US intelligence showing Iran retains substantial missile capabilities

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426980

Classified US intelligence regarding Iran's current military strength from earlier this month suggests that Tehran has successfully restored operational access to the vast majority of its strategic missile infrastructure, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Among other things, according to the report, the intelligence reveals that Iran has regained access to 30 of its 33 primary missile sites situated along the vital Strait of Hormuz. These facilities, equipped with mobile launchers, pose a direct threat to the more than 20 American warships currently enforcing the blockade in the waterway.

The classified data stands in direct contrast to assurances provided by President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In March, the President claimed that Iran's military had "nothing left," while Hegseth asserted in April that Operation Epic Fury had rendered the regime "combat-ineffective for years."

Donald Trump’s Golden Statue: Critics’ Biblical Comparisons Explained

 https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-golden-statue-biblical-comparisons-explained-11940790

A 22-foot golden statue of President Donald Trump is riling some observers who claim the "golden calf" clearly represents idol worship expressly forbidden in the Ten Commandments, religious scholars told Newsweek.

The bronze effigy covered in gold leaf, dubbed "Don Colossus," depicts Trump, 79, with a raised fist similar to the gesture he made following the July 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. Pastor Mark Burns, an evangelical minister and spiritual adviser to the president, led last week's unveiling ceremony at Trump National Doral Miami and insisted the likeness represented "gratitude, honor and remembrance" rather than deification.

"Evangelical Christian leaders literally gathering around a gold statue of the president and celebrating it, all while raging against any accusation of idolatry," Cremer posted Friday on X. "This is what idol worship looks like."

Trump Says His Goal Is to Stop Iran Getting a Nuclear Bomb. But the Result Might Be Lots More Nukes Across the Globe

 https://time.com/article/2026/03/27/us-iran-war-nuclear-weapons-proliferation-deterrent-trump/

Of all the reasons proffered for the Iran war—and there’ve been a few—probably the easiest for Americans to get behind is that striking the regime was necessary to permanently derail its nuclear weapons program.

After all, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last May revealed Iran had stockpiled 408.6 kg of 60%-enriched uranium, which with further refinement could potentially fuel nine warheads. The nation’s inventory of some 2,500 ballistic missiles—the largest in the Gulf—and support for terrorist proxies across the region added to the security migraine. Iran “can’t have nuclear weapons,” President Donald Trump said in February. “It’s very simple. You can’t have peace in the Middle East if they have a nuclear weapon.”

But while the strikes against Iran’s nuclear sites and scientists will no doubt slow Iran’s atomic ambitions in the near-term, analysts say the regime—providing it survives, which all signs suggest it will—will now be even more set on acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Indeed, given Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure has been badly degraded by U.S. and Israeli attacks, a nuclear bomb may prove “a faster route to restore deterrence for a regime that is now more radical and has been attacked twice in the midst of negotiations,” says Jennifer Kavanagh, director of military analysis for the Washington-based think tank Defense Priorities.

But it’s not just Iranian nuclear weapons that the U.S. and world must worry about going forward. On Tuesday, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un left little doubt he was referencing Iran when he said the “present situation clearly proves” his country was correct to hang onto its nuclear arsenal, which he termed “irreversible,” while accusing Washington of “state sponsored terrorism and aggression.”

Iran Nuclear Talks: Three Lessons From the War for Negotiators

 https://www.cfr.org/articles/better-than-nothing-deals-three-nuclear-security-lessons-from-the-iran-war

Lesson one: Military strikes are not decisive

The first lesson negotiators should draw is that air wars alone cannot counter proliferation or eliminate a nuclear program. It is possible to stall, delay, or obliterate enrichment facilities, but even a tactically effective, full-scale air war cannot destroy Iran’s vast nuclear program without ground troops.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors have not been able to access major nuclear sites since before the Twelve Day War in 2025, when the U.S. Air Force dropped the world’s largest conventional bomb on Iranian nuclear enrichment sites—creating a blackout the current conflict has only deepened and that world leaders know exposes gaps in enforcing nonproliferation.

That is why the Trump administration’s counter-proliferation-through-force approach could backfire: it encourages those who want to develop nuclear programs to hide their activities rather than adhere to the successful nonproliferation approach of diplomacy and transparency that the P5 representatives of the UN Security Council have used since the signing of the NPT fifty-eight years ago. The Iran war could have a chilling effect on inspections and international engagement among states hedging with some nuclear materials—maintaining the materials and capacity to weaponize but staying below the weaponization threshold. Iran’s nuclear program is symptomatic of inherent disparity embedded into the NPT, which does not permit countries that did not test nuclear weapons before 1967 to ever have them. But will the other states be content to live without their own nuclear weapons now?

Iran’s next steps will likely be unclear during a ceasefire or even after the war concludes. The Islamic Republic could decide to shift to a North Korean model of proliferation, hiding some activities until it decides to unveil its capabilities in the form of nuclear tests and ballistic missile firings. If NPT member states can no longer gain as much transparency into Iranian nuclear program developments because negotiations do not establish invasive inspections, Iran’s path will be less predictable. And with a new leader at the helm of the Iranian regime, its nuclear strategy could be distinct from that of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was recently killed in the U.S.-Israeli attacks.

Iran retains enough nuclear material, enriched to 60 percent capacity, for roughly twelve nuclear weapons if the regime decides to use its remaining nuclear facilities and know-how to sprint to weaponization. As IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has said, the negotiators will “have to address all of this if they want to have a comprehensive agreement” to stymie the Iranian nuclear program.

The Art of the Ceasefire

 https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/the-art-of-the-ceasefire

Historically, negotiating a ceasefire to end an international conflict of this magnitude would have involved months, even years, of talks led by skilled negotiators with large teams of experts, the help of credible mediators such as the United Nations, and armies of diplomats shuttling between the different sides to build trust. Peace proposals are usually negotiated behind closed doors; threats are seldom made publicly. With the Trump Administration, none of this appears to be happening. Ceasefires are not treated as avenues to solve political contradictions and pave the way to a lasting settlement, Bhamidipati said. Instead, they have been reduced to tools of conflict meant to speedily manage escalation, contain risk, limit spillover, and restore short-term stability—a version of kicking the can down the road. Ceasefires don’t end wars; they only interrupt them. And, the longer they continue without a real political resolution, the higher the risks of even greater violence in the future. This is especially true in the Iran war. “The situation is very unstable, and every escalation can lead to a massive deterioration,” Danny Citrinowicz, a former Israeli military-intelligence officer and Middle East expert at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, told me. “Instead of the ceasefire becoming some sort of platform for a new negotiation and agreement, because of the mistrust of the sides and the fact that they cannot reach an agreement, the ceasefire is actually some sort of situation before renewed escalation.”

Trump FAMILY spirals over missing $50M! Ari on MAGA revolt & 'brand' crisis

Cost of Trump’s reflecting pool repairs balloon by $11.3 million, to $13.1M

 https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5872939-reflecting-pool-renovation-cost-increase/?tbref=hp

“The Failing New York Times, which is one of the worst newspapers anywhere in the World, and is losing subscribers on an hourly basis, is now at it again,” Trump wrote in a lengthy, early-morning Truth Social post.

“Just like they covered my Landslide 2024 Presidential Election Victory inaccurately, and without shame, constantly making major mistakes and incorrect predictions at every path along the way, they are now trying to justify Obama and Biden’s expensively botched attempt at fixing the long broken, unsightly, and unsanitary Reflecting Pool that NOW sits majestically between the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial,” he continued.

It was originally announced with an estimated cost of $1.8 million, but the Times cited federal records showing the actual cost has jumped by more than $11 million to an anticipated $13.1 million.

The Interior Department reportedly added $6.2 million to the previous cost of the no-bid contract on Friday, which was awarded to a Virginia firm called Atlantic Industrial Coatings

Checkmate in Iran

 https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/05/iran-war-trump-losing/687094/

It’s hard to think of a time when the United States suffered a total defeat in a conflict, a setback so decisive that the strategic loss could be neither repaired nor ignored. The calamitous losses suffered at Pearl Harbor, the Philippines, and throughout the Western Pacific in the first months of World War II were eventually reversed. The defeats in Vietnam and Afghanistan were costly but did not do lasting damage to America’s overall position in the world, because they were far from the main theaters of global competition. The initial failure in Iraq was mitigated by a shift in strategy that ultimately left Iraq relatively stable and unthreatening to its neighbors and kept the United States dominant in the region.

Defeat in the present confrontation with Iran will be of an entirely different character. It can neither be repaired nor ignored. There will be no return to the status quo ante, no ultimate American triumph that will undo or overcome the harm done. The Strait of Hormuz will not be “open,” as it once was. With control of the strait, Iran emerges as the key player in the region and one of the key players in the world. The roles of China and Russia, as Iran’s allies, are strengthened; the role of the United States, substantially diminished. Far from demonstrating American prowess, as supporters of the war have repeatedly claimed, the conflict has revealed an America that is unreliable and incapable of finishing what it started. That is going to set off a chain reaction around the world as friends and foes adjust to America’s failure.

Death is not always from G-d?

 Kuzari (05:20) David laid down three causes of death, viz. 'God may slay him,' i.e. divine cause; 'Or his day shall come to die,' i.e. natural cause; 'Or he shall descend into battle and perish,' i.e. accidental cause. He omits the fourth possibility, viz. suicide, because no rational being seeks death voluntarily. If Saul killed himself, it was not to seek death, but to escape torture and derision. 

Sefer HaIkkarim (4:21): This death that You have decreed upon me can only be one of three types. 1) Punishment for sin 2) Decree of the constellations 3) Natural death. These three types of limits to one’s life are mentioned by Dovid (Shmuel 1 26:10)…. As Divine punishment, natural death or premature accidental death which happens even without sin as the result of the stars or general decree. … Dovid did not mention suicide since no one freely chooses to die…. 

Kuzari (5:20): … The Prime Will is manifest when the Divine Presence is amongst the Jews. However after the destruction of the Temple it became doubtful - except in the hearts of those who have faith - whether specific events were the result of the direct command of G d or the Heavenly spheres or were accidents. There is no definitive way to resolve this issue. Nonetheless it is best to attribute everything that happens to G d, especially major things such as death, victory, war, success and bad fortune.

Menoras HaMeor (#298): When a person has a calamity happen to him he should not think that it was just by chance. Because whoever mistakenly believes that is punished measure for measure and is deserted to chance without any protection… This is a very great punishment because there are many opportunities for accidents to happen and if one is deserted by Heaven he has no protection at all… This verse that says that evil doesn’t descend from Heaven is because a sinner doesn’t need to be harmed from Heaven it is sufficient that his protection is removed and then he vulnerable to accidents and suffering since there is no suffering without sin… Therefore a person must believe with solid faith that G d knows the secret matters and He is the true judge and judges the entire world …

Shomer Emunim (2:81) Nothing occurs by accident, without intention and Divine Providence. This is learned out from the verse; ‘And I will walk with you in chance (be’keri).’ From this we see that even the state of apparent ‘chance’ is actually Providence. “But that does not apply to the non-human species...whether this ant will be trodden upon or saved. There is no special Providence for animals and certainly not for plants and minerals, as they are governed by species and not individuals. Whatever occurs to individual animals, plants and objects is purely by chance, and not by Divine Decree – unless it is ultimately connected to humankind

Trump remains silent as Gulf fears grow: 'They’ve thrown us under the bus'

 https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skmusddawe?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=internal

Iran has resumed missile launches without facing retaliation, raising concerns across Gulf states about further escalation from Tehran, while US President Donald Trump signals interest in ending the war; some in Dubai describe the situation as a 'unilateral ceasefire,' and Gulf officials warn that the lack of an American response could weaken deterrence

Diplomats and analysts told the Wall Street Journal that after this week’s Iranian strikes, a sentiment has re-emerged in the region echoing former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak’s remark: “Those who wrap themselves in the U.S. are naked.” Iranian officials have repeated similar claims since the start of the war, and now, following the lack of an American response to renewed fire, the idea is gaining renewed attention.

Mahdi Ghuloom, a research fellow at a Dubai-based think tank, said: “Iran seems ready for the cease-fire to be broken down, and the U.S. is not, so it is a unilateral cease-fire at this point.” Dania Thafer, director of the Gulf International Forum, added that from the Gulf states’ perspective, “it looks like the U.S. is not prioritizing their security and basically threw the Gulf states under the bus,” said Thafer. “If the U.S. doesn’t respond, then the Iranians will conclude that the U.S. doesn’t want to go back to war—and this affects deterrence.”

Antisemitism in Britain: Man whips haredi women with belt in London

 https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/426898

A man attacked Haredi women at a bus stop in Stamford Hill and cursed at them. A Jewish child was assaulted in another attack.

According to the organization’s statement, the incident occurred during the afternoon hours at a bus stop in the Hackney area. After attacking the women, the suspect later spat at one of the organization’s volunteers who arrived at the scene. It was further reported that the suspect shouted curses, racist insults, and threats at the women and the volunteers.

Shomrim volunteers detained the suspect until police forces arrived and arrested him on suspicion of assault offenses and public order violations under racist circumstances. According to the report, he remains in custody and is expected to be brought before a judge.

Hours later, a Jewish child was assaulted in a separate antisemitic incident outside a school in Amhurst Park. A woman screamed antisemitic abuse and punched the child.

Last week, London fire crews were called to a blaze that broke out at an abandoned synagogue on Nelson Street in the eastern part of the city. Minor damage was caused to the gates and lock at the entrance to the building. The incident is being investigated alongside a series of other incidents in the capital, including attempted arson attacks and stabbings targeting members of the Jewish community.

Israel passes law to allow death penalty and public trials for those linked to 7 October

 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c202ngg45x8o

Israel has passed a new law to impose the death penalty and conduct public trials for those involved in the unprecedented Hamas-led attacks and mass hostage-taking in Israel in October 2023.

The legislation was passed by 93 votes to 0 in Israel's parliament - the Knesset - and was unusually jointly sponsored by government and opposition politicians.

Although Israel's parliament passed the Death Penalty for Terrorists Law in March, aimed at Palestinians convicted of terrorism offences, it does not apply retroactively. This meant that separate legislation was required to deal with those alleged to have carried out the assault.

While Israel has for years been a de facto abolitionist state, recent polls have indicated growing support for the death penalty among Jewish Israelis - particularly when it comes to Nukhba fighters convicted of terrorism.

The Long-Term Measles Complication Most People Don't Know About

 https://time.com/article/2026/05/11/measles-complication-immune-system/

Measles, largely gone for decades in the developed world, has come roaring back. In January, the U.K. lost its status as a nation that had eliminated measles when the number of people vaccinated against the disease dropped below 95%, the threshold required to keep the highly contagious virus in check. The U.S., where outbreaks this year continue, may be on the same track. 

Vaccine hesitancy is behind the resurgence of disease—but measles is not, as anti-vaccine activists claim, a short-lived respiratory virus whose effects are over in days. Scientists now understand that measles’ primary target is in fact the immune system. In addition to causing rare but slow-burn, fatal neurological disorders that can kill a child years after a measles infection, the virus can also wipe the immune system’s memory, destroying cells that fight off other infections. 

Most people recover from measles. But even then, “their immunity to very common infections that they encounter, maybe on a daily basis, is weakened,” says Rik de Swart, a virologist at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam in the Netherlands who has studied the phenomenon, which is sometimes known as immune amnesia. In some cases, it can take years to get back to normal.

Trump is stuck in an Iran trap of his making — with only two options

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/05/11/iran-war-is-trap-trump-built-himself/

President Donald Trump is caught in an Iran war trap of his own making. He has for weeks been all-too-visibly eager for a deal allowing him to declare “victory” for … something. Conversely, he seems to deeply fear making a Barack Obama-like nuclear deal, and the inevitable (and justifiable) criticism. Good answers seem scarce, reinforcing his frustration. That was evident on Sunday when, posting online, he denounced as “TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE!” Iran’s response to a U.S. framework to end the war. He must feel like George H.W. Bush, who once described himself as “one lonely little guy down here” at the White House.

Much of the trap’s construction depended on what Trump didn’t do. Before launching U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran, he never explained to Americans why military force was justified to help achieve regime change, eliminate Tehran’s nuclear weapons and terrorist threats, or eviscerate its military capabilities. He apparently did not brief members of Congress. He seemingly did not consult U.S. allies, neither in NATO nor the Persian Gulf, nor America’s Indo-Pacific friends, who depend heavily on Middle Eastern oil. George H.W. Bush did all these things before launching Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

But Trump did stop, and he now seems lost, in effect hoping Iran’s Revolutionary Guard gives him a diplomatic exit, which it has so far declined to do. Instead, the regime’s remnants seek time to emerge from Iran’s rubble, reconsolidate their rule and rebuild their military capabilities, including their nuclear-weapons and ballistic-missile programs and their terrorist networks and proxies. They see correctly that Trump’s domestic political troubles vex him far more than the distant threat of a reconstituted Iranian militarized theocracy. Thus, even if Tehran appears to accept Trump’s proposed ceasefire as a basis for future negotiations, the regime will take its time doing anything substantial, including opening the Strait of Hormuz.

Most important, military action is necessary to restore deterrence. Tehran must learn with certainty it would suffer severe consequences for later trying to close the strait. Allowing merely a diplomatic end to this crisis, particularly under the “gradual” process apparently contemplated by Trump’s latest offer, would set a ruinous precedent. Emboldened as it now is, Iran’s regime would probably conclude it would face only diplomatic, not military, consequences for again closing the strait. Entirely predictably, Tehran could then open and close it like flipping a switch, raising or lowering the pressure as it saw fit.