The U.S. government and TikTok will go head-to-head in federal court on Monday as oral arguments begin in a consequential legal case that will determine if – or how — a popular social media platform used by nearly half of all Americans will continue to operate in the country. Attorneys for the two sides will appear before a panel of judges at the federal appeals court in Washington. TikTok and its China-based parent company, ByteDance, are challenging a U.S. law that requires them to break ties or face a ban in the U.S. by mid-January. The legal battle is expected to reach the U.S. Supreme Court. The law, signed by President Joe Biden in April, was a culmination of a years-long saga in Washington over the short-form video-sharing app, which the government sees as a national security threat due to its connections to China. But TikTok argues the law runs afoul of the First Amendment while other opponents claim it mirrors crackdowns sometimes seen in authoritarian countries abroad. In court documents submitted over the summer, the Justice Department emphasized the government’s two primary concerns. First, TikTok collects vast swaths of user data, including sensitive information on viewing habits, that could fall into the hands of the Chinese government through coercion. Second, the U.S. says the proprietary algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect. TikTok has repeatedly said it does not share U.S. user data with the Chinese government and that concerns the government has raised have never been substantiated. In court documents, attorneys for both TikTok and its parent company have argued that members of Congress sought to punish the platform based on propaganda they perceived to be on TikTok. The companies also claimed divestment is not possible and that the app would have to shut down by Jan. 19 if the courts don’t step in to block the law. “Even if divestiture were feasible, TikTok in the United States would still be reduced to a shell of its former self, stripped of the innovative and expressive technology that tailors content to each user,” the companies said in a legal brief filed in June. “It would also become an island, preventing Americans from exchanging views with the global TikTok community.” Opponents of the law stress a ban would also cause disruptions in the world of marketing, retail and in the lives of many different content creators, some of whom also sued the government in May. TikTok is covering the legal costs for that lawsuit, which the court has consolidated with the company’s complaint and another filed on behalf of conservative creators who work with a nonprofit called BASED Politics Inc. Though the government’s primary reasoning for the law is public, significant portions of its court filings include classified information that has been redacted and hidden from public view. The companies have asked the court to reject the secret filings or appoint a district judge who can ferret through the material, which the government has opposed because it will cause a delay in the case. If admitted into the court, legal experts say those secret filings could make it nearly impossible to know some of […]
MSNBC host Alex Witt raised the question of whether former President Trump’s campaign might urge a reduction in “rhetoric” following a shooting that occurred outside his golf club on Sunday.
In response to early reports of gunfire near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, Witt asked if Trump’s campaign would take the opportunity to encourage supporters to “tone down the violence.”
“Do you expect there to be calls from within the Trump campaign to do that?” Witt inquired. “Because he will reach out to his supporters and say let’s take this down. We do not know the source of any gunshots or gunshots. We do not know who is responsible for this. The whole thing has yet to be 100% confirmed from start to finish how this all played out.”
She went on to ask, “But do you expect to hear anything from the Trump campaign about toning down the rhetoric? Toning down the violence? Or would that be atypical of the former president?”
MSNBC political analyst Elise Jordan chimed in, recalling, “Well, remember back to the assassination attempt from President Trump’s life and how there was talk of a new tone and the Republican convention was, by Trumpian standards, muted, and it did seem like he was trying to take it down a few notches. But then by the end of the convention speech, we were back to where we started.”
Jordan continued, saying, “I don’t know how long this moment of unity for the country where we come together and say ‘I don’t want any political opposition to be under threat of violence. We don’t want that.’ I would love for us to have a unity-type moment, but I think it is probably going to be fleeting, as we have seen in the past.”
She also speculated whether individuals on “both sides of the aisle” would be able to help “lower the temperature.”
“How have we gotten to this point when the demonization of the other side… it is no longer politics. It has gotten bigger than that, the calls for violence, the violent rhetoric and look at what happens. This heated rhetoric can only go so far before, unfortunately, it has led to violence on both sides of the aisle. So I think it is something that Democrats and Republicans have to be very cognizant about. What can we all do to take the temperature down?” Jordan questioned.
Initial reports from the shooting suggested that the gunfire involved two individuals targeting each other and that Trump was not the intended victim. However, as more details emerged, the FBI released a statement indicating that this appeared to be another assassination attempt on the former president.
The suspect, identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, was allegedly armed with a rifle when agents engaged him, according to law enforcement sources confirmed by Fox News.
Authorities stated that Routh managed to push the muzzle of his gun through the chainlink fence surrounding the golf club.
Routh was positioned 300 to 500 yards away from Trump when the Secret Service spotted him and returned fire.
Though Routh initially escaped, he was later apprehended by authorities and arrested.
Routh was discovered with two backpacks and a GoPro camera. The rifle he used was later found in the bushes near the golf course.
This incident follows an assassination attempt on Trump that occurred approximately two months earlier during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
{Matzav.com}
A rare and exquisitely illustrated Chumash from the 14th century will soon be showcased to the public, following its recent sale at Sotheby’s New York for an impressive $6.7 million. The Shem Tov Chumash was sold on September 10 at the high end of its estimated value of $5 to $7 million. Described as “a tour de force of biblical and kabbalistic scholarship and a precious witness to the medieval tradition of Sephardic book art,” the Shem Tov Chumash was completed in 1312 by Rabbi Shem Tov Ibn Gaon in the northern Spanish city of Soria. Its intricate artistry and historical significance make it one of the most important Hebrew manuscripts of the medieval period. Sharon Liberman Mintz, Sotheby’s international senior Judaica specialist for books and manuscripts, highlighted the Chumash’s unique blend of scholarship, mysticism, and art. “The architectural features mirror the mudéjar art of the time, while at the same time using artistic vocabulary from French gothic,” she explained. The Chumash also incorporates various streams of Jewish thought, including references to the Hilleli codex—a legendary, lost Chumash—and contains around 2,000 Kabbalistic letters imbued with secret meanings. The Shem Tov Chumash’s historical journey is equally remarkable. “I think the journey is so exciting because it’s out of Spain by 1315, so it escapes the riots and massacres of 1391 and then the expulsion [of the Jews] from Spain in 1492, when many books were lost,” said Liberman Mintz. “Then it gets to Israel, which is overrun by the crusaders … [and] it manages to escape that. It goes to Baghdad, and we know that the Jewish community of Baghdad witnessed all kinds of upheavals. It somehow makes its way to Tripoli. It’s in London during the Second World War—or probably in Letchworth—and it survives the war. It’s had a miraculous journey of survival.” The Chumash’s mystical reputation adds another layer to its allure. In the late 19th century, it was used as a kameiah for women in difficult labor and was said to alleviate their pains upon entering their home. It was later acquired by David Solomon Sassoon, a renowned collector, in the early 20th century. The Chumash held a central place in his collection, and as he neared death in 1942, Sassoon famously instructed his son to speak to the Shem Tov Chumash and his Sifrei Torah, telling them, “We will return to you, and you will return to us; we will not forget you, neither in this world nor in the World to Come.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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On Monday, the FBI disclosed that Ryan Routh, the suspect in the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, had been the subject of a tip to the FBI back in 2019. This new information emerged during a press conference held by Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri. “Following up on the tip, the alleged complainant was interviewed and … did not verify providing the initial information. The FBI passed that information to local law enforcement in Honolulu,” Veltri stated. According to Veltri, the Martin County Sheriff’s Office took custody of the 58-year-old suspect, Ryan Routh, who was then transferred to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. “Our FBI agents then attempted to interview him, and he invoked his right to an attorney,” Veltri said. During the investigation, agents seized various items, including a video recording device, cell phones, a vehicle, and other electronic devices from Routh’s previous known addresses, while executing search warrants. Veltri also mentioned that the FBI’s Honolulu and Charlotte field offices have been conducting interviews with several family members and former colleagues of the suspect. The FBI’s Evidence Response Team is actively collecting and processing evidence, which includes an SKS rifle with a scope, electronic devices, and ceramic tiles. “We’re continuing to conduct analysis, and we’ll be compiling the subject’s movements in the days and months leading up to September 15th,” Veltri noted. He further stated that the suspect had an “active online presence,” and the FBI is currently reviewing his online activity, including posts and searches. Veltri also revealed that Routh had been previously charged and convicted in 2002 in North Carolina for possession of a weapon of mass destruction. Between 1997 and 2010, he faced multiple felony charges related to stolen goods. However, the FBI does not believe that Routh acted with anyone else. “The FBI does not have information indicating that Routh acted with anyone else,” Veltri said. Authorities confirmed that Routh did not fire any shots during the assassination attempt while Trump was golfing in Florida. The suspect didn’t have a clear line of sight on the former president. Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe, during the press conference, explained that a U.S. Secret Service agent spotted Routh, armed with what appeared to be a firearm, while sweeping the area. “The subject, who did not have line of sight to the former president, fled the scene,” Rowe said. “He did not fire or get off any shots at our agents.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The man arrested for plotting to assassinate Donald Trump while he was golfing in Florida may have received inside information about the former president’s schedule, according to a former FBI official, who described the possibility as “scary.”
Chris Swecker, a retired FBI assistant director, told Newsweek that federal agents and other law enforcement agencies are investigating how the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, seemingly knew Trump would be at his West Palm Beach, Fla., golf club on Sunday.
“The biggest question that needs answering is: ‘How did the would-be assassin know to be at that location at that time?’” said Swecker, who has extensive experience in FBI criminal investigations.
“There are only three possible explanations: He made a lucky guess; he conducted surveillance and followed Trump to the golf course; or he had inside information regarding Trump’s schedule.”
He continued, “The third possibility is frightening, as it suggests someone else may have been involved.”
Routh, a resident of Hawaii, was apprehended after Secret Service agents, positioned a few holes ahead of the 78-year-old former president, spotted the muzzle of an AK-style rifle protruding from the bushes lining the course on Sunday afternoon, authorities reported.
The alleged shooter, who was reportedly armed with the rifle and had a GoPro camera seemingly set up to capture the attempted assassination, managed to position himself between 300 and 500 yards from Trump.
The FBI is leading the investigation and is working to uncover any possible motive, authorities said.
Despite an increase in security since the last attempt on Trump’s life in July, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw noted that Trump’s protection remained relatively light because he is not currently a sitting president.
“If Trump were still president, the entire golf course would have been lined with law enforcement,” Bradshaw explained.
“I suspect that next time he visits the golf course, there will likely be more people around the perimeter,” he added.
“But the Secret Service did exactly what they were supposed to do.”
Swecker described the suspect as an apparent “wing nut” with a deep-seated disdain for authority. This assessment came after it was revealed that Routh had previously voiced anti-Trump sentiments on social media and commented on threats to democracy.
“We know this suspect has made posts about Trump being a danger to democracy and has been involved in some bizarre missions: for instance, traveling to Ukraine to try to recruit Afghan fighters. So, his motive is becoming clearer — he’s a wing nut who doesn’t respect authority, as shown by his past arrest for resisting arrest during a two-hour standoff,” Swecker remarked.
Over the years, Routh has had several legal issues — including a standoff with police in 2002, which led to his conviction for possessing a “weapon of mass destruction,” according to online records.
{Matzav.com}
Trying to defend their narrow Senate majority with a challenging slate of contests on Republican-leaning turf, Democrats are pumping $25 million into expanded voter outreach across 10 states. The new spending from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, first shared with The Associated Press, comes less than two months until the Nov. 5 election and as Democrats are benefiting from a fundraising surge since President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid in July and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the party standard-bearer. “A formidable ground game makes all the difference in close races,” DSCC Chairman Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan said in a statement. “We are reaching every voter we need to win.” The latest investment will be distributed across Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. The money will go toward efforts to defend five Democratic incumbents and open seats in Michigan, Maryland and Arizona that are currently included in Democrats’ majority, as well as efforts to unseat GOP incumbents in Florida and Texas. Plans for the money will vary by state but will include hiring more paid field organizers and canvassers; digital organizing programs targeting specific groups of voters online; texting programs; and in-person organizing events targeting younger generations and nonwhite voters. Democrats currently hold a 51-49 Senate advantage, a split that includes independent senators who caucus with Democrats. But of the 33 regular Senate elections this November, Democrats must defend 23 seats, counting the independents who caucus with them to make their majority. They’ve devoted few national resources to West Virginia, a Republican-leaning state where Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat-turned-independent, is retiring. The playing field gives Democrats little margin for error. If they lose West Virginia and hold all other seats, they still would have to upset Florida Sen. Rick Scott or Texas Sen. Ted Cruz to win a majority or hope Harris wins the presidential election — an outcome that would allow her running mate, Tim Walz, to cast the tiebreaking vote for Democrats as vice president, as Harris did in a 50-50 Senate during the first two years of Biden’s administration. The DSCC declined to disclose a state-by-state distribution of the $25 million. But it’s no secret that Democrats’ defense of the majority starts with tough reelection contests for Sens. Jon Tester of Montana and Sherrod Brown of Ohio. Both are relatively popular, multiterm incumbents, but they’re running in states where Donald Trump, the former president and current Republican nominee, has twice won by comfortable margins. That means Tester and Brown would need a considerable number of voters to split their tickets between Trump and their Senate choice. Senate Democrats already have financed field offices in Montana and Ohio, since those are not presidential battleground states where the Harris campaign leads Democrats’ coordinated campaign operations. And even with the money coming from national coffers, the additional on-the-ground spending will reinforce the two Democratic senators’ strategies of distancing themselves from Harris and the national party. Five of the 10 states getting money, meanwhile, overlap with the presidential battleground map: Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Biden won all of them four years ago, while Trump won all except Nevada in 2016. Both presidential campaigns see the states as tossups this fall. The voter outreach spending comes alongside an ongoing $79 million advertising […]
Former President Donald Trump, well-known for his strong support among Orthodox Jews, is set to visit the heart of Williamsburg, Brooklyn this Thursday, according to sources.
The visit is expected to include a stop at the iconic Gottlieb’s Restaurant, the kosher establishment located on Roebling Street that has long been a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
Secret Service agents have reportedly already begun preparations in the area, working diligently to ensure the former president’s security during the visit.
Streets around the restaurant and nearby intersections are expected to be closely monitored, with local law enforcement coordinating efforts to manage crowds and minimize disruption to the neighborhood’s daily routine.
Trump’s visit to Williamsburg is expected to draw large crowds, as residents look forward to welcoming a figure they see as having supported their values and interests during his time in office and afterwards
While it remains unclear whether the former president will address the public during his visit, the excitement in Williamsburg is palpable.
{Matzav.com}
A Secret Service agent tasked with overseeing former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 “was known to be incompetent” and “did not pass a critical exam during their federal law enforcement training,” according to new whistleblower claims made public by Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).
The whistleblowers revealed that the agent had set up “flags around the Butler stage and catwalk, which obstructed visibility” — despite such items being “usually forbidden because they interfere with the sightlines of agents assigned to spot potential threats,” according to Hawley’s 21-page report, released on Monday.
The report further indicates that intelligence teams from the Secret Service “were missing from the Butler rally,” which could have helped “avoid” the communication breakdown that took place just moments before Trump, 78, took the stage and was shot in the right ear by an assailant.
“The hospital where former President Trump received medical care following the shooting lacked adequate security,” the report continues. “The Secret Service agent in charge of security at the hospital was unaware of the situation and unable to answer fundamental questions regarding security measures.”
{Matzav.com}
The StopAntisemitism channel has granted Swedish “environmentalist” Greta Thunberg the distinct honor of being named as the “Antisemite of the Week.” The honor was bestowed on her following her recent arrest at an anti-Israel rally at Copenhagen University in Denmark. And what was she protesting? The university’s cooperation with Israel, one of the world’s most innovative nations in developing green technology. Thunberg “has joined the ranks of keffiyeh-clad protesters, brazenly voicing her disdain for the Jewish state,” StopAntisemitism stated on Friday. “She has sadly transformed her activism into a platform for vile Jew-hatred.” Founder Liora Rez wrote: “Sadly, Greta’s hatred of the world’s only Jewish nation eclipses her love of the environment. Despite Israel being a global leader in tackling climate disasters and rushing to aid in crises worldwide, Greta sides with their homicidal terrorist enemies. Her actions speak louder than her words. She claims to care about the future of humanity but Greta’s hypocrisy is on full display as she’s been active in championing Hamas leaders who openly call for genocide.” Immediately following the October 7 attack, Thunberg came out in support of the Hamas murderers, somehow tying it to the cause of environmentalism by chanting meaningless and false quotes like “no climate justice on ‘occupied land.'” Her weekly protests for the environment became hate manifestos against Israel, with protesters bearing signs such as “End Zionist Genocide in Palestine.” In November 2023, only a month after over 1,000 Israelis were slaughtered, she chanted “Crush Zionism” together with a crowd at a pro-Palestinian rally in Stockholm. In January, she protested outside the Hague, writing: “Israel – as well as those who support Israel’s brutal attacks and occupation – must be held accountable for their actions. We cannot remain silent during a genocide.” Meanwhile, despite her supposed devotion to environmental issues, Israel is still waiting for her to call out Hezbollah for setting thousands and thousands of acres of forestland on fire and the Houthis for attacking a tanker carrying a million barrels of crude oil, potentially causing the largest oil spill in history. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Over the past few months, Siddurim at the Kosel have been vandalized with messages calling for the destruction of the state of Israel. It is not yet known who the vandals are.
One message found in a Siddur read: “The land of Israel is holy, the people of Israel are holy, the State of Israel must be erased.”
Another read: “The Devil’s state will be erased for eternity.”
At least 12 Siddurim have been vandalized with these types of messages, as well as pages containing Tefillos for chayalim and the State of Israel being torn out.
The leader of the Libyan Jewish community in Yerushalayim, Rav Levi Nachum, said that a large number of the 70 Siddurim he has brought to the Kosel have been vandalized. Rav Nachum has called for an investigation of security camera footage from the site to identify the vandals before they harm more Siddurim.
In a statement, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation said it: “strongly condemns any act of vandalism against prayer books and is making every effort to eradicate this phenomenon.”
{Matzav.com}
Three weeks after dropping his independent presidential campaign, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has become a ubiquitous campaigner for Donald Trump, urging his own loyal followers to cast their lot with the former president who said he’d give Kennedy a job if he returns to the White House. Kennedy is hitting the road with Tulsi Gabbard, a former congresswoman who’s built her own following on the right. Many of the people who turned out to see them in suburban Phoenix on Saturday night were already committed Trump supporters. A few, like Jacob Cutler, wore clothing from Kennedy’s defunct campaign. An enthusiastic Kennedy supporter, Cutler has embraced Trump as the best person to stop Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate. “I was concerned about what would happen if she won, and so that’s why I felt like I needed to support Donald Trump and help him win,” said Cutler, a 40-year-old who said he voted for Democratic President Joe Biden four years ago. “If anything, the lesser of two evils.” The Kennedy-Trump alliance gives the Republican former president an endorsement from the well-known scion of a Democratic dynasty and the chance to present his campaign as having bipartisan appeal. Even a small number of Democrats moving to Trump’s side due to Kennedy’s endorsement could be critical in states like Arizona, which Biden won in 2020 by fewer than 11,000 votes. Trump’s path back to the White House relies in part on voters who don’t trust institutions like government, corporations and the mainstream media, a group that can be hard to reach, win over and motivate to vote. Kennedy and Gabbard have pull with those voters, who tend to get news and information from podcasts and YouTube videos. Both Trump and Kennedy have vowed in recent weeks to “make America healthy again,” a play on Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” slogan that references Kennedy’s frequent arguments during his campaign that chronic illnesses have become more prevalent among Americans and his boosting of discredited theories about vaccines. At the Trump campaign event on Saturday, Kennedy addressed the members of his family who have criticized his embrace of Trump. “I feel like people — including family members who have turned against me, my old friends who look at me with disdain and condemnation — that they’re victims of a kind of hypnosis and a psyop and an orchestrated effort to divide us from each other,” Kennedy told the crowd at Arizona Christian University. “Those of us who are awake need to protect the things that are valuable in this country without going after them until they wake up and see what we’ve done for them.” Partisans who switch sides often carry extra weight, picking up reverence from activists who once condemned them. They can become sought-after surrogates and trusted messengers. “It’s a huge, huge addition to Trump’s team,” Henry Slayton, a 62-year-old engineer from Bakersfield, California, said of Kennedy and Gabbard. “It shows you they’re all for the citizens, they’re for the American people, not out for themselves.” Harris has her own coalition of strange bedfellows, including a son of former Republican presidential candidate John McCain and prominent members of former President George W. Bush’s administration. Progressives have even found themselves cheering Bush’s vice president, Dick Cheney, for endorsing Harris, a head-spinning change […]
Hamas and the Houthis have recently established offices in Iraq. The offices, which opened in June, testify to Iraq’s shift towards the Iranian camp in Tehran’s conflict with Israel and the United States.
Since the U.S. military invasion to remove Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein 21 years ago, the country has maintained an “uneasy balance” between its Iranian neighbor and America, The New York Times reported on Sunday. That balance has increasingly turned in Iran’s favor as Tehran has funded sympathetic forces inside Iraq as part of its effort to build an unbroken arc of Shi’ite power stretching west to Lebanon and south to Yemen.
The Hamas representative in Baghdad is Mohammed al-Hafi, a member of the terrorist group’s bureau for Arab and Islamic Relations. The Houthi representative in Iraq is Abu Idris al-Sharafi. He has received an especially warm reception in Iraq, the Times said.
The two offices are a concrete indication of the transformation of Iraqi politics since Hussein’s ouster. He suppressed Islamic movements, whether Sunni or Shi’ite, viewing them as a threat to his power. Shi’ites were exiled, imprisoned or executed.
Today, Shi’ite parties dominate Iraqi politics, and Iran has pushed Iraq’s government to recognize Shi’ite militias. (The Hamas representative’s security detail is provided by one such militia, Kata’ib Hezbollah, the Times noted.) Shi’ite forces have formed political parties, gaining enough seats in the 2021 election to select the prime minister.
Faced with the Shi’ite’s rise, Iraq’s leadership could do little but agree when Hamas and the Houthis requested to open offices.
“Some Iraqi government officials, according to two of the people who spoke to The New York Times, say privately they are not thrilled about their new guests but did not have the power to block them given the sway of the Iraqi political parties with ties to Iran,” the paper reported.
Officially, Iraq has denied a move towards Iran.
Thomas Juneau, a professor of international relations at the University of Ottawa, told the Times that Iran wants its proxies to coordinate more closely. There is “a growing institutionalization of relations between Iran’s partners in the Axis of Resistance,” he said.
Tehran has created a joint operation room and held regular meetings to bring proxy leaders together. “Iran has appeared to encourage its proxies from different countries to share military skills and even coordinate on targets,” the Times reported.
These efforts have “intensified” since Oct. 7, Juneau said.
Rashid al-Azzawi, chairman of the Iraqi Islamic Party, a Sunni Islamist party, said the war in Gaza has won sympathy for Hamas from Iraqis across all religions. Hamas is seen as fighting for “a humanitarian cause,” he stated.
(JNS)
Salvagers successfully towed a Greek-flagged oil tanker ablaze for weeks after attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to a safe area without any oil spill, a European Union naval mission said Monday. The Sounion reached waters away from Yemen as the Houthis meanwhile claimed that they shot down another American-made MQ-9 Reaper drone, with video circulating online showing what appeared to be a surface-to-air missile strike and flaming wreckage strewn across the ground. The two events show the challenges still looming for the world as it tries to mitigate a monthslong campaign by the rebels over the Israel-Hamas war raging in the Gaza Strip. While the rebels allowed the Sounion to be moved, they continue to threaten ships moving through the Red Sea, a waterway that once saw $1 trillion in goods move through it a year. The EU naval mission, known as Operation Aspides, issued a statement via the social platform X announcing the ship had been moved. The Sounion “has been successfully towed to a safe area without any oil spill,” the EU mission said. “While private stakeholders complete the salvage operation, Aspides will continue to monitor the situation.” The Houthis had no immediate comment and it wasn’t clear where the vessel was, though it likely was taken north away from Yemen. Salvagers still need to offload some 1 million barrels of crude oil aboard the Sounion, which officials feared could leak into the Red Sea, killing marine life and damaging corals in the waterway. Meanwhile, the U.S. military said it was aware of the Houthis’ claimed downing of a drone over the country’s southwestern Dhamar province, without elaborating. The Houthis have exaggerated claims in the past in their ongoing campaign targeting shipping in the Red Sea over the Israel-Hamas war. However, the online video bolstered the claim, particularly after two recent claims by the Houthis included no evidence. Other videos showed armed rebels gathered around the flaming wreckage, a propeller similar to those used by the armed drone visible in the flames. One attempted to pick up a piece of the metal before dropping it due to the heat. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesperson, identified the drone as an MQ-9, without elaborating on how he came to the determination. He said it was the third downed by the group in a week, though the other two claims did not include similar video or other evidence. The U.S. military similarly has not acknowledged losing any aircraft. Saree said the Houthis used a locally produced missile. However, Iran has armed the rebels with a surface-to-air missile known as the 358 for years. Iran denies arming the rebels, though Tehran-manufactured weaponry has been found on the battlefield and in seaborne shipments heading to Yemen despite a United Nations arms embargo. Reapers, which cost around $30 million apiece, can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land. The aircraft have been flown by both the U.S. military and the CIA over Yemen for years. The Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October. They seized one vessel and sank two in the campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones […]
Former President Donald Trump, who enjoys widespread support among Orthodox Jews and Chasidim, is scheduled to visit the Williamsburg neighborhood on Thursday, sources within the NYPD confirmed to YWN. The upcoming visit, which has already sparked significant attention, includes a planned stop at Gottlieb’s Restaurant, a well-known kosher eatery located at Roebling Street and Division Avenue. Secret Service agents were spotted conducting advance preparations at the restaurant, a common procedure ahead of a presidential or high-profile visit. This meticulous planning is key to ensuring the safety and security of the President during public appearances. When the President of the United States visits a location like a restaurant, the Secret Service undertakes an exhaustive process to secure the area and mitigate potential risks. The advance work, often conducted 2 to 7 days prior to the visit, involves an initial team of Secret Service agents who inspect the venue for any vulnerabilities. This includes reviewing floor plans, emergency exits, and thoroughly examining all areas of the restaurant, from the kitchen to dining spaces. As part of this process, restaurant staff undergo background checks, and sharp objects or other potential hazards are removed or secured. Temporary security measures, such as metal detectors and surveillance cameras, are installed, ensuring the location is well-monitored and secure. Local law enforcement and emergency services are also brought into the fold, coordinating communication protocols for the day of the visit. Beyond securing the physical space, the Secret Service engages in protective intelligence gathering, monitoring for any potential threats, protests, or demonstrations that could disrupt the visit. Local and national intelligence reports are reviewed to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the situation on the ground, and contingency plans are developed to prepare for any unforeseen events. Logistical preparations are equally critical. The Secret Service arranges secure transportation and parking for the President’s motorcade and ensures that emergency medical response teams are on standby. In some cases, a dry run is conducted to iron out any potential issues before the actual visit. On the day of the visit, Secret Service agents will secure the perimeter of Gottlieb’s Restaurant and surrounding areas. Patrons and staff will be screened before being allowed inside, and agents will escort the President in and out of the restaurant, ensuring a secure environment throughout the visit. The restaurant staff will be briefed on security protocols, working closely with Secret Service personnel to maintain a seamless experience during the President’s time in Williamsburg. The extensive advance preparations reflect the Secret Service’s commitment to providing top-tier protection, allowing the President to engage with the public while maintaining security at all times. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Almost two months after Israel carried out a major attack on Yemen’s Hodeidah port in retaliation for the Houthis’ launch of a drone that struck Tel Aviv, it is still disabled, the Jerusalem Post reported on Monday, quoting expert Eran Efrat. The Houthis promised to retaliate for Israel’s attack of its port but b’chasdei Hashem, their attempt on Sunday left no injuries. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate again for the Houthis’ newest attempt to harm Israelis. Efrat is an entrepreneur who imports raw materials for the green energy industry and is familiar with shipping routes and cargo ships. He began monitoring the damage at the port out of his own curiosity and as his interest grew, he began publishing his conclusions for the public (in Hebrew). “Ship tracking tools are as accurate as aircraft tracking, and they are free to use as well, except for some premium features,” Efrat explained. “Every ship is registered, and its route is well documented, along with sailing times, documents, and any information that doesn’t qualify as a commercial secret.” “Already back then I claimed that following a bombardment of a fuel terminal, assuming that pipelines and fuel tanks were damaged as well, a long time would be needed to fix everything,” he said, explaining that establishing such infracture is a complex undertaking. “A month after the retaliatory attack I saw that there were no listed tankers transporting fuel or liquefied gas in Al-Hodeidah, which I concluded from the list of ships scheduled to moor in the port. Additionally, the port has issued an official notice to ships calling them not to arrive. For me, this was a main indicator that they were not able to receive oil and liquid gas, both of which were part of the infrastructure of Al-Hodeidah. We also saw that cranes were damaged, and therefore the unloading was carried out more slowly using either the ships’ cranes or mobile cranes, which are much smaller.” “The economic damage is immense,” Efrat continued. “I calculated according to the size of the tanks – they were able to store about 40-50 thousand tons. I found that they lose about 50 thousand tons of oil and liquid gas every 48 hours or so. This is based on how often the ships would dock and how large those containers were.” “I also checked tankers to check if there is an improvement in the unloading of containers according to ships that dock and leave. You can see the size of the ship and guess how long it takes to unload. If you leave after 24 hours or more, you know that the capacity is not high, especially when you compare it to a year ago, and you see that ships would enter and leave several times a day. “According to my calculation, this means that the port is running at 30% of its original capacity.” A month later, Efrat noticed that no new calls for tankers to dock at the port were issued, until at least until September 21. “This means two or three months that the port will be shut.” Efrat said that the Houthis are now using an alternative port, the primitive and formally closed Ras Isa port. “Take a look at the tanker Lady Amira 1,” he said. “This is […]
A family of three, including a 17-year-old girl, lost their lives in a tragic accident on the Garden State Parkway on Shabbos.
The Tesla Model S driven by the family veered off the northbound lanes of the Parkway in Woodbridge, near the Metropark exit, and collided with a road sign, guardrail, and a concrete bridge pillar, according to State Police Sgt. Charles Marchan.
David Dryerman, 54, who was behind the wheel, along with his wife Michelle Dryerman, also 54, and their daughter Brooke Dryerman, 17, were all pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Authorities are still working to determine the cause of the accident.
In response to the tragedy, Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos Rendo expressed his condolences and ordered all flags in the borough to be flown at half-staff in their honor.
A memorial service for the Dryerman family, identified as Michelle and Brooke by Valley Chabad Jewish Center in Woodcliff Lake, was held Sunday evening. Brooke was a senior at Pascack Hills High School, and the family’s son was away at college.
“We are all shocked and in such pain today,” Rabbi Yosef Orenstein said to those gathered at the service, as reported by the Pascack Press.
Rabbi Dov Drizin, the executive director of Valley Chabad, also attended the memorial.
{Matzav.com}
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed Monday that they shot down another American-made MQ-9 Reaper drone, with video circulating online showing what appeared to be a surface-to-air missile strike and flaming wreckage strewn across the ground. The U.S. military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Houthis’ claimed downing of a drone over the country’s southwestern Dhamar province. The Houthis have exaggerated claims in the past in their ongoing campaign targeting shipping in the Red Sea over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. However, the online video bolstered the claim, particularly after two recent claims by the Houthis included no evidence. Other videos showed armed rebels gathered around the flaming wreckage, a propeller similar to those used by the armed drone visible in the flames. One attempted to pick up a piece of the metal before dropping it due to the heat. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesperson, identified the drone as an MQ-9, without elaborating on how he came to the determination. He said it was the third downed by the group in a week, though the other two claims did not include similar video or other evidence. The U.S. military similarly has not acknowledged losing any aircraft. Saree said the Houthis used a locally produced missile. However, Iran has armed the rebels with a surface-to-air missile known as the 358 for years. Iran denies arming the rebels, though Tehran-manufactured weaponry has been found on the battlefield and in seaborne shipments heading to Yemen despite a United Nations arms embargo. Reapers, which cost around $30 million apiece, can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land. The aircraft have been flown by both the U.S. military and the CIA over Yemen for years. The Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October. They seized one vessel and sank two in the campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a U.S.-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels as well. The rebels maintain that they target ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the U.K. to force an end to Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran. Those attacks include a barrage that struck the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea. Salvagers have begun towing away the burning oil tanker, hoping to avoid a catastrophic leak of its 1 million barrels of oil on board. (AP)
A tragic accident late Saturday night claimed the lives of three members of a Jewish family from Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. The crash occurred just before midnight on the northbound side of the Garden State Parkway in Woodbridge Township, resulting in the deaths of David Dryerman, 54, his wife, Michele Dryerman, 54, and their 17-year-old daughter. New Jersey State Police reported that David Dryerman was driving a Tesla when the vehicle veered off the road, hitting a sign, guardrail, and concrete bridge support. All three occupants of the car were pronounced dead at the scene. In the wake of the tragedy, Rabbi Dov Drizin, who leads Valley Chabad in Woodcliff Lake, worked closely with authorities to ensure proper kavod hameis. Approximately 150 members of the Pascack Hills High School and Valley Chabad communities came together on Sunday evening for a candle lighting ceremony to honor the memory of David, Michele, and Brooke. The gathering also served as a moment to extend love and support to their surviving son, Max. “We are all shocked and in such pain today,” Rabbi Yosef Orenstein said at the gathering. “A terrible accident took beloved parents, David and Michele, and their daughter Brooke, a dear friend to many of our teens. Baruch Dayan HaEmes. We gather to light a candle, pray, share memories, and do a mitzvah in memory of Brooke and her dear parents. Whether you knew the family or not, we are all hurting.” Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos Rendo expressed his condolences, saying in a statement on Facebook, “I just received word of this terrible tragedy. I have ordered that our flags be lowered. I am in shock. Please keep the family in your prayers.” The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and officials are working to determine what led to the tragic accident. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Dear Matzav Inbox,
As we make our way through the month of Elul and get ready for the Yomim Noraim, I have to ask, and forgive me please for doing so: Is it really the right way to spend our time during this holy season by going to a mixed seating concert in New York City? Is this what Elul is all about? Spending the night in MSG?
Elul is a time for serious introspection. It’s the time we should be focusing on our relationship with Hashem, reflecting on our deeds, and preparing ourselves for the yemei hakadosh. Instead, we see people choosing to spend their night at a mixed concert.
I am not a kanna’i. Really not. I’m a regular normal guy. But still, something doesn’t sit right with me: How does attending such an event align with the spirit of Elul? When we’re supposed to be deeply involved in improving ourselves and coming closer to Hashem, how can we justify participating in entertainment like this? Does it bother no one but me?
Let’s not fool ourselves. The way we spend our time during Elul affects our readiness for the Yomim Noraim. We need to be honest with ourselves and recognize that these choices matter. Instead of filling our time with who knows what, we should focus on what really matters, strengthening our kesher to Hashem and preparing ourselves for the Yomim Noraim.
At least that’s what I think.
We should use this precious time wisely and stay true to the spirit of Elul.
Wishing all your readers a kesivah v’chasimah tovah.
Sincerely,
P. M.
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