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U.S. military and law enforcement forces carried out a surprise early-morning operation Friday in the Caribbean, intercepting a tanker believed to be smuggling sanctioned Venezuelan oil and signaling a stepped-up effort to disrupt covert maritime trafficking networks.

According to U.S. Southern Command, Marines and Navy personnel assigned to Joint Task Force Southern Spear deployed from the USS Gerald R. Ford before dawn and took control of the motor tanker Olina without resistance. The mission was conducted in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.

“Once again, our joint interagency forces sent a clear message this morning: there is no safe haven for criminals,” the command said in a statement posted on X.

The operation was supported by the Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group, including the USS Iwo Jima, USS San Antonio, and USS Fort Lauderdale, highlighting the scale of force Washington is bringing to bear as it intensifies its campaign against illegal shipping activity in the region.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the Coast Guard intercepted the vessel in international waters east of the Caribbean after it departed Venezuela and attempted to avoid U.S. authorities.

“The world’s criminals are on notice,” Noem wrote on X.

U.S. officials believe the Olina is linked to a so-called “ghost fleet,” a network of ships accused of transporting embargoed oil using falsified registrations and deceptive nationality claims. The Trump administration says proceeds from these operations help finance criminal enterprises, including narco-terrorism.

“The ghost fleets will not outrun justice,” Noem said. “They will not hide under false claims of nationality.”

The interdiction was conducted as part of Operation Southern Spear, an initiative led by the Department of War focused on cutting off illegal oil flows and reinforcing maritime security throughout the Western Hemisphere.

“This is owning the sea,” Noem said.

{Matzav.com}

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the killing of a Minneapolis mother by a federal immigration officer reflects what he described as a sustained pattern of harsh enforcement under President Donald Trump, arguing that the incident exposed deeper problems with how immigration agents operate nationwide.

In an interview Thursday night, Mamdani dismissed claims by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that the officer involved acted according to training when he shot 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good inside her vehicle after being struck by the car. Mamdani instead faulted the administration’s expanded use of ICE personnel, saying the policies created conditions that led to the woman’s death.

“If that is following his training, then I think there are larger questions about the training that’s being provided to ICE agents,” Mamdani said during a CNN appearance with Kaitlan Collins.

He went on to say that the widely circulated footage of the shooting left little room for doubt in his view.

“We can all see that video and come to our own conclusions that that ICE agent murdered a woman in Minneapolis, and it is a glimpse into what has been a year full of cruelty.”

Mamdani said the incident reverberated far beyond Minneapolis, particularly in New York City, which he noted is home to roughly 3 million immigrants. He said many residents woke up the next day feeling unsettled and fearful.

The mayor added that he has already raised concerns directly with Trump, telling the president that ICE’s tactics undermine, rather than enhance, public safety.

“It is clear to myself and to so many across the country, as I’ve shared with the president directly, that these ICE raids are cruel and inhumane and they do nothing to further the cause or the interest of public safety,” he said.

Collins challenged Mamdani on his repeated use of the word “murder,” pointing out that Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey — despite angrily telling ICE to “get the f—k out” of his city — has stopped short of using that term.

“That was the conclusion I came to just in watching that video, and I think that’s the conclusion many Americans came to, that same conclusion, no matter how many times this is mischaracterized by others,” Mamdani replied.

The mayor has made opposition to ICE a recurring theme, previously labeling the agency “rogue.” During his Democratic primary victory speech in June, he pledged to wield his authority “to reject Donald Trump’s fascism [and] to stop mass ICE agents from deporting our neighbors.”

After a recent enforcement action in Chinatown, Mamdani released a video urging residents to “stand up” to ICE and explaining how to assert constitutional rights during encounters with immigration officers.

His remarks come as Democratic officials across the country escalate their criticism of ICE amid protests sparked by Good’s death, including demonstrations in New York City. According to reports, some members of Congress are even weighing the possibility of forcing a government shutdown to push for changes to the agency.

Frey, for his part, declined to walk back his own sharp language after publicly demanding that ICE leave Minneapolis.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has also entered the fray, saying her administration is exploring ways to make it easier for New Yorkers to bring lawsuits against ICE agents. On MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” she recounted a recent confrontation with an agent in Lower Manhattan.

“I said, ‘Why do you wear a mask? No other law enforcement does this, our police don’t do it, our FBI agents don’t do it, why are you doing this?’” Hochul said.

{Matzav.com}

Against the backdrop of mounting tension over Israel’s draft law and growing anxiety about the future of the Torah world, a new framework has been put forward that aims to defuse the crisis. The initiative is being advanced by the Rav Dovid Leibel, president of the Achvas Torah communities, together with the Stoliner Rebbe.

The emerging plan is designed to extricate the chareidi public from what supporters describe as a legal and political deadlock, while preserving the foundational principle of Toraso umnaso. Its architects argue that the current impasse stems from a lack of clear differentiation between full time yeshiva students and those who are formally registered but do not actually learn.

At the heart of the proposal is a rejection of any system of enlistment quotas or numerical targets. According to the plan, no fixed draft goals would be imposed on the yeshiva world, thereby shielding bona fide Torah learners from sanctions or coercive measures.

In parallel, the framework calls for what is described as airtight and meaningful oversight. Under this model, military authorities would conduct thorough and consistent verification to ensure that anyone listed as a yeshiva student is indeed attending and learning on a regular basis.

Those found not to meet the criteria of Toraso umnaso—and who also do not enlist—would face firm consequences. The proposal envisions enhanced enforcement, including significant economic penalties and additional sanctions, directed specifically at individuals who are neither learning nor serving.

Proponents of the initiative say its logic is straightforward: there is no realistic way to defend draft evasion by individuals who are not part of the yeshiva system in practice. They contend that genuine enforcement would remove thousands of non-learning registrants from the rolls, thereby addressing the army’s manpower needs without harming authentic yeshiva students.

The outline has already drawn notable interest from reserve soldiers’ organizations as well as figures within the Religious Zionist community, who view it as a practical avenue for increasing enlistment among those not engaged in full-time Torah study, while leaving the core of the Torah world intact.

{Matzav.com}

ISRAEL: Dramatic footage has emerged from a tragic incident at Te’ayu Beach in Bat Yam, where multiple kite surfers were suddenly violently lifted approximately 150 meters into the air by powerful winds. Tragically, one of them lost their life.

BREAKING: U.S. Southern Command released footage showing the boarding and seizure of the oil tanker Olina in the Caribbean Sea. This marks the third oil tanker seized by the United States this week.

Khamenei: Last night in Tehran, and in some other places, a bunch of vandals came and destroyed a building belonging to their own country. For example, suppose they destroyed a certain building or a wall, just to please the President of America…

The IDF confirmed it carried out airstrikes earlier today against Hezbollah terror infrastructure in southern Lebanon, including launch sites and weapons storage facilities.

Iranian state outlets released footage showing armed individuals firing on IRGC forces during last night’s protests in Kermanshah, western Iran.

Sec. Burgum says there are “not enough seats in the room” for all the oil executives that wanted to meet with President Trump to discuss revitalizing the Venezuelan oil industry and strengthen the relationship with the United States.

Secretary Wright on Venezuelan oil production: “The first increase in activities will be among the companies that are already there… We’re going to see Venezuelans returning home to their country that already work for a number of American companies and international companies abroad.”

Sec. Wright: “We’ve got a Venezuelan government that wants to work with the United States… because that’s the only way they get oil revenue… I think we’re going to see a very, very positive change in the trajectory of Venezuela.”

Israel’s most prestigious cultural distinction will be conferred this year on internationally acclaimed artist Yaacov Agam, recognizing a body of work that has profoundly influenced Israeli culture, Jewish public life, and the global visual arts landscape.

The 2026 Israel Prize in Visual Arts—Painting, Sculpture, and Photography—is scheduled to be presented after Israel marks its 78th Independence Day.

The decision was announced by Education Minister Yoav Kisch, who pointed to Agam’s trailblazing role in kinetic and op art and to a career spanning decades that reshaped how audiences engage with visual expression in Israel and beyond.

In explaining its choice, the prize committee—headed by Dr. Chaim Perluk, alongside Prof. Gilad Dovshani and Dr. Nurit Sirkis-Bank—highlighted Agam’s ability to challenge conventional artistic frameworks. The panel lauded him for “breaking the boundaries of traditional visual art” through creations centered on motion, change, and the viewer’s active involvement.

According to the committee, Agam’s work embodies a philosophical outlook in which reality is never static but constantly evolving, a theme that runs consistently through his artistic output.

For Jewish communities around the world, Agam’s influence is felt most powerfully through a single monumental project: the enormous menorah erected annually at Manhattan’s Grand Army Plaza, which has been publicly lit every Chanukah since 1986.

That landmark menorah traces its origins back to the late 1970s, when activists from the Lubavitch Youth Organization (Tzach) first raised a large menorah in Manhattan. While its presence was striking, artistic design was not yet a central consideration.

The concept took a decisive turn after Atara Ciechanover proposed enlisting a leading artist to elevate the project. She suggested her close friend Yaacov Agam, already a figure of international renown and then living in Paris. According to an account on Chabad.org, the endeavor unfolded over many months, during which Agam contributed his talents without charge and worked closely with Tzach’s Executive Director, Rabbi Shmuel Butman, supervising every aspect of the design and construction.

When concerns were raised about deviations from the menorah’s traditional form as described by the Rambam, the Lubavitcher Rebbe clarified that while diagonal branches were a requirement, an artist of Agam’s caliber needed space for genuine creative expression. After a scaled model remained on the Rebbe’s desk for several days, final approval was granted.

The menorah’s inaugural lighting on December 26, 1986.

“I didn’t only want to create something beautiful,” Agam once explained. “The Romans could also create something beautiful. I wanted something beautiful and Jewish—modern, yet true to its roots.”

Over the years, that vision has resonated with millions of passersby, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, turning the menorah into one of the most recognizable Jewish symbols in a public urban setting.

At 97, Agam remains among Israel’s most revered artists, with works exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, institutions throughout Europe, and prominent public spaces across Israel. Still, for many Jews, his most lasting legacy is the menorah that rises each Chanukah in the heart of New York City, serving as a visible declaration of Jewish faith, identity, and endurance.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.com reports the passing of Rabbi Menachem Manish Kirshenbaum z”l, the legendary longtime manager of Gutnick Halls and a devoted Meron figure for decades. He was 80.

The levayah took place this morning, departing from the Shamgar Funeral Home in Yerushalayim and proceeding to Har HaMenuchos for kevurah.

Rabbi Kirshenbaum was born on 21 Adar 5705, the youngest child of Rabbi Avraham Moshe Kirshenbaum and Mrs. Bas Sheva, a descendant of the family of the Tzemach Tzedek.

As a teenager, he grew close to Chabad-Lubavitch through Yerushalayim’s evening yeshiva network, founded by noted educators Rav Tuvia Blau and Rav Naftali HaKohen Roth. After his marriage to his wife, Mrs. Nechama, daughter of Rav Yechezkel Shraga Margolies, he settled in the Mattersdorf neighborhood, where he became a fixture at the local Chabad shul.

Gifted with a clear and pleasant voice, Rabbi Kirshenbaum honored many Chabad gatherings with his singing in his younger years and was a member of the famed choir conducted by Rabbi Yosef Yehuda Marton.

A defining chapter of his life began with the establishment of Gutnick Halls in Yerushalayim’s Givat Shaul neighborhood by philanthropist Yosef Isaac Gutnick, with the goal of easing the financial burden of weddings for families. Appointed by Kollel Chabad to manage the hall, Rabbi Kirshenbaum filled the role with extraordinary dedication for more than three decades, becoming synonymous with the venue itself.

Equally central to his identity was his lifelong bond with Meron. For nearly seventy years, he was known as an “Ish Meron,” traveling constantly to the resting place of Rav Shimon bar Yochai. He became widely known for documenting the Lag BaOmer hilula over many years and is remembered as the first person to film the Meron celebrations with a video camera.

Rabbi Kirshenbaum is survived by his wife, Nechama, and their children, Reb Avraham Moshe; Reb Yechezkel Shraga Shimon; Mrs. Chaya Miriam Berger, Mrs. Chassia Essner, Mrs. Esther Malka Singer, Mrs. Rivka Chaifetz (wife of Reb Natan Chaifetz of Lev L’Achim), Mrs. Sarah Levy, Mrs. Rachel Srulovitz, and Mrs. Chana Tzvobner.

Yehi zichro boruch.

{Matzav.com}

Criticism has intensified after Megyn Kelly made remarks seen as complimentary toward white nationalist Nick Fuentes, comments that many said minimized his history of extremist rhetoric.

The controversy stems from an interview Kelly conducted with Tucker Carlson, during which she spoke about Fuentes in flattering terms. Kelly described him as “very smart,” while telling listeners to “excuse his thoughts on race, and Jews, and the Holocaust, and all that,” a formulation that immediately drew condemnation from across the political spectrum.

Fuentes has long been associated with Holocaust denial, praise for Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, and repeated racist and antisemitic statements, a record that critics said made Kelly’s comments especially alarming.

Reaction from media figures was swift and scathing. John Podhoretz, editor of Commentary Magazine, wrote on X: “Megyn Kelly has rotted to the core.”

Ben Domenech of The Spectator piled on, saying, “If you think Nick Fuentes is brilliant, I’m honestly impressed that you have enough brain function to remember to breathe.”

Dave Rubin, host of The Rubin Report, coined a derisive nickname for Kelly, posting: “Great move for Grandma Groyper to attach herself to Fuentes and Candace. Is there anything she won’t do for a click? Find out tomorrow!”

Billionaire investor Cliff Asness added a barbed remark of his own: “Did she praise him for making the trains run on time?”

Kelly also found herself in a public fight with Ian Miles Cheong after he circulated a clip from the Carlson interview. Responding directly, Kelly lashed out: “You’re a pathetic misinformation …. I was explaining why young white men are listening to Fuentes & made clear that while I believe he makes interesting points about the govt etc I was not speaking about his thoughts on Jews, women, blacks etc. [Curse] you & your lies,” she said.

Addressing the broader uproar, Kelly framed the dispute as part of an ongoing pattern of criticism she faces for engaging with controversial voices on the right. She referenced past demands that she distance herself from Carlson after his interview with Fuentes last year. “And then came the, ‘Tucker’s interviewed Nick and you must disavow him. Now you really need to break up with Tucker,’” she said. “As if my entire career rises or falls based on who my friends are, and whose interview I decide to weigh in on. Well, it’s ridiculous.”

Kelly later elaborated on her assessment of Fuentes, reiterating her view that, despite his record, some of his commentary was worth hearing. “He’s obviously got some very extreme views, but he’s very interesting, and he’s very smart, and on a lot of things, there is value to be derived from that guy’s messaging,” she said. She added, “There are a lot of things he talks about that you’re like, ‘Huh, this is not a bad point about our country.’ Excuse his thoughts on race, and Jews, and the Holocaust, and all that.”

The episode comes after months in which Kelly has repeatedly drawn backlash. Kelly defended Candace Owens and dismissed criticism over questions raised about the death of Charlie Kirk. “And then came Candace Owens, and that…she really drives people crazy. She drives them crazy!” Kelly said.

She went further, pushing back on claims that she should have condemned Owens for remarks involving Israel. “They were very angry that I didn’t call her out for what she said about Israel possibly being involved with Charlie Kirk. Well, I didn’t call her out because I was totally fine with those questions being raised and still am!” Kelly said.

Kelly concluded with an unapologetic defense of her stance: “I’m sorry, but I am! I’m sick of this [garbage]. I am allowed to have questions about what, if anyone, aligned with Israel or from Israel might have had to do with Charlie’s death.”

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump said Friday that he has canceled a previously expected second wave of U.S. military attacks on Venezuela, attributing the decision to cooperation from the South American nation’s government and progress on related issues including political prisoner releases and collaboration on energy infrastructure. In remarks and social media posts, Trump described the development […]

An Israeli who was critically wounded in the Bondi Beach Chanukah attack in Australia was flown back to Israel on Friday in a long-range medical evacuation coordinated by Hatzolah Air. The patient, described as a hero who was shot multiple times during the attack, had been receiving treatment in Australia before being cleared for transport. […]

Flu activity in New York City is beginning to show signs of declining, but transmission remains at very high levels, city health officials said Thursday, cautioning residents that the season is far from over. Speaking at a press conference, New York City Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said recent data indicate a modest downturn […]

A road rage-related crash in Manhattan’s West Village late Thursday ended with a driver fatally shot by police, marking the second fatal police-involved shooting in New York City within five hours, authorities said. The incident occurred just before 10:55 p.m. near Bedford Street and Sixth Avenue. Police said a 37-year-old man driving a BMW had […]

As demonstrations intensified across Iran, President Donald Trump delivered a renewed warning Thursday night, saying the United States would respond forcefully if Iranian authorities move to kill protesters.

Speaking during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Trump accused the Iranian regime of brutal tactics against civilians in past unrest. “What they’ve done in the past, they’ve started shooting the hell out of people. And all of a sudden, people without any weapons whatsoever standing there and get machine guns, gunning them down, or they grab, take them to prisons and then hang them and kill them. So they played rough. And I said, if they do that, we’re going to hit them very hard. We’re going to hit them hard.”

.@POTUS on Iran: What they've done is, in the past, they started shooting the hell out of [protesters]… and I said if they do that, we're going to hit them very hard… So far, for the most part, they haven't… The enthusiasm to overturn that regime is incredible. pic.twitter.com/i7SBH349Ke

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 9, 2026

Trump said preparations are already in place should Iran escalate its response. “We’re ready to do it. If they do that, we’re going to hit them hard. And so far, for the most part, there’s been some of it, but for the most part, they haven’t. There have been people killed. Some of them, the crowds are so big that some of them have had, were stomped on. Literally. It was terrible.”

He emphasized that Tehran has been explicitly warned as the scale of unrest grows. “We’ll see what happens. There’s so many people protesting. Nobody’s ever seen anything like what’s happening right now. But I have put Iran on notice that if they start shooting at them..if they do anything bad to these people, we’re going to hit them very hard.”

Earlier in the day, Trump echoed similar remarks during an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, reiterating his support for demonstrators and cautioning Iran against violent crackdowns. “I have let them know that if they start killing people, which they tend to do during their riots… we’re going to hit them very hard,” he said.

When Hewitt pointed out reports that dozens had already died, Trump responded that not all fatalities could be attributed directly to security forces. “I’m not sure I can necessarily hold somebody responsible for that, but … they’ve been told very strongly – even more strongly than I’m speaking to you right now – that if they do that, they’re going to have to pay hell,” the President stated.

As protests mounted, Reza Pahlavi, the Crown Prince of Iran, issued a statement condemning the regime’s actions to suppress communication while expressing appreciation for Trump’s warnings. “Millions of Iranians demanded their freedom tonight. In response, the regime in Iran has cut all lines of communication. It has shut down the Internet. It has cut landlines. It may even attempt to jam satellite signals,” Pahlavi wrote on social media.

Pahlavi urged international leaders to take action alongside the United States. “I want to thank the leader of the free world, President Trump, for reiterating his promise to hold the regime to account. It is time for others, including European leaders, to follow his lead, break their silence, and act more decisively in support of the people of Iran,” he added.

He concluded with a call for immediate intervention to restore connectivity. “I call on them to use all technical, financial, and diplomatic resources available to restore communication to the Iranian people so that their voice and their will can be heard and seen. Do not let the voices of my courageous compatriots be silenced,” concluded Pahlavi.

The statements came amid what observers describe as the largest wave of protests in nearly two weeks, with demonstrators expanding their challenge to Iran’s leadership across multiple regions.

Iran International reported that tens of thousands of people were participating in rallies in major cities, including Tehran, as the unrest continued to spread.

According to the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights, at least 45 protesters have been killed since the demonstrations began, among them eight minors, allegedly at the hands of security forces.

Videos circulating online from Tehran showed crowds chanting slogans including “death to the dictator” and “death to Khamenei”.

Additional footage from Wednesday night captured protesters in the western city of Ilam shouting “death to Khamenei.”

Separate videos shared on social media showed demonstrators in Fars Province tearing down and destroying a statue of Qassem Soleimani, the former head of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps.

{Matzav.com}