A major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine began Friday, the countries said, in one of the few signs of progress from their direct talks last week in Istanbul — part of a U.S.-led effort that so far has failed to produce a ceasefire in the 3-year-old war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the first phase of the exchange was bringing home 390 Ukrainians, with further releases expected over the weekend. “It’s very important to bring everyone home,” he wrote on Telegram, thanking all who worked to secure their return and pledging to continue diplomatic efforts to make more exchanges possible. Russia’s Ministry of Defense said each side had released 270 military personnel and 120 civilian detainees. The exchange is “planned to continue in coming days,” it said.

Harvard University is challenging the Trump administration’s decision to bar the Ivy League school from enrolling foreign students, calling it unconstitutional retaliation for defying the White House’s political demands. In a lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in Boston, Harvard said the government’s action violates the First Amendment and will have an “immediate and devastating effect for Harvard and more than 7,000 visa holders.” “With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body, international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission,” Harvard said in its suit.

URGENT CAMPAIGN FOR 3 YEAR OLD CHILD: We did everything we can. We davened. We cried. And now we’ve found a chance—a special treatment in the United States. We cannot afford it. We turn to Am Yisrael— begging you to help us save our daughter’s life. Your kindness can give her not just a surgery, but the chance to smile, and live a normal life. Please open your heart and help us pay for the surgery and please daven for: Chaya bas Tzipora. DONATE HERE – CLICK HERE!

The Ulster County EMS Council awarded Catskills Hatzalah a citation for successfully saving a child’s life in Ulster County this past summer. Also awarded was Joel Gold, the law enforcement liaison for Catskills Hatzalah, who was honored with an award in recognition of building interagency partnerships and ensuring smooth coordination between Hatzalah, law enforcement, and other emergency services. These awards reflect the continued strong working relationships Catskills Hatzalah maintains across the region to ensure it is ready and prepared to help the community in any emergency.   (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In the wake of the deadly shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum that claimed the lives of two Israeli Embassy staffers, a coalition of over 40 Jewish organizations is urging the U.S. government to allocate $1 billion to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) to bolster security at Jewish institutions nationwide. The coalition, including major groups like the Jewish Federations of North America, the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, and the Orthodox Union, issued a joint statement describing the shooting as a “direct consequence of rising antisemitic incitement” on college campuses, at city council meetings, and across social media platforms.

A new Senate report released by Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) alleges that U.S. health officials were aware of the risks of myocarditis, a form of heart inflammation, linked to COVID-19 vaccines but delayed informing the public, potentially jeopardizing the health of young Americans. According to the report, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was notified by the Israeli Ministry of Health in February 2021 of multiple reports of myocarditis, particularly in young people, following administration of the Pfizer vaccine. By April 2021, CDC officials were discussing “safety signals” for myocarditis linked to mRNA vaccines, based on data from the U.S. Defense Department and Israel. Despite this, the report claims, no immediate steps were taken to warn the public.

U.S. defense officials have revealed that Russia has introduced nuclear-capable air-to-air missiles into its military arsenal, a move reminiscent of the nuclear strategies employed during the Cold War era. This new development was disclosed by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) in its latest global threat report.
The 2025 Worldwide Threat Assessment was presented to lawmakers during a session of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations, held on May 15. Leading the briefing was Air Force Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, who heads the DIA.

Early Friday morning in Lakewood, NJ, a car carrying five bochurim crashed and erupted into flames on Hope Chapel between Clearstream Rd. and New Central Avenue. Two bochurim were killed, r”l.
Police said that a Toyota Sienna was traveling along Hope Chapel Road when it hit a deer and the driver lost control of the vehicle, crashing and bursting into flames.
The three surviving passengers suffered injuries.
The names of the victims are not being released until next of kin are notified.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister