The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office delivered a scathing response to the affidavit submitted by Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar to the Supreme Court, accusing him of dishonesty and attributing blame for the events of October 7, 2023.
In its statement, the PMO asserted that Bar failed to alert the Prime Minister and the Defense Minister on the morning of the attack, despite allegedly having intelligence for over three hours suggesting an imminent threat. “Had he done so – the massacre could have been avoided,” the statement read.
The PMO disputed Bar’s claim that he ordered the military secretary to be contacted at 05:15, pointing instead to evidence showing the Shin Bet only placed the call at 06:13 — just moments before the assault began.

(AP) – Sam Rutledge and his wife have a bab

China will sanction United States officials, lawmakers and leaders of non-governmental organizations who it says have “performed poorly” on Hong Kong issues, the foreign ministry announced. The U.S. in March sanctioned six Chinese and Hong Kong officials who it alleged were involved in “transnational repression” and acts threatening to further erode the city’s autonomy. The officials included Justice Secretary Paul Lam, security office director Dong Jingwei and former police commissioner Raymond Siu. In a retaliatory move against Washington, D.C., on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun in Beijing said China strongly condemned the acts, calling them “despicable.” The U.S.

Relatives of the hostages erupted in fury after Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich stated in an Army Radio interview on Monday that the top priority in the war was eliminating Hamas—not securing the captives’ release.
“The only truth is that for your messianic and psychopathic delusions, you are willing to sacrifice my Matan and an entire country,” wrote Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, on X.
“This morning, the families have only one word: shame,” read a statement issued by the Hostage Families Forum.
“Minister Smotrich—history will remember how you hardened your heart to your brothers and sisters in captivity and chose not to save them—some from death, others from disappearance.”

After landing in Miami, Ben Gvir stated that in his meetings with Americans, “the issue of the Deep State comes up again and again….The Americans would not leave for a single moment an FBI chief who would act against… the policy of the elected government…We must oust Ronen Bar as quickly as possible!”

(AP) – Instagram is beginning to test the use of artificial intelligence to determine if kids are

Thousands of allied American and Filipino forces opened annual combat drills Monday that are set to include repelling an island attack to simulate the defense of the Philippine archipelago and seas in a “full-scale battle scenario” that has antagonized China. The annual Balikatan military exercises between the longtime treaty allies are scheduled from April 21 to May 9 with about 9,000 American and 5,000 Filipino military personnel. Fighter jets, warships and an array of weaponry including a U.S. Marine anti-ship missile system will be involved, U.S. and Philippine military officials said. China has steadfastly opposed such war drills in or near the disputed South China Sea and in northern Philippine provinces close to Taiwan, especially if they involve U.S.