Yeshiva World News

Palestinian Islamic Jihad released a video showing terrorists using a stretcher to plant an IED against the IDF.

The American University of Baghdad celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of students Saturday at a campus that was once a palace built by Saddam Hussein. Officials said they hope the graduation will mark the beginning of a new era in higher education in Iraq rooted in modernity, openness and international academic standards. The university was inaugurated in 2021 on the site of the al-Faw Palace, built on an island in the middle of an artificial lake by Saddam in the 1990s to mark the retaking of the peninsula of the same name during the war. After the U.S.-led invasion that unseated Saddam in 2003, it was used as a U.S. coalition military headquarters called Camp Victory. It was later developed into an American-style university with a core liberal arts program through funding by influential Iraqi business owner Saadi Saihood. A total of 38 students — 20 male and 18 female — graduated Saturday with degrees in business administration, sciences and humanities at a ceremony attended by political dignitaries as well as families and faculty members. Speaking to the attendees, university President Dr. Michael Mulnix reflected on the university’s rocky beginnings. “When I first arrived at the American University of Baghdad in 2018, the campus looked nothing like it does today,” he said. “Years of war and neglect had left the infrastructure in ruins, with many buildings damaged or destroyed. Today, we stand before an exceptional, nonprofit academic institution that ranks among the finest research universities.” Today AUB has a growing network of international partnerships with top universities, he said, including Vanderbilt University, Colorado School of Mines, Lawrence Technological University, Temple University, the University of Exeter, and Sapienza University of Rome. University founder and owner Saihood called the graduation “a symbolic moment that affirms this institution was built to last and to make a real difference.” He acknowledged the economic challenges facing graduates, especially the scarcity of government employment, but emphasized that the university has equipped its students with the adaptability and initiative needed to thrive in the private sector or through entrepreneurship. Although Iraq’s security situation has improved in recent years after decades of conflict, the country still suffers from brain drain as young people seek opportunities and stability abroad. “The future in Iraq is not easy. All of us graduates have concerns,” said Mohammed Baqir from Najaf province, who graduated Saturday with a bachelor’s degree in business. “But what sets us apart from other universities is that we’ve already received job offers through AUB, especially in the private sector. Although my education cost around ten million Iraqi dinars, it was a truly valuable investment.” Ten million Iraqi dinars equals about $7,600. (AP)

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The IDF’s 36th Division is advancing in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, as part of a new offensive against Hamas, the military announces. In a statement, the IDF says the division recently completed its operations in Rafah, and is now pushing into new areas in Khan Younis.

The IDF has reportedly started grinding down building ruins across Gaza to stop terrorists from using the rubble as cover.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday evening hinted that there has been significant progress in negotiations for a ceasefire/hostage deal in the Gaza Strip, saying that he hopes to announce something on the matter today or tomorrow. In a video message he recorded in one of the Kotel tunnels in honor of Yom Yerushalayim, he stated: “There is now a very intensive operation by the IDF in the Gaza Strip. We also have to deal with baseless international accusations.” “We are doing everything to defeat Hamas and release our hostages in the meantime. This is our top priority, and I hope, I very much hope, we can announce something on this matter today, and if not, then tomorrow.” His announcement immediately appeared on all Hebrew media websites. However, shortly later, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a clarification, saying: “The intention was not concrete for today or tomorrow, but rather for efforts to reach a deal.” It was reported on Monday morning that Israel rejected a ceasefire proposal presented by Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah, who brokered the deal to release Edan Alexander, in cooperation with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff. Witkoff later dismissed claims by Hamas that the group accepted his proposal. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

The wildfire near Yerushalauim has advanced and is now in Shuafat, across from Ramat Eshkol.

Former U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, an outspoken, gravel-voiced Harlem Democrat who spent nearly five decades on Capitol Hill and was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, died Monday at age 94.

Clashes erupt between Israelis and Arabs at Shar Shechem. Police intervene to separate and de-escalate tensions.

Thousands of Israelis take part in the annual walk through Shar Shechem on Yom Yerushalayim.

North Korea has detained four officials who it says are responsible for the failed launch of its second naval destroyer, which outside observers say was damaged much more than the country has disclosed. The detentions came after leader Kim Jong Un expressed fury over Wednesday’s incident that he said was caused by criminal negligence. The main military committee said Friday that those responsible would be held accountable for their “unpardonable criminal act.” Satellite imagery showed the vessel lying on its side and draped in blue covers, with parts of it submerged. North Korea says it will take about 10 days to repair the damage, but outside observers question that timeframe because they suspect the damage is much worse. Here is what you need to know about the failed ship launch: How much damage was there to the ship? The official Korean Central News Agency said Friday the severity of the damage to the 5,000-ton-class destroyer was “not serious” as it canceled an earlier assessment that the bottom of the hull had been left with holes. KCNA said the hull on the starboard side was scratched and some seawater had flowed into the stern. It said it needs 10 days to pump out the seawater, set the ship upright and fix the scratches. KCNA said Monday that the work to restore the ship’s balance was being conducted as scheduled. It’s almost impossible to verify the assessment because of the extremely secretive nature of North Korea. It has a history of manipulating or covering up military-related setbacks, policy fiascoes and other mishaps, though it has periodically acknowledged some in recent years. Lee Illwoo, an expert with the Korea Defense Network in South Korea, said the North Korean warship likely has flooding in its engine room located in the stern and holes in the starboard side. He said North Korea could simply set the ship upright, paint it over and claim the ship has been launched, but that repairs could take more than a year as the replacement of an engine requires cutting the hull. Why the ship’s launch failed According to the North Korean account, the destroyer was damaged when a transport cradle on the ship’s stern detached early during a launch ceremony at the northeastern port of Chongjin. Moon Keun-sik, a navy expert who teaches at Seoul’s Hanyang University, said North Korean workers are probably not familiar with launching a 5,000-ton-class warship, which is a few times heavier than its existing main navy ships. Observers say North Korea tried to launch the destroyer sideways, a method it has never used for warships, although it has previously employed it with big cargo and passenger ships. Compared with those non-military vessels, Lee sad it would be more difficult to maintain balance with the destroyer because it’s equipped with heavy weapons systems. He suspected North Korean scientists and officials likely did not factor that into their plans. How Kim has reacted The damaged ship is assessed as the same class as North Korea’s first destroyer, launched with great fanfare last month with a floating dry dock at a western shipyard. It is North Korea’s biggest and most advanced warship, and Kim called its construction “a breakthrough” in modernizing North Korea’s naval forces to cope with what he calls U.S.-led security threats. Subsequently, a failure to launch the second destroyer was an embarrassment. But […]

In his latest reckless move, Itamar Ben-Gvir went to the Har Habayis again to mark Yom Yerushalayim, where he davened in defiance of longstanding rules and halacha.

Video shows American food rations set to be distributed to Gazans under the new aid plan.

An Australian state government is banning the sale of machetes after a violent gang fight in a suburban shopping mall injured a young man. Victoria Premier Jacinta Allan announced Monday the ban on the sale of large knives would take effect Wednesday after machete-wielding gang members clashed at a Melbourne mall on Sunday afternoon. A 20-year-old man was seriously injured in the fight that involved eight combatants armed with machetes, a police statement said. Four suspects had been arrested and charged by Monday. “I will introduce as many laws (as needed) to get these dangerous knives off the streets,” Allan told reporters. “We will be bringing in place a ban on the sale of machetes here in Victoria and this ban will be in place from midday on Wednesday. Under consumer powers, using these powers, Victoria will be banning machetes from being sold anywhere in the state,” she added. Victoria only Australian state planning to ban machetes Victoria is the only Australian state or territory that plans to ban machetes, broadly defined as a cutting edge knife with a blade exceeding 20 centimeters (almost 8 inches) long. Kitchen knives are not included in the ban. Possession of a machete will be banned with few exceptions in Victoria, Australia’s second-most populous state, from Sept. 1. The ban on the sale of machetes was to have taken effect on that date. A three-month amnesty will give people time to dispose of their machetes at police stations and secure bins without penalty. Possession of a machete in Victoria would be punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of more than 47,000 Australian dollars ($30,700). England and Wales banned possession of machetes and some other knives in September last year. Australia has some of the world’s toughest gun laws Australia has some of the toughest gun laws in the world, and gun crimes are relatively rare. But knife crimes are becoming more common. New South Wales, Australia’s most populous state, and Queensland and South Australia states ban the sale of knives to children. Machetes are currently controlled weapons that are allowed to be carried for legitimate purposes. Around 40 police officers responded to the fight between rival gangs in Melbourne. The two alleged primary offenders, boys aged 15 and 16, were arrested at the scene and charged with using a controlled weapon and other offenses. The boys were held in custody to appear in a children’s court at a later date. Two men, aged 18 and 20, were arrested Monday and charged in relation to the violence. They were released on bail for a court appearance in July. All four were known gang members, police said. (AP)

As the World War II bomber Heaven Can Wait was hit by enemy fire off the Pacific island of New Guinea on March 11, 1944, the co-pilot managed a final salute to flyers in an adjacent plane before crashing into the water. All 11 men aboard were killed. Their remains, deep below the vast sea, were designated as non-recoverable. Yet four crew members’ remains are beginning to return to their hometowns after a remarkable investigation by family members and a recovery mission involving elite Navy divers who descended 200 feet (61 meters) in a pressurized bell to reach the sea floor. Staff Sgt. Eugene Darrigan, the radio operator was buried military honors and community support on Saturday in his hometown of Wappingers Falls, New York, more than eight decades after leaving behind his wife and baby son. The bombardier, 2nd Lt. Thomas Kelly, was to be buried Monday in Livermore, California, where he grew up in a ranching family. The remains of the pilot, 1st Lt. Herbert Tennyson, and navigator, 2nd Lt. Donald Sheppick, will be interred in the coming months. The ceremonies are happening 12 years after one of Kelly’s relatives, Scott Althaus, set out to solve the mystery of where exactly the plane went down. “I’m just so grateful,” he told The Associated Press. “It’s been an impossible journey — just should never have been able to get to this day. And here we are, 81 years later.” March 11, 1944: Bomber down The Army Air Forces plane nicknamed Heaven Can Wait was a B-24 with a cartoon pin-up angel painted on its nose and a crew of 11 on its final flight. They were on a mission to bomb Japanese targets when the plane was shot down. Other flyers on the mission were not able to spot survivors. Their wives, parents and siblings were of a generation that tended to be tight-lipped in their grief. But the men were sorely missed. Sheppick, 26, and Tennyson, 24, each left behind pregnant wives who would sometimes write them two or three letters a day. Darrigan, 26, also was married, and had been able to attend his son’s baptism while on leave. A photo shows him in uniform, smiling as he holds the boy. Darrigan’s wife, Florence, remarried but quietly held on to photos of her late husband, as well as a telegram informing her of his death. Tennyson’s wife, Jean, lived until age 96 and never remarried. “She never stopped believing that he was going to come home,” said her grandson, Scott Jefferson. Memorial Day 2013: The Search As Memorial Day approached twelve years ago, Althaus asked his mother for names of relatives who died in World War II. Althaus, a political science and communications professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, became curious while researching World War II casualties for work. His mother gave him the name of her cousin Thomas Kelly, who was 21 years old when he was reported missing in action. Althaus recalled that as a boy, he visited Kelly’s memorial stone, which has a bomber engraved on it. He began reading up on the lost plane. “It was a mystery that I discovered really mattered to my extended family,” he said. With help from other relatives, he analyzed historical documents, photos and eyewitness recollections. […]

In an era of complex healthcare challenges, nursing home administration emerges as a critical and often overlooked career opportunity for young professionals seeking meaningful work with tangible societal impact. Breaking into Healthcare Management The landscape of healthcare careers is evolving, and nursing home administration stands out as a profession that combines compassionate care with strategic management. Traditionally perceived as a niche field, it now offers a compelling career trajectory for those willing to invest in specialized training. What the Role Entails Nursing home administrators are more than managers—they are vital healthcare leaders responsible for: Ensuring high-quality patient care Managing complex operational challenges Navigating intricate healthcare regulations Supporting vulnerable elderly populations An Accessible Educational Path Educational programs like Trio’s (TRIO.Academy) are reshaping how professionals enter this field. With a comprehensive curriculum delivered entirely online, the program offers a variety of advantages and is ideal for both young students seeking a profession and established professionals looking for a change: Flexibility Complete coursework at your own pace No strict entry requirements Comprehensive Curriculum The program covers critical areas including: State licensure requirements Healthcare management principles Financial and legal aspects of healthcare administration Gerontology fundamentals Advanced personnel management Career Prospects The aging population and increasingly complex healthcare needs have created a robust job market for nursing home administrators. Professionals in this field can expect: Competitive salaries Opportunities for career growth A chance to make a meaningful difference in elderly care Who Should Consider This Path? This career is particularly attractive for: Recent graduates seeking a stable profession Career changers looking for a meaningful transition Individuals passionate about healthcare and management Those seeking a quick route to a professional certification The Bigger Picture Beyond individual career prospects, nursing home administrators play a crucial role in addressing societal challenges. As life expectancy increases and healthcare needs become more nuanced, these professionals ensure quality of life for some of our most vulnerable community members. Investment and Returns With programs offering certification in less than a year and at a relatively low cost, nursing home administration represents an accessible entry point into healthcare management. The potential for personal and professional growth is significant. For those contemplating a career that offers stability, purpose, and the opportunity to make a real difference, nursing home administration deserves serious consideration. For more information and to talk with an advisor:  Rabbi Gedalya Berlin WhatsApp +972 584273030 American # 1.718.5646066 (call only, no text) gedalya@trio.academy

The Israeli Air Force carried out a series of airstrikes this morning, targeting high areas in the eastern mountain range of the town of Brital, east of the Lebanese city of Baalbek.

Sec. Kristi Noem: “President Trump will never accept a nuclear-capable Iran. He will never accept them having nuclear weapons and building the capacity to that.”