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Speculation about the 2028 presidential race is already taking shape, even though no candidate has formally entered the contest and announcements are not expected until after the 2026 midterm elections. At this stage, Gov. Gavin Newsom is widely viewed as a likely contender for the Democrat nomination, while Vice President JD Vance is seen as a strong favorite to pursue the Republican slot and, if he does, to face little resistance within his party.

On the Democratic side, however, the picture is far less settled. John Nolte points out at Breitbart that reports indicate 2024 loser Kamala Harris is considering another run in 2028, and polling suggests she would be a formidable presence in a crowded primary. One recent survey showed Harris leading the Democrat field with 31 percent support, followed by Newsom at 20 percent and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at ten percent. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro placed fourth with 6.4 percent, narrowly ahead of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who registered 6.3 percent.

A separate poll painted a more encouraging picture for Ocasio-Cortez. In that survey, she climbed to third place with 16 percent support, trailing Newsom, who led with 25 percent, and Harris, who followed at 18 percent. Buttigieg was close behind in fourth place at 14 percent. That same poll showed Ocasio-Cortez leading among voters under the age of 34, capturing 32 percent of that demographic.

While the Democratic primary remains uncertain, a hypothetical general election matchup between Ocasio-Cortez and Vance has also been tested. In that scenario, the New York Democrat holds a narrow national edge, defeating Vance by two points, 51 percent to 49 percent.

“The New York Democratic congresswoman, known as AOC, edges the likely Republican nominee 51 percent to 49 percent, in The Argument/Verasight survey released on Tuesday,” reports the far-left Newsweek. “However, the result was within the poll’s 2.7 percentage point margin of error, making the two candidates statistically tied. The poll asked voters who they would vote for if the election was between the two of them.”

John Nolte reports for Breitbart that the survey reveals sharp demographic divides. According to the data, Vance dominates among white voters, leading 57 percent to 43 percent, while Ocasio-Cortez draws overwhelming support from minority voters, winning 79 percent of black voters and 64 percent of Hispanics. The gender gap is also pronounced, with men favoring Vance at 54 percent and women backing Ocasio-Cortez at 56 percent.

The poll, conducted among 1,521 registered voters between December 5 and 11, also produced a surprising crossover result, finding that eight percent of Trump voters said they would switch their support to Ocasio-Cortez in such a matchup.

For now, the numbers underscore both Ocasio-Cortez’s potential appeal in a general election and the intense competition she would face within her own party. Unlike Vance, who would likely consolidate Republican support quickly, the Democrat field appears poised for a bruising and unpredictable primary battle if multiple high-profile contenders enter the race.

Members of ZAKA’s International Unit completed their difficult and emotionally taxing work in recent hours at the scene of the horrific massacre at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, following days of continuous activity at the site.

The ZAKA delegation was dispatched to Australia immediately after the terror attack and entered the scene once all required approvals were secured. Working under strict conditions, the volunteers carried out their mission in full coordination with local authorities and representatives of the Jewish community.

Over the past several days, ZAKA volunteers worked with profound reverence inside the sealed crime scene, meticulously collecting every remnant and every trace of blood to ensure they could be brought to burial in accordance with Jewish law.

Yossi Landau, ZAKA’s regional security officer for Lachish and head of the delegation, described the emotional toll of the operation. “We worked here for days with a deep sense of mission,” Landau said. “The sights at the shooting scenes are extremely difficult and take us back to the painful events of October 7. We did everything required to complete the mission fully, so that not a single drop of blood would remain.”

During the course of the day, members of the delegation, together with local ZAKA volunteer Reb Mendy Amzaleg, held a special meeting with Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, Av Beis Din of Sydney and Chabad’s emissary to Australia. Rabbi Ulman, whose father-in-law was murdered in the attack, expressed deep gratitude to the volunteers for their efforts.

Speaking emotionally, Rabbi Ulman described the magnitude of the tragedy. “Our community has endured a devastating catastrophe. Seventeen members of our community were brutally murdered, among them my righteous father-in-law, who was taken in the prime of his life,” he said.

He concluded by praising the ZAKA volunteers for their work under unimaginable conditions. “The ZAKA volunteers, angels of G-d, came here, and I personally witnessed the sacred work they carried out at the massacre site. This is work that requires extraordinary inner strength,” Rabbi Ulman said. “A tremendous thank-you for what you have done here, and for ZAKA’s unwavering presence at scenes of tragedy everywhere.”

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says a newly launched nationwide recruitment effort has already generated an overwhelming response, with the agency reporting hundreds of thousands of applications as it works to significantly expand its workforce before year’s end, Breitbart reports.

According to an ICE spokesperson, the campaign has produced immediate results. “We’ve had over 200,000 American patriots apply for positions at ICE and a goal of hiring 10,000 new ICE officers and agents before the New Year,” the agency told Breitbart News.

The initiative, branded Defend the Homeland, is designed to bring in thousands of new officers and agents across the country and bolster the agency’s enforcement and national security operations.

As part of the rollout, ICE released a video advertisement that emphasizes both its origins and its current priorities. The video opens by linking the agency’s creation to the September 11 terror attacks, stating: “September 11, 2001: Nearly 3000 Americans lost because terrorists were here illegally. From that day, ICE was born — America’s first unified immigration, counterterrorism and homeland security effort.”

The advertisement then shifts to present-day enforcement efforts, asserting progress on multiple fronts. “Today, ICE is refocused on its mission and making America safer. Crime and gang violence is falling. Fentanyl deaths are at a five-year low, and the worst of the worst are being sent back.”

The video concludes with a direct appeal to viewers to join the agency, ending with the message: “America needs you. Join ICE. Apply today at join.ice.gov.”

ICE officials say the campaign reflects a renewed focus on recruitment as the agency seeks to strengthen its operational capacity nationwide by adding thousands of new personnel in the coming months.

{Matzav.com}

[Video below.] President Trump used a nationally televised address Wednesday night to argue that his administration has reversed what he described as deep economic and policy failures left behind by the previous administration, pointing to falling prices, rising wages, and what he called a dramatic shift in Washington’s direction.

At one point during the speech, members of the President’s team displayed a chart highlighting economic trends they said showed improvements under his leadership, including declines in certain prices alongside wage growth.

Turning to consumer costs, Trump cited data comparing prices before and after he took office. “Let’s look at the facts. Under the Biden administration, car prices rose 22% and in many states 30% or more,” Trump said, as he walked through the figures.

He went on to accuse Democrats of driving up the cost of everyday necessities, including food. “Democrat politicians also set the cost of groceries. Sorry, but we are solving that too.”

Trump devoted a significant portion of his remarks to health care affordability, placing responsibility for rising insurance premiums squarely on Democrats and existing health care law. “The current Unaffordable Care Act was created to make insurance companies rich,” Trump chided. “You see that now in the steep increase in premiums being demanded by the Democrats and they are demanding those increases and it’s their fault.

“It is not the Republicans’ fault, it’s the Democrats’ fault, it’s the Unaffordable Care Act.”

He argued that government assistance should bypass insurance companies entirely and be delivered straight to consumers, a change he said would reduce costs and restore fairness to the system.

Earlier in the address, Trump framed his presidency as a recovery effort following what he characterized as severe mismanagement. “Eleven months ago, I inherited a mess, and I’m fixing it,” Trump declared. “…We had the worst trade deals ever made, and our country was laughed at from all over the world, but they’re not laughing anymore.”

He repeated the point moments later for emphasis. “But they’re not laughing anymore,” he added. “Over the past 11 months, we have brought more positive change to Washington than any administration in American history.”

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{Matzav.com}

In a major real estate transaction, the Jackson, NJ Township Board of Education has approved the sale of the former Christa McAuliffe Middle School to Beth Medrash Govoha for $40 million.

While the purchaser has finalized the deal, BMG has not disclosed any details about how it intends to use the site, and no official plans for the property’s future have been made public.

The agreement follows a series of price adjustments by the district as it sought a buyer for the expansive, vacant campus. The property was originally offered earlier this year with a minimum bid of $54.4 million. After reevaluating market conditions and buyer interest, the board lowered the threshold to $44.4 million toward the end of November, describing the move at the time as a necessary step to move the property off the district’s books.

Situated on South Hope Chapel Road, the campus features a main school structure spanning more than 126,000 square feet, along with five modular classroom units adding roughly 3,500 additional square feet. The grounds also include athletic facilities, office space, and a cafetorium outfitted with a full-service kitchen. Because of its scale and amenities, the site had long been considered one of the district’s most valuable surplus assets.

Christa McAuliffe Middle School was shuttered over the summer amid ongoing financial pressures facing the district. Officials cited sustained declines in enrollment, reductions in state funding, and recurring budget deficits as key factors leading to the closure.

{Matzav.com}

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.

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}

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}

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}

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}

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.

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}

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}

Australian authorities on Wednesday filed a sweeping set of criminal charges against the surviving suspect in the deadly terror attack that struck a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, as investigators continued probing possible ties between the assailants and the Islamic State terror group.

Naveed Akram, 24, was charged with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder, following Sunday’s mass shooting that left 15 people dead and nearly 20 others wounded. The attack, which targeted Jews gathered for a community event, has sent shockwaves through Australia and intensified national debate over antisemitism, security at Jewish institutions, and gun policy.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said Akram could face life imprisonment if convicted. She emphasized that the investigation remains active but sought to reassure the public, stating that authorities see no immediate ongoing threat. Speaking about the impact of the attack, Barrett said the grief felt across Sydney underscored the cruelty of the assault and stressed that the Jewish community should not feel alone in its mourning.

Akram was formally charged after regaining consciousness from a coma in a Sydney hospital, where he has remained since police shot him during the attack. His father and alleged accomplice, Sajid Akram, 50, was killed at the scene. According to police, the charges against the younger Akram include one murder count for each victim, a terrorism offense, dozens of counts related to attempting to kill those who survived, and an additional charge connected to placing an explosive near a building with intent to cause harm.

Investigators said the suspects’ vehicle, found at the scene, contained improvised explosive devices. Akram appeared in court via video link from his hospital bed, where his lawyer did not enter pleas or seek bail. He is being represented by Legal Aid NSW and is expected to remain under police guard until he is medically cleared to be transferred to prison.

Authorities have described the massacre as a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State ideology. While the group has been significantly weakened since losing territorial control in Iraq and Syria more than a decade ago, officials note that it continues to motivate lone-actor and small-cell attacks in Western countries.

As part of the investigation, law enforcement agencies are examining a trip the suspects took to the Philippines in November. Philippine officials confirmed that both men entered the country on November 1 and traveled to the southern region of Mindanao, an area long affected by Islamist insurgencies. However, Philippine authorities strongly rejected suggestions that the country served as a training ground for the attackers, saying there is no evidence the suspects received any form of terrorist training during their visit.

Military and security officials in the Philippines said armed Islamist groups in Mindanao have been severely weakened in recent years, particularly after the 2017 battle for Marawi, though analysts cautioned that some training camps and extremist networks may still exist in fragmented form. Philippine military officials also noted that the brief duration of the Akrams’ stay would have been insufficient for meaningful weapons or combat training.

The revelations surrounding the attack have fueled renewed scrutiny of Australia’s preparedness to confront hate-driven violence. Jewish communities in Sydney and Melbourne, home to the vast majority of Australia’s Jewish population, have reported a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents over the past year. Jewish leaders and survivors of the Bondi Beach attack have criticized authorities for failing to act decisively on earlier warnings.

In response, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to take firm action against antisemitism and announced plans to further tighten Australia’s already strict gun laws. Proposed measures include limiting firearm ownership to Australian citizens and reducing the number of weapons an individual may legally possess. The move follows reports that the older suspect had legally acquired multiple firearms.

Albanese and several state leaders said the proposed changes would mark the most significant overhaul of gun regulations since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, after which Australia enacted sweeping reforms that made mass shootings rare. The Bondi Beach attack, they said, underscores the need to reassess both security protections and legal safeguards in the face of evolving threats.

Israel has formally signed off on what officials say is the largest natural gas transaction ever concluded by the country, a deal valued at NIS 112 billion, or roughly $35 billion. The approval was announced Wednesday by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu together with Energy and Infrastructure Minister Eli Cohen.

Speaking publicly after the decision, Cohen characterized the move as transformative for Israel’s economy and regional standing. “a historic moment for the State of Israel, both in the security-diplomatic sphere and the economic sphere,” he said. He noted that, “This is the largest export deal in the history of the country, totaling NIS 112 billion,” adding that “the deal establishes our status as a regional energy power and a leader that its neighbors rely upon.”

According to Cohen, the agreement was finalized only after a lengthy process that addressed both strategic and financial concerns. “The approval of the agreement comes after several months of intensive negotiations, and only after we had secured Israel’s security and economic interests,” he said. He also outlined the anticipated benefits, stating, “The state’s revenues from taxes and royalties thanks to the deal will stand at approximately NIS 58 billion, and the scope of direct infrastructure investments in the economy will exceed NIS 16 billion.” Those investments, he added, “will create jobs and strengthen the economy.”

Netanyahu, addressing the nation, underscored the magnitude of the agreement and its contribution to public finances. “Dear citizens of Israel, today I approved the largest gas deal in Israel’s history. The scope of the deal stands at NIS 112 billion. Out of this, NIS 58 billion will go to the state treasury,” he said.

The Prime Minister explained that the state’s income from the deal will increase gradually as development progresses. “Initially, in the first four years, we will receive about half a billion shekels for the state treasury,” he said, pointing out that during that time the participating companies will be making “massive” infrastructure investments, including expanding pipelines. “Afterward, it begins to rise,” Netanyahu continued, “and within a few years, it reaches NIS 6 billion every year for the state treasury. This money will strengthen education, health, infrastructure, security, and the future of coming generations.”

Netanyahu said the agreement involves Chevron alongside Israeli partners and includes gas exports to Egypt. He stressed that strategic considerations were carefully weighed before approval. “I approved the deal after ensuring our security interests and other vital interests, which I will not detail here in full,” he said.

Beyond the immediate financial impact, Netanyahu argued that the agreement enhances Israel’s broader regional role. “This deal greatly strengthens Israel’s status as a regional energy power and contributes to stability in our region,” he said, adding that it is expected to spur further exploration. “More gas will be found,” he said, emphasizing that “first and foremost, this deal obligates the companies to sell gas at a good price to you, the citizens of Israel.”

The Prime Minister also revisited earlier public debates surrounding offshore gas development. “There were those among us who fiercely opposed taking the gas out of the water,” he said. “They said we would destroy the Israeli economy.” He concluded, “Today, it is clear that extracting the gas from the depths of the sea has brought a massive blessing to the State of Israel.”

Describing the agreement as a continuation of earlier policy decisions, Netanyahu said, “The persistence of myself and then-Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, our insistence on extracting the gas, has proven itself beyond all expectations. And I promise you, it will be the same with this deal.”

Netanyahu publicly thanked Cohen for his role in the process, saying, “You persisted and fought in very tedious and firm negotiations on our behalf,” and extended his appreciation to Cohen’s staff and other officials who took part in the talks.

Cohen, for his part, highlighted provisions aimed at protecting Israeli consumers. “This is the first export approval that guarantees priority for the local market,” he said, explaining that arrangements were put in place “that will improve the price of gas for the Israeli market.”

Calling natural gas “a strategic asset for the state,” Cohen addressed Netanyahu directly. “Prime Minister, you resolutely led the Gas Framework exactly a decade ago, and today we are reaping the fruits,” he said. “We will continue to work toward bringing in additional local and international companies to invest in Israel.”

Netanyahu concluded his remarks by tying the announcement to the Chanukah. “This evening is the fourth night of Chanukah, and on this day, we have brought an additional jar of oil to the people of Israel,” he said. “But this time, the flame will burn not just for eight days, but for decades to come. Happy Festival of Lights, citizens of Israel.”

Cohen closed by acknowledging senior officials and partners involved in finalizing the deal, including Energy Ministry Director General Yossi Dayan, Natural Resources Administration Director Chen Bar-Yosef, Gas Authority head Moshe Garazi, and representatives from the Finance Ministry who participated in the negotiations.

{Matzav.com}

An agreement between New York’s governor and state lawmakers is expected to make medically assisted suicide legal in the state, with the measure slated to take effect next year following a delayed implementation period.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday that she intends to sign legislation permitting terminally ill residents to obtain medical assistance to end their lives. The law is designed to apply only to New Yorkers diagnosed with a terminal condition and estimated to have fewer than six months to live.

Under the framework reached with legislative leaders, the bill will be formally approved when the Legislature reconvenes in January. Hochul said she will then sign it into law, with implementation scheduled for six months later to allow time for regulatory preparation.

“New York has long been a beacon of freedom, and now it is time we extend that freedom to terminally ill New Yorkers who want the right to die comfortably and on their own terms,” Hochul said.

The governor explained that her decision was influenced by personal experience, referencing her mother’s battle with ALS. “Although this was an incredibly difficult decision, I ultimately determined that with the additional guardrails agreed upon with the legislature, this bill would allow New Yorkers to suffer less, to shorten not their lives, but their deaths,” she said.

Earlier versions of the legislation already included provisions aimed at preventing abuse, such as protections against coercion and assurances that physicians and religiously affiliated medical institutions would not be compelled to participate in the process.

As part of the final agreement, further safeguards were added, including a mandatory five-day waiting period between the writing and dispensing of the prescription used for medical aid in dying.

The law also mandates a mental health evaluation, requires that a patient’s oral request be documented through audio or video recording, and bars witnesses or interpreters who stand to gain financially from the patient’s death.

Additional restrictions limit eligibility to New York residents, require an in-person evaluation by a physician, permit faith-based hospice providers to opt out, and define violations of the statute as professional misconduct.

The delayed effective date is intended to give the Department of Health time to issue detailed regulations and allow hospitals, hospices, and other health care providers to adjust their policies and procedures.

State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal praised the compromise, calling it a landmark moment. “This agreement on Medical Aid in Dying is a monumental victory for every New Yorker who has wished to peacefully end their suffering from a terminal illness,” he said. He added, “This bill is not about ending life, it’s about shortening death.”

According to the advocacy group Compassion and Choices, New York would become the 13th state in the nation to legalize medically assisted suicide.

{Matzav.com}

A sweeping legal action seeking roughly one billion shekels was filed on Tuesday by CPA Effi Sandrov, the court-appointed trustee overseeing the collapse of the pension fund company Slice. The lawsuit targets members of the Goldberg family, headed by Assaf Goldberg, who previously served as the company’s chief executive.

The filing describes a systemic breakdown inside the company, alleging that internal safeguards simply did not function. The trustee points to a complete absence of effective oversight by the board, a breakdown of internal controls, serious lapses by the compliance and regulation officer, and deficient work by the external auditor. Sandrov said, “The entire system failed-from the management that operated like a ‘grocery store’ to the gatekeepers who abandoned their duties.”

According to the lawsuit, approximately 7,500 savers moved an estimated 850 million shekels into personal pension and study funds structured as IRAs. Those funds were then routed into overseas investment vehicles that were not subject to Israeli regulation, with a substantial portion of the money never making its way back to the savers.

Sandrov characterizes the case as unprecedented in scope and severity within Israel’s pension savings industry. “The Slice affair is the largest and most serious breach of trust against pensioners,” the lawsuit states.

Much of the blame, the filing asserts, rests squarely with Assaf Goldberg. The trustee alleges that Goldberg “failed in every possible way in his role,” running the company without the requisite professional background, expertise, or qualifications. The lawsuit further claims that Slice maintained “connections with dubious insurance agents, some of whom have criminal backgrounds,” and that the company repeatedly violated basic principles of proper corporate governance.

The lawsuit paints a picture of an organization operating without meaningful questions or accountability. “There was no one to ask how and why,” the lawsuit states. “If they had asked, they would have discovered that Slice was unprepared, unaware, and had no control over the members’ funds. This created a foolproof recipe for collapse-and the result: hundreds of millions of shekels disappeared, and thousands of savers-some elderly-were left with nothing.”

{Matzav.com}