On Monday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara Netanyahu, inaugurated United Hatzalah’s new National Emergency Preparedness Logistics Center, which is expected to significantly enhance the organization’s logistics capabilities and serve thousands of field medical responders. During the visit, the Prime Minister and his wife received a comprehensive briefing on the activities of approximately 8,000 male and female volunteers nationwide. They were presented with documentation of volunteer medical response operations during Operation Rising Lion. The Prime Minister and his wife commended the dedicated volunteers who save lives daily. The Prime Minister and his wife were accompanied by Health Minister Uriel Buso, Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, United Hatzalah’s management, branch heads and their deputies, and medical volunteers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “I decided to name this operation ‘Rising Lion,’ based on the verse ‘Like a lion the nation shall rise, like a lion it shall lift itself up.’ Do you know why? Because this is our nation, and you come from the nation, and you operate for the nation. There are none like you. You see it—from all sectors of Israeli society, from all communities, and with complete dedication. These ambulances are instruments; these Ambucycles are instruments. What we have here are people—women and men with tremendous spirit, with genuine willingness to throw yourselves into the fire and into the ruins, to extract and rescue. I want to tell you on behalf of all the people of Israel, the State of Israel, and all Israeli citizens—I tell you on behalf of many, many around the world—you deserve all the honor, and you deserve all the assistance.” United Hatzalah President and Founder Eli Beer said: “United Hatzalah volunteers represent the entire spectrum of Israeli society and operate with dedication around the clock for the noble value of saving human lives, working to arrive within 90 seconds of receiving a medical emergency call—with professionalism, courage, and heroism under fire. I am deeply moved by the tremendous appreciation of the Prime Minister and his wife, who work tirelessly for the safety and security of the people of Israel and have supported United Hatzalah’s sacred medical response work for many years. Together, we will continue to assist every citizen requiring medical care and always respond wherever needed.” Photo Credit: Maayan Tuaf/GPO
Reports indicate that all 14 Jews arrested last week by Iranian authorities have been released, according to Iranian opposition activists and journalists speaking to JNS. Their arrests were part of a broader nationwide crackdown in which approximately 600 Iranians were detained after the announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Rosa Parto, an Iranian-Israeli journalist, cited a reliable source inside the Iranian government — described as a Muslim man unfriendly to the regime — who confirmed that no Jews had been arrested in Tehran and that those detained in Shiraz and Isfahan on June 24 and 25 were later released. Parto explained that the Iranian regime’s security services were not specifically targeting Jews, but rather arrested hundreds for sharing or liking posts on social media deemed critical of the regime during the conflict. Among those detained were Jews who participated in a daf yomi group on WhatsApp. According to George Haroonian, an Iranian Jewish activist based in Los Angeles, regime cyber police had been monitoring the group, apparently mistaking its purpose for something political. Once authorities realized the group’s religious nature, those arrested were freed. Haroonian stated he had heard that as many as 35 Jews were detained, with all but two or three now released. Parto criticized exaggerated reports that as many as 700 Jews, including rabbanim and chazzanim, had been arrested. She attributed those claims to social media posts circulated by a small Iranian opposition group in Paris, which she said lacked genuine connections to the Jewish community in Iran. “They shamefully made up this fake news just to get media attention without any regard for the lives of Jews in Iran,” Parto told JNS, noting that her contacts in Tehran and other cities would have immediately informed her if large-scale arrests had truly taken place. Meanwhile, Iranian Jewish leaders have come under pressure from the regime to avoid contact with those outside the country, especially with Israel. A Jewish Iranian activist in Los Angeles told JNS, speaking anonymously, that community members inside Iran had been warned that communicating with Israelis could result in six months’ imprisonment on espionage charges. Some Jews in Iran have also been warned their phones and internet activity are being monitored. Parto recounted that several of her friends in Tehran and Isfahan had asked her not to contact them further out of fear of retaliation. Fred Saberi, an Iranian-Swedish analyst, suggested the regime’s actions reflected its weakness following military setbacks against Israel, describing the crackdown as a way to intimidate the broader population and deter dissent. On June 25, Iran’s state-controlled PressTV reported that three people accused of being Mossad spies had been executed, further fueling fear among the country’s Jewish minority. Jewish Iranian-American leaders have traditionally remained cautious in public comments to avoid provoking reprisals against the estimated 9,000-strong Jewish community still living in Iran. “The situation for Jews living in Iran right now is very precarious, and I would strongly urge anyone, especially groups in America, Europe, and Israel, to avoid making comments in the media that could possibly place our Jewish loved ones there in jeopardy,” Parto warned. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Authorities say two firefighters were killed and another was critically wounded after they were shot while responding to a wildfire near Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Here’s what to know about Sunday’s attack, the investigation and next steps. Attack began with a brush fire Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris said firefighters first responded to an early afternoon report of a brushfire at Canfield Mountain, a popular hiking and biking area near the outskirts of town. A man began shooting at them after firefighters asked him to move his vehicle. Law enforcement officials responded, locking down neighborhoods nearby and trying to find the shooter in hilly terrain that had plenty of cover, with thick brush and trees and smoke from the fire nearby. First hours were chaotic Over the next few hours, it wasn’t clear if hikers or other recreationists were stuck on the mountain, or if civilians had been injured in the shooting, Norris said. What was clear was the danger firefighters and responding law enforcement faced. “We don’t know how many suspects are up there, and we don’t know how many casualties there are,” Norris told reporters at a Sunday afternoon news conference. “We are actively taking sniper fire as we speak.” A spokesperson with Kootenai Health later confirmed that three patients were brought to the hospital. Two were dead by the time they arrived and a third was injured. The names of the slain and wounded firefighters were released by fire department officials on Monday afternoon. Battalion Chief Frank Harwood, 42, who had been with the Kootenai County fire department for 17 years, was killed, county Fire and Rescue Chief Christopher Way said during a news conference. Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison, 52, was also killed. He had worked with the department for 28 years. Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Engineer David Tysdal, 47, was in critical condition after undergoing two surgeries. Cellphone data helps law enforcement find the suspect Faced with more than 17,000 square feet (1,580 square meters) of containment area, part of it burning, authorities used cellphone data to narrow their search. They identified a cell signal around 3:15 p.m. and noticed it had not changed location for some time, Norris said. A tactical response team went to the location and found a deceased man with a weapon nearby. Officials believe the man was the shooter and that he killed himself, the sheriff said. Investigators said he acted alone. Who was the suspect? The suspect has been identified as Wess Roley, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Monday. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the investigation. He had ties to California and Arizona and was living in Idaho “for the better part of 2024,” Norris said. Authorities said Monday that Roley had relatives north of Coeur d’Alene around the Priest River area and that it appeared Roley had been living out of his vehicle. He lived with T.J. Franks Jr. for about six months in Sandpoint, Idaho, while working for a tree service, Franks said Monday. Franks had cameras in his apartment that caught Roley throwing gang signs at them one day, which worried Franks to the point that he called police. “I didn’t know what to really think about it,” Franks said. “I just called […]
One person died and two others were injured after an explosion damaged several homes on Philadelphia’s north side early Sunday, according to authorities. Firefighters responded to a report of an explosion just before 5 a.m., according to the Philadelphia Fire Department. Daniel McCarty, the department’s executive officer, said there was extensive damage to about five homes, including collapsed structures. One person died and two others who were rescued were hospitalized. McCarty said one was reported stable while the other was in critical condition. Crews were expected to continue search and rescue operations. “The biggest thing is the stability of the surrounding houses, making sure that this hazard doesn’t spread,” McCarty said. “This will be an extensive, all-day operation for the Philadelphia Fire Department.” Authorities had not determined the cause of the explosion. (AP)
President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House next Monday as the U.S. leader steps up his push on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war in Gaza. The trip will be Netanyahu’s third visit to the White House since Trump returned to office in January, and it comes after the United States inserted itself into Israel’s war against Iran by attacking Iranian nuclear sites. After brokering a ceasefire between the two countries, Trump has signaled that he’s turning his attention to bringing a close to the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Trump on Friday told reporters that “we think within the next week we’re going to get a ceasefire” in Gaza, but didn’t offer any further explanation for his optimism. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Trump and administration officials were in constant communication with Israeli leadership and that bringing about an end to the Gaza conflict is a priority for Trump. “It’s heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end,” Leavitt added. “He wants to save lives.” Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is in Washington this week for talks with senior administration officials on a Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other matters. Talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly faltered over a major sticking point — whether the war should end as part of any ceasefire agreement. About 50 hostages remain captive in Gaza, with about twenty believed to be alive. With Netanyahu’s visit, the timing of which was first reported by Axios, Trump will embrace the Israeli leader while continuing to push back against skeptical questions from Democratic lawmakers and others about how far U.S. and Israeli strikes have set back Iran’s nuclear program. A preliminary report issued by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, meanwhile, said the strikes did significant damage to the Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan sites, but did not totally destroy the facilities. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that the three Iranian sites with “capabilities in terms of treatment, conversion and enrichment of uranium have been destroyed to an important degree.” But, he added, “some is still standing,” and that because capabilities remain, “if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again.” He said assessing the full damage comes down to Iran allowing inspectors access. Trump in recent days has also inserted himself into Israeli domestic affairs, calling for charges against Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial to be thrown out. He has condemned the trial as a “WITCH HUNT” and vowed that the United States will be the one who “saves” Netanyahu from serious corruption charges. The decision by Trump to plunge himself into one of Israel’s most heated debates has unnerved some in its political class. Meanwhile, the Trump administration on Monday approved a new half-billion-dollar arms sale to Israel to resupply its military with bomb guidance kits for precision munitions. The State Department said the sale is worth $510 million. It includes more than 7,000 guidance kits for two different types of Joint Direct […]
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer marks a year in office this week, fighting a rebellion from his own party over welfare reform and reckoning with a sluggish economy and rock-bottom approval ratings. It’s a long way from the landslide election victory he won on July 4, 2024, when Starmer’s center-left Labour Party took 412 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons to end 14 years of Conservative government. In the last 12 months Starmer has navigated the rapids of a turbulent world, winning praise for rallying international support for Ukraine and persuading U.S. President Donald Trump to sign a trade deal easing tariffs on U.K. goods. But at home his agenda has run onto the rocks as he struggles to convince British voters — and his own party — that his government is delivering the change that it promised. Inflation remains stubbornly high and economic growth low, frustrating efforts to ease the cost of living. Starmer’s personal approval ratings are approaching those of Conservative Prime Minister Liz Truss, who lasted just 49 days in office in 2022 after her tax-cutting budget roiled the economy. John Curtice, a political scientist at the University of Strathclyde, said Starmer has had “the worst start for any newly elected prime minister.” Rebellion over welfare reform On Tuesday, Starmer faces a vote in Parliament on welfare spending after watering down planned cuts to disability benefits that caused consternation from Labour lawmakers. Many balked at plans to raise the threshold for the payments by requiring a more severe physical or mental disability, a move the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank estimated would cut the income of 3.2 million people by 2030. After more than 120 Labour lawmakers said they would vote against the bill, the government offered concessions, including a guarantee that no one currently getting benefits will be affected by the change. It pledged to consult with disability groups about the changes, and do more to help sick and disabled people find jobs. Some rebels said they would back the bill after the concessions, but others maintained their opposition. The welfare U-turn is the third time in a few weeks that the government has reversed course on a policy under pressure. In May, it dropped a plan to end winter home heating subsidies for millions of retirees. Last week, Starmer announced a national inquiry into organized child abuse, something he was pressured to do by opposition politicians — and Elon Musk. “It’s a failure of leadership for a prime minister with such a big majority to not be able to get their agenda through,” said Rob Ford, professor of politics at the University of Manchester. “I can’t think of many examples of a prime minister in postwar politics suffering such a big setback when presiding over such a strong position in the Commons.” It also makes it harder for the government to find money to invest in public services without raising taxes. The government estimated the welfare reforms would save 5 billion pounds ($7 billion) a year from a welfare bill that has ballooned since the COVID-19 pandemic. After the concessions, it’s only likely to save about half that amount. Starmer acknowledges errors The government argues that it has achieved much in its first year: It has raised the minimum wage, strengthened workers’ rights, launched new social housing projects and pumped money into the state-funded health system. But it […]
A compensation agreement for the families of young victims of the Meron disaster will be brought before the court for approval, it was reported on Tuesday. This was an agreement reached after the Lod District Court, headed by Judge Irit Cohen, accepted the positions of attorney Eran Becker, who represents a number of the victims’ families in the disaster, who proposed a framework for compensating the families. According to the agreement, which will be submitted for court approval, families of young and minor victims—up to the age of 24—are expected to receive significant financial compensation. One of the families is expected to receive a sum of approximately NIS 2.9 million. Similar amounts have been offered in additional cases—in accordance with the age of the deceased. According to the agreement, the compensation will be paid by the State of Israel, the National Center for the Development of Holy Sites, and insurance companies. Attorneys Eran Becker and Moran Cohen Yonatan, who represent some of the victims’ families, said, “This is compensation that reflects not only the terrible loss caused to the families but also reflects the responsibility that must be placed on the state and the other bodies that were sued for the serious failures that were behind the disaster. “The writing was on the wall, and decades of deliberately turning a blind eye led to a foreseeable disaster. “The agreement that will be transferred for court approval is an important step—moral, legal, and public—that clarifies that human life is not cheap; that there is meaning to the suffering that the victims endured until their death; and that full responsibility must be taken for the serious failures that led to the disaster. “We are proud of the families who chose not to remain silent, who did not give up, and who stood bravely for the fact that justice must not only be done but also be seen. No amount will bring back the loved ones who were lost, but this is a significant milestone in the journey towards recognition, justice, and healing.” (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Elon Musk delivered a new, blistering rebuke Monday of President Donald Trump’s signature spending bill, as the Senate raced through a marathon amendment session in hopes of getting the measure to Trump’s desk by the July 4 deadline. Musk, once a close White House ally and a power player at the Department of Government Efficiency, took a flamethrower to Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” slamming it as a historic betrayal of taxpayers. “It is obvious with the insane spending of this bill, which increases the debt ceiling by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS, that we live in a one-party country – the PORKY PIG PARTY!!” Musk wrote on X, the social media platform he owns. He added: “Time for a new political party that actually cares about the people.” In a follow-up post, Musk escalated his attack, declaring that every member of Congress who votes for the bill should “hang their head in shame” and vowing political revenge. “[T]hey will lose their primary next year if it is the last thing I do on this Earth,” Musk thundered. The White House, seeking to cool tensions, pointed to Trump’s remarks on Fox News over the weekend, where he shrugged off Musk’s fury as sour grapes over the bill’s plan to slash electric vehicle subsidies. “I think Elon is a wonderful guy, and I know he’s going to do well, always. He’s a smart guy,” Trump told Fox. Musk, however, has made clear his outrage goes beyond green energy carve-outs, repeatedly blasting the bill’s expected $3 trillion-plus addition to the national debt. Their already strained relationship collapsed into a public feud earlier this month after Musk lashed out in a string of posts he later partially walked back. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump’s administration filed suit Monday against Los Angeles, claiming the city is obstructing the enforcement of immigration laws and creating a lawless environment with its sanctuary policies that bar local police from sharing information on people without legal status. The lawsuit in U.S. District Court says Los Angeles’ “ sanctuary city” ordinance hinders White House efforts to crack down on what it calls a “crisis of illegal immigration.” It is the latest in a string of lawsuits against so-called sanctuary jurisdictions — including New York,New Jersey and Colorado — that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The Los Angeles policy bars city resources from being used for immigration enforcement. The court filing calls the city ordinance “illegal” and asks that it be blocked from being enforced. Chad Mizelle, chief of staff for U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, said in announcing the latest lawsuit that the administration will not tolerate any interference with the federal government’s crackdown. “We will keep enforcing federal immigration law in Los Angeles, whether or not the city’s government or residents agree with it,” Mizelle said in a social media post on the platform X. Messages seeking comment on the lawsuit were sent to the offices of Mayor Karen Bass and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto. The Los Angeles lawsuit claims Trump “won the presidential election on a platform of deporting the millions of illegal immigrants.” Over the past three weeks, immigration agents have swarmed Southern California, arresting hundreds of people and prompting protests. Tens of thousands of people participated in rallies over immigration raids and the subsequent deployment of the National Guard and Marines. Los Angeles police have arrested over 100 people on various charges from throwing rocks at federal officers to setting fire to Waymo cars equipped with self-driving technology. “The practical upshot of Los Angeles’ refusal to cooperate with federal immigration authorities has, since June 6, 2025, been lawlessness, rioting, looting, and vandalism,” the court filing says. On June 18, the mayor lifted a curfew she had imposed a week earlier to prevent vandalism and break-ins during nighttime protests. The demonstrations had been largely concentrated in a few downtown blocks that are home to several federal and local government buildings. (AP)
IV therapy clinics are springing up around the country, touting quick ways to recover from a hangover or a hard workout. But doctors and regulators preach caution. The services have been on a growth spurt since the COVID-19 pandemic, offering drips that promise to boost energy, gird immune systems or relieve joint pain. This is done from bags of intravenous fluids normally seen hanging next to hospital beds. Customers must be willing to fork over as much as couple hundred dollars for each session — in some cases for a mixture of vitamins and supplements that would be considerably cheaper in pill form. Proponents say this approach helps customers hydrate faster and absorb more of a vitamin or supplement than they would by swallowing pills. But Dr. Sam Torbati, co-chair of emergency medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, says the therapy mostly helps people create “expensive urine,” with the body clearing what it doesn’t use. How many IV clinics are there? They’re hard to count, partly because some businesses just provide IV therapy while others offer it as part of a medical spa. The practice grew popular during COVID-19, when access to doctors became limited and people grew more concerned about their immune system health, according to the American IV Association, an industry group. Regulators in Ohio are following the trend closely in their state, which now has around 200 clinics. These businesses were largely unheard of there before the pandemic, said Cameron McNamee, a spokesman for the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. What should customers know about IV therapy clinics? Doctors say there are some good questions to pose before any treatment starts. Customers should ask the person starting the IV how long they have been doing their job and what sort of training they have, said Torbati. They also should know what’s in the IV drip. For instance, “Wonder Juice” treatment offered by the Restore Hyper Wellness franchise combines six vitamins and supplements that are available, in oral form, on the pharmacy store shelves. Knowing all the ingredients comes in handy if someone has an allergic reaction. Also ask where the company gets its drugs, if any are used. The answer should be a licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler, according to McNamee. Otherwise, the drug could be counterfeit or substandard. Ohio regulators have suspended the licenses of businesses that purchased drugs on Facebook. Customers also should make sure the clinic is in decent shape when they visit. “If the office isn’t clean, then the IV room’s probably not clean either,” McNamee said. Why are regulators concerned? They don’t like that a nurse or a paramedic often helps a customer decide on an IV therapy and then delivers the treatment. Rules can vary, but many state regulators say a doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner should be involved. The clinics often run on standing orders, which are issued by a doctor with the idea that they give the nurse or paramedic permission to treat patients according to certain protocols. Hospital emergency rooms regularly operate on the same kind of orders, according to Dr. Chris Seitz, an emergency physician and chairman of the American IV Association’s scientific advisory board. “Many nurses saw patients before I ever could get to them in the emergency department and initiated care like IV fluids,” he […]
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday it is delaying by one month the planned cutoff of satellite data that helps forecasters track hurricanes. Meteorologists and scientists warned of severe consequences last week when NOAA said, in the midst of this year’s hurricane season, that it would almost immediately discontinue key data collected by three weather satellites that the agency jointly runs with the Defense Department. The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s microwave data gives key information that can’t be gleaned from conventional satellites. That includes three-dimensional details of a storm, what’s going on inside of it and what it is doing in the overnight hours, experts say. The data was initially planned to be cut off on June 30 “to mitigate a significant cybersecurity risk,” NOAA’s announcement said. The agency now says it’s postponing that until July 31. Peak hurricane season is usually from mid-August to mid-October. Spokespeople from NOAA and the Navy did not immediately respond to a request for more details about the update. NOAA — which has been the subject of hefty Department of Government Efficiency cuts this year — said Friday the satellite program accounts for a “single dataset in a robust suite of hurricane forecasting and modeling tools” in the National Weather Service’s portfolio. The agency’s “data sources are fully capable of providing a complete suite of cutting-edge data and models that ensure the gold-standard weather forecasting the American people deserve,” a spokesperson said. But Union of Concerned Scientists science fellow Marc Alessi told The Associated Press on Friday that detecting the rapid intensification, and more accurately predicting the likely path, of storms is critical as climate change worsens the extreme weather experienced across the globe. “Not only are we losing the ability to make better intensification forecasts, we are also losing the ability to predict accurately where a tropical cyclone could be going, if it’s in its development stages,” Alessi said. “This data is essential. “On the seasonal forecasting front, we would see the effects,” he added, “but also on the long-term climate change front, we now are losing an essential piece to monitoring global warming.” (AP)
As a trauma therapist and social worker, I’ve dedicated my career to understanding the complexities of human behavior, communication, and the devastating impact of trauma, especially in cases of child abuse. I also frequently write about cognitive biases and how they shape our perceptions. Today, I want to delve into a particularly insidious phenomenon known as the “Liar’s Dividend” and explore how it inadvertently, and dangerously, contributes to a culture where perpetrators of child abuse can evade accountability. The Liar’s Dividend is a concept that describes the benefit a liar receives from the general skepticism that exists about the truth. In simpler terms, it’s the idea that because we know false accusations can happen, genuine accusations are often met with a degree of doubt, suspicion, or even outright disbelief. This skepticism, while sometimes well-intentioned or born from a desire for fairness, can be weaponized by individuals and groups who seek to manipulate and exploit. Now, let’s connect this directly to the horrific reality of child abuse. When allegations of child abuse surface, a critical and often heartbreaking hurdle is the pervasive belief that “people get falsely accused all the time.” While it is true that false accusations, in any context, are a grave injustice and can have devastating consequences for the falsely accused, the existence of these rare occurrences is often amplified and distorted. This overemphasis on false accusations then creates a fertile ground for the Liar’s Dividend to flourish. Consider this: when a survivor bravely comes forward with an accusation, they are often met not with immediate empathy and support, but with a series of questions designed to ascertain the “truth” of their claim. These questions, while appearing to seek clarity, can quickly become an overwhelming cross-examination, forcing the survivor to defend their account rather than having the alleged perpetrator face scrutiny. This often happens because the specter of ‘false accusations’ heavily influences many people’s perceptions. This is where the Liar’s Dividend becomes a dangerous accomplice to injustice. The insidious nature of the Liar’s Dividend in these cases is that it allows individuals to give perpetrators a “pass” simply because they believe, or have heard of, instances where someone else was falsely accused. It creates a perverse equation where: Awareness of False Accusations (rare but real) + Liar’s Dividend = Discounting of Genuine Accusations. This isn’t to say we shouldn’t be concerned about false accusations or that due process isn’t essential. However, the pendulum has swung so far for some that the very possibility of a false accusation overshadows the much more prevalent reality of genuine abuse. This skewed perspective creates a shield for abusers, allowing them to hide behind the specter of “false claims” and deflect legitimate accusations. The consequences are devastating: Victim Blaming: Survivors are subjected to intense scrutiny, their credibility questioned, and their trauma re-lived and invalidated. Impunity for Abusers: Perpetrators can escape accountability, free to continue their destructive patterns, knowing that the “false accusation” narrative provides them with a convenient shield. Chilling Effect: Other potential survivors are deterred from coming forward, fearing they will not be believed and will face further trauma in the process. Erosion of Trust: The public’s trust in the justice system and in the ability to protect vulnerable populations is eroded. As a society, we must challenge this dangerous narrative. While […]
State and federal prosecutors have charged more than 320 people and uncovered nearly $15 million in false claims in what they described Monday as the largest coordinated takedown of health care fraud schemes in Justice Department history. Law enforcement seized more than $245 million in cash, luxury vehicles, cryptocurrency, and other assets as prosecutors warned of a growing push by transnational criminal networks to exploit the U.S. health care system. As part of the sweeping crackdown, officials identified perpetrators based in Russia, Eastern Europe, Pakistan, and other countries. “These criminals didn’t just steal someone else’s money. They stole from you,” Matthew Galeotti, who leads the Justice Department’s criminal division, told reporters Monday. “Every fraudulent claim, every fake billing, every kickback scheme represents money taken directly from the pockets of American taxpayers who fund these essential programs through their hard work and sacrifice.” The alleged $14.6 billion in fraud is more than twice the previous record in the Justice Department’s annual health care fraud crackdown. It includes nearly 190 federal cases and more than 90 state cases that have been charged or unsealed since June 9. Nearly 100 licensed medical professionals were charged, including 25 doctors, and the government reported $2.9 billion in actual losses. Among the cases is a $10 billion urinary catheter scheme that authorities say highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods used by transnational criminal organizations. Authorities say the group behind the scheme used foreign straw owners to secretly buy up dozens of medical supply companies and then used stolen identities and confidential health data to file fake Medicare claims. Nineteen defendants have been charged as part of that investigation — which authorities dubbed Operation Gold Rush — including four people arrested in Estonia and seven people arrested at U.S. airports and at the border with Mexico, prosecutors said. The scheme involved the stolen identities and personal information of more one million Americans, according to the Justice Department. “It’s not done by small time operators,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “These are organized syndicates who are designing to hurt America.” (AP)
Iran on Sunday claimed that an Israeli airstrike last week on Tehran’s notorious Evin prison killed at least 71 people, marking what was likely the deadliest single attacks in the recent war between the two countries. The Iranian judiciary spokesperson, Asghar Jahangir, posted the casualty figures on the Mizan news agency’s website, noting that those killed included prison staff, soldiers, inmates, and visiting family members. Iranian authorities did not break down the numbers further or specify how many were wounded. The Washington-based group Human Rights Activists in Iran said its reporting indicated at least 35 staff members and two inmates died, along with others outside the facility, including a woman who had come to speak with a judge about her husband’s case. Jahangir said some of the injured were treated on site while others were taken to local hospitals, but no official count of the wounded was released. The strike on June 23 targeted what Israeli officials described as “regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran.” Evin prison has long been notorious for housing political prisoners, journalists, activists, and dissidents. Among those killed in the attack was Iran’s top prosecutor, Ali Ghanaatkar, whose prosecution of prominent dissidents — including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi — had drawn international criticism. The Evin prison strike came as part of a 12-day Israeli military campaign that Israel claims killed around 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists, while hitting eight nuclear facilities and more than 700 other military sites. The status of Iran’s nuclear program remains uncertain. President Donald Trump has insisted that American airstrikes on June 22 “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capacity, but Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), offered a more cautious assessment on Sunday. Speaking on CBS’s Face the Nation, Grossi acknowledged “severe damage” to Iran’s program but said that its industrial and technological capacities largely remain. “Frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared,” Grossi said, warning that Tehran could restart uranium enrichment “in a matter of months” if it chose to do so. Iran has so far refused to allow IAEA inspectors to assess the full scale of the damage. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday ending U.S. sanctions on Syria, following through on his promise to do so. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the move was designed to “promote and support the country’s path to stability and peace.” Sanctions will remain in place on ousted former President Bashar Assad, his top aides and family. The executive order is meant to “end the country’s isolation from the international financial system, setting the stage for global commerce and galvanizing investments from its neighbors in the region, as well as from the United States,” Treasury’s acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, Brad Smith, told reporters on a call Monday morning to preview the administration’s action. The White House posted the text of the order on X after the signing, which was not open to the press. The U.S. granted Syria sweeping exemptions from sanctions in May, which was a first step toward fulfilling the Republican president’s pledge to lift a half-century of penalties on a country shattered by 13 years of civil war. Along with the lifting of economic sanctions, Monday’s executive order lifts the national emergency outlined in an executive order issued by former President George W. Bush in response to Syria’s occupation of Lebanon and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, Treasury officials said. Five other previous executive orders related to Syria were also lifted. Sanctions targeting terrorist groups and manufacturers and sellers of the amphetamine-like stimulant Captagon will remain in place. Trump met with Syria’s interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Saudi Arabia in May and told him he would lift sanctions and explore normalizing relations in a major policy shift in relations between the U.S. and Syria. “This is another promise made and promise kept,” Leavitt said Monday. The European Union has also followed through with lifting nearly all remaining sanctions on Syria. Still, some restrictions remain in place. The U.S. still designates Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism and the group led by al-Sharaa as a foreign terrorist organization. A State Department official said the department is reviewing those designations. (AP)
FLATBUSH – BREAKING UPDATE: Sources tell Flatbush Scoop that a preliminary investigation indicates that the suspect who carried out an armed robbery at a Western Union in the confines of the NYPD 63rd Precinct just minutes after the USPS Post Office shooting on Coney Island Avenue may be the same individual. The NYPD is awaiting evidence to confirm whether the firearm used in the robbery matches the one used at the post office. Flatbush Scoop will provide further updates as they become available.
The International Criminal Court has been targeted by a “sophisticated” cyberattack and is taking measures to limit any damage, the global tribunal announced Monday. The ICC, which also was hit by a cyberattack in 2023, said the latest incident had been contained but did not elaborate further on the impact or possible motive. “A Court-wide impact analysis is being carried out, and steps are already being taken to mitigate any effects of the incident,” the court said in a statement. The attack happened last week. “All necessary measures have been taken to ensure the business continuity,” court spokesman Fadi El Abdallah told The Associated Press. The incident happened in the same week that The Hague hosted a summit of 32 NATO leaders at a conference center near the court amid tight security including measures to guard against cyberattacks. The court declined to say whether any confidential information had been compromised. The ICC has a number of high-profile investigations and preliminary inquiries underway in nations around the world and has in the past been the target of espionage. In 2022, a Dutch intelligence agency said it had foiled a plot by a Russian spy using a false Brazilian identity to work as an intern at the court, which is investigating allegations of Russian war crimes in Ukraine and has issued a war crimes arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine. Arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister, Yoav Gallant, over Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza have also drawn ire. U.S. President Donald Trump slapped sanctions on its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, in February and earlier this month also sanctioned four judges at the court. The court is still feeling the effects of the last cyberattack, with wifi still not completely restored to its purpose-built headquarters. (AP)
