YWN regrets to inform you of the tragic petirah of Rabbi Menachem (Mendy) Raitport z”l, who was niftar on Tuesday in a devastating car accident while traveling on I-95 in Georgia. He was just 57 years old. Rabbi Raitport, a longtime resident of Crown Heights, was returning home from Florida with one of his sons when the accident occurred. Miraculously, his son escaped serious injury. Born, raised, and educated in Brooklyn, Rabbi Raitport was a respected figure in the Lubavitch community, known not only for his yiras Shamayim and devotion to Torah and mitzvos, but also for his deep expertise in halacha, especially in the intricate laws of shechita. For many years, he operated a butcher shop on Kingston Avenue, providing kosher meat to the kehilla with the utmost standards of kashrus and care. Beyond his professional pursuits, Rabbi Raitport was deeply devoted to community service. A proud father and grandfather, he invested tremendous energy into helping others—whether through his work as an EMT, his role in community emergency response, or his frequent involvement in acts of quiet chesed. He was never one to seek honor or recognition, but those who knew him could attest to his unwavering sense of responsibility to his fellow Yid. He also brought that same passion to the public sphere, running for public office multiple times under the Conservative Party banner, determined to be a voice for values, integrity, and the needs of the local community. His campaigns were fueled not by politics, but by a sincere belief that the Torah perspective belonged in the halls of power, advocating for better education, safer neighborhoods, and fairer treatment of small businesses and families. Rabbi Raitport came from a family steeped in chesed. His parents, Rabbi and Mrs. Y. Raitport, were known for their activism and generosity in both local and international Jewish causes. This spirit of service ran deep in Rabbi Menachem’s veins. His sister is married to Rabbi Moshe Rotberg, mara d’asra of Khal Zichron Yechezkel in Toms River, New Jersey. He is survived by his devoted wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, and countless friends and community members who are heartbroken by this sudden loss. Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
As economic uncertainty deepens worldwide, gold prices have notched more and more record highs. That’s because gold sales can rise sharply when anxious investors seek “safe havens” for parking their money. Gold’s current rally arrives as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to announce new tariffs on economic allies and foes alike, roiling financial markets into volatility and threatening to reignite inflation for families and businesses alike. On Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund said that outlooks for economies worldwide, including the U.S., have significantly worsened in the wake of Trump’s sweeping tariffs and the uncertainty they have created. And Trump’s recent threats suggesting he can remove Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell have only put investors more on edge. If trends continue, analysts say the price of gold could continue to climb into unprecedented territory. Here’s what to know. What’s the price of gold today? The going price for New York spot gold hit a record $3,424.24 per troy ounce — the standard for measuring precious metals — as of close Monday. That’s about $1,097 higher than a year ago. The price of spot gold is up more than 30% since the start of 2025, per the data firm FactSet. By contrast, the stock market has tumbled. The benchmark S&P 500 is down over 12% this year. Gold futures also reached a record early Tuesday, briefly surpassing the $3,500 mark for the first time before falling back below $3,400 by late afternoon. Why is the price of gold going up? A lot of it boils down to uncertainty. Interest in buying gold typically spikes when investors become anxious — and there’s been a lot of economic turmoil in recent months. The heaviest uncertainty lies with Trump’s escalating trade wars. The president’s on-again, off-again new levy announcements and retaliatory tariffs from some of the nation’s closest traditional allies have created a sense of whiplash for both businesses and consumers — who economists say will foot the bill through higher prices. Consumer confidence and global economic outlooks have deteriorated as a result. On Tuesday, the IMF said that the global economy will grow just 2.8% this year, down from its forecast in January of 3.3%. And for the U.S. specifically, the fund expects growth will come in at just 1.8% this year, down sharply from its previous forecast of 2.7%. China, which currently faces the heaviest levies from the U.S., is also expected to see weakened growth. Last week, Trump also renewed threats suggesting he could remove Powell — and has since stepped up his public criticism of the Fed chair for not cutting interest rates. Any attempt to unseat Powell would likely set off a crisis in global financial markets over fears that a less independent Fed could struggle to keep inflation under control — making investors all the more anxious. Over the last year, analysts have also pointed to strong gold demand from central banks around the world amid other ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. Is gold worth the investment? Advocates of investing in gold call it a “safe haven” — arguing the commodity can serve to diversify and balance your investment portfolio, as well as mitigate possible risks down the road. Some also take comfort in buying something tangible that has the potential to increase in value over time. Still, experts caution against putting all your eggs in one basket. And not everyone agrees gold is a good investment. […]
Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Fatah, chaired a meeting of the Fatah Central Committee in Ramallah on Tuesday, which discussed, among other issues, the situation in the Gaza Strip.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Fatah Central Committee warned of “the dangerous plans of the occupation to reoccupy the Gaza Strip and divide it to force our people to emigrate.”
The statement from Fatah emphasized that such a move is rejected by Palestinians, Arabs, and the international community, and will not succeed due to the steadfastness and attachment of the Palestinian people to their land and homeland.
The Central Committee called on the international community, particularly the UN Security Council, to take responsibility and compel “the occupying state” to halt the “war of extermination” it is waging in the Gaza Strip, as well as the dangerous attacks by “occupation forces and terrorist settlers” in Judea and Samaria.
In an implicit criticism of Hamas, the Central Committee noted that the “occupation” must not be given pretexts to continue the war and “aggression” that has claimed the lives of thousands of Palestinian Arabs, urging adherence to the foundational principles of PLO policy.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Israel Police announced Wednesday afternoon that the remains found in the sea on Tuesday off the coast of Hadera belonged to Barak Tzach, z’l, who was killed by sharks on Monday. Tzach, z’l, a resident of Petach Tikva, is survived by his wife and four children. His wife, Sarit, announced his death in a Facebook post, in which she also addressed the rumors surrounding the deadly incident. “With deep sorrow and pain that has no words, we announce the death of my husband and our father, Barak Tzach,” she wrote. “I want to put an end to the rumors that are spreading about the circumstances of his death and tell the truth. On the day of his death, Barak arrived at the beach after a day’s work, as he often did. He entered the sea equipped with a snorkel, mask, fins, and a GoPro camera – without anything else, and certainly not with fish or bait, contrary to the rumors that have spread. Barak went into the water to dive and photograph sharks, not to feed or play with them.” “In a conversation I had with a fisherman who witnessed the event, I was told that he swam near the sharks and later moved a little further towards a more open area. He photographed the sharks from a distance but did not touch or feed them. When they started getting too close to him, he used the GoPro camera stick to gently push them away. The fisherman called him to return to shore, and Barak began to swim slowly towards him – and then he was attacked. The family asks to refrain from spreading false or unfounded information, and to respect the memory of a beloved person who loved the sea and nature.” Tzach served in the reserves in Battalion 8207 in the Northern Nachal Brigade (228). His army friends released a statement following his death: “The 8207 family announces with great sadness the untimely death of Barak Tzach following the shark attack earlier this week off the coast of Hadera. Barak served in the battalion since 1999, was a dear man, beloved, and we will miss him very much. The battalion is here for his family and will continue to accompany them all the way. Details about the funeral will be announced later.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Elon Musk informed Tesla shareholders on Tuesday that he plans to substantially reduce the amount of time he spends working on federal government matters starting next month, allowing him to refocus on his role at Tesla.
“Starting next month, I will be allocating far more of my time to Tesla,” the CEO said during Tesla’s earnings call, as reported by Business Insider.
He explained that much of the foundational work for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative has already been completed, and therefore his involvement in President Trump’s government streamlining project will decrease significantly beginning in May.
Musk, who is 53 years old, mentioned that he would still be open to contributing a day or two each week to the government’s efforts “as long as it is useful,” provided that President Trump agrees.
It was widely anticipated that Musk would wrap up his tenure at DOGE by the end of May, coinciding with the expiration of his designation as a special government employee (SGE).
According to federal guidelines, SGEs are permitted to work no more than 130 days in a calendar year, placing Musk’s final day in government service on May 30, marking the conclusion of his role in DOGE.
Earlier this month, President Trump expressed his desire for Musk to remain involved in his administration for as long as possible, while also recognizing that Musk has significant business responsibilities that may demand more of his attention.
“We’re in no rush, but there will be a point in time in which Elon’s going to have to leave,” Trump said on April 3. He added that Musk has “a number of companies to run.”
The president didn’t set a firm deadline for Musk’s departure from his role in the administration, but he estimated that it would likely take place “in a few months.”
Trump emphasized that the door remains open, saying that Musk is welcome to stay “as long as he likes.”
Meanwhile, Tesla has experienced a 71% year-over-year decline in quarterly net profit, a downturn discussed during the earnings call. The company has also been targeted by acts of arson and vandalism, attacks Musk attributed to backlash over his collaboration with the Trump administration.
“I think a great wrong is being done to the people of Tesla and to our customers,” Musk said in an interview last month with Fox News anchor Bret Baier on Special Report.
“I mean, Tesla’s a peaceful company that has made great cars, great products — that’s all it’s done,” he said. “It hasn’t harmed anyone, and yet, people are committing violence.”
{Matzav.com}
An intense heatwave and strong winds in Israel on Wednesday led to multiple wildfires breaking out, with two major fires erupting near Highway 6 and near the moshav of Tarum, near Beit Shemesh. Af firefighting teams battled the flames, police stopped traffic on parts of Highway 6 after a large fire broke out between the yishuvim of Petachya and Pedaya. Train services in the area were also halted as the fire approached the train tracks. Some drivers were forced to flee their vehicles to escape the fire. A police vehicle caught fire, but Baruch Hashem, there were no casualties. The police evacuated residents of Pedaya and are preparing to evacuate additional yishuvim. Later, the fire also spread in the Kfar Menachem area near Kiryat Malachi, and train traffic was also stopped between Lod and Be’er Sheva. At the same time, a serious forest fire also developed at the entrance to Moshav Tarum, north of Beit Shemesh. Security forces began evacuating the yishuvim of Eshtaol and Mesilat Tzion near Beit Shemesh, and Highway 44 was blocked. Police have closed traffic from Beit Shemesh to Jerusalem on Route 38. Dozens of firefighting teams are fighting the flames in multiple arenas. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
A federal judge agreed Tuesday to block the Trump administration from dismantling Voice of America, the 83-year-old international news service created by Congress. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that the administration illegally required Voice of America to cease operations for the first time since its World War II-era inception. Attorneys for Voice of America employees and contractors asked the judge to restore its ability to broadcast at the same level before President Donald Trump moved to slash its funding. Lamberth mostly agreed, ordering the administration to restore Voice of America and two of the independent broadcast networks operated by the U.S. Agency for Global Media — Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks — until the lawsuits are settled. The judge denied the request for two other independent networks, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Open Technology Fund. In a March 26 court filing, plaintiffs’ attorneys said nearly all 1,300 of Voice of America’s employees were placed on administrative leave, while 500 contractors were told that their contracts would be terminated at the end of last month. The U.S. Agency for Global Media, which runs Voice of America, has operated other broadcast outlets, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Afghanistan. Congress has appropriated nearly $860 million for the Agency for Global Media for the current fiscal year. Voice of America went dark soon after Trump issued an executive order on March 14 that pared funding to the Agency for Global Media and six other unrelated federal entities. It also moved to terminate VOA contracts with news agencies, including The Associated Press. Voice of America has operated since World War II, beaming news into authoritarian countries that don’t have a free press. It began as a counterpoint to Nazi propaganda and played a prominent role in the U.S. government’s Cold War efforts to curb the spread of communism. Trump and his Republican allies have accused Voice of America of having a “leftist bias” and failing to project “pro-American” values to its audience. Plaintiffs’ attorneys say it reports and broadcasts the news “truthfully, impartially, and objectively.” “That simple mission is a powerful one for those living across the globe without access to a free press and without the ability to otherwise discern what is truly happening,” they wrote. Government attorneys argued that the plaintiffs failed to show how they have been irreparably harmed. “Rather, Plaintiffs take aim at what is best described as a temporary pause on its activities while Global Media determines how to bring Voice of America into compliance with the President’s directive,” they wrote. The Agency for Global Media’s leadership includes special adviser Kari Lake, a former TV news anchor and political candidate. In his written ruling, Lamberth noted that the U.S. Agency for Global Media never finalized its grant agreement with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty for the current fiscal year, and the Open Technology Fund withdrew its legal request for a temporary restraining order earlier this year. Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Networks do have current grant agreements in place, and like Voice of America, are funded by Congressional appropriations. Lamberth said the funding cuts “reflect a hasty, indiscriminate approach” — particularly since they were made the same day that President Trump signed the congressional appropriation that funded Voice of […]
Two young children—whose father left the derech—are left with a struggling mother, unable to care for them alone. Rabbi Eliezer Turk shlit”a calls them “orphans in their father’s lifetime”, warning of emotional and spiritual danger without urgent help. The Rav stresses: “The issue is financial—educational costs are enormous, and the Rabbanim say it borders on pikuach nefesh.” He asks: “Whoever can, should give 340 shekels—the gematria of ‘nefesh’—and help save these souls.” Rabbi Turk offers a heartfelt blessing: “All who help should merit only tov and chessed, and see their heart’s desires fulfilled for good.” To donate click here
Elkana Federman, the chief of security at the Nova music festival, who was wounded in the October 7 massacre, filed a complaint on Tuesday with the Moriah District Police in Jerusalem against ousted Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, who has refused to leave his position even after the government unanimously voted to dismiss him. In the complaint, Federman stated that Bar knew in advance about Hamas’s plan but did not act to prevent it, thereby abetting the murder of his fellow security guards and the wounds he himself incurred during the massacre. On Monday, Bar submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court in which he implicated himself, admitting that he was aware that something terrible was happening at the Gaza border the night before the massacre, but did not wake up Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu or alert the IDF. Netanyahu’s office responded to the affidavit by stating that if Bar had alerted the prime minister or the defense minister in time, “the massacre could have been prevented. Federman stated at the police station: “I filed a complaint against the criminal Ronen Bar, who is responsible for the October 7 failure which led to the murder of my friends at Nova. Because of him, I was wounded and almost killed multiple times. I demand that this criminal be brought to justice now.” When the massacre occurred at the party, Federman acted heroically, saving lives by evacuating injured victims to ambulances and even fighting the terrorists, killing 15 of them with an M16 an injured soldier gave him and later with a handgun he took from a murdered police officer. Eventually, he was shot in his thigh and he ran for his life while terrorists shot at him from all directions. He reached some bushes, where he hid for almost eight hours after applying a tourniquet to his wound with his belt to stem the bleeding. He was eventually rescued and evacuated to the hospital. Federman told Channel 14 last year that he received a warning from a friend in the army a week before October 7th that “something was going to happen on Sukkos.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The H-1B visa has long been a highly coveted employment visa for foreign citizens with specialized skills to live and work in the U.S., and recent requests from the Trump administration have put greater attention on the program. The requests for more information from people applying for or renewing H-1B visas come amid heightened tensions over immigration as President Donald Trump seeks to make good on his vow of mass deportations of people in the country illegally. Much of Trump’s agenda has been focused on arresting people in the country illegally or reversing Biden-era temporary deportation protections. There has been less attention on employment-based visas or other parts of the legal immigration system — though more than 1,000 international students have had their visas or legal status revoked. The requests for information come as the H-1B visa program is already a source of division within Trump’s Republican Party. Here’s a look at what the H-1B visa program is, what critics and supporters say about it, and how the administration’s recent questions have raised concerns. What is an H-1B visa? The H-1B was created as part of the 1990 Immigration Act. It is a type of nonimmigrant visa, meaning it allows for a temporary stay in the U.S. and is not intended for people who want to immigrate permanently. Some eventually do, but only after transitioning to different immigration statuses. An H-1B allows employers to hire foreign workers who have specialized skills and a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Who uses H-1B visas? The visa is most commonly associated with the tech industry. About 60% or more of the H-1B visas approved every year since 2012 have been for computer-related jobs, according to the Pew Research Center. But health care facilities, financial institutions, universities and just about any other employer looking to address workforce shortages can and do apply for H-1B visas. The number of new visas issued annually has been capped at 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 for people with a master’s degree or higher. Some employers, such as universities and nonprofits, are exempt from the limits. People from India are by far the biggest users of these visas, according to Pew. The organization said that since 2010, the majority of approvals every year have gone to people born in India. What makes the H-1B program controversial? The idea behind the H-1B visa is that it allows employers to hire from abroad for jobs that they haven’t been able to fill in the U.S. Proponents say the visa is a critical tool for hard-to-fill positions. But critics on both sides of the aisle have said that it undercuts U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated. And earlier this year, Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, wrote a scathing open letter saying the program’s real purpose was to “replace American workers with lower-paid workers from abroad who often live as indentured servants.” The debate over the future of H-1B visas is especially pronounced within the GOP. On one side are wealthy members of the tech world who support the visas to help bring in more highly skilled workers. On the other side are people of Trump’s Make America Great Again base who championed his immigration policies and say these visas allow employers to pay foreigners lower wages than if they hired Americans. […]
Finance Minister Betzalel Smotich on Wednesday morning made comments threatening to bring down the government over the resumption of unsupervised humanitarian aid into Gaza and the lack of progress in the war in Gaza. Smotrich’s comments were made in response to reports on Wednesday morning revealing angry remarks Smotrich made to IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir during a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening. During the meeting, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that Israel will be forced to resume the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza within two weeks. However, he added that, unlike the past, the aid will not reach Hamas as it will be distributed by IDF soldiers or US companies. Zamir responded by saying that “IDF soldiers will not distribute humanitarian aid and we will not starve Gaza.” Smotrich erupted at Zamir, telling him that he is responsible for carrying out the decision of the political echelon and if he doesn’t, someone else will be brought in to do so. Smotrich responded to the reports on Wednesday morning, clarifying that his anger was really directed at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu rather than Zamir. “Managing the civilian efforts in Gaza in a way that does not reach the hands of Hamas was and remains the most critical component for defeating Hamas and winning the war,” Smotrich stated. “This is a vital part of the war effort and is much more important than another IDF division and more military actions. Without internalizing and acting on this, we will not be able to win.” Smotrich added that he has been “shouting this for a year and a half,” and at his request, the IDF received an explicit directive regarding its responsibility for overseeing humanitarian aid in Gaza before the most recent hostage deal was signed. “I have no complaints against the IDF Chief of Staff,” he clarified. “My criticism is of the prime minister, who does not enforce the implementation of the political echelon’s policies on the IDF. The entry of logistical aid that reaches Hamas is a step that I will not be a part of. Period!” he threatened. “The ultimate responsibility for this lies with Prime Minister Netanyahu,” he asserted. “Launch a campaign to defeat Hamas, conquer Gaza, and establish a temporary military government until another solution is found. Return the hostages and launch the Trump plan—or this government has no right to exist.” During the cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening, Smotrich told Zamir: “The IDF doesn’t choose its missions, and whoever doesn’t know how to handle missions can go home.” “We have informed you that you need to prepare for this [distribution of aid]. We will decide the goal, and you’ll decide how to execute it. If you aren’t capable of doing it, we’ll find someone else who is capable.” Ministers present at the discussion asked Smotrich to lower his tone and not to shout. Smotrich continued, telling Zamir, “We decided that no aid will reach Hamas. I don’t care how it’s accomplished. If you don’t know how to accomplish this, then tell that to the political echelon. In a democracy, the army doesn’t choose its missions. You can’t stand here and tell us: ‘I won’t do it.’ Only the political echelon decides what the mission is.” Smotrich also slammed Zamir for the lack of progress […]
A Houthi missile fired from Yemen in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday morning sent millions of Israelis in Haifa and the western Galil running to bomb shelters. It was the first time that a Houthi missile set off sirens in northern Israel, with previous sirens mainly targeting central Israel and the Jerusalem area. Residents of Haifa and the Sharon area reported hearing the sounds of explosions. Following the incident, the IDF spokesperson stated: “An interceptor was launched toward the missile and the missile was most likely successfully intercepted.” B’Chasdei Hashem, no direct injuries or damage from interceptor missiles were reported. However, a number of people were injured while running to bomb shelters. Meanwhile, US forces continue to target the Houthis in Yemen, with strikes on the Hodeida, Marib and Saada governorates reported on Wednesday morning. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The IDF reported early Wednesday that it had detected a missile launch originating from Yemen, with the projectile aimed at Israeli territory.
“Aerial defense systems are operating to intercept the threat. The public is instructed to follow the guidelines issued by the Home Front Command,” stated the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.
Shortly afterward, air raid sirens were heard across several cities in northern Israel, including Haifa, Nahariya, and Acre. Locals said they heard loud booms during the incident.
In a follow-up statement, the IDF confirmed that “Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in Haifa, Krayot, and the Western Galilee, a missile was launched from Yemen. An interceptor was launched toward the missile and the results of the interception are under review. Sirens were sounded in accordance with protocol.”
The IDF later clarified that one missile had been fired from Yemen, an Israeli interceptor was launched in response, and initial assessments indicated that the missile was probably taken down. The sounding of the sirens followed standard procedures.
Zaki Heller, spokesperson for Magen David Adom (MDA), provided an update: “Following the sirens heard in recent minutes in northern Israel, at this stage, no calls have been received at Magen David Adom’s 101 emergency hotline regarding rocket impacts or casualties.”
He did note, however, that emergency responders had been dispatched to assist individuals who sustained injuries while running to shelters.
A similar scenario unfolded this past Friday morning when missile alerts went off in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and the surrounding regions of Shfela and Sharon. The military confirmed at the time that the missile from Yemen was intercepted and that sirens were activated in line with protocol.
Before the sirens were triggered, the IDF had issued an initial warning, aligned with a recently announced enhancement to the missile alert system for threats from Yemen.
However, the Home Front Command’s mobile alert app failed to notify all users in the affected areas, prompting the IDF to open an inquiry into the technical issue.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Elon Musk says he’ll be spending less time in Washington slashing government costs and more time running Tesla after his electric vehicle company reported a big drop in profits. Musk said on a conference call with analysts Tuesday that “now that the major work of establishing Department of Government Efficiency is done,” that he will be “allocating far more of my time to Tesla” starting in May. Musk said he now expects to spend just “a day or two per week on government matters” Tesla struggled to sell vehicles as it faced angry protests over Musk’s leadership of DOGE, a jobs-cutting group that has divided the country. The Austin, Texas, company reported a 71% drop in profits and a 9% decline in revenue for the first quarter. “Investors wanted to see him recommit to Tesla,” said Wedbush Securities’ Dan Ives. “This is a big step in the right direction.” Investors sent Tesla shares up more than 5% in after-hours trading, although they are still down more than 40% for the year. The company reconfirmed that it expects to roll out a cheaper version of its best-selling vehicle, the Model Y sport utility vehicle, in the first half of this year. It also stuck with its predictions that it will be able to launch a paid driverless robotaxi service in Austin in June and have much of its fleet operating by itself next year. “There will be millions of Teslas operating autonomously in the second half of the year,” Musk said in a conference call after the results were announced. He later added about the personal use of autonomous vehicles, “Can you go to sleep in our cars and wake up at your destination? I’m confident that will be available in many cities in the U.S. by the end of this year.” Auto analyst Sam Abuelsamid at Telemetry Insight said he doubts Musk’s predictions. “The system is not robust enough to operate unsupervised. It still makes far too many errors,” he said. “It will suddenly make mistakes that will lead to a crash.” The planned rollout of the robotaxi without a steering wheel or pedals comes as federal regulators still have open investigations into whether the technology that Tesla hopes will allow cars to drive themselves is completely safe. Tesla’s driver-assistance technology that can steer or stop a car but still requires humans to take over at any time — its so-called Autopilot — is being probed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for whether it alerts drivers sufficiently when their attention wanders. And the company’s Full Self-Driving, which is only partial self-driving and has drawn criticism for misleading drivers with the name, has come under scrutiny for its tie to accidents in low-visibility conditions like when there is sun glare. Another challenge to Tesla, which once dominated the EV business: It is facing fierce competition for the first time. Earlier this year, Chinese EV maker BYD announced it had developed an electric battery that can charge within minutes. And Tesla’s European rivals have begun offering new models with advanced technology that is making them real Tesla alternatives just as popular opinion has turned against Musk. The Tesla CEO has alienated potential buyers in Europe by publicly supporting far-right politicians there. Tesla said Tuesday that quarterly profits fell from $1.39 […]
During a press event on Tuesday, President Donald Trump emphasized that Hamas would not be permitted to take part in ruling Gaza once the conflict concludes.
“We’re not going to let Hamas do that, and we’re going to see what happens with Gaza,” Trump stated when asked by a reporter about the future leadership of the region.
Reflecting on the broader region, Trump remarked on the strides made during his presidency. “We’ve made a lot of progress in the Middle East. Tremendous. That date, that very special date, October 7th, should have never happened. It would have never happened if I were president,” he said.
Earlier that day, Trump revealed that he had spoken by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said the conversation covered a range of topics and highlighted their shared perspective. “I’ve just spoken to Prime Minister of Israel, Bibi Netanyahu, relative to numerous subjects including Trade, Iran, etc. The call went very well—We are on the same side of every issue,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The two leaders also met in Washington two weeks prior. During that meeting, Trump addressed efforts to reach an agreement with Hamas for the release of hostages. “I want to see the end of the war. Right now, we have a problem with the hostages, we’re trying to get the hostages out. We got quite a few out, but it’s a long process. It shouldn’t be that long, but we have a big problem,” he said.
Earlier this month, Trump commented further on the hostage situation, expressing his personal engagement. “I’ve met with, as you know, a lot of the hostages. It’s a terrible situation. But if you notice, hostages are being released now, and that’s happened only since I got involved. So we have hostages being released, quite a few, actually. I’d like to get as many hostages as we can,” he said.
Addressing the situation in Gaza more broadly, Trump remarked, “Gaza’s a very, very important thing. It’s been under siege for many, many years. It’s a shame. A lot of people die in Gaza. A lot of bad things happen in Gaza. We’ll see what we can do about it.”
Meanwhile, discussions between Israel and Hamas over a potential ceasefire and hostage deal have stalled. Hamas recently rejected Israel’s latest counter-offer and reiterated its commitment to the terms previously proposed by international mediators.
The BBC reported Tuesday that Qatar and Egypt have introduced a new proposal aimed at bringing an end to the war and securing the release of hostages.
As per that report, the latest offer includes a five-to-seven-year truce, a full prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, the conclusion of active warfare, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian Arab source told the BBC that Hamas has signaled readiness to relinquish control of Gaza in favor of “any Palestinian entity agreed upon at the national and regional level.” The proposed governing body could be the Palestinian Authority based in Judea and Samaria, or a newly created administrative council.
The source described the latest diplomatic push as “serious” and noted that Hamas has demonstrated “unprecedented flexibility” in the negotiations.
{Matzav.com}
A federal review of helicopter safety around some of the busiest U.S. airports, prompted by the deadly midair collision in January between a passenger jet and Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., revealed dangerous flying conditions at the Las Vegas airport. The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday the potential for a collision between air tour helicopters and planes at Harry Reid International Airport led the agency to make immediate changes to flying rules. In the first three weeks after implementation the number of collision alerts for planes dropped 30%. The FAA said after the collision between an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter in January, which killed 67 people, that it planned to use artificial intelligence to dig into the millions of reports it collects to assess other places with busy helicopter traffic, including Boston, New York, Baltimore-Washington, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and along the Gulf Coast. The FAA’s acting administrator, Chris Rocheleau, said Las Vegas quickly became a concern once the agency dug into the data because agreements with helicopter operators there didn’t clearly define vertical and lateral separation requirements when helicopters were approaching the airport. And air traffic controllers in the tower weren’t issuing traffic advisories between returning helicopters and airplanes. “We took quick action including exercising positive control over the helicopters and issuing more traffic advisories to pilots,” Rocheleau said. “As a result, the number of traffic alert and collision avoidance system reports decreased by 30 percent in just three weeks.” Luke Nimmo, a spokesperson for Clark County Department of Aviation, referred all questions about the findings to the FAA. Rocheleau promised to take additional actions in Las Vegas and at any other airport where the FAA identifies concerns. Following the crash of a New York City sightseeing helicopter into the Hudson River that killed six people April 10, the FAA said it was establishing a rulemaking committee to develop recommendations for improving commercial air tour safety. Jeff Guzzetti, a former National Transportation Safety Board and FAA accident investigator, said the fact that collision alerts for planes dropped so quickly “indicates a real hazard existed before the FAA looked at this.” “It’s tough to characterize how significant the hazard was,” he said. “But it’s yet another hole in the Swiss cheese that can line up with other holes and cause an accident just like what happened in Washington, D.C.” He said it made sense that the FAA first addressed the Las Vegas airport, given its large mix of helicopters and commercial traffic. “I think that they will find issues at other airports, but maybe not to the degree that they found with this one,” Guzzetti said. Former NTSB Chairman Jim Hall said there have long been safety issues with the helicopter tour industry, describing it as slipping in many cases into “becoming an attraction rather than a safe ride.” He said he is glad to see the FAA addressing it. “Unfortunately in aviation, it is accidents that bring the attention of the regulators to their responsibilities,” he said. The January midair collision near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport was the deadliest aviation disaster in the United States since 2001. A series of other crashes and near misses in the months have raised worries about air travel, even though it remains safe overall. Helicopters […]
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee published a video message on Monday in response to a WHO official who asked him to pressure Israel to bring in more humanitarian aid to Israel. In a refreshing change from Biden administration officials, who constantly blamed and pressured Israel into providing aid to its enemies in Gaza, ignoring the fact that the aid was commandeered by Hamas, Huckabee said that Hamas must be pressured instead of Israel. “This past weekend, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, who is the regional coordinator for the WHO, called upon me to put more pressure on Israel to bring humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza,” Huckabee said. “I appreciate the message. What I would like to suggest is that we work together on putting the pressure where it really belongs, on Hamas, to give us the opportunity to open up those humanitarian channels. So we call upon Hamas to sign an agreement so that humanitarian aid can flow into Gaza to the people who desperately need it.” “When that happens and hostages are released, which is an urgent matter for all of us, then we hope that that humanitarian aid will flow and flow freely, knowing that it will be done without Hamas being able to confiscate and abuse their own people by not allowing those resources to get to the people who desperately need it.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
While visiting the United States, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir made a stop at a Miami, Florida police precinct.
Joined by a high-ranking official from the Miami Police Department, Ben Gvir received an in-depth look at the station’s facilities, including a walkthrough of the shooting range and observation of training sessions for officers. He also spent time engaging with on-duty police personnel.
The Minister was briefed on the methods used in officer preparation, the technological tools in use, and how the department manages its operations. He was given a detailed explanation of how the officers carry out their responsibilities.
To mark the visit, Ben Gvir gave the precinct’s commander a handcrafted metal lamp shaped like the emblem of the State of Israel as a gesture of gratitude. In return, the police commander presented him with an official Miami police uniform set.
This stop is part of a broader diplomatic trip across the United States that Ben Gvir is undertaking.
Throughout his trip, Ben Gvir is scheduled to meet with various Jewish community leaders, political personalities, and officials from the American government.
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