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.
