Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG) held a Hanachas Even Hapina ceremony on Monday for its new apartment building complex, set to rise on 36 acres purchased from Georgian Court University. The milestone signals the start of construction for apartment buildings that will exclusively house kollel yungeleit. The Lakewood Township Planning Board approved BMG’s ambitious plans in March 2023. The yeshiva plans to construct six apartment buildings, each containing 100 units, totaling 600 apartments. The buildings will include playgrounds and amenities tailored to accommodate yeshiva families. The project, located just past GCU’s main gate on 9th Street, will also feature a dedicated childcare center with 99 parking spaces. Overall, the campus will provide nearly 1,200 parking spots, including 90 electric vehicle charging stations. Critical infrastructure extensions are part of the plans, with Carey Street set to stretch westward and Cedarview Street extended southward to improve access to the new campus. The apartments will exclusively house BMG talmidim, as permitted by Lakewood’s Planned Educational Campus ordinance, which enables such developments without requiring zoning variances. Full-scale construction is slated to begin in the coming months.
President Joe Biden is moving to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling in most U.S. coastal waters, a last-minute effort to block possible action by the incoming Trump administration to expand offshore drilling. Biden, whose term expires in two weeks, said he is using authority under the federal Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect offshore areas along the East and West coasts, the eastern Gulf of Mexico and portions of Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea from future oil and natural gas leasing. “My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs,” Biden said in a statement. “As the climate crisis continues to threaten communities across the country and we are transitioning to a clean energy economy, now is the time to protect these coasts for our children and grandchildren,” he said. Biden’s orders would not affect large swaths of the Gulf of Mexico, where most U.S. offshore drilling occurs, but it would protect coastlines along California, Florida and other states from future drilling. Biden’s actions, which protect more than 625 million acres of federal waters, could be difficult for President-elect Donald Trump to unwind, since they would likely require an act of Congress to repeal. Trump himself has a complicated history on offshore drilling. He signed a memorandum in 2020 directing the Interior secretary to prohibit drilling in the waters off both Florida coasts, and off the coasts of Georgia and South Carolina until 2032. The action came after Trump initially moved to vastly expand offshore drilling, before retreating amid widespread opposition in Florida and other coastal states. Trump has vowed to establish what he calls American “energy dominance” around the world as he seeks to boost U.S. oil and gas drilling and move away from Biden’s focus on climate change. Environmental advocates hailed Biden’s action, saying new oil and gas drilling must be sharply curtailed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. 2024 was the hottest in recorded history. “This is an epic ocean victory!” said Joseph Gordon, campaign director for the environmental group Oceana. Gordon thanked Biden “for listening to the voices from coastal communities” that oppose drilling and “contributing to the bipartisan tradition of protecting our coasts.” Biden’s actions build on the legacy of Democratic and Republican presidents to protect coastal water from offshore drilling, Gordon said, adding that U.S. coastlines are home to tens of millions of Americans and support billions of dollars of economic activity that depend on a clean environment, abundant wildlife and thriving fisheries. In balancing multiple uses of America’s oceans, Biden said it was clear that the areas he is withdrawing from fossil fuel use show “relatively minimal potential” that does not justify possible environmental, public health and economic risks that would come from new leasing and drilling. A spokeswoman for Trump mocked Biden, saying, “Joe Biden clearly wants high gas prices to be his legacy.” The spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, called Biden’s action “a disgraceful decision designed to exact political revenge on the American people who gave President Trump a mandate to increase drilling and lower gas prices. Rest assured, Joe Biden will fail, and we will drill, baby, […]
A man with a staggering 87 prior arrests was taken into custody early Sunday in connection with two violent subway stabbings. The suspect, identified as 52-year-old Jamar Banks, was found carrying the “large knife” believed to have been used in the attacks. Banks, whose criminal history includes a long list of offenses and a background of mental illness, was apprehended by the NYPD Warrant Squad at the 219th Street station in The Bronx just after midnight. He was subsequently transported to the NYPD Transit Bureau District 2 in Manhattan. The weapon, described by officers as a large blade, matched the description of the knife used in two recent subway assaults. Banks’ most recent encounters with law enforcement occurred in November, when he was twice arrested for petty theft and released with summonses. Now, he faces more serious charges, including first-degree assault and third-degree weapons possession, in connection with the latest string of transit stabbings. On Sunday afternoon, Banks appeared disheveled and visibly unkempt as officers escorted him in handcuffs from the transit district. His torn white jeans sagged, exposing red underwear beneath, as he shuffled toward a waiting police vehicle. He remained silent when questioned by reporters, seemingly dazed and overwhelmed by the media attention. As Banks was led away, a bystander shouted, “You’re disgusting!” – reflecting the public’s frustration over the recurring violence in the city’s transit system. According to law enforcement alerts prior to his arrest, Banks was frequently spotted on the No. 2 and No. 5 subway lines, prompting officers to exercise “extreme caution” when approaching him due to the possibility he was armed. Banks is accused of stabbing a 31-year-old man on a No. 2 train at 14th Street and Seventh Avenue in Manhattan last Wednesday, following an argument. A second attack allegedly took place the following morning when Banks reportedly confronted and stabbed an off-duty MTA cleaner on the No. 6 train platform at Pelham Bay station. The cleaner sustained wounds to the back and armpit. Both victims survived and were hospitalized in stable condition. Banks’ extensive rap sheet includes previous arrests for attempted murder, assault, weapons possession, criminal trespassing, fare evasion, and petty larceny, raising renewed concerns about repeat offenders and the safety of New York’s subway system. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
China has slammed a decision by the U.S. Treasury to sanction a Beijing-based cybersecurity company for its alleged role in multiple hacking incidents targeting critical U.S. infrastructure, while the Chinese cyber security agency complained Monday of attacks on Chinese networks. Asked about the sanctions against Beijing-based Integrity Technology Group, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the country has cracked down on cyber attacks and that Washington was using the issue to “defame and smear China.” “For some time now, the U.S. side has been playing up so-called Chinese cyber attacks and has even initiated illegal unilateral sanctions against China,” Guo said. “China firmly opposes this and will take necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.” Integrity Technology Group said the move by Washington had “no factual basis.” “The company firmly opposes the U.S. Treasury Department’s unwarranted accusations and Illegal unilateral sanctions on the company,” the company, also known as Yongxin Zhicheng Technology Group, said in a statement Monday to the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The China National Cyber Security Information Center said it had discovered attacks from various malicious websites and foreign IP addresses, including some in California and Florida. It also reported attacks from the Netherlands, Singapore, Mexico, Turkey and Vietnam using Trojan programs, botnets, phishing, theft of intellectual property and violations of privacy. “They pose a major threat to China’s domestic networked units and internet users and some activities have been suspected of criminal offenses,” the center said in a notice on its WeChat social media site. On Friday, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control hit Integrity Technology with sanctions that block access to U.S. property and bank accounts and prevent the targeted people and companies from doing business with Americans. It cited alleged multiple hacks against U.S. victims, including incidents attributed to Flax Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored campaign that targets U.S. critical infrastructure. The sanctions did not appear to be related to an incident in which the Treasury Department reported that Chinese hackers had remotely accessed several of its workstations and unclassified documents in a major breach of cybersecurity. The Treasury Department said it learned of that problem on Dec. 8, when a third-party software service provider, BeyondTrust, flagged that hackers had stolen a key “used by the vendor to secure a cloud-based service used to remotely provide technical support” to workers. U.S. officials are grappling with the fallout from a massive Chinese cyberespionage blitz known as Salt Typhoon that they say gave officials in Beijing access to private texts and phone conversations of an unknown number of Americans. Late last month, officials said at least eight telecommunications companies, as well as dozens of nations, had been affected by Salt Typhoon. Integrity Technology said the sanctions would not adversely affect its business since it does not operate in the U.S. and has no assets there. It added that it abides by all laws and regulations and that it “has always adhered to the corporate vision and mission of bringing a sense of security to the world.” (AP)
The Far Rockaway community came together in a spirit of unity to welcome the new Commanding Officer of the 101st Precinct, Captain Ng. This significant event, organized by Aaron Zupnik, underscored the strong relationship between local law enforcement and the vibrant Jewish community it serves. The breakfast reception, held at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, was a testament to the collaboration and mutual respect between the precinct and community leaders. Rabbi Yaakov Bender, the esteemed Rosh Yeshiva of Darchei Torah, graciously hosted the event alongside Rabbi Eytan Feiner, the respected Rov of the White Shul. Joining the event was Rabbi Boruch Ber Bender, President of Achiezer, a key community organization that bridges gaps between individuals, families, and services. Rabbi Bender lauded the efforts of Aaron Zupnik in bringing the community together and emphasized the importance of strengthening relationships with law enforcement to maintain safety and stability. Prominent figures, including Rabbi Boruch Rothman, gathered with heads of schools, shuls, and representatives of the Shomrim. Their presence demonstrated a unified effort to support Captain Ng as he begins his role in the 101st Precinct. Captain Ng addressed the attendees with a message of dedication and a pledge to continue the precinct’s tradition of working closely with community stakeholders. “Our mission is to protect and serve,” Captain Ng shared, “but it’s partnerships like these that make our work truly impactful. This is not just my precinct—it’s our precinct.” The Shomrim, a vital part of the community’s safety efforts, expressed gratitude for the precinct’s responsiveness and pledged their continued support to assist in fostering a secure environment. The event ended with a heartfelt show of appreciation for Captain Ng and a collective commitment to deepening ties between law enforcement and the community. The breakfast at Yeshiva Darchei Torah was a meaningful moment of unity and collaboration, showcasing hope and confidence in Captain Ng’s leadership at the 101st Precinct. The event would not have been possible without Aaron Zupnik’s dedication to strengthening the bond between the precinct and the community. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation Monday in the face of rising discontent over his leadership, and after the abrupt departure of his finance minister signaled growing turmoil within his government. Trudeau said it had become clear to him that he cannot “be the leader during the next elections due to internal battles.” He planned to stay on as prime minister until a new leader of the Liberal Party is chosen. “I don’t easily back down faced with a fight, especially a very important one for our party and the country. But I do this job because the interests of Canadians and the well being of democracy is something that I hold dear,” he said. An official familiar with the matter said Parliament, which had been due to resume Jan. 27, will be suspended until March 24. The timing will allow for a Liberal Party leadership race. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the matter publicly. All three main opposition parties have said they plan to topple the Liberal Party in a no-confidence vote when Parliament resumes, so a spring election to pick a permanent replacement was almost assured. “The Liberal Party of Canada is an important institution in the history of our great country and democracy. A new prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party will carry its values and ideals into that next election,” Trudeau said. “I am excited to see that process unfold in the months ahead.” Trudeau came to power in 2015 after 10 years of Conservative Party rule, and had initially been hailed for returning the country to its liberal past. But the 53-year-old scion of one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers became deeply unpopular with voters in recent years over a range of issues, including the soaring cost of food and housing, and surging immigration. The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada internationally. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods if the government does not stem what Trump calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the U.S. — even though far fewer of each crosses into the U.S. from Canada than from Mexico, which Trump has also threatened. Canada is a major exporter of oil and natural gas to the U.S., which also relies on its northern neighbor for steel, aluminum and autos. Trudeau kept publicly mum in recent weeks, despite intensifying pressure for him to step down. “His long silence following this political drama speaks volumes about the weakness of his current position,” said Daniel Béland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal. Canada’s former finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, announced her resignation from Trudeau’s Cabinet on Dec. 16., criticizing some of Trudeau’s economic priorities in the face of Trump’s threats. The move, which came shortly after the housing minister quit, stunned the country and raised questions about how much longer the increasingly unpopular Trudeau could stay in his job. Freeland and Trudeau had disagreed about two recently announced policies: a temporary sales tax holiday on goods ranging from children’s clothes to beer, and plans to send every citizen a check for $250 Canadian ($174). Freeland, who was also deputy prime minister, said Canada could not afford “costly political gimmicks” in the face of the tariffs […]
President-elect Donald Trump is preparing to enact severe sanctions against the International Criminal Court (ICC) immediately after taking office, targeting both the institution and its personnel, sources told Yisrael Hayom. The executive orders could be unveiled as early as January 21, just one day after Trump’s inauguration. The sanctions will reportedly focus on ICC judges, prosecutors, and staff involved in the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Trump’s administration plans to classify the ICC as a threat to U.S. national security interests, using the same legal mechanisms typically reserved for terrorist organizations. As part of the sanctions, global financial institutions will be required to sever ties with ICC officials or risk facing U.S. penalties. ICC personnel will see their assets frozen, restricting access to banking services and credit cards, with exceptions only for essential purchases. U.S.-based assets held by the ICC will also be blocked. The Trump administration aims to rally U.S. allies to reject ICC arrest warrants against Israeli officials, hoping to pressure the court to retract them. Officials argue the warrants not only undermine Israel’s sovereignty but also pose a broader threat to America’s ability to conduct military operations abroad. Senator Tom Cotton, incoming chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, signaled strong support for Trump’s stance. “The ICC is a ‘kangaroo court,’ and Karim Khan is a deranged zealot,” Cotton said, referencing the ICC’s chief prosecutor. “Woe to him and anyone who tries to enforce these lawless warrants.” Cotton warned that the U.S. is prepared to take aggressive measures, invoking the American Service-Members’ Protection Act, known as the “Hague Invasion Act.” Passed in 2002, the law allows the U.S. to use force to free American or allied personnel detained by the ICC. The Trump team views the ICC’s actions against Israeli leaders as a dangerous precedent that could eventually extend to American officials, prompting urgent and forceful intervention. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Sergeant Elad Yaakov Winklestein hy”d, 35, was murdered in cold blood on Monday morning – his eight-year-old son sitting helplessly by his side, forced to witness the horrifying moment his father’s life was taken. Sgt. Winklestein, a police detective from Kibbutz Ein Hanatziv, valiantly managed to fire two shots at the terrorist before succumbing to his injuries. His final moments were marked by bravery, yet the attack leaves behind a grieving family and a child forever scarred by the trauma of seeing his father senselessly killed in front of his eyes. Winklestein is survived by his wife, Tal, and their two sons, Neve and Omer. His parents, Naomi and Yossi, along with his siblings Yonatan, Hadas, and Harel, now face the unimaginable loss of a son and brother whose life was cut short. The levaya for will be held Monday evening at 7:00 p.m., where he will be buried at Mount Herzl. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A group of Afghan nationals arrived in the Philippines on Monday to process special immigrant visas for their resettlement in the United States, as part of an agreement between Manila and Washington. The Philippines agreed last July to temporarily host a U.S. immigrant visa processing center for a limited number of Afghan nationals aspiring to resettle in America. Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Teresita Daza said the Afghan nationals who landed in the Philippines on Monday were provided entry visas. She said they had completed extensive security vetting and undergone full medical screenings prior to their arrival. The U.S. government will cover the costs for the Afghan nationals’ stay in the Philippines, including their food, housing, security, medical and transportation expenses, she said. She didn’t specify how many Afghans arrived or how long the visa processing will take. Under the Philippines’ rules, visa applicants can stay for no longer than 59 days. A senior Philippine official told The Associated Press last year that only 150 to 300 applicants would be accommodated in the Philippines under the “one-time” deal. The official who had knowledge of the negotiations agreed to speak on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to speak publicly. The Afghan nationals seeking resettlement primarily worked for the U.S. government in Afghanistan or were deemed eligible for U.S. special immigrant visas but were left behind when Washington withdrew from the country and Taliban militants took back power in a chaotic period in 2021. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken first relayed the request to his Philippines counterpart in 2022, and President Joe Biden discussed the request with Philippines leader Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when he visited the U.S. last year, Philippine officials said. Marcos has rekindled relations with the U.S. since winning the presidency by a landslide margin two years ago. In February last year, he allowed an expansion of the American military presence under a 2014 defense agreement in a decision that upset China. (AP)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged a final push to secure a hostage-ceasefire deal in Gaza before President Joe Biden leaves office, signaling a narrowing window for negotiations. Blinken’s call follows claims from a Hamas official that the terror group has approved the release of 34 hostages under the terms of a potential truce. “We very much want to bring this over the finish line in the next two weeks, the time we have remaining,” Blinken said at a press conference when asked about the status of the negotiations. Israel has dispatched a delegation of mid-level officials to Qatar for talks mediated by Qatari and Egyptian envoys. Arabic media outlets have speculated that Mossad chief David Barnea, who has spearheaded negotiations, may join the discussions, though the Prime Minister’s Office has declined to comment. The looming January 20 inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has intensified pressure on the talks, with Trump warning of “hell to pay” in the Middle East if the hostages are not released by then, an unofficial but widely recognized deadline. Currently, 96 of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attacks are believed to remain in Gaza. Among them are at least 34 individuals confirmed dead by the IDF. In addition, Hamas continues to hold the remains of two IDF soldiers killed in 2014 and two Israeli civilians who entered Gaza in 2014 and 2015. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado on Sunday urged supporters to demonstrate across the country, saying in a video message that President Nicolás Maduro will not step down on his own and they “must make him leave.” Machado instructed supporters to demonstrate Thursday, the day before Venezuela’s next presidential term is set to begin. Her message came hours after the government again made clear its intention to arrest retired diplomat Edmundo González, who claims to have defeated Maduro in last year’s election. “Maduro is not going to leave on his own, we must make him leave with the strength of a population that never gives up,” Machado said in a social media video. “Go outside, shout, fight. It is time to stand firm, and make them understand that this is as far as they go. That this is over.” Machado, who has been hiding for months at an undisclosed location to avoid arrest, told supporters she “will be with” them Thursday. Hours earlier, without mentioning González’s name, National Assembly leader Jorge Rodriguez said the unicameral body would request the immediate arrest of the retired diplomat should he step on Venezuelan soil. The threat followed the government’s recent announcement of a $100,000 reward for information on González’s whereabouts. González left Venezuela for exile in Spain in September after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with an election-related investigation. In recent weeks, he has vowed to travel to Venezuela to be sworn in for the presidential term which, by law, must begin Jan. 10, but he has not explained how he plans to return or wrest power from Maduro, whose party controls all institutions and the military. “That unworthy being … has been saying that he is going to return to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” Rodriguez said shortly after he was re-elected as the National Assembly’s president. “Each and every deputy who defends peace will request, if he touches a bit of land of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, his immediate arrest.” González began a tour of the Americas with stops in Argentina and Uruguay on Saturday, when he told reporters he would travel to the United States next and hoped to speak with President Joe Biden. He said he also planned to visit Panama and the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, Maduro already received an invitation from the National Assembly to be sworn in for a third term Friday, more than five months after the country’s National Electoral Council, stacked with ruling-party loyalists, declared him winner of the July 28 election. Unlike previous presidential elections, electoral authorities did not provide detailed vote counts. Yet, the opposition collected tally sheets from more than 80% of the nation’s electronic voting machines, posted them online and said they showed González had won the election with twice as many votes as Maduro. Global condemnation over the lack of transparency prompted Maduro to ask Venezuela’s high court, also controlled by ruling-party supporters, to audit the results. The court subsequently reaffirmed his victory. The U.S. and most European governments have rejected the election’s official results and consider González the legitimate winner. Rodriguez on Sunday told National Assembly members that their potential request to have González arrested would be based on a recently approved measure that allows for the prosecution of anyone who expresses support […]
The House and Senate will meet on Monday in a Joint Session of Congress to certify the results of the 2024 presidential vote. The Capitol riot and contretemps over certification of the 2020 presidential election converted the quadrennial, often sleepy affair of certifying the Electoral College into a full-blown national security event. Congressional security officials began erecting 10-foot-high fencing around the outer perimeter of the Capitol complex over the past few days. Some of the fences extend beyond the usual “Capitol Square” which includes the Capitol building itself. One such fence was all the way around the outer boundaries of the Russell Senate Park. One of the great ironies in the American political system is that the person who lost the race for the presidency often presides over their own defeat. In this case, Vice President Harris. Harris remains the vice president until Jan. 20. That also means she continues as president of the Senate. Others have performed this onerous task of certifying their own defeat. Future President Richard Nixon was vice president when he lost to President John F. Kennedy in 1960. Nixon then certified JFK as the winner in January 1961. Former Vice President Al Gore ceded his election to President George W. Bush after the disputed 2000 election and tumult over which candidate actually won Florida. Gore was then at the Capitol to seal Bush’s victory in January 2001. Here’s what the 12th Amendment to the Constitution says about Congress signing off on the election results: “The President of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, open all the certificates and the votes shall then be counted.” This dictates a Joint Session of Congress. This is where the House and Senate meet together, simultaneously, usually in the House chamber. The speaker of the House presides alongside the president of the Senate: in this case, Vice President Harris.
“The peaceful transfer of power is one of the most fundamental principles of American democracy. As much as any other principle, it is what distinguishes our system of government from monarchy or tyranny. Today at the United States Capitol, I will perform my constitutional duty as vice president of the United States to certify the results of the 2024 election. This duty is a sacred obligation, one I will uphold.”
