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[Videos below.] King Charles III and Queen Camilla began their time in New York City on Wednesday with a solemn visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, where they paid tribute to those killed in the 2001 terror attacks and met with family members of the victims.

The memorial visit came as part of a packed itinerary during the couple’s four-day trip to the United States, marking 250 years since American independence. It also marks the first time a sitting British monarch has traveled to New York City since Queen Elizabeth II made the trip in 2010.

Arriving by motorcade, the king and queen were welcomed by officials at the site and joined by Michael Bloomberg. Together, they walked toward one of the parapets surrounding the twin reflecting pools, where the names of the victims are inscribed. King Charles placed a floral tribute along the edge.

Following the ceremony, the royal couple greeted and spoke with a line of attendees that included relatives of those who died in the September 11 attacks and first responders. Some family members displayed photographs of their loved ones. Also present were Zohran Mamdani, Kathy Hochul, Mikie Sherrill, and other dignitaries. The visit comes ahead of the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

Consistent with longstanding custom, Charles and Camilla did not deliver public remarks during their time at the memorial. The site traditionally does not host speeches by political figures or visiting dignitaries, reserving commemorative events for voices of victims’ families and loved ones.

Later in the day, the queen was scheduled to stop at the New York Public Library, where she planned to present a new Roo doll to join the institution’s well-known collection of Winnie-the-Pooh memorabilia, coinciding with the character’s 100th anniversary.

The existing display includes five original stuffed animals—Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, and Kanga—which inspired the characters in the children’s stories written by A. A. Milne. These toys once belonged to his son, Christopher Robin, during the 1920s, and were later donated to the library in 1987, where they remain a centerpiece of its children’s literature collection. In the stories, Roo is portrayed as Kanga’s young kangaroo son.

Meanwhile, the king was expected to visit a youth-focused urban farming initiative that supports communities facing food insecurity, and later meet with business and financial leaders in Manhattan.

The couple is also scheduled to attend an event connected to the The Prince’s Trust, a charity established by Charles in 1976.

This visit marks Charles’ first official trip to the United States since ascending the throne. Over the years, Queen Elizabeth II made four such visits during her reign.

Earlier in the week, the king and queen joined President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for tea at the White House.

On Tuesday, Charles held a private meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, followed by a speech before Congress—the first time a British monarch has addressed the body since Queen Elizabeth II in 1991—and later attended a formal state dinner hosted at the White House.

Before concluding their trip, the royal couple is expected to make additional stops in Virginia and return to Washington, where they will take part in a formal farewell ceremony hosted by Trump on Thursday. Afterward, Charles is set to travel alone to Bermuda, marking his first visit there as king.

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{Matzav.com}

A new national survey finds Democrats holding a clear advantage over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, with a 10-point lead as the party benefits from stronger backing among key voter groups.

According to polling released Wednesday by Emerson College Polling, 50% of respondents said they would support a Democratic candidate for Congress, compared to 40% who favored a Republican. Another 10% of those surveyed said they have not yet decided.

Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling, said the Democratic edge is being fueled by growing support among several demographic groups.

“Democrats’ strength is driven by an increase in support among Hispanic voters, women, and independents,” Emerson College Polling executive director Spencer Kimball said. “Hispanics break for Democrats [over Republicans] by a 35-point margin, 61% to 26%, women by 21 points, 55% to 34%, and independents by 19 points, 50% to 31%.”

The survey also examined public views on President Donald Trump, showing his approval rating at 40% among likely voters, while 56% disapprove. Compared to March, that reflects a two-point drop in approval and a five-point increase in disapproval. The poll was conducted prior to the incident at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.

Kimball also highlighted a shift among Hispanic voters in their views of Trump.

“Trump is underwater among Hispanic voters, 70% to 29%, compared to this time last year when they were split: 44% disapproved, and 41% approved,” Kimball said.

Respondents in the survey also expressed negative views of Trump’s performance on several major issues, including the economy, foreign policy, and immigration, where disapproval outweighed approval in each category.

The Emerson College Polling survey was conducted from April 24 through April 26. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, and the results were adjusted to reflect demographic factors such as gender, education, race, age, party registration, and geographic region based on U.S. Census data and voter file information.

President Donald Trump said he turned down an offer from Russian President Vladimir Putin to assist on Iran, instead urging the Russian leader to concentrate on efforts to end the war in Ukraine during a lengthy phone call between the two leaders.

According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, the conversation between Trump and Putin took place Wednesday and covered both the conflict in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East.

Ushakov told reporters the discussion lasted more than 90 minutes and described it as “frank and businesslike.”

Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office as he hosted astronauts from the Artemis II mission, said the call went well and noted his long familiarity with Putin.

“We had a good talk, I’ve known him a long time,” Trump said. The US president, speaking to reporters as he met with astronauts from the Artemis II mission in the Oval Office, said he suggested “a little bit of a ceasefire” in the war in Ukraine in his phone call with the Russian leader.

“And I think he might do that,” Trump said, then asked reporters whether Putin had announced a ceasefire.

Trump also revealed that Putin raised the possibility of helping address Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium, which remains a major sticking point in efforts to resolve tensions over Iran’s nuclear activities.

Trump said Putin offered to help on the issue of Iran’s enriched uranium, a key obstacle to a deal to end the Iran war, but “I said I’d much rather have you be involved with ending the war with Ukraine.”

From the Russian side, Ushakov said the leaders placed significant focus on developments involving Iran and the broader Persian Gulf region.

Russia’s Ushakov, on the other hand, said the presidents “paid particular attention to the situation regarding Iran and in the Persian Gulf.”

{Matzav.com}

The White House is alerting lawmakers that funding for Department of Homeland Security personnel is on the verge of being depleted, raising the prospect of airport slowdowns and broader security risks as the House delays action on legislation aimed at ending what has become the longest funding gap in the agency’s history.

In a memorandum sent to Congress late Tuesday, the Office of Management and Budget said that stopgap funds President Donald Trump has been using to pay workers at the Transportation Security Administration and other divisions through executive measures are expected to run out by May. The memo urged House members to promptly pass the Senate-approved budget resolution, which cleared that chamber after an overnight session last week and is intended to set the stage for restoring full funding.

“DHS will soon run out of critical operating funds, placing essential personnel and operations at risk,” the memo said.

The administration’s warning adds pressure on House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose slim Republican majority has struggled to advance key legislation amid internal disagreements, including over Homeland Security funding, leaving the chamber largely stalled.

The House is expected to hold a vote as early as Wednesday on the Senate’s budget resolution, a procedural step that would begin a multi-phase effort to ultimately fund the department. Administration officials cautioned Republican lawmakers against making revisions that could delay the process further.

“Restoring funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has never been more urgent, as demonstrated by recent events,” the memo said, referencing an incident over the weekend in which an armed individual attempted to breach the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner attended by Trump, the vice president, and senior Cabinet officials.

The Department of Homeland Security has been operating without its standard funding for more than two months after Democrats declined to approve financing for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol unless changes were made to those agencies, following fatalities linked to protests against Trump’s deportation policies.

Although immigration enforcement personnel have continued receiving pay through roughly $170 billion allocated in last year’s tax legislation backed by Trump, other employees—including those at TSA—have depended on temporary funding provided through executive action to maintain their salaries.

With payroll costs exceeding $1.6 billion every two weeks, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin recently indicated that those emergency funds are nearing exhaustion.

Republicans in both the House and Senate have moved ahead without Democratic support, attempting to secure funding specifically for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. Their plan calls for approximately $70 billion to cover those operations through the remainder of Trump’s term in office, aiming to prevent future funding disruptions.

The approach relies on a complex legislative path similar to the one used to pass Trump’s tax cuts last year and is expected to unfold over several weeks.

After initiating the process last week, the Senate is now waiting for the House to act. Once the budget resolution is adopted, both chambers will begin drafting the detailed funding legislation, a step that could take additional weeks.

Meanwhile, Johnson is expected to pivot quickly to separate legislation that would finance other components of Homeland Security, including the TSA, Coast Guard, and related agencies.

That measure, which has bipartisan backing, cleared the Senate about a month ago after Republicans agreed to exclude immigration-related funding opposed by Democrats. However, it has remained stalled in the House due to disagreements among Republicans over the Senate’s framework.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Japan Airlines is set to begin testing robotic systems at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport starting in May, as part of a two-year pilot program designed to reduce the burden on ground staff.

At the outset, the Chinese-built machines will be used to handle the loading and unloading of cargo containers, according to a demonstration held Monday by JAL and its project partner, GMO AI & Robotics.

The move comes as Japan’s aviation sector faces a growing labor shortage, driven by a surge in incoming tourists alongside a shrinking workforce. JAL, which employs roughly 4,000 ground handling workers, is among the companies feeling the strain.

Looking ahead, the airline is considering expanding the use of robots to include tasks such as cabin cleaning and operating various types of ground support equipment.

Automation is already present at some airports across Japan, where robots are being used for duties like security patrols and assisting in retail areas.

Travel demand has been strong, with more than seven million international visitors arriving in Japan during the first two months of the year, according to data from JTB Group, the country’s largest travel agency.

“While airports appear highly automated and standardised, their back-end operations still rely heavily on human labour and face serious labour shortages,” GMO AI & Robotics’ president Tomohiro Uchida told reporters.

Company officials say introducing robots for physically intensive work is expected to ease the strain on employees. As Kyodo news agency reported, Yoshiteru Suzuk, president of JAL’s Ground Service division, said such technology will “provide significant benefits to employees”.

Even so, he emphasized that certain responsibilities—particularly those related to safety oversight—will continue to require human workers.

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President Donald Trump said Iran is being severely squeezed by a U.S.-imposed naval blockade and made clear the pressure campaign will continue until Tehran agrees to terms that satisfy American demands on its nuclear program.

Speaking in a phone interview with Axios on Wednesday, Trump argued that the blockade has proven more effective than direct military action and pushed back against Iran’s suggestion to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before restarting nuclear negotiations.

“The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing. They are choking like a stuffed pig. And it is going to be worse for them. They can’t have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

At the heart of the dispute is Tehran’s insistence that maritime restrictions be lifted and shipping through the key oil passage resume before any renewed talks over its nuclear activities take place.

Trump rejected that approach, indicating the United States intends to keep its current leverage in place until Iran agrees to broader concessions.

“They want to settle. They don’t want me to keep the blockade. I don’t want to [lift the blockade], because I don’t want them to have a nuclear weapon,” he said.

According to three individuals familiar with internal discussions, U.S. Central Command has drawn up contingency plans for a “short and powerful” round of strikes against Iranian infrastructure if diplomacy continues to stall.

The objective of such a move would be to force Iran back into negotiations under heightened pressure.

Despite those preparations, Trump has not approved any military action as of Tuesday night and declined to provide specifics about potential operations.

Earlier Wednesday, Trump shared an AI-generated image on his Truth Social platform depicting himself holding a firearm alongside the caption “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY,” signaling a more aggressive posture.

For the time being, officials say the administration views the blockade as its primary source of leverage, though the possibility of military force remains on the table if Iran refuses to comply.

Trump also asserted that the blockade is placing extreme strain on Iran’s energy infrastructure, claiming its oil reserves and pipelines “are getting close to exploding” as exports remain blocked.

Some analysts, however, have expressed skepticism about how imminent such a crisis may be.

Iran, for its part, suggested it could retaliate.

A senior Iranian security official, cited by Press TV, warned that the U.S. naval blockade “will soon be met with practical and unprecedented action.”

The sharp exchanges come as tensions remain elevated over Iran’s nuclear program and concerns about the safety of vital global energy corridors.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara issued a ruling Wednesday that is expected to have significant financial repercussions for the yeshiva world, determining that institutions attended by draft-eligible students who do not report for military service will no longer be eligible for donor tax benefits.

Under the new policy, yeshivas enrolling students of draft age who avoid enlistment in the Israel Defense Forces will lose the ability to offer donors income tax deductions under Section 46 of Israeli law.

The decision triggered an immediate and forceful reaction from chareidi leadership, with Degel HaTorah chairman MK Moshe Gafni leading the criticism.

“This is an open declaration of war against the Torah world and Judaism in the State of Israel,” Gafni declared. “This is no longer a legal question – it is a systematic and obsessive ideological persecution against the chareidi community and against everything that represents the Jewish identity of the state.”

He further accused the attorney general of overstepping her role, saying she is “using her powers to harm lomdei Torah and their institutions in an unacceptable manner.”

Gafni went on to urge the public to resist what he described as illegitimate directives. “I call on the public not to surrender to improper dictates and not to accept a reality in which a legal official runs the country and decides against its most basic values.”

In his closing remarks, Gafni directed criticism at Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu, questioning why Baharav-Miara remains in her position.

“It is inconceivable that such a severe move should pass in silence,” he said. “I do not understand how Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to keep her in her position. This is a grave failure, and I call on him to put an immediate end to this situation. It is unacceptable for the State of Israel to be led by someone who consistently acts against Judaism and against its Torah-observant citizens.”

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yitzhak Goldknopf also denounced the ruling, arguing that it represents an escalation in what he described as a broader campaign.

“It appears that the attorney general has lost all restraint and boundaries in her war against Torah scholars in the Holy Land,” Goldknopf said. “The request submitted to the court is a serious attempt to carry out a maneuver against the Torah world and harm the ability of donors to assist Torah students, instead of the state funding the yeshivas as it was supposed to do.”

He maintained that Section 46 was meant to incentivize charitable giving to public institutions, not to be used as a penalty or enforcement tool in matters related to the draft.

“Revoking the benefit is collective punishment – disproportionate and immoral,” he added.

Goldknopf concluded by likening the move to situations involving groups that encouraged refusal to serve during protest movements.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States will keep its naval blockade in place against Iran until Tehran agrees to conditions addressing Washington’s concerns over its nuclear ambitions.

In an interview with Axios, Trump rejected a proposal from Iran that would have involved reopening the Strait of Hormuz and loosening the blockade ahead of renewed negotiations at a later point.

According to sources familiar with the situation, U.S. Central Command has developed a potential plan for a concentrated but limited wave of strikes targeting Iranian assets, aimed at breaking the current deadlock. The approach would likely focus on key infrastructure, with the goal of pushing Iran back to the negotiating table under heightened pressure.

For now, however, Trump indicated that he believes the blockade is a more effective strategy than immediate military action, telling Axios, “The blockade is somewhat more effective than the bombing.” As of Tuesday night, he had not approved any strikes, the report said, and he declined to go into detail about possible military options.

Trump described the blockade as placing significant strain on Iran, stating, “They are choking like a stuffed pig,” and reiterated that the United States will not permit Tehran to develop nuclear weapons. “They can’t have a nuclear weapon,” he said. He added that Iran is seeking a resolution that would lead to the lifting of the blockade, saying, “They want to settle,” but made clear he is not prepared to ease pressure under current circumstances.

The president also said Iran’s oil sector is feeling the impact of the blockade due to restricted exports, though some analysts have raised doubts about how immediate or severe those effects are.

At the same time, an Iranian security official warned that continued enforcement of the blockade could trigger a response. Speaking to the state-run English-language outlet Press TV, the official said Iran has so far shown restraint to preserve the possibility of diplomacy, but cautioned that sustained pressure could result in retaliatory action.

{Matzav.com}

James Comey, the former FBI director, turned himself in to federal authorities on Wednesday following his indictment by a grand jury on charges tied to an alleged threat against President Trump made in a social media post last year.

Comey, 65, appeared at a federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, not far from where he lives, in advance of his first court hearing. He has denied any wrongdoing.

The charges stem from a post Comey shared on Instagram on May 15, 2025, showing seashells arranged on a beach to display the numbers “86 47.” The post was later taken down.

On Tuesday, the Justice Department said a grand jury in North Carolina had returned an indictment against Comey, charging him with one count of “knowingly and willfully making a threat to take the life of and to inflict bodily harm upon the president of the United States” and one count of “knowingly and willfully transmitting an interstate commerce communication that contained a threat to kill the president of the United States.”

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. military campaign against Iran has already cost an estimated $25 billion, a senior Pentagon official told lawmakers Wednesday, as the conflict moves toward the 60-day mark that could trigger a key congressional decision on its continuation.

The figure was provided by acting Pentagon Comptroller Jules Hurst III during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, where he appeared alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine.

“Approximately, of this day, we’re spending about $25 billion on Operation Epic Fury,” Hurst told the committee’s top Democrat, Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash.

Hurst said the bulk of the spending has gone toward munitions, along with operational costs, maintenance, and replacing equipment.

Smith used his time to note that Congress had not received updated cost figures since the start of the war and pressed the Pentagon on whether it would seek additional funding from lawmakers to continue financing the operation.

“We will formulate a supplemental, through the White House, that will come to Congress once we have a full assessment of the cost of the conflict,” Hurst told Smith.

Earlier in the conflict, Pentagon officials had informed Congress that expenses reached $11.3 billion within just the first six days of fighting in March.

The growing financial toll comes as energy prices continue to rise both in the United States and internationally, driven in part by the continued shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for global oil shipments.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump met with leading energy executives to discuss how to proceed with the ongoing blockade of Iranian ports and ways to reduce the economic impact on American consumers, according to a White House official who spoke to NBC News.

Trump also issued a warning to Tehran on Wednesday, saying Iran “better get smart soon” as talks between the two sides remain stalled.

Reports earlier this month indicated that Iranian strikes have inflicted more extensive damage on U.S. military installations and equipment in the Middle East than has been publicly disclosed, with repair costs expected to run into the billions.

The war’s mounting expense is drawing heightened attention on Capitol Hill as the 60-day threshold approaches, a point at which Congress may need to weigh in on whether the use of military force should continue. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, a president can deploy military force for up to 60 days without congressional approval, after which lawmakers must either authorize the action or allow it to lapse, though a 30-day extension can be requested.

In recent weeks, the Senate has repeatedly voted down proposals aimed at forcing an end to the military operation. A similar measure in the House narrowly failed earlier this month, falling short by a single vote.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s Yerushalayim and Heritage Ministry has finalized a revised framework for this year’s Lag BaOmer events at Mount Meron, with the plan designed in line with Home Front Command directives and pending final authorization from the Israel Police.

The updated approach follows instructions from israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu to cap attendance, while also incorporating recommendations from safety officials.

According to the proposal, each designated section at Meron will be limited to crowds of up to 1,500 participants at a time. These areas will be spaced apart and properly organized, including the Rashbi kever, the Bnei Akiva complex, Moshav Meron, and the expanded celebration zone known as compound 89.

Visitors will be admitted in staggered time slots lasting up to two hours. Capacity limits will factor in required safety perimeters to ensure that crowd control measures remain effective throughout the day.

Davening, dancing, bonfires, and hospitality setups will take place across multiple locations to help distribute attendees and minimize overcrowding. Organizers say the aim is to maintain the spirit of the traditional celebration while adhering to current safety restrictions.

Transportation arrangements will be overseen by the Transportation Ministry, which plans to operate a scaled-down public transit system. Tickets will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis at 11 distribution points nationwide, with additional details expected to be released.

The plan was drafted by the Yerushalayim and Heritage Ministry and has already received initial approval from the Home Front Command. Its implementation remains contingent on final clearance from the Israel Police regarding crowd management and traffic flow, as well as the condition that existing security guidelines remain unchanged.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karchi, who is overseeing the event, said: “We worked to create a framework that preserves the tradition while ensuring Meron remains accessible to the nation of Israel, subject to security restrictions. I call on those who unfortunately do not receive a ticket to the event in Meron to celebrate the traditional event in their communities safely and joyfully.”

Northern District Police Commander Meir Eliyahu emphasized the balance between tradition and safety, stating: “The Israel Police is preparing for the Meron celebration with deep respect for tradition and the sanctity of the site, but this year, the sanctity of life is top priority. We will act to ensure public order and flow, and prevent unauthorized arrivals, so the event can proceed happily and safely. Israel Police will act with determination against any attempt to disrupt order or arrive at the area without permission, in order to prevent tangible danger to human lives.”

He continued with a call for public cooperation, saying: “I call on everyone not to be drawn after inciting elements and to heed the orders [and fulfill the commandment] to safeguard your lives. This is a time for heightened responsibility. The police will enable the celebration to take place, but will not allow conduct that endangers the public or security forces operating at the site.”

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday invalidated Louisiana’s congressional map, ruling that the state improperly created a second majority-Black district, a decision expected to influence how districts are drawn in upcoming elections.

Louisiana had previously redrawn its map in 2024 after lower courts required the state to add another majority-Black district in order to comply with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which is intended to prevent the weakening of minority voting power.

The revised map was challenged by the Trump administration along with state officials, who argued that the redistricting relied too heavily on race and therefore violated the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees equal protection under the law.

The Supreme Court sided with that argument, as all six conservative justices voted to overturn the 2024 map.

At the same time, the majority opinion authored by Samuel Alito did not go so far as to strike down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act itself, a result that many observers had been watching closely.

“If these were white Democrats, there’s no reason to think they would have a second district, none,” principal deputy solicitor general Hashim Mooppan told the court during oral arguments this past October.

“And so what is happening here is, their argument is, ‘Because these Democrats happen to be black, they get a second district.’ If they were all white, we all agree they wouldn’t get the same.”

About one-third of Louisiana’s population is African American, and the state’s two Democratic members of Congress — compared with four Republicans in the House — both represent majority-Black districts.

The justices originally heard the case during the 2024–25 term, but in an unusual step, they later asked both sides to revise their arguments to address not only the Fourteenth Amendment but also the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which bars racial discrimination in voting rights.

That move led many to believe the Court might be preparing to scale back Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

In his opinion, however, Alito wrote that “[c]ompliance with [Section] 2, as properly construed, can provide such a reason [for race-based redistricting]. Correctly understood, [Section] 2 does not impose liability at odds with the Constitution, and it should not have imposed liability on Louisiana for its 2022 map.”

An analysis from Democratic-aligned organizations Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter Fund suggested that, as a result of the ruling, Republican-led states could redraw up to 19 congressional districts across the South and Midwest in ways that would likely benefit the GOP.

It remains uncertain, however, whether states will be able to act quickly enough for such changes to significantly affect the 2026 midterm elections, in which Democrats are currently seen as having a favorable path to reclaim control of the House.

A sharp increase in antisemitic incidents has been recorded in southeastern England, where nearly 100 hate crimes targeting the Jewish community were reported over the past year, with only a small number resulting in charges.

In Hertfordshire, located about 40 minutes from London, authorities documented 95 hate crimes against Jews over the last 12 months. Of those cases, just seven have led to the identification and charging of suspects.

Hertfordshire Police Chief Andy Prophet met with Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards to review the situation and discuss the growing number of antisemitic incidents. The issue was also raised by local officials following earlier discussions about tensions linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Prophet said that reports of antisemitic offenses rose to 95 in the 2025/26 period, compared to 83 the previous year. He described a range of incidents, including verbal harassment in public spaces, some of which he characterized as particularly unpleasant.

“In the last 12 months, 95 crimes have been reported; they may be targeted against Jewish people, some may simply be crimes that happen to people who are Jewish. I don’t diminish any of these, but we are seeing a dramatic rise in reports of crimes against the Jewish community.”

“Out of those 95 crimes I mentioned in the last 12 months, seven have already been solved and charges filed, 24 remain under active investigation with leads being pursued, and 64 were investigated without identifying a suspect, though victims were given advice on protection.”

He emphasized that law enforcement is taking the matter seriously and remains engaged with affected communities.

“We are not complacent. I recognize the risks, and we are working very hard with our Jewish communities and with all communities.”

{Matzav.com}

Senior figures in the Peleg Yerushalmi say they are undeterred by the intense backlash following the break-in at the home of the head of the Military Police, vowing to escalate protests over the arrest of yeshiva students. At the same time, Rav Azriel Auerbach has called for a mass demonstration at the entrance to Yerushalayim, while Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu condemned the incident as a “wild and violent attack.”

Leaders in the faction said this morning that they are not concerned by the strong criticism voiced by government officials after dozens of protesters entered the yard of Military Police Chief Brig. Gen. Yuval Yamin’s home in Ashkelon the previous night. “This is only the beginning,” the senior figures said.

Twelve of the suspects arrested during the incident are expected to be brought before a court today and police will seek to extend their detention.

“Here we are dealing with an officer who is effectively responsible for the arrest of yeshiva students whose only offense is that they are studying Torah in the Jewish state,” faction leaders said. “This is only the beginning. We will continue to protest and surprise them with demonstrations against the arrest of Torah students.”

As reported here on Matzav.com, dozens of members of the Peleg Yerushalmi forced their way into the yard of Brig. Gen. Yamin’s home in Ashkelon in protest over the recent arrests of chareidi draft evaders by the Military Police. The officer’s family was evacuated from the house during the incident, and police arrested 25 individuals involved.

Prime Minister Netanyahu issued a strong condemnation, stating, “I strongly condemn the wild and violent attack against a senior military police officer and demand firm action against those involved.” IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir also responded, saying, “I strongly condemn the attack. Harm to members of the security forces and their families constitutes crossing a dangerous red line.”

Senior members of the Peleg faction also directed sharp criticism at the chareidi parties in the Knesset. “In the coming days, as long as the arrests continue, we will intensify the protests and continue to surprise them again and again. It is a shame that only we are engaged in this struggle on behalf of Torah students,” they said.

“Where are the chareidi parties that promised in every interview that they would turn the world upside down if even one yeshiva student were arrested? Where have they disappeared to? Why are they silent? They didn’t even issue a statement to the media after this week’s arrests—nothing,” the senior figures added.

Meanwhile, a large protest organized by the Peleg Yerushalmi is expected to take place today at the entrance to Yerushalayim. In an official statement, the faction said, “Following the arrest of yeshiva student Nehorai Bechar from within the walls of the bais medrash at a yeshiva in Herzliya, and his imprisonment for 20 days in a military prison for the offense of studying Torah, the leading halachic authority, Rav Azriel Auerbach, has instructed that a mass protest be held at the entrance to Yerushalayim at 5:00 p.m.”

Rav Auerbach also issued a strong statement the previous evening: “Anyone who does not go out to protest even the arrest of a yeshiva student from within the bais medrash is taking part in the persecution of Torah students and arouses great accusation and an unparalleled desecration of God’s name. Who knows if the recent troubles have not come upon us because of this. It is an absolute obligation for anyone who values Torah and the sanctification of God’s name to protest its disgrace and desecration.”

As previously reported, the IDF’s decision to resume proactive operations to arrest draft evaders has led to renewed protests by the faction. During demonstrations, Route 4 was blocked in both directions at the Aluf Sadeh interchange northbound and at the Em HaMoshavot interchange southbound.

In response to criticism of the Ashkelon protest, the Peleg Yerushalmi issued a clear message: “The red lines have been crossed. Leave the Torah students alone.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Iran early Wednesday, posting on Truth Social that the country “better get smart soon!” as negotiations remain at a standstill and tensions persist.

“Iran can’t get their act together. They don’t know how to sign a nonnuclear deal. They better get smart soon!” Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social shortly after 4 a.m. ET on Wednesday.

The message was paired with an AI-generated image depicting Trump holding a firearm amid a backdrop of explosions, along with the caption “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY!”

The post comes at a time when the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, while efforts to revive negotiations between Washington and Tehran have faltered in recent days, leaving the future of talks uncertain.

U.S. officials had been expected to head to Islamabad for another round of discussions over the weekend, but the trip was called off by Trump before it could take place.

“We have all the cards,” the president told Fox News, adding that if Iran wanted to talk, “they can come to us, or they can call us.” Previous negotiations led by Vice President JD Vance also ended without a deal.

Earlier in the week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Tehran had floated a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on condition that the U.S. lifts its blockade of Iranian ports and that the conflict comes to an end.

According to prior reports from Axios and The Associated Press, the Iranian plan would delay any substantive negotiations over its nuclear program to a later stage.

A report from Reuters on Tuesday indicated that Trump was dissatisfied with the proposal, and that U.S. officials were preparing a counteroffer in response.

{Matzav.com}

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer greeted King Charles III at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday while wearing a large bandage across much of his forehead, drawing attention as he took part in the official welcome.

The New York Democrat had first been seen with the bandage — along with a small mark beneath it — a day earlier while on the Senate floor.

Schumer explained that the injury came from a late-night mishap involving a door.

“Closet door was open late at night. It met my forehead,” Schumer (D-NY) told reporters.

Despite the incident, the senator appeared to carry on without any noticeable impact from the injury.

Before the King’s address, Schumer described the occasion as a significant moment, expressing appreciation for the royal visit to Washington.

“It has been thirty-five years since a British monarch addressed the elected representatives of the American people — the world has changed dramatically, but in many ways, the same tests remain before us,” the Democratic leader said.

“The visit of King Charles III should serve as a reminder to the President of the United States and to every elected official in this country: friends and allies matter,” he added.

Schumer, 75, has experienced several minor health-related issues in recent years.

Last year, he was briefly hospitalized after becoming dehydrated and feeling lightheaded during a workout on a stationary bike in the Senate gym.

He has also dealt with pneumonia in 2016 and tested positive for COVID-19 in 2022, though he reported only mild symptoms at the time.

{Matzav.com}

The founder of a software company is sounding the alarm after an AI coding assistant deleted his firm’s entire production database along with all backups in a matter of seconds, leaving the business scrambling to recover lost data.

According to Tom’s Hardware, Jer Crane, founder of PocketOS — a platform used by car rental businesses — described a catastrophic incident in which an AI coding agent erased critical company data that had taken months to build. The problem arose while Cursor, an AI coding tool powered by Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.6, was carrying out what was supposed to be a routine task in the company’s staging environment.

Crane detailed the incident in a post on X, explaining that the AI agent encountered an issue and independently chose to fix it by issuing an API call that deleted the production database hosted on Railway, the cloud infrastructure provider used by PocketOS. Railway is often seen as a more user-friendly alternative to major services like Amazon Web Services. The entire deletion was completed in just nine seconds.

The damage extended far beyond the primary database due to the way Railway’s system is structured. Backups were stored on the same volume as the original data, meaning that when the AI agent removed the main database, all backup copies were wiped out at the same time. Crane described the combination of the AI’s actions and the system’s architecture as a perfect setup for disaster.

When Crane later asked the AI agent to explain what had happened, the response highlighted a series of serious missteps. The agent admitted that it had made an assumption that deleting a staging volume via the API would only impact the staging environment, without verifying that assumption or checking Railway’s documentation about how volumes operate across environments.

The AI’s explanation went further, acknowledging that it had violated multiple operational guidelines. It admitted to carrying out a destructive action without approval, failing to fully understand the consequences beforehand, and neglecting to review the relevant documentation. The agent also conceded that it should have either requested permission or pursued a safer solution to the issue it was trying to resolve.

Crane placed a significant portion of the blame on Railway’s system design, pointing to several weaknesses. He noted that the platform allows destructive API actions without requiring confirmation, and that command-line interface tokens carry broad permissions across all environments, increasing the risk of unintended outcomes. He also highlighted that Railway actively encourages the use of AI coding tools, arguing that stronger safeguards should be in place.

According to Crane, Railway has not provided a clear path to data recovery and has been cautious in addressing whether restoration is even possible. As a result, PocketOS and its clients have been forced into a difficult recovery process, with Crane personally assisting customers in rebuilding their data using alternative sources such as Stripe payment records, calendar integrations, and email confirmations.

All affected customers have had to resort to manual efforts to restore their operations. While there was a backup available from three months earlier, limiting the loss somewhat, the missing data from the intervening period still represents a substantial gap for both PocketOS and the car rental businesses that depend on the platform.

In response to the incident, Crane outlined several changes he believes are essential as AI technology continues to advance rapidly. His recommendations include stricter confirmation requirements for destructive actions, limiting API permissions to specific environments, maintaining separate and secure backup systems, developing clear recovery procedures, and ensuring AI systems operate within safeguards that prevent unauthorized destructive behavior.

The episode highlights broader concerns as businesses and governments accelerate the adoption of AI without fully grasping the potential risks, underscoring the need for more careful planning and stronger protections when integrating these technologies.

{Matzav.com}

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) intensified his criticism of President Donald Trump this week, labeling him “America’s chief insurrectionist” as he unveiled new legislation aimed at preventing Trump’s name from being placed on federal buildings.

Nadler made the remarks while promoting the bill, which would prohibit naming public structures after the president, arguing that such honors are inappropriate in Trump’s case.

“Donald Trump is a convicted felon, a twice impeached president, and America’s chief insurrectionist,” Nadler said, adding that placing Trump’s name on a federal building or monument would associate it with “tyranny.”

“His name is unfit to honor our nation’s buildings. I am proud to introduce this bill to stop Donald Trump from using taxpayer-funded buildings for his personal vanity projects, because New Yorkers deserve public spaces that they can respect, not monuments to tyranny and corruption,” the Democrat said.

A video posted alongside Nadler’s statement on X featured a compilation of media headlines related to the issue, including one from The Guardian reading, “Dictator vibes as dear leader Trump puts name front and center.”

The announcement came Monday, just two days after a reported assassination attempt targeting President Trump was thwarted. Authorities identified the suspect as Cole Allen, a California teacher, who allegedly expressed strong anti-Trump views in a written manifesto.

The document included statements outlining his motivations, including: “I would still go through most everyone here to get to the targets if it were absolutely necessary (on the basis that most people chose to attend a speech by a pedophile, rapist, and traitor, and are thus complicit) but I really hope it doesn’t come to that.”

“I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes,” he allegedly wrote. Despite the contents of the manifesto, former President Barack Obama said the suspect’s motives were still unclear.

In response to the incident, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized what she described as inflammatory rhetoric directed at the president, suggesting it contributes to real-world violence.

“The left-wing cult of hatred against the president and all of those who support him and work for him has gotten multiple people hurt and killed, and it almost did so again this weekend,” Leavitt said during a press briefing on Monday.

“Ask yourselves, how different is the rhetoric from this almost-assassin than what you read on social media and here in various forums every single day? The answer — if you’re being honest with yourself — is that there is no difference at all,” she said. “Much of the manifesto of the would-be assassin is indistinguishable from the words that we hear daily from so many.”

Two people were stabbed Wednesday in London in what Britain’s prime minister has described as an “antisemitic attack.”

Shomrim, a Jewish neighborhood patrol group that operates in the north London suburb of Golders Green, which has seen a number of antisemitic incidents in recent weeks, said its team had detained a male suspect after an attack targeting “Jewish members of the public.”

London’s Metropolitan Police said two men, one in his 70s and one in his 30s, were treated at the scene for stab wounds. Both were taken to the hospital and were in a stable condition, police said Wednesday.

Police said a 45-year-old man had been arrested in suspicion of attempted murder after also attempting to stab police officers. They said he was tasered prior to being taken into custody, with police still working to “establish his nationality and background.”

The department said specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing were leading the investigation as authorities worked to “establish the full circumstances and any links to terrorism.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident in a post on X on Wednesday, writing: “The antisemitic attack in Golders Green is utterly appalling. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan meanwhile condemned what he called an “appalling attack on two Jewish Londoners,” promising “high visibility patrols in the area.”

A significant development has taken place at the famed Brisk Yeshiva of Rav Meshulam Dovid Halevi Soloveitchik zt”l, as the rosh yeshiva, Rav Yitzchok Zev (Velvel) Halevi Soloveitchik, has appointed his sons to take on expanded teaching roles following a notable increase in enrollment for the current summer zeman.

With the start of the zeman, the yeshiva saw an unusually large influx of bochurim, placing added pressure on the existing structure. In response, the rosh yeshiva Rav Velvel announced that his eldest son, Rav Chaim Halevi Soloveitchik, will now begin delivering formal shiurim in the yeshiva on a regular basis.

Until now, since the passing of his father, Rav Velvel had been solely responsible for delivering the main shiurim. Rav Chaim had been involved in the yeshiva primarily through giving chaburos to smaller groups of bochurim during the afternoon hours. With the growing number of talmidim and the increasing demands on the rosh yeshiva’s time, the decision was made to formally expand Rav Chaim’s role.

At the same time, the responsibility for delivering the afternoon chaburos will now shift to another son, Rav Yerucham Soloveitchik. Rav Yerucham, a son-in-law of Rav Peretz Mayerson, who serves as rov of the Brisk bais medrash and heads Yeshivas Chochmas HaTorah in Yerushalayim, has been asked to take over this component of the yeshiva’s daily learning structure.

In a further meaningful step, Rav Chaim’s shiurim will be delivered in the home of the rebbetzin, the wife of Rav Meshulam Dovid Halevi Soloveitchik, on Rechov Eli HaKohen near the yeshiva. The arrangement is intended to provide chizuk to the rebbetzin and allow her to remain closely connected to the ongoing life and growth of the yeshiva to which she has been so devoted and whose hatzlocha means the world to her.

{Matzav.com}