Photo: Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters (archive)

By REUTERS

Iran and the United States are far from reaching a deal to end the war, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday morning, adding that Tehran would not accept Washington’s “excessive demands.”

Tehran’s conditions would have to be met if the US wants the Strait of Hormuz opened, the official said, adding that nuclear talks could begin afterwards.

Mediators, the official said, were working hard to narrow the diplomatic gaps between Tehran and Washington.

The official also warned that Iran was prepared to respond forcefully to US strikes, both in the region and beyond.

The comments come at a time of heightened diplomatic efforts, with Qatar acting as a key intermediary, to prevent a potential return to active conflict after the midterms. 

An aerial view of the island of Qeshm, separated from the Iranian mainland by the Clarence Strait, December 10, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/STRINGER/FILE PHOTO)

US strikes Iran’s Qeshm Island

On Monday night, a US official confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that the US carried out strikes on Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

The strikes, initially reported by the Wall Street Journal, appeared to be limited and were not a resumption of major combat operations, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

“IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) personnel launched a missile from Qeshm Island toward an American aircraft over the Strait of Hormuz, and in response, the Americans launched a surface-to-air missile in self-defense,” a US official told the Post.

Ariella Roitman and Amichai Stein contributed to this report.

Originally published by The Jerusalem Post.

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As fears grow of an imminent escalation with Iran, Israel has delivered an ultimatum to the Lebanese government: stop Hezbollah from joining the fighting, or the war in Lebanon will resume.

Through US mediators, Jerusalem has demanded in recent days that the Lebanese army set up checkpoints in areas linked to Hezbollah terrorists. A security official explained that the move is meant to stop the terror group from opening another front. He stressed that if Hezbollah gets involved under pressure from Tehran, the fighting in Lebanon will start again, despite the direct talks recently held between the two countries.

While pressing Beirut, the IDF is also working on the ground to destroy Hezbollah’s infrastructure as it prepares for a possible return to combat. Over the past three weeks, the Israeli Air Force has sharply increased its strikes in southern Lebanon. The strikes are focused on open areas that the Lebanese army has so far avoided entering because it lacks the manpower, motivation and ability.

The tension in the north comes as Israel makes intense preparations for action against Iran. The assessment in Israel is that President Donald Trump may order a return to the fighting within days. Such a move is expected to include a joint US-Israeli operation focused on energy facilities and nuclear targets.

As part of the coordination ahead of a possible strike, senior IDF officers and US Central Command held a series of discussions over the weekend. A round of talks was also held with Gulf states, with an emphasis on members of the Abraham Accords.

Israeli officials are deeply pessimistic about the chances of a diplomatic solution. They expect the mediation talks held in recent days between Iran and Qatar to end without a breakthrough.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Photo: Maciek Kwiatkowski / Wikimedia Commons (archive)

Europe is entering its winter heating season with its lowest natural gas inventories since 2013, leaving a smaller safety cushion that could keep global gas markets tight well into 2027, the International Energy Agency warned in a report released Tuesday.

The agency’s Global Gas Security Review 2026 says the European Union will rely more heavily on imported liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to meet winter demand as disruption to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz constrains global supplies.

The risk extends beyond the cold months. If Europe draws heavily on storage this winter, it will need to buy more gas to rebuild those reserves through summer 2027, competing with other importers for available cargoes.

A winter stress test, not a prediction

In a severe scenario combining colder-than-average weather with continued disruption to LNG flows through Hormuz, EU storage could fall below 10% of working capacity by the end of March 2027, according to the IEA’s simulations.

That is a conditional stress scenario, not a forecast that storage will reach that level. Both the weather assumption and the continued shipping disruption are part of the calculation.

The agency says gas can generally be withdrawn from storage less quickly once inventories fall below 30% of working capacity. Low stocks would therefore leave Europe more exposed to a late cold snap, a technical outage or another supply interruption, even before sites were empty.

Less LNG despite new production

The IEA projects global LNG supply will decline by 3%, or almost 20 billion cubic metres, in 2026, assuming trade flows through Hormuz remain largely disrupted at least through the end of the year.

Loadings from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates fell by more than 60 billion cubic metres from March through October compared with a year earlier. Higher output outside the Gulf, including new projects in North America and Africa, offset about two-thirds of that loss over the same period, the agency said.

Global gas demand is expected to fall by about 1.5%, or close to 65 billion cubic metres, for the full year. The IEA attributes the decline to disrupted activity in the Middle East, weaker industrial consumption in Europe and a shift from gas to coal in parts of Asia’s power sector.

More flexible trade, but a smaller buffer

The review says more flexible LNG contracts have helped buyers redirect supplies during the disruption. Contracts that allow cargoes to change destination accounted for more than half of the market in 2025, up from 29% in 2016, with expanding U.S. LNG supplies a major contributor.

But flexible trading cannot fully replace lost supply or stored fuel. Limited storage in several Asian and South American importing countries, alongside Europe’s smaller reserves, could intensify competition for cargoes when seasonal demand rises, the IEA said.

The featured photograph shows LNG-terminal tanks in Poland in 2016. It is an archive image, not a current view of European inventory levels.

JBizNews Desk | Paris
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Photo: Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

A US judge on Monday temporarily barred the Trump administration from moving ahead with a plan it says would prevent noncitizen voting, but that critics say risks disenfranchising eligible voters and infringing on states’ authority over elections.

US District Judge Tanya Chutkan barred the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security from sending states lists of registered voters the administration says may not be citizens, and from asking state election officials to separate out those voters’ ballots or not count them until citizenship is proven.

The ruling marks the latest in a series of legal setbacks for President Donald Trump’s efforts to assert federal control over election administration ahead of the November 3 midterms. Trump’s fellow Republicans are battling to retain majorities in both houses of Congress.

However, the Trump administration notched a victory on Monday in a separate case where a panel of the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals cleared the government to threaten state and local election officials with prosecution if they did not comply with demands related to voting by alleged noncitizens. Chutkan is not bound by that ruling.

Noncitizen voting is illegal, and all available evidence shows that it is exceedingly rare. But Trump, who falsely asserts that his loss in the 2020 presidential election was due to fraud, has long accused states, which are responsible for administering elections, of facilitating noncitizen voting.

Trump administration pressures states over alleged noncitizen voting

Over the past month, the Trump administration ramped up a pressure campaign against election officials over alleged noncitizen voting by sending letters to officials in California and Washington state demanding they not count any ballots from people on lists of voters the administration said may not be citizens.

In response, voting rights and privacy advocates asked Chutkan to temporarily prevent the Trump administration from sending such lists to states and making such demands. The plaintiffs alleged the administration was violating the Privacy Act of 1974, which restricts the federal government’s ability to disclose sensitive private information.

The Justice Department said in a court filing on Saturday that its letters to California and Washington were part of an effort to enforce a federal law banning noncitizen voting and did not amount to a distinct policy subject to review by a federal court.

Federal judge rejects bid to set aside 20,000 California ballots

Earlier this week, a federal judge in Los Angeles rejected the Justice Department’s request to order California to temporarily set aside mailed ballots from more than 20,000 registered voters it said were likely not citizens.

Chutkan, a Washington, DC-based appointee of former Democratic President Barack Obama, said the administration’s data may not be reliable, meaning there was a risk that lawfully registered voters would be disenfranchised. An appeals court rejected on Friday the department’s request for an emergency order pending appeal.

Also on Friday, a federal judge in San Francisco ordered the Justice Department to stop threatening to prosecute state and local election officials who do not comply with the Trump administration’s demands over alleged noncitizen voting.

By REUTERS

Read the original at The Jerusalem Post.

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Photo: Tonyglen14 / Wikimedia Commons (U.S. grid archive)

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces struck Ukrainian energy facilities in the Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv regions overnight into Tuesday, according to Interfax.

The ministry also claimed strikes on port infrastructure in the Odesa region and vessels it said were used by Ukraine’s military. Those claims have not been independently established in the accounts available for this report.

Reuters reported the Russian account, citing Interfax, and said it was unable to independently verify the information.

Russia describes overnight attack

The ministry said the attack used long-range drones and precision weapons launched from the ground and air. It described the energy sites as supplying military-industrial facilities and Ukrainian forces, Interfax reported. That description is Russia’s stated justification, not an independently verified assessment of the facilities’ use.

The reports did not include a Ukrainian response, casualty figures, a confirmed assessment of physical damage or totals for households without power. The Russian account therefore does not establish the extent of the attack’s effects on civilians, electricity supplies or shipping.

Image: Transmission infrastructure in Alexandria, Virginia, photographed in 2016. Illustrative archive photograph, not a Ukrainian facility or Tuesday’s attack.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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Photo: Will Buckner / Wikimedia Commons (archive)

Nvidia is telling its data-center partners to reduce their exposure to Chinese customers, the Financial Times reported Tuesday, according to a Reuters brief.

The FT cited people with knowledge of the matter. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the report.

The account concerns the customer mix of Nvidia’s data-center partners. It should not be read as a confirmed Nvidia announcement, a blanket ban on Chinese customers or a newly enacted government rule.

Reported shift in customer exposure

Nvidia supplies chips used in artificial-intelligence computing. A request to reduce partners’ exposure to one market would put attention on where those partners sell computing services, not only where their equipment is installed.

The short Reuters dispatch did not specify a deadline, identify the affected partners or explain how the reported requirement would be enforced. Those details remain unresolved in the source available for this report.

The story is a report about prospective business restrictions, not evidence that customers have already moved their workloads or that a measurable amount of revenue has shifted out of China.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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Photo: Carl Lender / Wikimedia Commons (server-room archive, not China)

China plans to develop safety standards and ethics rules covering the full life cycle of artificial intelligence while speeding work on basic AI legislation, a National Development and Reform Commission official said Tuesday.

Wang Ruomeng, deputy director of the commission’s innovation and high-tech development department, outlined the plans at a November 3 news conference, according to Xinhua Finance.

The remarks describe a planned governance program, not a newly enacted AI law. The brief did not provide a date when the proposed legislation or standards would take effect.

Rules for data, computing power and algorithms

Wang said work during China’s 15th Five-Year Plan period would include clarifying compliance boundaries and accelerating basic, cross-cutting AI legislation to build a legal framework for the technology.

That effort would also cover legislation for common inputs such as data, computing power and algorithms, alongside rules for key applications, Xinhua Finance reported.

The safety standards and ethics guidelines would span AI’s full life cycle rather than focus on a single stage. Wang also called for periodic reviews of how the rules work in practice, with changes to provisions that no longer fit as the technology develops.

The distinction matters for businesses tracking the announcement: it sets out the direction of future regulation, but does not establish a final text, new compliance deadline or penalties in the account published Tuesday.

JBizNews Desk | Beijing
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Photo: Carl Lender / Wikimedia Commons (archive)

Institutional investors preparing to buy shares in Anthropic’s planned initial public offering are pressing for a valuation of roughly $1.5 trillion to $1.6 trillion, below figures approaching $2 trillion discussed in recent months, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

The Journal cited people familiar with the matter as saying investors had conveyed that view to the Claude developer and its advisers over the preceding several days. The reported range represents investor feedback, not a final valuation, an announced offering price or a completed transaction.

The push for a more cautious valuation followed a selloff in technology shares, the Journal reported. Its account described institutional buyers weighing the IPO amid renewed concern about technology-stock prices.

Offering terms remain preliminary

Anthropic’s amended SEC registration filing leaves the offering price and number of shares blank. No final price or offering size has been set in that filing. A valuation is the implied worth of the company, not the amount of money it would raise by selling shares.

The company has applied to list its Class A shares on Nasdaq under the symbol ANT. A preliminary registration does not establish that the offering has been completed, and the proposed terms can change.

The valuation discussion is a separate development from the financial results in the amended filing, covered in JBizNews’ earlier earnings report. That filing showed sharply higher revenue alongside a return to an operating loss as computing costs increased.

The Journal’s account does not establish that Anthropic has accepted the investors’ preferred range or that every prospective buyer shares it. The final terms will depend on the offering process and any subsequent company disclosures.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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Photo: Steve Jurvetson / Wikimedia Commons (archive)

Bitcoin fell below $77,000 in Tuesday morning trading in Asia as a selloff in chip stocks spread across risk assets ahead of the U.S. midterm elections, CoinDesk reported late Monday in New York.

The cryptocurrency was down about 2% to just under $77,000 in the report’s snapshot, erasing Monday’s rebound. Those prices reflect CoinDesk’s report published at 11:48 p.m. EST on November 2, not a live quote at the time this article is read.

The decline put bitcoin below the roughly $77,600 level it had touched late Sunday before recovering, according to CoinDesk.

Other major tokens slide

ZEC fell nearly 10% to about $1,140, while BNB lost about 2% and slipped below $700. Ether was down about 2% to just above $2,250, and SOL fell about 3% to around $92, the outlet reported.

The losses came alongside renewed pressure on technology shares. CoinDesk reported that a gauge of U.S. chipmakers had lost 12% over a three-day selloff and that the Nasdaq 100 was down 10% from its peak, a decline commonly described as a correction.

South Korea’s Kospi fell more than 3% and the MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost almost 1% in the report’s market snapshot. Japanese markets were closed for a holiday.

Investors were also approaching Tuesday’s U.S. midterm vote. CoinDesk noted that initial election results were expected as Asian markets opened Wednesday. The simultaneous weakness in stocks and cryptocurrencies does not establish that a single factor caused every move.

JBizNews Desk | New York
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Shas is confronting a serious political crisis after losing nearly 100,000 votes in Israel’s latest Knesset elections, with former party spokesman Itzik Sudri warning that the party has alienated both its chareidi and traditional Sephardic constituencies. According to Sudri, approximately 30,000 chareidi voters abandoned Shas for United Torah Judaism, while another 70,000 traditional voters turned elsewhere, leaving the party struggling to reconcile the competing expectations of its supporters.

The election results saw Shas fall to six Knesset seats, securing 299,506 votes, while United Torah Judaism emerged with seven mandates. The outcome has prompted difficult questions about the future direction of the Sephardic chareidi party and the political strategy pursued by chairman Aryeh Deri.

Speaking with Avi Mimran on Kol Chai Radio’s central news broadcast, Sudri, who previously served as Shas spokesman and currently works as a commentator on chareidi affairs for Channel 16, offered an explanation for the party’s dramatic electoral decline.

“30,000 chareidim voted for United Torah Judaism, more or less, looking for the more chareidi option, while 70,000 traditional voters looked for the more traditional side,” Sudri said.

His assessment suggests that Shas has found itself caught between two distinct groups of supporters, each increasingly dissatisfied with the party for opposite reasons. Chareidi voters, he argued, felt Shas had failed to maintain a sufficiently strong chareidi identity, while traditional Sephardic voters believed the party had moved too far toward the chareidi sector at the expense of their own concerns.

Unlike United Torah Judaism, whose electorate consists overwhelmingly of chareidi voters, Shas has historically attracted a broad coalition of Sephardic chareidim, yeshiva graduates, baalei teshuvah, and traditional Jews. That diverse electoral base helped establish Shas as a major political force, but Sudri believes the party has struggled to maintain the delicate balance necessary to retain those voters.

He attributed part of the decline to Shas’ close political identification with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, as well as growing public criticism of the chareidi community and the party’s difficulty presenting a clear position on the military draft controversy.

Sudri was particularly critical of the party’s public messaging concerning the status of yeshiva bochurim and avreichim, arguing that Shas failed to communicate a coherent position during a campaign dominated by the conscription debate.

“At best, it remained silent,” he said.

According to Sudri, the party’s handling of the issue created difficulties among traditional Sephardic supporters, many of whom have children serving in the IDF and felt increasingly uncomfortable with rhetoric they perceived as dismissive of military service.

“The traditional Shas voter, whose children, as he says, are in the army, hears constant disparagement of those serving in the military, and he says: I want to vote for a party where I’m a first-class citizen, not a second-class citizen,” Sudri explained.

At the same time, he suggested that more strongly chareidi voters were drawn toward United Torah Judaism, which they regarded as taking a firmer position on issues affecting the Torah community.

Despite the substantial losses, Sudri emphasized that Shas continues to represent both sectors. He estimated that approximately 200,000 Sephardic chareidim and 100,000 traditional voters supported the party in the latest election, demonstrating that its original electoral coalition has not disappeared entirely.

Sudri also expressed confidence that Deri, who has yet to deliver an extensive public assessment of the election results, remains the person best equipped to rebuild Shas and restore its political strength.

“The very person who is truly best suited to restore the glory of Shas, to return the crown to its former glory, is Aryeh Deri,” he said.

He explained that Deri’s longstanding familiarity with the different communities that make up the Shas electorate gives him a unique ability to reconnect with voters who have drifted away from the party.

Sudri maintained that resolving the military draft controversy will be essential to repairing the divisions within the Shas electorate and restoring confidence among both chareidi and traditional supporters.

While acknowledging the severity of the setback, he cautioned against dismissing the party’s remaining electoral strength, describing its ability to retain six Knesset seats after such a difficult campaign as an achievement in its own right.

{Matzav.com}

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir declared on Monday that the IDF must become a world leader in artificial intelligence and robotics, as he laid out the military’s plan to bring AI onto the battlefield.

Zamir spoke at a special forum on adopting AI in the military, held at the IDF’s new communications and technology campus in Be’er Sheva. The IDF General Staff and brigade commanders attended. Commanders were shown how AI can be built into the IDF’s defensive and offensive systems, and how it can be used to process and analyze information, speed up decision-making and make both operations and the organization more efficient.

“In recent years, the battlefield has been undergoing one of the fastest, deepest and most dramatic changes in military history,” Zamir said. “In order to meet the challenges of war and to win, the IDF has a responsibility and an obligation to be a world leader in innovation and transformation.”

The Chief of Staff stressed that the new technology also requires a change in thinking and leadership. “Commanders who do not know how to make full use of technology to their advantage will not succeed in carrying out their missions on the modern battlefield,” he said.

According to Zamir, artificial intelligence will become a central part of how the IDF fights on multiple fronts, improving intelligence, decision-making and operations. As part of the move, the IDF has set up a new branch for artificial intelligence and unmanned systems, along with an AI division and a spectrum division within its communications and cyber defense directorate.

Zamir also presented the IDF’s vision for future combat, in which manned units fight alongside unmanned systems to gain an operational edge on the battlefield. The plan is being advanced as part of the IDF’s multi-year force-building program, called Hoshen. Zamir closed by noting the importance of the new campus being in Be’er Sheva, saying the future of the IDF and the future of the Negev are tied together.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Police Commissioner Daniel Levy are locked in an extraordinary public confrontation over allegations that the police chief personally ordered officers to use excessive force against chareidi demonstrators protesting military conscription. The dispute escalated Monday after the Israel Police issued a blistering statement rejecting Ben Gvir’s accusations, while the minister stood by his claims that Levy had instructed officers to use batons and stun grenades against protesters.

The police response followed an urgent petition submitted by Ben Gvir to Israel’s High Court of Justice, seeking the removal of an interim order restricting his involvement in police operational instructions concerning demonstrations. In the court filing, the minister alleged that Levy had personally directed officers to intensify their use of force against chareidi protesters, even before disturbances had begun.

In a statement issued through its spokesperson’s office, the Israel Police categorically rejected the accusation that Levy had ordered violence against demonstrators for improper reasons or in violation of police regulations.

“The claim that Police Commissioner Daniel Levy instructed officers to use violence against chareidi protesters for improper motives or contrary to the law and regulations is baseless, completely unfounded and outrageous,” the police statement declared.

Ben Gvir’s office responded immediately, insisting that the minister had no intention of retracting his accusations and providing additional details about the conduct he attributed to the commissioner.

“The minister stands behind everything he said. Police Commissioner Daniel Levy ordered police forces to use severe and increased violence against chareidi demonstrators, and was even quoted as saying, ‘I want to see blood.’ The commissioner personally approached officers and district commanders in the field and instructed them to use batons against protesters. In addition, he removed district commanders from their positions unlawfully and without the minister’s approval, and even traveled abroad and remains there at this moment without obtaining the minister’s authorization,” Ben Gvir’s office stated.

The minister’s representatives further accused Levy of allowing political considerations to influence his decisions following the recent Knesset elections.

“The minister appreciates and supports the officers of the Israel Police, but direct responsibility for what is happening rests with the commissioner, who, from the moment the election results became known, decided to curry favor with Yair Golan, Yoav Segalovitz and Ra’am,” the statement continued.

Police officials responded by describing the minister’s allegations as “serious, delusional and disgraceful,” accusing him of attacking the very institution he is responsible for overseeing.

The police said Ben Gvir’s accusations “cross every line, particularly coming from the minister responsible for the police, who, instead of supporting its officers and commanders, chooses to malign them, cast doubt on their professionalism and damage public confidence in those entrusted with their security.”

At the center of the controversy is Ben Gvir’s request that the High Court lift restrictions preventing him from intervening in operational decisions concerning protests. The minister contends that those restrictions have prevented him from exercising appropriate oversight while police commanders have allegedly authorized increasingly aggressive tactics against chareidi demonstrators.

In his submission, Ben Gvir alleged that Levy had contacted commanders directly and ordered them to deploy batons and stun grenades before protesters had engaged in public disturbances. Those allegations have been firmly denied by the police.

The police spokesperson’s office emphasized that accusations of deliberate violence against civilians represent a particularly serious attack on the integrity of the country’s law enforcement personnel.

“The attempt to attribute to the commissioner and police commanders a deliberate intention to harm civilians is especially serious and constitutes a direct attack on the thousands of police officers, Border Police and National Guard personnel, and volunteers who work day and night with dedication and self-sacrifice for public safety and security,” the statement said.

Police leadership also rejected suggestions that operational decisions were being influenced by political loyalties.

“The Israel Police is not a tool for political attacks. The commissioner, police commanders and officers will continue to act with impartiality, professionalism and in accordance with the laws of the State of Israel, without fear or favoritism,” the statement declared.

The department added that “no attempt to malign the police or its leadership will divert them from their mission and their unwavering commitment to the security of Israel’s citizens.”

It further maintained that “the Israel Police is an apolitical police force that carries out its duties equally for all Israeli citizens. That is how it has acted, and that is how it will continue to act.”

In an unusually direct appeal to the minister, police leadership concluded by demanding that Ben Gvir withdraw his accusations.

“Retract the statement that harms all members of the Israel Police, and the sooner the better,” the statement said.

The confrontation follows disturbing scenes at recent anti-draft demonstrations, particularly near the Geha-Jabotinsky intersection at the entrance to Bnei Brak, where video footage showed police throwing stun grenades toward groups of chareidi protesters and using batons and kicks during confrontations.

Those incidents have generated criticism of police conduct, including from individuals described in Israeli media reports as police insiders.

In recent days, sources within the police were quoted as saying that “the commissioner has completely lost control of the police,” reflecting concern over the handling of demonstrations and the growing controversy surrounding the use of force.

{Matzav.com}

Senior Shas lawmakers began a series of consultations with the party’s leading rabbonim Monday evening to determine whom the party will recommend to President Isaac Herzog to form Israel’s next government, with discussions also expected to address the possibility of replacing the Knesset speaker. Notably, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri did not participate in the visits.

The consultations mark the first formal meetings between Shas representatives and the party’s senior spiritual leadership since the results of last week’s Knesset elections were announced, as political parties prepare to submit their recommendations to the president regarding the formation of the next coalition.

Shas MKs Michael Malkieli and Yinon Azoulay visited the home of Harav Moshe Maya, the senior member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, to seek his guidance on the party’s position ahead of the presidential consultations.

Among the issues expected to be discussed is the identity of the candidate Shas will support for prime minister, a decision that could carry considerable weight as the various political factions maneuver to determine who will receive the mandate to establish a government.

Another matter reportedly under consideration is whether Shas should support replacing the current Knesset speaker, a potentially significant move as negotiations begin over the leadership and composition of the next Knesset.

Following their meeting with Rav Maya, the Shas representatives were scheduled to visit Harav Yitzchak Yosef, the party’s spiritual leader, as well as additional members of the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah, before a final decision is announced.

The absence of Deri, who has long served as the dominant political figure within Shas, drew attention as the party embarked on discussions concerning some of the most consequential decisions of the post-election period. No explanation for his absence was provided in the report.

An official statement issued following the initial visit confirmed that the party’s representatives were seeking guidance from the rabbinic leadership before making any formal recommendation to the president.

“Shas Knesset members Michael Malkieli and Yinon Azoulay entered the residence of the senior member of the Council of Torah Sages, Maran Hagaon Harav Moshe Maya, this evening for consultation and to receive his guidance regarding the Shas faction’s recommendation to the president on the candidate to form the government. They will subsequently consult with the remaining members of the Council of Torah Sages, after which the Council’s decision will be announced,” the statement said.

{Matzav.com}

Photo: RBA (archive)

Australia’s central bank raised its cash rate target by a quarter percentage point to 4.85% from 4.60% on Tuesday, November 3, as it sharply worsened its inflation outlook despite signs that the economy is slowing. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s Monetary Policy Board voted six to three for the increase.

The new 4.85% target is the highest since 2008. The RBA’s historical table shows a peak of 4.75% from late 2010 through October 2011 and no higher target between 2009 and this decision. It last stood above 4.85% in November 2008, at 5.25%, before falling to 4.25% in December.

The RBA’s decision was announced at 2:30 p.m. Sydney time, equivalent to 10:30 p.m. Monday in New York. The bank’s rate overview lists November 4 as the effective date for the new target.

Inflation is now forecast to reach the top of the bank’s 2% to 3% target range only in late 2027, around three quarters later than previously expected. The board said price pressures remain broadly based and warned that higher inflation expectations could become embedded.

The bank pointed to higher fuel and commodity costs linked to the Middle East conflict, alongside domestic capacity pressures that are tighter than previously thought. It also said AI-related investment is driving rapid increases in prices for technology-related goods, while businesses report rising costs and plans to pass them on.

The decision adds pressure to an economy already feeling earlier rate increases. The RBA said economic growth is slowing, housing prices have fallen significantly and unemployment has risen. It expects output growth to slow further over the coming year as higher borrowing costs and weaker housing activity weigh on household consumption and dwelling investment.

The outlook is not uniformly weak. Business investment is expected to be stronger in the near term, including investment in data centres. Employment is forecast to keep growing, though unemployment is projected to rise more than the bank expected in August.

ABC News reported that this was the RBA’s fifth increase this year and that the new rate is the highest in 18 years. The three dissenting board members preferred to hold the target at 4.60%.

The board did not commit to a further increase at its next meeting. It said future decisions would depend on incoming data, the evolving outlook and risks to inflation and activity. The bank warned that unresolved Middle East supply disruptions could leave inflation higher and growth lower than forecast.

The cash rate is the overnight interbank rate targeted by the RBA, not a uniform mortgage rate charged to households. The bank says it influences lending and deposit rates across the economy. Its next scheduled cash-rate update is December 8 at 2:30 p.m. Sydney time.

JBizNews Desk | Sydney, Australia
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Governor Kathy Hochul issued strong condemnations Monday after four buses used to transport Jewish schoolchildren in Brooklyn were defaced with swastikas and antisemitic messages, prompting demands for the perpetrators to be arrested and prosecuted.

The vandalism occurred in South Williamsburg, home to a large chassidishe community, where the discovery of the hateful markings on school buses raised fresh concerns about antisemitism directed at Jewish children and families.

“The antisemitic vandalism targeting school buses in South Williamsburg is abhorrent. Every New Yorker – especially our children – deserves to live free of such hatred,” Mamdani said in a statement.

{Matzav.com}

With Election Day just hours away, 18 prominent Rabbonim from across Rockland County have issued a joint Kol Korei endorsing State Senator Bill Weber and Congressman Mike Lawler for reelection, along with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman, citing concerns over Torah values, religious freedom, Yeshiva education, and the future of the Orthodox Jewish community.

The letter, released ahead of Tuesday’s November 3 election, describes voting as “a mitzvah, a chiyuv, and a responsibility,” emphasizing the importance of participating in elections that could have long-term consequences for the community.

“Our values are not for sale, and our community’s future must never be reduced to a funding decision,” the Rabbonim declare.

The Kol Korei raises concerns about the possibility of a veto-proof Democratic supermajority in Albany, as well as the growing influence of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). According to the Rabbonim, these political developments could have significant implications for religious freedom, parental rights, Yeshiva education, and public safety.

The letter also addresses the role of government funding in political endorsements, cautioning against evaluating candidates solely on the basis of grants or financial assistance promised to individual institutions. Instead, the Rabbonim urge voters to consider the broader interests and long-term welfare of the community.

Emphasizing the importance of checks and balances in state government, the Rabbonim warn that decisions made in Albany can have lasting consequences for Orthodox Jewish families, schools, and neighborhoods.

The letter expresses Hakaras Hatov to Weber, Lawler, and Blakeman, crediting them with standing against antisemitism, supporting the safety and security of Acheinu Bnei Yisroel, and demonstrating their commitment to the community through their actions.

“With Hakaras Hatov, we recognize and appreciate those who have stood by our community,” the Kol Korei states.

The 18 Rabbonim who joined the Kol Korei, listed alphabetically by last name, are:

1. Rabbi Eliezer Abish — Khal Netzach Shlomo, New City
2. Rabbi Dovid Bartfeld — K’hal Mevakshei Hashem, Thiells
3. Rabbi Simcha Bunim Berger — Village Green Shul, Wesley Hills
4. Rabbi Daniel Coren — Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim, Monsey
5. Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Feiner — Khal Cragmere Oval, New City
6. Rabbi Avrohom Yakov Horowitz — Bais Medrash Dzikov-Melitz, Spring Valley
7. Rabbi Heshy Kahan — Khal Zichron Chanina Getzel, Pomona East
8. Rabbi Ari Levitan — K’hal Tiferes Tefillah, Pomona
9. Rabbi Pinchus Elchonon Mandelbaum — Bais Medrash Chancheen, Montebello
10. Rabbi Yakov Yosef Moskowitz — Khal Borov, Forshay
11. Rabbi Zvi Nussbaum — Merkaz Hatorah, Chestnut Ridge
12. Rabbi Shlomo Perlstein — Summit Park Shul, New Hempstead
13. Rabbi Yehuda Leib Reidel — Bais Medrash of Haverstraw
14. Rabbi Ari Senter — Kehilas Yesharim of Wesley Hills
15. Rabbi Yosef Simon — Toras Dovid Kollel, Monsey
16. Rabbi Akiva Tendler — Bais Medrash Darchei Meyer, Airmont
17. Rabbi Yisroel Teichman — Kehillas Zichron Yitzchok, New Hempstead
18. Rabbi Yehoshua Weber — Khal Ohr Tzvi, Montebello

The joint statement comes amid differing political endorsements within Rockland County’s Orthodox Jewish community, with various Rabbonim, community leaders, and institutions expressing support for candidates based on their respective priorities and concerns.

The Kol Korei concludes with a message of Hakaras Hatov toward the endorsed candidates: “They have stood with us. Now it is our turn to stand with them.”

Disclosure: The endorsements were issued by the Rabbonim in their personal capacities and not on behalf of their respective organizations.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi is warning of a threat of swarms of drones and explosive drones penetrating from the Gaza Strip into the city and the Gaza border communities, and is demanding that the defense establishment urgently prepare for an aerial raid scenario, Walla reported.

In a letter sent Monday to Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and the commanders of the Southern Command and the Gaza Division, Davidi demanded a dedicated warning system for residents, the deployment of drone-interception means, and defensive guidelines adapted to the threat.

The letter was titled “Urgent strategic warning – the threat of drones and aerial raid on the city of Sderot and the border communities.”

“I am turning to you urgently, out of supreme responsibility for the safety and security of the residents of Sderot and the Gaza border,” Davidi wrote. “More than three years have passed since the events of October 7 and the war is still going on, and as a mayor I feel obligated to prepare the city for the next threats.”

Davidi referred to developments in the fighting in Ukraine, including the use of drone swarms. “For us, the residents of the Gaza border, this is a glaring warning sign that sharpens the magnitude of the danger of an aerial raid by drones launched from the Gaza Strip,” he wrote.

He claimed that weapons and advanced equipment are already being smuggled into Gaza by heavy drones. “I ask the security officials again and again – what is the answer to this threat? What will happen if swarms of drones reach the city of Sderot?”

“This keeps me up at night, and I don’t know if the protected spaces in the city will provide an answer, or whether the enemy will be able to insert explosive drones into the protected space, as I see being done in other combat arenas,” he wrote.

“My deepest fear, and that of the city’s leadership, is that the defense establishment continues to prepare for the battle that was – focusing on classic protection against rockets – and not for the future battle that is already peeking over the fence,” Davidi added.

Davidi presented three main demands: Home Front Command guidelines for civil defense against drone swarms and aerial raids; connecting Sderot to detection systems that identify low-altitude threats, with targeted real-time alerts; and deploying drone interception and attack means around the perimeter of the city and the border communities.

His letter joins demands raised by representatives of 11 local authorities in the western Negev, whose emergency and security forum is calling for an urgent joint meeting with the security bodies.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Employees of Arkia Israel Airlines are set to hold a large protest outside the company’s offices on Tuesday at 2:00 PM Israel time, amid growing fears that steps taken by the airline’s owners ahead of a planned sale will hurt their jobs and working conditions.

The protest follows a warning letter sent on Monday by the Transportation and Seaport Workers’ Union to Avi Hormaro, who represents the Nakash family, Arkia’s controlling owners, and to Arkia CEO Oz Berlowitz. The union warned that if the moves are not halted, it will begin taking measures against the owners and their representatives starting Tuesday.

In the letter, union deputy chairman Attorney Nir Eisenberg charged that the owners have recently been pushing efficiency and staff-cutting plans while diluting the employees’ holdings in the company. The union also claimed that outside consultants are being used to push the moves forward while bypassing the workers’ representatives.

The union further alleged that the owners are not putting enough capital into the company, and that the workers fear being made to pay the price for what the letter described as management failures. Eisenberg wrote that the employees will not accept any harm to their rights, their job security or their standing in the company.

The dispute erupted after workers learned at a board meeting on Sunday that the Nakash brothers, Joe, Ralph and Avi, intend to inject money into Arkia, which would shrink the employees’ share of the company. The brothers say the move is meant to help rehabilitate the airline, whose finances were hit hard by the war. Arkia has been up for sale for close to two years.

Avi Edri, chairman of the workers’ corporation that holds the employees’ shares, said management is working to dilute their stake down to zero. The board of Jordache, the Nakash family’s holding company, is expected to meet on Wednesday to announce the planned investment.

The union is demanding that the owners immediately halt the disputed moves, end the consultants’ work, cancel the share dilution and not move forward with any efficiency plan without reaching agreements with the workers. The union said it is prepared to sit down with the owners without preconditions if the moves are frozen.

While Tuesday’s protest is going ahead, the union has not yet declared a formal labor dispute, which is the legal step required before a strike. For now, Arkia’s flights are expected to operate as usual.

The Nakash Group responded that Arkia is a strategic asset for the State of Israel, its employees and the traveling public, and that it has instructed Berlowitz to immediately present a plan of action to stabilize the company. It added that it will continue to examine all options to keep the company and its operations going. Arkia declined to comment.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A unique event took place in New Square, New York, where the small electric vehicle used by the Skverer Rebbe was fitted with a specially developed internet filtering system and received certification from the Skver community’s L’Taher organization, which works to protect the community from the dangers of unfiltered technology.

According to sources, the vehicle is used regularly by the Rebbe to make it easier for him to travel between his home, the main bais medrash, and other locations throughout New Square.

Because modern electric vehicles can contain sophisticated electronic systems with internet connectivity and the ability to communicate with other technological devices, community representatives sought to ensure that the Rebbe’s vehicle would be completely protected from such connections.

Activists associated with L’Taher, an organization operating within the Skverer chassidus to promote strict safeguards against inappropriate technology, developed a customized filtering solution designed to prevent internet access through the vehicle’s electronic systems.

The new system was installed last week in the personal presence of the Skverer Rebbe, who has long been at the forefront of efforts within his community to maintain strict standards regarding internet use and modern technological devices.

Following the installation, the vehicle received the organization’s official approval, confirming that the necessary safeguards had been implemented to prevent unwanted internet connectivity.

{Matzav.com}

Diplomatic sources told the Lebanese newspaper Al-Jadeed that a breakthrough has been reached in the negotiations between Washington and Tehran, after Qatari mediators managed to overcome procedural obstacles that had been holding up the talks.

According to the reports, the contacts are focused on putting together a framework that would allow the negotiations to move forward. However, no comprehensive agreement between the two countries has been reached so far.

The report comes amid intense diplomatic efforts to head off a further escalation in the region, with Qatar continuing to serve as the main channel for passing messages between the sides.

At the same time, there are questions over whether the reported progress is real or part of President Trump’s strategy of mixing public statements, military threats and diplomatic contacts. Throughout the crisis, President Trump has made numerous and sometimes contradictory statements about Iran, leaving both sides and the international community uncertain about his true intentions.

On Monday, President Trump was asked on a podcast whether regime change is needed in Iran. He said that the US has already wiped out two levels of Iran’s leadership, so in a sense it has already changed the regime, adding that you also need to have someone to talk to.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A growing wave of anti-government demonstrations is sweeping across Europe, with protests spreading to at least 10 countries as young people take to the streets over soaring living costs, economic uncertainty, deteriorating public services, and fears about their future.

What began in late September as a relatively small student protest in France has developed into a continent-wide movement, with hundreds of thousands participating in demonstrations and violent clashes erupting in several major cities.

According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12, the unrest has intensified in recent weeks, with authorities confronting rioting, looting, vandalism, and attacks on police officers.

The latest weekend saw particularly serious disturbances in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Albania.

In France, where the movement originated, approximately 320,000 people participated in demonstrations over the weekend, according to the French Interior Ministry. An estimated 70,000 protesters gathered in Paris alone.

The demonstrations began when French high school students blocked entrances to their schools in protest of deteriorating conditions in the country’s education system.

Within days, university students, teachers, parents, and social activists joined the movement, transforming the localized protests into a broader campaign against the government’s economic and social policies.

The unrest has since inspired similar demonstrations across Europe.

“They are saying something very simple — everything is too expensive, and we want the government to do something to improve the situation,” Professor Tal Sadeh, head of the European Studies Department at Tel Aviv University, explained.

Sadeh described the demonstrations as a phenomenon crossing national borders, although he emphasized that the intensity and causes of the unrest differ significantly between countries.

In Germany, demonstrations organized by a youth movement called “Gen Z Takes Matters Into Its Own Hands” were held in more than 30 cities, including Berlin and Frankfurt.

Frankfurt experienced particularly violent scenes over the weekend as groups of rioters, some wearing masks and draped in Palestinian flags, confronted police, set garbage containers ablaze, and attacked businesses.

Authorities deployed more than 1,000 police officers to the city’s streets as the disturbances escalated.

In one particularly alarming incident, rioters reportedly attacked a gun store in central Frankfurt. Police responding to the scene managed to regain control, arrest several suspects, and recover two firearms that had been taken from the business.

Elsewhere in the city, rioters hurled stones, bottles, firecrackers, fireworks, and, in some instances, Molotov cocktails at police.

Burning garbage containers and makeshift barricades complicated efforts to restore order.

Hesse Interior Minister Roman Poseck alleged that far-left extremists had infiltrated the demonstrations and exploited them to carry out violent attacks.

According to Poseck, authorities identified approximately 100 suspected far-left rioters involved in assaults on police using stones, bottles, and pyrotechnic devices.

However, the political affiliations of all those involved in the violence and looting have not been established.

In Belgium, police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators in Brussels.

In Spain, protesters established a large tent encampment in Madrid late last month, while tens of thousands demonstrated in Italian cities, where some protests were accompanied by looting.

Albania also witnessed serious disturbances, with young protesters confronting police amid widespread anger over government corruption.

In the capital, Tirana, rioters threw stones, flares, and Molotov cocktails at security forces, prompting police to respond with batons, tear gas, and water cannons.

French police also faced violent confrontations over the weekend.

In Lyon, officers deployed tear gas against demonstrators near the front of a protest march, while police in Toulouse used water cannons to disperse crowds.

Despite the violent incidents, the majority of participants across Europe have demonstrated peacefully.

For many young Europeans, the protests reflect growing frustration over wages that have failed to keep pace with inflation and the rising cost of housing and basic necessities.

“We’re completely screwed,” Luca, a 20-year-old medical student, told NBC, describing his frustration with salaries that have failed to match rising prices.

Professor Sadeh said France remains the epicenter of the unrest, with demonstrations there far exceeding those in other European countries in participation and intensity.

“This is primarily a French phenomenon, which exists in other countries, but nowhere does it reach the intensity, number of participants, and levels of violence seen in France,” he said.

He attributed the particularly confrontational nature of the French protests partly to the country’s long history of street demonstrations and political upheaval.

France’s upcoming presidential election in April has also added a political dimension to the unrest.

Right-wing leader Marine Le Pen, whose political camp is leading in opinion polls, has condemned the violence and promised to restore public order.

Meanwhile, left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has expressed support for the protests and sought to capitalize on the growing anti-government sentiment.

Sadeh predicted that the unrest could ultimately strengthen Le Pen politically, arguing that widespread disorder may drive voters toward candidates promising greater security and stability.

He also suggested that colder winter weather could reduce the size and intensity of demonstrations, although the underlying frustrations are unlikely to disappear.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Photo: Molly Riley / White House (January 2026 archive)

Updated November 2, 2026, at 10:32 p.m. EST: Added Fox News’ direct English quotations about Pickaxe and retained Kan’s report of Trump’s preference for a deal.

President Donald Trump called the Iran conflict “a very soft war” during a live interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday night, as U.S. officials separately described limited American strikes in the region as defensive.

Asked how soon the war would end, Trump said, “This isn’t war,” according to The Guardian‘s live coverage of the interview.

“We’re not fighting a war. When was the last time we fired? …This is a very soft war,” Trump said, as quoted by the outlet. He later added, “There hasn’t been shooting for months.”

The BBC also reported that Trump had phoned into Hannity’s program Monday evening. The Guardian reported the Iran remarks without a precise clock time for that entry.

Pickaxe Mountain remarks

In the same Hannity interview, Trump also raised the possibility of an attack on Pickaxe, according to Fox News‘ live coverage.

“Now we might have to go after Pickaxe, but that’s not a big deal,” Trump said, as quoted directly in English by Fox. “We can do it. And literally we can do that in one hour.”

Israeli public broadcaster Kan also quoted Trump as saying, in an English translation of its Hebrew report, “If I can make a deal, I prefer that because it will save many lives.” The remarks describe a possibility and a stated preference for negotiations, not an announced decision or order to strike.

Remarks and strike reports are separate

Trump’s description came on an evening when U.S. officials told news organizations that limited strikes had taken place. As detailed in the earlier Hormuz report, CNN cited three U.S. officials saying the military struck Qeshm Island Monday in an operation they characterized as defensive and intended to protect American assets.

Hannity did not ask Trump about the emerging strike reports, according to The Guardian. The president’s remarks should therefore not be presented as an answer to a question about those operations or as a specific denial that they occurred.

Trump also called $30 billion spent on the Iran war “peanuts,” The Guardian reported. That amount is the figure he discussed in the interview, not an independently verified accounting of the conflict’s total cost.

The interview did not establish that the limited strikes represented a return to the major U.S. military campaign. Nor does Trump’s statement that there had been no shooting for months settle the facts of the separately reported operations.

JBizNews Desk | Washington
© JBizNews.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is strictly prohibited.

Family getting up: Flatbush

Photo: U.S. Army / Wikimedia Commons (2025 archive)

OpenAI has named former Army Secretary Dan Driscoll to a new role as Senior Counselor for National Security Modernization, advising the company’s leadership and outside partners on the use of advanced artificial intelligence in national and cybersecurity.

In its OpenAI announcement dated November 2, the company said Driscoll will focus particularly on working with U.S. allies to advance responsible use of AI. The Washington Examiner also reported the hire Monday evening.

The appointment is a company hire, not an announcement of a government AI contract or procurement decision. OpenAI did not specify a start date, reporting line, pay or contract terms.

Advising on modernization

OpenAI said Driscoll will work with teams inside the company and with leaders across governments, industry, academia and allied institutions on practical modernization initiatives. He will also help its internal teams understand the operational needs of national security institutions.

The company said he will advise public- and private-sector partners on policy and strategy choices for applying AI to national security. It linked the appointment to its Daybreak program, which it described as work with allies and partners to strengthen cyber resilience and protect essential services.

Driscoll previously served as the 26th Secretary of the Army, overseeing operations, modernization and resources. OpenAI said his background spans military service, senior government leadership and the private sector.

In a statement included in the announcement, Driscoll said he was joining to help the United States and its allies use the technology responsibly. He pointed to reducing paperwork, processing information and getting answers to people working in national security.

The announcement sets out an advisory role and the company’s goals for it. It does not identify a new government customer, an awarded contract or a specific deployment.

JBizNews Desk | New York
© JBizNews.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is strictly prohibited.

Watch as a motorcyclist in Lakewood, who had just blown through a red light with a friend, harasses a bachur and chases him down the street.

The bachur told TLS he was walking on Pine Street when the motorcyclist pulled up and asked where he was going, then began chasing him on the bike.

“I started running and almost got hit by a car,” the bachur said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lakewood Police Department.

Armed militias opposed to Hamas rule carried out an unusual overnight raid into the center of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, according to reports in Palestinian media.

According to the reports in Gaza, the force operated under close air cover by IDF drones, which allowed it to operate and withdraw safely.

The target of the operation was the area of the Abu Hamid square and the al-Karama camp, where members of the well-known Barbakh clan live.

During the operation, Hamas terrorists in the area identified the militia force, and heavy exchanges of fire broke out, documented by locals throughout the night.

Despite the resistance from Hamas, the force completed the mission and escaped the scene.

The Barbakh clan confirmed on Monday morning that “a large number” of family members were kidnapped. Gazan journalists reported at least four abductees.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israel Railways will begin running the fast line between Yerushalayim’s Yitzchak Navon station and Ben Gurion Airport 24 hours a day starting November 14, under a directive from Transportation and Road Safety Minister Miri Regev.

The move is meant to serve the general public, travelers whose flights leave late at night or before dawn, and airport employees. Running the line through the night will give passengers a fast, safe and convenient way to reach central Israel and the airport, regardless of the railway’s regular hours of operation.

The Transportation Ministry and Israel Railways said the expanded night service is part of a broader plan to upgrade public transportation, strengthen the connection between Yerushalayim and the airport, and ease congestion on intercity highways.

The 24-hour service is set to begin on the same night that a new national train schedule takes effect, on Motzei Shabbos, November 14. Under the new timetable, the Yerushalayim Yitzchak Navon–Tel Aviv–Herzliya line will be extended north to Beit Yehoshua, Netanya and Hadera West, allowing passengers at those stations to travel to the airport and Yerushalayim without changing trains.

According to Israel Railways, the changes will add about 140,000 seats a day, and new high-capacity electric trains will replace diesel trains on some routes. Frequency at the newly connected stations will also be increased during off-peak hours.

Some passengers will be affected by the changes. Trains on the Beersheba–Karmiel line will no longer stop at Hadera West, so travelers between Hadera West and Haifa will have to switch trains at Binyamina, adding about 16 minutes to the trip.

Israel Railways said that following a successful pilot at the Yitzchak Navon station in recent months, it plans to add a third train per hour on the Yerushalayim–Herzliya line in the near future, and later a fourth, bringing service to one train every 15 minutes in each direction.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that the Trump administration is increasingly hopeful of reaching a negotiated agreement with Iran, although Tehran must provide concrete, verifiable assurances that it will not restore its nuclear program. Vance said Washington has established no deadline for a deal, even as President Donald Trump continues to warn that military action remains an option if diplomacy fails.

Speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Vance described recent discussions with Iranian representatives as encouraging and revealed that he had spoken with Trump about the negotiations just an hour earlier.

JD Vance on Iran:

Trump and I both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement.

We've certainly made some progress. We'll see if we can make some more. pic.twitter.com/Gl4uMGRjbG

— Clash Report (@clashreport) November 2, 2026

“We’ve had a number of good conversations with the Iranians,” Vance said. “I actually spoke with the President of the United States about this an hour ago.”

“The President and I both feel pretty good about the prospects for potentially coming to a negotiated settlement. We’re going to keep on working at it. You never know, of course. The Iranians are always a little unpredictable, and as the President always says, he retains kinetic options, he retains non-kinetic options,” the Vice President added.

“We’ve certainly made some progress. We’ll see if we can make some more,” he said.

Vance dismissed suggestions that the administration had imposed a specific timetable on Iran, explaining that Washington’s overriding objective is to prevent the country from reconstituting nuclear capabilities that American military operations previously targeted.

“No, we haven’t set deadlines. I mean, look, we’ve said, ‘Here’s what we want.’ And what we want is, having destroyed their nuclear program, we want to make sure they don’t rebuild it or try to rebuild it. That’s what matters most to the United States.”

The vice president acknowledged that Iranian leaders are seeking to preserve their sovereignty and revive their battered economy. He indicated that those priorities could provide an opening for an agreement, provided Tehran accepts meaningful restrictions on its nuclear activities.

“The thing I’ve picked up is they care a lot, obviously, about their sovereignty. They care a lot about economically rebuilding. We do think that there is a pathway there, but it really does require a firm commitment and a verifiable commitment that they don’t rebuild that nuclear program.”

Trump offered a similarly upbeat assessment Monday, pointing to a sharp decline in oil prices as evidence that markets increasingly expect an agreement rather than another round of fighting.

“Oil Prices are DROPPING LIKE A ROCK, down almost $10 a Barrel, A RECORD, because people feel that there will not be a War with Iran. Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible. It could happen!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

During a separate appearance at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, the president again suggested that Tehran was prepared to negotiate an end to the confrontation.

“They want to make a deal. And it could happen.”

Trump also portrayed the American military campaign against Iran as a decisive success, arguing that U.S. forces had already inflicted devastating damage on the country’s military capabilities.

“We had a war with Iran. We won, and I don’t even know if you can call it a war because we haven’t been fighting for months,” Trump said, adding, “It’s not a war. We’ve done very little fighting. We’ve wiped out their military and air force and we did everything we had to do.”

The president credited American military achievements with helping drive oil prices down by approximately $10 per barrel and predicted additional declines. He also asserted that Iran was experiencing severe economic distress, including inflation exceeding 300%.

Nevertheless, Trump made clear that his preference for negotiations should not be interpreted as an unwillingness to authorize further strikes. Speaking Sunday at a campaign rally in Iowa ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections, he warned that Iran’s opportunity to reach an agreement would not remain open indefinitely.

“The only reason we are not finished with Iran is because I want to be nice. I want to try and save all those lives if I can. But at some point, we’re going to have to give them the hammer.”

Trump predicted that the confrontation would be resolved soon but offered no specific timetable.

Meanwhile, Washington and Tehran have continued indirect negotiations through Qatari intermediaries. Reports over the weekend indicated that the two sides had reached preliminary understandings involving Iran’s nuclear activities, freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and possible economic incentives for Tehran. No final agreement has been announced.

According to a Reuters report Monday, Iranian negotiators departed Doha following discussions with Qatari mediators, although an official familiar with the negotiations said their departure did not signal a breakdown. A draft proposal is reportedly being circulated, and another round of talks remains possible.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran’s proposal centers on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the American naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran has offered to accelerate implementation of its plan, potentially reopening the strategic waterway within two days if its conditions are accepted.

Significant differences remain, however, particularly over Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, and the terms of a broader security arrangement.

{Matzav.com}

TAMPA, Fla.— Supporters of Mosdos Pnei Menachem pledged $72,275,000 in a single evening toward the planned Pnei Menachem World Torah Center in Yerushalayim, led by the Rosh Yeshivah, Hagaon Harav Shaul Alter, shlita.

Harav Nachman Wideslavsky, executive director of Mosdos Pnei Menachem, announced the total at the Motzoei Shabbos dinner that concluded the third annual Chavrusa Convention.

About 150 philanthropists from across the Torah world attended the convention. They spent Shabbos learning and in discussion with the Rosh Yeshivah and his brother, Hagaon Harav Doniel Chaim Alter, shlita.

The plans for the new center were presented at the convention. The complex will be built on Rechov Torah MiTzion in central Yerushalayim, on the former site of the Israel Broadcasting Authority headquarters. Designed by architect R’ Aharon Ostreicher, it will house a large beis medrash and a heichal for tischen, along with shtieblach and mikvaos. It will also have dedicated space for talmidei chachamim and mechabrei sefarim, a Torah heritage center, simchah halls and other communal facilities. The center is meant to serve as a hub of Torah and chassidus for thousands of Yidden from Eretz Yisrael and abroad.

Harav Yisrael Stern of London chaired the dinner. Twenty-six pillars of the future beis medrash were dedicated at $1 million each, along with several other major dedications. By the end of the evening, pledges totaled $72,275,000. The funds will be transferred in stages as construction moves forward.

In his address, the Rosh Yeshivah spoke about turning the former broadcasting headquarters into a makom Torah. “From the very place where kefirah was once disseminated, the pure voice of Torah will now emanate,” he said, expressing his hope that the center would fulfill the words “Ki miTzion teitzei Torah, udvar Hashem miYerushalayim.”

The Rosh Yeshivah presented the benefactors with symbolic golden pillars in appreciation of their partnership.

The full project is estimated to cost between $180 million and $240 million. Mosdos Pnei Menachem is planning more fundraising and preparing for the next stages of construction.

Israeli law enforcement officials are reportedly casting serious doubt on allegations that Qatar financed efforts to influence last week’s Knesset elections, with investigators describing the evidence connecting Doha to suspicious payments as extremely weak or possibly nonexistent. The development comes amid an escalating confrontation between Shin Bet director David Zini and Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara over how the sensitive election interference investigation should proceed.

According to a report Monday evening by Roy Yanovsky of Kan News, the investigation began after intelligence emerged concerning an alleged transfer of substantial sums of money to individuals associated with the Joint List. Although investigators have reportedly established that money was transferred, they have yet to determine its original source, and law enforcement officials are increasingly skeptical that Qatar was responsible.

The investigation is also examining allegations involving the Palestinian Authority, following claims made Monday by Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Lieberman that Palestinian officials had attempted to influence Israel’s Arab political parties during the election campaign.

The information currently available to the Shin Bet reportedly concerns a specific financial transaction, with investigators attempting to establish where the funds originated and how they were ultimately used. According to the report, the suspected activity is considerably narrower than the sweeping allegations of Qatari involvement that have circulated publicly in recent days.

Meanwhile, Channel 13 reported that Baharav-Miara has refused to authorize the immediate questioning of parliamentary aides associated with the Joint List, insisting that investigators must first present sufficient evidence concerning suspicions against the Knesset member involved.

The attorney general reportedly determined that because the investigation concerns allegations against an elected lawmaker, questioning members of the lawmaker’s parliamentary staff must be treated as part of the investigation of the MK himself. Consequently, the relevant parliamentary immunity protections and legal approval procedures must be observed.

Under Baharav-Miara’s instructions, the Shin Bet must first substantiate the allegations against the Knesset member before she will consider authorizing the questioning of the lawmaker and his aides.

A separate Channel 13 report by Aviad Glickman revealed that the disagreement extends beyond the questioning of parliamentary staff. During a special meeting Sunday attended by Zini, Baharav-Miara, and Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, a heated confrontation reportedly erupted over whether the Israel Police should participate in the investigation.

Zini argued that the suspected foreign interference constituted a national security matter that should remain exclusively under Shin Bet jurisdiction. Baharav-Miara and other senior Shin Bet officials reportedly disagreed, maintaining that the case involved suspected criminal offenses with national security implications and therefore required police involvement.

Sohlberg attempted to resolve the disagreement but ultimately informed Zini that, under the circumstances, the investigation could not proceed without the participation of the police.

The exchange reportedly became increasingly contentious, with Zini accusing government legal officials of interfering with his ability to conduct the investigation.

“The legal advisers are trying to slow me down and bypass me. This is unacceptable to me,” Zini reportedly declared.

Glickman also reported unusually sharp criticism of Zini from senior figures within the Shin Bet, who questioned his judgment and the investigative measures he was seeking to implement.

“Zini is seeking to carry out dangerous and extreme actions. He does not understand what an investigation is, what evidence is, or how the police and Shin Bet work and operate,” the officials reportedly said.

According to those officials, Zini had already received legal authorization to carry out significant investigative activities before the elections. However, they alleged that following the strong electoral performance of the Arab parties, he sought permission to take considerably more aggressive steps.

The officials went further, reportedly accusing the Shin Bet director of failing to understand the principles of democracy, an extraordinary criticism of the head of Israel’s domestic security service from individuals described as senior members of his own organization.

The dispute has emerged as the investigation attracts enormous political attention, particularly because the Arab parties could play a decisive role in determining the composition of Israel’s next government following an election in which neither major political bloc secured a parliamentary majority.

The Shin Bet declined to address the reported disagreements or the criticism attributed to its senior officials.

“We do not comment on what is said in closed discussions,” the agency stated.

NEW YORK (VINnews) — Rabbi Moishe Indig, a prominent political figure in the Satmar Ahronim community, is offering an unusually candid explanation of his decision to endorse Zohran Mamdani, arguing that community leaders must face political reality rather than ignore the candidate who is positioned to lead New York City.

In an explosive, nearly three-hour Yiddish-language interview with popular Jewish singer Shmueli Unger on his ShmueliCast podcast, Indig goes into considerable detail about the thinking behind his endorsement, his interactions with Mamdani and the political calculations that led him to support the candidate despite the controversy surrounding his positions.

Indig’s endorsement sparked a firestorm within the Satmar community, drawing sharp criticism from prominent religious and community leaders who opposed his support for Mamdani and instead backed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

At the heart of Indig’s explanation is what he sees as the need to confront political reality. Mamdani had emerged as the leading candidate and was widely projected to win the mayoral election. Indig believed that community leaders could not afford to ignore that reality and needed to establish relationships with the person who was likely to become the city’s next mayor.

That calculation ultimately proved correct. Mamdani defeated Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the November 2025 election, becoming New York City’s first Muslim mayor.

Throughout the interview, Indig discusses why he believes political engagement must extend beyond ideological differences. He argues that community leaders have a responsibility to communicate with elected officials, build relationships and secure practical results for the people they represent.

Drawing on his own background in business and community organizing, Indig discusses the importance of management, leadership and understanding the everyday challenges facing families. Among the issues raised are housing affordability, grocery prices, public services and the needs of the Orthodox Jewish community.

The conversation also turns to antisemitism, the Oct. 7 attacks, Israel and the broader political climate. Indig discusses the challenges of navigating relationships with politicians whose positions may differ sharply from those of the Jewish community.

The interview, titled “He Endorsed Mamdani… But Not for the Reason You Think,” provides an extended look at the reasoning behind Indig’s controversial decision and the political strategy he believes community leaders must adopt.

ShmueliCast, hosted by Shmueli Unger, features long-form conversations with personalities from the Orthodox Jewish community, covering politics, business, communal affairs and personal stories.

Israeli police are expanding an investigation into security arrangements for foreign airlines, with senior Transportation Ministry officials and others involved in aviation security expected to provide testimony.

According to a Channel 12 report, investigators are examining how the security system operated over the years and whether failures occurred in its oversight and implementation.

The case, described in the report as involving Flydubai security arrangements, includes suspicions of work performed without proper authorization and a possible conflict of interest involving an aviation security official.

Avri Cohen is expected to be questioned on suspicion that he served as a security officer at the Israel Airports Authority without the appropriate authorization.

Separately, Dvir Rubinstein, director of the aviation security operations center, is expected to be questioned over a suspected conflict of interest.

Investigators are examining Rubinstein’s relationships with foreign airlines and his private activities involving those companies. They are also looking into whether those dealings affected his official responsibilities or his ability to oversee flight security.

The expanding inquiry is expected to include testimony from additional officials as police seek to establish how the arrangements were managed and who bore responsibility for the suspected deficiencies.

The allegations remain under investigation.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The judges in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s trial ruled on Monday that the prosecution may question former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit only in a re-direct examination, a significant limitation on the prosecution.

The ruling came after a loud argument broke out between the prosecution and the defense at the Jerusalem District Court, leading to a break in the hearing.

The argument erupted when prosecutor Yehudit Tirosh objected to questions put to Mandelblit by Prime Minister Netanyahu’s attorney, Amit Hadad. “People are expected to remember things that happened 10 years ago,” Tirosh said. Hadad shot back: “You asked the Prime Minister where he was in a certain place at 9:00 and 20 seconds, 16 years ago.”

When the judges returned from the break, they said: “We have decided that the questioning of Mr. Mandelblit will be a re-direct examination.”

The judges accepted Hadad’s argument that Mandelblit was effectively a prosecution witness whom the prosecution chose not to call, meaning that Hadad’s questioning constituted cross-examination. Tirosh argued that Mandelblit’s testimony was not needed to prove the indictment and that he was brought to testify about defense claims, but the judges did not accept that.

In a re-direct examination, only clarification questions about what the witness has already said may be asked. The prosecution had planned to present Mandelblit with approvals for investigative steps that he said in his testimony he did not approve, and will now be unable to do so.

Earlier, Hadad showed Mandelblit transcripts from the interrogation of Israel Hayom editor Amos Regev concerning Prime Minister Netanyahu, and asked whether he had approved investigating the matter. “I don’t remember approving,” Mandelblit said.

Mandelblit also confirmed that he did not approve opening an investigation into a complaint about Shlomo Filber’s connection to Israel Hayom. Asked whether he approved questioning Filber about whether the Likud and Prime Minister Netanyahu had “court reporters” at Israel Hayom, Mandelblit said: “No. I did not approve that.”

On Case 4000, Mandelblit said the case “was born backwards. The suspicion was born from the benefit itself.”

Hadad also presented Mandelblit’s signature on the indictment, in which the letter Aleph appears thicker, as if traced over several times. “I remember myself at the event signing in my own handwriting, with a pen,” Mandelblit said. “I have a memory that I am approving the indictment.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Associates of Prime Minister Netanyahu are expressing deep disappointment with Shin Bet chief David Zini, claiming he is showing weakness toward the agency’s legal officials, Channel 14 reported on Monday night.

The criticism comes amid disagreements at the top of the Shin Bet over the investigation into suspected foreign interference in the elections. According to the report, those close to Prime Minister Netanyahu are angry over the footage showing Zini beside Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg. In that footage, Sohlberg declared that even if the suspicions of foreign interference are confirmed, it would not undermine the overall validity of the election results. One associate described Zini as looking like a hostage as he sat nodding during Sohlberg’s statement.

“There is a big gap between what Zini told Sohlberg in the closed room and what he says behind the scenes, and what actually came out,” the associates said. “Zini has been projecting weakness all along. From the very first moment, when he didn’t immediately remove the rogue Shin Bet legal adviser left over from Ronen Bar and bring order to the organization the way Gofman did.”

They also claimed there have been briefings saying that three Shin Bet division heads oppose Zini and that he is struggling to deal with them. “It seems he simply placates them and doesn’t stand up to them,” they said.

According to the associates, some steps are very hard to carry out later if they are not taken at the start of a term. They voiced concern that the sensitive investigation will fizzle out, as they claim happened with the spyware affair and the Military Advocate General affair.

The Prime Minister’s Office denied that Prime Minister Netanyahu is angry with the Shin Bet chief. “The Prime Minister is not angry at Shin Bet head Zini,” the office said in response. “He expects him to do what is required of him by law in order to protect Israeli democracy from foreign interference.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The IDF has begun installing protective anti-drone netting at military positions inside the Gaza Strip amid growing concerns that terrorists could introduce fiber-optic-controlled drones similar to those encountered during the fighting in Lebanon, according to a report Monday by Channel 12 News.

Israeli military officials are increasingly concerned that the technology, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and can be smuggled into conflict zones, could eventually reach terrorist organizations operating in Gaza and pose a serious danger to Israeli soldiers stationed in forward positions.

Unlike conventional drones that depend on radio signals for communication with their operators, fiber-optic drones transmit commands through a thin cable connected to the aircraft. This makes them particularly difficult to neutralize using traditional electronic jamming systems, which are designed to disrupt wireless communications.

Rather than waiting for the threat to materialize, the IDF’s Southern Command and Technology and Logistics Directorate have begun implementing physical defensive measures intended to protect soldiers and military infrastructure against potential drone attacks.

As part of an initial pilot program, specialized protective netting has already been installed at three Israeli military outposts located beyond the Gaza border fence. The barriers are designed to provide an additional layer of protection against drones attempting to enter or strike military positions.

The pilot project is expected to serve as the foundation for a broader fortification effort covering other vulnerable IDF positions in Gaza over the coming months.

Military officials emphasized that fiber-optic-controlled drones have not yet been used in the Gaza Strip. Nevertheless, the IDF believes that lessons learned during operations in Lebanon make it necessary to prepare for the possibility that terrorist groups in Gaza could acquire similar capabilities.

The army’s experience confronting drone threats along the northern border has demonstrated the limitations of conventional electronic countermeasures against aircraft controlled through physical cables, prompting the development of additional protective systems.

Despite the preparations underway in Gaza, the IDF’s immediate priority remains strengthening defenses along the Lebanese front.

Under instructions issued by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the military will first complete the installation of protective measures at all relevant positions in Lebanon before significantly expanding the anti-drone netting program in Gaza.

Once the northern fortification effort is completed, the army intends to extend the protective systems to additional positions in the Gaza Strip as part of its preparations for emerging threats to Israeli forces.

{Matzav.com}

Saudi Arabia is working to keep its territory out of the line of fire if fighting between the United States and Iran resumes, enlisting the help of Pakistan and Turkey to get its message across to Tehran, Kan News reported on Monday evening.

According to a Saudi source familiar with the details, Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman met in recent days in Tehran with Iran’s top leadership, joined by representatives from Turkey and Pakistan.

During the meeting, the Saudis made clear that the kingdom has no interest in taking part in a confrontation with Iran and will not allow strikes against the Islamic Republic to be carried out from its territory or its airspace. In return, Riyadh expects Tehran to refrain from attacking Saudi Arabia.

The source said that bringing Pakistan and Turkey into the move was meant to show Tehran that any attack on the kingdom could draw those countries into the conflict as well.

The source added that Riyadh wants to avoid opening another front against Iran at a time when the kingdom is focused on dealing with pro-Iranian forces in the region, particularly the Houthi terrorists in Yemen and the Shiite militias in Iraq.

Earlier on Monday, Kan reported that Gulf states are preparing for a resumption of the war between the US and Iran. An official in the United Arab Emirates said the Gulf states are being realistic and that a confrontation appears to be on the way, adding that there is little trust in Iran and that even a last-minute Iranian concession would likely be just another stalling tactic.

On Sunday night, Kan reported that Israeli officials believe President Trump may order a renewal of the campaign against Iran within days, prompting a round of talks between Israel and Gulf states, especially those that are part of the Abraham Accords.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A Jewish woman in Israel was forced to flee her home and seek refuge in a shelter for abused women after allegedly being threatened by her Muslim partner over her decision to vote for the Shas party in last week’s Knesset elections.

The disturbing case came to the attention of Yad L’Achim on Monday, after the woman’s sister contacted the organization requesting urgent assistance.

According to the information provided to Yad L’Achim, the woman fled the home she shared with the man on Election Day after he allegedly threatened her because she had voted for Shas.

Police assisted in transferring her to a women’s shelter, where she remains under protection.

The man reportedly fled to Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Yehuda and Shomron following the incident, and police are searching for him.

The woman’s sister told Yad L’Achim that the relationship had continued intermittently for approximately 13 years, during which the woman repeatedly struggled to separate herself from the man.

Both sisters are orphans, and the loss of their parents has left them without a reliable family support system.

According to the sister, financial dependence has been a major obstacle to ending the relationship permanently. The man has periodically provided the woman with financial assistance, contributing to her repeated return to the relationship despite the difficulties.

In her urgent appeal to Yad L’Achim, the sister described the distressing circumstances and expressed fears that the situation could escalate further.

“I am afraid that we are in danger,” she wrote.

Upon receiving the request Monday morning, Yad L’Achim began reviewing the case and exploring ways to provide the woman and her sister with the assistance necessary to escape the dangerous situation and rebuild their lives.

In a statement, Yad L’Achim expressed serious concern over the allegations and emphasized the importance of helping women who find themselves trapped in abusive relationships.

“This is a serious and troubling case involving a woman who lived for years in a complicated relationship and was now forced to flee to a shelter for abused women following threats from him,” the organization said.

“Financial hardship and the absence of family support make it difficult for her to break away from the relationship and build a safe and stable life. We attach great importance to providing assistance and guidance to women in such situations, and we will do everything we can to help the woman and her sister escape the cycle of violence and fear.”

The organization said it is working to determine what practical support can be provided to the sisters, including assistance aimed at helping the woman achieve financial independence and establish a secure living environment.

The allegations remain under investigation.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Photo: Davric / Wikimedia Commons (2018 archive)

Walt Disney is considering thousands of job cuts and asking some managers to aim for 20 percent in annual cost savings, according to a Bloomberg News report cited by Reuters on Monday.

The report relied on people familiar with the matter. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the account.

The brief did not include company confirmation, a final number of positions to be eliminated or a timetable. The reported discussions should therefore not be read as an announced layoff program.

Cost target applies to some managers

The reported 20 percent figure concerns annual cost savings sought from some managers. It is not a statement that Disney plans to cut 20 percent of its workforce or that every division faces the same target.

Reuters’ account, also carried by The Straits Times, did not identify the affected business units or specify how much of any savings would come from staffing changes rather than other expenses.

For employees and investors, the unresolved details are the scale, timing and distribution of any reductions. Bloomberg’s unnamed-source report points to potential cuts in the thousands, but the available brief does not establish a final total.

Until Disney provides details or the report is independently confirmed, the development remains an attributed account of possible job reductions and cost-saving discussions, not a completed decision disclosed by the company.

JBizNews Desk | Burbank
© JBizNews.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is strictly prohibited.

Photo: Joon Kyu Park / Wikimedia Commons (archive)

Asian stocks fell Tuesday as Wall Street’s technology selloff followed the region into Election Day in the United States, while a 7 percent crash in oil prices offered relief to Asia’s energy-importing economies. Tokyo’s market was closed for Culture Day, a national holiday.

South Korea’s Kospi was down 186.89 points, or 3.19 percent, at 5,672.19 at 9:06 a.m. Korean time Tuesday, Hankyung reported, as chip stocks extended their slide on doubts that heavy spending on artificial intelligence will pay off.

The drop followed a split session in New York. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4 percent to 51,983.98 and eight of the S&P 500’s eleven sectors gained, but the Nasdaq Composite fell 1.1 percent to 25,164.32, its third straight decline, and the S&P 500 slipped 0.5 percent to 7,541.40. Intel tumbled another 8.8 percent to close below $60, stretching its two-day loss to about 35 percent.

After the closing bell, Apple reported record September-quarter revenue of $114.5 billion, up 12 percent, with iPhone sales up 17 percent, but forecast holiday-quarter growth of 7 to 10 percent and lower gross margins, citing rising memory-chip costs; the shares slipped in extended trading. Palantir said revenue rose 96 percent to $2.31 billion and raised its full-year outlook. Both reports test whether investors will keep paying for AI growth or keep punishing its cost.

Oil gave the region its brighter news. U.S. crude settled down 7.4 percent at $96.46 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and Brent settled at $104.77. Early Tuesday in Asia, U.S. crude traded near $95.50, as diplomacy between Washington and Tehran kept deflating the conflict premium that pushed oil above $100 last week.

China delivered two conflicting readings on its factories. The private RatingDog manufacturing survey was 52.0 in October, with output growing at its fastest pace in six months, while the official gauge released over the weekend fell to 49.3, into contraction. The Shanghai Composite rose 1.1 percent Monday, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index added 0.4 percent to close at 23,393.32; both markets reopen half an hour after this report is published.

In Japan, the Nikkei 225 was closed for the holiday after slipping 0.3 percent Monday to 63,081.86, according to index data. Trading resumes Wednesday.

For households, the oil drop is the number that matters most: cheaper crude usually means lower gasoline prices within a few weeks. The chip-stock slide can dent retirement and college savings accounts, especially funds heavy in technology. And Tuesday’s midterm elections decide which party controls Congress, which shapes the tax and spending policy that reaches family budgets.

Election results begin coming in after polls close Tuesday evening in the United States. Later in the week come Berkshire Hathaway’s results and Friday’s October jobs report.

JBizNews Desk | New York
© JBizNews.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is strictly prohibited.

Set in a quiet waterfront pocket of Netanya, Royal Blue‘s expansive residences open to wide horizons and the gentle rhythm of the sea. Every morning begins with sweeping water views. Every evening ends with the sea in full view. And every detail, around the clock, is designed with frum living in mind.

Inside and outside, space is taken for granted. Spacious living areas, generous layouts, and panoramic porches give you the space to host, to celebrate, and to simply breathe.

Beyond the front door, the community is built around frum family life. Amenities include separate gyms, separate pool hours, an on-site beis medrash, children’s play areas, a spa, sea-facing lounges, an event space, a business center, Shabbos elevators, and a staffed entrance with optional concierge services. Endless details make your life a breeze.

Kiryat Sanz’s established frum community is in the immediate vicinity, about two minutes by car. It offers mehadrin takeout and shopping, kosher groceries and butchers, constant minyanim, and a separate beach.

Frum living, sweeping views, and graceful elegance paint every detail. This is the dream: an exclusive seafront that honors the way you live.

Royal Blue at Netanya. The sea beckons you home.™

Presale phase ending soon. Take the first step and request a brochure at www.royalblue.co.il

845.210.6645 | [email protected]

[Video below.] A Bnei Brak yungerman who was brutally assaulted by a group of teenagers inside a shoe store where he works says he is now living in fear that his attackers will return to retaliate against him for filing a police complaint. The disturbing incident, captured on security cameras and widely circulated on social media, has sparked outrage throughout the chareidi city and renewed demands for police action against violent youths.

Speaking on Monday, the avreich described the anxiety that has gripped him since the attack, saying that he is particularly concerned that the police investigation will go nowhere and that the perpetrators will feel emboldened to target him again.

“I’m afraid. I’m afraid the investigation will fizzle out and they’ll come to take revenge on me for filing the complaint,” he said. “How have we reached a situation where I’m the victim, but instead of them being afraid, I’m the one afraid they’ll come back and once again treat me with such brutal violence?”

The victim, who required medical treatment following the assault, said he is still struggling to comprehend how an ordinary day at work turned into a terrifying ordeal. He described himself as a quiet avreich who has never been involved in confrontations or physical altercations.

“I’m a normal person. I’ve never gotten into trouble, I’ve never been beaten up. I’m a quiet avreich who doesn’t stand out, and then one fine day I suddenly find myself in a situation where people enter my workplace, a place where I’m supposed to feel safe, spray me with pepper spray, and beat me brutally.”

According to sources, the attack took place last Thursday when a teenager approximately 16 years old entered the shoe store and asked the employee to assist him in trying on shoes.

Witnesses said the encounter subsequently took a threatening turn when the teenager allegedly attempted to extort the avreich and threatened to file a false police complaint against him. The employee refused to give in to the demands, after which the teenager left the store.

Several minutes later, however, the teenager allegedly returned with five other youths. The group stormed into the business and attacked the avreich, striking him repeatedly and spraying him with pepper spray. The assailants caused a disturbance inside the store before fleeing.

Security camera footage showing the violent confrontation was released Monday and quickly spread across social media, prompting widespread condemnation. Residents expressed particular alarm that an avreich could be subjected to such an assault in broad daylight while simply carrying out his work.

The incident has intensified criticism of what residents describe as an increasingly serious problem involving troubled and violent youths in Bnei Brak. Many have accused authorities of failing to respond adequately to repeated incidents of harassment and violence, leaving ordinary residents concerned about their personal safety.

The victim said he hopes the police will treat the attack with the seriousness it deserves and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.

“I hope the police will handle this case severely, so they won’t dare do it again to anyone else,” he said.

The latest assault follows another serious incident last month on Rechov HaAdmor MiGur in Bnei Brak, where three avreichim were attacked. One of the victims sustained moderate injuries after a troubled youth allegedly struck him in the head with a paving stone.

The repeated incidents have prompted calls for a stronger police presence and more decisive enforcement against those responsible for violence in the city, particularly amid concerns that attackers may feel they can act without facing meaningful consequences.

Israel Police confirmed that a formal complaint had been filed and that investigators are working to identify the individuals involved.

“Following the complaint, an investigation was opened and is ongoing, and all necessary actions are being carried out to locate the suspects in the incident,” police said.

{Matzav.com}

The Jackson Police Department conducted a crime-reduction and traffic-enforcement operation on October 28th, resulting in three arrests involving weapons and drug offenses.

The operation took place during the evening and overnight hours and included members of the department’s Patrol Division, Special Enforcement Unit (SEU), Special Response Team (SRT), and K-9 Unit.

During the detail, officers conducted 63 motor vehicle stops, issued 39 traffic summonses, and made three arrests.

During the last three months, Jackson officers made 271 arrests, bringing the year-to-date total to 806, officials said.

Of those recent arrests, 50 involved impaired drivers who were removed from the roadways. Additionally, officers made 31 arrests involving drug- and weapons-related offenses over the past two months.

Photo: Gregory Varnum / Wikimedia Commons (archive)

The Justice Department announced charges involving 63 people in election-related cases Monday, describing allegations that include unlawful voting, false claims of U.S. citizenship and fraudulent voter registration.

“Today’s announcement marks the largest surge of voter-fraud arrests since President Trump returned to office,” Attorney General Todd Blanche said in the DOJ’s November 2 release. That is the department’s characterization of its enforcement action; charges remain allegations, not findings of guilt.

The nationwide announcement combines cases at different stages, including charges filed in October. It is not a statement that all 63 people were arrested Monday, or that prosecutors established guilt in any of the cases.

According to the Justice Department, the cases involve voting by noncitizens in federal elections, false citizenship claims made to register or vote, and an allegedly fraudulent registration application submitted in another state.

Cases span several election years

The release describes allegations involving the 2024 presidential election as well as earlier elections and voter-registration records. Many defendants are identified as lawful permanent residents. That immigration status permits residence in the United States but does not confer U.S. citizenship.

The announcement includes a Georgia case alleging a false claim of citizenship to vote, several Texas prosecutions, and cases in North Carolina, Tennessee, New Jersey and other jurisdictions. The individual charges differ: some allege unlawful voting itself, while others concern registration statements or answers given during immigration proceedings.

In Tennessee, for example, the department listed two defendants whose initial court appearances took place on October 29 and October 30. Those dates make clear that Monday’s total includes proceedings already underway, rather than a single day’s arrests.

Department cites broader enforcement totals

The department said it had charged 195 noncitizens across 25 states with illegal-voting and registration offenses over the preceding nine weeks. It separately reported 239 people charged with voting-fraud-related offenses since the administration began.

Those are the Justice Department’s enforcement figures. They describe people charged, not convictions, and should not be read as a count of proven unlawful ballots.

The release does not establish that the conduct alleged changed the outcome of an election. Nor does the number of defendants, by itself, establish the prevalence of unlawful voting in the electorate.

Charges remain allegations

Prosecutors must prove the elements of each charge in court. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, and the allegations in charging documents are not findings of fact.

The national announcement follows separate California cases involving alleged voting and citizenship statements. Those district-level proceedings are part of the broader enforcement picture, not evidence that every person listed nationwide faces the same accusation or procedural status.

JBizNews Desk | Washington
© JBizNews.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is strictly prohibited.

Refrigerators and freezers at dozens of supermarkets in at least five European countries malfunctioned overnight into Monday, in what appears to have been a coordinated cyberattack.

In Belgium and Luxembourg, the Ahold Delhaize, Carrefour and Colruyt chains said the cooling systems in dozens of their branches suddenly warmed up during the night. In Sweden, the ICA and Coop chains reported temperature spikes in freezers at several locations, and staff had to discard food that had spoiled. Similar incidents were reported in Estonia and Ireland.

Every freezer at one ICA store in Stockholm was put out of action. According to the branch’s sales manager, the attack began at 2:00 AM, and employees only discovered it when they arrived at 5:30 AM. Store management said the attackers pushed the temperature inside the refrigerators and freezers up to 50 degrees Celsius.

Coop told Sweden’s Aftonbladet newspaper that six of its stores were hit.

In Belgium, Stefan Mullens, who heads the refrigeration company Sabcobel, which runs the cooling systems for Ahold Delhaize, said the attackers switched the units’ evaporators into defrost mode. Colruyt, which runs Spar supermarkets in Belgium as franchises, said five of its stores had their cooling systems attacked.

Monday’s incidents follow an unprecedented attack on the night of October 11-12, when hackers broke into the temperature-control software of more than 400 French supermarkets and heated freezers and cold rooms to at least 50 degrees. Tons of food had to be destroyed, losses were estimated in the tens of millions of euros, and fires broke out at some sites.

Sources familiar with the French incident said the hackers went after refrigeration controllers made by Danish manufacturer Danfoss. The company said the units that were hit “operated with outdated firmware.” It also said that in 2022, supermarkets in Russia and Israel running older versions of its controllers had been breached or targeted.

In the United States, refrigeration failures of a similar kind were reported at no fewer than six military commissaries starting August 26, among them the commissary at Fort Huachuca.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Photo: President.gov.ua / Wikimedia Commons (2019 archive)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned Monday that Russia was preparing a major attack on Ukraine’s energy and logistics infrastructure, saying Moscow could try to exploit the distraction of the U.S. midterm elections on Tuesday.

Zelensky said Ukraine had intelligence pointing to a new large-scale strike. Fox News reported his warning Monday evening, citing his nightly address and a post on X.

The warning is Zelensky’s assessment of Russian intentions, not confirmation that a new attack has begun or that Moscow has committed to a particular timetable. The intelligence underlying his comments was not detailed in the report.

Energy and supply routes in focus

Zelensky identified energy facilities and logistics as the main potential targets. He said Russia could calculate that international attention would shift to the American elections while Ukraine continued to face shortages of air-defense equipment, including Patriot missiles.

“We have intel that Russia is preparing a new massive attack on our country,” Zelensky said, according to Fox’s account. He added that energy and logistics were the primary targets.

The Ukrainian president framed the risk around Tuesday, November 3, when Americans vote in elections that will determine control of Congress. His concern was that an election-focused news cycle could draw attention away from Ukraine’s defenses and the consequences of further strikes.

Appeal for pressure on Moscow

Zelensky urged the United States and its allies to make clear that further attacks would carry economic costs for Russia. He called for pressure on Russian oil and gas income and for limits on Moscow’s ability to earn money through international business while the war continues.

“We must put pressure on Russia in such a way that it has no alternative but to end this war. America can do this,” he said in remarks quoted by Fox.

His appeal also put air-defense supplies at the center of the immediate debate. In a separate Sunday interview with Fox, Zelensky said Ukraine would be willing to suspend attacks on Russian oil refineries for a month if Washington supplied Patriot interceptors over the same period.

That was a conditional proposal, not an announced agreement. It does not establish that additional interceptors have been delivered or that either side has accepted a new pause in attacks.

For now, the development is a public warning from Ukraine’s president about the risk of a major strike during the U.S. election period. The scale, exact timing and targets of any future attack remain unconfirmed.

JBizNews Desk | Kyiv
© JBizNews.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution is strictly prohibited.

Dear homeowners,

A few days ago I was walking down the block when my foot caught the raised edge of a sunken sidewalk slab. I pitched forward and caught myself at the very last second. Baruch Hashem, I didn’t fall. But it really jolted me. My heart was pounding the rest of the way, and all I could think was: what if that had been an elderly man on his way to shul, or a mother pushing a stroller, or a child running ahead?

Since then I have been paying attention, and I see it quite often. Slabs that have cracked into pieces. Slabs that have sunk an inch or two below the next one. Slabs pushed up by tree roots so the edge sticks up just enough to catch a shoe. In daylight you might notice it. Now that it’s dark early, you won’t.

What many homeowners don’t realize is that the sidewalk in front of their home is their responsibility to maintain. It is not the township’s job and it is not the neighbor’s job. And if someone trips on a broken or uneven slab and gets hurt, the homeowner can be held responsible and could find himself facing a lawsuit. That is an expensive and painful lesson no one wants to learn after the fact, and far worse is knowing that someone was injured in front of your own house.

So I am asking every homeowner who reads this: please take two minutes and walk the sidewalk in front of your home. Look for cracks, sunken sections and raised edges. If a slab needs to be replaced, take care of it before the winter. If you are renting, let your landlord know.

Our sidewalks carry strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, children and older people. Some concrete now can prevent a terrible injury later.

Ty.

A Walker Who Now Watches Every Step

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

A massive rainstorm described by local officials as a once-in-200-year flooding event has inundated Okeechobee, Florida, overwhelming drainage systems, submerging roadways, forcing school closures, and prompting a countywide state of emergency. The flooding has struck a region that has recently attracted a growing frum community of approximately 100 families, with many additional families expected to relocate there in the coming years.

The extraordinary weather event unfolded Sunday, November 1, when torrential rain swept through Okeechobee County, dumping approximately 10 inches of precipitation on the city of Okeechobee in just six hours. The downpour overwhelmed local drainage infrastructure and left streets and residential neighborhoods under water, with authorities warning that additional rainfall could complicate recovery efforts.

Okeechobee Mayor Dowling Watford described the destruction during a Monday news conference at the county’s Emergency Operations Center, saying the community was facing an exceptionally rare weather disaster.

“We had a very catastrophic event yesterday with a flood that is a one-in-200-year flood event,” Watford said. “It was very devastating to our community and to our roadways.”

“The recovery is going to be long and hard,” the mayor warned.

The flooding followed an unusually wet period in the region. According to local officials, Okeechobee County had already experienced four storms characterized as once-in-100-year rainfall events over the preceding two months. The repeated downpours left the ground saturated and groundwater levels elevated, greatly reducing the area’s ability to absorb Sunday’s extraordinary rainfall.

The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for southeastern Okeechobee County, describing the conditions as life-threatening. Authorities reported that sections of State Road 70 and U.S. Highway 441, two important transportation arteries serving the area, had become impassable, while floodwater was entering some structures.

Among the locations identified in official weather warnings were Treasure Island, Taylor Creek, Four Seasons Estates, Whispering Pines, Basswood Estates, and areas surrounding Okeechobee Airport.

The flooding carries particular significance for the Orthodox Jewish community, which has been establishing a growing presence in the Lake Okeechobee region. More than 100 frum families have reportedly moved to Lakefront Estates, a developing Orthodox community near Buckhead Ridge in neighboring Glades County, on the northwestern side of Lake Okeechobee.

The approximately 550-acre development is envisioned as a substantial new frum community, with plans for as many as 1,000 single-family homes and 300 rental units, along with shuls, mikvaos, yeshivos, schools, a kollel, and kosher shopping facilities.

Many of the families relocating to the area have come from New York, drawn by the opportunity to establish a new community with the infrastructure necessary for frum family life. Schools have already opened, and plans for a local Hatzalah South Florida operation are underway.

There have been no confirmed reports indicating that Lakefront Estates itself experienced flooding comparable to the hardest-hit neighborhoods in Okeechobee County. The development is located several miles from the city of Okeechobee, where the most severe damage has been reported.

County officials declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Public schools were closed Monday because of flooding and concerns about road safety, although Superintendent Dylan Tedders subsequently reported that school buildings had escaped damage and were ready to reopen. Osceola Middle School experienced flooding in its parking lot and bus circulation area.

Emergency crews have been working to reduce standing water and restore normal conditions. Mayor Watford said the South Florida Water Management District activated pumps at Taylor Creek and opened its locks, helping alleviate flooding in the surrounding area.

Okeechobee Public Safety Director and Fire Chief Justin Hazellief said drainage ditches were functioning, but cautioned that the enormous volume of accumulated water would require time to clear. Damage assessment teams were going door to door in the most severely affected neighborhoods to determine how many homes and businesses had been damaged.

The flooding also brought an unusual danger for residents: alligators were spotted in some inundated areas, prompting additional concern about people entering standing water. Florida health officials warned that floodwater can contain bacteria, sewage contamination, and agricultural chemicals, and urged parents to keep children away from flooded streets, drainage ditches, and other submerged areas.

Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen said water rescue teams had been deployed during the storm to assist residents in low-lying neighborhoods. Authorities also warned motorists that speeding through standing water could cause vehicles to hydroplane or become stranded.

Police Chief Donald Hagan urged residents and sightseers to stay out of flooded neighborhoods unless they had a legitimate reason to be there, explaining that vehicles traveling through deep water can create waves that push additional water into nearby homes.

As floodwaters gradually receded Monday, forecasters continued monitoring the possibility of additional downpours across east-central Florida. The National Weather Service warned that saturated ground and excessive runoff could produce renewed flooding, particularly in low-lying neighborhoods and areas with inadequate drainage.

For residents of Okeechobee and the surrounding region, including families who have recently established new homes in the area’s growing frum community, the immediate concerns remained the condition of local roads, the extent of property damage, and whether additional rainfall would delay recovery efforts.

One of the most revealing parts of architect Liran Shukrun’s thinking is the way he speaks about the home itself. A frum family does not always live inside the standard Israeli apartment formula. In many Torah homes, the center of gravity is different. It may be the dining room table. It may be the seforim. It may be the constant flow of children, guests, learning, meals, and Shabbos. A home like that needs scale, flexibility, and a different kind of attention.

That understanding shaped the apartments at Givat Hashalvah. The homes are large, open, and planned to adapt over time. Structural elements are kept away from the center of the living space wherever possible, allowing rooms and layouts to remain flexible as family needs change. Liran speaks about this almost as a moral responsibility: if a family is going to live here for many years, the home must be able to grow with them.

The same thinking appears in the windows and balconies. Bedrooms were planned with unusually tall openings so a person standing inside the room meets the landscape at eye level. Living rooms and bedrooms open toward the view, not through small, incidental windows, but through panoramic glass that makes the hills and courtyards part of the home experience. The balconies are large enough to live on, not just step onto, creating real space for hosting, sitting, breathing, and bringing family life outdoors.

That is what makes the planning feel so specific. Givat Hashalvah is not only responding to a market need for larger homes. It is responding to a way of life. The project understands that a home for a frum family carries learning, hosting, children, guests, privacy, flexibility, and daily rhythm all at once. The architecture was asked to respect that. And in the best parts of the plan, it does.

Explore Givat Hashalvah

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The president of the International Criminal Court accused the Trump administration of trying to obstruct international justice by imposing penalties on the tribunal and vowed that it would not succeed.

Judge Tomoko Akane of Japan, briefing the United Nations remotely on Monday because of U.S. sanctions, called on all 193 U.N. member nations — not just the 125 countries that are part of the ICC — “to take concrete action, individually and collectively, in defense of the court.”

President Donald Trump’s administration has imposed a series of sanctions on ICC officials and then targeted the entire court last month as part of its campaign to dismantle the tribunal over investigations into the United States and its allies, including Israel.

Akane said her remote address to the U.N. General Assembly was a result of the “extraordinary” and “unprecedented” U.S. steps threatening judges, prosecutors and the ICC itself as an institution.

She stressed the timing of the Trump administration announcing sweeping new sanctions on the court on Oct. 9. That was the day the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to South African jurist Navi Pillay, a former ICC judge, for her efforts to promote peace and international law.

“The contrast could not be starker,” the ICC president said. “On the one hand, global recognition of the value of international justice, on the other, an attempt to subdue the institution that embodies it.”

The ICC was set up in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide when countries are unwilling or unable to do so. The United States is not a party to the court.

The State Department had no immediate comment on Akane’s remarks.

In announcing the latest sanctions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. “will ban transactions with this rogue court, cutting off their resources and crippling its ability to operate against us.”

The ICC president countered Monday by saying, “Let me be clear: The court will continue to fully discharge its mandate with independence and impartiality, acting only on the basis of the law and the evidence, for the sake of the countless victims of grave crimes.”

The European Union and other supporters stepped to the podium at the U.N. General Assembly to strongly support the ICC and its work seeking justice for humanity’s worst crimes.

Photo: CDC (colorized archive)

A child in Lewis County has died after contracting measles, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Monday, November 2, identifying the death as the state’s first measles-related death in 30 years and urging vaccination against the highly contagious disease.

In the governor’s statement, Hochul expressed sympathy for the child’s family and said vaccination remains the best protection against measles. The statement did not disclose the child’s name, age or vaccination status.

Reuters, citing the New York State Department of Health, reported that the death was connected with an ongoing measles outbreak and was the state’s first known measles-associated death in more than 30 years. Hochul’s own statement used the phrase “in 30 years.”

“I am heartbroken to learn that a child in Lewis County has died after contracting measles,” Hochul said. “As a mother and grandmother, I cannot imagine what this family is going through. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this child.”

“Measles is highly contagious, and vaccination remains our best protection against this dangerous disease,” the governor said.

Neither the governor’s statement nor the Reuters report reviewed for this story provided further information about the child’s medical history or the circumstances of the infection. The available accounts do not establish the child’s vaccination status or identify a particular community as the source of infection.

Hochul said New York would continue to support proven public-health measures to keep residents safe and healthy. The announcement confirms the death but leaves the child’s personal details undisclosed.

JBizNews Desk | Albany, New York
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White House senior adviser Peter Navarro has scored a publishing success with his controversial new book, “Why Fauci MUST Rot in Prison,” which secured a place on The New York Times bestseller list during its first week of release. The book calls for criminal prosecution of Dr. Anthony Fauci over his role in the federal government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Navarro welcomed the recognition, describing the bestseller designation as “a very pleasant surprise,” particularly given his longstanding complaints that conservative authors have received unfavorable treatment from the newspaper’s influential book rankings.

“Perhaps there is a new détente at the NYT in what has been a cold war against conservative books,” Navarro said. “Or perhaps it has become better understood that Tony Fauci’s reign of terror and error harmed men, women, and children in America regardless of political party.”

The Trump adviser has previously accused the newspaper of failing to properly recognize the commercial success of his earlier works. He maintains that sales data compiled by BookScan should have placed both “In Trump Time” and “Taking Back Trump’s America” at No. 1, but that neither received the ranking he believes it deserved.

Published by Skyhorse, Navarro’s latest book presents an extensive indictment of Fauci’s conduct during the pandemic, drawing on government records, personal accounts, and documents that Navarro contends reveal serious failures and contradictions in the nation’s COVID-19 response.

Navarro served as the Defense Production Act policy coordinator during President Trump’s first administration, placing him at the center of federal efforts to secure medical supplies and respond to the pandemic. Throughout that period, he frequently found himself at odds with Fauci over public health restrictions, treatment options, vaccination policies, and the broader direction of the administration’s response.

A central feature of the book is Navarro’s comparison of his own records from the pandemic with more than 1,100 pages of Fauci’s private diaries and additional government documents. Navarro argues that the material provides a detailed account of internal discussions that differed significantly from the information presented to the American public.

Among the issues examined are the origins of COVID-19, American funding connected to coronavirus research in Wuhan, China, and the federal government’s treatment of competing scientific theories about how the virus first emerged.

Navarro accuses Fauci of attempting to discredit the possibility that the virus originated in a laboratory and of supporting pandemic restrictions and medical policies that Navarro believes inflicted enormous damage on the country.

He describes Fauci as the “godfather of the pandemic,” arguing that his influence over federal health policy contributed to decisions that affected millions of Americans.

Fauci has repeatedly rejected allegations that he engaged in misconduct or deliberately misled the public. The criminal accusations advanced by Navarro have not been proven in court.

The book has attracted favorable reviews from a number of doctors and researchers who have publicly challenged the federal government’s pandemic policies, particularly its handling of early treatment options and vaccine recommendations.

Cardiologist Dr. Peter McCullough praised Navarro’s “action and information packed firsthand account of battling the corrupt, tyrannical, and harmful pandemic response.”

Virologist Dr. Robert Malone said he approached the book skeptically, looking for factual weaknesses or inconsistencies that Fauci’s supporters might use to challenge Navarro’s conclusions. After reviewing the material, Malone offered a strong endorsement of the author’s documentary approach.

“Navarro has the diaries, the emails, and the dates. He built a case that survives cross-examination,” Malone said.

Dr. Harvey Risch, professor emeritus of epidemiology at Yale University, similarly praised the book, describing it as “the definitive reckoning,” while accusing Fauci of promoting misleading information about treatments during the early stages of the pandemic.

The 336-page hardcover, released October 20, also features a foreword by Steve Bannon and examines controversies surrounding lockdowns, school closures, mask mandates, and the government’s handling of natural immunity and vaccine-related concerns.

The book’s commercial success has been accompanied by a dispute involving Barnes & Noble. Navarro accused the bookseller of refusing to stock the title because of its “wokeness,” while publisher Skyhorse expressed frustration over what it characterized as resistance to controversial political viewpoints. Barnes & Noble does, however, list the hardcover and electronic editions in its online catalog, with the hardcover currently shown as out of stock online.

The New York Times bestseller recognition places Navarro’s book at No. 14 on the hardcover nonfiction list dated November 8, 2026, alongside titles by Newt Gingrich, Brian Kilmeade, Malcolm Gladwell, and other prominent authors.

The publication comes as questions surrounding the origins of COVID-19, American funding of coronavirus research, and the decisions made by federal health officials continue to generate political controversy. Navarro’s book seeks to turn those disputes into an argument for legal accountability, although Fauci has denied wrongdoing and no court has established the criminal allegations advanced against him.

“Why Fauci MUST Rot in Prison” is available in hardcover, e-book, and audiobook editions through online retailers.

Photo: Ebyabe / Wikimedia Commons (2010 archive)

Israel’s Channel 13 reported Sunday, November 1, that intelligence received in the United States over the preceding two weeks indicated Iran had stepped up efforts to target President Donald Trump, citing people familiar with the information.

The Channel 13 report did not identify a specific plot, place or date, or say that an attempt was imminent. No U.S. confirmation of the reported intelligence was found in the sources reviewed for this story.

The distinction matters: this is an attributed report about intelligence, not an announced U.S. finding or a warning of a publicly identified imminent attack. World Israel News also reported the account, attributing it to Channel 13 and noting the absence of details about a specific plot or imminence.

Mar-a-Lago defenses predate the report

Air-defense systems around Mar-a-Lago were already in place and publicly reported before Channel 13’s Sunday account. WPBF’s reporting, updated October 31, said systems had been deployed at Mar-a-Lago and Donald J. Trump International Airport at the Secret Service’s request.

The Secret Service said it was operating in a “heightened threat environment.” NORAD and U.S. Northern Command confirmed the deployment of ground-based air-defense assets but withheld operational details for security reasons. Federal officials did not publicly identify a specific threat connected to the deployment.

The earlier air-defense reporting does not establish a connection to the intelligence described by Channel 13. This story does not use circulating video as evidence of that report or of a new deployment.

Report comes amid U.S.-Iran tensions

Channel 13 placed its account in the context of Israeli preparations for a possible renewal of fighting with Iran. The broadcaster said Trump had not yet decided whether to resume military action and that no date for renewed fighting had been set. Those military assessments remain attributed to the broadcaster’s reporting.

The public record reviewed leaves the central questions unanswered: the nature of any alleged Iranian effort, its location and timing, and whether U.S. officials will confirm the intelligence account.

JBizNews Desk | Washington
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The Haifa District Prosecutor’s Office was set to file an indictment on Monday morning at the Haifa Magistrate’s Court against Muhammad Suweitat, 21, of Shefa-Amr in the Galilee, who swore allegiance to the ISIS terror organization.

According to a joint statement from the Shin Bet and Israel Police, the suspect was arrested in a joint operation on September 28 on security offenses.

During his interrogation by the Shin Bet and the police’s Northern District Central Unit, it emerged that he had sworn allegiance to the terror organization several times, while supporting its ideologies and consuming its content.

Investigators also found that Suweitat posted ISIS content online, corresponded with supporters of the organization, and worked to convince his friends to support his path, with the aim of advancing the group’s activity.

The indictment is being filed by attorney Segev Adler.

The Shin Bet and police said they “view with great severity any involvement of Israeli citizens in activity that endangers the security of the state and its citizens,” and that they will “take all measures at their disposal to bring those involved in this activity to justice.”

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Photo: President.gov.ua / Wikimedia Commons (2019 archive)

The United States will bring together delegations from Ukraine and Russia in Abu Dhabi on November 10-11 to discuss ending Moscow’s war against Ukraine, post-war security agreements and de-escalation, a senior U.S. official told reporters Monday, according to reports.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed the planned November 10-11 Abu Dhabi discussions in a social media post Monday, saying they would cover “post-war security agreements, de-escalation, humanitarian measures, and ending the war,” according to Reuters reporting carried by The Jerusalem Post.

U.S. negotiators have been seeking a breakthrough in the long-running conflict before winter sets in. The last U.S.-mediated peace talks took place in February before the United States and Israel launched a war against Iran.

The senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the new Abu Dhabi discussions will cover “post-war security agreements, de-escalation, humanitarian measures, and ending the war.”

The lead U.S. negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are expected to represent the United States in Abu Dhabi, the official said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a new round of trilateral talks after meeting Witkoff in St. Petersburg two weeks ago in the latest U.S. push to stop Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War Two, according to reports.

The U.S. official said American negotiators will meet at the working level this week in Brussels with representatives from France, Germany, Britain, the European Union and NATO to discuss “Ukraine’s security guarantees, Europe’s future security framework, and economic support for Ukraine’s reconstruction.”

The official said the meetings build on recent discussions among the parties and “reflect President Trump’s continued efforts to reach a lasting peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.”

Ukraine and Russia remain far apart on the terms of any possible peace deal, though Trump has recently intensified pressure on Ukraine to strike a deal.

JBizNews Desk | Washington
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Photo: Takaaki Iwabu (left), Lam Yik Fei (right) / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Marvell Technology chairman and CEO Matt Murphy said the chipmaker’s historic $115 billion acquisition of Lumentum is a “once in a generation’ opportunity to unite two of the most dominating companies in the AI boom and create a “category leader.”

Appearing alongside Lumentum CEO Michael Hurlston on “The Claman Countdown,” Murphy detailed the companies’ record-breaking merger on Monday, predicting that the transaction will cement Marvell’s position at the forefront of AI connectivity.

“It’s very rare that you can find two companies of the caliber of Lumentum and Marvell that are number one in their respective areas that find a moment in time where you can combine and create a category leader in a new category,” he told anchor Liz Claman.

“This AI connectivity is going to be as consequential as… the compute category, or the memory category, the fab category, and the IP licensing category.”

Murphy’s comments follow the announcement of Marvell’s agreement to acquire Lumentum in a landmark $115 billion transaction, marking the largest merger between two publicly traded companies. The deal will unite two massive AI enablers, equipped with electrical and optical expertise, to address connectivity requirements for next-generation AI infrastructure.

“Both companies.are executing phenomenally well. And what we see, Liz, is a multiplying effect, where we’re gonna do much better together in two years than we would on a standalone basis,” Hurlston predicted.

Under the terms of the all-stock agreement, Lumentum shareholders will receive 4.5 shares of Marvell common stock for each share held, according to Marvell’s announcement.

“It’s really a historic day for the two companies,” Murphy said. “We’re putting together basically the best-in-class leader in AI connectivity technology for semiconductors with the leader in photonics. And it is something that hasn’t been done before.”

Marvell designs artificial intelligence chips and technology that powers data centers, while Lumentum designs lasers and other optical components that use light to transmit data between chips and servers.

Murphy said Lumentum and Marvell, both headquartered in Northern California, have a “shared vision” and detailed how he believes the two tech companies will work better together than apart.

“Together, because of the additional opportunity we see with each other, there’s an opportunity to really outperform as a combined company,” the Marvell CEO said.

Murphy, who said the merger has received “tremendous support” from hyperscalers, told FOX Business that he expects “significant” revenue synergies and other benefits once the companies are joined together.

AI chip giant Nvidia is a strategic investor in both Lumentum, which has a market value of around $76 billion, and Marvell, with a value of roughly $172 billion.

Hurlston told FOX Business that Murphy discussed the potential Lumentum acquisition with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang early in the process, adding that reaction from Nvidia has been “super positive.”

“Nvidia is invested in Marvell, Nvidia is invested in Lumentum. We think we can actually bring a lot more product to bear to Nvidia a lot more quickly in this combination,” Hurlston said.

Photo: Getty Images

Florida voters will weigh in on a ballot measure that could ease property tax burdens and mark a major shift in how local government is financed in the Sunshine State.

The Florida Legislature referred a proposed constitutional amendment to voters that’s known as Amendment 3, the Homestead Tax Exemptions, Property Assessments and Spending Restrictions Amendment.

The measure appears on the ballots voters Floridians cast leading into Election Day on Tuesday, and would require 60% support from voters to be approved.

Advocates of the measure include a number of Republican lawmakers in the state who argue that it would provide needed tax relief to Florida residents, while detractors say it would hurt the ability of local governments to provide public services funded through property taxes.

Amendment 3 would increase the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028, after which time the exemption threshold would undergo inflation adjustments. It would also lower the annual cap on assessment increases on non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%.

The measure would also create new provisions governing when new Florida residents qualify for the increased homestead exemption, which they would be eligible for after five years of residency with the current exemption of up to $50,000 available in the interim.

It would also establish constitutional guidelines for how county and municipal governments may use property tax revenue, confining such expenditures to public safety, infrastructure, natural resource projects, flood control, local bonds and existing debt payments, employee retirement benefits and the operations of local government.

If enacted, the measure would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, and people who move to Florida after Dec. 31, 2026, would receive a smaller initial exemption under the law.

An analysis by the Tax Foundation found that if Amendment 3 is approved, it would cost local governments about $4.9 billion in foregone property tax revenue in the first year with the $150,000 exemption in place; with that cost rising to $8.7 billion in the second year once the $250,000 exemption takes effect.

Annual impacts would rise to $11.8 billion starting with tax year 2031, though the Tax Foundation cautioned that the “full fiscal impact remains uncertain and could easily exceed current estimates.”

Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has advocated for Amendment 3, which is backed by many GOP leaders in the state and the state party. DeSantis noted at a roundtable in support of the measure that in the past seven years, “property tax revenues across Florida’s 67 counties have increased nearly 100%.”

“Local governments are taking in almost twice as much money – far more than inflation and population has increased. The State of Florida has reduced its budget FOUR YEARS in a row. Local governments can surely do the same,” DeSantis said, adding that the measure provides property tax relief for Floridians and could eliminate them outright for homesteaded Floridians.

The Florida Democratic Party’s state executive committee formally opposes Amendment 3, citing concerns about the impact on local government services. Florida State Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said the measure “would hurt our local communities and cut local services while giving huge tax breaks to billionaires and corporations.”

“This is a scam that would either raise other taxes on working families or rob their communities of essential services like public hospitals, EMTs, fire rescue, disaster preparedness, road maintenance, children services, libraries and parks,” Fried said, calling the measure “just plain bad for Florida.”

The nonpartisan Tax Foundation was critical of the design of Amendment 3, saying that it “is not simply a tax cut” and “represents a fundamental restructuring of local government finance.”

The group said that if the measure is enacted and property tax burdens eased on homestead properties, the cost of funding local government services would remain and that “burdens would shift to businesses, renters, new homebuyers, and other property owners through higher taxes, fees, and housing costs.”

“Property tax reform should focus on achieving the best of affordability, predictability, and local fiscal stability. Amendment 3 fails to achieve that balance,” the Tax Foundation added.

Photo: Cheng Xin / Getty Images

Despite raising prices on multiple popular devices, Apple reported record September-quarter revenue and earnings per share Monday, driven by strong iPhone and Mac sales in the first earnings report under new CEO John Ternus.

Revenue jumped a better-than-expected 12% from a year earlier to $114.5 billion, while earnings per share rose 14% to $2.10, both topping Wall Street estimates. The results capped Apple’s best fiscal year ever, with revenue rising 15% to $478.8 billion.

The three months ended in September included just eight days of iPhone 18 Pro sales. Ternus said Apple was “thrilled with the customer response” to the new lineup, even as questions linger over whether the iPhone 18 can match the success of its predecessor. Analysts at JPMorgan, Wedbush and Evercore have pointed to the iPhone 17’s exceptionally strong upgrade cycle, setting a difficult comparison for this year’s models. iPhone revenue nevertheless grew 17% to $57.6 billion in the September quarter.

Meanwhile, Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the Duo, remains in short supply, with delivery estimates on some orders stretching into 2027 and customers reporting difficulty finding the device in stores.

“The Duo is constrained as of today,” Ternus said in an interview. “The ramp is going well, and we’re working really hard to get it into customers’ hands as quickly as possible.” He said Apple could not yet predict when supply would catch up with demand.

Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook on Sept. 1, said the stronger-than-expected September-quarter results came despite “supply constraints and FX headwinds.” The quarter was his first earnings report at the helm of the company.

One of the biggest challenges is surging memory-chip prices, driven in part by the AI buildout. Some flash-memory prices have climbed more than 500% from 2023 levels, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Ternus described the disruption as “absolutely unprecedented.” Yet Apple’s gross margin, a closely watched measure of profitability, came in broadly in line with expectations at 47.9%.

“As we said earlier in the September quarter, we did see higher memory costs compared to the June quarter,” Ternus said. He said carry-in inventory and lower prices for certain non-memory components provided some relief. “We changed the price on many of our products, including Mac and iPad at the end of June and iPhone in September,” he said, adding that the increases helped offset higher costs.

But the AI boom is not just increasing Apple’s costs. Ternus also attributed stronger demand for Mac computers to what he described as the Mac’s “AI moment.” Mac revenue surged 24% to $10.8 billion in the September quarter, powered by the MacBook Neo and MacBook Pro despite significant supply constraints.

“We have never sold more Macs in a fiscal year than we did in fiscal ’26,” he said, marking an all-time record for annual unit sales.

Apple has also launched its new iPhone 18 Pro lineup alongside a revamped, AI-powered Siri.

“We’re super happy with the initial reviews, but we’re also seeing a lot of exciting advancements more broadly in the space,” Ternus said. “And we think our products are the best platform for AI.” He said Apple’s users make more than 2.5 billion Siri requests a day.

Apple has outperformed other members of the Magnificent Seven this year, including Microsoft and Nvidia, adding more than $1 trillion in market value since July. Investors have embraced Apple’s relatively restrained approach to AI spending: unlike some Silicon Valley rivals, it has declined to pour hundreds of billions of dollars into building AI data centers. The stock is trading at a historically elevated valuation, around 35 times expected earnings.

Apple also benefited from tariff refunds, which boosted gross margin by approximately one percentage point and added about 5 cents to quarterly earnings per share.

Since taking over, Ternus has presided over an unusually busy run of product introductions, including Apple’s push into smart-home products and accessories such as connected locks and doorbells, as well as its first touch-enabled MacBook Pro.

Greater China revenue rose 21% to more than $17.5 billion, a September-quarter record, although sales in the region fell short of analysts’ estimates. Ternus said iPhone revenue in Greater China also reached a September-quarter record, while Mac sales in the region posted strong double-digit growth.

Before becoming CEO, Ternus led Apple’s hardware engineering group. He joined the company in 2001 and has spent more than two decades there.

Apple first closed above $5 trillion in market capitalization on Oct. 14, becoming only the second company to reach the milestone after Nvidia. It briefly overtook Nvidia again at the end of last week to reclaim the title of the world’s most valuable publicly traded company.

Prime Minister Netanyahu is pressing President Donald Trump to quickly restart the joint US-Israeli war against Iran once this week’s US elections are over, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

During a phone call on Saturday, Prime Minister Netanyahu urged Trump to resume the fighting after Tuesday’s midterms, but the President has not yet decided. A US official confirmed that the two leaders spoke and that Prime Minister Netanyahu wants hostilities to resume, but said Trump is “not there yet.” One person familiar with the matter said: “The US is giving a last-ditch chance for diplomacy to succeed, and the Netanyahu government really doesn’t want to see an agreement — they want a military resolution to the Iran problem.”

Qatar is leading mediation efforts to reach an interim deal between Washington and Tehran. Iranian officials met with mediators in Doha over the weekend, after Qatari negotiators spent Friday in Tehran. Under the proposal, Iran would let ships pass freely through the Strait of Hormuz. In return, the US would lift its blockade on Iranian ports, allow Iran to export oil and give it access to some of its frozen assets abroad. The two sides would then return to talks on a final agreement.

Progress has been limited so far, with the sides at odds over the order of steps and over Iran’s 440-kilogram stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The US wants Iran to agree to a timetable for International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to visit its main nuclear sites, where the stockpile is believed to be kept. Washington has also insisted that Iran hand over the uranium and ship it out of the country, which Iranian officials publicly reject. A person briefed on the mediation said both sides want a deal and are showing more flexibility, but it is still unclear whether the gaps can be closed.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that “if Iran’s demands are met, it would be possible to restore security to the Strait of Hormuz and start the negotiation process within a short period.” He added: “As far as we are concerned, the exchange of messages is still ongoing.” Iranian officials have also warned that any new attack would be met with a fierce response.

Meanwhile, an Israeli military official briefed on an early intelligence estimate said that recent intercepts and surveillance have led the IDF to believe the current round of talks could make enough progress to convince the US to hold off on strikes, at least for now. The official cautioned that the estimate is preliminary and will not be presented to the government until it is combined with other assessments ahead of official briefings.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

MIAMI (VINnews) — Shoppers carrying bags from Dior and Chanel walk past valet stands lined with Bentleys and Ferraris in Miami’s Design District. Outdoor diners order $42 cocktails and $82 fish dishes in the roughly 30-acre area of high-end retail, galleries and restaurants.

Yet federal tax rules still classify most of the neighborhood as an economically distressed community. The district holds an Opportunity Zone designation under a 2017 program created to spur investment in lower-income areas through capital-gains tax incentives. It qualified because its census tract groups the luxury retail corridor with neighboring lower-income areas, including parts of Little Haiti and Buena Vista. The Design District itself has almost no residents, so income and poverty data come largely from the tract’s outer edges. Designations also relied on census figures that can be several years old.

The federal government is preparing a second phase of the Opportunity Zones program. New designations are set to take effect at the start of 2027, and the Design District tract again meets eligibility criteria. The program, originally enacted in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, was made permanent by later legislation. Investors who reinvest eligible capital gains into Qualified Opportunity Funds can defer taxes and, after sufficient holding periods, receive basis step-ups and potential exclusion of gains on the zone investment itself.

Critics argue the designation channels benefits to already-prosperous areas. Brett Theodos, director of the Center for Local Finance and Growth at the Urban Institute, who has studied the program for years, has described such incentives as a subsidy for high-net-worth individuals to pursue investments they would make anyway in places they already favor. Critics also note the lack of public reporting requirements for beneficiaries, which makes tracking the flow of tax benefits difficult.

Supporters counter that the program has drawn capital overall despite imperfect data and occasional mismatches. John Lettieri, co-founder of the Economic Innovation Group, the organization that helped conceive the Opportunity Zones concept, has said the initiative has generally succeeded and that state governors bear responsibility for selecting appropriate tracts.

Developer Craig Robins, a principal behind the district’s transformation through Dacra and Miami Design District Associates, has said the designation attracted outside capital that improved the broader area. He and partners including L Catterton and Brookfield acquired much of the core retail land years before the 2017 law. Robins has stated that none of the partners in Design District projects are themselves pursuing Opportunity Zone tax benefits on their holdings. Hundreds of millions of dollars have flowed into the tract since the original designation, and land values have risen sharply. Residents of the wider census tract remain largely lower-income, according to available data.

Upcoming projects in or near the district, including a Fouquet’s-branded hotel and residences and a revived 20-story office and retail tower called Ursa, could potentially qualify for the incentives under the next phase if the tract is redesignated.

Governors will nominate tracts for the 2027 round under updated eligibility rules that emphasize poverty rates and median incomes. How already-thriving commercial districts are treated will test whether the program prioritizes its original goal of aiding lower-income communities.

(Reporting based on public accounts of a Wall Street Journal story by Deborah Acosta.)

Israeli actor and musician Ilai Chapman has shared an emotional and deeply personal moment with his followers, revealing that he experienced anxiety when his mother unexpectedly walked in while he was putting on tefillin.

In a video posted to Instagram, Chapman described the conflicting emotions he felt as he realized his mother was about to discover his growing connection to Yiddishkeit.

“My mother just caught me putting on tefillin, and that moment, I’m not going to lie, was accompanied by anxiety,” Chapman said.

He explained that he was still in the middle of davening when he heard his mother approaching.

“Suddenly, I felt myself getting a little nervous. There was this moment when I wondered, ‘What will she think? If she sees me, she’ll probably be shocked.'”

When his mother saw him wearing tefillin, Chapman said she appeared surprised.

“She saw me and made this face like, ‘Wow, what are you doing? What’s going on?'”

Despite his initial apprehension, the actor said the experience ultimately strengthened his determination to embrace his faith openly.

“But I have nothing to be ashamed of. It makes me feel good, it’s pleasant for me, it strengthens my connection to my faith. And I have nothing to be ashamed of. I’m happy it happened, very happy it happened.”

Chapman grew up in Kiryat Ono in a family with a strong academic background.

His father, Dr. Yoav Chapman, is a physician and department director at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, while his mother holds a doctorate in biology and works at a biological research institute.

His family also has prominent ties to Israeli public life. His maternal grandfather is author and professor Tzvi Luz, while his great-grandfather, Kadish Luz, served as Speaker of the Knesset and acting president of Israel.

Chapman began his entertainment career in 2019, appearing on a musical reality television program where he performed an original song that he later released as his debut single.

He subsequently expanded into acting and received a leading actor award for a youth television series in 2022.

Alongside his acting career, Chapman has continued pursuing music, releasing several singles and an album titled “I’m Still Alive” in May 2026.

In November 2025, Chapman survived a serious medical emergency while driving on a highway. He later described losing consciousness and experiencing temporary loss of vision and sensation in his arms and legs before managing to pull over and summon assistance.

Reflecting on that frightening experience, Chapman said it had changed his perspective on life and helped him appreciate it more deeply.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Here we are. One day left. And I’ll say what I always say: polls don’t vote. Only voters vote.

One reason I can’t wait for this midterm election to be over is that virtually every press organization that I know of is telling me that polls vote.

“It’s a blue wave.” “Every Republican senator is going to lose.” “Every Republican house member is going to lose.” “It’s gonna be worse than Milwaukee beating Tampa in five games in the World Series.”

In this case, the polls are predicting Milwaukee actually won four straight games. Oh wait, the World Series is over. It was four out of five — but you get my drift.

According to the new Times/Siena poll, the Democrats lead by 11 points in the Michigan Senate race. Pause right there, because the Democratic congresswoman, Haley Stevens, just endorsed Republican Mike Rogers so she’s probably taking a third to half of the party away from Abdul El-Sayed.

The former Michigan Democratic party chairman has told people to stay home. But the intrepid Times is still giving it to Dr. El-Sayed by 11 points. Go figure.

Democrats are up by 7 points in Texas. No, they’re not.

Six points in Maine. Please stop already. Susan Collins always wins.

And five points each in Ohio and Kansas, two historically red states.

Yet then in the same article, the Times acknowledges Republicans are winning over late deciders by 9 percentage points in seven battleground states.

And then they say white liberals were about 30 percent likelier to take the poll than registered white Republicans.

Of course they are. Who else are they going to talk to? And more than likely none of them have ever had a meal in the Cheesecake Factory.

I’m not making any predictions, but I’m just saying I’m so tired of the polls voting in the press. They don’t.

People vote. And we’ll see what happens.

How about this: The economy is booming. The majority of Americans prefer free enterprise and free-market capitalism over big government state-run socialism. 

And I still believe most folks like their private healthcare and do not wish to pay for health and other entitlements for illegal immigrants.

So I have the outrageous view that with Mr. Trump campaigning super humanly and on message most of the time, and the economy booming, even with gasoline prices uncomfortably high, the GOP is going to maintain control of the senate and the house generic race is gonna be razor thin, one way or another. Most of all I continue to believe that voters, not polls, decide elections.

Democrats are now favored to take control of the U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s midterm elections, with a new forecast from Decision Desk HQ giving the party a 64% probability of winning the majority and projecting a 52-48 Democratic advantage in the next Congress.

The latest election model points to three Republican-held seats as particularly vulnerable: Texas, Alaska, and Maine. Democratic victories in those states could produce a dramatic shift in Washington, where Republicans are fighting to maintain their Senate majority amid a difficult political environment.

In Texas, Decision Desk HQ estimates that Democrat James Talarico has a 61% likelihood of defeating Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. The contest has attracted national attention because Texas has long been a Republican stronghold, making a Democratic victory there a potentially significant setback for the GOP.

Alaska presents another possible Democratic pickup, with former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola assigned a 61% chance of defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola’s previous statewide electoral success has made her a formidable challenger in a state that generally favors Republicans in federal elections.

In Maine, former state Senate President Troy Jackson is given a 63% probability of unseating Republican Sen. Susan Collins, whose long tenure and reputation for political independence have helped her survive previous Democratic challenges.

The same forecasting model gives Republicans a 36% chance of retaining Senate control, leaving open the possibility that the GOP could outperform current expectations in several closely contested states.

The projections mark a substantial change from the political landscape a year earlier, when Republicans appeared well positioned to defend their majority. At the time, Democrats faced the difficult task of capturing Senate seats in multiple states that President Trump had carried by comfortable margins during the 2024 presidential election.

Republican prospects have since been complicated by declining approval ratings for President Trump, persistent voter frustration over household expenses, and economic concerns tied to tariffs and higher prices associated with the Iran war.

Despite the improving Democratic outlook, Decision Desk HQ chief elections analyst Geoffrey Skelley warned that early voting figures should not be interpreted as reliable predictions of the final results, particularly because Republicans have increasingly concentrated their participation on Election Day.

“Friends don’t let friends read too much into absentee and early voting data,” Skelley wrote in an analysis of voting patterns ahead of Tuesday’s elections.

Texas provides one example of the uncertainty. Through October 31, voters classified as Republicans by a statistical model accounted for approximately 42% of early ballots, compared with 39% identified as Democrats. Although that represents a smaller Republican advantage than in 2024, Skelley cautioned that a strong Election Day showing by GOP voters could still deliver a victory for Paxton.

Florida’s early voting numbers have offered Republicans a more favorable picture. As of November 1, registered Republicans represented roughly 41% of ballots submitted early or by mail, compared with 38% for registered Democrats. Decision Desk HQ consequently gives the GOP approximately a 75% probability of retaining the state’s Senate seat.

North Carolina, by contrast, has produced encouraging numbers for Democrats. Registered Democrats accounted for approximately 38% of early voters, compared with 26% for Republicans. That represents a substantial improvement over the party’s position at the same stage in 2024, although a surge in Republican participation on Tuesday could reduce the Democratic advantage.

Skelley also pointed to early voting trends in Kansas and Iowa, where Democrats have improved their position compared with previous elections. Both states have traditionally leaned Republican, however, and stronger Democratic participation before Election Day does not necessarily mean the party will overcome the GOP’s historical advantage.

The stakes are particularly high because Republicans entered the election cycle holding 53 Senate seats, compared with 47 held by Democrats and independents who caucus with them. Democrats therefore need a net gain of four seats to secure outright control. A 50-50 split would leave Republicans in charge because Vice President JD Vance would retain the power to cast tie-breaking votes.

Decision Desk HQ’s forecasting system runs one million simulations using polling, historical voting patterns, and other electoral data. While its latest projections favor Democrats, the relatively narrow probabilities in several battleground states mean that even modest changes in voter turnout could produce a substantially different Senate map when the votes are counted Tuesday night.

CAPE CANAVERAL (VINnews) – NASA’s experimental X-59 quiet supersonic research aircraft has completed its first year of flight testing and is making its first cross-country journey, flying from Edwards Air Force Base in California to Kennedy Space Center in Florida.​

The Lockheed Martin-built jet departed California on Oct. 28 — exactly one year after its maiden flight — with planned stops in El Paso and Fort Worth, Texas, and Birmingham, Alabama. Chase planes are accompanying the aircraft. It is scheduled for static display at NASA’s MAX POWER airshow at Kennedy Space Center on Nov. 7 and 8.​

Designed for NASA’s Quesst mission, the X-59 is intended to cruise at Mach 1.4 (about 924 mph) and 55,000 feet while producing a soft sonic “thump” of roughly 75 perceived loudness decibels — comparable to a car door closing nearby — rather than a traditional loud sonic boom. Its elongated nose shapes the shockwaves to reduce noise. The aircraft has no conventional front windshield; the pilot relies on a camera-based external vision system for forward visibility.​

The X-59 first exceeded the speed of sound on June 5, 2026. In its first year it has completed more than 40 flights, reached speeds of Mach 1.53 and altitudes above 56,000 feet. Its first flight, on Oct. 28, 2025, lasted 67 minutes at a maximum of about 230 mph and 12,000 feet as the team checked systems.​

NASA’s next phase will measure actual ground noise levels and conduct flights over communities to gauge public response. The data is intended to help regulators assess whether commercial supersonic flights over land — banned in the United States since 1973 — could resume with quieter technology.​

The aircraft was designed and built at Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California. NASA test pilots, including Nils Larson and Jim “Clue” Less, have been flying the test program.

A large-scale search is underway in Toms River after two people jumped off the J. Stanley Tunney Bridge on Route 37 this evening, TLS has learned.

One person was located and transported, and is reported to be in good condition.

The second person has not yet been found.

The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey State Police and other local agencies are involved in the search, with a helicopter overhead and emergency boats on the water near the bridge.

The search is becoming much more difficult now that it is dark outside.

Additional information will be published when available.

In a major medical breakthrough, surgeons at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah have successfully performed Israel’s first robot-assisted lung transplant, using advanced technology that eliminates the need to fully open the patient’s chest and dramatically reduces the physical trauma associated with conventional transplant surgery.

The historic procedure, performed in October and announced Monday, places Israel among a select group of countries capable of carrying out the highly complex operation. According to hospital officials, only approximately 20 robotic lung transplants have been performed worldwide, with the first taking place in Spain just three years ago.

The operation was conducted using the da Vinci robotic surgical system, which allowed doctors to implant a donor lung and connect it to the patient’s blood vessels and airways through several small incisions.

Unlike traditional lung transplant surgery, which generally requires opening the chest and spreading the ribs apart, the robotic approach minimizes damage to muscles, nerves, and surrounding tissue.

The distinction is particularly significant for lung transplant recipients, whose recovery can be complicated by severe postoperative pain.

Traditional lung transplantation is an extraordinarily complex procedure, generally lasting eight to ten hours. Following surgery, patients often experience significant discomfort that makes it difficult to breathe deeply, cough, and clear secretions from their lungs, increasing the risk of pneumonia and other infections.

By avoiding the extensive chest opening, doctors hope the robotic technique will substantially reduce pain, improve breathing during recovery, and shorten hospitalization.

The groundbreaking surgery was led by Dr. Yuri Peisakhovich, director of Beilinson’s Department of Thoracic Surgery.

“Robotic lung transplantation is a turning point for lung transplants in Israel,” Peisakhovich said.

“We aspire to make robotic surgery without opening the chest the accepted standard for lung transplantation within five years,” he added.

Patient’s Recovery Exceeds Expectations

Hospital officials reported particularly encouraging results following the procedure.

According to Dr. Dan Gurfiel, director of Beilinson’s Cardiothoracic Surgical Intensive Care Unit, the patient’s recovery was significantly easier than the medical team had anticipated.

“The recovery of the patient who underwent robotic surgery exceeded all expectations. He required almost no pain medication, apart from paracetamol,” Gurfiel said.

The patient also spent less time in intensive care and in the hospital overall, according to the hospital.

While the results are promising, doctors have not yet established through large-scale comparative studies whether robotic lung transplantation consistently produces better outcomes than conventional surgery.

Months Of Preparation For A Complex Operation

The medical achievement required extensive coordination among dozens of specialists, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, pulmonologists, operating room nurses, intensive care physicians, heart-lung machine operators, and tissue-typing laboratory personnel.

One of the greatest challenges involved ensuring that doctors could respond immediately to an emergency while the robotic instruments were operating inside the patient’s chest.

Dr. Shai Fine, director of Beilinson’s Anesthesiology and Operating Rooms Division, explained that the medical team conducted detailed planning for ventilation, monitoring, blood circulation, and emergency intervention.

The hospital also carried out a dedicated simulation involving the surgical team before proceeding with the transplant.

As an additional precaution, the patient was connected to a heart-lung machine in advance, allowing physicians to respond rapidly if complications developed during the operation.

The historic transplant followed another important surgical milestone at Beilinson approximately one month earlier, when doctors successfully performed a minimally invasive lung transplant without robotic assistance.

That earlier operation involved just two small incisions, providing valuable experience that helped prepare the team for the subsequent robotic procedure.

More Than 1,000 Lung Transplants At Beilinson

Beilinson has long been one of Israel’s leading centers for lung transplantation, having performed more than 1,000 lung transplants over the years.

Dr. Osnat Livneh-Straichman, director of the hospital’s Institute of Pulmonary Diseases and Allergy, credited the achievement to years of accumulated experience and cooperation among medical specialists.

“Thanks to extensive teamwork and more than 1,000 lung transplants performed at Beilinson Medical Center, we have accumulated the expertise, knowledge and experience that enable us to provide the most advanced treatment to suitable patients,” she said.

Hospital officials hope the new technique will eventually become a routine option for eligible lung transplant patients, potentially sparing them much of the pain and lengthy recovery traditionally associated with the lifesaving surgery.

For now, the successful procedure represents a significant milestone for Israeli medicine and another example of the country’s growing capabilities in advanced surgical technology.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Four closely contested congressional elections in New York could play a decisive role in determining which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives following Tuesday’s midterm elections, with Republicans fighting to preserve their narrow majority and Democrats hoping that victories in the Empire State will help propel them back into power.

Although New York remains overwhelmingly Democratic in statewide elections, several competitive House districts have become major battlegrounds, attracting millions of dollars in campaign spending and national attention. Both parties view the state as essential to their efforts to secure the 218 seats needed for a House majority.

New York Democratic Party chairman Jay Jacobs expressed confidence that his party would successfully defend all its existing congressional seats while potentially capturing two additional districts in the Hudson Valley and upstate New York. He predicted that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat, “will be the next speaker of the House.”

State Republican chairman Ed Cox, meanwhile, pointed to the GOP’s success in New York during the 2022 midterms, when Republican victories in several competitive districts helped deliver control of the House to the party.

Republicans currently hold 218 House seats, compared with 214 Democrats, one independent member, and two vacancies, leaving little room for losses as voters prepare to head to the polls.

Among the most closely watched contests is the race in New York’s 17th Congressional District, covering portions of the Hudson Valley north of New York City. Republican Rep. Mike Lawler is seeking another term against Democrat Cait Conley, an Army combat veteran who subsequently held a national security position in the Biden administration.

The Lawler-Conley contest has become one of the most expensive congressional races in the country. According to advertising tracking firm AdImpact, Republican organizations have poured approximately $30 million into advertising in the district, while Democratic groups have spent another $20.9 million. Only North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District has attracted more advertising expenditures.

Lawler’s political survival is particularly important to Republicans because he was the only GOP candidate among New York’s four major 2022 congressional pickups to retain his seat during the 2024 elections. Democrats successfully reclaimed the other three districts, leaving Lawler as the remaining Republican incumbent from that wave of victories.

Another major contest is unfolding in the North Country, where Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik’s decision not to seek reelection created an open seat in a district that has traditionally favored Republicans.

The GOP nominee, businessman Anthony Constantino, owns a printing company and has received President Trump’s endorsement. Constantino has reportedly invested approximately $17 million of his personal fortune into the campaign, making the contest one of the most heavily self-financed House races of the election cycle.

Constantino faces Democrat Blake Gendebien, a farmer who is attempting to capitalize on divisions within the local Republican organization. Constantino’s victory over a primary opponent supported by established Republican and Conservative Party leaders left lingering tensions within the district’s political structure.

The Conservative Party ultimately declined to place a candidate on its ballot line, an unusual development that could complicate Republican efforts to consolidate conservative voters behind Constantino.

Political consultant O’Brien “OB” Murray suggested that the internal Republican disagreements could create “the perfect storm for the Democrats,” particularly with Democratic organizations investing heavily in an attempt to flip the seat.

The Democratic House Majority PAC has reportedly committed approximately $1.4 million to the contest, while Vice President JD Vance was scheduled to appear alongside Constantino at a campaign event Monday in a final effort to energize Republican voters.

On Long Island, two Democratic incumbents are defending districts that have demonstrated a willingness to support Republican candidates, making both contests important opportunities for the GOP to gain seats.

In the 3rd Congressional District, Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi is facing former Republican Assemblyman Michael LiPetri in a rematch of their 2024 election. Suozzi prevailed in that contest by approximately three percentage points, and Republicans believe the district remains competitive, particularly because President Trump carried it in the presidential election that same year.

LiPetri has received substantial assistance from Republican organizations, including approximately $10 million in spending by a Trump-aligned super PAC. Suozzi, meanwhile, has sought to emphasize his reputation as a moderate Democrat in a district where voters have shown a willingness to split their tickets between the two major parties.

The neighboring 4th Congressional District features another Republican effort to reclaim a seat lost in 2024. Democratic Rep. Laura Gillen is seeking reelection against Jeanine Driscoll, the Republican receiver of taxes for the Town of Hempstead.

Gillen captured the district two years ago by defeating Republican Anthony D’Esposito, who had won the seat during the GOP’s successful 2022 campaign. D’Esposito chose not to pursue another rematch, clearing the way for Driscoll to become the Republican nominee.

Republicans are hoping that concerns about taxes, affordability, and the cost of living will help them regain support among suburban Long Island voters. Democrats are attempting to hold their recent gains by emphasizing local issues and portraying their candidates as independent-minded representatives of their districts.

The importance of New York’s congressional contests became evident during the 2022 elections, when Republicans captured four Democratic-held seats across Long Island and the Hudson Valley, providing a critical boost to the party’s successful effort to take control of the House.

Democrats reversed much of that progress in 2024, reclaiming three of the four districts and leaving Lawler as the sole Republican incumbent to survive from that group of victories.

With the House majority potentially hinging on only a handful of seats nationwide, even one or two unexpected results in New York could alter the balance of power in Washington. Both parties have consequently poured resources into voter turnout operations, advertising campaigns, and last-minute appearances by prominent national figures as Tuesday’s voting approaches.

{Matzav.com}

DUBAI (VINnews) — Several Gulf Arab states have informed Iran that they stand ready to launch retaliatory strikes, either on their own or in coordination with others, should Tehran attack their infrastructure in response to renewed American military action, mediators said.

The warnings come as Gulf governments actively prepare for the possibility of a major U.S. offensive that could begin as early as this week. Diplomatic channels remain stalled, with mediators reporting little progress toward de-escalation.

Officials across the region have conducted security drills covering airports and other critical sites as they brace for potential Iranian counterstrikes that could target energy facilities, civilian infrastructure and economic assets.

In Qatar, the nationwide WATAN 2026 exercise reached Hamad International Airport on Monday. Qatar Airways said it was participating in contingency and readiness activities at the airport as part of the annual drill, which involves military and civilian entities testing emergency response and coordination. The airline said flights and passenger services would continue normally.

The United Arab Emirates has also stepped up preparations. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said Sunday at the IISS Manama Dialogue in Bahrain that the Emirates do not want another round of fighting but are prepared for the worst-case scenario. He stressed a preference for a diplomatic agreement while noting that Gulf states remain in contact with Tehran through various channels.

“We don’t really want to see another round of confrontation in the region,” Gargash said, according to accounts of his remarks. He added that failure to bridge differences between Washington and Tehran would force the region to confront the worst outcome.

Iranian officials have warned of broad retaliation if the United States resumes strikes. Tehran has previously threatened targets including energy infrastructure, desalination plants, airports and other civilian and economic sites across the Gulf. Iranian leaders have also said any future conflict could be longer and less geographically limited than earlier rounds of fighting.

The Trump administration has continued diplomatic efforts through Arab mediators, including Qatar and Pakistan, aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and restarting negotiations. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Monday that the supreme leader had granted the government certain powers over the talks and that Tehran would seek to resolve the issue through dialogue. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described intensive consultations via mediators.

Despite those efforts, regional officials describe little headway. Gulf states have expressed concern that another U.S.-Israeli campaign against a better-prepared Iran could trigger a more destructive cycle of retaliation that damages their own economies and civilian infrastructure.

President Trump has been described as leaning toward a large post-midterm attack that could target Iranian infrastructure and nuclear sites, while still giving diplomatic channels a chance to produce results. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pressed for strikes to resume promptly, according to people familiar with the discussions.

The developments leave the energy-rich Gulf states caught between their close security ties to Washington and the risk of Iranian reprisals against the facilities that underpin their economies.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak has acknowledged that the IDF cannot realistically accommodate the entire chareidi population, suggesting that young chareidi men who do not enlist in the military could instead perform a limited period of national service. His remarks represent a significant departure from demands for sweeping chareidi conscription and come as opposition parties explore possible compromises with the chareidi parties in an effort to form a government without Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Speaking Monday in an interview with Radio 103FM, Barak indicated that the opposition may need to reconsider its approach to the contentious draft issue as negotiations continue over the formation of Israel’s next coalition. With neither political bloc having secured a Knesset majority in last week’s elections, the possibility of bringing chareidi parties into a government headed by Gadi Eisenkot has placed the draft controversy at the center of coalition discussions.

Asked whether the anti-Netanyahu camp should temporarily abandon its demands for equal military service to facilitate a change in government, Barak responded, “We don’t need to set it aside; we need to handle it wisely.”

Barak went further, arguing that the opposition’s overriding political commitment is to remove Netanyahu from office and that other campaign promises must be reconsidered if they interfere with that objective. His comments suggested that opposition leaders should be prepared to demonstrate flexibility on the draft issue if doing so would enable them to assemble a governing majority.

The former prime minister expressed confidence that Eisenkot could formulate a conscription proposal acceptable enough to the chareidi parties to secure their cooperation, even if the arrangement would not fully satisfy their demands.

“Eisenkot can propose a conscription bill that has a good chance of passing. They haredim won’t love it, but it will be fair. We don’t want to eliminate Torah study.”

Barak’s most notable concession concerned the practical limitations of the Israeli military. Rather than insisting that every eligible chareidi young man be inducted into the IDF, he acknowledged that the army lacks the capacity to absorb such a large population and proposed an alternative framework for those who do not enlist.

“Of course we need equal service, but the IDF is anyway unable to integrate all the haredim. Anyone who chooses not to draft will serve nine months, or however many, of national service, and will then go about their lives.”

Under the approach Barak outlined, chareidi men who do not enter the military would fulfill a national service obligation lasting approximately nine months, although he did not specify the nature of the service, the institutions that would administer it, or whether full-time yeshiva bochurim and kollel yungeleit would receive exemptions.

Barak also called for substantially improving the financial compensation and benefits provided to IDF soldiers, arguing that those serving in the military should receive greater recognition and material support.

At the same time, he maintained that any compromise on conscription should be accompanied by broader changes affecting the chareidi community, including increased emphasis on secular core curriculum studies, greater participation in the workforce, and expanded contributions to the tax system.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF announced Monday that six Hamas terrorists were eliminated in a series of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, including two Nukhba terrorists who participated in the October 7 massacre.

According to the IDF, four of the terrorists were killed in strikes carried out on Shabbos, October 31, while two others were eliminated in separate operations on Thursday, October 22.

The terrorists included members of Hamas’s elite Nukhba force, as well as commanders involved in recruitment, sniper operations, and rocket attacks.

Among those eliminated was Muhammad Kamel Musleh Qadeeh, a Hamas Nukhba terrorist who participated in the October 7 massacre at Kibbutz Nir Oz.

Qadeeh was killed in an airstrike in the Khan Younis area on Shabbos. According to the IDF, he was responsible for maintaining the operational readiness of Hamas’s Nukhba terrorists.

In another strike carried out that day in the Nuseirat area of central Gaza, the IDF eliminated Diaa Abd al-Mohsen Muhammad Abu al-Rous, another member of Hamas’s Nukhba force.

Two additional Hamas operatives were eliminated in separate strikes in northern Gaza on Shabbos.

One was Nabil Hamad, who served as a department head in Hamas’s recruitment apparatus and was involved in strengthening and rebuilding the terrorist organization’s military capabilities.

The other was Muhannad Nader Mahmoud Dahdouh, a Hamas sniper commander who, according to the IDF, actively participated in combat and carried out terrorist attacks against Israeli forces.

The military also released the identities of two terrorists eliminated in separate strikes in northern Gaza on October 22.

One was Wael Nayef Fahmi Musallam, a Nukhba terrorist who infiltrated Israeli territory during the October 7 massacre.

The second was Arafat Kamel Muhammad Ar’ir, a squad commander in Hamas’s rocket unit.

According to the IDF, all six terrorists had been involved in advancing terrorist activity against Israeli soldiers and civilians during the war.

The military said the operatives had continued working to restore Hamas’s military capabilities, including during the recent ceasefire period, in what it described as systematic violations of the agreement.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)