CNN says President Trump’s “legacy is going to be sealed” in the OBBB: “This could not be a bigger deal for President Trump & for this administration.” “They have figured out…how to work the system in their favor.”
The decision by the United States to pause some weapons shipments to Ukraine has come at a tough time for Kyiv: Russia’s bigger army is making a concerted push on parts of the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line and is intensifying long-range drone and missile attacks that increasingly hammer civilians in Ukrainian cities. Washington has been Ukraine’s biggest military backer since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor on Feb. 24, 2022. But the Trump administration has been disengaging from the war, and no end to the fighting is in sight, despite recent direct peace talks. Here’s a look at Ukraine’s options following the U.S. pause of some arms deliveries: Specific weapons needed from U.S. Amid recurring concerns in Kyiv about how much military support its allies can supply and how quickly, Ukraine has raced to build up its domestic defense industry. The country’s output has gradually grown, especially in the production of more and increasingly sophisticated drones, but Ukraine needs to speedily scale up production. Crucially, some high-tech U.S. weapons are irreplaceable. They include Patriot air defense missiles, which are needed to fend off Russia’s frequent ballistic missile attacks, but which cost $4 million each. That vital system is included in the pause, and many cities in Ukraine, including Kyiv, could become increasingly vulnerable. A senior Ukrainian official said Thursday that Patriot systems are “critically necessary” for Ukraine, but U.S.-made HIMARS precision-guided missiles, also paused, are in less urgent need as other countries produce similar assets. “Other countries that have these (Patriot) systems can only transfer them with U.S. approval. The real question now is how far the United States is willing to go in its reluctance to support Ukraine,” he told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of sensitivity of the subject. The official said that Patriot missiles exist in sufficient numbers globally, and he said that accessing them requires political resolve. “There are enough missiles out there,” he said, without providing evidence. He also stated that Ukraine has already scaled up its domestic production of 155 mm artillery shells, which were once critically short, and is now capable of producing more than is currently contracted. “Supplies from abroad have also become more available than before,” he said. Backup plan Amid at times fraught relations with U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been enlisting greater European help for his country’s arms manufacturing plans. European countries don’t have the production levels, military stockpiles or the technology to pick up all the slack left by the U.S. pause, but Zelenskyy is recruiting their help for ambitious joint investment projects. Draft legislation to help Ukrainian defense manufacturers scale up and modernize production, including building new facilities at home and abroad, will be put to a vote in the Ukrainian parliament later this month, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced this week. Zelenskyy said last month that major investments will go to the production of drones and artillery shells. “The volume of support this year is the largest since the start of the full-scale war,” he said about commitments from foreign countries. Under Trump, there have been no new announcements of U.S. military or weapons aid to Ukraine. Between March and April, the United States allocated no new help at all, according to Germany’s Kiel Institute, which tracks such support. For the first time since June 2022, four months after Russia’s full-scale invasion, […]
Israel Police announced on Thursday afternoon that Staff Sgt. Yaniv Elyakam, z’l, a Central District police officer, was killed on duty this morning in a traffic accident during police activity. He was run over and killed while stationed in Netanya. The niftar, a 42-year-old resident of Netanya, is survived by his wife, four children, his mother, and five brothers and sisters. Yehi Zichro Baruch. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Nissan is recalling more than 480,000 of its vehicles across the U.S. and Canada due to potential manufacturing defects that could cause engine failure. The recall covers certain Nissan Rogues between 2021-2024 model years and 2019-2020 Altimas — as well as a number of 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50s and 2022 Infiniti QX55s sold under the automaker’s luxury brand, according to Nissan and documents published by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration this week. The vehicles impacted carry specific “VC-Turbo” engines that may have manufacturing defects in their bearings, the NHTSA’s recall report notes. This may cause engine damage and possibly lead to engine failure while driving, the regulator warns — increasing crash risks. Engine bearing failures “are not typically instantaneous and tend to progress over time,” the NHTSA’s recall report notes. That means effected drivers may see multiple warning signs to look out for — including abnormal noises or malfunction indicator lights. In the U.S., 443,899 vehicles are covered in this recall, per NHTSA documents. And in Canada, 37,837 are affected, a Nissan spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday. As a remedy, the NHSTA’s recall report notes, Nissan and Infiniti dealers will inspect the engine pan of these-now recalled cars — and repair or replace the engine if necessary. The recall covers vehicles with either 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L VC-Turbo engines. Potential repairs — which will be performed free of charge — will depend on the engine and whether or not debris is detected during the inspection. In an emailed statement, Nissan said it initiated this recall as part of its “ongoing commitment to customer safety.” And in late August, the company added, notification letters will be mailed out to affected owners “with instructions to bring their vehicle to a Nissan dealer or INFINITI retailer for inspection and repair if necessary.” In the meantime, drivers can also confirm if their specific vehicle is included in this recall and find more information using the NHTSA site or Nissan’s recall lookup. (AP)
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An urgent meeting was held this Tuesday at the Chief Rabbinate of Israel to formulate a solution to the issue of the Jewish kevarim discovered at a construction site in Yehud, Kikar H’Shabbat reported. Various Chareidi groups have been waging a battle against the chillul of the kevarim for over a month, with thousands participating from all circles in protest rallies and daily protests in the field. Various Rabbinical and rabbinical courts have issued rulings and letters of protest against the excavations. Following the discussion earlier this week, the Chief Rabbinate sent a letter to the Director-General of the Antiquities Authority, the Vice President of the Aura Company, an urban renewal construction company, and the Asra Kadisha, in which they called for a halt of all work in the area until the halachic issues can be clarified. However, the p’sak was blatantly ignored, and the company continued carrying out chillul kevarim. Shocking photos of the outcome show scenes of shattered kevarim and skeletons and skulls rolling around in disgrace. On Thursday, the Chief Rabbanim wrote a strongly worded letter of protest, stating, “The terrible scene in which engineering equipment is seen brutally destroying the Jewish beis kevaros in Yehud is shocking to every soul. “Chief Rabbanim Rav Kalman Meir Bar and Rav David Yosef strongly protest against this criminal act, which is a severe blow to kadshei Yisrael. Harming a Jewish cemetery in the way it was done is reminiscent of dark days, and it is doubly painful that it was done by Jews. What justification does this give us in the face of attempts to destroy Jewish cemeteries around the world, as many wish to do? “The Chief Rabbanim strongly protest against this crude activity and call for an immediate halt to the destruction and devastation of the ancient beis kevaros in Yehud.” The shocking video below shows Jewish niftarim from the days of Bayis Sheini after being brutally uprooted from their kevarim by Aura Israel bulldozers. They were transferred to garbage bags and thrown away. Mishpacha Hebrew editor Aryeh Erlich published the shocking photo below last month, writing: “I’m sorry I have to post such a picture, but staying silent is worse. In the past, such actions would have shaken the foundations. With what complacency do they disturb the rest of those who dwell in the dust? Who permitted Aura Israel to desecrate Jewish kevarim? Does a real estate frenzy justify crimes against the dead? And why does the Chareidi public remain silent, leaving the struggle to the people of Jerusalem?” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
The IDF announced that it eliminated the terrorist cell responsible for launching rockets from northern Gaza toward Sderot and Ibim on Wednesday. The strike was carried out shortly after the launch by IAF aircraft, based on intelligence provided by the IDF and Shin Bet (ISA). IDF forces continue extensive operations across Gaza, targeting terrorist infrastructure, weapons caches, and underground tunnel systems. In northern Gaza, troops located and destroyed tunnel shafts and multiple military structures used by terror groups. The Nahal Brigade joined operations in the north, striking dozens of terror targets. During their mission, soldiers identified and eliminated an approaching terrorist. In Khan Younis, troops located a significant cache of weapons, including rifles, handguns, magazines, and mortars. Meanwhile, forces operating in the Rafah area dismantled dozens of additional terror infrastructure sites. Over the past 24 hours, the Israeli Air Force struck approximately 150 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including sniper posts, underground routes, and weapons storage sites. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Clouds build up in the early afternoon and gusty winds push in every direction. The skies darken and then comes the rain — often a downpour that is gone as quickly as it came. This seasonal dance marks a special time for the southwestern United States and Mexico. It is when residents clasp their hands, hoping for much-needed moisture to dampen the threat of wildfire and keep rivers flowing. Forecasters say it has been a wet start to this year’s monsoon season, which officially began June 15 and runs through the end of September. Parts of New Mexico and West Texas have been doused with rain, while Arizona and Nevada have been hit with dust storms, which are a common hazard of the season. In other parts of the world, monsoons often mean months of never-ending rain. In North America, the season can have considerable variability. The bursts and breaks depend on how much moisture is circulating and which way the wind blows. Easing drought The monsoon relies on the buildup of summer heat and shifting wind direction, which helps funnel moisture from distant bodies of water to areas where rain is sparse. Just ahead of the monsoon, officials with the Navajo Nation declared an emergency because of worsening drought conditions across the reservation, which spans parts of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. Below-average precipitation month after month has left little forage for livestock, and fire danger has ramped up as pockets of moderate and severe drought expand. Ranchers and farmers are being urged to reduce their herds, shift to drought-tolerant crops and limit irrigation. New Mexico’s governor also declared an emergency in May because of severe drought and escalating fire risk. Forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Integrated Drought Information System say monsoonal rainfall only provides a fraction of the West’s water supplies, with the majority coming from snowpack. Still, summer rains can reduce drought impacts by lessening the demand for water stored in reservoirs, recharging soil moisture and groundwater, and reducing the risk of wildfires. New Mexico and Arizona typically stand to benefit the most from the North American monsoon, getting anywhere between 10% to 60% of their annual precipitation during the season. It has a lesser influence in Nevada and California, though southern Nevada on average gets 20% to 25% of its precipitation during the summer. Along the Rio Grande at the base of the Jemez Mountains, Santa Ana Pueblo farmers are eagerly watching the afternoon skies. Pueblo Gov. Myron Armijo said they have already had several good downpours, and he wouldn’t mind more. Flooding fears With summer rains come increased river flows and in some cases flooding in normally dry washes and across the scars left by wildfires. Sandbag stations have been set up in communities across the region — from Tucson, Arizona, to Albuquerque and San Antonio, Texas. In Española, state transportation workers have closed a historic bridge that funnels traffic across the Rio Grande, citing concerns about higher flows further eroding a concrete pier. On the edge of the Gila National Forest, New Mexico National Guard troops have delivered dozens of pallets of filled sandbags for residents who are preparing for flooding following a blaze that has charred about 74 square miles (192 square kilometers). Meanwhile, hundreds of firefighters are […]
House Republicans propelled President Donald Trump’s $4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill to final congressional passage Thursday, overcoming multiple setbacks to approve his signature second-term policy package before a Fourth of July deadline. The tight roll call, 218-214, came at a potentially high political cost, with two Republicans joining all Democrats opposed. GOP leaders worked overnight and the president himself leaned on a handful of skeptics to drop their opposition and send the bill to him to sign into law. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York delayed voting by holding the floor for more than eight hours with a record-breaking speech against the bill. “We have a big job to finish,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. “With one big beautiful bill we are going to make this country stronger, safer and more prosperous than ever before.” The outcome delivers a milestone for the president, by his Friday goal, and for his party,. It was a long-shot effort to compile a lengthy list of GOP priorities into what they called his “one big beautiful bill,” an 800-plus page measure. With Democrats unified in opposition, the bill will become a defining measure of Trump’s return to the White House, aided by Republican control of Congress. Tax breaks and safety net cuts At its core, the package’s priority is $4.5 trillion in tax breaks enacted in 2017 during Trump’s first term that would expire if Congress failed to act, along with new ones. This includes allowing workers to deduct tips and overtime pay, and a $6,000 deduction for most older adults earning less than $75,000 a year. There’s also a hefty investment, some $350 billion, in national security and Trump’s deportation agenda and to help develop the “Golden Dome” defensive system over the U.S. To help offset the lost tax revenue, the package includes $1.2 trillion in cutbacks to the Medicaid health care and food stamps, largely by imposing new work requirements, including for some parents and older people, and a major rollback of green energy tax credits. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the package will add $3.3 trillion to the deficit over the decade and 11.8 million more people will go without health coverage. “This was a generational opportunity to deliver the most comprehensive and consequential set of conservative reforms in modern history, and that’s exactly what we’re doing,” said Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, the House Budget Committee chairman. Democrats united against ‘ugly bill’ Democrats unified against the bill as a tax giveaway to the rich paid for on the backs of the working class and most vulnerable in society, what they called “trickle down cruelty.” Tensions ran high in the chamber. Jeffries began the speech at 4:53 a.m. EDT and finished at 1:37 p.m. EDT, 8 hours, 44 minutes later, a record, as he argued against what he called Trump’s “big ugly bill.” “We’re better than this,” Jeffries said, who used a leader’s prerogative for unlimited debate and read letter after letter from Americans writing about their reliance of the health care programs. “I never thought that I’d be on the House floor saying that this is a crime scene,” Jeffries said. “It’s a crime scene, going after the health, and the safety, and the well-being of the American people.” And as Democrats, he said, “We […]
Ukraine is forging ahead with early plans for joint weapons production with some international allies, top officials said, while warning Wednesday of potential consequences of the U.S. decision to halt some arms shipments promised to help Kyiv fight off Russia’s invasion. “Any delay or hesitation in supporting Ukraine’s defense capabilities will only encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror, not seek peace,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said. A renewed Russian push to capture more land has put Ukraine’s short-handed defenses under severe strain in the all-out war launched by Moscow nearly 3½ years ago. Russian missiles and drones are battering Ukrainian cities. U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to find a peace settlement have stalled. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said it hadn’t received any official U.S. notification of a suspension or revision of agreed arms delivery schedules. Officials have requested a phone call with their U.S. counterparts to verify the status of specific items in the pipeline, it said in a statement. As Washington — Ukraine’s biggest military backer — has distanced itself from Ukraine’s war efforts under President Donald Trump, a bigger onus has fallen on European countries. French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday held their first direct telephone call in almost three years. Macron’s office said that during their two-hour conversation, the French leader underlined France’s “unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity” and called for a ceasefire. Washington’s decision could remove some of the most formidable weapons in Ukraine’s battlefield arsenal, including some air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons, according to AP sources. The U.S. decision should prompt European Union countries to spend more on developing Ukraine’s defense industry, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said. “It just underlines the need for Europe to do more, and also to invest more in Ukraine,” Lund Poulsen told reporters. “We could do even more, to give them a stronger way of fighting back.” Denmark on Tuesday took over the EU’s rotating presidency for six months. It is already investing directly in Ukraine’s defense industry, which can produce arms and ammunition more quickly and cheaply than elsewhere in Europe. Denmark is also allowing companies from Ukraine to set up shop in Denmark and manufacture military equipment on safer ground. Lund Poulsen said the first companies could start work as soon as September, and he urged European partners to follow suit. Ukraine prepares for joint investments in defense Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his daily address on Tuesday evening said officials are preparing with a sense of urgency for upcoming meetings with EU countries and other partners to talk about cooperation in weapons manufacturing. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that draft legislation on joint weapons production with allies is expected to be put to a vote in the Ukrainian parliament later this month. The proposed laws were shown to national defense companies on Tuesday, Umerov said. The program includes plans to create a special legal and tax framework to help Ukrainian defense manufacturers scale up and modernize production, including building new facilities at home and abroad, according to Umerov. Earlier this week, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said during a visit to Kyiv that Germany aims to help Ukraine manufacture more weapons more quickly. He was accompanied on the trip by German defense industry representatives. Washington concerned about reduced stockpiles The U.S. is halting some weapons deliveries […]
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.
