The victims of the Hezbollah rocket attack in Nahariya on Tuesday evening were Ziv Belfer, 54, H”yd, and Shamoun Najm, H’yd, 52, the Nahariya municipality stated on Tuesday evening. “We send our heartfelt condolences to the families and we will continue to support them at this difficult time,” the municipality stated. Najm was a carpenter who was working in his shop when he and Belfer, who was nearby, were critically wounded earlier on Tuesday when a rocket launched by Hezbollah hit the shop. Paramedics who arrived at the scene pronounced them dead at the scene. Belfer, z’l, was the owner of a cafe in Haifa. Najm was born in Lebanon and was part of the Christian South Lebanon Army [SLA], which fought with the IDF against Hezbollah, the PLO and other terror groups prior to Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. After the IDF withdrew from Lebanon, many SLA members fled to Israel. Others who remained in Lebanon surrendered to authorities or were captured by Hezbollah and handed over to the police. SLA members captured by Lebanon and Hezbollah were tried by Lebanese military courts for treason. “Families of the South Lebanon Army bow their heads for former SLA soldier Shamoun Najm, who was murdered by Hezbollah in a strike fired from Lebanon and fell in the city of Nahariya on his own property earlier today,” the community stated. “With the IDF’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000, Shamuon moved to Israel and had been living in Nahariya since. Shamuon’s life was not easy, but he always had hope for life and longed for good.” “History repeats itself. As has happened in the past, SLA members and Jews fall side by side once again, under a common threat. But this time, on the soil of the State of Israel. Our struggle continues, a struggle of a shared destiny, brotherhood, and, sadly, also of blood. Our story is a tale of bravery and sacrifice written in blood, and it will be eternally etched in the annals of history.” MDA paramedic Dor Vaknin said: “The rocket hit a warehouse, causing extensive destruction and kindling a fire. The two men were unconscious and suffering from serious injuries. Unfortunately, their injuries were too severe and after initial tests, we had to pronounce them both dead.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
One week after Election Day, control of the U.S. House rests on just over a dozen races where winners have not yet been determined. Nine states have at least one uncalled House race, some of which are so close they are headed to a recount. Then there’s California. About half of the yet-to-be-decided House races are in the state, which has only counted about three-quarters of its votes statewide. This isn’t unusual or unexpected, as the nation’s most populous state is consistently among the slowest to report all its election results. Compare it to a state like Florida, the third-largest, which finished counting its votes four days after Election Day. The same was true four years ago, when Florida reported the results of nearly 99% of ballots cast within a few hours of polls closing. In California, almost one-third of ballots were uncounted after election night, and the state was making almost daily updates to its count through Dec. 3, a full month after Election Day. These differences in how states count — and how long it takes — exist because the Constitution sets out broad principles for electing a national government, but leaves the details to the states. The choices made by state lawmakers and election officials as they sort out those details affect everything from how voters cast a ballot to how quickly the tabulation and release of results takes place, how elections are kept secure and how officials maintain voters’ confidence in the process. The gap between when California and Florida are able to finalize their count is the natural result of election officials in the two states choosing to emphasize different concerns and set different priorities. Here’s a look at the differences: How California counts Lawmakers in California designed their elections to improve accessibility and increase turnout. Whether it’s automatically receiving a ballot at home, having up until Election Day to turn it in or having several days to address any problems that may arise with their ballot, Californians have a lot of time and opportunity to vote. It comes at the expense of knowing the final vote counts soon after polls close. “Our priority is trying to maximize participation of actively registered voters,” said Democratic Assemblymember Marc Berman, who authored the 2021 bill that permanently switched the state to all-mail elections. “What that means is things are a little slower. But in a society that wants immediate gratification, I think our democracy is worth taking a little time to get it right and to create a system where everyone can participate.” California, which has long had a culture of voting absentee, started moving toward all-mail elections last decade. All-mail systems will almost always prolong the count. Mail ballots require additional verification steps — each must be opened individually, validated and processed — so they can take longer to tabulate than ballots cast in person that are then fed into a scanner at a neighborhood polling place. In 2016, California passed a bill allowing counties to opt in to all-mail elections before instituting it statewide on a temporary basis in 2020 and enshrining it in law in time for the 2022 elections. Studies found that the earliest states to institute all-mail elections – Oregon and Washington – saw higher turnout. Mail ballots also increase the likelihood […]
The head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said Tuesday he’s hopeful that meetings this week with Iranian officials, including the country’s new president, can lead to a breakthrough in monitoring the country’s nuclear program, a longstanding issue that has gained new urgency as Israel has twice struck Iran amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, will travel to Iran on Wednesday to meet for the first time with President Masoud Pezeshkian, who was elected in July. Grossi said he hopes to build on positive discussions he had with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during the U.N. General Assembly in September. “We have a problem that we need to solve,” Grossi said in an interview at the U.N. climate conference in Azerbaijan. “That is this gap, this lack of confidence, which we should not allow to grow into a self-fulfilling prophecy of using nuclear facilities as targets.” He added: “There has been a bit of a dire straits dynamic with Iran that we want to go beyond.” Iran is rapidly advancing its atomic program while increasing stockpiles of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, all in defiance of international demands, according to the IAEA. Iran says its program is for energy purposes, not to build weapons. Grossi’s visit comes as Israel and Iran have traded missile attacks in recent months after more than a year of war in Gaza, which is governed by Hamas, a group supported by Iran. Grossi noted that international law prohibits the attack of nuclear facilities and “it’s obvious that is something that can have radiological consequences.” The Biden administration said last month that it had won assurances from Israel that it would not attack nuclear or oil sites. A 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers put limits on Iran’s nuclear program, which the West fears could be used to make nuclear weapons. The deal included the lifting of economic sanctions on Iran. But that deal collapsed after Donald Trump’s administration in 2018 pulled the United States from it. That led Iran to abandon all limits put on its program and enrich uranium to up to 60% purity. When asked if the IAEA feared Iran may be developing a bomb, Grossi said he didn’t “have any information that would sustain that.” He added that inspectors’ job was not to “judge intentions,” but rather verify that what Iran says about its nuclear program was true. Trump’s reelection last week raises questions about whether and how the incoming administration and Iran may engage. Grossi said he had worked with the first Trump administration, which he said engaged in “seamless, professional work,” and looked forward to looking with Trump’s second administration. “Circumstances have changed in that the problem has grown bigger than it was,” said Grossi. “The problem of not finding a solution.” (AP)
Waymo on Tuesday opened its robotaxi service to anyone who wants a ride around Los Angeles, marking another milestone in the evolution of self-driving car technology since the company began as a secret project at Google 15 years ago. The expansion comes eight months after Waymo began offering rides in Los Angeles to a limited group of passengers chosen from a waiting list that had ballooned to more than 300,000 people. Now, anyone with the Waymo One smartphone app will be able to request a ride around an 80-square-mile (129-square-kilometer) territory spanning the second largest U.S. city. After Waymo received approval from California regulators to charge for rides 15 months ago, the company initially chose to launch its operations in San Francisco before offering a limited service in Los Angeles. Before deciding to compete against conventional ride-hailing pioneers Uber and Lyft in California, Waymo unleashed its robotaxis in Phoenix in 2020 and has been steadily extending the reach of its service in that Arizona city ever since. Driverless rides are proving to be more than just a novelty. Waymo says it now transports more than 150,000 weekly trips in its robotaxis, a volume of business numbers that helped the company recently raise $5.6 billion from its corporate parent Alphabet and a list of other investors that included venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and financial management firm T. Rowe Price. “Our service has matured quickly and our riders are embracing the many benefits of fully autonomous driving,” Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said in a blog post. Despite its inroads, Waymo is still believed to be losing money. Although Alphabet doesn’t disclose Waymo’s financial results, the robotaxi is a major part of an “Other Bets” division that had suffered an operating loss of $3.3 billion through the first nine months of this year, down from a setback of $4.2 billion at the same time last year. But Waymo has come a long way since Google began working on self-driving cars in 2009 as part of project “Chauffeur.” Since its 2016 spinoff from Google, Waymo has established itself as the clear leader in a robotaxi industry that’s getting more congested. Electric auto pioneer Tesla is aiming to launch a rival “Cybercab” service by 2026, although its CEO Elon Musk said he hopes the company can get the required regulatory clearances to operate in Texas and California by next year. Tesla’s projected timeline for competing against Waymo has been met with skepticism because Musk has made unfulfilled promises about the company’s self-driving car technology for nearly a decade. Meanwhile, Waymo’s robotaxis have driven more than 20 million fully autonomous miles and provided more than 2 million rides to passengers without encountering a serious accident that resulted in its operations being sidelined. That safety record is a stark contrast to one of its early rivals, Cruise, a robotaxi service owned by General Motors. Cruise’s California license was suspended last year after one of its driverless cars in San Francisco dragged a jaywalking pedestrian who had been struck by a different car driven by a human. Cruise is now trying to rebound by joining forces with Uber to make some of its services available next year in U.S. cities that still haven’t been announced. But Waymo also has forged a similar alliance with Uber to dispatch […]
New wildfires burned Tuesday across the Northeast, adding to a series of blazes that have come amid very dry weather and killed at least one person, while much larger fires raged in California and other western states. Heavy smoke led to poor air quality and health advisories for parts of New Jersey and New York, including New York City. Firefighters in Massachusetts worked to contain dozens of fires amid strong winds and drought conditions. The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for much of that state and parts of Connecticut, saying conditions were critical and fires could rapidly spread. Massachusetts officials said all of the 200 or so fires they had been dealing with this month had been caused by human behavior, and Gov. Maura Healey urged people to avoid lighting fires. “Now is not the time to burn leaves. Now is not the time to go outside and light a fire,” she told reporters in Middleton. One fire in southern New Jersey tripped fire alarms and set off carbon monoxide detectors, causing an “unprecedented” number of 911 calls Monday, officials said. A blaze near the New York-New Jersey border killed a parks employee over the weekend, and some firefighters have been injured battling other blazes. In order to find and fight many of the fires, crews must navigate a maze of dense forests, country roads, lakes and steep hills. Trees there have dropped most of their leaves onto parched ground, masking potential danger, authorities said. Most of the East Coast has seen little rainfall since September, and experts say the fires will persist until significant precipitation or frosts occur. In California, firefighters made further progress against a blaze northwest of Los Angeles, in Ventura County, that broke out Wednesday and quickly exploded in size because of dry, warm and gusty Santa Ana winds. That blaze, dubbed, the Mountain fire, was about half contained Tuesday, nearly a week after breaking out amid dry, gusty winds. The 32-square-mile (83-square-kilometer) blaze is largely “buttoned up,” county Fire Chief Dustin Gardner said at a news conference Monday evening. The fire forced thousands of residents to flee their homes and destroyed nearly 200 structures, most of them houses, and damaged more than 80, officials said. The cause is under investigation. (AP)
Imprisoned Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova has resurfaced after more than 20 months without any communication with relatives or friends and met with her father, a human rights group said Tuesday. Kolesnikova, one of the most popular and charismatic figures who helped lead protests of Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, was last heard from in February 2023. The 42-year-old musician-turned activist, who suffered a serious illness and underwent surgery while in prison, has been serving her 11-year sentence at a facility near Gomel. Viasna, Belarus’ leading rights group, said Kolesnikova met her father, Alexander Kolesnikov, at a prison hospital. Raman Pratasevich, a former opposition journalist who later became a government supporter after he was arrested, on Tuesday released photos of smiling Kolesnikova embracing her father, who previously had been denied permission to see her. He said the meeting took place Tuesday, but it was not immediately possible to verify the photos or when they might have been taken. Kolesnikova gained prominence when mass protests erupted in Belarus after the widely disputed August 2020 election gave Lukashenko a sixth term in office. With her close-cropped hair, broad smile and trademark gesture of forming her outstretched hands into the shape of a heart, she often was seen at the front of the demonstrations. She became an even greater symbol of resistance ithe next month when Belarusian authorities tried to deport her. Driven to the Ukrainian border, she briefly broke away from security forces in the neutral zone at the frontier and tore up her passport, then walked back into Belarus. She was convicted a year later of charges including conspiracy to seize power. In November 2022, Kolesnikova was moved to an intensive care ward to undergo surgery for a perforated ulcer. Former inmates told her sister, Tatiana Khomich, that the 5-foot-9-inch Kolesnikova weighed only about 45 kilograms (100 pounds). Kolesnikova, who before the 2020 protests was a classical flautist, is one of several major Lukashenko opponents to disappear behind bars. Viasna counts about 1,300 political prisoners in Belarus, including the group’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning founder, Ales Bialiatsky. At least seven have died behind bards. The U.N. Human Rights Committee has repeatedly demanded Belarusian authorities take “urgent protective measures” in relation to Kolesnikova and other political prisoners held incommunicado. In September, the European Parliament demanded that Belarus release all political prisoners. Lukashenko, who is seeking a seventh term in an election set for January 2025, has released 146 political prisoners since July. Those freed had health problems, wrote petitions for pardons and repented. At the same time, Belarusian authorities have launched a new wave of arrests, seeking to uproot any sign of dissent before the election. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition-leader-in-exile, told The Associated Press that she was happy that Kolesnikova was allowed to see her father and reaffirmed a demand that she and other political prisoners be released. “We must to keep pressing for an end to the isolation of other political prisoners and their release,” said Tsikhanouskaya, whose husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, is serving a 19 1/2-year prison sentence and has been held incommunicado for more than 20 months. Pavel Sapelka of Viasna said allowing Kolesnikova to see her father could be a signal from Lukashenko that he’s “ready to start a conversation about the fate of other political prisoners.” “Lukashenko is […]
The Biden administration has been pressuring Israel to reach a “diplomatic arrangement” in Lebanon, ignoring the obvious facts that the previous “diplomatic arrangement” was a dismal failure and that UN or international “peacekeepers” have proven to be completely helpless over Hezbollah, which is not only a powerful military organization (thankfully less so today) but is also an influential political movement that is part of the Lebanese government. Additionally, it is well-known that Hezbollah has penetrated the Lebanese army so the assumption that Lebanese soldiers will act against Hezbollah cannot be a given. Nevertheless, recent reports say that following U.S. pressure, efforts are being made to reach an arrangement, and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer even traveled to Russia for a discussion on the matter. Russia’s entrenchment in Syria, which is closely connected to Hezbollah in multiple ways, and its increasingly warm ties with Iran, pose thorny problems for any deal regarding Hezbollah in Lebanon but also pose opportunities for the “right price.” Despite the reports, newly appointed Defense Minister Katz on Tuesday denied Israel is working toward a ceasefire, stating decisively that “there will be no ceasefire or lull in fighting in Lebanon.” Katz added: “The warning and powerful activity carried out by the IDF and security agencies against Hezbollah and the elimination of Nasrallah portray victory. We must continue the offensive operations to further diminish Hezbollah’s capabilities and reap the fruits of victory.” “We will continue to strike Hezbollah with full force until we achieve the goals of the war. Israel will not agree to any arrangement that does not guarantee its right to enforce and prevent terrorism and meet the war objectives in Lebanon – disarming Hezbollah, pushing them beyond the Litani River, and allowing residents of the north to safely return to their homes.” On Monday, Katz held his first meeting with IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and senior IDF officials. Following the meeting, he stated: “I emphasized in my first meeting with the IDF leadership that ‘Iran is more exposed than ever to attacks on its nuclear facilities. We have an opportunity to achieve the most important goal – to thwart and eliminate the existential threat to the State of Israel.'” Axios reported on Monday evening that Dermer met with President-elect Donald Trump and Jared Kushner in Mar-a-Lago on Sunday and one of the issues they discussed was a possible ceasefire in Lebanon. The report did not include details about Trump’s view on the matter but said that the Biden administration is pushing Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire in Lebanon but the US and Israel “still haven’t agreed on the wording of a letter that would include a U.S. commitment that Israel would be able to take military action in Lebanon if the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers don’t prevent Hezbollah from reestablishing military activity near the border or smuggling heavy weapons into Lebanon.” The report quoted a Biden administration official as claiming: “We just have a couple more things to work through with the Israeli side, but we are almost done.” Meanwhile, Hezbollah said that it won’t agree to any deal that allows Israel to take military action in Lebanon after a ceasefire is signed. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
North Korea ratified a major defense treaty with Russia stipulating mutual military aid, the North’s state media reported Tuesday, as the U.S., South Korea and Ukraine say North Korea has sent thousands of troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine. Russia had completed the ratification of the treaty last week after it was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June. It is considered both countries’ biggest defense deal since the end of the Cold War. The Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty will take effect when both sides exchange documents on the ratification, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said. North Korea ratified the treaty through a decree signed Monday by the country’s president of state affairs, KCNA said, using one of Kim’s titles. North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament, the Supreme People’s Assembly, has the right to ratify treaties but Kim can unilaterally ratify major ones, according to South Korea’s Unification Ministry. The treaty requires both countries to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked. It also calls for the two countries to actively cooperate in efforts to establish a “just and multipolar new world order” and strengthen cooperation on various sectors including peaceful atomic energy, space, food supply, trade and economy. Some observers speculate the treaty’s ratification in both countries could signal North Korea could formally enter the Russia-Ukraine war soon. According to U.S., South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence assessments, up to 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia likely as part of the June treaty. Last week, Ukrainian officials said Ukraine and North Korean troops engaged in small-scale fighting while Ukraine’s army fired artillery at North Korean soldiers in Russia’s Kursk border region. North Korea’s troop dispatch threatens to escalate the almost three-year war. South Korea, the U.S. and their partners also worry about what Russia could give North Korea in return. Possible Russian transfer of sensitive technology to enhance North Korea’s already-advancing nuclear and missile programs would be an alarming development for the U.S. and its allies. North Korea and Russia have been significantly strengthening their military and other cooperation. South Korea’s spy agency said last month that North Korea had sent more than 13,000 containers of artillery, missiles and other conventional arms to Russia since August 2023 to replenish its dwindling weapons stockpiles. (AP)
It’s that time of year again when parents already stretched thin by tuition and groceries face a new financial hurdle: summer camps. If you’re not familiar with what I’m talking about, take a look at recent ads in Jewish magazines and newspapers. We haven’t even hit winter, yet parents are being bombarded with camp ads pushing all sorts of “incentives” to draw kids in. But it’s not the timing that’s the problem—it’s what these camps are selling. Gone are the days of fun and relaxation. Today’s camps are promising a luxury experience, designed to pamper kids with every indulgence imaginable. Let’s start with the cost. Camps are charging astronomical fees that most parents simply cannot afford. I recently saw one charging $5,000 for just two weeks—and that’s per child! Imagine multiplying that by several kids, and you get a debt nightmare no family should have to endure. But here’s the kicker: saying “just don’t send your kids” isn’t as simple as it sounds. The social pressure on kids to go to these camps is relentless. It’s nearly impossible for parents to say no without their children feeling left out or ostracized. I’m not blaming camp directors for this situation. For many, camps are their livelihood, and they have every right to charge what the market will bear. If parents are willing to pay, why shouldn’t camps raise their prices? Camp is, after all, a luxury—not a necessity. Which brings me to my main concern: what values are we teaching our children? With these high-cost experiences, kids are being conditioned to believe that luxuries equal enjoyment and that happiness can only be achieved through constant indulgence. In a time when many families are struggling just to make ends meet, we’re instilling in our children a dependency on luxury that is both dangerous and unsustainable. When I was a child, camp was about simplicity—time away with friends, a break from the hustle and bustle, a chance to recharge. But today, kids are taught they need one thrill after another, and anything less is deemed inadequate. The message they’re receiving is clear: “Normal life is boring, and only by having the best of everything can you truly be happy.” This is a perilous path that we’re setting them on, one that leads to entitlement and a loss of appreciation for life’s simpler pleasures. I strongly believe it is time for rabbanim to step in and set boundaries. This runaway train of materialism is hurtling toward a cliff, and if we don’t act soon, we’ll all be paying the price. Let’s find a way to rein in this insanity before it erodes not only our finances but also our values. Sincerely, A Very Worried Parent The views expressed in this letter do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
A U.S. jury on Tuesday awarded $42 million to three former detainees of Iraq’s notorious Abu Ghraib prison, holding a Virginia-based military contractor responsible for contributing to their torture and mistreatment two decades ago. The decision from the eight-person jury came after a different jury earlier this year couldn’t agree on whether Reston, Virginia-based CACI should be held liable for the work of its civilian interrogators who worked alongside the U.S. Army at Abu Ghraib in 2003 and 2004. The jury awarded plaintiffs Suhail Al Shimari, Salah Al-Ejaili and Asa’ad Al-Zubae $3 million each in compensatory damages and $11 million each in punitive damages. The three testified that they were subjected to beatings, sexual abuse, forced nudity and other cruel treatment at the prison. They did not allege that CACI’s interrogators explicitly inflicted the abuse themselves, but argued CACI was complicit because its interrogators conspired with military police to “soften up” detainees for questioning with harsh treatment. CACI’s lawyer, John O’Connor, did not comment after Tuesday’s verdict on whether the company would appeal. Baher Azmy, a lawyer for the Center for Constitutional Rights, which filed the lawsuit on the plaintiffs’ behalf, called the verdict “an important measure of Justice and accountability” and praised the three plaintiffs for their resilience, “especially in the face of all the obstacles CACI threw their way.” The $42 million fully matches the amount sought by the plaintiffs, Azmy said. “Today is a big day for me and for justice,” said Al-Ejaili, a journalist, in a written statement. “I’ve waited a long time for this day. This victory isn’t only for the three plaintiffs in this case against a corporation. This victory is a shining light for everyone who has been oppressed and a strong warning to any company or contractor practicing different forms of torture and abuse.” Al-Ejaili traveled to the U.S. for both trials to testify in person. The other two plaintiffs testified by video from Iraq. The trial and subsequent retrial were the first time a U.S. jury heard claims brought by Abu Ghraib survivors in the 20 years since photos of detainee mistreatment — accompanied by smiling U.S. soldiers inflicting the abuse — shocked the world during the U.S. occupation of Iraq. None of the three plaintiffs were in any of the notorious photos shown in news reports around the world, but they described treatment very similar to what was depicted. Al Shimari described sexual assaults and beatings during his two months at the prison. He also said he was electrically shocked and dragged around the prison by a rope tied around his neck. Al-Ejaili said he was subjected to stress positions that caused him to vomit black liquid. He was also deprived of sleep, forced to wear women’s underwear and threatened with dogs. CACI had argued it wasn’t complicit in the detainees’ abuse. It said its employees had minimal interaction with the three plaintiffs in the case, and CACI questioned parts of the plaintiffs’ stories, saying that military records contradict some of their claims and suggesting they shaded their stories to support a case against the contractor. Fundamentally, though, CACI argued that any liability for their mistreatment belonged to the government. As in the first trial, the jury struggled to decide whether CACI or the Army should be held responsible for […]
President-elect Donald Trump moved to build out his national security team Tuesday, announcing he is nominating Fox News host and Army veteran Pete Hegseth to serve as his defense secretary and former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. In a flurry of announcements, Trump said he had chosen former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as ambassador to Israel and his longtime friend Steven Witkoff to be a special envoy to the Middle East. Trump also said he would nominate South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to run the Department of Homeland Security and named Bill McGinley, his Cabinet secretary in his first administration, as his White House counsel. Trump also appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), whose job it will be to make government work smarter and leaner. Trump is rolling out a steady stream of appointees and nominees for his upcoming administration, working thus far at a faster pace and without as much drama as his first transition following his 2016 victory. His selection of Hegseth, who lacks senior military or national security experience, was sure to draw questions about his qualifications to lead the department. Hegseth, 44, is a co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends Weekend” and has been a contributor with the network since 2014, where he developed a friendship with Trump, who made regular appearances on the show. If confirmed by the Senate, he would inherit the top job during a series of global crises — ranging from Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing attacks in the Middle East by Iranian proxies to the push for a cease-fire between Israel, Hamas and Hezbollah and escalating worries about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea. Hegseth is also the author of “The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free,” published earlier this year, and has been outspoken about rooting out what he has called “woke-ness” in the military. The book, according to its promo, combines “his own war experiences, tales of outrage, and an incisive look at how the chain of command got so kinked,” and bills itself as “the key to saving our warriors — and winning future wars.” While the Pentagon is considered a key coveted post in any administration, the defense secretary was a tumultuous post during Trump’s first term. Five men held the job during his four years only to resign, be fired or serve briefly as a stopgap. Just two of them were actually confirmed by the Senate. Trump’s relationship with his civilian and military leaders during those years was fraught with tension, confusion and frustration, as they struggled to temper or even simply interpret presidential tweets and pronouncements that blindsided them with abrupt policy decisions they weren’t prepared to explain or defend. Many of the generals who worked in his first administration — both on active duty and retired — have slammed him as unfit to serve in the Oval Office and he has condemned them in return. Hegseth was an infantry captain in the Army National Guard and served overseas in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was formerly head of the Concerned Veterans for America, a group backed by conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch, and he […]
President Joe Biden left reporters scratching their heads on Tuesday when he sidestepped a question about negotiating a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. Instead of addressing the serious topic directly, Biden responded with an odd comment about avoiding a camera bump. The exchange happened during a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog to the Oval Office. As the two leaders sat together, Israeli reporter Neria Kraus asked Biden, “Do you think that you can get a hostage deal by the end of your term?” Rather than giving any insight, Biden quipped, “Do you think you can keep from getting hit in the head by a camera behind you?” An awkward silence filled the room, as Biden seemed unfazed by the missed opportunity to discuss the high-stakes negotiations. He quickly moved on, redirecting his attention to Herzog and thanking everyone in the room before launching into a cordial welcome, expressing his “ironclad” commitment to Israel. It wasn’t the first time Biden had taken an indirect approach to the question. While he dodged giving a clear answer this time, he had previously criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in September, saying Netanyahu wasn’t doing enough to strike a hostage deal. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
By Rabbi Yair Hoffman It was a story related recently by one of Lakewood’s top Rabbonim and Poskim. An Avreich was on an airplane and there was one seat left. The passenger next to him was an African American individual who seemed to have an interest in the Sefer that the Avreich was learning, The Avreich was curious about his fellow passenger’s interest and introduced himself. The man said his name was “Shach.” Eventually the Avreich asked him about his interest in his Sefer. The man answered that the words in his Sefer were the same words that appeared on the tattoo on his arm. The Avreich wanted to see it. Sure enough, the man showed him his tattoo which said the words, “Zos Chukas HaTorah.” Bewildered, the Avreich asked what the reason was that he had the tattoo. The man answered that he did not know and that his father had put it on him. The Avreich asked for his father’s number. Later, when he got off th to e plane the Avreich called the father. He told him that he met a man named, “Shach” with a strange tattoo. The father said, I will tell you the story. “I was a talmid of Rav Shach and I was having parnassah problems. I asked reshus to leave learning and go to work. I received his permission. Eventually, I was working in an office and there was a cleaning lady that came at night. I asked Rav Shach whether I had to be concerned for Yichud. He said that I do. I rationalized that it was remote and that I as married with children. I didn’t listen to Rav Shach. Eventually, the worst happened. I named the child after my Rebbe – who I didn’t listen to. He was born on Parshas Chukas.” The Rav told the story to warn others that we should all be very meticulous in hilchos Yichud. With this in mind, the following halachos are presented below: HILCHOS YICHUD Every area of Torah knowledge is uniquely structured, and has an ideal method in which to impart the fundamentals of that area. The laws of Yichud are no exception to this principle. It is this author’s view that one can best attain mastery of this material through the repetition of a four-part cycle. The first part is learning about the prohibition. The second part is to study the exceptions or the heterim to the prohibition. The third part is to study when the heterim do not apply. And finally, the fourth part is to study other aspects of the prohibition. This cycle should be repeated twice. The first time, it should be studied in order to gain familiarity with both the concepts and the structure. The second time it should be studied in order to gain a deeper understanding of the material. Part I – The Prohibition Generally speaking it is forbidden for any male above the age of 13 years and a day to seclude or be alone with a female who is at least 3 years old and a day. This is true even if the female is single, and even if she has not reached physical maturity. It is also forbidden […]
Haiti’s main airport remained closed Tuesday, a day after gangs shot a landing airplane and injured a flight attendant when violence erupted as the country swore in its new prime minister in a politically tumultuous transition. Life in much of Haiti’s capital was frozen after the wave of violence, which came to a head when gangs shot a Spirit Airlines airplane Monday, forcing the airport to shut down. Photos and videos obtained by The Associated Press show bullet holes dotting the interior of a plane. A number of airlines suspended flights to Haiti through Thursday, but it was unclear how long closures could drag on. On Tuesday, heavily armed police in armored cars outside the airport checked trucks used for public transportation passing by. Schools were closed, as were banks and government offices. Streets, where just a day before gangs and police were locked in a fierce firefight, were eerily empty, with few driving by other than a motorcycle with a man who had been shot clinging to the back. The sounds of heavy gunfire still echoed through the streets — a reminder that despite political maneuvering by Haiti’s elites and a strong push by the international community to restore peace, the country’s toxic slate of gangs kept its firm hold on much of the Caribbean nation. The United Nations estimates that gangs control 85% of the capital, Port-au-Prince. A U.N.-backed mission led by Kenyan police to quell gang violence struggles with a lack of funding and personnel, prompting calls for a U.N. peacekeeping mission. The violence comes after a transitional council, tasked with restoring democratic order to Haiti, which hasn’t held elections since 2016, decided to fire the country’s interim prime minister, Garry Conille, who often was at odds with the council during his six months in office. Despite Conille declaring the move illegal, the council rapidly swore in businessman Alix Didier Fils-Aimé as the new interim prime minister. Fils-Aimé promised to work with international partners to restore peace and hold long awaited elections, a vow also made by his predecessor. But many Haitians, like 43-year-old Martha Jean-Pierre, have little taste for the political fighting, which experts say only give gangs more freedom to continue expanding their control as Haiti teeters on the brink of famine. Jean-Pierre was among those to brave the streets of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday to sell the plantains, carrots, cabbage and potatoes she carried in a basket on her head. She had no choice, she said — selling was the only way she could feed her children. “What good is a new prime minister if there’s no security, if I can’t move freely and sell my goods,” she said, nodding to her basket of vegetables. “This is my bank account, this is what my family depend on.” (AP)
In what will likely go down as one of the most extravagant failures in American campaign history, Vice President Kamala Harris managed to blow through more than $1 billion in just three months—only to lose to former President Donald Trump. The lavish spending, complete with a parade of A-list concerts and influencer contracts, ended up yielding little more than empty hype as Trump sailed to victory, winning critical battleground states and becoming the first former president since Grover Cleveland to reclaim the White House in a nonconsecutive term. Harris’s fundraising spree brought in unprecedented amounts from wealthy Democratic donors, filling her war chest with cash from Silicon Valley titans like George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. And it sure didn’t take long to spend it. Harris’s campaign unloaded a jaw-dropping $880 million before Election Day, a campaign spending frenzy that included everything from ads and consultants to a celebrity-studded rally. Despite all the glitz and glamour, it turns out a billion dollars can’t buy voter support. The campaign’s consulting fees alone were astronomical, with millions paid to firms like Village Marketing to recruit social media influencers, all in the hope that Instagram posts might magically turn into votes. The spending didn’t stop there: Harris’s team funneled over $2 million to Majic Productions, a Wisconsin event company, and dropped a cool $1 million on Oprah Winfrey’s production company for a single campaign event. To top it off, six figures went toward setting up a “stage” for a guest appearance on a podcast, which somehow was supposed to boost her credibility. All of that spending for what? A flurry of high-budget rallies, influencer endorsements, and ad saturation that voters simply shrugged off. Trump’s far leaner campaign budget barely topped $354 million—a mere fraction of what Harris burned through—but it still carried him to a decisive win. While Harris was desperately trying to sculpt her image with pricey consultants and Hollywood fanfare, Trump’s familiar, no-frills approach clearly struck a chord with voters. Democratic insiders are now left scratching their heads, wondering how a billion-dollar campaign could fail so spectacularly. The answer seems obvious: all the money in the world can’t make up for a candidate who never connected with voters in the first place. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Canada’s labor minister said Tuesday he is intervening to end lockouts of workers at the country’s two biggest ports. Labor Minister Steven Mackinnon said the negotiations have reached an impasse and he is directing the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order the resumption of all operations at the ports of Vancouver and Montreal and move the talks to binding arbitration. Port of Montreal’s workers were locked out Sunday and workers in Vancouver on the Pacific Coast have been locked out since Nov. 4. “There is a limit to the economic self destruction that Canadians are prepared to accept,” MacKinnon said. “In the face of economic self destruction there is an obligation to intervene. As minister of labor that responsibility falls to me.” MacKinnon said $1.3 billion Canadian dollars ($930 million) of goods is affected every day. He said it was impacting supply chains, the economy and Canada’s reputation as reliable trading partner. Business groups had been calling for government intervention to get the flow of goods moving again. The move to end the stoppages comes after the government stepped in to end halted operations at Canada’s two main railways in August. MacKinnon says he hopes operations can be restored in a matter of days. The Maritime Employers Association locked out 1,200 longshore workers at the Port of Montreal on Sunday after workers voted to reject what employers called a final contract offer. The workers were seeking raises of 20% over four years. The job action came after port workers in British Columbia were locked out amid a labor dispute involving more than 700 longshore supervisors, resulting in a paralysis of container cargo traffic at terminals on the West Coast. (AP)
Frank Auerbach, who fled Nazi Germany for Britain as a child and became one of the major artists of the 20th century, has died aged 93. Auerbach’s gallery, Frankie Rossi Art Projects, said on Tuesday the artist died at his home in London the day before. Born in Berlin in 1931, Auerbach came to England in 1939 as one of six children sponsored by the writer Iris Origo. It was part of a movement known as the the Kindertransport that rescued thousands of Jewish children from Nazi-occupied Europe in the months before World War II. Auerbach was 7 and never saw his parents again. Both were killed in the Auschwitz concentration camp. “I’ve done this thing that psychiatrists disapprove of, which is blocking things out,” Auerbach told the BBC eight decades later. “Life is too short, in my case, to brood over the past.” He attended a Quaker-run boarding school in England alongside other refugees and war orphans, and after studies at St. Martin’s School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London, he devoted his life to painting. He lived and worked in the same north London studio from 1954 until his death and, according to his gallery, worked 364 days a year. Along with the other “School of London” post-war artists including Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud and Leon Kossoff, he focused on figurative painting regardless of changing artistic fashions. Auerbach slathered canvasses in thick layers of paint to produce near-abstract but recognizable landscapes and brooding, occluded portraits. Auerbach told the BBC earlier this year that the paintings’ “eccentric thickness” was “an involuntary byproduct of the fact that I went on and on and on and repainted the whole image from top to bottom every time.” “All art comes out of dissatisfaction,” he said. Auerbach exhibited his work from the 1950s but didn’t gain fame for another 20 years. His first retrospective exhibition was at London’s Hayward Gallery in 1978. He represented Britain at the 1986 Venice Biennale, winning the Golden Lion top prize. His most recent exhibition, Frank Auerbach: The Charcoal Heads, opened at London’s Courtauld Gallery in February. In later life, his work commanded high prices. In 2023, “Mornington Crescent” – one of many paintings inspired by the urban streets near his home — sold at Sotheby’s for $7.1 million, a record for the artist. “We have lost a dear friend and remarkable artist but take comfort knowing his voice will resonate for generations to come,” said Geoffrey Parton, director of Frankie Rossi Art Projects. Auerbach is survived by his son, Jacob Auerbach. (AP)
Over the last 16 years, a new approach and method of limud Hashas has been nurtured and developed in Eretz Yisroel at Reshet Kollelei Shas Yiden. This phenomenon has captured the imagination and electrified lomdei Hatorah throughout the world, and has earned the avid support of Gedolim across the Torah spectrum. Shas Yiden in UK & USA Shas Yiden not only grew from 6 avreichim metzuyonim to 126 avreichim geonim in five kollelim across Eretz Yisroel but, in response to repeated requests from abroad, a Shas Yiden kollel was first established in the UK, in Stamford Hill, London. The Shas Yiden reputation soared in this location and their first Annual Siyum Hashas with Gedolei Torah in attendance reflected the grandeur of those in Yerushalayim. This foray into Chutz La’aretz has been followed by a long-awaited opening of a Shas Yiden kollel in Flatbush, NY. The Eretz Yisroeldike bren of learning the entire Shas has already had a significant local impact and is a source of inspiration to the local Flatbush kollelim. The incredible devotion to limud gantz Shas and its completion within a year by each avreich at Shas Yiden has encouraged many others to try and emulate this broader study of Shas. This elevated level of Torah study at Shas Yiden and the ability of the avreichim geonim to face public oral farheren by world recognized Gedolei Torah, together with monthly tests on 225 blatt, is nothing short of remarkable. Shas Yiden has truly raised the bar in the study of Shas. Our unique system of learning, the tight demanding regimen and the motivation emanating from Eretz Yisroel has truly placed Shas Yiden in a Torah league of its own. In the Words of Maranan Hageonim Sar Hatorah, רשכבה”ג Maran Hagadol Harav Chaim Kanievsky, זצ”ל – Nasi, Shas YidenI tested them, I know them throughout Shas – a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with Shas Yiden is the most mehudar partnership Rosh Hayeshiva, רשכבה”ג Maran Hagadol Harav Gershon Edelstein, זצ”לShas Yiden has raised the bar of Torah learning in both depth and clarity, and its unique method of ameilus in Torah The Sanzer Rebbe, שליט”אA first in 2000 years of Jewish history – never before a Torah institution where ALL the avreichim know kol Hashas kulo, Rashi and Tosfos b’al peh Over 1.6 Million Blatt at Shas YidenThis Year Alone! With each of the 122 avreichim geonim at Shas Yiden required to complete a minimum of 13,555 blatt per year, you are helping support some 1,654,000 blatt! At the most recent farheren, the reaction of the Gedolei Torah conducting the testing to the prowess of the Shas Yiden was simply one of amazement at the breadth and detailed knowledge and all-encompassing mastery of Shas – remarking: “They know it like others know Ashrei Yoshvei!” The joy of the avreichim geonim and their clear love of Torah electrifies each farher. (To see the different farheren in action, please click on our website: www.shasyiden.com.) It is no wonder that the overall reaction to the Shas Yiden Network is that in its 15 years it has certainly revolutionized and raised the bar in the learning and mastery of Shas. Caring for the Avreichim Families Despite the difficulties of these last few years, Covid etc., Shas Yiden has made sure to keep our commitment to each of […]
Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, a strong pro-Israel voice on the left, has endorsed Sen. Marco Rubio as a “strong choice” for Secretary of State, following reports that President-elect Donald Trump intends to nominate Rubio to the cabinet-level position. Fetterman, in a post on social media platform X, acknowledged the political differences between the two but expressed confidence in Rubio’s qualifications. “Unsurprisingly, the other team’s pick will have political differences than my own,” Fetterman wrote. “That being said, my colleague @SenMarcoRubio is a strong choice, and I look forward to voting for his confirmation.” If confirmed, Rubio’s Senate seat would be temporarily filled by an appointee from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who would select a replacement until a special election is held. Rep. Greg Steube of Florida, a potential Senate appointee, praised Rubio as “an outstanding choice,” noting Rubio’s commitment to advancing American interests and countering threats like the Chinese Communist Party. “Senator Rubio has a proven record of promoting freedom, defending American interests on the global stage, and standing firm against threats from the CCP,” Steube posted on X. Rep. Carlos Giménez echoed the sentiment, calling Trump’s anticipated nomination of Rubio a “historic and brilliant choice” for Secretary of State. Meanwhile, Rubio has voiced his support for Sen. Rick Scott as Senate Republican Leader, where Scott is competing against Sens. John Cornyn and John Thune. Senate Republicans are expected to hold their leadership vote on Wednesday. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
For a man who loves the spotlight, Donald Trump has been conspicuously out of view since his triumph in last week’s presidential election. There have been no rallies, no press conferences, no speeches. Instead, Trump has spent most of his first week as president-elect behind closed doors at Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida, where he’s working the phones, reconnecting with foreign leaders and building his new administration. Trump is hardly in seclusion. He’s surrounded by advisers, friends and paying members of his club, who weigh in with advice as he selects people for top government jobs. Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, whose companies have billions of dollars of federal contracts, has been a constant presence. Some see Musk as the second-most influential figure in Trump’s immediate orbit after his campaign chief-turned-incoming chief of staff, Susie Wiles. “Very productive day of work by the transition team,” Musk posted on X, his social media company, on Monday evening. Trump is expected to return to public view on Wednesday, when he goes to the White House to meet with President Joe Biden and visits the Capitol to consult with House Speaker Mike Johnson. Overall, Trump is laying the groundwork for his second presidency at a much faster clip than his first. That doesn’t mean the private process lacks the cutthroat atmosphere that Trump has long fostered within his orbit. A former White House official still close to Trump compared the situation at Mar-a-Lago to the Game of Thrones drama series, and another former Trump official also described chaotic jockeying for jobs.. Both spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal dynamics. Eight years ago, when Trump pulled of a shocking victory over Hillary Clinton, he wasn’t out of sight for long. He visited President Barack Obama at the White House two days after the election, then met with Republican leaders on Capitol Hill. “We’re going to move very strongly on immigration,” he said at the time. “We will move very strongly on health care. And we’re looking at jobs. Big league jobs.” Back in New York, back then, Trump Tower was transformed into the backdrop for a new political reality show. The media camped out in the lobby of Trump’s namesake skyscraper to see who was coming and going. Sometimes Trump would ride the elevator down to offer an update or show off a guest. In one notable moment that December, the rapper then known as Kanye West emerged with Trump, who said the two had “been friends for a long time.” Asked what they had discussed, Trump replied: “Life. We discussed life.” Trump later came under intense criticism in 2022 for dining with Ye and a Holocaust-denying white nationalist. Eight years ago, Trump also held transition meetings in New Jersey at his Bedminster golf course, where the media assembled many days for a procession of candidates before the assembled cameras. Some, like future Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, ended up with job offers. Others, like Mitt Romney, did not. After the Romney meeting, the two walked out together and shook hands next to an American flag. Trump flashed a quick thumbs-up and said it “went great.” The current arrangement is far different. There’s no public access to Mar-a-Lago, which appears to be under even tighter security than it was in the […]
