Yeshiva World News

Six Secret Service agents have been suspended without pay or benefits in connection with the stunning security failure that nearly cost Donald Trump his life at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last July. The move comes amid scrutiny of the agency’s leadership and preparedness following what one official called an “operational failure” of the highest order. Matt Quinn, deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service, confirmed the disciplinary action in an interview with CBS News on Wednesday, stating bluntly: “Secret Service is totally accountable for Butler.” The agents received penalties ranging from 10 to 42 days of unpaid leave and have since been reassigned to restricted, low-responsibility roles. While the agency opted not to terminate them, Quinn emphasized the Secret Service is now “laser focused on fixing the root cause of the problem” and overhauling internal operations to ensure the failure is never repeated. The July 13, 2024 attack shocked the nation: gunman Thomas Crooks, perched on a nearby rooftop, opened fire on Trump and a crowd of supporters. Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter, was killed while shielding his family. Trump, who had just stepped away from the podium, was grazed by a bullet, and two others were seriously wounded. Crooks was eventually shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper — but only after he had already fired multiple rounds. The fact that he was able to breach the perimeter and maintain an elevated firing position has raised deep concerns about pre-event planning, intelligence coordination, and inter-agency communication. A damning 180-page report issued in December by a bipartisan House task force concluded that the Butler incident was “preventable.” The report highlighted long-standing issues within the Secret Service, including poor coordination with local law enforcement and inadequate pre-event site assessments. Compounding the scandal, the agency came under fire again just weeks later after thwarting a second assassination attempt on Trump in West Palm Beach, Florida. The incident further fueled bipartisan calls for accountability, culminating in the resignation of then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle and a wave of internal investigations. In response to the Butler debacle, Quinn said the agency has since deployed military-grade drones, mobile command posts, and upgraded radio systems to enhance real-time coordination with local police. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The IDF announced that Muhammad Jamal Murad, the commander of Hezbollah’s artillery forces in the coastal sector of southern Lebanon, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Mansouri area, south of Tyre, earlier today.

BREAKING: A Federal judge blocks Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship nationwide.

WATCH: CCTV footage captured the clash between Israeli forces and two terrorists responsible for the deadly assault in the Gush Etzion Junction shopping center parking lot.

Italian confectioner Ferrero, known for brands like Nutella and Kinder, is buying the century-old U.S. cereal company WK Kellogg in a deal valued at approximately $3.1 billion. The Ferrero Group said Thursday it will pay $23 for each Kellogg share. The transaction includes the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of WK Kellogg Co.’s portfolio of breakfast cereals across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. WK Kellogg’s shares were up 30% in premarket trading Thursday. Kellogg, which was founded in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1906, makes Fruit Loops, Special K, Frosted Flakes and Rice Krispies. The current company was formed in 2023, when Kellogg’s snack brands like Cheez-Its and Pringles were spun into a separate company called Kellanova. M&M’s maker Mars Inc. announced last year that it planned to buy Kellanova in a deal worth nearly $30 billion. Ferrero Group, which was founded in Italy in 1946, has been trying to expand its U.S. footprint. In 2018 it bought Nestle’s U.S. candy brands, including Butterfinger, Nerds and SweeTarts. And in 2022 it bought Wells Enterprises, the maker of ice cream brands like Blue Bunny and Halo Top. The deal, which still needs approval from Kellogg shareholders, is expected to close in the second half of the year. Once the transaction is complete, Kellogg’s stock will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange and the company will become a Ferrero subsidiary. (AP)

At the beginning of the siddur appears his approbation, where he writes: “Said Ephraim… it is from my hand that this siddur, with the commentary of the Ra’avan, has come to print.” Later, he requests that the siddur not be reprinted without his permission, in accordance with accepted practice. Rabbi Shemaria of Hrymailiv, a disciple of Rabbi Ephraim Zalman Margulies, also refers in his work Iyun Tefillah to the “siddur printed with the commentary of the Ra’avan, of blessed memory, which my teacher printed in Ostroh…”

A Detroit man pleaded guilty Tuesday to concealing cryptocurrency donations intended to support the Islamic State (ISIS), 14 months after his arrest on terrorism charges, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Jibreel Pratt, 26, admitted in federal court to attempting to finance the foreign terrorist organization using Bitcoin and encrypted communication tools. He now faces a recommended nine-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal, with formal sentencing scheduled for November 13. “Today’s guilty plea by Jibreel Pratt underscores the serious threat posed by individuals who attempt to support foreign terrorist organizations known for violence and human rights abuses,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office. “The FBI remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting the American people from those who seek to carry out or orchestrate acts of terrorism.” According to court documents, Pratt first made contact in February 2023 with an individual he believed to be a member of ISIS. That individual was, in fact, a confidential FBI informant. During their communications, Pratt expressed a desire to travel abroad to join ISIS and recorded a video pledging allegiance to the group’s leader. Prosecutors said Pratt also shared sensitive documents with the informant to help ISIS improve its operational security and defensive capabilities. In March and May 2023, he sent Bitcoin transactions he believed would fund terrorist travel and help another individual commit a terrorist act in ISIS’s name. To hide the transactions, Pratt used a virtual private network (VPN) and multiple encryption tools, federal investigators said. “Jibreel Pratt has many talents. And he swore a binding oath to use them to help ISIS — a genocidal anti-American terrorist organization,” said U.S. Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon, Jr. “Pratt meticulously plotted to support ISIS and covertly sent them money to further their evil works.” The charge of concealing material support to a designated terrorist organization carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Under the plea agreement, both prosecutors and the defense have recommended a nine-year sentence. “Make no mistake,” said Gorgon. “We will find the terrorists operating in our shadows and bring them to justice.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has introduced an amendment to strip $500 million in military aid to Israel from the U.S. defense appropriations bill currently working its way through Congress. The firebrand congresswoman, who has previously faced accusations of heing an antisemite – announced her proposal in a Facebook post she described as “a sprinkle of a slight rant and sarcasm delivered on a bed of raw truth,” sparking immediate backlash for its tone and substance. The amendment wouldn’t just target Israel — Greene also called for slashing an additional $500 million earmarked for Taiwan, $500 million for Jordan, $118 million in overseas disaster relief, and $15 million in HIV prevention programs abroad. The total cuts would eliminate more than $1.6 billion in foreign assistance from the Pentagon’s budget. Greene justified the cuts by citing what she called the misplaced priorities of American foreign policy. “The U.S. State Department already gives nuclear-armed Israel over $3 billion every single year,” Greene wrote. “They’ve nearly decimated Hamas on their own, and we just bombed Iran’s nuclear program for them. Enough.” She went further, dismissing aid to other strategic allies. “Taiwan and Jordan have already received billions. Why should we be giving them another $500 million each?” she asked. She also criticized humanitarian aid funding, arguing the U.S. receives little international support in return. “Where are our great foreign friends throwing money at us for the devastated families in Texas from the July 4th flood?” Greene asked. “We have a drug and mental health crisis, and Americans can’t afford rent, bills, or insurance — why are we shipping billions overseas?” Speaking later on Steve Bannon’s “WarRoom” podcast, Greene doubled down, saying the defense budget should be “for the defense of the United States of America and our borders.” The proposed cuts come at a time of heightened global instability, following Israel’s recent war with Hamas and a U.S.-led strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Israel remains a major recipient of U.S. military aid — much of it guaranteed under a 10-year memorandum of understanding signed during the Obama administration. Greene preemptively pushed back against criticism, insisting that cutting the proposed $500 million for Israel “does not make us anti-Semitic or isolationist.” The move places Greene once again at the center of the ongoing debate over America’s role on the global stage — and reopens fault lines within the GOP between traditional defense hawks and a growing populist wing skeptical of foreign entanglements. The defense appropriations bill is still in markup. Whether Greene’s amendment will be adopted remains unclear, but senior Republican aides say it’s unlikely to gain traction in committee or on the floor. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Taiwan on Wednesday launched annual military exercises intended to guard against Chinese threats to invade, including using so-called “gray zone tactics” deployed by China that stop just short of open warfare. This year’s 10-day live-fire Han Kuang drills are the longest yet and follow the delivery of a range of new weaponry from tanks to waterborne drones. The drills in Taiwan come as regional tensions and harassment by China and its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) are increasing. China claims Taiwan as its territory to be annexed by force if necessary, while the vast majority of Taiwanese wish to become fully independent or retain their current status of de facto independence. The drills began with exercises to counter the actions of Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia ships that have been harassing Taiwanese ships around offshore island groups close to the Chinese coast, the Defense Ministry said. Concerns are that China could launch an invasion under the guise of petty harassment, and the drills will include fortifying ports and possible Chinese landing points on an island lying 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the Chinese coast. The drills will later focus on simulated anti-landing exercises, with regular forces from all the services backed up by 22,000 reservists, the ministry said. Exercises will continue around the clock for 10 days under realistic conditions taking into account all possibilities, the ministry said, in a possible attempt to counter criticism that past exercises have veered on the performative. Troops in the drills will use Abrams M1A2T tanks and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System acquired from the U.S., Taiwan’s closest partner and source of defensive arms despite the sides not having diplomatic ties at Beijing’s insistence. The ministry called on the public to show patience with any disruptions to flights or traffic and not to believe false information distributed about the exercises. China responded to the exercises’ announcement in a typically acerbic fashion. “The Han Guang exercise is nothing but a bluffing and self-deceiving trick by the DPP authorities, attempting to bind the Taiwanese people to the Taiwan independence cart and harm Taiwan for the selfish interests of one party,” Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Col. Jiang Bing said at a news conference on Tuesday. The DPP stands for Taiwan’s independence-leading ruling Democratic Progressive Party and Jiang was using the mainland Chinese romanization of the games. “No matter how they perform or what weapons they use, they cannot resist the PLA’s anti-independence sword and the historical trend of the motherland’s inevitable reunification,” Jiang said. China appears also to have taken actions to disrupt preparations for the drills, with the Taiwanese Defense Ministry saying PLA planes and ships on Tuesday “conducted harassment operations around Taiwan’s air and sea domains under the pretext of a so-called ‘joint combat readiness patrol.’” Taiwan’s armed forces “employed joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance measures to closely monitor the situation and dispatched mission aircraft, vessels, and shore-based missile systems to appropriately respond,” the Taiwanese Defense Ministry said Tuesday. China imposed export controls Wednesday on eight enterprises tied to Taiwan’s military. China has used such tactics before, including sanctioning American companies aiding Taiwan’s burgeoning domestic defense industry. The aerospace and shipbuilding companies added to an export control list by China’s Commerce Ministry include defense supplier Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation, drone maker Jingwei Aerospace Technology […]

An explosion struck the 14th floor of Pamchal Tower 9 in Tehran, also called the Armed Forces Judicial Staff Tower, per Iranian media. The Tehran Fire Department reported a gas leak as the cause, with seven people injured and taken for medical care.

Secretary Rubio Regarding AI Impersonator: “You’re going to hear about this for a long time…It’s just one of the other great challenges posed to us by AI. I’m sure there are a lot of positive aspects to AI as well, but this ain’t one of them.”

PM Bibi Netanyahu and his wife met with families of hostages in Washington.

TERROR: A man in his twenties was klled on Thursday afternoon in a stabbing attack at the Rami Levy complex at the Gush Etzion junction. An initial investigation reveals that the two terrorists arrived at the shopping area armed with knives and attacked an Israeli security guard. They stabbed him severely and managed to take his gun. According to witnesses, they then began shooting toward the mall from the parking lot. Nearby armed civilians opened fire and neutralized them.

Dozens of terrorists were killed and over 130 “terror infrastructures,” both above and below ground were demolished by troops of the Golani Brigade during operations in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis in the past week.

The Sanzer Rebbe participated in the Vacht Nacht celebration held for the grandson of Harav Elimelech Biderman, son of his son-in-law Harav Moshe Dovid Motzen — son of the Gaavad of Kiryas HaBa’al Shem Tov and son-in-law of the Shefa Chaim of Sanz, zt”l.

A psak from HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein urging the preservation of cholent as a uniquely Shabbos dish sparked widespread discussion this week — especially among bochurim accustomed to Thursday night cholent. But in an important clarification released, Rav Zilberstein explained that his original words were intended for a specific context, and not meant as a blanket issur. Rav Chaim Malin, a grandson of Rav Zilberstein and a prominent talmid chacham in his own right, published the update in response to the many inquiries that followed the initial psak. “Following the psak that it is proper to refrain from eating cholent during the week in order to preserve it as an Oneg Shabbos,” he wrote, “many have asked whether it may be served at simchos such as weddings or bar mitzvahs, or in yeshiva settings.” Rav Zilberstein responded: In cases where cholent is traditionally served — such as at seudos mitzvah — there is no issue. It remains fully permitted and appropriate to serve cholent at such events, even on a weekday. Likewise, regarding yeshivos that serve cholent on Thursday nights, Rav Zilberstein said bochurim should not hesitate to eat it. “Bochurim are expected to rely on the hanhalah of their yeshiva,” the Rav said. “If the yeshiva is serving cholent as a regular part of Thursday night supper, they should eat with peace of mind and joy.” Rav Malin explained that the original psak was given in response to specific avreichim and bochurim who felt a lack of kavod Shabbos when cholent was eaten casually during the week. For such cases, Rav Zilberstein presented several mareh mekomos emphasizing the importance of preserving Shabbos-specific foods for Shabbos alone. These included references to the Yam Shel Shlomo, Arizal, Chasam Sofer, and others who avoided eating certain foods on weekdays to maintain the kedusha and uniqueness of Shabbos. However, Rav Malin stressed, this guidance was not intended to apply to communal minhagim or structured seudos mitzvah. In yeshiva frameworks and at simchos, cholent can absolutely be enjoyed during the week. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

All 31 construction workers who were far inside a huge industrial tunnel in Los Angeles made it to safety after a portion of it collapsed Wednesday evening, an outcome officials called a blessing after they initially feared much worse. The cave-in apparently happened between the tunnel boring machine, 5 miles (8 kilometers) in from the only entrance, and the construction crew working 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) in, said Michael Chee, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, which is in charge of the nearly $700 million project. The workers were about 400 feet (121 meters) underground. The tunnel is being constructed almost entirely underneath public right-of-way. The structure is 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide and will be 7 miles (11.3 kilometers) long to carry treated wastewater from across Los Angeles County to the Pacific Ocean. Firefighters said workers had to climb over 12 to 15 feet (3.6 meters to 4.5 meters) of fallen dirt and debris to reach the tunnel boring machine and then were transported back to the opening. Some people had to be pulled out. “They had to make themselves out through and then rescuers actually came to them to assist them out,” Fire Department Chief Ronnie Villanueva said. Aerial footage showed workers being brought out of the tunnel in a yellow cage hoisted up by a crane. None had major injuries, authorities said. Arally Orozco said she was at church when her phone started buzzing with calls and her son texted her the news of the tunnel where her three brothers worked. “It was sad and scary,” she said in Spanish. “We feared the worst.” After an hour, she managed to get through to one brother who told her they had to squeeze through a tight space to get out. “My brother was crying,” she said. “He told me he thought he was going to die underground.” L.A. City Councilmember Tim McOsker praised the workers for keeping cool heads. “This is a highly technical, difficult project. And they knew exactly what to do. They knew how to secure themselves,” he said. “Thank goodness for the good people that were down in the tunnel.” Mayor Karen Bass said at a news conference that she met with some of the workers. “I know when we raced down here I was so concerned that we were going to find tragedy. Instead, what we found was victory,” Bass said. “All of the men that were in that tunnel, rescued, up, safe.” The cause is under investigation, Chee said. Work will not resume until they can figure out what happened and determine that it’s safe to proceed, authorities said. (AP)

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart met Thursday in Malaysia as tensions between the countries rise over Moscow’s increasing attacks on Ukraine and whether Russia’s leader is serious about a peace deal. Rubio and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held talks in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of the annual Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum, which brings together 10 ASEAN members and their most important diplomatic partners including Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, European nations and the U.S. The meeting lasted around 50 minutes. Rubio was seen winking at Lavrov afterward as reporters shouted questions, which they both ignored. The meeting was their second encounter since Rubio took office, although they have spoken by phone several times. Their first meeting took place in February in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the Trump administration sought to test Russia and Ukraine on their willingness to make peace. Thursday’s meeting occurred shortly after the U.S. resumed some shipments of defensive weapons to Ukraine following a pause, ostensibly for the Pentagon to review domestic munitions stocks, that was cheered in Moscow. The resumption comes as Russia fires escalating air attacks on Ukraine and as U.S. President Donald Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Putin is not, he’s not treating human beings right,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, explaining the pause’s reversal. “It’s killing too many people. So we’re sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I’ve approved that.” US diplomatic push could be overshadowed by tariff threats Rubio was also seeing other foreign ministers, including many whose countries face tariffs set to be imposed Aug. 1. The tariff threat could overshadow the top diplomat’s first official trip to Asia, just as the U.S. seeks to boost relations with Indo-Pacific nations to counter China’s growing influence in the region. Rubio sought to assuage concerns as he held group talks with ASEAN foreign ministers. “The Indo Pacific, the region, remains a focal point of U.S. foreign policy,” he told them. “When I hear in the news that perhaps the United States or the world might be distracted by events in other parts of the planet, I would say distraction is impossible, because it is our strong view and the reality that this century and the story of next 50 years will largely be written here in this region.” “These are relationships and partnerships that we intend to continue to build on without seeking the approval or the permission of any other actor in the region of the world,” Rubio said in an apparent reference to China. Trump notified several countries on Monday and Wednesday that they will face higher tariffs if they don’t make trade deals with the U.S. Among them are eight of ASEAN’s 10 members. U.S. State Department officials said tariffs and trade won’t be Rubio’s focus during the meetings, which Trump’s Republican administration hopes will prioritize maritime safety and security in the South China Sea, where China has become increasingly aggressive toward its small neighbors, as well as combating transnational crime. But Rubio may be hard-pressed to avoid the tariff issue that has vexed some of Washington’s closest allies and partners in Asia, including Japan and South Korea and most members of ASEAN, which Trump says would face 25% tariffs if there is […]

A hiking tour company based in Puerto Rico denied service to a Jewish tourist, sending a blunt email with the subject line “No thanks” and the message “Free Palestine!” — and later doubling down in a WhatsApp exchange that confirmed they refuse to serve “so called israelis.” Paradise Tours PR, which offers guided hikes and eco-tours throughout Puerto Rico, appears to have engaged in blatant antisemitism after a Jewish American woman reached out to inquire about a hike during her upcoming vacation. The only information provided on the contact form was her name, travel dates, and email address — no political content, no mention of Israel. Instead of a courteous response or a quote, the company allegedly replied with a single inflammatory line: “Free Palestine!” After the incident, a separate party contacted the company through WhatsApp to clarify if the message was genuine. The screenshots show a chilling confirmation. A representative, using the Puerto Rico-based phone number associated with Paradise Tours, responded: “Yes. Not interested to host so called israelis. Is there a problem with that?” “How many of you are going to bother us? Just move on.” Legal experts say the company’s actions may violate anti-discrimination laws. While political opinions are protected speech, refusing service based on national origin, religion, or perceived ethnicity can cross into illegal territory. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)