Matzav

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has made clear to coalition partners that he has no intention of dismissing National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, despite claims by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara that the minister violated a prior agreement governing the terms of his service.

According to a report by Kan News, Netanyahu’s remarks come amid a petition currently being heard by Israel’s High Court of Justice challenging Ben Gvir’s continued tenure. The attorney general has argued that Ben Gvir breached understandings reached with her office in the past, raising the possibility that she could demand his removal.

Sources close to the prime minister stressed that even if the High Court were to rule otherwise, the authority to appoint or dismiss cabinet ministers rests solely with the prime minister. For that reason, they said, Ben Gvir will remain in his post.

Against the backdrop of growing expectations that Baharav-Miara may formally call for Ben Gvir’s dismissal, Netanyahu submitted a response on Sunday to the High Court petition. In his filing, the prime minister argued that the court lacks the legal authority to intervene in decisions regarding the appointment or removal of ministers.

The dispute follows an agreement reached last April between the attorney general and Ben Gvir outlining the framework for his continued service. That arrangement addressed, among other issues, the minister’s involvement in senior appointments, the operational and decision-making independence of the police, and the regulation of working relations between the political echelon and law enforcement.

Earlier this year, in February, and prior to Ben Gvir’s return to the government following his resignation over the hostage deal, Kan News reported that Netanyahu had already weighed the possibility of refusing to comply with a High Court ruling concerning the minister’s position. At that time, Netanyahu made clear that he would not accept the attorney general’s stance on the matter.

{Matzav.com}

It is with great sadness that Matzav.comreports the petirah of Rav Yitzchak Abadi zt”l, concluding a lifetime of singular dedication to halacha, clarity in psak, and the shaping of generations of talmidei chachamim who continue to spread his influence throughout the world.

Born on March 12, 1933, in Venezuela, Rav Abadi entered the world far from the major Torah centers of the time. His parents soon brought him to Teverya, then under Mandatory Palestine, setting him on a path of Torah. His childhood was spent in Haifa, and from his earliest years, it was evident that he possessed an uncommon depth, seriousness, and yearning for Torah.

His formative learning took him first to the Yishuv HaChadash in Tel Aviv and then to Yeshivas Chevron in Yerushalayim. The atmosphere of penetrating iyun, coupled with the yiras Shamayim that defined the yeshiva, left an indelible mark on him.

At just 19 years old, his extraordinary gifts were recognized by none other than the Chazon Ish. Sensing his potential, the Chazon Ish sent him to Montreux, Switzerland, for further growth, an unusual and remarkable endorsement for a young bochur. Only a year later, the Chazon Ish guided him once again, this time sending him across the ocean to Lakewood, New Jersey, to study under Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l. With this move, Rav Abadi entered the heart of the great American Torah renaissance.

Under the tutelage of Rav Aharon Kotler, Rav Abadi developed into an outstanding talmid chochom. After Rav Aharon’s passing, he was widely viewed as one of the central poskim for the burgeoning Lakewood kehilla. His ability to analyze, clarify, and decide the most intricate halachic dilemmas set him apart, and his psakim were sought by rabbanim across the globe.

Rav Abadi was known for tackling complex and sensitive questions, often crafting rulings that were both deeply grounded in the mesorah and yet innovative in their application.

In 1980, Rav Abadi charted an independent course, establishing a halacha kollel in Lakewood devoted to cultivating elite talmidei chachomim capable of addressing real-world halachic questions. The kollel quickly drew attention for its rigor and its insistence on producing outstanding poskim.

In 1993, Rav Abadi moved the kollel to Har Nof in Yerushalayim, where it continued to flourish. Students Rav Abadi eventually returned to Lakewood in 2009, continuing to answer shailos and guide seekers of halachic clarity until the final years of his life.

His written works include Ohr Yitzchak and his well-known Birkat Hamazon Hakatzar.

The levayah is scheduled for today at 11:00 AM at the Conrgegation Sons of Israel Holocaust Memorial Chapel, located at 613 Ramsey Avenue in Lakewood, NJ. Kevurah will take place in Eretz Yisroel.

Rav Abadi is survived by a wonderful family following in his ways.

Yehi zichro baruch.

{Matzav.com}

A 20-year-old American yeshiva bochur was critically wounded during the terror attack at a Chanukah celebration in Sydney, Australia, as his family describes a young man devoted to spreading joy and strengthening Jewish life.

Leibel Lazaroff was shot in the abdomen and leg during the attack at the annual “Chanukah by the Sea” event at Bondi Beach on Sunday night. Family members said he suffered significant blood loss and still has shrapnel lodged in his stomach and upper thigh. He is hospitalized in critical but stable condition and is expected to undergo additional surgery.

Leibel’s father, Rabbi Yosef Lazaroff of Texas, shared an emotional message on Monday while flying from Texas to Australia to be at his son’s bedside. He said that his son “spread light” even at the moment he was targeted in the attack at Bondi Beach.

Rabbi Lazaroff said he remains in constant contact with hospital staff as his son fights for his life. He described Leibel as a young man who dedicated his year to volunteer work, strengthening Jewish life, and bringing happiness to others.

Rabbi Lazaroff characterized the shooting as an act driven by antisemitic hatred, calling it a defining moral moment separating good from evil, light from darkness, and violence from goodness.

Leibel, an American citizen who had recently been studying at a yeshiva in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, was wounded when terrorists opened fire at the seaside Chanukah celebration. His family said that despite the severity of his injuries, his condition has stabilized following emergency treatment.

Lazaroff grew up in Texas on the campus of Texas A&M University, where his father serves as a Chabad shliach. About two months ago, during the Yom Tov season, he moved to Sydney to volunteer and assist the local Jewish community. On the night of the attack, he was actively helping organize the Bondi Beach Chanukah event when the shooting began.

At least 15 people were murdered in the attack, and more than 40 others were injured, including children. Authorities have classified the incident as a terrorist attack, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Despite the trauma, the Lazaroff family has urged the Jewish community to respond with strength rather than fear. Leibel’s mother thanked the public for their prayers and called on people to increase the spread of light, joy, and celebration throughout Chanukah, dedicating those efforts to the recovery of all the wounded.

{Matzav.com}

As Australian authorities continue investigating what has been described as the deadliest antisemitic terror attack the country has seen in years, the mother of one of the terrorists has publicly defended her son, insisting he is a “good boy” and denying his involvement in the massacre.

The comments were made by Verna Akram, the mother of 24-year-old Naveed Akram, one of the two attackers who opened fire on Jews celebrating Hanukkah at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, Akram said she does not believe her son took part in the mass shooting, despite overwhelming evidence presented by law enforcement.

“He doesn’t have a gun. He doesn’t even go out. He doesn’t mix with friends. He doesn’t drink, he doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t go to bad places,” she claimed. “He goes to work, he comes home, he goes to train, and that’s it.”

According to Akram, her son and his father, Sajid Akram, had recently returned from a trip to the Philippines and told family members they were planning a fishing excursion along Australia’s coast. On Sunday, she said, her son even called her to provide what she described as an alibi.

“He called me and said, ‘Mom, I just went swimming. I went diving. We’re going to eat now,’” she recalled, adding that he told her they planned to remain at the beach due to the heat.

Authorities, however, have painted a starkly different picture. Police say they discovered explosive materials and an ISIS flag inside a vehicle linked to the attackers — findings that directly contradict claims that Naveed Akram had no connection to extremism or violence. Despite this, his mother insisted she does not recognize her son in footage from the attack and continued to proclaim his innocence.

“Anyone would want a son like my son,” she said. “He is a good boy.”

According to police, for between 10 and 20 minutes on Sunday evening, Naveed Akram and his father opened fire on a large crowd of Jews gathered for a public Chanukah celebration at Bondi Beach. Dozens of shots were fired into a crowd that included families, children, and elderly attendees. Approximately 1,000 people fled the area, scattering into nearby streets in panic.

Naveed Akram, an unemployed former construction worker, had reportedly been fired from his job two months before the attack. He lived with his parents, his 22-year-old sister, and his 20-year-old brother. He was a graduate of the Al-Morad Institute, where he studied the Quran.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump announced Monday that his administration is formally designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, a move he said reflects the staggering toll the synthetic opioid has taken on American lives and underscores a broader effort to confront powerful drug networks operating across the Western Hemisphere.

Speaking as he signed an executive order enacting the change, Trump argued that the deadly impact of fentanyl rivals that of the world’s most feared weapons. “No bomb does what this is doing — 200-300,000 people die every year, that we know of,” Trump said, explaining why the substance is being placed in the same category as nuclear, biological, and chemical arms.

The order itself states that “illicit fentanyl is closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic” and warns that it “threatens our national security and fuels lawlessness in our hemisphere and at our borders.” Administration officials say the classification is meant to expand the government’s legal and strategic tools against international drug organizations.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States recorded roughly 80,000 overdose deaths in 2024, with approximately 48,000 linked specifically to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, highlighting the scale of the crisis Trump cited.

The decision dovetails with a wider campaign by the Trump administration against what it describes as “narco-terrorists.” As part of that effort, U.S. forces have carried out strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in recent months, an operation that has resulted in nearly 90 deaths since early September.

Trump has defended the strikes by asserting that each destroyed vessel prevents enormous loss of life at home, contending that eliminating more than 20 intercepted boats saves 25,000 Americans per ship. Critics, however, argue that many of the targeted vessels were likely transporting cocaine rather than fentanyl. They note that fentanyl, which drives the overdose epidemic, is largely trafficked overland through the southern border from Mexico, not by sea from countries like Colombia or Venezuela.

Alongside the maritime operations, the administration has ordered a significant military buildup in the Caribbean. The deployment includes the world’s largest aircraft carrier, multiple warships, and increased aerial activity, with U.S. military aircraft flying repeated missions along Venezuela’s coastline in recent weeks.

While the White House maintains that these actions are aimed squarely at disrupting drug trafficking routes, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused Washington of masking a push for regime change behind anti-narcotics rhetoric.

U.S. officials have sought to tie Venezuela directly to the drug trade, accusing Maduro of heading the so-called “Cartel of the Suns.” The United States formally designated the group a “narco-terrorist” organization last month and announced a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture, linking its fentanyl policy, military posture, and regional strategy into a single front against what it calls a growing transnational threat.

{Matzav.com}

Australian security agencies are intensifying their investigation into the backgrounds and overseas connections of Sajid and Naveed Akram, the father and son responsible for the deadly Chanukah attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that left 15 people murdered.

According to a report by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, intelligence officials have determined that the two men traveled abroad shortly before the massacre, raising concerns that the assault may have been tied to a wider international terror framework.

Officials briefed on the probe told ABC that the Akrams flew to Manila in early November and later continued on to the southern Philippines. There, investigators believe the pair received what was described as “military-style training” before returning to Australia toward the end of November, just weeks before the attack unfolded.

A senior counter-terrorism source said the overseas trip and training have become a central focus of the inquiry, as authorities work to establish whether the shooters were acting independently or as part of a coordinated jihadist network operating beyond Australia’s borders.

Earlier reporting by ABC revealed that 24-year-old Naveed Akram had longstanding associations with members of Australia’s pro-Islamic State milieu. Among those named were extremist cleric Wisam Haddad and Youssef Uweinat, who was previously convicted for recruiting youth on behalf of ISIS.

Haddad, responding through his legal representative, denied any role in the attack, stating that he “vehemently denies any knowledge of or involvement in the shootings that took place at Bondi Beach.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese previously told ABC that Australia’s domestic intelligence service, ASIO, had conducted a six-month investigation into the Akram family and uncovered “no evidence” that either Sajid or Naveed Akram had been radicalized. Neither individual had appeared on any terrorism watchlists prior to the massacre. Authorities also confirmed that Sajid Akram legally owned firearms and faced no restrictions preventing him from accessing weapons.

While Australian investigators continue their work, international intelligence agencies are also weighing in. The British Telegraph reported that Israeli intelligence officials assess the Sydney massacre to have been the work of a foreign terrorist cell receiving backing from Iran.

The report further stated that the tactics and execution of the attack bear hallmarks associated with a Hezbollah-linked operational unit responsible for carrying out attacks beyond Lebanon’s borders. Israeli officials are additionally examining whether Hamas or other terrorist organizations may have had a role in supporting or directing the perpetrators.

A long-delayed effort to construct a new rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River is moving toward physical construction, with excavation scheduled to begin this spring using newly built tunnel boring machines now en route to New Jersey.

According to the Gateway Development Commission, which is managing the project, the first of the specialized machines is expected to arrive in January. Their arrival marks the transition from years of planning and delay to actual underground work on the long-anticipated tunnel.

“We are on the verge of a new phase of the Hudson Tunnel Project,” GDC commissioners said in a joint statement. “When the two tunnel boring machines that were manufactured this year begin their journey under the Palisades, it will represent a major step forward for the project.”

The machines were manufactured by Herrenknecht in Germany and are a key component of the Gateway program’s New Jersey construction phase. Together, they account for part of the roughly $465 million cost associated with excavating one mile of new rail tunnel on the New Jersey side. Operating at the same time, the two machines will carve out separate, parallel tunnel tubes.

The initial boring work beneath New Jersey is expected to take approximately one year, a spokesperson for the commission said. After that phase is completed, the project will move into the Hudson River itself, where different tunnel boring equipment will be required due to the riverbed’s unique conditions.

Once completed, the new tunnel—part of the broader Gateway program—will carry trains for both Amtrak and New Jersey Transit. It is intended to relieve pressure on the existing Hudson River tunnel, which is more than a century old and serves as a critical rail connection between New Jersey and Manhattan.

{Matzavc.com}

WATCH:

LISTEN:

​​For more info, email bitachon4life@gmail.com.

LISTEN:

By Rabbi Berach Steinfeld

One could ask whether someone who does not own a home and is literally homeless has a chiyuv to light the Menorah. Perhaps the obligation applies only to someone who has a roof over his head.

The Shailos u’Teshuvos Igros Moshe, Yoreh Deah III:14, discusses a person who has no house in which to sleep and spends the night in the street, such as someone stranded while traveling in a desert, with no one at home to light on his behalf. At first glance, this question may hinge on Rashi in Shabbos 23b, who explains that Chazal instituted the bracha of ha’ro’eh for neiros Chanukah in cases where a person is on a boat and cannot light. When he sees candles from afar, he recites the bracha of ha’ro’eh. The Taz (670:3) writes that one recites this bracha only if no one will be lighting that night in his home at all. From the Taz it would seem that someone who is outside and has no home would be exempt from lighting the Menorah.

Reb Elyashiv was asked directly what a person with no home should do regarding Chanukah licht. He answered that such a person has a chiyuv to rent a house in order to be able to light the Menorah.

Reb Chaim Kanievsky explains that Reb Elyashiv’s psak is rooted in the Rambam in Hilchos Brachos (11:2–3). There, the Rambam distinguishes between mitzvos that a person must actively perform, such as tefillin, sukka, and lulav, and mitzvos that apply only under certain circumstances, such as mezuzah and maakeh. If a person never owns a home, he is exempt from those obligations. The Rambam adds that the same distinction applies to mitzvos deRabbanan. Some are an absolute obligation, such as Megillah, lighting Shabbos licht, and Chanukah licht. Others are conditional, such as eiruv and netilas yadayim, where one is obligated only when the situation arises. From this Rambam it emerges that a person is required to arrange a living situation so that he can fulfill the obligation of lighting the Menorah.

On the other hand, Tosfos in Sukka 46a explains why Chazal instituted the bracha of ha’ro’eh specifically for Chanukah. Since the miracle was so beloved, and not everyone has the ability to light because they may not own or rent a home, Chazal provided an alternative through the bracha of ha’ro’eh.

A related question arises regarding someone traveling overnight on a train, where he is paying for his room and board. Can such a place be considered suitable for lighting the Menorah? The Maharshdam (4:146) rules that one would be required to light. He explains that when Rashi states a person does not light on a boat, it is because boats in earlier times lacked a roof and therefore were not considered a bayis. A train, however, would qualify as a bayis despite the fact that it is in motion. The Aruch Hashulchan, Orach Chaim, Hilchos Chanukah 677, writes that if a person will not arrive home until the next morning, he should light on the train if possible.

The Tzitz Eliezer (15:29) disagrees with both the Aruch Hashulchan and the Maharshdam. He maintains that the chiyuv is on the person to light in the place where he eats and sleeps, and that even without a roof overhead he would still be obligated. According to this view, Rashi’s exemption from lighting on a boat applies only where the person has no candles or where lighting is not permitted. The same would apply on a train: if lighting is prohibited due to danger, one would be exempt.

May we all be zocheh to light the candles in the proper place, and may we be zocheh to see the lights of the Menorah of the Bais Hamikdosh.

{Matzav.com}

Israeli police and volunteer search teams launched extensive searches overnight in Bnei Brak after an 11-year-old boy, Yehuda Malka, was reported missing after leaving his home on Monday morning and failing to return.

According to police, Yehuda was last seen after departing his residence on Genechovsky Street in Bnei Brak. Since then, all contact has been lost, prompting growing concern and a large-scale search effort throughout the city.

In an official statement, police appealed to the public for assistance in locating the missing child. Yehuda Malka is described as approximately 1.43 meters tall, with black hair, brown eyes, and a dark complexion. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a gray coat with a black hood and flip-flops.

“Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is requested to contact the Israel Police emergency hotline at 100 immediately,” police said.

{Matzav.com}

Health experts warned that this year’s flu season was shaping up to be especially challenging, driven in part by the spread of a newly dominant strain of influenza.

At the center of growing concern was Influenza A H3N2, known as the subclade K variant, which had been linked to increasing case numbers around the world, including in the United States.

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Dr. Neil Maniar, a professor of public health practice at Northeastern University in Boston, said early data suggested the strain was more dangerous than those seen in recent years. “It’s becoming evident that this is a pretty severe variant of the flu,” he said. “Certainly in other parts of the world where this variant has been prevalent, it’s caused some severe illness, and we’re seeing an aggressive flu season already.”

According to Maniar, subclade K appeared to amplify many of the flu’s classic symptoms, including fever, chills, headaches, exhaustion, coughing, sore throat, and nasal congestion.

He described the situation as a convergence of troubling factors. Lower vaccination rates combined with a virus strain not specifically targeted by this year’s flu shot created what he called a dangerous mix. “The vaccine is very important to get, but because it’s not perfectly aligned with this variant, I think that’s also contributing to some degree to the severity of cases we’re seeing,” Maniar said. “We’re going in [to this flu season] with lower vaccination rates and a variant that in itself seems to be more aggressive.”

Maniar added that public health officials were worried not only about how many people could become ill, but also how sick they might get. “There’s a lot of concern that this could be a particularly difficult flu season, both in terms of the total number of cases [and] the severity of those cases.”

Another complicating factor, he explained, was that the strain differed significantly from prior versions of the virus, leaving communities with less built-up immunity and increasing the likelihood of rapid spread and serious illness.

The risks were especially high for people who had not been vaccinated, Maniar said, noting they faced greater odds of severe symptoms and hospitalization.

Beyond vaccination, he emphasized the importance of basic hygiene, particularly regular and thorough handwashing. While influenza can be transmitted through the air, Maniar noted that other illnesses circulating at the same time, such as norovirus, can linger on surfaces for as long as two weeks.

Seasonal travel and celebrations were also expected to accelerate transmission, with crowded holiday gatherings and packed planes, trains, and buses increasing exposure to sick individuals.

Maniar urged people experiencing symptoms to remain at home to protect others. “Please stay home,” he said — “especially if you think you are in that contagious period of the flu or any of these other illnesses that we’re seeing … whether it’s norovirus or COVID or RSV.” He reinforced the message with a simple directive: “If you’re not feeling well, stay home. That’s a great way to recover faster and to ensure that you’re not going to get others around you sick.”

For anyone uncertain about what illness they might have, Maniar advised seeking medical evaluation and testing, noting that some treatments could lessen the intensity and duration of symptoms if started early.

“It’s important that everyone stays vigilant and tries to take care of themselves and their families,” he said.

{Matzav.com}

After a decisive vote on Monday, New York state regulators greenlit casino licenses for three proposed gambling venues in New York City, setting the stage for major developments in Queens and the Bronx and opening a significant new revenue stream earmarked for mass transit and public education.

State officials anticipate collecting an upfront payment of $500 million from each approved bidder. The licenses were awarded to Bally’s planned project in the Bronx, Resorts World’s expansion in southeast Queens, and a high-profile proposal near Citi Field backed by billionaire Mets owner Steve Cohen.

The approvals, however, were not unconditional. Regulators required each casino operator to submit to oversight by an independent monitor, whose role will be to verify that developers honor the commitments and conditions they pledged during the bidding process and comply with all state mandates.

Explaining the rationale for that added layer of scrutiny, Gaming Commission chair Brian O’Dwyer told the meeting, “While no information was received that was disqualifying, the application, findings of the gaming facility location board and our own internal review have convinced us that it’s prudent to condition the granting of a license on the establishment of an outside independent monitor.”

With the commission’s vote complete, the approved projects move forward amid expectations that they will collectively generate hundreds of millions of dollars to support the subway system and bolster education funding across the state.

{Matzav.com}

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said authorities believed the deadly shooting at a Jewish festival on Sydney’s Bondi Beach was fueled by extremist ideology linked to the Islamic State.

“It would appear that this was motivated by Islamic State ideology,” Albanese said, referring to the attack in which a father and son opened fire, killing 15 people.

He described the worldview behind the assault as part of a long-standing pattern of violent extremism. “The ideology that has been around for more than a decade that led to this ideology of hate, and in this case, a preparedness to engage in mass murder.”

Albanese also addressed the background of Naveed Akram, 24, one of the attackers, confirming that he had previously been known to Australia’s intelligence services. The prime minister said Akram came onto the agency’s radar in 2019 but was not assessed as posing an immediate danger at the time.

“He was drawn to their attention because of his association with others,” Albanese said.

He added that some of those individuals faced serious consequences, while Akram did not. “Two of the people he was associated with were charged and went to jail, but he was not seen at that time to be a person of interest.”

President Donald Trump has formally sued the BBC, filing a defamation lawsuit Monday night in federal court in Florida that seeks at least $5 billion in damages over a Panorama documentary aired shortly before the 2024 election.

According to the complaint, the British broadcaster produced a program that presented a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction of President Trump.” The lawsuit further claims the documentary was created as part of “a brazen attempt to interfere in and influence the Election’s outcome to President Trump’s detriment.”

The legal action follows Trump’s public comments earlier in Washington, DC, where he said the BBC manipulated footage from his January 2021 speech. He accused the network of altering his remarks in a way that fundamentally changed their meaning and even raised the possibility that artificial intelligence was involved. “In a little while, you’ll be seeing I’m suing the BBC for putting words in my mouth,” Trump said. “Literally, they put words in my mouth. They had me saying things I never said. They actually have me speaking with words that I never said, and they got caught because I believe somebody at BBC said this is so bad, it has to be reported. Let’s call [it] fake news. So we’ll be filing that suit probably this afternoon or tomorrow morning.”

At the center of the dispute is a Panorama segment that edited together two separate excerpts from Trump’s speech delivered prior to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots. The splice made it appear as though Trump told supporters: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol … and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”

Trump had signaled his intention to pursue legal action shortly before the lawsuit was filed, stating that he would bring the defamation case “today or tomorrow” in response to the edited broadcast.

The controversy intensified after a memo leaked from former BBC editorial adviser Michael Prescott, who warned of “systemic problems” within BBC News. That internal document set off a chain reaction inside the organization.

Earlier this month, the fallout led to the resignations of BBC director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness.

In response to the backlash, the BBC issued a correction acknowledging that the edit “gave the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action,” and said the segment would not air again. Despite that admission, the broadcaster rejected claims of defamation and declined to pay any damages.

Trump has repeatedly stated that he plans to seek up to $5 billion from the BBC over the edited footage, a figure now reflected in the lawsuit filed Monday night.

{Matzav.com}

Elon Musk’s net worth has crossed another unprecedented threshold, moving him far closer to becoming the world’s first trillionaire as the value of his private companies continues to soar.

The latest catalyst came earlier this month, when SpaceX conducted a tender offer that pegged the rocket manufacturer’s valuation at $800 billion, double its $400 billion valuation from August, according to two SpaceX investors who spoke to Forbes. With Musk owning an estimated 42% of the company, the jump added roughly $168 billion to his fortune, lifting his net worth to an estimated $677 billion as of noon Eastern on Monday. Musk has now become the first individual ever to reach $600 billion in personal wealth, a level no one else has even approached.

SpaceX’s rapid rise may only be a prelude. One investor confirmed that the company is aiming for an initial public offering in 2026 that could value SpaceX at approximately $1.5 trillion. While multiple outlets previously reported both the tender offer and IPO ambitions, representatives for Musk and SpaceX did not respond to Forbes’ requests for comment.

Even without an IPO at that scale, SpaceX has overtaken all other holdings as Musk’s most valuable asset. Forbes estimates his SpaceX stake alone at $336 billion. By comparison, his roughly 12% ownership in Tesla is valued at about $197 billion, excluding stock options tied to his 2018 CEO Performance Award that were voided by a Delaware judge in January 2024. Forbes currently assigns a discounted value of $69 billion to those options, reflecting a 50% reduction while Musk appeals the ruling to the Delaware Supreme Court.

Should that appeal fail, Tesla could still offer Musk another path to trillionaire status. In November, shareholders approved an unprecedented compensation package that could grant Musk up to $1 trillion in additional Tesla stock, before taxes and vesting costs, if the company meets aggressive “Mars shot” performance goals, including expanding its market capitalization more than eightfold over the next decade.

Beyond SpaceX and Tesla, Musk’s artificial intelligence venture is also adding to his growing wealth. xAI Holdings is reportedly negotiating new fundraising at a valuation of $230 billion, more than twice the $113 billion valuation Musk cited when he created the company in March by combining his AI startup xAI with his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Forbes estimates Musk owns about 53% of xAI Holdings, a stake worth roughly $60 billion.

Musk’s ascent past the $600 billion mark is the latest chapter in a dramatic wealth expansion that has unfolded over just five years. In March 2020, his fortune stood at $24.6 billion. By August of that year, a surge in Tesla shares made him only the fifth person ever to reach $100 billion. He first claimed the title of the world’s richest person in January 2021, with a net worth nearing $190 billion, then became just the third individual to surpass $200 billion in September 2021, following Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and LVMH chief Bernard Arnault. Musk went on to hit $300 billion in November 2021, $400 billion in December 2024, and $500 billion in October. Only Oracle founder Larry Ellison has also reached both the $300 billion and $400 billion milestones.

At this point, Musk appears far more likely to add to his record-setting wealth than to relinquish his position at the top. He currently holds an estimated $425 billion lead over second-place Larry Page, the Google cofounder whose fortune stands at about $252 billion. With Musk now just $23 billion shy of $700 billion, another historic benchmark may be close at hand.

{Matzav.com}

Erika Kirk said Monday that she and Candace Owens held a constructive discussion, raising the possibility of easing tensions that had played out publicly in recent weeks following the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

The update was shared in a short statement posted to X, where Kirk suggested that further information would be released at a later time.

“Had a very productive conversation with @RealCandaceO.” Kirk said. “More to come from both of us. Looking forward to AmFest this week. Time to get back to work.”

{Matzav.com}

New scrutiny is being directed at members of Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral transition after past statements and affiliations of several appointees came to light, raising questions about the ideological leanings surrounding the mayor-elect, the NY Post reports.

Among those drawing attention is Jack Gross, a Canadian-born activist who served as a major fundraiser for Mamdani’s campaign and was later appointed to the transition’s 20-member “economic development & workforce development” committee. Gross has longstanding ties to the New York City Democratic Socialists of America and a history of publicly expressing extreme left-wing views online.

Records show that Gross acted as an intermediary for the Mamdani campaign, helping generate more than $21,000 from over 600 individual donors. He is also an editor at the progressive digital outlet “Phenomenal World,” which is affiliated with the Jain Family Institute.

In social media posts from 2020, Gross repeatedly voiced hostility toward law enforcement and federal agencies. During the unrest following the death of George Floyd, he described it as “beautiful” when crowds shouted profanities about the NYPD.

In another post written months later, before his account went inactive, Gross offered a sweeping denunciation of the country, stating, “I must admit I do believe America is a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins.”

Gross also used his platform to attack US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, at times praising attempts by detainees to evade or escape the agency. On “Karl Marx Day,” he shared material lauding the Communist Manifesto and its co-author, the 19th-century revolutionary Karl Marx.

The emergence of Gross’s past statements is not the only controversy surrounding the transition team. It was recently revealed that rapper Mysonne Linen, who has a criminal record, was named to the “criminal legal system” committee. His appointment initially escaped notice due to a misspelling of his name by Mamdani’s team.

Separately, the transition announcement also misspelled the name of Black nationalist Lumumba Bandele, a member of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement with a documented history of praising notorious cop killers, when listing him as part of the “community organizing” committee.

Addressing the uproar, Mamdani spokesperson Dora Pekec said, “These statements don’t reflect the views of the Mayor-elect or the transition.”

Representatives for Mamdani added that Gross’s post condemning the United States was written in reaction to a 2020 speech by President Trump to the Republican National Committee, in which he criticized the left for portraying America as “a wicked nation that must be punished for its sins.”

{Matzav.com}

As investigators continue searching for the gunman responsible for a deadly shooting at Brown University, President Donald Trump criticized the school’s handling of campus security and suggested the institution bears responsibility for delays in identifying the suspect.

Speaking Monday during an Oval Office ceremony recognizing U.S. service members involved in border protection efforts, Trump was asked about the ongoing investigation and the FBI’s role in it. He emphasized that federal agents became involved only after the incident and pointed to the university’s own security apparatus. “This was a school problem. They had their own guards,” Trump told reporters. “They had their own police, had their own everything. But you’d have to ask that question really to the school, not to the FBI. We came in after the fact, and the FBI will do a good job, but they came in after the fact.”

The suspect in the Providence campus attack remains at large, with authorities continuing to analyze surveillance video and other evidence. The FBI has released three photographs showing a masked male suspect described as standing 5 feet 8 inches tall with a stocky build, and is offering a $50,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

On Sunday, law enforcement officials briefly detained a person of interest after receiving a tip that specifically named an individual. That name later circulated publicly. However, investigators said they lacked sufficient evidence to continue holding the individual and now believe he is not connected to the shooting.

Police also moved to correct reports suggesting multiple people had been questioned, clarifying that only one person of interest had been detained and interviewed.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said Monday that progress is being made in the case. “Steady progress” has been achieved, he said, adding, “And the sooner we can identify that person, the sooner we can, I think, blow this case open.”

The shooting claimed the lives of two students and left nine others wounded. One of the victims was identified as Ella Cook, a sophomore from Alabama who served as vice president of the Brown University College Republicans, according to authorities.

The second victim was named as Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov. Officials said Umurzokov and his family are naturalized U.S. citizens originally from Uzbekistan who currently reside in Virginia.

{Matzav.com}