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Tucker Carlson claims he’s not an antisemite and is not obsessed with “the Jews”.

The State Department has begun evacuating nonessential diplomats and their families from the U.S. embassy in Israel as hostilities between Israel and Iran intensify and President Donald Trump warns of the possibility of getting directly involved in the conflict. A government plane evacuated a number of diplomats and family members who had asked to leave the country Wednesday, two U.S. officials said. That came shortly before U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced on X that the embassy was making plans for evacuation flights and ships for private American citizens. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive diplomatic movements. “Given the ongoing situation and as part of the embassy’s authorized departure status, mission personnel have begun departing Israel through a variety of means,” the State Department said. “Authorized departure” means that nonessential staff and the families of all personnel are eligible to leave at government expense. There was no indication of how many diplomats and family members departed on the flight or how many may have left by land routes to Jordan or Egypt. The evacuations, comments from the White House and shifting of American military aircraft and warships into and around the Middle East have heightened the possibility of deepening U.S. involvement in a conflict that threatens to spill into a wider regional war. Trump has issued increasingly pointed warnings about the U.S. joining Israel in striking at Iran’s nuclear program, saying Wednesday that he doesn’t want to carry out a U.S. strike on the Islamic Republic but suggesting he is ready to act if it’s necessary. The State Department also has steadily ramped up its warnings to American citizens in Israel and throughout the region, including in Iraq. Last week, ahead of Israel’s first strikes on Iran, the department and the Pentagon put out notices announcing that the U.S. embassy in Baghdad had ordered all nonessential personnel to leave and that the Defense Department had “authorized the voluntary departure of military dependents from locations across the Middle East. Those warnings have increased as the conflict has intensified, with the embassy in Jerusalem authorizing the departure of nonessential staff and families over the weekend and ordering remaining personnel to shelter in place until further notice. The embassy has been closed since Monday and will remain shut through Friday. (AP)

Steve Bannon said that if President Donald Trump opts to support Israeli military action targeting Iran’s nuclear program, the core of the MAGA movement will largely rally behind him, according to The Hill. Speaking at an event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, Bannon emphasized Trump’s long-standing opposition to a nuclear-armed Iran. “If President Trump decides there’s not a diplomatic alternative … because he’s been consistent, no nuclear weapon,” he said.

Bannon expressed confidence that Trump’s communication skills would help bring supporters on board, even if they had initial misgivings. “If President Trump decides to do that, I know, and particularly his skills as a communicator, that he will come and walk people through it and the MAGA movement — look, they’ll be some — but the vast majority of the MAGA movement will say, ‘look, we trust your judgment, you walked us through this … maybe we hate it but you know, we’ll get on board.’”

He further explained that even the more non-interventionist voices within the GOP would ultimately back Trump if he laid out a compelling rationale. “If the president as commander-in-chief makes a decision to do this and comes forward and walks people through it, the MAGA movement — they’ll lose some — but the MAGA movement, the Marjorie Taylor Greenes, the Matt Gaetzes, we will fight it up to the end and make sure you get full information but if he has more intelligence and makes that case to the American people, the MAGA movement will support President Trump.”

Bannon also voiced strong approval for Israel’s military campaign against Iran and urged the Israeli Air Force to complete the mission they had undertaken, highlighting their dominance in the skies.

A day earlier, Trump posted on Truth Social demanding Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” When questioned by a reporter at the White House about whether he would greenlight an American strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities, he responded, “I may do it. I may not do it. Nobody knows what I’m going to do.”

The idea of potential U.S. involvement alongside Israel in operations targeting Iran’s nuclear capabilities has sparked backlash among the Republican Party’s non-interventionist faction, particularly from media figure Tucker Carlson.

In response, Vice President JD Vance came to Trump’s defense in a lengthy thread on X, addressing some of the criticism from isolationist voices. “Look, I’m seeing this from the inside, and am admittedly biased towards our president (and my friend), but there’s a lot of crazy stuff on social media, so I wanted to address some things directly on the Iran issue: First, POTUS has been amazingly consistent, over 10 years, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Over the last few months, he encouraged his foreign policy team to reach a deal with the Iranians to accomplish this goal. The president has made clear that Iran cannot have uranium enrichment. And he said repeatedly that this would happen one of two ways–the easy way or the ‘other’ way,” Vance wrote.

He then sought to clarify a commonly misunderstood distinction in the nuclear debate. “Second, I’ve seen a lot of confusion over the issue of ‘civilian nuclear power’ and ‘uranium enrichment.’ These are distinct issues. Iran could have civilian nuclear power without enrichment, but Iran rejected that. Meanwhile, they’ve enriched uranium far above the level necessary for any civilian purpose. They’ve been found in violation of their non-proliferation obligations by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is hardly a rightwing organization.”

Vance continued, underscoring the gravity of Iran’s enrichment efforts. “It’s one thing to want civilian nuclear energy. It’s another thing to demand sophisticated enrichment capacity. And it’s still another to cling to enrichment while simultaneously violating basic non-proliferation obligations and enriching right to the point of weapons-grade uranium.”

He challenged critics of Trump’s position by pointing to the lack of solid arguments in Iran’s defense. “I have yet to see a single good argument for why Iran needed to enrich uranium well above the threshold for civilian use. I’ve yet to see a single good argument for why Iran was justified in violating its non-proliferation obligations. I’ve yet to see a single good pushback against the IAEA’s findings.”

Vance wrapped up by praising Trump’s handling of military matters and asserting that any decision he makes would be grounded in national interest. “Meanwhile, the president has shown remarkable restraint in keeping our military’s focus on protecting our troops and protecting our citizens. He may decide he needs to take further action to end Iranian enrichment. That decision ultimately belongs to the president. And of course, people are right to be worried about foreign entanglement after the last 25 years of idiotic foreign policy.”

“But I believe the president has earned some trust on this issue. And having seen this up close and personal, I can assure you that he is only interested in using the American military to accomplish the American people’s goals. Whatever he does, that is his focus,” Vance stated.

{Matzav.com}

Prime Minister Netanyahu took to X on Wednesday, to reaffirm Israel’s unwavering resolve to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, as the IDF continue their bombardment of Iranian military and nuclear facilities near Tehran. “We will not let the world’s most dangerous regime get the world’s most dangerous weapon,” Netanyahu declared in a post, underscoring the stakes of Israel’s ongoing military operation aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities. Netanyahu’s statement sparked a wave of reactions on X, with some users, including individuals identifying as Iranian, expressing support for Israel’s actions. One user wrote, “As an Iranian I want to thank you for the incredible hard and important task you’ve took on. From Cyrus the Great to Benjamin Netanyahu. What times to be alive.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Son of Elie Wiesel, Elisha Wiesel, joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to discuss tensions in the Middle East as Israel and Iran trade missile strikes.

WATCH:

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford will sail from the East Coast for Europe on a regularly scheduled deployment — but its presence also gives President Trump a third aircraft carrier option as he weighs what sort of military response the US should provide amid escalating strikes between Israel and Iran. The Ford was previously deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean as a show of strength and to provide options to Israel following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. The US Navy already has the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, and is sending the USS Nimitz to sail toward U.S. Central Command from the Indo-Pacific.

President Trump informed top advisers late Tuesday that he authorized plans for an attack on Iran, but was hesitant to proceed, preferring to wait and see if Tehran would give up its nuclear ambitions. One potential target for the U.S. is Iran’s heavily fortified Fordow enrichment site, which remains unscathed so far. Located deep beneath a mountain, the facility is widely regarded by military experts as virtually impossible to destroy with anything but the most advanced and powerful weaponry.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu delivered remarks to the nation on the sixth day of Operation Rising Lion, outlining the mission’s objectives and the current progress. He stated that Israel is targeting two critical dangers to its security: Iran’s nuclear capabilities and its arsenal of ballistic missiles.

“We launched this operation to remove two existing threats to the State of Israel: the nuclear threat and the ballistic missile threat. We are progressing step by step to remove these threats. We control the skies over Tehran. We are striking with tremendous force at the Ayatollah regime. We are hitting the nuclear infrastructure, missiles, command centers, and symbols of government power. I speak with world leaders, and there is immense admiration for our determination, for the achievements of our forces, and there is also immense admiration for the citizens of Israel—your unwavering spirit, your strength in standing firm,” Netanyahu said.

He went on to acknowledge the difficult sacrifices being made, noting the toll the fighting has taken. Despite the losses, he emphasized the resilience of the Israeli population and vowed to ensure that all affected individuals receive the support they need.

“We are suffering many losses, painful losses. But we see that the home front is resilient, the people are resilient, and the State of Israel is stronger than ever. I have instructed government ministries to provide assistance to all those who have been affected,” he added.

Netanyahu also turned attention to developments in Gaza, reaffirming Israel’s dual mission: to dismantle Hamas and to secure the return of every hostage. He stressed that this commitment applies equally to those still alive and those who have died in captivity.

“At the same time, the intensified fighting in the Gaza Strip continues. We are committed to continuing and achieving our two goals: defeating Hamas and bringing back all of our hostages—both the living and the fallen. We will not relent.”

He acknowledged the tragic loss of Israeli soldiers in the past few days and expressed heartfelt sympathy to the grieving families on behalf of the nation. He reaffirmed that their sacrifice would not be in vain.

“Unfortunately, in recent days, we have also lost brave soldiers. I extend my condolences to the families. We send condolences on behalf of the entire government and the entire people. We embrace them. We will continue until we bring everyone back and until Hamas is defeated once and for all.”

Netanyahu ended his statement by recognizing the support of President Trump. He praised Trump’s steadfast backing and the United States’ efforts in bolstering Israel’s defense capabilities, particularly in securing its airspace.

“I want to thank President Trump, a great friend of the State of Israel. I thank him for standing by us, and I thank him for the support the United States is providing in helping us protect the skies of Israel. We speak continuously, including last night. We had a very warm conversation. I want to thank President Trump for his backing,” Netanyahu concluded.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. State Department said Wednesday it is restarting the suspended process for foreigners applying for student visas but all applicants will now be required to unlock their social media accounts for government review. The department said consular officers will be on the lookout for posts and messages that could be deemed hostile to the United States, its government, culture, institutions or founding principles. In a notice made public Wednesday, the department said it had rescinded its May suspension of student visa processing but said new applicants who refuse to set their social media accounts to “public” and allow them to be reviewed may be rejected. It said a refusal to do so could be a sign they are trying to evade the requirement or hide their online activity. The Trump administration last month temporarily halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the U.S. while preparing to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said. Students around the world have been waiting anxiously for U.S. consulates to reopen appointments for visa interviews, as the window left to book their travel and make housing arrangements narrows ahead of the start of the school year. On Wednesday afternoon, a 27-year-old Ph.D. student in Toronto was able to secure an appointment for a visa interview next week. The student, a Chinese national, hopes to travel to the U.S. for a research intern position that would start in late July. “I’m really relieved,” said the student, who spoke on condition of being identified only by his surname, Chen, because he was concerned about being targeted. “I’ve been refreshing the website couple of times every day.” Students from China, India, Mexico and the Philippines have posted on social media sites that they have been monitoring visa booking websites and closely watching press briefings of the State Department to get any indication of when appointment bookings might resume. “Under new guidance, consular officers will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting of all student and exchange visitor applicants,” the department said in a statement. “To facilitate this vetting” applicants “will be asked to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to ‘public,’” it said. “The enhanced social media vetting will ensure we are properly screening every single person attempting to visit our country.” In internal guidance sent to consular officers, the department said they should be looking for “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States.” Jameel Jaffer, executive director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, said the new policy evokes the ideological vetting of the Cold War when prominent artists and intellectuals were excluded from the U.S. “This policy makes a censor of every consular officer, and it will inevitably chill legitimate political speech both inside and outside the United States,” Jaffer said. International students in the U.S. have been facing increased scrutiny on several fronts. In the spring, the Trump administration revoked permission to study in the U.S. for thousands of students, including some involved only in traffic offenses, before abruptly reversing course. The government also expanded the grounds on which foreign students can have their legal status terminated. As part of a pressure campaign targeting Harvard University, the Trump […]

President Trump stated that Iran was “a few weeks away” from developing a nuclear weapon before Israel launched recent strikes on the Islamic Republic. Speaking publicly, Trump emphasized his support for “total victory” in the ongoing conflict rather than a ceasefire. While he reiterated his long-standing stance that Iran should not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, Trump also expressed a desire to avoid direct involvement in foreign wars. He said he has not yet made a decision on whether the United States will act against Iran’s nuclear sites, but underscored that the U.S. military’s advanced technology is currently being used by Israel in the airstrikes against Iran. President Trump says Iran wants to meet at the White House. “They should’ve made that deal. I had a great deal for them. They should’ve made that deal. In the end, they decided not to do it — and now they wish they did it.” “We’re not looking for a ceasefire. We’re looking for a total and complete victory. Again, you know what the victory is: no nuclear weapon.” “I don’t want to get involved either, but I’ve been saying for 20 years — maybe longer — that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon … They’d use it. I believe they’d use it.” TRUMP ON FORDOW NUCLEAR FACILITY: Trump on dismantling Iran’s Fordow nuclear facility: “We’re the only ones that have the capability to do it, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to do it — at all.”  

Hackers reportedly disrupted Iranian state television on Tuesday, taking over a live broadcast to display anti-government content.

Clips circulating on social media appear to show Iranian state TV airing footage from past protests, particularly from the 2022 “Women, Life, Freedom” demonstrations. The broadcast also included bold messages calling for action: “Rise up! This is your moment. Go out into the streets. Take control of your future.”

Iran International, a news outlet associated with opposition groups, cited the state broadcaster as stating: “If you experience disruptions or irrelevant messages while watching various TV channels, it is due to enemy interference with satellite signals.”

Officials from Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) said the breach only impacted satellite transmissions and did not extend to other platforms.

This incident followed an Israeli military operation earlier in the week that targeted the main offices of the Iranian state broadcaster.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Katz confirmed that the IDF had attacked the facilities belonging to “the Iranian regime’s propaganda and incitement broadcasting authority,” noting that the strike occurred after a significant civilian evacuation.

“We will hit the Iranian dictator everywhere,” Katz declared.

According to an IDF statement, the Israeli Air Force carried out a targeted strike based on intelligence from its Directorate, focusing on a “communications center that was being used for military purposes by the Iranian Armed Forces.”

The IDF further explained that “The building was used by the Iranian Armed Forces under the guise of civilian activity, covering up the military use of the center’s infrastructure and assets. The strike directly harmed the military capabilities of the Iranian Armed Forces.”

The IDF emphasized that civilians were given ample warning in advance of the strike. They issued alerts, including phone calls, and executed the strike with precision to minimize any potential harm to non-combatants.

Just prior to the operation, the IDF released a formal alert urging residents of northern Tehran’s District Three—home to the targeted facility—to evacuate the area.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF conducted a series of precision airstrikes in Tehran, targeting over 20 military sites, including facilities linked to Iran’s nuclear weapons development program and missile production, the IDF announced. The operation, involved 60 IAF fighter jets guided by the IDF Intelligence Directorate. According to the IDF, the strikes hit critical components of Iran’s nuclear weapons program, including weapons production sites, centrifuge production facilities, and research and development centers. “These sites were designated to allow the Iranian regime to expand the scale and pace of its uranium enrichment purpose of developing nuclear weapons,” the IDF stated. The military emphasized that Iran’s uranium enrichment far exceeds levels required for civilian purposes, with a focus on high-level enrichment suitable for nuclear weapons. The IDF also targeted factories producing raw materials and components for missile assembly, as well as sites involved in the production of Iran’s air defense systems. The strikes were part of a broader effort to disrupt Iran’s military infrastructure, which the regime has dispersed across its vast territory to ensure operational continuity. “The Iranian regime used Iran’s large territory and established its production sites in several areas spread widely across the country, in order to maintain the industry’s continued operation,” the IDF explained. For years, the IDF Intelligence Directorate has been gathering detailed intelligence on Iran’s production industry, enabling the precise targeting of these facilities. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested he might authorize a military attack on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, as the violent confrontation between Israel and Iran entered its sixth consecutive day.

“I may do it, I may not do it,” Trump said when asked by reporters outside the White House. “I mean nobody knows what I’m going to do.”

Speaking further on the situation, Trump pointed out that Iran is struggling and now appears eager to return to the negotiating table. “Iran’s got a lot of trouble, and they want to negotiate,” he said. “And I said, ‘Why didn’t you negotiate with me before all this death and destruction? Why didn’t you negotiate?’ I said to people, ‘Why didn’t you negotiate with me two weeks ago? You could have done fine. You would have had a country.’”

Trump has been vocal about weighing the possibility of U.S. involvement in Israel’s efforts to cripple Iran’s nuclear development, though he has not committed to a course of action.

Responding to a Truth Social post he made Tuesday in which he demanded “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!” from Iran, Trump clarified the intent behind the message. “That means I’ve had it. OK, I’ve had it. I give up. No more.”

He also disclosed that he had a recent conversation with an Iranian official—without naming the individual—and said that the official requested a visit to the White House.

“I said it’s very late to be talking,” Trump recounted. “There’s a big difference between now and a week ago, right? Big difference.”

Trump went on to stress that his willingness to tolerate further provocations had already reached its limit. “My patience with Iran had already run out, that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

On Tuesday, Trump convened his national security advisors for a strategy session to assess next steps regarding the escalating crisis. That same day, in a pointed Truth Social post, Trump referenced Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, asserting that the U.S. had pinpointed his location but had no immediate intention to act. He wrote that the United States knew where Khamenei was hiding but wouldn’t “take him out (kill!), at least not for now.”

{Matzav.com}

The American flag has long flown from a pole on the White House roof, but that’s always been too small for President Donald Trump, who wants everything to be bigger and more beautiful. On Wednesday, massive new flagpoles were erected on the North and South Lawns of the White House. “It’s such a beautiful pole,” Trump said as workers used a crane to install the latest addition to the South Lawn. He returned to the same spot later in the day, saluting as the stars and stripes were hoisted for the first time. The second pole, on the North Lawn, is close to Pennsylvania Avenue. The two poles are the most notable exterior modification to the White House since Trump returned to the presidency with grand ideas for remaking the building. He’s already updated the Oval Office, adding gold accents, more portraits and a copy of the Declaration of Independence. Workers have begun paving over the grass in the Rose Garden, and there are plans to construct a new ballroom somewhere on the White House grounds. The changes bring the iconic building more in line with Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private club in Florida. The president made time to watch one of the flagpole installations despite the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, plus questions of whether the U.S. would become directly involved. “I love construction,” said Trump, who made his mark as a New York real estate developer. “I know it better than anybody.” He talked about how the pole went down nine feet deep for stability, and the rope would be contained inside the cylinder, unlike the one at Mar-a-Lago. When the wind blows, “you hear that rope, banging.” “This is the real deal,” he said. “This is the best you can get. There’s nothing like this.” (AP)

The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Greater NY Chamber of Commerce who sit on world U.S. World Trade week committee , played a pivotal role in hosted a grand finale U.S. World Trade Week celebrating U.S Trade in NYC, the capital of the U.S Economy. This significant gathering brought together prominent government officials and trade ministers from around the world, with a focus on enhancing global trade, stimulating economic growth, and providing a platform for discourse on the latest tariff and trade regulations.
 

Presenting Award To Susan S. Thomas, the U.S. (EAC)Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade Washington D.C

A key highlight of the event was hearing from and recognizing Susan S. Thomas, the U.S. (EAC)Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade, who traveled on from Washington D.C. whom is instrumental in crafting and implementing the Trump administrations U.S. tariff policies. Susan’s participation underscored the conference’s emphasis on informed dialogue around U.S. trade policies and gave global trade partners an opportunity to be heard and help guide all.
 

Bahrain Trade Mission minister , Guatamala Trade Minister, Sussan Thomas, Duvi Honig

In addition to U.S. officials, trade ministers from countries such as South Korea, China, Bahrain, Poland, Guatemala, Turkey, Pakistan, Peru, India, Israel, and Azerbaijan participated, exemplifying the event’s global reach. The representation of such diverse nations demonstrated the unified commitment to fostering international cooperation in trade and commerce.

 

A special panel discussion was led by Susan S. Thomas, alongside Edward Mermelstein, NYC Commissioner of International Affairs, and Brian Teubner, International Trade Manager with New York Empire State Development. The panel focused on current challenges and opportunities in global trade, providing attendees with valuable insights and a chance to contribute feedback to U.S. policy under the Trump administration.

 

One of the most celebrated moments of the gathering was the awards ceremony. Here, the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce and the Greater NY Chamber recognized Korean Air for its landmark $32 billion investment commitment in the U.S. This substantial collaboration between Korean Air and American aviation leaders highlights the deepening economic ties that bolster American manufacturing and innovation.

Secretary Lutnick, who hosted the signing ceremony for the major commercial agreement, emphasized this sentiment, stating, “President Trump and I are dedicated to launching a new era for American manufacturing, and today’s announcement clearly illustrates the global recognition of American manufacturing and innovation.”

L-R Edward Mermelstein NYC Commissioner International Affairs- Brian Teubner International Trade Manager New York Empire State Development- U.S. (EAC) COMMISSIONER FOR U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, OFFICE OF TRADE WASHINGTON D.C.- SUSAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CRAFTING AND IMPLEMENTING U.S. TARIFF POLICIES FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, James Kim Chairman Korean American Chamber of Commerce, Korean Air Senior Vice President Americas Mr. Jinho Lee, Duvi Honig Founder/Ceo Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, Mark Jaffe President Greater NY Chamber of Commerce, Korean air Regional Manager Cargo Office Jay Shim

During World Trade Week, a significant acknowledgment unfolded as the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce alongside the Greater NY Chamber received special congressional recognition. This award was bestowed by the Congressional Caucus on Smart Cities, with Co-Chair Yvette D. Clarke’s District Representative, Orlando Ross, MPA, presenting the honor. This recognition highlighted the chambers’ dedicated efforts in fostering economic growth across the United States. The ceremonies took a solemn turn when James S. Kim, Chairman of the Korean American Chamber of Commerce USA, led a moment of silence in remembrance of the tragic loss of two Israeli Embassy workers, victims of violence by a Hamas supporter.
 

The mood shifted from somber reflection to surprise celebration as the event unfolded further. The Korean Government extended an unexpected recognition to Duvi Honig, President of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, honoring his role as Trade Ambassador for the World Korean Business Convention 2025. This recognition underscored Honig’s unwavering commitment to enhancing international trade relations and strengthening the bond between the Korean American business community and U.S. institutions.
 

The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce awarded Mark Jaffe the FRIEND OF ISRAEL AWARD 2025. Mark is recognized as a genuine supporter of the Jewish Community and the State of Israel. We praise his unwavering commitment to enhancing relationships and advocating for the State of Israel within both Muslim and Jewish communities in NYC and worldwide. We commend his exceptional and influential efforts in creating connections between communities and promoting commerce.
 

The event also celebrated other distinguished individuals and partnerships. Dr. Joseph Scelsa, Founder and President of the Italian American Museum, was awarded the 2025 Lucio Caputo Statesman Award, further solidifying his impact on cultural and business relations. Additionally, Azerbaijan was formally recognized with the involvement of Ali Kocak, as part of the celebration of Asian American Island Pacific Heritage Month. Attendees were treated to a high-level, lavish kosher buffet, sponsored by the elite Wall Street Grill steakhouse in NYC, adding a culinary highlight to the prestigious gathering.

The room buzzed with synergy as world leaders gathered to unite the globe through commerce, as highlighted by Duvi Honig, founder and CEO of the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, and Mark Jaffe, President of the Greater NY Chamber. They emphasized the powerful role commerce plays as a unifying force. Despite political tensions, representatives from countries like Pakistan, India, Turkey, Israel, and China collaborated under the same roof, thanks to our efforts to unite through commerce. Hosting U.S. Trade Week and chairing the annual event on behalf of the United States, the largest economy in the world, was a true honor, said Duvi Honig. As an Orthodox Jew, I take pride in glorifying God’s name as an Orthodox Jew by bringing everyone together all sectors races and religions helping bring unity through commerce in these dynamic challenging times.

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President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he wants Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates, arguing that doing so would ease the financial burden created by the national debt—debt he says skyrocketed as a result of Joe Biden’s spending policies.

Taking a jab at his own former Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, who had recommended Powell for the top Fed job, Trump joked that he himself could do a better job leading the central bank. “Maybe I should go to the Fed. Am I allowed to appoint myself?” Trump said during a ceremony at the White House. “I’d do a much better job.”

At the time of his comments, Powell was expected to announce that the Fed would not be cutting interest rates that day. Trump dismissed the possibility, saying, “Powell’s too late.”

Trump didn’t hold back in his criticism of the Fed chairman, blasting him as ineffective and suggesting his delay in lowering rates has been costly for the country. “I know what I’m doing. So we have a stupid person, frankly, at the Fed. He probably won’t cut today. Europe had 10 cuts and we had none.”

He added, “And I guess he’s a political guy, I don’t know. He’s a political guy who’s not a smart person, but he’s costing the country a fortune.”

Trump also hinted at future changes, noting Powell’s term is nearing its end. “So what I’m going to do is, you know, he gets out in about nine months. He has to. He gets, fortunately, terminated.”

Reflecting on how Powell ended up in the role, Trump admitted he regretted following Mnuchin’s advice. “I would have never reappointed him,” Trump said. “Biden reappointed him. I don’t know why that is, but I guess maybe he was a Democrat.”

Sarcastically, Trump remarked, “You know, I got great advice from Mnuchin on this one — great advice — but he’s done a poor job.”

Trump insisted there is no justification for keeping rates high, asserting that inflation—rampant under Biden—has now been curbed under his leadership. “So we have no inflation,” Trump said. “We have only success. And I’d like to see interest rates get down now.”

He claimed that slashing interest rates could drastically reduce the government’s interest payments, potentially saving hundreds of billions. “It would be nice to be 2½ points lower: We’d be saving $800 billion, $700 billion,” Trump said. “That’s a lot of money, think of it, for nothing — for absolutely nothing.”

He continued, “We’d save $6- $7, $800 billion. We have, I think we’re 38th now in interest. And we should be No. 1. We should be the lowest.”

Arguing that the Fed can always reverse course later if inflation reemerges, Trump said there was little risk to cutting rates now. “If he’s worried about inflation, that’s OK, I understand that,” Trump said. “I don’t think there’s going to be any — so far there hasn’t — I mean we have almost no inflation.”

Taking credit for improvements, Trump said inflation began dropping once he was elected. “We’ve done a great job. We had when I came in we had a lot of inflation. We went through four years of the highest inflation in the history of our country with Sleepy Joe Biden. And Sleepy Joe, he didn’t know what the hell he was doing.”

He went on, “And so we had the highest inflation we’ve ever had in the history of our country. And then it came down because when I got elected, it started dropping because people understood that knew what I was doing.”

Returning to Powell, Trump faulted him for failing to respond to the improving economic picture. “But now we have a man that just refuses to lower the fed rate, just refuses to do it. And he’s not a smart person.”

Trump joked that Powell’s resistance to his calls for rate cuts might be personal. “I do a much better job than these people,” Trump said. “I don’t even think he’s that political: I think he hates me, but that’s OK. You know, he should. He should. I call him every name in the book, trying to get him to do something.”

Despite trying both friendly and combative approaches, Trump said nothing has worked. “I’ve been so nice to him, fellas, you wouldn’t believe: ‘Let’s have dinner, Too Late’ — I’d call him, Too Late; ‘come on, Too Late, let’s have dinner,’” Trump joked. “I do it every way in the book.”

He added, “I’m nasty, I’m nice. Nothing works. He’s like just a stupid person.”

Trump argued that Powell’s actions have put the U.S. at a disadvantage compared to Europe. “We’re paying more interest than a lot of European nations that can’t carry our suitcase,” he said.

Looking ahead, Trump said he plans to appoint a temporary replacement after Powell’s term expires, allowing him to quickly move on interest rate cuts before naming a long-term successor. “Very sad to see it, and what I’m going to do is I’m going to go very short term, like six months, seven months, eight months — wait till this guy gets out, get the rates way down and then go long term, because we have a tremendous appetite for our debt because our country is doing well,” Trump concluded.

{Matzav.com}

JUST IN: President Trump says Iran wants to meet at the White House. “They should’ve made that deal. I had a great deal for them. They should’ve made that deal. In the end, they decided not to do it — and now they wish they did it.”

The IDF reported on Wednesday that Staff Sergeant Stav Halfon, 20 years old and a resident of Petach Tikva, was killed during active combat in the southern region of Gaza.

Halfon served in the 603rd Combat Engineering Battalion, which is part of the IDF’s 7th Brigade. He sustained life-threatening injuries from sniper fire and later succumbed to his wounds.

As of now, the total number of IDF soldiers who have fallen since the outbreak of the war stands at 871.

On Tuesday, the IDF made public the death of Staff Sergeant Naveh Leshem, also 20 years old, from Nokdim. Leshem, a member of the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion, was also killed in combat operations in southern Gaza.

The day before that, the IDF lifted the publication ban regarding the death of Captain (Res.) Tal Movshovitz, 28, from Reut. He served as a Deputy Company Commander in the 7086th Combat Engineering Battalion of the Golani Brigade and was killed in battle in the southern Gaza Strip.

{Matzav.com}

Qatar, Egypt, and the United States recently reached out to Israel with a proposal to send representatives to Sharm El-Sheikh for discussions focused on a potential prisoner swap, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation, who spoke to i24NEWS.

The source explained that logistical complications involving flights prevented the Israeli team from traveling to the original venue, prompting the suggestion to relocate the talks to Sharm El-Sheikh. Despite this, a high-ranking Israeli official pushed back on the claim, asserting, “There was no such request, and when the conditions for talks are met, they will be held in an agreed-upon location.”

According to individuals familiar with the mediation efforts, negotiations over a hostage agreement have stalled ever since Israel launched airstrikes against Iran. “Both sides are waiting to see what will happen,” two sources explained, noting that the evolving geopolitical landscape is also having an effect on Hamas.

These sources also indicated that the strong coordination between the United States and Israel has created uncertainty for Hamas regarding the reliability of American assurances tied to the agreement. “Hamas is asking itself what will happen with the U.S. guarantees for this deal,” the sources said.

In the last several weeks, three significant obstacles have emerged in the negotiation process. One of those hurdles—the timeline involving the release of eight captives on the first day and another two on day 55—appears to have been successfully addressed.

Nonetheless, two major points of contention remain unresolved: the extent to which Israeli forces will pull back as part of the agreement, and what course of action will be taken on day 61. At issue are demands to cease military operations and continue diplomatic talks for the remaining hostages.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Based on an updated security evaluation, new instructions from the Home Front Command will go into effect starting at 18:00 today (Wednesday).

Under the revised guidelines, most regions across the country will shift from “Essential Activity” status to “Limited Activity.” This excludes several specific zones, including the Confrontation Line areas, both the northern and southern Golan Heights, Beit She’an Valley, the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea region, the Arava, Eilat, and towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip.

In a separate decision, it was also established that the Confrontation Line, the northern and southern Golan Heights, the Beit She’an Valley (excluding certain designated communities), the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, Gaza border communities, the Arava, and Eilat will be reclassified from “Essential Activity” to “Partial Activity.”

These adjustments are scheduled to be in force from Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 18:00 through Friday, June 20, 2025, at 20:00.

Citizens are urged to adhere strictly to the official instructions provided by the Home Front Command. Complete details can be found through the National Emergency Portal and the Home Front Command’s dedicated mobile app.

{Matzav.com Israel}