Saudi Arabia secretly participated in intercepting Iranian drones during the 12-day war between Israel and Iran, according to Gulf sources cited by Yisrael Hayom. The Saudi air force reportedly scrambled helicopters to shoot down unmanned aerial vehicles crossing regional airspace over Iraq and Jordan, halting their advance before they could reach Israel. While Riyadh has not publicly confirmed its involvement — and even condemned Israel’s strikes against Iran — the revelations point to a dramatic realignment in the Middle East, where Sunni powers increasingly see Iran as a shared threat worth countering, even if unofficially. Saudi Arabia’s air force, built on advanced U.S.-supplied systems, was bolstered by a major arms deal signed with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during Donald Trump’s first term and expanded during Trump’s most recent regional tour. Officials stressed, however, that Saudi airspace would not be opened for offensive strikes on Iranian territory. The drone war was part of a vast multinational operation involving Jordan, Britain, France, and the United States, coordinated under the umbrella of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). Over 1,000 Iranian drones were launched toward Israel during the conflict, the majority intercepted far from Israeli borders thanks to a network of partners working in close cooperation. At the heart of that coordination stood CENTCOM commander Gen. Mike Kurilla, who oversaw a joint American command-and-control center linking the U.S., Israel, and European militaries in real time. Years of joint training exercises and intelligence-sharing paved the way for this rapid, integrated response, military sources said. Jordan publicly acknowledged its role in intercepting drones, noting that some fell on its soil and caused damage. France described its participation as defending its interests in Jordan, though avoided directly referencing Israel. Analysts say the unprecedented level of cooperation — including with countries that have no formal ties to Israel — could lay the groundwork for even broader regional realignments, possibly tied to President Trump’s proposed “mega-deal” aimed at reshaping Middle East alliances. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has decided to appoint MK Yisrael Eichler of United Torah Judaism as Minister of Housing and Construction, replacing MK Yitzchok Goldknopf, who resigned from the post several weeks ago.
Goldknopf stepped down amid frustration over the stalled progress on the proposed draft law—a key issue that has caused ongoing tensions between the chareidi parties and Likud.
According to the coalition agreements, the appointment is temporary: should Goldknopf choose to return to the cabinet, the Housing Ministry portfolio will revert to him.
The Knesset is expected to vote on Eichler’s appointment next week. Political observers note that the votes of Goldknopf and fellow Agudas Yisroel MK Yaakov Tesler will be closely watched, as internal tensions within the faction over ministerial roles continue to simmer.
The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement explaining that under the coalition agreement, the Housing Ministry was designated for United Torah Judaism and, within the party, allocated to the Agudas Yisroel faction.
Following Goldknopf’s resignation, several Agudas Yisroel MKs appealed to the prime minister to appoint Eichler to the role. However, due to the sensitive security situation at the time, Netanyahu temporarily assigned the position to Minister Chaim Katz as acting minister.
Now, with the situation more stable, Netanyahu has announced that he will fulfill the coalition agreement by officially appointing Eichler. The appointment will take effect on Monday, following the Knesset vote.
The Prime Minister thanked Goldknopf for his service in the ministry and emphasized that he is welcome to return to the post at any time. Should Goldknopf resume his ministerial role, Eichler will step down and return to his current position as chairman of the Knesset Labor and Welfare Committee.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Deaths of ethnic Azerbaijanis rounded up by police for decades-old murders in a Russian city. The crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet that Baku blamed on Moscow. Growing ties between Azerbaijan and Turkey, along with waning Russian influence in the troubled South Caucasus region. These are among the factors that have led to the escalating tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan, the oil-rich Caspian Sea country where President Ilhan Aliyev has been in power since 2003 — almost as long as the 25-year rule of Vladimir Putin in Russia. Here is a look at the previously warm relationship between Russia and Azerbaijan and what has happened: Economic ties between Russia and Azerbaijan Russia and Azerbaijan developed strong economic and cultural ties after 1993 when Aliyev’s father, Heydar, who also was Azerbaijan’s Soviet-era Communist boss, became president. Like Putin, the younger Aliyev has suppressed political foes and restricted independent media. Azerbaijan has bought oil and natural gas from Russia to meet internal demand while exporting its own energy riches to the West. Russia also has been the main market for Azerbaijan’s fruit and vegetable exports. It also is a key transport corridor for Russia’s trade with Iran and other partners in the Middle East. Azerbaijani businessmen control significant assets in construction, real estate, trade and other sectors of the Russian economy. Russia is home to a sizable Azerbaijani diaspora. A 2021 census listed about a half-million ethnic Azerbaijanis living in Russia, but unofficial estimates put that number as high as 2 million. Relations with Baku have become increasingly important for the Kremlin since it sent troops into Ukraine in 2022, especially as Turkey has become a key economic partner for Russia as it faced sweeping Western sanctions. The Karabakh separatist conflict Just before the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, an open confrontation erupted between two of its former republics in the South Caucasus — Azerbaijan and its neighbor, Armenia. After years of fighting, Armenian-backed separatists won control of Azerbaijan’s region of Karabakh and nearby territories. Russia claimed neutrality in the conflict even though it provided economic assistance and supplied weapons to Armenia that hosted its military base. Moscow cosponsored peace talks under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, but they didn’t produce a deal. In 2020, Azerbaijan’s military, bolstered by weapons supplied by ally Turkey, recaptured broad swaths of territory that were held for nearly three decades by Armenian forces. Russia brokered a truce and deployed about 2,000 peacekeepers to the region. Azerbaijan reclaimed full control of Karabakh in September 2023 after a lightning military campaign. Russia, busy with its war in Ukraine, didn’t intervene, angering Armenia’s leadership that responded by scaling down its ties with Moscow and bolstering relations with the West. The victory in Karabakh has fueled Azerbaijan’s ambitions and prompted Aliyev to take a more assertive stand in relations with his neighbors. The crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight On Dec. 25, 2024, an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet crashed while on a flight from Baku to Grozny, the regional capital of the Russian republic of Chechnya. Azerbaijani authorities said the jet was accidentally hit by fire from Russian air defenses, then tried to land in western Kazakhstan when it crashed, killing 38 of 67 people aboard. Putin apologized to Aliyev for what he called a “tragic incident” but stopped short of […]
A pair of career criminals behind a series of daring and methodical cash robberies across NYC were arrested Wednesday afternoon by the NYPD, thanks to the sharp vigilance of Boro Park Shomrim volunteers. The takedown occurred near 18th Avenue and Dahill Road, after the suspects targeted a van that had just withdrawn a large sum of money from a check-cashing store in Flatbush and traveled into Boro Park. The scheme was both simple and slick: one suspect, riding a bicycle, followed the van and punctured its tire a few blocks away. As soon as the driver exited to inspect the flat, the second suspect swooped in, climbed into the van, and made off with the cash. Unbeknownst to them, Boro Park Shomrim had already picked up on their suspicious behavior and were quietly tracking their movements. Volunteers coordinated with the NYPD while maintaining a tight visual, leading to the duo’s swift arrest by responding NYPD officers. Sources tell YWN that these two suspects are believed to be connected to a string of similar thefts throughout NYC, including in Williamsburg where they’ve used comparable tactics to target individuals and businesses transporting large sums of cash. Additional charges are expected as detectives continue to piece together the full extent of their operation. Following the arrest, Boro Park Chaverim volunteers and Quick Fix Mobile Tires responded to assist the victim with his slashed tire. THIS STORY WAS FIRST PUBLISHED ON THE BORO PARK SCOOP STATUS CLICK HERE SIGN UP TO THE BORO PARK SCOOP WHATSAPP STATUS TO BE INFORMED OF BORO PARK NEWS IN LIVE TIME (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
In an unimaginable continuation of tragedy for the Goldstein family, five-year-old Yisrael Ben Tzion Goldstein z”l was tragically killed this evening in a horrific accident on Rechov Petach Tikvah in the Romema neighborhood of Yerushalayim.
The levayah was held at the Shamgar funeral home, with kevurah on Har HaMenuchos.
This latest heartbreak comes on the heels of a devastating series of losses for the Goldstein family. In Elul of last year, the mother, Shoshana Goldstein a”h, passed away at the age of 34 following the birth of her twin daughters, Rivkah a”h and Bracha a”h, both of whom also tragically died.
As previously reported, Shoshana collapsed during what was expected to be a routine labor and was rushed to the hospital after being without oxygen for several minutes. Though doctors managed to restart her breathing, the prolonged lack of oxygen caused irreversible brain damage.
A rushed emergency C-section brought the twins into the world, but Rivkah passed away less than two days later. Shoshana succumbed two weeks later, and Bracha passed away five months after birth.
Now, the family is again plunged into mourning with the loss of young Yisrael Ben Tzion, described by those who knew him as a pure, gentle soul.
The bereaved father, Rav Moshe Goldstein, a distinguished talmid chacham, is one of the prominent talmidim of Rav Moshe Sternbuch.
Following the mother’s passing, the family relocated from Beit Shemesh to Yerushalayim, where they moved in with the maternal grandfather, Rav Dovid Neuwirth, a dedicated gabbai at the Chanechei HaYeshivos shul in Yerushalayim and a talmid chacham who learns in the Mir Yeshiva.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
It is with greatness that Matzav.com reports the petirah of Rav Shimon Menachem Frankel zt”l, rov of Central Tel Aviv and a revered spiritual guide to many. He was 89 years old and had been in declining health in recent years.
Rav Frankel was born on 12 Sivan 5696 (1936) to his father, the gaon Rav Yitzchak Yedidya Frankel zt”l, Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv and head of the city’s batei din, and to his mother, Rebbetzin Chana Leah a”h, daughter of Rav Chaim Elazar Brand z”l.
He married Rebbetzin Bas Tzion Esther, daughter of the rebbe Rav Yaakov Yosef Shlomo Halperin of Vaslui, the third admor in the Vaslui dynasty and father of the current rebbe. Together, they built a warm and welcoming home in Tel Aviv, where they lived for decades until her passing in Shevat 5776.
Their home was renowned as a beacon of hospitality in the heart of the bustling city, always open to those in need. Whether travelers, the lonely, or the downtrodden, many found shelter and comfort between their walls.
rav Frankel was appointed the rav of the Antopol community in central Tel Aviv, where he served faithfully for many years. For his livelihood, he had previously served as the public complaints commissioner at Bank Leumi.
A man of many talents and great breadth of knowledge, Rav Frankel was a talmid chochom, writer, and maggid shiur. He was known for his tireless pursuit of tzedakah and chesed, and he was cherished by all.
In his later years, Rav Frankel moved to Bnei Brak, where he continued his avodas Hashem despite his frailty, davening with dedication at the Mohilever shul.
He is survived by an illustrious family of children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, all following in his path. His brother-in-law is Rav Yisrael Meir Lau, former Chief Rabbi of Israel.
The levayah was held today at his home at 2 Ovadia in Bnei Brak, with kevurah at the Nachalas Yitzchak Cemetery in Tel Aviv.
Yehi zichro baruch.
{Matzav.com Israel}
President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Vietnam Wednesday that would allow U.S. goods to enter the country duty-free. Vietnamese exports to the United States, by contrast, would face a 20% levy. On his Truth Social platform, Trump declared the pact “a Great Deal of Cooperation between our two Countries.” In April, Trump announced a 46% tax on Vietnamese imports — one of his so-called reciprocal tariffs targeting dozens of countries with which the United States runs trade deficits. Trump promptly suspended the reciprocal tariffs for 90 days to allow for negotiations like the one with Vietnam. The pause expires Tuesday, but so far the Trump administration has reached a trade agreement with only one of those countries — the United Kingdom. (Trump has also reached a “framework” agreement with China in a separate trade dispute.) “Vietnam has been very keen to get out from under this,” said Mary Lovely, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. ”This is forcing a smaller country to eat it, basically. We can do that. It’s the big countries that everybody’s keeping their eyes on.” She doubts that Trump will be able to impose such a lopsided agreement on big trading partners such as the European Union and Japan. The United States last year ran a $122 billion trade deficit with Vietnam. That was the third-biggest U.S. trade gap — the difference between the goods and services it buys from other countries and those it sells them — behind the ones with China and Mexico. In addition to the 20% tariffs, Trump said the U.S. would impose a 40% tax on “transshipping” — goods from another country that stop in Vietnam on their way to the United States. Washington complains that Chinese goods have been dodging higher U.S. tariffs by transiting through Vietnam. A February study in the Harvard Business Review found that there was “much less rerouting than previously believed.” In May, Vietnam approved a $1.5 billion project by the Trump Organization and a local partner to build a massive golf resort complex near Hanoi, covering an area roughly the size of 336 football fields. Vietnam was a beneficiary of American efforts to counter China’s influence. Companies looking to diversify their supply chains away from China flocked to Vietnam. In 2023, it became the only country to host both President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on state visits. That year, the U.S. upgraded Vietnam to its highest diplomatic status—comprehensive strategic partner—placing it on par with China and Russia. (AP)
UPSTATE, NY – August 7, 2025 – Yamim Baim will make Jewish music history at the legendary Bethel Woods with the first ever open-air Jewish concert of this magnitude. Throughout this unforgettable evening of unity and song, Chassidic music icon Avraham Fried, the genre-blending music of Zusha, and soulful rising star Shmuel will join Ishay Ribo onstage throughout his full-length evening concert. More details A Night of Unity, Music, and Connection Making Jewish music history on the storied grounds of the 1969 Woodstock festival, this landmark event will unite New York’s Jewish community around heartfelt and joyous music of connection and prayer. “This event is a landmark achievement for Jewish music,” a producer shares. “The pristine upstate setting, the high production quality, and the powerful moments we’ll share together – there’s never been anything like this.” With tens of thousands of fans worldwide, Ishay Ribo’s music has become the soundtrack of a generation. Yamim Baim will mark his largest North American performance to date, featuring immersive sound, breathtaking visuals, and new arrangements developed exclusively for this event. The evening’s guest artists represent the diverse sounds and stories of today’s Jewish world: legendary Chassidic music icon Avraham Fried’s timeless melodies from the heart, Zusha’s lively and soul-filled innovation, and Shmuel’s soft blend of timeless Jewish song. On a grassy hillside under the open sky, these four artists will captivate an audience of thousands with songs of hope, joy, and the Jewish soul. Yamim Baim is already setting new standards for Jewish music production. From the custom lighting design to a one-of-a-kind acoustic system that preserves the raw beauty of the open air venue while delivering world-class clarity, every technical element is crafted with intention. “Nothing is recycled here,” a producer explains. “Every detail, from the flow of the night’s songs to the sound and visuals, is being custom made for maximum meaning.” Bethel Woods Built on the site of the legendary 1969 Woodstock festival, Bethel Woods stands as one of America’s most iconic venues – a natural amphitheater with world-class acoustics and sweeping outdoor views. Hosting Yamim Baim here marks the first time in history that a Jewish concert of this scale will take place at such a historic site, powerfully celebrating Jewish pride and presence on a stage that is seen as one of the world’s most prestigious. “To come here, a place that defined a whole generation, and fill it with songs of tefillah, emunah, and our unity; it’s a moment of unparalleled power,” a team member reflects. “It’s taken years to make this dream come true.” Bethel Woods offers two distinct ways to experience the concert, each with its own atmosphere: The Pavilion: WIth covered, tiered seating under a roof, excellent sightlines, and an intimate, concert-hall feel, pavilion seating is perfect for fans who want to sit back and take in every moment in comfort. The Lawn: A vast, open grassy hill where you bring your own blanket or low-back chair, enjoying the show under the stars. The lawn creates a more casual, social atmosphere, ideal for families, camp groups, or anyone who wants to relax, dance, and soak up the star-filled night. One Night. One Nation. One Song. Yamim Baim is produced by Davidson Artists Management in collaboration with Bnei Akiva of the United States and Canada, this is an exclusive, one-night-only experience. Whether you’re coming with family, friends, camp, or community, Yamim Baim promises to be the most meaningful Jewish concert event of the year. August 7, 2025, Bethel Woods, […]
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has issued a public apology to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, backing away from comments she made last week warning that Mamdani had referenced “global jihad” in past statements. The senator’s retreat, first reported by Politico, came after a wave of outrage from left-wing activists and progressive allies determined to shield Mamdani from scrutiny, despite the fact that questions about his record and rhetoric had resonated with many New Yorkers worried about extremism. During a Thursday appearance on WNYC, Gillibrand responded to a caller who pressed her about Mamdani’s alleged support for Hamas, agreeing that voters had reason to be “alarmed” about Mamdani’s statements, specifically mentioning “references to global jihad.” But progressive forces, eager to protect a candidate who would be New York’s first Muslim mayor, quickly went on the attack, denouncing Gillibrand’s remarks as bigoted and inaccurate. Among those piling on was New York Governor Kathy Hochul, who slammed the senator and claimed no one should face “comments that slur their ethnicity [or] religious beliefs,” ignoring legitimate security concerns many voters have raised. By Friday, Gillibrand had already begun backpedaling, telling Rolling Stone that she had “misspoke” on the radio. Then on Monday, in a call with Mamdani, she went even further, apologizing and expressing regret for not separating her views more clearly from the caller’s language. A readout obtained by Politico revealed Gillibrand praised Mamdani’s supposed commitment to protecting all New Yorkers and even agreed with him that Republican attacks on his record were “outrageous and unacceptable.” The senator’s office said she and Mamdani would meet face-to-face in New York City soon to discuss other issues including affordability and public safety. Progressives cheered the apology as a victory, but critics argue Gillibrand caved under political pressure, prioritizing her standing with the activist left over the genuine national-security concerns shared by many of her constituents. In a city still haunted by the specter of terrorism, voters may wonder whether their elected officials are willing to speak honestly about radical threats — or whether they will continue to fold the moment activists cry foul. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
On the eve of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to the United States to meet with President Donald Trump, all Likud government ministers along with the Knesset Speaker have issued a unified declaration demanding the immediate extension of Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria before the current Knesset session concludes this summer.
The declaration states: “We, ministers and members of Knesset, call for the immediate application of Israeli sovereignty and law over Judea and Samaria. Now is the time to pass a government decision on applying sovereignty—by the end of the Knesset’s summer session.”
The statement continues: “Following the historic achievements of the State of Israel under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in confronting the axis of evil led by Iran and its proxies, it is time to complete the task, remove the existential threat from within, and prevent another massacre in the heart of the land.”
It also highlights the role of the Yesha Council in spearheading the campaign, noting:
“The initiative was organized by the Yesha Council, which is working with political and public leadership to advance this historic move. The strategic partnership, support, and backing of the United States and President Donald Trump create a window of opportunity to lead this move now and to ensure Israel’s security for generations to come.”
They further pointed to recent tragic events as evidence of the urgency:
“The October 7 massacre proved that the doctrine of Community blocs in Judea and Samaria and the establishment of a Palestinian state in the rest of the territory is an existential threat to Israel. The time for sovereignty has come!”
Those who endorsed the statement from Likud include:
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Amir Ohana, Knesset Speaker
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Yariv Levin, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister
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Yisroel Katz, Defense Minister
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Yoav Kisch, Minister of Education
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Miri Regev, Minister of Transportation and Road Safety
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Eli Cohen, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure
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Miki Zohar, Minister of Culture and Sports
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Nir Barkat, Minister of Economy and Industry
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Avi Dichter, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security
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Shlomo Karhi, Minister of Communications
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Haim Katz, Minister of Tourism and Acting Minister of Construction and Housing
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Gila Gamliel, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology
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Amichai Chikli, Minister of Diaspora Affairs and the Fight Against Antisemitism
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Idit Silman, Minister of Environmental Protection
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May Golan, Minister for Social Equality and Minister for Women’s Empowerment
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Dudi Amsalem, Minister in the Ministry of Justice, Minister for Regional Cooperation, and Minister Liaison to the Knesset
Religious Zionist Party leader and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich voiced his endorsement as well. He declared: “The real answer to those who wish harm upon the State of Israel is sovereignty. I commend the Likud ministers and commit to the Prime Minister, on the day you give the order – the Settlement Administration under my leadership is standing by to implement the application of sovereignty immediately. Honorable Prime Minister – the people of Israel are ready.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
House GOP infighting holds up key vote on Trump tax bill House Republican leadership is racing to get enough GOP lawmakers on board to send President Donald Trump’s megabill to his desk. But Speaker Mike Johnson is facing potential attendance problems due to storms in the Washington area, in addition to stubborn resistance from a handful of his conference members. Any changes to the House version of the bill would send it back to the Senate for approval, almost certainly blowing past Republicans’ self-imposed July 4 deadline.
U.S. defense officials now believe that their recent strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure have caused a substantial delay in the country’s atomic development, potentially pushing it back by up to two years, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell.
“We have degraded their program by one to two years. At least, intel assessments inside the department assess that,” said Parnell in a press briefing. “We’re thinking probably closer to two years, like degraded their program by two years.”
Parnell emphasized that evaluations of the impact on three of Iran’s most critical nuclear facilities have not shifted, saying that the installations hit were “completely obliterated.”
“We believe that Iran’s nuclear capability has been severely degraded, perhaps even their ambition to build a bomb,” he continued, though he acknowledged that intelligence analysts are still examining the full consequences.
The operation involved the deployment of six bunker-busting bombs targeting the highly secured Fordow enrichment site. Additional attacks included the launch of multiple submarine-based cruise missiles directed at Iranian facilities in Natanz and Isfahan.
This wave of U.S. airstrikes came after Israeli forces conducted their own operation on June 13, hitting military, nuclear, and civilian targets inside Iran.
Despite the dual offensives by the U.S. and Israel, Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), commented earlier this week that Iran could potentially restart its uranium enrichment activities “in a matter of months.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi acknowledged the toll the attacks have taken, describing the damage to Iran’s nuclear program as “serious” during comments made last week amid the ongoing 12-day conflict with Israel.
“A detailed assessment of the damage is being carried out by experts from the Atomic Energy Organization (of Iran),” Araghchi said in a statement broadcast on state TV.
He also noted that Tehran is now exploring compensation over the losses. “Now, the discussion of demanding damages and the necessity of providing them has been placed as one of the important issues on the country’s diplomatic agenda,” he stated.
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Matzav.com}
Sen. Rand Paul says new documents reveal Dr. Anthony Fauci was aware that Gain-of-Function research could be the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Dr. Fauci will be forced to testify under oath
JUST IN: A woman reports that a girl was potentially nearly abducted by a woman outside Hot Bagels on River Avenue this afternoon. Parents: Make sure your children know basic safety rules.
Q: Pres. Trump says Iran’s nuclear facilities were “obliterated.” IRAN’S FM: “They have been seriously & heavily damaged.”
A mass casualty incident has been declared after a bus overturned in Lancaster, California, injuring at least twenty people
A politically motivated hacker breached Columbia University’s data systems last week, stealing troves of student documents while briefly shutting down the school’s computer systems, a university official said. The June 24 cyberattack prompted widespread network outages on campus, locking students and staff out of their email accounts, coursework and video conference software for several hours. On the same day, images of President Donald Trump’s smiling face appeared on several public monitors across the Manhattan campus. A spokesperson for Columbia declined to elaborate on the political motivations behind the attack. But they described a highly sophisticated “hacktivist” who had gained access to private student records in an attempt to further a political agenda. The spokesperson said it was unclear if the Trump photo display was connected to the data breach. “We are investigating the scope of the apparent theft and will share our findings with the University community as well as anyone whose personal information was compromised,” the school said. The cyberattack comes as Columbia remains in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, which has threatened to pull $400 million in federal funds over the school’s failure to protect Jewish students. Negotiations over a possible settlement are ongoing. The university has already agreed to a host of changes demanded by Trump, including placing its Middle East studies department under new supervision and overhauling its rules for protests and student discipline. In March, a cyberattack against New York University resulted in student admission records briefly appearing on the school’s website. An online hacker who took credit for that action on social media said the intent was to prove the university was not in compliance with the Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action in college admissions. An NYU spokesperson said at the time that the data displayed on its webpage was “inaccurate and misleading,” adding that the university “scrupulously complies with the law.” (AP)
Republican leaders in the House have pushed back a crucial vote on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as they continue working to line up enough GOP support to overcome internal resistance and absences.
One of the final procedural votes scheduled for Wednesday afternoon remained open for over an hour, as House leaders made efforts behind the scenes to persuade reluctant Republicans, according to The Hill. Eventually, lawmakers were instructed to head back to their offices.
The revised version of the legislation, amended in the Senate, has sparked considerable controversy within the GOP ranks. The bill narrowly advanced there on Tuesday only after Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote. President Donald Trump has made it clear he expects the bill—widely viewed as the hallmark of his second term—on his desk by Independence Day. “I want the bill on my desk by the Fourth of July,” he said.
Members of the House Freedom Caucus and other conservatives were seen moving in and out of a room near the House floor during the procedural votes, as reported by The Hill. Many had indicated they would oppose the rule that governs how the bill would be debated. Had that vote failed, it would have halted all progress on the House floor.
Lawmakers such as Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, who chairs the House Freedom Caucus, as well as Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Eli Crane of Arizona, Lloyd Smucker of Pennsylvania, and Andy Biggs of Arizona, were spotted entering the meeting room at various intervals.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana explained to reporters that several Republicans were still en route to the Capitol due to widespread flight delays caused by inclement weather, according to The Hill. He noted that once those lawmakers arrived, the vote would continue.
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Matzav.com}
Edan Alexander, who was held hostage by Hamas for 584 days before being freed in May, is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, according to a report by Channel 12 News.
The meeting will also be attended by First Lady Melania Trump. During the visit, Alexander is expected to express his appreciation to the president for securing his freedom and to advocate for the release of the hostages who are still in Hamas captivity.
This encounter is set to occur just a few days ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrival in Washington for his own set of meetings with President Trump.
Alexander regained his freedom roughly six weeks ago, around the time President Trump was visiting the Middle East. Although a meeting between them had been considered then, Alexander remained in Israel to undergo necessary medical care and recovery, delaying the opportunity.
His family later coordinated with Trump’s team to arrange the meeting once Alexander would be able to travel to the United States.
The success in obtaining his release was attributed to the diplomatic pressure and behind-the-scenes efforts led by the Trump Administration.
{Matzav.com}
Dick Tracy got an atom-powered two-way wrist radio in 1946. Marty Cooper never forgot it. The Chicago boy became a star engineer who ran Motorola’s research and development arm when the hometown telecommunications titan was locked in a 1970s corporate battle to invent the portable phone. Cooper rejected AT&T’s wager on the car phone, betting that America wanted to feel like Dick Tracy, armed with “a device that was an extension of you, that made you reachable everywhere.” Fifty-two years ago, Cooper declared victory in a call from a Manhattan sidewalk to the head of AT&T’s rival program. His four-pound DynaTAC 8000X has evolved into a global population of billions of smartphones weighing mere ounces apiece. Some 4.6 billion people — nearly 60% of the world — have mobile internet, according to a global association of mobile network operators. The tiny computers that we carry by the billions are becoming massive, interlinked networks of processors that perform trillions of calculations per second – the computing power that artificial intelligence needs. The simple landlines once used to call friends or family have evolved into omnipresent glossy screens that never leave our sight and flood our brain with hours of data daily, deluging us with endless messages, emails, videos and a soundtrack that many play constantly to block the outside world. From his home in Del Mar, California, the inventor of the mobile phone, now 96, watches all of this. Of one thing Cooper is certain: The revolution has really just begun. The phone is about to become a thinking computer Now, the winner of the 2024 National Medal of Technology and Innovation — the United States’ highest honor for technological achievement – is focused on the cellphone’s imminent transition to a thinking mobile computer fueled by human calories to avoid dependence on batteries. Our new parts will run constant tests on our bodies and feed our doctors real-time results, Cooper predicts. “That will let people anticipate diseases before they happen,” Cooper envisions. “People are going to die from old age and accidents but they’re not going to die from disease. That’s a revolution in medicine.“ Human behavior is already adapting to smartphones, some observers say, using them as tools that allow overwhelmed minds to focus on quality communication. The phone conversation has become the way to communicate the most intimate of social ties, says Claude Fischer, a sociology professor at the University of California, Berkeley and author of “America Calling: A Social History of the Telephone to 1940.” For almost everyone, the straight-up phone call has become an intrusion. Now everything needs to be preceded by a message. “There seems to be a sense that the phone call is for heart-to-heart and not just for information exchange,” Fischer says. And this from a 20-year-old corroborates that: “The only person I call on a day-to-day basis is my cousin,” says Ayesha Iqbal, a psychology student at Suffolk County Community College. “I primarily text everyone else.” Child education student Katheryn Ruiz, 19, concurs, saying “texting is used for just like nothing substantial, like nothing personal.” Sometimes the roles are reversed, though. Sixty-eight-year-old Diana Cunningham of Overbrook, Kansas, pop. 1005, uses a group text to stay in touch with her kids and grandkids. Her 18-year-old granddaughter Bryndal Hoover, a senior at nearby Lawrence High School, says she prefers voice […]
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