With his time in Washington running out, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana is making a final push to address Social Security’s looming funding crisis before automatic benefit reductions affect millions of Americans.

The urgency stems from a warning issued by the program’s trustees earlier this month. On June 9, trustees projected that the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund could be depleted by late 2032, at which point Social Security would be able to pay only about 78% of promised benefits unless Congress acts.

In an interview published Tuesday, Cassidy argued that lawmakers can no longer afford to delay.

“The longer we wait, the harder the solution becomes,” he warned.

Cassidy’s effort comes as he enters the final months of his Senate career.

The Louisiana Republican lost his primary election earlier this year to a Trump-backed challenger and will leave office when his term expires on January 3, 2027. With retirement approaching, Cassidy is taking on one of Washington’s most politically sensitive issues.

Social Security remains one of the nation’s most relied-upon programs, with surveys showing approximately 88% of Americans expect to depend on benefits during retirement.

Cassidy’s proposal, which he has dubbed the “Big Idea,” would create a government-backed investment fund designed to generate long-term returns capable of helping close the program’s financing gap.

Under the outline, the federal government would borrow approximately $1.5 trillion over five years — about $300 billion annually — and place the funds into a separately managed investment portfolio holding stocks and bonds.

The investment returns would then be used to help support future Social Security obligations.

Cassidy has compared the concept to sovereign wealth funds operated by countries such as Norway and to the investment structure used by the pension system serving U.S. railroad workers.

Unlike many proposals frequently discussed in Washington, Cassidy’s plan does not rely primarily on benefit reductions or payroll tax increases.

Instead, it attempts to generate additional investment income to help offset demographic pressures that continue weighing on the system.

Those pressures are significant.

Approximately 10,000 baby boomers reach retirement age each day, while birth rates have declined and Americans are living longer than previous generations. When Social Security was created in the 1930s, average life expectancy was approximately 62 years. Today it approaches 80 years.

As a result, fewer workers are supporting a growing number of retirees receiving benefits for longer periods.

Trustees estimate that without legislative action, Social Security recipients could face automatic benefit reductions of roughly 22% to 23% once the trust fund becomes depleted.

Despite the urgency, Cassidy faces long odds.

The proposal remains an outline rather than formal legislation, and any major Social Security reform would likely require bipartisan support and at least 60 votes in the Senate.

Cassidy has been working with a bipartisan group that includes Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin and Tim Kaine, along with Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Several members of the group are also leaving the Senate, adding further uncertainty to the effort.

Political disagreements remain substantial.

Many Democrats support increasing taxes on higher-income earners to strengthen Social Security finances. Many Republicans favor raising the retirement age. Cassidy opposes increasing the retirement age and instead continues promoting the investment-fund approach.

Critics have raised concerns of their own.

Borrowing $1.5 trillion to invest in financial markets would introduce market risk into a program traditionally funded through payroll taxes. Some economists also warn that borrowing at that scale could place upward pressure on government borrowing costs and bond yields.

Cassidy acknowledges that investment gains alone would not fully eliminate the funding shortfall. Additional reforms would likely still be required.

Even so, he argues that beginning the process now is preferable to waiting until benefit cuts become unavoidable.

Whether Congress embraces the proposal remains uncertain.

But with Social Security’s funding challenges moving closer and Cassidy’s Senate career nearing its end, the Louisiana senator is making one final effort to force a conversation Washington has spent years avoiding.

JBizNews Desk | New York
© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

A foreign intelligence document revealed by Kan News alleges that Qatar has served in recent years as a central channel for helping Iran strengthen its economic, commercial, and military capabilities while circumventing international sanctions.

The document, first exposed by Kan’s Arab affairs correspondent Roi Kais and Palestinian affairs correspondent Elior Levy, outlines how Qatar allegedly expanded trade routes with Iran, assisted efforts to unfreeze Iranian funds, and deepened cooperation in the energy sector. According to the report, the activity intensified after the United States withdrew from the 2018 nuclear deal and continued following the October 7 massacre.

The document further alleges that official data points to the transfer of dual-use materials from the Qatar area to Iran, including components that could potentially be used in the production of drones and weapons systems.

Among the materials cited are bituminous mineral oils that can be used for rocket fuel, explosives, and maritime vessels, as well as unusually large quantities of hydrogen that could potentially serve as fuel for rockets and unmanned aerial vehicles.

The document also alleges that aluminum rods and profiles used in drone airframes, along with internal combustion engines that could be incorporated into drone production, were supplied to Iran.

According to the intelligence assessment, the activity could harm the security interests of Israel, the United States, and Arab countries, and it calls for action to be taken against the alleged operations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Dear Fellow Boro Parkers,

Like many of you, I watched the election results with concern. The victories of candidates aligned with Zohran Mamdani have left many people uneasy about the future direction of New York and what it may mean for our communities.

Those concerns are understandable. We care deeply about our families, our neighborhoods, our yeshivos, our shuls, and the values that are important to us. When we see political developments that seem at odds with those values, it is natural to feel worried.

While everyone is entitled to their political views, I think there is one important point that we, as Yidden, must never forget: Hashem has not lost control of His world.

Throughout history, Klal Yisroel has lived under kings, presidents, governors, and leaders of every type imaginable. Governments have changed, political movements have risen and fallen, and the headlines have constantly shifted. Yet through it all, the Ribbono Shel Olam remained in charge.

That does not mean we should ignore elections or fail to participate in the democratic process. We should vote, advocate for our communities, and do our hishtadlus. But when the votes are counted, our trust must remain where it always belonged - not in politicians, parties, or polls, but in Hashem.

The pasuk tells us, "Lev melachim v'sarim b'yad Hashem" - the hearts of rulers and leaders are in the hands of Hashem. What appears alarming today may ultimately turn out very differently than anyone expects. We simply do not see the full picture.

So if you are feeling anxious or discouraged by the results, take a step back from the endless commentary and remember that the same Hashem who guided Klal Yisroel yesterday is guiding us today and will continue guiding us tomorrow.

Governments change. Elections come and go. Hashem remains.

A Reader

Violence broke out at multiple locations across Israel on Wednesday during nationwide vehicle protests organized by the chareidi community against the arrests of yeshiva bochurim, with organizers reporting a series of alleged attacks on participants.

One of the most serious incidents occurred on Highway 1, where video circulated by protest organizers appears to show a passing driver pointing a handgun toward a group of chareidi demonstrators standing along the roadside. No shots were fired, but organizers condemned the incident as a grave threat and called on police to immediately investigate and arrest those responsible.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The Highway 1 incident was one of several violent confrontations reported throughout the day.

Near Ashdod on Route 7, organizers said a man blocked the path of a vehicle participating in the convoy, struck the car, attempted to assault the driver, shattered a side window, and threatened the occupants. Protest organizers said the incident was documented and would be turned over to police.

On the Ayalon Highway near Tel Aviv, participants alleged that a truck driver exited his vehicle armed with a knife and sticks before striking one of the protest vehicles and pounding on its windows while the occupants remained inside. The passengers immediately contacted police. No injuries were reported.

Another reported assault involved Beitar Illit Deputy Mayor Gedalyahu Eisenstein, who organizers say was attacked after another driver deliberately collided with his vehicle before allegedly choking him during the confrontation.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Meanwhile, violent clashes erupted in Arad between Gerrer Chassidim participating in the protests and secular residents and passersby. Police responded to the scene as tensions escalated.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Protest organizers also accused police of attempting to interfere with the demonstrations by issuing traffic citations to participants, calling it an infringement on the right to protest. They said their legal team would challenge any enforcement actions they believe unlawfully targeted demonstrators.

Police had not immediately released official statements regarding several of the reported incidents.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A clinical trial testing two drugs against the Bundibugyo ebolavirus, which is driving a fast-moving outbreak in Central Africa, is set to begin next week, World Health Organization officials said Wednesday. 

The clinical trial — which will test both Gilead Sciences’ antiviral drug remdesivir and MappBio’s monoclonal antibody MBP-134 — will be conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The trial is designed to test whether either of the therapies is effective against this form of Ebola, and whether using the two in combination would be a more effective way to combat the disease.

Read the rest…

Walmart said Tuesday it has agreed to acquire Vibe.co, a Paris-based platform that lets businesses buy and create streaming-television ads, as the retail giant pushes deeper into the fast-growing, high-margin business of selling advertising.

In a June 23 release, the company said Vibe.co’s self-serve connected-TV platform will fold into Walmart Connect, its commerce media business, making TV advertising more accessible and measurable for small and mid-sized businesses. Ryan Mayward, the senior vice president who runs Walmart Connect U.S., said the goal is to make TV advertising “more measurable and easier to activate for advertisers of all sizes.”

Terms were not officially disclosed, though one trade publication reported a price near $1.4 billion.

The deal reflects a quiet but profound shift in how Walmart makes money. Best known as one of the nation’s biggest retailers, Walmart is increasingly looking to become a major seller of advertising too. Grocery and general-merchandise sales carry thin margins; advertising is far richer. When Walmart sells ad space — on its site, in its app, on store screens, and now on streaming TV — the profits help keep shelf prices low while still growing earnings.

It is following the path Amazon blazed in turning ads into a profit engine.

Vibe.co fills a specific gap. Connected TV can reach huge audiences, but buying those ads has traditionally been complicated and costly, often putting it out of reach for smaller businesses. Arthur Querou, Vibe.co’s chief executive and co-founder, said the company was built to make streaming-TV advertising work more like paid social media — fast, measurable and optimized — and that joining Walmart lets it bring “performance TV advertising to one of the most powerful commerce media ecosystems in the market.”

Querou and co-founder Franck Tetzlaff are expected to join Walmart Connect.

The acquisition builds directly on Walmart’s $2 billion purchase of Vizio, which closed less than two years ago. Vizio gives Walmart a foothold in millions of living rooms and a stream of viewing data. Vibe.co gives it the tools to sell ads against that audience and prove they work.

Because Walmart can tie an ad to a later purchase through its “closed-loop” measurement system, it can offer advertisers something most media companies cannot: a direct link between a commercial and a sale.

The biggest target is small business. Many of Walmart’s third-party marketplace sellers are small and mid-sized brands that would never buy a national television commercial. By making streaming ads cheaper and easier to use, Walmart can sell advertising to those sellers and other small brands — a vast pool bigger media platforms often overlook.

For Main Street businesses, it could mean access to television-style advertising once reserved for large corporations.

For shoppers, the trend is double-edged. More sophisticated advertising means the products promoted on their televisions and phones are increasingly tailored to them, drawing on what Walmart knows about shopping habits and purchasing behavior. That can make ads more relevant, but it also extends the reach of a company that already tracks an enormous share of American consumer spending.

Roughly 280 million customers visit Walmart’s more than 10,900 stores and websites each week, creating a trove of consumer data few rivals can match.

The transaction is subject to antitrust review under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and is expected to close by the end of Walmart’s 2027 fiscal year, with no impact to sales or operating-income guidance.

It came a day after Walmart said it was consolidating its advertising operations into a single framework — a sign of how central the ad business has become to a company most Americans still think of simply as a place to buy groceries.

As retail media becomes one of Walmart’s key growth engines, deals like this show how the line between a retailer and a media company continues to blur.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yitzchak Goldknopf has significantly intensified his criticism of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, declaring that he no longer believes promises regarding legislation protecting bnei yeshivah from military conscription and warning that future coalition negotiations will require concrete guarantees rather than commitments.

In an interview with Avi Mimran on Kol Chai’s Hamehadurah Hamerkazis, Goldknopf explained why he did not attend the recent meeting between Netanyahu, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, and Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni.

“I said that I do not view this meeting as a real meeting, but rather a meeting for a photograph or to make a joke out of us,” Goldknopf said.

Expressing frustration over the repeated delays surrounding draft legislation, he added, “They have given us nothing until today. Apparently there are still those who have hope. I have lost my confidence and hope in those promises.”

Goldknopf suggested that, from his perspective, the current government has effectively reached the end of its lifespan.

“Let’s not throw sand in anyone’s eyes. This term is over,” he said, referring to growing discussions about dissolving the Knesset and heading to new elections.

While emphasizing that he would support any genuine legislative progress, Goldknopf made clear that he is no longer interested in symbolic gestures or political theater.

According to the UTJ leader, Agudas Yisroel remains firmly opposed to any draft legislation that includes sanctions or penalties against Torah learners.

“We did not support this draft law at all, and we will not support it in the next term either,” he said.

Looking ahead to future coalition negotiations, Goldknopf said the chareidi parties will insist on securing legislation before agreeing to join a government.

“In the next term we will demand a guaranteed check for the draft law. Before the government is formed, a draft law will pass—and if not, we will not enter any government.”

He further indicated that his party does not view itself as permanently committed to any particular political bloc.

“If someone comes and gives us the draft law before the government is formed—we will not hesitate,” he said, suggesting that support could be extended to whichever coalition is prepared to satisfy the demands of the Gedolei Yisroel.

Goldknopf also criticized what he described as a steady stream of measures targeting the chareidi community.

“Without sanctions, without beatings, without daycare cuts, without cuts to yeshivos, without removing Section 46, tax credits and municipal tax benefits. Where are we today?” he asked.

Responding to concerns that leaving the coalition could result in a government less favorable to the chareidi public, Goldknopf expressed confidence that the Torah community would endure regardless of political developments.

“Hashem will not abandon His people and will not forsake His inheritance. We have faced stronger threats than these. ‘Give me Yavneh and its sages’ remained and will remain.”

Toward the end of the interview, Goldknopf acknowledged what he sees as a major weakness in the chareidi community’s public-relations efforts.

“We lack public relations, and we also lack funding for public relations,” he said.

He added that discussions are underway about raising resources, including from supporters abroad, to build a broader campaign aimed at explaining the importance and value of Torah study to the wider public.

{Matzav.com}

Washington reacted sharply after candidates backed by Zohran Mamdani defeated establishment-backed Democrats in New York primaries, fueling new concern over the growing power of the party’s socialist wing.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said Mamdani “has some work to do” with congressional Democrats after the results, meaning the candidates won power, but not yet full trust from party leadership. Axios reported that House Democrats were stunned, with one centrist calling the night an “earthquake” and a “huge defeat” for leadership.

President Donald Trump mocked Mamdani for pulling through “3 solid Communists,” adding, “Congratulations Mr. Mayor!” House Speaker Mike Johnson also warned that Republicans were ready to fight the “Marxists,” casting the results as proof that the insurgent left is rising inside the Democratic Party.

Progressives saw the night very differently. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a leading progressive Democrat, said “the progressive energy is clearly very high,” adding that Mamdani’s endorsement and turnout machine “really does matter.”

The reactions showed how quickly local New York primaries became a national political story. The results pointed to a growing reality inside the Democratic Party: Mamdani’s wing is gaining power because many voters feel squeezed by rent, affordability and a system they believe no longer works for them.

JERUSALEM (JNS) – Radio host and commentator Sid Rosenberg said Wednesday that he was revoking an earlier apology he made to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during remarks at the JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem.

Rosenberg’s comments referred to an earlier controversy in which he called Mamdani a “cockroach,” a remark that drew criticism and led him to issue a public apology.

Addressing attendees at the conference, Rosenberg said he no longer stood by that apology and renewed his criticism of the mayor, drawing applause from some in the audience.

🚨 "I REVOKE MY APOLOGY."
At #JNS26, @SidRosenberg19 makes headlines and unloads on Zohran Mamdani. He publicly revoked his apology to the NYC mayor saying
"I've given this guy months to prove me wrong."

Watch the full address ▶ https://t.co/YLr5IEq7r7 pic.twitter.com/fgJQEjwWNf

— Jerusalem News Syndicate (@JNS_org) June 24, 2026

“I revoke my apology,” Rosenberg said during his speech.

Rosenberg, a longtime radio personality and outspoken supporter of Israel, has frequently criticized Mamdani over his views on Israel and other political issues.

The remarks came amid growing tensions within New York politics following a series of Democratic primary victories by progressive candidates aligned with Mamdani, whose influence has expanded since his election as mayor.

The JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem brought together political leaders, journalists and policy experts to discuss issues affecting Israel, the Middle East and Jewish communities worldwide.

Mamdani had not publicly responded to Rosenberg’s latest remarks as of Tuesday evening.

A 29-year-old resident of Yerushalayim was killed Wednesday in a traffic accident in Chișinău, the capital of Moldova.

According to reports, the young man lost control of his vehicle, which overturned into a ravine in the city. Emergency crews responded to the scene, extricated him from the wreckage, and pronounced him dead.

The international division of ZAKA has begun assisting the family and coordinating with local authorities to arrange for the niftar’s transfer to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah.

ZAKA said it immediately began working with local officials, family members, and the Jewish community in Moldova to handle the necessary procedures and expedite the release and transportation of the body.

Nachman Dickstein, commander of ZAKA Europe, said teams are assisting the family throughout the process while working to ensure the niftar is brought to kevurah in Israel as quickly and respectfully as possible.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

JERUSALEM (VINnews)-Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning Wednesday to Yemen’s Houthi terror leadership, declaring that Israel will not withdraw from Lebanon even if pressed by the United States and that the Houthis will pay a heavy price for their attacks.

“Even if the U.S. demands it — we won’t withdraw from Lebanon,” Katz said. “The account with the Houthis is also open. They will pay a price. If their leader comes into our crosshairs — we will eliminate him.”

The statement highlights Israel’s resolve to maintain its military posture in southern Lebanon amid ongoing security operations and international diplomatic efforts.

IDF Eliminates Hamas Terrorist Who Infiltrated on Oct. 7

In a separate operation earlier this week, the Israel Defense Forces struck in the southern Gaza Strip and eliminated Akram Muhammad Mahmoud Abu Mazi, a Hamas military wing operative who infiltrated Israeli territory during the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.

Abu Mazi had been working in recent weeks to rebuild Hamas’ military capabilities and advance terror attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians, the military said.

The IDF said it took steps to minimize harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions and aerial surveillance before the strike. Troops under Southern Command remain deployed in the area in accordance with the ceasefire agreement and will continue to act against threats.

A photo released by the IDF shows Abu Mazi on the morning of Oct. 7 as he departed to infiltrate Israeli territory.

VINnews will continue to monitor developments.

By Y.M. Lowy

The results are in!

After thousands of women participated in BoroPark24’s Women’s Reader Survey, sharing their feedback, two winners have been selected to receive our $300 giveaway prizes.

Congratulations to Leah Fischer and Idy J, whose names were drawn from among the many survey participants! Each winner will receive a $300 gift card, with the choice of either Loft Steakhouse or Sheer Bliss Salon.

The survey was launched to help BoroPark24 better understand what women in our community enjoy reading and what they’d like to see more of in the future. The response was overwhelming, with thousands of women taking a few minutes out of their busy schedules to tell us what matters most to them.

Our team is beginning to review the many responses, suggestions, and ideas that were submitted. From community coverage and family-focused content to features, guides, lifestyle topics, and more, the feedback provides valuable insight into what our readers enjoy and what they’d like to see next.

We would like to thank every woman who participated. Your feedback will help shape future content on BoroPark24, and we’re grateful for the enthusiasm and engagement shown throughout the survey.

And to our winners, Leah Fischer and Idy J—congratulations and enjoy your prizes!

President Donald Trump today took aim at what he described as disproportionate media attention surrounding New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, while highlighting what he said was a near-perfect record of success for candidates he endorsed in recent elections.

In a post published on Truth Social, Trump contrasted the widespread coverage of Mamdani’s recent political success with what he characterized as a lack of media interest in his own influence on Republican primary races across the country.

“Mayor Mamdani pulled through 3 solid Communists, and has received loud and universal applause from the Fake News Media,” Trump wrote. “Congratulations Mr. Mayor!”

Trump then shifted focus to a slate of primary elections held Tuesday night, claiming that all 16 candidates he backed emerged victorious.

“I went 16-0 last night, helping to elect wonderful American Patriots, and the Media doesn’t say a word,” he wrote.

The president further argued that his endorsements have consistently translated into electoral success over the past two years, citing a record of 259 primary victories.

“Over the last two years, my endorsement has netted 259 Primary WINS, and almost no losses, with Zero media attention!!!” Trump stated.

The post concluded with one of Trump’s longstanding criticisms of mainstream news outlets, writing simply: “FAKE NEWS. President DJT.”

{Matzav.com}

Aviel Cohen, the yungerman whose arrest by military authorities sparked widespread public outcry, has spoken publicly for the first time since his release from military prison, describing the dramatic moments of his detention, the challenges he faced behind bars, and the faith that sustained him throughout the ordeal.

Cohen, who was released on Erev Shabbos after spending four days in military custody, shared his story in an interview with Nati Kalish on Chadashos Anash on Kol Chai. Looking back on the experience, he said he felt as though he had been forcibly taken away without warning.

“That’s how I would describe it—that I was simply kidnapped,” he said.

According to Cohen, the arrest occurred while he was traveling with his wife near Netivot on his way to arrange enrollment in a new kollel. He said that after noticing a police checkpoint, he altered his route and was later stopped near the Gilat Junction by traffic police and military police officers.

“Within seconds they took my ID card, driver’s license, and phone. They put handcuffs on me, and I didn’t even have a chance to say goodbye to my wife,” he recalled.

Cohen further alleged that when his wife attempted to notify family members about what had happened, one of the officers threatened to confiscate her phone as well.

He said he was initially transported to a military facility in southern Israel and later transferred to military prison, remaining handcuffed for extended periods throughout the process.

According to Cohen, the journey was accompanied by difficult conditions, including going an entire day without food and experiencing repeated difficulties obtaining permission to stop for a restroom break.

“They told me it was procedure and that they couldn’t stop,” he said.

Once inside the prison, Cohen said one of the most difficult aspects of his confinement was not knowing what had happened to his wife after the arrest.

“The last time I saw her was at the Gilat Junction, and after that I had no idea what was happening with her,” he said.

He also recounted that during the early days of his incarceration, detainees were not permitted to participate in a minyan. According to Cohen, one prison guard bluntly told him, “You’re in prison, not in yeshivah.”

Despite those challenges, Cohen said conditions later improved, allowing detainees to organize prayer services, learn Torah together, and provide spiritual encouragement to fellow inmates.

He described his release as a personal miracle. Cohen said he had prayed intensely to be freed before Shabbos so he could spend time with his wife during their first year of marriage.

According to Cohen, he was unexpectedly informed that he would be released the following morning.

Following his release, he expressed gratitude to Hashem, to his wife for tirelessly advocating on his behalf, to his family members, and to those who assisted him throughout the process. He specifically thanked attorney Rabbi Shlomo Haddad and MK Moshe Abutbul, whom he credited as being among the key figures who worked for his release and even visited him while he was incarcerated.

Concluding the interview, Cohen offered words of encouragement to others facing similar circumstances.

“The first days are difficult, but with faith and joy you can get through anything. Someone who remains steadfast in his path can make it through.”

{Matzav.com}

Tensions are running high within the upper ranks of the Israel Police over the handling of Chareidi protests, against the backdrop of the highly publicized confrontation between National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Police Commissioner Danny Levy.

Senior police officers and district commanders told Channel 14 that the dispute between Ben Gvir and Levy is affecting officers on the ground.

“The dispute is trickling down to officers on the ground, who don’t know how they’re expected to act,” they said. “Levy has failed to present a clear policy on the protests during senior command meetings, and as a result, the officers bearing the brunt of harsh public criticism are those on the front lines, who are already operating under difficult conditions. It is time for Levy to provide decisive leadership and implement a clear, consistent policy.”

At the same time, another source of tension has emerged—between Levy and the police spokesperson’s division. According to the report, Levy reprimanded members of the spokesperson’s unit, saying he was dissatisfied with the media handling of the crisis involving the Chareidi community.

Levy added that “the IDF dumped responsibility for the arrest of draft evaders on us and then disappeared.”

He went on to discuss his past relationship with the Chareidi public, saying: “I used to be able to walk through Bnei Brak and people would ask to take pictures with me. Today, I can’t even enter the city.”

Meanwhile, senior officials in the Tel Aviv District told i24NEWS that Superintendent Yuval Shavit, commander of the Bnei Brak police station, who was filmed deliberately ripping off a protester’s pants during the Peleg Yerushalmi protest last week, will not be removed from his position.

“A dismissal is not possible without a recommendation from the commissioner,” they said.

The remarks come after Ben Gvir announced on Tuesday that he is scheduling an urgent meeting regarding the police violence at the Chareidi protest last week, and a decision will be made on whether disciplinary and personal measures will be taken against specific officers.

In response, Levy publicly backed the commander and officers who were filmed using disproportionate violence and deliberate humiliation against the protesters. “A significant operation was required to restore public order,” he said. “I express my appreciation for and support the commanders and officers operating in the field, making decisions in real time,” he said.

Ben Gvir responded to Levy by saying: “I respect the commissioner, but after the lesson-learning process is completed, significant steps are required to ensure that such events do not recur, and that is what we’ll do.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

WASHINGTON (VINnews) — The National Republican Congressional Committee said Wednesday it delivered flowers and a condolence card to the Washington office of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries following a series of Democratic primary losses by candidates he backed in New York.

NEW: The @NRCC has delivered flowers and a condolences card to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) DC office after the House candidates he endorsed lost to Mamdani-backed socialists in NY last night.

NRCC statement to @FoxNews:

“Three losses in one night is tough. We… pic.twitter.com/tBhVrRZYzH

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) June 24, 2026

The gesture came after several candidates endorsed by Jeffries were defeated by rivals aligned with supporters of New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani and the party’s progressive wing.

In a statement to Fox News, NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella mocked the losses.

“Three losses in one night is tough. We wanted so-called ‘Leader’ Jeffries to know our thoughts are with him, his candidates, and whatever remains of his influence in the Democrat Party,” Marinella said.

The move underscores growing Republican efforts to portray Democratic primary victories by progressive candidates as evidence of a leftward shift within the party ahead of the November elections.

Jeffries’ office did not immediately respond to the NRCC’s gesture.

Incoming board member Lauren Tyler has more than 30 years of leadership experience in the finance world, which could help Centene navigate the challenging operating environment facing insurers.

Americans are moving less. In 2024, about 7.15 million people relocated across state lines, according to a recent StorageCafe analysis. The number, representing 2.1% of the U.S. population, is the lowest interstate mobility rate in more than a decade and a clear step down from 2.5% in 2022 and 2.3% in 2023.

The rapid reshuffling that defined the early 2020s has cooled, easing the demographic momentum that often influences housing demand and broader commercial real estate activity. Yet the slowdown does not mean stagnation: regional winners and losers are still emerging; family, jobs and affordability remain central drivers; and generational patterns are reshaping who moves and where they settle.

Gen Z accounts for the largest share of interstate movers

Gen Z leads all generations in interstate moves, accounting for roughly 2.2 million relocations. That reflects life-stage mobility: early careers, education transitions and rental housing flexibility.

Millennials remain relatively mobile as well, with 2 million moving to a different state during the same period. However, rising home prices, mortgage rates and the natural progression toward a different stage of life have obviously altered decision-making related to moving. With borrowing costs elevated and many homeowners locked into lower mortgage rates secured before 2022, discretionary relocation has slowed.

Texas and Florida still lead in net gains, but growth has tempered significantly

Despite the broader slowdown in interstate mobility, Texas and Florida remain the top two states for net domestic migration in 2024. Texas recorded approximately 76,000 net inbound domestic migrants in 2024. That total, while enough to secure the No. 1 position nationally, represents a sharp decline from 2023, when the state added roughly 136,000 net newcomers. Florida followed with about 68,000 net new residents in 2024, down significantly from the roughly 126,000 it gained the year prior.

South Carolina posted around 54,000 net gains, and Arizona added about 51,000. Nevada, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee also ranked among the top states for net migration.

Nevada stands out in particular. With over 45,000 newcomers, the state more than doubled its net domestic migration compared with the previous year, marking one of the strongest year-over-year accelerations in the country. Tennessee follows the same trend, increasing net migration by 19% to receive 33,000 newcomers, incentivized by a still-affordable housing market.

The Midwest is starting to emerge as an attractive moving destination

Among the top 10 states for net migration in 2024, only one falls outside the South and Mountain West. Ohio recorded approximately 29,000 net domestic migrants, marking a meaningful reversal from prior years of population loss.

Ohio’s surprising inclusion in the top 10 signals an emerging shift. As housing costs have climbed in traditional Sun Belt destinations, some households are broadening their search. States in the Midwest are benefiting from lower home prices and stable employment bases, which are drawing movers seeking affordability without sacrificing economic opportunity. Looking beyond the top 10 states for net migration, Michigan and Wisconsin are also showing signs of capturing interest from Americans moving long distance.

While the Midwest does not yet rival the South in total inbound numbers, its relative improvement suggests we might soon see a far more diverse migration landscape.

Smaller states lead per-capita migration gains

Population-adjusted migration reveals something raw totals can’t: where growth is most concentrated relative to the existing base. That distinction matters because structural shifts in housing demand, labor supply and local economic activity are driven by growth intensity, not volume, and, on that measure, smaller states dominate the rankings.

By that measure, Vermont ranks first nationally, adding just over 20 net domestic migrants per 1,000 residents in 2024 – roughly 2% population growth from interstate moves alone. The composition of that inflow sharpens the picture further: 86% hold at least a bachelor’s degree and 36% are Gen Z. For a small state, that level of concentrated, education-driven in-migration can meaningfully reshape local labor markets, housing demand and the commercial activity that follows both.

North Dakota and Wyoming each added more than nine net newcomers per 1,000 residents, but the two states tell different stories. North Dakota’s arrivals skew younger and more rental-oriented – only about 31% purchased a home shortly after moving. Wyoming’s movers, by contrast, transitioned predominantly into homeownership, suggesting financially established households with a different footprint on local services and retail activity.

West Virginia and Idaho round out the top five at roughly eight and six net newcomers per 1,000 residents respectively. In both states, Gen Z represents the largest incoming cohort, reinforcing the growing role of affordability and lifestyle considerations in shaping where younger Americans are choosing to settle.

California heads high-cost states that continue to see net migration losses

The migration map in 2024 still shows a clear divide between high-cost coastal states and lower-cost interior markets.

California remains the largest net exporter of residents. The state recorded a net domestic migration loss of more than 263,000 people in 2024, marking the 10th consecutive year of net migration losses. While departures are no longer at the extraordinary levels seen in 2021 and 2022, when remote work flexibility accelerated exits, the overall trend has not reversed.

New York follows with a net domestic loss of approximately 129,000 residents. Unlike California, however, New York’s outflow slowed meaningfully compared with the prior year, with about 50,000 fewer net departures. The state continues to face housing affordability constraints, but the pace of relocation appears to be stabilizing as labor markets in finance, media and technology regain momentum.

Illinois and New Jersey also remain in negative territory. Illinois saw a net loss of roughly 81,000 residents in 2024, while New Jersey recorded about 61,000 more departures than arrivals. Both states improved slightly year over year, yet the longer-term direction remains outward.

Self-storage adjusts to the slower migration cycle

Self-storage demand closely follows mobility. Even with interstate migration slowing to 2.1% of the population in 2024, more than 7 million Americans still changed states, sustaining a solid baseline of relocation-driven storage use.

During the peak migration years, many inbound states expanded aggressively. Storage inventory now sits well above the national benchmark of 7.4 square feet per resident in key growth markets: 11.4 square feet in Texas, 11.7 in Nevada, 9.8 in Florida and 13.2 in Oklahoma.

As migration cooled, markets began differentiating. In states where inbound flows eased, such as Texas and Florida, street rates adjusted modestly, down 0.9% and roughly 1.5% respectively. In contrast, Nevada, where net migration more than doubled year over year, saw rates hold steady despite elevated supply. Oklahoma recorded a 1.1% rate increase alongside stronger net migration.

The takeaway is balance. Storage markets are aligning with local migration fundamentals rather than broad national momentum. For operators, that means performance increasingly depends on disciplined market selection and supply management. For renters, it generally means greater choice for self-storage services and pricing affordability and stability.

NEW YORK (VINnews) – While much of the attention following Tuesday’s Democratic primaries focused on progressive candidates who scored major victories across New York City, two Orthodox Jewish candidates also secured wins in state Assembly races.

Pesach Osina won the Democratic nomination for a Queens-based Assembly seat, while Joey Saban captured the Democratic nomination in a Brooklyn district.

Under/reported: Two new Orthodox Jewish superstars who won the Democratic nomination for NYS Assembly: Pesach Osina in Queens + Joey Saban in Brooklyn.

Mazel Tov! pic.twitter.com/3oCEyEBE8f

— David G. Greenfield (@NYCGreenfield) June 24, 2026

The victories drew praise from David Greenfield, who highlighted the results as a bright spot for the Orthodox Jewish community following a primary night dominated by progressive victories.

“Underreported: Two new Orthodox Jewish superstars who won the Democratic nomination for New York State Assembly — Pesach Osina in Queens and Joey Saban in Brooklyn. Mazel Tov!” Greenfield wrote in a post Wednesday.

Supporters said the nominations provide a measure of optimism and ensure that Orthodox Jewish voices will continue to have representation in Albany amid growing concerns about antisemitism and issues affecting the community.

Both candidates are expected to be strong contenders in the November general election.

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

Question:

Dear Mayor Coles,

We are so excited and grateful for the new sidewalks installed (with great effort) on Lanes Mill in the Raintree area!

However, we are bewildered and concerned that the sidewalks, while carefully and laboriously prepared (excessive brush removed, area flattened and firmed, curbs dug and poured, corners re-dug and re-poured, etc), seem to be made out of porous “Rice Krispies Treat” concrete. While a quick google search tells us of the ecological benefits of porous concrete, we are concerned that the tremendous work invested in this project may go to waste.

1. The porous sidewalk seems to already be crumbling underfoot, less than two weeks after installation. It is unpleasant to walk or ride on and gravel is constantly crumbling off everywhere.

2. How will this material withstand winter ice (freeze/thaw) and sprayed salt? The new (traditional) sidewalk in front of the abandoned construction area between Malibu and Barrymor already seems to have minor damage from winter salt spray – doesn’t porous concrete suffer even more from this issue?

3. While a tremendous amount of brush was carefully cleared for this project, the resulting dirt piles remain as they were left, without soil being redistributed evenly or packed tightly around the new sidewalk. How does the city plan to combat erosion, especially with the more delicate material of porous vs traditional concrete?

How can we make sure all the hard work invested in it does not get wasted, and that they last (both in construction and in regard to erosion?)

Thank you for taking the time to consider our concerns!!

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good afternoon

I didn’t realize we were using porous concrete for sidewalks until I watched the project along Ridge earlier this year.

The bottom line is that the state mandated the use of this type of concrete wherever possible.

In DEP Speak, there has been a push for greener infrastructure/eco-friendly solutions in NJ to help keep the environment clean. Therefore, the state’s storm rules changed. NJAC 7:8, DEP requires pervious/pourous walks to act as a filter for nonpoint source pollutants of runoff and act as another type of groundwater recharge.

There are many benefits to using this type of concrete. It helps to eliminate puddles and reduces runoff by allowing water to filter directly into the groundwater supply. It is safer in winter because water seeps through and reduces ice formation. Furthermore, it allows air and water to reach tree roots, preventing sidewalks from lifting, and most importantly, from a health and safety perspective, it filters water before going into the ground of pollutants.

Despite what its appearance may suggest, it can be 2 times more expensive than traditional concrete. While it  may not be pretty, its life expectancy is 20-40 years, comparable to standard concrete. Its main drawback is that it is not suitable for heavy vehicle use. That is why you will see standard concrete at driveways, etc. We have been using this concrete in projects for several years, and the results have been positive.

All concrete deteriorates when certain types of rock salt are used. We recommend folks use Calcium Magnesium Acetate when purchasing snow melt; it is the best option.

Finally, the dirt that was disturbed will be restored when the project is complete

Thanks

Ray

—————–

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

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

The U.S. Energy Department said Tuesday it will provide up to $17.5 billion in loans to jump-start construction of 10 large nuclear reactors, an effort to meet the soaring electricity demand from artificial-intelligence data centers. Energy Secretary Chris Wright, on a call with reporters June 23, cited “tremendous interest” from data-center developers that would buy the power, as well as utilities and energy companies.

“This is the start,” Wright said, adding he’d be “very surprised” if dozens more were not built once a supply chain is running.

The plan works like this. The government is offering as many as five conditional loans for utilities and energy companies that will each build two reactors, using designs from Westinghouse Electric Co. The loans run about $3.5 billion per project, with utilities and Westinghouse expected to contribute up to $5 billion in equity in total. Westinghouse has signed letters of intent with seven potential partners, each with an identified site, and the department declined to name the utilities until final selections are made.

The push responds to a power crunch. Data centers used 4% to 5% of the nation’s electricity in 2024, a share that could nearly triple by 2028, and some analysts expect total U.S. electricity use to rise as much as 20% over the next decade, with data centers a big reason. The country has struggled to add generation: most U.S. nuclear plants were built between 1970 and 1990, with Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle expansion a rare — and famously over-budget — recent example.

For the nuclear industry, this could be a turning point. Building large reactors in the U.S. has lost money for decades, plagued by overruns and delays. Wright said the loans could speed each project by up to three years and lower construction costs, with a goal of having all 10 under construction by 2030 and generating power in the mid-2030s. He called the financing “very, very low risk to the American taxpayers.”

That claim is where the debate begins. Government-backed nuclear financing carries real risk: the last generation of U.S. reactors ran years late and billions over budget, and taxpayers or ratepayers often covered the gap. Supporters counter that nuclear offers what data centers need most — large amounts of steady, around-the-clock power that does not depend on weather, unlike wind or solar. For tech companies racing to power AI, reliable supply matters more than almost anything.

The move also fits a broader political calculation. Rising electricity bills have become a flashpoint before the November midterms, and the administration has searched for ways to expand supply without further inflaming household costs. By steering new generation toward data centers — and pressing tech firms to help pay for it — the White House is trying to satisfy AI’s appetite for power while shielding consumers from the bill.

The announcement came a day after Trump signed an executive order on quantum computing, part of a wider effort to court the tech sector.

The business ripple effects could be significant. A revived reactor program would mean orders for Westinghouse, work for construction firms and equipment makers, and thousands of skilled jobs in the regions where plants rise. It would also deepen the financial ties between Big Tech and the power industry, as data-center operators increasingly sign long-term deals to buy electricity from specific plants.

Whether the projects come in on time and on budget — the chronic weakness of American nuclear construction — will determine if Tuesday’s announcement is a genuine revival or another costly false start.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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

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By Y.M. Lowy

A familiar name in the neighborhood is getting a fresh new look.

Satmar Meats, located on the corner of 53rd Street and New Utrecht Avenue, has officially unveiled a new brand identity, featuring updated packaging, refreshed presentation, and a modernized image designed to reflect the quality customers have come to expect for more than four decades.

While the appearance may be changing, the company emphasizes that the values behind the business remain exactly the same.

For over 40 years, Satmar Meats has been a trusted part of countless Shabbosim, Yomim Tovim, simchos, and family meals throughout the community. The rebranding effort aims to bring a more contemporary look to the store and its products while maintaining the same commitment to quality, service, and high standards of kashrus.

Customers will begin noticing the new branding across packaging and store materials in the coming weeks.

The updated image is intended to better represent the premium products found inside every package while preparing the business for the next generation of customers.

A new look, with the same trusted quality and unwavering standards that have defined Satmar Meats for decades.

SURFSIDE, Fla. — The Town of Surfside on Wednesday honored Eli Rowe for his service as one of the first responders to arrive at the scene of the 2021 Surfside condominium collapse.

During a ceremony marking five years since the tragedy, Commissioner David Weingot presented Rowe with an award on behalf of the town, recognizing his dedication and response efforts in the aftermath of the collapse, which claimed 98 lives.

Accepting the award, Rowe reflected on a personal prayer that guides his work.

“Every day when I wake up, I remind myself that in this world there are givers and there are takers,” Rowe said. “I beg Hashem, please let me be among the givers.”

Weingot praised Rowe’s dedication to helping others and his role in the response to the tragedy, which brought together emergency personnel and volunteers from across the country.

The ceremony also served as a tribute to the 98 victims and to the first responders, volunteers and emergency workers whose efforts brought comfort and support to the Surfside community in the days and weeks following the disaster.

Israel must close down the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a first step toward restoring its long-term security visa vise Judea and Samaria, new Bithonistim Chairman and Brig. Gen. (res.) Erez Wiener told The Jerusalem Post in an interview on Tuesday.

Wiener took over the right-leaning security NGO from Brig. Gen. Air Avivi on June 1 and is already throwing himself into the new role to try to impact Israeli policy and facts on the ground wherever possible.

With around 26 years in the IDF, as a former senior IDF southern command planning commander during the Israel-Hamas War, and as a former top aide to former IDF chief Gabi Ashkenazi, Wiener has been in the room when many of the most crucial war decisions were made.

He also admittedly has concluded his reserve duty in the IDF, at least in part over differences with the IDF high command, which he viewed as not taking an aggressive enough approach to Hamas in Gaza (there were also some controversies related to the handling of certain privileged military information.)

Going in depth into his argument regarding the PA, he said, “It is a negative. It educates children toward terror. It arms our enemies.”

Pressed that the PA never entered the 2023-2026 wars against Israel in any serious way, ” he responded, “Even if it has not been attacking recently or at this moment, if we do not protect them, Hamas will throw them off the rooftops. Abu Mazen says he will hold an election – let’s see.”

“The battle over who will succeed him will be very large. So the PA is a burden. The time has come to say Oslo failed. The IDF needs to retake Areas A and B and to take apart the PA. It can remain in a civilian capacity, which was the original plan.”

It was unclear whether he was in favor or opposed to PA police carrying small handgun style weapons, since in that area he said the key question was whether, collectively, whatever weapons the PA police would have could lead to them constituting a broader threat to Israel as opposed to just keeping the peace among local Palestinians.

“But an even better plan would be like the UAE, to keep the peace using tribal gangs, which is also like Israel is doing in parts of Gaza. We brought in the PA as an ‘alien’ entity of sorts,” Wiener urged. 

Next, Wiener was questioned about the clear US (and almost the whole world) opposition to dismantling the PA.

According to Wiener, “If the IDF chief says the PA is a threat and the Shin Bet says this also, this could change the public view and then help convince the Americans. This is the agenda.”

“We cannot fight with everyone on all fronts all of the time, but we are putting facts on the table. I am not naïve. There are going to be elections, and officials worry about their electability, but Bithonistim will declare the correct security policies and statements,” he said in terms of how realistic it is for his recommendations regarding the PA to be taken up in the near future. 

‘We fail at public relations:’ Wiener says attitude is at fault for some issues

What about if Israel changing its messaging does not convince Washington, and someone like US President Donald Trump, who holds grudges and can radically turn on a dime against a former ally, would be ready to completely freeze weapons transfers to the Jewish state.

Wiener stated, “Israel needs to define what is best for it. Regarding the PA, Israel never said clearly what is right. It is clear to most of the political spectrum that a Palestinian state is a threat to Israel, so what do we do?” 

“We fail at public relations. Take the violence by Jewish settlers. I wrote a long article on this with [Col. (res.)] Professor [Gabi] Siboni. We proved the numbers. There is violence by about 300 offenders and we need to deal with them. But [Shin Bet Director David] Zini was asked about dealing with them, and he said, ‘this is a police problem, not a terror problem.'”

He continued, “There are also hundreds of illegal migrants in Tel Aviv. And there is a big problem with polygamy in the Negev. We have lots of sovereignty problems. Some of the offenders need to be arrested and some need to be handled as social welfare cases. They have also rebelled against their parents and teachers, but it all starts with public relations messaging.”

Moreover, even if the PA is not directly involved in violence against Israelis, he said, “Palestinians violence [from the West Bank] is very substantial and is almost constant, with incitement also all the time.”

Further, he warned about “terror financing. Trump did understand this at the start when he stopped giving funds to the Palestinian Authority. We can do something, but it has to start with us.”

Ripple effect dangers from Bedouin, Arab theft, weapons smuggling

Moving on to another issue which Bithonistim wants to highlight, he said, “There are too many illegal stolen and smuggled weapons in the South from Israeli-Bedouins or Israeli-Arabs. Some weapons also get smuggled to Gaza and to the Palestinian Authority” in the West Bank.

He cautioned that this could lead to “70,000 armed fighters from the PA who could march over from Tulkarem and other places into Kfar Saba, Netanya, and other places in Israel and just take over. It can all happen. The IDF fights terror [on a case by case basis], but no one looks at [the broader] phenomenon in terms of the danger of a larger dangerous event.”

In addition, he stated, “We have a substantial project to help strengthen voluntary local security terms for villages in Judea and Samaria. But we need a more complete security response,” to be ready in the event of an invasion.

Mixed Jewish-Arab cities’ gangs pose a danger

Wiener also expressed concern about security in certain rougher mixed Jewish-Arab cities like Lod and Ramle saying, “[Islamic Movement Northern Branch leader] Raed Salah recently announced that he had performed a ‘Sulha’ [truce] for all the Israeli-Arab and Israeli Bedouin crime families after a string of murders. But if he accomplished a Sulha with them, we need to be very worried that he might also be able to activate them to carry out a wave of terror.”

“True, for three years we did not see much active terror against the State from this sector. But there has still been lots of violence. When my son try to go running in Lod, they throw rocks at him,” he continued.

Next, Wiener stated, “There was no rerun of [the] 2021 [Israeli-Arab gang riots] because the State undertook the issue as a major project, and this war was so horrible that if they [the gangs] had made a problem, we would have opened the gates of hell on them. So nothing big happened. I hope this will continue, but none of that means we can ignore it and not deal with it.”

“90% of the violence in Israel comes from the stolen weapons problem. This could, god forbid also get to the rest of the country,” beyond the Israeli-Arab sector, he warned.

Security challenges in Lebanon

Addressing security challenges in Lebanon, Wiener said, “The Lebanese government cannot handle Hezbollah alone. If Israel weakens Hezbollah, then the government of Lebanon could take control. But the way things are today, this could not happen. We need to push for this, even if it has not happened yet.” 

He noted that in March, mid-war, Bithonistim issued a position paper on Lebanon, recommending that, “We need a wider buffer zone, and not just a mere security strip, to provide peace to the northern residents. It needs to extend to the Litani River and the Nabatieh area [10 kilometers into Lebanon]. This is the area where the headquarters are for the Azizi ,Nasr, and Badr units – the three main southern Lebanon divisions of Hezbollah, which need to be taken apart.”

During the current war, he stated, “The IDF moved too slowly at first, and then moved in recent weeks toward Nabatieh, a little bit too late. See what we found at the big headquarters! See what Hezbollah built with Iran and North Korean help over the years.”

“We need to destroy terror infrastructure like the model in Gaza. We will not stay there forever and can leave if Hezbollah disarms, but otherwise may need to hold it for years,” he said.

Pressed that many of his ideas in the Lebanon arena also go against clear US policy, he responded that Israel must be ready to fight for its interests, adding that during the Gaza war, he was present when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on IDF concerns about shaking up relations with the US.

According to Wiener, Netanyahu responded, “worrying about the US is for me and not for you. We will also be ready to disagree with America,” with Wiener adding, “Trump is not Biden, and he is a friend, and he did a lot for us,” but fundamental Israeli interests come first. 

How did Wiener come to replace Amir Avivi who has run Bithonistim since its founding?

He said Avivi approached him to replace him, wanting himself to retire from the group, with expectations that he will be entering politics.

Wiener said Bithonistim’s mission is also to identify the metaphorical threat of “October 8,” meaning the threat that Israel has not yet prepared for.

With its 55,000 members, including many former senior defense officials, he said the group will continue to, “run programs at pre-IDF academies and for the police. We need more of this and even better programs. Rani Gvili is helping to campaign to get more funds for this. We also do education in high schools. All of these programs need to be expanded.”

This post was originally published on here.

SAN DIEGO (AP) — To someone who is getting sucked out to sea by a rip current, “Don’t panic!” may be difficult to heed, even if that’s exactly what you should do. But lifeguards say to not only relax but flip over and float out of the danger.

Rip currents are one of the coast’s greatest dangers and account for the most beach rescues every year. About 100 people drown from rip currents along U.S. beaches each year, according to the United States Lifesaving Association. And more than 80% of beach rescues annually involve rip currents.

Already this year, there have been at least 21 people killed from rip currents in U.S. waters, according to the National Weather Service.

Here are some things to know about rip currents:

Rip currents can be hard to spot
Rip currents are narrow columns of water flowing rapidly away from the beach. They don’t pull swimmers under water, but can carry them out a fair distance from shore.

“A rip current is like a river that pulls out to sea,” said San Diego Lifeguard Marine Safety Lt. Charlie Knight. “So when the waves come into the beach, it needs somewhere to go. And so it takes these little channels out that we call rip currents to put all that water back into the ocean.”

Low spots along the beach, or areas near jetties or piers, are often where rip currents form. They can be connected to stormy weather but also sometimes occur during sunny days. They can be hard to detect because the surface water often appears calm.

The current can flow as fast as 8 feet (3.2 meters) per second, faster than even a strong swimmer can overcome, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

It’s nearly impossible to fight rip currents
The most frequent advice from beach rescue teams and weather forecasters is to “’flip, float and follow.” Flipping over to float makes it easier to stay calm, conserves energy and keeps the airways open while the swimmer is in the rip current’s grip.

It’s nearly impossible to fight the current directly. Many swimmers who get in trouble tire themselves out trying to get back to the beach, lifeguards say.

“People tend to panic when they can’t get into the beach, and that’s when we have problems,” Knight said. “So if you are caught in a rip current, the biggest thing is don’t panic, stay calm, flip over onto your back, float and allow the rip current to take you out.”

Once the rip current dissipates, it might leave the swimmer out in deeper water. Lifeguards recommend raising an arm to signal for help.

Look for flags warning of rip current conditions
Flags with different colors are used to warn beachgoers of various hazards.

Red means a high hazard, yellow means a moderate threat and green means low danger. There’s also purple for dangerous sea life, such as jellyfish, and double red when a beach is closed for any reason.

The National Weather Service posts rip current risks on its websites around the coasts and has developed a computer model that can predict when conditions exist that may lead to their formation up to six days in advance for the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts, Puerto Rico, Hawaii and Guam.

If possible, it’s best to swim near a lifeguard station.

What to do when swimmer is spotted in a rip current
It can be dangerous to try to rescue someone caught in a rip current, officials say. Often the people trying to perform the rescue can get into trouble themselves.

It’s best to find a lifeguard, if there is one, or call 911 if a struggling swimmer is spotted.

Whether you are looking to land a higher salary, get better vendor pricing, or structure a winning partnership, how you negotiate determines your success. Join Yechiel Fastag, CEO of HTF Energy Consulting, for a practical, high-value seminar designed specifically for entry-level employees and aspiring business owners.

Topics Covered:

• Theories of negotiation

• Relationship-Based Negotiation

• Practical steps for all negotiations with real-life application

• Salary negotiation

• Vendor pricing

• Partnership negotiations

📅 Monday, June 29
⏰ 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
💰 Free of Charge
📍 In-Person: PCS, 1771 Madison Ave (Executive Suites)
💻 Remote Access: Pre-register at [email protected] to receive the link.

Why attend? Negotiation isn’t just about winning—it’s about building strong professional relationships that scale your business and elevate your career. Secure your spot today!

Apollo Global Management is again limiting how much money investors can withdraw from its largest private credit fund for individual investors, underscoring growing pressure inside one of Wall Street’s fastest-growing investment sectors.

In a regulatory filing published Monday, Apollo’s Apollo Debt Solutions fund said it would cap withdrawals at 5% of outstanding shares after investors requested redemptions equal to approximately 16.8% of the fund, or roughly $2.4 billion. It marks the second consecutive quarter that the fund has imposed withdrawal limits.

The fund, which manages roughly $26 billion in assets, is part of a rapidly expanding category known as private credit. These funds make loans directly to companies outside the traditional banking system and have become increasingly popular among wealthy individuals seeking higher yields than those available from conventional bonds.

Unlike publicly traded mutual funds or stocks, however, investors cannot redeem their money at any time.

Apollo Debt Solutions operates as a “semi-liquid” vehicle, allowing withdrawals only during specific quarterly windows and retaining the ability to limit redemptions if requests exceed predetermined thresholds.

That safeguard is now being tested.

Investors requested withdrawals totaling 16.8% of shares, up sharply from 11.2% the previous quarter. Under the fund’s structure, only a small portion of those requests can be honored immediately.

Apollo expects to process approximately $700 million in withdrawals while receiving roughly $300 million in new inflows, resulting in net outflows of about $400 million.

The redemption activity also revealed a geographic divide.

U.S.-based investors requested withdrawals equal to approximately 4.3% of shares, while international investors accounted for roughly 12.5%, suggesting concerns may be more pronounced among offshore investors.

The pressure comes despite relatively strong performance.

Since launch, Apollo Debt Solutions has generated a total return of approximately 8.1%, and Apollo says demand from large institutional investors such as pension funds and insurance companies remains healthy.

Still, concerns have emerged throughout the private-credit industry.

Investors have increasingly questioned portfolio transparency, underwriting standards, and exposure to sectors facing potential disruption from rapidly advancing technology. Particular attention has focused on lending to software companies and how those borrowers may be affected by the widespread adoption of AI-powered tools.

Apollo executives have signaled that redemption pressure may not be temporary.

Speaking at an investor conference last month, Apollo President Jim Zelter warned that redemption activity could continue as investors attempt to navigate withdrawal limitations and changing market conditions.

“I don’t think it was a one-shot,” Zelter said, suggesting the firm expects continued turbulence.

Apollo is not alone.

Partners Group, one of Switzerland’s largest private-markets firms, recently warned it could impose similar limits across several private-asset funds as redemption requests rise.

The broader issue stems from a structural challenge facing many private-credit products.

These funds promise investors periodic access to their money while holding underlying assets that are inherently difficult to sell quickly. When investor sentiment changes and redemption requests surge, managers often have limited flexibility.

Sunaina Sinha Haldea, global head of private capital advisory at Raymond James, recently warned that the era of simply packaging private credit for retail investors and expecting unlimited demand may be ending.

Industry analysts caution that weaker funds could face increasing withdrawal restrictions, declining investor interest, and reduced access to distribution channels.

The implications extend beyond Wall Street.

Private-credit investments have been aggressively marketed to affluent households and, increasingly, to everyday investors through financial advisers. The appeal has been relatively stable income and returns that often exceed traditional bond markets.

The tradeoff is now becoming more visible.

When markets become uncertain and investors want their money back, access can be limited.

For many investors in Apollo Debt Solutions, that reality is now front and center. Most of those who requested withdrawals this quarter will receive only a portion of their money and will have to wait until the next redemption window to try again.

It serves as a reminder that in investing, higher yields and immediate liquidity rarely come together.

JBizNews Desk | New York
© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

The Sydney fruit seller who became an international hero after helping stop last year’s deadly terror attack targeting a Jewish event at Bondi Beach has pleaded not guilty to assaulting his father.

Ahmed al Ahmed, 44, appeared in court in the Sydney suburb of Bankstown, where he denied charges of common assault and domestic stalking or intimidation. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 12.

Ahmed was widely praised after dramatic video showed him risking his own life during the December 14 terror attack, in which 15 people were murdered. As gunfire erupted, he ducked between parked cars, tackled one of the two terrorists, and wrestled away the attacker’s weapon in an attempt to stop the massacre.

Ahmed was wounded by gunfire during the attack and later met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. A public fundraiser launched on his behalf raised more than $1 million.

Outside court, Ahmed’s attorney, Mohamad Sakr, urged the public not to rush to judgment.

“It has been very difficult. It is a family situation that he never expected, one would never want to expect, and it must be very difficult for him,” Sakr said.

“There is one thing that must be upheld and that is the presumption of innocence. He is a heroic man and his honesty and dignity should be maintained until these matters are determined.”

Last month, Ahmed’s two brothers also appeared in court over allegations that they attempted to pressure him into turning over a portion of the money raised through the public fundraiser.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran reportedly assembled a team of psychologists to analyze President Donald Trump’s behavior, social media posts, and negotiating style in an effort to predict his next moves during high-stakes nuclear talks with the United States in Switzerland.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Iranian negotiators sought outside behavioral experts after becoming frustrated with Trump’s unpredictable tactics, hoping to build a psychological profile that would help them anticipate his public statements and negotiating strategy.

The report says tensions peaked last weekend when Trump posted a threatening message directed at Iran while negotiations were underway. Mohammad Ghalibaf, who headed the Iranian delegation, reportedly halted direct talks after learning of the post in protest.

While Iranian officials reportedly consulted psychologists behind the scenes, a source familiar with the negotiations told the Journal that no psychologists were present on the official negotiating team.

In addition to the psychological analysis, Iranian diplomats have reportedly been studying Trump’s 1987 book, “The Art of the Deal,” to better understand his negotiating methods. The book advocates making bold and unexpected demands to create leverage and pressure opponents into concessions.

Mohammad Amrasi, an Iran expert at the Wilson Center, told the newspaper that Trump appears to be applying those same tactics during the current negotiations, though he said Iranian officials are familiar with the strategy.

The report also noted that Trump has openly embraced using social media as a negotiating tool and has previously said he wants to appear unpredictable in order to strengthen the U.S. bargaining position.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea has commissioned a 5,000-ton destroyer that leader Kim Jong Un touts as a symbol of the country’s growing naval and nuclear capabilities, state media reported Wednesday, as Pyongyang seeks to expand its ability to project military power at sea.

North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency said Kim told a commissioning ceremony Tuesday at the western port of Nampo that warships such as the Choe Hyon show that the nuclear armament of his navy is progressing as planned.

KCNA said the Choe Hyon was formally placed into service with North Korea’s navy after the ceremony and will be tasked with defending the country’s western coast.

Since unveiling the ship in April 2025, Kim has portrayed the Choe Hyon as a major step toward expanding his military’s operational reach and preemptive strike capabilities. KCNA has said the warship is equipped with a range of systems, including anti-aircraft and anti-ship weapons as well as nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles.

South Korean officials and experts say the vessel was likely built with Russian assistance amid deepening military ties between the countries, but some analysts have questioned whether it’s ready for active service.

North Korea has put the Choe Hyon through a series of tests in recent months ahead of its deployment, including launches of what it described as nuclear-capable cruise missiles from the vessel.

“It has clearly become a thing of the past when our navy existed as a force for defending the sea off our land,” Kim said in a speech at Tuesday’s ceremony. “It is rising into a full-fledged service equipped with strategic means as the program of equipping the Navy with nuclear weapons is following its planned course unerringly.”

After years of spurring ballistic missile development, Kim has shifted his focus more toward naval capabilities, including the ongoing construction of a nuclear-powered submarine. Naval capabilities were also a key focus when Kim outlined his five-year military goals at February’s Workers’ Party congress, which included calls for intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of underwater launches.

Kim, following a missile test aboard the Choe Hyon in March, claimed that his efforts to arm his navy with nuclear weapons would “constitute a radical change in defending our maritime sovereignty, something that we have not achieved for half a century.” State media didn’t elaborate on what Kim meant, but some analysts say North Korea may be preparing to formally declare a maritime boundary that could encroach on waters controlled by rival South Korea.

As inter-Korean tensions worsen, Kim has repeatedly said he does not recognize the Northern Limit Line in the western sea, drawn by the U.S.-led U.N. Command at the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. The poorly drawn sea boundary has been the site of several deadly skirmishes in past years.

North Korea unveiled in May 2025 a second destroyer in the same class as the Choe Hyon, but it was damaged during a botched launch at the northern port of Chongjin, prompting a furious response from Kim. The country later said the ship, named Kang Kon, was relaunched in June after repairs, but outside experts have questioned whether it’s fully operational.

Kim during Tuesday’s speech said Kang Kon will also be entering service soon. North Korea also has separate plans to build a larger, 10,000-ton destroyer.

Since his nuclear diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019, Kim has accelerated the expansion of his nuclear arsenal and deepened ties with Moscow and Beijing. While maintaining a hard-line stance toward South Korea, he has left the door open to renewed talks with Washington, repeating Pyongyang’s demand that the United States drop denuclearization as a precondition for reviving negotiations.

Separately, South Korea’s military said Wednesday it had taken into custody an unidentified North Korean soldier who crossed the heavily fortified inter-Korean border Tuesday night. The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the soldier expressed an intent to defect and that relevant authorities were investigating the incident.

The projects mark the latest step by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government to accelerate infrastructure projects aimed at capitalizing on its natural resources, and the construction of new trade corridors to sell its goods to non-U.S. markets.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Iran’s Revolutionary Guard used two agents who once lived in Australia to direct arson attacks against Jewish targets in Sydney and Melbourne, the head of Australia’s domestic spy agency said on Wednesday.

“Iran continues to view Australia as a legitimate target for covertly directed acts of violence,” Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), said.

Australia last year blamed Iran for fires that damaged Lewis’ Continental Kitchen, a kosher eatery in Sydney, and Melbourne’s Adass Israel Synagogue two months apart in 2024.

A major diplomatic rift led to Iran’s ambassador being expelled. Tehran denies the allegations.

Burgess, presenting his annual update on national security threats, said that an Australian citizen based in Iran directed the Sydney firebombing, while a former Australian resident living in Iraq had directed the Melbourne attack.

He did not name the suspects to protect ongoing investigations and criminal prosecutions.

The Australian citizen was a Revolutionary Guard senior agent running its networks around the world, Burgess said.

Iran had recruited the former Australian resident through Iraqi-based militia groups. The Revolutionary Guard had valued his criminal connections and supported his continuing crimes, Burgess said.

“That changed dramatically after ASIO publicly named Iran’s involvement in the arsons,” Burgess said.

“This person’s Iranian backers lost their enthusiasm and after further pressure from Australian and local law enforcement, they threw him in prison,” he added.

Burgess described the investigation into the Sydney and Melbourne attacks as “one of the most difficult and detailed in recent ASIO history.”

He had previously said that the Revolutionary Guard was suspected as being behind other antisemitic crimes in Australia since the start of Israel’s war against Hamas in 2023.

Several people are facing charges in connection with the arson attacks. It remains unclear whether they were aware who they were working for.

The U.S. military announced Wednesday that a senior ISIS terrorist leader was killed in a precision airstrike carried out last Friday in northwestern Syria.

According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the strike eliminated Ali Husayn al-‘Ulaywi, a senior figure within the ISIS terrorist organization. Officials said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to disrupt and destroy terrorist networks plotting attacks against Americans, U.S. interests, and allies.

“CENTCOM and our partners remain committed to rooting out remaining remnants of ISIS to ensure its enduring defeat,” CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper said in a statement.

“We will continue to defend the U.S. homeland, our service members, and allies and partners across the region,” he added.

The strike is the latest in a series of U.S. counterterrorism operations targeting ISIS leadership as American forces continue efforts to prevent the group from reestablishing a foothold in the region.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Shipping giant UPS is putting more money behind the part of its business it is betting its future on. On Monday, June 22, United Parcel Service announced a $48 million investment to build 27 temperature-controlled freight cross-dock facilities around the world, a direct play for the booming trade in drugs that must be kept cold, including GLP-1 weight-loss injectables.

“Our global cross-dock facilities strengthen our end-to-end cold-chain capabilities to ensure critical treatments are delivered safely and reliably to patients around the world,” said Kate Gutmann, the company’s executive vice president and president of international, healthcare and supply chain solutions.

The new facilities, spread across the Americas, Europe and Asia, are built to hold shipments at strict temperature bands — 2 to 8 degrees Celsius, 15 to 25 degrees Celsius, and frozen — during the riskiest moment in a drug’s journey: the handoff between air and ground transport. That transfer point is where so-called temperature excursions are most likely, and where a single lapse can ruin a shipment. Industry-wide, cold-chain failures are estimated to cost up to $35 billion a year, and the World Health Organization blames them for up to half of all vaccine waste.

The timing tracks a clear shift in medicine. A new generation of treatments — cell and gene therapies, mRNA platforms and GLP-1 drugs like those driving the weight-loss boom — must stay within tight temperature limits from factory to patient. Demand for shipping temperature-sensitive biologics is projected to grow about 8.3% a year through 2033, reaching roughly $39.1 billion, according to Growth Market Reports.

“Biologics and personalized treatments are driving better, more targeted care for patients,” said John Bolla, president of UPS Healthcare.

The cold-chain push is the clearest sign yet of how UPS is remaking itself. Under chief executive Carol Tomé, the company has deliberately walked away from low-margin volume, cutting shipments for Amazon, long its largest customer, by more than half. By the end of June, UPS will have shed about 2 million Amazon packages a day and some $5 billion in revenue in under two years. To replace it, the company is chasing higher-paying business in healthcare, small business and B2B.

Healthcare is the centerpiece. UPS crossed $3 billion in quarterly healthcare revenue for the first time in early 2026 and has set a target of $20 billion in annual healthcare revenue. Tomé has singled out the rise of drugmakers shipping GLP-1 medicines straight to consumers, rather than to distributors, as a fresh opening.

The pivot has been painful elsewhere: UPS eliminated roughly 48,000 positions and closed 93 buildings in 2025, and plans to cut about 30,000 more jobs and shut additional sorting centers this year. First-quarter 2026 revenue slipped 1.4% to $21.2 billion, though adjusted earnings of $1.07 a share still beat Wall Street.

Analysts are watching whether the trade-off pays off. Barclays equity analyst Brandon Oglenski has noted that UPS expects roughly flat domestic operating income this year despite the steep volume decline — a far better outcome than past downturns, when profits fell much faster than volumes.

The new cross-docks, backed by UPS’s acquisitions of healthcare-logistics firms including Bomi Group, Frigo Trans and Andlauer Healthcare Group, are meant to lock in specialized, high-margin work that ordinary parcel rivals cannot easily copy.

The bet is straightforward: as everyday package delivery grows slower and more crowded, the medicines that need careful handling become the prize. UPS reports its next quarterly results in late July, when investors will look for proof that healthcare and other premium segments are filling the hole left by Amazon. Monday’s $48 million is small against the company’s roughly $89 billion in expected annual revenue, but it points squarely at where UPS believes its growth now lives.

JBizNews Desk
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Two young chareidi women from Israel were arrested at Poland’s Krakow Airport after authorities allegedly discovered approximately 50 kilograms of khat in their luggage, exposing what advocates say is a growing pattern of young Israelis being recruited as drug couriers by smuggling networks.

The women, ages 23 and 24, arrived on a direct flight from Israel and were detained immediately upon landing Friday, according to a report published Tuesday. They now face criminal proceedings in Poland, which is considered among the strictest European countries when it comes to the importation of khat, a substance classified there as an illegal drug.

The incident has once again drawn attention to criminal organizations that reportedly target young men and women—often from the chareidi community—and persuade them to transport khat into Europe, where demand for the plant remains high and profits can be substantial.

According to reports, recruiters entice potential couriers by offering free airfare and promising cash payments of roughly 5,000 shekels in exchange for carrying luggage containing the substance.

To ease concerns, the organizers allegedly assure participants that the risks are minimal, claiming that even if they are stopped by customs officials, the worst outcome would be the confiscation of their luggage or a relatively small fine that the smuggling network would cover.

Attorneys familiar with such cases say those promises bear little resemblance to reality.

Attorney Mordechai Tzivin, who has represented Israelis arrested in Europe on khat-smuggling charges, told Ynet that “the concept of ‘at worst they’ll confiscate my suitcase and send me home’ has completely collapsed in recent years.”

According to Tzivin, Poland and several other European countries treat the importation of khat as a serious criminal offense. Once suspicious luggage is discovered, suspects are often arrested immediately and held in detention facilities for extended periods—sometimes weeks or even months—before formal legal proceedings begin.

Legal experts say Polish authorities intentionally employ lengthy pretrial detention as both a deterrent and a punitive measure aimed at discouraging future smuggling attempts from Israel.

For those who agree to participate in such operations, the consequences can be devastating. Many find themselves isolated from their families, incarcerated in a foreign country under difficult conditions, and confronting an unfamiliar legal system, only to realize too late that they were lured into a scheme that may permanently alter the course of their lives.

{Matzav.com}

Wall Street steadied on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, clawing back a slice of the prior day’s brutal technology selloff as traders braced for Micron Technology’s quarterly results due after the closing bell — the report Wall Street is treating as the make-or-break event of the week. Shortly after the open, the S&P 500 gained 0.35%, the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.62%, and the Russell 2000 rose 0.41%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.17%.

The rebound came after Tuesday’s drubbing, when the S&P 500 sank 1.44% to 7,365.46 and the Nasdaq dropped 2.21% to 25,587.04, with the Dow off 45.87 points to 51,666.84.

All eyes are on one company. Micron makes the memory chips inside phones, laptops and AI data centers, and the stock has been on a tear — it hit an all-time high Monday and ended Tuesday at $1,051.77 a share. It has gained more than 300% this year. Analysts polled by FactSet expect earnings of $20.83 a share on revenue of $35.75 billion. But the run cuts both ways: Jay Woods, chief market strategist at Freedom Capital Markets, warned the stock could fall after the report, while Louis Navellier, chairman of Navellier & Associates, called it the grand finale to a stunning earnings season.

The pressure started overseas. A sell-off in memory giants SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics in South Korea, both down more than 12%, dragged the benchmark Kospi to a 10% loss earlier this week. On Wednesday the Kospi recovered 3.3%, helping limit losses across Asia. Stoking caution, SK Hynix is planning a nearly $30 billion U.S. listing, one of the largest of its kind, which would add more supply to the AI memory group.

There’s a shake-up coming to the most famous gauge in the market, too. Alphabet will replace Verizon in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P Global said Tuesday, further expanding big tech’s footprint in the blue-chip average.

Market movers

The morning’s standout was a name straight off the dinner menu. Wendy’s soared about 23% in premarket trading, driven by a new CFO appointment and a wave of retail-investor “meme” enthusiasm in heavily shorted shares. The burger chain said it named former Potbelly executive Steven Cirulis as chief financial officer and chief strategy officer, and the stock jumped on heavy volume.

Among other gainers, Sunrun climbed 19.1% and Churchill Downs rose 7%.

Housing offered a bright spot. KB Home added 3% after posting fiscal second-quarter revenue of $1.11 billion, topping the $1.10 billion analysts expected, per LSEG.

On the downside, Hertz Global Holdings tumbled 22%, Silgan Holdings fell 9.5%, and Cerebras Systems lost 9.1%. Cerebras slid after its first earnings report since its May IPO, in which it forecast a decline in core gross margin.

Analysts were active. IBM posted roughly 5% gains this week after an upgrade to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan Chase, with the analyst citing greater confidence in software acceleration in the second half. On Wednesday morning, UBS reiterated a Buy rating on Bloom Energy with a $322 price target, while KeyBanc analyst Bradley Thomas kept a Sector Weight rating on Best Buy.

Commodities and volatility

Falling energy prices kept easing pressure on households. Brent crude dropped another 3% Wednesday morning, with the August contract slipping below $75 a barrel. The slide tracked progress in U.S.–Iran talks; President Donald Trump said Tuesday that “Iran has fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future.”

Gold cracked a key line. Gold futures dipped below $4,000 for the first time in seven months, last trading around $3,987.30 — the first time under that level since Nov. 18, 2025. Silver fell 5% as the dollar strengthened.

What’s ahead Wednesday

The calendar carries reports that hit households directly. May new-home sales are due, alongside the Federal Reserve’s annual bank stress-test results, with earnings later from Micron, Paychex and Jefferies Financial. The stress-test outcome matters for savers, since banks that pass often raise their dividends.

But the day belongs to one report. As TheStreet’s James “Rev Shark” DePorre put it, the morning’s bounce sets up Micron as the most important single event of the week and arguably the next month. A strong number could steady the chip trade that has whipsawed markets for days; a weak one could reignite the rout.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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Lakewood Police, with the assistance of a K9, are looking for a driver who allegedly caused an accident at Rt. 9 and John Street, and then fled the scene on foot.

The accident happened around 10:00 AM.

No injuries reported from the driver who remained on scene.

Anyone with information is asked to call the LPD.

NEW YORK (AP) — When Varun Venkatesh cast his ballot in New York’s primary this week, he thought about “a good litmus test for me as a voter.” He wanted to know what the candidates are doing for the Palestinian cause.

The 27-year-old Brooklyn resident decided to support Claire Valdez, who was backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, over Antonio Reynoso, another progressive who was the choice of the Democratic establishment, because she had “a clear and more consistent stance.”

Valdez triumphed in her congressional primary, as did two other insurgent candidates endorsed by Mamdani, and Israel was a key issue in each of the races. Now the question for Democrats is how many more voters like Venkatesh are out there as the party charts its path toward the November midterms and the next presidential election.

The war in Gaza, which began during Joe Biden’s presidency and undermined Kamala Harris’ bid to replace him, remains an open wound, and how Democrats attempt to stitch it closed will help define their future. A step in any direction risks alienating pieces of the party’s unwieldy coalition at a time when it’s trying to unify around the mission of retaking control of Congress.

“The Israel question has become defining,” said Matt Bennett, who leads the centrist Democratic group Third Way and frequently criticizes progressives as jeopardizing outreach to independent voters. He said some in Mamdani’s camp have embraced “a new level of extremism,” warning that “Republicans are very good at weaponizing crazy ideas on the fringe against mainstream candidates.”

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, celebrates with Democratic congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier during an election night watch party Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Mamdani has no such concerns as he tries to reshape the Democratic Party from the mayor’s office of the country’s largest city. He sharply criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for defending what he calls “a status quo of immorality” in Gaza, and voters who celebrated his slate’s victories on Tuesday night chanted “Free Palestine.”

The mayor, meanwhile, argues that New York should shape Democrats’ search for their national identity in the coming years.

“When does the race for 2028 begin?” Mamdani asked last week on a stage with his slate of candidates. “It starts now.”

Israel-Palestine conflict animates Democrats’ left flank
Even for a party accustomed to searing debates between progressives and moderates, the schism over Israel has been blistering. Although the U.S. alliance with Israel once had bipartisan support, the ascendancy of Israel’s right wing led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strained those ties over the years. Then the war in Gaza shredded them.

Biden was denounced as “Genocide Joe” by pro-Palestinian supporters, who shifted their attention to Harris once she replaced him as the Democratic nominee for president two years ago.

“She was trying to the right thing,” said Jamie Harrison, who led the Democratic National Committee at the time. “It was a hard and awkward place to be in.”

Harrison said the war in Gaza helped cost Harris the state of Michigan, which has a sizable Arab American population. However, he doubts that it was a defining national issue then or now.

“It’s one thing to be in New York. But I can tell you that most places, including where I am in South Carolina, it’s not what people are talking about,” he said. “They are concerned about affording gas and groceries and housing.”

Harrison expects Democrats to look for middle ground in the future, which includes “still supporting Israel’s sovereignty” while calling for “reducing U.S. aid to Israel and changing the nature of the relationship.”

One primary victor blasted the ‘hug Bibi’ strategy
Finding middle ground has been difficult so far, as demonstrated by the primary in New York’s 10th congressional district.

Brad Lander, the former city comptroller backed by Mamdani, successfully challenged U.S. Rep. Dan Goldman in the race.

Both candidates are Jewish, and both have criticized the Israeli government. But Lander says the war in Gaza is a genocide, and Goldman does not.

“Our party needs to admit that Joe Biden’s ‘hug Bibi’ strategy was a catastrophic mistake,” Lander said in his primary victory speech. He added, “We cannot keep paying for Netanyahu’s wars with our tax dollars. Democratic voters are saying this, loud and clear.”

Ari Rassouli, a voter in the district, said the incumbent’s views on Israel were “one of the many reasons that I didn’t like Dan Goldman.”

Describing the war as a genocide, she said “a candidate that is in support of that has no place in our democracy at all.”

While talking to reporters on Tuesday, Lander acknowledged that Israel was among the top issues along with affordability and immigration.

“I like talking to Jewish voters who feel anxiety about the times we live in and say, ‘I have these values, I want to treat everyone like they’re equal and with dignity and created in God’s image. How do we navigate the times we’re in?’” he said.

He added with a smile, “Those are probably the longest conversations at the polls.”

Opposition to the U.S.-Iran agreement is growing beyond Israel, with several Gulf states reportedly conveying concerns to Washington behind the scenes that the deal could strengthen Iran rather than restrain it, according to a report by Channel 13.

Channel 13 correspondent Suleiman Maswadeh reported that while Qatar has played a leading role in the negotiations, it was also among the countries hit by Iranian attacks. Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait were also affected and have reportedly been sending messages to the United States expressing serious reservations about the agreement.

According to the report, representatives of those countries have privately told Israeli officials that they share Israel’s opposition to the deal but are currently unable to say so publicly.

Meanwhile Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting the Gulf region in an effort to reassure allies that the agreement is not final and remains a memorandum of understanding that can still be changed. According to the report, U.S. officials have also emphasized that if Iran fails to meet American expectations, the agreement could be scrapped.

Criticism has also emerged in Egypt. On the Egyptian television program “El-Hekaya,” journalist Amr Adeeb and Al Arabiya analyst Raghida Dergham sharply criticized the agreement, arguing that it largely benefits Iran and could have significant consequences for the broader Arab world.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

By Y.M. Lowy

This week’s Dee Voch issue features extensive coverage of major events across the world, including the Satmar Rebbe’s brief visit to Montreal marking the completion of the purchase of the new Talmud Torah building Neustadt; a visit by the Bobov-45 Rebbe to London for the cornerstone-laying of the new Bobov-45 Bais Medrash; a massive gathering of Gur chassidim outside Military Prison 10 in Eretz Yisroel; the Eidah Hachareidis protest assembly regarding the ongoing yeshiva draft crisis; Torah giants from Eretz Yisroel in the United States on behalf of Keren Olam HaTorah; the Rachmistrivka Rebbe’s brief visit to New York; a Hachnasas Sefer Torah at the Pupa Saddle River Bais Medrash in Monsey; a special l’chaim at the Satmar Rebbe’s home honoring philanthropist Reb Lipa Friedman; a wedding in the Sanz court; and a tena’im for a granddaughter of the Vizhnitz Rebbe.

A special feature in The Shrift presents an open and candid conversation with renowned producers R’ Eliezer Neuhaus of Di Unteren Chevriah and R’ Chaim Itzkowitz of The Epic Family. In a rare joint interview, the two discuss their decision to set aside personal ambitions and differences in order to promote a message of achdus and shalom.

This week in the Business Shrift, take a journey into the history of Wall Street, the famous street that became the financial center of the world. This feature explores its unlikely beginnings, the dramatic events that shaped its growth, and how a small corner of New York evolved into one of the most influential forces in global finance.

This week’s Fink features the inspiring story of Mrs. Esther Davidovitch a”h, whose life embodied selflessness and unwavering emunah. Famous for her exceptional hachnasas orchim, she lived by the belief that when there is room in the heart, there is room in the home. Readers will discover how she welcomed orphans, sick relatives, and lonely neighbors into her modest apartment. She touched countless lives and left behind a lasting legacy of warmth and giving—an uplifting and meaningful read for every woman.

This week’s Kinder Shrift takes young readers on a fascinating journey into history with a feature on the famous Malta Sea Pirates. Children will discover why these feared pirates were known throughout the world, what made them such a powerful force in their time, and why they are mentioned in historic Jewish writings. Filled with Torah connections and exciting historical details, it’s another educational adventure that makes Kinder Shrift both enjoyable and enriching for young readers.

Get your copy at grocery stores and local retailers, or subscribe via WhatsApp or the website!

India has sent ships back through the Strait of Hormuz for the first time since February, marking a significant step toward restoring one of the world’s most important trade and energy corridors after nearly four months of disruption.

Speaking in New Delhi on Tuesday, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, confirmed that two Indian vessels have now crossed into the Persian Gulf, while additional India-bound ships have successfully navigated the waterway as commercial traffic slowly resumes.

The development comes after months of turmoil triggered by the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which effectively shut down one of the global economy’s most critical shipping routes.

The Strait of Hormuz connects the Persian Gulf to international waters and serves as a major artery for global energy supplies. Before the conflict, roughly one-quarter of the world’s seaborne oil and approximately one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas exports moved through the narrow passage.

For India, one of the world’s largest energy importers, the route is particularly vital.

Much of the country’s crude oil, fuel products, and fertilizer shipments travel through Hormuz, making uninterrupted access critical for economic stability and agricultural production.

That access was severely disrupted after hostilities erupted on February 28.

During the conflict, merchant vessels faced attacks, naval mines were deployed, and commercial shipping activity was dramatically reduced. At various points, hundreds of vessels became stranded on both sides of the waterway as governments and shipping companies searched for safe alternatives.

India spent months coordinating diplomatic efforts to help protect and evacuate vessels connected to its shipping network while monitoring the safety of Indian crews operating in the region.

Conditions began improving following a preliminary agreement reached between the United States and Iran on June 17.

Under the arrangement, commercial vessels were granted a 60-day period of secure passage through the strait while broader negotiations continue. The agreement also included commitments aimed at restoring normal maritime traffic and improving navigation safety.

Since the announcement, shipping activity has gradually increased.

According to Indian officials, 11 India-bound vessels have already crossed the strait, including multiple crude-oil tankers carrying approximately 285,000 metric tons of oil each, an LPG carrier, additional energy shipments, and several bulk cargo vessels transporting fertilizer.

The latest crossings mark an important milestone because traffic is now moving in both directions rather than solely evacuating vessels from the region.

Jaiswal said approximately 10 Indian-flagged ships remain in the Gulf from before the conflict began, but the successful return of outbound traffic suggests confidence is slowly returning to the route.

The economic implications extend far beyond India.

The disruption of Hormuz contributed to higher global energy prices throughout the spring, increased transportation costs, and added inflationary pressure across major economies. As more vessels return to normal operations, pressure on oil prices, shipping rates, and supply chains has begun to ease.

For India, the reopening is particularly important as energy imports stabilize and fertilizer shipments resume ahead of key agricultural seasons.

Regional diplomatic efforts involving Qatar and Pakistan have also helped facilitate discussions aimed at restoring commercial activity and reducing tensions in the shipping corridor.

Despite the progress, significant risks remain.

The broader agreement between Washington and Tehran has not yet been finalized, and the current arrangement remains temporary. Iran has also indicated it may seek transit-related fees after the initial toll-free period expires, a proposal that faces opposition from both the United States and Gulf nations.

Shipping companies and marine insurers continue to monitor conditions closely, and many operators remain cautious about fully restoring pre-conflict traffic levels.

Still, after months in which India’s focus was largely on moving ships out of the Gulf, vessels are now moving back in.

For one of the world’s most important trade routes, it is an early sign that global commerce may finally be beginning to return to normal.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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By BoroPark24 Staff

Rabbi Chaim Boruch “Edgar” Gluck, one of the most respected and beloved askanim in the Jewish community, recently celebrated his 90th birthday, marking a lifetime of dedication to chesed and tireless service on behalf of Klal Yisroel.

A towering figure in Boro Park and far beyond, Rabbi Gluck has spent decades helping individuals, families, and institutions, earning widespread admiration for his unwavering commitment to the community. Coincidentally, Rabbi Gluck shares his June 14 birthday with President Donald Trump.

In honor of this milestone occasion, Rabbi David Katz, a close friend and confidant of Rabbi Gluck, requested a special birthday greeting from President Trump. The President responded with a heartfelt letter recognizing Rabbi Gluck’s extraordinary contributions and lifelong devotion to acts of kindness and communal unity.

In the letter, President Trump praised Rabbi Gluck’s decades of service and leadership, acknowledging the positive impact he has made on countless lives through his dedication to helping others and strengthening the bonds of community.

Supreme Court Deputy President and Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Solberg said that postponing national elections during an extreme emergency could be justified under certain circumstances, while emphasizing that any such move would require strict safeguards and oversight.

Speaking at a closed conference hosted by Hebrew University, Solberg disclosed that election officials are actively examining emergency scenarios in which free and accessible elections may become impossible to conduct. In such cases, he said, a limited and carefully supervised postponement of elections could be warranted.

The remarks came during a presentation of a joint academic paper authored by Solberg and Central Elections Committee Acting Director-General Attorney Din Livneh. The paper examines how democratic elections should be managed during severe national crises and emergency situations.

According to Solberg, any decision to postpone elections must be governed by six strict principles designed to ensure that such an extraordinary measure cannot be exploited for political purposes. He stressed that the primary objective is to prevent election delays from becoming a tool that allows a government to prolong its time in power.

Under the first principle, which Solberg referred to as the “principle of necessity,” the burden of proof rests entirely on those seeking to postpone elections. He explained that the existence of a national crisis alone would not be sufficient justification. Rather, it would need to be demonstrated that the emergency substantially impairs the ability to hold free, fair, and equal elections.

Solberg also outlined what he called the “principle of temporariness,” under which any postponement would have to be limited in duration and accompanied by a specific and clearly defined replacement election date.

One of the most important standards, according to Solberg, is the “principle of last resort.” Before considering a postponement, authorities would be required to exhaust every available alternative, including early voting, mobile polling stations, and special voting arrangements for soldiers, evacuees, and other affected populations.

He emphasized that because delaying elections is such a significant step, any decision would have to be accompanied by complete transparency, including publicly available facts and explanations that would allow for rigorous public and judicial scrutiny.

Toward the end of his remarks, Solberg revealed that the Central Elections Committee has already begun preparing for a range of emergency scenarios behind the scenes.

“To minimize harm and prepare properly, we are thinking in the committee, and practicing, different scenarios and responses, including elections during an emergency.”

He explained that the committee is examining some of the most complex constitutional and logistical questions that could arise during a national crisis. At the same time, Solberg expressed hope that Israel would never find itself in a situation requiring such contingency plans to be implemented.

{Matzav.com}

By Y.M. Lowy

Drivers using MTA bridges and tunnels should be aware of a new safety enforcement program that will begin on June 30.

The MTA has launched a public awareness campaign ahead of the activation of work zone speed cameras at active construction areas on MTA-operated bridges and tunnels. 

Under the program, drivers caught traveling more than 10 miles per hour above the posted speed limit in an active work zone may receive a warning or fine. During the initial phase, warning notices will be issued. Later this year, fines will begin, starting at $50 for a first violation, $75 for a second violation within 18 months, and $100 for additional violations within that same period.

The cameras will be used at active construction zones on the MTA’s nine bridge and tunnel facilities, including the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, Queens Midtown Tunnel, Hugh L. Carey Tunnel, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge, Throgs Neck Bridge, and other MTA crossings.

An unmarked vehicle equipped with radar and camera technology will be stationed in active work zones during construction hours. Signs will be posted in advance to alert drivers that speed enforcement is in effect.

The violations are considered non-moving infractions, meaning they will not appear on a driver’s record and will not be reported to insurance companies.

For most of this year, the story of the U.S. dollar was weakness. It started 2026 near a four-year low, and many forecasters expected it to keep falling. That outlook has changed dramatically. The dollar has surged to its strongest level of the year, putting pressure on currencies, stock markets, and economies across the developing world.

The clearest signs emerged Tuesday in Asia. The People’s Bank of China set its official reference rate at 6.8170 yuan per dollar, marking the third consecutive day it guided the currency lower and the weakest setting since June 8. In India, the central bank injected liquidity into the banking system as the rupee slipped to a six-day low, with the dollar climbing to roughly 94.92 rupees. Meanwhile, the U.S. Dollar Index, which tracks the dollar against a basket of major currencies, rose above 101 for the first time since last May.

Two major forces are driving money back into the dollar.

The first is fear. A global selloff in technology and semiconductor stocks sent investors searching for safety, and the U.S. dollar remains the world’s preferred safe-haven asset. When investors sell riskier assets in markets such as South Korea, Brazil, and India, much of that money flows into dollar-denominated investments. The result is a stronger dollar and weaker local currencies. South Korea’s Kospi index fell roughly 10% Tuesday, although it remains up nearly 95% for the year.

The second factor is interest rates. The Federal Reserve, led by Chair Kevin Warsh, has adopted a more hawkish tone, with markets increasingly expecting a rate hike before the end of the year rather than a cut. Higher U.S. interest rates make Treasury bonds and dollar-based savings more attractive, drawing capital away from emerging markets and back into the United States.

That trend reverses one of the biggest drivers behind last year’s rally in developing-market stocks, when a weakening dollar encouraged investors to seek higher returns abroad. Meera Chandan, co-head of global currency strategy at J.P. Morgan, noted that the dollar is benefiting from renewed confidence in U.S. assets, particularly the continued strength of American technology companies.

A stronger dollar creates challenges for emerging economies because much of their debt is denominated in dollars. As the dollar rises, those debts become more expensive to repay in local currencies. Imported goods such as oil, food, and industrial equipment also become more costly, adding inflationary pressure. At the same time, foreign investors see their returns reduced when local gains are converted back into a stronger dollar, making developing markets less attractive.

The pressure was visible across currency markets Tuesday. The euro fell to a new low for the year, slipping below $1.14. The notable exception was the Japanese yen, which remained relatively stable after Japan’s finance minister highlighted discussions with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The Bank of Japan’s recent interest-rate increase also provided support for the currency. Meanwhile, the offshore Chinese yuan traded within a relatively narrow range between approximately 6.75 and 6.80 per dollar.

The dollar’s rise also creates a political challenge. President Trump has repeatedly argued that a weaker dollar helps American exporters compete overseas. A dollar trading at its strongest level of the year works against that objective. While a stronger dollar lowers the cost of imports and makes international travel cheaper for Americans, it can hurt large U.S. corporations that generate significant revenue overseas, since earnings earned in weaker foreign currencies translate into fewer dollars when brought home.

For now, the move has been swift. Only a few months ago, investors were debating how much further the dollar could fall and how much higher emerging-market stocks could climb. Whether this becomes a short-term flight to safety or the beginning of a longer-term dollar rally will likely depend on two key factors: how severe the global technology selloff becomes and whether the Federal Reserve follows through with additional interest-rate increases.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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

A wave of virulent anti-Israel, Democratic Socialist candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani swept Tuesday’s Democratic congressional primaries, sending shockwaves through the Democratic establishment and prompting warnings that the party is undergoing a dramatic ideological transformation.

“The roof is collapsing on the Democratic Party establishment tonight,” CNN commentator Van Jones said as election results came in.

“This is no longer a movement. This is a movement and a machine at the same time,” Jones added. “If Mamdani pulls off a hat trick, this is a new era in Democratic Party politics.”

Among the night’s biggest upsets, former New York City Comptroller Brad Lander defeated Rep. Dan Goldman in the 10th Congressional District. In another stunning result, Democratic Socialists of America-backed Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated longtime Rep. Adriano Espaillat in the 13th District. Claire Valdez also scored a decisive victory over Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso in the 7th District.

The results sparked immediate concern among moderate Democrats.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) blasted what he called “the dancing days of the dirtbag left,” arguing that the winning candidates represent “the full pro-Hamas wing” of the Democratic Party.

“Some of these candidates are outrageous,” Fetterman said. “They want to abolish ICE, abolish police, abolish the border.”

He also criticized Mamdani, accusing him of mourning an Al Jazeera journalist whom the IDF identified as a Hamas operative.

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) warned that moderates have failed to organize while the Democratic Socialists have built a powerful political machine.

“People who do not support the DSA wring their hands at cocktail parties, while the DSA is organizing,” Suozzi said, calling for mainstream Democrats to “out-organize the extremists on the right and left.”

Other Democratic lawmakers described the results as an “earthquake” and “a huge defeat” for the party establishment.

“It was a tough night,” Rep. Greg Meeks (D-N.Y.) acknowledged.

One anonymous House Democrat warned that the incoming class of democratic socialists would be “a migraine” for party leadership, adding, “Calling it a headache is an understatement.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Federal prosecutors allege that Frank Carone, a former top adviser to ex-New York City Mayor Eric Adams, participated in a scheme that exploited the city’s migrant crisis for personal profit, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday.

The indictment alleges that Carone, his brother, a hotel owner and a business associate “devised and executed a scheme to exploit the City’s migrant crisis for profit” between June 2022 and December 2023.

Carone’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, dismissed the charges, calling the indictment “weak” and “based on purely circumstantial evidence that’s not worth the paper upon which it is printed.”

“Today’s indictment is a sad day for our criminal justice system,” Aidala said in a statement. “It epitomizes the government first finding a target and then spending three years and enormous taxpayer resources to find a crime.”

Carone, his brother and two others were arrested Wednesday morning. Prosecutors allege the scheme involved city contracts tied to housing migrants during New York City’s migrant influx.

A spokesman for Adams said Carone had spent decades serving New Yorkers through public service, the legal profession and charitable work.

The case is one of several federal investigations involving figures connected to Adams’ administration.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced a new partnership with Google Wallet, introducing a more seamless way for eligible travelers to opt in to TSA PreCheck® Touchless ID. Google Wallet is the first digital wallet to offer this innovative feature, making secure, efficient travel easier than ever.

With TSA PreCheck Touchless ID, members can quickly verify their identity using facial comparison technology in exclusive, dedicated lanes – eliminating the need to present physical documents and reducing wait times for a more convenient travel experience.

How it works with Google Wallet:

1. Check-in: Travelers check in with a participating airline and add their boarding pass to Google Wallet.
2. Opt-in prompt: Eligible travelers with an eligible digital ID will see a “Get started” button in Google Wallet and will be redirected to the TSA consent page.
3. Consent: Travelers authorize sharing their digital ID and boarding pass in Google Wallet with TSA.
4. Confirmation: TSA confirms enrollment and sends a success code to Google Wallet.
5. Indicator: Google Wallet updates the traveler’s boarding pass with the TSA PreCheck Touchless ID indicator.

“TSA under President Trump and Secretary Mullin is fully dedicated to enhancing the passenger experience through advanced technology and strategic partnerships,” said TSA Modernization Acting Chief Innovation Officer Shelu Patel. “Our collaboration with Google helps our trusted TSA PreCheck travelers enjoy the fastest route through airport security. Delivering seamless experiences like this is one more way TSA is working to deliver the Golden Age of Travel.”

TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is available at 65 airports nationwide, and now with the Google Wallet rollout, passengers can use TSA PreCheck Touchless ID with any of the more than 100 TSA PreCheck airlines at participating airports, making it easier to breeze through security. You still have the option of saving a valid passport to your profile with one of six airlines—Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, Southwest or United—and manually opt in for each one individually.

“We’re excited that Google Wallet technology is helping make TSA airport checkpoints faster and easier for travelers,” said P.J. Linarducci, vice president of product management, Consumer Payments, at Google. “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our goal to make digital experiences more secure and convenient, and we look forward to seeing it roll out broadly just as the busy summer travel season gets underway.”

A legislative initiative championed by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri to end the arrest of bnei yeshivah is facing significant legal obstacles, with senior legal officials reportedly expressing skepticism that the proposal can withstand judicial scrutiny.

According to a report by Kan News, legal experts believe the proposed legislation fails to meet the legal standards and principles required for proper lawmaking. As a result, there is growing speculation that the Knesset’s legal advisers will decline to support the measure.

“This legislative move has no legal viability and is not expected under any circumstances to withstand a High Court challenge,” legal sources reportedly assessed. Based on that evaluation, officials believe the Knesset’s legal counsel is unlikely to back the proposal, which is expected to be advanced as a temporary emergency measure.

The issue of arrests has become a central point of contention between the chareidi parties and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. On Monday, a high-stakes meeting took place between Deri, Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni, and Netanyahu, during which the two chareidi leaders demanded rapid advancement of both the Basic Law protecting Torah study and legislation designed to halt the arrests of Torah learners.

During the meeting, Deri and Gafni reportedly pressed Netanyahu for an explicit commitment that sufficient support would be secured to pass the legislation in the Knesset. The two leaders also warned that if the government failed to move forward immediately on the chareidi legislative agenda, their parties would support dissolving the Knesset and triggering new elections.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Deri and Gafni issued a joint statement declaring: “Today we met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and conveyed to him, in the name of the Gedolei Yisroel, an unequivocal demand to immediately advance the Basic Law of Torah Study and the law to halt the arrests of Torah learners, by convening the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and the House Committee already this week.

“We made it clear that if we do not see practical action as we demanded, we will support dissolving the Knesset as early as next week. The Prime Minister made clear during the meeting that he is committed to approving the laws and will act to advance them quickly.”

As previously reported, Deri has spent recent weeks promoting a plan aimed at stopping the arrests by separating portions of the draft law and advancing temporary transitional provisions through expedited legislation.

Under the proposal, the draft law currently before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee would be split, with a one-year temporary measure enacted containing only the transitional provisions. Those provisions would preserve existing economic sanctions while ending arrests and criminal enforcement actions.

According to the Shas proposal, criminal proceedings against Torah learners would be frozen, addressing the situation in which many bnei yeshivah have become classified as lawbreakers due to the absence of legislation regulating their status. Supporters of the plan argue that, given the current political reality, no comprehensive draft law is likely to pass during the coming year and that the issue will ultimately be left for a future government formed after elections.

Deri hopes to advance the temporary measure by splitting it from the broader draft legislation already moving through the legislative process. By doing so, supporters believe the proposal could proceed directly to its final readings in the Knesset rather than beginning an entirely new and potentially lengthy legislative process.

photos: Avrumi Berger

As thousands of vehicles prepare to take part in Wednesday’s massive Chareidi protest convoy across Israel, organizers have released the event’s official anthem, titled “Am Yisroel Chai, Al Tig’u B’Meshichai.”

The upbeat protest song was produced to accompany the convoys as they make their way toward Prison 10, where demonstrators are calling for the release of yeshiva bochurim and protesting the arrests of bnei Torah.

Organizers say the song is intended to boost morale and amplify the protest’s message as it plays over loudspeakers mounted on the thousands of participating vehicles.

The vocals are performed by singer Dov Friedman, while the music and energetic arrangement were produced by Yisroel Goldknopf.

The release comes just hours before the large-scale convoy protest, which is expected to draw thousands of participants and cause significant traffic disruptions across Israel.

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

JERUSALEM (VINnews) Two of the three Israelis who were killed three days ago in the crash of a light aircraft in the U.S. state of Maryland were brought to Israel overnight Wednesday. After the completion of the necessary release procedures, they were transferred from Ben Gurion Airport to continue the funeral and burial process.

The deceased are: David Rabinovitz, whose levaya will take place today at 4:00 PM at Tel Regev Cemetery in Rechasim and Yoav Bumerind, whose levaya will take place today at 6:00 PM at the cemetery in Kerem Maharal.

The third victim, Elad Neidik, will be buried in Toronto, Canada, in accordance with the wishes of his family.

Accident Victims Yoav David and Elad z’l

Immediately after the crash, Yanky Landau, commander of ZAKA USA, together with volunteers from the organization Misas’kim, worked for many hours at the crash site collecting all remains and evidence and cleaning the scene. They worked alongside Yossi Landau, ZAKA operations officer for the Lachish region, who assisted in streamlining the required procedures with local authorities until the victims were released and flown for burial.

Michael Gutwin, coordinator of the legal department, and Yosef Chaim Ha’uzi, deputy commander of Beit Shemesh, who are accompanying the deceased, stated:

“After days of intensive activity at the crash site in the United States, alongside the legal and logistical efforts required to bring the deceased to burial, we are now accompanying the coffins on their final journey.”

They added: “This is a mission of chesed shel emet spanning the globe, from the difficult scene of the tragedy until the victims are brought to a Jewish burial with the proper dignity and respect. We extend special thanks to philanthropist Eitan Kariv, CEO of ‘Menucha La’ad’ (‘Eternal Rest’), for his assistance in bringing the deceased to burial.”

The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday announced one of the largest healthcare fraud crackdowns in American history, charging 455 defendants, including 90 physicians, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and other licensed medical professionals, in alleged schemes involving more than $6.5 billion in false Medicare and Medicaid claims.

The nationwide operation, known as the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown, spans 56 federal districts and 45 states and territories, with participation from 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units, marking the largest coordinated Medicaid enforcement effort ever undertaken by federal authorities.

Announcing the results in Washington, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche called the operation a historic effort to protect taxpayers and patients from large-scale healthcare fraud.

Officials said the cases involve a wide range of alleged criminal activity, including fraudulent billing schemes, illegal kickbacks, unnecessary medical procedures, opioid-related offenses, identity theft, and organized efforts to exploit federal healthcare programs.

The sheer scale of the alleged fraud stunned investigators.

According to the Justice Department, the schemes collectively sought to generate more than $6.5 billion in fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare, Medicaid, and other healthcare programs funded by American taxpayers.

Several of the cases involved staggering amounts.

In one Arizona-based investigation, prosecutors allege a healthcare executive orchestrated a scheme involving more than $1 billion in taxpayer-funded reimbursements tied to wound-care products and skin graft treatments. Authorities claim some patients were billed more than $1 million each, while proceeds allegedly funded luxury homes, high-end vehicles, jewelry, and overseas investments.

Federal prosecutors also announced charges against multiple defendants connected to alleged fraudulent billing involving amniotic wound allografts, an area that investigators say became a major source of abuse within Medicare reimbursement programs.

Officials estimate one company alone generated more than $4 billion in Medicare billings through alleged fraudulent activity.

Beyond the criminal charges, federal officials emphasized the direct financial impact on taxpayers.

Healthcare fraud ultimately increases costs throughout the healthcare system, contributing to higher government spending, increased taxpayer burdens, and rising costs borne by beneficiaries.

According to investigators, some of the alleged fraudulent billing was so extensive that it threatened to increase healthcare costs across the Medicare system if left unchecked.

The operation also showcased a growing shift in how healthcare fraud is being investigated.

Federal agencies increasingly rely on advanced data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence systems to identify suspicious billing activity before payments are issued.

Officials said those tools helped prevent more than $4 billion in fraudulent claims from being paid out.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reported issuing approximately 1,000 payment suspensions during the first half of 2026 alone, representing a dramatic increase compared with prior years.

Authorities also seized more than $182 million in cash and assets, including luxury vehicles, real estate, jewelry, bank accounts, and other property allegedly connected to the schemes.

Among the items seized were a Maserati, luxury watches, and high-value jewelry purchased with proceeds investigators say originated from fraudulent healthcare reimbursements.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said some defendants allegedly placed profits ahead of patient care by ordering unnecessary tests, prescribing unneeded products, and exploiting vulnerable patients to maximize billing revenue.

CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the agency is increasingly focused on preventing fraud before taxpayer dollars leave the system.

“CMS is done playing catch-up,” Oz said, pointing to new technology-driven enforcement efforts that allow regulators to identify suspicious activity in near real time.

Federal officials say the crackdown reflects a broader shift away from simply recovering stolen funds after fraud occurs and toward preventing fraudulent payments before they are made.

The FBI, HHS Office of Inspector General, CMS, DEA, and numerous state and federal agencies participated in the operation.

FBI Director Kash Patel described the takedown as one of the most significant anti-fraud operations ever conducted, warning healthcare criminals that federal authorities are using increasingly sophisticated technology to track suspicious financial and billing activity.

For ordinary Americans, the stakes extend far beyond the courtroom.

Medicare and Medicaid serve tens of millions of seniors, disabled individuals, and low-income families. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar unavailable for legitimate patient care and a cost ultimately borne by taxpayers.

Federal officials say the message from Tuesday’s announcement is clear: healthcare fraud remains one of the government’s highest enforcement priorities, and the use of advanced analytics and AI is making it increasingly difficult for fraud schemes to avoid detection.

JBizNews Desk | New York
© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

President Donald Trump claimed energy companies are engaging in fuel price gouging and said that he has ordered the U.S. Justice Department to investigate.

“The big Oil Companies are not dropping their price at the pump commensurate with the sharply lower prices they are paying for Oil. Those prices are dropping like a rock! In other words, customers are being ‘gouged,'” Trtump asserted in a Truth Social post.

“I have instructed the DOJ to immediately start looking into this. Gasoline prices better start going down a lot faster than what I’m seeing!” he declared.

OIL TANKER TRAFFIC THROUGH STRAIT OF HORMUZ HITS HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE CONFLICT BEGAN BUT MINES REMAIN

Americans have been facing higher fuel prices during the Iran war.

The AAA national average for regular gas is $3.928 as of June 24, down from the month-ago average of $4.515, though still significantly higher than the year-ago average of $3.224.

INFLATION ROSE AGAIN IN MAY AS ELEVATED ENERGY PRICES SQUEEZE CONSUMERS

WTI crude oil futures are around $71 as of Wednesday morning, but were even lower before the start of the war. 

U.S. crude closed at $73.21 Tuesday, only $6.19 more than the day before America attacked Iran earlier this year, NBC News reported.

TRUMP VISITS MACK TRUCKS PLANT IN BATTLEGROUND PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICT TO TOUT ECONOMIC AGENDA AS MIDTERMS LOOM

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Trump signed a Memorandum of Understanding related to Iran last week.

Conservative commentator Mark Levin, known as “The Great One,” launched a fierce attack Tuesday against the new U.S.-Iran agreement, arguing that the deal would funnel enormous sums of money to Tehran while weakening Israel’s position and security.

In a social media post, Levin contended that the financial benefits Iran stands to receive under the agreement far exceed the aid Israel receives from the United States over an extended period.

“The Iranian regime will now receive more money from this deal in a single year than Israel receives in 10 years (nearly all of which buys military equipment from American companies),” Levin wrote in a post on social media.

Levin went on to praise Israel’s efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign support, while expressing frustration with what he views as the country’s treatment by allies and critics alike.

“Israel is actively and aggressively focused on complete economic and military independence. It does not want to be treated as a sterling partner in war but a belittled punching bag the rest of the time.”

He also voiced concern over what he described as growing hostility toward Israel from various political and media figures, while warning about closer ties with several Middle Eastern countries involved in regional diplomacy.

“Just listen to what’s said about Israel by Democrats, Woke Reich podcasters, TV hosts, and even some of our friends. I fear we will regret this as we grow closer to countries like Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan and go down a narrow and dark path,” concluded Levin.

Earlier in the day, Levin directed his criticism at diplomatic discussions involving Hezbollah, questioning why Israel and Lebanon were reportedly not participating directly in talks that could significantly affect their future.

“Has anybody ever heard of a negotiation where the two countries directly affected, Israel and Lebanon, are left out of the negotiation?” Levin wrote, referring to what he described as a Hezbollah renewal negotiation involving Qatar, Pakistan, and the United States.

According to Levin, any agreement reached through such negotiations would effectively be imposed on Israel and Lebanon without their direct involvement. He also questioned the wisdom of pressuring a democratic ally to accept outcomes that could threaten its citizens.

“Have we ever forced a democratic ally to endanger its own citizens by supporting a terrorist organization that has murdered Americans?”

Levin did not hide his outrage over the reported diplomatic efforts.

“Honestly, this is an abomination. What kind of [rubbish] is this,” he continued.

The longtime broadcaster further accused negotiators of disregarding Israel’s security concerns while allowing Iran to maintain and expand its influence in Lebanon through Hezbollah.

“Even worse, we are smearing Israel for refusing to abandon its security, we ensure Iran’s control over Lebanon via Hezbollah, and we have done absolutely nothing over the 45 year period Hezbollah has slaughtered Americans,” he wrote. “Only Israel has. Why are we helping Hezbollah? Pure appeasement to Iran.”

Levin also suggested that lawmakers in Washington should closely examine the negotiations and their implications, expressing skepticism that the matter would avoid congressional scrutiny.

“I wonder how many congressional Republicans support this? No way this escapes scrutiny. Something is going on here that stinks to high heaven,” he wrote.

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A groundbreaking treatment in Israel was recently performed at the Rambam Health Care Campus, where specialists helped a man in his 40s detox from an extreme dependence on opioid painkillers, which had reached about 130 pills a day, in a procedure that lasted just 20 minutes, according to a Ynet report.

The treatment was carried out using unique Israeli technology developed by Insightec, as part of an international study underway at a small number of medical centers in the United States, and now also in Israel.

“This is a new therapeutic platform that allows us to offer a range of noninvasive treatments for many problems affecting people around the world,” Dr. Lior Lev Tov, head of the Functional Neurosurgery Unit in Rambam’s neurosurgery department and the study’s lead investigator, told Ynet. “This is a major scientific breakthrough that could have far-reaching implications and reshape the way we approach treatment.

The patient, identified only as H., is a northern Israel resident in his 40s who suffered a neck injury several years ago. Following the injury, he began using painkillers and eventually became addicted to them.

“Over time, the pain subsided, but he could not free himself from dependence on the pills, and the doses kept increasing, reaching a peak of about 130 pills a day,” said Dr. Amir Minerbi, director of Rambam’s Institute for Pain Medicine, where H. was treated in the painkiller withdrawal clinic.

“H. was no longer suffering from pain. He simply needed the substance in his bloodstream to feel calm and function,” Minerbi added.

Opioids are a group of medications that affect the brain’s reward system. They activate brain mechanisms associated with pleasure and reward, which may drive repeated use even after their original pain-relieving purpose is no longer needed.

During the experimental procedure, Rambam specialists intervened in the electrical activity of the nucleus accumbens, a region of the brain that is central to feeling satisfaction, pleasure and reward.

The treatment is based on technology developed by Israeli company Insightec, similar to technology already used today to treat neurological disorders such as essential tremor and Parkinson ’s-related tremor. In those cases, focused sound waves are directed deep into the brain under MRI guidance to ablate areas responsible for tremor.

In this case, however, the team used a new noninvasive technology that performs neuromodulation, meaning it modulates the activity of nerve cells, without heating or damaging brain tissue. Instead, it precisely affects nerve cell activity in the target area, allowing doctors to increase or suppress activity according to the therapeutic need.
This allows doctors to reach deep, sensitive brain regions involved in craving and impulse control without the risks of invasive surgery.

H. underwent the treatment about two weeks ago. “Already during the treatment itself, we identified a drop in the patient’s craving for the drug,” Lev Tov said. Tests conducted a week later came back negative for opioids and other substances. “The patient reported a craving level of zero out of 10 for using the drug, and even an unexpected side effect, a drastic decline in his desire for cigarettes.”

According to Lev Tov, H. went from smoking three packs a day to only a few cigarettes, and reported no urge to drink alcohol. “In a treatment that took about 20 minutes, our patient was able to detox from an extreme dependence that had been part of his daily life for years,” Lev Tov said. “This is nothing less than a medical and therapeutic revolution.”

“From the moment of the treatment until today, he has been clean. The urge and craving to use have disappeared entirely. He told us he got his life back. The tests show that his body is completely clean, and his physical and functional condition is entirely normal.”

The study is being conducted at three centers in the United States as part of a multicenter trial that, according to Rambam, has so far produced excellent results in maintaining opioid withdrawal achievements. Some of the patients in the study were addicted to heroin, a drug from which withdrawal can take years, hospital officials said.

H. was also the first patient to undergo the treatment while in active withdrawal, a therapeutic challenge that doctors said contributed significantly to the research.

Opioid addiction has been defined as a global epidemic. In the United States, it has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, with damage estimated at $60 billion a year. Israel, which several years ago ranked first in the world in the rate of increase in opioid use, is now curbing the trend.

Minerbi stressed that opioid painkillers remain an important medical tool for short-term pain treatment, but that a small and significant proportion of long-term users may develop addiction.

“Among those who take the medication over time, it becomes less effective in treating pain and contributes to worsening side effects, including health damage, an increased risk of early mortality, impaired ability to participate in daily life and a decline in quality of life,” he said.

Today, there are two main approaches to treating addiction: gradual dose reduction until use stops, with success rates of only about 5%, and the use of a substitute medication that acts on the same brain mechanism.

Withdrawal includes two components: physical withdrawal, which involves coping with withdrawal symptoms, and psychological withdrawal, meaning the persistent urge to return to use, which can last for a long time.

“We hope this new development will be able to help many thousands of people dependent on opioids, in a safe and less traumatic way,” Minerbi said.

“We are talking about a noninvasive way to reach deep, highly sensitive areas of the brain involved in reward, satisfaction, craving and impulse control,” Lev Tov said. “This experience opens the door to treating a range of serious conditions, including PTSD, OCD, eating disorders, other addictions, severe depression and severe pain disorders.”

He added that he hopes the technology could eventually reach cognitive areas of the brain and help treat attention deficit disorders, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Lev Tov added that Rambam Health Care Campus has become a global center of excellence in the use of focused ultrasound technology and will continue advancing it for additional indications.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s testimony in his long-running trial came to an end on Wednesday after 98 hearings over the past year and a half. The trial will now continue without his presence.

Following the end of the hearing, Netanyahu addressed the judges and delivered a scathing speech in which he sharply attacked the years-long witch hunt waged against him by the law enforcement system.

“I am finishing after ten years of hell…there is no other word for it,” Netanyahu said. “Ten years in which they sent people to the Philippines to investigate a housekeeper we had, sent people to the United States, Europe, Australia, turned the whole world upside down. It required an enormous team and vast sums of money. The goal was one thing—to comb through everything with an iron rake and find something, just ANYTHING, and they found nothing. They found nothing. Nothing like this has ever happened. I do not know of such a massive effort anywhere in the free world. What was supposed to be law enforcement became, let’s call it, a perversion of law. A tremendous effort to frame someone.”

“There are individual rights, rights of the person being investigated. I have stood here time after time, in addition to these endless investigations. All my associates, my family, huge circles of people, almost everyone who worked with me—they brought them in for questioning, warned them, interrogated them under caution, used investigative methods that are impossible to believe. I heard what they did to Hefetz—it was the Stasi! They destroyed families, many families, not only mine. Dozens of families. This insane race to find something—ANYTHING. ‘Give us something on Netanyahu.’ They were not looking for a crime; they were looking for a person!

“Because they found nothing. Nothing at all. They found no envelopes of cash, no regulatory favors—we did the exact opposite. They tried to manufacture an offense. They created an offense. Not only that—I am speaking to the judges—they turned things upside down. They did it because there was nothing with Bezeq. What could they do? There was nothing there. They moved from control of a media outlet to favorable coverage, then to meetings, then to unusual responsiveness. These are constructions.

Judge Rivka Friedman-Feldman: ‘All right…’

Netanyahu: ‘It is not all right! This cannot happen in a democracy. They take this spyware, put it on dozens and hundreds of people. We are not a police state! It is hidden away in Har Hotzvim. No one touches it. They put fences around the law enforcement system so nobody will discover what happened here. They cut off Filber’s electricity. They grabbed Avi Harrow and told him, ‘We’ll break you,’ and they broke him. There was no limit to what they did in their search for an offense.

“This is not only about me. It is about an attempt to interfere. A direct and deliberate effort through political coverage to prevent Israeli citizens from choosing whom they want, timed with political developments. Nothing like this has ever happened.

“I will finish, Your Honor, after ten years of hell. There is no other word for it. I am trying to lead this country through extraordinary challenges, among the greatest faced by any nation today, and then to see this thing… this vile, false, malicious thing aimed not only at harming individual rights but at harming the rights of the entire public.

“I must say what I am seeking. You cannot return the ten years. Not to me, not to the dozens of familes that were harmed and are still being harmed.

“What I seek is to finish this. As much as possible. It was all done in such a transparent and distorted way. Those years cannot be returned. I want to tell the truth. The decision is in your hands—to bring the truth to the public. The truth, and only justice.”

The cases against Netanyahu fell apart one by one in the courtroom. Case 4000, the most serious of the charges against Netanyahu due to its bribery allegations, has essentially been debunked. The judges overseeing the case recommended years ago that the bribery charges be dropped.

In addition, numerous violations of the law on the part of the police and state prosecutors were revealed during the trial, including the illegal use of spyware, investigative actions carried out without the approval of the Attorney General and without being disclosed to the defense, and brutal and illegal interrogation tactics used against state witnesses in the case, all former aides of Netanyahu.

Retired police commander Lt. Col. (res.) Tzachi Habkin, a former Lahav 433 investigator and member of the teams that handled Netanyahu’s cases, testified during the trial that the highest-ranking police investigators assigned to the cases forged, lied, tampered with evidence, perjured themselves, and committed a long list of extremely serious criminal offenses. He also testified that then-Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit authorized only one specific investigative action, but the police investigators expanded the investigation on their own–without legal approval. In addition, a senior police officer (with the rank of Assistant Commissioner) who led the investigations against Netanyahu instructed investigators to obstruct the investigation.

Channel 14 journalist Yinon Magal provided a transcript of parts of Habkin’s testimony on Case 4000, entitled “The Comedy Of The Netanyahu Trial.”

Investigator Habkin admits: “We didn’t investigate ‘irregular responsiveness’–I don’t even know what that is.”

Netanyahu’s lawyer. Adv. Amit Hadad: Confirm for me that the basis of the case was that Netanyahu received favorable coverage from the Walla news site.

Habkin: Yes, we investigated favorable coverage.

Hadad: Only favorable coverage?

Habkin: Yes.

Hadad: And did you investigate “irregular responsiveness”?

Habkin: What is ‘irregular responsiveness’?

Hadad: You never investigated irregular responsiveness?

Habkin: I don’t know what that is. Irregular responsiveness has to be measured against something.

Hadad: Confirm for me that you never investigated and never attempted to establish a basis of comparison–not against other channels, not against other politicians?

Habkin: Never.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

NEW YORK (VINnews) — FBI agents and NYPD investigators carried out a series of raids Wednesday morning targeting former top City Hall and police officials as part of separate corruption investigations.

This morning, members of the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau and the FBI executed search warrants as part of a criminal investigation being pursued by the NYPD, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The investigation is ongoing and concerns…

— Jessica S. Tisch (@NYPDPC) June 24, 2026

Among those arrested was Frank Carone, a former senior adviser to Mayor Eric Adams, whose home was searched before he was taken into custody in connection with an alleged bribery scheme. The charges were expected to be unsealed later in federal court.

In a separate probe, authorities executed search warrants at the homes of former Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey, former Assistant Chief James McCarthy and former top NYPD spokesman Tarik Sheppard.

The investigations are examining allegations that include bribery, misconduct, promotions, assignments and financial practices involving current and former NYPD officials, according to reports.

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the searches were conducted jointly by the NYPD’s Internal Affairs Bureau, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

No charges were immediately announced against the former police officials. The investigations remain ongoing.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Dozens of police officers from Israel’s Northern District and the Border Police raided several locations in Yavniel on Wednesday morning as part of an undercover investigation conducted over recent months into suspected underage marriages allegedly taking place illegally within a Breslov community.

When the investigation became public, community members suspected of involvement in organizing secret weddings, arranging matches for minors, and conducting marriage ceremonies were detained for questioning. Several minors who are suspected of having married in recent months were also questioned.

According to police, the investigation uncovered a method in which most of the weddings were held in the morning and attended by only a small number of people.

The locations of the ceremonies were reportedly kept secret until the last moment, mobile phones were prohibited, and photography or recording was prevented in order to avoid documentation of the events and reduce the risk of exposure.

Police further claim that after the ceremony, a second event was sometimes held for the wider community and presented as an “engagement party,” to which family members and acquaintances were invited.

As part of the investigation, detectives from the Northern District raided a ceremony at a home in the community in February after receiving real-time information that it was taking place.

During that operation, officers said they identified a couple dressed as a bride and groom. A search of the premises allegedly uncovered a ketubah (Jewish marriage contract), wedding rings, and a ceremonial glass wrapped in aluminum foil that had been hidden inside a water-system cabinet.

Police also stated that, through court-issued warrants, information was collected from hospitals in northern Israel. According to the investigation’s findings, more than 20 cases were identified over the past three years in which girls from the community gave birth while still officially registered as single in the Population Registry.

The police emphasized that the investigation is ongoing and forms part of a broader effort to combat underage marriage.

In a statement, police said: “The Israel Police will continue to act decisively against any offense that harms minors and vulnerable individuals, with the goal of uncovering the truth, bringing those involved to justice, and preventing the continuation of this phenomenon.”

American manufacturers cut jobs in June at the fastest pace since 2009 — outside the early-pandemic collapse of 2020 — even as their factories produced goods at the strongest rate in years.

The contradiction emerged from a survey released Tuesday by S&P Global, whose flash U.S. Manufacturing Index climbed to 55.7 for June, up from May and above the 54.8 consensus estimate, even as job cuts ran near their highest level since 2009 excluding the pandemic collapse.

“Most worrying was the further fall in employment, notably in the manufacturing sector,” said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, adding that “factory job cuts are running at the highest since 2009 if the pandemic is excluded.”

How can production rise while payrolls shrink?

Much of June’s strength came not from rising demand but from stockpiling. Manufacturers built inventories at a pace approaching the survey’s all-time high — surpassed only by the 2025 tariff-driven inventory surge — as companies rushed to protect themselves from supply-chain disruptions and cost spikes tied to the Middle East conflict.

Factories were busy filling warehouses, not necessarily responding to stronger customer demand, while continuing to reduce staffing to control costs.

The squeeze comes from prices.

Input costs remain historically elevated, with manufacturers citing higher steel and aluminum prices, tariffs, and petroleum-related inflation linked to the conflict. Facing those pressures and an uncertain demand outlook, many companies chose to trim headcount rather than expand payrolls.

Williamson said the data point to an economy “struggling to grow much faster than a 1% annualized rate” in the second quarter — sluggish by recent standards.

The weakness is not confined to factories.

The services sector expanded only modestly, posting a flash reading of 51.3, with the survey citing customer resistance to higher prices and continued weakness in consumer confidence.

Meanwhile, the broader labor market has shown additional warning signs. Lucid Motors announced its second major layoff of the year on Monday, cutting approximately 1,500 workers, or about 18% of its workforce, as demand in the electric-vehicle sector cools.

Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas reported more than 97,000 announced U.S. job cuts in May alone.

It is important to keep perspective. According to official Bureau of Labor Statistics data, manufacturing employment has actually increased by approximately 23,000 jobs in 2026, with strong gains in four of the year’s first five months.

The S&P survey measures hiring direction among roughly 800 surveyed companies rather than precise employment totals, and one month does not establish a trend. Some of the decline also reflects automation, with manufacturing-technology hiring increasing modestly over the past year.

Still, June’s reading represents a sharp reversal at an awkward moment.

Companies remain caught between stubborn inflation — with energy costs elevated by the war — and a Federal Reserve under Chair Kevin Warsh that is weighing potential rate increases or, at minimum, delaying rate cuts until geopolitical conditions stabilize.

Higher borrowing costs would make expansion and hiring even more expensive for manufacturers.

For workers, the message is unsettling.

Factory jobs have long provided a pathway to middle-class wages without requiring a college degree. When manufacturers stop adding shifts or begin trimming staff, the effects ripple through entire communities. Local restaurants, suppliers, trucking companies, and retailers often feel the impact as well.

The one bright spot was confidence.

Williamson noted that “brighter news out of the Middle East has helped restore some confidence among US businesses in June.”

If that stability holds and energy prices continue easing, some of the pressures driving job cuts could fade.

For now, however, June’s report delivers a clear warning: a factory sector that looks strong on the surface while quietly shedding the workers who keep it running.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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

The Howell Township Police Department Traffic Safety Unit is asking for the public’s help in locating witnesses following a serious motor vehicle crash yesterday on Lakewood-Farmingdale Road (Route 547).

Authorities say the crash occurred on Tuesday at approximately 10:08 a.m. in the area of 909 Route 547, when a 2024 International IC school bus, operated by a 52-year-old Elberon resident, struck a tree. There were no passengers on board at the time of the accident.

The driver, who was the sole occupant of the bus, suffered serious injuries and was transported to an area hospital for further treatment.

Howell Township First Aid & Rescue Squad #1, Ramtown Fire Company, Hatzolah First Aid, and Robert Wood Johnson Paramedics all responded to the scene.

The crash remains under active investigation by the Howell Township Police Department Traffic Safety Unit. Anyone who witnessed the crash or has any information is urged to contact Ptl. Michael Silvani #651 at 732-938-4575 ext. 2651.

NEW YORK (VINnews) – State Assemblymember Micah Lasher won the Democratic primary Tuesday for New York’s 12th Congressional District, positioning him as the likely successor to longtime Rep. Jerry Nadler in the heavily Democratic Manhattan seat.

Lasher, who defeated a crowded field including fellow Assemblymember Alex Bores, secured approximately 39% of the vote with most precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the New York City Board of Elections. Bores placed a close second with about 35%.

In his victory address at Jacob’s Pickles on the Upper West Side, Lasher directly addressed the heavy involvement of artificial intelligence companies in the race, which became one of the most expensive and closely watched congressional primaries in the country due to tens of millions in outside spending.

“I have some news for the two big AI companies who have taken such an unusual interest in who won this congressional seat,” Lasher said, referring to OpenAI and Anthropic. “I won’t be taking cues from either of you when it comes to protecting our kids, our jobs and our environment.

The race drew intense national attention amid a proxy battle over AI regulation. Bores had sponsored state legislation on the issue, prompting significant spending by PACs linked to AI interests both opposing and supporting him.

Lasher, a Jewish Upper West Side native and longtime public servant, has deep ties to the district. He previously served as policy director for Gov. Kathy Hochul, director of state legislative affairs under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and as an aide to Nadler. He won election to the state Assembly in 2024

The 12th District, covering Midtown Manhattan and the Upper East and Upper West Sides, includes one of the largest Jewish communities in the country. Lasher, who lives on the Upper West Side with his wife and three children and is a member of Congregation Rodeph Sholom, is expected to easily win the general election in November.bcdbcf

Flanked by Hochul and other Democratic leaders, Lasher told supporters the primary competition “met the standard of this district” and pledged to deliver bold ideas for working Americans.b6b110

Nadler, who announced his retirement after decades in Congress, did not immediately comment on the results. The district has a long history of electing prominent Jewish representatives.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Officials in Jerusalem and Beirut are closely watching developments emerging from Switzerland. Following talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland, Qatar and Pakistan announced that an agreement had been reached to establish a “de-escalation cell” in Lebanon, involving the United States, Iran, and Lebanon. Israel was not mentioned in the announcement, nor was Hezbollah.

According to the official statement, the mechanism is intended to ensure compliance with the cessation of military activity in Lebanon and prevent renewed escalation. Sources familiar with the matter describe the cell as a coordination mechanism designed to reduce the risk of escalation and unintended incidents.

However, both Israel and Lebanon are following these developments with concern and trying to understand their practical implications. Sources familiar with the issue say that neither side was informed in advance about the details of the understandings reached in Switzerland. Officials in Jerusalem and Beirut are now attempting to determine whether this is merely a technical mechanism or part of a broader move that could grant Iran a new level of legitimacy in the Lebanese arena.

Israeli officials reportedly believe there was no practical way to include Israel in such a framework because of Iran’s involvement. Nevertheless, the very fact that Tehran is becoming an official participant in an international mechanism dealing with Lebanon raises serious questions.

Concerns are also being voiced in Lebanon that the understandings between Washington and Tehran could create a parallel track to the one being conducted with Israel and limit the maneuvering room of the Lebanese government and the Lebanese Armed Forces. From the perspective of Lebanese officials, bringing Iran into an official framework concerning Lebanon could strengthen Tehran’s position precisely when the Lebanese Army is being called upon to demonstrate independence and operational capability in southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun convened a meeting at the Baabda Presidential Palace attended by Lebanese Army Commander General Rodolphe Haykal and members of the advisory team accompanying the Lebanese-American-Israeli negotiations in Washington. The meeting focused on discussions being conducted by the Lebanese diplomatic and military delegation during the fifth round of talks.

At the opening of the meeting, Aoun stressed that Lebanon would accept nothing less than what he described as an end to the “Israeli occupation” and an end to “external tutelage” alike. According to him, Lebanon’s only acceptable path is full national sovereignty, with the Lebanese state serving as the sole legitimate authority. He argued that only the state should protect all citizens, safeguard their freedoms and dignity, and free them from fear and discrimination.

At the same time, a representative of the Lebanese political party “Lebanon Forces”,Samir Geagea, stated that U.S. Vice President J. D. Vance had clarified in a response to a letter from Geagea that American contacts with Iran regarding Lebanon are not intended to give Tehran a role in determining Lebanon’s future.

In the coming days, it should become clearer whether the Washington talks can produce a practical framework for the proposed pilot arrangement in southern Lebanon. But for both Israel and Lebanon, a broader question is already on the table: whether the “deescalation mechanism” agreed upon in Switzerland signals a change in Iran’s status within the Lebanese arena, and how it may affect the diplomatic process that the United States is attempting to advance between Israel and Lebanon.

Mortgage rates are stuck in place.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed home loan was 6.47% in the week ending June 18, according to Freddie Mac, down from 6.52% the week before and well below the 6.81% level of a year ago. Daily trackers on Tuesday ranged from the mid-6.3% area to about 6.6%, depending on the lender and methodology, a sign that rates are drifting sideways rather than breaking decisively in either direction.

Behind the stalemate is a tug-of-war between two powerful forces.

Pulling rates down is the cooling of the U.S.-Iran conflict. As the two sides moved toward a deal and the Strait of Hormuz began reopening to shipping, oil prices and bond yields fell, easing pressure on borrowing costs. Because mortgage rates closely track the 10-year Treasury yield, lower yields have helped keep rates contained.

Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association, said inflation concerns pushed rates higher earlier this month, but growing optimism surrounding the reopening of Hormuz brought them lower again by week’s end.

Pushing the other way is the Federal Reserve.

At its June meeting, the central bank under Chair Kevin Warsh held rates steady but struck a hawkish tone, with most policymakers now expecting a rate increase later this year rather than a cut as inflation remains well above the Fed’s 2% target.

That stance has effectively placed a floor beneath mortgage rates.

Most economists expect 30-year mortgage rates to remain above 6% throughout the rest of 2026, with Fannie Mae projecting roughly 6.4% and the Mortgage Bankers Association forecasting around 6.5% into 2027.

For homebuyers, today’s rates are stubborn but not crushing.

Rates near 6.5% remain far above the sub-3% mortgages many homeowners locked in during 2020 and 2021, contributing to the ongoing “lock-in effect” that discourages owners from selling and keeps housing inventory tight.

Still, current rates remain below the near nine-month high of 6.65% reached in May, offering modest relief as the summer homebuying season reaches its peak.

The math remains daunting.

A borrower taking out a $300,000 30-year mortgage at roughly 6.45% would pay approximately $379,000 in interest over the life of the loan. Even a quarter-point reduction can save thousands of dollars over time, which is why brokers continue encouraging borrowers to compare offers from multiple lenders.

Demand remains soft.

Mortgage applications fell 3.8% during the week ending June 12, continuing a recent downward trend, while refinancing accounted for roughly 40% of all applications. The recent decline in rates has tempted some borrowers to refinance, although most homeowners with older low-rate loans still have little incentive to do so.

The biggest wildcard remains oil.

If the ceasefire holds and shipping through Hormuz continues normalizing, energy prices could keep easing, reducing pressure on inflation and interest rates. If the 60-day agreement collapses, however, crude prices could surge again and push borrowing costs back toward spring highs.

Sam Khater, chief economist at Freddie Mac, noted that consumers remain resilient, with retail spending improving and home purchase demand showing modest strength despite current borrowing costs.

For now, buyers face a housing market defined by one reality: mortgage rates are no longer rising rapidly, but the Federal Reserve is giving little indication that they will fall quickly either.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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This post was originally published on this site.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir met on Tuesday with prominent rabbis from the Religious Zionist community in an effort to resolve the dispute surrounding the enlistment of students from hesder yeshivot in the armored corps, according to a Walla news report.

The meeting took place amid controversy over the integration of women into combat roles, with Zamir emphasizing that the military faces a manpower shortage and needs every available soldier, male and female.

The meeting was attended by several senior officers, including Deputy Chief of Staff Tamir Yadai, Head of the Ground Forces Command Nadav Lotan, and Chief Military  Rabbi Eyal Karim. Zamir opened the discussion by expressing appreciation for the yeshivot and pre-military academies, praising “The decisive contribution and tremendous sacrifice of yeshiva students over the years, and especially during the war, as they stand alongside other populations in the front ranks of the fighters of the people’s army.”

He then outlined the military’s growing personnel needs in light of current challenges and warned: “The IDF is still short thousands of combat soldiers and needs every male and female combatant to fulfill its missions and consolidate the achievements of the campaign.”

The central focus of the meeting was the Joint Service Ordinance (which regulates the service of females as well as the needs of orthodox soldiers)

Zamir stressed that the policy is a cornerstone that:”Allows service side by side, not one at the expense of the other, while preserving the dignity of all who serve.”

According to him, expanding the integration of women into combat positions has: “Enormous operational importance, and the IDF will continue working to expand it.”

At the same time, he pledged that any expansion would be carried out: “According to operational needs and professional standards, without compromise.”

The rabbis praised the military’s leadership during the war and reaffirmed their commitment to encouraging meaningful military service. However, they also raised concerns regarding the challenges faced by observant soldiers and demanded assurances that every soldier “will be able to serve in the IDF in accordance with his religious beliefs and values, and in line with the principles of the Joint Service Ordinance.”

Zamir concluded the meeting by stating: “The State of Israel has one army, the people’s army, which must know how to accommodate all existing complexities and enable meaningful and productive service for every segment of the nation. The readiness of the military requires us to meet this challenge successfully.”

The meeting took place about two weeks after the hesder yeshivot announced a suspension of student enlistments in the armored corps in protest against the military’s conduct on the issue.

The move followed a pilot program involving the integration of women into the Armored Corps and claims that Israel’s Supreme Court was influencing the matter. Rabbi Tamir Granot, head of the Orot Shaul Yeshiva, publicly argued that judicial pressure was being used and that it could harm the character of the military.

For their part, the IDF has maintained that the initiative is only a preliminary pilot program and has stated that: “Among all the options being examined, there is no scenario in which men and women would serve together within the same combat framework.”

A Palestinian resident of Al-Eizariya and a resident of east Jerusalem were arrested early Wednesday morning for alleged involvement in digging a tunnel that was discovered near the A-Za’im Crossing in the Jerusalem area.

The investigation began after the Civil Administration reported the discovery of a tunnel near the crossing.

Officers from the Judea and Samaria District Police and Border Police forces were dispatched to the scene and located a tunnel that had been dug from the Palestinian Authority toward Israel. According to the police, the tunnel reached a depth of approximately 25 meters.

Excavation tools, gloves, face masks, and additional equipment were found at the site.

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Forensic investigators from the Judea and Samaria District collected evidence and findings at the scene. During the investigation, forensic evidence, including DNA samples, led to the identification of the two suspects.

Both suspects were arrested and transferred for questioning.

Police are investigating suspicions that the tunnel was dug in recent months and was intended to be used for security-related offenses, including terrorist activity and the smuggling of illegal migrants into Israel.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Electric-vehicle maker Lucid Group is shrinking again. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday, June 22, the company said it will cut roughly 18% of its U.S. workforce — about 1,500 jobs — and eliminate the role of chief operating officer as it scrambles to slow its cash burn and match production to weak demand. It is the second round of deep cuts this year, following a 12% reduction in February, and the first major move by new chief executive Silvio Napoli, who took the top job on June 1.

The reductions hit full-time employees, contractors and hourly factory workers, and come paired with a decision to eliminate the second production shift at Lucid’s AMP-1 plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, its largest factory. The company expects about $32 million in one-time severance and transition charges and roughly $158 million in annual savings once the plan is finished, which it expects by the end of the third quarter. “These are difficult decisions taken to align production with demand, reduce inventory, and adapt to declining market conditions,” a Lucid spokesperson said.

The same filing confirmed that chief operating officer Marc Winterhoff is leaving immediately, with his role scrapped entirely. Winterhoff had served as interim CEO for more than a year before Napoli, a former chairman and chief executive of Swiss elevator maker Schindler Group, took over. His exit adds to a long run of departures in Lucid’s executive ranks and underscores how sharply the new boss is reshaping the company in his first weeks.

The cuts reflect a brutal stretch. Lucid lost about $2.7 billion in 2025 on revenue of just $1.35 billion, and burned through roughly $3.8 billion in cash. In the first quarter of 2026, revenue rose about 20% from a year earlier to $282 million, but the company produced 5,500 vehicles while delivering only 3,093, leaving costly inventory on the ground, and its gross margin ran deeply negative. Lucid has suspended its 2026 production guidance — once set at 25,000 to 27,000 vehicles — and says it will give a fresh outlook at its second-quarter earnings. It started the year with roughly 9,000 employees worldwide.

Investors have already punished the stock. Lucid shares fell about 4% on Monday to around $5, and are down roughly 50% in 2026, trading near a 52-week low of $4.47 after touching $33.70 over the past year. Wall Street is cautious but not hopeless: of 11 analysts tracked by TheStreet, eight rate the stock a hold, two a sell and one a buy, with an average 12-month price target near $9.75 — a figure that implies large upside only if Napoli’s turnaround takes hold.

Lucid’s troubles are partly its own and partly the industry’s. U.S. EV demand has cooled after the $7,500 federal tax credit was eliminated under the Trump administration and several major automakers pulled back their electric plans. Survival has leaned heavily on Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Lucid’s majority owner, which has poured in billions. The company is betting its future on two coming mass-market models — the Cosmos crossover, expected to start near $50,000 and rival the Tesla Model Y, and the larger Earth — along with a robotaxi partnership with Uber and Nuro slated to launch later this year.

For now, the message from Napoli is retrenchment. By cutting headcount, idling a shift and stripping out a layer of management, Lucid is buying time to reach the mass-market launches it hopes will finally bring scale. Whether that is enough to outrun the cash burn — without leaning even harder on its Saudi backer — is the question investors will be asking when the company reports second-quarter results.

JBizNews Desk
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FIRST ON FOX: Bank of America is expanding its signature “Museums on Us” program for the July 4th weekend, offering eligible cardholders free admission to 250 museums and cultural institutions nationwide as the U.S. marks its 250th anniversary.

Bank of America, Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank credit and debit cardholders can receive free general admission to 250 cultural and civic institutions on July 4 and July 5 by presenting an eligible card and a government-issued ID, the financial institution said.

“Visiting one of these museums is an opportunity to celebrate the people, places and institutions that have shaped our country and continue to define our communities,” Meghan Hughes, head of arts and heritage at Bank of America, said in a statement. “As people travel and gather for July 4th weekend, we’re encouraging cardholders to take advantage of Museums on Us and to experience these additional programs celebrating our nation’s history.”

BANK OF AMERICA TO HIRE NEARLY 4,000 SUMMER INTERNS AND CAMPUS RECRUITS

“Museums on Us” typically gives eligible Bank of America, Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank cardholders free general admission during the first full weekend of each month. This July, the bank is expanding the program to 250 participating institutions as part of its broader support for America 250.

Bank of America is also providing grant support to the National Archives in Washington, D.C., allowing the institution to extend its operating hours until 10 p.m. through July 5. The bank said the extended hours are intended to give more visitors the chance to view the Declaration of Independence.

The company is backing additional America 250 programming in several major markets.

In Boston, Bank of America is supporting free access to the MA250 + Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, described as one of the country’s oldest and largest Fourth of July events.

TRUMP ADMIN TO TELL BANKS IMMIGRATION STATUS MAY BE CONSIDERED IN MORTGAGE, CREDIT DECISIONS

In Detroit, the bank is supporting The Henry Ford’s Salute to America and the Michigan Science Center’s “Science of Safety” initiative.

In Miami, the Freedom Tower will join “Museums on Us” and offer free admission throughout the duration of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Bank of America is also supporting presidential history initiatives, including the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, which is scheduled to open July 4 in Medora, North Dakota. The bank has made a $5 million founding gift to the library, which will focus on Roosevelt’s presidency, conservation and civic responsibility.

The company has also announced support for the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery through an Art Conservation Project grant to assess and conserve 110 presidential portraits and frames.

STANDARD CHARTERED CEO WALKS BACK COMMENTS ABOUT REPLACING ‘LOWER-VALUE HUMAN CAPITAL’ WITH AI

In New York, Bank of America has committed to raising $500,000 and matching those funds for a total of $1 million in support of the Intrepid Museum’s mission of honoring service members.

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The bank has also partnered with Vet Tix to offer thousands of free FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets to veterans, current military members and first responders.

A full list of participating museums is available at BankofAmerica.com/MuseumsonUs.

In an unusual security incident, two Hamas terrorists were spotted on Wednesday near the Kerem Shalom Crossing on the Gaza side of the border, Kan News reported.

One of the terrorists was arrested by security forces and is currently being questioned.

The second terrorist managed to escape, and a manhunt is underway to locate him. IDF forces were dispatched to the scene, along with the Shin Bet’s “Tequila” team.

The IDF announced on Wednesday morning that it struck and destroyed four primed rocket-launchers overnight at several locations throughout the Gaza Strip.

According to the IDF, the launch sites had been established by terrorist organizations in Gaza in recent weeks after the ceasefire took effect and were prepared for attacks against IDF forces and Israeli civilians.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called Tuesday for a sweeping increase in global climate spending, urging governments, development banks, and financial institutions to dramatically expand investments aimed at combating climate-related challenges and supporting developing nations.

Speaking during London Climate Action Week, Guterres argued that the world is not investing enough to address the growing effects of climate change and warned that communities across the globe are already experiencing its consequences.

“We must do far more to protect people and communities from the here-and-now effects of climate chaos,” Guterres said. “Because even at full speed, we cannot outrun climate change. Its impacts are already here, compounding and cascading.”

The U.N. leader also focused attention on Africa, describing the continent as rich in energy resources but largely overlooked by international investors despite its enormous potential.

“Africa is home to 60% of the world’s best solar resources, 30% of critical minerals, 1/5 of humanity,” Guterres continued. “Yet it receives just 2% of global clean energy investment. At the same time, more than 600 million Africans still lack access to electricity. This is unjust and a lost opportunity for Africa and the world.”

Guterres called on wealthier nations to fulfill their climate-financing obligations and significantly increase support for developing countries, arguing that existing commitments must be transformed into far larger long-term investments.

“Developed countries must keep their promises, including support to the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage and the Green Climate Fund. The $300 billion pledged to developing countries must be delivered with concrete steps to mobilize the $1.3 trillion a year by 2035,” Guterres said. “In a world of shrinking aid, we must also unleash the catalytic role of multilateral development banks and the wider development finance system to help fund long-term infrastructure such as grids, mass transit, and water systems.”

The secretary-general further pressed international lending institutions to take a more aggressive role in funding major infrastructure projects and climate adaptation efforts, arguing that recent reforms have given them the financial capacity to do much more.

“Recent reforms and policy decisions have increased the lending capacity of multilateral development banks by 600 to 800 billion U.S. dollars. They must use it aggressively to finance the infrastructure of the future and climate adaptation,” Guterres continued. “They must also adapt their instruments to match the scale and time frame of the challenge, including 50-year finance where needed.”

Guterres’ remarks reflected the United Nations’ continuing push for large-scale international funding commitments as global leaders debate how to finance climate initiatives, energy transitions, and infrastructure projects in developing regions over the coming decades.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick signaled that the Trump administration is preparing for a potential crackdown on heavily subsidized Chinese robotics imports, warning U.S. business leaders that the global race for robotics dominance is rapidly becoming a national-security issue.

Speaking at a closed-door meeting with top executives from SpaceX, Boston Dynamics, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Siemens, and Rockwell Automation, Lutnick said the Commerce Department is reviewing Chinese state-backed robotics imports and could take action once that review is completed.

“This is the arms race that is coming,” Lutnick reportedly told attendees, according to a Politico report citing participants in the meeting.

The comments mark one of the clearest signals yet that Washington may be preparing to expand its technology confrontation with Beijing beyond semiconductors and artificial intelligence into the rapidly growing robotics sector.

China currently dominates much of the global robotics supply chain. The country deployed approximately 1.8 million industrial robots in 2023, roughly four times the U.S. total, and analysts project Chinese companies could control nearly 80% of the global humanoid robot market by mid-2026.

Humanoid robots—machines designed to walk, lift, carry objects, and perform tasks traditionally handled by people—are increasingly viewed as the next major phase of automation. Chinese companies including Unitree, Inovance Technology, and Tuopu Group have emerged as leading players, aided by substantial government support and lower manufacturing costs.

According to attendees, Lutnick framed the issue as both an economic and national-security challenge. One executive reportedly warned that allowing critical industries to depend on foreign robotic systems could leave the United States with “an American brain and a Chinese body,” a scenario participants described as strategically dangerous.

The warning comes as congressional concern over Chinese robotics accelerates.

Just one day before the meeting, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party raised alarms over Chinese robotics manufacturer Unitree, which has been designated by the United States as a Chinese military company. Committee Chairman Rep. John Moolenaar and other lawmakers have pushed for restrictions on Chinese-made humanoid robots entering the American market, including sales through major online retailers.

The Commerce Department has already begun laying the groundwork for possible action.

Earlier this year, officials convened a robotics supply-chain roundtable, and on April 30 the department launched a national-security review examining Chinese drones and robotics systems. The review is expected to evaluate whether subsidized imports could undermine domestic manufacturing capabilities or create security vulnerabilities.

Potential responses under consideration reportedly include:

• Favoring U.S.-made robotics systems in federal procurement.
• Restricting Chinese robotic systems from sensitive infrastructure and government facilities.
• Creating supply-chain standards that prioritize domestic and allied-country manufacturers.
• Expanding financial support for American robotics startups and advanced manufacturing projects.

The Pentagon is also reportedly exploring financing options aimed at strengthening the domestic robotics industry.

The robotics debate arrives amid a broader escalation in U.S.-China trade tensions.

On the same day as Lutnick’s remarks, China’s Ministry of Commerce expanded export restrictions on ten American companies, including MP Materials and USA Rare Earth, two firms central to U.S. efforts to build an independent supply chain for rare-earth magnets and minerals.

Those materials are essential components in electric motors, industrial robots, military equipment, and advanced manufacturing systems.

The dispute highlights a challenge facing policymakers: while Washington wants more robotics manufacturing at home, China continues to dominate many of the raw materials needed to build those machines.

Business leaders at the roundtable also noted domestic hurdles that go beyond foreign competition. Executives cited permitting delays, financing challenges, and workforce shortages as major obstacles to expanding robotics manufacturing in the United States.

Some analysts believe sweeping restrictions may still be months away. Experts note that the administration remains focused on multiple trade, national-security, and election-year priorities, potentially limiting the speed of new policy actions.

Still, Lutnick’s remarks leave little doubt about the administration’s direction.

After years of battles over semiconductors, artificial intelligence, telecommunications equipment, and rare-earth minerals, robotics is emerging as the next major front in the competition between the world’s two largest economies.

For manufacturers, technology firms, investors, and workers, the message from Washington is increasingly clear: the future of automation is no longer just a business issue—it is becoming a matter of national policy.

JBizNews Desk | New York
© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

Why is there so much more Beis Yosef meat available today? What does “glatt” really mean? And are all glatt and Beis Yosef standards the same? Rabbi Zvi Fishbane, Rosh HaShochtim of the cRc, takes us inside the world of shechita, tracing the evolution of kosher meat standards and explaining what consumers should know.

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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 Zvi Fishbane, long-time Rosh Hashochtim at the CRC of Chicago. Rabbi Fishbane, welcome. 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: Thank you, Shalom. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: I’ve been privileged in the past to talk to your son, Reb Sholem. 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: Yes, Baruch Hashem, we’re very proud. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: And today we are zocheh to have you after all this time. 

So you’ve been the Rosh Hashochtim at the CRC of Chicago. You’ve basically seen everything in the field of shchita. 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: I joined the world of shchita more than fifty years ago. And Baruch Hashem, I’ve seen a transition of the shchita standards from fifty years ago from the old time until today, and I’ve seen the transition to be on a higher and going on a higher, higher madreiga, then always looking for more hiddurim and more availability on a higher standard of kashrus, Baruch Hashem. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: Very often when we hear people reminisce about the old times, they like to say how great things were back then. In the field of kashrus and specifically shchita, what do you see as the primary difference, or at least maybe even take us down memory lane, walk through what it was like five decades ago and then gradually to where we are today? 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: Well, it’s just very simple is that today, Baruch Hashem, the Olam HaTorah and even the Olam HaChassidus is much more learned and much more broaderthan it was for the people who were living in America before the war. And because they are such on a higher and they’re more learned with such a higher learning background, they understand more and they are demanding more. Once you’re demanding more, so therefore the industry has to keep up with the demands. 

I’ll give you a very simple example is that when there was a controversy of nikur or a controversy of chalav Yisrael, what happened? People would rather abstain from eating than get into shailos and look for heterim. So mimaila that itself was a reason that they upgraded the standards to supply the demands of the tzibur, Baruch Hashem. And that’s when I started the shchita world over fifty years ago, the idea of _Glatt Kosher_was just very didn’t wasn’t the norm. But like I say, the demand became bigger, so they had to find a higher standard of Glatt Kosher. 

But this is where the problem comes in. Was there enough to supply the tzibur for everything that they were asking for? So then already you have to look on the other side to find more Glatt Kosher. And that’s where the standard already became a little lenient to find more Glatt Kosher. For example, there is there was a when we started out, real Glatt Kosher was 100% Glatt Kosher, there was nothing more or less, you had to have Glatt Kosher if there was a request for it. 

Today, everything has to be Glatt Kosher and so they use the term today as being commercial glatt. It’s not the real glatt, it’s just called commercial glatt. Now you can stretch that to whatever it means. There is a sefer called Mateh Asher that people use to say up to three—I’ll explain what that is—three ririn, which is basically three sirchos, whatever it may be. 

We can still call that Glatt Kosher. So it became lenient. All of a sudden, the olam woke up to that and said, hey, this is not what we want. We want the real thing or else we’re just not interested in eating your product. 

We don’t need it. We’d rather have what we want. So we start asking for Bais Yosef. Bais Yosef is supposed to mean that the Bais Yosef said that we don’t take anything, so therefore the Bais Yosef is supposed to be without anything, nothing on it, no rir, no sircha, nothing, you didn’t play around with the lungs, you didn’t look at it. 

Okay, all of a sudden the demand for this Bais Yosef standard became higher. So we got to supply the Klal Yisrael with BaisYosef. Right. Once again, we had to find heterim. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: So let’s start at first base for listeners who are watching—listeners are listening, watchers who are watching—who are not shochtim, they don’t know anything about shchita, they’re relying on wonderful hashgacha. like the CRC and others for their, for their meat. What, what does glatt kosher mean in layman’s terms? 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: Let’s, let’s go back and discuss the origin of what glatt kosher means. There’s basically, without going into all the background of all the lomdus in the Gemara, basically we’re talking about a machlokes of Rashi and Tosafos. 

It goes like this. If you find a something in the on the lung, it’s called a sircha. Sircha is somewhat of a thin membrane that develops and it’ll develop on the lung. So the question is, why as Chazal say, we don’t take this. 

If it’s in a certain position on the lung, we cannot accept this as kosher. So it’s a machlokes Rashi and Tosafos as to why we don’t accept it. Rashi says because anything you find on the lung, it’s indicative, it shows that there must be a hole inside the lung, and we know that a nekev mashehu is going to passul the, is one of the treifos, it’s in the nekev mashehu in the reiya, in the lung, it’s going to passul. Tosafos is cholek on Rashi and says if you find something on the lung, it’s not necessarily there’s a hole in the lung, it means that there is a, it’s going to eventually, since the lung is breathing and it’s expanding and it’s detracting, so because of the movement of the lung, it’s going to eventually make a hole, sof lei l’nakev. 

That’s why certain sirchos you would find on the lung, which would be 100 percent muttar because it’s not part of the expansion of the lung. So that’s already extended halacha in Yoreh Deah. But this machlokes of Rashi and Tosafos, how does, how does it affect, is that affect everything you find on the lung or not? So there was a time there was called the BeisYosef and the Rema were talking about a certain procedure that they saw a adhesion, a sircha, an adhesion on the lung, and they would determine if this is what Chazal meant. Meaning like this: they would take this sircha in their hands and they would rub it and expand it, and if it dissolved, oh, it dissolved, so it’s going to eventually dissolve anyway, and we’re going to call it a sircha bas yoma and it’s anyways going to dissolve anyway, so mi-mah nafshach according to _Rashi_means it never made a, it was never a nekev there in the first place because something that’s going to dissolve on its own, it’s not, it’s indicative there’s nothing really there, and according to Tosafos it’s going to dissolve anyway, it’s, once you make this miyuch u-mishmush on this reiya, so then we’re going to, it’s not going to be sof lei l’iparek. 

So this idea of miyuch u-mishmush, it became a _machlokes_between the Beis Yosef and the Rema. The Beis Yosef says, no, we can’t accept such a bedika. And the, and that’s where the idea of Beis Yosef means it has to be completely clean without follow up with any type of bedika. The Rema says, no, our minhag in Klal Yisrael to do miyuch u-mishmush. 

That was fine and dandy, that was beautiful until about approximately 150 years ago, whatever it may be, that they discovered a different way of being bodek the lung. It’s called klipa. Klipa means that they took the sircha and with an expert way they can peel the sircha, the adhesion off the lung and check it: is there a hole underneath it or is there not? So that became the norm of how to check. The idea is, if you want to put it in layman’s term, the _miyuch u-mishmush_process was a bedika on the sircha, is this what _Chazal_wanted, were referring to. 

And the bedika of klipa is not a bedika on the sircha but it’s a bedika on in the lung, what the lung is once you peel it off. Once you peel it off, we’re checking the lung. So that’s the major difference of klipa and miyuch u-mishmush and it makes a whole difference in what kind of sircha, what’s a sircha, how it, but that’s, that would be the difference. The problem really is that hayos that it’s a machlokes Rashi and Tosafos what the origin of the sircha is, so this idea of klipa is only according to Rashi because what are you doing you’re checking for the hole in the lung but according to Tosafos that says it’s soifa liporek you’re not accomplishing anything with this kleipa. 

You don’t know what’s going eventually what’s going to happen. And the Simla Chadasha who is the of course the posek acharon in Hilchos Shechita and Bedika says since it’s a machlokes Rishonim we have to be machmir like both. So here we got a problem over here that everybody’s doing _kleipa_and that became the minhag in Klal Yisrael but it’s not according to all the shitos so it doesn’t fit in according to Tosafos mostly according to Tosafos because of this reason because of soifa liporek. So everyone’s that’s where _glatt_kosher comes in. 

Glatt kosher comes in and says listen we’re going to we’re going to not have anything on the lung so you don’t have a problem with Rashi and Tosafos and everybody will be happy. That’s good if the glatt kosher is nothing on the lung. But if there’s something a little bit on the lung and you’re finding a heter is this a sircha this is what the Beis Yosef meant and go through that whole procedure of thought how does it fit in according to Rabbeinu Tam? That’s how it that’s where the major problem comes in. So what became a glatt kosher standard lowered itself to commercial glatt which you find something there and maybe we can take it maybe we can’t. 

People woke up to that. That’s not what we’re looking for. We want nothing on the lung. Okay we’ll give you Beis Yosef. 

The demand for Beis Yosef was overwhelming. 

All of a sudden the market is flooded with Beis Yosef. What’s going on here? I had the opportunity to speak to one of the rabbonim machshirim and he explained to me not every BeisYosef is the way I explained it. Vos heist? What’s the makorBeis Yosef? It’s from the acheinu haSephardim they have their masorah. And according to their masorah you can do certain things and you can accept certain things and certain _sirchos_you could accept it according to their masorah. 

I’m not familiar with it but this is the way it was explained to me. So according to their masorah this is called Beis Yosef. Oh we could go with their masorah and call things Beis Yosef. I looked at him I said that’s what you’re doing? We’re talking about yungeleit we’re talking about people who are choreidlidvar Hashem they don’t want anything and you’re giving you’re saying I’m only giving it to a masorah. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: It’s like a _chumra habah lidei kula_because not only that if you would try and sell kitniyos on Pesach and not put on it Sephardim only try that it doesn’t work. 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: So mimmiela that’s what’s happening basically right now. I’m not saying all the machshirim have this lenient standard but if you find a influx of Beis Yosef meat in the market and on the shelf you have to be choshesh for it. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: Choshesh for what? What practically? 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: That they’re not using the standard that you want but rather a standard let’s say that this acheinuhaSephardim have a masorah for and they would take certain things off the lung. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: So are you better off not buying BeisYosef or is that what you’re insinuating? 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: I’m not saying what better off what to do. I’m telling you everyone has to go and determine what where the meat is coming from what they want have be educated and follow accordingly. I’m not here to. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: But if people who are not _shochtim_they’re not experts at shechita they don’t know the minutiae of or they don’t know the details so what should someone do? If they want to be machmir betachlis hahiddur they want to get the?

R’ Zvi Fishbane: There is a standard in the slaughterhouse today it’s called Shaish Beis Yosef Shaish. So the sellers are developing what Beis Yosef is this is for the hamon am but the Shaish means Shaish is the highest standard Beis Yosef highest standard and there is a they do mark that but the question how much can you get? Shaish you can’t play around with. Once you’re calling something Shaish it means it’s complete. It’s perfect. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: It’s perfect. So the question is if you’re able to get that upon your request or not depending on the. And obviously you might have to pay the price for it because if well I’m not going yeah it’s gonna cost perhaps more depending on what the market could supply. Or else this community they keep it for themselves. 

Let’s say you have a certain community that has their own shechita they’re rest assured they’re going to take care of their own community before although like you say they can get a better price. So you mentioned acheinu hasfaradim. When you’re referring to our Sephardic brethren with regard to BeisYosef and standards of shechita, are you talking about all Sephardim, are you talking about certain segments of Sephardim, if you could clarify that? 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: I’m, well let’s put it this way, I know that Hacham Rabi Ovadia was very makpid in what you call BeisYosef. This is what we were saying was shaish Beis Yosef. 

He wouldn’t settle for anything less and that’s the way he instructed his talmidim and his tzibur. But there are other mesoras. I’m not familiar, I didn’t go personally, I didn’t interview other people, but this is what we’re told in the industry, that there are machshirim from _acheinu hasfaradim_that said in that’s the they have a different mesora and this is what they’re transmitting and telling our machshirim who are copying that standard and giving using that as a standard for Beis Yosef. So it’s not necessarily by everyone. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: It’s only by certain ones. Now, to clarify also, tell me if I’m right about categorizing like this. Our whole conversation here is about a mehadrin level. We’re talking about those who desire the highest level of purity in shechita. 

So we shouldn’t mislead people. We’re talking about people who want Beis Yosef because it’s a higher level. And within Beis Yosef what you’re saying is because there became such a high demand for Beis Yosef, so whatever the providers of meat have found ways for the meat to be considered Beis Yosef. So we’re talking about within that realm of mehadrin, what is mehadrin, what may be mehadrin min hamehadrin and things of that sort, if you could elaborate on that? Exactly. 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: I just want to explain before the _shechita_standards have definitely been improved. The quality, the standard of the shochet himself that should be on a ben Torah-dik level at least. I know by the Chassidish communities they have to meet their standards as being a representative of their community and a representative of Torah and what they stand for. 100%. 

It’s on a but to say that it’s not acceptable, chas veshalom, everything is beautiful according to but I’m just bringing out this nekuda because the demand is so great as compared to years before, so this demand has brought them to want to supply the tzibur and in that nekuda the hiddur demand has lessened the standard that people may want to accept. But it’s 100% there’s no problem, it’s 100% beautiful _kosher shechita_on all the basically in all the machshirim today and it’s a kavod for the tzibur that the machshirim are well aware of the to keep everything on a higher standard with higher _chumras_and aderaba yochlu anavim veyisbau. Right. So, you know, we like to provide a takeaway for those who listen and watch Kashrus Awareness, let’s talk Kashrus. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: And so I’d like to distill everything that you said into perhaps a practical takeaway. If someone wants the highest level of shechita today, so a two-part question: should they look specifically for Beis Yosef and if they should, how do they determine that it’s the highest level of Beis Yosef? What would you say? 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: I would say basically learn through the sugya. No, basically I would… 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: No, on a serious note, people are not necessarily able to learn through the sugya. 

Those who learn Chullin in Daf Yomi may have a little more knowledge of what we’re talking about, but on a serious note, if someone really wants the highest level, what should they look for? 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: So basically what I’m saying is since the standards differ from one community from one _shlachtois_from one hechsher to the other, it would be a responsibility of the rav of a community to be able to advise his _tzibur_accordingly. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: Aha. So you go to your rav and you say to your rav I want the highest level of shechita, he’ll tell you which specific shechita, which store, which shlachtois and so on. Yes, I would think that should be the derech, yes. 

Rabbi Fishbane, thank you for being here. 

R’ Zvi Fishbane: It’s been my honor. 

R’ Yitzchok Hisiger: It’s a zechus to be able to sit with you and on behalf of all those who have benefited from your dedication and devotion to the world of shechita for half a century, we say thank you, thank you for enhancing the world of kashrus as you have and for all your wonderful avodas hakodesh, thank you so much.

{Matzav.com}