Yeshiva World News

Ten men broke out of a New Orleans jail Friday in an audacious overnight escape by fleeing through a hole behind a toilet and scaling a wall while the lone guard assigned to their cell pod was away getting food, authorities said. Seven of the escapees, including suspects charged with murder, remain on the lam following the breakout that the local sheriff says may have been aided by members within the department. Surveillance footage, shared with media during a news conference, showed the escapees sprinting out of the facility — some wearing orange clothing and others in white. They scaled a fence, using blankets to avoid being cut by barbed wire, and then some could be seen sprinting across the nearby interstate and into a neighborhood. A photograph obtained by The Associated Press from law enforcement shows the opening behind a toilet in a cell that the men escaped through. Above the hole are scrawled messages that include “To Easy LoL” with an arrow pointing at the gap. The absence of the 10 men, who also utilized facility deficiencies that officials have long complained about in their escape, went unnoticed for hours. It was not until a routine morning headcount, more than seven hours later, that law enforcement learned of the escape. Officials from the sheriff’s office say no deputy was at the pod where the fugitives had been held. There was a technician, a civilian there to observe the pod, but she had stepped away to get food, they said. Soon after the escape, one of the men, Kendall Myles, 20, was apprehended after a brief foot chase through the French Quarter. He had previously escaped twice from juvenile detention centers. By Friday evening, two more fugitives had been captured. Officials found Robert Moody, 21, in New Orleans thanks to a Crimestoppers tip, according to Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. Dkenan Dennis was found near the Chef Menteur Highway, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced on the social platform X. Louisiana State Police say search is active Seven escaped inmates remain at large, Louisiana State Police said in an update Saturday morning. State police used a helicopter to transport the captured inmates to a state correctional facility outside the New Orleans area, the agency said. The search remains active with numerous local, state, and federal agencies working together around the clock to locate and apprehend the remaining individuals, police said. Sheriff blames ‘defective locks’ and possibly inside help Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said the men were able to get out of the Orleans Justice Center because of “defective locks.” Hutson said she has continuously raised concerns about the locks to officials and, as recently as this week, advocated for money to fix the ailing infrastructure. Hutson said there are indications that people inside her department helped the fugitives escape. “It’s almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help,” she said of the jail, where 1,400 people are being held. The escapees yanked open a door to enter the cell with the hole around 1 a.m. At least one of the steel bars protecting plumbing fixtures “appeared to have been intentionally cut using a tool,” according to a statement from the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office on Friday night. The men shed […]

UPDATE: Three people are reportedly in critical condition and roughly a dozen others are being reported in injured after a Mexican navy tall sailing ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge.

Vice President JD Vance and First Lady Usha Vance have arrived in Rome, to attend the new Pope’s inaugural tomorrow.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to speak by phone Monday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, followed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and leaders of various NATO countries, about ending the war in Ukraine. Trump said the call with Putin will be about stopping the “bloodbath” in Ukraine. “Hopefully it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end,” Trump wrote Saturday in a post on his social networking site Truth Social. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed in comments to Russian media that preparations were underway for Monday’s call. Trump’s remarks came a day after the first direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in years failed to yield a ceasefire. Putin had spurned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer to meet face-to-face in Turkey after he himself proposed direct negotiations — although not at the presidential level — as an alternative to a 30-day ceasefire urged by Ukraine and its Western allies, including the U.S. Also on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. During a visit to Rome, Rubio suggested that the Vatican could be a venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks. In Ukraine, a northeastern town declared a period of mourning after a Russian drone hit a bus evacuating civilians from front-line areas, killing nine people, Ukrainian officials said. The strike came hours after the Russian and Ukrainian delegations left Istanbul, after agreeing to what would be the biggest prisoner swap to date between the warring parties. Zelenskyy faces a gamble as talks stall The talks in Istanbul on Friday broke up after less than two hours without a ceasefire, although both sides agreed on exchanging 1,000 prisoners of war each, according to the heads of both delegations. Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said on Ukrainian television Saturday that the exchange could happen as early as next week. But the Kremlin has pushed back against a proposal by Ukraine and its Western allies for a temporary ceasefire as a first step toward a peaceful settlement, and the parties remained far apart on key conditions for ending the fighting. Since U.S.-brokered talks began in March, Ukraine’s strategy has been to convince the Trump administration that Putin is unreliable, and that Kyiv is serious about peace. Trump has expressed frustration with the stalled talks and threatened to abandon his efforts if results aren’t achieved. He has also said that no peace would be reached until he held a face to face meeting with Putin. On Friday, Trump told reporters after boarding Air Force One to return to Washington from Abu Dhabi that he may call Putin soon. “He and I will meet, and I think we’ll solve it, or maybe not,” Trump said. “At least we’ll know.” The political theatrics are underscored by stark realities on the ground in Ukraine. In a war of attrition against Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s position is poised to grow weaker as time goes on, unless powerful sanctions are imposed against Moscow and the U.S. continues arms deliveries. Zelenskyy said that he had discussed the outcome of the talks with Trump and the leaders of France, Germany, Britain and Poland. In an X post from a European leadership meeting in Albania […]

President Donald Trump on Saturday ripped into Walmart, saying on social media that the retail giant should eat the additional costs created by his tariffs. As Trump has jacked up import taxes, he has tried to assure a skeptical public that foreign producers would pay for those taxes and that retailers and automakers would absorb the additional expenses. Most economic analyses are deeply skeptical of those claims and have warned that the trade penalties would worsen inflation. Walmart warned on Thursday that everything from bananas to children’s car seats could increase in price. Trump, in his Truth Social post, lashed out at the retailer, which employs 1.6 million people in the United States. He said the company, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, should sacrifice its profits for the sake of his economic agenda that he says will eventually lead to more domestic jobs in manufacturing. “Walmart should STOP trying to blame Tariffs as the reason for raising prices throughout the chain,” Trump posted. “Walmart made BILLIONS OF DOLLARS last year, far more than expected. Between Walmart and China they should, as is said, “EAT THE TARIFFS,” and not charge valued customers ANYTHING. I’ll be watching, and so will your customers!!!” The posting by the Republican president reflected the increasingly awkward series of choices that many major American companies face as a result of his tariffs, from deteriorating sales to the possibility of incurring Trump’s wrath. Trump has similarly warned domestic automakers to not raise their prices, even though outside analyses say his tariffs would raise production costs. So far, those tariffs have darkened the mood of an otherwise resilient U.S. economy. The preliminary reading of the University of Michigan survey of consumer sentiment on Friday slipped to its second lowest measure on record, with roughly 75% of respondents “spontaneously” mentioning tariffs as they largely expected inflation to accelerate. In April, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon was among the retail executives who met with Trump at the White House to discuss tariffs. But the Trump administration went forward despite warnings and has attacked other companies such as Amazon and Apple that are struggling with the disruptions to their supply chains. Walmart chief financial officer John David Rainey said he thinks $350 car seats made in China will soon cost an additional $100, a 29% price increase. “We’re wired to keep prices low, but there’s a limit to what we can bear, or any retailer for that matter,” he told The Associated Press on Thursday after the company reported strong first-quarter sales. The administration recently ratcheted down its 145% tariffs on China to 30% for a 90-day period. Trump has placed tariffs as high as 25% on Mexico and Canada due to illegal immigration and drug trafficking, harming the relationship with America’s two largest trading partners. There is a universal baseline tariff of 10% on most countries as Trump promises to reach trade deals in the coming weeks after having shocked the financial markets in early April by charging higher import taxes based on trade deficits with other countries. Trump insists he intends to preserve the tariffs as a revenue source and that a framework agreement with the United Kingdom would largely keep the 10% tariff rate in place. Trump has also placed import taxes on autos, steel and aluminum and plans to do […]

One person was killed when a car bomb exploded outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, earlier today. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.

At least 27 people have been killed by storms systems that swept across part of the U.S. Midwest and South, with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announcing Saturday that 18 of the deaths came in his state and 10 others were hospitalized in critical condition. A devastating tornado in Kentucky damaged homes, tossed vehicles and left many people homeless. Seventeen of the deaths were in Laurel County, located in the state’s southeast, including Fire Department Maj. Roger Leslie Leatherman, a 39-year veteran who was fatally injured while responding to the deadly weather. The other fatality was in Pulaski County. Parts of two dozen state roads were closed, and some could take days to reopen, Beshear said. He also said most of the victims were in their 60s and 70s and the death toll could still rise. “It’s hard to see,” the governor said after touring the impacted areas. “Homes that there isn’t a single wall left standing. Some homes that have all four walls yet lost the person inside. You can not only see the destruction but feel it.” State Emergency Management Director Eric Gibson said hundreds of homes were damaged, Kayla Patterson, her husband and their five children huddled in a tub in their basement in London, the county seat, as the tornado raged. “You could literally hear just things ripping in the distance, glass shattering everywhere, just roaring like a freight train,” she recalled. “It was terrible.” The family eventually emerged to the sounds of sirens and panicked neighbors. While their home was spared, others right behind it were demolished, Patterson said Saturday, as power tools buzzed in the background. The neighborhood was dotted with piles of lumber, metal sheeting, insulation and stray belongings — a suitcase, a sofa, some six-packs of paper towels. Rescuers searched for survivors all night and into the morning, the sheriff’s office said. An emergency shelter was set up at a high school, and donations of food and other necessities were arriving. Another resident, Chris Cromer, said he got the first of two tornado alerts on his phone around 11:30 p.m. Friday, about a half-hour before the tornado struck. He and his wife grabbed their dog, jumped in their car and sought shelter in the crawlspace of a relative’s nearby home because their own crawlspace is small. “We could hear and feel the vibration of the tornado coming through,” said Cromer, 46. A piece of their roof was ripped off, and windows were broken, but other homes nearby were destroyed. “It’s one of those things that you see on the news in other areas, and you feel bad for people — then, when it happens, it’s just surreal,” he said. “It makes you be thankful to be alive, really.” The storm was the latest severe weather to cause deaths and widespread damage in Kentucky. Two months ago at least 24 people died in a round of storms that swelled creeks and submerged roads. In late 2021 another storm spawned tornadoes that killed 81 people and leveled portions of towns in western Kentucky. The following summer historic floodwaters inundated eastern parts of the state, killing dozens. Beshear said that since he became governor in 2019, he has dealt with at least 14 federally declared disasters, all but one of them weather-related. He called Friday’s tornado […]

President Trump announces he will be speaking to Putin on Monday to discuss an end to the war and a trade deal.

The IDF says it demolished a 2-kilometer-long Hamas tunnel during recent operations in the northern Gaza Strip.

The IDF reports killing a Hezbollah commander in a drone strike this morning, who led forces in the Beaufort Castle area and was restoring the group’s capabilities.

Just 11 days after the Israeli Air Force bombed Yemen’s Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport, a first flight has landed.

A ballistic missile fired at Israel by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen was successfully intercepted by Israeli air defenses on Motzei Shabbos. No injuries or damage have been reported.

Over Shabbos, the IDF has initiated Operation “Gideon’s Chariots,” a major offensive in the Gaza Strip, launching extensive attacks and mobilizing forces to seize strategic areas, aiming to expand the campaign to achieve war goals, including the release of hostages and the defeat of Hamas.

A ballistic missile fired at Israel by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen was successfully intercepted by Israeli air defenses on Motzei Shabbos. No injuries or damage have been reported. Sirens blared across central Israel, preceded by a five-minute early warning sent via push notifications to residents’ phones, alerting them to the incoming long-range missile. Since the IDF relaunched its campaign against Hamas in Gaza on March 18, the Houthis have fired 35 ballistic missiles and at least 10 drones at Israel, with several missiles failing to reach their targets. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran’s president said his country will continue talks with the United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear program but will not withdraw from its rights because of U.S. threats. “We are negotiating, and we will negotiate , we are not after war but we do not fear any threat,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said during a speech to navy officials broadcast by state television Saturday. “It is not like that they think if they threaten us , we will give up our human right and definite right,” Pezeshkian said. “We will not withdraw, we will not easily loose honorable military, scientific, nuclear in all fields.” The negotiations have reached the “expert” level, meaning the sides are trying to reach agreement on the details of a possible deal. But a major sticking point remains Iran’s enrichment of uranium, which Tehran insists it must be allowed to do and the Trump administration increasingly insists the Islamic Republic must give up. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s program if a deal isn’t reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels. Earlier on Friday, Trump said Iran received a proposal during the talks, though he did not elaborate. During his trip to region this week, Trump at nearly every event insisted Iran could not be allowed to obtain a nuclear bomb, something U.S. intelligence agencies assess Tehran is not actively pursuing, though its program is on the cusp of being able to weaponize nuclear material. Mohammad Eslami, the head of Iran’s atomic organization, stressed the peaceful nature of the program, saying it is under “continuous” monitoring by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, state TV reported Saturday. “No country is monitored by the agency like us,” Eslami said, adding that the agency inspected the country’s nuclear facilities more than 450 time in 2024. “Something about 25% of all the agency inspections” in the year. Meanwhile, Israel routinely has threatened to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities if it feels threatened, further complicating tensions in the Mideast already spiked by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. In his first reaction to Trump’s regional visit, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Trump wasn’t truthful when he made claims about creating peace through power. “Trump said that he wanted to use power for peace, he lied. He and the U.S. administration used power for massacre in Gaza, for waging wars in any place they could,” Khamenei said Saturday during a meeting with teachers broadcast on state television. The U.S. has provided Israel with 10-ton bombs to “drop on Gaza children, hospitals, houses of people in Lebanon and anywhere else when they can,” Khamenei said. Khamenei, who has the final say on all Iranian state matters, reiterated his traditional stance against Israel. “Definitely, the Zionist regime is the spot of corruption, war, rifts. The Zionist regime that is lethal, dangerous, cancerous tumor should be certainly eradicated, and it will be,” he said, adding that the U.S. has imposed a pattern on Arab nations under which they cannot endeavor without U.S. support. “Surely this model has failed. With efforts of the regional nations, the U.S. should leave the region, and it will leave,” Khamenei said. Iran has long considered the U.S. military presence in the region […]

A rare composition is taking form In the ancient cobblestone paths of Tzfat’s Old City. TZFAT ESTATES, a masterpiece by ISA Group, isn’t just premium real estate — it’s a living relationship to Jewish history, bonding neshamos through modern elegance and timeless kedusha. A vista where ruchniusdige essence meets breathtaking views. Your front-row seat With sweeping open Galilee mountain views and facing Meron and Kever Rashbi, TZFAT ESTATES offers what’s increasingly precious today: authentic connection.  “Imagine experiencing Lag Baomer not as a visitor, but as someone who calls this sacred place home,” says Meir, a representative. “Picture yourself returning from the medura to continue enjoying the matzav from your expansive balcony, watching thousands journey to Meron.” Orchestrated perfection The exceptional architectural vision comes from renowned Feigin Architects — creators of Jerusalem’s iconic Waldorf Astoria and Jerusalem Estates. Interior spaces, meticulously crafted by celebrated designer Sari Gurstein, feature smart electrical systems, comprehensive climate control, and exquisite decorative elements — complete with luxurious finishing touches for turnkey living. Residents enjoy exclusive access to a stunning swimming pool, fully-equipped gym, spa facilities, and a magnificent shul in the TZFAT ESTATES community. “This isn’t simply a collection of prestigious apartments,” explains Akiva from ISA Group. “It’s a private space where one feels uplifted in Eretz HaKodesh, experiencing Tzfat’s ethereal magic with like-minded individuals, maintaining a concrete connection to the ‘libi bamizrach-yearning’ of yidden worldwide.” The final movement Construction is progressing steadily, with 92% of units already claimed by what developers describe as “the most quality-focused clientele in the world.” The final select 3 and 4-bedroom apartments with expansive porches await those who recognize this singular opportunity. Imagine welcoming Shabbos where Lecha Dodi was composed and feeling the mystical echoes of Kabbalistic masters in the mountainous air. Now’s your chance to secure your permanent link to our nation — a place where your soul sings wrapped in world-class elegance. The final chords of this extraordinary symphony await only those who choose to listen. Are you going to sing along? >>>

Join us tomorrow, Sunday, 5/18 at the Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim Dinner מחר יהיה האות הזה! Bell Works, Holmdel, NJ 5:30 PM – Reception & קבלת פנים6:30 PM – Dinner8:00 PM – Dessert & קבלת קהל with the Roshei Yeshiva, Mashgiach, and Rabbeim

Chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Karim Khan has stepped down on a “temporary basis” as an investigation into rape allegations against him take place, the court announced on Friday. Khan was also accused of harassing staff who supported his accuser, including demoting several people Women’s rights groups, who called for Khan to step down last year, after his aide accused him of severe abuse, welcome the announcement. “In any other professional setting, someone facing such serious allegations would have been expected to step down months ago,” Eimear Shine, a spokesperson for The Hague-based Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice, said. Meanwhile, Khan’s bank accounts in his home country of the UK are frozen in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s sanctions on the ICC for “illegitimate and baseless actions targeting America and our close ally Israel.” The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Khan issued the arrest warrants against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant in order to deflect attention from the rape charges brought against him. Additionally, a senior Western diplomat with firsthand knowledge of the ICC case told the Jerusalem Post last week that Khan issued the warrants against the Israeli leaders in order to “give countries like Germany and Canada the excuse they need to turn against the Israeli government.” (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)