BRUSSELS (AP) — Dozens of diamonds spell out two giant letter “T” next to the Stars and Stripes and “1776” and “2026.” Dozens more frame the numbers 45 and 47 in the shape of Superman’s logo. A diamond-winged eagle carries a ruby shield and clutches an olive branch of emeralds, below a radiant “250” and atop the phrase “250 YEARS USA” etched in 18-karat gold.

All told, 321 diamonds, 56 sapphires, 13 emeralds and six rubies encrust the watch-sized gold ring presented this week to Bill White, the U.S. ambassador to Belgium, to give to President Donald Trump.

“A very special thank you to my friends from Antwerp for the magnificent Freedom 250 ring,” Trump said in a prerecorded video message during an event marking America’s 250th birthday in Brussels.

Isidore Mörsel, president of the Antwerp World Diamond Center, or AWDC, gifted the ring on behalf of the centuries-old diamond community in the Belgian port city, a central node in the worldwide trade of the precious stones that found itself struggling last year under the weight of Trump’s sweeping trade war.

“May this ring serve as a lasting reminder that true partnership like the finest natural diamonds are formed under pressure, endure the test of time, and shine brightest when built on trust,” Mörsel said. The ring’s interior is engraved with the phrase “Crafted in Antwerp for Donald John Trump.”

In this image released Tuesday, June 30, 2026, a ring designed for U.S. President Donald Trump and crafted by Antwerp diamond designer David Gotlib. (David Gotlib via AP)

In dollar terms, the ring’s value pales beside gifts like the $400 million plane donated by Qatar that Trump ordered converted into a new Air Force One. But it’s a glitzy window into the role that ostentatious – and almost always gilded — gifts are playing by those seeking to curry favor with the U.S. president.

A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter, said Thursday that the ring has not been presented to Trump yet.

The ring is latest in Trump’s historic break with White House custom
The gift comes months after Belgium’s diamond industry won the removal of U.S. tariffs on diamond imports. In September, AWDC said it had “succeeded in securing a zero percent import tariff” on Antwerp’s annual export of more than $2 billion of polished diamonds to the U.S. A spokesperson for the group said on Thursday that the AWDC provided “input” to the European Commission as it negotiated with Trump on a broad deal on tariffs in 2025, but did not itself lobby the administration.

U.S. presidents have considerable discretion to accept gifts from domestic and foreign sources and may determine themselves whether a gift was meant for them personally or the nation. The exception is those from foreign governments, which are prohibited by the foreign emoluments clause of the Constitution without congressional assent, though presidents could use personal funds to reimburse the Treasury for the full value of an official gift if they wish to retain them.

Personal gifts are also supposed to be registered on the president’s annual financial disclosure. Trump’s 2025 disclosure, released this week, revealed a $250,000 gift of a sculpture depicting his triumphal gesture after surviving a 2024 assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and tickets to 10 sporting events, including 10 to the upcoming World Cup final in New Jersey from FIFA’s Gianni Infantino, valued at a collective $15,000.

Four U.S. ethics experts told The Associated Press that Trump has broken with decades-old custom in the White House to avoid accepting such gifts.

The ring’s value estimated at $25,000-$35,000
To forge the ring, the AWDC turned to David Gotlib, an Antwerp-based high-end jeweler whose cufflinks can sell for more than 15,000 euros ($17,000).

Neither AWDC nor Gotlib would provide a valuation of the ring, but two independent jewelers told AP they estimated the value between $25,000 and $35,000.

Paris- and London-based jewelry consultant Alexander Levinson calculated the cost at $25,928, while David Saad, a third-generation luxury jeweler in Canada, priced the ring between $33,000 and $35,000. Both said half the cost was in materials, half in labor.

After the ring was presented on a star-spangled stage in Brussels, musician Alexis Wilkins, the girlfriend of FBI Director Kash Patel, sang the U.S. national anthem to more than 8,000 people drinking Budweiser and bourbon from Tennessee and Kentucky.

White said he raised more than $5.5 million for the 250th anniversary event from corporate sponsors like defense industry titans Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, tech firms like Intel, Google and Meta, as well as the European chocolate companies Leonidas and Ferrero. AWDC said it contributed funds, too.

“The media was asking, ‘Why does it have to be so big?’” White said of the event. “Because we are the United States of America!”

Meanwhile, the fate of the ring is not currently clear.

On Wednesday, White posted a photo online of himself wearing the ring and giving a thumbs-up. The post has since been deleted.

Freddie Mac reported Thursday, July 2, that the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage eased to 6.43%, its lowest level in seven weeks, down from 6.49% a week earlier. The dip, published in the company’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, offers a modest bit of relief to homebuyers heading into the heart of the summer buying season, though it lands against a murky outlook for where rates go next.

Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said the decline coincides with purchase demand that has continued to edge higher, calling it an encouraging sign as prospective buyers respond to small improvements in affordability. The 15-year fixed mortgage also slipped, averaging 5.79%, down from 5.84% the prior week. A year ago, the 30-year rate averaged 6.67% and the 15-year stood at 5.80%, meaning today’s 30-year loan is cheaper than it was last summer while the 15-year is roughly flat.

It helps to understand what the number is. The Freddie Mac survey is a weekly average, built from thousands of loan applications submitted Monday through Wednesday and released each Thursday. Because it smooths results over several days, it can lag the sharper swings seen in daily rate trackers. On the same day the survey showed a seven-week low, some daily lender data pointed the other way, with Zillow-sourced figures putting the typical 30-year purchase rate closer to 6.66%, up slightly from the day before. The takeaway is that rates have been hovering in a narrow band around the mid-6% range, and the weekly average happened to catch the softer end of it.

The bigger question is direction, and here the signals conflict. The drop follows a weak June jobs report released Thursday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, which showed the economy added just 57,000 jobs, well below the roughly 113,000 expected, with the unemployment rate easing to 4.2%. Softer hiring can pull bond yields and mortgage rates lower, and it revived some hope that the Federal Reserve might hold steady or eventually cut. But the Fed has been signaling the opposite. At its June meeting, policymakers struck a hawkish tone, with a majority indicating a rate increase may still be needed later this year to fight inflation that remains well above the central bank’s 2% target, running near 4.2% in the most recent reading. Fed Chair Kevin Warsh has urged markets to watch the incoming data rather than lean on the central bank for guidance.

For the housing market, even small moves in rates matter. Every quarter-point shift changes a buyer’s monthly payment and, at the margin, decides whether some households can qualify at all. After a long stretch of thin inventory and stretched affordability, homebuilders and real-estate brokerages have been counting on steadier borrowing costs to bring hesitant buyers off the sidelines. Lower rates also tend to lift refinancing, giving existing homeowners a chance to trim payments, and can free up household cash for spending elsewhere in the economy, from furniture and appliances to home improvement.

The affordability picture remains tight even with the dip. Home prices in much of the country are still near record highs, and a rate in the mid-6% range keeps monthly costs far above where they sat during the ultra-low-rate years earlier this decade. That combination has kept many would-be sellers in place, unwilling to trade a cheap existing mortgage for a costlier new one, which in turn has limited the supply of homes for sale.

For now, buyers get a small opening. Whether it widens depends on the tug-of-war between a cooling labor market, which argues for lower rates, and stubborn inflation and a cautious Fed, which argue for higher ones. With the survey collected before the holiday weekend and the next reading due in a week, borrowers weighing a purchase or refinance face the same advice housing economists have offered all year: shop multiple lenders, since quotes can vary enough to save thousands over the life of a loan.

JBizNews Desk | McLean, Virginia

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Mir Yeshiva has issued a sharp response following widespread reports identifying the American bochur indicted on espionage charges as a talmid of the famed yeshiva, insisting that the claims are entirely false.

In a statement released Friday, the yeshiva said the accused was never enrolled as a talmid at Mir and had no connection whatsoever to the institution.

“The bochur against whom the indictment was filed was not registered as a talmid in Mir Yeshiva, never studied there, and has no connection to the yeshiva,” the statement read.

The yeshiva further criticized media outlets for continuing to associate its name with the case, saying such reports are inaccurate and mislead the public.

“Any publication or claim linking his name to Mir Yeshiva is false and does not reflect the facts,” the statement added.

The clarification came after news outlets reported that a 21-year-old American bochur studying in Yerushalayim had been indicted for allegedly carrying out assignments on behalf of Iranian operatives. According to prosecutors, the suspect allegedly photographed various locations, carried out dead-drop missions, and was asked to recruit additional yeshiva bochurim, receiving payments in cryptocurrency for the tasks.

{Matzav.com}

Lakewood and its surrounding communities are facing a problem that anyone paying attention has seen coming for years: investors are buying up affordable houses and renting them out indiscriminately, often to tenants who have no connection to the neighborhood and no investment in its character. This upsets frum and non-frum neighbors alike. It drives up prices. And it locks young frum families – the very families trying to do the responsible thing by saving up and buying a home – out of the communities they hoped to build.

We all know these investors aren’t going to listen to appeals to conscience. They’re not interested in the character of a neighborhood or the needs of a growing community. They want a return on their money, and that’s the end of the conversation. So let’s stop wasting breath trying to shame investors into caring, and instead focus on something we can actually fix: information.

Here is the piece that’s broken. Realtors work in this industry. They have access to listings the moment they go up. They know the market better than any buyer scrambling to make a decision in a matter of days. And yet, when a frum family asks a realtor the two most basic questions relevant to their home search – is there an eruv here, and how many shuls are in the area – realtors routinely cannot answer. That’s not a small gap. That’s the one piece of specialized knowledge a family actually needs from them, and it’s the one piece they don’t have.

Meanwhile, families are left to search Zillow like everyone else, guessing at which listings are even realistic options for a frum family. We don’t need someone to forward us a Zillow link. We need real data: which neighborhoods have an eruv, how many shuls or minyanim exist nearby, and as close an approximation as reasonably possible – how many frum families already live there.

I’ll explain why that last piece matters so much, because it’s the reason I’m writing this at all. I live in a small, growing community of about seventeen families. For a stretch of time, we literally had to poll each other every week: “whose home for Shabbos?”, just to make sure we’d have a minyan. We’ve stabilized since then B”H, but it’s still tight, and every single family that joins us makes a real difference. When a house in our neighborhood goes up for sale, we hold our breath hoping a frum family buys it and not an investor. But here’s the cruel irony: because we’re small, almost nobody outside the neighborhood knows we exist – despite having a genuinely lovely basement shul and a working eruv.

It gets worse. A neighbor of mine who is selling their house watched, via their Ring doorbell, a frum realtor tell a prospective frum buyer standing on the porch: “There are five frum families here.” Five. Not seventeen. Just wrong, and wrong in exactly the direction that sends a family walking away. That family will conclude the neighborhood can’t support them, and the house will end up right back in an investor’s hands, who will then look around and say, “Well, no family wanted it, what am I doing wrong?” Meanwhile the realtor who fed that family bad information moves on to the next listing, no worse for it.

So to every realtor who markets themselves as the “friendliest” agent in town, who claims to genuinely want to help buyers find the right home, I’d ask directly: what are you actually doing with the market knowledge you claim to have? While the buyer may not be a paying client, you make your living selling houses. Doesn’t it serve your own interest, not just ours, to have accurate data on who’s buying where, so you can match buyers to homes that will actually work for them and close deals faster?

Here’s a concrete idea. Someone (maybe it needs to be me) should build a simple, public database. It doesn’t need to compromise anyone’s privacy. We don’t need addresses or names. We just need basics: this neighborhood has an eruv, this neighborhood has a shul, this neighborhood has an approximate number of frum families. Even communities with basement shuls that prefer to keep the exact location of the shul private can still be represented honestly: “this general area has a shul and roughly X families,” without pinpointing anyone’s home.

This isn’t a call to stop investors from being investors, that ship had sadly sailed. It’s a call for realtors – who are already positioned, already paid, and already claim to want to help – to start doing the one part of their job that actually requires local knowledge. And it’s a call to our own communities to start building the information infrastructure ourselves, so that small, growing neighborhoods like mine don’t stay invisible simply because nobody bothered to write down that we’re here.

If anyone has any ideas or has started working on a database like this, feel free to reach out via the Lakewood Scoop.

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

Amazon is accelerating the global rollout of its Project Kuiper satellite internet network, expanding its challenge to SpaceX’s Starlink as the battle to provide high-speed broadband from space enters a new phase. The company said it is preparing additional satellite launches and expanding ground infrastructure as it works toward building a constellation capable of serving consumers, businesses and governments worldwide.

Project Kuiper is Amazon’s multibillion-dollar effort to deploy more than 3,200 low-Earth orbit satellites, creating a global broadband network designed to bring high-speed internet to underserved and remote communities. The initiative represents one of Amazon’s largest long-term infrastructure investments outside its core retail and cloud-computing businesses.

The company has already begun launching operational satellites and says customer service will expand as more spacecraft are placed into orbit. Amazon plans to use multiple launch providers—including United Launch Alliance (ULA), Blue Origin, Arianespace, and SpaceX—to rapidly build out the constellation over the coming years.

The race is being driven by surging global demand for reliable broadband connectivity. Low-Earth orbit satellite systems offer significantly lower latency than traditional satellite internet, making them attractive not only for rural households but also for airlines, shipping companies, emergency responders, energy producers and governments seeking resilient communications infrastructure.

Amazon is entering a market currently dominated by SpaceX’s Starlink, which has already deployed thousands of satellites and serves customers across dozens of countries. Starlink has become an increasingly important communications platform for businesses, consumers and government agencies, particularly in areas where traditional fiber or wireless networks remain unavailable.

Amazon believes its extensive cloud infrastructure through Amazon Web Services (AWS) provides a competitive advantage. Company executives have said Kuiper customers will benefit from direct integration with AWS, allowing businesses to combine satellite connectivity with cloud computing, artificial intelligence, data storage and enterprise applications.

Industry analysts estimate the global satellite broadband market could generate tens of billions of dollars annually over the next decade as demand for always-on connectivity continues to grow. Competition is also expected to intensify as governments increasingly view satellite communications as critical infrastructure for economic development and national security.

Building a global satellite network, however, requires enormous capital investment. Beyond manufacturing thousands of satellites, operators must finance repeated rocket launches, construct worldwide ground stations and continually replace satellites as they reach the end of their operational lives.

Amazon has committed billions of dollars to Project Kuiper, viewing the initiative as a long-term growth opportunity that complements its broader technology ecosystem. The company has also introduced customer terminals designed to provide affordable internet access for homes, businesses and public institutions.

For investors, Project Kuiper represents another example of Amazon using its financial scale to enter a market with substantial long-term potential, even if profitability remains years away. While the division is unlikely to materially affect near-term earnings, analysts believe satellite broadband could eventually become another major business alongside Amazon’s retail, logistics, advertising and cloud operations.

As launches continue and customer deployments expand, the competition between Project Kuiper and Starlink is expected to reshape the global broadband market, bringing faster internet access to millions of people while opening new opportunities for enterprise communications around the world.

JBizNews Desk | Seattle

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After weeks of heartfelt tefillos throughout the Torah world, uplifting news arrived Friday from Hadassah Medical Center: Rav Avraham Yehoshua Soloveitchik, rosh yeshiva of Brisk, has been discharged from the hospital following a significant improvement in his condition.

The revered rosh yeshiva, whose hospitalization prompted an outpouring of tefillah across yeshivos and kehillos around the world, is now recovering at home after doctors determined that his condition had improved sufficiently to allow his release from the hospital.

During the rosh yeshiva‘s illness, special Tehillim gatherings and tefillah vigils were held in numerous communities, with thousands of bnei Torah fervently davening for his complete recovery.

Although his condition has, b’chasdei Hashem, improved dramatically, the public is continuing to daven for his complete refuah.

Klal Yisroel is asked to continue davening for Rav Avraham Yehoshua ben Ettil.

{Matzav.com}

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President Donald Trump defended his financial holdings Thursday, insisting that he has no direct role in managing his investments while serving in office and saying his sons oversee his business interests. Responding to questions about the billions of dollars disclosed in his latest financial report—including more than $1 billion in cryptocurrency holdings—Trump said he was unaware of the investments and rejected suggestions that they posed a conflict of interest.

Speaking during a CNBC interview from the Oval Office, Trump emphasized that building wealth has long been part of his professional career.

“I’ve always made money,” he said. “I’m a business person. I’m a really good business person. I made money. I made a tremendous amount of money.”

Trump said his personal investments are managed by others and that he is not involved in the day-to-day decisions.

“I let people invest it. I don’t even speak to – I don’t even know who they are,” he said. “My son Eric handles it. I don’t talk to him about things such as this.”

He explained that his assets are placed with major investment firms that manage them through what he described as “semi-blind trusts or blind trusts.” Although he did not identify the firms involved, Trump suggested that part of the increase in his wealth was attributable to the strong performance of the stock market.

His comments came after his latest financial disclosure revealed approximately $1.2 billion in income tied to various cryptocurrency investments over the past year. During the interview, Trump maintained that he was unaware of those specific holdings.

He added that even if he had known about the investments, no law would have prohibited him from continuing to carry out his presidential duties, noting that presidents and vice presidents are not legally required to step aside from policy decisions that could affect their personal financial interests.

“I didn’t. There’s nothing illegal with that. I could know,” he said, pointing out there is no legal requirement “to recuse yourself on every decision running the country that could have anything to do with you. It just isn’t feasible to do it.”

Trump also reflected on the business career he built before entering public office, noting that his wealth was accumulated through decades in real estate, casinos, and television, including his long-running role on NBC’s The Apprentice.

He also noted that he does not accept the presidential salary.

“This is the Oval Office,” he added. “It’s a much bigger purpose than whether or not I make money. As an example, the president’s the highest paid person in government, and you know, by some standards it gets a lot of money. … I gave up my salary. I don’t get a salary.”

The salary for the president of the United States is $400,000 per year.

Trump noted that the Trump Organization had been operating long before he entered politics, with his children—Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump—playing significant roles in the business. Although Ivanka has since stepped away from the company, Trump argued that his family’s long-standing business activities make it impossible to completely separate them from public scrutiny.

“Almost anything my kids do — if they buy a truck — they have inside information,” he said, arguing that his children are being unfairly criticized simply for continuing their professional careers while he serves as president.

“I feel badly in a way for my kids,” he said, adding that “anything they do, because the presidency is so powerful … if they buy a cupcake company, well, the energy to make the cupcakes, is you know, sort of like, how’s my energy policy?”

“So it’s pretty tough in that sense. I tell my kids, ‘stay away,’” Trump said. “But they also have a life. You know, they were doing business long before I ever thought of … running for president.”

Asked specifically whether his cryptocurrency holdings created a conflict of interest, Trump dismissed the concern and instead framed digital assets as an area of strategic competition with China.

“The way I view crypto is a little differently. We have to be at the top, otherwise China is going to take it over,” he said.

Since returning to office, Trump has aggressively promoted cryptocurrency, calling for the United States to become the world’s “crypto capital.” His administration has pursued policies aimed at reducing regulatory barriers, establishing a national Bitcoin reserve, and encouraging the growth of a dollar-backed stablecoin market.

{Matzav.com}

As Americans gear up to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, many major retailers and restaurants will stay open, close or operate with reduced hours on July 4.

Big-box and grocery stores, including Sam’s Club and Kroger, and several restaurants, including Olive Garden and Taco Bell, will stay open on the holiday. Other chains, including McDonald’s and Whole Foods, will remain open with adjusted operating hours.

Take a look at which major U.S. retailers will stay open for last-minute shopping runs, and which ones will stay closed:

The warehouse chain will be closed for the July 4 holiday, according to their official website.

Target stores are open during regular hours, but customers are encouraged to check with their local store to confirm hours, the company said in a statement.

Walmart stores are open with normal operating hours, the company told FOX Business.

Kroger stores will be open, but pharmacy and clinic hours may vary, according to the chain’s website.

The Costco competitor, Sam’s Club, will be open with normal operating hours, a spokesperson told FOX Business.

Whole Foods will be open, but close early, according to a statement provided to FOX Business.

“On July 4th, most Whole Foods Market stores will open at their regular time and close early, at 6:00 p.m., with a few exceptions,” the statement read.

All Trader Joe’s locations will be open until 5 p.m. local time, according to the company’s website.

Dollar General will be open during their regular hours, which may vary by location, the company said in a statement.

All Kohl’s stores will be open from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. local time, but store hours may vary by location, according to a statement provided by the company.

Macy’s stores will remain open on July 3 and 4, but hours may vary by location, according to a statement provided by the company.

Home Depot will be open and close at 8 p.m. local time, according to the company’s website.

CVS locations will be open, though some locations will operate at reduced hours, according to the company’s website.

CVS is also partnering with America250 to play a role during celebrations in major cities like New York, Los Angeles and Boston, while maintaining a presence during parades and block parities in smaller markets.

Walgreens stores will operate under their regular business hours, according to a statement on the company’s website.

“Unlike previous years – when stores remained open, but most pharmacies were closed – Walgreens will keep more than 4,000 pharmacy locations open,” the company said. “This expanded availability enhances timely access to prescriptions, over-the-counter treatments, and onsite pharmacist support when patients need it most.” 

Burger King hours will vary by franchise location, according to a statement provided to FOX Business. The company encourages guests to confirm their location’s hours in person, online or through the Burger King app.

U.S. Chick-fil-A restaurants are open on July 4, according to the company’s official website.

Most U.S. Chipotle locations will close at 3 p.m. local time, according to a statement provided to FOX Business.

Dunkin’ will keep America running on the 4th as stores will be open during normal operating hours, according to a statement the coffee chain provided to FOX Business.

KFC encourages customers to check with their local locations for updated hours, according to a KFC spokesperson.

Most McDonald’s locations are open on U.S. holidays, but hours may vary by location, according to a statement provided to FOX Business.

Popeyes locations are expected to be open, the company told FOX Business. 

“Since restaurant hours are set at the local level, guests should check the Popeyes Restaurant Locator at Popeyes.com or their preferred delivery platform for the most up-to-date hours before visiting,” Popeyes said.

Starbucks hours may vary by location, and the coffeehouse chain encourages customers to check with their local store for updated hours, a spokesperson for the company said.

“Coffeehouse hours vary by location, and they may occasionally adjust their hours based on business and customer needs,” the statement said. “The Starbucks app continues to be the best way for customers to find a coffeehouse, check hours, order ahead and pay.”

Taco Bell will remain open on the Fourth of July, according to the company’s website.

Many Wendy’s locations will be open, but the company encourages customers to check with their local restaurant as hours may vary by location, according to a statement provided by the company.

Some Applebee’s locations will be open, though customers are encouraged to check with their local franchise for hours, the company said in a statement to FOX Business.

“Select Applebee’s restaurants nationwide will be open on July 4th, although hours may vary. Please contact your local Applebee’s for specific information on holiday hours as each restaurant is independently owned and operated and hours vary by location,” the company’s statement read.

Olive Garden restaurants will be fully open with no change in operating hours,a spokesperson for the chain’s parent company, Darden, said in a statement.

FedEx locations will be closed on July 4, according to the company’s website.

UPS locations will be closed on July 4, according to the company’s website.

USPS locations will be closed on July 4, according to the official Postal Service website.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is launching a major effort to boost domestic fertilizer production, announcing $500 million in new funding to help build and expand fertilizer manufacturing plants across the United States.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins unveiled the initiative Wednesday, saying the program is designed to strengthen America’s fertilizer supply chain, reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, and help lower one of farmers’ biggest operating expenses.

The new initiative, known as the Fertilizer Investment and Expansion for Long-Term Domestic Supply (FIELDS) program, will provide grants ranging from $15 million to $150 million for projects that expand U.S. fertilizer production capacity. Companies receiving awards must provide matching funds, with financing coming through the Commodity Credit Corporation. Applications will remain open for 45 days.

The announcement comes after years of volatility in fertilizer prices.

Global fertilizer costs surged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and climbed again during recent Middle East conflicts that disrupted energy markets and international shipping. Since fertilizer production depends heavily on natural gas and other energy inputs, higher fuel prices quickly translate into higher costs for farmers.

Those higher costs eventually reach consumers.

Fertilizer is one of the largest expenses involved in producing corn, wheat, soybeans, fruits, and vegetables. It also affects livestock producers because grain is a major component of animal feed. When fertilizer becomes more expensive, food production costs rise throughout the agricultural supply chain, ultimately contributing to higher grocery prices.

Rollins said the new program is intended to accelerate construction of facilities that can produce fertilizer domestically rather than relying on imported supplies.

She contrasted the new initiative with a previous USDA fertilizer program, saying earlier efforts funded numerous projects but resulted in relatively few completed facilities. The new program, she said, will place greater emphasis on projects that are financially sound, construction-ready, and capable of bringing additional production online quickly.

Federal officials say applications will be evaluated based on project readiness, financing, market demand, execution capability, and measurable benefits for American agriculture.

The initiative also reflects a broader shift in U.S. industrial policy.

In recent years, Washington has increasingly treated products such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and agricultural inputs as strategic industries that deserve domestic investment. Policymakers argue that relying too heavily on foreign suppliers leaves the country vulnerable during wars, trade disputes, and other global disruptions.

Alongside the fertilizer announcement, the Environmental Protection Agency introduced a separate challenge program offering up to $30 million in prize funding to encourage development of alternatives to traditional chemical crop desiccation methods used before harvest.

For farmers, however, the immediate focus remains fertilizer affordability.

Building new production facilities will take time, and the matching-fund requirement means private companies must commit substantial capital alongside the federal investment. Even under an accelerated timetable, new plants are unlikely to begin producing fertilizer overnight.

Still, agricultural organizations welcomed the announcement as a step toward improving long-term supply security and increasing competition within the domestic fertilizer market.

For consumers, the program represents an investment aimed at stabilizing food production costs over the coming years. While it will not immediately lower grocery prices, increasing domestic fertilizer production could reduce future price spikes caused by overseas conflicts or supply disruptions.

The success of the initiative will ultimately depend on how quickly projects move from applications to construction and eventually into commercial production. If successful, the program could help strengthen one of the most important links in America’s food supply chain while reducing dependence on imported fertilizer for years to come.

JBizNews Desk
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As his campaign struggles to gain momentum in recent polls, Naftali Bennett has taken another step in preparing for Israel’s upcoming election by formally requesting approval to change the official name of his political party.

The request was submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties at the Justice Ministry by Bruria Naim Arman, the party’s director-general and a member of its executive leadership. The filing seeks to update the official registration of Bennett’s political platform to reflect its new campaign branding.

According to the application, the party has until now been officially registered as “Bennett 2026.” Bennett’s team is asking that the name be changed to “Together Led by Bennett – Restoring Hope.”

The move follows Bennett’s announcement that he will run under the “Together” banner alongside Opposition Leader and Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid.

The name change is a procedural step required under Israel’s Political Parties Law. Existing parties seeking to adopt a new official name must submit supporting documentation demonstrating that the decision was properly approved through the party’s internal governing bodies.

Using an already registered political party—commonly referred to in Israeli politics as a “shelf party”—is a widely accepted practice. Rather than establishing a new party from scratch, politicians often acquire or utilize an existing registered entity, allowing them to avoid the lengthy legal process involved in creating a new party. Updating the official name is one of the final bureaucratic steps before campaigning under a new political brand.

The filing comes as Bennett continues to lose ground in public opinion surveys. In most recent polls, his party has fallen behind the political faction led by Gadi Eisenkot, which now outpaces Bennett’s list in the majority of surveys.

Earlier this week, political strategist and campaign consultant Nevo Cohen suggested during an interview on the Galei Israel Radio program Pitachi V’Zimri Ba’am that Bennett could ultimately decide to withdraw from the race altogether.

“The likely scenario is that we’ll continue to see Bennett and Lapid collapse, and then the discussion will begin about when they fall into the single digits,” Cohen said, describing what he viewed as an increasingly difficult political outlook for the two leaders.

He went on to argue that their current standing is already weaker than many realize.

“By the way, they’re already in the single digits. Each one of them separately is already in the single digits.”

Program host Yotam Zimri observed that the trend appeared especially troubling for Bennett, noting, “This is Bennett’s decline, because Lapid was already in the single digits.”

Cohen agreed and predicted that the political and media pressure on both leaders would continue to intensify.

“That’s true,” Cohen replied. “Over the next two weeks, people will begin talking about when the two of them together reach the single digits.”

His assessment was based on a series of recently published polls showing continued erosion in support for Bennett and Lapid’s “Together” alliance, while support for Eisenkot’s party has continued to rise.

{Matzav.com}

Traffic on the Garden State Parkway has been extremely heavy so far today, with significant delays reported in multiple areas.

The body of Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was laid in state at Tehran’s Grand Mosalla Mosque on Friday, July 3, opening six days of ceremonies that Iranian officials are portraying as a demonstration of national resolve following the recent war with the United States and Israel. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf described the funeral as a renewal of the nation’s commitment to the ideals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, calling on supporters to continue what he described as Iran’s path of resistance.

Iranian authorities said Khamenei, 86, was killed alongside several members of his family during a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on his compound on February 28, the opening day of the conflict.

State television broadcast images from inside the mosque showing five flag-draped caskets arranged before mourners. Iranian officials said one of the smaller coffins held Khamenei’s one-year-old granddaughter, who they say also died in the strike. Authorities estimate that as many as 20 million people could attend the funeral processions beginning Saturday, potentially exceeding the estimated 10 million who gathered for the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.

Several foreign delegations arrived in Tehran to pay their respects, including Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, and He Wei, vice chairman of China’s National People’s Congress. Officials from Pakistan, Iraq, India, Turkey and several other countries also attended, underscoring Iran’s continued diplomatic relationships despite months of conflict and international pressure.

Questions remain over the public role of Mojtaba Khamenei, the late supreme leader’s son and designated successor. Iranian officials have said he was injured in the February strike and has not appeared publicly since, communicating only through occasional written statements. His absence has fueled speculation among diplomats and investors over how Iran’s next leadership chapter will unfold.

The funeral comes as Washington has begun easing some economic restrictions on Iran following a diplomatic framework reached last month. Under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed June 17 by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, the United States agreed to temporarily ease sanctions on Iranian oil exports, release certain frozen Iranian assets as negotiations continue, support reconstruction planning, and reopen commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

On June 22, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a temporary license allowing Iranian crude exports through August 21, 2026, while negotiations continue.

The agreement leaves several of the most contentious issues unresolved, including Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, its ballistic missile program, and support for regional proxy groups. On July 1, Ghalibaf reiterated that international inspectors would not be permitted to enter bomb-damaged nuclear facilities.

Some analysts believe the conflict has reinforced the Iranian leadership’s belief that its confrontational strategy succeeded. Narges Bajoghli, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, said the government’s survival following months of military confrontation has strengthened support among some Iranians for its long-standing policy of resistance.

For global markets, the greatest concern remains the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.

Iranian officials have indicated they are considering imposing transit fees on commercial shipping beginning in mid-August. U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has urged Tehran to abandon the proposal during indirect negotiations mediated by Qatar and Pakistan. Meanwhile, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command warned this week that vessels failing to follow approved transit routes could face military action.

Oil markets have remained relatively calm despite the uncertainty. On Friday, Brent crude traded near $71.76 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate hovered around $68.41, reflecting investor expectations that the ceasefire will continue to hold.

Even so, higher energy costs continue to affect consumers, with U.S. gasoline prices remaining significantly above year-ago levels following months of disruption across Middle Eastern shipping routes.

Speaking Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Michael Waltz warned that President Trump’s patience “is not unlimited,” accusing Tehran of threatening global commerce through repeated disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Formal negotiations are expected to pause during the funeral period before resuming later this month. Iran has announced that Khamenei’s body will travel to Qom, followed by Najaf and Karbala in Iraq, before his burial in Mashhad on July 9.

As diplomatic talks resume and the deadline for Iran’s proposed Hormuz transit policy approaches, governments and financial markets alike will be watching whether the ceasefire evolves into a lasting agreement—or another period of renewed confrontation.

JBizNews Desk | Tehran

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The Yenuka delivered an emotional message about the ongoing arrests of bnei yeshivah during a recent meeting with a group of avreichim from the Old Yishuv community in Beit Shemesh, drawing parallels to historic decrees against Torah scholars and urging greater unity and respect within the Torah world as the proper response to the current crisis.

The discussion took place after the group visited the Yenuka to present him with a copy of a sefer they had published. During the meeting, the avreichim asked him to address the growing controversy surrounding the drafting of bnei yeshivah and the difficult situation confronting many lomdei Torah.

Video from the gathering shows the Yenuka speaking with visible pain about recent events. One of the avreichim told him, “In Beit Shemesh alone, we’ve heard of 16 avreichim sitting in prison. What can be done?”

In response, the Yenuka compared today’s efforts to draft bnei yeshivah and restrict the Torah world to earlier attempts by foreign governments, including the forced conscription of yeshivah students into the Russian army.

He cited the teaching of the Vilna Gaon, who explained that the Cantonist decrees came about because of lashon hara and the bizui of talmidei chachamim and lomdei Torah.

The Yenuka then quoted numerous Torah sources that, he said, point to the same underlying cause for decrees against Torah scholars throughout Jewish history. He stressed that especially during a period when the Torah world is under such intense pressure, Jews must avoid internal disputes and divisions.

Instead, he said, the proper response to the current challenges is to strengthen ahavas Yisroel, promote unity, and ensure that the honor of those who dedicate themselves to Torah learning is protected.

During the conversation, the Yenuka also referred to a well-known account involving Rav Amram Blau zt”l, who warned that the struggle with the Zionist movement was not merely ideological and could ultimately lead to bloodshed.

The avreichim noted that they had received a different version of the story through their own tradition. The Yenuka responded that there are, in fact, two different versions of the incident.

{Matzav.com}

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has berated and belittled many of his European counterparts expected to attend next week’s NATO summit in Turkey. But host Recep Tayyip Erdogan has drawn on his close ties with the U.S. leader to secure his presence at the Ankara event — an appearance that may even come with a significant gift related to Turkish defense.

Trump has frequently praised Erdogan, calling him a “hell of a leader” and a good friend. “I would not have gone for most people,” Trump said last week. “But he called me up. He said: ‘Please, I have it in Turkey. You got to be there. The United States has to be in there.’ And so I’m going out of respect to President Erdogan.”

Leveraging that respect has helped Erdogan avoid the disarray that Trump’s absence would cause the alliance, particularly at a time when the Republican president has been repeatedly threatening to pull U.S. forces from Europe and scale back America’s role in NATO, unsettling allies. Trump has long rebuked other NATO countries over their defense spending and he claimed last year’s pledge to collectively boost it as a major personal win. More recently, he has clashed with alliance members for failing to back his war against Iran.

But Trump has sweetened the deal for Erdogan by also hinting that he could make news during his visit related to jet engines and the potential sale of F-35 fighter jets barred for years because of Turkey’s closeness with Moscow.

Trump’s affinity for strongmen leaders has long made him an admirer of Erdogan, who amassed power in Turkey first as its prime minister and now in his 13th year as president.

“His relationship with Erdogan, which is pretty strong, is consistent with what seems to be a pattern of his preference,” said Philip Gordon, who served as national security adviser for Vice President Kamala Harris. “It has often been pointed out he seems to have better relationships with adversaries and autocrats, and he certainly says nicer things about them than with allies.”

Gordon, now at the Brookings Institution, added, “Erdogan is taking full advantage of it.”

Erdogan snubbed Biden but bets on Trump
Trump, who is expected to have a bilateral meeting with Erdogan on the sidelines of the NATO summit, will be the first U.S. president to visit Turkey since Democrat Barack Obama in 2015. By contrast, Democratic President Joe Biden kept Erdogan at arm’s length over Turkey’s democratic backsliding and close ties to Russia.

Opposition parties and human rights organizations have accused Erdogan of undermining democracy and curbing freedom of expression. They say baseless investigations and prosecutions of human rights activists, journalists, opposition politicians and others remain a persistent problem in Turkey.

Soner Cagaptay of the Washington Institute said Erdogan and Trump “clicked” personally during Trump’s first term. When Biden extended an invitation in 2024 for Erdogan to visit the U.S. after Turkey endorsed Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership, Erdogan decided not to go.

“That was Erdogan’s way of signaling to Trump, ‘Hey, you are going to probably win the elections,’” Cagaptay said. “I think Trump saw that as a giant gesture.”

Trump signals steps toward jet sales for Turkey
During a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte last week, a reporter asked Trump whether he was taking “a big gift bag for Erdogan” on the trip, noting that Ankara wants F-110 jet engines and F-35 fighter jets.

“Yeah, I think so,” Trump responded. “Yeah, I’m going to probably do something that’s going to make him very happy.” Trump had also suggested September that the U.S. could soon start selling F-35s to Turkey.

Turkey was barred from the program in 2019, after it purchased Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems. U.S. officials have feared that Turkey’s use of the Russian system could enable Moscow to gather information on the F-35’s capabilities.

At the Oval Office meeting, Vice President JD Vance said Washington was exploring ways to sell Turkey the jets, emphasizing that any sale would ensure Turkey has complied with U.S. law. There is significant bipartisan opposition on Capitol Hill, including from influential Republicans such as Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, to selling the F-35s to Turkey as long as Ankara is in possession of the Russian missile defense systems.

Meanwhile, the F-110 jet engines that Turkey is seeking to purchase would power its domestically produced KAAN fighter jets. The State Department last week took a step toward making those sales, sending key lawmakers a notice that it planned to bypass congressional opposition to more than $700 million of the jet engine sales to Ankara, according to two people granted anonymity to discuss details of a nonpublic notification.

“In this case, the State Department did not even attempt to justify its decision,” New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement last week. “It did not invoke any emergency authority, did not present a written rationale, and for months refused to make a good-faith effort to brief me on implications of the sale for the U.S.-Turkey relationship, Turkey’s continued possession of the Russian S-400 system, and other regional security concerns.”

The relationship between the U.S. and Turkey is thawing in other ways, too. Earlier this year, Trump’s Department of Justice dropped a major case against Turkey’s state‑owned Halkbank, which had been accused of helping Iran evade U.S. sanctions.

Erdogan lauds Trump’s friendship and phone calls
When he returned to the White House for his second term, Trump appointed a close friend as ambassador to Turkey: Tom Barrack, a longtime ally who also served as the chairman of his inaugural committee. “Barrack is playing a crucial role as a facilitator in the relationship,” said Ahmet Kasim Han, a professor of international relations at Ankara’s TED University.

Erdogan and Trump have frequently held telephone calls to discuss Syria, Gaza and the wider Middle East, and Turkey joined Trump’s Board of Peace aimed at overseeing the ceasefire in Gaza. Trump claimed this month that he asked Erdogan to stay out of the war in Iran and that the Turkish leader complied, though there is no indication that Turkey had ever intended to get involved.

Trump expressed admiration for Erdogan even while standing beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a joint news conference last year. Netanyahu, whose government is at odds with Ankara, had hoped to win Trump’s support for pushing back on Turkish influence in Syria, but instead found himself watching as Trump showered praises on Erdogan and urged Netanyahu to be “reasonable.”

Last year, after meeting with Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague, Erdogan told reporters that the U.S. president is quick to return his calls, an anecdote that illustrated their close ties.

“With my friend Trump, we are opening the door to a new era in Turkish‑American relations,” Erdogan said. “The process of telephone diplomacy between us has never exceeded 24 hours so far. When we call, the other side responds within 24 hours.”

Rivian Automotive reported Thursday from its headquarters in Irvine, California, that it delivered 12,194 electric vehicles during the second quarter while producing 12,613 vehicles at its manufacturing plant in Normal, Illinois, outperforming both its own guidance and Wall Street expectations. The stronger-than-expected performance prompted the company to raise its full-year 2026 delivery outlook, sending Rivian shares up as much as 13% in Thursday trading and giving investors fresh optimism that the electric vehicle maker may finally be gaining momentum after a prolonged period of slowing demand and heavy losses.

The company said second-quarter deliveries exceeded its previously issued guidance of 9,000 to 11,000 vehicles, while also surpassing analyst estimates that generally ranged between 10,500 and 11,000 vehicles. Encouraged by the stronger quarter and its production schedule for the remainder of the year, Rivian increased its expected 2026 deliveries to between 65,000 and 70,000 vehicles, compared with its earlier forecast of 62,000 to 67,000. The revised guidance raises the midpoint of Rivian’s annual outlook by roughly 3,500 vehicles, representing an increase of approximately 5.5%.

The results mark an important milestone for Rivian, whose stock has struggled over the past year as investors questioned whether demand for premium-priced electric vehicles could remain strong in an environment of higher interest rates, increased competition and slowing consumer spending. Prior to Thursday’s rally, Rivian shares had fallen nearly 13% over recent months as concerns mounted over the pace of EV adoption across the broader industry.

Company executives attributed the improved performance to steady demand across several product lines, including Rivian’s R1T electric pickup, R1S sport utility vehicle, and its Electric Delivery Van, originally developed for Amazon, one of Rivian’s largest investors and commercial customers. The company also began customer deliveries of its long-awaited R2 SUV during June, a launch viewed by analysts as one of the most important milestones in Rivian’s history.

The R2 is expected to play a central role in Rivian’s long-term growth strategy. With an introductory starting price of $57,990, the new model is designed to appeal to a broader range of consumers than the company’s larger and more expensive R1 lineup. Lower-priced versions are expected to follow in the coming years, potentially allowing Rivian to compete more directly with mass-market electric vehicles while expanding its customer base beyond early adopters and luxury buyers.

Chief Financial Officer Claire McDonough has previously indicated the company expects to deliver between 20,000 and 25,000 R2 vehicles during the year. Production began at Rivian’s Illinois manufacturing facility in April, with customer deliveries commencing in June. To reach the midpoint of its newly increased annual guidance, Rivian would need to deliver roughly 45,000 additional vehicles during the second half of the year.

Beyond vehicle sales, Rivian is also positioning itself for future growth through autonomous driving technology. The company recently announced that Uber plans to invest up to $1.25 billion as part of a partnership to deploy robotaxis based on Rivian’s R2 platform. Initial deployment is expected to begin in 2028, with plans eventually calling for between 10,000 and 50,000 autonomous vehicles over the following years. The agreement gives Rivian another potential revenue stream beyond traditional vehicle manufacturing as the race to commercialize autonomous transportation accelerates.

The announcement came during a busy day for the electric vehicle industry. Tesla reported quarterly deliveries of 480,126 vehicles, beating expectations even as investors sent its shares lower on concerns over profitability. At the same time, Lucid Group reported weaker-than-expected results and announced a leadership restructuring under new Chief Executive Officer Silvio Napoli, underscoring the widening gap between companies gaining momentum and those still struggling to establish sustainable growth.

For Rivian, Thursday’s report represents one of its strongest operational updates in recent quarters and suggests management’s production plans are beginning to translate into improved sales performance. Still, investors remain focused on whether the company can narrow losses, improve margins and generate positive cash flow as it scales production.

Those questions may begin to receive answers when Rivian reports its full second-quarter financial results on July 30, when investors will receive updated information on profitability, operating expenses, cash reserves and the company’s progress toward becoming a financially sustainable automaker.

While challenges remain across the electric vehicle industry, Rivian’s stronger deliveries, higher guidance and successful launch of the R2 provide the clearest indication yet that the company may be entering a more stable phase of growth.

JBizNews Desk | Irvine, California

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

John Vithoulkas, the County Manager in Virginia’s Henrico County, is asking county employees to cut back on power usage as electricity rates soar 25% across Virginia, the state with by far the most data centers. 

In a June 26 email sent out to all county employees and obtained by the Henrico Citizen, Vithoulkas asked employees to adjust individual habits as electricity rates increased by 25% and noted that prices were likely to shoot up even higher.

“Beginning July 1st, the rate we pay for electricity used in all Henrico County government and school facilities will increase dramatically — by 25%, increasing costs by an estimated $5 million next fiscal year. We anticipate more rate increases for electricity in the years ahead,” Vithoulkas wrote.

Vithoulkas laid out a number of steps that employees should take to reduce their power usage, including turning off lights when leaving work, shutting down computers, pulling blinds closed and unplugging chargers.

He compared the electric austerity request to the county’s efforts to cut back during the late 2000s Great Recession. 

“Those of you who have been here long enough will recall the many cost-saving measures we implemented to help navigate the Great Recession more than 15 years ago. We are seeing this same innovation and creativity as each department seeks ways to reduce expenses by 3% in next fiscal year’s budget,” Vithoulkas wrote.

Henrico County, home to Virginia’s capital, Richmond, is a member of the Virginia Energy Purchasing Governmental Association (VEPGA). The 25% price increase, the Henrico Citizen reported, applies to all counties that are members of VEGPA, which includes the majority of Virginia municipalities north of Richmond.

Virginia is by far the state with the most data centers in the U.S., the vast majority of which reside in the northern and central regions of the state. 

Northern Virginia dominates, with more than a quarter of U.S. data centers and 13% of the world’s, according to Virginia’s Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission (JLARC). But with the north near capacity, central Virginia areas like Richmond are increasingly absorbing new builds and rapidly becoming a hub for new facilities, JLARC notes. 

While Vithoulkas did not specifically cite Virginia’s explosion of data center construction in recent years as a factor in energy increases, JLARC’s 2023 data center assessment concluded that “the data center industry boom in Virginia has substantially driven up energy demand in the state,” adding that “data centers’ increased energy demand will likely increase system costs for all customers, including non-data center customers.” 

FOX Business contacted Vithoulkas and Henrico County for comment.

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Two unusual incidents occurred Thursday evening in Bnei Brak, both ending without injuries b’chasdei Shamayim. A partially renovated residential building collapsed, prompting an emergency response, while in a separate incident, a private vehicle rolled out of a parking area and fell onto the roadway below.

Rescue and firefighting crews from the Bnei Brak station were dispatched to Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev Street after receiving reports that part of a building had collapsed. Authorities said a section of the first floor of a three-story building that was undergoing renovations gave way.

Firefighters immediately began extensive searches to ensure that no one had been trapped beneath the debris. At the same time, crews secured the scene and took steps to prevent additional hazards to nearby residents and pedestrians.

Following an inspection, the city’s chief engineer declared the structure unsafe for occupancy.

Later that evening, emergency responders were called to another incident on Abarbanel Street in the Kiryat Herzog neighborhood after a private vehicle apparently rolled out of a parking space and plunged onto the street below, reportedly after the driver lost control.

The father and daughter who were inside the vehicle at the time escaped unharmed, and no injuries were reported in the incident.

{Matzav.com}

Dangerous heat continues today, with heat index values expected to reach *110-115°*—even higher than yesterday. This level of heat can be deadly without proper cooling and hydration.

Temperatures are already in the upper 80s and low 90s this morning, with triple-digit highs expected again in some areas. Con Edison is urging customers to conserve electricity as crews repair heat-related equipment failures, and train service could be impacted by the extreme temperatures.

The Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect through today. While temperatures will ease slightly over the holiday weekend, highs will still reach the mid-90s on July 4. Scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms could disrupt outdoor celebrations and fireworks.

A more significant cooldown arrives Sunday into next week, with widespread showers and thunderstorms expected. By Tuesday, highs may not reach 80 degrees.

Stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during peak heat, and check on elderly neighbors, young children, and pets.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

SURFSIDE, FL (VINnews) – Surfside Mayor Shlomo Danzinger said residents were so frightened by vibrations from overnight construction near the Marbella Condominium that some refused to return to their homes, prompting the town to suspend all vibration-generating work until engineers determine the building is safe.

The incident occurred Wednesday night at the Marbella Condominium, 9341 Collins Ave., where residents reported feeling repeated vibrations from construction on nearby Collins Avenue. Danzinger said he arrived at the scene around 11:25 p.m. and found residents gathered outside, with some packing belongings to spend the night elsewhere.

“I felt the vibrations myself,” Danzinger said in a community update, adding that the residents’ concerns were justified given Surfside’s history.

Because the project is being conducted under a permit from the Florida Department of Transportation on a state road, Danzinger said he immediately contacted Fabian Basabe, who worked directly with transportation officials.

The mayor said he ordered contractors to change the method used to install the remaining shoring walls to eliminate additional vibrations and confirmed that no further shoring work continued that night.

On Thursday, town officials reviewed the project’s approved plans, suspended all vibration-producing work and required the developer to hire an independent structural engineer to inspect the Marbella before construction can resume. The town also directed the condominium’s own engineer to inspect the building and certify in writing that it remains structurally safe.

Construction will remain on hold until both engineering reports are completed and reviewed by the town. Officials allowed workers only to backfill the trench with dirt and asphalt so steel plates could be removed from the roadway.

Danzinger said the town will independently verify that no additional vibration-generating work is necessary and ensure any remaining construction follows standard safety practices without disrupting neighboring buildings. FDOT has agreed to support the town’s safety requirements, he said.

The incident heightened anxiety because the Marbella is located just blocks from the site of the Champlain Towers South collapse, where 98 people were killed in June 2021. Memories of that disaster have left many Surfside residents especially sensitive to any unusual building movement.

Danzinger thanked Basabe, Acting Town Manager Mario Diaz, Building Official Manuel Salazar, Public Works and Capital Improvement Director Andre Eugent and other town staff for their response, adding that “your safety is not negotiable.”

Representatives of Iran’s Jewish community announced that Jews and members of other recognized religious minorities will participate in the funeral and memorial ceremonies for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed during Operation Roaring Lion. A leading representative of the community also praised the Iranian regime’s treatment of religious minorities and revealed that he recently wrote to Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, over concerns about renewed anti-Jewish rhetoric in the country.

Homayoun Sameh, the official representative of Iran’s Jewish community, addressed the issue on Friday, confirming that the Jewish community would join other minority groups in mourning ceremonies for Khamenei.

Sameh, who is known for expressing loyalty to the Iranian regime and frequently criticizing Israel, said, “In coordination with officials from the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance and representatives of the country’s religious minority communities, we will make every effort to attend all events related to the funeral and memorial ceremonies for the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.”

He added that foreign diplomats, representatives of religious minorities, political and religious leaders, and delegates from abroad had also been invited to various events.

“We have received official invitations to additional ceremonies, and we hope to be there alongside the rest of the Iranian people,” he said.

Sameh also praised Khamenei’s relationship with Iran’s Jewish community and other religious minorities.

“The attitude, support, and fatherly concern that the late leader showed toward all religious minorities, especially the Jewish community, were always deeply valued and gave us hope,” he said.

Addressing concerns within the Jewish community following the 12-day war, Sameh acknowledged that “some misconceptions” had emerged among segments of the population. However, he said Khamenei consistently emphasized the importance of safeguarding the civil rights and dignity of religious minorities.

According to Sameh, just as Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini distinguished between Iran’s Jewish citizens and Zionism, Khamenei continued that same policy. He said that during the years immediately following the Islamic Revolution, many Iranians failed to distinguish between Jews and Zionists, creating significant challenges for the country’s Jewish community.

Sameh recounted that about 12 years ago, while serving as head of Iran’s Jewish Association, he wrote a letter to Khamenei after media outlets published reports that blurred the distinction between Judaism and Zionism.

He said that roughly two weeks later, Khamenei addressed organizers of the annual Jerusalem Day events and instructed them: “Shout against the Zionists, not against the Jews.”

Sameh said the Jewish community regarded those remarks as “a position of great value and significance.”

He added that in recent days, certain public statements and media broadcasts once again raised concerns within the Jewish community about anti-Jewish incitement. As a result, he said, he sent a letter to Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who has assumed leadership following his father’s death.

According to Sameh, anti-Jewish rhetoric declined noticeably afterward, while the distinction between Jews and Zionists became more clearly reflected in official media coverage and government slogans.

“The Jewish community in Iran has always regarded itself as part of the Iranian nation,” Sameh said. “The level of satisfaction within the Jewish community is very high, and we all share in mourning the loss of the late leader. We hope that under the leadership of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the path of respect, peace, and mutual understanding among all sectors and religions in the country will continue to grow stronger.”

{Matzav.com}

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — A speeding, overcrowded passenger bus plunged from a highway into a rocky ravine in southwestern Pakistan early Friday, killing 40 people and injuring eight others in one of the deadliest road accidents in recent years, officials said.

The bus went out of control and fell into the ravine in Dana Sar, a remote area near the border of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the Balochistan government, said.

He said the bus was carrying not only its own passengers but also passengers from another bus that had broken down, leaving the vehicle overcrowded. Rind said rescuers were working to identify those killed in the crash.

One of the injured survivors told local media from his hospital bed that some passengers protested after the driver stopped to pick up people from another bus that had broken down and was also headed to Peshawar. He said an argument followed, during which one passenger allegedly grabbed the driver by the neck. Moments later, the driver lost control of the bus, which plunged into the ravine.

The account could not be independently verified and police said they are still investigating.

A regional government administrator, Hazrat Wali Kakar, said rescuers transported the injured and dead to nearby hospitals.

Rescue officials said the bus was carrying 48 passengers when it crashed.

Eight injured passengers received initial medical treatment at the scene before being taken to the district headquarters hospital in Zhob, while the bodies of the 40 victims were transported to a district hospital, officials said.

Shah Fahad, the director general of Rescue emergency services in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said that his agency was working alongside Balochistan’s emergency services in the rescue and recovery operation. He said that if any of the victims are confirmed to be residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, authorities will transport their bodies by ambulance to their hometowns to assist their families.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the passenger bus crash, offered condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

He directed the relevant authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible medical care.

In a statement, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also expressed grief over the loss of life and ordered authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible medical treatment.

Road accidents are common in Pakistan because of poor road conditions, inadequate enforcement of traffic laws and unsafe driving practices, particularly in mountainous areas.

In May, a minibus rammed into a bus parked along a motorway in northwest Pakistan, killing 17 people and injuring five others.

The U.S. Treasury Department and Goldman Sachs Asset Management announced Thursday that Goldman will become one of the first major financial firms to participate in the new Trump Accounts savings program, offering professionally managed investment portfolios designed for children. The partnership expands a centerpiece of the Administration’s effort to encourage long-term investing by giving young Americans an opportunity to begin building wealth early in life.

The Trump Accounts program was created under recently enacted federal legislation and provides eligible newborns with a government-funded investment account intended to grow over decades through the financial markets. Families can make additional voluntary contributions, while participating financial institutions manage the investments under federal guidelines.

Goldman Sachs Asset Management said it will offer several low-cost diversified investment options through the program, allowing parents to select portfolios designed to match different levels of investment risk and long-term growth objectives. Company officials said the funds will emphasize broad market diversification and long-term investing rather than short-term trading.

Treasury officials said expanding participation by major investment firms is critical to giving families access to a competitive range of investment products while keeping management fees low. Goldman joins a growing list of financial institutions expected to participate as the program rolls out nationally.

Supporters say the initiative could significantly improve long-term financial security by allowing investment returns to compound over nearly two decades before beneficiaries reach adulthood. Financial planners have long argued that beginning to invest early—even with relatively modest amounts—can dramatically increase lifetime savings because of compound growth.

Under the program, accounts remain in the child’s name and are professionally managed until the beneficiary reaches the age specified under federal law. Withdrawals are generally restricted to approved purposes, including higher education, purchasing a first home, starting a business, or other qualifying long-term financial goals.

Administration officials have described the program as an effort to encourage broader participation in capital markets while helping families build assets across generations. Treasury officials said they expect additional banks and investment companies to announce participation in the coming months.

For Goldman Sachs, the partnership represents another expansion of its wealth management and consumer investment business. While the firm has traditionally focused on institutional investors and high-net-worth clients, recent years have seen Goldman broaden its offerings to reach a wider range of individual investors through digital investment platforms and retirement products.

Business groups welcomed the announcement, saying greater access to professionally managed investment accounts may improve financial literacy while encouraging long-term saving habits among younger generations.

The program’s success will ultimately depend on participation by families, market performance over time, and the number of financial institutions offering competitive investment options. If widely adopted, the accounts could channel billions of dollars into long-term investments while giving millions of children an early start toward building financial assets.

As implementation continues, investors and financial institutions alike will be watching how quickly families enroll and whether additional asset managers join what could become one of the country’s largest long-term savings initiatives.

JBizNews Desk | Washington, D.C.

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

PARIS (AP) — Interpol on Friday identified a 39-year-old woman from Ukraine as the main suspect in a bombing in Monaco that reportedly targeted a Ukrainian tycoon with links to Russia.

The police organization named Anastasiia Berezovska, who remains at large, in a Red Notice posted on its website seeking her arrest on charges of attempted murder, placing an explosive device in a public place with criminal intent, and criminal conspiracy.

Monaco authorities haven’t identified any of the three people wounded in Monday’s explosion at an apartment building entrance but said they are a family and that they appear to have been specifically targeted.

Media reports named Ukrainian construction tycoon Vadym Yermolaiev as being among the wounded. He has said he renounced his Ukrainian citizenship nearly a decade ago, and he was targeted by Ukrainian sanctions in 2023 for ties to Russia.

Investigators examine the scene at the residential building where an explosive device seriously injured three people a day earlier in Monaco, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)

A woman and a child were also hurt. One of the victims is still in a life-threatening condition, prosecutors said Friday, also mentioning two other “collateral victims” who were slightly injured in the attack.

The Interpol notice says the suspect has a tattoo, possibly of a snake, on her right arm from the shoulder to the elbow. It says she was born in Ukraine, has dark hair, and speaks German.

Morgan Raymond, the deputy prosecutor in Monaco, told a news conference the bomb was detonated from a distance, using a remote control. The remains of the bomb are being analyzed in neighboring France, he said.

He added that the suspect was initially identified as a heavily built person appearing to be male, wearing a dark long-sleeved top, light-colored shorts and a black bucket hat. A broader review of CCTV footage from previous days and testimony from a witness redirected the investigation toward a woman disguised as a man.

Eric Arella, Monaco’s director of public security, held up copies of the Interpol wanted notice at the news conference with the prosecutor. It included two photos of a woman wearing a white T-shirt with dark stripes, one of them in a street where she’s holding what appears to be some sort of electronic device, trailing a cable, in her left hand.

The judicial investigation also focused on whether the suspect had accomplices or acted on behalf of someone else.

“The relative sophistication of the explosive device and the modus operandi suggest that the person who planted the device did not act alone,” Raymond said.

Two male individuals were taken into police custody as part of the investigation, but both were subsequently released.

Investigators also identified a rented vehicle fitted with German license plates used by the suspect in Monaco. The suspect’s escape route was traced, including the journey from France into Italy, and then across several European countries up to her country of residence. Raymond said that her last known address is in Germany, “a country with which judicial cooperation is particularly active.”

German police, including special forces, on Thursday searched the rented apartment near Frankfurt of a 39-year-old Ukrainian woman in connection with the investigation, police and prosecutors said in a statement Friday.

A vehicle used by the woman also was searched and secured, they added, and evidence will be handed over to authorities in Monaco. They said that the woman is on the run and they can’t give more details at present.

The attack shocked the country on the Mediterranean coast, one of the world’s smallest sovereign states and known for its high concentration of wealthy residents. Monaco’s Prince Albert II described it as “an odious act” and said all public services were mobilized to ensure security.

Ukraine is believed to have carried out attacks and targeted killings of Russian figures in the course of the war, although those attacks have largely been confined to Ukrainian or Russian territory.

In December 2024, Ukraine’s security service claimed responsibility for killing the head of nuclear, biological and chemical military protection forces for the Russian military.

Western intelligence officials have recently said that Russia has ramped up a campaign of targeted killings since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

PARIS (AP) — Deaths surged by nearly a third in France during the hottest week of a record heat wave last month, the country’s public health authority said Friday, reporting at least 2,000 more deaths than in the previous week when temperatures were already climbing and filling emergency wards with heat victims.

The new and still incomplete figures from Public Health France doubled its first preliminary estimate of at least 1,000 additional deaths that it gave last Sunday. That earlier estimate covered just three of the hottest days of extreme, deadly heat.

In Paris, funeral service directors have said they’ve struggled to find places to store bodies before burial or cremation, with some mortuaries saying they were full and having to turn bodies away.

The updated tally of deaths from Public Health France spans the week of June 22 to June 28, during which France saw its hottest-ever days and records shattered for peak daytime and nighttime temperatures in many cities and towns across the country. The heat also broke temperature records in many other parts of Europe.

Public Health France said it has counted 8,973 deaths so far for that week, cautioning that the number is still only partial. It said the preliminary total was 29% more than the 6,948 deaths registered for the previous week of June 15 to June 21, when the heat wave started.

The difference between the two sets of figures — a total so far of 2,025 — is therefore considered to be additional deaths from one week to the next, from all causes and covering all age groups, it said.

At the Paris-Saclay Hospital, patients suffering from heat exposure started arriving in a surge on June 20, Dr. Nicolas Gonzales, head of the emergency department, told The Associated Press.

He said they treated heat victims for heart attacks, dehydration, kidney malfunctions and other heat-related problems, from children to older people living alone.

Public Health France said there was a particularly sharp increase week-on-week in the number of deaths in private homes, with those figures up 91%. Deaths in care homes for older people increased by 37% and in hospitals by nearly 20%.

The Paris region appears to have been hit hardest, with a nearly 63% increase in deaths from one week to the next, it said.

The health agency cautioned that its tallies underestimate the true death toll, because they’re based on incomplete data.

“The mortality will as a consequence be higher than these first figures,” it said.

A report has ignited fierce criticism after claiming that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz granted a pardon to an illegal immigrant convicted of first-degree abuse of a 10-year-old girl, a move that reportedly eliminated the conviction that had served as the basis for the man’s planned deportation, John Nolte reports at Breitbart.

According to the report, the pardon halted deportation proceedings for four years.

The article argues that the decision represents a glaring example of political hypocrisy.

“Minnesota officials, including Democrat Gov. Tim Walz, last month pardoned an illegal immigrant who was previously convicted of assaulting a 10-year-old girl and who was slated to be deported,” reports Fox News. Tou Lue Vang, a 42-year-old Laos national, “was convicted in 2006 of first-degree criminal conduct. Between 2002 and 2006, he repeatedly ly assaulted the girl.”

According to the report, Vang pleaded guilty but did not receive a jail sentence. Although the conviction resulted in the loss of the legal immigration status he had obtained under the Clinton administration in 1994, he nonetheless remained in the United States rather than being removed.

The report further contends that Walz’s pardon erased the abuse conviction, effectively eliminating the legal basis for Vang’s deportation and making it unlikely that immigration authorities will now be able to remove him from the country.

Based on Vang’s reported current age of 42, the article notes that he would have been approximately 22 years old at the time of his 2006 conviction, alleging that the abuse occurred when he was between the ages of 18 and 22 while the victim was a young girl.

JERUSALEM (VINnews)-The inaugural group of ultra-Orthodox cadets in the Israel Defense Forces’ Hasmonean Brigade completed the first half of their officers’ course this week, receiving platoon commander pins after intensive training and a 12-kilometer march in the Golan Heights.

The cadets earned their pins on Wednesday, marking a milestone in the IDF’s push to integrate Haredi soldiers into command roles while preserving their religious lifestyle. They will continue training for another four months, including sessions at the Bahad 1 officers’ school in southern Israel, before receiving their ranks and assignments within the Haredi brigade.

The military stated that the course adhered fully to the IDF’s professional standards and included all standard Bahad 1 content, while strictly maintaining the Haredi way of life.

The establishment of the Hasmonean Brigade reflects the IDF’s broader efforts to increase enlistment among ultra-Orthodox men amid ongoing personnel shortages caused by the multi-front war. Officials also aim to demonstrate that military service is compatible with strict religious observance, despite opposition from some leading Haredi rabbis.

This development comes as the IDF continues to expand specialized frameworks designed to accommodate Haredi soldiers’ needs, including kosher standards, Torah study time and separation guidelines.

A new Economist/YouGov survey suggests that a majority of Democratic voters are open to supporting candidates who identify as “Democratic Socialists,” underscoring the growing influence of the ideology within the party as socialist-backed candidates continue to notch victories in key elections.

Survey participants were asked a straightforward question: “Would you ever vote for a candidate who identified as a “Democratic Socialist?”

Among all respondents, the largest share—45 percent—said they would not support such a candidate. Another 29 percent said they would, while 26 percent indicated they were uncertain.

The partisan divide was especially pronounced. Eighty-five percent of Republicans said they would not vote for a “Democratic Socialist.” Democrats, however, took the opposite view, with 62 percent saying they would support such a candidate. Only 11 percent of Democrats said they would not, while 27 percent remained undecided.

Independent voters were more skeptical. Forty percent said they would not vote for a Democratic Socialist, compared with 24 percent who said they would.

Support was even stronger among ideological liberals, 73 percent of whom said they would back a Democratic Socialist. Likewise, 64 percent of people who voted for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election said they would support such a candidate. By contrast, only five percent of President Trump’s 2024 voters gave the same response.

The poll also found that more Democrats now view socialism more favorably than capitalism. Thirty-four percent selected socialism, compared with 22 percent who chose capitalism, while 58 percent of Democrats said they hold a favorable opinion of socialism overall.

The survey was conducted from June 26 through June 29, 2026, among 1,606 respondents and carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points.

The findings come as socialist candidates continue to gain ground within the Democratic Party. The movement drew increased national attention after New York City elected Zohran Mamdani as mayor. Since then, several candidates endorsed by Mamdani have defeated establishment Democrats in primary contests across New York.

Sen. Rand Paul said the polling reflects a trend he finds troubling.

“…But still alarming that a majority of people are voting for socialists,” Paul said during a recent appearance on Breitbart News Daily. “I wrote a book a few years ago, The Case Against Socialism, and in it we talked about some of the polls where, you know, majority of young people are thinking, hey, socialism sounds good, why don’t we try it.”

Paul argued that many younger Americans fail to appreciate socialism’s historical record.

“They don’t understand … the disaster that is Venezuela, the disaster that is Cuba, the disaster that was China, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, all these places,” the senator said. “What they understand it to be is fairness, and they’re like, well, it’s just not fair that you make twice as much money as me, and we’re just going to make it fair.”

He added that many young people equate the concept of fairness with socialism without recognizing, in his view, that “equal outcome leads to a disaster” marked by food shortages, diminished prosperity, “and all the things that we have” with capitalism.

“It’s ignorance, but it is alarming, and then the other, the other possibility, though, is [the] left goes so far left that maybe they can’t win general elections, but in New York, all these people will win,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

The United States will not renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) in its current form, setting in motion a series of annual reviews that could reshape North America’s trading relationship over the next decade. The announcement, made Wednesday by U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, follows the treaty’s first mandatory joint review by the three member nations and opens the door to renegotiating key provisions of one of the world’s largest free trade agreements.

Although the decision does not terminate the agreement, it begins a process under the treaty’s sunset clause that requires the United States, Canada and Mexico to meet every year to determine whether the pact should continue unchanged. Unless all three countries eventually agree to renew it, the agreement would expire in 2036.

The USMCA, which replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 2020, governs approximately $2 trillion in annual trade and serves as the foundation for deeply integrated supply chains spanning the three countries. The agreement covers everything from automobiles and agriculture to manufacturing, energy, digital trade and intellectual property.

In a statement issued following Wednesday’s virtual review, Ambassador Jamieson Greer said the United States would continue working with both Mexico and Canada to address what Washington considers shortcomings in the agreement, particularly persistent U.S. trade deficits with its two largest trading partners. Greer emphasized that while the agreement remains fully in force, the Administration believes significant improvements are needed before committing to another sixteen-year extension.

A senior administration official said President Donald Trump chose not to grant an automatic renewal, arguing that existing trade imbalances and unresolved market-access issues should first be addressed through additional negotiations.

The review process was built directly into the USMCA during negotiations in 2019. Under the agreement’s sunset clause, the three governments were required to conduct their first formal review after six years. If all parties agreed, the treaty could have been extended another sixteen years, through 2042. Instead, the United States chose to move into the annual-review process.

Importantly for businesses, there are no immediate changes to tariffs, customs procedures or existing trade rules. Goods qualifying under USMCA continue moving across North American borders under the same provisions that existed before Wednesday’s announcement.

Officials in both neighboring countries sought to reassure businesses that cross-border commerce would continue uninterrupted.

Mexican Economy Minister Marcelo Ebrard said Ambassador Greer informed both Mexico and Canada that Washington was not prepared to grant the automatic extension. Instead, the three governments will continue meeting annually while pursuing additional negotiations. Ebrard stressed that companies should expect no immediate operational changes and said the vast majority of trade between Mexico and the United States would continue under existing USMCA rules.

Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc likewise said Canada remains committed to strengthening the agreement while urging Washington to address U.S. tariffs affecting Canadian steel, aluminum, automobiles and lumber, issues that continue to generate friction between the longtime trading partners.

The industries with the most at stake are automotive manufacturing and industrial production.

For decades, automakers have built highly integrated North American supply chains that allow engines, transmissions, electronics and thousands of other components to cross U.S., Canadian and Mexican borders multiple times before a finished vehicle reaches consumers. Those investment decisions were made with the expectation of long-term trade certainty.

Business groups warn that shifting to annual reviews could make companies more cautious when deciding where to build factories, expand production, hire workers or invest billions of dollars in future manufacturing projects. While the agreement remains in place today, yearly uncertainty surrounding its future could influence corporate planning throughout the region.

Industry organizations urged all three governments to reach a long-term resolution as quickly as possible.

Matt Blunt, President of the American Automotive Policy Council, said U.S. automakers are encouraged that negotiations will continue and expressed hope for a durable agreement that preserves North America’s manufacturing competitiveness.

Business Roundtable President Joshua Bolten also called on the three governments to work expeditiously toward extending and strengthening the agreement, arguing that long-term certainty benefits businesses, workers and consumers across the continent.

Trade data illustrates why the Administration is seeking changes. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, the United States recorded a goods trade deficit of approximately $46 billion with Canada and about $197 billion with Mexico last year.

Greer has indicated the Administration wants to negotiate additional bilateral protocols addressing automotive rules of origin, manufacturing content requirements and measures designed to prevent goods produced outside North America from benefiting indirectly from USMCA preferences.

For now, businesses across the continent can continue operating under existing rules. However, the agreement governing one of the world’s largest trading relationships is once again open for negotiation, ensuring that trade policy will remain a major issue for manufacturers, exporters, investors and supply-chain managers for years to come.

JBizNews Desk | Washington, D.C.

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

NEW YORK CITY (VINnews) – A second straight day of scorching temperatures triggered a major NJ Transit breakdown Thursday, snarling evening rush-hour service at New York Penn Station and leaving thousands of commuters stranded as the July 4 holiday weekend got underway.

With temperatures soaring, NJ Transit officials urged rail customers to seek alternative transportation, offering cross-honoring on NJ Transit and private carrier buses, PATH trains and NY Waterway ferries.

“What we want people to do is use all the methods we are making available…to try and use all of those systems to get home,” NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said. “It’s the most excessive temperatures we have had this year.”

Inside Penn Station, conditions deteriorated rapidly as the temperature reached 148 degrees, according to NJ Transit. Commuters described the scene as unbearable.

“It feels like a sauna in here. I hate it. I hate it,” one rider named Cammy told Eyewitness News. “There’s like a million people, look, a million people. The body heat in here is crazy. I’m wet right now.”

Another commuter, Natalie, said the ordeal was the final straw. “I’m literally moving out of New Jersey to avoid New Jersey Transit. I’m moving to New York City next month,” she said.

Service disruptions mounted throughout the evening. Trains faced cancellations and delays of up to 90 minutes. Sagging wires halted at least two trains, and in one case, a rescue train was dispatched to Harrison to assist approximately 300 passengers stranded on a disabled train. It took about 45 minutes to tow the train back to Hoboken Terminal, where air conditioning was available and police distributed water.

The century-old Hackensack Drawbridge between Secaucus and East Rutherford became stuck open for 25 minutes due to the heat, prompting NJ Transit to suspend openings of other rail bridges for the remainder of the evening commute.

A fire broke out at Hoboken Terminal after 5 p.m., sending smoke across track 7 and causing riders to flee the platform.

As of late Thursday, NJ Transit reported up to 60-minute delays and cancellations on select trains due to heat-related equipment issues. Midtown Direct service was diverted to Hoboken. Tickets and passes were being cross-honored on buses, PATH at Newark Penn Station, Hoboken Terminal, 33rd Street in New York, and NY Waterway ferries.

The disruptions come as forecasters warn of continued high temperatures across the region, testing the resilience of the Northeast’s aging transit infrastructure during one of the busiest travel weekends of the summer

Conservative commentator Tucker Carlson says he is working to launch a new political party following his public break with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party over the U.S. strikes on Iran.

“That’s not a democracy,” Carlson said. “That’s a one-party state posing as a democracy, and it needs to be broken, and there’s going to be a third party, and I’m going to do everything I can to bring that about.”

Last month, Carlson declared there was “no chance” he would continue supporting the GOP, arguing the Trump administration “betrayed the U.S.” by going to war with Iran under what he claimed was pressure from Israel.

“At this point… how could I or any American voter support a political party that’s not loyal to the United States, that puts the interests of a foreign country above those of its own citizens?” Carlson said. “It’s not possible to vote for people like that.”

The former Fox News host said his proposed party would focus on “the welfare” of Americans above all else.

“If you make sixty thousand dollars a year, you’re degraded. Your life expectancy has gone down, and the promise of your children’s lives is likely gone. No one seems to care. It’s not even a factor,” Carlson said. “‘What about Hamas?’ I officially don’t care about Hamas. The U.S. government should have, as its first priority, the welfare of its own people.”

Despite announcing his plans, Carlson insisted he has no intention of becoming the party’s candidate.

“I don’t want to be a candidate,” he said, adding that he had joked about running “on the pro-patriarchy ticket… just to make sure I gain no new fans.”

The announcement marks the latest escalation in Carlson’s feud with Trump. Since their split, the president has referred to Carlson as a “nut job” and a “hand-flailing fool.”

“He was a broken man when he got fired from Fox, and he’s never been the same,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in April. “Perhaps he should see a good psychiatrist!”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Isaac Herzog visited the U.S. Embassy in Yerushalayim on Friday ahead of America’s 250th Independence Day, delivering a personal letter to U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee congratulating President Donald Trump and the American people on the historic milestone.

The visit took place at the U.S. Embassy in Yerushalayim, which was opened following President Trump’s decision to recognize Yerushalayim as Israel’s capital.

“I am extremely moved and happy to be here at the American Embassy in Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Israel, at the Embassy which was launched by President Trump in his historic recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital,” Herzog said.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

“I want to congratulate the President, the Congress, the leadership, and the people of the United States of America… on 250 years of Independence. American Independence is one of the greatest moments in history, and it has changed the fate of humanity.”

In his letter to President Trump, Herzog praised America’s global influence and reaffirmed the close alliance between the two countries.

“This landmark Freedom 250 celebration is a moment to honor the incredible triumph of the American spirit. The story of America has inspired humanity the world over. From sea to shining sea, America stands as a beacon of liberty, and as the leader of the free world.”

Herzog also highlighted the shared values between the two nations.

“This is also a time to express our deepest appreciation for the unique and unbreakable partnership between the United States of America and Israel. Our two nations draw from the same wellsprings of the Bible, and we share the same fundamental values of freedom, democracy, and human dignity.”

Addressing President Trump directly, Herzog wrote: “I thank you for your steadfast commitment to Israel’s security. The people of Israel will never forget your tireless efforts to bring our beloved hostages home. May you continue to lead the Middle East and the world toward peace and security.”

Ambassador Huckabee welcomed Herzog to the embassy, saying, “This is a great time for all Americans to celebrate, but we’re not the only ones celebrating America’s 250th birthday. We have a very special guest at the U.S. Embassy today, President Isaac Herzog. Thank you, Mr. President. We’re honored to have you here and honored to call you a friend.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump’s latest annual financial disclosure has revealed that investment accounts in his name purchased more than 300 different stocks on April 8, 2025—just one day before he unexpectedly suspended key “Liberation Day” tariffs—bringing renewed attention to the president’s financial holdings and prompting fresh calls for greater scrutiny.

The disclosure report shows that 327 separate stock purchases were executed on April 8. Although federal rules generally require such transactions to be reported within 45 days, none of those trades had been publicly disclosed until Tuesday. Instead, they appeared within a sprawling financial filing exceeding 900 pages, making it substantially larger than the disclosure reports filed by previous presidents.

The April 8 purchases represented only a portion of the stock activity conducted through accounts owned by Trump since returning to office.

The newly revealed transactions, which surfaced more than a year after they occurred, add to a growing series of disclosures involving Trump’s personal finances. Together, they have intensified bipartisan calls for closer examination of the president’s financial interests.

When NBC News asked the White House who oversees Trump’s investments, officials pointed to a statement posted by Eric Trump on X.

“Neither President Trump, his family, nor The Trump Organization has any role in selecting, directing, approving, influencing or soliciting specific investments. They receive no advance notice of trades, cannot alter or override the managers’ strategies or models, and provide no input regarding investment decisions or portfolio operations.”

Eric Trump added, “This structure was intentionally designed to maintain a clear separation between President Trump and the independent third-party investment managers overseeing the accounts and avoid even the appearance of any conflict of interest.”

President Trump has repeatedly rejected allegations that his private business interests create conflicts with his responsibilities as president, even as he and members of his family have expanded into numerous business ventures that have generated billions of dollars in returns.

Trading by elected officials has become an increasingly debated issue in Washington, with lawmakers from both parties expressing support in recent years for legislation that would prohibit or restrict stock trading by public officeholders. The disclosure involving Trump’s investment accounts has renewed attention to that broader debate.

Don Fox, the former acting director and general counsel of the Office of Government Ethics, described the newly disclosed transactions as “completely unprecedented.”

The filing released Tuesday included numerous previously unreported trades, along with a footnote stating: “The filer paid late filing fees related to transactions not previously reported on 278-Ts.”

According to the Office of Government Ethics, Form 278-T “is used by employees within the executive branch who must file public periodic transaction reports.”

Among the newly disclosed activity were the hundreds of stock purchases made on April 8, just one day before President Trump announced a 90-day suspension of portions of his tariff program. His original tariff announcement had triggered a sharp market selloff as investors worried that an escalating global trade dispute could weigh heavily on economic growth.

Following Trump’s announcement pausing the tariffs, U.S. stocks surged. On April 9, 2025, the S&P 500 posted its eighth-largest single-day gain on record, rising 9.5%.

Responding to questions about the disclosures, the White House told NBC News on Tuesday, “Neither the President nor his family has ever engaged — or will ever engage — in conflicts of interest.”

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly added, “All actions by President Trump and his administration are taken in the best interest of the American people — and any so-called ‘reporters’ pushing otherwise are recycling the same, tired, false narrative that Democrats and the legacy media have been pushing for a decade.”

The filing shows purchases of shares in a wide range of companies, including Brinker International, the parent company of Chili’s; defense contractor Kratos Defense; consulting firm Korn Ferry; financial services company Axos; Madison Square Garden Sports, which owns the New York Knicks and New York Rangers; and the parent company of The Cheesecake Factory.

The disclosure also revealed the purchase of between $100,001 and $250,000 worth of Apple stock on April 8. Apple was considered one of the companies most exposed to Trump’s tariff policy because much of its manufacturing in 2025 was concentrated in China, Vietnam, Thailand, and India.

Apple shares climbed more than 15% the following day after Trump announced the tariff pause, marking the company’s strongest one-day gain since 1998.

A spokesperson for the Trump Organization defended the filing, saying, “the breadth and depth of this filing further underscores our commitment to transparency. At nearly 1,000 pages, it represents one of the most comprehensive financial disclosure reports ever submitted and demonstrates a level of financial transparency unmatched in presidential history.”

Federal ethics rules require the president, vice president, Cabinet secretaries, and numerous other senior executive branch officials to submit annual financial disclosure reports listing their income, assets, liabilities, outside positions, spousal income, travel reimbursements, and other financial interests.

The stock purchases disclosed Tuesday had not appeared in any of Trump’s periodic transaction reports filed during 2025.

The only previously reported transactions from April 8 were eight relatively small bond purchases that appeared in a filing released by the Office of Government Ethics on Aug. 19, 2025. That earlier filing contained no stock purchases.

The latest disclosure does not explain why the trades were omitted from earlier reports, and it provides no additional details regarding the delay.

The White House did not immediately respond Thursday to additional requests for comment.

Under federal ethics regulations, officials who are required to disclose investment transactions generally must do so within 45 days. Failure to meet that deadline typically results in a $200 late filing fee, although the penalty may be waived in certain circumstances.

The filing again notes on its opening page: “The filer paid late filing fees related to transactions not previously reported on 278-Ts,” referring to the executive branch transaction reporting form.

The Office of Government Ethics states that Form 278-T “is used by employees within the executive branch who must file public periodic transaction reports.”

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews)-The Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency on Wednesday eliminated a senior Hamas terrorist who participated in the abduction of an Israeli officer during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre and was responsible for guarding three hostages in Gaza, the military said.

Muhammad Na’im Jandiya, head of military security in Hamas’ Shuja’iyya Battalion, was struck in the northern Gaza Strip, the IDF and ISA announced Friday.

During the Oct. 7 attack, Jandiya commanded a Nukhba terrorist cell that infiltrated Kibbutz Nahal Oz and took part in the abduction of the late Capt. Daniel Perez, according to the IDF.

Throughout the ongoing war, Jandiya oversaw the captivity of hostages Yotam Chaim, Samer Al-Talalka and Alon Shamriz, who were held in an underground tunnel in the Shuja’iyya area. All three hostages were later killed in Hamas captivity.

In his senior role, Jandiya had also recently directed terrorist attacks against IDF forces operating in Gaza and was among the masked Hamas operatives who appeared in the group’s hostage release ceremonies tied to prior deals.

Prior to the strike, the IDF said measures were taken to reduce the risk of harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance.

IDF troops under the Southern Command remain deployed in the area in line with the ceasefire agreement and will continue operations to neutralize immediate threats, the military stated.

Dave Portnoy says his latest Bitcoin investment has become an expensive lesson in timing, with the Barstool Sports founder revealing he is down millions but still has no plans to sell despite the cryptocurrency’s sharp decline.

Barstool Sports founder and President Dave Portnoy joined FOX Business’ Stuart Varney on “Varney & Co.” to discuss politics, sports and cryptocurrency, where he acknowledged buying Bitcoin near its recent highs and explained why he is continuing to hold the asset through the downturn.

“Yeah, I got regrets, I bought the thing at $100,000,” Portnoy said. “There’s nothing I’ve been wrong about more than Bitcoin. Every time I sell it, it goes nuclear. Every time I buy it, it tanks.”

Even with the losses piling up, Portnoy said he is staying invested because he believes history has repeatedly worked against him whenever he exits the market. “I’m holding, I’ll hold this thing down to zero,” he said. 

“I’m losing millions to it,” he continued, while acknowledging that selling now would likely mean watching it rebound without him.

Portnoy expanded on his complicated history with Bitcoin during a recent appearance on Anthony Pompliano’s “The Pomp Podcast.” He recalled first buying roughly $2 million worth of Bitcoin when it traded around $11,000 after a conversation with Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, only to sell almost immediately because he did not understand their long-term thesis. Looking back, Portnoy said the decision proved costly as Bitcoin quickly surged, eventually convincing him to re-enter the market at much higher prices.

On the podcast, Portnoy said he still struggles to predict the cryptocurrency’s moves despite years of following it closely. “I don’t know what the hell’s going on with it,” he said when discussing where Bitcoin could go next, adding that he intends to keep holding his position even if it continues to fall.

Portnoy’s comments underscore the volatility that continues to define the cryptocurrency market, even for high-profile investors who have experienced both significant gains and steep losses.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that one of his top priorities during the conflict with Iran was preventing an economic catastrophe, revealing that the U.S. military quietly escorted oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz to keep global energy markets stable and avoid what he warned could have become a worldwide depression.

Speaking during an extensive interview in the Oval Office with CNBC, Trump said he has long been determined to avoid presiding over an economic collapse like the one he associates with President Herbert Hoover.

“I’ve always said, I don’t want to be a president with a depression on his resume,” Trump said during a wide-ranging Oval Office interview on CNBC.

“I don’t want to be Herbert Hoover. Of almost all presidents, some have been bad, some have been good, very few have been great.

“But I never want to be Herbert Hoover because Herbert Hoover was the president that probably took us into the Great Depression, the greatest depression, led the whole world there.

“He raised interest rates and he raised taxes simultaneously. I guess he was trying to do something, but that didn’t work out too well.”

Turning to the recent war with Iran, Trump argued that allowing Tehran to shut down the Strait of Hormuz would have sent oil prices skyrocketing and devastated the global economy.

According to Trump, the United States carried out a previously undisclosed naval operation in which American warships escorted commercial oil tankers through the southern portion of the strategic waterway under the cover of darkness. He said the effort lasted for weeks and was instrumental in preventing crude oil prices from spiraling beyond roughly $115 per barrel.

“One of the reasons it only went up to like $115, if you remember, and I’ve seen guests on your show where they go oil will be $350 a barrel, and there’ll be a depression because at $350 there’s a depression. It’s automatic. It goes with it,” Trump said.

“I said, well, we’ve got to do something. We did something nobody knew,” he said.

“Every night, we were taking ships out through the south, which is the furthest point from where they have their little weapons.

“And they were going along the coast with no lights for a month and a half. A lot of ships came out.

“We had one night where we took 22 ships out. That’s a lot of oil. Those are big ships. Some of them are really big ships.

“And in a way, they had courage going out. But our Navy took them out. We escorted them out, and nobody knew. The lights were off. Everything was off. Everything was silent,” Trump explained.

Trump said that had oil reached $300 a barrel, the resulting economic fallout would have been severe enough to define his presidency.

The president remarked, “then I become Herbert Hoover. I don’t want to be Herbert Hoover.”

Trump also reflected on the Great Depression itself, arguing that the economic crisis lingered for years despite the leadership of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

“FDR didn’t get us out of it. There’s a picture right there, FDR,” Trump said, pointing to a portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

“Nice picture. It took us years to get out of it. I don’t ever want to be in a depression. I don’t want to be a president that oversees the great worldwide depression. That was Herbert Hoover. And it was a terrible thing,” Trump said.

Tesla reported from its Austin, Texas headquarters on Thursday that it delivered 480,126 vehicles worldwide during the second quarter while producing 451,758 vehicles, comfortably beating Wall Street expectations. Despite the stronger-than-expected delivery numbers, shares of Elon Musk’s electric-vehicle maker fell about 7% as investors shifted their attention to profitability and margins ahead of the company’s earnings report later this month.

Tesla’s deliveries easily surpassed both the company’s internal consensus estimate of 406,024 vehicles and the 406,600 average forecast compiled by StreetAccount. Deliveries also increased 34% from the first quarter, when Tesla delivered 358,023 vehicles, bringing the company close to its all-time quarterly record.

The company’s core lineup continued to dominate sales. The Model 3 sedan and Model Y SUV accounted for 467,762 deliveries, representing roughly 97% of all vehicles sold during the quarter. The remaining 12,364 vehicles, including the Cybertruck and other premium models, made up the balance.

Tesla’s fast-growing energy storage business also remained a bright spot. The company deployed 13.5 gigawatt-hours of battery storage during the quarter, up sharply from 9.6 gigawatt-hours a year earlier. Although the figure came in slightly below analysts’ expectations of approximately 13.8 gigawatt-hours, the energy division continues to generate significantly higher margins than Tesla’s automotive business and has become an increasingly important contributor to overall earnings.

So why did the stock fall despite the strong delivery numbers?

Analysts pointed to the gap between production and deliveries. Tesla delivered approximately 28,000 more vehicles than it produced, indicating the company reduced existing inventory rather than meeting demand solely through new production. While lowering inventory is generally viewed positively, investors typically place greater value on sustained demand supported by ongoing factory output.

The shares had also rallied ahead of the report, leaving little room for additional upside after the delivery announcement.

Attention now turns to July 22, when Tesla will release its full second-quarter financial results after markets close. Investors will be watching closely for average selling prices, operating margins, and profitability—figures that will determine whether the rebound in deliveries translated into stronger earnings.

Tesla cautioned that quarterly deliveries and energy deployments should not be viewed as indicators of financial performance, noting that earnings depend on multiple additional factors.

Regionally, Europe showed signs of recovery following a difficult start to the year, when consumer backlash tied to Musk’s political activity contributed to weaker registrations across Germany, France, and Scandinavia. China also improved following the launch of the refreshed Model Y, although intense competition from BYD and other domestic manufacturers continues to pressure pricing.

North America remained more challenging as buyers increasingly shifted toward hybrid vehicles while the expiration of the federal electric vehicle tax credit weighed on fully electric vehicle demand.

For Tesla, the second quarter suggests its core automotive business may be stabilizing after two consecutive years of declining annual sales. Whether that recovery proves sustainable—and whether it can occur without sacrificing the industry-leading margins that once defined the company—will become much clearer when Tesla reports earnings later this month.

JBizNews Desk | Austin, Texas

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

A new Channel 14 poll released Thursday shows Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the Likud party maintaining their lead, while former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot continues to outperform Naftali Bennett among opposition parties.

If elections were held today, Likud would remain the largest party with 33 seats, unchanged from the previous survey. Eisenkot’s Yashar party would receive 20 seats, solidifying its position as the second-largest party.

Shas would place third with 11 seats, also holding steady from the last poll.

Bennett and Yair Lapid’s Beyachad alliance would receive nine seats, tied with The Democrats. Yisrael Beytenu would drop to eight seats.

United Torah Judaism would win seven seats, down one from the previous poll, while Otzma Yehudit would also receive seven seats.

Among the Arab parties, the Joint List would increase to six seats, while Ra’am would receive five. Religious Zionism would rise to five seats, and Blue and White would fail to cross the electoral threshold.

According to the poll, the current right-wing bloc would secure 63 Knesset seats, enough to form a governing majority. The left-wing bloc would hold 46 seats, while the Arab parties would account for the remaining 11 seats.

The survey also found Netanyahu strengthening his position in a direct question on suitability for prime minister. He received 53% support, followed by Eisenkot at 31%. Bennett trailed with 10%, while Avigdor Liberman received 5% and Benny Gantz just 1%.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Ford is turning one of Washington, D.C.’s busiest transit hubs into a showcase of American industry, innovation and horsepower for the nation’s 250th birthday.

The automaker has opened “Driving America Forward,” a free Union Station exhibit that traces Ford’s 123-year impact on American life — from the factory floor and World War II to farms, racetracks and pop culture.

The exhibit runs July 1 through July 14 as millions of visitors travel through the nation’s capital for Fourth of July celebrations.

Ted Ryan, Ford’s heritage and brand manager, told FOX Business that Union Station was selected because of its constant crowds and dramatic architecture.

“Union Station was chosen because it’s so incredibly visited,” Ryan said. “… The setting is just spectacular — the marble floor, the vaulted ceiling. It’s a beautiful venue to display some absolutely amazing cars.”

The goal, Ryan said, is for visitors to leave with a better understanding of Ford’s role beyond the assembly line.

“What we want people to walk away saying is, ‘Oh my gosh, I didn’t know Ford did that,’” Ryan said.

The exhibit features a range of vehicles, including the last Model T ever built. Ryan said the car, introduced in 1908, transformed transportation and at one point accounted for 57% of all cars in the world.

Other vehicles on display include a 1928 Model A Roadster, a 1934 Flatbed Ford V8 pickup loaned by Jay Leno, a 1941 Ford GP, a 1951 Ford tractor, a 1954 F-100, a 1964 Mustang used in the New York World’s Fair ride, a 1956 Ford Thunderbird, among others.

Ryan said the lineup was chosen to show Ford’s reach beyond passenger cars — from farms and factories to battlefields and racetracks.

Archival displays also spotlight lesser-known Ford innovations, including early mail-sorting technology, barcode and ZIP code readers, and the company’s role in helping build Mission Control in Houston for the Apollo program.

“It’s free and open to the public,” Ryan said. “Come and enjoy the air conditioning at Union Station and enjoy looking at some absolutely stunning cars.”

WATCH:

Saudi Arabia is moving closer to Iran while distancing itself from the United States, as Riyadh holds direct talks with Tehran on key regional security issues while its crisis with Washington deepens, according to the New York Times.

The talks reportedly focus on some of the most sensitive issues in the region, including control of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s missile program, and Tehran’s support for proxy groups.

The report comes after the Wall Street Journal revealed that Saudi Arabia helped block an American plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. While clashing with Washington over the operation, Riyadh has also been maintaining a direct channel with Iran on the very issues at the center of regional tensions.

President Trump, angered by the Saudi position, spoke with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at least twice within 48 hours. At the same time, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a series of calls with Saudi leadership in an effort to convince Riyadh to change course.

But bin Salman rejected the American pressure, fearing the plan would reignite the war with Iran. As a result, the United States was forced to cancel the operation less than two days after it began.

“They had lost trust in the administration, and believed that if they allowed the United States to use their airspace, Iran would hit them even harder,” said Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The European Court of Justice, the European Union’s highest court, ruled Thursday that Alphabet and its Google unit must pay a €4.1 billion ($4.67 billion) antitrust penalty, dismissing the company’s final appeal and confirming that Google illegally used its Android mobile operating system to block competition. The ruling, in case C-738/22 P, is final, leaving Google with no further avenue to challenge the fine.

The case began in 2018, when the European Commission imposed what was then a record €4.34 billion antitrust penalty against Google. In 2022, the EU’s General Court reduced the fine to €4.1 billion, and Google appealed. On Thursday, judges in Luxembourg upheld the lower court’s decision, confirming that Google abused its dominant market position through Android.

According to the Commission, Google required smartphone manufacturers using Android to pre-install Google Search, the Chrome browser, and the Google Play Store as a condition for licensing key Google services. Regulators also found the company discouraged manufacturers from using alternative versions of Android, limiting competition and reducing consumer choice across the smartphone market.

Android powers the overwhelming majority of smartphones worldwide outside Apple’s ecosystem, making the Commission’s findings especially significant for app developers, device manufacturers, and competing search providers.

Google defended its business practices following the ruling. A company spokesperson said the decision overlooks Google’s investments in keeping Android open, interoperable, and free for manufacturers while arguing that the operating system has expanded—not limited—consumer choice and helped thousands of developers and businesses across Europe.

Consumer advocates welcomed the decision. Agustín Reyna, Director General of the European Consumer Organization, said dominant technology companies cannot use their market power to prevent competition or restrict consumer choice. The case was one of the defining enforcement actions led by former EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, whose portfolio is now held by Teresa Ribera.

Beyond the financial penalty, legal experts say the decision further strengthens Europe’s aggressive approach toward regulating Big Tech. The ruling complements the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, legislation designed to prevent dominant digital platforms from using their market position to disadvantage competitors before lengthy antitrust cases become necessary.

Google also faces mounting legal pressure elsewhere. Earlier this week, a Swedish court ordered the company to pay approximately $1.5 billion in damages to price-comparison service PriceRunner, now owned by Klarna, over anti-competitive practices.

Despite the regulatory setbacks, Alphabet continues investing heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure. The company recently announced plans to spend $40 billion constructing three major data centers in Texas as it competes with rivals including OpenAI and Anthropic in the race to expand AI computing capacity.

Alphabet shares traded about 1% lower following Thursday’s ruling, suggesting investors had largely anticipated the outcome. While the financial impact on Alphabet is manageable given its size, the decision sends another clear message that European regulators intend to maintain strict oversight of the world’s largest technology companies.

JBizNews Desk | Luxembourg

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

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Iran is helping Hamas rebuild inside Gaza by funding large quantities of goods entering the Strip, according to information presented by IDF representatives during recent security discussions and first reported by i24NEWS.

IDF officials said Hamas is taking control of most of the goods entering Gaza and using them to rebuild financially. The revelation has raised concerns that humanitarian and commercial channels into the Strip are being exploited by Hamas as part of its recovery efforts.

The Tzav 9 movement responded sharply, calling on the government to immediately halt what it described as a dangerous failure.

“The horrifying report this evening, according to which Iran is funding goods entering the Gaza Strip in order to allow the murderous Hamas terror organization to take control of them and continue arming itself and preparing at full strength for the next October 7, must lead to the complete and immediate halt of this failure,” the group said.

Tzav 9 further said the trucks entering Gaza are being used as part of Iran’s plan against Israel, warning that continued cooperation with the current flow of goods “could bring another attack on the Gaza border communities closer.”

“Far from the public eye, hundreds of trucks every day are going straight into the hands of the kidnappers and murderers of babies,” the group said. “This is a moment of truth, one step before disaster. The prime minister must stop the Hamas trucks now.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

US President Donald Trump claimed that he was the best president in the history of Israel during an interview with CNBC on Thursday.

“They admit it,” Trump added from the Oval Office, referring to perceived Israeli views towards him.

“How a Jewish person can vote for a Democrat is beyond me,” Trump added.

The US president defended in the interview his decision to go to war with Iran, claiming that “this is not a war per se. This is the de-nuking of Iran.” 

“You can’t let them have a nuclear weapon,” he argued, adding that the four months that the war has lasted is a relatively short amount of time. 

“We are respected again as a country, maybe like never before. A year and a half ago, we were laughed at. They’re not laughing anymore,” he said, adding that the US has “had some very bad presidents.” 

“You know, other presidents are not considered a strong office; even if you’re president, you can’t do as much,” he said. According to CNBC, he appeared to be referring to other countries’ presidents. 

‘Not one ship got through to Iran,’ Trump says

When asked about the Strait of Hormuz, the US president claimed that “not one ship got through to Iran,” which CNBC said suggested the US blockade of the waterway was not breached.

“It was a wall of steel,” said Trump. 

Information from the shipping industry indicates, however, that the blockade was breached multiple times by an Iranian shadow fleet, CNBC said, citing Lloyd’s List, an analysis service that covers global maritime patterns. 

Additionally, Trump repeatedly claimed that Iran would buy agricultural products from the US as part of the ceasefire deal. 

Tehran, however, has refuted this statement, according to CNBC. 

“They’re making no money, so we’re going to take some of the money, and we’re going to buy them,” Trump said. “They need food. They need corn and wheat and soybeans, and we’re going to have exclusively our American farmers provide.”

Trump argued that the proceeds Tehran has gathered from the easing of US sanctions will go towards buying food from the US, not rebuilding Iran’s military. 

However, the Governor of Iran’s central bank, Abdolnaser Hemmati, said the deal does not include an “obligation to buy agricultural inputs from the US,” CNBC said, citing the Iranian news agency Tasnim.

This post was originally published on here.

NEW YORK (AP) — A man holding a Tibetan flag in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York set himself on fire and died Thursday, according to officials.

Law enforcement responded to a 911 call at about 6:30 p.m. and found a 52-year-old man with severe burns throughout his body, the New York Police Department said.

The man was taken to the hospital and later pronounced dead, according to police.

Authorities were investigating. Officials were not able to comment on what prompted the man to set himself on fire.

___

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.

___

The man’s name has not been released because his family hasn’t been notified yet.

A U.N. spokesperson said the incident happened after all scheduled meetings were finished for the day and no U.N. business was affected.

China says Tibet has been part of its territory for more than seven centuries, and its Communist Party has governed the Himalayan region since 1951. But many Tibetans say they were essentially independent for most of their history and have protested what they regard as Beijing’s heavy-handed rule.

There have been more than 150 self-immolations by Tibetans between 2009 and 2022, according to the International Campaign for Tibet.

China does not recognize Tibet’s government-in-exile, the Central Tibetan Administration, and it has not held dialogue with the Dalai Lama’s representatives since 2010.

With a key meeting on seminary placements scheduled for this coming week in Lakewood, renewed calls are being made for meaningful changes to the current placement system, as many families continue to face uncertainty each summer, Askonim tell TLS.

Those involved in the process acknowledge the tremendous effort and dedication invested by hanhalah and others who work to guide the complex seminary placement process each year. However, despite those efforts and ongoing high-level discussions, critics say the current system continues to leave many families without clear answers, creating unnecessary stress during an already significant milestone.

Supporters of reform argue that the recurring uncertainty demonstrates the need for a more reliable and consistent approach. They contend that while the existing framework is well-intentioned, it has not consistently achieved its goal of ensuring predictable placements for applicants.

The following – and attached – was sent out by the vaad for the seminaries:

“We would like you to review the communication we sent to the seminaries last year (attached), which they all signed and committed to.

In preparation for our upcoming meeting in Lakewood, please provide details regarding any breaches of this agreement that occurred within your school. You are encouraged to share with us, as well, positive experiences relating to the admittance process.

Please respond as soon as possible as time is of essence to us.”

[Video below.] A fiery live television debate erupted between Sean Hannity and former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as the two sparred over the growing influence of democratic socialists in New York politics, with the discussion quickly devolving into a heated exchange over policing, immigration, and the Middle East.

The confrontation intensified after Hannity repeatedly questioned de Blasio about the positions of newly elected far-left candidates and whether he supported their agenda. Rather than directly addressing those issues, de Blasio repeatedly shifted the discussion toward U.S. policy in the Middle East.

De Blasio argued that the surprise primary victory of democratic socialist Darializa Avila Chevalier over five-term Congressman Adriano Espaillat was driven largely by voters’ opposition to American involvement in the Middle East. He said Avila Chevalier’s criticism of U.S. policy resonated because “against what America has been doing in the Middle East,” adding that “a clear majority of Americans do not think we should be in a war with Iran,” including many Republicans.

Continuing his point, de Blasio said, “A clear majority of Americans think that what the [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu government has done in Israel to the Palestinian people is wrong,” before Hannity attempted to cut him off.

“Wait, wait, wait. Let me finish!” de Blasio shouted.

Hannity immediately pushed back, insisting the discussion was about New York politics rather than international affairs.

“We’re not talking about Israel. No, no, no. We’re not talking about Israel,” Hannity replied, even as de Blasio asked for an opportunity to complete his remarks.

Hannity then redirected the conversation to Avila Chevalier’s policy positions, saying, “No. We’re talking about [how Avila Chevalier] wants to abolish the police, she wants no borders, she wants illegals that commit murder and rape to not go to prison — and I’m asking you, you were the mayor of New York City, I’m asking you if you would vote for this lady and you’re telling me yes? You’d vote for this lunatic?”

De Blasio answered that he would support Avila Chevalier and said he did not consider the 32-year-old candidate to be a lunatic, even while acknowledging that he disagreed with her on numerous issues.

The debate came as candidates aligned with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and running on strongly progressive, anti-Israel platforms scored victories in three congressional districts. Meanwhile, moderate Democrat Ritchie Torres comfortably held onto his Bronx seat, winning 71% of the primary vote and maintaining strong support among working-class voters.

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

From Jan. 1 to June 30, Jews were the targets of 178 confirmed hate crimes in New York City—more than 55% of all hate crimes that the city recorded, and a 2.3% increase over the 174 in 2025. In the same span, there were about 8.5 times fewer anti-Muslim confirmed hate crimes (21) and about 5.4 times fewer such incidents targeting people based on sexual orientation (33).

Still, when Zohran Mamdani, mayor of New York City, discussed the crime data to date during a press conference at New York City Police Department headquarters on Thursday, he led with the percentage increases of the latter two. “We are still contending with an elevated rise of hate crimes, with hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation climbing by 57%, anti-Muslim hate crimes rising by 50% and antisemitic hate crimes rising by 2%,” the mayor said.

“While Jewish New Yorkers comprise only 10% of our city’s population, antisemitic hate crimes account for 55% of all confirmed hate crimes,” he added. “There is no room for hatred of any kind in our city.”

The 57% increase was from 21 to 33, and the 50% increase was from 14 to 21 from the first half of 2025 to the first half of 2026.

From April 1 to June 30 this year, some 57% of the 172 confirmed hate crimes in the Big Apple targeted Jews (99), and about 4.6% (8) targeted Muslims. Of the 237 reported hate crimes in the city in that span, 138 (58%) targeted Jews while 12 (5%) targeted Muslims.

The city didn’t announce crime statistics for June.

On June 3, the city said that there had been 265 confirmed hate crimes in the city from Jan. 1 to May 31, with 152 targeting Jews and 17 targeting Muslims. Based on the statistics released on Thursday, that would mean that in June, there were 57 confirmed hate crimes, with 26 (45.6%) targeting Jews and 4 (7%) targeting Muslims.

A comparison of NYPD statistics for April, May and June—237 reported hate crimes, with 138 targeting Jews and 12 against Muslims—with reports that the department released in early May and June, suggests that in June, there were 74 reported hate crimes, with 40 (54%) targeting Jews and 6 (8%) targeting Muslims.

On July 1, 2025, the city said that there were 59 hate crimes in June 2025, with 31 (52.5%) targeting Jews.

Mamdani said at the press conference that “over the past six months, New York City has experienced the safest start to any year on record.”

“The data reflects what New Yorkers are feeling on our subways, our streets and across the five boroughs,” he said. “Our whole-of-government approach to public safety is working.”

After recording a 182% increase in anti-Jewish hate crimes in the Big Apple in January, in Zohran Mamdani’s first month as mayor, the city began publishing only “confirmed” hate crimes and not “reported” ones in February. That suggested a decline, although it was hard to compare 2026 statistics with those from 2025.

In March, the city said that it would publish both “confirmed” and “reported” statistics separately each month. The city provides a comparison between “confirmed” 2026 statistics and the prior year, but not of “reported” hate crimes.

The city said that its Hate Crime Task Force investigates alleged hate crimes and determines with the legal bureau of the NYPD “whether it constitutes a hate crime under New York State law.”

“If an incident is deemed a hate crime under the law, it will be categorized as a confirmed hate crime,” the city said. “The NYPD provides data on confirmed hate crimes along with the universe of reported hate crimes—whether or not they are ultimately confirmed as hate crimes by the HCTF. The disclosure of both sets of numbers enhances transparency and reflects best practices in connection with hate crime reporting.”

“New York City’s public safety progress is the result of precision policing and the extraordinary work of the men and women of the NYPD,” stated Jessica Tisch, NYPD commissioner. “They are going after the guns, taking down violent gangs, building the cases, making the arrests and working foot posts that help keep neighborhoods safe.”

“The result is the fewest shooting incidents, shooting victims and murders for the first half of any year in recorded history, along with major crime reductions across the city,” Tisch said. “These numbers reflect focused enforcement, targeted deployments and noble police work. New Yorkers owe their NYPD officers a debt of gratitude for their extraordinary service to our city.”

A department data tool called CompStat 2.0 suggested a drop in hate crimes last month. From June 1 to 28, there were 29 hate crimes—a 42% drop from the 50 in that span in 2025—and hate crimes from Jan. 1 to June 28 were 5.4% higher this year (310) compared to last year (294), per the department. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Iraqi security forces arrested politicians and senior officials in overnight raids inside Baghdad’s
fortified Green Zone earlier this week, in one of the most visible anti-corruption operations Iraq has seen in years and an early test of Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s new government.

The Green Zone has long been a symbol of Iraq’s post-2003 political order: A protected enclave separated from ordinary Iraqis and home to the institutions, embassies, and political networks that have shaped the country’s fragile balance between Washington, Tehran, and its own entrenched elite.

Reuters reported that elite units from the Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) raided homes in the heavily fortified district, while Iraq’s state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) said 47 suspects were detained, including members of parliament and government officials. The arrests followed judicial warrants linked to suspected corruption networks, with some cases reportedly stemming from testimony by Adnan al-Jumaili, the former deputy oil minister for refining affairs, after his earlier
detention.

The Associated Press, citing INA, reported that those arrested included 12 current lawmakers, one former legislator, a former adviser to former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and another high-ranking Oil Ministry official. Some were associated with al-Sudani’s Shiite political bloc, while others were linked to the Sunni Azm Alliance. The specific charges against them were not immediately made public, but an investigative judge said the probe concerned allegations that state resources were used for electioneering and that government contracts were exploited for
commissions and personal gain.

For Al-Zaidi, who took office in May, the operation provides a political opening. It allows the new government to present itself as active, forceful, and willing to challenge a corruption system that has drained Iraqi state institutions for years. But the raids also raise a central question: Do they mark the start of a genuine confrontation with Iraq’s deepest corruption networks, including those tied to armed factions and Iran-linked political interests, or are they a controlled spectacle aimed at satisfying public anger and external pressure while leaving the real centers of power untouched?

Al-Zaidi’s first major test in office

The timing gives the operation added political weight. Al-Zaidi is expected to visit Washington in mid-July to deepen economic, trade, and investment ties with the United States. Reuters reported that the visit is intended to strengthen the Iraqi-US partnership, but also noted that the prime minister faces the broader challenge of curbing Iran-backed fighters, tackling entrenched corruption, and balancing ties between Washington and Tehran.

That balance has grown more sensitive after recent US-Iran understandings and the broader regional effort to reduce hostilities. Earlier this month, US Special Presidential Envoy for Iraq and Syria Tom Barrack visited Baghdad in what The National described as the highest-level American engagement since Al-Zaidi’s government was formed. Washington’s deeper cooperation with Baghdad has been linked to efforts to disarm Iran-backed militias and bring weapons under state
authority.

A report by Asharq Al-Awsat on the Barrack-Al-Zaidi meeting, citing a US Embassy statement, said the two sides discussed Iraq’s plans to ensure the “complete disarmament and disbandment of all armed groups and formations operating outside the authority and control of the Iraqi state,” as well as preventing Iraqi territory from being used to threaten regional peace. The same report noted that mechanisms for imposing a state monopoly over arms remain unclear and that some factions have continued to oppose disarmament.

In that context, analysts read the Green Zone raids as more than a domestic anti-corruption operation. One publicly reported link to Iran-related allegations was the arrest of Ali Maarij, the deputy oil minister for distribution affairs.

Reuters reported that the United States sanctioned Maarij in May, accusing him of helping divert Iraqi oil to benefit Iran and Iran-backed militias and of facilitating the blending of Iranian crude with Iraqi oil for export using falsified documents.
Iraq’s Oil Ministry denied the allegations at the time, saying the activities described by Washington did not fall within Maarij’s responsibilities.

Analysts question the scope of the crackdown

Still, the broader campaign has not yet visibly targeted the most powerful Iran-aligned militia figures or the political leaderships around them. For some Iraqi observers, that is the point. Middle East political analyst Dr. Tallha Abdulrazaq argues that the operation should be judged not by the scale of the raids, but by who remains untouched.

“For there to be a real shift, Al-Zaidi would have to start targeting the real big whales of corruption that have plagued Iraq for almost a quarter of a century since the US-led invasion in 2003,” Abdulrazaq told The Media Line. “This operation is designed to give the impression that Iraq is finally cleaning itself up, but the reality is that those arrested are small fry and expendable fall guys.”

His assessment is severe, but it captures widespread Iraqi skepticism toward state-led reform campaigns. Iraq has seen previous governments announce anti-corruption efforts, only for them to stall, be reversed, or become entangled in elite bargaining.

Under former prime ministers Haider al-Abadi and Mustafa al-Kadhimi, reform language often collided with the realities of Iraq’s power-sharing system, party patronage, and militia-linked economic influence. Political analyst Alfadhel Ahmad offered a more cautious reading. He said the arrests have generated momentum for Al-Zaidi but warned that their real meaning depends on what comes next.

“So far, the arrests have targeted third-tier Sunni politicians and associates of former PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, most linked to the network of Adnan al-Jumaili, the oil ministry undersecretary arrested earlier,” Ahmad told The Media Line. “Real intentions are hard to judge yet, but these arrests have clearly added political momentum and a cautious popular legitimacy to Al-Zaidi and Al-Zaidi’s new government.”

Ahmad also pointed to the choreography of the raids as part of the message. The use of elite security units gave the operation the appearance of a decisive state intervention, even if many of the targeted figures were not among Iraq’s most protected actors. “Their and Al – Zaidi’s also a deliberate effort to project spectacle, deploying tanks and counterterrorism units to arrest figures who mostly have no militia protecting them,” he said.

The deployment of the CTS is especially symbolic. The CTS is one of Iraq’s most respected security
forces, closely associated with the fight against the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, and, at least formally, answerable to the prime minister. Its use in a corruption operation inside the Green Zone sends a political message that Al-Zaidi can command the state’s coercive institutions against senior political figures.

Abdulrazaq sees the use of the CTS as part of the performance rather than proof of institutional strength. “The use of the Counter Terrorism Service was, again, just for theatrical purposes,” he said. “… it was designed to show that Zaidi himself has authority and command.” The deeper issue is whether Iraq’s state institutions can act independently of the networks that dominate them.

For years, corruption in Iraq has not been limited to individual theft or administrative abuse. It is embedded in party financing, public-sector contracts, oil revenues, border crossings, ministries, and armed groups with political representation. That helps explain why anti-corruption campaigns are often interpreted through factional politics:
who is arrested, who is spared, and whose benefits are protected.

“This strikes at the heart of the matter,” Abdulrazaq said. “The Iraqi state literally is the militia-linked economic structure and the militia-controlled parliament and government. There is no separation between them.” For Ahmad, the test is still open. He does not rule out the possibility that Al-Zaidi could use this early momentum to expand the campaign, but says the threshold must be clear: The government would have to move beyond expendable figures and begin touching interests tied to powerful factions.

“Worth remembering: Iraqi politicians have always reversed reform and anti-corruption efforts,” Ahmad said. “Iraqis have a long record of distrusting government action, fearing the same outcomes they, and Al- Zaidi’s have seen before.” “Al-Zaidi has a clear chance to prevent backsliding by building on this momentum to expand toward key politicians and test the waters for confronting interests tied to pro-Iranian militias in Iraq,” he added.

That is also where the Tehran question enters the story. The raids unfolded while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was in Iraq. Iranian state media reported that Araghchi held separate meetings with the governors of Karbala and Najaf to discuss arrangements for funeral ceremonies in Iraq for the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Some observers have questioned whether the arrests, the US diplomatic track, and Araghchi’s visit are connected.

Both analysts interviewed rejected a direct link between Araghchi’s trip and the Green Zone operation, but they interpreted that absence differently. “I wouldn’t and Al-Zaidi bother reading too much into the timing apart from the fact that it shows Iran isnand Al-Zaidi bothered at all by Al-Zaidi and Al- Zaidi’s move,” Abdulrazaq said.

“Tehran is extremely pragmatic and would be more than happy to sacrifice a few nobodies and placeholder MPs just so that the current system that serves its interests continues.”

Ahmad was more restrained, saying there is no evidence so far that the two matters are connected. “Regarding Araghchi’s visit, those two things are not connected, at least for what is known till now. He came to arrange Khamenei’s ceremonies in Najaf and Karbala.”

Washington and Tehran watch Iraq’s next move

The distinction is important. There is a difference between proving operational coordination with Tehran and arguing that the campaign avoids Iran-linked power centers. The first requires evidence that has not publicly emerged. The second is a political assessment based on who has been targeted so far and who has not.

Ahmad said the campaign may be useful to the Coordination Framework, the largest Shiite political bloc and the core parliamentary force behind Iraq’s current order, as it tries to navigate US pressure without rupturing its ties to Iran-aligned factions. “The Coordination Framework … may be trying to market this campaign to Washington,” he said. “But importantly, the campaign has not yet touched any Iran-linked interests or proxies.”

That gap between optics and substance could become decisive ahead of Al-Zaidi’s expected Washington visit.

The United States is not only looking at corruption as a governance issue; it is also looking at corruption as part of the infrastructure that allows armed groups, smuggling networks, and foreign influence to survive inside the Iraqi system.

Abdulrazaq argued that Washington’s focus is less about corruption itself than about regional compliance. “I don’t think Al-Zaidi thinks the US necessarily cares about corruption per se,” he said. “What the US cares about is compliance with its ambitions in the region.”

Ahmad’s conclusion was similar, though less categorical. He said the real measure will be whether the campaign moves against militia-linked interests, not only politicians without serious armed protection. “Against the broader US demands, al- Zaidi’s no sign anything has changed on the ground,” he said. “I think we should watch what follows these campaigns, specifically whether the government moves to undermine militia-linked interests.”

Ahmad said that if the campaign stops where it is, it will likely be read as a maneuver by Iraq’s political elite to manage American expectations. “Otherwise, the likeliest reading is that Iraq and al- Zaidi’s political class is trying to circumvent US demands and present Washington a false picture, especially ahead of the PMand al- Zaidi’s anticipated visit, at the expense of expendable, marginal politicians.”

Another layer is internal score-settling. Anti-corruption campaigns in Iraq often become tools in factional struggles, especially when the justice system is activated selectively. Abdulrazaq said this campaign appears to fit that pattern.

“This is absolutely also about score settling,” he said. “To be clear, those arrested are almost certainly also corrupt, but, effectively, Zaidi is eliminating certain political rivals on behalf of the Coordination Framework of Shia Islamists close to Iran.”

The next phase will determine success

The arrests have created three parallel narratives: The government’s narrative is that Iraq is finally acting against corruption. The public’s cautious reaction is shaped by years of disappointment and distrust. The analysts’ warning is that the campaign may be real only if it expands toward the political and militia-linked structures that have long been treated as untouchable.

For now, Al-Zaidi has achieved visibility. The Green Zone was sealed, senior figures were detained, and the state projected force at a moment when Washington is demanding proof that Baghdad can control armed groups and reduce Iranian influence.

But visibility is not the same as transformation.

What comes next will determine whether this becomes a turning point or another episode in Iraq’s long history of controlled reform. If the arrests remain confined to lower- and mid-level actors, Sunni rivals, and associates of the previous government, the campaign will reinforce the suspicion that Baghdad is offering Washington a staged concession while preserving the system beneath it.

If it moves toward senior militia-linked economic interests and the political figures protecting them, then Al-Zaidi may begin to test the foundations of Iraq’s post-2003 order.

Until then, the Green Zone raids remain less a conclusion than a question: whether Iraq’s new government is confronting corruption or simply managing the appearance of confrontation at a moment when both Washington and Tehran are watching.

This post was originally published on here.

The FBI has significantly intensified its investigation into the handling of the 2020 election in Georgia’s Fulton County, deploying personnel from field offices across the country to assist with an extensive review of evidence tied to the case.

According to multiple sources familiar with the effort, the bureau has instructed FBI offices nationwide to send intelligence analysts to Atlanta as part of a large-scale operation. An internal memo obtained by CBS News shows that the FBI’s Directorate of Intelligence requested the additional manpower to support what it identified as FBI Director Kash Patel’s “priority” investigation. Although the memo does not specifically identify the case, sources confirmed it pertains to the ongoing Fulton County 2020 election investigation.

The directive requires every FBI field office to contribute analysts, with the bureau aiming to assemble a team of 260 personnel. Under the plan, larger offices are expected to provide eight analysts, while medium and smaller offices must assign between three and five. Each analyst has been tasked with reviewing 708 records, with the entire project scheduled for completion by July 17.

The analysts being assigned are part of the FBI’s tactical intelligence teams, whose responsibilities generally include investigative support such as conducting database searches, reviewing phone records, analyzing subpoena responses, performing open-source research, running license plate checks, and assisting agents with other routine investigative tasks.

MS Now was the first news outlet to report on the nationwide deployment of analysts.

President Trump has long maintained that serious irregularities occurred during the 2020 election in Fulton County, alleging that ballot totals were manipulated and claiming that votes were cast by deceased individuals, nonresidents, and other people who were not legally eligible to vote. He has not publicly presented evidence substantiating those claims.

After losing Georgia by 11,799 votes, President Trump repeatedly asserted that the election had been “rigged.” However, the state’s results were reaffirmed through both a machine recount and a statewide audit that included a hand recount of ballots in every Georgia county, with both processes confirming Joe Biden’s victory.

Earlier this year, FBI agents executed a search warrant in Fulton County, taking possession of all physical ballots from the 2020 election, along with ballot images, voter rolls, and data tapes from vote-counting machines. Fulton County, which includes Atlanta, played a decisive role in Biden’s narrow statewide victory.

The investigation originated from a referral by attorney Kurt Olsen, who previously worked on legal efforts challenging the outcome of the 2020 election. Olsen now serves with the Justice Department in Miami, where he is involved in investigating what has been described as the “grand conspiracy” examining whether officials from the Obama and Biden administrations coordinated efforts to prevent President Trump from returning to office.

In May, a judge rejected Fulton County’s request to have the seized ballots returned while the investigation remains underway.

The FBI declined to comment on the investigation.

{Matzav.com}

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar issued a blistering response on Thursday to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan after the senior Turkish official launched a harsh verbal attack against Israel during an interview with CNN Turk, accusing him of using rhetoric that amounted to incitement against the Jewish state.

During the interview, Fidan declared, “Israel is not just Turkey’s problem, nor is it solely President Erdogan’s issue. The only difference is that President Erdogan is the one openly saying that what is wrong is wrong. That is a separate matter, and it is something humanity itself should reflect on.”

He continued by asserting, “But everyone knows it and feels it. People whisper it behind closed doors, and from time to time they say it openly. This is a problem for all of humanity. That’s what we should call it.”

Escalating his criticism even further, Fidan said, “These people have become a burden that humanity can no longer bear. With these policies and this mindset, humanity cannot carry this burden. The human conscience cannot bear it. Political systems cannot sustain it, and economic systems cannot sustain it. No matter which framework you use, there is no parameter under which these people can be sustained.”

Calling for international action against Israel, the Turkish foreign minister added, “If you expect me to solve your problem on your behalf all by myself, then everyone must step up, take a diplomatic stance, and impose the necessary sanctions on those people.”

Fidan also alleged that “Israel is currently searching for a new enemy” and warned, “As long as Israel – or any other actor – acts in ways that conflict with our national and regional interests, we have no reason to fear anyone, hesitate, or back down.”

He further suggested that Turkey would not shy away from a military confrontation, stating, “We have no problem with confrontation. If it comes to that, it is not an issue for us.”

Sa’ar swiftly fired back, sharply condemning the comments. “Turkish FM Hakan Fidan’s sickening words are textbook incitement to genocide.”

He added, “Dehumanizing the Jewish people as an ‘unbearable burden’ is the classic, horrific language of history’s worst eliminationist regimes.”

Sa’ar concluded by urging the international community to respond, saying, “The civilized world and Turkey’s NATO allies must unequivocally condemn this explicit call for the erasure of Israel.”

Fidan’s latest remarks add to a growing pattern of increasingly hostile statements by senior Turkish officials. Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned that Israeli military operations in Syria and Lebanon had reached a stage where they posed a threat to Turkey as well.

Just days before that, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Çiftçi asserted that Turkey would eventually regain control of Jerusalem.

Relations between Israel and Turkey had been moving toward normalization before Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre in southern Israel. Since then, however, Turkish leaders—led by Erdogan—have repeatedly intensified their criticism of Israel and its military operations.

In March of last year, Erdogan denounced Israel as a “terror state” after it carried out surprise strikes against terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip.

Several months later, the Turkish president claimed that the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posed the greatest danger to stability in the Middle East.

More recently, in April, prosecutors in Istanbul filed a sweeping indictment against 35 senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, over the Israeli navy’s interception of the “Sumud” flotilla that attempted to reach Gaza in October of last year.

{Matzav.com}

A Monsey woman is celebrating an extraordinary stroke of Hashgocha after claiming one of the New York Lottery’s biggest scratch-off prizes, turning a ticket purchased in Spring Valley into a multimillion-dollar windfall.

Henya Fried recently came forward to claim the grand prize in the New York Lottery’s “Set for Life” scratch-off game. The jackpot gives winners the option of collecting $5,000 every week for the rest of their lives or taking a single lump-sum payment of roughly $3.46 million before taxes.

According to information released by the New York State Lottery, the annuity option provides annual payments of $260,000 before taxes for the first 20 years. If the winner is still alive after that period, the weekly payments continue for the remainder of his or her lifetime.

Official paperwork from the New York State Gaming Commission’s Prize Payments Unit, dated June 25, 2026, outlined both payout choices and included the necessary forms for Fried to select the option she prefers. The documents also detailed the applicable tax information.

Mrs. Fried is the wife of Meir Fried, who serves as Customer Service Manager at Rockland Kosher Supermarket and is widely recognized throughout the Monsey community for his dedication to helping others.

{Matzav.com}

I am writing about the summer bungalow/upstate issue.

When we were growing up, things were different. Today, we are living in a generation with more addictions, more struggles, and more hidden challenges. We need to stop and think seriously about what is happening.

I am speaking from firsthand experience with many people I know. In many cases, having wives and families upstate for the whole week while husbands stay home is terrible for the marriage and for the family.

Many men are home alone all week. Some end up on gambling trips. Some fall into addictions. Boundaries become weaker. Things that should only be done together with a wife become more open and casual with others. Men have nisyonos, and we cannot pretend everything is fine.

Women should know that while they are upstate, things may not always be what they think they are.

Please, Rabbanim and community leaders, take this seriously. Kedusha, marriages, and families are in serious danger. This needs to be addressed before more damage is done.

Name withheld upon request.

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The IDF has significantly reduced the time it takes to warn troops and civilians of explosive drones launched from Lebanon, marking a major improvement in Israel’s defenses against one of Hezbollah’s most persistent threats.

According to an N12 report, the upgraded system dramatically shortens the time between detecting an incoming drone and issuing alerts to forces in the field and communities in the affected area.

The improvement is the result of a joint effort by the IDF’s C4I Directorate, Ground Forces, Northern Command, and Home Front Command. The project integrates multiple detection sensors, artificial intelligence to rapidly analyze incoming data, and direct links to Israel’s warning systems to deliver alerts within seconds.

A senior military official said the new system is already proving effective by giving troops valuable additional time to take cover or attempt to bring down the drones before impact.

“The integration of the IDF’s multi-branch systems with our warning network has significantly improved both the speed and scope of alerts for explosive drones,” the official said. “Warnings are now delivered within just a few seconds, helping save lives.”

While officials acknowledged that a comprehensive interception solution for drone threats is still under development, they said the faster warning system is expected to reduce casualties by giving soldiers and civilians precious extra seconds to respond.

The enhanced warning capability comes alongside the IDF’s ongoing offensive operations targeting Hezbollah drone operators and launch infrastructure in Lebanon.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A two-day hearing regarding Zillow’s preliminary injunction motion in its ongoing antitrust battle with Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) and Compass International Holdings kicked off Wednesday morning in federal court in Chicago. 

The hearing is focused on a motion Zillow filed in mid-May seeking to prevent the Chicagoland MLS from terminating its listing feed sent to Zillow. Just days after this motion was filed, MRED cut off Zillow’s access to its listing feed after the portal allegedly refused to cure what the MLS calls a “material breach” of its license agreements. The feed was restored a few days later after Judge John Tharp, Jr. granted Zillow a temporary restraining order (TRO).

In early June, Judge Tharp extended the TRO, which also prevents Zillow from banning any MRED listings from its site, until the court either rules on Zillow’s preliminary injunction motion or grants MRED’s motion to compel arbitration, which is also currently pending.

The hearing is proceeding as scheduled despite an attempt by MRED earlier this week to have the court deny Zillow’s motion prior to the start of the hearing, seeking a stay on all arbitratable matters and claiming that the injunction is unnecessary given the TRO currently in place. 

Wednesday morning’s proceedings included opening statements by all three parties and the beginning of Errol Samuelson’s, Zillow’s chief industry development officer, testimony.

Other executives expected to testify at the hearing include MRED’s managing director and chief technology officer Chris Haran, Compass regional vice president Fran Broude, Zillow’s chief financial officer Jeremy Hoffman, the broker-owner of McColly Real Estate Ron McColly, Compass CEO Robert Reffkin and MRED CEO Rebecca Jensen. In addition, there will be two expert witnesses, Lawrence Wu, the president of NERA Economic Consulting, and attorney Debra Aron, who is the vice president of Charles River Associates’ Competition Practice. 

The Zillow-Compass-MRED saga

The hearing is just one part of an antitrust lawsuit Zillow filed in mid-May, claiming that MRED and Compass conspired to withhold listing data and pressure Zillow to carry private “hidden” listings nationwide.

Zillow is arguing that MRED’s October 2025 clarification of its IDX and VOW rules to state that IDX participants may filter listings only using objective criteria, such as geography, price, property type and listing type were part of a concerted effort by the MLS and Compass to harm Zillow for its listing access standards policy, which bans listings that are publicly marketed for more than one business day prior to being available to display on IDX or VOW-powered websites. 

Courtroom action

According to sources in the courtroom Wednesday morning, in opening statements, Zillow’s counsel discussed an alleged coordinated effort by Compass and MRE to hide homes from consumers and that Compass pressured MRED to prevent Zillow from enforcing its listing access standards policy. The listing portal giant also argued that hiding listings from Zillow, the nation’s largest home search portal, harms buyers and sellers and could have an impact on housing affordability and availability. 

Sources told HousingWire that counsel for Compass and MRED claimed that Zillow’s listing access standards policy is solely focused on maintaining Zillow’s user traffic and not about market transparency and that the MLS is neutral industry infrastructure.

Counsel for MRED noted that Zillow would be able to maintain its access to MRED’s IDX listing feed if it did not enforce its listing access standards policy. The MLS’s attorney also contended that Zillow is challenging the rule because it conflicts with Zillow’s business model, and said MRED’s role is to distribute listings fairly rather than favor any one company.

As for Errol Samuelson’s testimony, a Zillow spokesperson told HousingWire that much of the testimony focused on the impact of private listing networks on buyers, sellers, agents, most brokers and the market at large. According to the spokesperson, Samuelson argued that Compass’s private listings are “false private” because they’re available for anyone to see as long as they work with a Compass agent, making it not about privacy for the seller at all.

During his time on the stand, the spokesperson said Samuelson drew a key distinction between truly private listings — which Zillow does not object to — and Compass’s “black box” Phase 1 of its three-phased marketing strategy, which publicly advertises the existence of off-market homes to allegedly lure buyers into Compass offices. 

“I cannot see those listings without in some way working with a Compass agent,” the spokesperson quotes Samuelson as saying, arguing that using private listings as a marketing hook to capture buyers is what makes Compass’s model harmful to competition and sellers alike. 

Additionally, the spokesperson said Samuelson noted that Zillow has been able to enforce its listing access standards policy everywhere else without any other MLSs cutting off its IDX feed, which Samuelson argued was evidence of MRED taking these actions on behalf of Compass. 

While no other MLS has actually shut off Zillow’s listing feed, Nashville-based MLS Realtracs had threatened to suspend Zillow’s feed if the listing portal failed to comply with the MLS’s updated IDX display rules. As of June 8, 2026, Realtracs had decided to continue distributing listings to Zillow while the two parties engaged in continued contract negotiations. 

Like MRED, Realtracs announced plans to expand nationwide after securing national listing feed agreements with Compass, as well as with United Real Estate.

Expected arguments

Prior to the start of the hearing, a Compass spokesperson told HousingWire that his firm is planning on arguing that Zillow, unlike licensed brokerages, does not compete for listings or owe fiduciary duties to consumers, yet is using its dominant home search platform to dictate how brokers market properties and restrict seller choice.

The company contends that Zillow’s Listing Access Standards harm consumers by penalizing sellers who choose lawful phased marketing strategies, hiding active MLS listings from buyers without clear disclosure, and undermining MRED’s long-standing Private Listing Network. Compass also plans to argue that Zillow profits from broker-created listing data while applying its policy inconsistently and using its market power to entrench its dominance rather than promote transparency.

“Zillow says that consumers deserve to see the full market. But it is both banning active, publicly available MLS listings from its platform and deceiving consumers by labeling those listings as not for sale,” the spokesperson said. “If Zillow were genuinely committed to transparency, every MLS listing would appear on Zillow without the deceptive features it adds.” 

In a post on its Front Porch blog prior to the start of the hearing, Zillow said that in court it would “present evidence regarding MRED and Compass conspiring to cut off Zillow’s listing feed in violation of federal antitrust law, among other allegations of wrongdoing.”

“And we will present evidence that MRED and Compass did it not to protect consumers or set neutral MLS policy, but to advance Compass’ private listing business at the expense of consumers and other MRED member brokers,” the post states.

MRED did not immediately respond to HousingWire’s request for comments regarding the start of the hearing.

Next steps

Although the court’s ruling from this hearing only pertains to Zillow’s preliminary injunction motion, a ruling could provide some insight as to which way Judge Tharp is leaning in the overall case, as part of the criteria to be awarded a preliminary injunction, Zillow must show that it is likely to prevail at trial. If the motion is denied, that would mean that Zillow was unable to meet this burden, indicating that there is a chance the defendants prevail in a trial, if Zillow does not provide stronger arguments and evidence. 

All parties must file any post-hearing briefs by July 9 and any replies to the post-hearing briefs are due by July 13. After this Judge Tharp will rule on the motion. However the ruling may take at least a few weeks if not months. 

This post was originally published on here.

[Photos below.] After nearly five years without a city rov, the famed Torah city of Gateshead welcomed its new mara d’asra, Rav Yisroel Mantel, who officially arrived from New York to assume the city’s rabbinic leadership. Led by the Gateshead rosh yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Gurwicz, thousands of residents lined the streets to greet him, while many of Europe’s leading roshei yeshiva participated in a historic installation ceremony marking the beginning of a new chapter for the storied kehillah.

The atmosphere throughout Gateshead was one of extraordinary excitement and celebration as residents gathered to welcome Rav Mantel, who until now served as rav of Congregation Adath Jeshurun (KAJ) in Washington Heights. With his arrival, the city once again has a spiritual leader after almost five years without a mara d’asra.

For weeks, the community had been preparing for the long-awaited occasion, anticipating the arrival of the distinguished rav whose Torah scholarship and leadership they hope will guide the city for years to come.

The rabbinic position had remained vacant since 2020, when the previous rov, Rav Shraga Feivel Zimmerman, left Gateshead to become gaavad of the Federation community in London. During the intervening years, community leaders conducted an extensive international search for a Torah giant with the halachic stature and leadership qualities necessary to shepherd one of Europe’s foremost centers of Torah learning.

The turning point came about a year ago when Rav Mantel, who had served with great distinction for many years as rov of the historic KAJ community in Washington Heights, announced that he intended to relocate to England in order to live closer to his children, who reside in Gateshead.

The day’s events began as Rav Mantel made his way down Gateshead’s main thoroughfare, Bewick Road. Crowds of residents, avreichim, and baalei batim filled the streets to welcome their new mara d’asra. Accompanying him was an impressive delegation of Torah leaders, headed by Europe’s senior rosh yeshiva and one of the gedolei hador, Rav Avrohom Gurwicz, rosh yeshiva of Gateshead Yeshiva, together with Rav Yaakov Erentreu, rosh yeshiva of Sunderland Yeshiva, and the Sunderland mashgiach.

Later in the day, the official installation ceremony took place as the entire Gateshead Torah community gathered for what many described as a historic celebration honoring the Torah and formally installing Rav Mantel as the city’s rav and spiritual shepherd.

The event was held in the city’s Bewick Hall, which had been specially decorated in honor of the occasion. Musical selections were performed by the Gateshead Chapel choir, accompanied by a children’s chorus.

The program was skillfully emceed by Rav Yehuda Leib Wittler, rosh yeshiva of Shaarei Chaim in Manchester. Opening remarks were delivered by community chairman Rabbi Meir Menashe Badner, who welcomed the attendees and expressed the community’s joy at reaching this milestone.

The Sunderland mashgiach, Rav Mordechai Yosef Karnovsky, then recited chapters of Tehillim, followed by a special Mi Shebeirach for the recovery of the Brisker rosh yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua ben Ettil.

Messages of brocha from leading Torah authorities around the world were read during the ceremony. Among those sending letters were Rav Moshe Sternbuch; Slabodka roshei yeshiva Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch; Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman; Rav Berel Povarsky; numerous rabbonim from across Europe; the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of London; and the beis din of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congregations.

The emotional high point came when Rav Yaakov Erentreu, rosh yeshiva of Sunderland Yeshiva, read the formal document of appointment, bearing the signatures of the city’s rabbonim and roshei yeshiva. He then presented it to Rav Mantel, prompting the assembled crowd to erupt in cries of “Mazel Tov” accompanied by spirited singing and dancing.

Rav Avrohom Gurwicz then addressed the gathering. He was followed by the guest speaker, Rav Aharon Schiff, gaavad of Antwerp, who spoke about the unique role of a rav in guiding Klal Yisroel with siyata diShmaya and emphasized that unity is the foundation of every thriving Torah community.

Rav Chaim Moshe Levy, rav of Zurich’s German-Jewish community, also addressed the audience and conveyed greetings from Rav Hirsch Elimelech Padwa, rav of Zurich’s chassidic community.

Before delivering his inaugural address, Rav Mantel participated in the local custom of formally acquiring a new tallis. The garment had been purchased by one of the community’s longest-standing members, Reb Yossel Schleider. Rav Mantel donned the tallis after reciting Shehecheyanu and the berachah of Lehisatef BaTzitzis.

Rav Mantel then delivered his first address as mara d’asra, captivating the audience with words of Torah and inspiration emphasizing the centrality of Torah study and praising the invaluable role of baalei batim who faithfully support Torah institutions.

Among those in attendance were many of Europe’s leading rabbonim and roshei yeshiva, including the city’s former rav, Rav Shraga Feivel Zimmerman of London’s Federation community; Rav Paltiel Schwartz of the KDAT Beis Din in London; Rav Chaim Heimlich, av beis din of Manchester’s Machzikei Hadass community; Rav Avrohom Arentreu, rosh yeshiva of Netzach Yisroel; members of the city’s rabbinical council; Rav Yitzchok Tzvi Strau, rav of the city’s chassidic beis medrash; and numerous other distinguished Torah leaders from across Europe.

{Matzav.com}

Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s new Supreme Leader and son of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, reportedly wants to attend his father’s funeral and lead the funeral prayers, but Iranian security officials are refusing to allow him to appear publicly over fears he could be assassinated.

Iran International reported, citing an interview with Hakim Elahi, Khamenei’s representative in India, that Mojtaba has expressed a strong desire to take part in the funeral procession and lead the prayers over his father’s body. Security officials in Tehran, however, have warned that a public appearance would pose an immediate danger to his life.

Elahi said he visited Iran last week and met with people close to Mojtaba, who confirmed that he wants to come out publicly during the mourning events. According to the account, Iranian intelligence and security officials told him they cannot guarantee his safety in the current conditions and that appearing before a mass crowd would place him in grave danger.

The main concern is Israel’s advanced intelligence and technological capabilities, including facial recognition, close surveillance and real-time location tracking, which Iranian officials fear could turn the funeral into an opportunity for an assassination.

Elahi also said Ali Khamenei did not leave specific instructions naming who should lead the funeral prayers. Under normal circumstances, the newly selected Supreme Leader would be expected to lead them, but officials believe the current security risk makes that impossible.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In a highly unusual security initiative, the IDF has established a “security cattle herd” beyond the border fence in the Golan Heights in an effort to strengthen Israel’s hold on a vulnerable stretch of land that for years saw repeated incursions by Syrian shepherds and other figures from across the border.

According to the report, the project was launched about six months ago as part of the IDF’s post–October 7 shift in defensive thinking. The initiative was led by outgoing Golan Brigade commander Col. Benny Kata, who recruited Yoel Zilberman, founder and CEO of HaShomer HaChadash, to bring a cattle herd into a roughly 10,000-dunam area beyond the border fence opposite the communities of Eliad, Avnei Eitan, Nov, and Hispin.

For years, Syrian shepherds, livestock, and other individuals reportedly entered the area at times approaching IDF positions forcing repeated troop deployments and triggering infiltration alerts. The army invested major resources trying to push them back.

According to the report, IDF officials say the reality on the ground changed once the herd was introduced. The continuous civilian-agricultural presence created an ongoing Israeli foothold in the area, pushed Syrian shepherds away, and strengthened Israeli control over the terrain.

Zilberman said that until the end of 2025, only a soldier wearing body armor, carrying a weapon, and equipped with a helmet could enter the area, while civilians certainly could not move around there freely. He described the region as having been completely empty and lacking infrastructure, but said it has now been transformed into an active agricultural zone where people ride horses and maintain the land. He called it a major shift in the IDF’s defense concept following the October 7 attack.

Zilberman also said many residents on the Israeli side may not realize that this stretch of land spanning kilometers has remained under Israeli control since the 1974 ceasefire lines, but that the border fence itself was built west of the actual line for topographical and operational reasons. As a result, he said, communities ended up sitting almost directly against the fence and Israel effectively lost a significant defensive buffer zone.

A senior officer in the sector said the project has already proven itself. “Since we brought in the herds and installed cattle fencing, there are no Syrian shepherds here, no cows, and no concern about explosives being placed on the fence,” he said. “In practice, we’ve taken back control of the original border.”

The project is now also being coordinated between the Israel Land Authority and the IDF to regulate use of the area, which is officially designated a closed military zone. As part of the effort, roughly 22 kilometers of cattle fencing have been erected, including electric fencing near mined areas. Zilberman said the Palsar Golan reconnaissance unit alone built nearly 14 kilometers of fencing brought into the area.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

American officials reportedly became increasingly concerned this spring that Israel might target Iran’s most senior diplomatic representatives during sensitive backchannel peace negotiations, fearing such an attack could destroy ongoing efforts to end the conflict, according to a report published Thursday by The New York Times.

The report said those fears intensified in April, even though Israel had made the elimination of key Iranian leaders a cornerstone of its military campaign after fighting erupted on February 28, following an airstrike that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Among the officials believed to be at greatest risk were Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. According to the Times, the Trump administration worried that killing either man would shatter the delicate negotiations and spark another round of large-scale fighting. To prevent that scenario, U.S. officials reportedly asked regional allies to quietly warn Tehran about the perceived danger.

The episode underscored the differing priorities between Washington and Israel. While the Trump administration was focused on securing a negotiated settlement, Israeli leaders remained deeply skeptical of diplomacy and opposed making significant concessions to Iran.

The dangers facing Iran’s negotiating team were far from theoretical. Ghalibaf had already escaped death twice after being rescued from collapsed buildings—first during the 12-day war in June 2025 and again this year following a strike on a bunker.

According to The New York Times, one of the most dramatic incidents unfolded as Ghalibaf was returning from talks with Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad. After Pakistani fighter jets escorted his aircraft toward the Iranian border, intelligence reportedly indicated that two Israeli fighter jets had crossed into western Iranian airspace from the direction of Iraq in an apparent attempt to intercept the flight.

Faced with the potential threat, the aircraft diverted to Mashhad instead of continuing to Tehran. From there, the delegation completed the journey by road, enduring an eight-hour drive to the capital. Despite the close call, Iranian negotiators reportedly continued traveling abroad for additional diplomatic meetings in Qatar and Switzerland.

{Matzav.com}

1. Before dating, a person should first look into the prospective spouse’s character and her yiras Shamayim. Rav Wolbe explained that yiras Shamayim is not measured by how long or how intensely a person davens, but rather by how a woman conducts oneself in matters of tznius. Similarly, Rav Chaim Kanievsky said that a girl’s level of tznius is the equivalent of a boy’s hasmadah in Torah learning.

In addition, he would advise that one should investigate whether there are any inheritable medical conditions. The Gemara in Yevamos states that one should not marry from a family with epilepsy, and Rashi explains that this is because it is an inherited illness. This teaches that hereditary diseases are a factor that should be taken into consideration.

At the same time, these matters require the guidance of a competent rav or posek. The Gemara discusses the significance of family history, particularly regarding brothers and sisters in certain contexts, but the practical halachah depends upon the nature of the condition and the medical understanding of its likelihood of being inherited. Therefore, one should present the specific circumstances to a rav or posek, who can determine, in consultation with current medical knowledge where appropriate, whether the condition is considered a halachic concern.

2. The Gemara in Brachos 8a cites the verse that every chassid should daven that, at the moment he is in need, he will find that Hashem has already provided what he requires. The Gemara explains that one interpretation of this refers to finding a wife. From here we see that tefillah plays a role in the timing of one’s marriage. This is the Gemara’s guidance for attaining good timing in finding one’s shidduch: only through tefillah.

In Sefer Igra d’Kallah from the Bnei Yissachar, Matos, on the passuk v’chol isha yodaas, it states that there is a reliable transmission that whomever needs a shidduch should say kapital 121, Shir HaMa’alos Esa Einay, before the yehi ratzon and the conclusion of Shemoneh Esrei.

Another reason for tefillah is found in the Sefer Minchas HaMa’or (Ner Gimmel, Klal Vav, Chelek Beis, Perek 100). He cites the verses, “מה’ יצא הדבר” and “היא האשה אשר הוכיח ה’,” which teach that a person’s spouse is determined by Hashem. Nevertheless, he writes that a person should constantly daven for a proper shidduch, because perhaps, due to his sins, he will receive a spouse according to his deeds rather than according to the ideal match prepared for him.

This is based on the Gemara in Sotah 2a, where Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish teaches that a person’s zivug sheini is given according to his deeds. Therefore, even though a person’s match comes from Hashem, one should continually daven that his sins should not interfere and that he should merit the proper shidduch with Hashem’s mercy.

See further the Chochmas Manoach to Yevamos 63a.

3. The Gemara in Yevamos 63a advises, “Be deliberate when taking a wife.” Rashi explains that this means one should carefully investigate her behavior and personality to ascertain that she is not a bad or contentious woman. The Meiri clarifies that this means she is not quick to anger, but rather easygoing and peaceful. It may be noted that Rav Wolbe said, in his experience, a man’s quick temper is among the most destructive traits in marriage, and a woman’s stubbornness is among the worst, though he added that if it does not bother you, it is fine as well. (In the event that only post-marriage he found that out, the Meiri writes there that he should bear her according to his capacity and leave a place for peace.)

Rav Wolbe would say not to rush because in most cases the determining factor as to whether, how, and whether one’s inner strengths will be brought out is dependent on his wife, as Chazal say, “הכל תלוי באשה.”

The Gemara also offers another piece of advice: “Go down a step and take a wife.” Rashi explains that a person should not marry a woman of a higher social standing than himself, since he may not find acceptance in her eyes. Likewise, Rashi in Kiddushin 49a explains that a wife who comes from a more distinguished background than her husband may consider herself superior to him and conduct herself with haughtiness toward him. We see from this that the goal it is trying to achieve is that the wife should accept you as her husband, long term. That, says the Gemara, can only be if she is able to respect you. Rabbi Wolbe adds that your behavior is the biggest determinant. If a wife sees her husband arising for Shacharis as he should, saying Birkas HaMazon properly, not wasting his time with foolishness, displaying pleasant behavior inside and outside the home, and not being lax in upholding the Torah in private, he can expect his wife to respect him.

4. The Shulchan Aruch rules, based on the Gemara, that an am ha’aretz should not marry the daughter of a kohen, because such a marriage is not expected to end well. The Aruch HaShulchan (Even HaEzer 2:5) explains that this refers to someone who is lacking in mitzvah observance. Accordingly, if a person is deficient in his observance of mitzvos, this halachah may apply.

There are authorities who maintain that the category of am ha’aretz, as discussed in this Gemara, is not applicable in the same way today. Nevertheless, the Steipler (Orchos Rabbeinu) was careful regarding this halachah. However, at minimum, when married to a bas kohen, it is of exceptional importance to bear this in mind throughout the duration of the marriage.

5. In previous articles, the benefits of not approaching marriage from a luxury standpoint were discussed. The Meiri to Yevamos 63a states that this may affect whether his marriage will ultimately succeed or not. See his words.

6. The Chofetz Chaim, at the end of Machaneh Yisrael, in the section entitled Davar Be’ito, discusses the mistake of unnecessarily delaying shidduchim once a person has reached marriageable age. Although the discussion is lengthy, several important principles are being brought down here .

He proves that no human being, not even one possessing ruach hakodesh, is capable of perceiving what Hashem alone knows. At most, a person may perceive matters relating to the present or perhaps the next generation. However, the consequences of a marriage for eternity, the descendants who will emerge from it, and the countless dimensions of compatibility between husband and wife are so vast and complex that they are beyond human comprehension. Therefore, in matters of shidduchim, one should place his trust in Hashem and follow His ways rather than relying on human calculations alone. This is the Chofetz Chaim’s reason against approaching marriage from a luxury mindset.

The Chofetz Chaim further writes that if a daughter has reached marriageable age and is willing to marry a suitable man, yet her parents prevent the match because they feel it is beneath the family’s honor or social standing, they bear grave responsibility. In the case he discusses, the prospective groom was serving in the army, and the parents objected because they felt such a match was beneath their dignity. The Chofetz Chaim writes that such parents will ultimately have to give a דין וחשבון because, by unnecessarily preventing the marriage, they may bring their daughters to sin. He adds that experience has shown that delaying marriage under such circumstances can lead girls to stumble spiritually, רחמנא ליצלן.

Furthermore, the Chofetz Chaim cites the Gemara in Pesachim 113a, which states, “בתך בגרה, שחרר עבדך ותן לה”—if your daughter has reached maturity and remains unmarried, free your Canaanite slave and give him to her in marriage. Today, this would refer to a daughter who has reached marriageable age. The Gemara emphasizes the importance of not allowing a daughter to remain unmarried unnecessarily. It is preferable that she marry even a freed slave rather than remain single.

It should be noted that the Chofetz Chaim was writing in the context of the Russian Empire, where military conscription posed a genuine threat to Jewish young men. Many delayed marriage because they feared being drafted or wanted to secure sufficient financial support beforehand. It was mainly in response to the reality of those concerns that the Chofetz Chaim argues that one should not allow the risk of draft calculations or financial calculations that are not true marriage impediments to postpone a proper shidduch. How much more so, on insistence upon other preferences that are not as great, do his words apply.

The Chofetz Chaim also cites a Midrash in Pesikta d’Rav Kahana (Acharei Mos 27), which speaks critically of eligible young men who could readily marry but choose not to do so, thereby leaving their female counterparts waiting without justification.

7. The Chofetz Chaim, in the last hagahah in Sefer Machaneh Yisrael, writes as follows:

The yetzer hara tempts a person into believing that before getting married he must secure a large dowry [or other preferences] so that he will have what to live on during the first years of marriage. He reasons, “If I receive a substantial dowry, then, baruch Hashem, I’ll be able to support myself for three or four years, even if, G-d forbid, I don’t find work.”

The Chofetz Chaim explains that this is precisely what the verse is addressing: “Cast your burden upon Hashem, and He will sustain you.” What does the verse mean by your burden? And what does it mean to cast it upon Hashem?

The Chofetz Chaim explains with a parable.

A poor man was walking along the road carrying on his shoulder a sack containing two pud—approximately eighty pounds—of grain, together with an additional three litros, another two or three pounds. He met a generous man traveling in a wagon and asked if he could place his load on the wagon. The generous man gladly agreed.

The poor man hurried to empty the extra two or three pounds from the two pud into a small bag, and kept that smaller bag on his own shoulder while placing only the eighty-pound sack onto the wagon.

The generous man looked at him in astonishment and said, “I don’t understand you. If I’m happy to carry the eighty-pound sack for you, do you think another two or three pounds are an issue at all? Put your entire load on the wagon, and I’ll bring it wherever you want.”

The Chofetz Chaim explains that this is exactly the mistake people make.

A man says, “I need a large dowry so that I can support myself for three or four years, even if I don’t find work.” This is not necessarily an absolute condition for marriage, a marriage impediment, but it is a financial calculation—a side preference or need he thinks he needs before deciding to proceed.

We ask him, “What is your plan for the forty-six years after your dowry is exhausted? What guarantees do you have that you’ll keep your livelihood? That you’ll even merit children? Healthy children? That they won’t encounter serious difficulties? That they’ll be accepted into the schools you hope for? That illness won’t strike your family? That you won’t suffer financial loss? That your health will remain sound at fifty, sixty, or seventy? Or even what the world itself will look like decades from now?”

His answer is, “I trust in Hashem that He will provide me with a livelihood, a healthy family, and everything my household will need.”

The verse then responds: If you are already entrusting Hashem with virtually your entire future—your livelihood, your family, your health, and the countless unknowns of the next forty-six years—why are you determined to carry this one small piece yourself? If His wagon is already bearing the eighty-pound sack, why insist on keeping the extra three pounds on your own shoulder? If you anyhow must rely upon Hashem for all the years after your dowry is gone, can you not rely upon Him for another year or two as well?

This is the meaning of the verse: “Cast your burden upon Hashem, and He will sustain you.” Cast the entire burden upon Him, not merely part of it. Since the overwhelming majority of your life’s package must in any case be entrusted to Hashem, it makes no sense to reserve one small portion for yourself. And the verse concludes with an additional promise: if a person entrusts his entire burden to Hashem, “He will sustain you.”

This is one of the ways the Chofetz Chaim teaches us to release our insistence upon preferences that are not true marriage impediments.

8. In the Sefer HaTzaddik Rav Shlomo, p. 37, it is related that the Chofetz Chaim strongly opposed delaying marriage at all. His view was that one should not postpone getting married and that the earlier a person marries, the better.

The Chofetz Chaim also said that even Rav Yisrael Salanter, who said, “Bring me the bachurim, and I will permit them to delay marriage,” made this only under the strict condition that the individual possess exceptional purity of thought, a standard that, unfortunately, is exceedingly uncommon today.

From the standpoint of halachah, however, there is room for a person who is deeply engaged in Torah learning and wishes to avoid interruption to his learning. In HaTzaddik Rav Shlomo, it is brought that the Chofetz Chaim understood that such a person may delay marriage until approximately the age of twenty-one or twenty-two. Rav Wolbe relates that the Chazon Ish would mention the age of twenty. However, in the Chofetz Chaim’s Mitzvos HaKetzaros (Mitzvas Aseh 43), he writes that one may delay until the age of twenty-five.

Rav Avigdor Miller would say the younger the girl, usually the better marriage and building-home material.

9. Regarding the question of how much hishtadlus is required in shidduchim, the Meshech Chochmah, in Parashas Massei, extrapolates from the Gemara in Sotah 2a the following words: “לא יאות בזה השתדלות בזיווג ראשון”—it is not proper to engage in hishtadlus regarding a first marriage, because it was already decreed, “בת פלוני לפלוני.”

This author also heard eid mi’pi eid what Rav Meir Soloveichik related that he heard from the Brisker Rav: that the Brisker Rav said the hishtadlus in shidduchim is only to calm a person’s nerves. Unlike other areas of life, it is not needed in order to bring about the zivug itself.

The author asked Reb Meir Soloveichik if the Gra in Yahel Ohr, page 33, who writes it is in vain all the eisek of people in regards to the zivug, for everything is in the hands of Hashem, etc., is a proof to the above. Rav Meir said he needed time to study it. The author unfortunately never heard his conclusion.

10. The Chofetz Chaim makes another fundamental point. He explains that since the purpose of hishtadlus is not because it is inherently necessary, but because Hashem obligated man to perform it, almost like paying a tax, therefore, since hishtadlus’s effectiveness itself is dependent on it being a mitzvah obligation, it is impossible that Hashem’s obligation of hishtadlus would ever require a departure, even slightly, from the derech haTorah to be part of hishtadlus at all. Not only can hishtadlus never require an aveirah, it can never require acting contrary to the derech haTorah. The Chofetz Chaim writes this in the first chapter of Kuntres Tiferes Adam, where he explains that this is why it is forbidden to shave one’s beard in order to facilitate a shidduch. Such an act can never be considered part of one’s obligation of hishtadlus. Accordingly, anything in the dating process that a person believes he “needs,” but which conflicts with the derech haTorah, cannot be classified as obligatory hishtadlus.

11. The Chofetz Chaim (Sefer Chofetz Chaim al HaTorah, Parashas Shemos) related that he once heard that one of the bachurim in the yeshivah was involved in a shidduch which he felt was suitable for him, but the young lady was not interested. His friends told him that the problem was probably his beard, and that if he removed it with a cream commonly used for that purpose in other yeshivos, the young lady would undoubtedly think more highly of him and change her mind.

The Chofetz Chaim invited the bachur to his home and spoke with him about shidduchim. He then offered the following parable.

Think of a train engine. Attached behind it may be more than one hundred railroad cars loaded with lumber or other heavy cargo. The train must climb tracks leading up a steep mountain, and the mighty engine strains with all its power to pull the enormous load.

Along comes a “smart” onlooker who wants to help the engine succeed. He runs behind the hundredth railroad car and begins pushing with all his strength.

Everyone around him laughs and says, “Do you really think that your tiny push, compared to the tremendous power of the engine pulling over one hundred heavily loaded railroad cars up the mountain, will make the slightest difference? Your strength compared to the engine is like the strength of a mosquito compared to an ox.”

The Chofetz Chaim said the same is true regarding shidduchim. Although Chazal teach that forty days before the formation of the embryo it is announced in Heaven, “Bas Ploni l’Ploni,” Chazal also teach that bringing them together is as difficult as the splitting of the Sea. Therefore, Hashem Himself must attend to the matter.

Nevertheless, a person may suddenly think, “I should help the Almighty. If I shave off my beard, the young lady will be more interested in me.”

The Chofetz Chaim concludes that such a person is no wiser than the “smart” onlooker trying to push the hundredth railroad car with the strength of a mosquito.

12. In the same place, the Chofetz Chaim relates that a man whose daughter had reached marriageable age came to ask his advice regarding a shidduch. A certain bachur had been suggested, but he was only of average stature in his maalos. The father had always dreamed of finding a bachur who excelled in every maalah and every middah, and he asked the Chofetz Chaim whether he should complete the shidduch or continue waiting in the hope of finding someone of a much higher caliber.

It should be noted that this was not a question of personal taste or superficial preferences, such as wealth, yichus, or family background. The father’s preference was for greater maalos and middos in the prospective husband, things that will have a huge impact on the type of children and grandchildren he will have. Nevertheless, the Chofetz Chaim answered with a parable.

Before Sukkos, a Jew seeks a beautiful esrog. It is a mitzvah to beautify a mitzvah, and one should even spend additional money in order to obtain a more beautiful, more mehudar esrog. (See again how those preferences were of a mitzvah nature, not superficial ones.) However, this is only true when there is still sufficient time before Sukkos and one can reasonably continue searching. If Sukkos is about to begin and all that is available is a kosher esrog, then one no longer waits in pursuit of greater hiddur. At that point, one takes the kosher esrog that is available, because allowing the opportunity for the mitzvah itself to pass is far worse than foregoing additional hiddur.

The Chofetz Chaim said that the same principle applies to shidduchim. Once a daughter has reached marriageable age, the perspective changes. Chazal state in Pesachim 113a, “בתך בגרה, שחרר עבדך ותן לה”—if your daughter has reached maturity, free your Canaanite slave and marry her to him.

The Chofetz Chaim is saying that once a girl is of marriageable age, it is already almost Sukkos. [As to why that is so, see the end of Machaneh Yisrael.]

[In the days of Chazal this referred to a girl who had reached the age of bogeres. Today, the concept applies to one who has reached the current age of marriage.]

The lesson is that marriage must be approached from the perspective of necessity rather than preference. Even where the preference involves genuine maalos and not merely superficial considerations, there comes a point at which one must be willing to forgo the additional hiddur in order not to lose the greater objective.

This teaches two fundamental principles. First, marriage should be approached within the framework of necessities rather than preferences. Second, it demonstrates how easily a person can deceive himself into believing that something is a necessity when, in reality, it is only a preference. Third, marriageable age is considered right before Sukkos; there is no more time to insist on preferences.

13. In the book Great Jewish Letters (Artscroll), there is a letter from Rabbi Wolbe in which he writes that during the period when a person is searching for a shidduch, his obligation is to strengthen his bitachon by learning Shaar HaBitachon.

Today, this is readily accessible. There are many editions of Shaar HaBitachon with English translation and commentary, including the commentary of Rav Avigdor Miller and that of Harav Mattisyahu Salomon. In addition, there are many recorded shiurim from them in English available on that shaar. Strengthening one’s bitachon during the shidduch process is itself an important part of the avodah.

14. The disparity between the ratzuy and the matzuy is a vital issue when attempting to create a healthy, normal family. People may have high ideals. Especially when it is not going against their grain, they can be quite on the “frummy” side, where they have habit. Yet, simultaneously, in other areas, many times in the private arena, those very same persons’ behavior is not congruent in their standards of ehrlichkeit and Yiddishkeit, thereby creating a big disparity with such a lower standard in those other areas. How can one expect from his family around him to be normal in the face of such disparity?

The economic damage caused by last week’s devastating twin earthquakes in Venezuela is now estimated to exceed $10 billion, according to catastrophe risk modeling firm Verisk, as rescue efforts continue and the death toll climbs past 2,300.

The powerful earthquakes struck north-central Venezuela on June 24, causing widespread destruction across densely populated areas. The hardest-hit regions include the Caracas metropolitan area and the coastal state of La Guaira, where Verisk estimates that approximately 1,400 buildings were completely destroyed.

Verisk said estimating insured losses remains difficult due to Venezuela’s economic conditions, including high inflation, low insurance coverage, and the impact of international sanctions on the country’s financial system.

Meanwhile, an Israeli search-and-rescue delegation continues operating in the disaster zone alongside local authorities. The mission includes teams from Magen Disaster Management, Ready for Rescue, and SmartAID, which are searching collapsed structures where survivors and missing persons are still believed to be trapped.

Rescue crews continue to work under extremely challenging conditions, with some operations being carried out entirely by hand as authorities race to locate additional survivors. Venezuelan officials are simultaneously grappling with a humanitarian crisis, widespread infrastructure damage, and the enormous economic impact left in the wake of the disaster.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Marking 1,000 days since the October 7 attack that launched the war, Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz convened a high-level security assessment Thursday with Israel’s senior defense leadership to review developments across multiple fronts. The meeting included Eyal Zamir, Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram, senior IDF commanders, and representatives of the Shin Bet and Mossad.

During the briefing, military officials reported that Israeli forces have destroyed 83 percent of the tunnel network located within Gaza’s so-called “yellow line” zone, as operations to dismantle Hamas’ underground infrastructure continue.

Opening the meeting, Katz reflected on the milestone reached since the war began.

“1,000 days after the murderous terrorist attack of October 7, the State of Israel stands stronger, more determined, and more powerful. We emerged from the greatest tragedy we have known into the ‘war of revival’ of the State of Israel. We paid heavy prices and lost our best sons and daughters, and out of the pain a more united people and a stronger, more resolute state have grown.”

Katz argued that Israel’s military campaign has fundamentally reshaped the regional balance of power.

“In the past 1,000 days, Israel has changed the face of the Middle East. Under the leadership of the political echelon headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and thanks to the heroism of IDF commanders and soldiers in both regular service and reserves, we struck at the heart of the Iranian axis of evil, thwarted Iran’s nuclear program and removed an existential threat from Israel’s citizens. We eliminated Iran’s leader Khamenei and most of the Iranian leadership, and severely damaged its strategic capabilities – and the IDF must prepare for independent Israeli ‘blue-and-white’ strikes in Iran whenever required in order to remove any threat.”

He also highlighted what he described as major achievements against Israel’s regional adversaries.

“We eliminated the entire Hamas leadership involved in the October 7 massacre, eliminated Hassan Nasrallah and the Hezbollah leadership, destroyed Assad’s army in Syria, decapitated most of the Houthi leadership in Yemen, and severely damaged all the terror arms that sought to encircle Israel in a ring of fire.”

Turning to Israel’s current military posture, Katz said Israeli forces intend to maintain their presence in key security zones while continuing operations against terrorist infrastructure.

“The IDF is currently in security zones in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria and will not withdraw from them – and must prepare for a long-term presence in the field. Our forces are operating deep inside terror camps in Judea and Samaria. In Gaza, efforts to destroy the tunnel infrastructure continue, and 83% of the tunnels in the ‘yellow line’ area have already been destroyed. In Lebanon we are continuing to destroy terror infrastructure in the first line of villages at full strength.”

Concluding his remarks, Katz said Israel would not permit hostile forces to regain a foothold along its borders and pledged that military operations would continue until the country’s security objectives are achieved.

“We will not return to a reality in which our enemies establish themselves on our borders and threaten our communities. The IDF will continue to stand as a barrier between our communities and jihadist enemies. The campaign is not yet over. 1,000 days after October 7 – and our enemies understand well that the attempt to destroy the State of Israel has failed.”

{Matzav.com}

Microsoft is expected to lay off up to 2.5% of its workforce as early as next week. 

The cuts, which could affect 5,000 employees, may impact sales, consulting and the Xbox gaming unit, according to a report from Business Insider Tuesday. 

The layoffs would mark the latest round of restructuring in the tech sector as companies continue to cut costs while directing more resources toward artificial intelligence (AI).

Last summer, Microsoft laid off roughly 4% of its workforce, or about 9,000 employees, in one of the company’s largest rounds of job cuts in recent years. 

According to Microsoft’s latest annual filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company employed roughly 228,000 full-time workers worldwide as of June 30, 2025. 

A 2.5% reduction in that workforce would amount to approximately 5,700 job cuts.

Sources said some employees affected by the latest round of layoffs will be offered new roles within the company immediately, Business Insider reported. 

In the past month, Microsoft’s stock slumped about 19%, marking one of its worst monthly performances since the dot-com crash.

Investor concerns have risen as Wall Street analysts warn that AI could eventually replace certain software services, which may include offerings from Microsoft. 

Last month, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma sent a memo to employees calling for a “reset” of the business after months of uneven performance. 

The Verge on Tuesday also reported that the gaming division is planning layoffs starting next week. The cuts are expected to be significant, with reductions to marketing and budgets, according to Bloomberg early last month. 

The restructuring could lead to studio closures, mergers, spin-offs and canceled game projects, the Verge reported. 

Xbox also recently raised prices on its gaming consoles by an additional $100 to $150 worldwide, citing increased demand for memory and storage driven by the AI boom. 

Sources said the 2026 round of layoffs appears to be smaller after the company earlier this year introduced a voluntary retirement buyout program, which led to a significant number of employees exiting, according to BI.

Roughly one-third of eligible employees reportedly opted in.

Last year, Microsoft reportedly eliminated roughly 15,000 roles across multiple rounds of layoffs, including about 6,000 positions in May followed by 9,000 employees in July.

FOX Business reached out to Microsoft for more information.

Costco’s iconic $4.99 rotisserie chicken has earned a cult-like following among shoppers for years, but Consumer Reports says Sam’s Club now has the best bird in the warehouse club business.

After evaluating rotisserie chickens from 10 grocery chains, warehouse clubs and big-box retailers, Consumer Reports named Sam’s Club’s Member’s Mark Seasoned Rotisserie Chicken its top overall pick, edging out Costco’s Kirkland Signature bird.

According to Consumer Reports, tasters gave Sam’s Club the edge for its flavor, seasoning and juicy texture. Costco’s chicken also landed among the publication’s top picks, though reviewers found the seasoning to be less consistent between samples.

The results may come as a surprise to Costco shoppers, whose devotion to the retailer’s rotisserie chicken has helped make the $4.99 bird one of the company’s signature products.

Costco has held the price steady for years despite inflation, using the popular item as one of its best-known value offerings and a draw for shoppers. The retailer’s loyal customers have even voiced frustration over seemingly minor changes to the product, including 2024’s switch from plastic clamshell containers to bags.

Consumer Reports did not publish a traditional first-through-10th ranking. Instead, it grouped the chickens into those it considered flavorful enough to serve on their own and those better suited for recipes such as soups, salads and sandwiches.

Along with Sam’s Club and Costco, the top group included Stop & Shop, Walmart, Wegmans and Whole Foods Market. BJ’s Wholesale Club, Hannaford, ShopRite and The Fresh Market fell into the second category.

FOX Business has reached out to Costco and Sam’s Club for comment.

The evaluation went beyond taste. Consumer Reports purchased between 10 and 13 chickens from each retailer across multiple store locations and shopping trips.

Researchers weighed each bird, compared sodium levels with nutrition labels, conducted blind taste tests and screened the meat and packaging for chemicals commonly associated with plastics.

Among its findings, Consumer Reports said it detected no PFAS in any of the meat or packaging it tested. It also found that many chickens weighed more than the net weight listed on their labels, with Whole Foods’ birds averaging about a pound heavier than advertised, effectively lowering their per-pound cost.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. forcefully defended Israel during a television interview, rejecting accusations that the Jewish state is carrying out genocide in Gaza and contending that the true destruction of religious communities has occurred elsewhere throughout the Middle East.

Speaking with Jesse Watters on Fox News, Kennedy argued that demographic realities undermine claims that Israel is attempting to eradicate the Palestinian population.

“If Israel wanted to commit a genocide against Palestinians, they could do it in a minute,” Kennedy said. “It’s doing the opposite. Palestinian population is growing enormously around Israel. In Israel, there were 150,000 Palestinians in 1948. Today, there’s almost two million; 20% of the population.”

Kennedy also pointed to the disappearance of Jewish communities from neighboring countries and the shrinking Christian population in Gaza as evidence that persecution has been directed elsewhere in the region.

He noted that there are “no Jews in Jordan” and “no Jews in Gaza,” while arguing that Gaza’s Christian community has also diminished significantly over time.

“If you want to see where a real genocide is happening, it’s not in Israel,” Kennedy said. “It’s happening in all the nations around it.”

His remarks come as international debate continues over Israel’s military operations in Gaza and as discussions proceed regarding the Board of Peace’s reconstruction initiative and efforts aimed at deradicalization in the territory.

The interview represented one of Kennedy’s strongest public endorsements of Israel since joining President Donald Trump’s administration.

US Secretary of Health RFK Jr.:

If Israel wanted to commit a genocide against Palestinians, they could do it in a minute. That's doing the opposite. The Palestinian population is growing enormously around Israel.

If you want to see what a real genocide is, it's not happening in… pic.twitter.com/i4tAUgsNoU

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) June 30, 2026

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate Council announced Thursday that it does not approve the license granted to the Tzohar organization to operate as a kosher certification body, saying the required legal procedures were not followed.

According to the council, Tzohar was informed by the Chief Rabbinate’s outgoing director-general that it had been granted a license to issue kosher certificates under the kashrus standards established by the Chief Rabbinate Council.

However, the council said Israeli law requires that it have the opportunity to object before such a license is granted. Members stated that the director-general neither informed the council of his intention to approve the license nor brought the matter before the council or its kashrus committee for discussion, calling the process contrary to the law and proper administrative procedure.

As a result, the council formally declared that it does not, at this stage, approve granting Tzohar a kashrus certification license.

The decision follows growing criticism within the Chief Rabbinate over actions taken by the outgoing director-general. According to officials, the licensing process was advanced without the council’s authorization, with some accusing him of attempting to create a fait accompli by bypassing the required approval process.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A global shortage of memory chips has grown severe enough that Apple is pursuing suppliers it would normally avoid. According to reporting published Wednesday, July 1, by Bloomberg, the iPhone maker is seeking approval to purchase memory chips from two Chinese semiconductor companies that appear on a U.S. Pentagon blacklist, as the artificial intelligence boom continues to tighten global supplies and drive up costs.

The companies are ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) and Yangtze Memory Technologies (YMTC), two of China’s largest memory-chip manufacturers. Apple is reportedly exploring the use of their memory products in devices sold within China while lobbying the Trump administration, including the Commerce Department and the White House, for permission to move forward.

The effort reflects just how strained the global memory market has become.

Demand for advanced memory chips has exploded as technology companies race to build artificial intelligence data centers. Massive orders from AI developers have absorbed much of the world’s available supply, leaving fewer chips for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other consumer electronics.

Industry analysts estimate DRAM memory prices climbed roughly 60% during 2025 and could rise another 30% to 40% during 2026, with shortages expected to continue well into 2027.

Apple has already begun passing some of those higher costs to consumers.

Earlier this year, the company increased prices on several MacBook models by between $100 and $300 while raising prices on selected iPads, HomePods, and Apple TV products. Although iPhone prices have remained unchanged, analysts say the continuing memory shortage could place additional pricing pressure on future devices if supply conditions fail to improve.

For consumers, the story extends well beyond Apple.

Memory chips are essential components inside virtually every modern electronic device. When prices rise, manufacturers throughout the technology industry face higher production costs, increasing the likelihood of more expensive laptops, smartphones, gaming systems, servers, and other connected products.

The shortage also highlights the growing impact of artificial intelligence on everyday consumers.

While AI investment has fueled record profits for many technology companies, it has also redirected enormous quantities of advanced semiconductors away from traditional consumer products. The same chips powering AI servers are competing with manufacturers building devices used by millions of households every day.

Apple’s negotiations also underscore the increasingly complex relationship between business and geopolitics.

Both CXMT and YMTC have been identified by the Pentagon as companies with alleged ties to China’s military. Although purchasing products from those companies is not automatically prohibited under every circumstance, Apple is seeking clear guidance from U.S. officials before moving ahead, hoping to avoid future regulatory complications or political backlash.

Some industry analysts believe Apple’s objective is not necessarily to lower costs but simply to secure an additional source of supply.

Supply-chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has noted that China’s own demand for memory chips already exceeds domestic production, suggesting Apple may gain only limited cost savings even if approval is granted. Instead, adding another supplier could reduce the risk of production delays as the global shortage continues.

For investors, the situation demonstrates how artificial intelligence is reshaping the technology supply chain in unexpected ways. Companies that manufacture memory chips have become some of the biggest beneficiaries of the AI boom, while device makers face mounting pressure from rising component costs.

For consumers, the takeaway is straightforward. As long as demand for AI infrastructure continues to outpace memory production, the cost of many electronic devices is likely to remain under upward pressure. Apple’s willingness to seek approval to purchase chips from previously avoided suppliers illustrates just how tight the global market has become.

The AI revolution may be transforming business, but it is also making the everyday technology Americans rely on more expensive—and even the world’s most valuable company is searching for new ways to secure the components it needs.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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