In a watershed moment for Orthodox Jewry, the 2025 World Zionist Organization (WZO) elections have resulted in Orthodox slates securing a majority for the first time in WZO history, YWN has confirmed. According to preliminary results released today, voter turnout for the U.S. delegation shattered all prior records, with 230,257 valid votes cast—224,237 online and 6,020 by mail—representing a staggering 86% increase from the 2020 election’s 123,575 votes. At the forefront of this historic surge was Eretz HaKodesh, which earned 29,159 votes, coming in third overall and solidifying its position as the dominant Orthodox voice. The slate’s campaign focused on defending the kedushah, mesorah, and Torah of Eretz Yisrael.

In a turn of events nearly everyone knew was going to happen, Elon Musk launched a blistering attack on President Trump Thursday, declaring all-out war with a savage message on X: “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House, and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate.” Musk didn’t hold back, calling out what he called “ingratitude” as their once-close alliance descends into chaos. This dramatic public spat marks a shocking rupture between two of the biggest personalities in American politics and tech. The feud centers around Trump’s signature “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” a massive tax-and-spending package projected to add trillions to the U.S. national debt over the next decade.

Iran is racing to fortify its battered air defense systems around key nuclear facilities, preparing for what intelligence analysts say could be an imminent Israeli or American strike. According to satellite imagery and Western intelligence cited by the Financial Times, Tehran has been quietly relocating and restoring some of its most advanced air defense assets, including Russian-made S-300 launchers, to shield uranium enrichment sites in Natanz and Fordo. The urgent military buildup follows two high-profile Israeli strikes inside Iran in response to mass missile attacks by the Islamic Republic last year.

I recently came across the advertisement in a very well-known weekend magazine promoting an upcoming charity baseball game, aimed at “raising awareness” and funds for an institution that provides financial literacy and coaching. On the surface, this seems like a noble cause. But dig even slightly below that surface, and the entire premise starts to reek of hypocrisy—and frankly, insult. Among the event’s proud sponsors are several corporations whose executives are making tens of millions of dollars annually, while the workers they employ, many of whom are the very “target demographic” for this charity—are barely scraping by.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday directed his administration to investigate Joe Biden’s actions as president, alleging aides masked his predecessor’s “cognitive decline” and casting doubts on the legitimacy of his use of the autopen to sign pardons and other documents. The order marked a significant escalation in Trump’s targeting of political adversaries and could lay the groundwork for arguments by the Republican that a range of Biden’s actions as president were invalid. The Justice Department under Democratic and Republican administrations has recognized the use of an autopen to sign legislation and issue pardons for decades, Trump presented no evidence that Biden was unaware of the actions taken in his name, and the president’s absolute pardon power is enshrined in the U.S.

A new Israel Health Ministry report has revealed deeply troubling trends about smoking among Israeli teens, particularly within the frum community. According to a first-of-its-kind survey, more than half of Charedi high school students — and a staggering 80% of yeshiva dropouts — have experimented with smoking. The findings, presented to the Knesset as part of the annual smoking report, highlight a sharp rise in the use of electronic cigarettes and flavored tobacco products, often mistakenly perceived by youth as less harmful than traditional cigarettes. While the overall adult smoking rate in Israel remains steady at around 20.5% — roughly 30% higher than the global average — smoking and nicotine use are increasingly prevalent among teenagers.

A New York man with ties to Hamas’ al-Qassam Brigades is at the center of a shocking federal indictment that paints a picture of violent antisemitism, terrorist sympathies, and repeated assaults during anti-Israel protests in Manhattan — including on the campus of Columbia University. Tarek Bazrouk, 20, currently in federal custody, is accused of unleashing a string of hate-fueled attacks on Jewish individuals while maintaining active support for Hamas and Hezbollah through encrypted chat groups and social media propaganda. He now faces three federal hate crime charges that could carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

A fringe group of Har Habayis activists, led by members of the “Returning to the Mount” movement, sparked renewed outrage this Shavuos after attempting to carry out a symbolic reenactment of the Korban Shtei HaLechem on Har HaBayis. The provocative act was immediately halted by Israeli police and Waqf officials. Dressed in imitation bigdei kehunah, several activists — who self-identified as kohanim — rushed to what they believe is the site of the Mizbeiach and attempted to raise two loaves of chametz – which can only be performed in a rebuilt Beis Hamikdash. The group was reportedly acting under the direction of Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, founder of the Temple Institute and a longtime advocate for resuming korbanos on Har Habayis.

Three IDF soldiers were killed and two soldiers were moderately wounded in battle in northern Gaza on Monday evening, the IDF announced early Tuesday morning. The five soldiers were carrying out a military operation in Jabaliya when their Humvee sustained a direct hit by a bomb. The slain soldiers were identified as Staff Sgt. Ofek Barhana, H’yd, 20, from Yavne and Staff Sgt. Lior Steinberg, H’yd, 20, from Petach Tikva, both combat medics, and Staff Sgt. Omer Van Gelder, H’yd, 22, from Maale Adumim, who served as a squad commander. Hashem Yikom Damam. (YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated on Isru Chag in Israel.)

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee slammed France’s recent efforts to promote unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, calling the move “revolting” and ill-timed amid Israel’s ongoing war with Hamas. In an interview with Fox News, Huckabee said the push for Palestinian statehood is out of touch with the current Israeli sentiment following the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre that triggered the war in Gaza. “It’s incredibly inappropriate in the midst of a war that Israel is dealing with to go out and present something that I think increasingly Israelis are steadfast against,” Huckabee said.