U.S. intelligence agencies are debunking a conspiracy theory, saying they have concluded that the new coronavirus was “not manmade or genetically modified” but say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. The statement from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the clearinghouse for the web of U.S. spy agencies, comes as President Donald Trump and his allies have touted the as-yet-unproven theory that an infectious disease lab in Wuhan, the epicenter of the Chinese outbreak, was the source of the global pandemic, which has killed more than 220,000 people worldwide.

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There was chaos in Boro Park on Thursday afternoon, as the NYPD worked to disperse a crowd that gathered for a Levaya. An NYPD source tells YWN that police were told that a vehicle carrying an Aron (coffin) would be passing by a home on 43 Street near 13th Avenue to recite Tehillim and hold a short Levaya, and took action ahead of time. Not taking any chances, the top brass of the NYPD arrived – including the Chief of Patrol and at least one other 3 star chief as well as the Chiefs of Brooklyn South. The NYPD allowed family only to be on the block, but people did not listen to authorities. It prompted the police police to order the vehicle carrying the Aron to leave, prompting a wild scene that was caught on video and immediately went viral. One person was arrested and released.

American Airlines reported a staggering loss of $2.24 billion for the first quarter, when the coronavirus pandemic triggered a sharp drop in air travel. The airline said Thursday that revenue fell 19% while costs continued to rise even as the virus spread. The situation facing the airline industry has grown more dire since the first quarter ended. Air travel within the U.S. has plunged 95% from a year ago, judging by the number of people screened at the nation’s airports. “Never before has our airline, or our industry, faced such a significant challenge,” Chairman and CEO Doug Parker said. American’s massive loss compared with a profit of $185 million in the same quarter last year. It was American’s largest quarterly loss since merging with US Airways in 2013.

The NYPD is out in full force in Williamsburg on Thursday morning, and community activists are attributing it to the Levaya of the Tola’as Yaakov Rebbe earlier this week which turned into a national story. As YWN reported, Mayor Deblasio showed up at the Levaya and after witnessing all social distancing rules broken, he went on a Twitter rant. Deblasio came under fierce attack from news outlets and elected officials around the county for singling out the Jewish community by name. Deblasio tried explaining himself on Wednesday morning, but One NYPD Liaison, Moshe Weiser, who publicly spoke to and was quoted by dozens of media outlets on Wednesday, pointed fingers directly at the NYPD and claimed that police knew in advance of the Levaya plans.

New York City will shut down its subway system each day from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. to increase cleaning of trains and stations during the coronavirus crisis, Gov. Andrew Cuomo anounced Thursday. Subway trains, which had been disinfected at least once every 72 hours, will be cleaned once every 24 hours starting May 6. Cuomo said buses, vans and other alternative transportation will be provided at no charge for essential workers to get around while the subway system is closed. Cuomo said the increased cleaning is a “daunting challenge,” but vital to keeping the system safe because it continues to be a place of high density. Images posted on social media in recent weeks have showed packed subway cars, leading police to increase social distancing enforcement.

President Donald Trump on Thursday voiced strong support for his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, raising speculation that a pardon may be coming after Flynn’s lawyers disclosed internal FBI documents they claim show the FBI was trying to entrap him. Trump has long said he is considering pardoning Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI in early 2017 about his conversations with the Russian ambassador to the United States. The president spent Wednesday night and Thursday morning retweeting supportive statements and a video Flynn tweeted of an American flag flapping in the wind.

I recently got up from Shiva for another of Corona’s victims and immediately sat down to write this short article in the hope that my family’s experience using Zoom for the Shiva will help others during this unfortunate time. May it never be necessary, but should someone have to sit Shiva, the lessons we learned from our experience may prove very helpful. As a member of a large family בלע”ה with many siblings located around the world, each of whom was sitting alone in their own home, it was imperative that we find a way to connect with mutual relatives and friends, and each other. None of us wanted to act as an overburdened switchboard operator struggling to process an overwhelming call load and it was unreasonable to expect our relatives to call every single family member separately.

Mes Mitzva with TWELVE yesomim BORUCH DAYAN HAEMES Harav Binyomin Lubin ZTL who Los Angeles was Zoche to have as a guest for the last 8 months was Niftar today from the dreaded machla. Those who were privileged to see or meet him know what a special and Choshuv person he was. He always had a smile and a kind word for everyone he saw. He never once complained about how much pain he was in despite the extremely painful treatments he received for nearly 2 years from Doctors across the world.  Harav Binyomin Lubin ZTL lived a difficult life, he lost his first wife after she to was niftar from the dreaded illness. Reb Binyomin married his second wife and was zoche to TWELVE children with her. Nebach now there are 12 YESOMIM with one set to get married in less then a month.

Dovid HaMelech used the power of Brachos to stop the plague of his time. These days, coronavirus presents a similar opportunity to deepen our connection with Hashem. That’s why Torah educators in Jerusalem have put together this special seminar: The Bracha Seminar is a self-guided, 8-part course (each a 20-minute module) that examines classical Torah sources on the hashkafic and halachic underpinnings of Brachos. The goal is to connect with Hashem through saying Brachos with greater kavana. Join all of Klal Yisrael in this important effort. HaRav HaGoan Reuven Feinstein, shlita, and HaRav HaGoan Noach Isaac Oelbaum, shlita, have provided their written haskamas. Registration is free and the sessions start May 3, 2020 (two per week until Shavuos).