Mairekk Griffiths, a 26-year-old cook in a Denver suburb, doesn’t think he’ll ever pay a lot of attention to U.S. politics unless radical change happens. “If another party was likely to win, I’d be interested in that,” said Griffiths, who voted for Democrat Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential race but, like many his age, does not see voting as that valuable. “I can’t say either way that voting matters,” Griffiths said. “It’s just picking the least bad option. That’s what I remember my whole life — both sides are bad, but this side is less bad.” Young people such as Griffiths are less engaged with U.S. politics than older Americans and less likely to say voting is important, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Young people — even those who follow politics closely — are less likely to say issues such as the economy, government spending and health care are “extremely important” to them than comparable older adults. The findings point to a broad sense of disillusionment among younger people about the country’s political system — even if, like Griffiths, they still end up casting a ballot. Alberto Medina, who leads the Center for Information and Research on Civic Engagement at Tufts University, which studies youth and politics, noted that turnout among young people hit record levels in the 2020 election and was high last year. “There’s a sense that democracy isn’t working for young people. There’s a lack of belief that democracy is even able to improve their lives,” Medina said. “At the same time, we have been living in an era of high youth voting.” Disengagement from political parties and politics In another sign of their general estrangement from politics, the poll shows young adults are more likely to reject political party labels. About one-third of adults under age 30 identify as political independents who don’t lean toward either major political party, compared with 17% of Americans age 60 or older. The poll also finds young people are far less likely to follow politics closely than older adults are. Only about 2 in 10 of adults under age 30 say they follow U.S. politics “extremely” or “very” closely, compared with about one-third of Americans overall. That’s even higher among adults age 60 or older — 45% of this group says they follow U.S. politics at least very closely. Disengagement is higher among teenagers, with an AP-NORC poll from May finding 44% of teens ages 13 to 17 report following U.S. politics “not very closely” or “not closely at all.” Meanwhile, about two-thirds of adults under age 30 say it’s “extremely” or “very” important to vote, compared with almost 9 in 10 over age 45 who say it’s at least “very” important to vote. Some of these habits could shift as people grow older. Younger people traditionally are less likely to vote than older people, and voter participation tends to go up with age. It’s possible that engagement with politics could follow a similar pattern. Brittany Diaz, 28, follows politics closely for an unusual reason: Her oldest son, who is 7, is obsessed with the news and watches it every night. Diaz, a Republican who lives in an Albuquerque, New Mexico, suburb, acknowledges that she’s unusual among her age group because she decided to start paying attention […]
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The Orlando Torah Center (OTC), an Orthodox shul in Orlando’s Sand Lake Hills neighborhood, has filed a federal lawsuit against Orange County and its Board of County Commissioners after they unfairly denied the shul’s application to expand. OTC seeks to expand its facility to accommodate increased attendance, children’s programs, and enhanced safety measures—especially important given the rise in antisemitic attacks targeting Jewish institutions across the country. According to the lawsuit, OTC members face severe hardship due to lack of space, including families having to participate in religious activities outdoors in the Florida heat, children being unable to attend Yom Tov programs, and mispalelim being exposed to safety risks due to the inability to secure the building. The Orlando Torah Center’s lawsuit seeks to defend its rights under the First Amendment, the federal Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), and Florida’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. “Religious freedom is not optional; it is a constitutional guarantee,” said counsel Roman Storzer of Storzer and Associates, a leader in First Amendment and RLUIPA law. “OTC has every legal and moral right to exist, expand, and serve its community without undue burden or discrimination.” The Orlando Torah Center, located along South Apopka Vineland Road in an area locally known as ‘Church Row’ for its concentration of more than a dozen churches, has served a walkable congregation since 2015. While numerous churches, a public school, and a daycare center have all received similar zoning approvals in similar zoning districts, OTC’s request to expand for its religious use faced intense public opposition, including antisemitic remarks during public hearings, and was ultimately denied by the Board of County Commissioners on July 1. “Individuals of all faiths have a right to worship without outside interference,” said Mr. Storzer. “OTC members have been part of their neighborhood for more than a decade. They have operated peacefully and built lasting relationships with families of all faiths. Disappointedly, they were denied the same rights routinely granted to others.” The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Case No. 6:25-cv-014. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Russia has declared that it no longer considers itself bound by a self-imposed moratorium on the deployment of nuclear-capable intermediate range missiles, a warning that potentially sets the stage for a new arms race as tensions between Moscow and Washington rise again over Ukraine. In a statement Monday, the Russian Foreign Ministry linked the decision to efforts by the U.S. and its allies to develop intermediate range weapons and preparations for their deployment in Europe and other parts of the world. It specifically cited U.S. plans to deploy Typhoon and Dark Eagle missiles in Germany starting next year. The ministry noted that such actions by the U.S. and its allies create “destabilizing missile potentials” near Russia, creating a “direct threat to the security of our country” and carry “significant harmful consequences for regional and global stability, including a dangerous escalation of tensions between nuclear powers.” It didn’t say what specific moves the Kremlin might take, but President Vladimir Putin has previously announced that Moscow was planning to deploy its new Oreshnik missiles on the territory of its neighbor and ally Belarus later this year. Asked where and when Russia could potentially deploy intermediate-range weapons, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that it’s not something to be announced in advance. “Russia no longer has any limitations, Russia no longer considers itself to be constrained by anything,” Peskov told reporters. “Therefore Russia believes it has the right to take respective steps if necessary.” “Decisions on specific parameters of response measures will be made by the leadership of the Russian Federation based on an interdepartmental analysis of the scale of deployment of American and other Western land-based intermediate-range missiles, as well as the development of the overall situation in the area of international security and strategic stability,” the Foreign Ministry said. Russia’s move follows Trump’s nuclear messaging The Russian statement follows President Donald Trump’s announcement Friday that he’s ordering the repositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines “based on the highly provocative statements” of Dmitry Medvedev, who was president in 2008-12 to allow Putin, bound by term limits, to later return to the office. Trump’s statement came as his deadline for the Kremlin to reach a peace deal in Ukraine approaches later this week. Trump said he was alarmed by Medvedev’s attitude. Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council chaired by Putin, has apparently sought to curry favor with his mentor by making provocative statements and frequently lobbing nuclear threats. Last week. he responded to Trump’s deadline for Russia to accept a peace deal in Ukraine or face sanctions by warning him against “playing the ultimatum game with Russia” and declaring that “each new ultimatum is a threat and a step toward war.” Medvedev also commented on the Foreign Ministry’s statement, describing Moscow’s withdrawal from the moratorium as “the result of NATO countries’ anti-Russian policy.” “This is a new reality all our opponents will have to reckon with,” he wrote on X. “Expect further steps.” INF treaty abandoned in 2019 Intermediate-range missiles can fly between 500 to 5,500 kilometers (310 to 3,400 miles). Such land-based weapons were banned under the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Trump withdrew from the pact in his first term, citing Russian violations, which Moscow denied. It, in turn, alleged the U.S. had committed violations. The treaty was terminated in 2019, but the Kremlin declared […]
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) threw her weight behind radical New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Monday, declaring that his platform of aggressive tax hikes and government expansion should serve as the national blueprint for the Democratic Party. Appearing at a campaign event with Mamdani at the District Council 37 union hall in Manhattan, Warren praised his far-left proposals—including universal childcare, expanded housing subsidies, and government interventions in food pricing—as “real plans” and a model for Democrats nationwide. “This is the Democratic message,” Warren told reporters. “We’re going to experiment. We’re going to try things on groceries.” She added: “Yes. You bet,” when asked if Mamdani’s brand of democratic socialism is what the Democratic Party should embrace. Mamdani’s campaign has proposed sweeping new spending initiatives funded by steep tax hikes on high earners and businesses. On CNBC earlier in the day, Warren defended the mayoral hopeful against concerns about the economic fallout of such policies. “What Zohran is saying is, I want people to be able to afford to live in New York City,” Warren told anchor David Faber. When pressed on how raising taxes would achieve that, Warren scoffed: “Oh dear, are you worried that billionaires are going to go hungry?!” Critics say Mamdani’s proposals would devastate the city’s tax base and accelerate an exodus of businesses and high-income residents already fleeing due to crime, regulation, and soaring costs. Opponents also note Mamdani’s support for defunding the police and anti-Israel stances, which have drawn criticism even from within the Democratic Party. Despite these red flags, Warren’s enthusiastic endorsement signals the growing influence of far-left figures like Mamdani within national Democratic leadership—and underscores a deepening ideological split between progressives and the party’s moderate wing. “The Democratic Party needs to stand up and be clear,” Warren said. “We are the party that fights for affordability for working families.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
In remarks delivered last week at Yeshivas Shaar HaMelech in Yerushalayim, Shas party chairman Rav Aryeh Deri strongly urged yeshiva bochurim not to consider leaving the walls of the beis medrash, even in light of the ongoing war in Gaza. “Chas v’shalom it should even enter the mind of a ben Torah, even in a moment of weakness,” Deri said, “that perhaps now, during this time of war, we should think about doing something different—to contribute in another way. Chas v’shalom.” Deri, a close adviser on national security matters as a member of the Prime Minister’s inner cabinet, was responding to public discourse around growing calls for increased enlistment from chareidim. His remarks, captured on video and aired by i24News, were directed specifically at yeshiva bochurim, stressing their irreplaceable role in defending Klal Yisroel through Limud Torah. The issue of military exemptions for lomdei Torah has become a national flashpoint, following a High Court ruling last year that invalidated the longstanding draft deferment system for yeshiva students on the grounds of “inequality.” The ruling has put immense pressure on the government to legislate new protections for bnei yeshiva—something that has yet to be finalized. Last month, the Shas party temporarily left the government in protest over the delays in passing such legislation, though it has continued to support the coalition. Meanwhile, Defense Ministry officials say the IDF urgently needs an additional 12,000 soldiers due to prolonged wartime deployment of reserve units. Currently, approximately 80,000 chareidi men between the ages of 18 and 24 are eligible for military service but have been exempted due to full-time Torah study. About 2,700 enlisted in the past year, still far below the military’s target of 4,800. “Our strength,” Deri told the bochurim, “is in our Torah. That is your contribution, and it is no less critical—no less heroic—than anything happening on the battlefield.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The Trump administration is racing to deploy a powerful nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030 — a high-stakes project that could redefine the future of lunar exploration and space-based national security. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who is also serving as acting NASA Administrator, issued an internal directive this week calling for the space agency to fast-track its long-discussed plan to install a nuclear fission reactor on the lunar surface. The memo lays out an aggressive timeline and a dramatic escalation in power output — more than doubling the original design’s capacity. “To properly advance this critical technology to support a future lunar economy, power exploration on Mars, and strengthen our national security in space, it is imperative the agency move quickly,” Duffy wrote. NASA has long explored nuclear surface power as a way to sustain long-term missions in deep space. But the new plan marks a dramatic acceleration of that vision, calling for a 100-kilowatt reactor (enough to power a small neighborhood) to be ready for launch within the next five years. By comparison, NASA’s 2022 “Fission Surface Power Project” had only envisioned a 40-kilowatt unit. Duffy’s move comes amid growing concerns that rival powers — particularly China and Russia — could outpace the U.S. in establishing permanent footholds on the moon. “If another country were to build a reactor on the moon first,” the memo warns, “it could declare a keep-out zone which would significantly inhibit the United States.” The directive, first reported by Politico, gives NASA 60 days to appoint a project leader and solicit input from private industry, including launch and reactor technology providers. The administration is also seeking proposals from commercial spaceflight companies capable of delivering the reactor to the moon’s surface by 2030, the same year China is aiming to land a manned mission on the moon. The policy move comes just weeks after President Trump abruptly withdrew his nomination of billionaire space entrepreneur Jared Isaacman — a close ally of Elon Musk — to head NASA. Trump instead tapped Duffy, a former congressman and Fox News contributor, to helm the agency on an interim basis. The reversal reportedly followed a review of Isaacman’s political contributions, which included over $41,000 to Democratic causes in late 2024. Since assuming the interim role, Duffy has laid out a sweeping vision for NASA’s future under Trump’s second term: orbit the moon by early next year, land a crew on the surface a year later, and build a permanent lunar base shortly thereafter. “We’re going to stay on the moon,” Duffy said last month in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. “And what we learn on the moon is what’s going to take us to Mars.” The nuclear reactor is expected to be central to that ambition. Designed to operate independently of sunlight and harsh lunar conditions, the power system would provide a steady energy supply for habitat modules, scientific labs, and eventually launch facilities for Mars-bound missions. Critics have raised questions about the safety and international ramifications of nuclear power on the moon, but Duffy’s memo signals a readiness to move forward regardless. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
An osprey caught a fish but got tired in the heat and dropped it onto power lines, sparking a brush fire in western Canada — at least that’s what firefighters believe. Or maybe the bird is an aspiring chef. “Another suspicion could be that it’s tired of raw fish and wanted to give cooked a try,” the Ashcroft Fire Rescue service said in a tongue-in-cheek social media post about the incident. The firefighters shared photos of the charred fish on the blackened ground and said the fire took place July 30 about 6 kilometers (4 miles) south of the British Columbia town of Ashcroft. They said investigators found that the fish “had been dropped by a local osprey onto hydro lines,” with the resulting embers starting the fire on dry grass below. The fire occurred about 3 kilometers (2 miles) west of the closest river, and investigators said they suspect the bird took flight after catching the fish but got tired and dropped the fish because it was large and because the temperatures were high at the time. The post says firefighters have verified that the “prime suspect sustained no injuries in the incident.” The incident briefly knocked out the power for Ashcroft, and firefighters and ranchers used about 4,800 gallons of water to put out the blaze. (AP)
In a heartbreaking address before the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday evening, Ilay David, the brother of Israeli hostage Evyatar David, delivered an emotional appeal, warning world leaders that his brother and other hostages held in Gaza by Hamas are on the brink of death. Speaking just days after new footage emerged showing emaciated hostages, including Evyatar and Rom Breslevsky, Ilay stressed what life is like in Hamas captivity. “They only have days left. Days!” he told delegates. “My brother weighs about 40 kilograms. He looks like a skeleton. He could barely move or speak. He was forced to dig his own grave.” The gut-wrenching video, released by Hamas over the weekend, has triggered a wave of horror in Israel but garnered little global condemnation. In the footage, Evyatar David appears frail, visibly abused, and forced to recite scripted propaganda while his captors film. One terrorist’s hand—“thicker than my brother’s leg,” Ilay noted—briefly enters the frame, underscoring the grotesque disparity between the captors and their victims. According to medical experts, many of the remaining living hostages have lost half their body weight and are suffering from prolonged starvation. “Hamas has food. The hostages do not,” Ilay said. “They are deliberately being starved. It is a war crime—an act of systematic, calculated cruelty.” The testimony comes amid growing frustration in Israel over the international community’s deafening silence. Despite the UN’s swift condemnation of Israeli operations in Gaza, the crimes against hostages—many of whom are civilians—have drawn only muted reactions. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, who convened the session, castigated the global body for its “complicity through silence.” “I came here because our hostages are being tortured in tunnels while the world looks away,” Sa’ar said. “Evyatar was forced to dig his own grave. It is diabolical. Yet some nations continue to pressure Israel instead of the terrorists who caused this war. Aid flows into Gaza while the hostages haven’t received a crumb.” Sa’ar also warned against what he called “free gifts” being handed to Hamas through premature recognition of a Palestinian state. “The terrorists are emboldened when the world rewards them while ignoring their atrocities,” he said. “International pressure must target Hamas—not the country trying to rescue its citizens.” The session was called in response to a psychological campaign by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which have released several hostage videos aimed at manipulating both Israeli society and international diplomacy. French President Emmanuel Macron was the first world leader to comment—three days after the footage surfaced—calling Hamas’ actions “appalling cruelty.” The UK and Cyprus followed with their own condemnations, but global outrage has remained strikingly tepid. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the hostage videos “sickening,” but tied his statement to demands for an immediate ceasefire and broader political conditions, including recognition of a Palestinian state. For the David family, such equivocation is unbearable. “My mother hasn’t stopped crying. My father can’t sleep,” Ilay told the chamber. “What would you do if it were your son, your brother, your father?” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Former CNN anchor Jim Acosta ignited a firestorm of outrage Monday after airing a virtual “interview” with an AI-generated replica of Joaquin Oliver, a 17-year-old victim of the 2018 Parkland school shooting, prompting condemnation from journalists and commentators across the political spectrum. The controversial segment aired on Acosta’s independent Substack show and featured a digital recreation of Oliver—crafted by his parents—responding to a pre-recorded prompt from Acosta about solutions to gun violence in America. “I believe in a mix of stronger gun control laws, mental health support, and community engagement… It’s about building a culture of kindness and understanding,” the AI avatar said. “I think that’s a great idea, Joaquin,” Acosta replied. The clip quickly went viral—and not in a good way. Critics, including veteran reporters and editors, denounced the project as a grotesque misuse of technology and an ethical collapse in journalism, accusing Acosta of exploiting a murdered child to advance a political message. “Profoundly gross,” wrote The Dispatch editor-in-chief Jonah Goldberg. “This is so insane and evil. It should never be done. I’m speechless,” added Rising host Robby Soave. Yet amid the uproar, the Oliver family defended Acosta and the AI recreation, saying it was their idea to use artificial intelligence to keep their son’s voice alive in the fight for gun control. “We asked our friend Jim Acosta to have an interview with our son because now thanks to AI we can bring him back,” Joaquin’s father said in a video message. “It was our idea, it was our plan… We feel that Joaquin has a lot of things to say.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in New York City has killed two people and sickened 58 since late July. City health officials link the Central Harlem outbreak to cooling towers, structures containing water and a fan that are used to cool buildings. They said 11 of these towers initially tested positive for a type of bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, but the problem has been remedied. They urged people in the area with flu-like symptoms to contact a health care provider as soon as possible, especially if they are 50 or older, smoke or have chronic lung conditions. Here’s what to know. What is Legionnaires’ disease? It’s a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which grow in warm water and spread in building water systems. They can be found in places such as showerheads, hot tubs and cooling towers. People often get the disease by inhaling aerosols from contaminated water. Hospital patients can also contract it through contaminated water or ice, and babies can be exposed during water births, health officials said. People don’t get it from each other. Symptoms usually develop two days to two weeks after exposure and include cough, fever, headaches, muscle aches and shortness of breath, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How does Legionnaires’ disease hurt you and how can you treat it? It’s important to be diagnosed quickly and treated with the appropriate antibiotics, health officials said. If untreated, the disease usually worsens during the first week, the World Health Organization said. Complications can include respiratory failure, shock and kidney or multi-organ failure. How can Legionnaires’ disease be prevented? People responsible for the safety of buildings and water systems can reduce the threat by taking steps to minimize the growth of the bacteria, the WHO said. For example, they should regularly clean and disinfect cooling towers, maintain an adequate level of chlorine in spa pools and flush unused taps in buildings weekly. There are also steps people can take to reduce the risk of Legionnaires’ disease at home. New York state health officials suggest draining garden hoses; following manufacturers’ instructions for cleaning and replacing water filters; checking chlorine levels in pools and hot tubs regularly and flushing hot water heaters twice a year. (AP)
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has revealed new evidence that additional Hamas terrorists remain on the payroll of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) — including one man who participated in the October 7 kidnappings and another who allegedly led a Hamas chemical weapons team while serving as a school principal. In a post on Sunday, Amir Weissbrod, the ministry’s deputy director-general for U.N. affairs, said the agency had recently provided Israel with an updated list of employees — a list that, once again, includes known Hamas operatives. “Nothing new under the sun with UNRWA,” Weissbrod wrote. “Some of these names were passed to the U.N. back in 2011. Nothing was done. They’re still employed.” Among the most alarming new revelations: Mohammad Abi Itiwi, who served as a driver for UNRWA, “participated in the kidnapping of young Israelis from a bomb shelter near Kibbutz Re’im” on October 7, according to Weissbrod. Abi Itiwi was killed in August 2024 by Israeli forces — but remains listed as an active employee receiving funds. Naji Abdullah Abu Aziz, named as a school principal by UNRWA, is also identified as a member of Hamas’s chemical manufacturing unit. “We shared this information with the U.N. in 2011 and again in 2024. He’s still working there,” Weissbrod said. Khalid Said El-Masry, another principal, is accused of harboring a Hamas tunnel beneath his school. Though Israel has informed the U.N. of his terror ties, El-Masry continues to work for the agency. Weissbrod accompanied his post with photographic evidence of the terrorists and their dual affiliations with both Hamas and UNRWA. “These are just a few examples,” he added, “but they show why no responsible government should be funding UNRWA if it wants to keep its money out of Hamas’s hands.” The latest findings come shortly after the Trump administration formally called for the agency’s dismantling, declaring it “irredeemably compromised.” In a letter to Congress, the U.S. State Department cited longstanding allegations of UNRWA’s complicity with terror groups and the results of an internal U.N. probe that found at least nine UNRWA employees “likely or very likely” took part in the October 7 attacks. UNRWA is now also facing mounting legal pressure: last week, victims of Hamas and Hezbollah terror attacks filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court, accusing the agency of aiding and abetting terrorism. Plaintiffs are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages. Though UNRWA has repeatedly claimed it lacks the tools to thoroughly vet employees in Gaza, Israeli officials insist that the agency has turned a blind eye to well-documented terror affiliations for over a decade. “These are not isolated cases,” Weissbrod said. “They are systemic.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump is establishing a task force on the 2028 Olympic Games being held in Los Angeles. Trump will sign an executive order on Tuesday to make the task force official, the White House said. The 2028 Games will be the first Olympics to be hosted by the U.S. since the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. Trump “considers it a great honor to oversee this global sporting spectacle,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, calling sports one of the president’s “greatest passions.” LA28 president and chair Casey Wasserman said the task force “marks an important step forward in our planning efforts and reflects our shared commitment to delivering not just the biggest, but the greatest Games the world has ever seen in the summer of 2028.” Along with the 2028 Summer Games, Trump has said that the 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico is among the events he’s most looking forward to in his second term. In preparation for next year’s competition, the governments of all three countries on Tuesday said they had held the first meeting of a trilateral coordinating council of government officials, industry leaders and security professionals discussing a variety of issues including preparedness for any security threats ahead of the World Cup. (AP)
In a move laden with historical irony, Marlene Engelhorn — heiress to a German industrial dynasty that once profited from the production of Zyklon B, the gas used to murder millions of Jews in Nazi death camps — is joining the next pro-Palestinian flotilla bound for Gaza, activist groups announced. Engelhorn, who inherited an estimated $27.1 million from her grandmother in 2021, is a descendant of the Engelhorn family, founders of BASF. In the 1920s, BASF merged into the IG Farben conglomerate, which later supplied the cyanide-based Zyklon B to the Nazis during the Holocaust. IG Farben was broken up after the war for its central role in the genocide, but BASF reemerged and remained under Engelhorn family control until the mid-1990s. Now, nearly eight decades later, the descendant of a company tied to the Holocaust is positioning herself as a moral authority on human rights — against the Jewish state. Engelhorn’s participation in the “Freedom Flotilla to Gaza” was revealed in a video posted by the “Global Movement to Gaza Austria.” In it, Engelhorn declared her support for what she calls the fight against “genocide, apartheid, and illegal occupation,” affirming her solidarity with the Palestinian cause. “The flotilla is sailing soon,” she wrote, “and we are excited to announce that Marlene Engelhorn will be aboard and stand on the right side of history.” The so-called Handala flotilla, which Engelhorn is joining, has already attempted to breach Israeli waters. On July 26, the Israeli Navy intercepted the vessel before it reached the shores of Gaza. The IDF and Foreign Ministry confirmed that the ship was redirected while still in international waters and that no aid was allowed to reach Hamas-held territory. Among the other participants was Jewish-American activist Bob Suberi, who declared the mission a symbolic success despite being intercepted. “We tried to break Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza,” Suberi said. “It was well publicized and thus directed international attention to the continuing siege and the genocide by starvation.” The use of such loaded language — including accusations of “genocide” — has drawn fierce criticism from Israeli officials and Jewish organizations, who argue that the flotilla’s mission is a propaganda stunt that ignores Hamas’ role in perpetuating both the blockade and the suffering of civilians by embedding itself among them and diverting humanitarian aid. Engelhorn is no stranger to radical positions. Following her inheritance, she famously tried — unsuccessfully — to convince the Austrian government to impose a 90% tax on her windfall, despite the country having no inheritance tax. She went on to found “Tax Me Now,” a global campaign urging governments to heavily tax the rich. She is often cited alongside fellow left-wing heiresses Abigail Disney and Valerie Rockefeller. In a statement condemning the flotilla, one Israeli official remarked, “For the granddaughter of a Nazi-era profiteer to target the world’s only Jewish state under the guise of human rights is not just hypocrisy — it’s grotesque.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A senior Hamas official told Saudi Arabia’s Al Hadath news site that the terror group does not intend to assume administrative control of the Gaza Strip after the war. But despite signaling willingness to step back from governance, the group doubled down on its core demands — refusing to disarm, insisting on a full Israeli withdrawal, and warning of consequences if Israel proceeds with deeper incursions into Gaza. “The problem has never been weapons,” the unnamed official claimed, arguing that the real issue is what he called “Israeli aggression.” He maintained that Hamas and the Palestinian people are under “unprecedented pressure,” but asserted the group is “dealing with all initiatives and pressures positively to end the aggression.” The official categorically ruled out disarmament until Israel ends its “occupation” and agrees to the creation of “an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.” While rejecting any role in administering Gaza, the official simultaneously called for “open, unregulated” border crossings, but said Hamas does not want to oversee aid or crossing management. Instead, he demanded that the responsibility be handed over to a joint Palestinian-Egyptian authority, as he claimed was the case before Israel’s current military operation. The comments come amid intensifying tensions over Israel’s stated goal to dismantle Hamas militarily and politically, and to reassert control over key areas of the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that Israel will not accept any Hamas involvement in postwar Gaza — a stance Hamas is now attempting to co-opt by preemptively stepping away from governance, while keeping its weapons and ideological aims intact. In a direct threat to Israeli hostages held in Gaza, the Hamas official warned that a full-scale Israeli reoccupation of the Strip would “expose the lives of Israeli prisoners to unprecedented danger.” He attempted to equate the hostages — civilians and soldiers abducted during Hamas’s October 7 massacre — with Palestinian security prisoners held by Israel for terrorism-related offenses. “Hamas understands the feelings of the families of the Israeli prisoners,” the official said, “because every Palestinian home has a prisoner in the occupation’s jails.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
A California man was arrested last week on federal charges of providing material support to the Islamic State (ISIS), with prosecutors alleging he sent funds to the terror group and planned to join its ranks. Mark Lorenzo Villanueva, 28, a lawful permanent resident from the Philippines living in Long Beach, was taken into custody on Aug. 1 after a months-long investigation revealed he had allegedly transferred money to ISIS and communicated online with individuals who identified themselves as ISIS fighters, the Justice Department announced Tuesday. According to the criminal complaint, Villanueva made 12 payments totaling $1,615 over a five-month period. In online conversations cited by prosecutors, he declared his intention to join ISIS and described martyrdom as “the best way to go to heaven.” “Someday soon, I’ll be joining,” Villanueva reportedly told one of the alleged fighters. During his arrest, FBI agents discovered what appeared to be a bomb in his bedroom. Authorities have not yet confirmed the device’s composition, but prosecutors say the finding raises additional concerns about Villanueva’s intentions. “Supporting a terrorist group, whether at home or abroad, is a serious risk to our national security,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli of the Central District of California. “We will aggressively hunt down and prosecute anyone who provides support or comfort to our enemies.” Villanueva made his initial court appearance shortly after his arrest. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
NATO has started coordinating regular deliveries of large weapons packages to Ukraine after the Netherlands said it would provide air defense equipment, ammunition and other military aid worth 500 million euros ($578 million). Sweden also announced Tuesday it would contribute $275 million to a joint effort along with its Nordic neighbors Denmark and Norway to provide $500 million worth of air defenses, anti-tank weapons, ammunition and spare parts. Two deliveries of equipment, most of it bought in the United States, are expected this month, although the Nordic package is expected to arrive in September. The equipment is supplied based on Ukraine’s priority needs on the battlefield. NATO allies then locate the weapons and ammunition and send them on. “Packages will be prepared rapidly and issued on a regular basis,” NATO said Monday. Air defense systems are in greatest need. The United Nations has said that Russia’s relentless pounding of urban areas behind the front line has killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians. Russia’s bigger army is also making slow but costly progress along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. Currently, it is waging an operation to take the eastern city of Pokrovsk, a logistical hub whose fall could allow it to drive deeper into Ukraine. European allies and Canada are buying most of the equipment they plan to send from the United States, which has greater stocks of ready military materiel, as well as more effective weapons. The Trump administration is not giving any arms to Ukraine. The new deliveries will come on top of other pledges of military equipment. The Kiel Institute, which tracks support to Ukraine, estimates that as of June, European countries had provided 72 billion euros ($83 billion) worth of military aid since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, compared to $65 billion in U.S. aid. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said that “American air defense systems and munitions, in particular, are crucial for Ukraine to defend itself.” Announcing the deliveries Monday, he said Russia’s attacks are “pure terror, intended to break Ukraine.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the Netherlands, posting on social media that “Ukraine, and thus the whole of Europe, will be better protected from Russian terror.” He said the deliveries are coming “at a time when Russia is trying to scale up its strikes. This will definitely help protect the lives of our people!” Germany said Friday it will deliver two more Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine in the coming days. It agreed to the move after securing assurances that the U.S. will prioritize the delivery of new Patriots to Germany to backfill its stocks. These weapon systems are only made in the U.S. As an organization, NATO provides only non-lethal assistance to Ukraine like uniforms, tents, medical supplies and logistics support. The 32-nation military alliance has mostly sought to protect NATO territory from possible Russian attack and avoid being dragged into a war against a nuclear power. But its support role has expanded since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January, even as his administration insists European allies must now take care of their own security and that of their war-ravaged neighbor. Trump has made no public promise of weapons or economic support for Ukraine. Trump said on July 28 that the U.S. is “going to […]
In a perhaps futile attempt to combat Hamas’s lies, Israel’s Foreign Ministry and the Consulate General of Israel in New York launched a “hasbarah” campaign in New York’s Times Square on Monday Hamas’s recently published psychological terrorism video of emaciated hostage Evyatar David is being displayed on a large screen, along with captions stating, “Ignored by the media too busy echoing Hamas propaganda” and “Hamas is starving the Israeli hostages.” Hamas also recently published a video of hostage Rom Braslavki, who also appears emaciated and frail. His images are not part of the campaign, likely because his family did not grant permission for the initiative. “This is what real hunger looks like,” said Ofir Akunis, the Israeli consul general in New York. “Evyatar David is being starved by a Nazi terrorist organization that dares, with the backing of parts of the media, to spread the blood libel that Israel is starving the people of Gaza.” “We will continue to expose, everywhere and at all times, the lies of these vile terrorists and their collaborators,” Akunis asserted. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
In a powerful tribute to Jewish education, unity, and innovation, CHAZAQ was honored at a memorable dinner held in Deal, NJ, graciously hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Antebi. The evening brought together esteemed rabbinic figures, community leaders, and notable personalities, all united in their admiration for CHAZAQ’s life-changing outreach to Jewish public school students. Among the evening’s distinguished guests was the Rosh Yeshiva of Staten Island, HaRav Reuven Feinstein shlit”a, who delivered heartfelt words of praise for CHAZAQ’s work. Rav Feinstein commended the organization’s efforts to guide thousands of Jewish youth toward Torah-true education, noting the profound spiritual impact CHAZAQ has had across the nation. The event also featured a special appearance by Mariano Rivera, the legendary Yankees closer and baseball Hall of Famer, who is widely recognized as the greatest closer in the history of Major League Baseball. Rivera, who is deeply involved in philanthropic efforts through his own foundation for underprivileged children, spoke movingly about the importance of uplifting and empowering youth. “I am truly touched by CHAZAQ’s work,” Rivera said. “Helping young people find direction and purpose is the greatest victory of all.” The evening was masterfully emceed by Harry Adjimi, who highlighted the shared mission of CHAZAQ and the Mariano Rivera Foundation in supporting at-risk and underserved youth. “It’s beautiful to see how different worlds can unite for a higher cause,” Adjimi remarked. Adding to the evening’s inspiration, Rabbi David Ozeri spoke passionately about his personal involvement with CHAZAQ’s life-changing mission. He urged others to support and engage with the organization, describing it as a powerful force shaping the future of the Jewish people. “When you partner with CHAZAQ, you’re not just giving—you’re building generations,” he said. The event took place at a stunning beachfront home, featuring an elegant atmosphere and a delicious array of cuisine that delighted the attendees. A siyum was made by Rabbi Shabes, followed by a joyous seudah that reflected the spirit of unity and purpose. Rabbi Ilan Meirov, Director of CHAZAQ, inspired the crowd with a powerful message urging the community to recognize the urgency of uniting around CHAZAQ’s life-changing mission, which now impacts Jewish communities across the United States. He expressed deep gratitude to the attendees, many of whom traveled great distances—from Los Angeles and Florida to Queens and Lakewood, and even as far as Israel and Australia—to take part in the evening’s celebration. In a groundbreaking announcement, Rabbi Meirov also unveiled CHAZAQ’s revolutionary AI-generated Shidduch platform—a cutting-edge initiative designed to transform the world of matchmaking. This innovation will be featured in the very near future in the “CHAZAQ Connections” shiduch division blending Torah values with modern technology to bring more successful and meaningful matches to the Jewish community. As the sun set over the Atlantic, the message was clear: organizations like CHAZAQ are changing lives, one student at a time—and the support of dedicated individuals and communities is helping to ensure that no Jewish child is left behind.
For the second time in less than a week, an earthquake has rattled northern New Jersey, near New York City. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a 2.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Hillsdale at approximately 12:11 p.m. on Tuesday. The tremor follows a 3.0-magnitude quake that hit Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, on Tisha B’Av night. No injuries or structural damage have been reported in either incident. Authorities continue to monitor for aftershocks, though experts say the likelihood of significant seismic activity remains low. While earthquakes are rare in the Garden State, Tuesday’s event marks a notable uptick in local seismic activity. The USGS has not yet determined whether the two quakes are related. Residents from surrounding towns reported light shaking but no emergencies. Local officials have urged the public to remain calm and stay informed through official channels. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
