US Armada Arrives As Saudi Arabia, UAE Deny Airspace Access

Things between Tehran and Washington are moving fast according to an eerily familiar pattern hearkening back to the lead-up to the 12-day June war, when there was some wrangling over negotiations - and talk of good faith efforts at dialogue - just before the US greenlighted a surprise Israeli attack which also saw US entry into the conflict by the close of it (whereupon nuclear facilities were hit by American bombers).

"Our stance is clear," Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Wednesday as the US has expressed the desire to strike a deal. "Negotiations don’t go along with threats, and talks can only take place when there are no longer menaces and excessive demands."

IRAN SAYS WILL RESPOND TO US 'LIKE NEVER BEFORE' IF PUSHED

IRAN SAYS READY FOR TALKS WITH US BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECT

OIL PARES GAINS AS IRAN SAYS ITS READY FOR TALKS WITH US

Araqchi confirmed his country has had no recent communication with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and has not sought talks with Washington. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that another US "armada" was moving "beautifully" toward Iran, but he hoped Tehran would ultimately strike a deal and avoid conflict.

The Iranian FM noted, however, that unnamed intermediaries were "holding consultations" and remained in touch with Iranian officials.

Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday that Tehran supports any process "within the framework of international law" that helps avert war. The Saudis have joined the UAE in declaring that the US cannot use its airspace for aggression against Iran.

This shouldn't pose too big a challenge for the Pentagon, however, which has a build-up of assets at its Qatar base and with a carrier group near Iran in regional waters.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/war-drums-gulf-us-armada-patrols-saudi-arabia-uae-deny-airspace-access

Man Shot By Border Patrol In Arizona Was Convicted Human Trafficker Who Allegedly Shot First

Update (1235ET): Turns out that the man who was shot by border patrol yesterday in Arizona was a convicted human smuggler who fled incarceration, and allegedly fired first at a federal helicopter near the US-Mexico border, according to authorities.

TL;DR

Guy is convicted of human smuggling in 2023

Checks out of jail for a counseling appointment, never returns

Warrant issued, border patrol finds him in a truck

Guy flees, crashes truck, throws rocks at helicopter, then shoots at helicopter (allegedly)

Border patrol shoots back, hitting guy

And now, the long version:

Federal agents were attempting to apprehend the 34-year-old Arizona man during a traffic stop near Arivaca, Arizona, when he fled and shot at a Border Patrol helicopter and at agents, authorities said. Agents returned fire, striking the man and wounding him, said Heith Janke, special agent in charge of the FBI in Phoenix.

The suspect, Patrick Gary Schlegel, was transported to a hospital and was recovering from surgery Tuesday evening, authorities said. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said during a news conference that he believes the Border Patrol agent involved in the shooting “acted lawfully” based on what is known so far. -AP

Prior to the shooting, agents attempted to stop the vehicle, but it drove away (lol what?). Later that morning, a Border Patrol agent saw the vehicle in the same area and attempted to stop it before the driver fled on foot.

Schlegel's rap sheet includes a December warrant for escape stemming from a human trafficking and firearms conviction, according to court records cited by AP. On Dec. 15, he signed out of an institution in Tuscon where he had been incarcerated to go to a counseling session and then never came back.

In 2023, Schlegel was charged with transporting people in the US illegally for financial gain in Arizona after over a dozen people were found loaded into a truck and hidden under a tarp near the border, court records show.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/person-critical-condition-after-border-patrol-involved-shooting-arizona

Amazon Cuts 16,000 Jobs As Tech Layoffs Accelerate In 2026

Amazon is laying off about 16,000 more employees as it works to cut bureaucracy and respond to growing competition from AI.

The move follows October’s 14,000 job cuts and the closure of its gaming unit. The company also announced it will shut down its Amazon-branded grocery and cashierless stores.

A note on the company's website on Wednesday said: "I want to let you know that we're making additional organizational changes across Amazon that will impact some of our teammates. I recognize this is difficult news, which is why I’m sharing what’s happening and why."

"As I shared in October, we've been working to strengthen our organization by reducing layers, increasing ownership, and removing bureaucracy. While many teams finalized their organizational changes in October, other teams did not complete that work until now."

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/amazon-cuts-16000-jobs-tech-layoffs-accelerate-2026

O’KEEFE UNDERCOVER INSIDE THE MINNESOTA MOB: AGITATORS ADMIT ON HIDDEN CAMERA WHO’S FUNDING THE PROTESTS

Our team uncovered groups like the “Independent Socialist Group” and “Make the Road” are funding Minneapolis agitators — all while we were chased, teargassed, and threatened inside the autonomous zone.

“We’re [Independent Socialist Group] an international organization fighting ICE.”

“They [Make The Road PA and Make The Road New York] have partner organizations in other states. Make the Road Pennsylvania and New York.”

“These guys [OMG TEAM] are not PRESS. THAT’S A F**KING FED.”

Our team went undercover inside the mob and was surrounded as agitators admitted what groups they worked with on hidden cameras. An entire network of NGOs, unions, and activist groups including “SEIU”, “Make the Road New York”, and the “Independent Socialist Group” are all behind this chaos.

We were accused of being “feds,” chased, teargassed, hit, and forced to retreat when our team was being attacked and threatened. We received death threats via text messages and were followed to each location we were at.

The autonomous zone we were in had zero police present, press were interrogated about their identity, and anyone who was not on their side became a target.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2016254350541422751

Netanyahu blames Israeli deaths on Biden policy

The prime minister has suggested that troops were killed in part due to ammunition shortages caused by a US arms “embargo”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that a partial American arms “embargo” under former US President Joe Biden contributed to soldiers’ deaths during the war with Hamas. The remarks sparked angry pushback from Biden-era officials, who accused Netanyahu of ingratitude.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Netanyahu said Israel paid “very heavy prices” after the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, and argued that beyond the normal toll of combat “at a certain stage we didn’t have enough ammunition.”

Without mentioning Biden by name, he said “heroes fell” because they lacked what they needed and that “part of that absent ammunition was because of the embargo.”

In this vein, Netanyahu said the experience reinforced his push to build a stronger domestic defense industry to ensure “maximal independence” so Israel does not “run out of weapons or ammunition.”

Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser to Biden, rejected the barb, telling Axios that Netanyahu was “both not telling the truth and ungrateful to a president that literally saved Israel at its most vulnerable moment.”

He in particular pointed to more than $20 billion in US military assistance as well as other support measures, saying the only appropriate response was “thank you.”

While Biden provided strong support for Israel early after the surprise Hamas attack, in 2024 he halted some weapons shipments – particularly large aerial bombs – over concerns they would be used to pummel civilians in Gaza. At the time, Biden also acknowledged that Israel’s use of American-made weapons led to civilian casualties.

Biden also publicly described Netanyahu’s approach to the Gaza war as “a mistake,” called for a ceasefire, and said there was “no excuse” for failing to allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian enclave. Netanyahu shrugged off the criticism, saying Biden’s approach was “hurting Israel.”

By contrast, Netanyahu has enjoyed far warmer relations with US President Donald Trump, once who called himself Israel’s “greatest friend,” though even this relationship has not been without friction. Trump in particular criticized Netanyahu for a September airstrike targeting Hamas officials in Qatar, which is a key US ally in the Middle East.

https://www.rt.com/news/631657-netanyahu-blames-israeli-deaths-biden/

UK fake job scheme for migrants exposed – Times

A black market is offering “payroll-only” visa sponsorships to migrants facing deportation, according to an investigation by the outlet

A black market in fake skilled-worker visa sponsorships is operating across the UK, allowing migrants to remain in the country using fraudulent “payroll-only” jobs, according to an undercover investigation by The Times.

The outlet reported on Tuesday that its investigation exposed a network exploiting the skilled worker visa system, introduced in 2020 to address labor shortages, which allows licensed UK companies to sponsor overseas workers through Home Office Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS).

Under the scheme, agents reportedly take an applicant’s ID and issue a CoS before fabricating payroll and tax records. On paper, the migrant appears skilled, well-paid, and eligible for a skilled worker visa, according to the Times.

In reality, the paper writes, the “payroll-only” jobs provide no actual work, forcing migrants onto cash-in-hand roles once their visa is granted. They must repay fake wages plus extra fees, sometimes amounting to hundreds of pounds a month, or risk losing sponsorship.

The fake job visas can reportedly cost up to £20,000 ($27,500) and are mainly used by people facing deportation or entry bans, as well as foreign students seeking to stay after their visas expire. Agents earn commissions for arranging the deals.

The Times said its four-month investigation, using secret filming and interviews with dozens of visa agents, documented over 250 fake jobs being offered, mostly via social media. The full scope of the fraudulent scheme is unclear.

The Home Office said it will launch an urgent investigation into the scam. “We are investigating this illegal activity and it will not be tolerated,” it told The Times.

The UK has been under growing pressure over migration, with government data showing more than 41,000 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats in 2025 – the second highest annual total on record. Despite tighter asylum controls and a contribution-based settlement model, many Britons remain frustrated by what they see as unchecked immigration and weak border enforcement.

https://www.rt.com/news/631635-uk-migrants-fake-jobs/

UPDATE: Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey After “Productive” Meeting with Tom Homan Says “Minneapolis Does Not and Will Not Enforce Federal Immigration Laws”

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released a statement following his meeting with Border Czar Tom Homan on Tuesday, doubling down on Minneapolis’s sanctuary city policies.

Frey, who previously told ICE to “get the f*ck out of Minneapolis,” described the conversation as “productive,” noting that he wants the Trump Administration’s Operation Metro Surge “to end as quickly as possible.”

“I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers,” Frey said.

“I also made it clear that Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws, and that we will remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe.”

This comes after Trump went off on the chaos in Minneapolis on Sunday with a list of demands for Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and democratic Mayors and governors across the country. Among his demands was “Local Police must assist Federal Law Enforcement in apprehending and detaining Illegal Aliens who are wanted for Crimes.”

“American Cities should be Safe Sanctuaries for Law Abiding American Citizens ONLY, not Illegal Alien Criminals who broke our Nation’s Laws,” Trump said.

Trump further called for Congress to “immediately pass Legislation to END Sanctuary Cities, which is the root cause of all of these problems.”

But Frey apparently isn't listening.

Frey says city leaders will remain in contact with Homan.

Full statement below:

Today, Chief O'Hara and I met with Border Czar Homan and had a productive conversation. I reiterated that my main ask is for Operation Metro Surge to end as quickly as possible. Public safety works best when it's built on community trust, not tactics that create fear or division.

I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers.

I also made it clear that Minneapolis does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws, and that we will remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe.

City leaders will continue to stay in conversation with Mr. Homan and his team.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/01/update-minneapolis-mayor-jacob-frey-after-productive-meeting/

>>24186664

Who is the Jewish mayor of Minneapolis who called the ICE ‘self-defence’ claim ‘bulls**t’?

Jacob Frey has said his political career has been influenced by the Jewish concept of ‘tikkun olam’

Frey is open about his Jewishness and has spoken about drawing on his Jewish values in politics. In 2019, he said: “The moral imperative outlined by tikkun olam [the Jewish concept of ‘repairing the world’] is something I believe in strongly and is foundational both to Judaism but also my philosophy in government.”

Frey has also previously told Jewish Insider that even though he had already been a practicing Jew, he began embracing his Jewish identity to an even greater extent after October 7: “My ethnicity has risen greatly over the last year in the way that I think of myself and how others think of me,” he said.

“There was a moment where I thought to myself, ‘Oh my gosh, there are all these people coming out against Jews, should I not be as out in front? Should I not be as vocal about my identity as a Jew?’ And as soon as I thought that it was almost a slap in the face: ‘No, I have to be more out front. I have to be more vocal’.”

https://www.thejc.com/news/usa/who-is-the-jewish-mayor-of-minneapolis-who-called-the-ice-self-defence-claim-bullst-r1zhw63i

CONFLICT OF INTEREST EXPOSED: Bush-Appointed Judge Who Allegedly Let Don Lemon Walk and Threatens ICE Director With Contempt — Is a DONOR and VOLUNTEER for Pro-Illegal Alien Immigrant Law Center

Another day, another stunning example of the two-tier justice system.

Minnesota’s chief federal judge, Patrick J. Schiltz, a George W. Bush appointee, is now threatening to hold Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons in contempt of court over detainee releases tied to Operation Metro Surge, a Trump-era enforcement initiative that netted more than 3,000 arrests of criminal noncitizens in the Twin Cities.

But newly resurfaced information raises serious questions about whether Judge Schiltz should have ever touched the case.

Late Monday, Judge Schiltz issued an extraordinary order summoning ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons to appear in person in federal court in Minneapolis, warning that the court’s “patience is at an end.”

The judge accused ICE of repeatedly violating court orders by failing to release detainees quickly enough after habeas rulings, specifically citing the case of Juan Hugo Tobay Robles, an Ecuadorian national who entered the U.S. illegally as a minor in 1999.

Robles was arrested during Operation Metro Surge on January 6 and transferred to Texas.

Although a judge granted a habeas petition ordering his release on January 14, ICE did not immediately release him.

Robles was ultimately freed Tuesday afternoon, making it unlikely Lyons will now appear in court, according to NBC News.

According to reporting by Bill Melugin of Fox News, Judge Schiltz appears on a 2019 donor and volunteer list for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, a radical pro-illegal alien organization that provides free legal services to illegal immigrants and routinely litigates against ICE and DHS.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/01/conflict-interest-exposed-bush-appointed-judge-who-allegedly/

DC Sewage Breach Sends Poop Gushing Into Potomac, Causes Dangerous Contamination

The Potomac River was found to have dangerously high levels of E. coli bacteria when water sample tests were conducted following a sewage pipe rupture, ARLnow reported.

A section of the Potomac Interceptor, which holds up to 60 million gallons of wastewater from Maryland and Virginia, broke on Jan. 19, pumping millions of gallons of raw sewage into the river, The New York Times (NYT) reported. A water sample taken from Fletcher’s Cove in Washington, D.C. on Friday by the Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) recorded the bacteria level to be 60 times higher than what is considered safe for human contact, according to ARLnow.

PRKN president Betsy Nicholas announced in a press release Monday that the measurements of E. coli bacteria show contamination 12,000 times what authorities limit for human contact.

“Almost 300 million gallons have entered the Potomac River,” said Nicholas in the Monday press release. “The long term impact cannot be overstated. We measured against the standards established by Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality and Maryland’s Department of the Environment.”

“Our sample data collected right at the sewage outflow revealed shockingly high numbers that could have long term impacts to water quality,” said Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks in the press release. “The vile and putrid smell from the torrent of sewage discharging to the Potomac River for eight straight days is one of the most disturbing things I have ever seen in 25 years as a Riverkeeper.”

Crews installed six pumps to reroute the wastewater around the damaged Potomac Interceptor, the NYT reported. According to an X post by DC Water on Sunday, containment efforts are proving successful and DC Water estimates the spill to be nearing full containment.

https://twitter.com/i/status/2015581414964486409

https://dailycaller.com/2026/01/28/dc-sewage-breach-potomac-river-contamination/

Starmer Touches Down in Beijing: China Rewards UK With Trip After Mega-Embassy Approved

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Beijing, the first British leader to make an official trip to China since 2018, after he said he believes he can unlock business opportunities there despite security concerns.

A chartered British Airways jet carried the Prime Minister to Beijing overnight — allegedly to keep Chinese spies away from the Prime Minister’s own government plane — for the first of a three-day trip to China, which the Labour leader hopes will thaw relations after what he called an “ice age”.

The hurried trip was only officially announced by China on Tuesday and seems to be something of a reward for Starmer after the British government forced through permission for Beijing to build a new “mega-embassy” in London just last week. The new complex, which will be the largest embassy in Western Europe once completed, has been the subject of intense criticism over spying and national security fears, but was signed off on nevertheless by one of Starmer’s government ministers.

While the UK’s domestic intelligence agency MI5 said it believes any risks from the new mega-embassy could be mitigated to an acceptable level, the top spooks have nevertheless repeatedly warned of the threat Chinese intelligence poses to Britain. And there appears to be some mitigation underway on this trip, with The Times reporting that Prime Minister Starmer and “his entire team” have been issued with single-use “burner” mobile phones and laptops for their China trip in case they are secretly compromised while in the communist country.

Indeed, it is stated that “no government equipment at all will be taken to the country over concerns about Chinese Communist Party snooping”. Former Security Minister and Foreign Affairs Committee chair Tom Tugendhat claimed this even extended to the choice of aircraft. While national flag carrier British Airways is part of the delegation of 60 UK businesses accompanying the Prime Minister to Beijing, and the journey may be beyond the single-leg range of the government’s medium-haul private plane, Tugendhat stated swapping the state Airbus for a chartered civilian flight was to confound Chinese spies.

He wrote: “…they’re taking a burner plane! The government jet is staying home because it would need to be guarded round the clock to stop China putting bugs on it.”

Sir Keir will be the first British Prime Minister to visit China in eight years, since Theresa May’s 2018 visit, Beijing being understood to have withheld high-level diplomatic contacts until London agreed to permit that mega-embassy. It has also refused to allow the United Kingdom to replace its own “crumbling” embassy in Beijing to help force the London embassy through.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/01/28/starmer-touches-down-in-beijing-china-rewards-uk-with-trip-after-mega-embassy-approved/

BBC Apologizes for Ignoring Jewish Victims in Holocaust Memorial Day Coverage

The BBC ignored Jewish victims when covering the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and has since apologised for its error. The taxpayer-funded broadcaster described Tuesday’s omission as “hurtful, disrespectful, and wrong.”

The BBC covered the annual day of remembrance for the murder of six million men, women and children in Nazi death camps during World War II, but at least four news presenters are claimed to have neglected to mention the murdered victims were Jewish and targeted for their faith.

The report on BBC Breakfast introduced by Jon Kay said the day was “for remembering the six million people murdered by the Nazi regime over 80 years ago” without specifying the deaths targeted Jewish victims.

The word “Jews” was also erased from the BBC Radio 4 report on Holocaust Memorial Day.

The Campaign for Media Standards highlighted similar introductions by other presenters accusing the BBC of using the same script throughout the day even as the streets of London were lit up in remembrance for the suffering of Jews at the hands of Nazism.

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/01/28/bbc-apologizes-for-ignoring-jewish-victims-in-holocaust-memorial-day-coverage/

European Union Opens Borders to Mass India Migration with ‘Mother of All Deals’

The European Union has agreed to open its borders to mass immigration from India as it signed the bloc’s largest free trade agreement.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a press conference in New Delhi alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday that the bloc has agreed to a “mobility” scheme to allow for the influx of “students, researchers, seasonal and highly skilled workers” from India into Europe.

The EU chief also said that Brussels will open a “Legal Gateway Office” in India to help facilitate migrants’ move to Europe.

“This is good for our economies. This is good for the friendship between our people. This openness benefits us all,” von der Leyen said.

Despite the scale of the changes agreed, reports in the legacy media generally ignored or buried the migration aspect of the agreements, reporting heavily on the concomitant trade agreement signed alongside.

India already ranks among the top countries of origin for legal migration into the EU, with Indian nationals receiving the second-most first-time residence permits among any nationality in 2024, at 192,400, only behind Ukraine at 295,600.

According to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there are currently over 800,000 Indians living in the European Union.

Commission President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Modi were joined at the unveiling by President of the European Council António Costa, who touted his own Indian citizenship through his father and therefore said that the agreement had a “very special meaning” to him.

“I am very proud of my roots in Goa, where my father’s family came from. The connection between Europe and India is something personal to me,” the Portugal-born politician said

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/01/28/eu-opens-borders-to-mass-indian-migration-amid-mother-of-all-trade-deals/

Ariana Grande, Katy Perry Among Hollywood Celebrities Pushing Fans to Urge Congress to Defund ICE

Pop stars Ariana Grande and Katy Perry were among several celebrities urging their fans to call up their representatives demanding they defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Grande shared with her 372 million followers on Instagram a guide for people to contact their representatives along with a script for what they should say.

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/01/28/ariana-grande-katy-perry-among-hollywood-celebrities-pushing-fans-to-urge-congress-to-defund-ice/

Does defending America’s independence make you an enemy of Israel?

Paul Craig Roberts

Likud lawmaker Dan Illouz declares Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens enemies of Israel who are selling poison to the American people disguised as patriotism.

The Israel lobby has succeeded in classifying any criticism of Israeli policies, such as the destruction of Gaza and assassinations of foreign leaders, as anti-Semitic, thus preventing Israel from ever being held accountable for its crimes. In order to enforce its policy of discrediting all criticism of Israel, Israel has acquired tremendous power in the United States, as is proven by the lobby’s power to deep-six the First Amendment and have people who criticize Israel removed from their jobs and from universities. To please Israel, President Trump went after his two strongest supporters Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massey.

The power that Israel exercises over the United States has gone to their heads. Illouz says: “We are the people of eternity. We will be here long after your YouTube channels are forgotten dust.”

Israel describes its relationship with the United States as an alliance. But with many Americans proclaiming that you cannot be an American unless you love Israel, the indication is that the relationship is one of master and servant. A people concerned about their sovereignty and the independence of their policies are correct to question, as Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens do, the influence Israel has.

https://www.jta.org/2026/01/07/israel/knesset-member-from-netanyahus-party-decries-new-enemy-tucker-carlson-and-candace-owens

https://paulcraigroberts.org/does-defending-americas-independence-make-you-an-enemy-of-israel/

Israel seeking new 10-year security deal with the US, senior defense official says

Current deal ends in 2028, and former IDF financial chief says joint projects with US take priority over cash, as Israel looks to steer away from reliance on military aid

Israel is preparing for talks with the Trump administration on a new 10-year security deal, seeking to extend US military support even as Israeli leaders signal they are planning for a future with reduced American cash grants, the Financial Times reported Tuesday.

Gil Pinchas, speaking to the FT before stepping down as chief financial adviser to the military and Defense Ministry earlier this month, said Israel would seek to prioritize joint military and defense projects over cash handouts in talks that he expected to take place in the coming weeks.

“The partnership is more important than just the net financial issue in this context… there are a lot of things that are equal to money,” Pinchas said. “The view of this needs to be wider.”

He said pure financial support — or “free money” — worth $3.3 billion a year, which Israel can use to purchase US weapons, was “one component of the MOU (that) could decrease gradually.”

In 2016, the US and Israeli governments signed a memorandum of understanding for the 10 years through September 2028 that provides $38 billion in military aid, consisting of $33 billion in grants to buy military equipment and $5 billion for joint development of missile defense systems.

“We want to be as independent as possible,” he stated. Referring to a meeting with US President Donald Trump in Florida late last month, Netanyahu added: “In my visit to President Trump, I said we very deeply appreciate the military aid that America has given us over the years, but here too we’ve come of age, and we’ve developed incredible capacities.”

The US committed to providing billions in military assistance to Israel and Egypt each year when they signed their 1979 US-brokered peace treaty.

While US aid once made up a significant chunk of Israel’s military spending, the percentage it makes up of those funds has significantly declined in recent years as Israel’s economy has flourished.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-seeking-new-10-year-security-deal-with-the-us-senior-defense-official-says/

Hospital staff changed Bondi attack victim’s name to hide Jewish identity, reports say

According to local media, medical records for Rosalia Shikhverg were altered to say ‘Karen Jones,’ apparently for her protection

One of the survivors of the Hanukkah terror attack on Bondi Beach was given a non-Jewish-sounding pseudonym when she was admitted to the hospital following the attack, local media reported on Tuesday.

Staff at the Liverpool Hospital in western Sydney changed the name of Rosalia Shikhverg to the alias “Karen Jones” in the medical records, possibly in order to “disguise” her identity, an investigation by Sky News found. New South Wales Health Minister Ryan Park has issued an apology to Shikhverg.

Shikhverg was rushed to the hospital on December 14 after sustaining gunshot and shrapnel wounds to the head during the shooting at a Hanukkah party at Bondi Beach that killed 15 and wounded dozens.

After being admitted to the hospital, “they cut my (wristband) and put my new band on with ‘Karen Jones.’ Without any religion,” Shikhverg told Sky News. “I was so scared and so upset.”

Shikhverg and her husband, Greg, said they were never asked for permission regarding the name change.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/hospital-staff-changed-bondi-attack-victims-name-to-hide-jewish-identity-reports-say/

Suspect in sex-trafficking case extradited from Serbia to Israel for questioning

Yosef Koperschmidt, a suspected member of a sex-trafficking network, has been extradited from Serbia to Israel and will be questioned by police in connection with an ongoing investigation.

A man suspected of involvement in a sex-trafficking network was extradited from Serbia to Israel this week and is expected to be questioned by police in connection with an ongoing investigation, according to the State Attorney’s Office International Department.

Yosef Koperschmidt is suspected of conspiring with others to recruit women abroad and bring them to Israel for the purpose of providing sex services, the authorities shared on Tuesday.

The investigation was opened in early August 2025, days after Koperschmidt allegedly left Israel. Several suspected associates were arrested shortly thereafter and have since been indicted, according to media reports.

Working in coordination with the Israel Police’s Interpol unit, the State Attorney’s Office launched an international search for Koperschmidt, which led to his arrest in Serbia on September 11, 2025. A formal extradition request was subsequently submitted to Serbian authorities, culminating in his transfer to Israel this week.

Police are expected to question Koperschmidt under caution in the coming days, with investigators indicating that additional investigative steps are likely to follow, depending on the outcome of the questioning.

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-884860

TikTok Users Report Trouble Posting About Epstein, ICE, Days After Company Finalizes Sale To US Investors

Days after the company finalized a sale to a consortium of American investors who now control TikTok's business in the US - which averted a national ban of the app over national security concerns - users report being unable to use the word "Epstein" in direct messages.

The company responded, telling NPR "We don't have rules against sharing the name 'Epstein' in direct messages and are investigating why some users are experiencing issues."

TikTok said none of its content moderation rules have changed.

Still, when some users tried to send direct messages containing the word "Epstein," an automatic prompt appeared declaring that the message may be in violation of TikTok's community guidelines. The messages were not sent, according to the prompt, "to protect our community."

Tests by NPR, and other accounts on social media, show that it was happening inconsistently; Some users were able to send messages with "Epstein," and some were not. The TikTok spokesman said that is consistent with the company's own analysis so far, yet the exact cause is still under review.

TikTok users are also claiming that the platform is censoring information related to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement actions, as many users on the platform report being unable to upload videos on the topic.

The TikTok censorship this week is genuinely insane. It’s a very bad look to have more censorship under American management than under Chinese management. It almost goes without saying that if it doesn’t reverse course immediately, it deserves the scandal & exodus it’s getting.

Some are pointing a finger at TikTok's new ownership - which includes lead investor Oracle, run by billionaire Larry Ellison, a close friend of President Trump. Users are now circulating the hashtag #TikTokCensorship on X.

It's nice to see Democrats suddenly discovering free speech.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) says this is at the 'top of the list' when it comes to threats to democracy. We don't remember him piping up when conservatives were being censored for a decade…

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/tiktok-users-report-trouble-posting-about-epstein-ice-days-after-company-finalizes-sale

Live Updates Israel's Chief Justice Warns: 'We Are Witnessing a Blatant Disregard of the Law'

Former Supreme Court president says 'we are no longer citizens, but subjects' amid attacks on democracy

Former Supreme Court President Justice Aharon Barak said that "liberal democracy is undergoing a difficult period in Israel," at the first Liberal Congress being held in Tel Aviv tonight under the Movement for Quality Government.

"This is not an external attack like the one that materialized on October 7, 2023," Barak said. "This is an internal attack that weakens the internal nature of Israeli democracy every day." He added that "this is an ongoing process, both in Israel and in other places. Democracy is weakening, and its significant assets are disappearing."

According to Barak, the principle of separation of powers in Israel "has completely collapsed, the Knesset has ceased to scrutinize the government, and it is the government that controls the Knesset."

Barak also said that "the prime minister controls the members of the government. Government decisions are usually the decisions of the prime minister and are routinely made with the consent of the members of the government. When you combine these phenomena, you end up with the authoritative office of one ruler."

He added that "the Knesset and the prime minister are looking for ways to take control of the judges," and appoint judicial leadership that reflect their political motives. "This severely harms the personal and institutional independence of the judges." The former Supreme Court president also argued that "the relationship between the political establishment and the army, the police and the Shin Bet has completely deteriorated. The prime minister sees himself as authorized to dictate how to act in each arena. Protesters are treated as criminals. I think we are no longer citizens, but subjects."

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2026-01-28/ty-article-live/biden-advisor-hits-back-after-pm-blames-arms-embargo-for-idf-fatalities-in-gaza/0000019c-0281-d58f-a9dd-0b9138fc0000