In a shmuess delivered ahead of Shavuos, HaRav Avrohom Yehoshua Soloveitchik, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Brisk, called upon his talmidim—particularly the newly arrived bochurim—not to daven in the nearby Zichron Moshe shtieblach, saying that it is inappropriate for yeshiva bochurim and often leads to bittul zman. Rav Avrohom Yehoshua addressed the yeshiva following the inauguration of a new beis medrash building, which opened in time for the summer zman. The upper floor of the building now houses a spacious new beis medrash with over 350 seats. During his remarks, the Rosh Yeshiva lamented the habit of bochurim leaving the yeshiva grounds to daven in Zichron Moshe. He said that such behavior is not befitting a ben Torah, and that these off-campus minyanim are at times exploited for idle wandering, particularly during the late-night hours. To reinforce this standard, Rav Avrohom Yehoshua announced the opening of a third official minyan in the new building, led by his eldest son, Rav Mordechai Yaakov (Reb Yankel). This is in addition to the existing minyanim led by the Rosh Yeshiva himself and by his brother, Rav Moshe. The new minyan is meant to fully accommodate the tefillah needs of all bochurim within the yeshiva’s walls. Going forward, all tefillos – Shacharis, Mincha, and Maariv – will be held within the new building, with an additional late Shacharis and a Maariv following night seder to ensure no talmid has any need to seek a minyan outside the yeshiva. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The antisemitism in Canada has reached new heights, with the Toronto Sun reporting on Sunday that Canadian federal police have launched a criminal probe into potential war crimes in Gaza, the Toronto Star reported on Tuesday. According to the report, the probe by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) into the “Israel-Hamas armed conflict” was launched in early 2024 but has only been revealed now. The RCMP said the program’s goal is to uphold “Canada’s commitment towards international justice and the fight against impunity for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.” The Department of Justice said that the program aims to “deny safe haven to war criminals and seek accountability for alleged atrocities either by sharing evidence with other authorities or trying individuals in Canadian courts.” Interestingly, unlike the RCMP’s widely publicized investigation into alleged war crimes in Ukraine, the RCMP has not taken similar steps to collect evidence of war crimes connected to the “Israel-Hamas armed conflict,” such as public calls for testimony, media outreach, a website, and even airport billboards. In fact, the probe into Israel’s so-called “war crimes” has been kept top secret for almost a year. The Toronto Star emphasized the RCMP’s differing approaches to investigations, noting that after the Ukraine war crimes probe was launched, Canadian ministers told the media that accountability and real-time evidence collection were critical in Ukraine. The report, first published by the Toronto Star, has been met with concern by the Jewish and Israeli communities in Canada, who fear potential arrest warrants or subpoenas issued against Canadians who served in the IDF. Ynet quoted one community source as saying, “It feels like we’re on the brink of a flare-up.” “We’re moments away from war crimes charges,” an Israeli in Canada wrote in a WhatsApp group. “Kids with Canadian passports who served in the IDF could face prosecution when they return. This is so serious, people. Lawyers are already working on this—but no one’s investigating the Gazans who came here.” Another respondent described the probe as “the mother of all antisemitism.” A third said it’s causing Israeli families to reconsider sending their children to serve in Israel as lone soldiers. “Canada is becoming more hostile toward us by the day,” they wrote. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
President Trump issued a new proclamation on Wednesday that bans foreign nationals from a dozen nations from coming into the United States, citing threats to national security as the reason behind the decision.
“I have determined to fully restrict and limit the entry of nationals of the following 12 countries: Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen,” the president wrote in the order.
In addition to the full bans, the administration has also chosen to implement more limited entry restrictions on citizens from seven other nations, which include Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
“These restrictions distinguish between, but apply to both, the entry of immigrants and nonimmigrants,” read the proclamation.
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Matzav.com}
The US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, despite 14 of the 15 council members voting in favor.
President Donald Trump’s doubling of tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum could hit Americans in an unexpected place: grocery aisles. The staggering 50% levies on those imports took effect Wednesday, stoking fear that big-ticket purchases from cars to washing machines to houses could see major price increases. But those metals are so ubiquitous in packaging, they’re likely to pack a punch across consumer products from soup to nuts. “Rising grocery prices would be part of the ripple effects,” says Usha Haley, an expert on trade and professor at Wichita State University, who added that the tariffs could raise costs across industries and further strain ties with allies “without aiding a long-term U.S. manufacturing revival.” Trump’s return to the White House has come with an unrivaled barrage of tariffs, with levies threatened, added and often taken away, in such a whiplash-inducing frenzy it’s hard to keep up. He insisted the latest tariff hike was necessary to “even further secure the steel industry in the U.S.” That promise, though, could be at odds with his pledge to reduce food costs. Rising grocery prices, Trump has said, were among the biggest reasons voters swung his way. A look around a supermarket makes clear how many products could be impacted by new taxes on steel and aluminum, from beer and soda to dog food to can after can of beans, fruit, tomato paste and more. “It plays into the hands of China and other foreign canned food producers, which are more than happy to undercut American farmers and food producers,” insists Can Manufacturers Institute president Robert Budway. “Doubling the steel tariff will further increase the cost of canned goods at the grocery store.” Budway says production by domestic tin mill steel producers, whose products are used in cans, have dramatically decreased in recent years, making manufacturers reliant on imported materials. When those prices go up, he says, “the cost is levied upon millions of American families.” Food companies were already warily assessing the administration’s tariffs before the latest hike. The Campbell Co., whose soup cans are a staple for millions of Americans, has said it was working to mitigate the impact of tariffs but may be forced to raise prices. ConAgra Brands, which puts everything from cans of Reddi-Whip to cooking sprays like Pam on supermarket shelves, likewise has pointed to the impact steel and aluminum tariffs have. “We can’t get all of our materials from the US because there’s no supply,” ConAgra CFO David Marberger said at a recent Goldman Sachs conference on global staples. Beyond the obvious products — canned foods like tuna, chicken broth and cranberry sauce — economists warn of a spillover effect that tariffs can have on a gamut of items. If the cost to build a store or buy a truck to haul food rise, the prices of products may follow. Most Americans will never buy a tractor, but Babak Hafezi, who runs a global consulting firm and teaches international business at American University, says a price spike in such a big-ticket item vital to food production will spill down to all sorts of other items. “If a John Deere tractor costs 25% more, consumers pay the price for that,” Hafezi says. “This trickles down the economy and impacts every aspect of the economy. Some of the trickling […]
BREAKING: President Trump orders AG Pam Bondi to launch a full investigation into the Biden autopen scandal as well as any cover-ups related to his health.
President Trump has implemented a travel ban fully restricting entry from 12 countries—Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—and partially restricting entry from 7 others—Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela.
Elon Musk has ramped up his public opposition to the budget reconciliation bill currently being debated in Congress, imploring the American public to pressure their representatives to vote it down. He labeled the legislation—central to President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda—as deeply harmful to the country.
“Call your Senator, Call your Congressman, Bankrupting America is NOT ok! KILL the BILL,” Musk posted on X, the platform he owns.
Just days after ending his temporary appointment as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, Musk renewed his criticism of the legislation, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” On Tuesday, he took to X to call it a “disgusting abomination.”
“Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong. You know it,” he added.
Though the measure narrowly cleared the House of Representatives, it still faces scrutiny in the Senate. Some GOP senators share Musk’s objections, arguing the bill doesn’t go far enough to rein in government spending. Others have voiced concerns about its provisions affecting Medicaid.
“No one who actually reads the bill should be able to stomach it,” Musk wrote in another post on Wednesday.
His remarks were in response to a clip posted online of House Speaker Mike Johnson, who expressed frustration with Musk’s reversal: “Elon and I left on a great note. And then yesterday, 24 hours later, he does a 180 and he comes out and opposes the bill, and it surprised me, frankly.”
Later that same day, Musk posted again, arguing for a completely new approach: “A new spending bill should be drafted that doesn’t massively grow the deficit and increase the debt ceiling by 5 TRILLION DOLLARS.”
He also weighed in on a video shared by Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, which featured Warren Buffett endorsing the idea of barring members of Congress from reelection if the federal deficit exceeds 3% of GDP. According to Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis data, the 2023 deficit stood at roughly 6.3% of GDP.
“This is the way,” Musk wrote.
{Matzav.com}
A convicted felon who spewed antisemitic slurs outside a Michigan synagogue and threatened Jewish children and parents has pleaded guilty to federal firearms offenses in what prosecutors describe as a chilling plot to carry out a mass shooting. Hassan Chokr, 35, confronted preschoolers and their families outside Temple Beth El in Bloomfield Hills in December 2022 while out on bail for an unrelated assault case. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Chokr shouted antisemitic threats as young children entered the building with their parents. Just hours after the confrontation, Chokr drove to a gun store in Dearborn and attempted to purchase three semi-automatic weapons, including an AR-15-style rifle and a Landor Arms automatic shotgun. When questioned by store staff, Chokr reportedly declared he intended to use the firearms to carry out “God’s wrath.” The purchase was denied after a federal background check flagged a 2017 felony theft conviction and an active charge for assault with a deadly weapon. Chokr had falsely stated on the application that he had no prior convictions or pending charges. Surveillance footage showed Chokr handling several weapons during the attempted purchase. At one point, he allegedly told staff: “It ain’t a fair fight out here… I’m going to even the score. Even the playing field real soon, brothers, real soon.” Federal prosecutors say the attempted firearm purchase was part of a broader plan to follow through on threats made against the Jewish community. U.S. Attorney Dawn N. Ison called the conduct “deeply disturbing” and said it highlights the dangers of antisemitic extremism. Chokr also has a history of inflammatory social media activity, including a post that read: “Your Jew tactics will only backfire… A storm is coming to wipe you all out of our lives.” At a prior court appearance, Chokr made headlines when he exposed himself to the judge in an outburst protesting his arrest. Chokr pleaded guilty on May 28, 2025, to two counts of illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon. He now faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing is expected later this year. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
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. The report found that more than half of teens who try tobacco products begin with electronic cigarettes. Hookah and flavored vapes also saw extremely high rates of experimentation among youth. Among Charedi teens, the numbers are particularly disturbing. The study revealed that 54% of boys in high school settings had tried smoking products, with the rate skyrocketing to 80% among those who had left the yeshiva system. Public health officials warn that the combination of emotional vulnerability, lack of structure, and easy access to flavored nicotine products makes this group especially at risk. “The current situation reflects a troubling reality,” said Health Minister MK Rabbi Uriel Busso (Shas). “Smoking continues to be one of the leading causes of preventable illness and death in Israel — especially among our young people. This is a national emergency, and we are fighting it with full force.” The Health Ministry has rolled out a range of initiatives to address the crisis, including new regulations mandating graphic warnings on all tobacco products, targeted education campaigns, and a national hotline for those seeking to quit smoking. Officials are also working to raise taxes on tobacco and unify pricing across all nicotine products, including vapes. Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis, head of Public Health Services, stressed the urgency of curbing e-cigarette use. “These products are far from harmless. They are addictive, dangerous, and particularly appealing to teenagers. We must act swiftly and decisively to reduce access and use.” Rabbanim have long warned against the dangers of cigarettes, and health officials are hoping to enlist their support in deterring youth from falling into this growing vice. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Mediators involved in the ongoing hostage negotiations are increasingly hopeful that Hamas will soon present a revised proposal more closely aligned with the plan recently outlined by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, according to three individuals with direct knowledge of the talks who spoke to The Times of Israel on Wednesday.
Hamas had initially submitted a counteroffer to Witkoff’s plan on Shabbos, but the US envoy dismissed it as entirely unacceptable.
Since that response, Egyptian and Qatari officials—working alongside Bishara Bahbah, Witkoff’s representative in Doha and a Palestinian-American businessman and political advocate—have been engaged in efforts to persuade Hamas to roll back or remove some of the more problematic revisions it had made to the American proposal, according to one Arab official and another source involved in the mediation.
A third person familiar with the talks said Witkoff remains cautiously optimistic that progress could be achieved before the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday, which begins on Friday. He reportedly conveyed this sense of optimism during a meeting at the White House on Tuesday with relatives of hostages.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Chief of Staff Susie Wiles joined Witkoff at the meeting, representing the Trump administration.
The Israeli attendees included former hostage Tal Shoham; family members of hostages Guy Gilboa Dalal and Evyatar David; and the parents of Omer Neutra, who was killed in captivity.
“Wiles, Leavitt and Witkoff expressed deep solidarity with the families and reaffirmed the Trump administration’s full commitment to securing the release of all 58 hostages. They emphasized that the administration will continue working relentlessly until every hostage is brought home,” a statement from the Hostage Family Forum said.
“We are fully committed to securing the release of all the hostages and believe their return is essential, not only on humanitarian and moral grounds but also as a critical step toward regional stability,” said a statement from Leavitt. “The [March] meeting between the president and the captivity survivors had a profound impact on him and reinforced his determination to bring every hostage home.”
Even if Hamas agrees to a more moderate version of the offer, negotiators will still have to engage in indirect talks to finalize key elements of the deal, such as defining the scope and sequence of Israel’s partial pullback from Gaza during the proposed 60-day truce.
A central sticking point in the negotiations is whether the temporary ceasefire currently being discussed gives Israel enough leeway to resume military operations later, or if the security guarantees provided by the Trump administration will convince Hamas that the truce will be upheld indefinitely.
According to the Arab official and a second source, the proposal Hamas submitted on Shabbos included several adjustments to Witkoff’s plan, one of which sought to restrict Israel’s ability to restart combat if discussions toward a permanent ceasefire don’t wrap up before the two-month pause ends.
Another change made by Hamas was to alter the timeline for releasing 10 hostages. Instead of following the US blueprint, which called for their release in two groups on days one and seven, Hamas suggested spreading the releases across the duration of the truce.
This modification was designed to deter Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu from pulling out of long-term truce negotiations once the initial hostages are freed, a tactic he employed during the prior ceasefire period that collapsed in March when Israel launched new military operations in Gaza.
Hamas also proposed reinstating the UN-operated aid delivery mechanisms that Israel shut down in March over claims that Hamas was exploiting them—an accusation denied by both the UN and other international humanitarian bodies.
In response, Israel and the US backed a new aid distribution model called the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, intended to limit Hamas’s involvement. However, the initiative has drawn sharp criticism for its limited reach—only three sites have been established, with just one usually functioning each day since it began on May 26. This has forced Gazans to travel long distances, often while under threat of Israeli fire, to collect boxes of dry food that require cooking equipment to be usable.
On Sunday, Netanyahu’s office confirmed Israel’s acceptance of the Witkoff proposal, though the cabinet has not yet held a formal vote. Multiple far-right ministers have since voiced strong opposition to the plan.
According to a second insider, Hamas is upset with Witkoff over his close coordination with Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in formulating the truce plan. Hamas viewed Dermer’s contributions as contradicting earlier understandings that had already been reached.
A copy of Witkoff’s most recent proposal, verified by two individuals involved in the negotiations, outlines the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and the return of the remains of 18 deceased captives over the course of the proposed 60-day ceasefire.
{Matzav.com}
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday dismissed Russia’s ceasefire proposal as “an ultimatum” and renewed his call for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to break the deadlock over the war, which has dragged on for nearly 3½ years. Putin, however, showed no willingness to meet with Zelenskyy, expressing anger Wednesday about what he said were Ukraine’s recent “terrorist acts” on Russian rail lines in the Kursk and Bryansk regions on the countries’ border. “How can any such (summit) meetings be conducted in such circumstances? What shall we talk about?” Putin asked in a video call with top Russian officials. He accused Ukraine of seeking a truce only to replenish its stockpiles of Western arms, recruit more soldiers and prepare new attacks like those in Kursk and Bryansk. Both sides exchanged memorandums setting out their conditions for a ceasefire for discussion at Monday’s direct peace talks between delegations in Istanbul, their second meeting in just over two weeks. Zelenskyy had previously challenged Putin to meet him in Turkey, but Putin stayed away. Russia and Ukraine have established red lines that make a quick deal unlikely, despite a U.S.-led international diplomatic push to stop the fighting. The Kremlin’s Istanbul proposal contained a list of demands that Kyiv and its Western allies see as nonstarters. ‘This document looks like spam’ Zelenskyy said that the second round of talks in Istanbul was no different from the first meeting on May 16. Zelenskyy described the latest negotiations in Istanbul as “a political performance” and “artificial diplomacy” designed to stall for time, delay sanctions and convince the United States that Russia is engaged in dialogue. “The same ultimatums they voiced back then — now they just put them on paper … Honestly, this document looks like spam. It’s spam meant to flood us and create the impression that they’re doing something,” Zelenskyy said in his first reaction to the Russian document. He added that the 2025 talks in Istanbul carry “the same content and spirit” as the fruitless negotiations held in the Turkish city in the early days of the war. The Ukrainian leader said that he sees little value in continuing talks at the current level of delegations. Defense Minister Rustem Umerov led the Ukrainian delegation in Istanbul, while Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Putin, headed the Russian team. Zelenskyy said he wants a ceasefire with Russia before a possible summit meeting with Putin, possibly also including U.S. President Donald Trump, in an effort to remove obstacles to a peace settlement. The U.S. has led a recent diplomatic push to stop the full-scale invasion, which began on Feb. 24, 2022. “We are proposing … a ceasefire before a leaders’ summit,” with the U.S. acting as a mediator, Zelenskyy told a media briefing in Kyiv. “Why a ceasefire before the leaders’ meeting? Because if we meet and there is no mutual understanding, no willingness or vision on how to end this, then the ceasefire would end that same day. But if we see readiness to continue the dialogue and take real steps toward de-escalation, then the ceasefire would be extended with U.S. mediation guarantees,” he said. Ukraine is ready to meet at any time from next Monday at a venue such as Istanbul, the Vatican or Switzerland, Zelenskyy said. U.S. defense secretary stays away A second round of peace talks on Monday between […]
In a quiet neighborhood in Eretz Yisrael, a hardworking father, R’ Dovid Elgarabli, is desperately trying to do what every father dreams of—walk his son to the chuppah. But with crushing debts, medical crises, and a household of ten children, it feels impossible. R’ Dovid works over 12 hours a day as a bus driver, while his devoted wife is fully occupied caring for their sick child, shuttling between doctors and hospitals. The bills have piled up, and the family is constantly at risk of having their electricity and water shut off due to unpaid balances. Now, with just six weeks left to the chasunah, they don’t even have the bare minimum to begin preparing. The chosson and kallah have promised to daven and mention the names of donors under the chuppah. Your support—no matter the amount—can bring them joy and stability in this most sacred moment. Tax-deductible in the U.S. via Netza Israel (501c3)Submit names for tefillahClick here to donate>>
The United Nations Security Council met on Wednesday to consider a resolution that demanded an immediate halt to fighting in Gaza. The draft resolution made no mention of the hostages being held by Hamas or requiring their release as part of the ceasefire.
Fourteen of the Council’s fifteen members backed the resolution, but it was ultimately blocked by a United States veto.
Before the vote was held, Acting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Dorothy Shea explained America’s stance. “The United States has been clear we would not support any measure that fails to condemn Hamas and does not call for Hamas to disarm and leave Gaza,” she said.
She continued, warning that the measure could do more harm than good. “This resolution would undermine diplomatic efforts to reach a ceasefire that reflects the realities on the ground, and embolden Hamas.”
Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, issued a firm condemnation of the proposal and expressed appreciation to Washington for intervening. “I thank the United States for demonstrating moral clarity and leadership at the UN Security Council by vetoing the one-sided resolution against Israel,” he stated.
Danon emphasized the dangerous implications of the resolution, particularly the fact that it demanded a ceasefire without tying it to the immediate release of the captives. “The resolution that was brought to a vote called for a ceasefire in Gaza without conditioning such a ceasefire on the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages — a gift to Hamas. It sends a dangerous message to Hamas terrorists: reject every proposal and the international community will reward you; hold innocent civilians hostage and the UN will grant you legitimacy,” added Danon.
He concluded with a firm assertion that Israel will not back down. “This is not diplomacy — it is surrender to terror. As long as the hostages remain in Gaza, there will be no ceasefire. Israel will continue to apply military pressure and use all necessary means until every hostage is brought home,” the Israeli Ambassador said.
{Matzav.com}
Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, speaking to the New York Times, said he regrets his 2021 resignation from the governorship amid harassment allegations, suggesting he would have handled the situation differently if given another chance. Cuomo, who stepped down during his third term, said, “If I had to do it again, I wouldn’t have resigned.” “At the time, I thought that I would be a distraction to government functionality, that they would all be involved in impeachment proceedings, blah, blah, blah,” he continued. “Looking back, what has really been done in the past four years anyway, right?” – a pointed critique at his successor, Governor Kathy Hochul. In response, Hochul’s spokesperson, Avi Small, highlighted her administration’s achievements, such as maintaining income tax levels, reforming bail laws, combating crime, building housing, and enhancing affordability, noting that Cuomo’s criticism ironically mirrors support for her policy agenda. Cuomo’s remarks come amid his campaign for New York City mayor, where he positions himself as a seasoned leader capable of addressing the city’s challenges. “I was done. I was in the private sector, just enjoying life,” Cuomo said. “But then I was looking at what was happening in New York City. You saw Mayor Adams getting into trouble; you saw (President) Trump coming; so, I’m worried about New York City.” Despite his controversial past, including the resignation and ongoing scrutiny over his handling of nursing home deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuomo is widely seen as the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Syria’s new government has agreed to give inspectors from the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog access to suspected former nuclear sites immediately, the agency’s head told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The International Atomic Energy Agency’s director-general, Rafael Mariano Grossi, spoke in an exclusive interview in Damascus, where he met with President Ahmad al-Sharaa and other officials. He also said al-Sharaa expressed an interest in pursuing nuclear energy for Syria in the future, adding, “Why not?” The agency’s aim is “to bring total clarity over certain activities that took place in the past that were, in the judgment of the agency, probably related to nuclear weapons,” Grossi said. He described the new government as “committed to opening up to the world, to international cooperation” and said he is hopeful of finishing the inspection process within months. An IAEA team in 2024 visited some sites of interest while former President Bashar Assad was still in power. Since the fall of Assad in December, the IAEA has been seeking to restore access to sites associated with Syria’s nuclear program. Syria under Assad is believed to have operated an extensive clandestine nuclear program, which included an undeclared nuclear reactor built by North Korea in eastern Deir el-Zour province. The IAEA described the reactor as being “not configured to produce electricity” — raising the concern that Damascus sought a nuclear weapon there by producing weapons-grade plutonium. The reactor site only became public knowledge after Israel, the Mideast’s only nuclear power, launched airstrikes in 2007 destroying the facility. Syria later leveled the site and never responded fully to the IAEA’s questions. Grossi said inspectors plan to return to the reactor in Deir el-Zour as well as to three other related sites. Other sites under IAEA safeguards include a miniature neutron source reactor in Damascus and a facility in Homs that can process yellow-cake uranium. “We are trying to narrow down the focus, to those or that one that could be of a real interest,” he said. While there are no indications that there have been releases of radiation from the sites, he said, the watchdog is concerned that “enriched uranium can be lying somewhere and could be reused, could be smuggled, could be trafficked.” He said al-Sharaa — who has courted Western governments since taking power — had shown a “very positive disposition to talk to us and to allow us to carry out the activities we need to.” Apart from resuming inspections, Grossi said the IAEA is prepared to transfer equipment for nuclear medicine and to help rebuild the radiotherapy, nuclear medicine and oncology infrastructure in a health system severely weakened by nearly 14 years of civil war. “And the president has expressed to me he’s interested in exploring, in the future, nuclear energy as well,” Grossi said. A number of other countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan, are pursuing nuclear energy in some form. Grossi said Syria would most likely be looking into small modular reactors, which are cheaper and easier to deploy than traditional large ones. Talks on Iran Regarding the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran for a deal over Tehran’s nuclear program, Grossi said he has been in “constant contact” with the parties. “They are negotiating, it’s not us, but it […]
The BBC pushed back on criticism Wednesday after the White House accused it of uncritically echoing claims from Hamas regarding the deaths of Palestinians near an aid distribution site in Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run civil defense organization, at least 31 individuals were killed by Israeli gunfire on Sunday in proximity to a humanitarian aid location funded by the United States.
The IDF firmly denied any involvement in civilian casualties around the area, while both the Israeli military and the aid site’s management accused Hamas of spreading disinformation to manipulate public perception.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the matter on Tuesday, pointing a finger at the BBC’s reporting on the situation.
“The administration is aware of those reports and we are currently looking into the veracity of them because, unfortunately, unlike some in the media, we don’t take the word of Hamas with total truth,” she stated.
Leavitt specifically called out the BBC for running several stories that featured inconsistent fatality numbers.
“We like to look into it when they speak, unlike the BBC, who had multiple headlines,” she said, referencing varied reporting of the death toll.
“And then, oh, wait, they had to correct and take down their entire story, saying ‘We reviewed the footage and couldn’t find any evidence of anything,’” she added.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry also chimed in, reposting Leavitt’s comments on X with a caption suggesting the BBC “stop spreading fake news to vilify Israel.”
The BBC, however, issued a firm rebuttal to the White House’s accusations, clarifying that no article had been deleted and defending the integrity of its journalism.
“The claim the BBC took down a story after reviewing footage is completely wrong. We did not remove any story and we stand by our journalism,” the broadcaster said in a formal statement.
The BBC further explained that shifting death tolls in its headlines were a routine part of responsible news coverage, reflecting real-time updates as new data became available.
It emphasized that all figures in its coverage were properly sourced: “The death tolls were always ‘clearly attributed, from the first figure of 15 from medics, through the 31 killed from the Hamas-run health ministry to the final Red Cross statement of ‘at least 21,’” it added.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, 179 patients were treated at its Rafah facility following the incident, with 21 of them declared dead upon arrival.
Leavitt also took aim at the Washington Post for its initial handling of the story.
The Post acknowledged it pulled one version of its report due to sourcing concerns, explaining that “because it and early versions of the article didn’t meet Post fairness standards.”
The outlet later updated its headline and content Sunday night, stating that “there was no consensus about who was responsible.”
The BBC has previously found itself in the spotlight for its coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. In one instance earlier this year, the network issued an apology after a documentary titled Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone was revealed to feature a 13-year-old narrator who was the son of a high-ranking Hamas operative.
{Matzav.com}
As severe storms once again soak, twist and pelt the nation’s midsection, a team of dozens of scientists is driving into them to study one of the nation’s costliest but least-appreciated weather dangers: Hail. Hail rarely kills, but it hammers roofs, cars and crops to the tune of $10 billion a year in damage in the U.S. So in one of the few federally funded science studies remaining after Trump administration cuts, teams from several universities are observing storms from the inside and seeing how the hail forms. Project ICECHIP has already collected and dissected hail the size of small cantaloupes, along with ice balls of all sizes and shapes. Scientists in two hail-dimpled vehicles with special mesh protecting the windshields are driving straight into the heart of the storms, an area known as the “shaft” where the hail pelting is the most intense. It’s a first-of-its-kind icy twist on tornado chasing. “It’s an interesting experience. It sounds like somebody on the outside of your vehicle is hitting you with a hammer,” said Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini, one of the lead researchers. A team of journalists from The Associated Press joined them this week in a several-day trek across the Great Plains, starting Tuesday morning in northern Texas with a weather briefing before joining a caravan of scientists and students looking for ice. Driving toward the most extreme forecasts The caravan features more than a dozen radar trucks and weather balloon launching vehicles. At each site, the scientists load and unload drones, lasers and cameras and other specialized equipment. There are foam pads to measure hail impact and experimental roofing material. There are even special person-sized funnels to collect pristine hail before it hits the ground and becomes tainted with dirt. Already in treks across Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, the team has found hail measuring more than 5 inches (13 centimeters) in diameter — bigger than a softball, but not quite a soccer ball. The team’s equipment and vehicles already sport dings, dimples and dents that scientists show off like battle scars. “We got a few good whacks,” said forensic engineer Tim Marshall, who was carrying roofing samples to see if there were ways shingles could better handle hail. “I look at broken, busted stuff all the time.” At Tuesday’s weather briefing, retired National Weather Service forecaster David Imy pointed to potential hot spots this week in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Computer models show the potential for a “monster storm down here near the Red River” later in the week, he said. Acting on the latest forecasts, Gensini and other leaders told the team to head to Altus, Oklahoma, but be ready to cross the Red River back into Texas at a moment’s notice. A few hours after his briefing, Imy had the opportunity to chase one of the bigger storms, packing what radar showed was large hail at 8,000 feet (2,438 meters) in the air. Because of the warm air closer to the surface, the hail was only pea sized by the time it hit the ground. But the outing still provided good data and beautiful views for Imy, who was with a group that stationed themselves about a half-mile from the center of the storm. “Beautiful colors: turquoise, bluish green, teal,” Imy said, pointing to the mushroom shaped cloud dominating the sky. “This is […]
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