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Opposition leader Yair Lapid indicated he is open to the possibility of forming a broad political alliance within Israel’s center-left bloc, including potential cooperation with former prime minister Naftali Bennett and former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot.

During a closed Zoom call with senior campaign staff from his Yesh Atid party, Lapid addressed future political strategies and suggested that a large unified party could be on the table.

According to a report by Kan News, Lapid said he does not rule out joining forces with Bennett or Eisenkot, who currently leads the Yashar party.

“Everything is possible between the three of us, there could be a full or partial union,” Lapid said during the call, which took place on Monday.

However, earlier in the day, Lapid was also reported to have sharply criticized those same figures, highlighting tensions despite the talk of unity.

“In contrast to Bennett, who ran away before the elections, Eisenkot who ran away in the middle of the term and in the middle of the struggle over the draft law, and Golan who is not a member of Knesset — we stayed in the Knesset and did not run away,” he said.

Lapid added that until now his party had refrained from responding publicly out of a sense of solidarity within the broader political camp, but had now decided to change its approach.

“Today we are saying what we have not said all along, because we are tired of the fact that in return the camp has gone after us,” he said.

Ukraine has announced what it describes as a groundbreaking battlefield achievement, saying its forces captured a Russian position without deploying any infantry, relying solely on robots, drones, and other unmanned systems.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the operation marked the first time since the war began that Ukrainian forces were able to take control of an enemy position without sending soldiers into direct combat.

According to Zelensky, the mission involved a coordinated effort using unmanned aerial and ground platforms until the Russian forces at the site surrendered. “For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was captured exclusively by unmanned platforms,” he said, in remarks cited by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform. He added that the operation was carried out “without the involvement of infantry and without any losses on our side.”

Zelensky’s remarks come as Ukraine continues to expand its use of robotic and unmanned systems on the battlefield, amid ongoing manpower challenges and the high risks faced by troops along active front lines. He noted that several unmanned ground systems — including Ratel, Termit, Ardal, Lynx, Zmiy, Protector, and Volia — have conducted more than 22,000 operational missions in just the past three months.

Ukrainian media described the development as both a technological and conceptual milestone. Rather than being limited to support roles such as evacuating the wounded or transporting supplies, unmanned systems are now being used to directly capture enemy positions and determine the outcome of engagements without requiring soldiers to physically advance.

From Kyiv’s standpoint, the operation illustrates the direction in which modern warfare is heading — with reduced reliance on manpower at the front and increased emphasis on automation, remote control, and advanced systems. If the operation proves to be a successful precedent, it may represent not just an isolated achievement but an early indication of how future conflicts will increasingly be fought.

A new survey suggests that more Americans believe businessman Mark Cuban would have a better chance of defeating a Republican candidate in the 2028 presidential election than Kamala Harris, though several other Democrats are seen as even stronger contenders.

The Yale Polling survey found that 58% of respondents said Cuban would likely prevail in a general election matchup, compared to 55% who said Harris would.

Among all potential candidates tested, California Gov. Gavin Newsom received the highest level of confidence, with 72% of respondents saying he could win. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly followed at 70%, while Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker each garnered 64%. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg came next with 61%.

The poll also highlighted generational divides within the Democratic Party. Voters aged 18 to 34 showed stronger support for Harris, with 61% favoring her in a hypothetical primary, and 47% backing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Older Democrats, by contrast, leaned toward Newsom at 28% and Buttigieg at 19%.

Earlier this month, Harris indicated she may consider entering the 2028 race, saying she was “thinking about” a potential campaign.

Newsom is already widely viewed as a leading possible candidate and has taken on a visible role in opposing President Donald Trump.

Cuban, however, has made clear he has no current intention of running unless circumstances change dramatically.

“I’m not going to do it,” Cuban said. “I’ve said the only way I would do it is if Trump tried to run for a third term. Because then that’s just changing everything, right? And that’s a true threat.”

“But other than that, I’m not going to put my family through that, you know?” Cuban added, noting that his three children are between the ages of 15 and 21.

“When I’m 95 and taking — or 105 and taking — my last breaths, right? I don’t want to say, Well, gee, I ran for president. Maybe won, maybe didn’t,” he said.

The Yale Youth Poll was conducted online between March 9 and March 23, sampling 3,429 registered voters, including an oversample of 2,008 respondents under the age of 35.

The margin of error is plus or minus 1.4 percentage points for the full sample and 2.0 percentage points for the younger cohort.

Senior officials in the Trump administration are considering the possibility of holding another face-to-face meeting with Iranian representatives before the current ceasefire expires next week, according to a source familiar with the discussions, though it remains uncertain whether such talks will ultimately take place.

The source said internal conversations are underway regarding potential timing and venues for another round, should ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran and regional intermediaries show signs of progress in the coming days. At this stage, the planning remains in its early phases.

“We need to be prepared to stand something up quickly should things head in that direction,” the source said.

The lengthy meeting held over Shabbos in Islamabad followed weeks of negotiations involving senior U.S. officials and multiple mediators, including Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, and Oman.

Vice President JD Vance stated early Sunday that the discussions broke down after the United States failed to secure Iran’s commitment to forgo pursuing nuclear weapons.

Following the collapse of the talks, Vance and the American delegation departed Pakistan. Shortly afterward, President Donald Trump announced that the United States would move forward with a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a measure that took effect on Monday.

Despite the setback, a regional source told CNN that another round of negotiations remains possible, with Turkey actively working to narrow the differences between the two sides.

Before Islamabad was selected as the site for the most recent talks, several other cities had been considered, including Geneva, Vienna, and Istanbul. According to the source, both Geneva and Islamabad are once again being discussed as potential venues for future negotiations.

Officials within the administration continue to believe that a diplomatic resolution may still be within reach, sources familiar with the matter said. They added that, depending on how discussions unfold in the coming days, Washington and Tehran could agree to extend the ceasefire deadline to allow more time for negotiations.

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that while negotiations with Iran in Islamabad did not produce a final agreement, the discussions marked meaningful progress and clarified the conditions required for a potential deal.

Speaking to Fox News anchor Bret Baier, Vance pushed back on the notion that the talks were unsuccessful, emphasizing that both sides advanced in understanding each other’s positions.

“I wouldn’t just say that things went wrong, I also think things went right. We made a lot of progress, but we also made very clear, and I think this is part of the progress we made, what the terms where the United States could make some accommodation, what terms we were flexible on, and what things we absolutely needed to see in order for the President of the United States to feel like he was getting a good deal,” Vance said.

"I think it was the first time that you'd ever seen the Iranian government, the U.S. government meet at such a high level, maybe in the history of the current leadership of Iran. So that's, I think, a positive—and again, we did make some progress in the negotiation," says @VP.… pic.twitter.com/PGN6tNZag8

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 13, 2026

He added that the meeting itself was significant, noting the high-level engagement between the two governments.

“And so we laid those things out, we had some good conversations. I think it was the first time that you’d ever seen the Iranian government [and] the US government meet at such a high level, maybe in the history of the current leadership of Iran. So that’s, I think, a positive. And again, we did make some progress in the negotiation.”

Looking ahead, Vance said the key issue is whether Iran is prepared to meet U.S. expectations.

Vance explained that “the big question from here on out is whether the Iranians will have enough flexibility, whether the Iranians will accept the critical things that we need to see in order for things to get done.”

He stressed that all American demands stem from a central requirement set by President Donald Trump: Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon.

“So all of our red lines flow from that fundamental premise, because it is one thing for the Iranians to say that they themselves are never going to have a nuclear weapon. They are willing to say that, and that’s good. But you have to, of course, verify these things,” said Vance.

Vance outlined two areas where the United States is unwilling to compromise, beginning with Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium.

“On the first of those things, what some people call the dust, which is the enriched uranium that the Iranians currently possess, we have said that we want that to come out of their country, and we would like to take possession of it. Now, why does that matter? That doesn’t matter, of course, because they have access to that material now. That access, that material is actually buried underground by Operation Midnight Hammer. But if you think about this over the long haul, the President doesn’t want to leave the next President or the President after that to be worrying about this program and so we would like to get that material out of the country completely so that the United States has control of it. That’s number one.”

The second non-negotiable issue, he said, involves verification mechanisms to ensure Iran cannot advance toward nuclear weapons capability.

The second issue, Vance continued, relates to verification. “It’s one thing for the Iranians to say that they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon. It’s another thing for us to put in place the mechanism to ensure that’s not going to happen. Part of that is, of course, to ensure that they don’t have the ability to enrich uranium, which is how they got so close to a nuclear weapon before.”

Despite some movement by Iran during the talks, Vance said it was not sufficient to finalize an agreement.

“So those are really the two things where, frankly, the Iranians, I think, did make some progress,” the Vice President added. “They moved in our direction, which is why I think we would say that we had some good signs, but they didn’t move far enough. And so what we decided is, you know what, given that we don’t think this current team and this current timeline is going to be able to make a deal, let them go back to Tehran. We’re going to go back to Washington. And that’s where we are today.”

Vance made clear that responsibility for the next step lies with Iran.

The Vice President made clear that “the ball really is in [the Iranians’] court. We’ve made clear where we’re willing, again, to be accommodating, and we’ve made clear where we absolutely need to see the nuclear material come out of the country of Iran.”

He also noted that the talks provided new insight into Iran’s negotiating approach and internal decision-making process.

He also said that “in the process of doing this negotiation, I do think that we acquired some knowledge about how the Iranians are negotiating, and this is ultimately why we left Pakistan, because what we figured out is that they were unable, I think, the team that was there, was unable to cut a deal, and they had to go back to Tehran, either from the Supreme Leader or somebody else, and actually get approval to the terms that we had set.”

Vance reiterated that the possibility of future talks or a final agreement depends on Tehran’s response, emphasizing that the United States has already laid out its position clearly.

Vance said that “whether we have further conversations, whether we ultimately get to a deal, I really think the ball is in the Iranian court because we put a lot on the table. We actually made very clear what our red lines were. We also made clear that we actually would be very happy, the President of the United States has said he would be very happy if Iran was treated like a normal country, if it had a normal economy, if its people were able to prosper and thrive.”

He concluded by saying that Iran must change its conduct if it wants to achieve that outcome.

“But in order for Iran to be a normal country economically,” he added, “it’s going to have to be a normal country from the perspective of not pursuing a nuclear weapon, and it’s going to have to be a normal country from not pursuing terrorism. And so, there really is, I think, a grand deal to be had here, but it’s up to the Iranians, I think, to take the next step.”

A sharp diplomatic clash erupted Monday night after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz publicly criticized Israel’s policies in Judea and Samaria, prompting a forceful response from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Merz issued a social media statement condemning what he described as a “de facto annexation” of the territory and disclosed that he had pressed Prime Minister Netanyahu to prevent such a development during a recent conversation.

“I am deeply concerned about developments in the Palestinian territories. In my phone call with Prime Minister Netanyahu, I made it clear: There must be no de facto annexation of the West Bank,” the German Chancellor wrote on social media.

The timing of the statement—just hours before Holocaust Memorial Day commemorations—triggered immediate backlash in Israel, with Smotrich, who also serves in the Defense Ministry and heads the Settlement Administration, leading the response.

“On the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the German Chancellor should bow his head and apologize a thousand times on behalf of Germany,” Smotrich wrote. “He should not dare lecture us on how to deal with the Nazis of our generation – who murdered, raped, slaughtered, and burned women, the elderly, and children in the most horrific massacre committed against the Jewish people since the terrible Holocaust.”

Smotrich expanded his criticism beyond Germany, accusing European leaders more broadly of moral failure and an inability to distinguish between right and wrong.

“We will not accept instructions from hypocritical European leaders who are once again losing their conscience and their ability to tell right from wrong.”

He then addressed the historical relationship between Germany and the Jewish people, delivering a pointed message rejecting any external pressure on Israeli sovereignty.

“Mr. Chancellor, the days when Germans dictated to Jews where they are allowed to live and where they are not – are over and will never return. You will not force us back into ghettos – certainly not in our own land.”

Smotrich concluded by emphasizing the Jewish people’s return to their ancestral homeland as a definitive answer to those who have sought their destruction throughout history.

“Our return to the Land of Israel – our biblical and historic homeland – is the resounding response to all those who have tried and continue to try to destroy us. We will not apologize for it even for a moment. Am Yisrael Chai.”

Iranian officials are warning of a potential escalation in military action, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps indicating it may deploy previously unused capabilities if the conflict with the United States and Israel continues.

According to Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency, IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said Tehran has not yet brought its full arsenal into play. “We have not yet used our capabilities, and if the war continues, we will unveil capabilities that the enemy has no idea about,” he said.

Separately, a spokesperson for Iran’s Defense Ministry, Reza Talaeinik, stated that the country’s military strength continues to grow. Speaking as reported by the official IRNA news agency, he said Iran possesses ample supplies of missiles, drones, weaponry, and ammunition, enabling it to sustain both offensive and defensive operations going forward.

In addition, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei criticized recent U.S. actions, writing on social media that Washington’s move to impose a naval blockade on the Strait of Hormuz amounts to a “revenge of choice” against the global economy.

The remarks came after the United States initiated a naval blockade of the strategic waterway at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday.

President Donald Trump announced the move following extended weekend talks between U.S. and Iranian delegations in Islamabad, which ended without reaching an agreement.

The IDF announced Tuesday morning that a reservist soldier was killed and several others were wounded in separate incidents tied to ongoing operations in southern Lebanon.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit confirmed that Sergeant Major (Res.) Ayal Uriel Bianco, 30, from Katzrin, who served as a firefighting vehicle driver in the 188th Brigade, was killed during combat in the region.

In the same incident in which Bianco was killed, the military reported that one reservist sustained moderate injuries, while two others were lightly hurt.

All of the wounded were transported to a hospital for treatment, and their families were informed.

Separately, on Monday evening, the IDF disclosed that eight soldiers were injured during operational activity in southern Lebanon after an explosive drone struck the area.

According to the report, the drone crashed and detonated near IDF troops, causing injuries to those stationed nearby. Two soldiers were reported to be in moderate condition, while six others suffered light wounds.

The injured soldiers were treated at the scene before being evacuated to a hospital for continued care. Their families have also been notified.

At the same time, IDF forces from Division 98 — including units from the Paratroopers, Commando, and Givati brigades — are continuing efforts to broaden the security zone in southern Lebanon.

{Matzav.com}

As tensions mount over Israel’s draft policies, Israeli commentators warned that the real objective behind recent legal and political moves is not military enlistment, but a broader campaign targeting the chareidi ציבור and the עולם התורה.

Speaking on Kol Chai’s main program, analysts Avi Blum and Yaakov Rivlin discussed the wider implications of current events, from President Donald Trump’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz to political developments in Hungary, focusing on what they described as an existential threat to the Torah world and what they called the judiciary’s silence in the face of escalating incitement.

Host Avi Mimran opened the discussion by drawing a comparison to developments abroad: “We are seeing what is happening in Hungary. A newly elected prime minister wakes up in the morning and asks the president of the Supreme Court and the attorney general to resign. Here it doesn’t work that way — the High Court preserves its power.”

Rivlin outlined what he described as a troubling logistical and moral scenario following the issuance of arrest orders for tens of thousands of yeshiva students: “Where exactly are they going to put all these detainees? We are talking about close to 43,000 people. Member of Knesset Lieberman suggested reopening the Ktzi’ot detention camp. I served there in the reserves 30 years ago — I remember the barbed wire fences, the concrete grounds, and the tents. We are talking about Holocaust Remembrance Day, and they want to open detention camps here for tens of thousands of people? The connotation cries out to the heavens. When the state was established, is this what Holocaust survivors dreamed of? That this is what would await them here?”

He went further, sharply criticizing both the petitioners and the judiciary: “When a lawyer sits and smiles and says, ‘We will dismantle the Torah world,’ he is expressing what the judges are thinking. The goal is to starve chareidi families, so that children will look for food in garbage cans. This is an all-out war led by Justice Yitzchak Amit.”

Blum argued that the court must publicly condemn such statements: “We saw letters from coalition leaders warning that if Ben Gvir is removed or the prime minister is declared incapacitated, there will be a constitutional crisis. But why isn’t any chareidi MK getting them to sign a demand that Yitzchak Amit publicly condemn the statement about dismantling the Torah world? This needs to be leveraged in our favor.”

He also expressed shock at what he described as silence from the incoming Supreme Court president: “Someone sits and says, ‘I am coming to dismantle the Torah world,’ and there is silence from those sitting on the bench. If such a statement had been made about the Arab or Ethiopian community, the world would be outraged. This is outright antisemitism. When the president of the Supreme Court does not publicly condemn this the moment he hears it, he is giving it legitimacy. The coalition must stand up and demand a complete condemnation. Our blood has been made permissible.”

{Matzav.com}

The brother of two boys swept out to sea off the coast of Netanya delivered an emotional appeal to the public, urging increased tefillah and personal growth as the family endures an agonizing ordeal.

Since Friday, when the two Spiegel brothers were pulled into the water at Sanz Beach, their family — along with many across the Jewish world — has been davening continuously, hoping for the recovery of the brother who drowned and the healing of the one who was injured. In an interview on Kol Chai’s main broadcast, their brother, Chaykel Spiegel, spoke about the difficult days the family is facing.

Asked how to describe the current moment — a stretch of time filled with tension, uncertainty, and hope — he responded candidly: “I don’t know how to define these days. It’s not simple at all. What we are going through is what all of Klal Yisroel is going through — difficult days. Hashem wants us to draw closer and closer and is asking for it. If you had asked me two days ago what He wants, I would have said prayer, and that’s how I see it — He wants more and more, that we should pray even more. It is written that Hashem desires the prayers of the righteous, He loves the tefillos of the Jewish people so much, and if He wants more — then we will daven and daven.”

Amid the pain, Chaykel described the remarkable character of his brothers and the lessons he draws from their daily conduct: “I saw them so many times — my older brother and my younger brother — that they always thought: what does the other person want me to do for him? They would help me with my young children, they always thought about others. So much thought for other people, in matters between one person and another. They have so many good traits, on a level that is truly exceptional. A complete personal example.”

Toward the end of the interview, he asked the public to take on a practical commitment in their merit, centered on love for fellow Jews: “Anyone who can should take upon themselves to say every morning, ‘I accept upon myself the positive commandment of loving your fellow as yourself.’ Each person should pause for ten seconds before saying it — whether in shul or anywhere — and run through in their mind where they are going to be that day, and with whom they will fulfill this mitzvah. If I will be at a wedding in the evening, who will I meet there? Just quickly run it through once — a few seconds of thinking about the other person.”

Chaykel concluded with a message of unwavering faith, expressing confidence in the power of prayer and good deeds: “Everyone who hears this should continue to believe and strengthen themselves in faith. There is no power in the world that can determine what will be with them except for our Father in Heaven.”

{Matzav.com}

A heated city council meeting in Bnei Brak ended with a unanimous decision to step up enforcement against nighttime food vending machines after residents and educators warned that the machines are harming local youth and disrupting the city’s character.

An unusual scene unfolded during the session when a large group of mechanchim, neighborhood rabbonim, and resident representatives entered the council chamber, voicing urgent demands to halt the spread of automated food machines operating throughout the night. They argued that the machines are damaging both the spiritual atmosphere and quality of life in the city center, while also negatively influencing young people.

The discussion focused on a proposal introduced by city council member Zev Lipshitz, who raised concerns about what he described as a serious loophole on Rechov Ezra and Rechov Harav Shach. While local regulations require businesses to close by 11:00 p.m., he noted that vending machines continue operating without restriction, drawing teenagers late into the night. Lipshitz warned that the phenomenon is causing significant environmental and spiritual harm.

During the meeting, remarks were delivered by youth leaders in the city, including Rav Yisroel Roth and Rav Eliezer Zilberzweig, along with resident representative Rav Goel Turgeman. “They are destroying our lives, they are ruining our children,” one speaker cried out. The speakers described a noticeable spiritual decline around the machines, which they said have become gathering points for youth during late-night hours.

Residents presented troubling accounts of noise, filth, fear of going outside at night, and harassment affecting elderly residents. “The buildings have turned into a garbage dump,” one representative said, adding that many residents feel effectively trapped in their homes during nighttime hours.

Mayor Chanoch Zeibert expressed full support for the residents’ concerns and made clear that the municipality would act decisively. “Places that do not close after 11 at night will not operate earlier either,” he declared.

At the conclusion of the meeting, council members voted unanimously to increase enforcement immediately, with the goal of restoring quiet and preserving the city’s character in affected areas.

{Matzav.com}

The Machnovka Belzer Rebbe offered a sharp and unsettling response to questions surrounding missile strikes in Bnei Brak, linking the attacks to a serious spiritual failing and calling for deep self-reflection.

A follower posed the question directly: “Where is the promise that missiles would not fall in Bnei Brak?” — referring to assurances attributed to the Chazon Ish and other gedolim figures that the city would be protected.

The Rebbe responded with a pointed explanation: “A serious incident occurred during the winter, when during a protest in the city, a pair of tefillin and a prayer siddur book were burned when a police motorcycle was set on fire. One must engage in self-reflection.”

His remarks refer to an incident that took place during protests in Bnei Brak over the winter, in which tashmishei kedusha were burned. According to the Rebbe, such an act demands serious communal introspection.

During Operation Sha’agas HaAri, Iran launched 540 missiles toward Israel, with warning sirens in Bnei Brak activated 182 times, highlighting the intensity of the attacks.

Eight yeshiva bochurim, ages 16 to 18, were safely rescued after becoming disoriented during a hike in Switzerland Forest near Tiveriah, authorities said.

The group lost its way while trekking through the wooded area and eventually required assistance. Emergency medical teams from United Hatzalah were dispatched to the scene, where they provided initial treatment and coordinated the rescue operation.

Following efforts to reach the stranded bochruim, all eight were evacuated safely from the area using an off-road utility vehicle operated by the rescue team.

Officials said all of the bochruim were in light condition and did not require further hospitalization.

Earlier in the day, rescue teams were already dealing with additional complex incidents in the northern Dead Sea region, where hikers encountered difficulties along challenging routes.

In one case, three rappellers became stranded at the top of a waterfall approximately 72 meters (236 feet) high in Nachal Tamarim after experiencing a technical malfunction when their rope became stuck, cutting off communication with them due to poor reception in the area.

At the same time, emergency crews were called to a separate incident in Nachal Darga, where seven hikers were reported missing after losing their way.

The cost of raising a child in the United States has climbed past $300,000 over an 18-year period, reflecting a sharp increase of nearly 30% in just the last three years, according to a new financial analysis, the NY Post reports.

A report by LendingTree found that, after accounting for tax breaks and credits, the total average expense to raise a child has reached $303,418. That figure represents a 1.9% increase compared to the previous year.

On a yearly basis, parents are spending about $16,857 per child, with costs rising significantly during the early years. In fact, the first five years of a child’s life come with an average annual expense of $29,325, largely due to the high price of infant and toddler child care.

Despite the overall upward trend, the study noted a slight drop in expenses during those early years, attributing it to “a dip in day care costs.”

Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s chief consumer finance analyst and the report’s author, said families are already adjusting their lifestyles to cope with the financial strain. Some are cutting back on discretionary spending, while others are weighing more significant decisions, such as whether one parent should leave the workforce.

“We all wish that we didn’t have to crunch numbers and take finances into account when thinking about having a first kid or expanding your family, but the way costs are today, you’re doing yourself a bit of a disservice if you don’t,” he told The Post.

The financial burden of raising children comes as U.S. fertility rates fell to historic lows in 2025, continuing a downward trend that has lasted roughly 20 years. Much of that decline has been driven by a steep drop in births among teenagers and women in their 20s.

Among the various expenses analyzed — including housing, food, clothing, transportation, and insurance — infant day care emerged as the single largest cost, averaging $17,264 per year.

In certain states, those costs are even higher, with annual infant care reaching $22,628 in California and $20,439 in New York.

“When you factor in costs like infant day care that has seen practically hockey-stick growth in previous years … it all adds up to a really, really daunting situation for parents,” Schulz said.

Erica Sandberg, a consumer finance expert at CardRates.com, said families are increasingly finding ways to cut costs, including buying secondhand clothing or exchanging goods through social media groups instead of paying retail prices.

Some states far exceed the national average cost of raising a child. Hawaii ranks as the most expensive, with total costs reaching $412,661 over 18 years.

Alaska and Maryland follow as the second- and third-costliest states, with totals of $365,047 and $326,360, respectively, while California ranks fourth at $312,300.

New Jersey comes in fifth at $312,295, and New York State ranks 14th, with a total cost of $278,051.

On the lower end of the spectrum, states such as New Hampshire, Washington, DC — which provides free preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds — and South Carolina are among the most affordable, with totals of $201,963, $202,115, and $204,213.

Families with young children are facing particularly heavy financial pressure, spending an average of 21.9% of their income on essential yearly costs. The analysis is based on a dual-income household with one child earning a median family income of $99,999.

Federal guidelines consider child care affordable only if it consumes no more than 7% of a household’s income.

In New York City, child care costs are especially steep. Data from City Comptroller Mark Levine’s office shows that in 2024, families paid an average of $26,000 annually for infant and toddler care. To afford care for a 2-year-old, a household would need an income of $334,000.

That figure is four times the median family income and roughly equivalent to earnings from 10 minimum-wage jobs, according to Levine’s office.

The price of child care has surged in recent years, particularly after the pandemic, with day care providers repeatedly raising rates. From June 2024 through last month, child care costs increased by an average of 8%, outpacing overall inflation, which rose 4% during the same period.

In less populated areas, a shortage of high-quality child care options has allowed providers to charge higher prices, Schulz explained.

He added that New York City presents its own challenges, as elevated labor and real estate costs make operating child care facilities especially expensive.

Sandberg pointed out that rising wages for child care workers — necessary to keep up with increasing living expenses — are another factor driving costs higher.

As more household income is directed toward child care, families are left with less money for other financial obligations, such as housing, transportation, small business investments, retirement savings, and emergency funds, Schulz said.

The issue of affordability has also entered the political arena, with some candidates — including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — advocating for free child care.

In March, Mamdani and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced $73 million in funding to create 2,000 free 2-K seats in the city beginning this fall.

Financial experts advise families to begin saving for child care as early as possible to ease the burden of rising expenses.

“I don’t think that it’s cause for alarm,” Sandberg told The Post. “I think it should be more of a call to action.”

Schulz recommended setting aside a small portion of each paycheck into a high-yield savings account designated as a “family fund.”

Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to open a city-run grocery store in East Harlem is drawing criticism over its steep projected cost and potential impact on local businesses, with officials confirming the first location will require $30 million in taxpayer funding to build, the NY Post reports.

The proposed store will be constructed from scratch at the long-standing La Marqueta marketplace, a city-owned property, and will be operated by a yet-to-be-selected vendor. According to City Hall, that operator will benefit from a rent-free and tax-free arrangement, an incentive officials say is intended to lower prices for shoppers.

Mamdani introduced the initiative during a celebration marking his first 100 days in office, arguing that the favorable financial terms would allow the store’s operator to pass along savings to residents struggling with rising food costs. Still, nearby grocers are questioning both the scale of the investment and its practicality.

“How can they manage something like that? A small supermarket?” said Shaher, who owns and manages Healthy Choice near La Marqueta, laughing with disbelief.

Industry analysts are also raising concerns about the unusually high construction estimate. Adam Lehodey of the Manhattan Institute said that even in New York’s expensive, union-driven construction environment, a typical 25,000-square-foot supermarket should cost far less.

“Thirty million dollars for one store is exceptionally high, considering land prices are a significant part of the capital costs of new construction, and the city has announced that rents will be waived,” he said.

The East Harlem location is part of a broader proposal by Mamdani to invest $70 million in building five municipally owned grocery stores across the city. While La Marqueta has been identified as a key site, officials indicated that other locations—particularly those not requiring full construction—may open sooner.

City officials said a second store is expected to launch before the end of the year, with all five planned locations scheduled to be operational by the conclusion of Mamdani’s first term in 2029. In the meantime, the administration is actively searching for additional sites that would not require building from the ground up.

The grocery initiative was a central component of Mamdani’s campaign platform, aimed at addressing affordability concerns. However, critics have warned that publicly run supermarkets could undermine private businesses, with some likening the concept to “Soviet”-style markets. Billionaire grocer John Catsimatidis had previously warned he might shut down or sell his Gristedes chain if Mamdani took office.

Skeptics have also pointed to past failures of similar ventures, including a city-operated grocery in Kansas City, Missouri, that ultimately closed. Mamdani, however, has defended the concept by citing successful examples, including a government-run store in St. Paul, Kansas.

New York City already operates several public retail markets, including La Marqueta, which adds symbolic importance to the chosen location. Mamdani highlighted that history during his remarks marking his first 100 days.

“We will continue his legacy,” Mamdani said.

“We are building a brand-new store on city-owned land currently sitting empty in East Harlem, a neighborhood where nearly 40% of households received public assistance or SNAP in the past year.”

La Marqueta, along with Essex Market and Moore Street Market, is managed by the city’s Economic Development Corporation, which will also oversee the design and construction of the new grocery. Other public markets, including Gourmet Glatt, Jamaica Farmers Market and Arthur Avenue Market, are run by tenants under EDC supervision.

Local business owners near the site say they are bracing for a hit to their bottom line if the city-backed store opens.

Still, some residents say the neighborhood lacks access to quality groceries and welcome the idea of a new option, provided it proves sustainable.

City officials said the stores will be run by experienced third-party operators who will be required to pass along any subsidies directly to consumers through lower prices. Those operators will also be subject to strict oversight, including pricing controls, labor requirements, and reporting standards.

Tanya Sanchez, who owns Tanya’s Herbal Cabinet and has lived in East Harlem for years, acknowledged both the need for healthier options and the concerns of local shop owners. She said she does not expect the city’s store to completely displace existing businesses, pointing to past retail patterns in the neighborhood.

“People were going there first when it was brand new, but then a lot of people just kept continuing, going to their regular grocery stores,” Sanchez said. “So, it balances off.”

Fiscal watchdogs warn that the plan could become more expensive over time, especially given the city’s broader financial pressures.

“New York City has a challenging budget landscape; so far we have yet to see an analysis that shows this is the most cost-effective way to promote food security,” said Andrew Rein, president of the Citizens Budget Commission.

Others argue the city should instead focus on reducing barriers for established grocery chains to expand into underserved areas.

“I think the city is going to struggle to balance the delivery of a high-quality, affordable grocery store with all of the ancillary demands for above-market wages for store and construction workers and the city’s very slow procurement process,” he said.

“The grocery industry is low-margin, so heavy subsidy will be needed to counteract the these inherent inefficiencies, and I’m just not sure there’s going to be the political appetite for much of that for long.”

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem issued a series of threats on Monday, warning that his group would kidnap Israeli soldiers “when the opportunity arises,” while sharply rejecting planned negotiations between Israel and Lebanon set to take place in Washington.

In remarks to the media ahead of the talks, Qassem denounced the diplomatic effort, declaring that “this negotiation is a surrender for Lebanon and takes away its strength. We reject negotiations with Israel. The negotiations are a series of unnecessary concessions.” He added, “Our decision in the resistance is that we will not rest and we will not surrender, and the battlefield speaks for itself.”

Qassem called on Lebanese officials to cancel the anticipated meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors, urging what he described as a “historic position.” He appealed directly to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to stop making concessions and to join Hezbollah’s stance against Israel, saying: “After that, we will reach understandings on everything.”

Framing the situation as a stark choice, Qassem said that in the face of what he called Israeli aggression, there are only two options—fight or surrender—and insisted Hezbollah would never choose the latter. “Whoever wants to surrender can surrender alone, without us,” he said, adding that his group would continue fighting “until its last breath.”

He also reiterated demands tied to the existing ceasefire framework, including a complete halt to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, a full Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory, the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, the return of displaced residents, and the start of reconstruction efforts.

In a more direct threat, Qassem warned that Hezbollah operatives would capture Israeli soldiers when conditions allow. He said the group has quietly prepared for confrontation, operating in a decentralized manner and engaging in what he described as “cat and mouse” tactics on the battlefield.

Addressing internal Lebanese tensions, Qassem said Hezbollah views all Lebanese—Muslims and Christians alike—as brothers, and accused unnamed parties of attempting to incite sectarian conflict between Sunnis and Shiites, as well as to drive a wedge between Hezbollah and the Shiite Amal movement. He insisted such efforts would fail.

Qassem also pushed back against accusations from Gulf states, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait, denying any Hezbollah presence in those countries. “What interest do you have in inventing things and accusing us?” he asked, claiming there is no evidence to support the allegations.

On Syria, Qassem stated that the Syrian people are free to determine their own future and said Hezbollah has no involvement in the country’s current phase. He added that both the Syrian leadership and public understand what he described as attempts by the United States, Israel, and others to create tensions between Syria and Lebanon. “We have no problem with Syria. Our only enemy is Israel,” he said.

In a message to Lebanese civilians displaced by the war, Qassem urged them to direct their anger toward Israel. Acknowledging the heavy toll of the conflict, he said the damage in Lebanon is significant but argued it would have been worse without Hezbollah’s actions: “If we had not fought, we would have paid a heavier price and lost everything.”

A new report indicates that negotiations between the United States and Iran have hit a significant obstacle, with Washington dismissing Tehran’s counteroffer on uranium enrichment limits following talks held in Islamabad over the weekend.

According to the New York Times, American officials proposed that Iran halt uranium enrichment for a period of 20 years during the discussions. In a formal reply delivered Monday, Iranian representatives said they would be willing to accept a suspension lasting no more than five years, according to two senior Iranian officials and one U.S. official. Trump has rejected that offer, the U.S. official said.

The report adds that the United States is also pressing Iran to transfer its stockpile of highly enriched uranium out of the country. Iranian officials, however, have refused to agree to that demand, maintaining that the material must remain within their borders. As an alternative, they have proposed significantly reducing its enrichment level to render it unusable for nuclear weapons.

The risk is that the Iranians would still have possession of the fuel and in the future might be able to re-enrich it to bomb grade.

While both sides are considering continuing the dialogue with another face-to-face meeting, officials say that no follow-up session has yet been scheduled.

{Matzav.com}

Klal Yisroel remains in deep mourning following the tragic petirah of habochur Yehoshua Raam z”l, a talmid of Yeshivas Grodna–Be’er Yaakov, who drowned at Ein Akev in the Negev. At his levayah, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein delivered words of chizuk and hisorerus, offering a perspective that moved all those present.

The niftar, the son of Rav Yisroel Noam Raam, a longtime talmid of Rav Zilberstein in Kollel Beis Dovid, was widely regarded as an exceptional ben Torah. His sudden passing has left the yeshiva world shaken, especially in light of the painful series of tragedies affecting bnei yeshivos in recent times.

Rav Zilberstein, who maintained a close connection with the family, expressed his anguish upon hearing the news and told the father earlier that day, “Everyone is sitting and crying; all of Klal Yisroel is crying together with you.”

On his way to the levayah, which began at the family’s home on Rechov Ben Zakai in Bnei Brak, the rav explained that formal hespedim would not be delivered due to the month of Nissan. Instead, he said he would offer words of nechamah. “To say words of eulogy is forbidden, since it is the month of Nissan, and to say words of strengthening and awakening for the generation — I am not worthy. Each person knows what he himself needs to strengthen and improve, and therefore I will say a few words of consolation to the dear parents.”

At the levayah, no formal hespedim were delivered — only divrei hisorerus, including remarks from the mashgiach of Grodna Be’er Yaakov, Rav Nechemia Friedlander. The procession went from the home to Yeshivas Tiferes Tzion, where the bochur had learned in his youth, and then to the beis hachaim in Elad, where he was laid to rest.

Rav Zilberstein opened his remarks by acknowledging the overwhelming shock. “We are standing here in astonishment. Words of eulogy are forbidden, and therefore we will not say them. But I want to share with this holy gathering a few thoughts that I heard from my rabbeim.”

He then shared a remarkable story. “I was walking in the street in Bnei Brak and saw a child standing with his father. The child said, ‘Father, you should know — in that house above they are giving shiurim, here they are reviewing, and here they are writing chiddushei Torah.’ The father stood there stunned and did not understand what was happening. He later met me, and I told him that I was going to my brother-in-law, Rav Chaim, the gadol hador, to tell him what happened and hear what he would say.”

He continued, recounting Rav Chaim Kanievsky’s response. “We came to Rav Chaim Kanievsky, and he said to me: I believe this child had already been in this world, and for some reason HaKadosh Baruch Hu decreed that he should return again. The meaning of this is that he had learned in this yeshiva in a previous gilgul. Usually a person forgets what was in a previous gilgul — but in this case, he did not forget. That is why the child was repeating things that had already taken place here. One must know that such a thing exists — that is what Rav Chaim told me.”

Speaking about the niftar, Rav Zilberstein praised both him and his family. “We are all learning in the same yeshiva with this great father — truly a glory, he and his family. And this righteous bochur was something extraordinary; he learned in a truly remarkable way. I have heard amazing things about him — that during this time of war, when others were not learning as much, he continued learning with incredible dedication. They say he sat and learned without interruption, and it is surely true. We know the father — may he be well — his mouth never stopped from learning.”

He then offered a deeply moving perspective. “It is possible — I am only sharing thoughts of the heart — that he may return again. I say this to the father: these are not words of consolation, but one must know that such a concept exists in Torah. He was here.”

Rav Zilberstein then delivered the line that left a profound impression on those present. “I want to tell you a fact: he did not pass away — he went away for a short time. It may be so. According to what my brother-in-law told me, this is not a permanent departure. He has gone for a short time and will return. This is temporary. You see the chevra kadisha here — it may be that what they are doing now is only temporary. He may yet return, whether you will know it or not.”

He continued in that vein: “This is not a case of someone who passed away and is gone forever. This burial is temporary. That is how one must look at it. This is not forever. This is the way HaKadosh Baruch Hu conducts His world with great mercy.”

At the end of his remarks, Rav Zilberstein proposed a meaningful initiative. “We, the members of the kollel, will do something. I will tell you my plan: We will publish a sefer of chiddushei Torah in his memory. You will write your pearls, and each of us will contribute as well. We will publish it, publicize it, and learn from it. We will accomplish great things in the world for the elevation of his neshamah. We will merit the coming of Mashiach speedily in our days, and you will have much nachas — amen.”

After Kaddish, just before the levayah departed, family members told Rav Zilberstein that they had discovered a personal notebook belonging to the bochur. For the past six months, he had written a daily cheshbon hanefesh, recording his personal spiritual reflections. At the beginning of the notebook, he had written “cheirem d’Rabbeinu Gershom.”

The rav was visibly moved and responded, “Now it is certainly permitted to read the notebook — and it is even a mitzvah to read it and strengthen oneself from it. In the sefer we will publish, we will include, bli neder, portions of the notebook, so that others will see and learn. From him, they will see — and so they will do.”

{Matzav.com}

Tensions between Israel and Russia have escalated sharply, with Moscow issuing an unusually severe warning following recent Israeli airstrikes near the nuclear facility in Bushehr.

According to a report aired Monday evening, the past month has seen repeated Israeli military activity in the area surrounding the reactor, triggering growing alarm within Russian leadership and marking a significant deterioration in relations between Yerushalayim and Moscow.

Sources say that in recent weeks — including in the days leading up to the ceasefire — Russia’s Foreign Ministry and its embassy in Israel repeatedly reached out to Israeli officials, cautioning that the strikes were placing Russian civilians and personnel stationed at the site in direct danger.

The tone from Moscow intensified after one particular strike that occurred in close proximity to Russian workers. It later emerged that Israeli forces were unaware of their presence at the time. Following Russia’s protest, the relevant locations were reportedly clarified.

In a highly unusual step, a senior Kremlin official sent a formal letter to a counterpart in Yerushalayim, delivering a blunt warning: “You are putting our people at risk. This is a dangerous game that could lead to a massive nuclear disaster with severe consequences for the entire Middle East. We call on you to stop.”

The message signaled that Russia is not merely voicing concern but is warning of the potential for a catastrophic nuclear outcome.

Israeli officials have maintained that the strikes were not directed at any Russian targets. Still, Russia has taken concrete action in response, evacuating nearly all of its personnel from the Bushehr nuclear facility and surrounding areas — a move reflecting the depth of concern in Moscow.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel today stands stronger than ever and is defending not only itself but the broader world, as he delivered a forceful address at the state opening ceremony marking Holocaust Remembrance Day at Yad Vashem.

Speaking Monday evening, Netanyahu focused on the dramatic transformation of the Jewish people from the helplessness of the Holocaust era to the military and national strength of the present, while also addressing the ongoing confrontation with Iran and Israel’s alliance with the United States.

At the start of his remarks, the prime minister paid tribute to Holocaust survivors, noting that they are witnessing the Jewish state at its height. “We all embrace you with love – and we all salute this evening the torch-lighters of remembrance and heroism at ‘Yad Vashem’. The survivors, the victors of the Holocaust, merited to see the rebirth of Israel and contributed to it. But in these days they are witnessing something else of immeasurable importance.”

He contrasted the Jewish people’s condition during the Holocaust with the current reality. “In the Holocaust, the poet Uri Zvi Greenberg wrote that we were ‘a people being annihilated, like a wild animal being hunted’ – but in contrast to that, today our people are striking back fiercely against our enemies.”

Continuing that theme, Netanyahu said: “In the Holocaust we were a beaten animal that cried out in agony – but today we have a state stronger than ever, that roars with power. In Operation ‘Am KeLavi’, and even more so in Operation ‘Shaagat HaAri’, Israel stands with the United States at the forefront of the free world.”

The prime minister went on to outline what he described as major achievements in recent military operations, asserting that Israel has dealt significant blows to Iran’s leadership and capabilities. “Together we crushed to dust the regime of evil in Iran,” he said, adding that efforts to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles had been thwarted and that “This regime is weaker than ever. Most of its military assets have been lost.”

Netanyahu also revisited his longstanding position on Iran’s nuclear ambitions. “Year after year I pledged – ‘We will not allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons’. I promised: ‘There will not be another Holocaust’. This year we fulfilled that promise in practice.”

In a pointed moment, Netanyahu raised the question of how history might have unfolded differently had a Jewish state existed during World War II or if Europe had acted sooner against the Nazis. Rejecting such speculation, he stressed Israel’s responsibility to act decisively now to prevent future threats, citing a series of recent military successes against what he called the “axis of evil.”

He also described a recent meeting with President Trump and a 101-year-old Holocaust survivor, Jake Wexler, recounting how the survivor stood in a synagogue in Miami wearing a yellow badge to the applause of those present. “I told Jake: following the Holocaust we promised ‘Never again’. We promised and we are keeping that promise.”

Highlighting Israel’s sovereignty and military capabilities, Netanyahu said: “We have changed the course of history. The independent State of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces and Israel’s security arms express the renewed control over our destiny after hundreds of years of profound weakness.”

He added that while the establishment of the state did not end hostility or antisemitism, the consequences for Israel’s enemies are now dramatically different. “But unlike the past, those who seek to destroy us today bring upon themselves destruction on a scale they never imagined. And indeed we have destroyed large parts of the death industry that the regime in Iran developed over decades: the nuclear facilities, the missiles and UAVs, the naval fleet, the air fleet, and other weapons systems on a vast scale.”

Netanyahu warned that without Israeli action, key Iranian nuclear sites might have become synonymous with some of history’s most notorious death camps. “If we had not acted – the names Natanz, Fordow, Isfahan and Parchin might have been remembered in infamy just like Auschwitz and Treblinka, Majdanek and Sobibor. But we acted – and how we acted – in an unprecedented historic partnership with President Trump and with the United States.”

He emphasized the peak level of cooperation between Israel and the United States, saying: “On Holocaust Remembrance Day this year, we remember that the State of Israel stands at the height of its strength of all time. Who would have imagined 80 years ago that our brave Air Force pilots and American pilots would fly wing to wing to defend the Middle East, Israel, and of course the United States.”

Netanyahu also delivered sharp criticism of Europe, accusing it of failing to uphold moral clarity. “We are defending Europe. Europe that has forgotten so many things since the Holocaust. It can learn many things from us, and above all one essential lesson: the clear distinction between good and evil, which obligates one, at the moment of truth, to go to war for life.

Europe, which swore after World War II to defend what is good, is today afflicted with deep moral weakness. Europe is losing control over its identity, its values, its commitment to protect civilization from barbarism. But this eternal commitment – Israel does not forget.”

He concluded by reaffirming Israel’s broader mission alongside its allies. “Together with the United States, and together with other countries with whom we are forging alliances that will yet be spoken about – we are defending ourselves, and in fact we are defending the entire world!”

Closing his address, Netanyahu highlighted the unique achievements of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. “Dear Holocaust survivors, citizens of Israel, there is no other people that could have done what we have done: to bring about the tremendous transformation from Holocaust to rebirth – a rebirth rich with achievements that astonish the family of nations. The flourishing State of Israel will continue to serve as a beacon of freedom, progress and prosperity.

The fighters of Israel – who stand courageously on guard for the homeland – will continue to inspire, as it is said in the Book of Chronicles: ‘Mighty men of valor, men of war, prepared with shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions.’ As a people of lions, we will continue, with Hashem’s help, to roar the roar of eternity: The people of Israel live!”

{Matzav.com}