New Jersey Transit train engineers went on strike Friday, leaving an estimated 350,000 commuters in New Jersey and New York City to seek other means to reach their destinations or consider staying home. Groups of picketers gathered in front of transit headquarters in Newark and at the Hoboken Terminal, carrying signs that said “Locomotive Engineers on Strike” and “NJ Transit: Millions for Penthouse Views Nothing for Train Crews.” Friday’s rail commute into New York from New Jersey is typically the lightest of the week. In New York, some commuters from New Jersey said they could not work remotely and had to come in, taking busses to the Port Authority bus terminal in Manhattan. David Milosevich, a fashion and advertising casting director, was on his way to a photo shoot in Brooklyn. At 1 a.m. he checked his phone and saw the strike was on. “I left home very early because of it,” he said, grabbing the bus in Montclair, New Jersey, and arriving in Manhattan at 7 a.m. “I think a lot of people don’t come in on Fridays since COVID. I don’t know what’s going to happen Monday.” Strike comes after talks this week didn’t result in a deal The walkout comes after the latest round of negotiations on Thursday didn’t produce an agreement. It is the state’s first transit strike in more than 40 years and comes a month after union members overwhelmingly rejected a labor agreement with management. “We presented them the last proposal; they rejected it and walked away with two hours left on the clock,” said Tom Haas, general chairman of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. NJ Transit CEO Kris Kolluri described the situation as a “pause in the conversations.” “I certainly expect to pick back up these conversations as soon as possible,” he said late Thursday during a joint news conference with New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. “If they’re willing to meet tonight, I’ll meet them again tonight. If they want to meet tomorrow morning, I’ll do it again. Because I think this is an imminently workable problem. The question is, do they have the willingness to come to a solution.” Murphy and Kolluri planned a Friday morning news conference. Tracks where NJ Transit trains usually run are quiet A few blocks from the Port Authority bus terminal, the NJ Transit train terminal was quiet, with an NJ transit worker in an orange hoody on hand to warn riders it was closed, Signs read: “service suspended.” The South Amboy train station, an express stop on the NJ Transit rail line, was vacant. But the Waterway ferry that began service only 18 months ago from a waterside launching point that’s a 10-minute walk from the train station was busier than usual for its 6:40 a.m., 55-minute nonstop trip to Manhattan. The ferry runs once an hour during the morning and evening commutes. With about three dozen people aboard, more than half the seats in the ferry’s lower deck were empty. NJ governor says deal needs to be fair to employees and affordable Murphy said it was important to “reach a final deal that is both fair to employees and at the same time affordable to New Jersey’s commuters and taxpayers.” “Again, we cannot ignore the agency’s fiscal realities,” Murphy said. The announcement came after 15 […]
Air traffic controllers in Denver lost communications with planes around that major airport for 90 seconds earlier this week and had to scramble to use backup frequencies in the latest Federal Aviation Administration equipment failure. The outage at Denver International Airport happened Monday afternoon and affected communications, not radar, the FAA’s head of air traffic control, Frank McIntosh, said during a House hearing Thursday. This communications failure follows two high-profile outages of radar and communications in the past 2 1/2 weeks at a facility that directs planes in and out of the Newark, New Jersey, airport. The FAA said in a statement that the Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center lost communications for approximately 90 seconds. McIntosh said both the primary and main backup frequencies went down, so the controllers had to turn to an emergency frequency to communicate. “Controllers used another frequency to relay instructions to pilots. Aircraft remained safely separated and there were no impacts to operations,” the FAA said. Rep. Robert Garcia of California told McIntosh during the hearing that “anytime there’s these outages which are happening now more regularly, it’s very concerning.” “We know that there are staffing and equipment problems at air traffic control,” Garcia said. “We know that the problems have gone back decades in some cases, but it’s still an absolutely shocking system failure and we need immediate solutions.” The Denver communications failure is the latest troubling equipment failure in the system that keeps planes safe. Last week, the Trump administration announced a multibillion-dollar plan to overhaul an air traffic control system that relies on antiquated equipment. The Newark airport has generally led the nation in flight cancellations and delays ever since its first radar outage on April 28 that also lasted about 90 seconds. A second outage happened on May 9. In both those instances controllers lost both radar and communications. The FAA was in the middle of a second day Thursday of meetings with the airlines that fly out of Newark about cutting flights because there aren’t enough controllers to handle all the flights on the schedule now. More than 100 flights have been canceled at Newark Thursday. Officials developed the plan to upgrade the system after a deadly midair collision in January between a passenger jet and an Army helicopter killed 67 people in the skies over Washington, D.C. Several other crashes this year also put pressure on officials to act. (AP)
White House announces AI data center campus partnership with the UAE The U.S. and United Arab Emirates are partnering on a massive artificial intelligence campus. The Abu Dhabi data center will be built by the Emirate firm G42, which will partner with several U.S. companies on the facility. The announcement comes as President Donald Trump visited the UAE as part of a broader trip to the Middle East.
When the Vermilion Valley Resort in California’s eastern Sierra shut down for the winter, the staff left cabin doors unlocked just in case a wayward hiker needed shelter during the frequent mountain snowstorms. That decision may have saved the life of Tiffany Slaton, the 27-year-old Georgia woman who was missing for nearly three weeks in remote wilderness. Owner Christopher Gutierrez spotted a cabin door ajar and a pair of shoes nearby when he arrived Wednesday morning to begin reopening the resort for spring. Suddenly, a young woman appeared in the doorway. “She pops out, didn’t say a word, just ran up and all she wanted was a hug,” Gutierrez said during a Wednesday evening news conference. “It was a pretty surreal moment, and that’s when I realized who this was.” It was Slaton, whose parents had reported her missing on April 29 after not hearing from her for more than a week. The Fresno County Sheriff’s office launched a search, and deputies and volunteers scoured more than 600 square miles (1,550 square kilometers) of the Sierra National Forest, with no luck. Searchers were hampered by heavy snow blocking many roads. On Monday, the sheriff’s office had announced it was scaling back the search effort. Two days later, she emerged from the cabin. Gutierrez gave Slaton a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and called authorities, who brought her to a hospital for evaluation. She was hungry and dehydrated, but otherwise in good condition, sheriff’s officials said. Sheriff’s spokesperson Tony Botti said it was the longest period of time he’s seen someone be missing in the wilderness and survive. “Three weeks, it’s unheard of,” he said. “It speaks to the tenacity that Tiffany has, that she’s a fighter.” Thanks to tips from the public, investigators determined that Slaton had been spotted around April 20 near Huntington Lake, more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) to the southwest through rough terrain. But authorities didn’t provide details about when or where Slaton’s trek began, what her plans were, and what route she took to end up at Vermilion Valley Resort. Botti said sheriff’s officials planned to interview Slaton to learn the details of her experience, and how she survived in icy conditions at elevations topping 6,500 feet (1,981 meters). Across the country in Jeffersonville, Georgia, her parents were out shopping when they got word that their daughter had been found. “I just grabbed somebody and I said, ‘Can I hug you?’ And I did,” said her mother, Fredrina Slaton. “I was crying and hugging.” Tiffany’s father, Bobby Slaton, said “a ton of weight has been lifted.” He thanked the search-and-rescue team and all the community members who helped in the effort to find her. Sheriff’s officials said snowplows cleared a key mountain pass earlier Wednesday, which allowed Gutierrez to access the resort on Lake Edison for the first time this year. Gutierrez said he had to spend about an hour and a half breaking up ice before he could get into the property. Slaton’s parents said Tiffany was raised with a love of the outdoors, and they always stressed the importance of being able to fend for yourself in a tough situation. “So it’s nice to know, as parents, that all the things that we’ve taught her, she actually did,” her mother said. “We believe […]
Chananel Gez, the husband of Tze’ela Gez, H’yd, who was murdered in a terror attack on Wednesday evening, expressed steadfast emunah, thanking Hashem he remained alive even as he mourned his wife and absorbed the fact that he is the sole parent of his four children, including his newborn who is in serious condition. He wrote to his community and friends: “Hello friends, today is a sad day. Last night, my wife was murdered. We were on our way to the hospital to happily give birth to our fourth child,” he wrote. “Of course I am broken – that is natural – but I also thank Hashem that I stayed alive. I will be strong to continue and be a light to the entire world.” “Because we will never let them break us.” “I am very, very sad, but I will continue to fight for the welfare of our people. I love you all. We will survive, we will succeed, and we will prosper.” “Hashem is one – in good times and bad, it doesn’t matter. If it’s from my one and only King – I accept it with love.” Gez also revealed a screenshot from his late wife’s last correspondence with a photographer, whom she wanted to hire for the upcoming bris. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Argentina’s right-wing President Javier Milei issued a decree on Wednesday curbing immigration to the South American nation, a move coinciding with the immigration restrictions put in place by the Trump administration. Milei’s abrupt measures and declaration that newcomers were bringing “chaos and abuse” to Argentina — a country built by millions of immigrants that has long prided itself on its openness — drew criticism from his political opponents and prompted comparisons to U.S. President Donald Trump. Milei’s government welcomed those comparisons to its close American ally, with presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni saying it was “time to honor our history and make Argentina great again.” Wednesday’s executive order tightens restrictions on citizenship, requiring immigrants to spend two uninterrupted years in Argentina or make a significant financial investment in the country to secure an Argentine passport. Immigrants seeking permanent residency must show proof of income or “sufficient means” and have clean criminal records in their home countries. The decree makes it much easier for the government to deport migrants who enter the country illegally, falsify their immigration documents or commit minor crimes in Argentina. Previously, authorities could only expel or deny entry to a foreigner with a conviction of more than three years. It also asks the judiciary to fast-track otherwise lengthy immigration court proceedings. “For some time now, we’ve had regulations that invite chaos and abuse by many opportunists who are far from coming to this country in an honest way,” Adorni told reporters. The presidential spokesperson is also the top candidate for Milei’s La Libertad Avanza party in the key Buenos Aires legislative elections on Sunday. Their hard-right bloc is trying to win over conservative voters from Argentina’s center-right in the high-stakes midterm-election year. That timing fueled criticism, especially as the country has seen no recent surge of migration. Argentina’s most recent national census, from 2022, showed that the nation of 46 million had just 1.93 million foreign residents — the lowest share of immigrants since record-keeping began in 1869. “Once again, politicizing migration for electoral purposes and distorting reality,” Pablo Ceriani Cernadas, vice president of a U.N. committee that protects the rights of migrants, wrote on social media. In a big shift, the new decree also charges foreigners to access Argentina’s public health care and education while mandating that all travelers to the country hold health insurance. Adorni claimed that public hospitals had spent some $100 million on treating foreigners last year, without offering evidence. “This measure aims to guarantee the sustainability of the public health system, so that it ceases to be a profit center financed by our citizens,” he said. Despite bouts of xenophobia in moments of political turmoil, immigration is rarely a matter of debate in Argentina, a nation largely developed by waves of European immigrants in the 19th century. In more recent years the country has welcomed foreigners across the region, the Arab world, Asia and, lately, Russia, offering newcomers a path to citizenship and ensuring their free access the nation’s extensive and decent public education and health systems. Public universities and hospitals are now buckling under Milei’s sharp spending cuts as he seeks to reverse years of massive budget deficits. Adorni said the decree allows universities to introduce fees for foreign students. Right-wing politicians long have railed against what Adorni described Wednesday as “health […]
Boro Park Unites in Historic Endorsement: Community Leaders Urge Voters to Support Sam Sutton for State Senate In a historic and powerful display of unity, leaders of nearly every Kehila, school administrator, and community representatives in Boro Park have come together to endorse Sam Sutton for State Senate in the critical Special Election for New York’s 22nd Senate District. This resounding show of support underscores Sutton’s proven dedication to the community and his pivotal role in safeguarding its values and institutions. A joint letter from these influential leaders highlights Sutton’s instrumental efforts in protecting Chinuch and delivering tangible results for Boro Park. “Sam has been a steadfast ally, working tirelessly alongside community leaders to preserve our educational priorities and secure vital resources,” the letter declares. “His leadership has already made a profound impact, and we are confident he will continue to champion our community’s needs in Albany.” This united endorsement calls on all Boro Park residents to make their voices heard by voting for Sutton in the Special Election on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Early voting is currently underway, running through Sunday, May 18. The leaders emphasize the importance of this election, noting that Sutton’s victory is essential to ensuring continued advocacy for the community’s core values, including education, other core values. “Sam Sutton is the only candidate that fought for our Chinuch,” the letter states. “We urge every eligible voter to turn out and support him in this historic election.” Polls will be open on Election Day, May 20, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
POTUS on Qatar: “We are gonna protect this country. It’s a very special place with a special royal family…It’s great people and they’re gonna be protected by the United States.”
ELIMINATED: Last week, an Israeli airstrike killed Jasser Hussein Ali Shamieh, a Hamas operative responsible for funneling tens of millions of dollars to the terror group’s military wing.
Harvard University for decades assumed it had a cheap copy of the Magna Carta in its collection, a stained and faded document it had purchased for less than $30. But two researchers have concluded it has something much more valuable — a rare version from 1300 issued by Britain’s King Edward I. The original Magna Carta established in 1215 the principle that the king is subject to law, and it has formed the basis of constitutions globally. There are four copies of the original and, until now, there were believed to be only six copies of the 1300 version. “My reaction was one of amazement and, in a way, awe that I should have managed to find a previously unknown Magna Carta,” said David Carpenter, a professor of medieval history at King’s College London. He was searching the Harvard Law School Library website in December 2023 when he found the digitized document. “First, I’d found one of the most rare documents and most significant documents in world constitutional history,” Carpenter said. “But secondly, of course, it was astonishment that Harvard had been sitting on it for all these years without realizing what it was.” Confirming the document’s authenticity Carpenter teamed up with Nicholas Vincent, a professor of medieval history at Britain’s University of East Anglia, to confirm the authenticity of Harvard’s document. Comparing it to the other six copies from 1300, Carpenter found the dimensions matched up. He and Vincent then turned to images Harvard librarians created using ultraviolet light and spectral imaging. The technology helps scholars see details on faded documents that are not visible to the human eye. That allowed them to compare the texts word-for-word, as well as the handwriting, which include a large capital ‘E’ at the start in ‘Edwardus’ and elongated letters in the first line. After the 1215 original printed by King John, five other editions were written in the following decades — until 1300, the last time the full document was set out and authorized by the king’s seal. The 1300 version of Magna Carta is “different from the previous versions in a whole series of small ways and the changes are found in every single one,” Carpenter said. Harvard had to meet a high bar to prove authenticity, Carpenter said, and it did so “with flying colors.” Its tattered and faded copy of the Magna Carta is worth millions of dollars, Carpenter estimated — though Harvard has no plans to sell it. A 1297 version of the Magna Carta sold at auction in 2007 for $21.3 million. A document with a colorful history The other mystery behind the document was the journey it took to Harvard. That task was left to Vincent, who was able to trace it all the way back to the former parliamentary borough of Appleby in Westmorland, England. The Harvard Law School library purchased its copy in 1946 from a London book dealer for $27.50. At the time, it was wrongly dated as being made in 1327. Vincent determined the document was sent to a British auction house in 1945 by a World War I flying ace who also played a role defending Malta in World War II. The war hero, Forster Maynard, inherited the archives from Thomas and John Clarkson, who were leading campaigners against the slave trade. One of […]
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