Category: News

The parliamentary committee tasked with reviewing the draft-exemption bill for yeshiva students postponed its discussion once more. The motion, led by the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, was expected to move forward this week. But the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intervened and ordered the session delayed.Ultra-Orthodox parties immediately accused Netanyahu’s government of stalling the legislation deliberately. They argue the delay serves as a political punishment after large protests by yeshiva students and community leaders. Meanwhile, government spokespeople say more time is needed to refine the bill and align key ministries on the details.

The Israeli government signed a major cloud-computing deal with Google LLC and Amazon Web Services as part of its Project Nimbus initiative. Under the agreement, the tech firms will build and operate cloud infrastructure within Israel to serve government and defense agencies. The contract is reported to be worth about $1.2 billion and runs over seven years.It includes provisions that prevent the companies from shutting off Israeli access, even if use of the services would violate their standard rules. Investigators say the deal also contains a “secret code” mechanism: if foreign authorities request data stored by the firms on behalf of Israel and are legally gagged, the companies must send coded payments to inform Israel of the request. Google and Amazon say they comply with lawful orders and haven’t violated global laws. Israeli officials say the agreement protects national security and keeps data under Israeli control. Because of this deal, Israel gains expanded ability to store, analyze, and move large volumes of data—defense-, intelligence-, or civilian-related—within its borders. The deal changes who controls key cloud infrastructure.

Early Monday morning, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rattled northern Afghanistan. It struck near the city of Mazar-e Sharif in Balkh province at a depth of about 28 km. The quake killed at least 20 people and injured hundreds more across several provinces. Hospitals in the area have been placed on high alert, and relief workers are weathering difficult access in mountainous terrain. Power outages and blocked highways are slowing aid efforts. The death toll is expected to increase as teams reach isolated villages.

Russia launched heavy drone and missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight. Bombs hit key power-plants and substations in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. One regional official reported nearly 60,000 people lost electricity after the attacks. Emergency crews worked through the morning to assess damage and restore service.The grid damage forced parts of several regions into rolling blackouts, severely affecting heating, water, and lighting services.Ukraine’s energy ministry said the strikes are part of a broader push by Russia ahead of winter, aimed at weakening Ukraine’s ability to sustain daily life in cold months. The fallout: thousands of homes now face the risk of freezing.

President Trump announced that the most advanced AI chips made by Nvidia will be reserved for American companies only. He stated that foreign countries, including China, will not have access to the latest “Blackwell” chips.The move marks a sharp shift from previous policy, which had allowed some export of high-end technologies. The chips are seen as critical for next-generation AI systems and other advanced computing tasks.While Trump indicated that less powerful versions of the chips might still be sold abroad, he emphasized the full-capability models will stay in the U.S. The decision raises questions about how this affects alliances and supply-chains with countries like South Korea, which recently made large chip deals.With global tech competition heating up and export restrictions becoming a key part of strategy, this action signals the U.S. is pressing hard on tech leadership.

Israel’s defense ministry announced the high-powered laser system known as the “Iron Beam” will be delivered to the military by year-end. The laser is designed to target rockets, drones and mortars with a concentrated beam of light. Developers say the system completed its final tests over southern Israel and met key performance goals. The ministry added it will operate alongside existing interceptors like the Iron Dome to create a more layered defense. The move means Israel will become one of the first countries to field a full-scale laser-based air defense asset. Threats from short-range rockets and drones remain active, and more cost-effective interception tools could ease pressure on missile interceptors.

Donald Trump suffered three serious blows in his legal and political battles. First, a federal appeals court agreed to review a challenge to his deployment of federal troops in Oregon. Second, the U.S. Senate blocked his proposed emergency tariffs on Brazil, with five Republicans joining Democrats in opposition. Third, a judge ruled that the acting U.S. attorney he had appointed in California was serving unlawfully. Trump had been relying on these moves to reinforce his authority. The court’s decision raises questions about how far a president can send troops inside the U.S. The tariff blockade marks a clear legislative rebuke of his trade agenda. And the attorney-appointment ruling hits his control over federal law-enforcement posts. These setbacks weaken key tools of presidential power that Trump has been using actively. They could reshape how his administration proceeds, especially in trade and domestic operations.

At a gathering of Jewish Republicans, Senator Ted Cruz delivered a sharp warning about antisemitism inside the Republican Party. He said he has seen more hostility toward Jews in the past six months than at any other time in his life. Cruz told the audience that the problem is spreading through online spaces and public events. He said some figures on the right are giving extremists a bigger stage and that silence from party leaders is making the situation worse. He urged Republicans to speak out clearly when antisemitic words or actions appear, calling it a moral test for the party. His message landed strongly among Jewish conservatives, many of whom have long supported the GOP for its stance on Israel and religious freedom. Some attendees said the senator’s warning felt overdue, while others viewed it as a necessary reminder that friendship with Israel does not erase prejudice at home. The remarks come as Jewish communities in the United States face growing unease over both left- and right-wing rhetoric. Cruz’s decision to describe antisemitism as an “existential crisis” marked a rare internal challenge within the party.

In New Jersey, people buying individual-health-insurance plans through Get Covered New Jersey may face shocking price rises next year. The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance says base rate increases average about 16.6%. But when loss of enhanced federal tax credits is added in, premiums could climb as much as ~174% for many enrollees. These enhanced credits helped thousands of residents in recent years. About 91% of marketplace enrollees (over 466,000 people) currently get those subsidies. Without them, many households will pay thousands more annually. This matters now: open enrollment starts November 1, and plan decisions will be more financially significant than usual.

A prominent professor at Harvard University says most adults don’t need exactly eight hours of sleep. He argues the eight-hour target is a simplification that doesn’t reflect recent evidence. Instead, he suggests individuals focus on sleep quality and timing, not just duration. He points to research showing people may function well on less sleep under certain conditions. Many people may feel unnecessarily pressured by the eight-hour benchmark—even if their bodies operate fine with slightly more or less rest.