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A historic agreement involving rare earth minerals was recently signed between Ukraine and the Trump administration, reinforcing broader defense efforts initiated under the Biden years, which included ramped-up deliveries of air defense systems to help Ukraine push back against Russian aggression.

As part of this evolving effort, a Patriot missile defense system originally located in Israel is now being refurbished to be sent to Ukraine. At the same time, talks are underway among NATO partners to coordinate additional Patriot system deliveries from Germany or Greece, according to four individuals who spoke with The New York Times.

“President Trump has been clear: He wants the war in Ukraine to end and the killing to stop,” said National Security Council spokesman James Hewitt to the Times. He declined to give further details on the transfer plans.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stepped into a dual role, now also serving as acting national security adviser. Rubio has long advocated for Ukraine, tracing back to his tenure as the lead Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee during the Biden presidency, where he consistently supported pushing back on Russian expansionism.

A former Biden White House official confirmed to the Times that the decision to transfer Israel’s Patriot system to Ukraine had already been in motion as early as September, before Trump won the November election. Trump has often expressed a desire to scale back unlimited aid to Ukraine while promoting negotiations with Vladimir Putin to end the war.

In a statement to the Times, the Pentagon said it is still delivering hardware to Ukraine based on prior authorizations.

Although President Trump had previously expressed frustration with Ukraine’s leadership, the Times noted that his stance has shifted. After a series of tense exchanges with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump appears to have sharpened his criticism of Russia while becoming more receptive to Ukraine’s security needs.

Their most recent meeting took place at the funeral of Pope Francis, where Trump and Zelenskyy finalized the long-awaited minerals agreement. Supporters of the deal highlight that it offers Ukraine a form of strategic protection against Russian aggression while securing U.S. access to rare earth resources.

President Zelenskyy confirmed Saturday in Kyiv that the minerals deal had prompted Western allies to accelerate the provision of advanced missile defenses.

Zelenskyy, who has extended martial law and suspended democratic processes until August — a move that Trump has disapproved of — has repeatedly asked the U.S. to speed up Patriot deliveries.

These systems include radar and missile interceptors designed to shoot down incoming threats.

“We are ready to purchase the necessary number of Patriot systems for our country,”
Zelenskyy declared. “This is not about charity.”

Trump acknowledged that Zelenskyy brought up the issue of Patriots during their brief interaction at the papal funeral.
“He told me that he needs more weapons,” Trump told reporters. “He’s been saying that for three years. Look, he wants to do something good for his country.”

While Trump continues to encourage a truce or broader peace agreement, analysts warn that Russia is escalating its missile campaign. Kateryna Stepanenko of the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War told the Times that the increase in strikes is part of a larger psychological effort.

“Part of it is a psychological and political campaign that the Kremlin is waging, in which it’s trying to scare Ukrainian people into essentially accepting capitulation, when the realities of the battlefield for Russia are far from Russia actually winning,” she said.

{Matzav.com}

The European Union launched a drive on Monday to attract scientists and researchers to Europe with offers of grants and new policy plans, after the Trump administration froze U.S. government funding linked to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. “A few years ago, no one would have imagined that one of the biggest democracies in the world would cancel research programs under the pretext that the word diversity was in this program,” French President Emmanuel Macron said at the “Choose Europe for Science” event in Paris. “No one would have thought that one of the biggest democracies in the world would delete with a stroke the ability of one researcher or another to obtain visas,” Macron said. “But here we are.” Taking the same stage at the Sorbonne University, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU’s executive branch would set up a “super grant” program aimed at offering “a longer-term perspective to the very best” in the field. She said that 500 million euros ($566 million) will be put forward in 2025-2027 “to make Europe a magnet for researchers.” It would be injected into the European Research Council, which already has a budget of more than 16 billion euros ($18 billion) for 2021-2027. Von der Leyen said that the 27-nation EU intends “to enshrine freedom of scientific research into law” with a new legal act. As “the threats rise across the world, Europe will not compromise on its principles,” she said. Macron said that the French government would also soon make new proposals to beef up investment in science and research. Last month, hundreds of university researchers in the United States had National Science Foundation funding canceled to comply with U.S. President Donald Trump’s order to end support to research on diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as the study of misinformation. More than 380 grant projects have been cut so far, including work to combat internet censorship in China and Iran and a project consulting with Indigenous communities to understand environmental changes in Alaska’s Arctic region. Some terminated grants that sought to broaden the diversity of people studying science, technology and engineering. Scientists, researchers and doctors have taken to the streets in protest. While not mentioning the Trump administration by name, von der Leyen said that it was “a gigantic miscalculation” to undermine free and open research. “We can all agree that science has no passport, no gender, no ethnicity, no political party,” she said. “We believe that diversity is an asset of humanity and the lifeblood of science. It is one of the most valuable global assets and it must be protected.” Von der Leyen’s drive to promote opportunities in Europe in the field of science and take advantage of U.S. policy shifts dovetails with the way that she has played up the potential for trade deals with other countries since Trump took office in January and sparked a tariff war last month. The former German defense minister, and trained doctor, vowed that the EU would also address some of the roadblocks that scientists and researchers face, notably excessive red tape and access to businesses. Macron said that science and research must not “be based on the diktats of the few.” Macron said that Europe “must become a refuge” for scientists and researchers, and he […]

During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, President Donald Trump made the case that his proposed tariffs would bring significant financial benefit to the United States.

“The tariffs are going to make us rich. We’ll be a very rich country,” Trump said, emphasizing the potential economic upside of his trade policies.

Moderator Kristen Welker brought up comments Trump had made during a cabinet meeting, referencing his suggestion that children might end up with fewer toys, saying, “At your cabinet meeting, you said, ‘Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls would cost a couple of bucks more than you would normally.’ Are you saying that the tariffs will cause some prices to go up?”

Trump pushed back on the notion that consumers would suffer due to the tariffs. “No, I think the tariffs will be great for us because it will make us rich,” he replied.

Welker pressed him again, pointing to his own example about doll prices. “You said some dolls will cost more. Isn’t that an acknowledgment will make prices to go up?”

In response, Trump minimized the concern, turning the focus to overconsumption and trade imbalances. “I don’t think a beautiful baby girl that’s 11 years old needs to have 30 dolls. They can have three or four dolls. What we were doing with China is unbelievable. We lost hundreds of billions with China.”

Trying to pin him down further, Welker asked, “When you say three dolls or 30 dolls, will Americans see empty store shelves?”

Trump dismissed that interpretation. “No, I’m not saying that. I’m saying they don’t need to have 30 dolls. They can have three. They don’t need 250 pencils. They can have five.”

Welker concluded by suggesting he was describing a situation that could lead to product shortages. “You are basically saying there could be supply shortages.”

Trump countered that the real issue wasn’t availability, but frivolous spending on imports. “I’m saying we don’t need to waste money on a trade deficit with China for things we don’t need, for junk we don’t need.”

{Matzav.com}

A senior defense official said on Monday afternoon that the IDF will begin preparing for the expanded military operation in Gaza but will not launch it until after US President Donald Trump concludes his visit to the Middle East. Trump is scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the US from May 13-16. The new operation has been named Operation Gideon’s Chariots. “Operation Gideon’s  Chariots, with the goal of defeating Hamas in Gaza and the release of all hostages, was unanimously approved by the security cabinet,” the official told the press. He added that a “key part of the plan is the evacuation of the entire Gazan population from combat zones, including from northern Gaza, to southern Gaza, while differentiating between civilians and Hamas terrorists, in order to allow the IDF operational freedom of action.” “Unlike in the past, the IDF will remain in any area it captures to prevent the return of terrorism, and will operate in each cleared area according to the Rafah model, where all threats were neutralized and the area became part of the security buffer zone.” He added that Israel will bring humanitarian aid into Gaza “after the start of operational activity and a large-scale evacuation of civilians to the south. A humanitarian plan will be implemented, as presented yesterday by the IDF and approved by the cabinet, by using civilian companies and designating areas that will be secured by the IDF. This includes a sterile zone in the Rafah area beyond the Morag route, where entrants will be screened by the IDF to prevent Hamas operatives from gaining access.” “The military’s preparations ahead of the ground operation will create a window of opportunity—until the end of the U.S. President’s visit—for a hostage deal under the ‘Witkoff model.’” “In such a case, Israel will seek to retain territory that has been cleared and incorporated into the buffer zone beyond the March lines. Under any temporary or permanent arrangement, Israel will not withdraw from the security buffer zone around Gaza, which is intended to protect Israeli communities and prevent weapons smuggling to Hamas.” “If no hostage deal is reached, Operation Gideon’s Chariots will begin with great force and will not stop until all its objectives are achieved,” he concluded. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

President Donald Trump has issued a bold directive to several top federal agencies — including the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security — ordering the revival and expansion of the infamous Alcatraz prison. His goal is to create a high-security facility for the nation’s most dangerous and repeat violent offenders.

In a Truth Social post, Trump reflected on a time when the U.S. took a no-nonsense approach to criminal justice. “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” Trump wrote. “For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering. When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm.”

Trump emphasized that the proper course of action is to isolate repeat offenders, keeping them far removed from innocent citizens. He condemned the lawlessness plaguing cities and declared an end to leniency for repeat criminals. “That is why, today, I am directing the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America’s most ruthless and violent Offenders,” Trump continued. “We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE. We will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Alcatraz Island, located in the San Francisco Bay, has a storied past as the location of one of the most notorious federal prisons in American history. The facility once housed infamous figures like crime boss Al Capone and gangster “Machine Gun Kelly,” as reported by The Hill.

The prison also held Robert Stroud, widely known as the “Birdman of Alcatraz,” according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Stroud was first convicted of manslaughter in 1909. After later killing a guard at Leavenworth, he was sentenced to death, a punishment later commuted to life imprisonment by President Woodrow Wilson.

The National Park Service describes Alcatraz, which operated as a federal penitentiary from 1934 until its closure in 1963, as emblematic of the government’s response to the surge in crime following the Prohibition and Great Depression eras.

{Matzav.com}

This morning, a Houthi missile misfired and crashed in Yemen’s central Ibb governorate.

Another fire has erupted in Kazeroon, Iran, at an underground ammunition depots belonging to the Iranian Imam Sajjad Commando Brigade.

BREAKING: New York City has introduced a crime-fighting initiative that provides store owners with panic buttons to enhance their safety and security.

Pope Francis’ Popemobile is being repurposed into a mobile clinic for children in Gaza, fulfilling what many say was his final request.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich: “The time has come to strike Gaza hard, take full control, impose military rule, seize territory, and carry out President Trump’s plan to relocate 1.5 to 2 million Gazans out of the Strip, there’s no other choice.”

This morning, significant U.S. air activity was observed over the eastern Deir Ezzor desert, with footage capturing an A-10 Thunderbolt and an Apache attack helicopter conducting operations in the area.

An airstrike in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis yesterday destroyed a primed Hamas rocket launching position, the military says.

Since the Assad regime’s fall in December, the IDF has deployed to nine posts in southern Syria, primarily within a UN-patrolled buffer zone along the border, operating up to 15 kilometers deep to seize weapons that could threaten Israel if acquired by hostile forces, with Israeli officials aiming to fully demilitarize the area and prevent any armed groups.

The IDF reported that its 810th “Mountains” Regional Brigade, along with combat engineers and paratroopers, raided and demolished the main headquarters of the former Syrian regime at Mount Hermon’s peak, uncovering bunkers and a cache of weapons, including artillery cannons, rockets, launchers, mortars, explosives, and mines belonging to the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Two suspects, a minor and a 19-year-old from East Jerusalem, were arrested next to Ben Shemen Forest on Sunday on suspicion of arson. An Israeli citizen had called police after spotting the pair on the side of the road lighting something and throwing it into a wooded area. Officers arrived and arrested the suspects on the spot.

Thousands of people lined the roads around the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace on Monday as British and allied troops paraded past at the start of four days of pageantry to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe. After Big Ben tolled at the stroke of noon, actor Timothy Spall recited the victory speech that Winston Churchill delivered to a roaring crowd in central London on May 8, 1945. Britain started its commemorations of V-E Day three days early, because Monday is a public holiday in the U.K. The Cenotaph, the nation’s war memorial, was covered with Union Jack flags. It was the first time that the memorial had been draped in the flags since it was unveiled by King George V in 1920, two years after the end of World War I. About 1,300 members of the British armed forces are being joined by troops from the United Kingdom’s NATO allies and Ukraine — a nod to the present war in Europe. The procession started in Parliament Square and swept past Buckingham Palace, where King Charles III took the salute. Maria Crook, 69, who wore a hat with red, white and blue ribbons, traveled from Devon to London to watch the procession. “I think it’s extremely important to pay our respects and honor those who have died for us,” she said. (AP)

The IT program that takes you further Maybe you’ve tinkered with hardware ever since your teenage days. Maybe tech is something you’ve wanted to pursue, but never did. Or perhaps you’ve never touched a computer in your life. No matter where you’re starting, ICA has you covered. Whether you're starting from scratch or sharpening your skills, the ICA IT Program takes you from beginner to industry expert in just 9 months. Because it’s not just about learning IT; it’s about living it. More than Ctrl-Alt-Delete What sets ICA’s IT program apart is their approach to teaching. Students learn how to think like an IT professional, understand the ins and outs of every issue, with an innovative and rigorous approach that propels ICA graduates above the rest. But it doesn’t end with the lesson; it starts with getting it done. Once a topic or fix is taught, students get to work on their own laptops, practicing in a hands-on, practical manner, until it becomes second nature. Although technical, classes are far from boring. They move at a fast pace, delving into a topic, ensuring it is fully understood, answering all questions, and then moving on to the next one. With a lot of ground to cover, there’s no time to waste. The questions continue after hours on the student-instructor group chat, where students volley questions and answers back and forth, analyzing what was learnt, and building a strong network of like-minded individuals. The class instructor periodically hops on to provide clarity and direction. Later, when students graduate, they use the chat as a valuable resource to troubleshoot issues, compare experiences, and get support from peers in the industry. Take your career to the clouds In the growing IT industry, the sky's the limit. Many ICA students start in entry-level Help Desk roles, quickly gaining experience and earning a stable salary. From there, they transition into higher-paying, specialized roles such as security or networking. Some even go on to start their own IT firms. Get ready to unlock limitless possibilities ICA’s IT Program takes place via online classes and is starting soon. Within a little over a year, you can get your feet firmly planted in the IT industry. Let your future begin today. To sign up for the ICA IT Program, email info@incainstitute.com or call 718.506.0912. icainstitute.com

On Sunday’s broadcast of ABC’s This Week, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie criticized President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, saying they have led to the United States being viewed globally as an “unreliable partner.”

Host George Stephanopoulos brought up the topic by noting that tariffs had become a central issue early in Trump’s second term. “I think you identified the tariffs as the number one issue. Liberation Day is probably the most consequential day of the first 100 days. Is there an exit strategy for Donald Trump on this?” he asked. “Can he make this sort of series of deals that limit the damage?”

Christie responded, “Well, it depends on what those deals look like, George. I will tell you, if you look at the reaction of the rest of the world, the biggest problem is that the world now sees us as an unreliable partner. And Donald Trump, I believe, misevaluated that. I think he thought he could come in and bully them and say, we’re the biggest economy in the world, and you may not like what I’m going to do, but I’m going to do it anyway. What he didn’t count on was the effect it’s had on the bond market as well, and the problem there is we’re now looking at a real potential for stagflation to have an economy that is in recession, which we’re one quarter towards that now.”

He went on to say, “In the end, what most economists are now saying, and business leaders are saying, we’re heading to stagflation, which we haven’t had for a long time. And he didn’t run on that.”

WATCH:

{Matzav.com}

A Turkish Jew who visited Israel last month was arrested, fired from his job at Turkish Airlines, and banned from flying abroad pending a trial, JNS reported. Umut Ataseven, 29, visited Israel as a tourist from April 6-12. During his visit, he posted a photo of himself next to an Israeli flag on a Tel Aviv beach. Someone then posted a screenshot of the photo on X and made false claims that Ataseven was dual citizen who was participating in the “genocide” in Gaza as an IDF soldier. Siyonist Avraham Levi/Umut Ataseven, Gazze’deki soykırımda asker olarak bulunduktan sonra çifte vatandaşlık hakkından elini kolunu sallayarak Türkiye’ye özgürce gelip gezdi. ABD’de Türk vatandaşı Rümeysa Öztürk sadece Filistin’e yönelik akademik çalışmasından dolayı gözaltı… pic.twitter.com/T9GZFX47ce — Odak TV (@OdakTV1) April 15, 2025 After returning to Turkey, Ataseven found out he was fired, and four hours later, he was arrested. After being interrogated, he was released on the condition that he report to his local police station twice a week and was banned from leaving the country. Ataseven, who has received death threats, is now awaiting trial and is determined to fight his case. There are about 15,000 Jews living in Turkey, with the majority, 95%, living in Istanbul, and the rest in Izmir, Antakya, and Iskenderun. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)