They might look like lost tourists — unkempt and overloaded with gear — or hikers with military haircuts, survival gear and no clue how to behave in the woods. But Latvia’s intelligence agency said Wednesday that they might actually be Russian saboteurs and spies. In its annual report, Latvia’s Defence Intelligence and Security Service, known by Latvian acronym MIDD, offered advice on how to identify possible reconnaissance and sabotage operatives. It’s an increasingly relevant concern given regional tensions and a string of arson and other acts of sabotage, which Western governments blame on Russia — allegations that Moscow has repeatedly denied. The list of telltale signs is striking: slovenly appearance, mismatched military or sportswear, and a knack for asking locals suspicious questions. According to the security service, such groups may linger near military or critical infrastructure sites, pose as humanitarian workers or stay in remote areas without showing any interest in nature. Some may carry specialized medical kits, maps or radios — items better suited for clandestine operations than camping trips. The Latvian guidance comes as countries across the region, including new NATO members Sweden and Finland, have been issuing booklets with advice on how to survive war or a natural disaster. Nearby Poland is now preparing its guidelines, while Norway recently published a book with advice on how to survive for one week. “We live in an increasingly turbulent world,” it says. “Even though in Norway most things generally function as they normally would, we must remain aware that extreme weather, pandemics, accidents, sabotage — and in the worst case acts of war — can impact us.” MIDD, one of Latvia’s three security services, alongside the State Security Service and the Constitution Protection Bureau, warned that Russian saboteurs might also attempt to incite unrest or assassinate “socially significant individuals.” Their activities might also be focused on “studying the position of the target country’s society and inciting unrest directed against the existing government.” The agency cautioned that appearances can deceive. “The Ukrainian experience shows that Russian special services are able to adapt,” the report says. Not all spies will fit the mold, and suspicions must be judged in context. It also warns that if a sabotage group is spotted, leave the James Bond heroics to the professionals. “If you do think you might have spotted a sabotage group on Latvian soil, MIDD does not recommend tackling them yourself,” it said. “Instead report your suspicions to the State Police, special services, or the nearest armed forces unit.” (AP)
YWN readers know that there have been significant recent developments in the long-running battle to protect our yeshivos from the State Education Department. Last week, important and helpful legislation was enacted, and yesterday the State’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, heard argument in the challenge to SED’s onerous substantial equivalence regulations. At the argument, SED conceded for the first time that parents can supplement any supposedly deficient instruction at their child’s yeshiva with a tutor, homeschooling or an extracurricular class. The state had insisted otherwise for three years, and had used that to try to force parents to enroll their children at other schools. In fact, many parents have received letters to that effect in recent days. Immediately after the argument, PEARLS wrote to the NYC Department of Education to tell it that it must stop sending those letters. Here is their email: ——– Original Message ——– From: “Schick, Avi” <> Date: Wed, May 14, 2025 8:25 PM -0400 To: Dan Weisberg <@schools.nyc.gov>, Liz Vladeck <@schools.nyc.gov> CC: Yossi Grunwald <@pearlsny.org>, Robin Singer <@schools.nyc.gov>, Heshy Dembitzer <@aol.com>, Tuli Obstfeld <>, Mieasia Edwards <@schools.nyc.gov>. Subject: Re: Bobover Yeshiva Bnei Zion Substantial Equivalency Timeline & Plan Deliverables Dan & Liz I am writing to alert you to recent developments relating to substantial equivalence of instruction. First, earlier today the New York Court of Appeals heard oral argument in the challenge to portions of the Part 130 substantial equivalence regulations. During the argument, counsel for the State Education Department conceded, for the first time, that parents are permitted to supplement the instruction their children receive at a nonpublic school with instruction elsewhere (a tutor, extracurricular program or homeschooling). In light of this reversal by SED there is no basis for the letters that DOE has been sending to parents whose children receive special education services at a school that SED deems non-equivalent. In particular, there is no basis for the letters to inaccurately tell parents “Given that your child will no longer be able to attend (their school) a decision must be made about which school they will attend for the 2025-26 school year.” Given SED’s concession at the Court of Appeals today, children can absolutely continue to attend their nonpublic school. Moreover, as you are surely aware, amendments were recently enacted to Education Law 3204. Despite those amendments, the DOE has been contacting schools that are in middle of the plan and timeline process to demand certain materials and follow up. We do not understand the purpose of those communications. Please advise as soon as possible whether DOE takes the position that it must complete the process and make a final equivalency determination for these schools despite the recent amendments, including the phase in period. We would ask that the DOE pause its requests for materials and meetings until it can advise on the question above. We are glad to get on a phone call to discuss. Sincerely, Avi YWN is pleased to report that this morning the DOE agreed. It announced that it will take no further action until written guidance is received from the New York State Education Department. YWN applauds the organizations and askanim that lead the legislative and legal battles, working together to protect our parents and mosdos hachinuch (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he was not surprised that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be a no-show for anticipated peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey this week. Trump, who had pressed for Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet in Istanbul, brushed off Putin’s apparent decision to not take part in the expected talks. “I didn’t think it was possible for Putin to go if I’m not there,” Trump said in an exchange with reporters as he took part in a business roundtable with executives in Doha on the third day of his visit to the Middle East. Trump earlier this week floated potentially attending himself. The U.S. president, however, noted on Thursday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was already in the country for meetings with NATO counterparts. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, also plans to be in Istanbul on Friday for the anticipated Russia-Ukraine talks. The push for direct talks between Zelenskyy and Putin comes amid a flurry of negotiations aimed at producing a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Putin was first to propose restarting direct peace talks Thursday with Ukraine in the Turkish city that straddles Asia and Europe. Zelenskyy challenged the Kremlin leader to meet in Turkey in person. But the Kremlin has said its delegation at the talks will be led by Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky, and include three other officials. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Zelenskyy will only sit down with the Russian leader. Trump, as he wrapped up his visit to Qatar, stopped by a U.S. installation at the center of American involvement in the Middle East to speak with U.S. troops. He has used his four-day visit to Gulf states to reject the “interventionism” of America’s past in the region. The installation, al-Udeid Air Base, was a major staging ground during the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The base houses some 8,000 U.S. troops, down from about 10,000 at the height of those wars. Trump told the troops that his “priority is to end conflicts, not start them.” “But I will never hesitate to wield American power if it’s necessary to defend the United States of America or our partners,” Trump said. The Republican president has held up Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar as models for economic development in a region plagued by conflict. He has urged Qatari officials during his visit to use their influence to entice Iran to come to terms with his administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program. Trump said progress has been made in the talks but warned a “violent step” could be coming if a deal is not reached. “Iran has sort of agreed to the terms: They’re not going to make, I call it, in a friendly way, nuclear dust,” Trump said at the business roundtable. “We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran.” Trump will travel later on Thursday to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for the final leg of his Mideast tour. He will visit the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the country’s largest mosque. The UAE’s founder, Sheikh Zayed, is buried in the mosque’s main courtyard. Trump will also be hosted for a state visit in the evening by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the […]
POTUS Speaking At Al Udeid Air Force Base on Victory Day for WWII: Russia was celebrating. France was celebrating. Everybody was celebrating but us — and we’re the ones that won the war! They helped, but without us, they’re speaking German. Maybe a little Japanese, too.
Dick’s Sporting Goods is buying the struggling footwear chain Foot Locker for about $2.4 billion, the second buyout of a major footwear company in as many weeks as business leaders struggle with uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Dick’s said Thursday that it expects to run Foot Locker as a standalone unit and keep the Foot Locker brands, which include Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, WSS and Japanese sneaker brand atmos. “Sports and sports culture continue to be incredibly powerful, and with this acquisition, we’ll create a new global platform that serves those ever evolving needs through iconic concepts consumers know and love, enhanced store designs and omnichannel experiences, as well as a product mix that appeals to our different customer bases,” Dick’s CEO Lauren Hobart said in a statement. Both companies are led by women. Hobart became CEO at Dick’s in 2021, while Mary Dillon has served as CEO of Foot Locker since 2022. Earlier this month Skechers announced that it was being taken private by the investment firm by 3G Capital in a transaction worth more than $9 billion. The retail industry has been growing increasingly concerned over Trump’s trade war with other countries, particularly China. Athletic shoe makers have invested heavily in production in Asia. Shares of sporting goods and athletic shoe companies have been under pressure all year. Foot Locker’s stock has plunged 41% this year. It is also facing pressure elsewhere, with major athletic companies like Nike and Adidas shifting their sales strategies. Skechers had fallen almost 8% this year. About 97% of the clothes and shoes purchased in the U.S. are imported, predominantly from Asia, according to the American Apparel & Footwear Association. Using factories overseas has kept labor costs down for U.S. companies, but neither they nor their overseas suppliers are likely to absorb price increases due to new tariffs. Foot Locker offers Dick’s a lot of potential, namely its huge real estate footprint, and would give the Pittsburgh company its first foothold overseas. Foot Locker has about 2,400 retail stores across 20 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. It also has a licensed store presence in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The company had global sales of $8 billion last year. Jefferies analyst Jonathan Matuszewski said that about 33% of Foot Locker’s sales come from outside the United States. He anticipates that the combined company would generate approximately 12% of sales internationally on a pro forma basis. The deal also broadens Dick’s customer base, with sneaker collectors anxiously anticipating new drops from Foot Locker. Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData, said in an emailed statement that Foot Locker, which has a 4.3% share of the sporting goods market, would give an immediate boost to Dick’s. “It would also give Dick’s substantially more bargaining power with national brands, especially in the sneaker space,” he added. Foot Locker shareholders can choose to receive either $24 in cash or 0.1168 shares of Dick’s common stock for each Foot Locker share that they own. Dick’s said that it anticipates closing on the Foot Locker deal in the second half of the year. The transaction still needs approval from Foot Locker shareholders. Dick’s stock dropped more than 13% before the market open, while shares of Foot Locker surged more than 82%. […]
The drama surrounding the recruitment of Chareidim continues, with Kan News reporting on Wednesday evening that the IDF is preparing a large-scale operation aimed at capturing Chareidi draft dodgers. In a policy change, the arrest operation, unlike the three previous operations that have taken place since the beginning of the war, will include bnei yeshivos. Additionally, even bnei yeshivos who only received their first draft orders will be arrested, a group that includes a high percentage of bnei yeshivos. In previous operations to capture deserters and draft dodgers, the IDF refrained from operating in Chareidi areas. Reports that an arrest operation against Chareidi draft dodgers took place earlier this week were mistaken, with only one Chareidi draft dodger arrested out of 38. The IDF’s move to expand enforcement is taking place against the backdrop of public criticism surrounding the previous operation, when the IDF was criticized for avoiding operating in Chareidi areas. Chareidi party representatives have informed Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that they will consider an immediate withdrawal from the government if the military police begin an arrest operation against bnei yeshivos. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Walmart’s first quarter profit slipped and it said it must raise prices due to higher costs from tariffs implemented by President Donald Trump. The nation’s largest retailers posted strong quarterly sales Thursday and said it expects sales growth of 3.5% to 4.5% in the second quarter. Like many other U.S. companies, however, it did not issue a profit outlook for the quarter because of the chaotic environment, with stated U.S. tariff policies changing constantly. The company maintained its full year guidance issued in February. Walmart earned $4.45 billion, or 56 cents per share, in the quarter ended April 30, down from $5.10 billion, or 63 cents per share, in the same period last year. Adjusted earnings per share were 61 cents, exceeding the 58 cent projections from industry analysts, according to FactSet. Revenue rose 2.5% to $165.61 billion, just short of analyst estimates. Walmart’s U.S. comparable sales — those from established physical stores and online channels — rose 4.5% in the second quarter, though that’s slowed from a 4.6% bump in the previous quarter, and a 5.3% increase in the third quarter of 2024. Shares rose almost 3% before the opening bell Thursday. Business was fueled by health and wellness items as well as groceries. Sales were weaker in home and sporting good, which was offset by robust sales of toys, automotive goods and kid’s clothing, the company said. Global e-commerce sales rose 22%, up from 16% in the previous quarter. Future sales have become a concern for all retailers for a number of reasons. Many Americans have been pulling back on spending as they grow uneasy about the economy, and inflation remains elevated. Trump’s tariffs on China and other countries threaten the low-price model that is at the core of Walmart’s success. Trump’s threatened 145% import taxes on Chinese goods were reduced to 30% in a deal announced Monday, with some of the higher tariffs on pause for 90 days. Retailers and importers had largely stopped shipping shoes, clothes, toys, and other items with the duties so high, but many will now resume importing from China in the narrow window, hoping to avoid sparse shelves this fall. Yet many retailers say they must raise prices to tariff costs. And they are also bracing for higher shipping costs fueled by a surge of companies scrambling to get their goods on ships to the U.S. Walmart has built in hedges against some tariff threats. Two-thirds of Walmart’s merchandise is sourced in the U.S., with groceries driving much of that. Groceries account for roughly 60%, of Walmart’s U.S. business. Still, Walmart isn’t immune and said it will have to raise prices even as it works to absorb the costs of the tariffs. “We will do our best to keep our prices as low as possible but given the magnitude of the tariffs, even at the reduced levels announced this week, we aren’t able to absorb all the pressure given the reality of narrow retail margins,” said CEO Doug McMillon in a statement. Walmart is among the first major U.S. retailers to report financial results and the numbers can provide a hint as to the mood of the American shopper and how the tariffs are impacting its business. Earlier this month, Amazon announced higher first-quarter profit and sales that beat analysts’ projections, underscoring […]
Australian authorities have released images of suspects involved in the arson attack on the Adass Yisroel Shul in December, causing devastating damage. The attack took place on the night of December 6, when three masked individuals arrived in a stolen blue 2020 Volkswagen Golf sedan, parked outside the shul, and violently breached its entrance with an axe. They then doused the interior with accelerants from red jerry cans and set the building aflame, fleeing the scene moments later. The Victorian Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT)—which includes Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO)—said the incident is being treated as an act of terrorism and is a top national security priority. Video surveillance shows the suspects returning repeatedly to the car to retrieve more fuel before igniting the blaze. Miraculously, the fire did not result in any injuries. “This is not a routine crime,” said AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt. “This was an attack on a house of worship, and by extension, on the very fabric of our multicultural society. Let me be clear: the penalty for terrorism in Australia is life imprisonment.” The vehicle used in the attack was later recovered by police and is also linked to a string of other violent crimes, including the arson of Lux Nightclub in South Yarra and a shooting in Bundoora on the same night. While those incidents are not believed to be motivated by antisemitism, the use of the same vehicle suggests a broader criminal or terrorist network may be involved. Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Tess Walsh said: “We are not just seeking the arsonists themselves—we want to know who planned this attack and why. Fire is unpredictable and dangerous. It is only by sheer Divine Providence that this fire did not result in a mass casualty.” Authorities have reviewed over 1,400 CCTV recordings and are now turning to the public for assistance. They are urging anyone who may recognize the suspects or who has information about the vehicle’s movements to come forward. “The Jewish community in Melbourne has shown remarkable resilience,” said Assistant Commissioner Nutt. “We thank them for their support and patience during this extensive investigation.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Tal Shachar Carmon, a friend of Tze’ela Gez, H’yd, who died of her wounds sustained in a terror attack on Wednesday evening, told Kan News about the heartbreaking conversation Tze’ela’s husband, Chananel, was forced to have with his children on Thursday morning. Chananel was lightly injured in the attack and, after being treated in the trauma unit, was released from the hospital. “These were unbearably difficult moments,” Tal said. “He told them in a well-thought-out way and allowed each child to react as they needed. He told them that he and Ima went to have the new baby, and that on the way there was a terrorist who shot Ima, and that Abba tried to save her, and that they did everything they could and managed to save the baby, but not Ima.” A Beilinson Hospital spokesperson reported early Thursday monring that after long hours of resuscitation efforts, doctors were forced to pronounce Tze’ela’s death. The baby, who was delivered via an emergency cesarean section, is in serious but stable condition. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
NATO foreign ministers on Thursday debated an American demand to massively ramp up defense investment to 5% of gross domestic product over the next seven years, as the U.S. focuses on security challenges outside of Europe. At talks in Antalya, Turkey, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said that more investment and military equipment are needed to deal with the threat posed by Russia and terrorism, but also by China which has become the focus of U.S. concern. “When it comes to the core defense spending, we need to do much, much more,” Rutte told reporters. He underlined that once the war in Ukraine is over, Russia could reconstitute its armed forces within three to five years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio underlined that “the alliance is only as strong as its weakest link.” He insisted that the U.S. investment demand is about “spending money on the capabilities that are needed for the threats of the 21st century.” The debate on defense spending is heating up ahead of a summit of U.S. President Donald Trump and his NATO counterparts in the Netherlands on June 24-25. It’s a high-level gathering that will set the course for future European security, including that of Ukraine. In 2023, as Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine entered its second year, NATO leaders agreed to spend at least 2% of GDP on national defense budgets. So far, 22 of the 32 member countries have done so. The new spending plan under consideration is for all allies to aim for 3.5% of GDP on their defense budgets by 2032, plus an extra 1.5% on potentially defense-related things like infrastructure — roads, bridges, airports and seaports. While the two figures add up to 5%, factoring in infrastructure and cybersecurity would change the basis on which NATO traditionally calculates defense spending. The seven-year time frame is also short by the alliance’s usual standards. Rutte refused to confirm the numbers under consideration, but he acknowledged the importance of including infrastructure in the equation, “for example to make sure that bridges, yes, are there for you and me to drive our cars but also if necessary to make sure that the bridge will hold a tank. So all these expenditures have to be taken into account.” But after the meeting, he didn’t signal any progress on narrowing the numbers down. It’s difficult to see how many members would reach a new 3.5% goal. Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Italy, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain are not even spending 2% yet, although Spain does expect to reach that goal in 2025, a year past the deadline. The U.S. demand would require investment at an unprecedented scale, but Trump has cast doubt over whether the U.S. would defend allies that spend too little, and this remains an incentive to do more, even as European allies realize that they must match the threat posed by Russia. Europe-wide, industry leaders and experts have pointed out challenges the continent must overcome to be a truly self-sufficient military power, chiefly its decades-long reliance on the U.S. as well as its fragmented defense industry. “There is a lot at stake for us,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said. He urged his NATO partners to meet the investment goals faster than the 2032 target “because we see the tempo and the speed, how […]
The measles outbreak in Israel continues to spread, with the Health Ministry reporting on Thursday morning that 48 people have been diagnosed across the country, 77% of whom are unvaccinated. There are currently 13 patients hospitalized with measles, including 11 children. Three of the children, all unvaccinated, are in critical condition and being treated in intensive care units. A Health Ministry spokesperson stated that the current data indicates a worse outbreak than was previously reported to the Ministry. The Ministry has warned that many of the cases are in Chareidi areas, where vaccination rates are low. Ministry officials are concerned that the outbreak could worsen considerably due to the upcoming mass event at Meron on Lag B’Omer. The Health Ministry held a number of emergency meetings on the issue last week and approved an extensive vaccination campaign for both adults and children in areas with low vaccination rates. A decision was also made to bring forward the timing of the second measles vaccine dose in high-risk areas to one month after the first dose. The Ministry calls on anyone who feels unwell and/or suffers from measles symptoms to avoid attending mass events in order not to endanger others. The Ministry also emphasizes that anyone who has been in contact with a measles patient to carry out examinations and vaccinations according to instructions and avoid public places. Unvaccinated pregnant women, people suffering from immunosuppression, and parents of babies who were in contact with a confirmed patient should consult with relevant health offices. The Health Ministry stated: “Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that manifests as fever, general malaise, a runny nose, and a rash, and can have serious and even life-threatening complications. In the event of symptoms and until medical clarification, avoid public spaces such as malls and public transportation. If it is necessary to go to a clinic or emergency room, coordinate your arrival and notify the staff upon arrival at the medical institution. The Ministry emphasizes the importance of administering routine vaccinations against diseases such as measles, some of which can cause serious complications and death.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Amid an outbreak of measles in the city of Modi’in Illit, the city Rabbanim published a letter this week calling on the public to urgently vaccinate themselves and their children against the disease. An outbreak of measles in Israel began last month, including in several Chareidi cities. There are currently 14 cases in Modi’in Ilit, eight in Jerusalem, and eight in Bnei Brak. According to data from the Health Ministry, there are about 350,000 Israeli children under the age of 10 who are not vaccinated – 100,000 of them in the Chareidi community. The Health Ministry is working to raise awareness of the risks and provide accessible information about vaccinations to the Chareidi public. In their letter, the Rabbanim warn against the dangers posed by the measles outbreak, especially among children and adults in at-risk groups, emphasizing that “vaccinating against measles is part of the mitzvah of ‘ונשמרתם מאוד לנפשותיכם,’ a mitzvas aseih d’oraisa that should not be taken lightly. And as Chazal taught us: ‘חמירא סכנתא מאיסורא.'” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Republicans and Democrats alike on Wednesday questioned the deep staffing cuts, research funding freezes and drastic policy changes that U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made in a few short months at the helm of the nation’s health department. Kennedy, who was to sit before the Senate’s health committee later in the day, appeared at a House appropriations hearing to defend the White House’s requested budget for his agency. The request includes a $500 million boost for Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative to promote nutrition and healthier lifestyles while making deep cuts to infectious disease prevention, medical research maternal health, low-income heat assistance and preschool programs. Kennedy described his downsizing of the sprawling $1.7 trillion-a-year agency — from 82,000 workers to 62,000 — as necessary cost-cutting measures that have reduced redundancies. He argued that he’s merely consolidating several existing offices that work on women’s health, minority health and sexually transmitted disease prevention. “When we consolidate them, Democrats say they’re eliminating them,” Kennedy said. But Democrats argued that some of that consolidation will ultimately impact the work that the federal government is doing to reduce overdose deaths, study causes of cancer or offer suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ teens. Rep. Madeline Dean, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, pressed Kennedy on his plans to shutter the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency that oversees a national suicide hotline, surveys Americans on their drug use annually and provides funding and guidance for addiction treatment centers. Kennedy plans to fold it into his new Administration for Healthy Americans. “We call that shift and shaft,” Dean said of Kennedy’s plans. Several Republicans, too, sprinkled hints of concerns about Kennedy’s approach to the job throughout the hearing. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann of Tennessee praised Kennedy for his work but raised concerns about whether the secretary has provided adequate evidence that artificial food dyes are bad for diets. Removing those food dyes would hurt the “many snack manufacturers” in his district, including the makers of M&Ms candy. Rep. Mike Simpson, a dentist from Idaho, said Kennedy’s plan to remove fluoride recommendations for drinking water alarms him. The department’s press release on Tuesday that announced the Food and Drug Administration plans to remove fluoride supplements for children from the market wrongly claimed that fluoride “kills bacteria from the teeth,” Simpson noted. He explained to Kennedy that fluoride doesn’t kill bacteria in the mouth but instead makes tooth enamel more resistance to decay. “I will tell you that if you are successful in banning fluoride … we better put a lot more money into dental education because we’re going to need a lot more dentists,” Simpson added. Democrat Bonnie Watson-Coleman of New Jersey asked “why, why, why” Kennedy would lay off nearly all the staff that oversees the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides $4.1 billion in heating assistance to needy families. The program is slated to be eliminated from the agency’s budget. Kennedy said that advocates warned him those cuts “will end up killing people” but that President Donald Trump believes his energy policy will lower costs. If that doesn’t work, Kennedy said, he would restore funding for the program. Kennedy heads next to to the Senate, where many eyes will be on his dialogue with Republican Sen. Bill […]
What does it really mean to live a good life? For centuries, that question has been asked by philosophers, theologians, and thinkers from every corner of the globe. But today, a sweeping new scientific effort is attempting to answer it in unprecedented, data-driven detail—and the early results may surprise you. The Global Flourishing Study, a landmark five-year project surveying more than 200,000 people across 22 countries, is redefining what it means to flourish. Not just to survive, or even to be happy—but to thrive in a deep, meaningful, multidimensional way. Backed by Gallup and powered by a team of over 40 scientists and researchers across disciplines and continents, the study measures well-being in six key dimensions: happiness, health, meaning, character, relationships, and financial security. The findings challenge some long-held assumptions. Despite their wealth, countries like the United States and Sweden scored relatively low on overall flourishing, largely due to lower levels of meaning and connection. Meanwhile, nations like Indonesia, Mexico, and the Philippines—though less affluent—ranked among the highest, buoyed by strong social ties and a shared sense of purpose. “Flourishing isn’t just about what’s in your bank account,” researchers explained. “It’s about what surrounds you—your community, your values, your ability to make sense of life’s challenges.” One of the study’s most striking revelations is the decline in well-being among young adults, who reported lower scores than their older counterparts—bucking the long-standing belief that well-being bottoms out in middle age. The data suggests that today’s youth may be increasingly burdened by mental health struggles, financial stress, and a loss of meaning. Religion also emerged as a powerful factor. In nearly every country studied—including highly secular ones like Sweden—people who regularly attended religious services reported higher levels of happiness, stronger relationships, and deeper life meaning. Researchers link this to the “four B’s” that religious communities provide: belonging, bonding, behaving, and believing. Other patterns stood out: Married people typically reported stronger support systems and greater life meaning; Those employed (even self-employed) tended to feel more secure and content; Some who endured difficult childhoods still found meaning later in life—suggesting that resilience, too, is a powerful ingredient in flourishing. Interestingly, wealthier nations often scored higher in financial stability but lower in purpose and social connection—suggesting a possible trade-off between economic advancement and existential fulfillment. And in a twist, countries with higher fertility rates often reported greater meaning in life—raising questions about whether economic development (fertility rates are lower in more developed countries) is always a net gain when it comes to holistic well-being. As vast as the data set is, researchers caution that this is just the beginning. While the standardized questions allow for global comparison, they may not capture the cultural nuances of what it means to live well. Future phases will likely involve more tailored, locally sensitive studies to deepen the insights. Still, the early message is: Flourishing isn’t about chasing a single formula. It’s about building lives—individually and collectively—that are not just full, but fulfilling. “The good life,” the study reminds us, “is more than just feeling good. It’s about becoming whole.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
