Jerusalem – Several locusts were spotted on Israel’s border with Jordan Monday morning, sending teams from the Ministry of Agriculture to contend with them. The Ministry has already prepared its stocks of “friendly” pesticides that do not endanger humans, which can be deployed if necessary. “It should be noted that swarms of locusts do not [...]

The United States is deploying a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East in response to what it called “troubling and escalatory indications and warnings” from Iran, national security adviser John Bolton announced on Sunday.
Bolton said in a statement that the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group and a bomber task force would be deployed to a region overseen by the Pentagon’s U.S. Central Command, whose area of responsibility includes the Middle East.

Ashdod, Israel – Newly released security camera footage shows the moment a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip explodes into the side of a residential building in Ashdod yesterday. The explosion killed 21-year-old Pinchas Menachem Prezuazman, who was running for cover when the rocket came crashing through the stairwell of his building. Hundreds gathered in [...]

Moscow – Russian media have quoted the pilot of the airliner that burst into flames during an emergency landing in Moscow as saying the plane was without radio communications because of a lightning strike. Sunday’s fire killed 41 of the 78 people aboard the Aeroflot plane. The plane had taken off for Murmansk in stormy [...]

A special Rosh Chodesh prayer service organized by the Women of the Wall drew less than 20 people at the Kosel Monday morning, despite hopes by the Reform movement in Israel that hundreds would take part in the service.
Opponents of the group say the poor turnout at Monday’s event was likely the result of disappointment over last month’s event, when the group hoped to bring out 1,000 supporters, but instead drew only dozens.
Turnout at the Women of the Wall event was so low that mechitzas put up every month to separate the Orthodox tefillos in the Women’s section at the Kosel from the non-traditional services were not needed, freeing up more space at the Women’s section.

Israel's health expenditure is way below its OECD peers'. This leaves Startup Nation lacking beds, doctors, nurses, MRIs and CT scanners -- and looking to tech as a possible savior

The Trump administration is reportedly expected to announce additional sanctions on Iran within the coming week.
The sanctions, which are slated to be announced Wednesday, will significantly impact a new sector of the Iranian economy, Axios reported Sunday, citing two senior administration officials.
The administration is attempting to limit the country’s possibility for growth by restricting economic diversification, officials told Axios.
Read more at The Hill.
{Matzav.com}

Kohavi says military hit 'ostensibly civilian' buildings that were in fact 'terrorist dens,' will continue to attack if necessary

In apparent bid to prevent panic, military says Israelis can expect to see fighter jets and other aircraft overhead