JEWISH KING JESUS IS COMING AT THE RAPTURE FOR US IN THE CLOUDS-DON'T MISS IT FOR THE WORLD.THE BIBLE TAKEN LITERALLY- WHEN THE PLAIN SENSE MAKES GOOD SENSE-SEEK NO OTHER SENSE-LEST YOU END UP IN NONSENSE.GET SAVED NOW- CALL ON JESUS TODAY.THE ONLY SAVIOR OF THE WHOLE EARTH - NO OTHER.
1 COR 15:23-JESUS THE FIRST FRUITS-CHRISTIANS RAPTURED TO JESUS-FIRST FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT-23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.ROMANS 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.(THE PRE-TRIB RAPTURE)
WAR WITH IRAN - DAY 93 MAY 31,26 - TRUMP IN NO RUSH TO MAKE DECISION ON DEATH CULT IRAN DEAL.
THE NEXT US-ISRAEL HIT ON IRAN SHOULD BE VERSE 37. ALL OFFENSIVE NUKE SITES MISSLES,DRONES,AND OF COURSE KHEMENI AND THE IRGC GUARDS.THEN AFTER IRANS REGIME CHANGE. MUSLIMS COME TO JESUS BY THE MILLIONS.
JEREMEIAH 49:32-39 (IN IRAN AT THE BUSHEHR OR ARAK NUKE SITES AND ALL OFENSIVE WEAPONS DESTROYED IN IRAN)
Jeremiah 49:32-39
32 Their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter to all winds those who have the corners [of their hair] cut off; and I will bring their calamity from every side of them, says Yahweh.
33 Hazor shall be a dwelling-place of jackals, a desolation forever: no man shall dwell there, neither shall any son of man sojourn therein.(Location & Size: It was strategically located along the Via Maris (Way of the Sea), a major trade route connecting Egypt with Syria and Mesopotamia.)
34 The word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning Elam,(IRAN) in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,
35 Thus says Yahweh of Hosts: Behold, I will break the bow of Elam,(IRANS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS) the chief of their might.(MISSLES AND NUKE SITES)
36 On Elam (IRAN) will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of the sky, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation where the outcasts of Elam shall not come.(SINCE 1979 IRANIANS HAVE GOTTIN OUT OF IRAN BECAUSE OF KHEMENI AND HIS APOCOPOLIPTIC DEATH CULT BELIEF-BLACK HATER 12ERS)
37 I will cause Elam (IRAN) to be dismayed before their enemies, and before those who seek their life;(ISRAEL THE LITTLE SATAN AND THE U.S THE BIG SATAN) and I will bring evil on them, (MISSLES) even my fierce anger,(FIRE) says Yahweh; and I will send the sword after them,(IRANS OFFENSIVE WEAPONS) until I have consumed them; (DESTROYED THEM ALL NUKE SITES,MISSLES ETC)
38 and I will set my throne in Elam,(IRAN WILL BECOME A CHRISTIAN NATION) and will destroy from there king (KHEMENI, ISLAM) and princes, says Yahweh.(IRANIAN ARMY GUARDS)
39 But it shall happen in the latter days, that I will bring back the captivity of Elam,(IRAN) says Yahweh.(WERE IN THE LATTER DAYS NOW)
WHEN ARE THE 500 MILLION MIGRATING BIRDS IN ISRAEL IN THE SPRING TIME.(GET READY ISLAM TO BE BIRD SEED FOR THESE BIRDS)
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m0bXU5Xqc5M
The 500 million migratory birds in Israel during the spring arrive from Africa and head toward Europe and Asia, with the peak migration occurring in March and April. While migration starts in late February, the most intense movements, particularly of birds of prey, storks, and pelicans, occur during the third week of March and continue into April.
Key Details on the Spring Migration
Peak Period: Mid-March through April.
Main Migration Route: The birds use the Great Rift Valley, which includes the Hula Valley and Eilat, acting as a "bottleneck" where millions of birds fly through the narrow land bridge.
Best Spots: The Hula Lake Park (Northern Israel) and the Eilat Birding Center (Southern Israel) are primary locations for observing the migration.
Key Species: Hundreds of thousands of white storks, along with black kites, raptors, and pelicans, pass through over these months.
uration: The spring migration runs from late February and continues into June, though the heaviest traffic is in March/April.
The 500 million migratory birds fly over Israel in the fall between late August and mid-December. The peak migration period for the autumn, when the highest volume of bird traffic occurs, is typically October and November.
Key Fall Migration Details
Location: The Hula Valley (Agamon Hula Park) in northern Israel is the premier spot to witness this phenomenon.
Timing: Migration starts as early as late June with some waders, but intensifies from mid-August through November.
Peak Festival: The "Annual Hula Valley Bird Festival" is usually held in November to align with the peak migration traffic.
Key Species: Many birds of prey (raptors), including honey buzzards and steppe eagles, cross during this time, along with massive flocks of storks and cranes.
While roughly 500 million birds pass through in the autumn on their way to Africa, the same number crosses again in the spring (mid-February to May) on their way back to Europe and Asia.
JEREMEIAH 49:23-27
23 Concerning Damascus.(SYRIA) Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea;(WAR SHIPS WITH NUKES COMING ON SYRIA) it cannot be quiet.
24 Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.
25 How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
26 Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.
27 And I will kindle a fire (NUKES OR BOMBS) in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.(ASSADS PALACES POSSIBLY IN DAMASCUS)
Iran says does not trust US as Trump toughens terms.
Tehran, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2026-Iran's chief negotiator warned the United States is not to be trusted Sunday, saying Tehran would not agree to any deal with Washington unless it fully secures Iranian rights.Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf's remarks came as reports emerged that US President Donald Trump had sent a tougher peace proposal back to Iran, and underlined the rift that the parties still need to close.Any further tweaks to the draft could further delay an agreement to formally end the Middle East war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz after weeks of fraught negotiations marked by sharp rhetoric and occasional flare-ups of violence.Iran was already in negotiations with the United States about the fate of its nuclear programme in February, when the US and Israel launched air and missile strikes that wiped out much of the Islamic republic's senior leadership.And, while Tehran has long insisted that its nuclear programme is for purely civilian ends, the United States and its Western allies have long suspected it aims to develop a weapon.- Nuclear guarantees -The New York Times and Axios reported on Saturday that Trump had sent back a "tougher" new framework to be considered by Iran, though details remain unclear.Trump has said his priorities include stopping Iran from any nuclear weapon development and re-opening the Hormuz shipping lane, over which Iran has sought to impose control since the war began."The one guarantee that I have to have is that there will be no nuclear weapons. They've agreed to that, and it was very interesting," he told his daughter-in-law Lara Trump in an interview on her Fox News show.But Tehran has previously cast doubt on Trump's assertions and the sides remain far apart on key issues."We will not approve any agreement until we are certain that the rights of the Iranian people have been upheld," Ghalibaf said, in a video broadcast on state television.According to the Tasnim news agency, "exchanges between Iran and the United States regarding the text of a possible memorandum of understanding are ongoing, with both parties regularly proposing amendments."No agreement has yet been finalised, and it is possible that any agreement will be rejected," it said.Iran has said it needs the release of $12 billion in frozen assets before engaging in substantive talks on its nuclear program, dismissing earlier Trump comments that its enriched uranium stockpile would be destroyed as "baseless", according to Iranian media.Tehran has also insisted that Lebanon be included in any deal, despite ongoing fighting, with Beirut accusing Israel of a "scorched-earth policy" as it expands operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah.- Flare-ups -Though daily strikes throughout Iran and the Gulf halted after Tehran and Washington struck a temporary ceasefire in April and talks mediated by Pakistan, sporadic fighting has continued.Iran's Revolutionary Guards had shot down a US military drone "about to enter Iranian territorial waters", Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported, though Washington has not confirmed the incident.Earlier this week, the worst fighting since the ceasefire erupted when US forces struck the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, prompting retaliatory fire from Iran.Nevertheless diplomacy has continued with Trump under pressure to secure a deal that would lift competing US and Iranian blockades around the Strait of Hormuz that have strangled a vital route for global oil supplies.After Trump said Iran would charge "no tolls" on ships passing through the strait under any deal, Iranian news agency Fars cited sources saying "no such clause" existed.Iran's ISNA news agency on Saturday quoted lawmaker Alireza Salimi as saying a plan "to implement Iran's management and sovereignty" over the strait -- which includes imposing "administrative fees" for navigation -- would soon go before parliament.- Lebanon front -Israeli said Sunday that troops had also crossed the Litani river and raised the Israeli flag over the strategic medieval fortress of Beaufort in southern Lebanon.Smoke billowed from the surrounding area as the invading army's banner was seen by AFP above the castle, which Israel famously used as a base during their previous two-decade-long occupation.The push to Beaufort came as the Israeli military issued a sweeping evacuation order to areas south of the Zahrani River, north of the Litani and around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the border, warning that it was targeting Hezbollah."The capture of Beaufort is a dramatic stage and a dramatic shift in the policy we are leading. We have broken the barrier of fear. We are taking the initiative, we are operating on all fronts -- in Syria, in Gaza, in Lebanon," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.The Israeli military said Sunday that one soldier was killed the previous day in a Hezbollah drone strike.Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has accused Israel of pursuing a "scorched-earth policy and collective punishment", and called for "a swift and real ceasefire."Israel confirmed it was expanding its ground offensive in a statement released early on Sunday, saying "a significant number" of its forces were operating against Hezbollah beyond the Litani river.A truce between Israel and Hezbollah formally began on April 17 but it has never been observed, with both sides accusing each other of violating it.burs-rh/dc
Iran chief negotiator says no deal with US until Iranian rights secured.
Tehran, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2026-Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday that Tehran will not agree to any deal with the United States that fails to secure the rights of Iranians."We will not approve any agreement until we are certain that the rights of the Iranian people have been upheld," Ghalibaf said, in a video broadcast on state television.He added that Iranian negotiators "neither trust the enemy's words nor its promises."His remarks came as Iran and Washington continue to exchange proposals over a framework for a deal to end the war that broke out on February 28, engulfing the Middle East.On Saturday, The New York Times and Axios media outlets reported that US President Donald Trump had sent back to Tehran a new framework to be considered by Iran with "tougher" terms.It was not immediately clear what that entailed.Iran views sanction relief and the release of its assets frozen in banks abroad as among its key rights to be ensured under any deal with the United States.Since the outbreak of the war, Iran has kept tight control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy conduit, and sees oversight of shipping through the waterway as within its rights.ap-mz/dc
Trump says Iran has agreed to no nuclear weapons.
Washington, United States, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2026-US President Donald Trump said he had secured guarantees from Iran that it would not develop nuclear weapons, as reports emerged he had sent a tougher peace proposal back to Tehran.Any tweaks to the proposal could prolong even further an agreement to formally end the Middle East war and open the Strait of Hormuz maritime route after weeks of efforts to secure a deal despite fractious rhetoric and the occasional flare up of armed conflict.The New York Times and Axios media outlets reported on Saturday that Trump had sent back a new framework to be considered by Iran with "tougher" terms, though it was not immediately clear what that entailed.Trump has said his priorities for any deal include stopping Iran from any nuclear weapon development and re-opening the blockaded Strait of Hormuz."The one guarantee that I have to have is that there will be no nuclear weapons. They've agreed to that, and it was very interesting," he told his daughter-in-law Lara Trump in an interview broadcast on her Fox News program on Saturday night.But Tehran has previously cast doubt on Trump's assertions and the parties appeared far apart on their key priorities.Iran has said it requires the release of $12 billion in frozen assets before it moved to substantive talks on issues such as its nuclear program and called earlier Trump comments that its enriched uranium -- a precursor for nuclear weapons -- would be destroyed "baseless", according to Iranian media.Tehran has also insisted that Lebanon must be included in any end to the war despite ongoing fighting, with Beirut accusing Israel of a "scorched-earth policy" as its forces advanced and carried out further airstrikes it says target Iran-backed group Hezbollah.After Trump and US officials earlier said they were on the brink of striking a deal, he struck a less urgent tone and hinted at renewed military action in the Fox interview."I'm in no hurry," he said. "Slowly but surely we're getting, I think, what we want and if we don't get what we want, we're going to end in a different way."- Flare ups -That echoed comments from Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth who said at a defense summit in Asia on Saturday that Washington was "more than capable" of restarting the war if necessary.Though daily strikes throughout Iran and the Gulf have stopped since Tehran and Washington struck a temporary ceasefire in April followed by historic talks hosted by Pakistan, bursts of armed conflict have continued.Iran's Revolutionary Guards had shot down a US military drone "about to enter Iranian territorial waters to conduct hostile operations", Iran's state broadcaster IRIB reported, an incident that has not been confirmed by the United States.Earlier in the week, the worst fighting since the fragile ceasefire broke out when US forces carried out strikes on the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas, countered by retaliatory fire from Iran.Nevertheless diplomacy has continued with Trump under pressure to reach an agreement that would lift US and Iranian competing blockades around the Strait of Hormuz that have choked international oil supplies and threatened the global economy with rising prices.After Trump said on social media that Tehran would charge "no tolls" on ships passing through the strait once the blockades were lifted under any deal, Iranian news agency Fars cited sources saying "no such clause appears in the text of the agreement."Iran's ISNA news agency on Saturday cited lawmaker Alireza Salimi as saying a plan "to implement Iran's management and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz will soon be approved by parliament."- Expanded Lebanon operations -Israel's military issued evacuation warnings for more villages in south Lebanon on Saturday, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces had pushed more than 30 kilometres (20 miles) into the country.Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of pursuing a "scorched-earth policy and collective punishment", and called for "a swift and real ceasefire."Israel's military confirmed it was expanding its ground offensive in a statement released early on Sunday, saying "a significant number" of its forces had advanced past the Litani river and were carrying out expanded operations against Hezbollah in the Beaufort Ridge and Wadi al-Saluki area.A truce between Israel and Hezbollah began on April 17 but has never been observed, with both sides accusing each other of violating it.In early March, Tehran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader in US-Israeli strikes, prompting Israel to carry out near-daily air raids in Lebanon and launch a ground invasion.Israel and Lebanon began direct talks in April, with a fourth round expected in the coming week.burs-ceg/abs
US says capable of resuming war with Iran as deal remains elusive.
Washington, United States, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2026-The United States warned on Saturday it was "more than capable" of resuming its war with Iran after President Donald Trump said any peace deal must adhere to his red lines, including Tehran never being able to develop nuclear weapons.The White House had signaled Trump was close to a decision on a potential deal, though Tehran denied there was a final agreement on ending the conflict.US sources had told AFP the deal was waiting on Trump's sign-off, but he made no decision after a White House Situation Room meeting on Friday.Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, while attending a defense summit in Singapore, said on Saturday that Washington was "more than capable" of restarting the war if necessary, adding "our stockpiles are more than suited for that."US Central Command (CENTCOM) posted on X that American forces "remain present and vigilant across the region."Despite a ceasefire that has largely held since April, there have been occasional flare-ups.Iran's IRNA state news agency said air defenses shot down a drone "belonging to the US-Zionist aggressor enemy" on Saturday, citing the army.Nevertheless diplomacy has continued, including to stop parallel fighting in Lebanon, which Iran has insisted be part of any deal to end the war and where Israeli forces have advanced further even as military delegations from both nations met at the Pentagon Friday.Trump said his priorities for any deal included Iran agreeing to never develop nuclear weapons and the re-opening of the blockaded Strait of Hormuz."President Trump will only make a deal that is good for America and satisfies his red lines," a White House official told AFP, adding: "Iran can never possess a nuclear weapon."- Competing conditions -Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei pushed back on Trump's conditions, saying the Islamic republic "said goodbye to the language of 'must' 47 years ago."Exchanges of messages were continuing, he added, but "no final agreement has been reached."In his social media post, Trump said Tehran would remove mines from the Strait of Hormuz and end its closure of the waterway with "no tolls," while the US would lift its blockade of Iranian ports.The two countries would also coordinate on removing and destroying Iran's enriched uranium, he said, adding that "no money will be exchanged, until further notice."Iran's Fars news agency, however, cited sources as saying Tehran was demanding "the immediate release of $12 billion" before moving to the next phase of negotiations.And Iranian state television on Saturday said an "unofficial" draft memorandum of understanding said the United States agreed to release $12 billion in frozen assets."The United States has pledged to provide Iran with full access to $12 billion of its assets within 60 days, so that these resources can be transferred and spent in banks of Iran's desired destination without restrictions," the televised report said.The White House has previously dismissed such claims as a "fabrication."On the toll-free reopening of Hormuz, the sources cited by Fars news agency said "no such clause appears in the text of the agreement," while Trump's comment on destroying Iran's nuclear material "is fundamentally baseless."Iran's ISNA news agency on Saturday cited lawmaker Alireza Salimi as saying a plan "to implement Iran's management and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz will soon be approved by parliament."Meanwhile, Iran's Tasnim news agency said the US blockade in the strait remained in place and its ships "are receiving warnings from CENTCOM to stop and not cross the blockade line."- Fighting in Lebanon -Fighting has continued unabated on the war's Lebanese front, in spite of a separate ceasefire declared there.Israel's military issued evacuation warnings for more villages south Lebanon on Saturday, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israeli forces had pushed more than 30 kilometres (20 miles) into the country.Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam accused Israel of pursuing a "scorched-earth policy and collective punishment" in his country's south, and called for "a swift and real ceasefire."A truce between Israel and Hezbollah began on April 17 but has never been observed, with both sides accusing each other of violating it.In early March, Tehran-backed Hezbollah launched rockets at Israel over the US-Israeli killing of Iran's supreme leader, prompting Israeli strikes across Lebanon and a ground invasion.Israel and Lebanon began direct talks in April, with a fourth round expected next week.burs-jgc/acb
PROOF HALF ON EARTH DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD (8 BILLION ON EARTH) (DO NOT EVER LISTEN TO ANYBODY THAT SAYS THE WORLD IS ENDING.ITS NEVER GONNA HAPPEN-4 BILLION WILL BE LEFT ON EARTH TO GO INTO JESUS" 1000 YEAR RULE)(THAT DOES NOT SOUND LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD TO ANY ONE, DOES IT-NOT ME.THE EARTH IS JUST RENOVATED.NEVER ENDED.
REVELATION 6:7-8 (8 BILLION- 2 BILLION = 6 BILLION)
7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse:(CHLORES GREEN) and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth,(2 BILLION) to kill with sword,(WEAPONS) and with hunger,(FAMINE) and with death,(INCURABLE DISEASES) and with the beasts of the earth.(ANIMAL TO HUMAN DISEASE).
REVELATION 9:15,18 (6 BILLION - 2 BILLION = 4 BILLION)
15 And the four(DEMONIC WAR) angels were loosed,
18 By these three was the third part of men killed,(2 BILLION) by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.(NUCLEAR ATOMIC BOMBS)
HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION.(THESE VERSES ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
LUKE 17:34-37 (8 TOTAL BILLION - 4 BILLION DEAD IN TRIB = 4 BILLION TO JESUS KINGDOM) (HALF DIE DURING THE 7 YR TRIBULATION PERIOD JUST LIKE THE BIBLE SAYS)(GOD DOES NOT LIE)(AND NOTICE MOST DIE IN WAR AND DISEASES-NOT COMETS-ASTEROIDS-QUAKES OR TSUNAMIS)
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other shall be left.(half earths population 4 billion die in the 7 yr trib)
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.(Christians have new bodies,this is the people against Jerusalem during the 7 yr treaty)(Christians bodies are not being eaten by the birds).THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES.BECAUSE NOT HALF OF PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE CHRISTIANS.AND THE CONTEXT IN LUKE 17 IS THE 7 YEAR TRIBULATION OR 7 YR TREATY PERIOD.WHICH IS JUDGEMENT ON THE EARTH.NOT 50% RAPTURED TO HEAVEN.
MATTHEW 24:37-42 (THESE ARE JUDGEMENT SCRIPTURES-SURE NOT RAPTURE SCRIPTURES)
37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken,(IN WW3 JUDGEMENT) and the other left.
42 Watch therefore:(FOR THE LAST DAYS SIGNS HAPPENING) for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
WORLD TERRORISM
GENESIS 6:11-13
11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.(WORLD TERRORISM,MURDERS)(HAMAS IN HEBREW IS VIOLENCE)
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence (TERRORISM)(HAMAS) through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.(CAN YOU SAY TORNADOES,HURRICANES,VOLCANOES,EARTH QUAKES,LANDSLIDES,FLASH FLOODING,EXPLOSIONS,SNOW STORMS,THEN FINALLY NUKESAND ANY OTHER JUDGEMENTS THE EARTH CAN VOMIT THE SINNERS OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH WITH.
MARK 13:8
8 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:(ETHNIC GROUP AGAINST ETHNIC GROUP) and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
LUKE 21:11
11 And great earthquakes shall be in divers places,(DIFFERNT PLACES AT THE SAME TIME) and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
2 Peter 3:6-7 Amplified Bible (AMP) (HOT SUN, NUKES ETC)
6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.
7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
LUKE 21:25-26
25 And there shall be signs in the sun,(HEATING UP-SOLAR ECLIPSES) and in the moon,(MAN ON THE MOON-LUNAR ECLIPSES) and in the stars;(ASTEROIDS-PROPHECY SIGNS) and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;(MASS CONFUSION) the sea and the waves roaring;(FIERCE WINDS)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear,(TORNADOES,HURRICANES,STORMS) and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth:(DESTRUCTION) for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.(FROM QUAKES,NUKES ETC)
GENESIS 16:11-12
11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her,(HAGAR) Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;(FATHER OF THE ARAB/MUSLIMS) because the LORD hath heard thy affliction.
12 And he (ISHMAEL-FATHER OF THE ARAB-MUSLIMS) will be a wild (DONKEY-JACKASS) man;(ISLAM IS A FAKE AND DANGEROUS SEX FOR MURDER CULT) his hand will be against every man,(ISLAM HATES EVERYONE) and every man's hand against him;(PROTECTING THEMSELVES FROM BEING BEHEADED) and he (ISHMAEL ARAB/MUSLIM) shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.(LITERAL-THE ARABS LIVE WITH THEIR BRETHERN JEWS)
ISAIAH 14:12-14
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer,(SATAN) son of the morning!(HEBREW-CRECENT MOON-ISLAM) how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I (SATAN HAS EYE TROUBLES) will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.(AND 1/3RD OF THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN FELL WITH SATAN AND BECAME DEMONS)
JOHN 16:2
2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.(ISLAM MURDERS IN THE NAME OF MOON GOD ALLAH OF ISLAM)
And here are the bounderies of the land that Israel will inherit either through war or peace or God in the future. God says its Israels land and only Israels land. They will have every inch God promised them of this land in the future.
Egypt east of the Nile River, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The southern part of Turkey and the Western Half of Iraq west of the Euphrates. Gen 13:14-15, Psm 105:9,11, Gen 15:18, Exe 23:31, Num 34:1-12, Josh 1:4.ALL THIS LAND ISRAEL WILL DEFINATELY OWN IN THE FUTURE, ITS ISRAELS NOT ISHMAELS LAND.12 TRIBES INHERIT LAND IN THE FUTURE.
Joel 3:2-King James Version (YOU DIVIDE JERUSALEM IN HALF - YOUR POKING GOD IN THE EYE - GOD SAYS AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH- YOU WANNA DIVIDE JERUSALEM IN HALF - HALF OF EARTHS POPULATION 4 BILLION DIE ON EARTH.
2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.
And here are the bounderies of the land that Israel will inherit either through war or peace or God in the future. God says its Israels land and only Israels land. They will have every inch God promised them of this land in the future.
Egypt east of the Nile River, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The southern part of Turkey and the Western Half of Iraq west of the Euphrates. Gen 13:14-15, Psm 105:9,11, Gen 15:18, Exe 23:31, Num 34:1-12, Josh 1:4.ALL THIS LAND ISRAEL WILL DEFINATELY OWN IN THE FUTURE, ITS ISRAELS NOT ISHMAELS LAND.12 TRIBES INHERIT LAND IN THE FUTURE.
LUKE 19:40
40 And He answered and said unto them, “I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Drone hits captured nuclear plant in Ukraine: IAEA.
Vienna, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2026-A drone hit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, the UN nuclear agency has said, citing local officials.Moscow's troops captured the plant -- Europe's largest -- in the first days of their 2022 invasion.The International Atomic Energy Agency posted on social media that the Russian-run plant's operator informed it that a drone had hit the turbine building on Saturday, "reportedly causing a hole in its wall".Russian media carried a statement from state-owned nuclear power firm Rosatom accusing Ukraine of a deliberate attack -- a claim strongly denied by Kyiv.The plant lies close to the frontline in southern Ukraine. Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of risking a nuclear catastrophe with attacks."There should be no attack of any kind from or against the plant", IAEA chief Rafael Grossi was quoted as saying in the agency's X post late on Saturday."Attacking nuclear sites is like playing with fire."Rosatom alleged the drone was controlled via a fibre-optic cable, which ruled out "the possibility of an accidental strike"."Today, we have come one step closer to an incident that is highly likely to affect even those who live far beyond the borders of Russia and Ukraine," Rosatom CEO Alexei Likachev told Russian media.Rejecting the accusations, Ukraine's foreign ministry said in a statement that they lacked "logic"."It is unclear why Ukraine would strike its own nuclear power plant located on its own territory, which it itself seeks to regain under its sovereign control," the ministry said."We consider these statements as yet another information operation by the occupying state."The strike blew a hole in the wall of the machine room but did not damage core equipment, Rosatom said.The Russian-installed management of the plant later said that Kyiv had targeted the plant's transport hub on Sunday, where vehicles transporting employees are stored.Six buses and two mini buses were "destroyed" as a result of the drone attack, it said on social media, adding that no staff members were hurt and that the plant was operating normally.Authorities in Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia in April accused Ukraine of carrying out a strike which they said killed a transport worker.burs/cw
Israel says planted flag on medieval Beaufort Castle in south Lebanon.
Jerusalem, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2026-Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Sunday that the military had captured the strategic medieval fortress of Beaufort in southern Lebanon, where it is expanding ground operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah."Forty-four years after the heroic Battle of Beaufort, and on this day commemorating the soldiers who fell in the First Lebanon War (1982), our troops have returned to the summit of Beaufort and once again raised the Israeli flag there," Katz said on his Telegram channel."Under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and my direction, the IDF expanded the operations in Lebanon, crossed the Litani River, and captured the Beaufort Ridge -- one of the most important strategic points for defending the communities of the Galilee and safeguarding the security of our forces."AFP footage from Sunday morning showed the Israeli army flag raised above the citadel, with shelling audible and smoke rising from the surrounding area.The fortress commands sweeping views of south Lebanon, making it a position of considerable strategic value.Israeli forces used the castle, also known as Qalaat al-Shakif, as a base during their previous occupation of southern Lebanon, which lasted nearly two decades before ending in 2000.
Israel army says Hezbollah drone kills soldier.
Jerusalem, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2026-The Israeli army announced Sunday that one of its soldiers had been killed the previous day by a Hezbollah explosive drone in southern Lebanon, bringing to 25 the number of Israeli military deaths since early March.Staff Sergeant Michael Tyukin, 21, "fell in combat in southern Lebanon," the army said in a brief statement. An army spokesman told AFP he was killed by a Hezbollah drone strike.In total, 25 Israelis have been killed - 24 soldiers and one civilian contractor - since hostilities between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah resumed on March 2, when the Shiite militant group reopened thr front in support of Tehran, following Israeli-US strikes.
Japan defence chief takes swipe at China at security meet.
Singapore, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2026-Japan's defence minister took a veiled swipe at China on Sunday, pledging to keep strengthening the military despite Beijing's criticism of Tokyo's increasingly muscular security stance.Under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan has quickened its pivot towards a more proactive defence policy, further shaking off -- with US encouragement -- a pacifist outlook in place since the end of World War II.The change has drawn frequent rebukes from Beijing, which has accused Tokyo of following a reckless policy of "new militarism" that could destabilise the region.Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi hit back on Sunday, saying "nothing could be further from the truth"."Think about it. There is a country that has a huge arsenal of nuclear weapons and strategic bombers," Koizumi said at the annual IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore."Japan has neither of such weapons. And yet, Japan is labelled (as) 'new militarism'. Isn't it strange?" he said, without mentioning China by name.China is thought to possess hundreds of nuclear warheads and has been rapidly developing its military in recent years.A diplomatic spat between the Asian rivals has been rumbling since Takaichi suggested in November that Japan might intervene militarily if China were to attempt to seize Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing claims is part of its territory.Koizumi said that China was expanding its military capabilities "without sufficient transparency" and that its military activities were "a matter of serious concern for Japan".Tokyo would "steadily build up its defence capabilities and make continuous updates with a high degree of transparency", including in the fields of artificial intelligence, uncrewed systems as well as cyber and space defence, he said."Japan's past as a peace-loving nation has been valued by the region and by the international community. This fact will not be shaken by false claims, because it is a fact," he said.- Maritime disputes -In a meeting with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, the two countries confirmed that Japan would aim to transfer Abukuma-class destroyers and TC-90 aircraft to the Southeast Asian nation during Japan's fiscal year 2027, a Philippine statement said.Manila has been eyeing the Abukuma-class vessels -- which are being retired by Japan -- for some time, with the military sending a contingent to examine them in 2025.The countries have been deepening defence ties in the shadow of China's naval ambitions, announcing that they will discuss intelligence sharing and open maritime border talks condemned by Beijing as an "illegal" violation of its expansive territorial claims.Teodoro singled out Beijing's activities in the South China Sea for criticism, saying Manila "will not sacrifice our territorial integrity and sovereignty because our constitution does not allow us"."To do so would be to subvert the popular, democratic and free mandate that the people gave our political leaders, unlike some autocratic systems where the mandate comes from above, dictated down."Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.As Teodoro spoke, China's People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command issued a statement online saying it had "conducted combat readiness patrols" in the waters and airspace around Scarborough Shoal, the site of a years-long territorial dispute with the Philippines.The patrols "serve as an effective countermeasure to cope with all sorts of rights-violation and provocative acts" around the shoal, "an inherent part of China's territory", the statement said.The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia's top defence forum, bringing together security officials and experts from more than 45 countries.In contrast to Japan -- and its ally the United States -- China has sent a watered-down delegation that does not include its defence minister, Dong Jun, for the second year running.Koizumi said he was "feeling sad that we were unable to have the opportunity to have a meeting this time".
US to send only used nuclear subs to Australia in amended defence deal.
Singapore, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2026-Australia will only receive used nuclear-powered submarines from the United States as part of an agreement to "streamline" the AUKUS deal, with the move branded on Sunday as a "cost-effective" measure by Defence Minister Richard Marles.The two nations -- together with the third partner in their security pact, Britain -- met at Singapore's Shangri-La Dialogue, which brings together top defence officials and experts from about 45 countries.Under the 2021 AUKUS deal, Australia is expected to receive at least three so-called "Virginia-class" nuclear-powered submarines from the United States within 15 years.Australia had been expecting to receive two used submarines and one new one, but the countries announced Saturday that all three will now be in-service vessels from the US Navy stock.When asked why Canberra was now receiving only used equipment, Marles, who is also deputy prime minister, told reporters on Sunday it would be more cost-effective."In the context of a very complicated endeavour, we need to place a premium on simplicity," said Marles, who added that the submarines will also be the same model."I cannot overstate the significance of that, both in terms of the submariners who are operating them, but also the people who are working on them to sustain those submarines," Marles said."It is definitely cost-effective. And to be clear, this is a very expensive programme... and so we are trying to find every cost-effective option as we walk down this path."In a joint statement on Saturday, Marles, US Minister for Defence Pete Hegseth, and the UK Secretary for Defence John Healey confirmed the tweak to the submarine agreement."The deputy prime minister and secretaries welcomed the proposed approach to streamline Australia's acquisition of Virginia-class submarines (VCS), simplifying supply chain management, operational and maintenance requirements, and maximising cost efficiencies," the statement said."This approach would enable Australia to acquire three in-service VCS in lieu of a mixture of new and in-service VCS variants."The US Navy has 24 Virginia-class vessels but American shipyards are struggling to meet production targets set at two new boats each year.In the United States, critics have questioned why Washington would sell nuclear-powered submarines to Australia without stocking its own military first.The AUKUS submarine programme lies at the heart of Australia's defence strategy and could cost up to US$235 billion over 30 years, according to government forecasts.burs-jhe/mjw/ane
Kazakhstan offers to take Iran's uranium stockpile, IAEA chief tells FT.
London, May 29 (AFP) May 29, 2026-Kazakhstan has offered to take Iran's uranium stockpile if the United States and Iran reach an accord on Tehran's contested nuclear programme, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi told the Financial Times on Friday.The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency met with Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana this week.The Financial Times said the Kazakh leader had expressed his country's "openness" to store the stockpile enriched to near weapons grade level.The estimated 440 kilogrammes of uranium processed to 60 percent purity is at the centre of talks between the United States and Iran on extending the ceasefire in the war unleashed by US-Israel attacks.US President Donald Trump has insisted that Iran must accept that it will not have a nuclear weapon and that the uranium is destroyed. Iran has insisted on its right to maintain a nuclear programme.According to US news site Axios, a deal being discussed does not solve the uranium dispute, but would include an Iranian commitment not to build a nuclear bomb.
Norway to join France-led nuclear deterrence programme.
Paris, France, May 27 (AFP) May 27, 2026-The leaders of France and Norway said on Wednesday that Oslo will join a Paris-led nuclear deterrence scheme to bolster security on the continent."We are contending with the most serious security situation since the Second World War," Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said as he and French President Emmanuel Macron announced in Paris that the two countries had signed a defence pact."In the past six months, we have entered into defence agreements with both Germany and the UK, and I am pleased that we have signed a comprehensive defence agreement with France today," he said.In March, Macron unveiled a programme under which France, the European Union's only nuclear-armed country, would use its atomic stockpile to boost security on the continent.Under the so-called "forward" nuclear deterrence scheme, those who join will be able to temporarily host French "strategic air forces", which will be able to "spread out across the European continent" to "complicate the calculations of our adversaries", Macron said at the time."Norway, a key geographical and strategic partner with which we already had significant cooperation in ensuring the protection of Allied territory against external threats, will represent a strong added value for this enhanced deterrence," Macron said.Prior to Norway, eight countries had joined the programme -- Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and fellow nuclear power the United Kingdom."The agreement reinforces our cooperation through concrete structures, plans, exercises and prepositioning of equipment, and will enable us to mount a swift and coordinated response when it is really needed," Store said."The agreement also provides a framework for closer cooperation on hybrid warfare, maritime security, space cooperation, cybersecurity, support to Ukraine and defence industrial cooperation."
S. Korea says it will build nuclear-powered submarines at home.
Seoul, May 26 (AFP) May 26, 2026-South Korea will build its nuclear-powered submarines at home, the defence minister said on Tuesday, with a plan to launch its first vessel in the mid-2030s.Seoul is seeking to bolster deterrence against nuclear-armed North Korea, with the South set to join a small circle of countries that operate nuclear-powered submarines after receiving US approval for the supply of restricted nuclear fuel."We will develop and build nuclear-powered submarines with our own technology to launch the first vessel in the mid-2030s," Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back told a defence strategy meeting attended by President Lee Jae Myung.Ahn said the first submarine would enter operational service "in the latter half of the 2030s".South Korea has long sought to acquire nuclear-powered submarines to counter North Korea's growing military threats, although it had been constrained by a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United States.Lee said in November Seoul had received Washington's approval for the construction of nuclear-powered submarines as part of a long-awaited security and trade agreement.That included US approval for uranium enrichment and reprocessing spent fuel.However, there had not yet been any firm indication about where the submarines would be built, with Trump saying they would be built "right here in the good ol' U.S.A.".South Korea, which possesses nuclear reactors, said it would fulfil its nuclear non-proliferation obligations throughout the process of securing and managing low-enriched uranium for the submarines."The Republic of Korea maintains a firm stance that it does not possess any form of nuclear weapons and will not develop them," Ahn said.Lee said after Ahn's briefing that nuclear-powered submarines would be "a symbol of our determination to take responsibility for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula".US nuclear submarine technology is considered among the most sensitive and tightly guarded military secrets.
Two Jewish women denied entry to Barcelona sauna over Star of David necklaces-Couple told ‘Zionists’ unwelcome; as they are forced out, Spanish woman repeatedly tells them ‘Free Palestine’; local Jewish community demands hate crime probe-By ToI Staff Today, 5:09 pm-may 31,26
Two Jewish American women were denied entry to an LGBTQ sauna in Barcelona on Friday because they were wearing Star of David necklaces.A video, recorded by one of the women and posted online, showed staffers at the venue, in accented English, telling the married couple, who reportedly live in Barcelona, that “the question is not Jewish, is Zionist.”One of the women responded, “They are kind of the same thing.”They were then removed from the venue, with one of the staffers saying, “We don’t condone genocide either.”“We don’t either,” one of the Jewish women responded.Another woman told the couple: “Free Palestine, please leave.”An American Jewish woman living in Barcelona reached out to me, saying that she and her wife were denied entry last night to a thermal bath, reportedly because they are Jewish. She documented the exchange on video and filed a report with the Mossos d’Esquadra afterwards.… pic.twitter.com/oSyHNAa2M5 Advertisement — Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) May 30, 2026-Multiple bystanders appeared to watch the incident unfold on Friday evening without intervening.The couple then attempted to talk with the security guard at the venue, explaining they had been kicked out because they were Jewish and asking if they could go back inside.“She saw our Jewish star and said ‘you can’t be here,'” one of the women said.One of the staffers then told the guard to ignore them.After the confrontation became increasingly heated, the two women eventually left.“Just so everyone knows, I’m wearing a Jewish star, and she asked if I am a Zionist and said I couldn’t come in,” one of the women told the line of people waiting outside the venue before they walked off.One of the women, who gave her name as Mika, told Channel 12 that at first they had no trouble entering the venue, but very soon, a staffer approached them about their necklaces.“We were a little surprised as we didn’t know anyone and didn’t speak about any controversial subject. We only stood in line and entered the event,” she related in a Sunday interview.“As soon as I heard the word ‘Zionist,’ I knew that there would be problems,” Mika said. It was at that point that she took out her phone and began recording the confrontation.She said she was disappointed that no one came to their defense, describing herself as the kind of person who always tries to offer assistance when it is needed.“It was hard for me to see that no one intervened,” Mika said.However, she remained defiant.“I know that we will continue to go to events with the Star of David chain,” she said.The pair, she said, filed a complaint with the police, and they are considering seeking legal counsel for further steps they may take.The Jewish Community of Barcelona (CIB) umbrella group condemned the incident, writing on X that it “should shame our society.”No citizen of Barcelona “should be excluded for their religion, origin, or identity,” CIB said. “We cannot normalize or tolerate this reality. It is unacceptable.”It called for “the immediate intervention” of hate crime and discrimination authorities.Anti-Zionist sentiment has exploded worldwide since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, starting the war in Gaza.Last week, Israel summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Spanish embassy to demand clarification on Spain’s treatment of activists from an intercepted Gaza-bound flotilla that returned from Israel, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. It came after Spain panned Israel for how it detained the flotilla participants, some of whom were Spanish citizens, before they were deported.Spanish police detained four people at Bilbao airport following clashes that broke out after the activists returned home, with videos of the incident showing police beating activists with batons.During the meeting with Francisca Pedrós, Foreign Ministry Political Director Yossi Amrani “pointed to the hypocrisy of the Spanish government, which sends its provocateurs to Israel and then condemns Israel for its lawful actions to enforce a legal naval blockade — while at the same time Spanish authorities employed severe violence against those same flotilla participants,” the statement said.
World No Tobacco Day 76% of all smokers want to quit-War stress reported as reason 37% of Israeli smokers lighting up-Among youth, 24% report use of e-cigarettes; 93% exposed to secondhand smoke; public anti-smoking campaigns and disturbing graphics do not appear to be effective deterrents-By Diana Bletter-Today, 4:43 pm-may 31,26
The percentage of Israeli adults who smoke cigarettes has climbed over the past year from 20% to 24%, according to data released by the Israel Cancer Association on International No Tobacco Day, observed on May 31.About 37% of smokers said they have started, resumed, or increased the frequency of smoking recently due to stress, anxiety, or the security situation, including during the US-Israel military campaign against Iran, which was launched on February 28.A third of the general public knows someone who has started or resumed smoking due to the situation. And among smokers, the number rises to about 50%.The national survey also revealed the rising numbers of young people who have tried e-cigarettes, or vaping, and spotlighted the continued exposure to secondhand smoke in public places and increased smoking rates among men, now at 34%.Among people aged 16-34, e-cigarette use rose sharply to 24%. E-cigarette use stands at 15% overall. Hookah smoking has increased from 11% last year to 15%, and cigar use has climbed from 2% to 5%.“We are very concerned about the survey results indicating an increase in the smoking phenomenon, especially among young people,” Moshe Bar-Haim, CEO of the Israel Cancer Association, said in a statement.Graphic warnings on all smoking products-The increase in smoking comes despite public campaigns, educational activities, and warnings on cigarette packs.In contrast, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the UK have a 13% smoking rate.Across OECD countries, 14.8% of people aged 15 and over smoked daily in 2023. The proportion of daily smokers was highest in Turkey, Hungary, and Greece.On August 6, an Israeli law will come into effect requiring graphic warning images to be printed not only on packages of regular cigarettes but also on electronic cigarettes, tobacco-heating devices, rolling papers, and loose tobacco.Of those surveyed, however, less than half believe that these new graphic warnings will have an effect.Breathing in other people’s smoke-Almost the entire population — 93% — is exposed to passive smoking in public places. Forty percent of the respondents reported exposure to passive smoking in the workplace.In addition, 43% reported exposure to secondhand smoke at bus stops and on the beach, 40% in event halls, and 49% in restaurants and cafes.According to the survey, about 80% of the public would like to see no-smoking policies enforced in public places.At the same time, the law prohibiting smoking in public places is somewhat better known and understood by the public this year, with awareness increasing from 37% to 44%.The respondents understood that it is forbidden to smoke cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, hookahs, cigars, and other smoking products in public places defined by the law.In the Arab sector, however, a higher percentage believes that it only applies to cigarettes (46%).Bar-Haim said that the association is “very concerned” about the “continued exposure to passive smoking in public places.“The law exists and is clear. The fight against smoking is a national goal and must be expressed in vigorous and effective enforcement measures of the law regulating the ban on smoking in public places,” said Bar-Haim.Gradual abolition of tax exemption on tobacco imports-The government is also moving ahead with abolishing the exemption of import taxes on smoking products.Currently, there is an exemption of up to 250 grams (.5 pounds) of tobacco or 200 cigarettes for each person over the age of 18, which is granted upon entry into the country. For electronic cigarettes, the exemption limit is up to 10 ml (.33 oz.) of liquid for refilling, or five disposable cigarettes.The exemption limit will be halved as of January 16, 2027, to 100 cigarettes or 125 grams (.25 pounds) of tobacco, and 5 ml. (.7 oz.) of liquid for refilling, or three disposable cigarettes for electronic cigarettes. As of June 1, 2028, the tax exemption will be completely abolished.Trying to quit-About 76% of all smokers want to quit, and 86% among the Arab sector, while 72% regret starting at all.About half of the public (46%) know smokers who want to quit but are unable to, and 55% of those who smoke themselves know even more would-be quitters.The barriers to quitting include a sense of fun, habit, pressure, and real unwillingness. Incentives for quitting include financial benefits or pressure from family.The myth of ‘clean’ e-cigarettes-E-cigarettes are sometimes perceived as a “cleaner” or safer alternative to regular cigarettes, especially among young people, the association said. This is a fallacy: Electronic cigarettes may cause damage to brain development in adolescents and young adults, leading to attention problems, learning problems, emotional instability, depression, and anxiety.Evidence has been found that e-cigarette use may also increase the risk of developing cancerous tumors in the lungs, bladder, and oral cavity.The Israel Cancer Association survey was conducted this month among 565 women and men, with a representative sample of the population, including 20% from the Arab sector.“We must work to increase taxation” on smoking products, Bar-Haim said. “We need to carry out information campaigns, limit advertising, and completely ban the sale of flavored smoking products, which are designed to entice youth to join the circle of addicts.”
Europe's green jet fuels see upside in Iran war.
Brussels, Belgium, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2026-At a plant near Frankfurt, in Germany, hydrogen and CO2 sourced from a chlorine factory and a biogas facility nearby are piped into a reactor and -- after a few more steps -- turned into jet fuel.Interest in such synthetic propellants is growing as the Iran war pushes Europe to reassess its dependencies, raising hopes of a turnaround for the struggling sector, according to industry experts.The conflict "made the business case for e-SAF much stronger," Mariano Berkenwald, head of strategy at Ineratec, the firm operating the Frankfurt facility, told AFP.Before the war squeezed Europe's jet fuel supplies, electro-Sustainable Aviation Fuel (e-SAF), was largely touted for its climate friendly credentials.Doing away with oil, it can reduce by 90 percent planet warming emissions from aviation -- itself responsible for up to four percent of all greenhouse gases released in the European Union -- proponents say.Brussels has made it a key component of a push to green up transport, mandating fuel suppliers to blend at least 1.2 percent of the stuff into the kerosene made available at EU airports by 2030 and 35 percent by 2050.But the sector has struggled to take off, bogged down by high costs and low investments.- 'Zero' to hero? -Founded 10 years ago, Ineratec launched production last year -- and its small German facility is currently the only one in Europe making the propellant.About 40 more projects under development are stuck in a rut, unable to secure the funding needed to start production plants, said Camille Mutrelle of advocacy group Transport & Environment (T&E).Europe needs roughly nine more bigger factories to meet the 2030 target but "we still have zero", she said.Ineratec's plant churns out some 2,500 tonnes of fuel a year, enough to power only about 50 transatlantic flights.With the clock ticking, Brussels, which recently scaled down the ambition of other climate goals, notably for cars, has been under pressure to scrap the target or at least the hefty fines suppliers would face for not meeting it.The industry was braced for a review of the mandate due next year.It now believes the Iran war and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane for global gas and oil, might have changed the momentum.Since its key ingredients can be sourced entirely in Europe, e-SAF has drawn attention from military forces, which worry about the ready availability of fuel to power fighter jets, helicopters and other vehicles -- and could pay a premium for it, according to Matteo Mirolo, an aviation consultant specialising in sustainable fuels.- Defence interest -E-SAF costs about 10 times more than kerosene and even supporters concede it is unlikely to ever match the price of its fossil fuel-based rival.Germany's armed forces recently tested Ineratec's fuel. And other governments are known to have expressed interest in building capacity, said Mutrelle."The current crisis is a wake-up call regarding Europe's energy independence," said Ourania Georgoutsakou, managing director of Airlines for Europe, a civil aviation lobby group.Making sustainable fuels cheaper and more readily available should be "an urgent strategic priority", she added.Supporters hope that getting governments behind the technology could finally persuade investors to bet on it.Doubts over the sector and low prospective returns meant that energy majors have so far largely stayed away, preferring to invest in biofuels, said Mutrelle.Derived from waste, these propellants are also part of the EU's climate plans.But production often relies on waste oil and fat imports from China, which makes them less palatable from a security of supply perspective.Fuel manufacturing group FuelsEurope did not reply to a request for comment.The European Commission said it was considering the establishment of an EU financing mechanism for e-SAF to support development."We need home-grown energy, including fuels and aviation fuels," a commission spokesperson said.Berkenwald of Ineratec said the company has been getting more calls of late but they are yet to translate into contracts."We are hopeful that that's where this is heading," he said.
Pentagon chief says US seeks 'stable equilibrium' with China in Asia.
Singapore, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2026-Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth struck a measured tone towards China at a major defence forum on Saturday, noting "rightful alarm" over Beijing's military build-up but saying Washington sought a "stable equilibrium" in Asia.Hegseth's headline speech at Singapore's Shangri-La Dialogue, which brings together top defence officials and experts from about 45 countries, contrasted with his strongly confrontational remarks on China at last year's gathering.It came as Donald Trump struggles to resolve the Middle East war -- which has caused oil prices to soar, hurting major Asian economies -- and after the US president met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping against the perennial background of tensions over Taiwan."When we look across the region today, there is rightful alarm regarding China's historic military build-up and the expansion of its military activities in the region and beyond," Hegseth said.Washington does not seek "needless confrontation" but rather "a genuinely stable equilibrium (in Asia) that works for Americans as well as our allies", he said.That means "a favourable but durable balance of power in which no state, including China, can impose its hegemony and hold the security or prosperity of our nation and our allies in question", according to Hegseth.Unlike Beijing, which has sent a panel of military experts and scholars instead of Defence Minister Dong Jun for the second year running, Hegseth is leading a bumper US delegation to the event that provides chances for both open debate and closed-door diplomacy.The Pentagon chief said the United States sought "respectful" and "good-faith" engagement with Beijing, adding: "I wish my counterpart was here at this conference, but I look forward to other options when we can cross paths."Major General Meng Xiangqing, the head of the Chinese delegation, said following the speech that "stable US-China relations are not only good for both peoples, but also good for regional stability and global peace".- Vibe shift -Trump visited China this month, talking up "fantastic" trade deals but giving few details and later suggesting Washington could use its arms sales to self-ruled Taiwan as a bargaining chip with Beijing.There had been "no change" in Washington's stance towards Taiwan, but "any decision about future Taiwan arms sales... will rest with" Trump, Hegseth said.His remarks about the regional state of affairs contrasted sharply with last year's event, when Hegseth painted China as a potentially "imminent" threat to security and outlined a swaggering vision of muscular American deterrence.Chinese delegate Da Wei, director of the Center for International Security and Strategy at Beijing's Tsinghua University, told AFP this year's address was "much more moderate".However, he said Hegseth's depiction of a hegemonic China was "ironic... given what the US is doing in Iran and has done in Venezuela."US delegate Tammy Duckworth, a Democratic senator and Trump critic, said Hegseth's remarks were overly conciliatory towards China."I worry that this administration is being distracted into wars that they've started in other parts of the world at the expense of our commitment here in the Indo-Pacific," she told reporters.Instead of Dong, China has sent experts and scholars from its army's academic institutions, led by Meng of the National Defense University.Analysts have said Dong's no-show reflects Beijing's confidence as an established power with little inclination to answer publicly for its assertive moves in the region.- Iran threat -Some argue, however, that China is also running the risk of having no senior policymaker present if two major security issues come up: reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and Beijing's claim to Taiwan.Hegseth praised nations including South Korea, Japan, Australia and the Philippines for boosting their defence spending, while threatening consequences for nations that "free-ride"."Those days are over. Allies who refuse to step up and carry their own weight for our collective defence will face a clear shift in how we do business."Hegseth's remarks came as a peace deal between the United States and Iran to end their war remained elusive.A White House official told AFP on Friday that Trump, who is weighing a final decision on a potential accord, would only commit if Iran met all his conditions.But Iran has said "no final agreement" is in place, and its state media has rebutted parts of Trump's characterisation of the deal.Hegseth said Washington was "more than capable" of restarting the war if it wanted.Separately, Hegseth and his British and Australian counterparts announced that they would team up under their AUKUS security alliance to develop payloads for undersea drones.mjw-jhe-mba-ehl/ami
Hegseth seems to rebut Navy official's comments on Taiwan arms sales.
Singapore, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2026-Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth appeared to contradict a senior Navy official on Saturday, saying there had been "no change" in Washington's position on Taiwan despite the Middle East war straining US weapons stockpiles.Taiwan lives under the threat of an attack from China, which views the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has refused to rule out using force to seize it.The United States does not recognise democratic Taiwan diplomatically but is legally bound to provide the island with the means to defend itself.Acting US Navy Secretary Hung Cao said this month that weapons sales to Taiwan had been paused to ensure the US military had sufficient munitions for its Iran operations.However, Hegseth said at a major security forum in Singapore on Saturday that US arms stocks were "in a very good place"."Hung Cao is fantastic, but I would not couple the two in any way at all," he said in apparent reference to the Middle East war and Taiwan's defence commitments."I feel good about not only where we are, but where we are in future production rates as well," the former Fox News host said."Any decision about future Taiwan arms sales, as the president said, will rest with him... (but) there's no change in our status there, just to clarify."Asked at a congressional hearing about a stalled $14 billion weapons purchase by Taiwan, Cao said: "Right now we're doing a pause in order to make sure we have the munitions we need for Epic Fury -- which we have plenty.""But, we're just making sure we have everything, then the foreign military sales will continue when the administration deems necessary."Epic Fury is the name of the US military operation in Iran.Hegseth was speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual gathering of defence officials and experts from dozens of countries.Taiwan is not officially represented at the forum, and China, for the second consecutive year, has sent a watered-down delegation that does not include its defence minister.With a deal between the United States and Iran to end the war still out of reach, Hegseth said Washington was "more than capable" of restarting the conflict if it wanted."Our stockpiles are more than suited for that, both there and around the globe because of how we balance exquisite and more plentiful munitions," he said.
New Zealand prepares biometric age credential for Govt.nz digital wallet-NEC-backed credential will provide age assurance through the government’s digital wallet as New Zealand expands its digital identity ecosystem-May 26, 2026, 4:37 pm EDT | Joel R. McConvey
New Zealand’s Digital Kiwi Access Card, with biometrics provided by NEC, will be available within months, bringing a new option for biometric age assurance to citizens and international visitors over 18. However, the exact launch date has not yet been determined, as Hospitality New Zealand works out the final details.The rollout represents one of the first real-world deployments of a government-accredited age credential within New Zealand’s emerging digital identity ecosystem. It also reflects a broader global shift toward wallet-based age assurance, where verifiable credentials and biometrics are increasingly being used to prove eligibility while minimizing the amount of personal information shared during transactions.The Kiwi Access Card, previously known as the 18+ Card, is managed by Hospitality NZ as a proof-of-age alternative to a driver’s license or passport. The industry group is working with the government to ensure the introduction of the digital age credential – and the requirement for businesses to accept it – doesn’t put an extra burden on its members in the form of added costs or disruptions.Over time, measures could involve linking the card with payment systems.According to NZ Digitising Government and Public Service Minister Judith Collins, Hospitality NZ has worked with the Department of Internal Affairs to make the Digital Kiwi Access Card the first accredited digital credential available in the recently launched Govt.nz App digital ID wallet.“This digital credential could be used by customers to present their Kiwi Access Card on their phone at a bar or event entrance, so staff can confirm age eligibility quickly and securely without handling a physical card,” says the minister.The system is built on NEC’s Identity Cloud Platform, using global verifiable credential standards and biometrics. It aims to minimize data sharing, reduce identity theft and fraud, and simplify compliance with age verification requirements. NEC and Hospitality NZ are seeking accreditation under the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework, which helps providers and accredited services ensure privacy and security, and gives users more control over their data.The Digital Kiwi Access Card could become an early test case for how government digital wallets are used beyond identity and public services, extending into age-restricted commerce, hospitality and event access. If adoption is successful, it may provide a model for additional wallet-based credentials in New Zealand’s broader digital identity framework.
Liberia restructures national ID deal with OSD, plans issuance restart-Government shifts to concession model that would fund nationwide enrollment and identity card issuance through a public-private partnership-May 28, 2026, 10:43 am EDT | Ayang Macdonald
Liberia has agreed on a concession arrangement with Austrian identity company OSD International, paving the way for the resumption of national ID card issuance after nearly a year of delays, National Identification Registry (NIR) Executive Director Andrew Peters told Biometric Update.The agreement marks a significant shift in Liberia’s digital identity strategy. Rather than relying on a traditional procurement model, the government plans to use a public-private partnership structure under which OSD would finance enrollment and identity issuance infrastructure, recover its investment over time, and eventually transfer the system to the state.Peters was speaking in an interview with Biometric Update on the sidelines of the ID4Africa 2026 AGM which took place this month in Abidjan.OSD was selected to modernize Liberia’s identity infrastructure and support the rollout of mandatory national ID cards under an April 2025 executive order.Controversy soon erupted with claims of irregularities related to the contract as well as other issues, which eventually led to the suspension of national ID issuance in June 2025.The president, Joseph Boakai, also ordered the setting up of a multi-sectorial steering committee which was given a mandate to review the contract details and other concerns, and set the right conditions for the resumption of identity delivery across the country.President prefers concession deal-Peters said the committee’s review found OSD to be the right fit for the project and so forwarded its recommendations to the president for action.“After looking at OSD’s demonstration regarding their experience in ID management systems, the president asked that instead of a standard contract, we should enter into a concession agreement with them through a public-private partnership,” Peters stated.Under the proposed arrangement, OSD would finance the rollout of the national identity system, with a goal of enrolling Liberia’s entire population and foreign residents within 18 months. The company would then operate the system for a defined period, recover its investment and eventually transfer it to the Liberian government.“Those are some of the issues that prolonged the discussion. Finally, we agreed with them [OSD] that they will fund the entire process, so that we can enrol the entire population of Liberia and foreign residents within 18 months,” he added.The approach reflects a growing trend among lower-income countries to use public-private partnerships and concession models to finance national digital identity infrastructure, particularly where fiscal constraints have slowed enrollment and service delivery.According to the NIR boss, the deal will allow OSD to run the system for a number of years, recoup its investment, then hand it over to the Liberian government after training people to operate it.Both parties now have a deal, Peters says, but the agreement has to be vetted in parliament before it can become actionable.“The concession agreement will be at the legislature hopefully by this month or early next month because it has to be ratified. The President will submit it to lawmakers for a critique,” the official told Biometric Update.Free cards for poor, vulnerable Liberians-Peters hopes things will go fast with the concession ratification process so that the issuance of national ID cards can resume because it holds a lot of benefits for the Liberian people.Peters said an estimated 3.5 million vulnerable Liberians who cannot afford the card will receive it free of charge. Under the arrangement, OSD will fund the initial registration process, while the government will ultimately cover the cost of cards issued to eligible citizens.The NIR CEO also mentioned that what OSD will deliver for the country is a polycarbonate card with advanced security features.Peters cited OSD’s experience in identity systems and secure credential issuance as a factor in the government’s decision.Liberians impatient for IDs-Less than 15 percent of Liberians currently hold a national ID card, but Peters says the agreement raises hopes that national ID issuance will soon resume, bringing a long-awaited credential to millions of citizens.There’ve been complaints among citizens since the suspension of ID card issuance in June last year.“Liberians are yearning for their cards. They have come to understand the importance of the national identification card. Before, they had an issue with it, but with the level of information dissemination and the work we have done, they now understand its importance and need for every citizen and foreign resident within our borders to obtain one.”The official added that the deal will allow the NIR to strengthen its operations, build staff capacity, deploy additional ICT infrastructure and expand services across the country. “This will reduce the distances that people have to walk to reach our teams in order to get their identity registered, because travel also adds to the overall cost.”If approved by lawmakers, the agreement could accelerate one of Liberia’s most ambitious digital identity efforts to date, expanding coverage far beyond the current level while establishing the infrastructure needed to support mandatory national identification requirements.
Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco selected for AfCFTA digital identity and DPI rollout-ADAPT initiative will integrate digital identity, payments and data infrastructure to support cross-border trade across Africa-May 26, 2026, 5:50 pm EDT | Lu-Hai Liang
Three countries in Africa will be implementing a flagship digital public infrastructure program for the first time in a bid to create a more unified African market.The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat has chosen Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria as the first countries to implement the Africa Digital Access and Public Infrastructure for Trade (ADAPT) initiative.The selection marks one of the continent’s most ambitious attempts to build interoperable digital public infrastructure across national borders. Rather than focusing on individual government systems, ADAPT seeks to create shared digital rails for identity, payments and trusted data exchange that can support the long-term goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area.The three pilot countries were selected via a two‑stage evaluation that assessed political commitment, regulatory alignment, technical capacity, private‑sector engagement and the maturity of national digital systems.“Africa has a unique opportunity to leapfrog fragmented, paper-based trade systems and establish digital trust infrastructure designed for the future,” said Dominik Schiener, cofounder and chair of the IOTA Foundation.“ADAPT is not only digitizing processes, but it is also creating a shared, interoperable foundation where trade data can be trusted, verified, and exchanged securely across borders.”Launched in November 2025, ADAPT is intended to provide the shared digital rails that will underpin the world’s largest free-trade area by population. The initiative aims to unlock new opportunities for businesses and significantly increase intra‑African trade.H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary‑General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, said the full implementation of the AfCFTA could boost intra‑African exports by more than 80 percent and generate up to US$450 billion by 2035. He believes that trusted, interoperable systems would open new pathways for micro, small and medium enterprises, and particularly those led by women and young people, to participate in regional and global value chains.“Through initiatives like ADAPT, digital public infrastructure spanning digital identity, payments, and data systems will be the engine that lowers trade costs, expands market access, and enables a more competitive, inclusive, and resilient African single market,” Mene said.ADAPT establishes a shared digital foundation to enable trusted data exchange across borders, connecting goods, payments and information. The initiative looks to shift national digitization efforts toward a continental ecosystem, doing this by integrating secure digital identity systems, interoperability frameworks, seamless data exchange and modernized payment infrastructure.It directly targets long‑standing barriers to African trade including fragmented systems, manual paperwork and limited interoperability, which continue to create delays and unnecessary costs at borders.The initiative is an African‑led digital transformation effort developed by the AfCFTA Secretariat in collaboration with the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, the IOTA Foundation and the World Economic Forum, and built on the interoperable digital trade infrastructure TWIN.“Africa can stand at the threshold of a new economic area,” Tony Blair said in a video published by the IOTA Foundation. The African Continental Free Trade Area provides the vision of the world’s biggest free trade area, while its protocol on digital trade can give us the rules for it.”The pilot countries begin implementation-In addition to improving digital interoperability for trade, ADAPT will expand access to digital payment solutions and explore emerging areas such as digital currencies, including stablecoins.“The launch of ADAPT in these first three countries marks the beginning of its implementation under the AfCFTA,” said Frank Matsaert, global lead for trade, Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.“By embedding digital trust and interoperability at the heart of trade processes, the AfCFTA and its partners are laying the foundation for a more connected, competitive, and resilient African market. The ADAPT initiative welcomes active participation by additional partners and funders,” he added.Implementation will now begin in Kenya, Morocco and Nigeria, with each country working alongside the AfCFTA Secretariat and technical partners to operationalize the initiative. Early efforts will focus on enabling live cross‑border data exchange, digitizing trade documentation and supporting faster, more secure transactions for businesses engaged in intra‑African commerce.The phase includes establishing national ADAPT Implementation Forums, integrating core DPI components such as digital identity and payment rails, and aligning national systems with continental interoperability standards.The pilot countries will also help shape governance frameworks, test regulatory approaches — including those related to digital currencies — and demonstrate real‑world use cases that can be replicated across the continent. Lessons learned will guide a phased expansion of ADAPT to additional countries.If successful, ADAPT could become one of the largest cross-border digital public infrastructure deployments in the world, testing whether interoperable digital identity, payments and data-sharing systems can underpin a continental digital economy spanning more than 50 countries.
US probe puts prediction market identity controls under the spotlight-Lawmakers seek records on KYC procedures, insider trading safeguards and geographic restrictions as Polymarket expands user verification-May 29, 2026, 4:44 pm EDT | Anthony Kimery
The U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has opened an inquiry into Polymarket and Kalshi, pressing the two prediction market companies for records on identity verification, geographic restrictions, suspicious trading, and the handling of markets tied to military operations, geopolitical events, and political contests.Letters sent to the companies by chairman James Comer mark one of the clearest signs yet that Congress is beginning to treat prediction markets not merely as a financial technology novelty, but as a possible national security, market integrity, and identity-verification problem.The inquiry comes as Polymarket has reportedly begun rolling out new identity-verification measures after years in which users could register with little more than an email address.The committee’s letters to Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan and Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour frame the central concern bluntly, saying online prediction markets may be vulnerable to insider trading by users who have access to nonpublic, market-moving information.In Polymarket’s case, the committee said it is examining whether company safeguards are adequate to prevent users from accessing offshore sites to evade U.S. regulatory requirements, and whether the company has sufficient systems to identify domestic and international users, enforce geographic restrictions, and detect anomalous trading activity.The inquiry is rooted partly in the April 24 federal indictment of U.S. Army Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, who is alleged to have used classified information related to Operation Absolute Resolve to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.Van Dyke is alleged to have placed wagers that generated more than $409,000 in personal gain on Polymarket.The lawmaker’s letter also points to reporting that more than 80 Polymarket users placed bets with suspicious characteristics, including trades made hours before unannounced U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.For Congress, the issue is not simply whether a trader guessed correctly. It is whether prediction markets have created a new venue where classified information, political insider knowledge, or other nonpublic information can be rapidly monetized through event contracts.That concern is especially acute when the underlying events involve military operations, foreign policy, elections, or actions by government officials.Comer requested Polymarket documents dating back to January 1, 2024, including records on the company’s identity verification technologies, vendors, KYC procedures, differences between domestic and international account requirements, and any changes to access-control procedures.Comey also seeks records on how Polymarket detects and reports suspicious trading, including algorithmic tools or thresholds used to flag trades that may reflect use of classified or nonpublic information.The committee also asked Polymarket for records tied to event contracts involving U.S. or Israeli military operations in Iran, Operation Absolute Resolve, Maduro-related markets, how the company collects and uses personal data, and whether current or former officers, employees, advisers, or directors have held or applied for U.S. government security clearances.That last request underscores the national security dimension of the inquiry. Comey is asking not only how users are screened, but whether people close to the platform itself may have access to sensitive government information.Kalshi received a parallel letter, but with a slightly different regulatory backdrop. Unlike Polymarket, Kalshi has operated as a Commodity Futures Trading Commission-designated contract market since November 2020.The committee acknowledged that status but said Kalshi’s October 2025 expansion into more than 140 countries raises questions about whether international users are subject to identity-verification and insider trading rules equivalent to those applied domestically.The Kalshi letter also cites political market concerns. According to the committee, former California gubernatorial candidate Kyle Langford placed a $200 bet on Kalshi on his own race in May 2025, and three additional politicians later placed bets on the platform related to their own races.The committee said that pattern, combined with the Van Dyke indictment and suspicious trading reported on Polymarket, suggests congressional action may be necessary.Like the Polymarket request, the Kalshi letter seeks documents on KYC procedures, anomalous trading detection, suspicious activity referrals, event contracts tied to military operations, personal data practices, compliance with Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) rules, internal legal assessments, and any company personnel or advisers with U.S. government security clearances.The committee gave both companies until June 5 to provide records.The congressional pressure coincides with a reported shift inside Polymarket, which has begun implementing new identity-verification measures and stricter access controls in response to pressure from international regulators and Congress over illegal gambling concerns and users from sanctioned countries.The company has reportedly created an online portal where users can submit passports, driver’s licenses, proof of residence, and other identifying information.The forms reportedly ask users to demonstrate they are not residents of prohibited regions, places where governments have barred Polymarket from operating, or countries subject to U.S. sanctions, including Russia, North Korea, and Cuba.Polymarket is also reportedly asking business users, such as developers of trading applications connected to its platform, about their investors and location.That is a significant turn for a platform whose appeal has long been tied to speed, crypto-native access, and relatively low-friction participation.Polymarket is trying to encourage users to provide identifying information by offering faster trading speeds, but the move has drawn criticism from users who argue that mandatory KYC could alienate the platform’s core base.The compliance shift reflects a larger identity problem now confronting prediction markets. These platforms depend on liquidity, scale, and fast participation, but the same characteristics that make them attractive to traders can make them difficult to police.Geographic restrictions can be evaded with virtual private networks. Crypto rails can obscure user behavior. International access can complicate the question of which country’s rules apply. And event contracts based on military, diplomatic, or political developments can create incentives for people with privileged information to turn that knowledge into profit.The House inquiry also lands amid a widening jurisdictional fight over whether prediction markets should be treated primarily as federally regulated commodities markets or as gambling operations subject to state restrictions.Minnesota recently became the first state to ban the industry from operating within its borders. In response, CFTC filed suit on May 19 seeking a preliminary injunction to stop the state’s new prediction market ban from taking effect on August 1, escalating the conflict between state regulators and federal officials.Kalshi has also filed its own suit seeking to stop enforcement of the ban.The central question now is whether prediction markets can build compliance systems strong enough to satisfy regulators without destroying the user experience that fueled their growth.For Congress, the answer may determine whether these platforms remain a niche financial technology, become a mainstream regulated market, or face new limits on the kinds of events they can list.
Age assurance landscape diverging between US, everywhere else-NetChoice will not rest while a single state-level online safety law still stands -May 29, 2026, 4:08 pm EDT | Joel R. McConvey
In the EU and UK, the debate over age assurance for social media has reached the highest levels of government, and become increasingly lopsided in favor of age prohibitions. But in the U.S., where state-level decisions dictate the policy landscape, the battle remains more of a scrum in the dirt, as legislators toss up bills for the legal lobby NetChoice to shoot down.Walz signs Minnesota bill; NetChoice threatens legal action-A bill enacting new guardrails for Minnesota children on social media platforms has been signed into law. A report in the Minnesota Reformer says HF 4138 requires parental consent for kids under 16 to open a social media account, and bans infinite scroll, autoplay video and push notifications on kids’ accounts.“As a teacher and a dad, I’ve seen firsthand how new and emerging technology can impact our children,” says a statement from Governor Tim Walz. “As social media becomes more advanced, we need to make sure our families don’t fall victim to the powerful companies that use kids as a testing ground to make algorithms more addictive.”Walz’ signature did not go unanswered. A letter from NetChoice, the preferred litigation engine for Big Tech, threatens legal action, calling the bill “constitutionally defective legislation that will be enjoined by federal courts before it can take effect – at significant cost to Minnesota taxpayers – while doing nothing to protect the children it claims to serve.”NetChoice to sue in Illinois over age law-In Illinois, House Bill 5511 aims to create “an age assurance system that allows platforms to identify whether a user is a minor without unnecessarily collecting excessive personal information,” according to Illinois state Sen. Willie Preston, D-Chicago. The bill has the support of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office.It also has lawsuits on the horizon. The Center Square quotes NetChoice Director of Policy Patrick Hedger, who says that, “while we share this committee’s concerns for children’s online safety, this bill would trample on the speech rights while endangering online safety of users of all ages.In Nebraska, a lawsuit from NetChoice-NetChoice is the legal organization representing Silicon Valley’s biggest companies, and specifically the social media giants. It is also the proverbial thorn in the side of online safety legislation in the U.S.This month, NetChoice sued the state of Nebraska – according to the firm’s website, to “stop the portions of LB 383 that force Nebraskans to surrender digital I.D.’s just to access lawful information and use everyday digital services like social media.” It says the age verification law, which is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, “creates significant cybersecurity risks and undermines parents’ authority online.”Paul Taske is co-director of the NetChoice Litigation Center, and its most frequently quoted soldier. In a release, he says “Nebraska’s new Digital ID law makes a mockery of the First Amendment. The government cannot condition access to fully protected speech on a person’s willingness to hand over their most sensitive information. In fact, there is a large, growing body of law explaining exactly why this approach is unconstitutional.”“Nebraska joined the fray on the wrong side. When a law goes against the Constitution, it is doomed from the start.”US kids could be alone on social media-The legislative situation in the U.S. regarding online safety is almost comical, as the lightly disguised legal militia for Meta, X, Google and other household names pounces from bill to bill, waving the First Amendment like a banner. But it points to a divergence between the U.S. and the rest of the world on social media age assurance, which would seem to be growing.By the end of 2026, the UK is likely to have an age assurance law for social media. The Europe’s EUDI Wallet scheme, enabling selective disclosure of age credentials through digital ID, dovetails with the bloc’s increased efforts on regulation. Canada is exploring privacy preserving age checks for social media. Australia, which led the way, has kicked off a global movement to limit the access large social media platforms get to kids’ data and kids’ lives.But in the U.S. – where “age verification” remains the most common blanket term to refer to the full scope of age assurance methods – legislators find themselves tripping on a Constitutional amendment that is both central to American identity, and easy for Big Tech to exploit.Colorado, South Carolina next up on litigation block-One might count down the days before NetChoice files suit against Colorado, which just passed its own age assurance bill in the House: SB26-051, now awaiting the governor’s signature. The organization has already lobbed several previous lawsuits at the state, as it looks to catch up with the world outside Palo Alto on age checks.Likewise in South Carolina, where Governor Henry McMaster has signed a social media age check bill into law. Per VitalLaw, the Stop Harm from Addictive Social Media Act will “require large social media platforms with at least $1 billion in annual advertising revenue to take steps to protect children under 16 from potentially harmful and addictive features. The measure directs these platforms to use ‘reasonable means to estimate and verify the ages of account holders,’ with specific confidence thresholds and timelines triggered by user activity.”In what is sure to spark more controversial litigation, the act provides for a private right of action for children and parents to seek damages, including statutory damages of at least $10,000 for reckless or knowing violations.
ID4Africa’s Joseph Atick on why Africa is setting the pace for digital identity-Podcast recorded at the ID4Africa 2026 AGM examines the continent's shift from enrollment to digital identity ecosystems-May 29, 2026, 3:36 pm EDT | Joel R. McConvey
At the ID4Africa 2026 AGM in Abidjan, digital identity leaders focused on a common theme: building sustainable digital identity ecosystems that connect people, services and institutions. The conversation reflected Africa’s growing role as a global leader in national digital identity deployment, digital public infrastructure and cross-border interoperability.In the latest Biometric Update Podcast, Managing Editor Chris Burt speaks with Dr. Joseph Atick about the continent’s digital identity progress, the countries leading deployment efforts and why long-term ecosystem development matters more than constantly chasing the next new initiative.“Sometimes, you know, funding organizations, they can say, well, but we funded this last year. What is new here? It feels like almost programming on network television. Like, let’s get something new to fund.”“That’s not what Africa needs. Africa needs continuity, needs sustainability, needs consistency across the board. And for that, I think the ecosystem is where we all need to buy in.”Atick describes digital identity as an ecosystem — one that is organic, interdependent and built through sustained investment rather than one-off projects.“You know, I’m a mathematician. In my old days, my career was math. And I’ve always appreciated the concept that richness does not require complexity. Richness can be built on the iteration of simple principles, but iterated many, many, many, many, many times.”The full conversation is available on the latest episode of the Biometric Update Podcast.
ICE expands field biometric identification with $25M iris recognition contract-Bi2 Technologies to supply mobile iris scanners and identity-matching services for ICE agents and law enforcement partners-May 29, 2026, 1:09 pm EDT | Anthony Kimery
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a sole source award to Bi2 Technologies for iris biometric recognition technology intended to let ICE agents and 287(g) law enforcement partners rapidly identify people during field operations, according to a redacted justification for other than full and open competition.The award is valued at $25.1 million and covers more than 1,500 mobile iris scanners, access to Bi2’s mobile offender recognition system, and access to a biometric information system used for offender identification.The contract reflects ICE’s continued investment in field-based biometric identification tools that allow officers to verify identities outside traditional booking environments. By combining iris recognition with fingerprint and facial-image matching and access to centralized identity records, the system is designed to support real-time identification of individuals who may be using aliases or fraudulent identity documents.ICE had announced its intention to award the contract earlier this month.The justification says ICE needs the additional devices because it previously purchased Bi2 equipment and requires compatibility with systems already in use.The document says no other vendor can meet the requirement because Bi2’s systems combine iris, fingerprint, and facial-image capture with real-time access to booking and criminal justice records.ICE argues the technology supports border and interior enforcement operations by helping agents identify people who may be using false identities.The agency also says the system gives 287(g) partners access to booking records and identity-validation information that may not appear in federal databases.The award follows a September 2025 firm-fixed-price contract to Bi2 worth about $4.5 million for the same general capability. The latest award significantly expands that deployment, increasing the number of mobile biometric devices available to ICE and participating local law enforcement agencies.
ICE expands field biometric identification with $25M iris recognition contract-Bi2 Technologies to supply mobile iris scanners and identity-matching services for ICE agents and law enforcement partners-May 29, 2026, 1:09 pm EDT | Anthony Kimery
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a sole source award to Bi2 Technologies for iris biometric recognition technology intended to let ICE agents and 287(g) law enforcement partners rapidly identify people during field operations, according to a redacted justification for other than full and open competition.The award is valued at $25.1 million and covers more than 1,500 mobile iris scanners, access to Bi2’s mobile offender recognition system, and access to a biometric information system used for offender identification.The contract reflects ICE’s continued investment in field-based biometric identification tools that allow officers to verify identities outside traditional booking environments. By combining iris recognition with fingerprint and facial-image matching and access to centralized identity records, the system is designed to support real-time identification of individuals who may be using aliases or fraudulent identity documents.ICE had announced its intention to award the contract earlier this month.The justification says ICE needs the additional devices because it previously purchased Bi2 equipment and requires compatibility with systems already in use.The document says no other vendor can meet the requirement because Bi2’s systems combine iris, fingerprint, and facial-image capture with real-time access to booking and criminal justice records.ICE argues the technology supports border and interior enforcement operations by helping agents identify people who may be using false identities.The agency also says the system gives 287(g) partners access to booking records and identity-validation information that may not appear in federal databases.The award follows a September 2025 firm-fixed-price contract to Bi2 worth about $4.5 million for the same general capability. The latest award significantly expands that deployment, increasing the number of mobile biometric devices available to ICE and participating local law enforcement agencies.
Sweden authorizes police use of live facial recognition-New law permits real-time biometric surveillance in cases involving serious crime, kidnappings and threats to life-May 29, 2026, 1:08 pm EDT | Masha Borak
Swedish police will be allowed to use live facial recognition (LFR) in cases involving kidnapping, human trafficking, serious crimes and threats to life under a new law approved by parliament. The decision marks a significant expansion of biometric surveillance powers in Sweden and places the country among a growing number of European states authorizing police use of the technology despite ongoing privacy and civil liberties concerns.The Swedish parliament, the Riksdag, voted on the government-proposed law on police use of AI for real-time facial recognition earlier this week. The new regulation is expected to come into force on July 1st, 2026 alongside amendments to the Public Access and Secrecy Act.The introduction of the technology in police work comes as the Scandinavian country struggles to contain gang violence. Over the past three years, 23 bystanders have been killed and 30 wounded in gangland shootings.The move comes as European governments increasingly weigh the potential security benefits of live facial recognition against concerns over privacy, proportionality and mass surveillance. The EU AI Act permits certain law enforcement uses of real-time biometric identification under narrowly defined circumstances, subject to judicial and regulatory safeguards.The new law outlines specific rules under which the Swedish Police Authority will be able to use the technology. According to the rules, the use of LFR must be proportionate and “absolutely necessary,” while permission to deploy the system must be obtained from the court.In urgent cases, LFR can be used without court permission, for example if a person is considered to be dangerous to the public, there is a risk that the person will commit more crimes or leave the country. In these cases, an application for permission must be made within 24 hours.The Swedish Police Authority will be permitted to use live facial recognition to locate or identify individuals in a limited set of serious circumstances. These include cases where a person is suspected of being a victim of kidnapping, human trafficking, or exploitation, or is a missing person believed to have fallen victim to a crime.Police could also use the technology when there is an imminent risk that someone may commit a serious offence posing a danger to another person’s life or physical safety or has committed a serious crime carrying a maximum sentence of at least four years’ imprisonment. Finally, the technology could be used to help enforce sentences against those already convicted of such offences.The decision on whether the use of LFR is proportionate will be reached on a case-by-case basis. Consideration will be given to the seriousness of the crime and whether the deployment of the tech would affect other people.The use of LFR will be supervised by the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY). Before deploying it for the first time, the Swedish Police Authority and the Swedish Security Service will be required to conduct a fundamental rights impact assessment of the system in accordance with Article 27 of the EU AI Act.Sweden’s minority right-wing government, which relies on support from the far-right Sweden Democrats, has been advancing a series of proposals targeting crime and immigration ahead of the general election on September 13th.The requirement for court authorization, oversight by Sweden’s privacy regulator and compliance with the EU AI Act reflects the increasingly complex regulatory framework governing police use of biometric surveillance technologies across Europe.
Vietnam approves sweeping plan to turn VNeID into national digital ‘super app’May 29, 2026, 1:07 pm EDT | Lu-Hai Liang
Vietnam has signed off on an expansive plan to turn its VNeID digital identity app into a national “super app.” The plans set out a roadmap that stretches from 2026 to 2045 and places the platform at the center of the country’s digital government ambitions.The decision was approved by Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung and places VNeID as the future backbone for public services, digital transactions and data‑sharing, reports Vietnam.vn. The plans fall under the country’s Project 06.The government wants VNeID to evolve into a secure, scalable platform that supports administrative procedures, online public services and a wide range of digital utilities. It should also act as a trusted channel for verifying and exchanging information between national and specialized databases.Officials describe it as a key driver of Vietnam’s broader digital government, digital economy and digital society goals. The plan sets out a series of milestones. By 2028, the government aims to bring all beneficiaries of social support and welfare programs onto VNeID. It will have completed a unified legal and policy framework for the platform, and finished upgrading its technical architecture. Half of all essential digital utilities are expected to be available on the app by then.Authorities also intend to issue electronic identity accounts to all eligible citizens, foreigners, agencies and organizations; link payment accounts or e‑wallets for all social‑security recipients; integrate all legally recognized documents; verify every mobile subscriber; and begin using artificial intelligence to improve the user experience. Digital signature certificates are expected to be issued to 80 percent of eligible citizens.By 2030, the government expects VNeID to function as a fully built‑out digital ecosystem. Seventy percent of users should be making cashless payments and paying essential bills through the app, and the same proportion of services and utilities should be enhanced with AI.All citizens are expected to hold a Level 2 VNeID account with integrated payment options, and digital services from ministries, localities and enterprises should be fully incorporated. Officials also want 70 percent of users to access the platform regularly. Vietnam is also targeting 2035 for fully digital citizen-government interactions.The long‑term vision extends to 2045, when all utilities and services on VNeID are expected to be powered by artificial intelligence. The government plans to continue expanding the app’s digital utilities ecosystem and upgrading its infrastructure to ensure stable and secure nationwide operation. By that point, all users should have experienced cashless payments and essential bill payments on the platform, and 90 percent of them should be regular users.How the government is going about this-Vietnam’s plan to turn VNeID into a national super app comes with a sweeping set of legal, technical and operational mandates that will reshape how the platform is governed and expanded through 2030.The Ministry of Public Security will work with the justice, science and technology ministries and other agencies to lead a full overhaul of the legal framework governing electronic identification, digital transactions, data‑sharing, cashless payments and personal data protection.This includes drafting a new Law on Electronic Identification and Authentication and a government resolution on “digital citizens,” which will define the legal status, technical standards and responsibilities tied to using VNeID in administrative, civil and commercial transactions.Between 2026 and 2027, ministries must standardize operating procedures, coordination rules and monitoring mechanisms for how state agencies and businesses use VNeID. From 2026 to 2030, the Ministry of Public Security will also redesign the platform’s architecture and expand its digital services ecosystem, encouraging public‑private partnerships to accelerate integration while ensuring compliance with cybersecurity and data protection requirements.A major technical upgrade is planned. Authorities will expand computing capacity, base‑station infrastructure and processing power to handle rising user numbers and transaction volumes. VNeID will shift to a multi–data center model anchored in the National Population Data Center, with built‑in redundancy, disaster recovery capabilities and regular drills to test failover systems.The Ministry of Public Security will implement multi‑layered protections, strengthen monitoring systems, and update incident‑response plans while tightening physical security around data centers. It will also run nationwide digital security awareness campaigns.The government will train officials and support staff at all levels, expand technical support channels for citizens and businesses, and focus on helping vulnerable groups and people with limited digital skills access VNeID services.The ministry will conduct regular inspections, evaluations and progress reviews, adjusting the program as needed and recognizing agencies and individuals that deliver strong results.
Russia’s Max app reaches 120M users as digital ID ambitions face trust gap-State-backed platform expands access to government services and digital identity, but surveillance concerns persist-May 29, 2026, 12:57 pm EDT | Masha Borak
Russia’s state-backed Max platform has reached 120 million registered users less than a year after launch, giving the government a potentially powerful channel for digital identity, public services and citizen engagement. Yet the app’s rapid growth has been accompanied by persistent concerns over surveillance, data access and state control.The Max app was created by Russian tech firm VKontakte and designed to emulate China’s WeChat, combining digital IDs with messaging, money transfers, government and private services, e-signatures and social media functions. Although the government is presenting it as a push towards digitalization, many see it as a way to surveil Russians and distance them from Western platforms and independent sources of information.The debate highlights a challenge facing many government-backed digital identity initiatives: adoption can be accelerated through integration with essential services, but long-term success depends on public trust in how personal data is collected, stored and used.The government’s agenda for the app since its launch has been to reach as many users as possible. According to a State Duma decision, Max comes pre-installed on all smartphones, tablets, and other devices sold in Russia as of September 1st, 2025.Those who do not already have the app installed are under pressure to download it. Some have it because their employers require it, others because of their children’s school demands, AFP reports.Despite the push, fears of surveillance and censorship continue to build around the app. Local media have reported that even Russian officials are buying separate phones and SIMs to install Max due to suspicions of spying.“Everyone thinks that if you install Max on your phone, it’s the same as handing it over to the FSB,” a source close to the Russian government told Faridaily, the Telegram news channel of Russian journalist Farida Rustamova.Max stores user metadata, including IP addresses, contact lists, and activity timestamps, and may share this information with state authorities under its privacy policy. Because the app operates within Russia’s laws on interception and data retention, the data is likely accessible to the Federal Security Service (FSB) and other agencies, Eto Buziashvili, a research fellow at Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab), notes in a case study of the app.Earlier in May, a user on the Russian tech professionals site Habr known as zarazaexe claimed he reverse-engineered the Max app, publishing an account of its various tracking methods and other dangerous features. Max, in turn, responded that the information is fake and that all user data is securely protected, investigative outlet Meduza reports.“Russia’s state-run messaging app Max has given rise to its own mythology, with numerous rumors and conspiracy theories attributing functions to it that it most likely does not possess,” writes David Frenkel, the data team lead for Russian news outlet Mediazona.While there are significant risks from using it, they are far more concrete and prosaic than the horror stories being shared on the internet, he adds.Public distrust appears likely to persist despite efforts to make Max more useful through expanded services and tighter integration with daily life, while authorities continue restricting access to competing platforms such as Telegram and WhatsApp.Max can now be used for age verification when purchasing age-restricted goods, while the platform also offers booking doctor appointments and issuing medical documentation through an integration with the government services portal, Gosuslugi. Its developer, VKontakte, has struck a deal with Russia’s major telecom operators for users to receive authorization codes for online services, passwords for banking transactions, and service notifications.In March, the platform also became available in nearly 40 countries that host sizable Russian diaspora communities or that Russia deems “friendly,” including Central Asian countries, Cuba, and Pakistan.“All these services were either already available as separate apps, or there is simply no demand for them – or certainly not enough that people are ready to hand over all their personal correspondence to the state,” says Frenkel.The long-term success of Max may depend less on the number of services it aggregates than on whether users come to trust it as a digital identity platform. For now, the government’s push for adoption appears to be advancing faster than public confidence in the system.
Neurotechnology takes top spot in NIST iris recognition evaluation-Latest IREX 10 results place company's algorithm first across reported accuracy benchmarks-May 29, 2026, 10:35 am EDT | Masha Borak
Neurotechnology has taken first place across all reported accuracy metrics in the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Ongoing Evaluation of Iris Recognition (IREX 10).The IREX 10 Identification Track measures one-to-many iris recognition performance, a mode commonly used in large-scale deployments such as border management, corrections, traveler processing and humanitarian aid programs.Neurotechnology’s algorithm was tested against a dataset of one million iris images from 500,000 individuals and ranked first in all four evaluated categories: Detection Error Tradeoff (DET) Accuracy and Ranked Accuracy, each measured in single-eye and two-eye scenarios.The company says it achieved best results not only at the headline FNIR@FPIR 0.01 operating point but also across the reported DET curves for single-eye and two-eye identification. For Ranked Accuracy, Neurotechnology’s algorithm achieved the lowest miss rates at Rank 1, Rank 10 and Rank 100 in both single-eye and two-eye scenarios.“Our latest submission achieved the top position while tripling the matching speed from the nearest competitor, establishing a new industry standard,” says Evaldas Borcovas, head of Biometrics Research at Neurotechnology.The updated algorithm is set to ship with the next upgrades for the company’s biometric identification platform MegaMatcher.Other companies are also submitting algorithms for IREX 10 testing. Among the submissions joining the IREX 10 leaderboard in 2026 are those from Iris D, Mantra, Griaule and Idibio.The results add to a growing wave of NIST benchmark announcements from biometric vendors seeking to demonstrate performance in independent government evaluations. Such tests are widely used as a reference point by agencies and organizations procuring large-scale biometric identification systems.
MotionAnalytics takes biometric identification beyond face, fingerprint and iris-Startup uses biomechanical signatures derived from human movement to identify individuals-May 29, 2026, 8:39 am EDT | Lu-Hai Liang
Move over faces, fingers and irises, there’s a new biometric game in town, and it’s all about motion. While the idea is not entirely new, this company is, with Israeli startup MotionAnalytics looking to identify based on the way people move.MotionAnalytics is built on biomechanical technology for behavior-based identification using what it calls its “Large Biomechanical Model” or LBM. The startup’s first product is MotionID, which delivers proprietary identification based on biomechanical signatures.The company says the technology can identify people even when faces are obscured or unavailable. Potential use cases include border security, aerial surveillance, anti-trafficking and VIP tracking.“We break walking or any kind of human movement into its atom,” Adi Nathan, founder and CEO of MotionAnalytics, explained in a podcast interview for The CET Brief. This “atom” is a biomechanical data point, such as a knee or heel, and the relationships between those points as a person moves.“It gives a unique combination for each individual,” Nathan said, supplying them with their biomechanical signatures. The startup claims that it can generate a signature of a person from just five steps, or around three to five seconds, of video featuring the individual, and that they’ve achieved nearly 95 percent accuracy.“The interesting shift is that motion is evolving from ‘behavioral analytics’ into actual identity intelligence,” Nathan commented on LinkedIn. “In many operational environments, movement patterns remain available long after faces fail.”MotionAnalytics enters a growing field of behavioral and movement-based biometrics as organizations look for identity signals that remain available when faces are obscured, captured at long range or otherwise unavailable. Researchers have long explored gait recognition and other behavioral signals as supplementary biometric modalities, particularly for surveillance and security environments where facial images may be obscured, captured at a distance or unavailable altogether.Like other behavioral biometric modalities, movement-based identification faces challenges around consistency and accuracy. Factors such as injury, aging, clothing, footwear and carrying objects can affect how a person moves, making real-world performance across diverse populations and conditions a key consideration for deployments at scale.MotionAnalytics is preparing its seed round, according to Calcalistech, and it’s engaged in two pilots with “a major Israeli homeland security organization,” where it has achieved more than 90 percent identification accuracy on real operational video, the startup claims.The company is positioning biomechanics not as a replacement for facial recognition, but as a complementary biometric signal that can support identification and re-identification in environments where facial imagery is unavailable or unreliable.MotionID has been developed from more than 20 years of biomechanics research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, with the technology converting standard video into unique biomechanical signatures. This allows for persistent, cross-camera identification across environments and cameras. For example, it works on video captured from thermal, ground, aerial and distant sensors.No specialized hardware is needed as standard video feeds work for MotionID’s identification and re-identification. It is offered as an SDK or API for on premises or cloud deployment.MotionAnalytics was founded in 2025 by Adi Nathan, a tech entrepreneur who co-founded TeeVid which was acquired by Bizzabo in 2021, and Raziel Riemer, a biomechanics researcher and professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.The startup has raised US$1.1 million to date, with the last investment round raising $400,000 in mid March. Investors are InNegev & IIA, 1948 VC, JNF and Noam Bardin. MotionAnalytics has seven employees and are hiring for a Data Operations role.MotionAnalytics is focusing on go-to market deployment and productization, expanding its AI and engineering teams, scaling and optimizing performance, building commercial capability with a focus on the U.S. market, and supporting pilots and early deployments with strategic partners and integrators.Interest in alternative biometric modalities is growing as organizations seek identity signals that remain available when facial recognition is ineffective. The rise of AI-powered video analytics, aerial surveillance and long-range monitoring is creating new demand for technologies that can identify or re-identify individuals using attributes other than facial features.
