President Donald Trump ignited a wave of backlash online after he uploaded an image of himself clad in papal attire.
The digitally altered photo showed Trump seated on the papal throne, lifting one finger in the air. He posted it on his Truth Social platform, and the same image later appeared on his presidential Twitter account. There was no accompanying caption or explanation. While the post quickly attracted tens of thousands of likes, it also prompted a flood of criticism.

Today, the Hamas terror group released a video showing that hostage Maxim Herkin is still alive.
Herkin, 36, who lives in Tirat Hacarmel, was abducted during the Nova music festival in Re’im. Originally from Donetsk, Ukraine, Herkin’s mother is also a Russian citizen.
Back in February, Israel’s Ambassador to Russia, Simona Halperin, stated that Moscow was actively working on securing Herkin’s freedom.
The timing of the video’s release coincided with Israel’s internal discussions about intensifying its military campaign in Gaza. The proposal to escalate operations is scheduled to be brought before the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet on Sunday for approval.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sharply criticized Israel on Friday for conducting an airstrike the night before near Syria’s presidential palace in Damascus.
Stephan Dujarric, the UN spokesperson, released a statement saying that Guterres denounced the attack as a breach of Syrian sovereignty. He urged Israel to respect “its unity, its territorial integrity and its independence.”
In a coordinated statement, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz defended the operation, stating that the strike was meant to deliver “a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not permit Syrian troops to move south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that confirmed measles cases in the United States have now climbed to 935, marking a dramatic surge compared to the total for all of 2024, which ended with 285 confirmed cases.
This new tally, released in the CDC’s update on Friday, is based solely on lab-confirmed diagnoses and does not account for “probable” cases, which means the actual number of infections could be even higher. The CDC noted that 96% of individuals with confirmed cases were either not vaccinated or had an unclear vaccination history.

A recently posted video on the official YouTube channel of Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s office has drawn attention after it was edited to omit a moment from a speech earlier this week in which he briefly forgot the name of his son, Avner.
The updated version of the video features an obvious jump cut, removing the segment where Netanyahu mistakenly referred to his son as Abraham before pausing to ask the audience for help recalling the correct name.
“What’s his name?” Netanyahu said before asking someone in the crowd his son’s name. “Avner, thanks.”

Security around Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has reportedly been tightened to extraordinary levels by the Shin Bet, with the agency implementing what has been described as the most comprehensive protective measures to date.
According to a Friday report by Ynet, the stepped-up precautions now include the deployment of a high-tech body screening machine and advanced surveillance systems. These upgrades accompany thorough manual checks, including physical searches. The report did not cite specific sources.
In addition, new equipment designed specifically to inspect footwear has been brought into use as part of this expanded security protocol.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a strong condemnation of both Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and Hamas for exploiting the humanitarian crisis by plundering aid supplies meant for the local population.
The remarks, published by the PA’s official Wafa news agency, stated that Abbas “also expressed his categorical rejection and firm condemnation of the looting and theft carried out by criminal gangs targeting warehouses and storage facilities of humanitarian aid designated for the people of Gaza.”

Just days after removing eight individuals appointed during Joe Biden’s presidency from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council—including Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris—President Donald Trump has selected eight new individuals to take their place.
The incoming group includes radio personality Sid Rosenberg, a vocal supporter of Trump during the last presidential race, and Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, founder and editor of the Yated Ne’eman. Also named is Alex Witkoff, son of Trump’s diplomatic representative Steve Witkoff.

At a meeting this week, New York City’s Rent Guidelines Board advanced a proposal allowing rent hikes of as much as 7.75% for two-year leases on rent-stabilized units.
During the session at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, the board also recommended a maximum increase of 4.75% for one-year lease renewals. The motion narrowly passed in a 5-4 vote. Final approval of the proposed ranges is expected at a board vote scheduled for late June.
Each year, the Rent Guidelines Board sets adjustment limits for the city’s approximately one million rent-regulated apartments. The board is composed of members representing the public, tenant interests, and property owners.

At a high-level security meeting led by Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Friday evening, Israeli leadership evaluated plans to intensify IDF activity in the Gaza Strip.
Military commanders laid out a strategy before the political leadership that includes significantly ramping up pressure on Hamas. The approach would mirror the IDF’s recent operations in Rafah, focusing on capturing territory, dividing sections of Gaza, rooting out terrorist infrastructure both above and underground, and retaining control over these areas. The goal is to force Hamas to become more flexible in hostage release negotiations.