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Tensions across the Middle East escalated sharply on Wednesday as international nuclear negotiations with Iran neared a critical juncture, prompting a wave of military alerts, diplomatic repositioning, and growing fears of a regional conflict. The United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued a rare advisory warning of “increasing regional tension,” urging commercial vessels transiting the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz to exercise extreme caution. The alert, while nonspecific, warned of potential military activity that could directly threaten merchant ships in the region’s vital shipping lanes. Shortly after the UKMTO warning, Reuters reported that the United States was preparing to evacuate embassy staff in Iraq due to what officials described as rising threats to American personnel. The New York Times later confirmed that the evacuation had been set in motion. The U.S. State Department also authorized the departure of non-essential staff from embassies in Bahrain and Kuwait, while the Pentagon is considering the temporary repositioning of military forces currently stationed in Bahrain. In a further sign of how seriously the U.S. is taking the threat, Washington has directed all embassies within range of Iran—including those in the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and North Africa—to activate emergency action committees and report back on risk mitigation plans, according to national security correspondent John Hudson. These directives directly triggered the evacuations already underway. On Capitol Hill, the rhetoric is escalating in parallel. Senator Tom Cotton revealed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed Congress that Iran is “actively working towards a nuclear weapon.” Cotton bluntly added, “This cannot be allowed to happen.” Meanwhile, Israel is bracing for impact. Highly credible sources tell YWN that the IDF has contracted nearly 2,000 private ambulances to be stationed at military bases around the country, anticipating that Iran will target those locations in the event of open conflict. Additionally, all Revolutionary Guard and Army bases in Iran have reportedly been placed on maximum alert, according to journalist Mohamad Ahwaze. These security preparations follow a sharp uptick in rhetoric and military posturing from regional powers. Israeli officials, including close confidants of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, have openly suggested that a military strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure may be imminent. “In my view, we are very close to striking Iran,” said Israeli commentator Yaakov Bardugo, a Netanyahu ally, on Tuesday. “The Americans aren’t delivering results.” Tehran has responded with defiance. Speaking in the Iranian capital, Defense Minister Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that any attack would trigger “overwhelming retaliation” and that “all U.S. bases in host countries are within our reach.” He added, “If conflict is imposed on us, enemy casualties will exceed ours.” New satellite imagery and Western intelligence reports indicate that Iran has been covertly modifying and expanding its nuclear infrastructure—moves analysts believe are meant to harden sites against potential airstrikes. According to sources cited by The Jerusalem Post, Tehran has altered the layout of key nuclear sites to complicate U.S. or Israeli military action. Further evidence of Tehran’s war readiness includes newly released footage of Iran’s so-called “missile cities”—vast underground facilities capable of launching ballistic projectiles. Intelligence analysts interpret these developments as part of a calculated effort to negotiate while preparing for war. The diplomatic front is also rapidly deteriorating. The sixth round of nuclear talks, tentatively scheduled for this weekend in Oman, now […]

More than 460 laid-off employees at the nation’s top public health agency received notices Wednesday that they are being reinstated, according to a union representing the workers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed reinstatement notices went out to the former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention employees, but provided few details. About 2,400 CDC employees lost their jobs in a wave of cuts across federal health agencies in early April, according to a tally at the time. Whole CDC programs were essentially shut down, including some focused on smoking, lead poisoning, gun violence, asthma and air quality, and workplace safety and health. The entire office that handles Freedom of Information Act requests was shuttered. Infectious disease programs took a hit, too, including programs that fight outbreaks in other countries, labs focused on HIV and hepatitis in the U.S., and staff trying to eliminate tuberculosis. An estimated 200 of the reinstated workers are based in the CDC’s National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Prevention, HHS officials confirmed. Staffers at a CDC lab that does testing for sexually transmitted diseases are being brought back, said one CDC employee who wasn’t authorized to discuss what happened and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Also reinstated are an estimated 150 employees at the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health, including people staffing a lab that works on lead poisoning, according to the union and employees. Layoffs at federal agencies were challenged in lawsuits, with judges in some cases ordering federal agencies to halt terminations of employees. Officials at HHS have never detailed how they made the layoff decisions in the first place. And they did not answer questions about why the notices went out, or how decisions were made about who to bring back. HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon said the agency was streamlining operations and that “the nation’s critical public health functions remain intact and effective.” “The Trump Administration is committed to protecting essential services — whether it’s supporting coal miners and firefighters through NIOSH, safeguarding public health through lead prevention, or researching and tracking the most prevalent communicable diseases,” he said. The reinstatements don’t undo the damage being done by Kennedy and the Trump administration to federal public health, said members of Fired But Fighting, a group of affected CDC workers who have helped organize rallies in Atlanta. The most recent was in the rain on Tuesday, at which some attendees called for Kennedy to resign. “Bringing a few hundred people back to work out of thousands fired is a start, but there are still countless programs at CDC that have been cut, which will lead to increased disease and death,” one of the group’s founding members, Abby Tighe, said in a statement. This is not the first time that employees at the Atlanta-based agency were told they were being terminated only to then be told to come back. After an earlier round of termination notices went out in February, about 180 CDC employees in March were told to come back. (AP)

As Israel braces for a possible dramatic late-night Knesset vote on a bill to dissolve the government, tensions between key members of the coalition continue to escalate, with harsh accusations and private confrontations further unraveling the fragile alliance.

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Yuli Edelstein, a central figure in the ongoing political crisis, issued a stern warning to chareidi lawmakers earlier today: “Don’t come to me before you remove the threat of toppling the government.”

At the same time, Moshe Gafni, chairman of Degel HaTorah, delivered a sharp rebuke in a side conversation on the Knesset floor. According to Channel 12 reporter Dafna Liel, Gafni lashed out at Edelstein, saying, “He’s a liar and a fraud. He won’t bring any law.”

Despite the fiery rhetoric, talks have continued behind the scenes as coalition members scramble to find a path forward amid deepening disagreements, particularly over the future of the controversial draft law.

Following Argentine President Javier Milei’s address to the Knesset, representatives of the chareidi parties entered a closed-door meeting with Edelstein. MKs Uri Maklev and Yaakov Asher were seen entering the session.

As previously reported, an earlier meeting between the chareidi factions—led by former minister Ariel Attias—and Knesset legal adviser Sagit Afik ended without agreement. Disputes between the chareidi parties and the legal team remain unresolved, and even if partial understandings are reached, any agreement would require Edelstein’s approval. Edelstein has already stated that any deal must also meet the needs of Israel’s security establishment, leaving little room for optimism.

Meanwhile, senior rabbinic figures are closely monitoring the developments. Rav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, is reportedly receiving constant updates. This evening, he instructed Degel HaTorah MKs to vote in favor of dissolving the Knesset unless a signed agreement is presented, one that includes signatures from both Edelstein and the legal advisers to the Knesset and the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, along with a detailed timeline securing the status of yeshiva students.

Shas leader Aryeh Deri is continuing efforts to convince Degel HaTorah to delay the vote by one week. However, Degel insiders say the party sees no choice but to vote in favor of dissolution, citing Edelstein’s dismissal of chareidi concerns as empty threats and the need to demonstrate that their position is serious.

Currently, all negotiations are focused on Degel HaTorah and Shas, as the Prime Minister’s office believes that the Ger faction has already committed unequivocally to dissolving the Knesset.

As of now, Rav Dov Landau has ordered Degel HaTorah to vote in favor of the bill. If that directive holds when the vote is called tonight, it is expected that Shas will fall in line and vote alongside Degel, potentially sealing the fate of the 25th Knesset.

{Matzav.com Israel}

The US has now ordered all embassies in striking distance of Iran to convene emergency action committees & send cables back to DC about what measures they are taking to mitigate risks.

The House has just voted 213-207 to advance President Trump’s first round of $9.3B in DOGE cuts.

U.S. Senator Tom Cotton says Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed earlier today that Iran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapon.

BORO PARK: A Chanukas Habayis was held at the Gur Cheder on 12th Avenue and 63rd Street, with the Gerrer Rebbe Shlita in attendance.

Agudah’s Rabbi Avi Schnall gives an update on efforts to get a monumental, $5 billion national school choice tax credit bill past the Senate and signed into law.

Stocks ended the day mostly lower on Wednesday, as mounting fears over instability in the Middle East unsettled investors. Meanwhile, inflation data came in softer than expected, easing concerns about rising prices due to U.S. tariffs, while market watchers waited for further clarity on U.S.-China trade negotiations.

Markets gave up earlier gains after reports emerged that the United States was preparing to partially evacuate its embassy in Iraq amid escalating regional threats. Earlier in the day, a top Iranian figure warned that if nuclear talks with Washington fail, U.S. military installations in the area could become targets.

Tech giants Amazon and Nvidia, which had seen notable recent surges, slipped and dragged down the S&P 500 as a result.

Government data revealed that consumer prices in May saw only a slight uptick, helping to calm fears that tariffs would lead to more significant inflation. However, some economists still believe prices could pick up in the months ahead, partly due to President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

On a year-over-year basis, headline inflation rose 2.4%, slightly under the 2.5% economists had projected in a Reuters poll.

“There’s still concern about Trump’s tariffs being inflationary but this report was better than expected and it fuels hope that the Federal Reserve will be able to step in with rate cuts later on this year,” said Robert Pavlik, senior portfolio manager at Dakota Wealth.

According to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool, traders now see a 70% probability that the Federal Reserve will reduce interest rates by the time of its September meeting.

After officials from the U.S. and China reached a new framework aimed at resuming stalled trade talks, President Donald Trump declared that a deal had been finalized. As part of the agreement, China is expected to deliver magnets and rare earth materials to the United States.

Preliminary figures showed the S&P 500 slipped 15.09 points, or 0.25%, ending the day at 6,023.72. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 93.53 points, or 0.47%, to close at 19,621.46. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added a modest 5.35 points, or 0.01%, finishing at 42,872.22.

With optimism growing that the U.S. will reach trade settlements that ease Trump’s aggressive tariff stance, the S&P 500 now sits just below its previous high set in February.

“The worst-case scenario is probably behind us. There’s a little bit of face-saving for both sides,” said John Praveen, managing director at Paleo Leon in Princeton, New Jersey. “They got an agreement. The question is whether it will be implemented.”

A White House official shared specifics of the U.S.-China deal, which permits the U.S. to impose a total 55% tariff on Chinese imports—broken down into a 10% base “reciprocal” duty, 20% for fentanyl-related penalties, and 25% from earlier tariffs. In turn, China will apply a 10% tariff on American goods.

U.S. equities have bounced back strongly in recent weeks after dipping in April amid concerns surrounding Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs.

GitLab, a provider of software development tools, saw its shares decline after the company’s earnings failed to meet expectations.

GameStop stock also took a hit, following its announcement of weaker revenue in the first quarter.

{Matzav.com}

A high-stakes meeting between chareidi representatives and the Knesset’s legal adviser, Sagit Afik, ended in a dramatic breakdown Wednesday evening, as negotiations over the proposed draft law failed to yield any agreement.

According to a participant in the meeting, the discussion reached a dead end. “We feel like there’s no one to talk to,” the source said. Former minister Ariel Atias, who has been spearheading the draft law talks on behalf of the chareidi parties, stormed out of the room in anger.

At the heart of the dispute is the insistence by Afik and the legal adviser to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that the new law must include immediate and significant enforcement measures against draft dodgers beginning the day the law is passed. They are also demanding a gradual implementation of enforcement mechanisms over time.

The chareidi factions, however, are pushing for a more lenient formulation that would avoid penalizing full-time lomdei Torah.

In a last-ditch attempt to prevent the dissolution of the Knesset, Shas chairman Aryeh Deri held a lengthy meeting earlier in the day with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu in his Yerushalayim office.

Despite the mounting tensions, Likud officials insisted that the bill to dissolve the Knesset would not be brought to a vote tonight.

{Matzav.com Israel}

During his court appearance on Wednesday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu informed the judges that he was feeling unwell. The trial session, which had just begun, was promptly cut short after only thirty minutes due to his condition.

Even so, Netanyahu was still expected to make his way to the Knesset later in the day to cast his vote opposing the opposition’s proposal to dissolve the parliament.

Two days earlier, during the third round of Netanyahu’s cross-examination at the Tel Aviv District Court, his attorney, Adv. Amit Hadad, asked for the hearing to wrap up early—specifically by 1:45 p.m.—citing what he referred to as “an important diplomatic call.”

In response, Prosecutor Tadmor requested that the time lost be compensated for at another session.

Later that day, as proceedings resumed following a recess, a protester stormed into the courtroom and shouted at Netanyahu: “Loser, zero, take that smile off your face.” The intruder was quickly escorted out by security personnel.

Reacting to the disturbance, Hadad addressed the judges and issued a warning: “Next time that happens, the defense team will leave the courtroom in protest. This is hooliganism and blatant verbal violence.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security forces announced on Wednesday that they had retrieved the remains of two people held captive in Gaza, among them was Yair (Yaya) Yaakov, who had been killed during the October 7 Hamas attack and taken into Gaza. The second victim has yet to be publicly identified, though the family has been notified. According to official estimates, 54 hostages are still being held by Hamas, with 20 of them believed to be alive.

Yair’s son, Or, who was also kidnapped during the attack and later released, shared a heartfelt message on Instagram. “Dad, I love you. I still don’t know how to react, I’m sad to say. I’m waiting for your funeral. I love you, I knew this day would come. Thank you to the IDF and Shin Bet forces for the recovery. I hope the rest of the hostages will be brought back with a deal so soldiers aren’t endangered.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the nation following the announcement, acknowledging the efforts of Israeli forces in recovering the two bodies. “In an operation carried out by the IDF and the Shin Bet in the Gaza Strip, the bodies of two of our hostages were returned to Israel — Yair Yaakov, of blessed memory, and another hostage whose name has not yet been cleared for publication (his family has been notified). Yair Yaakov was murdered and abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz by Islamic Jihad on October 7, 2023. Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our deepest condolences to the families who have lost their most precious loved ones. I thank the soldiers and commanders for yet another successful execution of the sacred mission to bring our hostages home. We will not rest or be silent until we bring all our hostages home — both the living and the fallen,” he said.

Yair Yaakov, known as Yaya, lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz and was among those captured and slain during the deadly rampage of October 7. His life partner, Merav, and their sons Or (16) and Yagil (12) were also taken hostage that day but were later released as part of the November 2023 prisoner exchange.

On the morning of the massacre, Merav managed to alert relatives that armed terrorists had stormed their home. During the invasion, they opened fire, wounding Yair. The attackers recorded every moment — from their entry into the house to the abduction of the family. The footage reportedly shows the terrorists dragging the family from the floor, with Yair visibly injured and attempting to show them his wound. He was later separated from Merav and the boys. The house sustained heavy damage from the gunfire, marking a tragic chapter in an already devastating event.

{Matzav.com}

A meeting of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER) that was scheduled to be held next week at a hotel in Sarajevo was cancelled after a Bosnian minister called to ban it, saying its presence in the “city of openness” would “morally humiliate our capital and country.” Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, President of the Conference of European Rabbis (CER), wrote, “The CER’s biannual Standing Committee meeting was due to be held at the Swisshotel in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, next week. Chief Rabbanim from all over Europe, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, were due to convene to discuss the most pressing issues facing European Jewish life today and matters of freedom of religion or belief. Shockingly, the hotel has suddenly cancelled on us.” Federal Minister of Labor and Social Policy Adnan Delic wrote an open letter stating, “Sarajevo is a city of ‘openness and hospitality’ and so should ban the European-Jewish event from its city.” He implored the organizers “to immediately cancel the conference in Sarajevo, and all relevant institutions to prevent its realization, and citizens and civil society organizations not to remain silent in the face of this attempt to morally humiliate our capital and our country.” He also excoriated Israel in the letter, calling it a “genocidal entity” that is committing “shameful crimes against humanity.” Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt continued, “No other Bosnian government official has contacted the Conference of European Rabbis. We have been made unwelcome, and this last-minute, ministerial boycott of Jewish European citizens, dedicated purely to promoting Jewish life in Europe and furthering dialogue and democracy across the continent, is disgraceful.” “CER events foster dialogue, boost interfaith activity, and promote public engagement. It is Sarajevo’s loss. We are delighted that the Bavarian Government will support our event’s relocation to Munich, and we, as an organization, will continue unfazed to be engaged in supporting the Jewish communities of Europe.” “However, a wider question looms. This decision to block a European-Jewish conference on European soil is not only alarming but also revealing. It is a clear violation of EU commitments and values (The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, Articles 10 and 22; The European Council Declaration on Antisemitism, 2020). Bosnia and Herzegovina should certainly be cancelled and barred from accession to the European Union following this disgraceful castigation of a European faith group. Sarajevo has proclaimed itself a ‘city of openness and tolerance’ for anyone but Jews.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

LA Mayor Karen Bass suggests things won’t be “peaceful” in Los Angeles until the Trump Administration stops enforcing immigration law and removing violent criminal illegals from the streets.

The body of Yair Yaakov HY’D, has been recovered in Gaza, his family says. Yagil Yaakov says IDF troops recovered his father’s body during an operation in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli military has yet to issue an official statement regarding the operation. Yair Yaakov, 59, was abducted from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, alongside his partner, Meirav Tal, during the brutal Hamas terrorist assault on the community. That same day, Yaakov’s sons, Or and Yagil, were also taken captive from their mother’s nearby home in Nir Oz. Meirav Tal and the Yaakov brothers were freed in a November 2023 hostage exchange with Hamas. Tragically, Yair Yaakov was murdered during the initial October 7 attack, with his death confirmed by the IDF in February 2024. Yagil Yaakov expressed gratitude to Israel’s security forces for recovering his father’s body, while voicing his hope that the remaining hostages will be returned “through a deal that doesn’t endanger soldiers.”

With nuclear tensions mounting and the clock ticking toward a sixth round of high-stakes talks, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a grim assessment Tuesday, saying he’s “less confident” than ever that a deal can be reached with Iran — as Tehran threatened to unleash attacks on American military installations across the region. “I don’t know. I did think so, and I’m getting more and more — less confident about it,” Trump said on the Pod Force One podcast with New York Post columnist Miranda Devine. “They seem to be delaying… Something happened to them.” Trump said that regardless of whether a deal is ultimately reached or not, he won’t allow the regime to get a nuclear weapon. “If they don’t make a deal, they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon. If they do make a deal, they’re not going to have a nuclear weapon, too… So it’s not going to matter from that standpoint.” He added: “It would be nicer to do it without warfare… but we’ll see. Time will tell.” Trump’s remarks came as Iranian Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh escalated the rhetoric, warning that all U.S. bases in the Middle East are “within our reach” and vowing to strike them if talks fail. “If a conflict is imposed on us… we will boldly target them in host countries,” Nasirzadeh declared at a press conference. He also revealed Iran had recently tested a missile equipped with a massive two-ton warhead. The backdrop is a diplomatic standoff approaching a boiling point. Iran is expected to submit a counter-proposal to a U.S. draft agreement it previously rejected. Trump claimed Tehran is growing “much more aggressive” at the table, while Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in February had already called for further military buildup — including ballistic missile expansion. Talks are slated for this weekend, though confusion reigns over the schedule: Trump says they’ll be held Thursday, while Tehran claims Sunday in Oman. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee pushed back strongly against allegations accusing Israel of committing genocide or using disproportionate force in Gaza. In an interview with CBN, Huckabee derided the accusations, saying, “They’re doing a lousy job at genocide. If they wanted to do genocide, they could drop a few bombs and everybody would be dead.”

Huckabee praised Israel’s efforts to minimize civilian casualties during its operations in Gaza. “The fact that they are surgically going into Gaza, trying to move the civilians out of harm’s way. They announced to them with leaflets, with paging, with cell phone texts, with loudspeakers, and they’ve put it on every media outlet and social media and say, ‘If you’re in this area, get out. We’re going to attack it.'”

He pointed out the rarity of such extensive efforts to protect civilian lives during warfare. “Now who else does that on all of the Earth?” he asked. “Not even the US gives that kind of warning to civilians to try to protect them.”

Brushing aside speculation about a strained relationship between the U.S. and Israel, Huckabee made a lighthearted comparison, describing their alliance as inseparable. “We share intelligence and strategies more than with any other country. The reason this marriage will not dissolve is that neither side could afford to pay alimony,” he said with a smile.

Turning to the topic of Judea and Samaria, Huckabee responded to reports of American pressure by affirming that the U.S. backs Israel’s right to act independently when it comes to its policies in the region.

When asked about the negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Huckabee noted that Iran has been consistently uncooperative. “Iran has steadfastly said they will not agree” to President Trump’s condition that Tehran must completely halt uranium enrichment and its nuclear weapons program. “I don’t know that we take Iran at its word—they normally don’t keep their’s very well in the 46 years that they’ve ruled that country. But I would take Trump very seriously when he says they will not have a nuclear weapon.”

{Matzav.com}

A string of recent cyberattacks and data breaches involving the systems of major retailers have started affecting shoppers. United Natural Foods, a wholesale distributor that supplies Whole Foods and other grocers, said this week that a breach of its systems was disrupting its ability to fulfill orders — leaving many stores without certain items. In the U.K., consumers could not order from the website of Marks & Spencer for more than six weeks — and found fewer in-store options after hackers targeted the British clothing, home goods and food retailer. A cyberattack on Co-op, a U.K. grocery chain, also led to empty shelves in some stores. Cyberattacks have been on the rise across industries. But infiltrations of corporate technology carry their own set of implications when the target is a consumer-facing business. Beyond potentially halting sales of physical goods, breaches can expose customers’ personal data to future phishing or fraud attempts. Here’s what you need to know. Cyberattacks are on the rise overall Despite ongoing efforts from organizations to boost their cybersecurity defenses, experts note that cyberattacks continue to increase across the board. In the past year, there’s also been an “uptick in the retail victims” of such attacks, said Cliff Steinhauer, director of information security and engagement at the National Cybersecurity Alliance, a U.S. nonprofit. “Cyber criminals are moving a little quicker than we are in terms of securing our systems,” he said. Ransomware attacks — in which hackers demand a hefty payment to restore hacked systems — account for a growing share of cyber crimes, experts note. And of course, retail isn’t the only affected sector. Tracking by NCC Group, a global cybersecurity and software escrow firm, showed that industrial businesses were most often targeted for ransomware attacks in April, followed by companies in the “consumer discretionary” sector. Attackers know there’s a particular impact when going after well-known brands and products that shoppers buy or need every day, experts note. “Creating that chaos and that panic with consumers puts pressure on the retailer,” Steinhauer said, especially if there’s a ransom demand involved. Ade Clewlow, an associate director and senior adviser at the NCC Group, points specifically to food supply chain disruptions. Following the cyberattacks targeting M&S and Co-op, for example, supermarkets in remote areas of the U.K., where inventory already was strained, saw product shortages. “People were literally going without the basics,” Clewlow said. Personal data is also at risk Along with impacting business operations, cyber breaches may compromise customer data. The information can range from names and email addresses, to more sensitive data like credit card numbers, depending on the scope of the breach. Consumers therefore need to stay alert, according to experts. “If (consumers have) given their personal information to these retailers, then they just have to be on their guard. Not just immediately, but really going forward,” Clewlow said, noting that recipients of the data may try to commit fraud “downstream.” Fraudsters might send look-alike emails asking a retailer’s account holders to change their passwords or promising fake promotions to get customers to click on a sketchy link. A good rule of thumb is to pause before opening anything and to visit the company’s recognized website or call an official customer service hotline to verify the email, experts say. It’s also best not to reuse the same passwords across multiple […]

BREAKING IN FALLSBURG: Catskills Hatzolah and other emergency personnel are on the scene at Estate Drive and Laurel Park Road, where a child was struck by a vehicle. The child is reportedly unconscious, and a medevac has been requested. Catskills Scoop will share a name for Tehillim once it becomes available. Updates to follow.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved the voluntary departure of military dependents from multiple locations across the Middle East.