The Trump administration believes it is nearing a major agreement aimed at permanently preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, according to Vice President JD Vance, who said a breakthrough could come within days, though negotiations may continue for months before a final accord is reached.

Speaking in an interview with Robert Costa that is set to air on “CBS Sunday Morning,” portions of which were released Tuesday, Vance expressed confidence that the United States is on the verge of securing a long-term resolution to the Iranian nuclear threat.

“Right now, I feel that we are in a position to get a deal that is good for the United States economically and that really does deal with the Iranian nuclear program, not just now, not just while Donald Trump is president, but for the long term, to where my kids can say when they’re adults, ‘Iran is not going to have a nuclear weapon,'” Vance said.

He stressed that the administration views such an outcome as the central objective of its policy toward Tehran.

“That’s the goal of the policy. And I think we’re very close to achieving that goal. But we still got some wood to chop. We’re going to keep doing it,” he added.

Vance also indicated that any agreement would be completed before Americans head to the polls for the November midterm elections.

“I think we’re going to know a lot before the midterm elections,” he said. “Look, I think that the deal could happen in the next week, but the deal could also happen months from now.”

The Vice President’s latest remarks were consistent with comments he made Monday evening during an appearance on Fox News, where he underscored that while Washington and Jerusalem share many strategic priorities, the administration’s approach to Iran will ultimately be guided by what it believes best serves American interests.

“The Israelis and the United States, we have a lot of shared interests. But we also have some situations where our interests diverge, and I think where the president has been very clear here is that while Israel obviously has some objectives that it has, the United States’ main objective in Iran is to ensure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon,” Vance said.

He argued that developments over the past 18 months have created an opportunity to reach a lasting solution to the nuclear standoff.

“Over the last year and a half, we’ve created the space necessary where the president believes – and I think he’s right – that we can get a long-term settlement to Iran’s nuclear issue,” Vance stated.

Vance acknowledged that Israel may not fully embrace every aspect of such an arrangement, but maintained that the administration is focused on advancing what it considers America’s national interest.

“Now, Israel may like that, they may not like that, but fundamentally, we think this is in the best interest of the United States of America,” he said, adding that Washington will continue pursuing that goal because “that’s what the president of the United States was elected to do.”

The comments came the same day that President Trump projected a decisive outcome in the confrontation over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, saying the United States expects to achieve a complete victory in the near future.

Trump made the remarks during a tele-rally held in support of Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and it’s as simple as that. They cannot have, the destruction is so powerful, they cannot have a nuclear weapon. And Lindsey has been fighting with me all the way, all the way for that,” Trump said.

The President expressed confidence that recent efforts are producing results and predicted a major announcement in the coming weeks.

“We’ve been a very tough team, and I think we are winning that battle, but you’re really going to win it over the next two weeks when we declare total victory. It’ll be a total victory. It’ll happen very soon. And oil prices will come tumbling down,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

(AP) – A coalition of civil rights groups on Tuesday asked a state judge to order one of New York’s largest suburban counties to stop its deployment of nearly 600 license plate readers, calling it a warrantless and “indiscriminate surveillance system” that violates the state constitution.

The class action lawsuit also alleged that Westchester County never got proper authorization to launch the program, which has amassed a database of 1.6 billion plate scans that has been shared with more than 50 outside law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The complaint said the network “records the long-term travel patterns, daily habits, and intimate information of millions of law-abiding New Yorkers and other motorists who travel through Westchester.”

“In a democracy, a police department cannot unilaterally decide — without legislative authorization — to surveil the daily movements of its own citizens without any real accountability, transparency, or oversight,” said Barry Friedman, founder and faculty director of the Policing Project at NYU School of Law, which brought the suit on behalf of four motorists. “This indiscriminate data surveillance must not be allowed to continue in the dark.”

“Westchester County has not yet received or reviewed the lawsuit referenced,” a spokesperson for the county said.

The widespread use of license plate reader systems, which utilize a system of cameras to scan and record motorists’ license plate information, has generated controversy. The Associated Press in November reported that the U.S. Border Patrol was running a secretive license plate reader program that singled drivers out over their travel patterns, prompting a complaint from congressional Democrats that the program may be unlawful.

A license plate reader company, Flock Safety, said last year it was pausing work with the Department of Homeland Security after it was revealed that police departments across the country were sharing license plate reader data with immigration authorities. Other cities and states are restricting data sharing with federal authorities, reducing how long they keep license plate reader data or even canceling contracts in response to residents’ complaints.

The civil rights groups brought the case against Westchester County on behalf of four women who live in the county or in nearby jurisdictions. The suit alleged that the four motorists’ license plate data had been collectively captured thousands of times by the county’s camera network in the past few years. A vehicle belonging to one plaintiff, Lora Nelson, was captured by the county’s cameras more than 2,400 times. Another plaintiff’s vehicle was captured 1,134 times between 2023 and 2026, the suit alleged.

Westchester County, which is 430-square miles (1,114 square kilometers) and just north of New York City, is crisscrossed by major thoroughfares, including Interstate 87 and Interstate 95 and the Hutchinson River Parkway that serve daily commuter traffic into and out of New York City and longer distance travel.

The women who brought the case are represented by the Policing Project at New York University School of Law, the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, the New York Civil Liberties Union and the law firm Freshfields.

The use of license plate readers has broadly been upheld by most courts because they document the movement of cars on public roadways. The Westchester litigation is part of a broader legal effort seeking to have courts reconsider such legal doctrines amid the proliferation of surveillance technologies, data collection and analysis.

WASHINGTON (AP) — If President Donald Trump is coming to the game, bet on the visiting team.

You’ll usually be in the money — at least if recent history holds.

The New York Knicks, after two straight wins in the finals against the San Antonio Spurs, lost at home 115-111 on Monday night with Trump, a longtime fan of the Big Apple’s NBA team, in a luxury suite at Madison Square Garden.

He similarly may have had a jinxing role for MLB’s Washington Nationals during his first term, when the home team lost Game 5 of the World Series to the Houston Astros 7-1.

In November, the president was on hand when the NFL’s Washington Commanders hosted the Detroit Lions, and the visitors romped 44-22. And he was front and center at Bethpage Black when Europe topped the U.S. golf team in last fall’s Ryder Cup.

It’s a glaring irony for a president fanatical about sports but also especially obsessed with winning.

Trump frequently mentions his own election victories, even boasting of a 2020 win over Joe Biden that never happened, and touts his record of endorsing winning Republican primary candidates. His love of sports also sometimes leads him into hostile territory, including heavily Democratic Manhattan, where his very presence led to sustained booing before Game 3’s tipoff.

To be fair, Trump’s attendance doesn’t guarantee the home team will lose.

Last September, the New York Yankees beat the visiting Detroit Tigers 9-3 as the president marked the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Trump was also there when Navy beat Army 17-16 in Baltimore last fall, when the Midshipmen were technically the home team — though Navy wasn’t playing in its home stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.

He’s also been to plenty of sporting events where home field advantage isn’t a factor.

That was true for his attending the U.S. Open in September and the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans, where the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs, as well as that year’s Daytona 500. Ditto for 2025s NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia and the FIFA Club World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

It also won’t be an issue Sunday, when the White House’s South Lawn will host a UFC show to mark Trump’s 80th birthday.

The White House didn’t respond to a message seeking comment on Trump’s attendance at key sporting events possibly being bad luck for the home team.

If the trend holds, however, it may not be great news for the U.S. national team in the World Cup, which opens Thursday.

The Americans have never made it past the semifinal stage in the tournament’s modern history anyway — and they’ll have to contend this time with Trump playing an outsize role in organizing the event. He has pledged to attend the final and award the trophy to the winning team.

Trump getting blamed for New York’s loss
Some Knicks fans have faulted the president for the Game 3 defeat, even though their team still leads the series. Game 4 will also be played in New York on Wednesday, though this time Trump isn’t expected to attend.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a likely 2028 Democratic presidential candidate and frequent foil for the president, playfully picked up on the theme of Trump as a jinx, reposting a past White House post on X declaring “Call it the Trump effect” alongside discussion about the Knicks’ loss.

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith — himself mentioned as a possible future presidential hopeful — suggested before Game 3 that it’d be Trump’s fault if the Knicks didn’t win. Afterward, he said, “What I feared would happen ended up happening.”

“The president disrupted our mojo,” said Smith, a longtime Knicks fan, before adding, “The man messed things up.”

Asked after the game about Smith potentially blaming him for a Knicks loss, Trump dismissed the commentator’s political aspirations and questioned his intelligence.

“I think he’s a nice guy. But you need a certain aptitude to run for president,” Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One for his flight back to Washington early Tuesday

“You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that,” he said. “I don’t think he does, actually.”

Frequent booing hasn’t kept Trump away
Before he was a politician, Trump, a native of the New York City borough of Queens, frequently attended Knicks games, sometimes sitting courtside. His return to the Garden nonetheless drew long and loud boos when his face was shown on the jumbotron during the national anthem.

In fact, he’s been roundly booed repeatedly, though it has more to do with his politics than any role he might have in jinxing the home team. Trump drew boos at the Nationals’ World Series game and during the Commanders game and the U.S. Open. At some events he’s cheered and the crowd reaction can also be mixed — though Trump just as likely to simply claim a more friendly reception than he actually gets.

After the Knicks game, the president tried to suggest that the boos were “I think, mostly cheers.” The White House similarly attempted to spin the incident into a political show of strength, posting a photo of Trump at the game with the caption “King of New York.”

Offering a different assessment was New York’s Daily News tabloid. It featured a cartoon of an exaggeratedly rotund Trump wearing a No. 38 Knicks jersey — with a bubble emerging from his mouth saying “approval rating.”

Hundreds of Lakewood’s rabbanim, roshei yeshiva, roshei chaburah, dayanim, poskim, and marbitzei Torah assembled Sunday evening at Lakewood High School for an unprecedented maamad led by Harav Dov Landau shlit”a.

The evening opened with remarks from R’ Reuven Wolf shlit”a, who described the urgent circumstances that brought Rav Dov to America. Over the past two years, he explained, Keren Olam HaTorah has distributed more than $250 million to yeshivos and kollelim throughout Eretz Yisroel following the Israeli Supreme Court’s decision to halt critical government funding that had long served as the financial backbone of mosdos hatorah.

R’ Reuven noted the painful irony that while the court ruled that welfare benefits for the children of terrorists could not be curtailed, it demanded the termination of support for the children of lomdei Torah, highlighting the increasingly hostility confronting bnei Torah in Eretz Yisroel.

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Speaking b’shem Rav Dov and the other gedolei roshei hayeshiva guiding Keren Olam HaTorah, Rav Wolf called upon the assembled rabbanim and marbitzei Torah to designate the upcoming Shabbos, Parshas Shelach, as “Shabbos Keren Olam HaTorah,” urging their respective kehillos to rally behind the lomdei Torah of Eretz Yisroel and be mechazek their support for the mosdos hatorah facing unprecedented challenges.

Shortly thereafter, Rav Dov entered the packed auditorium to the palpable and reverent excitement of the assembled talmidei chachomim.

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In a brief address, Rav Dov spoke movingly about the difficult matzav facing bnei Torah in Eretz Yisroel, describing the mounting pressures, gezeiros, and threats confronting lomdei Torah and avreichim. He stressed that while American rabbanim and marbitzei Torah may feel physically distant from the struggle, they possess a unique ability to inspire their talmidim and kehillos to become active partners in sustaining the Torah world.

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“The hichayvus now resting upon your shoulders,” Rav Dov declared, “is your ability to influence your talmidim and those who listen to you.”

Rav Dov called upon the rabbanim to help expand Keren Olam Hatorah’s circle of supporters and ensure that the kol Torah is not silenced because of financial hardship.

The evening, however, did not conclude with the speech. What followed was a scene rarely witnessed even in the Torah capital of America.

For more than an hour, Rav Dov engaged the assembled talmidei chachomim in a breathtaking rischa d’oraysa, traversing numerous shvere sugyos throughout Shas and Poskim. Question followed question, answer followed answer, as the gadol hador demonstrated a mastery of Torah that left participants awestruck.

Despite having just arrived from Eretz Yisroel after an exhausting international trip undertaken for the sake of saving Toras Eretz Yisroel, Rav Dov remained fully immersed in the give-and-take of learning, discussing complex sugyos with extraordinary clarity, depth, and intensity.

America’s retirement system is facing a rapidly approaching financial reckoning, with a newly released federal report warning that the main Social Security trust fund is on track to exhaust its reserves in less than seven years, potentially triggering significant benefit reductions for millions of retirees.

According to the Social Security Administration’s 2026 Trustees Report, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) trust fund is expected to deplete all of its accumulated reserves during the fourth quarter of 2032, placing the nation’s retirement program under increasing fiscal pressure.

The report states that once those reserves are exhausted, incoming payroll tax revenue will be sufficient to cover only 78% of the benefits currently promised under the law.

The trustees report points to changes enacted through President Trump’s tax legislation, noting: “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA): Enacted on July 4, 2025, this law makes permanent the lower income tax rates and adjusted tax brackets originally enacted under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and both increases and makes permanent the larger standard deduction of the 2017 Act,” the report says.

The report further explains the impact of the legislation on Social Security finances. “The OBBBA also adds a temporary additional standard deduction for taxpayers over age 65,” it says. “As a result, less income tax will be paid on Social Security benefits, and the OASI and DI Trust Funds will receive lower levels of revenue in the future from income taxation of Social Security benefits.”

The Congressional Budget Office has previously cautioned that the trust fund’s projected insolvency would carry serious consequences. The agency explained that, “because the government would not have the legal authority to make payments in excess of receipts, it would no longer be able to pay the full amounts scheduled or projected under current law.”

Social Security is financed through payroll tax collections as well as money held in the OASI trust fund. Once the fund’s reserves are depleted, benefit payments would be limited to the amount generated by payroll taxes unless Congress intervenes, resulting in automatic reductions under current law.

Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., has warned that beneficiaries could face a reduction of roughly 24% if no legislative solution is enacted. He has argued that such cuts could dramatically increase the number of seniors living in poverty as the trust fund approaches its projected 2032 depletion date.

Speaking Monday on the “Moon Griffon Show,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., addressed the growing challenge facing entitlement programs. “The reason we’re in trouble is because over 74% of federal spending is on autopilot — mandatory spending, that is your entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid and things like Social Security — they have to be adjusted and fixed.”

Johnson emphasized the need for action, adding: “We have a plan to do that next year, and it’s critical, because we’re at $40 trillion-plus in debt. At some point you get into a hole so deep you can’t climb out of it, so desperate times call for desperate measures,” Johnson said.

The trustees report also outlines a possible path that could delay the retirement system’s depletion date. If lawmakers authorize transfers between the retirement program and the financially stronger disability insurance trust fund, the projected exhaustion date could be pushed back to the third quarter of 2034.

Even under that scenario, however, the report projects that once the combined trust funds are depleted in 2034, ongoing payroll tax revenue would cover only 83% of scheduled benefits.

The trustees urged Congress to begin addressing the shortfall before the crisis becomes more severe. “The Trustees recommend that lawmakers address the projected trust fund shortfalls in a timely way to phase in necessary changes gradually and give workers and beneficiaries time to adjust,” says the report. “Implementing changes sooner rather than later would allow more generations to share in the needed revenue increases or reductions …”

{Matzav.com}

In the wake of the recent tragedy in which a child lost their life after being forgotten in a vehicle, YWN has learned of a new initiative aimed at helping prevent such tragedies in the future.

An anonymous sponsor has stepped forward to provide sponsored access to playgroups, daycares, and summer camps that wish to implement the DropGuard safety system, which automatically alerts parents if their child doesn’t show up when expected.

The sponsor’s goal is simple: no parent should ever have to endure the pain of another preventable loss.

The system can be used on virtually any tablet, smartphone, or computer. The sponsor is also offering a limited number of filtered / locked tablets to playgroups and camps that do not already have a suitable device.

In a statement provided to The YWN, the sponsor said, “We’ve seen enough pain. This is our community’s opportunity to take a simple step that could help prevent the next tragedy.”

Eligible daycares, playgroups, and summer camps can apply for a sponsored or subsidized account by filling out the application form here.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A major Carl’s Jr. franchisee is planning to offload 59 locations across California after filing for bankruptcy protection earlier this year. 

Harshad Dharod intends to close 10 restaurants and sell 49 others operating under the Anaheim-born fast-food chain, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Dharod’s Friendly Franchisees Corporation, which touts itself as the largest California-based Carl’s Jr. franchisee, has acquired at least 65 locations since 2000, according to its website.

However, rising operating costs and California’s $20-per-hour fast-food minimum wage have reportedly strained the business, prompting the company to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April, the Times reported. 

PIZZA HUT TO CLOSE AROUND 250 LOCATIONS

Dharod also blamed what he described as a lack of support and innovation from Carl’s Jr. for the restaurants’ financial struggles, according to the outlet. 

Bankruptcy filings reportedly show Dharod’s restaurants generated more than $6 million in monthly revenue while losing more than $600,000 per month in 2026. 

Understaffing, workplace injuries and violent encounters with customers also contributed to the restaurants’ challenges, employees told the outlet. 

RED LOBSTER TO CLOSE TIMES SQUARE RESTAURANT AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS

A spokesperson for Carl’s Jr. previously told Restaurant Business that the restructuring is specific to Dharod’s operations and will not affect other Carl’s Jr. locations. 

“We are aware that Carl’s Jr. franchisee Harshad Dharod entities and its affiliates, which together independently own and operate certain Carl’s Jr. restaurants in California, have entered into a court-supervised restructuring process under Chapter 11 of the United States bankruptcy code,” a company representative said in a statement. 

“This situation is specific to this individual’s financial and business circumstances.

CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO

According to brokerage firm National Franchise Sales, there is already interest from prospective buyers, the Times reported.

If the locations are sold, operations could continue largely uninterrupted, as employees and managers often remain in place when franchise ownership changes hands. 

FOX Business reached out to Carl’s Jr., Harshad Dharod and the Friendly Franchisees Corporation for more information.

The United States carried out at least three waves of airstrikes against Iranian targets on Tuesday night, in what President Donald Trump described as a retaliatory operation following the downing of an American military helicopter.

Explosions were reported near the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian state media outlets Mehr and Fars news agencies posting reports of blasts on Qeshm Island and in the port city of Bandar Abbas on Iran’s southern coast.

US CENTCOM later released a statement saying that the strikes were completed, but cautioned “US forces remain vigilant and postured to defend against unjustified Iranian aggression.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed he was present in the White House Situation Room alongside the President and senior officials in the hours before the operation was launched. He described the strikes as “proportional and limited,” saying they targeted radar, missile, and command-and-control sites.

A U.S. official told journalist Barak Ravid that the operation comprised three separate strike waves. Reports also indicated that strikes were conducted against a base of the Iranian Army Land Force in Zahedan, in eastern Iran, as part of the third wave.

Iranian air defenses reportedly shot down two American drones during the operation — one over the city of Jam in the Bushehr region and another over southern Iran, according to unverified reports circulating on Telegram.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded to the strikes with a combative statement posted on X. “Despite its defeats on the battlefield, the US opted to test our determination,” he wrote. “Our powerful armed forces will leave no attack or threat unanswered.”

“Leave our region if you want to be safe,” Araghchi continued. “History of the Persian Gulf has many chapters on dire fates of intruding outsiders.”

The situation remains fluid. Further details are expected to emerge in the coming hours.

(JNS) – The Lawfare Project has asked the U.S. State Department to revoke the visa of a British sports journalist covering the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, alleging that he has repeatedly expressed support for Hamas and Hezbollah.

In a referral sent on Monday to the State Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Gerard Filitti, senior counsel at the Lawfare Project, urged authorities to revoke any visa held by Ibrahim Khadra, a London-based journalist with beIN Sports, and initiate removal proceedings.

Filitti told JNS that Khadra called the Hamas-led terrorist attacks in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, “far more exciting than football” and “described the murder of Jews as heroic operations.” The referral alleges that Khadra has maintained a yearslong pattern of social media posts glorifying Hamas and Hezbollah.

In a separate letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Filitti wrote that Khadra had a “sustained, multi-year record of public statements glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas and Hezbollah.”

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Rubio said concerns about visitors from Iran ahead of international sporting events were not focused on athletes.

“The problem with Iran would not be their athletes,” he said. “What they can’t bring is a bunch of IRGC terrorists into our country and pretend that they’re journalists and athletic trainers.”

Filitti accused Khadra of using his media credentials to promote and glorify terrorist organizations.

“We’re talking about immigration law and a visa, which is what he presumably received in order to come to the United States,” Filitti said. “That’s a privilege that we extend. It’s not a right owed to anyone with a passport.”

“Endorsing terrorism is disqualifying for visa purposes,” he added. “We’re asking the government to apply the law that it already wrote.”

Demand for a piece of Elon Musk’s SpaceX has blown past a quarter of a trillion dollars — far more stock than the company is actually selling. People familiar with the offering said Tuesday, June 9, that orders have topped $250 billion, against the roughly $75 billion the rocket company is trying to raise, putting demand at roughly three-and-a-half to four times the size of the deal.

The obvious question for investors is simple: if this many people want the stock, shouldn’t the valuation go higher?

The surprising answer is that the official IPO valuation probably will not move at all — and the reason comes down to how SpaceX structured the offering.

Why the Price Probably Won’t Change

In a traditional initial public offering, a company announces a price range, investors place orders, and underwriters can raise the final price if demand is exceptionally strong.

More buyers usually means a higher IPO price.

SpaceX is taking a different approach.

The company set a fixed offering price of $135 per share and plans to sell approximately 555.6 million shares, raising about $75 billion and valuing the company at roughly $1.8 trillion.

Because the price is already fixed, the flood of additional demand cannot automatically increase the IPO price or the company’s official valuation before trading begins.

In other words, even if investors wanted twice as many shares as they are currently requesting, the official valuation would still remain around $1.8 trillion.

What Massive Demand Actually Does

Heavy demand still matters.

It affects the deal in several important ways.

1. It Virtually Guarantees the Offering Succeeds

When investors submit orders totaling hundreds of billions of dollars, there is little concern that the company will struggle to sell the shares.

Several large institutional investors are reportedly seeking positions worth $10 billion or more.

Such strong interest also gives underwriters flexibility to exercise a so-called greenshoe option, allowing additional shares to be sold if demand remains strong.

That could increase the amount of money raised, though still at the same $135 share price.

2. Most Investors Will Get Fewer Shares Than They Requested

When an IPO is heavily oversubscribed, investors rarely receive their full allocation.

Large institutions often intentionally place orders larger than they actually expect to receive, anticipating that underwriters will scale allocations back.

As a result, headline demand figures often exceed the amount investors realistically expect to own.

3. The Real Valuation Battle Begins After Trading Starts

This is where things get interesting.

The IPO is expected to price on Thursday, June 11, with trading beginning the following day.

Investors who are unable to buy as many shares as they wanted during the offering may rush into the open market once trading begins.

If enough buyers compete for the stock, the share price could rise above the IPO price almost immediately.

That would push SpaceX’s market value above $1.8 trillion even though the company itself would not receive additional money.

The increase would come from investor demand in the public market rather than from a change in the IPO pricing.

Does Strong Demand Prove the Valuation Is Fair?

Not necessarily.

Market veterans point out that many of the hottest IPOs are several times oversubscribed before pricing.

Strong demand shows that investors want exposure to the company.

It does not automatically prove the valuation is justified.

At the IPO price, SpaceX would enter public markets with a valuation approaching $1.8 trillion, despite reporting approximately $18.7 billion in revenue last year and continuing to post significant losses.

Whether the company ultimately grows into that valuation remains one of the biggest questions facing investors.

Why Investors Are So Excited

The demand reflects a belief that SpaceX is much more than a rocket-launch provider.

The company’s pitch centers on three major growth areas:

• Space launch services
• The rapidly expanding Starlink satellite internet business
• Future artificial intelligence opportunities tied to space-based computing infrastructure

According to people familiar with the roadshow, SpaceX has highlighted a potential $23 trillion market opportunity related to future AI applications supported by space infrastructure.

Musk has reportedly participated in investor video calls, while President Gwynne Shotwell and Chief Financial Officer Bret Johnsen met with investors during roadshow events organized by Morgan Stanley.

Could the IPO Affect the Rest of the Stock Market?

Some analysts believe it already may be.

The Nasdaq Composite fell again Tuesday following its sharpest decline in more than a year, prompting speculation that some investors may be selling existing holdings to free up cash for the SpaceX offering.

Large IPOs can temporarily pull billions of dollars away from other stocks as investors reposition their portfolios.

Whether that is happening here remains a subject of debate, but the sheer size of the offering makes it a possibility.

The Bottom Line

The headline figure of $250 billion in demand is real, but it does not mean SpaceX has increased its IPO price.

The fixed $135-per-share offering keeps the company’s official valuation near $1.8 trillion.

The real test comes when trading begins.

If investors who were unable to secure shares in the IPO rush into the open market, they could quickly push the stock higher and lift SpaceX above its already staggering valuation.

The longer-term question is even bigger: can a company built on rockets, satellite internet, and ambitious AI plans eventually justify a valuation approaching — or perhaps exceeding — $2 trillion?

JBizNews Desk — Markets

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

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a sharp warning Tuesday to the United States and other foreign militaries operating near Iran, saying they should leave the region or face the risk of becoming entangled in future confrontations.

The warning came amid soaring tensions following President Trump’s claim that Iran was responsible for bringing down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

“Foreign forces in proximity to our territory are at constant risk on account of their own human errors, plain accidents, or potentially being caught in crossfire,” Araghchi wrote in a post on X.

“To reduce risk, the best solution is for foreign forces to exit, as soon as possible, an environment which will never be hospitable to a hostile presence,” he added.

Araghchi also emphasized that while Iran prefers diplomacy, it is prepared to respond militarily if necessary.

“While we prefer the language of diplomacy, as our brave warriors have shown to the world, we know how to speak other languages too,” he said.

The comments echoed similar remarks made earlier by Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who recently vowed that Tehran would defeat American pressure and continue defending its interests throughout the region.

Araghchi further argued that the Strait of Hormuz is not an international waterway but rather a body of water shared by Iran and Oman. He warned that Iran’s armed forces remain on constant alert for any violation of Iranian airspace, territory, or territorial waters.

The strategic waterway, however, is widely recognized under international maritime law as an international strait through which commercial and military vessels have the right of transit passage.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Trump administration expects to finish construction of the long-awaited southern border wall by the end of 2027, according to Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott, who outlined the timeline during remarks in Washington on Tuesday.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Center for Immigration Studies, Scott said the reinforced steel barrier stretching along the U.S.-Mexico border will extend from the San Diego area to the Gulf of Mexico, with only a handful of exceptions in locations where officials have determined a wall is unnecessary.

“The primary border wall will be done by the end of 2027,” he said.

Scott explained that only a few sections will remain without a wall because of specific geographic conditions and strategic considerations.

“There’s a couple of gaps,” Scott said. “The only places we’re not building a border wall is places where we’ve made a conscious decision that we don’t need it. Big Bend National Park, for example — super remote area, some very, very high cliffs.”

In addition to the physical barrier, the administration plans to deploy a network of surveillance technology and monitoring systems designed to strengthen border security. Scott said those components should be fully operational by mid-2028.

The electronic infrastructure, including sensors and other security tools, is expected to be completed by “about July, maybe at the latest August 2028,” Scott said.

Texas’ lengthy border with Mexico, much of which follows the Rio Grande for more than 1,200 miles, will receive additional layers of protection beyond the primary wall.

“We’ll have the entire system to include a secondary barrier in places we need it — the water barrier and the Rio Grande River — and the technology,” Scott said.

Federal officials say the border wall initiative is aimed at reducing illegal immigration and disrupting drug-smuggling operations originating in Mexico. Government data indicates both have declined in recent years.

Still, Scott cautioned that physical infrastructure alone cannot eliminate all illicit activity along the border, noting that criminal organizations continue to develop new methods for bypassing security measures.

He pointed to underground tunnels, unmanned aircraft, and other tactics used by smugglers and cartels to monitor law enforcement activity and transport narcotics.

“We’d see the drones flying along the Rio Grande River watching and videotaping where all our guys are. That is their business model, and drones definitely make it easier,” Scott said. “They’re also smuggling narcotics across with drones.”

{Matzav.com}

Businesses advertising in New York now face a new compliance requirement as artificial intelligence rapidly changes the marketing industry. Starting Tuesday, companies must clearly disclose when an advertisement uses an AI-generated person instead of a real actor, under what Governor Kathy Hochul’s office calls a first-in-the-nation law aimed at increasing transparency in advertising.

The law requires a conspicuous label whenever an ad features what New York legally defines as a “synthetic performer.” The state describes that as digitally created media designed to appear as a real person. According to Hochul’s office, the rule applies across virtually all advertising formats, including television, social media, streaming services, websites, and digital advertising.

The goal is simple: consumers should know whether the person promoting a product is real or computer-generated.

For businesses, the stakes are financial. Companies that fail to disclose the use of AI-generated people face civil penalties of $1,000 for a first violation and $5,000 for each subsequent violation. Responsibility falls on both brands and the agencies producing advertisements, meaning companies cannot simply outsource compliance to vendors.

The legislation, known as S.8420-A / A.8887-B, was sponsored by State Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. and signed into law on December 11, 2025. Lawmakers provided a 180-day implementation period before the rule officially took effect.

The law arrives as AI tools rapidly transform advertising. AI video platforms can now generate realistic people in minutes, allowing advertisers to reduce costs associated with hiring actors, booking studios, and producing traditional commercials.

Importantly, New York is not banning the use of AI-generated people in advertising. Instead, it is requiring advertisers to disclose when they are using them.

That distinction sits at the center of a broader debate within the advertising and entertainment industries.

One of the law’s strongest supporters was SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors and performers. The organization has spent the past several years pushing for protections against the replacement of human performers with digital replicas and AI-generated substitutes. Supporters argue consumers deserve transparency while performers deserve safeguards against being displaced by technology.

The advertising industry opposed the measure.

The American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As) warned lawmakers that the law could create compliance challenges and additional burdens for advertisers and agencies operating in New York. Industry groups argued that AI is becoming a standard creative tool and that additional disclosure requirements could slow innovation and increase costs.

Broadcasters also raised concerns during the legislative process. The New York State Broadcasters Association said it appreciated amendments that narrowed portions of the bill but remained concerned that the definition of a synthetic performer could be interpreted too broadly.

Lawmakers included several notable exceptions.

The disclosure requirement does not apply to advertisements promoting movies, television programs, streaming content, or video games when the AI-generated character is part of the content being advertised. Audio-only advertisements are also exempt, as is the use of AI solely to translate a real performer’s speech into another language.

For businesses, the practical work begins immediately.

Law firms including Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and Davis+Gilbert have advised clients to review advertising workflows, examine content supplied by outside agencies, and confirm whether AI-generated performers are being used before campaigns launch. The guidance reflects a growing concern that many brands may not always know when vendors have incorporated AI-generated people into creative projects.

The law also adds another layer to an increasingly complex regulatory environment. States including California, Illinois, and Tennessee have enacted or expanded laws governing AI-generated likenesses and digital replicas, creating a patchwork of requirements for companies operating nationally.

For now, any business advertising to New York’s nearly 20 million residents faces a straightforward question before an ad goes live: Is the person on screen real? If not, New York law now requires consumers to be told.

The bottom line: New York’s new disclosure law does not prohibit AI-generated actors, but it does require transparency. As AI becomes a larger part of advertising, companies will need to balance technological efficiency with growing regulatory scrutiny.

JBizNews Desk — New York

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Americans will soon have access to a new sunscreen ingredient for the first time in more than a quarter-century after federal regulators approved a widely used ultraviolet filter that has been available in Europe and other international markets for years.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that bemotrizinol has satisfied the agency’s safety and effectiveness requirements, providing protection against harmful ultraviolet radiation while showing minimal skin absorption and irritation.

According to the FDA, the ingredient has been approved for use by adults as well as children six months of age and older.

The new ingredient will make its U.S. debut through Dutch-based DSM Nutritional Products, which plans to market it under the Parsol Shield brand later this year.

Following an 18-month period of market exclusivity, other sunscreen manufacturers will be permitted to incorporate the ingredient into their products.

For decades, efforts to bring newer sunscreen technologies to the American market have been slowed by the FDA’s lengthy and complex process for updating approved over-the-counter drug ingredients.

Bemotrizinol is the first sunscreen ingredient to receive approval through a faster review pathway established by Congress in 2020.

Industry observers say the ingredient offers a significant advantage because it protects against both UVA and UVB radiation while avoiding the white residue commonly left behind by mineral-based sunscreens.

“For decades, Americans have used outdated sunscreen tech while the rest of the world moved forward,” said David Andrews of the Environmental Working Group. “The approval of bemotrizinol will help change that.”

Andrews and his organization have spent years urging regulators both to strengthen sunscreen regulations and to allow modern ingredients already used abroad to enter the U.S. marketplace.

Current FDA regulations require sunscreens to shield users from UVB rays, which are primarily responsible for sunburns, and UVA rays, which are closely linked to skin cancer and premature aging.

Most chemical sunscreen ingredients presently sold in the United States protect against either UVA or UVB radiation, forcing manufacturers to combine multiple ingredients in order to achieve what is marketed as broad-spectrum protection.

Mineral sunscreens, such as those containing zinc oxide, provide protection against both forms of ultraviolet radiation but are often criticized for leaving a noticeable white film on the skin.

European regulators first approved bemotrizinol in 1999, and an application seeking FDA approval was submitted in 2005.

“The FDA is committed to ensuring the American consumer has access to the most effective and safe therapies, including over-the-counter products like sunscreens,” said Dr. Mike Davis, acting director of FDA’s drug center.

The FDA has gradually revised sunscreen regulations over the years. In 2011, the agency prohibited marketing terms such as “waterproof,” concluding that they were misleading, and required all sunscreen products to offer protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Prior to that change, some products only shielded users from UVB exposure.

A decade later, in 2021, regulators proposed additional reforms, including limits on SPF claims and tougher UVA-protection requirements. Those proposed changes, however, have yet to be finalized.

{Matzav.com}

A Border Police officer and two IDF officers, including a reserve colonel, were arrested this week on suspicion of involvement in an attempted murder that took place approximately one month ago, according to Israel’s Department for Internal Police Investigations (Machash).

The three suspects are relatives. Investigators allege that the Border Police officer, his father — a reserve IDF colonel — and his nephew, who is also an IDF officer, were involved in planning and carrying out the shooting.

According to investigators, the case stems from a road dispute in the Negev several months ago involving the Border Police officer and a member of the Abu Arar family. Authorities claim that roughly six weeks after the altercation, the three suspects allegedly ambushed the victim and shot him in the back.

Machash alleges the shooting was a revenge attack connected to the earlier confrontation.

The suspects deny all allegations.

The three were brought before the Be’er Sheva Magistrate’s Court for a remand hearing. The Border Police officer’s detention was extended by nine days, while the two other suspects had their detention extended by three days.

Attorney Uri Ben Natan, who represents the suspects, rejected the accusations.

“The suspects deny being involved in the shooting of the victim who was shot in the back,” he said. “It is true that one of the suspects, a Border Police fighter, was allegedly attacked by the victim about a month and a half earlier following a near traffic accident. However, the officer specifically asked not to file a complaint in order not to escalate the dispute.”

The attorney added that, according to his understanding, the victim’s family is involved in numerous other disputes and that the shooting may have been unrelated to the earlier altercation involving the police officer.

The investigation remains ongoing.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Trump administration and Iran are reportedly moving closer to a framework agreement aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear program, with negotiators discussing a deal that would suspend Iranian uranium enrichment for 15 years and dramatically restrict the regime’s nuclear activities.

According to a report published Tuesday by The New York Times, citing American officials and diplomats familiar with the confidential negotiations, discussions have centered on four key provisions that U.S. officials believe could effectively neutralize Iran’s nuclear ambitions for well over a decade.

Under the proposed framework, Iran would agree to halt uranium enrichment for 15 years, reduce and dilute its current stockpile of enriched uranium, dismantle critical elements of its nuclear infrastructure, and allow expanded international monitoring of its nuclear activities.

American negotiators initially pushed for a 20-year enrichment ban, while Iran countered with a 10-year proposal. Officials involved in the talks now believe Tehran may be willing to accept a 15-year suspension, though it remains uncertain whether President Donald Trump would consider that duration sufficient.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has consistently maintained that any agreement must address the entire Iranian stockpile of enriched uranium, estimated at roughly 11 tons, including approximately half a ton enriched to levels approaching weapons-grade material.

One proposal under consideration would place the process of diluting Iran’s uranium reserves under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

While U.S. officials favor a direct American role in overseeing and handling the material, Iranian negotiators have reportedly insisted that Washington participate only as an observer.

A central American demand involves the dismantling of Iran’s major nuclear installations at Natanz, Fordo, and Isfahan.

Iran has signaled a willingness to shut down two of those facilities but continues to insist on keeping one operational, arguing that doing so preserves what it views as its sovereign right to enrich uranium.

Inspection powers remain another major obstacle. U.S. negotiators are pressing for so-called snap inspections that would permit international inspectors immediate access to locations across Iran, including military sites that traditionally have been inaccessible to outside monitors.

The negotiations have continued against the backdrop of escalating regional tensions. On Tuesday, President Trump announced that Iran had shot down a U.S. Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz and warned that the United States would respond.

Despite the military confrontation, diplomatic communications between Washington and Tehran have remained active. According to The Times, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stayed in contact during recent exchanges involving Iran and Israel, helping to prevent the conflict from expanding further.

U.S. officials told the newspaper that both sides had been approaching a preliminary framework agreement before the latest hostilities threatened to complicate the process.

The report also indicated that administration officials are actively preparing for the possibility that a deal could be reached. As part of those efforts, Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently traveled to Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee to examine potential methods for processing and neutralizing Iran’s enriched uranium reserves.

Another major point of contention involves approximately $25 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

Iranian negotiators are reportedly seeking access to a substantial portion of those funds at the outset of any agreement, while American officials are insisting that the money be released gradually as Tehran meets specific obligations under the deal.

According to the report, White House officials remain confident that the recent military tensions will not permanently derail negotiations and are hopeful that more detailed talks can begin in Switzerland later this month.

Even if a framework agreement is finalized, significant hurdles remain. Any deal would require approval from Iran’s senior leadership and could encounter fierce opposition from hardline factions within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which some American officials believe remain determined to preserve the country’s nuclear capabilities.

{Matzav.com}

Letter: Walk through any neighborhood today and you’ll see something that was rare just a few years ago: children flying down the street on electric bikes, often without ever turning a pedal.

Technology has brought convenience to nearly every aspect of life, but it also raises an important question. Are we removing too much effort from childhood?

For generations, a bicycle represented freedom. Kids rode for miles with friends, explored their neighborhoods, and spent hours outdoors. But the ride itself was part of the experience. The exercise, the challenge of climbing hills, the feeling of accomplishment after a long trip, and even arriving home exhausted were all benefits, not inconveniences.

Today, many children can travel farther and faster than ever before, but they may be missing something valuable in the process. Physical activity among young people continues to decline, while concerns about obesity, poor fitness, excessive screen time, and sedentary lifestyles continue to grow.

Childhood was never meant to be effortless. Running, climbing, biking, and playing outside help build strength, confidence, independence, and resilience. Learning to work for something, whether it is making it up a steep hill on a bicycle or spending an afternoon outdoors instead of in front of a screen, teaches lessons that cannot be powered by a battery.

This is not an argument against technology. Electric bikes can serve a purpose for longer commutes, adults, and individuals with physical limitations. But when healthy children are given motorized transportation for trips they could easily pedal themselves, it is worth asking what is being gained and what is being lost.

The goal of a childhood bicycle was never simply getting from one place to another. It was about movement. It was about adventure. It was about being outside and learning what your body is capable of doing.

As communities continue to debate the role of electric bikes among young riders, perhaps the conversation should extend beyond safety and regulations. It should also focus on whether convenience is replacing experiences that helped previous generations grow stronger, healthier, and more independent.

Sometimes, the best ride is the one powered by nothing more than two legs and a little determination.

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

The Knesset Finance Committee on Tuesday approved the controversial “Daycare Law” for its first reading, advancing legislation that would continue government daycare subsidies for many chareidi families even if the father has not resolved his military service status.

The bill, sponsored by lawmakers from United Torah Judaism, Shas, and Otzma Yehudit, would base eligibility for daycare subsidies primarily on the mother’s employment status, rather than on whether the father is working or has fulfilled military service obligations.

The proposal passed despite strong opposition from professional officials in both the Finance Ministry and Justice Ministry, who warned of significant economic and constitutional concerns.

According to a position paper submitted by the Finance Ministry’s Budget Department, the legislation is expected to cost taxpayers approximately NIS 300 million annually. Of that amount, roughly NIS 200 million would go to households where the father is eligible for military service, while another NIS 100 million would benefit households where the father neither works nor is required to serve.

The legislation was originally introduced following a Supreme Court ruling that halted daycare subsidies for avreichim who had not regularized their military status. That ruling was intended to create an economic incentive for military service. The new bill seeks to restore eligibility by separating subsidy criteria from the father’s status and focusing solely on the mother’s employment.

Finance Ministry officials sharply criticized the proposal, arguing that it undermines two major national goals: increasing chareidi workforce participation and encouraging military service.

“The proposal clearly undermines” those objectives, the Budget Department wrote.

Officials argued that the bill weakens incentives for employment because families would continue receiving subsidies even when fathers remain outside the workforce. They also pointed to what they described as a built-in paradox: as a father’s income rises, the subsidy decreases, effectively rewarding non-employment.

The ministry further warned that the proposal is likely to significantly weaken economic incentives for military service among eligible chareidi men.

The legislation now moves to the Knesset for further consideration.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The packaged foods that fill supermarket shelves may face a new challenge beyond changing consumer tastes and weight-loss drugs. A growing body of research is now comparing the ultra-processed food industry to Big Tobacco, raising the possibility of future regulatory and legal battles that could reshape one of America’s largest consumer sectors.

The debate gained momentum on June 3 when researchers published a special section in the American Journal of Public Health examining the relationship between tobacco companies and the rise of ultra-processed foods.

Among the most prominent researchers involved is Laura Schmidt, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, who has spent years studying internal tobacco-industry records. Schmidt argues that cigarette companies perfected sophisticated techniques for marketing, product development, and consumer behavior long before expanding into the food industry through major acquisitions during the 1980s.

The corporate connections are significant.

Philip Morris once owned Kraft General Foods, while RJ Reynolds owned Nabisco. Researchers say those acquisitions occurred during a period when ultra-processed food production and consumption expanded dramatically across the United States.

The new research suggests that techniques originally developed to increase cigarette consumption were later adapted to help market highly processed foods. Researchers point to flavor engineering, advertising strategies, product formulation, and consumer behavior studies as examples.

Nicholas Chartres, an associate editor of the journal and one of the study authors, said the evidence increasingly supports viewing ultra-processed foods through a public-health lens similar to tobacco.

That comparison matters because it points toward policies that dramatically reduced smoking rates over the past several decades. Taxes, warning labels, advertising restrictions, and litigation all played major roles in transforming the tobacco industry.

The food industry strongly rejects the comparison.

Natalie Rubino of the Consumer Brands Association, which represents many packaged-food manufacturers, said member companies comply with Food and Drug Administration standards and provide consumers with safe, affordable, and convenient products.

The stakes are enormous.

Ultra-processed foods represent a major portion of sales for companies including Kraft Heinz, Nestlé, PepsiCo, Mondelez, and many other household names. Any effort to regulate these products more aggressively could affect everything from packaging and marketing to pricing and profitability.

The industry is already navigating significant changes. The growing popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications has encouraged many consumers to seek healthier options, forcing manufacturers to invest heavily in reformulated products and new nutritional offerings.

A regulatory push modeled after tobacco policy would add another layer of pressure.

For consumers, the implications are equally important. Ultra-processed foods remain popular because they are affordable, convenient, and widely available. Any future taxes, warning labels, or marketing restrictions could affect both pricing and purchasing decisions.

Whether policymakers embrace the tobacco comparison remains uncertain. But the fact that leading researchers are making the comparison at all reflects a growing shift in how public-health experts view the modern food industry.

The bottom line: a growing body of research is reframing ultra-processed foods as a public-health challenge similar to tobacco. If that argument gains traction among lawmakers and regulators, the financial impact on major food companies could be significant.

JBizNews Desk — Health & Business

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“Tomorrow is my wedding. My father is battling a serious illness, and our family simply cannot afford the basic wedding expenses.”

Please help this Kallah walk down the Chuppah with dignity.

The British government announced a new round of sanctions Tuesday targeting organizations and individuals it says are connected to violence against Palestinian Arabs in Judea and Samaria, while also warning of additional measures if conditions on the ground do not change.

Addressing Parliament, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Britain is coordinating with several allied nations to take action against networks it believes are involved in supporting attacks against Palestinian Arab communities.

The United Kingdom joined Canada, France, and Norway in imposing sanctions on six organizations and one individual. Australia and New Zealand unveiled similar coordinated measures last week.

According to the Foreign Office, those placed under sanctions will be subject to asset freezes and, where applicable, travel restrictions and bans on serving as company directors. British officials said the goal is to disrupt financial support systems connected to what they describe as extremist settler activity in Judea and Samaria.

In a joint declaration, the foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, France, Norway, and the United Kingdom said the sanctions were a coordinated response to what they view as a worsening reality in the region.

The ministers asserted that violent extremist settlers and their supporters continue to carry out attacks against Palestinian Arabs and violate their rights. They claimed such actions are intended to force Arabs from their communities, damage property, and advance “settlement activity,” which they argued threatens the possibility of a Palestinian state and undermines efforts toward coexistence.

The statement further alleged that violent settlers have operated with little accountability for an extended period and charged that the expansion of Jewish communities and outposts has continued with assistance from the Israeli government. It also claimed that some incidents of settler violence occur while protected by Israeli security personnel.

The five governments called on Israel to ensure accountability for violence in Judea and Samaria by investigating incidents, taking action against organizations and outposts linked to violence, and preventing incitement.

The ministers reiterated their belief that lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians can only come through the establishment of two states and said they remain committed to advancing that objective.

The Foreign Office noted that Australia, Canada, France, Norway, and the United Kingdom have all recognized a Palestinian state and said the coordinated sanctions are part of a broader effort to preserve the viability of a two-state framework.

Britain also restated its longstanding position that Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria violate international law and argued that continued construction harms prospects for a permanent peace agreement.

In a new policy step, Cooper announced that official British guidance will now explicitly discourage businesses from engaging in financial or commercial activity in areas the UK considers illegal settlements. The government said it remains supportive of trade with Israel within the pre-1967 boundaries while opposing economic involvement beyond those lines.

Cooper is expected to tell Parliament: “Today we are acting with our international partners to sanction those who support and sponsor violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.”

“Settler expansion and violence is illegal and a fundamental threat to the viability of a two-state solution, and to long-term peace and security for Palestinians and Israelis.

“These measures show the UK is leading with our partners to target those who are fuelling this violence.”

The Foreign Office said the sanctions come amid ongoing “settlement expansion,” including the E1 development project, as well as what it described as unprecedented levels of violence by Jews against Palestinian Arabs in Judea and Samaria.

British officials also urged Israel to halt further community expansion, confront violence, prosecute offenders, and ease restrictions affecting Palestinian Arab economic activity. The government warned that additional steps remain on the table if progress is not made.

In their joint statement, Australia, Canada, France, Norway, and the United Kingdom emphasized that they are prepared to escalate their response should Israel fail to take what they described as urgent corrective action.

As part of a broader package of initiatives involving Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Cooper is also expected to announce an additional £1 million for humanitarian mine-clearing efforts in Gaza, supplementing the £4 million Britain has already provided.

She is further expected to urge Israel to open all border crossings and eliminate restrictions on humanitarian aid deliveries and equipment entering Gaza. Cooper will also reveal plans to attend a Palestinian Donor Group conference in Paris next month.

The Foreign Office additionally confirmed plans to provide at least £10 million in financial and technical assistance to the Palestinian Authority in 2026. The aid package is intended to help address the authority’s fiscal challenges and maintain essential public services, including healthcare.

The individuals and organizations sanctioned by Britain are The Farms Association, Ahavat Gilad, Ari Yshag, Artzenu, Shivat Zion Lerigvey Admata, Eyal Hari Yehuda Company Ltd., and Itamar Yehuda Levi.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar sharply criticized the sanctions, describing them as “disgraceful.”

According to Sa’ar, “The real essence of these steps is the attempt to impose a political stance regarding the right of Jews to settle in the Land of Israel and concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, camouflaged as measures against violence.”

Sa’ar then accused the countries behind the sanctions of failing to address growing antisemitism within their own borders, stating: “What these governments have in common is their resounding failure to combat the antisemitism that is rampant in their own countries. Anti-Israeli policies of the kind adopted today only serve to fuel that antisemitism.”

He further charged that, “Astonishingly, these governments have also failed to impose sanctions or take action against the phenomena that truly drive violence – the Palestinian Authority’s salaries for terrorists (“pay-for-slay”) policy and incitement,” he added.

Yisrael Ganz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council and chairman of the Yesha Council, also denounced the move, saying: “Rather than confronting the security threat posed by the Palestinian Authority, the United Kingdom and other countries have chosen to impose sanctions on civilian leaders in Judea and Samaria. Strengthening the Palestinian Authority does not advance peace or stability; it increases the security risk facing every Israeli citizen. With the financial support it receives from foreign governments, the Palestinian Authority continues to fund terrorists and their families, promote incitement to terrorism through its education system, and maintain an armed force of tens of thousands of members of its security services just minutes from Jerusalem and Israel’s central population centers. At any moment, those weapons could be turned against Israeli civilians, raising the risk of another tragedy like the October 7 massacre.”

Ganz argued that Israel should respond decisively, adding that “Israel’s response to these sanctions should be addressed by the current Knesset rather than postponed to a future government. It should include dismantling the Palestinian Authority, ending the artificial division of Judea and Samaria into Areas A, B, and C, and strengthening Israel’s presence and sovereignty throughout the region. The Palestinian Authority is a corrupt entity that is bad for Arabs, bad for Jews, and bad for the world.”

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A Bronx woman accused of attacking a Jewish subway rider in what prosecutors described as an antisemitic assault was ordered held on $10,000 bail during a court appearance conducted from a Manhattan hospital psychiatric ward, according to the New York Post.

Diana Smith, 45, pleaded not guilty Monday to charges including assault as a hate crime, harassment and criminal obstruction of breathing stemming from an alleged attack aboard a Manhattan-bound subway train on May 31.

Prosecutors allege Smith targeted a 23-year-old Orthodox Jewish woman riding the C train in Lower Manhattan, making antisemitic remarks before physically assaulting her. Authorities said the victim suffered injuries that required medical attention.

According to the New York Post, Smith appeared virtually from Bellevue Hospital, where she is currently receiving treatment. Prosecutors sought a higher bail amount, while defense attorneys argued for her release without bail. A judge ultimately set bail at $10,000.

Court records indicate Smith has been charged with multiple offenses related to the incident, including hate crime allegations that could increase potential penalties if she is convicted.

The alleged attack occurred amid ongoing concerns about antisemitic incidents in New York City, where police have reported elevated levels of anti-Jewish hate crimes in recent years.

The victim, whose name has not been publicly released, previously described the encounter as both physically and emotionally traumatic.

Smith is scheduled to return to court in September as the case proceeds.

The allegations against Smith remain unproven, and she is presumed innocent unless convicted in court.

NEW YORK — Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming both a business strategy and a justification for workforce reductions, as layoffs across corporate America continue mounting in 2026.

Private workforce trackers estimate that more than 450,000 jobs have been eliminated this year through major corporate layoffs, restructuring initiatives, and workforce reductions spanning industries from technology and finance to retail and logistics.

The companies involved represent some of the most recognizable names in business.

Amazon, Dell, Citigroup, Oracle, and numerous other major employers have announced significant job cuts as executives focus on efficiency, automation, and artificial intelligence.

What makes this wave different from previous rounds of layoffs is the explanation many companies are offering.

Rather than citing declining sales or recessionary conditions, a growing number of firms are explicitly pointing to AI-driven productivity improvements as a reason for reducing staff.

The logic is straightforward.

If artificial intelligence allows fewer employees to perform work that once required larger teams, companies can lower labor costs while maintaining output.

For investors, that often translates into improved profit margins.

For workers, the implications are more complicated.

Many of the jobs being affected are white-collar positions traditionally viewed as relatively secure. Corporate support functions, administrative roles, research positions, customer-service operations, and various professional services are increasingly being evaluated through the lens of automation.

Several executives have openly discussed building leaner organizations supported by AI tools.

The concept is gaining traction throughout corporate America as companies search for ways to improve productivity without significantly increasing payroll expenses.

There is an important caveat, however.

While companies frequently cite AI as a driver of efficiency, many artificial-intelligence initiatives remain relatively new. In numerous cases, businesses are making workforce decisions based on expected future productivity gains rather than proven long-term results.

In other words, many firms are betting that AI will eventually justify today’s layoffs.

The broader labor market remains more resilient than headlines might suggest.

Recent government employment data showed the economy continuing to add jobs overall, with unemployment remaining near historically low levels.

That distinction matters.

Layoffs at large corporations generate significant attention, but smaller businesses across other sectors continue hiring, helping offset some of the losses.

Still, the shift raises important questions about the future of work.

Historically, technological advancements have eliminated certain jobs while creating new opportunities elsewhere. Economists continue debating whether artificial intelligence will follow that pattern or produce a more disruptive transition.

Businesses argue that adopting AI is necessary to remain competitive.

Workers worry that some eliminated positions may never return.

Both perspectives may ultimately prove correct.

What is clear is that artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept being discussed in conference rooms. It is actively influencing hiring decisions, workforce planning, and corporate strategy today.

The trend is likely to remain one of the defining economic stories of 2026.

Investors will be watching to see whether companies achieve the productivity gains they promise. Employees will be watching to see which roles remain vulnerable. Policymakers will be watching to understand how rapidly labor markets adapt.

For now, the numbers continue moving in one direction.

More companies are embracing AI, and more companies are reducing headcount as they do.

JBizNews Desk

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

In a memorable moment at this evening’s Lakewood Board of Fire Commissioners meeting, Lieutenant Robert “Bobby” Cook II was officially promoted to the rank of Captain.

The oath of office was administered by his father, former Lakewood Fire Chief Robert Cook Sr., making the ceremony a special family and departmental milestone.

Vice President JD Vance is pressing federal prosecutors to investigate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and state Attorney General Keith Ellison over allegations they failed to stop widespread social services fraud, amplifying concerns the White House will use a new Justice Department division to target political rivals.

Vance, who has been tapped to lead the Republican Trump administration’s anti-fraud efforts as he seeks to raise his political profile as a potential 2028 presidential candidate, cited in a letter to the Justice Department a report from the Republican-led House Oversight Committee that alleges Walz and Ellison were aware of pervasive misuse of government programs for years and let it flourish.

The Justice Department didn’t immediately respond to questions Tuesday about whether it would open an investigation. It was unclear what, if any, potential violations of federal law could support a probe into the Democratic Minnesota officials, who have characterized a separate Justice Department investigation involving state leaders as politically motivated.

A spokesperson for Walz didn’t immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Ellison called the allegations unfounded and said there’s no evidence his office ignored wrongdoing or failed to act as required by law. He dismissed Vance’s referral as “a political stunt from an administration that uses the machinery of government to target its perceived opponents while extending leniency to those aligned with its interests.”

“It is deeply troubling to see official powers and public resources diverted away from serving the people and instead aimed at pursuing political adversaries,” Ellison said in a statement. “That is not what government is for, and it diminishes public trust in our institutions.”

Vance’s referral to the Justice Department’s new National Fraud Enforcement Division marks an escalation in the Trump administration’s stated “war on fraud” in government programs that officials have said would not be political or partisan.

The new division has drawn intense scrutiny over the potential for political influence given its close relationship with President Donald Trump’s White House, which announced its formation in January and initially said its leader would answer directly to the president instead of the typical Justice Department command.

In his referral, Vance wrote that officials in Minnesota or anywhere else in the country “must be held accountable” if they facilitated fraud, prevented officials from stopping it or retaliated against whistleblowers who tried to report it.

“Minnesota state officials are not above the law,” Vance wrote in a post on X.

(AP)

A strong currency is usually considered a sign of economic success. In Israel today, it is becoming a growing concern for the very industry that helped create it. On Monday, officials from Israel’s Ministry of Finance and Tax Authority held another round of talks with finance executives from the Israeli research centers of global technology giants including Apple, Intel, IBM, HPE, GE Healthcare, and Philips to discuss ways to offset the impact of a surging shekel. The meetings were convened by Karin Mayer Rubinstein, chief executive of the Israel Advanced Technology Industries (IATI) association, just days after Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich directed his ministry to establish a dedicated task force to address the issue.

The irony is difficult to miss. The technology sector that helped transform Israel into a global innovation powerhouse and attract billions of dollars in foreign investment is now asking the government for help because that success has helped push the shekel to levels not seen in decades.

The problem is rooted in simple math. Most multinational technology companies operating in Israel generate revenue in U.S. dollars but pay their employees in Israeli shekels. As the shekel strengthens against the dollar, every dollar of revenue buys fewer shekels, making Israeli salaries more expensive when measured in dollar terms. Industry representatives told government officials that the real cost of employing Israeli technology workers has risen by approximately 30% since 2021 once exchange-rate changes are factored in.

The shekel recently strengthened to roughly 2.8 shekels per dollar, dipping below the three-shekel mark and reaching its strongest level in approximately 33 years. What appears to be a national economic success story is creating a growing headache for multinational employers deciding where to expand operations and hire workers.

Technology executives warned government officials that Israel is approaching what they describe as a “red line” — the point at which employing an engineer in Israel becomes more expensive than employing similar talent in Silicon Valley and significantly more costly than hiring in competing technology hubs across Europe.

According to industry figures presented during the discussions, an experienced Israeli software engineer now costs employers roughly $170,000 annually, compared with approximately $100,000 for comparable talent in countries such as Portugal. Executives cautioned that if the gap continues to widen, future hiring decisions may increasingly favor other countries.

The stakes are enormous because high-tech remains the backbone of Israel’s economy. According to the Israel Innovation Authority, the sector accounted for approximately 50% of Israel’s exports in 2025, generating billions in tax revenue and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Signs of strain are already emerging. Website-building company Wix recently announced plans to reduce its workforce by up to 1,000 employees, or roughly 20% of its staff, citing both artificial intelligence and currency-related pressures. Rapyd and Amdocs have also announced workforce reductions. Industry leaders say the larger concern is not necessarily immediate layoffs but future hiring. Companies may keep headquarters and research operations in Israel while expanding engineering teams elsewhere.

Unlike previous meetings, government officials arrived this time with specific proposals. Among the ideas discussed were reductions or deferrals in National Insurance payroll payments, targeted tax incentives, and expanded employee-benefit programs designed to offset higher labor costs.

Officials also discussed allowing large multinational companies to pay taxes directly in U.S. dollars rather than converting funds into shekels. Companies including Google and Nvidia have reportedly requested such flexibility as a way to reduce losses caused by currency fluctuations.

Another proposal under consideration would revive emergency support programs for startups modeled on assistance provided during the COVID-19 pandemic and following the October 2023 war. Some industry representatives have called for at least 1 billion shekels in support measures.

The Bank of Israel has already begun responding. The central bank purchased approximately $801 million in foreign currency during May, marking its first intervention since 2022, in an effort to slow the shekel’s rise. Policymakers also lowered the benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point to 3.75%.

Not everyone believes government intervention is the answer. A stronger shekel reduces the cost of imported goods and has helped bring inflation down to approximately 1.9%. Some investors argue that companies should rely more heavily on currency hedging strategies rather than seeking government relief. Venture capitalist Michael Eisenberg of Aleph has long urged startups to protect themselves against currency fluctuations through financial planning rather than public assistance.

Still, government officials appear increasingly concerned that the issue could affect Israel’s competitiveness. The challenge is finding ways to help employers remain committed to hiring in Israel without distorting markets or undermining the independence of the central bank.

For now, the same industry that helped propel the shekel to its strongest level in more than three decades is warning that success carries consequences. The outcome of these discussions could help determine whether Israel remains one of the world’s most attractive destinations for technology investment—or whether some of its future jobs begin moving elsewhere.

JBizNews Desk — Israel

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

President Donald Trump minimized the significance of Iran’s downing of a U.S. Apache helicopter in the Strait of Hormuz, even as he vowed that America would respond and continued to project confidence about defeating Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

During a telephone interview with The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, Trump brushed aside concerns over the incident, saying it “wasn’t a big deal” and emphasizing that “the pilot is fine.”

The remarks came only hours after the president issued a forceful statement accusing Iran of shooting down the aircraft and promising retaliation.

“I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz. There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack,” he wrote on Truth Social.

According to Capt. Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command, the helicopter’s two crew members remained in the water for approximately two hours after the aircraft went down, waiting to be rescued as nightfall approached. One senior U.S. official, speaking to The Wall Street Journal, characterized their survival and escape from the wreckage as a “hand of God” moment.

Trump also told the newspaper that the American naval blockade has severely weakened Iran’s economy, saying the campaign is making the regime “very poor.” He indicated that the blockade would remain in effect for as long as necessary.

At the same time, Trump continues to pursue an agreement that would permanently prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. On Monday, he predicted that the United States would soon achieve a decisive outcome.

“Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and it’s as simple as that. They cannot have, the destruction is so powerful, they cannot have a nuclear weapon. And Lindsey has been fighting with me all the way, all the way for that,” Trump said during a phone appearance at a rally held in support of Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

Expressing confidence in the administration’s strategy, Trump added, “We’ve been a very tough team, and I think we are winning that battle, but you’re really going to win it over the next two weeks when we declare total victory. It’ll be a total victory. It’ll happen very soon. And oil prices will come tumbling down,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

Is now the time for one last kinetic military bombing assault on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps regime in Iran?

We know that President Trump prefers diplomacy and is trying to complete an Iranian surrender deal. Yet the news today that the president is blaming Iran for shooting down an Apache helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz Monday night may change things.

Here’s the president’s Truth Social: “I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz.” He added: “There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.”

By the way, the central command’s rescue mission for the helicopter pilots was a miracle. The downed pilots were rescued using an Unmanned Surface Vessel sea drone, in a first-of-its-kind mission. Our military is absolutely incredible. Of course Iran has been busting the ceasefire left and right, hitting the American military, hitting Gulf states, hitting Israel. Israel bombed back by the way hitting Kharg Island. There’s a thought.

I’m not here to second guess the president who has my support for his courageous Iranian intervention. Yet you have to wonder when his patience for diplomacy will run out. And you also have to wonder whether any deal with Iran is ever really a deal.

These radical Islamists and their Nazi-like regime do not know the civilized world’s definition of right and wrong. They have never adhered to a deal. It’s part of their ideology, it’s part of their theocratic regime. It’s part of their hatred of America and Israel.

So, what’s Mr. Trump going to do by way of responding to the Iranian hit? We’ll here’s what General Jack Keane said last night: “Clearly the preferred option after eight weeks of frustration must be to return to military operations 10 days, 14 days, let’s finish this, let’s put them in the most vulnerable position they have ever been in.”

Surely this is an option that’s front and center on the table in front of Mr. Trump. And in addition, I want to quote General Keane again because he is among the most knowledgeable and experienced patriots we have, who by the way is a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. Here’s General Keane again from last night: “At the end of the day, I truly believe what is going to likely come down to is having to go after them and to kill as many of them as we possibly can, capture some if we can, but take all the instruments of tyranny away from them once and for all. It is likely the solution that has to come at some point.”

I’m sure Mr. Trump is considering all of this. This is about ending a near half century gruesome, barbaric dictatorship in the Middle East. It is also about freedom and liberty for all the other Middle Eastern countries, and of course our great friend and ally Israel. These are universal values worth fighting for.

LONDON — Copper prices remain near historic highs, a development that may sound like a story for commodity traders but ultimately affects the cost of homes, vehicles, appliances, electronics, and countless other products consumers buy every day.

Copper recently traded near $6.30 per pound, roughly 30% higher than a year ago, reflecting one of the strongest rallies among major industrial commodities.

The metal’s importance is difficult to overstate.

Copper serves as the backbone of modern electrification. It is found in electrical wiring, power grids, automobiles, consumer electronics, air conditioners, refrigerators, industrial equipment, and renewable-energy infrastructure.

When copper becomes more expensive, the cost of producing many everyday products rises as well.

Several factors are driving prices higher.

Supply disruptions at major mining operations have tightened global inventories, while strong demand from emerging technologies continues increasing consumption.

Artificial intelligence is playing a surprisingly important role.

The massive data centers required to support AI systems consume enormous quantities of copper through electrical systems, cooling equipment, networking infrastructure, and power-distribution networks.

Electric vehicles are another major contributor.

A typical electric vehicle uses significantly more copper than a traditional gasoline-powered automobile, creating additional demand as manufacturers expand EV production.

The transition toward cleaner energy is also increasing consumption.

Solar farms, wind turbines, battery-storage systems, and expanded power grids all require substantial amounts of copper.

Trade policy has added another layer of pressure.

Concerns about potential tariffs and supply disruptions have encouraged manufacturers and traders to build inventories, further tightening available supplies and supporting higher prices.

For consumers, the effects are indirect but meaningful.

Homebuilders pay more for electrical wiring. Automakers face higher manufacturing costs. Appliance manufacturers spend more on raw materials. Electronics producers encounter additional expense throughout their supply chains.

Eventually, some portion of those costs reaches consumers.

The timing is particularly important for homeowners.

Summer is traditionally a busy season for home renovations, air-conditioner replacements, and appliance purchases—all categories heavily dependent on copper.

Economists often refer to copper as “Dr. Copper” because its price is viewed as a barometer of global economic activity.

The reasoning is simple.

Copper is used in so many industries that rising demand often signals expanding economic activity, while falling demand can indicate slowing growth.

Today’s elevated prices therefore carry two messages.

They reflect concerns about supply, but they also suggest continued demand from industries investing heavily in infrastructure, technology, artificial intelligence, and electrification.

That demand is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Analysts expect AI-related infrastructure spending, electric-vehicle production, and energy-transition investments to remain significant drivers of copper consumption for years to come.

For consumers, the takeaway is straightforward.

Few people buy copper directly, but many of the products they purchase contain it.

As long as copper prices remain elevated, the cost of building, powering, cooling, and connecting the modern world is likely to remain higher as well.

JBizNews Desk

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

STATEN ISLAND (VINnews) – More than 200 firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to a four-alarm fire at a senior housing building on Staten Island on Tuesday morning, authorities said.

Tuesday morning, the FDNY responded to a report of a fire at 160 Heberton Avenue on Staten Island. Units arrived in just over three minutes and encountered fire in the roof space of a four-story residential senior housing building.

“Our engine companies moved in aggressively and… pic.twitter.com/H1m0b2Kkb7

— FDNY (@FDNY) June 9, 2026

The fire broke out at a four-story residential building on Heberton Avenue and was reported shortly after sunrise. Firefighters arrived within minutes and found flames burning in the roof area of the structure.

FDNY officials said crews launched an aggressive attack on the blaze, deploying multiple hose lines to prevent the fire from spreading throughout the building. Firefighters also worked to locate and extinguish hidden pockets of fire in concealed spaces within the more than century-old structure.

The building, which contains 43 residential units, was fully evacuated. No civilian injuries were reported.

Four firefighters sustained minor injuries while battling the blaze, according to the FDNY.

Authorities said 14 apartments on the top floor suffered heavy damage. Residents displaced by the fire are receiving assistance from the American Red Cross.

The fire was brought under control in less than two hours despite challenges posed by the building’s age and construction.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Hasidic journalist and Ami Magazine White House correspondent Shloime Zionce has released a podcast interview with Rabbi Yoel Yeshaya Heshel Blum, a community activist who has spent the past two years working to assist efforts involving children and families connected to the controversial Lev Tahor sect.

The interview, recorded in upstate New York on May 27, spans more than three and a half hours and was recently uploaded to Zionce’s “Teef Teef” YouTube channel. The episode has drawn nearly 30,000 views within days of its release.

Speaking in Yiddish, Blum explains that his involvement began because his sister had been affiliated with Lev Tahor for nearly 30 years. He said her situation prompted him to become involved in efforts to help individuals affected by the group and to work with authorities investigating allegations surrounding the sect.

During the interview, Blum describes working with officials in Canada, the United States, Guatemala and Israel in efforts that resulted in children being removed from Lev Tahor communities and placed into protective custody. Lev Tahor has faced allegations of child abuse, forced marriages and other misconduct, leading to investigations and law enforcement actions in multiple countries.

Blum discusses what he described as widespread verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse suffered by children within the group. He explains why authorities determined it was necessary to remove children from their homes despite the emotional difficulty associated with separating families.

According to Blum, two years after a major operation involving children removed from the sect, many have since been reunited with parents who left the group and began rebuilding their lives outside of it. Others, he said, have been placed with foster families who continue to care for them while their parents work toward rejoining mainstream society.

The interview provides a detailed account of the efforts by activists, law enforcement agencies and child welfare authorities across several countries to address concerns surrounding the welfare of children connected to the sect.

Zionce is known for his reporting on Jewish communities around the world and has produced numerous interviews and documentaries focused on issues affecting Orthodox Jewry.

Sen. Bernie Sanders is pouring cold water on speculation that he could mount another campaign for the White House in 2028, indicating that his age makes a future presidential bid highly unlikely after two previous runs for the Democratic nomination.

During a discussion with journalist Robert Costa at the National Press Club, Sanders was asked about reports that some supporters and longtime allies have urged him to consider entering the next presidential race, according to the Washington Examiner.

The Vermont independent responded with a joke that drew laughter from the audience.

“Because they want youthful vigor in the White House! That’s what they want. We’re tired of these 30- and 40-year-old people,” Sanders said.

Continuing the joke, he added, “What we really need are 80-year-olds running the country.”

After the lighthearted exchange, Sanders appeared to make clear that another presidential campaign is not in his plans.

“But I suspect that’s not going to happen,” Sanders said.

When Costa followed up and asked why he did not expect to run again, Sanders offered a blunt answer centered on his age.

“I know I look like I’m 30; I am not. And that’s that,” Sanders said.

Sanders previously sought the Democratic presidential nomination in both 2016 and 2020, becoming one of the party’s most influential progressive figures. By the time the 2028 election arrives, he would be 87 years old. If he were elected, he would surpass President Donald Trump as the oldest person ever chosen to serve as president of the United States.

{Matzav.com}

Boeing will begin building 737 Max airplanes on a new assembly line on July 6, CEO Kelly Ortberg told CNBC in an interview on Friday, June 5. The line is located at Boeing’s massive Everett complex at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, north of Seattle, and will become the company’s fourth final assembly line for its best-selling single-aisle aircraft.

Ortberg said Boeing will load its first airplane onto the line on July 6 and described the facility as nearly identical to the company’s existing production system. The new operation, known internally as the North Line, is essentially a carbon copy of Boeing’s Renton, Washington, factory, where the company currently builds the 737 Max on three separate assembly lines.

The expansion gives Boeing additional capacity at a time when airlines continue waiting for aircraft deliveries.

Boeing is currently producing 47 737 Max jets per month, up from 42 per month earlier this year after the company successfully completed a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) production review in May. The Everett line is expected to help Boeing increase output to 52 aircraft per month, a target the company aims to reach in 2027.

Production limits remain tied to safety concerns that emerged after a dramatic incident in January 2024, when a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 during flight. Although no fatalities occurred, the event triggered extensive government scrutiny of Boeing’s manufacturing and quality-control systems.

In response, the FAA imposed restrictions on production growth while Boeing worked to improve factory processes and quality standards.

Ortberg told CNBC the company has spent the past 18 months rebuilding confidence by focusing on stability rather than speed.

“We slow down when we need to slow down,” he said, adding that Boeing is no longer pushing unfinished work through the production system and will increase output only when quality metrics support doing so.

According to Ortberg, airline customers have told Boeing they are receiving some of the highest-quality aircraft the company has delivered in years.

The CEO also pushed back on speculation that Boeing could eventually ramp production to 70 jets per month. He said the company’s current long-term target remains 63 aircraft monthly, assuming suppliers can support that pace.

One of the biggest constraints remains engine availability from CFM International, the joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran that supplies engines for the 737 Max fleet.

The new Everett line will initially focus on producing the 737 Max 10, the largest version of the aircraft family.

The Max 10 has not yet received FAA certification because regulators continue reviewing several technical issues, including an engine de-icing system concern. However, Ortberg said approximately 80% of certification flight testing has been completed.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said on May 28 that the agency expects to certify the Max 10 before the end of 2026 and has not identified any issues that would prevent approval.

Once certified, Boeing will be able to begin delivering the aircraft to airlines that have been waiting years for the model to enter service.

For Boeing, the financial implications are significant.

The 737 Max remains the company’s primary revenue generator, and every aircraft delivered translates directly into billions of dollars of future cash flow. Airlines worldwide have ordered more aircraft than Boeing can currently produce, creating a large backlog that the company is working to reduce.

A fourth assembly line also brings the potential for additional manufacturing jobs and economic activity throughout the Seattle-area aerospace sector.

Ortberg added that Boeing is also optimistic about increasing production of its 787 Dreamliner widebody aircraft to 10 planes per month by the end of the year.

The broader challenge for Boeing extends beyond production numbers.

The company continues to recover from two fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people and led to a worldwide grounding of the aircraft for nearly two years. The 2024 Alaska Airlines incident revived concerns about manufacturing quality and corporate oversight.

By opening the Everett line gradually and emphasizing quality over speed, Boeing is attempting to demonstrate that growth and safety can move forward together.

JBizNews Desk — Business

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

Outgoing anti-Israel Rep. Thomas Massie used a House floor speech Monday to call for a new investigation into Israel’s 1967 attack on the USS Liberty, lending rare congressional prominence to a decades-old episode that has become a rallying point for critics of Israel.

Marking the 59th anniversary of the attack, the Kentucky Republican honored the crew of the intelligence-gathering ship and urged Congress to pass a resolution recognizing the dead and wounded. Twelve survivors watched from the House gallery; Massie said he had met with them before taking the floor. He called the moment “one of the biggest honors of my lifetime” and said the recognition was long overdue.

The USS Liberty was struck on June 8, 1967, during Israel’s Six-Day War, while stationed off the Sinai Peninsula. Israeli jets and torpedo boats attacked the vessel, killing 34 American crew members and wounding 171. Israel apologized, saying its forces had mistaken the ship for an Egyptian vessel, and later paid damages to the United States and to victims’ families. A US Navy court of inquiry and multiple subsequent investigations, including by the CIA, concluded the attack was a case of mistaken identity.

Massie, of course, disputed that conclusion. He described the Liberty as unarmed and flying a clearly visible American flag, and asserted that the assault was an intentional effort to leave no survivors, citing what he said were eyewitness accounts of Israeli forces firing on lifeboats and on crew members on deck. He argued that former US intelligence and military officials had cast doubt on the official findings, contending the attack was deliberate rather than accidental.

Massie, who lost his Republican primary in May and is set to leave Congress next year, has increasingly broken with party leadership on Israel and US foreign policy.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, Massie’s ally in anti-Israel arms, thanked Massie and questioned why a close US ally had attacked an American ship. Other figures on the right pushed back. Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas wrote that the incident had a clear conclusion under any objective reading of the facts and suggested Massie was chasing online attention.

The episode has gained renewed traction online as a vehicle for anti-Israel sentiment. The Anti-Defamation League has warned for years about efforts to recast the attack as a deliberate act, saying such narratives are amplified to sow distrust and undermine US-Israel relations despite the official finding of mistaken identity. ADL counterextremism official Oren Segal told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, who has devoted segments to the theory, has done more than anyone recently to spread it. Carlson has argued that questioning the attack does not make someone antisemitic. The far-right streamer Nick Fuentes and influencer Candace Owens have also promoted claims of a deliberate Israeli strike, and Florida gubernatorial candidate James Fishback has called for the attack to be taught in schools.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The word “audit” makes most business owners uncomfortable, and understandably so. But the best defense against an audit — and the best protection if one does occur — is something entirely within your control: clean, well-documented books.

Let me walk you through what actually triggers IRS scrutiny for small businesses, and what having your financial house in order means in practical terms.

What Commonly Triggers a Small Business Audit

The IRS uses automated screening tools to flag returns that fall outside expected ranges. Some of the most common triggers include high deductions relative to income — particularly in categories like meals, entertainment, home office, or vehicle use. Consistent losses over multiple years raise the question of whether the business is genuinely a for-profit enterprise. Significant cash transactions draw scrutiny by nature. Discrepancies between reported income and third-party information such as 1099s are immediate red flags. And missing or inconsistent payroll tax filings are taken seriously and can escalate quickly.

What the IRS Wants to See

In an audit, the IRS is looking for substantiation — evidence that what you reported is accurate and that deductions you claimed were legitimate business expenses. This means receipts and documentation for expenses, particularly discretionary ones. Bank statements and records that reconcile cleanly with what is on your return. Documentation for any significant or unusual transactions. And payroll records, contractor agreements, and 1099s that are consistent and complete.

How Clean Books Protect You

When your books are well-maintained throughout the year, audit preparation is not a scramble — it is a straightforward retrieval of records that already exist.

More importantly, clean books mean accurate returns. Many audit issues stem not from intentional misreporting but from disorganized records that led to mistakes. Expenses were deducted twice, or not at all. Income was reported on the wrong schedule. A transaction was miscategorized in a way that created a discrepancy.

When your bookkeeping is current, accurate, and consistently reconciled throughout the year, those errors are caught long before a return is filed.

The Practical Takeaway

You do not need to be afraid of an audit if your records are solid. Keep your books current. Maintain documentation for every significant expense. Work with a bookkeeper who reconciles your accounts monthly and categorizes transactions correctly. And make sure your CPA has clean, organized financial data to work from at tax time.

The IRS is looking for discrepancies and poor documentation. Deny them both, and you have done everything within your control to protect your business.

—

About the Author:

Joe Herskowitz, EA, is the President and CEO of Lionstone Bookkeeping+, where he helps small and medium-sized businesses take control of their finances with expert bookkeeping and financial insights. With years of experience in business finance, Joe is passionate about making numbers work for business owners—not against them.

Have a bookkeeping or business finance question?

Reach out to Joe at [email protected] or call/text 732-803-7793 (no WhatsApp).

With recent reports of kosher consumers accidentally receiving food from non-kosher establishments, awareness of proper food-delivery procedures has never been more important. Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger speaks with Rabbi Sholem Fishbane, Kashrus Administrator at the cRc and Executive Director of AKO, about the halachos of chasimos, delivery services, and protecting the integrity of kosher food from restaurant to doorstep. Whether you order through an app or pick up takeout yourself, this episode contains practical guidance every consumer should know.

WATCH:

View it in its entirety at: https://www.kashrusawareness.com/post/smash-course 

Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

https://open.spotify.com/show/6Rj5rIndHc886Fblqh8U49 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-talk-kashrus/id1631553497 

https://24six.app/app/podcast/collection/985

https://mytat.me/o112

https://www.kosher.com/shows/lets-talk-kashrus-73

CLICK HERE to watch more episodes of Let’s Talk Kashrus

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We invite your questions, comments, or feedback. If there’s a specific kashrus topic you’d like to bring to public attention, feel free to contact us by email: [email protected]

Message or call: 678-8-Kosher

You can also visit our website  www.kashrusawareness.com for a growing list of resources, timely conversations, and to watch episodes of the Let’s Talk Kashrus audio-visual series.

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Transcription

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: Hello everyone and welcome back to Let’s Talk Kashrus, presented by the Kashrus Awareness Project in conjunction with the cRc of Chicago. Today I am privileged to be joined by Rabbi Sholem Yehuda Fishbane, Kashrus Administrator at the cRc of Chicago. Rabbi Fishbane, how are you? 

R’ Sholem Fishbane: Baruch Hashem, thanks for having me. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: It’s always a pleasure to have you here. 

Today we’re here to discuss a very, very important topic, something we’ll call a davar ha’omed al haperek, something of practical relevance now because of various stories that have made it to the news, specifically people who have ordered food from what they thought were kosher establishments and it ended up being non-kosher establishments, whether they confused the name, location, whatever it might have been, unfortunately people ordered treif and it came to their house, they didn’t realize, they ate it, they consumed it, terrible stories. These are stories that rightfully make headlines and draw people’s attention and that’s what we’re here for. We’re here for Kashrus awareness so we’d like to address this topic today and get your input and insight into what people could do to be better informed and know what to do in certain circumstances. So let’s start with what people should know, the aleph beis of receiving food deliveries. If you’re ordering food from an establishment and are there protective measures that should be taken? Give us some guidance. 

R’ Sholem Fishbane: So that’s a great point about protective because Chazal made siyagim, they made protective and Chazal were concerned with hachlafa, with switching around and they gave us halachos to protect the integrity of the Kashrus of the food and I think you’re 100 percent right, these are terrible stories and for every one we hear there’s a few that we don’t hear about. And really it starts and stops with the halachos of chosamos, of seals, of protecting the food that you when you get it and this goes for whether it’s not just the delivery services that you’re referring to, even if you order straight up from a kosher restaurant but the person they’re sending with, the halacha is if he’s not a shomer Shabbos, whether even if he’s not a goy, but even if he’s a Yid but he’s not a shomer Shabbos, he loses ne’emanus, you need to have a seal before you’re allowed to eat it. That’s the halacha, it’s very clear. 

If you go to a store and the entire store’s not under hashgacha, maybe one part is, this part is, that part is, and you buy something off the shelf, the halacha is it needs a _chasima_before you’re allowed to take it out. You go at work where there’s a public refrigerator, you can’t just leave your stuff there, there’s a halacha. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: It’s a great example. You send out the office secretary who’s not a shomer Shabbos to pick up something, right away there’s a halacha about this. 

R’ Sholem Fishbane: There’s situations all of these are scenarios over and over and as you said… 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: And to clarify before you go further, this is a meforash halacha in Shulchan Aruch, right? 

R’ Sholem Fishbane: Meforash halacha in Shulchan Aruch. This is not a minhag, it’s not a new found custom. It’s not a new found and that’s exactly the point of Kashrus awareness is we’re so used to, baruch Hashem, Klal Yisrael’s growing and we’re eating and everything’s kosher, but whoa, whoa, whoa, Chazal knew what they were talking about when they said these are the halachos. 

So exactly I think today we’ll go through some of the very practical halachos and ways to make sure and that’s the halacha you’re allowed to eat beforehand. It’s funny, I saw somewhere where in places where there’s kosher restaurants, there are people that are not even Jewish that will davka order kosher food because if it comes in right, it comes in sealed. Why? Because they know that and there’s been studies on this, 30 percent of the Uber drivers or the drivers are noshing on the fries as they come in. Right. 

So they like their food protected as well. So this is a real thing. So it’s important to understand that these halachos and therefore let’s start with how many chosamos, how many seals do you need? So it’s actually a machlokes Rishonim of what are the reasons. Is it because you go with a more expensive item like Rashi says where you need two chosamos or you go it’s more de’oraisa de’rabbanan which is the Rambam and that’s how the Shulchan Aruch paskens de’oraisa versus… 

The d’oraisas therefore would be fish without skin, meat, if you’re in the techeiles business, you know, that would be need two chasimos, d’rabbanan‘s like bread and cheese and pizza and cake. These things would need one chasima. In Shulchan Aruch it talks about what about non-mevushal wine, which be’etzem is a d’oraisa but the Taz says today it’s it’s switched over to d’rabbanan. These are various things, but let’s go with how Shulchan Aruch calls it, you know, d’oraisa versus d’rabbanan, needing two versus one. 

Okay. So so what qualifies as a siman, right? So what qualifies as a siman is it it takes significant effort to duplicate it and it’s difficult to open the package without breaking or tearing the closure, the tape, the packaging. It looks like it’s like it’s broken. So for example, I went to the store and I bought this potato salad, okay? The potato salad as you see, this is d’rabbanan, okay? And it had a nice CRC tape around it and I wanted to see what would happen if I tried to open it, and as you can see I ate it and it was very good, and I tried to see if I could open without breaking it, and look on the bottom. 

So you can see right away how it was, so the tape is still there but you see that somebody did something to it. It got squeezed, something’s off, something’s off. So the driver or whoever it is that might also want to will say, “Okay, you know, I’m not going to bother with this.” This is what _Chazal_had in mind. It’s very… 

so let’s let’s talk about some of these things. There could be zip ties, there could be staples, you can staple a thing where you can take… this is, this is a one valid chasima. Here’s the, here’s a receipt, okay, of of the guy’s name and what I ordered and all of that, and what they’ll do in a kosher restaurant is they’ll they’ll staple it on. 

So that’s one chasima, right? And then what the what the mashgiach will tend to do is you’ll see there’ll be tape, they’ll put tape, that would be a second chasima. Right. So that’s a very good thing. Or they’ll or they’ll just do one with with the bill inside. 

That would be another way of doing it. Another way is you can do an atypical knot, obviously kosher tape, Hebrew writing. Sometimes we’ll be run out of tape so we can write on a piece of paper, we can put a piece of regular masking tape, and we’ll write our name in Hebrew, our names across it, so that if you if you try to open it, it will it will go through. Right.

Holograms. You know, there is a concept called a simanmuvhak. A siman muvhak is like to, even though it’s one, but be’etzem like it’s halachically like two seals. So for example, you know, if you go buy a cryovac pack of chicken from the shlachthouse. 

If you look at it, there’s really just one one covering, even though it says kosher in two different places. That’s called a siman muvhak, because most people that are delivering don’t have cryovac machines on their belt to redo that. That’s a siman muvhak. Pre-printed tape with kosher tape in it, that’s voiding. 

In other words, if you peel it off, it will like rip. That would be also siman muvhak. So here, I brought two pizza boxes. Typical pizza box, right? It needs for sure one chasima. 

So if it just has the the company name on it without anything on it, that’s not a chasima. Right. You can’t accept that necessarily. If it has something like this, look at this. 

So easy, so easy to open. The way it’s supposed to come is, you can see the tape is wrapped around once. For me to, for someone to try to open it, they would ruin the they would ruin the box, exactly. Now there are many times you’ll find a product, all it will have is the company name on top of it. 

Lechiora, this doesn’t mean anything because, you know, anyone could open it, you know, same over here, you know, Miriam’s cookies, you know, this this doesn’t do much. Now the proper way therefore to to do, let’s say you’re buying something like a meat sandwich, it needs like a crisscross. You need to have, this is considered two, that’s considered a double chasima. A double chasima. 

So these are the many many examples of how how these things come out and and really it’s it’s critical for us to teach our children, for the schools to teach the students, what qualifies as a chasima, what doesn’t qualify, and therefore there’s no such thing as, “Oh, I only have to worry about it like when I order something on online,” but it’s anytime you go shopping, let’s educate the consumers of what’s considered a good chasima, what’s not, and which products need two and which products need one. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: Right. So we mentioned two chasimos, let’s say meat, poultry, fish, things like that would need two chasimos. What are some of the items that would need one chasima? Would it be baked goods? 

R’ Sholem Fishbane: Baked goods, yeah, anything from a bakery. bread or anything like that, anything with cheese, which is, you know, d’rabbonon, milk, you know, I don’t know if you order something from a Dunkin’ Donuts, the kosher one versus the non-kosher, and it’s a coffee, you know, that would be one chosimah or a Starbucks or, you know, that type of thing. Almost everything that doesn’t have in it meat, fish, poultry, and those types of things, _d’Oraisa_s, then that would need one chosimah. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: What happens in a scenario where someone does their due diligence, they order from a place that they know is certified, it comes, the order comes, they look at the bag, they look at the package and they see there’s something off, either it’s missing the seal or the seal seems tampered? What do they do? Is there any way to salvage the food at that point? 

R’ Sholem Fishbane: So that’s a great question, and we get this all the time where someone will call our office and say, I’m downtown, I ordered from one of the establishments and it didn’t come with a… you know, I want to tell you something interesting. 

I asked the kosher restaurants, why don’t you make it a policy every single time that anyone comes for a takeout food, it has to be chosum automatically? Right. They said, ’cause they get upset with us. Most people that walk in want to make sure we have enough ketchup packets and forks and knives. Don’t seal it over. 

I need to see what you put in there. Was it the right order? Oh, that’s a very interesting point. Very interesting point. So therefore we don’t do it, and you know, unless we know for sure that it’s… 

you know, we try, but when there’s pressure at a restaurant, lunch hour, forget it. Oh, forget it. Sure. So what do… 

so we get this call all the time. So there is a concept in_halacha_ called tviyas ayin. So tviyas ayin means that if a ne’eman kashrus can tell you, I can give a shvua this is… that that food is kosher, that is acceptable. 

So we do this, you know, the guys downtown, he’s starving, there’s a convention, three-day convention, he finally got something kosher. We’ll have him take a picture of the food and or maybe even a livestream to the mashgiach in the restaurant who will look around and say, I can identify that is exactly what we sent out. Aha. That’s called tviyas ayin. 

And tviyas ayin works across the board. Even in your own home. You go out and there’s someone working in your home, you know, in the kitchen or in the home that’s not Jewish or not shomer Shabbos, that’s the halachos basar she-nisalammin ha-ayin. So if you have a tviyas ayin on the food, that works as well. 

But that would be the primary way to get it to fix up something that came in that didn’t have proper chosimos. R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: Would you say that a classic case of tviyasayin for a homeowner who’s not a kashrus expert, doesn’t necessarily know how the food is prepared is perhaps, I’m just asking as a suggestion, if someone always orders from the same place and they know the way the food is usually presented and now they got the same order that they usually order but it didn’t have the seal? Is that enough of a _tviyas ayin_because they know what it usually looks like? 

R’ Sholem Fishbane: Yeah, the tviyas ayin can be on both sides of the aisle. It could be if you are, you know, fries are fries, and that’s easier. Or even a… 

you can make the argument that a pie of pizza kind of will look… but if it’s a certain knish, a meat knish that you like getting, and the way it’s done, I recognize this from this the way they grill it, the way they… yeah, that would be tviyasayin as well. Obviously, as we said, let’s educate ourselves in chosimos that we don’t have to come onto what-ifs, but of course there are ways to salvage if something doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to. 

But again, we… I think it would go without saying, we would advise someone in any scenario if they have a _kashrus_professional they could consult, a rov, they should always do so if they can to be sure. Right. And if I could make a suggestion or a plea, as I said earlier, the schools should have some sort of education. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: Education, right. Of what’s called a chosimah so that everyone, no matter where they are, they could be in the most metropolitan frum area versus vacationing in who knows where, it’s the same halachos and therefore they should be educated. So we thank you for the education that you brought us and to the public, and continue to have hatzlacha in all you do. Thank you.

Dozens of Chareidi protesters blocked major roads Tuesday evening in Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, leading to clashes with police and significant traffic disruptions.

The demonstrations, held in protest of the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, saw protesters blocking key intersections and setting objects ablaze in the roadway. Police, Border Police, and riot-control units were dispatched to disperse the crowds and reopen the roads.

In Jerusalem, the main protest took place along Bar-Lev Boulevard, while in Beit Shemesh demonstrators gathered near the Nahar Hayarden area.

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After police declared the gatherings unlawful and ordered protesters to clear the roads, officers moved in to disperse the crowds. During the operation, police used crowd-control measures, including stun grenades.

“Israel Police acts to allow freedom of expression and lawful protest,” police said in a statement. “However, blocking major traffic arteries and disrupting the daily lives of citizens will not be tolerated.”

VIDEOS AND PHOTOS VIA REUVEN BIALA

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Anthropic on Tuesday, June 9, unveiled Claude Fable 5, the most powerful artificial intelligence model the company has ever released to the public, alongside a more advanced version called Claude Mythos 5 that is reserved for cybersecurity professionals. The announcement marks one of the most significant AI launches of the year and raises the stakes in the intensifying competition among Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and xAI.

For businesses, the launch is about more than a faster chatbot. It represents a new generation of AI capable of performing increasingly sophisticated work once handled exclusively by highly paid professionals.

What Makes Fable 5 Different?

According to Anthropic, Claude Fable 5 ranks at or near the top of nearly every major industry benchmark measuring AI performance.

The model’s strongest areas include:

• Software engineering
• Research and analysis
• Financial reasoning
• Data interpretation
• Document review
• Reading charts and images
• Long-running, multi-step projects

Anthropic said the model’s advantage becomes more apparent as tasks grow longer and more complex.

In simple terms, Fable 5 is designed not merely to answer questions but to complete substantial projects with minimal supervision.

Months of Work Compressed Into Days

One of the most eye-catching examples came from Stripe, which tested the model before release.

According to Anthropic, Fable 5 completed a rewrite across a 50-million-line code base in a single day. Stripe estimated the same work would normally require a team of engineers more than two months to finish manually.

For executives evaluating AI investments, the implication is straightforward: tasks that once required multiple employees working for weeks may increasingly be completed in hours or days.

That does not necessarily mean fewer workers. It does mean companies may expect significantly more output from existing teams.

Why Business Leaders Should Pay Attention

The software industry is only part of the story.

Anthropic says Fable 5 demonstrated leading performance in finance, legal analysis, research, and other knowledge-based professions.

On a senior-level finance reasoning benchmark conducted by Hebbia, the model achieved the highest score recorded by any AI system tested by the firm.

Meanwhile, global trading company IMC reported that Fable 5 performed exceptionally well across its internal analytical evaluations.

For industries where information processing is a major expense, those improvements could directly affect profitability.

A Major Leap in Reading Images and Charts

Another area where Anthropic says Fable 5 excels is vision.

The model can analyze charts, scientific figures, diagrams, screenshots, and images with substantially greater accuracy than previous versions.

Anthropic says Fable 5 can:

• Extract exact figures from scientific charts
• Interpret complex visual data
• Analyze screenshots
• Rebuild software applications directly from images

This capability expands the number of business tasks AI can perform beyond simple text generation.

What Early Testers Are Saying

Early business users reported meaningful improvements over previous AI models.

Mario Rodriguez, Chief Product Officer at GitHub, said Fable 5 handled long-running coding assignments with a degree of independence and reliability that exceeded earlier systems.

Reviewers in the legal and financial sectors reported similar experiences, describing the model as a significant step forward rather than an incremental upgrade.

For companies already experimenting with AI, the feedback suggests the technology is becoming increasingly capable of handling work that traditionally required experienced professionals.

The Price Just Dropped

The technology may be getting more powerful, but it is also becoming cheaper.

Anthropic announced pricing of:

• $10 per million words of input
• $50 per million words of output

The company says that represents less than half the cost of its previous flagship model.

That reduction matters because AI pricing has become one of the industry’s most competitive battlegrounds.

As models improve while costs fall, more businesses can justify deploying advanced AI across entire departments rather than limiting it to small pilot projects.

Limited-Time Free Access

Businesses already subscribed to Claude have a short window to evaluate the model at no additional cost.

Anthropic said Pro, Max, Team, and seat-based Enterprise customers will receive access through June 22.

Beginning June 23, customers will need to purchase usage credits to continue using Fable 5.

Anthropic says the temporary restriction reflects expected demand and available computing capacity.

For business owners, the message is clear: this is the ideal time to test whether the model can produce measurable productivity gains.

Meet Mythos 5: The Version the Public Can’t Use

Alongside Fable 5, Anthropic announced Claude Mythos 5, a more powerful version that will not be available to consumers or businesses.

Access is limited to approved cybersecurity organizations and critical infrastructure operators through Project Glasswing, a program operated in cooperation with the U.S. government.

Anthropic described Mythos 5 as possessing the strongest cybersecurity capabilities of any AI model currently available.

Why Anthropic Built New Safety Guardrails

Because of the model’s growing capabilities, Anthropic added additional safeguards.

Requests involving:

• Cybersecurity
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Model replication

are automatically routed to an older model called Claude Opus 4.8.

Users are notified whenever this happens.

Anthropic said the fallback occurs in fewer than 5% of sessions and was designed to allow faster deployment while maintaining safety controls.

New Data-Retention Policy for Business Users

Anthropic also announced a change affecting enterprise customers.

The company will now retain business-customer data generated through its most advanced models for up to 30 days.

Anthropic says the policy is intended to help identify emerging threats and attacks.

The company emphasized that:

• Data will not be used to train future AI models.
• Information will generally be deleted after 30 days.
• The policy applies primarily to security monitoring.

AI Is Moving Beyond Office Work

Anthropic believes the technology’s future extends well beyond business productivity.

Using Mythos 5 internally, the company says researchers accelerated parts of the drug-development process by roughly ten times.

The company also reported that scientists preferred AI-generated research hypotheses approximately 80% of the time compared with ideas produced by earlier models.

Anthropic noted these findings are based on internal testing and have not yet all been independently verified.

The Bottom Line

The launch of Claude Fable 5 highlights how rapidly artificial intelligence is moving from an experimental tool to a core business technology.

Just as companies once had to learn computers, email, and the internet, executives are increasingly being forced to decide how AI fits into their operations.

With stronger performance, lower pricing, and broader business applications, Anthropic is putting additional pressure on competitors—and on organizations still deciding whether AI should be viewed as a helpful assistant or as a fundamental part of the modern workforce.

JBizNews Desk — Technology

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

Parents and caregivers are being urged to immediately stop using a brand of infant nursing pillows sold on Amazon due to a severe suffocation risk.

Little Grape Land is recalling roughly 1,430 of its nursing pillows because they violate mandatory U.S. safety standards for infant support cushions. 

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) noted the pillows can obstruct an infant’s breathing, posing a serious risk of injury or death.

POPULAR BABY BOTTLES SOLD AT WALMART RECALLED AFTER 135 CHOKING HAZARD REPORTS

The U-shaped pillows were manufactured in China and sold online at Amazon.com from August 2025 through April 2026. 

Retailing between $28 and $30, the products were sold in various patterns, including rose floral, alligator, bear, butterfly, cactus, construction truck, forest deer, green leaves, little bunny, spring flower and woodland animal, but do not feature any specific identifying labels or markings.

WALMART WARNS SHOPPERS COULD FACE HIGHER PRICES AS FUEL COSTS SURGE, TAX REFUNDS DRY UP

To date, no incidents or injuries have been reported in connection with the product.

Frisco, Texas-based XJ Evermore LLC, which is doing business as Little Grape Land US, is offering a full refund to affected customers. 

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To receive a refund, consumers are asked to destroy the product by cutting the pillow in half and sending a photo of the destroyed item to the company at [email protected].

Amazon and Little Grape Land did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ requests for comment.

(JNS) – Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, who issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, has been suspended pending disciplinary proceedings over allegations of sexual misconduct.

The Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties, the executive committee of the ICC’s governing body, announced Khan’s immediate suspension on Monday. The decision was based on an investigation by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services, underlying evidence, advice from an ad hoc panel of judicial experts and written submissions from the parties involved. The bureau stressed that the suspension does not prejudge the final outcome.

Khan, a British barrister, has denied all allegations. According to a copy of the U.N. report reviewed by The Associated Press, investigators found evidence that Khan engaged in “nonconsensual sexual contact” with a female aide in his office, at his private residence and while traveling on official missions. Khan voluntarily stepped down on a temporary basis in May 2025 while the investigation was ongoing.

The matter now moves to the 125-member Assembly of States Parties, which oversees the Hague-based court. A majority vote in a special session, to be scheduled at a later date, would be required to remove Khan from office. The assembly said that the vote would be held “as soon as possible.”

The United States sanctioned Khan in February 2025 after issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant on war crime allegations related to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Washington later imposed sanctions on several ICC judges involved in actions targeting Israeli and U.S. personnel.

The steps were taken under the American Service-Members’ Protection Act, also known as the Hague Invasion Act, which is designed to protect American service members and U.S. allies who are not ICC signatories from prosecution, using “all means necessary.”

The sanctions reportedly disrupted Khan’s ability to carry out his duties, including the loss of access to his official Microsoft email account and restrictions on his banking services.

Established by the 1998 Rome Statute, the ICC prosecutes individuals accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression.

Khan was reportedly preparing additional warrants for Israeli officials before stepping aside in 2025.

Israel has strongly disputed the ICC’s case against Netanyahu and Gallant. Critics of Khan have also questioned the timing of his May 2024 announcement of the warrants, which came on the day he had been scheduled to visit Israel as part of his investigation, fueling accusations that the move was politically motivated rather than evidence-based.

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Israel needs a new government whose leaders are capable of facing reality.

When Manhattan’s original Pennsylvania Station was demolished in 1963, it marked the undignified end to one of America’s great public works, a monolithic Beaux Arts train terminal with Roman-style columns and a spacious central waiting area that at the time was the largest indoor space in the city.

In its place rose Madison Square Garden — home of NBA’s New York Knicks and NHL’s New York Rangers — while train commuters were forced underground into gloomy, claustrophobic, low-ceilinged corridors by the decidedly more utilitarian redesign completed in 1968.

“Through Pennsylvania Station one entered the city like a god,” the architectural historian Vincent Scully famously lamented. “One scuttles in now like a rat.”

But a dramatic new vision for the busiest transit hub in the Western Hemisphere calls for a return to the old grandeur of the station, which was originally opened in 1910 and currently serves Amtrak, the national rail carrier that owns the terminal, as well as commuter rail lines to the surrounding suburbs and connections to the city’s vast subway system.

Renderings released Monday by Amtrak and Penn Transformation Partners, the design and development consortium picked for the project, feature a rectangular, stone facade lined with imposing columns along a grand entry way.

Inside, commuters are to be greeted by a sunlight-drenched grand concourse with soaring ceilings more than 50 feet high in places. It includes such touches as bronze finishings and other ornamental details, like a bas relief of the city’s famous skyline and a large, classic station clock, also made of bronze.

An interior wall near a entryway bears the seal of President Donald Trump, who had Amtrak assume control of the project last year after decades of bureaucratic red tape and political infighting among transit agencies and the competing interests of other powerful players, including James Dolan, the billionaire owner of MSG, the Knicks and the Rangers, who has staunchly opposed moving the arena.

Trump has mentioned renaming his hometown station in his honor as he’s sought to burnish his legacy through public works projects, from a massive new ballroom at the White House to a triumphal arch leading into the nation’s capital.

For now, though, the name etched in capital letters across the proposed grand facade would still read, “Pennsylvania Station,” renderings released Monday show.

“I’m not focused on names at all,” said Andy Byford, who Amtrak named as a special adviser to oversee the redevelopment, when asked about a potential name change.

“This building has a name, and the name is there,” added Peter Cipriano, one of the lead developers.

Proposal aims to make Penn Station an icon again

The proposed design draws from the ornate, Beaux-Arts design of Grand Central Terminal, the city’s other major rail hub, as well as Art Deco landmarks like the Empire State Building and Rockefeller Center, according to Vishaan Chakrabarti, one of the leaders of the team awarded the project.

Designers also looked to the monumental, federalist style of government buildings in Washington, D.C., and those built by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression.

The vision, he said, is to restore Penn Station’s place among the pantheon of the city’s greatest landmarks and bring a “sense of public ambition” back to one of the nation’s vital civic spaces.

“There was this fearless embrace of ornament and decoration that in some ways we’ve lost,” Chakrabarti said. “We want to bring some of that sense of craftsmanship back.”

The redesign is projected to cost around $7 billion to $8 billion, and construction is targeted to begin before the end of 2027, officials said Monday. Penn Station would remain in operation throughout as the project progresses in phases over about six years.

More than 600,000 commuters traverse through the rail hub on any given work day, or more than the three major international airports that serve greater New York City — John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty — combined.

Knicks and Rangers home arena would remain at site

Plans floated over the decades have called for relocating MSG, but under the plans revealed Monday, the “World’s Most Famous Arena” would remain in place.

A theater owned by MSG and built directly above the tracks, however, would have to be razed to make way for the new facade and concourse.

The developers and MSG owner James Dolan have reached a “memorandum of agreement” for this critical part, which helped the rail carrier in picking the proposal over three other bidders, according to Byford. Final terms of the deal, including payment, haven’t been determined.

“You’ll understand why we wouldn’t want to negotiate that in public,” said Byford.

The next phase of the project will include refining the preliminary designs and going through the extensive federal environmental review process, which will help in generating a more detailed breakdown of costs, according to Byford.

He stressed there are no plans for the government to take surrounding properties to expand the station, as some concerned locals have suggested. The project will also not be borne of the backs of commuters.

“There will be no fare hike to pay for this project,”, Byford said. “It’s not going to happen.”

(AP)

U.S. government bonds firmed at the short end on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, as traders positioned ahead of a closely watched 10-year Treasury note auction the U.S. Department of the Treasury will hold Wednesday, June 10, while oil prices tumbled and eased worries about inflation.

The moves were small but pointed in the same direction. Treasury yields were largely unchanged Tuesday as bond markets took a breather ahead of more economic data later this week. The 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield — the key benchmark for mortgages, auto loans, and credit card debt — was last down less than 1 basis point at 4.54%, while the 2-year note yield fell 2 basis points to 4.135%. The longer-dated 30-year bond yield rose less than 1 basis point to 5.02%.

When yields fall, bond prices rise, so the dip at the short and middle of the curve means Treasuries edged higher.

Why Oil Is Driving the Bond Market

The biggest force pushing in bonds’ favor was crude oil.

Oil prices fell nearly 4% after the U.S. Energy Secretary said ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is increasing. That matters because cheaper oil feeds through to lower gasoline, shipping, and manufacturing costs, helping cool inflation. Lower inflation makes bonds more attractive because it preserves the value of the fixed payments investors receive over time.

The easing in oil ties directly to the Middle East. With shipping moving more freely through the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway that carries a significant share of the world’s oil exports — fears of a supply shock that drove prices higher in recent weeks have begun to fade.

What the Auction Means in Plain English

Here’s the part that sounds technical but is actually simple.

To pay its bills, the federal government borrows money by selling IOUs known as Treasury securities. This week’s schedule includes three major sales:

• 3-Year Treasury Note — Tuesday
• 10-Year Treasury Note — Wednesday
• 30-Year Treasury Bond — Thursday

Investors watch these auctions closely because they reveal how much demand exists for U.S. government debt.

If buyers show up in force, the government can borrow more cheaply, helping keep interest rates lower throughout the economy. If demand is weak, yields rise — and so do borrowing costs for mortgages, auto loans, business loans, and credit cards.

That’s why a calm bond market heading into Wednesday’s 10-year sale is generally viewed as positive.

The Data Wild Card

Bond traders are not only watching oil and Treasury auctions.

They are also bracing for fresh inflation data due later this week, which could significantly influence expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next move.

Markets are currently pricing in roughly a 70% probability of a quarter-point rate increase by December, though the Fed is still widely expected to leave rates unchanged at its next policy meeting later this month.

There were also new trade figures to digest Tuesday. The U.S. goods and services trade deficit totaled $55.9 billion in April, slightly better than economists expected.

Chris Rupkey, chief economist at FWDBONDS, said some of the recent export strength may be tied to energy markets.

“The export growth looks uncertain as much of it appears to be the result of higher energy prices from the Iran conflict,” Rupkey said.

What It Means for Everyday Americans

The thread connecting all of this runs directly to household budgets.

The 10-year Treasury yield heavily influences mortgage rates, making a stable bond market and lower oil prices quietly positive developments for anyone shopping for a home, refinancing a mortgage, financing a vehicle, or carrying other forms of debt.

The risk remains the other direction.

If inflation data comes in hotter than expected, or if Wednesday’s 10-year Treasury auction attracts weak demand, yields could move sharply higher — bringing borrowing costs up with them.

For now, however, falling oil prices and steady demand for government debt are giving financial markets a rare breather, with investors focused on Wednesday’s 10-year auction and the inflation readings that follow.

JBizNews Desk — Markets

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

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: DOGE) is down 13% over the past week and 88% below its all-time high, as the Elon Musk correlation that drove the coin for years has completely broken down.

The Musk Trade Stopped Working And The Catalyst That Replaced It Fizzled

For years, a single Musk post could send DOGE surging double digits. That relationship no longer holds. When Musk reposted an AI-generated video referencing Dogecoin on X in March, the coin barely moved.

The federal Department of Government Efficiency, the political catalyst that sent DOGE to a $61 billion market cap in November 2024, was terminated eight months ahead of schedule.

Moreover, Musk publicly distanced the agency from the coin, calling the similar names a coincidence and stating the government had no plans to use Dogecoin.

Over $47 billion in market cap has been erased since November 2024. The coin that once traded higher than …

Full story available on Benzinga.com

Rear-view video obtained by TLS from the school bus shows the moment the bus – with children onboard – was rear-ended by a car, after the car was rear-ended by another vehicle.

The incident happened shortly before 9:00 AM on Hope Chapel Road in Lakewood.

Luckily, there were no serious injuries reported.

U.S. stocks ended Tuesday, June 9, on an uneven note after President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the United States “must, of necessity, respond” to Iran, which he accused of shooting down an American military helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz. The post, published Tuesday, sent shares sliding through the afternoon before a late bounce trimmed the damage.

The Nasdaq Composite took the worst of it, falling 0.97% to close at 25,678.82. The S&P 500 slipped 0.26% to 7,386.65. The Dow Jones Industrial Average bucked the trend, edging up 86 points, or 0.17%, to 50,872.11. The small-cap Russell 2000 added about a quarter of a percent after erasing earlier losses.

The immediate catalyst came from Trump, who wrote on Truth Social that the United States “must” respond after what he said was an Iranian attack on a U.S. military helicopter over the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the two pilots were unharmed and safe. U.S. Central Command confirmed the helicopter went down at 7:33 p.m. ET on June 8, and the two crew members were rescued about two hours later. A U.S. official said early indications pointed to an Iranian drone.

The threat rattled a market that had spent the prior two sessions clawing back from a steep chip-stock selloff. Stocks dropped sharply in the minutes after the post hit, then recovered into the close as traders weighed whether the comment signaled real military action or pressure ahead of the on-again, off-again peace talks Trump has said for weeks are near.

The surprise was oil.

Normally a war scare in the world’s most important shipping lane would send crude soaring. Instead, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC that ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is “rising very meaningfully” and will keep climbing. U.S. crude oil futures declined 3.4% to close at $88.20 per barrel, while Brent crude lost 2.97% to settle at $91.45. Prices fell even after Trump accused Iran of downing the helicopter. Wright made the remarks at the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum.

For consumers, that may matter more than the index numbers. Crude oil makes up more than half the cost of a gallon of gasoline, so a falling barrel usually means cheaper fuel at the pump in the weeks ahead, provided the strait stays open. The catch is that prices tend to climb quickly and fall more slowly.

Iran pushed back. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on social media that foreign forces near Iranian territory “are at constant risk,” and said the best way to lower the danger is for them to leave the region. He added that while Tehran prefers diplomacy, it knows “how to speak other languages too.”

Underneath the headlines, the damage was narrow. Only two corners of the S&P 500 finished lower on the day: technology and energy. Tech slid as the chip trade cooled again after last week’s rout, and energy names tracked crude lower. Everything else in the index held up or gained, which is why the Dow managed to finish in positive territory even as the Nasdaq sank.

The backdrop remains the war that began on Feb. 28 between Iran and an Israeli- and U.S.-led coalition. A fragile April truce has been tested repeatedly, and the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for a large share of the world’s seaborne oil, has been effectively closed for months under a dual blockade. Tuesday’s helicopter incident marked the first loss of an Apache since the conflict began.

For investors, the week’s economic calendar may matter as much as the geopolitics. The May Consumer Price Index arrives Wednesday, June 10, providing the latest reading on whether the oil shock and the war have pushed everyday prices higher. The Producer Price Index follows later in the week.

The bottom line: a war scare that could have crushed the market did not, because the one number that hits households hardest—the price of oil—went the other way. Stocks wobbled on the headline, steadied on the details, and now turn to inflation data that could shape the Federal Reserve’s next moves.

JBizNews Desk

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Republican Steve Hilton has advanced to the general election for California governor after making the case that the state desperately needs new leadership following more than 15 years of Democratic dominance.

He’ll face Democrat Xavier Becerra, a former state attorney general and Biden administration health secretary, whom The Associated Press previously determined had won enough votes.

Hilton faces a challenging electorate in the November election, as California has nearly twice as many registered Democrats as Republicans. If elected he would be the first GOP candidate to win statewide office since 2006.

He thinks he can beat the odds.

“Change is coming to California,” Hilton said the day after the election. “That is good news for everyone.”

The outcome means Democratic candidate Tom Steyer did not qualify for the November election.

During the campaign Hilton attacked Democrats over the state’s high cost of living, the homelessness crisis and other issues. He pledged to lower prices for everything from gas to housing; make Californians’ first $100,000 free of income tax; create a loan program for first-time homebuyers; and freeze in-state tuition at public colleges.

Hilton was endorsed in April by President Donald Trump, which helped him consolidate support among Republican voters in the primary but could be a liability in the general election.

Hilton, who has never held elected office, came to the United States in 2012 from the United Kingdom, where he was an adviser to Conservative Party officials including former Prime Minister David Cameron. He had a show on Fox News from 2017 to 2023 and became a U.S. citizen in 2021.

Hilton often mentions his parents’ experience fleeing communism in Hungary before migrating to the U.K. as a formative part of his family’s history that helped shape his conservative worldview.

The Trump administration is pushing back against efforts to force the federal government to repay billions of dollars in tariff revenue collected before the Supreme Court invalidated President Donald Trump’s worldwide tariff program earlier this year, setting up a major legal fight over who is entitled to reimbursement, Newsmax reports.

At the heart of the dispute is whether every importer that paid the now-defunct tariffs should receive a refund or whether repayments should be limited to businesses that still have active claims pending before the government.

While federal officials have already authorized the return of tens of billions of dollars, the administration is challenging a ruling by the Court of International Trade that would require a much broader repayment effort.

“The message from the government is pretty straightforward: We don’t have the authority to issue these refunds, and unless a court orders us to repay a specific company, we’re not going to do it,” a former Trump administration official and trade lawyer close to the White House told Politico.

“They’re ready to claw back what they know they legally can,” the lawyer added.

Justice Department attorneys contend that the trade court overstepped its legal authority when it ordered refunds on a universal basis. Several trade-law specialists say the administration’s position may ultimately prevail.

“That issue could really go both ways,” said James Kim, an international trade partner at ArentFox Schiff, adding that “the DOJ has good arguments” and that “it’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out.”

Matthew Seligman, who represents importers seeking repayment, acknowledged that an appeal was expected. He said, “It was inevitable that the government would appeal [Court of International Judge Richard Eaton’s April order requiring universal tariffs] and win,” maintaining that the lower court’s decision was inconsistent with prior Supreme Court rulings.

The latest phase of the case is unfolding at a hearing scheduled for Tuesday, where Susan Thomas, executive assistant commissioner for trade at U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is expected to provide testimony regarding how the government is handling refunds.

In court documents, Thomas stated, “Should the court’s order become final and require reliquidation of entries of all importers, CBP intends to fully comply with the court’s final decision as expeditiously as possible.”

Judge Richard Eaton has demanded additional information from the administration regarding its plans for repayment and indicated that the purpose of the hearing is “to ascertain if it is the government’s policy to return all of the unlawfully collected duties either by complying with the court’s order or by some other means.”

Meanwhile, importers and their legal teams are preparing further action in court, including efforts to pursue class-action litigation aimed at securing broader refunds.

Sara Albrecht, chair and CEO of the Liberty Justice Center, commended Eaton’s management of the case, saying he has been “very proactive in directing this case” and that Tuesday’s proceedings “will explain a lot on what the government is thinking and their positions.”

She also signaled that additional legal options remain on the table, declaring, “We’ve got plans A, B, C, and D for June 9. We’re ready.”

Some affected companies accuse the administration of creating obstacles that make it difficult for businesses to recover money they believe they are owed.

Jay Foreman, CEO of toy manufacturer Basic Fun!, compared the process to insurance disputes, saying, “It’s almost like the insurance companies, they just deny your claim, and it’s only the people that are willing to fight through four or five, six denials that get paid.”

“They figure a bunch of people will drop out,” said Foreman.

{Matzav.com}

(AP) – A study commissioned by President Joe Biden’s administration to investigate alcohol-related health harms was released independently on Tuesday, after President Donald Trump’s administration decided not to feature the researchers’ findings in new dietary guidelines as it faced pushback from the alcohol industry and a congressional committee.

The findings of the study, in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, were in line with years of research, saying that health risks go up with just one drink a day and no level of alcohol has a protective effect on mortality. Even levels considered “moderate” raise the risk of premature death and more than 200 diseases, including heart disease and cancer, researchers found.

The new study was one of two government reviews meant to help inform the new dietary guidelines. Released earlier this year, the guidelines advised consuming “less alcohol for better overall health.” The authors of the independently released study say that didn’t provide detailed practical advice about the risks of drinking.

One of the officials involved in the study commissioned by Biden’s Democratic administration accused Trump’s Republican administration of “sidelining” the research — an allegation the Trump administration denies.

Robert Vincent, a former Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration alcohol policy official who led the yearslong effort, made the accusations in an editorial published alongside the study. Vincent was laid off last year as part of a government reduction in force.

“The challenges confronting alcohol policy today are not rooted in scientific uncertainty,” Vincent wrote. “What remains contested is whether evidence will meaningfully inform policy when it conflicts with commercial interests.”

The dispute over the study underscored the increasingly tense relations between the medical and scientific community and the Trump administration, which has questioned or ignored longstanding science in its policymaking, fired a slew of veteran scientists from the federal workforce and cut scientific grants that proponents say help keep the U.S. at the forefront of medical innovation.

Industry and congressional Republicans pushed back on the study
After the study’s researchers released a draft report last year, the alcohol industry mobilized against it, launching campaigns to discredit its work. The House oversight committee also criticized the study, releasing a report earlier this year that called it “fraught with bias” and accused the study authors of having predetermined conclusions based on their past research and affiliations.

Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, denied any notion that the study wasn’t considered.

HHS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture “reviewed the study alongside the broader body of available scientific evidence and followed the established process for developing the 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” she said. “The Guidelines are informed by the totality of the scientific record, not any single report or analysis.”

Vincent told The Associated Press in an interview that the researchers were thoroughly vetted for conflicts and the findings were scientifically sound. He said that while he was in the Trump administration, he was “asked to kill the study” but did not. HHS didn’t immediately respond to that claim.

Findings support more forceful alcohol intake recommendation
The Trump administration earlier this year released new dietary guidelines that advised consuming “less alcohol for better overall health.” The researchers said that they don’t dispute that advice but that their findings support a more detailed and forceful recommendation that current adult drinkers consume one drink or fewer a day.

“I’m glad that they had a message that corresponds with our science, and that is that less is best,” said Dr. Timothy Naimi, director of the University of Victoria’s Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and one of the study’s authors. “But giving people quantity information is necessary to make a truly informative guideline.”

The study differed from the other research commissioned by the government to help inform the dietary guidelines on the issue, which said moderate alcohol use was associated with a decreased risk of mortality from all causes but also an increased risk of some diseases.

Priscilla Martinez-Matyszczyk, one of the authors of the new study and a deputy scientific director at the Public Health Institute’s Alcohol Research Group, said their study didn’t look at mortality from all causes but instead examined mortality specifically attributed to alcohol to avoid confounding factors.

Martinez-Matyszczyk also addressed an issue raised by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz in his explanations of the new guidelines: that drinking is “a social lubricant that brings people together” and that even though not drinking is preferred, being social has health benefits.

“I don’t know of any studies that have teased out the social effect from the health effect,” she said.

Research aligns with other recent findings
The new findings are “in line with the latest science that basically shows less is better when it comes to health,” Naimi said.

For example, a 2019 study in Lancet found that moderate drinking slightly raised the risk of stroke and high blood pressure and offered no protective effects on health.

Moderate drinking was once thought to have benefits for the heart, but better research methods have thrown cold water on that idea. Older studies compared groups of people by how much they drink instead of randomly assigning people to drink or not, so they couldn’t prove cause and effect. When researchers adjusted for things like education levels, income and health care access, the benefits tended to disappear.

About half of Americans age 12 or older had a drink in the past month, researchers said, making it the most commonly used addictive substance in the U.S. One drink is the equivalent of about one 12-ounce can of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine or a shot of liquor.

WASHINGTON — The cost of feeding a family continues moving higher in 2026, and federal forecasts suggest grocery shoppers may not see much relief anytime soon.

According to projections from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, overall food prices are expected to rise approximately 3.6% this year, with several common grocery categories projected to increase even faster.

Fresh produce is among the biggest concerns.

The USDA expects fresh vegetable prices to rise significantly during 2026, while fruit prices are also expected to move higher as weather challenges, transportation costs, and supply constraints continue affecting the food system.

Recent inflation data already reflects that pressure.

Grocery prices remain noticeably higher than a year ago, with consumers reporting increased costs across many everyday items found in the average shopping cart.

Fuel costs are playing a major role.

Higher diesel and gasoline prices increase transportation expenses throughout the food supply chain. Products must travel from farms to processors, warehouses, distributors, and eventually grocery stores. Each step becomes more expensive when fuel costs rise.

Economists warn that some of the full impact may not yet be visible.

Because food supply chains operate with delays, higher transportation costs can take weeks or months to fully work their way onto store shelves.

Weather remains another major factor.

Drought conditions and other climate-related challenges continue affecting crop yields in several agricultural regions, particularly for fruits and vegetables.

Not every category is moving higher.

Some forecasts suggest certain products, including eggs and selected dairy items, could experience more stable pricing or even modest declines if supplies improve.

Still, the overall trend remains upward.

For families, grocery inflation is particularly difficult because food is not optional. Unlike many discretionary purchases, groceries represent a recurring weekly expense that cannot easily be postponed.

As prices rise, shoppers are adapting.

Many consumers report purchasing more store-brand products, reducing discretionary food purchases, seeking promotions, and comparing prices more aggressively than in previous years.

The financial strain is becoming increasingly visible.

Consumer surveys show many households reporting greater difficulty paying monthly bills, with food costs frequently cited as one of the largest pressures on family budgets.

The business implications are significant as well.

Grocers typically operate with relatively thin profit margins, limiting their ability to absorb higher costs. Food manufacturers are also facing pressure from higher transportation, labor, packaging, and ingredient expenses.

The result is a delicate balancing act between protecting profits and keeping products affordable enough for consumers.

For shoppers, the practical advice remains familiar: compare prices, utilize store brands, watch for promotions, and plan purchases carefully.

The broader reality, however, is harder to avoid.

With fuel costs elevated, weather challenges persisting, and federal forecasts pointing toward additional increases, grocery prices are likely to remain one of the most persistent sources of financial pressure for American households throughout the remainder of 2026.

JBizNews Desk

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As preparations intensify for renewed demonstrations over the arrest of yeshiva bochurim, organizers affiliated with Peleg Yerushalmi have reportedly distributed a series of emergency instructions to protesters, including a stark warning against blocking train tracks.

The directives come ahead of the military trial of HaBochur Dovid Petrov, son of HaRav Eliezer Petrov, Rosh Yeshivas Maalos HaTorah and one of the Peleg leaders. The trial is expected to take place Wednesday and could trigger large-scale protests as early as Thursday.

According to reports, organizers are seeking to distance themselves from last week’s dramatic rail disruption near Ganot Junction. In messages distributed through official hotlines, protesters were warned in unusually strong language not to enter train tracks.

“Anyone who thinks it is possible to go down and block Israel Railways tracks should know that it is certain death,” one message reportedly stated. “Under no circumstances should anyone go onto the tracks.”

Organizers also reportedly instructed participants not to document similar incidents and issued a series of “golden rules” for future demonstrations.

Among the guidelines: protesters should not arrive alone, but only in groups; they should avoid confrontations with police officers and civilians; and they should carry documentation equipment and cameras.

“Our strength is in our unity,” one message concluded, emphasizing that participants should follow only instructions issued by the committee.

The warnings come amid growing tensions following a series of recent incidents, including protests outside Prison 10, demonstrations at major intersections, the break-in at the home of Supreme Court Deputy President Justice Noam Solberg, and the arrest of several suspects connected to anti-draft demonstrations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump suggested that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu may be weighing whether to remain in office after the current conflict ends, saying it remains uncertain whether the longtime Israeli leader intends to seek another term.

Speaking with ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, Trump reflected on Netanyahu’s lengthy tenure and his role during the ongoing war.

“I don’t know, he’s had an amazing career. Does he want to continue? Because, you know he’s a wartime prime minister. We will very shortly win the war one way or the other, and you know he’s a wartime prime minister,” Trump said, before adding, “That’s okay, just like I’m a wartime president.”

Karl later noted in a social media post that the conversation took place Monday evening before Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.

Trump also provided additional details about his recent discussion with Netanyahu following Iran’s missile launch at Israel in violation of the ceasefire agreement. In contrast to some previous descriptions of the conversation, Trump indicated that he explicitly urged the Israeli leader to refrain from escalating the situation.

According to Trump, he told Netanyahu, “I don’t want to do anything that’s going to hurt the deal, but I said, ‘You have to use your own judgment.’ Just go out and use your own judgment, but I don’t want the deal to be hurt.”

While Trump said he believed Israel’s retaliatory strike against Iran on Sunday was not necessary, he acknowledged the reasoning behind Jerusalem’s decision to respond militarily.

Discussing Israel’s actions, Trump said the country felt compelled to answer Iran’s attack.

“They wanted to show retribution,” he said. “When you get attacked, there really has to be retribution.”

{Matzav.com}

A Texas teenager who fatally stabbed a 17-year-old track athlete from a rival team during a meet was convicted of murder Tuesday in a trial that drew national attention far beyond the booming Dallas suburb where the two students attended different high schools.

A jury rejected Karmelo Anthony’s claims of self-defense during a confrontation with Austin Metcalf in the stadium’s bleachers last year. Anthony, now 19, didn’t testify. Most who did were students who described a heated exchange over him refusing to leave a tent belonging to Metcalf’s team during a rainy competition.

Anthony faces up to life in prison upon sentencing.

The trial drew lines of spectators hoping to find seats in the gallery and unfolded amid heavy security at a courthouse in Collin County. Anthony and Metcalf attended separate schools in Frisco, one of Texas’ fastest-growing cities that is dotted with dozens of modern school campuses and gleaming athletic facilities.

Several students testified that Metcalf, after ordering Anthony to leave his team’s tent, scoffed before Anthony reached a hand into a bag and pulled out a knife.

One teenage witness recalled Metcalf telling Anthony, “You don’t have anything in that backpack. It’s Frisco.”

Outside attention on the case spread, in part, over social media posts that amplified the killing in racial terms. Anthony is Black; Metcalf was white. Prosecutors and defense attorneys told jurors that the case had nothing to do with race.

Instead, prosecutor Bill Wirskye called the stabbing a “sneak, surprise attack” and accused Anthony of egging on the confrontation. Mike Howard, an attorney for Anthony, said his client acted in a “split second of fear, chaos” after Metcalf made the first physical contact.

The stabbing happened on a rainy morning in April 2025. Teenage witnesses said the confrontation began after Anthony sat under a tent belonging to the track team of Memorial High School, where Metcalf was in his junior year.

Other students competing at the meet testified that several athletes told Anthony to leave the tent and that he was the aggressor. When Metcalf told Anthony he needed to move, Anthony reached inside a bag and replied: “Touch me and see what happens,” according to a police report.

Metcalf then pushed Anthony, according to witnesses, who said Anthony reacted by pulling out a knife and stabbing Metcalf in the chest.

One teammate told jurors that Anthony was “distraught” after the stabbing. Judge John Roach Jr. ordered that the names of teenage witnesses not be made public.

“I was hearing him say, ‘I told him not to touch me,’” the teenager said.

The parents of both Anthony and Metcalf have said they were good students who planned to go to college.

(AP)

TORONTO (AP) — A former Air Canada pilot has been charged after flying for years without a proper license, Canadian police said Tuesday.

Geoffrey Wall, of Barrie, Ontario, is alleged to have operated as an airline captain between 2009 and 2025 without a license to fly large commercial passenger planes, according to Peel Regional Police.

Police said he piloted more than 900 flights domestically and internationally without the required license. Air Canada confirmed that one of its pilots held a valid commercial pilot license, but was promoted to captain without the required airline transport pilot license.

Deputy police chief Nick Milinovich alleged that 59-year-old Wall “has been flying for years misrepresenting himself and his credentials to his employer and regulatory officials using fraudulent licensing documents.”

“This is similar to a doctor that is licensed to practice family medicine but is doing brain surgery in their office,” Milinovich added.

The airline said a pilot was removed from active duty once it was discovered that he did not have the correct license, which was voluntarily reported to Transport Canada, the regulator. The pilot is no longer employed by the airline.

Police said anomalies were detected in a documentation check. Transport Canada contacted police earlier this year.

Air Canada claimed safety was not compromised and an audit of its pilots found no other instances of non-compliance.

“Safety was not compromised by this incident because all pilots at Air Canada undergo mandatory recurrent training every six months to validate their flying competency, including a flight check with a certified Transport Canada check-pilot every 12 months,” the airline said in a statement.

“However, appropriate licensing is an essential layer of the airline industry’s multilayered approach to safety, so Air Canada takes this matter with utmost seriousness.”

The airline declined to comment further due to privacy law and an active criminal investigation.

The airline, which did not name the pilot, said he has been fined by Transport Canada for not having the correct license to be an aircraft captain.

Police also say the accused filed a false report to police about allegedly stolen pilot documentation.

Wall made about $2.9 million Canadian ($2.1 million) during his time as captain, police said.

A lawyer for Wall couldn’t be reached immediately.

Transport Minister Steve MacKinnon said the federal government would review the case and ensure improvements, “if there are any,” would be made. Despite the lengthy alleged fraud, he said the system to detect such issues had worked.

“I am gratified that we were able to detect this issue and get it dealt with,” he said.

NEW YORK — Amazon founder and Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos has reignited debate over taxes, government spending, and economic inequality with a simple but provocative proposal: the bottom half of American income earners should pay no federal income tax at all.

Speaking during a CNBC “Squawk Box” interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin on May 20, comments that resurfaced in business discussions this week, Bezos argued that politicians often spend too much time looking for people to blame instead of solving the underlying problems.

Rather than focusing on villains, Bezos said leaders should approach economic challenges the same way successful companies tackle operational issues: identify the root cause and fix it.

His most attention-grabbing comment involved taxes.

Bezos noted that the bottom 50% of American earners account for only about 3% of federal income tax revenue. Because that percentage is so small relative to the size of the federal budget, he argued the government could eliminate that tax burden entirely.

“It should be zero,” Bezos said.

In practical terms, Bezos was referring specifically to federal income taxes, not payroll taxes, state taxes, property taxes, or sales taxes.

His argument was straightforward: if lower-income households contribute only a small portion of federal income-tax collections, removing that burden could provide meaningful relief without dramatically affecting overall government finances.

The broader point, however, was less about tax policy and more about problem-solving.

Bezos said political leaders frequently fall into the trap of identifying villains rather than identifying causes.

When confronted with a problem, he argued, many people instinctively search for someone to blame. That may generate headlines and political support, but it rarely solves the issue itself.

Instead, Bezos pointed to a management approach long used inside Amazon known as the “Five Whys.”

The method requires repeatedly asking why a problem occurred until reaching its underlying cause. Once the root issue is identified, solutions become clearer and often more permanent.

The philosophy has been widely credited with helping Amazon scale from an online bookstore into one of the world’s most valuable companies.

Whether that same approach can be applied to national economic policy is another question entirely.

The comments arrive amid a continuing national debate about taxes and wealth inequality.

For years, Bezos himself has been a central figure in those discussions.

Critics have frequently argued that billionaires pay too little in taxes relative to their wealth. A widely cited ProPublica investigation published in 2021 reported that Bezos paid no federal income tax in certain years because much of his wealth existed in stock holdings rather than traditional income.

The findings fueled calls from lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, for new wealth taxes and changes to the tax code aimed at high-net-worth individuals.

Critics of Bezos’s latest proposal also point out that lower-income Americans already pay significant taxes beyond federal income taxes.

Workers contribute payroll taxes that fund Social Security and Medicare, while state income taxes, sales taxes, gasoline taxes, and property taxes often consume a larger share of lower-income households’ budgets than they do for wealthier Americans.

As a result, some economists argue that focusing only on federal income taxes provides an incomplete picture of the overall tax burden faced by working families.

To his credit, Bezos did not frame his argument as opposition to taxation itself.

During the interview, he acknowledged that reasonable people can disagree about what constitutes a fair tax system.

He also supported certain targeted tax proposals, including New York’s long-discussed pied-à-terre tax on luxury second homes.

His larger concern, he said, was the tendency of political debates to devolve into finger-pointing rather than practical problem-solving.

The timing is notable.

The discussion comes as policymakers in Washington continue debating changes to the federal tax code. Recent proposals have included higher tax rates for top earners, expanded tax credits for working families, and various efforts to reduce budget deficits while addressing affordability concerns.

At the same time, rising housing costs, inflation pressures, and economic uncertainty have left many Americans searching for solutions that could improve household finances.

Whether Bezos’s proposal gains traction is another matter.

Eliminating federal income taxes for the bottom half of earners would undoubtedly provide relief to millions of households, but it would also require lawmakers to decide how to replace the lost revenue or reduce government spending elsewhere.

For now, the comments serve as a reminder that one of the world’s richest individuals views economic challenges through the same lens he applied to building Amazon: identify the root cause, focus on solutions rather than blame, and fix the problem at its source.

Whether Americans see that as practical wisdom or simply a billionaire’s perspective on public policy will likely depend on their own views about taxes, government, and economic fairness.

JBizNews Desk — Economy

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Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez, who drew widespread condemnation for sharing conspiracy theories that branded the Bondi Beach massacre a false flag and portrayed Hamas as a defensive force, appears headed for defeat in his reelection bid, according to preliminary results released Friday by Contra Costa County.

Martinez took 19.50 percent of the vote in the June 2 primary, trailing City Councilwoman Claudia Jimenez at 37.55 percent and Ahmad Anderson, culture director of Golden Gate Park Gardens, at 28.82 percent. Jimenez and Anderson appear set to advance to a November runoff. The count is unofficial and has not been certified.

The result caps months of fallout over posts Martinez shared on his LinkedIn account in December. In them, he reposted claims that the attack on a Chanukah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach was an Israeli false flag operation, and another asserting that the root cause of antisemitism is the behavior of Israel and Israelis. One repost suggested the shooting had been carried out by a former Israeli soldier, and he also shared material comparing the celebration to Israeli settlers storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

The Bondi Beach attack killed 15 people and wounded dozens, and was carried out by a father and son who were motivated by ideologies linked to the Islamic State. Police reported finding two black ISIS flags and improvised explosives in the attackers’ vehicle.

Martinez deleted the posts and apologized. He wrote that he was sorry for sharing them without thinking, and he later read an apology at a City Council meeting. Fellow council members proposed a measure to censure him, but it failed to pass.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Bay Area, which had called for Martinez to resign over the posts, welcomed the preliminary outcome. In a Facebook post, the council framed the vote as a message from residents that “antisemitism has no place in public office.” Anderson, one of the two front-runners, had signed a December open letter urging Martinez to apologize, undergo antisemitism education and meet with Jewish leaders, or else step down.

Martinez, a member of the Richmond Progressive Alliance, was elected mayor in 2022 after serving on the city council since 2014, and has long been a vocal critic of Israel. The leading candidate, Jimenez, may not be much better. She has also backed Palestinian causes. She and Martinez co-sponsored an August resolution making Sebastia, a town in the West Bank, a sister city of Richmond.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A Royal Jordanian pilot is facing criticism after video footage from one of the airline’s flights appeared to capture him using the aircraft’s public-address system to make political remarks about Israel while flying over the region.

The recording, which has spread widely across social media, shows the pilot addressing passengers in both Arabic and English as the aircraft traveled above Israel. During the announcement, he stated: “Distinguished Royal Jordanian passengers, we wish to notify you that we are flying over Palestinian lands. Anyone who misses Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Palestine, can see it at this moment from the left window. You can see al-Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock, in gold, and the Haram al-Sharif. The plane will pass over the city of Bethlehem.”

The incident prompted a sharp response from Noam Party Chairman MK Avi Maoz, who sent an urgent letter to Civil Aviation Authority Director Shmuel Zakai. In the letter, Maoz characterized the announcement as a serious abuse of a civilian flight for political purposes and called for immediate intervention.

Maoz urged Israeli authorities to demand a formal clarification and apology from Royal Jordanian regarding the pilot’s comments.

The lawmaker further requested that regulators examine possible sanctions against the airline, including barring it from Israeli airspace and pursuing other administrative measures. In his letter, Maoz wrote: “The use of Israel’s airspace to spread messages that deny the state’s sovereignty and identity can not go ignored.”

Although Royal Jordanian suspended its direct service between Tel Aviv and Amman following the outbreak of the Gaza war, the carrier’s aircraft continue to routinely traverse Israeli airspace on flights traveling to and from destinations in Europe and North America.

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK — JetBlue Airways is preparing one of the most significant changes in its history.

For the first time, the airline best known for affordable fares and generous coach seating will introduce a domestic first-class product, marking a major shift in strategy as it seeks to improve profitability and attract higher-paying travelers.

Chief Executive Officer Joanna Geraghty told employees the airline remains on track to launch the new cabin in 2026, with roughly one-quarter of the fleet retrofitted next year and most aircraft completed by the end of 2027.

The move reflects a simple reality.

Premium travel has become one of the most profitable segments of the airline industry.

While many travelers continue searching for low fares, airlines increasingly earn their strongest margins from customers willing to pay more for additional comfort, priority services, and upgraded experiences.

Competitors including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines have spent years expanding premium offerings.

JetBlue is now trying to capture a larger share of that market.

Industry observers often refer to the planned cabin as “Mini Mint” or “Junior Mint,” a reference to JetBlue’s existing premium Mint product.

The new seats will resemble traditional domestic first-class cabins offered by larger airlines and will be installed across Airbus A220, A320, and A321 aircraft.

The strategy comes with tradeoffs.

To create space for larger first-class seats, JetBlue plans to reduce economy-seat pitch from approximately 32 inches to 30 inches on portions of its fleet.

That may seem like a small change, but JetBlue built much of its reputation on offering more legroom than competitors.

The company is effectively betting that additional premium revenue will outweigh any dissatisfaction among coach passengers.

Geraghty argues demand supports the move.

Travelers increasingly seek premium experiences, yet many remain unwilling to pay the prices charged by larger legacy airlines.

JetBlue hopes to position itself between traditional low-cost carriers and premium airlines, offering upgraded products at more accessible prices.

The first-class expansion is part of a broader premium strategy.

The company has already begun opening airport lounges in key markets including New York JFK and Boston while also investing in enhanced onboard connectivity through partnerships such as Amazon’s Project Kuiper.

Combined with Mint business class and upgraded economy products, the airline hopes to create a full spectrum of travel options.

The financial pressure behind the strategy is substantial.

JetBlue has struggled to return to consistent profitability following the pandemic and has faced setbacks including the collapse of its alliance with American Airlines and the blocked acquisition of Spirit Airlines.

At the same time, higher fuel prices and intense competition continue squeezing margins.

For travelers, the changes create both winners and losers.

Passengers willing to spend more will gain access to a larger seat and premium experience at a potentially lower price than traditional first class.

Budget-conscious travelers may lose some of the extra space that helped distinguish JetBlue from competitors.

Ultimately, the success of the strategy will depend on a simple question.

Can enough customers be persuaded to pay more?

If the answer is yes, JetBlue may finally find a path back to stronger profitability.

If not, the airline risks weakening one of the very features that made customers choose JetBlue in the first place.

After years of financial challenges, the carrier is making a clear bet: the future of airline profits increasingly sits at the front of the aircraft.

JBizNews Desk

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EATONTOWN, N.J. – As artificial intelligence rapidly changes how businesses operate, JBiz has announced the JBiz Leadership AI Operations Summit, a two-day executive training program designed to help companies improve productivity, streamline operations, reduce costs, and increase revenue through practical AI adoption.

The summit will take place July 13-14, 2026, at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel in New Jersey and is geared toward business owners, corporate leadership, management teams, entrepreneurs, and organizations looking to better equip their workforce for an AI-driven economy.

Organizers say the goal is simple: to help businesses understand how to effectively use today’s leading AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Grok, Perplexity, and other emerging tools, identify which platforms are best suited for specific business tasks, and leverage AI to increase productivity, improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, save valuable time, and drive revenue growth.

“Learning how to use today’s leading AI platforms – including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Grok, Perplexity, and other emerging tools – has become as important for businesses as learning to use computers, email, and the internet was for previous generations,” said JBiz, a division of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce.

With nearly two decades of experience helping businesses stay competitive and adapt to changing technologies, JBiz said the need became clear as studies found AI can save employees the equivalent of nearly a full workday per week. The program is designed for companies and leadership teams, with organizations encouraged to send multiple employees together to maximize results and accelerate AI adoption throughout their operations.

The shift underway is significant. For decades, businesses relied on large teams of junior employees and support staff to handle research, spreadsheets, presentations, scheduling, customer communications, reporting, and administrative work.

Today, properly trained employees using AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Grok, and Perplexity can complete many of those tasks faster and more efficiently. Increasingly, companies view AI as a collection of virtual assistants that help employees draft emails, conduct research, analyze data, summarize meetings, create reports, improve communication, and accelerate workflow across departments.

Recent surveys suggest the business impact is growing quickly.

An Oliver Wyman Forum-New York Stock Exchange CEO survey found that 43% of CEOs plan to place less emphasis on hiring junior staff while increasing demand for experienced employees who know how to use AI effectively.

Research from Stanford University, MIT, and Boston Consulting Group has also found that workers using generative AI complete more tasks, work faster, and often produce higher-quality results than workers who do not use AI tools.

One high-profile example came from Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin, who recently said that modern AI systems are performing work that previously required teams of finance professionals, completing in hours or days tasks that once took weeks or months.

Meanwhile, the McKinsey Global Institute estimates generative AI could create between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion in annual global economic value across customer service, operations, software development, research, marketing, communications, and workflow management.

“We are watching one of the biggest operational shifts in modern business history,” Honig said. “The companies adapting early are gaining major advantages, while many businesses still don’t know where to begin. This summit was created to provide practical training businesses can immediately apply.”

Unlike many AI events focused on theory, organizers say the program is designed as a practical, implementation-focused training experience. Participants will learn how to use multiple AI platforms together and understand the strengths of each system.

Training will cover:

• ChatGPT – communication, writing, workflow support, strategy, presentations, and operational assistance
• Claude – long-form analysis, contracts, planning, and document review
• Gemini – Google Workspace integration, collaboration, productivity, and research
• Microsoft Copilot – Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and enterprise workflows
• Grok – live information analysis and trend monitoring
• Perplexity – research, sourcing, and market intelligence
• Additional leading AI platforms and workflow tools

Participants will receive hands-on instruction on applying AI to:

• Communication
• Operations
• Documents and spreadsheets
• Research
• Sales
• Marketing
• Reporting and presentations
• Administration and workflow systems

Summit attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the AI landscape, practical workflows they can use immediately, and strategies to save time, improve productivity, reduce administrative burdens, and strengthen operational performance.

Organizers estimate businesses effectively implementing AI can save employees between 5 and 15 hours per week, potentially creating between $12,000 and $54,000 in annual operational value per employee, depending on role and implementation.

For a company with 10 employees, that could translate into productivity gains ranging from roughly $120,000 to more than $540,000 annually, although actual results will vary by company, industry, and adoption levels.

The summit will feature full-day training sessions from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both days and will be led by professionals with hands-on experience using today’s leading AI platforms.

Participants will leave with a deep understanding of all platforms, practical skills, and a framework for immediate execution, integrating AI into their daily responsibilities and business operations.

Limited Seating Available!

For corporate inquiries, team registrations, and group packages, CLICK HERE or contact [email protected] or 212-659-5270 x104.

— JBizNews Desk  @JbizNews.com

A new United Nations report has documented serious abuses carried out by Hamas terrorists and affiliated forces in Gaza, including executions, torture, beatings and other acts the UN says amount to war crimes.

The report from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights details hundreds of cases of extrajudicial punishment, saying Hamas forces carried out public acts of violence to intimidate residents and maintain control.

“These cases involved executions, kneecapping, bone-breaking with metal pipes or cement bricks and beatings and were framed by the perpetrators as punishments for alleged collaboration with Israel, looting humanitarian aid, theft, drug-related offenses or affiliations with internal rivals,” the report states.

The findings come after years in which international criticism and UN attention frequently centered on Israel, while allegations of Hamas abuses inside Gaza received far less focus.

The report says Hamas-affiliated forces were involved in nearly one-quarter of 249 documented cases between August 2024 and January 2026, including 108 deaths. The UN said the punishments were often carried out without courts or legal proceedings.

Those targeted included opponents of Hamas, suspected collaborators, and rival armed groups that emerged as the terror group’s control weakened during the war.

The report cites public executions recorded on video, including one incident where three blindfolded men were shot outside Shifa Hospital and another where eight men were dragged into a Gaza City square and killed.

The UN commission said the actions “amount to the war crime of murder and to a violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including the right to life, the right to liberty and security and the right to a fair trial.”

BOSTON — Former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is warning that one of the biggest risks facing the U.S. economy may not be inflation, recession, or financial instability, but political interference in the nation’s central bank.

Speaking while accepting the 2026 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on May 31 in Boston, Powell said the independence of the Federal Reserve remains one of the most important pillars supporting confidence in the U.S. economy and financial markets. The Federal Reserve later published the full text of his remarks.

Powell argued that the Fed’s ability to make decisions free from political pressure is a “priceless asset” that took generations to build and could be damaged if elected officials gain greater influence over monetary policy decisions.

His message was straightforward.

If future presidents can remove Federal Reserve officials simply because they disagree with interest-rate decisions, Powell said, investors and the public may eventually lose confidence that monetary policy is being set for the benefit of the country rather than for political advantage.

The warning arrives during an increasingly visible debate over interest rates.

The Federal Reserve was established by Congress in 1913 and was deliberately structured to operate independently from day-to-day political pressures. Governors serve staggered 14-year terms, ensuring that no single administration can completely reshape the institution.

The purpose is simple: allow policymakers to make difficult decisions on inflation, employment, and economic growth without worrying about election cycles.

For financial markets, that independence carries enormous value.

Investors buy U.S. Treasury bonds and hold U.S. dollars partly because they believe the Federal Reserve will act when necessary to keep inflation under control. If markets begin to doubt that commitment, borrowing costs can rise and confidence can weaken.

Powell spent much of his tenure defending that principle.

The award recognized his efforts to maintain the central bank’s independence during years of political criticism and public pressure. While Powell stepped down as Fed Chair at the end of his term, he continues serving on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and remains a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee.

His remarks come as the Federal Reserve faces a difficult economic environment.

Inflation remains above the Fed’s long-term target, while higher energy prices linked to instability in the Middle East continue adding pressure to consumer prices.

At the same time, many business leaders, homeowners, and elected officials have argued that interest rates remain too high and are slowing economic activity.

That tension lies at the center of Powell’s concern.

Supporters of an independent Federal Reserve argue that interest rates should rise or fall based on economic data rather than political considerations. They point to historical examples around the world where politically controlled central banks contributed to higher inflation and economic instability.

Others argue that the Federal Reserve wields enormous influence over the economy and should be more accountable to elected officials who answer directly to voters.

The debate is likely to intensify as policymakers consider future interest-rate decisions.

Financial markets are watching closely because perceptions matter almost as much as policy itself.

If investors believe monetary policy decisions are being driven by political objectives rather than economic conditions, long-term borrowing costs could rise as markets demand higher returns to compensate for increased uncertainty.

That could affect mortgage rates, business loans, and government borrowing costs even if the Federal Reserve lowers its benchmark interest rate.

In other words, confidence is part of the system.

Powell’s broader message was that trust in institutions, once lost, is difficult to rebuild.

The former Fed Chair framed the issue not as a partisan argument but as a long-term question about economic credibility and stability.

For everyday Americans, the implications may seem distant, but they ultimately influence everything from mortgage payments and credit-card rates to retirement savings and investment returns.

The Federal Reserve’s next policy decisions will continue attracting attention, but Powell’s speech highlighted a larger question that extends beyond any single meeting or interest-rate move: whether markets continue believing that the central bank is making decisions based on economic realities rather than political pressure.

That confidence, Powell suggested, remains one of the country’s most valuable financial assets.

JBizNews Desk — Economy

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

The United States Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, declared Monday that negotiations between Israel and Lebanon have reached a “point of no return,” signaling growing optimism that diplomatic efforts could produce a lasting arrangement along the northern border.

Speaking after a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Issa said progress in the talks has been encouraging and praised the Lebanese negotiating team.

“We have reached a point of no return,” Issa said. “It is very important for an official to choose what he wants and move forward with it, especially if it is the only choice to end a painful and harsh situation like the one Lebanon is experiencing.”

Issa also commended Lebanese negotiators for what he described as their professionalism and effectiveness.

“The members of the team speak clearly and frankly on the Lebanese file,” he said.

The ambassador’s remarks come a day after President Trump intervened to prevent further escalation between Israel, Iran, and Hezbollah.

According to reports, Trump urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to limit Israeli strikes in Lebanon after Iranian officials conditioned a ceasefire on an end to Israeli operations against Hezbollah.

“What happened yesterday was a political message,” Issa said. “In the United States, we decided that the confrontation should not expand further.”

Both Israel and Iran ultimately agreed to halt attacks, with Netanyahu announcing Monday morning that “the fire has been halted.”

At the same time, Netanyahu stressed that Israel retains complete freedom of action against Hezbollah and will continue striking terrorist targets in Lebanon — including in Beirut — if attacks against northern Israel resume.

Although Lebanon’s government agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework earlier this month, Hezbollah has publicly rejected the arrangement.

Nevertheless, Lebanese officials continue pushing for a diplomatic resolution.

“We are ready, we are willing, we are committed. Are you? If you are, let’s sit and talk,” Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday in an interview with CNN.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

An evening of relaxation, connection, and meaningful conversation is set to take place next week as The SPOT hosts a special event for single girls ages 25 and older.

The event, titled “Trusting the Story You’re In,” will feature guest speaker Charlene Aminoff, and will give attendees an opportunity to enjoy a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

The event is scheduled for June 16 at 8:00 p.m. in Lakewood, beginning at 7:15 p.m., when doors open for a cocktail and açaí bar reception.

The event is free of charge, though RSVP is required. It is open to single women ages 25 and up, with location details to be provided upon registration.

For more information or to reserve a spot, attendees can email [email protected].

Outgoing president of Colombia Gustavo Petro posted two words to show his contempt for the right-wing candidate for president, Abelardo de la Espriella, who will be running in the country’s June 21 election.

The two words were “Heil Hitler,” posted along with a local outlet’s op-ed in support of Espriella, who is promoting such Israel-friendly initiatives as restoring diplomatic ties with Israel and opening an embassy in the Jewish state. The left-wing president had actively cut ties with Israel in 2024.

Heil Hitler https://t.co/IbRBgwUY3N

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) June 7, 2026

Combat Antisemitism Movement’s Coalition of Latin American Legislators Against Antisemitism collected the signatures of 24 lawmakers from 14 Latin American countries appended to a statement denouncing Petro’s antisemitic post.

June 8, 2026: 24 lawmakers from 14 Latin American countries have signed a declaration condemning Colombian President Gustavo Petro's use of the Nazi slogan "Heil Hitler."

🇦🇷 🇧🇷 🇨🇱 🇨🇴 🇨🇷 🇪🇨 🇬🇹 🇭🇳 🇲🇽 🇵🇦 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇩🇴 🇺🇾

The declaration was issued by CAM's Coalition of Latin American… pic.twitter.com/m6Hq4a14LQ

— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) June 9, 2026

“The use of references to Nazism must not become a rhetorical tool to discredit political or ideological positions. Democratic leaders have a responsibility to promote a respectful public debate that is conscious of the weight of words,” the statement said, warning that “Heil Hitler” is one of the most popular symbols of Nazi ideology among Jew haters.

Espriella will run against Iván Cepeda, who has vowed to continue Petro’s anti-Israel policies. Petro lost the national election in May, when the other two candidates garnered 40 percent of the vote.

Iván Cepeda, left, and Abelardo de la Espriella. (Photo by Luis Acosta and Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images)

Petro has insisted that he is not an antisemite but that his policies against Israel reflect only his opposition to the Israeli government’s military actions and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. With his “Heil Hitler” post, he will have a harder time making that argument.

British authorities have filed charges against an 18-year-old man in connection with the March attack that destroyed four ambulances belonging to Hatzolah, marking the latest development in a case that has heightened security concerns within London’s Jewish community.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced Tuesday that Subhan Ahmed, a British citizen, was charged Monday with “assisting an offender” in relation to the arson attack.

The incident occurred during the early hours of March 23, when four Hatzolah  ambulances were deliberately set on fire in Golders Green, one of London’s largest Jewish neighborhoods. In the aftermath, police increased patrols and security measures in Jewish areas across the city.

The investigation is being handled by the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command, which has continued to pursue multiple suspects connected to the attack.

Authorities have already brought charges against four other individuals in the case.

Those charged in April include British citizens Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, and Judex Atshatshi, 18, as well as a 17-year-old dual British-Pakistani national. Prosecutors accused them of “committing arson, destroying or damaging property, and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.”

All four suspects remain behind bars while awaiting a trial scheduled for January. Ahmed, by contrast, was released and is expected to appear in court on June 16.

The destruction of the ambulances was one of the first in a series of alarming incidents that have unsettled Jewish residents throughout London and prompted a heightened police presence in Jewish neighborhoods. Since then, authorities have responded to several cases involving incendiary devices placed near synagogues, as well as the April stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green. Last week, Metropolitan Police data showed that antisemitic hate crimes across London increased by 72 percent in May.

After news of Ahmed’s charge was made public, the Community Security Trust, which works to protect Britain’s Jewish community, expressed appreciation to investigators and prosecutors “for their ongoing work investigating this attack and other arson incidents targeting the Jewish community.”

The organization added, “These are very serious allegations, and it is right that those responsible are being held accountable.”

{Matzav.com}

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir revealed Tuesday that Israel’s recent strike against Iran was intended as preparation for a far more devastating attack, warning that the military remains ready to resume operations at a moment’s notice.

Speaking during a visit to the IDF’s “Fire Series” training exercise for battalion and company commanders, Zamir issued a direct warning to Tehran and declared that Iran’s efforts to establish new rules of engagement against Israel would fail.

“The IDF maintained and continues to maintain immediate readiness and preparedness for a return to fighting in Iran,” Zamir said. “All of our defense and offensive systems were alert and prepared. We intercepted the threats launched at us and struck in Iran quickly and forcefully.”

In a significant revelation, Zamir disclosed that Israel had prepared for a much larger operation.

“The strike we carried out in Iran was preparation for a much more significant and severe blow,” he said. “We are prepared to return and deliver another hard and deep strike against Iran.”

His comments come amid reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu had approved a broader military operation against Iran before reportedly scaling it back following pressure from President Donald Trump.

Zamir also addressed Iran’s attempts to alter the strategic balance in the region.

“The Iranian attempt to dictate equations and change reality will fail,” he said. “We will continue to operate and deepen the damage to the Hezbollah terror organization and defend the northern communities.”

The chief of staff emphasized that IDF operations are continuing in southern Lebanon, where troops are actively destroying Hezbollah terror infrastructure.

Among the targets being dismantled is a major underground Hezbollah facility in the Beaufort Ridge area that served as both a command center and a base for launching attacks against Israel.

“Our forces continue operating in several sectors and are destroying Hezbollah terror infrastructure,” Zamir said.

Addressing commanders participating in the exercise, Zamir stressed the importance of leadership during the ongoing multi-front war.

“You have experienced warfare unlike anything in the history of the IDF,” he told them. “You are the backbone of the IDF’s command structure. Through your leadership and professionalism, you will determine the army’s ability to successfully carry out its complex missions.”

He concluded by reminding commanders that their foremost responsibility is to lead soldiers into battle, defeat the enemy, and uphold the IDF’s operational standards and values.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)