U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell to their lowest level in eight months last week as the labor market continues to show strength in the face of elevated interest rates. U.S. applications for jobless claims fell by 20,000 to 201,000 for the week ending Sept. 16, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s the lowest figure since the last week of January. Jobless claim applications are seen as representative of the number of layoffs in a given week. The four-week moving average of claims, a less volatile measure, fell by 7,750 to 217,000. Overall, 1.66 million people were collecting unemployment benefits the week that ended Sept. 9, about 21,000 fewer than the previous week. (AP)

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Poland’s prime minister said his country is no longer sending arms to Ukraine, a comment that appeared aimed at pressuring Kyiv and put Poland’s status as a major source of military equipment in doubt as a trade dispute between the neighboring states escalates. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said in an interview late on Wednesday that Poland is no longer transferring weapons to Ukraine. He made the comment as his populist party faces pressure from a far-right party in a national election on Oct. 15. The far-right party, Confederation, says Poland is not getting the gratitude it deserves for arming Ukraine and accepting its refugees. “We are no longer transferring any weapons to Ukraine because now we will arm ourselves with the most modern weapons,” Morawiecki said in an interview on Polsat, a private television broadcaster. The prime minister then spoke of a military modernization plan underway, spurred by fears of Russian aggression in the region. A government spokesman, Piotr Mueller, appeared to confirm Thursday that Warsaw would not agree to more military aid. He said the country was now only providing supplies of ammunition and armaments that had previously been agreed to, noting that “a series of absolutely unacceptable statements and diplomatic gestures appeared on the Ukrainian side.” Poland has supplied Ukraine with a wide range of weaponry, including Leopard 2 tanks and Soviet-era MiG fighter jets. A leading security and defense expert, Michal Baranowski, said that Poland gave most of what it could give earlier in the war, and with no plans for shipments of major equipment soon he doesn’t see a threat to Ukraine’s capabilities in the near term. Still, he considers the comments as troubling for Ukraine as its seeks to maintain Western support in the war unleashed by Russia. “The message is very bad, both for Poland’s reputation but also because Poland has been one of the chief advocates of military aid to Ukraine. Saying Poland will not be sending more weapons means that Poland can no longer play this role,” said Baranowski, managing director of Warsaw-based GMF East, part of the German Marshall Fund think tank. He said Poland’s attempt to show toughness toward Kyiv should be understood in the context of the election campaign. In response to Morawiecki saying Poland would now focus on modernizing its own forces, Baranowski noted that Poland is capable of both modernizing its military and continuing to help Ukraine. Donald Tusk, a top opposition leader, accused Morawiecki and other ruling authorities of a “moral and geopolitical scandal of stabbing Ukraine in the back politically when they decide to fight on the Ukrainian front, just because it will be profitable for their campaign.” Emotions have been running high after Poland, Hungary and Slovakia last week announced a new ban on Ukrainian grain imports, saying they wanted to protect their farmers from a glut of Ukrainian grain in their markets. The grain lowers prices for local farmers and hurts their livelihood. Kyiv responded with a complaint at the World Trade Organization against the three countries that sparked even more angry reactions from Poland. Polish and Ukrainian agriculture ministers said Thursday they were working to resolve the situation in a way that takes the interests of both countries into account. Meanwhile, Ukraine was lifting its complaint against Slovakia as the two sides […]

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The segulah initiated by Maran Sar HaTorah Rabbeinu HGR’ Chaim Kanievsky zt”l continues also after his passing* His talmidim and close family members convened a moshav beis din together with the gedolei haposkim and decided unanimously that this special segulah is effective for good health, protection from illnesses, and for those awaiting their shidduch* Hundreds have already participated and received the certificate signed by the Gedolei Torah   The diseases, the painful illnesses, and the suffering experienced by those around us are not hidden from us. With the advent of the new year, the main ambition of each one of us is a simple one- that we will be healthy; we and our spouses and our parents and of course our children. The deepest concern of every parent for his children, for every child for his parents, and for each person for himself Maran Sar HaTorah Rabbeinu HGR’ Chaim Kanievsky zt”l sought to cancel. For this purpose, he instituted the special segulah he received from his father, Rabbeinu the holy Steipler Gaon zt”l. This segulah is called ‘V’hasirosi’ and its purpose is to protect those who contribute a significantly generous sum to tzedakah, which shields them from illnesses and diseases. In recent days the Rabbanim of the ‘V’hasirosi Machala MiKirbecha’ fund, who were appointed to the task by Maran Sar HaTorah zt”l during his lifetime, the geonim HGR’ Yitzchak Ziberstein, HGR’ Shimon Galai, HGR’ Moshe Shaul Klein, HGR’ Shmuel Eliezer Stern, Maran Sar HaTorah‘s son-in-law HGR’ Yizchak Kolodetsky and Maran Sar HaTorah’s son HGR’ Yitzchak Shaul Kanievsky shlit”a convened. The Rabbanim of the fund publicized a special ‘call to action’ in which they warmly recommend: “Whoever is a wise person will take this advocate for himself – a donation to the ‘V’hasirosi’ fund, for the reality is clear and proven that all who donate for the unwell- there will be no unwell people in his household!” To receive the brocha of “there will be no unwell people in his household” click here>>> The Rabbanim add a special chiddush– novel concept, as well as a new and interesting halachic decision: “Those who are awaiting their shidduch, which is considered as ‘part of his body’, [without which he is incomplete] are also included in the same category as the unwell, and are included in the brocha and the decree of Rabbeinu zt”l that “there will be no unwell people in his household.” The Rabbanim have determined that each erev Rosh Chodesh a special Kupat Ha’ir representative will visit the kever of Maran Sar HaTorah Rabbeinu HGR’ Chaim Kanievsky zt”l to daven that also this upcoming month the brocha and decree of Maran Sar HaTorah zt”l that none of the donors should become unwell ch”v, nor should there be unwell people in their household, as Maran zt”l was accustomed to daven himself during his lifetime every erev Rosh Chodesh. They have also made the out-of- the-ordinary decision that “The Rabbinic Board of the ‘V’hasirosi’ Fund appoints Amud HaTefillah Maran HGR’ Shimon Galai shlit”a to convene, on every erev Rosh Chodesh, a moshav beis din of Gedolei Yisrael and the Rabbanim of the ‘V’hasirosi’ Fund to daven, as was the custom of Rabbeinu zt”l, that also in this upcoming month each person who donates to the fund for the unwell- middah k’negged middah there […]

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said Wednesday that relations with the United States can move forward if the Biden administration demonstrates it wants to return to the 2015 nuclear deal, and a first step should be easing sanctions. He told a news conference that the Americans have reached out through several channels “saying they wish to have a dialogue, but we do believe that it must be accompanied by action.” Action on sanctions can be “a solid foundation for continuing” discussions, he said. The Iranian leader added: “We have not left the table of negotiations.” Raisi said the American withdrawal from the 2015 agreement, aimed at reining in Iran’s nuclear program, trampled on U.S. commitments including sanctions. Then-President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the accord in 2018, restoring crippling sanctions. Iran began breaking the terms a year later, including by enriching uranium to higher levels, and formal talks in Vienna to try to restart the deal collapsed in August 2022. U.N. nuclear chief Rafael Grossi said in an interview Monday with The Associated Press that the Iranian government’s removal of many cameras and electronic monitoring systems installed by the International Atomic Energy Agency make it impossible to give assurances about the country’s nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency, which Grossi leads, reported earlier this month that Iran had slowed the pace of enriching uranium to nearly weapons-grade levels. That was seen as a sign that Tehran was trying to ease tensions after years of strain with the United States. It took place as the rivals were negotiating a prisoner swap and the release of billions in frozen Iranian assets, which all took place Monday. Grossi has previously warned that Tehran has enough enriched uranium for “several” nuclear bombs if it chose to build them. Raisi reiterated Wednesday that Iran’s nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes, pointing to its use in agriculture, oil and gas infrastructure, and saying “we have enrichment to satisfy those needs.” He said reports that Iran has increased its enrichment levels “are not based in fact.” The IAEA director general told the AP on Monday that he asked to meet Raisi on the sidelines of this week’s annual gathering of world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly, which both were attending, to try to reverse Tehran’s ban on “a very sizable chunk” of the agency’s nuclear inspectors. When asked whether he had met Grossi, Raisi responded that he had talked to him in Tehran, in early March — not this week, adding that Iran has had “very good cooperation” with the IAEA. As for denying future entry to many of the most experienced nuclear inspectors, Raisi said the government was only taking aim at individuals “who may undertake actions aimed at undermining the level of trust” Iran has in them — “not inspections themselves.” “The inspectors who haven’t shown any reason for a lack of trust, they can certainly continue their pursuits,” he said. Raisi also criticized last week’s announcement by Britain, France and Germany that they will keep sanctions on Iran that were set to expire in October under the 2015 nuclear deal in response to Tehran’s failure to comply with the 2015 nuclear deal. He called their action “oppressive and unjust and unfair.” The measures ban Iran from developing ballistic missiles capable […]

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Yair Netanyahu, the son of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, excoriated the Israelis who protested against his father during his trip to the US to attend the UN General Assembly in New York. Yair wrote in a Facebook post: “The extremist leftists of the ‘protest’ [funded by billions and foreign countries] flew to the UN General Assembly to protest – not against the head of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas who justified the Holocaust and the Nazis, and not against the Iranian president who calls to exterminate Israel – but against the prime minister of Israel who went to battle at the UN against the first two.” “In case the message wasn’t clear, they projected a message in English on the UN building to the leaders of the world – don’t believe Netanyahu!” “In other words – when Netanyahu speaks against the Iranian threat or Palestinian propaganda – don’t believe him! He’s lying!” “Iran, Hezbollah, and the Palestinians couldn’t have created more successful anti-Israel propaganda,” Yair concluded. Israeli leftists also projected an image of Netanyahu as a jailbird on the wall of the famous Alcatraz prison in San Francisco with the words “Welcome Bibi.” Prior to departing for the US, Prime Minister Netanyahu accused the Israeli protesters in the US of teaming up with the PLO, Iran, and others. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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Jewish music superstar Avraham Fried sang together with Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu (Otzma Yehudit) on Wednesday evening. The duet took place at the ‘סליחות בדרך לכותל’ event in Bat Yam, which was sponsored by the municipality’s Torani culture department. Earlier on Wednesday, Fried performed for Chareidi IDF soldiers at a chizzuk event ahead of Yom Kippur which was organized by the Netzach Yehudah organization in cooperation with the Charedi department in the IDF. הזמר אברהם פריד באירוע לחיילים חרדים לקראת יום כיפור. @hardim_idf @HrdyhH75239 pic.twitter.com/oPbcvlmEKJ — יענקי פרבר | Yanki Farber (@yankihebrew) September 20, 2023 (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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 Get Ready to Elevate Your  Succos Table with LuxeParty NYC!  Enjoy 15% OFF on everything with code “YWN15” Plus, get next-day shipping in the Tri-State area! Don’t miss out on this fantastic offer! Shop now at LuxeParty NYC and make these Holidays extraordinary. 🥂

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Tens of thousands of Israelis have been gathering at the Kosel for Selichos every day during the Aseres Yimei Teshuvah. On Wednesday, the Rav of Be’er Sheva, HaRav Yehuda Deri, [brother of Shas chairman Aryeh Deri] delivered divrei chizzuk to the mispallelim. “Kabblas Ol Malchus Shamayim – I want to just say one sentence on this – very very significant. Kabblas Ol Malchus Shamayim is the key to opening the gate of rachamim. It’s an explicit passuk in the Torah. Shema Yisrael – don’t fear because Hashem is with you. Rashi says in the name of Reb Shimon Bar Yochai – ‘Hakadosh Baruch Hu says to Yisrael: ‘My children, if all you had was Shema Yisrael alone – it’s k’dai to save you – there’s nothing to fear.'” “A person doesn’t have enough zechuyos – but he has Kriyas Shema. What is Kriyas Shema? Kriyas Shema is Kabblas Ol Machus Shamayim. When a person accepts Ol Malchus Shamayim upon himself, he’s saying two things: First of all, Hashem is the King of the World. Second, we accept Hashem’s yoke, to perform Hashem’s mitzvos. We’re your servants.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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India halted all visa services for citizens of Canada and told it to reduce its diplomatic staffing on Thursday as a rift widened between the countries after Canada’s leader said India may have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen. Ties between Ottawa and New Delhi, key strategic partners in security and trade, have plunged to their lowest point in years after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week said there were “credible allegations” of Indian involvement in the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader on its soil. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Canadian citizen who had been wanted by India for years, was gunned down in June outside the temple he led in Surrey, outside Vancouver. The bombshell allegation from Trudeau on Monday set off a diplomatic tit-for-tat as each country expelled a diplomat. India denied the claim and called it absurd. “Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 Sept. Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice,” the BLS Indian Visa Application Center in Canada said. It gave no further details. BLS is the agency that processes visa requests for India. The suspension means that Canadians who don’t already have visas will not be able to travel to India until services resume. In 2021, 80,000 Canadian tourists visited India, making them the fourth largest group, according to India’s Bureau of Immigration. Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi confirmed a temporary suspension of all visa services for Canadians, including e-visas and visas issued in third countries. “Security threats being faced by our High Commission and consulates in Canada have disrupted their normal functioning. Accordingly, they are temporarily unable to process visa applications. We will be reviewing the situation on a regular basis,” Bagchi told reporters. He called for a reduction in Canadian diplomats in India, saying they outnumbered India’s staffing in Canada. “We have informed the Canadian government that there should be parity in strength and rank equivalence in our mutual diplomatic presence,” Bagchi said. The Canadian High Commission in New Delhi said Thursday that all of its consulates in India are open and continue to serve clients. It said some of its diplomats had received threats on social media, prompting it to assess its “staff complement in India.” It added that Canada expects India to provide security for its diplomats and consular officers working there. On Wednesday, India warned its citizens to be careful when traveling to Canada because of “growing anti-India activities and politically condoned hate-crimes.” Canada has yet to provide any evidence of Indian involvement in the killing. India’s security and intelligence branches have long been active in South Asia and are suspected in a number of killings in Pakistan. But arranging the killing of a Canadian citizen in Canada, home to nearly 2 million people of Indian descent, would be unprecedented. “No specific information has been shared by Canada on the issue,” Bagchi said. “We are willing to look at any specific information that is provided to us.” He accused Canada of providing a safe haven for terrorists. He said India has regularly provided it with specific evidence about criminal activities by people based on its soil, but the information has not been acted upon. India has criticized Canada for years over giving free rein […]

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Health and Interior Minister Moshe Arbel (Shas) on Wednesday became the first Chareidi minister to deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly. Speaking in Hebrew, Arbel said. “First, I would like to express my deep sympathy to the Kingdom of Morocco, our partner today in submitting the declaration regarding the prevention, treatment and handling of pandemics. I express my condolences to the people of Morocco following the devastating earthquake that occurred in the kingdom and wish the injured a speedy recovery on behalf of the State of Israel and the government of Israel. The State of Israel will always be ready to help our friends and this time as well. “The COVID-19 epidemic shocked the world, disrupted economies, damaged the livelihood of many, undermined family ties, and created many challenges in the education system. The epidemic severely shook the health systems in many countries, led to loss of life as well as long-term health problems that we are still studying.” “The international community has identified two essential key actions at this stage: the reform of international health regulations and the formulation of an international tool for preparedness and response to a pandemic. The State of Israel strongly supports these efforts and is proud to be a partner in submitting the declaration together with the Kingdom of Morocco. “For 75 years now, we have been committed to promoting physical and mental health and well-being. But for too long, mental health has not received the proper treatment and has not received the necessary resources. Now that the importance of mental health has been recognized, among other things, as lessons from the pandemic, we must ensure the allocation of adequate resources and funding.” Arbel continued by elaborating on the mental health consequences of the COVID pandemic. He ended his speech by saying: “I will conclude my words, which were spoken in the language of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, Dovid and Shlomo, Yirmiyahu and Yeshaya, with the words of the prophet Malachi: ‘Have we not all one father? Has not one G-d created us? Why should we betray, each one his brother, to to violate the covenant of our forefathers?’ Here we must commit to cooperation and not to politicization, and these words of the prophet Malachi, which are worthy of this house, should guide us and accompany us at all times.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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The Biden administration says it’s granting temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who are already in the country — quickly making them eligible to work — as it grapples with growing numbers of people fleeing the South American country and elsewhere to arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border. The move — along with promises to accelerate work permits for many migrants — may appease Democratic leaders who have pressured the White House to do more to aid asylum seekers, while also providing grist for Republicans who say the President Joe Biden has been too lax on immigration. The Homeland Security Department plans to grant Temporary Protected Status to an estimated 472,000 Venezuelans who arrived in the country as of July 31, making it easier for them to get authorization to work in the U.S. That’s been a key demand of Democratic mayors and governors who are struggling to care for an increased number of migrants in their care. That’s in addition to about 242,700 Venezuelans who already qualified for temporary status before Wednesday’s announcement. The protections for Venezuelans are significant because they account for such a large number of the migrants who have been arriving in the country in recent years. Venezuela plunged into a political, economic and humanitarian crisis over the last decade, pushing at least 7.3 million people to migrate and making food and other necessities unaffordable for those who remain. The vast majority who fled settled in neighboring countries in Latin America, but many began coming to the United States in the last three years through the notoriously dangerous Darien Gap, a stretch of jungle in Panama. Venezuelans who arrive in the U.S. after July 31 of this year will not be eligible for the protection. Those who are now eligible have to apply to get it. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas granted the expansion and an 18-month extension for those who already have temporary status due to “Venezuela’s increased instability and lack of safety due to the enduring humanitarian, security, political, and environmental conditions,” the department said in a statement. The administration said it would accelerate work authorizations for people who have arrived in the country since January through a mobile app for appointments at land crossings with Mexico, called CBP One, or through parole granted to Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans who have financial sponsors and arrive at an airport. It will aim to give them work permits within 30 days, compared with about 90 days currently. The promise of accelerated work permits does not apply to people who cross the border illegally and seek asylum, who, by law, must wait for six months to receive work permits. Mayors and governors have been clamoring for Biden to figure out a way to get newly arrived migrants to be able to work legally, so they can support themselves. Democratic officials in New York, Massachusetts, Chicago and elsewhere have complained about the strain that newly arrived migrants are putting on their resources, especially in New York, where the government is required to provide housing for anyone who needs it. The city is currently paying to house about 60,000 newly arrived migrants. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement late Wednesday that she was “grateful the federal government has acted so speedily to grant […]

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The Riverside Experience is back! Coming off their 3 sold out shows last Chol Hamoed, Gronny and Icky productions are back and ready to give you a Chol Hamoed experience to remember. This year’s show will feature some if the greatest names in Jewish Music – Avraham Fried, Benny Friedman, Joey Newcomb & Moshe Tischler. Produced & directed by DW Productions, The Riverside Experience promises to be an unforgettable musical event, with music by the Blue Melody Group led by musical directors Yuval Stupal & Rafi Greidi. The event is not just about the music; it’s also an opportunity to make a positive impact on the world. The Riverside Experience is a benefit concert that aims to support the work of Zisel’s Links. Zisel’s Links provides much-needed support and services to those who have lost a parent or both parents, and the organization’s work is especially important during the holiday season. The concert will take place at 2pm on Monday October 2, Chol Hamoed Sukkos at the Newark Symphony Hall.   Get your tickets now before its too late!  www.Sukkos2023.com

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In a stomach-churning display of self hatred and loathing of fellow Jews, a group of terrorist-supporting, anti-Israel, hate-filled figures from Neturei Karta met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, aka the “Butcher of Tehran,” at the UN on Wednesday. Neturei Karta has long kissed up to despicable figures like Raisi, and are used as pawns by terrorists across the globe to justify their lust for Jewish blood. “I have heard that there are anti-Zionist Jews here, and this is a great thing,” Raisi said, highlighting his support for Jews who wish harm on other Jews. Back when Yasser Arafat led the terror-loving Palestinian Liberation Organization, Neturei Karta had a “foreign minister” in his Cabinet who served as the Jewish Affairs minister – a sham of a position that did nothing but throw support behind terrorist bombings, shootings, and stabbings against innocent civilians. Several years ago, many in this same group traveled to Iran to attend a Holocaust denial conference, where they repeatedly kissed former Iranian president and psychopath Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as he openly called to wipe Israel – and the Jews that live there – off the face of the Earth. Yisroel Dovid “Achmed” Weiss, the leader of the Neturei Karta movement, went so far as to tell Ahmadinejad that he was a “light to the nations” and was “exemplary” for being a hater of Zionism. The current president with whom they met yesterday, Ebrahim Raisi, is referred to as the “Butcher of Tehran” due to his involvement in the killing of thousands of Iranian prisoners in the 1980s. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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A group of 25 state governors that make up the U.S. Climate Alliance and the Biden administration are expected to announce a pledge Thursday to quadruple the number of heat pumps in U.S. homes by 2030, from 4.7 million to 20 million. Heat pumps use little electricity, yet are able to heat and cool buildings. Since they often replace oil or gas furnaces that add greenhouse gases to the air, they can meaningfully address climate change. Buildings account for more than 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The pledge on heat pumps is a collection of state initiatives to work toward the goal of ramping down emissions to zero by 2050. Pennsylvania and seven other states, for example, will look into developing a standard for how non-polluting a heater needs to be. The governors in the alliance represent approximately 60% of the U.S. economy and 55 percent of the country’s population. Washington Governor Jay Inslee called heat pumps “almost a miraculous solution” to three problems Americans face, “heating in the winter, cooling in the summer, and a reduction of carbon pollution.” The reason heat pumps run on less electricity than other forms of heating is that they merely extract heat from outdoor air or underground and transfer it inside, instead of heating up a coil, for instance. They are just as good at cooling, pulling heat from indoors and dumping it outside or underground. “Even on a winter’s day, heat pumps can take heat from outside, move it inside, and use less energy than if you were heating your house with a furnace,” said Stephen Porder, a professor of ecology and assistant provost for sustainability at Brown University. ”A furnace makes heat by burning something, (but) moving heat is more efficient than making it.” In Providence, Rhode Island where Porder lives, there is more call for heating than air conditioning. In 2014, he said, he ditched his oil furnace and installed heat pumps. “My house is more comfortable, my energy bills are about half what they were before, and my house’s greenhouse gas emissions, even counting the electricity to run the heat pumps, have dropped by 75%. Plus, I now have AC, which I didn’t have before,” he said. Because they help address climate change, heat pumps are highly incentivized under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, which provides a 30% tax credit. Other states and utilities offer additional tax credits on top of the IRA incentive. “There is already a huge increase in heat pump installations in the U.S. Heat pump units outsold gas furnace units, previously the most popular type of heating system, last year,” said Amanda Smith, a senior scientist at Project Drawdown, citing data from the International Energy Agency. “People have been struggling with home heating costs and high energy costs in Maine, especially the last couple of years because we’ve been so over reliant on global fossil fuel energy markets,” said Maine Governor Janet Mills. “I think people in Maine are interested in anything that will save them money, make their homes and businesses more efficient, and more comfortable financially.” White House national climate adviser Ali Zaidi Zaidi noted rising demand for heat pumps will stimulate domestic manufacturing. But many clean energy businesses report shortages of qualified installers. “We want to ensure that we’re not held […]

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Huge signs of support for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu were erected in Times Square in Manhattan on Thursday morning, ahead of his speech at the UN General Assembly on Thursday evening. The signs say: “Thank You Bibi – The Jewish People Support You.” The signs are the initiative of Jews from the Jewish kehilla in New York who wished to show support to Netanyahu following the leftist protests against him held by Israelis in the US, who crossed all red lines by projecting a message on the UN building  – “Don’t Believe Crime Minister Netanyahu” – as well as an image of Netanyahu as a jailbird on the wall of the famous Alcatraz prison in San Francisco with the words “Welcome Bibi.” Davidi Crombie, the younger brother of Berale Crombie, chairman of Takuma 2023, which has led the judicial reform support campaign in Israel for the past six months, mobilized Jews for the campaign in New York. “I had a dream,” Berale Crombie wrote on Twitter. “In the face of BDS and Breaking the Silence protests, the prime minister of Israel will receive the honor he deserves in New York’s Times Square ahead of his speech at the UN General Assembly. This morning it is happening in New York thanks to good people. Long live the State of Israel!” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

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A charter bus carrying high school students to a band camp hurtled off a New York highway and down an embankment Thursday, killing one person and hurting dozens of others, officials said. The wreck happened in the early afternoon on Interstate 84 in the town of Wawayanda, about 45 miles northwest of New York City, state police said. Forty-three people were taken to hospitals, county fire officials said on social media. At least five people were badly hurt, Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus told WNBC-TV. News footage showed ripped-up grass on the embankment and the bus lying on its left side with its roof warped. A ladder allowed rescuers to reach the windows. Hatzolah from Kiryas Yoel and Catskills Hatzolah were both requested to the scene with multiple ambulances to assist with treating the victims, and transporting patients to the hospitals. The bus was one of six in a caravan carrying students from Farmingdale High School on Long Island to a band camp in Greeley, in northeastern Pennsylvania, according to a message from the school district. Students on the other buses were to stop off at a community college for a break before heading back to Long Island. “Students will have the opportunity to stretch and meet with grief counselors,” according to a message from the district. “Once cleared, they will be returning to Farmingdale High School.” Westchester Medical Center received three patients, said hospital spokesperson Andy LaGuardia, who could not provide conditions. Two other hospitals in the region received patients, LaGuardia said, but he did not have details. State troopers and emergency workers were on the scene to help local crews, Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “We are grateful for the first responders whose speedy action saved lives and we will continue to support them however necessary. Our hearts are with all who are impacted by this horrific situation,” Hochul said in a prepared statement. News footage showed ripped-up grass on the embankment and the bus lying on its left side with its roof warped. A ladder allowed rescuers to reach the windows. (AP)

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The first big test of whether privately owned high-speed passenger train service can prosper in the United States will launch Friday when Florida’s Brightline begins running trains between Miami and Orlando, reaching speeds of 125 mph (200 kph). It’s a $5 billion bet Brightline’s owner, Fortress Investment Group, is making, believing that eventually 8 million people annually will take the 3.5-hour, 235-mile (378-kilometer) trip between the state’s biggest tourist hubs. The company is charging single riders $158 round-trip for business class and $298 for first-class, with families and groups able to buy four round-trip tickets for $398. Thirty-two trains will run daily. Brightline, which began running its neon-yellow trains the 70 miles (112 kilometers) between Miami and West Palm Beach in 2018, is the first private intercity passenger service to begin U.S. operations in a century. It’s also building a line connecting Southern California and Las Vegas that it hopes to open in 2027 with trains that will reach 190 mph (305 kph). The only other U.S. high-speed line is Amtrak’s Acela service between Boston and Washington, D.C., which began in 2000. Amtrak is owned by the federal government. “This is a pretty important moment, whether you’re thinking about it in the context of the state of Florida or what it might mean for these kinds of products as they develop elsewhere in the United States,” Brightline CEO Mike Reininger said in a recent interview. “The idea that my car is the only way for me to get where I need to go is being challenged by a new product. A new product that’s safer, that’s greener, that is a great value proposition (and) it’s fun.” The Florida trains, which run on biodiesel, will travel up to 79 mph (127 kph) in urban areas, 110 mph (177 kph) in less-populated regions and 125 mph (200 kph) through central Florida’s farmland. Brightline plans possible extensions to Tampa and Jacksonville. John Renne, director of Florida Atlantic University’s Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions, said the Miami-Orlando corridor is a perfect spot for high-speed rail — about 40 million Floridians and visitors make the trip annually, with more than 90% of them driving. If Brightline succeeds that could lead to more high-speed lines between major cities 200 to 300 miles (320 to 480 kilometers) apart, both by Brightline and competitors, he said. “It is quite exciting for South Florida to kind of be a test bed for what could be seen as a new paradigm for transportation, particularly high-speed rail transportation, in the United States,” Renne said. Because Brightline is privately owned and seeking a profit, it was more sensitive to getting the project completed quickly to save money. On the government side, Renne pointed to California’s effort to build a high-speed rail system. Approved by voters in 2008, it isn’t near fruition, has already cost billions more than expected and its prospects for completion are uncertain as finding a route through mountains is proving difficult and politicians added dubious side projects. Brightline began planning in 2012. Brightline’s development has suffered setbacks, though. COVID-19 shut down the Miami-West Palm Beach line for 17 months. A 2018 partnership with Richard Branson’s Virgin Group to rebrand Brightline as Virgin Trains USA quickly soured. Brightline terminated the partnership in 2020 and Virgin sued in London. According […]

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More than 15,000 people in Arizona have registered to join a new political party floating a possible bipartisan “unity ticket” against Joe Biden and Donald Trump. While that’s less than the population of each of the state’s 40 largest cities, it’s still a number big enough to tip the presidential election in a critical swing state. And that is alarming people trying to stop Trump from winning the White House again. The very existence of the No Labels group is fanning Democratic anxiety about Trump’s chances against an incumbent president facing questions about his age and record. While it hasn’t committed to running candidates for president and vice president, No Labels has already secured ballot access in Arizona and 10 other states. Its organizers say they are on track to reach 20 states by the end of this year and all 50 states by Election Day. “If they have someone on the ballot who is designed to bring the country together, that clearly draws votes away from Joe Biden and does not draw votes away from Donald Trump,” said Rodd McLeod, a Democratic strategist in Arizona. That’s raising the stakes for Biden allies who are mounting a furious pressure campaign against No Labels and politicians taking meetings with the group. In Arizona, which Biden won by about 10,000 votes, the state Democratic Party sued Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, also a Democrat, to try to prevent No Labels from being on the ballot. The party lost in court and then dropped its lawsuit. Now Democrats are pushing Fontes to force No Labels to disclose its donors, having insinuated that the group is being supported by conservatives attempting to thwart Biden. No Labels has so far refused to name how it is funding its work, saying it follows federal law and wants to protect the privacy of its donors. Fontes has not commented publicly but is expected to announce a decision in the coming weeks after telling No Labels he may take action against the group for failing to register under the state’s campaign finance law. His decision is likely to be challenged in court. Some of the anti-No Labels efforts here are quixotic. A perennial candidate from outside Phoenix signed up as a No Labels candidate and declared himself chairman of No Labels’ Pinal County chapter, in part so he could run for state office and try to force the party to follow the state’s campaign finance reporting laws. “It’s kind of like a performance art piece,” said Richard Grayson, who promptly after switching to No Labels endorsed Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Biden’s narrow 2020 victory came with the help of anti-Trump Republicans, right-leaning independents and voters who disliked both candidates but saw Biden as a better option than Trump. He’ll need their support to win a rematch. In Arizona, Biden was endorsed by former Republican Sen. Jeff Flake and Cindy McCain, the widow of Sen. John McCain — a lifelong Republican who publicly clashed with Trump. If even a small number of those voters were to back a No Labels candidate next year, Biden could fall short. No third-party candidate has ever won the presidency or even come close. In the modern era, the strongest performer was Ross Perot in 1992, but he didn’t earn a single […]

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“I want to give them myself, personally- I want to give them brochas. People such as these…people such as these truly deserve a brocha.” Early in the month of Cheshvan, bez”H,  in the Kupat Ha’ir office in Brooklyn, amud hatefillah, the tzaddik Maran HaGaon HaRav Shimon Galai shlit”a will personally hand you a specially prepared gift he has waiting for you. A silver challah knife, with his brocha and his signature engraved on it. A silver knife, which is a segulah for parnassah. He will ask you your request and bless you with whatever you need the most. Not by lists, not through others, but in the most personal way, the most direct way, the most relevant way. He’s waiting for you to be able to bless you personally, to daven for you, for whatever you need. He will welcome you, and give you the knife with his own hands… FOR THE SPECIAL KNIFE CLICK HERE This isn’t just any regular knife. The words engraved on it say: ‘To Kupat Ha’ir donors- brocha for abundant parnassah in the year תשפ”ד, and much nachas בעזה”י, Shimon Galai’. This knife, which you will use every Shabbos- will bring you a turnabout. A turnabout of abundance. A turnabout of brocha. True middah k’neged middah. You give parnassah to another family, a family in a desperate situation, and HaShem will open the floodgates of parnassah with a generous Hand for you. The knife of Maran HaGaon HaRav Shimon Galai shlit”a transforms this segulah– the segulah of cutting the Shabbos and Yom Tov challahs with a silver knife-into a much more powerful segulah whose effects are many times greater. It’s not only a segulah, but also evidence of your donation- a donation which supports a family for one month. Think about the parnassah which will come in abundance throughout the year. Think about these words again- much nachas– much nachas for you, much nachas from you, from your family, from those dear to you. Nachas from your job, nachas from your parnassah– and our generation’s amud hatefillah, Maran HaRav Shimon Galai himself has signed on this! FOR THE SPECIAL KNIFE CLICK HERE

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