Microsoft began laying off about 6,000 workers Tuesday, nearly 3% of its entire workforce and its largest job cuts in more than two years as the company spends heavily on artificial intelligence. Hardest hit was the tech giant’s home state of Washington, where Microsoft informed state officials it was cutting 1,985 workers tied to its Redmond headquarters. Microsoft said the layoffs will be across all levels, teams and geographies but the cuts will focus on reducing the number of managers. Notices to employees began going out on Tuesday. The mass layoffs come just weeks after Microsoft reported strong sales and profits that beat Wall Street expectations for the January-March quarter, which investors took as a dose of relief during a turbulent time for the tech sector and U.S. economy. “I think many people have this conception of layoffs as something that struggling companies have to do to save themselves, which is one reason for layoffs but it’s not the only reason,” said Daniel Zhao, lead economist at workplace reviews site Glassdoor. “Big tech companies have trimmed their workforces as they rearrange their strategies and pull back from the more aggressive hiring that they did during the early post-pandemic years.” Microsoft employed 228,000 full-time workers as of last June, the last time it reported its annual headcount. About 55% of those workers were in the U.S. Microsoft announced a smaller round of performance-based layoffs in January. But the 3% cuts will be Microsoft’s biggest since early 2023, when the company cut 10,000 workers, almost 5% of its workforce, joining other tech companies that were scaling back their pandemic-era expansions. Microsoft’s chief financial officer, Amy Hood, said on an April earnings call that the company was focused on “building high-performing teams and increasing our agility by reducing layers with fewer managers.” She also said the headcount in March was 2% higher than a year earlier, and down slightly compared to the end of last year. The layoffs are hitting all parts of Microsoft’s business, including the career networking site LinkedIn and the video game platform Xbox. The company didn’t give a specific reason for the layoffs, only that they were part of “organizational changes necessary to best position the company for success in a dynamic marketplace.” Microsoft has said it has been spending $80 billion in the fiscal year that ends in June on building data centers and other infrastructure it needs to develop its artificial intelligence technology. Those AI tools have been pitched as changing the way people work, including in Microsoft’s own workplaces. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg at an AI event last month at Meta’s headquarters that “maybe 20, 30% of the code” for some of Microsoft’s coding projects “are probably all written by software.” Even if AI is increasingly helping Microsoft software engineers, however, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a chief reason for laying them off. “When these big tech companies say that they’re trimming management layers, that doesn’t really sound like it’s being driven by AI,” Zhao said. “You’re not expecting ChatGPT to replace the manager.” Instead, cutting management ranks can often reflect a broader strategy. “As companies grow quickly, you need to add managers who can coordinate across teams or within teams,” Zhao said. “But it’s not until things start to slow down […]
New York City will no longer fully control its jail system, including the long-troubled Rikers Island complex, after a federal judge found the city had failed to stem spiraling dysfunction and brutality against those in custody. Instead, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain said she would appoint an outside manager to “take all necessary steps” toward restoring order inside the jails and bringing the city into compliance with previous court orders. The official, known as a “remediation manager,” will report directly to the court. While the city’s corrections commissioner will remain responsible for much of the day-to-day operations of the jail system, the remediation manager will have broad powers to address long-standing safety problems, including authority over hiring and promotions, staff deployment and disciplinary action regarding the use of force The extraordinary intervention, outlined Tuesday by Swain in a 77-page order, comes nearly a decade after the city’s jail system was placed under federal oversight as part of a class-action lawsuit brought by detainees. In the years since, rates of violence have continued to increase, creating a “grave and immediate threat” that violates the constitutional rights of those in custody, according to Swain. “Worse still, the unsafe and dangerous conditions in the jails, which are characterized by unprecedented rates of use of force and violence, have become normalized despite the fact that they are clearly abnormal and unacceptable,” Swain wrote Tuesday. This past November, she found the city in contempt for failing to comply with 18 separate provisions of court orders pertaining to security, staffing, supervision, use of force and the safety of young detainees. The contempt ruling opened the door to a federal receivership of Rikers Island, a remedy long supported by detainee advocates, strongly opposed by New York City Mayor Eric Adams and characterized by the court as an option of last resort. In her order on Tuesday, Swain said the remedial manager would have “broad authority” similar to a federal receiver, but would be expected to work closely with the city-appointed commissioner of the Department of Correction to implement a reform plan. At a press conference Tuesday, Adams said the city would follow the judge’s order, while also suggesting the appointment of an outside manager was not necessary. “Remediation manager? I don’t know the definition of that,” he said. “We have this oversight and that oversight. How much oversight are you going to do before you realize there are systemic problems?” Benny Boscio, the president of the union that represents correction officers, said the union was willing to work with the outside manager, but it would maintain “our fierce advocacy for the preservation of our members’ employment rights and improving their working conditions.” Advocates for detainees, meanwhile, celebrated the judge’s order as a turning point in a decades-long effort at reform. “This has the potential to finally change the culture of violence and brutality in the city’s jails that we’ve seen for decades,” said Debbie Greenberger, an attorney with the Emery Celli law firm, which represents detainees, along with the Legal Aid Society. “Nothing is going to change overnight, but I’m more hopeful today that we have a path to transformational change,” she added. (AP)
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Dramatic security footage of the IDF’s strike on Hamas leader Mahmoud Sinwar was published on Wednesday. The footage reveals the intensity of the massive explosion that shook the area, and people being violently thrown into the air by the force of the blast. About 40 bunker-busting bombs, totaling around one ton in explosives, were used in the attack, reports said. The IDF carried out further strikes on the site on Wednesday in order to prevent Hamas forces from reaching the scene. Sinwar’s death has not been confirmed, but senior Israeli defense officials believe that he was killed in the strike. If he was indeed killed, it could possibly lead to a breakthrough in hostage negotiations as Sinwar is considered a key obstacle in the process. The strike targeted an underground command-and-control complex located beneath the European Hospital in southern Gaza. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that he will be waiting for his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in the Turkish capital this week to conduct face-to-face talks about the more than 3-year war, amid heavy pressure from the U.S. and European leaders to reach a settlement. Putin hasn’t yet said whether he will be at the talks, which U.S. President Donald Trump has urged the two sides to attend as part of Washington’s efforts to stop the fighting. Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv that he will be in Ankara on Thursday to conduct the negotiations. He will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the two will wait for Putin to arrive, he said. Zelenskyy said he would “do everything to agree on a ceasefire, because it is with (Putin) that I must negotiate a ceasefire, as only he can decide on it.” Zelenskyy said that if Putin chooses Istanbul to hold the meeting, then both leaders will travel there from Ankara. “If Putin does not arrive and plays games, it is the final point that he does not want to end the war,” Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian leader added that if Putin doesn’t show up, European and U.S. leaders should follow through with threats of additional and heavy sanctions against Russia. Trump, who is on a four-day Middle East trip, said Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would attend the talks. Special envoy Steve Witkoff also is set to take part, according to a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preview plans that have not been made public. Washington has been applying strong pressure on both sides to come to the table since Trump took office in January with a promise to end the war. Military analysts say that both sides are preparing a spring-summer campaign on the battlefield, where a war of attrition has killed tens of thousands of soldiers on both sides along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said Monday that Russia is “quickly replenishing front-line units with new recruits to maintain the battlefield initiative.” German leader says ball is in Putin’s court International pressure has been growing to push Ukraine and Russia into finding a settlement. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pressed again for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire as he met his Greek counterpart in Berlin on Tuesday. “We are waiting for Putin’s agreement,” he said. “We agree that, in case there is no real progress this week, we then want to push at European level for a significant tightening of sanctions,” Merz added. He said that “we will focus on further areas, such as the energy sector and the financial market.” Merz welcomed Zelenskyy’s readiness to travel personally to Turkey, “but now it is really up to Putin to accept this offer of negotiations and agree to a ceasefire. The ball is exclusively in Russia.” Russia isn’t saying whether Putin will attend talks Overnight, Russia launched 10 Shahed and decoy drones at Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said. It was Russia’s smallest drone bombardment this year. The Kremlin hasn’t directly responded to Zelenskyy’s challenge for Putin to meet him in person at the negotiating table. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined for the second straight day Tuesday to tell reporters […]
President Donald Trump told Gulf leaders on Wednesday he urgently wants “to make a deal” with Iran to wind down its nuclear program but Tehran must end its support of proxy groups throughout the region as part of any potential agreement. Iran “must stop sponsoring terror, halt its bloody proxy wars and permanently and verifiably cease pursuit of nuclear weapons,” Trump said in remarks at a meeting of leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Saudi capital. “They cannot have a nuclear weapon.” The U.S. and Iran have engaged in four rounds of talks since early last month focused on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump has repeatedly said that he believes brokering a deal is possible but that the window is closing. The Republican president’s strongly worded push on Iran to cease support of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen come as its proxy network has faced significant setbacks in the 19 months since Hamas launched its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. In Iran, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called Trump’s remarks “deceitful” but did not directly address the U.S. leader’s call on Iran to cease support of proxy groups. Later, Trump, in an exchange with reporters aboard Air Force One, urged Iran “to make the right decision” about its nuclear program “because something’s going to happen one way or the other.” “So we’ll either do it friendly or we’ll do it very unfriendly,” Trump warned. “And that won’t be pleasant.” Trump said that he believed the moment was ripe “for a future free from the grip of Hezbollah terrorists.” Hezbollah is severely weakened after its war last year with Israel in which much of its top leadership was killed, and after losing a key ally with the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a conduit for Iran to send arms. Lifting sanctions on Syria Trump’s comments on Iran came after he met Wednesday with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a face-to-face engagement with the onetime insurgent leader who spent years imprisoned by U.S. forces after being captured in Iraq. Trump agreed to meet al-Sharaa at the end of his stay in Saudi Arabia. He was headed next to Qatar, where he will be honored with a state visit. His Mideast tour also will take him to the United Arab Emirates. Al-Sharaa was named president of Syria in January, a month after a stunning offensive by insurgent groups led by al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, stormed Damascus and ended the 54-year rule of the Assad family. Trump said he decided to meet with al-Sharaa after being encouraged to do so by Prince Mohammed and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. He also pledged to lift yearslong sanctions on Syria. “The sanctions were really crippling and very powerful,” Trump said. “It’s not going to be easy anyway, so it gives them a good, strong chance” to rebuild the country, he added. Prince Mohammed joined Trump and al-Sharaa for the meeting, which lasted 33 minutes. Erdogan also took part in the talks via video conference. The prince said Trump’s decision to engage with al-Sharaa and lift the sanctions will “alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people” and spur a “new chapter” for the nation. Formerly known by the nom de guerre Abu Mohammed al-Golani, al-Sharaa joined the ranks of al-Qaida insurgents battling U.S. […]
Republicans in Congress are moving with rapid speed to advance President Donald Trump’s big bill of tax breaks, spending cuts and beefed-up border security funding as leaders work to enact many of his campaign promises. House committees have been laboring for months to draft the legislation, which Republicans have labeled “THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL,’’ a nod to Trump himself. Speaker Mike Johnson is pushing to approve the package and send it to the Senate by Memorial Day. Democrats say they will fight what House party leader Hakeem Jeffries calls “this extreme and toxic bill.” Here’s a look at what’s in and out of the legislative package so far: Tax cuts for individuals and businesses The tax portion of the GOP legislation contains more than $5 trillion in tax cuts, according to an estimate from the Joint Committee on Taxation — costs that are partially offset by spending cuts elsewhere and other changes in the tax code. Republicans look to make permanent the individual income tax cuts passed in President Donald Trump’s first term, plus enact some of the promises he made on the campaign trail to not tax tips, overtime and interest on auto loans. Republicans partially offset the tax breaks by rolling back the clean energy tax credits passed during Joe Biden’s presidency, such as a $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicles, bringing the overall cost of the tax cuts down to about $3.7 trillion. The bill is expected to undergo further changes in the coming weeks. Lawmakers from New York are leading an effort to boost the state and local tax deduction, which the bill would already increase from $10,000 to $30,000 for families making less than $400,000 per year. The legislation provides a deduction for those workers in service industry and other jobs that have traditionally relied on tips. The package provides tax relief for automobile shoppers with a temporary deduction of up to $10,000 on car loan interest, applying the benefit only for those vehicles where the final assembly occurred in the United States. The tax break would expire at the end of Trump’s term. For seniors, there would be a bolstered $4,000 deduction on Social Security wages for those with adjusted incomes no higher than $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples. States to pick up more of the tab for food assistance House Republicans are looking to shift some of the cost of the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program, known as SNAP, to the states. States would shoulder 5% of benefit costs under the bill beginning in fiscal year 2028. The share could also go higher for those states with high rates of overpayments and underpayments. The bill would also require states to pick up 75% of the administrative costs. Currently, states shoulder none of the benefit costs and half of the administration costs. Republicans argue that states will run more their programs more efficiently if they have to cover more of the costs. Republicans also are expanding work requirements for food aid recipients, which under current law applies to individuals without dependents aged 18-54. The bill expands the work requirement through age 64 and exempts only those caring for a dependent child under the age of 7. At the same time, the legislation would invest $60 billion in new money for agriculture […]
Police in Antwerp early Wednesday morning raided the homes of mohelim in the Chareidi kehilla in the city, seeking their bris knives and lists of children, including the homes of renowned mohelim, HaRav Aharon Eckstein and HaRav Moshe Landau. The police raid follows an outrageous lawsuit filed over a year ago by a Jew with a history of provoking Jewish kehillos in Europe. According to testimonies, the officers knocked on doors and said, “Either you open up, or we break in.” The police confiscated all the knives in their possession despite the fact that there has yet to be a court ruling on the case, and requested the list of all the babies they circumcised in the past year. The Jewish complainant crossed a red line by not only filing a lawsuit against the mohelim but also against Rabbanim and Rebbes who serve as sandekim at brisos, including the Rebbe of Peshwarsk and even the late Gaavad of the Shomrei HaDas community, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Moshe Lieberman, z’tl. The European Jewish Association (EJA) issued a statement condemning the police raid. EJA chairman Rabbi Menachem Margolin said that “this constitutes yet another red line crossed in the intimidation of Jewish religious figures in Belgium.” “Following the ban on ritual slaughter, the harassment of Mohels represents a further red line and a clear warning sign to Belgian Jews and the Belgian government. Freedom of religion must be upheld!” “Any restriction, no matter how small, on circumcision in Belgium would send a clear message to Belgian Jews that they are not welcome in the country”. “The EJA urges law enforcement authorities, policymakers, the government, and members of parliament must urgently pass legislation that explicitly guarantees circumcision as a protected part of religious freedom under the law.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Texas confirmed eight more measles cases over the span of four days, continuing a short streak of shrinking increases in a state that has been dealing with a large outbreak for nearly four months. The U.S. surpassed 1,000 measles cases Friday, and Texas still accounts for the vast majority of cases in an outbreak that also spread measles to New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas.Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children died from measles-related illnesses in the epicenter in West Texas, and an adult in New Mexico who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness. Other states with active outbreaks — which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Indiana, Michigan, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee. North America has two other ongoing outbreaks, all of which are the same measles strain. One outbreak in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in 1,440 cases from mid-October through May 6, up 197 cases in a week. And the Mexican state of Chihuahua had 1,094 measles cases and one death as of Tuesday, according to data from the state health ministry. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. As the virus takes hold in U.S. communities with low vaccination rates, health experts fear that spread could stretch on for a year. Here’s what else you need to know about measles in the U.S. How many measles cases are there in Texas? There are a total of 717 cases across 32 counties, most of them in West Texas, state health officials said Tuesday. The state confirmed only eight more cases since its update Friday. The state also added one hospitalization to its count, for a total of 93 throughout the outbreak. State health officials estimated about 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious. Fifty-seven percent of Texas’ cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 405 cases since late January — just over 1.7% of the county’s residents. The April 3 death in Texas was an 8-year-old child, according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6. How many measles cases are there in New Mexico? New Mexico remained steady with 71 total cases Tuesday. Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state’s cases are in Lea County. Three are in Eddy County, two in Doña Ana County and Chaves and Curry counties have one each. An unvaccinated adult died of measles-related illness March 6. The person did not seek medical care. How many cases are there in Oklahoma? Oklahoma held steady with a total of 14 confirmed and three probable cases as of Tuesday. The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases, but Cleveland, Oklahoma and Sequoyah counties have had public exposures in the past couple of months. How many cases are […]
U.S. officials unveiled an indictment Tuesday against two alleged Mexican drug cartel leaders on narco-terrorism charges. The indictment comes after the Trump administration in February designated the Sinaloa Cartel and seven other Latin American crime organizations as “foreign terrorist organizations,” upping its pressure on cartels operating in the U.S. and on anyone aiding them. President Donald Trump called for the designation in an executive order on Jan. 20, the day he took office in his second term. The “foreign terrorist organization” label is unusual because it deploys a terrorist designation normally reserved for groups like al-Qaida or the Islamic State group that use violence for political ends — not for money-focused crime rings such as the Latin American cartels. “If you act like a terrorist, you shouldn’t be surprised if you are charged as one,” said Adam Gordon, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of California. Those charged were described as key leaders of the Beltrán Leyva Organization, according to the indictment. The organization is one of a number of warring criminal groups that once formed part of the Sinaloa Cartel and have since split off and warred for territory and power, fueling bloodshed in large swathes of Mexico. Pedro Inzunza Noriega and his son, Pedro Inzunza Coronel, were also charged with providing material support of terrorism in connection with the trafficking of massive amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and heroin into the United States, according to court documents. Five other high-ranking members were charged with drug trafficking and money laundering. All remain fugitives, officials said. The father and son have overseen “one of the largest and most sophisticated fentanyl production networks in the world,” Gordon said. The organization is accused of trafficking tens of thousands of kilograms (pounds) of fentanyl into the United States. Mexican authorities in December raided multiple sites controlled by the father and son that resulted in the world’s largest seizure of fentanyl, totaling 1,500 kilograms (more than 1.65 tons), according to court documents. The group is also known for its violence, engaging in shootouts, kidnappings, torture and murders and targeting officials. It controls the drug trade in various parts of Central America and in many areas of Mexico – including in the border city of Tijuana, across from San Diego, according to the indictment. The elder Pedro is paralyzed after being shot by a rival cartel member. His group has been one of the top distributors of cocaine and now fentanyl since 2006, Gordon said. (AP)
U.S. health regulators announced an effort Tuesday to phase out ingestible fluoride supplements sometimes used to strengthen children’s teeth, opening a new front in Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s effort against a mainstay of dental care. The Food and Drug Administration said it will conduct a scientific review of the children’s products by late October with the aim of removing them from the market. Formally withdrawing medical products requires a lengthy rulemaking process that can take years. Instead, the FDA will ask manufacturers to voluntarily pull their products, according to an administration official. Fluoride tablets and lozenges are sometimes recommended for children and teens at increased risk of tooth decay or cavities because of low fluoride in their local drinking water. Companies also sell drops for babies. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the products pose a risk when swallowed because they may interfere with healthy gut bacteria that are critical to digestion, immunity and other key bodily functions. He also referenced studies showing possible associations between excess fluoride intake and other problems, including decreased IQ. Previous reviews by public health experts and dental professionals have not shown any serious health risks with the products. As state and local governments begin removing fluoride from their water, the need for supplemental fluoride is expected to grow. Officials in Utah — the first U.S. state to ban fluoride from drinking water — recently made fluoride supplements available without a prescription. Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 1962, the agency set guidelines for how much should be added to water. Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer, has called fluoride a “dangerous neurotoxin” tied to a range of health dangers. Last month, he announced a task force to scrutinize fluoride’s use, while at the same time saying he would order the CDC to stop recommending that it be added to tap water. A report last year by the federal government’s National Toxicology Program concluded that drinking water with more than twice the CDC’s recommended level was associated with lower IQs in kids. The study was based on research conducted in Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Mexico. “Ending the use of ingestible fluoride is long overdue,” Kennedy said in a statement Tuesday. “This decision brings us one step closer to delivering on President Trump’s promise to Make America Healthy Again.” An influential government health panel recommends fluoride supplements for children between the ages of six months and 5 years if they live in areas with low fluoridation levels. The U.S. Preventative Services Task Forces judged the recommendation to have “high certainty,” based on the available evidence. A 2010 paper from the American Dental Association recommended supplemental fluoride for children up to 16 years old who are at high risk of cavities. The recommendation was based on a review of studies across different age groups. The most common side effect associated with the products is spotting or discoloration of the teeth, caused by extra fluoride. The ADA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The FDA regulates most dental products, including fluoride-containing toothpastes, supplements, mouthwashes and rinses. But in Tuesday’s press release, the FDA said the ingestible products targeted by the agency have “never been […]
In a historic event, US President Donald Trump met on Wednesday morning with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the first meeting between a US and Syrian president in 25 years. The meeting took place in Saudi Arabia, where Trump is finishing his visit before heading to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates as part of his trip to the Middle East. Trump agreed to meet with Shaara after being pressured “to say hello” to him by the Saudi Crown Prince and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Sharaa is in Riyadh for a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council. The minutes, which lasted for about 33 minutes, took place a day after Trump made a surprise announcement on Tuesday evening that he was lifting all sanctions on Syria. The move came despite Israel’s reservations about Sharaa’s previous ties to al-Qaida and its warning to Trump to keep the sanctions in place. Some members of Trump’s government also have serious concerns about Sharaa, who is still officially designated by the US as a jihadist terrorist. יש גם וידאו של טראמפ – א-שרע – בן סלמאן https://t.co/5Fw9yb9t6W pic.twitter.com/6U81IA8Kp2 — roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) May 14, 2025 At the meeting, Trump urged Sharaa to normalize relations with Israel, according to a statement from the White House. He also asked him to deport Palestinian terrorists from the country along with all foreign terrorists. The White House statement said: “Today, President Trump, at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. President Erdogan of Turkey joined by phone. President Erdogan praised President Trump for lifting sanctions on Syria and committed to working alongside Saudi Arabia to encourage peace and prosperity in Syria. The Crown Prince also commended President Trump for his decision to lift the sanctions, calling it courageous. President Trump thanked President Erdogan and the Crown Prince for their friendship, and told President al-Sharaa that he has a tremendous opportunity to do something historic in his country.” “President Trump encouraged President al-Sharaa to do a great job for the Syrian people, and urged him to: 1. Sign onto the Abraham Accords with Israel. 2. Tell all foreign terrorists to leave Syria. 3. Deport Palestinian terrorists. 4. Help the United States to prevent the resurgence of ISIS. 5. Assume responsibility for ISIS detention centers in Northeast Syria.” “President al-Sharaa thanked President Trump, the Crown Prince, and President Erdogan for their efforts to put together the meeting, and recognized the significant opportunity presented by the Iranians leaving Syria, as well as shared US-Syrian interests in countering terrorism and eliminating chemical weapons. President al-Sharaa affirmed his commitment to the 1974 disengagement with Israel. President al-Sharaa concluded with his hope that Syria would serve as a critical link in facilitating trade between east and west, and invited American companies to invest in Syrian oil and gas. The Russia-Ukraine war and the war in Gaza was also discussed.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The Houthis launched a ballistic missile at Israel on Wednesday morning, triggering sirens in central Israel, the Jerusalem area, and the Dead Sea area. The missile was intercepted outside Israel by air defense systems. The attack was the third Houthi missile launch at Israel in 24 hours. Following the attack, the IDF spokesperson in Arabic Avichay Adraee repeated a warning he previously issued on Sunday for Yemenis to evacuate three seaports. “An important second warning to all those present in the seaports controlled by the terrorist Houthi regime, the Ras Isa, Hodeidah, and Al-Salif ports,” he wrote. ” We urge you to evacuate these ports until further notice.” “Due to the Houthi terrorist regime’s use of seaports for its terrorist activities, we urge all those present at these ports to evacuate and stay away from them for your own safety until further notice.” A ballistic missile launched at Israel on Tuesday evening triggered sirens throughout Jerusalem and central Israel. The missile was intercepted by Israel’s Arrow missile defense system. Two women in central Israel were injured, one moderately and one lightly, while running to shelters. Several hours later, the Houthis fired another missile at Israel. The missile fell short of Israel, and no sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Sean Hannity: This is an amazing week so far. You get a deal with China. India and Pakistan. You slashed prescription drug prices. The last American hostage has been released. POTUS: “I’ve been busy but I’ve enjoyed it because we’re getting things accomplished.”
POTUS: “You see Saudi Arabia and you see UAE and you see Qatar and they have these brand new Boeing 747s — and you see ours next to it…We’re the United States of America. I believe we should have the most impressive plane.”
POTUS: “Iran was broke because I placed secondary sanctions… They didn’t have money for Hamas, they didn’t have money for Hezbollah… When Biden came in, he took off the sanctions and he let them get very rich… Biden freed them up from what I did.”
A groundbreaking Israeli study has found that GLP-1 medications — the popular class of weight-loss drugs that includes Ozempic and Wegovy — can dramatically reduce the risk of developing obesity-related cancers, surpassing even the benefits of bariatric surgery. The findings, published in The Lancet’s eClinicalMedicine, analyzed thousands of patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes who were prescribed GLP-1 drugs such as liraglutide (Saxenda), exenatide (Byetta), and dulaglutide (Trulicity). The study excluded newer drugs like semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound), but still showed striking results: patients on GLP-1s were 41% less likely to develop obesity-linked cancers than those who underwent surgical weight loss procedures. “We do not yet fully understand how GLP-1s work,” said Dr. Yael Wolff Sagy of Clalit Health Services, co-lead author of the study. “But this adds to the growing body of evidence that these drugs’ benefits go far beyond shedding pounds.” Obesity is a known risk factor for at least 13 cancers — including breast, colon, pancreatic, and liver cancers. Until recently, experts believed weight loss itself was the primary driver in reducing that risk. But this study points to something more powerful: a unique metabolic impact that may directly inhibit cancer development. “The protective effects likely arise from multiple mechanisms, including reducing inflammation,” said co-lead author Dr. Dror Dicker of Hasharon Hospital in Petah Tikva. Independent experts are calling the study a potential game-changer in the fight against cancer. “This work could herald a whole new era of preventive cancer medicine,” said Prof. Mark Lawler of Queen’s University Belfast. “GLP-1s could cut cancer risk by nearly 50% — that would be transformational.” A separate study last year echoed similar findings, showing that people on GLP-1 drugs had reduced risk for 10 of the 13 cancers tied to obesity. “These drugs not only promote weight loss but also improve insulin sensitivity and reduce insulin levels,” explained Lindsey Wang of Case Western Reserve University, “which may help slow cancer cell growth.” Once marketed primarily for diabetes control, GLP-1 medications are now at the center of a revolution in metabolic medicine — with new evidence suggesting they may be one of the most powerful cancer prevention tools ever developed. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
We are a community that cares. When a child is sick, we seek the best doctors. When someone needs help, we show up. And Baruch Hashem, when it comes to mental health, we’ve come a long way. People are going to therapy. We’re talking more openly. The stigma is breaking. But something isn’t adding up. People are spending years in therapy — and still suffering. The anxiety is still there. The depression hasn’t lifted. The trauma still haunts. Relationships remain broken. And families feel like they’re drowning. Too many people go to therapy hoping for healing — and walk away with little more than “processing,” “insight,” or “support.” While that can be meaningful, it’s often not enough. Not when someone is truly struggling. Not when they need to get better. And here’s what most people don’t realize: There are treatments that work. Not just in theory. Not just emotionally. But practically. Clinically. Measurably. These are called evidence-based therapies — approaches tested through decades of research, refined through thousands of clinical cases, and shown to consistently reduce symptoms. For real. Here’s what that looks like: CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) — 12 to 20 sessions for anxiety, depression, and more ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention) — 12 to 20 sessions for OCD DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) — 6 to 12 months for emotion dysregulation and self-destructive behavior PCIT (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy) or PMT (Parent Management Training) — 12 to 20 sessions for childhood behavior challenges like ADHD CPT and PE — 8 to 15 sessions for trauma and PTSD Compare that to therapy that drags on for years, with no clear direction, and no measurable change. (And think of the savings! Therapy just isn’t so expensive anymore when you are talking about these timelines.) When you choose evidence-based therapy, you’re not just paying to be heard. You’re investing in progress. Let’s be clear. Evidence-based therapy isn’t cold or rigid. It’s not robotic. And it’s definitely not shallow. It doesn’t ignore emotions — it uses them. It doesn’t avoid the past — it teaches you how to stop being controlled by it. These treatments are structured, collaborative, and deeply respectful. And they’re designed to work. CBT doesn’t just explain why you feel stuck. It helps you get unstuck. DBT doesn’t just teach you skills. It helps you use them when it counts. ERP doesn’t help you avoid your fears. It helps you face them and win. PCIT doesn’t just calm your kid. It transforms your parenting. And trauma therapy isn’t endless. It’s targeted. It’s focused. And it brings relief. So why haven’t more people in our community heard of these approaches? It’s not because therapists don’t care. It’s often because they weren’t trained in them. Many talented, well-meaning therapists never learned how to use these treatments. That’s not their fault — but it’s a gap we need to talk about. Because when people are in pain, they deserve more than good intentions. They deserve tools that are proven to help. This isn’t about criticizing therapists. It’s about protecting clients. It’s about saying: if you’re suffering, you deserve to know what works. And if you’re investing time, money, and hope in therapy, you deserve to understand what you’re getting. Every person in therapy should feel empowered to ask: What treatment are we doing? What […]
The decades-long search for a fabled Nazi gold train, rumored to be laden with looted treasures and hidden in a secret tunnel during the final days of World War II, has been thrust back into the spotlight. A mysterious letter, delivered anonymously to a local treasure-hunting foundation, claims to pinpoint the location of three camouflaged train carriages buried near the city of Walbrzych, reviving hopes of uncovering one of history’s greatest lost fortunes. The letter, received by the Silesian Treasure Hunters’ Foundation, describes “camouflaged train carriages” concealed within a tunnel in the rugged terrain of Lower Silesia, a region long associated with the Nazi’s secretive Riese Project—a vast network of underground tunnels and bunkers constructed by forced labor between 1943 and 1945. According to reports, the anonymous sender, who claims to have stumbled upon the site, provided detailed directions to a location near Walbrzych, sparking a frenzy among treasure hunters and historians alike. “This is the most credible lead we’ve had in years,” said Lukasz Kazek, a local historian and member of the foundation, in an interview with the Post. “The letter’s specificity—describing three carriages hidden in a sealed tunnel—matches longstanding legends about the train. We’re cautiously optimistic but eager to investigate.” The legend of the Nazi gold train has captivated adventurers since 1945, when retreating Nazi forces reportedly hid a train loaded with gold, jewels, and priceless artworks to evade the advancing Soviet Red Army. Local folklore suggests the train was driven into a tunnel in the Owl Mountains, part of the Riese complex, and sealed away, possibly booby-trapped to deter intruders. Despite numerous searches over the past seven decades, including high-profile excavations in 2015 and 2016, no concrete evidence of the train has ever been found, leading some to dismiss it as a myth. The 2015 search, led by treasure hunters Piotr Koper and Andreas Richter, made global headlines when ground-penetrating radar suggested a train-shaped anomaly buried near the 65th kilometer of the Wroclaw-Walbrzych railway. Polish authorities, including the military, cordoned off the area, and the nation’s deputy culture minister declared he was “99 percent certain” the train existed. However, the dig was abandoned after experts from Krakow’s AGH University of Science and Technology concluded the radar images likely showed natural ice formations, not a train. The effort wasn’t entirely fruitless—tourism in Walbrzych surged by 44%, injecting an estimated $200 million into the local economy. Now, the new letter has reignited the debate. The Silesian Treasure Hunters’ Foundation, cautious after past disappointments, plans to conduct non-invasive surveys using advanced radar and LIDAR technology before any digging begins. “We’re not rushing in blindly,” Kazek said. “The technology available today—ground-penetrating radar, thermal imaging, and drones—gives us a better shot than ever to verify this claim without disturbing the site unnecessarily.” The letter’s anonymity adds to the intrigue. Some speculate the sender could be a descendant of a wartime witness, possibly a German soldier or a local forced laborer, while others wonder if it’s a calculated hoax designed to drum up publicity. The foundation has vowed to protect the sender’s identity, stating only that the letter was delivered through a trusted intermediary. Skeptics remain unconvinced. Dr. Michal Banas, a geologist at the Polish Academy of Sciences who investigated the 2015 site, warned that the region’s complex geology and extensive tunnel network […]
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