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Singer Yaakov Shwekey said he chose to return to Israel for his concert in Yerushalayim despite the tense security situation, explaining that he felt a responsibility to the many fans who had been waiting for the event.

Ahead of his performance at Binyanei HaUma, Shwekey appeared on the “Zman Avir” radio program hosted by Menachem Toker and spoke emotionally about returning to the country during such a sensitive period.

“To come once again to Yerushalauyim, to this holy place, and sing for all the people who have really been waiting such a long time — it’s truly going to be warm,” Shwekey said.

During the interview, Toker referenced the singer’s previous trip to Israel, when Shwekey became stranded in the country because of escalating security tensions. This time, however, the singer decided to come despite the concerns.

Shwekey said he viewed the trip as a genuine mission.

“I promised people that we would do this, and there’s a real responsibility in doing something like this,” he explained.

The singer added that during times of war and uncertainty, people need music and joy more than ever.

“We need more singing, more music, and more joy. To add morale and all these things. People are truly under tremendous pressure and stress, and music is the remedy — our remedy, spiritually as well.”

One of the more intriguing moments of the interview came when Toker raised the subject of President Donald Trump’s warm attitude toward Israel and Shabbos observance.

Toker jokingly wondered whether Trump himself may have heard Shwekey’s Shabbos songs through the singer’s popular “Project Shabbos” initiative.

Shwekey responded that he had heard from people working inside the White House that Jewish music is indeed played there.

“I actually spoke with a few people who work there… and they listen to Shabbos songs,” Shwekey said.

“There are a lot of Jews working there, so who knows,” he added.

Shwekey also said his “Project Shabbos” initiative has generated unexpected reactions around the world.

“I see with the Project Shabbos that it’s managing to accomplish things, that this is really entering every place in the world,” he said.

According to the singer, the fact that Shabbos songs are now being heard in surprising places creates a powerful feeling of Kiddush Hashem and strengthens Jewish identity and connection.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli police arrested a 25-year-old resident of Chevron on suspicion of stealing dozens of mezuzos from residential buildings in Cholon and Bat Yam over the past week.

According to police, the suspect — described as an illegal infiltrator — was apprehended in an apartment in Yaffo following a targeted operation carried out by security forces.

The investigation was launched after multiple reports were received regarding mezuzos being removed from the doorposts of homes throughout the two cities.

Officers from the Cholon police station conducted an undercover investigation that included the use of advanced technological equipment in an effort to identify those responsible for the thefts.

As investigators gathered evidence and carried out additional investigative activity, police said they were able to uncover the suspect’s identity and locate him.

Authorities stated that at the time of the arrest, the suspect was found in possession of numerous mezuzos believed to have been torn from the doorframes of homes in Cholon and Bat Yam.

The suspect was taken to the Cholon police station for questioning as investigators continue examining whether he may have been involved in additional incidents and work to gather further evidence connected to the case.

Police said that the suspect is expected to be brought before the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, where investigators will request an extension of his detention in order to continue the investigation.

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that negotiations involving Iran’s enriched nuclear material fell apart after the United States allegedly reversed an earlier understanding and insisted the material be transferred exclusively to American control rather than Russia.

Speaking at a lengthy press conference in the Kremlin following Russia’s Victory Day commemorations in Moscow, Putin described the failed discussions as a lost diplomatic opportunity that could have eased tensions surrounding Iran’s nuclear program and the broader crisis in the Persian Gulf.

During the exchange with reporters, Putin disclosed what he described as previously undisclosed details about negotiations involving Iran, Israel, Russia, and the United States.

“We didn’t just propose it; we already did it once, in 2015,” Putin said.

According to Putin, Russia had previously handled transfers tied to the international nuclear agreement with Iran and had earned Tehran’s trust in the process.

“Iran trusts us completely … and it has good reason to trust us, because, firstly, we’ve never violated any agreements.”

Putin said that during the latest round of discussions, all sides initially supported the idea of sending Iran’s enriched nuclear material to Russia.

“And initially, and this is sort of a secret, everyone agreed — representatives of the United States agreed, Iran agreed, Israel agreed,” Putin told the press about more recent negotiations.

He claimed the negotiations later collapsed after Washington toughened its demands and insisted the material be transferred only to the United States.

According to Putin, “the United States hardened its position and demanded that the uranium be transported only to the United States.”

Putin said Iran subsequently withdrew support for exporting the material overseas.

The Russian president said former Iranian official Ali Larijani later informed Moscow that Tehran no longer backed the plan to transfer the uranium abroad.

Instead, Putin said Iran proposed “creating a joint venture, but on Iranian territory, and diluting the uranium together there.”

Putin stated that Russia remained willing to accept that compromise if it helped reduce regional tensions.

He said Moscow responded to Tehran by saying: “Go ahead, we’re not against it. The main thing is that this defuses the situation.”

At the same time, Putin indicated he doubted the revised proposal would be accepted by either Washington or Jerusalem, describing the negotiations as having reached “a dead end.”

Despite Putin’s comments, a source within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government reportedly told Newsmax that Israel still supports the concept of transferring Iran’s nuclear material to Russia provided international inspection safeguards are included.

Putin argued that the Russian proposal would have ensured transparency through international supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“Everyone would see what it is, how much of it, and where it is,” Putin said. “Secondly, it would all be placed under IAEA control.”

He also said the process of diluting the uranium would have remained under international oversight as well.

According to Putin, “the work of liquefying this uranium would also be organized under IAEA control and would be transparent and safe.”

The Russian leader additionally defended Iran against accusations that it is actively pursuing nuclear weapons capability.

Putin asserted that “the IAEA has never said that there’s evidence that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons,” while also citing religious rulings issued by Iranian leaders opposing nuclear weapons development.

Throughout the press conference, Putin repeatedly portrayed Russia as acting primarily as a mediator attempting to lower tensions rather than seeking strategic advantage in the region.

“We simply want to make some small contribution, if it suits everyone, to defusing the situation,” he said.

Although the negotiations failed, Putin maintained that a diplomatic breakthrough remains achievable.

He insisted that “compromises are possible” and said Russia would back “any solution that will break this deadlock and make it possible to move toward a peaceful resolution.”

Putin’s remarks came amid continued tensions across the Persian Gulf tied to Iran’s nuclear activities and ongoing instability throughout the Middle East.

The Russian president warned that any further escalation would ultimately harm all sides involved and argued that there were “no longer any interested parties in continuing this standoff.”

Saturday’s press conference followed Russia’s annual Victory Day celebrations commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. This year’s events were noticeably reduced in scale because of ongoing security concerns linked to the war in Ukraine.

{Matzav.com}

As first reported by Matzav.com, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Slabodka rosh yeshiva, was unable to join Keren Olam HaTorah’s fundraising mission to Brazil and Argentina, which departed on schedule on Motzaei Shabbos, due to unforeseen developments involving the health of his rebbetzin.

The rosh yeshiva remained in Eretz Yisroel in order to stay at the side of the rebbetzin, who has been hospitalized and is in need of rachamei Shomayim and tefillos.

Sources involved with the mission said that upon hearing of the rebbetzin’s condition, leading South American nedivim strongly urged Rav Moshe Hillel to remain with her and pledged to intensify their support for Keren Olam HaTorah l’zechus a complete recovery.

All are asked to daven for the refuah sheleimah of Avigayil Gittel bas Chaya Miriam.

Despite Rav Moshe Hillel’s absence, the mission is proceeding under the leadership of Rav Yaakov Hillel, Rav Avrohom Salim, Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rav Shimon Galei, and Rav Yosef Chevroni, who are traveling on behalf of the urgent campaign to support the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel and strengthen the future of its yeshivos and kollelim.

{Matzav.com}

Senior officials within the Israeli chareidi parties are privately acknowledging that legislation regulating the status of yeshiva students and the draft law will likely not pass during the current Knesset term, according to conversations ahead of the opening of the Knesset summer session.

The upcoming summer session is widely viewed as the final realistic opportunity to pass the controversial legislation before Israel enters another election period.

“We failed in our central mission in the Knesset,” one senior chareidi party leader reportedly admitted during a private conversation over the weekend.

Another senior chareidi official said the parties remain deeply dissatisfied with the current wording of the proposed law and expressed serious doubt that it can advance in the present political climate.

“We are not at peace with the wording of the draft law, and it is difficult to see it passing during the current term,” the official said.

According to the report, much of the internal hesitation stems from objections to comments and revisions proposed by the Knesset’s legal advisers.

“The comments are unacceptable to us, so passing a law without any legal support could end up causing more harm than good,” the official added.

The report said the chareidi factions are now facing a critical decision regarding whether to continue pushing the legislation or postpone the battle until after the next elections.

As previously reported, Shas and Degel HaTorah are expected to decide in the coming days how to proceed regarding legislation regulating the status of yeshiva bochurim, with only a few months remaining before the likely collapse of the current coalition and the start of a new election campaign.

Officials in Shas reportedly continue supporting efforts to advance the legislation and are waiting for a final decision from Degel HaTorah. According to the report, the parties previously agreed that any move on the issue would only proceed in full coordination between the chareidi factions.

A senior Degel HaTorah official said a ruling from Rav Dov Landau could arrive within the next day or sometime this week.

At the center of the discussions are three possible paths forward.

The first option would involve accepting the demands and revisions proposed by the Knesset’s legal advisers, including stricter provisions and changes to the bill’s language.

A second option would be to pass the legislation without legal backing, despite fears that the courts could immediately freeze or strike down the law through injunctions and judicial intervention.

The third possibility would be abandoning efforts to pass the law during the current Knesset altogether and postponing the issue until after the next elections, in hopes that a future right-wing coalition would have stronger political leverage.

Another senior chareidi source involved in the draft-law negotiations said that the legislation currently lacks sufficient parliamentary support to pass.

“The law will not pass. It is not acceptable to us, but mainly because it does not have a majority in the Knesset. That is the truth. It will not have a majority during the final months of this term,” the source said.

The Knesset summer session, which opens this week, is expected to be the final opportunity to advance the legislation before Israel shifts fully into election mode.

{Matzav.com}

Rav Ezriel Auerbach, noted posek and rov of Kehillas Chanichei Hayeshivos of Bayit Vegan in Yerushalayim, is currently on a visit to the United States.

Rav Auerbach spent this past Shabbos, Parshas Behar-Bechukosai, where he was hosted at the home of Reb Mendel Tress on New Central Avenue. Friday night, the public was invited to join Rav Auerbach at an oneg Shabbos held at the home of his hosts.

This morning, Rav Auerbach delivered divrei hisorerus at the Lutzk Bais Medrash in Lakewood.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump sharply criticized Iran on Sunday, accusing the Islamic Republic of deceiving the United States and the international community for nearly half a century while also attacking the Obama administration’s handling of relations with Tehran.

In a lengthy Truth Social post, Trump claimed Iran spent decades stalling negotiations and manipulating world powers before receiving massive financial and political concessions from the United States during President Barack Obama’s administration.

According to Trump, Obama fundamentally shifted American policy in Iran’s favor at the expense of Israel and other US allies.

“He was not only good to them, he was great, actually going to their side, jettisoning Israel, and all other Allies, and giving Iran a major and very powerful new lease on life,” Trump wrote of Obama.

Trump also revisited longstanding criticism surrounding money transferred to Iran during the Obama years, claiming the regime received enormous sums from the United States, including cash delivered directly to Tehran.

Trump said Iran obtained “Hundreds of Billions of Dollars” from the United States, including “1.7 Billion Dollars in green cash, flown into Tehran.” He added that the money was “handed to them on a silver platter” and alleged that it arrived “in suitcases and satchels.”

“They had never seen money like this, and never will again,” Trump stated, adding that Iranian officials “finally found the greatest SUCKER of them all, in the form of a weak and stupid American President.”

The president further accused Iran of supporting attacks that killed Americans and violently suppressing its own citizens during periods of unrest.

Trump alleged the regime was responsible for killing Americans through roadside bomb attacks and accused Iranian authorities of “wiping out 42,000 innocent, unarmed protestors.”

He concluded the social media post with the declaration: “They will be laughing no longer!”

Earlier Sunday, Trump also discussed the ongoing conflict with Iran during an interview with Full Measure, where he argued that Iran’s military capabilities have largely been destroyed, although he cautioned the conflict itself may not yet be finished.

“Well, they’re militarily defeated. In their own minds, maybe they don’t know that. But I think they do because I deal with them,” Trump said.

Trump again stressed that the United States cannot permit Iran to obtain nuclear weapons.

“And we cannot ever let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” he added. “But they are militarily defeated. They have no Navy. They have no Air Force. They have no anti-aircraft weaponry. They have no radar.”

He also claimed Iran’s military leadership structure has been devastated.

“They have no leaders. Their leaders are gone. The first set, the A team is gone, the B team is gone, and part of the C team is gone,” he stated.

When asked whether the war had effectively ended, Trump suggested additional military operations remain possible if necessary.

“No, I didn’t say that. I said they are defeated, but that doesn’t mean they are done.” He added, “We could go in for two more weeks and do every single target.”

Throughout the interview, Trump repeatedly returned to the issue of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, insisting Tehran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons under any circumstances.

“We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon because they’re crazy. We cannot let them have access to nuclear,” he said.

Trump also defended his decision during his presidency to withdraw the United States from the Obama-era nuclear agreement with Iran.

“If I didn’t terminate the Iran nuclear deal, they would have had it. And they would have used it on Israel and the Middle East right now,” Trump asserted.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Donald Trump said Iran has suffered a devastating military collapse but cautioned that additional fighting could still take place if circumstances require it, during a broad interview discussing the war, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and the future of American involvement in the region.

Speaking with Sharyl Attkisson on Full Measure, Trump described Iran’s military infrastructure as shattered and claimed the regime’s leadership has been severely weakened following months of conflict.

Asked whether the war was finished or merely paused, Trump said Iran’s military capabilities have effectively been destroyed, even if Iranian leaders may not publicly acknowledge it.

“Well, they’re militarily defeated. In their own minds, maybe they don’t know that. But I think they do because I deal with them.”

Trump reiterated that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons remains a central American objective.

“And we cannot ever let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” he added. “But they are militarily defeated. They have no Navy. They have no Air Force. They have no anti-aircraft weaponry. They have no radar.”

The president also argued that Iran’s military command structure has been decimated.

“They have no leaders. Their leaders are gone. The first set, the A team is gone, the B team is gone, and part of the C team is gone,” he said.

Trump claimed the destruction has been so extensive that Iran would require decades to recover militarily.

“if we left today, it would take them 20 years to rebuild.”

During the interview, Attkisson also questioned Trump about Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile and whether American officials had secured control over the material.

Trump indicated the United States maintains close surveillance capabilities and suggested Washington could act at any moment if necessary.

“Well, we’ll get that at some point, whatever we want. We’ll have it surveilled.”

Referring to the US Space Force, he added, “If anybody got near the place, we will know about it. And we’ll blow them up.”

When pressed on whether military operations had formally ended, Trump made clear he was not ruling out additional action.

“No, I didn’t say that. I said they are – they are defeated, but that doesn’t mean they are done,” Trump replied.

He said the United States still possesses additional targets inside Iran that could be struck if the conflict escalates again.

“We could go in for two more weeks and do every single target,” he continued. “We have certain targets that we wanted, and we’ve done probably 70 percent of them.”

Trump maintained that the damage already inflicted would take years for Iran to repair, even if no further attacks are carried out.

Throughout the conversation, Trump repeatedly returned to the issue of Iran’s nuclear program, insisting Tehran cannot be permitted to obtain nuclear weapons.

“We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon because they’re crazy. We cannot let them have access to nuclear,” Trump said.

Trump also sharply criticized the nuclear agreement negotiated during the Obama administration.

“If I didn’t terminate the Iran nuclear deal, they would have had it. And they would have used it on Israel and the Middle East right now.”

At another point in the interview, Trump referenced the US killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, describing him as “an evil genius” and “an evil guy.”

Trump additionally defended American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, saying they were necessary to stop Tehran from rapidly obtaining nuclear weapons capability.

“When those beautiful B-2 bombers attacked eight months ago and attacked their potential nuclear site, they would have had a nuclear weapon within two weeks if we didn’t,” he said.

“That’s why I had to go in,” he said. “I knew that they were going to have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump claimed the strike completely destroyed the targeted nuclear site.

“That attack “obliterated” the site, adding, “If we didn’t do that, they would have already blown up Israel, in my opinion.”

Toward the conclusion of the interview, Trump discussed the broader geopolitical implications of the war, including NATO’s role in the region.

“Well, NATO has proven to be a paper tiger,” Trump said.

He explained that the American military campaign was undertaken largely to assist regional allies.

The US intervention was carried out “to help Israel and Saudi Arabia and Qatar and UAE and others,” he said, while also arguing that the United States itself is no longer heavily dependent on the strategic shipping routes in the region.

Trump further touted American energy production, saying the United States now produces more oil and natural gas than several major global producers combined.

The United States is “now producing more oil and gas than Russia, and Saudi Arabia put together,” Trump said, adding that “by the end of this year, that number will probably double.”

WATCH:

After nearly a decade of requests from Jewish communities across the United States, the former chief rabbi of Israel, Rav Yitzchok Yosef, concluded a major and historic visit to communities and Torah institutions throughout California, Texas, and New Jersey.

The trip began last Wednesday at the invitation of rabbonim and community leaders who asked the rav to deliver Torah shiurim in kollelim, strengthen yeshivos and בתי מדרש, and inspire Jewish communities during the ongoing war in Eretz Yisroel.

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Rav Yitzchok was greeted at the airport by leading rabbonim and dayanim of the city, including Rav Yehuda Moshe and Rav Moshe Norola, together with Israel’s consul general in California, Israel Bachar.

Immediately after landing, the rav joined a large ציבור for Shacharis and afterward encouraged organizers of a special weekly Torah program for professionals throughout Los Angeles, including attorneys, doctors, and other working individuals who dedicate Wednesdays to Torah study and shiurim. Rav Yitzchok emphasized the importance of kevias ittim laTorah.

Later, the Rishon Letzion visited the Or Eliyahu school headed by Rav Goldberg, where he addressed hundreds of students studying in a unique framework that combines prominent local families together with kiruv-oriented families.

That afternoon, Rav Yitzchok delivered an in-depth shiur iyun at the central Los Angeles kollel led by Rav Shmuel Pasman. Speaking before hundreds of avreichim, he spent an extended period analyzing the sugya of tartei l’reiusa in Maseches Niddah, which is currently being studied in the kollel.

That evening, the rav visited the Beis Aharon kehillah led by Rav Moshe Norola. Following a large reception attended by hundreds of community families, Rav Yitzchok spoke for more than an hour, delivering divrei aggadah, kiruv, chizuk, and practical halachic guidance regarding Hilchos Brachos and Sefiras HaOmer.

On Thursday morning, the Rishon Letzion davened at the Shuva Yisroel community led by Rav Shmuel Laniado. The community regularly broadcasts Rav Yitzchok’s weekly shiur from the Yazdim Shul in Yerushalayim.

Following davening, Rav Yitzchok delivered a shiur on Hilchos Basar B’Chalav and encouraged the ציבור to strengthen their observance in those areas.

The rav later made an emotional visit to the Maimonides school in Los Angeles, which serves approximately 1,000 students. In honor of the visit, local organizers closed nearby streets and arranged an elaborate reception as Rav Yitzchok walked through long rows of students accompanied by live music.

Afterward, the Rishon Letzion visited the Beis Yaakov seminary, where he spoke about the importance of building a Torah home and establishing a life centered around Torah learning and kevias ittim.

That evening, Rav Yitzchok delivered another major shiur chizuk in the Valley neighborhood at a community led by Rav Shimon Gabai, which includes hundreds of Israeli families.

One of the central events of the visit took place at a gathering organized by the Israeli Consulate in California under the leadership of Consul General Israel Bachar. Thousands attended the event, including prominent members of the local community and civic leaders, as Rav Yitzchok spoke extensively about the many miracles experienced by Israel during the war and stressed the merit of Torah learners in bringing about those ניסים.

The Rishon Letzion spent Shabbos with the Magen David kehillah led by Rav Yehuda Moshe, where thousands participated throughout the special Shabbos gathering. The main sanctuary could not contain the crowds, forcing organizers to open additional halls for the tefillos and events.

Throughout Shabbos, Rav Yitzchok delivered multiple shmuessen and divrei chizuk. The main shiur on Shabbos afternoon drew extraordinary crowds, with longtime residents of Los Angeles reportedly saying they had not seen anything similar since Rav Ovadia Yosef’s visit to the city roughly 50 years earlier.

On Sunday morning, the rav visited the central Los Angeles yeshiva gedolah and delivered a lengthy shiur klali filled with deep pilpula d’Oraisa. Participants described an atmosphere of intense rischa d’Oraisa among the talmidim and roshei yeshiva.

On Monday, Erev Lag B’Omer, Rav Yitzchok visited several additional educational institutions, including a major Talmud Torah and girls’ school led by Rav Dovid Zargari, who has spent decades building Torah institutions in the city.

As sunset approached, the Rishon Letzion headed to the week’s central event — a massive citywide Lag B’Omer gathering and hadlakah organized jointly for the first time by all the major communities in Los Angeles. Thousands attended the gathering in honor of the special day.

Rav Yitzchok spoke passionately about the importance of achdus among Klal Yisroel and the need to strengthen Torah and halachah study. The evening also included a Siyum HaZohar led by Rav Yair Chodorov before the Rishon Letzion conducted the central hadlakah amid singing and dancing by the massive crowd.

The following day, Rav Yitzchok traveled to Dallas, Texas, at the invitation of local community organizations and the iConnect organization led by Rav Yitzchok Chazan. Organizers described the visit as an effort to recreate the historic trip made by Rav Ovadia Yosef to Dallas in 1976.

That evening, thousands of local residents — men, women, and children — gathered together with the rabbonim and dayanim of Dallas to hear Rav Yitzchok’s keynote address, which continued late into the night.

During his remarks, the rav stressed the importance of building strong religious infrastructure throughout the region, preserving the integrity of Jewish life, and combating assimilation through increased Torah learning, Torah classes, and kiruv activities.

The next day, Rav Yitzchok visited numerous schools throughout the city and encouraged educators to continue bringing Jewish children from public schools into Jewish educational institutions.

“Upon your shoulders rests the future of the next generation,” the Rishon Letzion told the educational staff.

Throughout the entire trip, and due to ongoing security concerns, Rav Yitzchok traveled with a high-level security convoy typically reserved for senior government officials.

At the conclusion of the visit, the rav traveled to New Jersey, where he delivered a shiur at a local yeshiva gedolah, participated in Shacharis, and later gave another shiur at Congregation Adas Israel before returning to Israel.

{Matzav.com}

Abraham Foxman, the longtime head of the Anti-Defamation League who became one of the most prominent voices combating antisemitism and hate in America, has died at the age of 86.

Foxman led the ADL for nearly three decades, serving as national director from 1987 until his retirement in 2015. Following his departure from the position, he continued to hold the title of national director emeritus until his passing.

Born on May 1, 1940, in territory that is today part of Belarus, Foxman survived the Holocaust as an infant after his parents placed him in the care of a Polish Catholic nanny in an effort to save his life during the Nazi occupation.

He remained hidden during the war years before reuniting with his parents in 1944. The family later immigrated to the United States in 1950.

After earning a law degree from New York University School of Law, Foxman joined the Anti-Defamation League and steadily advanced through the organization’s leadership ranks before ultimately being chosen to head the group in 1987.

Under Foxman’s leadership, the ADL expanded its role as a leading national organization focused on fighting antisemitism, extremism, and discrimination.

In 2015, Foxman stepped down from his longtime position and was succeeded by Jonathan Greenblatt.

{Matzav.com}

Acting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Jay Bhattacharya sought Sunday to calm growing fears surrounding the hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship, emphasizing that the illness is far less contagious than COVID-19 and does not warrant widespread alarm.

Bhattacharya, who also serves as director of the National Institutes of Health, said federal health officials are actively monitoring the situation and following established containment procedures that have successfully managed previous hantavirus outbreaks.

“I don’t want to cause a public panic,” Bhattacharya told CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday. “We want to treat it with our hantavirus protocols that were successful at containing outbreaks in the past.”

“The key message I want to send to your audience is that this is not COVID. This is not going to lead to the [same] kind of outbreak,” he added.

“We shouldn’t be panicking when the evidence doesn’t warrant it.”

Hantavirus, which is commonly associated with rodents, can trigger severe symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory complications, and other serious medical problems.

According to the CDC, approximately 38% of patients who develop respiratory symptoms from the disease do not survive.

Health experts note that while person-to-person transmission is possible in certain cases, hantavirus spreads far less easily than COVID-19 and generally requires prolonged close contact.

The current outbreak occurred aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, which was carrying roughly 150 passengers and crew members before disembarkation operations began over the weekend.

World Health Organization officials said at least three passengers have died and five others have become seriously ill with hantavirus symptoms since April 11.

The ship is currently anchored near Spain’s Canary Islands, where authorities have begun gradually removing passengers from the vessel. Seventeen Americans remain aboard and could be sent to a quarantine facility in Nebraska after returning to the United States.

“The CDC has been in contact with each of the passengers,” Bhattacharya explained. “We’re doing interviews with them, and we’re preparing to have them evacuated to the Nebraska facility at the University of Nebraska, which is a fantastic facility.”

Bhattacharya said the agency is relying on procedures developed during the 2018 Andes hantavirus outbreak in Epuyén, Argentina, which resulted in 11 deaths.

“It will include advice given to these … travelers, including an offer to stay in Nebraska if they’d like, or if they want to go back home, and their home situation allows it, to safely drive them home without exposing other people on the way, and then be put in the control, put under the auspices of their state and local public health agencies, with the CDC support all the way,” the acting CDC director said.

The seven American passengers who left the ship last month after the first death onboard are now located in Arizona, California, Georgia, Texas, and Virginia.

Medical experts say it may take up to six weeks before hantavirus symptoms begin appearing.

Bhattacharya explained that passengers who traveled on airplanes with those seven Americans are not currently viewed as high-risk contacts.

“The passengers on the ship that flew home were not symptomatic when they flew home,” he said. “Because the virus doesn’t spread unless somebody has active symptoms, those passengers on the planes are considered contacts of contacts.”

“There’s not a reason to do that kind of sort of recursive contact tracing,” he added. “But you do want to make sure that you check them regularly, so that … if they develop symptoms or if there’s other considerations, give them advice especially to reduce their contacts with others when it’s appropriate to do so.”

Bhattacharya added that both he and CDC officials have been closely monitoring the outbreak for an extended period as containment efforts continue.

{Matzav.com}

A massive gold-colored statue of President Donald Trump was formally unveiled at Trump National Doral Miami during a ceremony led by Evangelical pastor Mark Burns.

The towering monument, standing 22 feet high, was installed among palm trees on the grounds of Trump’s golf resort in Doral, Florida.

The sculpture portrays Trump raising his fist in the air, mirroring the gesture he made after surviving the assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

During the unveiling ceremony, the statue remained covered in flowing white and blue fabric. Several dozen attendees sat nearby as Burns addressed the crowd from a podium.

“Today at Trump National Doral Miami, we witnessed an unforgettable moment,” Burns wrote on social media before emphasizing that the gilded effigy was not a false idol.

“Let me be clear: this is not a golden calf,” he said. “This statue is a celebration of life. It is a symbol of resilience, freedom, patriotism, strength, and the will power to keep fighting for the future of America.”

Burns, who has previously spoken publicly about his belief that Trump was chosen by God, said the monument also serves as a reminder that divine protection has preserved the president through multiple assassination attempts.

At one stage of the event, Burns held his phone to the microphone so attendees could hear remarks from Trump himself.

“I want to thank Mark Burns, a pastor, he’s a good pastor, he’s a good man,” Trump said. “I’ve known him a long time, he’s been with me from the beginning, right from the beginning, maybe about two days later.”

“I want to thank everybody there,” he added. “I know it was done from love.”

The bronze statue itself measures roughly 15 feet and sits atop a 7-foot pedestal.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli forces struck more than 40 Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites and killed over 100 terrorists belonging to the Iranian proxy in Southern Lebanon this weekend, the military said on Sunday.

Soldiers from the IDF’s 91st “Galilee” Division attacked military-use targets, weapons storage facilities, a launcher and additional infrastructure sites. The slain terrorists were operating near IDF soldiers.

“The infrastructure sites struck were used by Hezbollah terrorists to advance and carry out attacks against IDF soldiers operating in Southern Lebanon,” the army said. “The IDF will continue to operate against threats directed at Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, in accordance with directives from the political echelon.”

Attacks on IDF troops continued throughout the day on Sunday, with the military reporting that the Israeli Air Force intercepted several rockets and drones launched toward “the area in which IDF soldiers are operating in Southern Lebanon.”

The statement added that in these cases, “in accordance with protocol,” no air-raid sirens were activated in nearby Israeli communities. Similar incidents were reported on Saturday night.

The terrorist group also continued to attack Israeli territory last night, with the IDF reporting that the IAF intercepted “several suspicious aerial targets” launched from Lebanon that did trigger air-raid sirens in several areas of northern Israel, including at Kibbutz Hanita. This was preceded a projectile launched from Lebanon that triggered alarms in the Kibbutz Bar’am area, striking in an open area with no injuries reported

Both incidents were violations of the terms of the ceasefire by Hezbollah, the IDF said.

Last night, the IDF said that it struck Hezbollah weapons storage facilities and a drone launch position, while earlier on Shabbos, the IDF hit two loaded and ready-to-use launchers in Southern Lebanon. “One of the launchers had previously fired toward IDF soldiers operating in Southern Lebanon, while another had launched rockets toward the State of Israel,” the military said.

Over the past week, the IDF’s 146th Reserve Armored Division destroyed some 70 terrorist targets and eliminated more than 30 terrorists, the army said on Sunday.

During one operation on Shabbos, a terrorist approached IDF soldiers, “posing an imminent threat,” it said, adding that “following the identification, the Israeli Air Force, guided by IDF soldiers, eliminated the terrorist and removed the threat.” JNS

{Matzav.com}

Ukraine is dramatically increasing production of unmanned ground vehicles as the country pushes to shift dangerous front-line logistics and evacuation work away from soldiers and toward robotic systems.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said it intends to sign contracts for 25,000 unmanned ground vehicles during the first half of 2026, a sharp increase from previous years as Kyiv accelerates its investment in battlefield automation.

Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the initiative after discussions with domestic defense manufacturers, describing the effort as part of a broader strategy to have robots eventually carry out all front-line resupply operations.

In an April 18 Facebook post, Fedorov wrote that “UGVs perform important logistics and evacuation tasks on the front line” and revealed that Ukrainian troops completed more than 9,000 robotic missions during March alone.

The ministry has now established a goal of making robotic systems responsible for 100% of front-line logistics missions, marking a major shift from traditional manned supply operations that have become increasingly vulnerable to Russian drone surveillance and attacks.

The planned procurement would represent a major jump from earlier production levels. Ukraine aimed for 15,000 ground robots in 2025 after managing to field only several hundred units in 2024.

According to Ukrainian officials, the Defense Procurement Agency has already finalized 19 agreements totaling 11 billion hryvnias, or approximately $250 million. Authorities have also started arranging contracts extending into 2027 in an effort to provide manufacturers with longer-term production stability.

Ukraine recently approved one of its newest robotic systems, the Bizon-L, under NATO cataloging procedures. The robot, capable of carrying payloads weighing up to 300 kilograms across distances of 50 kilometers, was formally cleared on April 23 for use by Ukrainian and allied forces.

Officials say NATO standardization could eventually allow the system to be exported and integrated with partner militaries.

The unmanned vehicles are designed for a range of battlefield tasks, including transporting ammunition, evacuating wounded troops, laying mines, and even participating directly in combat operations.

Ukrainian forces have reportedly experimented with mounting RPG-7 grenade launchers onto robotic platforms. Ukrainian media reports also described at least one machine-gun-equipped ground robot that allegedly maintained an infantry position by itself for roughly six weeks.

President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the expanding use of robotic systems during an April 14 speech marking Arms Makers’ Day. Zelensky said Ukrainian units conducted more than 22,000 unmanned missions over the previous three months and unveiled a goal of producing 50,000 ground robots during 2026.

Ukraine’s defense-tech sector has rapidly expanded since the war began. Officials say the number of companies involved in ground drone production has grown from none in 2022 to approximately 300 firms operating under Brave1, a state-supported military technology initiative focused on grants and battlefield testing.

The Defense Ministry has also introduced a digital procurement platform that allows military units to place direct orders with more than 280 domestic defense manufacturers.

Despite the rapid growth, significant obstacles remain.

A Ukrainian developer identified as “Flash” told Euromaidan Press that communications systems — rather than the robots themselves — remain the biggest challenge limiting large-scale deployment. According to the developer, electronic warfare continues disrupting the control signals needed to operate the vehicles effectively on the battlefield.

Ukrainian engineers are continuing work aimed at improving communications reliability, signal protection, and the overall survivability of the robotic systems under combat conditions.

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is continuing to exert major influence over Tehran’s military and diplomatic strategy despite serious injuries suffered during the war, according to multiple people familiar with US intelligence assessments.

The reports mark one of the clearest indications yet from American intelligence sources that the 56-year-old cleric remains deeply involved in directing Iran’s response to the conflict and ongoing negotiations with the United States.

Sources familiar with the intelligence told CNN that Khamenei has been overseeing discussions tied to cease-fire efforts and talks involving the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz while operating from an undisclosed location.

According to those reports, Khamenei suffered severe physical injuries during US and Israeli strikes earlier in the war, including the loss of a leg and extensive disfigurement.

Despite those injuries, individuals close to his inner circle have reportedly described him as remaining mentally alert and actively engaged in high-level decision-making involving senior figures in the Islamic Republic.

The younger Khamenei has not appeared publicly or delivered any televised remarks since taking over leadership following the appointment as successor to his father in March.

Iranian state media has only broadcast written statements attributed to him three times since he assumed power.

Iranian officials, however, are rejecting reports suggesting the country’s new supreme leader remains in poor physical condition.

Khamenei “is now in complete health,” Mazaher Hosseini, head of protocol in the office of Iran’s supreme leader, said Friday.

“Thank God, he is in good health,” Hosseini told an Iranian crowd.

“The enemy is spreading all kinds of rumors and false claims. … He will speak to you when the time is right.”

Hosseini acknowledged that Khamenei had sustained injuries, saying “a small piece of shrapnel had hit him behind the ear,” while insisting the ayatollah is recovering well.

American intelligence sources, however, reportedly believe Khamenei suffered far more serious wounds, including severe burns affecting parts of his face, torso, arm, and one leg.

The reports also indicate that Khamenei has sharply limited his communications in an effort to avoid detection. He is reportedly avoiding electronic devices entirely and communicating either face to face with trusted officials or through handwritten and courier-delivered messages.

Although Khamenei is said to remain heavily involved in shaping Iran’s broader wartime strategy and negotiations, officials within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are believed to be overseeing much of the government’s day-to-day operational management inside Tehran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Thursday that he recently held a lengthy in-person meeting with Khamenei, marking what appeared to be the first publicly reported direct encounter with the country’s ruler since the war began.

“What struck me most during this meeting was the vision and the humble and sincere approach of the supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution,” Pezeshkian gushed, according to Iranian state media.

{Matzav.com}

[COMMUNICATED]

There is a certain kind of language that keeps coming up when community members speak about Givat Hashalvah. Not the language of brochures or floor plans, but the language of people trying to describe why a place feels different. They talk about belonging. They talk about like-minded families. They talk about a community geared toward their lifestyle. And that may be one of the clearest signs yet of what this project is really trying to build.  

For many families considering life in Eretz Yisroel, the question is not only where to live, but how to live. Givat Hashalvah keeps returning to that distinction. The goal is not simply proximity to Yerushalayim, nor only a higher construction standard, nor only a stronger amenity package. It is the effort to bring those things together into a way of life that feels more aligned. Community members describe it as a place that understands what Americans are looking for, not in the sense of importing America, but in the sense of planning carefully for the rhythms, expectations, and daily dignity that matter to frum families.  

That thought process shows up in the details. Walking paths. Biking paths. Nearby fitness. Spaces to gather. Large windows opening out to the hills. A summit location that gives the project both presence and perspective. In another setting, those might read as amenities. Here, they begin to feel like part of a larger idea: that ruchniyus and gashmiyus do not need to compete with one another when a community is planned with intention. They can support one another. They can help create the kind of daily life people actually want to come home to.  

The setting adds another layer. Givat Hashalvah is close enough to Yerushalayim to remain connected, yet removed enough to offer quiet, air, and a sense of relief from the rush. Community members speak about that balance with unusual clarity. They are not looking for the center of the noise. They are looking for a real life near Yerushalayim, with the city still within reach and the home experience shaped by calm, scenery, and space. From the summit, the hills become part of the atmosphere, part of what residents will wake up to and live with every day.  

In that sense, Givat Hashalvah is not only making a real estate pitch. It is making a case for a different kind of neighborhood experience, one built around shared purpose, thoughtful planning, and a clearer sense of what a community can feel like when it is designed from the ground up. If the community members already speaking about it are any indication, that message is beginning to land.
Explore Givat Hashalvah → https://go.lyo.group/3LxM3tz

President Donald Trump said the United States is still waiting for Tehran’s formal response to a proposed framework aimed at ending the ongoing conflict, while warning that Washington is prepared to escalate military operations if negotiations collapse.

Despite continued tensions, a wider cease-fire between the US and Iran appeared to remain intact, two days after American forces struck two Iranian targets and the United Arab Emirates intercepted incoming Iranian drones and missiles.

The White House has been pressing Iran to move forward with negotiations as instability around the Strait of Hormuz continues threatening global shipping routes and broader diplomatic efforts.

Trump indicated that one possible next step could involve reviving “Project Freedom,” the US naval operation designed to escort commercial vessels through the strategically critical waterway.

“We may go back to Project Freedom if things don’t happen, but it’d be Project Freedom-plus, meaning Project Freedom plus other things,” he told reporters.

While Iran delayed delivering its answer to the latest American proposal, Britain announced new military deployments to the region. The UK Defense Ministry said the destroyer HMS Dragon would head toward the Middle East from the eastern Mediterranean, where British forces have already been helping defend allied assets against potential Iranian attacks.

A spokesperson for the British military described the deployment as “prudent planning” carried out within the framework of a “multinational coalition jointly led by the UK and France, to secure the Strait of Hormuz, when conditions allow.”

The British move followed France’s decision earlier in the week to send its carrier strike group into the southern Red Sea alongside Dutch and Italian naval vessels.

French President Emmanuel Macron said the operation with Britain “can help restore confidence among shipowners and insurers” and stressed that the coalition effort was “distinct from the parties to the conflict.”

Since the war erupted on Feb. 28, Iran has largely succeeded in disrupting activity in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage responsible for roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil transportation.

In response, Trump announced a blockade initiative on April 12 and dispatched American destroyers to patrol the area, search for Iranian naval mines, and escort civilian shipping through the region.

Macron called for all blockades affecting the strait to end “immediately and without conditions.”

Trump signaled Friday that the next move belongs to Tehran.

“I’m getting a letter supposedly tonight. So we’ll see how that goes,” he said Friday en route to his Virginia golf club, where he is hosting the Saudi-backed LIV golf this weekend.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he hopes Iran responds constructively.

Rubio reportedly met in Miami with White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in an effort to continue advancing negotiations, according to Axios.

Diplomats have reportedly been working on a 14-point outline that would serve as the basis for broader peace discussions between Washington and Tehran.

Sources familiar with the talks described the emerging document as a brief one-page memorandum intended to establish the groundwork for a future comprehensive agreement.

According to reports, Iran’s proposed terms include guarantees against future military attacks, a withdrawal of American forces from the region, the release of frozen Iranian assets, and the removal of US sanctions.

Iran has also reportedly demanded compensation connected to the war, an end to strikes targeting Hezbollah-linked groups in Lebanon, and a new arrangement governing passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The American proposal reportedly calls for Iran to halt nuclear enrichment activities for 12 years, surrender its highly enriched uranium stockpile, and accept a phased sanctions-relief plan tied to reopening the strait within 30 days.

However, major disputes remain unresolved, particularly surrounding Iran’s uranium reserves and whether Tehran would eventually be permitted to resume enrichment activities.

Meanwhile, US Central Command announced that American forces disabled two Iranian tankers attempting to move through the US-enforced blockade. Video released Friday on X showed the ships with smoke rising from their stacks.

CENTCOM said that since April 13, American forces have diverted 58 commercial ships and disabled four vessels in an effort to prevent maritime traffic connected to Iranian ports.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi sharply criticized Washington’s actions, writing on X: “Every time a diplomatic solution is on the table, the U.S. opts for a reckless military adventure. Is it a crude pressure tactic?”

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that he believes the war in Ukraine could soon conclude, offering some of his most optimistic remarks yet about the conflict as diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes.

“I think that the matter is coming to an end,” Putin told reporters inside the Kremlin while discussing the nearly four-year war.

The Russian leader indicated that the United States has shown interest in helping mediate a resolution, describing Washington in unusually warm terms during his remarks.

Putin referred to the US as a “partner” and “friend,” grouping it together with countries such as China and India while discussing international involvement in the conflict.

“Clearly, they have no need for this conflict, as they have many other priorities,” he said.

“But this is, first and foremost, a matter for Russia and Ukraine.”

Putin also addressed the possibility of face-to-face talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying he would agree to a meeting in a neutral location only after all major terms of a peace arrangement are finalized.

“This must be the final step, not some negotiations,” Putin said, according to state-run TASS news agency.

“I have never refused” to meet Zelensky, he claimed. “I am not proposing this meeting, but if someone proposes it, then let them come. Whoever wants to meet should come to Moscow, and we will meet.”

During his comments, Putin also criticized Western governments, accusing “globalist” leaders of breaking promises made after the collapse of the Berlin Wall by allowing NATO to continue expanding eastward and drawing Ukraine closer to the alliance.

The remarks came shortly after Russia concluded its annual Victory Day observances commemorating the Soviet Union’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. This year’s events unfolded alongside a temporary three-day cease-fire between Russian and Ukrainian forces that was facilitated by Washington.

President Donald Trump expressed hope that the pause in fighting could help move the war toward a conclusion.

“Hopefully, it is the beginning of the end of a very long, deadly, and hard fought War,” President Trump posted on Truth Social.

Trump also said the United States is prepared to dispatch senior officials to Moscow as part of renewed efforts to push negotiations forward.

“I would very much like to see the end of the conflict,” Trump told reporters during a press gaggle near the White House Saturday.

Despite the latest optimism, major disagreements remain unresolved. Negotiators are still divided over the future status and control of the disputed Donbas region, which continues to be one of the biggest obstacles to a broader settlement.

{Matzav.com}

The Dutch expedition cruise ship HV Hondius arrived in Tenerife early Sunday as authorities began removing passengers following a hantavirus outbreak that has already claimed three lives and triggered an international public health response.

The vessel docked at approximately 6:30 a.m. local time on the Canary Island after days of mounting concern over the spread of the rare Andes strain of hantavirus among travelers aboard the Atlantic voyage.

Spanish authorities immediately launched a tightly controlled disembarkation process. Travelers leaving the ship were ordered to leave their luggage behind and undergo medical evaluations before being permitted to exit in carefully managed groups.

“All the passengers remain asymptomatic,” Spain’s Health Minister Monica Garcia said during a Sunday morning news conference. “The entire operation is proceeding normally.”

The first group to leave included 13 Spanish tourists and one Spanish crew member, who departed by small boat several hours after the ship anchored offshore.

Images from the operation showed passengers dressed in blue protective gowns, surgical head coverings, and white face masks while carrying belongings sealed in plastic bags. Emergency personnel in hazmat gear escorted them onto buses that transported them directly to evacuation flights waiting at Tenerife Airport.

According to Spain’s Health Ministry, the Spanish nationals will be transported to a military hospital in Madrid, where they are expected to remain isolated in individual quarantine rooms under strict observation.

Officials emphasized that extensive precautions were put in place to ensure no interaction occurred between passengers from the ship and residents of the island.

The ship’s arrival had fueled anxiety among Tenerife residents in recent days, though officials from the World Health Organization said they believe the overall danger to the public remains limited. The agency said it continues to track developments closely.

The US State Department said 17 American passengers will be flown back to the United States aboard a repatriation flight before being transferred to a federal quarantine facility in Nebraska for further monitoring and evaluation.

British authorities are also arranging a special evacuation flight for UK citizens. Those passengers will reportedly be required to isolate for 45 days once they return home.

The outbreak turned the luxury expedition into a medical emergency weeks after the cruise first departed Argentina on March 20.

Health investigators believe the outbreak began after an elderly Dutch couple contracted the Andes strain while visiting Argentina. The husband later died aboard the ship. His wife became ill after leaving the vessel on St. Helena and later died after traveling to South Africa.

A German passenger also died during the outbreak.

The WHO said three additional passengers — from Germany, the Netherlands, and Britain — were evacuated to the Netherlands for treatment after becoming suspected cases. Swiss authorities separately confirmed that a former passenger tested positive after developing symptoms following departure from the ship.

Complicating containment efforts, 23 additional travelers had already returned to various countries around the world before learning they may have been exposed to the virus on April 23.

So far, only one of those individuals is believed to have become sick.

American health officials are now monitoring former passengers located in Georgia, California, and Arizona.

Passengers who remained aboard the ship have spent days undergoing questioning by health officials while waiting to determine whether symptoms emerge. Experts say the incubation period for the virus can last as long as eight weeks.

Hantavirus primarily attacks the respiratory system and can cause victims to suffocate as the illness progresses. While the disease is typically spread through exposure to infected rodent droppings, the Andes strain is unusual because it can also spread between humans.

Experts say transmission generally requires prolonged close contact and is far less contagious than illnesses such as COVID-19.

Patients often initially experience flu-like symptoms before the disease rapidly worsens. Survivors have described the illness as “torture.”

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a “Level 3” response designation tied to the outbreak, though officials stressed that the danger to the general public remains low.

A Level 3 designation is considered the agency’s lowest emergency response category and is used primarily to mobilize specialists to monitor developments and prepare contingency plans if conditions worsen.

{Matzav.com}

Chaos erupted last night outside the Yerushalayim residence of Brisk rosh yeshiva Rav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik after an individual allegedly released pepper spray and other irritants as hundreds of bochurim arrived for the rosh yeshiva’s weekly Chumash shiur, forcing the gathering to be canceled.

Witnesses said numerous participants began coughing and choking after the substance was sprayed in the stairwell of the building on Rechov Gesher Hachaim in the Mekor Boruch neighborhood.

According to attendees, the disturbance did not end there. The suspect allegedly sprayed additional gas toward the residence itself and hurled garbage and liquids onto the balcony of the home where the shiur was scheduled to take place.

Volunteers and participants distributed water and attempted to calm the situation as the effects of the spray slowly wore off. Despite those efforts, the disruption was severe enough that the weekly shiur could not proceed.

Those familiar with the situation said that the individual is a neighborhood resident who has repeatedly objected to the large crowds that gather each week for the shiur. They claimed that previous understandings had already been arranged, including the use of a separate private entrance to minimize disturbances, but alleged that the resident has continued to threaten and disrupt the gatherings periodically.

{Matzav.com}