Isabella Pires first noticed what she calls the “gradual apathy pandemic” in eighth grade. Only a handful of classmates registered for service projects she helped organize at her Massachusetts school. Even fewer actually showed up. When she got to high school last fall, Isabella found the problem was even worse: a lackluster Spirit Week and classes where students seldom spoke. In some ways, it’s as if students “just care less and less about what people think, but also somehow care more,” said Isabella, 14. Some teens, she said, no longer care about appearing disengaged, while others are so afraid of ridicule they keep to themselves. She blames social media and the lingering isolation of the post-COVID era. Educators say their tried and true lesson plans are no longer enough to keep students engaged at a time of struggling mental health, shortened attention spans, reduced attendance and worsening academic performance. At the crux of these challenges? Addiction to cell phones. Now, adults are trying new strategies to reverse the malaise. Cell phone bans are gaining traction, but many say they’re not enough. They argue for alternative stimulation: steering students outdoors or toward extracurriculars to fill time they might otherwise spend alone online. And students need outlets, they say, to speak about taboo topics without fear of being “canceled” on social media. “To get students engaged now, you have to be very, very creative,” said Wilbur Higgins, lead English teacher at Dartmouth High School, where Isabella will be a sophomore this fall. Lock them up Cell phone pouches, lockers and bins have grown in popularity to help enforce device bans. John Nguyen, a chemistry teacher in California, invented a pouch system because he was so distressed by bullying and fights on phones during class, often without adults interfering. Many teachers are afraid to confront students using phones during lessons, Nguyen said, and others have given up trying to stop it. At Nguyen’s school, students lock their phones in neoprene pouches during classes or even all day. A teacher or principal’s magnetic key unlocks the pouches. It doesn’t matter how dynamic the lesson, said Nguyen, who teaches at Marina Valley High School and now markets the pouches to other schools. “There’s nothing that can compete with the cell phone.” Do something (else) Some schools are locking up smartwatches and wireless headphones, too. But the pouches don’t work once the final bell rings. So in Spokane, Washington, schools are ramping up extracurriculars to compete with phones after hours. An initiative launching this month, “Engage IRL” — in real life — aims to give every student something to look forward to after the school-day grind, whether it’s a sport, performing arts or a club. “Isolating in your home every day after school for hours on end on a personal device has become normalized,” Superintendent Adam Swinyard said. Students can create clubs around interests like board games and knitting or partake in neighborhood basketball leagues. Teachers will help students make a plan to get involved during back-to-school conferences, the district says. “From 3 to 5:30 you are in a club, you’re in a sport, you’re at an activity,” instead of on a phone, Swinyard said. (The district has a new ban on phones during class, but will allow them after school.) At a time of high absenteeism, he also hopes the activities will be the extra push […]
Explosions echoed across central Kyiv on Monday morning during rush hour as Ukraine’s military issued a warning about a large-scale Russian missile and drone strike following earlier drone attacks in the pre-dawn hours.
The Ukrainian air force informed the public that Russia had 11 TU-95 strategic bombers in flight and confirmed the launch of several missiles.
Outside Kyiv, Reuters correspondents reported hearing the sounds of air defenses intercepting targets.
Authorities in the northwestern city of Lutzk reported explosions and confirmed damage to an apartment building, while they worked to verify if there were any casualties.
Poland’s Operational Command announced on X that Polish and allied aircraft were mobilized in response to Russia’s assault, which also targeted areas in western Ukraine and near the Polish border.
Ukrainians have been bracing for a significant Russian missile strike for some time.
Last week, the U.S. Embassy issued a warning about an increased risk of attacks around Ukrainian Independence Day, which was observed on Saturday.
In retaliation, Ukraine has intensified its long-range drone strikes against Russia, attempting to push back against Moscow, which began its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
“The desire to destroy our energy will cost the Russians dearly: their infrastructure,” Andriy Yermak, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, wrote on Telegram, suggesting plans for a counterattack.
Ukraine’s military reported that Russia launched two waves of drone attacks earlier on Monday, though preliminary information indicated no damage or casualties.
Around 10 drones were intercepted and destroyed as they approached the Kyiv region at approximately 02:30 GMT, according to Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration, who shared the update on Telegram.
Russia has not yet commented on the incident.
Both Russia and Ukraine maintain that they do not target civilians.
Each side claims its attacks focus on damaging infrastructure crucial to the other’s war efforts.
{Matzav.com}
Iran’s foreign minister again has referenced his country’s planned retaliation over the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Abbas Araghchi said late Sunday he made the remark in a conversation with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani by telephone. “Iran’s reaction to Israeli terrorist attack in Tehran is definitive, and will be measured and well calculated,” Araghchi wrote on the social platform X. “We do not fear escalation, yet do not seek it — unlike Israel.” Tajani said in a statement he “called for restraint and to pursue a constructive approach, in order to stop the cycle of military actions in the region, which only risks bringing more suffering.” “It is important that Iran exercises moderation towards Hezbollah in order to avert an escalation on the Lebanese-Israeli border, where Italian soldiers of the UNIFIL contingent are operating, and towards the Houthis in order to avoid an increase in tensions in the Red Sea area, where Italy plays a leading role in the (European Union’s) Aspides mission,” he said in the statement. Meanwhile, a round of high-level talks in Cairo meant to bring about a cease-fire and hostage deal to at least temporarily end the 10-month Israel-Hamas war in Gaza ended Sunday without a final agreement, a U.S. official said. But talks will continue at lower levels in the coming days in an effort to bridge remaining gaps. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the talks, said lower level “working teams” will remain in Cairo to meet with mediators the United States, Qatar and Egypt in hopes to addressing remaining disagreements. The talks included CIA director William Burns and David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency. A Hamas delegation was briefed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators but did not directly take part in negotiations. (AP)
Former President Donald Trump has hinted that he might skip the upcoming ABC News debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, accusing the network of conducting a “biased” interview with Republican Senator Tom Cotton.
In a Truth Social post on Sunday night, Trump expressed his frustration with ABC News, particularly criticizing a segment from the Sunday broadcast of “This Week” and co-anchor Jon Karl’s interview with Senator Cotton of Arkansas.
“I tuned in to ABC FAKE NEWS this morning, and witnessed lightweight reporter Jonathan Carl’s (K?) absurd and slanted interview of Tom Cotton (who was outstanding!), along with their so-called Panel of Trump Haters. I have to ask, why should I participate in the Debate against Kamala Harris on that network?” Trump wrote.
During the tense interview, Karl challenged Cotton on Trump’s recent comments comparing the Medal of Freedom to the Medal of Honor, the nation’s most prestigious military decoration for bravery in combat.
“Jon, you’re completely misrepresenting that. Donald Trump has been a tremendous advocate for our military. He’s been incredible for our veterans,” Cotton fired back.
Trump’s tirade didn’t stop there; he alluded to additional concerns with the network, recalling a controversy involving ABC News contributor Donna Brazile, who was accused of leaking debate questions to Hillary Clinton’s campaign during the 2016 election.
“Will panelist Donna Brazil hand over the questions to the Marxist Candidate as she did for Crooked Hillary Clinton? Will Kamala’s close friend, who’s at the helm of ABC, do the same? Where is Liddle’ George Slopadopolus hiding out these days? Will he be involved?” Trump wrote, taking aim at George Stephanopoulos, the primary host of “This Week.”
Trump also questioned Harris’ decision to select ABC News as the debate host instead of other major networks, expressing a preference for Fox News.
“They’ve got a lot of explaining to do!!!” Trump continued. “Why did Harris reject Fox, NBC, CBS, and even CNN? Stay tuned!!!” he added.
Trump had initially agreed to the ABC News debate while President Biden was still the Democratic candidate.
However, Trump again cast doubts on his participation after Harris replaced Biden on the presidential ticket.
The ABC News debate between Trump and Harris is set for September 10.
{Matzav.com}
Many children have gone back to school in the U.S., and the days are getting shorter, but there is still one more excuse to use the swimsuits and beach towels before packing them up: Labor Day. Airports, highways, beaches and theme parks are expected to be packed for the long holiday weekend as a lot Americans mark the unofficial end of summer the same way they celebrated the season’s unofficial start: by traveling. The Transportation Security Administration anticipates screening more than 17 million people between Thursday and next Wednesday — a record for the Labor Day period. AAA says bookings for domestic travel are running 9% higher than last year for the holiday weekend, while international trips are down 4%. American Airlines plans to have its largest Labor Day weekend operation ever and expects a 14% increase in passengers compared to last year. If you are traveling to get a last blast of summer, here is a rundown of what you need to know. What are prices like? Motorists are getting a break on gasoline compared with last year. The nationwide average was recently $3.44 per gallon, compared to $3.86 a year ago, according to AAA. For electric vehicles, the average price for a kilowatt of power at an L2 commercial charging station is about 34 cents. The average is under 25 cents in Kansas and Missouri but tops 40 cents in several states, including New Hampshire, Tennessee and Kentucky. Hawaii is the costliest, at 56 cents. Average airfares in July were down 7.1% from June and 2.8% from July 2023, according to the government’s consumer price index. The trend appears to be accelerating as the peak summer-vacation season comes to an end. “Now we’re falling into that traditional fall season when demand slumps, and you’re also seeing that in airfares,” said Steve Hafner, CEO of the travel metasearch site Kayak. “Airfares are down from the summer about 26% already, and they’re down even from the previous fall, about 4%.” When is the best time to hit the road? If you plan to start your drive on the Thursday or Friday before Labor Day, you will be sharing the road with commuters. You might want to leave before morning rush hour or even in the evening to avoid jams. Transportation-data provider INRIX says the worst time to travel by car on Thursday will be between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., and on Friday between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. That flips on Saturday, when you’ll want to avoid driving between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. For the return trip, pretty much all day Monday — from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. — will be a slog, according to INRIX. And watch out for risky drivers. New data from Arity, part of insurance giant Allstate, indicates that speeding over 80 mph is up 83% and “very high speeding” — faster than 100 mph — is up more than 50%. In a surprising twist, however, Arity says distracted driving has dropped on the last three Labor Days. When will airports be busiest? Friday, according to the TSA. The agency expects to screen 2.86 million people that day. While an impressive number, it would not even rank in the top 15 days in TSA’s history. The single-day record of 3.01 million was set on July 7, the Sunday after Independence Day. TSA says it has enough screeners to keep the time […]
Rav Shmuel Eliyahu, the chief rabbi of Tzefas, urged both the government and the IDF on Sunday to take necessary measures to ensure the safety of the northern residents.
“This morning, the people of Tzefas and the Galilee witnessed a miracle. Despite the launch of dozens, perhaps even hundreds of rockets, thankfully, no one was injured,” Rabbi Eliyahu stated.
He continued, “In the north, we face daily attacks. This is not a new occurrence; we experienced a similar assault on Friday and again last week.”
Rav Eliyahu emphasized, “We appeal to the IDF, its commanders, and the Israeli government to ensure that we have the same right to safety as those in Tel Aviv. We expect to live here without fear, and for safety to be guaranteed throughout the northern regions.”
Earlier, David Azulai, the head of the Metula Council, expressed on 103FM radio, “Every time, the ministers make significant decisions that essentially grant the Prime Minister and Defense Minister the authority to avoid making any decisions.”
Azulai suggested, “I propose a new name for the operation: Operation Peace for Tel Aviv. We are treated as different from the residents of central Israel. In Metula, there are no residents left. For 11 months, we’ve endured hits, with over 40 percent of residents’ homes damaged. We endure the same attacks, and today’s barrage was four times greater. While Tel Aviv is spared, we face quadruple the impacts in the north.”
He lamented, “We are constantly under attack, with increasing rocket fire. Everything that travels from the south to the north, and vice versa, passes over Metula. We are essentially the battleground. Most of the interceptions occur above us. The entire region appears to be neglected by the State of Israel without any Knesset decision. I believe this is unlawful, and the Attorney General should investigate it.”
“There is no agriculture, no tourism, and we are about to start a new school year with nothing thriving here. Although IDF soldiers are stationed to guard the Strip, we seem to have abandoned this region. The Israeli government needs to take a more decisive action or relinquish this land as it did with Yamit.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
On Sunday, former US President Donald Trump released a video on his X account, holding the Biden administration accountable for the loss of 31 American lives during Hamas’ assault on Israel on October 7. Trump emphasized that during his presidency, the US avoided wars by projecting strength.
“History shows very plainly that evil only respects one thing: Unyielding strength. When I’m back in the White House, our enemies will know: If you spill a drop of American blood, we will spill a gallon of yours,” Trump declares in the video.
In an earlier post on the same platform, Trump criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the Middle East conflict.
“Who is negotiating for us in the Middle East? Bombs are dropping all over the place! Sleepy Joe is sleeping on a Beach in California, viciously Exiled by the Democrats, and Comrade Kamala is doing a campaign bus tour with Tampon Tim, her really bad V.P. Pick. Let’s not have World War lll, because that’s where we’re heading!” he wrote.
{Matzav.com}
The United States has delivered more than 50,000 tons of armaments and military equipment to Israel since the onset of the ongoing war, according to Israel’s Defense Ministry. The logistical operation involved 500 transport planes and 107 ships transporting critical supplies to support Israel’s military efforts. The shipments include a variety of equipment vital to sustaining the operational capabilities of the IDF. Among the supplies are armored vehicles, munitions, ammunition, personal protection gear, and medical equipment, the ministry said. The Defense Ministry stressed the importance of the deliveries, calling them “crucial for sustaining the IDF’s operational capabilities during the ongoing war.” The extensive logistical effort has been managed by the ministry’s Directorate of Production and Procurement, its mission to the U.S., the IDF’s Planning Directorate, and the Israeli Air Force. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday condemned Russia’s overnight and early morning barrage on his country as “vile” and said it involved over 100 missiles of various types and about 100 “Shahed” drones. Ukraine’s leader said there were deaths and dozens of injuries and that the attack caused a lot of damage to Ukraine’s energy sector. “Like most previous Russian strikes, this one was just as vile, targeting critical civilian infrastructure. Most of our regions — from the Kharkiv region and Kyiv to Odesa and our western regions,” Zelenskyy said. The barrage began around midnight and continued beyond daybreak in what appeared to be Russia’s biggest attack against Ukraine in weeks. Russian forces fired drones, cruise missiles and hypersonic ballistic Kinzhal missiles at 15 Ukrainian regions — more than half the country, Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Monday morning. “The energy infrastructure has once again become the target of Russian terrorists. Unfortunately, there is damage in a number of regions,” Shmyhal said, adding that Ukraine’s state-owned power grid operator, Ukrenergo, has been forced to implement emergency power cuts to stabilize the system. He called on Ukraine’s allies to provide Kyiv with long-range weapons and permission to use them on targets inside Russia. “In order to stop the barbaric shelling of Ukrainian cities, it is necessary to destroy the place from which the Russian missiles are launched,” Shmyhal said. “We count on the support of our allies and will definitely make Russia pay.” According to Ukraine’s air force, there were multiple groups of Russian drones moving toward eastern, northern, southern, and central regions of Ukraine, followed by multiple cruise and ballistic missiles. The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that the attacks used “long-range precision air- and sea-based weapons and strike drones against critical energy infrastructure facilities that support the operation of Ukraine’s military-industrial complex. All designated targets were hit.” Explosions were heard in the capital, Kyiv. Power and water supplies in the city have been disrupted by the attack, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. At least three people were killed — one in the western city of Lutsk, one in the central Dnipropetrovsk region and one in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region in the southeast, according to local officials. Thirteen others were wounded — one in the Kyiv region that surrounds the Ukrainian capital, five in Lutsk, three in the southern Mykolaiv region and four in the neighboring Odesa region. Blackouts and damage to civilian infrastructure and residential buildings were reported across the country, from the region of Sumy in the east, to the Mykolaiv and Odesa regions in the south, to the region of Rivne in the west. In Sumy, a province in the east that borders Russia, local administration said that 194 settlements were in a full power blackout, while 19 others had a partial blackout. Ukraine’s private energy company, DTEK, introduced emergency blackouts, saying in an online statement that “energy workers throughout the country work 24/7 to restore light in the homes of Ukrainians.” In the wake of the barrage and the power cuts, regional officials all across Ukraine were ordered to open “points of invincibility” — shelter-type places where people can charge their devices and get refreshments during energy blackouts, Prime Minister Shmyhal said. Such points were first opened in Ukraine in the fall […]
Ofir Akunis, Israel’s Consul General in New York, was interviewed by Marcia Kramer from CBS News New York’s program “The Point,” addressing growing concerns about a potential Iranian assault in the Middle East.
Akunis emphasized that Hamas initiated the conflict by launching an invasion into Israel. He further mentioned that the United States, Egypt, and Qatar extended invitations to Hamas for negotiations aimed at establishing a ceasefire and securing the release of hostages. However, Hamas declined to participate in these discussions.
“The problem is the existence of a cruel and vicious organization like Hamas in the Gaza Strip. And [the war will continue] until we defeat them, and it’s very close,” he said.
Akunis pointed out that there is still considerable progress to be made before a ceasefire can be achieved. “Hamas wants us to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and from the Philadelphi Corridor because they want to continue to attack Israel from the Gaza Strip. We will not allow a second October 7.”
He highlighted the seriousness of the tunnel networks utilized by Hamas, noting, “The last tunnel we found there is at least as big as the Lincoln Tunnel here in New York. And their tunnels are as long as the tube in London. We cannot accept this.”
Reflecting on past events, Akunis remarked, “We withdrew from the Gaza Strip, including Philadelphi, including the northern parts of Gaza, and they attacked Israel from those areas. We must learn from history.”
When asked about the possibility of an Iranian retaliatory strike following the killing of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh, and whether Israel is concerned about such an attack, Akunis responded, “They are doing it every day. All the missiles from Lebanon are actually from Iran. So this is an Iranian attack…I heard even here in the United States, that the missile that killed 12 innocent kids and teenagers wasn’t a Hezbollah missile. Well, of course it wasn’t a Hezbollah missile. It was an Iranian missile and Hezbollah uses it…so, the Iranians are doing it all the time. If you’re asking me if they’re going to do it from Iran – we are ready. We are not afraid. They can threaten. We are ready to defend our people in various ways.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
[COMMUNICATED]
B”H
To Our Dear Brothers and Sisters in Klal Yisrael,
Our dear father (Avraham*) has cancer and is languishing in prison in a foreign country due to unpaid bills from a failed business venture. According to the local laws, one who owes debts and cannot pay, is sent to jail until a settlement has been reached. With Hashem’s help we have managed to raise over 40,000 euro, but we are still missing another 14,000 euro (16,000 USD approx..) to finalize his case.
CLICK HERE TO DONATE!
Several Chabad Rabbis from around the world have been helping us. Please help us bring our dear father home, who sadly has not been getting his cancer treatment since June. We need to save his life as soon as possible.
With the deepest gratitude to all who can help in this huge mitzvah.
May Hashem bless you and repay you many times over for your help.
Cohen family *(names changed for privacy reasons).
CLICK HERE TO DONATE!
Signed by:
Rabbi Yosef Chaim Kantor: Head Shliach in Thailand
Rabbi Arie Zeev Raskin: Chief Rabbi of Cyprus
Rabbi Michoel Rosenblum: Chabad Shliach in Brussels Belgium
Rabbi Yehoram Ulman: Chabad Rov on the Beis Din of Sydney Australia
Rabbi Levi Banon: Chabad Shliach in Morocco
Rabbi Saadiah Elhadad: Director of Yavne Yeshiva in Montreal Canada.
Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign says it has now raised $540 million for its election battle against Republican nominee former President Donald Trump. The campaign has had no problems getting supporters to open their wallets since President Joe Biden announced on July 21 he was ending his campaign and quickly endorsed Harris. The campaign said it saw a surge of donations during last week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago where Harris and her vice presidential running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, accepted their nominations. “Just before Vice President Harris’ acceptance speech Thursday night, we officially crossed the $500 million mark,” campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon wrote in a memo released by the campaign on Sunday. “Immediately after her speech, we saw our best fundraising hour since launch day.” Trump has also proven to be a formidable fundraiser, but appears to be outpaced in her month-old campaign. Trump’s campaign and its related affiliates announced earlier this month that they had raised $138.7 million in July — less than what Harris took in during her White House bid’s opening week. Trump’s campaign reported $327 million in cash on hand at the start of August. The Harris fundraising totals were raised by Harris for President, the Democratic National Committee, and joint fundraising committees. O’Malley Dillon said that nearly a third of contributions during convention week came from first-time contributors. About one-fifth of those first-time contributors were young voters and two-thirds were women, groups that the campaign sees as critical constituencies that Harris needs to turn out to win in November. The Harris campaign says it has also seen a surge in volunteer support for the vice president. During convention week, supporters signed up for nearly 200,000 volunteer shifts to help the campaign. (AP)
On Sunday, US House Speaker Mike Johnson called on the Biden administration to expedite weapon deliveries to Israel and enforce sanctions against Iran.
“Israel’s preemptive strike against Hezbollah saved countless innocent lives and demonstrates why the Biden-Harris Administration must expedite weapons shipments to Israel and finally implement the new sanctions on Iran that Congress passed this spring. Iran and its terror groups must be held accountable,” he stated on X.
In early May, Axios reported that President Joe Biden had decided to delay a weapons shipment that was intended for Israel.
The White House later confirmed that the shipment of bombs to Israel was paused due to US objections to a planned Israeli assault on the Gazan city of Rafah.
The following day, Biden indicated that he would stop sending American weapons to Israel if Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu ordered a significant invasion of Rafah.
In June, the Biden administration opted to release 1,700 500-pound bombs that were part of the previously delayed shipment due to US concerns about the IDF’s actions in Rafah. The shipment was delivered to Israel shortly thereafter, in early July. Earlier this month, the Biden administration authorized over $20 billion in new arms sales to Israel.
{Matzav.com}
Walmart has recalled nearly 10,000 cases of apple juice sold in stores across the U.S. that were found to contain potentially harmful levels of inorganic arsenic. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave the recall a more urgent classification Friday after making its original announcement Aug. 15. The new classification said the affected product may temporarily cause adverse health consequences but is unlikely to cause serious or irreversible medical issues. The recall applies to 9,535 cases of Great Value brand apple juice sold in 25 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Florida-based manufacturer Refresco Beverages US Inc. voluntarily recalled the contaminated six-packs of 8-ounce (227-gram) juice bottles after discovering levels of the chemical contaminant that exceeded industry standards. A spokesperson for Refresco did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment Sunday. “The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” Walmart spokesperson Molly Blakeman said in a statement. “We have removed this product from our impacted stores and are working with the supplier to investigate.” Very low levels of inorganic and organic arsenic are found in many food products, according to the National Institutes of Health. Testing is routine, as slightly elevated levels of either form can cause symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, numbness and muscle cramping. Inorganic arsenic is more toxic to humans than the naturally occurring form of the mineral arsenic, and the health effects from exposure are more severe, according to the FDA. The Environmental Protection Agency has labeled inorganic arsenic a carcinogen, or a substance that causes cancer. Levels found in the recalled apple juice bottles are low enough that the FDA does not expect them to cause such severe health consequences. The FDA has not shared reports of possible illnesses associated with the apple juice recall. (AP)
Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, urged the Security Council on Sunday to “denounce Hezbollah’s aggressive actions and implement UNSCR 1701.”
Danon pointed out that Hezbollah’s planned attack on Sunday morning “clearly illustrates the persistent dangers Israelis have been subjected to over the past 11 months.”
In his letter, Danon detailed, “This morning, the IDF identified that Hezbollah was in the midst of orchestrating a significant assault on Israel, involving the launch of hundreds of missiles, rockets, and drones. The IDF executed targeted strikes to prevent and eliminate the threat by hitting terrorist locations in southern Lebanon, where Hezbollah was staging these attacks on Israeli civilians and various targets. The IDF successfully destroyed rocket launchers aimed at strategic locations and populated regions in northern and central Israel just before they could be fired.”
“Hezbollah subsequently launched hundreds of rockets and UAVs from southern Lebanon toward Israel this morning. This attack is a continuation of more than 7,500 rockets and missiles, along with over 200 explosive UAVs, that Hezbollah has fired at Israeli citizens and communities since October 8th, when Hezbollah made the deliberate decision to join Hamas in attacking Israel without any provocation, leading to civilian deaths and significant property damage. Due to Hezbollah’s ongoing assaults, over 60,000 civilians have been forced to leave their homes in northern Israel,” Danon continued.
Danon also stated, “I want to emphasize that the State of Lebanon and the Hezbollah terrorist organization, which is operating under Iran’s direction, are accountable for the worsening security situation on the northern front. These actions are part of a broader strategy by the Iranian axis aimed at Israel’s destruction through attacks from multiple fronts.”
Addressing the Council, Danon asserted, “The Hezbollah attack against Israel planned for this morning clearly demonstrates the existence of illegal weapons in southern Lebanon, in blatant violation of UNSCR 1701 (2006), and serves as a reminder of the threats Israelis have been facing daily for the past 11 months. This underscores the urgent need to demilitarize the area south of the Litani River and disarm Hezbollah and other armed groups operating in southern Lebanon.”
Danon stressed that Israel has taken all necessary measures to safeguard its citizens and concluded by urging the Council to condemn Hezbollah’s aggressive actions against Israel “especially in the week when UNIFIL’s mandate is renewed,” and to enforce Resolution 1701, which mandates the disarmament of Hezbollah, particularly in southern Lebanon.
Security Council Resolution 1701, which brought an end to the Second Lebanon War in 2006, dictates that Hezbollah must not be permitted to operate in southern Lebanon and that the entire region of southern Lebanon must be free of any armed personnel and weapons except for those under the control of the Lebanese government.
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), which serves as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel and operates near the border, is tasked with implementing Resolution 1701, although its peacekeepers frequently face attacks from Hezbollah.
A British safety adviser working with a team of journalists was killed after a Russian missile struck a hotel in the Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk, Reuters news agency confirmed. Ryan Evans, 38, was staying at the Hotel Sapphire with colleagues in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region when it was hit by a Russian missile Saturday night. Two other members of the six-person Reuters crew were hospitalized with injuries. Local officials said the hotel was struck by an Iskander-M Russian ballistic missile, leaving the reporters with blast injuries, concussions and cuts on the body. Associated Press reporters at the scene described the hotel as “rubble,” with excavators being used to clear debris hours after the attack. Besides the hotel, a nearby multistory building was also destroyed, said Donetsk regional Gov. Vadym Filashkin. Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region also came under Russian fire, resulting in multiple civilian injuries, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov wrote on the Telegram messaging app Sunday. In Kharkiv’s Chuhuiv region, five people were injured, including a 4-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, after two houses were hit by a Russian strike. In Kharkiv city, eight people were wounded when a two-story house was set on fire by a Russian attack. In Russia, five people died in Ukrainian shelling in of the border region of Belgorod, officials said Sunday. Twelve other people were wounded in the Russian village of Rakitone, 38 kilometers (23 miles) from the Ukrainian border, including a 16-year-old girl reported to be in critical condition, said regional Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov on Sunday. Another man also died in a separate drone attack on the border village of Solovevka, he wrote later on social media. (AP)
Many Matzav.com readers are left somewhat bereft, as WCBS 880 radio concluded its final broadcast at midnight after 57 years of delivering breaking crime news, political updates, and subway delays to New Yorkers, many of whom had since turned to apps for their information.
“Marla [Diamond] and Sean [Adams] told compelling stories in less time than most people spent ordering their coffee,” former 880 Newsradio journalist Peter Haskell reflected in a post on X. “Tom [Kaminski] remained calm and descriptive, covering numerous major stories from the chopper, including 9/11.
“Whenever I covered someone or something, I aimed to do the story justice. To present it in a way that people could relate to and care about. When done well, that’s the magic of radio,” Haskell remarked.
Kaminski had spent nearly 36 years at the station, reporting traffic delays from a notable news chopper.
“All I could say was thank you,” Kaminski stated. “It had been a privilege to try to get you from point A to point B as quickly as possible. I had never taken that responsibility lightly, I had never taken that privilege for granted, and I was grateful for every minute we spent together.”
The station is relaunching as WHSQ-AM ESPN New York today, leaving 1010 WINS as the sole all-news format station in the New York market. Both WCBS and WINS are owned by Audacy.
ESPN is scheduled to broadcast New York Mets games on WHSQ.
The station held a three-hour special on Thursday, honoring its impact on countless listeners in New York and beyond.
“As I grew up in Long Island, I couldn’t read the newspaper because I was legally blind, and the television had not embraced the news the way it has today,” former New York Gov. David Paterson said during the retrospective. “I just thought that the coverage was more extensive,” Paterson noted, remembering that he had heard the news of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination from the station. “[It was] big moments, where my first understanding of it came from listening to this station. I was really sorry that it was going away.”
Audacy cited “headwinds facing local journalism nationwide” as the reason for the station’s closure. More than 20 staff members were laid off as a result, the Writers Guild of America East informed the New York Times.
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Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah falsely claimed on Sunday that the IDF did not pre-emptively strike any of the terror group’s rocket launching pads, despite evidence to the contrary. Nasrallah also asserted that a significant number of Hezbollah’s drones successfully reached their intended targets, including the Glilot base north of Tel Aviv and another unspecified base. The IDF has contradicted Nasrallah’s claims, saying that the massive attack was “mostly” thwarted and no military bases were damaged. The IDF also confirmed that no Hezbollah drones made impact in central Israel. Earlier, the IDF announced that it had destroyed thousands of rocket launchers poised to attack northern Israel and the Tel Aviv area, after detecting preparations for a major and immediate attack. Military officials later clarified that only several hundred launchers were believed to be intended for the attack. Nasrallah denied the IDF’s claims, asserting that Hezbollah did not intend to deploy its ballistic missiles in this attack and that none were destroyed. He warned that the terror group may consider using them in future attacks. Nasrallah also claimed that the delay in retaliating for the July 30 assassination of military commander Fuad Shukr was due to Israeli and US military mobilization in the region, and was also intended to punish Israel, keeping them on edge for almost a month. Nasrallah explained that Hezbollah was waiting for the outcome of truce talks between Hamas and Israel and needed time to coordinate with the “axis of Resistance”, comprising Iran and its regional proxies, to determine a unified response. The Hezbollah leader insisted that his terror group has fulfilled its pledge to respond to the Israeli “aggression” in the Dahia suburb of Beirut, where Shukr was assassinated. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
For over 10 months, Israel and the United States have been collaborating intensively in their search for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. However, according to a report by The New York Times on Sunday, the intelligence-sharing arrangement has become increasingly imbalanced, with Israel benefiting more than the US. The report, which cites over two dozen unnamed officials from both countries, reveals that Israel and the US — both of which classify Hamas as a terrorist organization — have invested significant resources in the hunt for Sinwar. This includes advanced technologies such as ground-penetrating radar, provided by the US. Despite the depth of cooperation, described by one Israeli official as “priceless,” another source indicated the collaboration has been “lopsided,” with Israel offering far less intelligence in return. American officials have reportedly shared data that led to the targeting of other Hamas leaders, hoping Israel would reciprocate with intelligence to help locate the remaining American hostages held by Hamas. However, Israeli contributions have been more limited. The joint Israeli-American intelligence team, set up to track Sinwar’s communications, initially monitored his electronic interactions at the onset of the Gaza conflict. However, Sinwar has since shifted to using couriers due to fuel shortages and the desire to avoid interception, significantly complicating efforts to locate him. During the period of electronic communication, Israeli forces eavesdropped on Sinwar’s calls with other Hamas leaders, gaining insights into his life in Hamas’s tunnel network. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant even advocated for resuming fuel shipments to Gaza to power cell networks, hoping Sinwar would continue to communicate electronically. However, by November, Sinwar had abandoned electronic communication altogether, making him more elusive. In early stages of the war, Sinwar was believed to be hiding beneath Gaza City before moving to tunnels under Khan Younis. According to The New York Times, Sinwar narrowly escaped capture at the end of January, fleeing moments before Israeli forces raided his bunker, leaving behind approximately a million dollars in shekels. As part of its campaign against Hamas, Israel has eliminated several key figures within the organization. Among the leaders targeted were former political head Ismail Haniyeh and top military figure Mohammad Deif. Haniyeh died in an explosion in Tehran in July, and Deif was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. Sinwar, now the highest-ranking Hamas leader still at large, remains a primary target. Some officials believe that Sinwar’s death would mark a significant victory for Israel and could pave the way for the end of military operations in Gaza. However, the impact of his death on ongoing hostage negotiations remains uncertain, as Sinwar reportedly plays a crucial role in approving developments in ceasefire talks occurring in Doha and Cairo. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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