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Testifying before a Senate aviation subcommittee on Wednesday, Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford outlined the toll the 43-day government shutdown took on the agency’s workforce pipeline, saying hundreds of prospective air traffic controllers walked away during the lapse in funding.

According to Bedford, trainees were particularly hard hit by the uncertainty created by the shutdown, even though the FAA managed to keep its training academy operating. “Even though we kept the school open, I think the thought of not being paid was enough to frighten them away,” Bedford told lawmakers.

He estimated that the agency lost a significant number of recruits during that period. “We lost, I don’t know, four-to-five hundred of our trainees that just sort of gave up during the lapse,” Bedford said during the hearing.

The shutdown, the longest in U.S. history, also affected active controllers working in towers and other air traffic facilities, many of whom continued reporting to work without pay for more than six weeks.

Despite those losses, Bedford said the FAA has made progress in strengthening its workforce overall. While acknowledging that training has a high attrition rate, he said the agency now has more personnel moving through the system. He noted that there are currently 1,000 more trainees than at the same time last year and that the number of certified controllers has increased.

Still, Bedford cautioned lawmakers that improvements take time. “But as you point out, it’s a two-to-three-year full training cycle,” he said, underscoring that the impact of trainee losses cannot be reversed quickly.

Beyond staffing, Bedford also updated senators on the FAA’s modernization efforts, saying the agency remains on track to complete its transition from copper-based systems to fiber communications for air traffic control by the third quarter of 2027. “We’re 35% of the way through,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump demanded Wednesday that Venezuela return assets that it seized from U.S. oil companies years ago, justifying anew his announcement of a “blockade” against oil tankers traveling to or from the South American country that face American sanctions. Trump cited the lost U.S. investments in Venezuela when asked about his newest tactic in a monthslong pressure […]

Jonathan Pollard on Wednesday issued a special public appeal to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, urging them to approve the raising of the Israeli flag at the site of the former community of Nisanit in northern Gaza.

The request was made ahead of Chanukah and in advance of a flag-raising event scheduled for Thursday, being organized by the Nachala movement. In a letter addressed to Netanyahu and Katz, Pollard — who spent 30 years in an American prison for espionage — asked that the ceremony be permitted at the location where Nisanit once stood.

Pollard described himself as someone who “paid a heavy personal price out of deep loyalty to the State of Israel, its security, and its future,” and called for what he termed a “deep soul-searching” regarding the future of the Jewish people in Israel.

“From the heavy price paid in blood, body, and spirit, one clear truth emerges,” Pollard wrote. “We cannot accept a reality in which the Gaza Strip remains devoid of Jewish presence while continuing to pose an existential threat to Israeli citizens and to the communities of the south.”

According to Pollard, both historical experience and present-day security realities have repeatedly demonstrated that only a stable, sovereign Jewish civilian presence — alongside a security presence — can create real deterrence, strategic depth, and a secure future for Israel. “This is not merely an ideological question,” he wrote, “but one of national responsibility, security, and preventing the next catastrophe.”

Pollard stressed that the proposed flag-raising is not merely symbolic, but an act of profound national significance — an expression of connection to the land, continuity, and a refusal to surrender to violence and terror.

“On Chanukah — a holiday of light, steadfastness, and spiritual resolve — raising the Israeli flag in Nisanit will send the people of Israel a message of resilience and hope,” Pollard concluded. “It will also deliver a clear and sharp message to our enemies: the State of Israel does not retreat from those who seek its destruction.”

He ended his appeal by asking the prime minister and defense minister to approve the event, saying he believes it would be “a correct, values-driven, and unifying step — one that honors the memory of the fallen, the wounded of war, and the future of generations to come.”

{Matzav.com}

We speak often, and rightly so, about the importance of paying vendors on time. We remind ourselves that withholding payment is wrong, that it causes hardship, and that it reflects poorly on our communal values. Yet there is a painful contradiction playing out quietly in our own mosdos. I am a mechanech in a Lakewood […]

Efforts by Democrats in the House of Representatives to force President Donald Trump to seek congressional approval for military actions tied to Venezuela failed Wednesday, with two closely contested resolutions falling short after near party-line votes.

Lawmakers have repeatedly argued that the Constitution reserves the power to authorize anything beyond short-term military action to Congress, not the president. Those concerns intensified after the administration began a military campaign earlier this fall targeting what it describes as drug trafficking linked to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government.

Since early September, U.S. forces have conducted more than 20 strikes on suspected drug-running vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, operations that have resulted in the deaths of more than 80 people. The administration says the actions are aimed at countering the flow of illegal narcotics that have taken American lives, an accusation Maduro has firmly denied.

One of the defeated measures, sponsored by Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sought to require the removal of U.S. armed forces from hostilities involving “any presidentially designated terrorist organization in the Western Hemisphere” unless Congress explicitly authorized the deployment. That resolution failed by a vote of 216 to 210.

A second proposal, introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee, would have directed the president to withdraw U.S. forces from any military engagement with or against Venezuela that lacked congressional approval. That measure was rejected 213 to 211.

The votes split largely along partisan lines. Two Republicans joined Democrats in supporting the first resolution, while three crossed party lines on the second. Meanwhile, two Democrats opposed the first measure and one voted against the second.

Republican leaders defended the administration’s approach. Speaking against the resolutions, Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, argued that the measures were designed “to block President Trump from defending the U.S. from designated cartel terrorists.”

Still, some Republicans broke ranks. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a frequent critic of Trump, supported both measures, arguing that the authority to wage war should not rest with a single individual. “If the president believes military action against Venezuela is justified and needed, he should make the case and Congress should vote,” Massie said in a House speech.

The votes came just hours before Trump was scheduled to deliver an unusual evening address from the White House. While the speech was expected to highlight what he views as major accomplishments, it also followed his recent order imposing a “blockade” on sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, fueling speculation about possible further military escalation.

Democratic critics also contend that the administration’s goals extend beyond counternarcotics operations, suggesting that Trump ultimately seeks to force regime change in Caracas. Despite repeated attempts since September to require explicit congressional authorization for the campaign, Democrats have been unable to overcome opposition from Republicans, who hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.

{Matzav.com}

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said Wednesday that he will resign from the bureau next month, ending a brief and tumultuous tenure in which he clashed with the Justice Department over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and was forced to reconcile the realities of his law enforcement job with provocative claims he made […]

President Donald Trump has affixed partisan plaques to the portraits of all U.S. commanders in chief, himself included, on his Presidential Walk of Fame at the White House, describing Joe Biden as “sleepy,” Barack Obama as “divisive” and Ronald Reagan as a fan of a young Trump. The additions, first seen publicly Wednesday, mark Trump’s […]

The Jackson Township Board of Education has accepted a $40 million bid from Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG) to purchase the former Christa McAuliffe Middle School. BMG has not publicly stated what it plans to do with the campus, and no formal proposal regarding future use of the property has been announced. The acceptance of the […]

When Israeli aircraft began striking targets across Iran in the early hours of June 13, the operation marked a turning point not only in the scope of Israel’s military campaign, but in how openly it chose to conduct it, a new Washington Post report reveals. For the first time, Israel publicly acknowledged a coordinated effort […]

Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett said Wednesday evening that Israeli security authorities are examining claims by an Iranian-linked hacker group that it infiltrated his mobile phone, stressing that initial findings show the device itself was not breached.

According to Bennett, security reviews determined that while his phone was not hacked, access was gained to his Telegram account through other means.

In a statement released by his office, Bennett said that unlawfully obtained materials have been circulated online, including contact lists, photographs, and message exchanges. Some of the content, he said, is authentic, while other materials are fabricated. Among the items shared was a manipulated image depicting Bennett alongside David Ben-Gurion. Bennett emphasized that the dissemination of such materials constitutes a criminal offense.

Earlier, the hacker group calling itself “Handala,” which is identified with Iranian intelligence elements, claimed responsibility for what it described as a “historic breach,” dubbing the alleged operation “Operation Octopus” — a reference to Bennett’s past public statements about Iran.

The group subsequently released documents, images, and correspondence it claimed were extracted from Bennett’s device, along with a list containing hundreds of phone numbers, including those of journalists, spokespersons, and senior figures in Israel and abroad.

Bennett’s office initially said the device in question was no longer in use. A later update clarified that examinations found no evidence of a breach into the phone itself. Shortly after that announcement, however, the hacker group published 141 pages of phone numbers it claimed belonged to senior Israeli and international figures, including foreign leaders.

Israeli security agencies, including the Shin Bet, are now investigating the incident and the source of the published materials. Among the possibilities being examined is that some of the information originated from a different device belonging to someone close to Bennett.

Bennett also addressed the personal and political implications of the affair, saying that “Israel’s enemies will do everything they can to prevent my return to serving the country — it won’t help them.”

{Matzav.com}

Six Sifrei Torah were miraculously rescued without damage from a fire that broke out Wednesday evening at a Shul on Mavo HaSaifan Street in Ashdod. Following reports of the blaze, multiple firefighting teams from the Ashdod regional station were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters worked under extremely difficult conditions, facing intense heat and heavy smoke, […]

New York is poised to become the latest state to legalize physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill patients after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that she plans to sign the Medical Aid in Dying Act next year, following a deal with legislative leaders to add additional safeguards to the bill. The announcement marks a decisive and […]

Kamala Harris offered a blunt assessment of the Democratic Party’s current direction while stopping short of signaling whether she plans to seek the presidency again, saying she has not yet decided on her political future.

Speaking on the “At Our Table” podcast hosted by former Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison, Harris was asked directly whether she was considering a run in 2028 and whether she felt there was unfinished work ahead of her. “I have not made any decisions about that,” Harris replied.

During the conversation, Harris also reflected on what she sees as deeper issues facing her party, telling Harrison that Democrats are struggling to adapt. She said she believes the party is “stuck in the past.”

Harrison, for his part, made clear that Harris would not lack backing if she chooses to move forward. “If you do make a decision, and whatever the decision that you make, there are going to be millions of people who will support you with whatever you want to do. There’s so much love for you, you’re seeing it on your book tour, you’re selling out,” he said.

Speculation about Harris’s intentions has intensified following a report by Axios, which said she was “stepping toward” a 2028 campaign. The outlet pointed to her recent appearance before the Democratic National Committee and the continuation of her nationwide book tour as signs of renewed political activity.

At the DNC gathering last week, Harris delivered remarks that took aim at both major parties while urging Democrats to think beyond the next election cycle. “Obviously, we must focus on the midterms,” Harris said in her Friday speech. “But Democrats, we must also have a clear vision for what comes after the midterms — and then after Trump. We need to answer the question. We need to answer the question: what comes next for our party and our democracy?”

She went on to argue that voter frustration runs deep, saying that “both parties have failed to hold the public’s trust” and that “people are done with the status quo, and they’re ready to break things to force change.”

The Democratic National Committee’s annual winter meeting, held in Los Angeles, drew several high-profile figures, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, adding to the sense that early maneuvering for the party’s future leadership is already underway.

{Matzav.com}

The U.S. government admitted Wednesday that the Federal Aviation Administration and the Army played a role in causing the collision last January between an airliner and a Black Hawk helicopter near the nation’s capital, killing 67 people. The official response to the first lawsuit filed by one of the victims’ families said that the government […]

London Mayor Sadiq Khan is facing criticism after activists said City Hall officials attempted to block a vigil in Parliament Square commemorating Jewish victims of the Bondi Beach Chanukah massacre in Australia, even as national authorities moved to toughen enforcement against antisemitic rhetoric amid rising security threats. The vigil, organized Sunday by the Campaign Against […]

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani on Wednesday sharply criticized Israeli military actions in Gaza, warning that continued strikes jeopardize the ceasefire agreement and complicate the role of mediators, while calling on Israel and Hamas to move forward to the second phase of the deal.

Speaking after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Al Thani said there is an “urgent need” to advance to the next stage of the ceasefire and hostage-release agreement. He noted that Qatar and the United States had agreed to intensify diplomatic efforts to facilitate that transition and that preparations are underway for a meeting of the mediating countries to formulate a framework for the second phase.

“There is an urgent need to move to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement,” Al Thani said. “We agreed with Rubio to double our efforts to reach this goal, and we are preparing for a meeting of the mediators to shape a plan for moving to the next stage.”

Al Thani accused Israel of repeatedly violating the terms of the agreement, asserting that such actions threaten the fragile ceasefire. “The main challenge facing continued implementation is clear violations that are occurring on a daily basis,” he said. “As we see and monitor, there are assassinations, attacks, and the demolition of homes in the Gaza Strip.”

He added that Qatar has raised these concerns because of their serious implications. “This raises many concerns for us, endangers the ceasefire, and also puts us, as mediators, in an embarrassing position, because we cannot address matters like this,” he stated.

Despite the criticism, Al Thani emphasized ongoing coordination with Washington, saying Qatar views the United States as committed to preserving the agreement. “We see commitment from the United States to the continuation of the agreement, and we emphasize our commitment to work with them to protect this agreement, maintain it, and move it from one stage to the next,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a top U.S. envoy this week that Israel will soon name a new point person to handle stalled security talks with Syria, signaling an effort to restart negotiations that have languished for months amid leadership turnover in Jerusalem. During a Monday meeting with U.S. special envoy to Syria Tom […]

Ukraine reported a major escalation in its maritime campaign against Russia on Monday, announcing that it had carried out what it described as the first successful underwater drone attack against a Russian submarine.

According to Ukrainian officials, the operation targeted a Kilo-class submarine docked at the port of Novorossiysk, a key Russian naval facility in the Krasnodar region. Kyiv said the strike left the vessel critically damaged while it was stationed at the pier.

The Security Service of Ukraine said the attack was conducted using its “Sub Sea Baby” underwater drones and was jointly executed by the Ukrainian Navy and the SBU’s 13th Main Directorate of Military Counterintelligence. The submarine, officials said, was equipped with four launch tubes for Kalibr cruise missiles that Russia has repeatedly used in strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities.

Footage released by the SBU showed multiple Russian naval vessels moored at the Novorossiysk base, followed by a powerful explosion near the docked ships.

Novorossiysk has taken on increased strategic importance for Moscow as Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Sevastopol and other ports in occupied Crimea, forcing Russia to relocate much of its Black Sea Fleet.

Ukrainian officials said the submarine had remained in Novorossiysk due to earlier Ukrainian actions, including the deployment of Sea Baby surface drones that pushed Russian naval assets out of Sevastopol Bay.

Russia rejected Ukraine’s claims. A spokesperson for the Black Sea Fleet said on Telegram that the attack caused no damage and that no submarines or crew members were harmed.

Military analysts say the strike underscores the growing role of unmanned systems in modern warfare. “[Ukraine] once again proved that minnows can swallow sharks using innovation,” drone expert Brett Velicovich told Fox News Digital. “Underwater drones are the next evolution in drone warfare.”

The reported attack comes as Russia continues to carry out large-scale drone and missile barrages against Ukraine, even as diplomatic efforts intensify to bring an end to the war launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and members of his negotiating team met Sunday in Berlin with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine.

Earlier in the week, Zelenskyy also held discussions with European leaders focused on shaping a broader political framework to end the conflict, ensure long-term security commitments for Ukraine, and lay the groundwork for the country’s postwar reconstruction.

{Matzav.com}

Teen use of alcohol, nicotine and marijuana remains at record lows, according to national survey results released Wednesday. They consume a lot of energy drinks, though. And there are slight, but concerning, increases in heroin and cocaine use. But overall, the findings indicate teens are drinking, smoking and using substances at much lower rates than […]

A powerful and inspiring national halachah quiz focusing on the laws of Chanukah was held this week for thousands of students from the Shuvu educational network, culminating in an impressive final event attended by leading rabbinic figures.

After several intensive weeks of studying the halachos of Chanukah in Shuvu schools across the country, approximately 800 students gathered at the Ramat Elchanan Auditorium in Bnei Brak for the final round of the nationwide competition. The event featured remarkable displays of Torah knowledge and was widely described as a sanctification of Hashem’s Name.

Each Shuvu school had previously conducted its own internal quiz to select outstanding representatives. Those students advanced to the national finals, where they competed against one another. The morning session was dedicated to students in grades 4–6, followed later in the day by the competition for grades 7–12.

The audience itself also demonstrated exceptional mastery of the material. In order to actively involve all students while their peers competed on stage, halachic questions were projected on large screens, and students responded using electronic clickers. Valuable prizes were awarded to participants who answered correctly.

Shuvu CEO Rabbi Chaim Michael Gutterman described his deep emotion at witnessing the uplifting scenes and expressed gratitude to all those who made the event possible. He singled out Deputy CEO Rabbi David Ivgi, who initiated and conceptualized the quiz; network supervisor Rabbi Aharon Elmaliach, who directed the competition; Deputy CEO for Development Rabbi Motti Buterman, who served as master of ceremonies; and Rabbi Chaim Bruner, coordinator of Shuvu’s Batei Midrash project in partnership with Knesses Yisrael. After speaking about the miracles of Chanukah, Rabbi Gutterman concluded by declaring, “Shuvu itself is a miracle.”

The Shuvu network was honored to host the renowned posek, Rav Amram Fried, along with the Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Aharon, Rav Shmuel Dovid Walkin, a member of Shuvu’s leadership. The rabbinic guests posed questions to the students, expressed profound admiration for their extraordinary knowledge, and blessed them to continue growing in yiras Shamayim, Torah, and mitzvos.

In the elementary school division, the title of Chassan HaHalachah was awarded to student Lavi Toviana of Shuvu Be’er Sheva. In the high school division, two students earned the distinction: Amir Cohen Neizov of Shuvu Rishon LeZion and Alon Yadgarov of Shuvu Petach Tikvah. The honorees received their certificates from Harav Amram Fried, Harav Shmuel Dovid Walkin, and CEO Rabbi Gutterman.

A particularly moving moment took place at the conclusion of the event, when Rav Amram Fried turned to Rabbi Gutterman and asked to receive his brocha. “You are bringing forth what is precious from what is overlooked,” the posek said emotionally. “About you it can truly be said: ‘You shall be as My mouth.’”

As one Shuvu educator summarized the spirit of the day: “It doesn’t truly matter who received the title. Every student in the Shuvu network is a winner—because all of them invested effort and learned the halachos thoroughly.”

{Matzav.com}