A major incident unfolded Tuesday morning in Kiryas Joel, as a construction crane collapsed at the intersection of Acres Road and Bakertown Road, landing directly on top of a 15-passenger van. In what can only be described as a miracle, no injuries were reported despite the severity of the collapse. Emergency personnel from Kiryas Joel Hatzolah, the Kiryas Joel Fire Department, KJ Public Safety, and the New York State Police rushed to the scene to assess the situation and secure the area. Officials are investigating the cause of the crane failure. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Trump says Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon are next to have their shows canceled: “These people with absolutely NO TALENT, destroying what used to be GREAT television. It’s really good to see them go.”
President of the Philippines: “Our strongest, closest, most reliable ally has always been the United States. And that is something that we value, that we are grateful for, that we will continue to foster as we go on.”
President Trump on Fed Chair Jerome Powell: “I call him ‘Too Late.’ He’s too late all the time — he should’ve lowered interest rates many times … It’s causing a problem for people that want to buy a home.”
Speaker Mike Johnson: “We’re laying the foundation for what will make our country safer, stronger, and more prosperous than ever before. The American people gave President Trump a clear mandate to enact his America First agenda, and Republicans answered the call.”
Florida Gov. DeSantis slams complaints from illegals at Alligator Alcatraz: “They’re mad about untoasted ham sandwiches? Give me a break!” Says inmates get same meals as staff. “Everyone’s treated the same!
Coca-Cola said Tuesday it will add a cane-sugar version of its trademark cola to its U.S. lineup this fall, confirming a recent announcement by President Donald Trump. Trump said in a social media post last week that Coca-Cola had agreed to use real cane sugar in its flagship product in the U.S., which has been sweetened with high fructose corn syrup since the 1980s. Coke didn’t immediately confirm the change, but promised new offerings soon. On Tuesday, Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey said Coke will expand its product range “to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences.” “We appreciate the president’s enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand,” Quincey said in a conference call with investors Tuesday. “We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options.” Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other U.S. drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. Coke has also sold Mexican Coke, which is made with cane sugar, in the U.S. since 2005. “We’re always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there’s an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving,” Quincey said. “It’s a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things.” Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the U.S. since 2009. Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its trademark cola — as PepsiCo did this week — Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fiber in Japan and is studying consumer response to it. Quincey said consumer demand for its products improved in the second quarter in many markets, including China, Europe, Africa and North America. “I would I would say overall that the global economy and the global consumer remains resilient,” Quincey said. But early monsoons and conflict hurt demand in India, and Quincey said demand in Thailand and Indonesia was also weaker than expected. Quincey also said lower-income consumers in the U.S. and elsewhere have also pulled back on spending. Global case volumes of Coca-Cola fell 1%. Juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4%, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3%, as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America. One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which saw case volumes grow 14%. Traditional Coca-Cola still far outsells the zero-sugar variety, but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly. In North America, case volumes fell 1%, but that was an improvement from the first quarter, when they were down 3%. Quincey said Hispanic sales in the U.S. returned to normal levels by the end of June. They had plummeted starting in February, when a social media video began circulating that claimed Coke was reporting its own workers to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. Quincey said the claim was false. The company has been trying to win back Hispanic consumers with targeted deals and ads touting the company’s local economic impact. “It was still a headwind in the second quarter but the issue is now largely resolved,” Quincey said Tuesday. Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset the weaker volumes. Coke said pricing rose 6% globally. Revenue for the Atlanta company rose 1% to […]
President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law will add $3.4 trillion to federal deficits through 2034, the Congressional Budget Office reported Monday, a slight increase in the projection that takes into account the final tweaks that Republicans made before getting the legislation over the finish line. More than 10 million people will be uninsured under the law in 2034 because of the law, CBO found, an improvement from an earlier projection that found 11.8 million people losing coverage over the decade. The release of the CBO analysis Monday comes at the end of a grueling legislative fight, but at the start of a longer political struggle to come as the two parties clash over the law’s impact on the economy, healthcare and government programs. Republicans are touting the bill as a tax cut for all Americans, yet a recent AP-NORC poll found about two-thirds of U.S. adults expect the new tax law will help the rich as Democrats attack the legislation. The bill Trump signed into law on July 4 extended current tax rates for individuals that were set to expire at the end of this year and temporarily created new tax deductions for tips, overtime and auto interest loans for new vehicles assembled in the U.S. Republicans also used the bill to cut future spending on Medicaid and food assistance, and to phase out certain clean energy tax credits more quickly. Democrats were quick to highlight the CBO’s findings. “Today’s report reminds us of something: facts are stubborn and the facts are clear,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. ”The big, ugly betrayal is a loser for the country and will be a loser for the Republicans.” Republicans say the bill was critical to ensure most Americans didn’t experience a significant tax increase next year. Trump and Republicans have also insisted that economic growth will exceed the CBO’s projections for the next decade, erasing the projected deficits as more revenue comes into the Treasury than anticipated. Nonpartisan fiscal watchdogs also highlighted the CBO’s latest projection. Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, said there will be a shorter-term “sugar high” as stimulus makes its way through the economy. But modelers from across the ideological spectrum agree that any sustained economic changes are likely to be modestly beneficial, or negative. “And not one serious estimate claims this bill will improve our fiscal situation,” MacGuineas said. “Rather, positive growth effects are likely to be swamped by the effects of higher debt and interest rates.” The CBO said more than $1 trillion in deficit savings is generated through the health portions of the bill, which includes new work requirements for certain Medicaid beneficiaries in states that expanded the program through the Affordable Care Act. Some late changes on Medicaid were made to the bill to win over holdouts. One of those changes added a $50 billion fund for rural hospitals. (AP)
The United States announced Tuesday it will again pull out of the U.N.’s educational, scientific and cultural agency because it believes that its involvement is not in the country’s national interest, and that the agency promotes anti-Israel speech. This decision comes only two years after the United States rejoined UNESCO after leaving in 2018, during U.S. President Donald Trump’s first administration. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the withdrawal was linked to UNESCO’s perceived agenda to “advance divisive social and cultural causes.” She added in a statement that UNESCO’s decision “to admit the ‘State of Palestine’ as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.” The decision, first reported by the New York Post, will take effect at the end of December 2026. This will be the third time that the United States has left UNESCO, which is based in Paris, and the second time during a Trump administration. It last rejoined the agency in 2023, under the Biden administration. UNESCO’s Director General Audrey Azoulay said she “deeply” regrets the U.S. decision but insisted that it was expected, and that the agency “has prepared for it.” She also denied accusations of anti-Israel bias. “These claims … contradict the reality of UNESCO’s efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism,” she said. The Trump administration in 2017 announced that the U.S. would withdraw from UNESCO, citing anti-Israel bias. That decision took effect a year later. The U.S. and Israel stopped financing UNESCO after it voted to include Palestine as a member state in 2011. “The reasons put forward by the United States of America are the same as seven years ago, even though the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism,” Azoulay added. The decision came as no surprise to UNESCO officials, who had anticipated such a move following the specific review ordered by the Trump administration earlier this year. They also expected that Trump would pull out again since the return of the US in 2023 had been promoted by a political rival, former President Joe Biden. The U.S withdrawal is likely to affect UNESCO because the U.S. provides a notable share of the agency’s budget. But the organization should be able to cope. UNESCO has diversified its funding sources in recent years and the US contribution has decreased, representing only 8% of the agency’s total budget. Azoulay pledged that UNESCO will carry out its missions despite “inevitably reduced resources.” The agency is not considering any staff layoffs at this stage. “UNESCO’s purpose is to welcome all the nations of the world, and the United States of America is and always will be welcome,” she said. “We will continue to work hand in hand with all our American partners in the private sector, academia and non-profit organizations, and will pursue our political dialogue with the U.S. administration and Congress.” The United States previously pulled out of UNESCO under the Reagan administration in 1984 because it viewed the agency as mismanaged, corrupt and used to advance the interests of the Soviet Union. It rejoined in 2003 during George W. Bush’s presidency. (AP)
Three young Chareidim who were arrested during a protest against the chillul kevarim at an ancient beis kevaros in Yehud were transferred to the military police, it was reported on Tuesday. After their arrest, the police entered their names and ID cards into the police terminal and discovered that they are eligible for conscription. It was decided to transfer them to the military police in accordance with the Attorney General’s decision that any “draft dodger” caught by the police is automatically transferred to the military police. B’Chadrei Chareidim has learned that one of those arrested was the grandson of the Mishkenos HaRo’im Rebbe. Following the arrests, Peleg Yerushalmi announced that they are launching a huge protest. Attorneys Shlomo Haddad and Itai Cohen, who are representing the three Chareidim, stated, “Today, three young Chareidi men were arrested who participated in the protest in Yehud against chillul kevarim. The detainees were brought to the police station and interrogated, and after a review, it was decided to release them. However, during the review at the station, it became clear that the three are registered as wanted for military service. Following an inquiry conducted by the police with the IDF, an order was received to arrest them for draft evasion.” “This is a very unusual step. It seems that in the circumstances, this is an unusual action that raises questions, especially against the background of the nature of the protest and the public sensitivity surrounding the issues of the kevarim and of Chareidi recruitment to the IDF,” the attorneys added. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Israeli Finance Minister and Security Cabinet member Bezalel Smotrich is calling on Prime Minister Netanyahu to give Hamas a 24-hour ultimatum, warning that if they reject the terms, Israel will end all consideration of a partial agreement.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO: “President Trump has been very clear, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon — and since we obliterated their nuclear program, I think it is time for Iran to come to the table and negotiate with the United States of America on a path towards peace and prosperity…”
Authorities are looking into whether grenades recovered from a Santa Monica apartment complex were the cause of an explosion last week at a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department training facility that killed three members of its arson and explosives unit. The three members had assisted local police following the discovery on Thursday of grenades at an apartment complex in Santa Monica. Meanwhile, as detectives chase leads into the origins of the grenades following the deadly blast at the Biscailuz Training Facility, investigators served a search warrant Monday morning at an address in the Marina del Rey neighborhood. The department didn’t say what, if anything, was found. It was not known whether the grenades had any connection to the military. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Nicole Nishida said investigators were looking at all leads. The deaths early Friday marked the department’s worst loss of life in a single incident since 1857, when four officers were killed by gunfire, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. The department identified the deputies who died as Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus and Detective William Osborn. They served 19, 22 and 33 years in the department respectively, Luna said. Luna said Friday that it took more than four hours to render the scene safe and the deaths were being investigated by the department’s homicide detectives, with the assistance of the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. No one else was injured, he said. The sheriff said the arson and explosives team undergoes in-depth training and responds to more than 1,000 calls a year. (AP)
A group of pro terrorist Greek protesters blocked the disembarkation of an Israeli cruise ship on the island of Syros, chanting, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
