Iran and the Houthis in Yemen fired missiles at the Jerusalem area and central and southern Israel in several attacks early Monday morning after Israel attacked Iran overnight.

B’Chasdei Hashem, all the rockets were intercepted.

There were initial reports of a direct missile hit in an open area in the Shomron, but the IDF later clarified that it was an exceptionally large missile fragment. No injuries were reported, but a number of homes suffered extensive damage.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

The Houthis fired a missile shortly before 6 a.m., triggering warning alerts in central Israel and the Jerusalem area. The missile was successfully intercepted.

About an hour later, Iran launched a barrage of missiles, triggering sirens in Jerusalem, the Tel Aviv area, and Be’er Sheva. About 20 minutes later, Iran fired another barrage at the Be’er Sheva area.

Meanwhile, Iranian media outlets reported that Israeli airstrikes hit a petrochemical factory in southwestern Iran on Monday morning. Shortly later, the IDF confirmed the strikes, saying that it had hit several targets at a petrochemical complex in the Mahshahr area.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu scheduled a security cabinet meeting at 11 a.m.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter delivered a forceful warning following Iran’s latest missile barrage against Israel, declaring that no sovereign nation would accept such an attack without responding.

“Iran fired 11 ballistic missiles at Israel today,” Leiter said. “Each one of those missiles has the potential to level an entire neighborhood and kill hundreds of people. No self-respecting country in the world would tolerate such an assault, and neither will Israel.”

According to Leiter, Israel is now striking Iranian surface-to-surface missile launch sites as well as additional strategic infrastructure targets.

The ambassador also issued a direct warning to Hezbollah, noting that the Lebanese people have increasingly rejected Iran’s influence and its proxy in their country.

“The people of Lebanon have told Iran and Hezbollah to get out,” Leiter said. “If Hezbollah chooses to open another front against Israel, its command centers in Beirut’s Dahiya district will be hit hard.”

Leiter concluded by stressing that the conflict is not with the Iranian people, but with what he described as a dangerous regime that continues to destabilize the region.

“Everyone has had enough of this maniacal Iranian regime,” he said.

JERUSALEM (VINnews)-Israel delivered a strategic message to Iran early Sunday by acting independently in response to recent Iranian aggression, despite apparent differences with the Trump administration, according to a senior Jerusalem Post reporter.

Yaakov Katz, a veteran Jerusalem Post correspondent, said Israel’s actions demonstrated its willingness to defend its interests with or without U.S. support, underscoring a shift in Tehran’s assumptions about regional dynamics.

“Israel sent Iran a strategic message this morning: we act independently,” Katz wrote.

While President Donald Trump had publicly urged restraint in recent interviews, Israel proceeded with what it deemed necessary, Katz noted. The move could reflect coordination — with the U.S. staying out of this round — but it firmly signals Israel’s resolve.

The timing is significant following what Katz described as Iran’s pattern of exploiting diplomatic talks to continue destabilizing the region. Iran has been linked to attacks on U.S. allies, including strikes on the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait, such as a recent assault on Kuwait’s airport.

A missile barrage launched against Israel the previous day further escalated tensions, carrying a broader message that Iran still believed it could set the rules across the Middle East, including in Lebanon, Katz said.

“This was not a regime acting like it was about to make a deal or wanted to compromise,” he added. “It was acting like a regime that believed it was immune and that Trump was so desperate for a deal that he would do anything to avoid a new round of fighting.”

Instead, Sunday’s developments taught Tehran a different lesson, according to the analysis.

The exchange comes amid ongoing regional volatility, including Israel’s operations against Iranian-backed threats in Lebanon and Gaza, and broader diplomatic efforts involving the U.S., Iran and key Middle Eastern players.

VINnews will continue to monitor developments.

Extremist elements within the Eidah HaChareidis are reportedly considering holding a so-called “Pulsa Denura” ceremony targeting Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, according to a report published by Yisroel Hayom.

The report states that the initiative is being discussed by members of the same extremist group that was involved in last week’s violent demonstration outside the home of Supreme Court Deputy President Noam Sohlberg.

According to sources cited in the report, the plan has not yet received final approval and remains contingent on authorization from rabbinic leaders. One source within the Eidah HaChareidis reportedly said that any such step would require formal rabbinic consent, but added, “It’s not far from that at all.”

The ceremony being discussed is known as a “Pulsa Denura,” a controversial and highly publicized ritual that has occasionally been invoked by fringe groups in Israel. It is traditionally described as a mystical curse ceremony intended to bring divine punishment upon an individual. Such ceremonies are generally rejected by mainstream rabbinic authorities and are not part of normative Jewish practice.

The report comes just days after extremists vandalized the home of Justice Sohlberg in the community of Alon Shvut. During the disturbance, rioters damaged property, including smashing the windows of the justice’s vehicle and destroying flower pots outside his residence. Dozens of suspects were subsequently arrested.

Meanwhile, Israel’s judicial system staged solidarity gatherings Sunday morning in response to the attack on Sohlberg’s home.

Speaking on behalf of Israel’s judges, Judge Yaron Levy declared, “The Judges Association expresses its full support and solidarity with Justice Sohlberg and his family and calls on all branches of government, the law enforcement system, and Israeli society to unequivocally condemn any attempt to harm judges or subject them to pressure, threats, or intimidation because of their role. We cannot accept a situation in which public or political disagreements are translated into attacks against judges.”

Members of the State Attorneys Organization, which represents more than 1,100 prosecutors and government attorneys, also gathered outside courthouses across the country in a show of support for Sohlberg and the rule of law.

“At this hour, we will all leave the courtrooms and stand outside the courthouse in solidarity and support of the judicial system and the rule of law,” said attorney Orit Korin, chairwoman of the organization. “Under no circumstances can violence against judges or legal professionals be tolerated because of any public dispute.”

{Matzav.com}

JERUSALEM (VINnews)-A media outlet closely tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has alleged that recent reports of a rift between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over strikes on Iran were part of a coordinated psychological operation to lull Tehran into lowering its defenses.

Rajanews, which operates under the influence of IRGC intelligence, published an analysis asserting that widespread media accounts earlier Sunday — claiming Trump firmly opposed an Israeli strike and that Netanyahu had agreed to delay it — were intentionally fabricated. The goal, according to the outlet, was to create a false sense of security in Iran ahead of pre-dawn Israeli airstrikes.

The Iranian outlet framed the episode as a classic “good cop, bad cop” routine, in which public displays of disagreement masked full strategic coordination between Washington and Jerusalem.

“Reformist-aligned Iranian media networks and political figures” came under sharp criticism in the Rajanews piece for amplifying the reports of a U.S.-Israel divide, thereby acting — wittingly or not — as conduits for what it described as a foreign intelligence psychological operation.

The claims from Rajanews follow Israeli strikes on Iranian targets that reportedly caught Iranian forces off guard, according to multiple regional reports. Israeli officials have not publicly confirmed the operation’s details or any coordination with the Trump administration.

VINnews could not independently verify Rajanews’ assertions. The outlet is known for its hardline alignment with the IRGC and frequently promotes narratives supportive of the Iranian regime’s security apparatus.

The episode highlights ongoing Iranian efforts to explain perceived intelligence and military failures following the strikes, which came amid heightened tensions over Iran’s nuclear program and its support for proxy militias.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirate (AP) — Israel launched airstrikes early Monday targeting central and western Iran in response to missile fire from Tehran, attacks that threatened to drag the wider Middle East back into a regional war.

Iranian state television reported the sound of explosions being heard in Isfahan, Karaj, Tabriz and Tehran, without immediately elaborating. A witness in Tehran described hearing at least one large blast somewhere to the west of the country’s capital city. Iran closed the airspace around Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, the country’s main airfield, after the Israeli attack.

Iranian officials offered no details on what had been struck, nor any damage information. Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said that Israel used air-launched ballistic missiles in its attack Monday morning, without elaborating.

The Israeli military at dawn in Iran issued a short statement as the strikes started: “A short while ago, the Israeli Air Force struck military targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime in western and central Iran.” It did not elaborate.

The White House did not respond to messages about the strikes and whether they were done in coordination with the U.S.

For days, negotiations between Iran and the United States over the fragile ceasefire in the war had been stalled by the fighting between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah. Israel now occupies southern Lebanon and had moved into areas of the country it hadn’t held in a quarter century — leading to fears about them further widening their campaign.

On Sunday, Israel launched airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs. Iran retaliated with its own strike on Israel, which led to Monday morning’s attack by Israel on Iran.

U.S. President Donald Trump earlier told a Fox News Channel reporter that he wanted the Iranians to stop firing missiles and return to the negotiating table. He also said that Israel’s strikes in Lebanon earlier Sunday were not coordinated with the U.S. and “I’m not happy about it.”

A senior U.S. official said Trump had called Netanyahu to urge him not to retaliate immediately for the Iranian missile attack. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe a private phone call, said that Trump believed he had convinced Netanyahu to wait.

Trump “got Bibi to hold off for the time being,” the official said. The official would not offer any other details of the call, and there was no immediate comment from Netanyahu’s office.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri has delivered a blunt message to coalition leaders: if the proposed Basic Law: Torah Study is not advanced this Wednesday, no other legislation will move forward.

The ultimatum comes after renewed pressure from chareidi parties to advance the bill, which has remained stalled for an extended period despite repeated calls for action.

Deri was the first to publicly demand movement on the legislation following last week’s Shas faction meeting. Only after his intervention did other chareidi parties begin actively promoting the measure, which is formally registered under the name of Degel HaTorah. Even within the Litvish faction, there had been uncertainty last week over whether to push the legislation at all.

According to Shas officials, Deri considers passage of the Basic Law: Torah Study an urgent priority and is less concerned with which party receives political credit for the initiative. Party leaders also stressed that no one in Shas requested the postponement of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation meeting, which was expected to discuss the proposal.

Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni said Sunday evening that the bill had been placed on the agenda of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation.

“Basic Law: Torah Study has been placed on the agenda of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation. At the direction of our revered Torah leaders, I was instructed to submit and advance this legislation,” Gafni said.

Gafni also expressed frustration that the committee had not yet convened.

“To my great surprise, the committee has still not met today,” he said. “I demand that it be convened immediately so that the bill can be brought before the Knesset plenum on Wednesday for its preliminary reading.”

Meanwhile, MK Yinon Azoulay has submitted a similar proposal. However, due to concerns raised by the Knesset’s legal advisers, it remains unclear whether his version of the legislation will be ready for a vote as early as Wednesday.

Despite the growing pressure from the chareidi parties, a senior Likud official told Kikar HaShabbat on Sunday that there is significant doubt whether the current coalition has the votes necessary to pass the measure.

“There is serious doubt that the current coalition can secure a majority for the Basic Law: Torah Study,” the official said.

The assessment raises questions about whether the legislation can clear even its first hurdle if it reaches the Knesset floor.

As previously reported, earlier Sunday, Deri visited Prison 10, where several yeshiva bochurim are being held over military draft-related issues. During the visit, he pledged to continue fighting for passage of the Basic Law: Torah Study and sharply criticized the treatment of Torah learners.

“From here we cry out: Stop treating Torah learners like criminals,” Deri declared.

{Matzav.com}

Costco has quietly lowered prices on several popular Kirkland Signature items, including products shoppers had previously flagged online as increasingly expensive.

During the company’s most recent earnings call on May 28, executives said the price cuts impacted at least four of its key private-label items, marking a potential relief for consumers as inflation has remained elevated in recent years. 

The affected products saw price reductions ranging from roughly $1 to $10 across categories spanning food, home goods and sporting equipment, CFO Gary Millerchip said during the third-quarter 2026 call.

The KS Crispy Wings fell from $16.99 to $14.99. KS Milk Chocolate Almonds dropped from $19.99 to $18.99. KS Golf Balls declined from $32.99 to $29.99, while KS King Size Sheets were reduced from $89.99 to $79.99.

COSTCO REVEALS KIRKLAND SIGNATURE ITEM PRICE CUTS

The wholesale warehouse said the decision was aimed at offering members maximum value while continuing to undercut competitors, as part of its broader pricing strategy.

“Our goal is to be the first to lower prices and last to raise them,” CEO Ron Vachris said. 

Millerchip reinforced that approach, adding: “Our goal is to be the first to lower prices where we see opportunities to do so.”

According to social media users, shoppers who have long favored Kirkland’s chocolate-covered almonds said the item has become noticeably more expensive over the years in both the U.S. and Canada.

“They’ve become too expensive,” one U.S. shopper wrote on Reddit a year ago.

“I love the Kirkland brand 1.5 kg chocolate covered almonds,” another Costco shopper in Canada said a year ago. “They used to be $17 then they went to $20. Now they are $27!! “

SPACE HEATERS SOLD AT COSTCO, OTHER MAJOR RETAILERS FOR YEARS RECALLED OVER FIRE HAZARD

Costco Wholesale did not specify what prompted the latest price cuts, but the move follows a previous instance over a year ago when the retailer voluntarily lowered prices on select Kirkland Signature products.

In 2024, the price of KS macadamia nuts fell from $18.99 to $13.99, Spanish olive oil 3-liter from $38.99 to $34.99, standard foil from $31.99 to $29.99, laundry packs from $19.99 to $18.99, and the baguette two-pack from $5.99 to $4.99, Millerchip previously said.

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Millerchip added that KS boneless chicken tenders also fell by 13%, resulting in a 21% increase in pounds sold.

“Kirkland Signature offers significant member value compared to the national brands and continues to grow at a faster pace than our business as a whole,” Millerchip said. 

Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman contributed to this report.

The week beginning Monday, June 8, 2026, could shape everything from interest rates and grocery bills to technology stocks and the future of space investing. Investors will be watching fresh inflation data, Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), earnings from major artificial intelligence players, and the long-awaited public debut of Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

The week did not wait for Monday’s opening bell to get complicated. On Sunday night, June 7, U.S. stock futures fell after Israel’s military said Iran had fired missiles at it following escalating tensions in the region. Within hours, Asian markets opened sharply lower, led by a stunning selloff in South Korea.

The U.S. move itself was modest. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped about 80 points, or 0.2%, with S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures each down roughly 0.2%. But overseas the reaction was more severe.

The benchmark Kospi in South Korea plunged about 8.4% at the open and briefly triggered a trading halt. While Middle East tensions added pressure, much of the selloff stemmed from weakness in semiconductor stocks. Broadcom’s latest outlook for its artificial-intelligence business disappointed investors, sending shockwaves through chip shares globally. Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix, which together account for a significant share of South Korea’s stock market value, both fell sharply.

Two domestic factors deepened the decline. Korean investors entered the week with margin debt near record levels, forcing automatic selling as prices fell. At the same time, Friday’s stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report fueled expectations that the Federal Reserve could consider higher rates rather than lower ones. A weakening Korean won accelerated foreign outflows and intensified selling pressure.

Elsewhere, Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell more than 2%, while Hong Kong futures pointed lower. Traders will be closely watching oil prices after the latest developments between Israel and Iran, particularly any impact on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global energy supplies.

For businesses and consumers alike, the biggest question this week remains whether inflation is finally cooling—or heating up again.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday, June 10, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern, followed by the Producer Price Index (PPI) on Thursday. The reports arrive less than a week before the Federal Reserve’s June 16–17 meeting, where policymakers will decide whether interest rates remain unchanged.

The April CPI report showed prices rising 3.8% year-over-year, near the highest level in three years. Rising energy prices and ongoing disruptions tied to the conflict involving Iran have kept pressure on fuel costs, transportation, and consumer prices.

For households, the numbers matter because inflation directly affects everything from groceries and gasoline to mortgage rates and credit-card interest.

For businesses, the reports may influence borrowing costs, hiring decisions, and expansion plans heading into the second half of the year.

Markets enter the week on shaky footing.

The Nasdaq Composite suffered its worst daily decline in more than a year on Friday, June 5, led by a sharp selloff in semiconductor stocks. The drop came just one day after the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at a record high above 51,500.

Jeremy Siegel, professor emeritus of finance at the Wharton School, said recent volatility suggests investors remain nervous about valuations and future Federal Reserve policy.

While inflation dominates the economic calendar, the week’s biggest corporate event belongs to Apple.

The company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) opens Monday with a keynote presentation from Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook. The event carries unusual significance because it is expected to be Cook’s final WWDC keynote before leadership transitions to John Ternus later this year.

Apple is widely expected to unveil major artificial intelligence upgrades, including a rebuilt version of Siri, expanded AI features integrated throughout its ecosystem, and the introduction of iOS 27. The pressure on Apple is amplified by repeated delays to its next-generation Siri platform, first announced in 2024 but postponed several times since. Monday’s keynote is expected to be Apple’s clearest attempt yet to convince investors it can compete aggressively in the AI race.

Wall Street expectations are exceptionally high.

Apple shares surged roughly 15% during May and recently traded near record highs, valuing the company at approximately $4.6 trillion.

Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities maintained an Outperform rating and a $400 price target, calling the event a potential turning point for Apple’s AI strategy.

Erik Woodring of Morgan Stanley described WWDC as Apple’s most important catalyst of the year and outlined a bullish scenario approaching $440 per share.

Bank of America recently raised its target to $380, Evercore ISI lifted its forecast to $365, while Goldman Sachs remains positive with a target of $340.

Not everyone is convinced. UBS maintained a Neutral rating with a $296 target, reflecting concerns that investor expectations may have gotten ahead of reality.

The broader AI sector also faces a critical test this week.

Oracle reports earnings Wednesday after markets close.

Analysts expect earnings of approximately $1.96 per share on revenue near $19.1 billion. Under CEO Safra Catz, Oracle has transformed itself into a major supplier of cloud infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence applications.

The company has benefited from a wave of AI-related demand, with shares climbing more than 40% over the past three months.

Adobe follows Thursday.

Investors will be watching closely to determine whether the company’s AI-powered products are successfully converting users into paying customers. Adobe reported stronger-than-expected results last quarter, posting earnings of $6.06 per share and revenue of $6.4 billion, up 12% from the prior year.

Several well-known consumer-facing companies also report results this week.

Campbell’s and Vail Resorts report Monday.

Tuesday brings results from United Natural Foods, J.M. Smucker, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Casey’s General Stores, and Cracker Barrel.

Wednesday features earnings from Chewy, Core & Main, and Stitch Fix.

Thursday concludes with results from homebuilder Lennar, providing another snapshot of the housing market.

Meanwhile, Marvell Technology and Flex are scheduled to join the S&P 500 Index, replacing Pool Corporation and Campbell’s.

On the industrial front, Honeywell International will host an investor update Monday as it advances plans to separate portions of its business. Investors will be looking for revised sales forecasts, profit targets, and details regarding the company’s restructuring efforts.

The week’s most anticipated market event, however, arrives Friday.

SpaceX is expected to begin trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX following pricing Thursday evening.

The offering is targeting a valuation of approximately $1.75 trillion, potentially making it the largest initial public offering in history.

At that valuation, SpaceX would be worth more than Elon Musk’s electric-vehicle company Tesla, which currently trades near a $1.6 trillion market value. Following the offering, Musk is expected to retain approximately 82% of the company’s voting power, preserving firm control over the business despite its public listing.

The deal is being led by a syndicate of major banks including Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup.

Much of the excitement centers on Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet business, which has grown into one of the world’s largest communications networks with more than 10 million customers.

While Starlink turned profitable last year, SpaceX as a whole reported a $4.9 billion loss in 2025 despite generating approximately $18.7 billion in revenue, reflecting continued heavy investment in launch systems, satellites, and future exploration programs.

If the offering prices as expected, Elon Musk is projected to become the world’s first trillionaire on paper. Unusually for a deal of this size, retail investors are expected to have access through platforms including Schwab, Fidelity, and Robinhood.

History suggests investors should expect significant volatility.

Highly anticipated technology IPOs often experience sharp first-day gains followed by equally dramatic swings in the weeks that follow.

Taken together, the coming week will offer a powerful snapshot of where the economy is headed.

Inflation reports will help determine whether consumers and businesses can expect relief from rising prices. Apple’s keynote will reveal whether one of the world’s most valuable companies can meet growing expectations in artificial intelligence. And SpaceX’s debut will test investor appetite for one of the most ambitious growth stories of the modern era.

By Friday’s closing bell, Wall Street—and Main Street—may have a much clearer picture of what lies ahead for the summer economy.

JBizNews Desk — Markets

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

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern Philippines early Monday, and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) immediately urged people along the coast to move to higher ground. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center warned that waves as high as 10 feet were possible on some Philippine coastlines, and tsunami alerts quickly spread across parts of Asia and the wider Pacific. The threat now hangs over one of the world’s most important food-export regions.

The quake hit at 7:37 a.m. local time, with its center about eight miles southwest of General Santos, a major city on the island of Mindanao, at a shallow depth of roughly six miles. Shallow quakes shake the surface harder than deeper ones, which raises the risk of damage. In the nearby town of Alabel, a police building cracked during a morning flag-raising ceremony, according to local authorities.

People often wonder why agencies report different sizes for the same quake, and that happened here. The German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) first measured it at 8.2 before settling on 7.8, the figure most widely used. PHIVOLCS put it lower, at 7.0, while Indonesia’s BMKG seismology agency reported 7.7. These revisions are normal in the first hours, as more sensor data comes in.

The danger reached well beyond the Philippines. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said waves up to three feet were possible along some coasts of Indonesia and Malaysia, with smaller waves possible in Japan, Taiwan, Guam, Papua New Guinea, and other Pacific islands. PHIVOLCS cautioned that waves above one meter could keep arriving for several hours and told boat owners to secure vessels while ships at sea were advised to stay in deep water. As of early Monday, there were no immediate reports of major casualties, though power outages were reported in the affected area.

Here is why this particular spot on the map matters to businesses far from the Philippines.

General Santos, the city nearest the epicenter, is the heart of the country’s fishing industry and is known as the tuna capital of the Philippines. The city alone produces roughly 40% of the nation’s tuna, and its port, canneries, and cold-storage plants support more than 100,000 workers. About 200 metric tons of tuna land at the General Santos Fish Port every single day.

The Philippines is the world’s second-largest exporter of canned tuna after Thailand, and tuna ranks among its most valuable seafood exports, worth more than $1 billion annually, with Japan serving as the largest buyer. If the port, refrigeration plants, or local power grid go down even briefly, that disruption flows directly into grocery supply chains in the United States, Europe, and Japan, delaying shipments and raising costs.

The region’s economic weight runs far beyond seafood.

Mindanao is often called the country’s food basket, accounting for about 36% of Philippine farmland and 42% of national food trade. It supplies more than 90% of the country’s banana exports, a business worth approximately $1.2 billion in 2023 and large enough to make the Philippines the world’s third-largest banana exporter, behind Ecuador and Guatemala.

Major producers including Del Monte, Dole, Unifrutti, and TADECO operate plantations across the island. Mindanao also exports significant quantities of pineapples, coconuts, coffee, cacao, and palm oil. Much of that production moves on tight schedules to buyers in Japan, China, South Korea, and the Middle East.

Damage to roads, warehouses, ports, or power lines during the narrow window between harvest and shipment can quickly turn a local disaster into a global supply-chain problem.

There is a broader lesson behind events like this.

The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the belt of fault lines and volcanoes responsible for most of the world’s earthquakes and volcanic activity. The country records more than 800 earthquakes each year, most too small to be felt.

That constant risk is why companies operating throughout Southeast Asia carry earthquake and business-interruption insurance, build to stricter engineering standards, and maintain backup power systems and contingency shipping plans. In a place like Mindanao, resilience is not simply good planning—it is a permanent cost of doing business.

What happens next depends largely on the sea.

If the waves remain near the lower end of forecasts, ports and processing facilities could return to normal operations within days. Stronger surges, or damage that has not yet been identified, would mean a longer and significantly more expensive recovery.

The first financial signals may come when Manila’s stock market and the Philippine peso open for trading and when global food buyers begin checking on shipments from the south. Authorities advised residents to remain on higher ground until the tsunami threat is formally lifted.

For consumers thousands of miles away, the connection may seem distant, but it is real.

A single morning tremor near a city most people have never heard of can ultimately affect the price of canned tuna or a box of bananas at the supermarket because so much of the world’s food moves through places exactly like this one.

JBizNews Desk — Asia

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

The proposed $2.245 billion acquisition of Maimonides Medical Center by NYC Health + Hospitals has hit another wall, and the Orthodox Jewish community groups that have been fighting the deal from the start say the delay is welcome news – even as they warn the underlying threat has not gone away.

State health officials rejected Maimonides’ latest filing this week for failing to include a required Health Equity Impact Assessment, preventing the transaction from appearing on the June 10 agenda of the key state review committee. The next committee meeting is not scheduled until late August, pushing the already long-delayed deal further into uncertainty.

The transaction was originally set to close April 1. The setback follows an Albany Supreme Court ruling last month that overturned an earlier state approval of the deal, finding that the Department of Health had improperly allowed it to advance without full review by the Public Health and Health Planning Council. The hospital also faces separate legal challenges from board trustees over the transfer of nonprofit assets.

For the frum community, the delays have provided breathing room in what advocates describe as an urgent fight for the neighborhood’s healthcare future. Since the takeover was announced, a coalition of community leaders has waged a vigorous campaign against it – including members of the Maimonides Board of Trustees, Hatzalah leadership, and patient advocacy organizations such as Refuah Helpline.

Several have filed as plaintiffs in litigation challenging the deal.

Their core argument is that Maimonides, despite its financial struggles, has been transformed over the past decade into a genuinely community-responsive institution – and that a takeover by a large city-run system would undo that progress in ways that cannot be reversed.

Hatzalah leadership has been particularly outspoken, warning that if Maimonides deteriorates to the level of other city hospitals, the organization would have no choice but to bypass it entirely, even for emergencies – forcing patients to travel farther for care and costing precious time. The concern is not hypothetical: Hatzalah already avoids Woodhull Hospital in Williamsburg, a city facility located just blocks from a large frum population.

Patient referral advocates have raised equally stark concerns about what a city takeover would mean in practice. Over decades of working with patients across the system, they have documented a consistent pattern at city hospitals: nurses stretched too thin, workups left incomplete at discharge, records not properly filed, imaging impossible to obtain in time for treatment. Patients who arrive at Maimonides after being treated at a city facility – brought by EMS rather than Hatzalah following a trauma – regularly arrive with wounds inadequately treated and care left unfinished. Advocates warn the same would happen to Maimonides patients if the merger goes through.

The Jewish community’s particular needs – Shabbos and Yom Tov access for families, halachic sensitivity in examinations and end-of-life care, gender-appropriate treatment, and the ability of families to remain at a patient’s bedside around the clock – are seen as especially vulnerable under city management.

Advocates point to the takeover of Henry Carter LTCH roughly a decade ago as a cautionary tale: city officials made identical promises of cultural continuity at that time, and today the facility is effectively unused by the Orthodox community.
Supporters of the acquisition argue that joining NYC Health + Hospitals would stabilize Maimonides financially and preserve its safety-net role for a patient population that is heavily reliant on Medicare and Medicaid. The hospital serves not only the Orthodox Jewish community but a wide range of Brooklyn residents, and operates key pediatric, NICU, and trauma services.

But opponents say financial stabilization cannot come at the cost of the institutional trust that has taken years to build. Maimonides now delivers thousands of babies from the community annually – something that was unthinkable a generation ago, when families routinely traveled to other hospitals. That trust, advocates warn, could evaporate quickly and would not easily return. With the deal now stalled at least through the summer, the community’s fight to find an alternative path forward continues.

A U.S. official told Axios that President Donald Trump told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold off on retaliating against Iran for launching missile strikes against Israel Sunday, because he believes “we are close to doing something good in terms of a deal.”

Netanyahu is reportedly delaying an Israeli response, buying Trump a few more days to pursue a diplomatic solution. According to the official, he initially pushed back but in the end “pseudo-agreed.”

The call was calmer than last week’s, when the president admitted to raising his voice and cursing at the Israeli leader; the official said that he did not yell during Sunday’s phone call.

“We think the president bought a little bit of time,” the official said. “He is pretty adamant that we are close to a deal with Iran. I don’t think anything is imminent in terms of an Israeli strike.”

“We are in a moment in time — that why jeopardize a potential deal when you are in the fourth quarter,” the official added. “The president thinks that we have been in this thing for three months; now is the time to end this thing.”

Separately, Channel 12 News reported that Netanyahu has not officially come to a final decision and is still meeting with his security cabinet. The news outlet said that two U.S. officials told them that the White House had not given Israel the “green light” to strike Hezbollah targets in Beirut Sunday morning, which is what prompted the Iranian attacks against Israel.

“We had no part in this,” one of the U.S. officials said.

On the other hand, a Saudi news outlet reported that Israel had informed Washington of the strikes ahead of time.

Antisemitism watchdog group CyberWell has raised concerns over a new social media trend that uses fitness-related humor to promote negative stereotypes about Jews, according to a report released last week.

The organization said the trend portrays Jews as “greedy, dishonest, aggressive, and ‘money-obsessed’” while presenting the content as jokes shared by fitness influencers.

According to CyberWell’s report, participants in the trend place rope attachments around their heads to imitate the sidelocks worn by some Jewish men. The posts are often paired with antisemitic captions, including the phrase “Promised 3,000 Years Ago.”

The report said the trend promotes the false antisemitic claim that Jews take ownership of things that belong to others, with gym equipment serving as the focus in these posts.

CyberWell also highlighted the reactions in comment sections, saying users frequently amplify the antisemitic messages through Holocaust mockery, coded language, and other forms of hatred. The organization warned that these online spaces can create “echo chambers” where anti-Jewish prejudice becomes normalized.

“This new trend in open gym antisemitism is a direct result of social media platforms’ failure to apply their content moderation policies to AI-generated content packaged as jokes,” CyberWell Founder and CEO Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor said in a statement.

“The gym has become another public setting where Jews may feel less safe and less welcome due to an online climate that rewards open hostility toward Jews. Platforms must address antisemitism that is disguised as humor and coded cultural references that turn longstanding prejudice into widely shared content.”

CyberWell said social media companies previously struggled to remove antisemitic material when it was presented as humor, allowing hateful messages to gain “a layer of plausible deniability.” The group said this helped such trends expand and evolve into new versions.

The report noted that platforms have since improved enforcement efforts, with a greater share of flagged antisemitic content being removed compared to earlier periods.

CyberWell argued that the spread of antisemitic online trends into real-world environments, including gyms, demonstrates the speed at which digital hate can influence public spaces.

“The normalization phase, when harmful content is dismissed as comedy, is when early intervention matters most,” said Cohen Montemayor.

Founded in Israel in 2022, CyberWell uses technology to monitor online antisemitism and publishes reports documenting trends and responses.

NEW YORK (AP) — Five people were injured after a series of stabbings at New York’s Penn Station on Sunday evening and a suspect is in custody, authorities said.

Paramedics responded around 7 p.m. and found one victim with a serious injury, two with moderate injuries, and the rest with minor injuries, the city’s fire department said in a statement. All were transported to Bellevue Hospital. It said the suspect was in custody without elaborating.

The stabbings occurred in one of the city’s busiest transit hubs on the eve of President Donald Trump’s planned attendance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, which sits directly above Penn Station.

The presidential visit has already prompted heightened security measures around the arena and surrounding blocks, with the Secret Service, New York Police Department and other agencies expected to have a substantial presence for the nationally televised event.

Authorities did not immediately indicate whether the stabbing incident would affect security plans for Monday night’s game. But the violence unfolded in an area where millions of commuters, tourists and sports fans pass through each year. Penn Station is expected to be particularly crowded ahead of the first NBA Finals game at venue since 1999.

A prominent member of Shas’ Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah delivered a sharp attack on Israel’s attorney general and the High Court while defending the efforts of chareidi representatives working to secure legislation protecting the status of bnei yeshivah.

Speaking to his talmidim at Yeshivas Maor HaTorah, Rav Avraham Salim, addressed growing frustration within the yeshivah world over the ongoing draft crisis and the efforts to regulate the status of lomdei Torah.

Rav Salim pushed back against criticism directed at Shas representatives, insisting that they have been working diligently on behalf of bnei Torah.

“There are many yeshiva students who are very angry at the representatives and claim that they are doing nothing. That is not true!” the rosh yeshivah told his talmidim. “The representatives are trying, I know! Both in the past and today, they are searching for every possible way to regulate the status of Torah learners.”

The senior rosh yeshivah then turned his attention to Israel’s legal establishment, sharply criticizing both the attorney general and the High Court.

“The attorney general and the High Court justices are working together and fighting in every possible way. The attorney general is a modern-day Izevel, and the High Court is Yerovom ben Nevat. They have joined forces with the left, and they are persecuting Torah learners.”

Rav Salim’s comments come amid mounting criticism within the chareidi community toward Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, whom many blame for obstructing attempts to pass legislation addressing the status of bnei yeshivah and lomdei Torah.

His remarks echoed comments made earlier in the day by Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, who accused the attorney general of deliberately undermining the legislation.

“The anarchist attorney general, who has been removed from office, did everything possible to torpedo the law,” Deri said.

Rav Salim also addressed the demonstrations and protests that have accompanied the battle over the draft issue, urging his talmidim to stay away from such activities.

“The protests and demonstrations, what is happening in the streets, do not help—they are harmful! And they completely take a person away from learning,” he said.

The rosh yeshivah cautioned that participation in confrontational protests can negatively affect a person’s character and spiritual development.

“When a person becomes accustomed to violence, it is not good. It harms his personality. One must make efforts—whether through meetings or phone calls—but should try as much as possible to remain closely aligned with the guidance of the rabbanim.”

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking public feedback on whether the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)’s property requirements for single-family homes should be updated to better reflect current market conditions and reduce barriers to homeownership.

In a request for information (RFI) published in the Federal Register, HUD said it is reviewing FHA’s Minimum Property Requirements, or MPRs, which establish the standards homes must meet to qualify for FHA-insured financing.

The agency said the effort is intended to help inform future policy changes aimed at supporting sustainable homeownership while maintaining safeguards for borrowers and the FHA’s Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund. Comments are due by June 29.

FHA has required homes securing FHA-insured mortgages to meet minimum standards since the program’s inception. The requirements are intended to ensure that properties are safe, sound and secure while protecting the financial stability of the MMI Fund.

Under current rules, FHA-approved lenders are responsible for determining whether a property meets FHA standards. When appraisals or inspections identify deficiencies that prevent a property from meeting FHA requirements, repairs generally must be completed before the loan becomes eligible for FHA insurance.

HUD said the last major overhaul of the MPR framework occurred more than 20 years ago. That update, implemented through Mortgagee Letter 2005-48, reduced the agency’s emphasis on requiring repairs for minor cosmetic issues and normal wear and tear.

According to HUD, many FHA appraisals still result in repair conditions or additional inspection requirements. While similar property standards exist for loans backed by the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, some industry stakeholders contend that FHA transactions experience higher rates of repair requirements and reinspections.

HUD said these requirements can add costs and delays that may not always provide corresponding benefits to home quality or safety. The agency also noted concerns that some sellers may be reluctant to accept offers from buyers using FHA financing, due to a perception that FHA loans are more likely to require repairs before closing.

Through the request for information, FHA is seeking feedback on whether current MPRs adequately protect borrowers and the mortgage insurance fund, which requirements may no longer be necessary, and whether additional flexibility for post-closing repairs should be considered.

The agency is also requesting input on whether FHA’s appraisal process and appraisers’ role in identifying property deficiencies remain consistent with modern appraisal practices, as well as ways to simplify and clarify the requirements for lenders, appraisers and borrowers.

HUD’s RFI follows a letter sent last month from industry trade groups — including the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), Broker Action Coalition (BAC) and Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA) — to HUD Secretary Scott Turner that urged the FHA to address MPRs and other appraisal reforms. 

“MBA has long urged FHA to modernize its MPRs and better align its standards with the property condition rating frameworks used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the GSEs),” a spokesperson told HousingWire. “This would reduce operational friction while maintaining appropriate safety and soundness protections.”

“We believe alignment between FHA and GSE property standards could help reduce appraisal-related delays, improve consistency across the market, and expand access to qualified appraisers. We will meet with our members to formulate our response by the June 29 deadline.”

Steve Irwin, president of the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA), also issued a statement about the RFI.

“NRMLA and its membership appreciate HUD’s publishing of the recent RFI on minimum property requirements. We’ve put our committee structure in motion to begin drafting NRMLA’s response. There is always an opportunity to revisit rules and regulations and modernize that guidance to current realities and technology advances,” Irwin said.

Coby Hakalir, vice president of mortgage banking and core services for consultancy firm T3 Sixty, issued a statement in which he called FHA “its own worst enemy” in this situation.

“Fannie and Freddie insure plenty of safe homes without flagging chipped paint surfaces or missing handrails for a mandatory repair-and-reinspects. FHA’s far higher repair rates aren’t buying borrowers meaningfully safer houses. What they’re buying is a reputation that makes sellers reject FHA offers,” Hakalir said.

“When a first-time buyer using the program designed for them gets passed over for a conventional offer, the property standard moved from protecting that buyer to locking them out. Modernizing MPRs to match the GSEs’ risk-based approach is long overdue, and HUD should be aggressive about it.”

This post was originally published on here.

This post was originally published on this site.

Amid growing anxiety in the chareidi community over the draft crisis and what many view as the ongoing persecution of bnei yeshivah, Rav Avraham Yosef is calling on the public to stop searching for culprits and instead strengthen their commitment to tefillah.

Speaking on Kol Chai’s “Shamor V’Zachor” program, Rav Yosef said that while the current situation has left many feeling distressed and powerless, Jews must respond not with accusations and arguments, but with faith and prayer.

“We are all upset and feel helpless in the situation that has developed in the Jewish state,” Rav Yosef said.

He stressed that even those whose own families are not directly affected should feel the pain of those who are. Mutual responsibility, he said, requires every Jew to share in the burden of others.

“Even if you don’t have someone in your home who is suffering, we are responsible for one another. My sons are already older, but I have grandchildren and nephews. I see the suffering of these young men, and it is heartbreaking to watch them endure a situation in which they feel completely trapped.”

Rav Yosef described some of the hardships facing yeshivah students under the current circumstances, including restrictions that have prevented some from visiting family members overseas.

“A young man who wants to travel to see his parents abroad, whose parents live overseas, was forced to spend the Seder here in Israel because he was not allowed to leave the country.”

At moments like these, he said, Jews must remember where their salvation truly comes from.

“The answer is tefillah. We have no other path. We have no power of our own. This is not a matter of ‘my strength and the might of my hand.’”

Rav Yosef also criticized the public conversation surrounding the crisis, arguing that too much attention is being devoted to assigning blame.

“I am not blaming anyone. I know for a fact that the politicians tried very, very hard. You cannot blame them.”

He reserved particular criticism for commentators and public figures who spend their time debating who is responsible for the current situation.

“All the talkers out there—including here on Kol Chai—those who keep blaming this person and that person and asking why, why, why. With all due respect to all the talkers…”

According to Rav Yosef, such discussions miss the most important point.

“We have stopped being Jews. To be a Jew means to daven.”

Concluding his remarks, Rav Yosef praised the dedication of bnei Torah, saying they are making tremendous sacrifices for the sake of Torah learning.

“Fortunate are the bnei Torah. Fortunate are those who learn Torah, who are literally giving of themselves for Torah.”

He emphasized that Torah remains the foundation upon which the world rests and urged listeners to view the crisis through the lens of emunah rather than politics.

“We should not focus on the stick that is striking us, but on the One Who holds the stick. And the One Who holds the stick is the Creator of the world.”

Rav Yosef ended with a heartfelt prayer that Klal Yisroel soon emerge from its present difficulties.

“May the Creator of the world be gracious and merciful to all of us and bring us from darkness into great light. Amen.”

{Matzav.com}

EATONTOWN, N.J. — As artificial intelligence rapidly changes how businesses operate, JBiz has announced the JBiz Leadership AI Operations Summit, a two-day executive training program designed to help companies improve productivity, streamline operations, reduce costs, and increase revenue through practical AI adoption.

The summit will take place July 13–14, 2026, at the Sheraton Eatontown Hotel in New Jersey and is geared toward business owners, corporate leadership, management teams, entrepreneurs, and organizations looking to better equip their workforce for an AI-driven economy.

Organizers say the goal is simple: help businesses understand how to effectively use today’s leading AI platforms and determine which tools are best suited for specific business tasks.

“Learning how to use AI is quickly becoming as important as learning how to use computers, email, and the internet became in previous generations,” said Duvi Honig, Founder of JBiz.

Open Ai all, Companies are encouraged to send multiple employees and leadership team members together to maximize results and help integrate AI throughout their organizations.

The shift underway is significant. For decades, businesses relied on large teams of junior employees and support staff to handle research, spreadsheets, presentations, scheduling, customer communications, reporting, and administrative work.

Today, properly trained employees using AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, Grok, and Perplexity can complete many of those tasks faster and more efficiently. Increasingly, companies view AI as a collection of virtual assistants that help employees draft emails, conduct research, analyze data, summarize meetings, create reports, improve communication, and accelerate workflow across departments.

Recent surveys suggest the business impact is growing quickly.

An Oliver Wyman Forum–New York Stock Exchange CEO survey found that 43% of CEOs plan to place less emphasis on hiring junior staff while increasing demand for experienced employees who know how to use AI effectively.

Research from Stanford University, MIT, and Boston Consulting Group has also found that workers using generative AI complete more tasks, work faster, and often produce higher-quality results than workers who do not use AI tools.

One high-profile example came from Citadel Founder and CEO Ken Griffin, who recently said that modern AI systems are performing work that previously required teams of finance professionals, completing in hours or days tasks that once took weeks or months.

Meanwhile, the McKinsey Global Institute estimates generative AI could create between $2.6 trillion and $4.4 trillion in annual global economic value across customer service, operations, software development, research, marketing, communications, and workflow management.

“We are watching one of the biggest operational shifts in modern business history,” Honig said. “The companies adapting early are gaining major advantages, while many businesses still don’t know where to begin. This summit was created to provide practical training businesses can immediately apply.”

Unlike many AI events focused on theory, organizers say the program is designed as a practical, implementation-focused training experience. Participants will learn how to use multiple AI platforms together and understand the strengths of each system.

Training will cover:

• ChatGPT — communication, writing, workflow support, strategy, presentations, and operational assistance
• Claude — long-form analysis, contracts, planning, and document review
• Gemini — Google Workspace integration, collaboration, productivity, and research
• Microsoft Copilot — Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and enterprise workflows
• Grok — live information analysis and trend monitoring
• Perplexity — research, sourcing, and market intelligence
• Additional leading AI platforms and workflow tools

Participants will receive hands-on instruction on applying AI to:

• Communication
• Operations
• Documents and spreadsheets
• Research
• Sales
• Marketing
• Reporting and presentations
• Administration and workflow systems

Summit attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the AI landscape, practical workflows they can use immediately, and strategies to save time, improve productivity, reduce administrative burdens, and strengthen operational performance.

Organizers estimate businesses effectively implementing AI can save employees between 5 and 15 hours per week, potentially creating between $12,000 and $54,000 in annual operational value per employee, depending on role and implementation.

For a company with 10 employees, that could translate into productivity gains ranging from roughly $120,000 to more than $540,000 annually, although actual results will vary by company, industry, and adoption levels.

The summit will feature full-day training sessions from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both days and will be led by professionals with hands-on experience using today’s leading AI platforms.

Participants will leave with a deep understanding of all platforms, practical skills and a framework for immediately execution integrating AI into their daily responsibilities and business operations.

Limited Seating Available! For corporate inquiries, team registrations, and group packages, contact [email protected] or 212-659-5270 x104.

JBizNews Desk — New Jersey

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

A controversy has erupted within the Golani Brigade after fellow soldiers alleged that a religious combat soldier was removed from operational duty in Lebanon over Shabbos because he was wearing a “Moshiach” patch on his uniform.

According to reports, the soldier serves in Battalion 12 and holds a specialized role in efforts to counter explosive attack drones, one of the most significant threats facing Israeli forces operating in southern Lebanon.

Friends of the soldier told Channel 7 that the incident began Friday afternoon during a conversation between the outgoing battalion commander and members of the unit. During the discussion, the commander reportedly noticed the patch on the soldier’s uniform and instructed him to remove it immediately.

According to those familiar with the incident, the soldier complied without objection and removed the patch as soon as he was asked.

Despite his cooperation, however, the soldier was reportedly informed several hours later that he would be removed from Lebanon during Shabbos. His fellow soldiers claim there is concern that the decision could also have consequences for his future military service and standing within the army.

The move has sparked criticism among some members of the unit, who questioned the priorities behind the decision at a time when Israeli forces remain heavily engaged in combat operations along the northern front.

Speaking to Channel 7, several of the soldier’s comrades expressed disbelief over the incident.

“It’s absurd that during such an intense period of fighting, the army is dealing with matters like these,” they said.

As of now, the IDF has not issued an official response addressing the circumstances surrounding the soldier’s removal or the allegations made by his fellow servicemen.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump abruptly ended a tense interview with NBC’s Kristen Welker on Sunday after a heated exchange over election integrity, California vote counting, and a proposed compensation fund for Americans he says were harmed by the Biden administration’s “weaponization” of government.

The interview, conducted in Wisconsin, grew increasingly contentious as Welker repeatedly challenged Trump’s claims regarding election fraud and his proposal for a multi-billion-dollar fund to compensate individuals he believes were unfairly targeted by federal agencies under former President Joe Biden.

Welker pressed Trump on reports that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche had indicated the administration would not move forward with the proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund.

Trump defended the idea, arguing that many Americans had suffered at the hands of what he described as “radical left lunatics” in the Biden administration.

“People have been hurt so badly by radical left lunatics that worked for the Biden administration and Sleepy Joe,” Trump said. “They’re vicious. They’re violent, what they did to people. And, of course, they went after me more than anybody else.”

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Asked whether he was still seeking a way to revive the proposal, Trump replied: “If it was up to me, I’d pay them the kind of money that they deserve. So me, personally, I think the weaponization fund is a great idea, and so do many other Republicans. You have to get it approved.”

The interview became even more heated when Welker challenged Trump’s claims that the 2020 election had been rigged.

“There’s no evidence of what you’re saying,” Welker told the president.

“There’s a lot of evidence,” Trump responded. “Listen to me. There’s tremendous evidence. There’s nothing but evidence.”

Trump then pointed to California’s lengthy vote-counting process as further proof of what he called election irregularities.

“The election was rigged,” Trump said. “It was a dirty election. And it’s happening again right now in California.”

As the exchange continued, Trump launched into a broad attack on the media.

“All I have to do is look,” he said. “They’re crooked just like you’re crooked, your press is crooked. And Meet the Press is crooked.”

He continued: “Your elections are crooked, and you’re crooked, and ‘Meet the Press’ is crooked. And so is ABC and CBS and CNN.”

Moments later, Trump ended the interview.

“You’re a one-sided crooked network,” Trump told Welker. “Sorry. Let’s call it quits because I’ve had enough. Thank you, darling. Have a good time.”

Welker attempted to continue the discussion, noting that NBC had traveled to Wisconsin for the interview.

“Mr. President, please, I traveled all the way to Wisconsin,” she said.

Trump responded that he had already devoted sufficient time to the interview.

“I sat in the rain with you for an hour,” Trump said. “On and off in the rain, and I’ve given you enough time. You ought to straighten out your press, because you know what? A country can never be great with a dishonest press.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced a halt Sunday in humanitarian aid crossing into Gaza until further notice due to the security situation in Israel resulting from incoming ballistic missile fire from Iran.

COGAT said that this should not affect the humanitarian situation, since large shipments of food have been entering the territory that far exceed the nutritional demands of the population.

“Following the missile attacks launched by Iran against the State of Israel, a number of necessary security measures have been implemented, including the closure of the crossings into the Gaza Strip, among them the Kerem Shalom Crossing and the Rafah Crossing, until further notice,” COGAT said in a statement on X.

(Credit: Gazawood)

“It should be emphasized that the closure of the crossings will not affect the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip,” the statement continued.

“The substantial quantities of food that have entered the Strip since the beginning of the ceasefire significantly exceed the nutritional needs of the population, according to UN methodologies.”

“COGAT will continue to maintain ongoing contact with the international community and will provide updates on any developments in accordance with the security situation assessment,” the statement concluded.

Indeed, Gazawood, an organization whose name is a play on Hollywood and which posts videos exposing the manipulations Gazans use to dupe international media into buying a particular narrative, posted a video on X Sunday showing the owner of a popular shawarma restaurant called Shawarma Fahed looking rather well-fed as he promotes a special for his restaurant. Gazawood commented that such low prices are not available even in Israel.

“1 kilo of shawarma for only 90 shekels!” Gazawood wrote. “(You won’t find a price like this in Israel — not even for half a kilo),” it added parenthetically.

Mill Basin, Brooklyn – A 34-year-old man was injured Sunday during an attempted home invasion on Mayfair Drive South in Mill Basin.

Sources tell Flatbush Scoop that two suspects attempted to force their way into the victim’s home and struck him in the head with an object during the confrontation, causing bruising and a laceration.

During the incident, shots were fired by the homeowner.

Mill Basin Hatzoloh and EMS responded to the scene and treated the victim. The suspects fled before police arrived, making off with a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon and a Rolls-Royce from the property.

Sources tell YWN that the homeowner was arrested for firing his licensed firearm at the suspect. He was later released by the Brooklyn D.A. thanks to security camera footage retrieved by Flatbush Shomrim which showed the suspects armed with a pistol.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

To join via Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/645572066

📞 929-205-6099 ID: 645572066

NEW YORK (VINNEWS/Rabbi Yair Hoffman) The Maharam Schick (Yoreh Deah 170) writes that saying Kaddish benefits both the deceased and the one who says it. By saying Kaddish for a Jew who has no one else to do so, we fulfill the mitzvah of chesed shel emes—true kindness—that has no expectation of reciprocity.

Her code name was Christine Granville. The British called her “Churchill’s favorite spy.” Vera Atkins of the SOE described her as “very brave, very attractive, but a loner and a law unto herself.” Historian Alistair Horne called her “the bravest of the brave.”

But her real name was Maria Krystyna Janina Skarbek, born in Warsaw in 1908 to Count Jerzy Skarbek, a Roman Catholic nobleman, and nebach, Countess Stefania, née Goldfeder—the daughter of a wealthy, assimilated Jewish banking family.

Stefania was the daughter of Adolf Goldfeder, a successful Warsaw banker who had transformed a modest bookkeeping firm into one of the city’s most prestigious financial institutions, reportedly using winnings from a lottery ticket as initial capital. The Goldfeders were part of a prosperous, highly assimilated Jewish elite that had largely severed itself from Torah observance. Stefania herself was raised without any meaningful Jewish education or practice.

In 1898, under significant family pressure and financial inducement, Stefania married Count Skarbek. The marriage required her formal conversion to Roman Catholicism, a condition quietly facilitated through ecclesiastical channels after a substantial “donation” secured clerical approval. The wedding itself took place discreetly, in a secluded chapel reserved for the nobility—far from public scrutiny.

From a halachic standpoint, of course, such a conversion carried no validity. Stefania Goldfeder remained Jewish, and therefore, so did her children.

She was raised entirely as a Catholic, educated in Catholic institutions, and lived her entire life seemingly unaware of her Jewish lineage. Her mother, though wealthy and socially elevated, was deeply unhappy in her marriage and sought solace in European high society, particularly in Paris. Her father’s repeated infidelities and absences further fractured the home.

Krystyna grew up in privilege but without stability—surrounded by status, yet lacking rooted identity. She absorbed the values of courage, independence, and defiance from her environment, but never had the opportunity to encounter Torah, mitzvos, or even the knowledge that she belonged to Klal Yisrael.

In halachic terms, she was the clearest possible example of a tinokes shenishba—a Jewish soul captured by circumstance, never given the chance to know who she truly was.

Which means, of course, that halachically, Krystyna Skarbek was Jewish.

She never knew it mattered. She was raised as a Roman Catholic, attended church, and lived her entire life unaware that according to Torah law, she possessed a neshama that traced back to Har Sinai. She died on the evening of June 15, 1952—the 23rd of Sivan, 5712—stabbed to death in London by an obsessed suitor, and is buried in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Kensal Green.

And so we must ask ourselves a question that carries profound implications: Should someone be saying Kaddish for her neshama?

The Remarkable Life of a Jewish Heroine

Before we address the halachic question, we must appreciate what this woman accomplished.

Krystyna Skarbek became the first female British agent to serve in the field during World War II and the longest-serving of all Britain’s wartime women agents. Perhaps her pintele yid within her inspired her to make multiple dangerous crossings through the snow-covered Tatra Mountains into Nazi-occupied Poland. She smuggled microfilm containing intelligence about German troop buildups that reached Winston Churchill himself. She organized networks of couriers bringing vital intelligence from Warsaw to Budapest.

When she and a person working with her were arrested by the Gestapo in Budapest in January 1941, she saved them both through sheer cleverness—biting her tongue until it bled to fake symptoms of tuberculosis, convincing doctors she was terminally ill, leading to their release.

But her most famous exploit came in August 1944. SOE agents Francis Cammaerts and Xan Fielding had been captured by the Gestapo in Digne, France. They were hours away from execution. Cammaerts was the creator and the organiser (leader) of the Jockey network (or circuit) in southeastern France in 1943 and 1944. He recruited and supplied with arms and training a large number of resistance networks and cells over an extensive area east of the Rhone River extending to the border with Italy and north from the Mediterranean Sea to the city of Grenoble.

Skarbek, at tremendous personal risk, walked into the lion’s den. She met with the Gestapo commander, told him she was a British agent, and through a combination of threats, lies and a two-million-franc bribe, secured the release of all three prisoners. Only after the escape did the reality hit her: “What have I done! They could have shot me as well.”

She subverted Polish conscripts in the German army, convincing them to desert and destroy their own fortress. She helped organize the French Resistance. She saved lives—countless lives.

And she was a Jew.

The Status of Tinokes Shenishba

The Rambam (Hilchos Mamrim 3:3) introduces a remarkable concept that has profound relevance to our discussion. He writes about the children of the Karaites—Jews who rejected the Oral Torah:

“But their children and grandchildren, who were misled by their parents… and were raised among the Karaites according to their views—such a person is like a child who was captured [tinokes shenishba] and raised among them. He is not eager to grasp the ways of mitzvos, for he is like one who was coerced.”

The Rambam continues: “Even if he later hears that he is Jewish and sees Jews and their Torah, he is still considered as one who was coerced, for he was raised in their mistaken ways.”

This is the halachic category known as “tinokes shenishba”—literally, “a child who was captured.” The concept derives from the Gemara in Shabbos (68b), which discusses a person who was captured as a child and raised among non-Jews, never knowing they were Jewish.

Krystyna Skarbek fits this category precisely. She was raised by an assimilated Jewish mother who had completely abandoned Jewish practice, in a home that practiced Roman Catholicism. She never had the opportunity to learn about her Jewish heritage or the obligations that came with it.

Can One Say Kaddish for a Tinokes Shenishba?

The Kaddish serves multiple functions. The Zohar (Parshas Vayakhel 196b) explains that a son’s Kaddish elevates the soul of the departed parent. The Sefer HaPardes (attributed to Rashi) and the Ohr Zarua both discuss the power of Kaddish to rescue souls from Gehinnom.

But what about a Jew who never practiced Judaism? What about someone who, through no fault of their own, was completely disconnected from Torah?

The Gesher HaChaim (Vol. 1, Chapter 30) deals extensively with this question. He notes that Kaddish is said for all Jews, regardless of their level of observance during their lifetime. The Pischei Teshuvah (Yoreh Deah 376) cites authorities who maintain that we say Kaddish even for sinners.

But Krystyna Skarbek was not a sinner in the traditional sense. She was a tinokes shenishba—someone who cannot be held accountable for what she did not know.

The Chazon Ish (Yoreh Deah 2:16) expanded the concept of tinokes shenishba dramatically. He wrote that in our era, even Jews who reject Torah are often in the category of tinokes shenishba because they were never properly exposed to authentic Torah and mitzvos. They cannot be held to the same standard as someone who knew the truth and rejected it.

How much more so does this apply to Krystyna Skarbek, who literally had no idea she was halachically Jewish!

The Zechus of Saving Lives

There is another dimension to consider. The Gemara in Sanhedrin (37a) famously teaches: “Whoever saves a single life, it is as if he saved an entire world.”

Krystyna Skarbek saved multiple lives. She rescued Allied soldiers from certain execution. She organized resistance networks that protected countless others. She risked her own life repeatedly for the sake of others.

The Chofetz Chaim (Ahavas Chesed, Part II, Chapter 2) writes that acts of chesed create tremendous zechus for a person’s neshama. The Vilna Gaon (Even Shleima 1:7) emphasizes that middos tovos—good character traits—are the foundation upon which everything else rests.

Krystyna Skarbek exemplified mesiras nefesh—self-sacrifice—at the highest level. She was fearless in the face of evil. She stood up against the Nazi regime that sought to destroy her own people—even though she didn’t know they were her people.

Is there not something deeply significant, even providential, in the fact that this woman—halachically Jewish, a descendant of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov—devoted her life to fighting the very enemy that was systematically murdering her fellow Jews in the Holocaust?

The Practical Question

Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe, Yoreh Deah I:162) discusses whether one can say Kaddish for someone who is not one’s own relative. He rules that anyone can say Kaddish for any deceased Jew, though ideally it should be a relative.

The question, then, is straightforward: Should someone—anyone—be saying Kaddish for the neshama of Krystyna Skarbek?

Her yahrzeit is the 23rd of Sivan. In 5786 (2026), this falls tonight. The Hebrew date shifts from year to year on the secular calendar, so those wishing to observe the yahrzeit should consult a Hebrew calendar converter each year.

This author believes that there is significant merit in doing so. Consider the following:

She was halachically Jewish, as her mother was born Jewish. She was a tinokes shenishba in the most classic sense—she never had the opportunity to learn about her Jewish identity. She performed acts of tremendous chesed and mesiras nefesh, saving multiple lives. She fought against the Nazi regime during the darkest period of Jewish history. Her neshama may have no one advocating for it in Shamayim through the traditional channels of Kaddish.

A Call to Action

Krystyna Skarbek lived a life of extraordinary courage. She was, in the words of those who knew her, “the bravest of the brave.” She fought evil and saved lives. She exemplified the highest ideals of human courage and self-sacrifice.

And she was one of us—a Jewish neshama, sent into this world through a Jewish mother, carrying within her the spark of Kedusha that has passed through our people since Sinai.

She didn’t know it. But we do.

Perhaps there is a Jew somewhere who will take upon himself or herself to say Kaddish on the 23rd of Sivan each year. Perhaps a shul will remember her on that day, when we recite Kel Malei Rachamim.

She saved lives during the darkness of the Holocaust. Can we not do this small act of chesed for her neshama?

The “bravest of the brave” deserves no less.

The author can be reached at [email protected].

President Donald Trump said the Federal Reserve has no good reason to raise interest rates, pushing back hard against a fast-growing belief on Wall Street that the central bank’s next move could be a hike instead of a cut. He made the comment in an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” recorded Friday and broadcast Sunday, June 7. “There’s no reason to raise interest rates,” Trump said, calling any increase “the wrong thing to do.”

The timing is what gives the remark its weight. Trump spoke just over a week before the Federal Reserve’s next policy meeting on June 16–17 — the first to be led by Kevin Warsh, the new Fed chairman, who took over the job from Jerome Powell. It will be Warsh’s first meeting in charge, and the President is already making his preference loud and clear.

So why is anyone even talking about higher rates? Because the economy looks strong. On Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that employers added 172,000 jobs in May, and it revised the two earlier months upward. A booming job market sounds like nothing but good news. The catch is that when the economy runs hot, prices can climb too, and the Fed’s main tool for cooling off inflation is to raise interest rates. That is why a strong report can spook markets rather than cheer them.

Trump rejects that thinking entirely. His argument is simple and plain-spoken: a country doing well should not be punished for it. “When a country is doing well, they shouldn’t be penalized by immediately raising interest rates,” he said. He also pointed to the size of the national debt and his plans to spend more, including on the military — all of which get more expensive when borrowing costs go up.

On the new man running the Fed, Trump struck a softer tone than he ever did with Powell, whom he spent years attacking. “Kevin is fantastic, and I want him to do whatever he wants,” Trump said of Warsh, adding that he does not want to lean on him. Still, the message underneath the praise was unmistakable: the President wants rates to stay where they are, or come down — not go up.

Markets are leaning the other way. After Friday’s jobs numbers, Treasury yields moved higher and bond prices fell, a sign that more traders now expect the Fed may have to raise rates to keep inflation in check. Goldman Sachs economists dropped their forecast for a rate cut this December and now expect any cuts to wait until 2027. For now, the Fed has kept its benchmark rate in a range of 3.5% to 3.75%, holding steady at its last several meetings rather than moving in either direction.

Here is why this tug-of-war reaches far past Washington. The Fed’s benchmark rate quietly sets the price of almost everything Americans borrow. When it goes up, mortgages get pricier, car loans cost more, credit card bills grow heavier, and small businesses pay more to fund payroll and inventory. When it holds or falls, that pressure eases. So a debate that sounds like inside-baseball between a President and a central banker actually lands on the kitchen table of nearly every household with a loan.

There is also a clear line worth keeping in mind. The President does not set interest rates. The Federal Reserve does, through a committee of officials who vote, and recent meetings have shown real disagreement among them. Trump can argue, praise, or pressure, but the decision on June 17 belongs to Warsh and his colleagues.

That makes the coming meeting the real test. Warsh built a reputation as someone wary of letting inflation run loose, which puts him in a tight spot: a strong economy pulling toward a possible hike on one side, and a President publicly urging him to stand down on the other. His first decision as chairman will tell Americans a great deal about which way the Fed leans for the rest of the year — and how much, or how little, the President’s words still move the people who actually control the cost of money.

JBizNews Desk — Washington

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

Italian fashion house Prada and Axiom Space have unveiled a jointly developed next-generation lunar spacesuit layer scheduled to be worn during NASA’s upcoming Artemis IV moon landing mission, currently targeted for early 2028. 

The Houston-based space infrastructure developer announced Sunday that the liquid cooling and ventilation garment (LCVG) will act as an inner layer of the spacesuit and will protect astronauts “when they explore the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years.”

The partnership marks the first time a luxury fashion brand has been directly involved in spacesuit development. 

“The future of space exploration will not be built by any one entity alone, and our partnership with Prada is proof of that,” Axiom Space CEO Dr. Jonathan Cirtain said. 

PRADA PARTNERS TO MAKE SPACESUITS FOR NASA’S ARTEMIS III LUNAR MISSION

Prada reportedly contributed its expertise in advanced 3D modeling, high-tech knitting and specialized fabrics to help design the garment. 

“By bringing together the best in both aerospace engineering as well as luxury craftmanship and advanced product development, we have developed a garment that neither company could have created independently, and that is exactly the kind of cross-industry thinking that will define the next era of human spaceflight,” Cirtain added. 

Axiom said the garment is designed to be thermally regulating and comfortable enough to support spacewalks lasting up to eight hours, while also withstanding the harsh conditions of the lunar South Pole. 

“It manages their thermal environment, supports their breathing, and does it all while they’re pushing their bodies to the limit,” Axiom Space Senior Vice President of Spacecraft Development Russell Ralston said. “The work we have done with Prada has taken that capability to a level we could not have achieved alone.” 

NASA ANNOUNCES THREE NEW MOON MISSIONS AS AGENCY RACES TO BUILD PERMANENT LUNAR BASE BY END OF 2026

According to the announcement, the LCVG pumps cold water through a network of tubes positioned over major muscle groups to draw heat away from the body and release it into space. It also includes a backup cooling system in case the primary system fails. 

The garment also features a separate ventilation system that continuously circulates oxygen across the astronaut’s face, removing exhaled carbon dioxide, which is then routed into a life-support system for filtering and reuse. 

The inner layer is designed to be worn directly against the skin beneath the suit’s outer protective AxEMU shell, which the companies previously unveiled in 2024. 

 GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

“When we unveiled the AxEMU, we announced that the collaboration between Prada and Axiom Space would continue beyond that first milestone,” Prada Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sustainability Lorenzo Bertelli said. 

“Today, we are proud to present a new achievement born from the unique combination of Axiom Space’s pioneering expertise and Prada’s know-how in design, patternmaking, and advanced materials, ahead of humanity’s return to the lunar surface,” he continued. “We look forward to continuing this collaboration with Axiom Space, pushing boundaries and exploring new frontiers together.”

Just days after the violent protest outside the home of Israeli Supreme Court Deputy President Justice Noam Sohlberg in Alon Shvut, HaRav Tuvia Halevi Shulzinger, one of the rabbanim of Peleg Yerushalmi, has reportedly called on local rabbanim not to honor the judge in shul.

In a sharply worded letter sent last Thursday to rabbanim in Alon Shvut, Rav Shulzinger reportedly referred to Solberg as a “Morid B’Malchus Shomayim” and wrote that he should not receive any kibbudim in shul, including an aliyah to the Torah.

The letter comes amid the ongoing battle over the arrests of yeshiva bochurim and follows recent legal actions associated with increased enforcement against those who have not reported for military service.

The controversy follows a serious incident near Sohlberg’s home in Alon Shvut, where dozens of protesters reportedly smashed windows, damaged the entrance to the residence, and destroyed flower pots and planters. The Gush Etzion emergency response team was dispatched to secure the area and protect the family.

Peleg Yerushalmi has denied any involvement in the violence, but sources familiar with the struggle against the arrests of yeshiva bochurim said the letter underscores that the campaign is far from over.

“Very dramatic days lie ahead,” one source said. “The battle will only intensify if the authorities do not leave the bochurim of Klal Yisroel alone.”

Following the incident, Israel’s Judicial Authority strongly condemned the demonstration, calling it a grave and unacceptable act that crossed the boundaries of legitimate protest and sought to intimidate members of the judiciary and their families.

The Judicial Authority stressed that attempts to pressure or frighten judges would not impact their fulfillment of their duties and said law enforcement agencies would continue working to ensure their safety.

Meanwhile, a Jerusalem court on Sunday extended the detention of 52 suspects arrested in connection with the riot and vandalism at Solberg’s home by four additional days, until June 10.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Dear Lakewood Scoop

Thank you so much for stepping up and taking on the Kedusas Yisrael proper dresscode initiative.

My kids came home today with a report that made me realize this initiative needs to expand asap to more than just store employees.

We have a nice bus driver and we truly appreciate that she drives them home safely every day.

But they came barreling into the house horrified at her code of dress (or shall I say “lack thereof”???) which certainly did not befit one that is transporting our little neshamalas…

They described what seems to be weather appropriate for one that is not part of Am Yisrael with way too much exposure for our children.

This. Is. Not. Ok.

I think we all as parents need to respectfully demand that our bus drivers be at the least covered in some sort of sleeves and pants or appropriate skirts. A uniform, even better.

If the store employees must be kept modest, how much more the people that drive our kids daily.

What they do in their own time is their own business. What they do when theyre with our kids, thats our business.

I would like to utilize this also as an opportunity to THANK OUR AMAZING DRIVERS, as my children have been lucky enough to have kind and helpful drivers over the years. I know that not all experiences have been great but there are many great bus drivers and we got to know several of them!

All the best,
Concerned Parent

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

Your browser does not support the video tag.

Your browser does not support the video tag.

YS GOLD 

A massive response from the FDNY drew hundreds of local onlookers on Sunday afternoon as firefighters battled a smoky blaze at S & W, the legendary women’s clothing staple on 13th Avenue.

According to initial reports, the fire originated within the building's basement level. Thick smoke quickly began billowing from the structure, prompting emergency calls and a rapid escalation in the fire department's response.

FDNY and Boro Park Hatzolah units arrived on the scene within minutes, deploying multiple hose lines to attack the seat of the fire in the basement while checking the upper levels of the commercial property. 

As sirens echoed through the busy commercial area, a crowd of hundreds of onlookers gathered along 13th Avenue. 

Neighbors and local shoppers watched anxiously as firefighters in full turnout gear worked aggressively to vent the building and prevent the flames from spreading to adjacent storefronts.

No immediate injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire will be investigated.

In a decision that could reshape the relationship between artificial intelligence companies and the news industry, British regulators have ordered Google to give publishers a way to prevent their articles from being used in the company’s AI-generated search features while still remaining visible in traditional search results.

The ruling, announced by the United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), is being described by regulators as a first-of-its-kind requirement aimed at giving news organizations more control over how their content is used by artificial intelligence systems.

Under the order, Google must provide publishers with effective tools that allow them to opt out of having their content used for products such as AI Overviews and other generative AI search features. Crucially, publishers who choose to block AI access cannot be penalized by losing visibility in Google’s standard search rankings.

That distinction is at the heart of the dispute.

For years, publishers have relied on search engines to drive traffic to their websites. As Google increasingly places AI-generated summaries at the top of search results, many news organizations argue that users are receiving answers without ever visiting the original source.

When readers stop clicking through, publishers lose advertising impressions, subscription opportunities, and other revenue that supports the reporting itself.

The CMA said its intervention was driven by concerns that publishers were being forced into an unfair choice: allow their content to be used for AI training and summaries or risk losing visibility on the world’s dominant search platform.

Google’s influence gives the issue unusual weight.

The company handles more than 90% of online searches in the United Kingdom, making it one of the most powerful gateways between publishers and readers. British regulators previously designated Google as a strategic digital platform under the country’s new competition framework, giving the CMA expanded authority to impose remedies designed to promote competition and fairness.

According to the regulator, the new requirement is intended to provide publishers with “fair treatment, greater transparency, and meaningful choice” as AI becomes increasingly integrated into search.

Google responded cautiously, saying it is continuing to work with regulators and website owners to ensure publishers have the tools they need as search evolves.

The company has consistently argued that AI-generated search features help users discover information more efficiently and can ultimately drive engagement with content creators. Many publishers, however, contend that traffic losses since the introduction of AI summaries tell a different story.

The timing is significant.

Google has accelerated its push into AI-powered search throughout 2026, introducing expanded AI features designed to provide more direct answers and reduce the need for users to navigate multiple websites. Regulators specifically noted that the new requirements are intended to apply not only to existing AI products but also to future AI search developments.

For the news industry, the decision represents a potentially important precedent.

Publishers worldwide have struggled to determine how to protect the value of their journalism as AI systems increasingly summarize, analyze, and distribute information created by others. Similar debates are taking place in the United States, Canada, Australia, the European Union, and Japan, where policymakers are weighing whether technology companies should compensate publishers or obtain additional permissions before using their content.

The broader issue extends far beyond Google.

As AI-powered chatbots, search engines, and virtual assistants become primary sources of information, a fundamental question is emerging: who should benefit economically when artificial intelligence relies on content created by journalists, researchers, authors, and other publishers?

For much of the internet era, publishers accepted that search engines would display headlines and snippets in exchange for traffic. AI-generated answers are changing that bargain by providing complete responses directly to users.

Britain’s decision marks one of the strongest regulatory efforts yet to address that shift.

Whether other governments adopt similar rules remains uncertain, but the move is likely to be closely watched by publishers, technology companies, and regulators around the world. If successful, it could become a model for how countries balance innovation in artificial intelligence with the economic realities of producing original journalism.

The outcome may help determine not only the future of online news, but also how the broader AI economy compensates the creators whose work powers it.

JBizNews Desk — Technology

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

Walmart CEO John Furner said Wednesday that rising fuel costs are placing increasing pressure on consumers, with lower-income households showing growing signs of financial strain.

Speaking to reporters during Walmart’s shareholder week in Bentonville, Arkansas, Furner said the retailer continues to attract higher-income shoppers, who are visiting stores more frequently and spending more. At the same time, Walmart is seeing evidence that lower-income customers are becoming more cautious with their spending.

“We do continue to see the higher-income customers coming to Walmart,” Furner said. “We’re meeting more of them, they’re buying more, they’re coming more frequently. … And then we’ve seen some more signs of stress at the lower income levels.”

POPULAR BABY BOTTLES SOLD AT WALMART RECALLED AFTER 135 CHOKING HAZARD REPORTS

One indicator comes from Walmart-owned Sam’s Club. According to Furner, Sam’s Club members are averaging about 9.8 gallons per fuel purchase, while filling up more often, suggesting shoppers are managing their budgets as gas prices remain elevated.

“That’s really the stress point — is the price of fuel,” Furner said.

Despite those challenges, Furner said Walmart remains well-positioned to serve customers through its broad merchandise assortment and low-price strategy.

“Walmart’s set up really well in any kind of economy,” he noted.

WALMART LAUNCHES HARDWARE OVERHAUL, NEW KIDS BRAND IN PRIVATE-LABEL PUSH

During the most recent quarter, the retailer rolled back prices on roughly 7,200 items, an increase from a year ago.

“I think we’ve done a really good job keeping our prices low in the quarter,” Furner said. “We had 7,200 rollbacks, that’s up from a year ago. We did that while maintaining and growing our gross margin.”

The comments came during Walmart’s annual shareholder week, which draws executives, investors and media to Northwest Arkansas each year.

U.S. consumer confidence dipped slightly in May as concerns about rising gas prices and inflation outweighed growing optimism about the labor market, according to Reuters. The reading, however, came in above economists’ expectations, providing some balance to the otherwise cautious consumer outlook.

WALMART WARNS SHOPPERS COULD FACE HIGHER PRICES AS FUEL COSTS SURGE, TAX REFUNDS DRY UP

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

Last month, Walmart warned that higher fuel costs could add pressure on shoppers, particularly as the temporary boost from tax refunds fades and inflation continues to outpace wage growth.

“I think higher tax returns muted some of the pressure related to higher fuel prices and as we’re in a period of time right now where those tax refunds are largely not coming in, I think consumers are going to feel more of that pressure from higher fuel prices,” Walmart CFO John David Rainey told CNBC following the company’s first-quarter earnings report.

“It’s something that we’re keeping a close eye on,” he added.

FOX Business’ Kristen Altus and Reuters contributed to this report.

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has directed all American government employees and their family members in Israel to shelter in place until further notice, citing the current security situation and multiple Home Front Command alerts across the country.

In a security alert issued Sunday, the embassy instructed personnel to be prepared to move immediately to a protected shelter in the event of a red alert siren. The directive comes as Israel faces ongoing threats, including potential missile, rocket fire or hostile aircraft intrusions.

“As a result of the current security situation in Israel, including Home Front Command alerts for multiple regions, the U.S. Embassy has directed all U.S. government employees and their family members to shelter in place, and be prepared to move to a protected shelter in the event of a red alert, until further notice,” the embassy stated.

The embassy’s consular sections in Jerusalem and its branch office in Tel Aviv will be closed on Monday, June 8.

A red alert siren, if activated, signals an imminent threat requiring immediate shelter.

The move reflects broader precautions amid regional tensions, though the embassy did not provide further specifics on the nature of the current threats.

VINnews will continue to monitor developments.

The decision was reached after Regev convened a special meeting with Transportation Ministry Director General Moshe Ben-Zaken and senior representatives from Israel’s aviation sector to evaluate the situation and determine whether any restrictions on air travel were necessary.

Following the assessment, transportation officials concluded that there was no immediate need to suspend or limit civilian air traffic, allowing airlines and airports to continue operating as normal.

Officials stressed that the decision reflects the current security picture and remains subject to change should conditions deteriorate. The Transportation Ministry emphasized that it is closely monitoring developments and maintaining ongoing contact with security and aviation authorities.

{Matzav.com}

On Wednesday, June 3, SpaceX filed the terms of its public stock offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission, setting a fixed price of $135 a share in an amended registration statement. That one number, sitting inside a legal document, is about to do something no number in history has ever done. Elon Musk is about to become the world’s first trillionaire.

The filing prices SpaceX at about $1.77 trillion. When the company is set to begin trading on the Nasdaq on June 12 under the ticker SPCX, Musk’s personal fortune — about $835 billion as of early June, according to Forbes, though Bloomberg’s more conservative count runs lower — is expected to cross $1 trillion for the first time. The next richest person on Earth, Larry Page, sits at roughly $298 billion. That is not a close race. That is one runner finishing the marathon while everyone else is still tying their shoes.

One caution before the celebration: these are the offering’s stated terms, not final numbers. The price and valuation only become official when shares are priced the evening of June 11. Until then, the trillion-dollar milestone is a strong projection, not a done deal.

Still, it is worth stopping to ask a simple question that almost nobody can answer honestly: how much money is a trillion dollars, really?

Here is the surprise. A trillion is so much larger than a billion that your brain quietly treats them as cousins. They are not cousins. They are barely related.

Start with time, because time is something everyone understands. Imagine counting one number every second. A million seconds would take you about 11½ days. A billion seconds would take almost 32 years — a real chunk of a human life. A trillion seconds? About 31,700 years.

Now try spending instead of counting. Say you had a trillion dollars and you set out to spend $1 million every single day — a million gone by bedtime, every day, no days off. You would not run out this year. You would not run out this century. It would take you roughly 2,740 years to spend it all. You would have started during the Roman Republic and you would still be writing checks today.

Or picture the cash itself. Take a trillion one-dollar bills and lay them end to end. That line of money would stretch about 97 million miles. The sun is about 93 million miles from Earth. So a trillion dollar bills, laid in a row, would reach the sun — and keep going.

One more way to feel it. A trillion dollars is larger than the entire yearly economic output of almost every country on the planet. Only about 18 nations produce more than a trillion dollars of goods and services in a whole year. In other words, one person is about to hold paper wealth roughly the size of a midsize country’s entire economy.

Put it in paychecks, the way most people actually experience money. Say you earn $50,000 a year — a solid, ordinary salary. It would take the entire yearly pay of 20 million workers — more people than live in the whole state of New York — just to add up to $1 trillion in a single year. Stretch it across a lifetime instead: a person earning $50,000 every year for a 40-year career takes home about $2 million in total. You would need the entire working lives of roughly 500,000 people — every paycheck, start to finish — to reach a trillion dollars.

Now think about what that money could feed. The United Nations World Food Programme says that in some of its operations, about $1 can provide enough assistance to help feed two people for a day. Using that benchmark, $1 trillion could fund an extraordinary amount of food assistance worldwide. The World Food Programme has also estimated that ending severe global hunger would require tens of billions of dollars annually, meaning a trillion dollars would cover many years of such funding.

So why does this matter for everyday business, and not just for billionaire scorekeeping? Because SpaceX going public is one of the biggest money events of the year. At $1.77 trillion, the company would instantly rank among the largest in the United States — worth more than Tesla, Musk’s own car company, which trades at about $1.6 trillion. The offering aims to raise about $75 billion, which would be the largest stock-market debut ever. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are leading the deal.

And ordinary people are part of this one. SpaceX has signaled that regular investors will be able to buy shares through everyday platforms like Schwab, Fidelity, Robinhood, and SoFi. That is unusual. Most history-making deals are carved up among big institutions first. This one is being handed, in part, to the public.

Here is the honest part, though, and it separates the headline from the reality. A “trillionaire” is not a man with a trillion dollars in a bank account. Almost all of Musk’s wealth is stock — mostly in SpaceX and Tesla — and stock prices move. His net worth can rise or fall by tens of billions of dollars in a single day. The trillion-dollar moment is real, but it is a snapshot, not a savings balance. If the SpaceX shares trade below $135 once the bell rings, the milestone could slip away as fast as it arrived.

So enjoy the number for what it is — a genuine first in human history. Just remember what it actually measures. Not a pile of cash reaching the sun, but a bet by millions of buyers on what one man’s companies might be worth tomorrow.

JBizNews Desk — Technology

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

US sources have indicated to The Jerusalem Post that they reject the Saturday Pentagon leak to NBC News claiming Israeli espionage activity against the US and a special alert on this, defining them as likely anti-Operation Epic Fury sources.

In other words, there have always been “America First” forces within the US, and even within the Pentagon, who opposed American intervention in Iran, and are angry at Israel for its role in helping convince US President Donald Trump to go to war.

The Pentagon did not respond or deny the original report, and it had not responded or denied the report to the Post at press time on Sunday night.

The CIA, at press time, had not responded to the Post regarding the report, though it is not identified in it as having any particular role.

The White House has already denied or denigrated the report and the sources in the Pentagon who leaked it, and Israel categorically denied the report and any idea of spying on the US.

Israeli and Mossad officials have denied spying on the US since the mid-1980s, following the Jonathan Pollard spying incident, which shook the allies’ relations at the time.

In recent decades, intelligence sharing between the two countries has been so extensive that the standard line has been that there would be no need to spy on what is being voluntarily shared by both sides.

Israel likewise has shared highly confidential intelligence regarding Iran with successive US administrations.

The report raised red flags on credibility, given that during the 2026 Iran war, top senior IDF officials have been inside top secret US command centers, top US military officials have been inside top secret Israeli command centers, and a huge number of American military aircraft have been based at Ben-Gurion Airport.

The impression from US and Israeli sources has been that those leaking the story were a minority group within the Pentagon, who opposed the war in Iran and are critical of Israel, and were trying to take advantage of the public daylight between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the former called the latter “f***ing crazy” recently over Netanyahu’s desire to strike Beirut.

According to the NBC report, the Pentagon raised its estimates of Israeli espionage activity against the United States to the highest level in history.

The report claimed that the Pentagon has raised its counterintelligence threat assessment of Israel to the highest possible, with the main reason being tensions between Israeli and American officials over how to proceed in the war with Iran and its proxy terror groups.

Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency out of step with Trump administration

According to the officials cited by NBC, an internal message issued by the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency reportedly raised the level for Israel to “critical.”

However, the DIA has been out of step with the rest of the Trump administration numerous times.

After the June 2025 war, the DIA predicted that Iran could re-field nuclear weapons within a matter of months.

A year after that prediction, Iran has not even been able to access its 60% enriched uranium covered in the rubble of its bombed nuclear facilities.

But the DIA report was viewed at the time as a clear sign that that agency was less on board with Trump’s policy of using military force against Iran.

Likewise, following the 2026 war with Iran, there have been occasional US intelligence leaks undermining the Trump narrative of the war’s success, which some have attributed to the DIA. 

The DIA assessment included a seven-page brief on the threat level and even featured charts, according to the NBC sources, while The New York Times reported that the decision to raise the threat level was taken after US personnel operating in Israel reported that software to tap their communications had been installed on their phones.

Nothing in the reports indicated whether any information had in fact been taken.

Israeli Embassy of Washington denies espionage allegations

The Israeli Embassy of Washington said in a statement that the information of espionage was “completely false,” with a spokesperson adding that “Israel does not gather intelligence on American entities, let alone US government officials.”

“Israel’s intelligence collection efforts are aimed at its enemies, not its allies. Any claims to the contrary are either misinformed or politically motivated,” the statement added.

A White House official told NBC that the story was “false and sourced to someone who doesn’t have any knowledge of what’s going on.”

This post was originally published on here.

American Airlines is temporarily suspending six domestic routes this summer as elevated fuel costs linked to the Iran conflict continue to pressure carriers across the airline industry. 

The major air carrier said the affected routes will be paused only during August and September and emphasized that no routes are being eliminated permanently, according to FOX 5 New York. 

A separate report from Simple Flying said the routes will be out of service from Aug. 5 through Oct. 5. 

“American has seasonally adjusted service on select routes in August and September as the airline refines its capacity growth for 2026,” American said. 

AMERICAN AIRLINES JOINS WAVE OF CARRIERS HIKING CHECKED BAG FEES AS JET FUEL PRICES SKYROCKET

According to Simple Flying, the affected routes include: 

Simple Flying noted that the Los Angeles-to-Cleveland route was one of the newest additions to American’s network, having launched in April. The suspension announcement comes just after two months of service.  

Passengers affected by the schedule changes will be offered alternative travel arrangements or refunds, FOX 5 reported.  

“Travelers on impacted routes will be offered alternate travel arrangements or a refund in line with American’s customer-friendly schedule change policy,” the airline said.

UNITED AIRLINES RAISING TICKET PRICES UP TO 20% AS FUEL COSTS SURGE AMID IRAN WAR

American previously announced in April that it would raise checked baggage fees by at least $10 as the airline grapples with rising jet fuel costs, mirroring similar moves by other carriers, including United, Delta, Southwest and JetBlue. 

Since fighting in the Middle East intensified earlier this year, airlines across the industry have implemented a range of cost-cutting measures amid volatile fuel prices, including reducing flight schedules and raising fares to offset higher operating expenses.

UNITED AIRLINES SLASHES FLIGHTS AS IRAN WAR SENDS FUEL PRICES SOARING

Last month, United Airlines released a staff memo announcing plans to cut about 5% of capacity by trimming less profitable routes, citing an expected prolonged period of elevated fuel prices.

In April, United also said it had been incrementally raising fares — up to 20% since last year — in an effort to “recover 100% of the increase in jet fuel prices as quickly as possible.”

GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE

American’s decision to suspend select routes also follows the collapse of budget carrier Spirit Airlines, whose financial troubles were compounded by years of mounting losses and higher fuel costs.   

Fox News Digital reached out to American Airlines for more information. 

Fox News Digital’s Eric Revell and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

Three weeks after his election, Rav Yitzchak Edelstein was formally installed as Chief Rabbi of Ramat Hasharon during a historic ceremony held at the city’s main shul.

The newly appointed rabbi marked the occasion by wearing a new Hamburg-style hat and a new tallis, upon which he recited a Shehecheyanu with visible emotion.

The event was attended by many of Israel’s leading Torah authorities and roshei yeshivah. Among those present were Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Shraga Shteinman, Israel’s Chief Rabbi Rav Kalman Meir Ber, former Chief Rabbi Rav Yisrael Meir Lau, and numerous other rabbonim and public figures.

Rav Edelstein’s appointment continues a distinguished family legacy in Ramat Hasharon. His grandfather, Rav Tzvi Yehuda Edelstein zt”l, served as the city’s rov before him, followed by his father, Rav Yaakov Edelstein zt”l, who held the position for more than 60 years.

Speakers throughout the ceremony emphasized Rav Edelstein’s qualifications for the role, praising both his personal accomplishments and decades of service to the community, while noting that he represents a direct continuation of the city’s rabbinic leadership since its founding.

Among the keynote speakers was Israel’s Chief Rabbi, Rav Kalman Meir Ber, who signed Rav Edelstein’s official appointment document and offered words of blessing.

“My friend, Rav Yitzchak, a descendant of a distinguished rabbinic dynasty, a Torah scholar of great stature whose wisdom is joined with genuine concern for people. Through his deeds and activities, he has brought—and will continue to bring—honor to Heaven in his city. May it be Hashem’s will that he continue his sacred work and mission for many long years.”

The evening’s musical program featured singer Uziel Deitch and keyboardist Ari Kuritz. The event was produced by Isaac Stein of Shechakim Productions.

{Matzav.com}

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:

Good afternoon I go to work each night.On the corner or Rt 9 and Cross St driver’s get in the right turn lane and go straight I’ve seen this in many locations twice I’ve been almost in accident.I work the overnights shift I leave home early because this section is dangerous. Could your officer look out for people who does this.

The Chief’s response:

Hi and thanks for your question. I passed through there last Saturday and noticed the intersection was under State DOT construction and will inquire about the straight and turning arrows, markings and signs. And yes we be doing enforcement for violators at that location.

Feel free to download our APP and report license plate numbers to us for enforcement. Of course not while you are driving.

————-

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

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

As tensions remain high following Iran’s missile launches toward Israel, EL AL announced that Ben Gurion Airport remains open and fully operational, with all flights continuing according to schedule.

In a statement issued to customers, the airline said it is closely monitoring developments and maintaining constant coordination with Israel’s security establishment and relevant government authorities.

“Ben Gurion Airport is open and operating as usual, and all EL AL flights are operating according to the scheduled timetable,” the airline said.

EL AL emphasized that it continues to monitor all instructions from security officials and is prepared to respond to any changes in the situation.

The announcement comes as millions of Israelis remain on alert amid ongoing concerns of further Iranian attacks. Despite the heightened security environment, Israel’s main international gateway has continued operating without interruption.

EL AL said any changes to flight schedules or airport operations will be communicated immediately through its official channels.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

James Carville, a veteran Democratic strategist who served as the chief strategist for Bill Clinton’s campaign, establishing the “war room” and the phrase, “it’s the economy, stupid,” threw his support behind Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner, who is challenging Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) for the Senate seat.

The troubled candidate has come under fire for his Nazi Totenkopf (death’s-head) tattoo, which he inked over as soon as it became a liability, and other scandals, the latest of which involved sexting up to a dozen women who were not his wife.

When pressed by CNN anchor Jake Tapper on whether Carville would be as forgiving of Republicans voting for a candidate who had sported a Nazi tattoo for decades, Carville conceded the point, before quickly pivoting to arguing that defeating Donald Trump is more important.

“What would you say to a Republican who says, if a Republican combat veteran had a Nazi tattoo, you wouldn’t be so forgiving?” Tapper asked.

“It’s true. I would say you’re exactly right,” Carville admitted.

Critics have noted the brazen double standard: supporting actions on his side that Carville would find unforgivable in Republicans and acknowledging and defending that double standard.

In a separate interview, liberally sprinkled with profane language, Carville defended Platner’s behavior.

Graham Platner sports the infamous Totenkopf (Nazi death’s-head tattoo). (From a post on X)

“He’s f—ed up, he’s been shot at, he’s a veteran, he’s a little bit weird, he’s an oysterman,” he said.

“Then his opponent, I can hardly say her name without the utter contempt dripping, Susan Collins, whose spine reminds me of a blueberry jelly from Maine,” he added. “Maybe we need a combat veteran right on that Senate floor who is f—ed up.”

“If you believe, as I do, that the country is in imminent peril — I mean imminent peril — who is most likely to slow this criminal in charge? Susan ‘Blueberry Jelly’ Collins, or five degrees off dead center Graham Platner?” Carville asked. “I think it’s Graham Platner.”

Carville then compared voting for Platner to Franklin Roosevelt’s alliance with Joseph Stalin to defeat Adolf Hitler.

“And you know if Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill could work with Joseph Stalin — who, by the way, well, I’ll tell you this, he was a bad guy, a really bad guy, alright — then I can overlook a tattoo,” Carville added.

Arguing about the importance of winning, the Democratic strategist pointed to Abraham Lincoln’s suspension of habeas corpus.

“Abraham Lincoln had to suspend habeas corpus, why? Because he had to win a Godd— war, OK?” Carville added. “We got to win this.”

An Israeli singer has sparked widespread attention after claiming that he won the grand prize in Israel’s latest lottery drawing and then shared the news directly with his followers on social media.

According to posts published overnight, singer Osher Biton said he was the sole winner of the 40 million shekel jackpot awarded in the lottery drawing held on Motzoei Shabbos.

The drawing generated enormous interest because the jackpot had reached the maximum amount allowed by law—40 million shekels in the regular lottery and up to 80 million shekels through the Double Lotto option.

Lottery kiosks across the country reportedly saw a surge of customers as tens of thousands of Israelis tried their luck in hopes of winning the record prize. In the end, however, only one ticket matched all of the winning numbers.

Biton, who first gained national recognition through his participation in Eurovision-related competitions and later built a successful music career, chose not to keep the news private.

Sharing a photo of what appeared to be the winning ticket on Instagram, he wrote: “Turns out I’m a millionaire—I didn’t realize it.”

The surprising announcement quickly spread across social media, with thousands of users sharing the post and flooding the singer with congratulatory messages.

The story also brought renewed attention to other notable lottery winners in Israel who publicly disclosed their winnings. Among them were a soldier who won 15 million shekels after serving months in reserve duty in Gaza and another individual who reportedly won 24 million shekels two years after a missile struck his home.

{Matzav.com}

For the first time in years, many American workers are seeing something they have not experienced since the inflation surge of 2022: paychecks that are growing more slowly than the cost of living. Wages are still rising, but prices are rising faster, meaning the average worker’s purchasing power is shrinking rather than expanding.

The latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics highlight the challenge. Average hourly earnings rose 3.4% over the past year, reaching $37.53 per hour. At the same time, consumer prices increased 3.8% annually through April, marking the fastest inflation rate since May 2023.

The difference may seem small, but its impact is significant. When inflation outpaces wage growth, workers effectively receive a pay cut in real terms, even if their paycheck is larger than it was a year ago.

The government’s own inflation-adjusted data reflects that reality. Real average hourly earnings fell 0.5% in April and were down 0.3% from a year earlier, ending a period during which wage gains had generally stayed ahead of inflation.

For households, the squeeze is most visible in everyday necessities.

Energy prices have been one of the biggest drivers. Higher oil prices tied to ongoing Middle East tensions pushed overall energy costs sharply higher during the spring. Gasoline, home heating fuels, and transportation costs all increased, creating ripple effects throughout the economy because nearly every product must be manufactured, transported, or delivered using energy.

Food costs have added another layer of pressure.

Consumers have seen noticeable increases in grocery bills, particularly for proteins and other staple items. Beef prices have climbed substantially over the past year, while food-at-home inflation posted some of its strongest monthly increases in nearly two years. Unlike discretionary purchases, food and fuel are expenses families cannot easily avoid, making those increases especially painful.

The challenge extends beyond groceries and gasoline.

So-called core inflation, which excludes food and energy, remains elevated because of persistent increases in housing, insurance, medical services, and other everyday expenses. Rent and shelter costs continue to consume a growing share of household budgets, particularly in major metropolitan areas.

Economists note that inflation had been steadily cooling before renewed energy pressures emerged earlier this year. Progress toward the Federal Reserve’s 2% inflation target appeared encouraging through much of late 2025 and early 2026. However, rising oil prices and supply-chain pressures reversed some of that improvement.

The effects reach beyond individual households.

When consumers feel financially stretched, they often become more cautious with spending. Retailers, restaurants, and consumer-facing businesses frequently see that behavior first as shoppers delay purchases, seek discounts, or switch to lower-cost alternatives. Several major retailers have already reported that even middle- and higher-income consumers are becoming more price sensitive.

The broader economy can feel the impact as well. Consumer spending accounts for roughly two-thirds of U.S. economic activity, making household purchasing power one of the most important drivers of growth.

Relief may not come quickly.

Economists expect energy prices to remain a key factor in upcoming inflation reports, and the Federal Reserve continues to face a difficult balancing act. Cutting interest rates could help reduce borrowing costs but might also risk reigniting inflation. Keeping rates elevated could help contain prices but would leave consumers facing higher costs for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.

For now, the reality is simple: a raise does not automatically mean a higher standard of living. When prices rise faster than wages, households feel poorer even as paychecks grow.

That helps explain why many Americans continue to express frustration about the economy despite a healthy job market and steady hiring. Employment remains strong, but for millions of workers, the real measure of economic success is whether a paycheck buys more than it did a year ago. Right now, for many families, the answer is no.

JBizNews Desk — Economy

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

In remarks that have sparked intense discussion throughout Israel’s medical community, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein sharply criticized the country’s health funds for spending vast sums on advertising and public relations campaigns while, he argued, making it difficult for elderly patients to obtain subsidized life-saving treatments.

The comments were delivered during the Rav’s weekly shiur for physicians and rabbanim at the shul of Mayanei Hayeshua Medical Center. For nearly five decades, the gathering has served as a forum where complex questions at the intersection of halachah and medicine are discussed and analyzed.

Doctors who regularly travel from across the country to attend the lectures were taken aback by the unusually forceful criticism directed at the health funds. Rav Zilberstein argued that instead of expanding access to life-saving medications, the organizations are spending excessive amounts on large-scale advertising campaigns and public relations efforts.

The discussion arose from a complicated question involving an expensive medical treatment that a health fund subsidizes only under highly specific circumstances. A patient sought guidance regarding whether he could take certain steps to obtain coverage for a treatment that doctors deemed medically necessary, even though he did not technically meet the required eligibility criteria.

While Rav Zilberstein devoted much of the shiur to analyzing the halachic dimensions of the case, he used the opportunity to address what he described as a broader and troubling reality affecting many patients.

“In my opinion, the doctor is correct,” Rav Zilberstein said. “A health fund may be jointly owned by its members, but that would apply only if the members were consulted regarding all expenditures. Yet these health funds are pouring out money—yes, pouring it out. You ask why I used that expression? Because when an institution spends money on enormous newspaper advertisements, that is called wasting money.”

“Have you seen these advertisements?” he continued. “Entire pages. What is that? A full page costs a fortune. So I wrote that they are ‘pouring out’ money. They are spending it without justification on things that the public clearly would not approve of, such as massive advertising campaigns, public relations efforts, and other activities unrelated to actual medical care.”

Rav Zilberstein also criticized what he described as the approval of numerous prenatal tests that are often unnecessary and extremely costly.

“They act with excessive generosity and without proportion when it comes to these tests,” he said. “Therefore, there is no justification for the claims they make, and one cannot simply accept their position as binding when they themselves are spending money in this manner.”

Turning to the issue of medication coverage, Rav Zilberstein expressed frustration with what he characterized as inflexible eligibility requirements.

“But when it comes to elderly people who need life-saving medications, suddenly they become inexplicably stingy,” he said. “What do they say? ‘You’re missing this requirement. You’re missing a few points.’ That is stinginess. They have rigid rules. If someone’s protein level is 195, is he not in danger? Why must it be exactly 200 before he qualifies for assistance? These numbers can change within a month. They are constantly changing. Therefore, I say that fairness dictates that one should not automatically accept their position.”

Rav Zilberstein argued that the public would overwhelmingly prefer that health fund resources be directed first and foremost toward life-saving treatments.

“In my opinion, the public would rather see this money spent on life-saving medications,” he said. “As long as the health funds never ask the public how these funds should be used, it cannot simply be claimed that every expenditure reflects the will of the public. If they consulted their members, who would approve these advertisements? A single full-page ad costs an enormous amount of money. And there are many more advertisements—in newspapers, institutions, and elsewhere. The advertising is excessive and unjustified. It is money that should not be spent this way.”

One participant asked what purpose such advertising serves.

“Why are they advertising?” he asked. “Is it to build their reputation or to attract more clients?”

Rav Zilberstein replied, “To bring in more money and attract clients. But it is not justified. You cannot collect money from poor people who need that money to live and then spend it this way. It is not justified. Much of what we do today is not justified. It is not according to the Torah.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Thursday from the Oval Office that his administration will steer nearly $700 million in federal money into the U.S. coal industry, invoking a Cold War-era law to fund power plants, new facilities and coal-export infrastructure. Speaking around 3:20 p.m. Eastern, Trump said the goal was “to bring down the price of energy and the cost of living for all Americans with the power of clean, beautiful coal.” He was joined by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin.

The funding comes through a combination of authorities that include the Defense Production Act, a 1950 law that allows presidents to support industries deemed vital to national security. The administration argues coal qualifies because the electric grid is facing growing pressure from rising electricity demand, including the rapid expansion of artificial-intelligence data centers, while higher global energy costs continue to affect consumers and businesses.

The largest portion of the package, approximately $425 million, will be used to upgrade 13 existing coal-fired power plants across multiple states, including West Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Indiana, Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Administration officials say the upgrades are intended to extend the operating life of the facilities and improve grid reliability.

Another portion of the funding is expected to support coal-export infrastructure, while roughly $200 million in Department of Energy grants will help finance two new coal-generation projects and the restart of a previously shuttered facility. According to administration officials, the effort is designed to preserve domestic coal production capacity and maintain dispatchable power generation that can operate regardless of weather conditions.

The White House estimates the initiative will help support 14 power plants, 42 coal mines, and approximately 12,500 jobs tied directly or indirectly to the coal industry.

Investors reacted positively to the announcement.

Peabody Energy rose about 3.7%, extending a rally that has lifted shares more than 30% from recent lows. Core Natural Resources, created through the merger of Arch Resources and CONSOL Energy, gained roughly 2.6%. Alliance Resource Partners added about 2.3%, while Alpha Metallurgical Resources and Warrior Met Coal also moved higher.

The broader coal sector outperformed the overall market, with coal-focused exchange-traded funds advancing more than 2% while the S&P 500 posted more modest gains.

Utilities that consume coal saw a more muted reaction. Shares of Duke Energy, American Electric Power, and other major utility operators posted only modest increases. Transportation companies could also benefit if coal shipments rise, particularly railroads such as CSX and Norfolk Southern, which move significant volumes of coal throughout the United States.

The industry’s financial picture remains mixed.

Core Natural Resources recently reported first-quarter net income of approximately $21 million on revenue of about $1.1 billion, supported by stronger metallurgical coal prices and steady production. Peabody Energy, meanwhile, reported a quarterly loss as lower coal prices and reduced shipment volumes weighed on earnings.

Supporters of the plan argue that coal remains an essential part of maintaining grid reliability.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright has repeatedly described coal, natural gas and nuclear power as the backbone of the U.S. electric system, particularly as electricity demand accelerates. Industry groups and elected officials from major coal-producing states contend that maintaining domestic coal capacity provides both economic and energy-security benefits.

Critics argue the funding represents a costly effort to support a sector that has steadily lost market share over the past decade. Coal generated roughly 45% of U.S. electricity in 2010, but by 2024 its share had fallen to approximately 15% as utilities increasingly shifted toward natural gas, solar, wind and battery-storage projects.

Environmental organizations also point to studies suggesting many existing coal plants cost more to operate than newer renewable-energy alternatives. They argue market forces, rather than government intervention, have largely driven coal’s decline.

The administration counters that reliability—not just cost—must remain a central consideration as electricity demand climbs. Federal officials have increasingly pointed to the enormous power requirements of artificial-intelligence infrastructure, advanced manufacturing facilities and data centers as reasons to maintain a diverse energy mix.

For consumers and businesses, the ultimate question is whether the investment will translate into more reliable electricity and lower energy costs—or whether taxpayers will ultimately shoulder the cost of extending the life of an industry facing long-term economic challenges.

JBizNews Desk

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

Toronto’s “Walk for Israel” parade drew about 60,000 participants Sunday in the largest ever rally in its 57-year history, according to the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto.

The Federation said the rally was attended by officials at all levels of government and “again transformed the streets of midtown Toronto into a vibrant celebration of Jewish pride, community and connection.”

“This year’s Walk with Israel was a remarkable demonstration of the strength, resilience and unity of our community,” said Ken Tanenbaum, chair of the Federation’s board. “Today sent a clear message: We stand together with pride, strength and determination. We are grateful to be joined by so many friends and allies.”

Video footage shows throngs of people marching at the Walk for Israel in Toronto on Sunday. (Credit: UJA Federation of Greater Toronto)

“This turnout speaks to the deep connection our community feels to Israel and to one another,” he added.

“We walk for peace, justice, pluralism and the right of every person to thrive in a Toronto that is welcoming, tolerant and safe for all,” stated Brad Bradford, a mayoral candidate and member of the Toronto City Council. “To Toronto’s Jewish community: I stand with you, and I will walk alongside you today and every day.”

Toronto City Council member and mayoral candidate Brad Bradford (center, in black shirt) poses with participants at the Walk of Israel Sunday. (Credit: Brad Bradford)

“What we witnessed today was an extraordinary expression of solidarity, Jewish pride and hope,” said Adam Minsky, president and CEO of the Federation.

“Tens of thousands of people chose to come together publicly and proudly in support of our community, our values and our connection to Israel,” he added. “Today was a powerful reminder that hate will not define us. We choose unity over division, connection over fear and hope over hate.”

As protesters leave their designated area, police move in to protect the participants in the rally. (Credit: Caryma’s Protest Mania)

The rally kept Toronto Police busy, with five arrests made altogether thus far and with police assiduously pushing protesters back who attempted to breach the generous buffer zone intended to prevent a repeat of last year’s “Gauntlet of Hate,” when rallygoers were forced to march between rows of protesters shouting incitement and harassment.

JERUSALEM (VINnews)-The Israel Defense Forces held a handover ceremony for command of the 401st Armored Brigade on Sunday, following the serious injury of its previous commander, Col. Meir Biderman, in southern Lebanon last month.

Biderman was severely wounded on May 20 when a Hezbollah explosive drone struck his position. His condition has since improved, according to military officials.

Col. Yoav Schneider, who most recently commanded the 205th “Iron Fist” Reserve Armored Brigade, assumed leadership of the 401st Brigade.

Schneider has a history of resilience in the face of Hezbollah attacks. He was critically injured by anti-tank missile fire while serving as a tank platoon commander during the Second Lebanon War in 2006. After a lengthy recovery, he returned to active combat roles and rose through the ranks.

The 401st Brigade operates in the northern sector, where Israeli forces continue operations against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon amid ongoing cross-border tensions.

VINnews will provide further updates as details become available.

American employers are announcing layoffs at the fastest pace for the month of May since the pandemic, and retailers remain under growing pressure as consumers pull back on spending and companies rethink how many workers and stores they need.

According to data released Thursday by Challenger, Gray & Christmas, U.S. employers announced 97,006 job cuts in May, a 16% increase from April and the highest total for the month of May since 2020, when much of the economy was shut down during the COVID-19 crisis.

The increase marks the third consecutive monthly rise in announced layoffs and reflects a labor market that remains stable on the surface but is becoming increasingly cautious underneath.

The largest source of cuts this year has been technology, where companies are restructuring around artificial intelligence. Challenger reported that AI-related restructuring accounted for 38,579 announced job cuts in May, the highest monthly total ever attributed to the technology and roughly 40% of all announced layoffs during the month.

The technology sector alone announced 38,242 cuts, underscoring how rapidly companies are reorganizing operations around automation and AI-powered tools.

But retail is facing a different problem.

While technology firms are reducing staff to improve efficiency, retailers are cutting jobs because customers are becoming more selective about how they spend their money.

Major chains have announced thousands of layoffs this year as they respond to slower sales, store closures, and changing consumer behavior. Macy’s, which has been shrinking its store footprint and restructuring operations, has announced some of the largest retail workforce reductions of the year.

The challenges extend beyond traditional department stores.

Even premium brands are beginning to feel the effects of a more cautious consumer. Analysts have recently warned that several major apparel retailers could face slower growth as shoppers prioritize essentials and delay discretionary purchases.

The pressure comes at a difficult time for households.

Inflation continues to outpace wage growth, meaning many consumers have less purchasing power despite receiving raises. Rising costs for groceries, fuel, housing, insurance, and other necessities leave less room in household budgets for clothing, home goods, electronics, and other nonessential purchases.

That shift is showing up across the retail industry.

Companies report that shoppers are increasingly searching for discounts, buying fewer items, and trading down to lower-priced alternatives. Even higher-income consumers are becoming more value-conscious, a trend that retailers say has accelerated throughout the spring.

When spending slows, retailers often respond by reducing inventory, closing underperforming stores, and trimming payroll costs.

The current wave of cuts follows an already difficult period for the sector. Retailers announced nearly 93,000 job reductions during 2025, as companies struggled with changing shopping habits, e-commerce competition, inflation pressures, and uncertainty surrounding tariffs and supply chains.

This year’s reductions are building on top of those earlier efforts rather than replacing them.

There is some reason for caution before declaring a broader labor-market downturn.

Overall announced layoffs in 2026 remain below last year’s pace, although that comparison is influenced by unusually large workforce reductions in the federal government during 2025. Excluding those cuts, layoff activity today looks much closer to levels seen in 2024.

That suggests the economy is not experiencing a widespread employment crisis.

Instead, the weakness appears concentrated in sectors most dependent on consumer spending and industries undergoing rapid technological change.

For workers in retail, distribution, logistics, and related industries, however, the distinction may offer little comfort.

Their employment prospects remain closely tied to the willingness of American consumers to spend. As long as inflation continues to strain household budgets and shoppers remain cautious, retailers are likely to remain focused on cutting costs rather than expanding payrolls.

The result is a labor market that remains strong in headline numbers but increasingly fragile for workers whose jobs depend on consumer confidence.

JBizNews Desk — Economy

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

Sirens sounded across northern Israel after the detection of an Iranian missile launch. The IDF says all projectiles were successfully intercepted, but warns that additional waves of missiles and rockets could be launched in the coming hours.

Following Israeli strikes in Beirut, the military has reinforced air defenses, increased readiness nationwide, and is preparing for a range of possible scenarios.

As a precaution, schools across Israel have been canceled, and residents are being urged to remain alert and closely follow Home Front Command instructions.

Iran’s World Cup soccer players have received visas to enter the United States, a US official said days before their first match, but Iranian media said on Saturday that some administrative staff had not received their visas.

The White House official told Reuters on Friday, 10 days before Iran plays in Los Angeles, that the players had received their visas, after Iran’s ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, had said on Thursday that they had not.

First World Cup with hosts receiving war adversary

Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim reported that those who had not received visas included Executive Director Mehdi Kharati, the secretary general of the soccer federation, Hedayat Mombini, and Media Director Mohsen Motamedkia.

Staff members without visas would travel to Mexico with the team while efforts to obtain visas continue, the agency said.

Iran’s football federation said the behavior of co-hosts the US “contradicts international sports laws” and it would take up the matter with soccer’s world governing body FIFA.

“The US government, continuing its hostile actions against the national team … made a non-sporting and completely political decision to refuse visas for key managerial and administrative members of the Iranian national football team,” it said in a statement reported by Iran’s state media.

“This issue will definitely be pursued by the Football Federation through FIFA.

“As the responsible body, (FIFA) has the duty to follow up and finalize the visas for the managerial, executive, technical, and support staff of the Iranian national team who are currently in camp and whom the national team urgently needs.”

FIFA was not immediately available for comment outside business hours in the US.

Geopolitical Contest

The US, Mexico, and Canada are co-hosting the biggest global sporting event, which starts on Wednesday.

This is the first World Cup since its inception in 1930 in which a host nation is set to receive a country with which it is at war.

Tehran negotiated a last-minute move of the team’s base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, due to the visa issues and a growing feeling in Iran that the squad’s presence in the United States should be kept to a minimum.

They are scheduled to land in Tijuana early on Sunday.

Iran is due to play their first Group G match on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles, where they will also face Belgium before taking on Egypt in Seattle.

 Rubio says US to bar people linked to Revolutionary Guards

The US never formally said it did not want the Iranian team to stay on its territory, Ambassador Pasandideh said.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, told lawmakers on Tuesday that the US would not allow Iran to include in its delegation people linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Mehdi Taj, president of Iran’s soccer federation, was denied entry for the tournament draw in Washington in December. He is a former commander in the Revolutionary Guards.

Iran’s desire to compete in the World Cup underscored its efforts to reach a resolution in the war with Washington, Pasandideh said.

“Iran’s participation in the World Cup – even on the soil of what is seen as its enemy – shows that Iran seeks peace,” Pasandideh said through a Spanish interpreter at the Iranian embassy in Mexico City.

Progress in peace talks between Iran and the US has been slow, with both sides seemingly inching toward an interim agreement even as they continue to carry out military strikes

This post was originally published on here.

A Maryland man admitted to the transportation of a stolen firearm in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States Attorney Robert Frazer announced.

“Trafficking illegal firearms poses a direct threat to the safety of our communities. Vargas admitted to selling firearms, including a handgun stolen out of Texas, for his own profit. This Office will continue working with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who bring illegal weapons into New Jersey.”

– U.S. Attorney Robert Frazer

Luiz Vargas, a/k/a, “El Biggie,” 26, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Georgette Castner to a one-count Information charging him with transportation of a stolen firearm.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Beginning in January 2025, law enforcement investigated Vargas for trafficking firearms into New Jersey from, among other places, Texas and Maryland. Using a confidential source acting at the direction and supervision of law enforcement, officers conducted four controlled purchases of firearms, which yielded a total of eight firearms: two semiautomatic rifles and six handguns. Two of the handguns were reported stolen out of Texas and Colorado, respectively, and the two semiautomatic rifles had no serial numbers or other identifiable markings on them. On at least one occasion, Vargas provided cocaine to the confidential source after being unable to follow through with a promised sale of firearms. Vargas has never held a federal license to deal or manufacture firearms.

The transportation of a stolen firearm charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for September 30, 2026.

United States Attorney Frazer credited special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Stefanie Roddy in Newark, with the investigation leading to the guilty plea. U.S. Attorney Frazer also thanked the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations Newark, under the direction of Acting Field Office Director Arthur J. Wilson Jr., the Howell Township Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police John Storrow, the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy, the Asbury Park Police Department, under the direction of Police Director John B. Hayes, the Freehold Borough Police Department, under the Direction of Chief of Police Chris Colaner, the Lakewood Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Gregory H. Meyer, the Little Silver Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Paul Halpin, the Marlboro Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Peter Pezzullo, the Middletown Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police R. Craig Weber, the Monroe Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Griffin N. Banos, and the Wall Police Department, under the direction of Chief of Police Sean O’Halloran, for their assistance in the investigation.

One hundred days after former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was assassinated in his office in Tehran, the Islamic Republic has yet to bury the man who ruled the country for more than three decades.

The delay has become one of the most unusual and politically sensitive aspects of Iran’s post-war transition. While senior military commanders and government officials who were killed in the same strike have already been laid to rest, repeated promises of a massive state funeral for Khamenei have yet to materialize.

Officials in Tehran have spoken of plans for a multi-day funeral procession later this month. According to those plans, ceremonies would be held in several cities before Khamenei is ultimately buried in the holy city of Mashhad.

The lengthy delay stands in contrast to Shiite religious tradition, which generally favors prompt burial except under extraordinary circumstances, such as uncertainty surrounding the circumstances of death. Several Shiite clerics have argued that unnecessary delays should be avoided if they risk showing disrespect to the deceased.

The television network Iran International reported that the absence of a funeral has fueled speculation regarding the condition of Khamenei’s remains following the attack in which he was killed. Iranian media reports concerning other officials who died in the same strike described bodies that were recovered only weeks later and identified through DNA testing after suffering extensive damage.

Iranian authorities have released no information regarding the condition or location of Khamenei’s remains. The unanswered questions surrounding his burial have merged with another mystery: the continuing disappearance of his designated successor.

Mojtaba Khamenei, who assumed leadership following his father’s death, has not appeared publicly since the assassination. Officials insist that he survived the attack and suffered only minor injuries, but reports and rumors of more serious wounds have continued to circulate.

If Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and actively governing, he would rank among Israel’s highest-priority targets. Any major public appearance could pose significant security risks.

That reality complicates what would ordinarily be a defining moment for a new leader. The funeral of a supreme leader is not merely a religious ceremony; it is also a powerful display of political continuity. The successor’s absence from such an event would be difficult to explain, while his attendance could expose him to risks that authorities may be unwilling to accept.

For now, 100 days after Khamenei’s death, Iran has officially selected a successor but has yet to present him publicly. It has promised a historic farewell to its longtime leader but has not delivered one. And it continues to grapple with questions that neither official statements nor public ceremonies have been able to answer.

{Matzav.com}

The United States is now spending so much to cover the interest on its debt that the cost has quietly become one of the largest items in the entire federal budget. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Treasury spent about $628 billion simply paying interest on the national debt in the first seven months of this fiscal year, figures released in early May show. That works out to nearly $3 billion a day. Over that stretch, interest cost the government more than it spent on Medicare or Medicaid and trailed only Social Security as a category of federal spending.

The numbers behind that figure are staggering in scale.

Total federal debt is closing in on $39 trillion. The portion held by the public — the part the government actively borrows in financial markets — stands at roughly $31 trillion, an amount about equal to the size of the entire U.S. economy. For the first time outside a major war, the country owes nearly as much as it produces in a year.

Two forces explain why the interest bill has exploded.

The first is simply that the debt grew enormous, the result of years of deficits running between $1 trillion and $2 trillion annually. The second is that interest rates climbed. After a long stretch of near-zero rates, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note has averaged above 4% since 2023.

That combination matters in a way many people miss: each time older, cheap debt comes due, the government has to refinance it at today’s higher rates. So even if Washington stopped adding new debt tomorrow, the interest cost would keep rising as low-rate borrowing from years past gets replaced with expensive new borrowing.

The trajectory is steep.

The Congressional Budget Office projects that net interest payments will roughly double, from about $1 trillion in 2026 to $2.1 trillion by 2036, making interest the fastest-growing part of the federal budget. The agency expects this year’s deficit to reach about $1.9 trillion, equal to 5.8% of the economy. It also projects that federal debt held by the public will climb from about 101% of GDP this year to 120% by 2036, surpassing the previous record of 106% set just after World War II in 1946.

The practical consequence is that interest payments leave less room for everything else the government does.

Money spent servicing past borrowing cannot be used for defense, infrastructure, research, or other priorities. Interest costs are now approaching the size of the nation’s defense budget and are projected to exceed it in the years ahead. By some forecasts, interest payments will eventually surpass all discretionary spending — the portion of the budget Congress appropriates each year.

The effects reach households as well.

Because government borrowing costs help anchor rates throughout the economy, persistently large deficits can contribute to higher mortgage rates, more expensive car loans, and increased borrowing costs for businesses and consumers alike.

In the short term, the picture looks slightly less alarming than the headline numbers suggest.

This year’s deficit has been running somewhat smaller than last year’s at the same point, helped in part by stronger tax collections and tariff revenue. But that is mostly short-term noise. The deeper story runs the other direction. An aging population continues to push up the cost of Social Security and Medicare, deficits remain historically large even during a healthy economy, and interest rates show little sign of returning to the ultra-low levels that prevailed for much of the last decade.

Budget watchdogs have become increasingly blunt.

Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, has warned that the nation’s current fiscal path “cannot be sustainable.” The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the 2025 tax-and-spending law widened projected deficits by roughly $4.7 trillion over the next decade. Meanwhile, the trust funds supporting Social Security and Medicare are projected to face insolvency in the early 2030s, potentially triggering automatic benefit reductions unless lawmakers act.

What makes the debt difficult to grasp is that it is not the kind of problem that arrives on a single dramatic day.

There is no moment when the bill suddenly comes due. Instead, the burden builds slowly and quietly, year after year, narrowing the government’s options as a growing share of every tax dollar goes simply toward paying for borrowing already undertaken.

The bill for decades of deficits has now become one of the largest expenses in the federal budget.

For now, financial markets continue to purchase U.S. Treasury debt readily, and the dollar remains the world’s primary reserve currency, allowing the United States to borrow on a scale few other nations could sustain.

The long-term question is whether that confidence holds as the debt continues to climb.

Absent action from Congress to alter the trajectory, the mathematics point in one direction: the interest bill only grows from here.

JBizNews Desk — Washington

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

JERUSALEM (VINnews) – Two years after the daring Operation Arnon, Israel’s Yamam counterterrorism unit on Sunday released helmet-camera video showing the intense June 8, 2024, daylight rescue of four hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp.

The operation freed Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv, all of whom were abducted from the Nova music festival during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre in southern Israel.

The newly released clips capture fierce close-quarters combat as Yamam operators fought through heavy fire to reach the hostages, the emotional moment rescuers located them, and the radio transmission declaring, “Hostages in our hands.”

Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, 27, was fatally wounded in the fighting, just meters from the three male hostages he helped save. Despite his death, the team completed the mission successfully.

Yamam commanders described the raid as a complex daylight double rescue conducted simultaneously in two buildings approximately 200 meters apart. Operators eliminated Hamas guards under heavy fire, extracted the hostages within minutes and withdrew with air support.

The operation marked the unit’s second successful live hostage rescue during the ongoing war against Hamas.

The footage honors the bravery of the Yamam operators and pays tribute to Zamora’s ultimate sacrifice in service of the mission.

All four rescued hostages were reunited with their families and have since begun rebuilding their lives after more than eight months in captivity.

By BoroPark24 Staff

The NYPD was seen preparing Sunday for possible protests in Boro Park ahead of an event that draws opposition from Palestinian and pro-Palestinian protesters.

A significant police presence was observed near 15th Avenue and 48th Street, with hundreds of officers deployed throughout the area as authorities monitored the situation and prepared for potential demonstrations.

However, according to multiple reports, the event at the center of the controversy was ultimately canceled. As a result, the planned protests were also called off, and no major incidents were reported.

BoroPark24 will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as more information becomes available.

A prominent civil rights attorney and antisemitism law expert is calling on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse a federal court ruling that dismissed civil rights claims brought by two janitors who were assaulted, barricaded, and called “Jew-lovers” by rioters who seized Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall during the April 2024 campus unrest.

Rabbi Dr. Mark Goldfeder – CEO and Director of the National Jewish Advocacy Center, Director of the Antisemitism Law Clinic at Touro Law, and a former Presidential appointee to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Council – published a sharp legal critique of the ruling in the National Review on Sunday, arguing that U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon made several fundamental errors in dismissing the Section 1985(3) claims of Mariano Torres and Lester Wilson in Torres v. Carlson.

Torres and Wilson, both janitors at Columbia, say they were surrounded by masked rioters during the Hamilton Hall takeover, punched, physically prevented from leaving the building, and called “Jew-lovers” and told they were “working for the Jews.” The two men lost their jobs as a result and remain on workers’ compensation.

Judge McMahon dismissed their civil rights claims, holding that the rioters did not conspire for the purpose of depriving anyone of their civil rights – characterizing the antisemitism as a mere “backdrop” and the violence against Torres and Wilson as a “side effect” of a political protest rather than its objective.

Goldfeder argued that the court misapplied its own legal standard. The ruling relied on Bray v. Alexandria Women’s Health Clinic, in which the Supreme Court held that anti-abortion protesters who targeted abortion clinics were not conspiring against women as a class. But Goldfeder said that logic does not apply here. Torres and Wilson were not called “Jew-lovers” by a single protester who went off-script, he wrote – they were called that by the mob attacking them, as an explanation for why they were being attacked.

“That is not a side effect,” Goldfeder wrote. “That is literally the frame through which the conspirators themselves understood the situation. The antisemitic vocabulary was the operational logic of the assault.”

Goldfeder also challenged the court’s reasoning that because the rioters planned to use force against anyone who got in their way – not only Jews or their sympathizers – the conspiracy lacked the class-based animus required under the law. He pointed to the Ku Klux Klan as a historical parallel: the Klan also killed white civil rights workers alongside Black Americans, yet no court ever held that this mixed targeting removed the discriminatory character of the enterprise.

“A mixed-target conspiracy does not become non-discriminatory simply because the conspirators are willing to harm anyone who obstructs the mission,” Goldfeder wrote. “If racial or antisemitic animus helps define that mission, identify the enemy, or justify the violence, then the statute is implicated.”

Goldfeder further argued that the court erred in holding that Torres and Wilson could not qualify as a cognizable class of “people who are or are perceived to be Jews or supporters of Jews.” Federal civil rights law across multiple statutes – including Title VII and the Americans with Disabilities Act – protects people targeted based on perceived membership in a protected class, he noted. Whatever Torres and Wilson actually believe about Jews or Zionism, their attackers decided what category they belonged to, and Section 1985(3) should not be the lone exception to that principle.

Speaking to Belaaz, Goldfeder said the case must now go to the appellate court. “Next stop should be the Second Circuit,” he said. “This was not just a protest where things got out of hand. These janitors say they were trapped, attacked, called ‘Jew-lovers,’ and told they were ‘working for the Jews.’ At some point, courts have to stop treating antisemitism as scenery and recognize it as part of the conduct. Tort law can deal with the physical injuries, lost jobs, and workers’ comp issues, but civil-rights law is supposed to deal with the very important issue of why they were targeted.”

Goldfeder acknowledged in his analysis that the state tort system can compensate Torres and Wilson for their physical injuries and lost wages – but argued that is not sufficient. “The state tort system can compensate Torres and Wilson for their injuries,” he wrote. “It cannot name what was done to them. That is what the civil rights laws are for, and the Second Circuit should have the chance to say so on appeal.”

NEW YORK— Americans are quietly eating less, and it’s starting to show up on the books of the country’s biggest food companies. The cause isn’t a recession or the latest diet fad. It’s a class of weight-loss drugs—Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound—that switch off hunger. About one in eight U.S. adults now takes one, and this spring the first cheap, easy-to-swallow pill versions reached pharmacy shelves.

Wall Street is already doing the math on the fallout. J.P. Morgan projects these drugs could erase $30 billion to $55 billion in annual U.S. food and beverage sales by the early 2030s, as users take in about 21% fewer calories and spend roughly 31% less at the grocery store.

Here’s why that number is so big.

The drugs were built to treat diabetes, but they also quiet the brain’s hunger signals, so people feel full sooner and snack less. In April, Eli Lilly won approval for Foundayo, the first weight-loss pill that can be taken without food or water restrictions, and it’s now reaching retail pharmacies. Novo Nordisk has a pill out, too. Cheaper, needle-free options are expected to pull millions more people onto the drugs—J.P. Morgan sees the U.S. user base climbing toward 25 million to 30 million people by 2030, up from about 10 million in 2025.

When that many people eat less, the grocery cart changes.

A Cornell University study tracked roughly 150,000 households and found that within six months of starting the drugs, families cut grocery spending by an average of 5.3%. Higher-income households cut more than 8%. Spending at fast-food restaurants and coffee shops fell about 8%, too. The cuts landed right where food companies make some of their best margins: sweets and salty snacks dropped around 10%. Yogurt, meanwhile, went up. People are swapping chips and candy for protein and fiber.

This is the part that worries Big Food, and the biggest brands are scrambling.

Conagra, which makes Healthy Choice meals, slapped a “GLP-1 friendly” label on more than two dozen of its frozen dinners. Nestlé launched a line called Vital Pursuit aimed directly at people taking the drugs. The shift is now significant enough that nearly three dozen non-healthcare companies discussed GLP-1 medications on earnings calls earlier this year, up from just 14 companies a year earlier.

Restaurants are rewriting menus, too. Olive Garden, owned by Darden Restaurants, added a lighter-portions section. The Cheesecake Factory rolled out smaller bowls and smaller meals. Shake Shack launched a “Good Fit Menu” featuring lettuce-wrapped burgers with up to 52 grams of protein. Even McDonald’s says it is testing high-protein, GLP-1-friendly items as it prepares for more customers with smaller appetites.

The math behind those changes is difficult for some chains. Bank of America found that snacking accounts for roughly 12% of sales at limited-service restaurant chains such as McDonald’s and Taco Bell—and snacking is exactly what these drugs are designed to reduce.

Not everyone is losing. The same medications reducing food consumption are generating enormous growth elsewhere. J.P. Morgan expects the global market for these drugs to reach $200 billion by 2030. Pfizer paid $10 billion last year to acquire a drugmaker developing its own version after outbidding seven competing buyers. And Washington is leaning in: a new Medicare and Medicaid pilot program would cap costs for some patients at $50 per month, potentially expanding usage further.

In the short run, the hit to food companies remains modest—a fraction of overall sales. The industry still has time to adjust, and some companies are already finding growth opportunities in high-protein snacks, nutrition-focused products, and healthier prepared meals.

But the long-run signal is becoming difficult to ignore. For the first time, a medicine—not a tax, not a recession, and not a public-health campaign—is changing how much the country eats. The companies that spent a century getting Americans to eat more now have to figure out how to make money when millions of their best customers simply want less.

JBizNews Desk — New York

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

The IDF has cleared for publication the identity of the reserve soldier killed in Sunday’s deadly shooting attack in the Sharon region. The victim was identified as Master Sergeant (Res.) Chaim Klomity Hy”d, 55, of Tzur Natan, who served as a regional defense fighter in Battalion 8881 of the Ephraim Brigade.

According to the IDF, Klomity was killed during the terror attack near Tzur Natan. Another reserve soldier was seriously wounded in the same incident and was evacuated to a hospital for treatment. His family has been notified.

The attack began at approximately 10:36 a.m., when police received reports of gunfire at a gas station and fast-food restaurant near the entrance to Kochav Yair. Following the initial reports, Central District Commander Amir Cohen declared the incident a terrorist attack and dispatched large numbers of police officers, Border Police personnel, and additional security forces to the area.

Preliminary findings indicate that the terrorist, an Israeli citizen in his 20s from Tayibe, left the city in his vehicle shortly after 10:30 a.m. and embarked on a shooting spree across several locations.

Authorities said the gunman first opened fire at civilians at a gas station in the Tzur Yigal area, wounding two people. He then drove to Tzur Yitzchak, where he fired at a security post at the entrance to the community, injuring another civilian.

The attacker later arrived in Tzur Natan, where he carried out another shooting at a security position, wounding a security guard and a nearby woman. He then continued his rampage, firing at a reserve soldier traveling in his vehicle and fatally wounding him. That victim was later identified as Klomity.

The terrorist subsequently reached the entrance to Sal’it, where he again opened fire toward a security post. The community’s security chief engaged the gunman, returned fire, and exchanged shots with him, forcing the attacker to flee the area.

At the same time, police officers, Border Police units, IDF troops, and civilian emergency response teams established roadblocks and launched extensive search operations. A police helicopter assisted in the manhunt from the air.

At approximately 11:03 a.m., officers from the Tayibe police station located the suspect and began pursuing him. The chase ended in an open area near the quarries between Tzur Natan and Tayibe, where the terrorist was neutralized and killed.

The shooting spree left one Israeli dead and several others wounded with varying degrees of injuries.

As part of the ongoing investigation, several members of the terrorist’s family have been arrested and questioned. Investigators from the Sharon Major Crimes Unit, together with officers from the Tira police station, also arrested an additional suspect believed to have assisted the attacker. Authorities said he is expected to be brought before a court for a remand hearing following the completion of initial questioning.

{Matzav.com}

HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered a fiery speech at the Ichud Bnei HaYeshivos gathering in Jerusalem on Thursday evening, addressing the war being waged against the Torah in Eretz Yisrael.

In his speech, Maran referred explicitly to all those who persecute Torah (a reference to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and other judicial authorities and the members of the High Court), calling upon Klal Yisrael to have kavanah when they recite the words of the tefillah: וְלַמַּלְשִׁינִים אַל תְּהִי תִקְוָה, וְכָל הָרִשְׁעָה כְּרֶגַע תֹּאבֵד, וְכָל אוֹיְבֵי עַמְּךָ מְהֵרָה יִכַּרֵתוּ, וְהַזֵּדִים מְהֵרָה תְעַקֵּר וּתְשַׁבֵּר וּתְמַגֵּר וְתַכְנִיעַ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ in Shemonah Esrei.

The Rosh Yeshivah added: “If all of Klal Yisrael will have proper kavanah during these words, then Hakadosh Baruch will do what needs to be done.”

HaRav Hirsch began his speech by saying, “There’s a very difficult situation today. We are in a war—an actual war. This is a very difficult matter for the bochurim, and they must understand that we’re at war. In a time of war, sometimes things are hard, and one must sacrifice. Circumstances won’t be exactly as usual during a war. I don’t mean the war with Iran; I mean the war between us and those among us who are fighting a battle against us.

“The only way to win this war is through HaKadosh Baruch Hu. There’s no other way — only through Hakadosh Baruch Hu. And there’s a klal: the Gemara in Shabbos says that Hashem says, ‘If I see that they want Me, then I want them. If they don’t want Me, I don’t want them.’ This is ‘mida kneged mida’, as the Gemara says.

“What we need now is that Hakadosh Baruch Hu should desire us. We have no way out of this situation we’re in right now unless we merit special Siyata Dishmaya from Hakadosh Baruch Hu. And in order to merit special Siyata Dishmaya, Hashem must see a special desire in us, that we want to be close to Him. If He recognizes that we want to be close to Him, then He’ll draw close to us. And if He draws close to us, then He’ll do what needs to be done.”

“Without Hakadosh Baruch Hu, we have no eitzah, and only if He draws close to us. And this is through each and every individual. The bochurim must understand that this is not like every other time when one can be lenient. Today, tefillah must be tefillah — tefillah with all one’s koach. I saw in HaRav Wolbe’s sefer, in the name of the Kuzari, that every tefillah brings you close to Hashem, you connect to Him. And this connection must remain with the person until the next tefillah. Tefillah is closeness to Hashem, a bond with Hashem — and it must remain until the next tefillah.

“Bochurim should try to make a change in their tefillos, to daven with kavanh. And then it’s permitted  to have kavanah in the words: ‘’וְלַמַּלְשִׁינִים אַל תְּהִי תִקְוָה, וְכָל הָרִשְׁעָה כְּרֶגַע תֹּאבֵד, וְכָל אוֹיְבֵי עַמְּךָ מְהֵרָה יִכַּרֵתוּ, וְהַזֵּדִים מְהֵרָה תְעַקֵּר וּתְשַׁבֵּר וּתְמַגֵּר וְתַכְנִיעַ בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ’. If one has kavanah on these words — if all of Klal Yisrael has kavanah — then Hashem will do what needs to be done.”

“The bochurim must understand that we’re not in simple times. It is a different time. One cannot think and behave as usual. We are amid a war against us.”

“What did they think they were doing? That there would be no Limmud Torah? Why did they refuse to pass the law. The law demands that 50% of the Chareidi public will go to the army. It wouldn’t have happened, but according to the law, it would have. What did they want? They wanted 100% in the army. Why? It’s not for the army’s needs. It is explicit — explicit — explicit: they want to destroy the Olam HaTorah. Explicitly — to destroy the Olam Torah.

“And when one thinks about this — that there are people in Eretz Yisrael who want to destroy the Olam HaTorah — it brings one to tears. It’s a terrible thing. And we must fight. And the way to fight — there is a physical way — but we have our way, the way of the mouth: to speak to HaKadosh Baruch Hu, to be mechazeik in Limmud Torah, to be mechazeik in mitzvos, to be mechazeik not to speak lashon hara, to be mechazeik in tefillah — tefillah to the fullest — and be mechazeik b’chol devar, doing what HaKadosh Baruch Hu wants.

“To fulfill ‘In all your ways know Him, and He will straighten your paths.’ In all your ways know Him — in everything we do, to think: Does Hashem want me to do this or not? To live like that. To live with Hashem. And through this, Hashem will be close to us. And if Hashem is close to us — that is the solution. Through this, Hakadosh Baruch will bestow Siyata Dishmaya on us, and we will win this entire war.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

A year ago, many of New York City’s real estate developers spent millions of dollars opposing Zohran Mamdani’s rise in city politics. Today, the democratic-socialist candidate is proposing a housing strategy that depends heavily on those same developers to help solve one of New York’s biggest challenges: affordability.

That is the central surprise behind Mamdani’s housing proposal, a sweeping blueprint released in late May that calls for $22 billion in city capital spending over five years to build 200,000 affordable homes and preserve another 200,000 over the following decade. The approach is not what many supporters or critics expected. Rather than relying primarily on government construction, much of the plan depends on private-sector investment, private developers, and market-driven construction.

To understand why that matters, it helps to start with how Mamdani built his political brand.

Throughout his political career, Mamdani has championed aggressive tenant protections, rent relief, and a larger public role in housing. During the campaign, he frequently pointed to international models such as Vienna’s social housing system, where government involvement plays a far larger role than it does in the United States. His message resonated with voters frustrated by rising rents, shrinking affordability, and a housing shortage that has pushed many middle-class families out of the city.

Yet housing policy eventually runs into a simple reality: math.

Building and preserving hundreds of thousands of homes requires enormous amounts of capital, construction labor, financing expertise, and development capacity. No city government possesses enough resources to do that alone. The overwhelming majority of those capabilities remain in private hands.

That reality appears to have influenced Mamdani’s thinking. His proposal effectively embraces a model in which government sets the goals and provides incentives, while private developers perform much of the actual building. In many respects, it is a housing strategy built around socialist objectives pursued through capitalist mechanisms.

The mechanics of the proposal reflect that shift.

Rather than positioning the city primarily as a builder, the plan focuses on making construction easier and faster. It relies heavily on zoning changes, streamlined approvals, and expanded development opportunities in areas where housing density can be increased. The proposal builds upon many of the broader housing-production concepts that have gained traction in New York over recent years, including efforts to encourage residential growth near transit corridors and underutilized properties.

For public housing, the plan envisions significant investment in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), using new financing tools and capital partnerships to modernize aging developments that face billions of dollars in repair needs.

The proposal also includes a substantial emphasis on homeownership.

Mamdani has called for expanding programs that help working families purchase homes and has proposed new pathways for permanently affordable cooperative ownership. That focus on ownership is notable because homeownership has traditionally been viewed as one of the most market-oriented forms of wealth creation. For a politician frequently labeled a socialist, encouraging ownership represents a pragmatic recognition that long-term affordability often depends on helping families build equity rather than remaining renters indefinitely.

At the same time, the proposal maintains many of the tenant-focused priorities that have defined Mamdani’s political identity.

The plan seeks to reduce housing costs for lower-income residents, strengthen tenant protections, improve enforcement against negligent landlords, and expand affordability requirements in city-supported developments. Supporters argue these measures are necessary to ensure that new housing production benefits existing residents rather than accelerating displacement.

However, some of the most ambitious tenant protections face political limitations beyond City Hall.

Major changes to rent regulation generally require action from state lawmakers in Albany. That means any future mayor, regardless of ideology, would need cooperation from the governor and the state legislature to implement some of the more sweeping housing reforms often discussed during campaigns.

The business implications of the proposal are significant.

Developers are not merely participants in the plan; they are essential to its success. If private capital does not flow into projects, if financing becomes more difficult, or if builders determine the economics no longer work, housing production could fall well short of projections.

Construction companies, labor unions, engineering firms, architects, lenders, and suppliers would all stand to benefit if the proposal generates the level of development envisioned. Large-scale projects such as the long-discussed redevelopment of Sunnyside Yard in Queens illustrate the scale of construction opportunities that housing advocates hope to unlock over the coming decade.

Critics remain skeptical.

Some argue the housing targets are overly ambitious and depend on optimistic assumptions about financing, political cooperation, and market conditions. Others question whether developers will fully embrace a program that could also include stronger tenant protections and additional regulations.

Those concerns highlight the central tension at the heart of the proposal.

For years, New York’s housing debate has often been framed as a conflict between tenants and landlords, government and developers, regulation and markets. Mamdani’s housing blueprint attempts to bridge those competing interests by using private-sector resources to pursue public-sector goals.

Whether that balance can actually work remains the unanswered question.

The true test will not come from campaign speeches, policy rollouts, or headline-grabbing announcements. It will come years from now, when New Yorkers can measure whether more homes were built, whether affordability improved, and whether working families found it easier to remain in the city.

If the strategy succeeds, it could become a model for other high-cost cities struggling with housing shortages. If it fails, it may reinforce a lesson that urban leaders across the political spectrum have learned repeatedly: solving a housing crisis is far easier to promise than to accomplish.

JBizNews Desk

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