Roughly half of the hostages freed and returned to Israel last week met Tuesday morning in Tel Aviv with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner. Among those who took part in the meeting were Omri Miran, Gal Berman, Ziv Berman, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Matan Angrest, Bar Kuperstein, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, and Eitan Horn — all recently discharged from the hospital after their return from Gaza.
Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy reported to La Santé Prison in Paris on Monday to begin serving a five-year sentence. Sarkozy, who led France from 2007 to 2012, was convicted for his involvement in a plot to secure illegal campaign financing from Libya during his 2007 election bid.
Most U.S. adults are worried about health care becoming more expensive, according to a new AP-NORC poll, as they make decisions about next year’s health coverage and a government shutdown keeps future health costs in limbo for millions. About 6 in 10 Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about their health costs going up in the next year, the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds — a worry that extends across age groups and includes people with and without health insurance. Many Americans have other health care anxieties, too. The poll found that about 4 in 10 Americans are “extremely” or “very” concerned about not being able to pay for health care or medications they need, not being able to access health care when they need it, or losing or not having health insurance. Medicare beneficiaries are already shopping for next year’s coverage, and open enrollment periods for many other health plans are approaching quickly in November. Federal policies have left millions of people at risk of skyrocketing health insurance premiums or of losing their health insurance altogether. The findings show that many Americans are feeling vulnerable to spiking health care costs, with some expressing concerns about whether they’ll have coverage at all. Latoya Wilson, an independent nurse consultant in Lafayette, Louisiana, currently uses a health insurance plan from the Affordable Care Act marketplace. But in the past two weeks, the 46-year-old has applied for more jobs than she had previously in her life, largely because she’s concerned about her premiums going up and wants the stability of employer-sponsored insurance. “Even before these health care cuts came into play, I was already having a significant issue getting the care that I needed this year,” she said. “Anything worse than what I already have is pretty scary.” Health care remains important to Americans when it’s center stage in Washington About 8 in 10 U.S. adults say the issue of health care is “extremely” or “very” important to them personally. That includes about 9 in 10 Democrats and three-quarters of Republicans, and it puts health care next to the economy among Americans’ top issue priorities. That significant attention on the issue raises the political stakes in what’s already been a crucial moment for federal health policy in the nation’s capital. President Donald Trump’s mega-bill passed this summer cuts more than $1 trillion from federal health care and food assistance over a decade, largely by imposing work requirements on those receiving aid and by shifting certain federal costs onto the states. Republicans say the cuts will prevent people who don’t need aid from gaming the system, but the cuts will ultimately result in millions of people losing health insurance coverage, according to projections from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. More urgently, a congressional deadlock over Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire this year has thrown the federal government into a shutdown that’s dragged into a fourth straight week with no end in sight. Democratic lawmakers want any funding bill they sign to extend the subsidies, which have made ACA premiums less expensive for millions of people. Republicans in Congress have expressed willingness to negotiate on the issue, but only after the government is reopened. In interviews, some Americans said they doubted government leaders would take the necessary action to address their concerns on health care. “It is the federal government’s job to provide a better way of life […]
Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrived at a prison in Paris on Tuesday to begin serving a 5-year sentence for a criminal conspiracy to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya — a historic moment that makes him the first ex-leader of modern France to be imprisoned. Sarkozy, 70, was greeted by hundreds of supporters when he walked out of his Paris home hand-in-hand with his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy. He embraced her before getting into a police car. On his way to prison, Sarkozy released a statement on social media declaring that “an innocent man” was being locked up. Minutes later, the vehicle passed through the gates of the notorious La Santé prison — where Sarkozy will now serve his sentence in solitary confinement. Sarkozy was convicted last month for criminal conspiracy in a scheme to finance his 2007 election campaign with funds from Libya. He contests both the conviction and a judge’s unusual decision to incarcerate him pending appeal. His lawyers said Tuesday that they filed an immediate request for his release. “It’s an ominous day for him, for France, and for our institutions, because this incarceration is a disgrace,” Sarkozy’s lawyer Jean-Michel Darrois told reporters soon after his incarceration. Solitary confinement Sarkozy’s lawyers said he will be kept away from all other prisoners for security reasons. Sarkozy told Le Figaro newspaper that he would bring three books — the maximum allowed — including Alexandre Dumas’ “The Count of Monte Cristo,″ in which the hero escapes from an island prison before seeking revenge. His lawyers said he packed a bag with a few sweaters because the prison is cold and earplugs because it’s noisy. Christophe Ingrain, another of Sarkozy’s lawyers, denounced “a serious injustice.” “It’s a very difficult time, but the president has stood strong,” Ingrain said. “He doesn’t complain, hasn’t asked for anything, no special treatment.” Sarkozy will be allowed to go outdoors one hour per day alone in the prison yard and to get three visits per week from his family, Ingrain said, adding that he is planning to write a book about his prison experience. An outpouring of support for the ex-president Sarkozy’s journey from the presidential Elysée Palace to La Santé prison has captivated France. After leaving their home, Sarkozy and his wife walked slowly to join family members, including his children and grandchildren, outside his home. “I’m very proud to share his name, and very proud of how he’s reacting,” said his brother, Guillaume Sarkozy. “I’m truly convinced that he is innocent.” Hundreds of supporters applauded and chanted “Nicolas, Nicolas” and sang the French anthem. Two French flags were hung on a nearby fence, with the words “Courage Nicolas, return soon” and “true France with Nicolas.” Parisian resident Virginie Rochon, 44, came in support of Sarkozy, calling it “scandalous” to see ”a former president being taken away while still presumed innocent.” Another supporter, Véronique Maurey, 50, said “it’s just not possible. And on top of that, calling it a ‘criminal conspiracy’ kind of makes all of us feel like criminals too because we voted for him. It’s not right to say that.” Meeting with Macron Embattled centrist President Emmanuel Macron hosted the conservative Sarkozy at the presidential palace last week. ‘’I have always been very clear in my public statements about the […]
Prime Minister Netanyahu met Tuesday afternoon in Jerusalem with the head of Egyptian intelligence, his office announced. The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s Office, was attended by Netanyahu’s senior professional staff. Discussions centered on advancing US President Donald Trump’s regional framework, strengthening ties between Israel and Egypt, and other key regional matters aimed at promoting stability and peace.
Sometimes, lost items have a way of finding their way home—even after years have gone by. Earlier this week, a Far Rockaway boy was chatting with his school bus driver, mentioning that he was preparing for his upcoming bar mitzvah. The conversation took an unexpected turn when the bus driver recalled that her husband had worked at JFK Airport about seven years ago—and had once found a pair of lost tefillin. Inexplicably, he took the tefillin home and safeguarded them for the past seven years. This week, she brought the tefillin to the boy, thinking it might be meaningful to him. The set is in good condition, with the initials E.H. inscribed on it. If you—or someone you know—lost tefillin at JFK Airport around seven years ago, this may be your chance to get them back. Please contact Yeshiva World News (YWN), who will connect you with the person currently safeguarding the tefillin. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Japan’s parliament elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister Tuesday, a day after her struggling party struck a coalition deal with a new partner expected to pull her governing bloc further to the right. Takaichi replaces Shigeru Ishiba, ending a three-month political vacuum and wrangling since the Liberal Democratic Party’s disastrous election loss in July. Ishiba, who lasted only one year as prime minister, resigned with his Cabinet earlier in the day, paving the way for his successor. Takaichi won 237 votes — four more than a majority — compared to 149 won by Yoshikoko Noda, head of the largest opposition party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, in the lower house, which elects the prime minister. Even though her coalition was two seats short of a majority, Takaichi received enough votes to win in the first round. She likely received votes from lawmakers in fringe minority parties from whom she has sought cooperation. As the results were announced, Takaichi stood up and bowed deeply. Takaichi, 64, appointed former Defense Minister Minoru Kihara as chief cabinet secretary. Takaichi appointed her leadership rivals within the party to her government along with other veteran lawmakers. Toshimitsu Motegi, who previously served as both trade and foreign ministers, was named foreign minister. Former Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi was named defense minister. And former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi was named internal affairs and communication minister. She also appointed Ishiba’s chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, as economy and trade minister. Despite her earlier pledge to drastically increase the number of women in the Cabinet, she appointed only three, all of them supporters in the party leadership vote — former Regional Revitalization Minister Satsuki Katayama as finance minister, Kimi Onoda as economic security minister and Midori Matsushima as the prime minister’s aide. The LDP’s alliance with the Osaka-based rightwing Japan Innovation Party, or Ishin no Kai, ensured her premiership because the opposition is not united. Takaichi’s untested alliance is still short of a majority in both houses of parliament and will need to court other opposition groups to pass any legislation — a risk that could make her government unstable and short-lived. The two parties signed a coalition agreement on policies underscoring Takaichi’s hawkish and nationalistic views. Their last-minute deal came after the Liberal Democrats lost its longtime partner, the Buddhist-backed Komeito, which has a more dovish and centrist stance. The breakup threatened a change of power for the LDP, which has governed Japan almost uninterrupted for decades. Tackling rising prices and other economic measures is the top priority for the Takaichi government, LDP Secretary General Shunichi Suzuki told NHK public television as he apologized over the delay because of the party’s internal power struggle since the July election. He said the new coalition will cooperate with other opposition parties to quickly tackle rising prices to “live up to the expectations of the people.” JIP does not hold ministerial posts in Takaichi’s Cabinet until his party is confident about its partnership with the LDP, Yoshimura has said. Takaichi is running on deadline, as she prepares for a major policy speech later this week, talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and regional summits. She needs to quickly tackle rising prices and compile economy-boosting measures by late December to address public frustration. While she […]
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel on Tuesday to shore up the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza that has teetered over the past few days following a burst of deadly violence and questions over how to move forward with the plan for cementing a long-term peace. Also Tuesday, Israel said it has identified the body of a hostage that was released by Palestinian terrorists overnight, while the chief Hamas negotiator said the group remains determined to implement the ceasefire agreement to end the two-year war. Vance, who is accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and is expected to stay in the region until Thursday. His visit follows that of two top White House envoys. After arrival, Vance held a working meeting at the airport with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump ’s former White House adviser and son-in-law. Vance is to hold a news conference on Tuesday evening in Jerusalem and is also expected to meet with families of hostages whose bodies are still being held in Gaza and some of the living hostages released by the terrorists last week. Earlier on Tuesday, Witkoff and Kushner met in Tel Aviv with nine hostages who were released from captivity last week. (AP)
Overnight Sunday, 18 of the 20 hostages who returned to Israel on Hoshanah Rabba were treated to a three-hour private outing at the Ayalon Mall in Ramat Gan, which was closed especially for them, Mako reported. At 10:00 p.m., selected store owners were notified that they would need to remain open while all regular customers were cleared from the premises. Employees were asked to hand over their cell phones, and the 18 freed hostages and their family members entered for a private, camera-free visit. “They came out of captivity thin and frail,” a source said. “They don’t have clothes or shoes that fit them.” The mall closed to the public around 9:30 or 10, and then they were brought in privately. The mall’s management gave them vouchers to shop for essentials at Fox, H&M, Foot Locker, and Renuar. H&M, Story, Opticana, and Foot Locker also opened for the hostages. Let’s just say all those chains will need to restock now,” he joked. “All the workers and others who were there were required to keep everything confidential,” he added. “The whole visit was kept under the radar to respect their privacy and avoid any commotion. They really need their peace right now—to start doing normal things again, spend time with family, go shopping, and return to life.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Roughly half of the hostages freed and returned to Israel last week met Tuesday morning in Tel Aviv with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner. Among those who took part in the meeting were Omri Miran, Gal Berman, Ziv Berman, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Matan Angrest, Bar Kuperstein, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, and Eitan Horn — all recently discharged from the hospital after their return from Gaza. Each of the released hostages speaks privately with Witkoff, some handing him gifts to show their appreciation for helping bring about their release, others hugging him tight.
Newly uncovered documents from Gaza show that Hamas has been directly influencing the Qatari state-run network Al Jazeera’s coverage of events in Gaza, according to findings by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. The research center says Hamas’s media operatives coordinated with Al Jazeera editors to ensure coverage aligned with the terror group’s narrative and avoided any language that could “harm the image of the resistance.” One 2022 document revealed that Hamas ordered Al Jazeera to avoid calling a deadly Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket explosion in Jabalya a “massacre,” since the blast was not caused by “the occupation.” The center reports that Al Jazeera’s newsroom management “positively responded” to the directive. Another document reportedly detailed Hamas’s effort to set up a secure communication channel between its headquarters and Al Jazeera’s offices in Doha, enabling direct coordination during “emergency situations.” This system would allow Hamas’s military wing to issue real-time instructions on what stories to promote or suppress. The intelligence center described the findings as rare and concrete proof of “systemic coordination” between a global media outlet and a designated terrorist organization. Al Jazeera’s coverage has long echoed Hamas’s terminology — regularly referring to Hamas fighters as mujahideen (resistance fighters), and calling them shaheeds (martyrs) after their deaths. According to the report, Al Jazeera journalists were also given exclusive access to Hamas’s vast underground tunnel system, further underscoring the close relationship between the network and the terror group. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Officials in Washington are reportedly concerned that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu may end the Gaza ceasefire and resume military operations against Hamas, according to a New York Times report. The report, citing several unnamed U.S. officials, says there is growing anxiety within the Biden administration that Netanyahu could move to undermine the truce agreement. Top American figures — including Vice President JD Vance, along with envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — are expected to press Israeli leaders not to jeopardize the accord during upcoming meetings in Israel, the report adds. In addition, discussions are reportedly underway with Turkey about dispatching a specialized team trained in body recovery to assist in locating the remains of hostages still missing in Gaza. Hamas has claimed it is struggling to find the bodies of the 15 hostages believed to remain in the Strip. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A court in Slovakia on Tuesday convicted the man in last year’s attempted assassination of the country’s populist Prime Minister Robert Fico of a terror attack and sentenced him to 21 years in prison. The shooting and the trial have shaken this small, European Union and NATO-member country where Fico has long been a divisive figure, criticized for straying from Slovakia’s pro-Western path and aligning it closer to Russia. Juraj Cintula opened fire on Fico on May 15, 2024, as the prime minister greeted supporters following a government meeting in the town of Handlová, about 140 kilometers (85 miles) northeast of the capital of Bratislava. Cintula, 72, was arrested immediately after the attack and ordered to remain behind bars. When questioned by investigators, he rejected the accusation of being a “terrorist.” Fico was shot in the abdomen and was taken from Handlová to a hospital in nearby city of Banská Bystrica. He underwent a five-hour surgery, followed by another two-hour surgery two days later. He has since recovered. Cintula has claimed his motive for the shooting was that he disagreed with government policies. He refused to testify before the Specialized Criminal Court in Banská Bystrica. but confirmed that what he had told investigators about his motive remains true. “The defendant did not attack a citizen, but specifically the prime minister,” Igor Králik, the head of the three-judge panel, said in delivering the verdict. “He was against the government, he was inciting people to overthrow the government.” The verdict of the panel was unanimous. The court said that Cintula’s age and the fact that he had no criminal record contributed to why he did not receive life imprisonment. “It is unjust,” Cintula kept saying in Slovak as he was leaving the courtroom. In his testimony read by a prosecutor at the trial, Cintula said he disagreed with Fico’s policies, including the cancellation of a special prosecution office dealing with corruption, the end of military help for Ukraine and the government’s approach to culture. “I decided to harm the health of the prime minister but I had no intention to kill anyone,” he said in the testimony. He also said he was relieved when he learned the premier survived. Cintula’s attorney Namir Alyasry told reporters his client would very likely appeal the verdict. He was originally charged with attempted murder but prosecutors later dropped that charge and said they were instead pursuing the more serious charge of engaging in a terror attack. They said it was based on evidence the investigators obtained but gave no further details. Government officials initially said they believed it was a politically motivated attack committed by a “lone wolf,” but announced later that a third party might have been involved in “acting for the benefit of the perpetrator.” Fico previously said he “had no reason to believe” it was an attack by a lone deranged person and repeatedly blamed the liberal opposition and media for the assassination attempt. There is no evidence for that. The prime minister was not present at the trial and did not immediately comment on the verdict. Fico had previously said he felt “no hatred” towards his attacker, forgave him and planned no legal action against him. Fico returned to power for the fourth time after his leftist Smer, or Direction, party won […]
Thousands of mispallelim entered Kever Yosef in Shechem overnight, ahead of Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, in a large and organized visit coordinated with IDF forces. Among those present were the Kaliver Rebbe, MK Michal Woldiger, MK Tzvi Sukkot, and Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan, who urged the government to “learn from the strength of Yosef HaTzaddik – and apply full sovereignty over Yehuda and Shomron.” The visit took place under heavy IDF protection, with assistance from volunteers with the Kever Yosef and Holy Sites Administration. The mispallelim spent several hours at the site davening and reciting Tehillim. Those attending included the Kaliver Rebbe, Rabbi Noam Waldman (Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Nir in Kiryat Arba), IDF Shomron Brigade Commander Col. Ariel Gonen, and others. The crowd sang “Acheinu Kol Beis Yisroel,” recited tefillos for the safety of IDF soldiers, and joined the Kaliver Rebbe in saying “Shema Yisrael.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
British soldiers will soon be permitted to shoot down drones threatening military bases under a new measure Defense Secretary John Healey plans to introduce today in response to rising Russian threats. Until now, troops were limited to detecting and jamming drones but not engaging them. The policy will first apply to military sites and may later extend to airports and other critical locations.
The national average price of gasoline has dropped below $3.00 per gallon for the first time since 2020, according to GasBuddy. 35 states now have average prices under $2.99/gal — and one station in Evans, Colorado is already offering $1.99 cash prices, with Oklahoma and Texas stations close behind.
A new report by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) warns that antisemitism has surged to alarming levels worldwide since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, with more than 13,000 incidents recorded globally over the past two years — the highest in recent memory. The findings, released by CAM’s Antisemitism Research Center (ARC), show a sharp and sustained rise: 1,785 incidents were reported in the final three months of 2023 alone, nearly matching the total for all of 2022. That number more than tripled in 2024, to 6,326 incidents, and another 5,118 cases have already been documented in the first nine months of 2025. The data underscores what CAM officials call “a historic and dangerous normalization of antisemitism” worldwide — a trend that formed the backdrop to this week’s Latin America Summit Against Antisemitism in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The fifth annual summit, hosted in partnership with the City of Rio, the Brazilian Jewish Confederation (CONIB), and the Jewish Federation of Rio (FIERJ), brought together roughly 1,000 leaders from 18 countries, including lawmakers, mayors, and faith representatives. Despite tense diplomatic relations between Israel and Brazil — President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has accused Israel of “genocide” in Gaza and blocked the appointment of a new Israeli ambassador — the conference proceeded as planned, signaling what organizers described as “a united stand against hate.” During the summit, participants signed a joint declaration calling on Latin American governments to adopt stronger anti-hate laws and policies in response to what they described as “the worst wave of antisemitism since the Holocaust.” The declaration also expressed solidarity with Israel and demanded accountability from Iran for “global terrorist activities,” citing its proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. The gathering also saw the launch of a new regional body, Latin American Legislators Against Antisemitism, to coordinate parliamentary efforts across the continent. “October 7th cannot be forgotten,” said Shay Salamon, CAM’s Director of Hispanic Affairs. “Even as we celebrate the release of hostages, antisemitism won’t disappear when the war ends. It must be fought with education, empathy, and joint action.” Salamon noted the symbolism of hosting the event in Rio — the first city in the world to adopt the IHRA working definition of antisemitism and to designate October 7 as Antisemitism Awareness Day. But he also acknowledged Brazil’s worsening climate for Jews, citing a marked increase in antisemitic rhetoric and violence over the past year. CAM CEO Sacha Roytman said the movement’s work in Latin America — including partnerships in Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and Mexico — has made tangible progress but remains an uphill battle. “Antisemitism is a daily, ongoing fight,” Roytman said. “Jewish communities lost their sense of safety on October 7, and we are determined to help restore it.” Uruguayan Senator Javier García, a former defense minister, told the summit that antisemitism “is not just a Jewish issue — it’s an issue for all of us.” He urged non-Jewish leaders to take ownership of the fight, warning that “hatred against one faith is a threat to every democracy.” The Rio summit closed with a call for “unity, courage, and action” — and, as one delegate put it, a reminder that “the fight against antisemitism must never again be left to the Jews alone.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Police arrested a man at Atlanta’s bustling airport on Monday after getting a tip from his family that he was planning to shoot up the place, and found an assault rifle and ammunition in his truck outside, the city’s police chief said. Billy Joe Cagle, of Cartersville, Georgia, had described his plan to shoot up the world’s busiest airport on a social media livestream, Chief Darin Schierbaum said during a news conference. “The Cartersville Police Department was alerted by the family of Mr. Cagle that he was streaming on social media that he was headed to the Atlanta airport, in their words, to ‘shoot it up,’ and the family stated that he was in possession of an assault rifle,” Schierbaum said, describing Cagle as a “convicted felon.” Cagle, 49, arrived at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in a Chevrolet pickup truck that was parked right outside the doors to the airport terminal. When police went to the vehicle, they found an AR-15 with 27 rounds of ammunition, Schierbaum said. “We’re here today briefing you on a success and not a tragedy because a family saw something and said something,” the chief said. Cartersville police Capt. Greg Sparacio, whose department received the initial tip from family members, said Cagle “had the intention to inflict harm to as many people as he could.” During the news conference, police showed surveillance video that shows Cagle arriving at the airport and body-camera video of his arrest. A Chevrolet flatbed pickup truck is seen arriving curbside at the airport terminal around 9:30 a.m. and then a man police identified as Cagle is seen entering the airport a few minutes later. He walks over to the TSA security checkpoint and had “high interest in that area,” Schierbaum said. Body-camera footage shows Atlanta police officers, who had a photo of Cagle provided by his family on their phones, approach him and start asking him questions before taking him into custody. As they take him to the ground and put handcuffs on him, Cagle can be heard yelling. Cagle has been charged with making terroristic threats, criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of a firearm by a felon, Schierbaum said. Cagle was booked into the Clayton County Detention Facility on Monday evening, according to online jail records. Attempts to reach his family and co-workers through multiple phone numbers and emails were unsuccessful. It wasn’t immediately clear whether he had a lawyer who could comment on the charges. Nick Roberts, who has known Cagle since high school, texted his friend Sunday night after being concerned by Facebook posts he had made. He said Cagle was struggling with mental health issues. Cagle had posted on Facebook earlier Sunday that he is schizophrenic and was taking medication. Roberts said Cagle called him at about 9 p.m. Sunday night and assured him he was OK. Roberts said Cagle loved his two daughters and worked hard hauling hay and doing fencing work. “I want folks to know that he wasn’t some monster,” Roberts said. “This was a very big surprise for a lot of us that went to high school with him and know him in the community.” Atlanta police will work with federal authorities to determine how he obtained the gun, […]
