America’s renter-friendly market may have already peaked. The apartment construction boom that gave tenants unprecedented negotiating power over the past two years is beginning to fade, and Zillow believes the next shift in the housing market will be driven less by stronger demand than by a shrinking pipeline of new apartments. The result is likely to be fewer concessions, firmer rents and a gradual return of pricing power to landlords.

Zillow’s latest rental report shows the transition is already underway. Median U.S. rent reached $1,965 in June, up 2.2% from a year earlier, but the more important signal is that rent growth accelerated through April, May and June compared with the same period last year. Incentives such as free months of rent, waived fees and free parking remain common, appearing on 39.7% of listings, but Zillow expects those concessions to become less generous as today’s inventory is absorbed and fewer new apartments enter the market.

The shift is already showing up in where renters are choosing to live.

Single-family rental homes continue to outperform apartments because elevated mortgage rates and record home prices are keeping would-be buyers on the sidelines. Many households that would normally purchase a home are instead renting detached houses, where supply remains far more limited. Single-family rents climbed 3% over the past year to $2,320, roughly double the 1.5% increase recorded by multifamily apartments, which averaged $1,789. Zillow expects that gap to persist through the remainder of the year.

The reason today’s market remains favorable for renters is simple: developers spent years building apartments at one of the fastest rates in decades, particularly across the South and West. That surge created more vacancies, increased competition among landlords and forced property owners to offer discounts that were rare only a few years ago.

Markets that failed to build enough housing tell the opposite story.

San Francisco now leads the nation with 8.2% annual rent growth, pushing the typical monthly rent to $3,301. According to Zillow, a household would need roughly $132,000 in annual income for that rent to remain affordable under conventional housing guidelines. The contrast reinforces one of the clearest lessons in today’s housing market: where supply grows, rents moderate; where construction lags, affordability deteriorates.

The biggest question is whether developers will continue replacing the apartments now reaching the market.

Recent government construction data has produced mixed headlines. Housing starts rebounded sharply in June after a weak May, particularly in multifamily construction. But starts only measure projects breaking ground. Permits—which provide a clearer picture of future development—continued to decline. Because permits lead construction, and construction leads completed apartments, today’s permitting slowdown points toward fewer new rental units entering the market over the next several years.

That timing matters. There are still approximately 682,000 apartments under construction nationwide, meaning additional supply will continue reaching the market over the coming months. Zillow’s forecast is therefore less about conditions today than about what happens once that construction pipeline begins to empty. If developers continue pulling back on new projects, the supply cushion that has benefited renters could shrink considerably by 2027.

The regional picture is also changing. Permit activity has strengthened in the Northeast even as construction slows across much of the South, suggesting the next phase of the rental market will vary significantly by geography. Areas that remain underbuilt may continue experiencing stronger rent growth despite new development, while markets that recently added large amounts of housing could retain more competitive pricing for longer.

For businesses, investors and property owners, the broader lesson extends beyond this year’s rent figures. Housing markets rarely change overnight. Today’s concessions reflect yesterday’s construction boom, while tomorrow’s rents will be determined by today’s shrinking development pipeline. Zillow’s forecast suggests the balance of power is beginning to move back toward landlords—not because demand is suddenly surging, but because the wave of new apartment supply that protected renters is gradually coming to an end.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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

What does Prime Minister Netanyahu really think about President Trump’s Board of Peace plan for the Gaza Strip?

Channel 14 journalist Tamir Morag wrote: “Publicly, Netanyahu has remained silent, but people who have spoken with him behind closed doors describe a very different picture.”

“A senior political source told us this evening: ‘Behind the scenes, the Prime Minister is deeply agitated by the document published by the Board of Peace. Outwardly, he is maintaining relative silence, but Netanyahu reacted very negatively to parts of the document. What was published simply does not match the information the US presented to the cabinet. There is a harsh feeling that we were misled.”

“Against that backdrop, Religious Zionism ministers Betzalel Smotrich and Orit Strock appealed to the Prime Minister, demanding that he urgently convene the Security Cabinet and rescind the decision allowing the advance unit of the international force to begin deploying in the Gaza Strip.

“The two ministers say outright that the Board of Peace misled the Israeli cabinet, which voted on the matter based on incorrect information it had received. They point to a long list of flaws in the agreement—for example, one of many, the provision stating that the international force will serve as a buffer between the IDF and Hamas but will not act to disarm Hamas, contrary to US promises.

“There is immense anger in Jerusalem directed not only at the director-general of the Board of Peace, Nikolay Mladenov, but also at President Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, whose fingerprints are clearly evident in the agreement.

“For many months, Israel waited for the Board of Peace and the administration to finally declare that Hamas was violating its agreement by refusing to disarm. In the end, when the Americans realized they would not be able to achieve that objective, they worked together with the mediators—Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt—to formulate an agreement tailored to Hamas’s needs, effectively allowing the organization to remain on its feet in the Gaza Strip.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

iPhone- Apple
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hatzalah-global-assist/id6444089076

Android-
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=global.hatzalah.app

Likud MK Chanoch Milwidsky issued a stark warning to the Chareidi parties against abandoning their alliance with the right-wing bloc, arguing that a left-wing government would pose a far greater threat to the Torah world. In a wide-ranging interview with Kikar HaShabbat, he also defended the release of coalition funds during the Knesset recess, weighed in on the draft law controversy, blasted Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and the opposition, and acknowledged that the coalition had failed to advance judicial reform during its current term.

Addressing Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana’s decision to convene the Finance Committee during the parliamentary recess to approve budget transfers, Milwidsky said the move was necessary to prevent essential funding from being delayed.

“We, together with the Knesset Speaker, are not prepared to allow funding needed for security, settlement projects, Chareidi education, and local authorities to be held up,” he said. “Only the opposition wants things to be bad in the State of Israel over the next three months because they think it will help them in the elections. We will not let that happen.”

Turning to the ongoing debate over military service for bnei yeshivah, Milwidsky rejected suggestions that the Chareidi parties have become a political burden for Likud.

“I don’t think anyone in Likud believes the Chareidim are a burden. The DNA of Likud is rooted in faith,” he said. “There is no disagreement, at least not with us, that someone who is learning Torah should continue learning. But someone who is not learning—why should he receive special treatment over anyone else? Especially today, when the army has created frameworks that allow a Chareidi young man to enter the military as a Chareidi and leave as a Chareidi, with enhanced kashrus, no women, and a lifestyle tailored to his needs.”

Asked why the IDF had not developed such programs before the October 7 attack, Milwidsky said the military’s priorities had changed dramatically.

“A Chareidi soldier in the Hashmonaim Brigade costs the army much more than a non-Chareidi soldier. Before the disaster, the IDF was dominated by the progressive concept of a ‘small and smart army.’ After the massacre, they realized Israel needs a large army. Commanders like Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa understand today that if you want more Chareidim to enlist, you have to show them they can return home as Chareidim and preserve their way of life.”

Milwidsky also launched a blistering attack on Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and opposition leaders, accusing them of using the legal system to undermine the government.

“The attorney general turned 80,000 to 90,000 completely law-abiding people into criminals overnight,” he said. “This is a group fighting for its own political survival because it knows it is losing the demographic and ideological battle.”

He reserved particularly harsh criticism for opposition politicians.

“People like Yair Golan have turned hatred into a political ideology. These are very dangerous people with whom no partnership is possible. This entire group that proudly calls itself ‘The Democrats’ is planning the exact opposite of democracy.”

Milwidsky then added, “Even Ahmad Tibi and Ayman Odeh have more respect for Torah than these people.”

Responding to reports that some figures within United Torah Judaism, including representatives of the Gur chassidus, are exploring alternative political alliances, Milwidsky urged the Chareidi public not to believe that the left would protect the Torah world.

“All the talk that the left will allow Jews to sit and learn Torah is an illusion and a fantasy,” he said. “Their coalition partners will never permit it. MK Gilad Kariv talks about nationalizing Chinuch Atzmai, making arrests, and shutting down media outlets. The old mentality that says, ‘Give the ruler what he wants and we’ll manage with him,’ is a mistake. That ruler will come back and persecute you afterward. They will not leave you alone.”

He insisted that the Chareidim’s natural political partners remain the parties of the national and religious camp.

“We will never harm the Torah world. We will protect it to the best of our ability.”

Milwidsky concluded the interview by candidly admitting that the coalition had failed to achieve one of its central goals—judicial reform.

“We’re not really in control. The entire judicial reform effort didn’t work, and we failed,” he said. “The public now understands that the body sabotaging and blocking everything is the judicial system, which has no meaningful oversight or restraint.”

He ended with a warning to right-wing voters ahead of the next election.

“It’s clear to me, as a Likud member of Knesset who spends time with the public, that if we don’t make this change in the next term, we won’t be able to ask for the public’s trust—because they won’t give it to us. This is our last chance. It’s like soccer: if you had a good season, they’ll extend your contract. If you don’t produce results, they’ll fire you. That’s exactly what they’ll do to us if we don’t deliver results.”

The excitement is building at Camp Ruach Chaim as the camp prepares for its massive Siyum HaShas this Thursday.

On Sunday, Rav Yosef Chevroni shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron, visited the camp and spoke to the campers, encouraging them in their limud haTorah and giving them a special bracha ahead of the historic Siyum.

But perhaps the most inspiring scenes are happening every day throughout the camp.

Younger campers can be seen walking into the beis medrash and approaching older bochurim, asking them to help explain a difficult sugya or help them finish their blatt.

Boys are calling family members on the phone, learning together with their fathers, brothers, and other relatives, all to make sure they can complete their assigned dafim. In addition to the 2,711 blatt in Shas, another 2,500 blatt were reserved for Round Two and Three.

The goal is simple: every camper should be part of the Siyum.

And with just days remaining, the entire camp is coming together with tremendous enthusiasm and achdus as the final dafim are being completed.

The massive Siyum HaShas, an Adirei HaTorah style event, will bezH take place this Thursday, culminating weeks of learning and an incredible summer of simchas haTorah at Camp Ruach Chaim.

Full details of the event to follow.

See below for photos from Sunday’s special visit with the Chevron Rosh Yeshiva.

[Press Release]

The United States has increased its intelligence presence in and around Cuba in recent months as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on the communist regime, according to two people familiar with the administration’s plans, Politico reported.

The expanded intelligence activity could support a range of possible operations, from increased efforts to gather information inside Cuba to attempts to recruit Cuban government or military officials who could assist the United States.

One person familiar with the activity said the United States has significantly increased its intelligence collection efforts involving Cuba. The source declined to provide operational details, citing the risk that disclosure could compromise ongoing activities and place intelligence personnel in danger.

A second person confirmed that the CIA’s presence related to Cuba has recently increased but similarly declined to discuss the scope or nature of the activity because of the sensitivity of intelligence operations.

The increased presence is viewed by people familiar with the administration’s thinking as a significant step in its escalating campaign against the Cuban government. However, the precise objectives of the expanded intelligence activity remain closely guarded.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

American consumers are continuing to face elevated beef prices amid an ongoing cattle shortage, which is also hitting the bottom line of major meatpacking companies.

The U.S. cattle herd is at its lowest level in over 70 years due to drought reducing forage areas in key ranching regions, which forced ranchers to liquidate cattle. 

Ranchers are also facing higher operating costs for feed, labor, fuel and equipment, while some live cattle imports have also been constrained due to concerns over diseases affecting livestock.

Beef prices have risen 11.8% over the last year and increased 1.2% on a monthly basis in June, according to the most recent consumer price index (CPI) data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Ground beef prices were up 12.4% from a year ago, while beef roasts were up 13.8% and steaks were up 11.4% in that period.

Tyson Foods noted the challenges in its beef business in its earnings call Monday, with CEO Donnie King saying, “Beef hasn’t performed the way we expected, and we’re not pretending otherwise.”

He noted the “well-documented challenges of the current cattle cycle” and said that Tyson’s beef segment operated at a loss of $138 million with sales volume down 15.9% and pricing up 12.1% as “constrained supply pushed input costs and pricing higher.”

The Tyson Foods CEO also discussed the recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that it will resume imports of cattle from Mexico starting in late August for the first time in more than a year.

Cattle imports from Mexico were suspended due to an outbreak of the New World screwworm, which poses a threat to domestic livestock. USDA’s monitoring has noted 44 cases of New World screwworm in the U.S. since June, with cases concentrated in Texas and New Mexico.

The USDA’s resumption of imports will be flexible and will start at the Douglas, Arizona, port of entry after the neighboring Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua have been identified as the lowest-risk Mexican states for the New World screwworm.

The agency cited those Mexican states’ “strong, well-established inspection programs” and geographic distance from southern Mexico, where most of the cases have been concentrated.

King said the “recent announcement of a phased reopening of the Mexican border for the importation of cattle shows potential improvements to long-term cattle availability.”

“Although the reopening won’t have a material impact on the remainder of this fiscal year, which ends in September, it does provide the potential for some level of improvement in 2027 and beyond,” King added. 

“To be clear, the reopening of the Mexican border will not solve the entire gap of beef losses we are currently seeing. We are not waiting passively for the cattle cycle to turn, and we continue to focus on improving the variables within our control.”

In a major boost for Chareidi education, the Knesset Finance Committee on Tuesday approved sweeping budget transfers totaling nearly NIS 250 million, with the funds designated for a wide range of educational and family support programs. The package includes long-awaited salary parity for Chareidi kindergarten teachers, transportation funding for major school networks, after-school program subsidies, assistance for at-risk youth, and expanded teacher training initiatives.

The broad funding package is designed to strengthen the Chareidi educational system at every level while addressing longstanding disparities in funding for schools, educators, and student support services. Many of the approved measures have been the subject of extensive debate in the Knesset over recent legislative sessions.

One of the most significant provisions provides, for the first time since the establishment of the State of Israel, full recognition of seniority for all Chareidi kindergarten teachers. Under the new funding, their salaries will fully reflect their years of professional experience, bringing them into line with the pay scale of kindergarten teachers in the general public education system and ending a decades-long disparity.

The approved budget also includes substantial funding for student transportation in the Chinuch Atzmai and Bnei Yosef school networks. Transportation has long presented financial and logistical challenges for both parents and school administrators, and the additional funding is expected to ensure safe and reliable transportation for thousands of students.

Additional allocations were approved to subsidize after-school programs in Chareidi schools operating under the exempt and recognized-but-unofficial educational frameworks. The funding is intended to expand access to these programs while reducing the financial burden on families.

Another portion of the budget will strengthen social and educational services, including programs supporting at-risk youth and students who have left the traditional educational framework. Funding was also approved for Jewish cultural programming and for expanding teacher training programs in Chareidi seminaries to help prepare the next generation of educators.

The budget initiative was led by Finance Committee Chairman and Degel HaTorah leader MK Moshe Gafni, who has long championed increased government support for Chareidi education in negotiations with the Finance Ministry and other government agencies.

Commenting on the approval, Gafni said, “Even during these challenging times, when the world of Torah and education is facing significant challenges, it is our duty to continue caring for the children of Israel and for the Chareidi educational system. The budgets approved today are important news for kindergarten teachers, male and female educators, students, and educational institutions, and they will help correct longstanding inequities and close funding gaps that have existed for years.

“I thank everyone who helped advance this initiative. With Hashem’s help, we will continue working tirelessly on behalf of the world of Torah and education, and we will not rest until the Chareidi educational system receives the full rights and resources it deserves.”

{Matzav.com}

California Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is warning that a proposed billionaire tax would further strain the state’s economy, arguing that California is already losing businesses, investment and tax revenue as residents grapple with high costs.

California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton joined FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo on “Mornings with Maria” to discuss the proposal, which opponents say could drive more wealthy residents and employers out of the state if enacted.

“It’s already cost California billions of dollars in lost tax revenue because of the amount of wealth that’s already left the state,” Hilton said. “Just because of the threat of this insane tax.”

Lawmakers backing the proposal argue the state’s wealthiest residents should contribute more, while opponents contend California’s existing tax burden is already encouraging people and companies to relocate. Hilton argued the state’s top earners already shoulder a significant share of California’s income tax collections and questioned whether higher taxes would improve public services.

Beyond the billionaire tax debate, Hilton said rising labor costs, energy prices and regulations are making California less competitive. He argued repeated minimum wage increases create “a kind of doom loop” by raising business costs, which are then passed on to consumers.

Hilton also warned that businesses are scaling back hiring, increasing automation or leaving the state altogether because operating costs have become too high.

“If we don’t face up to the reality, California’s economy is going to absolutely collapse,” Hilton said.

Hilton said he would instead pursue lower taxes, reduced government spending and fewer regulations, arguing those policies would help attract employers, expand investment and make California more affordable for residents.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed Tuesday that the Indian-flagged mechanised sailing vessel MSV Faize Noore Oliya sank in the Red Sea off Yemen’s western coast after coming under attack, with the entire crew pulled from the water alive. All 14 aboard — 13 Indian sailors and one Yemeni — were rescued and taken to safety, receiving medical assistance with no casualties reported. Yemen’s government-affiliated National Resistance Forces said coast guard and naval units carried out a joint rescue after the vessel was attacked roughly 13 nautical miles south of the Houthi-held port city of Hodeidah, and accused the Iran-backed Houthi movement of carrying out the strike. The Houthis have not commented.

India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said the vessel was struck by a projectile near Yemeni waters, causing it to capsize and sink before the crew was rescued by the Yemeni Coast Guard and brought to the Port of Mokha. He described the incident as an “unprovoked attack on the defenceless mechanised sailing vessel.”

The sinking came just three days after President Donald Trump called off what he said would have been the largest U.S. military strike against Iran since World War II, saying negotiations had opened a path toward an agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Three Days After Washington Stood Down

Trump announced Saturday that U.S. forces were “locked and loaded and ready to go” before deciding to halt the operation after what he described as significant diplomatic progress with Tehran. He said the proposed framework would immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz and eliminate Iran’s nuclear threat, adding that he wanted to give Iran one final opportunity to reach an agreement.

The administration has repeatedly paused military action while pursuing negotiations. Each pause has been accompanied by renewed diplomatic statements, yet commercial shipping through the region has remained under sustained threat.

Washington Says Progress, Tehran Says Otherwise

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Tuesday that an agreement with Iran to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz could come “today or tomorrow,” reinforcing Trump’s claim that negotiations remain active. Oil prices eased on the remarks as traders priced in the possibility of reduced disruption.

Iran’s account remains sharply different. Tehran’s Foreign Ministry said on August 3 that no negotiations with Washington were underway, insisting discussions were only taking place with Oman over management of the Strait. After Iran publicly rejected Trump’s claims of renewed talks, the president accused Tehran of acting “unbelievably duplicitous” and warned it was facing its last opportunity to reach an agreement.

Despite the diplomatic messaging, military activity has continued throughout the region while negotiations have ebbed and flowed.

Two Maritime Chokepoints Under Pressure

While the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily restricted, Iran’s Yemeni ally has continued threatening the second critical gateway linking Europe and Asia.

The Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia on July 20, expanding risks across the Bab el-Mandeb corridor. Regional sources have said the group has examined imposing transit fees on commercial shipping, although the Houthis have denied the reports. Officials in Yemen’s internationally recognized government have accused the movement of attempting to replicate Iran’s strategy in the Strait of Hormuz.

Shipping Costs Continue to Rise

Marine insurers reacted quickly after the latest escalation. War-risk premiums climbed to roughly 0.75% of a vessel’s value from about 0.3% before the blockade announcement, adding hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cost of a single voyage.

The operational impact is even greater. Ships rerouted around Africa instead of transiting the Red Sea can add weeks to delivery schedules while sharply increasing fuel consumption and operating costs. Roughly 15% of global trade normally moves through the Suez Canal, while about one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Why This Attack Matters

Until now, many shipping companies believed Houthi attacks remained largely focused on vessels with Israeli connections or ships that had recently called at Israeli ports.

A small Indian-flagged cargo vessel does not obviously fit those categories. If the attribution by Yemen’s National Resistance Forces proves accurate, it could signal a broader targeting strategy than many operators had assumed.

India condemned the attack and said its embassy in Riyadh is coordinating with Yemeni authorities to ensure the crew’s safety while reaffirming the importance of freedom of navigation under international law.

Traffic through the Bab el-Mandeb remains well below pre-conflict levels. Every additional strike pushes insurers, shipowners and cargo operators further from any expectation that diplomacy alone will reopen one of the world’s most important trade corridors.

JBizNews Desk

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

Two 17-year-old Jewish teenagers who were arrested in Greece after sheltering Israeli tourists fleeing an anti-Israel mob have been released and allowed to return home. However, despite their release, Greek authorities have ordered them to return to Greece in November as legal proceedings against them continue, according to a report by Mako.

The two teenagers, identified as Liam and Yonatan, were vacationing in the resort town of Malia about two weeks ago when violence erupted after a group of Israelis left a local nightclub and became involved in a confrontation with individuals who reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” at them. According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants chased the Israelis and followed them into their hotel.

As the chaos unfolded, Liam and Yonatan were awakened by Israeli tourists calling for help in the hallway. They opened the door to their hotel room and allowed the fleeing Israelis inside. The attackers then allegedly attempted to force their way into the room and threw objects at the door but were unable to break in. During the incident, cries of “They’re killing us, help us” could be heard, while a lone security guard was unable to bring the situation under control. Local police reportedly arrived only after a delay.

The following morning, the two teenagers were arrested after a hotel housekeeper discovered an axe inside their room. The teens maintain that one of the Israelis they had sheltered brought the axe into the room after taking it from the hotel corridor, intending to use it for self-defense if necessary.

Attorney Nir Yasselovich, who specializes in criminal and international law, later appealed to Israel’s Foreign Ministry to intervene in the case. He argued that continuing the prosecution of the two teenagers could embolden those responsible for the attack and encourage further violence against Israelis and Jews.

According to the attorney, the teenagers were questioned without a translator despite requesting Hebrew interpretation and were required to sign a document written entirely in Greek. In addition, Yonatan reportedly complained during questioning that he was feeling unwell and requested medical treatment, but said his request was ignored.

The teenagers were ultimately released after investigators found no fingerprints belonging to either of them on the axe, concluding that they had no direct or indirect connection to the weapon. Nevertheless, Greek authorities have instructed them to return to the country in November for the next stage of the legal proceedings.

{Matzav.com}

Tel Aviv Vice Mayor Guy Avner challenged New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to a boxing match, citing the American mayor’s anti-Israel statements and accusing him of fomenting hatred towards the Jewish people.

“Mayor Mamdani, you’ve been saying a lot of horrible stuff, creating a lot of hatred towards the Jewish people,” Avner said in the video posted to Instagram on Monday. “As the Vice Mayor of Tel Aviv, I’m going to stand strong. I love America, I love New York City, but you, Mamdani, you’re bad news.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Guy Avner (@guy.avner)

Avner then issued the challenge, telling Mamdani, “You and me, in the ring, charity event.”

He added that the proceeds of the event could all go to a charity of the New York City Mayor’s choice.

“And you’re going to stop dissing the Jewish people and the great state of Israel,” Avner added. “I’m coming for you. There’s nowhere to run. There’s nowhere to hide. It’s time. You and me, face to face. Let’s go.”

In the caption attached to the video, Avner encouraged viewers to spread the video around until Mamdani accepted the challenge.

“We can have it in [Tel Aviv] – don’t worry you won’t get arrested,” Avner wrote, a reference to comments Mamdani made to the New York Times in July when he said his administration was considering detaining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit New York for the September UN General Assembly.

The New York City mayor later walked back the threat, admitting that his administration did not have the authority to execute the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant for Netanyahu.

In a statement to The Jerusalem Post following the publication of his video, Avner said he decided to challenge the NYC mayor to a boxing match because “boxing is about facing your opponent directly.”

“Mayor Mamdani has repeatedly thrown punches at Israel, the IDF, and many Jews around the world with his rhetoric,” Avner continued. “Instead of fighting through headlines and social media, I invited him to step into the ring, where there are rules, respect, and accountability.”

TLV Mayor Avner: ‘Words have consequences’

Asked why he chose this moment to issue the challenge, Avner said “words have consequences” and pointed to the elevated rates of antisemitic incidents around the world, a tide that rose precipitously in the wake of the Hamas-led massacres in southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

“At a time when antisemitism is rising around the world, and Israel continues to face existential threats, public leaders have a responsibility to lower the temperature, not inflame it,” Avner said. “I felt it was important to draw a line and challenge the normalization of rhetoric that many Jews experience as deeply hostile.”

This post was originally published on here.

JPMorgan Chase plans to deploy more than $750 billion for housing through 2035, including financing for 1 million affordable units and help for 500,000 buyers to purchase homes.

The commitment, part of the bank’s American Dream Initiative, represents a nearly 40% increase in housing-related capital compared to the prior decade, the bank said Monday. It comes not long after JPMorgan Chase named Doug Petno and Troy Rohrbaugh as co-presidents — the clearest step yet in the board’s planning for an eventual successor to CEO Jamie Dimon.

“An affordable and resilient housing market is essential to driving economic growth and increasing opportunity,” Michelle Herrick, head of commercial real estate for JPMorgan, said in the announcement.

Sean Grzebin, CEO of Chase Home Lending, said homeownership remains central to wealth-building and community stability for U.S. households.

The initiative signals Chase will be more active in the purchase mortgage market. The bank plans to support 200,000 first-time buyers, hire 850 new home lending advisers and roll out new digital tools to support originations.

In terms of product development, the bank is considering new collateral types, such as modular and manufactured homes, as well as down payment assistance and other mechanisms to lower long-term borrowing costs.

In the secondary market, JPMorgan Chase plans to work to harmonize standards among key housing finance institutions and federal programs to streamline opportunities and expand the role of private capital.

The bank originated $17.2 billion in mortgages from April through June, up 26% quarter over quarter, in a period when banks are expected to take more market share from nonbanks. The bulk of Chase’s volume came from its retail channel ($10.6 billion, up 22%), followed by its correspondent business ($6.6 billion, up 32%).

Affordable housing initiative

Overall, the bank committed to finance 1 million affordable housing units — defined as households that earn less than 120% of area median income — over the next decade through debt, equity and grants in partnership with developers, owners, nonprofits and governments.

The initiative also has a large policy and research component, using the JPMorgan Chase PolicyCenter and Institute to identify and support state and local reforms that can unlock more supply and lower costs.

The announcement arrives soon after the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law. The bank also plans to invest in local zoning and permitting reforms that allow more housing in residential areas, unlock underused land, modernize building codes and streamline approvals.

JPMorgan Chase will serve as chair of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s newly formed Housing Advisory Council, which is designed as a business-led forum to shape housing policy recommendations across levels of government.

As an example of how these strategies may play out on the ground, the firm highlighted several projects in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood and the broader Bay Area. That includes debt financing that helped deliver the Sophie Maxwell building, with 105 permanently affordable apartments for middle-income residents at the Power Station redevelopment, and nearly $200 million in financing for a 342-unit residential building at the same site.

This article was written by Flávia Furlan Nunes and generated with the assistance of HousingWire Automation, then reviewed by a HousingWire editor before publication.

This post was originally published on here.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — The New York City Council is launching a broad effort to address safety concerns involving electric bikes, with lawmakers proposing new regulations, increased oversight and a review of current enforcement practices.

Council leaders announced plans to hold a hearing next month to examine how existing e-bike laws are being enforced and whether additional legislation is needed to reduce crashes and improve pedestrian safety.

Among the measures under consideration are proposals to increase oversight of app-based delivery companies by requiring them to register with the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. Another bill would require delivery platforms to collect and maintain information about riders to assist with enforcement efforts.

Council members said additional proposals expected later this year could address issues including illegal high-speed e-bikes, insurance requirements, street design and traffic enforcement.

Lawmakers said the goal is to improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and delivery workers while ensuring companies that rely on delivery services share responsibility for promoting safe riding practices.

The legislative package comes amid continued concerns over e-bike-related crashes and calls for stronger enforcement of existing traffic laws across New York City.

The IDF has significantly tightened its strike policy in the Gaza Strip, requiring every targeted elimination to receive the personal approval of IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, according to a report by Army Radio.

Until the beginning of this week, approval for such operations could also be granted by the head of the Southern Command or by a division commander, allowing targeted strikes to be carried out at a broader pace.

Under the new directive, however, the authority has been narrowed exclusively to Zamir, a move expected to substantially reduce the number of targeted strikes conducted in Gaza.

Israeli defense officials believe the change will have a direct impact on the scope of the IDF’s offensive activity in the Strip because of the new restrictions now in effect.

The effect of the policy shift is already visible in reports emerging from Gaza. According to Palestinian reports cited in the article, aside from a single strike carried out Monday at 10:00 p.m., no additional IDF strikes were recorded over the previous 48 hours.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The next constraint on economic growth may not be electricity or labor—it may be water. As data centers, semiconductor plants and advanced manufacturers race to expand across the United States, access to reliable water supplies is quietly becoming one of the most important factors determining where companies invest billions of dollars.

For decades, water was largely treated as inexpensive infrastructure that businesses could take for granted. That assumption is changing. Artificial intelligence data centers require enormous volumes of water for cooling, chip manufacturers depend on ultra-pure water throughout production, and rapidly growing regions in the Southwest are confronting tighter groundwater restrictions and increasing competition among industry, agriculture and residential development.

The result is a shift in corporate site selection.

Economic development agencies are finding that access to power is no longer enough to attract large industrial projects. Companies are increasingly evaluating long-term water availability alongside electricity, transportation, workforce and tax incentives before committing to new facilities. In several regions, local governments have delayed or reconsidered large projects because of concerns over future water demand.

Utilities are also entering a new investment cycle.

Water providers are expanding treatment capacity, replacing aging infrastructure, improving recycling systems and investing in technologies that allow industrial users to reuse water instead of continually drawing new supplies. Those projects require billions of dollars in capital spending and are creating opportunities for engineering firms, equipment manufacturers, construction companies and water-technology providers.

Corporate strategies are evolving as well.

Many manufacturers are redesigning facilities to reduce water consumption, while technology companies are investing in closed-loop cooling systems and water recycling to lower long-term operating costs and reduce regulatory risk. What was once considered an environmental initiative is increasingly becoming a financial decision that influences operating margins, expansion plans and investor perceptions.

The implications extend into commercial real estate.

Industrial parks capable of providing dependable water infrastructure are becoming more valuable, while regions facing persistent supply constraints may find it harder to attract new manufacturing investment regardless of tax incentives or available land. Developers, lenders and insurers are beginning to evaluate water availability as part of long-term project risk.

The broader shift reaches beyond utilities or environmental policy. Water is becoming an economic input that directly influences corporate investment decisions. Just as companies once competed primarily for access to highways, ports and low-cost electricity, they are now competing for something many businesses historically assumed would always be available.

For investors, the opportunity extends beyond water utilities themselves. Engineering firms, infrastructure contractors, treatment technology companies, industrial automation providers and equipment manufacturers all stand to benefit as businesses and municipalities spend more to secure dependable water supplies.

The companies best positioned for the next decade may not simply be those with the cheapest land or lowest taxes. They may be the ones located where the most basic resource required for growth remains dependable.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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

In a ruling expected to significantly reshape election-day campaigning in Israel, Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Solberg ruled Tuesday that party representatives and observers stationed at polling places may no longer report, in real time, which voters have already cast their ballots. The decision is expected to have the greatest impact on the Chareidi parties, which have long relied on such updates to identify supporters who have not yet voted and encourage them to head to the polls.

Justice Solberg ruled that transmitting information about whether a person has voted—as well as details surrounding the vote, such as the time it was cast or the type of polling station involved, including hospital polling stations or those designated for voters with limited mobility—constitutes a violation of personal privacy under Israel’s Privacy Protection Law.

He further determined that while party representatives are permitted to observe the voting process as part of their official duties, Israel’s election laws do not authorize them to relay that information to their political parties for campaign purposes. In the absence of explicit legal authorization, he ruled, such reporting is prohibited.

The decision came in response to a petition filed by attorney Shachar Ben Meir, which was supported by the Privacy Protection Clinic at Tel Aviv University. The petition argued that the widespread practice of party representatives using smartphone apps to instantly report which voters had already cast ballots enabled parties to identify those who had not yet voted and target them with election-day turnout efforts, violating both voters’ privacy and the principle of ballot secrecy.

As part of the proceedings, the Knesset factions were invited to present their positions. Likud, Shas, and United Torah Judaism argued that the longstanding practice did not violate the law, while the Religious Zionism Party joined Likud’s position. The remaining parties did not take a substantive position on the legal question.

In his written decision, Solberg emphasized that information regarding whether someone has voted is private information. He noted that party representatives gain access to that information solely because of their official role at polling stations and may not use it for unrelated political purposes, such as locating supporters who have yet to vote and mobilizing them to the polls. Doing so, he ruled, is inconsistent with the purpose for which the information is made available and therefore violates Israel’s privacy laws.

Justice Solberg stressed that his ruling reflects the current state of Israeli law and should not be viewed as an opinion on what the law ought to be in the future. He also called for a broader legislative review of the relationship between election law and privacy protections, particularly in light of rapid technological advances in recent years.

The ruling does not prevent political parties from using voter information they legally receive from the official voter registry to contact eligible voters. However, that registry does not contain information about whether a person has actually voted on Election Day, meaning parties will no longer be able to rely on live updates from polling stations to identify and contact supporters who have yet to cast their ballots.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the American military remains at an unprecedented level of readiness despite President Donald Trump’s decision to postpone planned strikes against Iran.

“The Department of Defense was prepared and ready, and remains ready, at levels not seen since World War II,” Hegseth said. “We are ready and prepared right now as well.”

His remarks come after Trump halted a planned military operation against Iran over the weekend following days of speculation that the United States was on the verge of launching a major strike.

Although the operation was called off, Hegseth stressed that U.S. forces remain on high alert and are prepared to respond immediately should circumstances change.

Trump has indicated that his preference remains a diplomatic resolution, saying negotiations with Iran are continuing.

“We are talking to them. It will save many lives,” Trump said, adding that he believes understandings regarding the Strait of Hormuz are taking shape and that an eventual agreement to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program can be reached.

The comments come as the United States maintains a significant military presence in the region while diplomatic efforts continue alongside preparations for possible military action.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza City (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will not withdraw from their current lines in Gaza until Hamas has completely disarmed.

In his remarks, in a social media post on Tuesday, he suggested there were differences between Israel and the Trump administration over a recent deal announced to disarm the terror group.

In response to the vandalism, as well antisemitic and other hate messages at a Jackson school, Jackson Council President Mordechai Burnstein issued the following statement to TLS:

I strongly condemn the recent acts of vandalism and the hateful behavior we have witnessed in our town. Jackson deserves better.

Every resident has the right to question government decisions, oppose development, criticize elected officials, and advocate for change. Those are fundamental rights in a free society and should never be confused with hatred.

But there is a clear difference between criticizing policies and targeting people because of who they are.

When rhetoric shifts from debating issues to blaming, stereotyping, or demeaning an entire religious or ethnic community, it crosses a line. That kind of language doesn’t solve problems. It divides neighbors, fuels hostility, and creates an environment where hateful acts become more likely.

We should be able to disagree passionately while still recognizing one another’s humanity. We can debate zoning, development, taxes, and the future of our town without demonizing our neighbors.

Every resident of Jackson—regardless of religion, race, or background—deserves to feel safe, respected, and welcome in the community they call home.

As Council President, I unequivocally condemn acts of hatred, intimidation, and vandalism. I also encourage everyone, especially those with a public platform, to choose words that inform rather than inflame. Strong opinions are part of democracy. Hatred is not.

Jackson deserves better, and each of us has a role in making sure our disagreements never become an excuse for prejudice or violence.

Johnson & Johnson is attempting to do what three bankruptcy courts refused to let it do—put a predictable price on one of the largest product-liability battles in corporate America. Its proposed $5.5 billion settlement is more than another legal agreement; it represents a new strategy for resolving mass tort litigation that could influence how large companies handle similar crises for years to come.

The company announced the proposal on July 27, offering to resolve approximately 76,000 lawsuits alleging its talc-based baby powder caused ovarian cancer. The agreement would cover nearly all remaining ovarian cancer claims pending in federal multidistrict litigation in New Jersey and related state courts. To become effective, law firms representing at least 95 percent of eligible plaintiffs must agree to participate.

Unlike the company’s previous efforts, this proposal avoids bankruptcy altogether.

A Different Path Than Bankruptcy

That distinction is the real business story.

Johnson & Johnson spent years trying to resolve its talc litigation through bankruptcy by placing the liabilities into a subsidiary, arguing that the process would create a faster and more equitable outcome for claimants. Courts rejected that strategy three separate times, concluding the company was not in the kind of financial distress bankruptcy law requires.

Rather than continue appealing those decisions, the company changed course. The new proposal was negotiated directly with plaintiffs’ attorneys under the supervision of a court-appointed mediator, eliminating the legal uncertainty that ultimately doomed the earlier $9 billion bankruptcy settlement.

Although the new agreement carries a smaller headline number, it offers plaintiffs faster access to compensation. Johnson & Johnson expects to distribute roughly $3 billion in 2027, with remaining payments scheduled for 2028, compressing what could have been years of litigation into a significantly shorter timetable.

Why the Timing Changed

The negotiations were not driven solely by settlement fatigue.

Only days before the agreement was announced, the federal judge overseeing the multidistrict litigation ordered plaintiffs to explain why many remaining claims should not be dismissed after key expert witnesses withdrew testimony linking talc products to specific ovarian cancer cases. The development significantly strengthened Johnson & Johnson’s legal position and altered the balance of negotiations.

Company executives continue to maintain that decades of scientific research do not support claims that cosmetic talc causes ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson says it has prevailed in the majority of ovarian cancer cases tried to verdict and believes it would have continued winning had the litigation proceeded.

The courtroom record, however, remains mixed. While some juries have ruled in the company’s favor, others have awarded substantial damages to plaintiffs, illustrating the uncertainty that accompanies large-scale product liability litigation.

Why Investors Are Paying Attention

Financial markets are focused less on the settlement amount than on what it replaces.

For years, the talc litigation represented an open-ended financial liability with no clear endpoint. The proposed agreement converts that uncertainty into a defined payment schedule, giving investors greater visibility into future cash requirements while allowing management to concentrate on the company’s pharmaceutical and medical technology businesses instead of one of the most expensive legal disputes in its history.

Shares of Johnson & Johnson rose following the announcement, reflecting investor confidence that even an expensive settlement may ultimately be preferable to years of unpredictable courtroom outcomes.

What It Means for Business

The proposal carries implications far beyond Johnson & Johnson.

First, it signals that the so-called Texas Two-Step bankruptcy strategy has now been tested repeatedly against a financially healthy corporation and has failed each time. Companies facing mass tort litigation may become less willing to rely on bankruptcy courts as a primary resolution strategy.

Second, it demonstrates how quickly litigation economics can shift when courts challenge the scientific evidence supporting thousands of claims. A change in expert testimony helped reshape negotiations far more than years of courtroom arguments.

Finally, the agreement underscores the value investors place on certainty. Businesses can often absorb a large one-time financial obligation more easily than years of unpredictable legal exposure. Converting uncertain liabilities into scheduled payments allows companies to plan capital allocation, investment and growth with greater confidence.

The proposal is ultimately about more than baby powder. It is a test of whether negotiated certainty can replace prolonged litigation as the preferred strategy for resolving America’s largest corporate liability disputes. If Johnson & Johnson succeeds outside bankruptcy, boardrooms across corporate America are likely to study the model closely.

JBizNews Desk | New Brunswick, New Jersey

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

Qatar says mediators are making progress toward arranging talks between the United States and Iran, even as Tehran is demanding sweeping authority over traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said mediators were working to establish negotiations and expressed hope that discussions would begin soon. Qatar, Oman and other regional countries have been attempting to facilitate talks and exchange proposals between Washington and Tehran.

The diplomatic picture, however, remains unclear. President Donald Trump said Monday that talks with Iran had started and that a final decision could be reached within days, while Oman later said negotiations had not yet begun but that preparations were underway.

A senior Pakistani security official also said discussions were taking place behind the scenes and that both sides appeared willing to talk.

At the same time, a senior Iranian source told Reuters that Tehran is seeking full control over inbound shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, along with visibility and oversight of outbound traffic and the authority to intervene when it considers necessary.

Iran argues that the current system governing the waterway is unfair and wants greater power over shipping entering the Gulf. Tehran controls the northern side of the strait, while Oman controls the southern side.

Iran has halted most maritime traffic through Hormuz, disrupting oil and liquefied natural gas shipments and leaving ships stranded near the waterway. Maritime authorities also reported that a cargo vessel sent a distress call near the strait after suffering an incident at sea.

The Iranian demands would represent a major change in control over one of the world’s most important shipping routes. Analysts said granting Tehran such authority could shift the regional balance of power and strengthen Iran’s ability to exert pressure on international trade.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said there could be an agreement with Iran on reopening the Strait of Hormuz within days. He said Washington was in talks with Tehran and hoped to reach a more normalized position.

Despite the reported diplomatic movement, major disagreements remain. Iran continues to reject negotiations while under military pressure, and Trump has repeatedly warned of further attacks before later emphasizing diplomatic contacts.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

While much of the yeshivah world remains in the midst of bein hazemanim, the Sanzer yeshivos in Kiryat Sanz, Netanya, and Haifa have already ushered in Zeman Elul. Hundreds of bochurim returned to their sedorim in an atmosphere of hisorerus and his’alus, beginning the new zeman in temporary batei medrash as extensive renovations continue at the main yeshivah building.

The bochurim, inspired by the legacy of the founder of the yeshivah, the Shefa Chaim of Sanz, zt”l, and under the constant guidance of the Sanz Rebbe, arrived with renewed enthusiasm and a deep sense of purpose. They began the special seder halimud filled with fresh chizuk and anticipation for the holy zeman ahead.

This year’s opening marks a period of renewal for the yeshivah. Because of the ongoing renovations to the central Mesivta building, the bochurim have temporarily relocated to the spacious Rosenberg Hall. They entered the new bais medrash with great excitement, while eagerly awaiting the completion of the renovations, which are expected, b’ezras Hashem, within the coming days, when they will return to their permanent home.

For decades, the batei medrash of the Sanz yeshivos in Kiryat Sanz have been a beacon of Torah and hasmadah. Although the outside world remains in vacation mode, the familiar sound of vibrant kol Torah has already returned to the halls of the yeshivah. For the Sanz bochurim, the arrival of a new zeman is far more than a date on the calendar—it is the beginning of another period of spiritual growth. Many expressed a deep longing to once again immerse themselves in the sugyos, surrounded by the unmistakable sight and atmosphere of open Gemaros filling the bais medrash.

The decision to begin Zeman Elul ahead of most other yeshivos, in order to maximize every precious moment of avodas Hashem, reflects the long-standing Sanz tradition of placing Torah above all else. For the bochurim, the transition from bein hazemanim back to the structured routine of yeshivah life represents a personal recommitment to hasmadah and ameilus baTorah, following the path established by the Rabbeim of previous generations.

After settling into their dormitories and reviewing the yeshivah regulations, which emphasize the tried-and-true path to success in Torah and Yiras Shamayim, the bochurim gathered for a special opening seder, as the halls of the yeshivah once again resonated with the powerful sound of uninterrupted Torah learning.

The centerpiece of the opening was the address delivered by the Rosh HaYeshivah Rav Yosef Moshe Dov Halberstam, Rosh Yeshivos Sanz and Av Beis Din of Sanz-USA.

צילום משה גולדשטיין (8).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (9).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (10).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (11).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (12).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (13).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (1).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (2).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (3).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (4).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (5).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (6).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (7).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (1).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (2).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (3).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (4).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (5).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (6).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (7).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (8).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (9).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (10).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (11).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (12).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (13).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (4).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (1).jpg

צילום משה גולדשטיין (2).jpg

{Matzav.com}

Family getting up:

Mrs Esther Miller- NeumanSister
Sitting in Boro Park at 1739 45th St

Mrs Esther Miller- Neuman
Sister

Sitting in Boro Park at 1739 45th St

R` Yankel Lichter
Brother

Sitting in Boro Park at 1739 45th St

R` Ari Lichter
Brother

Sitting in Boro Park at 1739 45th St

Mrs Yides Rosenfeld
Sister

Sitting in Boro Park at 1739 45th St

Mrs Sury Rubenstein
Daughter

Sitting at 4 Rose Hill Rd, Suffern

R` Dudy Breuer
Son

Sitting at 4 Rose Hill Rd, Suffern

Mrs Frady Berger
Daughter

Sitting at 4 Rose Hill Rd, Suffern

Mrs Faigy Rosenfeld
Daughter

Sitting at 4 Rose Hill Rd, Suffern

Mrs Hendy Moskowitz
Daughter

Sitting at 4 Rose Hill Rd, Suffern

Mrs Yiddes Glauber
Daughter

Sitting at 4 Rose Hill Rd, Suffern

Moderna has dosed its first volunteers in an early-stage trial of an mRNA vaccine targeting the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, the strain driving the outbreak that has swept through the Democratic Republic of the Congo since mid-May.

The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company said Tuesday that Health Canada cleared the study and that initial participants have already received the shot, designated mRNA-1469. The trial will run at three sites in Canada and aims to enroll roughly 80 healthy adults to evaluate safety and immune response.

The authorization makes Canada the second country to launch a Phase 1 study of a Bundibugyo vaccine candidate, after the United Kingdom.

The candidate uses the same messenger RNA platform Moderna built its COVID-19 franchise on, repurposed to carry genetic instructions for a Bundibugyo virus protein. The work falls under an expanded partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which has committed up to $50 million toward early testing and manufacturing.

A commercial test of the platform thesis

For Moderna, the trial is more than a humanitarian exercise. The company has spent the post-pandemic period arguing that its mRNA platform can be pointed at a new pathogen and moved into humans in months rather than years — a claim central to the valuation case for a business that has watched COVID revenue collapse. Moderna said the program was designed to move with urgency and that it was working to accelerate the candidate into a Phase 1 study within months, subject to regulatory review. It has now delivered on that timeline.

The CEPI arrangement also reflects how outbreak-response vaccine economics now work. Rather than a pharmaceutical company absorbing full development cost for a product with no commercial market, a publicly and philanthropically funded body underwrites the early stages. CEPI has struck parallel collaborations with Merck & Co. and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative to advance additional candidates, alongside an $8.6 million partnership with the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India.

That structure spreads the risk across multiple technology platforms. The IAVI candidate uses the rVSV platform already prequalified by the World Health Organization for a different Ebola strain, while Moderna’s builds on prior mRNA research on Ebola viruses.

The competitive field

Moderna is not first out of the gate. A Bundibugyo-specific vaccine from Oxford University and the Serum Institute entered Phase 1 testing in Britain on July 24. That candidate, ChAdOx1 BDBV, uses the viral vector platform behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and is being tested in 50 healthy adults aged 18 to 55.

The Serum Institute has already committed manufacturing capacity. It supplied 4,000 investigational doses for the trial and has 620,000 additional doses in storage. If Phase 1 succeeds, CEPI plans to back Oxford through late-stage trials aimed at emergency approval and licensure.

That stockpile matters. Whichever candidate clears safety and immunogenicity hurdles first, the constraint on deployment will be doses in a warehouse, not regulatory paperwork — a lesson from the 2014 West Africa epidemic that the current response has clearly absorbed.

Scale of the outbreak

The Congo outbreak is the second-deadliest on record, with more than 1,700 known deaths and over 3,800 infections since mid-May, as health teams have struggled to contain its spread. The WHO has described the epidemic as both the second-largest and fastest-spreading ever documented. Roughly 17,000 contacts of confirmed cases are under monitoring, with more than 80 percent receiving daily check-ups.

Bundibugyo was long treated as a rare variant, which is precisely why no approved vaccine or treatment exists for it. The licensed Ebola vaccines target the Zaire species.

Treatment research is running in parallel. A WHO-sponsored trial is operating at three clinical management facilities in Ituri province with ALIMA and Doctors Without Borders, enrolling more than 50 confirmed patients randomly assigned to experimental treatment options. A separate prophylaxis study led by Congo’s National Institute for Biomedical Research has enrolled more than 25 high-risk contacts to test whether a 10-day course of the oral antiviral Obeldesivir can prevent disease after exposure.

Vasee Moorthy, acting head of the WHO’s R&D Blueprint program, credited protocols drawn up before the epidemic began, telling reporters in Geneva that trials have started faster than in past Ebola outbreaks.

What comes next

Phase 1 results establish only safety and immune response in healthy volunteers, not protection against infection. A successful readout would move the candidate into larger studies to determine optimal dosing, monitor for rare side effects, and confirm real-world efficacy.

The commercial upside for Moderna is limited in the conventional sense — outbreak vaccines rarely generate meaningful sales. The strategic value lies in proving the platform can be redirected at speed, a capability that underpins the company’s pitch to government preparedness buyers and its argument for the broader pipeline.

JBizNews Desk | Cambridge, Mass.

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

NEW YORK (VINnews)-Simon & Schuster, through its Atria Books imprint, has agreed to republish two novels by a disgraced Palestinian author who has openly celebrated the murder of Jews and Christians has received a coveted book deal from Simon & Schuster, the prestigious New York City publishing house, the Washington Free Beacon can report, the publisher announced in a press release that praised her “signature lyrical voice” and “nuanced characters.”

Abulhawa has a documented history of public statements referring to Israelis as “rootless soulless ghouls” and “Jewish supremacist demons,” describing the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack as a “spectacular” moment, and using terms such as “cockroaches” against critics. She has also called for Israel to be dismantled.

The deal follows earlier attention to Abulhawa’s collaboration with illustrator Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani later called some of Abulhawa’s rhetoric “patently unacceptable and reprehensible.”

Simon & Schuster did not provide further comment on the decision.

Antisemitic hate crimes continue to account for the overwhelming majority of bias incidents in New York City, with new NYPD statistics showing that Jews were the victims in more than half of all reported hate crimes this year.

According to figures released by the NYPD, 360 hate crimes have been recorded in the city since the beginning of the year, up from 329 during the same period last year—a 9.4% increase.

Of those incidents, 205, or 56.9%, targeted Jews, despite the Jewish community making up approximately 10% of New York City’s population.

The rise in antisemitic incidents comes even as the city’s seven major crime categories—including murder, shootings, robbery, burglary, grand larceny, and felony assault—have all declined.

The statistics were released amid growing criticism of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani from Jewish leaders and organizations, who argue that he has failed to confront antisemitism forcefully enough.

Critics have pointed to Mamdani’s repeated accusations that Israel is committing “genocide” in its war against Hamas, his calls for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, and his refusal to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada.”

“The public is influenced by the mayor’s messaging. He creates fear within the Jewish community,” said Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism and a former New York State Assemblyman.

Mamdani has rejected the criticism, insisting that “there is no room for intolerance in New York.” He also noted that his administration increased funding for the Mayor’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes by 800%, adding $26 million to its budget.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal are calling on the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate President Donald Trump’s memecoin, alleging that it may have facilitated fraud or improper enrichment, CNN reported.

In a letter sent Monday to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, the senators wrote that they were concerned the cryptocurrency scheme “may constitute an illegal scam” and urged the agency to examine whether investors were unlawfully harmed.

The Trump coin, 80% of which was held by Trump Organization affiliates, reached a peak valuation of roughly $9 billion in January 2025. It is now valued at less than $400 million, representing a decline of approximately 97% from its peak, according to CoinMarketCap data cited by CNN.

Nearly one million people lost a combined $3.8 billion on the token through the end of June, according to research cited in the report. Trump, meanwhile, reported nearly $636 million in royalty and licensing fees connected to the coin’s “Celebration Coins” during the previous year.

The senators also raised concerns that the token could have operated as a “rug pull,” though blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs said the project did not display the typical hallmarks of such a scheme. The firm said the coin’s price support eroded gradually rather than collapsing at once, while a relatively small group of early buyers and insiders profited and many later investors suffered losses.

The SEC has previously stated that memecoins generally are not securities, although it also said that products cannot avoid securities laws merely by labeling themselves memecoins. Warren and Blumenthal argued that the Trump token should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

IDF Duvdevan special forces, guided by the Shin Bet, arrested a terror suspect in the Old City area of Shchem (Nablus) overnight Monday going into Tuesday.

According to an IDF statement, soldiers from the elite Duvdevan Commando Unit raided the area following intelligence provided by the Shin Bet on the suspect’s whereabouts.

The suspect is affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and was acting to advance terror activities, the army said. He was also previously linked to the “Lions’ Den” terror network, a Nablus-based cell that Israeli security forces have successfully worked to dismantle in recent years.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Monday night that shoppers will not have to show identification at New York City’s planned municipal grocery stores, rejecting a claim that had spread across social media for most of the day. His office said anyone will be able to shop at the stores regardless of residency or income without presenting identification, and that what a city official had described was a voluntary loyalty-card concept rather than an identification requirement.

The denial answers one question while leaving a more significant one unresolved. More than a week after announcing the program, City Hall has yet to explain how it will determine who qualifies for the discounts it has promised, or how that policy would be enforced at checkout.

The confusion began during the July 27 press conference unveiling the proposal. Asked how the city would prevent abuse of the program, Mamdani said the stores were intended to help New Yorkers put food on the table, “not a program for people to be able to make a quick buck through reselling.” He then turned to Jeanny Pak, interim president and chief executive of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, who described what she called a possible “library card-esque thing” to help manage purchases and target New Yorkers.

Republican lawmakers quickly seized on the remark, arguing it exposed a double standard compared with Democratic opposition to voter identification laws. Senator Rick Scott of Florida called the proposal hypocritical, and the comparison spread widely through conservative media. Critics also pointed to the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, of which Mamdani is a member, for its longstanding opposition to voter ID legislation.

The administration argues the comparison is misplaced because a voluntary loyalty program is not the same as a government identification requirement. On that narrow point, City Hall has a defensible position. What remains unanswered, however, is how the city intends to verify eligibility if discounted prices are ultimately meant to benefit New Yorkers, and no formal policy has yet been released. The first municipally owned grocery store is expected to open in the Bronx by the end of 2027, with five stores planned before the end of Mamdani’s first term.

That unresolved question carries significant business implications. The city is proposing to subsidize grocery prices by roughly 30% on selected essential goods while competing directly with existing private retailers. Yet officials have not detailed who qualifies for those discounts, how resale would be prevented, what verification system would cost, or which agency would administer it.

The competitive stakes extend well beyond City Hall. New York City’s grocery market already includes more than 1,100 supermarkets and roughly 10,000 bodegas. Many are immigrant-owned family businesses operating on single-digit profit margins, now facing the prospect of competing against taxpayer-backed stores whose financial losses would ultimately be absorbed by the same taxpayers who shop there.

The Multicultural Business Coalition, an immigrant-led coalition representing business organizations across New York City, has already authorized legal action challenging the proposal. During its July 27 board meeting—the same day the mayor announced the initiative—the coalition approved a resolution authorizing litigation over the municipal supermarket plan. Frank Garcia serves as chairman of the coalition, Ken Roldan as president, Duvi Honig as secretary, and Mark Jaffe as legal counsel.

The coalition’s objection is not to lower food prices. It is to the city entering the retail grocery market as both owner and price-setter while existing neighborhood businesses receive neither comparable support nor a meaningful role in shaping the program.

For now, City Hall has answered one question: shoppers will not be asked to show identification. The larger operational question remains unresolved. If the city intends to reserve discounted prices for New Yorkers, it has yet to explain how that policy will work in practice. Until those rules are published, the debate is likely to shift from identification to the broader question of how the program itself will operate.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA (VINnews)-Rotary International is facing criticism for allowing former Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan to serve as president of the Rotary Club of Orange County L.A., despite social media posts in which she allegedly referred to Israeli officials as “pedophiles” and “cannibals.”

Khan assumed the leadership role in May. Jewish organizations including the Jewish Community Action Network, the Jewish Federation of Orange County and the Israeli-American Council have written to Rotary, asserting that the posts violate the service organization’s ethical standards.

“This situation is especially alarming because Rotary’s mission centers on ethics and integrity,” Julie Heiman, director of policy, legal and government affairs for the Jewish Community Action Network, told the New York Post. “Allowing someone who spreads anti-Jewish blood libels to remain in a leadership position sends a dangerous message. Hiding behind criticism of Israel while invoking tropes about Jews goes far beyond legitimate political disagreement and helps create the permission structure that fuels escalating hostility and violence against Jewish people in our communities.”

According to the groups, Khan shared an Al Jazeera article alleging that Israel bombed a girls’ school in Iran and posted claims that “handcuffed babies were found in a mass grave,” attributing the alleged atrocity to Israel. The letter also accused Khan of failing to curb harassment and intimidation of Jewish residents during contentious City Hall meetings related to Israel while she served as mayor.

Khan has said her comments targeted Israeli government officials and the military, not the Israeli public.

Rotary International Director Wyn Spiller said the organization is nonpolitical and nonreligious, and that individual clubs operate independently under their own boards.

“When concerns arise about a member’s political activities outside of Rotary, we, at Rotary International, provide guidance to clubs based on Rotary’s values and governing documents,” Spiller said. “However, decisions regarding club leadership remain the responsibility of each club, in accordance with its bylaws, constitutional documents, and Rotary’s governing documents.”

Sam Yebri, a Los Angeles employment attorney whose Jewish family fled Iran during the Islamic Revolution, criticized the decision. “The Rotary Club of Orange County LA has disgraced itself,” Yebri said. “By elevating someone with a long record of promoting virulent antisemitism, the Rotary Club has betrayed every Jewish Rotarian, normalized the dehumanization of Jews and sent the message that antisemitism is compatible with community leadership.”

Community leader Dory Benami, a small business owner who ran for Congress in 2024, said the controversy has caused him to reconsider joining the organization. “Anybody who calls a group of people cannibals and pedophiles and continues to share stories like that is not somebody I want in any leadership role,” Benami said. “We have to confront that head-on.”

Rotary International, one of the world’s largest service organizations with more than 1.2 million members, follows an ethical code known as the Four-Way Test, which asks whether members’ actions are truthful, fair, promote goodwill and benefit all involved.

The controversy arises amid a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents. The Anti-Defamation League reported 9,354 antisemitic incidents in the United States in 2024, the highest total since the organization began tracking the data nearly 50 years ago and a 344% increase over the past five years. In Los Angeles County, anti-Jewish hate crimes accounted for 80% of all religion-based hate crimes last year.

Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Orange County L.A. and Khan did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The biggest change in U.S. manufacturing isn’t simply that companies are building more factories—it’s where they are building them. Corporate America is increasingly redesigning supply chains around North America, replacing the decades-old model of producing goods as far away and as cheaply as possible with one that prioritizes speed, resilience and geopolitical stability.

That shift is redirecting billions of dollars into new factories, warehouses, rail networks and logistics infrastructure across the United States and Mexico, creating one of the largest industrial investment cycles in a generation.

For years, manufacturing strategy centered on minimizing labor costs. Today, executives are calculating a very different equation. Tariffs, geopolitical tensions, shipping disruptions, inventory costs and national security concerns have made supply-chain resilience a competitive advantage rather than simply an operational goal.

The result is a growing wave of “nearshoring.”

Instead of relying exclusively on Asia, manufacturers are expanding production closer to their largest customer base. Mexico has become a major beneficiary because of its proximity to the United States, established manufacturing ecosystem and duty-free access under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. At the same time, American states are attracting record investment in semiconductors, electric vehicles, aerospace, pharmaceuticals and advanced manufacturing.

The ripple effects extend far beyond factory floors.

Railroads, trucking companies, ports, industrial developers and warehouse operators are investing heavily to accommodate growing cross-border trade. Demand is also rising for automation, robotics and industrial software as manufacturers seek to offset higher labor costs while improving productivity.

For businesses, the economics are changing.

A shorter supply chain allows companies to reduce inventory, respond more quickly to customer demand and lower exposure to disruptions ranging from port congestion to geopolitical conflict. Those benefits increasingly outweigh the savings that once came from locating production thousands of miles away.

China remains a critical manufacturing hub, but the strategy has evolved.

Rather than abandoning Chinese production entirely, many corporations are adopting a “China Plus One” approach—maintaining operations in China while building additional capacity elsewhere to diversify risk. The objective is no longer finding the cheapest country. It is avoiding dependence on any single one.

Investors are also beginning to recognize a broader trend.

The companies benefiting most from nearshoring are not limited to manufacturers themselves. Industrial real estate, engineering firms, automation providers, logistics companies, construction contractors and infrastructure suppliers all stand to gain as businesses continue investing in regional production networks.

The broader business story is that supply chains are becoming strategic assets rather than cost centers. Corporate America is no longer optimizing only for efficiency—it is optimizing for certainty. In a world where geopolitical shocks can disrupt production overnight, proximity, flexibility and resilience are becoming just as valuable as low-cost labor.

That transformation may ultimately prove to be one of the defining business shifts of the decade.

JBizNews Desk | Washington

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

An investigation by the Yerushalayim District Fire and Rescue Service has concluded that children playing with an open flame accidentally started the fire that tore through a supermarket in Ramat Beit Shemesh last month. Investigators also found that the business was operating without required fire safety approvals or fire protection systems that could have limited the damage.

According to the findings, the July 19 blaze began inside one of the supermarket’s rooms while the store was open and conducting business as usual. Investigators determined that children playing with fire inside the building ignited the blaze.

The supermarket was located on the ground level of an eight-story residential building. Firefighters succeeded in bringing the fire under control before it spread into the apartments above, preventing what could have become a far more serious tragedy. No injuries were reported.

The investigation further determined that the supermarket was operating without a permit from the Israeli Fire and Rescue Service. Officials also found that the building lacked fire detection and fire suppression systems, which they said could have contained the flames, prevented the fire from spreading, and significantly reduced the damage.

Fire officials said the incident highlights the ongoing problem of businesses and buildings that fail to comply with mandatory fire safety regulations, stressing that meeting those standards is essential to safeguarding both lives and property.

The Fire and Rescue Service also urged parents to educate their children about the dangers of playing with fire and to ensure that matches, lighters, and other ignition sources are kept out of their reach. Officials warned that the combination of children playing with fire and inadequate safety measures can easily lead to catastrophic consequences.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (VINnews) — A Nashville bookstore has canceled a planned book launch for Jewish author and photographer Alyssa Rosenheck after facing criticism online from anti-Zionist activists, prompting a debate over free speech, antisemitism and public pressure on independent businesses.

Rosenheck, whose book White. Blonde. Jew is scheduled for release later this month, said the bookstore informed her it would no longer host the event after receiving backlash on social media. The launch had been scheduled for Aug. 20.

In a statement posted online, Rosenheck said she was disappointed by the decision, arguing that Jewish authors should be free to discuss controversial topics without fear of being silenced. She said the incident raises broader questions about free expression and whether authors can openly share viewpoints that some find unpopular.

The book explores antisemitism, Jewish identity and Rosenheck’s experiences visiting Israel and communities affected by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. It also includes conversations with survivors, former hostages, families of victims and Israeli public figures.

Following the cancellation, Rosenheck said she plans to announce a new Nashville venue for the event. She said ticket holders for the original program will receive refunds.

Bell Bird Books owner Mary Ann Weprin later addressed the controversy in a public statement, saying the decision was driven by safety concerns rather than opposition to Rosenheck or her views. Weprin said the bookstore, a small neighborhood business, was not equipped to handle an event that appeared likely to require increased security.

Weprin rejected accusations of antisemitism, saying hatred toward Jews has no place in society. She added that the bookstore intends to carry Rosenheck’s book because readers should be free to decide for themselves.

The cancellation drew criticism from several supporters of Rosenheck, including actress Patricia Heaton, who accused the bookstore of yielding to pressure from online activists.

The Anti-Defamation League also criticized the cancellation, arguing that campaigns targeting Jewish authors over their views on Zionism risk marginalizing Jewish voices in the public square.

The dispute is the latest example of growing tensions surrounding discussions of Israel, Zionism and antisemitism in cultural and literary spaces since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

BRUSSELS (VINnews)-Iran’s chief rabbi says war and government restrictions complicate daily life for the country’s Jews, but the community can still practice its religion and maintain its institutions.

Rabbi Yehuda Gerami, speaking during a visit to Brussels for a meeting of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States, told The Wall Street Journal that his focus remains on Jewish life rather than politics.

“I’m not a politician. What interests me is Jewish life, not politics,” Gerami said.

He estimated Iran’s Jewish population at about 20,000, though independent assessments place the figure closer to 8,000 to 10,000. Synagogues, ritual baths and other religious needs remain available, he said.

“Whatever the Jewish community needs, it exists in Iran,” Gerami told the newspaper.

The community, one of the oldest continuous Jewish diasporas, has shrunk dramatically from more than 100,000 before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iranian Jews face limits, including a ban on contact with relatives or friends in Israel, which Gerami acknowledged puts people under stress.

The ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States has added further strain, he said. Still, Gerami described long-standing peaceful coexistence with Muslim neighbors and noted that Iranian synagogues generally do not require the security measures common elsewhere.

“Interestingly, in Iran we’ve always lived in peace with the Muslims,” he said.

Gerami, born in Tehran after the revolution, studied in Jerusalem and later received rabbinic ordination in Baltimore. He has served as chief rabbi since 2011 and holds both Iranian and American citizenship.

He frames the decision of many Jews to remain as rooted in birthplace and Iranian culture.

“We know the culture and are proud of the culture,” he said.

Community observers note that the remaining population has become more religiously observant over time, which some believe has helped sustain institutional continuity under the Islamic Republic.

Gerami’s public role often involves carefully navigating the political environment, including past statements distancing Judaism from Zionism and affirming loyalty to Iran. Those moves are widely understood as protective of the small community that still operates synagogues and holds religious ceremonies, such as weddings, inside the country.

“I’m not a messenger for anybody in the world. I’m a messenger for my community,” he said.

Israeli researchers have identified a biological mechanism by which a widely prescribed, decades-old medication appears to block cancer from spreading to other organs — a finding the team says could open the door to a low-cost treatment built entirely from drugs already sitting on pharmacy shelves.

The peer-reviewed research, conducted at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot and published in July in the journal Cancer Research, shows that sildenafil interferes with the cholesterol supply that cancer cells depend on when they migrate to new tissue. Deprived of that cholesterol, the cells lost the ability to metastasize.

Dr. Yarden Ariav led the work in the laboratory of Prof. Ayelet Erez, a practicing physician who also serves as dean of Weizmann’s Miriam and Aaron Gutwirth Medical School. The project brought in researchers from Prof. Eytan Ruppin’s lab at the U.S. National Cancer Institute, the Innovation Division of Clalit Health Services — Israel’s largest health provider — and clinicians and scientists at Rabin Medical Center.

Sildenafil was originally developed as a cardiovascular medication because of its effect on blood vessels, and it remains in use for conditions including pulmonary hypertension. It is off-patent, inexpensive and available worldwide, which is a central part of why the Israeli team believes the finding can move quickly from the laboratory toward patients.

How the mechanism works

Using high-resolution cellular imaging, the researchers tracked what happened inside tumor cells in real time. The drug rapidly blocked an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5, which in turn produced a surge in a chemical messenger known as cyclic GMP. That messenger trapped the protein responsible for ferrying cholesterol through the cell — effectively cutting off the fuel line metastatic cancer cells rely on to invade other organs. The result was a significant drop in the number of metastases.

The cancer cells did not surrender easily. Once the transported cholesterol was locked away, the tumor cells switched on their own internal production line to manufacture more of it. That is when the researchers added statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs taken by more than 200 million people globally according to Johns Hopkins University. The two medications worked in tandem, holding cholesterol down and keeping the cancer from spreading.

Laboratory testing concentrated on triple-negative breast cancer, melanoma and lung cancer, using mouse models alongside cultures of cancer cells taken from human patients.

Confirmed against 20 years of patient records

The laboratory results were then tested against real-world data covering roughly five million Clalit members over two decades — an unusual advantage of Israel’s centralized digital health records, which have made the country a repeated testing ground for population-scale medical research.

Dr. Samah Hayek, senior epidemiologist at Clalit Health Services and a senior lecturer in Tel Aviv University’s Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, examined outcomes for cancer patients who had been taking these medications in the six months before their diagnosis. Survival rates were highest among patients who had been on both sildenafil and statins during that window. Hayek said the epidemiological analysis adjusted for a wide range of confounding factors and still matched what the Weizmann team had observed in the laboratory.

The patient data confirmed the mouse findings for lung, colon and prostate cancer, Erez said.

Dr. Ido Wolf, head of the oncology division at Tel Aviv Medical Center and head of Tel Aviv University’s medical school, who was not involved in the research, said the study identifies a previously unrecognized vulnerability in metastatic disease — the dependence of migrating cancer cells on cholesterol, and the possibility of disrupting how that cholesterol moves inside the cell. He noted that the authors backed the mechanism with population-scale clinical data, and said the findings demonstrate the potential for “rapid drug repurposing” using well-established, widely available medications.

What comes next

Erez said the priority now is a clinical trial testing the approach in women with triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease with limited treatment options. Because both medications are already approved and long established in clinical use, the regulatory path is considerably shorter than for a newly developed compound — the difference between a trial that can begin in the near term and a drug development cycle that typically runs a decade or more and costs billions.

Erez also drew a broader conclusion from the work: that oncology research focused narrowly on tumor mutations and the tumor’s immediate environment is missing part of the picture. Diet, physical activity and the other medications a patient is already taking all belong in the equation, she said, and patients should be evaluated as whole organisms rather than as isolated tumors.

JBizNews Desk | Rehovot, Israel

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

New Jersey’s ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines will remain in effect after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit granted a stay of its recent ruling while the state’s petition to the U.S. Supreme Court moves forward.

In a statement issued Tuesday, New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport welcomed the decision, saying the stay ensures the state’s 36-year-old law will remain in force as litigation continues.

“We are thrilled that the Third Circuit this morning stayed its ruling in our assault weapons/large-capacity magazines case while our petition to the U.S. Supreme Court proceeds,” Davenport said. “That ensures this 36-year-old law will remain in place as litigation continues — providing much-needed stability on the ground. We will continue to stand up for common-sense gun-safety laws in court.”

The legal challenge centers on New Jersey’s longstanding restrictions on assault weapons and magazines capable of holding large numbers of rounds. The Third Circuit’s stay means the existing law will continue to be enforced until the Supreme Court determines whether it will hear the case and any further proceedings are completed.

TRENTON, N.J. (VINnews) — New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon.com on Tuesday, accusing the online retailer of abusing its market power over third-party delivery contractors to suppress competition and harm workers.

According to court records, the lawsuit alleges that Amazon uses its dominance to impose low pay and poor working conditions on drivers who deliver packages for the company through its Delivery Service Partners program.

Davenport’s office contends that these practices allow Amazon to maintain unfair advantages in the delivery market while disadvantaging independent contractors who rely on the company for work.

Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the lawsuit.

The case is the latest legal challenge New Jersey has brought against the e-commerce giant over its labor and business practices.

IDF intelligence officers told lawmakers during a classified briefing Monday that two central factors are behind Hamas’s growing willingness to move toward the second phase of the agreement, according to an i24NEWS report.

The first factor is Israel’s movement of the “Yellow Line,” which significantly unsettled Hamas’s leadership. The second is Hamas’s assessment that developments involving Iran are not progressing as it had expected, together with growing concern that the IDF’s operational focus will return to the Gaza Strip.

Despite those signs of flexibility, the intelligence officers told lawmakers that Israel’s security establishment does not believe Hamas intends to relinquish its hold on the territory. Their assessment is that Hamas will not genuinely surrender control of Gaza, but will instead continue ruling from behind the scenes.

A senior Israeli official stressed that “there will be no withdrawal of any kind by the IDF from the current Yellow Line without the genuine disarmament of Hamas.”

The proposal also drew sharp political reactions. Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot said leaving Hamas in power in Gaza would amount to “the Netanyahu-Smotrich doctrine of preferring Hamas rule that led to the October 7 disaster.” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said that “the draft agreement published by the ‘Board of Peace’ is unacceptable to Israel.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration is simultaneously pursuing a long-term agreement to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program while also working on a separate, short-term arrangement aimed at keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and safe for international shipping.

Speaking about the ongoing negotiations, Rubio emphasized that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains the administration’s overriding objective.

“I think there’s two things to talk about when there’s a deal,” Rubio said. “There’s the big deal, which is the one that has to do with their nuclear ambitions.”

Rubio reaffirmed President Donald Trump’s position that Iran must never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.

“They can never have a nuclear weapon. The President’s been clear about that. So the denuclearization of Iran is the ultimate deal,” Rubio stated.

At the same time, he explained that the administration is giving immediate attention to protecting maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most strategically important waterways for global energy shipments.

“I think the immediate deal, the one that you see a lot of focus on, is the Straits,” he said. “There are ships moving through the Straits. There’s oil moving right now through the Straits, and the Straits are open.”

Rubio said the United States is participating in discussions involving Oman and Iran that are intended to improve the security of commercial vessels passing through the strait while negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program continue.

“I think that there’s a conversation and a negotiation that we are involved in between Oman and Iran on how more ships can be able to go through there safely in the short term as we move towards these longer-term talks about denuclearization,” he said.

While cautioning that no agreement has been finalized, Rubio said the negotiations have moved in a positive direction.

“There’s been progress made in those talks, but not finality yet. We’re hoping that will happen very shortly.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran is considering allowing European countries to remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz, a potential shift that could help restore commercial shipping through the critical waterway and support broader negotiations with the United States, Bloomberg reported.

Tehran has repeatedly stated publicly that it would not permit foreign countries to participate in demining operations. However, Iranian officials have softened that position during private discussions in recent weeks, according to diplomats familiar with the matter.

Allowing European minesweeping vessels into the strait could provide shipping companies and insurers with an independent assurance that the waterway is safe, following more than five months of military conflict. The move could also help advance diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war.

The proposal remains in its early stages and has been discussed between Iranian officials, mediators and European governments. The matter was also raised during talks on Tuesday over what could become a short-term arrangement to ease the standoff.

Iran-Oman discussions have focused on permitting renewed commercial shipping through the strait, while the United States is seeking guarantees that the route will remain safe enough for energy supplies to move again.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

UPDATE: Over 250 donors – so far – will be receiving this Gebentched coin from Rav Sternbuch Shlita!

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

(NOTE: TLS has independently verified the legitimacy of this campaign)

https://thelakewoodscoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/wa-1783870753496-egnrtp.mp4

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

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

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

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

– The Posek Hador, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch, shlita

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://thelakewoodscoop.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/wa-1783870753496-egnrtp.mp4

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

WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews)-U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Tuesday declined to pause a $655.5 million judgment against the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization stemming from attacks that killed and wounded Americans in Israel during the Second Intifada.

Sotomayor rejected the request without explanation and without referring it to the full court. The decision allows collection efforts to continue while the Palestinian Authority and PLO prepare another appeal. It does not constitute a ruling by the Supreme Court on the merits of that appeal.

The organizations had asked the court to freeze the judgment, arguing it should not have been revived after previously being overturned. They also warned that enforcing the award now could worsen the Palestinian Authority’s financial difficulties and disrupt schools, hospitals, sanitation and security services in the Judea-Samaria region.

The lawsuit was filed by American victims and relatives of those killed or injured in shootings and bombings in and around Jerusalem between 2002 and 2004. A New York jury found in their favor in 2015 and awarded $218.5 million in damages, which was automatically tripled under U.S. anti-terrorism law to $655.5 million.

The focus on the defense relationship between Israel and India is usually on Israeli exports. However, a new report by Amnesty International reveals a new angle, showing that no fewer than 2,596 shipments of weapons, ammunition, parts and components were transferred from India to Israel between October 7, 2023 and November 30, 2025.

The roots of these supplies lie in the activities of Israeli defense companies, led by Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael, which have adapted to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Made in India” policy. This policy is intended to increase local independence, and in recent years India has even tightened the self-reliance requirements and set a threshold of at least 50% local production.

This situation has not affected India’s position as the most prominent customer of Israel’s defense industries. Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that about 29% of Israel’s defense exports in 2021-2025 were to India, which remained Israel’s number one defense export destination despite the huge deal to sell the Arrow 3 system to Germany for $3.5 billion. 21% of Israel’s defense exports between 2021-2025 were to Germany, SIPRI reports.

SIBAT (International Defense Cooperation Directorate) at the Ministry of Defense data show that Israeli defense exports in those years totaled $71 billion.

From India to the Mediterranean

The Israeli seen as the central figure leading the defense relationship with India is Ministry of Defense director general Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram. Last June, he paid a working visit to India, where he met with the Minister of Defense, the Secretary of Defense, and other senior officials. About a week later, at the Herzliya conference, he explained, “The war has sharpened the cost of Iranian empowerment for all parties in the region. It has created an identity of interests to form a broader alliance — from India, through the UAE to Greece and Cyprus.”

In some cases, Amnesty has been able to locate the Israeli customers of shipments from India, most notably Elbit, which received 155mm shells and warheads for the Skystriker — a loitering munition it manufactures that the IDF uses extensively.

What the countries mentioned by Baram have in common is a staunch defense relationship with Israel. Thus, among other things, during the war with Iran earlier this year, Israel sent Iron Dome systems to the UAE. Cyprus operates Israeli-made systems such as IAI’s Barak MX and Greece recently decided to procure air defense systems from Israel for around euro3.5 billion.

The shipments continue

As far as India is concerned, an analysis conducted by Amnesty based on official records from New Delhi shows that India has shipped to Israel 390,516 small arms parts, 564,970 explosive ammunition components — such as warheads for drones and artillery shell casings — and 298 military vehicle parts. The analysis of the data did not include shipments for civilian use, or components and ammunition for air defense systems.

Amnesty identified Indian arms and ammunition exports to Israel, including parts and accessories, using international item classifications known as HS codes 93 and 8710. Code 93 includes a wide range of weapons and ammunition, while code 8710 includes armored vehicles, tracked vehicles and related parts. As part of Amnesty’s traditional critical tone towards Israel, the report accuses India of having “critical structural failures” in its compliance with international standards, including “Lack of an explicit requirement for human rights due diligence.”

Amnesty notes that India abstained from voting on the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty in 2013, and has not joined it since. India’s motive lies in its desire to maintain versatility, as also reflected in SIPRI data. India ranks second in the world’s defense importers after Ukraine, and the breakdown of Indian imports in 2021-2025 illustrates the diversity of its interests, with Russia at the top of the list of suppliers with 40%, France with 29%, and Israel with 15%.

Amnesty also notes that despite embargo measures taken by various countries against Israel, it continued to benefit from arms shipments from countries such as the US and Germany. Surprisingly, arms shipments in some cases also passed through countries like Slovenia and France, even though President Emmanuel Macron is pursuing an aggressive policy against Israel’s defense industries.

This post was originally published on here.

Saudi Arabia is pursuing behind-the-scenes diplomacy aimed at containing renewed hostilities with Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis and preventing the conflict from threatening the kingdom’s oil industry and broader economy, Bloomberg reported.

Riyadh has held indirect discussions with the Houthis through mediators from Oman, according to people familiar with the matter. At the same time, Saudi officials are continuing to prepare military options in case those diplomatic efforts fail.

Saudi Arabia carried out limited strikes against Houthi positions for two consecutive days in late July, but has not repeated the action as it seeks a negotiated solution with the group, which controls most of northern Yemen.

The kingdom has held intermittent, Oman-mediated talks with the Houthis since a 2022 ceasefire. Riyadh is seeking to restrain the group and protect its interests in the Red Sea, a crucial route for Saudi oil exports, particularly while the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed.

The Houthis, meanwhile, are pressing Saudi Arabia for economic concessions. Their demands include Saudi funding for the salaries of some Yemeni civil servants and the removal of restrictions on goods and people entering Houthi-controlled territory.

The group has portrayed its recent actions as a response to what it describes as a Saudi “siege” on Yemen, pointing to restrictions at ports and airports and a Saudi strike on Sanaa’s airport last month.

Iran has publicly characterized the Red Sea confrontation as a local dispute between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, even as Iranian state media has celebrated the clashes as part of the wider regional “resistance.”

Analysts said the Houthis remain closely aligned with Iran but must also consider domestic sentiment inside Yemen. Yemenis are viewed as less supportive of launching a military campaign on Iran’s behalf than of operations framed around the Palestinians, leading the group to present its actions through a Yemeni nationalist message.

The diplomatic effort reflects Riyadh’s determination to avoid returning to a prolonged military confrontation while preserving pressure on the Houthis and protecting vital shipping and energy interests.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel’s bus fleet now numbers 25,962 vehicles, with Swedish manufacturer Volvo remaining the country’s largest supplier. However, Chinese manufacturers continue to expand their presence, accounting for a significant share of both the overall fleet and new bus registrations.

According to newly released figures, Volvo leads the market with 4,802 buses, representing approximately 18.5% of Israel’s total fleet. Mercedes-Benz ranks second with 4,197 buses, or about 16.2%.

Chinese manufacturers also hold a substantial share of the market. Golden Dragon ranks third with 3,358 buses, followed by Higer with 2,611, underscoring the growing role of Chinese-built buses alongside long-established European brands.

A total of 2,229 new buses entered service during 2025. Higer led all manufacturers with 578 new registrations, followed closely by Mercedes-Benz with 551. Volvo added 258 new buses, while Golden Dragon registered 222. Other Chinese manufacturers also posted notable figures, including Yutong with 135 new buses and BYD with 70.

Of Israel’s nearly 26,000 buses, 24,124 are classified as public transit buses, accounting for almost 93% of the country’s fleet. The remainder includes 1,092 privately operated buses and 746 tour buses.

The average age of Israel’s entire bus fleet is approximately 5.2 years. Public transit buses are slightly newer, averaging about five years old, while privately operated buses have an average age of 6.1 years. Tour buses are the oldest segment, with an average age of more than 10 years.

By seating capacity, the largest category consists of buses with 51 seats or more, totaling 12,308 vehicles, or roughly 47.4% of the fleet. Another 8,609 buses have between 21 and 40 seats, while 3,309 buses accommodate up to 20 passengers.

Among the major manufacturers, Higer has the youngest fleet, with an average vehicle age of less than two years. Golden Dragon also maintains a relatively young fleet. In contrast, buses produced by MAN and Yutong have average ages exceeding seven years.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A record number of Israeli citizens left the country in 2025, according to a new study by Tel Aviv University published Monday, raising concerns over the long-term impact of continued emigration on Israel’s economy and society.

The study found that 90,922 Israelis left the country for at least three consecutive months in 2025, continuing a sharp increase that began in 2023. Researchers said the trend remained at historically high levels.

The research was conducted by Prof. Itai Ater of Tel Aviv University’s Coller School of Management, Prof. Nittai Bergman, head of the university’s School of Economics, and doctoral student Doron Zamir. The team analyzed data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Council for Higher Education, the Health Ministry’s professional licensing records and the Israel Tax Authority.

The researchers defined emigrants as citizens who remained abroad for at least three consecutive months. New immigrants were counted only if they had lived in Israel for at least three years before leaving.

According to the study, 268,509 Israeli citizens left the country between 2023 and 2025. The figure included 86,509 departures in 2023, 91,499 in 2024 and 90,922 in 2025.

By comparison, only 183,219 Israelis left for similar periods between 2013 and 2015. During the decade from 2010 to 2019, the annual average was about 60,000 departures.

The researchers estimated that 45,000 to 50,000 Israelis who left in 2025 are likely to remain abroad for at least a year, similar to figures recorded in 2023 and 2024.

The study warned that continued emigration could eventually affect key sectors of the Israeli economy, particularly high-tech, medicine and academia, which rely heavily on skilled professionals.

Unlike countries with abundant natural resources, Israel’s economy depends largely on human capital, the researchers noted. Previous studies by the team found increased departures among doctors, engineers, academics and individuals with advanced degrees.

Despite the concerning numbers, researchers cautioned against immediate alarm, saying the current level of emigration does not yet pose a direct threat to Israel’s economic stability or national resilience.

However, Prof. Ater warned that continued deterioration could create serious long-term consequences.

“Looking ahead, if nothing changes, there is growing concern that emigration from Israel will increase to a level that endangers Israel’s security and economy,” he said.

The researchers added that additional political, economic or security crises could accelerate the trend, creating a cycle in which rising emigration encourages more people to leave.

“Once emigration rises above a certain threshold, reversing the trend will be extremely difficult, perhaps impossible,” they said, warning that the broader economic consequences could be significant.

A housing lottery launched last week for 209 affordable apartments as part of a huge new mixed-use community taking shape in East New York. The available units at 882 Fountain Avenue are part of the second phase of the Alafia development, a new 27-acre neighborhood with thousands of apartments and health and wellness amenities. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, and 70 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $830/month studios to $2,745/month three-bedrooms.

Alafia. Courtesy of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Apex Building Group, L+M Development Partners, RiseBoro Community Partnership, and Services for the Underserved (S: US) are developing Alafia as part of New York State’s Vital Brooklyn initiative, a plan to build 4,000 homes in Central Brooklyn and address health and economic disparities.

The site is located in the Spring Creek section of East New York, adjacent to Gateway Center and the 407-acre Shirley Chisholm State Park. Upon completion, Alafia will create about 2,400 affordable apartments on a pedestrian-friendly campus with open space designed by SCAPE.

The campus also has 50,000 square feet of commercial and community facility space, including the new One Brooklyn Health medical facility, more than 20,000 square feet of open and “urban agricultural” space, and several thousand square feet of retail space.

SCAPE will design more than six acres of the open space. The firm incorporated active and passive recreation areas, including a playground, sports court, dog park and community farm, according to their website.

A fitness loop traverses the public park at the center of the complex, while bridges connect to “Community Creek,” a demonstration garden that will operate alongside on-site Meals on Wheels services.

Centered around wellness, Alafia will offer on-site supportive services for vulnerable residents. These will include workforce training for careers in the culinary industry, green jobs and entrepreneurship.

Supportive housing residents will also have access to social services, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health challenges, youth aging out of foster care, older adults and veterans.

Sustainability is also a key focus, with all residences designed to meet green building standards and feature energy-efficient appliances, including Passive House design principles.

An on-site urban farm will produce up to 180,000 pounds of fresh produce annually. The harvest will be used in Alafia’s food production space, providing residents with access to fresh food.

Nearby public transit options include the B12, B84, and Q8 buses.

Qualifying New Yorkers can apply for the apartments until September 25, 2026. Complete details on how to apply are available here.

RELATED:

• Lottery opens for 169 affordable apartments in Morris Heights, from $777/month
• See plan to add 1,100 apartments and new park across from the Intrepid Museum in Hell’s Kitchen
• East Village parking lot to become 130-unit affordable housing project

The post East New York affordable development opens lottery for 200+ units, from $830/month first appeared on 6sqft.

A major milestone is underway for the Sanz-Zmigrad kehillah in Boro Park as construction has officially begun on a brand-new bais medrash on 50th Street.

Demolition work just started on the old building, making way for a much larger and more spacious structure that will serve the growing kehillah.

The project comes after years of steady growth, with the current bais medrash often filled to capacity. The new building will be constructed on the site of the existing bais medrash together with an adjoining property that was purchased by the kehillah years ago in preparation for future expansion.

During construction, bais medrash’s has been moved to the nearby Chasan Sofer Yeshiva.

The plans call for a beautiful new and expanded bais medrash, along with a new residence for the Rebbe. The kehillah is hoping to have the first phase ready for use by the upcoming Yamim Noraim, with additional construction continuing afterward.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Gabe Einhorn says he never intended for the controversy surrounding Austin Franco, a job applicant who refused to work for a Jewish employer, to escalate to the point where Franco was reportedly asked to leave his parents’ home.

Is it insane to get kicked out of your own home for saying you don't want to work for Jews?

For sure.

But this situation has clearly escalated since the Piers Morgan appearance, and I can only assume that pushed his parents over the edge.

My goal was never to get this kid… pic.twitter.com/e8wS8Rbi71

— Gabe Einhorn (@EinhornGabe) August 3, 2026

Franco first drew national attention during an appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored, where he repeated his statement that he did not want to work for a Jewish employer. The controversy intensified Sunday when his story appeared on the front page of the New York Post.

Einhorn, a young Jewish entrepreneur, had previously shared messages in which Franco declined a job opportunity, saying he did not want to work for a Jew. The exchange quickly went viral, drawing widespread attention and condemnation.

“My goal was never to get this kid kicked out of his house,” Einhorn wrote in a post on X. “It was never to ruin his life.”

Piers Morgan speaks to the Ivy League student who went viral for saying ‘he’s not interested in working for Jews’.

'You've doubled down – you're proud of it! And for that reason, I don't give a TOSS what happens to you!'

Full interview dropping at 7pm (BST)…@piersmorgan pic.twitter.com/zw2Aofn3i7

— Piers Morgan Uncensored (@PiersUncensored) July 28, 2026

Einhorn said he shared the exchange because he believed it highlighted the reality of antisemitism, not because he wanted to damage Franco’s personal life.

Addressing reports that Franco was later asked to leave his parents’ home, Einhorn said he was not in a position to judge their decision. At 24 years old and without children of his own, he said he could not pretend to know what it is like to raise a family or offer parenting advice.

Still, he said the episode should serve as a reminder for parents to pay close attention to the people and online content influencing their children. He warned that social media algorithms can expose young people to hateful ideologies and misinformation, sometimes leading them to embrace dangerous beliefs.

Einhorn said his own parents led by example rather than forcing their beliefs on him, an approach he said made a lasting impact. He ended his message by encouraging parents to tell their children they love them and to remain actively involved in their lives.

Degel HaTorah is weighing whether to end its longstanding partnership with Agudas Yisrael and run independently in the upcoming elections, according to an i24NEWS report.

The discussions come amid sharp disagreements over the draft law. Degel HaTorah officials believe that actions taken by Agudas Yisrael representatives could prevent the legislation from advancing when the Knesset returns for its next session, while several Chassidish representatives currently oppose any compromise.

In recent days, Degel HaTorah held internal meetings to reconsider its alliance with Agudas Yisrael. The two factions currently run together as United Torah Judaism under an agreement that divides influence, positions and political power equally between them.

During one closed-door meeting, senior Degel HaTorah figures reportedly voiced unusually harsh criticism.

“There is no reason in the world that they should receive the same as us,” MK Moshe Gafni said. “They destroyed the draft law for us. The time has come to separate from them, unless the Gedolim say otherwise.”

MK Uri Maklev said, “They acted and did things even against the Gedolei Yisrael.”

MK Yaakov Asher added, “If this is their path, then let them continue without us.”

A split could have significant consequences for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s bloc following the elections. Netanyahu has reportedly been involved in efforts to ensure that the two factions continue running together.

Degel HaTorah is also seeking to change the balance of power within United Torah Judaism and gain greater political influence, which it believes could make it easier to reach a compromise on the draft law.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak has pushed American consumers away from packaged supermarket greens and toward local growers, producing a rare demand shift that is filling farmers markets while leaving supermarket produce cases and the farms that supply them absorbing the loss.

The CDC, FDA and state health officials are investigating a multistate outbreak of Cyclospora infections linked to iceberg lettuce across nine states, after Taylor Farms initiated a July 17 recall of all iceberg lettuce sourced from central Mexico. The recall included Marketside-brand iceberg salad and shredded lettuce sold at Walmart with best-by dates running from July 18 to August 3, along with a list of products distributed to food service customers. The agency is separately tracking other cyclosporiasis illnesses nationally that are unrelated to this outbreak.

The scale has unsettled shoppers well beyond the recalled product. The CDC has said other lettuce brands are safe, but with more than 11,000 cases still awaiting analysis nationwide — including over 2,500 in Ohio — consumers are not taking chances. More than 8,000 people have been sickened in Michigan alone. As of mid-July, close to 150 people had been hospitalized across 34 states. A total of 1,644 people infected with Cyclospora who reported exposure to Taco Bell have been reported by five states, with illness onset dates from May 13 to July 13.

The investigation’s own reversals have compounded the confusion. A lettuce sample from Taylor Farms de Mexico initially reported positive on July 18 was re-reviewed by FDA laboratory experts, who concluded the finding did not represent true amplification and should be treated as a false positive. That correction left shoppers without a clear answer about what is safe to eat, and the investigation and recall remain open.

Local vendors have absorbed the redirected demand. A vendor at the East Lansing Farmers Market in Michigan reported a very large increase in foot traffic with heavy lettuce buying, and said customers are asking more questions about exactly where produce originates. In Louisville, sellers at the Gray Street Farmers Market said business picked up as consumers looked for alternatives to national suppliers. An Ohio grower said leafy greens are moving fast because customers can see the face of the person who produced them.

For the roughly 140 Greenmarkets and dozens of independent farm stands across the New York region, the same pattern applies — and the timing lands in peak Hudson Valley and New Jersey lettuce season, when regional growers have volume to sell and short delivery distances to work with. Independent grocers and bodega operators sourcing from regional distributors have a similar opening, provided they can document origin.

The cost is landing on conventional growers who have done nothing wrong. A Salinas Valley farmer said he chopped up 300,000 pounds of romaine hearts and plowed them back into the soil despite no evidence his crops carried the parasite, and his operation, Coastline Family Farms, which supplies major grocery chains and restaurants nationally, has seen orders fall by as much as 30%.

The pullback extends past lettuce entirely. Sales have also declined for cauliflower, carrots, spinach and Brussels sprouts, and even salad dressing has taken a hit. Taco Bell sales dropped 25% in the week after an outbreak was tied to lettuce served there. Growers caution that the shift toward farmers markets accounts for only a small portion of the overall retreat from fresh greens — most consumers are simply buying fewer vegetables, which is a larger problem for the category than any single recall.

Whether the substitution actually reduces risk depends on specifics. Kalmia Kniel, a professor of microbial food safety at the University of Delaware, said produce bought directly from the farmer who grew it is lower risk, though that depends on where the produce actually originates and on the individual farmer’s practices. Food-safety lawyer Bill Marler recommends intact heads of lettuce and whole fruits and vegetables over bagged, boxed or pre-cut items, because centralized chopping, washing and packaging can spread contamination from a small quantity of produce across a much larger batch.

The consistent expert message is not avoidance. Specialists urge people to keep buying and eating produce from either channel, to wash items thoroughly under running water, to scrub firm produce such as melons and cucumbers, and to keep raw meat separate from vegetables.

For retailers, the durable question is whether traceability becomes a selling point customers will pay for once the outbreak subsides.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley has invited former Special Counsel Jack Smith to testify before the committee next month as Republicans intensify their investigation into Smith’s handling of Operation Arctic Frost and what they describe as the weaponization of the Justice Department against President Donald Trump.

Grassley announced Monday on X that he has asked Smith to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Sept. 22, saying the American public deserves a full accounting of the investigation.

“Im inviting Jack Smith 2 testify before Senate Judic Cmte on Sept 22,” Grassley wrote. “American ppl deserve nothing less than full transparency+ accountability for Arctic Frost and special counsel lawfare.”

According to Politico, Smith has agreed to testify, provided the Justice Department gives its approval.

In a letter, Smith’s attorneys, Lanny Bruer and Peter Koski, defended his record as special counsel, saying he carried out his responsibilities in accordance with department rules and legal standards.

They wrote that Smith “steadfastly followed Justice Department policies, observed applicable legal requirements, and took actions based on the facts and the law” while serving as special counsel.

The attorneys also said Smith welcomes the opportunity to testify publicly in order to “correct the many mischaracterizations” regarding his work.

Grassley has spent months leading a Senate inquiry into Operation Arctic Frost, the federal investigation that examined efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Republicans have become increasingly critical of the investigation after learning that Smith’s team secretly obtained telephone records and text messages involving Republican lawmakers and other GOP figures.

According to Grassley, investigators subpoenaed the phone toll records of approximately a dozen Republican senators, collected text messages from more than 40 members of Congress, and obtained private communications and financial records involving hundreds of Republican individuals and organizations.

“In the process of a deeply flawed, weaponized investigation, Jack Smith subpoenaed phone toll records from a dozen senators, scooped up text messages from over 40 members of Congress, and subpoenaed the private communications and financial records of hundreds of other Republican entities and individuals,” Grassley said in a statement.

“He needs to answer directly to Congress for his actions,” the Iowa Republican added. “Smith must be honest and forthcoming in his answers, because the American people deserve nothing less than full transparency and accountability.”

The Hill previously reported that Grassley revealed last year that Smith’s investigation sought the phone records of 10 Republican senators and at least one member of the House of Representatives.

Grassley has since disclosed that the Justice Department informed him communications involving 44 lawmakers and White House staff members were also reviewed during the course of the investigation.

Smith last appeared before Congress in January, when he testified before the House Judiciary Committee and defended the criminal investigations into Trump, maintaining that the evidence justified the charges that were brought.

Those federal prosecutions were later dismissed after President Trump won the 2024 election, consistent with longstanding Justice Department policy prohibiting the prosecution of a sitting president.

The Sept. 22 hearing is expected to become another major confrontation over the Justice Department’s investigations into Trump, with Republicans preparing to challenge Smith’s investigative methods while Democrats are expected to argue that the former special counsel acted in accordance with DOJ policy and the rule of law.

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (VINnews) — TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — A civilian whose actions were captured on video during Saturday’s deadly shooting outside an Idaho In-N-Out Burger said in an ABC News interview that the gunman’s confidence “immediately crumbled” after he returned fire, a confrontation police say likely prevented additional casualties.

Jordan Salinas, 35, said he was driving with his girlfriend near the Twin Falls restaurant when they noticed people running from the area. As they approached, Salinas said he saw a man later identified as 24-year-old Chad Williams standing with a rifle pointed toward passing vehicles.

“I saw the individual with his rifle pointed at the vehicles,” Salinas told ABC News. “He seemed unusually comfortable aiming that rifle at those cars.”

Video recorded by a bystander and widely shared online shows Salinas taking cover behind a roadside sign before stepping out and firing his handgun toward the gunman. Authorities have not said whether any of Salinas’ shots struck Williams.

Salinas said he immediately instructed his girlfriend to call 911 while he assessed the unfolding attack. Carrying a legally owned FN Five-seveN semiautomatic pistol, he moved behind cover before returning fire.

“As soon as some rounds started coming at him, everything changed immediately,” Salinas said. “All that bravado he had immediately crumbled.”

According to investigators, Williams had opened fire outside the restaurant, killing two people and wounding seven others. Authorities said he later fled toward a nearby parking lot, where he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Twin Falls Police Chief Shannon Hicks said Sunday that the actions of Salinas and an off-duty law enforcement officer who also confronted the gunman disrupted the attack and likely saved lives.

“We believe these actions drove the suspect from the scene and prevented further casualties,” Hicks said during a news conference.

Police have not determined whether Williams was struck by gunfire from either Salinas or the off-duty officer, but investigators said the exchange forced him away from the crowded restaurant area.

The two people killed were identified as Christopher Claunch, 59, and Ashley Garibay, 23, an In-N-Out employee. Five of the seven people injured remained hospitalized Sunday, including two in critical condition, authorities said.

Salinas, a healthcare worker who is also the full-time caregiver for his disabled brother, said the shooting marked the first time he had ever aimed his firearm at another person.

He told ABC News he had prepared for such a scenario after witnessing the aftermath of the 2021 shooting at Boise Towne Square mall, where two people were killed and several others were wounded.

“I hoped I would never have to use that training,” Salinas said.

Authorities said Williams had previously attended the College of Southern Idaho but did not graduate. Investigators are reviewing his background and online activity as they work to determine a motive for the attack.

The shooting has drawn national attention not only because of the deadly attack but also because of the actions of Salinas and the off-duty officer, whose intervention came before responding officers arrived.

Law enforcement agencies generally advise people confronted with an active shooter to flee if possible, hide if escape is not an option and fight only as a last resort. Police in Twin Falls said the actions of Salinas and the off-duty officer helped interrupt the attack under extraordinary circumstances.

The investigation remains ongoing.

The next competitive advantage for many large companies may not come from a new product, acquisition or artificial intelligence. It may come from something investors rarely celebrate: regulatory compliance.

As Washington expands oversight across trade, cybersecurity, healthcare, financial reporting, privacy, environmental standards and supply chains, compliance is evolving from a back-office legal function into one of Corporate America’s fastest-growing operating expenses. Companies are hiring more compliance professionals, investing in monitoring technology and redesigning internal systems—not because those investments generate revenue, but because failing to make them can become significantly more expensive.

The shift is occurring across nearly every major industry.

Manufacturers are strengthening supply-chain documentation to comply with expanding trade enforcement and forced-labor rules. Financial institutions continue investing heavily in anti-money-laundering systems, sanctions screening and cybersecurity. Healthcare providers face growing reporting and privacy obligations, while public companies are expanding internal controls and governance as regulators increase scrutiny of disclosures and operational risk.

The business impact extends well beyond avoiding fines.

Compliance has become a prerequisite for winning government contracts, entering regulated industries, securing financing and completing mergers and acquisitions. Buyers increasingly evaluate cybersecurity, internal controls, regulatory history and governance practices during due diligence, while lenders are placing greater emphasis on operational risk before extending credit.

That is changing capital allocation.

Executives once viewed compliance spending as an unavoidable cost. Increasingly, boards are treating it as an investment in protecting enterprise value. A single regulatory failure can trigger lawsuits, enforcement actions, reputational damage, customer losses and management distraction that far exceed the cost of prevention.

Technology companies are among the biggest beneficiaries.

Demand continues growing for governance software, identity management, cybersecurity, risk analytics, compliance automation and document management systems that help businesses satisfy increasingly complex regulatory requirements. Consulting firms, law firms, accounting firms and managed security providers are also seeing stronger demand as organizations seek outside expertise rather than build every capability internally.

Small and midsize businesses face a different challenge.

Unlike large corporations with dedicated compliance departments, many smaller companies must absorb new regulatory requirements with limited staff and tighter budgets. As a result, outsourced compliance services are becoming a rapidly expanding segment of the professional-services industry, allowing businesses to meet regulatory expectations without building large internal teams.

The broader business story is that regulation is increasingly shaping competition.

Companies that adapt quickly can enter new markets faster, complete acquisitions more efficiently and respond to regulatory changes with less disruption. Those that treat compliance as an afterthought often discover the cost only after an investigation, lawsuit or failed transaction.

Corporate America has always invested to grow. Increasingly, it is investing just as heavily to remain compliant. In today’s economy, protecting enterprise value is becoming almost as important as creating it—and that shift is quietly reshaping where billions of corporate dollars are being spent.

JBizNews Desk | Washington

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

WASHINGTON (AP) — An association of thousands of FBI agents and other groups are backing a lawsuit filed by three bureau employees who were fired last year for their roles in an investigation into President Donald Trump’s efforts to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election.

A legal brief by the FBI Agents Association is one of five filed by outside parties in the last week in support of the agents, who were terminated as part of a broader personnel purge by FBI Director Kash Patel that has targeted employees who investigated Trump or are perceived as being against the administration’s interest.

Taken together, the filings, including from former FBI and Justice Department alumni, underscore a concerted and bipartisan pushback to the waves of terminations that have roiled the FBI in the last year and a half as Patel has sought to remake the bureau in his own image.

The briefs argue that the firings were illegal because the agents were denied due process and punished for perceived political affiliation, and say the terminations contradict decades of expectations that the bureau’s “apolitical, professional career corps of agents” can work on sensitive cases without putting their careers at risk.

“The Bureau simply cannot function if individual Special Agents must choose whether to accept a lawful assignment that could later get them fired, or alternatively to reject it and become subject to firing for insubordination. FBI Special Agents have long understood that they are subject to assignment and reassignment at any time based on the needs of the Bureau,” the agents association, which serves nearly 12,000 members, wrote in its brief.

A brief filed by former senior Justice Department officials says the firings have undermined a “half-century of independence as a guiding principle.”

“Putting aside the resulting violation of Plaintiffs’ rights, the inevitable impact of this ‘purge’ will be to chill the independence of remaining and future career agents, attorneys, analysts, and other staff at the FBI, DOJ and other law enforcement agencies who must now act with the understanding that their investigative and law enforcement judgments can, for the first time in their careers, be assessed through a partisan political lens,” the brief states.

The three agents — Michelle Ball, Jamie Garman and Blaire Toleman — said in a federal lawsuit filed in March that they were fired in a “retribution campaign” targeting them for their work on the investigation into Trump. The agents performed “exemplary and unblemished” service in the FBI and expected to spend the remainder of their careers at the bureau but were abruptly fired without cause and without being given a chance to respond, the lawsuit says.

The investigation the agents worked on culminated in an indictment from special counsel Jack Smith that accused Trump of scheming to overturn the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Smith ultimately abandoned that case, along with a separate one accusing Trump of illegally retaining classified records at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, after Trump won back the White House in 2024, citing Justice Department legal opinions that prohibit the federal indictments of sitting presidents.

Patel and Pam Bondi, who was the attorney general at the time, have said the fired agents and prosecutors who worked on Smith’s team were responsible for weaponizing federal law enforcement, a claim that was also asserted in their termination letters but that the plaintiffs call defamatory and baseless.

The filings are known in the law as amici, or friend-of-the-court, briefs. They are sometimes submitted by outside parties in lawsuits to help stress particular arguments or inform a judge’s thinking.

Other groups who submitted briefs include a collection of First Amendment Scholars, a group called Lawyers for the Rule of Law, and Justice Connection, a network of department alumni that warned in its filing that a “politicized” FBI could turn against citizens because of their speech, association or perceived disloyalty.

“The Constitution,” the filing said, “is designed to prevent precisely this kind of abuse.”

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A fire aboard a subway maintenance train at a Manhattan station early Tuesday injured 14 people, including eight Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers and six firefighters, officials said.

The fire broke out shortly before 2:30 a.m. on a southbound work train at the Astor Place station in the East Village, sending thick smoke throughout the station and prompting an emergency response.

Firefighters evacuated passengers after a northbound train arrived at the station during the incident. No passengers were reported injured.

At approximately 2:15 a.m. Tuesday, the FDNY responded to reports of a fire involving a four-car MTA work train at the Astor Place subway station in Manhattan.

Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy smoke at both street and station level from the fully involved vacuum… pic.twitter.com/NxxG3I0KOG

— FDNY (@FDNY) August 4, 2026

According to the FDNY, the blaze originated on a four-car vacuum train used to remove debris, dirt, and other materials from subway tracks. Officials said the fire appeared to be concentrated in one section of the train where debris is collected, though the exact cause remains under investigation.

Subway service on the 4 and 6 lines was temporarily suspended while crews extinguished the fire and cleared the smoke. Service resumed later Tuesday morning, although commuters experienced delays.

The injured workers and firefighters were treated for minor injuries, authorities said.

NEW: Heavy smile poured out of Astoria Subway station in NYC early this morning.

Six MTA workers and five firefighters hospitalized after a second-alarm fire on a vacuum train at subway station in NoHo, Manhattan just before 2:15 a.m.

Video by Dakota Santiago | Licensing… pic.twitter.com/gwHTyQXwB4

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) August 4, 2026

Tuesday’s Democratic Senate primary in Michigan is shaping up as a defining moment for the Democratic Party, with a victory by Abdul El-Sayed poised to deliver one of the most significant victories yet for the Democratic Socialists of America and the party’s progressive wing.

If El-Sayed prevails, he would become one of the movement’s most prominent elected officials and could wield considerable influence in the Senate should Democrats regain control of the chamber next year. In a battleground state narrowly won by President Donald Trump in 2024, his nomination would also suggest that the party’s leftward shift has expanded well beyond coastal strongholds and into the Midwest.

Recent surveys indicate El-Sayed, the former public health director for Detroit and Wayne County, has established a sizable advantage over four-term Rep. Haley Stevens. An Emerson College poll found him leading 54% to 39%, while Mitchell Research showed a 52% to 38% edge. The RealClearPolitics polling average places him ahead by roughly 10 percentage points, and prediction markets have also made him the clear favorite.

Much of El-Sayed’s support comes from younger voters and progressive Democrats, while Stevens has maintained stronger backing among older voters and many Black voters.

El-Sayed has secured endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, every member of the congressional “Squad,” the United Auto Workers, and organizers affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, who have invested significant resources in the race.

Although El-Sayed has participated in DSA events and embraces many of the organization’s domestic policy priorities—including Medicare for All, universal childcare, a higher federal minimum wage, and eliminating the Senate filibuster—he has maintained that he is “not technically or practically DSA” and says he supports a regulated capitalist system rather than socialism.

That distinction has done little to quiet critics or diminish enthusiasm within the DSA, whose leaders view the Michigan contest as another test of their strategy of winning Democratic primaries and reshaping the party from within.

One of the campaign’s most contentious issues has been Israel. El-Sayed has repeatedly characterized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as genocide, described the Israeli government as “as evil as Hamas,” called for an immediate and comprehensive arms embargo against Israel, and has declined to explicitly affirm Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state. He has also argued that U.S. aid to Israel should instead be directed toward domestic priorities such as education and healthcare.

Those positions earned him the first-ever U.S. Senate endorsement from Jewish Voice for Peace Action.

Stevens, meanwhile, has received strong backing from pro-Israel organizations, including substantial independent expenditures from a super PAC affiliated with AIPAC. The heavy spending has helped make the Michigan contest the third most expensive Senate primary in U.S. history.

Many establishment Democrats and centrist independents argue that El-Sayed’s positions could prove politically damaging in a closely divided swing state. Former Rep. Cheri Bustos warned that nominating a “far-left socialist candidate” could cost Democrats another key election.

Jonathan Cowan, president of the centrist group Third Way, argued that El-Sayed would need to distance himself from the Democratic Socialists of America, affirm Israel’s right to exist, and abandon his previous support for “defund the police” policies if he hopes to defeat Republican Mike Rogers, who is running unopposed for the GOP nomination.

Stevens has also attracted endorsements from Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and the Congressional Black Caucus, all of whom argue she represents the party’s strongest option in the general election.

Polling for a potential November matchup generally shows Stevens running even with Rogers, while El-Sayed has often trailed the Republican in hypothetical head-to-head surveys.

Should El-Sayed capture both the nomination and the Senate seat—and Democrats regain control of the chamber—he would emerge as one of the most prominent national advocates for the Democratic Socialists’ agenda, including Medicare for All, wealth taxes, and an anti-Zionist foreign policy, mirroring the influence New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has built in New York.

Democratic leaders worry that such an outcome could further distance moderate voters and independents from the party. Supporters of the Democratic Socialists, however, see the Michigan primary as an opportunity to demonstrate that their movement can win not only in traditionally liberal urban centers, but also in one of the nation’s most competitive battleground states.

Michigan Democrats will decide Tuesday which vision of the party they want to carry into November.

TEL AVIV (VINnews) – Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a low-cost blood test that uses optical analysis of cell-free DNA to detect lung cancer, according to findings published in the journal npj Precision Oncology.

The method extracts cell-free DNA from a blood sample, labels it with fluorescent substances and scans it on a specialized chip with light. This produces a pattern of illuminated dots that a computational model compares against 170 genomic regions to identify cancer signatures. The approach can also distinguish between non-small cell lung cancer and the more aggressive small cell lung cancer subtype.

In an initial study of 103 participants — 51 patients with stage 2 to 4 lung cancer and 52 healthy controls — the test achieved 93.1% sensitivity in detecting cancer cases and 90.3% specificity in correctly identifying healthy individuals. Early observations suggested the test may also help monitor treatment response. In one patient who responded to therapy, the DNA signature shifted toward patterns seen in healthy people, while it remained largely unchanged in a non-responding patient.

The test costs roughly $60 per sample and can deliver results within two to three days. Researchers say it is intended as an accessible complement to low-dose CT scans for earlier diagnosis and monitoring, rather than a replacement.

“Instead of sequencing it, our method uses light to detect a cancer signature, at less than one-tenth the cost of a sequencing-based test,” said Prof. Yuval Ebenstein of Tel Aviv University’s School of Chemistry and Department of Biomedical Engineering, who led the work.

The study involved collaboration among researchers from Tel Aviv University, JaxBio Technologies, Bnai Zion Medical Center, the English Hospital in Nazareth, Sheba Medical Center and Bar-Ilan University. JaxBio Technologies, founded to advance the technology, has raised $12 million and is conducting clinical trials at hospitals in Israel and Europe.

The test remains in the research phase. Larger validation studies across diverse populations are needed before any routine clinical use, the researchers said. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, and early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes.

FNIDEQ, Morocco (AP) — It started with Instagram posts that suggested Spain’s border with Morocco was opening up. Then came Facebook users tracking coast guard patrols and TikTok videos showing where to swim.

After many shares and comments, thousands of Moroccans became convinced that Europe was suddenly within reach.

Within hours, young people began heading toward the border with the Spanish territory of Ceuta in North Africa. Packed buses rolled into the neighboring Moroccan city of Fnideq. Regional trains filled up. Taxis did too.

By the time authorities reacted, an estimated 60,000 people had reached Ceuta in just a few days, the largest migration surge between Morocco and Spain in years. More than 80 migrants died on both sides of the border, including some who drowned and others who were killed in a stampede, authorities said.

Nearly all of the surviving migrants soon returned, but the fallout from last week’s events will linger.

Rumors started online
In the northern Moroccan city of Larache, about 93 miles (150 kilometers) from Ceuta, three friends watched a video posted by an Instagram account called Haraga Ceuta claiming the border would be open. Haraga refers in Moroccan dialect to young migrants who destroy their identification papers and try crossing illegally into Europe.

The post convinced Anas Amrani, Yahya Harak and Ismail Atik that it was worth risking the journey.

For migrants hoping to reach Spanish territory, the most common route begins in Fnideq, where many attempt the roughly 3-mile (5-kilometer) swim around the border breakwater. Others leave from the nearby village of Belyounech.

One TikTok video mapped the exact route swimmers should follow.

On Facebook groups such as Fnideq Bab Sebta, users shared screenshots from vessel-tracking platforms to identify moments when coast guard patrols appeared lighter. Some sought advice on using inflatable boats. Others advertised wetsuits for sale.

“I saw online that the border was open, and I decided to go,” said 17-year-old Omar Danbor from Fnideq, walking back exhausted along the coast.

It’s unclear who was behind the claims that the border was open or who operated many of the social media accounts, several of which were deleted soon after the crossings. The Associated Press contacted several accounts but received no response.

Chaos unfolded at the breakwater
As migrants reached the shores of Ceuta, mass chaos erupted at a narrow concrete breakwater where many tried to climb onto land.

According to multiple migrants interviewed by AP, people rushed to scramble over the slick rocks at the same time, pushing and climbing over one another. Several said they saw people knocked back into the water and forced beneath others, leaving them unable to resurface as migrants sought to reach land.

“I stepped on the face of a dead man while I was climbing out. I hope God forgives me and all those whose bodies were found,” said Lahcen Kalouch, a Moroccan migrant who reached Ceuta before returning home distraught.

At least 72 people died on the Spanish side of the border. Another 11 died on the Moroccan side.

Tens of thousands of migrants have since returned to Morocco, either after being expelled or leaving by choice because of a lack of shelter, food and water in Ceuta.

Some misinterpreted Spain’s new migration measures
Some migrants misunderstood recent legal developments in Spain, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s immigration regularization measures and a court ruling limiting authorities’ ability to immediately return migrants who swim into Ceuta.

Sánchez’s recent efforts to regularize migration were meant only for people already living in Spain prior to Jan. 1, the majority of whom hail from Latin America and entered Spain legally but overstayed their visas. But some in Morocco misinterpreted his policy, believing they would be allowed to stay. That belief spread online.

“Pedro Sánchez is a liar. He told us if we came, we would get jobs and papers, but they sent us back,” said Adam Assil, a migrant from Casablanca, even though Sánchez never made such a promise.

While attempts to reach Ceuta are common, migration activists said this episode was different because of the way rumors snowballed online, encouraging thousands of people to head toward the territory at the same time instead of in smaller, scattered groups.

Failures happened on both sides of the border
Moroccan authorities said the migration wave was not spontaneous. The Interior Ministry blamed the “exploitation of the digital sphere” and “the spread of misinformation.” Officials offered no evidence but said an investigation had been opened. Spain’s government made similar statements.

Ceuta officials said they had warned the Spanish government of a surge in arrivals before the massive crush on Thursday. The Spanish Interior Ministry said Monday that it had not received “any report or warning regarding the mass arrival of people in Ceuta,” and it praised cooperation with the Moroccan authorities in sending most of the migrants back.

“Nobody addressed how these individuals managed to breach the border,” said Mustapha Azaitraoui, a Moroccan geographer specializing in migration dynamics. “If a large group of people can cross the border under these circumstances, it suggests a broader security issue that has yet to be acknowledged publicly.”

Migrants reject government claims of smuggling
Both Morocco and Spain blamed the Ceuta crisis on human smugglers and trafficking networks, saying organized criminal groups encouraged the mass crossings.

But returning Moroccan migrants interviewed by AP largely rejected that explanation.

“No one smuggled me there. I wanted to go of my own free will, but that country is not worth all this sacrifice,” Kalouch said.

“There are no mafias. The border was open, and I crossed. But now I regret it,” said Danbor, his clothes still wet after making the journey back.

The Spanish Interior Ministry said investigations into smuggling networks are ongoing and noted that Spain and Morocco have carried out joint operations against trafficking groups. The Moroccan Interior Ministry did not respond to questions about smuggling networks.

Several politicians and experts have suggested it would be impossible for so many to cross without Moroccan complicity. A high-ranking Moroccan diplomat appeared to push back against that.

“It would be reductive to say that Morocco should have used force to stop the migrants,” said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue is highly sensitive in Morocco. “We are not Europe’s police.”

The lack of jobs is a key factor
Morocco’s economy is projected to grow by 4.5% this year, boasting major factories, advanced ports and ambitions to become a regional hub for the car industry.

Yet for many young Moroccans, that transformation has not translated into stable work. Youth unemployment remains high, with 37% of people ages 15 to 24 out of work. Among university graduates, unemployment stands at nearly 20%. The dream of migration is often reinforced by stories of relatives who left and returned with cars, new clothes and foreign currency.

One of those who breached the border was a 16-year-old who grew up a few dozen miles from Ceuta. Europe had always seemed a dream close enough to see, yet impossibly far.

So when he saw a post on Facebook suggesting the border was open and thousands were making it across, he joined the rush.

Days later, he was back on the Moroccan side, crying as he asked strangers for money for a taxi home.

“They fired tear gas at me and beat me with batons. There’s nothing for me there,” said the teen, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of being stigmatized following his failed border crossing attempt.

“I just wanted to provide for my mom,” he said, wiping his tears.

A half-billion-dollar bond backed by rent-stabilized apartments across four New York City boroughs has become the clearest test yet of whether institutional capital will keep financing the city’s regulated housing stock — and the numbers are not encouraging.

The commercial-property bond, secured by the mortgage on 53 buildings in Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan and the Bronx, has accumulated more than $5.5 million in past-due interest after payments to its riskiest tranches came up short. Analysts at KBRA Credit Profile now value the properties at roughly $460 million, against an appraisal of about $717 million when the bonds were sold five years ago — a gap implying losses of more than $80 million for bondholders. Bondholders escalated foreclosure efforts against the portfolio last month in an attempt to salvage their position.

The underlying loan has been troubled for two years. JPMorgan Chase originated the $506.3 million mortgage in 2021 as part of a single-borrower securitization backed by 3,531 rental units across the four boroughs. The loan carried a June 9, 2024 maturity date and required an expensive interest rate cap to secure an extension. Servicer KeyBank issued a notice of default to borrower A&E Real Estate on June 11 of that year. Roughly 85 percent of the portfolio’s units are rent regulated, concentrated in Upper Manhattan, the Bronx and parts of Queens, and the loan failed to meet its 5.6 percent minimum debt yield requirement needed to exercise extension options. A $93.7 million mezzanine loan sits behind the senior debt, and the portfolio’s largest asset is Riverton Square in Harlem, a 1,200-unit complex that is about 80 percent rent-regulated.

Morningstar DBRS placed the loan on review for downgrade in October, noting that occupancy across the portfolio has stayed above 85 percent since 2019 while expense growth outran rent growth, partly because of the increase caps set by the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019.

Onto that already-strained arithmetic lands the rent freeze. The city’s Rent Guidelines Board voted 7-1 in late June to freeze rents on both one-year and two-year leases covering roughly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments, about 27 percent of the housing stock across the five boroughs. The freeze takes effect October 1 and runs through September 30, 2027. It marks the first time in the board’s history that both lease terms received a zero percent increase, and the first freeze since the 2019 overhaul eliminated many of the mechanisms owners previously used to raise rents on vacated units.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigned explicitly on the promise and has pledged to pursue a freeze in every year of his term. Tenant advocates argue the relief is overdue in a city where housing costs have outrun wages for a decade, and the board’s own vote reflected that view decisively.

Owners and lenders read the same policy as a solvency question. The Community Preservation Corporation estimates that if rents stay frozen through all four years, average net operating income per stabilized apartment citywide would fall from about $4,508 to $2,929 — before debt service. In the Bronx, home to the largest concentration of stabilized units, the figure would swing from $266 to negative $1,313. A building generating negative operating income cannot fund a new roof, let alone a mortgage payment.

The distress is not confined to one portfolio. KBRA found New York City multifamily distress reached 14.4 percent, split sharply by building age: properties built before 1974, which include most rent-stabilized stock, showed a 25.1 percent distress rate by balance against 2.9 percent for post-2000 properties. Manhattan led the boroughs at 29.8 percent, followed by Queens at 7.5 percent and Brooklyn at 3.2 percent. A separate bankruptcy auction covering roughly 5,200 rent-stabilized apartments drew a $450 million floor bid from Israeli firm Summit Real Estate Holdings against the owner’s own $826 million valuation — a 46 percent gap.

For tri-state property owners and the lenders who finance them, the practical question is what a stabilized building is worth when its income is capped by policy while insurance, labor, fuel and water charges are not. Every discount to the last appraisal resets the borrowing base for the next refinancing, and small owners without institutional balance sheets feel that tightening first.

Where the buildings end up matters as much as who takes the loss. Foreclosure transfers ownership; it does not repair a boiler or fund a facade. Whether the next owner of these 53 buildings arrives with fresh equity and a maintenance plan, or simply a lower basis and the same squeezed income, will say more about the future of the city’s regulated housing than any single bond’s recovery rate.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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

Wayfair reported its strongest domestic growth and best cash generation since the pandemic boom on Tuesday, and Wall Street treated the numbers as the clearest evidence yet that American households have started buying furniture again after two years of holding off.

Sales in the Boston-based retailer’s largest market grew 8.7% to $3.1 billion in the three months ended June 30 — the most that region has expanded since 2020, when the home goods industry surged and Wayfair’s business grew 55%. Free cash flow reached $301 million, also the strongest since 2020.

Total revenue rose 7.5% year over year to $3.52 billion, ahead of the roughly $3.47 billion analysts expected, with adjusted earnings of $0.95 a share against a $0.92 consensus. Adjusted EBITDA came in at $242 million, a 6.9% margin, beating the $230 million estimate. Operating margin was 3%, up from 0.5% a year earlier, and free cash flow swung from negative $106 million in the prior quarter.

Orders delivered totaled 10.6 million against estimates of 10.3 million, and active customers reached 21.7 million versus expectations of 21.5 million, according to StreetAccount. Average order value was the one soft spot at $332, below the $337.57 anticipated. That still marked an increase from $328 a year earlier, and the company closed the quarter with $1.1 billion in cash and equivalents. Trailing twelve-month revenue per active customer rose 4.2% to $596.

The Share-Gain Story

Management was explicit that the growth is coming out of competitors’ hides rather than from a healed housing market. Finance chief Kate Gulliver told CNBC the company is taking share primarily from traditional brick-and-mortar rivals while the housing market remains “stalled.” That distinction matters for reading the print as an industry signal: existing-home turnover is the single largest driver of furniture purchases, and it has not recovered.

The luxury end is doing the heaviest lifting. Co-founder and CEO Niraj Shah said specialty retail brands grew by nearly 20% in the quarter and Perigold, the company’s high-end banner, grew more than 35%, calling it the best sequential second-quarter growth since 2020. Gulliver said higher-income consumers continue to drive demand.

The split runs through the whole report. While U.S. revenue climbed $251 million, international net revenue fell 1.3% to $394 million. Adjusted gross profit rose to $1.06 billion from $986 million a year earlier, and adjusted EBITDA improved from $205 million.

Guidance and the Stock

On the earnings call, Wayfair guided to high single-digit revenue growth for the third quarter with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 6% to 7%. Executives also noted that trailing twelve-month stock-based compensation is down roughly 40% from two years ago, and said contribution margin should come in at or slightly better than the second quarter.

Shares jumped 19.03% to $106.31 in premarket trading, according to Benzinga Pro. The stock held those gains into the open, surging nearly 19% in early trading. Part of that move is mechanical: the short float stands at 14.75 million shares, or 18.38% of the publicly traded float — an exceptionally high level of short interest.

The setup explains the violence of the reaction. After first-quarter results, analysts broadly acknowledged improving execution and share gains but cut price targets anyway on a soft home-furnishings category and thin near-term catalysts — Citi to $95, Mizuho to $90, Baird to $76, Morgan Stanley to $110. Goldman Sachs went to $79 with a Neutral rating and TD Cowen to $75 with a Hold. Tuesday’s print arrived against expectations that had already been marked down.

The Caveats

Wayfair, a pandemic darling, has been working to return to consistent growth and better profitability while the broader home goods market stays under pressure from tariffs, a sluggish housing market and a cash-strapped consumer. The longer arc is less flattering than the quarter: active customers have declined at a 2.2% annual rate over the past two years, even after the 700,000 added in the second quarter.

Profitability also remains a non-GAAP story. On a GAAP basis the company lost $2.44 a share in 2025, and its only annual GAAP profit since its 2014 listing came in 2020. The first quarter of this year produced a $105 million net loss despite $151 million in adjusted EBITDA.

What Tuesday establishes is narrower than a category recovery but more durable than a beat: a domestic consumer at the upper end who is spending on the home again, and an operator converting that into cash for the first time in five years. Whether the rest of the market follows depends on the housing turnover that Gulliver says is still stalled.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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

photos: Issac G.

U.S. equities opened sharply higher Tuesday morning, with the Dow and S&P 500 pushing into record territory as blowout earnings from two very different corners of the American economy — AI software and heavy machinery — collided with fresh signals that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen within days.

As of 10:15 a.m. Eastern, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 659.82 points, or 1.24%, at 53,838.23, building on Monday’s record close. The Nasdaq Composite led the majors, adding 407.29 points, or 1.57%, to 26,321.19. The S&P 500 was up 0.97%, on pace for a record close of its own, while the Russell 2000 gained 0.64% to 3,001.02.

The rally extends Monday’s advance, when the Dow settled at an all-time high of 53,178.41 after gaining 693.38 points, the S&P 500 closed at 7,600.50 and the Nasdaq finished 2.1% higher at 25,913.9. Monday’s move marked a sharp reversal from July’s technology-led selloff as investors regained confidence that heavy artificial intelligence spending is still generating returns.

The catalyst on the geopolitical side came before the bell. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that the United States is in talks with Iran and that an agreement to open the Strait and move toward a more normalized position in the conflict could come Tuesday or Wednesday. Crude reversed hard on the remarks, and the equity market read the same headline as a discount on input costs across transport, chemicals, packaging and retail.

Market Movers

Palantir (PLTR) — Shares ripped more than 23% in early trading after second-quarter results powered by a nearly 150% surge in U.S. commercial revenue. Revenue came in at $1.94 billion against estimates of $1.80 billion, with adjusted earnings of 41 cents a share versus 35 cents expected, and the company raised full-year sales guidance above Street forecasts. Management now expects commercial revenue to grow 134% this year.

Caterpillar (CAT) — The industrial bellwether climbed 8% premarket after beating expectations across the board. Adjusted earnings hit $8.17 a share, up from $4.72 a year earlier and well above the $6.20 consensus, on sales and revenues that rose 24% to $20.5 billion — the first quarter in company history above $20 billion, according to CEO Joe Creed. AI-driven demand at its power-generation business was cited as a key driver.

McDonald’s (MCD) — Up roughly 1.9% on a mixed print: adjusted earnings of $3.38 a share topped the $3.32 consensus, while revenue of $7.1 billion came in just under the $7.13 billion expected.

Merck (MRK) — Gained more than 1% after posting an adjusted loss of 13 cents a share on revenue of $16.61 billion, against expectations for a 27-cent loss on $16.36 billion, and raising full-year revenue guidance.

Pfizer (PFE) — Advanced after earning an adjusted 77 cents a share on $15.03 billion in revenue, beating the 68 cents and $14.41 billion expected, and lifting the low end of its full-year outlook.

On Semiconductor (ON) — Surged 7% on 74 cents a share, ex-items, on $1.6 billion in revenue, ahead of the 71 cents and $1.59 billion expected, with better-than-anticipated margins.

Snap (SNAP) — Rose 5% following its quarterly report.

SpaceX (SPCX) — Up 2.97% ahead of the company’s first quarterly earnings report as a public company, due after the close.

Commodities

Brent traded 3% lower at $81.24 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate lost nearly 4% to $77.22, with both contracts having been higher earlier in the session before Bessent’s comments. Crude had climbed toward $81.80 earlier Tuesday, recovering part of Monday’s sharp losses, as Iran denied that direct talks with Washington are underway while saying discussions with Oman on increasing shipping through the Strait are progressing. WTI settled around $80 on Monday after losing about 5%.

Supply-side news added to the pressure: Turkey and Iraq extended a key oil pipeline agreement by another year, Kazakhstan resumed crude flows through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium after a brief disruption, and OPEC+ approved another modest production increase, completing the restoration of cuts introduced in 2023.

Gold rose 1.34% to $4,145.50 an ounce.

Rates

Treasury yields followed oil lower. The 10-year note yield fell more than four basis points to 4.635%, the two-year slipped more than six basis points to 4.194%, and the 30-year bond shed three basis points to 5.199%.

What’s Ahead

After the close, results arrive from SpaceX and Advanced Micro Devices, along with Arista Networks, Amgen, Gilead Sciences, Booking Holdings and Emerson Electric. Analysts are projecting second-quarter revenue of $11.28 billion and adjusted earnings of $1.61 a share from AMD.

The broader earnings picture has been the quiet support underneath the move. Bank of America Securities puts the second-quarter beat rate at its highest going back to 2021, with 77% of S&P 500 companies reporting above expectations.

The caution is that the market has traded this script before. Vital Knowledge founder Adam Crisafulli noted that investors are keeping their enthusiasm in check, with the view that the conflict likely has further to run before any resolution.

JBizNews Desk | Wall Street

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

To the TLS readers:

As the summer season is in full swing, many families are enjoying well-earned vacations and making wonderful memories together. Baruch Hashem, those who have the opportunity to get away should appreciate the bracha and enjoy their time.

At the same time, I’d like to offer a gentle reminder for all of us to be mindful of others.

There are many families who, for financial reasons or other personal circumstances, simply cannot take vacations. Some are struggling to cover basic expenses, while others are dealing with illness, family challenges, or situations that make traveling impossible. For them, seeing a constant stream of vacation photos and updates across WhatsApp statuses, social media, and even family chats can be painful and create unnecessary agmas nefesh.

This isn’t a call for anyone to stop enjoying themselves or to hide their simcha. Rather, it’s an appeal to exercise sensitivity. Not every beautiful moment needs to be broadcast. Sometimes, choosing to share a little less is an act of kindness toward those who may be hurting quietly.

Our community prides itself on caring for one another. Just as we are careful with our words, we should also be thoughtful about what we choose to display publicly. A little consideration can go a long way.

May we all continue to appreciate the blessings Hashem gives us while remaining sensitive to the feelings of those around us.

A simple resident

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

A new report by LinkedIn ranked the top 50 colleges in the U.S. based on how they prepare students for long-term success in their careers based on a range of factors that leverage the career networking platform’s data.

The report uses LinkedIn data to rank colleges based on five categories, including job placement, internships and recruiter demand, career success, network strength and knowledge breadth.

The job placement data tracks cohorts of recent graduates from 2020 to 2025 who start a full-time position or graduate school program within a year of their graduation, while network strength tracks how connected recent alumni cohorts are to each other as well as to all past alumni and current students.

“We’re seeing students think about career success differently than previous generations. They want to build skills, grow their networks and position themselves for a labor market that’s rapidly changing,” said Andrew Seaman, editor-at-large for jobs and careers development at LinkedIn.

“In today’s slower hiring market, professional relationships can make a meaningful difference. Skills and experience remain critical, but a strong alumni network can help open doors throughout a career, whether that’s through internships, mentorship, professional guidance, or new job opportunities,” Seaman added.

Compared with last year’s report, 43 of the top 50 schools, or 86%, returned to the rankings this year, which LinkedIn explained shows the continued strength of institutions that consistently prepare graduates for long-term career success.

Seven new schools debuted in the rankings, including Middlebury College (No. 37), Claremont McKenna College (No. 40), Washington University in St. Louis (No. 42), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (No. 45), Davidson College (No. 47), Williams College (No. 48) and Bowdoin College (No. 49).

There was modest movement in the top 10 compared with last year’s edition of the report, with Princeton and Duke holding firm in the top two spots. Harvard rose to third and Dartmouth to fifth, while Yale returned to the top 10 with a ninth-place ranking.

Federal regulators cleared the smallest member of Boeing’s 737 Max family for commercial service on Monday, closing out one of the longest certification programs in modern aviation and removing the last major regulatory obstacle standing between the planemaker and hundreds of undelivered jets.

The Federal Aviation Administration issued an amended type certificate and an updated Production Limitation Record for the 737 MAX-7 after almost a decade of review, saying the approval followed sustained work to resolve complex technical issues and a full examination of the airplane’s design and supporting safety analyses. Regulators performed or directly reviewed work on flight controls, system safety assessments, human factors, and flightcrew alerting, and required testing, design changes, and additional analysis along the way. Before signing off, the agency required the aircraft to incorporate updates to its flight-control software and flightcrew alerting system, plus a redesigned engine anti-ice system, addressing requirements in the Aircraft Certification, Safety, and Accountability Act and NTSB recommendations.

The anti-ice redesign was necessary after Boeing determined that extended use of the system in dry conditions could overheat part of the engine. The test program dated back to 2018 and ran to more than 1,000 hours of flight and ground testing.

Investors treated the news as a turning point. Boeing shares climbed 7.4 percent to roughly $232 by mid-afternoon Monday, pushing the stock into positive territory for the year at up 5.7 percent since January. The reason is straightforward: manufacturers collect the bulk of an aircraft’s price when they hand it to the customer, making certification the gate that converts backlog into cash.

That backlog is substantial. Boeing said the 737 MAX family order book now exceeds 7,200 airplanes, with more than 2,300 delivered through the end of June. The 737-7 carries 135 to 160 passengers with a range of up to 3,800 nautical miles, and Boeing says it burns about 20 percent less fuel and produces roughly 50 percent less noise than the jets it replaces. Boeing lists 282 unfilled orders for the Max 7, ordered predominantly by Southwest Airlines. Southwest is replacing 286 older 737-700s and expects roughly a 14 percent improvement in fuel burn; Allegiant Air holds 24 orders.

Nobody has waited longer than Southwest. The carrier flies a single aircraft family, which means a delay in one variant reshapes its entire fleet plan. It has kept aging 737-700s in service years past their intended retirement, absorbing the maintenance and fuel penalty that comes with a twenty-year-old airframe.

Relief will not be immediate. Boeing said it and Southwest are preparing the first aircraft for delivery, including bringing already-built jets up to the final certified configuration, and continues to expect the first 737-7 handover in 2027. Southwest has said it needs roughly six months after certification to add the type to its operating specifications. Boeing has built around 30 Max 7s and nine Max 10s, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Stephanie Pope, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said the approval “validates the rigor of our airplane’s design” and credited the development team’s persistence through the pandemic and a shift to new certification procedures.

The oversight does not end here. The FAA said it will keep personnel on site at Boeing facilities across the country to monitor manufacturing and safety practices. That posture dates to the 2018 and 2019 crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, which killed 346 people and prompted the agency to rebuild how it certifies Boeing aircraft.

Attention now moves to the larger variant. The 737-10 remains in certification, having recently completed its final planned certification flight, with safety assessments and FAA review still outstanding. Boeing targets approval in 2026 and first delivery in 2027, though those are company projections rather than agency-confirmed dates. That model competes head-on with the Airbus A321neo and accounts for a sizable share of outstanding Max orders.

For businesses across the tri-state region, the practical effect arrives slowly and indirectly. Slot-constrained airports reward carriers that can right-size aircraft to a route rather than flying a larger jet half-empty, and a more efficient small narrowbody gives airlines room to hold or add frequencies on shorter East Coast segments. Regional aerospace suppliers with content on the 737 line also stand to see order flow steady as Boeing works toward higher monthly output.

Since Kelly Ortberg became chief executive in August 2024, Boeing has pushed an industrial reset centered on quality and production discipline, reacquiring fuselage supplier Spirit AeroSystems and raising output from 38 to 42 aircraft a month, with further increases planned. Monday’s certificate is the clearest evidence yet that the reset is producing results the regulator is willing to sign.

JBizNews Desk | New York

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

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A man from Spokane, Washington, was arrested and charged with setting one of the three devastating wildfires that are burning through the region.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said Aaron F. Farinacci, 37, was arrested Monday and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the largest of the three blazes around Spokane. His bond was set at $1 million.

Together, the fires have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced some 67,000 people to evacuate around the state’s second-largest city. Authorities haven’t stated a possible cause for the other two fires.

The wildfires are still completely uncontained, fire officials said on Monday.

Sheriff says suspect was seen near where fire started
A tip from a community member who saw a nervous-looking man bent by the side of the road near some grass initially led authorities to Farinacci, though they released him after initial questioning, Sheriff John Nowels said Monday night.

Later, when major crimes detectives started investigating using body worn cameras and reports, they again identified Farinacci and determined that the fire had started where the witness had seen him, Nowels said. Farinacci had matches and a butane lighter when he was detained, Nowels said.

“As it happens in so many critical cases, it was citizens who were paying attention to their surroundings, being aware and willing to step up and say something that led to the relatively quick apprehension of Mr. Farinacci,” he said.

Farinacci’s first court appearance will be Tuesday, according to Spokane County Prosecutor Preston McCollam. It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. He has been convicted of felony manslaughter in Arizona.

Some residents are returning to destroyed homes
The Old Trails Fire sparked Saturday northwest of downtown Spokane, eventually jumping over the Spokane River and ripping through neighborhoods.

Earlier Monday, some residents returned to find their homes leveled by wildfires that erupted across a parched landscape over the weekend, covering yards in charred debris. In some cases, only chimneys were left standing.

“There’s nothing to save,” Miriam Sim, 76, said Monday as she and her husband, Daniel Sim, surveyed the ruins of the home where they had lived since 2005.

“At our age, do we want to rebuild?” her husband asked.

Together, the three fires burned about 16 square miles (about 41 square kilometers) by early Tuesday. The sky filled with smoke and haze. Calmer winds and lower temperatures arrived to help firefighters, but it was expected to be hot and dry again by midweek.

In one Spokane neighborhood, blackened vehicles, a boat twisted by the heat and melted plastic recycling bins remained. Across the street, lawns were still green and houses were spared, as residents continued to run hoses or sprinklers to water their properties.

“Hundreds of people have completely lost their homes and farms, and many are prohibited from returning to their homes or neighborhoods as crews continue to extinguish smoldering embers,” the state’s entire congressional delegation wrote Monday in asking President Donald Trump to approve an expedited emergency declaration.

No deaths or major injuries have been reported so far
Cpl. Mark Gregory, a spokesperson for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, said the county initially received nearly 300 reports of missing people, but by Monday they had cleared all but 14.

Those outstanding reports more likely represented people who had not been in contact since evacuating than people who were truly missing or in danger, authorities said.

More than 1,000 firefighters, many from out of state, arrived by Monday, and that number was expected to double in the next few days.

The fires were among dozens across the Western U.S. stretching the ability of federal, state and local agencies to fight them. At least 390 square miles (1,000 square kilometers) has burned across Washington, which has contended with severe drought and a paltry snowpack.

Authorities warned people not to fly drones near the burned areas, saying it could force them to delay aerial firefighting operations.

Homes, cars and possessions have been lost in flames
Angela and Wayde Deatherage, both 49, evacuated shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday with a son, grabbing a few bins of family photos and heirloom rings but not much else. Roughly 30 minutes later, their security camera was sending fire notifications to Angela’s phone.

Wayde Deatherage took some back roads and returned by early evening. He stopped at the end of the street and called his wife: “Our house is done.”

Deatherage, however, wasn’t done with his neighborhood. He propped a hose at another house so it sprayed the property. That home survived.

The couple returned to their property Sunday.

“It’s just ash,” Angela Deatherage said of the home where they had lived for nearly 22 years. “It’s like our house sunk down in the basement. … There’s just so much loss for so many people.”

Karen Faggioli, 61, figured she would be returning to her home. She recalled how other recent fires had been brought under control. But a relative texted her the bad news: Her house and three vehicles were destroyed. A daughter lost her nearby house, too.

“Why cry? What’s crying going to do? I’ve been through so many tragedies myself,” said Faggioli, who is recovering from breast cancer. “This is nothing. Like I told my granddaughter, ‘We’re strong — and now we get all new things.’ I’m emotionally numb.”

Lakewood’s event is taking place next week.

[Video below.] Former Vice President Mike Pence is urging President Donald Trump to abandon diplomacy and authorize additional military strikes against Iran, saying the time has come to “unleash” American forces to eliminate the country’s remaining nuclear capabilities and allow Israel to complete the mission.

During an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “America’s Newsroom,” host Bill Hemmer referenced a recent Fox News poll showing that 48% of respondents believe the United States will ultimately reach no agreement with Iran.

“I want to ask you about Iran. We had a Fox poll that came out about two weeks ago. We asked the question on the ultimate outcome with Iran. The U.S. will reach what good deal, bad deal or no deal. And 48% said no deal. What’s your view?” Hemmer asked.

Pence responded by expressing confidence in Trump’s approach while warning that Iran should view the current situation with concern.

“Well, I have more confidence in President Trump than that. I think the Iranians should be very wary at this moment. Look, I strongly supported the president’s decision to use military force last year. And this year, striking Iran, really for the first time in 47 years, after they voted for continuous war against the United States and the West all those years. But honestly, I think the president, after that first month where our military did a brilliant job taking down 13,000 military sites. I think the president has tried to create room for diplomacy. He’s done that again over this weekend, even as we’re marshaling military assets across the region.”

Pence argued that diplomatic efforts have run their course and said the administration should now shift its focus to military action.

“But I honestly think that the time has come for the president of the United States to unleash the armed forces of the United States, strike the remaining nuclear facilities in Iran, take down and degrade their ability to project force not only in the strait, but across the region. Look, one does not make peace with one’s enemy. One makes peace with one’s defeated enemy. And given their posture and their attitudes and even denying that negotiations are happening, I have every confidence that there will come a moment where my old running mate has had enough, and we ought to turn loose so you can. Right. US military in the world.”

Pence concluded by praising Trump’s leadership style and his previous decision to order military action against Iran, while arguing that the campaign should now be completed with the help of Israel.

“The president I served with is a man of action. He leads from the front. I don’t think you can understate the significance of his decision last year to strike around directly for the first time in the history of our relationship with the regime. In Tehran, unleashing our armed forces in operation at was historic. But now we’ve got to let our armed forces and our ally, Israel, finish the job, and I believe we can.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VINnews/Editorial) – History has taught the Jewish people an enduring lesson: Never forget those who stand with you when it costs them something.

Boy George is not Jewish. He had no personal obligation to step into one of the most polarizing issues of our time. He could have remained silent, avoided controversy, and protected his career. Like so many celebrities, musicians, and entertainers, he could have decided it simply wasn’t worth the risk.

Instead, he chose to speak.

After visiting the Nova Music Festival memorial in London, and hearing firsthand from families devastated by Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre, Boy George wrote We Will Dance Again to honor the victims. He knew the criticism would come. Yet he released the song anyway.

The consequences followed quickly.

His song sparked intense backlash. A longtime business relationship came to an end. He says his music was removed from a major platform. He also stepped away from a high-profile theater production. His song gave voice to victims of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in Israel’s history. That should be applauded, not condemned.. The reality is that standing publicly with Israeli victims came with a significant personal and professional price.

That is precisely why the Jewish community should not remain silent.

Judaism teaches hakarat hatov—recognizing and expressing gratitude. We thank those who stand with us, especially when doing so requires courage.

Boy George is not just another singer. He is an internationally recognized artist whose music has reached audiences for more than four decades. With millions of fans around the world and a global platform, his words carry weight. In today’s world, celebrities don’t simply entertain—they influence public opinion. Their political views are amplified across television, streaming platforms, news outlets, and social media, often shaping how millions of people understand world events.

Too often since Oct. 7, many influential voices in entertainment have remained silent about the Hamas massacre or have hesitated to publicly acknowledge the suffering of Israeli victims. In that environment, Boy George chose a different path. He used his platform to remember those murdered by Hamas and to call for peace.

That took courage.

Imagine if tens of thousands of Jews around the world each took just two minutes to send Boy George a simple message:

“Thank you.”

Thank you for remembering the victims.

Thank you for refusing to stay silent.

Thank you for standing with the Jewish people when doing so was unpopular.

Those words may seem small, but together they would send a powerful message—not only to Boy George, but to every artist, actor, athlete, and public figure watching. They would demonstrate that moral courage is recognized, appreciated, and remembered.

If we hope others will stand against antisemitism, condemn terrorism, and speak up for Israel in the future, then we must also support those who already have. Gratitude inspires courage. It tells the next celebrity, musician, or public figure that standing with the Jewish people will not mean standing alone.

Boy George did not have to stand with the Jewish people.

He chose to.

Now it is our turn to stand with him—and simply say, thank you.
_
If his courage touched you, take a minute to let him know. A short, heartfelt email expressing your appreciation may remind him that his support has not gone unnoticed and that many in the Jewish community are grateful for his willingness to speak out when it mattered most._

Email: [email protected]

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism has published a report examining the funding, activities and affiliations of about 20 U.S.-based organizations it says are involved in campaigns to delegitimize Israel.

The report, released Monday, says the organizations raised more than $250 million in donations between 2020 and 2025. It alleges that some groups maintain direct or indirect links to individuals or entities involved in terrorism, incitement or other illegal activity.

According to the ministry, many of the organizations present themselves as civil society, human rights or educational groups but, in practice, promote anti-Israel campaigns, encourage violence and maintain connections with organizations designated as terrorist groups by Israel, the United States or the European Union.

The ministry said its findings were compiled using publicly available regulatory, legal and financial records. The report describes recurring patterns of cooperation among organizations, financial transfers through intermediary entities and coordinated advocacy campaigns.

The report alleges that some organizations used legitimate charitable donation mechanisms to channel funds toward activities linked to delegitimization campaigns and, in some cases, incitement. It also claims that intermediary organizations were used to transfer resources to parties connected to terrorist organizations.

Among the organizations identified in the report are:

• American Muslims for Palestine, which the ministry alleges has ties to outlawed organizations and has participated in conferences attended by Hamas and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine activists.
• Palestinian Youth Movement, which the report says expressed support for Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
• Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), which the ministry alleges has connections to senior figures in organizations previously linked to Hamas.

The report also names Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, Al-Shabaka, Al-Awda, ISNA Legal Palestine and Adalah-NY, alleging varying degrees of involvement in anti-Israel activism or links to extremist groups. The report notes that Adalah-NY is not affiliated with Adalah – The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel.

The ministry said it plans to share the report with additional U.S. law enforcement agencies and continue monitoring the organizations’ activities. It said the report is intended to provide U.S. authorities with factual information to assist in reviewing the groups’ funding sources and operations.

Two prominent Iranian hardline lawmakers have been removed from senior positions on parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee after reportedly opposing negotiations with the United States.

Ebrahim Rezaei was removed as the committee’s spokesman, while Mahmoud Nabavian was ousted as deputy chairman. Iranian state media published the committee’s new leadership on July 14, one day after parliament resumed work following a four-month recess.

According to opposition outlet Iran International, the move is being viewed as a signal that parliament wants the committee to adopt a more balanced approach and support negotiations with Washington. Both Rezaei and Nabavian had been among the most vocal opponents of talks with the U.S.

Despite losing his leadership role, Rezaei has continued issuing hardline statements. In recent posts on X, he warned that any future conflict would bring a “comprehensive and surprising” Iranian response, threatened attacks on U.S. bases, suggested Iran could reconsider its nuclear doctrine and withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and declared that “no American soldier would return alive” if the U.S. attacked Iran.

Nabavian has likewise continued criticizing engagement with Washington, arguing that previous negotiations brought Iran only “broken promises, deception, and gains for the enemy.” He has also publicly criticized senior Iranian officials involved in diplomacy and vowed to oppose efforts to sideline hardline figures.

The committee’s leadership otherwise remained largely intact, with Ebrahim Azizi retaining his position as chairman. Hassan Kashkavi was appointed the committee’s new spokesman, replacing Rezaei.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Surgeons at Clalit-Beilinson Hospital successfully removed a patient’s sternum and part of her ribs before reconstructing her chest with a custom 3D-printed implant on Tuesday, marking the first time an entire 3D-printed chest cage had been implanted to reconstruct the chest wall in Israel. 

The patient, a woman in her twenties identified as Hadas, underwent the surgery after doctors discovered a tumor eroding her septum. While it initially appeared to be a benign cartilage tumor, extensive testing and examination revealed it to be an exceptionally rare type of sarcoma, a BRAF-altered mesenchymal tumor, which has only been reported in about 20 cases worldwide, according to the medical literature. 

To remove the tumor, surgeons had to remove not just Hadas’s sternum but portions of the ribs attached to it as well. Head of Thoracic Surgery at Clalit-Beilinson Hospital, Dr. Yury Peysakhovich, explained the surgical challenge of replacing what “is essentially the anchor of the entire chest.”

“If reconstruction is not precise, both respiratory mechanics and protection of the heart and lungs can be compromised. Every breath, cough, or physical movement places significant stress on this area, making it one of the most complex reconstructions in thoracic surgery,” Peysakhovich said. 

Surgical team chooses PEKK 3D-printed implant instead of traditional options

To make the replacement sternum as precise as possible, the surgical team rejected traditional reconstruction materials such as synthetic mesh, titanium plates, or bone cement, instead electing to use a fully customized 3D-printed chest implant designed specifically for the patient’s anatomy. 

The implant was made of PEKK (polyether ketone ketone), a high-performance carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, which was chosen as it combines strength with flexibility in a way that closely resembles natural bone, according to the Head of Orthopedic Oncology at Clalit-Beilinson Hospital, Dr. Israel Weiss. 

Weiss explained that the flexibility is particularly important for reconstructing a part of the body that constantly moves while breathing. Additionally, the material also allows surrounding tissue to gradually integrate with the implant over time. 

The surgery took about two hours, during which the surgeons removed the diseased bone and replaced it with the custom-designed implant through a discreet incision beneath the breasts designed to minimize visible scarring and improve the cosmetic outcome. 

Hadas has since been discharged and is recovering well at home. 

“Rare cases require creative solutions. The combination of advanced 3D-printing technology and close collaboration between multiple surgical specialties allowed us to offer this patient a solution that simply wasn’t available only a few years ago.” Peysakhovich said. 

This post was originally published on here.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked key parts of a New York law that sought to prohibit federal immigration officers from wearing face masks and require them to display visible identification while conducting official operations, ruling that the state likely lacks the authority to regulate how federal agents perform their duties.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Mae D’Agostino of the Northern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction preventing enforcement of those provisions as the lawsuit challenging the law moves through the courts.

In her decision, D’Agostino concluded that the challenged sections are likely unconstitutional because they intrude on federal law enforcement authority. The ruling applies to operations conducted by agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The judge wrote that establishing policies governing the conduct of federal officers is exclusively the responsibility of the federal government, meaning New York cannot impose its own requirements on federal agents carrying out official responsibilities.

“New York cannot impose its own uniform requirements on federal agents simply because it disagrees with how the Federal Government is exercising its authority,” the ruling stated.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James criticized the court’s decision and said they are exploring their next legal steps.

“While the court enjoined enforcement of New York’s mask ban, we stand firm in our belief that masked agents do not make New York safer and our offices are reviewing all legal options at this time,” the pair said in a joint statement.

Although D’Agostino blocked the mask and identification provisions, she declined to halt another section of the law that prohibits local law enforcement agencies in New York from participating in certain federal immigration enforcement efforts through 287(g) agreements.

According to the ruling, federal law makes participation in those immigration partnerships voluntary, allowing states to decide whether local agencies will cooperate.

“The State’s refusal to cooperate in the immigration context—a possibility contemplated by the relevant federal statutes—does not constitute discrimination against the federal government,” the ruling stated.

Hochul and James praised that portion of the decision, arguing that local police resources should remain focused on community policing rather than federal immigration enforcement.

“As we have said from the start, New York’s ban on 287(g) agreements is legal and will keep our communities safe. Local law enforcement should be focused on local matters, and New York taxpayers should not have to foot the bill for any collaboration with ICE,” their statement read.

{Matzav.com}