Jooish News

The Artemis II mission was set to conclude Friday with a dramatic splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, bringing to a close humanity’s first crewed journey to the moon in more than half a century.

Inside Mission Control, tension steadily increased as the spacecraft carrying four astronauts drew closer to Earth. Engineers and flight teams focused intently on the capsule’s heat shield, a critical component designed to endure extreme temperatures during reentry. During a previous uncrewed test in 2022, the shield returned heavily scarred, raising heightened attention for this mission.

Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen approached Earth traveling at roughly Mach 32, a speed not experienced since the Apollo era. Their Orion capsule, named Integrity, was designed to operate autonomously, with the crew prepared to intervene only in the event of an emergency.

As the spacecraft entered its final phase, mission leaders braced for the most nerve-wracking moments of the descent, including a communications blackout lasting several minutes before parachutes were expected to deploy. Lead flight director Jeff Radigan acknowledged the anxiety surrounding that period, saying he expected some of that “irrational fear that is human nature.” Recovery teams, including the USS John P. Murtha and supporting aircraft, stood ready to retrieve the astronauts upon landing.

The return marked the first collaboration between NASA and the U.S. military for a lunar crew recovery since Apollo 17 in 1972. The capsule was expected to reenter at speeds exceeding 23,000 miles per hour before slowing dramatically to a controlled splashdown.

Since launching from Florida on April 1, the crew had successfully completed a series of milestones, demonstrating key capabilities for NASA’s renewed lunar program aimed at eventually establishing a sustained presence on the moon.

Although Artemis II did not land on the lunar surface or enter orbit, it surpassed previous records, traveling farther from Earth than any human mission before it. At its peak, the crew reached a distance of 252,756 miles. During one of the mission’s most emotional moments, the astronauts requested permission to name two lunar craters in honor of their spacecraft and Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll.

The mission also provided rare and stunning views of the moon’s far side, along with a total solar eclipse visible from space. Reflecting on the experience, Glover said the eclipse “just blew all of us away.”

Images captured during the mission captivated audiences worldwide, including a view of Earth setting behind the lunar horizon, echoing the iconic Earthrise image from Apollo 8. The crew’s reflections and discoveries reignited global fascination with space exploration.

“It just makes you want to continue to go back,” Radigan said on the eve of splashdown. “It’s the first of many trips and we just need to continue on because there’s so much” more to learn about the moon.

The mission drew attention and praise from global leaders and public figures, including President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Britain’s King Charles III, and prominent actors such as Ryan Gosling, Scarlett Johansson, and William Shatner.

Despite its successes, the nearly 10-day journey encountered several technical challenges. Issues arose with the spacecraft’s water and propulsion systems, and a malfunctioning toilet forced the crew to rely on backup methods for much of the flight.

The astronauts downplayed the difficulties, emphasizing the importance of pushing forward despite setbacks. “We can’t explore deeper unless we are doing a few things that are inconvenient,” Koch said, “unless we’re making a few sacrifices, unless we’re taking a few risks, and those things are all worth it.”

Hansen echoed that sentiment, noting, “You do a lot of testing on the ground, but your final test is when you get this hardware to space and it’s a doozy.”

Looking ahead, NASA’s Artemis program will continue to build on this mission. Artemis III is expected to involve docking exercises in Earth orbit, while Artemis IV aims to land astronauts near the moon’s south pole by 2028.

For Wiseman and his crew, the mission carried a deeper purpose beyond its technical achievements. “But we really hoped in our soul is that we could for just for a moment have the world pause and remember that this is a beautiful planet and a very special place in our universe, and we should all cherish what we have been gifted,” he said.

A local teen suffered serious injures from fireworks this afternoon, TLS has learned.

Shortly after noon today, a resident received a knock at the door and opened it to find a badly injured teen who asked to immediately call emergency personnel.

The boy, who suffered serious facial injuries, passed out moments after knocking on the door.

Upon arrival, the victim was treated by paramedics and hospitalized.

It’s unclear at this time if the teen was playing with the fireworks alone or with any others.

Police are investigating.

German police are investigating a suspected antisemitic attack on an Israeli restaurant in Munich after windows were smashed in the early hours of Friday morning.
Investigators believe pyrotechnic devices — potentially fireworks — were thrown at the Eclipse Grillbar, Munich’s first authentic Israeli restaurant, breaking windows in three places around 12:45 a.m. No one was injured. Damage is estimated at several thousand euros.

Police told German news agency dpa that the restaurant’s owners are Jewish and that authorities believe an antisemitic motive prompted the attack. No suspects were found in the area, and the identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators remains unknown.
Grigori Dratva, the owner’s brother-in-law and an employee, told dpa there had been no prior direct threats against the restaurant. The family had always felt safe in Munich, he said, and plans to reopen.

The restaurant had closed for service at 11 p.m. Thursday, roughly two hours before the attack.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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After chants of “run again!” filled the room, former Vice President Kamala Harris told African American activists on Friday that she’s actively considering another presidential bid.

“I might. I am thinking about it,” Harris told Rev. Al Sharpton after he asked directly whether she was going to run for president in 2028.

Harris’ comments came during the National Action Network’s annual convention, where more than a half-dozen potential candidates appeared this week , hoping to make inroads among Black voters — who comprise one of Democrats’ most powerful blocs.

The Democrats’ next presidential primary season won’t begin in earnest until after November’s midterm elections, but this week’s conference showcased a collection of Democrats already jockeying for position in what promises to be a crowded competition.

For now, at least, there is no clear early favorite. But there did appear to be a favorite at Sharpton’s conference.

Harris, the nation’s first Black female vice president and the Democrats’ presidential nominee in 2024, earned the only standing ovation and the largest crowd of any other 2028 prospect this week. Some in the audience interrupted her remarks with chants of, “Run again!”

Sharpton noted that Harris earned more votes in her losing 2024 campaign than even former Democratic Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.

“Whatever she decides to do, she made a point in history,” Sharpton said.

Harris has raised the possibility of another presidential bid before in the 15 months since she left office. She also recently launched a political action committee and began to travel across the United States to support Democrats, especially across the South.

Still, some in the party have shifted their focus to a new generation of Democratic leaders given Harris’ struggle in the last presidential contest.

The convention lineup this week featured Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Rep. Ro Khanna of California, and Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.

Buttigieg, speaking shortly after Harris left the stage, received soft applause from a room that was about half-empty. Some cheered when he mentioned supporting federal workers and minority businesses, but many attendees had streamed out of the packed auditorium after Harris’ speech in a bid to grab a selfie with the former vice president.

Buttigieg, like many other 2028 prospects this week, laughed off a question about whether he would seek the presidency again.

Harris was more explicit.

Three times she repeated, “I’m thinking about it,” when Sharpton asked her about a 2028 White House run.

“I served for four years being a heartbeat away from the presidency of the United States. I spent countless hours in my West Wing office footsteps away from the Oval Office. I spent countless hours in the Oval Office and the situation room. I know what the job is, and I know what it requires,” Harris said.

She continued: “I am thinking about it in the context of who and where and how can the best job be done for the American people. That’s how I’m thinking about it. I’ll keep you posted.”

(AP)

A Frontier Airlines jet nearly collided with two trucks that crossed in front of it earlier this week at Los Angeles International Airport, but unlike last month’s deadly crash in New York while a plane was landing, this incident happened on a taxiway while the plane was moving slowly.

The Frontier pilot was alarmed and used an expletive as he told the tower he had to slam on the brakes to avoid a collision late Wednesday. “It was real close. The closest I have ever seen,” he said in audio posted by ATC.com.

No one was hurt in the incident that is being investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration. The agency said several vehicles on a service road crossed in front of the plane around 11:25 p.m. Wednesday.

“We thank our crew for their vigilance and professionalism,” Frontier Airlines said in a statement.

On March 22, an Air Canada jet carrying 76 people collided with a fire truck while landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing both pilots and injuring dozens of people.

In that crash, an air traffic controller cleared the fire truck to cross the runway less than 20 seconds beforehand. Then seconds later the controller frantically called for the fire truck to stop.

The incident in Los Angeles appears to have happened in an area of the airport where the planes are communicating with air traffic controllers about their movements, but ground vehicles are simply supposed to yield to any planes, which are typically moving only about 15 mph (24 kph). Airport officials didn’t respond immediately to questions about what happened and what procedures are in place to prevent collisions.

Aviation safety expert Steve Arroyo, who was a longtime United Airlines pilot, said these kind of incidents happen daily on taxiways across the country, but don’t normally get any attention because the collision is avoided. The issue will undoubtedly get more attention now.

“Multiple incidents, accidents happening, just in March alone, I think it’s time to put some serious eyes on what’s going on on the ramp,” Arroyo said.

An immigration appeals board has denied Mahmoud Khalil’s latest bid to dismiss his deportation case, a largely expected ruling that brings the former Columbia University graduate student and Palestinian activist one step closer to re-arrest and possible expulsion.

The Board of Immigration Appeals issued the final order of removal on Thursday, according to Khalil’s lawyers. The board’s rulings are not public, and an inquiry to the U.S. Department of Justice was not immediately returned.

Khalil said he was not surprised by the ruling, which he called “biased and politically motivated.” His attorneys said he cannot be lawfully detained or deported as he pursues a separate case in the federal court system.

“The only thing I am guilty of is speaking out against the genocide in Palestine — and this administration has weaponized the immigration system to punish me for it,” Khalil said in a statement.

The Board of Immigration Appeals sets precedent in the byzantine immigration court system, which is controlled by the Department of Justice — and increasingly under the influence of the Trump administration.

Khalil, a 31-year-old legal permanent resident, was the first person whose arrest became publicly known during the federal crackdown on noncitizens who publicly criticized Israel and its actions in Gaza.

The government has claimed that Khalil’s efforts as a leader of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia were “aligned to Hamas.” They have not presented evidence of any connection to the terrorist group, and Khalil has adamantly denied allegations of antisemitism.

After his arrest last March, Khalil spent 104 days in an immigration jail, missing the birth of his first child, before he was ordered released by a federal judge in New Jersey.

Khalil suffered a significant setback in his federal case earlier this year, with a U.S. appeals panel ruling the judge in New Jersey overstepped his authority by releasing him. In a 2-1 decision, the panel found that law requires the case to fully move through the immigration courts before Khalil can challenge the decision in federal court.

Khalil’s lawyers are requesting the full appeals panel reconsider the decision. Earlier this month, they asked one of the appellate panel’s judges to step aside because of his previous role as a top Justice Department official involved in investigating student protesters.

Khalil was born in Syria to a Palestinian family and holds Algerian citizenship through a distant relative. He has said that he could be targeted, and even killed, if he is deported.

(AP)

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Chanoch Friedman zt”l, a distinguished talmid chochom and marbitz Torah who served as Rosh Kollel and Av Beis Din of Beis Yechiel in Har Nof.

Rav Friedman zt”l devoted his life to harbotzas haTorah and psak halacha, guiding talmidim with clarity, depth, and unwavering dedication to the truth of Torah. In his role at Beis Yechiel, he helped shape a generation of bnei Torah, instilling in them a love for learning and a commitment to living lives guided by halacha. As Av Beis Din, he was sought after for his wisdom and fairness, adjudicating matters with sensitivity and precision.

Rav Friedman grew up in Chicago, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Yosef Friedman, and later learned at Bais Medrash Govoah in Lakewood under Rav Aharon Kotler.

Those who knew him describe a figure of quiet greatness, whose anavah matched his scholarship. He carried himself with dignity and warmth, offering guidance and encouragement to all who turned to him. His influence extended far beyond the walls of the kollel, reaching mishpachos and communities both in Eretz Yisroel and abroad.

Rav Friedman was the brother of Rav Avraham Friedman, Rosh HaYeshiva Emeritus of Hebrew Theological College, as well as Mrs. Debbie Greenspan.

The levaya will take place today, Erev Shabbos, Friday, April 10, at 2:00 p.m. at Congregation Adas Yeshurun, located at 3050 West Touhy Avenue in Chicago, and on Sunday in Lakewood. From there, arrangements will be made for kevurah in Eretz Yisroel.

Yehi zichro boruch.

Vice President JD Vance departed Friday for high-stakes negotiations with Iran, cautioning Tehran against attempting to manipulate the United States as efforts intensify to bring the ongoing war to a close.

President Donald Trump has assigned Vance—who has often expressed reservations about the conflict—to spearhead the diplomatic push aimed at ending the six-week war and avoiding the realization of Trump’s stark warning about destroying Iran’s “whole civilization.”

Known for his skepticism toward prolonged foreign military involvement, Vance is now leading mediated discussions in Islamabad, Pakistan, as part of a renewed diplomatic effort.

As he boarded Air Force Two en route to Pakistan, Vance struck a cautiously optimistic tone, telling reporters, “We’re looking forward to the negotiation. I think it’s gonna be positive. We’ll of course see.”

Referencing Trump’s position, he added, “If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand.” At the same time, he issued a warning: “If they’re gonna try and play us, then they’re gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive.”

Vance said the president had provided “pretty clear guidelines” for the talks, though he declined to offer specifics and did not take further questions from reporters traveling with him.

His trip comes at a moment when the fragile ceasefire appears increasingly unstable, with deep disagreements between Iran and the U.S.-Israel alliance over key terms. Domestically, Vance also faces growing political and economic pressure to help bring the conflict to an end.

Joining him in the negotiations are Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner, both of whom participated in earlier rounds of indirect discussions with Iranian representatives before the war began on February 28. Those talks focused on Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programs as well as its backing of regional proxy forces.

The White House has offered few details about how the upcoming negotiations will be structured, including whether they will involve direct engagement or continue through intermediaries, and has not outlined clear expectations.

Still, Vance’s presence marks a rare instance of senior U.S. officials engaging directly at a high level with Iranian counterparts, something largely absent since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The last comparable contact occurred in 2013, when President Barack Obama spoke by phone with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani regarding Tehran’s nuclear program.

Tensions over the ceasefire emerged almost immediately after it was announced Tuesday evening, with conflicting interpretations of its scope.

Iran has maintained that halting Israeli military activity in Lebanon was part of the agreement. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump both stated that Lebanon was not included, and Israeli operations there have continued.

At the same time, Washington has insisted that Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran had shut down in response to intensified Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Trump voiced frustration Thursday over Iran’s handling of shipping traffic, saying the country was “doing a very poor job” and posting online, “That is not the agreement we have!”

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said that Vance, Witkoff, Kushner, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio “have always been collaborating on these discussions,” adding that Trump remains hopeful a lasting agreement can be reached during the two-week ceasefire.

“President Trump has a proven track record of achieving good deals on behalf of the United States and the American people, and he will only accept one that puts America first,” Kelly said.

The negotiations represent a significant test for Vance, who until recently played a quieter role within the administration as other senior figures took more visible advisory positions.

However, his responsibilities have expanded rapidly—from tackling domestic issues like government fraud to now taking a leading role in resolving a complex international conflict.

Despite his military service in Iraq as a Marine and his time in the Senate representing Ohio, Vance has relatively limited diplomatic experience.

Addressing speculation earlier in the week that Iran had requested his involvement, Vance dismissed the idea, saying, “I don’t know that. I would be surprised if that was true. But, you know, I wanted to be involved because I thought I could make a difference.”

Analysts say his selection could be strategic. Jonathan Schanzer, a former Treasury official and current executive director of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, noted that Vance’s skepticism toward foreign interventions might appeal to Iranian negotiators.

“I think they probably prefer him knowing that his perspective on foreign intervention is one of skepticism,” Schanzer said of the Iranians. “I do think that he’s going to need some help. I don’t think he’s ever been engaged in negotiations with this kind of weight, this kind of seriousness. This is as serious as it gets.”

The White House has rejected suggestions that Iran specifically sought Vance’s participation, framing such claims as potentially harmful to the negotiation process.

While officials have confirmed that Vance, Witkoff, and Kushner will attend, Kelly said personnel from the National Security Council, State Department, and Pentagon will also “play a supportive role.”

Earlier rounds of talks drew criticism from Democrats and nuclear policy experts, who questioned whether Kushner and Witkoff possessed sufficient technical expertise. The administration has not clarified whether nuclear specialists were involved.

Experts note that vice presidents have occasionally been tasked with significant diplomatic missions, but rarely in circumstances involving active wartime negotiations.

Joel Goldstein, a law professor at Saint Louis University who studies the vice presidency, said, “I don’t recall a situation where a vice president has been sent to negotiate a ceasefire or peace in connection with a war the United States was involved with.”

Vance, along with Rubio, is widely viewed as a leading contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, though neither has publicly committed to a run.

According to a source familiar with internal discussions, Vance’s team is focused on the immediate diplomatic mission rather than any future political considerations.

Still, his visible role in the negotiations could carry long-term implications. As Goldstein noted, “The fact that he’s involved in the negotiations in a very visible way, that means that, if things go south, that people will be pointing fingers at him.”

At the same time, he added, “If things go well, then it will be something that he could point to.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a sharp rebuke of Spain, accusing the country of defaming Israeli soldiers and siding against Israel.

This comes after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has led intense European criticism against Israel, labeling its actions in Lebanon and Gaza “criminal” and “illegal”. Spain has also prohibited weapons-related traffic to Israel, permanently withdrawn its ambassador, and pushed for EU sanctions.

“Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us,” Netanyahu said. “Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world.”

In response, Netanyahu announced immediate action, saying he has instructed officials to remove Spain’s representatives from the coordination center in Kiryat Gat.

The Prime Minister accused Spain of repeatedly taking positions hostile to Israel, adding, “Those who attack the State of Israel instead of terrorist regimes will not be our partners regarding the future of the region.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez

He closed with a firm warning: “I am not willing to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I do not intend to allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying an immediate price.”

NEW YORK (VINnews) — New York City officials on Thursday proposed a first-in-the-nation rule aimed at making it easier for consumers to cancel subscriptions and avoid deceptive billing practices.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Samuel A.A. Levine said the “click to cancel” measure would require businesses to provide cancellation processes that are as simple as signing up.

The proposal follows an executive order targeting so-called subscription traps and would apply to automatically renewing services and continuous service offers. Officials said companies that violate the rule could face fines starting at $525 and be required to compensate affected consumers.

Under the plan, businesses would also need to provide clear disclosures and straightforward cancellation options, addressing complaints that some companies use confusing or lengthy processes to prevent customers from ending subscriptions.

The proposed rule was published Wednesday and will be open for public comment for 30 days before it can be finalized. If adopted, officials said New York City would become the first municipality in the country to implement such protections.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri delivered a sharp critique of Israel’s legal system and political opposition during a radio interview, addressing the ongoing draft crisis and expressing anguish over the arrests of yeshiva students, while insisting that the Olam HaTorah continues to grow despite mounting pressure.

In remarks during the “Central Edition” program on Kol Chai, Deri focused heavily on what he described as a campaign against the Torah world. He pointed to the arrests of bnei yeshiva and financial threats to institutions, but emphasized that these challenges have not weakened the strength of Torah learning. “Olam HaTorah does not live off their kindness,” he said. “They can shut off the funding, they can threaten arrests — Olam HaTorah flourishes. The more they oppress it, the more it grows and expands.”

At the same time, Deri made clear his deep frustration with the current legal and political climate, particularly over images of yeshiva students being detained. “It is a terrible pain to see a picture of a ben Torah, one of the finest of our sons, being arrested because he learned Torah, and for no other reason,” he said. “This is a terrible accusation against Am Yisrael at a time when we need the greatest miracles.” Addressing the proposed draft law, Deri said the coalition is prepared to advance legislation in the summer session, but stressed that the final decision rests with Gedolei Yisrael. “It now depends only on the guidance and decision of Gedolei Yisrael.”

Deri also launched a direct attack on the attorney general and the Supreme Court, criticizing what he described as their conduct and priorities. He pointed specifically to a recent decision to convene on Shabbos. “When you see a court that convenes on Shabbat over what they claim is their own pikuach nefesh, in order to permit a protest against the Home Front Command — who do you rely on? Who do you trust?” He added, “The attorney general will not protect us,” and argued that the legal system is driven by clear political considerations.

When asked about Shas’s continued alliance with Prime Minister Netanyahu, Deri dismissed the idea of alternative political partnerships. “There are not two sides here,” he said. “Do you see yourself partnering with Yair Golan and everything he represents? Can you sit with Bennett when his first step would be to cancel laws for the sake of Judaism?” He said that Israel’s traditional community understands what is at stake. “Anyone who kisses a Sefer Torah with simple faith understands what talmidei chachamim are. They know that all the incitement in the media is political.”

Deri concluded by reaffirming his belief that Torah learning is the foundation of protection for the Jewish people, even in times of war. “Can we, the small ones, stand alone against all these challenges? When the President of the United States stands with you, is it not because of our Torah?” He ended with a note of certainty despite ongoing threats and sanctions. “The Torah will not be forgotten from Am Yisrael. No one can take it away from us.”

Lakewood Airport will receive a grant of $261,610 from the state to help with its master plan improvements.

The grant is one of 11 FY26 Airport Improvement Program grants to 11 airports totaling more than $6.5 million in state funds, and an additional $800,000 in FAA matching grant funds to support airport safety and improvement projects. These grants, which leverage state funding and airport contributions, will support approximately $7.3 million worth of work.

These grants, which leverage state funding and airport contributions, will support more than $7.6 million worth of work.

Grants are awarded through a competitive process, with an emphasis on projects designed to enhance safety, remove obstructions, rehabilitate existing facilities and equipment, and make capital improvements. The projects receiving funds this year include airport master plan development, taxiway design and construction, lighting improvements, obstruction removal, transient apron design & construction and safety improvements at 11 airports in nine counties throughout the state.

The 12 FY25 grants will be funded solely through NJDOT’s Transportation Trust Fund and Airport Safety Fund, with the state providing 90 percent of the eligible cost and the remaining 10 percent covered by the airport owner. Lakewood Airport will contribute $29,067 for this specific project.

The first 100 days of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration have been defined by a push for massive tax increases and a rapid retreat from several of his most prominent campaign promises, leaving both supporters and critics questioning the direction of his mayoralty.
Despite campaigning on a platform of heavily taxing the wealthy to fund a variety of city programs, the socialist mayor has introduced proposals that would exact a combined `$23 billion in new taxes, with significant portions threatening middle-class New Yorkers.

Initially claiming a budget shortfall of 12 billion, later revised down to 5.4 billion, Mamdani shocked many by threatening a 9.5 percent across-the-board property tax increase if his proposals to “tax the rich” were not met. The property tax hike, which would affect an estimated three million residential units owned by New Yorkers earning an average of $122,000 a year, was projexted to generate 3.7 billion annually. Facing swift backlash from the public and the City Council, the mayor has since largely stopped mentioning the proposal.
In Albany, Mamdani’s administration has circulated a wish list of tax hikes that require state approval. These include a controversial plan to slash the estate tax exemption threshold from $7 million down to just 750,000, while raising the top rate from 16 percent to 50 percent. Critics warn this measure would heavily burden middle-class families whose homes often sell for well over the new six-figure threshold, generating an estimated $`4 billion a year for the city.

The mayor is also seeking a two percent income tax hike for New Yorkers earning `$1 billion or more, alongside corporate tax increases to 10.8 percent for financial firms and 10.62 percent for non-financial companies. While Democratic leaders in the state legislature have shown symbolic support, Governor Kathy Hochul has voiced opposition, citing fears of driving wealth and businesses out of the state.

Beyond taxation, the mayor’s first three months have been characterized by a sharp pivot away from his progressive campaign promises.
A heavily promoted pledge to open five city-owned grocery stores to provide wholesale prices has yet to materialize. Instead, the administration has proposed $70 million for the city’s Economic Development Corporation merely to scout locations and build the stores.
Similarly, Mamdani’s promise to create a $1.1 billion Department of Community Safety to replace police with social workers on non-violent 911 calls has fallen short. It has been reduced to a “Mayor’s Office of Community Safety” staffed by two people with a $260 million budget.
On public safety and quality-of-life issues, the realities of governing have forced further reversals:

Law Enforcement: Mamdani campaigned on disbanding the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG) and abolishing the department’s gang database. Today, both remain operational, with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch defending their use. Mamdani recently noted the SRG remains under “active conversation.”

Homeless Encampments: After promising to end his predecessor’s practice of clearing homeless encampments, Mamdani reversed course following severe winter storms that resulted in at least 29 outdoor deaths. The city has now returned to clearing encampments, provided workers attempt to move individuals into housing for seven consecutive days first.

Housing Vouchers: Seeking to capitalize on progressive anger against former Mayor Eric Adams, Mamdani promised to drop lawsuits blocking the expansion of the CityFHEPS housing voucher program. Once in office, he formally filed an appeal to keep the anti-expansion lawsuit alive.

Libraries: Mamdani pledged to allocate 0.5 percent of the city’s budget to the library system and end the practice of using it as a budget negotiating tactic. He instead slashed library funding by `$30 million in his preliminary budget, allocating only 0.39 percent.

A heavy cloud of mourning has descended upon the city of Ashdod following the petirah of Rav Avrohom Altman zt”l, the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ateres Tzvi, who was niftar at the age of 94.

In recent days, his condition had weakened, though over Pesach he was still able to daven in his bais medrash as usual. On Thursday, he suddenly collapsed at his home in Ashdod, and despite resuscitation efforts by emergency responders, he was niftar.

The levayah was held at Ateres Tzvi on Rechov HaAdmor MiGur in Ashdod’s District Zayin, and proceeded to Har Hamenuchos in Yerushalayim, where he wa slaid to rest.

Rav Altman zt”l was born in Argentina on the 9th of Shevat 5692 to his father, Reb Chaim Altman zt”l, and his mother, Mrs. Sheindel a”h.

During his youth in Argentina, he learned under Rav Tzvi Zeidel Semiaticky zt”l of Yeshivas Toras Emes in London, who would travel to Argentina as part of his efforts to strengthen Torah learning worldwide.

After going to Eretz Yisroel in the 1970s, he settled in Ashdod, where he established a mesivta for young talmidim. Over time, he founded Yeshivas Ateres Tzvi, initially for bochurim of Sephardic background, and later expanded it to include hundreds of avreichim in a flourishing kollel. The yeshiva was first located in District Aleph before later relocating to District Zayin.

He established the yeshiva in memory of his revered rebbe, Rav Semiaticky zt”l, naming it Ateres Tzvi in his honor.

Today, hundreds of avreichim are shteiging in the yeshiva, and the rosh yeshiva dedicated himself tirelessly to sustaining the kollel, traveling across the globe to secure its support, to which he devoted himself completely.

Over the decades, the yeshiva produced many talmidim who went on to become rabbonim and leaders of kehillos in both Eretz Yisroel and abroad. Even after transitioning into a kollel, the framework retained the structure and spirit of a traditional yeshiva, with the rosh yeshiva continuing to deliver shiurim and shmuessen.

In addition to being a marbitz Torah, Rav Altman was counted among the prominent rabbonim of Ashdod. From time to time, he would publish words of chizuk and hisorerus on matters requiring attention, often joined by other rabbonim of the city.

He is survived by a distinguished family, led by his son, Rav Eliyahu Meir Altman, rosh kollel of Ateres Tzvi in Ashdod.

Tehei nishmaso tzrurah b’tzror hachaim.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF confirmed on Friday that troops have eliminated more than 1,400 Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon since the current conflict escalated on March 2. Included in that total are hundreds of operatives from the terror group’s elite Radwan Force.

The military noted significant progress in its ongoing operations in southern Lebanon, having dismantled approximately 4,300 pieces of Hezbollah terror infrastructure and seizing more than 1,000 weapons during ground maneuvers.

In the past 24 hours alone, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck 120 Hezbollah sites in the south to neutralize immediate threats to ground troops.
However, a noticeable operational pause has taken place in the Lebanese capital. More than 24 hours after the IDF issued a fresh evacuation warning for Beirut’s southern suburbs – a known Hezbollah stronghold – no strikes have been carried out.

The delay coincides with mounting diplomatic pressure from Washington. On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly appealed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back Israeli strikes in Lebanon, the Times of Israel reported Friday. The American administration is reportedly seeking to prevent the collapse of a fragile ceasefire agreement with Iran.

While the IAF continues its campaign against Hezbollah targets throughout Lebanon, the overall intensity of the strikes has been slightly reduced compared to previous days.
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s health ministry, which typically does not distinguish between terror operatives and civilians, stated that over 1,800 people have been killed since the hostilities escalated, claiming that over 300 were killed on Wednesday alone.

NEW YORK (AP) — In his first 100 days in office, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has governed with a star power unusual in politics.

Crowds of supporters show up to his news conferences. Basic municipal services have been infused with newfound excitement. Celebrities help him promote his agenda.

In the process, he’s been able to notch a few notable early wins. And he’s reached a detente — at least for now — with President Donald Trump, a mercurial leader with an affinity for celebrities.

But as Mamdani, a Democrat, marks an early milestone in his mayoralty, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be able to leverage his fame into achieving the progressive policy proposals that propelled him to office.

Though he’s not without staunch critics, many of whom still view his past criticisms of the police department and Israel as major problems, the mayor has been able to ease concerns among at least some skeptics.

“It’s early but so far, so good,” said Jay Jacobs, chair of the state’s Democratic Party, who made waves for not endorsing Mamdani during the election. “We may not agree on everything philosophically, but he is getting the job done.”

‘Work as hard and as fast as New Yorkers’
As the mayor approached his 100th day — long a benchmark for judging an administration’s opening vision — his team has moved to highlight the administration’s commitment to the everyday responsibilities of the job.

While much of those duties are typical for his local office — picking up trash, plowing snow and filling potholes — the 34-year-old mayor has leaned on his knack for viral content creation to drive interest and awareness of government programs.

As a storm bore down on the city this winter, Mamdani’s calls on social media for more snow shovelers helped recruit thousands of new shovelers. Another social media video announcement from the mayor this winter, this time about the city’s emergency alert system, brought more than 50,000 new subscribers to the program in a week, his office said.

Alongside New York Liberty star Natasha Cloud of the WNBA, Mamdani announced a bracket-style competition where people could vote on small repairs they want the mayor to come and personally fix in their neighborhoods. In a few weeks, more than 21,000 votes were cast.

And to hype up his child care program for 2-year-olds, Mamdani recruited Cardi B to help judge a jingle contest that will determine the program’s theme song.

“The challenge that we set out for ourselves was to work as hard and as fast as New Yorkers do,” Mamdani told reporters on his 99th day in office this week.

The celebrity status, though, can also prompt backlash. During a bitter cold snap, his surprise appearance on the “Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon” was seen by some as insensitive at a moment when the death toll of homeless New Yorkers was rapidly rising.

“Too much styling and profiling,” said Curtis Sliwa, a Republican who ran against Mamdani during last year’s election, noting longstanding problems with street homelessness, public housing and infrastructure.

Still, Sliwa, who hammered Mamdani during the campaign but recently appeared in a comedy skit with the mayor during the City Hall press corps’ annual roast, appeared to give Mamdani some credit, even if it came with a caveat.

“We just had Eric Adams, swagger man who’d party to the break of dawn, and now we have a guy who seems like he’s got a normal working schedule,” said Sliwa, referencing the city’s previous mayor. “So having Zohran as the alternative, I think for a lot of people even if they disagree with him, there’s some stability.”

Budget woes
Mamdani has also trained his outsized audience on another routine reality of city governance: budgeting.

Earlier this year, Mamdani held an unusually dour press conference at City Hall about a massive gap in the city budget, saying either the state would have to raise taxes on the wealthy or he would have to increase local property taxes to balance the budget.

The public play from the mayor was widely seen as a strategy to pressure New York Gov. Kathy Hochul into approving a millionaires tax, a key priority for Mamdani and his base. Hochul, a moderate Democrat who is up for reelection this year, has strongly opposed such a measure.

After the City Council released a separate budget proposal that found different ways to close the gap, Mamdani slammed the plan and released a video calling out Council Speaker Julie Menin, resulting in some of his supporters attacking the speaker online.

The city’s budget woes, still unsolved, could prove a major hurdle for Mamdani as he pursues his agenda.

Andrew Rein, president of the fiscally conservative Citizens Budget Commission, said Mamdani has an “extra challenging” budget process ahead of him, but that the mayor’s communications savvy could help him navigate the rough terrain.

“What we’ve seen is him bringing his newer strategies and tools to communications but in a very practical, old-school problem,” Rein said. “When he uses his communications skills to get people more invested and to improve the functioning of government and to help New Yorkers the trade offs that have to be made, that is going to be a great win.”

Still a star among supporters
On the night of Mamdani’s election party, hundreds packed the streets, some spontaneously, waiting for a glimpse of the mayor-elect leaving the venue. Departing campaign aides were cheered, by name, well after midnight. One attendee likened the street party to Beatlemania.

“I feel like I’m at a presidential inauguration,” said Medhavie Agnihotri, a 25-year-old tech consultant. “This is the first time in a while I’ve felt this hope.”

His star power has not appeared to wane since then among some factions.

Outside City Hall, New Yorkers and tourists frequently stop for selfies, peering through the iron gates in search of the mayor.

This week, on the mayor’s 97th day in office, a massive crowd gathered in the lobby of the busy Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan, watching as Mamdani announced the city would start sending some people with serious medical illnesses to the hospital from the city’s notorious Riker’s Island jail.

He entered to woos and applause from the large group, many appearing to be hospital staffers who held up cellphones to record videos of the mayor speaking. Dozens more watched along from a set of elevated walkways.

One man, Ricardo Granados, a 67-year-old retiree, was on his way to take his son to a medical appointment but stopped to see what all the hubbub was about. He appeared delighted to learn Mamdani was going to show up, saying he met Mamdani previously when Mamdani was campaigning in Granados’ neighborhood.

“I’m extremely fond of him. I think he’s going to make a real difference,” Granados said. “He wants to find out who needs what and he wants to help.”

Amid ongoing heavy fighting in Lebanon, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told commanders in southern Lebanon that Israeli forces remain fully engaged in combat against Hezbollah, emphasizing that despite a ceasefire with Iran, operations on the northern front are continuing at full intensity.

Speaking during a visit near Bint Jbeil, Zamir made clear that the situation on the ground has not changed in terms of active combat. The IDF remains at war in this sector and continues its operations. “The IDF is in a state of war, we are not in a ceasefire, we are continuing to fight here in this sector, this is our main combat front.” He added that while there is a ceasefire with Iran, that could change at any time. “In Iran we are in a ceasefire, and we can also there at any moment return to fighting, and in a very powerful way.”

Zamir said that Israeli forces are continuing to build on their gains in Lebanon, stressing the strategic importance of the current area of operations. He highlighted the significance of the location and the scale of IDF capabilities being deployed. “The place where you are is very important, this is in Lebanon, this is facing Hezbollah. Here we are operating, we are employing many means, many of our capabilities. The achievements of this war so far are historic.”

He also linked the damage inflicted on Iran to Hezbollah’s current weakened position, explaining that Tehran’s setbacks have directly impacted the terror group. He noted that Iran has emerged significantly weakened from the conflict. “Iran before this war is not the same Iran, it is much weaker.” He added that this has left Hezbollah increasingly isolated. “The blow that Iran has taken is a blow that affects Hezbollah, because Hezbollah understands that it is now isolated. It is isolated within Lebanon, it is isolated from its strategic rear, from those who fund it, who supply it with weapons, and therefore this is a very significant achievement.”

Referring to recent Israeli strikes, Zamir said that major blows had been delivered across key Hezbollah strongholds, leaving the organization reeling. “Yesterday we delivered a general staff-level operational blow in Beirut, in the Bekaa, and I tell you, the organization is in deep shock.” He added that Hezbollah operatives have fled from their traditional strongholds. “They left the Dahieh, went to other places, to northern Beirut and to various other neighborhoods, and from there they managed the battle.”

Zamir further described the pressure being applied on Hezbollah forces both along the front lines and deep inside Lebanon. He said Israeli forces are systematically dismantling threats to Israeli communities. “Hezbollah encounters our fighter jets, both at the front and in depth. It encounters our ground forces, we are removing the direct threat from our communities. This is a very significant event, this is a very important achievement.”

He concluded by highlighting the broad deployment of IDF forces across multiple fronts and their mission to protect Israeli communities. He said IDF forces are actively positioned to block enemy threats. “We are in all places, as we are in Gaza, as we are in Syria, also here in Lebanon. We are positioned forward, and we are separating through our forces, our armored vehicles, our soldiers, between the enemy and the communities. This is our role, this is the mission.”

Closing his remarks, Zamir praised the troops and commanders on the ground, commending both their spirit and capabilities. “I think this mission is a very clear mission. A lot of appreciation to the people, simply the best people in the world, with tremendous spirit, and afterwards come also the best capabilities in the world. I think I do not remember in the history of the IDF combined task forces, infantry, armor and engineering with such strong capabilities. So much appreciation, take care of yourselves and meet the missions. Good luck.”

{Matzav.com}

ISLAMABAD (AP) — It was initially seen as an unexpected mediator, but this week Pakistan has established itself as a key player in bringing Iran and the United States to the negotiating table. Now, it is awaiting representatives from both countries to meet in Islamabad, as the world watches to see whether the talks could lead toward an end to the war.

Since Washington and Tehran agreed to an initial 14-day ceasefire on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the powerful army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir have been sharing messages about conversations with world leaders, highlighting their role as mediators. President Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to Munir as “my favorite field marshal” since last year, when he helped mediate a ceasefire between Pakistan and India.

Islamabad isn’t often called on to act as an intermediary in high-stakes diplomacy, but it’s stepped into the role this time for a number of reasons, both because it has relatively good ties with both Washington and Tehran and because it has a lot at stake in seeing the war resolved.

Pakistani government officials have said that their public peace effort follows weeks of quiet diplomacy, though they have provided few details. The talks are expected to take place in Islamabad on Saturday following the arrival of both delegations. Pakistan ramped up security across the city with additional troops and police.

Here’s what to know about Pakistan’s mediation effort:

Pakistan helped US deliver an initial 15-point plan to Iran
Pakistan’s role in Iran-U.S. negotiations surfaced a few weeks ago following media reports. Officials in Islamabad later acknowledged that a U.S. proposal had been conveyed to Iran.

It remains unclear who has served as Iran’s point of contact in the indirect talks.

According to Pakistani officials, U.S. messages were being passed to Iran and Iranian responses relayed to Washington, though they did not specify how the process was being handled or who was directly communicating with whom. Pakistan said that Turkey and Egypt were also working behind the scenes to bring the sides to the negotiating table.

A final US ultimatum and an announcement of an agreement
But days passed with no indication of progress. Last weekend, Trump escalated his threats and issued what seemed like a final deadline to Iran, saying that if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday, “the entire country can be taken out.” That same day, he also said that “a whole civilization will die tonight,” adding, “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”

Pakistan and other countries were already working behind the scenes to reach an agreement and avoid an escalation.

Then, before the deadline, Sharif tweeted: “With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire.” The U.S. and Iran also confirmed it.

Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council, said that Pakistan can show to the world it is “an influential regional actor” thanks to its work as mediator.

“Islamabad can also enjoy a measure of vindication: for having defied the skeptics who didn’t think it could pull off such a feat,” he wrote in Foreign Policy magazine this week.

Ties with both US and Iran set Pakistan up for new role
Previous U.S.-Iran negotiations have been facilitated mainly by countries in the Middle East, including Oman and Qatar, but as they came under Iranian fire, Pakistan stepped into the role.

Analysts say Pakistan’s geographic proximity to Iran — it’s one of its neighbors — coupled with its longstanding ties with the U.S., gives it a unique position at a time when direct communication between the two sides remains constrained.

Islamabad also has close strategic ties with Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, with which it signed a defense cooperation agreement last year. However, Pakistan has no diplomatic relations with Israel because of the lingering issue of Palestinian statehood.

Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan have improved since last year, with increased diplomatic engagement and expanding economic ties. Islamabad also joined Trump’s Board of Peace, which aims to ensure peace in Gaza, despite opposition from Islamists at home.

Pakistan has a lot at stake in ceasefire talks
The conflict poses some of “the biggest economic and energy security challenges” in Pakistan’s history, said Islamabad-based security analyst Syed Mohammad Ali.

The country gets most of its oil and gas from the Middle East — and, he said, the 5 million Pakistanis working in the Arab world send home remittances each year roughly equal to the country’s total export earnings.

Rising tensions have already contributed to higher global oil prices, forcing Pakistan to increase fuel prices by about 20% and putting pressure on Sharif’s government.

The war is also adding to domestic turmoil, even as Pakistan has been grappling for months with its own conflict with neighboring Afghanistan. Islamabad has accused the country’s Taliban government of tolerating militant groups that are behind attacks in Pakistan.

Earlier this month, protests erupted across the country following U.S. strikes on Iran, with demonstrators clashing with security forces in several cities. At least 22 people were killed and over 120 injured in clashes in Karachi a day after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Another 12 people were killed after a mob tried to storm the U.S. Consulate in Karachi on March 1.

Khamenei was a central religious and political figure for Shiites worldwide, including in Pakistan.

Pakistan has a record as a mediator
Pakistan’s then-President Gen. Yahya Khan facilitated back-channel contacts that led to U.S. President Richard Nixon’s historic 1972 visit to China. That paved the way for the establishment of diplomatic ties between Washington and Beijing in 1979.

Since then, Pakistan has played a role in several other complex regional conflicts, most notably during the 1988 Geneva Accords that paved the way for the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. Acting as a front line state and key interlocutor, Islamabad participated in U.N.-brokered negotiations while working closely with the United States and other stakeholders and helped increase pressure on Moscow to pull out its forces.

More recently, Pakistan facilitated contacts between the Afghan Taliban and Washington that led to talks in Doha that culminated in a 2020 agreement and set the stage for the withdrawal of U.S.-led NATO troops and the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Submitted PSA: Gluten Free Gemach

The following is a local list of drop off locations for Gluten-Free items.

לעילו נשמת ברכה בת צבי פינחס הכהן
לעילו נשמת קריינדל בת חיים שלום טובי’ גדלי’

**Please note:** We only accept unopened, Gluten free products. **No gebrokts!**

If you have items that need to be refrigerated, pls make sure the volunteer knows about it.

* **Jackson:** Bick 68 Forest Dr 732-363-2796
* **Jackson:** Chaya, 8 Spectrum Ct. 917-613-0712
* **Jackson:** Werner, 17 Imperial Place 718-866-6013
* **Lakewood (Albert Area):** Murik 1486 Towers St 908-910-0580
* **Lakewood (Coventry):** Goldstein, 137 Williamsburg Lane 347-522-7960 **NOTE, STARTING FROM SUNDAY ONLY**
* **Lakewood (New England Village):** Kleinman 145 Cannonball Dr 917-627-1649
* **Lakewood (Oak and Vine):** Goldring, 94 Wadsworth Ave 347-526-2688
* **Lakewood (Raintree):** Litvintchouk 1281 County Line Rd E 718-288-9092
* **Lakewood (Ridge):** Maslow 461 Manetta Ave 732-664-7073
* **Lakewood (squankum):** Serebrowski, 314 Lawrence Ave 917-754-1110
* **Lakewood (Sterling Place):** Bendkowski 59 Rena lane 848-299-7306
* **Lakewood (Somerset & kennedy):** Raitzik 1143 Somerset Ave 732-996-2362
* **Lakewood:** Hershberg 364 New Central Ave 848-525-0358
* **Toms River:** Feferkorn, 3 Salvatore Dr. 347-482-6881
* **Toms River:** Halpern 2080 Whitesville Rd 848-299-9125 *(text only, no dropoffs before Sunday April 12)*
* **Toms River:** Vicky Avshalom, 2214 Vermont Ave 908-907-2295
* **Toms River:** Weldler 4 Maplecrest Ct 201-638-9727
* **Manchester:** Goldstein 2416 Steiner rd Manchester NJ 848-525-3344

Tizku L’Mitzvos

[[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) • 845-232-1276

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday sharply criticized President Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, holding them responsible for rising and unstable energy costs impacting households across the United Kingdom, and said he has grown increasingly frustrated with how global conflicts are driving oil prices.

“I’m fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down on energy businesses bills go up and down on energy because of the actions of Putin or Trump across the world,” Starmer told ITV News on Thursday.

Starmer has repeatedly taken aim at Trump in recent weeks, arguing that the ongoing war with Iran has contributed to global instability and driven up costs for ordinary families, even as critics point out that his own government has taken limited direct action to ease the burden.

During the interview, Starmer reiterated that Britain would not be drawn into the conflict, stressing that UK military infrastructure would not be used for broader offensive operations, particularly those targeting civilians.

“From the get-go, we’ve been monitoring this situation. So I’m pretty clear in my own mind about what we’ve agreed and what the use of the bases are,” he said. “I’ve been saying we are not going to be dragged into this war because I say there must be a lawful basis.”

“That matters if you’re going to commit our service personnel to risk their lives,” he added.

His comments come as King Charles III prepares for an upcoming state visit to the United States later this month, a trip that Trump has welcomed but that is viewed in Britain as placing the monarch in a delicate position amid the growing tensions between the two leaders.

Starmer, who is currently traveling in the Middle East, had already angered Trump earlier this year when he rejected a US request to use a British military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for operations related to the conflict with Iran.

Aside from calling for “de-escalation” and encouraging diplomatic engagement, critics say Starmer has not taken significant steps to reduce tensions, instead focusing on coordination with allies and strengthening long-term economic and security resilience.

His administration has prioritized closer cooperation with European partners and efforts to protect key shipping routes, rather than direct military involvement.

Starmer was not alone among British officials in expressing frustration. Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper also criticized Iran’s proposal to impose fees on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

“Countries cannot simply hijack those kinds of international transit routes and unilaterally apply tolls,” she told the BBC. “They cannot do that as part of the laws of the sea and the United Nations arrangements.”

Trump has voiced support for the idea and has even suggested that the United States could take a share of the revenue generated from such tolls.

Before the conflict with Iran escalated, ships were able to pass through the strategically vital strait — a key route for oil and goods moving between the Middle East and Europe — without charge.

Iran has since proposed a fee of $1 per barrel of oil transported through the waterway, a move that could significantly increase costs given that large tankers often carry more than a million barrels per shipment.

Britain is currently leading a coalition of roughly 40 countries working on both military and diplomatic strategies to secure and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, though progress has so far been limited.

Cooper emphasized the broader importance of maintaining open maritime routes, telling the BBC that the freedom of navigation is a “principle that applies right across the globe, and it’s crucial for the cost of living back here at home. It’s crucial for the global economy.”

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian military personnel have shot down Iranian-designed Shahed drones in multiple Middle Eastern countries during the Iran war, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, describing the operations as part of a broader effort to help partners counter the same weapons used by Russia in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy made his first public acknowledgment of the operations Wednesday in remarks to reporters that were embargoed until Friday. He said Ukrainian forces took part in active operations abroad using domestically produced interceptor drones proven in countering Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia in Ukraine.

“This was not about a training mission or exercises, but about support in building a modern air defense system that can actually work,” Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine took part in the defensive operations before the tentative ceasefire in the Middle East was reached among Iran, the United States and Israel this week.

Zelenskyy did not identify the countries involved but said Ukrainian personnel operated across several nations, helping strengthen their air defense systems. He previously said that 228 Ukrainian experts were deployed in the region.

In exchange, Ukraine is receiving weapons to protect its energy infrastructure, along with oil, diesel and, in some cases, financial arrangements, he said.

The Ukrainian leader said the agreements would bolster Ukraine’s energy stability and described the partnerships as something that would “be marketed” as Kyiv seeks to formalize and expand its defense export role.

“We are helping strengthen their security in exchange for contributions to our country’s resilience,” he said. “This is far more than simply receiving money.”

Ukraine will face more pressure
The disclosure comes amid concerns that conflict in the Middle East could divert Western military support from Ukraine, particularly air defense supplies.

But Zelenskyy said that partners were continuing to supply missiles for Patriot systems, adding that a new batch had arrived in recent days and that Ukraine was working with all partners to ensure its air defense remained in place.

He warned that the coming spring and summer would be difficult for Ukraine, with growing political and battlefield pressure as the United States turns to domestic politics and elections.

Zelenskyy said he had urged U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to visit Kyiv and proposed a trilateral format with Moscow. It remains unclear whether they will come or if talks will instead take place in a third country.

U.S.-led talks have made no progress on key issues, as Washington’s attention shifts to the Middle East conflict while Russian and Ukrainian forces remain locked in fighting along the roughly 1,250-kilometer (800-mile) front line.

Separately, Zelenskyy said he expects Western allies to restore full sanctions on Russian oil, warning that any easing could allow Moscow to sustain its war effort and offload key energy assets. Russia has been profiting from a surge in global energy prices, brought on by damage to oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf and Iran’s blocking of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea route for global oil supplies.

Ukraine has stepped up strikes on Russian energy sites to cut oil revenues as prices rose and U.S. sanctions eased. Zelenskyy said partners had urged Kyiv to scale back attacks during Iran’s disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, but he argued Russian oil has a limited impact on global markets.

“I won’t say who asked us to do this. But partners did ask — it’s a fact. They asked at different levels, from political to military leadership.”

Putin declares Easter truce and Ukraine ready to reciprocate
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is ready to mirror any ceasefire steps after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter truce.

“We proposed a ceasefire during the Easter holidays this year and will act accordingly”, Zelenskyy said Friday on X. “People need an Easter free from threats and real movement toward peace, and Russia has a chance not to return to strikes after Easter as well”.

Putin on Thursday declared a 32-hour ceasefire over the Orthodox Easter weekend, ordering Russian forces to halt hostilities from 4 p.m. Saturday until the end of Sunday.

Previous ceasefire attempts have had little impact, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described Putin’s move as a “humanitarian” gesture, but said Moscow remains focused on a comprehensive settlement based on its longstanding demands — a key sticking point that has prevented the two sides from reaching an agreement.

Peskov also confirmed that Putin’s envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, is in the United States for meetings focused on economic issues. He noted that Dmitriev is conducting the meetings within the framework of a group on economic issues that he has led, adding that he is not involved in the talks on the war in Ukraine and his trip “doesn’t mean the resumption of the talks.”

Dmitriev’s visit to the U.S. comes just before the termination of the 30-day sanctions waiver for Russian oil.

A  pedestrian was struck and killed in a late-night collision on Route 9 in Manalapan, authorities said.

According to Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond S. Santiago, the incident occurred Tuesday, April 7, at approximately 10:56 p.m., when officers from the Manalapan Police Department responded to the southbound lanes of Route 9 near 355 Route 9 and Russell Court.

A preliminary investigation found that a male driver operating a 2018 Nissan Frontier was traveling in the left lane when his vehicle struck a pedestrian, propelling her onto the right shoulder of the roadway.

The victim, identified as 72-year-old Deborah Ross, was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:26 p.m.

The driver remained at the scene following the crash.

The investigation, led by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, along with the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team (SCART) and the Manalapan Police Department, remains active and ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact MCPO Detective Nicolas Logothetis at 732-431-7160 ext. 5412 or Manalapan Police Officer Edward Burns at 732-446-4300.

No charges or summonses have been issued at this time.

NETANYA, Israel (VINnews) — A yeshiva student was in critical condition Friday after being rescued from the water off a Netanya beach, while authorities continued searching for his brother who remained missing at sea.

Emergency services said two young men were reported in distress in the water near Kiryat Sanz beach. One was pulled ashore by bystanders and found unconscious, prompting paramedics to perform advanced resuscitation before taking him to Laniado Hospital.

Rescue teams, including specialized diving units, launched a search for the second individual, believed to be his brother, who disappeared in the water.

Authorities said the two are from a haredi family and had gone to the beach together. The search remained ongoing.

Names for prayer: Avraham Yishayahu ben Shoshana. V’Yissachar Dov ben Shoshana.

Prosecutors in Yerushalayim have filed an indictment against a 21-year-old resident, Moshe Lechovitz, accusing him of maintaining contact with an Iranian intelligence operative and carrying out assignments on his behalf in exchange for payment. Authorities are also seeking to keep him in custody until the end of legal proceedings.

According to the charges, Lechovitz initially connected with an individual identifying himself as “Michael” while searching for work. What began as what appeared to be a routine conversation developed into an ongoing relationship, during which “Michael” engaged him in discussions about personal matters, religion, and Israel, even expressing an affinity for observant Jews. At one point, he requested a copy of Lechovitz’s identification, which was provided.

Investigators say that “Michael” later instructed Lechovitz to set up a digital wallet using the Trust app to facilitate payments. He was then assigned various photography tasks and directed to install a mobile application that allowed him to record video even when the screen was turned off, effectively turning his phone into what prosecutors described as an “operational device.”

One of the first assignments involved filming the Liberty Bell Park area in Yerushalayim. According to the indictment, Lechovitz went to the location, recorded footage of the grounds, and sent the video to his handler via Telegram. In return, he received approximately $618 in digital currency on May 4, 2025.

He was later asked to carry out a similar assignment in Ra’anana. Despite not holding a valid driver’s license, he reportedly drove to the area, filmed a designated route using the same device, and transmitted the footage to the foreign agent through Telegram. For that task, prosecutors say he was paid about $909. He was also instructed to purchase a can of paint while documenting the action, and that footage was likewise sent.

At a certain stage, prosecutors allege that Lechovitz realized the individual he was working with was affiliated with Iran. Nevertheless, he continued maintaining contact and completing assignments that could assist in gathering intelligence. The activity is said to have continued during Operation “Am KeLavi” in late June 2025. During that time, he was asked what additional locations he could document and suggested on his own the area known as Pardes Morasha near the Morasha Junction. He reportedly borrowed a vehicle, again drove without a license, filmed the site, and sent the material to the Iranian contact.

In total, the indictment states that Lechovitz received approximately $3,276 in digital payments. The relationship reportedly took a turn when the handler told him that, in his view, all Jews should die except for the ultra-Orthodox. Following that exchange, Lechovitz is said to have cut off communication, stopped responding, and handed over the phone he had been using after replacing the SIM card and deleting its contents.

However, the connection did not entirely end. On September 28, 2025, the same individual reportedly reached out again, asking Lechovitz to help locate someone who had allegedly taken $1,000 from him for a motorcycle purchase and then disappeared. Lechovitz responded that he could not assist.

Lechovitz faces charges including contact with a foreign agent, passing information to an enemy, and additional related offenses. The case is part of a growing pattern uncovered in recent months in which Iranian operatives have attempted to recruit Israeli civilians online through personal outreach, encrypted messaging platforms, and payments in digital currencies.

{Matzav.com}

SAFED (VINnews) – Hezbollah fired several rockets from Lebanon toward the northern Israeli city of Safed on Friday, causing damage to a parking lot even as the Israeli military said most were intercepted or landed in open areas, authorities reported.

No injuries were immediately reported from the strike in Safed, according to rescue services. However, Magen David Adom and local officials confirmed an impact in a parking lot that damaged vehicles and nearby infrastructure.

The Israel Defense Forces said its aerial defense systems intercepted a number of the projectiles, with others falling in open zones. Sirens sounded across Safed and surrounding Galilee communities as the attack unfolded.

Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the rocket fire, describing it as a response to alleged Israeli ceasefire violations and ongoing strikes in Lebanon. The group has intensified attacks on northern Israel in recent days amid heightened regional tensions following Israeli operations against Hezbollah targets.

The incident comes as Israel continues airstrikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon. Rescue teams responded quickly to the Safed scene, where footage showed damaged cars and debris scattered in the parking area.

Northern Israel remains on high alert, with frequent rocket alerts. Officials urged residents to follow Home Front Command instructions and stay near protected spaces.

(VINnews) – Used vehicle prices in the U.S. rose again last month, reaching their highest point since mid-2023 as demand continues to outpace supply, according to data from Cox Automotive.

A key wholesale pricing index showed a notable year-over-year increase, signaling that tight inventory and steady buyer interest are keeping prices elevated.

Analysts say demand has held up despite broader economic pressures, with limited supply further supporting higher prices. Inventory levels remain constrained, with fewer vehicles available on dealer lots compared to typical levels.

Consumers continue to turn to used cars as new vehicle prices remain significantly higher, reinforcing demand across the market.

Looking ahead, Cox Automotive slightly raised its forecast for used vehicle sales this year, though overall volumes are still expected to edge lower compared to last year as conditions soften later in 2026.

Israel’s Transportation Ministry announced that the country’s skies reopened completely and that standard operations at Ben Gurion Airport resumed beginning Thursday after a ceasefire was reached between the United States, Israel, and Iran.

According to the ministry, coordination has been underway with the Israel Airports Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority to bring the country’s main international gateway back to full capacity. Duty-free stores and all terminal services are also reopening as part of the return to normal activity.

Officials said that international airlines and aviation regulators have been formally notified that Ben Gurion Airport is returning to routine operations. Since the outbreak of the conflict with Iran on February 28, most foreign carriers had halted flights to Israel.

Even so, the Israel Airports Authority cautioned that the return of foreign airlines will take place in stages, since each airline must receive clearance from its own regulatory bodies before resuming service.

Additional airports are also preparing to reopen. Herzliya Airport is set to resume operations Thursday morning, while Ramon Airport near Eilat in the south is expected to restart flights on Sunday.

The Transportation Ministry added that a decision regarding the reopening of Haifa Airport will be made later in the week, depending on security assessments, particularly given Israel’s position that the ceasefire with Iran does not extend to Lebanon.

Since the start of the war, Israel’s airspace has been largely closed to international traffic. In early March, limited flight activity resumed at Ben Gurion Airport through Israeli carriers El Al, Arkia, Israir, and Air Haifa, mainly to bring Israelis home and assist those seeking to leave the country.

Israir and Arkia said Wednesday that they are preparing to gradually expand operations at Ben Gurion Airport in the wake of the ceasefire.

Both airlines plan to increase flight frequency and passenger capacity on outbound routes, subject to guidelines issued by the Transportation Ministry and aviation authorities.

Arkia said it will begin operating flights to Athens, Larnaca, Rome, Vienna, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Bangkok, New York, and Budapest, prioritizing passengers whose travel plans were disrupted by the war. The airline said it expects to fully restore operations by May 3.

Israir said it is preparing to resume flights to destinations including Athens, Larnaca, Budapest, Tbilisi, Batumi, Rome, Berlin, and Rhodes.

El Al announced a significant expansion of its activity, saying it is preparing to return to near-full operations. Beginning next week, from April 12 through April 18, the airline plans to operate at full capacity to approximately 30 destinations.

Those destinations include Athens, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, Budapest, Batumi, Tbilisi, Rome, Frankfurt, Munich, Larnaca, Lisbon, Madrid, Moscow, Milan, Bucharest, Prague, Vienna, Warsaw, Zurich, and London in Europe; Bangkok, Phuket, and Tokyo in the Far East; and New York, Los Angeles, and Miami in North America.

“Due to operational complexity and the reorganization of flight schedules, the return to routine operations cannot happen all at once,” El Al said. “As a result, some flights may still be subject to changes or cancellations in the coming period.”

The airline said passengers whose flights were canceled during the war will be automatically reassigned to the new flights, with details available on its website. After those travelers are accommodated, any remaining seats will be opened to the general public. El Al added that it expects to continue expanding its operations throughout the month until it reaches a full flight schedule.

Reports in Israeli media indicate that Ben Gurion Airport has been preparing for a sharp increase in passenger traffic as travel resumes.

Foreign airlines are still awaiting final approvals before returning to Israel, and many are expected to take a cautious approach, monitoring whether the current two-week ceasefire develops into a more permanent arrangement.

Meanwhile, Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air announced that it is extending its suspension of flights to and from Israel through April 27.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security forces have eliminated a key terrorist who infiltrated Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 massacre and took part in one of the most brutal attacks of that day, along with three additional Hamas operatives, according to a joint statement by the IDF and Shin Bet.

The operation targeted Abd al Rahman Ammar Hassan Khudari, a member of the Islamic Jihad terror organization, who was directly involved in the massacre at Nir Oz and had since been planning another terror attack against IDF troops operating in northern Gaza.

---

Khudari was among the terrorists who stormed the kibbutz, going house to house as part of a coordinated assault that left families slaughtered, civilians kidnapped, and an entire community shattered. The attackers overran nearly every residence in Nir Oz, murdering residents and dragging others into Gaza as hostages.

By percent of population, Nir Oz had one of the highest death tolls in the October 7 attacks, with approximately one quarter of its roughly 400 residents either murdered or abducted. A significant portion of the hostages taken on October 7 were from the kibbutz, including members of the Bibas family and Oded Lifshitz. IDF forces did not reach the scene until after the terrorists had completed their rampage.

In the same wave of operations, Israeli forces also struck and eliminated three additional terrorists affiliated with Hamas, as part of ongoing efforts to hunt down those responsible for the October 7 atrocities and prevent further attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration this week acknowledged it made a significant error in figures it used to help justify a fraud probe into New York’s Medicaid program, a glaring mistake that undercuts a federal campaign to tackle waste, mostly in Democratic-led states.

The error, one of at least a few misrepresentations in its description of the program, prompted health analysts to question how many of the Republican administration’s sweeping anti-fraud efforts around the country were based on faulty findings. It also reflected a common criticism that’s been made of Trump’s second administration — that it tends to attack first and confirm the facts later.

“These numbers could have been cleared up in a phone call, so it’s really slapdash,” said Fiscal Policy Institute senior health policy adviser Michael Kinnucan, whose recent analysis called attention to the Trump administration’s inaccurate claim.

The mistake appeared in comments made last month by Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in a social media video and in a letter to New York’s Democratic governor announcing the fraud investigation.

Oz claimed that New York’s Medicaid program last year provided some 5 million people with personal care services, which assist people in need with basic activities like bathing, grooming and meal preparation. That would add up to nearly three-fourths of the state’s 6.8 million Medicaid enrollees.

“That level of utilization is unheard of,” Oz said in the video, adding in his post that New York needs to “come clean about its Medicaid program.”

But the real number of New Yorkers who used those services last year was about 450,000, or between 6% and 7% of total enrollees, CMS spokesman Chris Krepich told The Associated Press this week in the agency’s first public acknowledgment of the error. He said the agency misidentified New York’s approach to applying billing codes and had since refined its methodology.

“CMS is committed to ensuring its analyses fully reflect state-specific billing practices and will continue to work closely with New York to validate data and strengthen program integrity oversight,” he said in an emailed statement.

Krepich said the probe was ongoing as the administration still has concerns with New York’s oversight of personal care services and the Medicaid program and is reviewing the state’s response to last month’s letter. CMS had raised other flags about New York’s program, including that it spends more per beneficiary and per resident than the average state, has high personal care spending and employs so many personal care aides that the job category is now the largest in the state.

Health analysts said the state’s high spending reflected both high costs for services in New York and a policy choice to provide robust at-home care. Cadence Acquaviva, senior public information officer for the New York Department of Health, called Oz’s initial mischaracterizations “a targeted attempt to obscure the facts.”

“New York State remains committed to protecting and preserving vital Medicaid programs that deliver high-quality services to New Yorkers who depend on them,” she said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Gov. Kathy Hochul said, “The initial claim by CMS was patently false, and we are glad they now admit it.”

“Governor Hochul has been clear that New York has zero tolerance for waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid, or any other state programs, and will continue her efforts to root out bad actors, protect taxpayer dollars, and safeguard the critical programs that New Yorkers rely on,” spokesperson Nicolette Simmonds said.

New York probe is part of a larger crackdown
The Trump administration’s investigation into New York comes as it has similarly approached at least four other states, including California, Florida, Maine and Minnesota, with investigations into potential health care fraud. The anti-fraud effort appears to be expanding as voters in the upcoming midterm elections say they’re concerned about affordability.

Trump last month signed an executive order to create an anti-fraud task force across federal benefit programs led by Vice President JD Vance. As part of that project, Vance announced the administration would temporarily halt $243 million in Medicaid funding to Minnesota over fraud concerns, a move over which the state has since sued.

Kinnucan, the analyst with expertise in New York’s Medicaid program, said he’s concerned that the Trump administration’s adversarial approach to targeting fraud in some states “politicizes” a conversation that should be a team effort.

“We want to think collaboratively among all the stakeholders in the program about how we can actually fix it,” Kinnucan said. “We don’t want to have fraud be this political football.”

Oz made other claims New York advocates say are inaccurate
In his video, Oz made at least two other claims about New York that Medicaid advocates and beneficiaries say distorted the facts.

In one instance, he said the state recently made its screening for personal care eligibility “more lenient by allowing problems like being ‘easily distracted’ to qualify for a personal care assistant.”

Rebecca Antar, director of the health law unit at the Legal Aid Society, said the opposite was true — that the state in a rule change that went into effect last September instead made its program requirements more stringent. She said being “easily distracted” doesn’t appear anywhere among them.

Krepich said the administrator was referring to whether New York’s standard for personal care services was “sufficiently rigorous.”

“When standards are overly permissive, it risks diverting resources away from individuals with the highest levels of need and placing long-term pressure on the sustainability of the Medicaid program,” he said.

Oz in the video also referred to personal care services as “something that our families would normally do for us, like carrying groceries.”

Kathleen Downes, a 33-year-old who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and uses personal care services in New York’s Nassau County, said she was offended by the notion that all Medicaid beneficiaries have family members who are willing and able to help.

Downes, who has been disabled since birth and needs personal care help for things like showering, using the toilet and eating, said she hires both her mother and outside assistants for personal care services, so her aging mother doesn’t have to take on those tasks full time. She said her mother did the labor unpaid for years, precluding her from pursuing other career opportunities.

“He’s assuming that everybody wants to and can just do it for free forever,” Downes said. “And that’s not feasible for a lot of people.”

The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to oil traffic, with Iran showing no signs of honoring what the United States said was a non-negotiable condition of Wednesday’s ceasefire, raising urgent questions about whether the truce is worth the paper it’s written on.

A backlog of roughly 3,200 vessels — including 800 tankers and cargo ships — sits stranded west of the strait. Nearly 20,000 mariners remain stuck in the Persian Gulf. No oil tankers have risked the passage in recent days. The waterway that carries one-fifth of the world’s oil supply is, for all practical purposes, shut.

“We’re not seeing any, any, any oil products passing through there,” said Matt Smith, an analyst at Kpler, a data and intelligence company. “So, for all intents and purposes, the strait remains closed. And this is the leverage that Iran has.”

Only a trickle of vessels has moved at all. Three ships passed through Thursday — two Iranian-flagged and one dry bulk carrier. On Wednesday, five vessels transited in total. Those few that are moving are avoiding standard commercial lanes entirely, threading through a corridor near Iran’s Larak Island with some switching off their tracking systems as they pass.

President Donald Trump, who staked the ceasefire deal on Iran’s commitment to reopen the waterway, publicly unloaded on Tehran Thursday. “Iran is doing a very poor job, dishonorable some would say, of allowing oil to go through the Strait of Hormuz. That is not the agreement we have!” he wrote on Truth Social. Trump had announced the ceasefire as contingent on Iran agreeing to the “COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING” of the strait — language that could hardly have been clearer.

The head of Abu Dhabi’s national oil company left no room for diplomatic ambiguity. “This moment requires clarity. So let’s be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is not open,” Sultan Al Jaber wrote on LinkedIn Thursday. “Access is being restricted, conditioned and controlled. Iran has made clear — through both its statements and actions — that passage is subject to permission, conditions and political leverage.”

Iran, it turns out, has demands. According to the Financial Times, Tehran is seeking a toll of $1 per barrel of oil transiting the strait, to be paid in cryptocurrency. Iranian state media said Wednesday the strait would remain closed in retaliation for continued Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon — attacks Washington insists fall outside the ceasefire’s scope.

Even if Iran were to declare the strait open tomorrow, analysts warn it would take far more than a statement to bring shipping back. “We don’t know whether the Strait of Hormuz is mined. Even if it isn’t, the risk of being hit by a missile or a drone is a big enough deterrent,” Smith said. “No one’s willing to take the chance.” War-risk insurance remains available in some cases but only at steep premiums with added restrictions — costs that make the math unworkable for most operators.

The economic fallout is already spreading. Cargo is being rerouted through ports in Oman and along the UAE’s east coast, tacking roughly two weeks onto voyage times and pushing costs up by about 25%.

With the ceasefire’s central promise unfulfilled, senior US and Iranian officials are set to meet Saturday in Pakistan for talks on a permanent agreement — negotiations that will take place against a backdrop of a strait that, whatever the paperwork says, remains closed.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

New Jersey motorists across the state will have more time to get their vehicles inspected this spring and summer after the state Motor Vehicle Commission announced it is automatically extending hundreds of thousands of inspection sticker expiration dates in connection with the permanent closure of a major Newark inspection facility.

The Newark Inspection Station at will close this weekend to make way for a new, expanded and modernized agency. To ease the transition for affected drivers statewide, the MVC is pushing back expiration dates by three months for any valid inspection sticker set to expire between April and July 2026.

Under the extensions, stickers expiring in April will now be valid through July; May stickers through August; June stickers through September; and July stickers through October. The extensions are automatic — no action is required by vehicle owners.

The move affects motorists throughout New Jersey, as the Newark station serves drivers from across the region and its closure reduces the overall capacity of the state inspection network.

Drivers who wish to complete their inspections before their new deadline may do so at any of the state’s remaining inspection stations, or at any of more than 1,100 private inspection facilities operating statewide.

A full list of state and private inspection locations is available at NJMVC.gov.

Former Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi died Wednesday from wounds sustained in a US-Israeli strike on his Tehran home on April 1, Iranian state media reported.

Kharazi, 81, had been serving as head of the Strategic Council for International Relations, an advisory body affiliated with the foreign ministry, at the time of the strike. His wife was killed in the same attack, media reported at the time.

State news agencies Mehr and ISNA described Kharazi as having “died a martyr” after being “injured in a terrorist attack carried out by the American-Zionist enemy a few days ago.”

Kharazi was one of Iran’s most senior diplomatic figures, having served as the country’s ambassador to the United Nations before becoming foreign minister under reformist President Mohammad Khatami from 1997 to 2005.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is backing away from one of the central promises of his mayoral campaign, conceding he will not be able to deliver citywide free buses this year and shifting his sights to a far more modest pilot program.

The retreat marks a major reversal for a mayor who rode the free-bus pledge to City Hall, having championed the issue since co-launching a small Queens pilot in 2023. Mamdani now says he is focused on reviving a pared-down version — three free bus lines per borough at a cost of $45 million — contingent on Albany including it in the state budget, which is already a week past its deadline.

The climb-down is not for lack of trying to spin it. “We’re absolutely committed to making buses fast and free,” Mamdani insisted — eventually.

But the obstacles are formidable. Gov. Kathy Hochul has been cool to the idea since before Mamdani took office, and on Wednesday she made clear that housing and auto insurance reform are higher budget priorities than buses. MTA CEO Janno Lieber has called the mayor’s plan half-baked and likely to cost far more than advertised. And Mamdani himself effectively torpedoed an earlier expansion of the program after picking a fight with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie over affordable housing, prompting Heastie to pull the initiative from the budget entirely.

The free bus promise now joins a lengthening list of first-term reversals for the mayor, who has spent his first 100 days in office pushing a combined $23 billion in new taxes while watching signature campaign commitments slip away.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A sharp war of words erupted Thursday after Khawaja Asif launched a blistering attack on Israel, prompting a rare and forceful public response from Benjamin Netanyahu and senior Israeli officials.

Asif, Pakistan’s defence minister, labeled Israel “evil” and a “curse for humanity” in remarks tied to Israel’s military operations in Lebanon during a fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire. In a now-deleted post on X, he further escalated rhetoric, claiming that “genocide is being committed in Lebanon” while peace talks were underway in Islamabad.

“I hope and pray that the people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European Jews [sic] burn in hell,” Asif wrote.

The remarks triggered immediate backlash from Israel. Netanyahu condemned the statement as “outrageous,” saying, “This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace.”

Israel’s Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa’ar, also issued a strong rebuke, accusing Pakistan’s leadership of spreading “blatant antisemitic blood libels.” He warned that describing Israel as “cancerous” amounts to a call for its destruction, emphasizing that Israel “will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction.”

The diplomatic clash is notable given the absence of formal relations between Israel and Pakistan, with Tel Aviv historically avoiding direct engagement with Islamabad. However, Israeli officials signaled that the severity of the remarks warranted a public response.

The confrontation followed an earlier condemnation by Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry of Israeli actions in Lebanon, which was then amplified by Asif’s incendiary social media statements. The post was later deleted after drawing widespread criticism.

Israeli officials have also expressed longstanding skepticism about Pakistan’s role in regional diplomacy. Reuven Azar reiterated that Israel does not view Pakistan as a credible intermediary in peace negotiations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Wall Street Journal reports that Beijing pushed Tehran to go along with a ceasefire in part to improve its standing with President Trump before a planned summit next month, with Xi hoping that any goodwill could help him press China’s position on tariffs, tech controls, and Taiwan.

The key point is that China does not appear to have been the main architect of the ceasefire. According to the Journal, the heavier lifting was done by Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt, while China stepped in diplomatically to encourage Iran and then tried to convert that role into leverage in Washington.

China has every reason to calm the Iran front as it buys large volumes of Iranian oil, wants the Strait of Hormuz stabilized, and prefers to look like a responsible power without taking on the military or political burden of actually guaranteeing the deal. Reuters also reported that China publicly said it stayed in contact with all sides and wants the parties to seize the chance for peace.

The Taiwan angle is the real strategic hook here. The Journal says Xi wants to use any diplomatic credit from Iran to help convince Trump to soften U.S. backing for Taiwan and accept Beijing’s “breakaway province” framing. That remains China’s goal, not a U.S. concession. I did not find any official Trump administration statement endorsing that position.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The largest monthly jump in gas prices in six decades caused a sharp spike in inflation in March, creating major challenges for the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve and heightening the political challenges of rising costs for the White House.

Consumer prices rose 3.3% in March from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Friday, up sharply from just 2.4% in February. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.9% in March from February, the largest such increase in nearly four years.

Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.6% in March from a year earlier, up from 2.5% in February. But last month core prices rose a modest 0.2%, suggesting that the gas price shock hasn’t yet spread to many other categories.

The gas price shock stemming from the Iran war has shifted inflation’s trajectory, from a slow, gradual decline to a sharp increase further away from the Fed’s 2% target. As a result, the central bank will almost certainly postpone any cut in interest rates for months. Gas prices are also a highly visible cost that has outsize impacts on consumer confidence and political sentiment.

(AP) – A stairwell roof at a parking garage being built in Philadelphia collapsed suddenly, killing one person, while two others are missing and presumed dead, authorities said.

The section of roof at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s garage fell Wednesday, triggering a “progressive collapse of connected sections across all seven levels,” Mayor Cherelle Parker told reporters.

A seven-story parking garage that was under construction partially collapsed in Philadelphia, killing at least one person. @MolaReports has the latest on the urgent search underway for the two victims still trapped inside. https://t.co/5AfNO4jzqv pic.twitter.com/77hc7cP4BX

— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) April 9, 2026

“Let me be very clear about something at this moment: We are not, we will not give up on these individuals and we will not rest until everyone is accounted for from this tragedy,” she said.

By Thursday, she said search dogs hadn’t found any signs of life at the collapse site.

Crews had initially rescued three people, including one who was critically injured and later died at the hospital, said Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson. Two others were treated and released.

The building is unstable, so crews need to take it apart in order to search the entire structure, Thompson said.

Two construction workers missing after a parking garage partially collapsed in Philadelphia’s Grays Ferry neighborhood are presumed dead.

Mayor Cherelle Parker said four highly trained search dogs inspected the wreckage and found no signs of life.

Parker also said crews will… pic.twitter.com/jBq1BdxVCP

— CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) April 10, 2026

“We’re actually going to deconstruct and de-layer this building, and that will make it safe for my members to get inside and get down to the lowest levels to ensure that we don’t have any survivors down there,” he said.

All of the project’s required permits were properly issued and inspections were up to date, according to Parker. She said the city will investigate the collapse.

The hospital said in a statement that it is prioritizing the construction workers’ safety and working closely with the city and its construction partners.

First responders gather near a partially collapsed parking garage in Philadelphia, Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

First responders walk near a partially collapsed parking garage in Philadelphia, Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

First responders inspect a partially collapsed parking garage in Philadelphia, Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

First responders inspect a partially collapsed parking garage in Philadelphia, Thursday, April 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei released a series of posts on X on Thursday marking forty days since the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, describing the event as the “martyrdom of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.”

He began his message with a verse from the Quran, writing, “Indeed, We have given you, [O Muhammad], a clear victory (Quran 48:1),” and went on to describe the past forty days as following a “dreadful crime” carried out by “enemies of Islam & Iran.”

Khamenei claimed that, in contrast to historical precedents, supporters of his father did not falter but instead “rose up to confront falsehood” and held firm. He added that during this period, followers have behaved “like balls of fire on the heads of the Pharaohs.”

Referring to what he called the “Third Sacred Defense,” Khamenei asserted that “the heroic nation of Iran” is “the definite victor in this battlefield.”

Turning to Iran’s neighbors in the region, he said they were “witnessing a miracle” and urged them to “stand on the right side” by rejecting what he described as “false promises of the devils,” an apparent reference to Israel and the United States. He also stated that Iran is waiting for “an appropriate response” from those countries and suggested that future relations would hinge on their willingness to “renounce the Arrogant Powers.”

Khamenei further warned that Iran would not allow “criminal aggressors” to avoid consequences, saying the country would seek “full reparations for all damages caused,” along with compensation for those killed and injured.

He reiterated Iran’s stance on the Strait of Hormuz, stating that the country intends to move its management “to a new phase,” while emphasizing that Iran does not seek conflict but will not “relinquish” what he described as its rightful claims.

In closing, Khamenei said Iran would continue pursuing what he called justice for the deaths of his father and others, adding that the country remains committed to the path of the “Resistance Front” and to standing “against the Front of Disbelief and Arrogance.”

However, the posts appear to conflict with multiple reports citing U.S. and Israeli intelligence, which claim that Mojtaba Khamenei is currently in Qom, about 87 miles south of Tehran, and in a serious “semi-comatose” or “critical condition” that leaves him unable to make decisions. He has not been seen in public, and some reports have suggested that videos circulating online may be generated using artificial intelligence, with indications that the IRGC is effectively controlling the country.

More than 7,500 people have been hospitalized for war-related injuries since fighting with Iran began on February 28, Israel’s Health Ministry reported.

Of the 7,527 admitted, 108 remain hospitalized. Two are in critical condition, 13 in serious condition, 27 in moderate condition, and 66 in good condition. The figures include both soldiers and civilians.

The ministry does not break down injuries by cause. Some were indirect, including people hurt while rushing to shelters, rather than as a result of missile strikes directly.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel’s markets are still sending a very clear signal as investors are pricing in confidence, not fear. The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange has kept pushing to fresh highs, with the blue-chip TA-35 closing at another all-time record this week after a 2.64% jump, while the broader TA-125 also remains near historic peaks.

The currency move is just as striking. The shekel has strengthened to roughly 3.05 to the dollar, with market data showing USD/ILS around 3.045 on April 1, one of its strongest levels in decades and near the 30-year highs analysts have been watching. Over the last 12 months, the shekel is up nearly 18% against the dollar.

This rally did not come out of nowhere. Reuters reported that Israeli shares and the shekel had already surged after the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, with the TA-35 and TA-125 hitting all-time highs as investors bet Israel’s risk premium could fall, growth could improve, and future rate cuts could become more realistic. Reuters also noted the shekel had appreciated nearly 20% against the dollar over the prior year.

What makes this more dramatic is the contrast with the war period itself. Instead of collapsing under pressure, Israeli markets have increasingly traded on expectations that the country emerges stronger strategically and economically. That is a powerful story for both local confidence and foreign capital — and right now, the screens are reflecting it.

Israel’s Security Cabinet has secretly authorized the creation of 34 new communities in Judea and Samaria, in what would mark one of the largest single approvals of its kind, according to a report published Thursday.

The decision was reportedly handled with strict confidentiality in order to avoid pressure from the United States while Israel remains engaged in its campaign against Iran.

If fully implemented, the move would significantly expand the number of approved communities. Until now, 69 communities had been authorized through various decisions; with this latest approval, that figure is expected to rise to 103.

The planned locations for the new communities are spread across wide areas, including some deep in Areas A and B, where the IDF operates infrequently. Establishing and securing these locations would require extensive military preparation and resources.

Among the sites included in the plan is Noa, located south of Ganim and Kadim near Qabatiya, as well as Emek Dotan, which is intended to create a territorial link between Sa-Nur, Homesh, and Shavei Shomron.

Officials who spoke with i24NEWS said the IDF Chief of Staff, who attended the cabinet meeting, did not object to the initiative on a diplomatic level. However, he raised operational concerns, particularly regarding limited manpower and the challenges of defending additional communities.

The military reportedly recommended implementing the plan gradually over time to allow for proper security arrangements, but that approach was ultimately rejected, and the cabinet moved forward with full approval.

The secrecy surrounding the decision was largely driven by a desire to prevent significant diplomatic backlash from Washington, especially given the ongoing tensions related to Iran.

In addition, the report noted that the cabinet approved the development of basic infrastructure—including energy, water, and electricity—before the formal completion of land authorization processes. This represents a notable policy shift aimed at speeding up the establishment of the communities and ensuring they can be sustained from the outset.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Israeli troops identified a Hezbollah cell during ground operations in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, leading to an airstrike that eliminated one operative hiding in bushes and a follow-up strike on a fleeing vehicle carrying the rest of the group, the Israel Defense Forces said.

The IDF released footage of the incident involving soldiers from the 769th “Hiram” Regional Brigade operating in their designated area. One terrorist was spotted concealing himself in vegetation. An Israeli Air Force aircraft quickly eliminated him, according to the military.

The remaining Hezbollah operatives were seen escaping in a vehicle, which was subsequently struck and destroyed, the IDF reported.

The operations are part of ongoing efforts to target Hezbollah infrastructure and personnel in southern Lebanon amid continued cross-border threats. The IDF has intensified ground and air actions in the region in recent months to degrade the terror group’s capabilities.

Muhammad Shahzab Khan (21), a Pakistani national who was living in Canada on a student visa, admitted on Wednesday in federal court in New York to planning a large‑scale terror attack at 770, the Chabad World Headquarters in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

According to the detailed indictment, Khan — who was extradited to the US from Canada— planned to carry out an assault using AR-style rifles around October 7, 2024, the anniversary of the Hamas massacre in Israel.  He chose the Chabad center in Brooklyn, saying that New York is “perfect to target Jews because it has the largest Jewish population in America.”

In messages he exchanged with undercover FBI agents (whom he believed were ISIS supporters), Khan said: “Even if we don’t attack an event, we could easily rack up a lot of Jews… we are going to slaughter them.”

He urged the undercover agents to acquire rifles and hunting knives to “slit their throats,” and gloated over the fact that if the plan succeeds, it will be “the largest attack on U.S. soil since 9/11.”

Khan was arrested in September 2024 in the town of Ormstown, Canada, only about 12 miles from the U.S. border, as he attempted to cross into the US with the help of a human smuggler. The arrest was part of a complex operation by law enforcement authorities in both Canada and the United States, who had been tracking him for many months.

In the recorded conversations, Khan is heard detailing how he planned to purchase automatic weapons, hunting knives, and large quantities of ammunition.

Khan admitted to all charges against him during Wednesday’s hearing, saying that he was motivated to support the Islamic State in retaliation for Israel’s killing of Palestinians in Gaza.

The judge set the sentencing date for August 12, 2026. Under federal law, Khan faces a sentence of up to life in prison.

“Khan planned a mass shooting at a Jewish center in New York City, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attacks, with the explicit goal of killing as many Jews as possible,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg.

“Khan declared that New York City was the ‘perfect’ venue for his attack because of its large Jewish population and boasted that his plot could be the largest attack on U.S. soil since 9/11. The National Security Division will work tirelessly to ensure that terrorists like Khan face the full weight of American law.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

President Donald Trump unleashed a scorching personal attack Thursday on four high-profile right-wing figures who have broken with him over the Iran war, branding Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones as “NUT JOBS” with “Low IQs” who will say anything for attention.

“They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!” Trump wrote in a nearly 500-word Truth Social broadside — one of the most savage public attacks he has directed at allies-turned-critics in recent memory.

Trump was withering on each target. Carlson, he said, is a “hand flailing fool” who never recovered from being fired by Fox News and should “see a good psychiatrist.” Kelly he dismissed by resurrecting their infamous 2016 debate clash. Owens he mocked over her unfounded claims about French First Lady Brigitte Macron — adding that Macron is “far more beautiful” than Owens, “in fact, it’s not even close.” Jones he branded simply “Bankrupt,” jabbing at the Infowars host’s financial collapse following defamation judgments over his Sandy Hook hoax claims.

The president accused all four of opposing his Iran policy not out of conviction but out of hunger for clicks and “free and cheap publicity,” and charged that CNN and the New York Times were gleefully amplifying their criticism for the first time in their careers.

“They’re not ‘MAGA,’ they’re losers,” Trump declared, “just trying to latch on to MAGA.”

“MAGA is about WINNING and STRENGTH in not allowing Iran to have Nuclear Weapons,” he wrote.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Senior IDF officials told lawmakers in a classified Knesset session that Iran’s emerging leadership is more hardline than the previous regime, even as Israel has achieved notable military gains in its recent operation.

During the closed discussion held by the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, military representatives presented an updated assessment of developments in Iran, delivering a mixed message. While highlighting operational successes, they emphasized that Israel is not seeing any moderation in Tehran’s leadership—rather, a shift toward greater extremism. According to the report, officials told lawmakers that “the Iranian regime that is now taking shape is more extreme than its predecessor,” stressing that this change carries direct implications for future security and regional dynamics.

At the same time, IDF officials underscored that the latest operation produced “very significant military achievements,” aimed at degrading the enemy’s capabilities and limiting its operational freedom. However, they also noted signs that Iran is beginning to recover from the initial blow, pointing to new leadership appointments and actions taken in other arenas, including the Strait of Hormuz.

Following the briefing, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth warned that “there is a possibility that the campaign could resume in the coming days,” adding that he views the current situation as only an interim stage rather than a conclusion.

The overall message from the discussion was clear: Israeli officials are not treating recent developments as an endpoint. While the IDF is reporting substantial operational success, lawmakers were also presented with a more cautious outlook regarding the direction of Iran’s leadership and the likelihood that hostilities could flare up again in the near future.

Iran-linked hacking group “Handala” claimed this morning it breached devices of former IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and released thousands of alleged sensitive images and videos.

The group said it collected over 19,000 files, including footage of military briefings, base visits, and undisclosed meetings, including with Jordanian General Yousef Huneiti and U.S. CENTCOM commander Michael Kurilla.

Some personal materials, including family photos and ID cards, were also leaked, with no immediate response from the IDF as concerns grow over repeated cyber breaches targeting senior Israeli officials.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California officials on Thursday said they uncovered a multimillion-dollar scheme to use stolen identities from people outside the state to charge for hospice services paid for with a government insurance program.

State Attorney General Rob Bonta said officials have charged 21 and have so far arrested 5 people involved as the Trump administration accused California of not doing enough to crack down on fraud.

Federal officials have launched a nationwide effort to target improper spending in federal benefit programs, arresting eight people last week they said were involved in various health care fraud schemes in and around Los Angeles.

“This isn’t a political game for us. This is about protecting taxpayer dollars, protecting the programs that sick and vulnerable Californians rely on, and protecting our state,” Bonta said in a news release.

After the Department of Health Care Services notified state prosecutors of potential fraud, investigators discovered a scheme in which individuals bought personal information for non-California residents from the dark web and enrolled them in Medi-Cal, the state’s equivalent of Medicaid, Bonta’s office said. The program provides free or low-cost health insurance to low-income individuals and families.

Then, those individuals bought 14 hospice companies and began billing for hospice services for the stolen identities. They billed a total of about $267 million, Bonta’s office said.

The individuals are charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, money laundering, and identity theft with aggravated white collar crime and money laundering enhancements.

“For years, California has led the charge to protect public programs from fraud and abuse,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in the news release. “We hold accountable to the fullest extent of the law anyone who tries to rip off taxpayers and take advantage of public programs, particularly those as sensitive as hospice care.

Under Bonta, the state has filed 119 hospice-related criminal cases and secured 51 convictions, his office said.

The Trump administration has made California a focus of its national anti-fraud efforts and zeroed in on Medicare hospice fraud in the Los Angeles area. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March to create an anti-fraud task force led by Vice President JD Vance. Most of the efforts have focused on states run by Democrats, though Republican-led Florida was among those asked to share more information on how they identify, prevent and address Medicaid fraud.

The IDF announced Wednesday that Tuval Yosef Lipshitz, 20, a Golani Brigade soldier from Beit She’an, was killed during combat in southern Lebanon.

Five additional soldiers were wounded in the same clash with Hezbollah terrorists and evacuated to hospitals.

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Yisroel Hager, delivered an emotional message during a Chol Hamoed tish, expressing deep pain over those who rush to bakeries immediately after Yom Tov to purchase chametz, urging instead that people cherish the lingering kedusha of Pesach. Following his remarks, the well-known Vizhnitzer bakery announced a change to its longstanding post-Pesach practice.

During a tish on Chol Hamoed, the Rebbe addressed the phenomenon of people hurrying out right after Yom Tov ends to buy fresh bread and other chametz items.

At the tish on Sunday, the Rebbe asked for the microphone and spoke with visible emotion: “I want to speak about something that pains me very much and has been bothering me for years. I have heard that there are people who run immediately at nightfall to the bakeries and grab the foods that we do not even mention during Pesach. What is the rush? Can’t one wait a little?” the Rebbe cried out from the depths of his heart.

He continued by emphasizing the importance of holding on to the spirit of the Yom Tov, saying, “One should rejoice that it is still possible to live a little longer with Pesach, like it was by my grandfather, the Imrei Chaim,” and went on to describe how Pesach and the Seder night were observed in his grandfather’s home.

In response to the Rebbe’s words, the owners of the Vizhnitzer bakery—led by Rabbi Yechezkel Cohen, who was present at the tish—decided to alter a long-established custom and delay opening sales of fresh bread to the general public after Yom Tov. Instead of opening immediately at the conclusion of the Yom Tov, the bakery first supplied stores and wholesalers, with retail sales to individuals beginning only later.

Rabbi Cohen announced that despite the expected financial loss, the bakery would remain closed to individual customers right after Yom Tov. During those initial hours, workers would continue operating only to produce and distribute goods to retail networks, while the bakery doors would open to the public at a later time.

{Matzav.com}

In a powerful shmuess delivered during Chol Hamoed amid the ongoing war with Iran and its proxies, Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch issued a strong warning against relying on human efforts and advanced defense systems, urging the tzibbur to recognize that everything comes solely from the Ribbono Shel Olam.

Speaking in the beis medrash of Darchei Ish in Bnei Brak, Rav Hirsch addressed at length the responsibility resting on the public during this time, emphasizing the spiritual danger inherent in placing confidence in technological advancements such as air defense systems and interceptions.

He opened with a striking historical account from World War II, when the threat of destruction loomed over the Jewish yishuv in Eretz Yisroel as Nazi forces advanced toward Egypt: “It is known that in 1943 or 1944, the Nazi enemy was ממש in Egypt, on the way to enter Eretz Yisroel, and, chas v’shalom, destroy all those here. And there was a very, very strong tefillah from the public, and in a miraculous way he decided not to enter and turned back. And the Chazon Ish said then that we see here the power of tefillah, and if this is the power of tefillah—what a shame that we did not know this earlier! We did not know everything that was happening in Europe. If we had davened then like we davened now, it could be that all the destruction of Europe would not have happened—that is what the Chazon Ish said.”

Building on that, Rav Hirsch continued with deep pain: “Regarding our situation here, there is a feeling that there is a lack in the ציבור in the power of tefillah—we are not feeling it enough. I think the reason people do not feel so much that tefillah helps is because a person does not see with his eyes each time that tefillah works immediately. In truth, if a person would really feel that if we daven with all our strength it would prevent anything from happening—then our tefillah would look completely different. We do not see among most of the ציבור a fundamental change in the way we daven now. Shemoneh Esrei should be much longer, there should be a fundamental change in the entire form of tefillah, and we do not see that. And that is what I wanted to speak about—to strengthen ourselves, because what we actually need now is tefillah! There are things happening, there are also nissim, but we need tefillah, and there is a lack of tefillah.”

He then explained the יסוד of true tefillah, drawing from the words of the Rishonim and Acharonim: “There is a fundamental condition in tefillah, and everyone agrees to it. The essence of tefillah is submission and ביטול before the Creator, and strengthening the recognition that a person has nothing and that his entire existence depends on the Borei Olam, and he feels himself like a poor and lost person who awaits to receive from Hashem. This is written in the Maharal and the Mabit—the foundation and condition of tefillah is that a person comes to Hashem and says: ‘I am nothing! I have nothing and everything is from You, every single thing is from You!’ And therefore I ask only in this way. Someone who just asks casually—that is not tefillah. Tefillah requires the feeling that I am nothing and everything is from Hashem and therefore I ask.”

At this point, Rav Hirsch delivered his central warning, directly addressing the reality of modern technology: “There are many levels to how much a person truly feels this. Imagine that suddenly some machine would be discovered that could certainly prevent everything—that every missile or cluster bomb that is launched would be stopped in the middle of its path and nothing would reach anywhere—everyone would feel ‘Baruch Hashem, very good.’ But how many would feel that the Ribbono Shel Olam performed a nes here and we must thank Him, or, chalilah, would there be a feeling that naturally we are now saved?

“There is a lack of importance and recognition that everything—everything—is from Hashem! There is a certain feeling that there is a ‘natural way’ that helps us, that all the developments and interceptions we have—that is what helps, that is what is good, and people do not attribute it to ‘Baruch Hashem that Hashem created this reality that we can intercept.’ A person must feel that everything is Hashem! Even if one does not say it out loud, he must feel it. Every small internal feeling that is not connected to Hashem, that we rely on something that is not Hashem—this weakens the כוח of tefillah! The power of tefillah must come from the fact that we are nothing. Nothing. And if Hashem does us a chesed that there are things that help in a natural way—Hashem did that! The moment there is a feeling that now ‘it is easier for us’ in a natural way, and therefore I am ‘not as close’ to Hashem—that itself is a tremendous חסרון in tefillah.”

Rav Hirsch concluded with a heartfelt call to action: “Tefillah must be strong, מתוך a feeling that it is what helps. Tefillah must be with the sense that nothing good happens except through Hashem. Everything that is called ‘natural,’ supposedly because of scientific advancement—that is not really scientific advancement, it is nothing! Everything is Hashem! Hashem did us a chesed that there is some level of advancement so that we do not need open miracles, but everything is from Him.

“If we feel that we depend only on Hashem, that without Him we have nothing, and we daven with all our strength and all our כוח—then, im yirtzeh Hashem, there will be success, there will be no harm, and everything will be good for us. But we must strengthen ourselves in tefillah! To strengthen and feel that everything is from Hashem and we have nothing besides Him, and then siyata d’Shmaya and tefillah will help.”

{Matzav.com}

(AP) – Prediction markets let people wager on just about anything — from basketball games to elections. And among more jarring bets recently, the fate of the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran.

Shortly ahead of a fragile ceasefire agreement earlier this week, a new group of accounts on prediction market platform Polymarket made highly specific, well-timed trades betting there’d be an announcement about a halt in fighting for April 7. Some quickly pocketed awards, which amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits combined. Others are still awaiting payouts as an end to the deadly conflict still seems uncertain.

Regardless, the trades once again put the spotlight on a murky — and growing — world of speculative, 24/7 transactions now filling the internet. And some have raised questions about suspicious activity, including an anonymous Polymarket trader pocketing more than $400,000 following the U.S. military’s capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January.

The timing and subjects of such trades have fueled concerns about potential insider trading — with calls increasing among lawmakers for investigations. Popular platforms, including Polymarket, have rolled out added guardrails in efforts to combat insider trading recently, but critics say it isn’t enough.

Meanwhile, because prediction market wagers are categorized differently than traditional forms of gambling, tensions about government oversight have erupted. President Donald Trump’s administration has already thrown its support behind company operators — and sued three states over their efforts to regulate them further.

Here’s what we know:

How prediction markets work
The scope of topics involved in prediction markets can range immensely. Recently, there’s been a surge of wages on elections and sports games. But some users have also bet millions on things like a rumored — and ultimately unrealized — “secret finale” for the Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” whether the U.S. government will confirm the existence of extraterrestrial life and how much billionaire Elon Musk might post on social media this month.

In industry-speak, what someone buys or sells in a prediction market is called an “event contract.” They’re typically advertised as “yes” or “no” wagers. And the price of one fluctuates between $0 and $1, reflecting what traders are collectively willing to pay based on a 0% to 100% chance of whether they think an event will occur.

The more likely traders think an event will occur, the more expensive that contract will become. And as those odds change over time, users can cash out early to make incremental profits, or try to avoid higher losses on what they’ve already invested.

Proponents of prediction markets argue putting money on the line leads to better forecasts and allow you to gauge public opinion as an alternative to polling. And some think there’s value in monitoring prediction markets for potential news, particularly elections.

Still, prediction markets can also be wrong. People investing their money may be closely following certain events, but others could just be randomly guessing.

Who is behind all of the trading is also pretty unclear.

The companies running today’s biggest platforms know who their customers are — as they collect personal information to verify identities and payments. But most users can trade under anonymous pseudonyms on public-facing websites, making it difficult for the world to tell who is profiting off many event contracts.

Critics also stress that the ease and speed of joining these 24/7 wagers leads to financial losses everyday, particularly harming users who may already struggle with gambling.

The major players
Polymarket is one of the largest prediction markets in the world. Users can fund event contracts through cryptocurrency, debit or credit cards and bank transfers.

Restrictions vary by country, but in the U.S., the reach of these markets has expanded rapidly over recent years, coinciding with shifting policies out of Washington.

While prediction markets have found backing from the Trump-controlled Commodity Futures Trading Commission, former President Joe Biden was more aggressive in cracking down. Following a 2022 settlement with the CFTC, Polymarket was barred from operating in the country. That changed under Trump late last year, when Polymarket announced it would be returning to the U.S. after receiving clearance from the commission. American-based users can now join a “waitlist” to access the platform.

Meanwhile, Polymarket’s top competitor, Kalshi, has been a federally-regulated exchange since 2020. The platform offers similar ways to buy and sell event contracts as Polymarket — and it currently allows event contracts on elections and sports nationwide. Kalshi won court approval just weeks before the 2024 election to let Americans put money on upcoming political races and began to host sports trading last year.

The space is now crowded with other big names. Major League Baseball inked a deal with Polymarket last month, following other partnerships in professional hockey and soccer. Meanwhile, sports betting giants DraftKings and FanDuel have launched their own prediction platforms. Trump’s social media site Truth Social has also promised to offer an in-platform prediction market through a partnership with Crypto.com — and one of the president’s sons, Donald Trump Jr., holds advisory roles at both Polymarket and Kalshi.

Last month, The Associated Press agreed to sell its U.S. elections data to Kalshi.

Loose regulation and calls for reform
Because they’re positioned as selling event contracts, prediction markets are regulated by the CFTC. That means they can avoid state-level restrictions or bans in place for traditional gambling and sports betting today.

“It’s a huge loophole,” said Karl Lockhart, an assistant professor of law at DePaul University who has studied this space. “You just have to comply with one set of regulations, rather than (rules from) each state around the country.”

Sports betting is taking center stage. There are a handful of big states — like California and Texas, for example — where sports betting is still illegal, but people can now wager on games, athlete trades and more through event contracts.

A growing number of states and tribes are trying to stop this. But the Trump administration has already pushed back, maintaining that the CFTC has the sole authority to regulate prediction markets. Many lawyers expect litigation to eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

Despite overseeing trillions of dollars for the overall U.S. derivatives market, the CFTC is much smaller than the Securities and Exchange Commission, which regulates the securities industry. And at the same time event contracts are growing rapidly on prediction market platforms, there have been sizeable workforce cuts and leadership departures. CFTC chairman Michael Selig is the sole member filling just one of five commissioner slots.

Meanwhile, Congress members from both sides of the aisle have introduced broad legislation for more guardrails in recent months. Soon after, Kalshi — which has maintained that it’s always banned insider trading — quickly moved to bar political candidates from trading on their own campaigns, and preemptively block anyone involved in college or professional sports from contracts related to the sports they play or are employed by. Polymarket rewrote its rules to clearly say users cannot trade on contracts where they might possess confidential information, or could influence the outcome of an event.

The CFTC can also bar event contracts related to war, terrorism and assassinations, which experts say could put some prediction market trades — including those related to the Iran war — on added shaky ground, at least in the U.S. Lawmakers like Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff are seeking an outright ban of these kinds of trades.

Still, users might find ways to buy certain contracts while traveling abroad, or through connecting to different VPNs.

The levayah of Mrs. Leah Yocheved Singer a”h took place Thursday in Yerushalayim after she was killed in a tragic accident while returning from the kever of the Pele Yoetz in Bulgaria.

During the emotional hespeidim, her husband revealed that just weeks earlier, she had shared a dream in which she saw herself being killed in an accident.

Mrs. Singer, 36, was niftar on Monday, Chol Hamoed Pesach, while traveling back from the kever of the Pele Yoetz. Her aron was brought to Eretz Yisroel earlier Thursday morning on a private plane, following a complex effort led by Eli Pollak, deputy CEO of United Hatzalah, who coordinated all the necessary logistics, approvals, and arrangements.

A large crowd participated in the levayah, which began at the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim. Rav Shimon Shisha of Yad Avraham delivered brief opening remarks, noting that the nifteres had volunteered for 12 years at Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital, where she was involved in countless acts of chesed.

The levayah then passed by the Breslover shul on Rechov HaChoma HaShlishit, where additional hespeidim were delivered. Rav Moshe Bransdorfer, Gavad of Heichal Horaah, addressed the crowd and explained that although the month of Nissan is not a time for formal hespeidim, words meant to inspire are permitted. He described the nifteres as an extraordinary woman devoted to chesed, bringing comfort and joy to families during difficult moments in the hospital.

Her husband, Reb Chaim Singer, spoke with deep emotion and shared that in the past month, his wife had told him about a dream in which she was killed in an accident. At the time, he had dismissed it as “chalomos shav yedabeiru,” but tragically, the dream proved true. He also described how she davened daily with tears to be zocheh to children, and despite her personal struggles, she never showed pain outwardly, instead strengthening and uplifting everyone around her.

Her father, the well-known baal chesed Reb Chaim Cohen, chairman of Linas Hachesed, also delivered a powerful hesped. He noted that she was born while he was returning from the kever of the Noam Elimelech in Lizhensk, and now was niftar while returning from the kever of the Pele Yoetz—at the age of 36, the same age as the Pele Yoetz at his petirah. He urged the tzibbur to take upon themselves a kabbalah tova of achdus and to increase ahavas Yisroel for the next 40 days.

The final maspid was Rav Eliezer Berland, head of the mosdos of Shuvu Bonim, who called on those gathered to learn from the nifteres’s lifelong dedication to chesed. He said that her petirah served to sweeten harsh decrees and protect Klal Yisroel, declaring: “One can see that immediately after she passed away, the war stopped.” He urged everyone to engage in cheshbon hanefesh and to strengthen themselves, particularly in avoiding lashon hara.

Following the hespeidim, the large crowd accompanied the levayah on foot to Har HaZeisim, where she was laid to rest.

A wave of drone attacks struck multiple countries across the region Thursday night, with explosions reported in Dubai and strikes targeting infrastructure in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

According to reports from the Iraqi “Sabereen” channel, which is affiliated with pro-Iranian militias, explosions in Dubai were the result of a drone attack on U.S. targets in the United Arab Emirates. At the same time, there were reports that air defense systems were activated in several locations inside Iran.

Kuwait also confirmed that it was under drone attack, stating that its air defense systems had been deployed. While authorities have not officially blamed any party, Iran has carried out multiple attacks on Kuwait during the course of the war.

In a statement, the Kuwaiti military said: “Air defense systems are dealing with hostile drone attacks that penetrated the country’s airspace and struck several vital infrastructures.”

Meanwhile, a Saudi Energy Ministry official told the kingdom’s state news agency that a number of oil and gas facilities, refineries, petrochemical plants, and power stations were targeted in repeated attacks attributed to Iran. The strikes hit areas around the capital Riyadh, eastern regions of the country, and the port city of Yanbu on the Red Sea.

The official also confirmed that an oil pipeline connecting production fields to the port of Yanbu was struck, resulting in a loss of approximately 700,000 barrels of exports per day. In addition, two oil wells were damaged, reducing output by about 600,000 barrels per day.

As Israel prepares to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day alongside the 80th anniversary of the Nuremberg Trials, new figures show that 109,286 Holocaust survivors and related groups are currently living in Israel, with an average age of 88.

Holocaust Remembrance Day this year is being observed against the backdrop of Operation “Shaagas HaAri,” while commemorations around the world are marking eight decades since the Nuremberg Trials, which laid the groundwork for justice following the atrocities of the Holocaust.

Ahead of the memorial day, the Authority for the Rights of Holocaust Survivors in the Prime Minister’s Office released updated data on the final generation that experienced the Holocaust firsthand. The total includes Holocaust survivors, refugees, victims of antisemitic persecution during World War II, and those who suffered disabilities as a result of the war against the Nazis.

This group represents about 34% of all individuals recognized by the authority since its establishment in the 1950s, with a total of 322,997 people acknowledged over the years. More than 50 Holocaust survivors were recently impacted by missile attacks from Iran and Lebanon and were evacuated to hotels or to stay with family members.

The authority currently provides services to three main groups: Holocaust survivors (36,752 individuals) who directly endured the horrors of the Holocaust; Holocaust refugees (38,934 individuals), primarily from the former Soviet Union who immigrated in the 1990s; and victims of antisemitic persecution during World War II (33,521 individuals). Among the latter group are 21,476 people from Morocco and Algeria who faced discrimination and restrictions under the Vichy regime, and 12,045 individuals from Iraq who experienced the Farhud riots in Baghdad.

Additional groups assisted by the authority include 79 individuals recognized as war-disabled due to injuries sustained while fighting the Nazis, whether as part of Allied forces or resistance groups such as the partisans. The authority also supports widows and widowers of Holocaust survivors and war-disabled individuals, providing monthly stipends; currently, 16,190 such beneficiaries receive these payments.

Demographically, approximately 62% of Holocaust survivors in Israel are women (67,555), while about 38% are men (41,652). The proportion of women increases with age, accounting for about 60% of those in their 80s, 65% in their 90s, and roughly 75% among those over 100.

Roughly 70% of survivors are in their 80s, about 29% are in their 90s, and around 1% are over the age of 100. The average age stands at approximately 88, with the youngest group—those aged 80—numbering 775 individuals, and the oldest group—those aged 105—numbering 48.

About 52% of survivors are widowed, while approximately 35% are married. Marriage rates are higher among men than women, at about 69% compared to 31%, while widowhood is more common among women, accounting for 80% compared to 20% among men.

In terms of country of birth, 40,657 were born in the former Soviet Union (about 37%), 18,957 in Morocco (about 17%), 12,045 in Iraq (about 11%), 11,817 in Romania (about 11%), 5,083 in Poland (about 5%), 4,598 in Tunisia (about 4%), 2,987 in Bulgaria (about 3%), 2,780 in Libya (about 2.5%), 2,542 in Algeria (about 2%), and 1,468 in France (about 1%).

Some 96% immigrated to Israel after the establishment of the state. About 30% arrived during the major immigration wave between 1948 and 1951, and roughly 26% came during the 1990s. Since the beginning of this year, three new immigrants in their 80s have arrived in Israel.

The cities with the largest populations of Holocaust survivors include Haifa (7,244), Yerushalayim (6,969), Tel Aviv (5,766), Ashdod (5,513), Netanya (5,452), Beersheva (4,494), Petach Tikva (4,483), Rishon Letzion (4,429), Bat Yam (3,692), and Cholon (3,444).

Regarding health status, about 73% of survivors are classified as requiring nursing care at varying levels. Among those, approximately 75% receive additional support—either nine extra weekly caregiving hours or increased monthly payments—due to higher levels of dependency.

Ronit Rozin, head of the Authority for the Rights of Holocaust Survivors, said: “The rising antisemitism and the threats to the State of Israel in these days remind us every day of the danger that hatred of Jews led to in the past. The authority is committed to caring for Holocaust survivors here and now, and to ensuring that the story of their revival and legacy of hope will never be forgotten and will continue to guide us as a state and as a society.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has updated the charter of a key federal vaccine advisory committee in ways that may increase the voices of anti-vaccine activists, the latest in a series of moves that critics say are undermining confidence in life-saving shots.

The changes published Thursday come after a recent legal defeat that has at least temporarily halted meetings of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which for decades has recommended how best to use the nation’s vaccines.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, ousted all the members of that committee soon after becoming the nation’s top health official and replaced them with his own picks. The revamped panel then declined to recommend COVID-19 vaccines even for high-risk populations and voted to stop recommending most newborn hepatitis B shots. Separately, under Kennedy, the administration also narrowed the childhood vaccine schedule.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and other health groups sued to block those steps and last month a federal judge agreed. The administration has indicated it planned to appeal but has not yet done so.

The committee, known as ACIP, advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which typically follows its recommendations. Those recommendations, in turn, have long guided state vaccine requirements for schools and whether health insurance covers the shots. Its charter — essentially governing rules — is routinely renewed every two years with little fanfare.

The new charter broadens qualifications for panel members that would allow the inclusion of Kennedy allies. While ACIP has long focused on vaccine safety, the updated charter also echoes wording of vaccine critics about focusing on possible harms, such as studying “gaps in vaccine safety research” and considering “cumulative effects” of shots, which are considered settled science. It would also have the panel consider other countries’ vaccination schedules.

The changes reflect “a continued effort to do more of the same things to undermine ACIP, undermine vaccine policy” and public confidence, said Richard H. Hughes IV, an attorney representing the AAP.

The charter’s renewal deadline coincided with the lawsuit proceedings, but Hughes said it doesn’t resolve the legal challenge.

“The ACIP charter renewal and its publication are routine statutory requirements and do not signal any broader policy shift,” said Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew Nixon.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu expressed frustration over how the results of Operation Shaagas HaAri are being presented to the public, saying the achievements are not being clearly communicated.

During a meeting of the security cabinet, Netanyahu turned to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and urged him to improve the military’s public messaging about the operation. “The complex matters need to be simplified,” he said, emphasizing that the public is having difficulty understanding the depth of the accomplishments.

According to sources who were present, other ministers joined in the criticism and called on the IDF to present the results of the operation in a clearer and more organized manner.

Amid these concerns, a special meeting is scheduled for next week with the participation of the chief of staff, IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The meeting is expected to focus on forming a unified messaging strategy and improving how the operation’s achievements are conveyed to the public.

Jackson Township Police have announced a new round of traffic enforcement that will be taking place over the coming months, with a focus on reducing accidents and improving driver safety on local roads.

According to the department, enhanced enforcement details will run from April through September as part of a state-funded initiative through the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety. The grant, known locally as the Crash Abatement and Tactics (C.A.T.) program, is aimed at targeting the primary causes of serious and fatal crashes.

The stepped-up enforcement follows a significant number of crashes recorded in Jackson over the past year. In 2025 alone, the township saw 1,629 motor vehicle crashes. Of those, 29 resulted in serious bodily injury, including 11 that were fatal.

Officials say the increase in traffic volume throughout Jackson has made both enforcement and driver education a continued priority. As part of the initiative, officers will be assigned to areas throughout the township that are known for higher crash activity.

Police say drivers can expect a visible presence and should be mindful of common violations that often lead to accidents. These include speeding, running red lights, distracted driving, failure to wear seatbelts, right-of-way violations, and driving while impaired. Officers will be taking enforcement action when necessary, while also working to educate drivers on safer habits behind the wheel.

The department emphasized that the overall goal of the initiative is not just enforcement, but reducing serious injuries and fatalities on local roadways.

NEW YORK (VINNews/Shira Miller) – The Railroading of Sgt. Erik Duran — and What It Means for Every Police Officer in New York

His decision took two and a half seconds.

Sgt. Erik Duran had to decide how to stop a drug dealer with a previous narcotics record on a motorized scooter bearing down on his officers and bystanders on a crowded Bronx sidewalk. On Thursday, April 9, 2026, a judge sentenced him to three to nine years in state prison for what he did in those two and a half seconds.

This verdict is an unmitigated travesty of justice. It is wrong legally, wrong morally. And if it stands, every police officer in New York will hesitate the next time a split-second decision is required — and people will die because of it.

What Happened

On August 23, 2023, Sgt. Duran’s Bronx narcotics unit ran a buy-and-bust on Aqueduct Avenue — a stretch where families walk their dogs and children play. Eric Duprey, 30, sold drugs to an undercover officer, then fled on a motorized scooter when detectives moved to arrest him.

Duprey mounted the scooter — without a helmet — and drove it at high speed onto the sidewalk, heading toward the officers and pedestrians. Sgt. Duran grabbed a cooler from a nearby picnic table and hurled it. Duprey lost control, slammed into a tree, and died of the head injuries he sustained — because he chose to run away from police and chose  not to wear a helmet.

 Duprey has a previous arrest for a narcotics case from March, police sources and in a bizarre manner of irony also has an open felony assault case in the Bronx from June 2022 for allegedly throwing a two-liter bottle of soda through someone’s driver-side window.

Duran, to his credit, immediately tried to help Duprey. He said at sentencing: “I took this job to save lives. I felt terrible once I saw Eric Duprey crash. I never wanted this to happen.” He addressed Duprey’s family directly, in Spanish. And then he was taken into custody.

Judge Guy Mitchell, who presided over a bench trial — Duran having waived a jury — concluded that the sergeant was not scared for anyone’s safety, but was simply “upset that Mr. Duprey was getting away.” This armchair retrospective judgment, rendered months after the fact by a judge comfortably seated in a Bronx courtroom, overrode the testimony of a trained officer who was on that sidewalk when a scooter was hurtling toward him.

The Legal Case for Reversal

Legal experts note that New York Penal Law § 35.30(1) is clear. A police officer attempting to prevent an escape “may use physical force when and to the extent he or she reasonably believes such to be necessary… or in self-defense or to defend a third person from what he or she reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of physical force.” The key word is “reasonably.”

Furthermore, § 35.30(1)(c) specifically authorizes even deadly physical force when “the use of deadly physical force is necessary to defend the police officer or peace officer or another person from what the officer reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force.” A motorized scooter driven at speed toward a group of people on a sidewalk is precisely that — an instrument of deadly physical force under Penal Law § 10.00(11)’s definition.

This is also where the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Graham v. Connor, 490 U.S. 386 (1989) comes into play. The Court held that “the reasonableness of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the 20/20 vision of hindsight,” and that courts must allow for the fact that “police officers are often forced to make split-second decisions about the amount of force necessary in a particular situation.”

Judge Mitchell did precisely what Graham forbids: he substituted his own retrospective judgment for a real-time decision made in a crisis.

The Appellate Division, First Department, should grant bail pending appeal and reverse this conviction. The Sergeants Benevolent Association has already called the verdict “clearly against the weight of the credible evidence” — the exact statutory language for reversal under New York Criminal Procedure Law § 470.15. The surveillance video showed the scooter heading toward the officers. The judge simply chose not to believe the officer who was there.

The Message This Sends — and Why It Is Dangerous

Sergeants Benevolent Association president Vincent Vallelong said it plainly at sentencing: “Today will forever be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of our profession. This puts in the back of a police officer’s mind that they can lose their freedom for making a split-second decision.”

He is right. And the consequences flow directly: officers will hesitate. Suspects will know that flight — especially on a vehicle — is effectively a get-out-of-jail-free card. If an officer who intervenes in 2.5 seconds faces a felony conviction and prison, the rational choice is to stand aside. And innocent people will be hurt as a result.

The Torah commands: “Lo sa’amod al dam re’echa” — do not stand idly by the blood of your fellow (Vayikra 19:16). This is not merely a nice sentiment. It is a direct obligation. A society that punishes those who act on this obligation — who intervene to save others at personal risk, in a moment of crisis — is a society that has lost its moral bearings.

Eric Duprey’s death was a tragedy.

His three young children deserve compassion. But Eric Duprey sold drugs to an undercover officer, had sold drugs previously, had committed felony assault previously, fled police, drove a scooter helmetless at dangerous speed on a sidewalk toward a group of people, and died from injuries caused by his own refusal to wear a helmet.

The entire chain of events leading to his death was initiated and sustained by his own freely-made decisions. Assigning criminal culpability to the officer who acted in two and a half seconds to stop a lethal threat — and sending him to prison for it — is not justice. It is a political verdict dressed as one.

Sgt. Erik Duran’s attorney Arthur Aidala has announced he will seek bail pending appeal. The Appellate Division, First Department must scrutinize this conviction against the plain language of Penal Law § 35.30 and the mandate of Graham v. Connor.

While having empathy for the man and his family our elected officials must demand accountability from an Attorney General’s office that prosecuted a decorated officer for a split-second act of courage. And the appellate courts should do what the trial court failed to do: apply the law as written, not as a political statement.

A report revealed today that Hungary offered to share intelligence with Iran following the 2024 Hezbollah pager explosions that wounded thousands across Lebanon.

According to leaked transcripts, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told Iran’s Abbas Araghchi that Hungarian intelligence had already made contact and would share “every possible document” from its investigation.

Separate leaked audio also suggested Hungary offered Russia sensitive EU-related documents, highlighting growing concerns over Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s alignment with Moscow and Tehran.

Rom Braslavski, a survivor of Hamas captivity, said he has been subjected to curses and threats after sharing a personal story about helping Arab municipal workers near his home, sparking a heated public debate online.

In a post published Thursday, Braslavski described an encounter that took place earlier in the day and said he has since faced backlash. “They’re attacking me with curses and threats just because I shared something from the heart,” he wrote.

According to Braslavski, the morning began with the sound of cleaning and gardening work outside his home. At around 9 a.m., he noticed older Arab municipal workers continuing their labor throughout the day and decided, on his own initiative, to approach them. “Something in my instinct was to feel compassion for an older person working so hard,” he wrote.

He said he went into a nearby store to buy a few items and chose to purchase cans of soda and cigarettes for the workers. He then approached them and spoke in Arabic. “They were in shock, they didn’t understand why I bought for them, and how I speak such good Arabic,” he recalled, noting that his wearing a kippah while offering help added to their surprise.

“The looks on their faces—that I’m wearing a kippah, not hating them, and on the contrary wanting to help—were total shock,” he added.

In his post, Braslavski raised broader questions about the state of society, writing: “Why has helping another person become something unusual and out of the ordinary? Why would an older Arab be shocked that a young Jewish man cares for him? Have we become a society with that much hatred between Arabs and Jews?”

He also reflected on his own past, including his experience being kidnapped, but said that should not erase basic humanity. “I was kidnapped by Arabs. Am I in love with them? No. But we must leave room for humanity within all this chaos that we live in,” he wrote.

Braslavski emphasized that he did not seek attention for his actions. “I didn’t tell them who I am, I didn’t take a picture with them. I gave them the can, wished them peace, and left.”

Despite that, he said that once the story became public, he was met with harsh reactions online, including insults and threats. “I did nothing wrong,” he wrote in a follow-up post, expressing frustration over the response.

He concluded with a message directed at both communities: “I wish for Jews to start being humane toward Jews first. And for Arabs—not to see Jews as their enemy. Have a good Thursday.”

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City man has been charged in the death of four people, including a toddler, after setting fire to a residential building last month in a fit of rage over losing his job, prosecutors said.

The choice of building was random, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, who called the deadly fire “one of the greatest crimes that this borough has seen in a very long time.”

Prosecutors said Roman Amatitla, 38, was seen entering and leaving the building multiple times on March 16. After buying a box of matches and stealing a beer from a nearby gas station, he returned to the building, lit a piece of paper on fire and placed it on a pile of garbage in the stairwell — then watched the flames spread while drinking a beer outside, according to the criminal complaint.

His attorney did not respond to a request for comment.

The blaze would kill Sihan Yang, who was 3, 49-year-old Chengri Cui and 61-year-old Shin Chie. A fourth occupant, 64-year-old Hong Zhao, died after leaping from a window to escape the flames.

Four others were treated for injuries, some severe, after jumping from the building. Two firefighters were hurt after a staircase collapsed.

Amatitla, also a Queens resident, later told investigators that he knew the building was occupied and that people would be harmed, but said he needed to “get out his rage” after being fired from his job, according to the criminal complaint.

He said the job was unrelated to the building or anyone who lived there, the complaint said.

Amatitla was charged with eight counts of murder in the second degree, arson and other charges. He faces 25 years to life if convicted.

In a historic and symbolic gesture, Argentina’s President Javier Milei has been chosen to light a torch at Israel’s official Independence Day ceremony, due to the deepening ties between the two nations.

The annual torch lighting ceremony on Har Herzl is one of Israel’s most iconic annual national events, traditionally reserved for individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the Jewish state and society. Inviting a foreign leader, particularly a sitting president, to participate is a rare and meaningful move.

Milei, who has emerged in recent years as one of Israel’s most vocal and unwavering supporters, has repeatedly expressed strong backing for Israel throughout the ongoing war. He has also taken concrete steps to strengthen the relations between the two countries, including promising to move Argentina’s embassy to Jerusalem.

Israeli Knesset minister Miri Regev described the decision as a reflection of Milei’s “extraordinary friendship” toward the Jewish state, especially during a time when Israel has faced intense international pressure and criticism.

This pick has been widely praised by Israeli leaders, who see Milei as a moral ally standing firmly with Israel through thick and thin. The upcoming ceremony, like others in recent years, carries strong emotions, as Israel marks Independence Day, once again in the shadow of war and uncertainty.

The Trump administration is preparing to implement a new system that would automatically register eligible men for the military draft beginning in December, a move aimed at simplifying the process should conscription be reinstated for the first time in more than five decades.

Under the proposal, the Selective Service System would directly enroll “every male citizen of the United States” between the ages of 18 and 25 into its database, replacing the current requirement that individuals sign up on their own.

Although the United States has not used a draft since 1973 during the Vietnam War, the potential for a prolonged conflict with Iran has raised concerns that conscription could return, prompting the policy shift.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the issue last month, telling reporters that a draft is “not part of the current plan” but emphasized that Trump “wisely keeps his options on the table.”

“There’s no greater priority or responsibility to this president than, of course, protecting the American people and protecting our troops,” she said.

Officials say the change is intended to make registration more efficient. However, reinstating an active draft would still require Congress to revise the Military Selective Service Act to give the president authority to draft civilians during a national emergency.

Federal law already requires all male U.S. citizens between 18 and 25 to register with the Selective Service System, which maintains a list of individuals eligible for potential military service.

The requirement also applies to male immigrants, including those without legal status and refugees, as well as transgender individuals who were born male, dual citizens, Americans living abroad, and individuals with disabilities.

Women are currently excluded from registration under existing law, which only authorizes the enrollment of “male persons.”

However, the Selective Service System has indicated it “is prepared to expand registration” if Congress enacts legislation that would include women in mandatory service.

Certain groups are exempt from registering, including those already serving on active duty, some individuals with disabilities, and those who are incarcerated. Men who previously served but were discharged before turning 26 must still register.

Individuals who claim conscientious objection are still required to register.

Participation in the system has declined in recent years, partly due to the removal of draft registration from federal student loan applications in 2022, according to reports.

Failure to register remains a felony offense.

Those who do not comply can face fines of up to $250,000 or up to five years in prison, and may also lose access to student loans, government employment at all levels, and U.S. citizenship if they are immigrants.

Men are expected to register within 30 days of turning 18, though late registration is accepted until age 26.

If a draft is activated, those registered would be entered into a lottery system, where birthdays are randomly selected to determine the order of induction.

Individuals turning 20 in the year of the lottery would be called first, followed by those aged 21 through 25, then 19-year-olds, and finally those who are 18-and-a-half.

Those selected would be able to request deferments, postponements, or exemptions before reporting to a Military Entrance Processing Station for physical, mental, and moral evaluations.

After completing the process, they would either be inducted into military service or released.

Congress approved automatic draft registration last December as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, a key annual measure that funds military operations and personnel.

Currently, 46 states and territories already have systems in place that automatically register eligible men when they apply for driver’s licenses or identification cards.

The Selective Service System submitted its proposed “automatic registration” rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on March 30.

According to the agency, the change will result “in a streamlined registration process and corresponding workforce realignment.”

(AP) – A new reality is setting in for travelers worldwide: rising fares and fees, fewer flight options and difficult decisions about whether a trip is worth the cost.

The culprit is volatile oil and jet fuel prices, which have spiked sharply since the war in the Middle East began and fighting near the Strait of Hormuz created a chokepoint for global oil supplies.

“Volatility is the real story here,” said Shye Gilad, a former airline captain who now teaches at Georgetown University’s business school. “Right now, the airlines are trying to make bets on what they think will happen in the future.”

Airlines are responding cautiously, trimming schedules and adjusting prices in ways that experts say will ripple unevenly across the market but ultimately affect nearly every type of traveler.

Budget airlines and the customers who rely on them are likely to feel the pinch first and most acutely, experts say, but even travelers in premium cabins won’t escape the higher prices and less convenient schedules.

Oil prices have swung wildly in recent weeks, briefly topping $119 a barrel at one point, plunging Wednesday below $95 on news of a two-week ceasefire that temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz, and then climbing back toward $100 on Thursday as uncertainty over the fragile deal grew. Iran again closed the key artery for global oil shipments in response to Israeli strikes Wednesday in Lebanon.

“When prices move quickly in both directions, it’s very hard for airlines to make predictions,” Gilad said.

In other words, even when oil prices drop, travelers may not see relief right away.

“At this level of fuel, it’s hard to call anything temporary,” Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian told reporters this week after the Atlanta-based carrier raised its checked baggage fees.

Global squeeze, local effects
Bastian said Wednesday as Delta kicked off the earnings season for U.S. airlines that the higher fuel prices are expected to add $2 billion in operating expenses in the second quarter alone. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said in a recent memo to staff that if fuel prices stay elevated, it could add $11 billion in annual costs.

“For perspective,” Kirby wrote, “in United’s best year ever, we made less than $5B.”

According to the International Air Transport Association, the average global jet fuel price rose to $209 per barrel last week, up from roughly $99 at the end of February when the war started. Travelers from the U.S. to Hong Kong and New Delhi are paying the price.

U.S. carriers are embedding the higher operating costs into ticket prices and add-on fees. Delta, United, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue have all increased checked baggage fees.

Both United and American are also moving beyond add-ons to adjust pricing. United said last week it is bringing the “pay for what you want” approach already standard in economy to its premium cabins, turning perks like advanced seat selection and fully refundable tickets into optional extras.

American announced Thursday that passengers in basic economy will have to pay extra to pick their seat beginning May 18, including elite-tier loyalty members. And later this year, basic economy passengers without elite status or an eligible co-branded credit card will be assigned to boarding Group 7, while those with higher status will still board earlier even when purchasing the lowest fare.

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific recently bumped fuel surcharges by roughly 34% across all routes, while Air India on Monday added up to $280 in fees to some flights. Emirates, Lufthansa and KLM have also adjusted fees or fares to keep pace with the price volatility.

Experts say flexibility and careful planning can help offset these costs. Fare-tracking sites can alert travelers to price changes and help them compare multiple options in one place. Booking early and checking nearby airports can lock in better prices, while refundable tickets make it easier to cancel and rebook if fares drop. Traveling light with just a carry-on can also help avoid the rising bag fees.

Flight cuts to cut costs
For business travelers, the costs are already shaping their decisions. Bill Moorehouse, a solutions director who flies for work every four to six weeks, said the uncertainty may keep him closer to home for now.

“When you have business trips and you have a carefully coordinated schedule, you don’t want unknowns and disruptions. And right now, it just feels like it’s more likely that things could go wrong and throw your trip off course,” the Cupertino, California, resident said.

Richard Groberg, an investment banker from Las Vegas who visits clients around the U.S., said he plans to book as early as possible to lock in the best fares.

“There’s sometimes no substitute for in-person meetings and building relationships,” he said. “As travel becomes more expensive, that becomes a tougher decision to make those investments.”

Even family visits are on his mind. Groberg’s brother hopes he’ll stop in Vermont next time he’s in New York for work, but Groberg admits, “I start thinking maybe I should drive instead because this is getting so expensive.”

Airlines, meanwhile, are also adjusting how much they fly.

BNP Paribas estimates that global schedules for April have been cut roughly 5% compared with earlier plans. Most reductions are in the Middle East, the global investment bank said, though smaller cuts were also emerging in Europe, Asia and North America.

United Airlines is cutting about 5% of its planned flights in the near term, trimming less profitable routes and suspending some international service temporarily rather than “burning cash” on trips that can’t absorb the more expensive fuel costs. The airline’s CEO said the cuts will target redeye flights and routes on historically slower travel days such as Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Delta is scrapping plans to add more flights and seats in June, leaving about 3.5% fewer seats than originally planned.

Travel plans upended
These moves show why major carriers are better positioned to weather the spike in fuel prices than budget carriers, whose “no frills” model leaves them with less flexibility. Bigger airlines can lean on dynamic pricing, sell more seats at higher fares or swap in larger planes on certain routes, letting them cut flights without losing overall capacity.

“Leisure travelers and budget conscious travelers are going to absolutely feel it first because it may make the difference between going and not going,” Gilad said.

It’s already made the difference for Anna Del Vecchio. The 36-year-old Seattle resident has made it an annual springtime tradition to visit family in Philadelphia before flying to Paris to see friends she’s known since she was a teenager.

Her credit card points typically cover the roundtrip flight, but ticket prices now hover around $1,400 — about double what she has paid in past years.

“It wasn’t even scratching the surface for the flight this time,” she said, “so I decided to delay the trip.”

But if airfare tops $1,500, she might not be able to make a journey she hasn’t missed in years.

“It might be the kind of thing where it just ends up being that I have to travel less.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has notched a string of wins on the Supreme Court ’s emergency docket, in part because the conservative justices believe that blocking executive policies is a blow that can’t be easily fixed, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said Thursday.

The increase in emergency appeals by the Trump administration is “unprecedented in the court’s history,” she said in a speech at the University of Alabama School of Law.

The high court sided with the Trump administration in about two dozen decisions last year, often lifting the orders of lower court judges who found their policies were likely illegal on everything from immigration to steep federal funding cuts.

While designed to be short-term, those orders have largely allowed Trump to move ahead for now with key parts of his sweeping agenda.

The emergency docket, which is made up of appeals seeking quick intervention from the justices in cases that are still playing out in lower courts, is itself a source of disagreement among the justices. That spilled into public view when two other justices, liberal Ketanji Brown Jackson and conservative Brett Kavanaugh, publicly sparred over the emergency docket in an unusual exchange last month.

Sotomayor has disagreed with many of the decisions in Trump’s favor, but the conservatives who form the court’s majority often reason that blocking those policies — or laws passed by Congress — causes legal harm that can’t be easily fixed, she said. It’s a bar that’s tough for the other side to overcome, even for plaintiffs like immigrants who could be newly exposed to deportation or states where schools are losing teacher-training funding.

“If you start with the presumption that there is irreparable harm to one side, then you’re going to have more grants of emergency relief. Because the other side is going to have a much harder time,” she said. “It has changed the paradigm on the court.”

Her comments provided a window into the Supreme Court decisions that are often released with little explanation. While many emergency docket orders have gone Trump’s way, the court also struck down his sweeping tariffs, a central plank of his economic platform, after a longer process of full briefing and oral arguments.

Deep sorrow descended on Beit She’an Thursday as hundreds gathered to accompany Sergeant First Class Tuvia Lipschitz Hy”d, a Golani Brigade soldier who was killed in battle in southern Lebanon on Erev Yom Tov, to his final resting place.

Family members, friends, and fellow soldiers came in large numbers to pay their last respects and escort him on his final journey at the city’s cemetery.

His mother, Shadmit Hodaya, delivered a tearful hesped at the fresh kever, saying: “Tovi, we walked with you the entire way. We tried to teach values and good middos, and you absorbed everything. But you should know, the choices were yours, the strengths were yours, and the bravery is all yours. Everything is yours, Tovi. Tov El Yosef, just like your name, it fits you so precisely. Your entire being was good.”

Through tears, she continued: “We stand here with broken hearts, struggling to grasp the magnitude of the loss, and we part from you, a beloved and pure child.”

The deputy commander of the Golani Brigade, Lt. Col. Naor Amichai, also spoke, saying: “Tuvia was a beloved son, a remarkable brother, a true friend, and a courageous and devoted soldier. He insisted on joining the Golani Brigade, continuing the path of his father and brother, and enlisted in August 2024. After completing his training, he joined Battalion 13 and became a top-tier fighter, someone you could rely on with your eyes closed.”

The commander added: “Tuvia’s image will remain etched in the hearts of his friends and commanders. His courage and spirit will accompany us for many days to come.”

His older brother, Shilo, spoke with anguish, saying: “There are not enough words in the world to describe you. I failed in my role, to protect you, to guard you. We grew up together with only 11 months between us, my little brother. I cannot comprehend how this happened in our home. You used to tell Mom that there is a lot of work to do. You came home and the work was not finished—there is still much work. Dear Golani soldiers, finish the work.”

Another brother, Argaman, also delivered a hesped: “My big brother, something is missing in me, my brother. I am trying to walk in your path, to be strong, but I am broken. Broken from the fact that you are not here, from this void left in the family, that has opened in my heart. You always jumped in first—what a childhood we had together. I always knew my big brother would protect me. I will always be your younger brother and you will always be my big brother. You were a brother, a friend, full of life and strength.”

His sister, Rimon, parted from him with heartbreaking words: “Our Tovi, I never imagined you would return to us in a coffin. I promise that our family will stand back up on its feet, because that is what you would want. I know you are sitting close to the kisei hakavod and raising a l’chaim with all our malachim. You were better than all of us—Hashem truly takes the best.”

{Matzav.com}

WASHINGTON (AP) — Tax refunds this season are up 24% compared with the four-year average of refunds before President Donald Trump took office, his administration said Thursday — a change credited to Republicans’ tax legislation signed into law last year.

As the tax season kicked off in January, the White House had boasted that average returns were projected to rise by at least $1,000. But currently, the average refund amount is $3,521, according to the latest IRS data, which is an 11% increase from last tax year’s $3,170 average refund payment.

A Trump administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide a preview of the data analysis said the increase in refunds is due to tax breaks and spending cuts that impact taxpayers across income brackets, including no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, deductions for car loan interest and certain deductions for seniors.

The official declined to specify which tax deduction had provided the greatest savings for taxpayers. The analysis was based on daily Treasury statements over the 2021-2026 period.

Asked whether the Trump administration is concerned that any potential economic benefit from higher tax refunds could be offset by higher gas prices brought on by the war in Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, the official said money is going into people’s pockets through the increased refunds.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Republican tax and spending law will add $4.2 trillion to the national debt through fiscal year 2034, according to the latest Budget and Economic Outlook.

The tax season began in January and with the clock ticking, taxpayers have until April 15 to file their taxes or request an extension.

Mordechai (Motty) Twerski, of Lakewood, has been appointed to the National Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council (NEMSAC), TLS has learned. The NEMSAC is a federal advisory body that provides recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation and helps shape national EMS policy.

After endorsement by many State & County Officials, Twerski, well known in the community for his dedication to public service and advocacy, will join NEMSAC’s board to contribute insight on strengthening emergency medical systems and supporting first responders nationwide.

In his role, Twerski will collaborate with EMS leaders, medical experts, and federal partners as NEMSAC evaluates emerging needs and works to enhance prehospital care across the country.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on NEMSAC,” Twerski told TLS. “EMS providers play a vital role in every community, and I look forward to contributing to efforts that support them and the lifesaving work they do.”

Twerski has been appointed to the NJ OEMS Board in 2018 by the Governor and has served as one of the Ocean County EMS Coordinators since 2019. He also serves in Hatzolah of Central Jersey for over a decade,

Community members and local officials expressed pride in Twerski’s appointment, noting the significance of having representation from Lakewood and the County on a national EMS advisory body.

President Donald Trump on Thursday pointed to immigration policies under the Biden administration following the arrest of a Haitian migrant accused of fatally attacking a Florida mother in a shocking broad-daylight assault, and shared graphic footage of the incident.

According to court records, Rolbert Jaochin, 40, is accused of beating a 51-year-old mother of two with a hammer outside a Chevron gas station in Fort Myers on Friday morning, leaving her mortally wounded in the parking lot.

In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump denounced the suspect, referring to him as an “animal” responsible for the gruesome killing.

The post also included an uncensored video of the attack, which Trump described as “one of the most vicious things you will ever see.”

“To my fellow Republicans, and frankly all Common Sense Americans, NEVER FORGET that Joe Biden and the Democrat Party turned the United States of America into a dumping ground,” Trump seethed.

“Please say a prayer for this innocent woman’s family. We will ensure quick and severe JUSTICE is served in this case!” he added.

Trump acknowledged the disturbing nature of the footage, saying he would not advise people to watch the roughly 20-second clip but felt compelled to share it so the public could understand “what Democrats are protecting.”

The video shows Jaochin striking the windshield of a black SUV in the gas station lot before the victim, who worked at the station, exits a nearby store and appears to say something to him.

The suspect then responds and quickly approaches her. As he reaches the woman, he leaps forward and strikes her in the face with a hammer, according to the footage.

She collapses onto the pavement, where he continues to hit her multiple times while she lies defenseless, the video shows.

After the attack, he steps over her and leaves the scene, according to the footage.

Emergency responders later found the victim lying on the ground in a pool of blood, and she was pronounced dead at the scene, court documents indicate.

Authorities apprehended Jaochin later that same day, with officers reportedly recognizing him from prior encounters.

Investigators say he admitted to the killing. He now faces charges including homicide, criminal mischief, and property damage exceeding $1,000.

Officials have not publicly released the victim’s identity or provided a motive for the attack.

Federal authorities said the suspect, originally from Haiti, entered the United States in August 2022 and was allowed to remain under Temporary Protected Status granted during the Biden administration.

After his arrest, Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer against him, with the Department of Homeland Security stating that he will “be deported regardless of the outcome of this case.”

Canadian authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with a shooting that targeted a Jewish-owned restaurant, named Old Avenue, in Toronto, in an incident that took place during the holiday of Pesach.

The attack occurred in the early morning hours when multiple shots were fired at the restaurant before the suspect fled the scene. No injuries were reported, but the incident left the local Jewish community shaken, yet again.

AURORA, ON – February 5 Toronto Police Service Chief Myron Demkiw speaks during a press conference at York Regional Police Headquarters in Aurora, Ontario on February 5 2026 Arlyn McAdorey/Toronto Star (Arlyn McAdorey/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Investigators moved quickly, and within two days, a 30 year old suspect from Brampton, Mohamed Mahdi, was taken into custody and charged with multiple firearm-related offenses. The community credited increased police presence in Jewish neighborhoods, particularly during Pesach, for helping lead to the quick arrest.

Toronto Police emphasized that specialized units, including counter-terror and hate crime teams, were involved in the response, trying to give the local Jewish community confidence that they are doing their best to help.

Many in Toronto’s Jewish community expressed that the timing during Pesach has only deepened the sense of unease, and while the arrest has brought some reassurance, the community and even other locals can’t help but feel like this is starting to become a norm.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said he has no intention of stepping down, pushing back on the idea during his first interview with an American television network, portions of which aired Thursday.

In a segment of a longer interview set to be broadcast Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, journalist Kristen Welker asked Díaz-Canel whether he would be “willing to step down if it meant saving Cuba.”

Before responding directly, Díaz-Canel challenged the premise of the question, asking whether it had been posed to other world leaders: “Is that a question from you, or is that coming from the State Department of the U.S. government?”

He went on to stress Cuba’s independence, saying, “In Cuba, the people who are in leadership position are not elected by the U.S. government, and they don’t have a mandate from the U.S. government. We have a free sovereign state.”

Díaz-Canel said his leadership was not driven by personal or political ambition but rather by the will of the Cuban people.

“If the Cuban people understand that I am not fit for office, that I have no reason to be here, then I should not be holding this position of president, I will respond to them,” he said.

The interview comes at a time of continued strain between Cuba and the United States, even as both sides acknowledge that discussions have taken place, though no specifics have been made public.

Díaz-Canel accused Washington of maintaining a “hostile policy” toward Cuba and argued that it has “no moral to demand anything from Cuba.”

He also said the U.S. should take responsibility for the impact of its policies, noting “and how much they have deprived the American people from a normal relationship with the Cuban people.”

While criticizing U.S. actions, Díaz-Canel said Cuba remains open to dialogue on any issue, without preconditions, stating it would proceed “not demanding changes from our political system as we are not demanding change from the American system, about which we have a number of doubts.”

Cuban officials continue to attribute the country’s worsening economic situation to U.S. energy restrictions, with fuel shortages affecting healthcare, transportation, and the production of goods.

In late March, a Russian tanker carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil reached Cuba, marking the first such shipment in three months, with another delivery expected.

Despite earlier threats in January to impose tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, President Donald Trump ultimately allowed the shipment to go forward.

“Cuba’s finished,” Trump said at the time. “They have a bad regime. They have very bad and corrupt leadership and whether or not they get a boat of oil, it’s not going to matter.”

House Republicans on Thursday stopped Democrats from advancing a measure aimed at ending U.S. military operations against Iran, continuing to resist efforts to place limits on President Donald Trump’s war powers.

Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey presided over a brief “pro forma” session and adjourned it before Democrats were able to attempt passage of the resolution through unanimous consent.

In recent months, Democrats in both chambers of Congress have repeatedly tried—and failed—to pass war powers resolutions that would require Trump to obtain legislative approval before initiating military action, including in situations involving Venezuela and Iran.

Concern among Democrats intensified after Trump warned earlier in the week that “a whole civilization will die,” prompting dozens of lawmakers to call for his removal from office. The 1949 Geneva Conventions on humanitarian conduct in war prohibit attacks on sites considered essential for civilians.

“Threatening genocide is not a negotiating tactic,” Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., said at a press conference outside the Capitol following the pro forma session, which was held while Congress is out of Washington during a two-week Easter recess.

Trump announced Tuesday that he had agreed to a ceasefire in the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, doing so less than two hours before a deadline he had set for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face severe strikes on its civilian infrastructure.

The White House has defended Trump’s actions, saying they are lawful and fall within his authority as commander-in-chief to order limited military operations to protect the United States.

Iran has maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful. The Trump administration has described the conflict as a decisive success, even as the top U.S. military officer said American forces remain ready to resume fighting if needed.

Republicans, who hold narrow majorities in both the House and Senate, have largely united behind Trump and backed his policies.

While the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the authority to declare war, that requirement does not apply to short-term military actions or situations involving an immediate threat to the country.