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President Trump hosts Members of Congress at the newly-renovated Rose Garden: “You’re the first ones on this great place — we call it the Rose Garden Club.”

Stephen Miller on Making D.C. Safe Again: “You’re only seeing the very beginnings of this. During the first few weeks, of course, we’ve seen these radical reductions in violent crime. We’re just getting started.”

ICE released footage of its raid on the Hyundai–LG battery plant construction site in Georgia, showing restrained workers being escorted out as 457 people were detained.

The Los Angeles Police Department ended its protection detail for former Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday, following internal criticism that officers were being pulled away from crime-fighting duties, according to sources cited by the LA Times.

Satellite imagery revealed the stunning eye of Hurricane Kiko, a powerful Category 4 storm churning across the Pacific as Hawaii watches its path closely.

The DOT wants to withdraw a rule proposed under the Biden administration that would require airlines to provide compensation, rebooking and transportation-related expenses for passengers facing significant delays or cancellations caused by airlines.

The US is not talking about regime change in Venezuela, President Trump said, as the US ordered an additional 10 stealth fighter jets to be deployed in the Caribbean.

ELIMINATED: The evil Gazan terrorist who boasted of murdering 10 Jews “with his own hands” during the October 7 massacre was eliminated in an IDF airstrike in Gaza on Thursday, Gazan media reported on Shabbos. According to the reports, Mahmoud Afana was killed in an airstrike in Deir al-Balah.

Students across New York returned to school Tuesday under the state’s new bell-to-bell cellphone restrictions, marking a major change in classroom and campus culture from kindergarten through 12th grade. The new policy requires students to stow their phones in lockers or, in some schools, secure them in locked pouches until the final bell rings. Reactions among students have been mixed. Teachers are also adjusting to the new rules, with some rethinking classroom practices that once relied on smartphones for quick photos or digital assignments. Parents have voiced mixed opinions. Some expressed concern about losing direct communication during the school day. The law provides exemptions for students requiring medical monitoring, as well as those with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or other special learning needs. Parents are still able to reach their children through school offices, and students may use school phones to call home if necessary. The cellphone ban, passed earlier this year by state lawmakers and signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, is part of a broader effort to limit distractions and improve in-person social interaction in schools. Officials say they will continue to monitor the rollout as districts adapt to the change. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Shaare Zion, the largest Sephardi shul in Brooklyn, has announced that proof of voter registration will now be required for members and their spouses to reserve seats for Yomim Noraim — a groundbreaking policy believed to be the first of its kind in the frum community. The announcement comes two months before New York City voters head to the polls to elect a new mayor. In a letter to members, the shul’s executive committee expressed concern that the outcome of the election could have major implications for the safety and quality of life of Jewish communities across the city. “As a result, we have no choice but to require that all of our members and their spouses provide proof of voter registration prior to securing their High Holiday seats,” the letter states. The committee emphasized that while Yidden ultimately rely on Hashem for protection, hishtadlus is essential. The letter encouraged all eligible members to register to vote, providing a city registration link for convenience. “While we daven and rely on Hashem for the safety of our community, we believe we must put in our best effort to try to avoid a very serious danger that can affect all of us,” the committee wrote. The decision is being praised as a revolutionary step that could serve as a model for other kehillos, inspiring greater engagement and achrayus in elections that directly impact the future of Jewish life in the city. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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Sniper Studios Presents: HaMayer

Prepare to be swept away by the soul-stirring debut album of Mayer Engel, HaMayer, a musical journey that blends timeless emotion with a modern energy all its own.

This album is a true collaboration of talent, featuring the remarkable child vocalist group E-Minor (Featuring Nesanel Tuvia Gottesman, Yisroel Kravitz, Yosef Rooz, and Yitzchok Zinger) whose voices elevate the music to new heights. The tracks were masterfully arranged by the gifted Shloimi Schinfeld and ZELIG, with the exceptional vocals recorded at Sniper Studios, ensuring every note hits with precision and heart.

Mayer Engel himself shines as both a composer and performer, composing seven of the songs, including “Ir Al Tila,” “Torah,” and “HaMayer,” each one a testament to his deep connection to the music and his roots.

Also featured are the contributions of Sam Glazer, Shimi Maryles, and ZELIG,  who composed songs for this album.

As a special touch, Mayer’s son, Shimmy, makes a guest appearance, adding his unique voice to the album.

And last but certainly not least, a heartfelt thank you to Nochi Krohn for allowing Mayer and E-Minor to cover and recreate his beautiful song V’nikeisi — a perfect way to honor the rich traditions of Jewish music.

HaMayer is not just an album, but an experience—one that will leave you inspired, uplifted, and moved by the incredible talents of Mayer Engel and his collaborators.

Project Manager – Nachum Dovid Stamm

Media by – Little Brook Studios | Visit https://www.LittleBrookStudios.com

Elephant Painting by: Shira Cenzer

Connect with Mayer Engel:

Email – mayerengelmusic@gmail.com

WhatsApp – 917-830-4905

Visit – https://www.MayerEngel.com

Sniper Studios Presents: HaMayer Prepare to be swept away by the soul-stirring debut album of Mayer Engel, HaMayer, a musical journey that blends timeless emotion with a modern energy all its own. This album is a true collaboration of talent, featuring the remarkable child vocalist group E-Minor (Featuring Nesanel Tuvia Gottesman, Yisroel Kravitz, Yosef Rooz, and Yitzchok Zinger) whose voices elevate the music to new heights. The tracks were masterfully arranged by the gifted Shloimi Schinfeld and ZELIG, with the exceptional vocals recorded at Sniper Studios, ensuring every note hits with precision and heart. Mayer Engel himself shines as both a composer and performer, composing seven of the songs, including “Ir Al Tila,” “Torah,” and “HaMayer,” each one a testament to his deep connection to the music and his roots. Also featured are the contributions of Sam Glazer, Shimi Maryles, and ZELIG,  who composed songs for this album. As a special touch, Mayer’s son, Shimmy, makes a guest appearance, adding his unique voice to the album. And last but certainly not least, a heartfelt thank you to Nochi Krohn for allowing Mayer and E-Minor to cover and recreate his beautiful song V’nikeisi — a perfect way to honor the rich traditions of Jewish music. HaMayer is not just an album, but an experience—one that will leave you inspired, uplifted, and moved by the incredible talents of Mayer Engel and his collaborators. Project Manager – Nachum Dovid Stamm Media by – Little Brook Studios | Visit https://www.LittleBrookStudios.com Elephant Painting by: Shira Cenzer Connect with Mayer Engel: Email – mayerengelmusic@gmail.com WhatsApp – 917-830-4905 Visit – https://www.MayerEngel.com

The evil Gazan terrorist who boasted of murdering 10 Jews “with his own hands” during the October 7 massacre was eliminated in an IDF airstrike in Gaza on Thursday, Gazan media reported on Shabbos. According to the reports, Mahmoud Afana was killed in an airstrike in Deir al-Balah. Afana’s disturbing conversation in which he boasted about the murders was publicized two and a half weeks after the massacre by then-Foreign Minister Eli Cohen at a UN Security Council discussion. In a call he made from the phone of one of the victims, Afana was heard saying to his father, “I’m talking to you from a Jewish woman’s phone. I killed her and her husband, with my own hands. I killed 10.” Afana told his father he was speaking from Kibbutz Mefalsim. “Open my WhatsApp now and see all those killed. Look how many I killed with my own hands. Your son killed Jews! I’m calling you on WhatsApp; open the phone, go. Put Mother on.” Mother says, “Oh my son, G-d bless you!” “I swear, 10 with my own two hands, Mother. I killed ten with my own hands.” His mother said, “I wish I were with you.” Afana replied, “Mother, your son is a hero.” His brother then joined the conversation, asking, “You killed 10?” Afana confirmed, “Yes, I killed 10, I swear.” His brother urged him to return to Gaza, to which Afana replied, “Return? There’s no return. It’s either death or victory. How can I return? Open WhatsApp, and see how many are dead. How I killed them with my own hands.” During Cohen’s speech at the session, he said, “October 7 will be remembered in history as no less than a cruel massacre; it is a day when the whole world was awakened against extremism. More than 1,500 Hamas and Jihad terrorists infiltrated Israel with cruelty reminiscent of ISIS, murdering more than 1,400 children, babies, women and men, and wounding over 4,000.” Cohen added, “They went from house to house, massacred entire families. People in their beds, in the streets, on the way to the synagogue. Burned them alive. Danced and sang on bodies. You weren’t there; you didn’t see the horror. Think of the innocent people who just woke up on a Saturday morning; so many of them have not yet been brought to burial. This massacre will be remembered in history as a terrible act worse than ISIS; Hamas are the new Nazis.” (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

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President Donald Trump announced on Friday that talks are ongoing with Hamas about freeing the hostages, cautioning that the outcome would be severe if the captives are not released. “We’re in very deep negotiation with Hamas. We said, ‘Let them all out. Right now, let them all out.’ And much better things will happen for them. But if you don’t let them all out, it’s going to be a tough situation. It’s going to be nasty. That’s my opinion,” he said while addressing journalists in the Oval Office.

The President noted that he had reason to believe some of the roughly 20 hostages who were previously thought to be alive may have died in recent days, though he stressed this was not confirmed. “That’s what I heard. I hope I’m wrong,” Trump remarked.

Earlier in the week, Trump had already weighed in on the crisis involving the Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Using his Truth Social account, he urged the terrorist organization to release the 20 surviving hostages all at once, pledging that such an action would immediately bring the conflict to a close. “Tell Hamas to immediately give back all 20 Hostages (Not two or five or seven!), and things will change rapidly. It will end!” he wrote.

In reaction to Trump’s statement, the Hostages Families Forum expressed gratitude but also clarified their position. “President Trump, you have shown your commitment to us through the darkest times, but we respectfully wish to make it clear: this nightmare cannot end for our nation until ALL 48 hostages are accounted for – both those who survived and those who were brutally murdered during these 700 days of hell. President Trump, uphold your promise to us, which you made multiple times – bring all 48 hostages home and end this war. Our loved ones, held by Hamas terrorists, are counting on your leadership to bring them home now. The living and deceased have all run out of time. This is your moment to fulfill your most sacred promise,” the group declared.

Following this, Adam Boehler, Trump’s Special Envoy for Hostage Response, also issued a sharp message to Hamas. After the group suggested it was open to a broad deal with Israel while still holding onto its earlier demands, Boehler posted on X: “Hamas best pay attention to ⁦@realDonaldTrump,” attaching a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared moments ago that he would remain in the running for another term, dismissing growing rumors that he might be lured away by a position in the Trump administration.

Speculation intensified during the day after The New York Times revealed that advisers to President Trump had discussed the possibility of offering Adams and Republican hopeful Curtis Sliwa roles in Washington. The move was said to be aimed at pushing both men out of the race and setting up a direct contest between Andrew Cuomo and Zohran Mamdani.

Sliwa made it clear that he would not accept any role in the administration, but Adams earlier in the day had indicated he might be open to considering such opportunities, though he emphasized that “he hadn’t received any formal offer.”

If Adams continues in the campaign, his decision complicates attempts to unite opposition to Mamdani, the Democratic nominee who describes himself as a democratic socialist, under a single challenger. Cuomo, who has consistently polled in second place, has advocated for candidates to step aside if needed to strengthen efforts to block Mamdani’s path to victory.

With several candidates still in the race, opponents of Mamdani fear that the divided field could enable him to secure an easy win. Polls show him maintaining a comfortable lead, although he has yet to capture an outright majority of support.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Eric Adams insisted again Friday that he won’t end his reelection campaign, stressing that he’ll remain in the race as reports swirl that he’s been approached about possibly taking a job in the Trump administration. In a hastily called news conference at the mayor’s official residence, Gracie Mansion, Adams declared “I am in this race. And I am the only one who can beat Mamdani,” referring to the Democratic nominee, Zohran Mamdani. “How many times have I been told throughout this journey to step aside, to surrender, to give up, to give in,” he said. “That’s the same thing we tell everyday New Yorkers. Everyday New Yorkers are not giving up, are not giving in, are not surrendering, so their mayor is not going to do that.” Adams has spent the week fending off news reports that intermediaries for President Donald Trump had contacted people in the mayor’s orbit to talk about whether he would consider abandoning his campaign to take a federal job. Earlier Friday, Adams, a Democrat, released a statement that said he “will always listen if called to serve our country” but that he had not yet received any “formal offers.” Trump has told reporters he would prefer not to have Mamdani, 33, as the next mayor of the largest U.S. city. He said he’d like to see two of the three other major candidates taking on Mamdani — the other two are former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who like Adams is running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa — leave the race to create a one-on-one contest. Moments after Adams’ announcement, President Donald Trump was asked about it by reporters at the White House. “He’s free to do what he wants,” Trump said of Adams. Trump continued: “Cuomo might have a chance of winning if it was one-on-one,” while adding “if you have more than one candidate running against (Mamdani), it can’t be won.” During a trip to Florida this week, Adams met with Steve Witkoff, a former real estate developer in New York who is now one of Trump’s main diplomatic envoys in Washington, according to a person briefed on the discussions who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the talks. It was unclear what specifically was discussed. In an interview, former Democratic New York Gov. David Paterson said he spoke with the mayor on Wednesday morning. Adams told him he wanted to remain in the race but had received offers, according to Paterson. “He said, ‘Listen, they say I have some offers. I have a lot of offers.’ Then he started laughing. And he was saying that, you know, he really doesn’t want to leave and he’s trying to work that out so he doesn’t have to,” said Paterson, who has endorsed Adams for reelection. “He didn’t get specific about it, but I got that in his heart of hearts, he really wants to stay. But I also got that, even though he didn’t say it, that the odds can’t be very good,” he added. Mamdani won the Democratic nomination after soundly defeating Cuomo in the primary. Cuomo is running as an independent, as is Adams, who skipped the Democratic primary, saying he was sidelined from campaigning by his now-dismissed federal […]

Health officials in Maine announced Friday that three people have been diagnosed with active tuberculosis, the infectious illness that remains the leading cause of death worldwide.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the patients, all located in the Portland region, had no ties to each other. This indicates that each of them contracted the illness from separate sources.

A spokesperson for the CDC told the Portland Press Herald that investigators are working to track down and test everyone who may have been in close contact with the infected individuals.

Tuberculosis, a bacterial illness, damages the lungs and other organs, often resulting in breathing problems and severe internal injury. The infection can also spread to the spine, kidneys, and brain.

Warning signs include a lingering cough that may produce blood or phlegm, fever, and chest pain.

The World Health Organization notes that tuberculosis claims more lives than any other disease globally, with an estimated 1.25 million people dying from it each year, primarily in poorer nations.

In the United States, 565 deaths were recorded from tuberculosis in 2022, the latest year for which statistics are available.

Maine health officials say that while the state is seeing a rise in reported cases, there is currently no widespread outbreak.

By the end of July this year, 28 tuberculosis cases had been documented across the state, according to the Maine CDC.

“The three active cases in Maine are not genetically linked, meaning they were not transmitted from one person to another,” said Lindsay Hammes, spokesperson for the Maine CDC.

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned on Friday that any Western troops stationed in Ukraine would be regarded as “legitimate targets for defeat,” issuing a new warning against proposals for international forces to be sent in once the fighting halts.

“This is one of the root causes (of the war): trying to involve Ukraine in NATO,” Putin said while addressing an economic conference in Russia’s Far East. “So if any troops appear there, especially during the ongoing hostilities, we assume they will be legitimate targets for defeat.”

His comments followed an announcement in Paris a day earlier, where European and Allied governments backed a joint plan for security support after the war. During that gathering, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 26 nations had signed on to provide guarantees for Kyiv, potentially including military help “in the sky, in the sea and on the ground.” French President Emmanuel Macron further described the pledges as possible deployments “by land, sea or air” once the fighting stops.

Putin argued that the arrival of outside forces would only hinder efforts if Russia and Ukraine manage to reach a political agreement. “If decisions are reached that lead to long-term peace, then I simply see no reason for their presence on Ukrainian territory,” he said. “Because if such agreements are reached, let no one doubt that Russia will fully implement them.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reinforced Putin’s position, stressing Moscow’s grievances with NATO and equating Western security commitments to Ukraine with further expansion of the alliance eastward.

“What was one of the root causes of this conflict? It was when the foundations of security guarantees for our country began to be eroded, when Ukraine was being drawn into NATO, and when NATO’s military infrastructure began moving toward our borders,” Peskov said, according to Russian state outlets. He noted that any final deal would have to include assurances “to both us and the Ukrainians.”

The warnings from Moscow came at the end of a week in which Putin engaged in high-profile diplomacy, including a trip to Beijing, where he stood together with Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. While there, Putin revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump had personally asked him to hold direct discussions with Zelenskyy about ending the conflict.

“Donald asked me if it was possible to hold such a meeting. I said yes, it is possible. In the end, if Zelensky is ready, let him come to Moscow. Such a meeting will take place,” Putin said. He added that Russia would guarantee the Ukrainian president’s safety if he came to the capital.

Zelenskyy rejected the proposal outright, saying Moscow was again attempting to stall genuine negotiations. “Our American partners told me that Putin had invited me to Moscow. In my opinion, if someone wants the meeting to not take place, they should invite me to Moscow,” Zelenskyy said Thursday.

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, stated that Kyiv is prepared for face-to-face discussions but only in a neutral setting. “Right now, at least seven countries are ready to host a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia to bring an end to the war — Austria, the Holy See, Switzerland, Türkiye, and three Gulf states,” he wrote on social media.

{Matzav.com}