An Asbury Park man has been sentenced to state prison for a fatal shooting outside a Toms River hookah lounge that left one man dead and two others injured.

Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer announced that Eric Manzanares, 26, of Asbury Park, was sentenced on April 24, 2026, by the Honorable Guy P. Ryan to 20 years in New Jersey State Prison in connection with his guilty plea to aggravated manslaughter stemming from the 2022 incident.

In addition, Manzanares received seven-year prison sentences for each of two counts of aggravated assault tied to the same case. All sentences will run concurrently and are subject to the No Early Release Act, requiring him to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Manzanares pleaded guilty to all charges on February 27, 2026.

The charges stem from a shooting that occurred on August 27, 2022, at approximately 1:20 a.m., when officers from the Toms River Township Police Department responded to Top Tier Hookah Lounge for reports of gunfire.

When officers arrived, they found three victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Nymere Tinsley sustained a gunshot wound to his lower abdomen and was transported to Community Medical Center, where he was pronounced deceased shortly afterward.

Two additional victims survived their injuries. Anthony Miller, 30, of Neptune Township, suffered a gunshot wound to the stomach and was treated and released. Jamal Bland, 26, of Asbury Park, suffered a gunshot wound to the elbow and was also treated and released.

Investigators from the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit, Toms River Township Police Department Detective Bureau, and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit determined that Manzanares was responsible for shooting all three victims.

He was initially charged on the day of the shooting with murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and his information was entered into the National Crime Information Center database.

Manzanares remained a fugitive until April 7, 2023, when he was apprehended by law enforcement in Prince William County. He was held at the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center before being extradited to Ocean County on January 24, 2024. He has remained lodged in the Ocean County Jail since that date.

Prosecutor Billhimer credited Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Schron and Senior Assistant Prosecutor Stephen Burke for handling the case, and commended the multiple law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation and apprehension.

Donald Trump said Friday that Iran is expected to present a proposal aimed at meeting U.S. expectations, as Washington moves ahead with plans for direct discussions in Pakistan.

Speaking in an interview with Reuters, Trump indicated that a potential offer from Tehran is forthcoming but cautioned that its details remain to be seen. “They’re making an offer and we’ll have to see,” Trump said.

He added that U.S. negotiators are currently engaging with those holding power in Iran, saying officials “are dealing with the people who are in charge now”.

The remarks came after the White House confirmed that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner will travel to Pakistan on Saturday for in-person talks with Iranian representatives.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the trip during a Fox News interview on Friday.

“I can confirm that Special Envoy Witkoff and Jared Kushner will be off to Pakistan again tomorrow morning to engage in direct talks with representatives from the Iranian delegation,” she said.

Leavitt said the discussions will be facilitated by Pakistan, noting that the initiative came from Iran. “The Iranians reached out, as the President called on them to do, and asked for this in-person conversation, so the President is dispatching Steve and Jared to go hear what they have to say, and we’re hopeful that it will be a productive conversation,” she said.

Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, arrived in Islamabad on Friday, though Iranian outlets pushed back on reports that he would meet with U.S. officials.

According to the Iranian news agency Tasnim, “American officials and the media have been fabricating stories about a new round of talks for more than 10 days.”

The outlet also reported that negotiations with Washington “are not currently on the agenda,” adding that Araghchi’s discussions in Pakistan will instead focus on “Iran’s considerations regarding ending the war.”

The U.S. government has moved to block approximately $344 million in cryptocurrency believed to be linked to Iran, intensifying financial measures against Tehran even as the outlook for diplomatic progress remains unclear, CNN reported.

Officials at the Treasury Department said the action focused on several digital wallets as part of a wider effort to disrupt funding streams connected to Iran.

Authorities pointed to blockchain tracking that identified transactions tied to Iranian exchanges, as well as accounts associated with the country’s central bank.

The asset freeze was executed with the cooperation of Tether, which said it took action after being provided with intelligence from U.S. agencies indicating suspected illicit activity.

Analysts noted that while the move is notable, it is unlikely to have a major impact on Iran’s overall financial standing, as the country has repeatedly adjusted to sanctions and has increasingly turned to cryptocurrency as a way to work around restrictions.

Hatzolah of Los Angeles confirmed that 78 year old Jeanne Rus Litvin has been found alive and well after days of intense searching.

According to the update, Jeanne Rus Litvin had been taken in by a local hospital as a Jane Doe before being positively identified.

Hatzolah of LA released a statement: “With gratitude to Hashem I would like to inform the community that she has been found alive and well. The efforts of the entire community is very much appreciated and recognized.”

Earlier this week, Rockland Chaverim deployed dozens of volunteers to Los Angeles to assist in the search after Jeanne Rus Litvin, who is believed to suffer from dementia, went missing on April 15.

Approximately 30 volunteers traveled cross country with specialized search equipment, including drones and surveillance technology, in a coordinated effort alongside local emergency teams.

A remarkable ending to a massive community driven search.

(AP) – Speculation about links among a handful U.S. scientists who have died or disappeared in recent years was largely confined to niche online communities less than two months ago. As of Friday, the number had grown to at least 12 and was at the epicenter of U.S. government, with both the FBI and Congress investigating possible connections.

At a press gathering April 16, President Donald Trump was asked about “10 missing scientists with access to classified stuff, nuclear material, aerospace, they’ve all gone missing or turned up dead in the last couple of months” and whether he thought there were ties among them.

“Well, I hope it’s random, but we’re going to know in the next week and a half, ” Trump said.

Those speculating about the cases suggest that the individuals were targeted, perhaps by global U.S. adversaries, because of the sensitive nature of their work related to topics such as astrophysics, nuclear weapons and pharmaceuticals. But so far no evidence has been found that definitively links them or establishes coordinated foul play.

Jen Golbeck, a professor at the University of Maryland who studies conspiracy theories, said the idea of a sinister connection between tragedies involving scientists is a common trope within conspiracy theory communities.

“There are a lot of people who work for national labs and universities and government research centers and some of them will go missing or commit suicide or die,” she said. “Any year you could take a bunch of those and name them as something sinister if you wanted to.”

The path from niche online communities to the mainstream
The deaths and disappearances in question garnered suspicion from online sleuths as they occurred, but it was the disappearance of 68-year-old William “Neil” McCasland, a retired Air Force general, on Feb. 27 that fueled a wider belief that there could be a nefarious connection between these incidents, spurred in part by his high-ranking military work and connection to the UFO community.

Around this time people began pointing to other examples of scientists who had died or gone missing, ultimately going as far back as June 2022.

The Daily Mail published an article on March 22 naming five individuals and reporting that “a chilling pattern has emerged after a string of US scientists died or went missing in recent months.”

On April 15, a question about the missing or dead individuals came up at a White House press briefing and by the next day Trump said he had met with advisers and the issue was being investigated. FBI Director Kash Patel reiterated the importance of looking for connections in these cases Sunday on Fox News. The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is conducting its own investigation.

“That’s pretty typical for how a lot of this stuff works, is that there are these fringe online spaces, they start it, it spreads, it gets picked up by … the more conspiratorial-minded politicians who do have platforms and makes its way onto more mainstream social media and then grabs that attention,” said Golbeck.

Callie Kalny, co-director of the Center of Media Psychology and Social Influence at Northwestern University, agreed that these conspiracy theories are following a familiar pattern of starting in more niche venues before finding their way into the national conversation.

“Once it’s made it to the mainstream and once we experience this repeat exposure to it, it sort of just embeds into our minds as something that maybe we just take as fact or we just take as something that is common knowledge without ever really critically thinking well, where did this come from to begin with? And is there any validity to this?” she said.

Correlation does not imply causation
There are some parallels among the dozen or so individuals at the heart of these conspiracy theories, such as associations with Los Alamos National Laboratory and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and some of those named had specialized knowledge and high-level security clearances. But the list contains many reasons to doubt the claims spreading online.

In some of the cases, investigations had already been conducted, with suspects identified or charged. In others, no connections were apparent or evidence was lacking or not as convincing as it first appeared.

For example, Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a physicist and fusion scientist who was a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is on the list. He was fatally shot on Dec. 15 by Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, who was also responsible for a mass shooting at Brown University days prior. Neves Valente took his own life. A motive has not been established, but the two men knew each other decades earlier as classmates in Portugal studying physics.

Carl Grillmair, an astrophysicist at the California Institute of Technology who discovered water on a distant planet, was fatally shot on Feb. 16, according to local reports. Authorities charged 29-year-old Freddy Snyder with Grillmair’s murder and carjacking. Snyder is being held on a multimillion-dollar bond.

Melissa Casias, then 53, went missing on June 26 in New Mexico. She worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory and while some online assumed she was a scientist there, according to her LinkedIn profile Casias actually worked as an administrative assistant.

As for McCasland, he left home without his phone, prescription glasses and wearable devices, according to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. His hiking boots, wallet and a .38 caliber revolver could not be found at the house. There is no evidence indicating foul play and he remains missing.

McCasland’s wife, Susan Wilkerson, wrote in a Facebook post on March 6 responding to online rumors that since his retirement 13 years ago, McCasland “has had only very commonly held clearances” and that “it seems quite unlikely that he was taken to extract very dated secrets from him.” She added that although he “had a brief association with the UFO community,” he does not have any privileged knowledge about aliens.

“In the face of tragedy or uncertainty, people seek patterns and explanations rather than accepting ambiguity or coincidence,” said Donnell Probst, executive director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education. “Narratives suggesting hidden connections or intentional wrongdoing can feel more satisfying than incomplete or evolving information, even without supporting evidence.”

Donald Trump sharply criticized the Southern Poverty Law Center after a federal indictment was unsealed, saying that if the accusations are confirmed, the results of the 2020 presidential election should be “permanently wiped from the books.”

In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump described the SPLC as “one of the greatest political scams in American history” and called the case “another Democrat hoax,” tying the allegations to broader concerns about left-leaning advocacy groups and their fundraising practices.

The comments followed news that a federal grand jury in Alabama charged the SPLC with 11 counts, including wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to prosecutors, the organization allegedly redirected about $3 million in donor funds to individuals connected to extremist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and neo-Nazi organizations over a period spanning 2014 through 2023.

The indictment claims the SPLC concealed these payments through the use of shell companies and deceptive financial reporting, while continuing to present itself publicly as an organization dedicated to fighting extremism.

Prosecutors said the nonprofit misrepresented how donations were used, raising serious concerns about its transparency and accountability to contributors.

“The SPLC was not dismantling these groups,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said during a Justice Department press briefing.

“It was instead manufacturing the extremism it purports to oppose by paying sources to stoke racial hatred.”

The case represents one of the most significant federal prosecutions ever brought against a well-known civil rights organization and comes amid long-standing criticism from conservatives who argue the SPLC operates with political bias against right-leaning individuals and groups.

Trump pointed to the indictment as confirmation of those criticisms, suggesting that the alleged conduct could have broader implications.

“If it is true, the 2020 Presidential Election should be permanently wiped from the books and be of no further force or effect!” Trump wrote.

The president’s remarks reflect his ongoing challenges to the legitimacy of the 2020 election, which he has repeatedly questioned, pointing to claims of voter fraud.

Trump and his allies have maintained that emerging information about political organizations and influence efforts justifies renewed scrutiny.

The indictment outlines what prosecutors describe as a long-running scheme in which money was routed through disguised accounts and fictitious businesses to compensate informants placed within extremist groups.

In some instances, prosecutors allege, payments reached into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, including funds sent to an individual associated with the 2017 Charlottesville rally, an event that resulted in one death and became a major flashpoint in national debates over extremism and political violence.

Officials with the SPLC have denied the allegations, saying their use of confidential informants was a lawful method of gathering intelligence on dangerous groups.

The organization said it intends to contest the charges in court.

WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court on Friday blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order suspending asylum access at the southern border of the U.S., a key pillar of the Republican president’s plan to crack down on migration.

A three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit found that immigration laws give people the right to apply for asylum at the border, and the president can’t circumvent that.

The court opinion stems from action taken by Trump on Inauguration Day 2025, when he declared that the situation at the southern border constituted an invasion of America and that he was “suspending the physical entry” of migrants and their ability to seek asylum until he decides it is over.

The panel concluded that the Immigration and Nationality Act doesn’t authorize the president to remove the plaintiffs under “procedures of his own making,” allow him to suspend plaintiffs’ right to apply for asylum or curtail procedures for adjudicating their anti-torture claims.

“The power by proclamation to temporarily suspend the entry of specified foreign individuals into the United States does not contain implicit authority to override the INA’s mandatory process to summarily remove foreign individuals,” wrote Judge J. Michelle Childs, who was nominated to the bench by Democratic President Joe Biden.

“We conclude that the INA’s text, structure, and history make clear that in supplying power to suspend entry by Presidential proclamation, Congress did not intend to grant the Executive the expansive removal authority it asserts,” the opinion said.

White House says asylum ban was within Trump’s powers
The administration can ask the full appeals court to reconsider the ruling or go to the Supreme Court.

The order doesn’t formally take effect until after the court considers any request to reconsider.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking on Fox News, said she had not seen the ruling but called it “unsurprising,” blaming politically-motivated judges.

“They are not acting as true litigators of the law. They are looking at these cases from a political lens,” she said.

Leavitt said Trump was taking actions that are “completely within his powers as commander in chief.”

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said the Department of Justice would seek further review of the decision. “We are sure we will be vindicated,” she wrote in an emailed statement.

The Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Advocates welcome the ruling
Advocates say the right to request asylum is enshrined in the country’s immigration law and that denying migrants that right puts people fleeing war or persecution in grave danger.

Lee Gelernt, attorney with the ACLU, who argued the case, said in a statement that the appellate ruling is “essential for those fleeing danger who have been denied even a hearing to present asylum claims under the Trump administration’s unlawful and inhumane executive order.”

Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, welcomed the court decision as a victory for their clients.

“Today’s DC Circuit ruling affirms that capricious actions by the President cannot supplant the rule of law in the United States,” said Nicolas Palazzo, director of advocacy and legal Services at Las Americas.

Judge Justin Walker, a Trump nominee, wrote a partial dissent. He said the law gives immigrants protections against removal to countries where they would be persecuted, but the administration can issue broad denials of asylum applications.

Walker, however, agreed with the majority that the president cannot deport migrants to countries where they will be persecuted or strip them of mandatory procedures that protect against their removal.

Judge Cornelia Pillard, who was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama, also heard the case.

In the executive order, Trump argued that the Immigration and Nationality Act gives presidents the authority to suspend entry of any group that they finds “detrimental to the interests of the United States.”

The executive order also suspended the ability of migrants to ask for asylum.

Trump’s order was another blow to asylum access in the U.S., which was severely curtailed under the Biden administration, although under Biden some pathways for protections for a limited number of asylum seekers at the southern border continued.

Migrant advocate in Mexico expresses cautious hope
For Josue Martinez, a psychologist who works at a small migrant shelter in southern Mexico, the ruling marked a potential “light at the end of the tunnel” for many migrants who once hoped to seek asylum in the U.S. who ended up stuck in vulnerable conditions in Mexico.

“I hope there’s something more concrete, because we’ve heard this kind of news before: a district judge files an appeal, there’s a temporary hold, but it’s only temporary and then it’s over,” he said.

Meanwhile, migrants from Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela and other countries have struggled to make ends meet as they try to seek refuge in Mexico’s asylum system that’s all but collapsed under the weight of new strains and slashed international funds.

This week hundreds of migrants, mostly stranded migrants from Haiti, left the southern Mexican city of Tapachula on foot to seek better living conditions elsewhere in Mexico

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department will adopt firing squads as a permitted method of execution as the Trump administration moves to ramp up and expedite capital punishment cases, officials said Friday.

The Justice Department is also reauthorizing the use of single-drug lethal injections with pentobarbital that were used to carry out 13 executions during the first Trump administration — more than under any president in modern history. The Biden administration had removed pentobarbital from the federal protocol over concerns about the potential for unnecessary pain and suffering.

The moves were announced as part of a broader push to step up federal executions after a moratorium under the Biden administration. Only three defendants remain on federal death row after Democratic President Joe Biden converted 37 of their sentences to life in prison, though the Trump administration has so far authorized seeking death sentences against 44 defendants.

“The prior administration failed in its duty to protect the American people by refusing to pursue and carry out the ultimate punishment against the most dangerous criminals, including terrorists, child murderers, and cop killers,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement. “Under President Trump’s leadership, the Department of Justice is once again enforcing the law and standing with victims.”

The federal government has not previously included firing squad as a method of execution in its protocols, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Five states currently allow executions by firing squad: Idaho, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Utah.

The pentobarbital protocol was adopted by Bill Barr, attorney general during Trump’s first term, to replace a three-drug mix used in the 2000s, the last time federal executions were carried out before Trump’s first term in office.

Attorney General Merrick Garland in the final days of the Biden administration withdrew the pentobarbital lethal injection policy after a government review of scientific and medical research found there remains “significant uncertainty” about whether its use causes unnecessary pain and suffering.”

In 2020, under Barr’s leadership, the Justice Department published a rule in the Federal Register to allow the federal government to conduct executions by lethal injection or use “any other manner prescribed by the law of the state in which the sentence was imposed.”

A number of states allow other methods of execution, including electrocution, inhaling nitrogen gas or death by firing squad.

The Trump administration, in a report released Friday, said the Biden administration “got the standard and the science wrong.” The Biden administration’s findings, among other things, “failed to address the overwhelming evidence” that an injected with pentobarbital quickly “quickly loses consciousness—rendering him unable to experience pain,” the report said.

Currently on death row are are Dylann Roof, who carried out the 2015 racist slayings of nine Black members of Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina; 2013 Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev; and Robert Bowers, who fatally shot 11 congregants at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue in 2018, the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S history.

In a move that has dismayed advocates for community safety, Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued the first veto of his administration on Friday, striking down a City Council measure aimed at establishing protective buffer zones around schools and educational facilities.

While the Mayor vetoed the school safety measure, a companion bill – which establishes similar NYPD-enforced buffer zones around houses of worship –  passed the City Council with a veto-proof majority, leaving the Mayor with little political recourse to block it without facing an all but guaranteed override.

The vetoed school buffer bill, sponsored by Education Committee Chair Eric Dinowitz, was drafted in response to the increasingly chaotic and often hostile protests that have plagued educational institutions across the city. For the Jewish community, these measures were seen as vital safeguards amidst a troubling rise in antisemitic crime.

Agudas Yisrael of America, which had engaged in a strong push to get Mayor Mamdani to sign both bills, released a statement Friday expressing profound disappointment over the veto.

“The Mayor has now vetoed the school buffer bill, thereby stymying an important initiative designed to protect students, staff and others in school buildings against unlawful harassment,” Agudath Israel stated. “In the Jewish community especially, where troubling incidents of such harassment have become all too commonplace, the Mayor’s veto stings deeply.”
Mayor Mamdani justified his veto by citing pressure from progressive advocacy groups, arguing that the bill’s definition of educational institutions was too broad. He claimed the legislation raised constitutional concerns and could potentially stifle protests from labor unions, immigration advocates, and groups demanding divestment.

Regarding his decision to let the houses of worship bill pass, the Mayor claimed that following a legal review, he found its scope to be narrower, though he maintained his ideological disagreement with treating protests as inherent security concerns. Political realities, however, underscore that a veto on the houses of worship buffer bill would have been easily overridden by the Council.

The necessity of the houses of worship bill was highlighted last year when pro-Palestinian protesters targeted a shul on the Upper East Side, sparking outrage and demands for increased protection for congregants.

City Council Speaker Julie Menin sharply criticized the Mayor’s veto of the school bill. “Ensuring students can enter and exit their schools without fear of harassment or intimidation should not be controversial,” she said, noting that the bill fully protects First Amendment rights while ensuring safe access to educational buildings.

Dinowitz echoed this sentiment, expressing his disappointment and stating plainly, “Students should not be harassed on their way into their school building. It’s as simple as that.”
The school buffer bill originally passed with 30 votes, just four short of a veto-proof majority.

According to Politico, Menin is currently considering whipping the necessary votes to override the Mayor’s veto.

Despite the setback, community advocates remain resolute. Agudah emphasized that they will not back down from ensuring the safety of Jewish students and institutions.

“Agudath Israel is working with city, state and federal officials to take tangible steps to protect our community from antisemitism,” the organization stated. “And while we do our shtadlonus advocacy, we are reminded once again that all is in the loving Hands of the one and only Shomer Yisroel, and that it is to Him that we must direct our most powerful shtadlonus tool: tefilla.”

An 11-year-old girl who was critically wounded in an Iranian missile strike in Bnei Brak has died after weeks in intensive care, following widespread tefillos on her behalf across the Jewish world.

Nesia Karadi Hy”d succumbed to her injuries after being struck on the eve of Pesach while sleeping in her home. Her condition had remained critical since the attack, and many had been davening for the recovery of Nesia bas Hila.

The tragic news was announced by Sheba Medical Center, where she had been hospitalized since the incident.

Despite ongoing tefillos and many people taking on kabbalos in her merit, Nesia passed away surrounded by her family, who remained at her bedside throughout her hospitalization.

Her body was transferred ahead of Shabbos to the morgue at Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center. The levayah is scheduled to take place on Motzaei Shabbos, Parshas Kedoshim. She is expected to be buried in Elad, with further details on the exact time to be announced.

Nesia was a student at the Chorev school in Ramat Gan. She was the daughter of Rabbi Elazar Elchanan Karadi and Mrs. Hila Karadi of the Shimoni family from Bat Yam, and a niece of Rabbi Michael Lasri.

Her mother shared that the name “Nesia” was chosen because her birth was considered a miracle. “I remember that the midwife shouted to us in the delivery room that this child was born by a miracle,” she said in an interview with Kol Berama radio.

Recalling the moment of the attack, her mother said, “Nesia was the child who was most careful about following Home Front Command instructions. At every siren, she was the first to run to the protected space. But during the siren in Bnei Brak, Nesia was asleep, and before she could get up and run — the missile fell and severely injured her.”

The city of Bnei Brak is mourning her loss. In an official statement, municipal leaders wrote: “The mayor, his deputies, members of the city council, and all residents of the city are shocked and pained upon receiving the bitter news of the passing of the girl Nesia Karadi Hy”d who returned her pure soul to her Creator after being critically wounded by a cluster missile on the eve of the recent Pesach Yom Tov. Tens of thousands of city residents, together with all of Klal Yisroel, prayed and pleaded for her recovery since the severe injury, and followed with hope her struggle for life at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer. To our great sorrow, the decree was sealed and the young flower was cut down in the prime of her life.”

{Matzav.com}

A recent change to Canada’s citizenship rules is opening the door for millions of Americans to qualify for dual citizenship, sparking a sharp rise in applications and inquiries across both countries.

Immigration attorneys report being overwhelmed since the law took effect on December 15, as Americans rush to determine whether they qualify under the expanded criteria. Legal offices in both the United States and Canada say they have shifted resources to handle the growing volume of citizenship-related cases.

The updated law significantly broadens eligibility by allowing citizenship to be passed down through multiple generations. Previously limited to one generation, the new framework enables individuals with a direct Canadian ancestor — including grandparents, great-grandparents or even more distant relatives — to qualify. Those who meet the criteria are already considered citizens under Canadian law but must apply for official recognition.

Applicants born after December 15 must still meet an additional requirement, proving that their Canadian parent lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days.

The change has fueled widespread interest among Americans motivated by a mix of factors, including political tensions, economic opportunities, and family heritage. Many are exploring whether obtaining a Canadian passport could provide greater flexibility for work, travel, or long-term security.

While the application fee for proof of citizenship is relatively low — about 75 Canadian dollars — costs can increase significantly for those who require legal or genealogical assistance to track down documentation such as birth, marriage, and death records.

Processing times are also lengthy. Canadian authorities say it can take around 10 months to receive a citizenship certificate, with tens of thousands of applications currently pending. In the weeks following the law’s implementation, thousands of individuals had already been confirmed as citizens through descent.

The surge comes after a year in which tens of thousands of Americans obtained dual U.S.-Canada citizenship, a number expected to rise further under the new rules.

In Canada, reaction has been mixed. While many welcome new citizens, some have expressed concern that a spike in applications from Americans could strain the system and slow processing for refugees and asylum seekers. Others have raised questions about individuals obtaining citizenship despite having only limited ties to the country.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. (AP) — Josh Shapiro may be heavily favored to win reelection as Pennsylvania governor, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot on the line for him this year.

Shapiro, who is just beginning to hit the campaign trail, wants voters to give Democrats control of the state legislature for the first time in decades. And he’s pushing his favored candidates in competitive congressional primaries, an attempt to mold his party’s slate in the midterm elections that will determine control of Washington.

All of this means that, much like other potential Democratic presidential candidates, Shapiro is testing his political capital in ways that could shape his future and the party’s.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker successfully boosted his favored candidate in his state’s U.S. Senate primary. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore failed to convince lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional map, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom achieved redistricting through a voter referendum last year.

Shapiro brushed off questions — and Republican criticism — about burnishing his credentials for a White House run.

“The only thing I am focused on is beating my opponent for governor and helping other Democrats get elected here and sending a clear message to Donald Trump that the chaos, cruelty and corruption that he’s been engaged in is not something that we support here in Pennsylvania,” Shapiro told The Associated Press after speaking to Democrats at a packed coffee shop in small-town Lock Haven.

Shapiro has never said whether he’s interested in running for president. But he does say he wants a voice in his party’s future. Democrats need to figure out how to “get stuff done” to make people’s lives better, he said, and he wants to be “part of that conversation.”

Stacy Garrity, the Republican state treasurer who is running for governor, said Shapiro can’t hide his ambition — and it’s bad for the state.

“We all know that he’s more interested in Pennsylvania Avenue than helping Pennsylvania families,” she said in an interview. “He thinks if he can hand Pennsylvania on a platter to the Democratic Party, then maybe they take a harder look at him.”

An opportunity to demonstrate strength
They just might.

Pennsylvania is a hard state to succeed in politically, and Democrats around the country are taking note of Shapiro because of that, said Paul Begala, a Democratic campaign strategist, commentator and senior aide to Bill Clinton when he was president.

The election gives Shapiro an opportunity to demonstrate strength.

“Right now, Democrats, the thing they want the most is a winner, and a very close second is a fighter,” Begala said. “This election is an opportunity for him to show that.”

Ahead of this year’s campaign, Shapiro put his stamp on the Pennsylvania Democratic Party by getting committee people to elect his hand-picked chair and plunging more than $900,000 so far this election cycle into the organization’s accounts.

He’s on track to break his own state fundraising record and tells voters that Pennsylvania is the “center of the political universe” in the fight for control of the U.S. House.

Democrats want to flip four House seats in Pennsylvania. Shapiro’s endorsed candidates include Paige Cognetti, mayor of Scranton; Bob Brooks, president of the state firefighters’ union; and Janelle Stelson, a former television news personality who narrowly lost two years ago.

Shapiro already cut an ad for Brooks, who is running in a hotly contested four-way primary for the chance to challenge freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.

Contested primaries and GOP surrogates
Shapiro’s endorsements haven’t scared off Democratic rivals.

Ryan Crosswell, a former federal prosecutor running against Brooks, issued a campaign memo that — in a veiled reference to the governor — said Crosswell has “no party machine behind him, no power broker network, no favors to call in.”

For his part, Shapiro said: “I’m just focused on trying to elevate good people. Hopefully they’ll all win.”

Republicans, meanwhile, have their own surrogates.

Garrity said the White House asked her for a list of people she wants to visit in Pennsylvania.

Trump, Vice President JD Vance and a number of Cabinet secretaries have already visited the state’s contested congressional districts. Earlier this month, House Speaker Mike Johnson made a fundraising swing through Pennsylvania.

“We know the majority runs through Pennsylvania and the speaker is focused on doing everything he can to help those members defend their seats,” said Greg Steele, a spokesperson for Johnson’s political operation.

It’s quite likely Johnson will be back: Pennsylvania was his last campaign stop before the 2024 election.

Trump and Vance could return, too, and in the meantime, the president is keeping an eye on Pennsylvania. On Tuesday night, he took to social media to take credit for a decision by owners of two coal-fired power plants not to close in what he called a “BIG WIN for the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which I love.”

Shapiro starts hitting the campaign trail
As he begins to campaign, Shapiro is proving himself to be a draw even in Pennsylvania’s out-of-the-way areas. Earlier this month, he helped pack a ballroom for Centre County Democrats and the coffee shop for Clinton County Democrats.

“I saw brand-new people, I saw people who have not been engaged in the party in years,” Bre Brannan, Clinton County’s Democratic Party chair, said. The crowd included Republicans and independents, too, she said.

With a Democratic “trifecta,” Shapiro tells audiences he could get more done, citing legislation Republicans have stalled. That includes raising Pennsylvania’s rock-bottom minimum wage and expanding legal protections for LGBT residents. He also has a housing affordability plan he’s pushing this year.

Consolidating control of the state Legislature would be no small feat. Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the state House and haven’t held the state Senate majority in over three decades.

Few Democrats in the party’s 2028 presidential sights have an opportunity to demonstrate political strength and party-building aptitude in swing states.

The opportunity could help Shapiro prove his mettle when the presidential campaign season cranks up and would-be candidates go in search of institutional support, endorsements and donor commitments.

Pouring money into down-ballot races and flipping seats may not help Shapiro with the average voter. But activists, donors and other elected officials care a great deal about that, strategists say.

Success would strengthen Shapiro’s hand at a time when candidates are trying to win the “perception campaign” that they are the strongest candidate, Democratic campaign strategist Mike Mikus said.

“It doesn’t guarantee anything,” Mikus said. “But it is definitely something to bring to the table when you’re lining up donors, endorsements and finance chairs, things like that. It’s compelling to them.”

NEW YORK CITY (VINnews) – Google plans to invest $10 billion in Anthropic, the artificial intelligence company behind the Claude chatbot, at a $350 billion valuation, with the potential for an additional $30 billion if performance targets are met, the startup announced Friday.

The investment strengthens ties between Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Anthropic, which are partners in cloud computing and AI infrastructure but also competitors in the race to develop advanced AI models. Anthropic said the initial $10 billion cash infusion comes at the same pre-money valuation as its February funding round.

A further $30 billion could follow contingent on Anthropic hitting certain milestones, and the deal includes support for expanding the startup’s computing capacity, according to the announcement.

Bloomberg reporter Shirin Ghaffary, who covers AI, discussed the drivers behind the move on “Bloomberg Tech” with host Ed Ludlow. The segment highlighted surging demand for AI infrastructure and Anthropic’s rapid revenue growth amid intense competition with rivals like OpenAI.

Anthropic, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI executives including CEO Dario Amodei, has seen its valuation soar in recent rounds. It previously raised funds at lower valuations, including around $183 billion in late 2025. Google already held a stake in the company through prior investments totaling about $3 billion.

The deal comes as the AI sector attracts massive capital amid breakthroughs in generative models and enterprise adoption. Anthropic has reported strong revenue run rates in recent months, fueled by demand for its Claude models in coding, research and business applications.

No immediate comment was available from Google on the investment’s impact on its balance sheet or strategic AI plans. Anthropic has partnerships with other tech giants, including Amazon, but continues to deepen its Google Cloud relationship for compute resources.

Shares of Alphabet were little changed in Friday trading. The investment underscores Wall Street’s continued enthusiasm for AI leaders despite high valuations and regulatory scrutiny.

The Department of Justice has decided to terminate its criminal investigation into Jerome Powell over the soaring cost of renovations at the Federal Reserve’s Washington headquarters, transferring the matter to internal oversight instead.

U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Jeanine Pirro, announced Friday that the Federal Reserve’s inspector general will now examine the ballooning construction expenses, which have climbed into the billions and are ultimately borne by taxpayers.

“The IG has the authority to hold the Federal Reserve accountable to American taxpayers,” Pirro said. “I expect a comprehensive report in short order and am confident the outcome will assist in resolving, once and for all, the questions that led this office to issue subpoenas.”

“Accordingly, I have directed my office to close our investigation as the IG undertakes this inquiry,” she added, warning she would “not hesitate to restart a criminal investigation should the facts warrant doing so.”

Earlier this year, Pirro’s office issued subpoenas to Powell in connection with testimony he gave to Congress regarding the $2.5 billion renovation project at the central bank.

Plans tied to the overhaul reportedly included upscale features such as rooftop garden terraces and even Italian beehives, according to reporting first published last year.

Those subpoenas were halted by a federal judge last month, effectively pausing the criminal inquiry.

The investigation began in January after Powell denied before the Senate Banking Committee that the upgrades included high-end additions that were driving costs beyond initial projections.

“There’s no VIP dining room, there’s no new marble. There are no special elevators,” Powell testified. “There are no new water features, there’s no beehives, and there’s no roof terrace gardens.”

In a video statement released Jan. 11, Powell addressed the probe, saying: “The threat of criminal charges is a consequence of the Federal Reserve setting interest rates based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president.”

Donald Trump visited the construction site last July, donning a hard hat and telling reporters that his background in real estate would make him unafraid to remove Powell if costs continued to rise.

Trump has repeatedly pressured Powell to lower interest rates during his second term and has, on several occasions, threatened to dismiss him over policy disagreements.

The Federal Reserve has also been grappling with financial losses, reporting a cumulative deficit of approximately $233 billion between 2022—the year after the renovation project received approval—and 2025.

Critics have blasted the scope of the renovation, with Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott and a former Fed official likening it to a “Palace of Versailles” on the National Mall.

The central bank operates two main buildings—the Eccles Building and the adjacent Federal Reserve Board East Building—both currently undergoing renovation led by architect Paul Cret.

Planning documents describe features including Georgian white marble, skylights, elaborate water elements, and a modern elevator system leading to a VIP dining suite, along with a private art collection housed in the basement.

Originally estimated at $1.9 billion in 2019, the project’s cost has since risen by roughly 32%, with completion expected in 2027.

Powell’s term as Fed chair is set to expire next month, while his proposed successor, Kevin Warsh, has faced delays in confirmation after Thom Tillis blocked consideration in protest of the DOJ investigation.

“American taxpayers deserve answers about the Federal Reserve’s fiscal mismanagement, and the Office of the Inspector General’s more powerful authorities best position it to get to the bottom of the matter,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement.

“The White House remains as confident as before that the Senate will swiftly confirm Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve Chairman to finally restore competence and confidence in Fed decision-making.”

Pete Hegseth and Dan Caine briefed reporters on Friday, outlining what they described as major progress in Operation Epic Fury and signaling the campaign is shifting into a new stage focused on diplomacy and continued pressure on Iran.

During the press conference, Hegseth said the operation delivered a “decisive military result” in a short period of time, stressing that the overarching goal remains to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He indicated that the next phase will test whether Tehran chooses to engage in negotiations.

“Iran has an important choice, a chance to make a deal – a good deal, a wise deal,” Hegseth stated.

He pointed to the growing U.S. naval presence in the Strait of Hormuz, calling the blockade “ironclad,” and noted that an additional aircraft carrier will soon be deployed to the region. Hegseth said the effort is continuing to expand.

“Our blockade is growing and going global,” he said, adding that 34 vessels not affiliated with Iran have been allowed to transit the strait, although overall maritime traffic remains well below normal levels.

Addressing recent Iranian activity, Hegseth accused Tehran of targeting commercial shipping, describing the incidents as involving “random ships” approached by Iranian speedboats. Referring to orders issued by Donald Trump authorizing force against attempts to lay naval mines, he emphasized that U.S. forces are operating under clear engagement rules.

“If Iran is putting mines in the water or threatening American shipping or forces, we will shoot to destroy. No hesitation,” he said.

Caine outlined enforcement actions under the blockade, reporting that numerous ships have reversed course. He said one vessel, the M/V Touska, had been taken into custody, and two tankers tied to Iran were intercepted in the Indo-Pacific. Their crews remain detained by U.S. authorities.

“We will continue maritime interdictions in the Pacific and Indian Oceans against Iranian vessels,” Caine said.

While a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is still formally in place, friction continues as both sides vie for influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies. Iran has reportedly sought to impose fees and seize ships, while U.S. forces have stopped several vessels connected to Tehran.

President Trump said Thursday that the United States has “total control” over the waterway and reiterated that military action could resume if Iran declines to negotiate, though he signaled he is not rushing the process.

“I want to make the best deal,” Trump said.

In a separate development, a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon was extended after discussions at the White House, reflecting broader regional dynamics involving Iran and its allied groups.

At the same time, leadership changes continued at the Pentagon, as Navy Secretary John Phelan stepped down following direction from President Trump and Hegseth.

{Matzav.com}

HONG KONG (AP) — DeepSeek, the Chinese artificial intelligence startup that shook world markets last year, launched preview versions of its latest major update Friday as the AI rivalry between China and the U.S. heats up.

DeepSeek’s V4 has been keenly anticipated by users keen to test how it compares to U.S. competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini. Anthropic and OpenAI have accused DeepSeek of unfairly building its technology off their own.

Some industry analysts had expected the new model to arrive more than a month earlier at the start of the Lunar New Year.

DeepSeek says the new V4 open-source models, which include “pro” and “flash” versions, have big improvements in knowledge, reasoning and in their “agentic” capabilities – the ability to perform complex tasks and workflows autonomously.

V4 is a successor to V3, an AI model that DeepSeek released in late 2024.

But it was DeepSeek’s specialized “reasoning” AI model, called R1, that took markets by surprise with its release in January 2025. DeepSeek claimed it was more cost-effective than OpenAI’s similar model and it became a symbol of how China was catching up with the U.S. in technological advancements.

DeepSeek said the “V4 Pro Max” version has “superior performance” in terms of standard reasoning benchmarks relative to OpenAI’s GPT-5.2 model and Google’s Gemini 3.0-Pro. It falls “marginally” short of GPT-5.4 and Gemini 3.1-Pro, it said.

In terms of “agentic” capabilities, the Chinese company said the V4 “pro” version could outperform Claude’s Sonnet 4.5 and approaches the level of Claude’s Opus 4.5 model based on its own evaluation.

The “flash” version of V4 performs on a par with the “pro” version on simple agent tasks and has reasoning capabilities closely approaching it, DeepSeek said.

“Based on the benchmark results, it does appear DeepSeek V4 is going to be very competitive against its U.S. rivals,” said Lian Jye Su, chief analyst at the technology research and advisory group Omdia.

Marina Zhang, an associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney, said DeepSeek’s V4 rollout is as a “pivotal milestone for China’s AI industry”, especially as global competition intensifies in the pursuit of self-reliance in critical technologies.

DeepSeek offers a free‑to‑use web and mobile chatbot. Unlike the top models from Anthropic, Google and OpenAI, it describes its technology as “open source” in the way that it enables developers access to modify and build on its core technology.

Both the V4’s “pro” and “flash” versions have a 1 million token context window, a parameter of how much information an AI model can process and recall, and run on a more efficient basis, the startup said. That is a significant improvement from before, since the V3 supported a 128,000 token context window.

A report from Microsoft in January showed use of DeepSeek has been gaining ground in many developing nations.

However, some analysts remain skeptical. Ivan Su, a senior equity analyst at Morningstar, said while V4 is a “competent” follow-up, it’s not as big a breakthrough as the rollout of R1.

“Domestic competition has intensified significantly since R1’s release,” Su said. “Against U.S. models, DeepSeek’s own evaluation suggests its capabilities largely match on most fronts, but independent evaluations are needed before final conclusions can be drawn.”

In February, Anthropic accused DeepSeek and two other China-based AI laboratories of “industrial-scale campaigns” to “illicitly extract Claude’s capabilities to improve their own models.” It said they did that using a technique called distillation that “involves training a less capable model on the outputs of a stronger one.” OpenAI made similar allegations in a letter to U.S. lawmakers.

This week, Michael Kratsios, chief science and technology adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, also accused foreign tech companies “principally based in China” of distilling leading U.S. AI systems and “exploiting American expertise and innovation.”

China’s embassy in Washington hit back at the allegations, describing them as “unjustified suppression of Chinese companies by the U.S.”

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

Question:

Dear Chief,

I’m writing because I’m deeply concerned about a serious safety issue I keep seeing on school buses. I’ve observed multiple buses driving with students standing, moving in aisles, and even leaning out windows.

As a school bus driver myself, I hold a firm policy that I will not move the bus until every child is seated. It is unacceptable to see this kind of behavior happening, and it puts kids at risk.

I need to know what steps are being taken to enforce the rules. I believe if drivers see real consequences—like citations or inspections—this will send a strong message and help keep everyone safer.

Please let me know what actions will be taken. I appreciate your prompt attention to this.

Sincerely,

**
The Chief’s response:**

Hi Linda,

Thank you for your submission regarding bus safety for students. We will reach out to the bussing companies and coordinators and remind them that safety comes first and that the driver is obligated to make sure the kids comply.

Thank you again,

Chief Meyer

————-

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

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

WASHINGTON  D.C (VINnews ) – U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a memorandum of understanding with European Union Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič on Friday establishing a strategic partnership on critical minerals, aiming to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on China.

The agreement, formalized at the State Department in Washington, seeks to strengthen transatlantic cooperation on the resources essential for economies and national security.

“This shows a growing awareness and commitment throughout the world, particularly with our allies in Europe, the importance of supply chains and critical minerals to the success of our economies and our national security,” Rubio said.

He added: “The over-concentration of these resources — the fact that they’re dominated by one or two places — is an unacceptable risk.”

The pact comes amid broader U.S. and allied efforts to secure resilient supply chains for minerals used in technology, infrastructure, defense and the green energy transition. China currently dominates global processing of many critical minerals.

Officials described the signing as a key step in building diversified, secure networks among partners. No immediate details on specific projects or timelines were released.

Omer Shem Tov, who spent more than 500 days in Hamas captivity, is pushing back forcefully against student leaders at University of California, Los Angeles after they criticized his recent appearance on campus for Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Shem Tov, who was kidnapped during the October 7 attacks and freed in February 2025, told The California Post that he addressed the backlash following a statement issued by UCLA’s Undergraduate Students Association Council. The council argued that his remarks reflected a “single narrative” and did not include a Palestinian viewpoint, contending that such programming promotes what it described as selective storytelling that overlooks broader realities.

Responding to the criticism, Shem Tov warned against what he sees as an effort to suppress direct testimony. He said that rejecting the voice of someone who lived through such an ordeal in order to preserve a certain perspective points to a deeper problem, stressing that fundamental values should not be sacrificed for ideological agendas.

Student body president Diego Bollo later clarified that the council’s statement passed by a slim margin and acknowledged procedural shortcomings. He said an internal review would examine how official statements are prepared and released, while reiterating his support for free expression and the inclusion of a range of viewpoints on campus.

Even amid the controversy, Shem Tov’s team described the campus event as positive and respectful, emphasizing that students with differing opinions engaged in meaningful conversation. UCLA’s administration also expressed backing for the event, citing its emphasis on resilience, human rights, and dignity, and said it would evaluate how the student council’s statement was handled, calling the criticism out of step with the university’s values.

The episode unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing unrest at UCLA, where protests tied to the war in Gaza have continued and where the Trump administration has increased scrutiny over concerns about antisemitism and the broader campus climate.

Jewish students are estimated to account for about 9% of UCLA’s undergraduate body, totaling roughly 3,100 to 4,000 individuals.

Anti-Israel hooligans struck a security guard with a sledgehammer, causing spinal injuries — and now they face the courts.

Members of Palestine Action, a pro-Hamas group that had been banned in the United Kingdom the previous year, broke into a factory of Israeli defense company Elbit Systems near Bristol in August 2024. They were found not guilty of aggravated burglary, but a retrial was called because the jury was undecided about other charges.

All the defendants but one presented evidence at the first trial, saying that they broke into the building with sledgehammers, but had not “in any circumstances intended to injure security staff” with the hammers. Prosecutors accused the group of swinging sledgehammers at the security guards, swearing at them and striking them. The defense attorney said that the defendants were surprised to encounter the guards and were “completely out of their depth.”

The six activists participated in a hunger strike while in prison.

At the time, the jury at Woolwich Crown Court deliberated for more than 36 hours but failed to reach a verdict on the other charges, which included a charge of criminal damage against all six and a charge of violent disorder against the three who were not among those found not guilty of that charge.

One of the six was charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent after an alleged assault on a security guard, but the jury failed to reach a verdict in this case as well.

The conclusion of the trial drew criticism from British Jewish advocacy groups such as the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which expressed dismay over the precedent the lax verdict would set in cases of attacks against Jews and Jewish-owned businesses.

Samuel Corner, a 23-year-old defendant in the case, told the court that he charged in with a sledgehammer because he heard someone screaming and thought one of his companions was hurt. More than two years later, the officer still suffers from a fractured spine and can’t return to full duties.

“It seemed reasonable to do something, and I had to act quickly,” Corner said at trial, though he acknowledged that the officer wasn’t in fact hurting anyone and that, upon reflection, he admitted he took extreme action.

Let’s hope he gets the verdict he deserves.

LONDON (AP) — A proposed bill to allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales to choose to end their lives failed Friday as parliamentary time ran out, nearly a year since elected members of parliaments gave their backing.

Though the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill was passed by the House of Commons last June, the U.K.’s revising chamber, the House of Lords, effectively talked it out since then.

Proponents of what has been termed “ assisted dying ” — sometimes referred to as “assisted suicide” — hoped it would mark the biggest change to social policy in the U.K. since abortion was partially legalized in 1967.

But opponents in the House of Lords have managed to hold up its passing by filing more than 1,200 amendments. That is believed to be a record high number for a piece of legislation that was tabled by a backbencher rather than by the government. Bills proposed by backbenchers can only be debated on a Friday, limiting the time available.

Campaigners for assisted dying have expressed their anger at the sight of unelected politicians holding up the will of the elected chamber. They have insisted that they intend to bring the bill back in the next parliamentary session, which begins after King Charles III outlines the government’s upcoming program in a speech to both houses of Parliament on May 13.

The sponsor of the bill in the House of Lords, Charlie Falconer, said he felt “despondent” that a piece of legislation, which he said was “so important to so many, has not failed on its merits, but failed as a result of procedural wrangling.”

He said many terminally ill people and their relatives “have shown such courage and forbearance” and have been “utterly bewildered by the way we have behaved.”

The bill that’s been making its way through parliament over the past 18 months or so had proposed allowing adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death subject to the approval of two doctors and an expert panel.

Those tabling amendments in the House of Lords said they have been providing necessary scrutiny to strengthen the legislation. Some have branded it unsafe and unworkable, citing their concerns around potential coercion of vulnerable people and a lack of safeguards for those with disabilities.

Kim Leadbeater, who introduced the Bill to the House of Commons in late 2024, has said she will “keep pushing for a safer, more compassionate law until Parliament reaches a final decision.”

Last month, lawmakers in the Scottish Parliament rejected legislation that would have made Scotland the first part of the United Kingdom to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives. Scotland has a semiautonomous government that has authority over many areas of policy, including health.

Assisted suicide — where patients take a lethal drink prescribed by a doctor — is legal in countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and parts of the U.S., with regulations on qualifying criteria varying by jurisdiction.

Just as the uproar surrounding his appearance at the state torch-lighting ceremony had begun to settle, “Rabbi” Eyal Tzionov stirred fresh controversy with a new video in which he unveiled a different appearance and delivered dramatic proclamations about the coming of Moshiach.

In footage released Thursday night, Tzionov is seen abandoning the familiar robe associated with the Rishon LeTzion and instead dressed in white garments with a matching head covering. Seated on an ornate, gold-accented chair, he appears emotional and animated as he addresses viewers with urgency. “Morai verabosai, we are at the time of the coming of Moshiach in his revelation!” he declares. He continues emphatically: “The time has come, on the 5th of Iyar, Yom Ha’atzmaut, that Moshiach is revealed. It has arrived.”

Tzionov goes on to explain the reason behind his new attire, presenting it as part of the unfolding redemption. “And when Moshiach comes, one wears such a garment. Now the time has come! We are wearing this garment, and may it be the will that all of Klal Yisroel merit to wear such a garment. Not only I wear it—everyone. It is not only my garment,” he says.

Tzionov has become one of the most widely discussed figures online in recent days following the stir he caused at the official torch-lighting ceremony on Har Herzl. During the nationally broadcast event, cameras focused on him while he was dressed in a robe and headpiece strongly identified with the Rishon LeTzion.

His presence led to significant confusion among attendees. Some participants approached him seeking a bracha, believing he was the sitting Rishon LeTzion, Rav Dovid Yosef. At the same time, officials within the Rabbanus sharply criticized the incident, with one source stating that “this is a clown who walks around like this, and more than once creates problems.”

Responding to the backlash, Tzionov said the outfit began as a gift. “My talmidim bought me this robe as a present,” he explained in an interview on Kol Barama radio. “I started wearing it on Purim and saw that the public very much connected to it and liked the appearance. Since then, people have been inviting me to Torah events and shiurim specifically when I am dressed this way.”

Addressing claims that the clothing could be misleading, he insisted there was no issue. “There is no legal problem with this. I am not impersonating the Chief Rabbi or the Rishon LeTzion, and I do not intend to change my clothing because of these and other reasons.”

The incident also raised questions about security at the ceremony, but the Shin Bet moved quickly to clarify that no breach had occurred. In an official statement, the agency said Tzionov was identified upon arrival as not being the Chief Rabbi and underwent standard security screening like all attendees.

Officials added that “at no stage did he enter the secured area where the Prime Minister was located, and there was no danger to any of the protected individuals at the ceremony.”

The torch-lighting controversy is not the first time Tzionov has drawn attention. In recent weeks, he reportedly ascended Har Habayis wearing the same distinctive attire. The incident prompted a Shin Bet official to contact the office of Rav Dovid Yosef—who is known for his opposition to such visits—to clarify the situation. The office confirmed that the Rav had not been present, and it was later understood that it was Tzionov.

With just over a week to go until the hilula of Rashbi in Meron on Lag BaOmer, former Yerushalayim and Heritage Minister Meir Porush detailed the current status of preparations and addressed the possibility of a limited-attendance framework due to security concerns.

Speaking Thursday night during a Kol Chai panel at a conference held at the Tzipori Hotel in Kfar, Porush said that work at Har Meron is proceeding at full speed, in accordance with clear directives from the police, despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding the security situation.

Addressing the budget and infrastructure developments, Porush said that while the Finance Ministry is generally not generous, the situation regarding Meron has been relatively favorable. “The Finance Ministry, when it comes to budgets, is usually not generous, but when it comes to Meron, it is fairly reasonable,” he said. He noted that although not all the promises made on the night the budget was approved were fulfilled, a substantial budget was ultimately allocated for infrastructure, and discussions were held with the coalition chairman regarding additional funding. He added that bus stops that had previously been narrow sidewalks have now been doubled in width, and the parking area designated for public officials has been paved and organized. At the same time, he remarked with a touch of irony that “there still won’t be escalators or a cable car.”

Regarding the possibility that a security escalation could impact the event, Porush pointed to the uncertainty in the political and security environment. He observed that even within Israel’s leadership there is confusion over the conduct of President Donald Trump, saying that he “doesn’t even tell them anything.” Despite that uncertainty, Porush revealed that about three weeks ago the police issued explicit instructions to continue preparations without interruption. “The police told us, you do not have permission to stop all the preparations. You will continue at full pace and do everything,” he said, explaining that from a practical standpoint, the site must be fully ready, since it cannot be left unprepared.

When asked whether his office would assume responsibility for managing the event under a limited format—similar to the framework implemented at the Kosel during Chol Hamoed—Porush rejected the idea. He defended the work of the Rav of the Kosel and the holy sites, Rav Shmuel Rabinowitz, noting that there are those who create obstacles and interfere with his work. He then clarified his own position regarding Meron under restrictions: “We are brought in when there is a complete plan. A limited framework does not need us. For what purpose?”

{Matzav.com}

A tornado — multiple tornadoes, according to some reports — tore through Enid, Okla., Thursday, churning up earth, destroying about 40 homes, and injuring at least 10 people.

The aftermath of the violent storm resembled a bombed-out war zone.

The National Weather Service will determine the scale of the tornado, but meteorologists are unofficially rating it as EF-4 or EF-5. The ratings show the intensity of the storm — the higher the number, the more severe the tornado. For example, an EF-4 rating means a violent tornado with winds of 166 to 200 miles per hour. While such severe tornadoes make up less than 2 percent of all tornadoes, they cause about 70 percent of tornado-related deaths.

The tornado also ripped its way through Vance Air Force Base, forcing its closure. Only essential personnel are working at the base to restore power and water.

Authorities declared a tornado watch until 11 p.m., and severe weather is expected throughout the weekend. Local officials expressed relief that there were no fatalities but urged everyone to stay safe.

“I am very grateful to report that while homes have sustained significant damage, there have been no fatalities and only minor injuries sustained,” the mayor, David Mason, said.

“Cindy and I are praying for all Oklahomans in harm’s way tonight as severe storms, damaging winds, and tornadoes move across our state,” said Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).

Tornadoes also affected Iowa and Kansas, with 17 reports of tornadoes across all three states.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — New York City transportation officials have begun construction on a long-delayed bus lane project along Madison Avenue aimed at improving service for tens of thousands of daily riders.

The New York City Department of Transportation said work started this week to extend double bus lanes from 42nd Street south to 23rd Street, a corridor where officials say buses can move as slowly as 4.5 miles per hour.

City officials said the redesign is intended to improve travel times and reliability for roughly 92,000 riders using local and express bus routes serving commuters from across the five boroughs.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn said the project, which had previously been delayed, is part of a broader push to improve mass transit and reduce car dependence in Manhattan.

Transportation officials pointed to similar bus lane upgrades on nearby Fifth Avenue, where data showed bus speeds improved after dedicated lanes were added.

The Madison Avenue work is expected to continue over the coming weeks, weather permitting.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A New York City police officer is facing scrutiny after a report found his personal vehicle was linked to hundreds of speeding and red-light camera violations on Staten Island, prompting renewed calls for tougher penalties for repeat offenders.

The report by Streetsblog said Officer James Giovansanti’s pickup truck accumulated more than 500 automated traffic violations since 2022, many near school zones.

Advocates seized on the report to push for the proposed “Stop Super Speeders” legislation in Albany, which would require some chronic violators to install speed-limiting devices in their vehicles.

A spokesperson for the New York City Police Department said, according to the report, the violations were unrelated to the officer’s duties. No public disciplinary action has been reported.

The allegations have fueled criticism from traffic safety advocates, who say the case raises broader concerns about accountability and enforcement as New York debates stronger measures aimed at dangerous repeat drivers.

If you study history closely, you begin to understand the future, because patterns repeat themselves.

What Donald Trump is doing today is not happening in a vacuum. He is acting to protect the United States, to safeguard the broader world, and certainly to defend Israel against one of the most dangerous forces in modern geopolitics, the regime in Iran.

Naturally, there is opposition. There are voices in government, in the Senate, and in Congress pushing back, which surprises many. But history shows us this is nothing new.

Go back to 1947 to 1948. The United States was led by Harry S. Truman, a man faced with a historic decision, whether to support the establishment of the State of Israel. His choice shaped history. Without that support, Israel may not have come into existence.

Truman was under immense pressure. He was warned that supporting Israel might cost him reelection. Even George C. Marshall, his Secretary of State, threatened to withdraw political support. Truman had to decide whether to pursue truth and moral clarity or prioritize political safety. He chose the right side of history, putting truth above his own election.

Immediately after independence, Israel faced a coordinated invasion from surrounding Arab nations. This came just years after the Holocaust, when many of Israel’s residents were survivors. The young state had roughly 30,000 soldiers, while vastly larger, better equipped armies attacked from multiple fronts.

At that critical moment, Truman again faced a defining choice. Despite intense opposition, including from Marshall, he chose a different path. Guided by conviction and moral clarity, he supported Israel and enabled it to defend itself. That decision was pivotal.

Without Truman, Israel’s survival in those early days would have been far from certain.

Today, many see a parallel. President Trump, despite criticism from both political sides and resistance from parts of the international community, has taken a firm stance in confronting threats and aligning with Israel’s security. Similarly, some argue that midterm elections or political comfort should temper action, yet Trump, like Truman, chooses the path of principle.

And just as Truman had a trusted friend, Eddie Jacobson, Trump has confidants like Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Ivanka, people whose counsel reinforces that enduring truth. Leadership in both eras meant choosing the right side of history, regardless of personal political cost.

Sen. John Fetterman is pushing back against members of his own party and major media outlets, accusing them of weakening the U.S. position by urging President Donald Trump to quickly halt military operations against Iran.

In an interview, Fetterman argued that the focus should remain squarely on Iran and its allied groups, rather than on criticizing the administration’s actions.

“It’s almost as if, you know, we’ve forgotten on the Democratic side that the real enemy, the real threat, the real danger is Iran and … proxies too,” Fetterman told Fox News.

He warned that persistent criticism from Democrats could embolden Tehran, suggesting that Iranian leaders may believe they only need to endure current military pressure long enough for political forces in Washington to force a U.S. retreat.

“You know, Iran must be so excited by the American media and the Democratic Party the way they, it’s like, as long as we can hang on for 60 days, more and more people continue to vote against, you know, the Trump administration to end the Iranian regime,” he said.

Fetterman also questioned why Democrats who support preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons are opposing the administration’s methods to achieve that goal.

“And so, why can we be this close and allow them to acquire nuclear bomb? So, that’s my real concern,” he said.

The criticism comes as Senate Democrats have intensified efforts to end U.S. involvement in the conflict, forcing yet another vote under the 1973 War Powers Act to compel the administration to withdraw American forces from the Iran theater.

Fetterman broke with his party on the issue, casting the lone Democratic vote against the resolution.

He has recently voiced frustration with how Democrats have responded to the conflict, saying he is troubled by rhetoric that, in his view, appears overly sympathetic to Iran due to opposition to Trump.

“It seems like people are almost rooting for Iran. It’s crazy,” Fetterman told video journalist Nicholas Ballasy in a recent interview. “So my party has been very disappointing, the way they’ve chosen to respond.”

Meanwhile, Chris Murphy faced criticism from Republicans after sharing a report on social media indicating that 26 vessels had bypassed the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports, adding the comment “Awesome.”

Murphy later clarified that his remark was intended as sarcasm and criticized the administration’s handling of the conflict.

“Ok Twitter, I can’t believe I need to clarify this but obviously Trump’s bungled mismanagement of this war is not ‘awesome,’” he wrote in a separate social media post. “As I have said a million times here, it’s a disaster and he should end the war immediately. My tweet was something called ‘sarcasm.'”

{Matzav.com}

SEATTLE (AP) — President Donald Trump’s decision to reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug is a boon for the industry: It gives dispensaries a big tax break, eases some barriers to researching cannabis and could even allow the export of marijuana to other countries.

But that might only be Trump’s first step. A new administrative hearing slated for the end of June could result in the reclassification of marijuana more broadly, granting tax and other benefits to state-licensed recreational markets, too.

“This is a signal that this administration means business on getting this done,” said Boston-based cannabis industry attorney Jesse Alderman, of the firm Foley Hoag.

The order issued Thursday does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law, and it is likely to face legal challenges.

But it does change the way marijuana is regulated, shifting licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I — reserved for drugs without medical use and with high potential for abuse — to the less strictly regulated Schedule III.

A long-sought shift
It was a significant policy shift for a U.S. government that has been steadfast in its prohibition of pot, even as all states but two — Idaho and Kansas — have approved cannabis in some form since California became the first to OK the medical use of marijuana in 1996.

Two dozen states plus Washington, D.C., have authorized adult recreational use of marijuana, raising billions in tax revenue. Forty have medical marijuana systems, and eight others allow low-THC cannabis or CBD oil for medical use.

The order noted that regulation of medical marijuana has come a long way, with comprehensive licensing polices from cultivation to sales in most states.

Douglas Hiatt, a longtime Seattle marijuana defense attorney, recalled the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and ’90s, when police regularly raided grow operations designed to support patients.

He joined one client, a disabled medical marijuana activist named JoAnna McKee, as she met in the woods with members of the Hells Angels motorcycle club to procure cannabis for other patients after a police raid — just one example of the desperate lengths that were sometimes required to procure pot back then, he said.

“We were watching all these guys die from this horrible disease, and the only thing that helped them keep their pills down was marijuana, and the cops were going after anyone who helped them get it,” Hiatt said in a phone interview Thursday. “It was crystal clear from the beginning that it had medical uses. For the feds to admit that now is great. It’s surreal.”

Critics express doubts
Some health experts have suggested that legalization in the states has led to stronger and stronger cannabis products, which need to be researched rather than categorized less strictly than before.

Taking marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug implies that it’s useful as a treatment, but there are no “massive medical indications for cannabis,” said Dr. Smita Das, an addiction psychiatrist at Stanford University. Further, cannabis use disorder — which affects about 3 in 10 people who use pot, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — has been on the rise, she said.

“We’ve already had kind of a decrease in risk perception related to cannabis over the years with the state legalization,” Das said. “This will probably just add to that.”

The reclassification is a far cry from what many critics of the drug war still long to see: full legalization, with measures to address the harms caused by prohibition, especially in minority communities that were disproportionately affected. Many states have already taken steps such as expunging criminal records.

There is confusion for some dispensaries
Now, state-licensed medical operators can finally deduct business expenses on their federal taxes, a crucial financial benefit.

But in a number of recreational pot states, licensed dispensaries serve both markets — making it an accounting nightmare to ascertain how much of their business expenses might stem from the medical side, and thus be deductible.

“If this artificial distinction between medical and recreational is maintained, it raises all sorts of questions,” noted sociology professor Josh Meisel, who co-founded the Humboldt Institute for Interdisciplinary Marijuana Research at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.

Trump told his administration in December to work as quickly as possible to reclassify marijuana, following up on stalled efforts launched during the Biden administration. On Saturday, as the Republican president signed an unrelated executive order about psychedelics, he seemed to express frustration that it was taking so long.

‘Giving a tax break to Big Weed’
The president of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp, Michael Bronstein, called the order “the most significant federal advancement in cannabis policy in over 50 years.”

But marijuana legalization opponent Kevin Sabet, CEO of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, said that while marijuana research is necessary, “there are many ways to increase our knowledge without giving a tax break to Big Weed.”

Trump has made his crusade against other drugs, especially fentanyl, a feature of his second term, ordering U.S. military attacks on Venezuelan and other boats the administration insists are ferrying drugs.

(AP) – Airlines worldwide have begun canceling flights as the war in the Middle East strains jet fuel supplies and pushes up prices — but the disruption doesn’t end there.

For travelers, it can mean having to navigate a confusing web of passenger protections that vary widely depending on where they’re flying.

And the timing is amplifying the impact.

“ These pressures are arriving at a time when summer travel demand is ramping up, with major events such as the World Cup expected to put additional strain on airports,” said Eric Napoli, chief legal officer at AirHelp, a company that helps travelers secure compensation for flight disruptions and advocates for passenger rights.

Here’s what to know if your flight is canceled.

Are these cancellations happening at the last minute?
In most cases, no. At least for now, fuel-related cuts are often being made days or weeks in advance. Lufthansa Group, for example, said this week it is cutting 20,000 short-haul flights across its network through October.

That gives you more time to adjust plans than you’d typically get with weather-related disruptions, which tend to trigger last-minute cancellations.

My flight was canceled. What should I do first?
Check your airline’s app or website immediately for rebooking options. If you’re flying on a U.S. carrier, that’s often the fastest and easiest way to secure a new seat, according to Tyler Hosford, security director at International SOS, a global risk management and travel security company.

Non-U.S. carriers tend to have fewer digital tools, Hosford said, so it’s worth trying multiple channels, including the airline’s customer service lines or airport desks.

Do I have the right to a refund or a new flight?
In most cases, yes. Airlines typically offer either a refund or a rebooking on the next available flight. The exact rules vary by country, but those are the baseline options you can expect.

In the U.S., for example, if your flight is canceled and you choose not to travel, the airline must refund you, regardless of the reason. Airlines may offer travel credits instead, but you’re entitled to a full refund for airfare and any extras you didn’t use, such as baggage fees or seat upgrades.

Are passenger rights the same everywhere?
No, and protections vary widely by region — from the Montreal Convention, which governs airline liability across more than 140 countries, to specific consumer protection laws in the U.S., Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Brazil.

Europe has some of the strongest protections, including compensation in certain cases. And they apply to any flight departing from an EU airport, regardless of the airline, as well as to passengers flying on an EU-based carrier into the EU — even if the journey starts outside Europe. The United Kingdom maintains a similar framework.

The U.S. and Canada offer more limited protections. Policies vary widely across Asia, and in some cases travelers may need to rely more on airline policies than formal regulations.

To get a clearer picture, experts recommend searching the name of the country you’re departing from and “passenger rights” before your trip.

What protections apply?
It depends.

Airlines may cite fuel shortages or rising fuel costs as the reason for cancellations. But whether you’re entitled to compensation often comes down to if the disruption is considered within the airline’s control under local laws.

Regardless of the cause, Napoli said, airlines in the European Union, for example, still have a “duty of care,” meaning they must provide “necessary support” to travelers, including rebooking.

“While airlines are citing fuel shortages as a reason for upcoming cancellations, travelers need to know that this does not automatically waive their rights” under EU laws, Napoli said.

How can I prepare before a trip to avoid headaches?
A few steps can make disruptions easier to manage.

Sign up for flight alerts to stay informed, and book directly with the airline when possible — it’s much easier to resolve issues with the carrier directly than through a third-party booking site.

Knowing your options ahead of time and having a backup plan can make a significant difference if plans change.

What do I need for a claim or complaint?
Documentation is critical. Save everything: boarding passes, receipts, cancellation notices and any communication from the airline.

Take screenshots of app or website updates and any communication taking place online, and jot down key details from phone calls.

Napoli also recommends asking the airline for written confirmation of a flight disruption, including the stated reason.

Should I accept the first alternative flight the airline offers?
Not necessarily.

Experts say one of the most common mistakes travelers make is taking the first option without checking alternatives. Look at other flights, routes or even nearby airports because you may find a faster or more convenient way to reach your destination.

Can I book a different flight myself?
Yes, but proceed carefully.

If the airline’s rebooking option doesn’t meet your needs — especially if your new flight isn’t for several days — you can look for alternatives and request a refund instead.

Just be aware you may need to pay any fare difference up front, and you might not be reimbursed later.

Any other tips to avoid getting stuck?
— Book flights earlier in the day so you have more rebooking options if something goes wrong.

— Set up flight alerts through tracking apps such as Flighty to get early notice of cancellations or delays. In some cases, Hosford said, notifications arrive before the airline’s.

— Consider nearby airports as backup options.

— Be kind. Airline agents may be more willing to help when interactions stay calm and respectful.

“Ultimately, the shortage is squeezing the entire system, from travelers to airlines, and is something to watch as the industry looks for any relief ahead of the summer travel season,” Napoli said.

BEIJING (AP) — China’s top automakers are showcasing their latest models and technologies from intelligent driving to ultrafast charging in Beijing as they compete with global rivals in overseas markets.

Analysts say the biennial auto show in China’s capital, which opened to media on Friday, shows how its auto industry is setting the global pace for cutting-edge technologies in areas such as electric vehicles and batteries, eclipsing many foreign brands that used to dominate the global market.

More than 1,450 vehicles are on display at this year’s show, including 181 global debuts. The show runs until May 3.

Intelligent driving, fast charging showcased
Chinese EV maker XPeng is showing off its latest GX model, a six-seater SUV with a third row seats that can lie completely flat, among other new displays and technologies.

Huge crowds gathered for a presentation by its founder and CEO He Xiaopeng, who described more high-tech aspects of the vehicle.

“When you’re driving on the highway, you fall asleep, or if you feel unwell and can no longer control the vehicle, the system can detect the situation, pull over automatically and alert emergency services,” He said. “Many people who have tried it say it’s amazing.”

Chinese EV maker BYD showcased its new generation of the fast charging “blade” EV battery, first unveiled last month, which can achieve a near full charge in nine minutes, at the auto show, as well as demonstrated charging under the low temperature of minus 30 degree Celsius. Also showcased by Yijing, a EV joint venture between Chinese carmaker Dongfeng Motor Corp. and technology giant Huawei, was the X9, their flagship six‑seat SUV.

According to Chairman Wang Junjun, the new model will features some of the latest auto technology, including a next-generation Qiankun intelligent driving system and a new HarmonyOS cockpit and operating system developed by Huawei.

Ahead of the show, Chinese battery giant CATL unveiled on Tuesday a new version of its “Shenxing” battery, which can be charged from 10% to 98% in only about six-and-a-half minutes.

China’s ‘aggressive’ advancements
The auto show showcases the “speed and aggressiveness of advancement” among Chinese automakers, said Tu Le, managing director of consultancy Sino Auto Insights. “It just reinforces that the Chinese — whether in EVs, batteries, intelligent driving — are setting the pace for all these important sectors,” he said.

“China has become one of the fastest-moving markets for deploying and iterating new vehicle technologies, giving consumers early access to some of the most advanced features,” said Chris Liu, a senior analyst at research and advisory group Omdia.

China has become the world’s biggest car exporter, benefiting from its ability to reap cost advantages from its huge scale as well as significant government subsidies and support that helped automakers to rapidly scale up and more quickly rolling out new models and technologies than their foreign competitors.

But Chinese automakers has been facing immense pressure from ferocious price wars over the past months. This year, the government has scaled back subsidies encouraging drivers to switch to EVs and plug-in hybrids, weighing on domestic demand.

Sales of passenger cars in China dropped 23% in the January-March quarter from a year earlier to around 4 million vehicles, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. But exports jumped 63% to almost 2 million vehicles as Chinese cars made inroads in regions like Europe, Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Omdia forecasts China’s passenger vehicle exports will grow by around 14% year-on-year in 2026.

The hypercompetitive Chinese market have pulled vehicle prices down by a fifth over the past two years, according to a report this week by consultancy AlixPartners.

Few new tech expected to be exported
Few of the new technologies showcased at the auto show may be exported to overseas markets in the short term due to regulatory and safety challenges, Liu said. But they signal “capabilities that can be refined and adapted for global markets over time.”

Even as foreign automakers have been losing market share in recent years in China, some are staging a comeback, with Volkswagen Group announcing on Tuesday plans for installing “agentic” AI into its vehicles for China. It also unveiled new EV models for the Chinese market, including the new UNYX 09 electric sedan co-developed with XPeng.

While the foreign car brands may try to “stabilize” their market share in China, “gaining back a significant market share they had before is, to my perspective, not realistic,” said Andreas Radics, managing director at Berylls by AlixPartners specialized in the automotive industry.

Meanwhile, given the growing demand and often better profitability in overseas markets, Chinese automakers have been shifting from exporting cars from China to building more factories overseas, including in Hungary and Turkey, to increase supplies abroad and avert trade friction.

Chinese carmakers are likely to almost triple their overseas production by 2030 to 3.4 million vehicles from 1.2 million last year, according to AlixPartners estimates.

Brick Township Police Department’s K9 unit was among the agencies represented during a large-scale maritime training exercise hosted by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force on April 22.

The Explosive & Narcotics Maritime Training Exercise brought together K9 teams from across the tri-state area for a coordinated operation focused on explosive and narcotic detection in maritime and urban environments.

Representing Brick Township were Ptl. Ray LaPoint and K9 Rebel, Ptl. Glen Pacyna and K9 Diesel, and Ptl. Melia with K9 Jax.

As part of the exercise, teams boarded vessels, crossed the Hudson River, and traveled into Manhattan, where they conducted extensive searches for large quantities of narcotics and explosives in vehicles and boats at Pier 11. Additional operations included searches in buildings and shipping containers throughout Jersey City.

The training was designed to strengthen interagency coordination and prepare law enforcement teams for high-risk scenarios involving maritime transportation, urban infrastructure, and potential terrorist threats.

Officials said the exercise highlighted the critical role K9 teams play in safeguarding public spaces and responding to evolving security challenges.

Brick Township Police praised its handlers and K9 partners for their professionalism, dedication, and ongoing commitment to public safety.

WASHINGTON (VINnews) – A bipartisan pair of lawmakers is advancing legislation to create federal “buffer zones” around houses of worship, aiming to deter harassment and disruptions targeting congregants.

Reps. Tom Suozzi and Max Miller introduced the proposed SACRED Act, which would establish protections within 100 feet of synagogues, churches, mosques and other religious institutions, while penalizing those accused of intentionally intimidating or obstructing worshippers.

Supporters say the measure responds to growing concerns over aggressive demonstrations near religious sites, particularly amid rising antisemitic incidents and heightened tensions around the war in the Middle East.

The proposal includes criminal penalties for repeat offenders, with harsher consequences in cases involving violence or serious injury. Sponsors say the bill is designed to balance protections for religious worship with First Amendment rights.

The legislation has drawn support from groups including the Anti-Defamation League, American Jewish Committee and Orthodox Union.

Backers describe the bill as a public safety measure to ensure Americans can attend religious services without fear of intimidation or disruption.

Popular podcaster Joe Rogan voiced renewed criticism of President Donald Trump’s approach to Iran, saying the current strategy is unclear and difficult to understand, even as tensions in the region remain high.

Rogan made the remarks Thursday during an episode of his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, where he was joined by Australian comedian James McCann. The discussion focused on the ongoing situation in the Middle East, including the fragile ceasefire and continued hostilities at sea.

Responding to McCann’s question about whether the situation would stabilize, Rogan expressed uncertainty about what lies ahead.

“No one …. knows,” Rogan said, responding to a question from McCann about whether it was “going to be OK.”

He went on to question the current ceasefire arrangement, pointing to reports of continued attacks despite the extension.

“I mean, what’s going on with the Iran’s — the ceasefire? Supposedly, they extended, but then they’re shooting at ships,” he added, with a sigh.

Trump recently extended the ceasefire with Iran following mediation efforts, even as U.S. forces have continued enforcing a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions.

During the conversation, McCann pressed further on the purpose of the conflict, including whether it was aimed at toppling Iran’s leadership. Rogan replied that he does not fully understand the timing or reasoning behind the administration’s decision to launch strikes.

“People have wanted people of out of Iran, the people that are running Iran, for 47 years, but no one has actually gone and done it the way this administration did,” he said. “And it doesn’t make sense they choose to do it when they did.”

Rogan added that he assumes negotiations are part of the broader strategy, but said he remains doubtful about how the situation will ultimately play out.

“I think the idea is that they’re trying to negotiate about something, you know, and I don’t know how this is ever going to work out. I really don’t know,” he added a few minutes later.

At another point in the discussion, McCann referenced a U.S. military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro. Rogan dismissed comparisons between that operation and the situation in Iran, calling it fundamentally different.

“That was a totally different experience.”

Rogan, who endorsed Trump shortly before the 2024 election, has increasingly voiced skepticism about the administration’s handling of the Iran conflict, a stance that has created tension despite his continued proximity to the president.

He also suggested that Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu may have influenced Trump’s decision to enter the conflict, adding another layer to his critique of the administration’s approach.

{Matzav.com}

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — Syrian authorities said Friday they have arrested a former intelligence officer who appeared in a video leaked four years ago that purportedly showed him and his comrades fatally shooting dozens of people during the country’s conflict.

Amjad Yousef was arrested in the central province of Hama, where he had been hiding, the Interior Ministry said, and posted a photo of him in a striped prison uniform.

Since insurgents ousted former President Bashar Assad in December 2024, dozens of members of his security agencies that were blamed for atrocities during the conflict have been arrested. Assad fled to Russia.

The conflict, which that began with anti-government protests in March 2011 before turning into a civil war, has left half a million people dead and over 1 million wounded.

Yousef was one of several Syrian security agents who authorities said appeared in a video leaked in 2022, in which dozens of blindfolded, bound men were shot and thrown into a trench.

U.S. special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack posted on X that the arrest was “a powerful step away from impunity toward accountability, exemplifying the new paradigm of justice emerging in post-Assad Syria: one rooted in the rule of law, national reconciliation, and the equal application of justice regardless of past affiliations.”

The 6 minute and 43 second clip shows members of Syria’s notorious Military Intelligence Branch 227 with a line of around 40 prisoners in an abandoned building in Tadamon, a suburb of Damascus near the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk. For much of the war, the district was a front line between government forces and opposition fighters.

The prisoners were blindfolded, with their arms tied behind their backs. One after another, the Branch 227 gunmen stand them at the edge of a trench filled with old tires, then push or kick the men in, shooting them as they fall.

In the video, the intelligence agents tell some of the prisoners that they are going to pass through a sniper’s alley and that they should run. The men tumble onto the bodies of those who went before them. As bodies pile up in the trench, some still move, and the gunmen shoot into the pile.

The gunmen later set the bodies on fire, presumably to erase evidence of the massacre.

Last year, security forces in Syria said that they arrested three people involved in the same killings.

The Interior Ministry said in its statement Friday that authorities will go after all those involved in the Tadamon shooting to bring them to justice.

In March 2023, the U.S. State Department banned entry into the U.S. of Yousef, his wife and immediate members of his family.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Owners of New York City apartment buildings warned at Thursday’s meeting of the New York City Rent Guidelines Board that rising costs, rent collection problems and financial pressure are forcing some landlords to sell properties at steep discounts, as debate intensifies over a proposed rent freeze for nearly 1 million rent-stabilized apartments.

Landlord representatives told the board thousands of buildings are under distress, citing higher insurance costs, maintenance expenses and chronic nonpayment by some tenants.

Industry groups said the pressures have been especially acute in parts of the Bronx, where some owners have reported mounting losses and deteriorating conditions.

The concerns surfaced as Mayor Zohran Mamdani continues to back a rent freeze, a proposal tenant advocates support but landlord groups argue could deepen instability for struggling properties.

Some owners pointed to discounted multifamily sales as evidence of broader stress in the market, warning additional restrictions could accelerate distress sales and disinvestment.

Tenant advocates, however, say rent protections remain vital as affordability pressures continue to burden city residents.

The Rent Guidelines Board is expected to take preliminary votes on rent adjustments in the coming weeks.

NEW YORK (AP) — A surge for Intel following a blowout profit report is leading technology stocks higher Friday, while oil prices keep swinging in the wait for what’s next with the Iran war.

The S&P 500 rose 0.2% and pulled near its all-time high set on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 195 points, or 0.4%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, while the Nasdaq composite led the market with a rise of 0.7%.

Intel led the way and is potentially heading for its best day since 1987. It jumped 26.7% after reporting much stronger results for the first three months of the year than analysts expected. CEO Lip-Bu Tan said the next wave of artificial-intelligence technology is increasing the need for Intel’s chips and products, and the company’s forecast for profit in the spring topped analysts’ estimates.

Such strong profit reports have helped Wall Street rally to records after the S&P 500 leaped more than 12% in a little under a month. Hopes have also built in financial markets that the United States and Iran can find a way to avoid a worst-case scenario for the global economy because of their war.

A ceasefire is still tenuously in place between the two, but tensions between them are still keeping oil tankers from passing through the Strait of Hormuz to deliver crude from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide. Oil prices climbed this week on worries about the strait, but a potentially encouraging signal came Friday after Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency confirmed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was heading to Pakistan for talks.

The price for a barrel of Brent crude to be delivered in June yo-yoed between roughly $103 and $107 in the morning and most recently was up 0.3% at $105.38. The price for Brent delivered in July, which is the more popular contract for traders, fell 0.1% to $99.21.

On Wall Street, Procter & Gamble rose 4.3% after reporting stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. CEO Shailesh Jejurikar said it saw broad-based growth across regions and products, which include Bounty paper towels and Tide detergent.

That helped offset a drop of 8.1% for Charter Communications, whose profit for the latest quarter came in weaker than analysts expected. It lost 120,000 internet customers during the three months, more than some analysts expected.

Hartford Insurance Group fell 2.1% after reporting profit growth for the latest quarter that fell short of analysts’ expectations.

In stock markets abroad, indexes slipped in much of Europe following a more mixed finish in Asia. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1%, and France’s CAC 40 fell 0.7% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury held at 4.34%, where it was late Thursday.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A five-alarm fire tore through a vacant rectory and spread to a historic Queens church Thursday night, injuring six firefighters and triggering evacuations in the surrounding neighborhood, officials said.

The blaze broke out around 6:45 p.m. at the First Reformed Church of Astoria complex in Astoria, according to the Fire Department of the City of New York.

At about 6:45 p.m. Thursday, the FDNY responded to reports of a fire at the First Reformed Church of Astoria at 27-26 12th Street in Queens. Units arrived and observed heavy fire in a vacant two-story rectory. The fire rapidly extended to the church, and units moved into both… pic.twitter.com/cQOewqJ1kl

— FDNY (@FDNY) April 24, 2026

Fire officials said flames began in a vacant rectory before rapidly extending into the church, where heavy fire conditions and concerns about collapse forced crews to abandon an interior attack and battle the blaze from outside.

Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said portions of the roof and walls collapsed during operations. One firefighter was struck by falling debris and taken to a hospital, while five others suffered minor injuries.

More than 270 fire and EMS personnel responded as thick smoke spread through the neighborhood and nearby buildings were evacuated. The fire was brought under control late Thursday night, though crews remained on scene monitoring for hotspots.

Residents described the church as a longtime Astoria landmark dating to the 19th century. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu released his annual medical report on Friday, disclosing that about a year and a half ago he underwent surgery followed by radiation treatment to remove a cancerous tumor that was detected at an early stage.

“On December 29th, 2024, the Prime Minister underwent surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The procedure was conducted successfully and without any complications. An MRI examination conducted as part of a regular follow-up after the surgery found a tiny area, smaller than a centimeter, with suspicious characteristics in the prostate,” the report stated.

“Further examination proved that this was indeed an accidental discovery and an early stage of prostate cancer. This was an early detection of a tiny lesion, without metastases, as all other tests proved beyond a doubt. With such lesions, it is possible to continue with close monitoring or with short and precise radiation therapy. The Prime Minister chose therapy.”

The report added that the treatment was entirely successful, with the tumor no longer detectable in imaging and lab results.

Prof. Aharon Popovtzer, who led the treatment alongside Dr. Mark Vigoda and Dr. Shraga Gross, said after the report’s release: “I head the oncology division at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. A few months ago, during a completely routine follow-up, a 0.9 cm finding was incidentally discovered in the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister underwent a comprehensive evaluation, which showed this was a disease at a very early stage. It is important to note that this is a very common condition, particularly among patients over the age of 70.

“After completing the full evaluation, the Prime Minister was presented, as is customary, with two treatment options: the first, active surveillance only; the second, radiation therapy. The Prime Minister chose the second option and underwent modern, targeted radiation treatment at Hadassah Hospital two and a half months ago. At the end of the treatment, after about two and a half months, he underwent further evaluation including imaging and blood tests. Based on these findings, we can say that the disease has disappeared. There is no evidence of disease. The Prime Minister will continue routine, standard follow-up as customary.”

Netanyahu wrote on X that he had asked to postpone the release of the report by two months: “Today my annual medical report was published. I asked to delay its release by two months so that it would not be published at the height of the war, in order not to allow the terrorist regime in Iran to spread further false propaganda against Israel.”

“I would like to share three things with you: 1 – Thank G-d, I am healthy. 2 – I am in excellent physical condition. 3 – I had a minor medical issue in the prostate that has been completely treated. Thank God, it is behind me.”

Netanyahu continued: “A year and a half ago, I underwent successful surgery for an enlarged benign prostate, and since then I have been under routine medical follow-up. In the most recent check-up, a tiny spot of less than one centimeter was found in the prostate. Tests showed it was a very early stage of a malignant tumor, with no spread or metastases.”

He explained that “the doctors told me this is very common at my age, and that there are two options: 1 – It is not necessary to treat it; one can remain under surveillance. It is possible to live with it, and many do. 2 – To undergo treatment and remove the problem. You already know me. When I receive timely information about a potential danger, I want to address it immediately. That is true at the national level and at the personal level. That is what I did. I underwent targeted treatment that removed the problem without leaving a trace. I went to a few short treatments, read a book, and continued working. The spot has completely disappeared. Thank G-d, I overcame this as well.”

“I would like to thank the wonderful doctors and medical teams at Hadassah Hospital in Yerushalayim. From you, the citizens of Israel, I have only one request: take care of your health. Get checked and follow doctors’ instructions. And from here, on the eve of Shabbos, I pray for the recovery of our wounded in body and soul, and send them a warm embrace and wishes for a full recovery on your behalf. Shabbat Shalom,” he concluded.

{Matzav.com}

NEW YORK (VINnews) – The Trump administration has launched a civil rights investigation into the New York City Department of Education over allegations an outside pro-Palestinian educators group may have promoted antisemitic content impacting Jewish students.

The United States Department of Education said Thursday it will review concerns tied to NYC Educators for Palestine and whether any materials or programming associated with the group may have contributed to a hostile environment.

City school officials said the group is not affiliated with the public school system and indicated they are reviewing the federal inquiry.

The move adds to a broader push by the Trump administration to confront antisemitism in educational settings, with Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasizing oversight of civil rights protections for Jewish students.

The inquiry also marks another point of tension between federal officials and New York City schools following previous disputes over education policy and federal funding. Officials have not said when the investigation may conclude.

Tom Kean Jr., a Republican congressman from New Jersey, has not appeared on Capitol Hill for close to two months, with aides attributing his absence to unspecified medical concerns.

Kean, considered one of the more vulnerable Republicans in New Jersey’s congressional delegation, last cast a vote on March 5 and has since missed more than 40 roll call votes.

Despite his absence from Washington, Kean posted on social media Wednesday noting that two of his legislative proposals had advanced out of committee. However, he was not physically present in the Capitol for votes that day.

A spokesperson told Politico that the congressman is “facing unspecified health issues.” Even so, several fellow New Jersey lawmakers said they have had no direct communication with him during this period.

Concern about Kean’s status has intensified as Congress deals with a string of illnesses and deaths among members, all while operating with razor-thin partisan margins.

At present, the House consists of 217 Republicans along with one independent aligned with the GOP, 212 Democrats, and five vacant seats.

Earlier this year, David Scott, who had been seeking reelection, became the fifth sitting House member to pass away since the start of 2025.

In addition, Donald Trump recently revealed that Neal Dunn, who has a known terminal illness, was expected to be “dead by June.”

Kean’s fellow New Jersey Republicans, Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, said they have attempted to contact him to check on his condition but have received no response, describing the situation as “radio silence.”

“I know the congressman and his family appreciate all of the well wishes and support,” said Harrison Neely, a consultant for Kean. “Please know that he will be back on a regular full schedule very soon.”

Capitol Hill has seen unexplained absences before. In 2024, former Rep. Kay Granger was found living in a memory care facility after being out of public view for an extended period.

Kean’s disappearance has also raised political concerns ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, given the competitiveness of his district.

A two-term congressman, Kean maintained an almost flawless voting record until earlier this year, according to data from GovTrack.

With Republicans holding only a narrow majority, even a single prolonged absence can complicate efforts by GOP leadership to pass key legislation, including measures such as the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

{Matzav.com}

A biker crossing against the traffic light and against traffic was struck by a vehicle last night in Lakewood.

The incident happened shortly after 10:00 PM at the intersection of Route 88 and Clifton Avenue.

Video obtained by TLS shows the biker attempting to cross diagonally across both Clifton Avenue and Route 88 when he was struck by a vehicle making a left onto Route 88.

The biker was transported to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood with non-life-threatening injuries.

The annual Lag BaOmer celebrations at Meron are now expected to be canceled due to the escalating security situation in northern Israel.

According to reports, Israel’s security force has instructed government ministries involved in organizing the event to stop preparations for the massive gathering at the kever of Rashbi. The order comes as tensions in the north continue to rise, with ongoing sirens and fears of renewed escalation.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews gather at the gravesite of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai at Mount Meron during the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer, which marks the anniversary of the death of the Talmudic sage in Meron, northern Israel on May 15, 2025. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)

The freeze applies to all major preparations for the public event, including planning for crowd arrivals, road closures, transportation routes, and security arrangements. The hilula had been expected to draw up to 200,000 people.

At the same time, infrastructure work at the site is reportedly continuing in order to preserve the option of holding the event if the security situation improves. But for now, officials appear to be operating under the assumption that a large public gathering in Meron is unlikely to be approved. More than 100 million shekels have already been allocated for preparations, even though officials had viewed the chances of holding the event as low from the beginning.

The development comes despite recent Trump announcing the extension of the ceasefire with Lebanon, but the northern front remains fragile.

Screenshot

NEW YORK CITY (VINnews)-Baseball and Jewish community celebrations are set to come together in a big way during the 2026 season, with dozens of teams across Major League Baseball and the minor leagues hosting special Jewish Heritage Nights and related events. The initiative highlights Jewish culture, history, and contributions to the sport while offering fans unique experiences at stadiums nationwide.

The comprehensive list of celebrations, compiled by Zack Raab, showcases events spanning from April through early September. These nights typically feature ceremonial first pitches by Jewish community leaders, themed giveaways, kosher food options, musical performances, and recognitions of local Jewish organizations.

Early Season Highlights (April–June)

The season kicks off with strong momentum in the Northeast and Midwest:

Detroit Tigers – Sunday, April 12

Brooklyn Cyclones (NY) – Sunday, May 3

Chicago Cubs – Wednesday, May 6

Norfolk Tides (VA) – Wednesday, May 6

Nashville Sounds (TN) – Tuesday, May 12

Somerset Patriots (NJ) – Thursday, May 14

Rochester Red Wings (NY) – Sunday, May 17

Washington Nationals – Tuesday, May 19

Las Vegas Aviators – Thursday, May 21

San Diego Padres & Baltimore Orioles – Tuesday, May 26 (doubleheader day for Jewish Heritage)

Boston Red Sox – Wednesday, May 27

Sugar Land Space Cowboys (TX) & San Antonio Missions (TX) – Sunday, May 31

Lehigh Valley IronPigs (PA) – Tuesday, June 2

Mid-to-Late Season Celebrations (June–September)

The summer and early fall bring another wave of events:

Worcester Red Sox (MA) – Sunday, June 28

San Francisco Giants – Tuesday, July 7

Tampa Bay Rays & Hudson Valley Renegades (NY) – Wednesday, July 8

New Hampshire Fisher Cats – Tuesday, August 4

Bradenton Marauders (FL) – Thursday, August 6

Jersey Shore BlueClaws (NJ) & Arizona Diamondbacks – Sunday, August 9

Long Island Ducks (NY) – Tuesday, August 11

Wilmington Blue Rocks (DE) – Tuesday, August 18

Miami Marlins, Chesapeake Baysox (MD) & Hartford Yard Goats (CT) – Sunday, August 23 (a major tripleheader day)

Seattle Mariners – Tuesday, August 25

Kansas City Royals – Tuesday, September 8

These events span from Florida to California and include both big-league clubs like the Cubs, Red Sox, Giants, Diamondbacks, Marlins, and Mariners, as well as a robust slate of minor league affiliates.

Why It Matters

Jewish Heritage Nights have become a beloved tradition in baseball, fostering inclusivity and giving fans an opportunity to celebrate Jewish identity in a quintessentially American setting. Many teams partner with local Jewish federations, synagogues, and organizations like the Jewish Community Relations Council to make the nights meaningful. Past events have included everything from Star of David-themed merchandise to appearances by Jewish baseball legends and community honorees.

With the 2026 schedule now featuring events in at least 20 states, the baseball season offers Jewish fans and families across the country a chance to combine their love of the game with cultural pride. Whether you’re catching a Sunday afternoon game in Miami or a midweek matchup in San Francisco, there’s likely a Jewish Heritage celebration near you this season.

Fans are encouraged to check individual team websites for ticket packages, promotional details, and kosher concessions information, as availability varies by ballpark. Apologies are noted for any unintentional omissions in the compiled list.

Play ball — and L’Chaim to a great 2026 season!

Sharp tensions erupted within chareidi political circles after associates of Shas chairman Aryeh Deri issued a fierce response to remarks made by Degel HaTorah leader Moshe Gafni, dismissing him as irrelevant and sidelined from key decision-making.

The clash began during a radio interview Thursday night, when Gafni described what he called a division of responsibilities between himself and Deri.

“There’s a division of labor between me and Deri – he gets the jobs, and I deal with the principled issues.”

Deri’s associates quickly fired back with an unusually harsh statement, asserting that Gafni has effectively faded from the center of political activity in recent years while Deri has taken the lead on major decisions.

“In recent years, Deri has made all the decisions on the important issues, while Gafni has disappeared from public activity. MKs Yaakov Asher and Uri Maklev, along with the homes of the leading Lithuanian Torah sages, work and coordinate directly with Deri. Gafni is not in the loop. He doesn’t exist. From the perspective of the Lithuanian rabbinic leadership, Gafni is not part of the system. As far as they are concerned, he belongs to history.”

In the same interview, Gafni addressed a range of political matters, including the future alignment of chareidi parties. He indicated that the question of whether to continue partnering with the right-wing bloc could resurface in the next election cycle.

“In the next elections, the question posed to the great Torah sages will be whether to continue on this path with the right wing.”

Gafni also revealed that Naftali Bennett had approached him upon reentering political life, seeking cooperation with the chareidi parties, but ultimately shifted direction.

“When he realized that spot was already taken, he went to the other side”.

He further suggested that cooperation with opposition figures may not be off the table, noting a perceived change in tone from Avigdor Lieberman.

“You don’t hear him so much anymore today. He’s no longer really attacking. He was with us in the municipal elections; he would ask me things. It’s a different situation. He’s not Yair Lapid.”

On the contentious draft law, Gafni said the current proposal remains problematic and would ultimately require approval from senior rabbinic authorities.

“The law itself has problems and is very difficult to implement. It needs to go before the leading Torah authorities, and they will decide”.

Regarding a potential joint run with Agudas Yisrael, he confirmed that discussions are ongoing but emphasized that the final decision rests with the gedolim.

“Just today there was a meeting about it. We sat for several hours, and the leading Torah sages are the ones who will decide.”

Turning to other political rivals, Gafni criticized Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, questioning their conduct and priorities.

“The minister Smotrich made every effort to take care of himself. As for what helped us or not – we can talk about that in the next term. Ben-Gvir makes a lot of political noise. If a chareidi wants to vote for him, he should know he is going up to the Har Habayis with him.”

Asked about his party’s achievements, Gafni declined to provide details, arguing that each accomplishment is quickly challenged in court.

“On every achievement, a petition is filed against it. Just now I transferred one and a half billion to chareidi education and we fought over it in the High Court.”

{Matzav.com}

Jewish advocacy organizations are demanding answers from California’s secretary of state after her office distributed an official statewide voter guide containing a candidate statement packed with antisemitic conspiracy theories — including claims that Israel orchestrated the September 11 attacks and assassinated conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

The 64-page booklet, mailed this week to every household in California with a registered voter ahead of the state’s June primaries, includes personal statements from all candidates appearing on the ballot. Among them is a submission from Don J. Grundmann, a fringe far-right candidate for governor with no party affiliation, whose statement the secretary of state’s office included without disqualification despite guidelines that appeared to prohibit it.

Grundmann’s statement alleges that Israel assassinated Charlie Kirk with the knowledge of the U.S. government; that Israel murdered American sailors aboard the USS Liberty in 1967; that Israelis carried out the 9/11 terror attack; and that Israel plans to detonate a nuclear device inside the United States. The statement also includes links to websites associated with the Goyim Defense League, a white supremacist organization known for distributing antisemitic materials.

“We are ‘goyim’ (less than human/animals/cattle) that they will enslave,” the statement reads.

Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office added a disclaimer next to Grundmann’s entry — not included beside any of the other 31 candidates’ statements — stating that the views expressed are the candidate’s own. Jewish groups said the disclaimer fell far short of adequate.

“Millions of California voters received an official state publication containing content that should have been disqualified under the State’s own rules,” four Jewish organizations wrote in a letter to Weber on Tuesday. The signatories were the Jewish Community Action Network (JCAN), the Jewish Federation of Orange County, the Anti-Defamation League of Orange County and Long Beach, and the Israeli American Council.

The secretary of state’s own guidelines state that candidate statements “shall be limited to a recitation of the candidate’s own personal background and qualifications” and require candidates to declare that their submissions are “true and correct.” The guidelines also gave the office authority to disqualify statements if candidates declined to make requested changes. The webpage laying out those guidelines was taken down after the Jewish groups filed their protest, according to JCAN director Ilana Meirovitch.

“By including a statement containing antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories in an official voter guide, the State has effectively provided a government platform for rhetoric that fuels division and undermines the safety and dignity of Jewish communities,” the letter said.

The groups are requesting an explanation of how Grundmann’s statement passed review, a clarification of the procedures in place to enforce the guidelines, and a commitment that the office will apply the rules going forward.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

JERUSALEM (VINnews)  — The Israel Defense Forces revealed on Thursday that it had uncovered an underground command center belonging to the Hezbollah, located 25 meters below ground inside a clothing shop in the village of Al-Khiam, located just 3 km north of Metulla.

Forces from the 769th Brigade Combat Team, under the command of the 91st Division, continue operating south of the forward defense line to prevent direct threats to northern Israeli communities.

צה״ל חושף: מפקדה תת קרקעית בעומק 25 מטרים של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בתוך חנות בגדים באל-ח׳יאם

כוחות צוות הקרב החטיבתי 769, בפיקוד אוגדה 91 ממשיכים בפעילות ממשיכים בפעילות דרומית לקו ההגנה הקדמי למניעת איום ישיר על יישובי הצפון.

במסגרת הפעילות לחשיפת והשמדת תשתיות טרור בכפר… pic.twitter.com/WipL4zfiGW

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) April 23, 2026

As part of efforts to locate and dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Al-Khiam in southern Lebanon, troops discovered a tunnel about 25 meters deep inside a civilian clothing store. The tunnel served as a command center for Hezbollah and contained weapons as well as rooms used to manage the organization’s combat operations.

According to the IDF, Hezbollah embeds its terrorist infrastructure within civilian areas, thereby endangering Lebanese residents. The construction of underground infrastructure in civilian environments in Lebanon constitutes a deliberate and cynical exploitation of the local population to advance Hezbollah’s objectives.

The IDF stated it will continue to operate to defend the forward defense line and remove threats against the citizens of Israel and IDF forces.

U.S. economic pressure on Iran is reaching one of its most powerful levels in decades, with signs emerging that the regime could face a rapid financial and energy crisis if current conditions persist.

Miad Maleki, a former sanctions expert at the U.S. Treasury Department, said the current moment represents a rare alignment of economic, political, and military leverage against Tehran — something not seen since the early years following the Iranian Revolution.

“We’ve never had the level of leverage that we have today with Iran in the history of our conflict … since 1979,” Maleki said in an on-camera interview.

His remarks come as Donald Trump signaled an escalation in pressure, writing on Truth Social that the United States has “total control over the Strait of Hormuz” and that it is effectively “sealed up tight” until Iran agrees to a deal.

According to Maleki, what makes this moment different is the simultaneous use of multiple pressure tools — including sanctions, maritime restrictions, and tighter enforcement targeting Iran’s oil exports and the networks that facilitate them.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil shipments, has become a central pressure point, amplifying the economic impact on Tehran.

Maleki warned that Iran could run out of available oil storage capacity within two to three weeks, potentially forcing production cuts. At the same time, the country — which relies heavily on gasoline imports — could begin experiencing fuel shortages on a similar timeline.

With estimated economic losses reaching roughly $435 million per day, the pressure is now threatening to spill into Iran’s broader financial system, raising concerns the regime could struggle to pay salaries and maintain internal stability.

If sustained, analysts say the intensifying squeeze could increase the likelihood of renewed domestic unrest, as economic strain deepens across the country.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A North Carolina woman and a 16-year-old Texas teenager have been arrested in connection with an alleged plot to carry out a deadly vehicular attack on a Reform temple in Houston.

Angelina Han Hicks, 18, of Lexington, North Carolina, was charged with conspiring with two men to commit murder and assault at Congregation Beth Israel in Houston. She was being held Thursday at the Davidson County jail under a $10 million bond.

Court documents state that the alleged conspiracy was designed to “kill as many Jews as possible by driving through a congregation at a synagogue.” The attack was allegedly planned for April 21, 2028 — more than two years away — though prosecutors expressed concern that an earlier strike could have been in the works.

“At this time, I have no idea” why Congregation Beth Israel — located more than 1,000 miles from Lexington — would have been targeted, Davidson County senior assistant district attorney Alan Martin said Thursday. He added there had been “some concern that there could be an imminent event” targeting the synagogue.

The Houston Police Department separately announced the arrest of a 16-year-old, charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder in connection with “a threat directed towards certain Jewish institutions” in the Houston area. The department said the FBI and Houston school district police assisted in the arrest. It was not immediately clear whether the juvenile was one of the two male co-conspirators named — only by first name — in Hicks’ court warrants.

“At this time, there is no other known credible threat,” HPD said in a statement.

The FBI’s Charlotte Joint Terrorism Task Force opened the investigation Tuesday evening after receiving a tip from a North Carolina law enforcement agency.

District Court Judge Carlton Terry, explaining the necessity of Hicks’ detention, noted that the two other alleged co-conspirators remained at large. “Allowing a co-conspirator a chance to communicate with either of those individuals or those who could relay a message puts lives at risk,” Terry wrote.

Congregation Beth Israel and its affiliated Shlenker School — a preschool and elementary school — temporarily closed their campuses as a precaution. The Jewish Federation of Greater Houston said local law enforcement agencies were increasing patrols around Jewish institutions in the area.

“This situation is fluid, ongoing, and under investigation,” the federation said.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

U.S. military officials have begun developing strike options targeting Iranian infrastructure and capabilities in and around the Strait of Hormuz in the event the current ceasefire collapses, CNN reported, citing multiple sources familiar with the planning.

The options under consideration range from attacks on Iran’s naval assets in the strait to strikes on its energy infrastructure — and potentially even the targeted killing of senior Iranian military figures believed to be obstructing negotiations.

Among the strike packages being developed, according to the sources, are plans to “dynamically target” Iran’s military capabilities across the Strait of Hormuz, the southern Arabian Gulf, and the Gulf of Oman. Those assets would include Iran’s fleet of small fast attack boats and minelaying vessels, which Tehran has long used to threaten commercial shipping through the critical waterway.

But military planners and shipping industry officials are cautioning that airstrikes alone are unlikely to reopen the strait to commercial traffic. “Unless you can unequivocally prove that 100% of Iran’s military capability is destroyed or near certainty that the US can mitigate the risk with our capability, it will come down to how badly [President] Trump is willing to accept the risk and start pushing ships through the strait,” one source familiar with the planning told CNN.

A second option under active consideration would target Iranian energy infrastructure, a move Trump had previously threatened publicly as a means of pressuring Tehran toward a negotiated agreement. Officials warned, however, that striking such facilities “would represent a controversial escalation in the conflict.”

The most aggressive option on the table involves targeting Iranian military leaders the U.S. believes are actively hampering ceasefire negotiations. One source identified Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander in Chief Ahmad Vahidi as among those being considered for targeting as an “obstructionist.”

The Pentagon declined to confirm the planning. “Due to operations security, we do not discuss future or hypothetical movements,” a Defense Department official told CNN. “The US military continues to provide the President options, and all options remain on the table.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The Justice Ministry’s Police Investigation Department, which investigates allegations of police misconduct, opened an inquiry after a man wearing a kippah with the Palestinian flag on it was detained by the Israel Police in Modi’in on Thursday, with officers telling him that his kippah violated the law. Police officers also cut off the part of the kippah containing the Palestinian flag, according to a Jerusalem Post report.

Dr. Alex Sinclair, a 53-year-old from Modi’in, wrote in a Facebook post that he was sitting at a café when a religious man began to shout at him that his kippah was “against the law.”

“For the past twenty years almost, I’ve worn a kippah that has both the Israeli flag and the Palestinian flag on it,” the British-born Sinclair, a member of the Conservative community, explained. “The reasons behind the kippah are long and complex and related to the messy ambivalence of my Jewish-Zionist identity… Anyway, I smiled at the man who was shouting at me, and I said, if you want to sit down with me and discuss politics, I’d be happy to, but it’s not against the law.”

The man persisted, however, and soon two police officers arrived at the scene. They agreed that Sinclair’s kippah was against the law, and told him that they were going to confiscate it.

According to Sinclair, he tried to explain that his kippah was not illegal, but the officer in charge told him that he was being detained.

The police confiscated his laptop, his phone, and everything else in his pockets, without allowing him to make any calls. They then brought him to the police station, where he was locked in a cell.

“Apparently, I was not actually arrested,” Sinclair said. “There’s a difference between being detained and being arrested, but that distinction doesn’t mean a hell of a lot when you’re sitting in a cell on your own without being allowed to speak to your wife or a lawyer.”

Sinclair remained in the cell for around twenty minutes before being released, but the police informed him that his kippah had been confiscated and threatened to put him back in the cell if he didn’t leave without it. When Sinclair continued to demand that his property be returned, the police relented and gave it to him – after cutting out the Palestinian flag.

“She’d taken my possession, a religious ritual object, something that is very dear to my heart, and destroyed it,” Sinclair wrote.

“If police in any other country in the world were to cut a Jew’s kippah, there would be a holy uproar here,” Democrats MK Gilad Kariv said in response to the event.

“This is a systemic breakdown taking place in the Israel Police. Officers and commanders have completely lost their professional ethos, their service to the citizens, and their loyalty to the law. The conduct of the police justifies opening a criminal investigation and a civil lawsuit, and we intend to follow the matter closely.”

Left-wing activist group Tag Meir also reacted to Sinclair’s detention and the destruction of his kippah, saying that it violated freedom of expression.

“A country in which people are arrested for expressing an opinion, and where Jews’ kippahs are vandalized and desecrated for any reason, is run by a government and police force which has lost its direction,” the organization stated.

The Israel Police, in a statement issued after Sinclair’s story was publicized, said that he had not been interrogated or arrested and that they could not elaborate on the story’s details due to a complaint filed with the PID.

Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations cautioned that the current ceasefire with Lebanon remains unstable, even as President Donald Trump revealed that the truce has been prolonged following talks at the White House.

Danny Danon said in an interview Thursday that the arrangement in southern Lebanon is far from secure, pointing to the Lebanese government’s limited ability to rein in Hezbollah, which he said continues to act with Iranian support.

“I have to be honest,” said Danon. “You know, the Lebanese government have no control of Hezbollah and Hezbollah is sending rockets trying to sabotage the ceasefire. And Israel, we have to retaliate. Every time we see a threat, we take action.”

He acknowledged that conditions have improved compared to the recent past but emphasized that the situation is still incomplete and fragile.

“It’s a significantly better situation. It’s not 100%,” he told CNN. “I hope …to see that the Lebanese military are actually able to implement and to enforce this ceasefire.”

Danon’s remarks came shortly after Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the ceasefire would be extended by three weeks, following direct discussions between Israeli and Lebanese representatives at the White House.

“The President of the United States, DONALD J. TRUMP, Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, and Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, met today with High Ranking Representatives of Israel and Lebanon in the Oval Office. The Meeting went very well! The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah,” Trump wrote.

“The Ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by THREE WEEKS. I look forward in the near future to hosting the Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun. It was a Great Honor to be a participant at this very Historic Meeting!” he added.

Speaking afterward in the Oval Office, Trump said he is aiming to bring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to Washington in the coming weeks for further talks.

“We had a great meeting with the very high officials of Lebanon and very high officials of Israel. And we think that the President of Lebanon and the Prime Minister of Israel over the next couple of weeks will be coming here. They’ve agreed to an additional three weeks of, I guess, no firing, ceasefire, no more firing,” Trump said, adding, “It’s not going to happen between them, but they do have Hezbollah to think about.”

When asked whether a broader peace agreement could be reached this year, Trump expressed optimism, suggesting that both countries share common concerns, particularly regarding Hezbollah.

“I think it is a great chance. I mean, you know, they’re friends about the same things and they’re enemies on the same things and it has to do with, I guess you could say a couple of countries, but certainly it’s, if you look at Hezbollah, that’s where everybody seems to be united.”

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier has been arrested and charged in a case prosecutors say turns one of Washington’s most sensitive military operations into a stunning insider-trading scandal.

Federal authorities identified the soldier as Gannon Ken Van Dyke, an active-duty U.S. Army service member who allegedly helped plan and execute Operation Absolute Resolve, the U.S. military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. According to the Justice Department, Van Dyke used classified information from that mission to place bets on Polymarket, a prediction-market platform where users wager on real-world events.

Van Dyke knew, because of his military role, that Maduro’s removal was imminent. Prosecutors say he then bought “Yes” shares on Venezuela- and Maduro-related markets before the operation became public, including contracts tied to whether Maduro would be out by the end of January and whether U.S. forces would enter Venezuela. The CFTC says he purchased more than 436,000 “Yes” shares and generated more than $404,000 in profits.

Court filings say Van Dyke began trading in late December, just days before Maduro was captured in Caracas and transported to the USS Iwo Jima. The indictment alleges that after the news broke and Polymarket resolved key contracts in his favor, Van Dyke moved hundreds of thousands of dollars through crypto accounts and later into a brokerage account, while also trying to delete or obscure parts of his digital trail.

CARACAS, VENEZUELA – AUGUST 17: Incumbent President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro raises his arms and make a “v” with his hands during the ‘Gran Marcha Mundial por la Paz’ supporting Maduro on August 17, 2024 in Caracas, Venezuela. President Maduro was declared as the winner of the 2024 presidential election over his rival, Edmundo Gonzalez. The result has been questioned by the opposition and internationally. According to the opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, the result announced by the ‘Consejo Nacional Electoral’ (CNE) does not reflect the decision made by the Venezuelans during the election. (Photo by Alfredo Lasry R/Getty Images)

The charges include unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and unlawful monetary transactions. The case is now being handled in federal court, with Van Dyke expected to appear before a magistrate judge in North Carolina before proceedings move through the Southern District of New York.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 12: The prediction market company Polymarket prepares to open a free grocery store in Manhattan on February 12, 2026 in New York City. According to the company, the physical store is opening from February 12th to 16th, 2026 and will be fully stocked and ready for shoppers, with “no purchase required.” Polymarket allows users who download its app to bet on just about anything, including economic data, elections, sports, entertainment and more. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Regulators say it is the first CFTC insider-trading case involving event contracts, a major warning shot at the fast-growing world of political and geopolitical betting markets. Polymarket said it cooperated with authorities, while U.S. officials framed the case as a betrayal of classified trust, not merely a gambling scandal.

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NEW YORK CITY (VINnews)-The administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani will not adopt a formal definition of antisemitism, relying instead on case-by-case assessments of incidents, city officials said Thursday.

Phylisa Wisdom, commissioner of the city’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, told a City Council task force that the administration does not view a codified definition as necessary. Cases will be evaluated individually based on evidence of “prejudice, violence and discrimination against Jews because they are Jewish,” she said.

The decision follows Mamdani’s repeal of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, which had been adopted under former Mayor Eric Adams. The IHRA framework includes examples of anti-Israel rhetoric that cross into antisemitism, a stance critics — including anti-Israel activists — argue improperly equates political speech with bigotry.

At the hearing, council members pressed officials on how the city would distinguish anti-Zionism from antisemitism. NYPD representatives said such determinations would hinge on investigations into intent and that hate crime charges require clear proof of bias motivation against a protected group.

Councilmember Simcha Felder, a Brooklyn Democrat, sharply criticized the lack of a clear definition, calling it “unconscionable” and arguing it would impede the identification and prosecution of hate incidents. Felder ultimately walked out of the meeting in protest.

The debate comes amid statistics showing Jews remain the most frequently targeted group in New York City hate crimes. It also reflects a broader national divide over whether anti-Zionism should be viewed as a form of antisemitism.

Mamdani’s administration has faced repeated questions about its approach to antisemitism since taking office. Jewish community leaders and elected officials have expressed concern that the absence of the IHRA definition could weaken enforcement efforts at a time when antisemitic incidents remain elevated.

What started as a small disturbance turned out to be a huge story in Nassau County, New York. An antisemitic incident at a local high school led authorities to uncover a far more dangerous threat, explosive materials inside a residential home.

The investigation began when a swastika was discovered in a bathroom at Syosset High School, prompting police to identify a 15 year old student as the suspect and open an investigation.

When officers went to the teen’s home in Syosset, the situation escalated dramatically. Inside the property, police discovered chemicals that had already been combined to create explosive materials, including highly volatile substances such as nitroglycerin, an extremely unstable and dangerous chemical.

The area was immediately shut down, and police forces deployed a large scale emergency response, including the bomb squad, hazmat teams, and emergency services. Homes nearby were evacuated as a precaution, and parts of the neighborhood were closed off for hours. Due to the extreme danger of transporting the materials, officials carried out a controlled detonation on site, with locals reporting a loud blast when chemicals were destroyed.

The teen’s father, Francisco Sanles, purchased many of the chemical components and took his son to stores to buy them. While the teen claimed the materials were intended for building rockets, it was clear that they had been assembled in a way consistent with explosive devices. Both father and son were arrested and now face serious charges, including criminal possession of a weapon, reckless endangerment, and other related offenses. The teen is also facing charges tied to the antisemitic graffiti that initially triggered the whole story.

A 22-year-old New York man has been charged in connection with a chaotic “street takeover” in Queens that authorities say endangered residents and motorists and drew widespread backlash over the weekend.

Videos from the scene show a large crowd—some individuals wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags—flooding an intersection Saturday night, where participants ignited a ring of fire in the roadway and whipped cars through the streets. The takeover unfolded near two gas stations, raising alarms about the risk of a catastrophic explosion.

The suspect, identified by police as Asil Assaidi, faces multiple charges including reckless endangerment, riot, and criminal mischief, according to the NYPD.

Police had previously released images of several suspects believed to be involved, many with their faces partially covered, and offered a $3,500 reward for information leading to arrests. It remains unclear whether additional suspects have been identified or if further charges are forthcoming.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

What began as a painful and public moment of bizayon quickly turned into an extraordinary display of achdus and chesed, as the broader tzibbur rallied in support of two bochurim who were mocked on camera while collecting for hachnosas kallah.

The widely circulated video, showing the two young bnei yeshiva being ridiculed by Inbar Twizer of Channel 12 News, sparked outrage—but also inspired one of the most remarkable grassroots fundraising efforts seen in recent memory, unfolding within less than a day.

Aryeh Ehrlich and media personality Yair Levy, who had been accompanying the bochurim—identified as A. and S.—since the story broke, visited them this evening. They brought fruit platters on behalf of Klal Yisroel, offering chizuk and solidarity in the wake of the incident.

In an emotional post, Ehrlich described the encounter and the mindset of the two young men who unexpectedly found themselves at the center of a national storm. “The conversation yesterday with the two righteous bochurim – A. and S. – who went out to help with hachnosas kallah and were forced to endure an ugly humiliation, quickly turned into a great beam of light of chesed and unity,” he wrote.

He noted that while the bochurim appeared somewhat overwhelmed by the sudden attention, their perspective remained one of emunah. “They believe that this is how Hashem arranged things from Heaven.”

The most striking revelation came when one of the bochurim shared what they had originally expected from their efforts: “We thought we would come back from the round with 200 shekels at most – in the end they told us it came out to more than 200,000 shekels.”

Ehrlich concluded by relaying their gratitude: “A. and S. thanked everyone for the support and love that was showered upon them from every direction.”

While criticism continues to mount in media circles over the conduct of the reporter, the tzibbur responded in a very different way—choosing generosity over anger. The remarkable sum raised will go entirely toward its intended purpose: the mitzvah of hachnosas kallah.

Growing uncertainty is surrounding the condition—and even the possible survival—of Mojtaba Khamenei, as reports and speculation intensify regarding the state of Iran’s leadership at a sensitive moment for the regime.

According to emerging reports, there are increasing signs that Iranian authorities may be deliberately concealing the true extent of Khamenei’s condition, projecting an image of stability while serious developments may be unfolding behind the scenes.

Israeli analyst Amit Segal addressed the issue Thursday on Channel 12 News, noting that the available information is both limited and questionable, particularly since most of it originates from within Iran itself.

Segal said the reports suggest Khamenei may have suffered severe injuries, including the loss of a leg and the need for complex facial reconstruction, but is reportedly refusing treatment out of concern that his condition would be exposed. According to a report in The New York Times, Iran’s president—who has medical training—is personally overseeing his care, adding another layer of intrigue to the situation.

A central question now being raised is whether Khamenei is even alive, or whether the regime is maintaining an illusion of leadership to preserve internal stability. Segal said there are voices in Israel openly entertaining that possibility: “Assuming Iran’s president did not share the full information, it is worth considering another possibility — that he may no longer be with us. That is a possibility that some in Israel support. They have no proof of it, but they say: ‘Look, all the information about his existence relies on second-tier sources.'”

Further suspicion has been fueled by the conduct of Iran’s political leadership, which in some cases appears to be acting contrary to established directives attributed to the supreme leader. Segal pointed to the Iranian president’s recent visit to Pakistan, where he displayed what he described as “extreme and fundamentalist rigidity,” while at the same time deviating from Khamenei’s known position against engaging in certain negotiations.

“Do you allow yourself to act in contradiction to the leader’s position, or perhaps you believe there is a reasonable chance that the instruction never came from the leader at all — because he cannot deliver it, or because he simply does not exist?” Segal asked.

Until clear and verifiable proof of life emerges, the uncertainty is expected to persist. “It is worth keeping this possibility in mind until we see him holding today’s newspaper. And I think it will take time before that happens,” Segal concluded.

Observers note that authoritarian regimes have historically concealed the deaths of leaders for days or even weeks in order to manage succession struggles—raising the possibility that a similar scenario could now be unfolding in Tehran.

Iran’s already fragile diplomatic channel with the United States appeared to narrow further on Thursday, as reports emerged that a senior Iranian official had stepped back from a central role in the talks.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, has resigned from overseeing negotiations with Washington, according to an unsourced report by Israel’s Channel 12. The report said Mr. Ghalibaf cited mounting interference from senior figures within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as the reason for his decision.

The development, if confirmed, would underscore the deepening divisions within Iran’s leadership at a moment when diplomatic efforts to ease tensions remain uncertain. Ghalibaf had been involved not only in indirect contacts with the United States but also in mediation efforts led by Pakistan, which has sought to broker a path toward de-escalation.

According to the report, the dispute reached a breaking point over a proposal put forward by Qatar that aimed to reduce friction in the Strait of Hormuz. The plan would have allowed a limited number of Iranian vessels to pass through the waterway in exchange for reciprocal access for ships from Arab Gulf states.

The proposal was ultimately blocked by Iranian officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the report said.

Iranian authorities have not publicly confirmed the resignation, and it remains unclear who, if anyone, will take over Ghalibaf’s role in the negotiations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

ATLANTA (AP) — Three professors at Atlanta’s Emory University filed a lawsuit Thursday over their arrests during a 2024 campus protest over the Israel-Hamas war, saying the university broke its own free speech policies when it called in police and state troopers to aggressively disband the protest, making 28 arrests.

“The judicial system would find that Emory failed to protect its students, to protect its staff, to protect the educational mission of the university,” said philosophy Professor Noelle McAfee, one of the plaintiffs. “So this isn’t just about people’s individual rights. It’s our educational mission to train people in free and critical inquiry, to be able to learn how to engage with others, to be fearless.”

Laura Diamond, a spokesperson for Emory, said the university believes “this lawsuit is without merit.”

“Emory acts appropriately and responsibly to keep our community safe from threats of harm,” Diamond said in a statement. “We regret this issue is being litigated but we have confidence in the legal process.”

The suit is just one example of how the nationwide wave of protests continues to reverberate on elite campuses. There are many examples of lawsuits against universities by students and faculty who say they were discriminated against because of the protests. But the Emory suit is unusual. McAfee, English and indigenous studies Professor Emilio Del Valle-Escalante and economics Professor Caroline Fohlin all remain tenured faculty members and none were convicted of any charges.

The civil lawsuit in DeKalb County State Court demands that the private university repay money the three spent defending themselves against misdemeanor charges that were later dismissed, along with punitive damages. McAfee said she’s suing her employer “to try to get them to be accountable and to change.”

All three say they were observers on April 25, 2024, when some students and others set up tents on the university’s main quad to protest the war. They say Emory broke its own policies by calling in Atlanta police and Georgia state troopers without seeking alternatives.

McAfee was charged with disorderly conduct after she said she yelled “Stop!” at an officer roughly arresting a protester. Del Valle-Escalante said he was trying to help an older woman when he was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. Fohlin said that when she protested against officers pinning a protester to the ground, she herself was thrown face-first to the ground and arrested, suffering a concussion and a spine injury. Fohlin was charged with misdemeanor battery of an officer.

Emory claimed that day that those arrested were outsiders who trespassed on school property. But 20 of the 28 people arrested were affiliated with the university. The professors said that after their arrests, they were targeted by threats and harassment, part of a pushback by conservatives who said universities were failing to protect Jewish students from antisemitism and allowing lawlessness.

Nationwide, advocates say there is a “Palestine exception” in which universities are willing to curb pro-Palestinian speech and protest. Palestine Legal, a legal aid group supporting such speech, said Tuesday that it received 300% more legal requests in 2025 than its annual average before 2023, mostly from college students and faculty.

McAfee served as president of the Emory University Senate after her arrest. The body makes policy recommendations and had helped draft the university’s open expression policy. She said she asked then-President Gregory Fenves in fall 2024 why Emory police weren’t dropping the charges against her and others. McAfee said Fenves told her that he wanted “to see justice.” The open expression policy was revised after 2024 to clearly prohibit tents, camping, occupations of university buildings and demonstrations between midnight and 7 a.m.

Whatever the policy, McAfee said, students are afraid to protest at Emory, saying the university has turned its back on what Atlanta Civil Rights icon John Lewis called “good trouble.”

“Students know right now that any trouble is not going to be good trouble at Emory, that they could get arrested,” she said. ”So students are afraid.”

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Billionaire investor Ken Griffin is threatening to reconsider a major $6 billion New York City development after Mayor Zohran Mamdani used his penthouse as a backdrop in a tax-the-rich campaign video.

Happy Tax Day, New York. We’re taxing the rich. pic.twitter.com/Wky2LFXC9W

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) April 15, 2026

The clash escalated Thursday night, when The Wall Street Journal reported that a top Citadel executive warned internally the firm could rethink its level of investment in the city.

The dispute began after Mamdani filmed a viral video outside Griffin’s 24,000-square-foot residence at 220 Central Park South, promoting a proposed “pied-à-terre” tax on luxury second homes.

In a companywide email, Citadel Chief Operating Officer Gerald Beeson said the firm is preparing to redevelop 350 Park Avenue — a project expected to create about 6,000 construction jobs and more than 15,000 permanent positions — but cautioned: “The project — if we move forward — will entail more than $6 billion of spending.”

Griffin, who bought the penthouse for roughly $238 million in 2019 — the highest home sale in U.S. history — has long been critical of high-tax environments. His firm previously relocated its headquarters from Chicago to Miami.

Citadel also emphasized that its employees have paid billions in New York taxes in recent years, while Griffin has donated hundreds of millions to charitable causes.

The episode underscores growing friction between wealthy investors and progressive leaders, with concerns mounting that aggressive tax policies could push jobs, capital and major developments out of New York.

NAHUNTA, Ga. (AP) — Some of the destructive wildfires tearing through Georgia this week are being fed by not only a persistent drought, but also by fallen trees and limbs scattered across the South by Hurricane Helene well over a year ago.

Blustery winds also are helping ignite and expand the fires in Georgia and Florida that have blanketed parts of several states in smoke, leading to air quality warnings Thursday in cities far from the blazes.

Shifting winds made for another high-risk day with more evacuations ordered near Georgia’s coast, where a wildfire has now destroyed close to 90 homes and threatened more.

Residents there were warned to leave as many as 200 homes. Farther to the west, Georgia’s biggest fire near the Florida state line doubled in size in less than a day and by Thursday had burned through a sparsely populated area twice the size of Manhattan.

Images from the devastated areas showed the shells of charred cars and trucks sitting next to the smoldering ruins of homes nestled among blackened trees.

Many who were forced to flee this week were distraught over the homes and animals they left behind.

“I don’t know if I have a house standing or not,” said Denise Stephens, who evacuated her home near Hortense because of the fast-moving Brantley County fire. “I know what it’s taken from other people, but I don’t know what I have left standing.”

Wood debris littering the state’s southern half since Hurricane Helene churned through in September 2024 has enabled some of the blazes to spread and intensify quickly, officials said.

“There’s a ton of old Hurricane Helene debris down in the woods,” said Seth Hawkins, a Georgia Forestry Commission spokesperson. “It’s lying around, and it’s just a tinderbox out there.”

The forestry commission estimated that Helene swept across nearly 14,000 square miles (36,000 square kilometers) of forestland statewide, striking areas where trees are grown for paper and lumber.

In Helene’s wake, cleanup efforts were rolled out across southern Georgia. The state put up roughly $135 million to help private timberland owners remove fallen trees, and the Army Corps of Engineers hauled off millions of cubic yards of debris.

But they couldn’t get everything.

“The way Helene just threw everything down like matchsticks, there’s only so much you can do short of bulldozing everything,” Hawkins said. “There are big pockets of woods out there where people don’t walk around too much. So it just kind of gets left there.”

Brantley County, where most of the evacuations have been ordered, has less hurricane debris in its forests than some neighboring counties, County Manager Joey Cason said.

But as the wildfire continued to expand and remained unpredictable, some residents decided to stay put.

“I’ve been in the fire area today on both sides of it, and we have folks that are sitting in their front yards running sprinklers,” Brantley County Sheriff Len Davis said. “So some are leaving, and some are staying.”

It is not known yet how the wildfires started, but the bottom half of Georgia and northern Florida are both extremely dry.

In Florida, firefighters were battling more than 130 wildfires, mostly in the state’s northern half. Fire crews in Georgia responded to 34 new and relatively small blazes Wednesday, the forestry commission said.

Smoke drifted across a large area of the Southeast, making the air unhealthy Thursday for children and people with lung or heart problems in cities as far as Columbia, South Carolina. A haze hung over Atlanta’s skyline a day earlier, and there was a smoky smell across the metro area.

Officials are hoping for rain to help tame the fires, and there is a 30% to 40% chance of showers or thunderstorms in the area of both big Georgia fires this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. While showers could bring welcome relief, thunderstorms could also produce lightning capable of sparking more fires.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not issued any public audio or video statements since taking power, reportedly due to severe injuries sustained in an Israeli airstrike in late February, a development that comes as President Donald Trump points to unclear leadership in Tehran as a major obstacle in ongoing peace efforts.

According to a report citing four Iranian officials, Khamenei, 56, has avoided public appearances because he “does not want to appear vulnerable or sound weak.” The officials said he has undergone multiple medical procedures, including three surgeries on one leg and an operation on his hand, and is expected to require a prosthetic.

“His face and lips have been burned severely, making it difficult for him to speak [and] he will need plastic surgery,” the report stated.

The same report said top officials have largely stayed away from visiting him, fearing Israeli forces could track their movements. As a result, authority has shifted increasingly toward military leadership, particularly Iran’s generals, rather than civilian officials.

“Senior government officials do not visit him, fearing that Israel may trace them to him and kill him,” the report added.

Communication with Khamenei is said to be highly restricted, relying on handwritten messages delivered through a chain of couriers traveling by various routes to avoid detection.

“Messages to him are handwritten, sealed in envelopes and relayed via a human chain from one trusted courier to the next, who travel on highways and back roads, in cars and on motorcycles until they reach his hide-out. His guidance on issues snakes back the same way.”

Despite the difficulty in accessing him, the report noted that certain senior figures, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Health Minister Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi, “have both been involved in his care.”

The situation has reinforced concerns within the Trump administration that fragmented leadership and slow internal communication are hindering diplomatic progress, particularly as questions remain about whether Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf have the authority to negotiate on behalf of Iran.

Earlier this week, Trump extended a temporary ceasefire with Iran indefinitely while awaiting a response to a new U.S. proposal that calls for ending nuclear enrichment and surrendering roughly 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium.

“There’s obviously a lot of internal division,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Wednesday.

“This is a battle between the pragmatists and the hardliners in Iran right now, and the president wants a unified response. And so, as we await that response, there’s a cease-fire.”

The report also indicated that Khamenei has transferred significant decision-making power to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the hardline military force.

“It was the Guards who came up with the strategy for Iran’s attacks on Israel and the Persian Gulf states, along with the closing of the strait to maritime traffic,” it said. “They were the ones who agreed to a temporary cease-fire with the United States and approved back-channel diplomacy and direct negotiations with the United States.

“They tapped Mr. Ghalibaf from among their own ranks to lead the talks with Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad.”

{Matzav.com}

A significant upgrade to cellular infrastructure in Yehuda and Shomron officially began Thursday with the inauguration of the first state-funded communications tower in Kedumim, marking the start of a broad initiative aimed at improving connectivity and strengthening personal security across the region.

The tower was dedicated in a ceremony held in the Mitzpe Yishai neighborhood, attended by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, Finance Minister and Minister within the Defense Ministry Bezalel Smotrich, and local council head Uziel Vatik.

The event, which took place just one day after Israel’s 78th Independence Day celebrations, also highlighted the launch of a major housing development project, with plans for 1,400 new residential units in the nearby Nachalat Esther neighborhood. The move is expected to further establish Kedumim as a central hub in the Shomron. This tower is the first to be activated under a broader government tender led by the Communications Authority in the Civil Administration.

The newly inaugurated site joins dozens of others constructed over the past three years, with many more planned throughout Yehuda and Shomron in the coming year.

In the first phase of the project, 22 towers are being built. The Kedumim tower is the first to become operational, while additional sites in Bruchin, Kedar, the Almog Junction area, and Mitzpe Yericho are awaiting connection to electricity. A second phase, expected to be announced soon, will include 27 additional towers, bringing the total to 49 in the initial rollout.

Communications Minister Karhi emphasized the broader significance of the project, stating: “From the heart of the Shomron in Kedumim, to all of Yehuda and Shomron. The tower we are inaugurating today as a cornerstone for Kedumim, the great city, is the opening shot for dozens of additional cellular sites that will be established here, G-d willing, over the coming year in an unprecedented national project, alongside dozens we have already built across Yehuda and Shomron. Three years ago, Prime Minister Netanyahu, at my request, declared communications infrastructure in Yehuda and Shomron a national project and a security necessity. Today we are bringing that vision into reality on the ground. Sovereignty — in practice.”

{Matzav.com}

The home of Chabad shliach Rabbi Zelig Brez in Dnipro was damaged during a major Russian attack on the eastern Ukrainian city after a suicide drone struck an open area near the residential building. One of the rabbi’s children was lightly injured by glass shrapnel and was treated at the scene.

The blast, along with debris from air defense interceptions in the area, caused heavy damage to the apartment. Windows were blown out and fragments entered the rooms. Community members said it was a major miracle that the injuries were limited despite the force of the explosion.

Rabbi Brez is a leading figure in the Jewish community of Dnipro and works under Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetsky. He oversees the Menorah Center, one of the largest Jewish centers in the world.

Since the start of the war, Rabbi Brez has been involved in assisting thousands of Jewish refugees who arrived in Dnipro from battle zones in eastern Ukraine, helping lead a broad humanitarian relief network together with Chabad’s JRNU organization. Despite continued attacks on the city, Chabad shluchim remain in place, sustaining Jewish life and community institutions.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The White House on Thursday charged that China is systematically siphoning off intellectual property from American artificial intelligence labs, warning the issue could complicate relations ahead of a planned meeting between U.S. and Chinese leaders next month.

In a memo released publicly, Michael Kratsios, who leads the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said the administration has evidence pointing to organized efforts tied largely to China targeting advanced U.S. AI systems. “The US government has information indicating that foreign entities, principally based in China, are engaged in deliberate, industrial-scale campaigns to distil US frontier AI systems,” he wrote in the document, which was first reported by the Financial Times.

He further described the methods allegedly used in these operations, including the deployment of large numbers of fake accounts and technical workarounds designed to bypass safeguards. “Leveraging tens of thousands of proxy accounts to evade detection and using jailbreaking techniques to expose proprietary information, these coordinated campaigns systematically extract capabilities from American AI models, exploiting American expertise and innovation,” he added.

Responding to the accusations, the Chinese Embassy in Washington rejected the claims, calling them unfounded. It said it opposes “the baseless allegations,” and emphasized that Beijing “attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights.”

The timing of the memo is significant, coming just weeks before President Donald Trump is expected to travel to Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The allegations threaten to heighten friction in an already tense technological rivalry between the two countries, which had seen some easing after an agreement reached last October.

The developments also cast uncertainty over whether the U.S. will proceed with allowing advanced AI chips made by Nvidia to be exported to China. While the Trump administration approved such sales earlier this year under certain restrictions, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated on Wednesday that shipments have yet to begin.

The memo also highlights the concept of “distillation,” a technique in which smaller AI systems are trained by drawing on the outputs of larger, more advanced models, often to reduce development costs.

Addressed to federal agencies, the document states that the administration intends to brief American AI firms about the alleged activities and consider further steps in response. It adds that officials will “explore a range of measures to hold foreign actors accountable” for the campaigns.