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Arutz Sheva held an interview with Brig.-Gen. (res.) Oren Solomom, formerly a senior official in the Prime Minister’s Office and a commander in the Gaza Division, in which he slammed Military Advocate General (MAG) Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi and Attorney-General Gali Baharav Miara for endangering the lives of IDF soldiers and thwarting the achievements of the war’s goals by imposing unnecessary legal restraints that are far stricter than even international law. Solomon explained that since Operation Cast Lead, legal advice in the IDF has dramatically expanded. “That was when the IDF began to bring many legal advisers into operational planning teams and those supervising the use of firepower and various weaponry. This didn’t exist before Operation Cast Lead. In this war, the weight of legal counsel has grown far beyond what is necessary—to the point of harming the security of our soldiers and preventing the achievement of the war’s strategic goals.” “Legal advisers are now fully embedded in the planning groups and firepower authorization. They are the ones who approve every target. For example, if intelligence identifies a house where a terrorist lives, the target is transferred to the Air Force planning teams. The legal advisor may say that a one-ton bomb can’t be used because the shrapnel or even the blast wave could damage adjacent homes. Instead, they rule that a smaller bomb must be used, or the house can only be attacked after all surrounding houses are evacuated. That means gathering intelligence from Shin Bet and Military Intelligence on who lives nearby and issuing phone warnings to the neighbors—and by then, the terrorist has already fled. This process causes us to lose many targets.” “This monster [of legal advice] has spiraled out of control. Even on October 7, as people were being slaughtered, murdered, and raped, legal orders were issued—including by the Chief of Staff—as if it was still October 6. And that has been the case throughout the war. The representatives of the Military Advocate General’s office have more and more influence and are restricting the use of firepower by our forces.” Solomon said that the MAG’s intervention also extends to strategic military issues, such as displacing population centers. “Hamas draws its strength from the population that democratically elected it, supported it, and sheltered it. Every civilian knew and saw that there was a tunnel shaft in every house, and they never acted against Hamas. It’s not only the celebrations of the civilian population on October 7, and not only the testimonies of our hostages who said they were held by civilians. The population is Hamas. That doesn’t mean we should kill every woman and child in Gaza, but we must understand that this is a Hamas-supporting population, equivalent to Hamas, and we must treat them as such.” “We need to separate the population from Hamas, what is called population movement. We encircle an area, seal it off, and order the population to move to another area—both because Hamas draws its strength from the population and because this population serves it operationally. Women and children move weapons to hiding places, act as lookouts, and Hamas hides among them. In order to use firepower more freely, we must separate the population from Hamas. But when we issue evacuation orders, not all of the civilians leave. And then the Attorney General […]

National Review editor-in-chief Rich Lowry ripped into Tucker Carlson for giving oxygen to “ignorance and perversity masquerading as brave truth-telling” after the former Fox News host nodded along to a guest’s claim that the United States should have allied with Adolf Hitler during World War II. In a blistering column titled “Should We Have Allied with Hitler?” with the caustic subheadline “‘Just asking questions’ makes its dumbest query yet,” Lowry mocked Carlson of “out-Tuckering himself” in his deferential interview with Cornell professor Dave Collum. During the exchange, Collum claimed that “the story we got about World War II was all wrong,” to which Carlson agreed. Collum then mused that perhaps the U.S. should have fought alongside Nazi Germany against Stalin’s Soviet Union, suggesting “maybe there wouldn’t have been a Holocaust, right?” Carlson did not push back on the assertion, which Lowry pointed to as evidence of how far the onetime prime-time host has drifted. “Carlson agrees with Collum’s contention that we have gotten World War II all wrong, and he lodges no objection when a guest to whom he’s very deferential says that we arguably should have allied with Hitler’s Germany,” Lowry wrote. “In this, Tucker is really out-Tuckering himself.” Lowry noted that Carlson has previously entertained revisionist takes on Hitler, including interviews with figures who suggested the Nazi dictator was “misunderstood.” He accused Carlson of indulging a style of conspiratorial contrarianism that mistakes provocation for insight. “Who can resist the emotional satisfaction of believing that malevolent forces are at work everywhere and that we, through doggedness, brilliant insight, and great personal courage, are onto them?” Lowry asked rhetorically. “According to Carlson and his esteemed guests, those forces have misled us about the Nazis, who weren’t as bad as we’ve been told and shouldn’t have been resisted so strenuously — or, at all — by the West.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A new survey conducted by the Accord Center reveals that 62% of Israelis believe that “there are no innocent people in Gaza,” highlighting the persistence of strong hardline opinions nearly a year into the ongoing war.

The poll, carried out between August 11 and 13, shows a slight decrease from May, when 64% shared the same perspective. Among Jewish Israelis, the sentiment is even stronger, with 76% agreeing and 42% saying they “strongly agree.” However, opinions are sharply divided along political lines, as 52% of opposition voters reject this view.

Respondents who shifted their political allegiance in recent elections expressed an even higher level of support for the statement, with 74% agreeing that there are no innocents in Gaza. At the same time, the poll points to mixed feelings regarding civilian casualties. Overall, 59% of participants — including 69% of Jewish Israelis — believe the Israel Defense Forces are making a genuine effort to avoid harming civilians. On the other hand, 28% feel the military isn’t doing enough to minimize civilian deaths, a belief more common among opposition supporters (42%) compared to just 7% of coalition backers.

The findings suggest that while the majority of Israelis accept the government’s portrayal of Gaza as broadly hostile, there remains a significant portion of the population questioning whether the IDF’s operations sufficiently limit civilian suffering. The results also align closely with earlier surveys, reflecting entrenched attitudes shaped by the October 7 attacks and the prolonged fighting in Gaza.

{Matzav.com}

Adm. Daryl Caudle took over as the Navy’s highest-ranking officer Monday, ending a six-month vacancy created by the Trump administration’s firing of his predecessor. Caudle became chief of naval operations as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ousted a growing list of military leaders with little or no explanation. Remarks at a swearing-in ceremony at Washington Navy Yard offered several nods to the admiral being in close alignment with the Trump administration leaders above him. In February, Hegseth fired Caudle’s predecessor, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, without explanation. Neither Caudle nor Navy Secretary John Phelan addressed the ouster at the ceremony Monday, though Franchetti was among several former chiefs of naval operations in attendance. Franchetti had been the second woman ever to be promoted to four-star admiral and is among several female military leaders fired by the Trump administration. She was ousted the same day as Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Phelan, the Navy’s civilian leader, described the sea service as rife with issues like “decaying shipyards, inadequate maintenance, enormous cost overruns (and) delayed delivery and repair rates” and unspecified traditions that were stifling innovation. “Admiral Caudle, together we must rebuild, reform and refocus on what matters — readiness, accountability and results — in order to execute President Trump’s mandate of peace through strength,” Phelan said. Caudle was unequivocal in his agreement with the often-repeated Trump administration phrase, saying, “Peace through strength works.” The admiral, who until the promotion was commanding U.S. Fleet Forces Command, said he wanted to be “judged by the results we achieved.” Specifically, he cited the number of ships delivered and repaired on time, the number of ships that are fully manned, and ordinance production as meeting the Navy’s demands. Phelan said Caudle’s success “is inextricably linked to my success as secretary of the Navy and vice versa.” (AP)

The condition of Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, the zekan roshei hayeshivos and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva of Philadelphia has stabilized, according to an update released by the yeshiva.

The announcement expressed gratitude to the tzibbur for their tefillos, noting that the doctors are already working toward the possibility of sending the Rosh Yeshiva home.

Despite the encouraging developments, the hanhalah emphasized that the Rosh Yeshiva still requires ongoing tefillos for a full refuah.

All are asked to continue davening for Rav Shmuel ben Itta Ettil.

{Matzav.com}

In recent days, Qatar has presented “new ideas, as additions to the existing framework, in hopes that the new proposal will enable Israel to accept the framework,” two individuals familiar with the negotiations told The Jerusalem Post on Monday.

According to these sources, the updated proposal builds on last week’s plan that focused on the release of 10 hostages. However, Israel has consistently maintained that it will only enter into discussions regarding a deal that guarantees the return of all hostages.

On Monday, Israeli officials met with a team of Egyptian representatives to coordinate preparations for potential negotiations aimed at securing the release of everyone being held captive in Gaza.

Officials emphasized that Israel continues to adhere strictly to the conditions laid out by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister’s Office reiterated that Israel would only support a full agreement that ensures the simultaneous release of all remaining captives.

“The Prime Minister’s Office clarifies that Israel will agree to a deal on condition that all the hostages are released in one go and in accordance with our conditions for ending the war, which include the disarming of Hamas, the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip, Israeli control of the Gaza perimeter, and the installation of non-Hamas and non-Palestinian Authority governance that will live in peace with Israel,” the statement said.

In the weeks following Netanyahu’s declaration, demonstrations have continued to spread across the country, calling on the government to finalize a deal.

Last Friday, protesters demanding an immediate agreement blocked traffic in both directions on Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway and even set fire to a symbolic “Shabbat table,” which police quickly extinguished.

“We are in the midst of another deliberate sabotage attempt by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” protest organizers stated. “Those who were kidnapped under his watch, those who were supposed to be the first to be rescued, have been abandoned once again, and now they are being sacrificed on the altar of political considerations.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

A heartbreaking tragedy occurred Monday in Sedona, Arizona, when an accident involving an ATV occurred, resulting in the untimely petirah of 27-year-old Binyamin Rosner, Z”L. Binyamin, a Flatbush resident who was in Sedona on vacation, was niftar despite desperate attempts to resuscitate him at the scene. A Misaskim member is already at the site of the accident and is working closely with local authorities to ensure kavod hameis and the swift release of the niftar’s body, so that he can be brought to kevuras Yisroel without delay. Levayah details will be announced as they become available. Baruch Dayan Ha’Emes. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Mohammad Sadr, a member of Iran’s Expediency Discernment Council, claimed that Israel was behind the death of then-president Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash in May 2024 alongside then-foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several others. He made these remarks during an interview on the program “Synergy.”

“Synergy” is hosted by Mohammed Hossein Ranjbaran, a producer at the state-controlled Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and an advisor to the foreign minister, according to a report by Iran International.

“From the very first moment I said this was an assassination…carried out by Israel,” Sadr said, as reported by the Saudi-owned outlet al-Arabiya.

Sadr clarified that his statement reflects only a “personal analysis” and that he is not presenting any documents or evidence to support his claim, Iran International reported.

Meanwhile, multiple sources — including the program’s host — noted that senior Iranian military officials concluded that Israel had no role in the crash and consistently denied any connection to an assassination. Nevertheless, anti-Israel activists circulated claims at the time that Israel was responsible.

BBC Persian reported that, according to Sadr, Israel’s supposed assassination of Raisi was meant to send a message that “if Iran continues, we [Israel] will continue as well.” He suggested Israel acted to obstruct Iran’s regional strategies, including its military buildup, its backing of terror organizations like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, and its pursuit of nuclear weapons.

“Because I knew, through my contacts with Hezbollah in Lebanon, that one of the ways Hezbollah and Israel exchange messages is through the operational field; that is, through carrying out operations so that the other side understands the message,” Sadr was quoted as saying by Iran International.

Sadr also accused Russia of sharing intelligence with Israel about Iranian air defense systems during the same interview.

Referring to the strategic partnership agreement signed between Iran and Russia earlier this year, he called it “worthless,” according to al-Arabiya. He argued that despite the agreement, Israel managed to destroy Iran’s air defense networks and eliminate top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists during June’s Operation Rising Lion.

According to al-Arabiya, Iranian analysts noted that Russia condemned those attacks but refrained from taking any significant diplomatic steps to deter Israel.

Agence France-Presse reported that the treaty was intended to boost cooperation between Iran and Russia, especially in the area of “military cooperation.”

“Our relationship with Russia must be serious, and at the same time, we must not trust them,” Sadr commented, according to Iran International.

He went on to add that “in the event of a war with the US, Russia will not offer us any assistance.”

Sadr has served on the Expediency Discernment Council since 2017 and is related to the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ruhollah Khomeini, according to Iran International.

He previously held the position of deputy foreign minister for Arab and African Affairs and also served as a senior advisor to then-foreign minister Javad Zarif, the outlet added.

{Matzav.com}

A person who traveled to El Salvador has been diagnosed with New World screwworm — the first reported U.S. case tied to travel to a country with a current outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the diagnosis on Aug. 4. Federal health officials acknowledged the infection in an emailed statement Monday, but did not describe the patient’s condition. They collaborated with Maryland health officials, the statement said. New World screwworm is a fly that lays its eggs in open wounds and body opening such as the eyes, ears, nose or mouth. It primarily affects livestock and is rare in humans. It does not spread from person to person, and poses a very low risk to the public, according to U.S. health officials. The parasite has been a larger concern to ranchers, as cattle infestations have been moving northward through Central America and Mexico. The CDC is working with the U.S. Agriculture Department to prevent further spread, officials said. The pest was a problem for the American cattle industry for decades until the U.S. largely eradicated it in the 1970s. (AP)

President Donald Trump said on Monday that he had not been informed about the IDF’s overnight strike on the Khan Yunis hospital, which resulted in the deaths of 20 people, including five journalists, but he expressed his disapproval of the incident during a White House press conference.

“I’m not happy about it. I don’t want to see it. At the same time, we have to end that … nightmare,” Trump told reporters.

The president also reiterated his earlier statement that there are “probably just under 20” Israeli hostages still alive in Gaza.

“I think one or two have died,” he added.

Israeli officials, however, confirmed Monday night that, based on intelligence assessments, there are currently 20 hostages alive in Hamas captivity.

Trump had first made the claim about “probably” fewer than 20 hostages remaining during a press briefing on Friday, but Brig.-Gen. (res.) Gal Hirsch, Israel’s hostage coordinator, responded at the time that there was no information suggesting additional deaths among those held by Hamas.

Trump further noted that he is engaged in a “very serious diplomatic push on Gaza” and predicted that there will be a “good, conclusive ending” within the next two-to-three weeks.

Meanwhile, the IDF admitted on Monday that it mistakenly struck Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, located in southern Gaza, killing several well-known journalists, including members of Reuters, along with up to 14 additional individuals.

The military clarified that the strike had been authorized due to the presence of a Hamas-related objective but explained that the incident is under investigation, signaling that key elements of the attack and its consequences are being treated as a significant error.

The IDF emphasized that it had no intention of targeting journalists or harming innocent Palestinian civilians.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump stated that the ongoing war in Gaza is likely to come to a “conclusive ending” within the next two to three weeks.

“I think within the next two to three weeks, you’re going to have pretty good, conclusive — a conclusive ending,” Trump told reporters from the Oval Office.

It remains uncertain what prompted Trump’s forecast, especially as Israel has rejected Hamas’s recent acceptance of a phased ceasefire deal and is instead preparing for a prolonged operation to fully capture Gaza City, which military experts believe could take months.

Trump has frequently cited a “two-week” timeframe when predicting major geopolitical developments, from the Russia-Ukraine conflict to nuclear talks with Iran and trade negotiations, though those forecasts have often not materialized.

This time, he appeared slightly more cautious, acknowledging the complexities of the situation. “It’s a hard thing to say because they’ve been fighting for thousands of years. But I think we’re doing a very good job,” he said.

“But it does have to end, but people can’t forget October 7,” Trump emphasized.

Following his remarks, a reporter asked whether the United States is actively working behind the scenes to help bring the fighting to an end.

“There has been… a very serious diplomatic push,” Trump replied before turning to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his input.

“It [has] never stopped. We’ve always looked to find a solution. We want it to end. [But] it has to end with no Hamas,” Rubio said, reflecting Israel’s stance that the conflict can only conclude if Hamas agrees to fully surrender — an outcome widely seen as unlikely.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff added that Trump’s recent statement on Truth Social declaring that no hostages would be freed until Hamas is eliminated had been a turning point in the stalled negotiations.

“We wouldn’t be anywhere but for the president’s truth last week, which was a statement to Hamas that they better get their act together and get to the peace table,” Witkoff said during the Oval Office discussion.

In an interview last week, Witkoff also claimed that Trump’s post prompted Hamas to agree to the latest plan proposed by Arab mediators for a gradual release of hostages.

However, two Arab diplomats involved in the talks told The Times of Israel that Hamas had already accepted the proposal before Trump made his post on August 18.

Like Israel, the United States has not yet publicly taken a position on the plan. According to the Arab diplomats, the proposal closely mirrors an earlier initiative promoted by Witkoff months ago, after Egypt and Qatar persuaded Hamas to withdraw demands it had made in late July that caused previous negotiations to collapse.

The White House stated last week that it was reviewing the proposal but has provided no updates since.

When asked about recent conversations with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, especially amid reports from a UN-backed assessment indicating famine has begun affecting parts of Gaza, Trump responded that his relationship with the Israeli leader remains strong and recalled working with him on efforts to counter Iran’s nuclear program.

Speaking again about the current offensive, Trump said, “Right now, they’re talking about Gaza City. They’re always talking about something.”

“At some point, it’s going to get settled… You better get it settled soon,” he added, repeating that “nobody can forget October 7.”

“With that being said, it’s got to get over with because between the hunger and all the other problems — worse than hunger, death, pure death, people being killed,” Trump said.

Trump also restated his claim that the U.S. has contributed $60 million toward humanitarian relief in Gaza. However, according to the State Department, the actual figure is $30 million, and only half of that amount has been transferred so far to the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an organization facing significant scrutiny.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk on Monday targeted Apple and OpenAI in an antitrust lawsuit alleging that the iPhone maker and the ChatGPT maker are teaming up to thwart competition in artificial intelligence. The 61-page complaint filed in Texas federal court follows through on a threat that Musk made two weeks ago when he accused Apple of unfairly favoring OpenAI and ChatGPT in the iPhone’s app store rankings for top AI apps. Musk’s post insinuated that Apple had rigged the system against ChatGPT competitors such as the Grok chatbot made by his own xAI. Now, he is detailing a litany of grievances in the lawsuit — filed by xAI and another of his corporate entities, X Corp. — in an attempt to win monetary damages and a court order prohibiting the alleged illegal tactics. The double-barreled legal attack weaves together several recently unfolding narratives to recast a year-old partnership between Apple and OpenAI as a veiled conspiracy to stifle competition during a technological shift that could prove as revolutionary as the 2007 release of the iPhone. “This is a tale of two monopolists joining forces to ensure their continued dominance in a world rapidly driven by the most powerful technology humanity has ever created: artificial intelligence,” the lawsuit asserts. The complaint portrays Apple as a company that views AI as an “existential threat” to its future success, prompting it to collude with OpenAI in an attempt to protect the iPhone franchise that has long been its biggest moneymaker. Some of the allegations accusing Apple of trying to shield the iPhone from do-everything “super apps,” such as the one Musk has long been trying to create with X, echo an antitrust lawsuit filed against Apple last year by the U.S. Department of Justice. The complaint casts OpenAI as a threat to humanity bent on putting profits before public safety as it tries to build on its phenomenal growth since the late 2022 release of ChatGPT. The depiction mirrors one already being drawn in another federal lawsuit that Musk filed last year, alleging OpenAI had betrayed its founding mission to serve as a nonprofit research lab for the public good. OpenAI has countered with a lawsuit against Musk accusing him of harassment — an allegation that the company cited in its response to Monday’s antitrust lawsuit. “This latest filing is consistent with Mr. Musk’s ongoing pattern of harassment,” OpenAI said in a statement. Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The crux of the lawsuit revolves around Apple’s decision to use ChatGPT as an AI-powered “answer engine” on the iPhone when the built-in technology on its device couldn’t satisfy user needs. The partnership announced last year was part of Apple’s late entry into the AI race that was supposed to be powered mostly by its own on-device technology, but the company still hasn’t been able to deliver on all its promises. Apple’s own AI shortcomings may be helping drive more usage of ChatGPT on the iPhone, providing OpenAI with invaluable data that’s unavailable to Grok and other would-be competitors because it’s currently an exclusive partnership. The alliance has provided Apple with an incentive to improperly elevate ChatGPT in the AI rankings of the iPhone’s app store, the lawsuit alleges. Other AI apps from DeekSeek and Perplexity have periodically reached the top spot in […]

President Donald Trump reiterated today that the number of Israeli hostages still alive in Gaza is likely under 20 and insisted that they must be brought home without delay.

“We have to end it. I got all the hostages out. I’m the one that got them all out through my people and through me. And now we are left with probably less than 20 because one or two are gone,” he said during a press conference.

In response to Trump’s remarks, the Hostages and Missing Persons Directorate confirmed that the official figures have not changed. “According to the information currently held by Israel, 20 of the hostages in Gaza are still alive,” the Directorate stated, noting that the Coordinator’s earlier message to the families remains accurate.

When questioned about reports that the IDF had carried out a strike on a hospital in Khan Yunis, Trump acknowledged that he had not been briefed on the situation. “I’m not happy about it. I don’t want to see it,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Member of Knesset Yisrael Eichler of United Torah Judaism released a forceful statement criticizing what he described as ongoing measures targeting synagogues in Tel Aviv and broader actions that undermine the rights of the chareidi community.

Eichler cautioned that these policies could lead to severe spiritual consequences for the nation, especially at a time when the country is still engaged in war.

“While hostages remain in captivity and Israeli blood continues to be spilled, tragically, the war against the God of Israel persists,” Eichler said. “This brings spiritual denunciation upon the people of Israel, similar to what occurred during the High Holidays just two years ago.”

He sharply denounced recent enforcement actions regarding gender separation in synagogues, declaring, “Forcing synagogue treasurers to violate traditional separation between men and women strips the chareidi community of basic human rights.”

Eichler also accused those behind these policies of deliberate discrimination, arguing, “It is no coincidence that the same parties supporting these measures also advocate stripping chareidi Jews of their human rights, including their right to vote. Rights afforded to Israeli Arabs under the protection of the Supreme Court are being denied to Jews who choose not to conform to secular cultural norms.”

To highlight what he sees as hypocrisy, Eichler drew a provocative comparison: “Imagine a proposal to revoke voting rights from those who desecrate the Sabbath, citing Jeremiah’s warning that failing to honor Shabbat would bring destruction. Such a party would never be allowed to run. Yet when it comes to chareidim, denying their rights is somehow acceptable.”

In closing, Eichler urged the public to focus on prayer during the month of Elul, a time traditionally devoted to repentance and spiritual renewal. “Our fate is not in our hands. Our strength lies in prayer during this month of mercy and forgiveness,” he said. “We pray for the salvation of the remaining remnant of the people of Israel. May God protect us from our enemies. Those who cause sin are worse than murderers. While some rely on horses and chariots, we will call upon the name of the Lord our God.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Ten structures — including four homes — have been destroyed by a wildfire sweeping through central Oregon, where thousands of residents remained under evacuation orders on Monday, while a blaze in Northern California wine country has so far spared some of the state’s most famous vineyards. Officials said Oregon firefighters working in rugged terrain amid dry, hot weather saved hundreds of other buildings from the 34-square-mile (88-square-kilometer) Flat Fire spanning Deschutes and Jefferson counties. It was 15% contained. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of homes and personal property and extend our sympathy to those affected,” Deschutes County Sheriff Ty Rupert said in a statement. Flames still threatened nearly 4,000 homes, fire spokesperson Gert Zoutendijk said Monday. He said crews were taking advantage of slightly cooler temperatures that dipped into the high 80s (31 C), and even some scattered rain. “A little bit of rain does some good right now, but later, if the sun comes out, it doesn’t take long to dry everything out again,” Zoutendijk said. A heat advisory was in place through Wednesday, and forecasters warned that potential thunderstorms could create erratic winds that would challenge firefighters. Flames in California’s wine country Meanwhile, the Pickett Fire in Northern California has charred about 10 square miles (26 square kilometers) of remote Napa County, known for its hundreds of wineries. It was 13% contained on Monday. Flames spared the home and adjacent vineyards of Jayson Woodbridge of Hundred Acre wines, but he said it was a close call on Thursday when the fire broke out and raced along nearby slopes. He and his son grabbed hoses and futilely began spraying down the steep hillsides. “The water was evaporating as fast as we were spraying it out there,” Woodbridge recalled Monday. “It was just a hot funnel of air. Fire was just engulfing everything.” Before long, crews with bulldozers and air support arrived to protect the property. Water-dropping helicopters continued their flights on Monday, keeping the flames contained to remote canyons about 80 miles (130 kilometers) north of San Francisco. With about a month to go before harvest, Woodbridge said his grapes won’t be damaged because of the “pure luck” of wind direction. “The smoke won’t affect the fruit because the wind’s coming in from the west, thankfully,” Woodbridge said. That wasn’t the case in 2020 when toxic smoke from the Glass Fire caused Woodbridge and other wineries to scrap much of that year’s crop. There have been no reports of damage to any vineyards from the Pickett Fire, said Michelle Novi with Napa Valley Vintners, a nonprofit trade association. Firefighting resources have been put in place to protect wineries, especially as winds pick up later in the day, according to the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection, or Cal Fire. “With the weather over the last 48 hours, we’re seeing high temperatures, low humidity paired with some increasing wind in the late afternoon, which was giving our troops some additional work on the eastern side of this incident,” Cal Fire spokesperson Curtis Rhodes told The Associated Press on Monday. A firefighter dies in Montana In southwest Montana, a firefighter died Sunday afternoon after suffering a cardiac emergency while battling the Bivens Creek fire. The man, who was not immediately identified, was among more than 700 firefighters working on the lightning-caused fire in the […]

The family of hostage Nimrod Cohen released a harrowing new video on Monday, showing the moment he was seized by Hamas terrorists and taken into Gaza, where he has been held in underground tunnels for 689 days. The footage, recently recovered by the IDF, was given to the family before they decided to make it public.

WATCH:

Viki Cohen, Nimrod’s mother, said: “We decided to show the world this video today – to show the cruelty and aggression with which Hamas kidnapped my son almost two years ago. He is a gentle soul who has been kept in the hands of terrorists for almost two years. He is underground, cut off from friends and family. We don’t know if he’s eating, if he has injuries. It’s been almost two years and countless failed deal negotiations which could have brought him home.”

She continued: “We know that Hamas has been instructed to kill if the IDF comes close – which is how we lost the beautiful six a year ago. Which is why it is imperative that now – with a deal on the table – we are asking our government to be brave and bold and make this happen. We know the consequences of missing this window of opportunity – months and months of waiting and fighting. We need to be reunited with Nimrod, and for 49 other families to be reunited with their loved ones.

“We can’t carry on like this, with our children in the hands of terrorists. The hostages must come home now! Please don’t miss this window – sign the deal- set us all free.”

Yotam Cohen, Nimrod’s brother, added: “Just a week ago, Hamas gave a positive response to the deal currently on the table—a partial agreement that would release 10 living hostages and 18 deceased hostages. This deal could have been signed a week ago and could be finalized right now. Yet in the midst of these negotiations for a partial deal, and amid ongoing discussions about ending the war, Netanyahu’s government refuses to sign.”

He explained: “This leaves us with no choice but to release this horrible video of my younger brother Nimrod, to show the public—both the Israeli people and the international community—what the hostages have endured and continue to suffer nearly two years after their kidnapping on October 7th. The world must see what is happening. The Israeli public must see what is happening.

“We are calling on the Israeli public to join us in the streets tomorrow, Tuesday. Stop the country and show that the Israeli people want an end to this war and want to see all the hostages returned home.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Texas on Monday, accusing Apple and OpenAI of colluding to block competition in the rapidly growing AI industry.

According to the lawsuit, Apple and OpenAI have “locked up markets to maintain their monopolies and prevent innovators like X and xAI from competing.”

The complaint alleges that Apple and OpenAI worked together to keep xAI’s products from gaining visibility, particularly in the Apple App Store. “If not for its exclusive deal with OpenAI, Apple would have no reason to refrain from more prominently featuring the X app and the Grok app in its App Store,” xAI stated.

Neither Apple nor OpenAI has yet responded to requests for comment.

Earlier this month, Musk warned that legal action against Apple was imminent, accusing the company of giving OpenAI an unfair advantage. In a post on X, his social media platform, Musk said Apple’s conduct “makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store.”

Apple’s alliance with OpenAI has made ChatGPT a built-in feature on iPhones, iPads, and Macs, deepening the integration of OpenAI’s technology into Apple’s ecosystem.

Musk’s company xAI bought X, formerly known as Twitter, in March for $33 billion, aiming to leverage the platform’s data to improve chatbot training. He has also connected xAI’s Grok chatbot to Tesla vehicles, expanding its reach into the automotive market.

Launched less than two years ago, xAI faces stiff competition from OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, as well as from Chinese AI company DeepSeek.

Separately, Musk has filed another lawsuit in California against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, seeking to block the company’s transition from its original nonprofit structure to a for-profit model.

Musk co-founded OpenAI with Altman in 2015, establishing it as a nonprofit before its later shift in direction.

Apple’s policies for its App Store have long been under scrutiny, facing several lawsuits over its control of app distribution and payment systems. In one high-profile case brought by “Fortnite” creator Epic Games, a judge ruled that Apple must allow more competition by giving developers alternative payment options.

{Matzav.com}

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose case has become a flashpoint in President Donald Trump’s aggressive effort to remove noncitizens from the U.S., was detained by immigration authorities in Baltimore on Monday to face renewed efforts to deport him after a brief period of freedom. Abrego Garcia’s attorneys quickly filed a lawsuit to fight his deportation until a court has heard his claim for protection, stating that the U.S. could place him in a country where “his safety cannot be assured.” The lawsuit triggered a blanket court order that automatically pauses deportation efforts for two days. The order applies to immigrants in Maryland who are challenging their detention. Within hours of Abrego Garcia’s detention, his lawyers spoke with Department of Justice attorneys and a federal judge in Maryland, who warned Abrego Garcia cannot be removed from the U.S. “at this juncture” because he must be allowed to exercise his constitutional right to contest deportation. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis said overlapping court orders temporarily prohibit the government from removing Abrego Garcia, and that she would extend her own temporary restraining order barring his deportation. Drew Ensign, a Justice Department attorney, told the judge that he understands Abrego Garcia’s “removal is not imminent” and that the process often takes time. Crowd yells ‘shame!’ Abrego Garcia, a 30-year-old Maryland construction worker and Salvadoran national, spoke at a rally before he turned himself in. “This administration has hit us hard, but I want to tell you guys something: God is with us, and God will never leave us,” Abrego Garcia said, speaking through a translator. “God will bring justice to all the injustice we are suffering.” Roughly 200 people gathered, prayed and crowded around Abrego Garcia while he walked into the offices for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Baltimore, where he was detained. When his lawyer and wife walked out without him, the crowd yelled “Shame!” Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted on X that Abrego Garcia was being processed for deportation. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office that Abrego Garcia “will no longer terrorize our country.” Brief reunion with family Abrego Garcia lived in Maryland for years with his American wife and children, and worked in construction. He was deported in March to a notorious prison in his native El Salvador because the Trump administration believed he was a member of the MS-13 gang, an allegation that Abrego Garcia denies. His removal violated an immigration judge’s 2019 ruling that shielded him from deportation to his native country because he had “well-founded fear” of threats by a gang there. Abrego Garcia’s wife sued to bring him back. Facing a U.S. Supreme Court order, the Trump administration returned him in June. He was subsequently charged in Tennessee with human smuggling. He has pleaded not guilty and asked a judge to dismiss the case on ground of vindictive prosecution. The allegations stem from a 2022 traffic stop in Tennessee for speeding. Abrego Garcia was driving with nine passengers in the car, and officers discussed among themselves their suspicions of smuggling. He was allowed to continue driving with a warning. The Trump administration has said it wants to deport Abrego Garcia before his trial, alleging he is a danger to the community and an MS-13 gang member. A federal judge in Tennessee […]

President Donald Trump renewed his attacks on mainstream media outlets ABC and NBC, accusing them of being “an arm of the Democrat Party” and “a threat to our democracy,” while also raising the possibility of having their broadcast licenses revoked.

“Why is it that ABC and NBC Fake News, two of the absolute worst and most biased networks anywhere in the world, aren’t paying millions of dollars a year in license fees,” Trump wrote in the second of two Truth Social posts. “They should lose their licenses for their unfair coverage of Republicans and/or conservatives, but at a minimum, they should pay up BIG for having the privilege of using the most valuable airwaves anywhere at anytime!!!”

“Crooked ‘journalism’ should not be rewarded, it should be terminated!!!” he added.

That message followed an earlier post where Trump called on the Federal Communications Commission to take action.

“Despite a very high popularity and, according to many, among the greatest 8 months in presidential history, ABC & NBC Fake News, two of the worst and most biased networks in history, give me 97% bad stories,” Trump wrote in the first statement Sunday night. “If that is the case, they are simply an arm of the Democrat Party and should, according to many, have their licenses revoked by the FCC.”

“I would be totally in favor of that because they are so biased and untruthful, an actual threat to our democracy!!! MAGA,” he added.

Trump also celebrated his current polling numbers Sunday night, claiming they are at record highs.

“Except what is written and broadcast in the Fake News, I now have the highest poll numbers I’ve ever had, some in the 60’s and even 70’s,” Trump wrote. “Thank you. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”

The president has frequently criticized major media outlets for biased reporting and has intensified his attacks since returning to office. While a president does not have the authority to revoke broadcast licenses — as they are issued by the FCC to local stations rather than entire networks — Trump’s remarks underscore his push to challenge what he describes as partisan media aligned with “the Democrat Party.”

FCC Chair Brendan Carr, speaking back in April, acknowledged that license revocation — often referred to as the “regulatory death penalty” — is an extreme measure but remains an option in cases where broadcasters fail to uphold their public service obligations.

“Broadcasters have a very unique position in the market when it comes to other entities,” Carr said. “They are licensed by the FCC. When you license someone to operate, you’re necessarily prohibiting others from using those airways. Because of that, they have a public-interest obligation. And I think over the years, the FCC has largely stepped back from enforcing the public interest standard.”

“I don’t think that’s correct. I think given the unique benefits that come from a federal broadcast license, it’s important for the FCC to actually hold these entities accountable to the public interest.”

“And there’s a lot of rules and regulations that flow from that news distortion is a piece of it, and I believe that the FCC should be vigorously enforcing the public interest.”

While Carr’s remarks were not directly aimed at Trump’s statements, they suggest that the FCC chair believes broadcasters must adhere to their obligations — though he also indicated that any decision to revoke licenses would face significant legal and constitutional challenges.

{Matzav.com}

The Yeshiva of Philadelphia has released an update on the condition of Harav Shmuel Kamenetzky shlit”a, announcing that doctors are seeing marked improvement in his medical condition. “Baruch Hashem, thanks to the tefillos of the entire tzibbur, the rosh hayeshiva’s condition is stable. The doctors are working towards sending the rosh hayeshiva home,” the yeshiva wrote. The improvement marks a major turnaround from just a few weeks ago, when Rav Shmuel – the zkan roshei yeshivos – was admitted to the hospital and placed in the ICU, as his medical condition rapidly deteriorated. Doctors have expressed surprise at his remarkable turnaround. “He needs our continued tefillos as daven for the rosh hayeshiva to have a complete refuah,” the yeshiva noted. Please continue to daven for Harav Shmuel ben Itta Ettel b’soch sh’ar cholei yisroel. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)