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CNN host Michael Smerconish delivered an on-air assessment Saturday, arguing President Donald Trump is “on a roll” and enjoying the strongest stretch of his second term yet, citing the president’s series of military, economic, and political victories that have left opponents scrambling. “Donald Trump is having a moment,” Smerconish declared at the top of his CNN program, acknowledging his own past criticism of the president but insisting that “viewed objectively,” the past 10 days have been Trump’s best since returning to the White House. Among the highlights, Smerconish pointed to Trump’s precision bombing campaign against Iran’s nuclear facilities, praising its stealth and the absence of American casualties. He also noted Trump’s willingness to engage on a ceasefire, which the CNN host described as a sign of more layered governing. On the economic front, Smerconish cited record stock market highs, falling inflation, and a surge in blue-collar wage growth — 1.7% in Trump’s first five months, the largest such jump in nearly three generations. Foreign policy achievements were also on Smerconish’s list: NATO allies doubling their contributions, a trade deal with China, and an apparent lack of damaging fallout from the administration’s tariff policies. The CNN host additionally highlighted new data from Pew Research showing Trump “won a bigger percentage of the Latino vote than previously believed,” and that even in a scenario of maximum voter turnout in 2024, Trump would still have prevailed. Smerconish argued that Trump’s second term is fundamentally different from the first, with a loyalist cabinet and a more methodical style of governing. “Winning became a punchline that Trump’s opponents used to lampoon him in his first administration,” he said. “This time he came with a plan … no longer solely guided by winning each day’s news cycle.” He closed with his conclusion: “By any objective measure, President Trump has his opponents on the run.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The community of Kiryas Yoel is mourning the sudden petirah of Yona Meisels z”l, a 12-year-old boy from the Bloomingrove community, who passed away over Shabbos.

Yona did not have any known medical conditions. On Shabbos, he began feeling unwell and was rushed to the hospital, where, tragically, his condition deteriorated rapidly, and he was niftar shortly thereafter.

Yona was the beloved son of Rav Chaim Yechezkel Meisels, a member of the Satmar kehillah in Bloomingrove.

A talmid at the local Satmar Talmud Torah, Yona was known for his sweet nature and lovable personality.

The levayah was held this morning in Kiryas Yoel.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

Tropical Storm Barry formed Sunday near Mexico’s southeast coast and is expected to drench the region for several days. The storm’s center was located about 90 miles (140 kilometers) east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico and about 165 miles (about 265 kilometers) southeast of Tampico, Mexico, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and was moving northwest at 6 mph (9 kph). A tropical storm warning is in effect for the coast of Mexico from Boca de Catan southward to Tecolutla. The storm is expected to strengthen slightly before it reaches the coast of southeastern Mexico. Rapid weakening is expected after the system moves inland. Forecasters said that the storm could dump three to six inches (eight to 15 centimeters) of rain with an isolated maximum total of 10 inches (25 centimeters) across Veracruz, San Luis Potosi, and Tamaulipas through Monday. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Flossie formed off Mexico’s southwest coast. It was located about 240 miles (390 kilometers) south of Acapulco and was moving west at 9 mph (15 kph) with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph). A tropical storm watch was in effected for Mexico’s southwest coast from Zihuatanejo to Cabo Corrientes. Flossie is expected to become a hurricane on Monday or Tuesday, but remains in open waters just west of Mexico. Forecasters said the storm could dump three to six inches (eight to 15 centimeters) of rain with an isolated maximum total of 10 inches (25 centimeters) across parts of Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima, and Jalisco through early next week. (AP)

Secretary of State Marco Rubio held his first meeting with families of the hostages still held in Gaza since taking office in January, according to a statement released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. The meeting took place in Washington, D.C., on Erev Shabbos.

“The real victory in Gaza will be achieved only when all the hostages return home,” Rubio told the families during the discussion, as reported by the forum.

Rubio also reportedly emphasized that the United States is playing a pivotal role in shaping events in the Middle East, pointing to recent Israeli military gains against Hezbollah in Lebanon as well as setbacks faced by the Iranian regime.

In attendance were several relatives of those still being held by Hamas and other terror factions, including Moshe Lavie, brother-in-law of Omri Miran; Ilya David, whose brother Evyatar remains captive; Tzur Goldin, brother of fallen IDF officer Hadar Goldin; and Iair Horn, himself a freed hostage, whose brother Eitan remains imprisoned in Gaza.

During the meeting, the families told Rubio that the current moment presents a crucial opportunity to secure a comprehensive agreement for the release of all the remaining hostages. They conveyed hope that the administration of President Donald Trump would help bring such a deal to fruition.

They urged Rubio to push for decisive action, stressing that now is the time for a “bold decision” that would result in the return of all hostages “in one fell swoop.”

President Trump, speaking Friday, expressed optimism about the negotiations, stating that a ceasefire in Gaza could be finalized “within the next week.”

From the Oval Office, Trump told reporters he had just spoken with individuals involved in the ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal, though he did not disclose any names or details.

Currently, Gaza-based terror groups are believed to be holding 50 hostages. Among them are 49 of the 251 individuals abducted during the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023. Israeli military sources say that at least 28 of the hostages are confirmed to be dead. Of the remaining captives, 20 are thought to still be alive.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli security services have dismantled a large and dangerous Hamas network that had been active in the Chevron region, with concrete plans to launch attacks on Israelis in the near term.

The extensive operation, coordinated between the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the IDF, and the Judea and Samaria branch of the Israel Police, led to the arrest of more than 60 individuals affiliated with Hamas. A large portion of those detained were previously incarcerated and had since returned to terror-related activity, including gathering intelligence, training with firearms, assembling explosive devices, and crafting bombs for future use.

Shin Bet described this as the most extensive and sophisticated Hamas infrastructure discovered and taken apart in Judea and Samaria in over ten years. Authorities say they successfully disrupted approximately ten separate terror squads that were preparing imminent attacks. As part of the operation, security forces confiscated 22 guns, 11 grenades, and a substantial stockpile of ammunition. A concealed underground space used both for storing weapons and hiding fugitives was also located.

Further probing revealed that some of those taken into custody had been involved in previous terror operations. One of the suspects was linked to the deadly 2010 shooting at the Be’er Naim junction, which claimed the lives of four Israelis: Yitzhak and Tali Ames, Kochava Even Chaim, and Avishai Schindler. Other suspects were found to have provided weapons for a 2023 attack at the Tunnel Checkpoint, where Corporal Avraham Patna lost his life.

A high-ranking official in Shin Bet commented, “Most of the members of the infrastructure are former prisoners and experienced in investigations. The group operated under strict secrecy and maintaining confidentiality, and its exposure is a top-tier intelligence and operational achievement.”

Prosecutors have filed severe criminal charges against those arrested, including leadership of a terrorist group, attempted premeditated murder, and murder. Both Shin Bet and the IDF reaffirmed their ongoing commitment to confront any threat to Israeli lives, stressing that even crimes committed many years ago will not be ignored.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israel and Syria are on track to sign a landmark peace agreement before the end of 2025, according to a Syrian source speaking to i24NEWS. Under the reported framework, Israel would gradually withdraw from all Syrian territory it seized during its incursion into the buffer zone on December 8, including the strategic peak of Mount Hermon. The deal, if finalized, would fully normalize ties between the two longtime adversaries, with one source describing the Golan Heights as being transformed into “a garden for peace.”

More than four years after a Florida condominium collapse killed 98 people, federal investigators have yet to make a final determination of the cause — but they do have some leading theories. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, the agency handling the probe, said this week it hopes to conclude the investigation in 2026. “We intend for our investigation of this failure to have a lasting impact, save future lives and ensure this never happens again,” NIST investigator Judith Mitrani-Reiser said in the agency’s latest report. Most residents were asleep in the 12-story Champlain Towers South when the beachfront condo building in Surfside, Florida, collapsed into a huge pile of rubble at 1:22 a.m. on June 24, 2021. As the investigation continued, a Miami judge approved a more than $1 billion settlement for personal injury and wrongful death claims from the disaster. Meanwhile, a new luxury condominium is going up at the Champlain Towers site, a few miles north of Miami. What caused the collapse? NIST has zeroed in on what it calls three “higher-likelihood” scenarios, all related to construction flaws that date to the beginning of the 40-year-old structure. “These conditions existed from the time construction was complete, 40 years before the partial collapse,” said Glen Bell, co-lead investigator on NIST’s National Construction Safety Team. One possibility is the failure of a connection between a building column and the pool deck slab that never met building code standards. Another is that steel reinforcement “was not placed where it should have been,” which meant the column and pool deck were far too weak. And a third theory is that work done later around the pool — when heavy planters, sand and pavers were added — increased the weight load on a deck “that was already functionally and structurally inadequate.” The NIST report also notes that support columns in the building’s basement parking garage had been exposed to frequent flooding, which causes corrosion in steel reinforcements and concrete deterioration. Are there other theories? Investigators did not find evidence of voids in the ground under the building, known as “karst.” Using satellite data, the NIST team found there was no sinking or settling underneath Champlain Towers, which would indicate existence of karst. In addition, investigators found the limestone upon which the condo was built was “sufficient to carry the building loads” and that testing of the concrete supporting Champlain Towers had “adequate material strength.” One challenge for investigators was the lack of any available records from the original building construction and not many from its earlier years. How are other condo buildings handling new rules? After Surfside, state legislators enacted a law in 2022 requiring condo associations to have sufficient reserves to cover major repairs. Some residents were caught off guard by hefty fees imposed to cover years of deferred maintenance expenses required to bring their buildings into compliance with the law’s standards. Gov. Ron DeSantis this week signed new legislation allowing some condo associations to fund their reserves through a loan or line of credit. It also gives residents more flexibility to pause payments into reserve funds while they prioritize needed repairs. It extends the deadline for condo associations to complete structural integrity studies and exempts some smaller buildings from those studies. “Now it’s time to make the change,” state Sen. Ed Hooper said. “Elderly people […]

Trump on Mamdani: “He’s a pure communist. I think he admits it … If he does get in, I’m gonna be president and he’s gonna have to the right thing or they’re not getting any money. He’s gotta do the right thing.”

The Jerusalem District Court announced that it is canceling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled testimony in his criminal trial this week, following his appearance in a closed-door court session today on the matter. Netanyahu requested in court that his scheduled testimony for the next two weeks be delayed due to diplomatic and national security issues, after two such requests were rejected on Friday.

FOX NEWS: “Has any other country suggested to you… that they want to join the Abraham Accords?” POTUS: “Yes. So, we have some really great countries in there right now and I think we’re going to start loading them up because Iran was the primary problem.”

TRUMP ON IRAN: “They said, ‘We want enrichment.’ Enrichment doesn’t mean like air conditioning and it doesn’t mean to jack up your car. Enrichment is a bad word … I wouldn’t let that happen.”

On Sunday, the Yerushalayim District Court agreed to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s request to delay his court appearances, meaning he will not be required to take the stand this week.

Earlier in the day, Netanyahu appeared in court to present his reasons for seeking a postponement, citing regional developments as justification for the delay.

Just two days earlier, the court had turned down Netanyahu’s initial bid to pause his testimony for two weeks. He had argued that pressing matters of national importance, including political and security concerns, made it impossible for him to participate in the hearings as scheduled.

In response to that rejection, Netanyahu submitted a renewed application asking to cancel the testimony dates. Accompanying this request was a sealed envelope detailing his schedule for the coming week. His attorney, Amit Hadad, stated, “The defense believed that submitting a request to postpone the hearings just one day after the conclusion of the historic campaign should have been obvious. However, given the prosecution’s position and the court’s decision, a partial schedule for the Prime Minister for the upcoming week is being submitted to the court in a sealed envelope.”

Hadad further wrote, “The partial schedule is due to additional discussions and matters that cannot be outlined or presented in the current format, taking into account the dynamics and ongoing developments. A review of the schedule will clarify the national need for the Prime Minister to devote all his time and energy to the political, national, and security issues at hand. Once the Prime Minister’s schedule for the following week is finalized, a similar envelope will be submitted to the court.”

Despite the submission, the court turned down most of the new request, stating, “Without going into details—generally, the schedule presented does not contain data, details, or extraordinary matters that could justify canceling hearings. The only exception to this is the first item on Monday, June 30, 2025. In light of the mentioned activity, the hearing on that day will start at 11:30. Subject to that, the request is denied.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The IDF announced on Sunday the tragic loss of Sergeant Yisrael Natan Rosenfeld, a 20-year-old soldier from Ra’anana, who was killed during a military operation in the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Rosenfeld served in the 601st Combat Engineering Battalion, which is part of the 401st Armored Brigade.

The deadly incident occurred in Jabaliya shortly after 11:00 a.m., when an explosive device detonated as a team of IDF Armored Corps soldiers approached a structure during a targeted raid.

Thankfully, no other troops were injured in the blast. The military has opened an investigation to determine the precise details surrounding the event.

Since the resumption of the Gaza campaign in March 2025, 30 Israeli soldiers have been killed, with 21 of those deaths caused by explosive devices.

Since the start of the IDF’s ground operation in Gaza, a total of 438 soldiers have lost their lives.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Popular Israeli actress and children’s entertainer Michal Weizmann, widely known as Michal HaKtanah, made a public commitment to fully observe Shabbos this past weekend, dedicating it as a zechus for the return of the hostages held in Gaza.

“This Shabbos, I chose to stop,” Weizmann wrote on her Instagram account. “A Shabbos of Rosh Chodesh. A Shabbos of new beginnings. A Shabbos I chose to keep in full, turning off my phone, opening my heart, and letting the light in.”

Weizmann explained the intention behind her observance: “I kept this Shabbos for the sake of our hostages, to bring them home now! For our soldiers, that they should return in peace. For my children. And for an entire nation that needs healing.”

She concluded with a heartfelt message of faith and unity: “It was a Shabbos of tikkun, of tefillah, of a silence that shakes the heavens. I’m taking this step with complete faith. Because when we are united and bring light, darkness disappears on its own. I promise you…very soon we’ll see miracles and wonders!”

Amein kein yehi ratzon.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Ticks can be active in any season and it’s important to check for and remove the bloodsuckers as quickly as possible — especially after you’ve been outside hiking, gardening or enjoying nature. “Humans are outside more in summer so we hear about more tick infections,” said Sam Telford, an infectious diseases expert at Tufts University. But he urges caution year-round because “every season is tick season.” While tick populations vary a lot regionally, some Northeastern states including Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island are seeing “above average” numbers of American dog ticks this year, said Telford. And New York state is seeing a higher number of reported deer tick bites this year than last year, said Saravanan Thangamani, who studies tick-borne diseases at SUNY Upstate Medical University. How ticks can spread disease Ticks, like mosquitos, need to feed on blood. But instead of a quick prick, they are slow feeders – with hooked mouth parts that attach into the skin of deer, rabbits, dogs and people. There are many different species of ticks found globally and only some spread germs that can make people sick. A main worry is blacklegged ticks, also called deer ticks, which can spread Lyme disease. Once found mainly in New England and pockets of the Midwest, the ticks are now present over a wider range. A tick bite doesn’t always lead to illness. “If you remove a tick within 24 hours of attachment, it’s fairly unlikely that you will get infected,” said Telford. How to check for ticks Ticks are usually found low to the ground, in leaf litter or grassy areas. Check your clothing for ticks and do a full-body check including under the arms and behind ears, knees and hair. “If you’re out all day long, try to do a quick check for ticks every few hours,” said Bobbi Pritt at the Mayo Clinic. “When you go back inside, take a shower. That will wash off any unattached ticks, and you’re also more likely to spot any other ticks.” Use tweezers to remove the tick and grasp it as close to the skin as possible to pull from the head. If you don’t have them handy, you can also use your fingernails, the edge of a credit card or any semi-sharp object. How to keep ticks away The best approach is to minimize tick exposure altogether. Bug sprays containing ingredients such as DEET can be sprayed on exposed skin to ward off ticks and mosquitos, said Telford. Wear long sleeves and pants, and you can also spray clothing with repellents containing permethrin, a chemical similar to a natural ingredient in chrysanthemums that makes ticks avoid the flowers. Protect your pets from ticks Don’t forget to pay attention to outdoor pets. Medications can prevent fleas and ticks from attaching to a dog’s skin. But it’s still a good idea to check the fur after being outside. “Wherever pets can’t easily groom themselves, that’s where the ticks will be – on the ears, around the muzzle area, under the collar, between the toes,” said Thangamani. Dogs and cats roaming outdoors can also bring ticks into the house. “If pets bring ticks in, a tick can live in the house for months until it finds its next blood meal,” which could be another household member, he said. What to do after a […]

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Following the coordinated aerial assault led by Israel and supported by the United States against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is warning that Tehran may be able to restart its uranium enrichment operations within months.

In a conversation with CBS News—excerpts of which were published yesterday ahead of the full interview airing today—Grossi acknowledged that while the strikes caused some damage to Iranian nuclear installations, “some is still standing.”

“They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that,” Grossi explained, emphasizing the limited timeframe Iran would need to resume its program.

On June 13, Israel launched a series of attacks targeting Iranian nuclear and military assets. The operation was reportedly intended to halt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Shortly thereafter, the United States took part in the campaign, targeting three central installations believed to play critical roles in Iran’s nuclear efforts.

One of the chief concerns of Western powers is the fate of the 408.6 kilograms of uranium that Iran had enriched to 60 percent—far exceeding levels typically used for civilian purposes. If refined further, this stockpile could provide enough material for the assembly of multiple nuclear weapons.

“We don’t know where this material could be,” Grossi admitted during the CBS interview. “So some could have been destroyed as part of the attack, but some could have been moved. So there has to be at some point a clarification.”

Complicating the global watchdog’s efforts, Iran’s parliament recently voted to halt its cooperation with the IAEA. Grossi’s request to inspect the damaged sites, particularly the Fordow enrichment facility, has also been turned down by Iranian authorities.

“We need to be in a position to ascertain, to confirm what is there, and where is it and what happened,” Grossi urged, highlighting the importance of access and transparency in the wake of the strikes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Thursday that the military campaign led by Israel had resulted in “serious” harm to Iran’s nuclear installations, marking the first official Iranian acknowledgment of the extent of the damage.

“A detailed assessment of the damage is being carried out by experts from the Atomic Energy Organization (of Iran),” Araghchi said in a statement broadcast on state-run television.

He further noted that Iran was considering diplomatic steps to address the destruction, saying, “Now, the discussion of demanding damages and the necessity of providing them has been placed as one of the important issues on the country’s diplomatic agenda.”

Araghchi emphasized that the situation remains dire, stating, “These damages are serious, and expert studies and political decision-making are underway at the same time.”

His comments seemed to reinforce earlier declarations by US President Donald Trump, who had consistently maintained that the US-led airstrikes in coordination with Israel had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities.

{Matzav.com}

Palestinians are reporting intense Israeli airstrikes on Jabalia and Gaza City in recent hours, after the IDF issued evacuation notices for the areas in the northern Gaza Strip.

The IDF dropped thousands of leaflets over Gaza City and Jabalia, warning residents ahead of time to evacuate as military operations are planned in those areas.

ELIMINATED: Iranian state media confirmed that senior IRGC officer Abolfazl Nikoei, also known as “Haj Younes,” was ELIMINATED in an Israeli airstrike last week. Released photos show him alongside Qassem Soleimani, the former Quds Force commander eliminated by the U.S.