Yeshiva World News

The Rosh Yeshivah of Slabodka, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, spoke harshly against Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, who this week ordered the IDF to begin sending 7,000 draft orders to bnei yeshivos, including those learning full-time, and encouraged criminal sanctions against those who ignored the summons. Speaking to a group of yeshivah bochurim, HaRav Hirsch said: “The Attorney-General wants to destroy Eretz Yisrael.” A person who was present in the room told JDN News that HaRav Hirsch also told the bochurim: “It’s a mitzvah for you to be draft-dodgers.” The Rosh Yeshivah added: “They don’t understand that without the Olam HaTorah, the land will spit them out.” Baharav-Miara has made it her personal mission to fight the Olam HaTorah, drafting lomdei Torah, using an obscure legal clause to strip yeshivos of their funding, and even targeting Chareidi babies and toddlers. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

European food delivery giant Just Eat Takeaway.com is selling Grubhub for $650 million, a fraction of the billions it spent to buy the U.S. platform just three years ago. Wonder Group, a New York-based food ordering company that touts “fast fine” dining, is set to be Grubhub’s new owner. Under terms of the deal, announced Wednesday, Wonder will acquire Grubhub from Just Eat Takeaway.com for $150 million in cash and $500 million in senior notes. That’s far less than than the price tag on Grubhub’s last sale. Back in 2020, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and a surge in demand for takeout meals, Just Eat agreed to buy Grubhub for $7.3 billion — reportedly beating Uber to a merger — in a transaction that was later finalized in 2021. Amsterdam-based Just Eat Takeaway.com acknowledged Wednesday that it had been “actively exploring” the partial or full sale of Grubhub for some time, citing prior announcements from the company. Just Eat Takeaway.com added that selling Grubhub to Wonder would increase growth, cash generation and support investment in countries where it “has the greatest competitive advantage.” Beyond the U.S. the company currently operates in 18 other countries. The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2025, subject to regulatory approval and other customary conditions. When completed, Just Eat Takeaway.com says it will retain no material liabilities related to Grubhub. “This deal delivers the right home for Grubhub and its employees,” Just Eat Takeaway.com CEO Jitse Groen said in a statement. Shares of the company were up over 15% by midday Wednesday. The CEOs of Wonder and Grubhub, Marc Lore and Howard Migdal, also sounded positive notes Wednesday — with both noting that the deal would aid Wonder’s mission to “make great food more accessible” and enhance customer experiences. Wonder, founded by Lore, bills itself as a “new kind of food hall” and delivers made-to-order meals from well-known chefs and restaurants. The New York startup was once known for its fleet of delivery trucks, but later transitioned to a more of brick-and-mortar approach. Its online offerings have also grown. Last year, Wonder purchased meal kit company Blue Apron for $103 million. Grubhub, headquartered in Chicago, operates in more than 4,000 U.S. cities — with over 375,000 merchants and 200,000 delivery partners across the country to date. According to Just Eat Takeaway.com, the platform generated 237 million orders with a gross transaction value of 8.06 billion euros (about $8.53 billion) last year. Takeaway.com, which merged with Just Eat in 2020, and Grubhub were both founded in the early 2000s — making them some of the earliest entries in the sector. But competition rapidly increased as now-popular platforms like Uber Eats and DoorDash also joined the game. And customers jumping between apps can make it difficult to keep sales stable. As of March 2024, numbers from data analytics firm Bloomberg Second Measure showed that Grubhub made up only 8% of meal delivery consumer spending in the U.S. — far less than DoorDash or Uber Eats. DoorDash is currently winning the “food delivery war,” per Second Measure, making up 67% of these sales, followed by Uber Eats’ 23%. (AP)

A serious accident occurred this afternoon at the intersection of KingsPoint Lane and West Maple Avenue in Monsey, two individuals were struck by a vehicle Monsey Scoop reported. Rockland Hatzoloh Paramedics quickly arrived at the scene, transporting one person in critical condition to Good Samaritan Hospital. The second individual was also taken to Westchester Medical Center by Rockland Hatzoloh Paramedics with serious but non life threatening injuries. YWN will update with names for Tehilim once they become available to us.   (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Former national security adviser John Bolton has called on the FBI to investigate Reps. Matt Gaetz and Tulsi Gabbard, who were named as Trump’s picks for attorney general and director of national intelligence, respectively. Bolton voiced his concerns on NewsNation’s The Hill, questioning the suitability of both candidates for high-level national security roles. With his nomination of Gabbard for director of national intelligence, Trump “is sending a signal that we have lost our mind when it comes to collecting intelligence,” Bolton said. “Up until a few hours ago, I would have said that was the worst cabinet appointment in recent American history. But with the nomination of Matt Gaetz, he has now clearly taken the lead.” Bolton expressed doubt over the administration’s seriousness about national security, particularly with regard to the nominees’ stances on foreign policy. Criticizing Gabbard for her opposition to U.S. military action in Iran, he argued that both Gabbard and Gaetz should undergo thorough FBI vetting before any confirmation hearings proceed. When host Blake Burman questioned Bolton about the necessity of an FBI investigation into Gabbard, Bolton responded affirmatively, citing “Russian propaganda” that he claimed she has promoted in the past. “I think she is a serious threat to our national security,” Bolton said, urging Republican senators to reject both Gabbard and Gaetz. In a separate interview, Bolton called Gaetz “the worst nomination for a cabinet position in American history.” “Gaetz is not only totally incompetent for this job, he doesn’t have the character,” Bolton said. “He is a person of moral turpitude, and notwithstanding how difficult it may be politically, this is a nomination the Republican Party should oppose.” “I think it may never come to a vote on the floor if the new leadership in the Senate goes to the president and says, ‘You cannot endanger Republican senators by forcing them to vote in favor of this nomination. And if you don’t want to have a real internal party battle, this nomination needs to be withdrawn,’” Bolton added. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A U.S. military judge at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has scheduled hearings in early January for alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants to enter guilty pleas in exchange for life sentences despite Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s effort to scuttle the plea agreements. The move Wednesday by Judge Matthew McCall, an Air Force colonel, in the government’s long-running prosecution in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people signals a deepening battle over the independence of the military commission at the naval base at Guantanamo. McCall provisionally scheduled the plea hearings to take place over two weeks starting Jan. 6, with Mohammed — the defendant accused of coming up with using commercial jetliners for the attacks — expected to enter his plea first, if Austin’s efforts to block it fails. Austin is seeking to throw out the agreements for Mohammed and fellow defendants Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, which would put the more than 20-year government prosecution efforts back on track for a trial that carries the risk of the death penalty. While government prosecutors negotiated the plea agreements under Defense Department auspices over more than two years, and they received the needed approval this summer from the senior official overseeing the Guantanamo prosecutions, the deals triggered angry condemnation from Sens. Mitch McConnell and Tom Cotton and other leading Republicans when the news emerged. Within days, Austin issued an order throwing out the deals, saying the gravity of the 9/11 attacks meant any decision on waiving the possibility of execution for the defendants should be made by him. Defense attorneys argued that Austin had no legal standing to intervene and his move amounted to outside interference that could throw into question the legal validity of the proceedings at Guantanamo. U.S. officials created the hybrid military commission, governed by a mix of civilian and military law and rules, to try people arrested in what the George W. Bush administration called its “war on terror” after the 9/11 attacks. The al-Qaida assault was among the most damaging and deadly on the U.S. in its history. Hijackers commandeered four passenger airliners and flew them into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, with the fourth coming down in a field in Pennsylvania. McCall ruled last week that Austin lacked any legal ground to reject the plea deals and that his intervention was too late because it came after approval by the top official at Guantanamo made them valid. McCall’s ruling also confirmed that the government and Guantanamo’s top authority agreed to clauses in the plea deals for Mohammed and one other defendant that bar authorities from seeking possible death penalties again even if the plea deals were later discarded for some reason. The clauses appeared written in advance to try to address the kind of battle now taking place. The Defense Department notified families Friday that it would keep fighting the plea deals. Officials would challenge the agreements and McCall’s ruling before a U.S. court of military commission review, and seek a delay in the three men from entering their pleas for now, they said in a letter to families of 9/11 victims. McCall agreed late Tuesday to only a partial delay for now, until January, to give the review panel time. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of […]

A man who failed in an attempt to break into Brazil’s Supreme Court killed himself in explosions outside the building Wednesday that forced justices and staff to evacuate, authorities said. The two strong blasts were heard about 7:30 p.m. after the day’s session finished and all the justices and staff left the building safely, Brazil’s Supreme Court said in a statement. Local firefighters confirmed one man died at the scene in the capital Brasilia, but did not identify him. Celina Leão, the lieutenant governor of Brazil’s federal district, said the suspect had earlier detonated explosives in a car in a Congress parking lot, which did not cause injuries. “His first action was to explode the car. Then he approached the Supreme Court and tried to get in the building. He failed and then there were the other explosions,” Leão said in a news conference. Local media reported that the car that exploded belonged to a member of Brazil’s Liberal Party, the same of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Leão said only investigations will determine whether the owner of the car is the same man who died in the blasts. Leão recommended that Congress be closed Thursday to avoid new risks. Brazil’s Senate heeded her call and the lower house will be shut until noon, speaker Arthur Lira said. “It could have been a lone wolf, like others we’ve seen around the world,” Leão said in a news conference. “We are considering it as a suicide because there was only one victim. But investigations will show if that was indeed the case.” Leão added only forensics will be able to identify the body, which remained outside the Supreme Court for three hours after the blasts. The blasts outside the Supreme Court took place about 20 seconds apart in Brasilia’s Three Powers Plaza, where Brazil’s main government buildings, including the Supreme Court, Congress and presidential palace, are located. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was not in the neighboring presidential palace at the time, spokesman José Chrispiniano said. Police blocked all access to the area and the presidential security bureau was conducting a sweep of the grounds around the presidential palace. Brazil’s federal police said it is investigating and did not provide a motive. The Supreme Court in recent years has become a target for threats by far-right groups and supporters of Bolsonaro’s due to its crackdown on the spread of false information. In particular, Justice Alexandre de Moraes has been a focus for their ire. Lula’s spokesman said that late on Wednesday the leftist leader was gathering at the presidential residence with federal police chief Andrei Rodrigues, and Supreme Court Justices de Moraes and Cristiano Zanin. (AP)

Ben & Jerry’s has filed yet another lawsuit against its parent company, Unilever, accusing it of blocking the ice cream brand’s attempts to publicly support Palestinians in Gaza. The lawsuit, filed in the United States, claims Unilever threatened to dismantle Ben & Jerry’s board and take legal action against its members if they continued pushing their controversial political views, according to Reuters. This legal move is the latest in a string of confrontations between Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever, reflecting an ongoing internal struggle fueled by Ben & Jerry’s insistence on prioritizing activism over business stability. The tensions began in 2021 when Ben & Jerry’s unilaterally decided to stop selling its products in Israeli communities in Yehuda and Shomron, a move that alienated some investors and triggered divestments from Unilever. The decision was widely criticized for injecting the brand into a highly charged international issue at the expense of shareholder value. Unilever, which acquired Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, has repeatedly found itself at odds with the brand’s increasingly polarizing agenda. Last year, Ben & Jerry’s even took Unilever to court over its decision to sell the brand’s business in Israel to a local licensee, enabling sales in Israel and the contested territories despite the brand’s objection. That lawsuit was eventually settled, with Unilever agreeing to recognize Ben & Jerry’s board’s independence concerning social mission decisions. But in this latest legal complaint, Ben & Jerry’s argues that Unilever is violating that settlement by allegedly preventing it from making pro-Palestinian statements. According to the lawsuit, Ben & Jerry’s tried on four occasions to publicly advocate for “peace and human rights,” but Unilever reportedly blocked these efforts. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President-elect Donald Trump says he will nominate anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, putting him in charge of a massive agency that oversees everything from drug, vaccine and food safety to medical research and the social safety net programs Medicare and Medicaid. “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social site announcing the appointment. Kennedy, he said, would “Make America Great and Healthy Again!” Kennedy, a former Democrat who ran as an independent in this year’s presidential race, abandoned his bid after striking a deal to give Trump his endorsement with a promise to have a role in health policy in the administration. He and Trump have since become good friends, with Kennedy frequently receiving loud applause at Trump’s rallies. A longtime vaccine skeptic, Kennedy is an attorney who has built a loyal following over several decades of people who admire his lawsuits against major pesticide and pharmaceutical companies. He has pushed for tighter regulations around the ingredients in foods. With the Trump campaign, he worked to shore up support among young mothers in particular, with his message of making food healthier in the U.S., promising to model regulations imposed in Europe. In a nod to Trump’s original campaign slogan, he named the effort “Make America Healthy Again.” It remains unclear how that will square with Trump’s history of deregulation of big industries, including food. Trump pushed for fewer inspections of the meat industry, for example. Kennedy’s stance on vaccines has also made him a controversial figure among Democrats and some Republicans, raising question about his ability to get confirmed, even in a GOP-controlled Senate. Kennedy has espoused misinformation around the safety of vaccines, including pushing a totally discredited theory that childhood vaccines cause autism. He also has said he would recommend removing fluoride from drinking water. The addition of the material has been cited as leading to improved dental health. HHS has more than 80,000 employees across the country. It houses the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Medicare and Medicaid programs and the National Institutes of Health. Kennedy’s anti-vaccine nonprofit group, Children’s Health Defense, currently has a lawsuit pending against a number of news organizations, among them The Associated Press, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccines. Kennedy took leave from the group when he announced his run for president but is listed as one of its attorneys in the lawsuit. (AP)

Tzahi Braverman, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff, is under investigation for alleged forgery and illegal alteration of official records in the Prime Minister’s Office concerning Netanyahu’s actions during the initial moments of the October 7 Hamas invasion, Hebrew media outlets report after a court lifted a gag order on the affair. Braverman is suspected of modifying the documented time when Netanyahu first received an update via phone call from his military secretary about the unfolding situation. According to Ynet, the time was altered from 6:40 a.m. to 6:29 a.m. Earlier today, Braverman was questioned under caution by the Lahav 433 major crimes unit of the police for three hours regarding his role in the alleged misconduct. The investigation was initiated after Maj. Gen. Avi Gil, the military secretary at the time, sent a memo to the Attorney General detailing the allegations, as reported by Channel 13. Further allegations suggest that Braverman may have blackmailed an IDF officer to alter records by threatening him with a sensitive video recording. These claims have not yet been investigated. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran is building a ‘defensive tunnel’ in Tehran in the wake of the IDF attack on the Iranian capital on October 26, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported this week. The tunnel, under construction near the city center, will connect the Tehran Metro stations to the Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, providing direct underground access to the medical facility, the largest in the country. The Tehran Metro is the largest metro system in the Middle East. “For the first time in the country, a tunnel with defensive applications is being built in Tehran,” the transportation director at the Tehran City Council told Tasnim. Tehran was heavily targeted during Israel’s attack on October 26, including two secret military sites near the capital city. Israel also attacked an S-300 air defense battery stationed at Imam Khomeini International Airport, which protects parts of the capital. Satellite photos of two military bases near Tehran showed that sites there that Iran used in its ballistic missile manufacturing were destroyed. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

A federal investigation into Chinese government efforts to hack into U.S. telecommunications networks has revealed a “broad and significant” cyberespionage campaign aimed at stealing information from Americans who work in government and politics, the FBI said Wednesday. Hackers affiliated with Beijing have compromised the networks of “multiple” telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to the private communications of “a limited number of individuals,” according to a joint statement issued by the FBI and the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The FBI did not identify any of the individuals targeted by the hackers but said most of them “are primarily involved in government or political activity.” The hackers also sought to copy “certain information that was subject to U.S. law enforcement requests pursuant to court orders,” the FBI said, suggesting the hackers may have been trying to compromise programs like those subject to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, which grants American spy agencies sweeping powers to surveil the communications of individuals suspected of being agents of a foreign power.” The warning comes after several high-profile hacking incidents that U.S. authorities have linked to China, part of what they say is an effort to steal technological and government information while also targeting vital infrastructure like the electrical grid. In September, the FBI announced that it had disrupted a vast Chinese hacking operation known as Flax Typhoon that involved the installation of malicious software on more than 200,000 consumer devices, including cameras, video recorders and home and office routers. The devices were then used to create a massive network of infected computers, or botnet, that could then be used to carry out other cyber crimes. Last month, officials said hackers linked to China targeted the phones of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris. Authorities did not disclose how or if the operations announced Wednesday are connected to the earlier campaigns. In their statement Wednesday, the FBI and CISA said officials are working with the telecommunication industry and hacking victims to shore up defenses against continuing attempts at cyberespionage. “We expect our understanding of these compromises to grow as the investigation continues,” the agencies wrote. China has rejected accusations from U.S. officials that it engages in cyberespionage directed against Americans. A message left with China’s embassy in Washington was not immediately returned Wednesday. (AP)

President-elect Donald Trump is famously unconventional, but he made conventional picks for his two top foreign policy positions. That could be reassuring to American allies, while China and Iran have reasons to be wary. Trump on Wednesday announced his choice of Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state. Two days earlier, he picked Rep. Mike Waltz for national security adviser. Both men share Trump’s hard-line stance on China and Iran. They have shown themselves willing to adapt their foreign-policy positions to echo aspects of Trump’s more isolationist “America First” approach — a requirement for anyone serving under a president who demands absolute loyalty. But both are fairly mainstream conservatives with foreign policy experience who have previously differed with Trump on Russia, NATO and other issues. They’ve also been open to working with Democrats — a point underscored when Sen. Mark Warner, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Rubio would be a “strong voice for American interests” abroad. Rubio and Waltz stand in contrast to some other national security selections. Trump named Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host untested on the global stage, as defense secretary. He picked a congresswoman with little foreign policy experience, Rep. Elise Stefanik, as ambassador to the United Nations. His choice for ambassador to Israel, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, rejects the two-state solution to the conflict with Palestinians. And U.S. allies may be relieved that Rubio was selected over Richard Grenell for secretary of state. Grenell is an ardent and combative Trump advocate and former diplomat and intelligence official, with a reputation for favoring autocratic strongmen abroad. Rubio, a 14-year veteran of the Senate, is a senior member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and Foreign Relations Committee. His roots as the son of Cuban immigrants who worked as a bartender and a hotel maid after coming to the United States helped shape his tough positions on the leftist governments of Cuba and Venezuela. While Trump has alarmed U.S. allies in Europe with his criticism of the NATO military alliance and praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose war on Ukraine has galvanized European fears of Russian expansionism, Rubio was instrumental in the Senate in securing the U.S. position in NATO. He and Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine spearheaded legislation to bar any president from pulling the U.S. out of NATO without Senate approval or an act of Congress. But Rubio, like Waltz in the House, has altered his public statements and legislative votes to more closely align with Trump’s criticism of the Biden administration’s backing of Ukraine as it battles invading Russian forces. After early votes and supportive statements for Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 attack, Rubio and Waltz more recently voted against additional military aid to Ukraine. Rubio, like Trump, has increasingly stressed the need to end the war. That’s in contrast to Ukraine supporters in both parties who say the U.S. must support Ukraine’s fight so it gets the best possible terms in any eventual cease-fire. “I don’t think he (Trump) puts people in positions that are going to disagree with him. He wants people to be loyal, and I don’t think he’s looking for people that are going to challenge his beliefs,” said Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, a Washington-based research institute. “So I think this is […]

Demand Justice, a progressive organization focused on the judiciary, is set to bombard Capitol Hill with a message for the closing weeks of the 118th Congress: Do “whatever it takes” to confirm President Joe Biden’s nominees as a second Donald Trump presidency looms. The Republican president-elect’s victory and the GOP takeover of the Senate leaves just seven weeks of Democratic control of the chamber. Democrats have confirmed 213 of Biden’s judicial nominees during his presidency. Another few dozen are still pending. To add to those confirmations, Senate Democrats would need to stay in Washington far longer than they had planned and also navigate a razor-thin margin that hamstrung them at times on other Biden priorities. Trump focused heavily on filling court vacancies in his first term, getting 234 judges confirmed, including three to the Supreme Court. Democrats are seeking to deny him more opportunities to name conservative judges as the party determines its path forward after a sweeping defeat that will leave it out of power come January. “Senate Democrats cannot give up and go home just because they lost the chamber,” said Skye Perryman, a senior adviser to Demand Justice, whose push will include widespread lobbying, Capitol Hill events and targeted ads. “It is even more critical now that good, qualified, fair-minded judges are confirmed so they can serve as a backstop and uphold the rights of ordinary people and protect our Constitution.” According to the United States Courts website, 17 pending judicial nominees have advanced out of the Senate Judiciary Committee, eight are waiting for votes from the committee and six are waiting for committee hearings. The White House announced new judicial nominees in October and November. The Senate returned this week from their break around the election. The Senate calendar has the legislative body being out of town around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. But the calendar is subject to change, and it is common for senators to leave Washington for extended weekend breaks. The push will confront an already full schedule in the Senate, too. In addition to confirmations, the legislative body will be tasked with providing more disaster aid after a string of deadly storms, passing the annual defense policy bill, and keeping the government funded and open. Some Democratic-caucusing senators like West Virginia’s Joe Manchin and Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema, both independents, are leaving the chamber at the end of this session. And if Republicans are unified to oppose Biden’s picks, Manchin has said he will not support judicial appointments that are not bipartisan, shrinking the Democratic margin. One nominee, April Perry, was confirmed on Monday evening for the northern district of Illinois. Asked about the effort to pressure Senate Democrats to do all they can to confirm these nominees, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said, “We are going to get as many done as we can.” Trump on Sunday urged Republicans to oppose Schumer’s efforts. “No Judges should be approved during this period of time because the Democrats are looking to ram through their Judges as the Republicans fight over Leadership,” he wrote. “Delaying the confirmation of strongly qualified, experienced judges takes a real-life toll on constituents and leads to backlogs of criminal cases — meaning there is every urgent reason for Republicans and Democrats to continue working together in good faith to staff […]

Over the past few hours, the IAF conducted a series of intelligence-based strikes on Hezbollah weapons storage facilities in the Dahieh area, a key Hezbollah terrorist stronghold in Beirut, where Hezbollah has systematically embedded its terrorist infrastructure amidst the Lebanese civilian population, cynically exploiting them as a human shield. Prior to the strike, numerous steps were taken to mitigate the risk to civilians, including issuing advance warnings to the population in the area. These strikes are a part of the IDF’s ongoing efforts to dismantle and degrade Hezbollah’s military capabilities. The IDF is continuing to strike Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure sites in the Dahieh area.

The mastermind behind a foiled bomb plot during anti-government protests in Hong Kong in 2019 has been jailed for nearly 24 years in the city’s first case brought under an anti-terrorism law. Ng Chi-hung, who had previously pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit the bombing of prescribed objects under the anti-terror law and possession of arms or ammunition with intent to endanger life, was sentenced to 23 years and 10 months by a Hong Kong court on Thursday. He was among seven convicted defendants who appeared in court for their roles in the plot to plant two bombs and shoot officers along a rally route on Dec. 8, 2019, at a time when accusations of police brutality in handling protesters were widespread. Judge Judianna Barnes said the plan was vicious and was a declaration of war on society. The seven are not well-known activists in the semi-autonomous Chinese city’s pro-democracy movement, but their case has drawn attention because the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance was invoked. Hong Kong enacted the law to implement a U.N. Security Council resolution passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States. According to local media, prosecutors said most of the defendants in the case were members of two groups — one led by Ng and another called “Dragon-Slaying Brigade.” The prosecution said members of the brigade planned to lure police officers onto an area where bombs would be detonated and a sniper would target them. Wong Chun-keung, leader of the brigade, was sentenced to more than 13 years. Five other defendants received prison terms ranging from nearly six years to 12 years. In August, six other defendants, who had pleaded not guilty, were acquitted by a panel of jurors. Steve Li, chief superintendent for the police’s national security department, said he would study the judgment and consider whether to appeal some sentencing decisions. He also criticized those convicted as deranged. The 2019 protests marked the most concerted challenge to the Hong Kong government since the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Following the protests, more than 10,000 people have been arrested in connection with the often-violent social unrest sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill, which would have allowed suspects in Hong Kong to be sent to mainland China. (AP)

In the spirit of facilitating generosity and streamlining community fundraising, The Chesed Fund is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest version of the Pushka Kiosk—a widely in-demand tool designed to simplify in-person donations. Crafted from high-quality acrylic, the new Pushka Kiosk serves as a secure, durable home for The Chesed Fund Pushka device, enhancing its functionality and accessibility for donors everywhere. Two Kiosk Models to Meet Diverse Fundraising Needs Recognizing that fundraising settings vary widely, The Chesed Fund now offers two unique versions of the Pushka Kiosk, both tailored to meet specific needs: GET STARTED HERE TODAY!  Anti-Theft Version: This model is designed for those who need extra security. The anti-theft version can be mounted to a wall, ensuring the Pushka device stays in place and preventing the credit card reader from being removed. This added layer of security is ideal for locations where the kiosk remains unattended for extended periods, offering peace of mind for organizers while encouraging consistent donations. GET STARTED HERE TODAY!  Removable Reader Version: Perfect for those who need portability, the removable reader version offers flexibility and mobility for events like Minyanim, fundraisers, or community gatherings. The credit card reader can be easily detached from the kiosk, allowing organizers to move it wherever donations are being collected. After the event, the device can be securely mounted back in place until it’s needed again. GET STARTED HERE TODAY!  Customizable Design for Brand Alignment As an added benefit, the Pushka Kiosk’s acrylic construction can be customized to align with your organization’s branding, event theme, or messaging. Whether it’s custom colors, logos, or unique design elements, The Chesed Fund team can personalize each kiosk, enhancing its presence and encouraging engagement from the community. GET STARTED HERE TODAY!  An Essential Tool for Effortless Fundraising The new Pushka Kiosk from The Chesed Fund is more than just a donation station—it’s a vital resource for community-driven organizations. By offering secure, versatile options for in-person donations, this tool empowers fundraisers to connect with their supporters conveniently and effectively. The Pushka Kiosk embodies The Chesed Fund’s commitment to supporting charitable organizations in maximizing their fundraising potential. Upgrade your fundraising toolkit today with The Chesed Fund Pushka Kiosk and make in-person donations easier than ever! PricingPushka Kiosk: The Pushka Kiosk is available through a one-time payment of $495 Processing fees are 3.9% + $0.30 per transaction Have questions? Call us at (732) 517- 3679 or use our live chat

Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Thursday the revival of a modified congestion pricing plan for Manhattan, proposing a $9 daily toll for most vehicles entering below 60th Street. The updated proposal, which comes months after Hochul paused the original $15 toll plan. “I’m proud to announce we have found a path to support the MTA, reduce congestion, and save our commuters money,” Hochul said. “Under this plan, the MTA will implement congestion pricing with a $9 toll starting in January. That’s a 40% reduction from the original $15 toll, saving daily commuters nearly $1,500 annually.” Hochul had initially paused the congestion pricing rollout, citing the economic strain it would place on middle- and working-class commuters. Critics, however, saw the delay as a strategic move to bolster support for Democrats in suburban areas where cost-of-living concerns were a major issue in recent congressional races. With the pause lifted, the program is set to begin just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to terminate congestion pricing, takes office. New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer blasted the revived toll, particularly for its potential impact on New Jersey commuters. “In a time of inflation, New York’s attempt to whack Jersey families with another tax is utterly absurd,” Gottheimer said in a statement. “We stopped the Congestion Tax once, and we’ll stop it again.” Rep. Mike Lawler, who is reportedly weighing a run for governor, said congestion pricing would amount to a massive tax on middle-class families and workers. “Governor Hochul is trying to pick the pockets of New Yorkers to bail out the corrupt MTA’s waste, fraud, and abuse, and that’s shameful,” Lawler said. Gottheimer and Lawler previously introduced a federal bill that threatened to withhold federal funds from New York if the plan went forward. Concerned that the upcoming presidential transition might hinder the plan’s progress, Governor Hochul has reintroduced the proposal, aiming to push it through before January 20th. Gottheimer and Lawler have vowed to continue their bipartisan opposition to the measure. Meanwhile, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy strongly criticized the plan in a press release. “I am firmly opposed to any attempt to force through a congestion pricing proposal in the final months of the Biden administration,” Murphy said. “We must heed the clear message voters across America sent last Tuesday.” Advocates of congestion pricing argue that it will ease gridlock, cut pollution, and provide a much-needed funding source for public transit. They criticized Hochul’s earlier decision to delay implementation, accusing her of prioritizing political interests over transit funding. The revised toll is expected to provide about 60% of the originally projected $1 billion annual revenue, leaving the MTA with a funding gap in its capital plan. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

It’s a treat to see a supermoon. But that bright glowing orb will still be almost full when the Leonid meteor shower peaks this weekend, likely obscuring all but the brightest meteors in most locations. The Leonids are known for their high-speed meteors, which can travel at up to 44 miles per second (70 kilometers per second). “Unfortunately this year, the viewing conditions will be affected” by a nearly full moon, said Shyam Balaji of King’s College London. “Watching during the early morning hours, when the moon is lower in the sky, can improve your chances of seeing more meteors.” This shower may result in around 15 visible meteors per hour under ideal viewing conditions. This year’s peak activity on Sunday will happen when the moon is 98% full. The shower lasts through December 2. Here’s what to know about the Leonids and other meteor showers. What is a meteor shower? Multiple meteor showers occur annually and you don’t need special equipment to see them. Most meteor showers originate from the debris of comets. The source of the Leonids is the comet Tempel-Tuttle. When rocks from space enter Earth’s atmosphere, the resistance from the air makes them very hot. This causes the air to glow around them and briefly leaves a fiery tail behind them — the end of a “shooting star.” The glowing pockets of air around fast-moving space rocks, ranging from the size of a dust particle to a boulder, may be visible in the night sky. How to view a meteor shower Meteor showers are usually most visible between midnight and predawn hours. It’s easier to see shooting stars under dark skies, away from city lights. Meteor showers also appear brightest on cloudless nights when the moon wanes smallest. And your eyes will better adapted to seeing meteors if you aren’t checking your phone. When is the next meteor shower? The meteor society keeps an updated list of upcoming large meteor showers, including the peak viewing days and moonlight conditions. The next big one is the Geminid meteor shower, which peaks in mid-December. (AP)

An IDF officer lost his life, and another was critically injured in clashes in southern Lebanon earlier today, according to the military. The fallen soldier has been identified as Lt. Ivri Dickshtein, 21, a platoon commander with the Golani Brigade’s 51st Battalion. The same incident also left another officer from the battalion seriously injured, the IDF reports.