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Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside Israel's Unit 8200: The team of teen tech whizzes who tracked down Iran's uranium enrichment sites
Israel has an equivalent of the United States National Security Agency that carries out cyber warfare and other types of clandestine operations, but with one notable difference: It's staffed largely by teenagers. The soldiers of Israel Defense Forces Unit 8200 - most living with their parents and working for peanuts as part of the country's compulsory military service - located the Iranian uranium enrichment sites Israel has been trying to destroy for the past week. They produced the anti-Ayatollah video with which they interrupted Iran 's state-run news broadcast on Wednesday. And they pinpointed the Iranian leaders and nuclear scientists on Israel's hit list. A unit veteran, now in his early 30s and running an artificial intelligence start-up in Southern California, calls its 18 to 21-year-old active-duty soldiers 'the most nerdy of nerds.' 'These are the hackers, the chess players, the eggheads you knew in high school, but to the Nth degree,' he says, insisting on anonymity for fear, he claims, that 'anyone who's done intelligence in Israel isn't safe' these days, even in the US. It is a mark of the perceived threat that the Iranian missiles that hit southern Israel Thursday morning may have been aimed at a site in the area where Unit 8200 soldiers have been working, not at the civilian hospital on which the Israeli government and Western news outlets have focused. Iranian state media said the primary target of its attack that damaged Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba was a nearby Israeli military intelligence site. Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted on X that Iran's military 'accurately' eliminated that site, as well as 'another vital target,' but didn't identify their locations. Israeli attacks were reported at sites across Tehran as well as in cities and provinces known to host key nuclear facilities and military installations, including Isfahan - the location of the Natanz FEP - Tabriz, Kermanshah, Arak and Shiraz Israel hasn't responded to those claims, or whether Unit 8200 soldiers were hit. Instead, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday pointed to the 71 people injured at the hospital, accusing Iran of deliberately targeting civilians - even though his own military has been bombing civilian hospitals throughout Gaza since the deadly, Hamas-led terror attacks in October 2023. Unit 8200, known in Israel as Shmone Matayim, is IDF's largest unit, believed to have about 5,000 active-duty soldiers ages 18 to 21, with older veterans on reserve. Soldiers in the elite intelligence corps typically are recruited right out of high school based on the speed of their learning and ability to solve complex problems. Many attended after-school feeder programs that trained them in computer coding and hacking, and some had private coaching to prepare for the unit's highly competitive entrance exams and interviews. Sources tell the Daily Mail that families go all out to boost their kids' chances of being among the one percent of all applicants accepted into the unit seen as a pathway to lucrative high-tech jobs. After completing their service, veterans of 8200 have gone on to found and lead information technology, artificial intelligence and cyber security startups in Israel and internationally. Unit 8200 has its roots in codebreaking and intelligence units formed upon Israel's establishment in 1948. Those units were made up largely of native Arabic speakers born in the countries Israel was either at war with or spying on. In the early years, soldiers used primitive listening devices that are now displayed in Glilot, its headquarters north of Tel Aviv. The long hours they spent listening to Israel's enemies preserved not only their language fluency but also their familiarity with the mindsets of their country's enemies. Over the decades, the unit turned into somewhat of a tech incubator. Its culture is said to be relaxed and encourages creativity and independent thought, much like a startup. Some of its soldiers can be recognized by their wrinkled uniforms, disheveled hair or long earrings - things frowned upon in IDF's regular rank and file. Some conservative, rural and religious Jewish Israelis complained that the unit was dominated by highly educated, atheist and liberal Tel Avivians whose views on politics and the military aren't necessarily shared throughout the country. IDF has taken steps to diversify 8200's soldiers under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his coalition, the most far-right in Israel's history. Although its operations are classified, the unit has been reported to have launched the computer virus that disabled Iranian nuclear centrifuges from 2005 to 2010, cyber-attacked Lebanon's state telecom company in 2017, and helped thwart a 2018 ISIS attack on a civilian airline traveling to the United Arab Emirates from Australia. Subunits of 8200 are said to have been involved in the development and testing of the pagers and walkie-talkies that Israel engineered to explode in the hands of Hezbollah militants in Lebanon last September. Closer to home, the unit has been surveilling Palestinians for decades, and in 2014 was denounced by a group of reservists for what they deemed to be unethical breaches of privacy on Palestinians not involved in violence. Such criticisms have grown internationally since Israel has been at war in Gaza, where IDF uses artificial intelligence derived from the unit to target Gazans suspected of involvement with Hamas. News investigations have revealed deadly ways inaccurate data used by the unit and faulty algorithms can go wrong. Within Israel, Unit 8200's reputation for gathering complete and accurate intelligence came under question after it failed to prevent the Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7, 2023. Those attacks killed 1,200 people across southern Israel and led to 251 others being taken hostage. They also prompted the now 20-month-long war in Gaza during which Israel has killed 55,637 Palestinians and injured 129,880, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. The unit's commander resigned over criticisms that 8200's researchers had identified signs of the Hamas attack several months before it happened, but that he didn't press hard enough on Israel's most senior military and political leaders to prevent it. Defenders of the unit have countered that it shouldn't be blamed for higher-ups' inaction. The unit is based mainly in a set of nondescript office buildings near the headquarters of Mossad, Israel's spy agency, in Glilot, north of Tel Aviv. Aside from Iran's nuclear enrichment site (pictured), the unit also claims responsibility for destroyed data at Iran's state-owned Bank Sepah and for wiping out $90M from Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange The complex was targeted by the Iranian-backed Hezbollah last fall after the notorious pager and walkie-talking attacks. Iran, for its part, has other reasons to target the unit. Its soldiers — or at least its veterans — are believed to have taken some part in two cyberattacks on Iran in the past week, both carried out by a collective of pro-Israel hackers calling itself 'Predatory Sparrow.' On Tuesday, the group claimed to have destroyed data at Iran's state-owned Bank Sepah. And on Wednesday, it took credit for wiping out $90 million from one of Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchanges which allegedly helps the Iranian government avoid sanctions and fund its nuclear program and other secret operations. In years past, soldiers with Unit 8200 are also believed to have blocked usage of ATM and gas pumps in Iran and hacked into the nation's digital highway sign system, posting messages critical of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Persian speakers within the unit also are said to have fomented fear and paranoia among Iran's Revolutionary Guard soldiers and nuclear scientists by leveraging compromising personal information against them to squeeze out state secrets. Iran hit the Glilot area with ballistic missiles on Tuesday morning. In a statement, its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) wrote that 'Despite the presence of highly advanced defense systems,' it 'struck the Zionist regime's military intelligence center… and the center for planning terror operations and evils of the Zionist regime…' 'This center is currently burning,' the IRGC wrote later that day. It is unclear if the buildings damaged were on or off the base and whether, either before or after Tuesday's missile barrage, IDF relocated Unit 8200 soldiers 75 miles south to Beersheba near the site of Thursday's attack. 'I'm worried about those guys,' says the unit veteran in California, who has a cousin currently serving in 8200. 'They've made a ton of trouble for Iran and probably have serious targets on their backs.'
Miami Herald
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Wendy's menu reveals a spicy new addition this week
As the beginning of summer nears and we all do our best to endure the increasing heat, people tend to be on the lookout for fun new things to try. That might look like a day at the beach for some, a cookout for others, or even just a reason to try something new at their favorite local fast-food joint. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter Summer can be a lucrative time for fast-food companies, as customers are often on the lookout for ways to cool down while they're out and about. Chains often respond with ice cream or frozen drinks, tempting fans to add something new and chilly when they order a quick lunch on the go. Related: Wendy's makes move to take down McDonald's, Burger King For Burger King, that looks like a a frozen strawberry drink topped with Nerds candy. At McDonald's, the McFlurry is getting a limited edition twist with Hershey's Smores. And at Taco Bell, it's "Refrescas" in fruity flavors like Mango Peach and Dragonfruit Berry. Now Wendy's (WEN) is tossing its effort into the mix, but instead of going cold, it's decided to dial up the heat. As we've previously reported, Wendy's has a collaboration coming soon with Mexican snack favorite Takis. Now food blogger and reliable leaker Markie Devo has revealed more about it via a tweet on X shared on June 17, showing off not only the details of the meal but also dropping the release date. "OYYY!! Mamacita Wendy's is getting extra fuego!! Wendy's X Takis Fuego Meal! This menu is dropping nationwide at Wendy's locations on June 20th," he wrote. Related: National fast-food chicken chain faces horrible accusations While the details about the new Fuego Chicken Sandwich are the same - a spicy chicken filet with chili lime and cheddar cheese sauce, topped with crushed Takis Fuego chips and creamy corn spread - the new post shows off a special bag for the "Fuego Fries," which tears away so you can dump your fries out and enjoy them right out of the bag. Wendy's also posted its own tease via X on June 17, tweeting an image of its famous mascot arm-wrestling with a Taki's bag and saying "if you can guess what it is, you win @takisusa" and the date "6/20/2025." Consumers are pulling back on unnecessary spending in reaction to the trade war, and fast-food companies are already feeling the burn. McDonald's, easily on the top of the pile as far as revenue, reported a second quarter of sales declines during its Q1 earnings call and a year-over-year decline in net revenue. Same-store sales also dropped by 3.6%, the biggest drop the fast-food chain has seen since the pandemic. Wendy's reported a 2.1% year-on-year revenue decline to $523.5 million of revenue in Q1, in line with Wall Street's estimates - so it also needs a boost in what CEO Kirk Tanner called a "challenging consumer environment" during its earnings call. One of the few chains that's not suffering is Taco Bell, which reported same-store sales rose by 9% in Q1, while system sales were up 11%. "A tough operating environment probably favors Taco Bell. It's just firing on all cylinders right now," Yum chief executive officer David Gibbs said during Wednesday morning's earnings call. "Penetration is going up, bringing more customers into the brand with things like Cantina Chicken. Value stands out. And innovation - nobody else sells anything close to what we sell. We're in an enviable position." Related: McDonald's is facing a harsh new reality as customer behavior shifts The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How Nerds Gummy Clusters became the candy aisle's biggest hit
This story was originally published on Food Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Food Dive newsletter. When Nutella maker Ferrero purchased Nestlé's candy business for nearly $3 billion in 2018, the acquisition added popular brands such as Butterfinger, Baby Ruth and 100 Grand to its enviable roster of sweets. But while much of the attention went to these iconic offerings, it may be Nerds, a product largely seen as an afterthought by its prior owner, that could turn out to be the sweetest brand of them all. Nerds is on track to hit more than $900 million in sales this year, a more than 1,700% increase from the $50 million in sales the brand was generating when it was first incorporated into Ferrara, which is owned by a Ferrero-affiliated holding company. The unprecedented surge is directly attributed to the widely popular Nerds Gummy Clusters, which represented the first meaningful innovation for the once-sleepy brand in years. Nerds Gummy Clusters are now the top sugar confection on the market, overtaking Mars Wrigley's Skittles, according to Ferrara. 'We knew we had something that was kind of special, but we really, truly had no idea how special it was or that it would grow as fast or as big as it has become,' said Katie Duffy, vice president of global brands with Ferrara. But the success of the clusters, which are a gummy ensconced in crunchy Nerds candies, wasn't a given. Initial tests weren't particularly encouraging, Duffy recalled, with consumers struggling to comprehend the multi-textural eating experience. 'We looked at the scores that came back from the concept and it was not all sunshine and rainbows,' Duffy recalled. 'We were really trying to understand, okay, why are they not getting it.' Ferrara remained hopeful that Nerds Gummy Clusters would catch on with consumers, especially after the treats proved to be an early hit with its own employees. After tweaking the visuals and language around how they showcased the treats, Nerds Gummy Clusters finally started resonating with testers. When Nerds was acquired, Ferrara observed that the 35-year-old brand had a high level of consumer awareness but went years without meaningful innovation and minimal marketing, Duffy said. Nerds also were not viewed as a market leader in candy because of their small size and the fact that they were messy. Nerds Gummy Clusters solved many of these problems. The candy has proven to be a hit at movie theaters and airports. Nerds Gummy Clusters also have helped attract older consumers and new snacking occasions to the brand. Most surprisingly, some distance runners and endurance athletes have used them as a booster in place of supplements such as Gu Energy Gel, Duffy said. Despite the recent sales boom, Duffy said there is plenty of growth left for the Nerds brand. Ferrara is rolling out more seasonal Gummy Clusters varieties in the U.S. and has expanded the brand into overseas markets such as the U.K. and Canada. At the same time, the company is hopeful Nerds Gummy Clusters can grab more shelf space at existing stores to better match its product velocity. Ferrara also is planning its next big launch under the Nerds banner later this year with Nerds Juicy Gummy Clusters. The snack contains juice in the center and is three times the size of the Gummy Cluster. 'Nerds Juicy Gummy Clusters is going to give us an opportunity to continue to build momentum that Nerds has already established,' Duffy said. 'It's a different eating experience.' Recommended Reading Leftovers: Nestlé sweetens game day with Cookie Nachos | Godiva doubles down on gourmet chocolate Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Celebrate National Donut Day 2025 with doughnut deals at Dunkin', Krispy Kreme in Delaware
Whether you spell it 'doughnut' or 'donut,' National Doughnut Day has deals for all enjoyers of the sweet treat. Here's where you can get your doughnut fix in Delaware for the holiday today. In Brandywine Hundred, Hill Donut Co. & Pancake House will offer a $2 doughnut hole sundae to debut their new ice cream-making journey. The sundaes are made from the shop's house-made soft serve, in flavors like churro, vanilla and strawberry, with more tasty creations to come. 1845 Marsh Road, Brandywine Hundred, (302) 308-3182; Krispy Kreme will offer one free doughnut of any flavor per guest, with no purchase necessary, at participating locations on National Doughnut Day. Limited-time doughnuts are excluded from the promotion. If that doesn't satisfy your craving, Krispy Kreme also offers a dozen original glazed doughnuts for $2 when you buy any dozen. 114 N. Dupont Highway, New Castle, (302) 327-0596; 114 N. Dupont Highway, Near New Castle 2413 N. Salisbury Ave., Salisbury, Maryland U-pick fruit, flowers in Delaware: Where to find u-pick peaches, strawberries, blueberries and flowers in Delaware Sandy Pony Donuts will offer one free doughnut to every customer on June 6. No purchase is necessary. Customers who purchase a T-shirt will be rewarded with a free half dozen doughnuts. Dewey Beach: 1905 Coastal Highway 5, Dewey Beach, (301) 325-8783. Bethany Beach: 115 Garfield Parkway Unit 2; Bethany Beach. Bethany Beach Drive-Thru: 32919 Coastal Highway, Bethany Beach, (302) 829-1002; Sleeping Bird Doughnuts debuts a new menu for National Doughnut Day, along with a specialty strawberries and cream doughnut. The new menu runs through June 9 and features: Filled brioche, with brown butter cream cheese filling and sugared; whipped honey goat cheese-walnut filling and sugared; or dirt, which is chocolate pastry cream, chocolate glaze and gummy worms. A brioche ring, with vanilla and patriotic sprinkles, passionfruit or grape glaze with Nerds. An old-fashioned made with chocolate dough, with triple chocolate or chocolate with malted vanilla glaze. 4001 Concord Pike, Talleyville; Dunkin's free doughnut deal is back this year. Customers can get a free doughnut with the purchase of any beverage on National Doughnut Day. Along with the free doughnut offer, Dunkin' has partnered with Stoney Clover Lane to release a limited-edition collection of doughnut merch. The merch drops at 10 a.m. June 6 and includes: A Dunkin' Donut Pouch, a double-sided pouch with a strawberry frosted doughnut with sprinkles on each side. Dunkin' iced coffee and doughnut bag charms to accessorize your purses and bags with. Dunkin' collectible patches, in either an 'I 'Heart' Dunkin'' design; an iced coffee patch; a sprinkle doughnut patch; or a Box O'Donuts patch. Participating Dunkin' locations will have acrylic and stainless-steel tumblers, straw toppers and cup sleeves for sale for a limited time as part of the collaboration. Dunkin' is also serving all single doughnuts in custom-designed mini doughnut bags in partnership with Stoney Clover Lane for the holiday while supplies last. There are 66 Dunkin' locations in Delaware. Here's a locator map to find one close to you. Cheap eats: Too Good To Go: Delaware restaurant food for a fraction of cost with this money-saving app If you're celebrating June with a trip to the Delaware beaches this weekend, check out the Fractured Prune for a National Doughnut Day deal. The shop in Rehoboth is giving away a free doughnut with any purchase to celebrate the holiday. 20214 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, (302) 227-0747; Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: When is National Donut Day 2025? Dunkin' Donut, Krispy Kreme deals
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
National Donut Day deals in Delaware, including free doughnuts, exclusive merch
Whether you spell it 'doughnut' or 'donut,' National Doughnut Day has deals for all enjoyers of the sweet treat. Here's where you can get your doughnut fix in Delaware for the holiday on June 6. In Brandywine Hundred, Hill Donut Co. & Pancake House will offer a $2 doughnut hole sundae to debut their new ice cream-making journey. The sundaes are made from the shop's house-made soft serve, in flavors like churro, vanilla and strawberry, with more tasty creations to come. 1845 Marsh Road, Brandywine Hundred, (302) 308-3182; Krispy Kreme will offer one free doughnut of any flavor per guest, with no purchase necessary, at participating locations on National Doughnut Day. Limited-time doughnuts are excluded from the promotion. If that doesn't satisfy your craving, Krispy Kreme also offers a dozen original glazed doughnuts for $2 when you buy any dozen. 114 N. Dupont Highway, New Castle, (302) 327-0596; U-pick fruit, fllowers in Delaware: Where to find u-pick peaches, strawberries, blueberries and flowers in Delaware Sandy Pony Donuts will offer one free doughnut to every customer on June 6. No purchase is necessary. Customers who purchase a T-shirt will be rewarded with a free half dozen doughnuts. Dewey Beach: 1905 Coastal Highway 5, Dewey Beach, (301) 325-8783. Bethany Beach: 115 Garfield Parkway Unit 2; Bethany Beach. Bethany Beach Drive-Thru: 32919 Coastal Highway, Bethany Beach, (302) 829-1002; Sleeping Bird Doughnuts debuts a new menu for National Doughnut Day, along with a specialty strawberries and cream doughnut. The new menu runs through June 9 and features: Filled brioche, with brown butter cream cheese filling and sugared; whipped honey goat cheese-walnut filling and sugared; or dirt, which is chocolate pastry cream, chocolate glaze and gummy worms. A brioche ring, with vanilla and patriotic sprinkles, passionfruit or grape glaze with Nerds. An old-fashioned made with chocolate dough, with triple chocolate or chocolate with malted vanilla glaze. 4001 Concord Pike, Wilmington; Dunkin's free doughnut deal is back this year. Customers can get a free doughnut with the purchase of any beverage on National Doughnut Day. Along with the free doughnut offer, Dunkin' has partnered with Stoney Clover Lane to release a limited-edition collection of doughnut merch. The merch drops at 10 a.m. June 6 and includes: A Dunkin' Donut Pouch, a double-sided pouch with a strawberry frosted doughnut with sprinkles on each side. Dunkin' iced coffee and doughnut bag charms to accessorize your purses and bags with. Dunkin' collectible patches, in either an 'I 'Heart' Dunkin'' design; an iced coffee patch; a sprinkle doughnut patch; or a Box O'Donuts patch. Participating Dunkin' locations will have acrylic and stainless-steel tumblers, straw toppers and cup sleeves for sale for a limited time as part of the collaboration. Dunkin' is also serving all single doughnuts in custom-designed mini doughnut bags in partnership with Stoney Clover Lane for the holiday while supplies last. Cheap eats: Too Good To Go: Delaware restaurant food for a fraction of cost with this money-saving app If you're celebrating June with a trip to the Delaware beaches this weekend, check out the Fractured Prune for a National Doughnut Day deal. The shop in Rehoboth is giving away a free doughnut with any purchase to celebrate the holiday. 20214 Coastal Highway, Rehoboth Beach, (302) 227-0747; Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: National Donut Day deals in Delaware. How to celebrate on June 6
