WATCH:

The Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage has formulated an updated plan for the Lag B’Omer celebration at Har Meron, in line with Home Front Command directives, safety experts’ guidelines, and subject to approval by the Israel Police.

As YWN reported on Tuesday, following the decision to allow only 1,500 people to visit Meron on Lag B’Omer due to safety concerns, and in the wake of a petition on the matter to the High Court, a new controlled entry plan was formulated to allow tens of thousands of people to safely access the site over a 40-hour period.

According to the outline, gatherings of up to 1,500 people will be allowed in each designated area at Meron, with significant distances between them and defined crowd zones for participants. The areas will include the tzion of Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai, the Bnei Akiva compound, Moshav Meron, and the expanded celebration area (89 compound).

Attendance will be organized in timed rotations of up to two hours per group. Based on safety guidance, the total number of participants will be calculated to ensure sufficient security space and the successful implementation of the plan throughout the day.

Each compound will have areas for tefillos, dancing, hadlakos, and hachnasas orchim, with the goal of dispersing crowds evenly to minimize risks in case of rocket fire, chalilah. The aim is to preserve the traditional celebration in the safest possible way, within existing constraints.

Ticket sales will be managed by the Ministry of Transportation, which will also operate public buses to the sites, albeit on a more limited scale than in previous years. Tickets will be sold to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis. Further details will be announced.

The plan was developed by the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage and has received preliminary approval from the Home Front Command. It will be implemented only after final authorization by the Israel Police regarding public order and traffic, and provided that current security directives remain unchanged and are not tightened.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who is responsible for the event, said: “We worked to formulate an adjusted plan that will preserve the mesorah while ensuring Meron remains accessible to Am Yisrael. I call on those who will unfortunately not receive tickets to celebrate within their kehillos joyously and safely—‘ונשמרתם מאוד לנפשותיכם.’”

Officials of the Rashbi in Meron information unit called on the public to be patient, noting that the plan is still in its final stages and further updates will be issued as they become available.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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President Trump has instructed his aides to prepare for an extended blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing U.S. officials.

According to the report, after recent meetings, Trump decided that maintaining the blockade and crushing Iran’s economy is the best option to compel Tehran to agree to dismantle its nuclear program, carrying less risk than withdrawing from the war or resuming active strikes.

Following the report, Trump published a threatening photo on Truth Social, commenting: “Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a non-nuclear deal. They better get smart soon!”

On Tuesday, Trump wrote that he is pushing Iran into a “state of collapse.”

A senior US official told the WSJ that the blockade has already succeeded in crushing Iran’s economy and that its oil industry may run out of storage space for the crude it cannot export. According to the official, Iran’s lack of storage space for its unsold oil is what spurred Tehran to offer Washington its recent peace proposal, a plan that called for deferring nuclear negotiations.

However, at this stage, Trump is determined to stick to his demand that Iran suspend uranium enrichment for a minimum of 20 years and accept certain demands even after that period.

The US began imposing a naval blockade on all Iranian ports on April 13.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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The war in Iran is bleeding the Trump administration politically, and behind closed doors, officials are trying to figure out how to get out of it.

Intelligence agencies have begun modeling what would happen if Trump declared victory tomorrow and pulled American forces back from the two-month conflict. The analysis, requested by senior administration officials, reflects mounting concern that the war could trigger significant Republican losses in midterm elections.

The political math is simple. Polls show the conflict is deeply unpopular. Only one in four Americans thinks the war has made the country safer and has been worth the cost.

What makes the political calculation harder is the Iran problem. If Trump claims victory and leaves, intelligence officials believe Iran will interpret it as a win—a chance to rebuild military capabilities and eventually restart its nuclear program. If Trump declares victory but keeps troops in place, Iran will likely see through it as a negotiating bluff that doesn’t actually end the war.
Neither option is clean. Neither solves the underlying problem that has strangled global oil markets for weeks.

Three weeks after Trump declared a ceasefire, Iran still controls the Strait of Hormuz. The country has blocked ships, laid mines, and turned one of the world’s most economically vital waterways into a chokepoint. About one-fifth of global crude oil passes through that strait. The blockade has driven up gas prices worldwide and put sustained pressure on American households.
Lifting the blockade requires Iran to agree to lift it. So far, Iran has not.

Trump canceled a planned diplomatic mission last weekend, telling reporters that sending envoys to meet with Iranian officials in Pakistan would take “too much time.” If Iran wanted to talk, he said, they could call him.

Diplomacy, in other words, is stalled.

Meanwhile, the longer the ceasefire lasts, the harder it becomes to restart the war if negotiations fail. During the initial bombing campaign in February, U.S. and Israeli strikes buried Iranian military equipment. The ceasefire gave Iran time to dig it all back out. The tactical advantage the U.S. had in the first days of the conflict has eroded. If fighting resumes, it will be more costly than it would have been weeks ago.

Various military options remain theoretically available, from renewed airstrikes to more ambitious operations. But sources familiar with administration planning say the most aggressive options—including a ground invasion of Iran—have receded from serious consideration.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The White House ignited a wave of reactions online after posting a photo of U.S. President Donald Trump alongside King Charles III with the caption: “two Kings.”

The post came during King Charles III’s visit to the United States on Tuesday and was widely interpreted as a tongue in cheek jab at critics who have rallied behind the slogan “No Kings” in opposition to Trump’s leadership style.

The phrase has been a centerpiece of protests across the country, with opponents accusing Trump of consolidating power. But Trump himself pushed back on that narrative during a recent interview on CBS News’ 60 Minutes.

“I’m not a King. If I was a King, I wouldn’t be dealing with you,” Trump told journalist Norah O’Donnell.

The controversy comes in the wake of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, which Trump has linked to the broader climate fueled by “No Kings” protests. Reports indicate the suspect had attended at least one such protest in California and had shared anti Trump and anti Christian rhetoric online prior to the attack.

Supporters praised the White House post as sharp political trolling, while critics argued it reinforced their concerns.

Several pro-Israel, Democratic House members, including multiple Jews, could face tough races to be reelected to Congress if proposed redistricting maps, which Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, unveiled on Monday come to pass.

“The proposed map is a blatant attempt to push out pro-Israel, Democratic champions in Congress,” Brian Romick, president of Democratic Majority for Israel, told JNS.

“It’s bad for our country. It’s bad for those who care about Israel, and it’s a violation of Florida’s redistricting constitutional amendment,” Romick said. “We urge lawmakers to reject this shameless partisan stunt.”

The Florida legislature must approve the maps for them to take effect. Some analysts warn that the governor’s plan could backfire based on a projected Democratic wave this year. Some also predict that Democrats could flip Republican-held seats in south Florida, where millions of registered Democrats would be combined in some Republican-held districts.

DeSantis aims to eliminate four of Florida’s eight Democratic-friendly congressional districts within the Sunshine State’s 28-member congressional delegation. A special session of the legislature, where Republicans holding a supermajority, is considering the measure.

The Florida governor told Fox News exclusively that “Florida got shortchanged in the 2020 Census, and we’ve been fighting for fair representation ever since.”

“Our population has since grown dramatically, and we have moved from a Democrat majority to a 1.5 million Republican advantage,” DeSantis told the channel. “Drawing maps based on race, which is reflected in our current congressional districts, is unconstitutional and should be prohibited.”

A source “familiar” with the proposed Florida map told Fox News that the governor is motivated more by population increases than responding to proposed Virginia maps, which would likely flip four Republican seats Democrat. “The governor has been planning this long before what took place in Virginia,” the source told Fox News.

The Broward and Palm Beach County districts, represented by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), are projected to favor Republicans come election time if the new maps are implemented. Both are pro-Israel Jews.

“DeSantis drew up illegal, partisan maps in a backroom and made sure Fox News got them before lawmakers did,” Wasserman Schultz told JNS.

“This clear effort to steal more seats for Republicans shows his total contempt for Florida voters, who voted two-to-one in favor of a ban on partisan gerrymandering in our Constitution,” Wasserman Schultz said.

“This nakedly partisan scheme breaks state law,” she told JNS. “While Republicans focus on cherry-picking their voters, I’ll keep fighting for better jobs and schools and take on the healthcare and housing high-cost crisis that Republicans continue to ignore.”

Sam Markstein, national political director and spokesman at Republican Jewish Coalition, told JNS that “in Florida, even more pro-Israel Republicans will be elected to Congress.”

“Meanwhile, in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom purged five pro-Israel Republican members of the House in favor of far-left radical Democrats, and the Left said nothing,” Markstein said. “Spare us the faux outrage.”

Frankel told the Miami Herald that she wants to look at the proposed map before commenting.

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), another Jewish, pro-Israel Democrat, would see much of his current district drawn into the area that Wasserman Schultz now represents. That could potentially force a primary faceoff between the two. (JNS sought comment from Moskowitz.)

The Orlando-area district held by Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), who is pro-Israel, would favor Republicans under DeSantis’s proposal, as would the Tampa-area district of Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), who has generally supported Israel.

Richard Stark, president of the Florida Democratic Party Jewish Caucus, told JNS that he is “personally outraged” that the governor is redistricting a state that already favors Republicans “overwhelmingly.”

“All of the congressional seats that are affected are pro-Israel,” Stark told JNS.

JNS sought comment from Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.), the lone Jewish House Republican in the state.

“South Florida is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the country, which is why most of South Florida is represented by Democrats, because historically, and certainly under Trump, it’s only Democrats who share democratic and Jewish values,” Haile Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, told JNS.

Soifer criticized DeSantis for failing to bring the maps up for a referendum, as Democrats did when they sought to redistrict in Virginia and California.

“They appear to have forgotten that you can’t gerrymander away a deeply unpopular president with an approval rating below 40%,” Soifer told JNS. “No matter the maps, voters’ views and voices cannot be erased, which is why we’re confident this gerrymandering effort may backfire on the GOP and benefit Democrats in November.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Five quick-thinking Mississippi middle school students sprang into action and saved 40 of their classmates on Wednesday, April 22, when their bus driver suffered a sudden asthma attack and passed out behind the wheel on a highway near Hancock Middle School in Hancock County.

5 brave students jumped into action and steered the drifting bus to safety, called 911, and helped administer her medication. No one was seriously injured.

The brave kids are now being hailed as heroes.

Gasoline prices across the United States climbed on Tuesday to their highest point in four years, highlighting growing pressure on consumers as instability tied to Iran continues to rattle global energy markets, according to The New York Times.

The nationwide average for regular unleaded reached $4.18 per gallon, based on data from AAA. That figure represents the highest level since April 2022 and reflects a 1.6% increase in just one day — the sharpest single-day percentage gain in over a month.

Since the conflict began, prices at the pump have jumped by about 40%, adding to the burden on households already dealing with high everyday expenses.

The surge comes on the heels of a significant jump in crude oil prices, largely driven by stalled talks over reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for global oil shipments. Located between Iran and Oman, the strait typically handles roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply, meaning any disruption carries major implications for energy markets.

Brent crude, the global benchmark, briefly rose above $105 per barrel for July delivery before pulling back slightly.

Over the past week, oil prices have increased by more than $10 per barrel and remain more than 40% higher than they were before U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year. At the same time, West Texas Intermediate crude, the U.S. benchmark, climbed to approximately $101 per barrel.

Market analysts say continued uncertainty surrounding Iran’s nuclear negotiations, along with disruptions to shipping routes, is driving volatility in oil prices — a trend that is quickly being felt by consumers at gas stations.

Because gasoline prices often trail movements in crude oil, experts warn that further increases at the pump could still be on the way if tensions remain unresolved.

Diesel fuel has seen even steeper gains, rising to $5.46 per gallon — about a 45% increase since the start of the conflict. Higher diesel costs tend to ripple across the economy, pushing up transportation and shipping expenses that can ultimately be passed along to consumers.

Despite the rise in energy prices, stock markets have remained relatively steady, staying close to record highs.

Investors are now focused on upcoming earnings from major technology firms as well as the Federal Reserve’s next decision on interest rates for signals about where the economy may be headed.

For the moment, drivers are absorbing the impact of rising fuel costs, with little indication of relief as geopolitical tensions continue to weigh on energy markets.

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – United Hatzalah founder Eli Beer responded defiantly Tuesday night after a billboard promoting his upcoming appearance in Melbourne was torn down and partially burned in what organizers described as an antisemitic act. The damaged billboard, located at the corner of Balaclava and Howitt roads in Caulfield, was advertising a May 31 event titled When Seconds Count.

Despite the vandalism, organizers said the event will proceed as planned. Community leaders noted the billboard promoted an evening focused on saving lives, courage and unity, and condemned the attack as targeting a humanitarian organization whose volunteers include Jews, Muslims and Christians.

In a statement to VIN News, Beer said he has received indications that people want to harm him and the organization, but vowed he would not be intimidated.

“Even if threats against my life come, I will not be intimidated. I will continue working. I am not afraid of those who hate Israel, hate Jews, or hate me,” Beer said. “Evil people will disappear, but Am Yisrael Chai. We are strong. Israel is strong. United Hatzalah is strong. I am strong.”

Beer said Australian and Israeli authorities have been notified of the threats and that he was offered personal protection, though he indicated he does not currently plan to accept it. “I will keep moving forward,” he said.

Jewish leaders in Australia said the vandalism reflects a troubling rise in antisemitic incidents, but insisted the response would be resolve, not retreat. Organizers said attempts to intimidate the Jewish community or silence support for Israel would not succeed.

The U.S. State Department is preparing to introduce a special-edition American passport to mark the nation’s 250th anniversary this July, and the updated design is expected to include a portrait of President Donald Trump, according to a department official cited by CBS News.

Under the proposed design, the president’s image and signature will appear on interior visa pages alongside excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, a departure from the traditional passport format that has typically highlighted historical imagery, cultural motifs, and iconic American landmarks.

The commemorative passports will be issued as the standard option at the Washington Passport Agency once they are released, without any added fee. However, applicants who apply online or through other passport offices will continue receiving the existing passport design.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott commented on the initiative. “As the United States celebrates America’s 250th anniversary in July, the State Department is preparing to release a limited number of specially designed US passports to commemorate this historic occasion. These passports will feature customized artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make the US passport among the most secure documents in the world.”

Early reporting by Fox News Digital and The Bulwark suggested that approximately 25,000 of the passports would be produced, but a State Department official rejected that figure as “fake news” while declining to disclose how many will actually be issued.

The current “Next Generation” passport, rolled out in 2021, includes illustrations of American scenery and key historical moments throughout its pages. An earlier redesign in 2007 introduced electronic safeguards aimed at preventing counterfeiting, along with quotations from past U.S. presidents.

During President Trump’s second term, his name and likeness have been tied to a number of public initiatives and proposals. These include efforts to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as the “Trump-Kennedy Center” and the United States Institute of Peace as the “Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.” The administration has also proposed a “Trump gold card” visa program that would allow non-citizens to secure residency and work authorization in the United States for a fee of five million dollars.

The commemorative passport is part of a broader push to celebrate the country’s semiquincentennial while reflecting the administration’s approach to marking the milestone.

King Charles III gifted President Donald Trump a historic naval artifact during a White House state dinner on Tuesday, presenting him with the bell from the HMS Trump, a British submarine that served during World War II.

The symbolic gesture was framed as a tribute to the longstanding relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, highlighting both shared history and continued partnership.

“May it stand as a testimony to our nation’s shared history and shining future,” the King said.

He concluded his remarks with a lighthearted note.

“And should you ever need to get hold of us, just give us a ring,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A candidate backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani lost a closely watched Manhattan City Council special election Tuesday, as Carl Wilson defeated Lindsey Boylan in a race that exposed limits to the mayor’s political influence and highlighted divisions within city Democrats.

With preliminary ranked-choice results showing Wilson ahead 43% to 25%, Boylan conceded, effectively handing victory to the candidate backed by much of Manhattan’s Democratic establishment.

According to reporting by The New York Times, no candidate initially crossed the 50% threshold, sending the race into ranked-choice tabulations, though Wilson’s lead proved decisive. The Times also described the contest as a proxy fight between Mamdani and Council Speaker Julie Menin, whose competing endorsements elevated the race beyond a typical local special election.

Wilson benefited from support from local political clubs, labor unions and significant outside spending, while Boylan drew backing from progressive groups and allies of the mayor.

The race to fill the vacancy left by Erik Bottcher’s move to the state Senate had taken on broader significance as a test of whether Mamdani’s political coalition could expand its reach in Manhattan.

Boylan, who rose to prominence after accusing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment, was seeking her first elected office. Wilson’s win now positions him to be sworn in to complete the remainder of the term, though the two are expected to meet again in the June Democratic primary.

The result was seen by observers as a setback for the mayor’s preferred candidate and a sign traditional Democratic power centers remain potent in city politics.

SpaceX’s board has approved a compensation plan that could deliver an enormous stock payout to Elon Musk if the company successfully establishes a permanent human settlement on Mars.

Under the arrangement, which was approved in January, Musk would receive 200 million super-voting restricted shares if several ambitious conditions are met: the Mars colony must be permanent, house at least one million people, and SpaceX must reach a $7.5 trillion valuation.

Details of the unusual incentive structure were disclosed in internal company documents tied to SpaceX’s confidential filing with the SEC ahead of a planned public offering, according to a report by Reuters, which reviewed the materials.

Musk, 54, has consistently promoted the idea of building a self-sustaining civilization on Mars, describing it as critical for humanity’s future. He has even been seen publicly wearing an “Occupy Mars” T-shirt. SpaceX itself notes on its website that creating such a colony would “require upwards of one million people and millions of tons of cargo to be delivered to the Red planet.”

The compensation plan does not set a deadline for achieving these goals, meaning Musk could qualify for the payout at any point as long as he remains CEO of SpaceX.

In addition to the Mars-related incentives, the plan includes another potential award of up to 60.4 million restricted shares scheduled for March 23. These shares are tied to unspecified valuation milestones and to progress on Musk’s concept of launching data centers into orbit to support his company’s artificial intelligence initiatives, Reuters reported.

Those additional shares would be distributed in stages depending on whether and when SpaceX meets its valuation targets.

If all of the outlined benchmarks are achieved, Musk’s already vast wealth could grow to unprecedented levels. His current net worth is estimated at $778 billion, according to Forbes.

In November, shareholders of Musk’s other company, Tesla, approved a separate record-setting $1 trillion compensation plan. Similar to the SpaceX structure, that package is tied to the company reaching certain valuation thresholds and production targets related to its vehicles and Optimus humanoid robots.

SpaceX is currently aiming for a valuation of $1.75 trillion in its anticipated initial public offering and is seeking to raise more than $50 billion, a move that could make it the largest IPO ever.

{Matzav.com}

ABC has no plans to take action against Jimmy Kimmel following criticism over a controversial joke about First Lady Melania Trump, with the network signaling it intends to move forward without disruption.

According to a source at the network, ABC is continuing to support the longtime host of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and does not intend to suspend him, terminate his contract, or cancel the program.

The insider confirmed, “It’s back to taping per usual. They’re moving on.”

The controversy stems from remarks Kimmel made during Thursday night’s broadcast, which featured an “alternative” version of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The segment mocked the real event’s decision to feature a mentalist rather than a comedian.

During the monologue, Kimmel delivered a line aimed at Melania Trump that quickly spread online.

“You have a glow like an expectant widow,” Kimmel said. “You know, Melania’s birthday is on Sunday. She’s planning to celebrate at home the way she always does — looking out a window and whispering, ‘What have I done?’”

Just two days after the broadcast, a shooting occurred at the Washington Hilton, the venue hosting the Correspondents’ Dinner, further intensifying the reaction to Kimmel’s remarks.

Melania Trump, 56, responded publicly on X, condemning the comedian’s comments.

“Kimmel’s hateful and violent rhetoric is intended to divide our country. His monologue about my family isn’t comedy — his words are corrosive and deepen the political sickness within America.”

She continued, “Enough is enough. It is time for ABC to take a stand. People like Kimmel shouldn’t have the opportunity to enter our homes each evening to spread hate.”

President Donald Trump also weighed in, calling for immediate action against Kimmel and labeling the joke “shocking” and “far beyond the pale.”

Facing mounting criticism, Kimmel addressed the controversy during his Monday night show, defending his remarks as a straightforward joke referencing the age difference between the president and first lady.

“It was not by any stretch a call to assassination,” he said. “I agree hateful and violent is something we should reject. … A great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband.”

He also spoke directly to Melania Trump, acknowledging the emotional toll of the shooting and describing the incident as frightening.

The late-night host has previously faced disciplinary action, including a suspension last year after remarks connected to the death of Charlie Kirk prompted his show to be temporarily pulled from the air.

Kimmel returned to television within a week, drawing strong viewership numbers, and has since secured a contract extension that keeps him on air through May 2027.

Reflecting on past controversies during a recent episode of “IMO,” Kimmel maintained that political commentary is an unavoidable part of his role.

“Don’t tell me what my job is. I don’t tell you what your job is. My job is whatever I decide my job is, whatever my employer allows me to do. That’s what my job is.”

{Matzav.com}

As YWN reported on Monday, Hezbollah’s explosive drones pose an increasingly dangerous threat to IDF forces operating in southern Lebanon. The low-cost tool has become a deadly weapon that has caused a considerable number of IDF casualties. On Tuesday morning, the IDF announced that another IDF soldier was seriously injured on Monday by an explosive drone in southern Lebanon.

Army Radio reported on Tuesday morning that the issue arose on Monday during a meeting of the IDF’s senior command, with IDF commanders of combat units in Lebanon expressing great frustration with the threat and the few tools the IDF has to deal with it. One of the commanders complained that the only measure he can take is telling his soldiers, “Be alert, and if you identify a drone, shoot at it.”

Some of the units have begun to try to develop makeshift solutions to the threat, including spreading fishing nets over positions, barracks, and windows.

An IDF officer said, “This is an improvised solution. We started to deploy it to some of the forces, but it is far from enough.”

There has been much criticism directed at the IDF for failing to develop a solution for explosive drones, which have been extensively used in the Russian-Ukrainian war, especially in the wake of Ukraine’s successful development of countermeasures.

In addition, the drone threat was illustrated during the October 7 massacre when Hamas neutralized the sensors on the Gaza border with explosive drones.

According to the Army Radio report, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reprimanded Air Force Commander Tomer Bar for failing to adequately deal with the threat.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

PRAGUE (AP) — A court in the second largest Czech city of Brno sentenced a man to seven years in prison on Tuesday over an attempted terror attack and attempted murder.

The defendant was one of two teenagers under 18 who tried to set a synagogue in Brno on fire in January 2024 by using an improvised device. They also tried to kill a person, who survived the attack.

The convicted man, who is now 20, was also handed a two-year prison term for promoting terrorism, which he committed over the age of 18.

His accomplice was under the eligible age to stand trial in court, for a hearing that was held behind closed doors.

The pair were part of a group of five teenagers who were arrested last year after allegedly being radicalized online by the militant Islamic State group, according to Czech authorities.

The five were promoting hate content on social media against minorities, LGBTQ+ community and Jews, officials said. During raids in Czechia and Austria, police seized some weapons, such as knives, machetes, axes and gas pistols.

The teens were also said to have been involved in online groups recruiting fighters for IS militants in Syria and shared a fascination with violence and hatred against Jews, LGBTQ+ people and others, officials said.

The investigation involved the Czech authorities and counterparts in Austria, Britain, and Slovakia as well as the European Union’s law enforcement agency Europol.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is set to be dissolved and replaced by a company focused on the public good by the week’s end, as a massive legal settlement resolving thousands of lawsuits takes effect.

A federal judge on Tuesday delivered a criminal sentence to the company to resolve a U.S. Department of Justice probe — a last necessary step to clear the way for the settlement.

U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo made her decision after listening to hours of impact statements from people who lost loved ones or struggled with addiction themselves and requested she reject the negotiated sentence. While she didn’t go that far, she said she sympathized with people who bore the brunt of an epidemic linked to more than 900,000 deaths in the U.S. since 1999.

“It was a purposeful, intentional and sophisticated crime scheme,” she said.

The sentence calls for money, but no individual punishment
Purdue reached a deal with the Justice Department in 2020 to resolve criminal and civil probes the company was facing.

The Stamford, Connecticut-based company admitted it did not have an effective program to keep its powerful prescription painkillers from being diverted to the black market, even though it told the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration that it did.

It also admitted it paid doctors through a speakers program to prescribe the drugs and paid an electronic medical records company to send doctors information on patients that encouraged more opioid prescriptions.

Steve Miller, who became chairman of Purdue’s board to guide the company through the bankruptcy process and will cease to have that position when the company is dissolved, addressed the hearing: “I deeply apologize on behalf of the company for everything they did,” he said.

Only the company was charged — not individual employees or owners.

The guilty plea and civil settlement with the federal government included $8.3 billion in forfeitures, fines and penalties. But the federal government agreed in a negotiated settlement to collect just $225 million in exchange for Purdue reaching a separate settlement of the thousands of lawsuits it faced from state, local and Native American tribal governments, along with other groups. Purdue’s guilty plea did not include restitution to victims.

After years of legal twists and turns — and $1 billion and counting in legal and professional fees for the parties — the broader sentence was approved by a bankruptcy judge in November.

‘We still deserve justice’
Arleo on Tuesday heard in person and by teleconference from people impacted by opioids in several ways: mothers who lost sons to overdose, a teenager born into withdrawal and whose mother later died, and people who were prescribed OxyContin after accidents and spent years dealing with addiction treatment and financial and emotional turmoil.

Many asked Arleo, who at times appeared to be on the verge of tears, to reject the negotiated sentence.

Alexis Pluis, an upstate New York mother who lost a son to opioids in 2014, said she doesn’t expect to receive anything from the settlement because she can’t locate 23-year-old medical records showing her son was prescribed OxyContin.

“We still deserve justice,” she said. “And this isn’t it.”

After listening to victims for about five hours Tuesday, the judge told them that she would keep photos of loved ones they lost to opioids in her chambers as long as she serves as a judge. She had harsh words for the federal government for approving OxyContin and not catching warning signs that it was being abused, and for prosecutors for not bringing charges.

She noted that she has sentenced convicted drug dealers to prison for selling OxyContin — and in those cases, federal prosecutors routinely bring up that it was part of an epidemic.

“It is not lost on me that those who started the epidemic will not serve a sentence,” she said.

Sackler family members to pay up to $7 billion
The settlement, which Purdue says could take effect as soon as Friday, calls for members of the Sackler family who own the company to contribute up to $7 billion over 15 years. Most of the money is to go to government entities to use to fight the opioid crisis.

Early in Tuesday’s hearing, Arleo asked lawyers why Sackler family members were being allowed to pay over 15 years. She was told it was because they had to sell other businesses to secure the cash.

The judge offered a different reason. “They’d rather pay it from future money than pay it now,” she said.

A Purdue lawyer said most of the lawsuits against the company over opioids did not include specific financial claims. But the ones in those that did totaled over $40 trillion in damages.

The settlement is among the largest in a series of settlements by drugmakers, wholesalers and pharmacies in recent years — and the only major one that includes payments for some individual victims or their survivors.

Payments to individual victims are expected to range from about $8,000 to about $16,000. Some people said Tuesday that they could be rejected for payments because they can’t locate decades-old prescriptions to the pills. Arleo told Purdue bankruptcy lawyers to ensure there are additional ways to prove they were harmed.

Overall, the settlements are worth more than $50 billion, and most of the money is to be used to address the overdose epidemic.

Under the Purdue deal, members of the Sackler family will be shielded from lawsuits over opioids from those who agree to the payments. Family members received payments from the company totaling about $10.7 billion from 2008 through 2018, but said nearly half that amount was used to pay taxes on behalf of the business.

As part of the settlement, Purdue itself will cease to exist and be replaced by a new company, Knoa Pharma, with a board appointed by the states and an aim of combating the opioid crisis. Millions of internal Purdue documents are to be made public.

Members of the Sackler family also have agreed not to object if their names are taken off museums and other institutions they’ve supported.

Mossad Director David Barnea declared that the intelligence agency’s operatives have demonstrated unprecedented operational capabilities in hostile territories during 2025, citing successful penetration of Iranian secrets and the execution of a “powerful, innovative system for striking our enemies.”

Barnea made the remarks at an awards ceremony honoring Mossad operatives for 2025 achievements. The speech offered rare public disclosure of the spy agency’s most sensitive operations, including detailed references to June’s Operation Rising Lion.

“We acquired strategic and tactical intelligence from the heart of the enemy’s secrets,” Barnea said. “We proved new, groundbreaking operational capabilities in target countries. We demonstrated the effectiveness of a powerful, innovative system for striking our enemies.”

The ceremony honored operatives involved in what Mossad characterized as “exceptional operations” that maintained Israeli intelligence superiority over Iran and Lebanon. Those cited were involved in obtaining strategic and tactical intelligence, with particular emphasis on agents operating inside Iran during Operation Rising Lion.

Barnea revealed that the operation employed “new, unique working methods based on a combination of field agents, advanced technological capabilities, and deep, covert penetration, including in Tehran.”

Barnea emphasized Mossad’s partnership with the IDF in campaigns against both Iran and Hezbollah, stating the organizations worked in tandem “on both defense and offense.”

“The spy organization exerted influence through relative advantages and true partnership in striking targets in the heart of Tehran, in neutralizing senior officials, in achieving aerial superiority and in defending the Israeli home front,” he said.

The operations awarded citations this year “allowed us to break boundaries in Lebanon and Iran,” according to Barnea.
He also highlighted Mossad’s diplomatic operations, saying the agency “implemented a clandestine diplomatic campaign whose importance is critical to creating regional alliances and expanding Israel’s strategic depth.”

Ten operations and projects received citations for extraordinary contributions to Israel’s security, the Government Press Office confirmed.

Barnea concluded his remarks with a warning to potential adversaries, stating that Mossad remains vigilant despite its recent successes.

“Together with the IDF, we have changed the strategic posture of the State of Israel and strengthened its might,” he said. “At the same time, we are committed to keeping our eyes open, we are committed to intelligence and operational daring, and we are committed to the principle of action. We will not rest on our laurels, and when we see a threat, we will act with full force.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Gulf nations are lining up against Iran’s push to impose tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, signaling support for the United States as regional leaders met Tuesday in Saudi Arabia to coordinate their response to the escalating crisis.

“During the summit, a number of topics and issues related to regional and international developments were discussed, as well as the coordination of efforts in response to them,” the Saudi Press Agency said of the Gulf powwow, which is being held in Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

The gathering of Gulf Cooperation Council leaders comes just days after Iran floated a proposal through diplomatic channels. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had traveled to Oman to suggest a joint arrangement in which the two nations bordering the strait would divide control of the vital shipping route, according to multiple U.S. and regional officials.

That proposal was quickly dismissed by Oman, a country that had itself been targeted by Iranian strikes earlier in the conflict. The rejection has complicated Tehran’s efforts to assert authority over the strategic passageway, one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.

“They will forgive, but they will never forget what Iran has done,” a source familiar with mediation efforts told The Post of the Gulf allies.

“They have no interest in paying for Iran’s reconstruction. As a result of all of this, they are not going to allow Iran either control the strait nor toll ships coming through.”

Oman’s position aligns closely with that of President Trump, who has made clear that Iran should not be permitted to charge fees or exert control over access to the waterway. Former Pentagon official and Atlantic Council fellow Alex Plitsas said the broader Gulf bloc shares that view.

“The GCC states support the administration’s assertion that Iran cannot control the Strait of Hormuz nor be able to toll it or be able to close the straits at any time of their choosing,” he said.

Plitsas added that Iran’s recent actions have severely damaged its standing in the region, particularly its attacks on neighboring Gulf states.

“Iran’s strategy of attacking GCC states as it means to put pressure on the United States absolutely backfired and set relations back with their Gulf neighbors by decades,” Plitsas said.

“It was a grave and profoundly stupid mistake.”

He also cautioned that patience among Gulf countries is running out as the strait remains shut and fears persist of additional Iranian aggression.

General negotiations between Washington and Tehran, which had been taking place in Islamabad, Pakistan, have now stalled amid the ongoing tensions.

“Renewed or continued Iranian aggression toward Gulf States will not go unanswered in perpetuity,” Plitsas said.

Tuesday’s summit marked the first time the GCC has convened at this level since the conflict erupted two months ago.

As the war approaches its third month, Qatar signaled it is eager to see the fighting end, though not at the cost of a temporary or unstable arrangement.

“We do not want to see a return to hostilities in the region anytime soon,” Qatar’s foreign ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, said at a press conference.

“We do not want to see a frozen conflict that ends up being thawed every time there is a political reason.”

{Matzav.com}

I have been following the exchange regarding hashgacha on sheitels, and while both previous writers raise important points, I believe a crucial piece is being missed.

The second letter correctly describes how difficult it is to supervise the human hair supply chain. The process is complex, global, and not comparable to kosher food. That is true, and no honest person should claim that a sheitel hechsher today offers the same level of control as a hechsher on a package of chicken.

But from that truth, the wrong conclusion is being drawn.

To say that hashgacha is difficult, and therefore worthless, is to make the perfect the enemy of the good. A hechsher, even if it cannot guarantee 100% certainty, is certainly better than nothing. It represents an attempt — often a very serious, expensive, and logistically difficult attempt — to source hair from places that are not connected to avodah zarah, to supervise factories, and to avoid the most problematic channels. For a woman who holds like the many poskim who are machmir on this issue, that effort matters. It may not be perfect, but it is not meaningless.

We also have to be realistic about what happens if we declare all hechsherim worthless. It is tempting for some to imagine that if there were no “kosher” options, all women would simply switch to tichels. That is not what will happen in practice. If faced with no acceptable sheitel option, many women will not cover their hair with a tichel. They will instead rely on the minority opinions that hold the entire avodah zarah concern is not an issue today. Whether one agrees with those opinions or not, it is undeniable that most rabbanim in our communities do not pasken that way for themselves or their families.

Therefore, the argument that “no hechsher can be trusted, so don’t bother” does a disservice to Klal Yisroel. In practice, it is being machshil people. It removes the middle ground and pushes women who want to be machmir into a position where their only choices are to ignore the issue entirely or to stop wearing a sheitel altogether. Most will choose the first option.

A more constructive approach would be to focus on the positive: some hechsherim are better than others. Some have more extensive controls, more reliable sources, and more rabbinic oversight. Let’s talk about those differences. Let’s encourage companies to improve their standards and to be transparent about what their hechsher actually covers and what it cannot cover. That helps a consumer make an informed decision according to her rav’s guidance.

Perhaps there will come a day when the sheitel market is fully covered by suppliers with the highest level of supervision, from the point of origin to final production. If we reach that point, then a discussion about which hechsherim are insufficient may be beneficial. But we are not there today. Until then, telling women that all hechsherim are worthless does not solve the avodah zarah problem. It only ensures that fewer women will try to avoid it.

Sincerely,
A Concerned Reader

The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.

Rep. Ilhan Omar is facing widespread criticism online after a previously recorded video resurfaced showing her mistakenly referring to World War II as “World War Eleven” during a Capitol Hill press conference.

The incident occurred last year as Omar, the first Somali American elected to Congress, delivered opening remarks at a Democratic event announcing the reintroduction of the Neighbors Not Enemies Act. The proposed legislation, which ultimately did not pass, was aimed at challenging immigration enforcement policies under President Donald Trump, particularly his use of the Alien Enemies Act.

During her remarks, Omar criticized past uses of the law, stating that the “last time the Alien Enemies Act was invoked it was used to detain and deport German, Japanese, Italian immigrants during World War Eleven.”

She immediately corrected herself, adding, “Oh, two,” and laughing.

The clip has resurfaced at a time when Omar’s district is under heightened scrutiny due to a large-scale federal fraud investigation involving businesses connected to the Somali immigrant community. The video has circulated widely on social media, drawing mockery from critics, including Sen. Mike Lee, who joked, “‘World War Eleven’ … Yes, that was deadly.”

Lee followed up with another post highlighting the gaffe alongside a separate video in which Omar criticized Trump supporters. In that clip, she said, “It’s become really hard to have an intellectual debate with any of these people,” and added that “the dumbing of the United States has arrived, because how else do we get a Trump presidency again?”

The resurfaced footage also drew attention from Elon Musk, who reacted by posting a grimacing emoji.

A popular conservative account on X, “I Meme Therefore I Am,” mocked the incident by writing, “She must have gotten her education in the Quality Learing Center.” The comment referenced a Minneapolis daycare previously in the spotlight for allegedly fraudulent activity and for misspelling its name as “Quality Learing Center.”

Conservative activist Chloe Cole also weighed in, posting, “Absolutely in awe of this clip of Ilhan Omar calling World War II ‘World War Eleven.’”

She added, “Truly quality learing. We’re learing like we’ve never leared before.”

Podcast host Matt Walsh responded with sarcasm, writing, “God forbid we ever have World War 3, Ilhan Omar will think we’re on World War One Hundred Eleven.”

In another post, Walsh added, “Consider the astronomical levels of stupidity on display here. Ilhan Omar doesn’t know how to read Roman numerals AND she thinks there have been 11 world wars,” Walsh wrote in another X post. “Either one of those would be reasonable justification to remove her from office and send her back to Somalia. But both?”

The renewed attention comes as federal authorities expand their investigation into alleged widespread fraud in Minnesota. On Tuesday morning, agents executed 22 search warrants at various sites, including childcare centers suspected of billing the state for services that were never provided.

According to sources who spoke to Fox News, two of the locations searched were the Quality Learning Center and Baby Halimo Child Care, both located in Minneapolis.

Omar has previously criticized the federal probe. In a January interview with CBS News, she argued that the administration’s handling of the investigation was negatively affecting her constituents. She said the Trump administration’s approach “is harming my constituents, and it is creating the kind of chaos and confusion that no one needs in this moment.”

Speaking with journalist Margaret Brennan, Omar further stated that the response to the fraud allegations “creates the level of confusion and chaos that is not necessary in a moment when we are trying to deal with a serious problem that needs serious people to be able to address it.”

She added, “We want to collaborately [sic] work with the administration to try to make sure that there is no fraud that’s being perpetuated on our state.

“What we do not want is the level of terror, of confusion, of chaos that is being created without any results in this moment.”

After receiving an enthusiastic welcome from Congress, King Charles III addressed the legislative body Tuesday in a historic speech, marking only the second time a British monarch has ever addressed Congress — the first being his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1991.

In his opening remarks, the king thanked the representatives of the American people for inviting him and Queen Camilla to mark the 250th year since the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Noting the similarities between the American and British peoples, he quoted the famous nineteenth-century Irish-British wit and poet, saying, “We have really everything in common with America nowadays, except, of course, language!”

Hail, the king and queen: King Charles and Queen Camilla receive an enthusiastic welcome from Congress. (From a post on X)

King Charles raised the attempt on President Donald Trump’s life at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night and condemned the act of political violence.

“Let me say with unshakeable resolve: such acts of violence will never succeed,” he said. “Whatever our differences, whatever disagreements we may have, we stand united in our commitment to uphold democracy, to protect all our people from harm, and to salute the courage of those who daily risk their lives in the service of our countries.”

The British monarch pointed out that the rift between the colonies and Great Britain that drove them to split apart turned out to be a value both countries share, showing the fundamental ties between the two countries even during deep disagreement.

“Indeed, the very principle on which your Congress was founded — no taxation without representation — was at once a fundamental disagreement between us,” he said, “and at the same time a shared democratic value which you inherited from us.”

Building on this idea that their disagreements are born out of shared values, he said that when they agree, they are even stronger for it.

“Ours is a partnership born out of dispute, but no less strong for it,” he declared.

“And by Jove, Mr. Speaker, when we have found that way to agree, what great change is brought about — not just for the benefit of our peoples, but of all peoples,” he said.

Quoting Trump, he said, “As President Trump himself observed during his State Visit to Britain last Autumn, ‘The bond of kinship and identity between America and the United Kingdom is priceless and eternal. It is irreplaceable and unbreakable.’”

King Charles talks about 9/11 and the NATO response in his address to Congress. (From a post on X)

King Charles went on to describe the shared roots of the two nations, beginning with Magna Carta in the thirteenth century and branching out into the British Enlightenment and Common Law, which he said influenced the thinking of the founders and the United States Constitution, which, like the British system, emphasizes the rule of law, representative democracy and a system of checks and balances. He also drew a direct line from the Declaration of Rights of 1689 to the American Bill of Rights of 1791.

He also spoke about his deep faith, which he said he shared with many of those present, describing it as “a firm anchor and daily inspiration that guides us not only personally, but together as members of our community” and “the triumph of light over darkness which I have found confirmed countless times,” as he has seen respect born of understanding grow between people of all faiths and no faith.

The king lauded the special relationship between the two countries and stressed their strong military and security cooperation, while noting the increasingly dangerous times we live in and the commitment of the United Kingdom to increase defense spending to meet that challenge.

Speaking about the terror attack of 9/11, King Charles said that NATO answered the call and stood by the U.S. as it battled terror. He said he and his wife would visit the site of the attack and pay their respects to the victims and heroes of that day.

The theme that kept recurring throughout his speech was the importance of the U.S.-British alliance and the need to commit to nurturing that relationship.

King Charles concludes his speech with a blessing. (From a post on X)

“The story of the United Kingdom and the United States is, at its heart, a story of reconciliation, renewal and remarkable partnership,” the king said. “From the bitter divisions of 250 years ago, we forged a friendship that has grown into one of the most consequential alliances in human history.”

“I pray with all my heart that our alliance will continue to defend our shared values, with our partners in Europe and the Commonwealth, and across the world, and that we ignore the clarion calls to become ever more inward-looking,” he added.

King Charles concluded his speech with a blessing:

“To the United States of America, on your 250th birthday, let our two countries rededicate ourselves to each other in the selfless service of our peoples and of all the peoples of the world. God bless the United States and God bless the United Kingdom.”

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey, accused of threatening President Donald Trump, does not fall under the protections of free speech.

Earlier in the day, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina handed down an indictment against Comey on two counts connected to a since-deleted Instagram post. The post featured seashells arranged to spell out “86 47,” which prosecutors interpret as a serious threat, noting that Trump is the 47th president and that “86” can be used as slang for killing someone.

Comey issued an apology for the May 2025 post, explaining that he believed the seashell arrangement conveyed a political message and that “it never occurred to me” that “86 47” was associated with violence.

During a press briefing, Blanche was questioned about how to distinguish between constitutionally protected speech and a genuine threat.

“It’s not a very difficult line to look at,” he said. “And it’s not, in my mind, a difficult line for one to cross over one way or the other. You are not allowed to threaten the president of the United States of America. That’s not my decision. That’s Congress’ decision in a statute that they passed that we charge multiple times a year.

“And so, whether there is a defense, maybe there is, but the government will have evidence. I am not going to talk about the evidence that we have. That’s unfair to him. It’s unfair to the prosecutors. But it’s enough to say that the grand jury returned an indictment.”

Blanche was also asked whether proving Comey’s intent would be a challenge in court.

“This case was indicted today,” he said. “This conduct occurred about a year ago, May 15 of last year. There has been a tremendous amount of investigation. And how do you prove intent? In any case, you prove intent with witnesses, with documents, with the defendant himself, to the extent it’s appropriate. And that’s how we’ll prove intent in this case.”

He added that an arrest warrant has been issued for Comey and said authorities anticipate communicating with his legal team as the case moves forward.

“This case will proceed like hundreds of others do every year,” Blanche said. “There will be some sort of arraignment set by the judge or assigned to the magistrate judge. And when that happens, you’ll know about it. But this is being handled differently from the last time he was indicted.”

This is not the first time Comey has faced federal charges. In September, he was indicted in Virginia on felony allegations involving false statements tied to the Russia investigation and obstruction. However, that case was dismissed in November after a judge determined that the Trump administration had improperly appointed Lindsey Halligan as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

WATCH:

SURFSIDE, Fla. (VINnews) — Former Surfside Mayor Shlomo Danzinger, an Orthodox Jewish leader returning to office in one of South Florida’s most prominent Jewish communities, won a razor-thin runoff victory over Vice Mayor Tina Paul, reclaiming the mayor’s office by 22 votes.

Danzinger again replaces outgoing Mayor Charles Burkett, whom he swapped places with in 2022 and 2024.

Preliminary unofficial results showed Danzinger received 1,025 votes, or 50.54%, to Paul’s 1,003 votes, or 49.46%, with 2,028 votes cast in the mayoral race. Overall turnout reached 58.91%, with 2,030 ballots cast from 3,446 registered voters.

Danzinger’s victory marks a political comeback in the Miami-Dade beach town, where issues such as development, public safety and the future of the oceanfront community helped shape the race.

Surfside has remained in the spotlight far beyond local politics since the 2021 condominium collapse brought international attention to the tight-knit community. The tragedy continues to influence civic debates over redevelopment, resilience and public trust in local leadership.

The race also played out amid longstanding political tensions. Current Mayor Charles Burkett, who did not seek reelection and is widely seen as nearing political retirement, endorsed Paul.

Although Burkett was not running directly against Danzinger, he repeatedly campaigned against him, employing divisive and often hostile rhetoric throughout the race. Danzinger largely declined to respond in kind, instead staying focused on issues affecting residents and running a campaign centered on substance rather than personal attacks.

Supporters portrayed Danzinger’s victory as a vote for a steadier hand and a return to pragmatic leadership. While his previous tenure at times was marked by turbulence and political friction, Danzinger campaigned on bringing a calmer, more measured style to a second term, promising to govern with greater understanding and restraint.

The result returns Danzinger to the mayor’s office in a race that underscored divisions over Surfside’s future as the town continues balancing growth, security and remembrance.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz drew swift criticism Tuesday after asserting that state agencies played a key role in triggering federal fraud raids in Minneapolis, prompting a pointed response from FBI Director Kash Patel.

The exchange highlights escalating political friction surrounding a major federal investigation into alleged fraud, which critics argue developed during Walz’s tenure, while federal authorities have now taken control of enforcement efforts.

“Come again?” Patel posted on X in response to Walz, who claimed that Tuesday’s raids happened because Minnesota state agencies “caught irregular behavior and reported it.”

Patel pushed back forcefully, writing, “This FBI and DOJ with our DHS partners drafted and executed every search warrant today. But go ahead and take credit for our work while we smoke out the fraud plaguing Minnesota under your governorship.”

Walz’s post quickly gained traction online, drawing more than a million views within hours and sparking criticism, particularly from conservative commentators who argued that the fraud cases had unfolded during his administration and that mounting public scrutiny contributed to his decision not to seek another term.

Several critics took to social media to mock the governor’s remarks.

“Arsonist masquerading as a firefighter,” Townhall columnist Dustin Grage posted on X.

“The main problem Tim Walz has now is that no one – Republican or Democrat – takes him seriously,” Republican strategist Tim Murtaugh wrote on X. “He’s proven that he’s that much of a boob.”

“The same guy who spent a whole hearing dodging questions about $9 BILLION in fraud in Minnesota and talking about ICE instead is now praising fraud control,” the Republican-led House Oversight Committee posted on X. “Tomorrow, we will pass legislation in the Committee to make sure it never happens again. Sit this one out, Tim.”

Rep. Derrick Van Orden also weighed in, posting, “.@GovTimWalz is a stolen valor…,” and adding, “This is par for the course.”

Sen. Rand Paul offered his own take, writing, “Well, the American people know we can actually thank @nickshirleyy and @VP.”

Other users online pointed to a statement from the city of Minneapolis clarifying that municipal authorities were not involved in the operation.

Earlier Tuesday, federal agents carried out coordinated raids at more than 20 locations across Minneapolis, including several childcare centers, as part of a broad investigation into alleged fraud involving businesses largely owned by members of the Somali community, sources told Fox News.

“Today the FBI with federal, state and local law enforcement is involved in court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation,” a Department of Justice spokesperson said.

Authorities confirmed that 22 federal search warrants were executed across Minnesota as part of the operation, which sources emphasized was unrelated to immigration enforcement.

{Matzav.com}

Iran is reportedly taking emergency steps to keep its oil industry functioning as a U.S. naval blockade continues choking off crude exports, according to multiple international reports citing analytics firm Kpler.

Tehran is said to be reviving abandoned storage sites, using makeshift containers, and even exploring crude shipments by rail to China as export volumes collapse.

According to the reports, Iranian exports dropped sharply after the blockade intensified in mid-April — falling from more than 2 million barrels per day earlier this month to roughly 567,000 barrels daily.

Analysts warn Iran could run out of available storage capacity within just a few weeks, potentially forcing major additional production cuts if the blockade remains in place.

Goldman Sachs estimated last week that Iran has already slashed crude production by as much as 2.5 million barrels per day since the conflict began.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel is stepping up its pressure on international mediators and the Lebanese government, warning that the coming weeks represent a critical deadline to secure a political arrangement before the current ceasefire expires in mid-May.

Officials in Jerusalem are emphasizing that the remaining time until that date constitutes what they describe as a final chance to reach an agreement. Beyond that point, patience is expected to run out.

A senior Israeli official told Kan News, “We cannot wait forever. We are giving two more weeks for negotiations, and that’s it.”

If talks fail to produce results, Israel is preparing for a renewed escalation, including a return to large-scale military operations targeting the Hezbollah terrorist organization.

At the same time, the Trump administration is actively engaged in quiet diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a symbolic breakthrough. One idea under consideration is arranging a direct meeting between Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, which U.S. officials hope could signal progress.

However, both Israeli and Lebanese sources are expressing doubt that such a meeting can take place under current conditions, citing internal political pressures in Lebanon and ongoing threats from Hezbollah.

In a notable development, President Aoun delivered a forceful speech on Monday in which he publicly backed the idea of engaging in direct talks with Israel.

“Negotiations are not treason,” Aoun declared, and pointed an accusing finger directly at Hezbollah: “The real treason is that of those who drag the country into war in order to fulfill foreign interests.”

Addressing critics within Lebanon, Aoun insisted that any meaningful diplomatic effort must begin with a ceasefire, while also taking aim at those opposing negotiations.

“When you went to war, did you ask for sweeping approval from the Lebanese people?”

{Matzav.com}

Students at a Lakewood cheder today received a firsthand look at the role of modern technology in emergency response when Ocean County Sheriff’s Officers C. Mellott and P. Kennedy delivered a special drone presentation.

During the program, the officers spoke about search-and-rescue operations both on land and in the water, explaining how drones have become an essential tool in locating missing individuals. The children learned how these devices assist first responders by providing aerial views, covering large areas quickly, and helping guide rescue teams more effectively.

The officers also showcased several different types and sizes of drones, giving students an up-close understanding of the equipment used in real-life emergency situations.

The presentation offered an educational and engaging experience, highlighting the important work performed by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office and the growing role of technology in public safety.

VIDEOS ON STATUS.

Dozens of members of the Peleg Yerushalmi broke into the Ashkelon home of the IDF’s chief military police officer on Tuesday evening during a day of widespread protests, prompting sharp condemnation from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior defense officials.

The unusual incident unfolded as part of demonstrations against the recent arrests of chareidi draft evaders by military police. Protesters entered the private residence of Brig. Gen. Yuval Yamin, the head of the Military Police Corps. His family was evacuated from the home during the disturbance, and police reported that 25 suspects were arrested.

Earlier in the day, Rabbi Moshe Shmida, rosh yeshiva of Grodno Ashdod, had reportedly instructed his students during a shiur to keep plans confidential and organize a surprise protest in Ashkelon in response to the detention of two yeshiva students.

Police estimated that roughly 200 demonstrators gathered at the scene. According to a military source, several individuals climbed over the fence and forced their way into the yard. Yamin himself was not home at the time, but his wife and children remained inside, sheltering in place.

Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the breach, stating: “I strongly condemn the wild and violent attack against the head of the military police and demand firm action against those involved.” Representatives of the Peleg Yerushalmi responded to the criticism by saying: “Red lines have been crossed — leave Torah learners alone.”

Reports indicated that authorities had prior knowledge of the planned protest but were unable to prevent participants from entering the property. The family was subsequently removed from the residence for safety.

Police said in a statement: “Officers from the Lachish District are currently operating in the city of Ashkelon to restore public order after rioters arrived at the home of a senior IDF officer, trespassed into the yard, acted violently and disrupted daily life in the area. Police forces have begun arresting suspects involved in the disorder. The Israel Police views with utmost severity any violent behavior, disruption of public order, and trespassing into a private residence, and will act decisively to bring all those involved to justice, alongside continued efforts to maintain public order and public safety.”

Defense officials also issued strong reactions. The defense minister said: “I strongly condemn the deliberate break-in to the home of the head of the military police while his family was inside. Any harm or attempted harm to members of the security forces, and particularly to IDF commanders and soldiers, is crossing a red line. This is a group of violent criminals who must face the full severity of the law. I call on law enforcement authorities to act decisively, swiftly and with all the tools at their disposal to locate the suspects and bring them to justice. I fully back Brig. Gen. Yuval Yamin and make it clear: we will not allow harm to IDF commanders and soldiers.”

An IDF spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating: “A short time ago, a report was received of a deliberate break-in to the home of the chief military police officer, Brigadier General Yuval Yamin, while his family was inside. Security forces were dispatched to the scene and are working to locate the suspects.”

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir also condemned the event, saying: “I strongly condemn the attack. Harm to members of the security forces and their families constitutes a dangerous crossing of a red line. I fully support the head of the Military Police in the dedicated execution of his duties. This is a serious incident and requires determined action by all law enforcement and security authorities in order to bring those involved to justice.”

Political leaders from across the spectrum quickly responded. MK Yuli Edelstein said: “There is no place in our country for this extreme violence against IDF soldiers and their commanders. This is a fringe group of extremists that must be dealt with to the full extent of the law. It is time for the coalition to understand that the situation on the ground is boiling, and if they continue to abandon this arena to Supreme Court rulings time and again, there will be chaos. Only a real draft law will help the IDF, ease the burden on reservists, and prevent civil war.”

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich added: “I strongly condemn the criminal break-in to the home of the head of the military police, Brig. Gen. Yuval Yamin. This is crossing a red line and I call on the Israel Police to act decisively to arrest the rioters, bring them to justice with full severity, and restore order to the streets.”

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said: “I strongly condemn the disgraceful behavior of a small group of anarchists from the extreme chareidi faction who broke into the home of the military police commander. Freedom of expression is not freedom of anarchy. I have full confidence in the police to bring the lawbreakers to justice.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel commented: “The break-in to Brig. Gen. Yamin’s yard is a crossing of a red line, and this is the interest we are paying on exemption laws. A state that funds an entire sector not to serve cannot be surprised when it disregards the law. Tonight’s events are a direct result of a distorted incentive structure. When there are budgets without obligations, anarchy becomes a method of operation. Instead of young people in this sector holding weapons at the front and going to work, the legal system allows them to hold signs and hold the state by the throat.”

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman said: “The October 7 government has surrendered to draft-dodging gangs. Breaking into the home of the head of the military police is crossing a red line, and I suggest everyone watch how many arrests are made and how many indictments are filed. We will put an end to the rule of the draft-dodgers.”

Blue and White leader Benny Gantz stated: “There is nothing Jewish about the violent protest of a group of extreme chareidim tonight in Ashkelon. This is crossing a red line, and if we do not wake up now, blood will be spilled! The Israel Police must act firmly against the rioters, and I also call on the leaders of the chareidi public and the rabbis — do not stand aside, the responsibility is yours. Service in the IDF is not only a legal obligation of every citizen — it is a Jewish right.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid also responded, saying: “Breaking into the home of a senior officer is crossing yet another red line. Everyone involved must be arrested, tried, and sent to prison.”

Yesh Atid chairman Gadi Eisenkot added: “The intrusion of criminals who support draft evasion into the home of the head of the military police, Brig. Gen. Yuval Yamin, is an extremely serious and unacceptable event, stemming from government policy that allows and even promotes evasion of service during wartime.”

Throughout the day, protests organized by the Peleg Yerushalmi took place across the country in opposition to the draft law and sanctions against those who failed to enlist. The demonstrations led to major traffic disruptions, including significant blockages along Route 4 and at multiple locations in Yerushalayim. Clashes were also reported in the Bar-Ilan area of the capital.

Police later announced that order had been restored and all roads reopened in Yerushalayim and the Beit Shemesh area. The operations followed a series of violent disturbances during which protesters blocked light rail tracks and traffic lanes, burned Israeli flags, and threw stones at officers.

During the unrest, a police officer was assaulted and a suspect was arrested. Authorities said crowd-control measures were used to disperse demonstrators and emphasized that enforcement efforts would continue against anyone endangering public safety or attacking law enforcement personnel.

{Matzav.com}

A new Harvard-Harris poll reveals a remarkably tight political landscape just six months before the 2026 midterm elections, with Republicans and Democrats tied at 50 percent each on the generic congressional ballot, suggesting neither party has a commanding advantage heading into what could prove a pivotal election cycle.

The survey of 2,745 registered voters, conducted between April 23 and 26 by Harvard’s Center for American Political Studies and HarrisX, carried a 1.87 percent margin of error and asked respondents whether they would vote for a Democrat or Republican for Congress if an election were held today.

The dead heat masks important underlying dynamics. Democrats maintain a 52-48 percent advantage with independent voters, a traditionally decisive bloc in midterm elections. Voter enthusiasm also shows subtle partisan differences: 62 percent of Republicans said they would “definitely” vote, compared to 59 percent of Democrats, with Republicans holding a slight overall advantage in turnout likelihood.

Seventy-one percent of all respondents indicated they were either “definitely” or “probably” going to vote, suggesting relatively strong anticipated participation in the midterms.

President Trump’s approval rating stands at a net negative 9 points, with 42 percent approving and 53 percent disapproving of his job performance. Among likely midterm voters—the subset most politically engaged—his numbers improve modestly to 46-51, still underwater but reflecting slightly stronger support among those most likely to cast ballots.

Americans were evenly divided on whether Trump is performing better or worse than his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, a finding that suggests the electorate remains deeply polarized about the comparative performance of the two presidents.

Inflation and affordability concerns dominate the electorate’s hierarchy of issues, with 35 percent of respondents identifying it as one of “the most important issues facing the country today.” The persistence of inflation as the top concern reflects ongoing economic anxieties that have defined political discourse since Trump took office.

Other pressing issues follow in descending order: the economy and jobs (28 percent), immigration (24 percent), health care (22 percent), the U.S.-Iran conflict (20 percent), and corruption (18 percent).

The 50-50 deadlock on the generic ballot indicates an unusually competitive midterm environment. Historically, the party holding the White House often faces headwinds in midterm elections, but Trump’s current tied position suggests a dynamic in which both parties face genuine uncertainty about which direction the electorate will move over the coming six months.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Two Jackson Township Police officers assigned to the department’s Special Response Team (SRT) recently earned an impressive 4th place overall finish at the 2026 Mammoth Sniper Challenge II, competing against some of the top precision rifle teams in the country.

Police Officers Curt Nagel and Chris Brown took part in the grueling 72-hour endurance competition, which pushes participants both physically and mentally. The event requires two-man teams to ruck more than 30 miles while carrying 60-pound packs filled with all mission-essential gear, all while engaging long-range steel targets from improvised positions and simulated hides.

Out of 100 registered teams, 84 began the challenge on Day One. Strict ruck time standards quickly narrowed the field, with only 65 teams advancing past the first day and just 59 remaining by the end of Day Two.

Nagel and Brown delivered a standout performance throughout the competition, taking 1st place in three of the twelve shooting stages, along with additional 3rd and 4th place finishes. The duo successfully engaged targets at distances of up to 988 yards.

Their achievement highlights the high level of training, discipline, and preparation within the Jackson Township Police Department’s Firearms Unit and Special Response Team.

The seven-front War of Redemption against Iran and its regional proxies is expected to continue throughout 2026, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said.

“Since the Oct. 7th massacre, the IDF has been engaged in combat in an ongoing multi-front war. We continue to remain prepared and vigilant for any scenario in all sectors,” Zamir told senior commanders at a military conference held at the Israeli Air Force’s Ramat David Base.

“We are still in a multi-front operation,” the military chief stressed, adding that 2026 “may continue to be a year of multi-front combat.”

As part of a new security doctrine developed in the aftermath of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, the IDF has established buffer zones on the front lines, adjacent to border communities in the north and south, he noted.

“We must be prepared to remain in these areas as long as sustained security for our communities has not yet been ensured,” Zamir said.

Ongoing diplomatic negotiations with Iran, Lebanon and Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip “are grounded in the achievements of the IDF, made possible by the troops and commanders in the air, at sea, and on land,” he continued.

Regarding the Islamic Republic, the chief of staff praised “Operation Roaring Lion,” in which he said the IDF “achieved unprecedented accomplishments and removed emerging existential threats.”

“We operated in a joint operation, together with the United States military, in extraordinary synchronization. We fulfilled every mission assigned to us and exceeded expectations,” he said, adding: “We must now ensure these achievements are translated into long-term strategic gain.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his address focused on Lebanon, saying the Jewish state has “the freedom of action to thwart immediate and emerging threats” posed by Iranian-backed Hezbollah. “This is the agreement we made with the United States and also with the Lebanese government,” he stated.

“There are still two major threats from Lebanon, from Hezbollah: The threat of 122mm rockets, and the threat of drones and UAVs,” the premier continued, saying the Israeli Defense Ministry and IDF were making “a very large technological effort” to eliminate these.

Netanyahu in his speech praised the military’s “monumental achievements” in Lebanon, including the elimination of Hezbollah’s long-range rocket array and the creation of the security zone, which he said prevents a cross-border invasion, as well as anti-tank fire.

“They have roughly 10% of the missiles they had at the start of the war,” noted the prime minister. “However, these still trouble the residents of the north, and I greatly appreciate their resilience and their standing steadfast.”

The two-and-a-half-year-old War of Redemption began when Hamas, other Iranian-backed Palestinian terrorist groups and Gazan “civilians” invaded the northwestern Negev from Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, massacring some 1,200 people, wounding thousands and taking 251 hostages back to the Strip. JNS

Brushstrokes for Nagilla returns following the tremendous success of last year’s event, bringing together art, community, and purpose for an unforgettable evening.

Now in its third year, Brushstrokes for Nagilla showcases 18 talented artists, displaying their art in a beautifully curated museum-like setting. The intimate setting allows for all attendees to interact with each artist to view and purchase their work.

The evening’s highlight is the opportunity to purchase tickets for a chance to win one of the 20 exceptional pieces of art, generously donated by the artists.

For those unable to attend in person, a three-week online auction provides the opportunity to explore the artwork, and to participate in the Chinese auction.

It’s an inspiring night of art and community, benefiting Nagilla, an organization that provides women who are widowed, a network of support, ensuring that they do not face this journey alone.

For more information or to purchase auction tickets, click HERE!

For more information on what Nagilla does, go to Nagilla.org

Brushstrokes for Nagilla is grateful to the generous corporate sponsors of tonight’s event:

GTEN LAW, THE DEBORAH SMITH TEAM, THE OMNI AGENCY, FISH GRILL, YAAKOV BERMAN/1847 FINANCIAL

It has been two weeks since our lives were shattered. Two weeks since we lost our Eliyahu — our son, our brother, our pride to a tragic accident that took him from us at only eighteen years old. The wound is raw, the silence in our home is deafening, and yet we find ourselves compelled to reach out, because Eliyahu would not have wanted us to be silent. He was never still. He was always doing- learning, giving, building, caring.

Eliyahu was a consummate Ben Torah whose life, though painfully short, stood as a radiant model of Ahavas HaTorah. He approached his learning with seriousness, love, and dedication, driven by great personal she’ifos in Limud HaTorah that went far beyond his years. At the same time, he poured hundreds of hours into chesed — volunteering for Igud Bnei Torah and Kollel Chazu — always seeking to be meitiv to others, always looking for the next way to give.

He also possessed something rare: an exceptional passion for honoring a Beis Medrash and Beis Knesses. He took personal achrayus to ensure that the tzurah of a Makom Torah u’Tefillah was upheld with the greatest dignity and respect. For Eliyahu, this was never a task. It was an expression of who he was.

It is therefore with broken hearts and with a sense of profound meaning that we are inaugurating the writing of a Sefer Torah l’iluy nishmas Eliyahu ben ybl”c R’ Moshe שליט”א.

A Sefer Torah. Letters that will never fade. A voice that will never go silent. Every time this Torah is lifted in a Beis Medrash in that very place that Eliyahu so fiercely honored, his neshamah will be elevated, and his legacy will live on.

We are asking you — our extended family, dear friends, and Klal Yisroel as a whole — to join us in this sacred endeavor. Each letter, each parshah, each contribution — large or small becomes part of Eliyahu’s eternal legacy of Torah.

To dedicate letters or parshiyos, or to make a contribution, please click here:

May the zechus of this Sefer Torah be a continuous aliyah for his pure neshamah, and may the Ribono Shel Olam comfort our family among all Aveilei Tzion v’Yerushalayim.

Yehi Zichro Baruch.

With heartfelt gratitude,
The Schepansky Family

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A Brooklyn man who authorities say was mistaken for a drug suspect during an undercover police operation is preparing to sue New York City for $100 million after he was beaten by officers in an encounter captured on viral video.

Timothy Brown said he had entered a neighborhood liquor store after work when undercover narcotics detectives moved to arrest him, allegedly believing he matched the description of a man linked to a drug sale. According to reports, officers focused on Brown in part because he was wearing green shorts similar to those worn by the suspect they were seeking.

Brown’s legal team says he was an innocent bystander caught in a case of mistaken identity and then subjected to excessive force. Video of the confrontation sparked widespread outrage and prompted an internal police investigation.

Brown says he suffered serious injuries and lasting trauma. His attorneys argue the planned lawsuit seeks accountability for what they describe as wrongful arrest and police misconduct.

City officials have criticized the incident. Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the footage disturbing, while Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the detectives involved were placed on modified duty as the department reviews the case.

The case has intensified scrutiny of undercover narcotics tactics and the consequences when police target the wrong person.

Israel’s rental market has a new power feature, and it is not a balcony, parking spot or sea view. It is the mamad, the reinforced residential safe room that has moved from “nice to have” to first-question status for many renters. New WeCheck data shows the average monthly rent in Israel has crossed NIS 5,000, reaching NIS 5,041 after a 2.1% monthly jump. The sharpest pressure is in smaller apartments, where renters have fewer options and older buildings often lack private protection.

The numbers tell a blunt story. Small apartments of 1–3 rooms rose 3.1% to an average of NIS 4,341 a month, while larger 4–5 room apartments rose only 0.9% to NIS 6,363. Inside the small-apartment category, the security premium is even clearer as units with a mamad jumped 4.9% in a single month, compared with 2.6% for similar apartments without one. Over the past year, rents for apartments with a mamad rose 5.7%, versus 4.3% for those without protected space. WeCheck CEO Rami Ronen called it “a deep shift” in renter behavior that is not expected to disappear quickly.

This is not just another real estate cycle. It is wartime risk being priced into daily life. Iran and Hezbollah’s missile threat has changed what Israelis consider a livable home. A room that once doubled as storage, a child’s room or a home office is now treated as basic infrastructure. Larger and newer apartments are more likely to include a mamad; smaller, older units are not. That is why the supposedly “affordable” end of the market is now absorbing the sharpest shock.

The broader housing picture makes the split even more striking. Home prices have been cooling, with Israel’s housing price index down 0.1% in the latest measured period and down 1.7% year over year, while new apartments fell 3.9% over the year. But rents keep climbing, especially when tenants move, CBS-linked figures show rents rose 2.2% for renewed contracts and 5.9% where a tenant was replaced. In plain terms, buying has slowed, but renting has become more expensive precisely when families and young couples are being pushed into it.

Short-term rentals show the same pressure in sharper formSafe-room sublets in Tel Aviv surged as missile alerts drove demand, with one resident describing weekly prices that climbed from about NIS 5,000 to NIS 8,500. The Madlan platform also reported a roughly 133% increase in searches for properties with safe rooms during the current security crisis.

The result is a two-tier rental system, protected homes that move fast and command premiums, and older unprotected apartments that still find tenants because supply is tight but increasingly feel inferior. The state has tried to speed up mamad construction in some cases; a fast-track route allows eligible low-rise homes and ground-connected units to add a mamad without a full building permit, with approvals potentially issued within 14 days. But that does not solve the hardest problem, dense older urban buildings where adding protected space is expensive, slow or structurally complicated.

Photo taken in Bat Yam, Israel

The market is now sending a clear message. For renters, security has become part of affordability. For landlords, a mamad is no longer just a selling point and is now is pricing power. For policymakers, the data exposes a housing-security gap that will not close by itself. If the current threat environment continues, the premium for protected apartments is likely to remain strong into the next rental cycle. If tensions ease, the premium may narrow, but it is unlikely to vanish. Israeli renters have learned the question that now shapes the deal before almost anything else, does the apartment have a mamad?

With summer around the corner and temperatures beginning to climb, Bergen County Chaverim is taking proactive steps to protect the community’s most vulnerable — distributing mirror tags designed to remind parents to check their back seats and never leave a child unattended in a vehicle, alongside over 1,500 pedestrian safety reflectors.

The mirror tags, which serve as a simple but potentially life-saving prompt, come as warm-weather months historically see a spike in incidents of children left in dangerously hot cars. Chaverim paired the child safety push with a distribution of reflective gear aimed at keeping pedestrians visible after dark — an effort that has taken on added urgency following fatal pedestrian accidents in the county.

“We have had fatalities from people crossing the street,” Sol Itzkowitz, coordinator of Bergen County Chaverim told Belaaz. “Chaverim urges all members of the Bergen County community to wear reflectors when walking at night — it is the simplest way to make sure you are visible. If needed, they will be made available at a designated location where residents can pick them up. Many thanks to Quality Air Heating and Cooling for sponsoring the reflectors.”

The event was coordinated with Rabbi Strauchler of Rinat Yisrael and supported by the Teaneck Police Department, Teaneck Fire Department, Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and the CSS Security Organization.
Bergen County Chaverim described the initiative as part of its ongoing mission to enhance safety across the county.

An unusual incident was reported in Beirut after a Lebanese student contacted the IDF’s Arabic-language spokesperson claiming that Hezbollah weapons were being stored inside her school, a claim that was later determined to be false and reportedly intended to avoid taking exams.

According to a report by Channel 12 journalist Sapir Lipkin, the student reached out via Instagram to IDF Arabic spokesperson Avichay Adraee, alleging that weapons belonging to Hezbollah were hidden within her school.

Further investigation revealed that the allegation was unfounded. Officials now believe the student made the claim in an attempt to evade academic testing.

Following the incident, the student and her parents were briefly detained by local authorities before being released. Meanwhile, residents in the area reported unusual drone activity in the vicinity of the school in the days after the claim became public.

In an official message sent to parents, the school administration warned that any student found to have harmed the institution or made statements about it that violate laws or regulations could face legal consequences.

Authorities added that the investigation is ongoing and emphasized that anyone found responsible for involvement in the incident will be held fully accountable, along with their parents.

(JNS) – James Uthmeier, attorney general of Florida, issued a terse response to a demand that he either reconsider a legal opinion expanding access to public benefits for religious institutions or resign.

“Dear Mr. Line: No. Sincerely, James Uthmeier,” he wrote in an April 28 response to Christopher Line, legal counsel at Freedom From Religion Foundation.

The "Freedom From Religion Foundation" asked me to reconsider my opinion on religious liberty or resign from office.

My answer is simple: No. pic.twitter.com/Wpvpjxg0Sa

— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) April 28, 2026

The state attorney general argued in an April 2 memo that government entities can’t exclude religious organizations, including charter schools, from public programs, such as scholarships or grants, due to their religious status. He said that his office will not enforce or defend a law that violates “the right of religious people and entities to participate in public programs and benefits like everyone else.”

“Some Florida laws prohibit religious schools from accessing public funds, and we will not enforce unconstitutional laws,” he said.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation called on Uthmeier “to resign if he is unwilling to carry out his constitutional obligations.” It said earlier this month that the attorney general’s “attempt to justify directing taxpayer funds to religious charter schools fundamentally misrepresents recent Supreme Court decisions.”

WASHINGTON (VINnews) — Former FBI Director James Comey pushed back publicly Tuesday against his latest indictment, releasing a video on Substack in which he framed the charges as politically motivated and signaled he intends to fight the case.

“Well, they’re back,” Comey said in the video, referring to prosecutors pursuing charges against him again.

“Nothing has changed with me. I’m still innocent. I’m still not afraid. And I still believe in the independent federal judiciary. So, let’s go,” he said.

The remarks were Comey’s first direct response since the indictment was announced and appeared aimed at portraying the prosecution as part of a broader political campaign against him, a claim he has made in previous legal and public disputes.

Comey, a longtime critic of President Donald Trump, suggested the case reflects efforts by Trump allies to target him. His comments signaled a defiant posture as the case moves forward in court.

The brief video response quickly drew attention online, with the phrase “Let’s go” emerging as Comey’s blunt public message that he does not intend to back down.

A 22-year-old U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Polk has been charged with making threats to kill Jews at a synagogue and could face up to five years in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana.

Federal prosecutors identified the suspect as Jakob Marcoulier, who was taken into custody and formally charged on April 23. Authorities say the alleged threats were made on the messaging platform Discord.

“Threats against synagogues and Jewish Americans are threats to the religious freedom promised to every single one of us,” stated Zachary Keller. “This office and our law enforcement partners are committed to protecting those freedoms.”

The FBI’s New Orleans field office became aware of the situation after receiving a tip from a concerned individual. Jonathan Tapp said both the bureau and the U.S. Army responded quickly once the report was made.

“This is a perfect example of how the public is law enforcement’s greatest partner,” Tapp stated.

According to the Justice Department, the initial report came in February, when an anonymous tipster alerted authorities that a Discord user known as “El Bostino” had issued threats directed at synagogues.

Investigators later obtained audio recordings from Discord in which the individual—allegedly Marcoulier—made explicit statements outlining a planned attack.

“FBI secured recorded audio from Discord in which the individual, later determined to be Marcoulier, made these threats, stating among other things that ‘after this deployment, if the Jews still have reign over our government, I am going to walk into a synagogue with my AK, with a 75-round drum mag, and all of my extra mags, with my level four plates, and my haka helmet that’s three plus, and I am going to kill every single Jew I know inside of that synagogue, and that’s my goal in life.”

Authorities say the suspect continued with additional remarks expressing intent to carry out violence.

The suspect allegedly added that “you guys will never do anything about but I will. I just have to finish this. I have to go back overseas and do what I have to do and then you’ll see me in the news. I promise you.” He is accused of also saying that “you guys don’t want to do anything for the [profanity] cause when it actually needs to happen” and “I’ll still kill these [profanity] in order to make sure the white youth is [profanity] secured.”’

{Matzav.com}

A reserve unit operating under the IDF Northern Command is tackling one of modern warfare’s toughest challenges: producing high‑quality, real‑time targets even after the pre‑planned target bank has been depleted.

Once the enemy’s core infrastructure has been destroyed, the campaign shifts to pursuing “time‑sensitive targets”—fleeting targets that appear briefly and demand an especially rapid operational response.

This specialized unit was created in the aftermath of the Second Lebanon War, when the IDF recognized the need for a flexible mechanism capable of generating new targets during active combat. Over the years, it developed a unique methodology that blends intelligence, field expertise, and advanced technological tools, enabling rapid identification and precision strikes within minutes.

Recent operational data shows the unit has identified and struck hundreds of targets and eliminated approximately 400 terrorists, with an average turnaround of under 30 minutes from detection to strike.

Their work relies on tight, real‑time coordination between intelligence teams and IDF strike forces—primarily the Air Force—allowing operational loops to close at high speed. Their deep familiarity with Hezbollah’s behavior patterns and the local terrain helps them anticipate terrorist movements and detect threats at early stages.

Beyond eliminating terrorists, the unit also targets Hezbollah’s economic infrastructure, aiming to disrupt financial channels and weaken the organization’s operational capacity. At the same time, it provides critical support to ground forces, especially during rescue missions under fire, by identifying approaching threats and neutralizing them quickly.

According to unit members, the ability to act decisively without lengthy planning cycles is what keeps them effective—and relevant—even in the later stages of combat.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Iran’s embassy in London has launched a recruitment campaign urging British-based Iranians to join a “martyrdom” initiative, according to reporting by the Daily Mail. The effort has alarmed security experts who view it as an online radicalization tool designed to identify and mobilize regime loyalists on British soil.

The embassy’s official Telegram channel posted messages in Persian calling on “proud Iranian compatriots residing in Britain” to register for the “Jan Fada” (literally “sacrificing life”) program. One message from April 15 declared: “Let us all, to a man, give our bodies to be slain; for it is better than giving our country to the enemy.”

Participants are directed to register through the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s consular platform, according to the report.

An embassy spokesperson disputed interpretations of the messaging, stating that the initiative “does not promote any form of hostility” and characterizing concerns as “biased judgments made hastily and without proper understanding.”

But security analysts say the program represents something far more sinister: a mechanism for identifying potential operatives willing to act on behalf of Iran inside the United Kingdom.

“This is an attempt at radicalization online of people who could be persuaded by the regime to commit acts in support of the Islamic Republic in the UK,” said Roger Macmillan, a former security director at Iran International. “This is a significant threat.”

The recruitment drive emerges amid an escalating pattern of Iran-linked violence in Britain. A newly formed terror group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya has claimed responsibility for a wave of attacks largely targeting Jewish institutions across the country.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged last week to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, though no legislation has yet been introduced. Scotland Yard has not publicly commented on the embassy’s messaging.

Similar outreach efforts by Iranian state actors are reportedly under investigation in Australia, suggesting the recruitment campaign extends beyond Britain.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The accident happened at the intersection of North Maple and Vermont in Toms River.

No serious injuries are being reported.

Hezbollah killed Israeli Defense Ministry contractor Amer Hujirat, 44, from Shfaram, in an explosive drone strike on an engineering vehicle operating in southern Lebanon. His 19-year-old son, who worked for the same contractor company, was lightly wounded by shrapnel and treated at Ziv Medical Center in Safed.

According to the initial investigation, the Hezbollah drone scored a direct hit on the engineering vehicle near Aitaroun, close to Bint Jbeil, while crews were working to demolish Hezbollah terror infrastructure. Hezbollah claimed responsibility, saying it targeted an Israeli bulldozer with an explosive-laden drone.

Ziv Hospital said Hujirat’s son was physically in light condition but suffered acute emotional distress after the attack and was later released home. The IDF and Defense Ministry said Hujirat’s family was notified by police and expressed condolences.

Members of Lebanon’s Shiite militant group Hezbollah carry the coffins of comrades killed in recent Israeli attacks during their funeral in the southern city of Nabatiyeh on November 2, 2025. Hundreds of people gathered in south Lebanon’s Nabatiyeh on November 2, 2025 to mourn five Hezbollah members killed in recent Israeli attacks, an AFP correspondent said, as Israel warned of intensifying attacks against the Iran-backed group. On November 1, an Israeli strike killed four people in Kfar Rumman, Nabatiyeh district, the Lebanese health ministry and the Israeli military said. (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT / AFP) (Photo by MAHMOUD ZAYYAT/AFP via Getty Images)

The killing comes as Hezbollah continues using explosive drones against Israelis operating in southern Lebanon, even under ceasefire conditions. Earlier this week, Sgt. Idan Fooks, 19, was killed in another Hezbollah drone attack in southern Lebanon, with several IDF soldiers wounded.

Chaveirim of Boro Park and BPJCC have partnered with the American Red Cross to launch an important new community safety initiative, providing and installing free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to Boro Park residents.

The program is designed to help keep families safe, prevent tragedies, and ensure homes are properly protected through fire-prevention equipment and education.

Through this free initiative, dedicated Chaveirim volunteers, professionally trained by the American Red Cross, will install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms throughout residents’ homes. Installations will be completed in every room. Families will also receive valuable fire safety education, guidance on prevention, and practical safety tips.

The American Red Cross deserves tremendous hakaras hatov for sponsoring thousands of alarms for this lifesaving program and for providing the professional training and expertise that make the initiative possible.

Installations are typically scheduled within a few weeks of applying. A volunteer from Chaveirim will reach out to you close to your installation to schedule the exact timing – at your convenience.

Residents can sign up now by registering here. https://bpjcc.org/firesafety

Community members may also visit the BPJCC office for in-person registration assistance.

This critically important program is designed to help keep families safe and prevent tragedies through effective fire protection and education.

THIS STORY WAS FIRST PUBLISHED ON THE BORO PARK SCOOP STATUS

CLICK HERE SIGN UP TO THE BORO PARK SCOOP WHATSAPP STATUS TO BE INFORMED OF BORO PARK NEWS IN LIVE TIME

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

By Y.M. Lowy

The MTA has announced a series of overnight closures at the Hugh L. Carey Tunnel as part of routine flood door testing ahead of hurricane season.

The massive steel flood doors, each weighing more than 20 tons, can only be tested when a full tunnel tube is shut down. During these overnight tests, one tube will be closed while the remaining tube will carry traffic in both directions, with one lane open each way.

Closures will take place on:

● April 30 into May 1 (9:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.) – Brooklyn West Tube

● May 1 into May 2 (11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.) – Brooklyn East Tube

● May 7 into May 8 (9:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m.) – Manhattan East Tube

● May 8 into May 9 (11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.) – Manhattan West Tube

The testing is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the tunnels are prepared for potential flooding during major storms, including hurricanes and tropical systems. 

Drivers should expect delays and plan alternate routes if traveling during these hours.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday leveled strong criticism at Israel, alleging that a ship transporting what he called “stolen” Ukrainian grain had reached an Israeli port and was preparing to unload its cargo.

“In any normal country, purchasing stolen goods is an act that entails legal liability. This applies, in particular, to grain stolen by Russia,” Zelenskyy said in a statement. “Another vessel carrying such grain has arrived at a port in Israel and is preparing to unload. This is not – and cannot be – legitimate business.”

Zelenskyy further asserted that Israeli officials should be fully aware of the ships docking in their ports and the nature of their cargo. He said Israeli authorities “cannot be unaware of which ships are arriving at the country’s ports and what cargo they are carrying.”

According to Zelenskyy, Russia has been engaged in a consistent effort to confiscate grain from Ukrainian territories under its control and arrange for its export through intermediaries tied to occupying forces. He described these activities as violations of Israeli law.

“Ukraine has taken all necessary steps through diplomatic channels to prevent such incidents. However, we see that yet another such vessel has not been stopped,” he stated.

The Ukrainian leader also revealed that he had directed his Foreign Ministry to alert allied nations about the situation and was preparing further measures. “Based on information from our intelligence services, Ukraine is preparing a relevant sanctions package that will cover both those directly transporting this grain and the individuals and legal entities attempting to profit from this criminal scheme,” he said.

He added that Kyiv intends to work with European partners to ensure those involved in the shipments are included in sanctions imposed across Europe.

“Ukraine counts on partnership and mutual respect with every state. We are genuinely working to enhance security, particularly in the Middle East region. We expect that the Israeli authorities will respect Ukraine and refrain from actions that undermine our bilateral relations,” Zelenskyy concluded.

The remarks come amid escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries. Earlier in the week, Ukraine summoned Israel’s ambassador in Kyiv, Michael Brodsky, following reports that a ship carrying what Ukraine claims is stolen grain had docked at the Port of Haifa.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the ambassador would be formally presented with a protest and that discussions would center on what Kyiv called the need for “appropriate action.”

“Friendly Ukrainian-Israeli relations have the potential to benefit both countries, and Russia’s illegal trade with stolen Ukrainian grain should not undermine them,” Sybiha said.

He also voiced frustration over what he described as Israel’s lack of response to a previous incident involving similar allegations. Kyiv, he said, finds it “difficult to understand Israel’s lack of appropriate response.”

“Now that another such vessel has arrived in Haifa, we once again warn Israel against accepting the stolen grain and harming our relations,” he added.

Reports indicate that the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Panormitis recently entered Haifa Bay and is suspected of transporting grain originating from Ukrainian territories currently under Russian control. Ukrainian officials believe the cargo may have been transferred between vessels before reaching Israel.

This follows another incident earlier in the month, when a separate ship reportedly unloaded tens of thousands of tons of Ukrainian wheat in Haifa, drawing criticism from Kyiv.

Investigations referenced in those reports suggest that multiple shipments of grain believed to have been taken from occupied Ukrainian regions have arrived in Israel over recent months.

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rejected the accusations, emphasizing that diplomatic matters should not be handled through public statements.

“Diplomatic relations, especially between friendly nations, are not conducted on Twitter or in the media.”

“Allegations are not evidence. Evidence substantiating the allegations have yet to be provided,” Sa’ar said, adding that no official request for legal cooperation had been submitted prior to Ukraine’s public claims.

“The matter will be examined. Israel is a state that abides by the rule of law with independent law enforcement authorities. All Israeli authorities will act in accordance with the law,” he added.

Ukraine has signaled that it views the issue as serious and may pursue additional diplomatic steps depending on how Israel handles the situation surrounding the vessel.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid has told his ally Naftali Bennett that he is prepared to accept a lower placement on their shared electoral list if it would help bring Gadi Eisenkot into a larger unified bloc, according to a source close to Lapid.

The development follows an announcement Sunday night in which Lapid and Bennett revealed they were combining their parties into a joint slate under the name “Together – Led by Bennett.”

According to the source, Lapid has made clear that his own position on the list is secondary to the broader goal of consolidating forces to improve the opposition’s chances at the polls. “Lapid says his personal ranking is far less important than the need to unite forces and win the election.”

Bennett, emphasizing momentum, declared that he and Lapid were “racing forward to victory,” and extended an invitation to Eisenkot to join the alliance, saying that “our door is open to you too.”

However, a figure close to Eisenkot downplayed the significance of Lapid’s proposal, despite earlier reports that Eisenkot himself had floated the idea of a merger back in January. “That’s not the point at all. We’re only interested in what will bring victory to the bloc,” the source told The Times of Israel.

While Eisenkot expressed support for the partnership between Bennett and Lapid, referring to them as “allies,” he also cautioned that their joint effort might struggle to pull voters away from the right-wing camp aligned with Benjamin Netanyahu.

“For this victory to happen, we need to bring in more votes — that is our only test. Every union must be judged by that,” Eisenkot said on Sunday.

He later called on most opposition leaders to meet and coordinate a strategy aimed at securing a “Zionist majority” over Netanyahu in the elections scheduled for October.

A Channel 12 survey released Monday suggested that if Eisenkot were to join forces with Bennett and Lapid, the combined list could secure 41 seats. Still, the broader balance of power would remain largely unchanged, with Netanyahu’s bloc projected at 50 seats, Zionist opposition parties at 60, and Arab parties holding 10.

Reacting to the merger, Benny Gantz, head of the Blue and White party, argued that the move weakens efforts to replace the current government. He maintained that a wider coalition remains the preferable path forward. “harms the ability to replace this terrible government,” he said, adding that “the best solution is a broad, Zionist government.”

Gantz criticized the focus on internal rivalries rather than outreach to new voters. “Instead of calling out to right-wing voters, Likudniks, and religious Zionists who are looking for a new home today — and telling them that we will ensure the establishment of a broad Zionist government without extremists, that will handle conscription and security and economic challenges — they chose to continue entrenching themselves in intra-bloc battles and obsessing over ‘who’ will lead, rather than ‘where’ we will lead,” Gantz wrote on Facebook.

He added that both Bennett and Lapid had once again prioritized their own political interests over national concerns. “Both Bennett and Lapid are people I respect, but each of them has once again chosen what serves them personally, rather than what serves the country,” he wrote.

Positioning himself as an alternative, Gantz appealed to voters seeking change across the political spectrum. For those looking for “a victory for the entire people of Israel,” he said, “I am your insurance policy to do everything possible to replace Netanyahu and the government of extremists, and to ensure the establishment of a broad Zionist government. In today’s political arena, only Blue and White guarantees that an extremist government won’t rise here again, nor a narrow minority government that relies on Arab parties and would collapse in the face of the first security challenge.”

Recent polling places Blue and White below the electoral threshold, and Gantz was notably absent from the list of opposition leaders invited to Eisenkot’s proposed coordination meeting.

Gantz has also distinguished himself from other opposition figures by signaling openness to joining a Netanyahu-led coalition and by resisting efforts to classify him firmly within the opposition bloc.

During an appearance Monday on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” John Fetterman addressed criticism from fellow Democrats over plans to build a ballroom at the White House, a project that has begun construction but may be halted due to a federal court ruling.

Fetterman dismissed the pushback from his party, characterizing it as politically driven and referring to it as “TDS,” an acronym for Trump Derangement Syndrome.

Host Sean Hannity questioned why the project was facing resistance, noting that it would not be funded by taxpayers and would offer enhanced security. “I don’t know why,” Hannity said of the Trump ballroom. “It’s not going to cost the taxpayers a penny. It’s going to be one of the most secure buildings by far in the world. Why would there be any reluctance or resistance to building it when every future president will benefit from it?”

Fetterman responded by saying he could not find a logical explanation beyond political bias. “I really don’t understand. The only thing that I could explain that it’s the TDS, you know, for me. I mean, you know, I was right there. I was one or two tables away from the front table with the president and the vice president thing, and I’ve witnessed this, but even before that even happened, I was struck by- my gosh, we have the entire, you know, the line of succession right there in the very small kind of, you know, area there.”

He went on to describe the concentration of top officials at the event, underscoring what he viewed as a security concern. “You know, Johnson was there,” he continued. “Rubio was there. Of course, the president and Vance was there, too, and Hegseth and all those people there. I mean, people have forgotten perhaps what happened in Oklahoma City back in 1995. You know, somebody could have bombed a building for that, you know? And now, I was the only Democrat that refused to vote to shut the DHS down, and it is. And now we’re here in conflict of Iran. Iran’s already have the desire to assassinate the president, too.”

Fetterman concluded by pointing to the potential dangers of hosting major events in facilities not designed with high-level security in mind. “So, I think after tonight there, I’m thinking we really got lucky because it could have been far more even catastrophic, and I’m so grateful no one was hurt,” Fetterman added. “But that’s why I’m saying you know we need to have a secure facility for events just like this. We can’t ever allow to be exposed in that way to an attack that hotel was never designed to do that in a safe way when I witnessed that, that night.”

WATCH:

Ocean County officials announced that a $1 million grant has been awarded to help expand and strengthen homelessness prevention and housing stability efforts throughout the county.

The funding was formally presented during the April 15 Board meeting, when representatives from RWJBarnabas Health handed a ceremonial check to the Ocean County Board of Commissioners.

According to officials, the grant will support housing stabilization services, wrap-around case management, and connections to critical resources for individuals and families facing the greatest barriers to securing stable housing.

“We are honored to partner with Ocean County in providing housing stabilization support, wrap-around case management, and connections to critical services for individuals and families facing the greatest barriers to housing,” said Dr. Teri Kubiel.

The $1 million grant was made possible through community health resources provided by the State of New Jersey. Ocean County will administer the funding through its Homelessness Trust Fund Task Force, allowing the county to enhance existing programs and build upon current infrastructure.

Ocean County Commissioner Deputy Director Jennifier Bacchione, who serves as co-liaison to the Homelessness Trust Fund, said the investment reflects the strong partnership between the county and RWJBarnabas Health.

“This money will allow the Task Force to continue to fund supportive services and prevention services, including the Code Blue program,” Bacchione said.

Since its launch in 2023, the Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund has collected nearly $969,000 through a $5 surcharge applied to most recorded instruments with the Ocean County Clerk’s Office.

Ocean County Commissioner Robert S. Arace said the new funding will help expand services such as Rapid Rehousing Assistance, housing navigation, and case management for residents in need.

Households experiencing housing insecurity are encouraged to contact the Coordinated Entry program for Ocean County through the Affordable Housing Alliance at 732-341-2272 for an assessment and placement on the Coordinated Entry Waiting List.

In a joint statement, the Board of Commissioners reaffirmed their commitment to improving quality of life and promoting housing security across the community.

Photo Caption: During the April 15 Board meeting, Dr. Teri Kubiel and Stan Evanowski of RWJBarnabas Health presented the Ocean County Board of Commissioners with a $1 million donation to the Ocean County Homelessness Trust Fund to strengthen homelessness prevention and housing stability efforts.

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and senior city Democratic officials are being accused of “racially engineering” New York City’s most selective public high schools, according to a Brooklyn mother who filed a federal lawsuit last week against the mayor and the Department of Education.

Yi Fang Chen, 45, is contesting the admissions system used for the city’s nine Specialized High Schools after her eldest son was not accepted to Stuyvesant High School, even though he ranked in the top five percent on the entrance exam he took in November.

Roughly 26,000 students sit for the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test each year, competing for about 5,000 available seats.

Chen told The NY Post that her 13-year-old son earned a score of 561 on the exam, while Stuyvesant’s cutoff is 551, yet he was still rejected. Her lawsuit challenges changes implemented for the 2019 school year that set aside 20 percent of seats for students admitted through an alternative pathway, including those with lower test scores who qualify based on other factors such as low-income status.

“Starting in 2020, the City began reserving 20 percent of its SHS seats for a separate admissions pathway — the Discovery program — that excludes students based on criteria the City purposefully selected to change the racial composition of those schools,” according to the lawsuit.

“The City adopted and continues to enforce that policy in an effort to reduce the number of Asian-American students and increase the number of black and Hispanic students admitted to the SHSs.

Chen says her son did not meet the eligibility requirements for the Discovery Program.

“Any student who scored a 495 or above is not eligible for the Discovery program,” states the NYC public school website.

She added that students with scores up to 100 points lower than her son’s are admitted through the program. “It’s very upsetting,” said the data scientist and mother of three.

Mamdani, an alumnus of the Bronx High School of Science, is accused in the lawsuit of continuing practices that disadvantage Asian American students.

According to the Pacific Legal Foundation, which filed the case on Chen’s behalf, the admissions criteria were intentionally structured to reduce Asian American enrollment.

“The City inverted the purpose of the Discovery Program by making certain disadvantaged kids categorically ineligible for Discovery through middle-school screens calculated to exclude heavily Asian-American schools.

“So rather than expand opportunity for disadvantaged students generally, the City rewrote the program in an effort to engineer a different racial result,” a representative for the foundation told The Post.

The Discovery Program itself predates Mamdani’s tenure as mayor. It was expanded under former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who sought to increase admissions of black and Hispanic students.

Eligibility requires attendance at and recommendation from a “high-poverty public school,” along with meeting criteria such as receiving public assistance, being in foster care, or qualifying as an “English language learner,” according to the education department.

Chen said she plans to keep pursuing the case on behalf of her son and other Asian-American students in the city.

Yi Fang Chen said she intends to continue challenging the policy affecting admissions.

The Pacific Legal Foundation argues that the revised system violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. The Department of Education declined to comment.

Chen, who came to the United States in 1996 as a teenager from China with limited English, later earned a PhD in statistics from Stanford University. She said she brought the lawsuit to help other students facing similar barriers.

She also hopes to protect her two younger children from what she views as the same discrimination.

“Yi Fang Chen…has lived and worked in New York City for decades and raised her family with the expectation that merit — not race — would determine their opportunities in public education,” says the lawsuit, which also names Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels as a defendant.

Stuyvesant High School, located in Battery Park City, is one of nine Specialized High Schools in New York City.

Chen was previously involved in a similar lawsuit filed in 2018 against the city and former Mayor Bill de Blasio. That case was dismissed in 2022, but later reinstated in 2024 by the Second Circuit Court, which found evidence of “discriminatory intent,” according to the Pacific Legal Foundation.

Before filing the current case, Chen said she discussed it with her son, who supported her decision.

“Regardless of outcome, I have to do this because it’s not just my son but each year there are hundreds of students who are victims of racial discrimination,” said Chen. “I don’t understand Mamdani. He went to Bronx Science, and he benefited from that experience.”

Chen says she remains committed to pursuing the case until the policy is changed.

Two years ago, Josephine Timperman arrived at college with a plan. She declared a major in business analytics, figuring she’d learn niche skills that would stand out on a resume and help land a good job after college.

But the rise of artificial intelligence has scrambled those calculations. The basic skills she was learning in things like statistical analysis and coding can now easily be automated. “Everyone has a fear that entry-level jobs will be taken by AI,” said the 20-year-old at Miami University in Ohio.

A few weeks ago, Timperman switched her major to marketing. Her new strategy is to use her undergraduate studies to build critical thinking and interpersonal skills — areas where humans still have an edge.

“You don’t just want to be able to code. You want to be able to have a conversation, form relationships and be able to think critically, because at the end of the day, that’s the thing that AI can’t replace,” said Timperman, who is keeping analytics as a minor and plans to dive deeper into the subject for a one-year master’s program.

Today’s college students say that picking a major that’s “AI-proof” feels like shooting at a moving target as they prepare for a job market that could be fundamentally different by the time they graduate.

As a result, many are reconsidering their career paths. About 70% of college students see AI as a threat to their job prospects, according to a 2025 poll by the Institute of Politics at the Harvard Kennedy School, while recent Gallup polling finds U.S. workers are increasingly concerned about being replaced by new technologies.

The uncertainty appears most concentrated among those pursuing degrees in technology and vocational areas of study, where students feel a need to develop expertise in AI but also fear being replaced by it. A recent Quinnipiac poll found the vast majority of Americans believe it’s “very” or “somewhat” important for college and university students to be taught how to use AI, as Gallup Workforce polling finds AI is getting adopted in technology-related fields at higher rates. Meanwhile, students studying healthcare and natural sciences may be less impacted by AI overhauls, Gallup found.

“We see students all the time change majors. That’s not new or different. But it’s usually for a ton of different reasons,” said Courtney Brown, a vice president at Lumina, an education nonprofit focused on increasing the number of students who seek education beyond high school. “The fact that so many students say it’s because of AI — that is startling.”

A recent Gallup poll of Generation Z youth and adults, between the ages of 14 and 29, found increasing skepticism and concerns about AI. Although half of Gen Z adults use AI at least “weekly,” and teenagers report higher use, many in this generation see drawbacks to the technology and worry about AI’s impact on their cognitive abilities and job prospects. About half — 48% — of Gen Z workers say the risks of AI in the workforce outweigh the possible benefits.

Part of the challenge for college students is that the experts they would typically turn to for advice, like advisers, professors and parents, don’t have any answers. “Students are having to navigate this on their own, without a GPS,” says Brown.

That uncertainty was evident last month at Stanford University, where the leaders of several prominent universities gathered for a wide-ranging panel discussion on the future of higher education. Topics of concern included the AI revolution that is transforming how students learn and forcing educators to rethink pedagogy.

“We need to think really hard about what students need to learn to be successful in the job market in 10, 20, 30 years,” said Brown University President Christina Paxson.

“And none of us know. We don’t know the answer to that,” Paxson said. “I think it’s communication, it’s critical thought. The fundamentals of a liberal education are probably more important than learning how to code in Java right now.”

Computer science major Ben Aybar, 22, graduated last spring from the University of Chicago and applied for about 50 jobs, mostly in software engineering, without getting a single interview. He pivoted to a master’s degree in computer science and meanwhile, has found part-time work doing AI consulting for companies.

“People who know how to use AI will be very valuable,” said Aybar, who sees new jobs emerging that require AI skills, particularly for people who can explain the complexities in layman’s terms. “Being able to talk to people and interact with people in a very human way I think is more valuable than ever.”

At the University of Virginia, data science major Ava Lawless is wondering if her major is worthwhile but can’t get concrete answers. Some advisers feel that data scientists will be safe because they’re the ones building AI models, but she keeps seeing gloomy job reports that indicate the contrary.

“It makes me feel a bit hopeless for the future,” Lawless said. “What if by the time I graduate there’s not even a job market for this anymore?”

She is considering switching to studio art, which is her minor.

“I’m at a point where I’m thinking if I can’t get a job being a data scientist, I might as well pursue art,” she said. “Because if I’m going to be unemployed, I might as well do something I love.”

(AP)

Israeli forces have carried out a major operation in recent weeks targeting Hezbollah’s underground infrastructure in southern Lebanon, uncovering and demolishing extensive tunnel systems built with Iranian backing.

According to the IDF, troops working in the Qantara region identified and dismantled two significant tunnels after receiving detailed intelligence. The passageways, stretching a combined distance of roughly two kilometers, were located about 10 kilometers from Israeli communities near the northern border. These tunnels are said to be part of a larger subterranean network exposed during Operation Northern Arrows, much of which had already been taken apart in areas such as Maroun el-Ras and Mays al-Jabal.

Inside the tunnels, soldiers found substantial supplies, including weapon stockpiles, living spaces, water storage, and equipment designed for extended use. The network appeared to function largely as a base for Hezbollah operatives, with one tunnel containing around ten separate sleeping quarters. Additional shafts were discovered linking the tunnels to launch sites aimed toward Israeli territory.

Military officials said the tunnel system was developed over approximately ten years, dug deep below ground level, and financed by Iran as part of Hezbollah’s broader plan to infiltrate northern Israel in a campaign referred to as “conquering the Galilee,” which envisioned attacks on both military personnel and civilians.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu addressed the operation, stating, “We blew up today a huge Hezbollah terror tunnel. We are destroying their terror infrastructure, we are killing dozens of terrorists – and there is more to come. We are operating within the security zone, south of the Litani, north of the Litani, and in the Beqaa in northern Lebanon.”

He also disclosed steps being taken to counter another emerging threat, saying, “I gave instruction a few weeks ago on a special project to eliminate the drone threats. It will take time – but we will also blow that up.”

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (AP) — A U.S. special forces soldier pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he used classified information about the mission to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to win more than $400,000 on the prediction market Polymarket.

Gannon Ken Van Dyke, 38, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court after he was charged with the unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction.

He was released on $250,000 bail and his travel was restricted to portions of New York, North Carolina, California and points necessary to travel between.

Prosecutors said evidence in the case will include information resulting from grand jury subpoenas, cryptocurrency exchange records, search warrants and social media accounts.

Defense attorney Zach Intrater told Judge Margaret M. Garnett he doubts there will be many disputes arising from “the actual event,” but suspects the case will rise and fall on motions he will make on behalf of his client.

The judge ordered Van Dyke to return to court on June 8 for a pretrial conference.

The case comes during heavy scrutiny on prediction markets, which allow people to trade or wager on almost anything, as policymakers call for stricter regulation of the platforms amid concerns about insider trading.

The Trump administration has been supportive of the prediction market industry’s expansion. The president’s eldest son is an adviser for both Polymarket and its main competitor, Kalshi, and he is a Polymarket investor. Trump’s social media platform, Truth Social, is launching its own prediction market called Truth Predict.

Prosecutors said Van Dyke was involved in the planning and execution of Maduro’s capture and had signed nondisclosure agreements centered on the operations, but he eventually placed a series of bets related to Maduro being out of power by Jan. 31.

According to a criminal complaint, the bets totaling $33,000 were placed over a three-day period and resulted in “more than $404,000 of profits.”

Polymarket, one of the largest prediction markets, flagged the suspicious activity and turned it over to the government, according to CEO Shayne Coplan.

Van Dyke, who is stationed at Fort Bragg near Fayetteville, North Carolina, was granted bond after a court hearing in North Carolina last week and will continue his case in New York. He was represented in court by attorney Zach Intrater.

SAN FRANCISCO (VINnews)-Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr drew sharp criticism after accusing Israel of seeking “revenge” for the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and citing a death toll of 72,000 Palestinians in the ensuing Gaza war, comments that come as reports suggest growing internal discomfort within the organization over his political statements.

In a Sunday interview with The New Yorker, Kerr said: “Instead, Israel sought revenge for October 7th and now seventy-two thousand Palestinians have been killed and Israeli settlers are taking over the West Bank illegally, with the approval of Israel’s government and the U.S. Ambassador, Mike Huckabee. That’s not a path to any sort of peace or security for Israel or the rest of the Middle East.”

Kerr, whose father Malcolm Kerr was assassinated in Beirut in 1984 while serving as president of the American University of Beirut, expressed empathy for Palestinian civilians. He referenced the deaths of 175 girls in a bombed school and said, “Imagine being a parent of one of” them. “Their loss, their suffering … How are they going to feel about America? Violence begets violence.”

He added that Israel had an opportunity to pursue diplomacy that could have strengthened the Abraham Accords and isolated Iran.

Kerr has served as Warriors head coach since 2014 and led the team to four NBA championships, most recently in 2022. He is the franchise’s most successful coach by titles.

Kerr has coached the Warriors since 2014 and led the team to four NBA championships, the most recent four years ago. However, his critics argue that he benefited from a strong foundation built under his predecessor, Mark Jackson, and that some of the credit he receives is exaggerated. His supporters, by contrast, emphasize that he is the most decorated coach in franchise history and the man who led a historic basketball dynasty.Kerr has coached the Warriors since 2014 and led the team to four NBA championships, the most recent four years ago. However, his critics argue that he benefited from a strong foundation built under his predecessor, Mark Jackson, and that some of the credit he receives is exaggerated. His supporters, by contrast, emphasize that he is the most decorated coach in franchise history and the man who led a historic basketball dynasty.

Following the Warriors’ playoff elimination less than two weeks ago, Kerr said he would take time off before discussing his future with management and ownership. “I still love coaching, but I understand these jobs have an expiration date,” he said.

Reports indicate Kerr’s public positions on political and social issues have created tensions. ESPN’s Marc Spears said on a radio appearance that some in the organization may be “tired of his voice” or seeking to limit his public remarks on topics including social justice, racism and gun violence.

Nick Friedell of The Athletic, citing league and team sources, reported that Kerr’s “desire to speak candidly on social and political issues has at times caused internal frustration.”

Kerr has a history of commenting on major issues, including criticism of President Trump and advocacy for gun control.

No decision on Kerr’s future has been announced by the Warriors. The team has not publicly commented on the latest controversy.

With the start of summer Zman bringing an unusually large influx of bochurim to the yeshiva founded by Hagaon Harav Meshulam Dovid Halevi Soloveitchik zt”l, the current Rosh Yeshiva, Hagaon Harav Yitzchak Zev Halevi Soloveitchik shlita, has announced two significant appointments within the yeshiva’s leadership, according to B’Chadrei Charedim.

Until now, since the petirah of Rav Meshulam Dovid, the Rosh Yeshiva alone delivered shiurim in the yeshiva, while his eldest son, Harav Chaim, delivered only chaburos to bochurim in the afternoon hours. With this zman’s expanded enrollment placing greater demands on the Rosh Yeshiva’s shiur, Rav Yitzchak Ze’ev has appointed Rav Chaim to deliver formal shiurim as well.

For the afternoon chaburos previously given by Rav Chaim, the Rosh Yeshiva has turned to his second son, Harav Yerucham.

In a detail that has drawn particular notice, the news outlet reported that Rav Chaim’s shiurim will be delivered not inside the yeshiva building itself, but at the home of the Rebbetzin, the almanah of Rav Meshulam Dovid, whose residence on Eli Hacohen street sits adjacent to the yeshiva.

The Rosh Yeshiva specifically chose this arrangement, it is reported, in order to be mechazeik the almanah and allow her to witness the yeshiva’s activity up close.

President Isaac Herzog’s office has begun a dramatic new effort aimed at exploring possible agreements in Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s ongoing criminal cases.

On Tuesday evening, Herzog’s legal adviser, attorney Michal Tzuk-Shafir, formally contacted both the prosecution and Netanyahu’s defense team, inviting them to participate in talks at the President’s Residence.

According to the President’s Office, the discussions are intended to examine whether understandings or agreements can be reached before Herzog considers any request related to a potential pardon.

Officials stressed that participation in the talks does not constitute agreement on any legal issue currently being litigated and does not affect either side’s arguments in court.

In her letter, Tzuk-Shafir wrote that President Herzog believes “the possibility of holding talks between the parties in order to reach agreements should first be exhausted” before any consideration of presidential powers.

She added that dialogue aimed at reaching a settlement is viewed positively by the courts and is especially important in cases at the center of Israel’s public debate.

Both sides were invited to attend “with an open heart and sincere intentions,” while remaining “free of commitments and conditions.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted for a second time by the Department of Justice, according to individuals familiar with the situation who spoke to The New York Post on Tuesday.

The specific allegations in the new case were not immediately disclosed. CNN first reported news of the indictment. One of Comey’s attorneys from his previous case, which centered on alleged false statements to Congress, declined to offer any comment.

It also remains unknown where the grand jury responsible for the indictment was convened, although Comey’s earlier case had been brought in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Officials from the Justice Department did not immediately respond when asked for comment.

Comey, now 65, was previously indicted on September 25 of last year on charges related to making false statements and obstruction of justice. That case was dismissed roughly two months later when a federal judge ruled that then-interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan had been improperly appointed and therefore “had no lawful authority” to pursue the indictment.

The earlier prosecution stemmed from testimony Comey gave during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on September 30, 2020, where he was questioned by Ted Cruz about whether he had approved leaks to the press regarding investigations into President Trump’s campaign ties to Russia and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s private email server.

“On May 3rd, 2017, in this committee, Chairman [Chuck] Grassley asked you point blank, ‘Have you ever been an anonymous source in news reports about matters relating to the Trump investigation or the Clinton investigation?’ You responded under oath, ‘Never,’” the line of questioning from Cruz began.

“He then asked you, ‘Have you ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about the Trump investigation or the Clinton administration?’ You responded again under oath, ‘No.’”

Cruz then pointed to statements made by former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, noting that Comey’s answers appeared to conflict with McCabe’s public remarks.

The Texas senator said McCabe had “publicly and repeatedly stated that he leaked information to the Wall Street Journal and that you were directly aware of it and that you directly authorized it.”

“Who’s telling the truth?” Cruz asked.

To which Comey responded, “I can only speak to my testimony. I stand by the testimony you summarized that I gave in May of 2017.”

{Matzav.com}

No serious injuries reported.

The United Nations Security Council gathered Tuesday to address ongoing tensions in the Middle East, where Israel’s representative delivered pointed remarks about Lebanon and the role of Hezbollah.

During the session, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, took aim at what he described as the global community’s handling of the situation, arguing that discussions about Lebanon often ignore a central issue.

“You cannot talk about peace in Lebanon without mentioning Hezbollah. Lebanon will not be able to talk about sovereignty as long as Hezbollah continues to fire on Israeli civilians and operate without interference.”

Danon continued by urging members of the Security Council to press Lebanese authorities more aggressively, saying: “If the Security Council wants to help Lebanon, it should ask the Lebanese government hard questions: how many Hezbollah weapons have been seized, which tunnels have been destroyed, and what is being done to stop arms smuggling from Iran.”

He concluded by stressing that meaningful international backing should be tied to concrete action, not rhetoric. “International support for Lebanon must depend on results on the ground and not more empty statements.”

{Matzav.com}

YS GOLD 

This week’s captured moment takes us to the center of Boro Park and to a barber shop located on 16th Avenue. To the right of this shop came a chassidishe shtiebel—one of Boro Park’s first shtieblach—in the early 1950’s, and it continues to exist there until this day. 

Can any of our readers pinpoint the location? 

__

Answer to last week’s captured moment: 

In the picture, we see Reb Meilich Neiman, an important Gerer personality, clutching a sefer Torah which was being inaugurated at the nearby Gerer Mesivta. In the background, we see “the Hat Rack” establishment, located where Gross Bakery is located today.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (VINnews) — A new Florida law taking effect July 1 will allow churches, synagogues and other houses of worship that cannot afford private security guards to use armed volunteers to help protect congregants.

Supporters say the measure, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, offers smaller religious institutions a way to strengthen security amid growing concerns over threats targeting faith communities.

Under the law, eligible houses of worship may authorize trained volunteers to provide armed security in certain circumstances, expanding options for congregations with limited resources.

Some religious leaders have welcomed the measure, saying it could improve protection for worshippers and deter potential attacks.

Others have raised concerns about introducing more firearms into sacred spaces, warning of possible safety risks and questioning whether volunteers should take on security roles traditionally handled by professionals.

The law has fueled debate over how best to protect houses of worship while balancing security needs with concerns about responsibility and the presence of weapons in religious settings.

Dozens of rabbonim and roshei yeshiva from across the Religious Zionist community gathered for an urgent meeting at the home of Rabbi Chaim Druckman in Shapira following a Supreme Court ruling mandating that the IDF begin a pilot program integrating female soldiers into the Armored Corps. Participants warned that the move could have far-reaching consequences for religious soldiers serving in combat roles.

The session, which extended for more than four hours, brought together leading figures representing a wide range of the Religious Zionist spectrum. The primary focus of the discussion was the practical and halachic implications of the ruling on observant soldiers currently serving in the IDF.

Throughout the meeting, speakers sharply criticized both the IDF and the Supreme Court, arguing that religious soldiers are increasingly being placed in circumstances that conflict with their beliefs, halachic standards, and even the army’s own stated guidelines. Several participants noted that they regularly receive urgent inquiries from soldiers in the field—sometimes in the middle of operational activity—seeking guidance on how to navigate mixed-gender situations.

Those present emphasized that their concern is not centered on the broader issue of women serving in the IDF, but rather on the specific impact that mixed combat frameworks would have on religious soldiers. They warned that introducing female soldiers into combat units could effectively push observant soldiers out of frontline roles within the maneuvering forces.

By the conclusion of what participants described as a serious and intense discussion, there was unanimous agreement regarding the gravity of the situation. All those present concurred that a religious soldier who strictly adheres to halacha would be unable to serve within a mixed combat unit.

The rabbonim stressed that every possible effort must be undertaken to halt developments that could, in the near future, sideline religious soldiers from combat service and potentially fracture the IDF into separate tracks for religious and secular personnel.

Rabbi Yaakov Medan said, “We will not serve in a field unit where there is mixing with women. I am not opposed to women serving, but we will not serve in a place where there is mixing. When female soldiers were placed in all the artillery regiments, we unfortunately stopped serving in the artillery. I hope we will not be forced to do the same in the Armored Corps.”

Rabbi Meir Nahorai said, “We are an integral part of the IDF, but we absolutely cannot allow our students to serve in mixed-gender settings that put them in impossible situations, like what is now proposed in the Armored Corps. For two and a half years our people have been on the front and the Chief of Staff did not find time to meet with us? That cannot be. This should matter to him. He should understand that he is in a problem.”

Rabbi Yehuda Gilad clarified, “We are not speaking against women’s service. Many young women from the religious kibbutz serve in the IDF; we are speaking against mixed combat service. Religious students will find it difficult to serve in mixed combat service; this is highly problematic from a Halachic perspective. Of course, one must also speak about reservists, a very large percentage of whom are religious; for them this could be a major crisis.”

Senior roshei yeshiva also raised concerns about the long-term implications, warning of a potential deep divide within the army. Rabbi Zalman Melamed said, “It is impossible for an observant person to serve in a mixed environment. In the advanced Religious yeshivot we have decided that we will not go to the Armored Corps as long as there is no clear decision that there will be no mixing in the Armored Corps.”

Rabbi Shmuel Haber said, “I educate students according to Halacha; from a Halachic perspective mixed service is like eating non-kosher food, it is simply prohibited. We are strict about laws of modesty and therefore mixed service is forbidden. It is simple.”

Rabbi Chaim Wolfson added, “The Supreme Court ruling is tearing the army apart and effectively aims to exclude the religious soldier from the maneuvering force, we must protest the cancellation of the partnership that is so important to the people of Israel and especially in view of their significant contribution in recent times.”

Rabbi Yigal Levinstein emphasized, “In real time, in war and in field practice everything mixes. In combat, if a crew is hit you immediately reassign and soldiers get on the tank and those could also be female soldiers, what do you do in such a situation?”

{Matzav.com}

Q: What are the scientists really trying to prove by planning expensive space trips to Mars to look for signs of life?

A: That’s a subject I wanted to talk about.

First of all we have to understand that the Torah doesn’t say there’s no life on Mars. The Torah says there’s no man on Mars. The Torah says, man is only on this world. When Hakodosh Boruch Hu said, “תדשא הארץ דשא – grass should begin to grow,” grass began growing all over the world, it could be grass is growing on other planets too. Who cares? It doesn’t say grass didn’t grow over there OR there. תדשא הארץ דשא. But adam, there was only one adam. He was down here. He had no means of getting to Mars. So there won’t be any adam on Mars.

But even the fact that they’re claiming life on Mars is nothing but sheker v’kozov. It’s nothing but propaganda. And the NASA wants to take millions of dollars of our kosher money, we worked hard and to waste it in order to help bolster their theory that it’s an accident. We’re an accident. Once upon a time it was nothing but oxygen and nitrogen and hydrogen and carbon dioxide. And they got together by accident and became a man. You have to believe that bobbe ma’aseh, fairytale.

It’s the most insane idea ever proposed. The ancients would have ridiculed it, but they have no way out. You see, the world is so complicated with wisdom, you must admit there’s a Creator who designed it, so they invented a false theory, a big lie of Darwin that it happened by itself gradually.

Now how could it happen? So they said, “It took millions and billions of years, and in billions of years, that could have happened.” If in billions of years they believe that life can come from non-life, why don’t they make some today? They’re trying with all their might in all their laboratories, every kind of experiment, they couldn’t even make the beginning of life from non-life anywhere today.

The newspapers come up with nothing but lies, every day new discoveries. Next week they don’t talk about the discoveries anymore. They’re ashamed to mention it was found to be a lie.

For instance, the horses in Yale, there was a horse exhibit how the horse developed from a little cat and became a big horse. It’s not there anymore. For so many years it was the backbone of science, the horse exhibit. It’s proven from there. Today they said it’s wrong. It’s a mistake and they removed it.

Up till recently, all the textbooks said that the development of the embryo is a recapitulation of the process of evolution. It starts from one cell and it becomes a multi-celled organism. Today all the scientists say that the embryo does not recapitulate the stages of evolution. And today it’s entirely cancelled out. Of course in the schoolbooks that they’re teaching the dumb high school boys and girls, they tell them the same lies over again, but the scientists all say it’s wrong, that the embryo doesn’t prove anything at all.

There was a time when all the museums had a bust of the Piltdown man. They had a far receding forehead like a monkey, big jaw, he walked with a stone hammer in his hand bent over. And finally after fifty years that this bust had been in all the museums of the world, today it’s not there anymore. They discovered the whole thing was a fake. Somebody had faked it up and painted the teeth to look old and the whole thing never existed.

Now one by one all the discoveries are found to be fakes. You can be sure that the claim of life on Mars will turn out to be nothing at all. I am certain. It doesn’t make any difference to us because there could be life on Mars according to the Torah. The Torah didn’t say anything about that. The Torah just said adam was in this world.

So we have to know that the world is made for the purpose of deception. It’s a test for us. And we have to fight back against the lies of the scientists.

The colleges, by the way today have become the worst places in America. There’s no place more degraded, more wicked than the colleges. Once upon a time, we thought in the dens of the underworld, that’s where you find crime and wickedness and immorality. Today the colleges are the place. And the colleges, I don’t want to say what they teach you in the colleges. It’s terrible to tell you what they say there, what they do there, the courses that they give and they give you credit for studying the worst and filthiest things and the most wicked kind of behavior. I’d like to talk about it because I know the whole subject, but in public it’s not polite to speak about these things. Today the colleges are the worst places in the nation today. America is suffering from the colleges.

And therefore, boruch Hashem that our youth has taken to going to the yeshivas, and they learn a Toras emes, ברוך שהבדלנו מן הטועים – they separated us from those who are going astray after all false things and boruch Hashem the Jewish people are increasing and multiplying. The frumme are becoming more and more, whereas the others are not having any families, and eventually they’ll all go lost. They’ll all go lost.

(Toras Avigdor – June 1996)

A widely circulated image purporting to show White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting suspect Cole Allen wearing an IDF shirt has been determined to be fake, with investigators concluding the picture was generated using artificial intelligence and bears signs of digital manipulation.

The image spread rapidly online following the Saturday night shooting and was cited by various conspiracy claims attempting to tie Israel, Zionists, and Jews to the attempted assassination of President Trump, despite no evidence supporting such connections.

Experts reviewing the image identified multiple irregularities consistent with AI editing, including noticeable alterations to Allen’s facial features. These included changes to the placement of moles and a reshaping of his ear, as well as distortions in the appearance of his fingers.

Authorities investigating the attack have also reviewed Allen’s online activity, which reportedly included posts on Bluesky expressing opposition to Trump and his administration, along with calls for his removal from office. In a lengthy, 100-page manifesto explaining his actions, Allen criticized President Trump over the Iran conflict, referencing “children blown up,” a position that contradicts claims portraying him as aligned with Zionist causes.

Allen, who has been described as a trained mechanical engineer and worked as a tutor, was apprehended by law enforcement after gunfire erupted inside the Washington Hilton, where President Trump, members of his Cabinet, and thousands of journalists had gathered for the annual event.

He appeared in federal court on Monday for the first time to answer to several serious charges, including attempting to assassinate the president.

The 31-year-old Torrance, California resident is facing three felony counts: attempted assassination of the President of the United States, transporting a firearm and ammunition across state lines with intent to commit a felony, and using a firearm during a violent crime.

If found guilty of the attempted assassination charge, Allen could be sentenced to life in prison.

During the hearing, he did not enter a plea.

Protesters returned to the streets Tuesday evening, blocking Highway 4 near Bnei Brak in response to renewed IDF enforcement actions targeting draft refusers. Police declared the demonstration illegal and shut down the highway in both directions, from the Aluf Sadeh Interchange to the Em Hamoshavot Interchange.

After a relative lull during the conflict with Iran, unrest in Charedi areas has resurfaced. Activists from extremist factions blocked the central roadway to protest the resumption of targeted arrests. Clashes broke out between demonstrators and security forces attempting to disperse the crowd and reopen the route.

Police had deployed reinforced units in anticipation of the protest. The preparations followed several arrests over the past week. Authorities had warned earlier in the day of major traffic disruptions and urged drivers to seek alternate routes.

The closure created major congestion across the region, with traffic halted for miles. Authorities redirected vehicles through Petach Tikva and along Jabotinsky Road, but heavy backups were reported throughout the area. Protesters held signs and chanted anti-draft slogans, including “Secularism is worse than death,” and vowed to continue demonstrations as long as arrests of yeshiva students persist.

The latest escalation follows the arrest of two yeshiva students in recent days. One was detained overnight between Sunday and Monday at his home in Jerusalem, while another was arrested Monday near his yeshiva in Herzliya. The arrests mark a return to proactive enforcement measures that had been paused during the war, prompting outrage among extremist groups.

Police emphasized that while lawful protests are permitted, disruptions to public order will not be tolerated. “The police allow protests within the framework of the law, but will not tolerate disturbances of any kind,” the police said. Meanwhile, organizers are planning to expand the protests to Jerusalem, with another demonstration scheduled for 7:15 p.m. at the intersection of Givat Moshe and Golda Meir streets.

As YWN reported on Monday, explosive drones have become the most significant threat to IDF soldiers in southern Lebanon in recent weeks.

The mother of a soldier that was seriously wounded by an explosive drone in the same incident that killed Sgt. Idan Fooks, H’yd, has asked the public for tefillos. Following the incident, Hezbollah launched another two explosive drones toward the rescue forces. One was intercepted, and the second exploded just meters from the helicopter that landed to evacuate the wounded. In a neis, no additional soldiers were wounded.

The soldier’s mother, Chava, appealed to Am Yisrael in a video message from the hospital. “I am turning to you because my son was seriously injured in Lebanon. I ask of you, please do something above nature (מעל הטבע), something that’s hard for you—whether in tznius, Shemiras Shabbos, forgiving someone who hurt you—please do whatever you can for him. B’ezras Hashem, may I bring you good news.”

The public is asked to daven for a refuah sheleimah for Eliav ben Chava b’toch sha’ar cholei Yisrael.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)