President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will meet at the White House on Thursday with Edan Alexander, the last living American hostage in Gaza, who was released in May. “The President and First Lady have met with many released hostages from Gaza, and they greatly look forward to meeting Edan Alexander and his family in the Oval Office tomorrow,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement. Alexander, now 21, is an American-Israeli from New Jersey. The soldier was 19 when militants stormed his base in Israel and dragged him into the Gaza Strip. Alexander moved to Israel in 2022 after finishing high school and enlisted in the military. He was released on May 12 by the militant group Hamas after 584 days in captivity. Alexander had been in Israel since he was freed until he traveled last month home to New Jersey, where his family still lives. He was among 251 people taken hostage by Hamas in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack that led to the Israel-Hamas war. Trump in early March met at the White House with a group of eight former hostages who had been released by Hamas: Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher and Noa Argamani. Thursday’s meeting comes ahead of a planed visit on Monday to the White House by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Trump pushes the Israeli government and Hamas to negotiate a ceasefire and hostage agreement and end the war in Gaza. (AP)
New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani previously sponsored legislation that would penalize New York shuls and other nonprofits donating to Israeli organizations involved in settlement activity, potentially subjecting them to million-dollar fines or civil lawsuits. The bill, titled the “Not on Our Dime!: Ending New York Funding of Israeli Settler Violence Act,” was first introduced by Mamdani in May 2023 in the New York State Assembly. It sought to prohibit New York–based not-for-profit corporations from providing what it calls “unauthorized support” to Israeli settlement activities, including aid to groups operating in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, or Gaza. The legislation specifically named organizations such as the Central Fund of Israel, and cited donations to groups including ZAKA, United Hatzalah, and the One Israel Fund. Under the bill’s framework, funding these or similar organizations could result in fines of at least $1 million or open nonprofits to civil lawsuits. The proposal defines “unauthorized support” as providing assistance to Israeli armed forces, the government of Israel, or Israeli citizens engaged in “the unlawful transfer of civilians into occupied territory,” or in violent acts, property damage, or land seizures within Palestinian territories. While the initial version failed to advance after facing resistance from legislative leadership, supporters revived efforts to expand and reintroduce the measure in February 2025, when it was sent to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions. The bill would amend the state’s not-for-profit corporation law by barring any such charitable support, and could even dissolve nonprofits that violate the restrictions. It also aims to allow Palestinians harmed by violence linked to these donations to sue New York–based organizations in court. Advocacy groups backing the bill have pointed to examples such as the Long Island–based One Israel Fund, which they say raised millions of dollars for drones and surveillance cameras to assist Israeli settlers. Other cited examples include Israel Gives and JGives, both registered in New York, which reportedly fundraised for Israeli military units, including those active in Gaza. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
U.S. stocks ticked higher on Wednesday to hit another all-time high. The S&P 500 rose 0.5% and set a record for the third time in four days. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down by 10 points, or less than 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.9%. Tesla helped drive the market higher and rose 5% after saying it delivered nearly 374,000 of its Model 3 and Model Y automobiles last quarter. That was better than analysts expected, though the electric-vehicle maker’s overall sales fell 13% from a year earlier. Worries have been high that CEO Elon Musk’s involvement in politics is turning off potential Tesla buyers. Constellation Brands climbed 4.5% despite reporting a weaker profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It pointed to slowing growth for jobs in the construction industry and other “4000 calorie+” sectors, which tends to hurt demand for its beer. But the company selling Modelo beer and Robert Mondavi wine nevertheless stuck with its financial forecasts for the full upcoming year. They helped offset a 40.4% drop for Centene. The health care company withdrew its forecasts for profit this year after seeing data that suggests worse-than-expected sickness trends in many of the states where it does business. It was the worst day for the stock since its debut in 2001. All told, the S&P 500 rose 29.41 points to 6,227.42. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 10.52 to 44,484.42, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 190.24 to 20,393.13. In the bond market, Treasury yields were mixed ahead of a highly anticipated report on Thursday, which will show how many jobs U.S. employers created and destroyed last month. The widespread expectation is that they hired more people than they fired but that the pace of hiring slowed from May. A stunningly weak report released Wednesday morning raised worries that Thursday’s report may fall short. The data from ADP suggested that U.S. employers outside the government cut 33,000 jobs from their payrolls last month, when economists were expecting to see growth of 115,000 jobs. “Though layoffs continue to be rare, a hesitancy to hire and a reluctance to replace departing workers led to job losses last month,” according to Nela Richardson, chief economist at ADP. The ADP report does not have a perfect track record predicting what the U.S. government’s more comprehensive jobs report will say each month. That preserves hope that Thursday’s data could be more encouraging. But a fear has been that uncertainty around President Donald Trump’s tariffs could cause employers to freeze their hiring. Many of Trump’s stiff proposed taxes on imports are currently on pause, and they’re scheduled to kick into effect in about a week. Unless Trump reaches deals with other countries to lower the tariffs, they could hurt the economy and worsen inflation. Trump said on Wednesday that he reached a deal with Vietnam, where U.S. products sold in the country will face zero tariffs and Vietnamese-made goods will face a U.S. tariff of 20%. That helped companies that import lots of things from Vietnam, including Nike, whose stock rose 4.1%. Factories in Vietnam made half of all Nike brand footwear in its fiscal year of 2024. Other factors could also be dragging on the job market, such as the U.S. government’s termination of protected status for 350,000 Venezuelans, potentially […]
A federal judge said Wednesday that an order by President Donald Trump suspending asylum access at the southern border was unlawful, throwing into doubt one of the key pillars of the president’s plan to crack down on migration at the southern border. But he put the ruling on hold for two weeks to give the government time to appeal. In an order Jan. 20, Trump declared that the situation at the southern border constitutes an invasion of America and that he was “suspending the physical entry” of migrants and their ability to seek asylum until he decides it is over. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss in Washington said his order blocking Trump’s policy will take effect July 16, giving the Trump administration time to appeal. Moss wrote that neither the Constitution nor immigration law gives the president “an extra-statutory, extra-regulatory regime for repatriating or removing individuals from the United States, without an opportunity to apply for asylum” or other humanitarian protections. The Homeland Security Department did not immediately respond to a request but an appeal is likely. The president and his aides have repeatedly attacked court rulings that undermine his policies as judicial overreach. Moss, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, acknowledged that the government faces “enormous challenges” at the southern border and an “overwhelming backlog” of asylum claims. But he returned several times in his 128-page ruling to his opinion that the president is not entitled to prohibit asylum. Lee Gelernt, who argued the case for the American Civil Liberties Union, called the ruling a significant win. “The decision means there will be protection for those fleeing horrific danger and that the president cannot ignore laws passed by Congress simply by claiming that asylum seekers are engaged in an invasion,” he said. The ruling comes after illegal border crossings have plummeted. The White House said Wednesday that the Border Patrol made 6,070 arrests in June, down 30% from May to set a pace for the lowest annual clip since 1966. On June 28, the Border Patrol made only 137 arrests, a sharp contrast to late 2023, when arrests topped 10,000 on the busiest days. Arrests dropped sharply when Mexican officials increased enforcement within their own borders in December 2023 and again when then-President Joe Biden introduced severe asylum restrictions in June 2024. They plunged more after Trump became president in January, deploying thousands of troops to the border under declaration of a national emergency. Trump and his allies say the asylum system has been abused. They argue that it draws people who know it will take years to adjudicate their claims in the country’s backlogged immigration courts during which they can work and live in America. But supporters argue that the right to seek asylum is guaranteed in U.S. law and international commitments — even for those who cross the border illegally. They say that asylum is a vital protection for people fleeing persecution — a protection guaranteed by Congress that even the president doesn’t have the authority to ignore. People seeking asylum must demonstrate a fear of persecution on a fairly narrow grounds of race, religion, nationality, or by belonging to a particular social or political group. In the executive order, Trump argued that the Immigration and Nationality Act gives presidents the authority to suspend entry of […]
Could Israel soon receive advanced U.S. military hardware—including B2 stealth bombers and GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs—to enable a potential independent strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure?
A new bipartisan bill introduced in Congress outlines that the United States would supply these powerful weapons to Israel if it is determined that Iran continues pursuing a nuclear arsenal, even after American military efforts to dismantle its nuclear sites.
The legislation is being spearheaded by Representatives Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, and Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York.
The bill’s language states it “would allow President Trump to take actions to ensure that Israel is prepared for all scenarios should Iran seek to develop nuclear weapons.”
In a public statement, Gottheimer said, “Iran, the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism and one of America’s greatest enemies, must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. This is why I strongly supported our military actions earlier this month. Iran has killed dozens of Americans, including our service members, and repeatedly attacked our key democratic ally, Israel. Israel must be able to defend itself against Iran and ensure that Iran cannot rebuild its nuclear capabilities.”
Lawler echoed this sentiment, emphasizing, “This bill grants the President the authority to equip Israel with the tools and training it needs to deter Tehran and make the world a safer place.”
{Matzav.com}
A former FBI agent who was charged with joining a mob’s attack on the U.S. Capitol and cheering on rioters is now working as an adviser to the Justice Department official overseeing its “weaponization working group,” which is examining President Donald Trump’s claims of anti-conservative bias inside the department. The former FBI supervisory agent, Jared Lane Wise, is serving as a counselor to Justice Department pardon attorney Ed Martin Jr., who also serves as director of the working group, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss a personnel matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. A department spokesperson declined to comment. The New York Times was first to report on Wise’s appointment. When Trump returned to the White House in January, he picked Martin to serve as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. But the president pulled his nomination to keep the job on a more permanent basis two days after a key Republican senator said he could not support Martin for the job due to his defense of Capitol rioters. Martin was a leading figure in Trump’s “Stop the Steal” movement. He spoke at a rally in Washington on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. He represented three Jan. 6 defendants and served on the board of the nonprofit Patriot Freedom Project, which reports raising over $2.5 million to support riot defendants. Attorney General Pam Bondi called for creating the “weaponization” group in February to investigate claims by Trump and Republican allies that the Justice Department unfairly targeted conservatives during President Joe Biden’s administration. The group’s review includes the work of former special counsel Jack Smith, who led two federal prosecutions of Trump that were ultimately abandoned after Trump was elected to a second term. Fox News host Jeanine Pirro replaced Martin as the top federal prosecutor in Washington, but Martin immediately moved over to his current Justice Department position. Wise, who worked as a special agent or supervisory special agent for the FBI from 2004 through 2017, was arrested in Oregon on Capitol riot-related misdemeanor charges in May 2023. Wise repeatedly shouted, “Kill ’em!” as he watched rioters assaulting officers outside the Capitol, according to an FBI agent’s affidavit. Wise clapped his hands and raised his arms ”in triumph” after he entered the building through the Senate wing door, the affidavit says. He left the building about nine minutes after entering. Police body camera footage showed Wise berating police officers outside the Capitol and repeatedly shouting, “Shame on you!” “I’m former law enforcement,” he told them.” You’re disgusting. You are the Nazi. You are the Gestapo. You can’t see it.” Wise was on trial in Washington when Trump returned to the White House in January and immediately pardoned, commuted prison sentences or ordered the dismissal of cases for all of the nearly 1,600 people charged in the attack. The case against Wise was dismissed before the jury reached a verdict. (AP)
Israel’s Defense Ministry Directorate of Defense Research and Development (MAFAT) has cleared for publication new data on the country’s war with Iran, revealing unprecedented intelligence-gathering efforts and highly effective air defense results. According to MAFAT, Israeli intelligence captured tens of millions of square kilometers of imagery from space during both the lead-up to and the course of the war. This included more than 12,000 satellite images taken over Iranian territory, day and night, providing critical information to support Israeli strikes inside Iran. During the conflict, Israel’s air defense systems intercepted 86% of the Iranian ballistic missiles launched toward its territory, MAFAT reported. Officials added that the country’s layered defense prevented potential 50 billion shekels ($15 billion) worth of property damage – seven times greater than what was actually sustained. In March, Israel had conducted tests of the Iron Dome’s ability to counter a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles, a move that proved decisive as upgraded Iron Dome and David’s Sling batteries went on to intercept 99% of Iranian drones during the war. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is reportedly planning to press President Donald Trump for assurances that the United States will support potential Israeli military operations against Iran should Tehran resume its pursuit of nuclear weapons or develop its ballistic missile arsenal, according to a report from Kan Reshet Bet on Wednesday.
The report indicates that Netanyahu may go as far as seeking a formal written agreement from the U.S. in the form of a separate side deal, guaranteeing American backing under such circumstances.
Netanyahu confirmed on Tuesday that he would be heading to the U.S. next week for a meeting with Trump. He also said he intends to meet with Vice President Vance, Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Steve Witkoff, the President’s envoy to the Middle East.
Speaking about the timing of the trip, Netanyahu stated it follows “the great victory that we achieved in Operation Rising Lion.” He emphasized that “taking advantage of the success is no less an important part of achieving the success.”
Addressing reporters, President Trump remarked that he intends to be “very firm” with Netanyahu about the need to bring an end to the conflict in Gaza during their discussions. He added that Netanyahu also “wants to end the war.”
Citing Israeli officials, Kan News reported Tuesday that Netanyahu is hoping Trump will unveil a new vision for the region, one that includes both a resolution to the Gaza war and the return of the hostages still being held.
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Matzav.com}
HORROR FOOTAGE: Seven people are unaccounted for as authorites investigate a massive fire and explosion at a fireworks facility in Yolo County, near Sacramento, Cal Fire says.
Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for public affairs Sean Parnell: . “Based on the success of the U.S. and Israeli military strikes, Iran is much further away from a nuclear weapon than they were before the President took bold action to fulfill his promise to the American people that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.”
The Civil Aviation Authority of Iran has closed the airspace over Western and Central Iran until at least Friday, canceling most international and domestic flights at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad International Airports.
Following today’s rocket attacks from Gaza, the IDF warned residents of Gaza City’s Al-Tuffah, Al-Daraj, and Old City areas, to evacuate immediately.
SHOCKING: In Yehud, a bulldozer is tearing through kevraim dating back to the Bayis Sheini era — hundreds of ancient remains are being dumped like trash.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Wednesday evening that Sergeant Yaniv Michalovitch, 19, of Rechovot, was killed in action while fighting in the northern region of the Gaza Strip. He served in the 82nd Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade.
The same clash that claimed Sergeant Michalovitch’s life also left two members of his battalion—one a tank commander and the other a fellow soldier—critically wounded.
In a separate encounter in the same area, a soldier from the elite Egoz Unit of the Commando Brigade also sustained life-threatening injuries during fighting.
All of the injured soldiers were swiftly transported to the hospital for urgent medical care, and their families have been informed.
Rechovot Mayor Matan Dil mourned the loss of the young soldier, saying, “The heart refuses to believe. A week after Rehovot lost its citizen, Staff Sergeant Ronel Ben-Moshe – yet more bitter news is knocking on our door. Yaniv left behind his parents and two brothers. I hug you, and together with all the residents of Rehovot, I feel your immense pain.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty to murder Wednesday in the brutal stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students in 2022 that stunned and terrified the campus and set off a nationwide search, which ended weeks later when he was arrested in Pennsylvania. Kohberger, who was a criminal justice graduate student at nearby Washington State University, admitted to the slayings before entering a formal guilty plea in a deal with prosecutors that will allow him to avoid the death penalty. He had ben set to go to trial in August. The small farming community of Moscow, in the northern Idaho panhandle, had not had a homicide in about five years when Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen were found dead at a rental home near campus on Nov. 13, 2022. Autopsies showed each of the four victims was stabbed multiple times and some had defensive wounds. Kohberger killed Mogen and Goncalves together and then ran into Kernodle, who was still awake, Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson said at the hearing Wednesday. He then stabbed Kernodle and her boyfriend, Chapin, who was still asleep, Thompson said. Family members became increasingly emotional as Idaho Fourth Judicial District Judge Steven Hippler explained each charge to Kohberger, naming each victim individually. Some cried into tissues, while other wiped tears with their hands. Kohberger remained impassive as he confirmed to the judge that he stabbed the four victims. As he pleaded guilty, some in the family section looked down and others craned to see him. Kohberger told the judge he understood the terms of the plea deal, which stipulates he will serve four life sentences and won’t be able to appeal. The judge set the official sentencing for July 23. Hippler said as the hearing began that he would not take into account public opinion when deciding whether to accept the agreement. “This court cannot require the prosecutor to seek the death penalty, nor would it be appropriate for this court to do that,” he said. “This court … cannot force the state to seek the death penalty.” Idaho killings seized the nation’s attention The killings grabbed headlines around the world and set off a nationwide hunt, including an elaborate effort to track down a white sedan spotted on surveillance cameras repeatedly driving by the rental home. Police said they used genetic genealogy to identify Kohberger as a possible suspect and accessed cellphone data to pinpoint his movements the night of the killings. At the time, Kohberger was a criminal justice graduate student at nearby Washington State University who had just completed his first semester and was a teaching assistant in the criminology program. Kohberger was arrested in Pennsylvania, where his parents lived, weeks later. Investigators said they matched his DNA to genetic material recovered from a knife sheath found at the crime scene. Online shopping records showed that Kohberger had purchased a military-style knife months earlier — as well as a sheath like the one found at the scene. Motive in killings remains unclear No motive has emerged for the killings, nor is it clear why the attacker spared two roommates who were in the home. There also was no indication he had a relationship with any of the victims, who all were friends and members of the university’s Greek system. Authorities have said cellphone data and surveillance video show that Kohberger […]
Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu paid a visit to the Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company (EAPC) site in Ashkelon on Wednesday, accompanied by Energy Minister Eli Cohen, Minister David Amsalem, and Ashkelon Mayor Tomer Glam.
During his time there, Netanyahu inspected the EAPC energy complex, received an in-depth update from EAPC CEO Amit Shaked, and engaged in discussions with both senior company officials and employees, as well as top figures in Israel’s energy industry.
Netanyahu took the opportunity to publicly commend workers in the energy field for their dedication and contributions, particularly highlighting their efforts during Operation Rising Lion.
The Prime Minister remarked: “We are going to increase and strengthen Israel’s energy capability. We have a very considerable capability. Expected revenues from gas in the coming decade will be almost NIS 300 billion. You will recall that there were arguments about this: ‘This will destroy the Israeli economy.’ This did not destroy the Israeli economy. It is building the Israeli economy, together with other energy horizons and installations that we are building, only part of which you will hear about later.”
He went on to declare: “I am telling you – there will be no more Hamas. There will be no more Hamastan. We are not going back to that. It’s over. We will free all of our hostages.”
Anticipating criticism, Netanyahu added: “‘Really, how can one say this? These objectives are contradictory!’ What nonsense. They go together. We will complete this together, contrary to what is being said. We will eliminate Hamas down to its very foundations.”
He emphasized the strategic moment Israel is in, saying, “Our opportunities are enormous. We are not going to miss them or lose them. We will not miss these opportunities.”
Pointing to shifting global dynamics, he said, “One power declines – another rises. Yes, I know that somebody else thought that his power would rise, but things have changed a little. The rising power is the State of Israel, and this has not been without effort. There is a huge opportunity here, both to defeat our enemies and ensure our economic, national, international and energy future.”
Looking ahead, Netanyahu spoke of a broader vision: “We will link Asia, the entire Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula, with its immense energy resources, to the West. This will happen, with the help of G-d, our friends who are here with us and you. We have much to do to ensure prosperity beyond that which we can describe. I thank you. You provided all Israel, and every factory and infrastructure in Israel with the necessary energy. And when there was damage, you took action, made repairs and we continued together. We will continue together. Together we will get it done and together we will succeed.”
{Matzav.com Israel}
The IDF reported that two Hamas operatives, Musab Yaser Abdallah Jilban and Abd al-Latif Musa Hajjaj Barbah, were killed in a targeted strike carried out by the Israeli Air Force under the guidance of the ISA and the 188th Brigade in Khan Yunis.
These two terrorists were responsible for the deaths of seven Israeli soldiers: Lieutenant Matan Shai Yashinovski, Staff Sergeant Alon Davidov, Staff Sergeant Ronel Ben-Moshe, Staff Sergeant Niv Radia, Sergeant Ronen Shapiro, Sergeant Shahar Manoav, and Sergeant Maayan Baruch Pearlstein. The soldiers were killed during an operation in Khan Yunis on June 24, 2025.
In its statement, the IDF emphasized its commitment to ongoing counterterrorism efforts in Gaza, saying it “will continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip.”
On the day after the deadly incident, military journalist Doron Kadosh released early findings from the probe into what happened. The report revealed that the explosive device involved was not planted on the Puma armored vehicle beforehand, but was instead hurled inside by a terrorist during the attack.
The attack occurred amid active combat by the 188th Brigade in the Khan Yunis area. Prior to the fatal explosion, a fighter jet had been dispatched to strike a target in close proximity to Israeli forces. Around the same time, another platoon in the unit was targeted with RPGs and an explosive device, leaving one soldier seriously injured and another with minor wounds.
Standard operating procedures dictate that when an airstrike is imminent nearby, soldiers must seek cover inside armored vehicles to shield themselves from shrapnel and flying debris caused by the blast. In accordance with this protocol, seven soldiers temporarily entered the Puma APC as they awaited the strike.
The inquiry determined that during this brief window, a terrorist managed to rapidly approach and climb the armored vehicle. Within moments, he dropped an explosive directly into the APC while the soldiers were still inside. The initial conclusion of the investigation is that the soldiers were killed almost immediately when the device detonated.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Police are warning of a sophisticated ATM scam preying on elderly New Yorkers, after at least nine reported thefts on the Upper East Side left seniors more than $70,000 poorer in recent weeks. Authorities say a trio of suspects — two men and a woman — were caught on surveillance cameras during three of the incidents, which occurred between May 8 and June 26 at branches of Chase Bank, Bank of America, Capital One, and Citibank. Among the hardest hit was an 86-year-old woman who lost nearly $24,000 from her account around 11:30 a.m. on June 19 at the Chase branch on York Avenue near East 79th Street. That same location was hit at least three times, police said. In another brazen pair of thefts on May 14, scammers at the same York Avenue branch drained $20,000 from a 90-year-old woman and $3,000 from an 83-year-old woman within the span of an hour, according to police. The suspects typically distracted victims as they withdrew money, sometimes pretending to offer help at the ATM before stealing their cards. On June 2, one scammer struck up a conversation with a 71-year-old man at a Chase Bank on East 90th Street near Third Avenue around 11 a.m. and managed to steal his card unnoticed. Minutes later, the thief met up with an accomplice at another Chase branch in East Harlem and attempted to withdraw $5,500. The victim discovered the theft about an hour later, after noticing his card missing and over $6,000 in unauthorized charges on his account, police said. No injuries were reported among the victims, but authorities warned that more thieves could be involved in the pattern. The NYPD reports that grand larceny — which includes credit card theft — is on the rise in the Upper East Side’s 19th Precinct, with more than 750 cases reported so far this year, an increase of 5.2% from last year. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
An electrical substation fire that shut down Heathrow Airport, canceling more than 1,300 flights, was caused by a preventable technical fault identified almost seven years earlier, a report found Wednesday. Europe’s busiest air hub shut for about 18 hours in March after a fire knocked out one of the three electrical substations that supply Heathrow with power. More than 270,000 passengers had journeys disrupted. Counterterrorism police initially led the investigation into the fire, which came as authorities across Europe girded against sabotage backed by Russia. Though authorities quickly ruled out vandalism or sabotage, the fire’s huge impact raised concern about the resilience of Britain’s energy system to accidents, natural disasters or attacks. The government ordered an investigation into “any wider lessons to be learned on energy resilience for critical national infrastructure.” The report by the National Energy System Operator said that an “elevated moisture reading” had been found in oil samples at the substation in west London in July 2018, but action wasn’t taken to replace electrical insulators known as bushings. It said that the March 20 blaze was caused by a “catastrophic failure” in one of the transformers, “most likely caused by moisture entering the bushing causing a short circuit” that ignited the oil. The report also said Heathrow underestimated the likelihood of losing one of its three power sources, and as a result, “its internal electrical distribution network was not designed or configured to take advantage of having multiple supply points to provide quick recovery following such a loss.” Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said that the findings were “deeply concerning.” He said that energy industry regulator Ofgem had opened an investigation into whether the substation’s operator, National Grid Electricity Transmission, had breached its license conditions. National Grid said that Britain has “one of the most reliable networks in the world, and events of this nature are rare. National Grid has a comprehensive asset inspection and maintenance program in place, and we have taken further action since the fire.” (AP)
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