An upstate New York man who opened fire outside a synagogue filled with preschoolers just weeks after the start of the Israel-Hamas war will spend the next decade in federal prison. Mufid Alkhader, 29, was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years behind bars for a December 2023 attack on Temple Israel of Albany, where 61 children and their teachers were forced into lockdown as he fired a shotgun and shouted “Free Palestine!” The chilling assault — which came just hours before the first night of Chanukah — ended without physical injuries, but left deep emotional scars. “My daughter was in Hebrew class with her teacher, whose own child was on the other side of the building,” congregant Rachel Mandel said in court. “Her amazing teacher held, hid, and comforted my child. She prepared herself and the children in her care to die as victims of hate.” According to prosecutors, Alkhader fired two rounds into the air before his weapon jammed, then ranted about the Middle East when arrested. The Palestinian-born gunman had acquired the firearm through a straw purchase — for which another man was sentenced to 14 months in prison last year. Alkhader pleaded guilty in February to obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force, brandishing a firearm during that crime, and conspiring to buy a gun illegally. Prosecutors pushed for the maximum, arguing he intended to terrorize the Jewish congregation. “He wanted to scare the people in that building — and scare them he did,” prosecutor Richard Belliss told the court. Defense attorneys cited Alkhader’s severe mental illness and urged leniency. But U.S. District Judge Anne Nardacci rejected a lighter sentence, saying the trauma inflicted on the children and staff warranted the full decade in prison. In a brief statement, wearing an orange jail shirt, Alkhader told the court he was “not in [his] right mind” at the time of the attack and asked for forgiveness. Alkhader, who was born in a Palestinian refugee camp near Baghdad, came to the U.S. as a refugee in 2012 and became a naturalized citizen in 2014. At the time of the shooting, he lived in nearby Schenectady. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A group of chareidi demonstrators gathered Wednesday outside the IDF draft office in Yerushalayim, setting up a striking display patterned after the well-known hostage exhibits calling for the release of captives in Gaza. In place of the familiar yellow chairs with photos of the hostages, the protesters arranged yellow chairs bearing pictures of chareidi bochurim who were arrested and imprisoned for alleged draft evasion. The symbolism drew a parallel between the plight of the hostages and the incarceration of yeshivah students for standing firm in their refusal to serve in the army. The demonstration comes as gedolei Yisroel and community leaders have called for two separate protests to be held tomorrow outside the Beit Lid military prison in central Israel. These gatherings will decry the recent arrests and ongoing detention of several chareidi young men who resisted army conscription. The planned rallies follow last week’s public announcement by chareidi leadership declaring “war” against an escalating campaign by the military to target and prosecute those in the olam haTorah who seek to continue their limud haTorah without compromise. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A relentless weeklong heatwave brought Israel to a sweltering standstill on Wednesday, toppling temperature records across the country, pushing the national power grid beyond its limits, and forcing sweeping restrictions on outdoor activity. The Israel Meteorological Service (IMS) reported a blistering 49.7°C (121.5°F) in Kibbutz Gilgal in the Jordan Valley — the highest reading nationwide and a new regional record, surpassing the previous 49.3°C (120.7°F). Eilat followed close behind at 48.8°C (119.8°F), while Kfar Blum in the Galilee hit 46.8°C (116.2°F). Jerusalem baked at 40.8°C (105.4°F), and Tel Aviv, by comparison, saw a “cool” 33.5°C (92.3°F). The extreme heat rewrote the record books: Tzfas reached 41.4°C (106.5°F), breaking its all-time high; new peaks were also logged in Ayelet Hashachar, Ma’aleh Adumim, and Arad. Even overnight temperatures refused to drop — the Sodom station near Yam Hamelach recorded an unprecedented low of 36.6°C (97.8°F), the hottest minimum temperature ever measured in Israel. Eilat and Yotvata also reported record warm nights at 35.8°C (96.4°F) and 33.7°C (92.7°F), respectively. As Israelis sought refuge indoors, electricity demand surged to a staggering 17,287 megawatts at 3:15 p.m., smashing the previous day’s record of 16,000 MW and marking the fourth consecutive day of record-breaking consumption, according to the Independent System Operator (Noga). “Extreme heatwaves are no longer an unusual event, but a reality that will return in the years to come,” warned Noga director Shiki Fisher, pledging coordinated efforts with power producers and “smart management” to keep the grid stable. In response to the tinderbox conditions, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority extended a ban on entry to all hiking trails in national parks and reserves through Shabbos. The Israel Fire and Rescue Services have also kept a nationwide ban on open-air bonfires in place until the end of the month. Infrastructure also took a hit. Israel Railways imposed a speed limit of 80 km/h (50 mph) on certain routes after extreme heat caused track expansion, warning passengers to expect delays. Meteorologists forecast a slight drop in temperatures Thursday and Friday before a return to seasonally hot conditions over the weekend, with highs of 30°C (86°F) in Jerusalem and 40°C (105°F) in Eilat. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that there will be “very severe consequences” if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to stop the war against Ukraine after the two leaders meet for a summit later this week in Alaska. Trump made the comment in response to a question from a reporter after announcing this year’s Kennedy Center Honors recipients in Washington. He did not say what the consequences might be. The remark came soon after Trump consulted with European leaders, who said the president assured them he would make a priority of trying to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine when he meets with Putin on Friday in Anchorage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined several of Kyiv’s main allies in the virtual meeting with the U.S. leader, and Zelenskyy told the group that Putin “is bluffing” ahead of the planned summit about Russia’s ability to occupy all of Ukraine and shake off sanctions. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said afterward that “important decisions” could be made in Alaska, but he stressed that “fundamental European and Ukrainian security interests must be protected.” Merz convened Wednesday’s meeting in an attempt to make sure European and Ukrainian leaders are heard ahead of the summit. He stressed that a ceasefire must come at the beginning of negotiations. He told reporters that Trump “also wants to make this one of his priorities” in the meeting with Putin. Trump “was very clear” that the U.S. wants to achieve a ceasefire at the summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said at a separate appearance in France. Following Friday’s summit, Macron added, Trump will “seek a future trilateral meeting” — one involving Trump, Putin and Zelenskyy. He said he hoped that it could be held in Europe “in a neutral country that is acceptable to all parties.” Merz, who described Wednesday’s conversation as “constructive and good,” said the Europeans made clear that “Ukraine must sit at the table as soon as there are follow-up meetings.” European allies have pushed for Ukraine’s involvement in any peace talks, fearful that discussions that exclude Kyiv could otherwise favor Moscow. The Ukrainian president, who traveled to Berlin to join the meeting alongside Merz, has repeatedly cast doubt on whether Putin would negotiate in good faith. He said Wednesday that he hoped an immediate ceasefire will be “the central topic” in Alaska, but also argued that Putin “definitely does not want peace.” Zelenskyy said Putin “is trying to apply pressure … on all sectors of the Ukrainian front” in an attempt to show that Russia is “capable of occupying all of Ukraine.” Putin is also bluffing that sanctions “do not matter to him and are ineffective,” he added. “In reality, sanctions are very helpful and are hitting Russia’s war economy hard.” The stakes for Europe Trump has said he wants to see whether Putin is serious about ending the war, now in its fourth year, describing Friday’s summit as “a feel-out meeting” where he can assess the Russian leader’s intentions. Yet Trump has disappointed allies in Europe by saying Ukraine will have to give up some Russian-held territory. He has also said Russia must accept land swaps, although it was unclear what Putin might be expected to surrender. Trump on Monday ducked repeated chances to say that he would push for Zelenskyy to take part in his discussions with Putin, and […]
After two years working in a busy, multi-practitioner medical office that serves more than 240 regular patients, I’ve noticed patterns in patient behavior that I feel are important to address. Roughly one-third of our patients are Orthodox Jews, with the remainder coming from diverse non-religious or non-Jewish backgrounds. One difference is striking: non-Jewish and non-religious patients generally show a high level of respect for the doctor’s time and expertise. They remain attentive, avoid distractions such as phone use, and stay fully engaged during their brief appointments. This focused approach helps ensure that all patients receive timely, quality care. By contrast, some members of our own community have exhibited behaviors that create challenges for both the medical staff and the overall environment. Examples include repeatedly leaving and re-entering exam rooms; allowing children to create messes or excessive noise that require staff intervention; expressing impatience or frustration in ways that disrupt the atmosphere. These actions not only slow the flow of care but can also lead to a chillul Hashem. A particularly sensitive issue involves interactions with female medical staff. While we fully respect religious values, the manner in which some concerns are expressed can come across as dismissive or even degrading. For example, statements such as “We can’t have any females in the room” reduce skilled professionals to their gender, ignoring their training and contributions. Likewise, comments like “Is it really necessary for you to do this exam? Can we just have a doctor examine us?” imply that an assistant’s role is unimportant, which is both inaccurate and disrespectful. It is important to understand that our staff—male and female alike—are already sensitive to these concerns. Female team members often ask before touching a boy patient, and will sometimes place items down instead of handing them directly to a patient. These adjustments are made out of respect for your values, but they require mutual respect in return. Our female staff are highly trained professionals here to help you. If you feel unable to interact with them respectfully, it may be best to seek care in a setting better aligned with your preferences. Our office strives to accommodate all patients’ needs, but mutual respect is essential. This is not about compromising religious principles—it is about expressing them in ways that reflect kindness, dignity, and awareness of the situation. Sending a teenage boy into an exam room alone, without guidance or context, often makes these interactions more challenging, not less. Respecting the doctor’s time, the staff’s professionalism, and the dignity of everyone present—regardless of background—reflects the true strength of our community. Let us work together to ensure that our conduct in the medical setting consistently embodies the respect and compassion our values promote. Signed, M.R. The views expressed in this letter are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of YWN. Have an opinion you would like to share? Send it to us for review.
Channel 13’s legal analyst, Aviad Glickman, was recently a guest on the podcast “The Tweeters” with Akiva Novick, during which he lamented the lack of Jewish studies in Israeli state schools. “I look at the schools today—my children study in secular frameworks, and my heart aches,” he said. “There are many things they don’t learn there. My son didn’t know what tefillin were.” “I think the schools are lacking… I don’t have such a broad perspective, but yes, Judaism is part of our identity, and the state education system is greatly lacking in Jewish studies.” He referred to the growing divide among Am Yisrael and expressed pessimism about the future. “We are far beyond a cold civil war. I’m not sure it will be possible to bridge this gap.” It is not the first time that an Israeli has lamented the lack of Jewish education in Israeli schools. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Harvard University and the Trump administration are getting close to an agreement that would require the Ivy League university to pay $500 million to regain access to federal funding and to end investigations, according to a person familiar with the matter. The framework is still being sorted out with significant gaps to close, but both sides have agreed on the financial figure and a settlement could be finalized in coming weeks, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Harvard declined to comment. The agreement would end a monthslong battle that has tested the boundaries of the government’s authority over America’s universities. What began as an investigation into campus antisemitism escalated into an all-out feud as the Trump administration slashed more than $2.6 billion in research funding, ended federal contracts and attempted to block Harvard from hosting international students. The university responded with a pair of lawsuits alleging illegal retaliation by the administration after Harvard rejected a set of demands that campus leaders viewed as a threat to academic freedom. Details of the proposed framework were first reported by The New York Times. A $500 million payment would be the largest sum yet as the administration pushes for financial penalties in its settlements with elite universities. Columbia University agreed to pay the government $200 million as part of an agreement restoring access to federal funding, while Brown University separately agreed to pay $50 million to Rhode Island workforce development organizations. Details have not been finalized on where Harvard’s potential payment would go, the person said. The Republican president has been pushing to reform prestigious universities that he decries as bastions of liberal ideology. His administration has cut funding to several Ivy League schools while pressing demands in line with his political campaign. None has been targeted as frequently or as heavily as Harvard, the richest U.S. university with an endowment valued at $53 billion. More than a dozen Democrats in Congress who attended Harvard cautioned against a settlement on Aug. 1, warning the university it may warrant “rigorous Congressional oversight and inquiry.” Capitulating to political demands, they said, would set a dangerous precedent across all of higher education. (AP)
An Ibiza property manager canceled a confirmed reservation for a group of French and Israeli Jews—telling them bluntly, “You are not welcome until the genocide with Palestine stops.” The group had booked a stay in Spain’s popular tourist destination and paid a €2,500 deposit. The dispute began when the lead guest informed the manager that two members of their party could not attend due to the ongoing war in Gaza, and asked about a partial cancellation. They offered to replace the missing guests with friends from France. Instead, the manager responded with the antisemitic refusal, announcing she would keep the €2,500 deposit and donate it to Gaza. She then blocked the clients and changed her Facebook cover photo to a “Free Palestine” banner. The move was illegal under Spanish law, which prohibits denying service based on nationality, ethnicity, or religion. A complaint was filed, and the manager was ultimately forced to return the €2,500 deposit to the travelers. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump says homeless people in the nation’s capital will be moved far from the city as part of his federal takeover of policing in the District of Columbia and crackdown on crime. With his exact plans unclear, there is concern among advocates and others who say there are better ways to address the issue of homelessness than clearing encampments, as the Republican administration has pledged to do. Washington’s status as a congressionally established federal district gives Trump the opportunity to push his tough-on-crime agenda, though he has not proposed solutions to the root causes of homelessness or crime. Here’s a look at what we know and what questions remain about how Trump’s actions will affect the city’s homeless population: How many homeless people are in Washington? It is difficult to obtain accurate counts of homeless populations. On one day at the end of each January, municipal agencies across the United States perform what is called a “point-in-time” count aimed at capturing the total number of people in emergency shelters, transitional housing or without any housing. The 2025 count in the district put the total at 5,138 adults and children, a 9% decrease compared with the year before, according to Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser. Where will the city’s homeless people be taken? It’s not entirely clear. Trump wrote on his social media site before Monday’s news conference announcing the takeover that “The homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital.” Asked during a media briefing at the White House on Tuesday where homeless people would be relocated, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said local police and federal agencies would “enforce the laws that are already on the books,” which, she said, “have been completely ignored.” Citing a city regulation that she said gives local police “the authority to take action when it comes to homeless encampments,” Leavitt said homeless people “will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services.” Those who refuse “will be susceptible to fines or to jail time.” In the past five months, the U.S. Park Police has removed 70 homeless encampments, giving the people living in them the same options, she said. As of Tuesday, Leavitt said only two homeless encampments remained in district parks maintained by the National Park Service and would be removed this week. What are city officials doing for the homeless? District officials said Tuesday they were making additional shelter space available after Trump said federal agents would remove homeless people in the city. Kevin Donahue, the city administrator, said outreach workers were visiting homeless encampments and that the city has a building available that could house as many as 200 people, if needed. Donahue made the comments during a conversation with community advocates and Bowser. The conversation was broadcast on X. He said the outreach would continue through the week with a “greater level of urgency.” Bowser said that when Trump sees homeless encampments in the city it “triggers something in him that has him believing our very beautiful city is dirty, which it is not.” What are Washington residents saying? Washington residents emphasized reductions in crime in recent years and concerns over the removal of homeless encampments in interviews Tuesday […]
The Likud Central Committee held a vote on Wednesday, approving an agreement for a merger of the Likud and Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope party, bringing Sa’ar back to the party five years after he quit due to differences with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The members of the Likud Central Committee received Sa’ar with great enthusiasm and warmth. Sa’ar, with a kippah on his head, delivered an emotional speech, beginning by reciting the bracha of Shechiyanu. “How good it is to return home,” he began. “On October 7, we all woke up to a frightful morning and an actual attempt to destroy the Jewish people in their land, and this is the war we have been waging for the past two years. And in the face of this historic event, everyone had to decide how to behave. The members of the opposition had to decide whether they were exploiting this terrible and historic event and the difficult war that followed for political gain or whether they were enlisting to strengthen the State of Israel in a fateful hour.” “Baruch Hashem, I thank Hakadosh Baruch Hu who gave my colleagues and me the zechus to stand up to strengthen the government of Israel and the State of Israel in these critical moments,” Sa’ar said. “During that period, I held a long series of talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu. In these talks, when I understood what directions he wanted to lead, first in Lebanon, then in Iran—to dismantle the Iranian axis—I made a decision at that moment to join the government and strengthen it. And I believe that days will come after these difficult days we are experiencing when we will be able to proudly tell our grandchildren and great-grandchildren about the decisions that saved the State of Israel from the danger of destruction.” “I can also say that even then, in those days before we signed the first agreement between us, the Prime Minister offered that I should join Likud with my colleagues. I told the Prime Minister that I believe him and we will see that we are working together, and then we will take the second step of uniting forces in the national camp.” “Before us lies a historic struggle against the broad international attempt to impose the establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of the Land of Israel. Who will be able to lead the people and the country in this campaign against the establishment of a Palestinian state other than the national camp—Likud, headed by the Prime Minister? “When all those countries come that want to impose the establishment of a Palestinian state on Israel, who will stand against them? Yair Lapid? Yair Golan? What have we fought for all our lives? For the Land of Israel. These are crucial moments. We saw this when we initiated a discussion in the Knesset against the establishment of a Palestinian state, and people told us that it was not on the agenda.” “I knew very well what the price would be and what they would say on the radio, all those who in the past praised me when it suited them. And I knew that it wouldn’t end with me and that it would reach my family, my wife, and my children. But it was clear to me […]
A divided panel of appeals court judges ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration can suspend or terminate billions of dollars of congressionally appropriated funding for foreign aid. Two of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit concluded that grant recipients challenging the freeze did not meet the requirements for a preliminary injunction restoring the flow of money. In January, on the first day of his second term in the White House, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development to freeze spending on foreign aid. After groups of grant recipients sued to challenge that order, U.S. District Judge Amir Ali ordered the administration to release the full amount of foreign assistance that Congress had appropriated for the 2024 budget year. The appeal court’s majority partially vacated Ali’s order. Judges Karen LeCraft Henderson and Gregory Katsas concluded that the plaintiffs did not have a valid legal basis for the court to hear their claims. The ruling was not on the merits of whether the government unconstitutionally infringed on Congress’ spending powers. “The parties also dispute the scope of the district court’s remedy but we need not resolve it … because the grantees have failed to satisfy the requirements for a preliminary injunction in any event,” Henderson wrote. Judge Florence Pan, who dissented, said the Supreme Court has held “in no uncertain terms” that the president does not have the authority to disobey laws for policy reasons. “Yet that is what the majority enables today,” Pan wrote. “The majority opinion thus misconstrues the separation-of-powers claim brought by the grantees, misapplies precedent, and allows Executive Branch officials to evade judicial review of constitutionally impermissible actions.” The money at issue includes nearly $4 billion for USAID to spend on global health programs and more than $6 billion for HIV and AIDS programs. Trump has portrayed the foreign aid as wasteful spending that does not align with his foreign policy goals. Henderson was nominated to the court by Republican President George H.W. Bush. Katsas was nominated by Trump. Pan was nominated by Democratic President Joe Biden. (AP)
A coalition of more than 200 activist organizations is set to stage a mass anti-Israel march in Manhattan on Saturday, with participants bused in from six states and Washington, D.C., in what could be the largest demonstration of its kind in months. Organizers claim “tens of thousands” will join the protest — a number likely inflated — but the event is nonetheless shaping up as a significant event. The march, which they say is in response to the “devastating hunger crisis that worsens daily” in Gaza, will begin at 2 p.m. outside the New York Public Library next to Bryant Park. The coalition brings together a mix of far-left political groups, Arab-led organizations, and anti-Zionist “Jewish” activists. Key signatories include the People’s Forum, ANSWER Coalition, Democratic Socialists of America, CodePink, the Palestinian Youth Movement, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Arab American Association of New York, and Jewish Voice for Peace. Several student activist groups have also signed on. Large-scale anti-Israel demonstrations in New York City have waned in recent months. However, activists appear to be ramping up efforts with a new wave of regular rallies in advance of next month’s United Nations General Assembly — an event that has historically served as a magnet for politically charged street protests. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has come under fire after abruptly rescinding its invitation to screen The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue, a Canadian documentary recounting the harrowing survival and rescue of Israeli civilians during the October 7 Hamas massacre. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Barry Avrich, the film follows retired IDF General Noam Tibon’s dramatic journey to rescue his son, journalist Amir Tibon, and his family from terrorists attacking Kibbutz Nachal Oz—fighting his way past ambushes and wounded survivors along the route. The story has been widely publicized, including on 60 Minutes, and optioned for a film dramatization. TIFF initially invited the film in mid-July, attaching conditions including a title change, legal clearances, and insurance documentation. But just weeks before the festival, the producers were told by TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey to withdraw. When they refused, TIFF officially disinvited the film. According to Deadline, the sticking point was TIFF’s demand for proof that the filmmakers had obtained permission to use video recorded by Hamas terrorists during the massacre—a legal “clearance” the filmmakers say was impossible and absurd. Kan quoted sources saying the footage’s “owners” were Hamas’s own Nukhba terrorists, whose videos have been used in numerous other documentaries about October 7. Avrich and his team condemned TIFF’s decision, saying in a statement: “We are shocked and saddened that a venerable film festival has defied its mission and censored its own programming. Film is an art form that stimulates debate and can make us uncomfortable. The audience—not the festival—should decide what they will or won’t see.” Jewish advocacy organizations accused TIFF of bowing to political pressure and rewarding threats of violence. Noah Shack, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, blasted the move: “It is unconscionable that TIFF is allowing a small mob of extremists to dictate what films Canadians can see. This sends the unmistakable message that Toronto’s Jewish community is no longer safe or welcome at TIFF.” The Creative Community for Peace (CCFP) called TIFF’s explanation a “pretext”: “Does anyone believe Hamas would authorize the use of evidence of its own war crimes? By silencing this film, TIFF abandons artistic freedom and tells the world that some victims’ stories matter more than others.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that the Western countries who announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state in recent weeks are doing so for internal political reasons. Speaking in an interview with WABC Radio’s Sid & Friends in the Morning, Rubio said, “It’s symbolic, and they’re doing it primarily for one reason, and that is their internal politics, their domestic politics. In the UK, in France, in many parts of Europe and Ireland, for a long time their domestic politics have turned anti-Israel or whatever it may be, and they’re getting a lot of domestic pressure to do something.” “The truth of the matter is that the future of that region is not going to be decided by some UN resolution…or some press release by a prime minister or a president from some country. It’s going to be decide when Palestinian areas are not governed by terrorist organizations.” “Because that’s truly what this comes down to, and that is the security of Israel,” Rubio stressed. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
As a wary Washington waited, the White House promised a ramp-up of National Guard troops and federal officers on the streets of the nation’s capital around the clock starting Wednesday, days after President Donald Trump’s unprecedented announcement that his administration would take over the city’s police department for at least a month. The city’s Democratic mayor and police chief framed the influx as a plus for public safety, though they said there are few hard measures for what a successful end to the operation might look like. The Republican president has said crime in the city was at emergency levels that only such federal intervention could fix even as District of Columbia leaders pointed to statistics showing violent crime at a 30-year low after a sharp rise two years ago. For two days, small groups of federal officers have been visible in scattered areas of the city. That is about to change, the administration says. A “significantly higher” presence of guard members was expected Wednesday night, and federal agents will be out 24/7 rather than largely at night, according to the White House. Hundreds of federal law enforcement and city police officers who patrolled the streets Tuesday night made 43 arrests, compared with about two dozen the night before. In one neighborhood, officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the FBI could be seen along with the U.S. Park Police searching the car of a motorist parked just outside a legal parking area to eat takeout and drop off a friend. Two blocks away, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers gathered in a parking lot before driving off on patrol. In other parts of the city, including those with popular nightlife hot spots, federal patrols were harder to find. At the National Mall, there was little law enforcement activity aside from Park Police cruisers pulling over a taxi driver near the Washington Monument. Unlike in other U.S. states and cities, the law gives Trump the power to take over Washington’s police for up to 30 days. Extending his power over the city for longer would require approval from Congress, and that could be tough in the face of Democratic resistance. A variety of infractions are targeted The arrests made by 1,450 federal and local officers across the city included those for suspicion of driving under the influence, unlawful entry, as well as a warrant for assault with a deadly weapon, according to the White House. Seven illegal firearms were seized. Unlike in other U.S. states and cities, the law gives Trump the power to take over Washington’s police for up to a month. Extending Trump’s power over the city for longer would require approval from Congress, and that could be tough in the face of Democratic resistance. The president has full command of the National Guard, but as of Tuesday evening, guard members had yet to be assigned a specific mission, according to an official who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. As many as 800 troops were expected to be mobilized in a support role to law enforcement, though exactly what form remains to be determined. The push also includes clearing out encampments for people who are homeless, Trump has said. U.S. Park Police have removed dozens of tents since March, and plan to take out two more […]
Russian authorities announced Wednesday they were “partially” restricting calls in messaging apps Telegram and WhatsApp, the latest step in an effort to tighten control over the internet. In a statement, government media and internet regulator Roskomnadzor justified the measure as necessary for fighting crime, saying that “according to law enforcement agencies and numerous appeals from citizens, foreign messengers Telegram and WhatsApp have become the main voice services used to deceive and extort money, and to involve Russian citizens in sabotage and terrorist activities.” The regulator also alleged that “repeated requests to take countermeasures have been ignored by the owners of the messengers.” There was no immediate comment from either platform. Russian authorities have long engaged in a deliberate and multipronged effort to rein in the internet. Over the years, they have adopted restrictive laws and banned websites and platforms that won’t comply. Technology has been perfected to monitor and manipulate online traffic. While it’s still possible to circumvent restrictions by using virtual private network services, those are routinely blocked, too. Authorities further restricted internet access this summer with widespread shutdowns of cellphone internet connections and by adopting a law punishing users for searching for content they deem illicit. They have also threatened to go after WhatsApp — one of the most popular platforms in the country — while rolling out a new “national” messaging app that’s widely expected to be heavily monitored. Reports that calls were being disrupted in WhatsApp and Telegram appeared in Russian media earlier this week, with users complaining about calls not going through or not being able to hear each other speak. According to Russian media monitoring service Mediascope, WhatsApp in July was the most popular platform in Russia, with over 96 million monthly users. Telegram, with more than 89 million users, came a close second. Both platforms had their run-ins with the Russian authorities in the past. The Kremlin tried to block Telegram between 2018-20 but failed. After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the government blocked major social media like Facebook and Instagram, and outlawed their parent company, Meta, that also owns WhatsApp, as extremist. In July, lawmaker Anton Gorelkin said WhatsApp “should prepare to leave the Russian market,” and a new “national” messenger, MAX, developed by Russian social media company VK, would take its place. MAX, promoted as a one-stop shop for messaging, online government services, making payments and more, was rolled out for beta tests but has yet to attract a wide following. Over 2 million people registered by July, the Tass news agency reported. Its terms and conditions say it will share user data with authorities upon request, and a new law stipulates its preinstallation in all smartphones sold in Russia. State institutions, officials and businesses are actively encouraged to move communications and blogs to MAX. (AP)
Iranian authorities say they detained more than 21,000 people during the 12-day air war with Israel in June, marking the first time the country’s police have released an overall figure from the conflict. State TV quoted police spokesperson Gen. Saeed Montazeralmahdi on Tuesday as saying that the suspects were reported to authorities by civilians, describing the mass arrests as proof of “high awareness and participation of people in providing security.” Montazeralmahdi did not specify the charges most detainees might face. He said more than 260 were suspected of espionage and 172 were taken into custody for “illegal filming.” During the conflict, which ran from June 13 to 24, police set up more than 1,000 checkpoints nationwide, he added. Iran has regularly announced individual arrests on spying allegations in recent weeks, but the newly disclosed figure reflects the scale of the detentions for the first time. The announcement comes amid an ongoing crackdown. Just last week, Tehran confirmed the execution of Rouzbeh Vadi, convicted of providing Mossad with intelligence that aided in the targeted killings of an Iranian nuclear scientist. Authorities said Vadi was hanged during the June conflict. Since late June, Iran has executed seven men on charges of spying for Israel — a pace that rights activists warn could signal a broader wave of executions in the weeks and months ahead. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The Hirschman family is facing a moment of both great joy and overwhelming challenge. Their daughter’s wedding is fast approaching, yet the weight of years of severe medical hardship has left them emotionally and financially drained.
In a rare and blistering public rebuke from within Gaza, political activist and former Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) official Jamil Abdul-Nabi has called for Hamas to disband, holding the group directly responsible for “the destruction of our people” following its October 7 attack on Israel. Speaking to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya Network, Abdul-Nabi said Hamas has failed in resistance, governance, and war — and must “pay for its sins” by disappearing from the Palestinian political scene altogether. Abdul-Nabi, who spent a year in an Israeli prison cell with senior Hamas figure Ghazi Hamad, painted a grim picture of public sentiment in Gaza. “I’m not exaggerating when I say that throughout the Gaza Strip, not even one of every 100 – or even 1000 – people I come across are supporting Hamas now,” he said. “The position of people in the Gaza Strip is much more anti-Hamas than what Hamas believes, because they are the ones who have paid the real price.” Hamas’s rhetoric, he added, has become “a joke” among Gazans. “Every statement by Hamas leaders turns into joke material here. Their insistence on doubling down makes us feel that our tears mean nothing to this movement. We are zero to them.” When asked directly if the October 7 attack was a sin, Abdul-Nabi said: “Absolutely. Resistance should not be driven by emotions. It should not be impulsive or vengeful… Reckless resistance can lead us to disaster, and this is what happened on October 7.” He accused Hamas of acting without clear political goals, resulting in catastrophic consequences for ordinary Palestinians. “They took this miscalculated step, which led to the destruction of our people. At the very least, you should make us feel that it has some regrets.” “Apology is not enough. Hamas needs to bear the responsibility and pay for its sin… The price cannot be anything less than the disappearance of Hamas from the Palestinian scene. Hamas needs to declare that it is disbanding.” He called the group’s leadership unfit for any role in the Palestinian cause: “People who fail need to step down. Hamas failed in resistance, failed in governance, failed in war, and failed in everything.” Abdul-Nabi reserved particular criticism for Ghazi Hamad’s past comments that “even if they kill 10,000, 20,000, or 100,000 of us,” the fight would continue. “What is this? How can he be so cavalier when talking about people’s lives? Is he talking about a handful of dollars?” The former PIJ official stressed that Palestinians have the right to hold their leaders accountable for exposing them to such danger. “It is inconceivable that a tragedy like this will pass, and we will not have the right to call to account the people who brought this tragedy upon us,” he said. While he acknowledged that political realities might make such accountability difficult, Abdul-Nabi maintained that the “minimal requirement” is for Hamas to step aside. “At the very least, Hamas should leave us, because it has failed in leading the Palestinian cause, failed in leading the resistance, failed in governing [Gaza], failed in everything.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Gildan Activewear is buying the struggling HanesBrands for $2.2 billion in a deal that gives the basic apparel maker access to household name brands like Hanes and Maidenform. The companies put the transaction’s valued at about $4.4 billion when HanesBrands’ debt is included. Gildan, in addition to its namesake brand, also makes American Apparel and Peds. HanesBrands’ sales have fallen for three consecutive years and it hasn’t turned an annual profit since 2021. The North Carolina company sold its Champion brand last year to Authentic Brands Group for more than $1 billion. In February Target announced a multiyear strategic partnership with Champion, with products from the brand rolling out in the retailer’s store and on its website starting this month. “As part of Gildan, HanesBrands will benefit from an even stronger financial and operational foundation that will provide new growth opportunities – helping to power further innovation, a broader product offering and greater reach across channels and geographies,” HanesBrands Chairman Bill Simon said in a statement Wednesday. HanesBrands shareholders will receive 0.102 common shares of Gildan and 80 cents in cash for each share of HanesBrands common stock. They will own about 19.9% of Gildan stock once the deal closes. Gildan has been experiencing some upheaval as well. In May 2024 its entire board resigned and appointed the nominees of activist investor Browning West as their replacements. CEO Vince Tyra also stepped down. Gildan’s headquarters will remain in Montréal after the transaction is complete. The combined company will maintain a strong presence in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where HanesBrands is located. Gildan said that it plans to conduct a strategic review of HanesBrands Australia, which could include a sale. The deal is expected to close later this year or early next year. It still needs approval from HanesBrands shareholders. Shares of HanesBrands dropped nearly 4% before the market opened after spiking 28% Tuesday on rumors of a buyout. (AP)
