“Telling your wife your needs and wants” is a complete waste of time for married men who want happiness and I’ll tell you why. So many marriage experts claim they have the secret to a happy marriage and that it all comes down to communication, boundaries and bringing in more money. They tell you to help out more at home, talk about the past, go together to a marriage professional but never stop to take inventory of whether ANY of these methods are actually WORKING in creating happiness and joy! I am not saying those strategies don’t work at all, but they are the long… slow… painful way of having a happy home. And for the few that make it with these strategies, they’ve done it while he doesn’t get what he needs, and she doesn’t get what she needs. Meanwhile, we’re helping our clients connect with their wives on the highest level, living lives full of happiness and excitement and it gets more and more joyful by the day where both husband and wife feel happiness and excitement… … all without needing their wife to meet them halfway! To check out how they do this, click below to watch my free presentation where I share all the details … you’re going to thank me for it! 5 Steps Married Men Use to Get Rid of Friction and Create Happiness and Excitement… Without Needing Their Wife to Meet Them Halfway!
North Korea said Tuesday its latest weapons test was a new hypersonic intermediate-range missile designed to strike remote targets in the Pacific as leader Kim Jong Un vowed to further expand his collection of nuclear-capable weapons to counter rival nations. The North Korean state media report came a day after South Korea’s military said it detected North Korea launching a missile that flew 1,100 kilometers (685 miles) before landing in waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The launch, conducted weeks before Donald Trump returns as U.S. president, came off a torrid year in weapons testing. North Korea demonstrated multiple weapons systems last year that can target its neighbors and the United States, including solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missiles, and there are concerns that its military capabilities could advance further through technology transfers from Russia, as the two countries align over the war in Ukraine. North Korea in recent years has flight tested various intermediate-range missiles, which if perfected, could reach the U.S. Pacific military hub of Guam. In recent months, North has been testing combining these missiles with purported hypersonic warheads to improve their survivability. North Korea since 2021 has been testing various hypersonic weapons designed to fly at more than five times the speed of sound. The speed and maneuverability of such weapons aim to withstand regional missile defense systems. However, it’s unclear whether these missiles are consistently flying at the speeds the North claims. The North’s state media said Kim supervised Monday’s launch, and that the weapon flew 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) and achieved a speed amounting to 12 times the speed of sound before accurately striking a sea target. South Korea’s military did not immediately comment on the North Korean assessment. The North’s state media said Kim supervised Monday’s launch, and that the weapon traveled 1,500 kilometers (932 miles), during which it reached two different peaks of 99.8 kilometers (62 miles) and 42.5 kilometers (26.4 miles) and achieved a speed amounting to 12 times the speed of sound, before accurately striking a sea target. Lee Sung Joon, spokesperson of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the South Korean military believes North Korea was exaggerating capabilities of the system, saying the missile covered less distance and that there was no second peak. Lee said the test was likely a followup to another hypersonic intermediate-range ballistic missile test last April and said it would be difficult to use such systems in a relatively small territory like the Korean Peninsula. He said the South Korean and U.S. militaries were continuing to analyze the missile. Kim described the missile as a crucial achievement in his goals to bolster the North’s nuclear deterrence by building an arsenal “no one can respond to,” according to the official Korean Central News Agency. “The hypersonic missile system will reliably contain any rivals in the Pacific region that can affect the security of our state,” the agency quoted Kim as saying. Kim reiterated that his nuclear push was aimed at countering “different security threats the hostile forces posed to our state,” but KCNA didn’t mention any direct criticism toward Washington, Seoul or Tokyo. The launch took place while U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was visiting Seoul for talks with South Korean allies over the North Korean nuclear threat and other issues. In a news […]
“If those hostages aren’t back by the time I get into office, all hell will break out in the Middle East. And it will not be good for Hamas. And it will not be good frankly for anyone.”
President-elect Donald Trump is prepared to back an Israeli military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities—or potentially authorize a direct U.S. strike—according to two sources familiar with Trump’s recent meeting with Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer. The meeting, held at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on November 10, left Dermer with the impression that military action against Iran is highly likely during Trump’s upcoming term, the sources told Axios. Trump’s stance reflects his increasingly aggressive rhetoric toward Iran. In a November interview with Time magazine, Trump responded to questions about the potential for war with Iran by stating, “Anything can happen. It’s a very volatile situation.” Reports indicate the Trump transition team is actively weighing preventive military options to halt Iran’s nuclear ambitions. These options include U.S.-led airstrikes or selling advanced weapons, such as bunker-busting bombs, to Israel to strengthen its ability to target Iran’s fortified nuclear sites. The prospect of military action has gained traction following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and the recent Israeli targeting of Hezbollah leadership in Lebanon, The Wall Street Journal reported. Trump’s tough stance stands in stark contrast to outgoing President Joe Biden, whose administration reportedly debated striking Iran’s nuclear infrastructure but has since shelved those discussions. With Biden’s term nearing its end, those deliberations have ceased, according to Axios. During his campaign, Trump consistently advocated for aggressive action against Iran. At an October rally in North Carolina, he urged Israel to target Iranian nuclear sites immediately. “That’s the first thing you want to hit. The answer should be: Hit the nuclear first, worry about the rest later,” Trump said, criticizing Biden’s reluctance to pursue such measures. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “We are inheriting a difficult situation from the outgoing administration and they are trying everything they can to make it more difficult… I’ve been disappointed by the Biden administration’s attempt to block the reforms of the American people that they voted for.”
The world is on edge as disturbing reports from China hint at a possible new outbreak, with hospitals and crematoriums allegedly buckling under the weight of rising cases and deaths. Despite mounting evidence, Chinese officials are downplaying the situation — a chilling echo of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unconfirmed reports suggest the mystery illness, believed to be linked to the human metapneumovirus (HMPV), is spreading rapidly. While HMPV typically causes mild cold-like symptoms, accounts of long lines of sick children and adults flooding medical facilities paint a far grimmer picture. Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry, tried to dismiss concerns, saying: “Respiratory infections tend to peak during the winter season… The diseases appear to be less severe and spread on a smaller scale compared to the previous year. It is safe to travel in China.” However, independent reports tell a different story. Aboluowang News cited a farmer from Hunan Province who claimed that several deaths had occurred in his area, involving individuals as young as 40. A funeral director described long lines at crematoriums, likening the scene to a festival market — except it was grieving families, not shoppers, filling the queues. Unverified footage circulating online shows crowded hospitals and patients desperate for care. The chilling accounts are unsettlingly reminiscent of the COVID cover-up that preceded a global pandemic, which cost over seven million lives worldwide. Critics warn that China’s lack of transparency could once again delay critical international responses. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently urged China to share more data, but Beijing’s silence has been deafening. Meanwhile, the United States is experiencing a significant increase in cases of human metapneumovirus (HMPV), with the percentage of positive tests doubling throughout December, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By the last week of December, nearly 300 positive cases were reported, marking the most recent figures available. HMPV, first identified in 2001, typically presents with symptoms similar to the common cold. However, in some cases, the virus can lead to more severe respiratory conditions, including bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. Severe cases may result in shortness of breath, intense coughing, or wheezing. Children, elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk of developing serious complications from the virus. Although the mortality rate for HMPV is not precisely known due to its generally mild nature, experts estimate that between 10 to 30 percent of hospitalized patients die from complications. Similar to COVID-19, HMPV spreads primarily through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can also be transmitted through close personal contact, such as handshakes, or by touching contaminated surfaces. Research suggests that HMPV is responsible for approximately one in ten respiratory illnesses in US children. Common symptoms include fever, cough, congestion, and shortness of breath. The CDC estimates that around 20,000 children under the age of five are hospitalized with HMPV annually. Currently, there are no vaccines or specific antiviral treatments available for HMPV. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The Minneapolis City Council on Monday approved an agreement with the federal government in response to the murder of George Floyd that would require reforms within the city’s police department under long-term court supervision. The agreement was not immediately released publicly, but it was expected to incorporate and build on changes the police department has already made to its policies on the use of force and training of officers in the wake of Floyd’s death in 2020. City Attorney Kristyn Anderson said it would become public after it was filed in federal court, which she said would happen “promptly” after city and federal officials gave their final signatures. The agreement, known as a consent decree, had been under negotiation since the Department of Justice issued a scathing critique of the city’s police in June 2023. The report alleged that police systematically discriminated against racial minorities, violated constitutional rights and disregarded the safety of people in custody for years before Floyd, a Black man, was killed by a white Minneapolis officer. Floyd’s death prompted a national reckoning with police brutality and racism. The Justice Department report was the result of a sweeping two-year investigation that confirmed many citizen complaints about police conduct. The investigation found that Minneapolis officers used excessive force, including “unjustified deadly force,” and violated the rights of people engaged in constitutionally protected speech. An independent monitor will oversee the changes and a judge must approve them. During his first administration, President-elect Donald Trump was critical of consent decrees as anti-police. Finalizing the Minneapolis agreement before he returns to office Jan. 20 would make it harder for him to undercut the deal, because changes would require court approval. The council approved the deal 12-0 Monday during a brief public vote that followed an hourslong closed-door discussion. “I’d like to thank our community for standing together, united in this, and for having patience with us as we have traveled a very, very long and challenging journey,” Council President Elliott Payne said after the vote. “We’re just beginning, and we know we have a long way to go. Our success will only be realized when we all work together on what is arguably one of the most important issues in the life of our city.” Council Member Robin Wonsley said in a statement before the vote that she has “no faith that the Trump administration will be a serious partner” in implementing the agreement. “Having a federal consent decree signed and in place is valuable to police reform efforts, but we need to be sober about the fact that it will take local political will to hold the city and the (Mayor Jacob) Frey administration accountable to implementing and enforcing the terms of the consent decree,” she said. A state court judge in 2023 approved a similar agreement between Minneapolis and the Minnesota Department of Human Rights after the state agency issued its own blistering report in 2022. The state investigation found that the city’s police had engaged in a pattern of race discrimination for at least a decade. The Justice Department has opened 12 similar investigations of state and local law enforcement agencies since April 2021, many in response to high-profile deaths at the hands of police. It has reached agreements with Seattle, New Orleans, Baltimore, Chicago and Ferguson, Missouri. […]
Newly released data from the New York Police Department (NYPD) reveals that antisemitic hate crimes have reached an unprecedented level in 2024, surpassing all other categories of hate crimes combined. The statistics paint a troubling picture, with 345 reported antisemitic incidents—marking a 7% increase from the previous year. According to the NYPD’s End of Year (EOY) 2024 report, anti-Jewish hate crimes accounted for more than half of the city’s total hate crimes. This staggering figure far exceeded hate crimes targeting other groups, including Asian (35), Black (38), Muslim (43), and LGBTQ+ (78). In total, 641 hate crimes were reported across the city, with antisemitic incidents making up over 53% of the total. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine expressed alarm at the findings, emphasizing the disproportionate nature of the attacks. “Antisemitic hate crimes reached an all-time high of 345. More than all other categories of animus combined,” Levine noted in a social media post. “Jewish New Yorkers are approximately 12% of the city. This is why Jewish NYers are sounding the alarm. We can’t accept this as normal.” Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein echoed Levine’s concerns, linking the surge to broader social and political factors. “Still wondering why Jews don’t feel safe in New York City? Anti-Jewish hate crimes outnumbered those against all other groups COMBINED in 2024,” Eichenstein wrote. “This is what happens when ‘globalizing the intifada’ is allowed to fester.” The rise in antisemitic hate crimes follows a pattern observed over recent years. While hate crimes targeting other groups, such as the Asian and Black communities, saw significant declines of 33% and 30% respectively, antisemitic incidents continued to climb. Muslim hate crimes also saw a dramatic increase of 65%, with 43 reported incidents. The overall number of hate crimes in New York City decreased by 4% from 2023 to 2024. However, the disproportionate rise in antisemitic incidents has raised serious concerns among Jewish communities and civil rights organizations. Jewish leaders and advocacy groups are urging city and state officials to take immediate action to address the spike in antisemitic hate crimes. Proposals include increased police presence in Jewish neighborhoods, enhanced community outreach programs, and stronger penalties for hate-related offenses. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The 13-year-old boy came to the clinic with a rapidly ballooning neck. Doctors were puzzled. Testing ruled out their first suspicion. But further tests pinpointed what they — and the boy — had been missing: iodine. A century ago, iodine deficiency affected kids across large swaths of the country. It essentially disappeared after some food makers started adding it to table salt, bread and some other foods, in one of the great public health success stories of the 20th century. But today, people are getting less iodine because of changes in diet and food manufacturing. Although most people are still getting enough, researchers have increasingly been reporting low levels of iodine in pregnant women and other people, raising concerns about an impact on their newborns. And there is also a very small, but growing, number of reports of iodine deficiency in kids. “This needs to be on people’s radar,” said Dr. Monica Serrano-Gonzalez, a Brown University doctor who treated the boy in 2021 in Providence, Rhode Island. What is iodine? Iodine is a trace element found in seawater and in some soils — mostly in coastal areas. A French chemist accidentally discovered it in 1811 when an experiment with seaweed ash created a purple puff of vapor. The name iodine comes from a Greek word meaning violet-colored. Later that century, scientists began to understand that people need certain amounts of iodine to regulate their metabolism and stay healthy, and that it’s crucial in the development of brain function in children. One sign of insufficient iodine is a swelling of the neck, known as a goiter. The thyroid gland in the neck uses iodine to produce hormones that regulate the heart rate and other body functions. When there’s not enough iodine, the thyroid gland enlarges as it goes into overdrive to make up for the lack of iodine. At the beginning of the 20th century, goiter was very common in children in certain inland parts of the United States, especially in a “goiter belt” that stretched from Appalachia and the Great Lakes to the northwest United States. Some of the kids were unusually short, deaf, intellectually stunted and had other symptoms of a syndrome once known as “cretinism.” Adding iodine to salt Public health experts realized they couldn’t solve the problem by feeding everyone seaweed and seafood, but they learned that iodine can essentially be sprayed on table salt. Iodized salt first became available in 1924. By the 1950s, more than 70% of U.S. households used iodized table salt. Bread and some other foods also were fortified with iodine, and iodine deficiency became rare. But diets changed. Processed foods now make up a large part of the American diet, and though they contain a lot of salt, it’s not iodized. Leading bread brands no longer add iodine. In the case of the 13-year-old boy, he has mild autism and was a fussy eater, mostly only eating specific brands of bread and peanut butter. And for people who do salt their food, the fashion now is to use kosher salt, Himalayan rock salt or other noniodized products. “People have forgotten why there’s iodine in salt,” said Dr. Elizabeth Pearce of Boston Medical Center. She is a leader in the Iodine Global Network, a nongovernmental agency working to eliminate iodine deficiency disorders. She […]
An investigation by the IDF has revealed that Hamas’s initial strike on October 7, 2023, targeted several key Israeli Air Force (IAF) bases, including Nevatim, Ramon, Hatzerim, and Palmachim. The bases, crucial to Israel’s aerial defense, were heavily targeted by the 4,500 rockets and mortars Hamas fired during the invasion. The report indicates that while air-raid sirens sounded across Israel, the primary objective of Hamas’s barrage was to disable military installations and prevent aircraft from taking off. A Channel 12 report detailed how Hamas intended to strike Tel Nof Base, approximately 45 miles north of Gaza, in a coordinated three-wave attack. The final wave, consisting of 10 pickup trucks loaded with terrorists, aimed to storm the base and seize control. An Israeli drone intercepted and killed the terrorists in the trucks near the Gaza border fence. Maps of Tel Nof Base were found on the bodies of the attackers, confirming Hamas’s intent. Leading the assault were mid-level Hamas commanders from the elite Nukhba unit of the Al-Qassam Brigades, along with 15 company commanders and several deputies. The investigation also highlighted shortcomings in the IAF’s preparedness. Despite escalating border tensions since the 2018 “Great March of Return” riots, the Air Force had not conducted drills simulating ground invasions from Gaza. As a result, on the morning of the attack, the IAF had only two helicopters and one fighter jet on standby, with just a single drone monitoring Gaza. Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, head of the Air Force, reportedly learned of the attack on the Supernova music festival nearly 10 hours after the assault began. Investigators concluded the Air Force lacked situational awareness and was less informed than many civilians at the time. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The IDF announced on Tuesday that an IDF soldier was killed in battle in northern Gaza earlier in the day. He was identified as Staff Sgt. Ido Samiach, H’yd, 20, from Ganei Tikva. He served in the Nachal Brigade. The Chabad shliach in Ganei Tikva, Rabbi Gershon Shneur, stated: “Ido, H’yd, was a modest, moral and pleasant young man. He was full of love for Am Yisrael and died a hero.” “Ido, z”l used to come to our Chabad house and tell us about the operations he and his friend were moser nefesh to carry out for Am Yisrael. Ido said ‘HaGomel’ at the Beis Chabad when he left Gaza [the first time]. Unfortunately, he fell in Gaza in a battle to defend Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael.” Earlier on Tuesday, the IDF identified a soldier who was killed in northern Gaza on Monday along with another soldier whose death was announced on Monday evening. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
The Federal Reserve’s top financial regulator said Monday that he would resign next month, avoiding a potential confrontation with the incoming Trump administration and Republicans in the Senate. Fed governor Michael Barr said in a letter to President Joe Biden that he would step down as vice chair for supervision Feb. 28, or earlier if a successor was confirmed. Yet Barr said he would remain on the Fed’s board of governors. His term as governor lasts until 2032. Barr oversaw the proposal of tough new rules for the largest U.S. banks, which would have required them to significantly increase their financial reserves. The proposal sparked fierce opposition from the largest financial firms, including JPMorgan Chase, and was sharply criticized by Senate Republicans. During last year’s presidential campaign, there were published reports that former president Donald Trump would try to fire or demote Barr. But at a press conference in November, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said a president doesn’t have the legal authority to do either one. Sen. Tim Scott, who is in line to chair the Senate Banking Committee, which oversees the Fed, on Monday called Barr’s proposed financial regulations “disastrous.” He has previously said that they would limit lending by banks and weaken the economy. “Michael Barr has failed to meet the responsibilities of his position,” Scott said in a statement. “I stand ready to work with President Trump to ensure we have responsible financial regulators at the helm.” By stepping down as vice chair, but not governor, Barr has limited the Trump administration’s options to replace him. All seven seats on the Fed’s board of governors are filled, and an opening won’t occur until Governor Adriana Kugler’s term ends Jan. 31, 2026. As a result, for now President-elect Trump can only appoint another current governor to the top regulatory position, or wait until next year to fill the vacancy on the board with a new regulator. Governor Michelle Bowman, a Republican appointee, has publicly supported less stringent financial regulations and is a potential replacement. “The risk of a dispute over the position could be a distraction from our mission,” Barr said in a statement from the Fed. “In the current environment, I’ve determined that I would be more effective in serving the American people from my role as governor.” Barr took office in June 2022 and was later embroiled in the spate of bank failures in the spring of 2023 that started with Silicon Valley Bank, the third-largest failure in U.S. history. Barr oversaw the preparation of a report that blamed watered-down bank regulations, the Fed’s own staffers, and the banks’ managers for the failures. Barr then proposed to tighten bank rules, particularly for those banks with $100 billion or more in assets, by requiring them to hold more capital in reserve. Previously, Trump appointees at the Fed had loosed rules for banks with less than $250 billion in assets. Yet those rules met with ferocious opposition from the banking industry, prompting Powell to announce last March that they would be revised. The Fed said Monday that it “does not intend to take up any major rulemakings until a vice chair for supervision successor is confirmed.” (AP)
Rudy Giuliani was found in contempt of court Monday for failing to properly respond to requests for information as he turned over assets to satisfy a $148 million defamation judgment granted to two Georgia election workers. Judge Lewis J. Liman ruled after hearing Giuliani testify for a second day at a contempt hearing called after lawyers for the election workers said the former New York City mayor had failed to properly comply with requests for evidence over the last few months. Liman said Giuliani “willfully violated a clear and unambiguous order of this court” when he “blew past” a Dec. 20 deadline to turn over evidence that would help the judge decide at a trial later this month whether Giuliani can keep a Palm Beach, Florida, condominium as his residence or must turn it over because it is deemed a vacation home. Because Giuliani failed to reveal the full names of his doctors, a complete list of them, or of his other professional services providers, the judge said he will conclude at trial that none of them were in Florida or had been changed after Jan. 1, 2024. That was the date Giuliani says he established Palm Beach as his permanent residence. Liman also excluded Giuliani from offering testimony about emails or text messages to establish that his homestead was in Florida. The judge said Giuliani produced only a dozen and a half “cherry picked” documents and no phone records, emails or texts related to his homestead. He said he can also make inferences during the trial about “gaps” in evidence that resulted from Giuliani’s failure to turn over materials. Liman said he would withhold judgment on other possible sanctions. On Friday, Giuliani testified for about three hours in Liman’s Manhattan courtroom, but the judge permitted him to finish testifying remotely on Monday for over two hours from his Palm Beach condominium. By the time the judge issued his oral ruling, Giuliani was no longer present at all. Joseph Cammarata, Giuliani’s attorney, noted in an email afterward that the election workers were not in the courtroom either and he called the outcome “no surprise.” “This case is about lawfare and the weaponization of the legal system in New York City,” he said. Cammarata said the state criminal case against President-elect Donald Trump and the civil litigation against Giuliani were “very similar. It’s the left wing Democrats trying to use liberal Judges in New York to win when they should lose on the merits.” At the start of the hearing, Giuliani appeared before an American flag backdrop, which he said he uses for a program he conducts over the internet, but the judge told him to change it to a plain background. He also at one point held up his grandfather’s heirloom pocket watch and said he was ready to relinquish. Giuliani conceded that he sometimes did not turn over everything requested in the case because he believed what was being sought was overly broad, inappropriate or even a “trap” set by lawyers for the plaintiffs. He also said he sometimes had trouble turning over information regarding his assets because of numerous criminal and civil court cases requiring him to produce factual information. Liman labeled one of Giuliani’s claims “preposterous” and said that being suspicious of the intent of lawyers for […]
President-elect Donald Trump is promising to replace the head of the National Archives, thrusting the agency back into the political spotlight after his mishandling of sensitive documents led to a federal indictment. “We will have a new archivist,” Trump told radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday. The agency piqued Trump’s ire after it alerted the Department of Justice about potential problems with Trump’s handling of classified documents in early 2022. That set in motion an investigation that led to a dramatic FBI search of Trump’s home at Mar-a-Lago, which culminated in him becoming the first former president charged with federal crimes. The current archivist, Colleen Shogan, the first woman in the role, wasn’t in the post at that time. David Ferriero, who had been appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009, announced in January 2022 that he’d be retiring effective that April. Shogan was nominated by President Joe Biden in August 2022, just days before the FBI search at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida. But she was not confirmed until May of the following year, after a monthslong partisan battle over the agency’s role in the documents investigation. The national archivist can be removed from office by the president, who can choose a successor who is then confirmed by the Senate, so Trump’s promise to do so is not unusual. Still, Trump has vowed to smash what he calls the “ deep state,” a nebulous term referring generally to the federal government, including civil servants and bureaucrats he argues are hostile to his ideological views and those of Republicans more broadly. Presidents are legally required to provide most of their records to the National Archives once they leave office. When the National Archives realized that some documents were missing from its collection after Trump left office, they made repeated demands for him to return them, according to the federal indictment. Trump eventually turned over some of the documents but hid others, the indictment charged. He was indicted by special counsel Jack Smith on charges including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements and representations. He pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Prosecutors moved to abandon the case after his Election Day victory in November. That was consistent with long-standing Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. (AP)
The U.S. on Monday eased some restrictions on Syria’s transitional government to allow the entry of humanitarian aid after Islamist insurgents ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad last month. The U.S. Treasury issued a general license, lasting six months, that authorizes certain transactions with the Syrian government, including some energy sales and incidental transactions. The move does not lift sanctions on the nation that has been battered by more than a decade of war, but indicates a limited show of U.S. support for the new transitional government. The general license underscores America’s commitment to ensuring its sanctions “do not impede activities to meet basic human needs, including the provision of public services or humanitarian assistance,” a Treasury Department statement reads. Treasury Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo said his agency “will continue to support humanitarian assistance and responsible governance in Syria.” Since Assad’s ouster, representatives from the nation’s new de facto authorities have said that the new Syria will be inclusive and open to the world. The U.S. has gradually lifted some penalties since Assad departed Syria for protection in Russia. The Biden administration in December decided to drop a $10 million bounty it had offered for the capture of a Syrian rebel leader whose forces led the ouster of Assad last month. The announcement followed a meeting in Damascus between the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, Ahmad al-Sharaa, who was once aligned with al-Qaida, and the top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, Barbara Leaf, who led the first U.S. diplomatic delegation into Syria since Assad’s ouster. The U.S. and U.N. have long designated HTS as a terrorist organization. HTS led a lightning insurgency that ousted Assad on Dec. 8 and ended his family’s decades-long rule. From 2011 until Assad’s downfall, Syria’s uprising and civil war killed an estimated 500,000 people. Much of the world ended diplomatic relations with Assad because of his crackdown on protesters, and sanctioned him and his Russian and Iranian associates. Most of Western-led sanctions targeted Assad, and his associates, for the brutal crackdown on protesters and their manufacturing of the amphetamine-like stimulant Captagon, which reportedly generated billions of dollars as packages of the little white pills were smuggled across Syria’s porous borders. With Assad out of the picture, Syria’s new authorities hope that the international community will pour money into the country to rebuild its battered infrastructure and make its economy viable again. Syria’s infrastructure has been battered, with power cuts rampant in the country and some 90% of its population living in poverty. About half the population won’t know where its next meal will come from, as inflation surges. The pressure to lift sanctions has mounted in recent years as aid agencies continue to cut programs due to donor fatigue and a massive 2023 earthquake that rocked Syria and Turkey. The tremor killed over 59,000 people and destroyed critical infrastructure that couldn’t be fixed due to sanctions and overcompliance, despite the US announcing some humanitarian exemptions. Qutaiba Idlbi, a research fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank who leads work on Syria said ahead of the general license issuance: “There is a general agreement,” among regional and international governments, “that we need to avoid driving Syria back into chaos.” “The only path forward is to engage positively.” (AP)
The personal details of Chabad shliach in Metula, Rabbi Moshe Sasonkin, were uncovered in chilling documents that IDF forces found in a Hezbollah bunker in the southern Lebanese village of Kfar Kila during the recent war in the north. The documents included Rabbi Sasonkin’s name, address, and even his car details, along with the details of other prominent individuals on the northern border yishuv of Metula. Metula is located only two kilometers from Kila, which was a Hezbollah stronghold before the war. The town was mostly destroyed by IDF forces during the war. Rabbi Sasonkin, who has been the Chabad shliach in Metula for 35 years, told the Kfar Chabad newspaper: “Among the intelligence found in Hezbollah’s underground bunkers was a list of the most important people in Metula – the head of the council, council members, and the head of security. Our house was also ‘honored’ to be marked on the terrorists’ map, along with a precise description of our car.” “This was a detailed plan for a massacre similar to October 7, which only due to Chasdei Shamayim did not come to fruition.” The documents revealed that Hezbollah terrorists in Kila planned to launch an October 7-style attack in Israel from nearby Metula. IDF operations in Kila during the war revealed that almost every house in the Lebanese village had been converted into a missile launch point, and the ‘Radwan Force’ terrorists were operating from there. “Almost every house, even if it appeared to be a residence of a family of ‘innocent civilians,’ contained a stockpile of weapons, including RPG missiles and other lethal munitions, and thousands of terrorists were trained and ready to use this weaponry to attack,” Rabbi Sasonkin said. “There is no logical explanation for why they did not carry out the diabolical plan, which was already prepared in every detail. The only explanation is that we experienced a great neis.” “Long before the October 7 attack, a senior reserve military officer living in the area and regularly attending our Torah shiurim often told me how deeply concerned he was about the security situation,” Rabbi Sasonkin added. “He warned that there was a real and immediate danger as Hezbollah terrorists could breach the border at any moment, easily overrun Metula, and cause a hostage crisis or worse before anyone could respond in time.” “It’s likely even he didn’t realize just how prepared Hezbollah was for an attack on the northern communities. But his words made it less surprising to me when it became clear just how ready and trained they were for such a horrifying assault.” Fittingly, Rabbi Sasonkin was first told about the great neis on Chanukah. “A senior source told me that after IDF forces entered the village of Kfar Kila, they discovered a document containing highly detailed plans for a massacre similar to the one on October 7.” “This information came to me recently during a conversation with a senior official. I told him that now, after the cease-fire, there’s hope that Metula’s residents will finally return to their homes. He replied, ‘You have no idea how much you need to be thankful for,’ and then revealed the contents of this harrowing document.” “Just think about it: mere kilometers from Metula, every home we could see from every corner of the town […]
Brazilian police on Tuesday morning appealed to the federal court regarding the claim filed by the antisemitic Hind Rajab Foundation [HRF] against an IDF soldier, saying that such an investigation involves “technical and legal issues.” In any case, the soldier fled the country on Sunday with the assistance of the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Additionally, Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli published an expose report on HRF on Sunday, revealing its close ties to terror groups. The heads of HRF, both natives of Lebanon now living in Belgium, have ties to Hezbollah and Hamas and have publicly supported murderous terror activities against Israelis, Jews, and even Americans. Following the serious incident in Brazil, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar convened a meeting on Sunday regarding the persecution of Israelis abroad attended by representatives of the Mossad, Shin Bet, and the National Security Council; ministers, including Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli; and senior officials from the Foreign, Justice, and Transporation Ministries. “The meeting was the first of a series of discussions and focused on improving cooperation among all entities in dealing with the issue,” a Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated following the meeting. Ynet reported on Sunday that since October 7, 12 criminal complaints have been filed against soldiers and reservists in the following countries: Morocco, Norway, Belgium, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, Brazil, Thailand, Ireland, Serbia, France, and South Africa. [Since the report, HRF has also filed claims against soldiers in Chile and Argentina.] In five of the cases, the targeted soldiers were assisted by Israeli authorities to quickly escape the country. According to the report, the main danger to IDF soldiers lies in countries with a hostile stance towards Israel, including Ireland, Brazil, Spain, Belgium, and South Africa. However, it should be noted that although HRF has attempted to issue arrest warrants for IDF soldiers, not one country has complied with the request. In Brazil, HRF attempted to thwart the IDF soldier from escaping the country by filing a claim to the federal court without mentioning his name. However, after it posted a message on social media that it filed a claim against an “IDF suspect” in Brazil, Foreign Minister Sa’ar contacted the IDF, and officials from the ministry and IDF carried out a coordinated effort to identify the soldier. Within hours, they succeeded in contacting him and aided him and his friends to swiftly leave the country before a detainment order or arrest warrant could be issued against him. Meanwhile, HRF on Tuesday filed a claim of “war crimes” against an IDF soldier in Argentina. On Monday, it filed a claim against an IDF soldier in Thailand and is making efforts to file claims against additional soldiers in the country, which is a popular vacation site for Israelis. Additionally, HRF filed a claim in Chile this week for so-called war crimes against IDF soldier Saar Hirshoren who is currently traveling there. HRF located a pro-Palestinian group in Chile called AbogadosxPalestina, consisting of 620 Chilean lawyers, to do their dirty work for them. The group filed a criminal complaint against Hirshoren in Argentina on December 24 and Chile the next day, calling for Hirshoren’s arrest. The foundation said Hirshoren was initially in Argentina when the first case was filed before leaving for Chile. It should be noted that Chili’s left-wing president, Gabriel Boric, has a […]
Four years after launching a push for more diversity in its ranks, McDonald’s is ending some of its diversity practices, citing a U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that outlawed affirmative action in college admissions. McDonald’s is the latest big company to shift its tactics in the wake of the 2023 ruling and a conservative backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Walmart, John Deere, Harley-Davidson and others rolled back their DEI initiatives last year. McDonald’s said Monday it will retire specific goals for achieving diversity at senior leadership levels. It also intends to end a program that encourages its suppliers to develop diversity training and increase the number of minorities in their own leadership ranks. McDonald’s said it will also pause “external surveys.” The Chicago burger giant didn’t elaborate, but several other companies, including Lowe’s and Ford Motor Co., suspended their participation in an annual survey by the Human Rights Campaign that measures workplace inclusion for LGBTQ+ employees. McDonald’s rolled out a series of diversity initiatives in 2021 after a spate of harassment lawsuits filed by employees and a lawsuit alleging discrimination by a group of Black former owners of McDonald’s franchises. “As a world-leading brand that considers inclusion one of our core values, we will accept nothing less than real, measurable progress in our efforts to lead with empathy, treat people with dignity and respect, and seek out diverse points of view to drive better decision-making,” McDonald’s Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski wrote in a LinkedIn post at the time. But McDonald’s said Monday that the “shifting legal landscape” after the Supreme Court decision and the actions of other corporations caused it to take a hard look at its own policies. In an open letter to employees and franchisees, McDonald’s senior leadership team said it remains committed to inclusion and believes a diverse workforce is a competitive advantage. The company said 30% of its U.S. leaders are members of underrepresented groups, up from 29% in 2021. McDonald’s previously committed to reaching 35% by the end of this year. McDonald’s said it has achieved one of the goals it announced in 2021: gender pay equity at all levels of the company. It also said it expected to achieve a goal of having 25% of total supplier spending go to diverse-owned businesses by the end of the year. McDonald’s said it would continue to support efforts that ensure a diverse base of employees, suppliers and franchisees, but its diversity team will now be referred to as the Global Inclusion Team. The company said it would also continue to report its demographic information. (AP)
