Donald Trump is asking the judge in his New York hush money criminal case to delay his sentencing until after the November presidential election. In a letter made public Thursday, lawyers for the former president and current Republican nominee suggested that sentencing Trump as scheduled on Sept. 18 — about seven weeks before Election Day — would amount to election interference. Trump’s lawyers wrote that a delay would also allow Trump time to weigh next steps after the trial judge, Juan M. Merchan, is expected to rule Sept. 16 on the defense’s request to overturn the verdict and dismiss the case because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s July presidential immunity ruling. “There is no basis for continuing to rush,” Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove wrote. Blanche and Bove sent the letter to Merchan on Wednesday after the judge rejected the defense’s latest request that he step aside from the case. In the letter, Blanche and Bove reiterated the defense argument that the judge has a conflict of interest because his daughter works as a Democratic political consultant, including for Kamala Harris when she sought the 2020 presidential nomination. Harris is now running against Trump. By adjourning the sentencing until after that election, “the Court would reduce, even if not eliminate, issues regarding the integrity of any future proceedings,” the lawyers wrote. Election Day is Nov. 5, but many states allow voters to cast ballots early, with some set to start the process just a few days before or after Trump’s scheduled Sept. 18 sentencing date. Merchan, who has said he is confident in his ability to remain fair and impartial, did not immediately rule on the delay request. The Manhattan district attorney’s office, which prosecuted Trump’s case, declined to comment. Trump was convicted in May of falsifying his business’ records to conceal a 2016 deal to pay off a woman to stay quiet about her allegations of a 2006 encounter with him. Prosecutors cast the payout as part of a Trump-driven effort to keep voters from hearing salacious stories about him during his first campaign. Trump says all the stories were false, the business records were not and the case was a political maneuver meant to damage his current campaign. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is a Democrat. Trump’s defense argued that the payments were indeed for legal work and so were correctly categorized. Falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years behind bars. Other potential sentences include probation, a fine or a conditional discharge which would require Trump to stay out of trouble to avoid additional punishment. Trump is the first ex-president convicted of a crime. Trump has pledged to appeal, but that cannot happen until he is sentenced. In a previous letter, Merchan set Sept. 18 for “the imposition of sentence or other proceedings as appropriate.” Blanche and Bove argued in their letter seeking a delay that the quick turnaround from the scheduled immunity ruling on Sept. 16 to sentencing two days later is unfair to Trump. To prepare for sentencing, the lawyers said, prosecutors will be submitting their punishment recommendation while Merchan is still weighing whether to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. If Merchan rules against Trump on the dismissal request, he will need “adequate time to assess and pursue state and […]
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is demanding National Unity chair Benny Gantz return 70,000 shekels ($19,000) for a trip to the United States and United Kingdom he took while he was a minister in the government.
The Prime Minister’s Office sent a letter to Gantz requesting that he return the money because Netanyahu did not approve his overseas visit. According to government regulations, the prime minister must authorize any trips taken by ministers outside of Israel.
“Former Minister Gantz did not receive permission for his trip to the USA, as required by the procedures. Before his flight, it was made clear to Gantz and his office that since it was a private trip, the Prime Minister’s Office would not bear the expenses. Now Gantz is asked to return the travel money to the state coffers,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
Gantz announced in early July his National Unity Party’s departure from the government set up in the aftermath of Hamas’s Oct. 7 massacre and the ensuing Gaza war. He had served as a War Cabinet minister in the emergency unity government.
Gantz visited Washington and London in March.
“This is a political trip of the utmost importance that took place while Gantz served as a minister in the War Cabinet, during which he met with senior members of the American administration—including the vice president, the secretary of defense, the secretary of state and members of Congress as well as with the British prime minister and his foreign minister—all this to ensure that the most sensitive security interests are preserved,” Gantz’s office said in response.
“We suggest to the prime minister and his people to take action to return our abductees [from Gaza] and the residents of the north [near the Lebanese border] home, at least with the same determination and obsession as in the pursuit after the return of Gantz’s travel expenses.”
Before leaving the unity government, Gantz’s National Unity Party in late May submitted a bill to dissolve the Knesset in an attempt to topple Netanyahu’s coalition.
The ruling Likud Party slammed the move, saying in a statement that “in the midst of a war, Israel needs unity and not division.
“Dissolving the unity government would be a reward for [Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya] Sinwar, a capitulation to international pressure and a fatal blow to the efforts to free our hostages,” added the statement. JNS
{Matzav.com Israel}
A Los Angeles Superior Court Judge has ruled that two protesters involved in a violent antisemitic attack outside a Los Angeles restaurant in May 2021 must pay $1.6 million in damages to the victim, Mher Hagopian. The attack, captured on video, showed a group of individuals yelling antisemitic profanities, throwing objects, and physically assaulting diners at Sushi Fumi restaurant. Hagopian, who is not Jewish, protected his Jewish friends and other diners from the mob, suffering severe physical and emotional harm in the process. The court awarded punitive damages due to the egregious nature of the attack, including explicit antisemitic hate speech exchanged via text messages. The defendants’ messages included statements expressing pleasure in attacking Jews and seeking out Jewish individuals to harm. Two such texts say, “I never got to hit a Jew before so I’m Kinda Happy;” and “I need a blunt and then we go find Jews…” Hagopian’s legal team, led by Glaser Weil Associate Simon Moradzadeh, represented him pro bono, citing the importance of standing against hate crimes. Co-counsel Benny Khorsandi and Michael Yadegaran also praised Hagopian’s bravery, calling him a hero for risking his safety to protect others. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
In a combined ground and aerial operation in the Rafah area, approximately 20 terrorists were identified and eliminated by the IDF. A structure containing a terror tunnel shaft was also dismantled. In Khan Yunis, IDF troops and the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck and eliminated terrorists operating inside Hamas weapons storage facilities. An additional IAF strike took out a senior Islamic Jihad operative responsible for firing projectiles towards IDF troops and Israeli territory. In the central Gaza Strip, IDF troops continued operational activity, eliminating a terrorist cell and dismantling a weapons storage facility in joint operations with the IAF. Over the past day, the IAF has dismantled over 30 Hamas terrorist infrastructure sites, including structures rigged with explosives, underground infrastructure, and weapons storage facilities. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
At the conclusion of the Zman which was held on motzai Tish’a Be’Av, at the campus of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, the Rabbanim spoke encouraging the talmidim to rejuvenate themselves in anticipation of the upcoming Elul zman. The Roshei Yeshiva urged the talmidim to continue learning, as this is the only protection we have against vicious enemies that seek our destruction.The Rosh Hayeshiva, Harav Sholom Ber Shlit’a gave special chizuk to the thousands of bochurim, explaining with great feeling that only when Klal Yisroel looks “up” we overcome our enemies, and it’s only the lomdei Torah that uphold the entire world.With heartfelt emotion he continued to explain that when we say “הם משכימים לדברים בטלים” we’re not referring to simple people or young children but to their “wise men”. This is referring to the judges in the high court who sit all day and try to figure out how to stop Torah learning, chas veshalom. These are true dvarim beteilim and no one is paying heed or taking any interest whatsoever in anything they say! More so, the Rosh Hayeshiva strengthened the bochurim by saying that they must know and feel even an eighth of an eighth of the pride we musthave in being the lomdei Torah. “We are the pillars of the world and all of the wisdom is on our side.”
Israeli forces killed 20 terrorists and dismantled a structure concealing a tunnel entrance during operational activities in the former Hamas stronghold of Rafah in southernmost Gaza, the IDF said on Thursday.
In nearby Khan Yunis, several terrorists operating inside Hamas weapons storage facilities were killed. In an additional strike, the Israeli Air Force killed a tactical-level Islamic Jihad terrorist operative who was responsible for firing projectiles at IDF troops and Israeli territory.
The IAF on Tuesday struck terrorist targets adjacent to, but not in, a humanitarian route in Khan Yunis from where Hamas fired two rockets at Tel Aviv earlier in the day, the IDF said.
And in the central Gaza Strip, a terrorist cell was eliminated and a weapons storage facility was dismantled.
Over the past 24 hours, the IAF attacked more than 30 Hamas terrorist infrastructure sites, including structures rigged with explosives, underground infrastructure, and weapons storage facilities. JNS
{Matzav.com Israel}
A federal judge on Wednesday indicated he will order major changes in Google’s Android app store to punish the company for engineering a system that a jury declared an illegal monopoly that has hurt millions of consumers and app developers. Over the course of a three-hour hearing in San Francisco, U.S. District Judge James Donato made it clear that the forthcoming shake-up he is contemplating will probably include a mandate requiring Google’s Play Store for Android phones offer consumers a choice to download alternative app stores Donato has been weighing how to punish the Google since last December when a jury declared the Play Store a monopoly following a four-week trial. The verdict centered on Google’s nearly exclusive control over distribution of apps designed for Android phones and the billing systems for the digital commerce occurring within them — a system that generates billions of dollars in annual revenue for the company. In protesting the judge’s potential requirements, Google has raised the specter of consumers’ devices being infected by malicious software downloaded from third-party app stores, triggering “security chaos.” But Donato repeatedly hammered on the need for a major overhaul of the Play Store, even if it causes Google headaches and huge bills that the company has estimated could run as high as $600 million, depending on what the judge orders. “We are going to tear the barriers down, that is going to happen,” Donato told Google attorney Glenn Pomerantz. “When you have a mountain built out of bad conduct, you are going to have to move that mountain.” Donato said he is hoping to issue an order outlining the framework for the changes to the Play Store within the next few weeks, possibly before the Labor Day weekend. Google’s tactics in the penalty phase of the Play Store case may foreshadow its strategy in a similar round of so-called “remedy hearings” that will be held in an even bigger antitrust case that resulted in a judge branding the dominant search engine as an illegal monopoly, too. Those hearings focused on the crown jewel of Google’s empire are scheduled to start Sept. 6 in Washington, D.C. In the Play Store case, Donato still appears to be grappling with how much time he should give Google to make the changes to its Android operating system and Play Store, and also for how long the restraints he imposes should remain in effect. Google wants 12 to 16 months to make the adjustments to ensure a smooth transition and avoid glitches that could affect the performance of Android smartphones. Epic Games, the video game maker that filed the antitrust lawsuit that resulted in the Play Store being declared a monopoly, contends Google could do everything in about three months at a cost of about $1 million. Without revealing a timeline he has in mind, Donato indicated he isn’t going to give Google as much time as it wants to make the required changes. “Google is telling me it will take eons for all of this to happen, but I am skeptical about it,” the judge said. “I am dubious that all that brainpower can’t solve these problems in less than 16 months.” Epic Games wants whatever Donato orders to remain in effect for six years, but the judge said Wednesday that he thinks […]
A Hamas guard who recently killed an Israeli hostage earlier this week did so “in revenge” after being informed that two of his children had died in an Israeli airstrike, the terrorist organization stated on Thursday.
The murder of the male hostage was contrary to Hamas’ directives, according to a spokesperson for the group’s military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades.
“The (Hamas) soldier assigned as guard acted in a retaliatory manner against instructions after he received information that his two children were martyred in one of the massacres conducted by the enemy,” the spokesperson, Abu Ubaida, posted on Telegram.
“This act doesn’t align with our ethics and the religious guidelines we follow regarding captives. We will reiterate and enforce the instructions,” the spokesperson added.
This statement follows Hamas’ disclosure on Monday that a group of guards overseeing hostages in Gaza had killed a male hostage and seriously injured two female hostages in separate incidents.
Hamas has not released the identities of the hostages or provided details on the time and location of these incidents.
The Hamas spokesperson, who has previously threatened to execute Israeli hostages and release the recordings, only mentioned that the wounded hostages were receiving medical treatment.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) indicated at the time that there was no immediate intelligence available to verify or refute Hamas’ claims.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
Hamas made this announcement as new cease-fire negotiations began behind closed doors in Qatar.
These talks, aimed at ending 10 months of conflict and securing the release of 115 Israeli and foreign hostages, were initiated as Iran appeared poised to retaliate against Israel following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31.
Hamas officials, who have accused Israel of delaying the process, did not participate in Thursday’s talks, according to a source familiar with the meeting.
{Matzav.com}
Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida announced on Thursday that the incident in which a Hamas terrorist murdered the Israeli hostage he was guarding and wounded two female hostages in the same incident, was contrary to the terror group’s “ethics.” Abu Obaida first announced the incident on Monday and said that the incident would be “investigated.” At the time, the IDF said that it had no information to confirm or deny the claims. On Thursday, Abu Obaida updated the incident on his Telegram channel, stating: “After investigating the murder of an enemy prisoner by his guard, it was found that the guard acted in a vengeful manner, contrary to instructions, after receiving news of the martyrdom of his two children in one of the enemy’s massacres.” “We stress that the incident does not represent our ‘ethics’ in dealing with prisoners and that guards will receive stricter instructions.” Abu Obaida claimed that this was the second time such an incident happened and “clarified” that Israel “bears full responsiblity for all the suffering of the hostages due to its violation of all rules of humane treatment and barbaric genocide against our people.” Later, the channel published a photo of a bloodied corpse covered in a sheet with a caption in English and Hebrew, saying the captive’s murder was an “unfortunate incident” and that “Your brutality has become an imminent danger to your prisoners.” The IDF later stated that the photo published by Hamas is of a hostage who was murdered and his body was recovered by the IDF and Shin Bet in November. Hamas then issued a statement denying the IDF spokesperson’s statement, saying that the photo is of an Israeli hostage who was recently murdered. Israeli sources say that Hamas’ credibility decreases as the pressure on the group increases. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Google has announced that hackers supported by Iran are actively targeting the campaigns of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. The hacker group, known as “APT42,” which has ties to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has been focusing on high-profile figures and organizations in Israel and the United States, including government officials and political campaigns, as detailed in a report released by Google.
The Harris campaign confirmed that it had been the target of foreign hackers, just days after Trump’s campaign hinted that it had also been hacked by Iranian operatives.
“In July, the campaign legal and security teams were notified by the FBI that we were targeted by a foreign actor influence operation,” a Harris campaign official informed AFP. “We have robust cybersecurity measures in place and are not aware of any security breaches of our systems resulting from those efforts.”
Google’s threat analysis team continues to observe ongoing but unsuccessful attempts by APT42 to breach the personal accounts of individuals connected to President Joe Biden, Harris, and Trump, according to the report. The hackers operate by gathering intelligence on their targets and crafting “phishing” schemes to deceive them into providing login information for accounts like Gmail.
The report outlined instances where the group pretended to be a think tank or another credible entity to lure victims into fake video meeting landing pages, requiring log-in credentials to participate.
Despite having access to an array of technical tools, some hackers prefer using “social engineering” techniques to manipulate individuals into clicking on malicious links or entering information on web pages that appear legitimate but are not.
Google revealed that it had thwarted APT42’s attempts to hack the Biden and Trump campaigns in 2020. In May and June of this year, the group targeted personal email accounts of about a dozen people linked to Biden or Trump, and Google successfully blocked numerous login attempts by APT42, the report stated.
Additionally, Google disclosed that the group had breached the personal Gmail account of a prominent political consultant, believed to be longtime Republican and Trump adviser Roger Stone.
“APT42 is a sophisticated, persistent threat actor and they show no signs of stopping their attempts to target users and deploy novel tactics,” Google stated. “This spring and summer, they have shown the ability to run numerous simultaneous phishing campaigns, particularly focused on Israel and the United States.”
Google urged individuals at high risk in connection with the upcoming election to stay alert and utilize enhanced security measures offered by the company.
On Monday, the State Department issued a warning to Iran about potential consequences for election interference, following the Trump campaign’s revelation that it had been hacked. The Trump campaign suggested that Iran was responsible for the breach, which led to private documents being leaked to the media, including vetting materials for running mate J.D. Vance. The campaign cautioned media outlets against publishing the documents, stating that doing so would be “doing the bidding of America’s enemies.”
{Matzav.com}
The Justice Department is defending a plea deal it struck with Boeing over planes that crashed and killed 346 people, saying in a court filing Wednesday that it lacks evidence to prosecute the company for more serious crimes. Prosecutors said if the plea deal is rejected and the case goes to trial, they will not offer testimony or evidence about the causes of two crashes in 2018 in Indonesia and 2019 in Ethiopia, nor will they charge any Boeing individuals. Boeing agreed last month to plead guilty to a single felony charge of conspiracy to commit fraud for deceiving regulators who approved the 737 Max. Under the plea deal, Boeing would pay a fine of at least $243.6 million, invest $455 million in compliance and safety programs, and be placed on probation for three years. The Justice Department made Wednesday’s court filing in response to relatives of some of the people killed in the crashes, who asked a federal judge in Texas to reject the settlement. The relatives argue that the sentence approved by prosecutors is light punishment considering the loss of lives. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, can accept the plea agreement and proposed sentence, or he could reject the deal, which likely would lead to new negotiations between Boeing and the Justice Department. Prosecutors said if the case goes to trial, they would still try Boeing on the same conspiracy charge, and not for two more serious charges: manslaughter or death resulting from fraud involving aircraft parts. “The agreement is a strong and significant resolution that holds Boeing accountable and serves the public interest. It holds Boeing to account for the most serious, readily provable offense,” department officials told the judge. The department repeated its previous position that even with the deal, Boeing could still be charged in connection with the blowout of a panel from the side of an Alaska Airlines Max during a January flight. Boeing, which is based in Arlington, Virginia, is alleged to have hidden details about new flight-control software from the Federal Aviation Administration. In both crashes, the software caused the nose to pitch down repeatedly and forcefully based on faulty readings from a single sensor, and pilots were unable to regain control. Boeing blamed two relatively low-ranking employees for the deception under a 2021 settlement that would have let the company escape criminal prosecution. However, the Justice Department revived the possibility of prosecution in May, when it told the judge that Boeing violated terms of that settlement. Judge O’Connor has previously ruled that he lacked power to overturn the 2021 deal, called a deferred-prosecution agreement, and it is unclear whether he would scuttle a plea agreement. The judge has accused Boeing of “egregious criminal conduct.” He also ruled that the Justice Department violated a law granting rights to crime victims by not telling families of the passengers about secret negotiations with Boeing before the 2021 deal. This time, prosecutors “have repeatedly and extensively consulted with the families,” including discussing the terms of a plea agreement,” said the deputy chief of the Justice Department’s fraud section, Sean Tonolli. “Their voices have been heard, considered, and incorporated into the government’s decision-making,” he said. (AP)
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.
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About 40 Jewish teens on Thursday morning tried to enter the Gaza Strip via the Erez crossing to daven Shacharis. IDF forces prevented them from entering the area and at least seven minors, aged 14-15, were arrested for allegedly violating a closed military zone and disturbing public order. The teens said that they wanted to daven Shacharis inside the Gaza Strip to mark 19 years since the expulsion from Gush Katif. The group issued a statement saying: “Today we were zocheh to take part in an attempt to hold Shacharit within the Gaza Strip out of the belief that Gaza is part of the complete Land of Israel and with a clear understanding that only settlement will be considered a victory and only a Jewish Gaza will remove the threat of missiles and hostages from Gaza and bring security to the residents of the south and the country as a whole.” “Before the war, Sinwar would organize ‘return marches’ and threaten the residents of the Gaza border area with balloons and explosives. The situation needs to be reversed – Jews who demand what is theirs, a return to the Gaza Strip. We will continue to act until the entire Gaza Strip is settled by Jews.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Close your eyes and imagine your dream office.Design, functionality, amenities, size—picture it all.Now open your eyes… and take a look around Westwood One. Located at 1001 Route 70, at the intersection of Route 9 and Route 70, Westwood is designed to meet the demands of today’s diverse professionals, blending convenience and functionality with modern amenities. Westwood caters to a range of business needs with its variety of office layouts. Whether you’re a small or growing company in need of a professional environment, or a part-time worker seeking a flexible space, Westwood offers options that fit your requirements. “The great thing about this building is that you can start off in a single office, then move to a double, utilize more common areas, and eventually transition to a suite. It’s designed to grow with you,” shares Heshy Hecht, CEO of HH Designers, the firm behind Westwood’s innovative design. Beyond just a workspace, Westwood One fosters a dynamic business community. The facility’s design encourages interaction among professionals. With ample lounge areas, communal spaces and ongoing networking events, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to connect with others and build valuable business relationships. Westwood One is equipped with a range of amenities designed to support your productivity and well-being. These include high-speed secure internet, a private fitness center, a kosher café, a fully stocked shul and several conference rooms. The modern facilities enhance your work experience and provide everything you need for a successful day. “This office building is unbelievable. From the common areas and cafeteria to the beautiful lobby, everything is top-notch. It’s like working in a high-end hotel,” says Eli Halpert, Director of Operations at Westwood Park. With 50,000 square feet of Class A office space, Westwood One includes 130 workspaces, multiple conference rooms, and flexible layout options. The design features dedicated network access, individual climate control, and biometric security, ensuring a comfortable and secure environment. Explore how Westwood One can meet your business needs with its combination of strategic location, flexible office solutions, and modern amenities. Whether you’re looking for new office space or a productive environment to support your business, Westwood One offers a practical and well-designed solution. 👉 Westwood Website: https://bit.ly/WestwoodYWN 👉 WhatsApp Westwood for more info: https://bit.ly/WestwoodwaYWN
On Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan informed Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas that Turkey will maintain its support for the “Palestinian cause” and advocate for increased international pressure on Israel, as reported by Reuters.
The two leaders reviewed recent events and discussed the necessary measures to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and lasting peace in Gaza, according to Erdogan’s office.
Erdogan criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing some Western nations of remaining passive and continuing their backing of Israel, the statement revealed.
The Turkish President also urged Abbas that nations, particularly within the Muslim world, should enhance their efforts to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and ensure the continuous flow of humanitarian aid to Palestinian Arabs.
Abbas is scheduled to speak at a special session of Turkey’s parliament on Thursday.
In recent months, Erdogan has intensified his verbal criticism of Israel following Hamas’ October 7 attack and the ensuing conflict in Gaza.
During one address, Erdogan asserted that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu “committed one of the greatest atrocities of this century in Gaza and has already put his name down in history as the butcher of Gaza.”
More recently, Erdogan issued a threat of invasion, stating, “We must be strong so Israel won’t be able to do these things to the Palestinians. Just as we entered Karabakh and Libya, we will do the same to Israel. There’s nothing left to do, we must be strong.”
He further condemned Israel, alleging that Israel “committed acts of barbarism that will outshine” and asserting that “Gaza has become the world’s largest concentration camp.”
{Matzav.com}
Facebook and Instagram parent Meta Platforms has shut down CrowdTangle, a tool widely used by researchers, watchdog organizations and journalists to monitor social media posts, notably to track how misinformation spreads on the company’s platforms. Wednesday’s shutdown, which Meta announced earlier this year, has been protested by researchers and nonprofits. In May, dozens of groups, including the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Digital Forensic Research Lab at the Atlantic Council, Human Rights Watch and NYU’s Center for Social Media & Politics, sent a letter to the company asking that it keep the tool running through at least January so it would be available through the U.S. presidential elections. “This decision jeopardizes essential pre- and post-election oversight mechanisms and undermines Meta’s transparency efforts during this critical period, and at a time when social trust and digital democracy are alarmingly fragile,” the letter said. CrowdTangle, “has been an essential tool in helping researchers parse through the vast amount of information on the platform and identify harmful content and threats,” it added. In March, the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation sent Meta a similar letter asking it to keep the tool, which was available for free, functioning until January. That letter was also signed by several dozen groups and individual academic researchers. “For years, CrowdTangle has represented an industry best practice for real-time platform transparency. It has become a lifeline for understanding how disinformation, hate speech, and voter suppression spread on Facebook, undermining civic discourse and democracy,” the Mozilla letter said. Meta has released an alternative to CrowdTangle, called the Meta Content Library. But access to it is limited to academic researchers and nonprofits, which excludes most news organizations. Critics have also complained that it’s not as useful as CrowdTangle — at least not yet. Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, said in a blog post last week that the company has been gathering feedback about Meta Content Library from “hundreds of researchers in order to make it more user-friendly and help them find the data they need for their work.” Meta said Wednesday that CrowdTangle doesn’t provide a complete picture of what is happening on its platforms and said its new tools are more comprehensive. Meta acquired CrowdTangle in 2016. (AP)
Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee for the presidency, had a phone conversation on Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu. The discussion, according to two U.S. sources informed about the call, focused on the ongoing situation involving hostages in Gaza and a potential ceasefire agreement. Barak Ravid of Axios reported these details.
This conversation occurred just a day before a significant summit in Doha, scheduled for today. The meeting will bring together senior officials from the U.S., Qatar, Egypt, and Israel in an attempt to bridge the remaining differences between Israel and Hamas.
In a statement last week, the leaders of the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar urged Israel and Hamas to convene a summit aimed at finalizing the deal. Israel agreed to participate in this summit, but Hamas declared on Sunday that it would not send any representatives to the negotiations.
The upcoming discussions are anticipated to center on a three-phase plan for a ceasefire and hostage release, a proposal originally outlined by President Joe Biden in late May.
One of the sources mentioned to Axios that Trump’s intention in Wednesday’s call was to persuade Netanyahu to accept the deal, though the source emphasized that it was unclear whether Trump explicitly conveyed this message to Netanyahu.
The Prime Minister’s Office did not refute the occurrence of the call. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign opted not to comment on the matter.
Last month, Trump hosted Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, which also included his speech to Congress and meetings with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. During their discussion, Trump expressed concern over the difficult situation with the hostages and emphasized the urgency of securing their release.
Earlier, during his address at the Republican National Convention, Trump urged Hamas to release the hostages before his potential return to office, warning, “or you will be paying a very big price.”
{Matzav.com}
The Biden administration leaked the names of 10 Mossad agents operating in Iran to Tehran as part of a “‘good faith’ initiative in response to Israel’s strikes, which were carried out without American coordination,” the Jerusalem Post reported, citing anonymous sourcing from a Kuwaiti paper and immediately drawing skeptical responses from experts.
“There’s a report from Al-Jarida making the rounds with a story about a secret trip by U.S. officials to Iran that I do not believe,” wrote Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran. “I think the Iranian sourcing for the report is disinformation aimed to increase polarization in the U.S. as well as fissures between Israel and the U.S.”
“I pray this is not true,” wrote Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) of the report. “If Joe Biden and Kamala Harris actually gave the ayatollah the names of undercover Mossad agents in Iran … it would be a level of betrayal of Israel (and America) difficult to fathom.”
“This Jerusalem Post story—which notably does not have a reporter’s byline—relies on ‘an unnamed source in Iran’s Supreme National Security Council’ as told to the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida,” wrote the journalist Yashar Ali. “It is so absurd and irresponsible to publish this nonsense, especially given the sourcing and where it’s been picked up from. Of course, it’s spreading like wildfire.” JNS
{Matzav.com Israel}
The IDF reports that a drone launched from Lebanon was intercepted and shot down by air defenses over the Western Galilee overnight. The incident, which occurred around 3:40 a.m., prompted sirens to sound in several nearby communities.
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