NEW YORK (VINnews) — Hasidic journalist and Ami Magazine White House correspondent Shloime Zionce has released a podcast interview with Rabbi Yoel Yeshaya Heshel Blum, a community activist known for his years-long efforts against the controversial Lev Tahor sect.

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

Speaking in Yiddish, Blum recounts his decades-long involvement in efforts to combat Lev Tahor, which he said began after a sister became involved with the group nearly 30 years ago. According to Blum, his personal connection to the issue motivated him to advocate on behalf of children and families affected by the sect.

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

Blum discusses what he described as widespread verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse suffered by children within the group. He explains why authorities determined it was necessary to remove children from their homes despite the trauma that family separation can cause and the general reluctance of child welfare agencies to take such action.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{Matzav.com}

WASHINGTON (AP) — US military says it’s launching strikes against Iran after Trump vowed response to downing of American helicopter.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces began launching self-defense strikes against Iran at 5 p.m. ET today at the Commander in Chief’s direction, in response to yesterday’s downing of a U.S. Army Apache helicopter. The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian…

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 9, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For Boeing, the financial implications are significant.

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

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

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

The broader challenge for Boeing extends beyond production numbers.

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

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

JBizNews Desk — Business

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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

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

What Commonly Triggers a Small Business Audit

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

What the IRS Wants to See

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

How Clean Books Protect You

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

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

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

The Practical Takeaway

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

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

—

About the Author:

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

Have a bookkeeping or business finance question?

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

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

WATCH:

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

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

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Transcription

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WASHINGTON (AP) — Social Security ’s retirement trust fund is projected to face a funding shortfall in 2032, a year earlier than last year’s projections, according to an annual report released Tuesday, while Medicare ’s hospital insurance trust fund will be unable to pay full benefits in 2033, which is unchanged from last year’s estimate.

Rising healthcare costs and government spending have contributed to a projected depletion date that is less than 10 years from now.

The looming challenge for the programs is a partial funding gap, not a collapse. Even after trust fund depletion, the system will continue issuing benefits, albeit at reduced amounts.

Last year, Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund go-broke date was pushed to 2033 from 2036 the year before that, according to the report from the programs’ trustees.

Meanwhile, Social Security’s combined trust funds — which cover old age and disability recipients — will be unable to pay full benefits beginning in 2034, unchanged from the 2025 report. After that, incoming revenue would cover about 83% of scheduled benefits.

Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano said the Trump administration is “committed to protecting and strengthening Social Security” and “eliminating waste, fraud, abuse and ensuring program integrity.”

The report states that the new funding shortfall is mainly the result of lower projected birth rates, reduced immigration and reduced trust fund revenue due to the costs of Republican’s massive tax and spending bill that was signed into law by President Donald Trump last summer.

Nancy Altman, president of the Social Security Works advocacy group, said the latest report takes “Donald Trump’s second term policies into account: A tax bill that largely benefited the wealthy, economy-wrecking tariffs, a needless war with Iran, and hostility to immigrants. All of these have reduced the amount of money going into Social Security, weakening the system’s finances.”

The trustees, who include the treasury secretary, labor secretary, health and human services secretary and the Social Security commissioner, say the latest findings show the urgency of needed changes to the programs, which have faced dire financial projections for decades. But making changes to the programs has long been politically unpopular, and lawmakers have repeatedly kicked Social Security and Medicare’s troubling math to the next generation.

AARP’s CEO Myechia Minter-Jordan said in a statement that the latest numbers “should be a wake-up call. Congress needs to act.”

“Americans have worked hard and paid into Social Security their entire lives, and they deserve to count on it when they retire,” she said. “No family should see any cuts to what they’ve earned in Social Security. ”

About 70.1 million people are enrolled in Medicare, the federal government’s health insurance that covers those 65 and older, as well as people with severe disabilities or illnesses.

Social Security benefits were last reformed roughly 40 years ago, when the federal government raised the eligibility age for the program from 65 to 67. The eligibility age of 65 has never changed for Medicare.

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

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

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

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

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

VIDEOS AND PHOTOS VIA REUVEN BIALA

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{Matzav.com}

Vice President JD Vance has formally referred Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to the Department of Justice for a potential criminal fraud investigation tied to the administration of state social services programs, Newsmax reports.

Announcing the move Monday, Vance argued that state officials must be held accountable if wrongdoing occurred.

“Minnesota state officials are not above the law, and if they facilitated fraud, lied under oath about what they knew, or harassed and intimidated whistleblowers, they must face justice,” Vance wrote Monday on X.

According to NBC News, Vance said his referral was based on findings outlined in a letter and investigative report issued by the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee.

The committee’s report alleged that the Walz administration failed to adequately address widespread fraud involving taxpayer-funded assistance programs and took action against employees who raised concerns about suspected abuse of public funds.

Investigators with the committee concluded that senior Minnesota officials had been aware of allegations of fraud for years but did not utilize available tools to stop questionable payments or remove providers accused of misconduct.

On Sunday, the House Oversight Committee sent Vance a letter urging him, as chairman of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, to examine Minnesota’s social services operations more closely.

President Donald Trump appointed Vance to oversee the anti-fraud task force in February after declaring a nationwide “war on fraud” during his State of the Union address.

Soon after taking on that role, Vance joined Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz in announcing a temporary halt to certain federal Medicaid reimbursements flowing to Minnesota.

Walz sharply criticized that decision, insisting it was politically motivated rather than connected to concerns about fraud.

At the time, Walz said the action had “nothing to do with fraud” and called it a “campaign of retribution.”

In a post on X dated Feb. 25, Walz accused the administration of targeting Democratic-led states, writing: “Trump is weaponizing the entirety of the federal government to punish blue states like Minnesota.”

Minnesota has come under intensified federal examination during Trump’s second term amid claims that fraud was occurring within daycare and other publicly funded assistance programs.

State officials maintained earlier this year that childcare centers connected to some of the allegations were operating appropriately and had not engaged in misconduct.

In April, federal agents carried out multiple raids across the state as part of a broader investigation into alleged misuse of welfare funds.

At the time, the Department of Homeland Security said the operations were conducted pursuant to court-authorized warrants connected to “the rampant fraud of American taxpayer dollars.”

Trump and several of his allies have alleged that members of Minnesota’s Somali community played a role in some of the suspected fraud schemes.

Following the raids, Walz expressed support for the enforcement action, noting that Minnesota agencies had worked alongside federal authorities after identifying and reporting suspicious conduct.

“That’s how the system is supposed to work, and our agencies will keep at it as long as there are fraudsters around to put behind bars,” Walz wrote on X.

The latest referral adds to a growing list of federal investigations and legal disputes involving Walz and Minnesota during the Trump administration.

Earlier this year, the Justice Department launched an inquiry into Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, alleging that public statements by the two officials may have interfered with federal immigration enforcement efforts.

That investigation followed a major immigration operation in Minneapolis that triggered demonstrations and was followed by the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

Walz has repeatedly dismissed that inquiry, arguing that it was driven by politics rather than evidence.

Last month, the Justice Department also filed a separate complaint challenging Minnesota’s policies concerning global greenhouse gas emissions regulations.

Meanwhile, federal prosecutors recently charged 15 individuals in Minnesota in what officials described as the largest Medicaid autism fraud case ever pursued by the Justice Department. Authorities allege that approximately $90 million was improperly taken from the program.

{Matzav.com}

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

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

What Makes Fable 5 Different?

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

The model’s strongest areas include:

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

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

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

Months of Work Compressed Into Days

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

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

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

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

Why Business Leaders Should Pay Attention

The software industry is only part of the story.

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

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

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

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

A Major Leap in Reading Images and Charts

Another area where Anthropic says Fable 5 excels is vision.

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

Anthropic says Fable 5 can:

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

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

What Early Testers Are Saying

Early business users reported meaningful improvements over previous AI models.

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

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

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

The Price Just Dropped

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

Anthropic announced pricing of:

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

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

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

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

Limited-Time Free Access

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why Anthropic Built New Safety Guardrails

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

Requests involving:

• Cybersecurity
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Model replication

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

Users are notified whenever this happens.

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

New Data-Retention Policy for Business Users

Anthropic also announced a change affecting enterprise customers.

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

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

The company emphasized that:

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

AI Is Moving Beyond Office Work

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

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

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

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

The Bottom Line

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

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

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

JBizNews Desk — Technology

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{Matzav.com}

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

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

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

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

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

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

{Matzav.com}

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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(AP) – Any advertisements in New York that feature artificial intelligence-generated people in place of actors will now be violating state law if they don’t clearly label that they have used a “synthetic performer.”

The law, signed in December by Gov. Kathy Hochul, went into effect Tuesday. Her office is calling it a “first-in-the-nation law” that will boost transparency at a time when it says AI generated performers are popping up across all forms of media, including on social platforms and in digital advertising.

Synthetic performers are defined under state law as “digitally-created media that appear as a real person.” The law applies to ads in any medium.

“In New York, we are setting the rules of the road instead of letting AI run the show,” Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement. The “simple, honest disclosure” required by the law “protects consumers, respects our creative workforce and keeps New York at the forefront of responsible innovation,” she said.

Ads that don’t “conspicuously disclose” that they have used a synthetic performer will be subject to a penalty of $1,000 for a first violation and $5,000 for any further violations.

There are specific carve outs listed in the law to exempt ads for movies, television shows, streaming content, video games and other works that feature synthetic performers in the entire work. It also doesn’t apply to audio advertisements or ads where AI is solely used for language translation.

When the law was making its way through the state legislature last year, the American Association of Advertising Agencies and several other advertising organizations issued statements in strong opposition to the law.

The 4As, as the organization is better known, said in one blog post that it would hurt advertisers by “injecting compliance uncertainty into the advertising process, burdening brands (and their agencies) who advertise in New York and undermining creative and technological innovation.”

Other organizations, like the The New York State Broadcasters Association, said in public statements during the legislation’s journey to become law that they were relieved to see some of those carve outs that were created through amendments, but remained concerned about the broad definition of a synthetic performer.

The biggest supporter of the law was SAG-AFTRA, the actors’ union that recently ratified a new contract with studios and streamers that they say provides further protections against synthetic performers.

The law is one of many proposed or enacted in several U.S. states with the goal of boosting job security for real humans or curbing the potential privacy and safety risks posed by AI. The existing state laws that have been passed include barring deepfakes in specific instances, limiting the collection of certain personal information and requiring more transparency from companies.

Just after Hochul signed the synthetic performers law in December, President Donald Trump signed an executive order pressuring states not to regulate AI. The move came out of fear that the patchwork of regulations across the states could impede AI companies’ growth and allow China to catch up to the U.S. in the AI race. Critics of the executive order argue it will allow tech companies to operate with little to no oversight.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Proposal aims to make Penn Station an icon again

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

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

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

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

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

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

Knicks and Rangers home arena would remain at site

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AP)

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

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

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

Why Oil Is Driving the Bond Market

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

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

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

What the Auction Means in Plain English

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Data Wild Card

Bond traders are not only watching oil and Treasury auctions.

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

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

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

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

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

What It Means for Everyday Americans

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

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

The risk remains the other direction.

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

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

JBizNews Desk — Markets

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Full story available on Benzinga.com

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

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

Luckily, there were no serious injuries reported.

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

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

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

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

The surprise was oil.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JBizNews Desk

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SACRAMENTO (VINnews) – Republican Steve Hilton, a former Fox News host and political strategist, secured a spot in November’s general election for California governor, advancing as the second-place finisher in the state’s June 2 primary, election officials and projections showed.

With the vast majority of ballots counted, Democrat Xavier Becerra led the crowded field, while Hilton held off a late challenge from billionaire Democrat Tom Steyer to claim the second spot in the top-two primary system, which advances the top two vote-getters regardless of party.

Hilton, who received Trump’s endorsement, celebrated the advancement as a step toward ending what he called 16 years of “one-party Democratic rule” in the state.

“Change is coming to California, and it’s long overdue,” Hilton told supporters. He has campaigned on cutting taxes and regulations, tackling high housing and gas prices, reforming education and restoring the “California Dream” for working families.

The British-born Hilton, 56, previously served as a senior adviser to former U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron before moving to California more than a decade ago. He has hosted television shows, taught at Stanford University, co-founded businesses and led a policy group focused on bipartisan solutions.

Becerra, a former California attorney general and U.S. health secretary, is the heavy favorite in the heavily Democratic state, which has not elected a Republican governor since Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006.

Hilton’s campaign emphasized affordability issues resonating with voters frustrated by high costs of living, homelessness and bureaucracy. He positioned himself as a disruptor aiming to boost jobs in key sectors like entertainment, agriculture and small business.

Final primary results are still being certified amid California’s mail-in ballot system, which has drawn criticism for its pace. Hilton and his supporters have called for faster counting while awaiting official certification.

The general election matchup sets up a stark contrast between Becerra’s long record in Democratic leadership and Hilton’s outsider push for conservative-leaning reforms.

Hilton has already received more votes than any previous Republican candidate in a California gubernatorial primary, according to some analyses, signaling energized GOP turnout.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fresh produce is among the biggest concerns.

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

Recent inflation data already reflects that pressure.

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

Fuel costs are playing a major role.

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

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

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

Weather remains another major factor.

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

Not every category is moving higher.

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

Still, the overall trend remains upward.

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

As prices rise, shoppers are adapting.

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

The financial strain is becoming increasingly visible.

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

The business implications are significant as well.

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

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

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

The broader reality, however, is harder to avoid.

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

JBizNews Desk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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

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

Anthony faces up to life in prison upon sentencing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health regulators on Tuesday signed off on the first new sunscreen ingredient for the U.S. market in more than 25 years, giving Americans access to a skin-protecting chemical long used in Europe and other parts of the world.

The Food and Drug Administration says the ingredient, bemotrizinol, met the agency’s standards for protecting from dangerous ultraviolet rays while causing little irritation or absorption into the skin. The ingredient is safe for adults and children 6 months and older, the agency stated in a release.

Bemotrizinol will initially be sold in the U.S. by the Dutch manufacturer DSM Nutritional Products under the brand name Parsol Shield, which is expected to launch later in the year. After an 18-month exclusivity period, the ingredient will be available for use by other manufacturers.

Efforts to introduce new sunscreen products have been bogged down for decades by the FDA’s bureaucratic system for updating its lists of safe nonprescription drug ingredients. Bemotrizinol is the first ingredient to go through a streamlined process authorized by Congress in 2020.

Experts say bemotrizinol will fill an important niche in the U.S. market: protecting against both ultraviolet A and B rays while not leaving white streaks associated with mineral-based sunscreens.

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

Andrews’ group has long pushed the FDA to tighten sunscreen standards and allow new ingredients on the market.

Under FDA rules, all sunscreens must protect against UVB rays, which cause most sunburn, as well as UVA rays that pose the greatest risk of skin cancer and wrinkles.

Currently available chemical-blocking ingredients only protect against one or the other. Companies generally mix the chemicals in combination to achieve “broad spectrum protection.”

Mineral-based ingredients, including zinc oxide, block both UVA and UVB but leave a chalky white residue.

Bemotrizinol was authorized by European authorities in 1999 and first filed with the FDA for review in 2005.

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

The FDA has been gradually updating its standards for sunscreens. In 2011, the agency banned terms like “waterproof,” which regulators said was misleading, and required that all sunscreens filter out UVA and UVB rays. Previously some formulas only protected against UVB.

In 2021, the FDA proposed additional measures — including capping SPF numbers and requiring stronger UVA protection — but those have not been completed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A lawyer for Wall couldn’t be reached immediately.

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

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

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

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

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

His most attention-grabbing comment involved taxes.

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

“It should be zero,” Bezos said.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The timing is notable.

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

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

Whether Bezos’s proposal gains traction is another matter.

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

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

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

JBizNews Desk — Economy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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

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

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

The move reflects a simple reality.

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

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

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

JetBlue is now trying to capture a larger share of that market.

Industry observers often refer to the planned cabin as “Mini Mint” or “Junior Mint,” a reference to JetBlue’s existing premium Mint product.

The new seats will resemble traditional domestic first-class cabins offered by larger airlines and will be installed across Airbus A220, A320, and A321 aircraft.

The strategy comes with tradeoffs.

To create space for larger first-class seats, JetBlue plans to reduce economy-seat pitch from approximately 32 inches to 30 inches on portions of its fleet.

That may seem like a small change, but JetBlue built much of its reputation on offering more legroom than competitors.

The company is effectively betting that additional premium revenue will outweigh any dissatisfaction among coach passengers.

Geraghty argues demand supports the move.

Travelers increasingly seek premium experiences, yet many remain unwilling to pay the prices charged by larger legacy airlines.

JetBlue hopes to position itself between traditional low-cost carriers and premium airlines, offering upgraded products at more accessible prices.

The first-class expansion is part of a broader premium strategy.

The company has already begun opening airport lounges in key markets including New York JFK and Boston while also investing in enhanced onboard connectivity through partnerships such as Amazon’s Project Kuiper.

Combined with Mint business class and upgraded economy products, the airline hopes to create a full spectrum of travel options.

The financial pressure behind the strategy is substantial.

JetBlue has struggled to return to consistent profitability following the pandemic and has faced setbacks including the collapse of its alliance with American Airlines and the blocked acquisition of Spirit Airlines.

At the same time, higher fuel prices and intense competition continue squeezing margins.

For travelers, the changes create both winners and losers.

Passengers willing to spend more will gain access to a larger seat and premium experience at a potentially lower price than traditional first class.

Budget-conscious travelers may lose some of the extra space that helped distinguish JetBlue from competitors.

Ultimately, the success of the strategy will depend on a simple question.

Can enough customers be persuaded to pay more?

If the answer is yes, JetBlue may finally find a path back to stronger profitability.

If not, the airline risks weakening one of the very features that made customers choose JetBlue in the first place.

After years of financial challenges, the carrier is making a clear bet: the future of airline profits increasingly sits at the front of the aircraft.

JBizNews Desk

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EATONTOWN, N.J. – As artificial intelligence rapidly changes how businesses operate, JBiz has announced the JBiz Leadership AI Operations Summit, a two-day executive training program designed to help companies improve productivity, streamline operations, reduce costs, and increase revenue through practical AI adoption.

The summit will take place July 13-14, 2026, at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel in New Jersey and is geared toward business owners, corporate leadership, management teams, entrepreneurs, and organizations looking to better equip their workforce for an AI-driven economy.

Organizers say the goal is simple: to help businesses understand how to effectively use today’s leading AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Grok, Perplexity, and other emerging tools, identify which platforms are best suited for specific business tasks, and leverage AI to increase productivity, improve efficiency, reduce operational costs, save valuable time, and drive revenue growth.

“Learning how to use today’s leading AI platforms – including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Grok, Perplexity, and other emerging tools – has become as important for businesses as learning to use computers, email, and the internet was for previous generations,” said JBiz, a division of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce.

With nearly two decades of experience helping businesses stay competitive and adapt to changing technologies, JBiz said the need became clear as studies found AI can save employees the equivalent of nearly a full workday per week. The program is designed for companies and leadership teams, with organizations encouraged to send multiple employees together to maximize results and accelerate AI adoption throughout their operations.

The shift underway is significant. For decades, businesses relied on large teams of junior employees and support staff to handle research, spreadsheets, presentations, scheduling, customer communications, reporting, and administrative work.

Today, properly trained employees using AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Grok, and Perplexity can complete many of those tasks faster and more efficiently. Increasingly, companies view AI as a collection of virtual assistants that help employees draft emails, conduct research, analyze data, summarize meetings, create reports, improve communication, and accelerate workflow across departments.

Recent surveys suggest the business impact is growing quickly.

An Oliver Wyman Forum-New York Stock Exchange CEO survey found that 43% of CEOs plan to place less emphasis on hiring junior staff while increasing demand for experienced employees who know how to use AI effectively.

Research from Stanford University, MIT, and Boston Consulting Group has also found that workers using generative AI complete more tasks, work faster, and often produce higher-quality results than workers who do not use AI tools.

One high-profile example came from Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin, who recently said that modern AI systems are performing work that previously required teams of finance professionals, completing in hours or days tasks that once took weeks or months.

Meanwhile, the McKinsey Global Institute estimates generative AI could create between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion in annual global economic value across customer service, operations, software development, research, marketing, communications, and workflow management.

“We are watching one of the biggest operational shifts in modern business history,” Honig said. “The companies adapting early are gaining major advantages, while many businesses still don’t know where to begin. This summit was created to provide practical training businesses can immediately apply.”

Unlike many AI events focused on theory, organizers say the program is designed as a practical, implementation-focused training experience. Participants will learn how to use multiple AI platforms together and understand the strengths of each system.

Training will cover:

• ChatGPT – communication, writing, workflow support, strategy, presentations, and operational assistance
• Claude – long-form analysis, contracts, planning, and document review
• Gemini – Google Workspace integration, collaboration, productivity, and research
• Microsoft Copilot – Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and enterprise workflows
• Grok – live information analysis and trend monitoring
• Perplexity – research, sourcing, and market intelligence
• Additional leading AI platforms and workflow tools

Participants will receive hands-on instruction on applying AI to:

• Communication
• Operations
• Documents and spreadsheets
• Research
• Sales
• Marketing
• Reporting and presentations
• Administration and workflow systems

Summit attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the AI landscape, practical workflows they can use immediately, and strategies to save time, improve productivity, reduce administrative burdens, and strengthen operational performance.

Organizers estimate businesses effectively implementing AI can save employees between 5 and 15 hours per week, potentially creating between $12,000 and $54,000 in annual operational value per employee, depending on role and implementation.

For a company with 10 employees, that could translate into productivity gains ranging from roughly $120,000 to more than $540,000 annually, although actual results will vary by company, industry, and adoption levels.

The summit will feature full-day training sessions from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both days and will be led by professionals with hands-on experience using today’s leading AI platforms.

Participants will leave with a deep understanding of all platforms, practical skills, and a framework for immediate execution, integrating AI into their daily responsibilities and business operations.

Limited Seating Available!

For corporate inquiries, team registrations, and group packages, CLICK HERE or contact [email protected] or 212-659-5270 x104.

— JBizNews Desk  @JbizNews.com

A new United Nations report has documented serious abuses carried out by Hamas terrorists and affiliated forces in Gaza, including executions, torture, beatings and other acts the UN says amount to war crimes.

The report from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights details hundreds of cases of extrajudicial punishment, saying Hamas forces carried out public acts of violence to intimidate residents and maintain control.

“These cases involved executions, kneecapping, bone-breaking with metal pipes or cement bricks and beatings and were framed by the perpetrators as punishments for alleged collaboration with Israel, looting humanitarian aid, theft, drug-related offenses or affiliations with internal rivals,” the report states.

The findings come after years in which international criticism and UN attention frequently centered on Israel, while allegations of Hamas abuses inside Gaza received far less focus.

The report says Hamas-affiliated forces were involved in nearly one-quarter of 249 documented cases between August 2024 and January 2026, including 108 deaths. The UN said the punishments were often carried out without courts or legal proceedings.

Those targeted included opponents of Hamas, suspected collaborators, and rival armed groups that emerged as the terror group’s control weakened during the war.

The report cites public executions recorded on video, including one incident where three blindfolded men were shot outside Shifa Hospital and another where eight men were dragged into a Gaza City square and killed.

The UN commission said the actions “amount to the war crime of murder and to a violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, including the right to life, the right to liberty and security and the right to a fair trial.”

The United States Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, declared Monday that negotiations between Israel and Lebanon have reached a “point of no return,” signaling growing optimism that diplomatic efforts could produce a lasting arrangement along the northern border.

Speaking after a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Issa said progress in the talks has been encouraging and praised the Lebanese negotiating team.

“We have reached a point of no return,” Issa said. “It is very important for an official to choose what he wants and move forward with it, especially if it is the only choice to end a painful and harsh situation like the one Lebanon is experiencing.”

Issa also commended Lebanese negotiators for what he described as their professionalism and effectiveness.

“The members of the team speak clearly and frankly on the Lebanese file,” he said.

The ambassador’s remarks come a day after President Trump intervened to prevent further escalation between Israel, Iran, and Hezbollah.

According to reports, Trump urged Prime Minister Netanyahu to limit Israeli strikes in Lebanon after Iranian officials conditioned a ceasefire on an end to Israeli operations against Hezbollah.

“What happened yesterday was a political message,” Issa said. “In the United States, we decided that the confrontation should not expand further.”

Both Israel and Iran ultimately agreed to halt attacks, with Netanyahu announcing Monday morning that “the fire has been halted.”

At the same time, Netanyahu stressed that Israel retains complete freedom of action against Hezbollah and will continue striking terrorist targets in Lebanon — including in Beirut — if attacks against northern Israel resume.

Although Lebanon’s government agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework earlier this month, Hezbollah has publicly rejected the arrangement.

Nevertheless, Lebanese officials continue pushing for a diplomatic resolution.

“We are ready, we are willing, we are committed. Are you? If you are, let’s sit and talk,” Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday in an interview with CNN.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

BOSTON — Former Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is warning that one of the biggest risks facing the U.S. economy may not be inflation, recession, or financial instability, but political interference in the nation’s central bank.

Speaking while accepting the 2026 John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on May 31 in Boston, Powell said the independence of the Federal Reserve remains one of the most important pillars supporting confidence in the U.S. economy and financial markets. The Federal Reserve later published the full text of his remarks.

Powell argued that the Fed’s ability to make decisions free from political pressure is a “priceless asset” that took generations to build and could be damaged if elected officials gain greater influence over monetary policy decisions.

His message was straightforward.

If future presidents can remove Federal Reserve officials simply because they disagree with interest-rate decisions, Powell said, investors and the public may eventually lose confidence that monetary policy is being set for the benefit of the country rather than for political advantage.

The warning arrives during an increasingly visible debate over interest rates.

The Federal Reserve was established by Congress in 1913 and was deliberately structured to operate independently from day-to-day political pressures. Governors serve staggered 14-year terms, ensuring that no single administration can completely reshape the institution.

The purpose is simple: allow policymakers to make difficult decisions on inflation, employment, and economic growth without worrying about election cycles.

For financial markets, that independence carries enormous value.

Investors buy U.S. Treasury bonds and hold U.S. dollars partly because they believe the Federal Reserve will act when necessary to keep inflation under control. If markets begin to doubt that commitment, borrowing costs can rise and confidence can weaken.

Powell spent much of his tenure defending that principle.

The award recognized his efforts to maintain the central bank’s independence during years of political criticism and public pressure. While Powell stepped down as Fed Chair at the end of his term, he continues serving on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and remains a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee.

His remarks come as the Federal Reserve faces a difficult economic environment.

Inflation remains above the Fed’s long-term target, while higher energy prices linked to instability in the Middle East continue adding pressure to consumer prices.

At the same time, many business leaders, homeowners, and elected officials have argued that interest rates remain too high and are slowing economic activity.

That tension lies at the center of Powell’s concern.

Supporters of an independent Federal Reserve argue that interest rates should rise or fall based on economic data rather than political considerations. They point to historical examples around the world where politically controlled central banks contributed to higher inflation and economic instability.

Others argue that the Federal Reserve wields enormous influence over the economy and should be more accountable to elected officials who answer directly to voters.

The debate is likely to intensify as policymakers consider future interest-rate decisions.

Financial markets are watching closely because perceptions matter almost as much as policy itself.

If investors believe monetary policy decisions are being driven by political objectives rather than economic conditions, long-term borrowing costs could rise as markets demand higher returns to compensate for increased uncertainty.

That could affect mortgage rates, business loans, and government borrowing costs even if the Federal Reserve lowers its benchmark interest rate.

In other words, confidence is part of the system.

Powell’s broader message was that trust in institutions, once lost, is difficult to rebuild.

The former Fed Chair framed the issue not as a partisan argument but as a long-term question about economic credibility and stability.

For everyday Americans, the implications may seem distant, but they ultimately influence everything from mortgage payments and credit-card rates to retirement savings and investment returns.

The Federal Reserve’s next policy decisions will continue attracting attention, but Powell’s speech highlighted a larger question that extends beyond any single meeting or interest-rate move: whether markets continue believing that the central bank is making decisions based on economic realities rather than political pressure.

That confidence, Powell suggested, remains one of the country’s most valuable financial assets.

JBizNews Desk — Economy

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

An evening of relaxation, connection, and meaningful conversation is set to take place next week as The SPOT hosts a special event for single girls ages 25 and older.

The event, titled “Trusting the Story You’re In,” will feature guest speaker Charlene Aminoff, and will give attendees an opportunity to enjoy a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

The event is scheduled for June 16 at 8:00 p.m. in Lakewood, beginning at 7:15 p.m., when doors open for a cocktail and açaí bar reception.

The event is free of charge, though RSVP is required. It is open to single women ages 25 and up, with location details to be provided upon registration.

For more information or to reserve a spot, attendees can email [email protected].

Outgoing president of Colombia Gustavo Petro posted two words to show his contempt for the right-wing candidate for president, Abelardo de la Espriella, who will be running in the country’s June 21 election.

The two words were “Heil Hitler,” posted along with a local outlet’s op-ed in support of Espriella, who is promoting such Israel-friendly initiatives as restoring diplomatic ties with Israel and opening an embassy in the Jewish state. The left-wing president had actively cut ties with Israel in 2024.

Heil Hitler https://t.co/IbRBgwUY3N

— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) June 7, 2026

Combat Antisemitism Movement’s Coalition of Latin American Legislators Against Antisemitism collected the signatures of 24 lawmakers from 14 Latin American countries appended to a statement denouncing Petro’s antisemitic post.

June 8, 2026: 24 lawmakers from 14 Latin American countries have signed a declaration condemning Colombian President Gustavo Petro's use of the Nazi slogan "Heil Hitler."

🇦🇷 🇧🇷 🇨🇱 🇨🇴 🇨🇷 🇪🇨 🇬🇹 🇭🇳 🇲🇽 🇵🇦 🇵🇾 🇵🇪 🇩🇴 🇺🇾

The declaration was issued by CAM's Coalition of Latin American… pic.twitter.com/m6Hq4a14LQ

— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) June 9, 2026

“The use of references to Nazism must not become a rhetorical tool to discredit political or ideological positions. Democratic leaders have a responsibility to promote a respectful public debate that is conscious of the weight of words,” the statement said, warning that “Heil Hitler” is one of the most popular symbols of Nazi ideology among Jew haters.

Espriella will run against Iván Cepeda, who has vowed to continue Petro’s anti-Israel policies. Petro lost the national election in May, when the other two candidates garnered 40 percent of the vote.

Iván Cepeda, left, and Abelardo de la Espriella. (Photo by Luis Acosta and Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images)

Petro has insisted that he is not an antisemite but that his policies against Israel reflect only his opposition to the Israeli government’s military actions and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. With his “Heil Hitler” post, he will have a harder time making that argument.

British authorities have filed charges against an 18-year-old man in connection with the March attack that destroyed four ambulances belonging to Hatzolah, marking the latest development in a case that has heightened security concerns within London’s Jewish community.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced Tuesday that Subhan Ahmed, a British citizen, was charged Monday with “assisting an offender” in relation to the arson attack.

The incident occurred during the early hours of March 23, when four Hatzolah  ambulances were deliberately set on fire in Golders Green, one of London’s largest Jewish neighborhoods. In the aftermath, police increased patrols and security measures in Jewish areas across the city.

The investigation is being handled by the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism command, which has continued to pursue multiple suspects connected to the attack.

Authorities have already brought charges against four other individuals in the case.

Those charged in April include British citizens Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, and Judex Atshatshi, 18, as well as a 17-year-old dual British-Pakistani national. Prosecutors accused them of “committing arson, destroying or damaging property, and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.”

All four suspects remain behind bars while awaiting a trial scheduled for January. Ahmed, by contrast, was released and is expected to appear in court on June 16.

The destruction of the ambulances was one of the first in a series of alarming incidents that have unsettled Jewish residents throughout London and prompted a heightened police presence in Jewish neighborhoods. Since then, authorities have responded to several cases involving incendiary devices placed near synagogues, as well as the April stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green. Last week, Metropolitan Police data showed that antisemitic hate crimes across London increased by 72 percent in May.

After news of Ahmed’s charge was made public, the Community Security Trust, which works to protect Britain’s Jewish community, expressed appreciation to investigators and prosecutors “for their ongoing work investigating this attack and other arson incidents targeting the Jewish community.”

The organization added, “These are very serious allegations, and it is right that those responsible are being held accountable.”

{Matzav.com}

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir revealed Tuesday that Israel’s recent strike against Iran was intended as preparation for a far more devastating attack, warning that the military remains ready to resume operations at a moment’s notice.

Speaking during a visit to the IDF’s “Fire Series” training exercise for battalion and company commanders, Zamir issued a direct warning to Tehran and declared that Iran’s efforts to establish new rules of engagement against Israel would fail.

“The IDF maintained and continues to maintain immediate readiness and preparedness for a return to fighting in Iran,” Zamir said. “All of our defense and offensive systems were alert and prepared. We intercepted the threats launched at us and struck in Iran quickly and forcefully.”

In a significant revelation, Zamir disclosed that Israel had prepared for a much larger operation.

“The strike we carried out in Iran was preparation for a much more significant and severe blow,” he said. “We are prepared to return and deliver another hard and deep strike against Iran.”

His comments come amid reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu had approved a broader military operation against Iran before reportedly scaling it back following pressure from President Donald Trump.

Zamir also addressed Iran’s attempts to alter the strategic balance in the region.

“The Iranian attempt to dictate equations and change reality will fail,” he said. “We will continue to operate and deepen the damage to the Hezbollah terror organization and defend the northern communities.”

The chief of staff emphasized that IDF operations are continuing in southern Lebanon, where troops are actively destroying Hezbollah terror infrastructure.

Among the targets being dismantled is a major underground Hezbollah facility in the Beaufort Ridge area that served as both a command center and a base for launching attacks against Israel.

“Our forces continue operating in several sectors and are destroying Hezbollah terror infrastructure,” Zamir said.

Addressing commanders participating in the exercise, Zamir stressed the importance of leadership during the ongoing multi-front war.

“You have experienced warfare unlike anything in the history of the IDF,” he told them. “You are the backbone of the IDF’s command structure. Through your leadership and professionalism, you will determine the army’s ability to successfully carry out its complex missions.”

He concluded by reminding commanders that their foremost responsibility is to lead soldiers into battle, defeat the enemy, and uphold the IDF’s operational standards and values.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

You might think that finding the money to contribute to your 401(k) is the hardest part of saving for retirement. But choosing the right investments can also be challenging.

For this reason, many 401(k) savers take the easy way out and let their money land in a target date fund. A good 61% of 401(k) plan participants, in fact, had their money in a target date fund last year, according to Vanguard’s preview of its latest How America Saves report.

But while target date funds can be an effective solution for many savers, if you rely on one, you may end up sacrificing growth potential in your 401(k). That’s something you might regret later.

HOW ETFS CAN BE EFFECTIVE BUILDING BLOCKS FOR RETIREES

Target date funds are designed to be a one-size-fits-most solution. You select a fund based on your expected retirement year, and your assets are shifted automatically based on how close you are to that date.

Target date funds certainly make saving for retirement easy. The problem, though, is that not all savers have the same goals, risk tolerance, or financial situation.

ARE YOU A NEW STOCK MARKET INVESTOR IN JUNE 2026? HERE’S WARREN BUFFETT’S ADVICE

It’s common for target date funds to become conservative as retirement approaches. To be fair, that’s what they’re supposed to do.

But when those funds get too conservative, they can limit growth potential. That could become a problem if it leaves your 401(k) plan underfunded.

Target date funds also don’t account for investments you might have outside of your 401(k). If you have conservative assets elsewhere, you could risk a retirement savings shortfall on a whole.

TAP INTO THE HUMANOID ROBOTICS BOOM WITH THIS ETF

Target date funds are notorious for charging higher fees. Those fees could erode your returns and leave you with a 401(k) balance you’re less than pleased with.

If you’re willing to take a more hands-on approach to your 401(k), you may find that you’re able to score higher returns and reduce your fees at the same time.

Many 401(k) plans provide access to low-cost index funds that track major benchmarks such as the S&P 500. Leaning on these funds could help your money grow at a stronger pace without having to pay for active fund management.

You can also mix and match funds in your 401(k) to get exposure to different corners of the market. For example, if you’re on the younger side and have a greater tolerance for risk, you may want to choose funds that invest in international stocks or small-cap companies.

This doesn’t mean that target date funds are a bad choice for savers universally. They tend to do a great job of promoting portfolio diversification.

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Rather, it’s that if you don’t look outside of a target date fund, you may end up with sluggish returns that limit your spending power in retirement. Taking the time to review your 401(k)’s investment choices could push you to choose more optimal investments that help you meet your retirement goals.

If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known “Social Security secrets” could help ensure a boost in your retirement income.

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.Y.) blasted a Maine Democrat for saying that a Nazi tattoo is preferable to an Israeli tattoo.

At a campaign event for Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner, who has come under fire for his Nazi Totenkopf (death’s-head) tattoo, a woman who has been identified as Laura Dobson answered a reporter’s questions about the Nazi tattoo.

“I think people are making as much of it as they can because they don’t have a lot of substance around anything else,” the woman said. “And if they did, we’d hear about it, believe me.”

“They are trawling for dirt,” she added.

In this now-infamous video, a woman who has been identified as Laura Dobson says she prefers the Nazi tattoo to an Israeli flag tattoo. (Credit: Caroline McCaughey’s X account)

Then Caroline McCaughey from The New York Sun asked her, “So if he has, like, an Israeli flag tattoo … would that be a deal breaker?”

“For me?” the woman responded. “Honestly? Yeah. Israeli? Yeah. Because I don’t support genocide.”

Dobson ran as an independent against Susan Collins in 2008, sought a seat in the Maine House of Representatives and served as co-chair of the Cranberry Isles Municipal Advisory Commission.

StopAntisemitism is the one who identified the woman in the video as Laura Dobson.

“Meet Maine resident Laurie Dobson,” the group posted on X alongside the now-infamous video. “She can overlook Graham Platner having a Nazi tattoo on his chest … But had it been an Israeli flag tattoo? That would be a dealbreaker. Suddenly, he’d be unfit for office.”

Gottheimer was incensed by his own party’s normalization of antisemitism.

“Are you kidding me? A tattoo of the Israeli flag is worse than a Nazi symbol? This should not be welcome in the Democratic Party!” Gottheimer wrote on X.

Lawmakers on the opposite side of the aisle jumped on board.

“Today’s Democrat party: Nazi? Great! You’re my guy!! Jewish? Hell no!” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) sneered. “Utterly tragic.”

“I couldn’t agree more with Rep. Josh Gottheimer,” wrote Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), alongside a video of a Fox interview with Gottheimer.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has warned more than 500 hospitals that they are failing to provide the public with basic pricing information — arguing that the lack of disclosure is keeping healthcare costs higher than they should be.

The Associated Press obtained exclusively the list of hospitals that since April have either received letters of warning or requests to submit plans to provide transparent pricing. Failing to comply with the warnings comes with penalties as high as $2 million annually for each recipient that doesn’t create a plan to post clear pricing data.

The letters are meant to fix a fundamental problem that patients, employers and insurers might not know ahead of time the cost of blood work, an imaging test or another form of treatment, and as a result pay more than they should have. AP has posted the list of hospitals that have received letters.

A senior administration official who requested anonymity to provide the list said that President Donald Trump plans to tighten enforcement of price transparency standards made possible by a 2019 executive order signed by Trump. More hospitals are likely to receive letters regarding the absence of pricing data, the official said.

The warnings are the latest example of Trump leaning into the message that his administration is fixing the problem of healthcare expenses that can drain a family budget. It’s a calculated pitch ahead of the November midterms at a time when affordability is a top concern for voters. But Trump is also vulnerable on this particular issue, as his administration allowed subsidies to lapse for people buying insurance through the 2010 Affordable Care Act, widely known as Obamacare.

Just 29% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s healthcare policies according to the most recent survey on the issue by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The president fared slightly worse on that issue in the December survey than on the economy, immigration or his management of the federal government.

The push for price transparency could have a particular impact on Republican strongholds like Texas, Florida, Indiana, Alabama and Louisiana, which are among the states with the highest count of hospitals that have not provided adequate information on the costs of medical services.

Texas had 42 hospitals that received warnings, more than any other state. Baptist Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, among the state’s largest hospitals with 1,585 beds, received a letter, as did the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

Missouri-based Ascension, one of the country’s largest hospital systems, had 13 hospitals in multiple states that received letters. The Republican state of Indiana had 34 hospitals that received letters, nearly as many as the 38 in Democratic-led California, even though California has five times more people than Indiana.

Administration officials interviewed for this article noted that Christiana Hospital in Biden’s home state of Delaware also received a warning letter.

The letters reflect two competing philosophies between Republicans and Democrats over how to handle the ballooning expense of healthcare, which is also a growing risk for the federal government’s own balance sheet.

Biden’s team put more emphasis on record enrollment in Obamacare programs that increased the percentage of people with health insurance. Biden also signed a bill that allowed the government to begin negotiating prices for some Medicare drugs directly with pharmaceutical companies. That program, which has continued into Trump’s second administration, has helped knock down the list prices of some of Medicare’s costliest drugs.

The Trump administration, by contrast, has focused more on trying to find ways to provide details on pricing — such as promoting the TrumpRx site for prescription drugs — betting that doing so will lead to better and more efficient spending on healthcare as the data gets crunched.

Critics have said Trump’s negotiated prices on prescription drugs might not produce genuine savings for many Americans with insurance, while the administration has estimated savings in excess of $500 billion over 10 years.

With the various lists of hospital prices, the administration wants providers to make it easier to access the files and to ensure the information in them is legitimate, instead of being based on estimates or omitting numbers for key procedures.

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce has a hearing planned for Wednesday on price transparency.

“Transparency is the foundation of a healthcare system that rewards competition based on cost and quality,” Shawn Gremminger, CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, plans to say in his prepared remarks.

A Lakewood resident endured a frustrating and costly travel ordeal after discovering shortly before departure that he needed a UK electronic travel authorization before boarding a flight to England.

According to the traveler, who shared the ordeal with TLS, he was unaware of the requirement until shortly before leaving for the airport. In a rush to complete the application, he enlisted someone to assist him with the registration process. However, the official website repeatedly malfunctioned, with the application process reportedly glitching for more than an hour before it was finally submitted.

Although approvals are often returned quickly, no response was received. Hoping the authorization would be approved by the time he arrived at the airport, the traveler proceeded to the terminal with his family. When they reached the airline check-in counter, the authorization still had not been approved, and airline personnel informed him that he could not board the flight.

The resident was forced to purchase a new ticket for the following morning. Yet even by then, the authorization had still not been issued, so he could not fly. An attempt to obtain approval through an expedited processing service also failed to produce results in time.

The traveler later learned that he was not alone. According to information he received, the authorization system had been experiencing technical difficulties for approximately two days, leaving numerous applicants waiting for approvals. Several dozen travelers were affected by the outage and missed scheduled flights while awaiting authorization decisions.

Faced with the prospect of missing a family wedding overseas, the traveler’s agent devised an unconventional workaround. The agent booked him on a flight to another country that included a stopover in the United Kingdom. While the traveler was en route, the onward segment of the itinerary was canceled.

Upon arrival in the UK, another complication arose when his luggage continued through the system because of the canceled portion of the trip and was placed into storage. The traveler later explained the situation to airport personnel, telling them he had changed his plans and would not be continuing to the final destination. After reviewing the circumstances, airport staff released his luggage.

After nearly 28 hours of delays, uncertainty, and multiple rebookings, the resident finally reached his destination. While he ultimately made it to the wedding, he arrived approximately five hours after the Chasunah had already begun.

A unique and educational shiur is scheduled to take place tonight, Tuesday night, June 9, when the Agudath Israel of America Torah Projects Commission presents a special shiur in Flatbush, Brooklyn, featuring Rav Amitai Ben David, acclaimed author of Sichas Chulin and a noted expert in the practical and halachic aspects of shechitah.

The event, which will begin at 8:00 p.m. at Agudath Israel Bais Binyomin in Flatbush, is expected to draw Daf Yomi participants, bnei Torah, rabbanim, and members of the wider community interested in gaining a deeper understanding of one of the most fascinating and practical areas of halachah.

What will make the evening particularly noteworthy is that the shiur will be accompanied by a live shechitah and treifos demonstration, providing attendees with a rare opportunity to see firsthand many of the concepts discussed in Maseches Chulin and other related areas of Torah study. Through practical illustrations and real-world examples, participants will be able to better appreciate the intricate halachos governing kosher slaughter and the examination of animals.

Organizers say the program is designed not only for Daf Yomi learners currently studying or reviewing the sugyos of Chulin, but also for anyone seeking a clearer understanding of the halachic foundations behind the kosher food that appears on Jewish tables every day.

Rav Amitai Ben David has earned widespread recognition for his ability to present complex halachic topics in a clear and engaging manner. His work, Sichas Chulin, has become a classic for those learning about shechitah and treifos.

The shiur will take place at at Agudath Israel Bais Binyomin, located at 2913 Avenue L, at the corner of Nostrand Avenue, in Flatbush.

The event is being sponsored by Meal Mart.

{Matzav.com}

The two U.S. Army soldiers pulled from the waters near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday were rescued by an unmanned Navy vessel, U.S. Central Command confirmed Tuesday. It marks the first time the American military has used a sea drone to recover personnel.

CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed to Fox News that an unmanned surface vehicle found and pulled the crew from the water after their AH-64 Apache was shot down. “This was an operational first for the U.S. military,” Hawkins said.

The vessel belongs to Task Force 59, the Navy’s dedicated drone unit operating under the 5th Fleet in Bahrain. The drone found the crew in the water and carried out the rescue itself. Task Force 59, the Navy’s first drone task force, fields a range of unmanned craft, some operating with artificial intelligence.

The recovery unfolded quickly. CENTCOM said the soldiers were rescued at about 7:30 p.m. Eastern on Monday, within roughly two hours of the helicopter going down, and that both were in stable condition. Hawkins said both were receiving medical care. CENTCOM said the broader effort was led by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from Air Force and Navy units including the 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59.

The recovery is the second known rescue of downed U.S. aircrew in the conflict. Monday’s crash marks the first known loss of an Apache in the fighting, following the April rescue of two airmen whose F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran — an operation that, by contrast, involved hundreds of U.S. troops and dozens of aircraft.

Apaches have flown armed patrols over the waterway throughout the conflict, and the helicopters have previously been used to strike Iranian small boats as part of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

Below is a look at one of the US military’s sea drones during a test run.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

RED BANK, N.J. — Just one week after closing a major acquisition, a New Jersey bank is already shedding one of the largest risks it inherited.

OceanFirst Financial Corp., the parent company of OceanFirst Bank, announced Monday that it has agreed to sell approximately $1.4 billion of multifamily apartment loans acquired through its recent purchase of Flushing Financial Corporation, a transaction that officially closed on June 1, 2026.

The move will dramatically reduce OceanFirst’s exposure to New York City’s heavily regulated apartment market and lower the bank’s overall concentration in commercial real estate.

For investors, regulators, and borrowers alike, the sale highlights how New York housing policy is increasingly influencing decisions far beyond the city itself.

The loans being sold are primarily mortgages backed by multifamily apartment buildings throughout New York City, many of which contain rent-stabilized units. Those properties operate under regulations that limit how much landlords can increase rents and restrict their ability to remove apartments from rent regulation.

OceanFirst inherited the portfolio through its acquisition of Flushing Financial, the parent company of Flushing Bank, one of the largest lenders to multifamily property owners in New York’s outer boroughs.

The acquisition also included a $225 million strategic investment from Warburg Pincus, providing additional capital for the combined institution.

So why sell the loans almost immediately after buying them?

The answer lies in New York’s changing housing landscape.

Since the passage of New York’s Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019, many rent-regulated apartment buildings have become more difficult to finance. The law sharply limited landlords’ ability to raise rents and reduced opportunities to increase property values through renovations and unit turnover.

As a result, many lenders have become increasingly cautious about holding large concentrations of loans backed by rent-stabilized buildings.

The uncertainty has only intensified in recent years.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has repeatedly advocated freezing rent increases for stabilized apartments, a proposal that landlords argue would further reduce building income and make it more difficult to cover maintenance costs, taxes, insurance, and mortgage payments.

For banks holding billions of dollars in apartment loans, those policy debates directly affect risk calculations.

In practical terms, OceanFirst is choosing to reduce its exposure before conditions potentially become more challenging.

The bank noted that it had already anticipated the sale when it announced the Flushing acquisition. The loans were marked down appropriately during the merger process, meaning the transaction is expected to align with previous financial assumptions rather than create an unexpected loss.

According to disclosures made during the merger, the multifamily portfolio consisted largely of relatively conservative loans.

Average loan balances were approximately $1.3 million, and the portfolio carried an average loan-to-value ratio of roughly 55%, meaning borrowers generally had substantial equity invested in their properties.

The concern is less about current borrower performance and more about long-term regulatory risk.

Nearly half of the portfolio was tied to fully rent-regulated buildings, placing it squarely in one of the most politically sensitive segments of New York real estate.

Bank of America has been overseeing the sales process, though OceanFirst has not publicly identified the buyer or buyers involved.

The proceeds will not sit idle.

OceanFirst said it plans to reinvest the funds into highly liquid, investment-grade securities that are expected to generate yields comparable to the loans being sold.

That allows the bank to reduce risk without significantly sacrificing earnings.

The strategy reflects a broader shift occurring across the regional banking industry.

Since the regional banking turmoil of 2023, regulators and investors have paid closer attention to commercial real estate concentrations, particularly among midsize and regional institutions.

Banks with large exposures to office buildings, multifamily properties, or other specialized real estate categories have faced increased scrutiny.

By reducing its commercial real estate exposure by $1.4 billion in a single transaction, OceanFirst is sending a clear message that it intends to pursue growth while maintaining a more conservative risk profile.

The implications extend beyond banking.

When lenders become less willing to finance rent-regulated apartment buildings, financing becomes more expensive and less available for property owners.

That can affect refinancing options, renovation projects, building maintenance, and long-term investment in housing stock.

In that sense, the decision by OceanFirst reflects a broader trend reshaping New York’s housing market.

The regulatory environment is influencing not only who owns apartment buildings but also who is willing to lend against them.

For OceanFirst, the transaction appears straightforward.

The company gains the branches, deposits, customers, and market presence that came with the Flushing acquisition while reducing exposure to one of the most heavily scrutinized segments of New York real estate.

The combined institution now operates approximately 71 branches across the Northeast, stretching from Massachusetts to Virginia, with approximately $23 billion in assets.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Maher has repeatedly emphasized that the Flushing acquisition strengthens OceanFirst’s presence in the New York metropolitan market.

The loan sale suggests the bank’s strategy is equally clear: expand in New York, but do so without carrying the apartment-loan exposure that many lenders increasingly view as a growing source of uncertainty.

JBizNews Desk — New Jersey

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(AP) – Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes accelerated last month to their fastest pace since December, a sharp turnaround in demand after a lackluster start to the spring homebuying season.

Existing home sales rose 3.2% in May from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.17 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday. Sales also rose 3.2% compared with May last year.

Home sales increased from a year earlier in the Midwest, South and West, but fell in the Northeast, NAR said.

The latest sales figure topped the roughly 4.07 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.

Home sales have been mostly hovering close to a 4-million annual pace going back to 2023, far short of the historic norm that is closer to 5.2-million.

Sales rose last month even as mortgage rates have continued to mostly trend higher this spring, although they remain below where they were a year ago.

Home prices continued to rise nationally last month. The U.S. median sales price increased 1.3% in May from a year earlier to $429,300, an all-time high for any May on data going back to 1999, NAR said. Home prices have risen on an annual basis for 35 months in a row.

Even so, home price growth is now lagging income growth in many areas. That, plus mortgage rates holding below where they were this time last year, is helping to improve affordability, giving the housing market momentum, said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

“I cannot definitively say if home sales are truly coming out of the slump, because we know that there’s still uncertainty related to the oil prices or how the mortgage rates will move,” Yun said, adding that he expects home sales will emerge from their multi-year slump if the average rate on a 30-year mortgage drops back closer to 6%.

The U.S. housing market has been in a slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat last year, stuck at a 30-year low. They have remained sluggish so far this year. They were flat in April after declining from a year earlier through the first three months of this year.

Years of soaring home prices, especially in the early part of this decade when rock-bottom mortgage rates fueled a buying frenzy, have left many would-be homebuyers frozen out of the market. And a chronic shortage of homes for sale nationally, due partly to years of below-average new home construction, has helped prop up home prices even in a multiyear sales slump.

Homes purchased last month likely went under contract in March and April, when the average rate on a 30-year mortgage ranged from 6% — close to its lowest level in three and a half years — to 6.46%, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. The average rate was at 6.48% last week, down from 6.85% a year earlier.

While the average rate has remained below where it was a year ago, it has been mostly trending higher since the war with Iran began, disrupting the passage of tankers ferrying crude oil from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide and driving oil prices sharply higher. Expectations of high oil prices as the war continues have pushed up the long-term bond yields that lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans, causing mortgage rates to climb.

“If not for the war-related spike in inflation, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate could well be in the mid-to-upper 5’s,” said Ted Rossman, principal analyst at Bankrate.

Despite the uncertainty over mortgage rates, first-time buyers accounted for 35% of home purchases last month, the highest share going back to June 2020, Yun said. Historically, they made up 40% of home sales.

Those who can afford to buy at current rates are likely benefitting from buyer-friendly trends in many markets. In May, median list prices were down 2.4% from a year earlier, the steepest drop on data going back to 2017, according to Realtor.com.

They also have more homes on the market to choose from, although home inventory levels remain well below historical norms.

There were 1.55 million unsold homes at the end of May, up 3.3% from April and up 0.6% from May last year, NAR said. That’s still short of the roughly 2 million homes for sale that was typical before the COVID-19 pandemic.

May’s month-end inventory translates to a 4.5-month supply at the current sales pace. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers.

A growing dispute between the chareidi parties and the Religious Zionism faction has led to the postponement of a major government vote on a proposed NIS 1.5 billion development package for communities in Yehuda and Shomron, after United Torah Judaism objected to the plan over what it called unequal budget priorities.

The proposed initiative, which was scheduled for approval at the next cabinet meeting, includes extensive funding for construction, infrastructure, security, and community development projects throughout Yehuda and Shomron. The package is considered one of the largest government investments in the region in recent years.

However, according to a report by Ames, senior figures in United Torah Judaism strongly opposed the proposal, arguing that the government was willing to allocate massive sums for one sector while failing to address the ongoing daycare subsidy crisis affecting thousands of chareidi families.

Party officials reportedly described the situation as “blatant discrimination.” They noted that while the Treasury has resisted advancing a solution for the daycare subsidy crisis, which would require approximately NIS 300 million, significantly larger sums were quickly found for other priorities. Chareidi representatives argued that the government’s budgetary priorities have become increasingly unbalanced and are unfairly harming the chareidi public.

Amid the escalating tensions, Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni held an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu.

During the meeting, Gafni reportedly demanded immediate clarification regarding the government’s budget policy and pressed for a resolution to the daycare subsidy issue, which coalition representatives say is affecting thousands of families.

According to the report, the confrontation raised concerns about a broader coalition crisis, prompting Netanyahu’s office to intervene.

As a result of the disagreement and fears of further coalition instability, the government meeting that was expected to approve the package was postponed. The session, originally scheduled for this week, has now been pushed off until Thursday to allow additional negotiations between the parties.

Documents prepared for the cabinet discussion outline major investments across Yehuda and Shomron, including transportation and utility infrastructure, public buildings, educational facilities, employment centers, security enhancements, neighborhood expansion projects, and the construction of temporary sites and residential housing.

Coalition leaders are now expected to spend the coming days attempting to reach a compromise that would allow the development package to move forward while also addressing the demands of the chareidi parties regarding daycare subsidies and other budgetary concerns.

The latest dispute highlights ongoing tensions within the coalition as competing factions continue to battle over funding priorities, even as government leaders work to preserve unity and avoid a deeper political crisis.

{Matzav.com}

The ultimate test of fast-food physics is arriving in Miami.

Chick-fil-A is expanding its footprint in the Sunshine State with a new delivery-only “ghost kitchen” in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood, marking a strategic move to bypass the real estate constraints of traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants.

Operating within the CloudKitchens network, the location is the privately held fast-food giant’s first delivery-only kitchen in Florida and just its sixth nationwide, allowing the company to maximize kitchen capacity and meet demand without the overhead costs of a traditional dining room.

CHICK-FIL-A FRANCHISEE SUED AFTER ALLEGEDLY FIRING EMPLOYEE OVER SABBATH OBSERVANCE

The restaurant is located at 1900 NE Miami Court, and will fulfill orders primarily through third-party delivery platforms, according to a Chick-fil-A press release. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to midnight – two hours later than Chick-fil-A’s typical dine-in or drive-thru closing time.

The new Wynwood location is expected to create approximately 30 local jobs, offering hands-on training, mentoring and competitive benefits.

“We know how important fast and reliable delivery is to Wynwood, and we want to meet the community where they are while keeping our signature hospitality,” owner-operator Thomas Overby said in the release.

“Being born and raised in Miami, serving this community is very special to me. Our new delivery kitchen location gives us the opportunity to serve the Wynwood community in a way that works best for them and gives me the privilege to deepen my connection with my hometown,” he continued.

While traditional restaurants face constraints including seating capacity, kitchen square footage and limited hours, a delivery-only kitchen allows the brand to serve a larger customer base and operate at full capacity without paying for prime retail real estate or dining room upkeep.

Partnering with established kitchen infrastructure networks like CloudKitchens allows the company to rapidly deploy its delivery framework into high-density urban areas such as Miami.

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Unlike its publicly traded competitors, Chick-fil-A is a privately held company with no public shareholders and reigns as America’s third-largest quick service restaurant. The slow rollout of its “ghost kitchen” model mirrors similar smaller-scale moves Chick-fil-A has made in recent years, like opening five stores in its first expansion into England and just one in Singapore – a city with more than 6 million people.

Chick-fil-A’s other five delivery-only locations operate in College Park, Maryland; Nashville, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky; Boston, Massachusetts; and Northern California.

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CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Humanoid robots struggling with tasks like grasping a cup have a new teacher — a person wearing an ultrasound wristband that captures the movement of muscles, tendons and ligaments beneath the skin.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed the tool to collect data of human hand motion that could eventually help robots achieve the dexterity that has been difficult for machines to master.

“Imagine people doing housework,” said Xuanhe Zhao, an MIT professor of mechanical engineering. “We can use the data obtained by our system to train a robot to do exactly (that) housework with this dexterous hand motion.”

As much of the tech world is still captivated with artificial intelligence assistants that are taking on computer-based tasks, Zhao is among the scientists trying to imbue AI with more sensory data from the physical world.

Beyond housework, the technology could help with other tasks that require flexing fingers and hands, such as surgery.

The wristband uses high-frequency sound waves to “see” through its wearer’s skin. It relays images of the muscle and tendon movements to a computer that uses AI to enable a nearby robotic hand to mimic the gestures.

An AI algorithm is trained to decode images generated by the device into what engineers call degrees of freedom – specific ways a joint can bend or rotate. The human hand has 22 of them.

In earlier systems, tracking even a fraction of those movements was a significant challenge.

In laboratory demonstrations with eight volunteers, developers showed the wristband could precisely mirror hand gestures – including all 26 letters in American Sign Language – within 120 milliseconds.

The wristband can operate wirelessly, meaning the controlling person and the receiving robot need not be in the same room.

Beyond remote control, the team sees a path toward using the wristband to build huge datasets of human motion that could eventually enable humanoids to learn dexterous tasks without human guidance.

Wall Street is heading into a test unlike anything it has faced before.

Three of the world’s most valuable private companies are preparing to sell shares to the public at nearly the same time, creating a historic stress test for investor appetite toward artificial intelligence, advanced technology, and trillion-dollar valuations.

The lineup is remarkable.

SpaceX is preparing to debut Friday at a valuation of approximately $1.77 trillion. OpenAI, creator of ChatGPT, confirmed Monday that it has confidentially filed for a public offering. Rival AI company Anthropic reportedly filed its own paperwork just days earlier.

Together, the companies represent several trillion dollars of private-market value preparing to transition into public markets.

The timing could hardly be more challenging.

Only days ago, the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite suffered its sharpest decline since early 2025 as investors dumped semiconductor and AI-related shares amid concerns that valuations had become stretched.

The selloff was swift.

The Nasdaq fell more than 4%, while hundreds of billions of dollars in market value disappeared from AI-linked stocks.

Then came Monday’s rebound.

Chip stocks recovered sharply, helping the Nasdaq finish higher and reminding investors that enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence remains powerful despite growing concerns about valuations.

That volatility is exactly what makes the upcoming offerings so important.

When a company goes public, investors must find new capital to purchase the shares being sold. With SpaceX alone seeking roughly $75 billion, followed by OpenAI and Anthropic, Wall Street is being asked to absorb an extraordinary amount of new stock in a relatively short period.

If demand remains strong, all three offerings could succeed.

If sentiment weakens, later offerings may face pressure to reduce valuations or raise less capital than expected.

The order matters.

SpaceX is first.

Its debut will provide the market’s first real test of investor appetite for the next generation of AI-era mega-cap companies.

The companies themselves are also in very different financial positions.

SpaceX generated significant revenue but still lost billions of dollars last year.

OpenAI remains one of the fastest-growing companies in history, but it continues spending enormous sums on computing infrastructure and AI development.

Anthropic faces similar questions regarding growth, profitability, and long-term economics.

Investors must decide how much they are willing to pay today for profits that may not arrive until years into the future.

That calculation becomes even more complicated as economic uncertainty grows.

A separate survey released Monday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that Americans are increasingly pessimistic about their personal finances, suggesting consumers may become more cautious in the months ahead.

For investors, the coming wave of offerings represents something larger than individual companies.

The public markets are about to answer a fundamental question:

After years of private funding rounds, soaring valuations, and excitement surrounding artificial intelligence, how much are investors actually willing to pay?

Friday’s SpaceX debut will provide the first clue.

The larger answer will unfold over the months ahead as Wall Street decides which companies deserve their lofty valuations—and which may have benefited from arriving at exactly the right moment.

JBizNews Desk

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

President Donald Trump publicly urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate after Iran fired missiles at Israel, but behind the scenes Secretary of State Marco Rubio helped Israel secure approval for a limited response, according to a report by Danny Zaken in Israel Hayom. The report describes intense discussions between Washington and Jerusalem that ended with Trump authorizing a coordinated Israeli strike despite his public calls for restraint.

The dispute centered on whether Iran should pay a price for firing directly at Israel. Trump initially signaled opposition, declaring, “I am going to call Bibi right now and tell him not to retaliate. Each of them had their fun. Israel had its strike, and Iran had its strike. We don’t need another one.” Netanyahu reportedly argued that failing to respond would reward Iran and strengthen Tehran’s position in negotiations with the U.S.

According to the report, Israel also warned that Iran was using its remaining missile force to gain diplomatic leverage. Rubio reportedly backed that position, recalling his previous statement that “Only stupid countries don’t shoot back when you’re shot at.” The discussions ultimately led to U.S. approval for a strike whose targets and limits were coordinated with Washington. Channel 13 reported that Netanyahu had considered a broader attack on Iranian energy infrastructure, but Trump rejected that option and told him, “Strike, and close the event.”

Military coordination continued throughout the crisis. IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly told commanders, “We are ready to respond and are waiting only for the green light.” Zamir also held several conversations with CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper before the operation. Israel Hayom reported that the strikes were coordinated with CENTCOM, although U.S. forces did not participate directly.

The report also tied the confrontation to Lebanon. Netanyahu reportedly warned Trump that Iran was trying to derail U.S.-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon by forcing Israel to halt operations against Hezbollah. Iranian statements likewise linked the missile attack to Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon and Beirut’s Dahiyeh district. After the exchange, both sides signaled they would stop if the other side did the same, though Netanyahu warned, “If Iran makes the mistake of resuming attacks on us, we will respond with overwhelming force.”

Iran agreed to halt its exchange of fire with Israel after the United States reportedly approved the release of $3 billion in previously frozen Iranian assets, according to a report published Tuesday by a news agency affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

According to the report, the funds were transferred aboard a flight from Abu Dhabi to Tehran, with the aircraft reportedly landing in the Iranian capital Tuesday morning despite ongoing restrictions on Iranian airspace.

Israel’s Kan 11 reported that the arrangement was coordinated through Qatari mediators, who facilitated the exchange of messages between Washington and Tehran during the height of the crisis.

The report claims that, in addition to the release of the funds, Iran received assurances that Israel would restrain its military operations in Lebanon.

Neither the White House nor U.S. officials have publicly confirmed the reported transfer of the frozen assets.

The alleged agreement came after a day of direct confrontation between Israel and Iran following an Israeli strike in Beirut’s Dahieh district.

Both sides subsequently announced a cessation of hostilities.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards emergency command said it was suspending military operations but warned that renewed Israeli action — particularly in southern Lebanon — would trigger a much harsher response.

“We announce the suspension of armed forces operations,” the statement said. “However, if the aggression and acts of malice continue, including in southern Lebanon, much more severe and crushing measures than before will be forthcoming.”

Iran claimed its missile attack on Israel was launched in response to the Israeli strike in Beirut.

Hours later, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu addressed the nation and rejected what he described as an attempt by Iran and Hezbollah to impose a new strategic equation on Israel.

“In the last 24 hours, Iran and Hezbollah tried to impose a new equation on us,” Netanyahu said. “That equation is intolerable and completely unacceptable.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A woman who shouted “Jews are eating kids” on a New York subway and assaulted a young Jewish woman the previous weekend has been arrested and identified as Diana Smith.

Smith is a New York creative with the pseudonym “Lädy Millard,” who serves as a creative director for Block Realty Investment Coin.

The victim filmed the incident, which shows a Black woman shouting inside a subway car full of commuters, “Jews are eating kids!”

She leans toward the victim with a sinister smile and says, “You’re a Jew; I can smell the kids,” as the woman repeatedly says, “Don’t touch me.”

The video shows the deranged behavior of Diana Smith and the assault on a subway passenger. (Credit: Combat Antisemitism Movement)

According to later reports, Smith knocked the 23-year-old nurse to the ground, beat her, choked her and pulled out a fistful of hair. Video footage shows other commuters pushing her back and shouting, “Whoa, whoa, whoa!”

“It’s okay for her to eat kids?” the woman yells. “But I can’t choke her down?”

“I was just assaulted,” the shocked victim says in a trembling voice.

Subsequent photos show the woman’s red scalp and a missing tuft of hair.

The victim was admitted to the hospital with minor injuries, including a concussion.

This photo shows the tuft of hair pulled out of the victim’s head. (From a post on X)

According to the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), which posted the video of the attack on social media, the young woman exited at Canal Street and reported the attack to police. Passengers on the subway pressed the emergency button, alerting officers, who intervened and apprehended Smith.

Police have charged the assailant with hate crime assault, hate crime criminal obstruction of breathing and hate crime aggravated harassment.

“I kept telling myself: I am not in Nazi Germany,” CAM reported the victim as saying.

“Antisemitism has now moved from just words to actual violence. We have tracked 193 incidents of antisemitism in New York City this year through May 31 and that equates to more than one per day.”

Smith’s LinkedIn profile.

“Antisemitism has now moved from just words to actual violence,” CAM Chief Government Affairs Officer Lisa Katz told CBS News. “We have tracked 193 incidents of antisemitism in New York City this year through May 31 and that equates to more than one per day.”

Urging the public to take action, CAM stated on its website: “CAM has launched Report It, a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent. Download it today on the Apple App Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it.”

I’m writing this letter out of awareness and concern.

Although many in the younger generation are making a fabulous parnassah, with some earning millions within a short period of time, something unheard of back in my day 40–50 years ago, and for most old-timers from the 70s, 80s, and earlier, we who are in the middle, around 50–60 years old, and who didn’t have the opportunity to build our own businesses, are struggling terribly.

What’s troublesome to me is that when we look for work, even mundane work or simply any work, we’re often told, “We wouldn’t want to hire you, it’s beneath your dignity,” or “You’re worth more than that.”

But that’s exactly the problem. We try hard to compensate for our missing income with any amount of work or any job we can find, so as not to rely solely on our wives’ income, yet businesses won’t hire us.

Try opening a service business, and many people go directly to the workers to cut us out. When it doesn’t work out, they find out the hard way, but by then it’s too late.

So, as I sit here writing this public announcement and still trying to rack my brain over what to do to bring in even a small amount of income that will help us get over the top, I wonder whether anyone can suggest a solution.

I, along with others I know, am suffering quietly while everyone around us thinks we’re making a nice living. People expect us to give generous donations at every function when, in reality, it’s difficult to commit even $10.

I’m one of many capable fellows in that in-between age group who still has tuition to pay and simchos to make, and accomplishing that, even on the most basic level, has become nearly impossible.

We know that when push comes to shove, funds can be raised. However, we don’t want to feel as though we are surviving on handouts when we know we are still physically capable of doing meaningful work, even for less pay than we deserve, just to maintain our dignity and comfortably cover our daily expenses.

Not all of us were fortunate enough to be part of a family business, and most of us are not tech-savvy enough to start those types of businesses.

Waiting for Siyata D’Shmaya,

A Struggling Member of the Community

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

This post was originally published on this site.

The Knesset is expected to give preliminary approval on Wednesday to the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study, but coalition officials are reportedly working behind the scenes to revise the legislation by removing a controversial provision that critics said equated Torah learners with IDF soldiers.

According to coalition sources, senior figures in Likud are advancing a softened version of the bill that they believe will reduce public opposition and broaden support among coalition partners. Discussions are already underway regarding the language that will be promoted following the bill’s initial approval.

Among the expected changes is the removal of a clause that many interpreted as placing full-time Torah study on the same footing as military service. The disputed provision stated that individuals who dedicate themselves to Torah learning for a significant period would be regarded as performing meaningful service to the State of Israel and the Jewish people, with implications for their rights and obligations.

The effort to modify the legislation follows a week of intense political pressure from the chareidi parties, which demanded that the coalition move forward with the bill.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri issued a firm ultimatum, warning coalition leaders that if the Basic Law: Torah Study was not advanced this week, his party would refuse to support any other legislation.

“Especially during these days, when the people of Israel need additional merits for success in the campaign against our enemies, we demand that the Basic Law: Torah Study be brought for a vote already this week as a condition for supporting any other legislation,” Deri declared during a Shas faction meeting.

Deri was the first coalition leader to publicly insist on advancing the proposal last week. Following his demand, other chareidi factions also intensified efforts to move the legislation forward, although the bill is formally sponsored by Degel HaTorah.

Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni said the legislation had already been placed on the agenda of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation.

“On the agenda of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation is the Basic Law: Torah Study, which, under the instruction of our revered Torah leaders, I was called upon to submit and advance,” Gafni said.

Coalition officials believe that removing the disputed language could also help secure support from members of the Religious Zionism party, some of whom had reservations about the original wording.

According to coalition sources, the revised version is intended to strengthen recognition of the value of Torah study without creating a direct comparison between Torah learners and military personnel. Likud officials reportedly believe such a change will lessen criticism while preserving the bill’s central objective.

Supporters of the legislation say its primary purpose is to grant constitutional status to Torah study and the role of Torah scholars in Israeli society. They also argue that the measure would help shield the issue from intervention by the High Court of Justice, particularly in cases involving chareidi military service and arguments based on the principle of equality.

{Matzav.com}

RIO DE JANEIRO — The world’s airlines used their biggest annual gathering this week to deliver a blunt message to the companies that build their jet engines: the fuel-saving engines you sold us are not lasting as long as promised, and passengers are paying the price.

At the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, outgoing IATA Director General Willie Walsh sharply criticized engine manufacturers, saying airlines are shouldering the cost of reliability problems while engine makers continue posting strong profits.

“Stop gouging us and get back to making great engines that work,” Walsh said Monday, warning that allowing the problems to persist into the next decade would be unacceptable for airlines and travelers alike.

The dispute centers on the newest generation of jet engines introduced over the past decade.

Airlines embraced the engines because they promised to reduce fuel consumption by roughly 15%, a major advantage in an industry where fuel is often the single largest operating expense.

The two dominant engines are the CFM International LEAP, produced by a joint venture between GE Aerospace and Safran, and the Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF), manufactured by RTX. Both power the world’s most popular short- and medium-haul aircraft, including the Airbus A320neo family, while the LEAP also powers Boeing’s 737 MAX.

The problem is durability.

A key industry metric is known as “time on wing” — how long an engine remains installed on an aircraft before requiring removal for maintenance or overhaul.

According to airlines, many of the new-generation engines are spending far less time on wing than the older engines they replaced.

The issue is particularly severe in hot and dusty regions, including parts of the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia, where harsh operating conditions can dramatically accelerate wear and tear.

When an engine must be removed earlier than expected, the aircraft often cannot fly until repairs are completed.

That creates a chain reaction across airline operations.

Pratt & Whitney’s GTF program has become the most visible example. Since 2023, hundreds of aircraft worldwide have been grounded at various times as airlines remove engines for inspections and repairs tied to manufacturing and durability issues.

The maintenance system itself has become overwhelmed.

According to consulting firm Bain & Company, repair turnaround times for new-generation engines have increased by more than 150% since the pandemic. Airlines frequently face waits of several months before an engine can even enter a repair facility.

That means planes sit idle.

And idle planes do not generate revenue.

The costs add up quickly.

Industry estimates show lease rates for spare GTF engines have climbed to roughly $200,000 per month as demand for replacement equipment surges.

JetBlue Airways reported averaging approximately nine grounded aircraft during 2025 due to engine-related issues.

Air New Zealand said the financial impact from grounded aircraft has become significant enough to trigger a broader strategic review of its fleet operations.

Airline executives at the Rio conference voiced growing frustration.

LATAM Airlines Group Chief Executive Roberto Alvo argued that airlines have effectively become “the test beds of the technology,” absorbing the operational and financial consequences when products fail to meet expectations.

WestJet Chief Executive Alexis von Hoensbroech called the situation a “fundamental reliability issue.”

United Airlines Chief Executive Scott Kirby acknowledged improvements from manufacturers but warned that engine shortages remain one of the biggest constraints facing global aviation.

“The engine issue will likely be the industry’s largest bottleneck for at least the next five years,” Kirby said.

Manufacturers insist progress is being made.

GE Aerospace says it has invested heavily in improving durability, increasing production, and developing upgraded components designed to extend engine life. The company increased LEAP production by approximately 25% last year and says newly certified components should improve reliability.

Pratt & Whitney recently certified its upgraded GTF Advantage engine for the Airbus A320neo family. The company says the new version is designed to roughly double time on wing and improve overall performance. A full transition to the upgraded design is planned by 2028, while retrofit kits are being developed for engines already in service.

For travelers, the dispute may sound technical, but the consequences are very real.

Fewer available engines mean fewer operational aircraft.

Fewer aircraft mean fewer available seats.

That comes at a particularly challenging moment for airlines, which are already dealing with aircraft-delivery delays, supply-chain disruptions, labor shortages, and higher fuel costs linked to instability in the Middle East.

When capacity tightens and demand remains strong, ticket prices tend to rise.

Passengers may also face more cancellations, longer rebooking delays, and reduced schedule flexibility when aircraft are unexpectedly removed from service.

The broader concern voiced by airline executives in Rio is that the industry appears stuck in a cycle where efficiency improvements arrive faster than reliability improvements.

The current generation of fuel-efficient engines has been flying for years, yet many of the durability concerns remain unresolved.

As manufacturers begin developing the next wave of greener aviation technology, airlines say they want a simple guarantee: that future engines deliver the promised fuel savings without spending excessive time in repair shops.

Until then, one of aviation’s biggest technological advances continues to face a challenge that affects everyone from airline executives to everyday travelers waiting at the gate.

JBizNews Desk — Aviation

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NEW HAVEN, Conn. (VINnews) — A Connecticut man has been arrested after police said he targeted several Jewish men during a confrontation in downtown New Haven.

Paul Smith, 36, of East Haven, faces charges including intimidation based on bias and disorderly conduct, according to authorities.

Police said the incident occurred last week when a group of Jewish men was standing on a sidewalk in the city’s downtown area. Investigators allege the suspect directed hostile comments at the group, approached them aggressively and knocked a yarmulke from one man’s head before leaving the scene.

Statement regarding an arrest made in a bias investigation. pic.twitter.com/ToLuV3X0xY

— New Haven Police Department (@NHPDnews) June 8, 2026

Authorities said detectives reviewed surveillance footage and gathered additional evidence that led to Smith’s identification and arrest.

Police officials described the incident as being motivated by anti-Jewish bias and said such conduct would not be tolerated.

No injuries were reported. The investigation remains ongoing.

The charges are accusations, and Smith is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

TORONTO (AP) — A new Canadian-built bridge across the Detroit River that U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to block will open at the end of the week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Tuesday.

In February, Trump demanded that Canada turn over at least half the ownership of the bridge and agree to other unspecified demands in one of his many salvos over cross-border trade issues.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge, which would connect Windsor, Ontario, and Detroit in the U.S. state of Michigan, and would be a vital economic artery between Canada and the United States, had been expected to open early this year, according to information on the project’s website.

The bridge is named after Howe, the late Canadian hockey great who spent 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings.

The project was negotiated by former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder — a Republican — and paid for by the Canadian government to help ease congestion over the existing Ambassador Bridge and Detroit-Windsor tunnel. Work has been underway since 2018.

“Obviously the bridge will be open at the end of the week. A symbol of, but also a fact of cooperation between our countries,” Carney told reporters as he walked into Parliament.

“Great for Canadians going across the border, Americans coming across the border, and for commerce,” he said, calling it “positive news.”

Trump threatened the bridge as the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is up for review this year, and Trump has been taking a hard-line position before those talks, including by issuing new tariff threats.

Carney, meanwhile, has spoken out on the world stage against economic coercion by the United States.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, has said that the Canadian-funded project is a “huge boon” to her state and its economic future.

Michigan is a swing state that Trump carried in both 2016 and 2024.

Snyder wrote in an op-ed in The Detroit News earlier this year that Trump was wrong in asserting that Canada owns both the U.S. and Canadian sides of the Gordie Howe bridge.

“Canada and the state of Michigan are 50/50 owners of the new bridge,” Snyder wrote. “Canada was wonderful and financed the entire bridge. They will get repaid with interest from the tolls. Michigan and the United States got their half-ownership with no investment.”

The Gordie Howe bridge will join the privately owned Ambassador Bridge as the second span connecting Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

The rival Ambassador Bridge is considered the busiest U.S.-Canadian border crossing, carrying 25% of all trade between the two countries. It plays an especially important role in auto manufacturing.

Companies controlled by the Moroun family, owners of the rival Ambassador Bridge, previously sued to prevent the Howe bridge from being built.

Public bodies are pushing ahead with AI tools, but gaps in budgets, data governance, procurement, and national planning are slowing the shift from pilots to full implementation.

Israel risks falling behind in the government use of artificial intelligence despite its high-tech strength, research base, and human capital, according to findings published Tuesday by the State Comptroller. The multinational audit, led by State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman as president of the European Organization of Regional Audit Institutions, examined government preparedness for AI with the participation of 12 European countries.

The findings present what Englman called an “innovation paradox”: Israel has the technological capabilities of a high-tech power, but has not translated them into a comprehensive, coordinated, and executable government plan for AI adoption.

Israel’s high-tech edge is not reaching government fast enough

“Artificial intelligence is not a future issue. It is already changing the way governments operate,” Englman said. He added that audit institutions must examine government preparations before the risks materialize, not after.

The findings said AI adoption in government must improve public service while protecting individual rights and public trust. Implementation should strengthen transparency, safeguard human rights, ensure responsible use of state resources, and make public services safer, more efficient, and more beneficial.

No national AI roadmap despite new headquarters

Although the government adopted the recommendations of the Nagel Committee in September 2025 under Government Decision 3375 and ordered the establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Headquarters in the Prime Minister’s Office, Israel still had not approved a comprehensive long-term national AI plan as of the audit’s completion date.

Such a plan should include a vision, goals, milestones, clear government responsibility, timetables, budget, and measurement and oversight mechanisms, the findings said. The government decision determined that the new headquarters would coordinate with the National Digital Agency on implementing AI technology in the public sector.

The gap is especially significant because Israel’s starting point is unusually strong. Its technological capabilities, high-tech industry, research activity, and human capital place it in a favorable position in AI, but those advantages have not yet become a full government implementation plan.

Public sector leaders see the promise, but systems lag behind

The Office of the State Comptroller conducted what it described as the first comprehensive mapping of its kind of Israel’s public sector readiness to adopt and implement AI. The findings were based on responses from 70 leading public bodies, including most government ministries, statutory bodies, auxiliary units, hospitals, health funds, large municipalities, and other entities.

The questionnaire found broad managerial recognition of AI’s importance. In 77% of the bodies, management attached great or very great importance to integrating AI solutions; in 63%, there was a leading and coordinating figure in the field; and in 72%, employee training programs were already being operated.

The public bodies reported 144 AI projects across 47 entities. Of those projects, 42% supported the core activity of the ministry or body, and 34% were intended to improve service to citizens, indicating real potential to improve public-sector performance.

Most AI work remains stuck in pilots

Despite the growth in AI activity, only 18% of the bodies reported that they had adopted a defined organizational strategy or policy for integrating AI.

The findings also showed that 34% of the bodies had not yet begun formulating a data strategy, while 41% operated without a formal data-governance framework. These gaps could limit the public sector’s ability to use AI responsibly, because AI systems depend on high-quality, accessible, secure, and well-governed data.

Of the reported AI projects, 68% were still in development or pilot stages, while only 32% had been implemented in practice. The findings said this shows that Israel’s public sector has not yet created the broad and mature infrastructure needed to move from isolated experiments to safe, effective, and measurable implementation.

Budget gaps are slowing AI adoption

The findings said 58% of participating public bodies had not been allocated a dedicated budget to promote AI projects during the years examined. Englman said the absence of organizational and budgetary infrastructure in most public bodies is delaying the development of public service.

About 80% of the bodies pointed to dedicated budgeting as the support most needed to accelerate AI adoption. Another 62% pointed to the need for training, while 58% said procurement mechanisms must be made more flexible.

“In order for Israel to realize its status as an ‘innovation nation’ within government bodies as well, we must face the gaps emerging from the field,” Englman said. “Now is the time to formulate a national master plan that will turn artificial intelligence tools into a lever for excellence in government service.”

Autonomous AI decision-making remains rare

The questionnaire found that 86% of participating public bodies do not have autonomous decision-making systems based on AI. The finding suggests that most public-sector AI use remains focused on support tools, service improvement, internal efficiency, or projects that have not yet reached full operational implementation.

The findings framed this within the broader need for responsible implementation, legal and ethical guidelines, information security, privacy protection, and benefit-measurement tools before AI systems are used more widely in public administration.

Weak data infrastructure threatens wider rollout

Israel has a policy for information sharing, but public bodies still face major obstacles, including prolonged approval processes, regulatory and bureaucratic limitations, enforcement gaps, information systems that do not interface with one another, and dependence on manual processes.

In the absence of an orderly and measurable government data strategy, it is difficult to turn government databases into reliable infrastructure for data reuse, advanced analysis, and responsible AI implementation in public service.

Responsible AI implementation must be built on high-quality data, proper data governance, information security and privacy, skilled human capital, and clear managerial responsibility.

Civil servants need AI skills, not just AI tools

The report said that human capital in the public service is critical to responsible AI adoption. Although Israel is strong in technological human capital and research, the government requires a complementary capability among civil servants, managers, regulators, procurement personnel, legal advisers, information-security personnel, and internal auditors.

These officials must be able to understand AI technology in depth, assess its risks, supervise external suppliers, and ensure that its use serves the public.

Localized training is not enough, according to the findings. A cross-cutting policy is needed to develop AI literacy and competence across the public service.

Master plan needed before gaps widen

Responsible AI implementation could become a central lever for improving public-sector efficiency and strengthening service to citizens. However, Israel must shift from viewing technological innovation as a localized project to treating AI as a cross-government capability.

A comprehensive government framework is required, combining uniform policy, dedicated budgeting, secure data and cloud infrastructures, professional training, adapted procurement mechanisms, legal and ethical guidelines, and tools for measuring benefits.

Englman also spoke of the state’s obligations with AI. “It is our duty to ensure that the adoption of technology promotes high-quality and efficient public service, while protecting individual rights and public trust,” Englman said.

Background

Israel has already taken several steps toward expanding AI use in both government and regulation. These include the launch of a national AI program, the appointment of a head for the National AI Directorate, and government-backed regulatory sandbox initiatives.

Separate reporting has also raised questions about how the new AI authority will interact with existing government bodies involved in technology, cyber policy, and national security. 

This post was originally published on here.

WAYNE, NJ (VINnews) – A New Jersey man who allegedly discussed carrying out an attack on a Jewish house of worship has been charged with attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State group, federal authorities announced Monday.

Mohamed Sagha, 22, of Wayne, was arrested and charged in federal court with attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS. Prosecutors allege he participated in online chat groups used by ISIS supporters and discussed potential attacks in the United States, including against places of worship.

According to court documents, Sagha allegedly told an individual he believed was an ISIS member that he was considering carrying out an attack on either a National Guard facility or a Jewish house of worship. Investigators said he shared images and videos of potential targets located near his home.

Federal authorities also allege Sagha sought to assist ISIS supporters by purchasing and providing a virtual private network, or VPN, which can help conceal online communications and identities.

The FBI said the investigation disrupted what officials described as a potential threat inspired by ISIS ideology.

If convicted, Sagha faces up to 20 years in prison.

The charge is an allegation, and Sagha is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

JERUSALEM (VINnews)-The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has lifted its shelter-in-place directive for U.S. government employees and their family members following an improved security situation in Israel.

In a statement Tuesday, the embassy said the decision follows updated guidelines from Israel’s Home Front Command, which now permits full activity across most of the country with no restrictions. Limited precautions remain in effect for certain communities in northern Israel.

“Consult the Home Front Command website for additional details,” the embassy advised.

The shelter-in-place order for U.S. government employees and their family members has ended, the statement said.

Consular Services Resume

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and its Branch Office in Tel Aviv will reopen consular sections for both routine and emergency services on Wednesday, June 10.

Air Travel

Ben Gurion Airport is operating normally. Travelers should contact their airlines directly for the latest information on commercial flights.

The developments come amid ongoing regional tensions, though Israeli authorities have eased restrictions as the immediate security situation has stabilized.

A judge has sharply criticized authorities after a court-ordered psychiatric evaluation was not carried out for Guy Echtlinger, the suspect accused of murdering Reb Yishai Por z”l inside a Bnei Brak kollel last month.

According to a report by military radio correspondent Tuvia Yagelnik, Echtlinger was never transferred to the district psychiatrist as ordered by the court and did not undergo the inpatient psychiatric examination that had been mandated.

During a recent court hearing, the judge expressed strong frustration over the failure to implement the order.

“The decision was not carried out. I would appreciate an immediate response from the Prison Service explaining why the court’s decision was not implemented,” the judge said.

The controversy follows developments from last week, when the district psychiatrist reportedly expressed reservations about conducting the examination. In response, the judge quickly issued an additional ruling, directing that Echtlinger be transferred to the district psychiatrist before the onset of Shabbos. Despite that clear instruction, the transfer never took place.

In the meantime, the court extended Echtlinger’s detention until Wednesday and again ordered that he be transferred for psychiatric evaluation as soon as possible.

During the hearing, Echtlinger also claimed that fellow inmates were threatening him. Addressing the court, he said, “They are saying they are going to kill me here in prison.”

The shocking killing took place on May 20, 2026, inside the Chazon Ish kollel on Rechov HaAri in Bnei Brak. Authorities allege that Reb Yishai Por z”l, a 52-year-old avreich known for his diligence and dedication to Torah learning, was fatally stabbed during the regular learning seder.

One of the most heartbreaking aspects of the tragedy was that the victim’s 13-year-old son was reportedly seated next to his father at the time and witnessed the attack.

Following reports of the stabbing, large numbers of police officers and emergency responders rushed to the scene. Reb Yishai was initially transported to the hospital in critical condition, but doctors were ultimately unable to save him and pronounced him dead shortly afterward.

{Matzav.com}