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Arutz Sheva

News from Israel

Ryanair cancels all flights to Israel until August

‘Sarah, we will continue your mission’: Sarah Milgrim mourned at Kansas City funeral

At the funeral of Sarah Milgrim, Rabbi Doug Alpert rebukes her alleged killer, praises her legacy of peace, courage, and unwavering Zionism: 'Her voice is not lost — we must carry it forward.'

Quantum mechanics: The blueprint of the universe

Torah recognized the concept of entanglement and its effects long before modern science gave it a name.

IDF takes out rocket launcher used to fire at Kissufim

IDF strikes in Gaza eliminate terrorists, destroy rocket launcher used against Kissufim, and target underground infrastructure, sniper, and anti-missile posts.

Rubio to IHRA Conference: 'Murderer didn't care about Yaron's faith'

Speaking to the IHRA International Conference on Combating Antisemitism, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that there is no separation between hating Israel and hating Jews.

Rubio to IHRA Conference: 'Murderer didn't care about Yaron's faith'

Speaking at the IHRA International Conference on Combating Antisemitism, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that there is no separation between hating Israel and hating Jews.

Arab security guard pepper-sprays elderly Jew at Western Wall entrance

Arab security guard assaults haredi worshiper without cause; police arrest suspect as worshipers express outrage: 'This is how the Wall is protected?'

Amid Russian threat, Ukrainian Jews prepare for Shavuot with hope and resolve

As 50,000 Russian troops mass near Kharkiv, Ukraine’s Jewish community distributes tens of thousands of Shavuot aid packages and plans nationwide Torah readings.

IDF: Hezbollah's Yater complex commander eliminated

IDF: Yesterday night (Tuesday), the IDF struck and eliminated the commander of the Yater complex of the Hezbollah terrorist organization.Throughout the war, the terrorist directed terrorist attacks against IDF soldiers and the state of Israel. Recently, he made attempts to reestablish in the complex, which constitutes a blatant violation of the understandings.

Knesset moving to allow revocation of terrorists' citizenship

Defense Minister updated that four terrorists are in an advanced expulsion process. A process for expelling hundreds more has begun.

Calendar

Candle Lighting Times

Shabbos Times for New York City, New York, USA

Rosh Chodesh Sivan: Wednesday, May 28
Candle lighting: 8:01pm on Friday, May 30
This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Bamidbar
Havdalah (72 min): 9:33pm on Saturday, May 31
Erev Shavuot: Sunday, Jun 1
Candle lighting: 8:03pm on Sunday, Jun 1
Shavuot I: Monday, Jun 2
Candle lighting: 9:34pm on Monday, Jun 2

Shabbat Candle Lighting times for New York

Shabbos Times for Chicago, Illinois, USA

Rosh Chodesh Sivan: Wednesday, May 28
Candle lighting: 8:00pm on Friday, May 30
This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Bamidbar
Havdalah (72 min): 9:31pm on Saturday, May 31
Erev Shavuot: Sunday, Jun 1
Candle lighting: 8:01pm on Sunday, Jun 1
Shavuot I: Monday, Jun 2
Candle lighting: 9:32pm on Monday, Jun 2

Shabbat Candle Lighting times for Chicago

Yeshiva World News

The Yeshiva World

U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Expanded Social Media Vetting Plans

The State Department has halted the scheduling of new visa interviews for foreign students hoping to study in the U.S. while it prepares to expand the screening of their activity on social media, officials said. A U.S. official said Tuesday the suspension is intended to be temporary and does not apply to applicants who already had scheduled their visa interviews. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an internal administration document. A cable signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained by The Associated Press says the State Department plans to issue guidance on expanded social media vetting. “Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consulate sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor visa appointment capacity” until the guidance is issued, the cable says. Asked about the suspension at a briefing Tuesday, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said the U.S. uses every available resource to vet people applying for visas. “We will continue to use every tool we can to assess who it is that’s coming here, whether they are students or otherwise,” Bruce said. The move, first reported by Politico, is the latest in the Trump administration’s crackdown on international students. Last week, the Trump administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, removing the college from the program that allows schools to sponsor foreign students for visas. That effort was quickly challenged in court and for now is blocked by a federal judge. This spring the administration also revoked the legal status of thousands of international students already in the country, leading some to leave the U.S. out of fear of deportation. After many students filed successful legal challenges, the administration said it was restoring the students’ legal status. But the government also expanded the grounds for terminating international students’ legal status going forward. President Donald Trump’s previous administration stepped up scrutiny of all visa applicants, introducing reviews of their social media accounts. The policy remained during President Joe Biden’s administration. An extended pause in scheduling student visas could lead to delays that may disrupt college, boarding-school or exchange students’ plans to enroll in summer and fall terms. A downturn in enrollment of international students could hurt university budgets. To make up for cuts in federal research funding, some colleges shifted to enrolling more international students, who often pay full tuition. (AP)

Israeli Judge Steps Down After Slamming Supreme Court President Yitzchak Amit

An Israeli district court judge recently announced his retirement from the judicial system after expressing harsh criticism regarding the conduct of the President of the Supreme Court, Yitzchak Amit, Arutz Sheva reported on Wednesday. According to the report, the judge sent his resignation notice to Amit and Justice Minister Yariv Levin. The report quoted sources familiar with the matter who said that the judge chose to resign as a sign of protest against the conduct of the judicial system in the recent period. “Following the conduct of President Amit, who forcibly seized the presidential seat and the conduct of the judicial system in general, the judge announced his retirement,” they said. Amit was elected as president of the court after Baharav-Miara bullied the judicial system into electing him by prohibiting the Judicial Selection Committee from investigating multiple serious allegations against him. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

HISTORIC FIRST IN WAR ON TERROR: Israel To Deport Israeli Terrorists Who Receive PA Stipends

In a first for Israel, a decision was made on Wednesday morning to implement a law against Israeli terrorists who receive compensation for their terror acts from the Palestinian Authority, stripping them of their citizenship and deporting them from the country. The decision, which was made in a closed-door meeting at the Knesset with the participation of Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel, comes after a delay of two years since the law was advanced by coalition whip Ofir Katz. Katz instructed the relevant bodies in the security establishment to transfer the necessary information to the Interior Minister for the immediate implementation of the law. Deportation proceedings against several terrorists with Israeli citizenship who have received terror stipends from the Palestinian Authority have begun, and additional proceedings against hundreds more are expected to begin in the near future. Defense Minister Yisrael Katz stated: “I am leading a firm and clear policy – terrorists and supporters of terror who are residents and citizens of the State of Israel will not receive any reward for their actions. Whoever chooses murder and hatred will be deported, their citizenship will be revoked, and they will pay the full price. We will continue to act forcefully and will not allow terrorists to sit here comfortably—we will pursue them from home and abroad. I thank the coalition whip and the Interior Minister for their cooperation.” Coalition whip Ofir Katz said: “After more than two years of pressuring and pursuing the security establishment to implement my law, it is finally happening. Terrorists will be expelled from the State of Israel! This is a historic event. I thank Defense Minister Katz and Interior Minister Arbel for their willingness and assistance in advancing the process. There are no compromises in the war on terror.” Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu responded: “This is a moral, legal, and necessary step – the State of Israel will not grant sponsorship, residency, or citizenship to anyone who betrays it and carries out attacks against its citizens. These terrorists do not deserve to hold a blue identity card or enjoy all the rights that the State of Israel grants to its citizens.” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said: “I welcome and strengthen Defense Minister Yisrael Katz for his courage, steadfastness, and determined action in implementing Otzma Yehudit’s law. This is how we fight terrorism – not with words, but with deeds. “After over two years, the State of Israel is finally beginning to deport terrorists – this is an important, just, and necessary step. Otzma Yehudit demanded, led, and pushed forward the law to revoke citizenship and deport terrorists, and we will continue to ensure that it is enforced until the end. And from here, we will move on to the next stage. We in Otzma Yehudit will not stop until the next law we enact is the death penalty law for terrorists. We do not negotiate with terrorists – we speak to terrorists in one language – a bullet to the head. Until then, to Syria.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Turkey’s Erdogan Appoints Legal Team To Draft New Constitution, Sparking Fears Of Extended Rule

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday he has appointed a team of legal experts to start working on a new constitution — which critics say could allow him to remain in power beyond 2028, when his current term ends. Erdogan, who has led Turkey as president since 2014 and was prime minister for more than a decade before that, has advocated for a new constitution arguing that the current one, which was drafted following a military coup in 1980, is outdated and retains elements of military influence even though it was amended several times. “As of yesterday, I have assigned 10 legal experts to begin their work, and with this effort, we will proceed with the preparations for the new constitution,” Erdogan told his ruling party’s local administrators in a speech. “For 23 years, we have repeatedly demonstrated our sincere intention to crown our democracy with a new civilian and libertarian constitution.” Under the current constitution, Erdogan cannot run again unless early elections are called or the legal framework is changed. Critics see the push for a new constitution as a possible path for re-election, allowing legal changes that would bypass the constitutional term limits. Erdogan, who has grown increasingly authoritarian over the years, has denied seeking a new constitution in order to remain in power, saying last week “we want the new constitution not for ourselves, but our country.” Erdogan’s ruling party and its nationalist allies lack the votes needed to usher in a new constitution. Some analysts believe the government’s recent effort to end the decades-long conflict with the militant Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, is part of strategy to gain the support of a pro-Kurdish party in parliament for the new charter. The effort to introduce a new constitution comes months after Ekrem Imamoglu, the popular mayor of Istanbul and a key Erdogan rival, was arrested and jailed on corruption charges. His arrest has been widely viewed as politically motivated although the government insists Turkey’s judiciary is independent and free of political influence. It triggered widespread demonstrations calling for his release and an end to Turkey’s democratic backsliding under Erdogan. (AP)

Rosh Chodesh Provocation: Women Of The Wall Use Sefer Torah For Protest

The Women of the Wall group created a provocation on Wednesday morning, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, by trying to violate the law by bringing a Sefer Torah into the Kosel plaza. Members of the group argued with the usher, who upheld the law and refused to allow them entry. The Western Wall Heritage Foundation stated: “This morning, a group of approximately 14 women and men from the Women of the Wall organization arrived to demonstrate at the entrance gates to the Kosel with a Sefer Torah raised high, desecrating the Sefer Torah and delaying hundreds of mispallelim and mispallelot who were waiting to enter the area for Rosh Chodesh tefillos. “This group did not respond to requests from the police and the Western Wall Heritage Foundation ushers to refrain from [disturbing the public]. The Foundation expresses deep sorrow and pain over the repeated provocations of this group.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

IDF Attacks Sanaa Airport In Yemen: “We Destroyed The Houthis’ Last Plane”

IDF fighter jets attacked the Houthi-controlled Sanaa International Airport in Yemen on Wednesday morning. The attack comes after the Houthis launched numerous missiles at Israel over the past week, which were all intercepted by missile defense systems, b’chasdei Hashem. Minutes after reports of the attack were published, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz confirmed that Israel carried out the strikes and revealed the name of the operation. “Air Force planes attacked Houthi terror targets at the Sanaa airport and destroyed the Houthis’ last remaining plane as part of Operation Golden Jewel,” he said. “This is a clear message and a direct continuation of the policy we have set: whoever fires at the State of Israel will pay a heavy price.” Katz continued by threatening the Houthis: “The ports in Yemen will continue to be severely damaged, and the airport in Sanaa will be destroyed again and again, as will other strategic infrastructures in the area used by the Houthi terrorist organization and its supporters.” “The Houthi terrorist organization will be under a naval and aerial blockade, as we promised and warned. Whoever harms us will be harmed sevenfold.” Unlike the IDF’s previous attack on the airport earlier this month, Israel did not issues any warnings about the attack beforehand. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

King Charles III Says Canada Faces Unprecedented Dangers As Trump Threatens Annexation

King Charles III said Canada is facing unprecedented challenges in a world that’s never been more dangerous as he opened the Canadian Parliament on Tuesday with a speech widely viewed as a show of support in the face of annexation threats by U.S. President Donald Trump. The king is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the Commonwealth of former colonies. Trump’s repeated suggestion that Canada become the 51st state prompted Prime Minister Mark Carney to invite Charles to give a speech from the throne outlining the Liberal government’s priorities for the new session of Parliament. “We must face reality: since the Second World War, our world has never been more dangerous and unstable. Canada is facing challenges that, in our lifetimes, are unprecedented,” Charles said in French, one of Canada’s official languages. He added that “many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them.” The king reaffirmed Canada’s sovereignty, saying the “True North is indeed strong and free.” Trump seemed to respond to the king’s visit later Tuesday, writing that if Canada becomes the “cherished 51st State” it won’t have to pay to join his future Golden Dome missile defense program. “It will cost $61 Billion Dollars if they remain a separate, but unequal, Nation, but will cost ZERO DOLLARS if they become our cherished 51st State. They are considering the offer!,” Trump posted on social media. A rare moment It’s rare for the monarch to deliver the speech from the throne in Canada. Charles’ mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, did it twice. The king noted that it had been nearly 70 years since his mother first opened Parliament. The visit to Canada was Charles’ first as king and his 20th overall. “Canada has dramatically changed: repatriating its constitution, achieving full independence and witnessing immense growth. Canada has embraced its British, French and Indigenous roots and become a bold, ambitious, innovative country that is bilingual, truly multicultural,” the monarch said. The king said that among the priorities for the government is protection of the French language and Quebec culture, which are at the heart of Canadian identity. He said when his mother opened a new session of Canadian Parliament in 1957, World War II remained a fresh, painful memory and the Cold War was intensifying. “Freedom and democracy were under threat,” he said. “Today, Canada faces another critical moment.” The speech isn’t written by the king or his U.K. advisers, as Charles serves as a nonpartisan head of state. He read what was put before him by Canada’s government, but can make some remarks of his own. Underscoring Canada’s sovereignty Canadians are largely indifferent to the monarchy, but Carney has been eager to show the differences between Canada and the United States. After the United States gained independence from Britain, Canada remained a colony until 1867, and afterward continued as a constitutional monarchy with a British-style parliamentary system. The king’s visit clearly underscores Canada’s sovereignty, Carney said. Carney won the job of prime minister by promising to confront the increased aggression shown by Trump and made his first official trip to London and Paris, the capital cities of Canada’s two founding nations. Carney is eager to diversify trade, and the king said Canada can build new alliances. More than 75% of Canada’s exports go to […]

SpaceX’s Third Starship Launch Ends in Failure As Spacecraft Breaks Apart [VIDEO]

After back-to-back explosions, SpaceX launched its mega rocket Starship again on Tuesday evening, but fell short of the main objectives when the spacecraft tumbled out of control and broke apart. The 403-foot (123-meter) rocket blasted off on its ninth demo from Starbase, SpaceX’s launch site at the southern tip of Texas. Residents voted this month to organize as an official city. CEO Elon Musk ‘s SpaceX hoped to release a series of mock satellites following liftoff, but that got nixed because the door failed to open all the way. Then the spacecraft began spinning as it skimmed space toward an uncontrolled landing in the Indian Ocean. SpaceX later confirmed that the spacecraft experienced “a rapid unscheduled disassembly,” or burst apart. “Teams will continue to review data and work toward our next flight test,” the company said in an online statement. Musk noted in a post on X it was a “big improvement” from the two previous demos, which ended in flaming debris over the Atlantic. Despite the latest setback, he promised a faster launch pace moving forward, with a Starship soaring every three to four weeks for the next three flights. It was the first time one of Musk’s Starships — intended for moon and Mars travel — flew with a recycled booster. There were no plans to catch the booster with giant chopsticks back at the launch pad, with the company instead pushing it to its limits. Contact with the booster was lost at one point, and it slammed into the Gulf of Mexico in pieces as the spacecraft continued toward the Indian Ocean. Then the spacecraft went out of control, apparently due to fuel leaks. “Not looking great with a lot of our on-orbit objectives for today,” said SpaceX flight commentator Dan Huot. The company had been looking to test the spacecraft’s heat shield during a controlled reentry. Communication ceased before the spacecraft came down, and SpaceX ended its webcast soon afterward. The previous two Starships never made it past the Caribbean. The demos earlier this year ended just minutes after liftoff, raining wreckage into the ocean. No injuries or serious damage were reported, although airline travel was disrupted. The Federal Aviation Administration last week cleared Starship for another flight, expanding the hazard area and pushing the liftoff outside peak air travel times. Besides taking corrective action and making upgrades, SpaceX modified the latest spacecraft’s thermal tiles and installed special catch fittings. This one was meant to sink in the Indian Ocean, but the company wanted to test the add-ons for capturing future versions back at the pad, just like the boosters. NASA needs SpaceX to make major strides over the next year with Starship — the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built — in order to land astronauts back on the moon. Next year’s moonshot with four astronauts will fly around the moon, but will not land. That will happen in 2027 at the earliest and require a Starship to get two astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface and back off again. (AP)

Trump Administration Sues North Carolina Over Its Voter Registration Records

The Trump administration accused North Carolina’s election board on Tuesday of violating federal law by failing to ensure voter registration records of some applicants contained identifying numbers. The Justice Department sued in federal court also asking a judge to force board officials to create a prompt method to obtain such numbers. The department alleges that the state and the board aren’t complying with the 2002 Help America Vote Act after board officials provided a statewide voter registration form that didn’t make clear an applicant must provide either a driver’s license number or the last four digits of a Social Security number. If an applicant lacks neither, the state must assign the person another unique number. A previous edition of the state board, in which Democrats held a majority, acknowledged the problem in late 2023 after a voter complained. The board updated the form but declined to contact people who had registered to vote since 2004 in time for the 2024 elections so they could fill in the missing numbers. According to the lawsuit, the board indicated that such information would be accumulated on an ad hoc basis as voters appeared at polling places. It’s unclear exactly how many voters’ records still lack identifying numbers. Lawyers from the department’s Civil Rights Division contend the board must act more aggressively. They want a judge to give the state 30 days to develop a plan to contact voters with records that don’t comply with federal law, obtain an identifying number for each and add that to the electronic list. The litigation follows similar efforts by the Republican Party and a state GOP candidate to address the registration records for the 2024 election. The lawsuit also referred to President Donald Trump’s broad executive order on elections in March to “guard against illegal voting, unlawful discrimination, and other forms of fraud, error, or suspicion.” “Accurate voter registration rolls are critical to ensure that elections in North Carolina are conducted fairly, accurately, and without fraud,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said in a press release. “The Department of Justice will not hesitate to file suit against jurisdictions that maintain inaccurate voter registration rolls in violation of federal voting laws.” This month, the board’s composition changed to reflect a 2024 law approved by the GOP-dominated General Assembly that shifted the board’s appointment powers from the now-Democratic governor to Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek. A previous 3-2 Democratic majority is now a 3-2 Republican majority. The new iteration of the board sounds open to embrace the Justice Department’s wishes. Executive Director Sam Hayes said late Tuesday the lawsuit was being reviewed, “but the failure to collect the information required by HAVA has been well documented. Rest assured that I am committed to bringing North Carolina into compliance with federal law.” Local elections start in September. The state and national GOP last year sued over the lack of identifying numbers, which they estimated could have affected 225,000 registrants. But federal judges declined to make changes so close to the general election. The issue also was litigated after Election Day as part of formal protests filed by the Republican candidate for a seat on the state Supreme Court who challenged about 60,000 ballots he contended were cast by registrants whose records failed to contain one of the two identifying numbers. […]

Bipartisan Bill Aims to Ban Non-Essential Helicopter Flights Near Statue of Liberty After Fatal April Crash

In response to the tragic helicopter crash on April 10 that claimed the lives of a Spanish family of five and their pilot, U.S. Reps. Nadler (D-NY), Menendez (D-NJ), and Malliotakis (R-NY) have introduced the bipartisan “Improving Helicopter Safety Act.” The proposed legislation aims to prohibit all non-essential helicopter flights—including those for tourism, recreation, and luxury commuting—within a 20-mile radius of the Statue of Liberty. Essential flights, such as those for emergency services, law enforcement, news coverage, and research, would still be permitted.

Storm Chaser Films Tornado Sweeping Across Field, Road Near Floyd, New Mexico

WATCH: A storm chaser captured a tornado swirling across a field and road near Floyd, New Mexico, over the Memorial Day weekend.

Arab Security Guard Arrested for Pepper Spraying Elderly Man, Others at Kosel Entrance

An Arab security guard attacked an elderly man and other people with pepper spray at the Kosel entrance. The security guard was arrested by the police.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer Demands Federal Probe Into Linden’s Discrimination Targeting Orthodox Jews

Congressman Josh Gottheimer is urging both the U.S. Department of Justice and the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office to investigate what he describes as a “coordinated series of governmental actions” targeting the Chasidic Jewish community in Linden, NJ. The letter comes on the heels of Agudath Israel representatives meeting with Justice Department officials earlier this month to discuss the repeated discrimination Chasidic Jews have been subjected to in Linden, as well as the advocacy group’s public slamming of Linden’s discrimination. Gottheimer’s letter cites a range of zoning changes, enforcement policies, and public meeting practices that disproportionately and adversely impact Orthodox Jewish families living in the area. Gottheimer notes in his letter that Linden officials have enacted four major zoning overhauls within the past seven years—each of which impedes the growth and daily religious observance of the Chasidic community. This is in stark contrast to the preceding 35 years, during which the city made no significant zoning adjustments. Among the most troubling charges is a change in 2017 that increased the minimum lot size for houses of worship from 25,000 to 90,000 square feet—an almost unachievable benchmark within the city limits. Additional ordinances barred property owners from combining smaller parcels to meet the new size requirement, effectively preventing new shuls from being built. These moves followed the city’s own approval of a Chasidic shul just months earlier. The letter also outlines recent residential zoning proposals that would severely limit the ability of large families—common among Chasidim—to build adequate living spaces. Proposed ordinances would prohibit kitchens and bathrooms in basements, require garages that reduce habitable square footage, and include attic and basement space in overall square footage limits. These changes, Gottheimer asserts, directly interfere with Orthodox Jewish life, including preparation for yomim tovim and the use of mikvaos. Beyond zoning, the congressman and gubernatorial candidate points to targeted actions in city services. Linden reportedly reversed a long-standing policy allowing families to purchase extra garbage bins—a change enacted after many Chasidic families had made such purchases. School buses serving the Orthodox Jewish community have allegedly been ticketed or rerouted, in some cases with police citing unfounded concerns over road conditions. Meetings regarding these zoning changes were also scheduled during Pesach, effectively excluding observant Jews from participation. Some Jewish residents who did attend later meetings were denied entry despite available seating, raising concerns of OPMA (Open Public Meetings Act) violations. The letter references similar legal precedents in Jackson and Woodcliff Lake, where municipalities faced federal action for discriminatory treatment of Orthodox Jews. Gottheimer urges immediate investigation under federal and state laws, including RLUIPA, the Fair Housing Act, and New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination. The congressman’s call to action concludes with a reminder: religious freedom is a cornerstone of American democracy, and any government effort to marginalize Jews—or any faith group—must be swiftly addressed and corrected. The Department of Justice has not yet issued a public response. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Minister Margi: “It’s Possible To Solve The Chareidi Draft Issue But They Don’t Want To”

Welfare Minister Ya’akov Margi slammed the politicization of the recruitment of Chareidim in a fiery speech at the Sderot Conference for Society and Education in Be’er Sheva on Tuesday. “I served in the army, my two children served in the army, and my eldest son has been in continuous reserve duty since October 7th,” Margi said, adding that lawmakers are cynically using the issue of Chareidi enlistment for political purposes. “It’s possible to resolve this crisis if you remove the political slant from the equation. Don’t buy tall tales, don’t buy headlines and slogans.” “Those who oppose the law don’t really want to enlist Chareidim. They want the crisis, the argument, they want to tear Israeli society apart – as if we aren’t divided enough.” “If they really want to solve it, it’s possible. After all, today there is no law, are Chareidim being enlisted? Almost not! If there is a law, Chareidim will enlist.” Margi added that the IDF itself has no interest in integrating the Chareidim and sabotaged programs created for that purpose in the past. “My son enlisted in a Chareidi track. I accompanied all the tracks that were established in the previous decade, and there were many of them. Who got rid of them? The IDF. They didn’t want it, it was a headache for them.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

New COVID-19 Variant NB.1.8.1 Detected in US After Hospitalization Surge in China

A new, highly transmissible COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, linked to a significant spike in hospitalizations in China, has been detected in the United States, raising concerns among health officials. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the variant has been identified in multiple states, including New York, California, Washington, Virginia, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Hawaii, primarily among international travelers arriving from countries such as China, Japan, Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, France, the Netherlands, and Spain. The strain, first noted in the U.S. in March 2025, is now showing signs of local spread, with cases reported in communities across the country. In China, the NB.1.8.1 variant has driven a dramatic increase in severe cases, with the proportion of critically ill respiratory patients in hospitals rising from 3.3% to 6.3% over the past month. Emergency room visits testing positive for COVID-19 in Chinese hospitals have also surged, jumping from 7.5% to 16.2%. In Hong Kong, the variant has fueled a 12-month high in hospitalizations, with 81 severe cases and 30 deaths reported in recent weeks, prompting authorities to reinstate mask-wearing recommendations for public transport and crowded areas. Taiwan has similarly reported a 78% increase in hospital admissions linked to the variant. Despite its spread, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified NB.1.8.1 as a Variant Under Monitoring, noting no evidence that it causes more severe illness than previous strains. Symptoms mirror those of other Omicron subvariants, including sore throat, cough, runny nose, mild fever, gastrointestinal distress, headaches, fatigue, and, in some cases, sleep disturbances and anxiety. The variant’s increased transmissibility is attributed to its enhanced ability to bind to human cells, though it does not appear to evade vaccine protection significantly. In the U.S., the CDC has reported fewer than 20 sequences of NB.1.8.1, and overall COVID-19 cases remain low, with a 12% decrease in positive test swabs nationwide. The agency has not yet included the variant in its official COVID Data Tracker due to the low case count, and no corresponding surge in hospitalizations has been observed domestically. However, experts are closely monitoring the situation, particularly given the variant’s impact in Asia. The emergence of NB.1.8.1 comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prepares to update COVID-19 vaccines for the 2025-2026 season, with a focus on the LP.8.1 strain, a descendant of the JN.1 variant currently dominant in the U.S. The FDA’s advisory committee has recommended limiting vaccine access to high-risk groups, such as those over 65 and individuals with underlying conditions, raising concerns about protection against emerging variants like NB.1.8.1. Health officials urge caution but advise against panic, emphasizing that current vaccines and treatments remain effective. “While NB.1.8.1 is more transmissible, there’s no indication it’s more harmful,” a CDC spokesperson told Fox News Digital. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Another Crypto Investor Arrested in Alleged Bitcoin Torture Scheme

A second cryptocurrency investor surrendered to police Tuesday in the alleged kidnapping of a man who said he was tortured for weeks inside an upscale Manhattan townhouse by captors seeking the password to access his Bitcoin account. William Duplessie, 32, faces charges of kidnapping, assault, unlawful imprisonment and criminal possession of a weapon, according to police. His arrest comes four days after the alleged victim — a 28-year-old Italian national — escaped, bloodied and barefoot, from a lavish townhouse where he said he had been severely beaten, drugged, shocked and threatened with death for nearly three weeks. On Friday evening, hours after the man’s escape, the crypto investor John Woeltz was taken into custody and charged in the alleged kidnapping scheme. It wasn’t immediately clear if Duplessie had an attorney who could speak for him. Court records didn’t list one. Woeltz’s attorney has declined to comment. Authorities said the pair lured the victim into an eight-bedroom townhouse in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood, one of the most expensive in the city, on May 6 to steal his Bitcoin fortune. Over the next 17 days, the man told police he was bound by the wrists, shocked with electrical wires, pistol-whipped, cut on the leg with a saw and forced to smoke from a crack pipe. At one point, he said, he was dangled from the home’s top flight of stairs. Believing he would soon be killed, the victim said he agreed Friday morning to give the men access to the password. As the men went to retrieve his computer, the victim was able to escape from the home and flag down a traffic agent. A search of the townhouse turned up a trove of evidence, prosecutors said, including cocaine, a saw, chicken wire, body armor, night vision goggles, ammunition and polaroid photos of the victim with a gun pointed to his head and a crack pipe in his mouth. The victim was hospitalized with injuries to his wrists consistent with being bound, cuts to his face and other injuries, authorities said. Duplessie is due to be arraigned in a Manhattan court on Tuesday afternoon. (AP)

5 Dead And 19 Injured In Chemical Plant Explosion In China

A huge explosion rocked a chemical plant in China’s eastern Shandong province around noon Tuesday, killing at least five people and injuring 19, according to state broadcaster CCTV. An additional six people remain missing. The blast was powerful enough to knock out the windows at a storage warehouse more than two miles (three kilometers) away from the factory, according to a video shared by a local resident, who declined to give his name out of concern for retaliation. His home shook from the blast, he said. As he went to the window to see what was wrong, he saw a tall column of smoke from the site, more than seven kilometers (4.3 miles) away. The explosion happened at the Gaomi Youdao Chemical Co., which is located in an industrial park in the city of Weifang. It manufactures pesticides as well as chemicals for medical use, and has more than 500 employees, according to corporate registration records. Local fire officials sent more than 230 personnel to the scene, according to CCTV. (AP)

🚨 Trump Offers Canada Free Golden Dome Defense if It Joins as 51st State, Claims “They’re Considering It”

🚨 JUST IN: Trump says he told Canada they’d pay $0 for the new Golden Dome missile defense system if they become the 51st state… “They are considering the offer!”

JD Vance Honors Slain Israeli Embassy Staffers at Washington Embassy Visit

JD Vance visited the Israeli Embassy in Washington today, in order to pay tribute to Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim, the two embassy staffers who were gunned down last week by a Palestinian supporter outside of the Capital Jewish Museum in D.C.

Slain Israeli Embassy Staffer Sarah Milgrim Laid To Rest In Kansas Hometown

Sarah Milgrim, one of two Israeli Embassy staffers fatally shot last week in an anti-Israel ambush in Washington, D.C., was remembered Tuesday during a private funeral in the Kansas community where she grew up. Milgrim, a 26-year-old from the Kansas City suburb of Prairie Village, Kansas, was leaving a reception for young diplomats at the Capital Jewish Museum alongside 30-year-old Yaron Lischinsky on May 21 when they were shot to death. A suspect, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, was arrested and shouted “Free Palestine” as he was led away. Charging documents said he later told police, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza.” Lischinsky had bought an engagement ring before the shooting and was planning to propose to Milgrim in the coming days, those who knew the couple have said. Instead of an upcoming wedding, those close to Milgrim eulogized her at a private service Tuesday at Congregation Beth Torah in Overland Park, Kansas, the Reform temple she attended as a child with her family – although she was not halachically Jewish. Milgrim’s boss at the embassy, Sawsan Hasson, recounted how Milgrim championed civil rights and always stuck to her mission of peace and bringing people together — especially those opposed to one another on religion, politics and ideology. “This morning, you and Yaron were meant to be in Israel, celebrating with his family,” Hasson said. “Instead, through an unthinkable tragedy, you have brought Israel here to Kansas to meet your own loving family in your hometown. Somehow, even in your passing, you have created connection and unity.” Milgrim earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Kansas in 2021. She was remembered as a warm, uplifting presence at Shabbat dinners and holiday gatherings at the Chabad Center for Jewish Life on campus. After graduating, Milgrim worked at at a Tel Aviv-based organization centered on technology training and conflict dialogue for young Palestinians and Israelis, according to her LinkedIn profile. She had been trained in religious engagement and peacebuilding by the United States Institute of Peace, an organization that promotes conflict resolution and was created by the U.S. Congress. After earning a master’s degree in international affairs from American University in 2023, she went to work at the Israeli Embassy, where her job involved organizing events and missions to Israel. Milgrim would have been teenager when her Kansas community was rocked by another deadly antisemitic attack in 2014. Frazier Glenn Miller Jr., an avowed anti-Semite and white supremacist, fatally shot three people at two Jewish sites in Overland Park in April of that year. At his trial, Miller openly stated that he targeted Jews for death — though none of his victims were Jewish. Miller was convicted in August 2015 and later sentenced to death. (AP)

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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

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