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How Ranked‑Choice Voting Will Decide the New York City Democratic Mayoral Primary

Yeshiva World News -

New York City is using ranked choice voting in its Democratic mayoral primary election Tuesday, a system that takes some explaining, even for New Yorkers who have used it before. Voters’ understanding of how ranked choice works could play a role in which candidate comes out on top in a race that features former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, progressive upstart Zohran Mamdani and several other current and former public officials, including City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and City Comptroller Brad Lander, who was arrested last week at an immigration court. The system is based on a simple premise: Democracy works better if people aren’t forced to make an all-or-nothing choice with their vote. Rather than pick just one candidate, voters get to rank several in order of preference. Even if a voter’s top choice doesn’t have enough support to win, their rankings of other candidates still play a role in determining the victor. The system is more complex than a traditional election, making it tough to forecast a winner. It could also take longer to get results. How does it work? In New York City’s version, voters get to rank up to five candidates, from first to last, on the ballot. If one candidate is the first choice of a majority of voters — more than 50% — that person wins the race outright, just like in a traditional election. If nobody hits that threshold, ranked choice analysis kicks in. Vote tabulation is done by computer in rounds. After the first round, the candidate in last place — the candidate ranked No. 1 by the fewest amount of people — is eliminated. The computer then looks at the ballots cast by people who ranked that candidate first, to see who they ranked second. Those people’s votes are then redistributed to their second choices. That process then repeats. As more candidates are eliminated, voters’ third, fourth and even fifth choices could potentially come into play. Rounds continue until there are only two candidates left. The one with the most votes wins. Eleven candidates are on the ballot in the Democratic mayoral primary. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams isn’t one of them. He’s a Democrat but is running as an independent. The Republican Party has already picked its nominee, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa. How long will this take? The computerized process of tabulating votes takes little time, but it doesn’t start right away. Polls close at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Within a few hours, preliminary results should give a picture of how the candidates are doing based on voters’ first choices. The ranked choice tabulations, however, won’t start until July 1 because the city needs to wait for the arrival of mail-in ballots. The July 1 tabulation could potentially give a clear picture of who won, but the result won’t be official. Further rounds of ranked choice analysis will be done as additional absentee ballots come in until the board certifies the election July 15. This will be the second time New York City has used ranked choice in a mayoral primary. The first time, in 2021, things went haywire when elections officials neglected to clear test data from the tabulation program. That led to an inaccurate vote tally being reported until officials realized the error. Officials are hoping things go smoother this time. Why do people like ranked choice? One benefit is […]

TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE: Chaos in Doha Mall as Iran’s Missiles Strike, Qatar Faces Fallout from Hamas Support

Yeshiva World News -

TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE: Shoppers flee in panic at a shopping mall in Doha, Qatar, during Iran’s missile attack, with scenes of chaos as people sought safety. Qatar has long financially supported Hamas, with reports indicating over $1.8 billion in aid transferred over the years. Not much fun having to sleep in the bed you made, is it, Qatar?

Trump Warns Russia Against Giving Nukes to Iran

Matzav -

As Iranian and Russian officials convened Monday to revisit prior defense and security arrangements, President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning regarding any attempts by Russia to provide Iran with nuclear weapons.

“Did I hear Former President Medvedev, from Russia, casually throwing around the ‘N word’ (Nuclear!), and saying that he and other countries would supply Nuclear Warheads to Iran?” Trump asked in a Truth Social post on Monday. “Did he really say that or, is it just a figment of my imagination? If he did say that, and, if confirmed, please let me know, IMMEDIATELY.”

Dmitry Medvedev, who held the Russian presidency from 2008 to 2012 during the interim between Vladimir Putin’s terms, now serves as deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and remains closely aligned with Putin.

In recent years, Russia, China, and North Korea have increasingly aligned themselves in a geopolitical bloc. Medvedev reportedly stated on Sunday that “a number of countries” are “ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads.”

“The ‘N word’ should not be treated so casually,” Trump’s post continued, criticizing the remarks and pointing to Putin’s ultimate authority. “I guess that’s why Putin’s ‘THE BOSS.’”

Trump also issued a caution to any actors considering the transfer of nuclear weapons to Iran, noting the unmatched capability and readiness of American military technology stationed in strategic zones.

“By the way, if anyone thinks our ‘hardware’ was great over the weekend, far and away the strongest and best equipment we have, 20 years advanced over the pack, is our nuclear submarines,” Trump’s statement concluded.

“They are the most powerful and lethal weapons ever built, and just launched the 30 Tomahawks — all 30 hit their mark perfectly. So, in addition to our Great Fighter Pilots, thank you to the Captain and Crew!”

Though Iran has threatened retaliation against U.S. troops, interests, and even civilians worldwide, those threats have not materialized into concrete actions so far.

Following the Trump administration’s targeted elimination of Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s QUDs Force, Iran mistakenly shot down a commercial airliner within its own borders — a misstep that led to international outrage but no significant Iranian response against Trump at the time.

In the aftermath, Tehran publicly called for Trump and members of his administration to be assassinated.

Just prior to his recent order for strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Trump was overheard at a White House flag-raising event saying, “I was the hunted, now I am the hunter.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran Fires Missiles at U.S. Base in Qatar, Iranian Officials Say

Matzav -

Iran retaliated on Monday for the United States’ recent strike on its nuclear infrastructure by launching a wave of missiles at American military installations across the Middle East.

An Israeli official reported that Iran fired over ten missiles targeting locations in Qatar, while at least one missile was directed at a site in Iraq.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed the launch in an official announcement, asserting that the number of missiles fired matched the number of bombs dropped by the U.S. during Saturday’s operation.

“The base that was targeted in the attack by the powerful Iranian forces was far from urban facilities and residential areas in Qatar,” the statement said.

“This action did not pose any threat to our friendly and brotherly country, Qatar, and its noble people.”

In a separate declaration, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated it had carried out a “devastating and powerful missile attack” against the Al Udeid Air Base, located in Qatar.

“This base is the headquarters of the Air Force and the largest strategic asset of the US terrorist army in the West Asia region,” the IRGC statement said.

Iran “will not leave any attack on its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national security unanswered under any circumstances,” the statement stressed.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry responded by confirming that its air defense systems had intercepted the incoming missiles, and thankfully, no injuries or fatalities occurred.

Qatar, which often serves as a diplomatic go-between in the region, issued a strong condemnation of Iran’s missile barrage and urged all parties to return to the negotiating table.

The detailed response from Qatar was issued within minutes of the attack, indicating it may have been written ahead of time in anticipation of the event.

The intensity of Iran’s response—particularly whether any American personnel were harmed—will play a key role in determining President Trump’s next steps and whether the United States becomes more deeply involved in the broader conflict between Israel and Iran.

As the missile attack was taking place, President Trump was in a strategy meeting at the White House with senior national security officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.

The president had previously cautioned that any counterattack would be answered with a level of force “far greater than what was witnessed” during the strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

“The White House and the Department of Defense are aware of, and closely monitoring, potential threats to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar,” a senior White House official told Axios.

{Matzav.com}

Dems Want To Impeach Trump Over Iran Strikes – Despite Using Same War Powers as Obama

Yeshiva World News -

When President Trump authorized a series of airstrikes over the weekend on Iran’s nuclear facilities—unilaterally and without a vote from Congress—Democrats erupted in fury, accusing him of recklessness, abuse of power, and even calling for impeachment. But the outrage rings hollow. Back in 2016, under President Obama, the United States dropped 26,172 bombs across seven countries in a single year—without a single new authorization from Congress. That averages out to three bombs every hour, around the clock, for twelve straight months. Here’s the breakdown from Obama’s final year in office: Syria: 12,192 bombs Iraq: 12,095 bombs Libya: 496 bombs Yemen: 35 bombs Somalia: 14 bombs Pakistan: 3 bombs Afghanistan: 1,337 bombs These operations, like Trump’s recent Iran strikes, were justified using post-9/11 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) originally passed to target Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Those justifications were already stretched thin under Obama—but Congress stayed largely silent, and few Democrats raised objections about executive overreach. Fast forward to 2025. Trump orders precision strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, citing imminent threats to U.S. national security and global stability. Once again, no new vote in Congress. Once again, war powers used with minimal oversight. But this time, the political fallout is thunderous. Democrats are decrying the move as unconstitutional, dangerous, and grounds for impeachment. “The President has launched unauthorized war against a sovereign nation,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “This is not a monarchy.” Republicans are firing back, accusing the opposition of hypocrisy. “President Obama bombed half the Middle East with less scrutiny,” said Sen. Josh Hawley. “Now Trump neutralizes a nuclear threat, and suddenly it’s a constitutional crisis?” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Man Gets Stuck in Chimney While Attempting to Save Dog From Locked Bathroom

Yeshiva World News -

Firefighters had to rescue a man who got stuck in the chimney of a Connecticut parks building while trying to retrieve his dog from a bathroom when the doors automatically locked for the night. Police were called Sunday morning to Rockwell Park in Bristol for a burglary complaint and were told by parks employees that someone was in the chimney. Firefighters responded to the scene and got the man out after having to remove parts of the chimney and building, causing $5,000 to $10,000 worth of damage, police said. The Bristol man, who was not injured, was arrested and charged with burglary, trespassing and criminal mischief. He was released on bond and ordered to appear in court on July 7. A message seeking comment was sent to an email address listed in public records for the man. Phone numbers listed for him were not in service. Online court records did not list a lawyer for him. The man got stuck near the flue of the chimney of Mrs. Rockwell’s Pavilion, a building named after a beneficiary of the park. Locks on the doors to the bathrooms are on new timers and automatically lock at 10 p.m. every night, said Erica Benoit, community engagement coordinator for Bristol Parks, Recreation, Youth and Community Services. It’s not clear how the dog got stuck in the bathroom or how long the man was in the chimney. The doors can be opened from the inside after they are locked for the night. The dog was unharmed, police said. “It is a bit of a crazy scenario,” Benoit said. “Our parks staff is working with the police department and the fire department to make sure that doesn’t happen again. If he had just contacted police in the first place, we might have been able to avoid the situation.” (AP)

WATCH: Israel Blows Up Doors of Iran’s Most Notorious Prison

Matzav -

WATCH:

Israel Carries Out Unprecedented Strikes Against Iranian Regime Targets

Matzav -

Israel’s Defense Minister, Yisroel Katz, responded Monday to a series of missile attacks launched toward Israel by announcing that the Israeli Air Force had initiated major strikes on high-level targets within Tehran.

“The IDF is now striking with unprecedented force at regime and suppression entities deep in Tehran,” Katz stated. “At the command center, I watched the impressive performance of the Air Force closely, along with the Chief of Staff. Soon, images will be released illustrating the depth of the damage.”

He went on to stress that any attack on Israeli civilians would come at a steep cost for Iran’s leadership. “For every missile fired at the Israeli home front, the Iranian dictator will be severely punished, and the strikes will continue with full force. We will keep working to protect the home front and defeat the enemy until we achieve all our war objectives,” he said.

One of the locations reportedly hit during the strikes was the front entrance of Evin Prison, a notorious penitentiary in Tehran known for imprisoning political dissidents, academics, dual nationals, and members of the press. The facility has long been a symbol of the regime’s repressive tactics and has drawn international condemnation for its treatment of detainees.

According to reports from Iran International, a dissident media outlet, the objective of the strike might have been to damage the prison’s perimeter and potentially enable prisoners to escape. Both the United States and the European Union have sanctioned the facility for its involvement in widespread human rights abuses.

In a broader campaign to establish air dominance over Iran, the IDF also launched overnight strikes on six separate airports located in the western, eastern, and central regions of the country.

These coordinated attacks led to the destruction of key infrastructure, including airport runways, underground hangars, a refueling aircraft, and multiple warplanes—specifically F-14s, F-5s, and AH-1s—that were operated by the Iranian regime.

According to intelligence briefings, these aircraft had been designated for countering Israeli incursions. The Air Force’s offensive reportedly crippled Iran’s ability to launch aircraft from those bases, significantly impairing the country’s military response capabilities.

{Matzav.com Israel}

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