SHIR PERETS

Shir Perets is a Breaking News Desk Manager at The Jerusalem Post. She grew up in central Israel and is a graduate of Bar-Ilan University, where she studied English literature and communications.

When she isn’t writing, Shir can be found painting, building Legos, feeding stray cats, or singing along to Taylor Swift.


Smoke rises after Israeli strikes following Israeli military's evacuation orders, in Chehour, southern Lebanon November 19, 2025.

IDF strikes Hezbollah infrastructure used by Radwan Force in southern Lebanon

What the GPR scans revealed about the Ararat 'Noah's Ark' formation.

Pottery fragments found near Ararat renew debate over site of Noah’s Ark

Sydney family becomes first olim of 2026, landing at Ben-Gurion on January 1

Australian family makes aliyah from Sydney, becoming 2026's first olim


At least 40 killed, 100 injured after fire causes explosion at Swiss ski resort bar

Swiss officials determined the event was not an attack, saying the explosion was caused by a fire and was not intentional.

Emergency personnel work at the site of an explosion and fire at the Le Constellation bar, in the upscale ski resort of Crans-Montana in southwestern Switzerland, January 1, 2026

Bronze Age ‘covered wagon’ emerges as Armenia’s best-preserved ancient vehicle

The Lchashen wagon features a complex mortise-and-tenon construction with bronze fittings that join at least 70 components, while its canopy frame alone required hundreds of precisely mortised holes.

A four-wheeled canopy wagon was recovered from the Lchashen cemetery near Lake Sevan, December 29, 2025.

Taylor Swift leads charts as Israel's favorite artist, album, song of 2025

The top 20 songs featured artists such as Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and Olivia Dean, who was also voted by Israelis as the breakout artist of 2025.

A general view of a Nashville area Starbucks that has been transformed into a Starbies pop up celebrating the release of Taylor Swift's new album "The Life Of A Showgirl" on October 03, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Affordability crisis reshapes politics across US, Europe, Canada, new poll finds

Majorities in five major economies say the cost of living has worsened, pressuring incumbents and redrawing alliances, according to a new international survey.

 British £20 pound note featuring a portrait of King Charles III, is pictured with £20 notes showing the face of the late Queen Elizabeth II on June 8, 2025

Aliyah Ministry closes 2025 with 21,900 new immigrants, growth from France and UK

One third of this year’s olim were ages 18–35, the Aliyah and Integration Ministry and the Jewish Agency said, as interest surged and fairs drew tens of thousands worldwide.

Aliyah Ministry closes 2025 with 21,900 new immigrants, growth from France and UK AI

Firefighters respond to flooding at special-needs school in Jerusalem amid severe weather

Storm conditions led to the evacuation of a Jerusalem special education school as firefighters assisted disabled students and responded to multiple flood incidents across the city.

Israeli firefighters at the scene where a kid in a critical condition after a fire broke at an apartment in Ramot, Jerusalem, December 3, 2025.

Mentally ill man steals car with infant in back seat at Hadera hospital, baby returned unharmed

Security alerted police, who arrived quickly, arrested the suspect, and returned the infant to the family unharmed.

The Hillel Yaffe hospital in Hadera.

Bangladesh's Gen Z party shaken over alliance with Islamist Jamaat

At least 30 senior leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP) have openly opposed its alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, announced on Sunday, and several have resigned in protest.

A supporter of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) holds a party flag while posing for a photo in front of the stage ahead of a rally to be attended by BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman after his return from London, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, December 23, 2025.

Central Indonesia cancels New Year fireworks, celebrations as nation mourns Sumatra flood victims

Several governments and police forces have said they will not allow firework displays out of respect for the victims on Sumatra, where floods and landslides have killed over 1,100 people.

Two schoolgirls (front) wade through a street flooded by high tide in Muara Baru, Jakarta on December 6, 2025.

British Muslim woman faces backlash after posting positive experience at Ben-Gurion Airport

“They gave me a coffee, they gave me a cheese sandwich… we weren't strip-searched or anything like that, it was all good,” Sanam said.

Screenchot of Sanam's TikTok over a backdrop of travelers at Ben-Gurion Airport.