plaintiffs — all of Indian national origin and mostly Telugu speakers, and most over the age of 50 — argue the mass termination was discriminatory.

The plaintiffs sued in August 2025 under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and also asserted breach-of-contract claims.

The complaint was originally filed on behalf of 66 plaintiffs, but 22 voluntarily dismissed their claims after the initial filing. Related cases against Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), and former Fannie Mae CEO Priscilla Almodovar were closed, per court filings.

Fannie Mae moved to dismiss the complaint and compel arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act, arguing that each plaintiff was bound by a 2015 update to the company’s arbitration agreement.

The government-sponsored enterprise relied on sworn declarations and electronic records to show that on Jan. 21, 2015, it emailed all employees about the updated agreement, which took effect in April of that year. Employees were directed to an internal portal to confirm they had received the agreement and understood that it governed their continued employment.

Fannie Mae also produced records indicating that eight plaintiffs later signed internal transfer offer letters, which expressly reaffirmed they were subject to the arbitration agreement.

The plaintiffs opposed the motion, contending there was no enforceable contract because there had been a “lack of a meeting of the minds” on arbitration. They sought an evidentiary hearing to present live witness testimony on whether they agreed to arbitrate.

Moss rejected that request and sided with Fannie Mae, emphasizing that the plaintiffs did not back up their arguments with evidence.

“Because Plaintiffs have failed to proffer any evidence or to identify any dispute of material fact regarding arbitrability, the Court will grant Defendant’s motion to compel arbitration and to dismiss this action and will deny Plaintiffs’ motion for a hearing,” Moss wrote.

The ruling means the former employees will have to pursue any claims through arbitration proceedings rather than in federal court.

Fannie Mae and an attorney for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to HousingWire’s requests for comment.

This article was written by Flávia Furlan Nunes and generated with the assistance of HousingWire Automation, then reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication.

This post was originally published on here.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday reiterated his threats to target Pickaxe Mountain as well as bridges and other civilian targets if a deal is not made with Iran, adding in a Fox News interview that there have been good talks.

Trump also dismissed reports of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offering to share intelligence on Iran’s reconstruction of its nuclear program. 

“I don’t need Bibi to tell me that. Bibi is telling me that because he wants me to stay involved,” Trump said.

“Why don’t you just tell it to me? Why do you have to announce it to the world?” Trump said. 

Trump threatens more strikes if no Iran deal reached

Trump also emphasized that the US has been surveilling Pickaxe Mountain with “the greatest cameras in the world” and that “it was not a big problem.”

“We took out their nuclear sites, and we’ll have to take out Pickaxe if we don’t make a deal. If we don’t make a deal, we’ll take it out very easily,” Trump said. 

This comes hours before Trump and Netanyahu are scheduled to meet at 6:00 p.m. Israeli time. 

This post was originally published on here.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is expected to keep its key interest rate unchanged when it meets Tuesday and Wednesday, but chair Kevin Warsh is under increasing pressure to hike rates soon, a move that could provoke ire from President Donald Trump, who appointed him.

The Iran war has reignited, pushing oil and gas prices higher — a trend that will worsen inflation in the coming months. Soaring investment in the artificial intelligence buildout is raising the cost of laptops, smart phones and electricity. And price hikes from tariffs could be in the pipeline after Trump imposed new duties on dozens of U.S. trading partners.

All those trends might lead to only temporary price increases, rather than a sustained burst of inflation similar to the spike in 2021-2022. Yet inflation, according to the Fed’s preferred measure, has topped its 2% target for more than five years, making it harder for the Fed to ignore price spikes, no matter how brief. Core inflation, which excludes the volatile energy and food categories, has risen since last December and has been stuck at around 3% or higher since 2023. Without noticeable progress soon, some Fed officials have said rate hikes will be needed.

“Unfortunately, inflation does not appear to be headed sustainably back all the way to 2%,” Lorie Logan, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said recently. “Modestly higher interest rates would better balance the outlook.” Logan is a voting member of the Fed’s rate-setting committee.

Warsh’s tough talk
Warsh, since taking over as chair in May, has emphasized that the Fed will get inflation back to 2% without specifying how. In his first news conference as chair last month, he made clear he wouldn’t provide the kind of signals about the Fed’s next steps that his predecessors, particularly Jerome Powell, did.

But in congressional testimony earlier this month Warsh said the Fed has “no tolerance” for higher inflation. And in the first statement on rates issued under his watch, the central bank pledged that it “will deliver price stability.”

Such comments, along with the resumption of the Iran war and the renewed climb of oil and gas prices, have already lifted borrowing costs. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note — which strongly influences mortgage rates — briefly topped 4.7% last Thursday, the highest in about 18 months.

But Warsh’s tough talk raises expectations that he will follow through with action, current and former Fed officials say.

James Bullard, a former president of the St. Louis Fed, said Warsh’s rhetoric “has been very effective” in establishing Fed credibility, “but markets are going to ask, ‘Well, what have you done for me lately?’ And they’re going to demand action.”

At the same time, more Fed officials appear to be growing impatient with inflation’s stubbornness.

“Sternly staring at inflation until it melts before our withering gaze is not an option,” Christopher Waller, an influential member of the Fed’s governing board, said in a July 13 speech. If core inflation keeps climbing, the Fed’s rate-setting committee “will need to consider” hiking rates “in the near term,” he said.

Beth Hammack, president of the Cleveland Fed, said in a post on LinkedIn earlier this month that for the first time she is hearing business leaders call for higher rates, which is unusual since they typically support cheaper borrowing. She is also hearing from consumers “who can’t make ends meet about a growing sense of despair,” Hammack wrote.

Signs of inflation potentially improving
There is still tremendous uncertainty about what the Fed should do in the coming months, economists said. The most recent inflation report showed that core inflation cooled noticeably in June, and headline inflation fell sharply as gas prices declined almost 10%, a sign of what could happen if the Iran conflict is permanently resolved.

The cost of apartment rents, which spiked in the pandemic, is growing much more slowly than a few years ago.

John Williams, president of the New York Fed and vice chair of the Fed’s rate-setting committee, said this month that “there are encouraging reasons to expect that inflation has peaked and should edge down in the coming quarters.” He cited the decline in gas prices, before the Iran war restarted, and argued that the impact of tariffs on inflation has largely run its course. Even with new tariffs in place, they are likely to have the same limited effect of the ones they replaced.

Yet the resumption of fighting in the Middle East has pushed gas prices back above a nationwide average of $4 a gallon, from just below $3.80 around the July 4 holiday. The increase will likely push headline inflation higher, just before the Fed meets again in September. And adding to the Fed’s challenge, higher interest rates can slow demand and bring down inflation, but they can’t do much to restore oil and gas supplies disrupted by war.

“The Fed is looking at inflation well above goal, but mostly for reasons that it doesn’t have any influence on,” Vincent Reinhart, chief economist at Dreyfus-Mellon and a former top Fed economist, said.

Warsh says Fed to keep inflation from ‘broadening’
In congressional testimony this month, Warsh suggested the Fed’s job is to prevent specific price increases for things like gas or computer gear from “broadening out” to other parts of the economy.

Traditionally, the Fed would do that by hiking rates if there were signs higher prices were spreading. But Warsh may hope that his tough talk, which has pushed up some borrowing costs, will suffice in the end.

“They are hoping and intending to talk the talk without having to walk the walk,” said Stephen Douglass, chief economist at NISA Investment Advisors and former analyst at the New York Fed. He doesn’t expect the Fed will raise rates this year.

Other economists say inflation won’t be defeated without action by the Fed.

“There has never been a time when inflation gradually moderated without impetus from the Fed,” Joseph Lavorgna, a former top economist at the Treasury Department and chief economist at SMBC Americas, said. “In other words, core inflation is not going to magically slow.”

Dear Matzav Inbox, 

As a mother whose child is currently enrolled in day camp, I was deeply disappointed to hear from my son about his day-to-day experience and to observe firsthand how a counselor failed to uphold the expected standards and conduct of a ben Torah, including the use of inappropriate language directly in front of the campers. Equally troubling is how common it has become to see multiple counselors absorbed in their smartphones instead of engaging with the children, often standing around scrolling while the kids are left unsupervised or ignored. After speaking with several other mothers whose children also attend the camp, I found that they share the very same concerns and sense of disappointment—to the point that one parent has already chosen to pull her child out of the camp entirely because of these issues.

It leaves many of us wondering: Why are parents who cannot afford sleepaway camp forced to expose their children to this kind of environment? Day camp is the reality of summer for so many families in our community, and those children deserve the same protected, refined atmosphere that is expected throughout the rest of the year.

While discussing this troubling situation with fellow parents, one important systemic point was raised. Because many fine bnei Torah are immersed in their yeshivos or away in camps during July, the pool of local candidates for day camp counselors can sometimes be critically shallow. However, local Roshei Yeshivah could play a transformative role by encouraging bochurim who remain in the city to step up for the sake of the community, rotating to take responsibility for a bunk or supervise activities a few times each week.

Additionally, many bungalow colony day camps successfully utilize a model in which rebbeim rotate supervising afternoon activities or serve directly alongside the staff. While we certainly respect that rebbeim deserve time with their own families during the summer, we must ask: If it were their own children sitting in these bunks, exposed to inappropriate language and constant smartphone distraction, wouldn’t they step in and make personal sacrifices to protect them? Adopting these community-based approaches—bringing in committed bochurim and having experienced leadership rotate through these roles rather than relying solely on younger, distracted staff—would provide a consistent presence of positive mentorship, proper standards, and meaningful supervision.

Camp is not merely a place for recreation; it is an extension of our children’s chinuch and character development during the summer months. Counselors serve as frontline role models, and our community relies on them to model integrity, patience, and middos tovos. When those entrusted with our children’s care fall short of these foundational values—whether through unbecoming speech or constant distraction by their phones—it sends a discouraging message to the young minds who look up to them.

I hope this serves as a wake-up call to camp administrations about the profound responsibility they bear in shaping our youth and the need to strengthen both their hiring standards and their staffing model before more families feel compelled to walk away.

Sincerely,

A Frustrated Mother

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NEW YORK — Taco Bell is facing mounting reputational pressure after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded its investigation into a multistate cyclospora outbreak to nine states, even as federal health officials continue working to identify the outbreak’s definitive source.

The CDC confirmed July 24 that Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania have been added to the investigation, joining Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Federal officials have identified approximately 1,644 confirmed exposure events linked to the outbreak, with illnesses beginning between May 13 and July 13. At least 94 people have been hospitalized, although no deaths have been reported.

Beyond the restaurant investigation, the broader public health picture is considerably larger. Since May 1, the CDC has recorded more than 11,500 confirmed and probable cases of cyclosporiasis nationwide, while Michigan alone has reported more than 7,000 probable and suspected infections.

The investigation has become more complicated as evidence continues to evolve.

On July 17, Taylor Farms de Mexico recalled iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. The recall extended beyond restaurants to Marketside-brand lettuce products sold through Walmart and other retail and foodservice distribution channels. Taco Bell responded by removing the affected lettuce identified during the FDA’s traceback investigation from restaurants nationwide.

Days later, however, investigators encountered an unexpected turn. The FDA announced that an earlier laboratory finding initially believed to detect Cyclospora in a sample of Taylor Farms de Mexico lettuce could not be confirmed. As a result, federal investigators have not yet identified a definitive source of the outbreak.

Taco Bell has maintained throughout the investigation that it voluntarily removed certain ingredients as a precaution while emphasizing that regulators had not confirmed a direct link to any single supplier, restaurant or retail location. Although the CDC has associated illnesses with shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell locations, laboratory confirmation connecting the outbreak to a specific product remains unresolved.

Adding to the uncertainty, the FDA announced a separate cyclospora outbreak involving dozens of illnesses with no confirmed food source identified, underscoring the challenges investigators continue to face.

Cyclospora presents unique challenges that make outbreaks especially difficult to solve.

Unlike many foodborne bacteria, the microscopic parasite cannot be routinely grown in laboratory cultures, making product confirmation significantly more difficult. Standard food-safety testing often does not detect the organism, symptoms may not appear for up to two weeks after exposure, and epidemiologists can spend several additional weeks determining whether patients belong to the same outbreak. Fresh produce also offers no reliable “kill step,” as ordinary washing and food preparation practices do not consistently eliminate the parasite.

Those characteristics help explain why confirmed case counts can continue climbing long after contaminated products have disappeared from store shelves.

For Taco Bell, the business challenge extends beyond food safety.

Consumers typically associate illnesses with the restaurant where they purchased their meal rather than the agricultural supplier or produce processor behind the supply chain. As a result, restaurant brands often absorb the greatest reputational damage even when investigators have not identified a definitive source.

Taylor Farms has previously been connected to other high-profile produce investigations, including the 2013 cyclospora outbreak involving packaged salad products and the 2024 E. coli investigation involving slivered onions supplied to McDonald’s Quarter Pounders. In each instance, consumer-facing restaurant brands became the focus of public attention while suppliers remained far less visible.

For restaurants, caterers, grocery chains and institutional food buyers across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, this investigation carries practical lessons.

First, verify produce sourcing directly with distributors and maintain written documentation identifying where fresh lettuce originates. Second, review supplier contracts to understand recall responsibilities, notification requirements and financial liability before another recall occurs. Finally, examine insurance coverage carefully, as many general liability policies provide only limited protection for product recalls or brand rehabilitation following food-safety incidents.

Pennsylvania’s addition to the investigation also places the outbreak squarely within the broader tri-state produce distribution network, making supplier verification especially important for regional operators.

Federal investigators continue working to determine the outbreak’s confirmed source. Until that process is complete, businesses handling fresh produce should assume the investigation remains active and continue documenting supplier verification, recall procedures and insurance protections. For many operators, the greatest risk is no longer the lettuce itself—it’s being unprepared when the next food-safety alert arrives.

JBizNews Desk | New York

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

Hezbollah has reportedly backed away from plans to open a new branch of its Al-Qard Al-Hassan financial network in southern Lebanon after fierce opposition from local residents who feared the site would become a target for future Israeli airstrikes.

According to Lebanon’s An-Nahar newspaper, residents in the Tyre area objected to the new branch, arguing that Hezbollah’s presence would put their community at greater risk. The terrorist group ultimately shelved the plan to avoid fueling public resentment.

Al-Qard Al-Hassan, often described as Hezbollah’s financial arm, has repeatedly been targeted by the IDF during the conflict. The institution has also come under increasing scrutiny from Lebanese authorities and the international community over allegations of money laundering and its role in financing Hezbollah’s operations.

The report reflects growing frustration among some members of Lebanon’s Shiite community. Lebanese political activist Harry Mourad said Hezbollah’s recent decisions have brought devastation to the community, arguing that any institution established by the terrorist group has become “a ticking time bomb” for nearby residents.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah-affiliated media continue to defend Al-Qard Al-Hassan as a vital social and financial institution. Earlier this year, Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem warned that supporters would take to the streets if the organization were shut down.

The dispute comes as Lebanon’s government continues efforts to curb Hezbollah’s influence and limit Iran’s foothold in the country. Despite growing domestic pressure, Hezbollah has continued to reject calls to disarm, insisting the issue can only be addressed through internal Lebanese dialogue.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A young boy miraculously escaped without injury after being struck and run over by a moving vehicle in Bnei Brak in what witnesses described as an extraordinary act of Divine protection.

The frightening incident occurred at the intersection of Kahaneman Street and Kibbutz Galuyot Street as the child was crossing the road alongside his older sister, who was pushing a baby stroller.

tHE boy’s yarmulke suddenly fell off his head while the siblings were in the middle of the crosswalk. Without warning, the child turned back toward the center of the roadway to retrieve it.

At that very moment, a vehicle entered the intersection and struck the child before continuing forward, passing directly over him.

Bystanders rushed to the scene, fearing the worst after seeing the car drive over the young boy.

To the amazement of everyone present, the child got up on his own moments later and appeared to be completely unharmed. Witnesses described the incident as nothing short of miraculous.

Emergency responders were called to the scene to examine the child, who, according to sources, did not suffer any apparent injuries despite the terrifying ordeal.

WATCH:

https://matzav.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/VIDEO-2026-07-27-23-23-26.mp4

{Matzav.com}

Wall Street opened sharply divided Tuesday as strong corporate earnings and another decline in oil lifted blue-chip and consumer shares, while a global selloff in semiconductor stocks dragged the technology-heavy Nasdaq lower.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened 282.80 points higher, or 0.54%, at 52,492.88. The S&P 500 fell 17.60 points, or 0.24%, to 7,395.55, while the Nasdaq Composite dropped 107 points, or 0.43%, to 24,825.07. By 9:35 a.m., the Dow’s advance had widened to roughly 385 points, the S&P 500 was nearly unchanged and the Nasdaq was down about 0.6%. 

Beneath the mixed index readings, most U.S. stocks were advancing. Better-than-expected results from Coca-Cola, Sherwin-Williams and Illinois Tool Works supported consumer and industrial shares, but the heavy influence of semiconductor companies kept the broader S&P 500 near flat and pushed the Nasdaq lower. 

Tuesday’s opening was less a broad market retreat than a forceful rotation away from the most expensive parts of the artificial-intelligence trade.

Micron Technology fell about 8.4%, Advanced Micro Devices lost approximately 7.7%, and Nvidia declined about 1.1% in early trading. Western Digital, Seagate and other memory-related companies also came under pressure as investors questioned whether extraordinary AI infrastructure spending can continue producing the growth embedded in current valuations. 

Concern intensified after South Korea’s Kospi plunged 10.8%, temporarily triggering trading halts as SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics fell sharply. Reports of progress in China’s domestic chipmaking equipment added to fears that competition could reduce demand or pricing power for established semiconductor suppliers. 

Coca-Cola moved in the opposite direction, rising about 5.8% after quarterly revenue increased 7% and results surpassed expectations. Chief Executive Henrique Braun described the operating environment as dynamic, but the company’s performance reinforced the view that global beverage demand and pricing remain resilient. 

Sherwin-Williams gained roughly 7% after posting stronger profit and raising its full-year outlook. Net sales increased 7.5% to $6.79 billion, supported by pricing actions, new accounts and market-share gains. Illinois Tool Works advanced approximately 3.7% after its quarterly results also exceeded expectations. 

UPS reported $22.8 billion in second-quarter revenue and raised its full-year revenue, operating-profit and adjusted earnings targets. Beneath the stronger outlook, the delivery company recorded $891 million in after-tax transformation charges tied largely to workforce reductions and network restructuring. 

Boeing reported a larger-than-expected quarterly loss after recording a $280 million charge connected to rising engineering costs for the Air Force One replacement program. Improved aircraft production and $631 million in free cash flow helped offset the setback, and Boeing maintained its expectation of producing between $1 billion and $3 billion in free cash flow for the full year. 

Morning Economic Reports

The Census Bureau reported at 8:30 a.m. that the U.S. goods-trade deficit narrowed to $101.5 billion in June, down $4.4 billion from May’s revised $105.9 billion. Exports fell $3.8 billion to $204.7 billion, but imports declined by a larger $8.2 billion to $306.2 billion. 

Wholesale inventories rose 0.3% to $945.9 billion, while retail inventories were virtually unchanged at $831.3 billion. Softer imports and limited retail inventory accumulation could restrain measured economic activity, though a smaller trade deficit may provide support when second-quarter gross domestic product is released Thursday. 

Housing offered a mixed picture. The Federal Housing Finance Agency said single-family home prices rose 0.3% in May and were 2.2% higher than a year earlier. Gains varied widely by region, ranging from a monthly decline of 0.6% in the Pacific division to an increase of 1.4% in the East South Central region. 

Consumer confidence and the Census Bureau’s second-quarter housing-vacancy and homeownership report were scheduled for release at 10 a.m. Their results had not yet been incorporated into verified market reporting at the cutoff for this opening recap. 

Oil and Bonds

Brent crude fell another 2.2% to about $83.97 a barrel, extending its reversal from last week’s brief move above $100 as investors responded to reduced Middle East tensions and prospects for U.S.-Iran diplomacy. 

Relief in energy markets helped lower Treasury yields, with the 10-year yield easing to roughly 4.62% from 4.65% Monday. Lower oil and bond yields supported industrial, consumer and interest-rate-sensitive shares, though they were not enough to overcome the semiconductor decline inside the Nasdaq. 

What to Watch Through the Closing Bell

Chip stocks remain the session’s central test. A stabilization in Micron, AMD and Nvidia could allow the S&P 500 to join the Dow’s advance, while continued selling risks spreading into software, data-center and other AI-related companies.

Boeing executives are scheduled to discuss results and the company’s outlook at 10:30 a.m. ET. Investors will be listening for updates on aircraft-production rates, cash generation and the rising cost of delayed defense programs. 

Federal Reserve officials also began their two-day policy meeting Tuesday. The central bank will release its interest-rate decision Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET, followed by Chair Kevin Warsh’s news conference at 2:30 p.m. 

After the closing bell, Visa and Seagate Technology are among the companies scheduled to report. Visa’s results will offer a fresh look at consumer spending, while Seagate’s report will arrive amid the sharpest semiconductor and data-storage selloff in months. 

Tuesday’s market is delivering two messages at once: corporate profits remain strong enough to support much of the economy, but investor tolerance for uncertain AI returns is rapidly narrowing.

JBizNews Desk | Wall Street | New York

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

American factories received only a modest increase in overall orders during June, but the U.S. Census Bureau’s report released Monday showed businesses sharply increasing spending on computers, electronics and other equipment—a stronger signal for the economy than the headline number suggested.

New orders for manufactured durable goods rose 0.3% to a seasonally adjusted $334.8 billion after falling a revised 4.0% in May. Economists had expected a gain of about 1.6%, making the top-line result a clear miss. Excluding transportation, however, orders advanced 0.6%, while orders excluding defense also increased 0.3%. 

Beneath that muted increase, orders for nondefense capital goods excluding aircraft—the measure economists commonly use to track business investment in equipment—climbed 0.9%. May’s gain was also revised sharply higher to 1.9% from the previously reported 1.4%. Core orders were 9.3% above their year-earlier level, not 12.5% as stated in the earlier draft. 

The investment figures tell a much stronger story than the durable-goods headline.

Shipments of core capital goods surged 1.9%, their largest monthly increase since December 2021. Those shipments feed directly into the government’s calculation of business equipment spending and suggest corporate investment remained a major source of economic growth during the second quarter. 

Overall durable-goods shipments increased 0.7% to $330.7 billion following a 1.1% advance in May. The earlier draft incorrectly described the 0.7% overall increase as the largest gain in four and a half years; that distinction belongs to the 1.9% increase in core capital-goods shipments. 

Computers and electronic products led the report, with orders rising 3.1% to $31.1 billion. Shipments in that category increased 2.4% to $34.7 billion, extending a run of nine consecutive monthly gains. Electrical-equipment orders advanced 0.9%, while primary-metals orders rose 1.1%. 

That concentration supports the view that artificial-intelligence infrastructure and related technology investment are reaching beyond software companies and into factories producing servers, electrical systems and specialized equipment. Economists cited by Reuters said the AI buildout was helping support both manufacturing and broader economic growth despite tariffs, energy-price uncertainty and the continuing Middle East conflict. 

Transportation equipment, usually the most volatile part of the monthly report, failed to provide the expected lift. Orders in that category declined 0.2%, including a 0.6% drop in motor vehicles and parts.

Civilian-aircraft orders increased only 3.7% even though Boeing recorded 121 commercial-aircraft orders during June, up from 27 in May. Roughly 102 were for the lower-priced 737 MAX, leaving the dollar value of the aircraft increase far smaller than the order count alone suggested. 

Backlogs provided another sign of sustained demand. Unfilled durable-goods orders rose 0.6% to $1.590 trillion and have increased in 23 of the past 24 months. Transportation-equipment backlogs reached $1.002 trillion, potentially keeping factories busy even if new monthly orders become uneven. 

Inventories increased 0.3% to $602 billion and have now risen for nine consecutive months. That is different from saying inventories rose only after four quarters of drawdowns. The four-quarter decline cited by economists referred to broader inventory trends, while the Census durable-goods series itself has been increasing monthly. 

For businesses ordering machinery, computers or electrical equipment, the growing backlog means delivery schedules may remain stretched. Strong demand also gives manufacturers more pricing power and could make companies less willing to discount scarce equipment, even as improving inventories make some inputs easier to obtain.

Financing conditions are the next concern. The Federal Reserve began its two-day meeting Tuesday and will announce its rate decision at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Markets were pricing roughly a one-in-three chance of an immediate rate increase, while most economists expected officials to remain on hold and consider beginning a tightening cycle in September. 

The manufacturing report gives policymakers evidence on both sides. A weak headline offers support for waiting, but rapidly rising equipment spending, stronger shipments and persistent order backlogs point to an economy that still carries meaningful momentum.

For Main Street operators, the practical message is straightforward: overall factory orders barely moved, but businesses are still spending aggressively where it matters most.

JBizNews Desk | New York

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

YS GOLD 

We regret to inform you of the untimely petirah of Rebbetzin Rochel Rosen, the life partner of HaGaon Rav Ephraim Rosen, an esteemed dayan and  tremendous talmid chochom. She was 71 years of age, and suffered from a devastating illness for the last few months.  

Together with, ybl"ch, her husband, she established a home steeped in Torah and chassidus, raising children and grandchildren in the ways of Torah and yiras Shomayim. 

The nifteres was known for her noble ways, her regality and her refinement which carried over to everyone she encountered. 

She was diagnosed with an illness a few months ago, and passed away in the early hours of Tuesday morning, plunging her family and many acquaintances and admirers into mourning. 

The levaya will take place in Boro Park later today. 

Yehi zichra baruch.

TOKYO (AP) — An earthquake registering a magnitude of 7.1 shook Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu and caused part of a shopping center to collapse on Tuesday, leaving dozens of people missing or injured, officials and reports said. A tsunami advisory was issued but quickly lifted.

The second floor of the Aeon Mall shopping center in Kashima Town collapsed, trapping an unknown number of people. Around 20 to 30 employees were missing while several other people were dug out and taken to a hospital, Kyodo News agency reported, quoting local police.

The affected area is about 900 kilometers (540 miles) southwest of Tokyo. A tsunami advisory for the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas on the western coasts of Kumamoto prefecture and three neighboring prefectures was lifted within two hours, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told reporters there were reports of damage to roads, bridges and buildings, as well as blackouts and fires, though details were unclear.

Japan’s Fire and Disaster Management Agency said there were no reports of damage to major public facilities or infrastructure. Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority said no abnormalities were found at three nearby nuclear power plants.

Kyodo said a hospital in Yatsushiro city took in about 40 people with injuries and about 50 others were taken to a hospital in Kumamoto city.

Shinkansen bullet trains and local trains in Kyushu were suspended for safety checks, and the runway at Aso Kumamoto Airport was closed, with “no prospect of resuming operations,” according to a notice on the airport’s website. There were no details.

The Japanese Defense Ministry said it dispatched aircraft to the area to assess the situation.

A train derailed and fell on its side at Yatsushiro station, and stone walls were damaged at Kumamoto castle, Kyodo said.

“The shaking reminded me of the Kumamoto quake (10 years ago) and I was frightened,” said Hiroki Shimoda, an official at Mifune town hall, who saw roof tiles of nearby homes crash to the ground. Kumamoto was hit with a deadly quake in 2016 that left more than 50 people dead.

Shinji Kiyomoto with the Japan Meteorological Agency urged residents to be cautious over the next two to three days.

Bella (Baila) Rotner A”H was born in 1921 in Olkusz, Poland, and passed away in 2024 at the remarkable age of 103. Although nearly two years have passed since her petirah, she has still not been zocheh to receive the matzeivah that such an extraordinary woman deserves.

We are hoping to change that by raising $5,000 to erect a monument in her memory, and additionally establish a small fund to ensure that Kaddish is recited for her neshamah, and, iy”H, to sponsor Mishnayos to be learned l’ilui nishmas Baila bas Leibel A”H.

Before the Holocaust, Bella enjoyed a warm and loving childhood with her parents, three brothers, and younger sister. That beautiful life was shattered when the Nazis invaded Poland. Bella endured the ghettos, forced labor, and concentration camps, while nearly her entire immediate family was murdered.

Through unimaginable suffering, hunger, and loss, she survived the Holocaust with remarkable courage and unwavering emunah.

After the war, she met her husband and remained in Poland for a number years to assist the broken remnants of Jewry cope with their loss. The Rotners eventually settled in the United States.

Despite everything she experienced, Bella remained a woman of extraordinary emunah, gratitude, and optimism. She never lost her appreciation for Hashem’s world. She would often marvel at the beauty of the blue sky, the trees, and the flowers, and found joy in the simple gifts of everyday life. Even a simple visit or bouquet of flowers would fill her with gratitude, and she would often ask, “Why do I deserve this?”

Bella was blessed with one son and one daughter. Tragically, her daughter passed away during Bella’s lifetime, and today her descendants are no longer religious. As a result, Bella has not yet received a matzeivah. We hope to give her the lasting memorial and kavod that she deserves. If Bella’s story has touched you, we invite you to partner with us in this meaningful mitzvah. Every contribution, no matter the amount, will help make this possible. May this act of kindness be a tremendous zechus for Bella’s neshamah and for all those who participate.

A large-scale Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation officially got underway in New York City on Monday, marking the launch of the enforcement surge that President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, vowed would target the city’s sanctuary policies.

Homan first announced plans for the expanded ICE presence last month but did not specify when the operation would begin.

During a June 8 appearance on Fox & Friends, Homan issued a direct warning to New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, saying, “You’re going to see more ICE agents than you’ve ever seen in New York City, and it’s coming.”

His comments followed the passage of additional sanctuary-state legislation by New York’s Democrat-controlled Legislature. The new measures further limit cooperation between state and local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities.

At the time, Homan said the increased ICE presence was a direct response to those policies.

“I’m keeping my promise: We’re going to send more ICE agents to New York because you took away the efficiencies of safer arrests at county jails,” Homan added in June.

According to NewsNation, that promise began taking shape Monday as ICE formally launched its expanded enforcement effort across New York City.

The first wave of the operation was concentrated in Queens, with plans to broaden the effort into additional boroughs in the coming days.

For now, the operation is being carried out by ICE personnel already assigned to New York. Officials have not announced any plans to supplement the mission with agents from other regions.

Homan indicated that the immigration enforcement surge could remain in effect for more than a month, though he did not disclose additional details regarding the scope or duration of the operation.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s security establishment is increasingly concerned that foreign adversaries may attempt to influence the country’s upcoming elections—not by tampering with ballots, but by shaping public opinion through sophisticated online campaigns, cyberattacks, and disinformation.

During a closed Knesset briefing on Monday, Shin Bet Director David Zini warned lawmakers that Iran is the primary foreign actor seeking to interfere in Israel’s electoral process. According to Israeli media reports, Russia and China were also discussed as potential sources of influence operations, while other reports have also mentioned Turkey. Although the intelligence details remain classified, officials say the methods employed by these countries have become increasingly well understood.

Rather than attempting to alter vote counts, security officials say the greater threat lies in manipulating public discourse. Foreign intelligence services can create fake social media accounts posing as ordinary Israelis, publish inflammatory content aimed at both the political right and left, amplify conspiracy theories, and promote divisive narratives designed to deepen existing societal tensions.

Iran has previously been accused of operating networks of fake Hebrew-language accounts and creating online personas that appeared to represent grassroots Israeli activists. These campaigns have allegedly encouraged protests, spread false information, and even attempted to recruit Israelis for seemingly harmless tasks that later escalated into intelligence-gathering activities.

Russia has long been linked to large-scale influence campaigns around the world, using fake news websites, bot networks, and manipulated content to erode public trust in democratic institutions. China, meanwhile, has been associated with quieter but highly organized influence efforts that rely on artificial intelligence, fake online identities, and targeted messaging to shape public opinion and advance Beijing’s strategic interests.

Israeli officials are particularly concerned about the growing capabilities of artificial intelligence. AI-generated videos, fabricated audio recordings of political candidates, fake party announcements, and manipulated footage could spread rapidly online during the final days of a campaign. Even if quickly debunked, such content can reach hundreds of thousands of voters before corrections gain traction.

Cyber threats also remain a major concern. Attackers could target political campaigns, journalists, and election officials through phishing attacks, data theft, or social media account takeovers. Officials warn that disrupting election-related systems or spreading false claims of hacking could undermine public confidence even if no votes are actually altered.

Authorities are also watching for covert foreign funding of political messaging through nonprofits, online advertisements, influencers, or intermediary organizations that conceal the true source of financial support.

At the same time, security officials caution that not every controversial post or heated political debate is the result of a foreign operation. Determining foreign involvement requires evidence such as technical infrastructure, financial links, or intelligence indicating coordinated activity.

The concerns come as a recent report by Israel’s State Comptroller found that, as of March 2026, Israel still lacked a comprehensive national strategy for countering foreign influence campaigns in the digital sphere and had no single government body responsible for coordinating the response.

With the Shin Bet now identifying election interference as one of the country’s most pressing security challenges, officials say the battle extends far beyond protecting ballot boxes. It is also about safeguarding public trust, preserving confidence in democratic institutions, and ensuring that Israel’s political debate is shaped by its citizens—not by hostile foreign governments.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Three of America’s largest companies delivered very different signals Tuesday about the condition of the economy. Coca-Cola raised its full-year forecast as global beverage demand strengthened, UPS said its business had begun to stabilize after completing a major pullback from Amazon volume, and Johnson & Johnson proposed a $5.5 billion resolution intended to bring roughly 76,000 ovarian talc claims to an end.

Coca-Cola provided the clearest sign that consumers are still spending despite higher prices and pressure on household budgets. Second-quarter revenue rose 7% to $13.4 billion, helped by a 5% increase in worldwide unit volume and a 2% improvement from pricing and product mix. Earnings climbed 16% to $1.03 a share, while operating margin widened to 34.9% from 34.1% a year earlier. 

North American volume increased 3%, supported by the company’s core soda brands as well as juice, dairy and plant-based beverages. Pricing contributed another 4% in the region, showing that customers continued buying even as the company charged more across parts of its portfolio.

Strength extended well beyond the United States. Asia-Pacific volume rose 8%, Europe, the Middle East and Africa gained 4%, and Latin America increased 3%. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar grew 16% globally, while sports drinks, water and tea also advanced.

Those gains prompted management to lift its 2026 outlook. Organic revenue is now expected to grow about 5%, compared with the previous range of 4% to 5%, while comparable earnings are projected to rise 9% to 10%. Free cash flow is expected to reach roughly $12.4 billion, giving the company additional room for dividends, investment and marketing. 

UPS reached its improvement through a very different route.

After spending more than a year shrinking its exposure to lower-margin Amazon packages and reconfiguring its delivery network, the company reported $22.8 billion in second-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings of $1.76 a share. Domestic revenue rose 6%, international revenue increased 12.5%, and supply-chain revenue climbed 7.8%. 

Fewer packages moved through the U.S. network, but UPS earned more from each one. Domestic revenue per piece increased 9.3%, while international revenue per piece jumped 18.9%, allowing the company to generate stronger adjusted operating profit even as overall volume remained under pressure.

Management now expects approximately $91.2 billion in full-year revenue, up from its earlier forecast of $89.7 billion. Adjusted operating profit is projected at about $8.65 billion, with adjusted earnings of roughly $7.22 a share.

Reaching that point required substantial cuts. UPS recorded $891 million in after-tax restructuring charges during the quarter, largely tied to employee separations and network changes connected to its completed Amazon pullback. GAAP earnings fell to 71 cents a share, illustrating how expensive the transition has been even as the underlying business improves.

For retailers, manufacturers and small businesses, the recovery carries mixed implications. A financially stronger UPS may offer more reliable service and a healthier network, but the company’s emphasis on earning more per shipment suggests customers should not expect aggressive pricing simply because package volume has softened.

Johnson & Johnson’s announcement involved neither consumer demand nor freight activity, yet it could remove one of the largest legal uncertainties hanging over any major U.S. corporation.

Under the proposed agreement announced Monday, the company would commit $5.5 billion to resolve the remaining ovarian talc cases in federal and state courts. At least 95% of eligible claimants must participate before the resolution can proceed, with an initial payment of no more than $3 billion expected in 2027 and additional payments beginning in 2028. 

Roughly 76,000 claims remain. Johnson & Johnson continues to deny that its talc products caused cancer and said it agreed to the proposal after favorable court developments strengthened its position in the litigation.

A successful resolution would provide greater certainty around future legal expenses while allowing management to focus more fully on pharmaceuticals and medical technology. Failure to reach the participation threshold would leave the company defending the cases individually, extending a dispute that has lasted about 15 years.

Viewed together, the three developments show how differently large companies are navigating the same economy. Coca-Cola is raising expectations because customers continue buying at higher prices. UPS is improving by carrying fewer low-margin packages and charging more for the shipments it keeps. Johnson & Johnson is seeking to exchange a known multibillion-dollar cost for an end to years of legal uncertainty.

None of the announcements suggests an economy moving uniformly in one direction. Consumer demand remains resilient, freight operators are still restructuring around slower volume, and corporate balance sheets continue absorbing costs created long before the current quarter began.

JBizNews Desk | Wall Street

© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

MELBOURNE, Australia (VINnews) – An 18-year-old Chabad yeshiva student was threatened with a knife and punched while conducting Jewish outreach activities in a Melbourne suburb last week, according to police and the local Jewish community.

Yitzchak Lewinthal, a student at a senior yeshiva in Melbourne, was walking in the Bentleigh neighborhood Friday afternoon as part of Chabad’s weekly outreach program, in which students visit homes and businesses to offer Jewish men the opportunity to don tefillin and distribute Shabbat candles and challah before the Sabbath.

According to community accounts, Lewinthal approached a man on a residential street shortly before 1:35 p.m. and asked whether he was Jewish and interested in putting on tefillin. The man allegedly responded with verbal abuse before Lewinthal walked away.

In an interview with Australia’s 7NEWS, Lewinthal said he had simply been carrying out his regular outreach activities and had approached the man politely.

“I was just being polite,” Lewinthal told the broadcaster. “It’s just what we do every Friday.”

The suspect then allegedly followed the student, confronted him again and threatened to kill him and “the rabbis who send him” before producing a knife and pointing it at him.

Lewinthal backed away and attempted to calm the situation, but the suspect continued advancing, according to the account. The man then allegedly punched Lewinthal in the stomach.

Witnesses and nearby residents called emergency services, and Victoria Police responded. Detectives located and detained a suspect matching the description shortly after the incident and took an initial statement.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing. Authorities have not announced whether charges will be filed.

Despite the attack, Lewinthal returned to complete his outreach activities after providing a statement to police, according to the local Jewish community.

The incident comes amid heightened concerns over antisemitic incidents in Australia following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. Victoria Police have not publicly indicated whether the assault is being investigated as a hate crime.

Israeli cybersecurity unicorn Cyera has signed a letter of intent to acquire fellow Israeli startup Oasis Security in a deal valued at approximately $1 billion, marking one of the largest cybersecurity acquisitions of the year.

Under the proposed agreement, roughly $700 million will be paid in cash, with the remainder in Cyera stock. The deal comes shortly after Cyera raised $600 million at a $12 billion valuation.

Founded in 2022 by CEO Danny Brickman and Chief Product Officer Amit Zimmerman, both veterans of Israel’s elite Unit 81, Oasis specializes in securing non-human identities—such as service accounts, API keys, tokens, and AI agents—an area that has become increasingly important as organizations rapidly adopt artificial intelligence.

Oasis has raised $195 million to date, including a funding round in March that valued the company at $700 million. Following the acquisition, Oasis will continue operating as a dedicated business unit within Cyera while integrating its technology with Cyera’s data security platform.

The companies say the combination will strengthen their ability to protect organizations from emerging AI-driven cybersecurity threats.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

YWN regrets to inform you of the petira of Reb Shmuel (Sam) Klaver Z”L, formerly of Pomona and Flatbush, beloved husband of Pnina, who was niftar at the age of 71.

A gifted professional drummer, Shmuel was a highly sought after musician who performed with the Ruach, Neginah, and Neshoma Orchestras, bringing joy to countless families at thousands of weddings throughout the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. He also taught drums privately to many students and is widely credited with teaching and influencing, directly and indirectly, many of the well known Jewish drummers who followed in his footsteps.

Beyond his musical talents, Reb Shmuel devoted his life to Jewish education and outreach. He was a beloved NCSY youth leader, inspiring countless Jewish teenagers to explore and embrace their heritage. He studied at Yeshiva University and Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, and later served as a Jewish Studies teacher in several New York area day schools, where he influenced generations of students. He also served for many years as the Baal Shacharis and Baal Tokeiah at the Orthodox shul in Quincy, Massachusetts, where his parents were pillars of the local Orthodox Jewish community.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Pnina, their children, grandchildren, and extended family.

The Levaya will take place Tuesday at 7:00 PM, graveside at Brick Church Cemetery, 221 Brick Church Road, Spring Valley.

Baruch Dayan HaEmes.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

HaGaon HaRav Shraga Steinman, Nasi of the Orchos Torah yeshivos network, spoke about the persecution of Lomdei Torah during a question-and-answer session with HaRav Eliav Miller, a renowned mechanech and the head of the Lev Shomea organization, which provides guidance and support hotlines for yeshiva bochurim and Chareidi high-school girls.

HaRav Eliav Miller: “Today there is unprecedented persecution of Torah, with people from within Klal Yisrael persecuting the Torah world. What is the proper perspective? There are bochurim here who are about to reach the age at which they themselves may be persecuted. How should they view this? What should their attitude be? They’re the soldiers of Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Are people trying to harm them, or are they really trying to harm Hakadosh Baruch Hu? What should their inner perspective be?”

HaRav Shteinman replied: “The Rambam says at the end of Hilchos Shemittah V’Yovel that because Shevet Levi was set apart to learn Torah and serve Hashem, they are called ‘Hashem’s Army.’ Just as there is an Air Force, Ground Forces, and Navy, there is Hashem’s Army. And it is not only Shevet Levi. Anyone who understands what Torah is, separates himself from this world, and dedicates himself to learning Torah is part of Hashem’s Army.”

“In every generation there has been persecution. There are young people here who think this is something new. I remember that every few years there is another wave of hatred. There was a time when they were searching for a boy named Yossele. A religious child couldn’t walk down the street without being beaten and asked, ‘Tell me where Yossele is!’ Did I hide him? Did I kidnap him? That’s how it was. The harassment resumes every few years. It is the work of the yetzer hara. The same thing happened in Communist Russia—’Your destroyers and those who ruin you will come from among you.'”

“That is the way of the world. We are not frightened by it. ‘A decree is destined to be annulled.’ This too will pass. We have survived many hardships and many troubles, and, with Hashem’s help, we will survive this as well. The Torah—’Hashem will not forsake His people.’ The Torah will always endure. There were periods when it was more difficult and periods when it was easier, but the Torah and those who study it will always remain. They are the pinnacle. They are Hashem’s Army. We have nothing to fear.”

HaRav Miller: “The Rosh Yeshivah compares today’s persecution to the persecution under the Russians and the Bolsheviks…”

HaRav Shteinman: “Under the Bolsheviks, it was Jews who fought against Yiddishkeit! There was a Jewish department called the Yevsektsiya. They informed on people, and because of them Volozhin was closed. They were always the problem. They fought against Yiddishkeit. But we got through it. Every few years these problems arise, and then they pass.”

HaRav Miller: “Thousands of bochurim are sitting here. People call them ‘parasites.’ Are they parasites?”

HaRav Shteinman: “Those who call them that are the real parasites! Upon whom does the world exist? The Gemara says that the entire world was sustained in the merit of Rebbi Chanina ben Dosa, while he himself lived on a measure of carobs. The whole world is sustained by Torah! HaRav Chaim of Volozhin says: ‘Were it not for My covenant day and night, I would not have established the laws of heaven and earth.’ If Limmud Torah were to cease for even one moment, the entire world would return to chaos! Everyone lives because of Limmud Torah! And they call them parasites?! But they simply don’t understand that. Not everyone merits that understanding.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

In his notes, Fauci acknowledged that there was considerable concern among those on the call about whether the virus could have been engineered. He wrote, “There was not total agreement about the likelihood of deliberate insertion,” referring to the possibility that the virus had been created in a laboratory. According to the diary, only two participants argued strongly that the virus almost certainly arose naturally, while the remaining scientists believed a laboratory origin was a plausible explanation.

The discussion took place in January 2020, before governments imposed COVID lockdowns and before the World Health Organization officially declared the outbreak a global pandemic.

Fauci elaborated on the differing views among the scientists, writing:

“Ron Fouchier said he was sure that this could occur naturally and we should not waste our time and divert effort to pursue this. This is expected of him since he was the original GOF person with Yoshi Kawaoka. Also, Christian Drosten was with Ron; the rest felt that deliberate insertion was possible and given the fact that Dr. Zheng-Li Shi at the University of Wuhan has been working for years in GOF in coronaviruses to allow adaptation of the spike protein to bind to the human ACE2 receptor, we could not let this go. We decided to have Jeremy with Francis to contact Tedros with Stewart Simonson’s help (I arranged this) to see if Tedros would convene experts.”

Despite those private discussions, Fauci would go on to spend years publicly rejecting the lab leak theory as a conspiracy, even while his own diary reflected a more cautious view. In later entries, he repeatedly acknowledged that the origin of the virus remained uncertain.

Writing in May 2021, Fauci addressed criticism that he had changed his position on the issue:

“The situation continues to get “out of control” with regard to the press reports concerning my ‘flip flopping’ concerning the theory of the origin of the virus. I had always said that the very highly likelihood is that the virus originated naturally from an animal reservoir jumping to a human. However, over the past couple of days given the amount of speculation about the possibility of a lab leak I have been saying that no one is 100% certain of the origin including me and so I am calling for a thorough investigation.”

Another diary entry, dated June 7, 2021, appeared to revisit the January 2020 conference call. In it, Fauci claimed that the participants had been evenly divided over whether COVID originated naturally or may have been engineered. That account appears to conflict with his earlier notes, which indicated that only two scientists favored a natural-origin explanation while the rest viewed a laboratory origin as a realistic possibility.

He wrote:

“Scott Gottlieb had appeared on Face the Nation and mentioned in an attempt to help me then I had actually gone to Europe in Jan/Feb. 2020 to brief health ministers about the possibility that the virus could have been constructed an escape from the laboratory. He did this to indicate that I was not hiding anything because I already knew that this was a possibility and so I didn’t change my mind currently by saying that a lab leak is a possibility since I was talking about it openly back then. As it turns out, he was a little bit mixed up because on January 31st, 2020 I received a call from Jeremy Farrar who conferenced in Christian Andersen to tell me that Ed Holmes and Christian had seen a copy of the sequence of the virus and felt that there was a possibility that because of the unusual furin cleavage site that this could possibly have been a constructed virus. as indicated in my notes of January 31st and February 1st , 2020, since I am not an evolutionary biologist I called together by phone a group knowledgeable scientist together with Francis Collins and a few other people to discuss this. After a considerable amount of discussion about half of the people felt that this was possibly a constructed virus and the other half were convinced that this was a natural occurrence. A few weeks later Christian Andersen got together with Bob Garry and Andrew Rambaut to examine this more carefully and they came to the conclusion that they were convinced that this was a natural occurrence and a jump from the animal reservoir. They published their data in a preprint server in February followed by a nature paper in March of 2020 . That is the reason why it appears that a I briefed people which I did not. I was briefed by them. Scott had said that I had briefed a group of international health people he seemed to have gotten some of the story wrong , but overall he was correct.”

As the pandemic continued, Fauci’s diary entries took a far more dismissive tone toward the lab leak theory. He praised media reports criticizing the hypothesis, writing, “Great Article in Politico that describes the lies of the Trump people about the ‘lab leak’ theory,” and also commended similar reporting by The Guardian.

In another entry, Fauci accused conservatives of promoting politically motivated conspiracy theories surrounding the virus’s origin. He wrote, “The conspiracy of the far right and the trump loyalists continues. Recently representative Mike McCall the minority On the House Foreign Affairs Committee released a report by the panel’s republican staff essentially saying that the lab leak was the cause of COVID-19 and hinting the NIH’s role in creating the virus.”

He continued:

“This is based on no new information or no new data. It is very clear what is going on and it needs to be called out. It is all part of “The Big Lie”. First, trump actually won the election; next, January 6th was a friendly visit to the capital book shop; next trump was right and China caused the virus; next Fauci and the NIH helped the Chinese create the virus; next, discredit Fauci and it looks like trump is telling the truth. It is plain and simple a concerted effort aimed at getting trump re-elected and exonerating him from any blame in the complete mess up of his response to COVID-19.”

Since leaving government service, Fauci has continued to reject allegations that he misled the public regarding gain-of-function research or the origins of COVID-19. At the same time, the Trump White House has updated its official coronavirus webpage to state that a laboratory leak is the most likely explanation for the pandemic’s origin.

The updated White House page argues that “‘The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2’ publication — which was used repeatedly by public health officials and the media to discredit the lab leak theory — was prompted by Dr. Fauci to push the preferred narrative that COVID-19 originated naturally,” adding that the virus “possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature” and that “Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) researchers were sick with COVID-like symptoms in the fall of 2019, months before COVID-19 was discovered at the wet market.”

Fauci is scheduled to appear before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Wednesday, where he is expected to face questions about the newly released diary entries and his handling of the pandemic’s origins.

{Matzav.com}

The Federal Open Market Committee convened Tuesday morning for a two-day meeting that is widely expected to leave interest rates untouched — and that markets will spend the rest of the summer decoding, because the decision that matters is the one that comes after it.

The policy statement lands at 2 p.m. Eastern Wednesday. Chair Kevin Warsh takes questions at 2:30. The federal funds target range stands at 3.50% to 3.75%.

Futures pricing puts a September hike near 80%.

The backdrop moved in the Fed’s favor overnight

Three sessions of falling yields have taken pressure off the committee. The 10-year Treasury fell for a third consecutive day Tuesday to 4.62%, its lowest in about a week, after touching 4.7% last Thursday — the highest level since January 2025. The 2-year yield dropped nine basis points Monday to 4.322%.

Oil did the work. West Texas Intermediate traded 1.6% lower Tuesday at $81.27 after falling roughly 8% Monday, and Brent slid 2% to $86.63 — down from above $100 last Thursday. The pause in US-Iran hostilities is holding, and talks involving Saudi Arabia and Oman over the future of the Strait of Hormuz continue.

That reversal alone reshaped the meeting. A week ago, with Brent above $100, a July hike looked live. It no longer does.

The committee is genuinely split

June’s projections showed nine officials expecting at least one rate increase in 2026 and only one projecting a cut. In March, not a single official had penciled in a hike. Warsh declined to submit projections of his own.

The outside views are just as divided. Citadel Securities has said it expects the Fed to raise rates this week specifically to reinforce Warsh’s credibility after his repeated pledges to restore price stability. UBS has said a surprise hike would not be shocking, and that Warsh’s own stance is the deciding factor. Citi takes the opposite position — that raising rates purely to defend credibility lacks justification when market-based inflation expectations have not become meaningfully unanchored.

Warsh has removed the usual signposts

This meeting produces no Summary of Economic Projections and no dot plot. Warsh has abandoned forward guidance and declines to pre-commit. What remains is a short statement and a press conference.

That narrows Wednesday to two signals: the precise wording, and the vote count. Whether any official dissents in favor of a hike will tell markets more about September than anything Warsh says out loud.

The data underneath is softening

June durable goods orders came in Monday at a gain of 0.4%, well short of the 2% consensus — a weak reading on business capital spending and an argument for patience. June CPI and PPI both cooled more than expected.

Against that, inflation has run above the 2% target for five years.

What is happening while they deliberate

The memory trade cracked overnight in Asia. Samsung fell more than 13%, SK Hynix dropped over 14% and Kioxia plunged more than 18%, extending Monday’s damage to American names after ChangXin Memory’s Shanghai debut closed up 465%. SK Hynix reports after the US close Tuesday.

Then the earnings arrive on top of the decision. Microsoft and Meta report Wednesday afternoon, hours after the statement. Apple and Amazon follow Thursday alongside the advance estimate of second-quarter GDP. Four of the largest American companies will defend their AI capital spending into a market that may have just been told borrowing costs are rising.

For tri-state operators

Three things worth doing this week.

If you have a floating-rate line or an equipment loan repricing this quarter, Wednesday at 2 p.m. is the moment — but September is where the actual risk sits at four-to-one odds. Price a fixed-rate lock and decide whether the premium is worth it before the statement, not after.

Watch the 10-year, not the fed funds rate. At 4.62% it governs commercial real estate financing and longer-term borrowing far more directly. It has come down three sessions running, which makes this a better week to lock a term deal than last week was.

If you are quoting work into the fourth quarter, assume money costs more in October than it does today.

The single variable that decides all of it is oil. If crude holds near $81 through August, the September case weakens materially. If the Gulf reignites — and Saudi Arabia reported intercepting drones aimed at its petroleum facilities Monday — the September hike becomes close to automatic.

JBizNews Desk | Wall Street

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NEW YORK (VINnews) – U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White and senior European rabbinical leaders have forcefully rejected allegations made by Belgian activist Moshe Aryeh Friedman linking President Donald Trump to an ongoing Belgian investigation into ritual Jewish circumcisions, saying Friedman does not represent the country’s Jewish community and has no recognized rabbinic authority.

The dispute began after Friedman alleged that a commemorative diamond ring presented to Trump by Belgium’s diamond industry during celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States was intended to influence Belgian authorities investigating two mohalim, or Jewish ritual circumcisers.

Moshe Aryeh Friedman represents no recognized Jewish institution or community. He represents no one. He has no mandate from the Belgian Jewish community. He does not lead any recognized Jewish congregation or synagogue. He holds no official religious position in Belgium.
As the… pic.twitter.com/Hz2vQeGsYw

— U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Bill White (@USAmbToBelgium) July 27, 2026

White dismissed the allegation as baseless and said Friedman has no standing to speak on behalf of Belgium’s Jewish community.

“Moshe Aryeh Friedman represents no recognized Jewish institution or community. He represents no one,” White said in a statement. He added that Friedman has no mandate from the Belgian Jewish community, does not lead any recognized synagogue or congregation and holds no official religious position in Belgium.

White said the Central Israelite Consistory of Belgium, the country’s officially recognized representative body for Judaism, has consistently referred to him as “Mr. Friedman,” rather than “Rabbi Friedman,” and said Friedman’s claim to rabbinic status has long been disputed.

The Rabbinical Centre of Europe, representing hundreds of rabbis across the continent, also distanced itself from Friedman, saying he holds no recognized position within Belgium’s Jewish community and does not represent any established Jewish institution. The organization announced it would convene a special rabbinical court to review his conduct following what it called repeated actions harmful to Jewish communal interests.

Friedman was raised in NY’s Satmar Hasidic community but has for many years been estranged from mainstream Orthodox Jewish institutions. He has become a controversial figure through his public criticism of established Jewish organizations and Israeli government policies. Belgian Jewish organizations have repeatedly said he does not represent the country’s Jewish community.

White said Friedman’s self-described rabbinic status has been challenged for decades, citing statements by the Jewish Community of Vienna dating to 2006 that, according to the ambassador, said Friedman never received a recognized rabbinic diploma and did not hold an official rabbinic position.

The ambassador also pointed to Friedman’s participation in a 2006 conference in Tehran hosted by Iran’s government, where he was photographed with then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The conference drew widespread international condemnation because it included Holocaust deniers, revisionists and antisemitic speakers.

White said Friedman has remained isolated from recognized Jewish institutions since settling in Belgium and has repeatedly clashed with the Jewish community through legal proceedings involving Jewish schools, support for efforts to ban kosher slaughter, his involvement in the ongoing dispute over ritual circumcision and, most recently, what White described as the “ring affair.”

He also alleged that Friedman has associated with controversial individuals, including appearing at the trial of former Syrian fighter Jejoen Bontinck and publicly describing Kaoutar Fal as a close friend. White noted that Belgian authorities later ordered Fal to leave the country after determining she posed a potential threat to national security.

White said the issue was not Friedman’s political views but what he described as a longstanding pattern of presenting himself to journalists, politicians and public officials as an authoritative Jewish or rabbinic voice despite lacking recognition from any established Jewish institution.

“I urge media organizations, politicians and public authorities to describe him accurately,” White said. “Not as a representative of the Jewish community, not as an authoritative rabbinical spokesperson, but as an individual activist who speaks solely on his own behalf.”

The Rabbinical Centre of Europe echoed that position, saying Friedman has no mandate to represent European Jewry and that his actions reflect only his personal views.

Belgian authorities continue investigating allegations involving two mohalim who performed ritual circumcisions, a case that has raised concerns among Jewish organizations about religious freedom and the future of brit milah in Belgium.

Former FBI Director James Comey is asking a federal judge to dismiss the criminal case accusing him of threatening President Donald Trump, arguing that his now-deleted social media post featuring seashells arranged to read “86 47” was political expression protected by the First Amendment rather than a genuine threat of violence.

In court filings submitted Monday, Comey’s legal team contended that prosecutors cannot establish that the Instagram photo amounted to a “true threat” against the President. The filing argues that the post represented political speech, not an intent to encourage or commit violence against Trump, who dismissed Comey as FBI director in 2017 and has repeatedly called for him to face prosecution.

Comey’s attorneys noted that the phrase “86” has long been used to mean removing, rejecting, or getting rid of someone or something, adding that “86 47” has appeared on countless products sold online and has frequently been displayed during political demonstrations.

“But the government now singles out Mr. Comey to prosecute one of the President’s most prominent critics for publishing another person’s statement of political opposition,” his attorneys wrote. “That attempt to suppress core political speech contravenes both the statutes at issue and the First Amendment.”

The prosecution marks the second criminal case brought against Comey within a matter of months. He has remained a frequent target of President Trump, who has repeatedly denounced the former FBI director, once calling him a “corrupt piece of garbage.”

A separate prosecution in Virginia alleging that Comey lied to Congress was thrown out last November after a federal judge ruled that the prosecutor who brought charges against both Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James had not been lawfully appointed.

The longstanding conflict between Trump and Comey dates back to the early stages of the FBI’s investigation into whether Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign coordinated with Russia to influence that year’s election.

Federal prosecutors have charged Comey in a two-count indictment, alleging that he “knowingly and willfully” threatened “to take the life of, and to inflict bodily harm upon” President Trump and that he transmitted a threat across state lines.

According to Comey’s lawyers, however, the indictment contains no evidence demonstrating that he intended to threaten the President. Instead, they argue, prosecutors rely only on the theory that “a reasonable recipient who is familiar with the circumstances would interpret” the post as threatening.

The controversy began after Comey posted the seashell image on Instagram, prompting an interview with the Secret Service after Trump administration officials asserted that the message advocated the assassination of Trump, the nation’s 47th president. Comey later removed the post and explained his decision, writing: “I didn’t realize some folks associate those numbers with violence” and “I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.”

“Even if ’86 47′ could implausibly be read to suggest violence, a reasonable observer would still understand Mr. Comey’s post as mere political hyperbole, not a true threat,” Comey’s attorneys wrote. “The Supreme Court has rejected threats prosecutions based on speech far more directly threatening than Mr. Comey’s seashells post here.”

The Justice Department has not publicly detailed the evidence it intends to use to establish Comey’s intent. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, however, said earlier this year that intent would be demonstrated through testimony, documents, and other admissible evidence.

“And that’s how we’ll prove intent in this case,” Blanche said in April after assuming leadership of the Justice Department following Pam Bondi’s dismissal.

President Trump has maintained that the meaning of the message was unmistakable. Speaking in a Fox News interview last year, he insisted Comey fully understood the significance of the numbers.

“A child knows what that meant,” Trump said. “If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear.”

{Matzav.com}