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Belarus has freed 52 prisoners, and they have crossed into Lithuania, the Lithuanian president said Thursday. As the release became public, Belarusian state media posted a video of a U.S. envoy announcing that Washington had lifted sanctions on Belarus national air carrier, Belavia. Among those released were 14 foreigners — six Lithuanians, two Latvians, two Poles, two Germans, one French national and one U.K. national — according to the Belarusian presidency’s press service. In June, Belarus freed Siarhei Tsikhanouski, a key dissident figure and the husband of exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, and 13 others following a rare visit by a senior envoy from the Trump administration. “I am deeply grateful to the United States and personally to President @realDonaldTrump for their continued efforts to free political prisoners. 52 is a lot. A great many. Yet more than 1,000 political prisoners still remain in Belarusian prisons and we cannot stop until they see freedom!” Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda wrote on X. Nauseda said the prisoners left “behind barbed wire, barred windows and constant fear.” Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to Belarus’ authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, about the release of more prisoners. John Coale, Trump’s deputy Ukraine envoy, met with Lukashenko in the Belarusian capital on Thursday, and announced the lifting of sanctions. Lukashenko has ruled the nation of 9.5 million with an iron fist for more than three decades, relentlessly cracking down on the opposition and independent media. But his rule was challenged in the aftermath of Belarus’ presidential election in August 2020. Tens of thousands of people poured into the streets to protest Lukashenko’s reelection in a vote widely seen as rigged, triggering the largest protests in the country’s history. In the ensuing crackdown, tens of thousands were detained, with many beaten by police. Prominent opposition figures either fled the country or were imprisoned. Almost 1,200 political prisoners remain behind bars in Belarus, according to human rights group Viasna. Lukashenko has since extended his rule for a seventh term following a January 2025 election that the opposition called a farce. Since July 2024, he has pardoned nearly 300 people, including imprisoned U.S. citizens, seeking to mend ties with the West. (AP)

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Two Arab-Israeli bus drivers were arrested within 24 hours after the Ramot terror attack for posting incitatory messages in an internal WhatsApp group of drivers from their public bus company, celebrating the murders of the victims. According to the investigation, the first driver, 31, expressed disappointment at the deaths of only four victims (at the time of his message), writing in the group, “May Allah not forgive the terrorist; only four were killed. What a pity for his soul…there should have been at least 50.” The second driver, 25, responded to a photo of one of the victims by sending an emoji of slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah raising a toast. Police stated that the messages distributed in the group were reviewed by the relevant authorities, and it was decided that the case constitutes suspected offenses of incitement to commit a terrorist act and public identification with a terrorist organization. “We will act resolutely and with full severity against any expression of incitement, support, or encouragement of terrorist organizations, and we will bring those involved to justice,” an Israel Police spokesperson stated. As YWN reported on Tuesday, two Arab criminals serving sentences in prisons in central Israel were transferred to a security prison after expressing joy about the attack. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

The deadly shooting attack that took place on Monday morning at the Ramot Junction in northern Jerusalem highlights the harsh reality that the Ramot neighborhood has become a hotspot for terror attacks, a resident of Ramot said following the attack, warning that the area is not adequately secured. Speaking in a special broadcast on Kol Chai Radio, Meni Gira Schwartz, the deputy CEO of Kol Chai and resident of Ramot, warned, “Three attacks in three years—Ramot has become a deliberate target for terrorists aiming at Chareidi areas.” Schwartz called on the Jerusalem Municipality and the Ministry of National Security to take urgent action to protect the thousands of people who pass through the Ramot Junction every day. Schwartz pointed to a troubling pattern: in the past three years, Ramot has endured three major attacks, including a double bombing at the same junction three years ago that lightly injured five and a car-ramming attack two years ago on Golda Meir Boulevard that killed three people, including the two Paley children, H’yd. “The terrorists are targeting Chareidi population centers,” he asserted, explaining that the Ramot Junction has become a central hub for the Chareidi public because of the Arazim Egged terminal located there, at which most bus lines serving Chareidi areas begin and end their routes. “This is a neighborhood the size of a city, and the junction is filled with hundreds of people during the morning rush, and that’s why terrorists choose it as a target,” he added. Schwartz called for the municipality to treat the neighborhood like a community on the seam line. He suggested placing permanent security guards at bus stops, especially during peak hours, and easing gun licensing requirements for its residents. “Ramot residents pay the highest property taxes in Jerusalem but don’t receive the same level of security as neighborhoods near the Knesset or the Prime Minister’s residence,” Schwartz stressed, noting that after the previous attack, bollards (traffic barricades) were installed to prevent car rammings. But Monday’s attack, carried out with guns, proves that additional measures are needed. “This was not a random attack; it was targeted,” he said. “The authorities must not let this pass as just another incident.” It should be noted that the terrorists may have also targeted the area because of its geographical proximity to their villages in the Ramallah area. They crossed into Israel in the northern Jerusalem area via a “known” breach in the security fence and were driven by an accomplice to the Ramot Junction. Many Chareidi journalists posted photos of the Ramot Junction on Tuesday morning, with no security presence in sight. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Israeli security officials are still uncertain of the results of Tuesday’s strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, Israeli media reported on Thursday morning. Security officials assess that Hamas leaders were present in the targeted villa at the time of the strike, but they were not killed or significantly harmed, or at least not all of them, Army Radio reported. The possibility that one or more were seriously injured or killed is still being examined. One of the possibilities being considered is that the munitions used in the strike were too small. The Air Force launched about 10 bombs, but the building was not completely destroyed, with some parts remaining intact. The munitions used in the strike were specifically chosen to mitigate the risk of harming Qatari civilians in the area. Security officials estimate that it will take several more days to fully assess the results of the attack. Some reports quoted sources who assessed that Israel carried out the strike in Doha as “an alternative to a targeted operation it had previously planned in Turkey.” The sources explained that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and his senior advisers believe the Trump administration can resolve the fallout from the strike with Doha, while an operation in Ankara—given Turkey’s NATO membership—would have carried severe diplomatic and economic costs for Israel. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

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Drone footage shows the UVU crime scene where Charlie Kirk was assassinated, mapping the tent, shooter’s position, and escape route.

Both Israel and the US had expressed commitments to Qatar last week that Hamas terrorists would not be harmed on Qatari soil, Washington Post journalist David Ignatius reported on Wednesday, citing sources in Israel and the US. According to the report, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir stated on August 31 that “the bulk of Hamas’s ruling leadership that remains is abroad, and we will reach them too.” Qatar expressed concerns about Zamir’s comments, and senior Mossad officials promised that Israel will not carry out a strike on its soil. The report quoted a Qatari official as saying that the strike was a “total surprise.” Following the strike, Israeli media reported that the Mossad was opposed to the attack. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani was quoted on the front page of the Qatari daily Al-Sharq as saying, “We will take all measures against this criminal attack. This reckless assault is a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and security.” BBC reported on Wednesday that Qatar is considering pursuing international legal action against Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu over the strike. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Zohran Mamdani is proving nearly impossible to shake. A new Siena Research/New York Times survey finds that the socialist assemblyman would still beat former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in November’s general election, even if the crowded four-way field somehow collapsed into a one-on-one showdown. Mamdani leads Cuomo 48% to 44% in a hypothetical head-to-head, the poll shows. That scenario depends on two major “ifs”: Mayor Eric Adams and GOP nominee Curtis Sliwa exiting the race. Absent that, Mamdani dominates a fractured field. In a four-way contest, the Queens progressive pulls 46% of likely voters. Cuomo lags far behind at 24%, while Sliwa and Adams trail at 15% and 9% respectively. “The big question is what happens if Adams and Sliwa are out,” said Siena poll director Don Levy. “Cuomo would capture most of their support and consolidate older voters. But right now, Mamdani is in control of this race.” Cuomo, running as an independent after losing June’s Democratic primary, has yet to find traction. Adams, also pursuing an independent line, is rumored to be eyeing a federal role — with Trump officials reportedly exploring ways to ease him off the ballot. Sliwa, meanwhile, insists he’s not going anywhere, swatting down chatter about a potential Trump administration appointment. Mamdani, who has built his campaign on affordability, rent freezes and taxing the wealthy, hasn’t cracked 50% in any survey. But the issues are breaking his way. Nearly half of voters say he’s best positioned to address affordability. A plurality — 43% — trust him most on Gaza, despite his sharp criticism of Israel. And nearly 70% back his plan to freeze rents on New York’s million rent-stabilized apartments, while more than 70% favor higher taxes on the city’s richest households. “Mamdani holds a huge lead among younger voters, while voters 45 and older are split between him and Cuomo,” Levy said. “Unless the field changes dramatically, Mamdani is positioned to ride that coalition straight to Gracie Mansion.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Ahead of his son’s upcoming bar mitzvah, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokach, son of the Belzer Rebbe, paid a visit yesterday to the home of the Slabodka rosh yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau.

The visit ahead of the bar mitzvah of his son, Moshe Yehoshua Rokach.

Rav Landau welcomed Rav Aharon Mordechai with great cordiality, inquiring after the Belzer Rebbe’s well-being following his recent medical procedure. He offered heartfelt brachos for a complete recovery and many more years of health and yedidus.

During the course of the visit, Rav Landau extended his brachos to the young bar mitzvah bochur and to his father, Rav Aharon Mordechai.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Sky News Digital Editor Jack Houghton expressed his disgust at the media coverage around Charlie Kirk’s heartbreaking assassination.

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Utah police have released an update on the investigation into Charlie Kirk’s murder.

BREAKING: The FBI is pursuing several “hot leads” and has obtained “a little bit of foreign intelligence” connected to the Charlie Kirk shooter, according to John Solomon.

An MSNBC commentator sparked outrage Wednesday by suggesting that the gunman who fatally shot Charlie Kirk in the neck might have been one of Kirk’s own backers firing recklessly “in celebration.”

“We don’t know if this was a supporter shooting their gun off in celebration,” the guest remarked during a live segment with anchor Katy Tur shortly after the shooting at a Utah university.

“We have no idea,” the guest — identified by the Washington Examiner as MSNBC contributor Matthew Dowd — said on the program. “We don’t know any of the full details of this.”

Law enforcement believes the assassin targeted Kirk from a rooftop roughly 200 yards away, according to a Fox News report.

President Trump later confirmed Kirk’s passing in a personal message on TruthSocial.

He wrote, “The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead.”

“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us,” Trump added in his tribute.

“Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!” he concluded.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump delivered a somber Oval Office address Wednesday evening, hours after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a speaking event in Utah, calling the incident a “heinous assassination” and ordering flags lowered to half-staff nationwide. In a four-minute video message, Trump described Kirk, 31, as a “great, and even legendary” ally who “inspired millions” and was “loved and admired by ALL, especially me.” The president praised Kirk’s role in galvanizing young conservatives, calling him a “martyr for truth and freedom” whose legacy would endure. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a father of two, was fatally shot around noon during a Q&A session at Utah Valley University in Orem. A single round fired from roughly 200 feet away struck him in the neck as he addressed more than 3,000 attendees. Video circulating online showed him collapsing as the crowd erupted in panic. Despite immediate medical efforts, Kirk succumbed to his injuries. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox labeled the attack a “political assassination.” FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that a person of interest detained earlier was released after questioning and said the gunman remains at large. Authorities continue to review security footage and pursue leads. Trump connected the killing to what he described as a broader pattern of political violence, referencing two failed assassination attempts against him in 2024. He directly criticized “those on the radical left” for comparing conservatives to “Nazis and the world’s worst mass murderers,” arguing such rhetoric fuels attacks. The assassination drew swift bipartisan condemnation. Former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, along with Democratic governors Gavin Newsom of California and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, denounced the shooting. Shapiro, who recently survived an arson attack on his home, urged Americans to “lower the temperature of our politics.” Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a 2011 assassination attempt, called the killing “horrifying.” Vice President JD Vance, a longtime friend of Kirk, wrote on X that his events were “one of the few places with open and honest dialogue between left and right.” Utah Valley University suspended classes through the week. Kirk is survived by his wife, Erika Lane Frantzve, and their two young children. Trump closed his address with a vow: “An assassin tried to silence him with a bullet, but he failed, because together we will ensure that his voice, his message, and his legacy will live on.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

There was a dramatic surge in civilian applications for personal weapons in the wake of the Ramot terror attack, according to data from the Firearms Licensing and Supervision Division of the Ministry of National Security. Within just 24 hours, requests for firearm licenses jumped by 145%. Calls to the division’s hotline also spiked—up 75% compared to the daily average from last week. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who spearheaded a campaign easing requirements for gun licenses following the October 7 massacre, said, “Weapons in the hands of civilians have clearly been proven to save lives. Those who can should arm themselves.” Following the attack, Ben Gvir spoke with the Chareidi avreich who was the first to open fire at the terrorists following the attack. He received his gun license as part of Ben-Gvir’s reforms. “It was Siyata Dishmaya,” the avreich told him. “Normally I don’t take that route, but an unusual delay put me there.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks following the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk.

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The man taken into custody in connection with the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on Wednesday has been released, after the FBI admitted that they had detained the wrong individual for a second time.

The search for Kirk’s killer remains ongoing, with federal agents and local police scouring the Salt Lake City area.

“The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X Wednesday evening, only a little over an hour after he had first declared that “the subject of the horrific shooting” was under arrest.

“Our investigation continues and we will continue to release information in interest of transparency.”

The mistaken arrest followed an earlier incident in which officers handcuffed, then freed, an older man who appeared in viral social media footage being led away from the Orem campus shortly after the shooting.

Officials said the second man was targeted after investigators reviewed campus surveillance video.

He was noted to be dressed in dark clothing, according to police.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox described Kirk’s slaying as a “political assassination” and emphasized that the state’s harshest punishment remains on the table.

“I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty in the state of Utah,” Cox said.

Authorities believe the gunman fired a single round from a distance of about 200 yards, striking Kirk as he sat beneath a canopy.

The school confirmed the shot was fired from a building across the quad, and investigators believe the shooter used the roof as his vantage point.

The mother of the wrongly arrested second suspect said her son was a dedicated fan of Kirk’s and had been positioned only about 25 feet away from him at the time of the deadly shot.

“He’s super shaken,” the frantic mother told The NY Post, saying she had spoken with her son after the chaos but did not realize he had been detained.

“He’s a great kid… I have a picture of him. He’s like 25 ft from Charlie on the other side that he was shot. He sent us a video. He was attending like any other college kid.”

Kirk, 31, was struck in the neck around 12:20 p.m. Wednesday while speaking at the campus south of Salt Lake City.

Disturbing videos online appear to show movement on the rooftop immediately after the fatal shot, as students and attendees ducked for cover below.

Police have not said whether they recovered a firearm from the scene.

The sniper-like position reinforced authorities’ suspicions that the killing was a premeditated act.

Law enforcement also clarified that a circulating clip of an older man being taken away on campus was misleading.

The man in the video reportedly told officers he had shot Kirk, but investigators later ruled him out as a suspect.

Kirk was taken to a local hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery, but he did not survive.

President Trump personally confirmed the tragic news on TruthSocial.

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” Trump wrote.

“No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie,” Trump said of Kirk, who leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.

Terrifying footage from the event — where Kirk was fielding questions from students challenging his views — showed him reeling as a lone gunshot rang out.

The fatal bullet was fired just after he had been asked about transgender mass shooters.

Kirk built his reputation by energizing young Republicans through his influential organization, Turning Point USA, which was known for its aggressive outreach on college campuses.

{Matzav.com}