Jooish News

Iran on Friday firmly denied that it would hand over its enriched uranium stockpile, directly contradicting statements by President Donald Trump, who said Tehran had agreed to cooperate with the United States on removing the material.

Speaking to Iranian state media, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the idea of transferring uranium out of the country is not under consideration, stating that “the transfer of uranium to the US has not been presented as an option.”

He emphasized the significance Iran places on its nuclear material, declaring, “Iran’s enriched uranium is as sacred to us as the soil of Iran and will under no circumstances be transferred anywhere.”

Addressing the ongoing negotiations with Washington, Baghaei said sanctions relief remains a central objective, noting that “the lifting of sanctions is of great importance to us, compensation for the damages incurred is a particular priority for Iran.”

Earlier Friday, Trump told CBS News that Iran had accepted U.S. terms and would work jointly with American officials to remove its enriched uranium from the country.

He stressed that the operation would not involve U.S. troops on the ground and, when asked who would retrieve the material, replied only that it would be handled by “our people.”

“No. No troops,” he said. “We’ll go down and get it with them, and then we’ll take it. We’ll be getting it together because by that time, we’ll have an agreement and there’s no need for fighting when there’s an agreement. Nice right? That’s better. We would have done it the other way if we had to.”

Trump also said the material would ultimately be transported to the United States.

“Our people, together with the Iranians, are going to work together to go get it. And then we’ll take it to the United States,” he said.

He also rejected an earlier Axios report suggesting that the administration was considering releasing $20 billion in frozen Iranian assets as part of a deal.

“No, we are not paying 10 cents,” he said firmly.

A day earlier, Trump indicated that the conflict with Iran could soon come to a close.

“We’re doing very well, and I will say the war in Iran is going along swimmingly, we can do whatever we want, and it should be ending pretty soon,” the President stated at an event in Las Vegas.

“It was perfect. It’s perfect. It was the power we have,” the President added. “We had the most powerful military anywhere in the world.”

He acknowledged that while military action was not his preference, it was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“We had to because we can’t let them have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.”

NEW YORK (AP) — A former New York City police sergeant can stay out of jail while he appeals his manslaughter conviction for tossing a picnic cooler at a fleeing suspect who then crashed his motorized scooter and died, a judge ruled Friday.

The decision by a state appellate court judge came a week after a lower-court judge sentenced Erik Duran to three to nine years in prison and sent him to jail immediately in the 2023 death of 30-year-old Eric Duprey.

Judge Saliann Scarpulla, of the mid-level Appellate Division, ordered Duran freed on $300,000 cash or bond and said he must surrender his passport to his lawyers, who will keep it until his appeal is over.

“This is a major win for Erik and his family and for law enforcement officers around the country,” said Vincent Vallelong, the president of Duran’s union, the Sergeants Benevolent Association.

A lawyer for Duprey’s family, Jon Roberts, said they were “deeply disappointed” by Scarpulla’s decision.

“While we respect the appellate process, this outcome reopens painful wounds for a family that has already endured an immense loss,” Roberts said. “Our focus remains on seeking accountability and ensuring that the seriousness of what occurred is never diminished.”

Duran, a 38-year-old married father of three, was the first former NYPD officer sentenced to prison for an on-duty death in at least two decades. At Duran’s sentencing, defense lawyer Andrew Quinn said he will forever be known as “the cooler cop.”

Duran lawyer Arthur Aidala asked the Appellate Division to intervene after the sentencing judge, Guy Mitchell, refused to grant the ex-sergeant bail. Duran spent the last week at the city’s notorious Rikers Island jail complex.

The ruling freeing Duran shows that the Appellate Division sees “legitimate appellate issues in Sgt Duran’s case,” and that is “he is not a flight risk nor a danger to the community,” Aidala said.

Duran was part of a narcotics policing unit that conducted a “buy-and-bust” operation in the Bronx on Aug. 23, 2023. Police said Duprey sold drugs to an undercover officer, then tried to flee on a scooter.

Testifying in his own defense at his trial in February, Duran said he was trying to protect other officers when he heaved the cooler full of ice and drinks at Duprey.

The container struck Duprey, who lost control of the scooter, slammed into a tree and crashed onto the pavement. Duprey was not wearing a helmet. He sustained fatal head injuries and died almost instantly, according to prosecutors.

Duprey’s death and Duran’s conviction have galvanized activists, some of whom have labeled him the “cooler killer,” and pro-police forces, who say locking him up sends the message that officers can lose their freedom for split-second decisions.

On Tuesday, the New York Islanders showed a message on the video board at their Long Island arena encouraging hockey fans to donate to Duran’s legal defense fund. The message included a QR code and a message from the Sergeants Benevolent Association, requesting fans join “the fight for justice.”

Vallelong said the fundraiser came together after someone at the New York Post informed him that the Islanders “wanted to do something” for Duran. The team also said it would direct 25% of proceeds from a 50/50 raffle to support Duran, the union said.

Roberts, the lawyer for Duprey’s family, said they were “deeply troubled” by the Islanders’ decision to “align themselves, even symbolically, with efforts that appear to support Sgt. Duran’s legal defense.”

“This was not a neutral act,” Roberts said. “It sends a message — intended or not — that risks undermining public confidence in a fair legal process and deepens the pain of a family still grieving.”

NEW YORK (AP) — After U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran’s foreign minister said the Strait of Hormuz was fully open to commercial vessels after almost seven weeks of war, oil prices plunged 10% and the stock market rallied Friday.

Motorists, hoping for relief at the pump, wondered how quickly gasoline prices might fall once oil tankers stuck in the Persian Gulf were moving again. A gallon of regular gasoline cost $4.08 on average in the U.S. Friday, which was 37% more than before U.S. and Israel attacked Iran but down a few cents from a week ago.

But when gas prices spike, they don’t typically drop as quickly as the cost of crude. Even if Iran keeps the waterway open in the face of a U.S. blockade of its vessels, it still could take months for fuel prices to return to levels resembling those enjoyed before the war began Feb. 28, energy experts said.

The slow speed at which oil tankers travel from ports to refineries, lingering security concerns, traffic in the strait and damage to energy infrastructure in the Middle East are all playing a role in the elevated price of gasoline.

“The historical observation is that gasoline prices rise quickly but fall slowly, regardless of the particular causes of the increase,” said Mark Barteau, a professor in the department of chemical engineering at Texas A&M University.

“In this case, one has to take into account the time it takes for the steps that have to happen once tankers sail through the straits – for example, sailing time to refineries on other continents, time to ramp up refinery operations, and time to transport some refined products by tanker to the continent where they will be used,” Barteau said. “There is also tendency to hedge bets because of doubts about whether and how quickly that restoration might occur, and whether further disruptions are possible along the way.”

Nevertheless, some energy analysts were optimistic that gas prices would gradually decline.

Hope for lower gasoline prices
Gasoline prices were already falling slightly after last week’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, according to motor club federation AAA.

Following the Strait of Hormuz announcement, oil prices fell by $10 to $12 per barrel, which generally translates into a decrease of 25 or 30 cents per gallon of gas, said Michael Lynch, distinguished fellow at Energy Policy Research Foundation, a non-partisan research institution focused on energy and economics.

“That doesn’t happen overnight, but within a week or two, we could be down 50 cents a gallon easily, if this holds,” Lynch said. “And part of it is, there’s a lot of tankers ready to go. And if they all come out, then that balances the market very quickly.”

In the wake of Friday’s news, “every state will start seeing gas price decreases accelerate at a pace of probably 1 to 3 cents a gallon for every day or two,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, in a webcast. “And that could continue for at least a couple of weeks.”

DeHaan estimated that the national average for a gallon of regular gas could reach $3.45 to $3.65 by Memorial Day. But he acknowledged that returning to lower prices could take a while.

“It might take until later this year or early next year to really fully normalize and for some of these surcharges and impacts to reverse and disappear,” De Haan said.

Traffic and trepidation
If an agreement to end the war is reached, it could take at least four months for shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to go back to normal, said Patrick Penfield, professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University.

“Right now, you still have potential mines that have to be removed or detonated, you have over 150 tankers that have been anchored in and around the strait, which is causing a traffic jam, and we still have shipping rates that are still high because of lack of shipping capacity and war rate insurance,” he said.

The leaders of France and the U.K. welcomed word of the strait’s reopening but said they would keep pushing for a way to permanently restore freedom of navigation for vessels that rely on the narrow passage off Iran’s coast, through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil typically travels.

Ship owners would have to be convinced to trust the Americans and Iranians, “and that seems like it’s a hard hill to climb,” Lynch, of the Energy Policy Research Foundation, said. “I certainly wouldn’t want to do it. I wouldn’t wanna be the first ship through or even the first five ships through, but somebody will do it. There’s a lot of money on the table and somebody’s going to grab it.”

If the Iranians are cooperating, the mines should not be a problem, because Iran has a sense of where the mines are, Lynch said.

“Now, that raises the issue, are the Iranians going to cooperate, or what do they want to cooperate?” he asked. “Are they going to demand a couple-million dollars a ship, as is talked about? Or is Trump going to say ‘that’s not acceptable,’ and then what’s the next step after that?”

If the strait remains open, and ships loaded with oil leave the Persian Gulf, it could take weeks for those heavy, slow-moving ships to reach their destinations.

“People think that once the strait opens, it’s fine. We’re done. It’ll be better really fast,” said Richard Joswick, global head of near-term oil analysis at S&P Global Energy. “If you open the strait today to get a ship and bring it around and take it to Europe and run a refinery, turn it into products, you’re talking 10 weeks of a lag time here. It will be two to three months before things can start to get back to normal after the straight re-opens.”

Damage to energy infrastructure in the Middle East
Many oil production facilities were damaged in the Middle East, including refineries in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and oil tanker terminals in the United Arab Emirates and Iran. Some repairs has been made, but damage remains.

In addition, some countries slowed down or halted production during the war, because without the ability to ship crude through the Strait of Hormuz, their ships and storage tanks filled up with stranded oil.

“It’s not a light switch. Everyone’s impatient and saying, ‘Go, go go,’” De Haan said. “But it will take time to get these flows of oil through the Middle East fired back up again.”

Once an oil well is turned off, the pressure within the well could change, and it can take time to restart the flow. But that might not be a problem in some Middle East oil fields, where production can be resumed quickly, Lynch said.

“The Saudis have done that a bunch of times. They ramp up by 2 or 3 million barrels a day, almost overnight, and there’s no problem with the wells that have been shut in for months and sometimes years,” Lynch said.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Sky-high ticket prices won’t be the only thing emptying the wallets of soccer fans attending World Cup matches at some U.S. venues this spring.

Fans trying to get to MetLife Stadium from New York City can expect to shell out $150 for a round-trip train fare for each match, transportation officials confirmed Friday.

That’s nearly 12 times the regular $12.90 fare for the roughly 15-minute, 9-mile (14-kilometer) ride from Manhattan’s Penn Station to the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. On-site parking won’t be available for most fans, so New Jersey officials anticipate that around 40,000 fans will use mass transit for each match.

The home stadium for both the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets is set to host eight World Cup matches, including the tournament final on July 19. Group stage matches for soccer powerhouses Brazil, France, Germany and England, along with other nations, begin June 13.

New Jersey officials said the upcharge was necessary to cover the cost of hosting the World Cup on its return to the U.S. for the first time since 1994.

NJ Transit officials said they planned to spend $62 million transporting fans to and from the stadium over the duration of the tournament. Outside grants had defrayed only $14 million of those anticipated expenses. A fare increase was needed to cover the rest, according to NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri.

“This isn’t price gouging,” he told reporters Friday. “We’re literally trying to recoup our costs.”

Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, called on FIFA, international soccer’s governing body, to cover the transportation costs.

“If it won’t, we will not be subsidizing World Cup ticket holders on the backs of New Jerseyans who rely on NJ TRANSIT every day,” she said in a statement.

But FIFA has bristled at the suggestion that it should shoulder New Jersey’s transit costs. On Friday, it pointed to other U.S. host cities, including Los Angeles, Dallas and Houston, that are keeping their transit rates unchanged.

Transit prices in Boston also will be high
One notable exception is Boston, where express buses from various locations to Gillette Stadium, home of the NFL’s New England Patriots, will cost $95, officials announced this week.

Thousands of fans have also already snapped up $80 round-trip train tickets from the Massachusetts capital to the commuter rail station near the stadium, which is located in Foxborough, a town some 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Boston. That’s four times the $20 riders are normally charged for a round-trip ticket during game days and other special events at Gillette.

Meanwhile in Los Angeles, one-way fares will remain $1.75; in Atlanta, they’re locked at $2.50; in Houston, a single ride will still cost $1.25 and in Philadelphia the base fare for the subway will remain $2.90. Kansas City is running shuttles from locations around the city to Arrowhead Stadium that cost just $15 roundtrip.

Some of those cities have noted that the U.S. government has provided some $100 million in transit grants to provide enhanced bus and rail service during the games.

FIFA says fare hike ‘unprecedented’
The soccer federation on Friday warned that New Jersey’s transit pricing could have a “chilling effect.”

It argued that no other global event has been asked to absorb the costs of “arbitrarily set” transit prices and noted that the agreements signed with World Cup host cities back in 2018 called for free transportation for fans to all matches.

“Elevated fares inevitably push fans toward alternative transportation options,” FIFA said in a statement. “This increases concerns of congestion, late arrivals, and creates broader ripple effects that ultimately diminish the economic benefit and lasting legacy the entire region stands to gain from hosting the World Cup.”

The huge fare increase has also drawn protest from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“Charging over $100 for a short train ride sounds awfully high to me,” the Democrat posted on X earlier this week. The surge pricing was first reported by sports outlet The Athletic.

Few other options
Alternatives to taking the train to MetLife Stadium will also be pricey.

Shuttle buses with a capacity for about 10,000 riders will set off from the midtown Manhattan bus terminal and other locations for $80 roundtrip.

Some 5,000 parking spots at the nearby American Dream Mall are also being sold in advance, currently priced at $225.

MetLife Stadium has a huge parking lot, but for World Cup matches much of that space is being used for a fan village, shuttle buses, a staging area and FIFA staff, officials said.

When the stadium hosted the NFL’s Super Bowl under similar conditions in 2014, New Jersey Transit struggled to accommodate an estimated 33,000 passengers leaving the game. Platforms at a train transfer station became jammed with passengers unable to get space on trains. Some waited for hours to get on board.

The Tennessee General Assembly has approved legislation mandating that all official state documents use the term “Judea and Samaria” instead of “West Bank,” advancing the measure under the leadership of State Senator Mark Pody and State Representative Chris Todd.

The initiative followed an organized push by Jewish and Christian leaders, including Evangelical figure Laurie Cardoza-Moore, who serves on the Tennessee Textbook and Instructional Materials Quality Commission.

Those leaders jointly urged lawmakers to adopt legislation that would reflect what they described as historically accurate terminology for geographic regions in the Middle East.

Cardoza-Moore appeared before legislators to advocate for the proposal, which has now cleared the General Assembly and is awaiting Governor Bill Lee’s signature to become law.

Cardoza-Moore, whose Focus on Israel television program reaches a global audience, said, “Judea and Samaria are not just names or political terms – they are a connection to truth, to history, and to our shared Judeo-Christian heritage.”

She further criticized the use of the term West Bank, calling it inconsistent with American values: “When we use the Biblical names, we stand against modern revisionism which seeks to erase that heritage – not only in that Land, but even here in our own Republic.”

Expanding on her argument, she stated, “Judea and Samaria are the Biblical, geographical, historical, and legal terms used for thousands of years to describe the mountains overlooking Israel’s coast. This is the cradle of our Faith. From towns like Shiloh and Bethel, from the plains of Minnesota to the hills of Tennessee, this is not just Jewish history – it is our history.”

She also pointed to legal precedent, saying, “Even international law and early United Nations documents recognized these names – Judea and Samaria – long before the term ‘West Bank’ was introduced after Jordan’s occupation. The name matters. Because history matters.”

In closing remarks, she tied the timing of the legislation to current geopolitical developments, noting cooperation between Israeli and American forces in Iran.

“As the United States and Israel stand together – shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart – in the cause of freedom and liberty, now is the time for us to honor that shared legacy. Let us speak the truth. Let us use the names our faith, our history, and our forefathers recognized – Judea and Samaria,” concluded Cardoza-Moore.

{Matzav.com}

Amazon U.S. has restarted direct deliveries to Israel and reinstated free shipping on orders above $49, following a pause in service during the war. As before the conflict, not all products are eligible for free delivery. Shipping times, however, have lengthened significantly, with orders now expected to arrive in about a month rather than the usual two weeks.

The halt in shipments was largely the result of a sharp decline in flights to Israel during the fighting with Iran. Despite this disruption, many international retailers continued delivering to Israel throughout the war period.

Companies adapted in various ways to maintain service. iHerb continued shipments using a DHL-backed route through Cyprus. Next also kept deliveries going, though with delays, along with other British retailers such as ASOS, Cult Beauty, and Olive Young, a South Korean brand. Some Chinese platforms, including AliExpress, scaled back promotions in an effort to limit demand from Israeli customers. Temu and Shein generally continued shipping as well, though delivery times were slower. In addition, eCargo established an alternative logistics route by flying packages to Dubai and transporting them overland into Israel, creating a temporary air corridor that received approval from the Tax Authority.

At the same time, congestion has developed at Israel’s entry points in recent days. As flight activity picked up, hundreds of thousands of previously ordered packages arrived within a short period. Following the ceasefire, Israeli consumers resumed ordering at an accelerated pace, further increasing the volume of incoming parcels. The surge has led to a backlog in warehouses and placed additional pressure on local delivery networks.

{Matzav.com}

A fast housing solution has been arranged for dozens of Gerer families in Arad whose homes were completely destroyed, with an entire residential building purchased to provide immediate shelter. A kvias mezuzah ceremony was held Friday morning, attended by the community’s rov and organized by askanim of the chassidus together with developers who stepped in to assist.

Following what many described as a clear miracle, in which dozens of families from the Gerer community were saved physically but left without homes in the city of Arad, a practical housing plan was finalized. This morning, a mezuzah-setting ceremony took place in a suitable residential building that will accommodate the families who lost both their homes and all their possessions during the war. The arrangement is intended to provide stability and prevent upheaval until their homes are rebuilt.

As previously reported, members of the local community in Arad have expressed deep gratitude for the miracle that spared many families from direct harm. At the same time, despite the relief over lives saved, dozens of families were left unable to return to their completely destroyed homes. The situation raised fears of prolonged displacement, with families potentially facing years of moving between rental apartments and dealing with exhausting bureaucratic processes.

The idea began to take shape when brokers connected to the chassidus entered negotiations with the building’s owners to purchase several apartments, particularly those equipped with protected rooms. After the war ended, the concept expanded into acquiring the entire building, allowing for immediate relocation of the displaced families until their permanent homes are rebuilt.

It has been learned that the effort was spearheaded by developers Yisrael Mordechai Bornstein and Avraham Gottesman, owners of Capital Gold. In close coordination with Bank Hapoalim, the company provided the necessary guarantees to complete the purchase of the entire residential structure in the city. The building will offer immediate housing for a large portion of the displaced families, sparing them years of uncertainty, rental searches, and instability while waiting for their destroyed homes to be rebuilt.

The mezuzah-setting ceremony, held today with the participation of the Gerer rov in the city, Rav Mordechai Yehuda Volkovitz, marked the beginning of the families’ rebuilding process, under the resonant theme drawn from the prophecy: “Homes will once again be purchased in this land.”

From the moment the missile struck, individuals within the chassidus—including Moti Babchik, Yonasan Bornstein, and Avraham Mordechai Berger—mobilized and dedicated themselves to assisting the displaced families. They have worked tirelessly from the time of the strike until now, addressing every need along the way.

It should be noted that additional families also lost their homes. Some have managed to secure rental apartments, while others require only partial renovations and expect to return sooner. Still, there remain families currently staying with relatives. The community hopes that this initiative will serve as a model, generating momentum for the purchase or rental of additional housing so that every displaced family will ultimately have a place to live.

{Matzav.com}

Two suspects, including a juvenile, were arrested early this morning following a series of vehicle burglaries that led to the recovery of an illegal handgun equipped with a high-capacity drum magazine, police said.

At approximately 3:00 a.m., officers on the midnight shift responded to the area of Lorelei Drive and Virginia Drive following a report of an individual actively burglarizing a vehicle. Patrolman Dan Davison was the first to arrive and encountered the suspect, who immediately fled on foot.

Davison pursued the suspect through backyards and over multiple fences, with Patrolman Ryan Goodspeed joining the chase. The two officers were able to apprehend and secure the suspect shortly thereafter.

Additional officers, along with a supervisor, responded and established a perimeter to secure the area and identify potential victims. Authorities determined that multiple vehicles in the neighborhood had been burglarized. Surveillance footage reviewed at the scene indicated that a second individual was also involved.

As officers continued their investigation, a police K-9 unit was deployed to assist in the search for the second suspect.

During the investigation, officers located a vehicle believed to be connected to the detained suspect parked near the burglary locations. The vehicle’s windows were down, and a handgun was observed on the floorboard. Officers secured the weapon, which was identified as a “ghost gun” outfitted with a 50-round drum magazine. The vehicle was impounded pending a search warrant as authorities seek potential stolen property linked to the burglaries.

A second suspect matching the description from surveillance footage was later located within the secured perimeter. Officers confirmed his involvement through video evidence and took him into custody.

Antonio C. Thompson II, 22, of Trenton, was arrested and charged with multiple counts of burglary, weapons offenses, obstruction, and resisting arrest. He was lodged in the Monmouth County Jail.

The second suspect, a 15-year-old male from Trenton, was charged with multiple counts of burglary and weapons offenses and was transported to the Middlesex County Youth Detention Facility.

The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities remind the public that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Amid ongoing High Court deliberations and a shocking remark by an attorney who said, “we will dismantle the Olam HaTorah,” Rosh Yeshiva Hagaon HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman delivered a sharp and forceful response from his home.

Speaking to a group of yeshiva bochurim who came to visit him, the Rosh Yeshiva addressed the controversy surrounding the recent discussions at the Supreme Court of Israel regarding the issue of drafting chareidim.

His remarks follow reports that during a break in one of the hearings, an attorney representing petitioners was inadvertently caught on an open microphone declaring: “we will dismantle the Torah world.”

Responding to the outrage, the Rosh Yeshiva issued strong words of chizuk and defiance.

“There is a group sitting in Jerusalem in the court, where they are saying ‘they will destroy the Torah world’—this is their exact language.

So they should know, and everyone should know, that nothing will help them. ‘No weapon formed against you shall succeed.’ The Torah world will continue on and on, and nothing will help them.

We will stand strong and not be afraid of them. And you should strengthen yourselves in Torah and yiras Shamayim, and HaKadosh Baruch Hu will save us from them and from anyone who seeks to destroy the Torah world.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

British police have launched an investigation into an unusual security incident near the Israeli embassy in London after several suspicious items were discovered in the area. According to Reuters, a video circulated online showing a group claiming it had directed drones carrying hazardous materials toward the embassy, though authorities emphasized that the embassy itself was not attacked.

British law enforcement is examining the incident, which prompted an increased police presence after multiple items were reportedly thrown in the vicinity. The investigation is being handled by London’s counterterrorism unit, which is also reviewing a video released overnight in which a group calling itself “Ashab al-Yamin” claimed responsibility for an attempted strike on the embassy using drones.

According to reports, the group alleged that it had sent two drones carrying “dangerous and carcinogenic radioactive material” toward the Israeli embassy. However, British authorities and the Foreign Office clarified that there is currently no indication that the embassy itself was struck. The Foreign Office stated that “a suspected security incident in the park adjacent to the Israeli embassy in London is being examined,” adding that all embassy staff are safe and the compound was not harmed.

The incident led to the closure of sections of Kensington Gardens near the embassy. Police vehicles, a white tent, and officers wearing white protective suits were seen at the scene as teams examined several suspicious items found on the ground. The Metropolitan Police said the heightened presence was a precaution and urged the public to avoid the area until inspections are complete.

In a statement, police said that “officers are examining a number of items that were thrown,” noting that some personnel are wearing protective equipment as part of the response. At the same time, officials stressed that there is currently no indication of an increased risk to the general public.

Reuters reported that investigators are now working to determine whether there is any connection between the items found at the scene and the video circulated online. The inquiry remains ongoing, but British authorities are signaling that despite the unusual nature of the incident and the claims involving hazardous materials, there is no evidence at this stage of a successful attack on the embassy.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump on Friday sharply criticized Tucker Carlson, calling him a “low IQ person” while amplifying a report suggesting the commentator’s popularity among Republicans has dropped significantly.

In a Truth Social post, Trump ridiculed Carlson and other media figures who have recently taken issue with his policies—particularly regarding Iran—writing: “It’s easy! Tucker is a Low IQ person — Always easy to beat, and highly overrated!!!”

The president also singled out Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones, contrasting their criticism with what he described as “VERY GOOD” voices that support the MAGA movement.

The comments come as tensions continue to grow between Trump and the former Fox News host, with disagreements centering largely on foreign policy.

Carlson has openly questioned Trump’s handling of Iran, while the president and his allies have maintained that their approach is necessary to stop Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

In a separate Truth Social post dated April 9, Trump escalated the criticism, accusing Carlson and others of effectively aligning with Iran by opposing U.S. strategy.

He argued that their positions are disconnected from the MAGA base and dismissed them as “losers” trying to gain attention through podcast platforms.

“They think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon,” Trump wrote, adding that their positions run counter to the agenda that propelled him to a decisive election victory.

At the same time, new polling data cited by CNN’s Harry Enten indicates Carlson’s support among Republicans has fallen sharply.

A survey from UMass Lowell shows Carlson’s net favorability among Republicans and GOP-leaning independents dropping steeply—from +54 earlier in 2024 to just +7 as of Friday.

Trump, by contrast, continues to hold a commanding position within the party, with a net favorability rating of +61 in the same poll, giving him a 54-point lead over Carlson.

“When you go up against Donald Trump and you want to appeal to the Republican base, to quote the movie ‘Good Burger,’ you go in the grinder,” Enten said, describing Carlson’s sharp decline, Mediaite reported.

The figures underscore a broader point raised by many conservatives: Trump’s influence within the Republican base remains firmly intact, even as prominent media voices attempt to challenge him.

The dispute also highlights deeper divisions within conservative media, particularly over questions of foreign policy and the United States’ role on the global stage.

While some commentators have called for a more restrained approach, Trump and his supporters have stressed the need for strength and deterrence, especially in dealing with adversaries such as Iran.

For Trump, the line appears clearly drawn—commitment to the MAGA agenda and backing his leadership continue to define standing within the Republican Party.

{Matzav.com}

One of the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted women has been arrested, the agency said. Missourian KaShawn Nicola Roper, 50, of Kansas City, was arrested in High Springs, Florida, on Wednesday by the High Springs Police Department. She was wanted for her alleged involvement in a shooting on Aug. 23, 2020, in Kansas City, where she is accused of firing at a car with two women in it, one of whom was killed.

She was charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and unlawful use of a weapon in Jackson County, Missouri in 2020 and a federal warrant for her arrest was put out the following year after a further charge of unlawful flight. She was added to the 10 Most Wanted list on Tuesday, with a $1 million reward for anyone with information.

“The High Springs Police Department commends the strong collaboration between local and federal law enforcement partners in this case,” said High Springs Police Chief Antoine Sheppard. “This outcome reflects the importance of coordinated efforts, shared intelligence, and mutual trust in protecting our communities. We are especially proud of the professionalism and vigilance demonstrated by our HSPD officers during a routine traffic stop.” Read more at the FBI.

British authorities have charged a fourth suspect in the firebombing of four Hatzolah ambulances in north-west London.

Prosecutors on Friday said Judex Atshatshi, an 18-year-old from Dagenham in east London, faces one count of arson with intent to damage property and recklessness as to whether life would be endangered. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday.

The charges stem from a March 23 blaze in the Golders Green neighborhood that destroyed four Hatzolah ambulances. The early-morning attack triggered explosions from gas canisters stored inside the vehicles and caused an estimated £1 million in damage, according to court proceedings.

Atshatshi was arrested on April 16 after officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command executed warrants at two addresses in east London. A second 18-year-old detained the same day on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life has since been released on bail pending further inquiries, with a court date set for July.

Three other suspects — Hamza Iqbal, 20, and Rehan Khan, 19, both from Leyton, along with a 17-year-old boy from Walthamstow who holds dual British-Pakistani nationality — were charged earlier this month with arson offenses and remain in custody.

The involvement of counterterrorism detectives underscores the sensitivity of the case, though authorities have not publicly detailed a motive. The attack has drawn scrutiny from community leaders and lawmakers amid broader concerns about security for Jewish institutions in the U.K.

Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime and counter terrorism division, said prosecutors had worked closely with police throughout the investigation.

“We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are active and that they have the right to a fair trial,” Ferguson said in a statement. “It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Ford has recalled more than one million trucks from its flagship pick-up range. Some 1,392,935 F-150s are thought to have been affected by a transmission issue that can cause them to leap back down to second gear.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a notice Tuesday saying that the “Affected vehicles are equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission and were built between March 12, 2014, and Aug. 18, 2017.” The NHTSA said the Goliath car manufacturer is aware of two incidents that have led to injury and one accident “potentially related to this concern.”

The agency added in its note that the “signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear.” It added that “faults can result in a maximum unintended downshift from 6th gear to 2nd gear.” Affected motorists can visit any dealership of the Dearborn, Michigan, manufacturer or Lincoln to have repairs carried out or replacement parts fitted, CBS reports. Read more at National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Submitted PSA: I bought these lollies for my kids and they’re all coming off. If you’re giving them to your children, be sure to supervise them, as it can potentially be a choking hazard.

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President Donald Trump on Friday issued a forceful warning to Israel, making clear that the United States is directing the terms of the current 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and expects full compliance.

“Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!” the president wrote in a sharply worded Truth Social post Friday.

Trump also dismissed reports suggesting that a financial component could be part of negotiations to end the war with Iran, following claims that the U.S. was weighing the release of $20 billion in frozen Iranian assets in exchange for Tehran giving up its enriched uranium stockpile.

“No money will exchange hands in any way, shape, or form,” he pledged.

“The deal is in no way subject to Lebanon, either, but the USA will, separately, work with Lebanon, and deal with the Hezboolah [sic] situation in an appropriate manner,” he wrote.

Trump’s remarks directed at Israel came shortly after Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu indicated that Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah is not yet complete and that additional action may still be necessary to achieve its objectives.

“One hand holds a weapon; the other is extended for peace,” Netanyahu said in a video statement explaining Israel would honor 10-day cease-fire at the behest of President Trump.

At the same time, Netanyahu signaled that further operations could be forthcoming.

“I will say honestly, we have not yet finished the job,” Netanyahu added. “There are things we plan to do regarding the remaining rocket threat and the drone threat, which I will not detail.”

He also cautioned that fully dismantling the Iran-backed group will take time and cannot be accomplished immediately.

“This will not be achieved tomorrow. It requires sustained effort, patience, and careful navigation in the diplomatic arena.”

In response to concerns about antisemitism, New York Governor Kathy Hochul is advancing a plan to add protections and budgets for religious communities in New York State. The proposal includes an increase in funding for security measures, as well as new laws to create buffer zones around houses of worship, to prevent harassment and intimidation.

This idea comes alongside recently released statewide data showing 696 hate crimes between January and November 2025, of which 418 targeted Jews, roughly 51% of all incidents. That translates to an average of 1.26 antisemitic incidents per day, the numbers show a persistent threat facing the Jewish community.

Belgian military personnel armed with FN SCAR assault rifles stand guard outside a synagogue in central Antwerp as part of Belgium’s reinforced security measures established at Jewish schools and synagogues, on March 23, 2026. A car was set on fire on March 23 in Antwerp’s Jewish quarter, in Belgium, and two minors who were quickly arrested are suspected of participating in the activities of a terrorist group, the port city’s public prosecutor said.
On March 9, 2026, an explosion shook a synagogue in the Belgian city of Liege before dawn, causing some damage but no injuries. The series of attacks on synagogues comes after the launch of the US-Israeli war on Iran, a conflict that has since broadened across the Middle East. (Photo by JOHN THYS / AFP via Getty Images)

Hochul’s plan includes an additional $35 million in funding for nonprofits and communities that face hate crimes, doubling the current allocation of $35 million already in place. This funding is intended to help institutions strengthen both physical and digital security.

Eligible organizations would be able to apply for grants of up to $250,000, which can be used for a wide range of protective measures, including locks, alarms, panic buttons, fencing, cybersecurity upgrades, and shatter resistant glass. According to the governor’s office, applications for the grants are due by July 8, with awards expected to be announced in the fall.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 9: A security guard stands watch in front of a synagogue on October 9, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Security is being increased at synagogues after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a massive surprise attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images)

In addition to financial measures, Hochul is adding legislation to start a 25-foot buffer zone around houses of worship, to prevent protests or disturbances from taking place directly outside synagogues and other religious sites. Many Jewish leaders and Rabbonim have welcomed the increased protections, while civil liberties groups are upset about the impacts on free speech.

Today in France, you can poison Jewish children, make antisemitic comments and not get charged with a hate crime. That’s the outcome of the case against an Algerian woman identified only as Leila Y., who worked for a Jewish family in Nanterre, France.

The dead giveaway for the family was the strong chemical smell emanating from the children’s juice bottles. Thankfully, no one was harmed, but the family pressed charges.

The 42-year-old nanny confessed to pouring toilet cleaner into the children’s juice bottles and even the parents’ bottles of wine in a police interview. She also told investigators, unprompted, that “because they have money and power, I should never have worked for a Jewish woman, she only brought me problems.” Later, she claimed that she confessed under duress.

A baby drinking a bottle, for illustrative purposes only. (Photo by Anke Thomass/Ullstein bild via Getty Images)

Leila Y. didn’t get away with attempted murder completely. She was convicted of attempted poisoning and lightly sentenced to just two and half years in prison. But antisemitism was dismissed as an aggravating circumstance — because she made the statement without a lawyer present, despite the court’s acknowledgement that the statement was indeed antisemitic.

The family appealed to a higher court, but things only got worse from there. Not only did the Versailles Court of Appeals uphold the lower court’s ruling, but it also said that the nanny’s antisemitic statement wasn’t even antisemitic.

The family’s lawyers, Patrick Klugman and Sacha Ghozlan, explained why the ruling was so nefarious:

“This decision makes the judicial repression of antisemitism impossible and turns the text of laws, which are supposed to be protective, into mere meaningless scraps of paper,” the lawyers said. “Faced with such a decision, litigants risk losing all forms of trust and protection from the judicial system.”

Indeed, the Versailles Court of Appeals has just made it harder to fight antisemitism in France, having robbed the word of all its meaning.

Leaders in France and the United Kingdom on Friday responded positively to the announcement by Iran and the United States that the Strait of Hormuz has reopened, while stressing that safe and unrestricted passage through the vital oil corridor must be secured on a permanent basis following disruptions caused by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said they will continue preparing a multinational effort aimed at restoring maritime stability. Starmer indicated the initiative would be launched “as soon as conditions allow,” adding that military officials are scheduled to convene in London next week to advance planning.

After hosting a meeting involving roughly 50 nations and international bodies, Macron declared that “we all demand the full, immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by all parties.”

While those discussions were taking place, President Donald Trump and Iran’s foreign minister separately confirmed that the waterway had been reopened to commercial traffic. Markets reacted quickly, with oil prices dropping after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that shipping lanes would remain “completely open” during a 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon.

At the same time, Trump emphasized that U.S. military pressure would not be lifted immediately, stating in a social media post that the naval blockade of Iranian vessels and ports would continue “UNTIL SUCH TIME AS OUR TRANSACTION WITH IRAN IS 100% COMPLETE.”

Starmer welcomed the development with caution, saying the arrangement must evolve into “both lasting and a workable proposal.”

The Paris gathering reflects broader efforts by countries not directly involved in the conflict to reduce its economic fallout. The war, which began on Feb. 28 when Iran effectively closed the narrow strait through which about 20% of the world’s oil supply flows, triggered a sharp spike in energy prices and widespread economic strain.

The United States is not participating in the proposed operation, known as the Strait of Hormuz Maritime Freedom of Navigation Initiative. Macron described it as “a neutral mission, entirely separate from the belligerents to escort and secure the merchant ships transiting the Gulf.”

Starmer, dealing with domestic political pressures, arrived at the Elysee Palace for the meeting, where he was welcomed by Macron. Among those attending in person were German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Other world leaders—including those from Australia, Canada, South Korea, and Ukraine—as well as officials from China and India, joined virtually.

Starmer said that, similar to previous multinational security arrangements, Britain and France would spearhead a coalition to safeguard maritime movement once conditions permit.

“This will be strictly peaceful and defensive, as a mission to reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance,” he said.

He added that more than a dozen nations have committed resources so far, though participation remains smaller than earlier coalition efforts in the region.

The U.K. has explored deploying mine-detection drones launched from the support ship RFA Lyme Bay as part of the effort.

The conflict has underscored the reduced capabilities of the Royal Navy, which has sent only one major vessel—the destroyer HMS Dragon—to the eastern Mediterranean. France, by contrast, has dispatched its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier along with additional naval assets, including a helicopter carrier and several frigates.

Meloni said Italy is prepared to assist, stating she had offered her country’s “willingness to make its naval units available,” while Merz said Germany could contribute to mine-clearing and maritime intelligence, provided it receives parliamentary approval and a ″secure legal basis″ such as a U.N. Security Council resolution.

He added that Germany, ″if possible, would also like to see the United States of America participate; we believe this would be desirable.″

That stance differs from Macron’s position that the mission should consist of countries not directly involved in the conflict.

According to Macron’s office, coalition members could take on roles including “intelligence, mine-clearing capabilities, military escorts (and) communication procedures with coastal states.”

Sidharth Kaushal, a sea power specialist at the Royal United Services Institute, said the coalition is more likely to focus on clearing mines and establishing maritime warning systems than on escorting oil tankers through the strait.

“You need huge numbers of vessels for that sort of thing, which nobody has,” he said.

Ellie Geranmayeh, an Iran expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said European nations may be better positioned to handle mine-clearing operations than the United States.

“They would be a better party to do this than the United States, because once you have U.S. military doing this and lingering on Iranian shores, it creates a potential arena for Iran and the U.S. to have miscalculations and get back into a sort of military tension,” she said.

The initiative also reflects a response to criticism from Trump, who has sharply rebuked allies for not taking part in the conflict, calling them “cowards,” saying NATO “wasn’t there when we needed them” and telling Britain: “You don’t even have a navy.”

Kaushal said European governments are likely seeking “to demonstrate the ability to provide security in a way that’s distinct from, if not completely separate from, the U.S. and which also demonstrates a capacity for independent action.”

“How many states actually have spare capacity to offer to this is a pretty open question.”

Trump signaled skepticism toward European involvement, referencing NATO rather than the proposed coalition.

“Now that the Hormuz Strait situation is over, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL,” he posted on social media.

“They were useless when needed, a Paper Tiger!”

{Matzav.com}

The Lakewood Fire Department (LFD) and Ocean County Fire Marshal’s Office (OCFM) are advising the public about the application permit process and safety regulations for Lag BaOmer bonfires on May 4 and 5, 2026.

• No bonfire may be held without a proper permit and compliance with safety regulations.
• Permit applications can be obtained from OCFM, by downloading it from their website or by calling 732-370-7360.
• Application forms must be filled out in full, with typed wording. No handwritten or other application form will be accepted.
• Application forms, along with a $54 permit fee payment can be submitted to OCFM in person; by mail; or email no later than 10 business days before the bonfire is scheduled to be held.
• Alternatively, application forms can be obtained and submitted in person at LFD headquarters, located at 733 Cedar Bridge Avenue, Monday-Friday, April 27 through May 1  from 10:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
• Onsite staff and computers will assist applicants with filling out their applications in the proper manner.
• No permit application can be considered if submitted past the above time period.
• Please view this file for more details regarding the permit application process and onsite safety regulations.

Lakewood Township Committeeman and Emergency Services Liaison Meir Lichtenstein, said, “Once again, thanks to the Lakewood Fire Department, Ocean County Fire Marshal’s office, and other public safety officials and organizations for working together so diligently over the past months. These efforts, along with

the public’s cooperation, will help ensure that the celebrations will be both safe and enjoyable for all.”

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israeli troops carried out a last-minute special operation in southern Lebanon, seizing control of a strategic ridge just before a ceasefire with Hezbollah took effect, the Israel Defense Forces said.

The Israeli Air Force’s elite Shaldag unit landed on the so-called Cristofani Ridge, located several kilometers north of Mount Hermon, and established control of the area, according to the military.

Special forces landed minutes before the ceasefire went into effect, the IDF said. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who approved the raid, observed the operation from the Israel Air Force’s command center alongside IAF chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar.

The military described the ridge as a key position, though it provided no further details on its strategic importance or the full scope of the operation.

The ceasefire aims to halt more than a year of intense fighting between Israel and Hezbollah that began after the Iran-backed group launched attacks in support of Hamas following the Oct. 7, 2023, assault on Israel.

No immediate comment was available from Hezbollah or Lebanese officials.

The Sanzer Rebbe delivered an impassioned address at a tish marking the yahrtzeit of the founder of the dynasty, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, focusing on the extraordinary miracles witnessed during the recent war with Iran and the obligation to recognize and thank Hashem for them.

“We must reflect—we are going through a turbulent time. Everyone sees that these are not normal days. We always thought things weren’t normal, but a situation like what we are experiencing now has never happened. This is a clear reality,” the Rebbe began.

“According to the natural order, there is no explanation for what has taken place. One can only thank the Creator of the world for the tremendous signs and wonders when one reflects on them. There are no words sufficient to describe the miracles. We must give thanks day and night and rejoice in the Creator of the world for the Heavenly protection and defense,” the Rebbe continued.

“Nothing here follows the natural order. There is no natural explanation. When a person reflects even a little, every soul is an entire world, and we see the forces of evil that prepared their weapons and tools of destruction—there is no way to be saved from this through nature, only through the kindness of Hashem, Who poured out His wrath on wood and stones. There is no logical explanation for what is happening. One can clearly see the Divine providence present every single day.”

At this point, the Rebbe addressed what he described as a spiritual failing in how events are being interpreted. “But there is something else. Instead of all Jews going out into the streets and crying out, ‘Hashem is G-d, there is none besides Him,’ people say: there was a good interception, the ‘Arrow’ system intercepted. Trump is helping us. This too is part of the concealment of Hashem’s presence—to find explanations that shift our focus away from where the true supervision comes from.”

“Indeed, the time has not yet come when it will be seen openly, ‘Hashem will fight for you and you will remain silent.’ Therefore, there is still a dividing curtain that conceals, so that it should not be seen. And there are many who err and do not believe. But we—believers, the children of believers—are upright Jews who know that there is nothing besides the Holy One, blessed be He, Who does everything in the world. Everything is from Him—the great things and the small.”

The Rebbe concluded with a call for strengthening emunah and preparedness for the Geulah. “Therefore, we must thank Hashem. We are seeing revelations the likes of which we have never seen. One can tangibly perceive that the Creator protects His people, watches over His children. This is the time to strengthen ourselves more in faith and trust. We need siyata d’Shmaya, so that we will not be ashamed when Moshiach arrives—he can come at any moment.”

“Our holy sages said that when one sees injustice and evil in the world, each person must try to strengthen himself in Torah and Yiddishkeit, to reinforce the boundaries of holiness. We see that this is a war for Hashem against Amalek, from generation to generation. This is what stands against Israel. And this is the greatest war—to delay the Geulah, the attempt to harm the sanctity of Israel.”

“Therefore, each person should declare: I am preparing myself, I am correcting myself, I am establishing a fixed time for Torah study, I am accepting upon myself safeguards and boundaries. I want more holiness, I want righteous children, sons and daughters who are modest in holiness and purity. I want to prepare myself so that when Moshiach comes, I will be able to show my share in bringing the redemption—that this merit should protect us,” the Rebbe concluded.

Governor Mikie Sherrill today announced new funding in her proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget aimed at expanding New Jersey’s universal newborn home nurse visitation program, with plans to make the service available statewide by January 2027.

The funding would support the growth of Family Connects NJ, a program that offers free in-home visits from specially trained registered nurses to families with newborns. During visits, nurses conduct health screenings, provide guidance, connect families with community resources, and help ensure a safe and healthy transition home.

Since launching, the program has served more than 10,000 families across participating counties. It is currently available throughout South Jersey and in most parts of Central and North Jersey, including counties such as Monmouth and Ocean.

Under the proposed budget, nearly $49 million would be allocated to expand the program into the remaining counties—Union, Hunterdon, Morris, and Warren—completing a statewide rollout. If implemented, New Jersey would become the first state in the nation to offer universal, free nurse home visits to all families with newborns.

The announcement was made during a visit to CAMcare Health, where the governor also recognized Black Maternal Health Week and highlighted ongoing disparities in maternal health outcomes.

According to state data, pregnancy-related mortality rates remain significantly higher for Black and Hispanic women compared to white women. Officials say programs like Family Connects NJ are designed to help close these gaps by providing early intervention and support.

“For too long, Black women have disproportionately struggled to access critical maternal health care, resulting in dangerous disparities within our State’s public health ecosystem and contributing to shocking maternal mortality rates. This is unacceptable and New Jersey mothers deserve better – but thankfully, New Jersey is on the right path forward,” said Governor Sherrill. “My budget invests in New Jersey families, providing them with the tools and resources they need to thrive. By expanding our free nurse home visitation program – Family Connects NJ – and continuing investments to support our work to combat maternal mortality, we are building a better future for our residents.”

State officials say early results from the program show measurable impact. In about 18 percent of visits, nurses identified serious postpartum health concerns requiring immediate attention, helping connect families to care sooner.

In addition to expanding home visitation services, the proposed FY27 budget includes continued funding for maternal and infant health initiatives, including extended postpartum Medicaid coverage for up to 365 days, workforce development, and data-driven health programs.

If approved, the expansion would mark a significant milestone in New Jersey’s efforts to improve maternal and infant health outcomes statewide

Rep. John Rose, a Republican from Tennessee, sharply criticized Sen. Bernie Sanders’ stance on the Iran conflict, saying the Vermont senator’s rhetoric “border on being antisemitic” during a Friday appearance on Newsmax.

Speaking on “Wake Up America Early” with host Alex Kraemer, Rose took issue with Sanders’ opposition to U.S. backing of Israel and military steps related to Iran, arguing that Sanders is presenting a misleading picture of the situation.

“As I listen to Sen. Sanders’ comments, I think they border on being antisemitic,” Rose said. “This is not about Israel, and Israel is not somehow driving the ship.
“The president has taken us down this road of action toward Iran to stop them from getting nuclear weapons and the capacity to deliver them to our country.”

Earlier in the week, Sanders contended that Americans “do not want us to continue spending billions” in support of what he described as the “illegal, horrific, and expansionist war policies” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Rose rejected that framing, insisting the issue at hand is centered on defending the United States and its allies rather than aligning with any particular foreign government.

“This is about protecting America … and protecting the rest of the world,” Rose said, adding that previous administrations had failed to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

He went on to praise President Donald Trump for what he described as decisive leadership in confronting Tehran, contrasting it with what he called years of ineffective policy under both parties.

According to Rose, Trump made multiple efforts to reach a diplomatic agreement with Iran before resorting to more forceful measures.

“He tried desperately to negotiate … but they refused to negotiate in good faith,” Rose said.

The exchange comes as lawmakers in Washington remain split over the extent of U.S. involvement in the growing confrontation with Iran.

Earlier this week, the House narrowly defeated a war powers resolution that sought to curb the president’s authority, falling short by a single vote and highlighting divisions within Congress.

Rose also weighed in on broader disputes in Washington, including the ongoing government shutdown and disagreements over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

He accused Senate Democrats of blocking funding initiatives and advancing policies that, in his view, endanger the public.

“Democrats in the Senate, led by, you know, Leader [Chuck] Schumer, are determined to defund the police,” Rose said, arguing they are placing “the safety and security of Americans behind protecting criminal illegal aliens.”

The Tennessee congressman additionally pointed to what he described as a wider lack of accountability on Capitol Hill, referencing former California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell amid reports of alleged misconduct.

“It’s good to see him being held accountable,” Rose said, suggesting Democrats had previously shielded Swalwell for political reasons.

As tensions over Iran continue to rise alongside deepening domestic political divisions, Rose’s comments reflect the increasingly sharp partisan disagreements shaping both U.S. foreign policy and internal debates in Washington.

NEW YORK (VINnews) – Speaking to WABC-TV, a Westchester County pizzeria owner said he was targeted and harassed outside his shop because of his faith, prompting an outpouring of local support.

Isaac Garson, who owns a pizza shop in Hastings-on-Hudson, said a group gathered outside his store holding signs and chanting political slogans. He said they pressured him to repeat their message, which he instead saying he supports peace.

Garson said the encounter escalated, leaving him shaken, especially after members of the group expressed support for the Oct. 7, 2023 attack — the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.

“It hurt,” Garson said, adding that he never expected such hostility in a small, close-knit community.

In response, residents rallied around him, with a steady stream of customers visiting the shop in a show of solidarity. One community member said the owner has long supported local families and that the town would not tolerate harassment.

Mayor Thomas Drake said authorities are investigating the incident. He described it as part of a broader pattern of testing the limits of free speech, adding that such actions can cause real harm within a community.

The confrontation was recorded and shared online.

A dramatic development has emerged in Yerushalayim after authorities revealed that a woman who had been missing since 2008 has been found dead. Following a court order lifting a publication ban, the victim was identified as Ruth Abramov, 74, whose body was discovered last week in a storage facility near Gan Sacher in a central area of the city.

Abramov had been missing for many years, and despite extensive efforts by Israeli police to locate her since her disappearance, she remained unaccounted for until now. The circumstances surrounding her death have not yet been determined.

As part of the investigation, a man in his 70s was taken into custody on suspicion of involvement in the case. However, after several days of questioning, he was released. His attorney, Gabi Tronishvili of the Public Defender’s Office, stated that his client cooperated fully with investigators and denied any connection to the death.

According to his lawyer: “Today, after eight days in custody, an elderly and innocent man who maintained his version throughout was released. From the very first moment, he made it clear that he was the one who called emergency services immediately upon finding the deceased, and that he did not cause her death.”

Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident in an effort to solve the long-standing mystery.

tive or medical equipment, such as sunglasses and similar items.

The proposal builds on a series of actions Hochul has pursued to reduce cooperation between New York officials and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as tensions continue to rise over federal immigration enforcement efforts.

Earlier this year, in January, Hochul put forward legislation designed to block local police departments and correctional facilities from assisting federal authorities with civil immigration enforcement, arguing that such involvement pulls resources away from addressing local crime and damages public trust.

That earlier push came amid heightened national attention on immigration enforcement practices, including a widely reported incident in Minneapolis in which federal agents killed two U.S. citizens, fueling further debate over deportation policies and law enforcement conduct.

Hochul’s latest move comes as she works with New York’s Democratic-controlled Legislature on a broader package of immigration-related proposals, where lawmakers remain divided over the extent to which the state should limit cooperation with federal authorities.

The governor, who is running for reelection in November 2026, has increasingly promoted policies aimed at protecting undocumented immigrants, who number in the hundreds of thousands across New York.

Her broader agenda includes expanding the list of so-called sensitive locations where civil immigration enforcement cannot take place without a judicial warrant, as well as establishing new legal avenues for residents to bring lawsuits against federal officials over alleged constitutional violations.

The effort reflects a wider pattern among Democratic governors seeking to counter stricter federal immigration enforcement policies, which were a central component of Trump’s 2024 campaign.

At the same time, Hochul’s approach has sparked debate within her own party, particularly over whether local law enforcement should ever share information with federal immigration authorities.

“There’s no public safety justification for local and state law enforcement sharing immigration information with ICE,” said Democratic state Sen. Julia Salazar.

Hochul defended the proposal, saying it would create a baseline level of protection while still allowing municipalities to adopt more aggressive measures if they choose.

“Any municipality can go as far as they want in terms of protecting New York residents from ICE,” she said. “We’re establishing basically a floor.”

JERUSALEM (JNS) – More than 50,000 participants registered for the 15th International Jerusalem “Winner” Marathon, held Friday under the theme “Am Yisrael Runs,” in an event marked by a more subdued atmosphere than usual amid the ongoing war.

The event took place as a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel brokered by the United States began. The 26.2-mile race was canceled, while other runs were moved to earlier in the morning, due to an expected heatwave and dusty conditions.

Alame Haimro, 36, from Karnei Shomron, won the men’s half-marathon with a time of 1:07:31.

Bika Mintamer, 34, from Ramat Hasharon, finished first in the women’s race with a time of 01:24:29.

Runners from around the world—including the United States, China, Argentina, the Philippines, South Africa and the Netherlands—joined Israeli participants at the starting line near the Knesset.

Josh Lampel from Los Angeles traveled to Israel specifically to run his first full marathon in Jerusalem. After arriving earlier in the week, he completed the half-marathon course twice—once in reverse—to achieve the full distance after the official marathon race was canceled.

Originally scheduled for March 27, the event was postponed due to the war and later adjusted again, with start times moved earlier in the day. This year’s race included five categories: a half-marathon, 10-kilometer race, 5-kilometer race, 1.7-kilometer family race and an 800-meter community race.

International participation was affected by the security situation. Shalva—The Israel Association for Care and Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, one of approximately 30 partner organizations, typically brings between 400 and 600 runners from abroad. This year, those participants were unable to attend, though Shalva representatives were present at Sacher Park with team members participating in other race categories.

ADI Disability Rehabilitation and Care Center residents did not participate in the community race this year, but the ADI Fleet inclusive running team returned in significant numbers.

Many runners said wartime conditions disrupted months of training, requiring physical and emotional adjustments.

“This hasn’t been just ‘three extra weeks to train,’” said Ilana Guttman, an experienced runner and coach who participated in the 10K with the Capital Runners club. “It significantly disrupts the entire training cycle.

“Aside from perhaps the coronavirus pandemic, this has been an unprecedentedly challenging time to train,” she told JNS. “But our national spirit is to push forward under difficult circumstances, and that’s what every runner at the starting line is doing.”

Yaakov Zimmerman, a former lone soldier from New Jersey who has spent more than 800 days in reserve duty with a commando unit, ran his fourth marathon with the Michael Levin Base.

“The postponement disrupted both my routine and my motivation,” he said. “But I’ve learned through my army service that resilience is built in the hardest moments. Everything is in the mind.”

Franco S., a recently discharged lone soldier from Argentina in the process of making aliyah, said the race represented both a personal milestone and connection to the support network that assisted him during his service.

“I still had hope it would happen, and here we are,” he said, noting the significance of running with the Lone Soldier Center in Memory of Michael Levin.

Yaffi Shmidman, a longtime participant, said frequent air-raid sirens and the need to remain close to bomb shelters made consistent training difficult. She ran with two of her children for Yachad, while her husband ran for Darkaynu.

“Running is how I decompress,” she said. “Not having that outlet, on top of everything else, definitely raised my stress levels.”

Sahar Schatzberg, an eighth-grade student from Kibbutz Hamadia, participated in her first Jerusalem Marathon event with the OneFamily organization, alongside about 200 teenagers who have lost relatives to terrorist attacks or war. Her brother Almog Shalom was killed in Gaza in June 2024 when a booby-trapped building collapsed on his unit.

“The war has made me really stressed and anxious,” she said. “But despite everything, it was important for me to show up and run. In times like these, we need to remind ourselves of the strength we have.”

Former hostage joins Jerusalem mayor

Among the runners was former Gaza hostage Rom Braslavski, who started the 10-kilometer race alongside Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion.

Lion said the event symbolized perseverance during a challenging period.

“This year, the International Jerusalem ‘Winner’ Marathon is about more than just a race,” Lion said. “Standing at the starting line sends a clear message: Jerusalem keeps moving forward.

“I am moved to see thousands of runners—locals, Israelis and participants from around the world—standing together, reflecting strength and resilience, especially now,” he added.

“To the world, we say: Jerusalem keeps running forward, stronger and more determined than ever. I invite everyone to return next year and join us again.”

The Trump administration has moved to withdraw $74 million in federal highway funding from New York, citing the state’s refusal to comply with directives to remove certain immigrant truck drivers with expired work authorization from the roads.

According to a report by The NY Post, the U.S. Department of Transportation sent a sharply worded letter Thursday to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Department of Motor Vehicles warning that failure to address the issue could result in an additional $147 million in highway grants being withheld.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the funding cut reflects a broader commitment to enforcing safety standards and holding state leaders accountable.

“I promised the American people I would hold any state leader accountable for failing to keep them safe from unvetted, unqualified foreign drivers. I’m delivering on that promise today by refusing to fund Governor Hochul’s dangerous, anti-American policies,” US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy told The NY Post in a statement.

“My message to New York’s far left leadership is clear: families must be prioritized on American roads.”

Federal officials contend that the New York DMV has not followed earlier instructions to review thousands of commercial driver’s licenses and revoke those issued to non-residents whose work permits have expired.

The letter states that the agency “refuses” to comply with those requirements, despite repeated warnings from Washington.

A prior review conducted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that out of roughly 32,000 commercial licenses issued in New York to non-residents, about half had expiration dates extending well beyond the validity of the drivers’ work authorization.

“New York’s continued refusal to fix these failures undermines that mission, and we will not allow federal dollars to support a system that falls short of the law,” FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs said.

The federal action comes against the backdrop of several serious crashes involving migrant truck drivers, including a fatal incident in Florida last year that claimed three lives.

According to federal officials, New York DMV staff acknowledged that commercial licenses are often granted for up to eight years by default, even when a driver’s work authorization is valid for a much shorter period.

In response to federal pressure, the state halted the issuance of new commercial licenses to non-resident drivers in February, following stricter guidance from the Trump administration.

However, New York has taken the position that it is not legally obligated to retroactively review previously issued licenses under the updated federal standards, a stance outlined in the letter.

“FMCSA is deeply disappointed by DMV’s refusal to take the necessary corrective actions set forth in the Preliminary Determination,” the letter states. “The withholding of Federal funds is the direct and necessary consequence of New York’s own actions and its demonstrated disregard for Federal safety standards.”

State officials have pushed back strongly, arguing that the federal government’s claims are unfounded and politically motivated.

“These charges are a baseless attempt to attack blue states, because as everyone knows New York simply follows federally-issued rules when issuing commercial drivers licenses, something that even the Trump Administration has acknowledged,” Hochul spokesperson Sean Butler told The Post noting the FMCSA hadn’t taken issues with the state’s CDL program during Trump’s first administration.

“This continues a year long pattern of Secretary Duffy threatening to withhold money that keeps our roads, subways, and other infrastructure safe for New Yorkers. We will fight back, and once again we will win,” Hochul’s flak continued.

Federal officials noted in the letter that the DMV did provide documentation showing that five of six previously flagged drivers had valid proof of lawful residence, indicating at least some level of compliance in specific cases.

{Matzav.com}

Hi, I want to report a serious student safety issue at a school in Lakewood, NJ.

My younger sister was released to the wrong person during pickup. There are two young girls at the school with the same first name but different last names. The staff at the front already knows exactly who is supposed to pick up my sister and who is not. Despite that, they still released her to the wrong person.

The school did not properly verify her full name or any identifying details before letting her go. The only reason she was given away was because the person arrived in a silver car similar to my mom’s, which should not have been used as verification. This is very concerning because basic identity checks were not followed.

The person did return her, but this caused significant distress and raises serious concerns about pickup procedures and student safety.

I can provide more details, including the school name and timeline, if needed.

TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to us via  Whatsapp  or via email  [email protected]

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is open to visiting Pakistan if a potential agreement between the United States and Iran is completed in Islamabad, pointing to Pakistan’s growing role in facilitating talks between the two sides.

Speaking to reporters, Trump praised Pakistan’s involvement and signaled that he would consider making the trip if negotiations reach a successful conclusion.

“I would go to Pakistan,” Trump told reporters when asked whether he would visit the nation to seal an agreement. “Pakistan has been great. They’ve been so good.”

“If a deal is signed in Islamabad, I might go,” he added.

Pakistan has taken on an increasingly central role as a go-between in efforts to bring Washington and Tehran toward a new agreement, even as negotiations have faced repeated obstacles.

At the same time, pressure remains high. The United States continues to maintain a blockade on Iranian ports, while a temporary ceasefire between the two countries is set to run out next week, adding urgency to diplomatic efforts.

Talks held in Islamabad last weekend did not result in a breakthrough, but discussions have not collapsed, and all sides are still participating.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday that it remains actively engaged in facilitating communication between the U.S. and Iran, with preparations underway for another round of talks, although no timeline has been set.

“Who will come, how big the delegation will be, who will stay, and who will go is for the parties to decide,” Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said, according to Al Jazeera.

“As a mediator, it’s important for us to keep the talks confidential,” he continued. “We had the details and information of the talks entrusted to us by the negotiating parties.”

Earlier Thursday, Trump also revealed that Israel and Lebanon had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire following discussions in Washington, a development that could help ease wider tensions linked to the Iran conflict.

Since the beginning of the U.S.-Israel confrontation with Iran, Israel has carried out multiple strikes in Lebanon aimed at the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group.

Iran and Pakistan have maintained that Lebanon was originally included in the broader ceasefire framework, while officials in Washington and Israel have rejected that interpretation.

{Matzav.com}

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:

Dear Mayor,

I am writing to inquire about the sidewalk installation currently taking place on Woodland Drive.

I noticed that sidewalks are being installed on the side of the street with odd numbers, but have not yet been placed on the side with even numbers. My property currently has a sidewalk, but the houses to my right do not. This lack of continuous pavement makes it unsafe for children and residents to walk in the area.

Could you please clarify if the township plans to install sidewalks on the even-numbered side of the street as well? I strongly request that sidewalks be completed on our side to ensure the safety of all residents.

Thank you for your consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good morning,

The main reason we install sidewalks is to provide safe passage for all our residents. Right now we make sure there is a sidewalk on at least one side of the street. We still have many areas we are working on to complete this task.

I spoke with our engineers about your letter. Your side of the street has many obstacles, such as trees, slopes, and possibly easements that would have significantly increased the complexity and cost of this project. That is why they selected the other side.

That does not mean we will not revisit this down the road. Also, if any of the houses without sidewalks are redeveloped, they will need to install the sidewalks as a condition of building.

Hope you are enjoying this wonderful weather

Stay safe

Ray

—————–

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

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

Instagram left up 93% of hateful and extremist content flagged by Anti-Defamation League researchers, according to a new report the watchdog released Wednesday ahead of a Meta shareholder meeting.

The ADL’s Center on Extremism submitted 253 reports to the platform earlier this year. Instagram removed just 11 accounts and 8 posts. In 20 cases, the company said it lacked the bandwidth to review the reports.

“Instagram is developing into a hub for hate and antisemitism, and our research demonstrates this clearly,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement. “Meta’s moderation rollback has created a permissive environment where extremists thrive.”

The findings follow Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement last year that the company would eliminate its fact-check program and reduce automated hate speech detection, a move he described as a trade-off between catching harmful content and avoiding false positives. Jewish groups including the World Jewish Congress and CyberWell criticized the shift at the time.

Among the content the ADL identified on the platform: at least 23 accounts spreading Islamic State and Al-Qaeda propaganda, 33 accounts with direct or indirect ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, and 105 accounts affiliated with white supremacist Nick Fuentes’ Groyper movement, which together had accumulated over 1.4 million followers as of January. A Southern California merchandise company selling apparel bearing Nazi symbols had racked up more than 3.2 million views on the platform.

Meta’s community standards still prohibit violent organizations from maintaining a presence on its platforms and bar dehumanizing speech, but the ADL said enforcement has collapsed in practice. ADL senior vice president Oren Segal called the situation a “public safety crisis.”

The ADL is calling on Meta to reinstate proactive moderation measures against violating content.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The terms of the 10-day Israel-Lebanon ceasefire that took effect at midnight between Thursday and Friday were made public in a U.S. State Department statement agreed to by both governments, revealing a framework that commits Beirut to curbing Hezbollah and positions Washington to lead a disarmament push.

Hours into the pause, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz described the agreement as a “temporary freeze,” said the IDF would not withdraw from Lebanese territory it had captured, and warned that Israel’s remaining objectives in Lebanon would be completed “by force if necessary.”

“The IDF holds and will continue to hold all the areas it has cleared and captured,” Katz said in a statement. “The ground maneuver into Lebanon and the strikes against Hezbollah throughout Lebanon have achieved many accomplishments, but they have not yet been completed.”

He characterized the current moment as one in which Israel remains “inside Lebanon in the midst of a war against Hezbollah, with a temporary freeze and a 10-day ceasefire.”

Under the agreement, the Lebanese government committed, with international support, to take “meaningful steps” to prevent Hezbollah and any other “rogue non-state armed groups” from attacking Israel. Both governments recognized that Lebanon’s security forces hold exclusive responsibility for defending the country and are the only authorized arms-bearers on Lebanese soil. Both also affirmed that Hezbollah’s activity “must be curtailed.”Israel, for its part, agreed not to strike Lebanese targets, “including civilian, military, and other state targets,” unless acting in self-defense. It retained the right to take “all necessary measures in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”

The pause can be extended if both sides agree and “as Lebanon effectively demonstrates its ability to assert its sovereignty,” the statement said. Israel and Lebanon have asked Washington to mediate further negotiations, including on the demarcation of the international boundary. President Donald Trump has promoted the prospect of direct talks between the two countries in the wake of the ceasefire.

Katz framed the diplomatic track as a second avenue for the same war aim. “The goal we defined, dismantling Hezbollah’s weapons through military or diplomatic means, was and remains the objective of the campaign, to which we are committed,” he said. “At present, a significant diplomatic lever has also been created through the direct involvement of the U.S. president and a commitment to this goal, while applying pressure on the Lebanese government.”

A senior Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday that the United States intends to actively lead efforts to disarm Hezbollah and is prepared to commit U.S. resources to the task. “Trump wants this to happen, so this time the U.S. will be far more involved,” the official said. The State Department said Washington would lead international efforts to assist Lebanon “as a component of its broader efforts to advance stability and prosperity in the region.”

Katz said more than 1,700 Hezbollah fighters had been killed during the campaign, more than double the figure from the 2006 Second Lebanon War, and that the buffer zone along the Israel-Lebanon border had been cleared of both Hezbollah operatives and residents. “It will continue to be cleared of terrorist infrastructure, including the destruction of houses in Lebanese border villages that had effectively become terrorist outposts,” he said.

He acknowledged that the broader security zone Israel has established in south Lebanon, stretching up to the Litani River, still contains enemy fighters and weapons. That area, he said, would be cleared either through a diplomatic arrangement or by a return to combat.

“If hostilities resume, any residents who return to the security zone will have to evacuate in order to allow the mission to be completed,” Katz said, adding that Israel would also strike Hezbollah targets north of the Litani River.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A dramatic announcement made by the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Aharon Teitelbaum, during a tish marking the yahrtzeit of his father, the Beirach Moshe zt”l, is being seen as a potential turning point in the New York housing crisis, with plans for thousands of affordable housing units, not only for Satmar chassidim, but for the broader chassidishe public.

Speaking during the tish in Kiryas Yoel, the Rebbe revealed that he has been working with multiple developers to create a large-scale housing project in Monticello, New York, at significantly reduced prices—well below current market rates.

“I sat with several developers,” the Rebbe said, “to see how it would be possible to establish affordable housing for the broader public. While in Kiryas Yoel, due to the high demand, they managed to bring prices down and today it stands at $300 per square foot—which is $3,000 per square meter—in the new project the price will be one-third lower, standing at $200 per square foot, which is $2,000 per square meter.”

He went on to describe the scope of the project and the readiness of the location to support a growing kehilla.

“The developers are preparing to build thousands of housing units in the near future in the city of Monticello in New York. In Monticello there is already a large community throughout the year. There are several shuls operating year-round, there is a Talmud Torah, a girls’ school, several grocery stores and supermarkets that are open, heichlei Torah are active, and all the other needs that a Yid requires in a chareidi city.”

The Rebbe emphasized that the initiative is not limited to Satmar, but is intended for the wider tzibbur, particularly those struggling with the high cost of living in Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Williamsburg and Boro Park.

“And from here, in the large beis medrash in Kiryas Yoel, I turn to the broader public. Recently, Jews from Brooklyn came to me—not Satmar chassidim—and told me that they are suffocating under the burden of purchasing a home in Brooklyn, whether in Williamsburg or Boro Park or other neighborhoods. Not to mention the high taxes and property costs that are paid for an apartment in Brooklyn.”

He then delivered a clear message that a solution is on the way, along with a strong warning to potential buyers.

“Therefore, I sat with the developers and I announce to you from here that there is an affordable solution that will be ready very soon for the entire public, not only for Satmar chassidim. But I want to ask everyone: Please, there are enough apartments for everyone—please do not pay more than the agreed price, which is $200 per square foot, so as not to drive up the cost of the apartments.”

The Rebbe added further details about the scale of construction and stressed that maintaining affordability depends on the public.

“I sat with several developers, each one building several hundred apartments, and together there will be thousands of apartments on the market in the very near future. The developers are prepared to sell the apartments at the lower price.”

He warned buyers not to be pressured by brokers or artificial urgency.

“Do not fall into the trap of brokers who will tell you that you must close on the apartment right now, and that only the apartment they show you is the best one. Do not pay more than $200 per square foot and do not give support to those who inflate prices.”

This development follows earlier success in lowering housing costs within Kiryas Yoel itself, where prices currently stand at approximately $300 per square foot within the town, and around $250 per square foot in the surrounding expanded areas.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the United States was preparing a daring mission to rescue an airman whose fighter jet was shot down by Iran, there was money to be made.

Users on Polymarket, the world’s largest prediction market, could place bets on when the airman would be rescued. When Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., shared a screenshot of the activity on social media, an April 3 rescue was trading at 15% compared with 63% who were betting on April 4.

After Moulton posted the screenshot and blasted this “dystopian death market,” Polymarket stopped the betting, saying the market “does not meet our integrity standards.”

A former Marine who served four tours in Iraq, Moulton said he was “absolutely not satisfied with Polymarket’s response” and blamed the site for being “completely unwilling to self-regulate when it comes to betting on the lives of our service members.”

“This is war profiteering and Congress needs to step in and stop it,” he said.

A confrontation is brewing in Washington over prediction markets, the online exchanges that allow users to bet on the outcome of everything from a baseball game to when Jesus Christ will return.

In a highly polarized Congress, the need to guard against the prediction markets being used for insider trading has become rare common ground. Members of both parties pressed the leader of a typically low-profile regulatory agency on the issue during a hearing on Thursday. The market debate is also drawing in the White House, potential presidential candidates and state leaders.

“It’s a national conversation about what it means to have market integrity,” said Kristin Johnson, a former commissioner at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which regulates prediction markets in the U.S.

In a capital that was slow to respond to the perils of tobacco, opioids and social media, the push to put guardrails on prediction markets has been uncommonly swift.

The markets, which include Polymarket and its chief rival Kalshi, have been criticized for everything from undermining the integrity of sports to contributing to an online betting addiction crisis among young men. Polymarket has come under particular scrutiny as a venue for offshore trades that are beyond the reach of U.S. regulators.

Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son, is on Polymarket’s advisory board and is a paid adviser for Kalshi. 1789 Capital, the venture capital firm where Trump Jr. is a partner, has invested in Polymarket.

Well-timed trades catch Washington’s attention
The Associated Press reported this month that a group of new accounts on Polymarket made highly specific, well-timed bets on whether the U.S. and Iran would reach a ceasefire on April 7, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits for these new customers.

On the same day the report was published, the White House warned staff against using private information to trade on prediction markets.

Earlier this year, an anonymous Polymarket user collected more than $400,000 on a January bet predicting the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, prompting concerns that someone with access to private U.S. government information may have engaged in insider trading.

Sen. Todd Young, an Indiana Republican and former Marine, said he had been concerned about trading in the sports market, “but I became especially concerned about market distortions, improper decision making, and undermining of public trust through self-enrichment after the news broke about Venezuela.”

Young and Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., have introduced a bill that would bar federal employees from using nonpublic information to make bets on prediction markets. Their bill is among several bipartisan efforts in Congress to regulate prediction markets.

As he eyes a potential presidential campaign, Democrat Rahm Emanuel proposed a ban on prediction market bets by all federal employees and their families. On Wednesday, he suggested a 10% fee on those markets and online gambling to fund science and health research.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, another potential Democratic presidential candidate, issued an executive order barring his appointees from using nonpublic information to trade on prediction markets.

For now, there’s no immediate path to passage for any of the bills. But the scrutiny has drawn focus to the differing approaches of the main prediction markets.

Polymarket officials say little publicly and didn’t comment for this story. The market, founded in 2020, operates largely offshore with limited functions in the U.S. that were allowed only after President Donald Trump returned to office.

Kalshi, meanwhile, says it already bans many of the most extreme betting markets and welcomes regulation.

“We support Congress and regulators taking action to police insider trading, keep prediction markets onshore and under federal regulation,” said Kalshi spokesperson Elisabeth Diana. “Not all prediction markets are the same.”

White House spokesman Davis Ingle said Trump has been clear that “members of Congress and other government officials should be prohibited from using nonpublic information for financial benefit.”

Prediction markets bring CFTC into the spotlight
The bet-the-event activity is drawing attention to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which oversees the vast trading contracts industry, including prediction markets.

Dennis Kelleher, the president and chief executive of Better Markets, a Washington nonprofit that has pressed for stronger oversight of prediction markets, said the agency “certainly has no experience, expertise, budget, technology to actually in any way supervise, regulate or police gambling on everything from whether it’s Iran, Venezuela, whether it’s reality TV, whether Christ is going to come back before the end of the year.”

The agency, which by law is supposed to have a five-member board including representatives of both political parties, is served now by only one member, Michael Selig, a former CFTC law clerk who went on to represent cryptocurrency clients before Trump appointed him to lead the agency.

That’s sparked concern among congressional Democrats. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., sent Selig a letter in February noting that the number of enforcement attorneys at the agency’s Chicago office had declined from 20 to zero.

During a Thursday hearing of the House Agriculture Committee, which oversees the CFTC, Selig said the agency was hiring new staff and operating more efficiently. He refused to hold off on completing new regulations until new members were added to the board but insisted he was taking the potential of insider trading seriously.

“Nothing is more important than protecting market integrity,” he said.

Still, the agency’s enforcement authority extends only to prediction markets regulated in the U.S.

For now, that distinction largely applies to Kalshi, which was established in 2018 and promotes its status as a regulated prediction market. Eager to reach American customers, Polymarket has introduced a U.S.-only prediction market platform to conform with U.S. regulations, but that platform currently has a waitlist to participate and is a small fraction of the size of its offshore counterpart.

CFTC’s leadership criticizes Biden and takes on states
Asked at a recent Vanderbilt University forum about the CFTC’s approach to insider trading in unregulated offshore prediction markets, Selig blamed the Biden administration for creating a regulatory environment that he said discouraged companies from operating in the U.S.

As the debate plays out in Washington, multiple states have tried to curtail prediction markets, arguing they are essentially operating as unlicensed gambling platforms. But the CFTC has responded forcefully to assert itself as the sole regulator, suing Connecticut, Arizona and Illinois this month.

That leaves Washington at a strange juncture, with widespread agreement among lawmakers that something should be done to address the issue of prediction markets. But there are differing thoughts on the scope of a solution.

Young acknowledged his proposal is just a first step, and said lawmakers have a lot to learn about prediction markets.

“But I think we can all agree at this early stage, as usage of these platforms grows and real money is put at stake, that this is a measure that should be taken immediately,” he said.

Ten American scientists and senior officials with access to some of the country’s most closely guarded nuclear and space secrets have died or vanished without a trace since 2023, a pattern that has drawn growing public alarm and, this week, the attention of President Donald Trump.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Trump addressed the case for the first time. “I just came out of a meeting on this,” he said, calling the situation “very serious.” He added, “I hope it’s random, but we’re going to know in the next week and a half. Some of them were very important people, and we’re going to look at it over the next short period.”

His remarks came a day after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was pressed during a briefing on whether the intelligence community was examining a possible connection among the cases. Leavitt said she had not yet consulted the relevant agencies but would do so, and that if the reports were accurate, the administration would consider the matter worthy of investigation.

The delayed response has fueled public anger. Critics accuse the administration of failing to treat a potential national security threat with sufficient urgency, given that the individuals involved held access to information sought by U.S. rivals, particularly China, Russia and Iran. Republican Rep. Tim Burchett said citizens should not trust the government on the matter, arguing that the concentration of cases in these specific research fields cannot be coincidental.

The case gained broader attention about a month ago with the disappearance of retired Air Force Gen. William Neil McCasland, 68. He was last seen leaving his New Mexico home, leaving behind his phone, smart devices and glasses, and taking only a handgun. His wife told a 911 operator it appeared he was trying “not to be found.” McCasland previously oversaw the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, a site linked since the 1947 Roswell incident to rumors of extraterrestrial research. His disappearance has drawn heavy speculation from UFO researchers.

The circumstances mirror other cases. Steven Garcia, 48, a government contractor at a facility that produces roughly 80% of the non-nuclear components for U.S. nuclear weapons, vanished in August 2025 after leaving his New Mexico home with only a handgun, leaving behind his phone, wallet and keys.

Anthony Chavez, 79, and Melissa Casiazs, 54, an administrative secretary with high-level security clearance, both worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory, one of the nation’s most critical nuclear sites. Both disappeared in 2025 in similar fashion, walking away on foot and leaving all belongings behind. Police have reported no leads since last year.

The list has continued to grow. Monica Jacinto Reza, 60, a group manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who worked on a space materials project funded by McCasland, disappeared during a trip with friends in California. Two other JPL scientists, Frank Maywald and Michael David Hicks, died under unclear circumstances. Hicks had worked on NASA’s DART asteroid deflection project. Pharmaceutical researcher Jason Thomas was found dead at the bottom of a Massachusetts lake in March after disappearing in December 2025.

At least two died violently. Astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, whose work was tied to the U.S. Air Force, and nuclear physicist Nuno Loureiro, who led a breakthrough in nuclear fusion energy, were both shot to death in their homes.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House early Friday approved a short-term renewal until April 30 of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies in a post-midnight vote after Republicans revolted and refused President Donald Trump’s push for a longer extension.

GOP leaders rushed lawmakers back into session late Thursday with a series of back-to-back votes that collapsed in dramatic failure, before they quickly pushed ahead the stopgap measure as they race to keep the surveillance program running past Monday’s expiration date.

First they unveiled a new plan that would have extended the program for five years, with revisions. Then they tried to salvage a shorter 18-month renewal that Trump had demanded and Speaker Mike Johnson had previously backed. Some 20 Republicans joined most Democrats in blocking its advance.

Shortly after 2 a.m. they quickly agreed to the 10-day extension, which was agreed to on a voice vote without a formal roll call. It next goes to the Senate, which is gaveling for a rare Friday session, as Congress races to keep the surveillance program running.

“We were very close tonight,” said Johnson after the late-night action.

But Democrats blasted the middle-of-the-night voting as amateur hour. “Are you kidding me? Who the hell is running this place?” said Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., during a fiery floor debate.

At the center of the standoff that has stretched throughout the week is Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which permits the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI and other agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant. In doing so, they can incidentally sweep up communications involving Americans who interact with foreign targets.

U.S. officials say the authority is critical to disrupting terrorist plots, cyber intrusions and foreign espionage.

Surveillance program fight is a debate over privacy and security
Its path to passage has teetered all week in a familiar fight, as lawmakers weigh civil liberties concerns against intelligence officials’ warnings about national security risks.

Opponents of the surveillance tool point to past misuses. FBI officials repeatedly violated their own standards when searching intelligence related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and racial justice protests in 2020, according to a 2024 court order.

Trump and his allies had lobbied aggressively all week for a clean renewal of the program, without changes.

A group of Republicans traveled to the White House on Tuesday, and on Wednesday CIA Director John Ratcliffe spoke directly with GOP lawmakers. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said Thursday there had “been negotiations late into the night with the White House and some of our members.”

“I am asking Republicans to UNIFY, and vote together on the test vote to bring a clean Bill to the floor,” Trump wrote on Truth Social this week. “We need to stick together.”

The result of days of negotiations
Thursday’s proceedings came to a standstill as lawmakers retreated behind closed doors and Johnson reached for an agreement to resolve the standoff.

Shortly before midnight GOP leaders announced a new proposal, a five-year extension, with revisions. The changes were designed to win over skeptics of the surveillance program who have demanded greater oversight to protect Americans’ privacy.

Among the changes are new provisions to ensure that only FBI attorneys can authorize queries on U.S. persons, and to require the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to review such cases, said Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., during the debate.

But the final product, a 14-page amendment, did not go far enough for some holdouts in either party.

With Johnson controlling a slim majority, he has little room for dissent. As the Republicans fell short on both efforts before the short extension, a handful of Democrats stepped in to try to help them advance the longer extensions, but most Democrats were opposed.

“We just defeated Johnson’s efforts to sneak through a 5-year FISA authorization tonight,” said Democratic Rep, Ro Khanna of California. “Now, they will have to fight in daylight.”

The Phenomenon

Sefiras HaOmer has some surprising rules, and one of them is especially interesting. The Minhagim Yeshanim MiDura was the first to record it: normally, no weddings take place between Pesach and Shavuos. But when Rosh Chodesh Iyar falls on Shabbos, a wedding may be held on Erev Shabbos — which is the first day of Rosh Chodesh. The Poskim, including the Mishna Brurah, extended this rule to haircuts and shaving as well.

This is a striking exception to the usual mourning practices of Sefirah, and it needs to be explained. What is the basis of this heter?

Most people have heard of Brisker Chakiros. A chakirah is a two-sided investigation — a question that asks, “Is this halachah because of X, or because of Y?” Both sides may lead to the same ruling in a normal case, but they can lead to different results in unusual situations. The method has roots in earlier Acharonim, but it was Rav Chaim Soloveitchik zt”l (1853–1918), the Brisker Rov and Rosh Yeshiva of Volozhin, who turned the chakirah into an organized derech halimud that reshaped learning in the yeshiva world.

So let’s do one now. There are two very different ways to understand why this permission exists — and choosing between them can have real halachic consequences.

The Chakira: Two Possible Foundations

Possibility #1: The Heter Comes from Shabbos

The first possibility is that this Shabbos — the one on which Rosh Chodesh Iyar falls — has a higher level of kedushah and simchah than a regular Shabbos. It is Shabbos plus Rosh Chodesh, and this special status is strong enough to push aside the aveilus practices of Sefirah.

According to this view, the haircut is really lichvod Shabbos — in honor of Shabbos. The job of Rosh Chodesh is not to be the reason for the haircut. Instead, Rosh Chodesh makes the Shabbos itself more holy, so this special Shabbos is strong enough to override the Sefirah restrictions. A regular Shabbos during Sefirah is not powerful enough to override the Sefirah customs — but Shabbos Rosh Chodesh is.

Possibility #2: The Heter Comes from Rosh Chodesh

The second possibility is that the haircut is really being allowed because of Rosh Chodesh. This may sound surprising, since we usually do not take haircuts for Rosh Chodesh. But several Rishonim and Poskim mention that specifically for Rosh Chodesh Iyar, there was a custom to take a haircut. Even though this is not the accepted halachah on its own, the custom may still have enough weight to “kick in” when it is joined with another kavod — namely, the kavod of Shabbos.

According to this view, neither factor would be enough by itself. The minority opinion that allows haircuts on Rosh Chodesh Iyar is not strong enough alone, and Shabbos alone does not override Sefirah. But tziruf — combining them — puts the kavod of Shabbos together with Rosh Chodesh Iyar, and that combination is strong enough to allow the haircut.

The Difference

At first, it might seem that this chakira doesn’t matter in practice. After all, the Hebrew calendar is fixed, and Rosh Chodesh Iyar never falls on Friday. It only falls on Shabbos, Monday, Wednesday, or Shabbos again (depending on the year). So asking “what if only Shabbos mattered” or “what if only Rosh Chodesh mattered” seems purely theoretical.

But that is not quite right. A theoretical difference can still be a halachic difference. It can change how we understand related cases, and how the heter actually works.

If the main mechanism is Shabbos (Possibility #1): The haircut is being done lichvod Shabbos. This matters. Taking a haircut on Thursday — when Rosh Chodesh Iyar falls on Friday–Shabbos — would also count as “lichvod Shabbos,” just as Poskim generally treat Thursday haircuts as being for Shabbos. Based on this view, there would be room to allow a Thursday haircut in this case.

If the main mechanism is Rosh Chodesh (Possibility #2): The permission depends on the haircut being done on Rosh Chodesh Iyar itself. A Thursday haircut would not qualify, because Thursday is not Rosh Chodesh. Only a haircut on the day of Rosh Chodesh itself (Friday, in our case) could rely on the special status of Rosh Chodesh Iyar.

The Implication for the Directive of Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid

This chakira becomes especially important for someone who follows the tzava’ah of Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid not to take haircuts on Rosh Chodesh.

According to Possibility #1 — the heter comes from Shabbos — there is no problem at all for the follower of Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid. The haircut is not being taken “for Rosh Chodesh.” It is being taken “for Shabbos,” and the fact that it happens to fall on Rosh Chodesh is only a coincidence as far as the heter is concerned. In fact, such a person could even take the haircut on Thursday and avoid the issue entirely, since Thursday haircuts also count as lichvod Shabbos.

According to Possibility #2 — the heter needs Rosh Chodesh to be an active part of it — the follower of Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid runs into a real tension. The very reason the haircut is allowed is the very thing he has committed to avoiding. On this side, there is a strong reason for such a person to be machmir.

Reading the Poskim

When we look at the language the Poskim use to describe this heter, their wording points toward the first understanding — that the haircut is lichvod Shabbos, with Rosh Chodesh serving to lift up the Shabbos rather than being the direct reason for the haircut. The role of Rosh Chodesh, on this reading, is “l’hosif simchah u’kedushah d’Shabbos” — to add joy and holiness to Shabbos — and it is this elevated Shabbos whose kavod is strong enough to override even the aveilus customs of Sefirah.

This reading lets the heter work smoothly even for someone who follows Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid’s tzava’ah, because on this view the haircut is never really “for Rosh Chodesh” to begin with. It also leaves room for taking the haircut on Thursday, which keeps the Shabbos honor intact while avoiding any concern about haircuts on Rosh Chodesh itself.

Conclusion

This chakira is a classic example of how a single halachic permission can rest on two very different conceptual foundations — and how those foundations, even when they lead to the same ruling in the normal case, can split apart when the situation changes. Is this a Shabbos-based heter that happens to fall on Rosh Chodesh, or a Rosh-Chodesh-based heter that happens to fall on Erev Shabbos? The language of the Poskim points to the first, and that has practical consequences for when the haircut may be taken and for whom the heter is available.

A respected mechanech and prominent member of the Chabad community in Nachalas Har Chabad-Kiryat Malachi, Rav Menachem Chavakuk Blau z”l, passed away at the age of 77 after a prolonged illness.

The levayah was held tonight at his home at 7 Kakal Street in Kiryat Malachi before continuing to the cemetery in Kiryat Malachi.

Rav Blau was born on the 24th of Tammuz 5709 to his father, Rav Yaakov Zalman Blau, z”l, and his mother, Tzila, a”h.

In his youth, he learned in Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, where he was highly regarded by the roshei yeshiva. During his years there, he became drawn to Chabad, eventually embracing its teachings as his derech in life. He later continued his learning in Yeshivas Toras Emes of Chabad in Yerushalayim.

As a young man, he would travel to the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s court in Brooklyn, spending Tishrei and other opportunities in the Rebbe’s presence. He was known for his remarkable mastery of Chabad niggunim, which he would sing with depth and emotion.

Upon reaching marriageable age, he married his wife, the daughter of Rav Chaim Wolf Rosenhaft, z”l.

Rav Blau was a beloved and devoted educator who dedicated his life to chinuch. For decades, he served as a mechanech in the Talmud Torah in Nachalas Har Chabad, where he shaped generations of talmidim with Torah values and refined middos. Members of the community recall that his dedication extended far beyond formal responsibilities, as he gave of himself completely to his students. Even after retiring, he continued his holy work, teaching struggling children with patience, devotion, and love, never accepting payment and viewing each child as a עולם מלא.

Holding a doctorate in special education, he devoted particular attention to children requiring individualized support, investing tireless effort into their growth and success, even when others had given up hope.

In recent years, he battled a serious illness. Even during this difficult period, as long as he had the strength, he made every effort to attend shul regularly.

He leaves behind a distinguished family—children, sons-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren—continuing in the path of Torah. Among his brothers are Rav Koppel Blau, a respected member of the Chazon Ish kollel, and Rav Yitzchok Blau, a prominent chossid of Nadvorna.

Yehi zichro boruch.

The Internal Revenue Service is sending more money back: The average tax refund for the almost 100 million households who had already filed their returns as of April 3 was $3,462, more than 10 percent above last year’s average of $3,116 for similarly early filers.

The bigger refund checks reflect the major tax cut passed by Congress in July, which reduced many households’ tax bills. Because the law went into effect midyear, it also meant that many companies ended up withholding too much from workers’ paychecks, based on previous formulations.

As of April 3, the most recent data published by the IRS, the number of returns filed was below the number at the same point last year: a little under 100 million, compared to more than 101 million. But the IRS sent out much more money than at the same point last year: more than $241 billion in refunds, a 14 percent increase compared to $211 billion last year.

The portion of people who get a refund, rather than owing money at tax time, seems to be going up: just over 70 percent of people whose returns were processed by April 3 this year, compared to 67 percent of similar filers last year and 62 percent of all filers last year. (People who owe money, understandably, tend to wait longer to file their taxes, so the early returns show more refunds.)

The Republican law increased the standard deduction and included many new tax cuts for specific groups. The child tax deduction increased, from a maximum of $2,000 to $2,200 per child. New tax breaks for the years 2025 through 2028 let people deduct their tip income, overtime pay and certain car loan interest paid.

Alia Shawa, 35, benefited from the new tip and car-loan deductions, as a server at a New York City restaurant who bought a new car in July. She earned about $40,000 in tips and was able to skip paying taxes on $25,000 of it.

In 2024, Shawa’s husband, a chef, earned more money than he thought he would, so they owed a painful $12,000 tax bill. “It totally broke us,” she said.

In 2025, they withheld much more during the year, plus they benefited from the new deductions, adding up to a whopping $26,000 refund. “I finally get something back. … For how much we work, we weren’t getting help.”

Shawa, an immigrant from Spain, enthusiastically supported the new deduction, saying it would help both service workers and the low-margin restaurant industry. “They’re not able to pay us a livable wage. … If we were only taxed on our wage, not tips, that makes so much more sense for the cost of living here in New York.”

The car-loan deduction that Shawa claimed is available only for certain American-made cars that were bought new in 2025; so far, just over a million households have claimed it, according to Politico, well below the Trump administration’s predictions.

The overtime deduction, on the other hand, has proven far more popular than anticipated, with more than 23 million households claiming it as of early April. Some experts worried that people who misunderstand the new rules are improperly claiming the deduction, which only applies to specific workers, and only to part of their pay (the “and-a-half” part of “time-and-a-half,” not their full pay for those hours).

The popularity of the overtime deduction has a lot to do with the overall average rise in refund amounts, said Kasey Pittman, managing director of tax policy at the tax firm Cherry Bekaert. “It’s sometimes very hard to parse that information” about what overtime pay should be tax deductible, she said. “Those provisions are driving a lot of the increase in tax refunds.”

The Republican law also gave qualifying senior citizens a new $6,000 deduction, which can cut their overall tax bill by as much as $1,320, according to analysis by the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Karen Richardson, 68, has had a predictable tax return since she retired from her job administering government benefits four years ago. She lives on a fixed income and usually owes some money at tax time, so she was surprised to get a $1,000 refund this year due to the senior deduction.

“The Big Beautiful Bill worked for me,” she said. “I didn’t think it applied to more than the richer people. … I really didn’t think it applied to me.”

The Bipartisan Policy Center found that the potential tax savings for households from any single provision in the Republican law varies widely. The most that any household can save from the increased standard deduction is $555, for the highest earners; the vast majority save much less than that. The tax deductions for tips and overtime can be worth up to $6,000 for a married couple.

The biggest potential savings comes from the bill’s higher threshold for deducting state and local tax (SALT) amounts from federal income – a married couple earning up to $500,000 per year can now deduct $40,000 in SALT, instead of $10,000, which would save them close to $10,000 on their taxes.

That newly generous SALT deduction benefits wealthier people much more than lower-income households – most low- and middle-income households don’t have more than $10,000 in state and local tax bills to deduct.

Before this year, the average total refund amount hadn’t changed much in recent years: $3,167 in 2025, $3,138 in 2024, $3,167 in 2023, $3,252 in 2022.

Going forward, taxpayers shouldn’t expect the bigger refunds to be the new normal.

Employers are supposed to withhold about the right amount of money from paychecks to pay a worker’s taxes. This coming tax year, withholding formulas will reflect the new law. Workers will get to keep more money throughout the year, and their refunds next tax season will be smaller.

In some sense, it’s truly better for workers to get their money up-front, Pittman noted: “Refunds just mean you’ve given the government an interest-free loan.”

But many people feel good getting a bigger check on Tax Day. “That was a strategic decision,” Pittman said. “[Republicans] did not adjust the withholding tables for this year, because it was likely to result in a boon at refund time, which is strategically not too far from midterm elections.”

Republicans in Congress have been touting the bigger average refund checks, casting the money as an answer to the rising cost of living driven by inflation.

People who file on the deadline should expect to receive a refund, if they are owed one, in about three weeks, the IRS said.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Julie Z. Weil

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews) – Miriam Adelson, a billionaire casino executive and major Republican donor, gave $40 million to two super PACs aligned with GOP congressional leaders in the first three months of 2026, bolstering the party’s midterm campaign funds as it seeks to keep control of both the House and Senate.

The contributions, disclosed in Federal Election Commission filings, included $30 million to the Senate Leadership Fund and $10 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund. The Senate Leadership Fund described the $30 million gift as its largest single contribution ever.

Adelson, the widow of the late casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and majority owner of Las Vegas Sands Corp., has long been one of the Republican Party’s biggest financial backers with a focus on pro-Israel causes. The donations make her the GOP’s top individual donor so far this election cycle.

Republicans currently hold majorities in both chambers of Congress following the 2024 elections. The party is defending its majorities in November’s midterms amid competitive races in the House and Senate.

The infusion of cash arrives as both parties intensify fundraising ahead of the November contests. The Senate Leadership Fund and Congressional Leadership Fund are independent expenditure groups that can raise and spend unlimited sums to support Republican candidates.

LISTEN:

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President Donald Trump sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over a newly unveiled tax proposal targeting high-value second homes, calling the plan harmful to the city’s future and escalating tensions between the two leaders.

The comments came in response to a proposal announced Thursday by Mamdani and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul that would impose a tax on secondary residences in the city valued at more than $5 million, with the goal of generating significant new revenue.

Trump weighed in on the plan in a post on Truth Social, warning that the policy would accelerate the city’s decline.

“Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure,” Trump wrote on the social platform.

“It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG,” he continued. “People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS ‘STUFF’ JUST DOESN’T WORK.”

The proposed measure, introduced jointly by Mamdani and Hochul, would apply to high-end second homes across New York City and is projected by its backers to bring in approximately $500 million.

State officials framed the plan as a fairness measure aimed at wealthier property owners who maintain largely unoccupied residences in the city.

“If you can afford a $5 million second home that sits empty most of the year, you can afford to contribute like every other New Yorker,” Hochul said in a statement.

Mamdani, speaking to reporters on Thursday, said the tax is part of a broader effort to address the city’s mounting fiscal challenges, including a projected $5.4 billion budget gap in the upcoming fiscal year.

“We’re talking about the levels of wealth that are storing themselves here in New York City all at the time at which our city is facing a generational fiscal crisis, so I think that this is something worthy of celebration as part of the work that we are doing with the governor,” the mayor told reporters.

Relations between Trump and Mamdani have been marked by sharp rhetoric in the past, with Mamdani referring to Trump as a “despot” during his mayoral campaign and Trump describing the mayor, a democratic socialist, as a “communist.”

Despite those clashes, the two have also held cordial discussions at the White House, including meetings in November and February, where both sides described the conversations as constructive, particularly on issues related to affordability.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rabbi Yitzchok Mitnick zt”l of Brooklyn, NY, a distinguished talmid of Rav Yitzchak Hutner and a trailblazing mechanech whose impact on generations of talmidim continues to resonate. He was 89 years old.

Rabbi Mitnick was formed in the illustrious halls of Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, where he became closely attached to his revered rebbi, Rav Hutner. Under Rav Hutner’s guidance, he developed into a deeply thoughtful and principled ben Torah, absorbing not only the depth of Torah learning but also the broader vision of what it means to educate and inspire.

At the specific request of Rav Hutner, Rabbi Mitnick went on to found Mesivta Gur Aryeh, a bold and visionary undertaking at the time. With clarity of purpose and unwavering dedication, he built the yeshiva into a makom Torah that nurtured countless bochurim, instilling within them a lifelong connection to Torah, growth, and yiras Shamayim. His approach combined warmth and understanding with high expectations, allowing each talmid to feel seen while being challenged to reach his full potential.

As a mechanech, Rabbi Mitnick was widely regarded as a pioneer. He possessed a rare ability to connect to talmidim on their level while gently guiding them upward. His hanhagah was marked by patience, insight, and an unwavering belief in the potential of every individual. Many of his talmidim went on to become bnei Torah, marbitzei Torah, and devoted members of the Torah community, carrying with them the values and lessons they absorbed from their beloved rebbi.

He is survived by his sons: Rav Elimelech Mitnick, rosh chaburah at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood; Rav Yaakov Mitnick, rebbi at The Cheder in Brooklyn; Rav Simcha Mitnick, rebbi at Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin; and Rav Mordechai Mitnick, along with many grandchildren who continue in his path.

The levayah was held today at JFK International Airport, and the kevurah will take place on  Erev Shabbos on Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim.

The family will be sitting shivah at 1212 Avenue L in Brooklyn, NY.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Spirit Airlines may be nearing a complete shutdown, with a new report indicating the carrier could move toward liquidation within days as it struggles to emerge from bankruptcy amid sharply rising fuel expenses.

According to Bloomberg, the ultra-low-cost airline is at risk of ceasing operations as soon as this week, with escalating fuel prices tied to the ongoing conflict involving Iran placing additional pressure on the already struggling company.

Spirit, widely recognized for its bright yellow aircraft and budget-friendly, no-frills model, is the largest ultra-low-cost carrier in the United States. The airline operates flights from several hubs, including Terminal A at LaGuardia Airport, a smaller but historically significant facility.

The Florida-based airline is currently navigating its second bankruptcy process. Just last month, Spirit outlined plans to reorganize its business, including upgrading its fleet, introducing more premium fare options, and concentrating service on key markets such as Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, LaGuardia, and Newark.

Aviation analyst Zach Griff, who writes the From the Tray Table newsletter, warned that the airline’s potential collapse could have far-reaching consequences across the industry, particularly when it comes to pricing.

“Fuel costs could be the dagger to Spirit, right? I would be incredibly sad to see the loss of Spirit, and not even because I like to fly Spirit and, you know, it has- they’ve rebranded. It’s much better. But Spirit’s existence keeps every other airline in check,” Griff said.

Industry observers note that when an airline liquidates, flights typically stop immediately, leaving passengers stranded and uncertain about how to recover their money.

Griff said travelers may still have options if that scenario unfolds, particularly through financial institutions.

“The credit card companies will end up being the ones who foot the bill or kind of help you out with getting that refund if Spirit were to liquidate, you know, through chargebacks and things like that,” Griff said.

{Matzav.com}

(AP) – President Donald Trump plans to nominate Cameron Hamilton, a former U.S. Navy SEAL whom the administration fired as the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s acting leader last year, as FEMA’s permanent administrator, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Hamilton was FEMA’s temporary leader from January to May of last year but was fired one day after testifying on Capitol Hill that he did not agree with proposals to dismantle the organization charged with coordinating the federal government’s response to disasters, an idea Trump had repeatedly floated.

“I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency,” he told members of a House Appropriations subcommittee.

FEMA has lacked a permanent administrator throughout Trump’s second term and is currently on its third temporary leader, something critics have said undermines the agency’s effectiveness.

Trump offered Hamilton the job Wednesday, according to the person, who was not authorized to discuss it publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The New York Times first reported Trump’s intent to nominate Hamilton.

Hamilton’s nomination would come at a crucial time for FEMA and as its future remains uncertain. Trump has said he wants to shift more responsibility for disasters to states and has created a FEMA Review Council, expected to propose sweeping reforms to how the agency supports disaster-impacted communities.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has expressed support for FEMA while calling for reforms, striking a stark contrast from his predecessor Kristi Noem, who vowed to “eliminate FEMA as it exists today” and whose dealings with the review council grew fraught.

It’s unclear how Hamilton would lead FEMA or what Trump expects from his leadership.

Hamilton’s relationship with DHS officials became “very hostile” during his short tenure at FEMA, he said in a September episode of the podcast “Disaster Tough.” He wanted to cut “wasteful spending” and “downsize the agency,” he said, but not dismantle it.

Trump has not officially announced the nomination and could change his mind. Hamilton could also face headwinds during the Senate confirmation process over never having served as a state emergency management director.

Federal law requires FEMA’s administrator to have “a demonstrated ability in and knowledge of emergency management and homeland security” and no less than five years of executive leadership and management experience. If confirmed, he would become the principal advisor to the president and the Homeland Security secretary for all matters related to emergency management.

Hamilton spent a decade in the U.S. Navy Seals, serving on Seal Team Eight for four overseas deployments between 2005 and 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile and a Congressional bio.

He then served as a supervisory emergency management specialist at the U.S. State Department and as the Department of Homeland Security’s director of emergency services for several years.

Hamilton ran for Congress in Virginia’s 7th district in 2024 but lost in the Republican primary.

In a LinkedIn post earlier this month marking 47 years since FEMA’s establishment, Hamilton said he was grateful to have served under Trump and alongside FEMA colleagues. “I wish my tenure had been longer,” he wrote, “as there is still much more work to do for reform.”

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The government-owned corporation that delivers mail in Canada is taking steps to stop home delivery.

Canada Post is initiating talks with 13 communities to begin converting about 136,000 addresses from door-to-door delivery to community mailboxes, a standalone unit with designated space for each of the multiple residences it serves. It is the first step in a move that will end home delivery for about 4 million addresses over the next five years.

“It’s a process that can take six to nine months from beginning to end,” Canada Post spokesman Jon Hamilton said in an interview. “Nothing will happen right away.”

Hamilton said Canada Post will work with city planners and neighborhoods to determine the best locations for community mailboxes.

Hamilton said of the 17.6 million addresses Canada Post currently serves, 75% already have some form of centralized delivery. Some people use community mailboxes or a post office box, while others live in an apartment or condominium.

Hamilton said eliminating home delivery would save Canada Post about CDN $400 million (US$291.96 million) a year.

It has been facing staggering financial losses. Canada Post said in November its losses in the first nine months of 2025 topped CDN$1 billion (US$73 million).

Hamilton said Canada Post would not lay off workers due to the delivery changes. “This will reduce the number of letter carriers. They will have work, but it will be elsewhere,” he said.

Canada Post currently employs around 60,000 people.

The process to end home delivery is beginning after meetings with union officials, the corporation said in a statement.

Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers will begin voting Monday on whether to ratify new contract agreements with the national mail carrier.

They have been without a new contract since November 2023, and the union has staged two nationwide strikes and a series of other disruptions during contract negotiations.

A resident of one of the affected communities said losing her home mail delivery wouldn’t be an issue.

“It won’t actually bother me at all,” said Liane Beadon, 44, who lives in North Vancouver, British Columbia, and works remotely from home. “I think it’s a smart move in order to preserve having mail delivery and keeping costs low for Canadians.”

Two separate emergency incidents in Bnei Brak on Thursday left a young child hospitalized and an elderly bus driver injured after losing consciousness behind the wheel.

Panic broke out at a local kindergarten during the afternoon hours when staff realized that a four-year-old girl had accidentally ingested rat poison. Emergency teams from United Hatzalah were quickly dispatched to the scene following the alert. Medics provided initial treatment at the site, and the child’s condition was reported as mild.

In a separate incident in the city, emergency responders were called to Rechov Abuchatzeira following reports of a traffic accident. A 76-year-old bus driver lost consciousness, apparently due to heatstroke, and collided with two private vehicles. Paramedics treated him at the scene before transporting him in stable condition to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer for further care.

Hatzalah medics Ephraim Weinberger and Shmuel Nechemias described the scene: “When we arrived at the scene, we found a bus driver, a 76-year-old man, suffering from signs of heatstroke, which caused him to crash into two private vehicles. Together with medics and paramedics from Hatzalah and MDA, we immediately began life-saving procedures, including cooling his body, and he was evacuated in stable condition for further treatment in the shock room at Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer. Thankfully, there were no additional injuries among the occupants of the private vehicles.”

President Donald Trump sharply criticized both a private plaintiff and a federal judge after a court ruling halted key portions of construction on a proposed White House ballroom.

The dispute centers on a legal challenge brought by architectural historian Alison K. Hoagland, which resulted in a decision blocking above-ground work on the project. The ruling has drawn a forceful response from Trump, who insists the ballroom is essential and unfairly targeted.

In a decision issued Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon, appointed by President George W. Bush, ordered that federal officials may not proceed with building the above-ground elements of the ballroom at the White House while the case continues.

Trump initially reacted to the ruling by arguing that the absence of a ballroom poses a security concern, stating that no president “can ever be safe” without such a facility.

Later, the president took to Truth Social to directly criticize Hoagland and the legal challenge she filed.

“The person who filed the meritless and lawless suit on the desperately needed White House Ballroom, being built as a GIFT to America (without Tax Dollars!), a woman walking her dog, has absolutely NO STANDING to bring such a monumentally important case against our Country,” he claimed. “The Trump Hating Judge’s opinion is radically different from his first opinion, that was issued weeks ago, while still being unlawful and ambiguous, which never even addressed her COMPLETE lack of Standing.”

Trump continued by dismissing the broader legal case as baseless and politically motivated, while emphasizing the effort and resources already committed to the project.

“Every Political’ Pundit’ has said this case is meritless, even a JOKE, but it’s not a joke to me, or the people of America. Too much hard work, time, and money spent in order that a Judge can claim that he ruled against ‘DONALD TRUMP,’ something which I have gotten very used to, BUT WILL NOT ACCEPT!” he added.

{Matzav.com}

Eighty years after the end of World War II, the global Jewish population has yet to recover to the numbers recorded on the eve of the Holocaust, according to data released by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics.

The world’s Jewish population stands at 15.8 million — still short of the 16.6 million counted in 1939, before the Nazi genocide killed approximately one-third of Jews worldwide.

The geographic distribution of world Jewry has shifted dramatically from the pre-war era. In 1939, only about 449,000 Jews — roughly 3% of the global total — lived in what would become the State of Israel. Today, Israel is home to approximately 7.2 million Jews, about 45% of the world’s Jewish population.

The United States is home to roughly 6.3 million Jews, or about 40% of the global total. Together, Israel and the U.S. account for approximately 85% of Jews worldwide.

Beyond those two countries, Jewish communities are significantly smaller. France has approximately 436,000 Jews, Canada 407,000, the United Kingdom 315,000, Argentina 168,000, Germany 126,000, Russia 120,000 and Australia 117,000.

Several diaspora communities have shrunk since the bureau’s last report two years ago. Russia recorded a decline of nearly 10%, from 132,000 to 120,000. France dipped slightly from 440,000 to 436,000, and Argentina from 171,000 to 168,000. Canada was a notable exception, growing from 398,000 to 407,000 despite a documented rise in antisemitic incidents in recent years.

Approximately 111,000 Holocaust survivors and victims of Nazi-era persecution are currently living in Israel. Women make up 63% of that population, men 37%.

The data underscores how rapidly that generation is disappearing. About 37% of survivors were born between 1939 and 1945, placing them between 80 and 85 years old today. Another 35% are between 86 and 89, and roughly 28% are 90 or older.

Nearly half — 49.3% — are widowed. About 38% are married, including approximately 18,700 who are married to another survivor, making up around 9,300 households in Israel where both partners lived through the Holocaust.

Most survivors came to Israel in waves of immigration that tracked the country’s major historical turning points. About 6% arrived before Israel’s establishment in 1948. Roughly 30% came during the major immigration wave of 1948 to 1951, another 30% between 1952 and 1989, and about a third have arrived since the 1990s — primarily from former Soviet Union countries following its collapse.

Nearly all survivors, about 95%, live in urban areas. The largest concentrations are in Haifa, with approximately 7,500, followed by Jerusalem with 7,100 and Tel Aviv-Yafo with 6,000. Significant communities also reside in Ashdod, Netanya, Petah Tikva, Beersheba and Rishon Lezion.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd Lyons, a key executor of President Donald Trump’s mass deportations agenda, will resign at the end of May, federal officials announced Thursday.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin described Lyons as a great leader of ICE who helped to make American communities safer.

“We wish him luck on his next opportunity in the private sector,” Mullin said in a statement.

Lyons’ last day will be May 31, according to Mullin.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson described Lyons in a post on X as “an American patriot who made our country safer.”

It was not immediately clear why Lyons was resigning, nor who would be replacing him.

Lyons, who joined ICE in 2007 as an immigration enforcement agent in Texas, led the agency at the center of Trump’s plans to reshape immigration to the U.S.

Under his leadership, the agency was granted a massive infusion of cash through Congress, which it used to expand hiring and detention capabilities. ICE under Lyons also ramped up arrests to meet demand from the administration. Lyons signed off on a memo, first obtained by The Associated Press, that granted federal immigration officers sweeping powers to forcibly enter homes and make arrests without a judge’s warrant.

ICE was also central to a series of high-profile immigration enforcement operations in American cities, including Chicago and Minneapolis, a deployment that ended after backlash erupted over the deaths of two American protesters.

Public perceptions of ICE under Lyons were low. In a February AP-NORC poll, most U.S. adults, including independents, said they have an unfavorable view of the agency.

Trump’s border czar Tom Homan described Lyons as serving selflessly and “a highly respected and effective acting Director of ICE.”

(AP)

(AP) – About 300 flights per day must be cut from the schedule at Chicago O’Hare International Airport on the busiest days this summer in an effort to reduce flight delays, federal officials announced Thursday.

“If you book a ticket, we want you and your family to have the certainty that you’ll fly without endless delays and cancellations,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement.

O’Hare has the most number of flights of any U.S. airport, and it already had one of the worst records for flight delays nationwide last year.

More than 3,080 flights were planned on peak days this summer, which represented a 14.9% increase from the summer before, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration. That increase comes as air traffic controllers deal with taxiway closures for construction projects.

In its draft order, the federal government said both American and United announced expansion plans at O’Hare that could lead to significant delays this summer and limit the airfield’s ability to handle the expected amount of traffic.

Duffy said that the schedule was unrealistic and would have exceeded what the airport could handle. So the number of flights at the airport will be limited to a maximum of 2,708, which is still slightly higher than maximum of 2,680 flights that were scheduled at the peak of last summer. He said that “will reduce delays and make this busy summer travel season a little easier.”

On slower days of the week, fewer flights will have to be cut because a smaller number was scheduled in the first place. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are typically slower days of the week for flights.

The flight limits will take effect May 17 and last through Oct. 24.

Airlines will go through the details of the order to figure out how many flights they have to cancel and then will notify customers.

American Airlines said that once implemented, the FAA’s order will improve reliability and reduce delays for customers traveling through O’Hare this summer.

“We are grateful to Secretary Duffy, Administrator Bedford, and their leadership teams for acting swiftly to ensure that Chicagoans and all consumers continue to benefit from sensible competition and to help minimize flight disruptions during the busy summer season,” American said in a statement.

United said the airline appreciates that the government came up with “a solution that makes sense for everyone who cares about O’Hare’s success.”

Both airlines will review the order and their scheduled to determine where to make cuts and then notify travelers who are affected.

A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded in Beit Shemesh on Thursday when five-year-old Shmuel Shachori z”l was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking to cheder. The young boy, part of the Gerer community there, died after extensive efforts to save his life.

The accident took place on Rechov Chazon Ish as he was on his way to his cheder. Emergency personnel transported him to Shaare Zedek Medical Center, where doctors continued resuscitation attempts that had begun at the scene. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead.

The levayah was held at Shamgar Funeral Home, proceeding to Har HaZeisim.

Shmuel was born on the 10th of Teves, 5781, to his father, Rabbi Yisroel Shachori, a respected mechanech in the Gur community who serves as a mashgiach in the Gur yeshiva, and to his mother, Sheina Malka, of the Arara family from the Ramot neighborhood of Yerushalayim.

He was a talmid at the Beis Yisroel _cheder_of the Gur community, located on Rechov Ohr Sameach in Beit Shemesh.

Chanoch Dranger, chairman of Agudas Yisroel in Beit Shemesh and the city’s deputy mayor, expressed the community’s shock and sorrow: “The Gur chassidic community in Beit Shemesh is stunned and shaken by the tragic passing, at such a young age, of the dear child Shmuel, of blessed memory, son of Rabbi Yisroel Shachori, one of the city’s distinguished educators, who passed away this morning on his way to school. In these difficult hours, the community sends its condolences to the entire family, with a prayer to Hashem that we should no longer hear of devastation and tragedy within our borders, and that from now on we should receive only good news.”

{Matzav.com}

The Republican-led House narrowly rejected a Democratic push Thursday to block President Donald Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran, a day after the Senate turned back a similar measure seeking to rein in the president as the unpopular war approaches the two-month mark.

The measure was defeated 214-213 on a largely party-line vote, with one lawmaker voting present.

Only one Democrat, Rep. Jared Golden (Maine), voted against the resolution.

The resolution sought to direct Trump to “remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran” except as necessary to defend against an imminent attack. It was a test of lawmakers’ support for the conflict since Trump threatened last week to destroy Iran’s “whole civilization” and then hours later agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

Rep. Gregory W. Meeks (New York), the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during debate on the measure that Trump had “dragged the American people into a war of choice launched without congressional authorization.”

“No matter whether you agree with the war or not … the Constitution grants the Congress, not the president, the power to declare the war,” Meeks said. “Don’t take my word for it. Even Donald Trump acknowledged this, saying, and I quote: ‘As a war, you’re supposed to get approval from Congress.’”

Rep. Brian Mast (R-Florida), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said during the debate that Meeks was being “hypocritical” and argued that President Joe Biden had been “engaged against Iran” because of an “imminent threat” of attacks – the same reason the Trump White House has given for military action.

Trump, Mast said, is “defending against an imminent threat” of nuclear warfare from Iran. He accused his Democratic colleagues of “not paying attention to national security at all.”

After the vote, Mast suggested that more House Republicans could support the next push for a war powers resolution if Trump doesn’t formally seek congressional authorization for the war after its 60-day mark.

“My speculation is you would have a different vote count after 60 days,” Mast said.

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 – the law Democrats used to force the votes – requires presidents to remove U.S. forces from any conflict that Congress has not authorized within 60 days. Trump can obtain a 30-day extension if he certifies that it is an “unavoidable military necessity.”

Trump predicted shortly after the war started that it would be over within four or five weeks, but the 60-day deadline, which arrives May 1, is rapidly approaching. Meeks on Tuesday noted that the White House is also going to “have to come to Congress for the money” soon – a reference to an expected request from the White House for additional funding to continue military action against Iran.

A procedural vote on a war powers resolution in the Republican-led Senate failed 52-47 on Wednesday in a vote that broke largely along party lines.

An earlier attempt at a war powers resolution failed narrowly in the House last month, with two House Republicans voting for it and four Democrats opposing it.

Meeks told reporters earlier this week that some Republican members had been contemplating backing the resolution. But ultimately not enough support materialized. Meeks said it was important regardless to get lawmakers on the record about the war.

Trump could also face more difficult war powers votes in the Senate if the war stretches past 60 days.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) did not say Wednesday whether he wants Trump to seek authorization from Congress before the 60-day mark, but he has called for the administration to articulate how it plans to end the war as the deadline approaches.

“They need a plan for how to wind this down and how to get an outcome that actually leads to a safer, more secure Middle East,” Thune told reporters.

Some Senate Republicans have gone further. Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) has said he will not support more funding for military operations against Iran unless Congress declares war. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said Congress needs to authorize the conflict if it exceeds 60 days or if the U.S. deploys ground troops, which Trump has not ruled out.

“I have been clear from the beginning of this military operation that the President’s power is not unlimited as Commander in Chief, as the Constitution gives Congress an essential role in matters of war and peace,” Collins said in a statement.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Mariana Alfaro, Noah Robertson

Hundreds of Rabbeim gathered Tuesday night at Yeshiva of Spring Valley for a Torah Umesorah appreciation event, honoring their dedication to chinuch in what organizers described as a historic first-of-its-kind gathering.

Approximately 275 mechanchim from across Monsey came together under one roof — representing both Litvish and Chassidish mosdos — to network, exchange ideas, and address the challenges facing today’s classrooms on every grade level.

The keynote address was delivered by HaRav Elya Brudny shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of the Mirrer Yeshiva and a member of the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva of Torah Umesorah, who offered powerful words of chizuk to the assembled Rabbeim.

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Additional divrei chizuk were delivered by HaRav Moshe Weinberger and HaRav Meir Simcha Stein, who shared his widely discussed approach known as “K’mayim Panim El Panim.” The method emphasizes building genuine connections between Rabbeim and talmidim, fostering a sense of simcha and emotional connection that can lead to healthier, more well-rounded students.

Participants described the event as a massive success, highlighting the rare opportunity for Rabbeim across different communities and educational approaches to collaborate and learn from one another in a unified setting. Discussions focused on practical strategies, classroom challenges, and ways to strengthen the impact of mechanchim in today’s evolving environment.

Organizers say this gathering is just the beginning, with plans underway to replicate similar events in Jewish communities across the United States.

Torah Umesorah continues to serve as a leading force in chinuch, guided by the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva, who remain in constant communication — both through in-person meetings and ongoing discussions — to help mosdos navigate the challenges of the times and strengthen the education of Klal Yisroel’s children.

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A foundation based steps from the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site has filed criminal and ethics complaints against a far-right Polish lawmaker who displayed an Israeli flag defaced with a Nazi swastika on the floor of parliament on Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation submitted the criminal complaint to the Warsaw prosecutor’s office against Konrad Berkowicz, a member of the Sejm, Poland’s lower house of parliament. The filing alleges violations of Polish statutes prohibiting the promotion of totalitarian ideologies and the incitement of hatred based on nationality, ethnicity or religion. A parallel ethics complaint was submitted to the Sejm seeking disciplinary action against Berkowicz.

The incident unfolded Tuesday when Berkowicz took the parliamentary rostrum, unfurled the defaced flag and declared Israel the “new Third Reich.” The act drew immediate condemnation from lawmakers across the political spectrum.

Tuesday was Yom HaShoah, the annual day of Holocaust remembrance, as survivors, officials and thousands of students from around the world gathered at Auschwitz-Birkenau — fewer than two miles from the foundation’s offices — to commemorate the more than one million Jews and others murdered there.

“What we witnessed was not criticism of a state, but the inversion of the Holocaust itself,” said Jack Simony, director general of the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation. “To take the symbol of the Jewish state and deface it with a Nazi emblem on Yom HaShoah is not political expression. It is the deliberate abuse of history to incite hatred. We work in Oświęcim, where the consequences of that hatred are not theoretical. They are counted in the more than one million people who were murdered.”

Foundation Chairman Simon Bergson said the complaint carried legal, not merely symbolic, weight. “Polish law prohibits what occurred in that chamber, and we expect it to be enforced,” Bergson said. “Democratic institutions either hold the line or they do not.”

Poland maintains strict legal prohibitions on Nazi symbolism. Legal experts noted that the parliamentary setting — an official proceeding of the state — could weigh significantly in any prosecutorial assessment. Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty condemned the incident as a violation of parliamentary dignity and signaled that financial penalties and other disciplinary measures may follow.

Tomasz Kuncewicz, director of the Auschwitz Jewish Center in Oświęcim, said the episode struck at the core of the institution’s mission.

“When history is inverted and its symbols are weaponized to incite new hatred, it is not only an offense against the dead,” Kuncewicz said. “It is a direct assault on everything this institution stands for.”

The Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation, which supports the last remaining synagogue in Oświęcim and has hosted more than one million visitors at its educational center, said it expects prosecutors to treat the complaint seriously given both the legal framework and the gravity of the setting in which the act occurred.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

DENVILLE, N.J. (AP) — Democrat Analilia Mejia won a New Jersey special election for the U.S. House on Thursday, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway on a message of standing up to President Donald Trump.

Mejia, a former head of the Working Families Alliance who had support from Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, will fill the seat previously held by Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill and serve until January.

Her victory keeps the seat in the 11th District, once a GOP stronghold, in Democratic hands ahead of this year’s midterm elections and adds to a string of victories for the party. The Associated Press called the race for Mejia minutes after the polls closed.

Mejia emerged from a crowded primary in February and cast the race as a test of Trump’s leadership. She criticized his pardons of people convicted of Jan. 6-related crimes and faulted him for freezing funds authorized by Congress.

“The people here are ready to do something about it,” she said recently. “We’re not here to write strongly worded letters. Congress has real power.”

Hathaway tried to use Mejia’s progressive credentials to his advantage, as national Republicans cast her as a socialist.

“I’m running to bring common-sense leadership to D.C & deliver results for our families, not push a far-left agenda,” Hathaway said in a recent social media post.

They could go head to head again in November’s election for a full two-year term.

The 11th District, which covers parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties in northern New Jersey’s wealthy suburbs, was long a Republican stronghold but has become increasingly Democratic since Trump’s first term.

Sherrill first won the seat in 2018’s midterm elections, when Democrats flipped dozens of seats to take control of Congress. In 2024 she won reelection by about 15 points, while Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, carried the district by nearly 9 points.

Saran Cunningham, an 86-year-old retired special educator, said she was initially reluctant to support Mejia, worried that her views were too far to the left. She backed another candidate in the primary. But recently, outside the Morristown early polling location, she said she would now vote for Mejia.

“I think we’ve been tilting a little bit more to the right lately, which worries me,” Cunningham said. “I think that we need people in Congress who will fight for things that will help people as opposed to hurting them.”

Rob Berkowitz, 62, cast his early vote for Hathaway at the Denville polling station. Describing himself as a conservative, Berkowitz gave Trump high marks on immigration, the economy and the war in Iran, comparing him to Winston Churchill. He criticized the Democratic Party for moving away from leaders in the style of Harry Truman, whom he praised.

“They want borders wide open. They don’t want to enforce existing immigration laws,” Berkowitz said. “It’s an extraordinary thing to watch.”

The February Democratic primary pitted Mejia against former Rep. Tom Malinowski and others in a race where the American Israel Public Affairs Committee was a key player. The group’s affiliated super PAC tried to thwart Malinowski after he questioned unconditional aid to the Israeli government. That effort appeared to backfire as Mejia, who said she agreed that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, came out on top.

Mejia campaigned on populist economic policies and pushing to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Over the years she has been a regular presence in the state Capitol, advocating for progressive causes, and was Sanders’ political director during his 2020 presidential run. During the Biden administration, she was deputy director of the Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau.

In addition to winning Sanders’ endorsement, she was backed by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

Hathaway, a former Yale University football player, has worked in health care and finance as well as in politics as an aide for former GOP Gov. Chris Christie.

The stadium in East Rutherford that normally carries the MetLife name will undergo a temporary rebranding during this summer’s World Cup, meaning millions of viewers—and even local commuters—will not see its familiar corporate signage during the tournament.

Drivers along Route 3 in northern New Jersey have already begun noticing the shift. A banner reading “We Are New York New Jersey” has appeared at the Meadowlands Sports Complex, signaling that the venue will not be identified by its usual name while it hosts matches. Despite its location in New Jersey, the temporary designation will not include the state name in front.

FIFA officials explained that the change stems from strict policies that prohibit corporate naming rights at World Cup venues. The stadium will instead be referred to as New York New Jersey Stadium throughout the competition.

“In line with its brand protection policy, FIFA protects its brands and the exclusive rights of its sponsors, including clean zones around FIFA World Cup stadiums and other event sites,” a FIFA spokesperson told NJ.com in an email.

“FIFA is working closely with stadium authorities and host cities to implement these requirements in a manner consistent with previous editions of the tournament, while taking into account the unique infrastructure and operational considerations at each venue.”

The renaming was first reported by NorthJersey.com.

The venue, best known as MetLife Stadium, is scheduled to host eight matches during the World Cup, beginning June 13 with a game between Brazil and Morocco and concluding with the championship match on July 19.

MetLife, formally known as the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, secured naming rights to the stadium in 2011 through a long-term agreement with the New York Jets and New York Giants, who jointly own the facility. The deal is estimated to bring in between $17 million and $20 million annually over a 25-year period.

With the MetLife branding removed for the duration of the tournament, the company will lose a significant amount of global exposure. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has projected that roughly six billion people worldwide will watch some portion of the competition, with over 1.5 billion expected to tune in for the final alone.

Infantino contrasted the tournament’s reach with that of American football’s championship game, which was held at the same stadium in 2014.

“The Super Bowl, which is fantastic, has what, 120-130 million viewers?” Infantino told Fox. “A World Cup is 104 Super Bowls in one month. That’s three Super Bowls a day.”

The 82,500-seat stadium opened in 2010 under the name New Meadowlands Stadium before adopting its current corporate title a year later. It replaced the original Giants Stadium, which hosted matches during the 1994 World Cup, including a semifinal between Italy and Bulgaria.

{Matzav.com}

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From the sale of chametz through the closing moments of Yom Tov, scenes of Pesach were captured in the presence of the venerated Rosh Yeshiva, Hagaon HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman shlit”a.

Throughout the days of Chol Hamoed, Gedolei Yisrael, Roshei Yeshiva, Rabbanim, public figures, and masses of Klal Yisroel visited the Rosh Yeshiva at his residence on Rechov Admor MiGur in Bnei Brak, coming to be mekabel pnei rabbo b’regel and receive brachos for Yom Tov.

Photos by Shuki Lerer

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A new set of Israeli polls indicates a shift in the political landscape, with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot gaining ground, while opposition leader Yair Lapid drops below the electoral threshold. The data also shows a majority of the public opposing a ceasefire with Hezbollah during ongoing negotiations.

According to a Channel 12 News poll, if elections were held today, neither bloc would be able to form a government. The opposition would reach 59 seats without support from Arab parties, while the coalition would fall short of a majority.

The survey shows Likud gaining two seats compared to the previous poll, rising to 25 mandates. Naftali Bennett’s party weakens, dropping to 20 seats—two fewer than before. Eisenkot’s “Yashar” party emerges as the third-largest faction, increasing to 14 seats, up by one.

Additional results indicate that Yair Golan’s Democrats would maintain their strength with 10 seats, while Otzma Yehudit would also rise to 10. Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu would each hold steady at 9 seats, and United Torah Judaism would remain at 7. Yesh Atid would receive 6 seats, while Ra’am under Mansour Abbas and Hadash-Ta’al would each secure 5.

Several parties fall below the electoral threshold, including Religious Zionism led by Bezalel Smotrich (2.8%), Blue and White under Benny Gantz (2%), Balad led by Sami Abu Shehadeh (1.4%), and the Reservists party led by Yoaz Hendel (2.8%).

In terms of bloc alignment, the coalition would hold 51 seats, while the opposition would control 69, including 10 seats held by Arab parties and 59 by the rest of the opposition.

The poll also examined a scenario in which Bennett and Eisenkot run together on a joint list. In that case, the combined party would receive 33 seats. Likud would remain at 25 seats, while the Democrats and Otzma Yehudit would each receive 10. Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu would hold 9 seats each.

Further down the list in that scenario, Yesh Atid and United Torah Judaism would each win 7 seats, while Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am would receive 5 apiece. Parties failing to cross the threshold would again include Religious Zionism, Blue and White, the Reservists, and Balad. Bloc totals would remain unchanged, with the opposition at 69 seats and the coalition at 51.

On the question of suitability for prime minister, Netanyahu leads Lapid by a wide margin, with 42% support compared to Lapid’s 27%. Against Bennett, Netanyahu receives 41% to Bennett’s 34%. In a matchup with Eisenkot, Netanyahu leads 42% to 36%. Against Avigdor Liberman, Netanyahu holds 42% support versus Liberman’s 24%.

Respondents were also asked whether they support a ceasefire with Hezbollah while direct negotiations with Lebanon are ongoing. A majority, 51%, oppose such a ceasefire, while 29% support it. Among coalition voters, 18% support a ceasefire compared to 64% who oppose it. Among opposition voters, 33% support it, while 49% oppose.

Another question addressed whether the government has done enough to support those economically affected by the war. A strong majority, 72%, believe the government has not done enough, while 12% say it has, and 16% are unsure. Among coalition voters, 50% say the government has not done enough, compared to 24% who believe it has. Among opposition voters, only 4% say the government has done enough, while 89% say it has not.

When asked whether they trust U.S. President Donald Trump to safeguard Israel’s interests in a potential agreement with Iran, 33% said they trust him, 48% said they do not, and 19% were unsure. Among coalition voters, 59% expressed trust, compared to 24% who did not. Among opposition voters, 21% said they trust him, while 63% said they do not.

A separate Channel 14 poll presents a different picture, showing the right-wing bloc maintaining a solid majority of 65 seats, with Likud as the largest party at 35 seats. Eisenkot’s “Yashar” party follows with 13 seats, up by one from the previous week. The Joint List rises to 12 seats.

Shas and Bennett each gain a seat, reaching 11 mandates apiece. Yair Golan’s Democrats remain at 10 seats.

Further results show Yisrael Beiteinu with 9 seats, while United Torah Judaism drops one seat to 8. Otzma Yehudit remains at 7 seats.

At the bottom of the list, Religious Zionism receives 4 seats. For the first time, Yesh Atid fails to cross the electoral threshold, polling at just 2.9%. Blue and White under Benny Gantz also remains below the threshold at 1.2%. Bloc distribution in this poll gives 65 seats to the right-wing bloc, 43 to the left, and 12 to Arab parties.

Regarding suitability for prime minister in the Channel 14 poll, Netanyahu leads with 52% support. Eisenkot follows with 21%, while Bennett ranks third with 18%. Other candidates trail significantly: Avigdor Lieberman receives 5%, Yair Lapid 3%, and Benny Gantz just 1%.

Yesterday in ירושלים, thousands gathered for the annual “כנסיה הגדולה” of Lev L’Achim—a moment that has become a cornerstone in the עולם התורה והקירוב for over thirty years.

This was not merely a convention. It was a his’orerus—a coming together of hearts and minds, of those who carry the burden and the zechus of being עוסקים בהשבת בנים לאביהם שבשמים.

The gathering was graced by the presence of the Gedolei Yisrael שליט״א, whose very presence infused the room with a sense of purpose and אחריות. The theme this year, “והשיב,” was not just a slogan—it was a reality being lived, especially in light of the current מלחמה, which has stirred בתוך כלל ישראל a deep awakening, a renewed thirst for meaning, for אמת, for תורה.

Maran HaRav Dov Landau שליט״א delivered the central address, speaking with clarity and depth about the מצב הדור. He described how “העם שבשדות צמא לדבר ה׳”—the simple Yid, even one far removed, carries within him a yearning for דבר ה׳. He emphasized that even those who appear distant often possess a quiet respect—even admiration—for תורה and for those who dedicate their lives to it.

And despite the רוח הזמן, despite the pressures and voices that seek to weaken the standing of תורה, HaRav Landau was unequivocal: “לא תהיה.” The Torah will endure. More than that—it will prevail. And the כלי that brings hearts back is not argument, not confrontation, but the מאור שבתורה itself. When an אברך sits and learns with another Yid, with patience and with a פנים מאירות, something פנימי is awakened. A נשמה begins to remember.

A letter from HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch שליט״א, read aloud at the gathering, reinforced this reality. He wrote of the remarkable סייעתא דשמיא being witnessed—that בתי מדרש are filling to capacity, that more and more are knocking on the doors, seeking entry, seeking connection. Until new בתי מדרש and מדרשות had to be opened across the country to accommodate the surge.

He described how the rising קול התורה of those returning is beginning to drown out the opposing voices, those that seek, רח״ל, to diminish Torah. And he concluded with a heartfelt ברכה: that those engaged in this מלאכת הקודש should continue to grow and expand, להגדיל תורה ולהאדירה.

HaRav Avraham Salim שליט״א spoke about the unique כוח of Lev L’Achim, acting under the guidance of Gedolei Yisrael, in returning a ציבור that is genuinely thirsty for דבר ה׳.

HaRav Dovid Cohen שליט״א gave expression to a painful truth, declaring that for decades there has been a מלחמת דת in ארץ ישראל—and that without Lev L’Achim, מאות אלפים בערי השדה could have been lost. His words were not said as rhetoric, but as a sober recognition of what is at stake—and what is being saved.

HaRav Dan Segal שליט״א emphasized the tremendous חשיבות of זיכוי הרבים, noting that such efforts awaken רחמי שמים in a profound way.

Additional דברי חיזוק were delivered by HaRav Moshe Yehuda Schlesinger שליט״א, HaRav Tzvi Drabkin שליט״א, HaRav Aryeh Levy שליט״א, HaRav Shraga Shteinman שליט״א, HaRav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel שליט״א, along with the leadership of Lev L’Achim, who expressed deep appreciation to the אברכים and פעילים who dedicate themselves, often quietly and without recognition, to this mission.

The gathering opened with תפילה and פרקי תהילים, led by HaRav Binyomin Finkel שליט״א, setting the tone of dependence on הקב״ה in all that is being done. HaRav Chaim Feinstein שליט״א followed with words that framed the moment with perspective and responsibility.

A significant portion of the program was dedicated to a שו״ת session with HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein שליט״א, addressing real and pressing שאלות that arise in the field—particularly in the current מצב—giving clarity and direction to those engaged in kiruv.

One of the most impactful moments of the entire gathering was when dozens of young men—graduates of the מדרשיות for מתחזקים—came up to the stage. These were individuals who, not long ago, stood far from a life of תורה. And now, they stood as בני תורה, learning, growing, living differently. Not as a “story,” but as a מציאות.

It was not presented with drama or theatrics. It did not need to be. The sight itself spoke.

You could see, in a quiet way, what happens when one אברך does not give up. When he continues to show up, to learn, to care—without pressure, without arguments—just with consistency and אמת. The immense power of the revolution that is happening nightly in Batei Medrash across the country.

That is the story.

Not a single dramatic moment—but a process. A relationship. A spark that is patiently nurtured until it becomes something lasting.

The מנהלי הארגון, HaRav Eliezer Sorotzkin and HaRav Avraham Zeibald שליט״א, concluded by thanking the many אברכים and פעילים who have answered the call of Gedolei Yisrael—those who give of their time, their energy, and themselves, to bring another Yid closer.

In a generation searching for direction, this gathering made one thing clear: the רצון to return is there. The נשמות are ready.

And with the steady, devoted efforts of those who refuse to give up on even one Yid—those נשמות are finding their way home.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Pentagon has begun quietly drawing up contingency plans for a military operation in Cuba, two people familiar with the matter told USA Today, as President Donald Trump grows increasingly vocal about forcing political change on the island by any means necessary.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the planning publicly, described the preparations as a significant escalation in a months-long pressure campaign against Havana that has already included cutoffs of oil shipments and diplomatic brinkmanship.

The Pentagon declined to confirm the specifics, saying in a statement that it routinely plans for a range of contingencies and stands ready to carry out the president’s orders.

Trump has made little effort to conceal his ambitions. He has spoken publicly about the “honor” of taking Cuba “in some form,” telling reporters he believes he can do “anything I want with it.” In an Oval Office interview with USA Today on Monday, he was more blunt: “We may stop by Cuba after we’re finished with this” — a reference to the ongoing conflict with Iran.

The Cuba planning comes on the heels of the Jan. 3 special operations raid that pulled Nicolas Maduro from his presidential compound in Caracas, killing 32 Cuban military personnel who had been stationed there as a security detail. The operation rattled governments across the Caribbean and Latin America and set off intense speculation in South Florida’s Cuban exile community about what Washington might do next.

But analysts who track U.S.-Cuba relations say the situations are not identical. In the run-ups to operations in both Venezuela and Iran, U.S. officials mounted sustained public arguments about imminent threats to American security. No such case has been made for Cuba.

Behind the military posturing, a fragile diplomatic track has remained open. As recently as March, the two governments had been quietly exploring an economic normalization deal that would have represented a historic shift in relations. Officials on both sides have acknowledged they are still feeling out whether any compromise is possible, though the gaps between their positions remain wide.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, for his part, has not moderated his public tone. In a recent interview with Newsweek, he made clear his government would not stand down in the face of a U.S. attack.

“We will battle, we will defend ourselves, and should we fall in battle, to die for the homeland is to live,” Diaz-Canel said.

U.S. military planners have studied the Cuba question on and off since Fidel Castro swept into Havana in 1959, aligned his government with Moscow, and transformed the island into a Cold War flashpoint 90 miles from Florida. The calculus has not changed much in the decades since.

Fonseca said Cuba’s armed forces — underfunded, poorly equipped, and of uncertain loyalty to the current government — would be unlikely to mount sustained resistance against U.S. forces. A military victory, he said, would probably come quickly.

Governing what came after would be another matter entirely.

“This will be a very easy military victory,” Fonseca said, “but a far more difficult political victory.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

This evening, President Donald Trump posted an extended and sharply worded message on Truth Social in which he said, “I hear Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, and Candace Owens are dying fast,” while also launching a broader attack on media figures and touting his own political standing.

The post began with Trump describing his travel plans and policy messaging, writing, “I’m on Air Force One heading to Las Vegas and Arizona for Greetings and Speeches on NO TAX ON TIPS, a WINDFALL for our Great American Citizens.”

He then pivoted to criticism of television commentator Jessica Tarlov, stating, “I am watching one of the Least Attractive and Talented People on all of Television, Jessica Tarlov.” Trump continued, “Her voice is so grating and terrible, I had to ‘turn her off!’”

Expanding on that critique, Trump accused her of dishonesty, writing, “Her Democrat soundbites are FAKE. She makes up ‘Poll Numbers,’ and nobody challenges her, because she is so boring.”

The president contrasted those claims with his own standing, adding, “I have among the best Poll Numbers I have ever had, and why shouldn’t I, ALL THE COUNTRY DOES IS WIN.” He went on to cite a specific example, writing, “CNN had me at 100%, saying they never saw that before.”

Trump then escalated his criticism of Tarlov with a direct call for her removal from television, declaring, “GET HER OFF THE AIR, SHE IS BAD FOR OUR COUNTRY!”

He followed that statement with the line that drew the most immediate attention: “I hear Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson, and Candace Owens are dying fast.” He added, “Their numbers are terrible. Nobody believes them anymore.”

Trump concluded the post by questioning their alignment with his political movement, writing, “They were FAKE MAGA, and now they’ve been exposed! President DJT.”

{Matzav.com}

More than 43 years after gunmen killed six people at a Jewish restaurant in Paris in what was then the deadliest antisemitic attack in France since World War II, the Palestinian Authority has extradited the man suspected of leading the assault, Arabic-language media reported Thursday.

Mahmoud Khader Abed Adra, known as “Hicham Harb,” is believed to have commanded the attackers who stormed the Jo Goldenberg restaurant in Paris’s historically Jewish Marais district on Aug. 9, 1982. Now 70, he has been the subject of an international arrest warrant for a decade.

The extradition came in unusual fashion. A hearing on France’s extradition request had been scheduled for Thursday at a Palestinian court in Ramallah, according to the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. Instead, Harb’s family received a call from the Ramallah police chief informing them that he was already en route to Jordan, from which he would be transferred to French custody, the report said. The Palestinian Authority had never officially confirmed reports last September that its security forces had arrested Harb, although those reports preceded Thursday’s extradition.

The 1982 attack began around midday when a grenade was thrown into the dining room of the restaurant, which had roughly 50 customers inside. The attackers then entered and opened fire with Polish-made Wz-63 machine guns, continuing to shoot at passers-by as they fled. Six people were killed and 22 wounded.

France issued international arrest warrants for Harb and five other suspects in 2015, nearly 33 years after the attack. A French judge ordered a trial for all six in July.

Harb is the third defendant to reach French custody. Walid Abdulrahman Abu Zayed, 66, was extradited from Norway in 2020 after emigrating there with his family. Hazza Taha was detained last year in Paris.

Three suspects remain at large. Nabil Hassan Mahmoud Othmane, also known as Ibrahim Hamza, and Nizar Tawfiq Moussa Hamada, also known as Hani, are believed to be in either the Palestinian territories or Jordan. Mohamed Souhair al-Abassi, also known as Amjad Atta, is in Jordan, which has refused to extradite him.

The six suspects are believed to have been members of Abu Nidal, the terror organization named for its founder Sabri al-Banna. The group has been blamed for nearly two dozen attacks that killed at least 275 people, including the 1985 assaults on El Al Israel Airlines ticket counters at the Rome and Vienna airports, which killed 18.

Abu Nidal himself was found dead in his Baghdad apartment in August 2002. Iraqi authorities ruled the death a suicide.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Europe could face major disruptions to air travel within weeks if energy supplies remain constrained, with as little as six weeks of jet fuel left, according to the head of the International Energy Agency, who warned that the ongoing Iran conflict is creating an unprecedented global energy emergency, the AP reports.

Fatih Birol, the IEA’s executive director, described the situation as deeply alarming in an interview Thursday, pointing to the severe impact of restricted oil and gas flows through the Strait of Hormuz. He characterized the situation as “the largest energy crisis we have ever faced,” with far-reaching consequences.

“In the past there was a group called ‘Dire Straits.’ It’s a dire strait now, and it is going to have major implications for the global economy. And the longer it goes, the worse it will be for the economic growth and inflation around the world,” he told The Associated Press.

Birol said the fallout will be felt through rising energy costs across the board. “higher petrol (gasoline) prices, higher gas prices, high electricity prices,” he said, speaking from his office in Paris overlooking the Eiffel Tower.

He warned that while all nations will be affected, the burden will fall most heavily on less-developed economies. “the countries who will suffer the most will not be those whose voice are heard a lot. It will be mainly the developing countries. Poorer countries in Asia, in Africa and in Latin America,” said the Turkish economist who has led the IEA since 2015.

Without a resolution that reopens the Strait of Hormuz, Birol said the consequences will extend to every nation. “Everybody is going to suffer,” he added.

He stressed that no country will be insulated from the impact. “Some countries may be richer than the others. Some countries may have more energy than the others, but no country, no country is immune to this crisis,” he said.

With nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil passing through the strait under normal conditions, Birol warned that prolonged disruption could deepen the crisis. “In Europe, we have maybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,” he said. “If we are not able to open the Strait of Hormuz … I can tell you soon we will hear the news that some of the flights from city A to city B might be canceled as a result of lack of jet fuel.”

Airlines have not yet reported immediate shortages. Dutch carrier KLM and UK-based easyJet both said Thursday they are not currently facing fuel supply problems, though they declined to elaborate on the IEA’s warning. However, both companies have already been dealing with increased fuel costs.

KLM has announced it will reduce 160 flights to and from Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport next month—about one percent of its European schedule—citing “rising kerosene costs” and noting that some routes are “no longer financially viable to operate.”

Passengers are already beginning to feel the impact, as airlines raise fares and add fees even before widespread cancellations have begun.

Birol said government leaders have warned him that the situation could deteriorate rapidly if the strait remains closed. “Many government leaders tell me that if Hormuz is not open until (the) end of May, many countries — starting from the weaker economies — are going to face huge challenges, and this will go from the high inflation numbers to coming close to slow growth or even to recession in some cases.”

He also criticized Iran’s practice of charging certain vessels to pass through the waterway, warning that such a system could spread to other key global shipping routes. “If we change it once, it may be difficult to get it back,” he said. “It will be difficult to have a toll system here, applied here, but not there.”

“I would like to see that the oil flows unconditionally from the point A to point B,” he said.

Birol noted that more than 110 oil tankers and over 15 liquefied natural gas carriers are currently stuck in the Persian Gulf and could help ease shortages if allowed to pass, but cautioned that even this would not fully resolve the crisis. “But it is not enough.”

He added that damage to regional energy infrastructure will slow any recovery even if fighting ends. “Over 80 key assets in the region have been damaged. And out of these 80, more than one third are severely or very severely damaged,” he said.

“It will be extremely optimistic to believe that it will very quick,” Birol said. “It will take gradually, gradually, up to two years to come back where we were before the war.”

Birol also expressed frustration that a relatively small force has been able to disrupt global markets. He said it is difficult to comprehend how “a couple of hundred men with guns” could hold the world economy at risk, noting that the IEA has long warned about the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz.

Looking ahead, he suggested the crisis may accelerate investment in alternative energy sources, including nuclear power, and could permanently alter global energy dynamics. “will reshape the global energy map for the next years to come,” he said.

Reflecting on the broader implications, Birol pointed to the deep connection between energy and global conflict. “Energy and geopolitics have been always interwoven,” he said. “But I have never, ever seen … such a dark and long shadow of geopolitics.”

He concluded on a somber note, saying: “Unfortunately, energy is at the heart of many conflicts which, again, makes me, as an energy person, rather sad, to be honest.”

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A man carrying a backpack with an AR-style pistol inside was arrested Thursday after walking into health insurer Aetna’s headquarters in Connecticut, police said.

🚨 Press Release Update: Suspicious Person / Firearm Arrest 🚨

Hartford Police responded to Aetna Headquarters (151 Farmington Ave) after a report of a suspicious male.

Officers arrived to find the individual already detained by Aetna security—who acted quickly, stopping him… pic.twitter.com/Er7ebwD2Eb

— Hartford Police CT (@HartfordPolice) April 16, 2026

Security guards detained the man without incident shortly after 10 a.m., within 3 minutes after he entered the Hartford building. They held him until city police officers arrived, a spokesperson for Hartford police said.

It wasn’t immediately clear what the man’s plans were, Lt. Aaron Boisvert said.

The man was brought to Hartford police headquarters and charged with illegal possession of an assault weapon, criminal possession of a firearm, possession of a large-capacity ammunition magazine and trespassing. Court and public records show he has a criminal history that includes convictions for assault, threatening and drug possession.

It was not immediately clear if the man has a lawyer who could respond to the allegations.

Woonsocket, Rhode Island-based CVS Health, Aetna’s parent company, released a brief statement on the incident and did not immediately respond to follow-up questions.

“Earlier today, a suspicious person attempted to enter our office, was apprehended immediately by our security team and taken into custody by local police,” the statement said.

The arrest comes amid concerns about health care executives’ safety, following the December 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City. Luigi Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges connected to the killing. He has become a cause célèbre for people upset with the health insurance industry.

In February, CVS Health announced it would be laying off more than 300 remote workers who reported to the Aetna headquarters.

The stories emerging today are nothing short of startling. In a recent report, individuals described as “screenmaxxers” openly admit to spending virtually every waking hour on their phones: watching, scrolling, messaging, and consuming without pause. One person shared that they are doing at least three things at once on their device at all times, while another acknowledged having no plans to cut back despite recognizing the toll.

What once sounded extreme is quietly becoming normal. A life mediated almost entirely through a screen is no longer an outlier. It is a direction in which many find themselves and to which many are drifting.

Have you ever found yourself on your phone, endlessly watching, adding things to your cart, or scrolling without really thinking, knowing you should stop, but feeling like you simply cannot? It is that pull, that urgent need, that compulsion that keeps your fingers moving even when your mind is saying enough. You put your phone down for a moment, but somehow it is back in your hand before you know it. You tell yourself you will turn off the screen, step away, or stop, and yet the cycle keeps going. Are you making choices, or are things just happening to you? Is time passing in a way that leaves you feeling bad, ashamed, guilty, not proud of how you lived those hours? You want to stop. It is not who you want to be. And yet somehow, you cannot break out.

This is not laziness or a simple lack of willpower. It is something deeper, an impulse, a kind of invisible tether that grabs hold of our attention and refuses to let go, and chances are most of us feel it every single day of the week (except for one).

For a long time, we comforted ourselves with the belief that this was a problem of the young. Teenagers and college students were the ones we worried about. But recent reporting has made clear that this is not true. Baby boomers are among the biggest culprits, spending hours upon hours glued to their devices, caught in the same loops of scrolling, clicking, and consuming. This is not a generational issue. It is a human one.

Why is our generation especially vulnerable? In previous generations, addictions required effort. A person had to go somewhere to get their need, to obtain something, make a conscious decision. Today, our addictions live in our pocket. They are always with us, always accessible, always calling. Technology companies deliberately design products to be addictive, with endless scrolling, constant notifications, and variable rewards that function—and literally have chemical effects on our brains—like slot machines. They are competing for one thing, your attention, because attention is the most valuable resource in the world today.

In the beginning of our Parsha, the Torah says: “This is the law of the Metzorah on the day of his purification and he shall be brought to the Kohen.” Interestingly, when describing the purification of the Nazir, the Torah uses very similar language, but with an important difference.  “This is the law of the Nazir: On the day his abstinence is completed, he shall bring himself to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.” Rav Yeruchem Levovitz, the great Mashgiach of the Mir, asks, why the difference? Why with the Metzorah does it say “He is brought to the Kohen” and yet with the Nazir it says he brings himself?

Says Rav Yeruchem there is a fundamental difference between the Nazir and the Metzorah. A Nazir is in charge of himself and a Metzorah is subject to other forces that are in charge of him. The Nazir willingly took a vow and willingly subject himself to the process. The Metzorah is in front of the Kohen because he was brought there, compelled by powers and powerful temptations he could not withstand.

The question for us is simple and uncomfortable. Are we bringing ourselves to our choices, or are we being brought by our devices? When we feel, “I wish I could stop but I cannot,” that is the language of being carried. That is not freedom.

Every person must ask themselves honestly, what controls me? Is it my phone, my habits, my cravings? Breaking addiction requires more than willpower. It requires rebuilding a life of meaning. Real freedom begins with awareness, with recognizing what controls us clearly and honestly. It continues with removing triggers, with being willing to change our environment and create boundaries that protect us. And it hinges on replacing the dopamine, because we cannot simply remove without replacing. The urge to escape, to numb, to distract is real, but instead of feeding it with endless scrolling, we must redirect it toward reading, learning, connecting, and helping. We are not meant to simply avoid distraction. We are meant to lean into meaning.

That is why I want to invite you to something powerful. 

Beginning Monday, April 20th, we will be hosting a 30-day technology WhatsApp challenge designed to help you reset your relationship with your phone and reclaim your attention. Each day you will receive a small, simple, actionable challenge that builds self-control, sharpens awareness of your habits, and gradually loosens the grip of technology on your life. This is a joint project of Guard Your Eyes and Semichas Chaver Program, built on the idea that small daily steps, taken consistently and together, can create real and lasting change, with weekly incentives and grand prizes to keep you motivated along the way.

By the end of 30 days, you will develop a healthier and more intentional relationship with technology. You will experience greater focus, greater confidence, and a stronger sense of kedusha that carries into your everyday life.

Join the challenge at KedushaChallenge.com/Shavuos and take the first step toward becoming truly free.

Are you a Rav, Rebbe, Rebbetzin, or community leader? 

Sign up at kedushachallenge.com/ to run this game-changing program in your community.

The New York Mets have scheduled heritage and community celebration nights for more than a half-dozen ethnic and cultural groups during the 2026 season. Jewish Heritage Night is not among them.

The glaring omission was first noted by Kevin Deutsch in a Substack blog post.

The team’s official promotional calendar includes themed evenings honoring Italian, Puerto Rican, Japanese, Korean, Irish, Dominican and Mexican communities, alongside Black Legacy Night and a Pride celebration. Jewish Heritage Night, which has appeared on the Mets’ schedule in previous seasons, is absent from both the team’s promotional materials and theme-game listings. According to team materials, the Mets have not hosted a Jewish-themed promotion since 2023.

The gap has drawn criticism from Jewish fans and pro-Israel advocates in a city that is home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel.

The omission is notable given the team’s ownership. Steve Cohen, who purchased the Mets in 2020, is Jewish and has been publicly engaged on issues affecting the Jewish community, including antisemitism.

Jewish fans who have noticed the absence say the contrast with the rest of the promotional calendar is hard to ignore.

New York City is home to an estimated one million Jewish residents. The Mets’ fanbase draws heavily from Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island — areas with significant Jewish populations that have historically been among the team’s most loyal constituencies.

The team has offered no public explanation.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)