Following footage from today showing Hamas militants seizing food trucks that entered the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz instructed the IDF to present plans to prevent Hamas from taking control of the aid, PMO says.
NEW: Sen Chuck Schumer was taken to the hospital Wednesday, his office says. “Leader Schumer was at the Senate gym this morning and got lightheaded. Out of an abundance of caution, he went to the hospital to be treated for dehydration & is now back at work in the Capitol.” His name for Tehillim was not available.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe: “CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes.”
CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed Wednesday that recent U.S. and Israeli strikes caused severe damage to Iran’s nuclear program. In a statement posted to X, Ratcliffe said the CIA has credible intelligence—including from a trusted source—that key Iranian nuclear facilities were destroyed and will take years to rebuild. “CIA can confirm that a body of credible intelligence indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program has been severely damaged by the recent, targeted strikes,” he wrote. Ratcliffe added that the agency is still gathering intelligence and will keep officials and, when possible, the public informed. The statement directly contradicts leaked reports that suggested the strikes had limited impact. Ratcliffe said those reports were based on illegally sourced information and do not reflect the CIA’s current assessment. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
JACKSON, NJ – A frum entrepreneur from Jackson has launched a groundbreaking new invention that’s already transforming lives: a system that allows people with low vision—including elderly Gedolim—to read and learn again with clarity and ease. The device, called OrahVision, lets users simply place down any sefer, paper, or document. The system instantly adjusts lighting, corrects curvature, sharpens the text, and displays a large, clear, high-contrast image on screen. Users can turn pages, zoom in and out, and even ask questions about the text—all with a single tap. “It’s so intuitive that people in their 90s who’ve never used technology are now using it daily to learn,” says Yisroel Wahl, the creator of OrahVision. Wahl explains that the project began as a personal mission. “A close family member’s vision was deteriorating. He spends his life learning, and the existing magnifiers made it nearly impossible to get through more than a few words. I put my life on hold to build a real solution,” he says. “With tremendous Siyata Dishmaya, here we are.” Once Wahl posted a video of the system in action, the response was immediate. “Calls came in from all over the world. People are desperate for something like this—and until now, it didn’t exist.” The stories have been deeply moving. “There are people who had basically given up,” he says. “One man immediately got emotional. He said he’d be able to learn the Parsha for the first time in four years. An elderly woman who had all but given up on life found her spirit again. The stories don’t stop.” OrahVision is now available to the public in early adopter release. To order or learn more, email yisroel@orahvision.com, call or WhatsApp 732‑637‑9674, or visit OrahVision.com.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs will likely push up inflation in the coming months, even as some Republican senators suggested the chair was biased against the duties. On the second day of his twice-yearly testimony before the House and Senate, Powell said that consumers will likely have to shoulder some of the cost of the import taxes. Most Fed officials support cutting rates this year, Powell added, but the central bank wants to take time to see how inflation changes in the months ahead. “There will be some inflation from tariffs coming,” Powell said under questioning from members of the Senate Banking Committee. “Not yet, but over the course of the coming months.” Powell noted that the duties would likely cost hundreds of billions of dollars annually, and “some of that is going to fall on the consumer. We’re just kind of waiting to see more data on that.” Some GOP senators criticized Powell, however, for characterizing tariffs as a potential driver of inflation. Sen. Pete Ricketts, a Republican from Nebraska, argued that the duties could simply act as a one-time increase in prices that wouldn’t fuel inflation. And Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Republican from Ohio, echoed some of Trump’s complaints about Powell’s reluctance to cut rates and accused Powell of political bias. “You should consider whether you are looking at this through a fiscal lens or a political lens because you just don’t like tariffs,” Moreno said. Powell didn’t respond. But the Fed chair reiterated that most central bank officials do support cutting the Fed’s key rate this year. And Powell added that it is possible that tariffs won’t increase inflation by very much. Trump has sharply criticized Powell for not reducing borrowing costs, calling him a “numbskull” and a “fool.” Trump has pushed for rate cuts in order to reduce the interest costs the federal government pays on its debt. Yet some Fed officials have pushed back against that view, saying that it’s not their job to lower the government’s borrowing costs. Also Wednesday, at a post-NATO summit press conference, Trump said he had candidates in mind to replace Powell, presumably for when Powell’s term as chair ends in May 2026. Trump has previously threatened to fire Powell, but the Supreme Court has signaled that a president probably doesn’t have the legal authority to remove the Fed chair. “I know, within three or four people, who I’m going to pick,” Trump said, calling Powell a “very stupid person.” So far, inflation has steadily cooled this year despite widespread concerns among economists about the impact of tariffs. The consumer price index ticked up just 0.1% from April to May, the government said last week, a sign that price pressures are muted. Compared with a year ago, consumer prices rose 2.4% in May, up from a yearly increase of 2.3% in April. Yet most economists on Wall Street expect that Trump’s tariffs will lift inflation this year, to about 3% to 3.5% by the end of this year. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the senior Democrat on the banking committee, told reporters before the hearing that the Fed would likely be cutting rates if it wasn’t for the threat of higher prices posed by tariffs. When the Fed reduces its key rate, it […]
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff revealed on Wednesday that additional countries are expected to join the Abraham Accords in the near future. Speaking in an interview with CNBC, Witkoff said, “We think we have big announcements on countries coming into the Abraham Accords,” though he did not name which nations may be involved. Witkoff also addressed ongoing talks with Iranian officials regarding their nuclear program. “There’s a strong sense that Iran is ready,” he said, expressing optimism about reaching a broader peace agreement. According to Witkoff, the current negotiations are centered on establishing a civilian nuclear program in Iran—but with one major condition: “It cannot have enrichment.” He made clear that any return to uranium enrichment by Tehran would be a dealbreaker. “It is a red line if Iran tries nuclear enrichment again,” he stated. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The second to last stop of Keren Olam Hatorah’s monumental campaign took place in Toronto on Monday. Departing from Lakewood to Toronto at daybreak following Shacharis, the delegation included Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Malkiel Kotler, and Rav Yosef Chevroni. They were joined by senior organizers of the campaign, including R’ Reuven Wolf, R’ Shimon Glick, R’ Baruch Jeremias, and R’ Yitzchok Rokowsky—each of whom have crisscrossed North America on behalf of the Keren. Their first stop in Toronto was at the home of R’ Ariel Mashiyev, who warmly welcomed the delegation. Mr. Tzvi Belsky, the CEO of Keren Olam Hatorah, shared a remarkable detail: R’ Mashiyev had never been solicited for support. Instead, he approached the Keren on his own the previous year, giving a substantial donation unprompted. “This year, he increased his support even further,” Mr. Belsky noted, “and such generosity, the Midrash says, brings Hashem’s rachmanus upon all of Klal Yisroel.” The delegation continued to the home of R’ Shimshi Gross, where Rav Dovid Cohen spoke. Quoting Chazal, he said, “In the generation when Mashiach will come, there will be increasing opposition to talmidei chachamim and decrees upon decrees. This is chevlei Mashiach. In galus, we have no refuge but the Torah.” The gathering was further uplifted by the presence of Harav Don Segal shlit”a, who addressed the group via video. “Supporting Keren Olam HaTorah is the call of the hour,” Rav Don declared. “Those who take part in this effort will be zocheh to immense siyata d’Shmaya, in both gashmiyus and ruchniyus.” Further visits followed at the homes of R’ Ben Zion Heitner, R’ Dennis Cohen, and R’ Yaakov Kaplan. At each stop, the Gedolim engaged in conversations with their hosts, offering brachos and expressing appreciation for their communal involvement. At the Kaplan residence, Rav Moshe Hillel note that “Limud haTorah strengthens emunah, and that elevates kevod Shamayim in the world.” Rav Dovid Cohen added, “This entire journey is for kevod haTorah. And when hosts open their homes in honor of Torah, they become its partners.” At the home of R’ Barry Reichmann, Rav Moshe Hillel invoked the Midrash that “no one was zocheh Torah unless they were moser nefesh for it.” He explained, “Yissachar sacrifices to learn. Zevulun sacrifices to give beyond what seems possible. That, too, is mesirus nefesh l’kavod Shamayim.” The final private meeting was held at the home of R’ Bentzi Friedman. The campaign concluded with a community-wide asifah attended by thousands. After an electrifying address by Rav Ephraim Wachsman, speaking at the maamad, Rav Moshe Hillel delivered a stirring message: “Our goal in life is to ascend—to rise in madreigah, not remain static. A decline in Torah in Eretz Yisroel would be a tragedy not only for us, but for the Ribbono Shel Olam. Our mission now is to rise higher.” Rav Dovid Cohen added: “Chazal tell us that to be spared from chevlei Mashiach, one must engage in Torah and chessed. Torah is the light that upholds Klal Yisroel. Those who support Torah in Eretz Yisroel will merit to greet Mashiach bimheirah b’yameinu, Amen.”
The IDF revealed Wednesday that elite Israeli commandos operated inside Iran during the recent military campaign — executing classified missions that helped cripple Tehran’s missile capabilities and secure Israeli dominance over Iranian skies. Speaking in a video address, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir detailed the unprecedented scope of Israel’s shadow war with Iran — and, for the first time, publicly acknowledged that the IDF deployed ground and air commando units deep within enemy territory. “These forces operated covertly in the heart of Iran,” Zamir said. “Their actions were instrumental in creating operational freedom of action for the IDF — both in the skies and on the ground — at any time and place of our choosing.” The revelation reveals a major expansion of what was previously understood to be primarily a bombing campaign. While Israel’s initial strikes focused on Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure, Zamir’s statement suggests the operation also included boots-on-the-ground sabotage, deception, and direct intelligence gathering — the hallmarks of elite reconnaissance missions carried out under total secrecy. It remains unclear whether Zamir was referencing operations carried out by Mossad, which reportedly helped disable Iranian air defenses using drone strikes launched from within Iran early in the campaign, or whether the statement points to previously undisclosed IDF special forces actions. What is clear is that the mission, codenamed “Im K’Lavi” (“Like a Lion”), involved extensive planning, intelligence deception, and real-time coordination between air and ground forces. Zamir emphasized that it was “thanks to full coordination and deception by air and ground commando forces” that Israel was able to achieve air superiority and destroy hundreds of Iranian missile launchers. “This wasn’t a precision strike — it was a full-spectrum disruption,” he said. “We didn’t just hit a facility. We shattered their system.” Evidence of the mission’s intensity has begun to surface in small, censored fragments. One Israeli woman revealed on X that her family had been asked to pray for a relative — a member of the Israeli Air Force’s commando unit — who was reportedly on the ground in Iran when the operation launched. The post, drafted on June 13, was held back by military censors and only released today following Zamir’s remarks. “With the heart of a lion,” she wrote, attaching an Israeli flag emoji. “We were told to pray for him. He was there.” Zamir described the operation as a turning point not just in this war — but in the balance of regional power. “We caused significant damage to Iran’s missile forces,” he said. “Hundreds of launchers were eliminated. Their force build-up has been delayed by years.” He further claimed that Israeli intelligence now possesses technological and aerial superiority over Iran — an extraordinary statement given the country’s vast terrain and hardened military installations. The IDF’s assessment, he said, is that Israel’s campaign dealt a systemic blow to Iran’s nuclear and missile infrastructure — not just a tactical one. “This was not a pinpoint strike,” he said. “This was strategic. And it succeeded.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday wrapped up participation in the annual NATO summit facing an alliance that had largely bent to his will. Far from the tense meetings of Trump’s first term, much of the annual summit in The Hague seemed catered to the impulses and worldviews of the Republican president whose “America First” foreign policy ethos downplays the importance and influence of multilateral coalitions. After less than 24 hours on the ground in the Netherlands, Trump headed back to Washington having secured a major policy change he’s pushed for since 2017: a significant boost in defense spending by other NATO countries whom the president has for years accused of freeloading off the United States. The focus on Ukraine was scaled back dramatically, with its invasion by Russia earning only a passing mention in the summit’s official statement, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s profile at the gathering diminished. Trump also sent NATO scattering for reassurances that the United States would remain committed to the alliance’s mutual defense pledge, affirming on Wednesday that he would abide by Article 5 of the NATO treaty just a day after he rattled the 32-nation alliance by being equivocal about the pact. “I stand with it. That’s why I’m here,” Trump said when asked to clarify his stance on Article 5. “If I didn’t stand with it, I wouldn’t be here.” Trump shifts his tone on NATO At a news conference later Wednesday, Trump sounded reflective as he described feeling inspired by other NATO countries that were motivated to provide for their own defense by bolstering their own spending. “They want to protect their country, and they need the United States, and without the United States, it’s not going to be the same,” Trump said, later adding: “I left here differently. I — I left here saying, ‘These people really love their countries. It’s not a rip-off.’ And we are here to help them protect their country.” He had mused just a day earlier that whether he abides by the treaty “depends on your definition” of Article 5. The mutual praise in The Hague on Wednesday stands in stark contrast to Trump’s previous harsh words for the alliance, whose value he had long questioned. It also reflects the efforts made by other world leaders during the early months of Trump’s second term to approach the mercurial president using his own language of superlatives and flattery. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer showed up to the Oval Office in February to hand-deliver an invitation from King Charles III for a second state visit, which Starmer called “unprecedented.” Italy’s Giorgia Meloni has promised to “make the West great again,” echoing Trump’s campaign slogan. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte wrote in a message to “Mr. President, dear Donald” that his push for increased alliance defense spending would help “achieve something NO American president in decades could get done.” Trump gets a win on spending increase The 32 leaders endorsed a final summit statement saying: “Allies commit to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defense requirements as well as defense- and security-related spending by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective obligations.” “I’ve been asking them to go up to 5% for a number of years,” Trump said earlier in the day as he met with Rutte, whose private message of praise the U.S. president posted on his Truth Social account. Spain had already officially announced […]
An American Airlines flight returned to Las Vegas airport on Wednesday after its engine emitted flames and smoke mid-flight. The plane landed safely, with no injuries reported.
WH Press Secretary responds to CNN’s story about the successful strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities: “This story has now been debunked — widely — by not just the United States, but also Iran and Israel as well.”
Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old democratic socialist from Queens, has surged to the top of New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, leading the field after the first round of ranked-choice voting and leaving former Governor Andrew Cuomo trailing in second place. The upset has sent immediate shockwaves through the city’s political and financial sectors, with many business leaders describing the result as both unexpected and deeply unsettling. Mamdani has not officially secured the Democratic nomination. New York City uses ranked-choice voting, in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. Because no candidate received more than 50% of the first-choice votes, the city will now begin eliminating the lowest-polling candidates and redistributing their votes based on second- and third-choice rankings. Still, Mamdani’s commanding first-round performance makes him the frontrunner in a race many had expected Cuomo to dominate. For the city’s business community, Mamdani’s rise is cause for concern. “This is what we’ve been afraid of,” said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO of the Partnership for New York City, earlier this week. “People are terrified.” Investors and executives worry that a Mamdani administration could usher in sweeping changes to tax policy, business regulation, and public spending. His platform includes proposals to expand social programs, raise taxes on the wealthy, and roll back police funding — all positions that have drawn sharp criticism from Wall Street. Bradley Tusk, a tech investor and former campaign manager for Michael Bloomberg, warned of broader implications. “When a major financial center elects a high-profile socialist mayor, it doesn’t stay local,” he told Axios. “It affects investor confidence everywhere.” Mamdani’s performance comes amid a wave of left-leaning political victories in major U.S. cities. Chicago elected progressive Brandon Johnson last year, and Boston’s Michelle Wu continues to implement ambitious policy goals. But the results have been mixed: Johnson is currently facing historically low approval ratings, while Wu has retained support heading into her re-election campaign. Tusk cautioned that New York could face a similar fate. “Detroit and Baltimore were once economic powerhouses too,” he said. “And when the business base leaves, it’s hard to bring it back.” The result has also reignited discussion about the “Wall Street South” trend — the migration of finance firms from New York to Florida. Ken Griffin’s decision to move Citadel’s headquarters to Miami in 2022 symbolized the shift. Some warn Mamdani’s potential election could accelerate the exodus. This isn’t the first time New York’s business leaders have feared a progressive takeover. During the 2013 mayoral race, Bill de Blasio’s populist campaign raised concerns about a looming tax hike on top earners. But de Blasio ultimately built relationships with corporate leaders, including Goldman Sachs’ Lloyd Blankfein and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Whether Mamdani will pursue a similar approach — or break from past precedent — remains to be seen. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
This evening in Israel, Magen David Adom teams transferred dozens of patients from Rambam back to Carmel Hospital in Haifa using MICU buses & ambulances. These patients were evacuated at the start of Operation Am K’Lavi – Rising Lion for protection in Rambam’s underground facility.
INSANE FOOTAGE: Hamas terrorists seen attacking a convoy of armored IDF carriers in Gaza – coming directly up to the APC’s in an attempt to kill the soldiers inside.
In a press conference at the NATO summit in The Netherlands, President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed the United States’ military strike on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities, declaring the operation a resounding success and a key turning point in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Trump: “Last weekend, the United States successfully carried out a massive precision strike on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities… this incredible exercise of American strength has paved the way for peace, with a historic ceasefire agreement.” While U.S. officials have yet to release full satellite imagery or damage assessments, Trump left little ambiguity about the strike’s effectiveness. “We’ve collected additional intelligence and we’ve also spoken to people who have seen the site — and the site is obliterated,” Trump confirmed. The president also claimed personal involvement in defusing tensions between Israel and Iran, revealing for the first time that he intervened to stop a massive Israeli airstrike. “I dealt with both, and they’re both tired, exhausted. They fought very, very hard and very viciously… and they were both satisfied to go home and get out… Israel had 52 planes going out that morning, I told them to turn back, and they did.” Despite his claims of successful diplomacy, Trump acknowledged the severity of recent attacks on Israel. “Israel got hit very hard, especially the last couple of days. Israel was hit really hard… Those ballistic missiles, boy, they took out a lot of buildings, and, they’ve been great… Bibi Netanyahu should be very proud, they’ve really been great… But their [Iran] not gonna be building bombs for a long time.” Looking ahead, Trump hinted at a possible diplomatic thaw with Tehran — though he insisted that Iran’s nuclear capabilities had been dealt a crippling blow. “The last thing they want to do is enrich anything right now. They want to recover… I think we’ll end up having somewhat of a relationship with Iran… the last thing they want to do is enrich.” President Trump: “The pilots did an unbelievable job like nobody’s ever seen. They hit paydirt.” He clarified that the strike was limited in scope, dismissing rumors of resource exploitation: “We’re not taking over the [Iranian] oil. We could have.” President Trump: “And I got a call that the pilots and the people on the plane were devastated because they were trying to minimize the attack. Real scum come out and write reports that are as negative as they could possibly be. It should be the opposite. You should make them heroes.” Pressed on whether Iran was able to salvage any nuclear material, Trump dismissed the possibility. “No, just the opposite. We think we hit them so hard and so fast. They didn’t get to move. And if you knew about that material, it’s very hard and very dangerous to move… many people they call it dust, but it’s very, very heavy. It’s very, very hard to move.” While Trump downplayed any interest in renewed talks with Iran, he left the door open — albeit grudgingly — for a potential agreement. “They fought, the war is done. I just asked him the question as we were walking on the stage. Do you want to draw up a little agreement for them to sign? Because I think […]
Hackers backing Tehran have targeted U.S. banks, defense contractors and oil industry companies following American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities — but so far have not caused widespread disruptions to critical infrastructure or the economy. But that could change if the ceasefire between Iran and Israel collapses or if independent hacking groups supporting Iran make good on promises to wage their own digital conflict against the U.S., analysts and cyber experts say. The U.S. strikes could even prompt Iran, Russia, China and North Korea to double down on investments in cyberwarfare, according to Arnie Bellini, a tech entrepreneur and investor. Bellini noted that hacking operations are much cheaper than bullets, planes or nuclear arms — what defense analysts call kinetic warfare. America may be militarily dominant, he said, but its reliance on digital technology poses a vulnerability. “We just showed the world: You don’t want to mess with us kinetically,” said Bellini, CEO of Bellini Capital. “But we are wide open digitally. We are like Swiss cheese.” Hackers have hit banks and defense contractors Two pro-Palestinian hacking groups claimed they targeted more than a dozen aviation firms, banks and oil companies following the U.S. strikes over the weekend. The hackers detailed their work in a post on the Telegram messaging service and urged other hackers to follow their lead, according to researchers at the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks the groups’ activity. The attacks were denial-of-service attacks, in which a hacker tries to disrupt a website or online network. “We increase attacks from today,” one of the hacker groups, known as Mysterious Team, posted Monday. Federal authorities say they are on guard for additional attempts by hackers to penetrate U.S. networks. The Department of Homeland Security issued a public bulletin Sunday warning of increased Iranian cyber threats. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued a statement Tuesday urging organizations that operate critical infrastructure like water systems, pipelines or power plants to stay vigilant. While it lacks the technical abilities of China or Russia, Iran has long been known as a “chaos agent” when it comes to using cyberattacks to steal secrets, score political points or frighten opponents. Cyberattacks mounted by Iran’s government may end if the ceasefire holds and Tehran looks to avoid another confrontation with the U.S. But hacker groups could still retaliate on Iran’s behalf. In some cases, these groups have ties to military or intelligence agencies. In other cases, they act entirely independently. More than 60 such groups have been identified by researchers at the security firm Trustwave. These hackers can inflict significant economic and psychological blows. Following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, for instance, hackers penetrated an emergency alert app used by some Israelis and directed it to inform users that a nuclear missile was incoming. “It causes an immediate psychological impact,” said Ziv Mador, vice president of security research at Trustwave’s SpiderLabs, which tracks cyberthreats. Economic disruption, confusion and fear are all the goals of such operations, said Mador, who is based in Israel. “We saw the same thing in Russia-Ukraine.” Collecting intelligence is another aim for hackers While Iran lacks the cyberwarfare capabilities of China or Russia, it has repeatedly tried to use its more modest operations to try to spy on foreign leaders — something national security experts predict Tehran is […]
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir in a video statement says that “after twelve days of unprecedented fighting, the IDF operated at its best and fully achieved the aims and objectives of the operation… “According to the assessment of senior officials in the IDF Intelligence Directorate, the damage to the nuclear program is not a localized blow, but a systemic one,” he says.
