This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
JERUSALEM – A senior commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps admitted – with highly surprising candor – in an address subsequently leaked to Western media that Iran had suffered a significant defeat in the wake of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad's ouster from the country.
Brig.-Gen. Behrouz Esbati said in a speech last week in Tehran's Valiasr mosque, "We were defeated and defeated very badly, we took a very big blow, and it's been very difficult." According to the report, Esbati added, "I don't consider losing Syria something to be proud of."
Esbati's remarks are a significant departure from Iran's previously stated official line, which sought – among myriad issues plaguing the Islamic Republic – to downplay the importance of Assad's Damascus departure. The general also highlighted the fractious relationship between the Iranians and Assad in his final months in power. The Islamic regime had wanted to use Syrian territory to launch proxy attacks against the Jewish state, which Assad reportedly refused. There is a deep irony that Israel's actions against Hezbollah, mostly in Lebanon, were the catalyst for the push the HTS rebels launched against Assad, toppling his totalitarian state in a matter of days.
While lamenting the loss of its Syrian base, Esbati stated Iran would continue to operate from Syria, "We can activate all the networks we have worked with over the years," he said. "We can activate the social layers that our guys lived among for years; we can be active in social media, and we can form resistance cells." With a strident Turkey now on the march – and maintaining significant influence over the al-Sharaa's nascent government – that claim will likely be sorely put to the test, as two of the region's behemoths warily circle each other.
In addition, Esbati criticized Russia's role in Assad's downfall, claiming they had "turned off their radar and detection systems," allowing Israel to attack Iranian military targets in Syria. Like with Iran, Russia has at least removed most – if not all – of its personnel from Syria, although it is likely some of its hardware was left behind.
Esbati's address is important because it could easily be interpreted as showing there is even a little daylight between the powerful IRGC and the seemingly ailing Ayatollah Khamenei. Rumors and innuendo abound within Iran and analysts who closely watch the Islamic Republic about just how precarious his current position is in Tehran. Indeed, people are extrapolating comparisons with what happened to Assad in Syria and what may happen to Khamenei in Iran. Assad tried to cover up the ineptitude of his leadership which led to hardships for his people, amid political repression and widespread corruption. The similarities with the current Iranian situation are almost impossible to miss.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
JERUSALEM – The new year has brought no respite for the United Nations and its various agencies – especially UNRWA – with regard to the hits, which keep coming, emphasizing its deep ties with Islamist terrorist organizations, according to a recently published report by U.N. Watch.
The explosive report reveals years of coordination and close collaboration between Islamists and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, up to and including the collusion of at least its two most recent commissioners-general – current head Phillippe Lazzarini, and previous chief Pierre Krähenbühl, who held the role from 2014-2019.
The report starts strongly, arguing how despite its claims to be a humanitarian agency, UNRWA "has forged an unholy alliance with Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other terrorist organizations." It continues that this relationship has allowed Hamas unprecedented influence in the policies and practices of a "UN agency with 30,000 employees, and a $1.5 billion annual budget that is funded primarily by Western states." Indeed, UNRWA is the largest of all the U.N. agencies.
U.N. Watch called for UNRWA's dismantlement, describing the organization as "a conduit for terrorism and a facilitator of violence in the Middle East." "UNRWA's failure to maintain neutrality, combined with its susceptibility to influence from terrorist groups, undermines its credibility as a humanitarian agency and perpetuates conflict in the region," the group said. "It is time for donors to reconsider their support, dismantle the Agency, and seek alternative frameworks to provide effective aid to Palestinians in need."
And U.N. Watch's report was not mere speculation, it also brought the receipts. It listed dozens of instances – with images obtained from open sources – of senior UNRWA officials meeting with terrorist leaders.
Examples included Lazzarini meeting with Fathi al-Sharif, a teachers' union chief and Hamas leader in Beirut. He had for years openly glorified Hamas terrorist attacks, including on his personal Facebook page. It was only after an unnamed government protested to UNRWA about al-Sharif's activities did the U.N. body suspend him. Hamas and other terrorist organizations immediately shut down UNRWA in Lebanon, prompting Lazzarini to fly to Beirut in June 2024 to smooth out the situation. The IDF eliminated al-Sharif in a missile strike on Sept. 30.
Krähenbühl, who was forced to step down from his UNRWA position in 2019 following a corruption and sexual abuse scandal – and who was absurdly appointed to head up the International Red Cross in 2024 (are you seeing a pattern yet?) – met with terrorist leaders from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in February 2017, where he emphasized the "spirit of partnership" between them and UNRWA.
In June 2021, former deputy commissioner-general Leni Stenseth went cap-in-hand to Gaza to kiss the ring of Oct. 7 terrorist mastermind and Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar. Hamas had been angry with UNRWA after its then Gaza Director Matthias Schmale, an ardent supporter of the Palestinian narrative, unwittingly admitted in a TV interview that Israeli strikes on Hamas, during the May 2021 war, were "very precise." While supporters of Israel routinely shared the footage, Hamas was furious, declaring Schmale persona non grata in the Strip. Stenseth, who is now director-general of Norway's foreign ministry – and it cannot be a coincidence this is the nation which most ardently supports the Palestinian cause – threw Schmale under the bus calling his interview "indefensible."
"People need to understand that UNRWA isn't the firefighter, it's the arsonist. The U.S. and other Western nations who have given billions to UNRWA need to wake up.. Your money is being used to employ terrorists, indoctrinate children, and build the infrastructure of hate and violence. The U.S. alone has given more than $1 billion to UNRWA over the past four years. This is a betrayal of your taxpayers and your values," Neuer said.
The report paints a picture of a symbiotic relationship, and one in which UNRWA officials cannot bend over backward enough to facilitate the whims and wishes of Gaza's various terrorist organizations. The report concludes, "While it was created by the United Nations and has 'U.N.' initials in its title, it is essentially a Palestinian-run organization whose purpose is to perpetuate Palestinians as refugees with the aim to one day dismantle Israel."
UNRWA is the only refugee agency dedicated to solely one people, the Palestinians. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is responsible for all the others, and yet only has a workforce around two-thirds that of UNRWA. Indeed, the report accuses UNRWA of perpetuating and enshrining the idea of the "right of return," which does not apply to any other group of refugees on the planet. Also, UNRWA schools point to the example of Oct. 7 as how their aims can be achieved by "resistance."
And there is yet another twist in the tale. On Tuesday, U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric told reporters in a briefing, that the world body's officials "appreciate information being given to us directly, instead of done through the media." This take, albeit extraordinary, is unsurprising.
Neuer, who personally tried to meet with Lazzarini at least twice while the latter was in Europe last summer, and hand over evidence of UNRWA's terrorist ties, was surgical in his dismantlement of the U.N. position. "The audacity of the U.N. in refusing to respond to our detailed report, while dismissing our efforts to engage directly, is staggering… It's a shameful abdication of accountability, especially given the serious nature of the allegations."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Officials in the city of Los Angeles knew they and their fire department personnel were unprepared to defend the city from wildfires.
A letter from Fire Chief Kristin Crowly had warned city officials, including Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, only last month about the problem that threatens lives, property and the city itself.
The letter warned the budget cuts on the fire department, imposed by the city during a time period when it was fulling embracing spending plans for "diversity" and the like, have "severely limited the department's capacity to prepare for, train for, and respond to large-scale emergencies including wildfires."
Multiple deaths already have been confirmed and hundreds, probably thousands, of homes and businesses have been lost to at least half a dozen fires that have raged, aggravated by high winds, over the last week.
A Twitchy report said the letter makes Bass, who recently returned from a trip to Africa she was on as her city burned, look even worse.
"While our pals on the Left are screeching about climate change being at fault for the devastating fires we're all watching in California in real-time, the reality of the situation and how badly LA has and other affected areas have been managed and cared for is becoming more and more obvious. From refusing to utilize water to protect some minnow, to slashing the budgets, Mayor Karen Bass has made some horrible decisions compounded by Gavin Newsom being one of if not the worst governor in the country," the report said.
"When priorities are as off as Bass's and Newsom's unfortunately that spells disaster for their people. And guess what? A letter from L.A. Fire Chief Kristin Crowley written JUST LAST MONTH shows even she knew there was a problem. Bass was so concerned she took a trip to Ghana."
I Love America News had reported that fire hydrants ran dry, leaving firefighters without their most critical resource to battle the recent blazes.
And video confirmed that those fighting fires were resorting to carrying water to the fires in handbags in valiant attempts to protect property. A subsequent report revealed firefighters carry canvas bags with them, somethings dumping small amounts of water strategically, instead of unfurling a hose each time.
Bass, on returning from her trip to Africa, froze when asked about the situation.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A court ruling has destroyed Joe Biden's agenda to open girls' showers, locker rooms, restrooms, and other private facilities to boys and men.
The case was fought by the state of Tennessee against the White House scheming that essentially was a promotion of the transgender lifestyle choice.
Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti won the fight over the administration's unconstitutional Title IX rule changes.
"This is a huge win for Tennessee, for common sense, and for women and girls across America," Skrmetti said. "The court's ruling is yet another repudiation of the Biden administration's relentless push to impose a radical gender ideology through unconstitutional and illegal rulemaking. Because the Biden rule is vacated altogether, President Trump will be free to take a fresh look at our Title IX regulations when he returns to office next week."
The ruling comes from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentuck, which said the Department of Education's Title IX changes "would have compromised girls' privacy in locker rooms and bathrooms and required teachers and administrators to use pronouns that do not align with students' biological sex," and that "exceeded the federal government's authority and violated the Constitution," Skrmetti said.
Biden has repeatedly tried to change the definition of "sex" in federal law to mean the politically charged "gender identity." His court fights even have claimed that when America's nondiscrimination laws were written 50 years ago or more, lawmakers actually intended that "sex" meant "gender identity."
College athlete Riley Gaines, who was a victim of the Biden campaign, called it a "huge win."
"This is a colossal win for women and girls across the country," explained Kristen Waggoner, of the ADF, which was involved through a related dispute. "The Biden administration's radical attempt to redefine sex not only tossed fairness, safety, and privacy for female students out the window, it also threatened free speech and parental rights. With this ruling, the federal court in Kentucky rejected the entire Biden rule and the administration's illegal actions."
At least seven circuit courts had already temporarily blocked Biden's agenda, and the Supreme Court had previously affirmed two lower court temporary injunctions.
The court ruling applies nationwide.
The ruling said, "There is nothing in the text or statutory design of Title IX to suggest that discrimination 'on the basis of sex' means anything other than it has since Title IX's inception—that recipients of federal funds under Title IX may not treat a person worse than another similarly-situated individual on the basis of the person's sex, male or female."
It continued, "As this Court and others have explained, expanding the meaning of 'on the basis of sex' to include 'gender identity' turns Title IX on its head. While Title IX sought to level the playing field between men and women, it is rife with exceptions that allow males and females to be separated based on the enduring physical differences between the sexes. For example, institutions that receive federal funds may permit separation of the sexes for purposes of living facilities, boys and girls conferences, and social sororities and fraternities. And these are just a few examples."
The ruling said the Biden plan actually violates the First Amendment, the Constitution's spending clause, and is "arbitrary and capricious."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Former Trump Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attended a conference at the headquarters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, or NCRI, in Paris along with Maryam Rajavi, leader of the Iranian Resistance organization. In his speech, referring to the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, Pompeo stated, "Now is the time for optimism for the people of Iran. The regime is undoubtedly at its weakest point."
Noting that he was not speaking officially on behalf of the upcoming Trump administration, Pompeo added, "However, I am confident that the maximum pressure campaign will resume, marking the beginning of the end for the malicious regime and a step to help the people of Iran."
A year of defeats for the Iranian regime
The past year was full of heavy and unprecedented defeats for the Iranian regime. There was a widespread boycott of both the parliamentary and presidential elections. More young people joined the Resistance Units, and their activities expanded. Even inside prisons – where the Iranian dictator exercises absolute control – female prisoners nevertheless staged protests and chanted slogans such as "Death to the dictator."
The regime is currently facing a crippled economy, 40% inflation, widespread poverty and massive systemic financial corruption, especially among commanders within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a primary branch of Iran's armed forces. Rifts within the regime's loyal forces, particularly the IRGC, are on the rise.
Under such circumstances, the regime's main proxy force, Hezbollah in Lebanon, suffered severe blows. Ultimately, the main pillar of Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei's regional strategy, the Assad dictatorship in Syria, collapsed in the final months of 2024. Now, Khamenei faces the real possibility of a popular uprising against his rule.
At one time, IRGC commanders proudly proclaimed, "Iran's influence extends from Iran, Iraq, and Syria to the Mediterranean Sea." They referred to Syria as Iran's "35th province." However, events in Syria exposed the fragility of the regime's forces. At the beginning of the battles in Aleppo, the regime had over 30 bases in the region. Yet, as soon as opposition forces launched their attacks, the regime's forces rapidly disintegrated.
As one media outlet reported, "350 opposition fighters entered Aleppo, and 30,000 members of government forces and Iranian loyalist forces fled without any resistance, destroyed their positions, and left the area. Similar situations occurred across Syria."
The fall of Assad and the weakness of the Iranian regime
In her speech at the conference, Maryam Rajavi highlighted the regime's weakness, stating, "What happened in Syria clearly reflects the regime's frailty. If the regime were strong and stable within Iran and not surrounded by the people's anger, it might have been able to remain in Syria and protect its most important ally."
Pompeo emphasized this reality, stating, "The speed at which the Assad regime fell showed the world that the Ayatollah's era is over."
Khamenei's mistake: The October 7 War
In 2023, when Khamenei ignited the flames of a destructive war on Oct. 7, he made a grave mistake. However, he felt compelled to take this action so as to delay the threat of domestic uprisings within Iran by creating an external war.
Despite suffering significant defeats, the Iranian regime continues to follow the same path.
Rajavi believes there is only one solution to end the regime's influence in the region, halt its nuclear and missile programs, and force it to stop torturing and executing Iranian youth: "The regime must be overthrown by the Iranian people and their Resistance."
Recognition of Iran's resistance and the role of the resistance units
Rajavi calls on the international community to "recognize the Iranian people's struggle to overthrow the regime and the rebellious youth's fight against the IRGC. Recognizing the struggle of the Iranian Resistance and its Resistance Units is an essential part of a firm policy against the mullahs' regime."
Pompeo likewise emphasized that the Iranian Resistance' roadmap for overthrowing the regime does not rely primarily on the U.S. or any other country. Rather, he said, "This roadmap depends on the Iranian people, the organized resistance network inside the country, and the Resistance Units across the country."
Pompeo concluded his remarks with a message for the Iranian people and the Resistance Units fighting on behalf of everyone: "Keep your focus on the IRGC. The United States and the pressure campaign will return, making the regime even more fragile. You, the Resistance, are on the right path."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
JERUSALEM – In less than three weeks, Poland will hold commemoration ceremonies to mark 80 years since the Soviet Red Army's liberation of the Auschwitz – the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp on its soil – and yet, there is still significant doubt as to whether Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be among the participants.
It seems extraordinary that the elected leader of the Jewish state – the largest single Jewish population on earth – would not be present to mark such a somber event as the liberation of the place, which is the largest Jewish burial ground in the world. And yet, here we are.
As a result of the International Criminal Court's late November decision to issue arrest warrants for Netanyahu, and his then-defense minister Yoav Gallant, over their alleged war crimes in conducting the Gaza war against Hamas, there are several countries – including Poland – which have threatened to fulfill those warrants.
On Wednesday, Polish President Andrzej Duda called on Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government to guarantee Netanyahu's safety from arrest if he should attend the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation. In a Jan. 8 letter to Tusk reviewed by Bloomberg, Duda emphasized the need to ensure Netanyahu's presence would remain "unhindered" during his time in Poland, citing the "absolutely exceptional circumstances" of the commemoration.
The commemoration of the Nazi death camp's liberation is set to take place on Jan. 27, the mandated International Holocaust Remembrance Day. A Netanyahu spokesperson was asked what the prime minister's plans were with regard to the commemoration, and slightly curiously responded no official invitation had yet been received. Privately Polish officials assess any lack of contact from their Israeli counterparts is due to fears the prime minister will indeed be arrested if he sets foot on Polish soil.
Despite his frequent disagreements with Tusk's administration, – who hails from the other side of the political aisle – Duda expressed confidence in the letter that the government could develop an "adequate formula" to guarantee Netanyahu's safety while respecting international law and honoring the significance of the Auschwitz liberation commemoration.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
JERUSALEM – Israel/MidEast Briefs
Sen. Cruz: 'I believe hostages will come home before President Trump takes office
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Fla., said during an interview this week there was a serious chance the Iranian-backed Hamas terrorist organization will release the remaining Israeli and American hostages it has been holding before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, the Daily Wire reported.
Cruz made the remarks during a Tuesday night interview with Sean Hannity after Trump warned there would be hell to pay if the hostages were not released before he is sworn in.
The Texas senator, who just won his third term in the U.S. Senate in November, said Trump would immediately get the situation on the border under control, unleash American energy production, lower inflation, and strike fear in the hearts of America's enemies.
"And I'm going to make a prediction," Cruz said. "I think there is a very real possibility that we will see the hostages in Gaza released on or before Jan. 20th."
Iran's top general in Syria admits fall of Assad was a fatal blow, blames Russia
The Supreme Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Syria admitted defeat this week in an extraordinary speech that was leaked to media, according to the Jewish Press.
The revelation last week by senior Iranian General Behrouz Esbati in a closed-door address at the Vali El-Eliaser Mosque in Tehran and originally published in the New York Times, has ignited a firestorm in Tehran.
Asbati left Syria on the last military plane to Tehran the night before the fall of the Assad regime.
"We were defeated, we were defeated badly; we suffered a fatal blow, and it is very difficult," said the former commander of Iran's Syrian operations, in reference to the fall of the Assad regime in Damascus.
The general said that former President Bashar al-Assad had rejected multiple military plans to use Iranian resources in Syria to attack Israel following the October 7, 2023, Hamas invasion and massacre.
Esbati also had harsh criticism of Russia, an Assad ally and Iranian partner, saying "the Russians turned off their radar and detection systems," allowing Israel to attack Iranian military targets in Syria.
Will Netanyahu be arrested if he participates in 80th anniversary commemoration of Auschwitz liberation in Poland?
Polish President Andrzej Duda has requested special protection for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attend the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz's liberation without risk of arrest, according to Israel Hayom. The request comes amid international legal challenges facing the Israeli leader and a threat from Poland's liberal prime minister Donald Tusk to fulfill the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant.
Duda wrote to Tusk on Wednesday, emphasizing the need to ensure Netanyahu's presence would remain "unhindered" during his time in Poland, citing the "absolutely exceptional circumstances" of the commemoration.
The commemoration of the Nazi death camp's liberation is set for Jan. 27. When asked about Netanyahu's attendance plans, his spokesperson said no invitation had been received yet.
Duda's request potentially creates a diplomatic challenge for the Polish government. Poland's status as an ICC treaty signatory requires it to comply with the court's decisions regarding accountability for mass atrocity crimes.
Five years on, still no justice for families of victims of downed Ukrainian Airlines planes over Iran
Families of those killed in the downing of Flight PS752 gathered at the crash site in Shahedshahr, Tehran Province, on the fifth anniversary of the tragedy under the slogan "Never Forget, Never Forgive."
The Ukrainian passenger plane was shot down by missiles from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on January 8, 2020, shortly after takeoff, killing all 176 people onboard, including the crew, reported Iran International.
For three days after the incident, authorities concealed the fact that the plane had been shot down, repeatedly claiming the crash was an accident.
Masoud Ebrahim, whose daughter Niloufar was one of the victims, began his speech with the phrase "Woman, Life, Freedom" and honored "all those who have lost their lives and suffered oppression over the past 46 years."
He said, "We didn't know that everyone in [Khamenei's] circle had gathered to decide to down the plane."
Fifty-five Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents were among the 176 people killed on the plane.
Biden administration redirects $100 million in U.S. military aid from Israel, Egypt to Lebanon
In the final days of U.S. President Joe Biden's time in office, his administration has redirected more than $100 million in military aid from Israel and Egypt to Lebanon, citing a need to strengthen a ceasefire agreement to halt fighting between the Jewish state and the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, according to the Algemeiner.
The U.S. State Department issued two separate notices to Congress dated Jan. 3, announcing it would shift $95 million in military aid intended for Egypt and $7.5 million intended for Israel toward the Lebanese military and its government, the Associated Press reported.
The move came after some lawmakers in Congress expressed concerns about Egypt's human rights record, particularly the arrests of thousands of political prisoners.
IDF fatalities in Gaza fighting climbs above 400 as 3 more soldiers killed
Three IDF infantry soldiers were killed in fighting in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, with three others seriously wounded as Israel's battle to dismantle Hamas' infrastructure continues to be fought at heavy cost. The three fatalities pushed Israel's losses in the 15-month ground war to 401.
The three slain troops were named as Staff Sgt. Matityahu Ya'akov Perel, 22, from Beit El, Staff Sgt. Kanaoo Kasa, 22, from Beit Shemesh, and Staff Sgt. Nevo Fisher, 20, from Bruchin.
They all served with the 401st Armored Brigade's 46th Battalion, the Times of Israel reported.
According to an initial IDF probe, the troops were hit by a large explosive device that was detonated against a tank during operations in Beit Hanoun.
The incident came after three other troops were killed and several more wounded in separate incidents the previous two days.
Israel mulls international conference on dividing Syria into provinces
Discussions within Israel are intensifying regarding developments on the northern front. Two days ago, Defense Minister Israel Katz chaired a small ministerial meeting preceding an upcoming discussion by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which focused on Turkish involvement in Syria, according to information obtained by Israel Hayom.
The cabinet deliberations covered evolving situations in Syria, particularly addressing concerns regarding de facto leader, the jihadi-linked revolutionary Abu Mohammad al-Julani, and the safety of Druze and Kurdish minority populations in the region In an effort to enhance regional stability, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure Eli Cohen proposed convening an international conference focused on Syria.
IDF recovers remains of Bedouin abducted into Gaza and murdered
The Israel Defense Forces recovered the corpse of Israeli hostage Youssef Ziyadne from an underground tunnel in the southern Gazan city of Rafah and have returned the remains to Israel, the military said Wednesday.
Ziyadne, a 53-year-old father of 19, was killed after Hamas terrorists abducted him and three of his children on Oct. 7, 2023, reported the Jewish News Syndicate. The IDF previously said it located findings related to Ziyadne's son, Hamza, which raise "serious concerns for his life."
Two of Ziyadne's other children, Bilal and Aisha, were released on Nov. 30, 2023, after spending more than 50 days in Hamas captivity.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed "deep sorrow" at the news, adding, "We will continue to make every effort to bring all of our hostages home – both the living and the dead."
Israeli culture minister urges FIFA to expel senior Palestinian official for incitement of terrorism
Israel's Culture Minister Miki Zohar has called on the world body governing soccer – FIFA – to remove the president of the Palestine Football Association, Jibril Rajoub, from his post for "inciting, justifying, and supporting violence against Israel," reported the Algemeiner.
Zohar wrote in a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino that Rajoub's alleged incitement to violence is a "blatant infringement of the core values that international sports aim to promote — values of peace, unity, and mutual respect." He urged Infantino and the FIFA Executive Committee to act swiftly and expel Rajoub from his senior position.
"There is no place for individuals who incite or support terrorism and violence within sports institutions," he added. "His continued membership in senior roles within the sports world undermines public trust and sends a dangerous message — that the platform of sports can be exploited for political agendas and the promotion of hatred and violence … It is our collective responsibility to ensure that sports remain a unifying force that brings people together, rather than a stage for incitement and terror. I trust in your leadership and in FIFA's commitment to upholding the integrity of international sports, and I am confident that you will act to safeguard its moral future."
Amnesty International suspends Israel chapter over 'racism' allegations, rejection of 'genocide' lie
Amnesty International has suspended its Israeli chapter for two years, citing allegations of discrimination against Palestinians and discrepancies between its internal reports and the organization's global line, which accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, reported Ynet.
Note that like all good authoritarians, the parent organization does not provide the Israeli chapter with any benefit of the doubt, or the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. No, it is enough for mere allegations to be deemed worthy of immediate suspension.
Amnesty Israel rejected claims of discrimination against Palestinian employees. While agreeing with the global organization's conclusions on violations of international law, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing by Israel, Amnesty Israel contested the genocide allegation, arguing that there's insufficient evidence to support the claim.
The New York Post addressed the controversy in an editorial published Tuesday, quoting opinion columnist Seth Mandel, who said the "supposed 'human rights' organization' now operates on authoritarian principles."
Islamic group seeking to destroy Israel, create caliphate to hold Canada conference
A group seeking to destroy the state of Israel and replace southern European, Middle Eastern, and African countries with an Islamic caliphate is set to hold a conference in Canada next Saturday, the Jerusalem Post reported.
After the Islamic group – which has been banned in many countries, including the United Kingdom and Germany – indicated in advertisements that it was moving its Jan. 18 event to Hamilton, Parrish said on X/Twitter that she was "pleased that the peaceful and respectful residents of Mississauga will not have to endure the fall out" of the "extremists" conference.
U.K. Labor MPs reject Tory calls for public inquiry over Muslim rape gangs
Britain's ruling Labor Party – under the leadership of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – voted down on Wednesday a proposed public inquiry into the largely Muslim rape gangs, which Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch tabled as an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill earlier this week.
The bill was rejected in the Commons by 364 votes to 111, a majority of 253, according to GB News.
The move was branded as an "act of cowardice" by Conservatives following the vote.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: "It is disgusting that Keir Starmer has used his supermajority in Parliament to block a national inquiry into the rape gangs scandal."
Iran to relocate its capital from Tehran to southern coastal city Makran
Iran will relocate its capital to the southern coastal region of Makran, a government spokeswoman said on Tuesday, in an ambitious plan aimed at bypassing Tehran's enduring overpopulation, power shortages and water scarcity.
While officials emphasize the strategic and economic advantages of the shift, critics have voiced concerns over likely enormous financial and logistical demands, Iran International reported.
"The new capital will definitely be in the south, in the Makran region, and this matter is currently being worked on," government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday.
She highlighted Tehran's growing ecological pressures, including water scarcity and announced the formation of two councils to examine the feasibility of the move and develop a sea-based economy in the Makran region.
"We are seeking assistance from academics, elites and experts, including engineers, sociologists and economists," she added, while stressing that the issue remains in the exploratory phase and is not urgent.
Majority of Israelis now oppose creation of Palestinian state
For the first time in nearly 18 years, a majority of Israeli Jews now oppose the establishment of any Palestinian state, according to an opinion poll published earlier this week.
Of the 804 Jews polled in the "Swords of Iron Survey Results—December 2024" survey by Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), 64% opposed the creation of a Palestinian state "under any condition," compared to 23% who said they supported it "under certain conditions." The remaining 13% said they didn't know. Among the 205 Arabs polled, the distribution was 59%, 12% and 29% respectively, reported the Jewish News Syndicate.
Within the total sample of 1,009 Jewish and Arab respondents, 52% opposed the creation of any Palestinian state compared to 30% who supported it.
In the years 2006-2019, support among Jews for a Palestinian state under certain conditions fell from 71% to 55%, according to an INSS overview from 2020. In 2022 support among Jews was 50% and support in the overall population was 52%.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Joe Biden's legacy is going to include 20% plus inflation that has been hugely injurious to Americans. And the ideology of body mutilating transgender "treatments" for children. And abortion. And an open southern border that allowed in millions and millions of illegal aliens.
And his fumbling, stumbling, mumbling public behavior that left no doubt about his declining physical and mental capabilities.
Further, he's moved to hurt America going forward with a new ban on oil drilling on tens of millions of undersea acres and more.
And now there's one more piece to the Biden legacy: A cash grant of taxpayer money to promote Satan.
It is the Washington Stand that documents the federal grant of $388,863 that went to the University of North Carolina for a podcast to promote "Church of Satan, paganism, a Cuban cult that practices animal sacrifice, astrology, an LGBT-friendly school of witchcraft, and other 'magico-religious' beliefs."
The Washington Stand's Ben Johnson reports, "The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) awarded a $388,863 grant to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to produce the 'Magic in the United States' podcast. The series would produce six episodes per season for three seasons between October 17, 2023, and last December 17, each highlighting different occult practices (often pointing out the LGBTQ status of its practitioners)."
The report explains the series equates being filled with the Holy Spirit with demonic possession and likens Christian prayer and New Age meditation.
Further it suggests someone who is Christian still can "work magically with non-biblical spirits."
The report said the series "crosses the line into full-blown celebration and advocacy of the pagan spirituality it chronicles."
It cites as an example the first episode, where a Wiccan, "Thorn Mooney," describes the witchcraft he practiced when he was 13 as "the happiest times in my life."
The series facilitator, Heather Freeman, "repeatedly claims that someone can say his 'religious identity is Christian' but adopt a 'bigger, richer, and more complex' set of pagan and magical beliefs."
The Washington Stand charges, "The show reaches its darkest point in the final episode of season 2, about the Church of Satan. (The episode notes that it 'includes frank conversations about sex and sex-positivity.') Freeman praises Lil Nas X, a hip-hop performer who identifies as homosexual, for producing a music video for the song 'MONTERO (call me by your name),' in which the rapper 'slides down a stripper pole into Hell, gives Satan a lap dance, and then kills the Prince of Hell to become its new reigning sovereign.'"
The report also cites the panic that targets "innocent Satanists" when concerns about "devil worship" are raised.
The report explains the series "misses few opportunities to mislead or demean the traditional Christian faith" and claims the church often was "an institution of indoctrination and oppression."
There are stories of individuals who claim to have physical interactions with spirits and perform animal sacrifices "in the most humane way."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday slammed Democrat California Gov. Gavin Newsom for not just failing to address issues that could have help minimize the raging wildfires that are destroying communities there this week, but actively refusing to address the needs of the state's residents.
Trump said, "The fires in Los Angeles may go down, in dollar amount, as the worst in the History of our Country. In many circles, they're doubting whether insurance companies will even have enough money to pay for this catastrophe. Let this serve, and be emblematic, of the gross incompetence and mismanagement of the Biden/Newscum Duo. January 20th cannot come fast enough!"
"As of this moment, Gavin Newscum and his Los Angeles crew have contained exactly ZERO percent of the fire. It is burning at levels that even surpass last night. This is not Government. I can't wait till January 20th!" he added.
It wasn't the first time Trump had warned Newsom about the fire dangers, and videos still online confirm that California's governor was warned about the need to address safety years ago already.
The current firestorms are raging in multiple locations in California, and already have destroy hundreds of homes in Los Angeles area neighborhoods, including some where A-list stars have – or had – homes.
Trump continued, "Governor Gavin Newscum refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water, from excess rain and snow melt from the North, to flow daily into many parts of California, including the areas that are currently burning in a virtually apocalyptic way. He wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, by giving it less water (it didn't work!), but didn't care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to FLOW INTO CALIFORNIA! He is the blame for this. On top of it all, no water for fire hydrants, not firefighting planes. A true disaster! "
Already, at least two fatalities have been confirmed in California's latest battle with wildfires, and the number of homes and businesses lost to the flames hasn't been tabulated. There have been horror stories about residents, including families, trying to evacuate under state instructions and getting stuck in gridlocked streets and highways, where they've sometimes been forced to abandon their vehicles.
It was the Post Millennial that noted that Trump had warned Newsom about the fire dangers his state faces in 2018.
"There's been a lot of study going on over the last little while," Trump said at the time, "and I will say I think you're gonna have—hopefully this is going to be the last of these because this was a really, really bad one. And I know that Gavin's committed, we're all committed, I'm committed to make sure that all of this is cleaned out and protected. You gotta take care of the floors. You know, the floors of the forests, very important."
He continued, "You look at other countries where you do it differently and it's a whole different story. I was with the president of Finland and he said 'We have a much different—we're a forest nation.' He called it a 'forest nation.' And they spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things and they don't have any problem. And when it is, it's a very small problem. So I know everybody's looking at that, to that end. And it's gonna work out…"
However, California's Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan in 2022 specifically noted that "rare plants and species diversity must be protected when 'clearing' forest floors."
"The plan also blamed climate change for fire intensity and frequency," the report said.
Joe Biden, who has approved aid to California for its latest disaster, said, "I am being frequently briefed on the wildfires in west Los Angeles. My team and I are in touch with state and local officials, and I have offered any federal assistance that is needed to help suppress the terrible Pacific Palisades fire. Earlier tonight, FEMA approved a Fire Management Assistance Grant to support areas that are impacted and help reimburse the state of California for the immediate firefighting costs. My Administration will do everything it can to support the response. I urge the residents of the Pacific Palisades and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles to stay vigilant and listen to local officials."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Article III Project spokesman Mike Davis says now it's time for the U.S. Supreme Court to "put on big-boy pants and end" the election interference that has occurred through a lawfare case against President-elect Donald Trump in the courtroom of New York judge Juan Merchan.
Merchan supervised the trial on charges created by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg who took business reporting misdemeanors and claimed they were felonies because they were in pursuit of another unidentified crime.
A leftist jury in Manhattan, a district that voted overwhelmingly against Trump, convicted him on 34 counts and Merchan has scheduled sentencing for Friday.
Trump now has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to delay that.
Davis said, "The American people have heard all the bogus allegations and so-called evidence against President Trump. And they rendered their verdict on November 5th. It's time for the Supreme Court of the United States to put on its big-boy pants and end the Biden Democrats' unprecedented, republic-ending lawfare and election interference.
"We cannot allow America to devolve into a highly dangerous place where third-world prosecutors and judges in partisan hellholes can sentence the president-elect for non-crimes."
The Washington Examiner reported Trump's appeal seeks a postponment of the sentencing.
"President Trump's legal team filed an emergency petition with the United States Supreme Court, asking the Court to correct the unjust actions by New York courts and stop the unlawful sentencing in the Manhattan D.A.'s Witch Hunt," Trump spokesman and incoming White House communications director Steven Cheung said.
Trump's legal team explains the sentencing at this time would disrupt his presidential transition and preparations for his Jan. 20 inauguration. Also being questioned is the validity of the guilty verdict itself.
Trump's attorneys said, as president-elect, he should be immune from criminal proceedings, the report said.
"Forcing President Trump to prepare for a criminal sentencing in a felony case while he is preparing to lead the free world as President of the United States in less than two weeks imposes an intolerable, unconstitutional burden on him that undermines these vital national interests," Trump's team argued.
The Supreme Court has ordered New York officials to respond by Thursday.
WND has reported the case is being handled by a "deeply conflicted" Merchan.
The legacy media has styled the case the "hush money" case essentially because Trump's organization labeled his payments to his then-lawyer as legal fees when some of the money went to a woman to keep quiet about an alleged affair, which both alleged participants have denied happened.
Cheung said when Merchan scheduled his sentencing, "Today's order by the deeply conflicted, Acting Justice Merchan in the Manhattan DA Witch Hunt is a direct violation of the Supreme Court's Immunity decision and other longstanding jurisprudence. This lawless case should have never been brought and the Constitution demands that it be immediately dismissed. President Trump must be allowed to continue the Presidential Transition process and to execute the vital duties of the presidency, unobstructed by the remains of this or any remnants of the Witch Hunts. There should be no sentencing, and President Trump will continue fighting against these hoaxes until they are all dead."