The National Weather Service canceled its tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast after a powerful earthquake shook parts of California on Thursday. At least 5.3 million people in California were under a tsunami warning after the 7.0-magnitude temblor, the U.S. Geological Survey said in a yellow alert, which predicted localized but minimal damage. The quake was felt as far south as San Francisco, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County near the Oregon border, according to the USGS.

A new poll reveals that 48% of Israelis believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cannot effectively lead the country during wartime while testifying in his corruption trial, compared to 46% who think he can. The Israel Democracy Institute’s November 2024 survey, conducted with 750 participants, highlights a divide in opinions. Among Jewish respondents, 49% believe Netanyahu can manage both roles, while 61% of Arab respondents disagree. Partisan views also vary sharply, with 70% of left-wing and 55% of centrist Jews doubting his ability, compared to 34% of right-wing respondents. Netanyahu’s testimony is set to begin December 10, but he has requested fewer and non-consecutive court appearances, citing his responsibilities. The State Attorney’s Office opposes these adjustments.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK) introduced legislation on Thursday aimed at requiring all official U.S. documents and materials to use the term “Judea and Samaria” instead of the commonly used “West Bank.” The bill, titled the Retiring the Egregious Confusion Over the Genuine Name of Israel’s Zone of Influence by Necessitating Government-use of Judea and Samaria (RECOGNIZING Judea and Samaria) Act, seeks to adopt historically and culturally accurate terminology for the region. “The Jewish people’s legal and historic rights to Judea and Samaria go back thousands of years,” Cotton said. “The U.S.

Rep. Jerry Nadler announced Wednesday that he will be stepping down as the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee next year, avoiding an intra-party fight over a prominent position as the party prepares to confront a second Trump presidency. Nadler’s decision to relinquish control of the powerful committee came a day after fellow Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin announced his bid for the job and quickly amassed support from colleagues. “I am also proud that, under my leadership, some of our caucus’s most talented rising stars have been given a platform to demonstrate their leadership and their abilities,” Nadler wrote in the letter to Democrats that was obtained by The Associated Press.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – A suspected arson attack at the renowned Adass Shul has left the Jewish community in shock. At approximately 4:10 a.m. local time, two individuals smashed windows, entered the Shul, and poured gasoline before setting it on fire. The shul, one of the most famous in Australia, is a central hub for the Orthodox Jewish community. Two people learning inside the shul at the time witnessed the incident but were bichasdei Hashem unharmed. Emergency services responded quickly, but the building and surrounding streets remain closed due to ongoing investigations. Baruch Hashem, no injuries have been reported. However, the status of the sifrei Torah remains unclear.

The FBI is investigating reports about several mysterious nighttime drone flights that have recently occurred across central New Jersey and has asked the public for help. Witnesses have spotted a cluster of what appears to be drones — larger than those typically used by hobbyists — as well as a possible fixed-wing aircraft flying in several areas along the Raritan River since Nov. 18. It’s not clear why the flights happened or who was flying the devices, but federal and state officials stress that there currently is no known threat to public safety. The flights have raised questions in part because they took place near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

Many moms-to-be opt for blood tests during pregnancy to check for fetal disorders such as Down syndrome. In rare instances, these tests can reveal something unexpected — hints of a hidden cancer in the woman. In a study of 107 pregnant women whose test results were unusual, 52 were ultimately diagnosed with cancer. Most of them were treated and are now in remission, although seven with advanced cancers died. “They looked like healthy, young women and they reported themselves as being healthy,” said Dr. Diana Bianchi, the senior author of the government study published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Of the discovered cancers, lymphoma blood cancers were the most common, followed by colon and breast cancers. The blood test is called cell-free DNA sequencing.

An Israeli official has stated that the country views the resurgence of conflict in Syria as an opportunity for mutual weakening between the opposing factions. Speaking to The Times of Israel, the official commented on recent rebel advances against the regime of Bashar al-Assad. “Our interest in the renewed fighting is that they continue fighting one another,” the official said. “It’s entirely clear to us that one side consists of Salafi jihadists, and the other includes Iran and Hezbollah. We want them to weaken one another.” The official emphasized that Israel is not intervening in the conflict but remains vigilant. “We are prepared for any scenario, and we will act accordingly,” they added. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Digging crews resumed work early Thursday in the effort to locate a woman who authorities fear died after falling into a sinkhole above an abandoned Pennsylvania coal mine. Fewer than a dozen searchers, including state police and excavator operators, have returned to the spot where 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard is thought to have plummeted through a freshly opened sinkhole about three days ago. Authorities said late Wednesday they no longer think they will find Pollard alive. She was last seen Monday evening, searching for her lost cat, Pepper. Her car was discovered some 10 hours later, not far from her house in the village of Marguerite, with her 5-year-old granddaughter inside, unharmed.

The acting director of the Secret Service is promising accountability for what he called the agency’s “abject failure” to secure the rally where a gunman opened fire on Donald Trump last summer during his presidential campaign. Ronald Rowe is set to testify Thursday in front of a bipartisan House task force investigating how the Secret Service, which protects the highest echelon of American leaders, performed during two assassination attempts against Trump in two months. A portion of Rowe’s remarks was released before the hearing. The task force’s inquiry is one of a series of investigations and reports into the July shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, that have faulted the troubled agency for planning and communications failures.