Rev. Al Sharpton is turning up the pressure on Andrew Cuomo, publicly urging the disgraced former governor to abandon his struggling campaign for New York City mayor in the wake of a bruising primary defeat. “I think, in the best interest of the legacy of Andrew Cuomo, that he ought to let them have the one-on-one race,” Sharpton told MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Wednesday, calling on Cuomo to step aside and clear the path for a head-to-head fight over the city’s future. “He can endorse one or the other, and let them have a battle over what is best for New York.” Sharpton, a longtime power broker in Democratic politics, revealed he had already reached out to Cuomo’s inner circle, trying to convince him to bow out. Cuomo’s camp pushed back, with senior adviser Rich Azzopardi insisting the campaign would “continue to assess the current situation in the best interest of the people of the City of New York.” Azzopardi took a swipe at both ends of the political spectrum, warning that “most New Yorkers are not Trumpers, and most New Yorkers are not socialists — the majority lies in the middle.” Sharpton’s call came just a day after final primary results showed socialist Zohran Mamdani trouncing Cuomo by 12 points in three rounds of ranked-choice voting — a crushing blow for the onetime Democratic powerhouse. In a sign of shifting alliances, Sharpton had recently hosted Mamdani at his National Action Network headquarters, giving the progressive firebrand a chance to connect with Black voters and praising elements of his agenda, including a proposed rent freeze. Though Sharpton stopped short of a formal endorsement, the appearance sent a clear signal of where the civil rights leader’s sympathies lie. Cuomo, despite wavering repeatedly on whether to stay in the race, remains on the November ballot on an independent line, joining Mamdani, Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, and two other minor candidates, including Eric Adams and Jim Walden. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is planning to urge President Donald Trump, during his upcoming trip to Washington, to take a tougher stance on Qatar by pressuring its leadership—potentially even by threatening to expel top Hamas officials—if progress on a hostage deal continues to stall, according to a report by Channel 12 News on Wednesday.
The planned request comes in the wake of multiple high-level meetings within Israel’s security and political circles, where renewed frustration was voiced over Hamas’s overseas leadership. These operatives are believed to benefit from favorable conditions and hold significant sway over the negotiation process.
Top Israeli defense authorities believe that Hamas’s rigidity at the bargaining table can only be broken through specific and direct actions aimed at its senior figures—especially those residing in Qatar, which serves as the main broker, and in Turkey, a country with which Israel maintains a delicate diplomatic balance.
“Hamas leaders roam the world feeling no pressure, which is why they are in no rush to reach a deal,” said one official.
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Matzav.com}
Ali Shamkhani, a top adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and one of the regime’s most influential security officials, has emerged alive after weeks of reports claiming he had been killed in an Israeli airstrike. The New York Times confirmed Shamkhani’s appearance over the weekend at a funeral procession in Tehran, contradicting Iranian state media accounts that declared him dead last month. Frailer and leaning on a cane, Shamkhani was seen paying tribute to senior Iranian military officers slain in Israel’s recent barrage — a 12-day offensive that targeted Iran’s nuclear and military command structure. It was Shamkhani’s first public sighting since the June 13 strike on his upscale penthouse in northern Tehran, which marked the opening salvo in Israel’s sweeping attempt to decapitate Iran’s senior defense leadership. In a Saturday broadcast on state television, Shamkhani described a harrowing survival: buried under debris for three hours, battered by severe internal injuries and multiple broken bones. “I was crushed,” he told the cameras, before defiantly adding that he had contributed to “making Israel miserable.” His reappearance exposes deep fractures in Iran’s information war. Initial reports had listed Shamkhani among at least 20 senior figures allegedly killed, including commanders from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and top Armed Forces brass. His survival will no doubt be a bitter pill for Israeli planners who believed they had eliminated one of the most powerful architects of Iran’s regional military strategy. But it also raises questions about the accuracy of Iranian battlefield reporting. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Israel’s governing coalition is exploring the possibility of bringing Benny Gantz’s centrist Blue and White party into the government if far-right factions abandon ship over a deal to end the Gaza war, Army Radio reported Sunday. The potential pivot comes as Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben Gvir and Religious Zionism chief Betzalel Smotrich rage against a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal that would secure the release of Israeli hostages but effectively end the fighting in Gaza. According to reports, Ben Gvir is actively seeking Smotrich’s cooperation to block the deal, although Smotrich’s office denies agreeing to any such meeting. Fearing a far-right walkout, Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri is reportedly leading quiet contacts with Gantz to shore up coalition stability. The goal: a unity framework that could also address the thorny issue of drafting Charedi men into the military. Both Deri’s office and Blue and White denied the contacts, with Gantz’s party insisting, “We are not aware of such an appeal. As we have said before, we will provide a safety net for the return of the hostages and for appropriate political moves from the outside.” Opposition Leader Yair Lapid and Gantz have both pledged to support the hostage deal from the opposition benches, vowing not to let far-right hardliners sabotage the agreement. Gantz, who built his political brand as a centrist alternative to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, has left the door open to rejoining the government if national priorities demand it — setting the stage for a potential political earthquake should the far right choose to bolt. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Following the recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran, Israeli representatives have initiated high-level discussions in Moscow with senior Russian diplomats, focusing on Russia’s potential role in regional diplomacy involving both Iran and Syria.
Kan News reported that Israel has agreed to a Russian-brokered plan, under which Moscow would act as a go-between for Israel and Iran. The aim of the initiative is to use Russian influence to steer both the Iranian and Syrian situations toward a negotiated resolution.
Simultaneously, Israel is pushing to establish a separate enforcement mechanism in cooperation with the United States on the Iranian front. This matter is expected to be a central topic when Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu meets with President Donald Trump next week.
In anticipation of that meeting, Israeli officials are working on drafting a set of foundational agreements with the U.S. administration, drawing inspiration from the framework previously reached with Lebanon. The effort comes amid Trump’s warning that Washington could consider renewed military action if Iran escalates its nuclear activities.
{Matzav.com}
The leader of an MS-13 clique in New York City’s suburbs was sentenced Wednesday to 68 years in prison in a federal racketeering case involving eight Long Island murders, including the 2016 killings of two high school girls that focused the nation’s attention on the violent Central American street gang. Alexi Saenz pleaded guilty last year for his role in ordering and approving the killings as well as other crimes during a rash of bloody violence that prompted President Donald Trump to make several visits to Long Island and call for the death penalty for Saenz and other gang members during his first term in the White House. Saenz’s lawyers sought a sentence of 45 years behind bars, but prosecutors, who previously withdrew their intent to seek the death penalty, argued for a maximum sentence of 70 years. Saenz, addressing the court, asked for forgiveness from God, his family and the victims’ families, saying he wasn’t the same person he was all those years ago. “I know my apology will not repair the harm and pain that I have caused,” the now 30-year-old said in Spanish through a translator. “I know many of you do not accept my apology, but I want to say from the bottom of my heart that these words are sincere.” But prosecutor Paul Scotti dismissed Saenz’s apology as “self-serving.” He argued that Saenz remains committed to MS-13, citing an “extensive disciplinary record” while in custody that includes assaulting other inmates, refusing staff orders and possessing sharpened metal shanks, cellphones and other contraband. “Actions speak louder than words,” Scotti said in court. Judge Gary Brown, in handing down the sentence, said the reduction of two years from what prosecutors sought was in recognition of Saenz pleading guilty and avoiding a trial, as well as his efforts in convincing his younger brother, the gang’s second-in-command, to do the same. Jairo Saenz pleaded guilty to similar charges in January and also will faces decades in prison at his sentencing scheduled for September. Elizabeth Alvarado was among the parents of victims who spoke emotionally in court. She clutched a box containing the ashes of her 15-year-old daughter, Nisa Mickens. “Why did you take her?“ she asked as Alexi Saenz fixed his gaze elsewhere. “We are not supposed to bury our children.” Santos Castillo, the father of 15-year-old victim Javier Castillo, said he never dreamed of losing his son to violence when his family moved to the U.S. from their native El Salvador. “We came for lasting peace, work, and a better future for our children,“ he said in Spanish through a translator. “Our lives will never be normal again.” Outside court, Castillo said he accepted the judge’s decision. “I’m not able to be happy, but I’m satisfied,” he said. “It’s been painful. We’ve waited eight years for today.” George Johnson, the father of victim Michael Johnson, said he lives with guilt every day for letting his son walk out the door with Saenz and other gang members. He wore a white shirt bearing his son’s image and demanded Saenz look him in the face, but Saenz just bowed his head low. Outside court, Johnson called him “a coward.“ Saenz’s lawyer Natali Todd said afterward that she hoped the victims’ families could find some peace following the sentencing. “There are […]
Fresh details have surfaced regarding a potential ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, shedding light on the current stage of the ongoing discussions.
As reported by The New York Times, citing both an Israeli defense figure and an individual familiar with Hamas’s stance, the terms under consideration would include the release of 10 surviving hostages along with the return of the remains of 18 individuals. Both sources, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks, confirmed their knowledge of the proposed agreement.
In contrast to a prior U.S. framework introduced in May, which called for the release of all hostages by the end of the first week of a ceasefire, this latest draft sets out a slower timeline. Hostage releases and body transfers would take place in five separate phases stretched out over two months.
The revised plan also introduces a new element barring Hamas from broadcasting the handover of hostages on television. This shift comes after the widely criticized media spectacles that accompanied previous transfers during the temporary truce that began in January.
Three Israeli officials, who also spoke anonymously due to the sensitive diplomatic environment, shared that this renewed proposal seeks to offer Hamas firmer guarantees that a temporary pause in fighting could develop into a full and lasting end to the war.
Reports indicate that Hamas is expected to relay its decision to the international mediators by Friday night.
Should both parties sign off on the proposal, President Donald Trump is expected to formally present the agreement and will also act as “the sponsor and guarantor of the agreement’s implementation.”
Still, a separate individual with knowledge of Hamas’s perspective argued that this plan doesn’t present any major revisions—just a few minor tweaks from the proposal recently put forward by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff.
{Matzav.com Israel}
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller tore into tech billionaire Elon Musk on Fox News Tuesday night, dismissing him as an “outside voice” whose views hold no sway over Republicans rallying behind President Donald Trump’s sweeping spending bill. Miller’s remarks came after Fox host Laura Ingraham pressed him about Musk’s growing threats to primary Republicans who campaigned on fiscal restraint but ultimately backed what Trump calls his “Big, Beautiful Bill.” Musk, furious over what he describes as reckless spending, has publicly vowed to target those lawmakers. Miller fired back with a forceful defense of the bill, claiming it represents “the largest spending cut in American history” alongside “the largest tax cut, welfare reform, and border security package” ever passed. He insisted the bill will allow authorities to deport “millions upon millions of invaders,” and painted opposition to the measure as tantamount to endorsing fraud, waste, and a massive tax increase on American families. “To oppose this bill is to support the invasion,” Miller said, echoing Trump’s hardline immigration rhetoric. “To oppose this bill is to support continued giveaways and freebies to cheaters and scam artists.” Miller went on to blast Musk directly, saying: “They are not going to listen to an outside voice that does not represent the interests of the American people or the Republican Party.” With the Senate approving the measure earlier Tuesday, Miller predicted the House would quickly follow suit, brushing aside Musk’s interventions as irrelevant. “The House is going to rally behind President Trump to pass this bill for America,” he said. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A wave of concern has swept across the klal chassidishe yeshiva world following the closure of several yeshivos, leaving hundreds of bochurim without a place to learn. While some mosdos are reopening or merging, the broader landscape is facing unprecedented instability.
Among the causes cited for the closures are deepening financial struggles, exacerbated by the ongoing draft crisis in Israel, as well as a growing number of older bochurim who are resistant to traditional yeshiva structure and authority.
Despite the turmoil, several established and financially secure klal chassidishe yeshivos remain steady. These include Kiryas Melech (Tchebin), Meor Einayim of Rachmastrivka, Bobov, Amalah Shel Torah, Iyun HaTorah, Biala in Bnei Brak, and the major kibbutz yeshivos Chayei Torah in Beitar Illit and Oryasa in Yerushalayim. As previously reported, Chayei Torah recently received a parcel of land in Beitar for permanent construction of its new campus.
Amalah Shel Torah in Beitar, despite the recent passing of its rosh yeshiva, Rav Zev Feinstein zt”l, has managed to secure significant financial support to maintain operations. The youngest son of Rav Feinstein has taken over leadership.
One of the most shocking developments was the closure of the historic Zvhill Yeshiva in the Beis Yisroel neighborhood of Yerushalayim. The yeshiva administration had announced the closure a month ago.
Sources confirmed that Zvhill Yeshiva will reopen but with a selective admissions policy, under the leadership and oversight of Rav Yaakov Betelman, a noted mechanech affiliated with Nadvorna in Yerushalayim. The yeshiva aims to restructure and operate as a conventional yeshiva gedolah with full shiurim—Alef, Beis, and Gimmel—rather than just a kibbutz-style setting.
Another casualty is the kibbutz yeshiva Orah Shel Torah–Nezer HaTalmud, led by Rav Chanoch Ged Tyrnauer, which had opened just two years ago. The yeshiva had over 100 talmidim, many of whom had transferred from the now-defunct Toras Chaim Yeshiva.
About 20 top talmidim from Orah Shel Torah will reportedly merge with Yeshivas Tchechnov in Yerushalayim, where they will join Rav Tyrnauer. Tchechnov had been facing its own financial challenges in recent years, leading to the departure of many key staff members, including Rav Yosef Shereshevsky and Rav Yechezkel Teitelbaum.
Other talmidim from Orah Shel Torah will join a newly forming yeshiva kibbutz under the leadership of a prominent mechanech whose identity has not yet been made public.
Another klal chassidishe yeshiva closing its doors is Kosov-Vizhnitz in Beit Shemesh.
One veteran community askan pointed to the broader structural issue: While major Chassidishe courts such as Gur, Belz, Vizhnitz, Sanz, Boyan, Slonim, Karlin and others have well-established yeshivos backed by strong institutional funding, smaller independent klal chassidishe yeshivos—especially those still in rented facilities—struggle to survive. “Rent is what kills you,” he said bluntly.
Compounding the crisis is the growing number of so-called “older bochurim” in the Chassidishe yeshiva system who struggle with discipline and often reject the authority of mashgichim, making it difficult for many yeshivos to absorb them. As a result, hundreds of such bochurim currently have no framework and are, in the words of one source, “literally in the streets.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Ancient DNA has revealed a genetic link between the cultures of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, according to research published Wednesday in the journal Nature. Researchers sequenced whole genomes from the teeth of a remarkably well-preserved skeleton found in a sealed funeral pot in an Egyptian tomb site dating to between 4,495 and 4,880 years ago. Four-fifths of the genome showed links to North Africa and the region around Egypt. But a fifth of the genome showed links to the area in the Middle East between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, known as the Fertile Crescent, where Mesopotamian civilization flourished. “The finding is highly significant” because it “is the first direct evidence of what has been hinted at” in prior work,” said Daniel Antoine, curator of Egypt and Sudan at the British Museum. Earlier archeological evidence has shown trade links between Egypt and Mesopotamia, as well as similarities in pottery-making techniques and pictorial writing systems. While resemblances in dental structures suggested possible ancestral links, the new study clarifies the genetic ties. The Nile River is “likely to have acted as an ancient superhighway, facilitating the movement of not only cultures and ideas, but people,” said Antoine, who was not involved in the study. The skeleton was found in an Egyptian tomb complex at the archaeological site of Nuwayrat, inside a chamber carved out from a rocky hillside. An analysis of wear and tear on the skeleton — and the presence of arthritis in specific joints — indicates the man was likely in his 60s and may have worked as a potter, said co-author and bioarchaeologist Joel Irish of Liverpool John Moores University. The man lived just before or near the start of ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom, when Upper and Lower Egypt were unified as one state, leading to a period of relative political stability and cultural innovation — including the construction of the Giza pyramids. “This is the time that centralized power allowed the formation of ancient Egypt as we know it,” said co-author Linus Girdland-Flink, a paleogeneticist at the University of Aberdeen. At approximately the same time, Sumerian city-states took root in Mesopotamia and cuneiform emerged as a writing system. Researchers said analysis of other ancient DNA samples is needed to obtain a clearer picture of the extent and timing of movements between the two cultural centers. (AP)
In a significant development, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Yoel “Yuli” Edelstein is set to submit the finalized draft of the proposed military conscription law on Thursday. The legislation has been coordinated and agreed upon with the leaders of the chareidi factions and is expected to be passed within the next few weeks.
Matzav.com has learned that Edelstein has already informed senior members of the chareidi parties of his intention to present them with the draft version tomorrow. The draft is based on the principles agreed upon roughly three weeks ago during a series of high-stakes negotiations that preceded the preliminary vote on dissolving the Knesset.
Following its delivery to the chareidi representatives, the draft law will then be distributed to the rest of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee members.
Sources indicate that the coalition, responding to pressure from the chareidi factions and in coordination with Edelstein, intends to fast-track deliberations on the bill over the next two weeks. The goal is to conclude committee discussions and bring the legislation for its second and third readings in the full Knesset before the end of the summer session, which wraps up in less than a month.
However, it is important to note that once the draft is publicized, chareidi leaders will still need to submit it for review and approval by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah.
Meanwhile, growing pressure is being exerted by prominent rabbanim who oppose the bill’s current stipulations, including a clause mandating 50% enlistment from each draft cohort within four years and the implementation of both personal and institutional financial sanctions.
If the bill does indeed pass in the coming weeks, United Torah Judaism MK Yitzchok Goldknopf is expected to return to his former role as Minister of Housing, meaning Meir Porush would vacate the post—just weeks after stepping into it.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Saudi Arabia secretly participated in intercepting Iranian drones during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, according to Gulf sources cited by Yisrael Hayom. The Saudi air force reportedly scrambled helicopters to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles crossing regional airspace over Iraq and Jordan, halting their advance before they could reach Israel. While Riyadh has not publicly confirmed its involvement — and even condemned Israel’s strikes against Iran — the revelations point to a dramatic realignment in the Middle East, where Sunni powers increasingly see Iran as a shared threat worth countering, even if unofficially. Saudi Arabia’s air force, built on advanced U.S.-supplied systems, was bolstered by a major arms deal signed with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during Donald Trump’s first term and expanded during Trump’s most recent regional tour. Officials stressed, however, that Saudi airspace would not be opened for offensive strikes on Iranian territory. The drone war was part of a vast multinational operation involving Jordan, Britain, France, and the United States, coordinated under the umbrella of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Over 1,000 Iranian drones were launched toward Israel during the conflict, the majority intercepted far from Israeli borders thanks to a network of partners working in close cooperation. At the heart of that coordination stood CENTCOM commander Gen. Mike Kurilla, who oversaw a joint American command-and-control center linking the U.S., Israel, and European militaries in real time. Years of joint training exercises and intelligence-sharing paved the way for this rapid, integrated response, military sources said. Jordan publicly acknowledged its role in intercepting drones, noting that some fell on its soil and caused damage. France described its participation as defending its interests in Jordan, though avoided directly referencing Israel. Analysts say the unprecedented level of cooperation — including with countries that have no formal ties to Israel — could lay the groundwork for even broader regional realignments, possibly tied to President Trump’s proposed “mega-deal” aimed at reshaping Middle East alliances. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has decided to appoint MK Yisrael Eichler of United Torah Judaism as Minister of Housing and Construction, replacing MK Yitzchok Goldknopf, who resigned from the post several weeks ago.
Goldknopf stepped down amid frustration over the stalled progress on the proposed draft law—a key issue that has caused ongoing tensions between the chareidi parties and Likud.
According to the coalition agreements, the appointment is temporary: should Goldknopf choose to return to the cabinet, the Housing Ministry portfolio will revert to him.
The Knesset is expected to vote on Eichler’s appointment next week. Political observers note that the votes of Goldknopf and fellow Agudas Yisroel MK Yaakov Tesler will be closely watched, as internal tensions within the faction over ministerial roles continue to simmer.
The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement explaining that under the coalition agreement, the Housing Ministry was designated for United Torah Judaism and, within the party, allocated to the Agudas Yisroel faction.
Following Goldknopf’s resignation, several Agudas Yisroel MKs appealed to the prime minister to appoint Eichler to the role. However, due to the sensitive security situation at the time, Netanyahu temporarily assigned the position to Minister Chaim Katz as acting minister.
Now, with the situation more stable, Netanyahu has announced that he will fulfill the coalition agreement by officially appointing Eichler. The appointment will take effect on Monday, following the Knesset vote.
The Prime Minister thanked Goldknopf for his service in the ministry and emphasized that he is welcome to return to the post at any time. Should Goldknopf resume his ministerial role, Eichler will step down and return to his current position as chairman of the Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Deaths of ethnic Azerbaijanis rounded up by police for decades-old murders in a Russian city. The crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet that Baku blamed on Moscow. Growing ties between Azerbaijan and Turkey, along with waning Russian influence in the troubled South Caucasus region. These are among the factors that have led to the escalating tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan, the oil-rich Caspian Sea country where President Ilhan Aliyev has been in power since 2003 — almost as long as the 25-year rule of Vladimir Putin in Russia. Here is a look at the previously warm relationship between Russia and Azerbaijan and what has happened: Economic ties between Russia and Azerbaijan Russia and Azerbaijan developed strong economic and cultural ties after 1993 when Aliyev’s father, Heydar, who also was Azerbaijan’s Soviet-era Communist boss, became president. Like Putin, the younger Aliyev has suppressed political foes and restricted independent media. Azerbaijan has bought oil and natural gas from Russia to meet internal demand while exporting its own energy riches to the West. Russia also has been the main market for Azerbaijan’s fruit and vegetable exports. It also is a key transport corridor for Russia’s trade with Iran and other partners in the Middle East. Azerbaijani businessmen control significant assets in construction, real estate, trade and other sectors of the Russian economy. Russia is home to a sizable Azerbaijani diaspora. A 2021 census listed about a half-million ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Russia, but unofficial estimates put that number as high as 2 million. Relations with Baku have become increasingly important for the Kremlin since it sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, especially as Turkey has become a key economic partner for Russia as it faced sweeping Western sanctions. The Karabakh separatist conflict Just before the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, an open confrontation erupted between two of its former republics in the South Caucasus — Azerbaijan and its neighbor, Armenia. After years of fighting, Armenian-backed separatists won control of Azerbaijan’s region of Karabakh and nearby territories. Russia claimed neutrality in the conflict even though it provided economic assistance and supplied weapons to Armenia that hosted its military base. Moscow cosponsored peace talks under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, but they didn’t produce a deal. In 2020, Azerbaijan’s military, bolstered by weapons supplied by ally Turkey, recaptured broad swaths of territory that were held for nearly three decades by Armenian forces. Russia brokered a truce and deployed about 2,000 peacekeepers to the region. Azerbaijan reclaimed full control of Karabakh in September 2023 after a lightning military campaign. Russia, busy with its war in Ukraine, didn’t intervene, angering Armenia’s leadership that responded by scaling down its ties with Moscow and bolstering relations with the West. The victory in Karabakh has fueled Azerbaijan’s ambitions and prompted Aliyev to take a more assertive stand in relations with his neighbors. The crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight On Dec. 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet crashed while on a flight from Baku to Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya. Azerbaijani authorities said the jet was accidentally hit by fire from Russian air defenses, then tried to land in western Kazakhstan when it crashed, killing 38 of 67 people aboard. Putin apologized to Aliyev for what he called a “tragic incident” but stopped short of […]
A pair of career criminals behind a series of daring and methodical cash robberies across NYC were arrested Wednesday afternoon by the NYPD, thanks to the sharp vigilance of Boro Park Shomrim volunteers. The takedown occurred near 18th Avenue and Dahill Road, after the suspects targeted a van that had just withdrawn a large sum of money from a check-cashing store in Flatbush and traveled into Boro Park. The scheme was both simple and slick: one suspect, riding a bicycle, followed the van and punctured its tire a few blocks away. As soon as the driver exited to inspect the flat, the second suspect swooped in, climbed into the van, and made off with the cash. Unbeknownst to them, Boro Park Shomrim had already picked up on their suspicious behavior and were quietly tracking their movements. Volunteers coordinated with the NYPD while maintaining a tight visual, leading to the duo’s swift arrest by responding NYPD officers. Sources tell YWN that these two suspects are believed to be connected to a string of similar thefts throughout NYC, including in Williamsburg where they’ve used comparable tactics to target individuals and businesses transporting large sums of cash. Additional charges are expected as detectives continue to piece together the full extent of their operation. Following the arrest, Boro Park Chaverim volunteers and Quick Fix Mobile Tires responded to assist the victim with his slashed tire. THIS STORY WAS FIRST PUBLISHED ON THE BORO PARK SCOOP STATUS CLICK HERE SIGN UP TO THE BORO PARK SCOOP WHATSAPP STATUS TO BE INFORMED OF BORO PARK NEWS IN LIVE TIME (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
In an unimaginable continuation of tragedy for the Goldstein family, five-year-old Yisrael Ben Tzion Goldstein z”l was tragically killed this evening in a horrific accident on Rechov Petach Tikvah in the Romema neighborhood of Yerushalayim.
The levayah was held at the Shamgar funeral home, with kevurah on Har HaMenuchos.
This latest heartbreak comes on the heels of a devastating series of losses for the Goldstein family. In Elul of last year, the mother, Shoshana Goldstein a”h, passed away at the age of 34 following the birth of her twin daughters, Rivkah a”h and Bracha a”h, both of whom also tragically died.
As previously reported, Shoshana collapsed during what was expected to be a routine labor and was rushed to the hospital after being without oxygen for several minutes. Though doctors managed to restart her breathing, the prolonged lack of oxygen caused irreversible brain damage.
A rushed emergency C-section brought the twins into the world, but Rivkah passed away less than two days later. Shoshana succumbed two weeks later, and Bracha passed away five months after birth.
Now, the family is again plunged into mourning with the loss of young Yisrael Ben Tzion, described by those who knew him as a pure, gentle soul.
The bereaved father, Rav Moshe Goldstein, a distinguished talmid chacham, is one of the prominent talmidim of Rav Moshe Sternbuch.
Following the mother’s passing, the family relocated from Beit Shemesh to Yerushalayim, where they moved in with the maternal grandfather, Rav Dovid Neuwirth, a dedicated gabbai at the Chanechei HaYeshivos shul in Yerushalayim and a talmid chacham who learns in the Mir Yeshiva.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with greatness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shimon Menachem Frankel zt”l, rov of Central Tel Aviv and a revered spiritual guide to many. He was 89 years old and had been in declining health in recent years.
Rav Frankel was born on 12 Sivan 5696 (1936) to his father, the gaon Rav Yitzchak Yedidya Frankel zt”l, Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv and head of the city’s batei din, and to his mother, Rebbetzin Chana Leah a”h, daughter of Rav Chaim Elazar Brand z”l.
He married Rebbetzin Bas Tzion Esther, daughter of the rebbe Rav Yaakov Yosef Shlomo Halperin of Vaslui, the third admor in the Vaslui dynasty and father of the current rebbe. Together, they built a warm and welcoming home in Tel Aviv, where they lived for decades until her passing in Shevat 5776.
Their home was renowned as a beacon of hospitality in the heart of the bustling city, always open to those in need. Whether travelers, the lonely, or the downtrodden, many found shelter and comfort between their walls.
rav Frankel was appointed the rav of the Antopol community in central Tel Aviv, where he served faithfully for many years. For his livelihood, he had previously served as the public complaints commissioner at Bank Leumi.
A man of many talents and great breadth of knowledge, Rav Frankel was a talmid chochom, writer, and maggid shiur. He was known for his tireless pursuit of tzedakah and chesed, and he was cherished by all.
In his later years, Rav Frankel moved to Bnei Brak, where he continued his avodas Hashem despite his frailty, davening with dedication at the Mohilever shul.
He is survived by an illustrious family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, all following in his path. His brother-in-law is Rav Yisrael Meir Lau, former Chief Rabbi of Israel.
The levayah was held today at his home at 2 Ovadia in Bnei Brak, with kevurah at the Nachalas Yitzchak Cemetery in Tel Aviv.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Vietnam Wednesday that would allow U.S. goods to enter the country duty-free. Vietnamese exports to the United States, by contrast, would face a 20% levy. On his Truth Social platform, Trump declared the pact “a Great Deal of Cooperation between our two Countries.” In April, Trump announced a 46% tax on Vietnamese imports — one of his so-called reciprocal tariffs targeting dozens of countries with which the United States runs trade deficits. Trump promptly suspended the reciprocal tariffs for 90 days to allow for negotiations like the one with Vietnam. The pause expires Tuesday, but so far the Trump administration has reached a trade agreement with only one of those countries — the United Kingdom. (Trump has also reached a “framework” agreement with China in a separate trade dispute.) “Vietnam has been very keen to get out from under this,” said Mary Lovely, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. ”This is forcing a smaller country to eat it, basically. We can do that. It’s the big countries that everybody’s keeping their eyes on.” She doubts that Trump will be able to impose such a lopsided agreement on big trading partners such as the European Union and Japan. The United States last year ran a $122 billion trade deficit with Vietnam. That was the third-biggest U.S. trade gap — the difference between the goods and services it buys from other countries and those it sells them — behind the ones with China and Mexico. In addition to the 20% tariffs, Trump said the U.S. would impose a 40% tax on “transshipping” — goods from another country that stop in Vietnam on their way to the United States. Washington complains that Chinese goods have been dodging higher U.S. tariffs by transiting through Vietnam. A February study in the Harvard Business Review found that there was “much less rerouting than previously believed.” In May, Vietnam approved a $1.5 billion project by the Trump Organization and a local partner to build a massive golf resort complex near Hanoi, covering an area roughly the size of 336 football fields. Vietnam was a beneficiary of American efforts to counter China’s influence. Companies looking to diversify their supply chains away from China flocked to Vietnam. In 2023, it became the only country to host both President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on state visits. That year, the U.S. upgraded Vietnam to its highest diplomatic status—comprehensive strategic partner—placing it on par with China and Russia. (AP)
UPSTATE, NY – August 7, 2025 – Yamim Baim will make Jewish music history at the legendary Bethel Woods with the first ever open-air Jewish concert of this magnitude. Throughout this unforgettable evening of unity and song, Chassidic music icon Avraham Fried, the genre-blending music of Zusha, and soulful rising star Shmuel will join Ishay Ribo onstage throughout his full-length evening concert. More details A Night of Unity, Music, and Connection Making Jewish music history on the storied grounds of the 1969 Woodstock festival, this landmark event will unite New York’s Jewish community around heartfelt and joyous music of connection and prayer. “This event is a landmark achievement for Jewish music,” a producer shares. “The pristine upstate setting, the high production quality, and the powerful moments we’ll share together – there’s never been anything like this.” With tens of thousands of fans worldwide, Ishay Ribo’s music has become the soundtrack of a generation. Yamim Baim will mark his largest North American performance to date, featuring immersive sound, breathtaking visuals, and new arrangements developed exclusively for this event. The evening’s guest artists represent the diverse sounds and stories of today’s Jewish world: legendary Chassidic music icon Avraham Fried’s timeless melodies from the heart, Zusha’s lively and soul-filled innovation, and Shmuel’s soft blend of timeless Jewish song. On a grassy hillside under the open sky, these four artists will captivate an audience of thousands with songs of hope, joy, and the Jewish soul. Yamim Baim is already setting new standards for Jewish music production. From the custom lighting design to a one-of-a-kind acoustic system that preserves the raw beauty of the open air venue while delivering world-class clarity, every technical element is crafted with intention. “Nothing is recycled here,” a producer explains. “Every detail, from the flow of the night’s songs to the sound and visuals, is being custom made for maximum meaning.” Bethel Woods Built on the site of the legendary 1969 Woodstock festival, Bethel Woods stands as one of America’s most iconic venues – a natural amphitheater with world-class acoustics and sweeping outdoor views. Hosting Yamim Baim here marks the first time in history that a Jewish concert of this scale will take place at such a historic site, powerfully celebrating Jewish pride and presence on a stage that is seen as one of the world’s most prestigious. “To come here, a place that defined a whole generation, and fill it with songs of tefillah, emunah, and our unity; it’s a moment of unparalleled power,” a team member reflects. “It’s taken years to make this dream come true.” Bethel Woods offers two distinct ways to experience the concert, each with its own atmosphere: The Pavilion: WIth covered, tiered seating under a roof, excellent sightlines, and an intimate, concert-hall feel, pavilion seating is perfect for fans who want to sit back and take in every moment in comfort. The Lawn: A vast, open grassy hill where you bring your own blanket or low-back chair, enjoying the show under the stars. The lawn creates a more casual, social atmosphere, ideal for families, camp groups, or anyone who wants to relax, dance, and soak up the star-filled night. One Night. One Nation. One Song. Yamim Baim is produced by Davidson Artists Management in collaboration with Bnei Akiva of the United States and Canada, this is an exclusive, one-night-only experience. Whether you’re coming with family, friends, camp, or community, Yamim Baim promises to be the most meaningful Jewish concert event of the year. August 7, 2025, Bethel Woods, […]
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has issued a public apology to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, backing away from comments she made last week warning that Mamdani had referenced “global jihad” in past statements. The senator’s retreat, first reported by Politico, came after a wave of outrage from left-wing activists and progressive allies determined to shield Mamdani from scrutiny, despite the fact that questions about his record and rhetoric had resonated with many New Yorkers worried about extremism. During a Thursday appearance on WNYC, Gillibrand responded to a caller who pressed her about Mamdani’s alleged support for Hamas, agreeing that voters had reason to be “alarmed” about Mamdani’s statements, specifically mentioning “references to global jihad.” But progressive forces, eager to protect a candidate who would be New York’s first Muslim mayor, quickly went on the attack, denouncing Gillibrand’s remarks as bigoted and inaccurate. Among those piling on was New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who slammed the senator and claimed no one should face “comments that slur their ethnicity [or] religious beliefs,” ignoring legitimate security concerns many voters have raised. By Friday, Gillibrand had already begun backpedaling, telling Rolling Stone that she had “misspoke” on the radio. Then on Monday, in a call with Mamdani, she went even further, apologizing and expressing regret for not separating her views more clearly from the caller’s language. A readout obtained by Politico revealed Gillibrand praised Mamdani’s supposed commitment to protecting all New Yorkers and even agreed with him that Republican attacks on his record were “outrageous and unacceptable.” The senator’s office said she and Mamdani would meet face-to-face in New York City soon to discuss other issues including affordability and public safety. Progressives cheered the apology as a victory, but critics argue Gillibrand caved under political pressure, prioritizing her standing with the activist left over the genuine national-security concerns shared by many of her constituents. In a city still haunted by the specter of terrorism, voters may wonder whether their elected officials are willing to speak honestly about radical threats — or whether they will continue to fold the moment activists cry foul. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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