by Rabbi Berach Steinfeld
 

Rav Huna bar Mar Zutra (the Reish Galusa) killed al kiddush Hashem, along with Rav Mesharshiya bar Pekod (470)
Rav Tzvi Elimelech Shapira of Dinov (1783-1841 [or 1850]), born to Reb Pesach and his wife, the niece of Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk. A talmid of the Chozeh of Lublin, Tzvi Elimelech was told by the Chozeh that he was from Shevet Yissascher, which explained the talmid’s special feelings towards Chanukkah, as it is known that the Sanhedrin of the Chashmonaim had many members from Shevet Yissascher. This is the source of the name of his sefer, Bnei Yissaschar.

Toyota is recalling nearly 700,000 Toyota and Lexus vehicles in the US because of issues with the fuel pumps. The pumps can stop operating, the company said, leading to engine failure.

“If a vehicle stall occurs while driving at higher speeds, this could increase the risk of a crash,” the company said.

Toyota says it’s investigating the issue. When it comes up with a solution, it’ll notify owners by mail by mid-March.

Read more at CNN.

{Matzav.com}
 

European countries on Tuesday triggered a dispute mechanism in their nuclear deal with Iran, a move that could lead to the return of United Nations sanctions on Tehran.
Britain, France and Germany said they had been “left with no choice” but to make the move.
Iran announced Jan. 5, after the U.S. killing of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, that it would no longer be bound by limitations on its nuclear energy program.
Tehran had been gradually reducing its commitments under the deal since the United States withdrew and reimposed sanctions in 2018. With Washington threatening secondary sanctions against European businesses dealing with Iran, Tehran argued that it could no longer reap the financial benefits laid out in the pact in exchange for curbing its nuclear program.

Authorities in Germany arrested suspected Islamist terrorists in a series of raids across the country Tuesday morning, AFP reported.
Chechen nationals suspected of being part of a terrorist plot were arrested in police raids in Berlin, Brandenburg, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Thuringia, the Berlin attorney general’s office announced in a tweet.
The suspects arrested in the raids range in age from 23 to 28, and according to Berlin police are suspected of “having scouted locations” for a possible terrorist attack, including a Berlin synagogue.
Read more at Arutz Sheva.
{Matzav.com}

As former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, R, looked on, the Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether to overturn the convictions against two of his ex-political allies in the “Bridgegate” case, and the decision could have broad implications for how federal prosecutors pursue allegations of public corruption.
The two former allies – Bridget Kelly and William E. Baroni Jr. – argue that the Justice Department reached too far in charging them with fraud for their roles in an alleged plot to back up traffic on the George Washington Bridge, the nation’s busiest, as retaliation against a local mayor who declined to endorse Christie’s reelection bid.

New Jersey families will retain the right to claim religion as a reason to not have their children vaccinated, after an eleventh-hour attempt Monday to end such exemptions did not gather sufficient support to bring the issue to a vote.
But Senate backers of the bill vowed to reintroduce it, possibly as soon as Tuesday afternoon, when the new legislative session begins.
Reintroducing the bill would start the legislative process anew, including likely hearings. Sweeney told reporters Monday that the legislation was one vote short of passage. He said that in the new session, he may convene a hearing, calling on experts from both sides of the debate.

An airplane returning to Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday dropped jet fuel onto a school playground, striking several students at Park Avenue Elementary School in Cudahy, officials said, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Delta Flight 89 had taken off from LAX with 149 passengers on board and was en route to Shanghai when it turned around and headed back to the L.A. airport, dumping gallons of extra fuel to improve the safety of the landing.
The released fuel spray the school playground, striking several students and teachers.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said more than 70 firefighters and paramedics were at the school, and 17 children and nine adults were treated for minor injuries.

 
Watch Live at 8 p.m. ET: President Trump speaks to supporters at his ‘Keep America Great’ rally in Milwaukee, WI , this takes place as 2020 Democrats take the stage at the DNC debate.

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