President Donald Trump’s dramatic changes to the federal government haven’t emerged as an obvious political winner or loser, according to a new poll that indicates some Americans may be giving him the benefit of the doubt for now on his Department of Government Efficiency. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that about 4 in 10 U.S. adults “somewhat” or “strongly” approve of Trump’s handling of Social Security and a similar share approve of the way he’s managing the federal government. Those numbers are almost identical to Trump’s overall presidential approval, suggesting that his Republican administration’s moves to fire thousands of federal workers, close Social Security Administration field offices, effectively shutter entire agencies and cancel thousands of government contracts haven’t yet created a significant independent backlash — or spurred independent support. Views of Trump and his adviser Elon Musk are still largely intertwined, despite Democrats’ recent focus on Musk. The two men suffered a defeat on Tuesday when the conservative candidate they had endorsed for the Wisconsin Supreme Court was defeated. Musk and the groups he backed spent more than $21 million in the race, the first major test of how voters feel about Musk’s political impact. The poll, which was conducted before Tuesday’s election, found that both Trump and Musk are viewed more negatively than positively and are largely rated similarly by Americans overall. Very few Americans have a positive view of one man and a negative view of the other. Trump’s actions on DOGE largely mirror his overall approval Immigration emerged in the poll as a relative strength for Trump, while trade relations with other countries appeared to be a relative weakness. Unlike those issues, U.S. adults’ views on Trump’s handling of Social Security and management of the federal government are indistinguishable from his overall approval rating. This suggests that Americans may have a less developed opinion of Trump’s actions in this area, or they may be waiting to weigh the impact. There are hints in the poll that Trump’s pledge to cut government spending may be resonating. Closer to half of U.S. adults approve of Trump’s approach to government spending, which is slightly higher than his overall approval rating. “I love DOGE,” said Adam Marefka, a 42-year-old facilities maintenance specialist from Birmingham, Alabama, and a Trump supporter. “They’re cutting wasteful spending. We need a smaller government, and there’s only one way to do that.” Others see recklessness. Or, as Paul Vaitkus, of St. Petersburg, Florida, put it: “Total craziness.” “They’re not going to just trim where it needs to trim,” said Vaitkus, a 66-year-old retired cardiologist. “They’re going to do huge damage to agencies, and it’s going to erode the ability of those agencies to provide services to American taxpayers.” Trump’s handling of Social Security is more popular with adults age 60 or older than with younger adults. Despite that, older adults — who tend to be more conservative overall but would also be affected by cuts or changes to Social Security — are no more likely to approve of how Trump is handling his job generally. Even if there’s no clear backlash now, slashing popular programs like Social Security could still quickly take Trump and Musk into perilous territory. An AP-NORC poll conducted in January found that while Republicans and Democrats were divided on whether the U.S. government is spending “too much” or “too little” on the military, assistance to […]
New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday said he will pull out of the city’s Democratic primary and instead run for reelection as an independent, arguing that his recently dismissed federal bribery case had made it impossible to mount a primary campaign. In a video, Adams said he will not run in the Democratic primary in June because his criminal case “dragged on too long” while the “false accusations were held over me,” preventing him from campaigning. “I firmly believe that this city is better served by truly independent leadership, not leaders pulled at by the extremists at the far left or the far right, but instead those rooted in the common middle, the place where the vast majority of New Yorkers are firmly planted,” Adams said. The decision came after intense speculation over whether Adams would remain in the Democratic primary, which has attracted several serious opponents, including former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. A federal judge dismissed Adams’ corruption case on Wednesday, ending a legal saga that left the mayor severely damaged and raised questions about his political independence. The charges, brought last year during former President Joe Biden’s administration, accused Adams of accepting illegal campaign contributions and travel discounts from a Turkish official and others, in exchange for helping Turkey open a diplomatic building without passing fire inspections, among other things. The mayor pleaded not guilty and was set for a trial in April, but the case was upended after President Donald Trump’s Justice Department moved to drop the charges so Adams could assist with the president’s immigration agenda, while leaving open the possibility that the case could be revived. Adams, in his video announcement, maintained his innocence but acknowledged that the case had “shaken” voters and admitted that he put his trust in the wrong people. “I know that the accusations leveled against me may have shaken your confidence in me, and that you may rightly have questions about my conduct. And let me be clear, although the charges against me were false, I trusted people I should not have, and I regret that,” he said. (AP)
Lithuania’s political and religious leaders joined thousands of people on Thursday to bid farewell to four American soldiers who died during a training exercise in the Baltic nation. President Gitanas Nausėda and other dignitaries were among those who stood in respect as hearses carried the bodies of the four young Americans to Vilnius airport before being flown to the United States for burial. Many of the onlookers were in tears, and Nausėda said that the reaction of the population and the military to the disappearance of soldiers was rooted in Lithuania’s own difficult history. “For us, it is more than a duty, it is an emotion. We have experienced trials in our history and therefore we understand well what loss is, what death is, what honourable duty is,” Nausėda said in a speech to those gathered. Schoolchildren accompanied by teachers waved Lithuanian and U.S. flags to honor the soldiers, who died in an accident along NATO’s eastern flank, a region that is on edge due to Russia’s aggression in nearby Ukraine. Leading one group was Justin Boyd, the secondary school principal of the American International School in Vilnius, who said his group was there “to honor the fallen soldiers from the United States and to honor the relationship between Lithuania and America and the defensive pact that represents.” “It’s important for us to give dignity to the fallen and to let the families know that we are with them and we support them in this time,” Boyd said. The soldiers, part of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, were on a tactical training exercise when they and their vehicle went missing a week ago, the Army said. Lithuanian, Polish and U.S. soldiers and rescuers searched through the forests and swamps at the Gen. Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in the town of Pabradė, 6 miles (10 kilometers) west of the border with Belarus. The M88 Hercules armored vehicle was pulled from a peat bog Monday and the final body was recovered Tuesday. “I feel sorry for these young men,” said one mourner from the town of Pabradė as he watched the hearses make their way towards the airport. “I live nearby, and I know that swamp. Dangerous places for anyone who enters that area.” The U.S. Army has identified the soldiers as Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, of Battle Creek, Michigan; Staff Sgt. Jose Duenez Jr., 25, of Joliet, Illinois; Staff Sgt. Edvin F. Franco, 25, of Glendale, California; and Pfc. Dante D. Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam. About 3,500 soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team deployed in January to Poland and the Baltic states for a nine-month rotation as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which supports NATO allies and partners following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. (AP)
The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell modestly last week, remaining within the same range of recent years. Jobless claim filings fell by 6,000 to 219,000 for the week ending March 29, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s less than the 226,000 new applications analysts forecast. Weekly applications for jobless benefits are considered a proxy for layoffs, and have remained mostly in a range between 200,000 and 250,000 for the past few years. However, following the Trump administration’s announcement of widespread tariff hikes yesterday, economists are worried about a global economic slowdown that could upend what has been an incredibly resilient labor market. Like his pledge to institute tariffs, Trump’s promise to drastically downsize the federal government workforce is fully in motion. It’s not clear when the job cuts ordered by the Department of Government Efficiency, or “DOGE,” will surface in the weekly layoffs data, but some economists have suggested they could show up in the Labor Department’s March jobs report, which comes out Friday. The February jobs report showed that the federal government shed 10,000 jobs, the most since June of 2022. On Monday, some workers at the Food and Drug Administration were told to pack their laptops and prepare for the possibility that they wouldn’t be back, according to an email obtained by The Associated Press. The mass dismissals are expected to result in 20,000 fewer jobs — nearly a quarter of its staff — at the Department of Health and Human Services. About 10,000 jobs will be eliminated through layoffs, while another 10,000 workers took early retirement and voluntary separation offers. Other federal agencies that have either announced layoffs or are planning cuts include the IRS, Small Business Administration, Veterans Affairs and Department of Education. The layoffs are part of the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce through “DOGE,” spearheaded by billionaire Elon Musk. Despite showing some signs of weakening during the past year, the labor market remains healthy with plentiful jobs and relatively few layoffs. The government reported that U.S. employers added a solid 151,000 jobs in February, and while the unemployment rate inched up to 4.1%, it remains a healthy figure by historical standards. Analysts surveyed by data firm FactSet forecast that nonfarm payrolls in March will show an increase of 130,000 and that the unemployment rate will tick up to 4.2%. Some high-profile companies have announced job cuts already this year, including Workday, Dow, CNN, Starbucks, Southwest Airlines and Facebook parent company Meta. The four-week average of applications, which aims to smooth out some of the week-to-week swings, fell by 1,250 to 223,000. The total number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits for the week of March 22 increased by 56,000 to 1.9 million. That’s the most since November of 2021. (AP)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu landed in Hungary early Thursday morning for a four-day visit after receiving an invitation from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban a day after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against him. Hungarian Defense Minister Kristof Szalay-Bobrovniczky greeted Netanyahu and his wife at the airport with a full military honor guard. Shortly after Netanyahu arrived and minutes before he met with the Hungarian Prime Minister, Orban’s office issued a statement announcing Hungary’s withdrawal from the ICC. Orban had condemned the arrest warrant after it was issued, telling Hungarian media that the ICC decision was “fundamentally wrong” and an “outrageously brazen” political decision that would lead to “the discrediting of international law.” He also wrote Netanyahu a letter, saying he was shocked by the ICC’s shameful decision and extending an invitation to visit. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar responded to Hungary’s announcement by stating: “I commend Hungary’s important decision to withdraw from the ICC. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and I dealt with this matter extensively. The so-called ‘International Criminal Court’ lost its moral authority after trampling the fundamental principles of international law in its zest for harming Israel’s right to self-defense. Thank you, Prime Minister Viktor Orban and thank you, Hungary, for your clear and strong moral stance alongside Israel and the principles of justice and sovereignty.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Israel bombed two military airbases and other targets in Syria on Wednesday night following reports that Turkey is preparing to take over the T4 airfield in Syria, which would harm Israel’s freedom of operation in the country. The IDF spokesperson confirmed the attacks, stating: “In the past few hours, the IDF attacked remaining military capabilities at the Hama and T4 airbases in Syria, along with additional remaining military infrastructure in the Damascus area.” According to Syrian media outlets, the target in Damascus was the Barzeh scientific research center. Israeli security sources said on Thursday morning that the strikes were carried out to prevent Turkey from taking over the airbases and that the T-4 and Hamas airbases were completely destroyed in the strikes, including planes, control towers, radar systems, and runways. Weapon depots, fighter jets, and hangars at the Hama airport were also attacked. An Israeli source told i24NEWS: “The Israeli attacks in Syria is intended to convey a message to Turkey: ‘Do not establish a military presence in the country and do not interfere with Israeli activity in the country’s skies.'” Defense Minister Yisrael Katz issued a stern warning on Thursday morning to Syrian leader Abu Mohammad al-Joulani (Ahmed Al-Sharaa). “Israel will not allow Syria to become a threat to its communities and its security interests,” Katz said. “I warn the ruler of Syria, Joulani” Katz said, referring directly to the Syrian leader. “If you allow forces hostile to Israel to enter Syria and endanger Israeli security interests, you will pay a very heavy price. The Air Force’s activity yesterday against the T4 and Hama airports and the Damascus area is a clear message and a warning for the future – we will not allow Israel’s security to be harmed.” Overnight Wednesday, IDF forces operated in the Tasil area in southern Syria, confiscating weapons and destroying terror infrastructure. During the operations, armed terrorists fired towards the IDF forces in the area. The forces responded with fire and eliminated several armed terrorists. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Hamas has made a decision not to respond to Israel’s counterproposal for a ceasefire/hostage release deal, an official told Reuters on Wednesday. According to the official, the terror group is “committed” to the mediators’ plan instead. Israel had submitted a counterproposal last week to a new Egyptian proposal for a hostage release/ceasefire deal that would see Hamas releasing US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander along with four other hostages [not all alive] in exchange for a 50-day ceasefire and the start of negotiations on a long-term ceasefire; the opening of Gazan crossings to allow the entry of humanitarian aid; and the re-opening of the Netzarim Corridor. Israel would also release 2,000 Palestinians detained after the October 7 attack and 250 terrorists for each released hostage. Israel submitted a counterproposal insisting that 10 live hostages be released in accordance with the previous proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Turkey has significantly increased the flow of weapons and money into Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, Kan News reported on Wednesday morning. According to the report, Turkey has its eyes on several Syrian Air Force bases, some of which were supported by Iran in the past. The most prominent of these is the Tiyas (“T-4″) airfield in central Syria, which the IDF attacked last week. According to Middle Eastern media outlets, Turkey recently initiated efforts to take control of the T-4 airfield and is planning to deploy air defense systems there. According to sources familiar with the matter quoted by the Middle East Eye website, construction is currently taking place to transform the facility into a permanent Turkish military presence. “Turkey has begun moving to take control of the T4 air base, located near Palmyra in central Syria,” the sources said. “A Hisar-type air defense system will be deployed to T4 to provide air cover for the base.” “Once the system is in place, the base will be reconstructed and expanded with necessary facilities. Ankara also plans to deploy surveillance and armed drones, including those with extended strike capabilities.” The report added that another source claimed “the presence of Turkish air defense systems and drones would likely deter Israel from launching air strikes in the area.” According to the Kan report, Turkey is also eying additional bases in Syria, including the Palmyra airfield, the Deir ez-Zor airfield, and the Menagh Airbase in northern Syria. According to a report by the Syrian North Press Agency, Turkey has already begun building a base inside the Menagh Airbase. “Turkish forces have begun constructing a military base inside Menagh Military Airbase in northern Aleppo countryside, northwestern Syria in recent days,” the report stated, citing a source. “Turkish forces started transporting massive concrete slabs and logistical materials using large transport vehicles into Menagh Military Airbase, approximately six kilometers south of Azaz, to establish an air defense center.” Turkey wants to turn the airbase “into a fully operational air defense base, including the restoration of helicopter landing pads, as part of efforts to strengthen its military presence in northern Syria.” The report added that there are claims that Turkey is also building a base in northwestern Syria near the town of Manbij. Israel is very concerned about Turkey’s increased presence in Syria, which at its worst is a direct threat to Israel, and at its best, is a hindrance to the IDF’s freedom of operation in the unstable country. A senior IDF official told The War Zone (TWZ): “The establishment of a Turkish Air Force base in Palmyra, Syria could heighten regional tensions and increase the risk of conflict with Israel. Given Israel’s ongoing efforts to prevent hostile military entrenchment in Syria, any significant Turkish military presence, especially in strategic locations like Palmyra, could be perceived as a threat to Israeli security interests.” “Recently, Israel has conducted airstrikes against military infrastructure in the region, including the T-4 airbase near Palmyra,” he added. “While there have been no direct confrontations between Israeli and Turkish forces so far, the situation remains sensitive and requires close monitoring.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly warned Israel about intervening in Syria. “Those seeking to benefit from Syria’s instability will not succeed,” Erdogan said last month. “We will […]
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that Israeli forces are establishing a new security corridor in southern Gaza, aiming to isolate the city of Rafah from the rest of the Strip and increase pressure on Hamas to release remaining hostages. In a video statement, Netanyahu said the IDF is securing the “Morag Corridor” — named after a former Israeli settlement — between Rafah and Khan Younis. He described the effort as creating a “second Philadelphi” route, echoing the corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border. Netanyahu has prioritized Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor in ongoing ceasefire talks, although Israel previously agreed to vacate the area by the 50th day of the January hostage deal. The IDF has also reinforced control over the “Netzarim Corridor,” which divides northern Gaza, including Gaza City, from the rest of the territory. Both corridors stretch from Israel’s border to the Mediterranean Sea and are central to Israel’s broader campaign to pressure Hamas into agreeing to a ceasefire and hostage deal. “We are now cutting off the Strip and increasing the pressure… until they give us our hostages,” Netanyahu declared. The IDF has deployed a third division to Gaza, intensifying its offensive with over 50 airstrikes overnight and dozens more throughout the day. The military says the strikes targeted Hamas infrastructure, including a command center in a UN clinic in Jabalia. Palestinian sources reported over 40 deaths, including 19 at the clinic, though those numbers remain unverified. Following rocket fire from northern Gaza on Wednesday — intercepted near Sderot with no casualties — the IDF issued evacuation orders for Beit Hanoun and Jabalia, warning of imminent strikes. Similar warnings were issued for Rafah and the area north to Khan Younis, where Israeli troops have not yet operated extensively. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar visited troops in Rafah’s Tel Sultan neighborhood, both reaffirming that the offensive would continue until the release of the 59 remaining hostages, including at least 35 confirmed dead. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
With the sweet sounds of soaring niggunim, renowned baal menagen and beloved marbitz Torah Rabbi Baruch Levine recently concluded a spiritually uplifting musical journey through Europe that touched the hearts of hundreds of bnei aliyah. Aptly named “Kumzitz Alive,” the tour was a moving tapestry of achdus, chizuk, and the enduring power of heartfelt Yiddishe song. The tour visited three prominent Torah hubs—Zurich, Switzerland; Manchester, UK; and Gateshead, UK—each city home to vibrant kehillos and bnei Torah from around the globe. With bochurim returning from Eretz Yisroel for their well-earned bein hazmanim break, the timing could not have been more perfect. Wherever Rabbi Levine went, the scene was the same: packed rooms, shining eyes, and a sea of voices lifted in unison, singing from the depths of their neshamos. Rabbi Levine, whose heart beats with a deep love for lomdei Torah, was effusive in his praise for the bochurim. “These bochurim,” he remarked, “are the pride of Klal Yisrael—steeped in Torah, shielded from the tumult of the outside world, and filled with sincere ratzon to grow.” He spoke of the inspiration he received from them just as much as he sought to give, emphasizing the hashpa’ah of seeing Torah flourish in different corners of the globe. “In each place,” Rabbi Levine shared, “the ta’am was different, but the Torah was the same—the mesorah, the avodas Hashem, the emunah… it’s all one.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The sweeping new tariffs announced Wednesday by U.S. President Donald Trump were met initially with measured reactions from key trading partners, highlighting the lack of appetite for a full-fledged trade war. Trump presented the import taxes, which he calls “reciprocal tariffs” and range from 10% to 49%, in the simplest terms: the U.S. would do to its trading partners what he said they had been doing to the U.S. for decades. “Taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years,” he said. “But it is not going to happen anymore.” The president promised that “Jobs and factories will come roaring back into our country.” He framed it not just as an economic issue, but a question of national security that threatens “our very way of life.” ‘Nobody wants a trade war’ Shortly after Trump’s announcement, the British government said the United States remains the U.K.’s “closest ally.” Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the U.K. hoped to strike a trade deal to “mitigate the impact” of the 10% tariffs on British goods announced by Trump. “Nobody wants a trade war and our intention remains to secure a deal,” said Reynolds. “But nothing is off the table and the government will do everything necessary to defend the U.K.’s national interest.” Italy’s conservative Premier Giorgia Meloni described the new 20% tariffs against the European Union as “wrong,” saying they benefit neither side. “We will do everything we can to work towards an agreement with the United States, with the aim of avoiding a trade war that would inevitably weaken the West in favor of other global players,” Meloni said in a Facebook post. Brazil’s government said it was considering taking the case to the World Trade Organization. And later, in a rare display of unity, Brazil’s Congress unanimously passed a reciprocity bill to allow its government to retaliate against any country or trade bloc that imposes tariffs on Brazilian goods. ‘No basis in logic’ Some countries took issue with the White House’s calculations. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the U.S. tariffs imposed on his country were totally unwarranted, but Australia will not retaliate. “President Trump referred to reciprocal tariffs. A reciprocal tariff would be zero, not 10%,” said Albanese. The U.S. and Australia have a free trade agreement and the U.S. has a $2-to-$1 trade surplus with Australia. “This is not the act of a friend.” Trump said the United States bought $3 billion of Australian beef last year, but Australia would not accept U.S. beef imports. Albanese said the ban on raw U.S. beef was for biosecurity reasons. The 29% tariff imposed on the tiny South Pacific outpost of Norfolk Island came as a shock. The Australian territory has a population of around 2,000 people and the economy revolves around tourism. “To my knowledge, we do not export anything to the United States,” Norfolk Island Administrator George Plant, the Australian government’s representative on the island, told the AP Thursday. “We don’t charge tariffs on anything. I can’t think of any non-tariff barriers that would be in place either, so we’re scratching our heads here.” New Zealand also took issue with Trump’s tariff logic. “We don’t have a 20% tariff rate,” said trade minister Todd McClay, adding that New Zealand was “a very low tariff regime” and the correct figure was below the 10% baseline rate applied […]
Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beytenu party and longtime antagonist of lomdei torah, has openly called on police to prosecute the gedolim for allegedly “encouraging draft evasion.” His accusations, laced with contempt, were directed at none other than the Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka and leader of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, Hagaon HaRav Dov Landau shlit”a, as well as the former Rishon LeTzion, Harav Yitzchak Yosef shlit”a. Lieberman, no stranger to anti-chareidi rhetoric, claimed that Rav Landau had “ordered bochurim not to report to recruitment offices,” and that Rav Yosef had made remarks about discarding draft notices. In a social media post, he expressed outrage over the continued refusal of yeshiva bochurim to join the IDF, and demanded that law enforcement prosecute those who “incite” others to reject the draft during wartime, a move which he says is punishable by 15 years imprisonment. Knesset member Yaakov Asher (UTJ) responded sharply, mocking Lieberman’s Soviet roots. “If the Israel Police are having difficulty, perhaps the KGB could lend a hand,” he quipped. Other chareidi representatives remained silent, with one insider telling the press, “We refuse to fan the flames of Lieberman’s sinas haTorah.” Just days ago, Rav Landau issued a clear psak on the front page of Yated Neeman, reaffirming the Torah world’s stance: no yeshiva bochur should cooperate with the army. Bochurim were instructed not to speak with IDF representatives, not to respond to summons, and to contact the Vaad HaYeshivos or the newly established “Lema’ancha” hotline for guidance. Those deemed “deserters” were told to avoid contact with authorities at all costs. This was not Rav Landau’s first public stand. In a speech reported in Kikar HaShabbat, the Rosh Yeshiva made it clear that Torah learning is the true protection of Klal Yisrael and criticized modern distortions of Torah hashkafah, which he said had led to spiritual and even physical casualties. Meanwhile, Rav Yitzchak Yosef has previously warned that if the government removes draft exemptions for lomdei Torah, the chareidi tzibbur may be forced to leave Eretz Yisrael en masse. “If you force us into the army, we’ll go to chutz la’aretz,” he said at the time. According to newly released IDF statistics, of the 10,000 draft notices sent to chareidim since last summer, only 205 have responded by enlisting—just over 2%. Over 1,000 arrest warrants have been issued for noncompliance, but military police have yet to enforce them. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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A classified intelligence briefing on the situation in Gaza was presented to the members of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday. A senior IDF intelligence official said in the briefing that Israel is continuing efforts to reach a hostage release deal while simultaneously carrying out intense military activity in order to exert pressure on Hamas and bring about the release of additional hostages. The senior official noted that “the military actions are what led to the two previous hostage release deals.” Regarding Iran, intelligence officials told committee members, “There is great vigilance in Iran in light of the increase of US forces in the Persian Gulf, and there is significant concern in the country about the implications of the move.” At the same time, it was reported that the United States is working to form a broad coalition that will oppose Iran. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
As construction crews churned up dirt to renovate a Vienna soccer field last October, they happened upon an unprecedented find: A heap of intertwined skeletal remains in a mass grave dating to the 1st-century Roman Empire, likely the bodies of warriors in a battle involving Germanic tribes. On Wednesday, after archaeological analysis, experts at the Vienna Museum gave a first public presentation of the grave — linked to “a catastrophic event in a military context” and evidence of the first known fighting ever in that region. The bodies of 129 people have been confirmed at the site in the Vienna neighborhood of Simmering. The excavation teams also found many dislocated bones and believe the total number of victims tops 150 — a discovery never seen before in Central Europe. “Within the context of Roman acts of war, there are no comparable finds of fighters,” said Michaela Binder, who led the archaeological dig. “There are huge battlefields in Germany where weapons were found. But finding the dead, that is unique for the entire Roman history.” Soldiers in the Roman Empire were typically cremated until the 3rd century. The pit where the bodies were deposited suggests a hasty or disorganized dumping of corpses. Every skeleton examined showed signs of injury — to the head, torso and pelvis in particular. “They have various different battle wounds, which rules out execution. It is truly a battlefield,” said Kristina Adler-Wölfl, head of Vienna city archaeological department. “There are wounds from swords, lances; wounds from blunt trauma.” The victims were all male. Most were aged 20 to 30 years old and generally showed signs of good dental health. Carbon-14 analysis helped date the bones to between 80 and 130 A.D. That was cross-checked against known history of relics found in the grave – armor, helmet cheek protectors, the nails used in distinctive Roman military shoes known as caligae. The most indicative clue came from a rusty dagger of a type in use specifically between the middle of the 1st century and the start of the second. The research continues: Only one victim has been confirmed as a Roman warrior. Archaeologists hope DNA and strontium isotope analysis will help further identify the fighters, and whose side they were on. “The most likely theory at the moment is that this is connected to the Danube campaigns of Emperor Domitian — that’s 86 to 96 A.D.,” Adler-Wölfl said. City archaeologists said the discovery also reveals the early signs of the founding of a settlement that would become the Austrian capital of today. (AP)
There has been a deterioration in the health condition of HaGaon Rav Yehuda Ades, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Kol Yaakov, and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah. The Rosh Yeshiva was rushed on Wednesday morning to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem due to a worsening of his condition stemming from pneumonia. The Tzibur is requested to say Tehillim for Yehuda ben Chaya Esther. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Secretary Scott Bessent: “We’re setting the stage for long-term economic growth. We were on our way to a financial crisis… With that gigantic government spending, it was unsustainable… We have taken us off that trajectory and we’re putting ourselves back on a sound trajectory.”
