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CNBC’s Jim Cramer and David Faber tore into former President Donald Trump’s economic proposals, calling his plans for mass deportation and tariffs a recipe for disaster. On Monday’s “Squawk on the Street,” the hosts slammed Trump’s ideas as “massively inflationary” and likened them to the economic catastrophe of the Great Depression. Faber questioned the impact of Trump’s policies on wages, asking, “What happens when you put tariffs on goods and stop immigration and force migrants to leave? In terms of wages, isn’t that going to be inflationary?” Cramer responded, “Of course! Of course! I mean, when you see tariffs like that, obviously you think about 1929 to ’32 and realize how wrong they are.” In a tongue-in-cheek remark, Cramer suggested Trump might have gotten his inspiration from the Broadway show “Hamilton,” saying, “Maybe Trump has seen the show. Maybe he saw it twice. It’s very pro-tariff.” The hosts agreed that immigration benefits the US, with Faber saying, “Our country benefits from immigration.” Cramer added, “Immigration keeps voices down, but I don’t know if you’re – it’s a double-edged sword.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Dear Agudah Activists: 

We need your help!

The first step in our community’s current struggle to obtain tuition and other educational relief for our families is scheduled for this Wednesday, September 11, when the House Ways and Means Committee will consider a multi-billion-dollar tax credit proposal entitled the “Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA)” (H.R. 9462). This bill has gained momentum in Congress and is the fastest and surest way to bring school choice to all 50 states.

We need you to urge your representatives to support the bill.

ECCA offers one critical form of “school choice” – methods that lessen the financial burden on parents and provide broader options for parents to choose schools best suited for their children, whether they be public, private, or religious. This bill will encourage taxpayers to invest in education and cover a range of expenses facing all children regardless of the school they attend. It does this by allowing a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit for taxpayers who contribute to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGO). These SGOs would then provide scholarships for a range of educational expenses, including private school tuition!

We all appreciate how devastating the tuition burden is on our community. This approach, with its nearly universal eligibility, promises to be of great benefit to Jewish parents who are committed – but struggle — to giving their children a sound Torah education.

It is vital that you contact your representatives by email using the action alert by clicking here. Congress must hear your voice.

Agudath Israel has been at the forefront of crafting and promoting ECCA as well as similar school choice legislation on the state and federal levels. We have submitted a legislative memo to the House Ways and Means Committee in support of ECCA, explaining the impact the legislation would have for the Orthodox Jewish community and on the benefits to all schoolchildren.

But we can’t do this without you.

The Committee will take up the bill on Wednesday, so time is of the essence.

In July, the heads of three House committees—on education, oversight and on ways and means—urged the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the Palestine Chronicle and its parent nonprofit People Media Project, which they said “appear to be at the very least complicit in supporting Hamas, and at worst full-fledged financiers of terrorism.”

The letter came after the revelation that a writer from the publication both supported Hamas and held Israeli civilian hostages in his home. But despite this context, a major U.S. investment advisory firm uses Palestine Chronicle as a source to assign damaging ratings to two major U.S. companies that do business in Israel.

A source familiar with the practices of the New York-based MSCI told JNS that the firm, which is already under separate multi-state investigations for assigning damaging investment ratings to an Israeli military defense contractor and to Israeli banks, uses information from the publication to assign a “severe controversy” rating to the telecommunications company Motorola and the construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar.

JNS sought comment from MSCI, which has consistently denied supporting or practicing boycotts against Israel.

In a 2024 report on Caterpillar, MSCI cites a Palestine Chronicle article about British college students calling on their university to divest from Caterpillar, because the company makes equipment used for demolitions in Yehuda and Shomron.

Socially-conscious investors often turn to the environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings of firms like MSCI for guidance on investment options and could be swayed from investing in companies accused of poor corporate practices, including human rights violations.

“College campuses can just have votes and movements and generate press coverage, and that’s enough to create a severe ESG controversy for an American company,” Richard Goldberg, a senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told JNS.

“It’s so wild,” added Goldberg, the architect of the first Illinois law barring boycotting Israel.

Abdallah Aljamal, a former spokesman for Hamas’s labor ministry in Gaza and a writer for the Palestine Chronicle in Gaza, was found to have held three Israeli hostages in his home.

In addition to Palestine Chronicle, MSCI used other information from other groups that support boycotting the Jewish state, including Al Jazeera, Human Rights Watch, War on Want and Amnesty International in its Caterpillar report, per the JNS source.

The JNS source also said that MSCI tagged Motorola with three controversies, including one “severe” controversy, related to the company’s dealings in Israel-controlled territory.

The severe controversy is based on Motorola’s supply of surveillance equipment used to detect human movement near the security barrier that Israel built in response to numerous Palestinian suicide bombings during the Second Intifada from 2000 2005.

The systems also surveil perimeters around Jewish communities beyond the Green Line to prevent terrorist attacks.

MSCI classifies a class action wiretapping lawsuit filed against Motorola this year in U.S. district court as only a “minor” controversy, according to the JNS source. The suit was brought against the company and the Massachusetts State Police, which used Motorola technology to surreptitiously record citizens without a warrant, in violation of the state wiretap law.

A state police audit found more than 180 likely cases of covert recordings that weren’t turned over to prosecutors.

“The growing body of evidence makes clear that MSCI is intentionally inflicting economic harm on firms operating in Israel on a discriminatory and politically-motivated basis,” Goldberg told JNS. “Any state with an anti-BDS law should be activating that law right now.”

(JNS)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to redouble efforts to make his nuclear force fully ready for combat with the United States and its allies, state media reported Tuesday, after the country disclosed a new platform likely designed to fire more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles targeting the mainland U.S. Kim has repeatedly made similar pledges, but his latest threat comes as outside experts believe Kim will perform provocative weapons tests ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November. In recent days, North Korea has also resumed launches of trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea. In a speech marking the 76th founding anniversary for his government on Monday, Kim said North Korea faces “a grave threat” because of what he called “the reckless expansion” of a U.S.-led regional military bloc that is now developing into a nuclear-based one. Kim said such a development is pushing North Korea to boost its military capability, according to the official Korean Central News Agency. Kim said North Korea will “redouble its measures and efforts to make all the armed forces of the state including the nuclear force fully ready for combat,” KCNA said. North Korea has been protesting the July signing of a new U.S.-South Korean defense guideline meant to integrate U.S. nuclear weapons and South Korean conventional weapons to cope with growing North Korean nuclear threats. North Korea said the guideline revealed its adversaries’ plots to invade the country. U.S. and South Korean officials have repeatedly said they don’t intend to attack the country. Since 2022, North Korea has significantly accelerated its weapons testing activities in a bid to perfect its capabilities to launch strikes on the U.S. and South Korea. The U.S. and South Korea have responded by expanding military drills that North Korea calls invasion rehearsals. Many analysts believe North Korea has some last remaining technological barriers to overcome to acquire long-range nuclear missiles that can reach the U.S. mainland, though it likely already possesses missiles that can hit key targets in South Korea and Japan. South Korean officials and experts say North Korea could conduct nuclear tests or ICBM test-launches before the U.S. election to increase its leverage in future diplomacy with the U.S. Observers say North Korea likely thinks a greater nuclear capability would help it win U.S. concessions like sanctions relief. North Korea as of Tuesday morning did not appear to have staged any major military demonstration to mark this year’s anniversary. But the North’s main Rodong Sinmun newspaper on Sunday published a photo of Kim inspecting what appeared to be a 12-axle missile launch vehicle, which would be the largest the country has shown so far, during a visit to a munitions plant. This sparked speculation that the North could be developing a new ICBM that is bigger than its current Hwasong-17 ICBM, which is launched on an 11-axle vehicle. When asked about the photo on Monday, Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder refused to provide a specific assessment of North Korea’s missile capabilities and reiterated that Washington was working closely with Seoul, Tokyo and other partners to preserve regional security and deter potential attacks. “It’s not unusual for North Korea to use media reports and imagery to try to telegraph, you know, to the world,” he said. North Korea flew hundreds of huge balloons carrying rubbish toward […]

Dear Matzav Inbox,

I write today with an issue that weighs heavily on my heart—and should weigh on the heart of every parent in Klal Yisroel.

Last year, my daughter, a beloved teacher with a sterling reputation in the classroom, made the difficult decision to leave chinuch for an office job. Why? Because despite her passion, dedication, and the countless hours she invested in our children, she simply couldn’t pay her bills. She left, disillusioned and broken, not because she wanted to, but because the system left her no choice.

What is happening to us? What is happening to our chinuch system?

The dedicated, professional teachers we so desperately need are leaving b’achas, and in their place? Young, inexperienced seminary girls who are fresh out of school, trying their best, but who lack the seasoned experience and depth that only years in the classroom can provide.

Don’t believe me? Speak to any menahel, and they’ll tell you the same thing. The turnover is staggering, and it’s Klal Yisroel that’s paying the price.

Our children are being shortchanged. The chashuve teachers who used to dedicate their lives to chinuch are disappearing, and we are left scrambling to find anyone willing to fill their shoes. We’ve created a situation where teaching has become a stop-gap job, not a lifelong calling.

Yes, we pay tuition—often exorbitant amounts. But it’s clearly not enough. We seem to find money for everything else, from our incredible mosdos like Hatzolah and tzedakos that Baruch Hashem flourish, but when it comes to those who spend hours day in and day out with our most precious commodity—our children—suddenly, the funds are nowhere to be found.

We must, we must, find a way to compensate our teachers k’fi kvodam, so we can keep them in the classrooms, giving our children the quality chinuch they deserve. Because right now, let’s be honest: we’re accepting mediocrity, and it’s our children who will suffer.

We are shooting ourselves in the foot by allowing this to continue. There is no greater investment than our children’s future, and yet, we are watching helplessly as the best and brightest leave because they cannot make ends meet.

We cannot afford second-rate chinuch. We cannot afford to lose any more of our top talent. This issue must be addressed miyad!

B’virchas kol tuv,
A deeply worried father

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Thousands of Israelis traveling to the tziyon of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov in Uman, Ukraine, ahead of Rosh Hashanah will no longer be able to connect through Moldova and will instead be rerouted through Romania and Poland, a trip organizer said on Sunday. This year’s trip has become even more challenging after Moldovan authorities decided last week to bar Israeli charter flights from landing in their country, citing security concerns at the airport. The decision came after months of negotiations to facilitate the flights. “We feel exploited by the Moldovans after months of talks on the issue,” said Levi Yitzhak Gvirtz of Ichud Breslev in Uman. The change is expected to affect approximately 15,000 passengers on charter flights, half of the 30,000 visitors anticipated this year, with the majority coming from Israel. Organizers are now working to reroute all travelers through neighboring Romania and Poland, as flights directly to Ukraine are not possible due to the ongoing war. “People will not give up on the trip,” Gvirtz noted, “but now they will face more discomfort, and that’s a shame.” Despite warnings from Israeli and Ukrainian officials last year, including a cautionary statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the pilgrimage to Uman continues. Netanyahu had urged travelers to take full responsibility for their safety, stunningly saying, “God has not always protected us, both on Ukrainian and other European soil.” The United States has also issued a travel advisory against American citizens traveling to Uman. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

[COMMUNICATED]

Over the last 15 years, a new approach and method of limud Hashas has been nurtured and developed in Eretz Yisroel at Reshet Kollelei Shas Yiden. This phenomenon has captured the imagination and electrified lomdei Hatorah throughout the world, and has earned the avid support of Gedolim across the Torah spectrum. 

Shas Yiden in UK & USA

Shas Yiden not only grew from 6 avreichim metzuyonim to 122 avreichim geonim in five kollelim across Eretz Yisroel but, in response to repeated requests from abroad, a Shas Yiden kollel was first established in the UK, in Stamford Hill, London. The Shas Yiden reputation soared in this location and their first Annual Siyum Hashas with Gedolei Torah in attendance reflected the grandeur of those in Yerushalayim.

This foray into Chutz La’aretz has been followed by a long-awaited opening of a Shas Yiden kollel in Flatbush, NY. The Eretz Yisroeldike bren of learning the entire Shas has already had a significant local impact and is a source of inspiration to the local Flatbush kollelim. The incredible devotion to limud gantz Shas and its completion within a year by each avreich at Shas Yiden has encouraged many others to try and emulate this broader study of Shas.

This elevated level of Torah study at Shas Yiden and the ability of the avreichim geonim to face public oral farheren by world recognized Gedolei Torah, together with monthly tests on 225 blatt, is nothing short of remarkable. Shas Yiden has truly raised the bar in the study of Shas. Our unique system of learning, the tight demanding regimen and the motivation emanating from Eretz Yisroel has truly placed Shas Yiden in a Torah league of its own. 

In the Words of Maranan Hageonim

Sar Hatorah, רשכבה”ג Maran Hagadol Harav Chaim Kanievsky, זצ”ל – Nasi, Shas Yiden
I tested them, I know them throughout Shas – a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar partnership 

Rosh Hayeshiva, רשכבה”ג Maran Hagadol Harav Gershon Edelstein, זצ”ל
Shas Yiden has raised the bar of Torah learning in both depth and clarity, and its unique method of ameilus in Torah

The Sanzer Rebbe, שליט”א
A first in 2000 years of Jewish history – never before a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim know kol Hashas kulo, Rashi and Tosfos b’al peh

Over 1.6 Million Blatt at Shas Yiden
This Year Alone!

With each of the 122 avreichim geonim at Shas Yiden required to complete a minimum of 13,555 blatt per year, you are helping support some 1,654,000 blatt! 

At the most recent farheren, the reaction of the Gedolei Torah conducting the testing to the prowess of the Shas Yiden was simply one of amazement at the breadth and detailed knowledge and all-encompassing mastery of Shas – remarking: “They know it like others know Ashrei Yoshvei!” The joy of the avreichim geonim and their clear love of Torah electrifies each farher. (To see the different farheren in action, please click on our website: www.shasyiden.com.) It is no wonder that the overall reaction to the Shas Yiden Network is that in its 15 years it has certainly revolutionized and raised the bar in the learning and mastery of Shas. 

Caring for the Avreichim Families

Despite the difficulties of these last few years, Covid etc., Shas Yiden has made sure to keep our commitment to each of the Shas Yiden families to ensure their menuchas hanefesh to be free to focus on Shas.  Each month their salaries have been paid on time. Further, in Tishrei and, now again, for Nissan, they are all paid full extra salary checks to help them meet the extra Yom Tov expenses. 

That we are able to do so, a big ‘thank you‘ is due to you all. You have an eternal stake in the incredible learning of Shas Yiden. Your on-going interest and support in this unique ‘Entire-Shas’ Torah-learning venture is most sincerely appreciated. Collectively and individually, you are singular partners in changing the way the Torah world views the ability to both learn and master the entire Shas. Whatever you can do to help in defraying their extra Yom Tov expenses will be a great chesed to these Bnei Torah who are true bnei aliyah.

A high-ranking US official has warned that a full-scale conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon could result in “catastrophic and unforeseen consequences,” according to remarks made at the Middle East America Dialogue (MEAD) summit in Washington, DC. The official, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed concern about the potential fallout of such a war, stating, “There is no war in lab conditions. It’s not a game. I don’t doubt the capabilities of the IDF, but we have to think about the fact that there will be serious consequences for both sides,” as reported by Israeli journalist Barak Ravid and other Hebrew media sources.

These remarks come amid a surge in attacks from Hezbollah on Israeli positions and communities along the border, which have occurred almost daily since October 8. Hezbollah has claimed that its actions are intended to support Gaza and its ally, the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, in the ongoing conflict that began on October 7.

At the same MEAD summit, former Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantz suggested that Israel should shift its attention to Hezbollah and the Lebanese frontier. He warned, “we are late on this,” and emphasized that a conflict with the Iran-supported militant group is likely if Israel fails to negotiate a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza soon.

Despite the arguments from Gantz and other Israeli officials that a significant military campaign in Lebanon might be necessary to enable the return of thousands of Israelis to their homes along the northern border, the US official cautioned that such an action could lead to substantial civilian casualties and result in many people being unable to return to their homes. According to Ravid, the official said, “There is an idea of let’s go to war and then we will destroy all the missiles Hezbollah has and everything will be fine. It’s not that simple. There is no magic solution. The other side cannot be annihilated. At the end of the war, Israel may pay a heavy price and not achieve its goals,” and recommended pursuing a diplomatic resolution to de-escalate tensions along the border.

The official also suggested that if a conflict were to erupt, international actors would likely step in to broker a diplomatic resolution similar to what could be achieved through current negotiations. Since the October 7 massacre carried out by Hamas, Israel has indicated that it can no longer tolerate Hezbollah’s activities near its border and has warned that it will resort to military measures to push Hezbollah away if a diplomatic solution is not reached.

{Matzav.com}

Apple on Monday charged into the artificial intelligence craze with a new iPhone lineup that marks the company’s latest attempt to latch onto a technology trend and transform it into a cultural phenomenon. The four different iPhone 16 models will all come equipped with special chips needed to power a suite if AI tools that Apple hopes will make its marquee product even more indispensable and reverse a recent sales slump. Apple’s AI features are designed to turn its often-blundering virtual assistant Siri into a smarter and more versatile sidekick, automate a wide range of tedious tasks and pull off other crowd-pleasing tricks such as creating customized emojis within seconds. After receiving a standing ovation for Monday’s event, Apple CEO Tim Cook promised the AI package will unleash “innovations that will make a true difference in people’s lives.” But the breakthroughs won’t begin as soon as the new iPhones — ranging in price from $800 to $1,200 — hit the stores on September 20. Most of Apple’s AI functions will roll out as part of a free software update to iOS 18, the operating system that will power the iPhone 16 coming out in December. English will be the featured language at launch but an update enabling other languages will come out next year, according to Apple. It’s all part of a new approach that Apple previewed at a developers conference three months ago to create more anticipation for a next generation of iPhones amid a rare sales slump for the well-known devices. Since Apple’s June conference, competitors such as Samsung and Google have made greater strides in AI – a technology widely expected to trigger the most dramatic changes in computing since the first iPhone came out 17 years ago. Just as Apple elevated fledgling smartphones it into a must-have technology in 21st-century society, the Cupertino, California, company is betting it can do something similar with its tardy arrival to artificial intelligence. In an attempt to set itself apart from the early leaders in AI, the technology being baked into the iPhone 16 is being promoted as “Apple Intelligence.” Despite the unique branding, Apple’s new approach mimics many of the features already available in the Samsung Galaxy S24 released in January and the Google Pixel 9 that came out last month. “Apple could have waited another year for further development, but initial take up of AI- powered devices from the likes of Samsung has been encouraging, and Apple is keen to capitalize on this market,” said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore. As it treads into new territory, Apple is trying to preserve its long-time commitment to privacy by tailoring its AI so that most of its technological tricks can processed on the device itself instead of relying on giant banks of computers located in remote data centers. When a task need to connect to a data center, Apple promises it will be done in a tightly-controlled way that ensures that no personal data is stored remotely. While corralling the personal information shared through Apple’s AI tools inherently reduces the chances that the data will be exploited or misused against a user’s wishes, it doesn’t guarantee iron-clad security. A device could still be stolen, for instance, or hacked through digital chicanery. For users seeking to access even more AI tools […]

The Toronto, Canada screening of the two-hour film “The Bibi Files” has taken place, showcasing excerpts from police interrogations involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife Sara, their son Yair, and others, as part of the ongoing corruption investigations leading to Netanyahu’s trial.

Despite the film’s use of leaked interrogation footage, which makes it illegal to broadcast in Israel, the producers — Alexis Bloom, Alex Gibney, and Israeli journalist Raviv Drucker — remain hopeful that the film will eventually reach Israeli viewers through alternative means.

Reports from the Toronto event indicate that the film features numerous instances where Netanyahu responds with “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember,” which Haaretz describes as appearing almost absurdly implausible.

In one notable scene, Netanyahu is queried about the number of champagne bottles gifted by billionaire Arnon Milchan to his wife. Netanyahu responds by dismissing the importance of bottle-counting and instead referring to the number of warheads possessed by Israel’s adversaries as the relevant figures he knows.

Another segment shows Netanyahu reacting angrily to claims made by his former advisor Nir Hefetz and Bezeq major shareholder Shaul Elovitch. In this scene, Netanyahu vehemently denounces them as “Liars! Liars!”

The film also portrays Sara and Yair Netanyahu confronting their interrogators individually. Yair accuses them of being involved in a conspiracy to depose his father and aligning with the “extreme left,” while Sara is depicted criticizing the officers for spreading falsehoods and threatening to leave if the accusations continue, asserting: “What will you do? Stop me with force?”

Various reports suggest that while the film does not present much new information beyond what has already been reported, the visual footage offers a deeper insight into the dynamics and Netanyahu’s mindset during the interrogations. It is noted that the film is primarily intended for international audiences.

The movie is structured in chronological order, beginning with Netanyahu’s 2015 election victory and extending to the present day. Interspersed between the interrogation footage are interviews and commentary from Drucker — who identifies himself as “the enemy of the Netanyahu family” — as well as remarks from former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon and ex-prime minister Ehud Olmert.

According to Haaretz, the screenings proceeded without incident, despite the presence of numerous anti-Netanyahu protesters outside the venue.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Hezbollah launched a heavy barrage of at least 30 rockets at Meron and 15 rockets at the western Galil on Tuesday afternoon. B’Chasdei Hashem, no injuries were reported. Some of the rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome and others fell in open areas. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited the northern border on Tuesday morning and hinted that the IDF is preparing for an all-out war in the north. He spoke to the commanders and soldiers stationed near the border, saying: “The center of gravity is moving north. We’re about to complete our mission in the south but we have a mission here that hasn’t been completed – to change the security situation and bring the residents back to their homes.” “The instructions you’ve been waiting for here today were given in the south and I saw the forces acting. After three weeks of waiting, they were told to ‘Get moving.’ They got moving and completed their mission, and it will happen here too. You need to be prepared and ready to carry out this mission.” “We’re finishing training all the units for a ground operation in all its aspects – from the platoon level to the command level. We’re ready for action; we will know when to begin. Do everything you need to do, make the most of your time, because once it happens – it happens.” “Be prepared, this is unlike any other mission. You have the full capability to carry out the mission you’re training for. Thank you, thank you to the families who support you, and thank you to the commanders.” Rocket fire and interceptions at Meron: (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Rav Gershon Ribner, rosh kollel of Kollel Nesivos Hatorah and son-in-law of Rav Shneur Kotler, has succeeded in applying classical Talmudical analysis and methodology to understanding all areas of Yiddishkeit, bringing out its profundity and sense.

LISTEN:

Donald Trump has signaled support for a potentially historic federal policy shift to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, putting his position in line with that of his Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris. The commonality reflects a major shift toward broad public support for legalization in recent years and marks the first time that both major-party presidential candidates support broad cannabis reform, according to the U.S. Cannabis Council. The Republican presidential nominee posted on his social media platform late Sunday that he would “continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug,” and also said he would be voting “yes” on a proposal to allow the sale of marijuana to adults for any reason in Florida. Coming shortly before the two will meet for a pivotal debate, Trump’s post sets up the possibility that he could criticize Harris for her past cannabis prosecutions when she was district attorney in San Francisco. Because drug prosecutions disproportionately affect nonwhite defendants in the U.S., the line of attack could also fit with Trump’s efforts to increase his support among nonwhite men. Harris backs decriminalization and has called it “absurd” that the Drug Enforcement Administration now has marijuana in the Schedule I category alongside heroin and LSD. Earlier in her career, she oversaw the enforcement of cannabis laws and opposed legalized recreational use for adults in California while running for attorney general in 2010. Harris has absorbed attacks on her prosecutorial record on the debate stage before, most notably from Democrat-turned-Trump supporter Tulsi Gabbard, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and announced in 2022 that she was leaving the party. Trump said during his 2016 run that pot policy should be left up the states. During his term in the White House, though, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions lifted an Obama-era policy that kept federal authorities from cracking down on the marijuana trade in states where the drug is legal. The DEA process to change the drug’s federal classification is already underway, kickstarted by President Joe Biden’s call for a review. But the DEA hasn’t made a final decision on the shift, which would not legalize recreational marijuana outright. It may not decide until the next presidential administration, putting a spotlight on the candidates’ positions. Federal drug policy has lagged behind that of many states in recent years, with 38 having already legalized medical marijuana and 24 legalizing recreational use. About 70% of adults supported legalization in a Gallup poll taken last year, the highest level yet recorded by the polling firm and more than double the roughly 3 in 10 who backed it in 2000. Support was even higher among young voters, a key demographic in seven main battleground states. “We believe cannabis reform is a winning issue,” said David Culver, senior vice president of public affairs at the U.S. Cannabis Council, in a statement Monday. The federal policy shift would wouldn’t legalize marijuana outright for recreational use. Instead, it would move marijuana out of Schedule I to the Schedule III category, alongside ketamine and some anabolic steroids. The proposed shift is facing opposition from advocates who say there isn’t enough data and from attorneys general in more than a dozen states, according to the group Smart Approaches to Marijuana. (AP)

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Apple unveiled a new series of iPhones on Monday, integrating advanced AI features into their operating system to gauge consumer interest in these technologies, the Wall Street Journal reports.

The new AI suite, termed “Apple Intelligence,” encompasses an enhanced Siri voice assistant and a range of text-editing and photo-processing functions, compatible with the latest iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 Pro models. Much of the AI functionality was previewed in June.

During the announcement, Apple’s stock dipped by over 1%, reflecting some investor skepticism regarding the emphasis on AI-driven products.

Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, expressed gratitude to the attendees at the Cupertino, Calif., event, highlighting that the new iPhones are “designed from the ground up for Apple Intelligence and its breakthrough capabilities.”

Aside from new camera enhancements and a novel button for feature adjustments, the iPhone 16 series presents limited hardware innovations. Apple is betting on the allure of its new AI capabilities to attract users.

“Apple Intelligence draws on the immense power of our silicon to run multiple generative models on the iPhone in your pocket,” stated Craig Federighi, Apple’s head of software.

The demonstration showcased the new capabilities, such as refining text tone for communications like Slack messages or book reviews. It also includes photo sorting, personalized slideshow creation based on simple prompts, and email prioritization along with message summaries.

Apple noted that Siri’s improved language comprehension will allow it to understand even when users fumble their words. Siri will also be able to retrieve personal recommendations, like suggesting a TV show. Additionally, users can utilize “visual intelligence” to identify a dog breed from a photo.

A beta version of some Apple Intelligence features will be accessible next month, initially only in English. Apple plans to expand this to Chinese, French, Japanese, and Spanish next year.

The new iPhone models are equipped with a chip designed to enhance AI functionalities, which Apple claims surpasses the speed of competing devices and even some high-end desktop computers.

The entry-level iPhone 16 is priced at $799, the Plus 16 model at $899, and the Pro version starts at $999, with the larger size available for $1,199.

Consistent with its fall event tradition, Apple’s “Glowtime” presentation began with new gadgets like a smartwatch and updated AirPods before revealing the iPhone 16 series.

The latest Apple Watch, the Series 10, features a slimmer design, a larger screen, and the capability to detect potential sleep apnea. It also includes new features for swimmers, measuring water depth and temperature. The watch is priced at $399 and will be available from September 20.

Apple has also upgraded its AirPods Pro 2 to function as an over-the-counter hearing aid, with additional hearing tests based on scientific research. The AirPods 4, the baseline model, is priced at $129.

AI features have yet to significantly drive consumer upgrades. Samsung 005930 -1.33%decrease; red down pointing triangle, Apple’s main competitor, has heavily marketed its latest AI-enhanced devices. Surveys by BayStreet Research indicate that AI was a minor selling point for carriers after initial sales, and only 7% of consumers were highly inclined to buy a phone for its AI features, according to Canalys.

“AI hasn’t resonated yet with the masses,” commented Cliff Maldonado, principal analyst at BayStreet Research.

Despite this, some investors are optimistic about a potential surge in iPhone sales, as many users are overdue for an upgrade. Analysts predict a nearly 5% increase in iPhone revenue for the 2025 fiscal year, ending next September, according to FactSet.

The reception to Apple’s AI-enabled phones will further test market interest in this technology. While competitors have heavily invested in AI models for interactive and creative purposes, investor enthusiasm for AI spending has cooled this year as companies struggle to demonstrate clear profitability.

Unlike its competitors, Apple has not invested heavily in AI. Instead, it relies on partnerships with leading AI firms to participate in the market.

“Apple is doing partnerships instead of having to reinvent the wheel,” said Trip Miller, managing partner at Gullane Capital Partners. “They’ve already got the platform and the user base that wants to consume this revolutionary technology.”

In its AI efforts, Apple is collaborating with the startup OpenAI, led by Sam Altman, to incorporate ChatGPT, which Apple considers a leader in generative AI. The company also plans to engage with other AI developers and is reportedly discussing an investment in OpenAI, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Apple has not yet announced an AI partner in China, one of its largest markets, where it has faced new competition from local smartphone brands and experienced stagnant sales.

Apple’s last major iPhone success came in 2021, with a 39% sales increase compared to the previous year. However, sales have declined over the past two quarters, and revenue fell by over 2% in the fiscal year ending September 2023.

The 2021 sales boost was driven by promotions and subsidies from wireless carriers, who invested in new 5G infrastructure to attract or retain users. Carriers are crucial to iPhone sales in the U.S., accounting for about three-quarters of new iPhone purchases, according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. However, some iPhone users have postponed upgrades due to less significant changes in newer models.

“People are holding on to their phones for longer and longer periods,” noted Michael Levin, co-founder of CIRP. “Apple is swimming upstream that way.”

Analysts anticipate a potential resurgence in iPhone sales with the iPhone 17 generation, expected to feature a thinner design and updated camera. More consumers might also be ready to adopt AI features by then.

{Matzav.com}

A daredevil billionaire rocketed back into orbit Tuesday, aiming to perform the first private spacewalk and venture farther than anyone since NASA’s Apollo moonshots. Unlike his previous chartered flight, tech entrepreneur Jared Isaacman shared the cost with SpaceX this time around, which included developing and testing brand new spacesuits to see how they’ll hold up in the harsh vacuum. If all goes as planned, it will be the first time private citizens conduct a spacewalk, but they won’t venture away from the capsule. Considered one of the riskiest parts of spaceflight, spacewalks have been the sole realm of professional astronauts since the former Soviet Union popped open the hatch in 1965, closely followed by the U.S. Today, they are routinely done at the International Space Station. Isaacman, along with a pair of SpaceX engineers and a former Air Force Thunderbirds pilot, launched before dawn aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida. The spacewalk is scheduled for Thursday, midway through the five-day flight. But first the passengers are shooting for way beyond the International Space Station — an altitude of 870 miles (1,400 kilometers), which would surpass the Earth-lapping record set during NASA’s Project Gemini in 1966. Only the 24 Apollo astronauts who flew to the moon have ventured farther. The plan is to spend 10 hours at that height — filled with extreme radiation and riddled with debris — before reducing the oval-shaped orbit by half. Even at this lower 435 miles (700 kilometers), the orbit would eclipse the space station and even the Hubble Space Telescope, the highest shuttle astronauts flew. All four wore SpaceX’s spacewalking suits because the entire Dragon capsule will be depressurized for the two-hour spacewalk, exposing everyone to the dangerous environment. Isaacman and SpaceX’s Sarah Gillis will take turns briefly popping out of the hatch. They’ll test their white and black-trimmed custom suits by twisting their bodies. Both will always have a hand or foot touching the capsule or attached support structure that resembles the top of a pool ladder. There will be no dangling at the end of their 12-foot (3.6-meter) tethers and no jetpack showboating. Only NASA’s suits at the space station come equipped with jetpacks, for emergency use only. Pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet and SpaceX’s Anna Menon will monitor the spacewalk from inside. Like SpaceX’s previous astronaut flights, this one will end with a splashdown off the Florida coast. “We’re sending you hugs from the ground,” Launch Director Frank Messina radioed after the crew reached orbit. “May you make history and come home safely.” Isaacman replied: “We wouldn’t be on this journey without all 14,000 of you back at SpaceX and everyone else cheering us on.” At a preflight news conference, Isaacman — CEO and founder of the credit card processing company Shift4 — refused to say how much he invested in the flight. “Not a chance,” he said. SpaceX teamed up with Isaacman to pay for spacesuit development and associated costs, said William Gerstenmaier, a SpaceX vice president who once headed space mission operations for NASA. “We’re really starting to push the frontiers with the private sector,” Gerstenmaier said. It’s the first of three trips that Isaacman bought from Elon Musk 2 1/2 years ago, soon after returning from his first private SpaceX spaceflight in 2021. Isaacman bankrolled that tourist […]

Earlier today, the IDF, with intelligence support from the Shin Bet, launched an airstrike targeting Hamas militants operating within a command and control center in the Gaza Strip. The center was located in a building that once served as the ‘Al Farouq’ Mosque, situated in the Bureij area. According to the IDF, the facility was used by Hamas to plan and coordinate terrorist activities against Israeli forces and civilians. Prior to the strike, several precautionary measures were taken to minimize the risk to civilians, including the use of precision-guided munitions, aerial reconnaissance, and comprehensive intelligence gathering.

Channel 12 reports that the likelihood of achieving a phased ceasefire agreement based on Israel’s proposal from May is “close to zero.” According to unnamed sources within the Israeli security community, there is now “very broad pessimism” among the Israeli negotiators.

The US, which had previously indicated plans to introduce a new bridging proposal within the next few days, is now seen as unlikely to follow through with such a proposal, the report added.

The article highlighted significant frustration among Israeli negotiators, who had until recently been hopeful about reaching at least a preliminary agreement between Israel and the mediators that would then be presented to Hamas.

However, the Hebrew press conference held by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu last Monday, where he firmly reiterated the need for IDF control over the Philadelphi Corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border—a detail not included in the May proposal approved by Netanyahu—“buried” the chances of reaching such an agreement. Following this, Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar became more entrenched in his positions, according to the report.

Further complicating matters, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared in an interview on Saturday night that the Philadelphi Corridor was not his only “red line.” He also opposed the withdrawal of the IDF from the Netzarim Corridor and the release of Palestinian security prisoners convicted of murder. The report stated that Smotrich’s stance, as the leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, which is a vital component of Netanyahu’s coalition, effectively “wiped out” the May proposal from Israel.

Channel 12 cited a source familiar with the negotiations who said, “It appears that the current proposal will not come to fruition at this time. There is no prospect of a phased deal.”

The network also reported that a senior Israeli negotiator informed hostage families that “not even the first phase” of the deal—a six-week ceasefire involving the release of around 30 hostages, including women, children, the elderly, and those in poor health—was likely to occur at this point.

“The only way forward is to end the war,” the negotiator allegedly stated, urging continued public support to bring about the end of the conflict.

The TV report also noted that sources within the defense establishment described the current situation as “fateful,” particularly concerning the north. The lack of a deal could potentially lead to an escalation with Hezbollah, which some speculate might agree to halt its attacks if a deal between Israel and Hamas were to be reached.

Channel 12 added that families of hostages holding dual Israeli-American citizenship were also being informed that the Biden administration had become less optimistic compared to a week ago when it was actively working on a new proposal.

Although efforts were ongoing, US mediators are reportedly hesitant to present a new proposal until they observe signs of possible progress. For now, they are urging Qatar and Egypt to “determine Hamas’s limits,” according to the report.

Meanwhile, Axios reported, citing White House officials, that President Joe Biden wants to introduce a new proposal, but his senior aides are skeptical about its success due to Netanyahu’s insistence on IDF control over the Philadelphi Corridor and the increasing demands by Sinwar for Palestinian terrorists in exchange for the hostages.

Biden also wishes to avoid making any concessions that could be seen as rewarding Hamas for the recent murder of six hostages, according to the officials.

US officials cited by Axios noted a “significant pessimism” at the White House following Hamas’s demand for the release of 100 additional life-term murderers beyond what had been previously agreed.

An official told Axios that “people at the White House are sad, upset and frustrated” over the current state of the negotiations.

“We are still working, but we are not about to present anything imminently,” the official said. “We are in a tough spot.”

These gloomy reports emerged as Hebrew media also reported on the grim conditions in which the six slain hostages were held and their desperate struggle as their captors prepared to execute them.

According to Channel 12, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the IDF spokesperson, has updated some hostage families on their loved ones’ final days and moments.

The six hostages were reportedly confined in a very narrow and small tunnel, barely wide enough for two people and too low for them to stand fully upright. The lack of air vents made it difficult for them to breathe, the report said.

There were no toilets or showers in the tunnel, and the hostages had to use water from their bottles for washing. Protein bars were found in the tunnel, but the hostages had very little food and lost significant weight, with 24-year-old Eden Yerushalmi weighing just 36 kilos (80 pounds).

The tunnel was said to have contained a generator, a small, faulty torch, a chess set, writing implements, and notepads. The IDF has given these notepads to the respective families, the report added.

The IDF estimates that the hostages were killed approximately 10 days ago, just before the IDF reached the tunnel. “Several of the six are assessed to have defended themselves and struggled with those who shot them,” the report stated. (A Channel 13 report mentioned “forensic” evidence indicating that “Hersh, Ori, Alex and Almog defended Eden and Carmel.”)

The hostages “did everything to survive in impossible circumstances,” a member of an unnamed family told Channel 12, “and, in the end, Hamas murdered them.”

“Their only demand was that the government save them, and the government failed in its mission,” they said.

On Sunday night, families of the hostages and their supporters began their second consecutive week of daily demonstrations on Tel Aviv’s Begin Street, outside the IDF headquarters, coinciding with the security cabinet’s meeting there.

Nearby, on Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, activists and hostage families commemorated the 10-year mark of Israeli civilian Avera Mengistu’s captivity.

Mengistu, 37, an Ethiopian-born Israeli civilian, entered the Gaza Strip voluntarily in 2014 while struggling with severe mental health issues and was captured by Hamas.

The rally featured speeches from Mengistu’s father, Agarnesh Mengistu; his brother, Ilan; Shirley Nesher, the surveillance soldier who saw Avera crossing into Gaza on September 7, 2014; and Yael Adar, mother of Tamir Adar, who was killed on October 7 and whose body was taken to Gaza.

“It’s difficult for me to even imagine how you spend 10 years in this situation,” Ilan Mengistu said. “My mother sits every evening during the news and flips through to find your picture. She says: ‘I don’t understand the language, but if I see his picture I’ll know they’re talking about him, that they haven’t forgotten about him.’”

Following the IDF’s announcement last Sunday that it had recovered the bodies of the six hostages from Gaza, mass demonstrations were held later that day and on Saturday outside the IDF headquarters on Tel Aviv’s Begin Street. Organizers reported that these demonstrations attracted hundreds of thousands of participants.

Hostage families and their supporters also began holding smaller daily protests in the same location, each drawing around 2,000 people, continuing on Sunday.

In Washington, DC, several Israelis protested outside the residence of Mike Herzog, Israel’s ambassador to the US, urging him to publicly call for a hostage deal.

The protest featured Boaz Atzili, cousin of Aviv Atzili, whose body Hamas is holding in Gaza after murdering him in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7.

Social media footage showed Atzili addressing a small group of protesters about an incident on Tuesday, where Herzog allegedly declined to attend a vigil for the six slain hostages at Washington’s Adas Israel synagogue due to not being allowed to speak.

In response, protesters chanted “shame” in Hebrew—a common chant at anti-government rallies in Israel.

It is believed that 97 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7 attack remain in Gaza, including at least 33 confirmed dead by the IDF.

The sudden attack by Hamas saw thousands of terrorists assault southern Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages.

Hamas released 105 civilians during a week-long ceasefire in late November, and four hostages were released prior to that.

Eight hostages have been rescued alive by troops, and the bodies of 37 hostages have also been recovered, including three mistakenly killed by the military while attempting to escape from their captors.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Very few people who live near the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment opted out of a $600 million class action settlement despite residents’ reservations about whether the deal offers enough, so lawyers argue the agreement should be approved later this month. The lawyers who negotiated the deal with Norfolk Southern on behalf of everyone affected by the disastrous February 2023 derailment said only 370 households and 47 businesses in the 20-mile (32-kilometer) radius around the derailment opted out of the property damage payments. That includes only 82 opt-outs from households within 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) of the crash who were promised $70,000 for property damage. People who lived at the outer edge of the area will only receive a few hundred dollars if a federal judge approves the settlement after a Sept. 25 hearing. Altogether, 54,925 claims had been filed as of last week, and that number should be close to the final total because there was an Aug. 22 deadline to submit forms. “It is deeply satisfying that this community overwhelmingly supports this settlement,” the plaintiffs’ lawyers said in a statement. “This result would not have been possible without their resolve and determination to hold Norfolk Southern accountable.” A separate payment of up to $25,000 for personal injuries was more controversial because residents were required to give up any right to sue in the future if they develop cancer or other serious ailments. But some 97% of East Palestine residents still signed onto that. Some residents have complained that even though the lawyers have said this settlement is bigger than any other derailment settlement, the payments still aren’t enough to compensate them for all their suffering. Many people don’t like the fact that aid payments they have received from the railroad will be deducted from any settlement they ultimately receive. One of the key concerns for those objecting to the deal is that the contamination left behind after hazardous chemicals spilled and burned after the train crash could be worse than they know. That’s why they filed a motion asking the judge to order the lawyers to release all the tests their expert did in the community. The plaintiff’s lawyers said in their motion that they can’t release those tests because it would violate the terms of the settlement. They tried to reassure the community that they did extensive research to make sure the settlement was adequate by interviewing some 70 people and reviewing nearly 1.35 million pages of documents. A separate federal settlement between the government and the railroad will ensure that Norfolk Southern pays for the cleanup that is still ongoing and for long-term medical monitoring of residents and tests of groundwater. The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed early this summer that the derailment was caused by an overheated wheel bearing that wasn’t caught in time by trackside detectors. Investigators also said they determined that officials never needed to blow open five tank cars containing vinyl chloride and burn the plastic ingredient because those tank cars weren’t going to explode. The plaintiffs’ lawyers said that because of their extensive investigation they weren’t surprised by anything that came out at the NTSB hearing in June. (AP)