Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says he played a decisive role in shaping Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, arguing that his insistence on continuing the offensive prevented an early end to the war and ultimately helped secure the return of all the hostages.

Speaking in an interview on Nadav Perry’s All In podcast, the Religious Zionism Party chairman claimed that, without his intervention, the fighting would have been halted before Israeli forces reached Rafah.

“I think that if not for me, the war in Gaza would have been stopped even before Rafah. In fact, if not for me-contrary to the way some people try to portray me as someone who is cold-hearted and doesn’t care about the hostages-I think that thanks to me, all the hostages are here,” Smotrich said.

He went on to describe a critical moment following the January 2025 hostage agreement, arguing that Israel was on the verge of accepting another limited deal that would have prolonged negotiations with Hamas.

“After the previous deal, in January 2025, we were left with 20 hostages and the bodies of others, and another deal was beginning to take shape under which only eight would return. If, at that moment, I hadn’t drawn a red line and told Netanyahu, ‘Absolutely not. Once our soldiers have entered Gaza to maneuver, there will be no pause just to improve our negotiating position,’ we would still be negotiating with Hamas today over one hostage after another.”

Smotrich also asserted that he has substantial influence over the government’s wartime decision-making, attributing that influence to his preparation, strategic clarity, and willingness to focus on military objectives rather than political considerations.

“According to Smotrich, “I have a very significant influence on the war. That stems from being absolutely clear about where I want this war to end. I read all the intelligence material, study it thoroughly, and come to the discussions fully prepared. I am also capable of being pragmatic and not playing politics during the war-unlike others.”

{Matzav.com}

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — As consumers worry about medication costs, states are trying to lower drug prices by reining in big companies that oversee prescription coverage for health insurers.

Some of those companies, called pharmacy benefit managers, also own pharmacies, and one of them, CVS, has spent millions of dollars fighting the regulations.

Affordability is a key issue ahead of this year’s midterm elections. Legislators in at least a dozen states passed laws this year to limit compensation to the companies, set minimum payments from the companies to pharmacists and require the companies to disclose more information to their clients, states and the public.

A Tennessee law will bar pharmacy benefit managers from operating retail pharmacies as of July 1, 2028, though CVS Health Corp. has filed a federal lawsuit to avoid having to close its 136 pharmacies there.

About 6 in 10 U.S. adults said in a poll conducted earlier this year by healthcare research nonprofit KFF that they were at least somewhat worried about being able to afford their prescriptions. About 4 in 10 said costs had led them not to take medications as prescribed within the previous year, either by taking less than the prescribed dose, using over-the-counter substitutes or not filling prescriptions.

Dozens of proposals emerge across the US
Pharmacy benefit managers, particularly CVS and two other large companies, handle most U.S. prescriptions.

Lawmakers in at least 26 states introduced more than 120 bills this year on PBMs, according to an Associated Press search using the bill-tracking software Plural, with about a quarter of the bills clearing at least one chamber.

The companies manage pharmacy claims for health insurers and negotiate with manufacturers over drug prices and what medications will be covered. Critics concede that the size of the top companies gives them leverage that health plans wouldn’t have on their own.

The benefit managers argue that they’re the only player in the drug supply chain created to help push drug costs down and they claim credit for an increased used of less-expensive generic drugs, now 90% of U.S. prescriptions.

“If PBMs already didn’t exist, you’d need to invent one,” said Prem Shah, president of the CVS Health group overseeing its pharmacy and PBM operations, in a recent interview. “Blaming PBMs for high drug prices is like blaming umbrellas for the rain.”

CVS fights restrictions in Tennessee
Drug companies, PBMs and their allies have spent at least $24 million on opposing broadcast and digital advertising since the start of 2025 to influence public opinion, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. CVS spent $4 million this year on ads opposing Tennessee’s new law.

CVS sued Arkansas last year after it enacted similar legislation, and a federal judge blocked its law. CVS also settled three lawsuits in which Louisiana accused it of unfair trade and deceptive practices in lobbying against legislation there last year, agreeing to pay $45 million without acknowledging wrongdoing.

The CVS lawsuit in Tennessee alleges that the company, which operates 9,000 pharmacies nationwide, is facing “naked protectionism” from lawmakers who operate independent pharmacies — including the law’s main sponsor, state Sen. Bobby Harshbarger and co-sponsor Sen. Shane Reeves.

Independent pharmacies say they’re being squeezed
In Knoxville, Seth White, who manages a CVS pharmacy, will have to find a new job if the Tennessee law stands, and he’s also worried about hundreds of its customers having to go elsewhere for their medications.

Some 900 miles (1,400 kilometers) away in Coldwater, Kansas, Lisa Gales is on the opposite side of the debate. She and her husband operate the Main Street Pharmacy, and she said they rely heavily on sales of non-pharmacy items to offset low reimbursements from pharmacy benefit managers.

Gales calculates she lost money on 86% of the prescriptions she filled last year. A new Kansas law will require PBMs to pay a $10.50 dispensing fee per prescription. Gales called it a “great win,” even though, “It’s still way under what it’s costing us.”

A new Louisiana law imposes an $11.81 dispensing fee. Another says PBMs must operate for the benefit of their health-insurer clients and people enrolled in health plans.

Critics deride each mandatory dispensing fee as an extra “pill tax” that will drive up consumers’ costs. Backers dispute that, saying the laws also limit what PBMs charge health plans for the cost of medications themselves — so that it’s often well below wholesale prices.

Pharmacy benefit managers push drugmakers to give big discounts on those wholesale prices but face criticism for keeping any portion of them. Some states now require PBMs to pass along all discounts.

Patients are watching the debate
It all worries consumers, particularly in small towns, who fear it could become harder to get their medications if PBMs squeeze independent pharmacies on reimbursements to the point of endangering their businesses.

In southeastern Kansas, Faith Sanders, a 79-year-old retired nursing home administrator, said the pharmacy in her hometown of Cedar Vale is important because without it people would have to drive 35 miles (56 kilometers) “to go out of town to get anything.”

For her many elderly neighbors, she said, “We get to the point where it’s hard for us to get out of town.”

Meanwhile, even some PBM critics question whether states can effectively regulate them. In Tennessee, state Rep. Robert Stevens, a Nashville-area Republican, told colleagues during a debate that cracking down on PBMs “needs to be done by Congress and not by us.”

Congress did pass new PBM regulations in February. One law will prevent PBMs from keeping any rebates they’ve negotiated on drug prices for health plans that supplement federal Medicare coverage for Americans over 64.

An Iranian post carried on Fars News’ platform, a semi-official outlet linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, argued Sunday that Tehran has “no choice” but to build an atomic bomb, directly clashing with Iran’s new written pledge to the U.S. not to develop nuclear weapons.

The post, titled “There Is No Choice But To Build The Atomic Bomb,” said Iran must reach nuclear deterrence in order to negotiate from strength. “To achieve the calm Iran needs, it must reach nuclear deterrence to make sure the remaining issues can be resolved through negotiation,” it said.

The argument comes after the U.S. and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding meant to open a 60-day process toward a final nuclear and regional agreement. In that framework, Iran reaffirmed that it would not obtain or develop nuclear weapons, while the sides agreed to discuss Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and renewed International Atomic Energy Agency oversight.

But the inspection issue remains unresolved. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said Friday that Iran’s statements are “not enough” and that a strong verification system is needed “as soon as practicable.” Iranian officials, however, have denied that inspectors will be allowed into nuclear sites hit during the recent confrontation.

The Fars-carried post framed nuclear weapons as a way to deter America and Israel, saying atomic deterrence would create “a balance of power” and keep future conflict “controllable.” Its publication came as the U.S.–Iran framework was already under pressure, after Iran fired missiles and drones toward U.S. military sites in Kuwait and Bahrain following American strikes.

Iran’s government continues to say its military capabilities are defensive and meant to guarantee regional stability. But the post’s message was far more direct: peace, it argued, requires Iran to become a nuclear power.

“Let’s stay united, we will never be defeated,” they’re chanting.

(“I better be on The Lakewood Scoop” 😂)

(Sticker was placed there for Tznius purposes)

Cutting just one year from the Food and Drug Administration’s drug review process could create more than $10 trillion in economic value while getting lifesaving medicines to patients faster, according to a new report calling for major FDA reforms.

The report, The Multi-Trillion Dollar Opportunity in Reforming the FDA, published by the free-market policy group Unleash Prosperity, argues that lengthy effectiveness reviews, not safety testing, account for much of the agency’s approval timeline. 

Its authors estimate that trimming those reviews by one year would accelerate patient access to new treatments while encouraging greater investment in medical innovation.

“It takes about a decade from start to finish to come through FDA,” economist and former acting chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers Tomas Philipson told Fox News Digital in an interview. “Most of that time is not spent on safety. Most of it time is spent on effectiveness trials.”

19 DRUG APPROVALS IN 2024 THAT HAD ‘BIG CLINICAL IMPACT,’ ACCORDING TO GOODRX

Philipson argued that most delays in the drug approval process stem from determining effectiveness rather than safety.

“FDA is charged by Congress to enhance both safety and effectiveness of new drugs,” Philipson said. “People recognize the role of the government potentially ensuring safety and consumer protection, but it’s a unique role that FDA has of ensuring effectiveness.”

He also argued that faster approvals could help lower prescription drug costs by increasing competition among manufacturers.

“Reforming FDA would have a big impact on drug affordability for patients because it would allow for far more competition between drugs that come out faster,” he said.

OPERATION WARP SPEED WAS MIRACULOUS. TRUMP ADMIN SHOULD NOT ABANDON TECHNOLOGY THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE

The report estimates that accelerating approvals by one to six years could generate trillions in economic value through earlier access to drugs, biologics and medical devices, as well as stronger incentives for innovation.

The authors also warn that China’s faster, lower-cost clinical trial system could lure investment and drug development activity away from the United States.

Philipson said the competitive challenge from China underscores the need for policymakers to rethink the pace of FDA approvals.

“I think there’s a huge role for the president here to push an analogous effort to what he did with Operation Warp Speed during COVID,” Philipson said. “It’s equally urgent for other patient groups who don’t have COVID but other diseases.”

The authors propose reforms including greater use of artificial intelligence in drug reviews, faster clinical trial designs and broader access to “right to try” programs.

Israeli security forces thwarted a planned terror attack overnight in Balata, near Shechem, arresting a terrorist belonging to Tanzim – the armed wing of Fatah – who is suspected of also serving as a weapons dealer, in a targeted raid carried out by the Gideonim 33 unit of the Lahav 433 division.

The operation was conducted in cooperation with the Shin Bet and led by the Shomron Division. According to intelligence information received ahead of the raid, the suspect had been planning to carry out an attack against security forces and civilians in the immediate term.

The suspect is described as a sensitive target who had previously evaded several earlier arrest attempts. After receiving an indication that he had returned to his home, forces prepared for a focused operation, raided the building, carried out a rapid takeover, and arrested the suspect on the scene.

The suspect was transferred for continued interrogation by the Shin Bet. The IDF stated that security forces will continue to act decisively against terror elements, weapons dealers, and other actors who endanger public safety, combining advanced intelligence and operational capabilities.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he does not support Israel being defined as a Jewish state if it privileges one religion over another, while also condemning rising antisemitism in New York City during an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl that aired Sunday.
IMG_8977
Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Karl asked Mamdani whether he supports Israel as a Jewish state.

“I’ve said time and again that I support the state of Israel as a state with equal rights,” Mamdani said. Pressed specifically on whether he supports Israel as a Jewish state, he replied: “I believe that any state that privileges one religion over the other is one that I can’t tell you I support, whether it be Israel or Saudi Arabia or anywhere else.”

Mamdani said his position is rooted in a belief that all people should enjoy equal rights regardless of religion. Asked about the Democratic Socialists of America’s opposition to a two-state solution, he declined to endorse one, saying instead that he supports “equal rights for all people.”

Karl also asked whether there is room in the Democratic Party for candidates who support Israel and U.S. military aid to the country. Mamdani responded that Democratic voters have increasingly opposed U.S. funding for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and said party leaders should listen to those concerns.

During the interview, Karl questioned Mamdani about rising antisemitism in New York City. Mamdani acknowledged that antisemitism has increased, noting that although Jews make up a minority of the city’s population, they continue to account for a majority of reported hate-crime victims.

“That’s something that’s unacceptable,” Mamdani said. “It’s something that we will never come to see as if it is a part of life.”

Karl also asked Mamdani about a Brooklyn coffee shop that refused to serve Rep. Dan Goldman because of the congressman’s support for Israel. While saying he has political disagreements with Goldman, Mamdani said the coffee shop’s actions “go beyond” legitimate political criticism.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s Cabinet unanimously approved a proposal on Sunday to designate violence against Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as a genocide.

The step, which still needs approval in Parliament, reflects deteriorating ties between Israel and Turkey. Turkey has fiercely lobbied to prevent countries from officially recognizing the mass deaths of Armenians around 1915 as a genocide, even as Armenians have pushed for it.

Historians estimate that up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed by Ottoman Turks around the time of World War I, an event widely viewed by scholars as the first genocide of the 20th century. Turkey denies that the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.

For years, Israel did not officially broach the subject for fear of angering Turkey, but that relationship has soured over the past two decades, especially in recent years as the wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran have dragged on.

“Despite the extensive and unambiguous historical documentation, the Armenian Genocide remains to this day the subject of an institutionalized campaign of denial and minimization, including a manipulative rewriting of history, mainly by the Turkish government,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who brought the decision to the government.

He noted that Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have previously described the violence against Armenians as a genocide. But it has never been formally recognized in a vote by Israel’s Knesset.

“It is never too late to do the right thing,” Saar said Sunday, calling it a “moral and historical duty.”

He noted that 32 countries, including the United States, Syria and Lebanon, have also classified the violence as a genocide. It was not immediately known when Sunday’s decision, approved unanimously by Israel’s Cabinet, would go to the parliament for approval. There was no immediate reaction from Turkey.

Israel and Turkey were once close allies, but relations soured during the rise of Turkey’s Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, leading Israel to reconsider its position.

Israel has faced repeated accusations, including from the United Nations and Turkey, that its offensive in Gaza amounts to genocide. Israel, founded in the wake of the Holocaust, denies the accusations.

Israel launched the war in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Gaza’s Health Ministry, part of the Hamas government, says over 73,000 people have been killed, roughly half of them women and children. Israel says it does not target civilians and accuses Hamas of using civilians as human shields.

Last week, a team of independent experts commissioned by the United Nations accused Israel of deliberately shooting children in Gaza and repeated accusations that Israel has carried out a genocide. Israel called the report a “libelous sham.”

Economists expect data from Eurostat on Wednesday to show euro zone inflation slowed in June for the first time since the Iran conflict erupted in late February, as energy prices retreated following the United States–Iran ceasefire memorandum and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The flash estimate from the European Union’s statistics office is the next major test of whether the region’s inflation surge has peaked.

The backdrop is a four-month climb. Eurostat’s most recent flash estimate showed annual euro zone inflation accelerated to 3.2% in May, the highest reading since September 2023 and well above the European Central Bank’s 2% target. Energy prices led the increase, climbing 10.9% as markets reacted to fears of oil supply disruptions tied to the Middle East conflict.

That energy shock has since begun unwinding. Brent crude oil prices have fallen sharply following the 60-day memorandum of understanding that eased tensions and reopened the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant share of the world’s seaborne oil supply passes. Lower crude prices typically filter through to gasoline, heating costs, transportation and manufacturing expenses within weeks, making June the first month economists expect to reflect that relief.

A lower inflation reading would carry significant implications for the European Central Bank and President Christine Lagarde, who has spent months balancing inflation concerns with slowing economic growth. The first decline since February would provide policymakers with evidence that much of the recent inflation spike was driven primarily by energy rather than by broader, persistent price pressures throughout the economy.

The underlying details, however, will matter as much as the headline number. In May, the euro zone’s core inflation rate—which excludes food and energy—rose to 2.5% from 2.2%, while services inflation accelerated to 3.5%. If June shows headline inflation cooling while core inflation remains elevated, the ECB could conclude that inflationary pressures are spreading beyond energy into wages and service-sector costs.

For households across Europe, the impact is immediate and personal. Changes in energy and food prices directly affect utility bills, grocery costs and transportation expenses, with lower-income families generally feeling those swings most sharply. A sustained decline in inflation would provide meaningful relief after months of rising living costs.

Businesses are watching just as closely. Lower inflation strengthens the case for the European Central Bank to maintain or eventually reduce interest rates, lowering borrowing costs for manufacturers, exporters, construction firms and other businesses that have spent much of the past year coping with higher financing expenses alongside elevated energy prices.

Inflation trends continue to vary across the euro area. During May, annual inflation accelerated in Spain, Italy, the Netherlands and France, while slowing in Germany, the bloc’s largest economy. National inflation reports due ahead of the overall euro zone release are expected to provide investors with an early indication of whether any slowdown is broad-based or concentrated in only a handful of countries.

The report also fits into the broader global inflation picture. A cooling trend in Europe, combined with easing energy costs, would reinforce signs that lower oil prices following the Middle East ceasefire are helping reduce inflationary pressure across major economies on both sides of the Atlantic.

Eurostat is scheduled to publish its preliminary June inflation estimate on Wednesday, followed by detailed country-by-country data in mid-July. A reading below May’s 3.2% annual rate would mark the first monthly slowdown in four months and suggest Europe’s latest inflation surge may finally be losing momentum.

Until the figures are released, the slowdown remains an expectation rather than a confirmed trend. Still, the underlying economic mechanics are straightforward: energy prices have fallen, and throughout much of 2026, Europe’s inflation rate has closely tracked movements in the oil market.

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

JERUSALEM VINnews)- Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Sunday approved plans for continued operations in the Security Zone in southern Lebanon, in line with the recently signed ceasefire agreement with the Lebanese government.

Zamir visited the Northern Command region Sunday morning, accompanied by Northern Command Commander Maj. Gen. Rafi Milo, 36th Division Commander Brig. Gen. Yiftach Norkin, Head of the Operations Division Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram and other senior officers. He conducted a situational assessment and held a command discussion with brigade commanders.

“The agreement signed with the Lebanese government is historic and significant — the operational strength and military achievements the IDF has secured in recent months created the conditions that made it possible,” Zamir said. “We will honor the agreement and work to ensure its success. The test now is the actions of both sides, and the coming period will shape the future.”

Zamir stressed that the security of IDF troops remains the highest priority. Forces from the 36th Division and the Commando Brigade maintain operational control in the Beaufort Ridge area and are fully equipped to degrade enemy capabilities if needed.

“The Northern Command region is now the IDF’s main operational focus,” he added. “We are prepared to rapidly resume offensive operations in both Lebanon and Iran if required.”

Zamir noted that Hezbollah has been severely weakened, with its operatives largely confined underground. The IDF, he said, maintains operational control of the area and remains on high alert to deliver swift and decisive strikes should the ceasefire be violated.

“I would like to express my deep appreciation to the brigades, the division, and the Northern Command region for their achievements and for leading the efforts that brought about this agreement,” Zamir said.

The ceasefire agreement follows months of intense IDF operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that the agreement must be fully implemented, including the withdrawal of Hezbollah forces north of the Litani River and the disarmament of the terror group in the border region.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rebbetzin Rochel Lieff a”h, who passed away at the age of 104.

Born in the historic Batei Machsah neighborhood of Yerushalayim in 1922, Rebbetzin Lieff was raised in an illustrious Yerushalmi family steeped in Torah and yiras Shamayim.

Her father was Rav Yaakov Leib Bergman, who was a son-in-law of Rav Yitzchok Shlomo Blau, a distinguished member of the renowned Blau family of Yerushalayim.

She later married Rav Yaakov Dovid Lieff zt”l, the longtime rov of Talmud Torah Tiferes Yisroel/The Avenue O Jewish Center in Brooklyn. Together, they built a home that became a beacon of Torah, producing children who continue to have a profound impact on the Torah world. Rav Yaakov Dovid was niftar 28 years ago.

Among her distinguished children are Rav Moshe Tuvia Lieff, rov of Agudath Israel Bais Binyomin on Avenue L in Flatbush, and Rav Eliezer Simcha Lieff, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of South Monsey. She was predeceased by her son, Nochum Shlomo Lieff, who passed away at a young age.

Although she enjoyed a successful career as a mathematics professor at Brooklyn College, Rebbetzin Lieff never allowed her professional accomplishments to overshadow the central mission of her life. She remained steadfastly devoted to her family’s growth in Torah, providing constant encouragement and support to her husband in his rabbanus and to her sons as they pursued lives of Torah learning and leadership. Those who knew her saw a woman who skillfully balanced intellectual achievement with deep dedication to her role as the foundation of a home built upon Torah.

Throughout more than a century of life, Rebbetzin Lieff witnessed—and helped shape—the remarkable growth of the postwar Torah world. From her roots in Yerushalayim to the flourishing kehillos of Brooklyn and Monsey, she stood at the center of a family whose impact has been profound.

The levayah will take place today at 12 noon at Yeshiva Gedolah of South Monsey, located at 260 Saddle River Road in Airmont, NY. Following the levayah, the aron will be flown to Eretz Yisroel for kevurah there.

Yehi zichrah baruch.

{Matzav.com}

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NANCY, France (AP) — A skydiving plane crashed in northeastern France on Sunday, killing all 11 people on board, authorities said.

The plane suffered a malfunction and “fell almost vertically” after taking off from the Nancy-Essey airfield on the outskirts of the city of Nancy, the region’s prefect, Yves Séguy, said.

It crashed on the edge of a built-up area near the airfield, he told broadcaster BFM-TV.

“Had it occurred just a few dozen meters away, the accident could have caused collateral casualties,” Séguy, prefect of the Meurthe-et-Moselle region, said.

The plane belonged to a skydiving club and was taking part in a parachute jump, he said.

Emergency services responded immediately and were providing psychological support to several relatives of the victims, he said. Authorities were also collecting witness statements, he said.

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

Question:

Dear Mayor Coles,

I am writing to respectfully request that the Township consider establishing a public municipal parking lot on a portion of the Township-owned property located on East 9th Street between Princeton Avenue and the railroad tracks.

The property appears to be largely unused for much of the time, with a substantial portion of the lot often remaining empty. At the same time, residents in the surrounding neighborhood face ongoing parking challenges and limited available parking on nearby streets. I believe that designating approximately 20 parking spaces as a public municipal lot would provide a valuable service to the community and make better use of an existing Township asset.

This proposal would not require the Township to dedicate the entire property to public parking. Rather, a portion of the lot could be set aside for neighborhood use while preserving the Township’s ability to utilize the remainder of the property for any current or future municipal needs.

Creating a municipal parking lot at this location could help reduce congestion on surrounding streets, improve safety, and provide much-needed parking relief for local residents while making productive use of property that is frequently underutilized.

I respectfully ask that you review this proposal and consider directing the appropriate Township departments to evaluate the feasibility of creating a municipal parking lot at this location.

Thank you for your time, consideration, and service to the residents of Lakewood.

Respectfully,

your neighbors

Response from Mayor Coles:

Hi,

The property you are referring to is the site of the old public works. Much of it had to be set aside for preservation. I will ask the committee and engineers to look into the possibility of using part of it for parking.

Ray

Question:

Dear Mayor Coles,

Thank you so much for allowing us this opportunity to ask the questions that come up about our wonderful town of Lakewood. Here are a few of mine:

Number One: Pine Boulevard can go from Route 9 to Massachusetts if the middle section were connected. Right now, by Hearthstone Park, you are unable to continue through, and you have to go all the way through Hearthstone on residential streets that used to be quiet and calm to get to Route 9. Are there plans to open it? If yes, when? Thank you.

Number Two: Coming from Route 88 and making a left onto Lane Mill Road, the traffic light there only lets a few cars through during each green turn signal. I often end up having to wait between 5 and 10 minutes to make that turn. Is there anything that can be done about that?

Number Three: The traffic light coming off the Garden State Parkway South and making a left onto Airport Road is extremely long. I was there the other day and had to wait between 3 and 5 minutes. There were cars that started turning left even during the red light because they thought it was broken. It did eventually turn green. I am wondering if there is a way to monitor it with sensors so that doesn’t happen.

Number Four: Thank you so much for the light by Broadway and Route 9. It has really helped the pedestrians and all of the cars that travel through that area.

Thank you so much for everything that you do. I truly appreciate it, and I hope that you have many more happy and healthy years.

-A grateful resident

Response from Mayor Coles:

Good morning

OK, here we go

1 – I will ask the engineers to look into this. I believe the portion that would connect goes through property dedicated to Hearthstone Park, which is restricted to green acres.

2 – I know that light well! We will need to work with both the state DOT (Rt 88) and the county (Lanes Mill) to look into the timing for the light. I’ll make the request this morning.

3 – I’ve forwarded your request to our engineer. I am not sure if it is a matter of timing or a bad sensor, but we will look into it.

4 – I agree. That and the one on Oak have been a long time in coming. We are still working with the state to add others along 9 as well.

Thanks for your insightful questions.

Ray

—————–

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

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

US President Donald Trump’s administration has pushed hard to present a united front on the Iran war, but statements by his vice president and secretary of state have at times diverged over the past week, especially on the subject of Israel.

Vice President JD Vance, speaking at the White House last week, lashed out against Israeli critics of the preliminary US-Iran deal. He suggested that Israeli bombings of civilian infrastructure in Beirut – intended to weaken Hezbollah, which has been attacking Israel – were undermining US-led peace efforts.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who traveled through the Gulf this week, defended Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon, repeatedly describing its actions as a justified response to Hezbollah attacks. Pressed on Vance’s criticism, Rubio deflected before recounting an assault by the Lebanon-based terror group on an Israeli checkpoint earlier in the week.

The contrast suggests that, even as the administration has emphasized unity, differing worldviews are at times rising to the surface – a challenge for a White House whose political coalition is deeply divided on foreign policy matters. It also offers an early glimpse of the Republican Party’s future, with Rubio and Vance both seen as potential 2028 presidential contenders.

Both Vance and Rubio were dispatched on high-profile trips abroad over the past week to defend the preliminary peace accord inked between Washington and Tehran on June 17.

Vance traveled to Switzerland for a round of talks with Iranian officials. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, he struck a decidedly optimistic tone on the state of talks with Iran. He has also said repeatedly in recent weeks that Gulf states could fund Iran’s reconstruction.

He has also frequently mentioned the possibility of a new, more cooperative relationship between Iran and the US, revealing in an interview released on Thursday that the US had invited an Iranian intelligence official to serve as a deconfliction liaison with the Pentagon in Qatar.

Rubio, meanwhile, visited the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain to reassure allies, some of whom are concerned that the interim US-Iran accord is too generous to Tehran, that their interests will be protected.

On Tuesday, Rubio said he would not ask Gulf allies during his trip to fund Iran’s reconstruction, saying such a possibility was “far down the road.” During a meeting with regional officials on Thursday, he emphasized that any deal has to be ironclad as it relates to US interests and those of its allies.

“While we want a deal, we don’t want a deal at any price,” he said.

White House fully behind Trump on Iran

The White House vigorously denied any divergence between the two officials.

“There is one camp – President Trump’s camp – and the entire administration is fully behind the President’s efforts to ensure Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon,” said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott called the idea that there were any foreign policy divisions between Rubio and Vance a “tired and fake” narrative, saying, “The entire administration is 100% in lockstep behind President Trump.”

A separate State Department spokesperson further argued there was no divergence between the two officials on Lebanon, saying the administration’s goal was to restore Lebanese government sovereignty over its entire territory.

Some analysts and commentators are unconvinced.

Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute think tank, said Rubio and Vance held clearly different views. “At their core they represent different strains,” he said.

The two officials come from radically different foreign policy backgrounds. Before taking office last year, Vance frequently criticized foreign wars as a waste of lives and money. Rubio made a name for himself as a “hawk” in the Senate, where he pushed for a more confrontational stance toward Iran, Russia and Cuba.

Neoconservatives face off against Republican voters on foreign wars

Both men are seen as potential successors to Trump and are the product of powerful, competing constituencies within the Republican Party.

On one side are “neoconservatives” whose adherents are more likely to advocate for foreign intervention. On the other are Republican voters and policy professionals who argue that many recent foreign wars were costly and reckless.

Only 52% of Republicans believe the current conflict has put the US in a stronger position, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed Monday, suggesting a party divided between those camps.

Both Rubio and Vance have nevertheless supported all of Trump’s major foreign policy decisions, including his capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, his attack on Iran in February and his subsequent decision to pursue peace. Both have even used similar talking points in recent weeks, saying they will judge Tehran’s actions, not words, as negotiations unfold.

Asked by a reporter on Thursday to what degree his views on Iran differed from those of Vance, Rubio said they both took their lead from Trump.

“Everyone here is aligned behind the president,” he said.

This post was originally published on here.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Rivka Shotkin, whose courage and unwavering faith inspired thousands after she was paralyzed in a skiing accident as a teenager, has become engaged to Yosef Sharifian.

Shotkin was 16 when a skiing accident in January 2021 at a resort in upstate New York left her paralyzed from the chest down. After crashing into a tree at high speed, she was airlifted to a trauma center, where doctors treated her for life-threatening injuries, including a severe spinal cord injury.

Rather than allowing the accident to define her, Shotkin became an inspiration to many through her message of resilience, optimism and emunah. Her appearance on the Meaningful People podcast, viewed and shared by thousands, resonated across the Orthodox Jewish community as she spoke candidly about rebuilding her life and choosing gratitude despite extraordinary challenges.

In 2023, Shotkin demonstrated that determination by completing the Miami Marathon in her wheelchair as part of Chai Lifeline’s Team Lifeline. She raised more than $15,000 for the organization—far exceeding her fundraising goal—as a way of thanking Chai Lifeline for the support it provided during her recovery.

Over the past several years, Shotkin has continued to share her journey publicly, encouraging others facing hardship to focus on faith, purpose and hope. Her story has touched countless people, who have followed her progress through interviews, speaking engagements and social media.

News of her engagement to Yosef Sharifian prompted an outpouring of congratulations from friends, family and admirers throughout the Jewish community, many of whom have celebrated the milestone as another chapter in her remarkable journey.

George Soros and his son, Alex Soros, have already funneled more than $102 million into the 2026 midterm elections, making the billionaire family one of the Democratic Party’s most powerful financial forces as it continues its move toward the progressive left.

With more than four months remaining before Election Day, George Soros is on pace to surpass the personal record he set during the previous midterm elections, when he contributed $128 million and ranked as the largest individual political donor in the country.

“Money talks, and Soros money says the most insidious, unconstitutional, costly tax hikes in American history are on the table,” said Douglas Kellogg, state projects director for Americans for Tax Reform.

Kellogg also described Soros as a “wannabe Bond villain,” blaming him for what he called the Democratic Party’s radical transformation.

Federal Election Commission filings show that only $793,800 of the family’s political giving this cycle was donated directly under George Soros’ own name.

Instead, the overwhelming majority of the money—roughly $102 million—flowed through Democracy PAC, the super PAC George Soros established in 2020 that now serves as the family’s principal political fundraising vehicle, making it more difficult to determine exactly which candidates benefit from the spending.

Campaign records indicate that approximately $52 million was transferred from George Soros through his private company, Geosor, while another $50 million came from the Fund for Policy Reform, a nonprofit whose tax documents identify Alex Soros as its director.

Those figures also exclude the activities of the family’s Open Society Foundation and its lobbying affiliate, the Open Society Action Fund. Critics have accused those organizations of financing efforts to loosen drug laws, expand immigration policies, and reduce policing. Because the Action Fund operates as a nonprofit advocacy organization, it is not required to publicly disclose its political expenditures.

During previous election cycles, the Open Society Action Fund supported organizations aligned with progressive lawmakers including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Ilhan Omar. Financial disclosures for its 2025 activities, however, have not yet been released.

The family’s political operation underwent a significant leadership change before the 2024 presidential race, when George Soros formally handed control of Democracy PAC and much of his political network to his son Alex, whom he has described as being even more politically engaged.

“He wants to be more political than his dad, this is the first midterm cycle where he is in control,” Parker Thayer, investigative researcher at Capital Research Center, told The Post.

“George is not in control, he hasn’t been in control in some time.”

Although Alex Soros now oversees the family’s political operation, both father and son have largely supported the same slate of Democratic candidates. Alex also contributed an additional $140,525 from his personal funds during this election cycle.

Both George and Alex Soros each donated the maximum allowable amount of $7,000 to Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, bringing their combined support to $14,000. Platner has faced allegations of misconduct involving women while also criticizing wealthy Americans despite his own privileged background and financial backing from billionaire donors.

Alex Soros also gave the maximum legal contribution of $7,000 to Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has faced criticism over allegations that she knew about widespread fraud involving members of the Somali community in her Minneapolis district. Omar has denied wrongdoing. He also donated the maximum $7,000 to Rep. Ro Khanna of California, the Silicon Valley congressman who is reportedly considering a presidential campaign in 2028.

The Soros family also directed maximum contributions to two additional Democrats viewed as possible White House contenders. Sens. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff of Georgia each received a combined total of $14,000 from George and Alex Soros.

Campaign finance records show that the Soros family has already deposited 52% more into Democracy PAC than it did during the 2024 election cycle, when it contributed approximately $67 million.

George Soros, whom President Trump highlighted in September when directing the FBI to intensify efforts against what he called “left-wing terrorism,” has long been a central financial backer of progressive causes both in the United States and internationally.

Critics say Soros contributed more than $15 million to organizations that supported pro-Hamas campus demonstrations, financed groups that equipped anti-ICE protesters outside Delaney Hall with military-style equipment, and spent more than $7 million advocating for criminal justice legislation that opponents argue could allow dangerous offenders—including the notorious “Son of Sam”—to seek release.

“The Soros family is angrier than ever at American politics,” said Thayer. “They would prefer to remake America into something entirely different.”

The Open Society network has rejected accusations linking it to terrorism, maintaining that its purpose is to strengthen democratic institutions around the world.

George Soros matched his son’s maximum contribution to Graham Platner, and the pair also each donated $7,000 to Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, who last month acknowledged traveling to Cuba with oil despite the longstanding U.S. embargo.

“There are two guarantees in life — death and George Soros writing a blank check for Democrats,” lambasted Republican National Committee Spokeswoman Delanie Bomar.

“They don’t have the cash or resources that Republicans have, which is why they are turning to antisemitic dark money from a billionaire.”

An analysis by The Washington Post found that George Soros currently ranks as the largest individual donor of the 2026 midterm election cycle, outpacing dozens of other major political contributors.

Born to a Jewish family in Budapest, Soros survived the Nazi occupation of Hungary before relocating to the United Kingdom. He later founded a hedge fund and earned worldwide recognition after making approximately $1 billion betting against the British pound during the 1992 financial crisis known as “Black Wednesday.”

Hungary enacted its controversial “Stop Soros” legislation in 2018, prompting the Open Society Foundation to relocate its European headquarters to another country.

Alex Soros, a graduate of New York University, married longtime Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin in a high-profile Hamptons ceremony last summer. The guest list included Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, as well as Bill and Hillary Clinton.

{Matzav.com}

An IDF officer was killed early Sunday during combat operations in southern Lebanon after a Hezbollah terrorist lying in wait inside a building opened fire at close range. The attacker escaped, prompting an ongoing manhunt and Israeli airstrikes against terrorist targets in the area.

The fallen soldier was identified as Capt. David Hazutt, 21, of Ashkelon, who served as a platoon commander in Battalion 12 of the Golani Brigade.

Another soldier was lightly wounded in the same attack. He was evacuated to a hospital for treatment, and his family was informed of his condition.

According to the IDF’s preliminary findings, the incident occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. when troops from the Golani Reconnaissance Unit entered a structure in the village of Deir Siriane, located within Israel’s security zone in southern Lebanon, roughly five kilometers from the border opposite the Ramim Ridge. The force had entered the building to conduct operational searches.

Investigators believe a terrorist concealed in the building’s stairwell waited for the soldiers to approach before opening fire from close range. Capt. Hazutt was killed in the attack, while another soldier sustained light injuries.

The gunman managed to flee immediately after the shooting. In response, the Israeli Air Force struck Hezbollah infrastructure in Deir Siriane, while ground forces launched an extensive search for the fleeing terrorist.

Security officials said the pursuit remains ongoing, with IDF troops continuing operations throughout the area.

Capt. Hazutt’s death follows another painful week for the IDF. Seven soldiers killed in separate incidents in Lebanon were laid to rest in recent days. Among them were Lt. Col. Dor Ben Shimon, commander of Battalion 52, who was killed when his tank exploded along with three members of his unit: Staff Sgt. Naveh Havshush, Staff Sgt. Liav Kabavia, and Staff Sgt. Yoav Klein. Sgt. Maj. (res.) Alexander Filin, 29, was killed by an explosive device in the village of a-Taybeh. Sgt. Maj. Nir Ben Ari, 21, was killed in a Hezbollah rocket and explosive drone attack, while Sgt. Maj. (res.) Basel Sweid, 32, lost his life when a military fuel truck overturned.

The latest casualty brings the number of IDF soldiers killed since fighting resumed in northern Israel approximately three months ago during Operation Rising Lion to 38, including 24 who have fallen since a ceasefire was declared. Since the war began, 963 Israeli soldiers have been killed, including 473 in combat in the Gaza Strip and 85 during operations in southern Lebanon.

{Matzav.com}

A rare and uplifting mitzvah ceremony took place Thursday evening at the home of Posek Hador Harav Moshe Sternbuch Shlita, where the mitzvah of Reishis Hagez—the Torah obligation to give the first sheared wool of sheep to a Kohein—was performed with great joy and reverence.

Harav Sternbuch, renowned for his meticulous adherence to Halacha and his enthusiasm for every mitzvah, took special care to fulfill the mitzvah according to the highest halachic standards. Special sheep, carefully selected with a documented lineage to avoid any concerns of crossbreeding, were obtained specifically for the occasion.

The ceremony was attended by rabbanim and avreichim from the Teshuvos V’Hanhagos Kollel network, headed by Harav Sternbuch. Avreichim from the Geula branch in Yerushalayim were invited as a mark of appreciation in conjunction with their siyum marking the completion of approximately a year and a half of intensive study.

Prior to the ceremony, Harav Sternbuch delivered his weekly shiur, focusing on the halachos of sukkah partitions, a topic currently being studied throughout the kollel network.

Following the shiur, Harav Sternbuch fulfilled the mitzvah by presenting the freshly shorn wool to the receiving Kohein, the Pinsk-Karlin Rebbe Shlita. The emotional moment prompted spontaneous singing among those gathered as the Rebbe lifted the wool and danced with visible joy.

One of the evening’s highlights came when the Pinsk-Karlin Rebbe joined Harav Sternbuch in an enthusiastic dance, later inviting Harav Chaim Ozer Sternbuch Shlita, head of the Teshuvos V’Hanhagos Kollel and son of Harav Moshe Sternbuch, to join as well.

The ceremony concluded with the Pinsk-Karlin Rebbe reciting the full Birchas Kohanim and offering heartfelt brachos for Harav Sternbuch’s continued good health, long life, and leadership of Klal Yisroel. Harav Sternbuch, in turn, blessed the Rebbe with continued success, simcha, and nachas from generations devoted to Torah and mitzvos.

Photos: Shmuel Drey

Iranian officials are reportedly considering an unusual airborne funeral procession for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as preparations continue for what is expected to be one of the largest public mourning events in the country’s history.

Khamenei, 86, was killed at his residence on Feb. 28 during “Operation Epic Fury,” the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran. The conflict continued for four months before Washington and Tehran agreed to an uneasy ceasefire two weeks ago.

According to The New York Times, Iranian authorities expect approximately 20 million mourners to participate in the six-day series of funeral ceremonies honoring the longtime supreme leader.

The newspaper reported that the official ceremonies are scheduled to begin on July 4 with a 24-hour memorial service in Tehran.

The funeral procession is expected to conclude on July 9 in Khamenei’s hometown of Mashhad, where he will be laid to rest, according to Iran International.

While few details have been released about the proposed airborne procession, the idea reportedly emerged after security officials raised concerns about crowd control and safety. The funeral had originally been planned for March but was repeatedly postponed because of the ongoing war between Iran and the United States.

Iran International reported: “Authorities are considering holding slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s funeral procession airborne to reduce crowding and improve security, the governor of Razavi Khorasan province said on Saturday. Gholamhossein Mozaffari said the proposal, put forward by the provincial security council, was likely to be implemented because it would ease crowd management and provide safer conditions. Officials have announced that Khamenei is due to be buried in the northeastern city of Mashhad on July 9.”

In addition to ceremonies in Tehran and Mashhad, the funeral procession is also expected to pass through the holy city of Qom, according to Al Jazeera.

Khamenei is slated to be buried at the Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly succeeded him as supreme leader but has remained largely out of public view since assuming power, is expected to oversee the final ceremonies.

{Matzav.com}

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — All 14 people on board were killed in Saudi Arabia when a helicopter belonging to the world’s largest oil company crashed on Sunday morning, according to the Saudi Ministry of Energy.

The accident occurred around 6 a.m. in Ras Tanura, and everyone killed was a Saudi national, the statement said. An investigation was opened into the cause of the crash.

The helicopter belonged to Aramco, which is majority-owned by Saudi Arabia.

Aramco recently has had to scramble as the Iran war disrupted oil supplies and raised prices. The company has said it successfully shifted some oil exports to a pipeline to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, which has been disrupted as Iran asserted control over the waterway.

By Rabbi Zalman Mendelsohn

MONSEY, N.Y. — Throughout the days of shiva for Rabbi Shmuly Altein, the doors of the family home seemed never to close.

From morning until late at night, a steady stream of visitors arrived to offer condolences, share memories, and pay tribute to a man whose impact reached far beyond the boundaries of any single community. Friends, colleagues, students, supporters, and admirers traveled from near and far, filling the home with stories, tears, laughter, and heartfelt reflections on a life that inspired so many.

The atmosphere was, naturally, one of profound sadness. The loss was palpable. Yet amid the mourning, there were also moments of joy as visitors recounted Rabbi Altein’s warmth, humor, determination, and unwavering dedication to others. Again and again, conversations turned from grief to gratitude as people reflected on the privilege of having known him.

A man named Mark reflected on when Reb Shmuly was very sick he offered him his sports car for a drive around town and Rabbi Altein gladly accepted the offer. Shorly after they started driving, Reb Shmuly out the petal to the metal and took off with the biggest smile on his face.

What became clear over the course of the week was that the gathering itself told the story of Rabbi Altein’s life.

Friends from the Chabad community sat alongside Modern Orthodox colleagues who had driven in from the Five Towns. Frum friends from Monsey shared memories with secular friends who had flown in from Winnipeg. Jews of every background and affiliation came to pay their respects. Non-Jewish friends, neighbors, and acquaintances joined them as well. The remarkable diversity of those who passed through the home was a testament to Rabbi Altein’s unique ability to connect with every person he encountered.

In many ways, the crowds reflected the very qualities that defined him. Rabbi Altein possessed a rare gift for meeting people where they were. Whether speaking with a scholar, a business leader, a young student, or someone taking their first steps into Yiddishkeit, he approached each person with the same humility, compassion, sincerity, and respect. People felt seen in his presence. They felt valued. They felt inspired to become better versions of themselves.

Throughout the week, visitors spoke about the countless projects Rabbi Altein championed and the extraordinary energy he devoted to helping others. Stories emerged of quiet acts of kindness performed without recognition, of lives transformed through his encouragement, and of the communities he lived in – Winnipeg and Monsey – strengthened through his leadership. Many recalled his unwavering commitment to Jewish education, outreach, and communal growth. Others spoke about the personal guidance and friendship he offered during pivotal moments in their lives.

The conversations often evolved into spirited Torah discussions, reflections on faith, and recollections of lessons Rabbi Altein had shared over the years. Groups would gather, exchange memories and revisit teachings that had shaped their relationships with him. In this way, even amid mourning, Rabbi Altein’s voice and influence continued to animate the room.

Family members and visitors alike remarked on the constant flow of people. Hour after hour, the home remained filled. One group would leave and another would arrive. The stories never seemed to end because the lives Rabbi Altein touched were so numerous. Each visitor carried a unique memory, yet together those memories formed a consistent portrait of a man whose life was dedicated to serving others.

Many noted that Rabbi Altein exemplified the teachings and example of the Rebbe on who’s Yahrtzeit, Gimmel Tammuz, Reb Shmuly passed away. He led not through status or authority, but through personal example. He listened before speaking. He encouraged rather than judged. He inspired action through genuine care for every individual he encountered.

As the days of shiva came to a close, one impression remained unmistakable.

The remarkable gathering of people from every background, community, and walk of life was more than a response to a tragic loss. It was a living reflection of Rabbi Shmuly Altein himself.

The thousands of conversations, shared memories, tears, embraces, and words of Torah revealed the legacy of a man who spent his life building bridges between people, strengthening communities, and bringing light wherever he went. The crowds that filled his home during shiva were, in many ways, his final lesson: that kindness transcends differences, that genuine leadership unites rather than divides, and that a life devoted to others leaves an imprint that endures long after one is gone.

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, unveiled its first custom chip on Wednesday in partnership with Broadcom, the two companies announced in a joint statement, a move that pushes the AI leader into designing the silicon that runs its own models and chips away at its heavy dependence on Nvidia. The processor, named Jalapeño, was delivered to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and President Greg Brockman by Broadcom President and CEO Hock Tan, marking what the companies called an important step in OpenAI’s strategy to “build the full stack” behind its models and products.

The chip is built for a specific job. Jalapeño was designed for inference, the process of running pre-built AI models in response to user commands, rather than the more intensive work of training them. It is an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit), a type of chip that industry experts say is less flexible than Nvidia’s GPUs but is also cheaper and can be tailored to specific AI tasks. In practice, that means it is purpose-built to serve products like ChatGPT and the company’s coding tools at lower cost.

The development speed was unusual, and AI itself helped. OpenAI said the chip was designed end to end in just nine months with help from its own AI models. President Greg Brockman said, “The degree to which our models have been able to accelerate it was very surprising to us.” The company described the effort as what may be the fastest ASIC development cycle ever achieved in high-performance semiconductors.

Early results carry a clear message to the market leader. The companies said Jalapeño provides better performance per watt than current state-of-the-art chips in early testing, a direct challenge to Nvidia’s dominance. Performance per watt has become one of the industry’s most important measurements because electricity is among the largest and fastest-growing costs of operating AI systems at scale. A more efficient chip can dramatically reduce the cost of delivering AI services.

The strategic logic extends beyond technology. OpenAI is one of the world’s largest buyers of Nvidia processors but competes with nearly every major AI company for access to those chips. Designing its own processors gives OpenAI greater control over its computing infrastructure while reducing reliance on outside suppliers. Even modest reductions in inference costs could significantly improve the economics of operating products used by hundreds of millions of people.

The partnership is also another major victory for Broadcom, which has quietly become one of the biggest beneficiaries of the AI boom by helping hyperscalers and frontier AI labs design custom silicon. Broadcom shares have climbed roughly 10% so far in 2026 and have increased nearly sevenfold since the end of 2022. CEO Hock Tan said the collaboration will enable “gigawatt-scale data centers” with Microsoft and other partners beginning in 2026, describing it as the beginning of a multi-generation roadmap.

The announcement is part of a broader shift taking place across the AI industry. Earlier this year, OpenAI reached agreements to use Amazon Web Services’ Trainium chips while also expanding partnerships with Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) and Cerebras, which completed its initial public offering in May. Together, those deals reflect a growing determination among leading AI companies to diversify beyond Nvidia for the most critical—and expensive—component of AI infrastructure.

The rollout will happen gradually. Initial deployments of Jalapeño are expected by the end of 2026, beginning with limited prototypes before expanding in the years ahead. The platform combines OpenAI-designed AI accelerators with Broadcom’s networking technology and Celestica’s board and rack systems to build complete AI computing platforms.

For businesses and consumers, the importance of Jalapeño is not that it will appear on store shelves, but that it could lower the cost of artificial intelligence itself. OpenAI argues that AI-assisted chip design can accelerate innovation while reducing computing expenses across the industry. Lower inference costs make advanced AI services more affordable and scalable as billions of users rely on them daily. By designing its own hardware, OpenAI is betting that controlling both the models and the chips powering them will be essential to driving down the cost of intelligence—and reducing dependence on the company that has dominated the AI hardware market for years.

JBizNews Desk
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President Donald Trump responded last night to former President Barack Obama’s recent claim that he occupies “a suite” in Trump’s mind by posting side-by-side photos comparing the two men during their younger years.

The social media exchange came after Trump shared several posts on Truth Social, including an AI-generated image depicting himself holding the Earth while carrying an American flag over his shoulder. He also posted a photo from the recent UFC event held outside the White House before turning his attention to Obama.

Among the posts was a pair of vintage photographs—one showing Trump during his years at the New York Military Academy and another showing Obama in his college days holding a cigarette.

Trump captioned the images simply: “D. Trump, 20” and “B.H. Obama, 18.”

Critics quickly questioned the accuracy of the age listed for Trump’s photograph. His niece, Mary Trump, who has frequently criticized him publicly, noted that Trump attended the New York Military Academy as a teenager and graduated in 1964 at age 17.

Trump’s post followed comments Obama made earlier in the week during an appearance on the All the Smoke podcast, where he joked that Trump’s repeated criticism of him reflects an ongoing fixation.

“The obsession,” Obama told the podcast this week. “I obviously have a room in his head. A suite in his head.”

Obama added that he approached the presidency differently.

“First of all, when I was president, the last thing I had time to do was worry about what somebody said or my predecessor did. They’re gone. I’ve got work to do,” he added.

Trump has frequently criticized Obama during campaign rallies and public appearances. More recently, he has also used AI-generated images to mock the former president, including posts depicting Obama’s presidential center as a giant dumpster.

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM  (VINnews) – An Israeli airstrike killed a senior Hamas naval police commander and two other operatives in the central Gaza Strip on Friday, the Israel Defense Forces announced over the weekend.

The strike targeted Mansour Sami Mahmoud Shahtout, commander of Hamas’s naval police in the Central Camps brigade, along with two additional naval police commanders who were traveling with him, the military said.

According to the IDF, Hamas’s naval police unit operates under the terror group’s military wing and is involved in planning and directing attacks against IDF troops and the State of Israel. Shahtout had been actively working to advance recent terror operations targeting Israeli forces, the army added.

All three terrorists were armed and traveling in a vehicle at the time of the strike, posing an immediate threat to IDF troops operating in the area, the military stated.

Senior officials in the chareidi parties are dismissing Isreli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s latest assurances regarding legislation aimed at preventing the arrest of bnei yeshivah, insisting that only concrete action—not public statements—will restore their confidence.

A senior source within the chareidi factions responded to Netanyahu’s recent remarks and to a letter issued by Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs outlining proposed arrest legislation. “We’ve had enough words and promises,” the official said. “Netanyahu will be judged only by his actions.”

The sharp criticism reflects growing frustration among chareidi lawmakers over what they view as repeated delays in advancing legislation important to the Torah community. On Friday, Fuchs sent a formal letter to Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth detailing a proposal intended to prevent the arrest of lomdei Torah who are studying under what he described as “effective supervision.”

The senior official argued that Netanyahu has made similar commitments before, only to abandon them when it mattered most.

“We’ve seen him stand at the Knesset podium several times explaining why the draft law had to pass, but when the decisive moment came, he was the one who buried the draft law,” the source said. “He did the same thing with the daycare law—plenty of talk, but in practice nothing happened.”

The source then delivered a blunt warning to the coalition, saying the patience of the chareidi parties has run out.

“Now we’ve had enough words and promises. We want to see action. Until we see action, no legislation will move forward in the current Knesset until it is dissolved, including the bill to split the attorney general’s position and the communications law.”

Additional senior chareidi officials reportedly said this past week that although they generally support changes to the office of the attorney general, they will not back legislation dividing that position unless the coalition first delivers on two key priorities: passage of the Basic Law: Torah Study and the proposed law preventing the arrests of bnei yeshivah.

The latest dispute follows a high-level meeting reported last week between Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni, and Prime Minister Netanyahu.

During that meeting, Deri and Gafni reportedly demanded immediate progress on the two flagship pieces of legislation sought by the chareidi community—the Basic Law: Torah Study and the arrest bill.

According to the report, the two party leaders also insisted that Netanyahu personally guarantee a parliamentary majority to pass both measures. They reportedly warned that if the coalition failed to move forward with the legislation promptly, the chareidi parties would seek the immediate dissolution of the Knesset.

At a press conference Friday, Netanyahu addressed the arrests of lomdei Torah, expressing strong opposition to the current policy.

“If they told you that Torah learners were being arrested in Europe, you would be horrified,” Netanyahu said. “We are arresting young men inside the yeshivah. That cannot happen. I strongly oppose it.”

In his letter, Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs explained that the proposed legislation would apply only to bnei yeshivah studying under “effective supervision” by their yeshivos.

Fuchs wrote that, following the High Court’s ruling, government funding was cut off to yeshivos enrolling students subject to military service, while those students and their families were also subjected to various financial sanctions. He added that the Attorney General subsequently instructed the IDF to carry out repeated arrest operations “without distinguishing between yeshivah students who are actively learning and those who are not.”

According to Fuchs, the current situation has created significant unrest even among chareidi families whose sons serve in chareidi combat units or attend hesder yeshivos. The report noted that if the coalition intends to advance the arrest bill, the legislation must be formally circulated immediately—a step that, as of now, has yet to take place.

He came to therapy because his wife had reached a breaking point.

According to her, he was self-absorbed, emotionally absent, and completely disengaged from the relationship. She felt lonely in the marriage and deeply hurt by how little attention he paid to her. Eventually, she stopped hinting and started demanding change.

To his credit, he came.

He was thoughtful, intelligent, and highly functional. An in-house attorney at a major real estate firm, he carried himself with competence and professionalism. But emotionally and socially, especially in his marriage, things were far more complicated.

During one particular session, he told me about a family simcha that had taken place over Shabbos.

“I scored pretty poorly,” he said.

I asked him what he meant.

“I didn’t make conversation with anyone,” he explained. “I felt awkward the whole time.”

“What bothered you?” I asked.

He thought for a moment.

“I guess… it bothers me that I can’t do something that seems so easy for everyone else. It makes me feel different. Maybe weird.”

“What else bothers you about it?” I asked.

He paused for a while but struggled to come up with another answer.

I told him that was okay. I wasn’t assuming there was something else bothering him. I was just checking.

Then I reflected back to him.

“It bothers you to feel different from others. It feels strange not being naturally social when everyone else seems to be. Something you didn’t mention is feeling upset that you’re unable to connect with others. I noticed that you didn’t say anything along the lines of- you wished you could bond more deeply with people or that you felt lonely sitting there.”

He listened carefully and nodded.

“In other words,” I continued, “it seems that your motivation for wanting to be able to socialize more is mostly because you don’t want to feel different… and because your wife has made it clear that this is becoming a serious issue between you two.”

He again nodded slowly.

I happened to have known that he was unhappy professionally and that he often dreamt about leaving his current position for a better one. So I challenged him.

“Let me ask you,” I said, “if I told you that there was a man at a local simcha tonight who was looking to hire a lawyer with exactly your experience — and he was willing to pay double your current salary — would you have a problem walking over and introducing yourself?”

He immediately smiled.

“Just tell me where the simcha is and who the guy is.”

Exactly.

Of course he could talk to people.

Of course he knew how to communicate.

The issue wasn’t inability. It was motivation.

At a family simcha, sitting next to distant relatives or people he barely knew, he simply wasn’t curious enough about them. He wasn’t particularly interested in where they lived or what they did for a living. Sitting quietly with a Chumash open in front of him felt far more natural and comfortable.

And truthfully, there is nothing inherently wrong with that.

But there was another reality he needed to confront: relationships often require us to move beyond our natural comfort zone.

Especially in marriage.

His wife experienced his quietness not as peacefulness or introversion, but as disinterest. To her, his lack of engagement felt personal.

The bottom line was simple: for him speaking to strangers took effort, and human beings generally only exert themselves when the motivation is meaningful enough.

So I told him that if he truly wanted to change, our work would involve two things:

Increasing motivation.

And lowering discomfort.

But then I added something else.

“I’m not going to tell you that you need to become like everyone else. I’m not going to tell you there’s something wrong with being different. And I’m not going to force you to suddenly become fascinated by every person sitting next to you at a simcha. That part is your choice and the ball is in your court. If you want it, I am here for you”

Something visibly shifted in him when I said that.

For perhaps the first time, he felt understood instead of judged.

So many husbands walk around feeling chronically criticized. They hear endless variations of, “Why can’t you just change?” Eventually, they stop feeling safe enough to even explore change because every conversation already feels like an accusation.

For a man real change begins when a person feels autonomous to make his own decisions.

Ironically, the moment he no longer feels pressured to become someone else is the moment he becomes more open to changing who he is.

*Details may have been changed to protect confidentiality and to enhance the story line.

Yaacov Weiss, LCSW, specializes in helping men find healthier and more stable footing in marriage. He can be reached at [email protected]

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Yisrael Meir Gotthold (24) was arrested about a month ago at the airport in Turkish Cyprus while in possession of live embryos. This week he was released from detention after the country’s Supreme Court accepted the evidence that he had acted legally, along with an apology. “I work as a courier, I have all the permits,” he now says in an exclusive interview on Israel’s channel 12. “I tried to explain, but nothing helped. They put me in jail under harsh conditions.”

For Gotthold, a 24-year-old Israeli citizen who has lived in the United States in recent years, the mission was supposed to be just another routine chapter in his unusual line of work. Gotthold is a licensed courier of live embryos, a critical link in the chain that enables couples around the world to fulfill their dream of parenthood through surrogacy. He was already on his way to Mexico, carrying a container with frozen embryos intended for a couple who were eagerly waiting for them. But at the airport in Turkish Cyprus, everything went wrong.

Due to sensitivity issues, containers with live embryos cannot pass through airport scanners, as such radiation could damage the cells and destroy the chance of life. But for local security personnel and police, the refusal to place the container in the scanner was immediately interpreted as something far more sinister. They were convinced they had caught an international smuggler.

“I tried to explain to them that they were wrong,” Gotthold recalls in an exclusive interview. “I showed them all the official documents, international permits proving everything was completely legal, and that I work with couples in the U.S. and Mexico. But nothing helped. They were locked in on their version of events. They confiscated the container, arrested me, and threw me into a detention cell.” Along with him, a doctor and the manager of a local fertility clinic in Nicosia were also arrested on suspicion of selling him the embryos. Gotthold, who still believed it was a bureaucratic misunderstanding that would be resolved within 24 hours, did not realize he was about to disappear into a nightmare that would last a full month.

The initial police detention was still tolerable, but the second stage of the ordeal, his transfer to the central prison of Turkish Cyprus, was an entirely different story. “That’s where it turned into something like ‘Midnight Express,’” Gotthold describes in a trembling voice. “The conditions were appalling. The food was terrible, and you couldn’t touch anything except fruits and vegetables. I experienced severe physical and mental abuse there.”

In the overcrowded, suffocating wing, where 14 inmates were packed into a single cell, the young Israeli found himself surrounded by detainees from Iran and Syria. “They imposed ‘punishments’ on me, they ostracized me, forbade me from smoking, running, or even praying. The war outside only made their treatment of me worse inside,” he says. “They openly threatened my life. They told me: ‘You are Israeli, you will stay here a long time,’ and made it clear they would order me killed if I broke their rules, while they themselves were allowed to do anything. I was terrified. I sat in a corner in fear, constantly praying to G-d to get me out of there. I didn’t sleep at night, afraid they would wake up and slaughter me.”

The University of Michigan reported Friday that its final June consumer sentiment index rose to 49.5, up from May’s record low of 44.8 but still the second-weakest reading since the survey began in the 1970s. Joanne Hsu, director of the university’s Surveys of Consumers, said the gains were broad-based across income levels, wealth groups and political affiliations as gasoline prices eased.

The rebound snapped a three-month streak of declining confidence, but the overall level continues to paint a cautious picture of the American consumer. Even after the improvement, sentiment remains about 13% below the February 2026 reading recorded before the Iran conflict began and nearly 20% lower than a year ago, when the index stood at 60.7.

Two key components of the survey improved together. The index of consumer expectations climbed to 50.7 from 44.1 in May, a gain of roughly 15%, while the current economic conditions index increased to 47.7 from 45.8. Hsu said expected business conditions over the next five years surged approximately 16%, reflecting easing concerns about the long-term economic fallout from the Iran conflict.

Much of that improvement followed the decline in fuel prices. Brent crude oil has retreated since the United States and Iran signed a 60-day memorandum of understanding that eased tensions and reopened the Strait of Hormuz, helping push gasoline prices lower across the country. Lower-income households, which spend a greater share of their budgets on fuel, recorded some of the strongest improvements in confidence.

Inflation expectations also moved lower, an important development for the Federal Reserve. Consumers now expect inflation over the next year to average 4.6%, down from 4.8% in May, while long-term inflation expectations declined to 3.4% from 3.9%. Although both readings remain elevated compared with pre-2025 levels, the decline suggests households are becoming somewhat less concerned about future price increases.

The report arrives at an important time for retailers, restaurants and other consumer-focused businesses heading into the second half of the year. Consumer sentiment near historic lows typically leads households to postpone major purchases, seek discounts and reduce discretionary spending. Even so, June’s modest improvement could help stabilize consumer spending if confidence continues recovering through the summer.

The cost of living remains consumers’ biggest concern. Throughout the spring, a majority of respondents continued citing higher prices as the primary strain on their household finances, with gasoline costs and tariffs remaining among the most frequently mentioned pressures. Those concerns continue weighing on industries ranging from grocery retailers to automobile manufacturers and other sellers of big-ticket items.

The survey also carries implications for Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh and policymakers who continue holding the benchmark federal funds rate between 3.5% and 3.75%. Lower inflation expectations provide some encouragement that price pressures may continue easing, but historically weak confidence underscores the economic uncertainty many households continue to feel.

The University of Michigan’s survey, conducted by telephone, measures Americans’ views of their personal finances, business conditions and buying climate. Interviews for the June report took place between May 19 and early June, capturing a period when gasoline prices were beginning to decline.

The findings broadly align with the Conference Board’s consumer confidence survey, which has also shown Americans feeling somewhat better than they did in May but still remaining cautious about the economy. Together, the two widely followed surveys suggest consumers are experiencing modest relief without regaining the optimism seen before inflation accelerated.

For now, June represents a welcome improvement rather than a decisive turning point. Americans benefited from lower gasoline prices, and that relief was reflected in their outlook. Whether confidence continues improving will largely depend on the direction of energy prices, inflation and broader economic conditions throughout the summer.

JBizNews Desk
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A plain white envelope arrives in your mailbox with your name on it. It may even include a tracking number, making it appear completely legitimate. But when you open it, it’s empty—no letter, no product, and no explanation. Consumer protection experts say that what looks like a harmless mystery could actually be the first step in a scam designed to exploit your personal information.

Investigators have linked these unexplained deliveries to a scheme known as “brushing,” in which scammers use fake shipments to create fraudulent online purchase records. In some cases, the envelope may also contain a QR code that directs recipients to malicious websites designed to steal personal or financial information.

The real danger begins if the recipient becomes curious enough to scan a QR code, click a link, call a phone number, or provide personal information. What starts as an odd delivery can quickly become an identity theft or financial fraud case.

The empty-envelope tactic is frequently associated with brushing scams. In these schemes, dishonest online sellers mail inexpensive items—or even completely empty envelopes—to real addresses to create shipping records showing that an order was successfully delivered.

Once the shipment is marked as delivered, scammers can use the tracking confirmation to post fake “verified buyer” reviews on online marketplaces, making low-quality products appear more popular and trustworthy than they actually are.

Recent reports indicate that recipients have received small padded envelopes bearing unfamiliar or fictitious sender names. Some have received multiple deliveries, while others found only worthless trinkets, packing material, or nothing at all inside.

Although these deliveries may seem more annoying than dangerous, cybersecurity experts warn that the larger concern is that someone already possesses your name and home address.

Scammers don’t need to send anything valuable. All they require is proof that a package was delivered to a legitimate address. They typically obtain names and addresses through data brokers, public records, data breaches, or information leaked online. Using that information, they create fake purchases and mail inexpensive items or empty envelopes to unsuspecting recipients.

After delivery is confirmed, dishonest sellers can falsely claim that you purchased their product and may even publish fabricated positive reviews using your identity or account information. The scheme not only inflates product ratings but also demonstrates that your personal information is already circulating among scammers.

A newer and more dangerous version of the scam involves including a QR code inside the package. The message may urge recipients to “scan to see who sent this gift” or “scan to verify delivery,” but experts strongly advise against doing so.

Unlike a printed web address, a QR code conceals its destination until it is scanned. Cybercriminals take advantage of natural curiosity, especially when an unexpected package arrives bearing the recipient’s name.

The hidden link may lead to a counterfeit website requesting personal details such as your name, address, phone number, credit card information, bank credentials, shopping account passwords, or one-time verification codes.

Once scammers obtain that information, they may gain access to financial accounts, make unauthorized purchases, or compromise payment applications.

Experts recommend several precautions if you receive an unexpected envelope or package.

First, never scan any QR code included with a mystery delivery. If verification is necessary, visit the retailer’s or shipping company’s official website directly rather than using the code.

Second, avoid calling any phone numbers printed inside the package. Instead, contact companies such as Amazon, Walmart, eBay, USPS, UPS, or FedEx only through their official websites or mobile apps.

Third, review your online shopping accounts for unfamiliar purchases, suspicious reviews, unauthorized address changes, or unknown payment methods.

Fourth, update passwords for your email, shopping, and financial accounts using strong, unique passwords for each service. Security experts also recommend using a password manager.

Fifth, enable two-factor authentication whenever possible. Authentication apps generally provide stronger protection than text-message verification.

Sixth, carefully monitor bank and credit card statements for unfamiliar charges, subscription renewals, or withdrawals, and report suspicious activity immediately.

Seventh, review your credit reports and consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the major credit bureaus if you believe your identity may be at risk.

Finally, report suspicious mailings to the US Postal Inspection Service and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. If the shipment appears to be associated with a legitimate retailer, notify that company directly through its official website.

If you have already scanned a suspicious QR code, experts say not to panic—but act quickly. Close the webpage immediately, avoid entering additional personal information, change any passwords that may have been exposed, enable two-factor authentication, monitor financial accounts for unauthorized activity, contact your bank if payment information was submitted, scan your device with reputable security software, remove any applications installed through the QR code, and report the incident to both the FBI and the Federal Trade Commission. If particularly sensitive information, such as your Social Security number or banking credentials, was disclosed, freezing your credit may also be appropriate.

Cybersecurity professionals also recommend installing reliable antivirus and anti-phishing software capable of blocking malicious websites, fraudulent links, and dangerous downloads before they compromise your devices.

Another important protective measure is limiting the amount of personal information available online. Because brushing scams often begin with data purchased from brokers or obtained through leaks, reducing your digital footprint through data removal services can make it more difficult for scammers to target you.

Experts say the biggest takeaway is simple: An empty envelope may seem harmless, but it can be an early warning that your personal information is already in the hands of scammers. Resist the temptation to investigate through QR codes, unfamiliar phone numbers, or suspicious websites. Instead, slow down, verify information only through official sources, and secure your accounts before curiosity turns into a much larger problem.

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Peace Council established by U.S. President Donald Trump to manage the Gaza Strip is planning to grant itself broad legal immunity and free access to land.

According to a report on Sunday morning in the British Guardian, cited by Israel’s Channel 13, a draft resolution obtained by the newspaper shows that the council, reportedly approved by the UN, plans to grant itself sweeping legal immunity. According to the draft, the organization would also be able to take ownership of public assets in the Gaza Strip “free of charge.”

The decision document, spanning four pages and described as “sensitive but unclassified,” grants extensive protection to all members of the Peace Council, the administrative branch of the office of the High Representative, as well as Palestinian technocrats, international military forces, and foreign contractors expected to operate in Gaza.

The draft defines immunity from legal proceedings as protection from “any arrest, detention, or legal proceedings in courts or other bodies in Gaza.” However, it is unclear from the document whether the immunity would also exempt council members from prosecution in international courts.

According to the draft resolution, Council Chairman Trump would have the authority to revoke an individual’s immunity, subject to approval by a majority of council members.

The “Executive Council,” which consists of seven members and leads the body, reportedly includes Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu activated the country’s highest public-health emergency level this week as a record-breaking heat wave gripped Western Europe, killing dozens, closing schools, knocking out power and forcing farmers to harvest grain at night. National weather agencies reported the hottest readings on record across France, Spain and the United Kingdom.

The numbers are extraordinary. Météo-France said the country recorded its hottest June day since records began, with Paris reaching 40.9 degrees Celsius, a new June high. The UK Met Office also confirmed Britain’s hottest June day on record, with temperatures climbing above 36 degrees Celsius on consecutive days.

The human toll mounted quickly. At least 18 people died in France from heat-related causes, including young children, while dozens of additional drowning deaths were reported as people sought relief in rivers, lakes and coastal waters. Spain also recorded its highest average daily temperature since national records began in 1950.

The economic disruption spread across multiple industries. In Paris, officials ordered early closures of the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum, reducing visitor access during one of the busiest tourism periods of the year. Schools throughout several European countries either closed or shortened classroom hours, forcing many parents to remain home from work.

Power systems came under increasing strain. In Belgium, electricity prices briefly surged above one euro per kilowatt-hour during the evening peak on June 24 as conventional power plants struggled to satisfy soaring air-conditioning demand. In France, grid operator Enedis reported approximately 50,000 customers without electricity while wholesale day-ahead power prices rose sharply.

Agriculture also felt the impact. Farmers across parts of France shifted grain harvesting to overnight hours to avoid dangerous daytime temperatures, increasing labor costs while disrupting harvesting schedules throughout the agricultural supply chain.

The heat wave exposed long-standing infrastructure challenges. Much of Europe’s housing, transportation network and commercial buildings were designed for historically moderate summer temperatures rather than prolonged periods of extreme heat. Many homes, hotels and rail systems lack widespread air conditioning, creating additional pressure on the tourism and hospitality industries as temperatures continue climbing.

Scientists and weather agencies say the pattern has become increasingly common. Météo-France reports that nearly two-thirds of all French heat waves recorded since 1947 have occurred after 2000, while the UK Met Office says the number of extremely hot days has more than tripled during recent decades. This June also became the first time since 1911 that Britain experienced record-breaking temperatures during two consecutive months.

The broader economic implications extend well beyond a single week of extreme weather. Repeated heat waves contribute to higher electricity costs, lower worker productivity, reduced tourism activity, increased healthcare expenses and mounting pressure on public infrastructure. France’s activation of ORSAN Level 3 requires hospitals to increase staffing and emergency preparedness as heat-related illnesses continue rising.

European governments increasingly view extreme heat as a recurring infrastructure challenge rather than an isolated weather event. Repeated strain on electric grids, transportation systems and major tourist attractions highlights the growing investment needed to adapt cities and public services to hotter summers becoming more common across the continent.

Forecasters warned that little immediate relief remained in sight. Red heat alerts continued across much of France, while unusually warm overnight temperatures prevented buildings from cooling after sunset. For a continent whose infrastructure was largely built around milder summers, the week underscored the growing economic and human cost of adapting to a changing climate.

JBizNews Desk
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Los Angeles officials have delayed implementation of a controversial plan to raise the minimum wage for hotel and airport workers to $30 an hour after the hospitality industry warned the mandate could result in layoffs, reduced hiring and increased automation.

The measure, often referred to as the “Olympic Wage,” was originally designed to increase wages to $30 an hour by 2028 as Los Angeles prepares to host the Summer Olympics. 

But city leaders recently voted to push back full implementation until 2030 amid concerns about rising labor costs as hotels prepare for a surge in visitors tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics.

AOC-BACKED $25 MINIMUM WAGE COULD SQUEEZE SMALL BUSINESSES IN RED STATES

Rebekah Paxton, research director at the Employment Policies Institute, said city leaders began reconsidering the timeline after concerns emerged from the hospitality industry ahead of several major international events.

“There were concerns from the hotel community,” Paxton told Fox News Digital. “There was some data that came out that the hotels were struggling ahead of the Olympics, even as we’re approaching the World Cup this summer.”

The proposal also comes as New York City officials consider a separate plan to raise the city’s minimum wage to $30 an hour over several years, a concept aligned with broader progressive efforts to increase wage floors in high-cost areas.

AOC-BACKED $25 MINIMUM WAGE PLAN SOUNDS GREAT — BUT AT WHAT COST?

Paxton noted that hotel workers currently earn a minimum wage of roughly $22.50 an hour, meaning the proposal would raise pay by about one-third over just a few years. She said hotel operators warned the higher labor costs were already affecting hiring decisions as Los Angeles prepares for the World Cup and Olympics.

Citing a report from the Los Angeles hotel industry, Paxton said some hotels had reduced hiring and staffing because they could not absorb the anticipated labor costs.

City officials ultimately voted to delay the $30 wage requirement from 2028 to 2030, a move Paxton said gives hotels “a little bit of breathing room as we ramp up toward the Olympics.”

Still, she argued the delay does not resolve the industry’s underlying concerns.

“A $30 minimum wage is still a $30 minimum wage,” Paxton said. “A pause is certainly a step in the right direction, but it’s not going to solve the ultimate problem, which is a lot of folks saying that they can’t sustain that level of a wage increase.”

Paxton said supporters of the wage increase argue workers should receive higher pay, particularly as Los Angeles prepares to welcome millions of visitors for upcoming international sporting events.

“For proponents of this $30 minimum wage, this is sort of a junction where they can sort of make an emotional plea to the public,” Paxton said. “And of course, who doesn’t want to give workers more money?”

However, Paxton argued the higher wage requirement could further strain an industry that has already experienced hiring challenges.

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“My team at EPI has done some work looking at the hotel industry since 2015,” she said. “And even before this went into place, hiring was stagnating. There were fewer jobs available for folks who wanted to be in the hospitality industry.”

“And so, by proposing this kind of super-sized hotel minimum wage on top of what already existed, you’re just going to exacerbate those negative economic impacts.”

The debate over the so-called Olympic Wage is expected to continue as Los Angeles prepares for a series of major international events while city leaders weigh competing priorities of worker pay, business costs and economic growth.

Three Jerusalem residents, including an armed security guard, have been indicted in connection with a dangerous incident in which rocks were allegedly thrown from the roof of a hotel onto chareidi protesters and passing vehicles during an anti-draft demonstration earlier this month.

According to police, investigators from the Moria Station in Jerusalem completed an extensive investigation into the June 1 incident, which took place during a large protest against the arrest of yeshiva bochurim.

Authorities say the suspects climbed onto the roof of a hotel overlooking one of the city’s main roads and hurled rocks and chunks of concrete toward the crowd gathered below, placing the lives of protesters, motorists, and pedestrians at serious risk.

The investigation relied heavily on videos circulated on social media, which police say clearly show the suspects breaking apart large rocks and throwing the pieces toward the demonstrators below. In one clip, a suspect is seen smashing a large boulder against the rooftop to create smaller projectiles before continuing the attack.

Police said the most serious allegations involve the hotel’s armed security guard, who was responsible for protecting the premises. According to the indictment, the guard used his access to unlock the emergency exit leading to the roof, allowing the other suspects onto the rooftop.

Rather than preventing the attack or notifying law enforcement, prosecutors allege the security guard stood nearby, watched the incident unfold, and allowed the rock-throwing to continue.

Following witness interviews, forensic analysis, and a review of the video evidence, prosecutors filed indictments against all three suspects, charging them with serious offenses based on their respective roles in the incident.

Police said the swift filing of the indictments sends a clear message that anyone who endangers the public or exploits a position of trust to facilitate violence will be held fully accountable.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said Friday that if Democrats regain control of Congress in the midterm elections, they will pursue an extensive investigation into President Donald Trump and his administration while simultaneously advancing their legislative priorities.

Speaking on MSNBC’s The Briefing, host Jen Psaki asked Ocasio-Cortez how Democrats should balance investigations into the Trump administration with policy initiatives such as health care and affordable housing if they return to power.

Psaki said, “I played a clip of little Mike Johnson, as I like to call him, laying out how a Democratic majority in Congress would investigate the president, the cabinet, donors and friends. It all sounds, I think, probably to a lot of people watching and a lot of people out there who were infuriated by the level of corruption. Pretty good. But you’ve also talked about a lot of things you deeply care about: health care and affordable housing. I know there are many other things. What do you see as the right priorities? Balance of things, especially as it relates to investigations and accountability? Where does that fall on how much time should be spent on that?”

Ocasio-Cortez responded by pointing to her previous service on the House Oversight Committee during President Trump’s first administration and argued that congressional investigations and legislative work can proceed simultaneously.

“I mean, I of course, some I spent many years on the oversight, and on the oversight committee in Congress, which is in charge of investigations during the first Trump administration. I helped on the investigation of Michael Cohen at the time, which led to a record setting settlement from, Attorney General Letitia James. But, I think that it really is — it genuinely is a situation of we can walk and chew gum at the same time.”

She continued by pledging that congressional committees would aggressively examine the administration if Democrats take control of the House.

“There are certain committees that I think will be spearheading real investigations into this administration. There has to be accountability, and it has to be because we cannot allow this level of corruption to consume our public service and our government ever again. And the only way that you allow that are the only way that you set that precedent is by aggressive investigation and consequence.”

Ocasio-Cortez added that congressional investigations can often lead to additional legal action outside of Congress.

“And often times, some of the things that do come out in congressional investigations sometimes yield to, either state pursuits, etc.. And, you know, Mike Johnson paints this as though it’s some partizan witch hunt but if you don’t want to be prosecuted for crimes, don’t do crimes.”

{Matzav.com}

Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim has canceled today’s atzeres tefillah following the release of Mir Yeshiva bochur Aryeh Leib Brooks, who returned to his home on Erev Shabbos after being released from military custody.

In a notice signed by the yeshiva administration, the yeshiva cited the “wonderful news” of Brooks’ release and announced that the previously scheduled atzeres tefillah would no longer take place. The notice added that all sedarim and shiurim would proceed as usual.

HaRav Kaufman, chairman of the Vaad HaYeshivos, updated Mir Rosh Yeshiva Harav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel shlit”a regarding Brooks’ release.

As YWN reported, the yeshiva had announced the atzeres tefillah after Brooks was arrested last week at the IDF Recruitment Office in Be’er Sheva.

According to the yeshiva, Brooks had gone to the recruitment office in an effort to regularize his status and apply for an exemption when he was taken into custody. He was subsequently transferred to Military Police custody.

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(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

U.S. President Donald Trump pledged support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, economy, and armed forces during a phone call overnight with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, according to a statement from the Lebanese Presidency.

The Lebanese Presidency said Trump congratulated Aoun on the signing of the U.S.-brokered framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel and reaffirmed Washington’s support for Lebanon and its people. Trump said that the United States would continue assisting in the implementation of the agreement and in restoring security and stability in Lebanon.

He also emphasized U.S. support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, as well as efforts to extend the authority of the Lebanese state across its entire territory through the country’s armed forces.

Aoun thanked Trump for his support of Lebanon’s “legitimate authority” and state institutions, especially the Lebanese Army. The Lebanese president said that Beirut would fulfill its responsibilities in implementing the framework agreement and expressed hope that Washington would help prevent violations and ensure that all commitments are honored.

He also called on the United States to pressure Israel to withdraw from areas it still occupies in southern Lebanon in order to facilitate the deployment of the Lebanese Army up to the border.

At the end of the conversation, Trump indicated, according to the statement from the Lebanese Presidency, that he would soon meet with President Aoun in Washington.

The Jerusalem Hills took almost a year to recover from the 2025 wildfires, according to an April report by the Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF), with new fires expected to break out as summer fully kicks in. And the Israeli AI startup Firewave has been working to create a solution to these fire problems.

“The main bottleneck with wildfires is in detection, with rescue services not being able to detect the fires before they become a major problem,” Dr. Jenia Yurkovsky, co-founder of Firewave, told The Jerusalem Post. “And while technology using drones already exists, we are using sound to detect when a fire is about to happen.”

The company works by installing thousands of sensors near sensitive areas, such as national parks or critical infrastructure, and uses AI to distinguish the area’s normal sounds from those of a fire.

“We have thousands of sounds registered that allow our system to understand not only if a fire is breaking down, but also if it’s a controlled fire, a fire that was left unlit, or even a wildfire produced by the hot weather,” Dr. Yurkovsky explained.

Dr. Yurkovsky explained that they developed not only the AI system to detect fires but also the devices used for detection, with the system allowing detection of fires a few square meters wide in a matter of minutes.

“This is a game-changer because usually you detect fires when they’re already starting to spread, with the first sparks not being observable by traditional detection systems. Between smoke being very thin and fires occurring in forests where visibility is low, these situations were previously impossible to detect on time,” he said. 

The fight against wildfires is a time battle

According to Dr. Yurkovsky, these time differences are what make the difference when fighting wildfires, with the system allowing rescue services to use a fire extinguisher instead of heavy firefighting machinery.

He also pointed out that these systems work especially well with autonomous firefighting systems, usually involving drones or sprinklers, that can’t carry much water but can be useful if fighting small spots.

The company currently operates several pilots with the Kinneret Innovation Center and Israel Nature and Parks Authority, with an array of approximately 140 sensors across multiple high-risk sites in Israel.

Dr. Yurkovsky also explained that they trained the AI to distinguish between controlled fires and hazards, and to ignore sound pollution from Israel’s forests and from sites across the world where data were collected.

“One of our pilots was done in California, where one of the most recognizable sounds is that of cicadas. We didn’t hear that in Israel, but the system was able to adapt, classify it as part of the environment, and isolate it in order to continue scanning for fires,” he recounted.

From fires to forest protection

Firewave is now focused on providing services to businesses, with their main clients being forestry management bodies, national park authorities, critical infrastructure operators, municipalities, HOAs, rural communities, and summer camps bordering dense vegetation.

It also aims to offer its services to private landowners in high-risk zones, as those are usually the most dependent on small fire detection systems.

Additionally, the company explained that it sees potential cash flow in the insurance sector, with high-risk zones like California making it crucial for fires to be detected in the early stages.

“Firewave offers an actionable risk-reduction tool. By providing communities and assets with a verified early-detection layer, the technology opens the door for new insurance underwriting models, premium discounts, and climate resilience certifications,” the company said.

But they also explained that, in the near future, they aim to become an “all-included AI forest protection system,” that could not only detect fires, but also illegal logging, heavy machinery operation, or unauthorized vehicular intrusion.

“We are already in discussions with a major Chilean forestry enterprise interested in leveraging the platform for anti-logging surveillance,” Firewave explained.

This post was originally published on here.

HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau spoke on Thursday night at a gathering at his home of dozens of Roshei Yeshivos from across Israel.

HaRav Landau said: “The Chazon Ish wrote in a letter that ‘the country of Poland, where the yeshivos are established and where the saintly Chofetz Chaim and other Gedolei haTorah reside, has the din of Eretz Yisrael, while the other countries have the din of Chutz L’Eretz.’

“In recent generations, the center of Torah has been in Eretz Yisrael,” HaRav Landau continued. “Bnei Torah from Chutz L’Eretz come to study Torah in Eretz Yisrael, and the center of Torah in Eretz Yisrael spreads Torah to every location.

“The burning Ahavas HaTorah that we saw in America and throughout the world (during the Rosh Yeshiva’s Keren Olam HaTorah trip) is inspiring. Their hearts and hands were open to support Lomdei Torah in Eretz Yisrael. These generous supporters understand well that if, chalila, Limmud Torah in Eretz Yisrael—the world’s center of Torah—would diminish, Limmud Torah elsewhere will also be diminished.

“Avreichim are the crown of creation, and the finest of Lomdei Torah. Certainly, in such a difficult time, avreichim in Eretz Yisrael must be mechazeik even more in their limmud, for they are the elite Lomdei Torah in the world’s center of Torah.

“And I have heard that the leading Roshei Yeshivos are calling to avreichim to be mechazeik themselves by studying Torah continuously, and there is no doubt that every chizzuk of Limmud Torah will help counter all the decrees.”

“All kinds of other forms of protest that we never heard from our Rabbanim of previous generations are not our derech. Very often, these protests cause a Chillul Hashem, rachmana litzlan.”

“And must also remember that the most important thing of all is complete immersion in Limmud Torah—laboring in Torah, iyun, and delving deeply into Torah. This is how Lomdei Torah continue to grow and elevate themselves. This is the greatest Kiddush Hashem, and the highest form of deveikus to Hashem—through Limmud Torah b’iyun, with depth and true toil.”

“May it be Hashem’s will that He quickly save us from all our troubles, and may we merit the complete redemption speedily in our days. Amen.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Vice President JD Vance said Friday that Iran’s nuclear program has effectively been crippled, arguing that even if negotiations fail to produce a final agreement, the regime no longer has the capability to produce a nuclear weapon.

Speaking on HBO’s Real Time, Vance maintained that the United States has already achieved its primary military objective by destroying Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities, minimizing the importance of whether a final diplomatic agreement is ultimately reached.

“If we don’t make the final deal, their nuclear program is still destroyed, they’re still much weaker as a country.”

Host Bill Maher challenged that assessment, responding, “But their program isn’t destroyed, the nuclear program isn’t destroyed.”

Vance immediately pushed back, asking Maher, “What part is not destroyed?”

Maher replied, “Well, we didn’t get in there. The whole thing was we have to get in there and see, otherwise we wouldn’t be doing this.”

Vance argued that the key objective was eliminating Iran’s enrichment infrastructure rather than inspecting every facility.

“Well, let me say, first of all, so a nuclear program — and I’m hardly a nuclear scientist, I’m a lowly politician — but the thing that you have to destroy is their ability to enrich uranium, which has been destroyed.”

After Maher interrupted to ask how the administration could be certain, Vance responded, “Well, because you need functioning centrifuges that can actually spin.”

Maher then pressed the issue further, asking, “But what was all the talk about, we’ve got to get in there and we’ve got to get the dust, and we didn’t get in there, so how do we get the dust?”

Vance acknowledged that Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains a separate issue but insisted that it poses little immediate danger because the regime no longer possesses the infrastructure needed to weaponize it.

“So, that’s actually a separate question. So, there’s the highly enriched stockpile, which, by the way, was allowed to accumulate over 20 years of previous administrations. That enriched stockpile is something that we want to get. But, Bill, if we never get it, and the president wants it, and we are going to get it, but if we never got it, it’s buried deep underground and they don’t have the ability to turn it into a nuclear weapon. So, the program is functionally destroyed. We’re just talking about, can we set them back even further through these negotiations.”

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israel’s Chief Rabbi and President of the Chief Rabbinate Council, Rabbi Kalman Meir Bar, has published a comprehensive halachic essay on the kashrut status of various types of whisky, following numerous questions and inquiries on the subject.

In the article, published on the rabbi’s responsa website, the Chief Rabbi distinguishes between different types of whisky according to the production laws in their countries of origin:

• American whisky (bourbon): Generally does not raise kashrut concerns in most cases, since U.S. law requires it to be aged exclusively in new oak barrels.
• Scotch and Irish whisky: This is where the primary concern exists, as producers commonly import used barrels that previously aged wines (such as sherry and port) in order to impart distinctive flavor, aroma, and color to the whisky.
• Canadian whisky: The concern is even greater, because Canadian law permits the addition of flavoring components, which may at times include actual wine.

The Chief Rabbi delves into the intricacies of Jewish law, examining a variety of arguments and grounds for leniency based on the rulings of leading halachic authorities, including the Minchat Yitzchak and the Igrot Moshe.

Among the issues discussed is the halachic principle that wine absorbed into the walls of a barrel becomes nullified when mixed into six times (or, according to other opinions, sixty times) its volume of whisky. The article also explains that the purpose of barrel aging is not to impart the direct flavor of the wine, but rather to soften the harshness of the wood. Therefore, the wine is not considered an intentionally added flavor (avid leta’ama), which would carry greater halachic significance.

In addition, the essay discusses a particular leniency regarding whisky aged in second-fill barrels or later, where the previous spirit has already extracted most of the absorbed wine from the barrel.

Alongside the issue of wine, the article warns about industrial additives that are sometimes incorporated into whisky, such as a strengthening or blending agent known as a “blender,” which may contain non-kosher ingredients. It also raises a significant concern regarding chametz she’avar alav haPesach, leavened products that remained in the possession of a Jew during Pesach, particularly in distilleries owned by Jews who do not observe the holiday’s prohibitions.

In his concluding remarks, Rabbi Bar writes that although, strictly speaking, there are numerous halachic grounds for leniency that could permit the consumption of such whisky, “one who fears Heaven and is scrupulous in observing God’s word should not, as a matter of course, rely on these leniencies.” He therefore calls on the public to purchase only whisky that has been certified by recognized kosher certification agencies.

Accordingly, he states that the Chief Rabbinate of Israel will continue its strict policy of refusing to approve the import of alcoholic beverages unless they undergo thorough inspection and receive proper kosher certification.

Federal authorities have captured one of the alleged architects of the massive $250 million Feeding Our Future fraud scheme after he spent four years evading arrest overseas. The Department of Justice announced Friday that the suspect was taken into custody in Somalia and now faces dozens of federal charges tied to one of the largest COVID-era fraud cases in US history.

Abdikerm Eidleh, 42, was among the original defendants charged in 2022 for his alleged role in orchestrating the Feeding Our Future scandal. Prosecutors accuse him of helping divert hundreds of millions of dollars from the Federal Child Nutrition Program, which was intended to provide meals to needy children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to investigators, the operation functioned as a pay-to-play enterprise in which operators of roughly 200 fraudulent meal distribution sites funneled a portion of their illegal profits back to insiders, including Eidleh. Prosecutors maintain that the meals billed to the government were never actually provided to children.

The 31-count indictment against Eidleh includes charges of “conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery, federal programs bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and money laundering,” according to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.

Authorities said Eidleh was arrested Thursday in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald, who oversees the Trump administration’s anti-fraud efforts, described Eidleh as “a central figure in one of the largest fraud schemes in Minnesota history.”

McDonald added: “He not only stole taxpayer dollars, but he also robbed vulnerable children of critical resources they desperately needed. Rather than answer for his crimes in the United States, he fled to Somalia in a futile attempt to evade justice. That attempt ended thanks to the exceptional work of our FBI partners. The Department of Justice will continue to track down and prosecute fraudsters wherever they run and wherever they hide.”

Minnesota US Attorney Daniel Rosen also praised the arrest, saying: “Eidleh’s capture shows that, if you commit fraud against the American taxpayer, and try hiding across the globe, the long arm of justice will find you. We salute the FBI’s work in finding Eidleh, and are grateful to all our federal and international partners that help us hold accountable those who defraud our government.”

Federal prosecutors allege that Eidleh recruited and assisted individuals in establishing fictitious meal distribution sites and sham food vendors, which then submitted fraudulent reimbursement claims to the government for millions of meals that were never served.

The DOJ further alleges that Eidleh and other participants accepted bribes and kickbacks from individuals and companies seeking to operate fraudulent meal sites.

Investigators also contend that Eidleh established fraudulent meal sites of his own, falsely claiming they were feeding thousands of children each day.

Prosecutors said, “Eidleh deposited more than $5 million in kickbacks, bribes, and other fraud proceeds into accounts associated with his shell companies, using them to conceal the true nature and source of the illegally obtained funds.”

The Feeding Our Future case is one of several alleged public assistance fraud schemes linked to members of Minnesota’s large Somali community that remain under federal investigation.

In May, Aimee Bock, widely described as the mastermind behind the Feeding Our Future operation, was sentenced to 41 years in federal prison after being convicted on every count against her.

To date, authorities have charged at least 79 individuals in connection with the sprawling fraud scheme, and more than 60 have already been convicted.

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Following the agreement signed between Israel and Lebanon, the Lebanese Army today warned against any reckless actions that could threaten civil peace and stressed the importance of unity and solidarity, according to a Ynet report.

In its statement, the Lebanese Army called on citizens to act responsibly in light of calls for demonstrations and protests in Beirut and other areas against the agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The army emphasized “the importance of unity and solidarity in order to overcome the dangers threatening the country,” and added that it “will not allow any breach of security or harm to civil peace through actions with unpredictable consequences, including blocking roads or trespassing on public or private property.”

The army’s statement came after Naim Qassem, Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, attacked the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon, calling it “invalid and a crossing of red lines.”

Qassem said in a statement that the framework agreement should be canceled and replaced with a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States. “No one has the right to deprive the Lebanese people of their right to defend themselves and their land against the occupier of our land and the murderer of our people.”

Earlier on Saturday, Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, warned Lebanon’s citizens against sectarian conflict.

On Friday, Hezbollah supporters held protests in Beirut’s Dahieh district against the agreement. The demonstrations were dispersed by force by Lebanese security forces. Hezbollah sought to contain the fallout from the dispersal of its supporters. Sources close to the terrorist organization told RED TV that Hezbollah was not behind Friday’s protest, claiming it was “spontaneous,” and that the organization condemns any attack on the Lebanese Army.

Meanwhile, a political figure from the camp opposed to Hezbollah told Kan News that, in their view, the framework agreement between Israel and Lebanon is a historic achievement. According to the source, the agreement isolates Hezbollah, partly because it explicitly states the need for the group to disarm. “On the diplomatic level, the work has been done. The question now is implementation on the ground, and that could take time.”

In the same context, the Lebanese source told Kan 11 correspondent Roi Kais that he does not expect Hezbollah to “burn the whole club down”—meaning completely derail the process—but he does expect the terrorist organization to work to obstruct implementation of the agreement and delay the deployment of the Lebanese Army. However, he said Hezbollah and its patron, Iran, are in a difficult position, because obstructing the agreement’s implementation would also delay Israel’s withdrawal.

For now, Hezbollah is mainly exerting heavy public pressure on the government in Beirut to reverse course, even though Hezbollah ministers remain part of the government that signed the agreement. From the perspective of Lebanon’s leadership, the train has already left the station, based on the understanding that had they not signed the agreement, Iran would have claimed credit for securing the Israeli withdrawal.

Meanwhile, the Shiite Amal Movement issued a written statement regarding the framework agreement signed yesterday between Israel and Lebanon:

“We do not accept the agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel, and we oppose direct negotiations with the enemy. This agreement is unbalanced and, through most of its provisions, establishes a reality that favors the enemy at the expense of Lebanon’s national interest, while containing political and sovereignty-related dangers. The agreement does not constitute a basis for a just settlement that preserves Lebanon’s rights and protects its sovereignty and institutions.”

Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh used his first meeting in charge of the central bank this past week to hold interest rates steady and to make clear how he plans to run the place: by borrowing the playbook of Alan Greenspan, the legendary Fed chief who refused to raise rates during the 1990s technology boom. Speaking to reporters after the Fed left its benchmark rate in a range of 3.5 to 3.75 percent, Warsh announced he is creating five internal task forces, including one to study whether artificial intelligence is already changing how productive the American economy is.

The timing was striking. Greenspan died Monday, June 22, at the age of 100, having run the Fed from 1987 to 2006, the second-longest tenure of any chair. His death has reopened a debate that now sits at the center of Warsh’s job: when a new technology promises to make the economy more efficient, should the Fed sit tight and let it run, or raise rates to guard against inflation?

Here is the idea Warsh is reviving, in plain terms. In the late 1990s, the internet was reshaping how companies worked. Greenspan bet that this surge in productivity meant the economy could grow faster without prices spiraling, so he held rates lower than many of his colleagues wanted. Inflation stayed tame, and history largely proved him right. Warsh is making the same wager about AI. He has argued that artificial intelligence could push productivity growth back up toward 3 percent a year, roughly a full point above its long-run average, which in theory would let the economy expand at 3.5 to 4 percent without overheating.

The problem is the backdrop could hardly be more different. Inflation right now is hot. The Consumer Price Index rose to a 4.2 percent annual rate in May, the highest reading since April 2023, pushed up in part by higher oil and gas prices tied to the war with Iran. Core prices, which strip out food and energy, were up 2.9 percent. That leaves Warsh in a bind: cutting rates is hard to justify with inflation this high, yet his whole framework argues against hiking into what he sees as a productivity boom.

There is some evidence on his side. Labor productivity has climbed 2 to 3 percent a year since 2024, up from about 1.5 percent in the prior decade. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who backed Warsh for the job, pressed the case Tuesday, June 23, in a speech at the Economic Club of New York. Bessent said he believes AI could at least double productivity and that Greenspan was correct that the 1990s tech boom did the same. He predicted inflation would fall back toward target as the Iran conflict winds down and gas prices ease, and said the administration’s financial deregulation has unlocked roughly $3 trillion in new lending capacity.

Warsh is also changing how the Fed communicates. The statement accompanying this week’s decision ran about a third shorter than those under his predecessor, Jerome Powell, and carried a more hawkish tone. Warsh has long complained that markets lean too heavily on the Fed’s forward guidance and its “dot plot” of rate projections, treating forecasts as promises. He wants investors to read the economic data themselves. Jeffrey Roach, chief economist at LPL Financial, said the shift marks a return to the Greenspan era, when Fed statements were deliberately minimal and focused on actions rather than explanations.

Not everyone is comfortable with the comparison. Greenspan’s patience in the 1990s helped inflate the dot-com bubble, and his later years saw the loose lending that fed the 2008 housing crash. Alan Blinder, who served as Greenspan‘s vice chair, called the current moment full of eerie parallels and said he hopes it does not end the same way. The deeper worry is simple: the disinflationary tailwinds Greenspan enjoyed—cheap imported goods and a shrinking federal deficit—have reversed. And unlike in the 1990s, the productivity gains from AI have not yet clearly shown up in the official numbers. If Warsh holds rates low and those gains arrive late or never, critics warn he could repeat the Fed’s 2021 mistake, when it called inflation temporary and prices later surged past 9 percent.

For everyday Americans, this is not an abstract argument. The Fed’s rate decisions flow straight into mortgage rates, car loans, credit card bills and the interest paid on savings. Warsh’s bet will determine whether borrowing costs start coming down later this year or stay elevated. As Gargi Chaudhuri, chief investment strategist for the Americas at BlackRock, put it, the real question is no longer what the Fed did this week, but how its new chair frames inflation, AI and the path ahead. Greenspan made his bet and got lucky—or got it right. Whether Warsh can do the same, no one yet knows.

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

Nearly one million bottles of heart and kidney medication have been recalled nationwide over the possibility of a “foreign substance,” according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

California-based Amgen, Inc. voluntarily recalled at least 944,142 bottles of Corlanor and Sensipar tablets after “unexpected foreign matter” was found “in the reserve sample of one of the identified lots,” the California state Board of Pharmacy said in an alert.

“The unexpected foreign matter was localized on the exterior tablet surface, over the coating,” the board said. “Therefore, as a precautionary measure, all lots within expiry that were processed in AML Building 23 packaging area, where the condition occurred, are being recalled.”

The board added that hazard assessments have found it doesn’t present a clinical risk to patients and “overall patient safety risk is low.”

COSTCO-BRAND COLD AND FLU MEDICATION RECALLED BY FDA: ‘NOT EFFECTIVE’

There have been no complaints about the issue.

Corlanor, which is also known by the generic name ivabradine, is prescribed to treat patients with chronic heart failure and Sensipar, also known as cinacalcet hydrochloride, is mainly used to treat overactive parathyroidism in chronic kidney disease patients.

The tablets were distributed between Oct. 28, 2021 and Dec. 30, 2025.

19 DRUG APPROVALS IN 2024 THAT HAD ‘BIG CLINICAL IMPACT,’ ACCORDING TO GOODRX

The recall includes the following presentations, according to the board:

• Corlanor® (ivabradine) 5 mg, 60 tablets in 1 bottle; NDC 55513-800-60

• Corlanor® (ivabradine) 5 mg, 14 tablets in 1 bottle; NDC 55513-800-99

• Corlanor® (ivabradine) 5 mg, 60 tablets in 1 bottle; NDC 55513-810-60

• Sensipar® (cinacalcet hydrochloride) 30 mg, 30 tablets in 1 bottle; NDC 55513-073- 30

• Sensipar® (cinacalcet hydrochloride) 60 mg, 30 tablets in 1 bottle; NDC 55513-074- 30

• Sensipar® (cinacalcet hydrochloride) 90 mg, 30 tablets in 1 bottle; NDC 55513-075- 30

The FDA has characterized the recall as Class II, meaning it could “cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”

The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library announced Thursday, June 25, that it has received a $26 million gift from billionaire investor Kenneth C. Griffin to help finish construction of the library in Medora, North Dakota, just days before it opens to the public. In recognition of the donation, one of the largest the project has received, the library’s west wing will be named the Kenneth C. Griffin West Wing.

The timing is deliberate. The library is set to open July 4, 2026, the day the United States marks its 250th anniversary. Built into the rugged Badlands landscape where Theodore Roosevelt, the nation’s 26th president, spent his formative years, the building was designed by the international architecture firm Snøhetta and is billed as the country’s only carbon-neutral presidential library, a nod to Roosevelt’s conservation legacy.

Edward F. O’Keefe, chief executive of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, said the money will help expand the institution’s civic education mission. In a news release, O’Keefe thanked Griffin for what he called extraordinary generosity and visionary support, saying the new west wing will be a vital part of the campus. The wing will serve as the library’s primary public entrance and will house permanent and temporary exhibition galleries along with spaces for educational programming.

In his own statement, Griffin tied the gift to the national milestone. He said that in the country’s 250-year history, few Americans have embodied the spirit of leadership as fully as Theodore Roosevelt, pointing to the president’s vision, courage and commitment to public service. The framing fits the man being honored. Roosevelt was the original trust-buster, a believer in vigorous markets paired with equally vigorous civic responsibility, and he forged his identity in the same North Dakota country where Griffin has now put his name on a building.

For readers who follow business, Griffin is a familiar name. He is the founder and chief executive of Citadel, the Miami-based hedge fund he started in 1990 and built into one of the most powerful trading firms in the world. His personal fortune and his lifetime charitable giving, which now exceeds $2 billion, have made him one of the most active megadonors in American philanthropy.

This gift is part of a clear pattern. Through Griffin Catalyst, his civic-engagement initiative, Griffin has poured money into projects tied to American history and public service. He funded the restoration of the Lincoln Memorial, made the largest donation in the history of the Navy SEAL Foundation, and gave the largest private gift ever to the Call of Duty Endowment, a fund that helps veterans find work. He donated $30 million to the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation and, in May 2025, gave $15 million to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the largest gift in that organization’s history, timed to the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

There is a real economic story underneath the ceremony. The semiquincentennial has triggered a wave of spending from corporations, foundations and wealthy business leaders racing to fund museums, exhibits and civic projects before July 4. These are not small line items. Griffin’s gift alone closes the funding gap on a major construction project in a small North Dakota town, and the library is expected to draw visitors to Medora, a community whose economy leans heavily on tourism tied to Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the surrounding Badlands. A new flagship attraction opening on the nation’s birthday is the kind of anchor that can reshape a local economy, supporting hotels, restaurants and seasonal jobs for years.

It is also good positioning for donors. For business leaders like Griffin, large civic gifts build goodwill, attach their names to enduring institutions and signal values to clients, regulators and the public. Naming the entrance wing after him ensures that every visitor who walks through the front doors for decades to come will see the connection between the Citadel founder and one of America’s most admired presidents.

Griffin’s broader giving has stretched well beyond civic projects. He and the David Geffen Foundation together pledged $400 million to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and he has committed tens of millions more to medical research and neurological care in Florida. His approach to philanthropy mirrors his investing style, favoring large, measurable bets on institutions he believes can deliver lasting impact.

For now, the focus is on Medora. When the doors open on July 4, the Kenneth C. Griffin West Wing will greet the first visitors to a library that has been years in the making, completed at the finish line by a single check from one of Wall Street’s wealthiest men.

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

Three Jewish shepherds were injured on Sunday morning near Giv’at Makneh Avraham in eastern Gush Etzion after being attacked by Arabs with clubs and stones, Arutz Sheva reported.

According to nearby Jewish residents, a shepherd who went out with his flock to the grazing areas was attacked by several Palestinians from the village of Rashida.

Residents who arrived at the scene found the shepherd lying on the ground, with several Arab rioters around him. When the rioters noticed the residents, they began throwing stones at them in an attempt to prevent them from reaching the Jewish victim.

During the ensuing clash, another two Jewish teens were injured. After a struggle, the residents managed to rescue the shepherd, who was unconscious, and he was evacuated from the area together with the two teens.

IDF and police forces were deployed to the area and launched a manhunt for the suspects.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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The renewed Iranian attack marks a “dangerous escalation” that is part of a continued, targeted attack against Bahrain’s sovereignty, the Bahraini Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday morning.

“Tehran’s actions are neither incidental nor isolated, but rather a deliberate policy and systematic pattern of repeated aggression against the Kingdom’s sovereignty and the security of its citizens and residents,” the statement read.

Additionally, the repeated strikes “eliminate every possible pretext and prove prior intent, as the aggression constitutes a clear resumption of hostilities following Tehran’s commitment under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.”

“This leaves Tehran solely responsible for violating its commitments and undermining the remaining prospects for de-escalation and stability in the region,” it said.

Further, Bahrain called for the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency session and put an end to Iran’s aggression and hold Tehran accountable.

The condemnation comes after Bahrain’s Interior Ministry announced on X/Twitter that air raid sirens sounded across Bahrain for the second time in as many hours.

“Citizens and residents are requested to remain calm, head to the nearest safe location, and follow updates through official channels,” the ministry wrote. 

Iran attacks US military sites in Kuwait, Bahrain

Late on Saturday, a US official confirmed to Reuters that Iran had launched multiple missiles and drones toward neighboring countries, including Bahrain and Kuwait, in the latest escalation in the Middle East.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the situation was still unfolding but that there were no reported US casualties or major impacts or damage to US facilities in the Middle East at this time.

Iran’s attacks reportedly follow renewed strikes by the US near the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday night, in response to a Panama-flagged tanker being attacked by an Iranian drone over the weekend.

U.S. Navy and Air Force fighter jets conducted strikes tonight on 10 Iranian military targets at multiple locations in and near the Strait of Hormuz for Iran’s drone attack on M/T Kiku. pic.twitter.com/Z0TLZRqmF6

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) June 28, 2026

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in its own X post that the US Navy and Air Force struck 10 Iranian military targets at multiple locations around the strait.

Reuters contributed to this report.

This post was originally published on here.

A Rare Opportunity for Yeshuos. Vaad Harabanim has established a fund for 79 yesomim and yesomos who lack the means to cover their wedding expenses. In their signed letter, the Gedolim bless all donors that they should be spared worry, distress, and illness, merit children engaged in Torah, and enjoy lives filled with kindness and blessing. CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

Donate $790 (10 × 79) and receive a commemorative Shtar featuring this remarkable promise signed by the Gedolim HaGaon Rav Dov Landau shlit”a, HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a, and the Sanz Rebbe shlit”a. Support 79 orphans. Receive the brachos of the Gedolei Yisroel. CLICK HERE TO DONATE.

A massive three-day search for a missing Bnei Brak resident ended on Sunday morning, when 25-year-old Yisroel Mordechai Stern was found alive near Modi’in Illit, exhausted but conscious.

Israel Police confirmed that Stern had been located safely and thanked the public for its assistance in sharing information throughout the search effort.

Stern disappeared Thursday from the Bnei Brak area, prompting an extensive search involving hundreds of volunteers, specialized search-and-rescue units, police officers, and emergency responders.

The breakthrough came early Sunday morning when an individual contacted emergency services after spotting a man matching Stern’s description in a forested area near Modi’in Illit. Teams from the Missing Persons Unit and ZAKA Tel Aviv’s Jeep Unit were immediately dispatched and located Stern conscious but suffering from exhaustion.

Yechiel Goldman, operations officer for ZAKA Tel Aviv, described the moment the search came to a successful conclusion.

“Early this morning, ZAKA’s emergency hotline received a report from a civilian who spotted a person matching the published description in a forest near Modi’in Illit. Our teams were dispatched immediately and located the missing man conscious but exhausted,” Goldman said.

The Israel Canine Unit (Yachal) also announced the successful outcome, noting that its volunteers remained in the field throughout Shabbos, without returning home, until Stern was found. The organization expressed gratitude to the hundreds of volunteers who participated in the search and praised the close cooperation among the various emergency agencies.

Golan Chavni, commander of the Jeep Unit, said volunteers had been mobilized since the beginning of the search operation, combing large areas with off-road vehicles and drones.

“Baruch Hashem, this morning he was found fully conscious,” Chavni said.

After days of intensive searching, the operation concluded successfully with Stern’s recovery near Modi’in Illit. Emergency and rescue organizations thanked the public for its vigilance, cooperation, and assistance in publicizing the search, all of which contributed to the positive outcome.

{Matzav.com}

Thousands of talmidim of Brisk gathered at the Kosel late Motzei Shabbos to recite Tehillim on behalf of Brisk Rosh Yeshiva, Hagaon HaRav Avraham Yehoshua Soloveitchik, whos remains hospitalized.

The gathering drew thousands of current and former talmidim, along with members of the broader Torah community, who recited Tehillim and poured out heartfelt tefillos, beseeching Hashem for the Rosh Yeshiva’s complete recovery.

The tzibbur is urged to continue davening and beseeching Rachamei Shamayim for the complete recovery of Avraham Yehoshua ben Ettil.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Hundreds of Misameach families enjoyed an unforgettable evening of joy, music, and inspiration during the organization’s annual Hudson River cruise, held Wednesday aboard a luxurious four-level cruise ship.

The special event gave families caring for children with serious illnesses a chance to relax, celebrate, and create lasting memories together. From the moment the ship departed, guests were treated to a festive evening featuring a hot buffet dinner, live music, entertainment, and breathtaking views of the New York City skyline.

The cruise was made possible through the generosity of numerous sponsors and volunteers. The event’s primary sponsors, Itzik and Etah Unger, dedicated the evening in memory of a beloved family member. Liberty Landing Marina and its staff played a key role in launching the event, while the onboard medical team was led by Dr. Zemel.

The evening’s musical program was coordinated by Chaim Bukshin together with The En3rgy Band and Lenny Friedman. Families were treated to performances by renowned singers Yehuda Green, Baruch Levine, Joey Newcomb, and Berry Weber, who kept the crowd singing and dancing throughout the night.

Children were entertained with performances by Kinder Shpeil clowns, jugglers, magicians, caricature artists, face painters, crafts, snow cones, and other activities. Every family also received a special gift bag to take home. Magnet Memories photographers captured the evening’s highlights, giving families treasured keepsakes.

A delicious hot buffet was prepared by Weiss Brothers Catering and generously sponsored by Epstein’s Meat, Glatt Bite, Michael Schick, Klein’s Ice Cream, Positiv Lettuce, and TLS. Additional refreshments included ices sponsored by Klein’s Ice Cream and snacks provided by Golden Fluff.

Organizers noted that the evening would not have been possible without the dozens of volunteers, entertainers, photographers, musicians, and producers who donated their time and talents entirely pro bono, creating an uplifting atmosphere for hundreds of Misameach members.

Families expressed overwhelming appreciation following the cruise, describing it as an unforgettable experience. One participant shared, “He had an absolute blast! Hashem should bentch you with all the brochos in the world!” Another family wrote, “You don’t know what this is doing for our family! The whole trip is worth it even just for us.”

As messages of gratitude continue to pour in, organizers say the 2026 Misameach Cruise will be remembered as another spectacular evening that brought smiles, hope, and happiness to families who needed it most.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu devoted part of his Motzoei Shabbos press conference to Israel’s ongoing military draft crisis, arguing that the government’s enforcement campaign against bnei Torah is producing the opposite of its intended effect and discouraging enlistment among the chareidi public.

Alongside his remarks on the new security agreement with Lebanon, Netanyahu said he had received a clear message from the heads of chareidi hesder yeshivos: arresting full-time bnei Torah does not increase military service but instead drives the chareidi community further away from cooperation.

Quoting what the roshei yeshivah told him, Netanyahu said, “When you send people into the yeshivos, take Torah students out, and put them in prison—no one enlists.” He added that they continued, “We received tremendous responsiveness from the chareidi public. Young chareidim want to enlist, but when you send arrests into places of Torah study, it produces the exact opposite result.”

The prime minister also compared the situation to what would happen in Europe, saying, “If I told you that in some country in Europe the police were entering yeshivos, taking young men who were learning Torah and putting them in prison—you would be horrified.” He said the comparison underscored both his opposition to the current enforcement policy and the damage it has caused in relations with the chareidi community.

In recent months, the chareidi public has been deeply shaken by the growing wave of arrests targeting bnei Torah, with many of the detentions resulting from planned enforcement operations rather than incidental encounters. However, unlike Netanyahu’s description, the arrests have taken place in homes and public areas—not inside yeshivah buildings—though critics argue that this distinction does little to lessen the gravity of the situation.

{Matzav.com}

As Monsey Scoop reported on Erev Shabbos shortly before the zman, a bochur riding an e-bike was seriously injured in a collision with a vehicle at the intersection of South Cole Avenue and Route 59 in Spring Valley.

The victim, was treated at the scene by Rockland Hatzoloh before being transported to Westchester Medical Center in serious condition.

Sources tell Monsey Scoop that the bochur sustained severe injuries and may face life-altering complications. The tzibur is asked to continue davening for Meir Dov ben Rochel Tzivia and keep him in their tefillos as he undergoes treatment.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A violent confrontation broke out at Ben Gurion Airport on Friday after passengers from two delayed flights became frustrated by the late arrival of their checked baggage. The incident escalated into a physical altercation that left a ground crew employee and a security guard injured, while airport security personnel responded with their weapons drawn.

The disturbance began in the baggage claim area, where passengers waited for luggage from two flights that had landed behind schedule. Some travelers feared their bags would not arrive before the onset of Shabbos, raising the prospect of being stranded at the airport throughout the day.

As the delay continued, several passengers confronted ground staff, demanding answers about the whereabouts of their luggage. The exchange eventually turned physical, resulting in injuries to a ground attendant and a security guard stationed near the baggage carousel. During the confrontation, airport security officers drew their firearms as they worked to regain control of the situation.

The incident came to an end after security forces intervened. Police complaints were subsequently filed against those involved in the altercation.

According to an N12 report, both the Ben Gurion Airport administration and the airport police have launched separate investigations to determine exactly what transpired and what led the confrontation to spiral into violence.

{Matzav.com}

Trump-endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow defeated Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming in Saturday’s Republican Senate primary runoff, delivering another primary victory for candidates backed by President Donald Trump.

With 41% of precincts reporting, Letlow had secured more than 55% of the vote, compared with about 45% for Fleming. She will become the Republican nominee in November.

Trump endorsed Letlow in January, months before the May primary. The support helped propel her past incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy in a three-way contest. Letlow was first elected to Congress in 2021 after winning the seat previously held by her husband, Luke Letlow, who died from complications related to COVID-19.

President Donald Trump appeared alongside Rep. Julia Letlow and First Lady Melania Trump at the Congressional Ball.

After finishing first in the May primary, Letlow’s race against Fleming became increasingly competitive as polls showed the contest tightening this month.

On the Democratic side, Jamie Davis won his party’s nomination with more than 78% of the vote, while his opponent, Gary Crockett, received roughly 21%.

Trump and Cassidy have clashed repeatedly in recent years, particularly after Cassidy voted to convict the president during his 2021 impeachment trial on charges of “incitement of insurrection” following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Cassidy later cast a key vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Trump repeatedly attacked Cassidy over what he described as his “disloyalty” and declared his political career “OVER.”

The friction persisted even after Cassidy’s primary defeat. Last week, the two reportedly engaged in a heated exchange during a closed-door Senate luncheon after Cassidy joined three other Republicans in backing an Iran War Powers resolution opposed by the president.

Fleming, 74, served in the House of Representatives from 2009 to 2017 and later became Deputy White House Chief of Staff near the end of Trump’s first term. He currently serves as Louisiana’s state treasurer.

Both candidates campaigned as conservatives and competed to demonstrate their support for Trump’s agenda.

Despite Trump’s endorsement of Letlow, Fleming sought to position himself as the race’s leading MAGA conservative and criticized Letlow for her previous support of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

In the final days of the campaign, Trump made several online appeals on Letlow’s behalf.

On Friday, the president described her as a “Highly Respected America First Congresswoman” and a “Great Star” as well as a “TOTAL WINNER” and “wonderful person” who has been “tested at the highest and most difficult levels.”

Letlow captured 45% of the vote in the May primary, compared with 28% for Fleming and 25% for Cassidy.

Recent polling, however, suggested the runoff would be much closer in what analysts expected to be a low-turnout election.

According to Ballotpedia, Trump has achieved a 98% success rate in candidate endorsements, although that figure includes uncontested races and contests in which the president endorsed candidates after they had already established significant leads.

The Texas State Board of Education voted Friday to make Bible passages required reading for public school students across the state, in a decision affecting more than 5 million children.

The Republican-controlled board approved the new required reading list by a vote of 9-5-1. Among the mandated texts are sections of the Book of Exodus (Shemos) for fifth graders and Tehillim perek 23 for seventh graders. The broader list also includes works by authors such as E.B. White, Shel Silverstein, Aesop, Kurt Vonnegut, and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel.

Friday’s board discussion focused on implementation timelines and questions over how much autonomy individual teachers should retain in selecting required texts.

Republican board member Julie Pickren defended the list, telling The Texas Tribune that engaging directly with foundational texts allows students to understand the moral and philosophical traditions underlying American civilization.

Board member Evelyn Brooks, who opposed the measure, argued during the hearing that the mandate strips teachers of autonomy they have held for years and called the move unconstitutional, though she acknowledged the board’s authority to proceed regardless of her view.

Antero Garcia, a professor at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education and a former high school English teacher, told ABC News the new reading list marks a significant shift in Texas public education, calling it a reshaping of what students learn over 13 years of compulsory schooling. He noted that Texas’s educational decisions often influence other states, raising the possibility that similar mandates could spread elsewhere.

Hundreds of residents gathered in Tzfas on Shabbos for one of the city’s largest demonstrations in years, protesting the operation of public bus routes during Shabbos. The protest centered on buses departing for Haifa, Nahariya, and Kiryat Shmona approximately 90 minutes before the conclusion of Shabbos. Six demonstrators were arrested during the protest, while community leaders have begun efforts to engage in dialogue with the Ministry of Transportation in an attempt to end the service.

The demonstration took place at the city’s central bus station, where participants protested what they described as the public desecration of Shabbos. The routes at the center of the protest were Route 361 to Haifa, Route 511 to Kiryat Shmona, and Route 367 to Nahariya, all of which begin boarding passengers and depart at 6:00 p.m. while Shabbos is still in effect.

Participants included observant Jews from across the spectrum of Torah-observant communities in Tzfas, who gathered to express their pain over the public operation of transportation on Shabbos and to call on the relevant authorities to halt the service.

Organizers said the protest remained orderly throughout. Demonstrators sang Shabbos songs and voiced their opposition peacefully, despite several attempts by individuals opposed to the demonstration to provoke confrontations.

During the protest, six demonstrators were taken into custody. Efforts are currently underway to secure their release as quickly as possible.

Following the demonstration, organizers issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the turnout.

“We are filled with satisfaction over the tremendous success of the gathering of such a large ציבור to cry out publicly before all that our holy Shabbos will not become trampled in the streets of the city, and over the kiddush Hashem that atones for the sin of chillul Hashem. Our intention is to continue these demonstrations and increase the number of participants as long as the transportation lines continue to operate.”

At the same time, local community activists have opened discussions with the relevant government officials in hopes of reaching an agreement that will end the ongoing Shabbos bus service in the city.

In advance of the protest, large notices posted throughout Tzfas called on residents from all of the city’s kehillos to participate in the demonstration.

“Toward Shabbos, let us go! The masses of Bais Yisroel, residents of Tzfas from all the holy communities, old and young alike, will gather in great numbers this Shabbos, Parshas Balak, for a protest against the chillulei Shabbos being carried out by Netiv Express at the instruction of the Ministry of Transportation through the operation of public transportation routes: Route 361 to Haifa, Route 511 to Kiryat Shmona, and Route 367 to Nahariya, departing at 6:00 p.m. in the midst of Shabbos, trampling the honor of Shabbos into the dust. The protest will begin at 5:45 p.m. at the central bus station in Tzfas. Let us cry out from the depths of our hearts that the chillulei Shabbos in our city come to an end. All of us together for the honor of Heaven—let no one be absent! Association of Lovers of Shabbos, Tzfas, representing all the holy communities.”

Hundreds of residents responded to the call, gathering to publicly express their anguish over the ongoing desecration of Shabbos through the operation of the bus routes.

Temperatures in Lakewood will be climbing steadily this week, reaching 100 degrees Thursday and Friday.

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shlomo Binyomin Schreiber zt”l, a former senior inspector in Israel’s Ministry of Education who was widely respected for his unwavering support of yeshivos and seminaries. Rav Schreiber passed away on Shabbos at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim at the age of 87.

The levayah took place on Motzoei Shabbos, departing from Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and proceeding to Har HaMenuchos, where he was laid to rest.

Rav Schreiber was born in Galicia on the fifth of Teves 5699 (1938) to Rav Ephraim Schreiber zt”l and Mrs. Devorah Schreiber a”h. He was a descendant of the Chasam Sofer.

After arriving in Eretz Yisroel as a teenage orphan, he was taken in by Rav Aharon Cohen zt”l, the longtime rosh yeshivah of Chevron Yeshiva, who raised him as one of his own sons.

When he married, Rav Schreiber became the son-in-law of the renowned Ger chossid Rav Yaakov Zalman Kurlansky zt”l. He also enjoyed a close relationship with the Gerer Rebbe, the Bais Yisroel.

Professionally, Rav Schreiber served as a senior inspector in Israel’s Ministry of Education. Throughout his years in that position, he became well known for assisting the administrators of yeshivos and seminaries, who deeply appreciated his dedication and steadfast advocacy on their behalf. Following his retirement, he devoted himself to Torah study with the enthusiasm and diligence of a young bochur, spending long hours immersed in learning each day.

In recent months, as his health declined, he regularly davened in the home of his neighbor, Rav Shmuel Mintzer zt”l, R”M at Yeshivas Maayan HaTalmud, who was niftar just last week at the age of 75.

Rav Schreiber is survived by a distinguished family. His sons are Rav Ephraim Schreiber of Ramat Shlomo, Rav Aharon Schreiber of Bnei Brak, and Rav Yisroel Schreiber of Bnei Brak. He is also survived by his daughter, Mrs. Greenwald of Modi’in Illit–Rechasim.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

Amid mounting economic sanctions and the ongoing wave of arrests targeting bnei Torah, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, rosh yeshivah of the Mir, asked Ateres Shlomo rosh yeshivah Rav Chaim Feinstein to deliver a special address of hashkafah and daas Torah to provide guidance and encouragement during this difficult period.

The special gathering drew thousands of avreichim from the Mir. With the main botei medrash filled to capacity, additional participants assembled in neighboring rooms, where the address was broadcast live.

During a lengthy shmuess that lasted approximately an hour, Rav Chaim spoke extensively about the Torah perspective on the current campaign of economic measures and arrests directed against the Torah world and those who devote themselves to full-time Torah study. His remarks focused on offering chizuk and clarifying the proper outlook in confronting the challenges facing lomdei Torah in the present climate.

{Matzav.com}

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries publicly welcomed a new group of Democratic congressional nominees on Saturday, including three candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America whose primary victories have intensified debate over the Democratic Party’s progressive shift ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Jeffries’ message underscores the balancing act facing the top House Democrat as he attempts to unite an increasingly diverse party coalition before November’s general election.

Should Democrats regain control of the House, Jeffries is expected to become speaker.

That outcome would likely leave him presiding over a Democratic caucus featuring more self-described Democratic Socialists than at any previous point.

To date, more than a dozen candidates supported by the Democratic Socialists of America have either won their primaries or advanced to the next stage of congressional races this election cycle.

In a post on X, Jeffries wrote, “Congratulations to our Democratic nominees,” before naming congressional candidates from across New York. Included on the list were Brad Lander, Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier, all of whom either belong to or were backed by the Democratic Socialists of America and won closely watched primaries last week.

“From public servants to union organizers to community activists, the path is different but the work is the same,” Jeffries wrote. “We must decisively address the affordability crisis and crush far-right extremism!”

Lander, Chevalier and Valdez all received endorsements from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose support has further highlighted the growing influence of the Democratic Party’s progressive wing in New York. Lander and Chevalier each defeated incumbents endorsed by Jeffries — Reps. Dan Goldman and Adriano Espaillat, respectively. Jeffries did not endorse a candidate in the open-seat race won by Valdez.

As Democrats pivot toward the general election campaign, Jeffries appears to be rallying behind the party’s nominees as it seeks to reclaim the House majority.

The three socialist-backed candidates have also faced scrutiny over past social media posts, support for defunding the police and criticism of Israel, positions that have generated controversy within Democratic ranks.

Chevalier has come under renewed examination over resurfaced social media posts, including one in which she called to “literally abolish the border.”

She has also drawn criticism for previous posts in which she described former President Joe Biden as a “war criminal,” criticized former Vice President Kamala Harris and rebuked Sen. Bernie Sanders over Israel.

Like Chevalier, both Valdez and Lander, who is Jewish, have accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza.

Jeffries’ public congratulations quickly prompted backlash from critics.

The Republican Jewish Coalition condemned the message, arguing that the candidates are not the Democratic Party’s “fringe” but rather represent its emerging direction.

“To Jewish Democrats: your party is telling you EXACTLY who it is,” the Coalition wrote. “These future members of Congress, who @hakeemjeffries is welcoming with open arms, want to: Abolish prisons and borders. Defund the police. Downplay 9/11,” while citing other controversies surrounding the candidates.

Jamie Metzl, a former National Security Council and State Department official and a lifelong Democrat, also criticized Jeffries’ post.

“When I first read this post, I assumed it was from a spoof account. I am deeply concerned that it appears to be all too real,” Metzl wrote. “To welcome these nominees without acknowledging and criticizing their self-declared sympathies for U.S.-designated terrorist organizations, their calls to abolish the police, their stated desire to dismantle Western civilization, and their blatant anti-Americanism is to sacrifice the core principles of the Democratic Party.”

Metzl further accused Jeffries of prioritizing his ambitions to become speaker over the party’s values.

“I understand your ambition to become Speaker should Democrats retake the House, but you should not sacrifice the principles of our party to advance your own political aspirations,” Metzl wrote.

Democratic leaders have faced questions this week over how to address the rise of New York’s socialist candidates, particularly after supporters of Valdez were heard chanting “you’re next” at a television screen showing Jeffries on Tuesday night.

“They’re gonna eat you next Congressman – and replace you with one of their own,” conservative commentator Meghan McCain posted on X.

“This is funny,” conservative commentator Robby Starbuck posted on X. “Hakeem still doesn’t realize that the communists are going to eat him alive. Clearly not a student of history. Bless his heart.”

During an appearance on CNN on Friday, Jeffries said, “I think that what happens in a handful of primaries in one of the bluest cities in the country is not in any way indicative of what needs to happen in November, where we need to reelect every single frontline Member, common sense Democrats, authentically committed to making life better for the American people, opposing these extreme Republicans who have been nothing but a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s agenda.”

“And at the same period of time, make sure that we flip red seats blue, including in New York-17, where we have a combat veteran, incredibly patriotic American Cait Conley, who came out of a primary on Tuesday as well and is an incredibly strong candidate. She will defeat Mike Lawler in New York in November.”

South Korea will rapidly expand its drone and counter-drone capabilities to counter North Korea, including by training 500,000 “drone warriors” and distributing tens of thousands of unmanned systems across frontline units, the South Korean Defense Ministry said on Friday.

The military also plans to produce 110,000 drones by 2029 for deployment across the army, navy, air force and marines, aiming to make drones a standard item for individual soldiers.

“Drones should no longer be equipment used by a limited number of units, but a universal combat tool,” South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said in a briefing, adding they should be used by troops like a “second personal weapon.”

Ahn said Seoul would rely on 100% domestically produced components rather than Chinese parts in building the systems, in response to security concerns.

The announcement comes as both Koreas accelerate efforts to build drone capabilities, shaped by lessons from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, where unmanned systems have emerged as game changers on the battlefield.

“Low-cost drones operated in large numbers are fundamentally changing the nature of warfare,” Ahn said, warning North Korea was also advancing unmanned systems, increasing threats to military and civilian facilities in the South.

South Korea’s plan includes expanding counter-drone systems such as laser and high-power microwave weapons, and shifting operations so each service can conduct surveillance and strike missions using drones rather than relying on a centralized command.

A senior defense official said the military would also move quickly to acquire more than 20,000 low-cost, expendable drones and introduce AI-based swarm systems and loitering munitions.

The ministry said it would revamp procurement rules to speed up adoption of civilian technology and position the military as a major buyer to help build a domestic drone ecosystem.

Military growth comes amid senstivity over drone ops.

The expansion comes amid political sensitivity over drone operations under the previous administration. A South Korean court this month sentenced former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol to 30 years in prison over a military drone incursion into North Korea that prosecutors said was aimed at justifying his 2024 martial law bid.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung’s government dismantled the drone operations command in the fallout from those allegations, with the plans on Friday aiming to replace it with a new organization focused on policy, capability development and support while leaving operations to individual military units.

South Korea also faces pressures from demographic decline, pushing the military to rely more on automation and unmanned systems to sustain combat capabilities.

This post was originally published on here.

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday said he is nominating Lance Schroyer, a former Oklahoma state trooper, as the next director of Immigration and Customs and Enforcement.

Trump said on his Truth Social platform that his new pick for the immigration enforcement agency is a former U.S. Marine and a “PATRIOT with real operational experience.” He called Schroyer a “proven leader with DECADES of experience locking up the worst of the worst.”

Schroyer hails from the same home state as the new Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, a former congressman. Earlier this month, Mullin brought Schroyer onstage at a National Sheriffs’ Association event, calling him a “good friend of mine” and noting DHS had recently hired him.

On Saturday, Mullin quickly praised Schroyer in a statement highlighting the former trooper’s 29-year career and his work with federal and state partners on a U.S. immigration enforcement program.

“President Trump made a great pick, and I’m confident Lance’s strong leadership and firsthand experience will empower the men and women of ICE to deport criminal illegal aliens, secure the homeland, and protect the American people,” Mullin said.

If confirmed, Schroyer will lead ICE at a time when the public mood has soured on Trump’s immigration crackdown, which sent surges of federal immigration officers into American cities to round up immigrants. Those raids sent tensions soaring and prompted clashes between protesters and law enforcement, leading to the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year.

Trump returned to the White House on a promise of mass deportations, and ICE has been a central executor of that vision. The agency is undergoing massive growth from a one-time injection of $75 billion last year, which has allowed for the hiring of 12,000 officers and increased detention capacity.

Mullin, who started in his role in March, has promised to keep his department out of the headlines and has indicated a softer tone on immigration, although he is expected to align with the president’s priorities on mass deportations.

Claire Trickler-McNulty, a former senior ICE official, said prior confirmed ICE directors have often been attorneys, though some state and local law enforcement officials have also been nominated. She said his background in Oklahoma suggests Mullin likely had influence over the pick.

“I think probably given the attention on ICE, he wants to feel like he has somebody he can trust in there,” she said in an interview.

John Torres, another senior ICE official, said Schroyer faces an uphill climb toward Senate confirmation but his experience being at the state and local level instead of the federal level might help.

“He won’t have any of that baggage, where they’re going to turn around and say, oh, well, he worked for this administration or that,” Torres said.

Schroyer’s nomination comes after former ICE director Todd Lyons resigned at the end of May. David Venturella, a former executive at a private prison operator, has been serving as the acting head of the agency. Venturella is expected to stay on as the acting director until Schroyer is Senate confirmed, according to a DHS official speaking on condition of anonymity.

ICE has not had a Senate-confirmed director since the Obama administration, a result of polarizing politics around the agency and immigration policy.

LA GUAIRA, Venezuela (AP) — Tensions flared Saturday as desperation grew in Venezuela’s state of La Guaira as rescuers and civilians searched for earthquake survivors and the death toll rose sharply to 1,430.

Families reported at least 68,900 people missing Saturday, three days after the one-two punch of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes devastated the South American nation.

Venezuelans looking for loved ones and neighbors used shovels, heavy equipment, ropes and bare hands atop mounds of toppled concrete throughout La Guaira, one of the hardest-hit states. They were joined by a growing number of international rescue teams who began to climb through the rubble, offering a small glint of hope to anguished families.

Tensions peaked over what many Venezuelans viewed as an inadequate response by the government, whose soldiers, firefighters, police and military cadets were evidently underprepared to respond to the scope of the tragedy. Frustration was amplified by efforts to project the image of a robust state response.

Damaged buildings are seen three days after earthquakes struck in La Guaira, Venezuela, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours as crucial for retrieving people alive, though that can be extended if they have access to food and water. Venezuelan officials said 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 rescue team members had touched down by Saturday.

As 72 hours passed since the earthquakes struck, many felt every minute ticking away as they ran out of time to rescue people alive.

“There’s a pile of bodies over there from last night. Newborn babies,” said Mileidy Romero, who was among those searching in the seaside town of Caraballeada. “At 8 p.m. (yesterday) there were people alive down there, and they haven’t bothered to rescue them. We’ve located several bodies, and they haven’t helped us recover them either. What are they waiting for?”

Tension mounts during rescue efforts
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said on state television that more than 14,000 members of the military and police are patrolling the area, where access is now blocked and special permits are required to enter. But many in disaster zones said they had seen little of their government.

Rescue workers pull Moises Calzadilla, 11, from the rubble three days after earthquakes struck La Guaira, Venezuela, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

Some people climbed the remnants of buildings and cried out names, hoping for any proof of life. Dust coated coastal communities. In punishing heat, more people wore masks as the stench of decomposition spread. In other parts of La Guaira, teams loaded stacks of bodies – some in white bags, other naked – onto white trucks from the ground of a dirt hospital parking lot, where they were being identified.

Without hard hats or other gear, rescuers and civilians instead wore motorcycle helmets as they searched piles of debris that were once people’s belongings: Eddie Murphy and Nemo DVDs, a kitchen sink, mattresses and shoes.

Some, frustrated by the government’s response, blocked an excavator from leaving the site of a collapse and pulled the operator from its cabin shortly after state workers took selfies in front of flattened buildings and left without helping. The ruling party’s officials often take selfies to show participation in government-related events.

A few feet away, at least five bodies wrapped in blankets.

A member of the crowd, Yeison Marcano, said those searching had received some assistance from an investigations unit but neither police nor the National Guard helped.

“They came to eat arepas and take pictures to make it look like they were working,” Marcano said. “They didn’t even get their uniforms dirty like we have. We’ve been here for three days.”

A minute later, a man tried to grab a firefighter, shouting and cursing. “Silence! Silence!” rescuers shouted as they tried to confirm whether someone was trapped alive.

Meanwhile, an older man was pulled from the rubble of a public housing building. Visibly disoriented, he begged a nurse for water. He fought with personnel who put him into a pickup truck, screaming, “My family! My family!”

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT – Emergency workers gather the bodies of earthquake victims in the parking lot of a hospital three days after twin earthquakes struck, in La Guaira, Venezuela, Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Searches mix with uncertainty
The International Organization for Migration said over 6 million people could be affected, some 2 million in the capital, Caracas, alone.

Experts said the destruction was amplified by the quick succession of shallow quakes. For days, smaller aftershocks occasionally shook the capital, Caracas and areas hit by the quakes, including one measuring 4.8 on Saturday.

The disaster poses a huge challenge for Rodríguez, the former vice president who took office in January after the U.S. capture and removal of then-President Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela has been facing economic disarray for more than a decade, and many people reject the legitimacy of the political movement Rodríguez represents.

Search teams and foreign aid continued to arrive from Mexico, the U.S., Brazil, El Salvador, France and elsewhere.

On Saturday, Mexican rescue teams climbed over collapsed buildings and pushed their heads into holes in the pancaked concrete to search for signs of life, occasionally hearing movement.

“We’re rescuers from the Mexican military, if there’s anyone down there still alive, make noise or scream. Now!” one man shouted.

A glimmer of hope
For many, the images of international aid teams arriving and climbing through the rubble alongside them offered a glimmer of hope. Yonahí Regalado has been calling out the names of her sister and 1-year-old nephew and godson since 1 a.m. the day after the earthquakes until aid workers began to arrive.

“It doesn’t matter who it is, whoever, whether it’s family or somebody else. If there is anyone alive, let’s get them out,” she said, as helicopters circled overhead.

Small moments of humanity mixed with grief and terror.

Rescue teams carefully handed down a 18-day-old swaddled in pink blankets from a building after 12 hours of searching for the baby boy and his mother, Telemundo reported. One 69-year-old woman, saved by Salvadoran teams, asked for a Coca-Cola upon being pulled out of the rubble, Salvadoran authorities said.

One video showed a Venezuelan rescuer comforting an elderly woman trapped beneath the rubble, scared that the structure would cave in if she moved.

“The roof won’t cave in. If it falls, I’ll be here with you,” he said.

Simón Bolívar International Airport, which serves Caracas, was badly damaged. One runway was operational as U.S. teams worked to repair the crucial throughway, Jeremy Lewin, a senior State Department official in charge of foreign assistance, told reporters.

Lewin said a U.S. Navy transport ship was docked off the coast, ready to receive airlifted survivors in need of medical attention. Lewin said it is a “race against the clock” to find people injured in the quakes.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentine President Javier Milei’s Cabinet chief and close ally, Manuel Adorni, resigned Saturday following a corruption scandal that has roiled the libertarian government, undermining its flagship campaign pledge to stamp out endemic graft in the political elite.

The departure of Adorni — who, as Milei’s former spokesperson, emerged in 2023 as the face of his harsh austerity program and anti-corruption drive — costs the president one of his most trusted and longtime aides.

A political outsider like the president, Adorni became a lightning rod for criticism in recent months as revelations about his extravagant spending and real estate purchases dominated headlines. Milei named Adorni Cabinet chief last year, giving him huge influence over negotiations with governors and other stakeholders in Congress.

Federal prosecutors are investigating Adorni for illicit enrichment stemming from alleged excesses of the sort that Milei, and Adorni himself, regularly criticized Argentina’s left-leaning populist opposition. Adorni denies wrongdoing.

“For the first time since December 10, 2023, I am going against your wishes,” Adorni wrote in his resignation letter to Milei that he posted to social media, referring to the date that Milei entered office. “Thank you for always trusting me and thank you for supporting me through this unjust, painful and exhausting process for me and my family.”

So far, Milei has defended his Cabinet chief, even as the scandal damaged his government’s public image, constrained his political leverage in negotiations with allies and undermined his communication about spending cuts to Argentines scraping by on salaries that increasingly fall behind inflation.

“Manuel is innocent,” Milei told local media in Spain during his visit there last week. “I stand by my ministers to the bitter end.”

Milei’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Adorni’s letter.

His sister and top adviser, Karina Milei, thanked Adori for his “tireless work” and described him as an “upright, valuable and much-loved” member of their libertarian party.

Adorni’s private life first drew scrutiny in March when his wife, who doesn’t work in government, accompanied him on the presidential aircraft for a conference in New York.

Days later, footage surfaced showing him and his family flying on a private jet to Uruguay’s elite Punta del Este beach resort. Local media reported that he bought two properties since Milei took office — a Buenos Aires apartment and weekend house outside the city. Images emerged of him on other luxury vacations, including an all-cash trip to Aruba. According his public financial disclosures, Adorni earned a monthly salary of around $2,600 until late last year.

When confronted by lawmakers and journalists, Adorni has struggled to explain the inconsistency between his lavish spending and modest salary.

For weeks he maintained he had not committed any crime. But as pressure mounted earlier this month, he admitted to buying dollars in Argentina’s black market and hiding $500,000 in savings from tax authorities — a technically illegal, albeit hugely widespread, offense in crisis-prone Argentina that largely goes unprosecuted. Adorni insisted the money was earned legitimately including through cryptocurrency investments.

It remains unclear who will replace him as Cabinet chief.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Four people have died due to flooding from thunderstorms in Kentucky, Gov. Andy Beshear said Saturday, and he declared a state of emergency with additional rainfall expected.

Flash flood warnings were in effect Saturday for parts of Kentucky and Indiana amid heavy rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.

The agency late Saturday afternoon said between 4 and 10 inches of rain had already fallen in some parts of southwestern Indiana, with more possible. Beshear’s office said up to 7 inches of rain were expected in parts of his state through the late evening.

He said on social media that three people had died in Madison County and one in Jackson County due to flooding.

Two of the flood victims, a man and a woman, were found dead inside their house after floodwaters inundated a section of the city of Richmond, Kentucky, and trapped residents inside their homes, according to the Madison County coroner’s office.

Another victim was extracted from a vehicle trapped in floodwaters on Tates Creek Road near Lexington, the coroner’s office said.

Carlos Coyle, the deputy Madison County coroner, said search and rescue teams were going door to door searching for victims in hard-hit areas. Some areas still were not accessible, he said.

Beshear said on social media there were “significant roads underwater” in Madison County. He also said at least 12 state roads were “out of commission” because they were flooded.

“This is a serious flooding event, where teams have already had to conduct multiple water rescues from vehicles and homes across the commonwealth,” he said in a separate statement. “As more heavy rain continues through late tonight, we need folks to remain alert and to avoid driving, especially after dark when there is limited visibility.”

In northwest Kentucky, just outside Louisville, Bullitt County emergency management officials asked residents of a rural road to evacuate as a precaution after a landslide at a dam embankment. The dam was holding, and there was no indication of imminent failure, they said.

The area saw about 3 inches of rain in the past two days, according to the National Weather Service.

ICE was in Lakewood today, chasing down multiple people and taking them into custody.

Do you approve of this, or do you feel it’s too cruel?