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At a gathering with senior officials from the Israel Police Traffic Department, the Yenukah, Rav Shlomo Yehuda Be’eri, delivered a passionate address stressing the critical importance of obeying traffic laws, equating their observance to keeping the Aseres Hadibros.

Speaking directly to Chief Superintendent Chaim Shmueli, head of the Traffic Division, Rav Be’eri praised the officers’ efforts in protecting lives on Israel’s roads. “You are doing an extraordinary act of avodas hakodesh by safeguarding the roads and highways,” he said warmly. “Continue your vital work, and may everyone follow the rules as they should.”

The Ywnuka emphasized that violations of traffic regulations can constitute Torah prohibitions, given the potential danger they pose. “When a person gets onto the road, these are issurei d’Oraisa,” he declared. “Anyone on the road who commits an infraction transgresses a Torah prohibition, because in an instant, he can cause harm.”

He further offered a powerful spiritual perspective on road safety, urging drivers to approach the responsibility with the same reverence as Yom Kippur. “One must treat driving as though it is Yom Kippur,” he explained. “Just as a person is meticulous with certain items on Shabbos, even those that are only miderabbanan, how much more so must he be careful on the road, where violations are genuine Torah prohibitions.”

To strengthen his message, Rav Be’eri quoted the words of the previous Belzer Rebbe, Rav Aharon of Belz zt”l, who famously said, “Traffic laws are as holy as the Aseres Hadibros.” The Yenuka reiterated this teaching, stressing: “Remember what I am telling you — observe the traffic laws as though they are the Aseres Hadibros.”

At the close of the event, the Yanuka offered heartfelt brachos to the officers: “Chaim tovim, yeshuos min hashamayim — may you be blessed with good life and heavenly salvation.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Trump administration said Thursday that it is reviewing more than 55 million people who have valid U.S. visas for any violations that could lead to deportation, marking a growing crackdown on foreigners who are even permitted to be in the United States. In a written answer to a question from The Associated Press, the State Department said all U.S. visa holders, which can include tourists from many countries, are subject to “continuous vetting,” with an eye toward any indication that they could be ineligible for permission to enter or stay in the United States. Should such information be found, the visa will be revoked, and if the visa holder is in the United States, he or she would be subject to deportation. Since President Donald Trump took office, his administration has focused on deporting migrants illegally in the United States as well as holders of student and visitor exchange visas. The State Department’s new language suggests that the continual vetting process, which officials acknowledge is time-consuming, is far more widespread and could mean even those approved to be in the U.S. could abruptly see those permissions revoked. The department said it was looking for indicators of ineligibility, including people staying past the authorized timeframe outlined in a visa, criminal activity, threats to public safety, engaging in any form of terrorist activity or providing support to a terrorist organization. “We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance indicating a potential ineligibility,” the department said. The administration has steadily imposed more restrictions and requirements on visa applicants, including requiring them to submit to in-person interviews. The review of all visa holders appears to be a significant expansion of what had initially been a process focused mainly on students who have been involved in what the government perceives as pro-Palestinian or anti-Israel activity. Officials say the reviews will include all visa holders’ social media accounts, law enforcement and immigration records in their home countries, along with any actionable violations of U.S. law committed while they were in the United States. “As part of the Trump Administration’s commitment to protect U.S. national security and public safety, since Inauguration Day the State Department has revoked more than twice as many visas, including nearly four times as many student visas, as during the same time period last year,” the State Department said. The vast majority of foreigners seeking to come to the U.S. require visas, especially those who want to study or work for extended periods. Among the exceptions for short-term tourist or business visits are citizens of the 40 mainly European and Asian countries belonging to the Visa Waiver Program, which grants those nationals a stay of up to three months without having to apply for a visa. But large swaths of the world — including highly populated countries like China, India, Indonesia, Russia and most of Africa — are not part of the program, meaning their citizens must apply for and receive visas to travel to the United States. Earlier this week, the department said that since Trump returned to the White House, it has revoked more than 6,000 student visas for overstays and violations of local, state and federal law, the vast majority […]

Socialist Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani continues to lead the New York City mayoral race, even as a majority of voters say they are turned off by his past anti-police stance, according to a new poll. The survey, conducted by American Pulse Research & Polling, shows Mamdani with 36.9% support among general election voters, compared to 24.6% for former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, 16.8% for Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa, and 11.4% for incumbent Mayor Eric Adams. Mamdani’s advantage over Cuomo has doubled in recent weeks, as the ex-governor’s numbers have collapsed following his Democratic primary loss. The poll notes that Mamdani’s record on policing could be his greatest vulnerability. A majority of respondents — 58.4% — said his previous support for defunding the NYPD and dismantling a strategic response unit made them less likely to back him. Nearly half of voters, 45%, described his policies as “too extreme.” When asked directly, more voters said they would choose “anyone else” over Mamdani by a margin of six points once informed of his anti-police statements. Mamdani has since walked back those positions, claiming he does not currently support cutting NYPD funding. Still, Mamdani’s opponents face their own uphill battles. Cuomo remains damaged by his record on bail reform, with 53% of voters saying they are less likely to support him because of the cashless bail law he approved as governor. Adams fares even worse: 68.7% said they are less likely to support him following the collapse of federal corruption charges. Both men hold high negative ratings — 55% for Cuomo and 65% for Adams. By contrast, Mamdani is the only candidate with a net positive rating, with 47.8% viewing him favorably against 43.6% unfavorably. Sliwa, though less unpopular than Adams and Cuomo, remains in third place with just 16.8% support. The poll suggests that Mamdani could be vulnerable if the race consolidates. Without Adams, Mamdani leads Cuomo 38.5% to 30.3%, with Sliwa at 23%. Without Sliwa, Mamdani edges Cuomo 38.3% to 32.3%, with Adams at 20.4%. Mamdani holds 48% of Democratic voters, while Sliwa commands 53% of Republicans. Both stand to gain if they can unify their bases. Another poll released Tuesday by Gotham Polling & Analytics/AARP also showed Mamdani in the lead, but indicated growing unease among voters over his record. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The State Department announced Thursday that it is currently reviewing the records of over 55 million foreign nationals who possess valid U.S. visas, examining potential violations that could lead to revocation or deportation.

In a written response to The Associated Press, officials stated that all visa holders are placed under “continuous vetting” to determine whether any new information surfaces that could make them ineligible to keep their visas.

If evidence is found showing that a visa holder is no longer eligible, the department explained that the visa will be canceled. For individuals already within the United States, such a finding could make them subject to removal proceedings.

Officials clarified that they are actively monitoring for red flags such as overstaying authorized periods, committing crimes, posing public safety threats, engaging in terrorist activity, or providing any form of support to terrorist groups.

“We review all available information as part of our vetting, including law enforcement or immigration records or any other information that comes to light after visa issuance indicating a potential ineligibility,” the department said.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has instructed government officials to find a solution that would allow yeshiva students with pending draft obligations to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah, despite outstanding exit restrictions.

During a special meeting convened today ahead of the annual pilgrimage, officials discussed the growing concern surrounding more than 5,000 bochurim classified as draft evaders. These students are expected to attempt leaving the country for Uman but face likely detention at Ben Gurion Airport due to outstanding draft orders.

The issue had previously been raised with the Defense Minister’s office, but no resolution was reached. According to Ari Kalman’s report on i24NEWS, Netanyahu said during the discussion: “They are going to pray, not to vacation — we need to find a solution for them.” He directed his chief of staff to explore the feasibility of potential arrangements.

The talks also addressed the broader challenge of facilitating the travel of approximately 50,000 Israelis — from across the spectrum of society — who traditionally visit Uman to daven at the tziyun of Rav Nachman of Breslov each year. This year, the situation has been further complicated by the lack of direct flights to Ukraine.

Another major concern discussed was the status of an estimated 10,000 young men classified as draft-eligible who regularly travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. Without an agreed-upon framework, security authorities fear significant disruptions and mass detentions at the airport. Officials are therefore considering a regulated arrangement that would distinguish between religious travel for davening and trips intended for leisure.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to President Donald Trump and senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, says it is “high time” for the United States to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization. Speaking at the Hudson Institute, Gorka echoed recent remarks by Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, who called the Brotherhood “the progenitor” and “grandfather of all modern global jihadism.” “There are pushes in both houses of Congress to declare the Brotherhood a foreign terror group,” Gorka said, noting that several Arab nations, including Jordan, have already taken that step. “We have to recognize that if Arab Muslim nations like Jordan have designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terror organization, it may be high time for us to do so as well.” Gorka went on to outline the administration’s broader Middle East strategy, saying that Trump views the region through a single lens: Iran. “When the president looks at the region, he doesn’t slice it down into cylinders of excellence,” Gorka explained. “He doesn’t care if you’re the Syrian desk officer or the natural resources expert. He has one overlay for the whole area of responsibility, and that one metric, that one prism, is Iran.” The White House adviser also praised Israel’s operations in Syria, asserting they have “rewritten the map for the next 50 to 100 years.” He argued that with the fall of the Assad regime, “the murderous mullahs of Iran do not have safe harbor and a resupply route through Syria.” Israel’s actions, he said, amount to “one of the greatest things Israel has achieved for the modern world in the last decade or more.” Gorka added that Trump has extended “the offer of a lifetime” to Syria’s new leadership, while expressing hope that Israel and Turkey could resolve their tensions by “finding the bare minimum overlap in the Venn diagram.” On Israel’s northern border, Gorka described Hezbollah as gravely weakened, saying the Iranian-backed terror group is “not at death’s door” but “in the ICU.” He also dismissed the idea that anti-Israel sentiment is rising within the Republican Party, calling it the work of “half a dozen very loud people on Twitter and Rumble.” By contrast, he insisted, the 80 million Americans who re-elected Trump “actually have a very special place in their heart for Israel.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Trump administration can slash hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of research funding in its push to cut federal diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, the Supreme Court decided Thursday. The high court majority lifted a judge’s order blocking $783 million worth of cuts made by the National Institutes of Health to align with Republican President Donald Trump’s priorities. The high court did keep Trump administration guidance on future funding blocked, however. The court split 5-4 on the decision. Chief Justice John Roberts was along those who would have kept the cuts blocked, along with the court’s three liberals. The order marks the latest Supreme Court win for Trump and allows the administration to forge ahead with canceling hundreds of grants while the lawsuit continues to unfold. The plaintiffs, including states and public-health advocacy groups, have argued that the cuts will inflict “incalculable losses in public health and human life.” The Justice Department, meanwhile, has said funding decisions should not be “subject to judicial second-guessing” and efforts to promote policies referred to as DEI can “conceal insidious racial discrimination.” The lawsuit addresses only part of the estimated $12 billion of NIH research projects that have been cut, but in its emergency appeal, the Trump administration also took aim at nearly two dozen other times judges have stood in the way of its funding cuts. Solicitor General D. John Sauer said judges shouldn’t be considering those cases under an earlier Supreme Court decision that cleared the way for teacher-training program cuts. He says they should go to federal claims court instead. But the plaintiffs, 16 Democratic state attorneys general and public-health advocacy groups, argued that research grants are fundamentally different from the teacher-training contracts and couldn’t be sent to claims court. Halting studies midway can also ruin the data already collected and ultimately harm the country’s potential for scientific breakthroughs by disrupting scientists’ work in the middle of their careers, they argued. U.S. District Judge William Young judge in Massachusetts agreed, finding the abrupt cancellations were arbitrary and discriminatory. “I’ve never seen government racial discrimination like this,” Young, an appointee of Republican President Ronald Reagan, said at a hearing in June. He later added: “Have we no shame.” An appeals court left Young’s ruling in place. (AP)

At a gathering held in honor of the hilulah of the Satmar Rebbe, the Vayoel Moshe zt”l, Yoily Landau, a billionaire philanthropist from Williamsburg and one of Satmar’s leading benefactors, delivered a powerful and emotional address. The event, attended by Satmar leaders, philanthropists, and yeshiva administrators, centered on supporting Torah institutions that follow the Satmar path of taharas hakodesh, maintaining financial independence by refusing any funding from the Israeli government.

The ceremony was part of a series of commemorative events in Yerushalayim and drew a delegation of major donors, led by Landau, who was accompanied by his elderly grandfather, Reb Chaim Yechezkel Stein, a shamash of the late Rebbe, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum zt”l.

A Tribute to the Satmar Rebbe’s Vision

Opening his speech, Landau expressed the immense honor of participating in this event:
“It is a privilege and a great merit to be part of this sacred gathering, an evening dedicated to the honor of Torah and kevod Shomayim. Tonight, on the yahrtzeit of our Rebbe, everything we do is for his merit and in the strength of his teachings, which instilled in us the resolve to remain steadfast and to build and strengthen institutions on the foundation of taharas hakodesh.”

Landau recalled the Rebbe’s lonely struggle in 1952, when he first stood firmly against accepting “impure government funds,” insisting that Torah institutions remain entirely independent: “Back then, the world mocked him, money was pouring in from unclean sources, but the Rebbe stood like Avrohom Avinu — one man against the entire world — and declared: ‘Do not take this tainted money; it will bring destruction for generations. Take only the shkolim tehorim, pure and clean funds.’ Sadly, many communities failed that test and have long since lost their purity — and now, they are left without even the money they once relied upon.”

“Vayoel Moshe Is Truth, and His Torah Is Truth”

Landau described how, year after year, the power of the Satmar Rebbe’s message only grows stronger: “As the Bnei Yissaschar teaches from the Zohar, every year on the yahrtzeit a tzaddik rises to an even higher spiritual chamber. But with our Rebbe, we also see the opposite — his influence in this world grows stronger each year. Today, everyone admits that the Vayoel Moshe is truth, and his Torah is truth!”

He recounted how his grandfather described the Rebbe’s early days in Eretz Yisroel in 1952: “Back then, the Rebbe arrived with $10,000 to distribute, and by the time he returned to America, he was $10,000 in debt. Looking at the devoted administrators here tonight, I see the same spirit — standing alone, ready for mesirus nefesh, without any guarantees or grand plans.”

Over $3 Billion Sent — And Still Counting

Landau revealed striking figures showing Satmar’s decades-long financial commitment to Torah institutions in Israel: “From the day the Rebbe returned to America with that $10,000 debt until today, Satmar and its supporters have sent over $3 billion — that’s more than 10 billion shekels — not just money, but shkolim tehorim, pure funds given with mesirus nefesh. And yet, there are those who still ask how it’s possible to survive without taking the treife money from the Zionists. These pioneering administrators sitting here tonight show everyone the way forward. Very soon, the test of whether to take government funds won’t even exist — because there will be no one left to give it.”

He emphasized that these institutions stand proudly independent: “Our administrators declare to this corrupt state: keep your favors, your honey and your stings — we want nothing from you, because we will never give you anything in return. Just as we do not negotiate over Shabbos observance, we do not negotiate over a single Jewish soul. Even they admit today that going to the army equals spiritual destruction.”

Sharp Criticism of Chareidi Political Parties

Landau also delivered a harsh rebuke against the chareidi political parties: “There were those who believed the only way to fight the Zionists was from inside the Knesset. But today, we see what has happened — they went in so deep that they’ve forgotten to fight at all. And yes, maybe they do fight — but only over who gets a better seat, who gets the bigger chair, and who gets the better parking spot in Meron on Lag BaOmer. Beyond that, they fight for nothing!”

Miraculous Blessings for Institutions on Taharas Hakodesh

Quoting from the parsha, Landau linked financial purity to spiritual blessing: “The Torah says, ‘ki paso’ach tiftach es yadcha lo…’ If the money is pure and clean, it brings blessing and holiness, ensuring there will always be enough. We see this clearly today — who would have believed these institutions could survive so many years without Zionist funding? And yet, Hashem has shown open miracles. Just look at this evening’s kiddush Hashem in the new building, completed in just one year — without a single shekel from the government!”

He added that in just the past two weeks alone, Satmar distributed an additional $7 million through the Shkol Hatahor and Keren Hatzalah funds and hinted that this support will continue to grow.

A Call to All Communities

In closing, Landau issued an emotional appeal: “In many communities, people are sitting and rethinking their approach, seeking a way to return to the holy path of the Rebbe zt”l. To all those institutions and families, we say: how much longer will you sacrifice yourselves and remain blind? Every day, bochurim and avreichim are being arrested and dragged from their homes. Stop ignoring what’s happening!”

He concluded with a pledge of ongoing Satmar support: “Together with our partners in America and around the world, we declare: ‘Hineni, Rebbe!’ We are here, ready and willing to embrace anyone who wants to join us on this path.”

{Matzav.com}

The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced it will issue a new stamp honoring Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, continuing its tradition of recognizing distinguished Americans. Wiesel, who passed away in 2016 at age 87, is the 18th figure to be featured in the USPS Distinguished Americans series. The stamp is scheduled for release on September 17. “The 18th stamp in the Distinguished Americans series honors humanitarian Elie Wiesel (1928–2016), a survivor of Nazi concentration camps whose dozens of works bore witness to the Holocaust and whose resilience and compassion continue to be a source of inspiration,” the USPS said in its announcement. As a teenager, Wiesel and his father, Shlomo, were deported to the Buna Werke labor camp in the Auschwitz complex. He later emerged as one of the world’s leading voices on human rights, publishing acclaimed books and essays, including Night (1960), his memoir recounting his Holocaust experiences. Over the course of his life, Wiesel received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, the National Humanities Medal, and the Medal of Liberty. The stamp, designed for two-ounce mail, features a 1999 black-and-white portrait of Wiesel by photographer Sergey Bermeniev, alongside his name and the word “Humanitarian.” Sheets of 20 stamps are available for pre-order at $21.40. Wiesel joins other notable Jewish figures honored in USPS collections, including Jonas Salk, Albert Sabin, Edna Ferber, Shel Silverstein, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump’s administration is on pace to remove roughly 400,000 illegal immigrants during his first year in office, according to a report by the New York Times.

“By the first week of August, deportations reached nearly 1,500 people per day,” the outlet reported on August 21, noting:

So far, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deported at least 180,000 individuals under Trump’s leadership. Based on current trends, the agency is projected to surpass 400,000 deportations by the end of the year, though that figure would still fall short of the administration’s publicly stated objective of removing one million people annually.

Officials have also blocked and expelled approximately 150,000 migrants attempting to cross the border.

“The deportation numbers are expected to rise next year and be hugely augmented as many illegal migrants decide to go home on their own initiative.”

The Times highlighted that many of the individuals deported were not convicted of additional criminal offenses beyond immigration violations:

“Since then, almost all of the increase in arrests has been of people without any prior criminal convictions. Immigration arrests of people with a past violent criminal conviction increased to about 1,900 in June from about 1,100 in December. At the same time, arrests overall tripled to more than 28,000 and arrests of people with no past conviction or charges increased by almost 20 times.”

President Trump and his team argue that the rise in deportations — alongside voluntary departures — will improve opportunities for American workers by boosting wages, reducing strain on social services, and opening the path to homeownership and family stability.

“In less than 200 days, 1.6 MILLION illegal immigrants have left the United States population,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on August 14. “This means safer streets, taxpayer savings, pressure off of schools and hospital services and better job opportunities for Americans.”

With fewer migrant workers available, businesses are increasingly turning to automation and advanced technologies to maintain productivity. “We’re going to need robots… to make our economy run because we do not have enough people,” Trump told Breitbart News, explaining further:

“We don’t have enough people to do it. So we have to get efficient… we’ll probably add to [the existing workforce] through robotically — it’s going to be robotically… It’s going to be big. Then, somebody is going to have to make the robots. The whole thing, it feeds on itself… we’re going to streamline things. We need efficiency.”

The pace of deportations is expected to accelerate even further as the Department of Homeland Security scales up its infrastructure — including detention facilities, processing capacity, transportation resources, and agreements with additional “Safe Third Country” partners willing to accept migrants. These initiatives are backed by roughly $150 billion in multi-year funding approved by Congress.

Officials are also considering significant upgrades to their transportation capabilities, including establishing a dedicated deportation fleet to supplement their existing contracted planes. As the Times noted:

“ICE now uses about a dozen charter planes every day to conduct deportations and move detainees around the country, almost twice as many as in January, according to data collected by Tom Cartwright, an immigration advocate who tracks ICE flights. In May, ICE modified its contract with CSI Aviation, its primary air charter company, to increase the number of flights per week. It has also resumed using a limited number of military planes.”

So far, ICE has conducted more than 1,000 deportation flights, sending migrants to destinations across Central America, South America, Asia, and Africa.

{Matzav.com}

A pair of federal lawsuits filed in San Francisco and New York this week accuse Delta Air Lines and United Airlines of misleading passengers by charging premium fees for window seats next to blank walls. A New York law firm brought the cases as proposed class actions on behalf of any passengers who say they wouldn’t have selected or paid more for their reserved places if they had known the seats did not include a window. “We have received a flood of interest from passengers who feel they have been harmed by this practice and who wish to join the lawsuits,” the Greenbaum Olbrantz firm said in a statement. “It makes sense that people are upset. The majority of Americans fly on one of these airlines at some point and a large proportion of them want or need a window, and they pay good money for the privilege.” Both Delta and United declined to comment, citing pending litigation. The lawsuit against Delta Air Lines states that when New York resident Nicholas Meyer arrived at row No. 23 for a flight to California earlier this month, he discovered the seat he bought was next to a blank wall. At no point during the seat selection process did Delta warn him that 23F was a windowless window seat, according to Meyer, one of the lead plaintiffs. Alaska Airlines and American Airlines also sell such seats but disclose the information when customers choose their seats, the lawsuits assert. The lawsuits allege that United and Delta long have been aware of consumer complaints posted on social media about the windowless seats yet continued charging extra for window seats without windows. The Delta lawsuit includes screenshots of some of those complaints. “Your seat map should not consider this premium, nor should it call it a window seat … There is actually LESS leg room and no perks,” one Delta customer said in a post on Reddit. The proposed class actions are seeking millions of dollars in damages from each carrier. (AP)

A catastrophic attack on Israeli soldiers in Gaza was narrowly averted last month when a Hamas explosive device failed to detonate inside a Namer armored personnel carrier (APC) after troops were forced to open its hatch due to a broken air conditioner. On July 26, during a searing heatwave that pushed temperatures to 35°C (95°F) with suffocating coastal humidity, the cooling system of a Namer APC malfunctioned. As the interior sweltered to 60°C (140°F), soldiers inside were left with no choice but to open the top hatch for air. Hamas footage later showed terrorists sprinting toward the exposed APC, climbing aboard, and tossing an explosive device inside before fleeing. By a miracle, the charge was faulty and failed to detonate, sparing the dozen soldiers inside from certain death. “This was exactly the same scenario as the June incident in which Hamas killed seven soldiers in a combat engineering vehicle,” a former senior officer told Israel Hayom. “Twelve lives were saved by chance alone.” The near-disaster highlights a recurring vulnerability. Soldiers in Gaza have repeatedly been forced to compromise protection because of failing APC cooling systems, particularly in the heavily used Namer fleet, which is built on the Merkava tank chassis. “Every summer, parents are warned not to leave babies in hot cars. Meanwhile, our soldiers are sitting inside sealed vehicles with broken air conditioners, wearing flak jackets and helmets, baking at double the outside temperature,” the officer said. The Namer’s air conditioning units are serviced by civilian contractors, but after two years of nonstop fighting, many systems are simply burning out faster than they can be replaced. The IDF has deployed field repair teams to swap out failed units under fire, but the pace of breakdowns is straining logistics. Commanders on the ground face an impossible choice: pull a vehicle from the field and compromise the mission, or operate with hatches open—exposing troops to enemy fire. Too often, they choose the latter. Veterans warn that the problem reflects a deeper flaw in the army’s readiness model. “The Ground Forces believe toughness means soldiers can go without sleep, food, or proper equipment. That mindset is outdated and dangerous,” the officer stressed. “There are only a few tens of thousands of frontline fighters. They need the best equipment and portable cooling solutions—not broken systems that force them to choose between heatstroke and Hamas.” The IDF Spokesperson pushed back, saying no unresolved air conditioning failures had been identified: “Following field inspections, no untreated air conditioning issues were found. Malfunctions, when they occur, are fixed in real time. Vehicles are closely supervised and maintained, with replacement systems available to every battalion. Extreme conditions in Gaza cause occasional breakdowns, but there is no shortage of solutions in Southern Command.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu visited soldiers in the Gaza Division on Thursday, where he announced that he had signed off on the operational plans to capture Gaza City and authorized talks for the release of all hostages.

“We are at the stage of decision-making. I came today to the Gaza Division to approve the plans the IDF presented to me and to the Minister of Defense to take control of Gaza City and defeat Hamas,” Netanyahu stated.

The prime minister expressed his gratitude to the soldiers, saying: “I deeply appreciate the mobilization of the reserve soldiers, as well as the standing army, for this vital objective.”

He also noted that he had directed officials to launch talks immediately, adding: “At the same time, I instructed to start immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and to end the war on terms that are acceptable to Israel.”

Netanyahu concluded by emphasizing the dual objectives of the mission: “These two things – defeating Hamas and securing the release of all our hostages – go hand in hand.”

{Matzav.com}

The US has stopped issuing work visas for commercial truck drivers, with Secretary Rubio stating that the move is intended to protect American truckers and address safety concerns related to foreign drivers.

President Trump speaks to the National Guard and law enforcement in D.C.: “I just want to thank everybody very much for being here… We’ve had some incredible results… It’s like a different place. It’s like a different city. It’s the capital — it’s going to be the best in the world.”

President Trump visits some of the federal agents and National Guard troops working to make Washington, D.C. safe: “I’ve never received so many phone calls thanking me for what we’ve done in Washington, D.C. … They said what you’ve done, it’s unprecedented.”

BREAKING: 5 dead, 36 injured in bomb attack on air base in Cali, Colombia

A 20-year-old Oklahoma man who pledged support to ISIS, threatened to bomb synagogues, and possessed illicit child abuse materials has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, the Justice Department announced. Landon Kyle Swinford of Blanchard was arrested following a months-long FBI investigation in which he repeatedly expressed interest in committing acts of terror in the United States and fighting abroad for the Islamic State. According to prosecutors, Swinford communicated with an undercover law enforcement officer between May and October 2023 after posting pro-ISIS propaganda online. During those conversations, he said he wanted to travel overseas to fight for ISIS, scouted the University of Oklahoma’s Gaylord Memorial Stadium as a potential target, and suggested attacking a Walmart or even the city of New Orleans. The Justice Department said Swinford also circulated a manifesto and recorded a video pledging allegiance to ISIS in which he burned an Israeli flag. Investigators uncovered numerous posts in which Swinford issued threats, including one that read: “Cast fear into the hearts of the kuffar this Halloween, dress up as your favorite mujahideen and bomb a synagogue.” Federal prosecutors said he “specifically targeted synagogues and people of the Jewish faith.” During the probe, the FBI also discovered illicit images of minors on Swinford’s devices. Along with the 10-year prison term, a federal judge ordered five years of supervised release. “The egregious conduct of this defendant stands in direct violation of our core values and must be confronted with the full force of the law,” said Robert Troester, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Russia has declared that it wants direct involvement in negotiations over Ukraine’s security, cautioning that any attempt by “clumsy” European nations to move forward without Moscow’s participation would lead to a “road to nowhere.”

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov doubled down on his criticism of Europe’s initiative to organize security guarantees for Ukraine, labeling the plan “utopian” and again calling it a “road to nowhere.” Speaking on Thursday, Lavrov introduced new conditions, which could further slow or complicate ongoing peace discussions, by rejecting aspects of the proposed agreements.

President Trump had stated earlier this week that “President Putin agreed that Russia would accept security guarantees for Ukraine.” However, the specifics of what Putin had actually agreed to were never fully clarified, and now Russia appears to be publicly shaping its demands. Lavrov made it clear that any deployment of foreign troops to Ukraine — a central element of the European approach to security guarantees — would be “absolutely unacceptable for Russia.”

Lavrov, a veteran diplomat with decades in the Russian foreign ministry, accused European countries of trying to “exacerbate” regional tensions by working toward an “anti-Russian” coalition “based on aggressive intentions towards our country.” He asserted that the current talks over security guarantees are simply “further attempts to inflict a strategic defeat on us” and represent efforts to “undermine” the peace negotiations between Putin and Trump.

These statements echo comments Lavrov made on Wednesday, when he insisted that any plan for Ukraine’s future security that excludes Russia is doomed from the start. He claimed that Western leaders “understand perfectly well” that attempting to design security arrangements without Russian participation is “a road to nowhere.”

Lavrov emphasized his position further, saying: “We cannot agree with the fact that now it is proposed to resolve questions of security, collective security, without the Russian Federation. This will not work… I am sure that in the West and above all in the United States they understand perfectly well that seriously discussing security issues without the Russian Federation is a utopia, it’s a road to nowhere.”

At the same time, several European governments are pushing aggressively for a stronger military presence in Ukraine, even as they remain wary of engaging directly with Russian forces. Reports indicate that out of the 31 members of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing,” ten European nations have expressed readiness to send forces, though most have not disclosed details about their planned contributions.

The United Kingdom has been the most eager to take part but has stressed that its role would remain far from active combat zones. London has suggested that British troops could provide back-end support through logistics, training, and other rear-echelon duties rather than direct engagement.

One area where Western allies, including the United Kingdom, France, Poland, and potentially the United States, may concentrate their efforts is aerial security operations. These could involve enforcing a ceasefire or maintaining long-term stability in Ukraine’s skies. According to President Trump, American involvement would be particularly focused on air power, emphasizing that the U.S. Air Force’s advanced capabilities would make it the primary contributor in this domain.

{Matzav.com}

A 27-year-old man was seriously injured in an accident at the HCS resort in Fallsburg when he was struck by a helicopter used for activities on the grounds. The incident occurred as the helicopter’s propellers were shutting down, striking the victim and causing a skull fracture. Catskills Hatzolah rushed to the scene and immediately began treating the patient. A medevac was requested, and the victim was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center, where he remains in serious condition. Please daven for a refuah sheleimah for Menachem Shlome ben Roiza Gittel. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)