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New York’s governor on Monday proposed the construction of the state’s first new nuclear power plant in decades. Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the state’s power authority to develop an advanced, “zero-emission” facility in upstate New York that she hopes will help create a clean, reliable and affordable electric grid for the state. She said the state power authority will seek to develop “at least” one new nuclear energy facility with a combined capacity of no less than one gigawatt of electricity. That would increase the state’s total nuclear capacity to about 4.3 gigawatts. The Democrat said the state needs to secure its “energy independence” if it wants to continue to attract large manufacturers that create good-paying jobs as it deactivates aging fossil fuel power plants. “We’re going to get it done,” Hochul said, speaking at the Niagara County Power Project in Lewiston. “This historic initiative will lay the foundation for the next generation of prosperity.” The governor said the state hasn’t decided on a potential location, but that upstate communities appear receptive, given the potential for creating 1,600 construction jobs and 1,200 permanent jobs once the facility is operational. “Everybody is raising their hand right now,” Hochul said. “It’s going to be hard to decide.” Among those likely in the running is the Nine Mile Point nuclear plant in Oswego. Hochul’s administration has been supportive of Maryland power company Constellation’s bid to build a new nuclear reactor at the two-reactor facility. American utilities have been broadly reluctant to launch new nuclear plants due to high cost overruns and delays on recent high-profile projects. Georgia Power Company completed the first two new nuclear reactors in the country in a generation last year. But Units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, Georgia, cost nearly $35 billion and were powered up some seven years later than initially hoped. Last month, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation’s largest public power company, applied to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to develop what it bills as a next-generation nuclear power plant at its Clinch River site in Oak Ridge. The federally owned utility provides electricity to seven states and operates three traditional, large nuclear power plants, providing about 40% of the Tennessee Valley’s power. New York currently has three active nuclear plants, all located upstate along Lake Ontario and owned by Constellation. The Nine Mile Point, Robert Emmett Ginna and James A. FitzPatrick plants provide about 3.3 gigawatts of power, or roughly 20% of the state’s electricity, according to Hochul’s office. The last nuclear power plant built in the state was Unit 2 at Nine Mile Point in 1989. At its peak, nuclear power provided about 5.4 gigawatts, or roughly one-third of the state’s electrical supply, according to the advocacy group Nuclear New York. The New York Power Authority previously operated two nuclear plants, including the Indian Point Power Plant, which shut down in 2021. That facility was located along the Hudson River some 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of New York City in Buchanan. The other facility, once operated by the state, was the FitzPatrick plant, which the power authority sold in 2000 and is now run by Constellation. (AP)

The war between Israel and Iran has raised concerns that Iran could retaliate by trying to close the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil chokepoint due to the large volumes of crude that pass through it every day. The U.S. military’s strike on three sites in Iran over the weekend has raised questions about how its military might respond. The Strait of Hormuz is between Oman and Iran, which boasts a fleet of fast-attack boats and thousands of naval mines as well as missiles that it could use to make the strait impassable, at least for a time. Iran’s main naval base at Bandar Abbas is on the north coast of the strait. It could also fire missiles from its long Persian Gulf shore, as its allies, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, have done in the Red Sea. About 20 million barrels of oil per day, or around 20% of the world’s oil consumption, passed through the strait in 2024. Most of that oil goes to Asia. Here is a look at the waterway and its impact on the global economy: An energy highway in a volatile region The strait connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It’s only 33 kilometers (21 miles) wide at its narrowest point, but deep enough and wide enough to handle the world’s largest crude oil tankers. Oil that passes through the strait comes from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, and Bahrain, while major supplies of liquefied natural gas come from Qatar. At its narrowest point, the sea lanes for tankers lie in Omani waters, and before and after that cross into Iranian territory. While some global oil chokepoints can be circumvented by taking longer routes that simply add costs, that’s not an option for most of the oil moving through the strait. That’s because the pipelines that could be used to carry the oil on land, such as Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline, don’t have nearly enough capacity. “Most volumes that transit the strait have no alternative means of exiting the region,” according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Closing the Strait of Hormuz would send oil prices massively higher — at least at first If Iran blocked the strait, oil prices could shoot as high as $120-$130 per barrel, at least temporarily, said Homayoun Falakshahi, head of crude oil analyst at Kpler, in an online webinar Sunday. That would deal an inflationary shock to the global economy — if it lasted. Analysts think it wouldn’t. Asia would be directly impacted because 84% of the oil moving through the strait is headed for Asia; top destinations are China, India, Japan and South Korea. China gets 47% of its seaborne oil from the Gulf. China, however, has an oil inventory of 1.1 billion barrels, or 2 1/2 months of supply. U.S. oil customers would feel the impact of the higher prices but would not lose much supply. The U.S. imported only about 7% of its oil from Persian Gulf countries through the strait in 2024, according to the USEIA. That was the lowest level in nearly 40 years. Iran has good reasons not to block the strait Closing the strait would cut off Iran’s own oil exports. While Iran does have a new terminal under construction […]

According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12, Israel has conveyed messages to Iran expressing its desire to bring the current exchange of missiles and aerial strikes to a conclusion within a matter of days.

High-ranking Israeli sources told the outlet that Israel believes it is on the verge of reaching its key military objectives. Nevertheless, they emphasized that Israel retains the ability to intensify its response by targeting thousands of strategic sites that could severely weaken Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s regime.

The report also noted that Israel is using its strategy in Lebanon as a blueprint to prevent Iran from reestablishing its nuclear and missile programs. Since Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in November, Israel has carried out numerous strikes against the group’s personnel and facilities, aiming to prevent the Iran-aligned organization from launching future attacks or restoring its military infrastructure.

{Matzav.com}

The White House on Monday declared the weekend’s U.S. military strikes on Iran an unqualified success, claiming that the Islamic Republic’s nuclear weapons capability has been entirely dismantled. Speaking on Good Morning America, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated with certainty that the strikes “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities, including sites used to enrich and store uranium. “They no longer have the capability to build nuclear weapons and threaten the world with them,” Leavitt said. Calling the operation a “resounding success,” Leavitt said the strikes directly targeted facilities believed to house Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles, including the heavily fortified Fordow facility. “We have a high degree of confidence that where those strikes took place is where Iran’s enriched uranium was stored,” she said. While the Trump administration has not yet provided public evidence to back up its confidence, the strikes employed specialized bunker-busting munitions to penetrate deeply buried targets, which was necessary in targeting the Fordow site, which is built into a mountain and was specifically designed to survive military attacks. The White House also addressed the geopolitical fallout from the strikes. “This strike on Saturday did make our homeland safer,” Leavitt emphasized, linking the operation to the regime’s long-standing threats of “death to America.” She warned Tehran not to escalate tensions further. “The administration is actively and closely monitoring the situation in the Strait of Hormuz — and the Iranian regime would be foolish to make that decision.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

FLATBUSH: A moped carrying two individuals crashed into a vehicle at Avenue O and East 8th Street. Flatbush Hatzolah and the NYPD are on the scene. One of the riders is reported to be in traumatic arrest, possibly a fatality. A name for Tehillim does not appear to be needed at this tragedy.

Yossi Dagan, who serves as the head of the Samaria Regional Council, has launched a global initiative urging the Nobel Peace Prize committee to recognize Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump for their leadership in dismantling Iran’s nuclear threat.

This proposal follows the coordinated US-Israeli strikes that neutralized Iran’s nuclear weapons infrastructure. These actions, conducted through Operations Rising Lion and Midnight Hammer, dealt a severe blow to Iran’s military strength and nuclear ambitions, which had long endangered regional and global peace, especially targeting Israel.

To support this initiative, banners and posters promoting the nomination of Netanyahu and Trump will be displayed across various locations in Israel, the United States, and Europe. The effort is being backed financially by Friends of Samaria organizations based in both countries. A key location where one of the signs will be placed is the Trump Lookout, situated at the Gutnik Center in Peduel, in the heart of Samaria.

Some months ago, Dagan revealed that the Israel Lookout in Peduel would be officially renamed in honor of Donald Trump. That announcement was later highlighted by President Trump himself, who posted about it on his Truth Social platform.

The signs will read in English: “Trump and Netanyahu: The Shomron nominates you for a Nobel Prize.”

דגן מציין כי פריצת הדרך ההיסטורית ביחסים בין ישראל למדינות ערב, יחד עם הגישה הבלתי מתפשרת כלפי מעשי הטרור והמלחמה של איראן, מבטאת שינוי מהותי ועמוק באזור, וכי יש להכיר בתרומתם של שני המנהיגים לכך.

“אני קורא לכולם, גם מימין וגם משמאל, להתאחד סביב ההכרה בהישג האדיר הזה שהביאו שני המנהיגים האדירים הללו. טראמפ ונתניהו פועלים בנחישות ובאומץ להתמודדות חזיתית עם האיום הגדול ביותר על יציבות המזרח התיכון והעולם המערבי כולו – איראן חמושה בנשק גרעיני”.

דגן המשיך, “זה הדבר היחיד שיכול להביא את השלום ולייצר מזרח תיכון חדש אבל הפעם באמת. עוד אמר דגן: נתניהו הוא הראש והוא האחראי לשינוי ההיסטורי שמתחולל כאן- אתם, טראמפ ונתניהו האחראים לשינוי הדרמטי במערך הכוחות במזרח התיכון שנותן סיכוי לשלום אמיתי באיזור. יש להוקיר את תעוזתם ואת חזונם שהביאו לשיתופי פעולה חסרי תקדים ולתקווה חדשה במזרח התיכון, שאינו מושתת על כניעה לטרור ולאלימות, אלא על אינטרסים משותפים. שלום אמת, ובלימת האיום החמור המסכן את שלום העולם – של איראן החמושה בנשק גרעיני. כל עמי האזור והעולם תומכים במעשיהם הנועזים של המנהיגים האדירים הללו בנימין נתניהו ודונלד טראמפ. ואת הדבר הזה יש להכיר ולהוקיר.”

{Matzav.com}

JUST IN: President Trump SLAMS reports that the U.S. did not totally destroy the Iranian nuclear sites. “It never ends with the sleazebags in the media.”

Saudi Arabia says it “condemns and denounces in the strongest terms the aggression launched by Iran against the sisterly State of Qatar, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and the principles of good neighborliness. It is unacceptable and cannot be justified under any circumstances.”

COMMUNIST LEADING IN NYC: Democrat Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani announces he’ll launch government-run supermarkets in NYC if elected mayor.

New York City is using ranked choice voting in its Democratic mayoral primary election Tuesday, a system that takes some explaining, even for New Yorkers who have used it before. Voters’ understanding of how ranked choice works could play a role in which candidate comes out on top in a race that features former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, progressive upstart Zohran Mamdani and several other current and former public officials, including City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and City Comptroller Brad Lander, who was arrested last week at an immigration court. The system is based on a simple premise: Democracy works better if people aren’t forced to make an all-or-nothing choice with their vote. Rather than pick just one candidate, voters get to rank several in order of preference. Even if a voter’s top choice doesn’t have enough support to win, their rankings of other candidates still play a role in determining the victor. The system is more complex than a traditional election, making it tough to forecast a winner. It could also take longer to get results. How does it work? In New York City’s version, voters get to rank up to five candidates, from first to last, on the ballot. If one candidate is the first choice of a majority of voters — more than 50% — that person wins the race outright, just like in a traditional election. If nobody hits that threshold, ranked choice analysis kicks in. Vote tabulation is done by computer in rounds. After the first round, the candidate in last place — the candidate ranked No. 1 by the fewest amount of people — is eliminated. The computer then looks at the ballots cast by people who ranked that candidate first, to see who they ranked second. Those people’s votes are then redistributed to their second choices. That process then repeats. As more candidates are eliminated, voters’ third, fourth and even fifth choices could potentially come into play. Rounds continue until there are only two candidates left. The one with the most votes wins. Eleven candidates are on the ballot in the Democratic mayoral primary. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams isn’t one of them. He’s a Democrat but is running as an independent. The Republican Party has already picked its nominee, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa. How long will this take? The computerized process of tabulating votes takes little time, but it doesn’t start right away. Polls close at 9 p.m. Tuesday. Within a few hours, preliminary results should give a picture of how the candidates are doing based on voters’ first choices. The ranked choice tabulations, however, won’t start until July 1 because the city needs to wait for the arrival of mail-in ballots. The July 1 tabulation could potentially give a clear picture of who won, but the result won’t be official. Further rounds of ranked choice analysis will be done as additional absentee ballots come in until the board certifies the election July 15. This will be the second time New York City has used ranked choice in a mayoral primary. The first time, in 2021, things went haywire when elections officials neglected to clear test data from the tabulation program. That led to an inaccurate vote tally being reported until officials realized the error. Officials are hoping things go smoother this time. Why do people like ranked choice? One benefit is […]

TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE: Shoppers flee in panic at a shopping mall in Doha, Qatar, during Iran’s missile attack, with scenes of chaos as people sought safety. Qatar has long financially supported Hamas, with reports indicating over $1.8 billion in aid transferred over the years. Not much fun having to sleep in the bed you made, is it, Qatar?

The IDF publishes footage showing the aftermath of its strike earlier today on the Thar-Allah Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, in Tehran.

A Jew finding a way out of Israel attempts to hide his identity at the airport in Amman, Jordan.

As Iranian and Russian officials convened Monday to revisit prior defense and security arrangements, President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning regarding any attempts by Russia to provide Iran with nuclear weapons.

“Did I hear Former President Medvedev, from Russia, casually throwing around the ‘N word’ (Nuclear!), and saying that he and other countries would supply Nuclear Warheads to Iran?” Trump asked in a Truth Social post on Monday. “Did he really say that or, is it just a figment of my imagination? If he did say that, and, if confirmed, please let me know, IMMEDIATELY.”

Dmitry Medvedev, who held the Russian presidency from 2008 to 2012 during the interim between Vladimir Putin’s terms, now serves as deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and remains closely aligned with Putin.

In recent years, Russia, China, and North Korea have increasingly aligned themselves in a geopolitical bloc. Medvedev reportedly stated on Sunday that “a number of countries” are “ready to directly supply Iran with their own nuclear warheads.”

“The ‘N word’ should not be treated so casually,” Trump’s post continued, criticizing the remarks and pointing to Putin’s ultimate authority. “I guess that’s why Putin’s ‘THE BOSS.’”

Trump also issued a caution to any actors considering the transfer of nuclear weapons to Iran, noting the unmatched capability and readiness of American military technology stationed in strategic zones.

“By the way, if anyone thinks our ‘hardware’ was great over the weekend, far and away the strongest and best equipment we have, 20 years advanced over the pack, is our nuclear submarines,” Trump’s statement concluded.

“They are the most powerful and lethal weapons ever built, and just launched the 30 Tomahawks — all 30 hit their mark perfectly. So, in addition to our Great Fighter Pilots, thank you to the Captain and Crew!”

Though Iran has threatened retaliation against U.S. troops, interests, and even civilians worldwide, those threats have not materialized into concrete actions so far.

Following the Trump administration’s targeted elimination of Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s QUDs Force, Iran mistakenly shot down a commercial airliner within its own borders — a misstep that led to international outrage but no significant Iranian response against Trump at the time.

In the aftermath, Tehran publicly called for Trump and members of his administration to be assassinated.

Just prior to his recent order for strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, Trump was overheard at a White House flag-raising event saying, “I was the hunted, now I am the hunter.”

{Matzav.com}

Footage of what appears to be a section of the Duel Pulse Solid Rocket Motor on a “Patriot” PAC-3 MSE Surface-to-Air Missile found in Qatar, following tonight’s Iranian ballistic missile attack against Al Udeid Air Base.

Iran retaliated on Monday for the United States’ recent strike on its nuclear infrastructure by launching a wave of missiles at American military installations across the Middle East.

An Israeli official reported that Iran fired over ten missiles targeting locations in Qatar, while at least one missile was directed at a site in Iraq.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed the launch in an official announcement, asserting that the number of missiles fired matched the number of bombs dropped by the U.S. during Saturday’s operation.

“The base that was targeted in the attack by the powerful Iranian forces was far from urban facilities and residential areas in Qatar,” the statement said.

“This action did not pose any threat to our friendly and brotherly country, Qatar, and its noble people.”

In a separate declaration, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated it had carried out a “devastating and powerful missile attack” against the Al Udeid Air Base, located in Qatar.

“This base is the headquarters of the Air Force and the largest strategic asset of the US terrorist army in the West Asia region,” the IRGC statement said.

Iran “will not leave any attack on its territorial integrity, sovereignty, and national security unanswered under any circumstances,” the statement stressed.

Qatar’s Foreign Ministry responded by confirming that its air defense systems had intercepted the incoming missiles, and thankfully, no injuries or fatalities occurred.

Qatar, which often serves as a diplomatic go-between in the region, issued a strong condemnation of Iran’s missile barrage and urged all parties to return to the negotiating table.

The detailed response from Qatar was issued within minutes of the attack, indicating it may have been written ahead of time in anticipation of the event.

The intensity of Iran’s response—particularly whether any American personnel were harmed—will play a key role in determining President Trump’s next steps and whether the United States becomes more deeply involved in the broader conflict between Israel and Iran.

As the missile attack was taking place, President Trump was in a strategy meeting at the White House with senior national security officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.

The president had previously cautioned that any counterattack would be answered with a level of force “far greater than what was witnessed” during the strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.

“The White House and the Department of Defense are aware of, and closely monitoring, potential threats to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar,” a senior White House official told Axios.

{Matzav.com}

When President Trump authorized a series of airstrikes over the weekend on Iran’s nuclear facilities—unilaterally and without a vote from Congress—Democrats erupted in fury, accusing him of recklessness, abuse of power, and even calling for impeachment. But the outrage rings hollow. Back in 2016, under President Obama, the United States dropped 26,172 bombs across seven countries in a single year—without a single new authorization from Congress. That averages out to three bombs every hour, around the clock, for twelve straight months. Here’s the breakdown from Obama’s final year in office: Syria: 12,192 bombs Iraq: 12,095 bombs Libya: 496 bombs Yemen: 35 bombs Somalia: 14 bombs Pakistan: 3 bombs Afghanistan: 1,337 bombs These operations, like Trump’s recent Iran strikes, were justified using post-9/11 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMFs) originally passed to target Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Those justifications were already stretched thin under Obama—but Congress stayed largely silent, and few Democrats raised objections about executive overreach. Fast forward to 2025. Trump orders precision strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, citing imminent threats to U.S. national security and global stability. Once again, no new vote in Congress. Once again, war powers used with minimal oversight. But this time, the political fallout is thunderous. Democrats are decrying the move as unconstitutional, dangerous, and grounds for impeachment. “The President has launched unauthorized war against a sovereign nation,” said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “This is not a monarchy.” Republicans are firing back, accusing the opposition of hypocrisy. “President Obama bombed half the Middle East with less scrutiny,” said Sen. Josh Hawley. “Now Trump neutralizes a nuclear threat, and suddenly it’s a constitutional crisis?” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Qatar condemns Iran’s missile attack, but signals that it won’t actually do anything about it.

BREAKING UPDATE: The NY Times reports that Iran informed the Qatari government in advance of the missile strikes on the US air base in Qatar. Advance warning given to minimize casualties.