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It would seem that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accomplished what his predecessors could only have dreamed of: U.S. and Israeli fighter jets flying tandem over Tehran, Israeli officers ensconced in U.S. Central Command’s Florida headquarters. Since the days of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s leaders have sought backing from the world’s preeminent superpower, which they hoped would guarantee their state’s survival into perpetuity. None could have imagined the level of cooperation currently on display. If one were to wake up the Old Man, as Ben-Gurion was known, from his otherworldly slumber in the sands of Sde Boker, he would surely...

Recognizing Iran’s ability to influence Hezbollah in ways that Lebanon can’t, US and Qatar broker truce through Tehran, rather than Beirut, after 47 Lebanese killed in response to killing of 4 troops Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire on Friday afternoon, a US official said, after another flare-up in southern Lebanon that saw four Israeli soldiers and dozens of Lebanese casualties. The renewed truce appeared as fragile as ever, as it didn’t see Israel pull out of the large buffer zone it established in southern Lebanon — one that Hezbollah has used to justify continued attacks on troops stationed...

A federal appeals court’s Thursday ruling could force the Supreme Court to decide if suppressors and magazines fall under the definition of “arms.” The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled Thursday in Comeaux v. United States that suppressors fall under the category of “arms” and are protected under the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment Foundation noted the “circuit split,” when two appellate circuits disagree on similar cases, in a series of posts on X, while SAF Director of Legal Research and Education Konstadinos Moros specifically mentioned the Ninth Circuit case Duncan v. Bonta. “There is now...

This video discusses a violent incident that occurred at a Target store in Simi Valley, where a man randomly attacked and choked a woman. Key points include: The Incident: On Wednesday evening, a man—later identified as Raian Taber—entered the store and began choking a woman at the checkout counter (0:20-0:35). He subsequently attacked a 16-year-old boy in the produce section (3:44-3:55). Good Samaritans: Several shoppers, including a father named Andy Garvey, intervened to stop the attacker and protect others until law enforcement arrived to arrest him (0:47-1:02, 3:10-4:05). Suspect Background: Reports indicate Taber had been released from custody just two...

Explanation: Does this scene look familiar? It is a modern recreation of the famous painting Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. Both the image and the painting depict a tall tree on the left, a crescent moon on the upper right, the planet Venus just to the right of the tree, a foreground horizon rising from left to right, and clouds above the horizon. Differences include that the photograph was taken in mid-April earlier this year in Cascavel, Brazil, while the painting was composed in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, in 1889. The original Starry Night is considered by many to be one...

While many people worry that robots are coming to take their jobs, one unlucky bot seems to have fallen on hard times. A humanoid robot was spotted begging for money on a street corner in China's Sichuan province last week. In a viral clip, the bot was seen kneeling on the street, holding its hands together and bowing to passersby. Meanwhile, an LED sign and loudspeaker told locals it had 'no money to recharge' and begged them to 'please help with electricity bills'. The robotic beggar even had a small plate for collecting coins and, of course, a QR code...

WASHINGTON/DUBAI, June 19 (Reuters) - Switzerland said U.S. talks with Iranian negotiators on a pact to end the Middle East conflict would not take place on Friday, as Vice President JD Vance dropped plans to travel to Geneva, adding to uncertainty whether a lasting truce can be found. "The logistics of these negotiations have never been simple or predictable," the White House spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday night. Vance and the U.S. delegation had been ready to depart as soon as plans were finalised. The talks, set for the mountaintop resort of Burgenstock, would not take place, Switzerland's...

The growing controversy surrounding the San Francisco Giants and Major League Baseball’s response to players displaying Bible verses on their hats during a Pride Night game has put the league in hot water with federal authorities. Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general for civil rights at Department of Justice, announced in a scathing letter on Thursday that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission would investigate the case. Dhillon’s letter, addressed to MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred, blasted the league for potential violations of the law. “The Civil Rights Act prohibits MLB and its franchises from unreasonably burdening the rights of players with religious...

A detransitioner revealed that as a teenager he was encouraged to keep using puberty blockers by a pediatric urologist who was later arrested for possessing child pornography. In a declaration submitted in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) lawsuit against the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) on Wednesday, Jonni Skinner recounts the time Dr. Bryan Sack told him that hormone therapy was not to blame for his reddening urine. The detransitioner went on to note that years later, in February, “Dr. Sack was arraigned on six felony charges related to possession of ‘child sexually abusive material.'” Skinner maintains that...

CNN senior data correspondent Harry Enten reported on Friday on what he called one of the most “stunning” trends he’s “seen in covering politics over the last 15, 16 years” – the rise of democratic socialists inside the Democratic Party. Anchor John Berman kicked off the segment, asking, “So when we talk about democratic socialists, how are they viewed inside the Democratic Party?” Enten replied, “Yeah, you know, you mention New York, you mentioned Vermont, obviously, there’s the D.C. mayor. We’ve seen it in Pennsylvania as well. The Democratic Socialists seem to be doing considerably better than they used to...

Pastor Jeffery Campbell has deep ties to Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood. He was raised in the South Side neighborhood, and has served as pastor at Woodlawn Baptist Church for 22 years. And for the past decade, he’s attempted to protect its residents from displacement and gentrification. He’s seen rising rents, residents squeezed by university development and life becoming more unaffordable. Now, there’s a new challenge: the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center – part of a 19-acre, $850m campus – that has transformed life in the neighborhood, as well as the adjacent South Shore and Hyde Park, long before this...

ToplinePresident Donald Trump claimed Iran backed out of talks scheduled for Friday in Switzerland, and warned they were "FINISHED" and would "get no money" out of the newly signed deal with the U.S.—as the agreement appears fragile less than 48 hours after it was signed.Key FactsTrump said "we'll play out the 60 days. They get no money, not ten cents!" referring to the 60-day period after the agreement was signed overnight Wednesday to negotiate outstanding issues, including the future of Iran's nuclear program.The deal included a commitment from the U.S. to lift sanctions on Iran and unfreeze Iranian assets in...

NASHVILLE, TN — While commemorating the film's 20th anniversary, former Vice President Al Gore explained that while An Inconvenient Truth did not prove to be accurate, it did make him incredibly rich. Gore, who wrote and starred in the Oscar-winning documentary, was happy to sit down for an interview with ABC News' Ginger Zee this week to discuss how successful the film was at building his wealth. "I think the film was a great success, actually," Gore said, speaking of the film's numerous failed predictions. "For me, that is. It may not have been true in any way, but...

Is it goodbye Air Force One, hello Qatar Force One? White House officials bade farewell on Thursday to one of the two jets that have been used to transport US presidents for more than 30 years. The goodbye messages fueled speculation that a Boeing 747 controversially gifted to President Donald Trump by the Gulf emirate of Qatar is now due to enter service. "'Well done, good and faithful servant. 'The Last Ride,'" Trump's communications director Steven Cheung said in a post on X with a picture of the iconic white and blue jet after returning from the G7 summit in...

The Department of War is reportedly seeking $80 billion to cover costs associated with the Iran conflict and other unrelated expenses, according to The Wall Street Journal.Deputy War Secretary Stephen Feinberg has told lawmakers in recent phone calls that the Pentagon needs additional funding to sustain military operations tied to the conflict with Iran and cover other expenses, people familiar with the discussions told the Journal. Congress has been pressing the Trump administration for a comprehensive accounting of the war's costs since the conflict began Feb. 28. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern about the depletion of U.S. munitions...

I hesitated to make this post. I've been watching along the sidelines the past 2.5 months, waiting to see what happens to this website. Free Republic relies on donations to keep itself operational, but, more and more, it looks like this quarterly donation period will not reach its goal. My question then is, "then what?" Let's face it, financial times are hard. People are not able to donate as they once did. In addition, many of the old guard have passed on to their rewards. And there are other reasons, to be sure. At the end of the day, I...

THE BREAKDOWN: U.S. Senators Rick Scott and Dave McCormick have requested an FCC investigation into security risks linked to Chinese-manufactured health wearables and fitness trackers. The lawmakers warn that Chinese cybersecurity laws could allow Beijing to access sensitive biometric data collected from American consumers, especially senior citizens. The FCC has been asked to brief the Senate Aging Committee and consider banning these devices from the U.S. market by July 15, 2026. Two U.S. senators are pushing federal regulators to investigate whether popular fitness trackers, smartwatches, and medical devices are leaking sensitive health data to the Chinese government. Senate Aging Committee...

A three-year-old boy was critically injured by at least one crocodile after being tossed into a reptile pit at a British zoo by a stranger with learning difficulties – who has already been released from police custody, it was revealed today. The 30-year-old suspect from Norfolk, who did not know the victim, was arrested at the Old Hurst animal park in Cambridgeshire on suspicion of attempted murder. But less than 24 hours after the attack, he was released on bail until September 18 after being assessed as ‘not fit for interview’ by detectives, police said. The attacker is believed to...

Cardinal Ruini’s testament reveals ‘unease’ over the Francis pontificateThe late Italian cardinal praised Francis' ‘evangelizing zeal,’ but admitted his ‘struggle to understand’ policies he believed risked reopening ‘wounds’ left by Vatican II.Cardinal Camillo Ruini expressed “unease” over the “direction” of the Catholic Church during the reign of Pope Francis, a newly published “spiritual testament” published after his death reveals.On June 18, Italian blog Messa in Latino published the full text of Ruini’s testament, following his death the previous day at the age of 95. Within it, the cardinal expresses gratitude to God for all those who accompanied his formation and...

England fans found a uniquely American way to celebrate a distinctly English World Cup moment after the 4-2 win over Croatia. The victory gave Thomas Tuchel’s side exactly the start they wanted in Group L, but it was a banner in the crowd that caught the most attention. It brought together Donald Trump, Bobby Moore, and 1966 in a single image. It was not subtle, and it was not meant to be. England fans hold up Donald Trump banner after Croatia winThe banner reworked one of the most famous photos in English soccer history, but with a twist. Instead of...