The Pentagon’s latest report on UFOs has revealed hundreds of new reports of unidentified and unexplained aerial phenomena but no indications suggesting an extraterrestrial origin. The review includes hundreds of cases of misidentified balloons, birds and satellites as well as some that defy easy explanation, such as a near-miss between a commercial airliner and a mysterious object off the coast of New York. While it isn’t likely to settle any debates over the existence of alien life, the report reflects heightened public interest in the topic and the government’s efforts to provide some answers. Its publication comes a day after House lawmakers called for greater government transparency during a hearing on unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs — the government’s term for UFOs. Federal efforts to study and identify UAPs have focused on potential threats to national security or air safety and not their science fiction aspects. Officials at the Pentagon office created in 2022 to track UAPs, known as the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, or AARO, have said there’s no indication any of the cases they looked into have unearthly origins. “It is important to underscore that, to date, AARO has discovered no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity, or technology,” the authors of the report wrote. The Pentagon’s review covered 757 cases from around the world that were reported to U.S. authorities from May 1, 2023, to June 1, 2024. The total includes 272 incidents that occurred before that time period but had not been previously reported. The great majority of the reported incidents occurred in airspace, but 49 occurred at altitudes estimated to be at least 100 kilometers (62 miles), which is considered space. None occurred underwater. Reporting witnesses included commercial and military pilots as well as ground-based observers. Investigators found explanations for nearly 300 of the incidents. In many cases, the unknown objects were found to be balloons, birds, aircraft, drones or satellites. According to the report, Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite system is one increasingly common source as people mistake chains of satellites for UFOs. Hundreds of other cases remain unexplained, though the report’s authors stressed that is often because there isn’t enough information to draw firm conclusions. No injuries or crashes were reported in any of the incidents, though a commercial flight crew reported one near miss with a “cylindrical object” while flying over the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New York. That incident remains under investigation. In three other cases, military air crews reported being followed or shadowed by unidentified aircraft, though investigators could find no evidence to link the activity to a foreign power. For witnesses who provided visual descriptions, unidentified lights or round, spherical or orb-shaped objects were commonly reported. Other reports included a witness who reported a jellyfish with flashing lights. During Wednesday’s hearing on UAPs, lawmakers heard testimony from several expert witnesses who have studied the phenomena, including two former military officers. The discussion included fanciful questions about alien intelligence and military research using alien technology as well as concerns that foreign powers may be using secret aircraft to spy on U.S. military installations. Lawmakers said the many questions about UAPs show the need for the government to closely study the issue — and share those findings with Americans. “There is something out there,” said Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee. […]
Headlines from the satirical website the Onion on Thursday: “New Dating Site Suggests People You Already Know But Thought You Were Too Good For.” “Trump Boys Have Slap Fight Over Who Gets to Run Foreign Policy Meetings.” “Here’s Why I Decided to Buy Infowars.” Only one has the ring of truth. Sort of. The bylined author of the Infowars article, Bryce P. Tetraeder, doesn’t actually exist. And the Onion doesn’t plan to invest in business school scholarships for promising cult leaders. But the Onion’s purchase of Alex Jones’ conspiracy-theory-saturated media empire at a bankruptcy auction tied to lawsuits by the families of Sandy Hook shooting victims is very real — an effort to fight falsehoods with funny and a who’d-have-thunk-it development in an already somewhat unbelievable year. An element of doubt was added late Thursday when the judge in Jones’ bankruptcy case ordered a hearing for next week on how the auction was conducted. On Thursday, The Onion immediately shut down Infowars and said it plans to relaunch it in January as a parody of conspiracy theorists. “Our goal in a couple of years is for people to think of Infowars as the funniest and dumbest website that exists,” said Ben Collins, the Onion’s CEO. “It was previously the dumbest website that exists.” It’s the end — at least for now — of a long chapter The purchase, for an undisclosed sum, was backed by Sandy Hook families, who were awarded nearly $1.5 billion in lawsuits against Jones for his false claims that the 2012 shootings at a Connecticut elementary school were a hoax. The new Infowars will be a satire of theories Jones advanced, which themselves were so absurd that they could have seemed satirical if they hadn’t caused real-life harm. The development ends one tentacle of a loose network of podcasters, TikTok influencers and others whose content keeps people perpetually provoked and enraged, Collins said. He called Jones one small character in a universe of fear-based media. “They’ve had a free pass to this point and we don’t think that’s fair,” he said. At the very least, he said, the Onion hopes to return some fun to the Internet to offset years of doomscrolling. In Collins, who once covered misinformation for NBC News, the new venture has a leader uniquely suited to what is being attempted, said Dale Beran, who made this year’s Netflix documentary, “The Anti-Social Network,” about the topic. The Onion, founded as a newspaper in 1988, has gone through several ownership changes and was purchased earlier this year by a group that includes Jeff Lawson, co-founder of the software company Twilio. Since then, Beran said, it “feels like there is new life breathed into it.” Done well, a satirical site on conspiracy theories and those who traffic in them could meet a historical moment much like comedian Stephen Colbert did when his Comedy Central show, “The Colbert Report,” mocked pompous conservative television talk show hosts a decade and more ago. And what will happen when some of Jones’ casual fans who didn’t follow the news of the bankruptcy auction log on to Infowars in a few months only to find the Onion’s new creation? Probably not much, said Beran, who suggested it’s unlikely there’s much overlap between people attracted by conspiracy theories and those who want to mock them. Conspiracy theories abound […]
It is with deep regret that YWN informs you of the petirah of Harav Refoel Yehoshua Halevi Kalish zt”l, a mammoth talmid chochom, beloved rav of the Harborview Bais Medrash in Lawrence, NY, and longtime R”M at Yeshiva Derech Ayson in Far Rockaway. He was around 80 years old. A musmach of Bais Medrash Govoha, Rav Yehoshua zt”l, inspired countless others simply by his example. An extraordinary masmid – known for finishing Shas yearly and a gemara being with him at every waking moment – he exuded the air of a true ben torah, thereby influencing those around him to increase their limud hatorah and maximize every moment they had. He also delivered many shiurim every week, including daf yomi at Shaarei Tefillah of Lawrence. Levaya details will be published when they become available. Baruch Dayan Ha’emes. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The ancient Roman Colosseum will be the venue of gladiator fights — albeit staged — for the first time in two millennia under a $1.5 million sponsorship deal with Airbnb that aims to promote “a more conscious tourism.” But some visitors to the monument Thursday, as well as housing activists, were skeptical about the value of the arrangement, citing ongoing controversies in many cities over the role of short-term rental platforms in fueling overtourism and limiting affordable housing for residents and students. Under the deal announced by Airbnb and the Colosseum on Wednesday, the sponsorship by the short-term rental giant will cover the renewal of an educational program inside the ancient Roman amphitheater covering the history of the structure and gladiators. Eight of the platform’s users and their plus-ones will be able to participate in faux gladiator fights after the Colosseum’s closing time on May 7-8, taking the same underground route used by gladiators in ancient Rome to reach the arena. People can apply for the experience on Nov. 27 at no cost, and the “gladiators” will be chosen by lottery. The superintendent of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, Alfonsina Russo, told The Associated Press that the deal is in conjunction with the release of Ridley Scott’s new film “Gladiators II,” which opened in Italy on Thursday. Russo characterized the sponsorship arrangement as one of the many such deals to help finance projects at the park. The Italian fashion brand Tod’s, for example, has funded a multimillion renovation of the Roman monument, including a cleaning, replacing the locking system of arches with new gates and redoing the subterranean areas. Alberto Campailla, the coordinator of the Nonna Roma nonprofit organization that focuses on housing and food for the poor, called the campaign with Airbnb “a disgrace,” and a form of “touristification.” Airbnb and other platforms offering short-term rentals “are literally driving people out of not only the city center, but also the outskirts and suburban neighborhoods,” Campailla said. Tourists from other European cities grappling with overtourism also took issue with the deal. “It seems to me that the purpose of the Colosseum today is to be a tourist attraction, but not to create an amusement park within it,” said Jaime Montero, a tourist visiting from Madrid. “In the end, tourism eats the essence of the cities, here in Rome, as in other capitals.” Visiting from Naples, Salvatore Di Matteo saw the deal as “yet another takeover of the territory” by big companies. “If they start to touch sacred monuments such as the Colosseum here in Rome, it is obviously something that should make us think and is, in any case, a bit worrying,” he said. The Colosseum is the most important and largest amphitheater constructed by the ancient Romans. Built in the 1st century, it was the center of popular entertainment, hosting hunts and gladiator games, until the 6th century. (AP)
As President-elect Donald Trump moves to set up a more forceful presidency than in his first term, he is choosing loyalists for his Cabinet and considering a tool known as recess appointments to skip over Senate confirmations for even some of the most powerful positions in U.S. government. Trump over the weekend demanded that Republican leaders in the Senate, who will hold a majority in the chamber next year, agree to allow recess appointments. It would be a significant shift in power away from the Senate, but Trump is returning to Washington with almost total support from his party, including the more traditional Republicans who still hold sway in the chamber. Their commitment, however, is being tested now that Trump has turned to picked people outside the Republican Party mainstream like former Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii for top positions. It quickly became apparent Wednesday that figures like Gaetz, who Trump announced as his choice for attorney general, may struggle to gain majority support from the Senate, even though Republicans will enjoy a 53-seat majority. But that may not matter if Trump is able to use recess appointments. How do recess appointments work? The Senate, as set up by the U.S. Constitution, holds an important role in confirming — or rejecting — high-level officials like Cabinet positions, judges and ambassadors. It’s part of the government’s checks and balances that ensures the president does not get to unilaterally rule. However, there is a clause in the Constitution that allows presidents to fill out their administrations while the Senate is in recess. During the nation’s early history, Congress would take months-long breaks from Washington, and presidents could use recess appointments to avoid having an important job go unfilled. But more recently, the process of recess appointments has been featured in partisan fights with the president. President Bill Clinton made 139 recess appointments and President George W. Bush made 171, though neither used the process for top-level Cabinet positions, according to the Congressional Research Service. President Barack Obama tried to continue the practice, using it 32 times, but a 2014 Supreme Court ruling put a check on the president’s power to make recess appointments. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the Senate has to recess or adjourn for 10 days before a president can make unilateral appointments. That’s resulted in a practice where the Senate — even during weeks-long breaks from Washington — still holds pro-forma sessions where one senator opens and closes the chamber, but no legislative business is conducted. The House also holds some power over recess appointments by refusing to allow the Senate to adjourn. Why is Trump demanding recess appointments? Trump envisions becoming a president who is much stronger and forceful than perhaps any before him. While still president in 2020, Trump threatened to use recess appointments after Democrats had slowed the Senate from confirming his nominees. He threatened to use a presidential power in the Constitution to adjourn both chambers of Congress on “extraordinary occasions” and when there is a disagreement between the House and Senate on adjourning. When Trump becomes president again next year, he will be working with Republicans who hold a majority in the House and Senate and are promising to back his agenda. But the demand for recess appointments allows Trump to flex his political power and potentially ram through […]
How do you remove children from the harms of social media? Politically the answer appears simple in Australia, but practically the solution could be far more difficult. The Australian government’s plan to ban children from social media platforms including X, TikTok, Facebook and Instagram until their 16th birthdays is politically popular. The opposition party says it would have done the same after winning elections due within months if the government hadn’t moved first. The leaders of all eight Australian states and mainland territories have unanimously backed the plan, although Tasmania, the smallest state, would have preferred the threshold was set at 14. But a vocal assortment of experts in the fields of technology and child welfare have responded with alarm. More than 140 such experts signed an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese condemning the 16-year age limit as “too blunt an instrument to address risks effectively.” Details of what is proposed and how it will be implemented are scant. More will be known when legislation is introduced into the Parliament next week. The concerned teen Leo Puglisi, a 17-year-old Melbourne student who founded online streaming service 6 News Australia at the age of 11, laments that lawmakers imposing the ban lack the perspective on social media that young people have gained by growing up in the digital age. “With respect to the government and prime minister, they didn’t grow up in the social media age, they’re not growing up in the social media age, and what a lot of people are failing to understand here is that, like it or not, social media is a part of people’s daily lives,” Leo said. “It’s part of their communities, it’s part of work, it’s part of entertainment, it’s where they watch content – young people aren’t listening to the radio or reading newspapers or watching free-to-air TV – and so it can’t be ignored. The reality is this ban, if implemented, is just kicking the can down the road for when a young person goes on social media,” Leo added. Leo has been applauded for his work online. He was a finalist in his home state Victoria’s nomination for the Young Australian of the Year award, which will be announced in January. His nomination bid credits his platform with “fostering a new generation of informed, critical thinkers.” The grieving mom-turned-activist One of the proposal’s supporters, cyber safety campaigner Sonya Ryan, knows from personal tragedy how dangerous social media can be for children. Her 15-year-old daughter Carly Ryan was murdered in 2007 in South Australia state by a 50-year-old who pretended to be a teenager online. In a grim milestone of the digital age, Carly was the first person in Australia to be killed by an online predator. “Kids are being exposed to harm, they’re being fed misinformation, there are body image issues, there’s extortion, online predators, bullying. There are so many different harms for them to try and manage and kids just don’t have the skills or the life experience to be able to manage those well,” Sonya Ryan said. “The result of that is we’re losing our kids. Not only what happened to Carly, predatory behavior, but also we’re seeing an alarming rise in suicide of young people,” she added. Sonya Ryan is part of a group advising the government on a national strategy to prevent and […]
A series of rocket strikes from Lebanon targeted northern Israel, with at least ten rockets identified as crossing into Israeli territory. According to an IDF Spokesperson, “Some were intercepted, while others resulted in impacts.” One of the affected sites included an empty shul in the Carmel neighborhood, and another saw a vehicle catch fire, causing damage to nearby structures. Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics transported six individuals to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa. Five sustained minor injuries while seeking shelter, and a 16-year-old girl suffered from anxiety. The Fire and Rescue Authority reported no known casualties or individuals trapped at the sites. However, firefighters, along with medical teams and Israeli police, continued to search the affected areas to rule out any potential injuries. “We will provide further updates as more details emerge,” the authority said. Following the rocket strikes in the Haifa area, the IDF Home Front Command’s Haifa District units were deployed to survey the impacted zones and provide assistance. Local authorities, security forces, and emergency services joined the effort. The Israel Electric Corporation reported significant infrastructure damage in Haifa due to the strikes. “Repairs are complex, and it is estimated that restoring power to the area will take several hours,” the utility company said. Haifa’s municipal teams, including the mayor, city manager, and welfare units, were dispatched to assess damage sites. They worked to identify unexploded ordnance and debris from rocket interceptions while cordoning off damaged areas for public safety. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
On Thursday morning, Boro Park Shomrim responded to a report of a burglary at the Viznitzer Shul on 53rd Street. The call to the Shomrim hotline launched a swift response from volunteers, who immediately began collecting video evidence and tracking the suspects. Footage revealed a surprising scene: three perpetrators, including one in a wheelchair, another pushing the wheelchair, and a third walking nearby. The trio was seen breaking into the Shul and stealing a significant amount of money and checks before fleeing the scene. Their plan included a getaway car stationed approximately a mile away, which they reached on foot. Shomrim volunteers meticulously tracked the vehicle’s movements, leveraging high-tech surveillance cameras installed throughout Boro Park. After hours of careful investigation, they managed to identify the car’s license plate, a crucial breakthrough in the case. This information was promptly shared with the NYPD for further action. On Friday afternoon, a tip came in that the suspect’s vehicle had been spotted driving in the Flatbush area within the NYPD 61st Precinct’s jurisdiction. Shomrim quickly coordinated with Flatbush Shomrim, the NYPD’s 66th Precinct in Boro Park, and the 61st Precinct in Flatbush. Officers deployed to the area located the suspect’s car parked in a neighborhood street. A heavy police presence was maintained until the suspect returned to the vehicle. After several hours of surveillance, officers apprehended the suspect involved, bringing the burglary investigation to a successful conclusion. 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)
At Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport, more than a year of war has taken its toll. Global airlines have canceled flights, gates are empty and pictures of hostages still held in the Gaza Strip guide the few arriving passengers to baggage claim. But one check-in desk remains flush with travelers: the one serving flights to the United Arab Emirates, which have kept up a bridge for Israelis to the outside world throughout the war. The Emirati flights, in addition to bolstering the airlines’ bottom line, have shined a light on the countries’ burgeoning ties — which have survived the wars raging across the Middle East and could be further strengthened as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to office. “It’s a political and economic statement,” said Joshua Teitelbaum, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University. “They are the main foreign airlines that continue to fly.” Since the wars began with Hamas’ initial Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, many international airlines have halted, restarted and halted again their flights into Israel’s main gateway to the rest of the world. The concern is real for the carriers, who remember the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine 10 years ago and Iran shooting down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 after takeoff from Tehran in 2020. But FlyDubai, the sister airline to the long-haul carrier Emirates, has kept up multiple flights daily and kept Israel connected to the wider world even as its other low-cost competitors have stopped flights. Abu Dhabi’s Etihad has continued its flights as well. While maintaining the flight schedule remains politically important for the UAE after its 2020 diplomatic recognition of Israel, it also provided a further shot in the arm for revenues — particularly for FlyDubai. Since the wars started, international carriers such as Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc., Germany’s Lufthansa and other major airlines halted their flights. Some resumed, only to stop again after Iran’s Oct. 1 ballistic missile attack on Israel and Israel’s Oct. 26 retaliatory strike on the Islamic Republic. Tehran has threatened to strike Israel again. That’s brought major business to Israel’s national carrier El Al, which had struggled in the coronavirus pandemic and prior years. The airline posted its best-ever half-year results this year, recording a $227 million profit as compared to $58 million profit in the same period last year. El Al stock has risen by as much 200% over the last year, as compared to a 29% rise in the wider Tel Aviv 125 stock market index. El Al, however, lacks the routes and connections of major international carriers. Low-cost carriers as well have stopped flying into Israel during periods of the war, sending the price of El Al tickets ever higher. Passenger numbers through Ben Gurion halved compared to the same period the year before, El Al said in its second-quarter financial results. However, FlyDubai has kept flying. The carrier has operated over 1,800 flights to Israel since October last year, cancelling only 77 flights overall, according to Cirium, an aviation analytics company. In September alone, it flew over 200 flights. As a line snaked toward the FlyDubai check-in counters at Ben Gurion Airport, UAE-bound Motti Eis said the flights were “a symbol that the Emirates countries decided to keep the peace.” FlyDubai declined […]
LAWRENCE, NY – Many residents of the Village of Lawrence were taken aback Shabbos morning when they discovered parking tickets on their windshields. These citations were issued between 4:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., mere moments after candle lighting that marks the beginning of Shabbos for the Jewish community. The vehicles were parked in a lot that allows parking after 6:00pm. The timing of these tickets has sparked widespread concern and outrage among the observant Jewish residents. For the frum community, this is seen not just as an inconvenience but as an affront to their religious practices. In light of these events, several residents reached out to Mayor Shlomo Nahmias following last Shabbos to express their dismay and to seek a resolution. According to the residents, the Mayor assured them that the ticketing agents would be informed about the significance of Shabbos and the early start times, emphasizing the importance of understanding and respecting the community’s religious practices. Despite these assurances, the recent issuance of tickets has left many feeling anxious about future enforcement actions. The residents of the Village of Lawrence has historically been a vibrant and diverse community, with a significant Jewish population that adheres strictly to religious practices, including the observance of Shabbos. The village’s parking regulations, while necessary for maintaining order and accessibility, must also consider the unique needs of its residents. Village officials, including members of the Lawrence Village Justice Court, are expected to review the recent incidents and address community concerns in upcoming meetings. Residents who wish to contest their tickets are advised to contact the court for more information on the appeals process. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Iran International television reported that Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the ailing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is poised to assume leadership of Iran after his father’s death—and potentially even during his lifetime. The report claims that Iran’s Assembly of Experts, a powerful body responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader, held a highly secretive meeting on September 26 to deliberate on Mojtaba’s succession. According to sources, the meeting was convened at Khamenei’s personal request, with roughly 60 council members summoned without warning. While the decision to support Mojtaba’s appointment was ultimately unanimous, insiders allege it was reached under duress. Some members reportedly opposed both the process and the selection itself but were pressured and threatened by representatives of the Supreme Leader to secure their compliance. To avoid potential backlash, the meeting was conducted under stringent secrecy, with members warned of severe consequences if any details were leaked. According to the report, Khamenei feared that public knowledge of the discussion would ignite widespread protests, given the deep economic and social challenges currently facing the Iranian people. Over the past two years, Ayatollah Khamenei has been grooming Mojtaba for leadership, despite his lack of formal political or military experience. Mojtaba has begun playing a prominent role in decision-making, a strategy analysts believe is designed to normalize his leadership and secure his position as a successor. Some sources suggest Khamenei may even transfer power to Mojtaba while still alive to ensure the transition occurs smoothly and under his direct influence. The potential succession has sparked concerns over the stability of the Iranian regime. Critics argue that keeping leadership within the Khamenei family could fuel internal tensions, particularly as Iran grapples with a crumbling economy and widespread discontent. Such a move could be seen as an attempt to consolidate power within a dynasty, undermining the legitimacy of the regime in the eyes of many Iranians. The prospect of Mojtaba’s rise has also attracted international attention. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently addressed the Iranian people directly, urging them to reject the regime and offering cooperation in stabilizing Iran’s economy in exchange for peaceful coexistence with Israel. Meanwhile, Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, living in exile, has positioned himself as an alternative leader, promising to help guide Iran toward a democratic future if called upon by the people. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Biden administration officials are working against the clock doling out billions in grants and taking other steps to try to preserve at least some of the outgoing president’s legacy before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. “Let’s make every day count,” President Joe Biden said in an address to the nation last week after Vice President Kamala Harris conceded defeat to Trump in the presidential race. Trump has pledged to rescind unspent funds in Biden’s landmark climate and health care law and stop clean-energy development projects. “There’s only one administration at a time,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told reporters at a news conference Thursday. “That’s true now, and it will also be true after January 20th. Our responsibility is to make good use of the funds that Congress has authorized for us and that we’re responsible for assigning and disbursing throughout the last three years.” But Trump will control more than the purse strings come January. His administration also can propose new regulations to undo some of what the Biden administration did through the rule-making process. Here are some of the moves the Biden administration is taking now: Getting infrastructure spending out the door Biden administration officials hope that projects funded under the $1 trillion infrastructure law and $375 billion climate law will endure beyond Biden’s term and are working to ensure that money from the landmark measures continues to flow. On Friday, Buttigieg announced over $3.4 billion in grants for projects designed to improve passenger rail service, help U.S. ports, reduce highway deaths and support domestic manufacturing of sustainable transportation materials. ”We are investing in better transportation systems that touch every corner of the country and in the workers who will manufacture materials and build projects,″ he said. “Communities are going to see safer commutes, cleaner air and stronger supply chains that we all count on.″ Speeding up environmental goals Announcements of major environmental grants and project approvals have sped up in recent months in what White House officials describe as “sprinting to the finish” of Biden’s four-year term. The Environmental Protection Agency recently set a nationwide deadline for removal of lead pipes and announced nearly $3 billion to help local water systems comply. The agency also announced that oil and gas companies for the first time will have to pay a federal fee if they emit dangerous methane above certain levels. The Energy Department, meanwhile, announced a $544 million loan to a Michigan company to expand manufacturing of high-quality silicon carbide wafers for electric vehicles. The loan is one of 28 deals totaling $37 billion granted under a clean-energy loan program that was revived and expanded under Biden. “There is a new urgency to get it all done. We’re seeing explosions of money going out the door,” said Melinda Pierce, legislative director of the Sierra Club. Biden and his allies ”really want to finish the job they started.” Ukraine aid Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters this week that Biden wants to “spend down the authority that Congress has allocated and authorized before he leaves office. So we’re going to work very hard to make sure that happens.” The Biden administration would have to rush $7.1 billion in weapons — $4.3 billion from the 2024 supplemental and $2.8 billion that is still on the books in savings due to the Pentagon recalculating the value of systems […]
Israeli authorities have launched a criminal investigation after two flares were fired at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in Caesarea on Saturday. The flares landed in the yard, causing no damage or injuries. Police confirmed that Netanyahu and his family were not at home during the incident. The act has drawn widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum. Opposition leader Yair Lapid and National Unity chairman Benny Gantz called for swift action, urging law enforcement to hold the perpetrators accountable. President Isaac Herzog labeled the attack “a highly dangerous incident, which I strongly condemn,” adding that he had spoken with the Shin Bet chief to stress the urgency of the investigation. Herzog warned, “We must not let these flames rise further. I continue to warn against political violence: this is a matter of our very survival.” This marks the second security breach at Netanyahu’s residence in recent weeks. Last month, a Hezbollah drone struck the Caesarea property, causing damage but no injuries. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Iran sent “written assurances” to the Biden administration last month that it wouldn’t try to kill then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. According to Biden administration officials, the “secret exchange” between Iran and US was meant to cool tensions between Tehran and Washington. Of course, the more likely explanation is the “Trump Effect” – Iran, which has repeatedly attempted to assassinate Trump and some of his officials from his first administration, began fearing the consequences it would face if Trump won the presidential election. Iran’s message was delivered on October 14 but was not previously reported, the report said. It was sent in response to a private US warning in September that it considers Iran’s attempts to assassinate Trump a “top-tier” national security issue and any attempt on his life would be treated as an act of war. Last week, the US Justice Department announced charges against Iranian agents who were plotting to assassinate Trump before he was possibly re-elected as president, the most recent attempt in a series of Iranian assassination plots against Trump and his first administration officials. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)
A Chareidi man accidentally entered the Palestinian village of Abu Dis on erev Shabbos. The local Arabs attacked him and burned his car. Officers from the IDF’s Civil Administration contacted Palestinian officials, who extracted him from the village and brought him to Israel. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)
President-elect Donald Trump plans to implement “maximum pressure” sanctions on the Islamic Republic to financially bankrupt it and paralyze its funding of its terror proxies, the Financial Times reported. According to the report, Trump’s transition team is already preparing a plan to target Iran, and the sanctions may be issued on his first day in office. Trump particularly wants to target Iran’s oil exports, aiming to decrease their current oil exports of 1.5 million barrels a day to 400,000 a day. “He’s determined to reinstitute a maximum pressure strategy to bankrupt Iran as soon as possible,” a national security expert familiar with the Trump transition team said. Trump’s planned policy toward Iran stands in sharp contrast to that of President Joe Biden, who warned Israel not to target Iran’s nuclear or oil sites before the IDF’s October 26 attack. Bob McNally, an energy consultant and former US presidential adviser, said the sanctions could leave Iran in an even worse economic situation than it was during Trump’s first term. “If they really go whole hog . . . they could knock Iran’s oil exports back to a few hundred thousand barrels per day,” he said. “It’s their main source of earnings, and their economy is already much more fragile than it was back then . . . They’re in a corner much worse than even the first term, and it would be a pretty bad situation.” (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)
The IDF on Motzei Shabbos announced that an IDF soldier fell in battle in southern Lebanon on Friday. He was named as Sgt. Ori Nisanovich, H’yd, 21, from Jerusalem. He fought in the Golani Brigade’s 13th Battalion. Nisanovich attended the Avinoam-Evyatar Yeshiva. His death increases the death toll of IDF soldiers since the start of the war to 795. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman It has all the hallmarks of an epidemic, spreading from school to school, from class to class, and from neighborhood to neighborhood. It is plaguing ten year-old girls and even those as young as seven or eight. Yes, the S – Epidemic is here, and is causing major anxieties in the neshamos of our precious young girls. It is a battle for the very Neshama of our children and their emotional well-being. Young girls ages 7-13 are obsessed with Sephora.Foundation, creams, gels, face masks, facial peels, Drunk Elephant products – the ultimate in gashmius for even third graders! It is clear as day that young girls do not need to spend time, money, and emotional energy and angst on makeup or skincare products at their age. The new trend is undermining the hard efforts of our Torah teachers. One Sephora employee is quoted as saying, “I have seen elementary and middle school girls in [school] uniforms, who purchased maybe 500 dollars worth of products.” The culprits are the influencers, tik tok videos, and social media. So what is the solution? The Mishnah in Pirkei Avos (4:1) teaches: “Who is honored? One who honors others.” If your daughter feels pressure to wear makeup or use certain beauty products to be “cool,” share with her the wisdom of Ben Zoma, who understood that true honor comes from how we treat others, not from external appearances. The Alter of Kelm teaches that seeking others’ approval through superficial means is like “drinking salt water to quench thirst” – it only increases the craving. Have a gentle conversation about why she thinks these products are important. Often, the underlying worry is about fitting in or being liked. The Ramban, in his famous letter to his son, emphasizes that true beauty emerges from speaking gently and treating all people with respect. Ask her why her friends like spending time with her. Is it because she’s kind? Funny? A good listener? These qualities align with what the Torah considers true beauty. Decoding Beauty Marketing Young girls are especially vulnerable to beauty advertising messages. The Chofetz Chaim warns against being swayed by the superficial desires that others instill in us. As it says in Pirkei Avot (4:21): “Jealousy, desire, and honor remove a person from the world.” Help your daughter become more ad-savvy by discussing: The Mesillas Yesharim teaches that advertising creates artificial desires that distance us from our true purpose Rav Dessler explains in Michtav M’Eliyahu that the more we chase material desires, the more enslaved to them we become The Vilna Gaon teaches that what appears perfect on the outside often conceals emptiness within (like filtered photos) Rav Volbe in Alei Shur discusses how media manipulation can slowly erode our values Practical Protection Strategies The Rambam teaches in Hilchos De’os that maintaining physical and spiritual health requires establishing healthy boundaries. Consider: Creating “ad-free zones” in your home where beauty marketing can’t reach Making a game of spotting manipulative marketing tactics The Orchos Tzaddikim’s teachings on cultivating genuine self-worth Social Media Awareness Rav Dessler would likely have viewed social media as one of the greatest tests of our generation regarding artificial desires. Consider: The Peleh Yoetz’s teachings about protecting our eyes and minds Having open discussions about filtered images through the lens of […]
Four bystanders were shot dead in the last 18 months because of gang rivalries in upper Manhattan, authorities said Thursday as they announced the indictments of dozens of people in a yearslong welter of gunfire, robberies, weapons deals, car crashes and more. One shooting injured a woman who was eight months pregnant and was sitting in a parked car, police and prosecutors said. Another sent bullets flying into a crowded basketball court, where an onlooker was hit in the chest. Those victims survived. But four other bystanders, aged 44 to 66, did not. The violence “impacted the entire neighborhood — a climate of fear among ordinary residents,” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said at a news conference. The 30 defendants are charged with various crimes, with some facing murder charges. Some defendants have pleaded not guilty, while others have yet to be arraigned. Prosecutors say a 2018 killing touched off a chain of retaliatory brutality among three groups, known as the 200/8 Block, the 6 Block crew and the Own Every Dollar crew, also dubbed O.E.D. Authorities say the groups operate in the Inwood area and adjacent Washington Heights, the neighborhood where the Tony Award-winning musical and movie “In The Heights” are set. In text and social media messages, members threatened rivals and talked up violent plans, according to the indictment. One defendant told an ally to hang out with one of their rivals, smoke pot with him and bring him downstairs, adding, “He gonna get it bad. Make sure he don’t got a knife or nothing,” Altogether, the groups are accused of 18 shootings that killed a total of seven people. The prosecutions are “going to have a huge impact” on safety in the neighborhood, NYPD Deputy Chief Brian Gill said at the news conference. (AP)
