South Korea and the United States agreed to craft a package of deals aimed at removing new U.S. tariffs before the pause on reciprocal tariffs are lifted in July, Seoul’s delegation said after the first round of trade talks in Washington. The U.S. and South Korea had a “very successful” meeting on Thursday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said afterwards. “We may be moving faster than I thought, and we will be talking technical terms as early as next week,” he told reporters. Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun.
BREAKING: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used the Signal app on a personal computer in his office that was connected to the internet on an unsecured commercial line — known as a “dirty line” — ABC News reports.
Tesla’s Q1 profit dropped to just $409 million — a sharp fall from $1.39 billion in Q1 2024 and $3.3 billion in Q1 2022, following numerous anti-Elon/ Tesla attacks on the company throughout the USA.
National Economic Council Chairman Kevin Hassett: “President Trump recognizes, as we all do, that we’re going to get a lot of tariff revenue and it’s going to help us balance the budget. If people want to avoid the tariffs, then if they onshore production in the U.S., then we’ll get tax revenue from that.”
On February 18, 2025, YWN received a letter signed by Hagaon HaRav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, calling for “all Charedi representatives to immediately withdraw from Zionist institutions,” specifically targeting involvement in organizations like the World Zionist Organization (WZO). YWN has since uncovered that nearly every print publication that ran this letter was paid to do so, a revelation that raises serious questions about the authenticity of the campaign. For clarity, YWN was neither offered nor paid to publish the letter and has maintained its editorial independence. Further investigation by YWN revealed an even more astonishing detail: a video statement released in late March 2025, in which Rav Landau unequivocally reiterated his opposition to Charedi participation in WZO elections, featured English subtitles crafted by none other than the Conservative Movement. The professionally produced subtitles, which enabled American Charedi audiences to clearly understand Rav Landau’s message, were strategically designed to amplify the video’s reach and impact. YWN is in possession of concrete evidence confirming the Conservative Movement’s role in this effort. In fact, we know the name of the person who placed the subtitles on the video. The Conservative Movement’s involvement represents a meticulously orchestrated campaign to thrust this issue into the forefront of public discourse, achieving a level of prominence unprecedented in American Jewish history. By leveraging paid publications and expertly subtitled media, the movement successfully manipulated the narrative surrounding Chareidi engagement with Zionist institutions, raising concerns about external interference in internal Chareidi affairs. Hagaon HaRav Dov Landau’s stance, as expressed in both the letter and video, remains clear: he opposes any Chareidi involvement in the WZO or similar bodies, viewing such participation as incompatible with Torah values. However, the revelation of paid publications and the Conservative Movement’s behind-the-scenes role casts a shadow over the campaign’s legitimacy, prompting questions about who stands to benefit from this controversy. YWN remains committed to uncovering the truth and providing clarity to its readers. As this story develops, we will continue to investigate and report on any further evidence of external influence in this critical matter affecting the Charedi community. In fact, YWN can tell our readers with certainty, that this as well as the previous article published today are just the tip of the iceberg. In the coming days and weeks, information will be published that will be extremely shocking to say the least. Stay tuned! (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Most adults catching a flight in the U.S. starting May 7 will be required to present a passport or an upgraded state-issued identification card that meets federal REAL ID standards. The requirement is 20 years in the making, but with just weeks to go, not everyone is ready for it. Officials in at least one state have requested another extension before enforcement begins. Here’s what you need to know: What is REAL ID? It’s a driver’s license or other state-issued ID that meets security requirements mandated in a 2005 law passed in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Obtaining an ID with the designation — indicated by a white star in a yellow circle in most states — means taking more documents to the motor vehicle agency than most states require for regular IDs. The program has already been delayed several times by states that weren’t prepared to offer the IDs, people being slow to update their documents and by the coronavirus pandemic. With those hurdles mostly passed, the government is set to require the new IDs rather than old state drivers licenses and IDs for commercial air travel starting May 7. People will also be required to carry the new IDs or a passport to enter secure federal facilities such as military bases or to get into nuclear power plants. Is the country ready? It’s clear not everyone is. But it’s less clear whether the nation is prepared. The Department of Homeland Security said in a report earlier this year that 56% of IDs in circulation nationally met the requirements as of January 2024. In 16 states, more than three in five IDs met the new standards, while the number was below two out of five in 22 states. About 81% of people flying recently have shown ID that would work once the new requirements kick in, according to a recent statement by Homeland Security. A group of state senators from Kentucky this week asked the agency to delay implementing the new requirements yet again. They said the state has limited appointments available to people seeking the new cards and that there has been a rush to meet the May 7 deadline. Dan Velez, a spokesperson for the Transportation Security Administration, said Thursday that the agency does not intend to delay the REAL ID again. Do you need a REAL ID, and if so, how do you get one? People who don’t fly or visit military bases or other sites where the IDs are required may not need new identification. People who have photo IDs from federally recognized tribal nations don’t need anything new. Employment authorization green cards are already acceptable, as are some other less common identifying documents on the government’s list. REAL ID is not required to drive, vote or receive state or federal services or benefits. Still, a lot of people may need one. The enhanced cards have been available for years from every U.S. state and territory’s motor vehicle agency. People who haven’t obtained one by May 7 can still apply after that. The Department of Homeland Security website links to information in each state on scheduling appointments and lists the documents needed. But appointments can be hard to come by. None of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices had REAL ID appointments available as […]
Software has always been a game of time, cost, and quality. Traditionally, if you wanted fast and affordable, you had to sacrifice quality. Not anymore. Thanks to major advances in AI, software development has entered a new era — and it’s good news for frum business owners. Rather than replacing developers, AI is making them dramatically more productive. That means custom, high-quality software is now faster to build — and far more affordable. At Bitbean, this change is being led by what they call “Artisanal Intelligence.” Their top-tier developers still guide every project with expertise and care, but now AI helps accelerate the technical work. The result? Beautifully built, intuitive systems delivered in a fraction of the time. “We’re putting the art back into artificial intelligence,” says CEO Ephraim Arnstein. “Our developers can now focus more on what really matters — structure, scale, design — instead of routine code.”The results speak for themselves. For a local tzedakah organization, Bitbean built a transparent donation platform — customized to their unique needs — in three weeks instead of three months. For a men’s custom suit store, they delivered a full automation system for tailoring orders — every detail accounted for — in half the time it usually takes. Best of all? Bitbean’s Artisanal Intelligence initiative has made premium software up to 80% more affordable, giving small and mid-size businesses access to tools that used to be out of reach. Want to learn how this shift can help your business grow? Reach out to Alex at Bitbean — alex@bitbean.com | (732) 806-1125 — to explore the new possibilities now within reach.
Agudath Israel of America proudly celebrates a historic victory for parents and students across the Lone Star State as the Texas Legislature passes a landmark universal school choice bill. On Thursday, the Texas Senate voted to concur with the House and pass SB2, finally giving families the educational freedom they have been asking for. SB2 is an Education Savings Account (ESA) program that would provide parents with approximately $10,000 per student to spend on a wide range of educational expenses, including private school tuition. Students with special needs could receive up to $30,000 per year. The bill allocates one billion dollars to the program. If the number of applicants exceeds available funds, low-income (see chart here) and special education students will be prioritized. “Agudath Israel thanks Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Speaker Dustin Burrows, House Education Chairman Brad Buckley, and Senate Education Committee Chairman Brandon Creighton for their leadership,” said Rabbi Ari Weisenfeld, director of state relations for Agudath Israel of America. “More importantly, this couldn’t have happened without the countless parents and community members who have advocated alongside Agudath Israel and our coalition partners for the last two decades.” “This ESA program will have a tangible positive impact on our families and community” said Rabbi Avi Pekier Head of School of Torah Day School of Dallas. “I have had the privilege of joining Agudath Israel’s missions to Austin since 2007,” said Yakov Polatsek a Houston community leader. “We are grateful to Agudath Israel of America for representing our community in Texas, session after session, and for refusing to give up.” “School choice is on the rise,” said Rabbi A. D. Motzen, Agudah’s national director of government affairs. “With Texas becoming the 16th state to enact universal school choice in the last four years, the next step is for President Trump and Congress to bring school choice to all 50 states with the federal passage of the Educational Choice for Children Act.” Prioritization: Tier 1: Special ed student from families earning less than 500% of the federal poverty level (FPL) Tier 2: Students from families earning less than 200%FPL Tier 3: Students from families earning between 200%-500%FPL Tier 4: Students from families earning more than 500% FPL (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The suburban Chicago man who admitted to fatally shooting seven people and wounding dozens of others during a 2022 Independence Day parade was sentenced Thursday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti handed down seven consecutive sentences of life in prison, as prosecutors requested, for the first-degree murder charges after hearing emotional testimony from survivors and the relatives of those killed in the shooting. “This court has absolutely no words that could adequately describe and capture the horror and pain that was inflicted on July 4th,” the judge said. Robert E. Crimo III, 24, “has a complete disregard for human life” and “is irretrievably depraved, permanently incorrigible, irreparably corrupt and beyond any rehabilitation,” she said. After years of unpredictable legal proceedings, Crimo, who had declined to come to most of his sentencing hearing, changed his mind as the judge was handing down his sentence, according to Lake County authorities. Rossetti paused the proceedings Thursday so that he could be brought to court. The case has moved slowly, in part because Crimo backed out of a plea deal, fired his public defenders and reversed his decision to represent himself. He signed his name and Donald Trump’s when he waived his right to trial. He also changed his plea to guilty last month just moments before opening statements at his trial. Dozens were wounded in the shooting in the suburb north of Chicago. They ranged in age from their 80s to an 8-year-old boy who was left paralyzed from the waist down. Rossetti has warned Crimo that the case would proceed without him. Crimo also declined to provide a written statement in court ahead of sentencing. “He’s always known that he was facing life in prison,” said Crimo’s public defender, Gregory Ticsay. “He has spared this community the lengthy trial.” Survivors and witnesses told the court about how their lives have changed since he killed seven people and hurt dozens more. Keely Roberts, whose 8-year-old son Cooper Roberts was the youngest victim, called Crimo “cowardly” for not attending Wednesday’s hearing. “You will not hear my grief,” she said. “You are now irrelevant.” It’s unusual for defendants to skip trial, especially sentencing, but constitutionally they have the right not to attend, said David Erickson, a former state appellate judge who teaches at Chicago Kent College of Law. Often in violent cases, defendants will explain themselves or profess innocence before sentencing. “Certainly in crimes of violence it’s not unusual for a defendant to show some remorse,” Erickson said. Some survivors called Crimo a “monster” while another cited their faith in forgiving him. Many described feeling empty or facing deep sadness since the shooting. Some no longer attend public gatherings. Erica Weeder described how she and her husband were injured and helpless on the ground, watching others bleed out. For weeks, there was shrapnel in her body and a bullet lodged in her husband’s elbow. “A mass shooting is like a bomb blast throughout a community,” she said. Prosecutors argued that Crimo was fully in control of his actions as he fired 83 shots over 40 seconds. “This was his evil plan. He intended to end the happiness that he saw around him,” said Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart. Crimo pleaded guilty to 21 counts of first-degree […]
Tensions in the Trump administration erupted into a full-blown confrontation last week when Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent engaged in a fiery shouting match inside the White House — within earshot of President Trump himself. According to multiple sources close to the White House, the two top officials locked horns over the future of the IRS, with Musk reportedly raising his voice and gesturing aggressively as Bessent stood his ground. “Elon was shouting and rambling, and Scott just wasn’t putting up with it,” one insider told The Post, confirming that the standoff was intense enough to draw attention from nearby staff. The clash, first reported by Axios, is said to reflect deeper philosophical differences in how the two men approach reform. Musk, a vocal critic of federal bureaucracy, has long advocated for a radical overhaul of the tax system. Bessent, by contrast, is focused on incremental changes designed to both reform and stabilize existing systems. “Bessent has two mandates: reform and stabilize,” a source familiar with the discussion said. “Elon has one: break things in the process of reform.” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who was present during the dispute, appeared to side with Musk — a move not surprising to insiders, given Musk’s past endorsements of Lutnick for Treasury Secretary over Bessent. This isn’t Musk’s first public feud with members of the Trump administration. In November, he criticized the selection of Bessent, calling him a “business-as-usual” choice and praising Lutnick as someone who would “actually enact change.” More recently, Musk ignited a separate online war with Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro, calling him a “moron” and accusing him of spreading lies about Tesla. The White House downplayed the altercation. “Disagreements are a normal part of any healthy policy process,” said press secretary Karoline Leavitt. “Ultimately, everyone knows they serve at the pleasure of President Trump.” Musk, who has been serving as a special government employee, revealed he plans to scale back his role at the end of May. However, he told Tesla shareholders he’ll remain involved with DOGE matters “a day or two a week.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Russia’s illegal seizure of Crimea from Ukraine 11 years ago was quick and bloodless. But Kyiv — and most of the world — never recognized Moscow’s annexation of the strategic peninsula, which is now a major focus of U.S.-led efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Ukraine’s president Wednesday, accusing Volodymyr Zelenskyy of prolonging the “killing field” after he insisted he would not give up any Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, to Russia as part of a potential peace plan. “There is nothing to talk about. It is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people,” he said. Trump called Zelenskyy’s pushback “very harmful” to talks. “Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?” he wrote on social media. During Trump’s first term, the U.S. said it would never recognize Crimea as Russian. How did Russia seize Crimea? In 2013-14, a massive popular uprising gripped Ukraine for weeks, eventually forcing pro-Moscow President Victor Yanukovich from office. With Ukraine engulfed in turmoil, Russian President Vladimir Putin pounced, sending troops to overrun Crimea, a diamond-shaped peninsula in the Black Sea that Russia has long coveted. The armed troops appeared in Crimea in uniforms without insignia, and Putin soon called a vote on joining Russia that Ukraine and the West dismissed as illegal. Russia’s relations with the West plummeted to new lows. The United States, the European Union and other countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and its officials. Moscow’s illegal annexation of Crimea on March 18, 2014, was only recognized internationally by countries such as North Korea and Sudan. In Russia, it touched off a wave of patriotism, and “Krym nash!” — “Crimea is ours!” — became a rallying cry. The move sent Putin’s popularity soaring. His approval rating, which had declined to 65% in January 2014, shot to 86% in June, according to the Levada Center, an independent Russian pollster. Putin has called Crimea “a sacred place,” and has prosecuted those who publicly argue it is part of Ukraine — particularly Crimean Tatars, who strongly opposed the annexation. What happened after the annexation? Weeks after the annexation, fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine between pro-Kremlin militias and Kyiv’s forces. Moscow threw its weight behind the insurgents, even though the Kremlin denied supporting them with troops and weapons. There was abundant evidence to the contrary, including a Dutch court’s finding that a Russia-supplied air defense system shot down a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over eastern Ukraine in July 2014, killing all 298 people aboard. Russian hard-liners later criticized Putin for failing to capture all of Ukraine that year, arguing it was easily possible at a time when the government in Kyiv was in disarray and its military in shambles. The fighting in eastern Ukraine continued, on and off, until February 2022, when Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Why is Crimea important? Crimea’s unique location makes it a strategically important asset, and Russia has spent centuries fighting for it. The peninsula was home to Turkic-speaking Tatars when the Russian empire first annexed it in the 18th century. It briefly regained independence two centuries later before being swallowed by the Soviet Union. Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transferred Crimea […]
If you’re fond of basking in the sunshine, you may want to soak it up while you still can. That’s because British scientists are seriously considering giving the sun a little timeout. In an effort to cool down the planet, researchers are preparing to launch outdoor experiments designed to dim the sun. Don’t snicker – dimming the sun by reflecting light away from Earth might soon be a government-backed strategy. According to The Telegraph, the government’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) is expected to greenlight outdoor trials in the coming weeks, with a £50 million budget allocated to explore solar geoengineering — a set of high-tech methods aimed at dialing down the thermostat on planet Earth. These experiments may involve brightening clouds with sea-salt spray or injecting aerosols into the upper atmosphere to bounce sunlight back into space. It’s all part of what scientists call “Sunlight Reflection Methods,” a field that’s gaining traction as global temperatures continue to rise. “We’re planning small, carefully controlled experiments,” said Professor Mark Symes of ARIA. “Nothing toxic, nothing irreversible — just dipping a toe into the solar-shading waters.” The concept isn’t entirely new. In fact, Earth has been running its own tests. Volcanic eruptions have spewed particles that cool the Earth temporarily by reflecting the sun’s rays away from it. But this scientific sun-shielding isn’t without controversy. Critics worry that tampering with Earth’s sunlight could have unintended — and unwelcome — consequences. Think disrupted weather systems, droughts, or even more intense storms. And if the system ever had to be stopped abruptly, researchers warn the climate could rebound with alarming speed. In the words of Rutgers University’s Professor Alan Robock, “Stopping geoengineering suddenly would be like slamming the brakes on a speeding train — only the train is the Earth’s climate, and we’re all onboard.” Despite the risks, scientists think the idea is worth exploring, as long as it’s done with care, transparency, and a healthy dose of humility. ARIA’s initiative will also fund indoor studies, climate monitoring, and public opinion research — because yes, they want to know how people feel about unplugging the sun. So, what does this all mean for your picnic plans? For now, not much. Sunshine is still free-for now. But as the science develops, we may one day find ourselves living under a slightly dimmer sky — and calling it progress. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at the radical left’s grip on America’s elite institutions, targeting Harvard University in a blistering Truth Social post on Thursday morning. Labeling Harvard an “Anti-Semitic, Far Left Institution” and a direct “threat to Democracy,” Trump accused the university of admittingforeign students bent on destroying the nation while allowing “crazed lunatics” to spew “fake ANGER AND HATE” on campus. “Harvard is a Liberal mess,” Trump declared, pointing to the university’s alleged failure to curb antisemitism amid a wave of pro-Palestinian protests that have rocked campuses since 2023. He warned that the Ivy League school’s actions are tearing at the fabric of America, claiming, “They act like they are all ‘American Apple Pie.’ Harvard is a threat to Democracy.” The President’s attack comes amid his administration’s aggressive push to hold universities accountable. Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has targeted Harvard over its handling of antisemitism, particularly following 2024’s pro-Palestinian “Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine” (HOOP) protests demanding divestment from Israel-tied companies. On March 31, the administration’s Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism reviewed $8.7 billion in Harvard’s federal grants and $255 million in contracts, freezing $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts by April 14 after the university refused to comply with demands to overhaul its admissions and disciplinary policies. Trump has also threatened to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status—a move conservatives applaud as a necessary step to rein in the university’s $50 billion endowment. Last week, he questioned whether Harvard should lose its tax-exempt status for pushing “political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness.’” The administration’s request to the IRS to revoke this status could hit Harvard hard, a precedent set after Columbia University caved to similar pressure, losing $400 million in funding before restructuring its programs. Adding fuel to the fire, Trump’s post called out a lawyer representing both him and Harvard, demanding his immediate resignation or firing. “He’s not that good, anyway,” Trump wrote, urging his sons, who now run the Trump Organization, to “get rid of him ASAP!” The lawyer has since been identified as top conservative attorney Bill Burck. Following Trump’s public complaint, the Trump Organization parted ways with Burck, who had been working as an outside adviser while simultaneously representing Harvard in its legal fight against the Trump administration. Eric Trump confirmed the decision to CNN, stating, “I view it as a conflict and I will be moving in a different direction.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Sec. Marco Rubio: .@SecRubio: “Of all the leaders in the world today, no leader is working harder to prevent wars or end them than President Trump is right now. That’s why we’re talking to Iran. That’s why we’re engaged with Ukraine and Russia.”
POTUS: “A lot of countries want to come into the Abraham Accords… We’re going to be filling up the Abraham Accords. We’re going to be filling it up very rapidly.”
Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slowed in March, a lackluster start to the spring homebuying season as elevated mortgage rates and rising prices discouraged home shoppers. Existing home sales fell 5.9% last month from February to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. The March sales decline is the largest monthly drop since November 2022, when sales fell 6.7% from the previous month. Sales also fell 2.4% compared with March last year. The latest home sales fell short of the 4.12 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet. The average cost of a U.S. mortgage, which climbed to its highest level in two months last week, is a significant barrier for would-be homebuyers, said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. “Residential housing mobility, currently at historical lows, signals the troublesome possibility of less economic mobility for society,” Yun said. Home prices increased on an annual basis for the 21st consecutive month, although at a slower rate. The national median sales price rose 2.7% in March from a year earlier to $403,700, an all-time high for March, but the smallest annual increase since August. The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump since 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years. Higher mortgage rates also dampened the start of the spring homebuying season in 2024. This year, after climbing to a just above 7% in mid-January, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage has remained mostly elevated, climbing last week to 6.83%, its highest level in eight weeks, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. Homes purchased last month likely went under contract in February and early March, when the average rate on a 30-year mortgage ranged from 6.89% to 6.63%, according to Freddie Mac. While sales of existing home fell last month, sales of newly built homes surged in March. They jumped 7.4% from February and 6% from March last year, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. To drum up sales, homebuilders have ramped up sales incentives, such as paying to lower the initial rate on a homebuyer’s mortgage. Many builders have also shifted to their focus to smaller, less expensive homes. In contrast, existing home sales tend to be driven by properties on the upper-end of the market, where more affluent homebuyers can afford to finance a home at current mortgage rates or perhaps pay cash. Consider, sales of homes priced at $1 million or higher jumped 14% last month from a year earlier, while those priced between $100,000 and $250,000 fell 4%, NAR said. Sales fell in March even as more homes hit the market for the spring homebuying season. There were 1.33 million unsold homes at the end of last month, an 8.1% increase from February, NAR said. That translates to a 4-month supply at the current sales pace, up from a 3.2-month pace at the end of March last year. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers. “I felt that more inventory would lead to more sales, but that’s not the case,” Yun said. One reason the inventory of homes for sale has been rising is that properties are […]
