The United States said Tuesday that it had reached a tentative agreement for Ukraine and Russia to stop fighting and ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea in separate talks with both sides, but many details were unresolved, and the Kremlin made the deal conditional on lifting some Western sanctions. The announcement was made as the U.S. wrapped up three days of talks with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia on prospective steps toward a limited ceasefire. While a comprehensive peace deal still looked distant, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the talks as the early “right steps” toward a peaceful settlement of the 3-year-old war. “These are the first steps — not the very first but initial ones — with this presidential administration toward completely ending the war and the possibility of a full ceasefire, as well as steps toward a sustainable and fair peace agreement,” he said at a news conference. U.S. experts met separately with Ukrainian and Russian representatives in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, and the White House said in separate statements after the talks that the sides “agreed to ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.” Details of the prospective deal were not released, but it appeared to mark another attempt to ensure safe Black Sea shipping after a 2022 agreement that was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey but halted by Russia the next year. “We are making a lot of progress,” U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday at the White House. “So that’s all I can report.” When Moscow withdrew from the shipping deal in 2023, it complained that a parallel agreement promising to remove obstacles to Russian exports of food and fertilizer had not been honored. It said restrictions on shipping and insurance hampered its agricultural trade. Kyiv accused Moscow of violating the deal by delaying the vessels’ inspections. After Russia suspended its part of the deal, it regularly attacked Ukraine’s southern ports and grain storage sites. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in televised comments Tuesday that Moscow is now open to the revival of the Black Sea shipping deal but warned that Russian interests must be protected. In an apparent reference to Moscow’s demands, the White House said the U.S. “will help restore Russia’s access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports, lower maritime insurance costs, and enhance access to ports and payment systems for such transactions.” Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, hailed the results of the talks as a “major shift toward peace, enhanced global food security and essential grain supplies for over 100 million additional people.” Trump “is making another global breakthrough by effective dialogue and problem-solving,” he said on X. But the Kremlin warned in a statement that the Black Sea deal could only be implemented after sanctions against the Russian Agricultural Bank and other financial organizations involved in food and fertilizer trade are lifted and their access to the SWIFT system of international payments is ensured. The agreement is also conditional on lifting sanctions against Russian food and fertilizer exporters and ships carrying Russian food exports, and removing restrictions on exports of agricultural equipment to Russia, the Kremlin said. The deal emphasized that inspections of commercial ships […]
VIDEO REPORT: The RSF, a Sudanese paramilitary force locked in a war with the country’s army, has placed new constraints on aid deliveries to territories that include areas where famine is spreading, according to relief workers.
BREAKING: CDC cancels $11 Billion in COVID funding allocated for state health departments “The COVID-19 pandemic is over, & HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago,” said HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon
A Letter to the Lakewood Community: Yesterday, I visited Judaica Plaza, and as I was leaving, I noticed a minivan with two young children inside. The doors and windows were closed, the ignition was off, and the oldest child appeared to be no older than four years old. There was no adult present with them. Initially, I felt uncertain about what to do. On one hand, I was reminded of the tragedy from last week, where a child tragically lost their life after being left in a car. On the other hand, the children seemed mobile and capable of opening the door themselves. I didn’t see the parent or guardian and wasn’t sure which store they had entered. Additionally, I worried that if I went into a store searching for the adult, someone might call the police, and I was uncertain if that would be the right response. After observing the situation for a few minutes (with the hopes someone will come out), and I was unable to stay longer due to prior commitments. I ultimately decided to leave, but my inaction weighed heavily on my mind. Later, while davening Mincha at Bais Havaad, I spoke with Reb Sholom Kaminetsky and asked for guidance on what to do in a similar situation in the future. He advised me to call Hatzolah. This way, the children will be safe, and the appropriate message will be conveyed to the guardian. I am sharing this for the benefit of our community. Please do not follow my example of hesitation; instead, do as I was instructed. Sincerely, Shimon Weinstein The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Lakewood Alerts. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
March 7–9, 2025 – It was a weekend that people will be talking about for a long time. Over 800 strong came together from around the country for the 2025 Project Inspire Convention, and what they experienced was more than just inspiration — it was a powerful push to get involved. With the theme “Unlock the Inspired YOU,” the convention reminded everyone that we all have something to give. It encouraged each person not only to grow in their own Yiddishkeit, but to take the next step: to raise their hand and join the mission. The goal wasn’t just about reaching out to less affiliated Jews — it was about getting involved in the many initiatives Project Inspire has built to make that outreach possible. The convention opened with a meaningful and heartfelt talk from Rabbi Yechiel Spero, who spoke during Friday night davening and set the tone for the weekend ahead. Friday night continued to build with a powerful address from Rabbi Aaron Kotler, President Emeritus of Beth Medrash Govoha, moved the crowd with heartfelt stories about his father and grandfather, Rav Shneur zt”l and Rav Aharon zt”l. Long before kiruv became “mainstream,” they were already reaching out in their daily lives, helping others connect to Torah with love and care. Rabbi Kotler reminded us that the responsibility to inspire others is part of our mesorah — and now, we have practical tools to do it. Motzei Shabbos brought some of the most powerful and emotional moments of the convention. Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia, delivered a deeply stirring address that left a lasting impression. He asked: “If you had the chance to save the Bibas children, wouldn’t you do everything you could?” Then he made the connection — there are so many Jews out there who don’t know what they’re missing. The Rambam calls them “tinok shenishba,” like hostages who never had the chance to know Torah. Rabbi Lazar’s message was clear: Project Inspire is giving us real ways to help bring them back. But we have to say yes. Following him, Rabbi Chaim Sampson, Founding Director of Project Inspire, spoke with passion and urgency. He compared our mission to the bravery of soldiers who run into danger to protect us. “They risk their lives,” he said. “Can’t we step forward to help another Jew feel connected and proud?” His message was clear: This is our chance to show up for Klal Yisrael. One of the most emotional and memorable moments of the weekend came when Efraim Bibi shared his story. Fifteen years ago, he was sitting on a plane when, as he described it, “a scary lady” — Mrs. Tzipi Reifer — sat near him and they struck up a conversation. Before the flight was over, she had invited him for Shabbos. That one simple invitation changed everything. Today, he’s a husband, a father, and a teacher of Torah. “When I see the sparkle in my kids’ eyes when they learn,” he said, “I think — what would have happened if not for that one flight?” His story brought the audience to tears and reminded everyone that sometimes, all it takes is one person to make a life-changing difference. Sunday morning, as the weekend drew to a close, Rabbi Shlomo Farhi tied it all together with a powerful and practical message. “You don’t need to change your life,” he said. “You just need to live it with purpose.” Project Inspire offers real, accessible ways for […]
In an inspiring act of honesty and integrity, a yeshiva bochur from Boro Park, returning home from Eretz Yisroel for Pesach Bein Hazmanim, made a remarkable Kiddush Hashem when he returned a bag filled with over $100,000 in valuables that had been mistakenly left in the Uber he took home from the airport. The bochur, who had just landed at Newark Airport after an overseas flight, was handed a backpack by the Uber driver while unloading his own luggage. In the fog of travel, he assumed it belonged to one of his fellow travelers. However, after realizing that none of them could claim the bag, he opened it to investigate. To his astonishment, the bag contained an array of luxury items, including Rolex watches, loose diamonds, cash, and a custom diamond-encrusted pendant—altogether valued at well over $100,000. Despite the tremendous temptation, the bochur immediately set out to find the rightful owner. His efforts led him to a phone number belonging to a man who works in New York City’s Diamond District. The grateful owner, a Spanish-speaking individual, was relieved and overwhelmed to have his belongings returned. Though he preferred to avoid publicity and declined to share many details, he expressed heartfelt thanks for the honest young man’s actions. This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the values instilled in yeshiva students and the everyday opportunities for Kiddush Hashem that arise—even in the most unexpected circumstances. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy, prompting people who’ve used the service and sent in DNA samples to be analyzed to wonder what will happen to their genetic data. The company says the filing does not change how it stores, manages or protects customer data. But some privacy experts are recommending that people who have used 23andMe delete their data, given concerns not only about a potential buyer getting access to sensitive information, but also hackers who might take advantage of the upheaval to gain access to it. “What we’re witnessing with 23andMe is a stark wake-up call for data privacy,” said Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN. “Genetic data isn’t just a bit of personal information — it is a blueprint of your entire biological profile. When a company goes under, this personal data is an asset to be sold with potentially far-reaching consequences.” What happened to 23andMe? 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sunday. Anne Wojcicki, who co-founded the company nearly two decades ago and has served as its CEO, stepped down effectively immediately. The San Francisco-based company said that it will look to sell “substantially all of its assets” through a court-approved reorganization plan. Wojcicki’s resignation comes just weeks after a board committee rejected a nonbinding acquisition proposal from her to take the company private. Wojcicki still intends to bid on 23andMe as the company pursues a sale through the bankruptcy process. In a statement on social media, Wojcicki said that she resigned as CEO to be “in the best position” as an independent bidder. 23andMe says that filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection will help facilitate a sale of the company, meaning that it’s seeking new ownership. The company said it wants to pull back on its real estate footprint and has asked the court to reject lease contracts in San Francisco and Sunnyvale, California and elsewhere to help cut costs. But the company plans to keep operating during the process. Is my DNA data safe? In a post about the Chapter 11 process, 23andMe said its users’ privacy and data are important considerations in any transaction and that any buyer will be required to comply with applicable laws when it comes to how it treats customer data. But experts note that laws have limits — for instance, the U.S. has no federal privacy law and only about 20 states do. There are also security concerns. For instance, the turmoil of a bankruptcy and related job cuts could leave fewer employees to protect customers’ data against hackers. It wouldn’t be the first time — a 2023 data breach exposed the genetic data of nearly 7 million customers at 23andMe, which later agreed to pay $30 million in cash to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of failing to protect customers whose personal information was exposed. Experts note that DNA data is particularly sensitive — and thus valuable. “At a fundamental biological level, this is you and only you,” said David Choffnes, a computer science professor at Northeastern University and executive director of its Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute. “If you have an email address that gets compromised, you can find another email provider and start using a new email address. And you’re pretty much able to move on with your life without problem. […]
A furor arose in the Knesset this week after MK Ahmad Tibi published a video on social media showing him using utensils from the Knesset cafeteria to eat a non-kosher meal before beginning his Ramadan fast, Arutz Sheva reported. When Arutz Sheva first published the story, it sparked fierce reactions from Knesset members and public figures, who were furious about the violation of kashrus standards at a national institution. The B’Tzalmo organization wrote a letter to the Knesset’s Ethics Committee demanding that severe sanctions be imposed on Tibi. “This is an irresponsible and unprecedented act,” the letter stated. “Clear steps must be taken to prevent similar cases from recurring.” The Knesset Rabbi’s office stated that the matter is currently under investigation. In response to the forum, Tibi published a sardonic post on social media in which he quoted the Shulchan Aruch. “When the food is cold – it doesn’t treif up the utensil,” he wrote, adding words from the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De’ah, Siman צד ): “Cold – does not emit and does not absorb.” Tibi “signed” the post with the words: “Rabbanim, supporters of Tibi.” Later, he also told the media: “If they don’t bring us food for the ‘Sahur’ meal during Ramadan [the pre-dawn meal eaten by Muslims before fasting], then we’ll bring it ourselves. No one has commented to us, and I am unaware of any such complaints. And to avoid doubt, these rolls are more delicious than kosher food, and that is scientifically proven,” he said. He added: “This Knesset is also Kahanist in general, and mainly, it is not kosher.” Knesset members from both the coalition and the opposition demanded that the Ethics Committee intervene in the matter, saying that the incident was disrespectful to the Knesset and the religious beliefs of many of its members, Arutz Sheva reported. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Unidentified craft exhibiting extraordinary flight capabilities are continuing to infiltrate restricted U.S. military airspace and critical infrastructure sites, raising profound national security concerns. Despite the Pentagon’s advanced imaging and sensor systems, the nature, origin, and purpose of these enigmatic craft remain unknown, with top officials openly admitting they have no answers. In a stunning revelation on 60 Minutes, two recently retired four-star Air Force generals and the current commander responsible for defending North American airspace acknowledged that the “drones” loitering over key military installations in recent years remain unidentified. Even lawmakers with high-level security clearances remain in the dark. Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that despite access to classified briefings at the highest level, the Pentagon and national security advisers are still mystified. These unidentified craft are far more than hobbyist drones. They have repeatedly resisted electronic jamming attempts, loitered over high-security zones with flashing lights, and performed baffling aerial maneuvers. If these incursions are acts of espionage, they defy all known intelligence-gathering tradecraft. Traditional surveillance operations prioritize stealth, but these objects have revealed themselves so brazenly that they could provoke geopolitical conflict. Among the most shocking incidents was a March 2023 episode in which dozens of glowing, unidentified craft hovered over a critical U.S. Air Force base for 17 consecutive nights, evading detection and defying multiple counter-drone measures. Similar swarms were reported in late 2023 over highly sensitive American military bases in the United Kingdom, where unidentified craft displayed extreme performance abilities. In 2019, off the coast of California, the USS Omaha recorded infrared footage of a spherical object defying strong winds before submerging into the ocean. That sphere was one of many unknown craft detected swarming U.S. warships that night. While the military struggles to identify these craft, eerily similar reports have emerged from law enforcement across the country. In January, Ohio’s Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman confirmed that federal officials briefed him on unidentified aerial objects swarming in tactical formations over rural Ohio, Indiana, and Wyoming. Deputies have described picnic table-sized craft moving at 80 miles per hour at altitudes as low as 100 feet, often near farms grappling with bird flu outbreaks. In Wyoming, sheriffs from eight counties have reported perplexing drone activity near power plants, with some law enforcement vehicles even followed home by unknown craft. In one instance, Sublette County deputies observed a massive central drone coordinating multiple smaller ones in grid-like search patterns, echoing patterns seen in earlier reports from Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas. In late 2019 and early 2020, law enforcement officers in the Midwest reported similar encounters, including sheriff’s deputies who observed dozens of independent craft orbiting a stationary “mothership” for hours. Kansas Highway Patrol officers documented a large, hovering object coordinating multiple smaller drones, all flying in silence. Several of these incursions occurred near nuclear missile sites, prompting Air Force intelligence units to closely track the activity. The increasing frequency and intensity of these incursions have sparked concern at the highest levels of government. During a January roundtable with President Donald Trump, the governors of Virginia, Wyoming, and Louisiana voiced their frustration over the unresolved aerial incursions. Some governors have reported drones flying near nuclear power plants, amplifying fears that these craft could pose a direct threat to national security. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine […]
President Donald Trump on Tuesday downplayed the texting of sensitive plans for a military strike against Yemen’s Houthis this month to a group chat that included a journalist, saying it was “the only glitch in two months” of his administration as Democratic lawmakers heaped criticism on the administration for handling highly sensitive information carelessly. Trump told NBC News that the lapse “turned out not to be a serious one,” and articulated his continued support for national security adviser Mike Waltz, who mistakenly added the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, to the chain that included 18 senior administration officials discussing planning for the strike. “Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man,” Trump said in the NBC interview. But the use of messaging app Signal to discuss a sensitive operation has opened the administration to blistering criticism from Democratic lawmakers who expressed outrage at the White House’s and senior administration officials’ insistence that no classified information was shared. Senior administration officials have struggled to explain why the publicly available app was used to discuss such a delicate matter. One Democrat calls the mistake ‘an embarrassment’ One participant in the Signal chat, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, acknowledged during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Tuesday that she was traveling overseas during the exchange. She wouldn’t say whether she was using her personal or government-issued phone because the matter is under review by the White House National Security Council. Both Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who also was a participant in the Signal exchange and also testified at Tuesday’s intelligence hearing, faced blistering criticism from lawmakers. “This is an embarrassment,” said Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Georgia Democrat. “This is utterly unprofessional. There’s been no apology. There’s been no recognition of the gravity of this error.” In the run-up to his 2016 election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump urged criminal prosecution of the former secretary of state for communicating about classified information with her aides on a private email server she set up. The matter was investigated, but the FBI ultimately recommended against charges. None were brought. Clinton was among Democrats this week to criticize Trump administration officials’ use of Signal. “You have got to be kidding me,” Clinton said in an X post that spotlighted The Atlantic article. Trump also faced charges for mishandling classified information at his Mar-a-Lago resort following his first White House term. Those charges were later dismissed. Administration says Democrats shouldn’t be outraged But on Tuesday, top administration officials were insistent the Democratic outrage about the matter was misplaced. On Capitol Hill, Ratcliffe and Gabbard told lawmakers that no classified information was included in the texts about U.S. attack plans in the message chain. Democrats pushed back, saying the leaked military plans show a sloppy disregard for security, but Ratcliffe insisted no rules were violated. “My communications to be clear in the Signal message group were entirely permissible and lawful and did not include classified information,” Ratcliffe told lawmakers in the hearing that was supposed to be focused on global security threats. Facing heated questions from Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, Gabbard said there’s a difference between “inadvertent” releases of information and intentional leaks. “There was no classified material that was shared,” Gabbard said. Warner, though, said the lapse in security could have cost […]
The Trump administration can stop approving new refugees for entry into the U.S. but has to allow in people who were conditionally accepted before the president suspended the nation’s refugee admissions system, an appeals court ruled Tuesday. The order narrowed a ruling from a federal judge in Seattle who found the program should be restarted. The three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the president has the power to restrict people from entering the country, pointing to a 2018 Supreme Court ruling upholding President Donald Trump’s ban on travel from several mostly Muslim countries during his first term. Refugees who were conditionally approved by the government before Trump’s order halting the refugee program should still be allowed to resettle, the judges found. The panel ruled on an emergency appeal of a ruling from U.S. District Judge Jamal Whitehead who found that the president’s authority to suspend refugee admissions is not limitless and that Trump cannot nullify the law passed by Congress establishing the program. Whitehead pointed to reports of refugees stranded in dangerous places, families separated from relatives in the U.S. and people sold all their possessions for travel to the U.S. that was later canceled. Melissa Keaney, an attorney with the International Refugee Assistance Project, applauded the portions of the order that the appeals court left intact. “We welcome this continued relief for tens of thousands of refugees who will now have the opportunity to restart their lives in the United States,” she said. Whitehead, who was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden, also issued a second order Tuesday blocking the cancellation of refugee resettlement contracts. Trump’s order said the refugee program — a form of legal migration to the U.S. for people displaced by war, natural disaster or persecution — would be suspended because cities and communities had been taxed by “record levels of migration” and didn’t have the ability to “absorb large numbers of migrants, and in particular, refugees.” There are 600,000 people being processed to come to the U.S. as refugees around the world, according to the administration. The Justice Department argued that the order was well within Trump’s authority. Despite long-standing support from both major political parties for accepting thoroughly vetted refugees, the program has become politicized in recent years. Trump also temporarily halted it during his first term, and then dramatically decreased the number of refugees who could enter the U.S. each year. The plaintiffs said the president had not shown how the entry of these refugees would be detrimental to the U.S. They include the International Refugee Assistance Project on behalf of Church World Service, the Jewish refugee resettlement agency HIAS, Lutheran Community Services Northwest, and individual refugees and family members. They said their ability to provide critical services to refugees, including those already in the U.S., has been severely inhibited by Trump’s order. (AP)
REPORTER: Pete Hegseth and JD Vance said Europeans are freeloading. Do you agree? TRUMP: Do you really want me to answer? Yeah, I think they’re freeloading.
Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko was sworn in Tuesday to a seventh term, and he mocked those who derided him as “Europe’s last dictator” by saying his country has more democracy “than those who cast themselves as its models.” “Half of the world is dreaming about our ‘dictatorship,’ the dictatorship of real business and interests of our people,” Lukashenko, 70, said in his inauguration speech at the Independence Palace in the capital of Minsk. Hundreds of opposition supporters living abroad held anti-Lukashenko rallies Tuesday to mark the anniversary of Belarus’ short-lived independence in 1918 following the collapse of the Russian Empire. Lukashenko marked three decades in power last year, and his political opponents have denounced the tightly orchestrated Jan. 26 election as a farce. The Belarus Central Election Commission declared he won with nearly 87% of the vote after a campaign in which four token challengers on the ballot all praised his rule. Opposition members have been imprisoned or exiled abroad by Lukashenko’s unrelenting crackdown on dissent and free speech. Months of massive protests that were unprecedented in the history of the country of 9 million people followed the 2020 election and brought on the harsh crackdown. Over 65,000 people were arrested, thousands were beaten by police and independent media outlets and nongovernmental organizations were closed and outlawed, bringing condemnation and sanctions from the West. Thousands of Lukashenko supporters attended Tuesday’s inauguration ceremony, where he denounced his critics as foreign stooges who were at odds with the people. “You don’t and won’t have public support, you have no future,” he declared. “We have more democracy than those who cast themselves as its models.” Belarusian activists say it holds more than 1,200 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, founder of the Viasna Human Rights Center. “The election was held amid a deep human rights crisis, in the atmosphere of total fear caused by repressions against civil society, independent media, opposition and dissent,” according to a statement released Tuesday by Viasna and 10 other Belarusian human rights groups. They said Lukashenko’s hold on power is illegitimate. Lukashenko has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1994, relying on subsidies and political support from Russian President Vladimir Putin, himself in office for a quarter-century, an alliance that helped the Belarusian leader survive the 2020 protests. Lukashenko allowed Moscow to use the country’s territory to invade Ukraine in February 2022 and later hosted some of Russia’s tactical nuclear weapons. Opposition leader-in-exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who fled Belarus under government pressure after running against Lukashenko in 2020, vowed to keep fighting for the country’s freedom. “Our goal is to break away from the Russian occupation and Lukashenko’s tyranny, and to return Belarus into the European family of nations,” Tsikhanouskaya said in a speech at the Lithuanian parliament, Some observers say Lukashenko could now try to mend ties with the West. “Lukashenko already has been sending signals to the West about his readiness to start a dialogue and his desire to normalize ties in order to ease the total dependence on the Kremlin and soften Western sanctions during his seventh term,” said Valery Karbalevich, an independent political analyst. (AP)
President Trump signs a Presidential Memorandum requiring the immediate declassification of all FBI files relating to the Crossfire Hurricane investigation
President Trump pardons Devon Archer — Hunter Biden’s former business partner turned whistleblower who was unjustly prosecuted by the Biden Administration
