The US Air Force has recognized the valor of its pilots, aircrews, and support personnel for their critical role in thwarting a large-scale Iranian-led rocket and drone assault on Israel earlier this year. The attacks, which occurred on April 13-14, marked one of the largest air-to-air enemy engagements in over 50 years. The ceremony, held last week at Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath station, celebrated the achievements of the 494th Fighter Squadron and the 494th Fighter Generation Squadron. Air Force personnel were lauded for intercepting and neutralizing hundreds of rockets and drones launched from Iran and Houthi-controlled regions of Yemen. Their efforts helped protect Israel during the coordinated strike. F-15E fighter jets, deployed from the UK-based RAF Lakenheath to the US Central Command’s operational region, played a crucial role. Over the course of the night, the jets conducted 154 sorties, engaging enemy threats in a high-stakes defense mission. President Joe Biden personally praised the Air Force personnel in a phone call during the event, underscoring their extraordinary contributions. The ceremony saw several notable awards, including two Silver Stars—the US Air Force’s third-highest honor for valor. Maj. Benjamin Coffey and Capt. Lacie Hester received the prestigious awards for their actions during the mission. Capt. Hester made history as the first woman in the Air Force to receive a Silver Star, and only the 10th woman in the Department of Defense to achieve the honor. The mission faced intense challenges, including severe aircraft emergencies and falling debris caused by hostile fire. Coffey and Hester engaged enemy drones at low altitude in complete darkness, using their F-15E’s air-to-air gatling gun after exhausting their missile supply. “We all fell into an execution rhythm: call, shoot, and confirm the target was destroyed before we moved on to the next task we had to accomplish to keep everyone safe,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Causey, the 494th Fighter Squadron commander. In total, US forces eliminated more than 80 drones from Iran or Yemen during the operation. The attack, in retaliation for the killing of two Iranian generals in a Damascus strike attributed to Israel, involved over 300 rockets and drones. Israeli air defenses, working in conjunction with US-led coalition forces, managed to intercept most of the threats. While damage in Israel was minimal, some injuries were reported, including a young Bedouin girl who was critically injured by falling shrapnel. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
About one in five Americans – and a virtually identical share of Republicans and Democrats – regularly get their news from digital influencers who are more likely to be found on the social media platform X, according to a report released Monday by the Pew Research Center. The findings, drawn from a survey of more than 10,000 U.S. adults and an analysis of social media posts posted this summer by influencers, provide an indication of how Americans consumed the news during the height of the U.S. presidential campaign that President-elect Donald Trump ultimately won. The study examined accounts run by people who post and talk regularly about current events – including through podcasts and newsletters – and have more than 100,000 followers on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X or TikTok. They include people across the political spectrum, such as the progressive podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen and conservative podcaster Ben Shapiro, as well as non-partisan personalities like Chris Cillizza, a former CNN analyst who now runs his own newsletter. The report found that news influencers posted mostly about politics and the election, followed by social issues like race and abortion and international events, such as the Israel-Hamas war. Most of them – 63% – are men and the majority – 77% – have no affiliation, or background, with a media organization. Pew said about half of the influencers it sampled did not express a clear political orientation. From the ones that did, slightly more of them identified as conservative than as liberal. During the campaign, both parties and presidential campaigns had courted influencers, including creators who weren’t very political, to compete for voters who are increasingly getting most of their news from non-traditional sources. The Republican and Democratic national conventions had credentialed influencers to cover their events this past summer. Vice President Kamala Harris sat down with a podcast and talked a little Bay Area basketball with the fellows on “All the Smoke.” Meanwhile, Trump hung out with the bros on the “Bussin’ With the Boys,” “Flagrant” and the popular podcaster Joe Rogan as part of a series of appearances targeting young male voters. “These influencers have really reached new levels of attention and prominence this year amid the presidential election,” Galen Stocking, senior computational social scientist at Pew Research Center, said in a statement. “We thought it was really important to look at who is behind some of the most popular accounts – the ones that aren’t news organizations, but actual people.” Even though 85% of news influencers have a presence on X, many of them also have homes on other social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. Racial minorities, young adults and adults with a lower income were more likely to get their news from news influencers, according to the report. Most of the people surveyed by Pew said news influencers have helped them better understand current events, while roughly a quarter say what they hear has not made much of a difference. A small share — 9% — say influencers have confused them more. Media analysts have long been concerned about how influencers – most of whom don’t have to abide by editorial standards – could fuel misinformation, or even be used by America’s adversaries to churn out content that fits their interests. On social […]
A man carried out a string of stabbings across a swath of Manhattan on Monday morning, killing two people and critically wounding a third without uttering a word to his victims, officials said. The 51-year-old suspect was in police custody after being found with blood on his clothes and the two kitchen knives he was carrying, authorities said. The suspect’s and victims’ names weren’t immediately released. “Three New Yorkers. Unprovoked attacks that left us searching for answers on how something like this could happen,” Mayor Eric Adams said at a news conference. He called the violence “a clear, clear example” of failures in the criminal justice system and elsewhere. The suspect, apparently homeless, had been sentenced in a criminal case a few months ago, the Democratic mayor said, without giving further details. Investigators were working to understand what propelled the rampage, which happened within 2 1/2 hours. “No words exchanged. No property taken. Just attacked, viciously,” said Joseph Kenny, the New York Police Department’s chief of detectives. The first stabbing, on West 19th Street, killed a 26-year-old construction worker who was standing by his work site near the Hudson River a little before 8:30 a.m. About two hours later and across the island of Manhattan, a 68-year-old man was attacked while fishing in the East River near East 30th Street. Both men died, Kenny said. The suspect then apparently traveled north near the riverfront. Around 10:55 a.m., a 36-year-old woman was stabbed multiple times near the United Nations headquarters on East 42nd Street, Kenny said. She is hospitalized in critical condition. A passing cabdriver saw the third attack and alerted police on nearby First Avenue and East 46th Street, officials said. An officer soon apprehended the suspect. (AP)
Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman shamelessly besmirched Gedolei Yisrael and tried to incite anger against the Chareidi sector on Monday. Lapid spoke at a meeting of the Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beiteinu parties, saying: “The Israeli government is always trying to scare us and warn us about a civil rebellion. There is already a civil rebellion in Israel. When the Yated Ne’eman calls on the Chareidim to refuse to comply with recruitment orders – that is civil rebellion. When the demonstrators in Bnei Brak and Jerusalem shout ‘We would rather die than enlist,’ while IDF soldiers are dying every day, that is civil rebellion. When HaRav Hirsch says, ‘It is a mitzvah to be a draft dodger,’ that is civil rebellion.” Lapid continued: “Section 109 of the Penal Code states: ‘Whoever incites or persuades a person obligated to serve in the armed forces not to serve or not to appear for military action, shall be punished with five years in prison. Whoever incites or persuades a person serving in the armed forces to desert from military service or from military action, or assists him in desertion, shall be punished with seven years in prison.” ‘There is no other name for what is happening now except civil rebellion…the only civil rebellion currently occurring in Israel is under the auspices of the government. Civil disobedience against the IDF and its soldiers, against the law, against the authority of the state. The Israeli government, instead of stopping this, encourages it. It encourages evasion, refusal, and civil disobedience…this is not a full right-wing government, this is the government of evasion. This is the government of deserters. This is the government of those fleeing from battle,” he claimed. “The 7,000 orders that began to be issued yesterday are just the beginning. Every Chareidi young man of conscription age should receive an order just like our children. Those who don’t show up to the enlistment centers will not receive a license, will not receive a passport, will not receive a single dollar from the state budget. It is time for the state to act like a state. It is time for the civil rebellion to stop.” Lieberman, of course, joyfully joined in the incitement, telling the press at the meeting that “being a draft dodger is not a mitzvah, it’s a chillul Hashem.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Multiple sirens sounded across central Israel at about 9:00 p.m. on Monday after Hezbollah fired one rocket. Rocket shrapnel fell in Ramat Gan, near Bnei Brak, injuring five people, one seriously, one moderately and three lightly. They were treated at the scene and evacuated to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah. The IDF said that the rocket was intercepted but falls were identified, apparently from interceptor missiles. Hezbollah was targeting the four-floor IDF Nimrodi building in central Israel. The shrapnel struck a high-voltage power line in a commercial area, kindling a fire and damaging an empty (b’Chasdei Hashem!) bus. MDA paramedic Yaakov Lubinski said: “We arrived at the scene with large forces and saw much commotion and extensive destruction. A 54-year-old woman was fully conscious and lying on the road and suffering from shrapnel injuries to her lower limbs. We provided her with life-saving medical treatment that included stopping the bleeding and quickly transported her to the hospital in serious but stable condition. Several people at the scene were suffering from shock and were being treated by MDA teams.” The Israel Electric Company said that interceptor shrapnel hit a high-voltage line in the Bnei Brak-Ramat Gan area, causing power outages in the area. Air traffic activity was temporarily halted at Ben-Gurion Airport during the attack. Ynet reported that an El Al flight from Paris was forced to circle over the Dead Sea before receiving clearance to land. The videos below show the fire at the impact site: Earlier on Monday evening, an Israeli-Arab female teacher in her 50s was killed in a Hezbollah rocket strike in the northern Israeli-Arab town of Shfar’am. Dozens of others were injured in the strike, some seriously. “Unfortunately, a woman was killed as a result of a direct hit on a residential building,” said Rami Suwaed, a United Hatzalah paramedic. “We also assisted over 20 residents with various injuries, some of whom were evacuated by ambulance.” About 30 injured victims were evacuated to Rambam Hospital in Haifa, including a 41-year-old woman and a 4-year-old boy who were admitted to the trauma unit in serious condition. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Attorney Amit Aisman made a rare appearance in the Knesset on Monday and several MKs and bereaved parents utilized the opportunity to tell the Attorney-General exactly what they think of her and demand she resign. Baharav-Miara only appeared in the Knesset after Simcha Rothman, the chairman of the Knesset Constitution Committee, demanded that she does so, as mandated by law. The government has been trying to advance measures against the soaring crime and murder rate in the Arab-Israeli sector but Baharav-Miara refuses to support the government, thwarting it from passing a bill to allow the use of spyware against organized crime unless it uses it against white-collar crimes as well [which would face separate legal issues]. Apparently, saving lives, including those of children, is not a priority for her. Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman said: “I demanded that the Attorney-General appear as required by law, after three months during which her responses to the committee’s requests for information were ignored. The Attorney-General simply chooses to disregard the law time and again, refusing to appear before the committee and present the data as requested. This is at a time when crime in Arab society is escalating and people are being killed. The Attorney-General is simply violating the law and not providing accountability to the Knesset and the public as is mandated.” Likud MK Moshe Saada also slammed Baharav-Miara, saying: “There is no enforcement of the law. There is a sense that there is no justice. You and Amit Aisman normalize incitement against the prime minister. Words kill. You allow threats against the prime minister of Israel. It’s clear to you that during your watch there will be acts. The entire public will pay for your actions. I hear from the prosecution, as someone who comes from there, that there is no trust in the prosecutors, neither in you Aisman nor in you Gali.” “Gali, if you have any integrity left toward the public – hand over your keys and resign. If you don’t do this, I expect the government to act tomorrow to remove you.” At the beginning of the Knesset meeting, representatives of the families of the hostages and fallen soldiers spoke. Galia Cohen, whose daughter Hadar, H’yd, was murdered on October 7 at the Nova music festival, cried out in pain as she addressed Baharav-Miara and Aisman: “How can you put the welfare of our enemies over the welfare of our soldiers? We are fighting monsters. Where are your Jewish neshamot? They all have blood on their hands, there are no innocent civilians. We need to think only about ourselves and let the world and the international courts scream.” “You are binding our children’s hands and preventing them from fighting. Whoever doesn’t allow soldiers to shoot in times of danger has the blood of the fallen soldiers on their hands. I am in mourning, but the blood of my daughter’s blood is screaming ‘Ima, don’t stop.'” “What is with the Nukhba terrorists’ mattresses and fruits? [This was a reference to a hearing the Supreme Court hearing regarding the Nukbah terrorists’ prison conditions.] How is it that they are still alive and our children are in the ground? Do what needs to be done and don’t engage in all sorts of legal debates. It’s time […]
Steve Bannon ‘s border wall fundraising trial was postponed to February as prosecutors disclosed Monday that the former Trump White House strategist himself once suggested the nonprofit venture was “a scam.” Bannon — who recently finished serving federal prison time for a contempt of Congress conviction — had been due to go on trial next month on state charges related to the defunct “We Build The Wall” campaign. He has pleaded not guilty. Launched in 2018, the fundraiser rapidly raised more than $20 million and privately built a few miles (kilometers) of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border. But it soon ran into trouble with the International Boundary and Water Commission, came under federal investigation and drew criticism from then-President Donald Trump, the Republican whose policy the charity was founded to support. Early on in the campaign, Bannon pooh-poohed it, prosecutors said at a court hearing Monday. “Isn’t this a scam? You can’t build the wall for this much money,” Bannon wrote in an email, according to prosecutor Jeffrey Levinson. He said Bannon went on to chastise the effort’s organizers for soliciting people’s hard-earned money to pursue what he saw as an implausible plan. Yet Bannon changed his mind and got involved with WeBuildTheWall Inc. because he saw an opportunity to advance and make money for his own, separate not-for-profit group, Levinson said. Bannon, who had served as Trump’s 2016 campaign CEO and White House adviser, chaired the wall charity’s advisory board. Bannon was not in court for Monday’s hearing but listened in virtually. He did not speak except to say, “yes, ma’am” when asked whether he understood he must be in court when jury selection starts Feb. 25. Prosecutors asked Monday for an anonymous jury, but no decision has been made. Bannon, who turns 71 next week, faces state charges including conspiracy and money laundering and has called them “nonsense.” Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, brought the charges after Trump pardoned Bannon in a similar federal prosecution that was in its early stages. Until Monday, jury selection was due to start Dec. 9. The case revolves around money paid to Brian Kolfage, a disabled military veteran who launched the campaign. He promised the public that he would not “take a penny of compensation” from the money poured in from 325,000 donors. But, as Kolfage eventually admitted in a federal case that sent him to prison, he pocketed hundreds of thousands of dollars. About $140,000 of his secret salary was funneled through Bannon’s own organization, Citizens of the American Republic, or COAR, prosecutors say. And COAR got and kept hundreds of thousands of dollars more from WeBuildTheWall during a period when Bannon’s group was haggling with credit card company American Express over paying down a $612,000 balance, Levinson told the judge Monday. “How much cash do we have??? We need more cash from the wall,” he quoted Bannon as writing to one of his associates in February 2019. Prosecutors don’t claim Bannon stole the money from the wall charity or from his own. But they say the transactions help explain his motive to participate in the alleged scheme. “Helping to pay Kolfage’s salary ultimately helped the defendant personally,” Levinson said. Bannon’s lawyers say COAR was being paid for work performed. “He was entitled to the money. COAR was entitled […]
Authorities in India’s capital shut schools, halted construction and banned non-essential trucks from entering the city on Monday after air pollution shot up to its worst level this season. Residents of New Delhi woke up to thick, toxic smog enveloping the city of some 33 million as the air quality became increasingly hazardous. It rose further into the severe category, according to SAFAR, the country’s main environmental agency, which measures tiny particulate matter in the air that can enter deep into the lungs. The deadly haze covered monuments and high-rise buildings in the capital, with visibility so low that airlines warned of delays. In several areas of the city, pollution levels were more than 50 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit. Forecasts say the poor air quality will continue into the week. Air pollution in northern India rises every year, particularly in winter, as farmers burn crop residue in agricultural areas. The burning coincides with colder temperatures, which trap the smoke in the air. The smoke is then blown into cities, where auto emissions add to the pollution. Emissions from industries and the burning of coal to produce electricity are also linked to the pollution, which has been steadily ticking up in recent weeks. Starting Monday, authorities began enforcing stage 4 of a graded response action plan, or GRAP 4, based on the severity of the air pollution. Earlier stages of the plan were already in place, and stage 4 includes stricter curbs. Classes for all grades except 10 and 12 will be held online and no trucks will be allowed to enter the city except for those carrying essential items. Some older, diesel guzzling vehicles have been banned inside the city, and all construction activities have been halted. Authorities also urged children, the elderly and others with chronic diseases or respiratory issues to avoid going outside as much as possible. Over the weekend, farmers in neighboring Uttar Pradesh state burned their fields, releasing plumes of gray smoke that winds likely carried into New Delhi and other nearby areas. Despite the poisonous air, many in the capital continued their usual routines, including morning walks in the city’s beloved Lodhi Garden. “Everyone has a sore throat,” said Sanjay Goel, a 51-year-old shopkeeper in New Delhi. “They should ban crop residue burning … it’s just smoke everywhere.” The worsening air quality in the capital also sparked outrage from residents on social media. Many complained of headaches and hacking coughs, describing the city as “apocalyptic” and a “gas chamber.” Others urged officials to solve the public health crisis once and for all. Several studies have estimated more than a million Indians die each year from pollution-related diseases. Authorities have invoked similar measures in the past and have at times deployed water sprinklers and anti-smog guns in an attempt to control the haze. But critics say there needs to be a long-term solution that drastically reduces pollution itself, instead of actions that aim to mitigate the effects after it has already plagued the region. (AP)
In the spirit of facilitating generosity and streamlining community fundraising, The Chesed Fund is thrilled to announce the launch of its latest version of the Pushka Kiosk—a widely in-demand tool designed to simplify in-person donations. Crafted from high-quality acrylic, the new Pushka Kiosk serves as a secure, durable home for The Chesed Fund Pushka device, enhancing its functionality and accessibility for donors everywhere. Two Kiosk Models to Meet Diverse Fundraising Needs Recognizing that fundraising settings vary widely, The Chesed Fund now offers two unique versions of the Pushka Kiosk, both tailored to meet specific needs: GET STARTED HERE TODAY! Anti-Theft Version: This model is designed for those who need extra security. The anti-theft version can be mounted to a wall, ensuring the Pushka device stays in place and preventing the credit card reader from being removed. This added layer of security is ideal for locations where the kiosk remains unattended for extended periods, offering peace of mind for organizers while encouraging consistent donations. GET STARTED HERE TODAY! Removable Reader Version: Perfect for those who need portability, the removable reader version offers flexibility and mobility for events like Minyanim, fundraisers, or community gatherings. The credit card reader can be easily detached from the kiosk, allowing organizers to move it wherever donations are being collected. After the event, the device can be securely mounted back in place until it’s needed again. GET STARTED HERE TODAY! Customizable Design for Brand Alignment As an added benefit, the Pushka Kiosk’s acrylic construction can be customized to align with your organization’s branding, event theme, or messaging. Whether it’s custom colors, logos, or unique design elements, The Chesed Fund team can personalize each kiosk, enhancing its presence and encouraging engagement from the community. GET STARTED HERE TODAY! An Essential Tool for Effortless Fundraising The new Pushka Kiosk from The Chesed Fund is more than just a donation station—it’s a vital resource for community-driven organizations. By offering secure, versatile options for in-person donations, this tool empowers fundraisers to connect with their supporters conveniently and effectively. The Pushka Kiosk embodies The Chesed Fund’s commitment to supporting charitable organizations in maximizing their fundraising potential. Upgrade your fundraising toolkit today with The Chesed Fund Pushka Kiosk and make in-person donations easier than ever! PricingPushka Kiosk: The Pushka Kiosk is available through a one-time payment of $495 Processing fees are 3.9% + $0.30 per transaction Have questions? Call us at (732) 517- 3679 or use our live chat
A woman was killed in a Hezbollah rocket attack on the northern Arab town of Shfar’am, MDA medics confirm. The attack, which struck a three-story residential building, left at least five others wounded. The rockets, launched from Lebanon, caused significant damage to the area. According to the IDF, a total of five rockets were fired in the assault. Emergency responders and security forces are assessing the situation and providing aid to those affected. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Six monkeys were still on the loose early Monday after dozens escaped earlier this month from a South Carolina compound that breeds the primates for medical research, according to authorities. Two more Rhesus macaques were trapped Sunday outside the Alpha Genesis facility in Yemassee, bringing the total of recovered monkeys to 37 of the 43 that escaped, Alpha Genesis CEO Greg Westergaard said in a statement relayed by Yemassee Police in a social media post. Both monkeys recaptured Sunday were examined and were in “excellent condition,” said Westergaard, who was present when they were recovered. “I can attest with absolute certainty that their spirits were high and they showed all the outward signs of being happy well-adjusted monkeys,” he said. “We are very pleased that the animals recovered thus far are in such good condition, and that they show no ill effects from their outdoor adventure.” Two other monkeys were spotted near the traps Sunday afternoon and Alpha Genesis planned to begin trapping efforts before dawn Monday and continue through the day. Forty-three monkeys made a break for it Nov. 6 after an employee at what locals call “the monkey farm” did not fully lock their enclosure, police said. Alpha Genesis has said efforts to recover all the monkeys will continue for as long as it takes at its compound about a mile (1.6 kilometers) from downtown Yemassee and about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Savannah, Georgia. The monkeys are about the size of a cat. They are all females weighing about 7 pounds (3 kilograms). Humans have been using the monkeys for scientific research since the late 1800s. Scientists believe Rhesus macaques and humans split from a common ancestor about 25 million years ago and share about 93% of the same DNA. The monkeys pose no risk to public health, Alpha Genesis, federal health officials and police have all said. The facility breeds the monkeys to sell to medical facilities and other researchers. If people encounter the monkeys, they are advised to stay away from them — and to not fly drones in the area. The company said they are skittish and might run away from where they are gathered. (AP)
President-elect Donald Trump has confirmed plans to declare a “national emergency” to enable the use of military assets for what he promises will be the largest deportation effort in U.S. history. Responding to reports on Truth Social, Trump enthusiastically affirmed the strategy. Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton posted, “GOOD NEWS: Reports are the incoming @RealDonaldTrump administration prepared to declare a national emergency and will use military assets to reverse the Biden invasion through a mass deportation program.” Trump replied simply, “TRUE!!!” The president-elect has repeatedly vowed to prioritize the border crisis, with deportations set to begin immediately after he takes office on January 20. Trump’s plan includes invoking the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to dismantle criminal gangs and remove foreign nationals deemed a threat to the United States. To oversee the ambitious effort, Trump has appointed former Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) chief Tom Homan as the new “border czar.” Homan has pledged swift and decisive action, saying, “Public safety threats and national security threats will be the priority because they have to be, they pose the most danger in this country.” Legal challenges are expected over the use of active-duty military in domestic enforcement, as restricted by the Posse Comitatus Act. However, Trump’s team points out that the National Guard could lawfully assist in such efforts. The administration’s plan underscores Trump’s commitment to reversing what he calls the “Biden invasion,” securing both the southern and northern borders, and restoring order to the nation’s immigration system. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
World-renowned master mentalist Lior Suchard, whose mind-reading feats have amazed countless audiences worldwide and A-list celebrities from Jerry Seinfeld to Ellen DeGeneres, brings his dramatic sell-out show to New York’s The Town Hall on December 1st, 2024. Dubbed “The Master Mentalist,” Lior Suchard’s inexplicable ability to use intuition, psychology, and the power of suggestion to read thoughts, make startlingly accurate predictions, and astound skeptical critics has made him one of the world’s most famous performers. He’s been hailed by James Corden as, “without a doubt, the world’s best mentalist.” Suchard’s meteoric career has led him to perform for audiences of 20,000 alongside Barbra Streisand, sell-out shows in India, Australia, and Russia, and appear on prominent American talk shows including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. His inexplicable achievements include miraculously predicting the results of international cricket games, Israeli elections, and the thoughts of countless audience members. As one of the world’s most famous living Israelis, Suchard has never been shy about his Israeli origins. But since October 7th, he’s stood tall in the fight against antisemitism. He took American comedian Jerry Seinfeld to visit patients at Tel Hashomer’s Sheba Medical Center, he’s advocated for Israel with influential friends, and his non-stop performances have brought a much-needed dose of positivity, laughter, and motivation to Israeli frontline soldiers and war evacuees. While Suchard has performed for celebrities, corporate titans, politicians, and royalty, his December 1st show in New York marks his most ambitious ticketed American show yet. The evening invites full audience participation and promises an unexplainable, dramatic, and astonishing journey through the wonders of the human mind. “It’s entertaining and fun,” he says, “and by the end, we’ll walk out sensing that, despite everything we knew, we know nothing.” Live Nation Entertainment, the world’s most prestigious production company, will stage Suchard’s New York show in partnership with Davidson Artists Management. This one-night-only event will feature Lior’s signature acts of mind-reading and prediction, alongside new material he’s spent three years preparing for this night. “It’ll involve the entire audience,” he says. “It’s engaging—and surprising.” Tickets are available now at ticketmaster.com and liorsuchard.com. VIP and group ticket sales are available through Hatzolair.org/suchard, a volunteer network that provides emergency medical transportation to individuals in urgent need.
President Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has reignited a debate that many thought had been long settled: Should women be allowed to serve their country by fighting on the front lines? The former Fox News commentator has made it clear, in his own book and in interviews, that he believes men and women should not serve together in combat units. If Hegseth is confirmed by the Senate, he could try to end the Pentagon’s nearly decade-old practice of making all combat jobs open to women. “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective. Hasn’t made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated,” he said in a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan on Nov. 7. Women have a place in the military, he said, just not in special operations, artillery, infantry and armor units. Hegseth’s remarks generated a barrage of praise and condemnation. And they raised a question: “Who’s going to replace them? Men? And we’re having trouble recruiting men into the Army right now,” said Lory Manning, a retired Navy captain who works with the Service Women’s Action Network. The military services have struggled for years to meet recruiting goals, facing stiff competition from companies that pay more and offer similar or better benefits. And a growing population of young people aren’t interested in joining or can’t meet the physical, academic and moral requirements. Removing women from contention for jobs, said Manning, could force the services to lower standards to bring in more men who have not graduated high school, have criminal records or score too low on physical and mental tests. Lawmakers are divided on Hegseth’s views. “Where do you think I lost my legs, in a bar fight? I’m pretty sure I was in combat when that happened,” snapped Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., in an CNN interview last Wednesday after Trump’s selection was announced. Duckworth, who flew combat missions in Iraq and lost both legs when her helicopter was hit, added, “It just shows how out of touch he is with the nature of modern warfare if he thinks that we can keep women behind that sort of imaginary line.” Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., praised Hegseth and said the reality is that certain military jobs “just need brute strength. ” But he added, “women have served incredibly well, honorably in combat roles, and I don’t think that policy is going to change, but we’ll leave it up to him.” Others, including a number of military women, disagree. “Pete Hegseth’s views on women in the military are outdated, prejudiced, and ignore over 20 years of evidence proving women’s effectiveness in combat roles,” said Erin Kirk, a Marine Corps combat veteran. She said women have served honorably and effectively as pilots, logistics personnel, intelligence operatives and infantry grunts. “Hegseth’s stances aren’t just regressive, they pose a direct threat to the Department of Defense’s readiness, and by extension, to our national security,” Kirk said. Hegseth has said he is not suggesting women should not be combat pilots, but that they should not be in jobs such as SEALs, Army Rangers, infantry, armor and artillery where “strength is a differentiator.” He insists the military lowered standards to get more women into combat roles. The services have said […]
The IDF announced the discovery of extensive underground terrorist infrastructure linked to Hezbollah, containing dozens of launchers, rockets, and other weapons. The 226th Reserve Brigade, operating under the 146th Division, has been conducting targeted ground raids in southern Lebanon aimed at neutralizing threats to Israel’s northern communities. During recent operations, troops uncovered hidden combat compounds, rocket launchers, mortars, and stockpiles of military equipment used in attacks against Israel over the past year. Among the findings was an elaborate underground network featuring storage areas for weapons, living quarters, and even a kitchen stocked with food supplies. IDF troops have since dismantled these facilities and continue to locate and neutralize additional terrorist infrastructure in the region. The raids are part of Israel’s broader efforts to counter Hezbollah’s activities and ensure the security of its northern border.
Former Israeli hostage Moran Stella Yanai confronted UCLA encampment leader Aidan Doyle, who previously praised the October 7 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel. Yanai, who was kidnapped and held by 13 Hamas terrorists during the assault, recounted her harrowing ordeal in a direct and emotional appeal to Doyle, who avoided eye contact throughout the exchange. Speaking with raw emotion, Yanai described the unimaginable horrors she witnessed, saying, “Do you know how many bodies I saw? Do you know how much violence was taken on me?” She detailed the brutal violence she endured and emphasized that the attack targeted innocent civilians, many of whom had gathered for a music festival. Her testimony served as a pointed challenge to Doyle’s past statements lauding the massacre. Yanai’s words brought the human cost of the event into sharp focus, directly addressing the consequences of the violence. “I am asking you, as a person, do you support these actions?” Yanai asked, her voice steady yet charged with the weight of her experience. Doyle was visibly uncomfortable throughout Yanai’s remarks, unable to even make eye contact with her as he was slammed with the truth. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un renewed his call for a “limitless” expansion of his military nuclear program to counter U.S.-led threats in comments reported Monday that were his first direct criticism toward Washington since Donald Trump’s win in the U.S. presidential election. At a conference with army officials on Friday, Kim condemned the United States for updating its nuclear deterrence strategies with South Korea and solidifying three-way military cooperation involving Japan, which he portrayed as an “Asian NATO” that was escalating tensions and instability in the region. Kim also criticized the United States over its support of Ukraine against a prolonged Russian invasion. He insisted that Washington and its Western allies were using Ukraine as their “shock troops” to wage a war against Moscow and expand the scope of U.S. military influence, the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said. Kim has prioritized his country’s ties to Russia in recent months, embracing the idea of a “new Cold War” and displaying a united front in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s broader conflicts with the West. He has used Russia’s war on Ukraine as a distraction to accelerate the development of his nuclear-armed military, which now has various nuclear-capable systems targeting South Korea and intercontinental ballistic missiles that can potentially reach the U.S. mainland. Kim has yet to directly acknowledge that he has been providing military equipment and troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine and the KCNA’s report didn’t mention whether Kim made any comments toward Trump, whose election win has yet to be reported in the North’s state media. Kim met Trump three times in 2018 and 2019 in Trump’s first presidency, but their diplomacy quickly collapsed over disagreements in exchanging the release of U.S.-led sanctions and North Korean steps to wind down its nuclear and missile program. North Korea has since suspended any meaningful talks with Washington and Seoul as Kim ramped up his testing activity and military demonstrations in the face of what he portrayed as “gangster-like U.S. threats.” There’s concern in Seoul that Kim in exchange for his military support of Russia would receive Russian technology in return to further develop his arsenal. Trump’s election win has touched off speculation about a resumption of a summit-driven diplomacy with Kim, which was described by critics as a “bromance.” But some experts say a quick return to 2018 is highly unlikely, as too much has changed about the regional security situation and broader geopolitics since then. While the North Korean nuclear problem was relatively an independent issue during Trump’s first term, it is now connected with broader challenges created by Russia’s war on Ukraine and further complicated by weakened sanctions enforcement against Pyongyang, Hwang Ildo, a professor at South Korea’s National Diplomatic Academy, wrote in a study last week. North Korea’s nuclear and missile program is now much more advanced, which would increase Kim’s perception of his bargaining powers. Kim’s efforts to boost North Korea’s presence in a united front against Washington could also gain strength if Trump spikes tariffs and rekindles a trade war with China, the North’s main ally and economic lifeline, Hwang said. Amid the stalemate in larger nuclear negotiations with Washington, Kim has been dialing up pressure on South Korea, abandoning his country’s long-standing goal of inter-Korean reconciliation and verbally threatening to […]
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President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday named Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the Federal Communications Commission, as the new chairman of the agency tasked with regulating broadcasting, telecommunications and broadband. Carr is a longtime member of the commission and served previously as the FCC’s general counsel. He has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate three times and was nominated by both Trump and President Joe Biden to the commission. The FCC is an independent agency that is overseen by Congress, but Trump has suggested he wanted to bring it under tighter White House control, in part to use the agency to punish TV networks that cover him in a way he doesn’t like. Carr has of late embraced Trump’s ideas about social media and tech. Carr wrote a section devoted to the FCC in “ Project 2025,” a sweeping blueprint for gutting the federal workforce and dismantling federal agencies in a second Trump administration produced by the conservative Heritage Foundation. Trump has claimed he doesn’t know anything about Project 2025, but many of its themes have aligned with his statements. Carr said in a statement congratulating Trump on his win that he believed “the FCC will have an important role to play reining in Big Tech, ensuring that broadcasters operate in the public interest, and unleashing economic growth.” “Commissioner Carr is a warrior for Free Speech, and has fought against the regulatory Lawfare that has stifled Americans’ Freedoms, and held back our Economy,” Trump said in a statement on Sunday. “He will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America’s Job Creators and Innovators, and ensure that the FCC delivers for rural America.” The five-person commission has a 3-2 Democratic majority until next year, when Trump gets to appoint a new member. Carr has made appearances on Fox News Channel, including when he slammed Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris ’ appearance on “ Saturday Night Live” the weekend before the election — charging that the network didn’t offer equal time to Trump. Also a prolific writer of op-eds, Carr wrote in an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal last month decrying an FCC decision to revoke a federal award for Elon Musk’s satellite service, Starlink. He said the move couldn’t be explained “by any objective application of the facts, the law or sound policy.” “In my view, it amounted to nothing more than regulatory lawfare against one of the left’s top targets: Mr. Musk,” Carr wrote. (AP)
