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President Donald Trump today sharply criticized media coverage of the conflict with Iran, accusing news organizations of undermining the United States by suggesting that Tehran’s military was performing effectively against American forces.

In a post published on Truth Social, Trump blasted what he described as “Fake News” reporting on the war and claimed such coverage was helping Iran.

“When the Fake News says that the Iranian enemy is doing well, Militarily, against us, it’s virtual TREASON in that it is such a false, and even preposterous, statement,” Trump wrote. “They are aiding and abetting the enemy!”

Trump argued that reports portraying Iran as resilient were giving Tehran “false hope” and accused critics of rooting against America.

“These are American cowards that are rooting against our Country,” he wrote.

The president also claimed that Iran’s military infrastructure had been effectively wiped out during the conflict.

“Iran had 159 ships in their Navy — Every single ship is now resting at the bottom of the sea,” Trump stated. “They have no Navy, their Air Force is gone, all Technology is gone, their ‘leaders’ are no longer with us, and the Country is an Economic Disaster.”

Trump concluded the post with another broadside against his detractors, writing: “Only Losers, Ingrates, and Fools are able to make a case against America!”

President Donald Trump has proposed pausing the federal gas tax as a form of relief for American consumers as energy prices soar as a result of the war in Iran.

The move – which requires congressional approval to pass – would mark the latest in a string of government interventions to address fallout from the war, which is weighing on Trump’s popularity.

Since the war began in late February, the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil, an international benchmark, has skyrocketed from about $70 to more than $107. U.S. gas prices – now an average of $4.50 a gallon – have reached levels not seen since 2022 and contributed to Trump’s falling approval ratings ahead of the November midterms.

So is a pause on the federal gas tax likely to happen, and would it make a difference to the price you pay at the pump? Here’s what to know.

1. Why have prices surged?
Energy prices have spiked since the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, leading Iran to block oil tankers from leaving the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.

The critical waterway had previously carried about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies, with the reduced flows causing prices to spike. The U.S. has enforced its own blockade of Iranian ports in retaliation, and the issue remains a key sticking point in negotiations to end the war. This week, Trump said the ceasefire between the two nations is on “life support.”

The U.S., as a major oil producer, is less energy-dependent than many countries, but oil is priced globally. “A disruption anywhere turns into a price increase everywhere,” Samantha Gross, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, told The Washington Post.

2. How is gas taxed, and what is Trump proposing?
Prices at the pump incorporate a mixture of federal and state taxes, meaning they can vary sharply between states. The federal tax is 18.3 cents per gallon on gasoline and 24.3 cents per gallon on diesel fuel, as well as a “leaking underground storage tank” fee of 0.1 cents per gallon on both fuels, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

State taxes vary, with a national average of 32.6 cents on gasoline and 34.8 cents on diesel, according to the EIA. Factors such as the type of taxes added, where the gas comes from and the ingredients in it can also affect prices, which change daily. The Gulf Coast and southeastern states had the lowest prices in 2024, The Post has reported, partially because of their proximity to refineries.

On Monday, Trump proposed suspending the federal tax for an unspecified period, saying prices would “drop like a rock” once the war ended. Also that day, the Energy Department said it would release 53 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The Trump administration had agreed to release a total of 172 million barrels as part of a contribution to the International Energy Agency’s effort to stabilize oil prices, the Energy Department said.

The administration has also lifted restrictions on ships moving fuel between U.S. ports, eased pollution rules regarding ethanol and temporarily waived sanctions on Russian oil. Some states, including Georgia, Utah, Kentucky and Indiana, have moved to suspend or reduce gas taxes in response to rising costs, as have countries such as Canada, Australia and India, according to the IEA.

3. How would it work?
Trump cannot suspend the federal tax on his own; he needs Congress to approve it. The only time that’s happened was in 1934, when Congress cut half a cent off the gas tax when Prohibition ended, The Post reported.

The money from the tax goes into the Highway Trust Fund, which pays for road and public transport improvements. A five-month suspension of federal taxes would reduce revenue by $17 billion, the Bipartisan Policy Center has said, about 46 percent of the annual total.

In 2022, then-President Joe Biden asked Congress to suspend the gas tax for three months as gas shot to $5 a gallon in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The idea was met with skepticism by economists and lawmakers in both parties, with many unconvinced it would help bring prices down for consumers. No action was taken.

4. What has the reaction been?
Though the idea has previously been dismissed by some a gimmick that would create a hole in the transportation budget, this time both Republicans and some Democrats have expressed support.

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) said he would introduce legislation to suspend the gas tax in a post on social media Monday. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida) said she would also introduce a bill in the House to suspend the federal gas tax in light of Trump’s comments. “American families need this relief on gas prices,” she said in a post on X.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he has not “been a fan” of suspending the federal tax in the past but would hear out colleagues in favor of it. “Obviously, any time you suspend the gas tax, that leaves a big hole in the highway trust fund, which also has implications down the road,” he said in comments reported by the Associated Press.

Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Mark Kelly had previously pushed the idea in March, introducing the Gas Prices Relief Act to temporarily suspend federal taxes through Oct. 1. “Families need help now,” Kelly said Monday in a post on X, adding, “Let’s get it done.”

Rep. Chris Pappas (D-New Hampshire) also called for it to happen quickly. “This should have happened months ago,” he wrote on X. “Let’s pass it this week.”

5. What happens next?
Whether Congress approves the decision remains to be seen, along with how any potential relief would be passed on to consumers.

When the idea was raised by Democratic presidential contenders in 2008 and by Biden in 2022, it was dismissed as a gift to oil companies. Federal taxes on gasoline are levied at the terminal or refinery, or when it’s imported to the United States, rather than at a gas station, according to the Congressional Research Service. This would make it difficult for the government to ensure the savings would be passed onto consumers, it said.

Any potential savings could also be offset by further increases in global oil prices. In the months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, U.S. gas prices surpassed $5 a gallon.

A reduction in revenue to the Highway Trust Fund could bring its own predicaments. The federal gas tax is a “critical source of revenue for financing federal transportation,” the Bipartisan Policy Center has noted, meaning any interruption to this could leave a hole in the transportation budget that would need to be filled. It already faces declining revenue from inflation and improved fuel efficiency, and Congress has been outspending the fund’s growth.

The Congressional Budget Office predicts the fund will run out of money by 2028.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Victoria Craw 

Leo Terrell, chair of the U.S. Justice Department’s task force on Jew-hatred, called on New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to take action following a protest outside the Young Israel of Midwood in Brooklyn on Monday night that led to four arrests.

Terrell criticized city leadership over what he described as insufficient enforcement following incidents targeting Jewish New Yorkers.

“Let me be clear, I am sick and tired of Jews being harassed in New York City,” Terrell said. “Did you see what happened in Brooklyn? Where is the mayor? Where is the district attorney? Where are the hate crime charges?”

“Jewish Americans are allowed the religious freedoms given by this country,” he said. “Jewish Americans are not being protected in New York City.”

“What happened last night in Brooklyn was outrageous, insulting,” Terrell said. “Mayor, district attorney, do your job. Protect Jewish Americans now.”

The New York Police Department said officers responded to a “scheduled demonstration” outside 1694 Ocean Avenue in the 70th Precinct, where four individuals were taken into custody.

“Jew-haters marched towards a Jewish house of worship, through a heavily Jewish neighborhood, past Jewish homes, Jewish families, Jewish businesses and Jewish communal spaces, chanting for ‘intifada,’ waving a Hezbollah flag and screaming abuse at Jews in the street,” Brooke Goldstein, founder of EndJewHatred, said.

“New York’s leaders, especially Zohran Mamdani, must stop pretending this is normal protest activity,” she said. “Mr. Mayor, you are on notice. The inevitable violence this will lead to falls squarely on your shoulders. You must act to stop this now.”

The protest was organized by PAL-AWDA, the group behind several anti-Israel protests in the city, including one outside Park East Synagogue in Manhattan on May 5. It is set to protest again in Brooklyn on Shabbos, on the corner of 72nd Street and 5th Ave in Bay Ridge, “to dismantle the genocidal Zionist entity.” JNS

A scheduled Howell, NJ Township council meeting Tuesday night was abruptly canceled after such a large crowd packed the municipal building that officials declared the gathering an overcrowding and fire hazard.

The meeting, held at the Howell Township municipal building on the second floor, was expected to include votes on three proposed ordinances that had sparked significant concern among local residents.

The proposed measures would have limited the allowable size of paved driveways on residential properties, restricted the size and scope of detached structures permitted on private property, and prohibited homeowners from converting garages into living space.

Residents across the township expressed concern that the ordinances would negatively affect homeowners – particularly frum residents – and significantly limit how they are able to use and improve their properties.

In recent days, discussions took place between Howell rabbanim and local askanim, after which community members were urged to make a strong effort to attend the council meeting and demonstrate opposition to the proposals.

Several individuals had also been selected in advance to address the council and formally present residents’ concerns regarding the ordinances.

However, before the meeting could proceed, the large turnout overwhelmed the available space inside the building. According to a Matzav.com reporter at the scene, township officials announced that the crowd size created overcrowding conditions and posed a fire safety concern, forcing the meeting to be canceled before any discussion or vote could take place.

As a result, no action was taken tonight on any of the three ordinances.

Residents opposed to the proposals viewed the postponement as an opportunity to continue organizing and lobbying township officials against the measures before the ordinances are brought back for consideration at a future meeting.

{Matzav.com}

A practical and highly relevant financial and halachic question surrounding the cancellation of the hilula of Rashbi in Meron on Lag Ba’Omer this year was discussed on the “HaShtaygenists” program on Israel’s Radio Kol Chai, as disputes continue between passengers, organizers, and transportation companies over refunds for canceled trips.

The issue was raised during the program hosted by Rabbi Roi Moskowitz together with media personality Chevron Gernovitz.

Gernovitz outlined the situation facing many groups that had arranged transportation to Meron weeks in advance before the hilula was ultimately canceled.

“Large groups wanted to travel to Meron. They reserved transportation ahead of time. In the end, the hilula was canceled. A dispute developed between the organizers, the passengers, and the transportation companies,” Gernovitz explained.

Rav Moskowitz responded that the first step in resolving the matter is properly defining the role and status of each party involved.

“We want to understand the definitions — the transportation company, the organizers, and the passengers. Once we define them properly, we can understand why the ruling is what it is,” he said.

According to Rav Moskowitz, when a bus company sells tickets directly to passengers, the arrangement is considered a straightforward commercial transaction.

“If I did not receive what I paid for, then the money must be returned,” he explained.

The Rav stressed that because this year there ultimately was no trip at all, transportation companies are obligated to refund customers.

“This year there was no departure whatsoever. The bus company must return the money,” he said.

However, Rav Moskowitz explained that the situation becomes more complicated when dealing with private or communal organizers who reserved large numbers of buses in advance.

“The organizer is essentially a buyer — he purchases the service and then resells it. Some people reserved dozens of buses,” he noted.

As for disputes between organizers and the transportation companies themselves, Rav Moskowitz clarified that those questions depend entirely on the contractual agreements between the sides.

“If there was a condition that advance payments are forfeited, then they are forfeited,” he explained.

Still, he emphasized that those arrangements do not necessarily determine the obligations between organizers and passengers.

The central distinction, according to Rav Moskowitz, depends on the nature of the trip arrangement itself.

In cases where tickets were sold commercially to the general public, organizers would generally be required to issue refunds.

But when the transportation was organized communally — such as through a chassidus, shul, or local community framework — the Rav indicated that organizers may not be obligated to reimburse participants if they themselves suffered losses.

“In such a case, it would be difficult to extract money from the organizers,” Rav Moskowitz ruled. “They created the opportunity for people to travel… and if they themselves incurred losses, they may not have to return the money to the passengers.”

{Matzav.com}

New York City is pouring unprecedented amounts of money into its public school system, even as student enrollment continues to drop and academic performance remains average compared to other major urban districts, according to budget analysts and education experts, the NY Post reports.

The city’s education budget has reached roughly $43 billion, with per-student spending climbing to about $44,000. Observers warn that costs could climb even higher as Mayor Zohran Mamdani prepares his first budget proposal, raising concerns about long-term sustainability.

Experts say the level of spending is difficult to justify given that student outcomes in math and English remain in the middle range among large city districts.

“Despite the City spending $44,000 per student, too many of its schools are delivering middling results, and some parents are increasingly choosing charters over traditional public schools,” said Andrew Rein, executive director of the Citizens Budget Commission.

“The City should focus its effort and dollars on student learning and shrink spending that’s not delivering results. This includes adjusting school funding when enrollment shrinks and combining schools that have shrunk so much that they are no longer cost-effective to run.”

Efforts to streamline the system could face added challenges due to a new state mandate requiring smaller class sizes, even as enrollment declines, critics noted.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative Democrats are weighing whether to give the city additional time to comply with the requirement, which has been strongly supported by teachers’ unions, as part of ongoing budget negotiations.

“The law is unworkable law. It’s impossible to implement,” said Daniela Souza, an education researcher with the Manhattan Institute.

Over the past decade, the city’s public school system has lost 157,900 students, yet it now operates 39 more schools than it did previously.

Data also show that 249 out of roughly 1,600 schools—about 15%—are operating at less than half capacity.

Enrollment trends reveal that nearly half of all public schools now serve fewer than 400 students, including 134 schools with fewer than 150 students.

Projections indicate the downward trend will continue, according to a report by the City School Construction Authority.

Enrollment in traditional public schools is expected to drop by another 153,000 students by the 2034–35 school year, reaching about 721,251 students.

“The New York City’s Department of Education budget keeps going up while the number of students they’re educating continues to decline,” Souza said.

“School closings and mergers are inevitable.”

Federal data show that New York City spends about 50% more per student than other large urban districts, including Los Angeles and Chicago.

However, results have not kept pace with the investment, based on findings from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Only about one-third of fourth-grade students reached proficiency in math, while 28% were proficient in reading.

Among eighth graders, 23% were proficient in math and 29% in reading.

While declining enrollment is a nationwide issue tied to lower birth rates and immigration patterns, analysts say New York City is also seeing families leave the system in search of alternatives.

Charter schools now educate approximately 150,500 students across 285 campuses—nearly one out of every six public school students in the city.

In many cases, charter school students outperform those in nearby traditional public schools on state math and English exams.

Spending patterns also differ from other cities. In 2023, New York City allocated 61% of its education budget to teacher compensation, compared to 52% in Los Angeles and 43% in Miami, according to analysis cited by The Atlantic.

A breakdown of city education spending shows $35.3 billion allocated to K-12 schools, including $13 billion for salaries, $8.1 billion for pensions, benefits, and debt obligations, $3.5 billion for charter school payments, $3.1 billion for early childhood programs, and $1.5 billion for special education-related legal cases and private tuition.

Transportation costs have risen to $1.9 billion, up from $1.4 billion in 2019, while spending on facilities and maintenance has increased to $1.3 billion from $1 billion.

The city also spends roughly $700 million on contracts, including consulting services.

Special education costs have grown sharply, according to City Comptroller Mark Levine.

Expenses tied to “due process” cases—where families seek private school placements for special education needs—have climbed from $500 million in 2019 to $1.5 billion today.

These cases often involve legal fees and reimbursements to families.

Officials from the Department of Education said the Mamdani administration is aware of the financial pressures but has not yet outlined major structural changes.

“There is no better investment than one in our children,” said DOE spokesperson Nicole Brownstein.

“New York City Public Schools always works to ensure that every student has access to a world-class education while spending every dollar thoughtfully and finding savings where possible, and as Mayor Mamdani works to make our city more affordable for families, we are working in tandem to meet the class size law, cut excess spending, and build a school system that sets every child up for lifelong success.”

“Enrollment trends reflect broader demographic trends, including changes in birth rates and population patterns,” Brownstein went on.

“As our city contends with these national trends, we will continue to look for solutions that deliver a robust and diverse education to all students while making sure every school has room to comply with the class size law — community and family driven school utilization changes are an important part of that work.”

{Matzav.com}

Google revealed Monday that cybercriminals recently deployed a zero-day vulnerability that researchers believe may have been generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence, marking a significant escalation in the use of advanced technology for cyberattacks.

The disclosure comes as leading AI developers, including Anthropic and OpenAI, are actively testing increasingly sophisticated systems capable of identifying and exploiting software weaknesses at a level that rivals—or exceeds—human experts.

Details of the incident were outlined in a report published by Google’s Threat Intelligence Group. Zero-day vulnerabilities are among the most dangerous types of cyber threats because they are unknown to security teams and lack existing fixes at the time they are exploited.

According to the report, this marks the first documented instance in which Google has identified signs that artificial intelligence may have been used to create such a vulnerability.

Investigators said it is unlikely that Anthropic’s Claude Mythos model—known for uncovering thousands of security flaws across major operating systems and web browsers—was responsible for developing the exploit.

The issue has drawn attention within the Trump administration, which is currently holding discussions with industry leaders about possible oversight and safety measures for next-generation AI systems, including Anthropic’s Mythos and OpenAI’s newly introduced GPT-5.5-Cyber model.

Google notified the affected company about the vulnerability before making its findings public, allowing the firm to issue a patch to address the flaw.

John Hultquist, chief analyst at Google Threat Intelligence Group, said the discovery underscores how rapidly AI is being integrated into cyber operations.

“For every zero-day we can trace back to AI, there are probably many more out there,” Hultquist said. “Threat actors are using AI to boost the speed, scale, and sophistication of their attacks.”

Security experts have increasingly observed hackers turning to AI tools to strengthen their capabilities. In November, Anthropic reported that China-linked cyber groups had used AI to fully automate attacks for the first time.

The Google report also describes how Russian-affiliated hacking groups have leveraged AI systems to deploy malware against Ukrainian networks, while a North Korean group known as APT45 has used AI to enhance and expand its cyber operations.

The rapid advancement of high-powered AI models has raised growing concerns that such tools could soon enable cyberattacks on an unprecedented scale. For now, access to these cutting-edge systems remains restricted to a limited group of researchers, companies, and government entities.

“The staged release was actually to create what we call defenders’ advantage, and we believe that window is somewhere in the months timeframe — not years,” said Rob Bair, head of cyber policy at Anthropic, speaking last week at the AI+Expo in Washington.

The Swedish government has decided to stop using the term “Islamophobia,” arguing that the phrase has increasingly been applied in ways that stifle legitimate criticism of Islamist ideology rather than addressing real discrimination against Muslims.

Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said officials will instead use language such as “anti-Muslim racism” or “anti-Muslim hatred,” emphasizing the need to protect open discussion and freedom of expression.

The policy shift comes after years of contentious debate across Europe on issues including immigration, integration, and the role of Islamist groups. Critics of the term “Islamophobia” contend that it often blurs the line between opposing extremist ideologies and expressing prejudice toward Muslims as individuals.

A 2025 report by the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy, titled “The Muslim Brotherhood’s Strategic Entryism Into the United States: A Systemic Analysis,” argued that the phrase has been “weaponized” by certain Islamist organizations to deflect scrutiny of their political agendas.

“On the one hand, there are people who suffer genuine anti-Muslim hatred, bigotry, and discrimination based on their faith or perceived identity,” the report stated. “This must always be challenged and addressed, as it undermines pluralism and social cohesion.”

“At the same time,” the report continued, “Islamist organizations have deliberately weaponized the term Islamophobia to shut down scrutiny of their ideology and political activities.”

Debate over the issue intensified following a May 2025 report by France’s Interior Ministry, titled “Muslim Brotherhood and Political Islamism in France,” which pointed to what it described as an active presence of the Muslim Brotherhood in Sweden.

According to the French findings, the Swedish branch of the movement, though relatively small, plays a significant role in influencing the Brotherhood’s wider European network. The report linked this influence to financial support from Qatar, Sweden’s multicultural framework, and connections with domestic political actors, particularly the Social Democratic Party.

In response to the report, Swedish authorities launched an investigation in October 2025 into the potential influence of Islamist movements within the country.

Education and Integration Minister Simona Mohamsson warned in an interview with Expressen that “political Islam has gained a foothold” in Sweden.

“We see that political Islam has gained a foothold and is being allowed to take over neighborhoods, schools, welfare, and even risks taking over political parties,” Mohamsson said. “Islamism does not want constitutions but Sharia law. It does not want integration but segregation.”

Sweden has also indicated it will urge international bodies, including the European Union and the United Nations, to reconsider their use of the term “Islamophobia.”

The concept has become increasingly embedded in global institutions in recent years. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation operates an “Islamophobia Observatory,” while the UN General Assembly has established an annual “International Day to Combat Islamophobia,” observed on March 15.

Supporters of Sweden’s new approach argue that distinguishing between hostility toward Muslims and criticism of Islamist ideology is essential to maintaining open dialogue on immigration and integration challenges facing Europe.

The issue carries particular weight in Sweden, which has taken in one of the highest numbers of Muslim migrants per capita in Europe over the past two decades. In recent years, the country has faced rising concerns over gang violence, bombings, social segregation, and the development of parallel communities in major urban areas.

For years, parties such as the Sweden Democrats were often labeled as racist or Islamophobic for raising concerns about immigration and integration policies.

Observers say Sweden’s decision represents a notable shift in the European conversation and could shape broader discussions across the continent on immigration, Islamist movements, and free speech.

{Matzav.com}

New details have emerged surrounding the mysterious sinking of a Russian cargo vessel in the Mediterranean Sea, with investigators now examining claims that the ship may have been transporting two nuclear reactors intended for North Korea when it went down following a series of explosions late in 2024.

According to a CNN report, growing speculation has centered on possible Western involvement in the destruction of the vessel, the Ursa Major, which sank roughly 60 miles off the coast of Spain on Dec. 23, 2024.

Spanish investigators reportedly believe the ship — also referred to as Sparta 3 — may have been struck by an advanced torpedo capable of piercing the hull and sending the vessel to the bottom of the Mediterranean.

Investigators concluded that the damage was consistent with a Barracuda supercavitating torpedo, an uncommon and highly sophisticated weapon believed to be possessed only by the United States, several NATO nations, Russia, and Iran.

Following the sinking, the ship’s Russian captain allegedly informed Spanish authorities that the vessel had been carrying “components for two nuclear reactors similar to those used in submarines,” though he reportedly said he did not know whether the reactors contained nuclear fuel, CNN reported.

The captain, Igor Anisimov, reportedly told investigators he believed the shipment was ultimately destined for the North Korean port city of Rason.

The vessel had departed Russia on Dec. 11, 2024. Despite being licensed to transport radioactive material, the ship’s publicly filed cargo manifest reportedly listed only empty containers, two oversized cranes, and two large “manhole covers,” making no mention of nuclear-related equipment.

The voyage took place shortly after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed to dispatch thousands of troops to assist Russia in regaining control of the Kursk region after Ukraine’s unexpected incursion embarrassed the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin.

For years, analysts have suspected that Russia has been supplying North Korea with military and nuclear expertise in exchange for support, particularly as Kim has openly pursued the development of a nuclear-powered submarine program.

European militaries had reportedly been monitoring the Ursa Major during its journey. The Portuguese navy even sent aircraft to track the ship and accompanying Russian military escort vessels as they traveled through the Mediterranean.

Portuguese officials later said surveillance of the vessel ended on the morning of Dec. 22, after which the cargo ship was observed slowing near the Spanish coast.

Spanish rescue authorities reportedly contacted the ship after noticing its unusual behavior, but the Russian crew allegedly responded that there was no emergency.

Roughly a day later, however, the Ursa Major transmitted a distress signal after three explosions erupted aboard the vessel, apparently near the engine room. Two crew members were reportedly killed in the blasts.

The situation escalated further when one of the Russian escort ships, the Ivan Gren, arrived and instructed nearby vessels to remain at least two nautical miles from the damaged cargo ship. The Russian military vessel also reportedly demanded that Spain immediately hand over the rescued sailors.

CNN reported that footage from the rescue operation showed Spanish crews unable to gain access to the ship’s engine room because it had been completely sealed.

Although the vessel initially appeared stable, it later plunged to the seabed shortly after the Ivan Gren launched several flares into the sky. Investigators reportedly detected four additional explosions resembling underwater mine detonations soon afterward.

Four days after the sinking, the vessel’s owner, Oboronlogistics, declared that the Ursa Major had been the victim of a “targeted terrorist attack,” claiming the ship sustained a 20-inch-by-20-inch breach in its hull.

Further questions arose when the Russian research vessel Yantar arrived above the wreck site approximately one week later. Authorities reportedly detected another four explosions in the area around the seabed after its arrival.

Spanish officials later informed lawmakers that investigating the wreckage would be extremely dangerous because the ship rests at a depth of 8,202 feet and would require major technical resources to examine safely.

The mystery intensified further after records showed the US military twice flew its WC135-R “nuke sniffer” aircraft over the area — once on Aug. 28, 2025, and again on Feb. 6 this year.

American officials have not publicly explained the purpose of those flights or whether the aircraft detected any radioactive material near the wreckage.

With Russia, the United States, and other governments offering little public explanation about the incident, major questions remain unanswered about what exactly the Ursa Major was carrying — and what caused the vessel to sink beneath the Mediterranean.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry charged that the New York Times attempted to weaken the impact of a newly released 300-page report detailing widespread immoral violence carried out by Hamas during and after the October 7 attacks, accusing the paper of publishing misleading claims just before the report’s release.

In a statement, the ministry said the timing of the article was intentional and aimed at casting doubt on the findings of the Civil Commission report. “The New York Times, in service of a Hamas-driven narrative, deliberately timed its piece to undermine today’s horrific Civil Commission report documenting Hamas’ preplanned, systematic [immoral] atrocities on Oct. 7 and against hostages thereafter – attempting to create false equivalence and belittle documented crimes,” the ministry stated.

The ministry further criticized the article’s sourcing, arguing that it relied on unverified allegations and questionable organizations. It stated that the New York Times piece was “built on unverified claims and Hamas-linked sources like EMHRM. No evidence. No verified complaints. A politically driven smear campaign by a biased paper designed to support efforts to blacklist Israel. The ministry demanded that “this disgusting shameful piece must be removed immediately.”

In an additional statement, officials sharpened their criticism of the report, saying” “This isn’t journalism. It’s Hamas propaganda, a distortion of the truth and the facts all serving an anti-Israel agenda.”

The report at the center of the dispute, released Tuesday by the Civil Commission on October 7th Crimes by Hamas Against Women and Children, is titled ‘Silenced No More: The Untold Atrocities of October 7th and Against Hostages in Captivity.’

According to the commission, the findings are based on extensive documentation, including testimony from more than 430 survivors, eyewitnesses, and medical personnel, as well as over 1,800 hours of video and photographic material, some of it recorded by Hamas operatives themselves during the attacks.

The controversy intensified a day earlier when New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof published an opinion article alleging widespread immoral abuse of Arab detainees in Israeli prisons. The column drew criticism from Israeli officials and others who argued that it relied heavily on anonymous accounts and questionable sources, including an organization accused of promoting unfounded claims about Israeli conduct.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump shared a Truth Social post that called for the arrest of Barack Obama, accusing the former president of treason. The post was part of a flurry of late-night activity on Trump’s social media page in which the president shared several posts that railed against his political opponents.

The lengthy post, originally published by another Truth Social user, touched on a claim Trump has promoted for years: that the Obama administration spied on Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

“Arrest them all. Prosecute them all. Incarcerate them all at once for treachery, treason, and seditious conspiracy to overthrow the United States government. But first, Barack Obama,” the end of the post read.

Representatives for the White House and for Obama declined to comment on the post Tuesday morning.

The post was one of more than four dozen items Trump shared or reposted on Truth Social between 10 p.m. Monday and about 8 a.m. Tuesday, hours before he is slated to leave for China for a high-stakes summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The frenzy of activity included more than a dozen posts that relitigated the 2020 presidential election, which Trump has continued to falsely claim was stolen. About a dozen posts attacked Obama by name, including one that called Trump’s predecessor in his first term the “most DEMONIC FORCE in American politics in decades.”

In another post published at 6:46 a.m., Trump attacked the New York Times for a story that detailed how it would cost $13.1 million to repair and paint the floor of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, despite Trump’s previous claims that it would cost only $1.8 million.

“This is not just a paint job, like lowlife ‘reporter,’ David Fahrenthold, of the NYT so inaccurately and maliciously stated, it is a deeply complicated work of smart and beautiful construction,” Trump wrote, naming one of the reporters who worked on the story. Trump did not dispute the reporting that reflecting pool repairs would cost $13.1 million.

The New York Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

Trump’s attention then appeared to shift in the morning at least in part to Iran. He posted a chart that implied the U.S. war in Iran was over and had only lasted six weeks. He also shared several seemingly AI-generated images of the U.S. military shooting down Iranian planes and boats.

“Lasers: Bing, Bing, GONE!!!” one post read.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Amy B. Wang 

Waymo is recalling thousands of robotaxis to fix a software issue that could cause the autonomous vehicles to drive on flooded roads.

The recall affects 3,791 vehicles equipped with the company’s fifth- and sixth-generation automated-driving system, according to documents posted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website. The Alphabet Inc.-owned robotaxi business is working on a final remedy to address the problem, the agency said.

Waymo said in a statement that it has placed constraints on the system to limit access to higher-speed roadways where flash flooding might occur.

“We are working to implement additional software safeguards and have put mitigations in place, including refining our extreme weather operations during periods of intense rain,” the company said.

The decision stems from an April 20 incident in San Antonio, where an unoccupied Waymo robotaxi encountered “an untraversable flooded section of a roadway,” according to the documents. Rather than avoid the potentially dangerous street, the vehicle proceeded into floodwater at a reduced speed.

Waymo temporarily suspended robotaxi operations in the city after the incident. The company said it has resumed autonomous operations there but has not yet restarted rides for customers.

Although no one was injured and the recall is relatively small, the incident highlights the challenges for driverless vehicles to adapt to unpredictable weather and other unexpected roadway conditions without a human driver’s judgment. Waymo has been rolling out its robotaxi service in cities across the US in a growing competition with the likes of Tesla Inc.

NHTSA has two separate investigations into Waymo’s self-driving vehicles. One is probing an incident in which a robotaxi struck a child near a school in Santa Monica, California, in January, while the other was opened after the company’s cars repeatedly failed to fully slow or stop for school buses last year.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] Former FBI Director James Comey said he has no intention of backing down from his criticism of President Donald Trump, arguing that speaking out is necessary for those concerned about the country, even as he faces criminal charges.

During an appearance on MS NOW’s “Deadline,” Comey accused Trump of being driven by a desire for retaliation against his critics and said that dynamic will not deter him from continuing to speak publicly.

“Donald Trump has a bottomless desire to gain revenge against those who criticized him. And I’m not going to stop criticizing him because I think that’s a that’s required if you care about America. And so it will just keep going. If he gets rid of Blanche, he’ll try to find someone else. Look at the bottom of every barrel there are still apples. And so he will find someone to do what he wants to do.”

Host Nicolle Wallace pressed Comey on the charges outlined in the indictment.

“What is it that you are accused of doing?”

Comey responded by describing the nature of the allegations.

“In the current indictment? Communicating, making and communicating a threat to assassinate the president of the United States.”

Wallace then asked him to explain his position in response to the accusations.

“And what did you actually do? What is your defense?”

Comey declined to address the substance of his defense publicly, citing legal restrictions and his respect for the judicial process.

“I’m not going to talk about that because I as I’ve said many times, I believe in the independent federal judiciary and the court rules require that if you’re participating in a criminal case, you don’t talk about it outside of court. And so we’ll have a lot to say in the courtroom. But I want to respect the rules and the court.”

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Saudi Arabia launched covert airstrikes on Iranian territory during the peak of the recent Middle East conflict, marking a significant escalation in regional tensions and signaling a shift in Riyadh’s military posture, according to officials cited in a new report.

Western and Iranian sources quoted by Reuters said the Saudi Air Force carried out the attacks in late March, representing the first known instance of the Kingdom directly striking targets inside Iran.

The reported strikes were described as “tit-for-tat” responses to repeated Iranian-backed drone and missile attacks aimed at Saudi civilian infrastructure, including airports and oil installations.

For years, Saudi Arabia has leaned heavily on American defense support, but the scale and intensity of the recent ten-week conflict—during which Iran reportedly targeted all six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council—pushed Riyadh to take more assertive and independent military action.

The operations were said to have occurred during a particularly volatile stretch in late March. According to those familiar with the situation, Saudi officials quickly informed Tehran after the strikes and paired the military response with a firm warning that any additional aggression would be met with a stronger reaction.

This combination of force and diplomacy appears to have contributed to a cooling of tensions. In the aftermath of the strikes, accelerated talks led to an informal de-escalation understanding that took hold shortly before the broader April 7 ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

The disclosure of Saudi involvement follows a separate report indicating that the United Arab Emirates also carried out its own strikes against Iran during the same conflict.

Although both Gulf states reportedly took the rare step of targeting Iran directly, their approaches differed. The UAE maintained a consistently aggressive posture, while Saudi Arabia continued to engage Tehran through back-channel communications even as it carried out military operations.

A senior official in Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry stopped short of confirming the strikes but reiterated the Kingdom’s broader stance on regional stability.

“We reaffirm Saudi Arabia’s consistent position advocating de-escalation, self-restraint and the reduction of tensions in pursuit of the stability, security and prosperity of the region and its people,” the official said.

The reported decision to carry out the strikes followed a period of rising tensions. On March 19, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud warned that the Kingdom “reserved the right to take military actions if deemed necessary.” That warning was followed by the expulsion of Iranian diplomats and, ultimately, the reported military response targeting sites inside Iran.

Despite the relative calm that has followed the ceasefire, the situation remains unstable. Recent projectiles fired toward Saudi territory have been linked to Iran-aligned militias operating in Iraq, prompting Riyadh to summon Iraq’s ambassador in protest.

While the ceasefire continues to hold for now, the events surrounding the March strikes have underscored a major shift in Saudi policy, signaling to Tehran that the Kingdom is prepared to respond directly to threats rather than rely solely on allies for its defense.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran must agree to U.S. conditions to end the war and address its nuclear ambitions, warning that failure to do so could lead to severe consequences, as signs grow that diplomacy may be faltering.

Speaking to reporters before departing for a trip to China, Trump delivered a stark message to Tehran. “They’ll either do the right thing, or we’ll finish the job,” Trump said, dismissing claims that economic pressures at home were influencing his approach to the conflict.

Trump:

Iran’s leaders will either do the right thing, or we will finish the job. pic.twitter.com/jiFeTCPqUP

— Clash Report (@clashreport) May 12, 2026

The president emphasized that his focus remains fixed on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, regardless of domestic concerns. “I don’t think about Americans’ financial situations. I don’t think about anybody. I think about one thing: we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon. That’s all,” the President clarified.

Trump argued that Americans broadly understand the priority of stopping Iran’s nuclear program, even if markets fluctuate. “The most important thing by far is Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. Every American understands it. If the stock market goes up or down a little bit, the American people understand it.”

He insisted the United States would prevail regardless of how the conflict is resolved. Trump stressed that the US will “win it one way or the other. We’ll win it peacefully or otherwise. No matter how you cut it, we win.”

Addressing Tehran’s reaction to a U.S. proposal that he rejected over the weekend, Trump accused Iran of inconsistency. Commenting on the Iranian response to the US proposal, which he rejected as unacceptable on Sunday, Trump said that Iran agreed that they will never have nuclear weapons “and then that’s not what they sent to me. We don’t play games.”

He reiterated that the United States holds the upper hand and warned of devastating consequences if a deal is not reached. “We have Iran very much under control. We are either gonna make a deal or they will be decimated,” he stressed.

Behind the scenes, frustration appears to be mounting within the administration. Sources indicated that Trump has grown increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of progress in negotiations, raising the possibility that Washington could shift back toward military action.

Officials familiar with internal discussions said the president’s patience is wearing thin as Iran has yet to offer concessions that the U.S. views as meaningful.

At the same time, Iran signaled it is holding firm to its own terms. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said in a public message that Tehran sees only one viable path forward.

“There is no alternative but to accept the rights of the Iranian people as laid out in the 14-point proposal. Any other approach will be completely inconclusive; nothing but one failure after another,” he wrote.

He also warned that prolonging the standoff would come at a cost to Americans. “The longer they drag their feet, the more American taxpayers will pay for it,” stated Ghalibaf.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he does not consider the economic impacts the war in Iran is having on Americans, remarks that quickly drew criticism from Democrats and appeared to undermine his campaign pledge of addressing voters’ cost of living concerns.

“Not even a little bit‚” Trump said when asked to what extent “Americans’ financial situations” are motivating him to reach a deal to end the war. Trump spoke to reporters on the White House South Lawn before departing for his trip to China.

“The only thing that matters when I’m talking about Iran – they can’t have a nuclear weapon. I don’t think about Americans’ financial situation. I don’t think about anybody,” Trump said. “I think about one thing: we cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

The president doubled down on the sentiment when asked to clarify whether the economic impact on Americans was a factor in his decision-making. The U.S. inflation rate has risen to its highest rate in nearly three years since the start of the Iran war in late February, with increased prices largely driven by higher energy costs. Gas prices rose 5.4 percent last month and were up about 30 percent over the past year. Still, the U.S. stock market has continued to hit a series of records.

“Every American understands,” Trump said of economic issues related to the war, referencing an unnamed poll he said showed an overwhelming majority of people “understand that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

“Now if the stock market goes up or down a little bit, the American people understand,” Trump continued. “When this war is over, oil is going to drop, the stock market is going to go through the roof, and truly, I think we’re in the golden age right now. You’re going to see a golden age like we’ve ever seen before.”

Trump’s approval on economic issues, which were critical to his political comeback in 2024, has fallen since he launched the Iran war.

A recent Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll found that his approval rating on the economy has declined by seven points, to 34 percent, as gas prices have risen. Trump’s approval on inflation has fallen five points in that time to 27 percent, and his lowest rating comes on perceptions of his handling of the general cost of living, with 23 percent of Americans approving vs. 76 percent disapproving.

The poll also found that Americans disapprove of his handling of the situation with Iran by 66 percent to 33 percent.

Democratic officials and campaign strategists were quick to jump on Trump’s comments, with some openly musing about using them in campaign ads against Republicans during the midterms.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) shared the clip, writing on social media that “Gas is over $4.60/gallon in Pennsylvania today” and Trump “literally doesn’t give a damn.”

At another point while talking to reporters, Trump defended his economic policies, saying “If you go back to just before the war,” inflation had fallen under his watch.

Trump, who has expressed an interest in pausing the federal gas tax – which would require congressional approval – said Tuesday that he would support governors doing so in their states. “I think that’s a great idea,” Trump said.

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Natalie Allison

Hezbollah’s leader issued a series of warnings that his group will intensify its confrontation with Israel, declaring that the conflict will continue and could escalate further as long as what he described as Israeli aggression persists.

Naim Qassem said his organization has no intention of stepping back from the fighting and warned of severe consequences for Israel. “We will not leave the battlefield, and we will turn it into hell for Israel. We will respond to the aggression and violations, and we will not return [the reality] before March 2nd,” Qassem declared, referring to the date when Hezbollah joined Iran’s war against Israel.

He further claimed that Hezbollah is confronting what he characterized as a coordinated effort by Israel and the United States aimed at weakening Lebanon and bringing it under broader Israeli control. He insisted that his group would continue resisting under all circumstances. Qassem warned that Hezbollah is facing what he described as “an Israeli-American aggression that seeks to subjugate our country, Lebanon, so that it becomes part of Greater Israel.” He added, “We will not submit, and we will not surrender, and we will continue to defend Lebanon and its people no matter how long it takes and no matter how great the sacrifices.”

Addressing the possibility of diplomatic developments, Qassem suggested that a deal between Iran and the United States that includes halting what he described as attacks on Lebanon could shift the situation. He said such an agreement “could be the strongest card to stop the aggression.”

He also made clear that any negotiations tied to Lebanon’s future should be handled by the Lebanese government, while signaling Hezbollah’s willingness to coordinate with state authorities. According to the Hezbollah leader, responsibility for negotiations aimed at achieving Lebanon’s sovereign goals “remains the responsibility of the authority in Lebanon.” He added that Hezbollah is prepared to cooperate with the Lebanese authorities to achieve what he described as five goals: “Lebanon’s sovereignty by stopping the Israeli aggression by sea, land and air, liberating its land through the withdrawal of the Israeli enemy from our occupied territories and the deployment of the Lebanese army south of the Litani River, freeing the prisoners, returning people to all their villages and towns, and reconstruction.”

Qassem argued that indirect negotiations would be more effective than direct talks, asserting that Lebanon holds leverage in such discussions. He called for the option of indirect negotiations, saying that “the cards of strength are in the hands of the Lebanese negotiator,” and urged withdrawal from direct negotiations, which he claimed, “constitute pure profits for Israel and free concessions from the Lebanese authority.”

He emphasized that decisions regarding Hezbollah’s military capabilities and Lebanon’s internal governance should not be subject to outside influence. He also stressed that “no one outside Lebanon has any relation to the weapons, the resistance, and the organization of Lebanon’s internal state affairs,” adding that this “is an internal Lebanese matter and not part of negotiations with the enemy.”

Looking ahead, Qassem said that once the objectives he outlined are achieved, Lebanon would be positioned to organize its domestic affairs through a broader security framework. He stated that after achieving the five points outlined in his remarks, “Lebanon will arrange its internal situation through a national security strategy, benefiting from its elements of strength, including the resistance,” while citing remarks from Joseph Aoun regarding discussions on a comprehensive defense policy as part of a national security strategy.

{Matzav.com}

The Justice Department has paid millions of dollars to settle claims from FBI agents suspended over misconduct allegations, a prominent House Democrat said in a letter Tuesday, raising concern over what he described as the Trump administration’s pattern of rewarding allies with large cash payouts.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) highlighted several of those deals in a missive to acting attorney general Todd Blanche demanding further details on the payments, including settlements with an agent who was disciplined after refusing to investigate a white nationalist group and another who was accused of being present in a restricted area during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Tristan Leavitt, an attorney for those agents, disputed Raskin’s characterization of those cases and dismissed the congressman’s concern as “more a toddler’s temper tantrum than serious congressional oversight.”

Several of the payments cited in Raskin’s letter involve agents who have publicly claimed their suspensions were the result of political bias in the Justice Department during the Biden administration. In several cases, their claims had not yet been raised in court or made their way through the FBI’s internal process for appealing disciplinary actions before the Justice Department offered to settle, Raskin said.

“These checks are just political handouts and payoffs,” wrote Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. He added later, “The DOJ and FBI have already paid out several million dollars of taxpayer money to disgraced agents and employees who violated their professional and legal duties to the government.”

Raskin’s letter detailed settlements with five agents, whom he wrote had received settlements totaling more than $230,000. Some of them also received backpay which, in some cases, was hundreds of thousands of dollars. The letter said there were additional settlements that Raskin did not specifically reference in his message to Blanche.

Each of the five settlements Raskin cited Tuesday had been previously announced in August by Leavitt and his organization Empower Oversight, which represented many of the suspended agents in their negotiations with the Justice Department and FBI.

Leavitt, a former staffer to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, maintained in a statement that the payments were appropriate for agents he described as whistleblowers. He accused Raskin of spreading “shameless lies about our clients.”

“It is common practice for federal agencies to settle legal or administrative complaints against them, which … virtually all of the whistleblowers had against the FBI at the time of the settlements,” he said in a statement. “Empower Oversight has been transparent at every step about its case for making these whistleblowers whole, with hundreds of pages on our website documenting the flaws in FBI actions against these employees.”

The debate over the payments made to agents who’ve aided Republican-backed efforts to accuse the bureau of playing politics comes as the FBI’s top leadership has fired dozens of other agents for their past involvement in investigations targeting President Donald Trump. Several of those agents have since sued, alleging that their dismissals did not go through the traditional disciplinary process afforded to FBI employees.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department has offered cash settlements to a number of high-profile Trump allies who sued the government after they were charged with various crimes during the Biden administration.

Last month, department lawyers authorized a $1.25 million settlement to Trump’s 2016 campaign adviser Carter Page to settle claims that he was illegally surveilled by federal authorities as part of an investigation into Russian interference in that race. Page was never charged with a crime but multiple federal courts had dismissed lawsuits he’d filed over the investigation, saying the statute of limitations on his claims had lapsed.

The department has also paid more than $1 million to Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who has claimed he was the victim of a politicized prosecution for lying to federal agents as part of the same investigation.

“All of these handouts constitute an astounding and lawless abuse of government office and taxpayer dollars,” Raskin wrote.

Spokespeople for the Justice Department and the FBI did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

Among the settlements with disciplined agents that Raskin highlighted Tuesday was a $63,500 payment he said was made to an agent who had his security clearance revoked after FBI personnel determined he’d lied to investigators about his presence during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Though Raskin did not name the agent in his letter, he said that in addition to the lump-sum payout, the agent also received hundreds of thousands in backpay.

Empower Oversight disputed Raskin’s characterization of the case. In its August news release on the settlement, the organization said the agent had self-reported his presence during the riot to his supervisors after he unwittingly strayed into restricted grounds after rioters had removed barriers in their rush toward the Capitol. The agent did not enter the Capitol building or ascend the building’s steps, the organization said.

Others cited included settlements with FBI agents Steven Friend and Garret O’Boyle, both of whom testified at Republican-led congressional hearings during the Biden administration accusing the FBI of political bias.

Friend, previously assigned to the FBI’s field office in Daytona Beach, Florida, was suspended for allegedly refusing to participate in the arrest of a Jan. 6 suspect, illegally recording conversations with his management team, downloading sensitive FBI documents onto a thumb drive and participating in unsanctioned media interviews with Russian state media, Raskin said. Friend resigned from the FBI following his suspension in 2023. Raskin said Tuesday that under a recently struck deal, the Justice Department agreed to pay Friend $61,430 plus hundreds of thousands of dollars in backpay.

Boyle, an FBI special agent in Wichita, was accused of disclosing sensitive information regarding an ongoing criminal investigation involving the right-wing organization Project Veritas, which is known for using undercover tactics to expose what it says is liberal bias in the mainstream news media, when he was suspended in 2022. Though the FBI and courts previously rejected his claims that he was wrongfully suspended, the Justice Department reinstated O’Boyle and agreed to pay him more than $600,000, Raskin said.

Empower Oversight maintains that Boyle’s disclosures were made as part of lawfully protected whistleblowing to congressional committees. The organization also disputed Raskin’s description of an agent disciplined for his alleged refusal to participate in an investigation of the white nationalist group Patriot Front in 2022. Empower Oversight said the agent had raised concerns that the bureau’s investigation was politically motivated.

Neither Friend nor Boyle immediately responded to requests for comment Tuesday.

Raskin said in his letter that members of Grassley’s staff had also participated in the settlement negotiations. A spokesperson for Grassley said the senator has been open about his office’s role in the negotiations for months. Raskin’s “seven-page screed is a disgusting and defamatory attempt to smear legitimate whistleblowers while protecting their Biden administration retaliators,” Grassley’s office said in a statement. “Senator Grassley stands by his efforts to defend and protect all whistleblowers, no matter which administration they blow the whistle on, just as he has done for decades.”

(c) 2026, The Washington Post · Jeremy Roebuck, Perry Stein

A 45-year-old man has appeared in court after being charged in connection with a suspected arson attack at a former synagogue site in east London, as authorities continue investigating a string of incidents targeting Jewish-linked locations.

Moses Edwards, of Wanstead, was brought before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday, where he faced a charge of arson with intent to endanger life tied to a fire at the former East London Central Synagogue in Whitechapel on May 5.

Emergency services responded shortly after 5:15 a.m. local time when flames were reported at the front entrance of the building. Officials said the damage was limited to a gate and lock, and no injuries were reported.

Edwards was ordered held in custody and is scheduled to return to court next month. He did not enter a plea during his initial appearance.

Authorities say early findings suggest the fire was set deliberately, citing CCTV footage as part of the evidence. Given the building’s past use as a synagogue and its ties to the Jewish community, the case has been taken over by Counter Terrorism Policing London.

Investigators also noted that the property is currently being sold to the Ashaadibi Education and Cultural Centre, a Somali Muslim community organization. The group has publicly denounced the incident.

In a related development, a 52-year-old woman was arrested Sunday on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson. She has since been released on bail and is expected to return for further questioning in August.

The case comes against the backdrop of a series of recent attacks and attempted attacks aimed at Jewish, Israeli, and Iranian-associated locations across the United Kingdom.

Commander Helen Flanagan, who leads Counter Terrorism Policing London, described the arrests as a “significant step” in the investigation.

“Our aim continues to arrest and charge all those responsible for the arson attacks and other incidents targeted at Jewish, Israeli and Iranian sites in recent weeks,” she stated. “We will not tolerate these hateful attacks on communities.”

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Donald Trump on Tuesday stood by the scale and expense of the planned White House ballroom, insisting the project is progressing efficiently while sharply rebuking a reporter who questioned its scope.

Speaking to reporters before departing for China, Trump said the ballroom is both larger than initially planned and financially on track. “We have a ballroom that’s under budget. I’ve doubled the size of it because we obviously need that,” Trump told reporters before departing to China. “And we’re right now on budget, under budget and ahead of schedule.”

When asked again about the decision to expand the project, Trump responded with a personal jab at the questioner. “I doubled the size of it, you dumb person. You are not a smart person.”

Plans for the ballroom have shifted since Trump first unveiled the proposal last summer, with both its size and estimated cost changing over time. The structure is set to replace the East Wing, which has already been demolished as part of the project.

Despite criticism over the growing price tag, Trump has dismissed concerns by emphasizing that the ballroom will not rely on taxpayer funds, saying wealthy donors will cover the full cost. He initially projected the project at $200 million, though estimates have since climbed to roughly $400 million.

The issue has also surfaced in Congress, where Senate Republicans included $1 billion for ballroom-related security measures in a budget reconciliation package. However, Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul said Monday that the provision may ultimately be removed before the bill reaches a vote on the Senate floor.

White House officials met with Senate Republicans during a Tuesday lunch to walk through the proposed funding in detail, outlining how the $1 billion would be allocated.

According to materials presented at the meeting, the funding would cover a range of security upgrades, including “hardening” the White House complex, a visitors screening facility, training, enhancements for protectee security, evolving threats and technology and events of national significance.

Trump and several Republican allies have increasingly pointed to security concerns to justify the project, particularly in the aftermath of the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner late last month.

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{Matzav.com}