Feed aggregator

A 23-year-old Orthodox Jewish woman was assaulted aboard a Manhattan subway train Sunday afternoon after an alleged antisemite launched into a stream of hateful remarks before violently attacking her, police said, the New York Post reports.

Authorities identified the suspect as Diana Smith of the Bronx. According to investigators, Smith began shouting antisemitic comments on a crowded C train in Lower Manhattan shortly after 2 p.m. before targeting the young woman and allegedly grabbing, choking, and assaulting her.

“I was a ragdoll and I couldn’t defend myself – there should have been a human barricade around me,” the young Orthodox Jewish victim, who asked her name be withheld, told The NY Post.

“No one stepped up until it was too late.”

The victim, a nurse originally from Montreal, said she boarded the subway at Jay Street and had only been riding for a short distance when Smith entered the train and began making hostile remarks about Jews to other passengers.

According to the victim, Smith first spoke to one couple “about the dangers of Jews stealing wealth” before directing her attention elsewhere in the train car.

She then turned to another couple and wildly said, “You could always see the reflection of a Jew,” said the Jewish woman.

The victim said she soon realized she had become the focus of Smith’s attention.

“And then she turned towards me, like very targeted, stared me down, and smiled with this very eerie smile that I’ll never forget,” the brave nurse said.

Rather than look away, the victim said she chose to confront the hostility directly.

“I decided in that moment I really did not want to show fear in the face of that, so I stared at her right back down, and I said, ‘So you see my reflection?’ and she said, ‘Yeah, and I smell it on you too.’”

Part of the confrontation was recorded on the victim’s cellphone, capturing some of the suspect’s disturbing comments.

“Jews are eating kids,” she shouted.

According to the victim and police, the situation quickly turned physical. Smith allegedly put her hand around the woman’s throat, escalating the encounter from verbal harassment to violence.

Several passengers attempted to intervene, but the suspect continued shouting.

“It’s OK for Jews to eat kids, but I can’t choke her down.”

Moments later, the victim said her phone was knocked from her hand and Smith allegedly wrapped both hands around her neck before kicking and pushing her to the floor.

During the attack, the woman said the suspect yanked her hair so violently that a chunk was torn out.

When the train arrived at Canal Street, the victim ran off the subway car in search of police officers. Another rider activated the emergency alarm, helping authorities quickly respond and take Smith into custody.

The victim said the aftermath of the incident was almost as unsettling as the attack itself, as numerous witnesses approached her only after the suspect had been arrested.

“When I had to identify her, a ton of people were like, ‘Oh, we saw what happened, are you OK?’ And, that was extremely triggering for me, because, of course, I’m not OK. I kept just thinking, I’m not in Nazi Germany,” said the woman, who is only 5-foot-3.

“How is this happening, and how is it that you saw what happened, and just were a bystander?”

In addition to the hair loss and other injuries, the victim said she suffered a concussion during the assault.

Court records show Smith has been charged with hate crime assault, hate crime criminal obstruction of breathing, and aggravated harassment.

The victim said she believes the suspect deliberately singled her out because she was visibly Jewish.

“She’s pure evil, but she was lucid enough to know I was Jewish,” the victim said.

The attack occurred on the same day thousands gathered in Manhattan for the Israel Day Parade along Fifth Avenue. The victim also expressed frustration with city leadership, specifically criticizing Mayor Zohran Mamdani for not attending the event.

“I don’t think New York is protecting Jews. I don’t think Mamdani not going to the Israel Day Parade is helping,” she said.

{Matzav.com}

Human remains discovered Wednesday evening in Kfar Aza have renewed hopes of answering one of the unresolved tragedies of the October 7 massacre, as authorities investigate whether a skull fragment recovered at the scene belongs to the late IDF officer Nirel Zini.

The remains were found in the Dor Tzair section of the kibbutz and transferred to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute for examination. Among the items recovered was part of a skull, prompting forensic experts to determine whether it is connected to Zini, whose head was never recovered following his murder during the Hamas attack.

Zini served in the Givati Brigade and spent approximately ten years in military service. In 2015, he suffered severe injuries during an operational mission in Chevron, but after an extensive rehabilitation process, he returned to active duty.

On the morning of October 7, 2023, Zini was at his home in Kfar Aza with his partner, Niv Raviv. As terrorists stormed the community, he sent a final message to his family at 10:04 a.m.

“I’ll update you. They’re here. I’m putting down the phone. Pray.”

Relatives later said that Zini attempted to divert the attackers’ attention in an effort to give Raviv an opportunity to hide. Both were ultimately murdered during the assault.

Their bodies were not recovered until six days later. During subsequent meetings with investigators from Lahav 433, family members were informed that Zini had been beheaded during the massacre.

The family has maintained that they were not told about those details before the funeral. They also contend that no government agency undertook a sustained effort to locate the missing remains. According to the family, Amir Zini repeatedly appealed to officials to have his son classified as a fallen soldier whose remains had been taken into Gaza, but those requests were denied.

In the absence of an official search effort, the family launched its own campaign to find answers. Assisted by volunteers and professionals, they conducted extensive searches throughout the devastated kibbutz grounds.

Over time, hundreds of items recovered from the area were sent to the Abu Kabir Forensic Institute for testing. Family members said many of those findings were ultimately identified as animal bones or materials from which no usable DNA could be extracted.

In correspondence sent to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Amir Zini wrote that the family had been left to carry the burden of the search largely on its own, while also struggling to obtain information from state authorities.

Now, almost three years after the massacre that devastated Kfar Aza and other communities near the Gaza border, the Zini family is once again waiting for answers. The results of forensic testing will determine whether the skull fragment recently uncovered is the final missing piece connected to Nirel Zini’s murder.

{Matzav.com}

In a unanimous ruling issued Wednesday, Israel’s Supreme Court overturned a government policy that barred representatives of the Red Cross from visiting terrorists held in Israeli prisons.

The restriction was implemented following the outbreak of the war and remained in effect until the court’s decision. The justices ruled in favor of a petition challenging the policy, finding that the government had failed to establish a legal foundation for the measure.

Justice Dafna Barak-Erez wrote that the state did not present a valid legal justification for preventing Red Cross officials from meeting with incarcerated terrorists.

Deputy Supreme Court President Noam Sohlberg concurred, stating that the policy could not remain in force because the government had not identified any legal authority supporting its decision to impose the ban.

Supreme Court President Isaac Amit joined the opinions of his fellow justices, making the decision unanimous.

The ruling sparked an immediate and angry reaction from National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who sharply criticized the court and renewed his call for sweeping judicial reforms.

“A shameful ruling by detached judges who sit in their ivory towers and continue to care for terrorists while citizens of Israel pay the price of terrorism. Any such ruling reminds us why the judicial system needs to change. Reform now!”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump expressed growing confidence Wednesday that a breakthrough with Iran could be imminent, suggesting that negotiators are nearing an agreement and that a deal could potentially be finalized within days.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said discussions with Tehran have been progressing favorably and indicated that momentum is building toward a formal agreement.

“I hear the negotiations with Iran are going very well. If a deal happens with Iran it could be done over the weekend,” Trump told reporters, adding that Iran is “close” to signing the papers.

The president also said one of Washington’s key objectives is securing control of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, a goal he believes could soon be achieved.

When questioned about the status of the ceasefire following Iran’s overnight attack on Kuwait, Trump suggested the incident must be viewed in a broader context and maintained that the situation remains fluid.

“There’s a reason for everything, and we hit them pretty hard”, while also acknowledging that “anything can happen when you are dealing with Iran.”

Trump’s remarks followed his repeated insistence that diplomatic contacts between the United States and Iran have not been interrupted despite reports suggesting otherwise.

On Tuesday, the president rejected claims that discussions over Iran’s nuclear program had been halted.

In a Truth Social post, Trump emphasized that negotiations have continued uninterrupted and said the responsibility now rests with Iran to move toward an agreement.

“Fake News Reports that the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the U.S.A., stopped speaking a few days ago are false and erroneous,” wrote Trump.

He added, “The conversations between us have been going on continuously, including four days ago, three days ago, two days ago, one day ago, and today. Where they lead, one never knows, but as I told Iran, ‘It’s time, one way or another, for you to make a Deal. You’ve been doing this for 47 years, and it cannot be allowed to go on any longer!’”

The president’s comments came after reports from Iranian media outlets claimed that Tehran had suspended indirect talks with Washington due to Israel’s expanding military campaign in Lebanon.

Trump subsequently pushed back against those reports and reiterated that diplomatic engagement remains active.

“Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The president struck a similarly optimistic tone during an interview with ABC News, where he predicted that a broader understanding with Iran could be reached soon.

According to Trump, he expects an agreement to preserve the ceasefire and restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz “over the next week.”

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu broke his silence Wednesday regarding reports of a tense phone conversation with President Donald Trump, insisting that despite occasional disagreements, the two leaders remain aligned on the most important issues, particularly Iran.

Speaking in an interview with CNBC, Netanyahu downplayed suggestions of a serious rift between Israel and Washington following reports that a heated exchange took place earlier this week over developments in Lebanon.

“President Trump and I agree on the main issues concerning Iran. Sometimes we have tactical disagreements, but we resolve them,” Netanyahu said.

The prime minister said the central question now is whether Iran intends to resume hostilities or pursue a different course, emphasizing that both Israel and the United States continue to pursue common strategic objectives.

According to him: “The question is whether Iran wants to return to another round of fighting. We’ll wait and see, as they say. The United States and we have shared goals; we will see what we can achieve through an agreement.”

Although Netanyahu was asked about the reported phone call, he stopped short of discussing its details. At the same time, he did not dispute the reports that tensions surfaced during the conversation.

Instead, Netanyahu suggested that disagreements are natural even among close allies.

“There are arguments even in good families,” he emphasized.

The Israeli leader also used the interview to take aim at European governments, accusing many of failing to stand firm against growing radical Islamist influences within their own countries.

Netanyahu argued that Israel’s military and security efforts benefit not only Israelis but also Western nations more broadly, and he criticized European leaders for what he described as a lack of resolve.

“It is shameful how European leaders surrender to radical Islamic minorities in their countries. They know that we are defending them as well, but they do not have the courage to stand with what is right – the side that will save our civilization from the barbarians.”

{Matzav.com}

When the NBA Finals come back to New York for the first time in nearly three decades, President Trump is expected to be among the spectators inside Madison Square Garden.

Sources told The Post that Trump is planning to attend Game 3 of the championship series between the Knicks and Spurs on June 8. While the visit is expected to take place, officials noted that schedules can always change.

In preparation for the possible presidential appearance, Madison Square Garden has already conducted security inspections and planning exercises, according to sources familiar with the arrangements.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is also expected to be in attendance for Game 3. However, sources indicated that the mayor and the president are not expected to sit together during the game.

Trump had previously stated that he intended to attend one of the Finals games held in New York. Game 3 is scheduled for June 8, followed by Game 4 on June 10 and, if necessary, Game 6 on June 16.

The president had originally hoped to attend Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Those plans became unnecessary after the Knicks clinched their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999 by eliminating the Cavaliers in a four-game sweep.

“I was invited to. I was going to go on Wednesday [Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals], but they closed it out very quickly. They’re great, and Jim Dolan’s a great guy — he’s, as you know, owns and in charge of Madison Square Garden. He’s having a good year,” Trump told The Post’s Emily Goodin on May 27.

Trump also praised the Knicks’ remarkable postseason run and said he was eager to see the team play on basketball’s biggest stage.

“Boy, what a team! They win all their games. They really have some great players. I think I’ll be going to one of the games, yeah. I was invited by numerous people, and Jim, and I think it’s great. Great to see it. The Knicks have really, they’ve really suffered for years and they’re doing right now very well.”

Trump has become a regular presence at major sporting events during his presidency. Among the high-profile contests he has attended were the Eagles’ victory over the Chiefs in Super Bowl 2025 in New Orleans and the men’s championship match at the 2025 U.S. Open in Queens.

A group accused of orchestrating a sophisticated cargo theft operation that netted roughly $4.5 million in cigarettes, meat, cheese, copper, and other products was taken down Wednesday, according to authorities who say the suspects carried out a series of warehouse thefts across the Northeast using fraud rather than force.

Investigators allege that Murodullo “Murad” Khasanov headed the operation, which relied on cyber intrusions, forged shipping documents, and false identities to gain access to valuable cargo shipments. Rather than carrying out traditional armed robberies, the suspects allegedly tricked warehouse personnel into releasing merchandise by posing as legitimate trucking companies.

Authorities say the group enjoyed the proceeds of the scheme while living in upscale apartments overlooking the ocean in Brooklyn neighborhoods such as Brighton Beach and Coney Island. They allegedly spent lavishly on luxury vehicles and flaunted large amounts of cash at local nightspots.

“These guys acted like they watched every mob movie ever made and emulated American gangsters – the Hollywood version,” one law enforcement source said. “The great American dream, Cosa Nostra style.”

Khasanov was arrested during a pre-dawn raid at his apartment on Surf Avenue, according to law enforcement sources. Investigators reportedly seized computers, mobile phones, and boxes of records from the residence, which overlooks the Coney Island boardwalk.

Authorities also arrested two additional suspects as part of the operation. The arrests stem from a wide-ranging indictment filed in Manhattan that names eight alleged participants in the scheme.

Prosecutors said the three defendants taken into custody will face charges that include first-degree grand larceny and conspiracy. The investigation was conducted jointly by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the Port Authority Police Department, and the NYPD.

According to court filings, the theft ring carried out at least six separate cargo thefts between October 2025 and April.

Investigators allege the group stole approximately $165,000 worth of lamb, $266,000 in copper, $295,000 in beef, $432,000 in cheese, and an estimated $3.3 million worth of cigarettes.

One law enforcement source claimed that Khasanov and his associates entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration and do not speak English.

“These guys can’t speak English. Who knows how they got their [commercial driving] license, but they are right out of central casting,” the source said.

Court records allege that the crew worked alongside an unnamed organized crime group that helped penetrate the commercial shipping industry by masquerading as legitimate freight carriers and securing shipping contracts under false pretenses.

According to prosecutors, members of the criminal organization obtained shipment information through fraudulent means, while Khasanov allegedly supplied drivers with forged paperwork necessary to claim the cargo.

Authorities contend that the drivers traveled to pickup locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, where they posed as authorized transport companies before taking possession of the shipments.

The stolen merchandise was then allegedly transported to New York City and sold through underground channels, generating substantial profits for the group.

Investigators say they assembled a significant body of evidence linking the defendants to the thefts, including WhatsApp communications, shipping records, photographs, and other documentation.

Among the evidence cited in court papers are photographs that allegedly show Khasanov loading stolen lamb into a Range Rover, arranging the sale of stolen copper at a Brooklyn scrap facility, and standing outside a warehouse containing stolen cigarettes.

Authorities are now examining whether the Brooklyn-based operation may have ties to a larger nationwide network involved in similar cargo theft schemes, according to law enforcement sources.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and other officials were expected to provide additional details about the investigation during a Wednesday afternoon news conference.

Khasanov and his co-defendants were also scheduled to appear in Manhattan Supreme Court later in the day. Court records did not immediately indicate who would be representing the defendants.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Bernie Sanders is preparing legislation that would require some of America’s largest artificial intelligence firms to hand over 50% ownership to the federal government, with the value placed into a national investment fund designed to provide financial benefits directly to Americans.

The Vermont senator has named the proposal the American AI Sovereign Wealth Fund Act. Under the plan, companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI would be required to transfer a substantial portion of their equity into a government-controlled fund, with future proceeds used for public benefit programs and direct payments to citizens.

Rather than imposing a conventional tax, Sanders is proposing a one-time transfer of company stock. The affected firms would surrender half of their outstanding shares, making the federal government a major owner in each company.

Under the legislation, Washington would gain significant influence over the companies’ operations. In addition to ownership rights, the government would receive voting power and board representation.

The federal government would then receive voting rights and “an equal representation on each company’s board,” which Sanders said would allow it to “block decisions that hurt our citizens and to push for policies that help them.”

Sanders argued that the extraordinary wealth being generated by artificial intelligence should be shared more broadly because the technology itself was developed using knowledge and content created by society as a whole.

“Since AI is built on the collective knowledge of humanity, the wealth it generates must benefit humanity,” he said in a video posted to X, naming Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Larry Ellison as beneficiaries of what he called a wealth-extracting machine.

“The time has come to reclaim what was stolen from us.”

The senator portrayed the debate over artificial intelligence as a defining choice about who will shape and profit from the technology’s future.

“The question is not whether AI will change the world. It will,” Sanders said. “The question is, who will own and control that future?”

According to Sanders, the proposed fund could eventually accumulate enormous resources that could be used to support a variety of social programs.

The fund’s proceeds, which Sanders said could reach “billions, if not trillions,” would finance direct cash payments and help guarantee healthcare, education, and housing “as human rights.”

To support his argument, Sanders pointed to existing sovereign wealth funds around the world that use public assets to generate long-term returns for citizens.

Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, financed by oil revenues, now manages assets exceeding $2 trillion. Alaska has also distributed annual payments to residents for decades through a state fund supported by energy revenues.

The proposal comes as President Trump has already instructed federal officials to explore the creation of a national sovereign wealth fund through an executive order.

Sanders also noted that some major AI firms have floated similar concepts. He pointed to OpenAI’s discussion of a “public wealth fund” and Anthropic’s support for sovereign wealth fund structures tied to artificial intelligence investments.

Despite the attention the proposal is likely to generate, its path through Congress appears difficult. Democrats remain in the minority in both the House and Senate, and Sanders has recently struggled to attract support for other AI-related legislation.

His Artificial Intelligence Data Center Moratorium Act, introduced earlier this year, has yet to gain any Senate cosponsors.

Sanders acknowledged that implementing government ownership in companies whose AI divisions represent only part of their overall business operations would present challenges. He said additional details regarding governance, spending priorities, and implementation would be outlined when the legislation is formally introduced.

Industry observers noted that the proposal could have an immediate impact beyond Capitol Hill. OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI are currently pursuing major fundraising efforts, and analysts said public calls from a sitting U.S. senator to transfer half of their ownership to the government could create uncertainty among investors.

{Matzav.com}