NEW YORK (VINnews) – The Coalition for Jewish Values, representing more than 2,500 traditional Orthodox rabbis in American public policy, is mourning the passing of Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime champion of Israel and the Jewish people.

In a statement, the organization highlighted Graham’s “moral clarity and courage” during his decades of public service. The South Carolina Republican “confronted antisemitism, defended religious liberty, and treated Jewish concerns with seriousness and respect,” the group said.

Graham viewed the U.S.-Israel relationship as rooted in both strategic interests and shared moral values. He consistently advocated for Israel’s security, bolstered defense cooperation between the two nations and opposed efforts to delegitimize the Jewish state.

“His voice was consistent, principled, and deeply informed by an appreciation of Jewish history and its role in providing the ethical foundations of American and Western civilization,” the statement read.

The coalition noted Graham’s practical support for the Orthodox Jewish community, including backing conscience protections, opposing hatred and recognizing Israel as the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people.

“Defending Israel and defending religious liberty were inseparable from defending the values that make America strong,” the group said.

Graham was a co-sponsor of the Educational Choice for Children Act, a federal school-choice measure that would expand access to private and parochial education. He also annually sponsored a Senate resolution designating Religious Education Week, reflecting his belief in the importance of faith-based learning and moral formation.

The Coalition for Jewish Values extended condolences to Graham’s family, colleagues and those touched by his service.

“His passing leaves a void in American public life,” the statement said. “May he be an example and inspiration for future leaders to stand with the same courage for Israel’s security, Jewish dignity, and America’s moral commitments.”

Graham, 70, had served in the Senate since 1995.

The date for the upcoming general elections was officially set for October 27 and will not be moved up, the Knesset House Committee announced on Sunday.

The decision came after the bill to dissolve the Knesset passed its first reading in June, which could have moved the elections up from the original October 27 date set by law.

With the elections set to take place on October 27 as planned, this will be the first time since 1988 that elections have been held after a full four-year term.

Coalition whip MK Ofir Katz (Likud) told the Knesset House Committee that, “Ultimately, despite everything that was said, this Knesset is completing its full term, something that has not happened for more than 40 years.”

He praised the government’s term, saying, “We passed nine budgets and hundreds of laws that benefit the citizens of the State of Israel.”

Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik said that the reason for holding the elections on October 27 was that the date set by law had already been set, and there had been no intention from the coalition to shorten the Knesset’s term.

“There is no need for a ‘Knesset dissolution law’ in the usual sense,” she said, adding that she recommended setting July 17, Friday, as the date for the Knesset to go into recess before the elections.

Opposition calls for new government

Opposition party leaders in the bloc seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the establishment of a new government.

Yisrael Beytenu leader MK Avigdor Liberman said, “On October 27, we will win.”

“We will replace the government of the October 7 massacre and establish a Zionist and statesmanlike government, and we will rebuild the country,” he added.

This post was originally published on here.

IDF troops operating in southern Lebanon have located the fortified Hezbollah anti-tank missile position from which missiles were fired at the tank of IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin during the Second Lebanon War, seriously wounding him according to a report by Walla.

The position was discovered by troops from the IDF’s 36th Division during operations in the Wadi Saluki area and the nearby villages of Ghandouriyeh and Froun. Soldiers found Fagot or Konkurs anti-tank missiles at the site, along with a launcher positioned and ready to fire toward the same area where the attack took place.

The battle in Wadi Saluki and the surrounding villages was one of the fiercest engagements of the Second Lebanon War. Israeli armored forces began crossing Wadi Saluki while troops from the Nahal Brigade and the Combat Engineering Corps were tasked with securing the area. The operation was delayed several times before moving forward.

Hezbollah identified the movement of the Israeli forces, ambushed them, and launched a large barrage of Kornet anti-tank missiles. Eleven IDF officers and soldiers, including two company commanders from the 401st Armored Brigade, were killed, and more than 50 others were wounded. Among those seriously wounded was then-commander of the 9th Battalion, Effie Defrin, who lost consciousness after his tank was struck.

Last week, Brig. Gen. Defrin visited Wadi Brik, the area from which he had advanced toward Wadi Saluki as commander of the 9th Battalion, opposite the village of Ghandouriyeh.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Americans continue carrying one of the largest credit card balances in history, and a growing number are falling behind on payments as high interest rates and rising living costs strain household budgets.

According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s latest Household Debt and Credit Report, total U.S. credit card balances stood at approximately $1.25 trillion during the first quarter of 2026. While that was slightly below the record set during the previous quarter, balances remain nearly 6% higher than a year ago, highlighting the continued reliance on credit.

The more concerning trend is delinquency.

The share of credit card balances that are 90 days or more past due climbed to roughly 13%, the highest level in about 15 years.

Federal Reserve researchers noted that while overall household debt increased only modestly during the quarter, credit card repayment difficulties continue growing among financially stressed households.

Economists say the problem is becoming increasingly concentrated.

Rather than large numbers of new borrowers missing payments, many consumers who were already behind are falling even further behind.

According to Oxford Economics, the trend reflects mounting financial pressure on households facing persistently high costs for groceries, housing, utilities and other necessities.

Research from debt-management firm Achieve found that more than half of consumers carrying credit card balances now use their cards to pay for essential living expenses rather than discretionary purchases.

With average credit card interest rates exceeding 21%, many borrowers find it increasingly difficult to reduce balances once debt begins accumulating.

Financial analysts note that making only minimum monthly payments often keeps accounts current while allowing interest charges to continue growing.

Despite the rising delinquency rate, economists emphasize that today’s credit environment differs significantly from the period preceding the 2008 financial crisis.

Many households continue paying balances in full every month and never incur interest charges.

Researchers also note that while delinquent balances have increased, the number of delinquent accounts has remained comparatively stable, suggesting financial stress remains concentrated among a smaller portion of borrowers rather than spreading broadly across consumers.

Even so, higher gasoline prices, elevated grocery costs and persistent inflation continue placing additional pressure on already stretched household budgets.

Credit card performance is closely watched because it often provides one of the earliest indicators of changing consumer financial health.

Banks may respond to rising delinquencies by tightening lending standards, reducing available credit or increasing approval requirements for new borrowers.

That, in turn, can slow consumer spending throughout the broader economy.

Financial experts generally recommend paying more than the minimum payment whenever possible, focusing on the highest-interest balances first and exploring lower-interest balance-transfer options if appropriate.

For consumers, the report illustrates how elevated living costs continue affecting household finances despite a resilient overall economy.

For lenders and investors, rising credit card delinquencies remain an important measure of consumer financial stress heading into the second half of 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews) – Despite frequent partisan disagreements, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., offered a deeply personal tribute Sunday to her late Republican colleague Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who died Saturday at 71 after a brief and sudden illness.

In a lengthy post on X, the Minnesota Democrat described Graham as a friend who “loved his work, his country, and his family.” She recalled his difficult upbringing, his loyalty to causes and colleagues, and his “kid-like exuberance” for Senate duties and international travel.

“It was a shock this morning to find out that my friend Lindsey Graham has died,” Klobuchar wrote, even as the two senators often clashed on policy. She highlighted their occasional bipartisan collaborations on legislation aiding Afghan refugees and addressing big tech accountability, as well as travels abroad with the late Sen. John McCain.

Klobuchar attached two photos to her post: one showing her with Graham and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and another with Graham and McCain.

Graham, a longtime foreign policy hawk and close ally of President Donald Trump, had just returned from Ukraine before his death. His office said he died Saturday evening and asked for privacy for his family. Trump and international leaders issued statements mourning the four-term senator, who was seeking re-election this fall.

Klobuchar’s post drew a range of reactions online, reflecting Graham’s polarizing legacy on issues from national security to judicial nominations.

A new fundraising campaign has been launched for the expansion of Merkaz HaTorah Teshuvos V’Hanhagos, offering an exclusive Golden Shmirah Coin to the first 1,000 donors who contribute $1,000 toward the establishment of a new kollel in Beit Shemesh.

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Only 1,000 of the commemorative coins have been minted and will be distributed exclusively to the first 1,000 qualifying donors!

Each coin will be Gebenched personally by the Posek Hador, Harav Moshe Shternbuch, who has pledged his full support to the new kollel. The campaign states that those who contribute to Merkaz HaTorah Teshuvos V’Hanhagos will merit enduring blessing and prosperity.

The campaign – under the direct auspices of Rav Moshe Sternbuch’s family – stated:

“Those who donate to Merkaz HaTorah Teshuvos V’Hanhagos will receive ashirus that will flow for generations.”

– The Posek Hador, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch, shlita

This is an exclusive opportunity for a very limited time to get the Posek Hador’s Shmirah Coin for parnassah. A promise of prosperity, personally guaranteed by HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch shlita. His golden coin, for wealth that will pass down for generations.

Only 1000 golden coins have been minted, for the first 1000 donors who donate $1000 for the Posek Hador’s new kollel in Beit Shemesh, a branch of the illustrious Merkaz HaTorah Teshuvos V’Hanhagos.

Merkaz HaTorah Teshuvos V’Hanhagos is a prestigious network of kollelim with locations throughout Erez Yisroel. The apple of the Posek Hador’s eye, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch shlita pours his kochos, his heart and soul into guiding every aspect of the kollelim. This is the premier center of Torah where future gedolei hador are born, cultivated and guided.

By supporting the new branch of Merkaz HaTorah Teshuvos V’Hanhagos, you are supporting the next great leaders of Klal Yisroel – with a guarantee to support your family with ease, abundance and prosperity.

With the economy in a precarious state, nothing is certain except for one thing: Give for the Torah and the Torah repays you beyond measure.

Donate today to receive your golden Shmirah coin from the Posek Hador, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch, shlita, for ashirus, for health, for hatzlacha, and for nachas.

The greatest riches await those who don’t wait to support the Torah and the next gedolei hador.

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ONLY 1,000 WERE MINTED! GRAB THIS OPPORTUNITY NOW WHILE YOU CAN – IT WILL LAST GENERATIONS!

The German parliament on Friday advanced a landmark bill criminalizing the denial of Israel’s right to exist and making it punishable by up to five years in prison.

The historic legislation, which was backed by Germany’s upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, and now heads to the lower house, the Bundestag, for approval, comes amid an 83% increase in antisemitism in Germany since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.

The initiative, which was introduced by the German western state of Hesse, would impose penalties of up to five years in prison or a fine for statements made publicly that deny Israel’s existence or urge its destruction if they encourage “a willingness to commit acts of antisemitic violence or arbitrary acts.”

The bill is opposed by civil rights groups and free-speech advocates who say it endangers freedom of expression guaranteed by Germany’s Constitution, and supported by the German Justice Minister, the State of Israel and German Jewish community leaders as a necessary legal tool to fight the burst of antisemitism in the country.

Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor welcomed the parliamentary decision on Friday.

“The signal is clear: Those who deny Israel’s right to exist and spread antisemitic incitement will not get away with it unpunished,” he wrote on X. “I fervently hope that the German Bundestag will take up the decision and promptly enact the necessary amendment to the Criminal Code.”

The proposed legislation is expected to be examined by the lower house of parliament after the summer recess. JNS

{Matzav.com}

Cybercriminals are impersonating recruiters from more than 30 major companies—including Netflix, OpenAI, Adobe, Coca-Cola and Adidas—in a sophisticated phishing campaign designed to steal Google account credentials from marketing professionals and other job seekers.

The operation was detailed in a technical analysis published by Will Thomas, Senior Threat Intelligence Adviser at cybersecurity firm Team Cymru, who found that attackers are sending personalized recruitment emails that appear to come from legitimate hiring managers at well-known companies.

Unlike traditional phishing emails, the messages are tailored to each recipient by name, profession and career background, making them significantly more convincing.

One example cited in the report impersonated a recruiter from McKinsey & Company, congratulating the recipient on their professional experience and inviting them to schedule a 30-minute interview.

The email included what appeared to be a legitimate scheduling link.

Instead of directing victims to a real interview portal, however, the link redirected them through several legitimate online services before ultimately arriving at a fraudulent login page designed to capture Google account credentials.

Thomas said the attackers are abusing trusted business platforms, including PeopleForce, a legitimate applicant-tracking system, along with infrastructure connected to Salesforce Marketing Cloud.

Because the emails originate from authentic commercial services, they can often bypass standard email security filters that would normally identify phishing attempts.

Security researchers emphasized that neither PeopleForce nor Salesforce appears to have been hacked. Instead, criminals likely created legitimate accounts—or gained access to existing ones—to launch the campaign.

The fake Google login page uses a technique known as Browser-in-the-Browser, which recreates Google’s authentication window entirely within a webpage using HTML and CSS.

To unsuspecting users, the login box looks identical to Google’s real sign-in screen even though it is completely controlled by the attacker.

Researchers also found that the campaign uses photographs and names of real recruiters while registering internet domains that closely resemble official company career websites.

For businesses, the risks extend far beyond a single compromised password.

A stolen Google account can provide access to Gmail, Google Drive, saved passwords, calendars, cloud storage and numerous connected workplace applications, allowing attackers to expand their access throughout an organization.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, employment scams generated more than 24,000 complaints and approximately $362 million in reported losses during 2025.

The bureau has also warned that criminals increasingly use artificial intelligence to enhance hiring scams through realistic voice cloning, deepfake video interviews and personalized communications.

The campaign also creates reputational challenges for the companies being impersonated.

Although firms such as Netflix, OpenAI and Adobe are themselves victims of brand impersonation, job seekers may mistakenly believe those companies were responsible for the fraudulent communications.

Cybersecurity experts recommend that organizations actively monitor newly registered internet domains resembling their corporate brands and quickly pursue their removal.

For individuals, security professionals advise verifying unexpected interview invitations directly through a company’s official careers website rather than clicking links contained in unsolicited emails.

Users should also confirm that any Google login page begins with the official accounts.google.com web address before entering credentials.

Enabling multi-factor authentication provides an additional layer of protection by making stolen passwords significantly less valuable to attackers.

Anyone who believes they entered credentials on a fraudulent website should immediately change their Google password, review recent account activity, revoke unfamiliar sessions and update recovery information.

For businesses, the campaign reflects a broader evolution in cybercrime.

Rather than relying on poorly written phishing emails, attackers increasingly exploit trusted cloud platforms, recognizable corporate brands and highly personalized messages to bypass both technology and human skepticism.

As remote hiring and online recruiting continue expanding, cybersecurity experts expect fake recruiter campaigns to remain one of the fastest-growing methods used to steal corporate credentials.

JBizNews Desk | New York
© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or Distribution without Written Permission is Prohibited.

New York (VINNEWS/Rabbi Yair Hoffman) On the killing floor of a modern abattoir (a non-kosher schlachthous), an animal is reduced to its parts in minutes. A little more than half of it walks out the door as meat. The rest — the hides and hooves, the horns and bones, the glands, the blood, the fat scraped from a hundred hidden places — is swept into a category the industry calls, with unsentimental precision, inedible by-products.

Almost nothing is thrown away.

That fat is rendered, refined, and split into its component acids. One of the sweet, clear liquids that emerges from that dark and bloody abattoir is glycerin. From there it travels — into soaps, into cosmetics, into the pharmaceutical supply, and, more often than most people would care to know, into that innocent looking tube of toothpaste sitting on the bathroom sink.

This kind of means that twice a day, a Jew who generally only shops at kosher stores or otherwise carefully scrutinizes every item purchased for a hechsher may be running the residue of a non-kosher animal across the most sensitive tasting surface he owns — and then, thankfully, spitting it out.

Does that tube of toothpaste demand a hechsher of its own? The question is neither as trivial nor as settled as it first appears, and it has divided many a top Posaik.

Rav Yisroel Belsky zt”l (1938–2016) pointed to a Taz (Rav Dovid HaLevy 1586-1667) that it is forbidden to put something non-kosher in one’s mouth – even if one does not intend to swallow it. Lehavdil bain chaim l’chaim, Rav Herschel Schachter (b. 1941) held that the Taz was only referring to a food, but toothpaste is specifically not something that is generally eaten or swallowed.

The difficulty is sharpened by the fact that glycerin itself is not a spoiled or repulsive substance. On the contrary, it is sweet. One therefore cannot dismiss the concern simply by labeling the ingredient inedible.

First Basis for Leniency: The Tzemach Tzedek (via Pischei Teshuva)

The first justification to permit toothpaste draws on the ruling of the Tzemach Tzedek, cited in the Pischei Teshuva (1813–1868) (YD 108:1). His reasoning proceeds in steps. The prohibition against tasting a non-kosher substance without swallowing is only derabanan – rabbinic, enacted out of concern that one might come to eat it. Where the substance is inedible, that concern is weaker.

And although the Noda BiYehuda (1713–1793) maintained that tasting with the mouth is itself included in the prohibition even without swallowing, the prohibition in such a case remains merely rabbinic. Applied to toothpaste — which is only tasted on the tongue, is a spoiled substance not fit to be eaten, and is spit out rather than swallowed — this yields grounds for more leniency.

This permission, however, is not straightforward. The Pri Megadim (Rav Yoseph Teumim -1727–1792) disputes the Tzemach Tzedek’s reasoning, and in YD (Siman 298:15) he writes explicitly that regarding tasting he does not have a clear basis to rule leniently. The first argument, therefore, is a machlokes.

Second Basis for Leniency: The Har Tzvi and Bittul B’Rov

A stronger and independent justification comes from the Responsa of the Har Tzvi (Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank, 1873–1960) (Siman 298). His argument shifts the analysis away from tasting entirely. The requirement of nullification specifically in sixty parts (bittul b’shishim) governs food mixed into food. Here, however, the non-kosher glycerin is mixed into a base of ingredients that are themselves unfit for eating. In such a mixture, a simple majority (bittul b’rov) is sufficient to nullify the prohibited component. The Imrei Yaakov ruled leniently on the same basis.

He explains the underlying principle by way of the Rashba (c. 1235–1310): a discernible taste blocks nullification only where the taste is identifiable as the taste of the prohibited substance itself. Where that is not the case, the prohibited component is nullified by the majority in the ordinary manner.

Third Basis for Leniency: The Absence of Intent to Taste

A further leniency is cited in the name of Harav Reuven Feinstein (b. 1937), with lbc”l Rav Elyashiv zt”l (1910–2012) concurring. The rabbinic prohibition against tasting was enacted because tasting can lead, by way of swallowing, to actual eating. That rationale applies where a person intends to taste. In the case of toothpaste, however, one does not intend to taste at all — the tasting is merely incidental to brushing — and so the decree does not extend to it.

The Position of Rav Henkin zt”l

Rav Yosef Eliyahu Henkin zt”l (1881–1973) (Responsa Siman 41) addressed the matter in the context of young children and ruled that one need not be exacting. His reasoning: the children swallow nothing of it; the substance is introduced in a manner that causes it to be nullified; and the mouth is wiped clean afterward. On these grounds he saw no real concern.

The Stringent Position: Rav Belsky in the Name of Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky

Against the accumulated grounds for leniency stands the position reported in the name of Harav Yisrael Belsky zt”l, citing Harav Yaakov Kamenetsky zt”l (1891–1986). While conceding that the essential letter of the law is lenient, they held that in practice one should be stringent.

Rav Belsky advanced a further, substantive point: in his assessment, modern toothpaste qualifies as “fit for eating” (ra’ui la’achilah). If so, the entire foundation of the Tzemach Tzedek’s leniency — which rested on the substance being inedible — no longer applies to contemporary formulations. The sefer notes that even so, room to permit may remain on the strength of the later reasonings (the Har Tzvi and the absence of intent). The Responsa Pe’as Sadcha (Siman 84) is likewise stringent regarding toothpaste and records that the meticulous are careful in this matter.

How Rav Belsky Distinguished Between Brands

In practical terms, Rav Belsky zt”l would differentiate between different types of toothpaste depending on how much glycerin they contain. Toothpaste is made of cleansers, flavors, and sweeteners. He ruled that if the majority of the toothpaste is comprised of inedible ingredients (i.e., cleansers), then the glycerin, which is a minority, would be nullified. If, however, the amount of glycerin is greater than the inedible components, it may not be used. Because it can be difficult in practice to make this assessment, he recommended buying only toothpastes that are certified kosher or are known to use kosher glycerin.

Giving Non-Kosher Toothpaste to Children

Feeding prohibited substances (ma’achalos assuros) to a minor is forbidden by Torah law. There is accordingly greater room for stringency in giving non-kosher toothpaste to a small child, who is liable to eat and swallow it. And since a kosher variety can be obtained, one cannot rely on the leniencies here — even though the prohibition in this case is only rabbinic — given that the child’s need can be met with a permitted product.

Mouthwash Is More Stringent Than Toothpaste

Rav Belsky also held that mouthwash is treated as more problematic than toothpaste. The Har Tzvi’s leniency rested on the non-kosher component being mixed into a base of inedible ingredients. In mouthwash, by contrast, the principal components are themselves fit for consumption. The bittul b’rov argument therefore does not apply, and the basis for leniency is correspondingly weaker.

A Consideration Toward Stringency

Even granting the lenient view, there is reason to prefer kosher toothpaste. Some rabbanim, including Rav Herschel Schachter shlita, have ruled that toothpaste may be used even if it contains non-kosher ingredients, because it is inedible and is not intended to be swallowed. Yet we have seen that even regarding soap — which only goes on dishes and has a terrible taste — there is a preference for using kosher soap. How much more so with cleansers that go into one’s mouth and have a pleasant taste; it is preferable that they be kosher.

Certified Kosher Brands Are Readily Available

Several toothpaste brands do hold reliable kosher certification. Popular options include Tom’s of Maine, SprinJene, Spry, Supersmile, Brightol, and Orbitol. These certified products allow one to satisfy the stricter opinions without difficulty, and their ready availability removes much of the practical hardship that once weighed toward leniency.

We have seen three different grounds for leniency — the rabbinic-only nature of the tasting prohibition (Tzemach Tzedek), nullification by simple majority in an inedible base (Har Tzvi), and the absence of any intent to taste (Rav Reuven Feinstein). We have also seen the countervailing stringency of Rav Belsky who held that practice should follow the stricter view and that modern toothpaste may no longer qualify as inedible at all. With reliably certified brands now easy to obtain, the meticulous have every reason to choose one.  Everyone, however, should consult with their own Rav or Posaik.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

TEL AVIV (VINnews) — Researchers at Tel Aviv University have discovered a rare subgroup of cells in the inner ear that can convert into sensory hair cells, potentially opening the door to regenerative therapies for hearing loss long viewed as irreversible.

The study, led by Prof. Karen Avraham of the Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences and published in the journal Science Advances, used live tissue imaging and single-cell multi-omics to examine supporting cells adjacent to the cochlea’s sensory hair cells.

Hearing loss often results from damage to these delicate hair cells, which convert sound vibrations into electrical signals sent to the brain. In mammals, including humans, these cells do not naturally regenerate once lost due to aging, noise exposure, infections or other causes, making the condition permanent for hundreds of millions worldwide.

By inhibiting the Notch signaling pathway — a key mechanism involved in cell communication and hair cell development during embryogenesis — the researchers found that most supporting cells remained unresponsive. However, a specific, previously unrecognized subset known as transdifferentiating Deiters’ cells (tDCs) initiated a transformation, changing identity and beginning to develop into functional hair cells.

“Even in tissues long considered incapable of regeneration, such as the cochlea of the inner ear, there is in fact a hidden regenerative capacity, though it is very limited and appears only in a rare subpopulation of cells,” Avraham said in a university statement.

The findings highlight intrinsic differences in regenerative potential among supporting cells and provide a detailed molecular roadmap of the earliest stages of this transdifferentiation process, including coordinated changes in gene expression and enhancers.

Co-author Prof. David Sprinzak noted that identifying these cells and their mechanisms could guide future treatments aimed at expanding regenerative capacity to more cells.

While the research is still in its early stages and focused on understanding fundamental biology, it represents a significant step toward developing biological interventions that could one day restore hearing rather than just compensate for its loss with devices like hearing aids or cochlear implants.

The study was a collaborative effort involving researchers from Tel Aviv University and international partners. Full details appear in the June 2026 issue of Science Advances.

Coca-Cola is widening its lead over longtime rival PepsiCo, with investors rewarding the beverage giant’s streamlined business model while Pepsi continues to struggle under the weight of its snack division. Coca-Cola’s stock is hovering near record highs, while Pepsi shares have fallen sharply from their peak as concerns mount over slowing sales and shrinking profit margins.

Shares of Coca-Cola are trading close to the highest levels in the company’s more than century-long history as a publicly traded company. By contrast, PepsiCo’s stock has dropped nearly 30% since reaching just under $200 per share in 2023.

PepsiCo reported second-quarter earnings on Thursday that exceeded Wall Street’s expectations, but the stronger-than-expected results did little to ease investor concerns after the company’s core North American beverage business posted declining sales.

Overall, PepsiCo generated net revenue of $24.2 billion during the quarter, a 6.4% increase from a year earlier. Of that total, $7.2 billion came from its North American beverage operations.

For decades, Coca-Cola and Pepsi battled for dominance through high-profile marketing campaigns, including the famous “Pepsi Challenge” and Coca-Cola’s infamous “New Coke” rollout. While many believed Coca-Cola had already won that battle years ago, investors now appear to be reinforcing that conclusion through the companies’ market valuations and financial performance.

One of the clearest differences between the two companies is profitability. Coca-Cola posted a first-quarter operating margin of 35%, an improvement from roughly 33% during the same period last year. PepsiCo’s operating margin for the first half of the year stood at approximately 16.5%—less than half of Coca-Cola’s.

“It’s becoming more obvious to the investor base that Coke has a superior business model,” Nik Modi, co-head of global consumer research at RBC Capital Markets, told Barron’s.

Much of PepsiCo’s difficulty can be traced to its large snack-food business and the way the company manages its bottling operations.

Snack products such as Lay’s potato chips, Doritos, and Cheetos accounted for 58% of PepsiCo’s revenue in 2025.

However, steep price hikes introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic have weighed heavily on demand, as many shoppers have increasingly turned to lower-priced store brands in an effort to reduce grocery bills.

During the second quarter, North American snack revenue declined 2% compared to the same period last year, while overall unit sales remained essentially unchanged.

PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said higher gasoline prices have also contributed to weaker snack sales because consumers are making fewer impulse purchases at convenience stores.

“I think the consumer is worse than what we had anticipated and driven mainly by gas prices,” the exec said Thursday during a conference call with investors.

Citi analyst Filippo Falorni said the company faced “continued weakness in North America” in a note to clients on Friday. He cautioned that sluggish sales are likely to continue as inflationary pressures tied to the Iran war continue affecting the U.S. economy.

“This dynamic also creates carryover risk to numbers in 2027,” he added, “with still elevated cost inflation pressuring margins.”

Unlike PepsiCo, Coca-Cola has concentrated almost entirely on beverages, fueling growth through products such as Fairlife ultra-filtered milk and smaller, premium-priced soda cans that generate higher margins.

The company also maintains a leaner cost structure by franchising the vast majority of its bottling operations. PepsiCo, meanwhile, still owns roughly 80% of its bottling network, resulting in significantly higher operating costs that weigh on profitability.

PepsiCo’s recent struggles have also attracted pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management.

After revealing a $4 billion investment in PepsiCo last September, Elliott urged the company to simplify its business, reduce prices, and explore refranchising its North American bottling operations to more closely resemble Coca-Cola’s model.

Pepsi later reached an agreement with Elliott that calls for a broad restructuring effort. The plan includes eliminating 20% of its U.S. product lineup by early 2026, lowering prices on key brands, and closing several manufacturing facilities.

Although PepsiCo has stopped short of fully franchising its bottling business, it has begun experimenting with combining its snack and beverage distribution systems in an effort to improve efficiency.

According to RBC’s Modi, the company may ultimately have to reconsider its extensive ownership of manufacturing plants and distribution assets if it hopes to improve profitability.

“They may have to make some tough choices,” he said.

Investors continued favoring Coca-Cola on Friday, further expanding the gap between the two beverage giants.

As of 2 p.m. EDT, Coca-Cola shares were trading at $83.34, up 71 cents, or nearly 1%, from Thursday’s closing price of $82.63. The stock remains close to its 52-week high of $85.68.

PepsiCo shares, meanwhile, slipped 56 cents, or 0.4%, to $137.30, leaving the stock much closer to its 52-week low of $133.75 after closing Thursday at $137.86.

Coca-Cola is scheduled to release its second-quarter earnings report on July 28, a report investors will watch closely to see whether the company can continue extending its lead over its longtime rival.

{Matzav.com}

Sol Werdiger, CEO of Outerstuff and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Agudath Israel of America, made a powerful Kiddush Hashem during an interview with Lara Trump on Fox News honoring the United States’ 250th anniversary.

The son of Holocaust survivors, Werdiger spoke about the values of emunah, resilience, and responsibility that shaped both his personal life and professional success.

Under his leadership, Outerstuff has grown into a global sports apparel powerhouse with more than $500 million in annual business, securing major licensing partnerships with the NBA, NFL, and MLB.

Beyond the business world, Werdiger has devoted himself to strengthening Torah and Klal Yisroel through his leadership at Agudath Israel of America, where he advocates for Jewish education, religious liberty, and the future of Torah communities across the United States.

Widely respected for his humility and dedication to communal service, Werdiger continues to demonstrate that success in business and unwavering commitment to Torah values can go hand in hand.

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Americans planning summer vacations are paying significantly more this year as higher airfare, hotel rates and gasoline prices drive up the cost of travel across the country.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, airline fares in May were 26.7% higher than a year earlier, while the U.S. Travel Association’s Travel Price Index showed overall travel costs rising 9.8% year over year—more than twice the pace of overall inflation. Hotel and motel prices climbed another 5.1%.

One of the biggest reasons is higher fuel costs.

Jet fuel prices surged following renewed conflict involving Iran, increasing airline operating expenses that carriers have largely passed on to passengers through higher ticket prices.

Another major factor is the disappearance of one of America’s largest discount airlines.

Spirit Airlines ceased operations on May 2 after multiple bankruptcy filings, removing roughly 2% of domestic airline capacity during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.

While 2% may sound modest, Spirit concentrated heavily on price-sensitive leisure routes serving cities including Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas, where its low fares helped keep prices down across the industry.

For years economists referred to the company’s influence as the “Spirit Effect.”

Research cited by the U.S. Department of Justice found average fares often fell substantially whenever Spirit entered a market and frequently increased after the airline exited.

With Spirit no longer competing, larger carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and Southwest Airlines have gained greater pricing power across many domestic routes.

Industry data reflects that shift.

According to the Airlines Reporting Corporation, the average domestic round-trip ticket reached approximately $623 during April, the highest level in nearly four years.

Travel analytics firm Points Path also found domestic airfare for summer travel running roughly 15% higher than last year, while international fares have increased approximately 12%.

Driving vacations have become more expensive as well.

AAA has warned gasoline prices could continue climbing through the summer, while GasBuddy forecasts prices could approach $5 per gallon if geopolitical tensions continue disrupting global oil supplies.

Hotels have also increased prices as strong travel demand meets higher labor, insurance and operating costs.

Despite higher prices, travel demand remains resilient.

Many travelers continue prioritizing vacations, although more families are adjusting plans by booking earlier, traveling during midweek, shortening trips or redeeming airline miles and credit-card reward points to offset higher costs.

Travel experts say Tuesday and Wednesday departures often remain the least expensive options and can save travelers hundreds of dollars compared with weekend flights.

Budget airlines including Frontier, Allegiant, Breeze Airways and Avelo Airlines are expected to expand into some former Spirit markets, but analysts believe meaningful increases in low-cost competition could take several months.

For consumers, the message is clear.

Traveling this summer requires larger budgets than in previous years, particularly for families purchasing multiple airline tickets.

For the travel industry, the combination of higher fuel costs, reduced airline competition and strong consumer demand has created one of the most expensive summer travel seasons in recent years.

Unless fuel prices decline or additional low-cost airline capacity enters the market, travelers should expect elevated airfare and vacation costs to continue through the remainder of the summer.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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Iranian officials and state-aligned media are increasingly calling for direct attacks on Israel, arguing that such strikes would effectively target the United States following the latest wave of U.S. military operations against Iran.

Mohsen Rezaei, a senior military adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, warned that President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “crossed Iran’s red lines” and said Tehran must respond with “decisive and appropriate punishment.” Rezaei described retaliation for the deaths of senior Iranian officials as a serious obligation and warned that if assassinations of national leaders become accepted, no country would remain secure.

Meanwhile, Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the hardline Iranian newspaper Kayhan, openly called for attacks on Israel, describing it as “America’s most vulnerable point” in the region. He argued that because Iran cannot currently strike the U.S. mainland with its missiles and drones, it should instead target Israeli infrastructure and strategic sites, claiming such attacks would inflict significant damage on the United States as well.

Shariatmadari also urged continued attacks on U.S. military bases across the Gulf, claiming countries hosting American forces had become partners in the war against Iran. He asserted that striking Israel should be viewed as a direct strike against the United States.

Earlier Sunday, Iranian parliament National Security Committee spokesman Ebrahim Rezaei claimed Iran had taken control of the Strait of Hormuz and intended to maintain that control by force.

In recent hours, Al Arabiya reported that Iran renewed missile and drone attacks targeting Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. The four Gulf nations activated their air defense systems and implemented heightened security measures in response.

Sabereen News, a media outlet affiliated with Iran, published a list of alleged targets struck during the latest exchanges, including Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Sheikh Port in Kuwait, the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet and the Al Juffair area in Bahrain, Duqm Port in Oman and U.S. military fuel storage facilities.

Britain’s maritime security agency warned that the threat level in the Strait of Hormuz remains “severe” and advised commercial vessels to exercise extreme caution while transiting the strategic waterway.

Pakistan and India separately called for de-escalation as tensions continue to rise following the reported attack on the container ship GFS Galaxy near the Strait of Hormuz. Saudi Arabia also strongly condemned Iran’s actions, accusing Tehran of undermining regional security and violating international law.

The developments come after the U.S. military carried out its third major wave of strikes against Iran in the past week. According to U.S. Central Command, approximately 140 targets were struck overnight, following previous operations targeting roughly 80 and 90 sites. Iranian media reported that some of the latest strikes hit locations far beyond the Strait of Hormuz region.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, Iranian leaders now view control of the Strait of Hormuz as more valuable than tens of billions of dollars in potential sanctions relief. Officials in Tehran reportedly believe that despite suffering heavy military losses, the regime has emerged from the conflict stronger and has reinforced its position as a dominant regional power.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC).

JERUSALEM (VINnews)-Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the Sephardic chief rabbi and spiritual leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday evening, declaring there is “no chance” he will “repent” while appearing to express support for opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot.

In a filmed speech, Yosef said Israel is a “secular country” and suggested that Eisenkot, head of the Yashar Party, might be more reliable than the longtime Likud leader.

“There’s no chance [Netanyahu] will repent. Eisenkot might repent,” Yosef said, according to reports. He described Eisenkot as “a good man, a warm-hearted Jew” who “loves Torah scholars,” adding that Eisenkot’s grandmother had voted for Shas and hoped he would become a rabbi.

The rare remarks raise the possibility that Shas could be open to joining a government led by Eisenkot following elections scheduled no later than Oct. 27. Yosef was also quoted as saying it is possible Shas would align with Eisenkot and expressing hope that United Torah Judaism would join the move.

Shas has been a key coalition partner to Netanyahu for decades, with the haredi parties — Shas and United Torah Judaism — providing crucial support to Likud-led governments. The comments come amid ongoing tensions over stalled draft exemption legislation that the haredi parties have been seeking. Critics argue the proposed measures would encourage draft evasion at a time when the Israel Defense Forces face a severe manpower shortage.

Yosef accused Netanyahu of deceiving Shas on the draft law and other issues. “You cannot rely on him; he is a liar,” he said, according to the report.

The statements echo similar criticism from Rabbi Dov Lando, spiritual leader of the Degel Hatorah faction of United Torah Judaism, who said in May that “We no longer have any trust in Netanyahu,” which triggered a coalition crisis.

Yosef’s office denied to The Jerusalem Post that he made the reported remarks behind closed doors.

Eisenkot responded Sunday on Army Radio, saying he would “not compromise on the draft law, even if it means going to another election.”

Recent polls have shown Eisenkot’s Yashar Party emerging as the largest in the opposition bloc seeking to replace Netanyahu.

The Knesset is expected to dissolve at the end of this week, with coalition lawmakers pushing ahead with a legislative agenda that includes deals reportedly being negotiated with haredi parties.

The number of American employees taking leave for mental health conditions has risen sharply in recent years, creating new challenges for employers struggling to balance workforce well-being with business operations.

According to workforce management company ComPsych, mental health-related leaves increased approximately 300% between 2017 and 2023, including a 33% jump during 2023 alone, reflecting a significant shift in how employees use protected medical leave for stress, anxiety, depression and burnout.

Additional research released this year by workplace mental health provider Spring Health found that 61% of human resources professionals reported an increase in mental health leave requests over the past year.

Much of the increase involves the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave for qualifying medical conditions, including diagnosed mental health disorders.

For many employees, the leave provides an opportunity to recover before workplace stress develops into more serious medical problems.

Mental health professionals say the COVID-19 pandemic permanently changed how many workers view burnout, work-life balance and seeking professional treatment.

Surveys consistently show younger employees reporting the highest levels of workplace stress, with many citing heavier workloads, staffing shortages and ongoing economic uncertainty.

While the trend reflects greater awareness of mental health, employers increasingly face operational and financial challenges.

When employees take extended leave, companies often redistribute responsibilities among remaining staff, increasing workloads for coworkers and sometimes contributing to additional burnout across teams.

Spring Health reported that 16% of HR professionals experienced increases of 25% or more in mental health leave requests during a single year.

Approximately 40% identified disability claims and employee leave management as one of their organization’s fastest-growing workplace concerns.

The financial impact extends well beyond temporary staffing shortages.

Research cited by workforce specialists estimates untreated mental health conditions cost U.S. employers between $31 billion and $51 billion annually through absenteeism, reduced productivity and lower workplace performance.

Additional healthcare costs, employee turnover and recruiting expenses further increase the financial burden.

Companies have responded in different ways.

Some employers have expanded counseling services, employee assistance programs and flexible work arrangements in hopes of addressing problems before employees require extended leave.

Others have strengthened leave management policies to ensure medical leave is used appropriately while continuing to comply with federal and state employment laws.

The legal landscape also continues to evolve.

Although the Family and Medical Leave Act establishes nationwide protections, many states provide additional employee benefits, paid leave programs and broader workplace accommodations, creating compliance challenges for employers operating across multiple jurisdictions.

Human resources professionals increasingly view mental health leave as a permanent workforce planning issue rather than a temporary post-pandemic trend.

Many organizations are investing more heavily in wellness initiatives, manager training and early intervention programs designed to reduce burnout before employees reach the point of needing extended leave.

Business leaders also recognize that supporting employee mental health can improve retention, productivity and overall workforce stability.

At the same time, companies continue balancing those investments against rising healthcare costs, staffing shortages and operational demands.

For employers, the message is becoming increasingly clear: mental health has evolved from an employee benefit issue into a core business concern affecting productivity, labor costs and long-term organizational performance.

As awareness continues growing and employees become more comfortable seeking treatment, experts expect mental health leave to remain an increasingly important factor in workforce management across nearly every industry.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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The Ozherover Rebbe was rushed to the hospital on Sunday morning after suffering a heart attack while at his beis medrash in Bnei Brak.

The Rebbe reportedly began feeling severely unwell while in his beis medrash on Rechov Chazon Ish.

Hatzalah volunteers and Magen David Adom emergency personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene, where they provided him with initial medical treatment.

After undergoing a preliminary evaluation, doctors determined that the Rebbe had suffered a heart attack. He was transported by Magen David Adom ambulance to Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, where he was taken for an emergency cardiac catheterization procedure.

All are asked to daven for Rav Tanchum Binyamin ben Miriam.

{Matzav.com}

As more than 850 Iranian ballistic missiles were launched at Israel during Operation “Rising Lion,” a little-known team inside the Defense Ministry’s classified Homa Administration found itself at the center of one of the war’s most critical missions.

In an exclusive interview with Walla, officers from the Homa Administration described how engineers rushed to missile impact sites across Israel in search of critical Iranian missile components—what they referred to as the “smoking gun.” Those recovered parts were rapidly analyzed and incorporated into Israel’s missile defense systems, allowing engineers to improve detection, identification, interception, and interceptor production while the fighting was still underway.

According to the officers, the operation became the ultimate test of decades of investment in Israel’s multi-layered missile defense network, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, Arrow, and additional classified programs. During the campaign, Iran launched more than 850 ballistic missiles at Israel. Officials said the operation achieved an interception rate of approximately 90%, although 44 Israelis were killed, including 23 in direct missile impacts, while thousands more were evacuated to hospitals with varying degrees of injuries.

One officer recounted traveling across the country—including on Shabbos and Yom Tov—to recover specific missile fragments alongside investigators from the Israeli Air Force, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and Tomer, the company that manufactures Arrow interceptor motors. In one case, locating a single missile component described as the “smoking gun” enabled investigators to identify and solve a significant technical problem that later influenced both interceptor development and production.

The officers said interceptor manufacturing continued throughout the war as Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Defense Ministry Director-General Amir Baram directed the defense establishment to accelerate and significantly expand production while increasing Israeli-made manufacturing capacity. At the same time, engineers continuously investigated operational performance and rapidly incorporated battlefield lessons into the systems.

Officials said every interception—and every missile that penetrated Israel’s defenses—was immediately analyzed, with findings shared among engineers, defense industries, and the Israeli Air Force to implement improvements as quickly as possible. They emphasized that intelligence and advanced technology were combined throughout the campaign in an ongoing effort to improve performance.

The officers also credited unprecedented cooperation with the U.S. military as one of the operation’s greatest achievements. American air defense systems deployed in Israel worked in close coordination with Israeli forces, enabling joint management of missile interceptions, shared operational planning, and real-time investigations that they described as reaching an exceptionally high level of cooperation.

According to the officers, American willingness to share technical information has expanded significantly in recent years, allowing both militaries to coordinate their air defense systems more effectively than ever before. They said this cooperation contributed to more efficient use of interceptors and higher overall interception performance compared with previous rounds of fighting.

Despite the success, the officers stressed that no missile defense system is hermetic and that every successful Iranian strike carried a painful human cost. Each incident immediately triggered investigations aimed at identifying lessons and implementing improvements before the next wave of attacks.

They said the Homa Administration serves as the central hub connecting battlefield data, intelligence, the Israeli Air Force, American partners, defense engineers, and Israel’s defense industries, allowing operational lessons to be translated into system improvements in real time—even during active combat.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

SARCELLES, FRANCE (VINnews) – French police discovered weapons in a stolen vehicle linked to a potential attack on the Jewish community in Sarcelles, north of Paris, prompting the urgent evacuation of about 300 people Saturday evening, authorities said Sunday.

The incident unfolded around 9:30 p.m. Saturday on Rue Henri Dunant in a busy area near a cinema, restaurants and a local synagogue, according to multiple reports. The Brigade Anti-Criminalité (BAC) responded after the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Intérieure (DGSI) flagged the vehicle as suspicious and potentially intended for violent action against Jews.

Bomb disposal experts conducted a controlled check and found no explosives. Inside the trunk, officers discovered a loaded rifle described as a “weapon of war” with seven cartridges and a handgun loaded with 10 rounds, sources told Europe 1 and AFP. The vehicle was reported stolen.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the details Sunday on BFMTV, noting the vehicle was identified near the synagogue. He said a suspect had been identified and located in the vicinity, and that an investigation was underway.

The national antiterrorism prosecutor’s office has taken charge of the case, which remains ongoing. No arrests had been publicly announced as of Sunday afternoon.

Sarcelles is home to a large Jewish community, often referred to as “Little Jerusalem,” which has faced antisemitic incidents in the past.

Authorities acted swiftly to secure the area and prevent potential harm. Further details on the suspect or motives were not immediately released.

This latest incident underscores ongoing security concerns for Jewish communities in France amid heightened threats.

(JNS) – Melbourne court ruled against pianist Jayson Gillham on Friday, who had claimed he was unlawfully fired after making pro-Palestinian statements from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) stage during a concert in August 2024.

Gillham sued the MSO when it canceled one of his scheduled performances after comments he made before a piece he performed, titled Witness.

Gillham had not informed the MSO that he would play the piece because he worried the orchestra “would not allow the performance,” according to testimony he gave to the court, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.

Witness, by Australian composer Connor D’Netto, was written in dedication to Palestinian journalists.

“Over the last 10 months, Israel has killed more than 100 Palestinian journalists,” Gillham said while introducing D’Netto’s composition.

“A number of these have been targeted assassinations of prominent journalists as they were traveling in marked press vehicles or wearing their press jackets. The killing of journalists is a war crime in international law, and it is done in an effort to prevent the documentation and broadcasting of war crimes to the world,” he said.

Although Justice Graeme Hill of the Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne did not address the validity of Gillham’s claim, saying it was immaterial to the case, the accusation that Israel has deliberately targeted journalists has been debunked, with many of the purported journalists later identified as terrorists.

Following Gillham’s remarks, the MSO canceled his next performance and apologized for any offense and distress they may have caused. The MSO said it didn’t permit “expressing personal views” on its stages.

After a backlash favoring Gillham, the MSO said the cancellation had been an “error” and attempted to reschedule it, but negotiations broke down and Gillham decided to sue. He told ABC Arts in May that “everyone has the right to freedom of expression.”

Gillham also claimed he had a right under Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act not to be ill-treated because of his political beliefs.

However, Justice Hill found that the MSO didn’t cancel Gillham’s concert due to his political views.

“The political content of Mr. Gillham’s remarks was not a substantial and operative reason for any of the MSO’s actions,” he said.

The MSO took action to “address the anticipated adverse impacts” of Gillham’s remarks on the orchestra’s business and reputation, according to Hill.

“I find that the MSO did have a policy for not expressing support for either side of the Israel-Gaza conflict,” he said.

“I find that there is a custom or practice that classical musicians do not make statements on sensitive political or social issues from the stage without approval of the host,” he added.

Hill also rejected Gillham’s claims that he was discriminated against under the Equal Opportunity Act, as workplace protections don’t extend to an independent contractor.

The MSO praised Hill’s ruling.

“The fundamental issue in dispute in the proceeding was who controls MSO’s stage,” the orchestra said. “The MSO maintained that Mr. Gillham should have sought the authorization of the MSO before making the statements he made from the MSO’s stage.”

“We hope that we can now put this matter behind us and focus on our music,” said MSO chairman Edgar Myer, praising the orchestra’s musicians and staff for their professionalism “despite the disruption and distraction that came with defending these legal proceedings.”

At the case’s start in May, Justin Bourke, attorney for the MSO, said the orchestra felt it had been misled by Gillham. “He knew he was overstepping the line. He knew he was going to make political statements about Gaza,” he said.

“We are entitled to have control over our own stage, especially when statements are going to be made that are highly controversial,” said Bourke.

Michael Bradley, who represented Gillham in court, told ABC his client is “very disappointed with the outcome.”

Justice Hill had unsuccessfully urged a settlement between the sides when the case adjourned on June 5.

“I’m going to have to get into some very difficult areas for both parties, and once I make my findings… they’re in public and there forever,” Hill said. “There would be benefit to both sides if it was at all possible for this matter to be resolved, without me having to say the things that I need to say in a judgment.”

Gillham will return to Australia from the United Kingdom in July for a national tour with Jordanian-Palestinian pianist Iyad Sughayer, ABC reported.

The rapid growth of weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy is beginning to reshape the retail industry, with one of the biggest effects showing up in the plus-size clothing market.

Torrid, one of the nation’s largest plus-size apparel retailers, reported that net sales fell 7.6% to $245.8 million during its latest quarter ended May 2. At the same time, the company reduced its store count to 463 locations, down from 632 stores a year earlier—a decline of nearly 27%.

Company leaders say the closures are part of a broader restructuring plan, but the changing shopping habits of customers taking GLP-1 weight-loss medications are adding new pressure to the business.

These medications suppress appetite and can lead to significant weight loss over time. As consumers move through that transition, many are delaying clothing purchases until their weight stabilizes.

Harvey Kanter, chief executive of plus-size retailer DXL Group, recently told investors that as many as 25% of the company’s customers may now be using GLP-1 medications.

Rather than repeatedly purchasing clothing in different sizes while losing weight, many customers are waiting before replacing their wardrobes.

That pause has created a temporary drop in demand across the plus-size apparel sector.

Torrid closed 151 stores during 2025 and has announced plans to shutter additional locations during the first half of 2026, focusing on stores with weaker financial performance.

DXL has experienced similar challenges, reporting a 6% decline in quarterly sales while also planning additional store closures.

According to CoreSight Research, retail store closures across all sectors increased 67% during 2025 compared with the previous year, with specialty apparel retailers among the hardest hit.

The trend is also influencing major clothing brands.

Companies including H&M, Nike, Old Navy, L.L. Bean, Ralph Lauren and Shein have reduced portions of their extended-size offerings as they adjust inventory to changing consumer demand.

Still, analysts caution that the plus-size market remains substantial.

Industry estimates value the global plus-size apparel market at more than $114 billion, with continued long-term growth expected despite the short-term disruption.

Many retailers also believe today’s slowdown could become tomorrow’s opportunity.

Once customers complete significant weight loss, they often need entirely new wardrobes.

Research from Dentsu found that roughly half of Americans using GLP-1 medications report shopping for clothing more frequently after losing weight, while nearly one-third purchase more accessories.

Analysts at eMarketer estimate that wardrobe replacement alone could eventually generate approximately $13 billion in additional annual apparel sales.

The challenge for retailers is surviving the transition period before that new demand arrives.

Torrid continues to invest in digital sales, new product lines and brand expansion while reducing underperforming locations.

The company ended its latest quarter with approximately $301 million in debt and $22.8 million in cash, underscoring the importance of improving profitability during the restructuring.

For consumers, the changes may mean fewer dedicated plus-size stores and a smaller selection of extended sizes at traditional retailers.

For investors and the retail industry, the broader story is becoming increasingly clear.

Weight-loss medications are beginning to influence purchasing behavior well beyond healthcare, affecting apparel, food, consumer products and other industries.

As millions more Americans adopt GLP-1 medications, retailers across multiple sectors are adjusting business strategies to reflect changing consumer habits.

For Torrid, the immediate focus is reducing costs while positioning itself for the next wave of demand—when today’s customers finish losing weight and begin rebuilding their wardrobes.

JBizNews Desk | Los Angeles
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Qatar reportedly blocked a proposed strategic partnership between German automaker Volkswagen and Israeli defense company Rafael, according to a report by the German newspaper Bild.

While Rafael is best known for developing advanced Israeli defense systems, including the Iron Dome air defense system, the state-owned company also develops civilian technologies, including cybersecurity solutions for connected vehicles and autonomous driving systems. Volkswagen was reportedly interested in incorporating those technologies into its vehicles.

According to the report, the proposed agreement required approval from Volkswagen’s board of directors. Qatar, through the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), is one of Volkswagen’s largest shareholders, controlling approximately 17% of the company’s voting rights and holding seats on the automaker’s supervisory board.

Bild reported that when the proposed partnership with Rafael came before the board, the Qatari representatives strongly opposed any cooperation or contract with the Israeli company.

The report says Qatar specifically objected to Rafael’s role as the developer and manufacturer of the Iron Dome missile defense system and other military technologies used by the IDF.

According to the report, Volkswagen ultimately withdrew from the negotiations after the objections raised by the Qatari representatives, canceling the proposed agreement to avoid a confrontation with one of its most influential investors.

The Bild investigation has sparked discussion in Germany, with critics arguing that foreign state investment is influencing the business decisions of major German corporations. The report also renewed scrutiny of Qatar over its financial support for Hamas and raised concerns that Israeli companies are effectively being excluded from commercial partnerships because of their ties to Israel’s defense industry.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Police arrested several suspects, including minors, during a major anti-crime operation in Beitar Illit targeting juvenile delinquency over the summer vacation. The suspects are under investigation for a range of alleged offenses, including illegal possession of a knife, making threats against a public official, property damage, diesel fuel theft, and drug trafficking.

The operation, dubbed “Breaking the Waves,” was carried out by detectives from the Etzion Police Station in the Judea and Samaria District. As part of the initiative, officers increased patrols and inspections throughout the city in an effort to identify and apprehend young suspects allegedly involved in criminal activity.

During the operation, detectives stopped a 16-year-old Beitar Illit resident who was allegedly carrying a knife in violation of the law. After being taken to the police station for questioning, the teenager allegedly damaged chairs in the station’s waiting area by scratching anti-police graffiti into them with his fingernails while a police officer was present. He was subsequently arrested on additional suspicion of causing damage to public property.

In a separate case, police arrested two suspects, including a minor, following an investigation launched earlier this week into alleged threatening harassment directed at a public official. The investigation also involved suspected property damage after a garbage dumpster near the official’s home was set on fire. Police said the suspects were located with the assistance of station intelligence personnel.

Authorities also reported progress in an ongoing investigation into the theft of diesel fuel from buses and suspected drug trafficking. During an earlier phase of the investigation, detectives seized jerry cans, hoses allegedly used to siphon diesel fuel, and discovered a concealed location containing a large quantity of illegal drugs.

Based on evidence gathered during the investigation, police identified one of the suspects and arrested the minor during Thursday night’s operation. A search of his home allegedly uncovered a quantity of hard drugs that police said was inconsistent with personal use.

Police said all of the investigations remain ongoing at the Etzion Police Station and indicated that additional arrests are expected as the investigations progress.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump and Senator Bernie Sanders rarely agree on economic policy, but both are now advocating for a U.S. sovereign wealth fund—a government-owned investment vehicle designed to hold stakes in private companies and other assets. While the two envision very different purposes for such a fund, their shared interest has moved the concept from a fringe idea into a serious policy discussion.

The foundation of the debate is President Trump’s February 2025 executive order directing the U.S. Treasury Department and the Department of Commerce to develop a plan for creating a sovereign wealth fund that would “maximize the stewardship of our national wealth.” The order outlined the goal but left unanswered the most important questions, including where the money would come from, who would manage it and what assets it would own.

Unlike countries such as Norway, Saudi Arabia and Singapore, which built sovereign wealth funds using large budget surpluses or natural-resource revenue, the United States currently runs persistent budget deficits. That has made funding a national investment vehicle far more complicated.

Several ideas have been discussed, including directing revenue from tariffs or proceeds from a possible sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations into the fund. None has been formally adopted.

Rather than waiting for a fully structured fund, the Trump administration has already taken strategic stakes in selected industries, including semiconductor manufacturers, rare-earth mining companies and quantum-computing firms. Among those investments is a passive ownership position in Intel, reflecting the administration’s broader effort to strengthen domestic technology and manufacturing.

Meanwhile, Sanders has proposed a dramatically different approach.

The Vermont independent recently introduced legislation that would create an American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund, financed through a one-time 50% tax paid in stock by large artificial intelligence companies generating more than $200 million in annual AI-related revenue.

Instead of collecting cash, the federal government would receive equity in qualifying companies, placing those shares into a professionally managed public investment fund.

According to Sanders, the fund could eventually hold approximately $7 trillion in assets. Investment returns would help finance direct payments to Americans while supporting priorities such as healthcare, education and affordable housing.

Although both proposals use the term “sovereign wealth fund,” the philosophies behind them differ substantially.

Trump has generally described government investments as strategic assets that could strengthen America’s industrial competitiveness and national security.

Sanders argues that much of today’s AI industry was built upon decades of publicly funded research and therefore believes Americans should directly share in the wealth created by the technology.

Despite those differences, the fact that leaders from opposite ends of the political spectrum support some form of public investment fund has attracted growing attention from economists and investors.

Ashby Monk, executive director of Stanford University’s Research Initiative on Long-Term Investing, has described sovereign wealth funds as an increasingly common tool for governments seeking long-term economic growth rather than relying solely on taxes and regulation.

Several countries have recently expanded or created national investment funds to support artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, clean energy and strategic industries.

Critics, however, warn that government ownership of private companies raises significant concerns.

Free-market organizations argue that political leaders should not influence corporate decision-making through government share ownership, while some economists caution that concentrating public money in rapidly appreciating technology companies could expose taxpayers to unnecessary investment risk.

Others question whether Washington could manage such a fund independently of political pressures.

Supporters counter that professionally managed sovereign wealth funds around the world have successfully generated long-term returns while maintaining operational independence from day-to-day politics.

The debate also carries major implications for the private sector.

If the federal government eventually becomes a significant shareholder in leading artificial intelligence companies, semiconductor manufacturers or other strategic industries, it could reshape corporate governance, investment priorities and the relationship between government and business.

For investors, the discussion reflects a broader shift in economic policy as governments worldwide become more directly involved in financing industries viewed as critical to long-term national competitiveness.

Whether Congress ultimately embraces either proposal remains uncertain.

Sanders’ legislation faces significant political obstacles in a Republican-controlled Congress, while the Trump administration has yet to present a detailed structure for implementing its own sovereign wealth fund.

Still, the unusual convergence between Trump and Sanders illustrates how rapidly attitudes toward government investment have evolved. An idea once viewed as politically improbable has become an increasingly prominent part of the national conversation over artificial intelligence, technology leadership and America’s economic future.

JBizNews Desk | Washington
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New York City’s famed Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum was among a number of Manhattan buildings that recently tested positive for the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease amid the city’s latest outbreak.

The city health department on Friday released a list of 31 buildings on the Upper East Side that have been ordered to clean and disinfect their cooling towers as the city deals with the latest outbreak of the disease, which is a serious form of pneumonia.

The distinctive, cylindrical-shaped art museum was among 19 that have already completed the remediation, according to the department’s list. The rest were expected to complete the work by Saturday.

City officials stressed the positive test results do not confirm any of the buildings as the source of outbreak as the tests conducted could not distinguish between live and dead bacteria.

The museum was also not shuttered at any point because of the positive test or remediation work, they said.

“The city has confirmed that there is no additional action needed at this time, and this poses no risk to anyone inside the building,” the museum said in a statement Saturday, noting that it has an outside company that conducts regular monthly testing and treating of its cooling tower.

The Guggenheim was designed by the renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site as one of the defining architectural works of the 20th century.

More than 50 people have been diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease in connection with the Upper East Side cluster, of which less than 20 remain hospitalized, according to the most recent data from the city health department. No deaths have so far been reported.

Seven people died and more than 100 were sickened during a major outbreak in the upper Manhattan neighborhood of Harlem last year that was ultimately traced to cooling towers atop Harlem Hospital and a nearby construction site where the city’s public health lab is located.

Legionella bacteria generally grow in warm water and can spread in building water systems such as showerheads, hot tubs and cooling towers.

The structures are usually found on the top of buildings and control the temperature of systems such as refrigeration, but they do not affect drinking water or the building’s indoor air or air conditioning.

Legionnaires’ disease is also not transmitted person-to-person. People often contract it by breathing in tiny droplets of contaminated water.

Symptoms usually develop two days to two weeks after exposure and include cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches and shortness of breath, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

People are at an increased risk for Legionnaires’ disease if they are age 50 or older, smoke or vape, have a chronic lung disease or have a weakened immune system.

The respiratory ailment’s name comes from an outbreak that hit attendees of an American Legion convention in Philadelphia in 1976.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday announced a sweeping new consumer protection initiative aimed at eliminating subscription traps and hidden fees, introducing what he called the nation’s first municipal “Click to Cancel” rule.

The new regulation will require businesses to make canceling a subscription just as simple as signing up for one. Under the policy, companies will no longer be permitted to bury consumers in lengthy cancellation processes after allowing them to enroll with only a single click.

Mamdani unveiled the proposal alongside New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine and other city officials.

“I think many of us have come to feel this is inevitable,” Levine said. “The feeling like we’re navigating a minefield when we’re shopping is simply the price of modern convenience.”

The regulations are scheduled to take effect in October and are intended to protect consumers from recurring subscription charges—such as those associated with gyms and hotels—as well as so-called junk fees that are not disclosed until the final stages of a purchase.

City officials estimate that the Click-to-Cancel rule alone could save New Yorkers as much as $162.5 million annually.

“For years, companies have built their business model around making it harder for working people to hold onto their money,” Mayor Mamdani said. “Whether it’s hidden fees that suddenly appear at checkout or subscriptions that take one click to sign up for and a dozen steps to cancel, the result is the same: working people pay more while corporations profit. That ends now. If you can sign up with one click, you can cancel with one click.”

Many city residents welcomed the proposal, saying subscription services have become an expensive burden that is often difficult to escape.

“Like we have so many subscriptions that we barely even use or like family plans,” said Financial District resident Paige Southworth.

“I would say Netflix, or honestly all of the above. They definitely never give you a chance, I guess, to catch a break,” said Lower East Side resident Ike Sanchez.

The city initiative mirrors a similar nationwide rule introduced by Lina Khan while serving as chair of the Federal Trade Commission during the Biden administration. That federal regulation was later blocked by the courts during the Trump administration.

Khan now serves as an adviser to Mamdani and has played a leading role in bringing a comparable policy to New York City.

“The Mamdani administration’s work to tackle the affordability crisis and promote economic fairness continues to set a new standard nationwide, modeling effective governance and a relentless focus on using all of the city’s levers to improve life for New Yorkers,” she said.

Businesses found violating the rule could face consumer restitution orders as well as civil penalties beginning at $525 for each violation.

Questions remain, however, about how aggressively the city will enforce the new regulations and what the overall cost of implementing and policing the program will be.

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A historic breakthrough in preserving the graves of the righteous in Poland was achieved last week during a special meeting held with the mayor of Radzymin, who declared that he would work to rebuild the fence around the entire area of the Jewish cemetery in the city. Over the years, the site had been transformed into a road and a public garden, and, tragically, the area had been desecrated by the feet of passersby.

At the center of the cemetery stands the restored ohel of the holy Rabbi Shlomo Yehoshua David of Radzymin, of blessed memory, the beloved son of the holy Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh of Radzymin, known as a miracle worker. Rabbi Yaakov Aryeh lived and was active in the city, while his final resting place is in Warsaw.

During the Holocaust, the Nazis, may their names be erased, completely destroyed the cemetery and desecrated the remains of the Jews buried there. In 1985, as restoration efforts for Jewish holy sites throughout Poland began, the grandson of the Gerer Rebbe worked to locate the gravesite of his ancestor, the holy Rabbi Shlomo Yehoshua David. The approximate area where testimony indicated he had been buried was fenced off, and based on discovered signs believed to be connected to the location of the original ohel, a new and proper ohel was constructed.

The steady stream of Jews who came to pray at the site, together with the efforts of activists, ensured that the restored ohel itself was well maintained. However, the surrounding area, which had served as the cemetery, was not preserved. The land was turned into a road and a garden for local residents, while those working on the issue repeatedly attempted to advance plans to fence off the area, without success.

A dramatic turning point came last week when the son of the Gerer Rebbe, Rabbi Yisrael Menachem Alter, arrived at the head of a distinguished delegation for a special meeting with the mayor, Mr. Krzysztof Chaciński. During the meeting, they reached a historic agreement under which the local municipality would work to advance the fencing of the entire area where Jewish graves had been located.

The delegation included Rabbi Moshe Chaim Denderovitz, head of Yeshivat Sfat Emet; Bnei Brak Mayor Chanokh Zeibert; Housing Ministry Director-General Yehuda Morgenstern; and activist Rabbi Shlomo Kopolovitz, who has extensive experience in preserving and restoring the holy sites of Radzymin.

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Denderovitz, who spoke in English, emotionally described how throughout the generations Jews have worked to preserve the sanctity of the graves of their ancestors, dating back to the days of the biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The mayor was deeply moved as Rabbi Denderovitz spoke passionately about Jewish self-sacrifice in preserving these sites and the blessing such efforts bring to the city. Bnei Brak Mayor Chanokh Zeibert told him that the only city in the world where the name of Radzymin is commemorated is Bnei Brak, which has a street named after the holy Radzymin Rebbe.

Rabbi Shlomo Kopolovitz surprised Mayor Chaciński, with whom he has maintained a longstanding relationship on these matters, by presenting him with a personal letter from Israel’s President Isaac Herzog. In the letter, the president requested that efforts be made to preserve the Jewish cemetery in the city and invited the mayor to visit Israel as his personal guest at the President’s Residence.

The mayor was deeply moved by the personal gesture and promised to do everything possible to quickly advance the delegation’s request. A professional working meeting between municipal officials and Rabbi Kopolovitz was scheduled on the spot in order to address the matter quickly and effectively. The hope is that the bureaucratic obstacles can be overcome swiftly, for the honor of those resting in the earth of Radzymin.

New York (VINNEWS/Rabbi Yair Hoffman) The kesuvah, of course, is a legal contract, written in Aramaic, that a groom gives to his bride. For thousands of years, this document protected a woman if her husband ever divorced her or if he passed away. The money was meant to be large enough that a husband would think twice before ending the marriage carelessly. Yet today, in America and other countries outside of Israel, the value of the kesuvah is so miniscule that it no longer effectively serves that purpose.

Two Hundred Zuz, or Twenty-Five?

The kesuvah of a first-time bride states the main obligation with the words “kesef zuzei ma’asan,” meaning two hundred zuz. The Rambam (Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Ishus 10:8) explains that the “zuz” is the same as a dinar, but that these coins were not pure silver: they were only one-eighth silver (7 parts copper to 1 part silver). Because of this, the 200 “dinar” of a besulah were actually equal to only 25 zuz of pure silver, and the 100 of a widow to just 12.5. The Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 66:3) rules this way, which is why the Sephardic kesuvah is valued at only 25 dinar.

The Rama (ibid), on the other hand, holds that the zuz of the kesuvah is the normal, full dinar. To make clear which type is meant, Ashkenazim add the phrase that the sum is “due to you by Torah law” (d’oraisa), and so the Ashkenazic kesuvah is valued at the full 200 dinar. The Sephardim do not add that phrase, relying on the contract rule of “al hatachtonah”: any undefined term is read at its lowest value. This one difference is the root of the gap between the two traditions. 

The research presented here draws heavily on the remarkable scholarship of Rabbi Ahron Notis in his recent volume, The Great Shiurim Debate, published by Mosaica Press.

Putting Real Numbers on It

Twenty-five dinar equals about 106 grams of silver (under 3.5 Troy ounces); 200 dinar equals about 850 grams (about 27.4 Troy ounces). The dollar value swings with the price of silver, which has been volatile, ranging in recent years between about $18 and $30 a Troy ounce but climbing to roughly $60 a Troy ounce as of July 2026. At that price:

• An Ashkenazic kesuvah for a first-time bride (200 dinar) is worth roughly $1,640.
• A Sephardic kesuvah (25 dinar) is one-eighth of that, roughly $205.
• A widow’s kesuvah is half a first-time bride’s; a Sephardic widow’s comes to only about $102.

The number on the parchment never changed; only the price of silver did. Because the kesuvah is tied to silver rather than to paper money, its value floats with the metal, but it is never a large or reliable sum.

Why So Low? The Rivash’s Answer

The Rivash (vol. 2, siman 153) was asked exactly this: the sum seems far too small to make a husband hesitate before divorce. His answer was that the kesuvah was never built for the wealthy; it was built for the poor of the time of Chazal, people who lacked even enough bread, slept on the ground, and mostly went barefoot. For such a person, 200 zuz was a genuinely meaningful sum. He proves it from the Mishnah: someone with 50 zuz who does business with it is no longer “poor” (and may not take the gifts left for the needy), and 50 zuz is only half a widow’s kesuvah.

The key point is that silver has largely kept its purchasing power when measured in bread. In an era when bread was most of a poor family’s budget, 200 zuz truly hurt to pay out. The 200 was always the floor, designed around the poor; a wealthier bride could always demand more.

The Three Money Promises in a Kesuvah

A kesuvah contains three obligations. The first is the ikar kesuvah, the ancient core amount (200 dinar in the Ashkenazic text). The second is the dowry (nadunya), the value the bride’s father sent along, which the husband had to return upon divorce or death; today it is written as a fixed 100 zekukim of fine silver. The third is the tosefes kesuvah, an added amount the groom voluntarily promises, another 100 zekukim. Together the dowry and the addition make the familiar 200 zekukim of Ashkenazic kesuvos.

These sums were once negotiated case by case, but communities eventually adopted one standard figure for everyone. As the Raaviyah (Sefer Raaviyah, vol. 3, Biur Mishpetei HaKesuvah, siman 916) explained, since most people were poor, a uniform amount spared anyone the embarrassment of a small, revealing number.

The Mystery Unit: What Is a Zakuk?

The word written in the kesuvah is zekukim (singular: zakuk), and one point deserves to be clear: there was never a coin stamped “zakuk.” The word means “refined,” and it first referred to a weight of refined silver, much as the English “pound” began as a unit of weight. Over time it likely attached to the European “mark” currency, so that, like the British pound, it came to mean a coin rather than an actual weight of silver. Before World War II, the zekukim in a European kesuvah pointed to the real money of the day, such as zlotys or marks.

Today no unit anywhere is called a zakuk. Rav Moshe Sternbuch (Hilchos HaGra U’Minhagav, Dinei Nisuin, siman 126) writes that it is not clear what “zekukim of fine silver” even means; the Maharam Mintz, cited there, identified it with the mark currency worth 48 groshen. We are left writing in a measure that no longer exists, and no one is sure which historical mark was meant.

Why Not Just Write It in Dollars?

If the old units are gone, why not use dollars or shekels? The answer lies in a problem with modern money: it is not backed by silver or gold, and it steadily loses value to inflation. A fixed dollar figure would erode over a long marriage and could be nearly worthless by the time it was collected. Silver, by contrast, holds its value in bread. The rabbis kept silver, but by now no one agrees which silver coins the zekukim were meant to be.

Rav Moshe Feinstein’s Attempt to Fix It

Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe, EH, vol. 4, simanim 91–92) proposed a fix. Noting that in Czarist Russia the custom was to collect 75 rubles (then worth a bit over $40, a meaningful sum for ordinary people), he suggested that in America we understand the word zakuk as the weight of a mark, about half a pound. A groom would then obligate the value of 100 pounds of silver (about 45 kilograms which as of July 2026 is $87,000), more than fifty times the ikar kesuvah, a sum large enough to truly make divorce not “light in his eyes.” But no such custom was ever adopted, and so the financial obligation of the kesuvah today remains insignificant.

Why Doesn’t Anyone Update It?

Gedolei Yisrael once kept the tosefes kesuvah meaningful by raising it as economies changed, but since World War One the amount has been frozen. Two reasons explain the lack of urgency. First, the fear of easy divorce has faded: Ashkenazim no longer permit a get against the wife’s will, and secular law now imposes a heavy financial burden on a man seeking divorce. Second, the kesuvah money is rarely collected at all; divorcing couples reach a broader settlement in which the husband gives far more than the kesuvah requires. So communities keep copying the same wording of 200 zekukim, even though neither the groom, the bride, nor the officiating rav know what it means.

Can a Woman Still Collect Her 200 Zekukim?

It depends on where the kesuvah was written. In a place with a definite local custom fixing how much silver the 200 zekukim represent, she can collect that amount. But in most of the world today there is no such custom, and the rule of “al hatachtonah” takes over: an unclear sum is enforced only at its lowest interpretation. Since the smallest reasonable value of a zakuk is very little, there is sadly not much she can actually collect.

The kesuvah remains a holy and essential part of every Jewish wedding, and its role in protecting the dignity and rights of a Jewish woman is as important as ever. What has died is the meaning of its money. The document still names ancient units, zekukim, that no living person can find or spend, and that were never even the name on a real coin.

In the end, the kesuvah is a living testament to Chazal’s concern for the almanah and the divorcee.  It is this author’s view that the matter should be taken up with our Torah leaders and that we should endeavor to have various communities adopt the view of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l and make the Kesuvah a viable legal document collectable in court.

Below is the traditional Ashkenazic kesuvah in English translation alongside the Aramaic original. The footnotes connect specific phrases to the discussion above, so a reader can see exactly where each ancient measurement and obligation lives inside the document itself.

On the fifth day of the week,

בחמישי בשבת

the fourth day of the month of Adar,

ארבעה ימים לחדש אדר

in the year five thousand seven hundred seventy-seven from the creation of the world,

שנת חמשת אלפים ושבע מאות ושבעים ושבע לבריאת עולם

according to the reckoning that we count here in the city of Bnei Brak —[1]

למנין שאנו מנין כאן בעיר בני ברק

how so-and-so, son of so-and-so,

איך מוה”ר פלוני בן מוה”ר פלוני

said to this maiden, so-and-so, daughter of so-and-so:[2]

אמר לה להדא בתולתא פלונית בת מוה”ר פלוני

“Be my wife according to the law of Moshe and Yisrael.”

הוי לי לאנתו כדת משה וישראל

“And I will work for you, honor you, provide food for you, and support you,

ואנא אפלח ואוקיר ואיזון ואפרנס יתיכי ליכי

in accordance with the practice of Jewish men who work for, honor, feed, and support their wives faithfully.

כהלכות גוברין יהודאין דפלחין ומוקרין וזנין ומפרנסין לנשיהון בקושטא

And I give to you the mohar of your virginity, two hundred silver zuz that are due to you by Torah law,[3]

ויהיבנא ליכי מהר בתוליכי כסף זוזי מאתן דחזו ליכי מדאורייתא

and your food, your clothing, and your needs, and to come to you in the way of all the earth.”

ומזוניכי וכסותיכי וסיפוקיכי ומיעל לותיכי כאורח כל ארעא

And Mrs. so-and-so, this maiden, consented, and she became his wife.

וצביאת מרת פלונית בתולתא דא והות ליה לאנתו

And this dowry that she brought in to him from the house of her father,[4]

ודן נדוניא דהנעלת ליה מבי אבוה

whether in silver or in gold, in ornaments, in garments one wears, in furnishings of the dwelling, and in bedding —

בין בכסף בין בזהב בין בתכשיטין במאני דלבושא בשימושא דדירה ובשימושא דערסא

all of it the chosson accepted upon himself in the sum of one hundred zekukim of kesef tzuri.[5]

הכל קיבל עליו מוה”ר פלוני חתן דנן במאה זקוקים כסף צרוף

And the chosson agreed and added to her from his own another one hundred zekukim of kesef tzuri corresponding to them,[6]

וצבי מוה”ר פלוני חתן דנן והוסיף לה מן דיליה עוד מאה זקוקים כסף צרוף אחריהם כנגדן

so that the total is two hundred zekukim of kesef tzuri.[7]

סך הכל מאתים זקוקים כסף צרוף

And thus said the chosson:

וכך אמר מוה”ר פלוני חתן דנן

“The responsibility of this document of the kesuvah, this dowry, and this addition I have accepted upon myself and upon my heirs after me,[8]

אחריות שטר כתובתא דא נדוניא דן ותוספתא דא קבלית עלי ועל ירתי בתראי

to be paid from the finest and best of my property and possessions and acquisitions that I have under all the heavens,

להתפרע מכל שפר ארג נכסין וקנינין דאית לי תחות כל שמיא

that which I have acquired and that which I am destined to acquire —

דקנאי ודעתיד אנא למיקני

property that carries responsibility and property that does not carry responsibility.

נכסין דאית להון אחריות ודלית להון אחריות

All of it shall be liable and a guarantee to pay from it this document of the kesuvah, this dowry, and this addition,

כלהון יהון אחראין וערבאין לפרוע מנהון שטר כתובתא דא נדוניא דן ותוספתא דא

from me and even from the cloak upon my shoulders,[9]

מנאי ואפילו מן גלימא דעל כתפאי

in life and in death, from this day and forever.”

בחיים ובמות מן יומא דנן ולעלם

And the responsibility of this document of the kesuvah, this dowry, and this addition the chosson accepted upon himself,

ואחריות שטר כתובתא דא נדוניא דן ותוספתא דא קבל עליו מוה”ר פלוני חתן דנן

with the stringency of all documents of kesuvos and additions that are customary among the daughters of Yisrael,[10]

כחומר כל שטרי כתובות ותוספתות דנהגין בבנת ישראל

made in accordance with the ordinance of our Sages of blessed memory —

העשויין כתיקון חז”ל

not as a mere asmachta and not as a standard form of documents.

דלא כאסמכתא ודלא כטופסי דשטרי

And we made a kinyan from the chosson to Mrs. so-and-so, this maiden,[11]

וקנינא מן מוה”ר פלוני בן מוה”ר פלוני חתן דנן למרת פלונית בת מוה”ר פלוני בתולתא דא

upon everything that is written and explained above, with an article that is fit to make a kinyan with.

על כל מה דכתיב ומפורש לעיל במנא דכשר למקניא ביה

And all is firm and established.[12]

הכל שריר וקים

The author can be reached at [email protected]

[1]The kesuvah is dated and localized because it is, above all, a binding legal contract, not a ritual formula. This is why the questions raised in this article, about how much its sums are worth and whether they can be collected, are real questions of contract law, decided (as noted below) by rules such as “al hatachtonah,” that an unclear amount is read at its lowest value.

[2]“Besulah” (maiden / first-time bride) is the key status word. As explained above, a besulah’s ikar kesuvah is 200 zuz, while a woman who was married before (a beulah, including a widow or divorcee) receives half that amount, 100 zuz.

[3]This is the ikar kesuvah, the core biblical-rabbinic obligation. Two points from the article live in this single line. First, “two hundred silver zuz” (כסף זוזי מאתן): a zuz is a silver dinar, about 4.25 grams of silver, so 200 of them are about 850 grams. Second, “that are due to you by Torah law” (דחזו ליכי מדאורייתא): Ashkenazim add these words, following the Rama, to specify that full Torah-weight zuz are meant, not the lighter debased coins that the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch describe, coins only one-eighth silver, which reduce the Sephardic value to 25 zuz.

[4]“Nadunya” is the dowry, the second of the three money layers discussed above. It was not a gift to the groom; its value had to be returned to the wife upon divorce or the husband’s death.

[5]Here is the first appearance of the mysterious unit at the heart of this article: “one hundred zekukim of kesef tzuri” (מאה זקוקים כסף צרוף). As explained above, there was never a coin named “zakuk”; the word means “refined” and referred to a weight of refined silver that later attached to the European “mark” currency. This clause fixes the dowry at a standard 100 zekukim, the community-wide sum that replaced individually negotiated amounts.

[6]This is the tosefes kesuvah, the third money layer: the amount the groom voluntarily “adds” (והוסיף) from his own. Historically this was the layer that Gedolei Yisrael periodically raised to keep the kesuvah meaningful, and it is the layer Rav Moshe Feinstein proposed reinterpreting as 100 pounds of silver.

[7]The dowry (100) plus the addition (100) yields the familiar “two hundred zekukim” total. This is the figure that, as the article notes, has not been adjusted since before World War One, and whose real value “neither the chosson, the kallah, nor the mesader kiddushin” can state today.

[8]“Achrayus” (responsibility / lien). The groom binds all his property, present and future, as security for these three obligations. This is what makes the kesuvah collectible in principle. Whether a woman can truly collect the 200 zekukim, however, depends on whether a local custom fixes their silver value.

[9]“Even from the cloak upon my shoulders” is a vivid legal flourish stressing how total the lien is. It underscores the original purpose of the kesuvah: to make divorce a serious financial matter, “not light in his eyes,” the very purpose that has eroded as the money’s value faded.

[10]“As is customary among the daughters of Yisrael” signals that the kesuvah follows a standardized communal text. This standardization is exactly why the sums became uniform (per the Raaviyah, so as not to shame the poor) and also why an outdated figure persists unchanged: the text is copied by custom.

[11]“Kinyan” is the formal act of acquisition that makes the groom’s commitments legally binding. It confirms that the obligations above, however antique their units now sound, were undertaken as real, enforceable law.

[12]“Hakol sharir v’kayam”, “all is firm and established”, is the traditional closing that validates the document. It is a fitting final line for this discussion: the kesuvah remains firmly established as a holy and living contract, even as the precise worth of the money it names has been quietly forgotten.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — The funeral procession of Ali Khamenei, who was eliminated in the opening strike of Operation “Roaring Lion,” concluded in the city of Mashhad after days in which millions of regime supporters participated in mourning ceremonies. However, one video published from the moments during the extended procession when the coffin was transported in the Iraqi city of Karbala has now sparked unusual controversy.

The footage shows Khamenei’s coffin being removed from a refrigerated truck bearing the orange letter “K.” According to reports in Finnish media outlets and by the opposition-affiliated channel Iran International, the marking appears to be the branding of Finland’s K Group retail chain, which operates more than 1,000 stores throughout Finland.

A review of the company’s website showed that the chain also sells pork products, prompting questions on social media over whether the truck had previously been used to transport pork, something considered prohibited under Islamic law.

Kesko, the company that owns the brand, announced that it had launched an investigation following the publication of the footage. The company said it only became aware of the video after it was published and that it has no direct connection to the truck and does not own it. It added that, according to its assessment, one of the transport companies that had worked with the chain sold the truck without removing the brand stickers, in violation of its contractual obligations.

Meanwhile, Finnish media reported that shortly before the funeral, an advertisement was posted in an Iraqi Facebook group offering for sale a truck that appeared identical to the one documented in Karbala. According to the reports, the type of truck, the branding, and the equipment matched those seen in the footage.

According to Reuters news agency reports, the truck was used only during the funeral ceremony in Karbala, one of the stops in the funeral procession in Iraq. The coffin was later transferred to an open vehicle that carried it through the streets in a public procession.

Not every housing policy labeled “affordable” is actually designed to make housing more affordable. That is the central problem with today’s “missing middle” debate.

Across the country, duplexes, triplexes, courtyard apartments, townhomes and small multifamily buildings are being promoted as the solution to America’s housing affordability crisis. The argument sounds clean and appealing: allow more housing types, create more inclusive neighborhoods, and add diversity and affordability will follow.

But that framing quietly conflates two very different objectives. Housing affordability is an economic problem. Neighborhood diversity is a social policy goal.

They may overlap at times, but they are not the same thing. Treating them as interchangeable has fueled a housing debate that promises lower prices while often pursuing a completely different vision for how communities should be organized. That distinction matters.

America was built on frontier, not forced proximity

The American dream was not born of the idea that every family should find a discounted unit in an already-expensive neighborhood. It was built on motion, expansion, ownership, and the ability to pursue opportunity elsewhere. The cultural script was not, “How do we all fit into the same handful of elite metros?” It was, “Go West. Build. Own. Start over. Create something.”

Frederick Jackson Turner’s frontier thesis argued that the American character was shaped by the westward push into new territory: land, risk, self-reliance and reinvention. In housing terms, that dream looked like ordinary families moving outward, building new towns, and eventually owning their own homes.

Today, much of the housing debate has lost that instinct. Instead of asking how we create more places where families can live affordably, many policymakers ask how to retrofit high-demand neighborhoods to accommodate every income level, preference, and lifestyle expectation at below-market prices. That is not a housing strategy. That is a social aspiration colliding with land economics. Affordability Is About Math

At its core, affordability is not complicated. It is about the relationship among supply, demand, income, land costs, capital costs, construction costs, taxes, insurance, regulation, and time. If a region does not build enough homes for a growing population, prices rise. If incomes do not keep pace with housing costs, affordability declines. If permitting takes years, infrastructure lags, land is constrained, and every project is burdened by political friction, housing prices rise before a single nail is driven. 

That is not ideology. That is arithmetic.

Over the past decade, that math has turned against millions of American households. In many large metropolitan areas, home prices have risen far faster than incomes. Households that once could move from an expensive neighborhood to a more affordable nearby community now often find the entire region has become expensive. That is the key point. When prices rise everywhere, affordability is no longer just a neighborhood problem. It is a regional supply problem.

Missing Middle does not escape land economics

The missing-middle argument often implies that altering building form changes affordability outcomes. Replace one house with a duplex. Replace a block of detached homes with townhomes. Add triplexes near transit. Allow courtyard apartments in established neighborhoods.

Sometimes that creates more options. Sometimes that is good planning. But it does not magically create affordability. In high-demand neighborhoods, the land is already expensive. The entitlement process is expensive. Construction is expensive. Financing is expensive. Taxes and insurance are expensive. By the time a new missing-middle product reaches the market, it is usually priced at or near the prevailing market rate. The building form changes. The price often does not.

A new townhome in a desirable urban neighborhood is not automatically affordable just because it shares a wall. A duplex on expensive land does not become middle-class housing simply because it is a duplex. A courtyard apartment in a high-income neighborhood may add density, but density alone does not suspend the laws of cost. More housing helps over time. But missing-middle housing is not inherently affordable housing. That is the mistake.

Supply works regionally, not symbolically

The best argument for missing-middle reform is not that it instantly creates cheap homes. It does not. The better argument is that allowing more housing types can incrementally expand supply, increase product variety, and ease pressure over time. That is reasonable. But it is not the same as claiming missing-middle zoning is an affordability solution. Affordability improves when enough housing is produced across an entire region to shift the balance between supply and demand.

That means infrastructure, permitting capacity, predictable approvals, scalable development, construction efficiency, capital formation, land availability, product diversity, regional growth planning and political seriousness. It does not mean pretending that a handful of duplexes in a high-demand neighborhood will materially change what a teacher, firefighter, nurse, police officer, or young family can afford across a metro area. America does not have a shortage of housing rhetoric. It has a shortage of housing production.

When the debate turns moral, the math gets lost

One reason this conversation has become so confused is that housing affordability has increasingly been framed as a moral failure rather than an economic imbalance.

Expensive neighborhoods are described as exclusionary by default. Rising prices are treated as proof of injustice. A lack of socioeconomic diversity is taken as evidence that something improper must have occurred.

Sometimes discrimination and exclusion are real. When they are, they should be addressed directly through fair-housing enforcement, anti-discrimination rules, and targeted reforms. But a neighborhood becoming expensive is not, by itself, evidence of wrongdoing.

More often, it means demand has outstripped supply.

That distinction matters because the policy response should match the actual problem. If the goal is affordability, the answer is a larger total housing supply delivered at scale. If the goal is socioeconomic diversity within specific neighborhoods, say that clearly and evaluate those policies on that basis. Do not sell one as the other. One objective seeks lower prices. The other seeks a different distribution of residents. Both may be legitimate public debates, but they are not the same debate.

The real question policymakers avoid

The uncomfortable truth is that many affordability debates sidestep the hardest question:Are we trying to make housing less expensive, or are we trying to decide who should live where?Those are very different missions.

If policymakers want broader affordability, they need to focus on regional supply, infrastructure, the speed of entitlements, construction costs, development feasibility, and the ability to create new communities where ordinary families can buy or rent at attainable prices. If policymakers want more income mixing in established neighborhoods, they should be honest about that goal. That may involve subsidies, vouchers, inclusionary zoning, public land strategies, or mobility programs. But those tools should be judged by whether they achieve social-mixing objectives—not by pretending they will solve the broader affordability crisis.

The missing middle can be part of a housing toolkit. It can add flexibility, create more varied product types, and help some households find options that did not previously exist. But it is not a silver bullet. And it is certainly not a substitute for building enough housing in the places where growth is actually occurring.

The frontier still matters

A serious housing strategy should not be built on the fantasy that every household can consume more location, more amenities, more space and more neighborhood prestige at a discount to reality. That is not the American dream. That is entitlement dressed up as planning.

The American dream has always been more demanding and more optimistic than that. It calls for building new places, opening new frontiers, expanding opportunity and creating communities where families can own, grow and belong. That does not mean every household gets to live in the most expensive neighborhood at a subsidized price. It means the country must remain capable of producing new places where opportunity remains attainable. That is the real affordability test.

The missing middle may be a useful planning tool and even a desirable social vision. But let’s stop pretending it is, by itself, an affordability strategy. It is not. Affordability is measured by prices, payments, incomes and supply, not slogans.

This post was originally published on here.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The French news agency AFP quoted an official Lebanese source who confirmed that Lebanon will participate in the talks scheduled to take place this week with Israel in Rome, while an American military delegation is holding discussions in Lebanon regarding mechanisms for implementing an Israeli withdrawal from a test region in the south of the country.

The source said that “Lebanon will participate” in the round of talks scheduled to be held in Rome on July 15 and 16, after a diplomatic source familiar with the negotiations said that Lebanon had conditioned its participation in a new round of talks on Israel withdrawing from two test areas in southern Lebanon, which will then be transferred to the Lebanese Army.

The next round of negotiations will take place just days before the planned visit of the Lebanese president to Washington at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump. The Lebanese presidency announced last Thursday that the visit would take place during the final week of July.

A diplomatic source reported that Lebanon had made Israel’s withdrawal from two test areas in the south a condition for its participation. An American military delegation is holding meetings with the Lebanese Armed Forces command to discuss mechanisms for implementing the withdrawal of IDF forces from areas in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon and Israel signed a framework agreement in Washington on June 26, which established the disarmament of Hezbollah and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, with the Lebanese army scheduled to deploy initially in two designated test areas.

The framework agreement does not specify a timetable for an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Israel has repeatedly stated that IDF forces will not withdraw from a security zone extending 10 kilometers deep from its borders until Hezbollah is disarmed, a step that military analysts doubt the Lebanese state is capable of carrying out.

Hezbollah refuses to surrender its weapons or engage in direct negotiations with Israel, relying on Iran to halt the war with Israel.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – U.S. Rep. & leftist Ro Khanna said Saturday that he and his delegation were detained by Israeli settlers and the military during a visit to Judea and Samaria and were released only after intervention by the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.

The California Democrat, who was on a three-day tour of Palestinian areas, described the incident as occurring Wednesday afternoon near the abandoned village of Khirbet Zanuta in the southern Judea and Samaria. Khanna said his group’s van was surrounded by settlers armed with U.S.-made M4 rifles who blocked the road, cursed at them and detained them for more than an hour.

“And these hoodlums come in with machine guns – M4, an American-made machine gun – and they detain us. They block off the road. And then they call the IDF and the IDF is on their side, not on the side of the Americans,” Khanna told Reuters, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.

An aide to Khanna, Cameron Kasky, who was part of the group, said they appealed to the U.S. Embassy for help and were eventually released after officers who appeared to be Israeli police intervened.

The IDF disputed Khanna’s account, stating that it received a report of Israeli civilians unlawfully blocking vehicles of foreign nationals and members of the press near Khirbet Zanuta. Troops were dispatched, dispersed the civilians and reopened the road, according to the military. The IDF said its soldiers did not participate in blocking the group.

Separately, a source familiar with the planning told the New York Post that Khanna declined an offer to meet October 7 survivors and freed hostages while in Israel this week.

Khanna, a progressive Democrat considering a 2028 presidential run, framed the visit as an effort to witness the impact of Israeli settlement activity and what he described as the human toll of “the occupation.”

In a social media post and subsequent statements, Khanna called for charges against the settlers and expressed disappointment in the IDF’s response. He thanked U.S. Embassy officials, including David Brownstein, for assistance in securing the group’s release.

A Beis Din in Beit Shemesh has issued a unique compromise ruling to resolve a prolonged dispute between residents of an eight-story apartment building over the operation of a Shabbos elevator, balancing the needs of elderly and upper-floor residents with concerns about preserving the building’s Shabbos atmosphere.

The ruling follows lengthy deliberations over a dispute that erupted in a residential building in the city’s Ramat Beit Shemesh Daled neighborhood, highlighting an issue that has become increasingly common as high-rise construction expands within the chareidi community.

According to sources, the building was originally equipped by the developer with a Shabbos elevator control system, which was included as part of the apartments’ specifications when the units were sold. However, after residents moved in, disagreements emerged over whether the system should actually be operated on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

Residents supporting the elevator’s operation argued that the feature was purchased as part of their homes and that they were entitled to use it. They noted that an elderly resident living on the seventh floor, as well as a family residing on the top floor, face significant hardship without a functioning Shabbos elevator, at times making it difficult even to attend tefillos on Shabbos.

Opponents countered that operating a Shabbos elevator would undermine the atmosphere and sanctity of Shabbos within the building. They also argued that it could negatively affect the chinuch of children and alter the building’s unique character, which is home primarily to bnei Torah families.

Both sides ultimately agreed to submit the matter to a Beis Din composed of Rav Naftali Tzvi Hirsch Rotenberg, one of Beit Shemesh’s rabbanim, together with Rav Yitzchak Lezenovsky, a dayan at the Nesivos Chaim Beis Din in Yerushalayim and the Ashkenazi Beis Din in Beitar Illit.

During the proceedings, the dayanim heard extensive arguments from both sides. In their written ruling, they discussed at length the sanctity of Shabbos, the unique religious character of Beit Shemesh, and the sensitivity within the chareidi community regarding the operation of electrical systems on Shabbos. At the same time, they also took into account the residents’ property rights and the fact that the Shabbos elevator system had been installed by the developer as part of the original building plans.

Rather than adopting either side’s position in full, the Beis Din fashioned a detailed compromise. Under the ruling, the Shabbos elevator will operate only during designated hours, its operation will be limited in scope, and additional measures will be implemented to minimize any perceived impact on the building’s Shabbos atmosphere while still accommodating residents who require its use.

{Matzav.com}

Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive and Republican nominee for New York governor, said this week that he intends to use a little-known provision of the state constitution to try to kill Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s roughly $70 million plan to open city-owned grocery stores across the five boroughs, arguing that public money spent to undercut private operators runs afoul of the charter. In comments reported Friday, Mr. Blakeman pointed to the constitution’s gift-and-loan clause as the legal basis for a challenge, framing the fight as a defense of the neighborhood stores he says the plan would crush.

The clause Mr. Blakeman is leaning on is roughly 150 years old and bars local governments from giving or lending public funds or property to private entities, while requiring that municipal spending serve a genuine public purpose. It was written to stop cities and counties from steering taxpayer money to favored businesses, railroad companies chief among them, during an era of aggressive public subsidy. Mr. Blakeman’s argument is that opening one store in each borough and handing day-to-day operations to a chosen private company would use public dollars to lower that operator’s costs, amounting to a subsidy for select firms while nearby shops get no such help.

“City-run supermarkets can use public money to push prices down, leaving independent grocers and bodegas to face unfair competition that threatens local jobs and the survival of existing businesses,” Mr. Blakeman said, according to the reporting. He has separately called the broader plan unworkable and warned that taxpayers would carry the tab.

The proposal Mr. Blakeman is targeting took its first concrete step in April, when Mr. Mamdani named La Marqueta, a city-owned market in East Harlem, as the site of the Manhattan store. The mayor has said he wants the full five-borough network running by the end of his first term in 2029, using publicly owned space that is exempt from rent and property taxes to trim overhead and pass savings to shoppers on staples such as eggs, milk and bread. City Hall has not detailed how prices would be set, and the mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment on Mr. Blakeman’s threat.

For the grocery trade, the stakes are concrete. Supermarkets typically operate on net margins of just 1% to 3%, and independent operators argue that a rival exempt from rent and property taxes would enjoy an advantage they cannot match. Roughly 450 independent stores in the city, many of them family-run and a large share operated by immigrant owners, sit closest to the proposed sites, and their operators say pricing and location decisions by a city-backed competitor could pull away the foot traffic they depend on. John Catsimatidis, the chief executive of the supermarket chain Gristedes, opposes the city-run model but said he was not familiar with the constitutional clause Mr. Blakeman cited. His alternative: rather than build new stores, the city could subsidize existing grocers who buy in bulk and require them to pass the savings to customers.

Whether the legal theory holds is another question. James M. McGuire, a former state appellate judge who served as chief counsel to former Republican Governor George Pataki, cautioned that existing New York Court of Appeals precedent could make Mr. Blakeman’s argument difficult to sustain. Courts have generally given lawmakers wide latitude to define what counts as a public purpose, a deference that has blunted past gift-and-loan challenges. A suit would likely turn on how directly the arrangement channels benefit to a private operator versus the public at large.

The clash also feeds directly into the governor’s race. Gov. Kathy Hochul, who backed Mr. Mamdani’s mayoral bid, told a business breakfast last August that she “supports free enterprise,” but she has largely stayed quiet on the grocery plan since. Mr. Blakeman, who carries President Donald Trump’s endorsement, trails Ms. Hochul by about six points in some polls, and he appears intent on making the cost of living and the proper role of government the center of his campaign. A courtroom fight over the grocery stores would give him a high-profile vehicle to press that case, whatever its odds of success.

For now, the plan remains on track inside City Hall, with site scouting underway and no store yet open. Mr. Blakeman’s threat adds legal uncertainty to a program already facing questions about pricing, supply chains and operating costs, and it signals that the first city-owned shelves, whenever they arrive, may open under the shadow of litigation.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A highly unusual incident that ended due to a mistaken identity occurred a short time ago at the intersection of Jerusalem Boulevard and Ba’al HaNes Street in Ashdod’s Seventh District neighborhood.

A local yeshiva student, a member of the Gur Hasidic community, sustained minor injuries and his glasses were broken as a result of physical force used by law enforcement personnel dressed in civilian clothing.

According to initial reports, a police unit was operating in the area to locate a person wanted for questioning in connection with a child support case. The officers identified the yeshiva student and instructed him to stop. Since he is classified as a military service deserter, the report states that he attempted to flee the scene.

הפרגוד: רובע ז’ אשדוד: אברך חסיד גור נעצר באכזריות בגלל טעות בזיהוי pic.twitter.com/DP7ikjY3fn

— הפרגוד (@moshepargod) July 12, 2026

The officers then pursued him briefly, restrained him with handcuffs and leg restraints, and used targeted physical force against him, resulting in his clothing being torn, his glasses being broken, and bruises to his body. Only after he had been restrained did the officers conduct a check through the police system and discover that it was a complete case of mistaken identity and that he was not the individual they were seeking.

According to eyewitnesses who were present at the scene, once the mistake was discovered, the officers immediately removed the restraints from the yeshiva student, entered their vehicle, and left the area without identifying themselves, providing medical assistance, or leaving any contact details.

The police responded: “In response to media inquiries and following the arrest incident involving a charedi individual in Ashdod, we clarify that this was police activity carried out under a judicial order and as part of an ongoing investigation. During the operation, an individual was identified who began fleeing the scene and refused to identify himself. It was later determined that this was a case of mistaken identity, and he was released at the location.”

“The incident has been referred for review by the authorized officials, and upon completion, the necessary lessons will be drawn. The Israel Police regrets the distress and anguish caused and will continue to operate while ensuring the protection of citizens’ rights.”

The way consumers shop online is rapidly changing, with purchasing decisions increasingly beginning inside AI-powered assistants rather than on traditional retailer websites. As more shoppers turn to platforms such as ChatGPT, Claude, Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot for product recommendations, retailers are racing to ensure their products appear where those conversations begin.

“The shelf moved,” said Matthew Bouchner, founder and chief executive of AI commerce startup Satsuma.ai. “It is inside the assistant now.”

Shopping Begins Inside the Chat

The shift reflects a broader change in online commerce. On February 16, OpenAI introduced its “Buy it in ChatGPT” shopping experience, allowing U.S. users to purchase products from Etsy sellers and later Shopify merchants through technology built with Stripe. Today, ChatGPT serves more than 700 million weekly users, with shopping-related questions becoming an increasingly significant part of overall usage.

Major retailers have moved quickly to participate. Walmart integrated approximately 200,000 products into the ChatGPT shopping experience, recognizing that consumers are increasingly asking AI assistants what to buy before ever visiting a retailer’s website.

While OpenAI later shifted away from completing purchases directly inside ChatGPT, instead directing shoppers to retailers’ own checkout systems, the broader trend has continued. Retailers increasingly view AI assistants as another important customer touchpoint rather than simply another search engine.

Retailers Are Rethinking Their Digital Strategy

Industry analysts say retailers are still determining the best way to integrate with AI assistants.

“No one has this figured out,” said Emily Pfeiffer, principal analyst at Forrester.

Bob Hetu, vice president analyst at Gartner, said many retailers underestimated the complexity of allowing external AI assistants to securely interact with inventory systems, customer accounts and checkout platforms.

For retailers, the challenge extends beyond simply appearing in search results. Consumers are asking AI assistants to recommend products, compare options, locate inventory nearby and assemble complete shopping lists. If the information an assistant provides is outdated or incomplete, retailers risk losing sales before a customer ever reaches their website.

Building the Infrastructure for AI Commerce

That opportunity is driving companies such as Satsuma.ai, which says it enables retailers to connect inventory, shopping carts, checkout systems and loyalty programs across multiple AI assistants through a single integration.

The platform is built around the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an emerging open standard designed to help AI systems securely interact with external business software. According to the company, retailers can connect once and make their data available across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and their own AI-powered customer service platforms.

Bouchner previously founded MealMe, a shopping application that grew to more than one million users and raised $8 million in funding before evolving into Satsuma.ai. He argues that AI commerce represents a shift similar to the early days of e-commerce, when retailers that delayed investing in online shopping spent years trying to catch up.

A Battle Over Industry Standards

The race to become the standard for AI commerce is intensifying.

Google has introduced its own commerce protocol through Shopify, while retailers increasingly evaluate whether to support multiple AI ecosystems.

At the same time, companies including Amazon have taken a more guarded approach, limiting outside access to shopping data as competition among AI platforms accelerates.

For many retailers, the practical question is no longer whether customers will shop through AI assistants—but how to ensure their products are accurately represented wherever those purchasing conversations take place.

The Stakes for Retailers

Supporters of agentic commerce—the growing practice of allowing AI systems to research and complete purchases on behalf of consumers—project the market could reach $175 billion by 2030.

Although many of the technologies remain in their early stages, analysts broadly agree that AI-assisted shopping is becoming an increasingly important part of the retail landscape.

For retailers, the opportunity extends beyond selling products online. As more consumers ask AI assistants for recommendations, the companies that successfully integrate into those conversations may gain an advantage in influencing purchasing decisions before shoppers ever visit a traditional online storefront.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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Four Israeli settlers were arrested on Shabbos morning on suspicion of involvement in an incident with a foreign television news crew near the Arab village of Sinjil in the Binyamin region, after reports that the journalists’ vehicle was blocked and damaged.

According to Israel Police, several foreign journalists were traveling near Sinjil when a group of suspects allegedly blocked their vehicle and caused damage to it. Following the report, IDF troops from the Shomron Brigade were dispatched to the scene, secured the area, enabled the journalists to continue on their way, and detained four individuals suspected of involvement in the incident.

Officers from the Binyamin Police Station later arrived at the scene, arrested the suspects, took statements from members of the media crew, and located the suspects’ vehicle, which was seized as part of the investigation.

During a search of the vehicle, police said they recovered several clubs and a knife. The four suspects were taken to the Binyamin Police Station for questioning, and the investigation remains ongoing.

According to a report by military correspondent Doron Kadosh, the journalists involved were members of a CNN news crew. One member of the team was reportedly involved in a previous incident with an IDF reserve unit in the Arab village of Tayasir. The report added that the suspects allegedly blocked the crew’s vehicle and punctured one of its tires.

Police and the IDF said they view acts of violence and property damage with great seriousness, particularly when directed at journalists carrying out their work. Authorities emphasized, however, that the investigation is still in its early stages and that the allegations against the suspects have not yet been proven.

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Attorney Miriam Frenkel-Shor, the legal adviser to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, has issued a legal opinion stating that a proposed amendment to Israel’s Security Service Law, which would freeze the arrest of charedi yeshiva students who fail to report for military service, raises significant constitutional concerns and may not withstand review by Israel’s High Court of Justice.

Ahead of Sunday’s committee vote on the law, Frenkel-Shor concluded that the current draft differs substantially from previous legislative proposals. According to her opinion, earlier frameworks sought to balance recognition of the importance of Torah study with efforts to reduce inequality in the burden of military service. By contrast, she argues, the current proposal focuses almost exclusively on granting a special arrangement for yeshiva students without sufficient balancing mechanisms.

The legal opinion states that the bill would effectively suspend arrests, criminal investigations, and legal proceedings against yeshiva students who do not report for military service, including those who may fail to report in the future. According to the committee’s legal adviser, this arrangement undermines the principles of equality before the law and law enforcement while placing a substantial administrative burden on the IDF and the Military Advocate General’s Office, which would be required to review tens of thousands of individual cases within a limited timeframe.

Frenkel-Shor also criticized the bill’s oversight provisions. She wrote that the proposed monitoring mechanism would be ineffective because inspections are scheduled to begin only after the Bein Hazmanim vacation period, leaving little time for meaningful supervision. She further noted that several enforcement provisions were removed from the draft, including sanctions against institutions or officials who submit false affidavits.

According to the opinion, the bill also lacks enlistment targets, personal or institutional sanctions, withdrawal of financial benefits, budget reductions, or other measures intended to encourage military service. In her view, the absence of these elements effectively creates a sector-specific exemption from military service obligations without adequate safeguards to offset the impact on the principle of equality.

Frenkel-Shor concludes that even if the legislation is enacted as a temporary measure, that alone would not cure its constitutional deficiencies. She argues that combining a freeze on criminal proceedings with effective oversight and the suspension of certain economic benefits could have alleviated some of the legal concerns, but those balancing mechanisms are absent from the current version of the bill.

According to the position reflected by the legal adviser to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, there appears to be no legal difficulty with the fact that tens of thousands of yeshiva students and kollel scholars have, against their will, become lawbreakers as a result of the High Court’s ruling and the legal adviser’s directives. Nor is there any concern that they now feel persecuted and fearful every time they leave their homes.There is evidently no constitutional problem with otherwise law-abiding citizens being subjected to degrading treatment by the authorities and being afraid to turn to the police for assistance after experiencing violent attacks.

Apparently there are those who seek to preserve the current chaos in Israel’s streets during the election period and to assist the enemies of Torah in continuing an unprecedented campaign of persecution against Torah scholars.

After years of sharp increases, auto insurance premiums are beginning to stabilize in many parts of the country, but drivers are still paying significantly more than they were just a few years ago.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, auto insurance costs increased more than 64% between September 2020 and September 2025, making insurance one of the fastest-rising household expenses during that period.

There are now signs that the pace of increases is slowing.

Insurance marketplace Insurify reports the average annual premium for full-coverage auto insurance declined about 6% during 2025 to approximately $2,144, with only modest changes expected during 2026.

Another industry comparison site, The Zebra, estimates the national average now stands near $2,250 per year, although premiums vary widely depending on location and driving history.

The biggest differences remain regional.

Drivers in Washington, D.C. currently face some of the nation’s highest premiums, while states including Florida, Louisiana, Nevada and Michigan also remain among the most expensive markets.

Meanwhile, many lower-density states experienced premium declines during the past year as insurers returned to profitability.

Industry experts say the dramatic increases seen over the past several years were driven by multiple factors.

Vehicle repair costs climbed sharply because of inflation, supply-chain disruptions and increasingly sophisticated vehicle technology.

Labor shortages and higher medical costs also pushed insurance claims higher.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, insurers experienced one of their most challenging underwriting periods in decades before filing substantial premium increases to restore profitability.

Now that many companies have improved their financial results, some insurers have begun slowing—or even reducing—premium increases for lower-risk drivers.

However, not every driver is benefiting equally.

Motorists with recent accidents, traffic violations, DUI convictions or poor credit histories continue facing significantly higher premiums than drivers with clean records.

Teen drivers also remain among the most expensive groups to insure.

Another potential challenge remains on the horizon.

Industry analysts warn that tariffs on imported automobile parts could increase repair costs if they remain in place, potentially leading insurers to raise premiums again in future policy renewals.

Consumer advocates continue recommending that drivers compare quotes from multiple insurers before renewing coverage.

Raising deductibles, bundling home and auto insurance, maintaining safe driving records and participating in usage-based insurance programs can often reduce annual premiums.

For consumers, the encouraging news is that the period of rapid double-digit insurance increases appears to be slowing.

However, overall premiums remain near record highs, and affordability continues varying significantly depending on where drivers live and their individual risk profiles.

As insurers continue adjusting pricing to changing repair costs, weather risks and claim trends, shopping around remains one of the most effective ways for drivers to reduce insurance expenses.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered insurance or financial advice.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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A new public opinion poll released over the weekend indicates that a majority of Israelis would prefer the next government be formed without the participation of the chareidi parties. The survey also found that former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot is viewed as the country’s most credible political leader, while Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu received significantly lower marks for trustworthiness.

The survey, conducted by Mano Geva in cooperation with the Midgam Institute and iPanel for Channel 12 News, measured public perceptions of Israel’s leading political figures as well as voter preferences regarding the composition of the next governing coalition.

According to the findings, 54% of respondents rated Eisenkot’s credibility as good overall, while only 29% gave him a negative rating. The results place the former IDF chief at the top of the political field in terms of perceived reliability, a potentially significant advantage as Israel moves closer to elections.

Netanyahu, by contrast, received considerably weaker ratings. Sixty percent of those surveyed said the prime minister’s credibility is poor, while only 38% gave him a positive rating. The findings reflect continuing public skepticism amid Israel’s prolonged political and legal battles.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett also received mixed reviews. Fifty-three percent of respondents rated his credibility negatively, compared to 41% who viewed him favorably. The poll comes as Bennett recently attended the prestigious Allen & Company conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, while his political party, Beyachad, continues to decline in public opinion surveys.

The survey also examined potential coalition scenarios following the next election.

A majority of respondents—53%—said they oppose the formation of a government that depends on the support or outside backing of the Ra’am party, led by Mansour Abbas. Only 31% expressed support for such an arrangement, suggesting continued public resistance to relying on the Arab party in a governing coalition.

Perhaps the most striking finding concerned the role of the chareidi parties. According to the poll, 61% of Israelis said they would prefer that the next government not include chareidi parties, while only 27% favored including them in the governing coalition.

The results reflect heightened public tensions surrounding the chareidi parties in the wake of ongoing disputes over military conscription, government funding, and legislation affecting the chareidi community.

Hundreds of Chareidim demonstrated near Tzfas’ central bus station on Shabbos for the fifth consecutive week, protesting the operation of bus routes before Shabbos had ended. Protesters blocked the city’s main road in an attempt to prevent buses bound for Haifa, Kiryat Shmona, and Nahariya from departing before the conclusion of Shabbos.

The demonstrators clashed with police who moved in to clear the roadway and disperse the crowd, while dozens of secular residents staged a counter-protest, objecting to the road closures and the disruption to traffic.

The protests reflect broader tensions over the character of Tzfas, where the Chareidi community now accounts for approximately 54% of the city’s population, compared with about 46% from the general population. Some residents from the general population say the city’s shared public character has gradually been eroded.

The events in Tzfas come as similar disputes over public Shabbos observance have taken place elsewhere in Israel, including recent demonstrations outside a cafe in Jerusalem’s Machane Yehuda market.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Swedish newspaper Expressen has reported on a troubling incident in which a Jewish physician says he was dismissed after a verbal confrontation with a colleague whom he describes as expressing antisemitic, pro-Palestinian views.

The incident occurred during a workday between Dr. Gregory Zvi Varshavsky, 69, and a fellow physician against the backdrop of the war in Israel. The confrontation took place at the private healthcare company Meliva, near Stockholm, and has sparked public debate because of what critics describe as a contrast between the doctor’s treatment and the tolerance shown toward pro-Palestinian demonstrations by medical staff in Sweden. Although the incident took place last year, it was disclosed publicly by Dr. Varshavsky only in recent days.

During a break, Dr. Varshavsky was sitting in the hospital café when a colleague of Middle Eastern origin approached him and asked whether he was Jewish. After he replied that he was, she asked him, “Why are you killing Palestinian children?”

Dr. Varshavsky tried to defuse the situation, responding, “I’m Jewish, but I don’t live in Israel and I have no connection to the military.” According to his account, the physician then shouted at him in front of other staff members, “You can go to hell, you damned Jew.”

Dr. Varshavsky reported the incident to the medical center’s director and filed a formal complaint alleging discrimination and antisemitism. The director reportedly assured him that the matter would be addressed.

Shortly after filing the complaint, the medical center informed Dr. Varshavsky that his employment contract would not be renewed, a decision he interpreted as retaliation for submitting the complaint.

The case has generated criticism in Sweden over what some have described as a double standard within the healthcare system. At the same time that the Jewish doctor was allegedly dismissed, physicians and other medical staff in Sweden held political demonstrations inside hospitals while wearing official work uniforms.

Those demonstrations were held in support of the director of a hospital in Gaza who had been arrested by Israel on suspicion of membership in Hamas, and hospital administrations reportedly allowed the protests to take place.

Meliva stated that it conducted a thorough investigation and found no evidence that Dr. Varshavsky’s Jewish background influenced its decision. The company characterized the incident as “a personal conflict” rather than discrimination.

The company added that neither of the two individuals involved in the confrontation, Dr. Varshavsky nor the physician who allegedly made the antisemitic remark,is currently employed by Meliva.

“We emphasize that discrimination and antisemitism are incompatible with Meliva’s values, and such matters are addressed if an employee acts contrary to our principles,” the company said in a statement. “Beyond that, we cannot comment on individual personnel matters or information relating to private individuals.”

A quick and coordinated response by Chaverim Of Rockland saved an elderly Monsey couple from losing $51,000 Friday after they fell victim to a sophisticated Microsoft tech support scam that lasted for hours.

The ordeal began early Friday when a pop-up message appeared on the couple’s computer claiming it had been compromised. Moments later, scammers posing as Microsoft representatives contacted the couple and convinced them that criminals had used their computer to commit serious crimes. The callers falsely claimed federal authorities would arrest them unless they immediately followed their instructions.

For hours, the scammers manipulated and intimidated the couple, keeping them on the phone the entire time and ordering them not to hang up or speak with anyone else. Under immense pressure, the elderly couple drove to their bank and insisted on wiring $51,000 to an account controlled by the scammers.

Even after they returned home, the scammers continued trying to gain access to additional bank accounts and personal information through the compromised computer in an attempt to steal even more money.

Shortly before 5:00 p.m., the wife began to realize something didn’t seem right and contacted Chaverim Of Rockland.

Recognizing the urgency, Chaverim immediately dispatched one volunteer to the couple’s home while another rushed directly to the bank. In a race against the clock, the volunteer worked with bank employees to stop the wire transfer while it was still being processed, successfully saving the couple’s entire $51,000. At the same time, the volunteer at the home helped disconnect the scammers, secure the computer, and begin protecting the couple’s financial accounts from further compromise.

The Ramapo Police Department responded to the residence and took a report.

This incident is a stark reminder that Microsoft, Apple, the FTC, banks, and law enforcement agencies will never demand that you wire money, purchase gift cards, or threaten you with arrest over the phone or through a computer pop-up. If you receive a suspicious call or message, hang up immediately and contact a trusted family member, your bank, local police, or Chaverim/Shormim before taking any action.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Getting into Harvard is easier than getting hired at Bending Spoons.

The Milan-based technology company, which acquired AOL in January, revealed in regulatory filings tied to its July 1 Nasdaq debut that it hired just 286 people in 2025 from roughly 800,000 job applications—an acceptance rate of about 0.04%. That’s about one hire for every 2,800 applicants, making it one of the most selective employers in the technology industry.

The statistic quickly became one of the most talked-about disclosures from the company’s IPO. While most employers are trying to fill openings, Bending Spoons has built its business around hiring only a tiny number of people and using technology, acquisitions and artificial intelligence to multiply what each employee can accomplish.

Chief Executive Luca Ferrari, 41, co-founded the company in 2013 after an earlier startup, Evertale, failed, leaving him and his partners with about $40,000. Today, the company employs only about 620 people, known internally as “Spooners,” despite owning some of the internet’s best-known brands.

Getting hired is deliberately difficult. Applicants go through résumé screenings, timed problem-solving and behavioral assessments that the company says “might not even appear strictly related to the role,” followed by multiple interviews. Every final hiring decision is made by a committee rather than an individual manager, a process Bending Spoons says is designed to reduce bias and reward problem-solving ability over pedigree. Applicants who are turned down must wait a full year before applying again.

Ferrari describes the company as “the best of both worlds of Berkshire Hathaway and a technology company,” and elsewhere as roughly one-quarter private equity firm and three-quarters technology company. Its strategy is straightforward: acquire widely used subscription apps that have stalled, rebuild the underlying technology with a lean engineering team, reduce costs and often increase subscription prices.

That formula has reshaped several well-known brands. Evernote, acquired for $200 million in 2023, raised the price of its annual subscription from $100 to $249. Users of Vimeo and WeTransfer have seen similar increases. The company’s growing portfolio now includes AOL, Vimeo, Eventbrite, Brightcove, Meetup, WeTransfer, Evernote and the AI-powered photo app Remini. Together, those platforms reach more than 500 million monthly users and approximately 9 million paying subscribers.

The hiring story looks very different for employees who join through acquisitions rather than applying directly. Bending Spoons said it inherited 1,830 full-time employees through its acquisitions of AOL, Eventbrite and Vimeo, but expects only a few hundred will remain once those companies are fully integrated later this year. The company recorded $78.6 million in reorganization costs during 2025 as part of those workforce reductions. The contrast is striking: extraordinarily difficult to join as a Spooner, yet many employees acquired through corporate deals ultimately don’t remain.

The strategy is paying off financially. Revenue generated per Spooner climbed from $1.12 million in 2023 to $2.57 million in 2025, a jump the company partly attributes to artificial intelligence. Overall revenue reached $1.31 billion in 2025, while the first quarter of 2026 produced $601 million in revenue and $27.5 million in net income, compared with a $112 million loss during the same period a year earlier.

Investors have largely embraced the story. Bending Spoons priced its IPO at $29 per share, above the expected $26-to-$28 range, raising approximately $1.68 billion and valuing the company at about $18.4 billion. Shares surged after the debut, briefly pushing its market value above $25 billion, before settling back. The stock has recently traded around $33 per share, giving the company a market value of roughly $20 billion, down from an intraday high near $44. The company’s acquisition spree has been financed heavily with debt, leaving about $6 billion on its balance sheet.

The four co-founders who continue to lead the company—Luca Ferrari, Matteo Danieli, Francesco Patarnello and Luca Querella—became paper billionaires through the IPO while retaining more than 80% of the company’s voting power.

Ferrari has never hidden his philosophy. “If someone wants to see nothing change, we’re not a good buyer,” he has said of companies Bending Spoons acquires. And the acquisition pipeline isn’t slowing down. The company reviewed more than 2,500 potential acquisition targets in 2025, closely evaluated about 200, completed six deals and says it has identified more than 1,000 additional companies that could eventually become acquisition candidates.

For today’s labor market, Bending Spoons offers a glimpse of where some executives believe technology is heading: a $20 billion company powered by only a few hundred carefully selected employees, using acquisitions and artificial intelligence to produce more with fewer people. Whether that model becomes the future of work remains to be seen, but one statistic already stands out—286 hires from 800,000 applicants.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Sunday approved for its second and third readings a bill that would temporarily freeze the arrests of yeshiva bochurim whose full-time occupation is Torah study.

The measure passed by a narrow 8-7 vote, subject to a procedural reconsideration, and is expected to head to the Knesset plenum for final approval.

At the heart of the proposal is a temporary order that would suspend the arrests of eligible yeshiva students from the time the law takes effect through November 30, 2026, recognizing the importance of full-time Torah study.

Under the legislation, a yeshiva bochur will qualify if he studies Torah for at least 45 hours per week. Kollel yungeleit will be required to study at least 40 hours weekly, excluding vacation periods determined by the Defense Minister.

The Defense Minister will also be responsible for compiling the list of yeshivos eligible for the arrangement. Institutions will be required to certify that they meet the law’s study requirements.

The legislation establishes a new oversight mechanism under the Defense Ministry. Inspectors will be permitted to work together with the Education Ministry’s existing inspection system to verify compliance.

If inspectors determine that 20 percent or more of students at a yeshiva are repeatedly absent, the rosh yeshiva will receive a warning. Should the excessive absenteeism continue, the institution will be removed from the list of recognized yeshivos under the arrangement, and its students would be required to transfer to another approved yeshiva to remain eligible.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

MK Tali Gotliv is threatening not to run on the Likud list if the party does not hold democratic primaries, as an internal battle over the party’s election process intensifies ahead of an expected vote on proposed reforms.

“If there are no primaries, I will consider not running in the Likud,” Gotliv said, according to remarks quoted by Yehuda Schlesinger in a Walla report. She argued that Likud is “not a party of appointments, but a party of democratic voters,” adding that “the fact that people are afraid of finishing low in the primaries is not a reason to cancel the primaries.”

Her ultimatum comes as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to present a “Primaries Plus” proposal to the party’s Constitution Committee on Sunday. Under the reported plan, the party would still hold primaries, while increasing the number of reserved slots to nine or ten, reducing the number of district representatives from ten to six or seven, and moving district representatives to the 30th spot on the list and lower.

Beyond the political dispute, the prolonged delay in approving the party’s election process has also created financial pressure for Likud lawmakers and ministers. Under party rules, each MK and minister is eligible for approximately 380,000 shekels in Knesset campaign financing, but applications must be submitted no later than 20 days before the primary election.

If the primaries are held on August 4, as currently expected, the deadline to submit funding requests will fall this coming Wednesday. Any further delay in formally approving the election process could leave candidates without campaign funding, increasing pressure on party leaders to reach a decision.

According to the report, some party officials believe the financial pressure could ultimately force a decision, even if Netanyahu would prefer to continue delaying the process. Critics of the “Primaries Plus” proposal argue that expanding the number of reserved slots while reducing the influence of district representatives would give Netanyahu greater control over the composition of the party’s Knesset list.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A senior leader of Iran’s Jewish community participated in an interfaith conference held in the city of Mashhad on the eve of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s funeral, where he stressed what he described as the distinction between Judaism and Zionism.

The gathering, titled “Religions United Against Global Oppression,” was organized by Iran’s Institute for the Study of Religions and Sects and brought together representatives of the country’s recognized religious minorities.

During the event, Chacham Dr. Younes Hamami, one of the leading rabbis of Iran’s Jewish community, expressed sorrow over what he called “the assassination of the leader of the Islamic Revolution” and the victims of the recent war.

Hamami emphasized the need “to distinguish between Judaism and Zionism.”

“What separates Judaism from the Zionists is the Torah of Israel and the path of Moshe Rabbeinu,” he said. “Even before receiving prophecy, Moshe did not remain indifferent to injustice—whether against the Egyptians, in disputes among his own people, or in defending strangers. He always chose justice.”

He added that, according to the Torah, “injustice and wrongdoing are a deviation from the Divine path, and all human beings, as descendants of Adam, are responsible for one another.”

“Every individual and every nation must stand against injustice in every possible way, because remaining silent in the face of the mistakes and injustices of others makes a person a partner in that injustice. The ultimate victory belongs to those who act according to G-d’s path of justice and righteousness,” he said.

The conference was held the night before Khamenei’s funeral and focused on what organizers described as “the role of religions in confronting global oppression and defending the oppressed.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Goldman Sachs has barred employees from placing bets on prediction markets involving financial markets, elections, geopolitics and major economic events, expanding its personal trading policy as Wall Street responds to growing concerns over insider trading and conflicts of interest.

The revised policy, confirmed Thursday, July 9, prohibits employees from trading event contracts tied to individual companies, financial markets, election outcomes, geopolitical conflicts and other events where employees could potentially possess material nonpublic information.

According to a policy document reviewed by Bloomberg News, the restrictions also cover contracts involving Goldman Sachs itself, including wagers related to possible mergers, acquisitions, restructurings or other corporate events.

Employees who repeatedly violate the policy could face disciplinary action, including termination, while the bank also reserves the right to recover improper profits or require gains exceeding $200 to be donated to charity.

A Goldman Sachs spokesperson declined to comment on specific provisions of the policy but reiterated that employees are prohibited from trading on material nonpublic information across all markets.

The move represents one of the strongest restrictions adopted by a major Wall Street bank as prediction markets rapidly expand beyond sports into finance, politics, economics and global events.

Only months ago, Goldman Sachs Chief Executive David Solomon publicly praised prediction markets, calling them “super interesting” after meeting with executives from leading event-trading platforms.

The firm’s position shifted following increased regulatory scrutiny.

In May, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice charged a Google employee with allegedly using confidential company information to profit from contracts traded on Polymarket, marking one of the first insider trading cases centered on an event-betting platform.

Regulators alleged the employee earned approximately $1.2 million by trading contracts linked to Google’s annual “Year in Search” rankings using information unavailable to the public.

The case highlighted a growing challenge facing employers.

Prediction markets now allow participants to wager on thousands of possible outcomes, including corporate earnings, mergers, Federal Reserve decisions, inflation reports, ceasefires, elections and cryptocurrency prices. That expansion creates more opportunities for employees with inside information to improperly profit from future events.

Compliance experts say traditional insider trading policies technically cover these markets, but many firms are now explicitly adding prediction-market language to eliminate uncertainty.

Goldman Sachs is not alone.

Several major financial institutions have begun reviewing or strengthening their policies. JPMorgan Chase has advised employees to exercise caution when trading financial event contracts, while Morgan Stanley points to existing insider trading rules governing employee conduct.

Some hedge funds have gone even further. Point72 Asset Management and Balyasny Asset Management have prohibited employees from participating in prediction markets entirely.

Government officials have also become increasingly concerned.

Earlier this year, White House officials reportedly reminded staff that using confidential government information to trade prediction-market contracts could violate ethics rules and federal law after unusual trading activity appeared ahead of several major policy announcements.

The rapid growth of platforms such as Polymarket and Kalshi has attracted millions of users seeking to trade contracts tied to political, economic and business events rather than traditional stocks or commodities.

Supporters argue prediction markets improve forecasting by aggregating information from thousands of participants. Critics counter that the markets create new opportunities for insider trading, market manipulation and conflicts of interest.

For Goldman Sachs, the legal and reputational risks appear to outweigh any benefits.

The bank spends heavily monitoring employee trading activity across stocks, bonds and other securities. Expanding those controls to prediction markets reflects the growing view that event contracts now present many of the same compliance risks as traditional financial instruments.

As prediction markets continue expanding into mainstream finance, more banks, investment firms and corporations are expected to adopt similar restrictions to reduce legal exposure and protect confidential information.

Goldman Sachs’ decision signals that Wall Street increasingly views prediction markets not simply as a new form of speculation, but as another area requiring strict compliance oversight in an era when almost any future event can become a tradable contract.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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Meta Platforms began charging businesses to use one of its artificial-intelligence models for the first time on Thursday, July 9, when Mark Zuckerberg rolled out an upgraded model called Muse Spark 1.1 alongside a public preview of the new Meta Model API. In an interview with Bloomberg News timed to the launch, the chief executive said the company would compete on cost, describing the pricing as “very aggressive and attractive” and taking direct aim at the fat margins he says rival labs charge for comparable tools.

The numbers back up the pitch. According to Meta’s own developer blog, the Meta Model API will charge $1.25 per million input tokens and $4.25 per million output tokens, with $20 in free credits for every new account. Zuckerberg put that at roughly a quarter of what OpenAI and Anthropic charge for models in the same class. The preview is open to developers in the United States at launch, with additional access handled through a waitlist.

For Meta, the move is less about the model than about the business behind it. The company built its AI reputation by giving its Llama models away for free, arguing open-source software was good for the industry and bad for closed-model competitors. Muse Spark 1.1 is the opposite: proprietary, closed-weight, and reachable only through Meta’s apps or the paid interface. It marks the first time the company has turned one of its models into a direct revenue line, and it plants Meta squarely in the market for paid developer tools that OpenAI and Anthropic have largely had to themselves.

The man driving the shift is Alexandr Wang, the 28-year-old former co-founder of Scale AI whom Zuckerberg brought in last summer to run Meta Superintelligence Labs. Meta paid $14.3 billion for a 49% nonvoting stake in Scale AI in June 2025 and handed Wang a newly created chief AI officer role after the disappointing reception of the Llama 4 series. Wang echoed his boss on price, positioning the new model against offerings from Anthropic and OpenAI and calling it Meta’s strongest work yet for coding and agent-style tasks.

Agents are the selling point. Muse Spark 1.1 is a multimodal reasoning model with a one-million-token context window, built to plan and carry out multi-step jobs across outside apps, use software and tools, write and debug code, and read text, images and video in a single pass. Zuckerberg described its reasoning and tool use as state-of-the-art or close to it, and said Meta employees have already been using the model in-house to build features across the company’s products. He also claimed it beat Alphabet‘s Gemini on several benchmarks tied to agents, coding and multimodal work — in his telling, the first time Meta’s models have topped all of Google’s.

Meta lined up early partners to make the case. Replit chief executive Amjad Masad pointed to the long context window and the model’s coding strength, particularly on front-end and design work. Cline chief executive Saoud Rizwan said the pricing makes it realistic to run heavy coding jobs at scale. Yashodha Bhavnani, who runs AI products at Box, said the model held its own against top frontier systems on the company’s internal tests. A quiet but important detail: the Meta Model API speaks both the OpenAI and Anthropic software formats, so a developer can point an existing setup at Muse Spark by changing a web address and a key rather than rebuilding anything.

That compatibility is the sharp edge of the strategy. It lowers the cost of switching to near zero at the same moment Meta is undercutting the field on price — a squeeze aimed at pure-play labs that need model revenue to survive. Meta, by contrast, funds its AI push with an advertising machine and has told investors it will spend as much as $135 billion to $145 billion on capital projects this year.

Investors were split on the day. Meta shares opened lower, trading down about 3.5% near $581.70 in the first hour, then reversed higher through the session as the market weighed the new revenue angle against the spending. The stock had already jumped about 9% on July 1 on separate reports that Meta plans to sell excess cloud capacity. The company carries a market value near $1.51 trillion, and Wall Street’s consensus rating sits at “strong buy” with an average 12-month target around $824.

The open question is whether cut-rate pricing wins share fast enough to justify the outlay. Zuckerberg is betting that getting Meta’s technology into as many hands as possible matters more than protecting margins today — and that the companies charging premium rates will feel the pressure first.

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Vivani Medical is wagering that a matchstick-sized device tucked under the skin can fix the costliest weakness of the blockbuster weight-loss drugs: keeping patients on them long enough to hold onto the pounds they shed. On Tuesday, July 7, the Alameda, California biopharmaceutical company said it had signed an agreement letting Novo Nordisk run an internal evaluation of NPM-139, its experimental implant that releases semaglutide — the same molecule inside Novo’s Wegovy obesity injection and Ozempic diabetes shot — in a slow, steady dose over six months to a year. Adam Mendelsohn, Vivani’s president and chief executive, said the deal reflects Novo’s interest in the platform and reinforces the company’s confidence in a “market opportunity” for a treatment patients could receive once or twice a year.

The pitch is aimed squarely at a real and expensive problem. Real-world studies show that up to 65% of GLP-1 users stop treatment within a year of starting, driven off by cost, gastrointestinal side effects and the burden of weekly injections. One large analysis of more than 125,000 patients found 64.8% of those without type 2 diabetes discontinued within a year, versus 46.5% of those with diabetes. The consequences show up on the scale: withdrawal trials such as STEP 4 and SURMOUNT-4 found that roughly two-thirds of lost weight is regained within a year of stopping, often erasing the metabolic gains that made the drugs so sought after in the first place. An implant that delivers the medicine automatically for months removes the daily and weekly decision-making that trips patients up.

Vivani’s device is essentially a tiny titanium reservoir preloaded with a fixed dose of semaglutide, built on the company’s proprietary NanoPortal platform, which is designed to leak the drug out at a controlled rate. Mendelsohn has argued the approach could also blunt the nausea and other side effects tied to the peaks and troughs of injections, and the company says the implant can be removed or swapped for a higher or lower dose if needed — a feature it frames as giving patients the “peace of mind” of stopping whenever necessary. Skeptics note the flip side: those insertion and removal procedures add friction for patients and clinicians that a self-administered pen does not.

The Novo agreement carries no exclusivity, licensing terms or upfront payment, and amounts to the world’s dominant obesity player kicking the tires rather than committing. Novo confirmed the arrangement and said it aims to complement its own research with outside innovation. Still, for a company Vivani’s size, the validation matters. The stock closed near $1.60 on July 8, giving the clinical-stage firm a market value of roughly $116 million — a rounding error against a GLP-1 market that some analysts project could top $100 billion by the early 2030s. Lake Street rates the shares a buy with a $4 price target, though the company still carries no revenue and steady losses.

The science remains early. In June, an Australian human research ethics committee cleared Vivani to begin SLIM-1, the first human study of the semaglutide implant. The Phase 1 trial, expected to start in mid-2026, will enroll about 20 overweight or obese adults who have never taken a GLP-1, testing the implant’s safety, tolerability and drug levels against a low starting dose of Wegovy over four weeks. Vivani chose Australia partly to tap government research tax incentives. Preclinical work has been encouraging — a single implant produced more than 20% sham-adjusted weight loss sustained for a full year in animals — but human efficacy is unproven, and the road from a four-week safety readout to a marketable product runs through a Phase 2 dose-ranging study and years of larger trials.

For the broader industry, Vivani’s bet underscores where the obesity gold rush is heading next. The first wave of competition was about who could produce the most weight loss; Wegovy has averaged about 15% over 68 weeks, reaching nearly 28% at a higher dose. The next battle is durability and adherence — turning a drug people quit into a therapy people stay on. Whether the answer is an implant, a cheaper oral pill, or better insurance coverage is unsettled, and questions about the implant’s eventual price and reimbursement remain wide open. But the maintenance problem is now the field’s central commercial question, and a small California biotech has put a physical device on the table as one possible fix. With Novo Nordisk watching, the coming Phase 1 data will determine whether the idea graduates from intriguing to investable.

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The Interior Department and the Commerce Department finalized a rule on Friday, July 10, that narrows one of the most consequential words in American environmental law, clearing habitat that had been off-limits for half a century for use by energy producers, farmers, fishing operations, miners and developers. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the action restores common sense and gives landowners certainty, framing a change that turns on the single word “harm” in the Endangered Species Act.

For more than four decades, federal regulators treated “harm” to a protected species as including significant destruction or degradation of the habitat it needs to feed, shelter and breed. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld that reading in 1995. The new rule scraps it. Going forward, a project can impair the place where a threatened or endangered species lives without running afoul of the law, so long as the activity does not directly injure or kill the animal itself.

The Commerce Department’s role is easy to overlook and central to the business impact. Commerce oversees NOAA Fisheries, the agency responsible for salmon, sturgeon, whales and other marine and migratory species, while the Fish and Wildlife Service inside Interior handles land animals. That split means the rewrite reaches straight into the ocean economy: commercial fishing fleets, aquaculture operators, offshore wind and offshore oil and gas developers, and port and coastal construction projects have all bumped up against habitat-based restrictions tied to listed marine species. In their joint announcement, Interior and Commerce said the rule reduces permitting and compliance costs for energy producers, farms and fishing interests, and returns the statute to what they called its single best meaning rather than a politically stretched one.

That is the crux of the commercial story. The Endangered Species Act is one of the biggest regulatory chokepoints in federal permitting. Any agency weighing a permit for oil and gas, mining, logging, electric transmission or coastal development has to evaluate the effect on listed species, and habitat considerations routinely add years and cost to a project’s timeline. By pulling habitat modification out of the definition of harm, the administration is betting it can accelerate approvals across exactly the sectors it has prioritized. The move aligns with President Donald Trump’s broader push to strip regulations he argues constrain American business.

The legal scaffolding matters for how durable the change proves to be. In their news release, Interior and Commerce leaned on Loper Bright v. Raimondo, the 2024 Supreme Court decision that overturned the long-standing Chevron doctrine, which had directed judges to defer to an agency’s reading of an ambiguous statute. With Chevron gone, courts now interpret statutory text themselves, and the administration is arguing that the plain text of the Act never required the broader habitat definition in the first place. The rule was first proposed in April of last year and, as of Friday afternoon, had not yet appeared in the Federal Register, the step that starts the clock on its legal effect.

Opponents are already moving. The Center for Biological Diversity called the decision a death knell for American wildlife, with senior campaigner Tara Zuardo arguing that habitat destruction is the leading threat to imperiled species and that removing it from the definition of harm guts the law’s purpose. Lawyers at Earthjustice and other conservation groups have signaled litigation, meaning the rule’s real-world staying power will be tested in court before businesses can fully count on it. Environmental groups note the Act is credited with pulling the bald eagle, the California condor and other species back from extinction, and warn that spotted owls, Atlantic salmon and Florida panthers are among those now exposed.

For companies weighing capital decisions, the practical takeaway is mixed. The rule opens a wider lane for extractive and development projects and could shorten permitting timelines, a genuine cost saving in industries where delay is the single largest risk. But the coming legal fight introduces its own uncertainty. A developer who breaks ground relying on the new interpretation could face exposure if a court reinstates the old one, and lenders and insurers tend to price that ambiguity in. The safest near-term posture for regulated businesses is to treat the change as directional rather than settled, and to watch the Federal Register filing and the first court challenges closely.

What is not in dispute is the direction of travel. The administration has signaled the harm rule is one piece of a broader slate of environmental rollbacks aimed at speeding approvals, and Commerce and Interior have now shown they are willing to reach deep into decades-old regulatory language to get there.

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

Meta Platforms shut down one of its newest artificial-intelligence tools on Friday, July 10, telling users that a feature allowing anyone to generate AI images from public Instagram photos was, in the company’s words, no longer available. In a statement updating the product’s launch announcement, a Meta spokesperson conceded the feature “missed the mark,” TheWrap closing out a controversy that had run for barely three days.

The retreat capped a fast-moving episode that began Tuesday, July 7, when Meta introduced Muse Image, its first image-generation model from Meta Superintelligence Labs. RAPPLER The company pitched it as a creative upgrade to its Meta AI assistant — a system that could take a photo as input, understand detailed prompts, and let users tweak the results with simple sketches. Buried in the rollout, however, was a capability that quickly overshadowed everything else: users could manipulate an image of a person simply by tagging that person’s public Instagram account — or any public account at all. Variety

That design decision put the burden on users to say no. The feature applied to account holders over 18 with public profiles, who had to dig into their settings and switch it off to keep their images out of the generator. Variety Meta’s own help documentation acknowledged a further wrinkle: people would not be notified when someone created content using the AI feature. Variety For a platform built on billions of publicly posted photos, the math alarmed users almost immediately.

The pushback came fast and from heavy hitters. Emmy-winning actor Hannah Einbinder, of the series “Hacks,” criticized the feature on Instagram, saying it had switched on automatically and urging followers to disable it. Detroit News On Thursday, SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors and other media professionals, urged members and the broader public to opt out. Detroit News The talent agency CAA, whose client roster includes Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, said it had taken its objections straight to Meta. The agency argued that no one’s name, image, likeness, voice or creative work should be used by any third party, including AI models, without clear and documented consent. Variety

Meta initially tried to hold the line, downplaying the privacy concerns in an early response before reversing course days later. Deadline By Friday the company had folded. Its spokesperson said the original intent was to offer a useful creative tool while giving people control over whether their public content could be referenced, but that the feedback had been heard. Variety Both CAA and SAG-AFTRA welcomed the decision, with CAA commending Meta for moving swiftly to remove the feature. TheWrap

For Meta, the damage is less about a single product than about what it signals. Muse Image was the debut consumer showcase for Meta Superintelligence Labs, the unit into which the company has poured enormous capital and talent as it races OpenAI, Google and others for generative-AI supremacy. Launching a flagship model and yanking its marquee capability within 72 hours is a costly stumble for a division built to prove Meta can ship AI that people trust — not just AI that works.

The reversal also lands on the fault line that now defines the industry: speed versus consent. Tech companies are shipping likeness-based tools faster than the legal and social guardrails around them can form, and the creative economy is pushing back hard. The parallel to OpenAI is direct. Last October, SAG-AFTRA condemned a similar opt-out arrangement on OpenAI’s Sora 2 video model, warning it threatened the economic foundation of the performance industry; that model was later shut down. TheWrap Meta walked into the same trap and exited it just as quickly.

The commercial stakes run beyond Hollywood. Meta’s advertising machine depends on creators and everyday users treating Instagram as a safe place to post. A feature that let strangers remix anyone’s face — with no notification — threatened the trust that underwrites the platform’s engagement and, by extension, its ad inventory. The consent-first standard that CAA and SAG-AFTRA are demanding, if it hardens into regulation, would reshape how every large platform trains and deploys likeness-based models, raising compliance costs across the sector.

For now, Meta has bought itself breathing room by retreating. The harder question is whether Meta Superintelligence Labs can move fast enough to stay competitive while absorbing the lesson that, in consumer AI, launching without consent baked in is no longer a viable strategy. Its next release will be watched for whether the default has changed.

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

Body runs ~760 words. Want me to add a “Market movers” style analyst reaction block on META stock, or keep it as straight tech-policy news?

The U.S. Navy’s top officer, Adm. Daryl Caudle, has sharpened his case that the country does not have enough warships — a warning thrown into relief this weekend as a third round of U.S. strikes on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz stretched a force the admiral says is already running near its limits. Testifying before the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee in May, the 34th Chief of Naval Operations told lawmakers that escorting commercial ships through the contested strait would “exceed” the Navy’s capacity, a blunt admission that the fleet is spread thin at exactly the chokepoints where global commerce is most exposed.

The numbers behind the warning are stark. The Navy fields roughly 291 battle force ships today, well short of the 355 that Congress set as a statutory floor and further still from the service’s own 2023 assessment calling for 381 manned ships plus 134 unmanned platforms. The Navy’s May shipbuilding plan charts a path to about 450 vessels by 2031 under the administration’s “Golden Fleet” initiative, yet the service concedes a hard truth: despite a budget that has roughly doubled over two decades, today’s fleet is no larger than it was in 2003.

The constraint is not mainly money — it is steel and skilled hands. Only two American yards build nuclear-powered warships: Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia and General Dynamics’ Electric Boat in Connecticut. Submarine production is stuck near 1.2 boats a year against a need above two, attack-submarine readiness has slipped to 62% from 67% a year earlier, and the newest aircraft carrier has slid toward the mid-2030s because the yard cannot physically fit the work. Adm. Caudle has told appropriators the industrial base will not reach a two-carrier-a-year cadence until around 2032, four years later than the target his predecessor named in 2023.

Those bottlenecks land against a competitor moving at industrial speed. China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy is now the world’s largest by hull count, fielding upward of 730 vessels and launching destroyers, frigates and submarines faster than Western shipyards can match. Pentagon planners increasingly frame the coming decade as the window that will decide the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, and Adm. Caudle’s push for combat mass — manned and unmanned — is aimed squarely at that clock.

For the defense-industrial base, the CNO’s argument is also a demand signal worth billions. The Golden Fleet envisions a “high-low mix” of high-end combatants, cost-effective frigates and drones: continued Arleigh Burke destroyer production, a new nuclear-powered Trump-class battleship, the FF(X) patrol frigate derived from a Coast Guard cutter, and fleets of medium unmanned surface vessels. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao has cast the effort as a generational investment meant to revive American shipbuilding and create thousands of high-skill jobs. The fiscal 2027 budget request seeks roughly $65.8 billion for Navy shipbuilding, and Navy leaders have signaled the new plan could more than double the 19 hulls funded in fiscal 2026 — a pipeline that flows directly to publicly traded prime contractors and a web of suppliers across dozens of states.

The weekend’s events made the strain concrete. As the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sealed Hormuz and U.S. forces struck Iranian targets for a third time in a week, the Navy’s presence in the region was a fraction of the June wartime surge — recent tallies put roughly six U.S. warships in the Central Command area, including three Arleigh Burke destroyers and three littoral combat ships. The service has kept a blockade posture and mine-clearing options in play, but Adm. Caudle has been candid that de-mining and escort duty in a narrow, contested waterway are among the hardest missions to run, and cannot be switched on at scale until a durable ceasefire reopens the strait.

That gap between mission demand and available hulls is the heart of the CNO’s message. The Navy has set a goal of surging 80% of its force on short notice, but with about a third of the fleet deployed, a third in maintenance and a third in sustainment at any given time, deferred repairs and aging shore infrastructure leave little slack. Adm. Caudle has called the shortfall a “resource issue,” arguing that sustained shipbuilding near the roughly $38 billion a year the Congressional Budget Office estimates — and defense spending closer to 4% of GDP — is what a fleet of the required size would take.

For businesses tied to sea trade, the stakes are not abstract. A Navy stretched thin at chokepoints like Hormuz means thinner protection for the tankers, box ships and energy cargoes that set fuel prices, insurance premiums and supply-chain timetables worldwide. Whether Washington funds the larger fleet Adm. Caudle is asking for — and whether the yards can build it fast enough to matter — will shape both American sea power and the reliability of the trade routes that the global economy runs on.

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

A large-scale search operation is underway in Beit Shemesh after a local resident disappeared on Shabbos morning, prompting growing concern among family members and emergency responders.

ZAKA’s emergency hotline received a report shortly before midnight on Motzoei Shabbos that the man, a resident of Beit Shemesh, had last been seen on Shabbos morning in the Ramat Beit Shemesh D neighborhood and had not returned.

Immediately after receiving the report, ZAKA’s Missing Persons Unit in Beit Shemesh established a field command center to coordinate an extensive search effort throughout the area.

Searches are being conducted in close cooperation with emergency services and security agencies, with volunteers working to locate the missing man as quickly and safely as possible. Members of ZAKA’s Missing Persons Unit are combing the area using advanced technological equipment while gathering and analyzing information from every available source.

Avremi Kapp, commander of ZAKA Beit Shemesh, said, “Immediately upon receiving the report, we established a command center in the field and began directing the search operation from there. Volunteers from ZAKA’s Missing Persons Unit are searching the area, gathering information, and utilizing every resource at their disposal to locate the missing individual as quickly as possible. We hope to share good news soon.”

Authorities have not yet released additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding the disappearance as search efforts continue.

{Matzav.com}

We regret to inform you of the Petirah of Reb Yechiel Drillman Z”L, who was Niftar Erev Shabbos following an illness. He was in his 70s.

Reb Drillman served as a beloved rebbe in Edison for decades, leaving behind thousands of talmidim in Lakewood and around the world.

The Levaya is scheduled to take place on Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at the yeshiva, located at 1 Plainfield Avenue in Edison, New Jersey.

The kevurah will take place in Lakewood.

Baruch Dayan Ha’emes.

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:

Hi Mr. Mayor,

The area we live in, Linden Ave off Ocean, has had way too many blackouts in the 10 years we’ve been here.

For some reason, any time there is a blackout, we are affected. It is unaccepted for anyone’s to have blackouts in the year 2026. I’m not sure if there is any way to do anything about it, but we can’t handle it anymore.

Who can be approached in JCPL to ensure it doesn’t keep on happening? Is it First Energy, the parent company that is in charge?

Yesterday, we had a blackout for 2 1/2 hours! Two weeks ago, we also did. The little kids are scared, it inconveniences everyone, making supper is impossible at times, and foods get spoiled. How can we hold JCPL responsible for the numerous times this happens? We are charged exorbitant rates but they don’t seem to be delivering.

A frustrated Ridge resident

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good afternoon

I completely understand

We have had numerous meetings with JCPL, the BPU and our state legislators to get JCPL to live up to their mandate to supply safe interrupted power to our residents and businesses

They are committed to upgrading their infrastructure in town. The highest piece is the substation off New Hampshire. That will hopefully be done on the coming year

Thanks

Ray

Question:

Dear Mayor:

Thank you for always taking the time to answer the community and forwarding the concerns of the community to their proper places.

I’m writing this in response to the cancellation of the long anticipated amazing 4th of July fireworks show that has been cancelled for tonight 7/5/26. How come Lakewood always cancels the event more than 12 hrs before the event? While other surrounding towns cancel much closer in time if they have to?

We’ve seen this by the Memorial Day parade where Lakewood canceled while all surrounding towns continued on with it!

We’ve seen this other years where the mayor has blamed it on the weather while elsewhere the show went on. As a resident of the community. This is extremely upsetting. Especially knowing what these shows cost us tax payers. Does the township get full reimbursement for every cancelled show? Are the township members pocketing this money because no one is thinking about it? The members of this town have questions. Where is all this money going? We hope it’s not getting lost.

Thank you for doing your best. Looking forward to to hearing back from you!

Response from Mayor Coles:

The last thing I wanted to do was cancel tonight’s celebration. I remember the great times we all had back in 1976 (I know I’m dating myself!) celebrating the 200th. I’ve been looking forward to adding a drone show to our celebrations for several years. I am as disappointed as anyone that we won’t be celebrating America’s birthday together tonight.

It’s important to remember that decisions need to be made up to 12 hours in advance. We need to have our crews make the lake area ready for drone and fireworks crews. Once the fireworks start getting set up, they are ours, whether the go off or not

I just spoke to someone about this a little while ago. He said the forecast said we should be able to do it. I wasn’t trying to be funny but I told him another word for forecast is guess.

The intensity of the storms the last 2 days took many of us by surprise. We finally have power and internet back at my house after 2 days. We had it back for a little while yesterday, but the storms came in around 10:00 PM and then it was gone again

The conditions that allowed those storms to occur are still present today. The decision to postpone was made in part to protect those who had to set everything up and to make sure that those who came to enjoy it could get home safely without having to brave another potential downpour.

At the end of the day it is our responsibility to keep people safe. Sometimes we end up looking bad when the expected storm doesn’t come. On the off chance that it does I want to be able to sleep at night knowing we kept people safe.

I’m sorry for your disappointment but I look forward to sharing the event with you and the rest of our great town later this summer

Ray

(Editor’s note: The letter came in prior to the rescheduling.)

—————–

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

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

A heated debate over Israel’s draft law, the arrests of bnei Torah, and the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study erupted on the “Black Kippahs” program, with lawmakers, journalists, and legal experts clashing over the future of military service and the changing demographics of Israeli society.

Likud MK Osher Shekalim launched a blistering attack on Israel’s judicial system and the opposition, arguing that the recent arrests of draft evaders have only discouraged enlistment.

“The moment these arrests began, all motivation to enlist disappeared,” Shekalim said. “This is purely political. The attorney general is a full-fledged political player who identified a weak point and is trying to create chaos in order to bring down the government. The Left has no interest whatsoever in drafting chareidim. MK Shiri is simply lying and misleading the public.”

Attorney Hadad, who represents draft evaders, echoed that criticism and argued that the military itself has failed to live up to its commitments.

“The army isn’t really interested in chareidim and does not keep its promises,” he said. “The only real solution is to establish a professional army.”

During the discussion, journalist Israel Izikovich presented demographic data showing that, over the past three years, the majority of Jewish children entering first grade have come from the religious and chareidi sectors. He argued that within less than a decade, they will constitute the majority of Israel’s military-age population.

“We’re entering a new era,” Izikovich said. “You are becoming the minority, while we are becoming the majority. The army will have no choice but to change and adapt itself to us.”

His remarks drew a sharp response from MK Naor Shiri of Yesh Atid, who dismissed the argument and criticized the coalition’s approach.

“This is complete fantasy,” Shiri said. “As if, before these arrests, thousands of chareidim were lining up outside the induction center just waiting for someone to let them in. Why should we serve if you don’t?”

Shiri concluded with a stark warning about Israel’s future if current trends continue.

“Sorry for the lack of optimism, but the country you’re describing simply has no future in 20 years,” he said. “There won’t be an army, there won’t be an economy, and the country will once again fall apart. The Jewish people have already experienced destruction twice in history—so good luck with the third one.”

A dispute over a café that recently began operating on Shabbos escalated into violent confrontations in Yerushalayim on Shabbos, as protesters blocked roads, police intervened to restore order, and a minor was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

The latest unrest highlights the growing tensions between the city’s chareidi and secular communities over the public character of Shabbos.

The controversy centers on Café “Basimta,” located in a neighborhood with both chareidi and secular residents. After the café began opening on Shabbos several weeks ago, local chareidi residents launched protests, arguing that the move constitutes a public desecration of Shabbos. The dispute has since evolved into a broader political and ideological battle over the city’s identity.

The demonstrations first began about a month ago, when area residents discovered that the café was operating on Shabbos. Videos of the protests quickly spread on social media, along with the café’s exact location, drawing increasing attention and prompting repeated police deployments to prevent physical confrontations.

On Shabbos, Yerushalayim City Council member Tzachi Brim joined the protest together with a number of young demonstrators.

According to Yerushalayim District Police, protesters placed objects in the roadway, blocked traffic, and endangered public safety by refusing to clear the streets.

Police officers on the scene ordered the demonstrators to disperse and reopen the roads. When they refused, Border Police officers and members of the Lev Habirah police station moved in to clear the area and restore traffic.

The confrontation intensified during the evacuation of the protesters when, according to police, one of the demonstrators—a minor—allegedly assaulted a police officer. He was arrested at the scene and taken in for questioning.

Police emphasized that while they are committed to protecting the right to lawful protest and freedom of expression, they will continue taking firm action against anyone who disrupts public order or assaults officers carrying out their duties.

The dispute has also moved beyond the streets into City Hall, where chareidi and secular council members have taken opposing positions. Chareidi representatives are exploring legal and regulatory avenues to shut down the café and preserve the city’s Shabbos character, while secular officials argue that the business is exercising its legal right to operate and that residents are entitled to freedom of choice.

The controversy comes amid broader tensions in Yerushalayim over Shabbos observance. Last week, sharply worded posters appeared throughout the city criticizing the chareidi parties for supporting Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s media reform plan, linking the issue to the broader struggle over the city’s public character.

Tensions reached another peak this past Shabbos, when long lines of customers formed outside the café. Many patrons said they were intentionally visiting the establishment as a statement in support of personal freedom, while chareidi demonstrators gathered nearby to protest the public desecration of Shabbos.

Police deployed large forces to separate the two groups, preventing protesters from reaching the entrance to the café. Although shouting matches broke out and emotions ran high, authorities succeeded in preventing major physical clashes.

The unrest follows other recent Shabbos-related demonstrations in Yerushalayim, including protests near Bar-Ilan Street over light rail construction work that led to confrontations between demonstrators and police.

Meanwhile, chareidi city council members continue examining legal options to close the café, while secular activists are organizing efforts to defend its right to remain open. Police say they will maintain an increased presence in the coming weeks in an effort to prevent further violence.

{Matzav.com}

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, escalated his campaign against Sen. Mitch McConnell on Saturday, demanding the 84-year-old Republican reveal his undisclosed medical condition amid growing questions about his ability to continue serving.

In a post on X, Beshear drew a parallel to his past calls for transparency about former President Joe Biden’s health, saying he was now asking McConnell to do the same and provide voters with an update. He urged the senator to end the speculation and simply explain what’s going on.

The comments follow a formal letter Beshear sent McConnell on Wednesday, requesting a full health update on behalf of constituents he said are increasingly concerned about the senator’s wellbeing and capacity to hold office.

McConnell has been absent from the Senate for three weeks after being hospitalized in early June for a condition his office has declined to detail or provide a timeline on. Leaked emergency dispatch audio from a June 14 call indicated he was found unconscious at his home and may have suffered a heart attack. His wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, traveled to China shortly afterward, with her office saying his condition did not require her immediate return to the U.S.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Majority Whip John Barrasso both said they have spoken with McConnell at length about Senate business in recent weeks. President Donald Trump, asked about McConnell’s condition aboard Air Force One Wednesday, said he had no idea how the senator was doing.

I recently discovered something that I thought was worth sharing with the community.

For quite some time, I’ve been renting a storage unit. One day, while mentioning it in conversation, someone casually asked me, “Did you put up a mezuzah?”

To be honest, it had never even crossed my mind.

I immediately called my sofer, who provided me with a mezuzah, and I put it up right away.

Storage units can be an excellent solution for families who need extra space but don’t have room at home. They are often affordable, convenient, and located close by. I highly recommend them for anyone who needs additional storage.

The purpose of this letter, however, is simply to raise awareness. If you currently rent a storage unit—or are planning to rent one—please reach out to your rov or sofer to inquire whether your particular unit requires a mezuzah and what the proper halachah is for your situation.

This is not necessarily a question unique to storage units, but may also apply to anything that could be categorized as a beis ha’otzar. It’s always worthwhile to ask.

Hopefully, this reminder will help someone else, just as it helped me.

Wishing everyone much hatzlachah and brachah.

Amen.

(Editor’s Note: The above was published for informational purposes. Speak to your Rav to inquire about your particular situation.)

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

A Democratic senator on Saturday alleged that whistleblowers have detailed several problems stemming from rushed or improper reconstruction of the Kennedy Center, adding a new layer to the travails of the arts complex as President Donald Trump tried to seize control of it and its name.

Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said in a release on Saturday that he had received a whistleblower disclosure from the Government Accountability Project, a nonprofit whistleblower protection group, alleging that “the Center rushed a series of renovations driven by the President’s aesthetic whims and his desire to star in a series of televised events in December.”

“The Center’s subservience to the President’s desires and its corner-cutting contracting practices have resulted in steel columns that are rusting through fresh paint, a reflecting pool that may have to be torn out and rebuilt, and a brand-new bathroom floor torn out over an offending tile color,” Whitehouse continued. “This is waste, and it treats a national memorial to President Kennedy as if it were a private renovation project.”

The Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump seized control of the arts and culture venue, named after former President John F. Kennedy, at the beginning of his second term. Trump ousted the center’s prior leadership and replaced it with a Board of Trustees that named him chairman and added his name to the building.

Democrats sued to remove it and a federal judge ruled Trump’s name must come off the venue, which had been wracked with boycotts by artists during the turmoil. He tried to close the center for two years, only to be ordered to keep it open by the court because only Congress could change its name.

Whitehouse released a letter he wrote to the center’s executive director, Matt Floca, demanding answers by July 23. He said the whistleblower report included “firsthand accounts of multiple former Center project managers, supported by contemporaneous documents and photographs.” He also included an 83-page appendix full of internal center documents, emails and photos of apparently shoddy construction.

The allegations include that the center rushed work before it was authorized by Congress because it wanted it to be complete for Trump to accept the new FIFA Peace Prize that the soccer federation awarded him. In doing so, the letter alleges the center didn’t follow required contracting guidelines and wasted money replacing a bathroom because the president didn’t like the color and inking no-bid contracts. One $8 million contract to replace the concert hall’s floor went to a firm with no experience in concert halls, Whitehouse contended.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is suggesting he has left standing orders for the U.S. military to destroy Iran “ at levels they’ve never seen before ” if Tehran follows through on its long-standing threats to kill him.

But the U.S. government has no way to create an automatic, preauthorized “dead man’s switch” that would prompt immediate retaliation.

Instead, if Trump were killed, the transfer of power to his successor is governed by the 25th Amendment and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947. Vice President JD Vance instantaneously would become commander in chief and have authority for any retaliation.

Under such a scenario, Vance could do exactly what Trump called for, though there also is a chance he could decide not to follow his predecessor’s orders — or offer a direct response in a different way.

“The U.S. has, for a whole variety of reasons, never utilized a technical ‘dead man’s switch,’” said Garrett M. Graff, author of “Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself — While the Rest of Us Die.”

The United States does have extensive contingency plans for continuity of government in the event of a nuclear attack or other major catastrophe that wipes out most or all of Washington. But those plans also do not allow for immediately launching retaliatory strikes upon the death of a president, even if that president had demanded that the military be ready to do so.

Trump nonetheless posted on his social media website Saturday that Iran had made threats “to assassinate, or attempt to assassinate” him and he said 1,000 “missiles are Locked and Loaded and aimed at the Islamic Republic of Iran, with thousands more to immediately follow, should the Iranian Government act on its threat.”

Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said hours later that Iranians would continue to avenge the killing of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The elder Khamenei died in the initial U.S. and Israeli strikes that started the war in late February, and he was mourned in funeral events throughout Iran this week. His son said retaliation “is the will of our nation and must certainly be carried out.”

“We pledge to take revenge for the pure blood of you and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraceful killers,” he said on remarks aired on state television. “This revenge is the will of our nation and must certainly be carried out.”

The White House on Saturday did not immediately answer questions about what would become of Trump’s military orders should he be killed.

During those recent funeral events, mourners repeatedly held posters or banners calling for Trump to be killed along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Wall Street Journal reported this week that Israel alerted U.S. officials to fresh Iranian plots to kill Trump. The White House has refused to comment, but Trump appeared to reference to such threats in comments during this week’s NATO summit in Turkey, saying, “They want to take out the U.S. leader — me.”

Sabrina Singh, former Biden administration deputy Pentagon press secretary, said “Iran wanting to target senior American leaders is something that we know is happening.”

“You have to take these as credible threats,” Singh said.

US retaliations would almost certainly come, just not automatically
Trump was targeted in two domestic assassination attempts during the 2024 presidential campaign and saw a gunman storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner he was attending in April.

The president flew part of the way back to Washington from Turkey this week aboard an older Air Force One jet rather a new Qatari-gifted aircraft, raising fresh security questions about the newer plane. Images of the jet, which was retrofitted at an estimated cost of $400 million, show it is not equipped with some of the same missile detection and countermeasure systems as earlier versions.

The swap occurred as the U.S. and Iran once again began trading strikes, jeopardizing last month’s initial deal to end the war. Asked about Iranian threats, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, “I’m No. 1 on their list.”

Graff said the U.S. prepared years of plans for how nuclear launch authority would devolve in the event of a surprise attack. That included, during 30 years of the Cold War, the country keeping fleets of airborne command posts flying 24 hours a day with a general aboard one of them who could take over nuclear launch orders in the event Washington was lost.

“What I believe Trump is saying is that he’s left standing orders to attack if he’s killed, e.g., that the Pentagon should proceed with standard launch protocols,” Graff said. “There’s a lot of reason to doubt the legality of such standing orders, since in the event of a president’s death, the nuclear launch authority would immediately pass to the vice president or designated successor — and ultimately it would be up to him or her to determine whether to proceed.”

Trump’s post only refers to firing missiles at Iran, which the U.S. has done scores of time since its war with Iran began. He did not expressly threaten involving nuclear weapons.

Graff said that, in addition to leaving standing orders in case of his death, Trump also might say “something to Vance like, ‘If I’m killed, nuke Iran,'” and that would make ”more sense and would be absolutely legal”

Biden administration once warned Iran about Trump, too
Washington receiving credible threats against the president and top U.S. leaders from Iran and other foreign adversaries is not uncommon and is often disclosed via national security briefings or other classified means. But far less common is Trump declaring publicly that he personally has been targeted by Iran.

Still, this is not the first time Washington has threatened Iran over threats against Trump.

In 2022, the Biden administration warned Iran against attacking U.S. citizens after the Justice Department’s disclosure that a member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had planned to assassinate John Bolton, Trump’s first-term national security adviser. Now a Trump critic, Bolton last month pleaded guilty to illegally retaining classified documents in a case led by Trump’s Justice Department.

President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in 2022 that “should Iran attack any of our citizens, to include those who continue to serve the United States or those who formerly served, Iran will face severe consequences.”

Two years later, in the heat of Trump’s campaign against Democrat Kamala Harris, Biden’s vice president, the Biden administration again quietly warned Iran. This time, officials made clear that an attack on Trump would be considered an act of war.

A federal appeals court has temporarily halted the release of roughly 70 hours of audio recordings from President Joe Biden’s interviews with his ghostwriter, granting him a brief reprieve while the court considers his emergency request to keep the tapes from becoming public.

On Friday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit — Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan along with Judges Gregory Katsas and Florence Pan — issued an administrative injunction preventing the Department of Justice from turning over the recordings to the Heritage Foundation and Mike Howell, the former director of its Oversight Project, until 11:59 p.m. on July 20.

The judges made clear that the temporary order is intended solely to maintain the current situation while they consider Biden’s request for a longer-lasting injunction during the appeals process. According to CBS News, the unsigned order emphasized that it “should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits.”

The appellate court’s action temporarily suspends a June decision by U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, who ruled against Biden’s attempt to keep the recordings confidential under the Freedom of Information Act.

In her ruling, Friedrich weighed FOIA’s presumption in favor of public disclosure against Biden’s privacy claims and determined that, after redactions made by the Justice Department, the recordings “contain no information about Biden’s family or other private persons.” She ultimately concluded that the public’s interest in the material outweighed what she described as Biden’s reduced expectation of privacy.

The recordings stem from interviews Biden conducted in 2016 and 2017 with ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer while preparing his memoir, Promise Me, Dad.

Federal investigators later obtained the audio as part of former Special Counsel Robert Hur’s probe into Biden’s handling of classified documents after leaving the vice presidency.

Hur’s report, released in February 2024, concluded that Biden had willfully retained and disclosed classified information, including by reading portions aloud to Zwonitzer. However, Hur declined to recommend criminal charges, writing that a jury would likely view Biden as “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.”

The Heritage Foundation requested access to the recordings through a Freedom of Information Act request filed in 2024.

Although the Biden Justice Department denied that request, the Trump administration reversed that position earlier this year, prompting Biden to intervene in court and file suit, arguing that the recordings captured private conversations conducted inside his home.

“We are monitoring the situation and, as always, will do whatever is in the best interest of getting these tapes out to the American people as fast as possible,” Howell told the Washington Examiner.

The D.C. Circuit is expected to decide before July 20 whether Biden should receive a longer injunction while his appeal continues. Until then, the temporary order blocking the release of the recordings remains in place.

{Matzav.com}

Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner officially ended his campaign Friday, submitting a withdrawal letter to state election officials that concluded with an expletive as he exited the race amid mounting political and personal turmoil.

Platner later posted an image of the letter on X. While announcing his withdrawal, he did not indicate whom he believes should replace him as the Democratic nominee to challenge Republican Sen. Susan Collins in November.

In the letter, Platner pointed to the 156,084 votes he received in last month’s Democratic primary, arguing that his victory by more than 70 percentage points demonstrated one thing: “People are desperate for change.”

“Mainers voted for a new kind of politics,” the letter read. “One that is representative of people down here in the real world — not billionaires, oligarchs or the political establishment.”

He went on to declare, “Mainers voted for Medicare for All; to ban billionaires from buying elections; and for an end to taxpayer-funded genocide and forever wars.”

The letter ended with the message: “[Curse] ICE. Free Palestine. Up the Hearts.”

Had Platner stayed in the race beyond the July 13 deadline, he would have automatically remained the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. His withdrawal now gives Maine Democratic leaders until July 27 to convene a nominating convention to select a replacement candidate.

Maine’s Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that “a formal notice has been received” from Platner notifying officials that he has officially withdrawn from the contest.

Several Democrats are already being mentioned as possible replacements on the November ballot, including former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, former public health official Nirav Shah, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, Maine Beer Co. co-founder Dan Kleban, former Capitol Hill staffer Jordan Wood, and social worker Paige Loud.

Before formally withdrawing, Platner released a video Wednesday in which he alleged that “large forces,” “corporate media” and the “political establishment” had worked together to derail his campaign.

“This was the last week to try to get me off of the ballot. And that’s why this is occurring,” Platner said, while urging Democrats to hold what he described as an “open, transparent and democratic” nominating process.

The upcoming nominating convention is expected to include approximately 600 delegates, including 100 members of the state Democratic committee and roughly 500 delegates selected proportionally by county committees.

Platner also argued that “people in DC need to stay in DC.”

New Jersey’s commuter railroad has the money and the green light for real-time train tracking — now it needs a company to build it. NJ Transit President and CEO Kris Kolluri said Monday, July 6, that Gov. Mikie Sherrill has authorized the agency to spend $12 million on a live, GPS-based system that will show trains moving in real time and give riders accurate arrival and departure times. The work is not live yet. Kolluri put the rollout at the next several months, and the agency is still lining up the vendors who will do the building.

The platform is called NJT LiveView, and it is the centerpiece of the digital overhaul inside the Rapid Action Plan, the customer-service roadmap Sherrill ordered and unveiled in May. Kolluri called live tracking the single upgrade commuters asked for most.

“This was the single biggest thing that people have asked for,” he told News 12 New Jersey, crediting the governor with clearing the money to get it done.

The spending is still moving through procurement, which is where the opportunity sits for New Jersey’s technology sector. In June, NJ Transit issued a request for information asking companies that build real-time transit communication systems to spell out what they can deliver — the step agencies take before formal bids open. Contracts tied to NJT LiveView and the wider digital rebuild are now moving toward award, and the $12 million authorization gives bidders a concrete budget to size their proposals against.

Here is the problem the system is meant to solve. Right now NJ Transit figures out where a train is by reading trackside switches — the junction points where trains move from one track to another — rather than the train itself. That method is coarse and runs a step behind reality, which leaves the agency’s own app and station boards out of sync with the actual train. Riders who wanted a true live map have had to rely on outside apps.

NJT LiveView is designed to pull precise GPS coordinates directly from each train and turn them into one authoritative feed that powers arrival countdowns, service alerts and push notifications across the redesigned NJ Transit app, station display screens and third-party navigation apps. The buses already operate on similar technology; now the trains are catching up.

The business stakes are significant because the ridership is substantial. More than 300,000 New Jersey residents ride NJ Transit on a typical weekday, many commuting into New York City, tying northern New Jersey’s workforce directly to the reliability of the rail network. When riders cannot trust arrival times, the consequences go beyond inconvenience. Missed shifts, delayed meetings, late daycare pickups and uncertainty all carry real economic costs. Accurate real-time information is one of the most cost-effective ways an agency can improve the customer experience without adding new tracks or expanding service.

The timing also increases the pressure. NJ Transit raised fares by roughly 3% on July 1, meaning customers are paying more while expecting improved service. At the same time, the agency is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, when massive crowds will rely on the rail system to travel to and from matches. A GPS-based tracking system becomes especially valuable when platforms are crowded and even small delays can ripple throughout the network.

The funding is not coming from a new tax or special appropriation. The Sherrill administration has said the Rapid Action Plan will be financed within NJ Transit’s existing budget and will not require additional state funding in the coming fiscal year. Beyond live train tracking, the plan includes expanded station-cleaning crews, repairs to elevators and escalators, enhanced Wi-Fi on buses and a new Real Time Crime Center to monitor security cameras at major transit hubs.

New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ Transit Board Chair Priya Jain, who helped develop the plan under Sherrill’s executive order, has described it as a series of tangible improvements riders will notice. Kolluri, who also serves as Executive Director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, has said the shift to GPS tracking is long overdue.

For now, the funding has been approved and vendors are being courted. The real test of NJT LiveView will come in the months ahead, when commuters look at the countdown clock and expect it to match where the train actually is.

JBizNews Desk | Newark, N.J.
© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.

Vice President JD Vance said he is convinced that accused murderer Tyler Robinson killed conservative activist Charlie Kirk, but believes it remains possible that others played a role in encouraging or influencing the attack.

Speaking Saturday in an interview with The Daily Wire’s Mary Margaret Olohan, Vance said he continues to question whether Robinson acted entirely on his own.

“I’m always going to wonder,” Vance said. “I’m always going to wonder what was said and how many contacts [Robinson] had beforehand. By the way, it doesn’t mean that [Robinson’s] any less guilty. But do I wonder if there are other people who are more directly involved in Charlie’s murder? Absolutely, because I don’t think that it’s possible for a young man to get radicalized like that without somebody encouraging him, whether informally or formally.”

While emphasizing that Robinson bears primary responsibility for the killing, Vance suggested others may share moral responsibility.

“I think there are a lot of people with blood on their hands in the case of Charlie Kirk, but of course, the person most directly who has blood on their hands is Tyler Robinson.”

Vance’s comments followed his assertion that “the evidence is clear” Robinson murdered Kirk during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in September.

The interview came just days after Robinson appeared in a Utah courtroom for a preliminary hearing in the criminal case against him. The New York Times described the proceeding as “like a reduced trial, with testimony and exhibits presented to a judge.”

Vance is not alone in concluding that the evidence presented during the hearing strongly points to Robinson’s guilt.

Donald Trump Jr., who attended two days of the proceedings at the courthouse in Provo, Utah, told Fox News that the case against Robinson was “damning.”

Among the evidence presented was surveillance footage showing Robinson driving approximately 4½ hours from his home to Utah Valley University and interacting with Turning Point USA staff before the event where Kirk was fatally shot.

Trump Jr. also pointed to video showing Robinson appearing to develop what he described as a “magically” acquired limp before climbing onto a rooftop that he called a “perfect” vantage point from which to shoot Kirk. He said the unusual gait led both prosecutors and himself to believe Robinson was concealing a firearm in his pants.

“The shot happens and within seconds, and he’s seen jumping off the building and running into the nearby woods,” Trump Jr. continued.

He added sarcastically that the combination of Robinson later surrendering to authorities, together with the video footage and physical evidence, amounted to “minor details” that nevertheless made his guilt unmistakable.

Later in the week, prosecutors also introduced text messages they allege show Robinson confessing to the killing.

If convicted, Robinson could face the death penalty.

{Matzav.com}

A frum family in Adelaide, South Australia was targeted in an antisemitic attack over Shabbos, with offenders slashing the tires of vehicles at the property and spray-painting swastikas and antisemitic slurs across the home, according to News Corp Australia. The homeowner’s name is Rosti Sverdlov.

Details of the attack remain limited, though it fits into a broader and deeply troubling pattern of antisemitic incidents that have plagued Australia’s Jewish community since the Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023. A report by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry documented 1,654 anti-Jewish incidents across Australia between October 2024 and September 2025 alone, on top of over 2,000 incidents the year before.

South Australia has not been spared from the wave of hatred. In one recent incident, Nazi swastikas were found carved into trees in Adelaide’s Veale Park, while in another, a passerby shouted abuse and taunted a congregant heading into shul in the city.

The attack on the Sverdlov family adds to a string of incidents nationally that have included arson attacks on synagogues, vandalism of Jewish-owned businesses, and assaults on visibly Jewish men and boys, prompting Australian Jewish leaders to repeatedly call on federal and state governments to step up protections for the community.