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West Virginia’s governor announced Saturday that 300 to 400 National Guard troops will be deployed to Washington, D.C., at the request of the Trump administration.

Stephen Miller: Since President Trump asserted federal control of D.C., we have seen a record number of criminals taken off the streets, 70+ homeless encampments dismantled, and gang graffiti removed en masse.

POTUS: “We were together almost 3 hours, and it was very extensive… a lot of points we agreed on… Now, it’s really up to President Zelensky to get it done… and if they’d like, I’ll be at that next meeting.”

POTUS: “We had a very good meeting today, and I think a lot of points were negotiated on behalf of Ukraine… As far as I’m concerned, there’s no deal until there’s a deal, but we did make a lot of progress.”

President Trump on his meeting with President Putin: “We had a very good meeting today but we’ll see — you have to get a deal. We agreed on a lot of points. I want to see people stop dying in Ukraine… If we can end that war it would be very good.”

A small Israeli Skylark 3 surveillance drone crashed in Gaza City’s Rimal neighborhood this morning due to a technical malfunction during a reconnaissance mission, the IDF said, adding there is no risk of information leakage; the Elbit-made UAV, operated by the Artillery Corps, has a history of crashes in hostile areas.

The Chesed Fund is proud to announce the launch of Scratch 4 Chesed, an innovative new fundraising campaign model that combines donor excitement with powerful results. By introducing an element of surprise into the donation process, this campaign format captures attention, drives participation, and maximizes fundraising potential. Scratch 4 Chesed reimagines the traditional sweepstakes by allowing participants to purchase a “mystery ticket” for a chance to win a large cash prize. The twist? Each ticket has a hidden, increasing value—and donors only find out how much their ticket costs after they commit to buying it. This unique approach not only adds a layer of suspense, but also encourages higher giving by leveraging curiosity and a desire to support a meaningful cause. For inquiries or to learn how Scratch 4 Chesed can work for your organization, CLICK HERE How It Works 1. Define Ticket AmountsCampaign organizers select a fixed number of tickets, each with a hidden value that increases incrementally. For example, the first ticket costs $1, the second $2, and so on, up to a predetermined maximum (e.g., $360). 2. Sell Randomized TicketsDonors agree to purchase a ticket without knowing its value upfront. After they commit, they “scratch” a digital or physical card to reveal how much they owe. 3. Select a WinnerOne participant is selected to win a large cash prize. The rest walk away knowing they’ve contributed meaningfully to a cause they care about. This format appeals to donors by offering a fun and memorable experience while maintaining a strong incentive to give. Shown above: a digital scratch card featured in Scratch 4 Chesed. Real-World Success: A Case Study with Physical Scratch Cards Yeshivas Derech HaTorah launched a physical Scratch 4 Chesed campaign, offering 360 tickets in a $10,000 sweepstakes. Each ticket had a hidden, unique price ranging from $1 to $360. Donors committed to purchasing a ticket and then scratched it to reveal how much they owed. The campaign was run during a live event, with a representative walking around the tables selling scratch cards in real-time. This not only added an engaging and interactive element to the event, but also created an additional revenue stream on top of the existing program. Click here for pictures and more info about that event.  The campaign raised a total of $64,800. After awarding the prize, the yeshiva retained nearly $54,000—a powerful example of how this model can drive significant revenue in a short period of time. Shown above: a physical scratch card featured in Scratch 4 Chesed. A Win-Win Fundraising Model Scratch 4 Chesed offers organizations a fresh, effective way to engage their donor base while creating buzz and enthusiasm around their campaign. With minimal setup and high potential returns, it’s an ideal solution for schools, nonprofits, and community initiatives looking to energize their fundraising efforts. To see a sample digital scratch card CLICK HERE For inquiries or to learn how Scratch 4 Chesed can work for your organization, CLICK HERE

For the past 21 years, YWN’s team of seasoned reporters has delivered breaking news and reliable updates, building two decades of trust with over half a million readers each day. On this live blog, YWN will be providing continuous, around-the-clock coverage, bringing you the latest developments as they unfold. You can also join over 100,000 subscribers on YWN WhatsApp and stay connected for real time updates: YWN’s WhatsApp Community YWN’s WhatsApp status

U.S. President Donald Trump reversed course in the wake of his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin to say an overall peace agreement — not the ceasefire that he has long championed — is the next step in ending the 3 1/2-year war in Ukraine. In talks with European allies after Friday’s summit in Alaska, Trump said Putin reiterated that he wants the key Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas. But Putin appeared open to the possibility of halting the stalemate in two other regions, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, with a freeze along the front lines. That is according to European officials familiar with the calls who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the talks at a U.S. military base between the American and Russian presidents. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously rejected giving up the territory in the Donbas. The aftermath of the summit offered little clarity about the next steps, other than Trump’s commitment for more meetings, including with Zelenskyy at the White House on Monday. It was unclear among those briefed on the exchanges whether Trump saw Putin’s desire for the Donbas as acceptable, with Trump’s blunt but elliptical way of speaking only adding to a sense of confusion. The White House had yet to provide a public summary of the calls as Trump golfed on Saturday with his special envoy Steve Witkoff and Fox News anchor Bret Baier at his Virginia golf club. The most transparent takeaway was Trump’s abrupt reversal on a ceasefire, raising questions of how peace talks can proceed if attacks continue. Trump’s abandoning a ceasefire as a requirement for further negotiations aligns him with a position held by Putin. The Russian leader has long said Moscow is not interested in a temporary truce and is seeking a long-term settlement that takes the Kremlin’s interests into account. Trump says he is focused on a peace accord, not a ceasefire After the calls with Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump said Saturday on social media that “it was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told ZDF television that Trump said “Russia seems to be prepared to conduct the negotiations based on the so-called line of contact and not the administrative boundaries.” It was unclear from the comments how issues pertaining to the Donbas had been resolved. Zelenskyy has previously refused to withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region that Ukraine controls. He says that would be unconstitutional and the territory could be used as a staging ground for later Russian attacks. In a statement after the Trump call, major European leaders did not address whether a peace deal was preferable to a ceasefire, saying they “welcomed President Trump’s efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine, end Russia’s war of aggression, and achieve just and lasting peace.” Putin’s view on his summit with Trump Putin on Saturday described his talks with Trump as “very frank.” “We, of course, respect the position of the American administration, which sees the need for a speedy end to military actions,” he said at the follow-up […]

Hurricane Erin exploded in strength to a Category 5 storm in Atlantic waters just north of the Caribbean on Saturday, rapidly powering up from a tropical storm in a single day, the National Hurricane Center said. While the compact hurricane’s center was not expected to strike land, it threatened to dump flooding rains in the northeast Caribbean as it continued to grow larger. The first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, Erin ramped up from a tropical storm to a Category 5 hurricane in a mere 24 hours. By late Saturday morning, its maximum sustained winds had more than doubled to 160 mph (255 kph). Mike Brennen, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, said Erin grew into a “very powerful hurricane,” with its winds gaining 60 mph (96 kph) in about nine hours. The Hurricane Center said Erin should begin to slowly weaken Monday as the storm encounters increased wind shear. However forecasters predicted that it will remain a major hurricane until late in the week. Erin close enough to land to trigger flooding, landslides The hurricane remained a Category 5 storm Saturday evening, when it was located 135 miles (220 kilometers) northwest of Anguilla and moving west at 15 mph (24 kph). The storm’s center was forecast to remain at sea, passing 145 miles (233 kilometers) north of Puerto Rico, according to the National Hurricane Center. Tropical storm watches were issued for St. Martin, St. Barts and St. Maarten and the Hurricane Center warned that heavy rain in some areas could trigger flash flooding, landslides and mudslides. The Turks and Caicos Islands southeast of the Bahamas were also under a tropical storm watch. Though compact, with hurricane-force winds extending 30 miles (45 km) from its center, Erin was expected to double or even triple in size in the coming days. Powerful rip currents could affect the U.S. East Coast from Florida to the mid-Atlantic next week, despite the eye of the storm forecast to remain far offshore, Brennan said. An ‘incredible’ race from tropical storm to Category 5 Hurricane specialist and storm surge expert Michael Lowry said Erin gained strength at a pace that was “incredible for any time of year, let alone August 16th.” Lowry said only four other Category 5 hurricanes have been recorded in the Atlantic on or before Aug. 16. The most powerful storms tend to form later in the year, with the hurricane season typically peaking in mid-September. In October 2005, Hurricane Wilma rocketed from a tropical storm to a Category 5 in less than 24 hours, according to National Hurricane Center advisories from that time. Wilma weakened to a Category 3 hurricane before striking Florida. And in October 2007, Hurricane Felix took just over a day to go from a tropical storm to Category 5. Including Erin, there have been 43 hurricanes that have reached Category 5 status on record in the Atlantic, said Dan Pydynowski, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, a private forecasting company. “They’re certainly rare, although this would mark the fourth year in a row that we’ve had one in the Atlantic basin,” Pydynowski said. Conditions needed for hurricanes to reach such strength include very warm ocean water, little to no wind shear and being far from land, he said. Scientists say warming climate linked to storms strengthening faster Scientists have […]

YWN regrets to inform you of the petirah of Rabbi Berel Wein ZT”L. He was 91. The levaya will take place Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. at Beis Knesset Hanassi in Jerusalem. Kevurah will be on Har HaZeisim. Rabbi Wein was born in Chicago into a family descended from Lithuanian rabbanim. After working as a successful attorney in Chicago, he left the legal field in 1964 to assume the pulpit of Beth Israel Congregation in Miami Beach, Florida, where he served until 1972. In 1973, he became the Rav of Congregation Bais Torah in Monsey (Suffern), New York, where he remained for 24 years. During that time, he also served as Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union (OU) and as Rabbinic Administrator of the OU Kashrus Division. In 1977, Rabbi Wein founded Yeshiva Shaarei Torah in Suffern, which grew into a major yeshiva with both high school and post-high school divisions. He served as its Rosh Yeshiva until 1997. That year, Rabbi Wein and his wife moved to Jerusalem, where he continued teaching and writing. In 2002, he was invited to become Mora D’asra of Beit Knesset Hanassi. Rabbi Wein authored numerous seforim and English-language works, including *Chikrei Halacha* (1976) and *Iyunim B’Masechtos HaTalmud* (1989). He became world-renowned for his Torah teachings and his many historical writings, lectures, and recordings, which inspired countless Jews across the globe. Baruch Dayan Ha’emes…

A family of 12, parents and 10 children, has left the Lev Tahor cult in Guatemala and arrived in Israel, Ynet reported on Thursday. The family is receiving support from social services and other government agencies. After the family left the cult, they were housed in Guatemalan welfare facilities before leaving the country with assistance from government officials. After arriving in Israel, the family was transferred to an absorption center. At least 10 Lev Tahor families previously left the cult and returned to Israel. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

A yeshiva bochur was arrested on Friday by traffic police and was transferred to the military police for draft dodging, Kikar H’Shabbat reported on Motzei Shabbos. The bochur is a talmid of Yeshivas Be’er Yehudah in Jerusalem. In the pre-dawn hours of Friday morning, military police attempted to arrest a ben yeshivah in the Pardes Katz neighborhood of Bnei Brak but were unsuccessful. Ten bnei yeshivos have been arrested since last week. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

Israel’s Health Ministry announced on Motzei Shabbos that a toddler passed away from measles on Shabbos. The death of the toddler, an 18-month-old from Beit Shemesh Ramah Daled, follows the death of a two-year-old toddler from Jerusalem from measles complications on Wednesday. Both toddlers were unvaccinated. Shaare Tzedek Hospital reported, “A toddler was brought to the pediatric emergency room at the medical center this afternoon in critical condition due to measles. The toddler arrived while undergoing prolonged resuscitation that began at the scene. Despite continued resuscitation efforts in the emergency room, unfortunately, the team had to pronounce him dead. We share in the family’s deep sorrow.” Hatzalah paramedic Nati Ben-Shimon and senior medic Shlomo Gudelevsky reported, “When we arrived at the scene, we saw a one-and-a-half-year-old toddler, unconscious, not breathing, and without a pulse, after, according to his family members, he had been ill with measles. Together with MDA medics and paramedics, we immediately began performing advanced resuscitation procedures, including chest compressions, respirations, and the administration of life-saving drugs, and he was evacuated by an MDA intensive care unit for further treatment in the trauma room at Shaare Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem, where, unfortunately, the doctors were later forced to pronounce his death.” Since the measles outbreak began in April, 526 measles patients have been diagnosed, with 209 currently active cases. Most of the recently diagnosed patients are from Jerusalem and Beit Shemesh, and most of those hospitalized are unvaccinated children. As of Thursday, 19 children are still hospitalized, all under the age of six. Two of the children are in intensive care, including one connected to an ECMO. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)

This holy siddur is the very one from which the holy Admor Rabbi Meir Yosef Weiss of Spinka, author of Imrei Yosef, poured out his heart in prayer, infused with lofty kavanos (mystical intentions). The siddur bears the Rebbe’s personal stamp, and includes pages completed in his sacred handwriting, along with Kabbalistic glosses and textual corrections penned by the Rebbe himself. The frequent use of the siddur is evident in almost every page, with noticeable rubbing along the margins, stains and signs of wear.

[COMMUNICATED]

This holy siddur is the very one from which the holy Admor Rabbi Meir Yosef Weiss of Spinka, author of Imrei Yosef, poured out his heart in prayer, infused with lofty kavanos (mystical intentions). The siddur bears the Rebbe’s personal stamp, and includes pages completed in his sacred handwriting, along with Kabbalistic glosses and textual corrections penned by the Rebbe himself. 
The frequent use of the siddur is evident in almost every page, with noticeable rubbing along the margins, stains and signs of wear.

WATCH:

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu received a document from senior professional sources involved in the hostage release negotiations, outlining a notable change in Hamas’s position compared to the stance it took three weeks earlier — the point at which talks collapsed. Channel 12 News, citing two senior officials who reviewed the document, reported on its contents Friday evening.

The document reportedly contains an evaluation suggesting that Hamas is now willing to consider a “partial deal” involving the release of some hostages along with a ceasefire in Gaza.

The assessment, compiled and endorsed by top professional sources, presents conclusions that are considered difficult for Netanyahu to dismiss. Channel 12 News said the report was sent to him on Thursday, despite his recently stated policy rejecting any partial arrangement.

Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel’s position is to accept only a full agreement that secures the release of all hostages and ends the war on terms set by Israel.

Senior Israeli officials noted that the document reflects a shift in Hamas’s approach, showing a readiness to return to talks under the framework proposed by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. That plan calls for the release of 10 living hostages and 18 bodies in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and the freeing of Palestinian Arab terrorist prisoners.

On Thursday, it was publicly revealed that Mossad Director David Barnea had secretly traveled to Doha, Qatar.

While in Doha, Barnea met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani to discuss ways to move forward on a prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas.

This trip came amid renewed efforts by the United States, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to forge a comprehensive accord that would compel Israel to halt its military campaign against Hamas and secure the release of all remaining hostages still being held in Gaza.

Sources with knowledge of the situation said the goal is to use the remaining window of time before a possible large-scale IDF action in Gaza to explore a diplomatic resolution.

Responding to the media coverage, the Mossad said: “The Mossad chief traveled to Qatar for Mossad-related matters, and not on matters relating to the negotiations for a hostage deal. The Mossad chief even clarified during the meeting that a partial deal is off the table.”

{Matzav.com}

BREAKING: Trump-Putin meeting ends after nearly 3 hours.