Rav Aryeh Leib came from a family of scholars. His brother, Rav Yehudah Kahana Heller, was also a Torah giant who wrote a sefer called Kuntres HaSfeikos. Torah greatness ran in the family. Rav Aryeh Leib’s son-in-law was Rav Shlomo Yehudah Rapoport eventually served as the Chief Rabbi of Prague.

Writing in Hardship: The Ketzos HaChoshen

Despite his position as a rabbi, Rav Aryeh Leib remained desperately poor throughout his life. Yet poverty did not stop him from writing. While still in his thirties, struggling to make ends meet, he poured his heart and soul into writing his masterpiece: the Ketzos HaChoshen. This was a deep and brilliant commentary on the Choshen Mishpat section of Shulchan Aruch—the section dealing with monetary law, courts, and business disputes.

The first part of the Ketzos HaChoshen was printed in Lemberg (Lviv) in 1788, and it took the Torah world by storm. People had never seen anything quite like it. The ideas were so sharp, so creative, and yet so clearly explained that scholars everywhere were amazed. The second part was printed in 1796. From that time until today, the Ketzos has been reprinted countless times and has become one of the most important seforim studied in yeshivas around the world.

What was the secret of the Ketzos’s success? There is a famous story that reveals the answer. Rav Aryeh Leib had a colleague named Rav Yaakov Lorberbaum, who wrote a similar commentary called Nesivos HaMishpat. The two works often disagreed with each other, and Rav Yaakov wrote many notes challenging the Ketzos. Rav Aryeh Leib even wrote responses to these challenges in a section called Meshoveiv Nesivos (“Responding to the Nesivos”).

One day, Rav Yaakov asked Rav Aryeh Leib a question that had been bothering him: “Why is it that your sefer is so beloved by everyone who studies it? What is your secret?” Rav Aryeh Leib answered with his own question: “Tell me, how do you write your sefer?” Rav Yaakov replied, “When I wake up in the morning, I continue writing from exactly where I left off the day before. I add my new ideas and keep going.”

Rav Aryeh Leib smiled and said, “That is the difference between us. When I wake up in the morning, I go back and review what I wrote yesterday. I look for what I can remove, what I can improve, and how I can make the writing clearer. By the time I am done, only the very best ideas remain, and they are written in the clearest possible way.”

According to another version of the story, it was actually Rav Aryeh Leib’s brother, Rav Yehudah, who helped edit and shorten the Ketzos before it was printed. Either way, in the introduction to the sefer, Rav Aryeh Leib himself admits that he shortened the work significantly before printing it.

The Shev Shmaatsa: A Work Born in Youth, Published in Maturity

Besides the famous Ketzos HaChoshen, Rav Aryeh Leib wrote another masterpiece: the Shev Shmaatsa (Aramaic for “Seven Discourses”). Amazingly, he began writing this work as Sheva Brachos Torah.  Yet it was only published much later.  In his hakdamah, he explains the delay: “Because I was afraid of the mistakes that come from the path of youthful research… therefore I did not rush to bring it to the printing press.”

In his old age, Rav Aryeh Leib also wrote Avnei Miluim, a commentary on the Even HaEzer section of Shulchan Aruch (dealing with marriage and family law). This work was published only after his death.

His Final Years and Legacy

Rav Aryeh Leib HaKohen Heller passed away on the 19th of Teves, 5573 (December 22, 1812), in the city of Stry. He was approximately 67 years old. He had lived a life of poverty and struggle, but he left behind a treasure that would enrich Klal Yisroel forever.

Today, more than two hundred years after his petirah, the Ketzos HaChoshen, the Shev Shmaatsa and the Avnei Miluim are studied in every serious yeshiva. His way of thinking—sharp, deep, and crystal clear—continues to train new generations of Talmidei Chachomim.

What is the Shev Shmaatsa About?

The Shev Shmaatsa deals with one of the trickiest topics in all of halacha: Doubts.  What do we do when we are not sure?  Did we bentch or not? Is this food kosher? Did  Shabbos end yet? The Torah and Chazal developed a whole system of rules for dealing with these situations of doubt— they are called hilchos safek (the laws of doubt).

The Shev Shmaatsa is organized into seven major sections, called shmaatsos (discourses). Each section deals with a different principle related to halachic doubt. Together, they give us a complete picture of how the halachic system handles uncertainty. Let us now explore each of these seven sections.

Section One: When We Are Not Sure About Torah Laws

The Big Question: Is Being Strict Really From the Torah?

The first shmaatsa starts with a question that might seem simple but is actually very deep: Everyone knows that when there is a doubt about a Torah law, we are strict (safek d’Oraisa l’chumra). But here is the puzzle—is this rule of being strict itself from the Torah, or is it of Rabbinic origin?

This might sound like a technical question, but it has real consequences. If being strict is a Torah rule, then acting leniently in a case of doubt could be a Torah violation. If it is only a Rabbinic rule, then while we must still be strict, the violation would be less severe, and there might be more room for leniency when other factors come into play.

Two Different Views

The Rishonim (the great rabbis of the medieval period) disagree about this question. The Rashba (Rav Shlomo ben Aderet, 1235-1310) seems to hold that the strictness is from the Torah itself.

The Rambam (Maimonides, 1138-1204), however, seems to take a different view. In several places in his writings, he describes the strictness in doubtful cases as something Chazal established, not as a Torah law. According to this view, the Torah only forbids things that are definitely forbidden. Doubt, by itself, does not create a Torah violation. Chazal added the rule of strictness as a protective fence around the Torah.

The Shev Shmaatsa digs deep into this debate, bringing proofs from all over the Gemorah. Understanding which view is correct helps us handle complicated cases where multiple factors must be weighed against each other.

Public vs. Private: A Rule About Impurity

The first shmaatsa then moves on to discuss a fascinating rule that comes from the Gemorah in Sotah (28b). This rule says that when there is a doubt about whether someone became ritually impure, the answer depends on where the doubt happened!

If the doubt happened in a private area (reshus hayachid)—like inside a house or a closed room—we are strict and say the person is impure. But if the same doubt happened in a public area (reshus harabim)—like a street or marketplace—we are lenient and say the person is pure.

How can the location change the halacha? The person either became impure or did not—what does it matter where they were standing?  [BTW – Technically, on Chanukah, the Chashmonayim could have used impure oil]

Learning from the Sotah

The Gemorah learns this rule from the case of the sotah—a woman suspected of being unfaithful to her husband. The Torah describes how she secluded herself with another man in a private place where no one could see what happened. Because the events were hidden, we treat the situation strictly—she must go through the sotah process to prove her innocence.

From here, Chazal derived a general principle: When something doubtful happens in a hidden, private place, we are strict. But when something happens in public, where people could have seen what occurred, we can be more lenient. The thinking is that if something bad had really happened in public, someone would have noticed and told us about it. The fact that no one reported anything suggests that nothing actually happened.

The Shev Shmaatsa explores exactly how this rule works, when it applies, and what counts as “public” and “private” for this purpose.

Double Doubt: The Power of Sefek Sefeika

The first section ends with one of the most important and useful tools in all of halacha: sefek sefeika, or “double doubt.” This principle says that when there are two separate doubts in a case, we can be lenient—even when dealing with Torah laws!

Picture a situation where we are not sure if something forbidden happened at all (that is the first doubt). And even if it did happen, we are not sure if it was done in a forbidden way (that is the second doubt). Since there are two doubts, and either one being resolved favorably would mean everything is fine, we can be lenient.

Why Does This Work?

The Shev Shmaatsa explains the logic behind sefek sefeika by connecting it to another principle called rov (following the majority). Think of it this way: If each doubt is 50-50, then there are four possible outcomes. In three of those four outcomes, everything is fine. Only in one out of four scenarios is there actually a problem. Since the majority of possibilities (three out of four) point toward leniency, we follow that majority.

This is a brilliant insight because it shows that sefek sefeika is not just some random leniency—it is actually based on the Torah principle of following the majority. The Shev Shmaatsa goes on to discuss exactly what conditions are needed for a valid sefek sefeika. For example, the two doubts must be independent of each other, and both must be genuine uncertainties.

Section Two: Chazakah—When Things Stay the Same

The Power of Assumption

The second shmaatsa introduces one of the most basic and important concepts in halacha: chazakah. This word means “strength” or “holding,” and it refers to the idea that we assume things stay the way they were unless we have a reason to think otherwise.  In legalese, part of this concept is called prima facie or possession is nine tenths of the law.

Let’s think about it in everyday terms: If you know your friend was healthy yesterday, you assume he is still healthy today—unless you hear that something happened to him. If your car was working fine this morning, you assume it still works now. This is basic common sense, and halacha uses the same logic.

Chazakah is incredibly useful because we cannot always check everything. Did the mikveh (ritual bath) still have enough water when I used it? Is this food still kosher? If someone in, say, Monsey, bought treif meat – at what point do we assume the food was not kosher? When must we kasher as of? Is this person still alive? We cannot always know for certain, but chazakah gives us a way to make reasonable assumptions and move forward.

Two Types of Chazakah

The Shev Shmaatsa focuses on two main types of chazakah:

1. Chezkas HaGuf—The Body Stays the Same

This type of chazakah says that the physical or halachic status of something does not change on its own. A mikveh that had enough water yesterday probably still has enough water today. Food that was kosher yesterday is still kosher today. A kohen who was fit for service is still fit for service. We assume the physical reality stays constant.

2. Chezkas Mammon—Possession is Nine-Tenths of the Law

This type of chazakah deals with money and property. The rule is simple: If someone is holding onto money or an object, we assume it belongs to them unless proven otherwise. If Reuven wants to take money from Shimon, Reuven has to prove that Shimon owes it to him. We do not just believe claims—the person currently in possession has the advantage.

This is what the Gemorah means when it says hamotzi mei’chaveiro alav ha’re’ayah—”the one who wants to take from his friend must bring proof.” Without this rule, anyone could claim that someone else’s property belongs to them, and chaos would result.

When Two Chazakos Clash

What happens when Chezkas HaGuf and Chezkas Mammon point in opposite directions?

Example: Reuven sells an animal to Shimon, promising that it is healthy. Later, Shimon discovers that the animal has a defect. Shimon demands his money back, saying the defect was there before the sale. Reuven refuses, saying the defect developed after the sale.

Now we have two chazakos fighting each other. Reuven has Chezkas Mammon—he is holding the money, so we should let him keep it. But Shimon can argue Chezkas HaGuf—the animal’s body was presumably always in its current condition, which means the defect existed before the sale!

The Shev Shmaatsa analyzes how halacha resolves such conflicts and what principles determine which chazakah wins.

Does Your Confidence Matter?

The Shev Shmaatsa brings up another fascinating factor: How sure are you of your own claim?

A ta’anas bari is when someone says, “I am absolutely certain that such-and-such happened.” A ta’anas shema is when someone says, “Maybe such-and-such happened—I am not sure.”

Believe it or not, this can affect the outcome of a case. If you yourself admit that you are not sure about your claim, your chazakah might not be strong enough to help. For example, if a borrower says, “I do not know if I paid you back or not,” and the lender says, “I am certain you did not pay me”—the borrower cannot simply rely on his possession of money when he himself is unsure whether he owes it!

Section Three: Past vs. Present: Which Matters More?

The third shmaatsa tackles a mind-bending puzzle. Imagine you know for sure what something’s status was at one point in time, and you also know for sure what it is now—but you have no idea what happened in between. Which certainty should guide our decision?

The key text for this discussion comes from the Gemorah in Niddah (2b). Here is the case: A mikveh was measured on day one and had enough water—forty se’ah. On day seven, it was measured again and found to be short—not enough water. The question is: What about all the people who immersed in that mikveh on days two through six? Were their immersions valid or not?

Two Competing Assumptions

This case creates a showdown between two types of chazakah:

Chazakah D’Me’ikara (Starting Assumption)

This says: We know the mikveh was good on day one. We should assume it stayed good until proven otherwise. Therefore, all the immersions during days two through six were probably valid, and the mikveh only lost water right before day seven.

Chazakah D’Hashta (Current-State Assumption)

This says: We know the mikveh is not valid now on day seven. We should assume it has been in this current state for a while. Therefore, the mikveh was probably already invalid during days two through six, and those immersions might not have counted!

It Depends on Whether Change is Normal

The Shev Shmaatsa offers a brilliant insight: The answer depends on whether what is in question normally changes or stays stable.

But for something that does not naturally change—like a consecrated object that normally stays consecrated—we would lean toward Chazakah D’Me’ikara. We assume the original status held until just before the change was discovered.

This distinction helps resolve many complicated cases in areas like hilchos Niddah, monetary law, and general tumah and taharah.

Section Four: Majority vs. Proximity

Following the Majority: The Power of Rov

The fourth shmaatsa examines a principle that appears throughout the Torah: rov—following the majority. If we do not know which group something belongs to, we assume it belongs to the larger group.

For example, if most of the butcher shops in a city are kosher, and you find a piece of meat on the street without knowing where it came from, you can assume it is kosher based on rov. The Torah itself tells us to “follow after the majority” (Shemos 23:2), and this principle is used constantly in halacha.

The Competing Principle of Karov

But there is another principle called karov (proximity). This says that if something is found near a certain place, we assume it came from that place. Things do not usually travel far from their source, so whatever is nearby is probably where it originated.

The Gemorah in Bava Basra (23b) presents a case where these two principles collide. Imagine a baby bird is found on the ground close to a certain person’s dove cages. The rule of karov says the bird belongs to the owner of the nearby dovecote—it probably came from there. But what if most of the dovecotes in the area belong to someone else? Now rov says the bird probably belongs to the majority owner!

Which principle wins? The Gemorah rules that rov is stronger than karov. If the majority points one way, we follow it, even if proximity points the other way.

Can Rov Take Away Your Money?

Here is another question the Shev Shmaatsa discusses: We know rov can be used for questions of what is permitted and forbidden (issur v’heter). But can it be used to take money away from someone?

Remember, we learned in Section Two that the person holding money has Chezkas Mammon—we assume the money belongs to them. Can the principle of rov override this and force someone to pay?

The Rishonim disagree about this. Some say yes— rov is so strong that it is like having certain knowledge, and it can force payment. Others say no—rov tells us what is probably true, but it cannot take away someone’s actual possession. The Shev Shmaatsa analyzes this debate and its many practical implications for monetary law.

Section Five: When One Status Meets Another

A Complicated Scenario

The fifth shmaatsa gets into some complex territory in the whole sefer. Here is the situation: A person is definitely under one type of prohibition or impurity (let us call it Status A). While in this state, something happens that might have created a different prohibition or impurity (Status B)—but it is not certain. Then the person becomes free of Status A.

The question is: Does the chazakah from Status A affect how we decide the doubt about Status B?

A Concrete Example

Example: Someone is definitely impure with Impurity Type A. While impure, they come into contact with something that might have caused Impurity Type B—we are not sure. Then they go to the mikveh and become pure from Impurity A. What is their status regarding Impurity B?

One could argue: “This person had a chazakah of being impure when the doubtful contact happened. Since they were already ‘established’ as impure, we should treat the doubt stringently and say they are impure with Type B too.”

But one could also argue: “Wait! Impurity A and Impurity B are completely different things. They come from different sources and have different rules. Why should the chazakah of one affect the other? The doubt about Type B should be evaluated on its own.”

The Rishonim Argue

The Shmaatsa presents a major dispute among the Rishonim, including the Rashba and the Ran, about this question. At the heart of the debate is a fundamental question about what chazakah really is.

Is chazakah a broad statement about a person’s overall condition? (“This person is in an impure state.”) If so, then maybe it does affect all types of impurity.

Or is chazakah a narrow, specific tool that only applies to its own category? (“This person has Impurity Type A specifically.”) If so, it would have nothing to say about Type B.

This analysis applies not just to impurity, but to prohibitions as well. The principles laid out here help us navigate many complicated real-life scenarios.

Section Six: Witnesses vs. Assumptions

The Special Power of a Single Witness

The sixth shmaatsa discusses evidence and testimony. We all know that in Beis Din-  Jewish court, you need two witnesses to prove something. But there are situations where even one witness has power.

The rule is eid echad ne’eman b’issurim—a single witness is believed when it comes to prohibitions. If one person tells you, “That food is not kosher,” or “That woman is forbidden to her husband,” they are believed. You do not need two witnesses for such things.

Why is this? One reason is practical: Such matters could easily be checked by the person themselves. The witness is just providing helpful information, not testifying in a formal court case. Also, a single witness can force someone to take an oath in monetary cases—not enough to make them pay, but enough to require them to swear they do not owe.

When a Witness Fights a Chazakah

The Shmaatsa asks: What happens when a single witness says one thing, but the chazakah says another?

For example, we have a chazakah that a certain food is kosher. Then one witness comes along and says, “Actually, it became treif.” Who wins—the witness or the chazakah?

Generally, direct testimony—even from a single witness where their testimony is valid—should beat a mere assumption. After all, the witness is telling us what they actually saw, while chazakah is just a presumption based on how things usually work.

When Witnesses Contradict Each Other

The sixth shmaatsa also discusses what happens when two sets of witnesses contradict each other. Two witnesses say one thing; two other witnesses say the opposite. Now what?

The rule is called trei u’trei (“two against two”). When this happens, the testimonies essentially cancel each other out. We are left with a doubt that must be resolved using other principles. In money cases, the person holding the money keeps it. In cases of prohibition, we apply the regular rules of doubt.

The Shev Shmaatsa explores the details: What if one set of witnesses seems more reliable? What if outside evidence supports one side? How does chazakah interact with a trei u’trei situation?

Section Seven: Casual Statements and Recognition

Mesiach L’Fi Tumo: When Unfit Witnesses Are Believed

The seventh and final shmaatsa discusses a remarkable principle with a poetic name: mesiach l’fi tumo—”speaking in innocence.” This rule says that certain people who would normally not be believed as witnesses—like a child, or in some cases a non-Jew—can be believed if they mention something casually, without realizing it has halachic importance.

Why Does This Work?

Think about why certain witnesses are usually not accepted. It is not necessarily because they are liars. It is because in a formal situation, where they know their words have consequences, they might be influenced to shade the truth. A child might be easily tricked. Someone might be tempted to lie when they know their testimony will affect an outcome.

But when someone speaks casually, just making conversation, these concerns disappear. If a child mentions in passing, “We ate at that restaurant and Daddy said the food was kosher,” the child has no idea this information matters. They are just chatting. Because there is no motive to lie, we can believe them.

The Shev Shmaatsa explores exactly when this principle applies. The key is that the statement must be genuinely incidental. Once the speaker realizes their words have halachic significance, they lose this special credibility.

Recognizing Without Explaining How

The seventh section also discusses another interesting question: What if someone says they recognize a person or object, but they cannot explain exactly how they know?

Halacha calls this tevi’us ayin—recognition through visual impression. The question is whether this kind of recognition counts for halachic purposes. Can a witness say, “I recognize this person; it is definitely So-and-so,” without being able to point to specific identifying marks (simanim)?

The Shev Shmaatsa analyzes when such recognition is acceptable and when we require more concrete identifying features. It depends on factors like how reliable the recognizer is and the circumstances of the recognition.

Conclusion: A Treasure for the Ages

The Shev Shmaatsa is one of the most important seforim ever written for understanding how halacha deals with uncertainty. Rav Aryeh Leib HaKohen Heller took some of the most confusing and complicated topics in all of Torah law and explained them with breathtaking clarity.

The seven shmaatsos build on each other like steps in a staircase. Section One lays the foundation by asking whether strictness in doubt is from the Torah or Chazal. Section Two introduces chazakah—the assumption that things stay the same. Section Three asks what happens when we know the beginning and end but not the middle. Section Four compares the power of majority (rov) with proximity (karov). Section Five explores what happens when different statuses overlap. Section Six weighs witnesses against assumptions. And Section Seven reveals when even unfit witnesses can be believed.

Together, these seven sections give poskim the tools to navigate almost any case of doubt in halacha. From questions about kashrus to Shabbos, from family purity to monetary disputes, the principles in the Shev Shmaatsa come up again and again.

When we study the Shev Shmaatsa, especially on his yahrtzeit today – we are connecting with one of the greatest Torah minds in recent history and the father of much of the Torah lomdus that we learn today.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

On January 3rd, American special forces grabbed Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s president, right out of his country and flew him to Miami to face drug charges. In the past, such an operation would have been covered up—blamed on local rebels, or explained away with some diplomatic excuse. That is what happened in the 1950’s when the CIA’s Kermit Roosevelt engineered the coup that put teh Shah back in power. This time, Washington did not even pretend. Yesterday, American forces seized two oil tankers, the Marinera and the M Sophia, in raids stretching from the Caribbean to the icy waters near Iceland. Russia had sent a submarine racing to protect the Marinera—a ship that had already escaped one boarding attempt by switching its name and flying a Russian flag. The submarine arrived too late. The era of excuses, it seems, is finished.

The capture of Mr Maduro has shaken up politics across the Western Hemisphere. Commandos snatched him from a beach compound in La Guaira and whisked him away to a Miami courtroom. It was the boldest American military action in Latin America since US forces seized Panama’s dictator Manuel Noriega back in 1989. The Trump administration says everything was legal, pointing to Mr Maduro’s 2020 indictment on drug-trafficking charges and the $15 million bounty on his head. Critics call it an act of war. Venezuela’s military, caught completely off guard, still hasn’t figured out how to respond.

Israel is watching all this nervously from the other side of the Atlantic. So far, Jerusalem has said nothing about Mr Maduro’s capture—no praise, no criticism. The reason is simple: Israel can’t afford to upset its most important ally over legal arguments about who can grab whom, not while facing threats from Iran and Hezbollah and losing friends at the United Nations. But Israeli leaders are still worried. If powerful countries can now kidnap foreign presidents and take over territory whenever they want—and Mr Trump has also talked about taking Greenland, the Panama Canal and even Canada—then the rules that protect smaller countries start to crumble. Yes, Venezuela’s government killed people and stole billions from American oil companies. Nobody will cry for Mr Maduro. But the way he was removed sets a dangerous example. Today an American president grabs a Latin American dictator. Tomorrow some other country might do the same thing to someone else, using the same excuse. Israel, surrounded by enemies who would love to use that kind of logic, can only hope this doesn’t become a trend.

The tanker seizures send two messages at once. First, they enforce the sanctions that Mr Maduro’s government had dodged for years. Second, they warn Russia and China: America is back in charge of this part of the world. Both countries had gotten deeply involved in Venezuela’s oil business. Chinese companies bought millions of barrels every month through shadowy middlemen. Russian firms provided technical help and, as the Marinera chase showed, were ready to send warships to protect their investment. Now they’re having second thoughts.

Venezuela’s scheme for sneaking oil past sanctions was clever. Tankers would load up at José terminal, the country’s main export hub, then go “dark” by turning off their tracking signals. Out at sea, they’d transfer the oil to other ships flying flags from countries with weak regulations. The oil would get new paperwork saying it came from Malaysia or Oman, then sail off to Chinese refineries.

There is, of course, sattelite technology that can detect the different height of each of these ships before the oil is loaded and after.  Computers subtract the height difference divide it by the size of the ship and can determine the mass of the liquid that was pumped in the ship down to the gallon.  American spies had been watching this for years, but no president had been willing to do much about it.

Mr Trump’s return to the White House changed everything. Days after taking office, he signed an executive order calling Venezuela’s oil smuggling a threat to national security. He gave the navy permission to stop suspect ships anywhere in international waters. Legal experts immediately said this might violate maritime law. The administration didn’t care. “We’re not going to let our hemisphere become a gas station for our enemies,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Back in Caracas, what’s left of the government is in chaos. Diosdado Cabello, the powerful interior minister and the regime’s number-two man, has taken over. He went on state television hours after Mr Maduro was grabbed, looking shaken but trying to sound tough. “The empire has shown its true face,” he said. “But the Bolivarian revolution cannot be kidnapped.” Even as he spoke, reports were coming in that top military officers were already talking to American contacts about giving up.

Russia’s response was angrier. Vladimir Putin called the seizures “state piracy” and hinted at payback. Sending that submarine to protect the Marinera showed Moscow was willing to challenge America. But the sub’s failure to get there in time showed the limits of Russian power so far from home. China, as usual, played it cooler. Beijing put out a bland statement about respecting international law while quietly telling its oil traders to stop buying Venezuelan crude until things calm down.

Reactions across Latin America have been mixed. Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who had stayed friendly with Mr Maduro despite their differences, demanded an emergency meeting of the Organisation of American States. He called the abduction “a dangerous precedent.” Argentina’s president Javier Milei took the opposite view, congratulating Mr Trump and offering shelter to any Venezuelan officials fleeing “the narco-dictatorship.” Colombia, which shares a long border with Venezuela and already hosts over two million Venezuelan refugees, has stayed quiet in public while working closely with Washington behind the scenes.

For ordinary Venezuelans, the news brought mixed feelings. In the wealthy eastern neighborhoods of Caracas, small crowds came out to celebrate, honking horns and waving flags. In the poor hillside slums—once the heart of support for the revolution—people weren’t so sure. Most of them hate Mr Maduro for destroying the economy. Prices rose so fast that money became worthless. Food disappeared from stores. Millions fled the country. The power goes out for hours every day. 

What happens next to Venezuela’s oil industry is anybody’s guess. Once it was the source of the country’s wealth. Now it’s a wreck. Production has crashed from 3.5 million barrels a day at its peak to barely 900,000 today. American oil executives who lost billions when Hugo Chávez seized their property back in 2007 are already sniffing around. Mr Trump has talked openly about “taking back” what he calls stolen American assets. ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, which won huge legal judgments against Venezuela that were never paid, finally see a chance to collect.

The next few weeks will show whether Mr Trump’s gamble pays off or blows up in his face. Mr Maduro’s trial will be watched around the world. Whether Venezuela can form a stable new government is far from certain. And the image of a sitting president being physically grabbed by foreign soldiers will echo far beyond the Caribbean. Dictators everywhere will take note.

Shlomo Hamelech, the wisest of all men, taught us: “Lev melech b’yad Hashem, k’palgei mayim—al kol asher yachpotz yatenu”—”The heart of a king is in the hand of Hashem, like streams of water—He directs it wherever He wishes” (Mishlei 21:1). The rise and fall of rulers, the shifting of empires, the sudden reversals that leave nations gasping—none of this is random. Maduro ruled Venezuela with an iron fist for years while his people starved and fled. Now he sits in a Miami jail cell. Trump, defying every prediction, has returned to power and reshaped the Western Hemisphere in a matter of days. For those with eyes to see, the hand of the Ribbono Shel Olam is guiding events in ways that no analyst or intelligence agency can fully predict. Our task is not to render judgment on the actions of great powers, but to recognize that behind the machinations of presidents and generals stands the One Who truly directs the course of history.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

Al-Ahmed, speaking humbly, attributed his actions to divine guidance, saying God led him to save lives during the attack, in which he was shot while wrestling a firearm from one of the assailants.

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, visibly emotional, broke down in tears as he described the extraordinary courage al-Ahmed displayed in risking his own life to protect strangers. The room, filled with supporters of Colel Chabad’s charitable work, was left in collective silence, with few dry eyes among the attendees.

The gala recognized both al-Ahmed and Rabbi Ulman for their roles in confronting hatred and promoting unity. Organizers praised the pair as symbols of moral clarity and resolve in the face of terror.

Attendees expressed gratitude to Rabbi Sholom Dovber Duchman, director of Colel Chabad, for organizing the powerful evening and for the organization’s ongoing efforts to provide food, medical aid and support to thousands in Israel and beyond.

Despite the controversy, many political and religious leaders credited him with reshaping access to medical assistance for the elderly and disabled and praised his decades of public service. Funeral arrangements were expected to be announced by his family.

“The Trump Administration has found these institutions to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own, or a threat to our nation’s sovereignty, freedoms, and general prosperity,” the State Department said in a statement.

Trump’s decision to withdraw from organizations that foster cooperation among nations to address global challenges comes as his administration has launched military efforts or issued threats that have rattled allies and adversaries alike, including capturing autocratic Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and indicating an intention to take over Greenland.

This is the latest U.S. withdrawal from global agencies
The administration previously suspended support from agencies like the World Health Organization, the U.N. for Palestinian refugees known as UNRWA, the U.N. Human Rights Council and the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO as it has taken a larger, a-la-carte approach to paying its dues to the world body, picking which operations and agencies they believe align with Trump’s agenda and those which no longer serve U.S. interests.

“I think what we’re seeing is the crystallization of the U.S. approach to multilateralism, which is ‘my way or the highway,’” Daniel Forti, senior U.N. analyst at the International Crisis Group, said. “It’s a very clear vision of wanting international cooperation on Washington’s own terms.”

It has marked a major shift from how previous administrations — both Republican and Democratic — have dealt with the U.N., and it has forced the world body, already undergoing its own internal reckoning, to respond with a series of staffing and program cuts.

Many independent nongovernmental agencies — some that work with the United Nations — have cited many project closures because of the U.S. administration’s decision last year to slash foreign assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID.

Despite the massive shift, the U.S. officials, including Trump himself, say they have seen the potential of the U.N. and want to instead focus taxpayer money on expanding American influence in many of the standard-setting U.N. initiatives where there is competition with China, like the International Telecommunications Union, the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization.

The global organizations from which the US is departing
The withdrawal from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, or UNFCCC, is the latest effort by Trump and his allies to distance the U.S. from international organizations focused on climate and addressing climate change.

UNFCC, the 1992 agreement between 198 countries to financially support climate change activities in developing countries, is the underlying treaty for the landmark Paris climate agreement. Trump — who calls climate change a hoax — withdrew from that agreement soon after reclaiming the White House.

Mainstream scientists say climate change is behind increasing instances of deadly and costly extreme weather, including flooding, droughts, wildfires, intense rainfall events and dangerous heat.

The U.S. withdrawal could hinder global efforts to curb greenhouse gases because it “gives other nations the excuse to delay their own actions and commitments,” said Stanford University climate scientist Rob Jackson, who chairs the Global Carbon Project, a group of scientists that tracks countries’ carbon dioxide emissions.

It also will be difficult to achieve meaningful progress on climate change without cooperation from the U.S., one of the world’s largest emitters and economies, experts said.

The U.N.’s population agency, which provides sexual and reproductive health across the world, has long been a lightning rod for Republican opposition and Trump himself cut funding for the agency during his first term in office. He and other GOP officials have accused the agency of participating in “coercive abortion practices” in countries like China.

When President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he restored funding for the agency. A State Department review conducted the following year found no evidence to support these claims.

Other organizations and agencies that the U.S. will quit include the Carbon Free Energy Compact, the United Nations University, the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the International Tropical Timber Organization, the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, the Pan-American Institute for Geography and History, the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies and the International Lead and Zinc Study Group.

The State Department said additional reviews are ongoing.

“This will allow us to build the ‘Dream Military’ that we have long been entitled to and, more importantly, that will keep us SAFE and SECURE, regardless of foe,” Trump said in a posting on Truth Social announcing his proposal. He added that he feels comfortable surging spending on the military because of increased revenue created by his administration through tariffs imposed on friends and foes around the globe since his return to office.

Trump has addressed Congress once before in his second term, delivering a speech to a joint session in March.

Community members gathered at the scene to pray and demand answers, as the incident intensified debate over federal immigration enforcement tactics in Minnesota.

Federal authorities said the shooting remains under review.

The suspension comes as the Trump administration has ratcheted up criticism of Somali refugees and migrants in the United States, including over well-publicized fraud allegations involving child care centers in Minnesota. It has slapped significant restrictions on Somalis wanting to come to the U.S. and made it difficult for those already in the United States to stay.

It was not immediately clear how much assistance would be affected by the suspension because the Trump administration has slashed foreign aid expenditures, dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development and not released new country-by-country data.

The U.S. had provided $770 million in assistance for projects in Somalia during the last year of the Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration, but only a fraction of that went directly to the government.

The Horn of Africa, where Somalia is located, is one the world’s poorest nations and has been beset by chronic strife and insecurity exacerbated by multiple natural disasters, including severe droughts, for decades.

Aspenlieder pleaded guilty to a charge of mischief for the vandalism in July.

London-Weinstein also ordered on Wednesday that he serve two years of probation; not approach Jewish or Israeli institutions, nor possess guns; and pay a “victim surcharge,” the CBC reported.

The group said in a community impact statement during the trial that Asplenlieder was “not a youth acting in ignorance, nor an outsider unaware of our history.”

“He is an adult, a lawyer, a member of a profession entrusted with upholding justice, guarding the rule of law and respecting human dignity,” it said in the statement. “As a lawyer, he should have known better.”

Tepter told JNS that defacing a Holocaust monument “is not simply an act of vandalism.”

“It is an attack on memory. It is an attack on the lessons we have learned to help prevent repeated mistakes and foster resilience against the illiberal ideologies sweeping the world,” he said.

It’s also a “direct insult to the survivors of the Holocaust, to the survivors’ families, to the 45,000 Canadian soldiers killed and another 55,000 soldiers wounded,” he told JNS. “When a lawyer desecrates such a monument, it is more than a private failure. It is a public betrayal.”

The judge made a “fundamental mistake” by not identifying the vandal as motivated by Jew-hatred, according to Teper. “We’re dumbfounded about how someone who deliberately goes out to vandalize a Holocaust memorial could possibly be acting for any other purpose,” he said.

Teper, a lawyer who holds Ontario and New York bar membership, told JNS that the vandal still violated the Canadian criminal code, even if he was acting based on his opinion about the conflict in the Middle East.

The law makes it an “aggravating factor in sentencing when the accused’s motivation is hate, bias or prejudice—any one of those three words,” he said.

The judge “then failed to consider bias or prejudice, when it was clear that, for all the places he could have targeted, he chose to target the National Holocaust Memorial,” Teper said. “That indicates bias and prejudice against Jews. Therefore, the judge made a significant conceptual error.”

Vandalism of the National Holocaust Monument in Ottawa, Canada, on June 9, 2025. Credit: Courtesy of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs.

‘Does not reflect the gravity of a hateful act’

The charity is also concerned about more than just this ruling amid a spike in Jew-hatred that has “continually plagued” Canadians in the form of “hate mobs,” according to Teper.

“The permissiveness and laziness of the law-enforcement authorities—prosecutors and police forces—make us sitting ducks for another Bondi Beach incident unless there is an immediate course correction,” he said, referring to the mass shooting in Australia on Dec. 14, the first night of Chanukah, that left 15 people dead.

Leaders of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the advocacy arm of the Jewish Federations of Canada-UIA, stated that the group is “deeply disappointed” and that the punishment “does not reflect the gravity of what is indeed a hateful act and its impact on the Jewish community, not only in Ottawa but across Canada.”

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center also said it is disappointed by the minimal sentence, as well as troubled that the judge ruled that the crime wasn’t motivated by hatred, despite what it said was “clear evidence of its impact on the Jewish community.”

The organization said that the judge told the court during sentencing that Aspenlieder “is proud of what he has done and was aware that his conduct would cause fear, upset and hurt within the Jewish community.”

Finding a great car for less than $25,000 is almost impossible. Fortunately, a Honda Civic LX sedan costs just a little more than that and offers enough room for a family of four. A 150-horsepower four-cylinder engine supplies an EPA-estimated 36 mpg in combined city and highway driving, and this compact car earns favorable crash test ratings.

Make some room in your budget, and you can upgrade to a hatchback with extra utility, or choose a higher trim level with additional features. Civic Hybrids are highly recommended (up to 49 mpg), and driving enthusiasts can choose the Si sedan or Type R hatch. Is there a 2026 Civic for just about anyone? Yes, there is.

2026 Honda Civic starting price: $25,790

Midsize car: Toyota Camry

If an affordable hybrid car is appealing, but the Civic is too small, consider the midsize Toyota Camry. It’s the most popular car in America, for good reason. Every Camry features an efficient hybrid powertrain that delivers an EPA-estimated 43-51 mpg, depending on the trim level. You can even equip the Camry with all-wheel drive for improved traction in the snow.

The Camry LE might be the least expensive model, but it includes the driver assist features and infotainment technologies you’re most likely to want. For a sportier look and driving feel, try the Camry SE. No matter which version you choose, the 2026 Camry is a top-rated family-friendly car that won’t break the bank to buy or own.

2026 Toyota Camry starting price: $30,195

Small SUV: Hyundai Kona

Crossover SUVs are appealing for their added utility, higher ride height and available all-wheel drive. In the small SUV segment, Edmunds recommends the 2026 Hyundai Kona. It’s one of the largest models in its class, the EPA says it averages 26-31 mpg depending on the trim level and drivetrain, and it boasts impressive crash test ratings. A long warranty and generous ownership perks help to make it an even more appealing value.

Hyundai equips the most affordable Konas with a 147-horsepower four-cylinder engine. A turbocharged four-cylinder is standard on higher trim levels, and an electric version is also available. Regardless of your choice, rest assured that the 2026 Kona is pleasing for reasons beyond its low price.

2026 Hyundai Kona starting price: $26,950

Compact SUV: Kia Sportage Hybrid

If the Kona isn’t big enough and you can afford to upgrade, check out the Kia Sportage Hybrid. This compact crossover SUV is stylish, roomy inside and surprisingly affordable. It saves money at the pump, too, thanks to a turbocharged hybrid powertrain that returns an EPA-estimated 42 mpg combined (35 mpg with all-wheel drive).

This year, Kia made numerous changes to the 2026 Sportage Hybrid, headlined by design updates and new technology. New S and X-Line trim levels are also available. However, the most affordable version (LX) is also the most fuel-efficient and includes nearly all the tech you might want in your new SUV.

2026 Kia Sportage Hybrid starting price: $31,735

Midsize SUV: Hyundai Palisade

Families in search of an affordable value in a three-row midsize SUV should look no further than the redesigned 2026 Hyundai Palisade. Thanks to its upscale styling, artfully executed interior with roomy seating for up to eight people, and available turbocharged hybrid powertrain that delivers an EPA-estimated 34 mpg, the Palisade is an irresistible family-size SUV.

Choose the base SE trim to keep prices in check (SEL for hybrids). But if you’re rethinking plans to buy a luxury SUV, a top-shelf Palisade Calligraphy is downright decadent in look, feel and equipment. That makes it an affordable alternative to everything from an Acura to a Volvo.

2026 Hyundai Palisade starting price: $41,035

Edmunds says

Choosing an affordable vehicle doesn’t mean settling for second-best. The five models listed above provide genuine value, and Edmunds’ experts rank them among the best SUVs and cars available in their respective classes. You can buy any of them without compromising on what you need, and in some cases, what you want.

This photo provided by Hyundai shows the 2026 Kona, an affordable compact SUV available with gas or fully electric power. (Courtesy of Hyundai Motor America via AP)

This photo provided by Kia shows the 2026 Sportage Hybrid, a small, affordable SUV with excellent fuel economy. (Courtesy of Kia America via AP)

This photo provided by Hyundai shows the new 2026 Palisade, an affordable three-row SUV with a surprisingly upscale look inside and out. (Drew Phillips/Hyundai Motor America via AP)

Name one single anti-Jewish sentiment I have ever expressed, you despicable creep @HilzFuld – or delete this defamatory lie. pic.twitter.com/HiF80Sopiq

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 7, 2026

Last month, Trump pledged in a prime-time address that he would roll out “some of the most aggressive housing reform plans in American history” this year. The president said he would discuss housing and affordability in more detail in two weeks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, an event known for attracting CEOs, wealthy financiers and academics with a global focus who often run contrary to Trump’s populist rhetoric.

The president has in the past floated extending the 30-year mortgage to 50 years in order to lower monthly payments, an idea that has been criticized because it would reduce people’s ability to create housing equity and increase their own wealth.

With Trump’s proposed ban, the challenge is that institutional investors are only a tiny sliver of homebuyers, accounting for just 1% of total single-family housing stock, according to an August analysis by researchers at the American Enterprise Institute, a center-right think tank based in Washington, D.C. The analysis defined these investors as owning 100 or more properties.

The analysis notes that institutional ownership varies nationwide, reaching 4.2% in Atlanta, 2.6% in Dallas and 2.2% in Houston. But these investors tend not to dominate neighborhoods, even if they’re generally more concentrated in lower and middle-income communities.

The larger challenge has been a shortage of new construction, such that Goldman Sachs in October estimated in October that 3 million to 4 million additional homes beyond the normal construction levels would need to be built to relieve cost pressures. Mortgage rates also climbed in the inflation that followed the coronavirus pandemic, causing monthly payments on home loans to increase dramatically faster than incomes.

Still, Trump said last month that an increase in new construction would create a dilemma as it could cause existing home values to drop and that would come at the expense of many existing homeowners’ net worth.

“I don’t want to knock those numbers down because I want them to continue to have a big value for their house,” Trump said. “At the same time, I want to make it possible for young people out there and other people to buy housing. In a way, they’re at conflict.”

The posts, which were circulated on social media in recent days by critics of Mamdani, included calls to treat private property as a “collective good” and to “impoverish the (asterisk)white(asterisk) middle class.” A tweet sent in 2017 described homeownership as “a weapon of white supremacy masquerading as ‘wealth building public policy.’”

Eric Adams, the city’s former mayor and a fellow Democrat, said the remarks showed “extreme privilege and total detachment from reality.”

Asked about the controversy on Wednesday, Mamdani did not address the substance of Weaver’s posts but defended her record of “standing up for tenants across the city and state.”

Weaver said in an interview with a local TV station that some of the messages were “regretful” and “not something I would say today.”

“I want to make sure that everybody has a safe and affordable place to live, whether they rent or own, and that is something I’m laser-focused on in this new role,” she added.

The discussion comes after Mamdani last month accepted the resignation of another official, Catherine Almonte Da Costa, after the Anti-Defamation League shared social media posts she made over a decade ago that featured antisemitic tropes.

While Mamdani had said he was unaware of Da Costa’s messages, Weaver’s past social media posts were known to the administration, according to a mayoral spokesperson, Dora Pekec.

Weaver previously led the Housing Justice for All coalition, which was widely credited with helping to convince state lawmakers to pass a sweeping package of tenant protections in 2019.

As leader of the city’s tenant protection office, she would play a key role in achieving one of Mamdani’s most polarizing campaign pledges: identifying negligent landlords and forcing them to negotiate the sale of their properties to the city if they are unable to pay fines for violations.

The “public stewardship” proposal has drawn consternation from landlord groups and skepticism from others in city government.

But the early days of his administration have brought signs that the new mayor is not backing off on the idea.

In a press conference immediately following his inauguration last week, Mamdani said the city would take “precedent-setting” action against the owner of a Brooklyn apartment building that owed the city money and was currently in bankruptcy proceedings.

He then announced Weaver’s appointment, drawing loud cheers from the members of a tenants union gathered in the building’s lobby.

“It is going to be challenging,” Weaver acknowledged. “New York is home to some of the most valuable real estate in the world. Everything about New York politics is about that fact.”

“They are already trying to spin this as an action of self defense. Having seen the video myself, I wanna tell everybody directly, that is bull….,” the mayor said.

Menin called the vote a moment of pride for the city’s many communities and said she is committed to leading with fairness and inclusion.

“It is an extraordinary honor to serve as speaker of the New York City Council,” Menin said after the vote. “I look forward to working with my colleagues to deliver for every neighborhood and every New Yorker.”

Menin previously served as the city’s consumer affairs commissioner and later as director of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, building a reputation as a pragmatic leader with deep experience in city government.

Her election was widely seen as a unifying moment in a council often divided by ideology, with members from across the political spectrum praising her ability to bridge differences and build consensus.

As speaker, Menin will oversee budget negotiations, committee assignments and legislative priorities at a time when the city faces ongoing challenges related to public safety, affordability and social services.

Her unanimous election marks a new chapter for the City Council — and a historic moment reflecting the changing face of leadership in New York City.

🔴 LIVE: Watch New York City Council's 2026 Charter Meeting https://t.co/nZ3KbINKCv

— New York City Council (@NYCCouncil) January 7, 2026

“By a vote of 51 in the affirmative, zero in the negative and zero abstentions, the Council has duly elected Councilmember Julie Menin as speaker of the City Council.”

Menin is the first Jew in this role. pic.twitter.com/ecJlcByZ80

— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) January 7, 2026

The shooting marks a dramatic escalation of the latest in a series of immigration enforcement operations in major American cities under the Trump administration. It’s at least the fifth person killed in a handful of states since 2024.

The twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul have been on edge since DHS announced Tuesday that it had launched the operation, with 2,000 agents and officers expected to participate in the crackdown tied in part to allegations of fraud involving Somali residents.

A large throng of protesters gathered at the scene after the shooting, where they vented their anger at the local and federal officers who were there, including Gregory Bovino, a senior U.S. Customs and Border Patrol official who has been the face of crackdowns in Los Angeles, Chicago and elsewhere.

In a scene that hearkened back to the Los Angeles and Chicago crackdowns, bystanders heckled the officers and blew whistles that have become ubiquitous during the operations.

“Shame! Shame! Shame!” and “ICE out of Minnesota!” they loudly chanted from behind the police tape.

After the shooting, Mayor Jacob Frey said immigration agents were “causing chaos in our city.”

“We are demanding ICE leave the city and state immediately. We stand rock solid with our immigrant and refugee communities,” Frey said on social media.

The area where the shooting occurred is a modest neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis, just a few blocks from some of the oldest immigrant markets in the area and a mile (1.6 kilometers) from where George Floyd was killed by police in 2020.

“We’ve been trying to live life as fully as possible in light of the fear and anxiety that we feel,” said the Rev. Hierald Osorto, pastor at St. Paul’s-San Pablo Lutheran Church, which has a predominantly Latino congregation in the area.

The Immigration Defense Network, a coalition of groups serving immigrants in Minnesota, held a training session Tuesday night for about 100 people who are willing to hit the streets to monitor the federal enforcement.

“I feel like I’m an ordinary person, and I have the ability do something so I need to do it,” Mary Moran told KMSP-TV.

Federal law enforcement officers stand near a roadblock at Portland Avenue and East 32nd Street, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, after reports of a shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis, where immigration enforcement has been conducting a major crackdown. (AP Photo/Tim Sullivan)

Law enforcement officers attend to the scene of the shooting involving federal law enforcement agents, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Baker)

A bullet hole is seen in the windshield as law enforcement officers work at the scene of a shooting involving federal law enforcement agents, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Baker)

People protest as law enforcement officers attend to the scene of the shooting involving federal law enforcement agents, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Tom Baker)

“Our message is clear: Eat real food,” Kennedy told reporters at a White House briefing.

The guidelines emphasize consumption of fresh vegetables, whole grains and dairy products, long advised as part of a healthy eating plan.

But they also take a new stance on “highly processed” foods, and refined carbohydrates, urging consumers to avoid “packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat or other foods that are salty or sweet, such as chips, cookies and candy.” That’s a different term for ultraprocessed foods, the super-tasty, energy-dense products that make up more than half of the calories in the U.S. diet and have been linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

The new guidance backs away from revoking long-standing advice to limit saturated fats, despite signals from Kennedy and Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary that the administration would push for more consumption of animal fats to end the “war” on saturated fats.

Instead, the document suggests that Americans should choose whole-food sources of saturated fat — such as meat, whole-fat dairy or avocados — while continuing to limit saturated fat consumption to no more than 10% of daily calories. The guidance says “other options can include butter or beef tallow,” despite previous recommendations to avoid those fats.

Guidelines were due for an update
The dietary guidelines, required by law to be updated every five years, provide a template for a healthy diet. But in a country where more than half of adults have a diet-related chronic disease, few Americans actually follow the guidance, research shows.

The new recommendations drew praise from some prominent nutrition experts.

“There should be broad agreement that eating more whole foods and reducing highly processed carbohydrates is a major advance in how we approach diet and health,” said Dr. David Kessler, a former FDA commissioner who has written books about diet and nutrition and has sent a petition to the FDA to remove key ingredients in ultraprocessed foods.

Others expressed relief after worrying that the guidelines would go against decades of nutrition evidence linking saturated fat to higher LDL or “bad” cholesterol and heart disease.

“I guess whoever is writing these had to admit that the science hasn’t changed,” said Marion Nestle, a nutritionist and food policy expert who advised previous editions of the guidelines. “They haven’t changed in any fundamental way except for the emphasis on eating whole foods.”

The new document is just 10 pages, upholding Kennedy’s pledge to create a simple, understandable guideline. Previous editions of the dietary guidelines have grown over the years, from a 19-page pamphlet in 1980 to the 164-page document issued in 2020, which included a four-page executive summary.

The guidance will have the most profound effect on the federally funded National School Lunch Program, which is required to follow the guidelines to feed nearly 30 million U.S. children on a typical school day.

The Agriculture Department will have to translate the recommendations into specific requirements for school meals, a process that can take years, said Diane Pratt-Heavner, spokesperson for the School Nutrition Association. The latest school nutrition standards were proposed in 2023 but won’t be fully implemented until 2027, she noted.

Science advisers didn’t make ultraprocessed food recommendations
The new guidelines skip the advice of a 20-member panel of nutrition experts, who met for nearly two years to review the latest scientific evidence on diet and health.

That panel didn’t make recommendations about ultraprocessed food. Although a host of studies have showed links between ultraprocessed foods and poor health outcomes, the nutrition experts had concerns with the quality of the research reviewed and the certainty that those foods, and not other factors, were the cause of the problems.

The recommendations on highly processed foods drew cautiously positive reactions. The FDA and the Agriculture Department are already working on a definition of ultraprocessed foods, but it’s expected to take time.

Not all highly processed foods are unhealthy, said Dr. David Ludwig, an endocrinologist and researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital.

“I think the focus should be on highly processed carbohydrates,” he said, noting that processing of protein or fats can be benign or even helpful.

More protein recommended
The guidelines made a few other notable changes, including a call to potentially double protein consumption.

The previous recommended dietary allowance called for 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight — about 54 grams daily for a 150-pound person. The new recommendation is 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. An average American man consumes about 100 grams of protein per day, or about twice the previously recommended limit.

It’s not clear what evidence supported the change, but Ludwig said the earlier recommendation was the minimum amount needed to prevent protein deficiency and higher amounts of protein might be beneficial.

“I think a moderate increase in protein to help displace the processed carbohydrates makes sense,” he said.

The guidelines advise avoiding or sharply limiting added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners, saying “no amount” is considered part of a healthy diet.

No one meal should contain more than 10 grams of added sugars, or about 2 teaspoons, the new guidelines say.

Previous federal guidelines recommended limiting added sugars to less than 10% of daily calories or people older than 2, but to aim for less. That’s about 12 teaspoons a day in a 2,000-calorie daily diet. Children younger than 2 should have no added sugars at all, the older guidance said.

In general, most Americans consume about 17 teaspoons of added sugars per day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Alcohol limits removed
The new guidelines roll back previous recommendations to limit alcohol to 1 drink or less per day for women and 2 drinks or less per day for men.

Instead, the guidance advises Americans to “consume less alcohol for better health.” They also say that alcohol should be avoided by pregnant women, people recovering from alcohol use disorder and those who are unable to control the amount they drink.

The leader of the Office of Antisemitism cannot have a contentious relationship with the Chassidic yeshiva community.

When the office was created, I was part of the early conversations about its purpose: ensuring that Jewish New Yorkers feel protected and free to live openly…

— Yaacov Behrman (@ChabadLubavitch) January 7, 2026

Spotlight on a possible successor

Attention has turned to Phylisa Wisdom, who became executive director of the New York Jewish Agenda in 2023. Before that, she served as a senior official at YAFFED, an advocacy group that campaigns for increased state oversight of secular studies in Hasidic and haredi schools — a stance that has made the organization controversial in Orthodox circles.

Behrman said he does not know Wisdom personally but questioned whether someone associated with efforts to challenge yeshivas could effectively lead an office meant to protect Orthodox Jews from antisemitic attacks.

“Trust matters,” he said. “Without it, the mission of this office is weakened.”

Rising concern as antisemitism grows

Police data show antisemitic incidents in New York remain elevated, with visibly Orthodox Jews frequently targeted in street assaults and harassment.

City Hall has not confirmed any leadership change. A mayoral spokesperson declined to comment on personnel matters but said the administration remains committed to combating antisemitism citywide.

Behrman said the decision carries real consequences.

“The goal is to make Jews feel safer,” he said. “Any move that does the opposite would be a mistake.”

“You are about to do noble things for the security of the people of Israel and the state. We have an opportunity to change and to repair, but on one thing we will stand firm and not compromise: enabling you to fulfill your duty to defend the state while preserving your Torah world… Operational necessity requires us to fill the ranks—you are the trailblazers, and many more will follow after you,” the officer added.

The Israeli military went on to state that it continues to expand enlistment from the Haredi community, including through the expansion of existing tracks, the establishment of new designated frameworks, the holding of outreach and informational conferences, and adjustments to training and service conditions.

“The new soldiers were assigned to a variety of units that enable meaningful service while fully preserving their way of life,” the IDF said.

The recruitment of members of the ultra-Orthodox community has been a major source of political debate and turmoil in the country. Israeli men and women are compelled by law to draft into the military, but the Haredi community has received a temporary exemption with the inception of the state, which has since become the status quo.

In 2017, Israel’s High Court of Justice ruled in an unprecedented decision that the exemption was unlawful and violated the principle of equality.

A new army enlistment law has been on the cards ever since, with Haredi parties threatening to leave the coalition if the legislation does not codify the exemption.

The announcement coincides with the 60th anniversary of Alaska’s partnership with Boeing, which began with deliveries of 727 jets.

The 737-10, the largest variant of the MAX family still awaiting Federal Aviation Administration certification, offers improved fuel efficiency and capacity for high-density routes.

The additional 787s, expected as the longer-range -10 model, will enable expansion into Europe and Asia with enhanced passenger comfort and range.

Of the 105 737-10s, 53 represent new firm orders, while 52 come from exercised options. The five 787s also stem from prior options.

The purchase signals confidence in Boeing two years after a door plug incident on an Alaska 737 MAX 9 in January 2024, which prompted heightened FAA oversight of the manufacturer’s production.

Alaska currently operates a fleet of more than 400 aircraft across its brands and aims to exceed 550 by 2035, maintaining one of the industry’s youngest and most efficient lineups.

Caruso didn’t hide from the debate. He ended it.

“Investment policy is not politics — it’s purely a matter of safety, liquidity and earning a market rate of return,” Caruso said. “Right now, Israel Bonds are paying a higher rate than other allowable investment options, including U.S. Treasuries, and they are delivering a substantial return for the people of Palm Beach County.”

That’s not rhetoric. That’s fiduciary law in action.

Let’s be brutally honest about what divestment means in real terms.
It means turning away from a top-performing fixed-income asset.
It means accepting lower yields for political comfort.
It means gambling with taxpayer money to score points with activists who won’t be there when pension funds underperform and budgets tighten.

Palm Beach County didn’t follow a trend. It followed its duty.

After the County Commission unanimously approved raising the cap on Israel Bonds from 15% to 18% of the portfolio, Caruso executed a strategy that maximized return while staying squarely within Florida law — which authorizes Israel Bonds as one of only a handful of permissible investments for local governments.

That’s what adult governance looks like.

Not resolutions.
Not grandstanding.
Not sacrificing returns on the altar of political fashion.

Leadership is doing the hard thing when the easy thing gets applause.
Leadership is protecting public money when pressure says do the opposite.
Leadership is understanding that moral theater does not pay teachers, fund police, or stabilize pensions — strong balance sheets do.

So to New York and every other city flirting with divestment: stop pretending this is about values versus money. Palm Beach County proved you can stand on principle and deliver superior returns.

Follow the data.
Follow the yields.
Follow the law.
Follow the professionals.

And let’s say this plainly:

Mike Caruso deserves national recognition.
Not because he made a political statement — but because he made a financial one that worked.

In a time when too many officials chase headlines, he delivered $47.2 million in projected gains.
In an era of posturing, he delivered the strongest-performing investment in the county’s portfolio.
In a climate of fear, he delivered clarity, courage, and competence.

That isn’t just good leadership.
That’s what governing is supposed to look like.

Standing before the crowd, he spoke not in anger but in faith.

“We do not ask why,” he said. “We say thank you — thank you for the years we were entrusted with such a precious soul.”

אביו של יוסף אייזנטל ז"ל: כמה כאב לך והפריע לך שזורקים בחורי ישראל לתוך הכלא. pic.twitter.com/Ai0R71Sf8F

— זירת החדשות (@ZiratNews) January 7, 2026

He described his son as a child who lived Torah not only in study, but in character — recalling how Yosef would give away his own pocket money to those in need, share treats with siblings instead of keeping them for himself, and push himself to return to the study hall even when exhausted.

In recent months, his father said, Yosef had taken on ambitious personal goals in learning, including repeatedly reviewing sections of the Talmud and testing himself on dozens of pages — driven not by pressure, but by joy in understanding.

הפרגוד: הלווית הנער יוסי אייזנטל ז"ל שנדרס אמש למוות. pic.twitter.com/MBtbvIXyii

— הפרגוד (@moshepargod) January 7, 2026

“He was loved by everyone,” Eizental told mourners. “It was pleasant just to be in his presence. Even now, it is hard to speak about him in the past tense — his soul will stay with us every day.”

Turning directly to his son, the father made an emotional appeal that became the defining moment of the funeral.

“Yossi, our Yossi, you are now closest to the Throne of Glory,” he said. “Be an advocate for your mother, for your sisters, for your family. Be an advocate for all of Israel. And be an advocate for the world of yeshivas — that no one interfere with its sacred mission.”

The death has intensified an already volatile debate over compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox students, an issue that has sparked repeated demonstrations in Jerusalem. Community leaders said Yosef’s passing has turned the political dispute into a moment of collective mourning.

Rabbinic figures urged students to honor his memory not through protest, but through deeper commitment to learning, kindness and personal growth — saying the young teenager’s life now stands as a model of what it means to live with quiet faith and responsibility.

As the crowd dispersed from the cemetery, many said the funeral felt less like a farewell and more like a charge: to carry forward the values Yosef Eizental embodied in life.

הפרגוד: מנהיג הפלג מרן הרב אוירבך מספיד בהלויה pic.twitter.com/ElwhOWipOG

— הפרגוד (@moshepargod) January 7, 2026

“This is not about politics. Investment policy is about safety, liquidity and earning a market rate of return,” Caruso said. “Israel Bonds are paying a higher rate than other allowable investment options, including U.S. Treasuries, and that translates into a meaningful benefit for Palm Beach County taxpayers.”

The purchase follows a unanimous vote by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners in October to temporarily raise the cap on Israel Bonds from 15% to 18% of the county’s investment portfolio, clearing the way for the expanded commitment.

Caruso, who serves as the county’s chief financial officer, is solely responsible for managing the county’s roughly $6 billion investment portfolio. County officials said income from those investments helps offset operating costs and reduce the financial burden on residents.

The portfolio is overseen by a team of certified investment professionals and governed by the county’s Investment Policy, which sets strict guidelines on risk management, transparency and reporting.

Under Florida law, Israel Bonds are among a limited number of fixed-income tools available to local governments, along with certificates of deposit, money market funds and U.S. government securities.

The report suggests that the “low-hire, low-fire” job market remains in effect, with workers enjoying some job security but those out of work struggling to find jobs.

Human rights organizations and Western governments have condemned Iran’s increasing use of capital punishment, particularly for political and espionage-related offenses. Activists argue that many of the convictions rely on coerced confessions, and that trials often take place behind closed doors, without access to independent legal representation.

Tehran, however, maintains that those executed were “agents of hostile intelligence services” involved in acts of terrorism or sabotage. Iranian officials have accused Israel of orchestrating a campaign of covert attacks inside Iran, including assassinations of nuclear scientists and cybersabotage of strategic facilities.

Tehran is known to have executed 12 people for espionage since a June air war that Israel waged against Iran, killing nearly 1,100 people, including senior military commanders and nuclear scientists. In return, Iran’s missile barrage killed 28 in Israel.

The exchange left both sides on high alert and further inflamed tensions across the region.

FILE – A boat rides though a frozen sea inlet outside of Nuuk, Greenland, on March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

FILE – Children play in freshly fallen snow in Nuuk, Greenland, on March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

FILE – Local residents walks on a street with a political placard for the upcoming elections in Nuuk, Greenland, on March 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

FILE – Children play on an icy surface in Nuuk, Greenland, on Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)

FILE – A woman walks near a church in Nuuk, Greenland, on March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

FILE – Houses covered by snow are seen on the coast of a sea inlet of Nuuk, Greenland, on March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

FILE – Coloured houses covered by snow are seen from the sea in Nuuk, Greenland, on March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

FILE – A boat rides though a frozen sea inlet outside of Nuuk, Greenland, on March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

FILE – The northern lights appear over homes in Nuuk, Greenland, on Feb. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)

“More than a week of protests in Iran reflects not only worsening economic conditions, but longstanding anger at government repression and regime policies that have led to Iran’s global isolation,” the New York-based Soufan Center think tank said.

Army chief’s threat
Hatami spoke to military academy students. He took over as commander in chief of Iran’s army, known by the Farsi word “Artesh,” after Israel killed a number of the country’s top military commanders in June’s 12-day war. He is the first regular military officer in decades to hold a position long controlled by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

“The Islamic Republic considers the intensification of such rhetoric against the Iranian nation as a threat and will not leave its continuation without a response,” Hatami said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

He added, “I can say with confidence that today the readiness of Iran’s armed forces is far greater than before the war. If the enemy commits an error, it will face a more decisive response, and we will cut off the hand of any aggressor.”

Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been responding to Trump’s comments, which took on more significance after the U.S. military raid that seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a longtime ally of Tehran, over the weekend. But there’s been no immediate public sign of Iran preparing for an attack in the region.

New subsidy payment begins
Iranian state television reported on the start of a new subsidy of the equivalent of $7, put into the bank accounts of heads of households across the country. More than 71 million people will receive the benefit, which is 10 million Iranian rials, it reported. The rial now trades at over 1.4 million to $1 and continues to depreciate.

The subsidy is more than double than the 4.5 million rial people previously received. But already, Iranian media report sharp rises in the cost of basic goods, including cooking oil, poultry and cheese, placing additional strain on households already burdened by international sanctions targeting the country and inflation.

Iran’s vice president in charge of executive affairs, Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah, told reporters on Wednesday that the country was in a “full-fledged economic war.” He called for “economic surgery” to eliminate rentier policies and corruption within the country.

More protests
Iran has faced rounds of nationwide protests in recent years. As sanctions tightened and Iran struggled after the June war with Israel, its rial currency sharply fell in December. Protests began soon after on Dec. 28. They reached their 11th day on Wednesday and didn’t appear to be stopping.

Social media videos purported to show new cities like Bojnourd, Kerman, Rasht, Shiraz and Tabriz, as well some smaller towns, joining the demonstrations on Wednesday.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency offered the latest death toll of 36 for the demonstrations. It said 30 protesters, four children and two members of Iran’s security forces have been killed. Demonstrations have reached over 310 locations in 28 of Iran’s 31 provinces. More than 2,100 people have been arrested, it said.

The group, which relies on an activist network inside of Iran for its reporting, has been accurate in past unrest.

The ship was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2024 for allegedly smuggling cargo for a company linked to Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran. The U.S. Coast Guard attempted to board it in the Caribbean in December as it headed for Venezuela. The ship refused boarding and headed across the Atlantic.

During this time, the Bella 1 was renamed Marinera and flagged to Russia, shipping databases show. The U.S. official also confirmed that the ship’s crew had painted a Russian flag on the side of the hull.

Earlier Wednesday, open-source maritime tracking sites showed its position as between Scotland and Iceland, traveling north. The U.S. official also confirmed the ship was in the North Atlantic.

U.S. military planes have flown over the vessel, and on Tuesday a Royal Air Force surveillance plane was shown on flight-tracking sites flying over the same area.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said before the seizure that it was “following with concern the anomalous situation that has developed around the Russian oil tanker Marinera.”

The ministry’s statement, which was carried by the official Tass news agency, added that “for several days now, a U.S. Coast Guard ship has been following the Marinera, even though our vessel is approximately 4,000 km from the American coast.”

In a post to social media, U.S. European Command confirmed that the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Munro tracked the ship ahead of its seizure “pursuant to a warrant issued by a U.S. federal court.”

The military command went on to say that the seizure supported President Donald Trump’s proclamation on targeting sanctioned vessels that “threaten the security and stability of the Western Hemisphere.” The tanker’s seizure comes just days after U.S. military forces conducted a surprise nighttime raid on Venezuela’s capital of Caracas and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife.

In the wake of this raid, officials in Trump’s Republican administration have said that they intended to continue to seize sanctioned vessels connected to the country.

“We are enforcing American laws with regards to oil sanctions,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on NBC on Sunday. “We go to court. We get a warrant. We seize those boats with oil. And that will continue.”

‘The same pattern of failure’

Diskind said police had designated a safe area for the demonstration, but organizers failed to keep protesters within it, allowing chaos to spill into active traffic zones.

“The police are not babysitters,” he said. “They cannot chase every hot-headed young person through the streets. The organizers must take responsibility — not shift blame afterward.”

He urged protest leaders to publicly apologize to the Eizental family and to commit to ensuring that future demonstrations are conducted safely.

“They should go to the family’s home, repent, apologize and promise that no other parents will ever have to sit shiva because of their negligence,” Diskind said.

Warning over incitement

Diskind also said the tragedy comes amid what he described as dangerous public incitement against Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community.

“There is a climate where people feel it’s permissible to harm Haredim,” he said. “My own brother served more than 300 days in reserve duty, and still people shouted ‘parasite’ at him in the street. That kind of hatred poisons everything.”

He called on national leaders to separate legitimate debate over conscription from attacks on individuals.

“Nothing — no anger, no frustration — justifies hatred toward a person because he is Haredi,” Diskind said.

Call for accountability

Diskind placed responsibility not only on protest organizers but on what he called unelected power brokers within the ultra-Orthodox community who shape decisions behind the scenes.

“They dictate the tone in the street, pressure lawmakers and disappear when disaster strikes,” he said.

The death of Eizental has reopened painful wounds from the Meron disaster, where 45 people were killed in a crowd crush during a religious gathering in 2021.

“If we don’t learn from Meron,” Diskind told Arutz 7, “we will keep burying children.”

During a Wednesday afternoon hearing at the Jerusalem Magistrates Court, an Israel Police representative declared, “After examination, we have removed the section regarding murder.”

Khatib, a resident of East Jerusalem, was brought to the Magistrates Court for an extension of his arrest. He is now expected to be charged only with negligent homicide, endangering a person on a transportation route, and causing grievous bodily harm.

His arrest has been extended by nine days.

During the hearing, defense counsel questioned why no Haredi protesters had been arrested. Judge Sharon Lary-Babli responded by presenting police video footage and sharply rebuked the argument. “Tell me he doesn’t see them. He doesn’t see them?” she said. “Twenty children are standing in front of him.”

The judge said the driver arrived at the scene and at a certain point the bus door opened, with many youths crowding the entrance. In the video shown in court, the driver can be seen closing the glass partition as youths climbed onto the bus, kicked the barrier and waved a stick. At one stage, a Haredi youth climbed onto the bus and spat at the driver through the partition. The driver then began driving at very high speed as the youth fell from the bus, while dozens of youths standing in front of the vehicle were pushed aside.

“I believe the driver felt danger, and the phone call supports that claim. I also believe that being spat at and attacked is a stressful situation,” the judge stated. “However, I do not believe that driving rapidly into a crowd was the correct option. The victim is the deceased, not the driver. I do not accept the claim that this is a political case.”

According to a Tuesday night police statement, “An initial interrogation of the driver revealed that he was attacked by rioters,” and the incident was initially classified as a hit-and-run during a public disturbance. However, following developments in the investigation, the charge was upgraded to murder. The murder accusation was later retracted ahead of the remand trial.

The police also noted that Khatib has no criminal background and that he called the police shortly before the incident, claiming he was being attacked by dozens of protesters and requesting assistance.

The Tuesday night ramming occurred during a violent anti-draft protest by the haredi community. During the demonstration, protesters blocked major roads in Jerusalem, set trash cans on fire, and gathered around vehicles passing through the area.

One of the targeted vehicles, a Line 64 bus, became the center of an unusual clash that ended in tragedy. Protesters were recorded surrounding the bus on all sides, blocking its path while shouting and attempting to damage it. At some point, the driver, Fakhri Khatib, accelerated quickly into the crowd of protesters.

Eisental, a 14-year-old from Jerusalem’s Ramot neighborhood and a student at Ohel Torah yeshiva, was dragged several meters beneath the bus. An initial police investigation indicated that after the ramming, the bus driver continued driving for about 500 meters with the youth trapped beneath the bus.

THE UNDERLYING DEBATE

There is a great debate in the Chareidi world in Eretz Yisroel about how to best deal with the forced registration for the draft of Yeshiva students. Rav Aron Leib Shteinman zt”l was of the opinion that the Yeshiva students should register for the army at the induction centers, and rely upon the tacit understanding that they will not be drafted.

Rav Shmuel Auerbach zt”l, head of Peleg Yerushalmi, was of the opinion that the Chareidi yeshiva students should not register for the draft at all. A number of Chareidi families have switched their schools on account of this debate.

The debate is and always was a rather painful issue in the Torah world – somewhat akin to the pain of children whose parents are divorcing, r”l. The debate has not only torn apart the Chareidi world in Eretz Yisroel, it has also torn apart families.

At the Bar-Ilan Junction in Yerushalayim on Tuesday, dozens of protesters intermittently blocked the road and caused heavy traffic congestion in the approaching roads. Police arrested 15 people at that demonstration. Other protesters tried to block Shivtei Yisrael Street in Jerusalem and were dispersed by police.

The protests have caused a groundswell of anger among Israelis across the country.

Rabbis who encourage the protests are unaware of both the repercussions of the actions of the protestors or the more extreme measures that the protestors have taken up by themselves. Those close to these Rabbis tell them that such information are fabrications – lies. But they are not. It is thus incumbent on those who have entry to the Rabbinic supporters of protestors to explain the repercussions.

Rav Eliezer Menachem Shach zt”l, however, was aware of some of the repercussions and extreme measures that protestors take. He spent time and effort clarifying to his followers that at all times protestors must act with the utmost derech eretz – like true Bnei Torah.

THE UNDERLYING ISSUES

There are seven or more serious issues involved in hafganot: damage to third parties, danger to both the participants and others, chillul Hashem, possible lifnei iver, bitul Torah, and the possibility of making things worse.

DAMAGE

The first underlying issue is third-party damage. Regardless of what one holds about the issue being protested, it is absolutely forbidden to cause damage to a third party because one wishes to protest – even if the reason for his protest is a perfectly correct view. No longer is a protest a mere temporary delay, like it once was when Gedolei Torah allowed protests in the early twentieth century. Now, the damage is quite more extensive. If Reuvain is upset with Shimon, he simply may not damage Levi. The Tur in the beginning of Choshen Mishpat chapter 378 writes that it is forbidden to do damage to someone else – just like stealing is forbidden. Damaging is also a negation of the Mitzvah of V’ahavta lerayacha kamocha according to the Steipler Rav (Kehilas Yaakov Bava Kamma Siman 1) and quite possibly a number of other Torah injunctions.

DANGER

A second issue is whether one is permitted to protest in an illegal manner – without a permit. The Belzer Rebbe is cited among other Gedolim as forbidding participation in a hafgana unless the protest had a legal permit – on account of the danger of sakanas nefashos – aside from the issue of Bitul Torah (Hashkafas HaNetzach L’Sh’ailos HaZman p. 321).

The baser tendency of some human beings is to enjoy violence – this is true on both sides of the fence. Policemen have a tendency to hit, beat, shoot with rubber bullets and taser protestors. This is true in America, foreign countries, and in Israel. Most responsible parents do not want their children participating in events where they can get bloodied up, facial fractures, and the like. These things happen.  This tragic death was not unpredictable.  

Shtadlanus, behind the scenes activity, is clearly the better way to go. It is also true that the very people picketing also get out of hand. Why are there people throwing rocks at police officers? The answer is because they get in the spirit of things. A hafganah in Israel is as fun as a tackle football game in the snow for Americans.

CHILLUL HASHEM

And while the Satmar Rebbe zt”l, as well as numerous Gedolim in Eretz Yisroel understand the idea of protest as Kiddush Hashem (VaYoel Moshe Shalosh Shavuos Siman 113-114), as did the Brisker Rav zt”l, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l and Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l did not. They were attuned to the possible repercussion of Chillul Hashem.

In the 5748 edition of HaPardes Volume III page 9, the views of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l and Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l are cited in regard to the idea of protests. The American Moetzes Gedolei Torah at the time felt that protests were highly counter-productive. Instead, they opted for the time-tested method of shtadlanus. This method has been used effectively for centuries.

In the 5753 edition of HaPardes (Vol. IV p. 25), Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l also came out strongly against the idea of protests in regard to atrocities done to graves by archaeologists, and instructed the Agudas HaRabbonim to send a strongly worded telegram to then PM Yitzchok Rabin. He also stated that strong condemnations should be made from each shul.

On Monday, Sept 2, 1957, (the 6th of Elul 5717) representatives of Agudas HaRabbanim approached the Satmar Rebbe in regard to a protest at Union Square. They told him that it was unbecoming of Talmidei Chachomim to behave in such a manner and that hatznea leches should be the operative principle. The Satmar Rebbe rejected this view.

GEZEL SHAINA – STEALING PEOPLE’S SLEEP

It is said in the name of the Chofetz Chaim that stealing people’s sleep is one of the worst forms of Gezel – theft. His reason is that it can never be paid back. The recent hafganot, in many places, were held until the wee hours of the morning – and boisterously so. Babies, children, mothers and fathers could not sleep. Is this not Gezel Shaina?

Rav Shmuel HaLevi Vosner, zt”l the rav and av beis din of the Zichron Meir section of Bnei Brak, discusses the situation in the seventh volume of his responsa (Shaivet HaLevi #224).

Rav Vosner begins his response with the position that the term “theft” can only truly be used when one steals an actual item and the thief either uses that item or benefits from it. He writes that preventing someone from sleeping is prohibited because one person is not allowed to cause damage to another or to prevent another from realizing a benefit, but there is no actual theft involved. Rav Vosner admits that there is definitely a proof from Bava Basra 20b that preventing someone from sleeping is prohibited, as well as from Choshen Mishpat siman 156:2 and 3.

The Shulchan Aruch discusses whether someone is permitted to open a commercial store in a residential neighborhood. Rav Karo writes as follows:

“The immediate neighbors may prevent him from opening up such a store and tell him, ‘We cannot sleep, on account of the noise of those who are entering.’ He may only do his work in the house and sell it in the marketplace. However, they may not stop him and say, ‘We cannot sleep, because of the sound of the hammer, or the mill.’ This is because he already began doing this and they did not stop him from doing it earlier.”

Clearly, this would forbid hafganot in residential areas too.

Although the parameters of what is permitted in a residential area and what is not are somewhat complex, the essential issue that preventing someone from sleeping is generally prohibited can be established from this ruling of the Shulchan Aruch – especially in the areas where the hafganot were held.

Rav Vosner concludes his response with the idea that the term “gezel” is somewhat of a misnomer.

We do find, however, that Chazal perhaps define the term “gezel” in a broader fashion than Rav Vosner understands it. The term is used in the Talmud (Berachos 6b) in a situation that may not quite be considered “stealing an actual item and using or benefiting from it.” Rav Chelbo quotes Rav Huna as saying, “Whoever knows that the other generally greets him, should greet him first, as it says, ‘Seek peace and pursue it.’ If the other gave him a greeting and he did not return it, he is considered a thief, as it says, ‘For you have devoured the vineyard, and the theft of the poor is in your house’ (Yeshayah 3:14).”

Likewise, the term is used by Rav Chanina bar Pappa (Berachos 35b) regarding someone who eats and does not recite a blessing. It is considered as if he stole from Hashem and from Knesses Yisrael. And the term is used in Sanhedrin (91b): “Whoever prevents a student from learning Torah, it is as if he stole his inheritance from him.” In both of these instances, no actual item is being taken and benefited from.

The Midrash Tanchuma (Bamidbar 27) also uses the term to describe someone who quotes a halachah and does not quote the name of the one who said it, in violation of the verse “Do not steal from the destitute for he is destitute” (Mishlei 22:22). The Midrash traces this back to the zugos, and ultimately traces it back to Moshe Rabbeinu from Har Sinai.

Similarly, in a Tosefos in Kiddushin 59a, Rabbeinu Tam’s father, Rav Meir, is quoted as understanding that in a case where fisherman A set out his net and fisherman B afterward set out a net nearby with a dead fish inside (to attract more fish), it is considered as if fisherman B stole from fisherman A—even though the fish had not yet arrived. (Fishermen: please note the fishing advice from Rabbeinu Tam’s father.)

We see that the term theft is used more loosely than as defined by Rav Vosner. There is also a responsum from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg Shlita printed in the Av 5762 edition of Koveitz Beis Aharon V’Yisrael that the case in Berachos 6b (regarding one who does not return a greeting) is considered theft only because it is the negation of a debt. Even though the debt is non-monetary in nature, it is still considered a debt, and the negation of this debt thus falls under the rubric of theft.

LIFNEI IVER

The issue of Lifnei Iver is also an issue. Let’s not kid ourselves, the overwhelming masses of people in Israel and elsewhere look at religious Jews as if they are a bunch of hooligans and such behavior causes a lifnei iver of hating, yes, hating Torah Jews. It is hard to imagine a better way of getting other people to violate lo sisneh es achicha bilvavecha. Behaving in a manner that just gets other people to hate us – fosters Lifnei Iver. This says nothing of the Lifnei Iver caused to the police officers. And while it is true that Rav Elyashiv dismisses the specific Lifnei Iver of Shabbos violation involved in Shabbos hafganot, many other Poskim do not.

BITUL TORAH

Rav Shach (cited in Torascha Shashu’ai p. 441) was approached by two students as to whether to partake in hafganot regarding archaeological digs. He cited the Gemorah in Yevamos 63b that explains that they and their fathers would be punished. What does Hashem then want of us? That we not violate bitul Torah!

In Orchos Rabbeinu about the Steipler page 385, a story is cited concerning the Chazon Ish that when a person had asked him whether there was an issue of Bitul Torah in partaking in a hafganah – he responded, “For you it would be a problem of bittul Torah since you expressed concern for it.” Numerous other Gedolim forbade going to hafganot because it constituted Bitul Torah.

DOES IT HELP OR HINDER?

The last question involves whether it helps or hinders. Has the Israeli government stopped the draft on account of the hafganot? Most people say no, and that it has rather served to infuriate the populace against the Chareidim. Others claim that they did help change matters. In this case, it seems that it made things worse.

Whenever there is a question about something helping or hindering we usually adopt a shaiv v’al ta’aseh approach. This should be done here as well. The leaders of the Peleg Yerushalmi movement used to identify with Rav Shach zt”l as well as Rav Elyashiv zt”l. They do not identify with Rav Shteinman zt”l. However, we have seen that the path of the previous leaders was to discourage this type of behavior. The vast majority of the Lithuanian Torah community, including Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l was against these hafganot. It should be stopped.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

The students respond with “Death to Palestine.”

pic.twitter.com/R3AuzSobRg

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) January 6, 2026

On Tuesday, thousands of demonstrators gathered in southern Tehran, chanting slogans denouncing the regime and targeting senior clerics, Islamist groups, and left-wing activists. The protests reflect the growing anger toward the country’s political and religious leadership, both due to the deepening economic crisis and the government’s usage of valuable resources to manufacture weapons and continue the ongoing conflict with Israel.

Protesters referenced a recent post by Elon Musk condemning the Iranian regime, adopting the term “murderer” that he used in reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a symbolic act, one demonstrator hung a sign in central Tehran reading “President Trump Street.”

According to reports from Iranian opposition sources, acts of rebellion were recorded in multiple locations nationwide. In the city of Abdanan, in Ilam Province, police forces were reportedly seen siding with protesters. In Kermanshah Province, demonstrators set fire to government buildings, while additional reports indicated that the Pardis municipal building in Karaj County was also torched.

“I ask, what about our leadership? What about the rabbis and rebbes who send thousands of people, including children and teenagers, to block roads with no coordination, no security, and no thought for the dangers?”

“This recklessness is insane,” Rubinstein emphasized. “The writing has been on the pavement for a long time, and certainly since the Meron disaster, where 45 people were killed due to the exact same irresponsible conduct. Did we learn anything? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And now, once again, we are paying with the blood of an innocent boy.”

Rubinstein also stressed that charedi leaders’ political struggles are endangering the lives of the public and children, adding, “I’m tired of how every time a disaster happens, everyone blames ‘the other’ and avoids responsibility.”

“I demand a real investigation,” he said, stressing that not only the driver must be investigated, “but also against the organizers of the protest, against those who called for going into the streets without planning, and against those who prioritize political power over human lives.”

“Enough of this recklessness. Enough of risking children’s lives for political points. It’s time for the haredi community to wake up and demand responsible leadership-before the next disaster.”

Another popular social media charedi news outlet, dubbed HaPargod, also criticized the way the demonstration went out of hand:

“Without belittling the severity of the act committed by the driver who killed, it is time to look at ourselves honestly and admit that only a miracle has prevented similar disasters until now.

“A situation in which protesters confront drivers and at times harass them, from spitting as in this evening’s incident to banging on their vehicles is one that invites violence in return, since it is impossible to predict whether the driver facing you is already an “on-edge” individual.

“In simple terms: anarchy works in all directions. It is time for protest organizers to engage in serious rethinking.”

Mishpacha editor Aryeh Erlich also said that an internal investigation is required:

“A bit of soul-searching on such a horrific evening.

“The terrible tragedy that occurred tonight will still be investigated. Those responsible may be found,or they may not. We, as a society, will be left with questions and an inner reckoning: Is it justified to protest at any cost?Have human lives become somewhat devalued in our public consciousness since the Meron disaster until today?
And is anyone taking responsibility for young people who, under the cover of protests, are drawn into dangerous places — physically and emotionally?

“So many questions. Zero answers. And nothing will ever bring back the life of the victim, the young boy Yosef Eizental, may his memory be blessed.”

What police say happened

According to preliminary findings, the incident occurred outside the authorized protest zone, at an intersection that remained open to traffic. Police said a group of demonstrators blocked the bus and confronted the driver, who reported being attacked and called the police emergency line minutes before the crash.

Authorities say the driver then attempted to move through the crowd. During the chaos, Eizental climbed onto the front of the bus. Investigators believe the driver did not realize the boy was being dragged as the vehicle continued forward at speed. The bus later stopped several blocks away, where emergency crews pulled the teenager from beneath the vehicle and pronounced him dead.

Several other people were injured and taken to hospitals with varying degrees of severity.

Police said the driver told investigators: “They climbed onto my bus and I tried to escape.”

Netanyahu: ‘This will be thoroughly investigated’

Netanyahu expressed condolences to the family and vowed a full accounting.

“I feel deep pain over the tragic death of the dear yeshiva student Yosef Eizental,” the prime minister said in a statement. “The circumstances of this disaster will be thoroughly investigated so that we can draw every necessary conclusion. I call on everyone to prevent an escalation of tensions so that, God forbid, we do not suffer further tragedies.”

Criminal investigation underway

Police said the case is being handled as a criminal investigation, not a terror incident. Officers are examining video footage, witness statements and the sequence of events that led from the confrontation to the fatal collision.

Authorities said the street where the crash occurred had not been closed for the protest and that demonstrators moved into traffic lanes, creating what police described as an immediate danger to themselves and to drivers.

The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of safety at mass demonstrations and renewed the national debate over responsibility when protests spill into open roadways.

Police said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be considered as more evidence is reviewed.

Ultimately, the date of early elections is determined through broad parliamentary agreement via legislation to dissolve the Knesset. Even if some factions oppose the chosen date, as long as a majority exists, the law will pass.

In the event of a petition, the issue could reach the High Court of Justice. However, even a scenario in which the court were to disqualify the election date due to its timing on the eve of Eid al-Adha would not necessarily be problematic for Netanyahu. In Likud, there is an assessment that such a ruling could actually serve the election campaign, which is expected to focus on confrontation with the judicial system and what Netanyahu’s circle refers to as the “deep state.”

One of the most prominent signs that Netanyahu may prefer early elections is the current situation surrounding the draft law. Despite official statements about a balanced and historic bill, in practice the chances of the law passing in its current form appear low.

On the charedi side, there has been a clear toughening of positions in recent weeks. Leading rabbis and heads of yeshivot have spoken out publicly against the draft law, against the very idea of compromises, and against any mechanism of sanctions, economic or otherwise. Some have sharply criticized reports attributing to them a willingness to reach agreements and clarified that they will oppose any law that recognizes conscription or enforcement, even partially.

At the same time, on the opposite side of the spectrum, Likud’s base is pulling in a completely different direction. A recent survey conducted by the Agam Institute among Likud party members highlights the prime minister’s dilemma. While the conscription law is not ranked as one of the two most urgent issues in the eyes of party members, when asked directly about the content of the law, the responses are clear and decisive.

About 40 percent of Likud members believe that economic and other sanctions should be imposed on those who do not serve, and nearly a similar proportion support rewriting the details of the law to include the conscription of charedi youth. An overwhelming majority supports granting significant benefits to those who serve in the IDF, reserve duty, or national service.

The most politically sensitive data point concerns the party primaries. About one-third of Likud members said that a Knesset member who supports continued exemption from conscription for the charedim would reduce their likelihood of voting for that candidate. For Netanyahu, known for closely listening to his base and to polling data, this constitutes a clear warning signal.

In summary, a draft law that satisfies the charedim may be perceived by Likud’s base as yet another exemption law and could cause Netanyahu electoral damage in an election year. Conversely, a law that includes real sanctions could dismantle the coalition and lead to an immediate crisis.

In this situation, the third option, failing to pass the law and heading to early elections,appears increasingly likely. This is especially true if elections are triggered not by a direct clash with the charedi parties, but by a more politically convenient pretext, such as the failure to pass the state budget. A scenario in which no one is officially to blame and the bloc remains intact. This would allow Netanyahu to face voters with a winning message: he did not give in to pressure, did not pass a law unacceptable to his base, and returned the decision to the public.

A person briefed on the operation told The Associated Press the Department of Homeland Security plans to dispatch as many as 2,000 officers to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss operational details and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Immigrant rights groups and elected officials in the Twin Cities reported a sharp increase Tuesday in sightings of federal agents, notably around St. Paul. Numerous agents’ vehicles were reported making traffic stops, outside area businesses and apartment buildings.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was also present and accompanied ICE officers during at least one arrest. A video posted on X showed Noem wearing a tactical vest and knit cap as agents arrested a man in St. Paul. In the video, she tells the handcuffed man: “You will be held accountable for your crimes.”

The Department of Homeland Security said in a news release that the man was from Ecuador and was wanted in his homeland and Connecticut on charges including murder and sexual assault. It said agents arrested 150 people Monday in enforcement actions in Minneapolis.

Minnesota governor blasts surge
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, criticized the federal enforcement surge as “a war that’s being waged against Minnesota.”

“You’re seeing that we have a ridiculous surge of apparently 2,000 people not coordinating with us, that are for a show of cameras,” Walz told reporters in Minneapolis on Tuesday, a day after announcing he was ending his campaign for a third term.

Many residents were already on edge. The Trump administration has singled out the area’s Somali community, the largest in the U.S.,. Last month, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara criticized federal agents for using “questionable methods” following a confrontation between agents and protesters.

Molly Coleman, a St. Paul City Council member whose district includes a manufacturing plant where agents arrested more than a dozen people in November, said Tuesday was “unlike any other day we’ve experienced.”

“It’s incredibly distressing,” Coleman said. “What we know happens when ICE comes into a city, it’s an enforcement in which every single person is on guard and afraid.”

Julia Decker, policy director at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, said there had been an increase in sightings of federal agents and enforcement vehicles in locations like parking lots.

“We can definitely a feel a heavier presence,” said Dieu Do, an organizer with the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee, which dispatches response teams to reports of agents.

Surge includes investigators focused on fraud allegations
Roughly three-quarters of the enforcement personnel are expected to come from ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, which carries out immigration arrests and deportations, said the person with knowledge of the operation. The force also includes agents from Homeland Security Investigations, ICE’s investigative arm, which typically focuses on fraud and cross-border criminal networks.

HSI agents were going door-to-door in the Twin Cities area investigating allegations of fraud, human smuggling and unlawful employment practices, Lyons said.

The HSI agents are largely expected to concentrate on identifying suspected fraud, while deportation officers will conduct arrests of immigrants accused of violating immigration law, according to the person briefed on the operation. Specialized tactical units are also expected to be involved.

The operation also includes personnel from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, including Cmdr. Gregory Bovino, the person familiar with the deployment said. Bovino’s tactics during previous federal operations in other cities have drawn scrutiny from local officials and civil rights advocates.

Hilton drops Minnesota hotel that canceled agents’ reservations
Hilton said in a statement Tuesday that it was removing a Minnesota hotel from its systems for “not meeting our standards and values” when it denied service to federal agents.

The Hampton Inn Lakeville hotel, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) outside Minneapolis, apologized Monday for canceling the reservations of federal agents, saying it would work to accommodate them. The hotel, like the majority of Hampton Inns, is owned and operated by a franchisee.

The Hampton Inn Lakeville did not respond to requests for comment.

Federal authorities began increasing immigration arrests in the Minneapolis area late last year. Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel announced last week that federal agencies were intensifying operations in Minnesota, with an emphasis on fraud investigations.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly linked his administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota to fraud cases involving federal nutrition and pandemic aid programs, many of which have involved defendants with roots in Somalia.

The person with information about the current operation cautioned that its scope and duration could shift in the coming days as it develops.

Shapiro, viewed as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender, is expected to face Garrity in the general election. Pennsylvania Republicans have largely united behind Garrity to avoid a divisive primary.

Garrity has not yet released her 2025 fundraising figures ahead of the Jan. 31 deadline.

“We already knew Josh Shapiro spent the better part of 2025 traveling to Nantucket, Aspen, and L.A. to raise money from left-wing donors, so it doesn’t surprise us one bit that he has their millions sitting in his bank account,” said Matt Beynon, a spokesman for Garrity’s campaign. “The truth is that Josh Shapiro ignored the problems facing hardworking Pennsylvanians to gallivant around the country to raise money from liberal billionaires.”

A Quinnipiac University poll from October showed 60% of Pennsylvania voters approving of Shapiro’s job performance and 58% viewing him favorably, with Shapiro leading Garrity by 16 points in a hypothetical matchup.

Shapiro is also supporting Democratic candidates in key U.S. House races that could influence control of Congress, as well as contested state Senate seats that may determine whether Democrats gain a legislative majority during a potential second term.

Pennsylvania Democrats notched several victories in 2025, including special elections, judicial retention races and down-ballot contests.

He pleaded guilty without a trial to espionage and tax evasion and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Prosecutors said he deprived the United States of valuable intelligence material for years.

He professed “profound shame and guilt” for “this betrayal of trust, done for the basest motives,” money to pay debts. But he downplayed the damage he caused, telling the court he did not believe he had “noticeably damaged” the United States or “noticeably aided” Moscow.

“These spy wars are a sideshow which have had no real impact on our significant security interests over the years,” he told the court, questioning the value that leaders of any country derived from vast networks of human spies around the globe.

In a jailhouse interview with The Washington Post the day before he was sentenced, Ames said he was motivated to spy by “financial troubles, immediate and continuing.”

Ames was working in the Soviet/Eastern European division at the CIA’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia, when he first approached the KGB, according to an FBI history of the case. He continued passing secrets to the Soviets while stationed in Rome for the CIA and after returning to Washington. Meanwhile, the U.S. intelligence community was frantically trying to figure out why so many agents were getting discovered by Moscow.

Ames’s spying coincided with that of FBI agent Robert Hanssen, who was caught in 2001 and charged with taking $1.4 million in cash and diamonds to sell secrets to Moscow. He died in prison in 2023.

Ames’s wife, Rosario, pleaded guilty to lesser espionage charges of assisting his spying and was sentenced to 63 months in prison.

In the recordings, the shooter admits in Portuguese that he had been “planning the Brown University shooting for a long time,” according to a press release. He did not provide a motive for targeting Brown or the MIT professor, with whom he attended school in Portugal decades ago.

He said he felt he had nothing to apologize for and that he wanted to “leave on his own terms.” He also complained in the videos about injuring his eye in the shootings.

“I’m not going to apologize because during my lifetime no one sincerely apologized to me,” he said.

Education-related allegations include widespread abuse in K-12 systems and fraudulent enrollments at community colleges to divert financial aid. The report ties these to broader problems in programs like Medi-Cal, CalFresh and homelessness initiatives.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office dismissed the findings as “MAGA made-up numbers,” noting that the administration has blocked over $125 billion in fraud since taking office.

Independent reporting has documented ongoing financial aid fraud in California’s 116 community colleges, where scammers create fake student profiles to obtain federal Pell Grants and state aid. Colleges reported losing more than $10 million in federal funds and $3 million in state funds to such schemes in the past year, though officials describe this as a small fraction of total aid disbursed.

The candidates’ report draws parallels to other high-profile fraud cases, including pandemic-era unemployment insurance losses exceeding $55 billion admitted by the state.

Hilton, a former Fox News host, and Morgan called for formal investigations, framing the allegations as a matter of fiscal responsibility ahead of the 2026 elections.

File – A door plug area of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft awaiting inspection is pictured with paneling removed at the airline’s facilities at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Jan. 10, 2024, in SeaTac, Wash. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

“Boeing’s lie infuriated Captain Fisher as well, as he was being castigated for his actions as opposed to being lauded,” Fisher’s lawyers, William Walsh and Richard Mummolo, wrote in the lawsuit filed in an Oregon court. “Because he had flown Boeing aircraft for the entirety of his employment with Alaska Airlines, Boeing’s attempts to blame him felt like a deep, personal betrayal by a company that claimed to hold pilots in the highest regard.”

Four flight attendants previously sued Boeing over the incident last summer.

The NTSB investigation of the blowout found that four bolts securing what is known as the door plug panel were removed and never replaced during a repair as the Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft was being assembled. Boeing and key supplier Spirit Aerosystems, which has since been acquired by Boeing, were both implicated.

The bolts are hidden behind interior panels in the plane, so they are not something that could have been easily checked in a preflight inspection by the pilot or anyone else from the airline. NTSB investigators determined the door plug was gradually moving upward over the 154 flights prior to the incident before it ultimately flew off.

The NTSB made clear this was caused by a manufacturing issue and the crew’s actions were exemplary. Experienced pilot John Cox, who is CEO of the Safety Operating Systems aviation safety consulting firm, said the crew did a remarkable job considering what they were dealing with, and no one has faulted the crew.

“I think the Boeing lawyers were kind of grasping at straws,” Cox said.

FILE – This photo released by the National Transportation Safety Board shows the door plug that fell from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 on Jan. 8, 2024, in Portland, Ore. (National Transportation Safety Board via AP, file)

The blowout occurred minutes after the flight took off from Portland, Oregon, and created a roaring air vacuum. Seven passengers and one flight attendant sustained minor injuries, but the plane landed safely.

The 2-foot-by-4-foot (61-centimeter-by-122-centimeter) piece of fuselage covering an unused emergency exit behind the left wing had blown out. Only seven seats on the flight were unoccupied, including the two seats closest to the opening.

Boeing factory workers told NTSB investigators they felt pressured to work too fast and were asked to perform jobs they weren’t qualified for.

Fisher’s lawsuit describes how he and the first officer acted quickly after losing cabin pressure when the panel blew out to fly the plane safely back to Portland while decreasing altitude and working with air traffic controllers to avoid any other planes in the area.

The airline didn’t answer a question about whether Fisher is still flying for them, and the lawsuit described him as a citizen and well-respected member of the aviation community. It wasn’t clear Tuesday whether he is still working as a pilot.

The head of the commercial airplane unit at Boeing, Stan Deal, commended the Alaska Airlines crew for safely landing the plane in a memo to employees after the incident.

Boeing did not comment directly on this new lawsuit. But the company’s CEO, Kelly Ortberg, has made improving safety a top priority ever since he took over the top job at Boeing in August 2024.

The FAA fined Boeing $3.1 million over safety violations inspectors found after the door plug incident. In October, the agency allowed Boeing to increase production of the 737 Max to 42 planes a month because inspectors were satisfied with the measures the company had taken to improve safety.

Alaska Airlines also declined to comment on the lawsuit, but said the airline remains “grateful to our crew members for the bravery and quick-thinking that they displayed on Flight 1282 in ensuring the safety of all on board.”

Separately, the White House is organizing an Oval Office meeting Friday with oil company executives regarding Venezuela, with representatives of Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips expected to attend, according to a person familiar with the matter who requested anonymity to discuss the plans.

Earlier Tuesday, Venezuelan officials announced the death count in the Maduro raid as the country’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, pushed back on Trump, who earlier this week warned she’d face an outcome worse than Maduro’s if she does not “do what’s right” and overhaul Venezuela into a country that aligns with U.S. interests. Trump has said his administration will now “run” Venezuela policy and is pressing the country’s leaders to open its vast oil reserves to American energy companies.

Rodriguez, delivering an address Tuesday before government agricultural and industrial sector officials, said, “Personally, to those who threaten me: My destiny is not determined by them, but by God.”

Venezuela’s Attorney General Tarek William Saab said overall “dozens” of officers and civilians were killed in the weekend strike in Caracas and said prosecutors would investigate the deaths in what he described as a “war crime.” He didn’t specify if the estimate was specifically referring to Venezuelans.

In addition to the Venezuelan security officials, Cuba’s government had previously confirmed that 32 Cuban military and police officers working in Venezuela were killed in the raid. The Cuban government says the personnel killed belonged to the Revolutionary Armed Forces and the Ministry of the Interior, the country’s two main security agencies.

Seven U.S. service members were also injured in the raid, according to the Pentagon. Five have already returned to duty, while two are still recovering from their injuries. The injuries included gunshot wounds and shrapnel injuries, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment on the matter publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

A video tribute to the slain Venezuelan security officials posted to the military’s Instagram account features faces of the fallen over black-and-white videos of soldiers, American aircraft flying over Caracas and armored vehicles destroyed by the blasts. Meanwhile, the streets of Caracas, deserted for days following Maduro’s capture, briefly filled with masses of people waving Venezuelan flags and bouncing to patriotic music at a state-organized display of support for the government.

“Their spilled blood does not cry out for vengeance, but for justice and strength,” the military wrote in an Instagram post. “It reaffirms our unwavering oath not to rest until we rescue our legitimate President, completely dismantle the terrorist groups operating from abroad, and ensure that events such as these never again sully our sovereign soil.”

Trump grumbles about how Democrats reacted to the raid
Trump on Tuesday pushed back against Democratic criticism of this weekend’s military operation, noting that his Democratic predecessor Joe Biden had also called for the arrest of the Venezuelan leader on drug trafficking charges.

Trump in remarks before a House Republican retreat in Washington grumbled that Democrats were not giving him credit for a successful military operation, even though there was bipartisan agreement that Maduro was not the rightful president of Venezuela.

In 2020, Maduro was indicted in the United States, accused in a decades-long narco-terrorism and international cocaine trafficking conspiracy. White House officials have noted that Biden’s administration in his final days in office last year raised the award for information leading to Maduro’s arrest after he assumed a third term in office despite evidence suggesting that he lost Venezuela’s most recent election. The Trump administration doubled the award to $50 million in August.

“You know, at some point, they should say, ‘You know, you did a great job. Thank you. Congratulations.’ Wouldn’t it be good?” Trump said. “I would say that if they did a good job, their philosophies are so different. But if they did a good job, I’d be happy for the country. They’ve been after this guy for years and years and years.”

With oil trading at roughly $56 a barrel, the transaction Trump announced late Tuesday could be worth as much as $2.8 billion. The U.S. goes through an average of roughly 20 million barrels a day of oil and related products, so Venezuela’s transfer would be the equivalent of as much as two and a half days of supply, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Despite Venezuela having the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, it only produces on average about one million barrels day, significantly below the U.S. average daily production of 13.9 million barrels a day during October.

What US opinion polls show
Americans are split about the capture of Maduro — with many still forming opinions — according to a poll conducted by The Washington Post and SSRS using text messages over the weekend. About 4 in 10 approved of the U.S. military being sent to capture Maduro, while roughly the same share were opposed. About 2 in 10 were unsure.

Nearly half of Americans, 45%, were opposed to the U.S. taking control of Venezuela and choosing a new government for the country. About 9 in 10 Americans said the Venezuelan people should be the ones to decide the future leadership of their country.

Maduro pleaded not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in a U.S. courtroom on Monday. U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife early Saturday in a raid on a compound where they were surrounded by Cuban guards.

In the days since Maduro’s ouster, Trump and top administration officials have raised anxiety around the globe that the operation could mark the beginning of a more expansionist U.S. foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere. The president in recent days has renewed his calls for an American takeover of the Danish territory of Greenland for the sake of U.S. security interests and threatened military action on Colombia for facilitating the global sale of cocaine, while his top diplomat declared the communist government in Cuba is “in a lot of trouble.”

Colombia responds to Trump
Colombia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Rosa Villavicencio said Tuesday she’ll meet with the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires in Bogota to present him with a formal complaint over the recent threats issued by the United States.

On Sunday, Trump said he wasn’t ruling out an attack on Colombia and described its president, who’s been an outspoken critic of the U.S. pressure campaign on Venezuela, as a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”

Villavicencio said she’s hoping to strengthen relations with the United States and improve cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.

“It is necessary for the Trump administration to know in more detail about all that we are doing in the fight against drug trafficking,” she said.

Meanwhile, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom on Tuesday joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in defending Greenland’s sovereignty. The island is a self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark and thus part of the NATO military alliance.

“Greenland belongs to its people,” the statement said. “It is for Denmark and Greenland, and them only, to decide on matters concerning Denmark and Greenland.”

Prices may peak briefly in the low $3.20s during the spring switch to summer-blend fuel, but are expected to ease afterward, potentially averaging $2.83 in December.

Regionally, the Gulf Coast and Southern states should remain well under $3 per gallon, while California, the Northeast and parts of the Midwest face higher costs — though still below 2022 peaks.

Diesel fuel is forecast to average $3.55 per gallon nationally, down from $3.62 in 2025.

As of early January 2026, many states already reflect low prices, with 17 averaging below $2.50 per gallon, 24 below $2.75 and 40 below $3, according to GasBuddy data.

The outlook attributes the downward trend to recovering global supply chains, added refining capacity and moderated demand following post-pandemic and geopolitical shocks.

“This manuscript now belongs to all New Yorkers as part of our city’s next chapter,” Mamdani wrote.

When I swore in at midnight at the old City Hall subway station last week, I had the honor of doing so on Arturo Schomburg’s 18th-century Qur'an.

This manuscript was copied in Ottoman Syria, and is written in black ink with red highlighting the text's divisions – no ornate… pic.twitter.com/7wHu787LSo

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 6, 2026

While the mayor’s decision to swear in on the historic Quran was previously known, the new post marks his first public effort to spotlight the artifact through official city channels, framing it as both a cultural symbol and a shared piece of New York’s heritage.

Mamdani, the city’s first Muslim mayor, has said he hopes the gesture underscores the city’s commitment to religious diversity and civic inclusion.

If you want, I can:

“There were some absolutely horrific things done in Gaza,” he added. “The destruction was unconscionable and devastating.”

I asked @RepDanGoldman if he thinks Israel committed a genocide in Gaza.

“From my perspective I think there were some horrific things done in Gaza. What you call it is more of a legal matter, in my view.” pic.twitter.com/5U4zgQj1oc

— Timmy Facciola (@TimmyFacciola_) January 6, 2026

Goldman stopped short of using the term genocide, saying that how the actions are legally defined is ultimately a matter for formal investigation. He said the events in Gaza should be examined through proper legal and international channels.

He later added, “What we all can agree on is the destruction was unconscionable and devastating, and I’m really grateful that it is over and the hostages are out.”

The remarks come at a pivotal moment in the race for the seat, with Lander emerging as a formidable challenger in a Democratic primary expected to focus heavily on the war in Gaza, U.S. policy toward Israel and broader questions of humanitarian accountability.

Goldman’s comments reflect the careful line many Democrats are walking as activists press lawmakers to label Israel’s campaign in Gaza as genocide — a term that carries specific legal meaning under international law. While Goldman avoided the label, his call for investigations signals growing concern among party leaders over civilian suffering.

Goldman has previously voiced support for Israel’s right to defend itself following Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack while urging stronger protections for civilians. Lander, meanwhile, has aligned more closely with the party’s progressive wing, which has taken a harder line in criticizing Israel’s conduct of the war.

With both men appealing to different factions of the Democratic base, the contest is shaping up as a key test of how deeply the Gaza conflict will shape local politics in a district that includes large Jewish, Muslim and immigrant communities.

“The store has kind of run its course,” he said. “You know, it’s been six years and the elections are over. Trump’s not gonna be in another election, even though he’ll be part of it.”

The store sells Trump 2028 gear despite the president being constitutionally prohibited from running in 2028. Trump has said it’s “too bad” he can’t run, though he’s also handed out Trump 2028 souvenirs at the White House.

“That’s just to get people riled up,” Domanico said.

The Facebook post announcing the store’s closure attracted gloating comments from apparent Trump skeptics.

“Are you no longer winning?” wrote one commenter. Another said: “Trump must be doing wonders for the economy.”

Domanico said there was a time when he’d respond to all the comments, but no longer.

“No matter what the president does, they hate him no matter how good anything is,” he said.

Dave Russell, 81, is a longtime Trump supporter and was at the shop when it opened in 2020 to buy a Trump for Veterans hat. In a phone interview Tuesday, he said he wasn’t surprised the shop was closing.

“Because most of the stuff they sell was to promote Trump. He’s already in this last term. You can’t do much more for him than he’s already gotten,” Russell said.

Bucks County is often viewed as a crucial bellwether in presidential elections. Trump narrowly carried the county over Kamala Harris in 2024 on his way to winning back Pennsylvania as he did in his first victory in 2016.

Asked if he’d go back for any final sales items, Russell laughed and said no. “I am so loaded up with Trump stuff. I don’t need anything.”

According to preliminary police accounts, a group of youths blocked the bus on Yirmiyahu Street. As the driver attempted to leave the area, one teenager clung to the vehicle. The bus later stopped on Ohel Yehoshua Street, where emergency crews removed Eizental from beneath the vehicle, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Several others were injured.

A respected student

Family members said Eizental was a second-year student at the Ahel Torah–Ponevezh Yeshiva for Young Men in Jerusalem, where he was regarded as a dedicated and promising pupil.

He was the son of Rabbi Shmuel Eizental, a teacher at the yeshiva, and the grandson of Rabbi Uriel Eizental, a community rabbi in the Ramot Gimel neighborhood. News of his death sent shockwaves through Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community, with religious leaders and students expressing grief and disbelief.

Funeral arrangements were expected to be announced later.

Growing tension over the draft

The deadly incident has intensified debate over a wave of protests sparked by government efforts to broaden military service requirements for yeshiva students. The issue has become one of Israel’s most divisive social and political disputes.

Police said the bus driver has been detained for questioning and that the investigation is ongoing. Authorities stressed that the circumstances of the crash — including the actions of protesters and the driver — remain under review.

“The Radical Left tears down Jefferson; Tucker tears down Churchill,” Illouz said. “The Radical Left hates the West; Candace calls our roots ‘demonic.’ It is the same sickness. The same moral relativism. The same hatred of Western Civilization, just dressed in a different costume.”

Addressing Carlson and Owens directly from Jerusalem, Illouz invoked Jewish historical resilience: “The Jewish people buried the Pharaohs. We outlived the Romans. And we will be here long after your YouTube channels are forgotten dust.”

Illouz posted a video of his speech on social media, where it garnered attention amid ongoing debates over rising criticism of Israel from some right-wing U.S. figures.

Recent studies have highlighted increased anti-Israel content from Carlson and Owens in 2025, with Owens facing accusations of explicit antisemitism.

Illouz, speaking to The Times of Israel after his address, defended the speech as a defense of the U.S.-Israel alliance rather than interference in American politics. He described the commentators as “a threat to America as much as to Israel.”

A consistent conservative voice

Elected to Congress in 2012 after serving in California’s Legislature, LaMalfa represented the state’s vast 1st District, stretching from the Oregon border to the outskirts of Sacramento. Known for his steady presence on the House floor, he served on the Agriculture Committee and chaired a subcommittee overseeing forestry issues, while also working on transportation and natural resources policy.

LaMalfa had planned to seek reelection despite a recent redistricting measure backed by Democrats that reshaped his seat. Gov. Gavin Newsom is expected to call a special election to fill the vacancy.

Strong supporter of Israel

Throughout his time in Congress, LaMalfa was also known for his unwavering support of Israel, regularly backing legislation aimed at strengthening U.S.–Israel ties and bolstering Israeli security.

He repeatedly voiced support for Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks by Hamas and threats from Iran, and praised Israeli leaders during periods of heightened conflict. LaMalfa supported major aid packages for Israel and earned backing from pro-Israel advocacy groups, including political action committees affiliated with AIPAC.

In public statements, he described Israel as a critical democratic ally in the Middle East and urged bipartisan unity in standing against antisemitism and terrorism. His office frequently highlighted the importance of maintaining a strong U.S.–Israel partnership as a cornerstone of American foreign policy.

Champion of rural communities

Closer to home, LaMalfa built his reputation as a tireless advocate for rural Northern California. He was deeply involved in wildfire prevention and water-storage policy and pushed aggressively for forest-management reforms.

In 2024, he successfully sponsored legislation exempting wildfire relief payments from federal income taxes — a move that followed devastating blazes in his district. President Joe Biden signed the measure into law.

Former aides described him as approachable and down-to-earth. “He’d drive hundreds of miles just to be at the smallest community event,” said David Reade, a former chief of staff. His longtime aide Mark Spannagel recalled a lawmaker who loved classic rock, old cars and quoting Austin Powers movies.

“He was one of the most normal people in Congress,” Spannagel said. “Someone you’d want to sit down and have iced tea with.”

A polarizing but respected figure

LaMalfa’s unwavering loyalty to Trump energized supporters but frustrated critics, especially after he backed Republican proposals to overhaul health care and food-assistance programs. He faced vocal opposition at town halls in recent years but remained popular among many rural voters.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called for a moment of silence in LaMalfa’s honor at the Capitol, describing him as a committed public servant despite sharp political differences.

National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson praised LaMalfa as “a principled conservative and a tireless advocate for Northern California.”

“He brought grit, authenticity and conviction to everything he did,” Hudson said.

LaMalfa’s death marks the loss of a veteran lawmaker whose career blended deep local roots, unwavering party loyalty and a consistent record of support for Israel — shaping his legacy both at home and on the national stage.

For greater context, there were just nine fewer recorded anti-Jewish hate crimes than last year’s record high.

In 2025, there were 500% more hate crimes committed against Jews than against any other group.

Jewish New Yorkers remain under attack in New York City. https://t.co/CyBFj7xle2 pic.twitter.com/2ODAZun0oy

— Simcha Eichenstein (@SEichenstein) January 6, 2026

Eichenstein said the modest decline masks the severity of the problem, noting there were just nine fewer antisemitic incidents than the record high set in 2024. He added that in 2025, hate crimes targeting Jews outnumbered those against any other group by roughly 500%.

“Jewish New Yorkers remain under attack in this city,” Eichenstein said in a statement. “A small statistical dip doesn’t change the reality people are living with every day.”

City officials said they are expanding coordination with Jewish institutions and increasing patrols near synagogues, schools and community centers, as well as stepping up investigations into online threats that can spill into real-world violence.

Watch as @NYPDPC briefs the media on record-low crime in 2025 with @NYCMayor and @KathyHochul https://t.co/fw1fqbGTAB

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) January 6, 2026

The figures come amid heightened concern in Jewish communities nationwide over a rise in antisemitic rhetoric and incidents tied to global tensions and domestic political polarization. New York, home to the largest Jewish population outside Israel, has seen repeated calls from community leaders for tougher enforcement and stronger public condemnation of antisemitism.

Tisch said the department will continue to prioritize hate-crime investigations and outreach, stressing that even a single incident is too many. “Our goal is not just fewer cases,” she said, “but a city where no one feels targeted for who they are.”

✨BONDI MASSACRE HERO AHMED AL- AHMED, BONDI RABBI, YEHORAM ULMAN, VISIT REBBE'S OHEL

Ahmed, who heroically disarmed a terrorist during the Bondi Massacre, and Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, of Chabad of Bondi, prayed for humanity at the Ohel, the Rebbe's resting place, in Queens, New… pic.twitter.com/GkuenmAY3P

— Chabad.org (@Chabad) January 6, 2026

A police source said a group of youths created disturbances in the area and harassed motorists. The chain of events began on Yirmiyahu Street, where protesters blocked a bus. As the driver attempted to leave the scene, one of the youths clung to the vehicle, police said.

The bus then turned left at the Shmgar Junction and right onto Ohel Yehoshua Street, where it came to a stop. Emergency crews later pulled the teenager from beneath the bus, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Three other people, including a minor, were taken to hospital with moderate injuries.

Political reaction intensifies

The incident occurred as thousands of ultra-Orthodox men gathered in northern Jerusalem to oppose government efforts to expand military conscription to yeshiva students — a move that has fueled weeks of unrest in Haredi neighborhoods.

Knesset member Meir Porush of the United Torah Judaism party said he was “deeply shaken” by the incident and warned of what he described as a dangerous public climate.

“There is a growing sense that it is permissible to harm ultra-Orthodox protesters,” Porush said. “The incitement against the Haredi public is creating fear among Jews in the State of Israel. This must stop.”

He urged political leaders to condemn violence and inflammatory rhetoric directed at the ultra-Orthodox community.

Deepening divisions

The rally was organized by senior rabbis and backed by hard-line factions that have repeatedly staged protests against ending long-standing draft exemptions. Speakers at the protest framed compulsory service as an existential threat to religious life, while critics argue the current system unfairly burdens Israelis who serve.

Flyers and banners throughout ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods in recent days denounced the proposed draft legislation as a “decree of destruction.”

Political leaders across Israel’s spectrum condemned the deadly outcome. Ultra-Orthodox parties demanded a full investigation, while government ministers and opposition figures urged restraint, saying no policy dispute justifies violence or loss of life.

The protest comes amid mounting pressure on the government to reform enlistment rules following court decisions that weakened decades-old exemptions for religious students. In recent weeks, clashes have erupted outside draft offices and during street demonstrations as tensions continue to rise.

Police said the investigation into the crash — including the actions of protesters and the driver — is ongoing.

A bus crashed into a crowd of ultra-Orthodox Jewish protesters in Israel.

According to media reports, during a protest against the IDF draft in Jerusalem, buses struck a crowd of protesters. Several people were injured, and a 13-year-old boy is in critical condition.

On Shamgar… pic.twitter.com/rK7vPuDiKu

— lone wolf (@MApodogan) January 6, 2026

תיעוד מזעזע: אוטובוס דורס מפגינים נגד הגיוס בירושלים pic.twitter.com/eqjtMJLE61

— רגע NEWS (@reganews_israel) January 6, 2026

Bus rams into demonstrators (Warning: Graphic footage, viewer discretion advised)

Rescue attempts after the accident

The international community overwhelmingly considers Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank to be illegal and an obstacle to peace.

The E1 project is especially contentious because it runs from the outskirts of Jerusalem deep into the occupied West Bank. Critics say it would prevent the establishment of a contiguous Palestinian state in the territory.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right politician who oversees settlement policy, has long pushed for the plan to become a reality.

“The Palestinian state is being erased from the table not with slogans but with actions,” he said in August, when Israel gave final approval to the plan. “Every settlement, every neighborhood, every housing unit is another nail in the coffin of this dangerous idea.”

The tender, publicly accessible on the website for Israel’s Land Authority, calls for proposals to develop 3,401 housing units. Peace Now says the publication of the tender “reflects an accelerated effort to advance construction in E1.”

— ⛩ Ryo Saeba | Japon XYZ ⛩ (@Ryo_Saeba_3) January 6, 2026

Fire Chief Hirozo Ichikawa said the drills were designed to strengthen coordination across agencies. “We will continue working as one team to improve our disaster response so residents can live with greater peace of mind,” he said.

新春恒例の東京消防庁の出初式が東京ビッグサイトで開かれました。消防職員や消防団員ら約2900人が参加し、首都直下地震による火災発生や建物倒壊を想定した消火・救助訓練を実施しました。

▼記事はこちらhttps://t.co/bKiZ9kZhHW pic.twitter.com/fQTWT0jc0m

— 産経新聞写真報道局 (@Sankeiphoto_TYO) January 6, 2026

Emergency response units from neighboring prefectures — including Saitama, Chiba, Yokohama, Kawasaki and Sagamihara — also took part as members of Japan’s Emergency Firefighting Assistance Teams, a nationwide network created after the devastating 1995 Kobe earthquake.

Alongside modern rescue demonstrations, firefighters showcased traditional ladder-climbing techniques dating back to the Edo period, highlighting the cultural roots of Japan’s firefighting tradition.

一年の始まりを告げる #東京消防出初式 に出席。快晴の下開催です

昨年は、夏季の暑さによる救急対応や、5269件の火災、死者数も前年より増加。車両資機材の整備、人材育成。マイ消化器の普及などにも取り組んできました

東日本大震災から15年、熊本地震から10年の節目の年。災害対策に取り組みます pic.twitter.com/MxMJtZ0iR9

— 藤井あきら🗻デジタル都議・スタートアップ議員👩‍💻東京都議会議員（町田市選挙区）👶 (@FujiiAkiraTOKYO) January 6, 2026

Officials said the annual drill reflects growing urgency in Tokyo’s disaster-readiness planning as experts continue to warn of the high probability of a major metropolitan earthquake in coming decades.

🔥🚒 消防出初式に参加しました！ 🚒🔥

迫力満点でめちゃくちゃかっこよかった✨

地域の安全を守ってくれている皆さんに感謝です🙏#消防出初式 #出初式 #消防士さんありがとう#地域の力 #日本の伝統 #Respect#若者目線 #イベント参加 #🔥🚒

🔥🚒 I joined the New Year Firefighting Ceremony!… pic.twitter.com/M9wjpMdln8

— 森けいご／大阪市議×東淀川 (@keigomori0503) January 6, 2026

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Members of a traditional firefighting preservation group perform ladder stunts during the annual New Year’s Fire Brigade Review Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Members of a traditional firefighting preservation group perform ladder stunts during the annual New Year’s Fire Brigade Review Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Members of a traditional firefighting preservation group perform ladder stunts during the annual New Year’s Fire Brigade Review Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Members of a traditional firefighting preservation group spin a matoi, a traditional flag once used by Edo-period fire brigades during the annual New Year’s Fire Brigade Review Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Members of a traditional firefighting preservation group retreat from the venue near latest fire engines during the annual New Year’s Fire Brigade Review Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Members of the firefighter hold flags during the annual New Year’s Fire Brigade Review Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Members of fire brigades are reflected on a front window of the latest fire engine during the annual New Year’s Fire Brigade Review Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Members of a traditional firefighting preservation group hold a matoi, a traditional flag once used by Edo-period fire brigades during the annual New Year’s Fire Brigade Review Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Members of a traditional firefighting preservation group dish to take positions to perform during the annual New Year’s Fire Brigade Review Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Members of a traditional firefighting preservation group hold a matoi, a traditional flag once used by Edo-period fire brigades as a the latest fire engine past by during the annual New Year’s Fire Brigade Review Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Members of firefighters with full-body hazardous materials protective suits, raise arms during the annual New Year’s Fire Brigade Review Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

אלפי חרדים מפגינים נגד גיוס לצה"ל ונגד ההסכמה לחוק ביסמוט כעת בירושלים pic.twitter.com/ZMbtWMMooS

— שילה פריד🇮🇱 (@shilofreid) January 6, 2026

Throughout ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods, posters opposing the government’s proposed draft legislation have appeared in recent days. Many demonstrators argue the bill does not go far enough in protecting full-time religious students from conscription and accuse political leaders — including Shas — of compromising on the issue.

At the rally, speakers portrayed mandatory service as an existential threat to their way of life, drawing loud applause from the crowd. Some used extreme language, warning that conscription would lead to the destruction of religious Judaism and accusing the state of persecuting the ultra-Orthodox community.

Dozens of rabbis addressed the gathering from a raised platform beneath banners condemning the draft proposal as a “decree of destruction,” as supporters filled nearby streets and watched from balconies above.

The protest highlights the growing tension between Israel’s secular and religious communities as the government faces mounting pressure to overhaul decades of military service exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox population.

הפגנת החרדים נגד חוק הגיוס החלה, צפויים להשתתף בהפגנה רבנים חסידים, ליטאים, וספרדים.
אמנם אין להם השפעה ישירה על מה שיקרה בכנסת, אבל מאורע כזה בהחלט יוצר לחץ על חברי הכנסת pic.twitter.com/Ozo3WCNzOo

— יעקב הרשקוביץ | Yaakov hershkowitz (@yaakov_hershko) January 6, 2026

The island, 80% of which lies above the Arctic Circle, is home to about 56,000 mostly Inuit people who until now have been largely ignored by the rest of the world.

Here’s why Greenland is strategically important to Arctic security:

Greenland’s location is key
Greenland sits off the northeastern coast of Canada, with more than two-thirds of its territory lying within the Arctic Circle. That has made it crucial to the defense of North America since World War II, when the U.S. occupied Greenland to ensure it didn’t fall into the hands of Nazi Germany and to protect crucial North Atlantic shipping lanes.

Following the Cold War, the Arctic was largely an area of international cooperation. But climate change is thinning the Arctic ice, promising to create a northwest passage for international trade and reigniting competition with Russia, China and other countries over access to the region’s mineral resources.

Security threats to the Arctic
In 2018, China declared itself a “near-Arctic state” in an effort to gain more influence in the region. China has also announced plans to build a “Polar Silk Road” as part of its global Belt and Road Initiative, which has created economic links with countries around the world.

Then-U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected China’s move, saying: “Do we want the Arctic Ocean to transform into a new South China Sea, fraught with militarization and competing territorial claims?”

Meanwhile, Russia has sought to assert its influence over wide areas of the Arctic in competition with the U.S., Canada, Denmark and Norway. Moscow has also sought to boost its military presence in the polar region, home to its Northern Fleet and a site where the Soviet Union tested nuclear weapons. Russian military officials have said that the site is ready for resuming the tests, if necessary.

The Russian military in recent years has been restoring old Soviet infrastructure in the Arctic and building new facilities. Since 2014, the Russian military has opened several military bases in the Arctic and worked on reconstructing airfields.

European leaders’ concerns were heightened following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Last year, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Russia is worried about NATO’s activities in the Arctic and will respond by strengthening the capability of its armed forces there.

“Russia has never threatened anyone in the Arctic, but we will closely follow the developments and mount an appropriate response by increasing our military capability and modernizing military infrastructure,” Putin said in March at a policy forum in the Arctic port of Murmansk.

He added, however, that Moscow was holding the door open to broader international cooperation in the region.

U.S. military presence in Greenland
The U.S. Department of Defense operates the remote Pituffik Space Base in northwestern Greenland, which was built after the U.S. and Denmark signed the Defense of Greenland Treaty in 1951. It supports missile warning, missile defense and space surveillance operations for the U.S. and NATO.

Greenland also guards part of what is known as the GIUK (Greenland, Iceland, United Kingdom) Gap, where NATO monitors Russian naval movements in the North Atlantic.

Danish armed forces in Greenland
Denmark is moving to strengthen its military presence around Greenland and in the wider North Atlantic. Last year, the government announced a roughly 14.6 billion-kroner ($2.3 billion) agreement with parties including the governments of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, another self-governing territory of Denmark, to “improve capabilities for surveillance and maintaining sovereignty in the region.”

The plan includes three new Arctic naval vessels, two additional long-range surveillance drones and satellite capacity.

Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command is headquartered in Greenland’s capital, Nuuk, and tasked with the “surveillance, assertion of sovereignty and military defense of Greenland and the Faroe Islands,” according to its website. It has smaller satellite stations across the island.

The Sirius Dog Sled Patrol, an elite Danish naval unit that conducts long-range reconnaissance and enforces Danish sovereignty in the Arctic wilderness, is also stationed in Greenland.

Rich source of rare earth minerals
Greenland is also a rich source of the so-called rare earth minerals that are a key component of mobile phones, computers, batteries and other hi-tech gadgets that are expected to power the world’s economy in the coming decades.

That has attracted the interest of the U.S. and other Western powers as they try to ease China’s dominance of the market for these critical minerals.

Development of Greenland’s mineral resources is challenging because of the island’s harsh climate, while strict environmental controls have proved an additional hurdle for potential investors.

The suggestion came during recent talks in Paris mediated by U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack and President Trump’s advisers Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Israeli and U.S. officials described the discussions as candid and productive, with both sides agreeing to accelerate negotiations, hold more frequent meetings and implement confidence-building measures.

The Trump administration views a security pact as key to stabilizing the border region — occupied in part by Israeli forces since the 2024 fall of the Assad regime — and potentially paving the way for broader diplomatic normalization.

Any final agreement is expected to address demilitarization in southern Syria and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied areas.

Just asked the Mayor and Governor about working together, perhaps even when they disagree.
Eg.@GovKathyHochul says she'll move this year to protect houses of worship.
Mamdani has ordered a review of an executive order in NYC under Adams that did this.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/HY3708wFmR

— Henry Rosoff (@HenryRosoff) January 6, 2026

But both the T1’s shipping date and U.S. manufacturing ambitions gradually began to shift, even as Trump Mobile continues to accept $100 deposits for the device.

Not long after announcing the device, Trump Mobile pivoted from describing it as phone that would be made in the U.S. to framing it as a device that would be “proudly American.” Trump Mobile’s website now touts the T1 as having an “American-proud” design, with no further explanation.

Analysts believed that the shift stemmed from a recognition that the U.S. lacked the supply chain and other logistics required to make a smartphone for less than $1,000 — the same hurdles that made it implausible for Apple to acquiesce to President Trump’s demands that the company move its iPhone manufacturing from China and India.

Later in the summer, Trump Mobile also became more vague about when the T1 would become available, but still indicated it would be delivered to customers who paid the $100 deposit by the end of 2025. Trump Mobile’s website continues to list the T1’s targeted release date as “later this year.”

The Trump Organization didn’t respond to inquiries from The Associated Press about the delays or when the device is now expected to be shipped. The Financial Times recently reported that it was told by a customer representative for Trump Mobile that the phone will be shipped in late January and attributed its delayed release to the 43-day shutdown of the federal government last year.

Whatever the reason, the T1’s ongoing absence from the smartphone market didn’t come as a surprise to International Data Corp. analyst Francisco Jeronimo.

“We have always been quite skeptical about this phone,” Jeronimo said. “They are probably finding that it is harder to build a phone than they thought it would be. Let’s see if this thing comes to life or not.”

While the T1 has remained in a holding pattern, Trump Mobile has been selling its wireless service for $47.45 per month — a price tied to Donald Trump’s titles as the 47th and 45th President. For customers looking for a smartphone that they can use sooner rather than later, Trump Mobile is also selling refurbished versions of older iPhones and Samsung’s Galaxy models at prices ranging from $370 to $630.

“Maybe they changed their strategy and figured out they are better off just selling refurbished phones,” Jeronimo said.

Conway said he looked it up on Wikipedia, and realized it was his old stomping grounds.

“It was like, huh, it’s an open seat. This isn’t crazy. I should think about this,” he said in an interview.

He relocated back to Manhattan a few weeks ago, he said.

Conway joins a flood of Democrats looking to take over Nadler’s seat. Among the candidates are Nadler protégé and state lawmaker Micah Lasher, school shooting survivor and advocate Cameron Kasky and Jack Schlossberg, the grandson of John F. Kennedy.

In a campaign launch video, Conway, 62, positioned himself as a seasoned Trump foe whose extensive experience as an attorney would allow him to continue his yearslong fight against the president from Congress.

“This is no ordinary time. And I will not be an ordinary member of Congress,” he said.

Conway, a former Republican who helped found the anti-Trump Lincoln Project, said that he doesn’t want to be a career politician but felt that “this is a moment where we need people who can fight Trump the way he needs to be battled.”

He supported Trump’s 2016 presidential run and had been married to Kellyanne Conway, a pollster and strategist who became senior presidential adviser in the first Trump White House as well as was one of Trump’s fiercest defenders.

As Trump’s first term went on, George Conway began to criticize Trump with an aggressiveness that rivaled his then-wife’s ardent support of the president, drawing extraordinary attention to their relationship’s diverging political positions.

At one point, Trump fired back, calling George Conway “a stone cold LOSER & husband from hell!”

The Conways announced their divorce in 2023, writing in a statement that their marriage had included “many happy years.”

The district Conway is hoping to represent is considered solidly Democratic, consisting of Midtown Manhattan and the tony Upper East and Upper West sides.

Nadler, 78, last year said he would not run for reelection, with the longtime fixture of New York’s congressional delegation calling for generational change in Congress. His planned exit has led to a flood of Democratic candidates emerging to take over his seat.

Gonzales faces 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment and could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison if he’s convicted.

He and former Uvalde schools police chief Pete Arredondo are the only two officers to face criminal charges over the response. Arredondo’s trial has not been scheduled.

Some families of the victims were upset that more officers were not charged given that nearly 400 federal, state and local officers converged on the school soon after the 2022 attack.

Terrified students inside the classrooms called 911 and parents outside begged for intervention by officers, some of whom could hear shots being fired while they stood in a hallway. A tactical team of officers eventually went into the classroom and killed the shooter.

The gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary.

An investigation found 77 minutes passed from the time authorities arrived until the tactical team breached the classroom and killed Salvador Ramos, who was obsessed with violence and notoriety in the months leading up to the shooting.

The trial for Gonzales was expected to last about two weeks, Judge Sid Harle said. Before seating the jury Monday, he told several hundred potential jurors that the court was not looking for those who know nothing about the shooting but wants jurors who can be impartial.

Close to 100 people were dismissed after saying they already formed opinions.

Among the potential witnesses are FBI agents, Texas Rangers, emergency dispatchers and school employees.

At the request of Gonzales’ attorneys, the trial was moved to Corpus Christi after they argued Gonzales could not receive a fair trial in Uvalde.

The indictment accuses Gonzales of putting children in “imminent danger” of injury or death by failing to engage, distract or delay the shooter and by not following his training. The allegations also say he did not go toward the gunfire despite hearing shots and being told the shooter’s location.

State and federal reviews of the shooting cited cascading problems in law enforcement training, communication, leadership and technology, and questioned why officers waited so long.

According to the state review, Gonzales told investigators that once police realized there were students still sitting in other classrooms, he helped evacuate them.

Prosecutors likely will face a high bar to win a conviction. Juries are often reluctant to convict law enforcement officers for inaction, as seen after the Parkland, Florida, school massacre in 2018.

Sheriff’s deputy Scot Peterson was charged with failing to confront the shooter in that attack. It was the first such prosecution in the U.S. for an on-campus shooting, and Peterson was acquitted by a jury in 2023.

Meanwhile, the situation is likely to worsen as Iran’s Central Bank drastically reduced the subsidized exchange rates for dollars it offers to importers and producers in the country. That likely will see merchants pass on price hikes in the coming days for goods directly onto consumers, whose life savings already have dwindled over years of international sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic.

Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, while ordering a government investigation into one incident involving the protests, otherwise signaled Tuesday the crisis may be rapidly moving beyond the control of officials.

“We should not expect the government to handle all of this alone,” Pezeshkian said in a televised speech. “The government simply does not have that capacity.”

Turmoil shakes Grand Bazaar
In the Grand Bazaar, a labyrinth-like warren of covered passages and alleyways, demonstrators sat down in one passage in front of security forces as other shops nearby shut down on Tuesday, online videos showed and witnesses said. Other demonstrations similarly have seen people sit down in front of police after a photo circulated earlier of a man seen sitting alone in front of security forces.

Authorities later fired tear gas to disperse the protesters. Iranian state-run media did not immediately acknowledge the incident, which has been common in the days since the demonstrations began on Dec. 28.

Iran has faced rounds of nationwide protests in recent years. As sanctions tightened and Iran struggled after a 12-day war with Israel in June, its rial currency collapsed in December, reaching 1.4 million to $1. Protests began soon after, with demonstrators chanting against Iran’s theocracy.

On Tuesday, $1 traded at 1.46 million rials, a new low, with no signs of slowing. Prior to Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, the rial was broadly stable, trading at around 70 to $1. At the time of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, $1 traded for 32,000 rials.

Exchange rate change points to more pain coming
More pain may be coming for Iranian consumers. Iran’s Central Bank in recent days greatly reduced a preferential, subsidized dollar-rial exchange rate. Iran’s government offer that rate to importers and producers to try to ensure the flow of food, medicine and other essential goods despite international sanctions over its nuclear program and other issues.

However, many of those firms took advantage of the difference in rates, pocketing ever-greater profits as normal Iranians watched their savings rapidly lose value against the dollar. That’s led to the Central Bank drastically reducing that rate.

The currency and rate depreciation has directly impacted what’s available in stores — and at what price. The average bottle of cooking oil just doubled in price, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. Many have complained about shelves being empty in stores, likely as suppliers and merchants fear selling cooking oil at a loss. Cheese and chicken prices also spiked, while imported rice hasn’t been available in some shops.

Pezeshkian in his speech blamed inflation, sanctions and other woes for causing the depreciation — and warned tougher times may be coming.

“If we do not make realistic decisions, we ourselves will push the country toward crisis and then complain about the consequences,” he warned.

Iran promises Ilam investigation
Late Monday, Pezeshkian assigned the interior ministry to form a special team for a “full-fledged investigation” of what had been happening in Ilam province. Protesters in Malekshahi County in Iran’s Ilam province, some 515 kilometers (320 miles) southwest of Iran’s capital, Tehran, were killed as online videos purported to show security forces firing on civilians.

The presidency also acknowledged an “incident in a hospital in the city of Ilam.” Online video showed security forces wearing riot gear raiding a hospital, where activists said they were seeking demonstrators.

The hospital assault drew criticism from the U.S. State Department, which in Iran’s Farsi language called the incident “a crime.”

“Storming the wards, beating medical staff and attacking the wounded with tear gas and ammunition is an clear crime against humanity,” a post on the social platform X read. “Hospitals are not battlefields.”

A report by the semiofficial Fars news agency earlier alleged without offering evidence that demonstrators carried firearms and grenades.

Ilam province is mainly home to the country’s Kurdish and Lur ethnic groups and faces severe economic hardship.

Protester deaths a focus of Trump
The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency offered the latest death toll of 35 for the demonstrations. It said 29 protesters, four children and two members of Iran’s security forces have been killed. Demonstrations have reached over 250 locations in 27 of Iran’s 31 provinces,

The group, which relies on an activist network inside of Iran for its reporting, has been accurate in past unrest.

Fars, believed close to Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, reported late Monday that some 250 police officers and 45 members of the Guard’s all-volunteer Basij force have been hurt in the demonstrations.

The growing death toll carries with it the chance of American intervention. U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran on Friday that if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters,” the United States “will come to their rescue.” Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said “rioters must be put in their place.”

While it remains unclear how and if Trump will intervene, his comments sparked an immediate, angry response, with officials within the theocracy threatening to target American troops in the Mideast. The comments took on new importance after the U.S. military on Saturday captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a longtime ally of Tehran.

CEO Jensen Huang showed off Cosmos, an AI foundation model trained on massive datasets, capable of simulating environments governed by actual physics. He also announced Alpamayo, an AI model specifically designed for autonomous driving. Huang revealed that Nvidia’s next generation AI superchip platform, dubbed Vera Rubin, is in full production, and that Nvidia has a new partnership with Siemens. All of this shows Nvidia is going to fight increased competition to retain its reputation as the backbone of the AI industry.

But once Huang called for two little, waddling, chirping robots to join him on stage, that’s all the audience wanted to see more of.

The chips are back in town

AMD CEO Lisa Su announced a new line of its famed Ryzen AI processors as the company continues to expand its footprint in the world of AI-powered personal computers.

For gamers, AMD also showed off the latest version of its gaming-focused processor, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D.

Meanwhile, Intel announced its new AI chip for laptops, Panther Lake (also known as the Intel Core Ultra Series 3), and said the company has plans to launch a new platform to address a growing market for handheld video gaming machines.

Intel, a Silicon Valley pioneer that enjoyed decades of growth as its processors powered the personal computer boom, fell into a slump after missing the shift to the mobile computing era unleashed by the iPhone. It fell further behind after the AI boom propelled Nvidia into the spotlight.

President Donald Trump’s administration stepped in recently to secure a 10% stake in the company, making the government one of Intel’s biggest shareholders. Federal officials said they invested in Intel to support U.S. technology and domestic manufacturing.

Uber dives back into the robotaxi game

Uber is giving the public a first look at their robotaxi at this CES this week. Uber, along with luxury electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Motors and vehicle tech company Nuro, introduced an autonomous vehicle with an Uber-designed in-cabin experience.

Uber calls it the most luxurious robotaxi yet. It features cameras, sensors and radars that provide 360-degree perception and a low-profile roof “halo” with integrated LEDs that will display riders’ initials to help them spot their car and track their ride status. Inside, riders can personalize everything from climate and seat heating to music, while real-time visuals show exactly what the vehicle is seeing on the road and the route it plans to take.

Autonomous on-road testing began last month in San Francisco, led by Nuro, marking a major step toward what the companies said is a planned launch before the end of the year.

Star Wars and Lego announce a new partnership

When Lucasfilm chief creative officer David Filoni brought out an array of X-Wing pilots, Chewbacca, R2D2 and C-3PO, he won the Star Wars fandom for Lego.

Lego announced its Lego Smart Play platform on Monday, which introduces new smart bricks, tags and special minifigs for your collection. The new bricks contain sensors that enable them to sense light and distance, and to provide an array of responses, essentially lights and sounds, when they are used in unison.

Combine this with a newly announced partnership with the Star Wars franchise and now you can create your own interactive space battles and light-saber duels.

LG reveals a new robot to help around the home

File this one under intrigued, for now.

The Korean tech giant gave the media a glimpse Monday of its humanoid robot that is designed to handle household chores such as folding laundry and fetching food. Although many companies have robots on display at CES, LG certainly is one of the biggest tech companies to promise to put a service robot in homes.

It will be on display beginning Tuesday, so we’ll have more to report soon.

What’s new with lollipops?

Music you can taste was on display Monday at CES: Lollipop Star unveiled a candy that plays music while you eat it. The company says it uses something called “bone induction technology,” which lets you hear songs — like tracks from Ice Spice and Akon — through the lollipop as you lick it or bite it in the back of your mouth, according to spokesperson Cassie Lawrence.

The musical lollipops will go on sale after CES on Lollipop Star’s website for $8.99 each. And if that wasn’t enough star power, Akon was expected to visit the company’s booth Tuesday when CES opens to the public.

Atlas holds up Hyundai’s (manufacturing) world

Hyundai-owned Boston Dynamics publicly demonstrated its humanoid robot Atlas for the first time at the CES tech showcase, ratcheting up a competition with Tesla and other rivals to build robots that look like people and do things that people do.

The company said a version of the robot that will help assemble cars is already in production and will be deployed by 2028 at Hyundai’s electric vehicle manufacturing facility near Savannah, Georgia.

Delta gets spherical

Delta Air Lines is taking entertainment to new heights as the “official airline” of the Sphere in Las Vegas. The airline announced a new multiyear partnership with Sphere Entertainment Co. that it says will deliver premium experiences to the venue, including a Delta SKY360° Club lounge.

The carrier said SkyMiles members can unlock exclusive access to other experiences at the Sphere, starting during the final weekend of the Backstreet Boys’ residency in February with features including private suite seating, food and beverages. The partnership brings Delta branding to the Sphere’s massive exterior LED screen. Delta says more exclusive SkyMiles experiences will roll out in 2026 and beyond.

Speaking on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, Rubio said the Republican administration withheld information about the mission from Congress ahead of time because “it will leak. It’s as simple as that.” But the primary reason was operational security, he said.

“Frankly, a number of media outlets had gotten leaks that this was coming and held it for that very reason,” Rubio said. “And we thank them for doing that or lives could have been lost. American lives.”

Advance word got out
Semafor, citing “people familiar with communications between the administration and news organizations,” reported that The New York Times and The Washington Post had both learned of the raid in advance but held off reporting on it to avoid endangering U.S. military personnel. Representatives for both outlets declined to comment to The Associated Press on Monday.

Withholding information on a planned mission for that reason is routine for news organizations, said Dana Priest, a longtime national security reporter at the Post who now teaches at the University of Maryland. Even after the fact, the Post has asked government authorities about whether revealing certain details could endanger people, she said.

When The Atlantic magazine editor Jeffrey Goldberg was inadvertently included in a text chain last spring where Hegseth revealed information about a military attack in Yemen, the journalist did not report on the events until well after U.S. personnel was out of danger and the information had been thoroughly checked out.

Most Americans learned of the Venezuela attack in the predawn hours of Saturday when President Donald Trump announced it on his Truth Social platform upon completion.

While The Associated Press did not have advance word that the operation would happen, its journalists in Venezuela heard and observed explosions taking place there, and that was reported on the news wire more than two hours before Trump’s announcement. The U.S. involvement was not made clear until Trump’s post, however.

Decisions on publication have many dimensions
Hegseth, in defending rules that restrict reporters’ movements and reporting in the Pentagon, told Fox News last year that “we have expectations that you’re not soliciting classified or sensitive information.” The Times last month filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the rules.

“What the so-called legacy Pentagon press corps has demonstrated is it can act responsibly, as it always has, to protect troops’ lives,” said Barbara Starr, a former CNN defense correspondent. “But even more important perhaps is it demonstrates the media makes every effort to continue to cover the news outside of Pete Hegseth’s control and endless message points.”

Decisions on whether to report information that could put lives or a mission in danger often involve high-level discussions between editors and government officials. But Priest stressed that in a country with freedom of the press, the ultimate decision on whether to report the information lies with the news organization.

Generations ago, President John F. Kennedy persuaded editors at the Times not to report when it learned in advance of a U.S.-backed attack by Cuban exiles on Fidel Castro’s forces at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba. The mission proved a monumental failure, and a Times editor, Bill Keller, later said that Kennedy expressed regret that the newspaper had not reported on what it had known because it could have prevented a fiasco.

Many mainstream journalists covering the military and national security have extensive experience dealing with sensitive issues, Priest said. But there’s a difference, she said, between reporting information that could put someone in danger and that which could prove embarrassing to an administration.

“The reporters are not going to be deterred by a ridiculously broad censorship edict by the Trump administration,” Priest said. “They’re going to dig in and work even harder. Their mission is not to curry favor with the Trump administration. It’s to report information to the public.”

Gvili, a police special operations officer killed defending Kibbutz Alumim during the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, is the sole remaining hostage whose body has not been recovered under the ceasefire deal. His remains are believed to be held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, with Hamas responsible for facilitating the return.

The Rafah crossing, a critical route for aid and movement, has been a point of contention in post-ceasefire negotiations. Earlier reports indicated potential reopening plans, but Netanyahu’s position ties progress directly to the fulfillment of hostage return obligations.

Gvili’s father, Itzik Gvili, has publicly noted assurances from U.S. President Donald Trump that Gaza reconstruction would not advance without the return of his son’s remains.

It's a great privilege to conduct the first official diplomatic visit to Somaliland, at the invitation of President @Abdirahmanirro.
The visit is also a message: We are determined to vigorously advance relations between Israel and Somaliland.
Today, we held substantive… pic.twitter.com/hsTUavkxwl

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) January 6, 2026

Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said the department was never contacted by the hotel to resolve the issue. Sortor also said the front desk manager confirmed the policy was still in place after speaking with the owner shortly before his visit.

The episode has renewed scrutiny on Hilton’s oversight of franchisees, as critics say the dispute highlights the reputational risks when local operators take actions that conflict with corporate standards.

🚨 BREAKING EXCLUSIVE: I went into the Minnesota Hilton who “apologized” for banning DHS agents, and EXPOSED them for CONTINUING to ban DHS agents@HiltonHotels has decided they want the FULL BUDLIGHT treatment at this point.

Hilton’s operator, Everpeak, STRAIGHT UP LIED in… pic.twitter.com/3g97P7okpz

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) January 6, 2026

Statement from Hilton on a recent video pic.twitter.com/W8DWUTWD7f

— Hilton Newsroom (@HiltonNewsroom) January 6, 2026

Apparently, @HiltonHotels is terminating the franchise effective immediately. Credit to @nicksortor for his investigative work. https://t.co/DHjh30Dh9p

— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) January 6, 2026

The first level of everyday emes is to always speak the truth and never utter a lie. But there exists a deeper level called dover emes bilvavo — speaking truth in one’s own heart. This level is not merely about observing truth from afar, but about fully engaging with it emotionally and intellectually. A harsh reality should invoke genuine distress over that reality. Moshe Rabbeinu did not just passively note the suffering of his brethren; he deeply engaged with it to the extent that this seeing led directly to his intervention when he witnessed an Egyptian striking a Jew.

This concept of dover emes bilvavo contains three essential components: honest observation, emotional engagement, and action based upon that understanding. When we truly analyze it, we see that the Torah’s emphasis on Moshe “going out” carries a powerful message — sometimes integrity requires us to leave our comfort zones and deliberately place ourselves in positions where we must confront uncomfortable truths. True knowledge is not complete until it transforms both our feelings and our actions.

Refoel ben Louis exemplified this teaching in a most remarkable way. He once expressed a sentiment that perfectly captured his essence: “I truly enjoy paying taxes. The reason? HaKaras HaTov. It gives me the ability to express gratitude for what the United States has done for us.” This was not mere words; this was dover emes bilvavo — truth spoken from the depths of his heart. Where others might see an obligation or burden, he saw an opportunity to express genuine gratitude.

This sentiment echoes the teaching of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, who famously stated that he would rather be a street cleaner in the United States — which treats us fairly and allows us to learn Torah — than be a Rav in Communist Russia. Rav Feinstein called the United States a “Malchus shel Chessed,” a government of kindness. Refoel ben Louis understood this truth not merely intellectually, but felt it deeply in his heart, and translated that feeling into action through his joyful fulfillment of his civic duties.

The personal cost of living with such integrity should not be underestimated. Moshe Rabbeinu gave up his privileged position in Pharaoh’s palace because his heart could not remain still while witnessing injustice. Similarly, a person of true integrity often sacrifices what is easy for what is right. This challenges each of us to examine our own lives: What truths might we be avoiding because acknowledging them would require uncomfortable changes?

The Gemara in Shabbos (55a) teaches that the seal of HaKadosh Baruch Hu is emes — truth. When a person lives with genuine integrity, they align themselves with the very essence of the Divine. Refoel ben Louis carried this seal throughout his life. His honesty was not a burden he bore but a privilege he cherished, just as his gratitude to his country was not an obligation he fulfilled but a joy he embraced.

As we mark fifteen years since his passing, let us commit ourselves to following his example. May we strive not merely to avoid falsehood, but to be dovrei emes bilvavo — speakers of truth within our own hearts. May we cultivate the kind of hakaras hatov that sees blessings where others see burdens. And may the memory of Refoel ben Louis continue to inspire us to live lives of genuine integrity, where our actions flow naturally from hearts aligned with truth.

The Chiddushei HaRim teaches that the phrase “Arami Oved Avi” can be understood to mean that a ramai — one who practices deceit — loses the merit of his fathers. Conversely, one who commits to integrity and honesty connects himself to the merit of the righteous who came before. Refoel ben Louis understood this truth instinctively. His life of honesty was not merely personal virtue but a link in the golden chain connecting generations.

The author can be reached at [email protected]

That ruling became binding precedent, but has now been overturned 30 years later.

The historic ruling, which became binding law, caused an uproar in Israel’s business sector at the time, on the grounds that it undermines the principles of commercial certainty. It has been argued that the criticism is shared by the majority of lawyers. According to this critique, whereas prior to the ruling a party could rely on clear contractual language, following the Apropim decision even this certainty became subject to interpretation, as the ruling grants a very broad range of interpretive possibilities and great flexibility beyond the written text. Some have argued that people are reluctant to turn to the courts to enforce contracts because it is difficult to predict the outcome due to the Apropim Doctrine.

One of the prominent critics was former Justice Minister Professor Daniel Friedmann. According to him, the theoretical principles underlying the Apropim Doctrine are correct; however, the expansive application of these principles transformed rules intended for exceptional cases into rules governing the norm, in a way that “created a sense that no contract is clear, that everything is open, and that any outcome can be achieved through interpretation.”

Additional and more general criticism was expressed by Professor Gabriela Shalev and Dr. Efi Tzemach. According to them, the Apropim Doctrine harms the proper allocation of power between the courts and the contracting parties and deviates from the fundamental purposes of contract interpretation law. They stated:

“One cannot ignore the fact that the Apropim Doctrine assigns an important—too important—a role to the judge and the interpreter in shaping the parties’ intent… and gives excessive weight to the principle of good faith in the processes of interpretation and gap-filling. It is worth recalling that the principle of freedom of contract is—still—the most important principle in contract law. This principle determines not only the freedom to enter into contracts and shape their content, but also the validity and binding force of contracts and the protection afforded to them by the legal system. The principle of freedom of contract… requires refraining from interference in a contract entered into of [free] will… Through purposive interpretation, the powers of the court to intervene in contracts are expanded and even to reshape their terms, at times contrary to the clear will of the parties. A contract created by the parties is no longer under their control.”

Now, in accordance with the amendment approved yesterday by the Knesset, it has been determined that the manner in which a contract is interpreted will be “as agreed by the parties.”

At the height of efforts to advance the judicial reform legislation, on September 11, 2023, one day before a Supreme Court hearing on the abolition of the reasonableness doctrine, Justice Minister Yariv Levin presented the proposal to amend the Contracts Law. Together with Constitution Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman, he proposed that both the method of interpreting a contract and the admissible evidence for its interpretation be subject to the agreement of the parties, unless they are unrepresented or the contract is a standard-form contract.

It was determined that if the parties do not agree on the method of interpretation, different interpretive rules will apply depending on the type of contract. A business contract will be interpreted solely according to its wording, unless such an interpretation leads to an absurd result or if contradictions arise between different provisions of the contract.

Alongside the basic rule of interpretation by agreement, the amendment specifies how a contract should be interpreted when no such agreement exists. Two different interpretive rules are proposed: one for business contracts and another for other types of contracts. Non-business contracts, employment contracts, collective agreements, and standard-form contracts, even if they include a different interpretive agreement, will be interpreted according to the inferred intent of the parties, as derived from the contract and the surrounding circumstances.

It was further determined that the relative weight of the contract’s wording and the surrounding circumstances will be based, among other things, on factors such as: the relationship between the parties (including information gaps or special trust relationships), the level of detail in the contract, the parties’ professional experience, and the degree of legal representation they received when drafting the contract.

The explanatory notes accompanying the approved bill stated: “The purpose of the proposed amendment is to establish interpretive rules tailored to business contracts as opposed to other contracts, in line with judicial trends that distinguish between different types of contracts, in order to provide greater certainty in the business world and help reduce the burden on the courts.”

Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who initiated the amendment, argued that it constitutes a “historic breakthrough for the business world that will provide certainty.” According to him, “The Apropim Doctrine established by former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak created a reality of absolute uncertainty in contract interpretation, in which judges retroactively determined what the parties intended, contrary to what was written in the contract, and sometimes even contrary to what the parties themselves claimed. This led to uncertainty, excessive litigation, higher transaction costs, and even the inclusion of jurisdiction clauses outside Israel in order to reduce uncertainty. The move will also prevent unnecessary litigation and reduce the burden on the courts.”

Constitution Committee Chairman Simcha Rothman stated: “A perfect contract does not exist, and probably neither does a perfect law. The sword of the Apropim Doctrine and its various expressions has hovered over contract law in the State of Israel for many years. Even previous attempts to remove it did not approach the depth, length, and level of detail of the discussion held on this proposal, including public participation and the involvement of all relevant professional bodies. Until now, the courts intervened and denied the parties’ basic freedom of contract. The debate between ‘truth’ and ‘certainty’ will continue, but the Knesset’s determination that the parties are sovereign and have the power, ability, and authority to decide will grant them control over defining their relationship.”

The family participated in an archaeological tour initiated by Ruthie Lieberman, political consultant and founder of the Yes! Israel Project, together with Sarah Paley. The tour was guided by Dr. Dvir Raviv of Bar-Ilan University, who is leading an archaeological survey of the area.

“In the first cave, which is known to local residents, we found a fragment of a jar from the second century CE,” Dr. Raviv said. “This is proof that the cave was used by refugees during the Bar Kokhba Revolt.”

The highlight of the tour took place in another cave that is not known to the general public. Dr. Raviv provided the children with a metal detector, and they began scanning the floor of the cave. “Unfortunately, the cave had been subject to looting excavations, so there are finds literally on the surface,” he explained. “The children scanned the cave and found five coins, possibly from the period of the Bar Kokhba Revolt, the Great Revolt, or the late Roman period. What they enjoyed most was digging in the soil, crawling through cracks, and finding coins.”

Ancient coins found in cave

According to participants, the very choice of an American ambassador to take his grandchildren on an archaeological activity was far from obvious. “It was really not taken for granted that the ambassador took his grandchildren, who were visiting Israel for the first time, to an archaeological activity. It was amazing to see such a senior figure for whom it was so important to connect to the land together with his family.”

From there, Huckabee, his wife, his daughter, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, her husband, and their children continued to Ancient Shiloh. They were accompanied by Eliana Passentin, Director of the Foreign Affairs Desk at the Binyamin Region.

At the peak of the tour, the family gathered for a joint prayer opposite the site of the Tabernacle. “It’s amazing to come to this place, which proves that miracles can happen—3,000 years ago and today as well,” the ambassador said.

Yisrael Ganz, Governor of the Binyamin Region, said: “We were delighted to host Ambassador Huckabee and his family at Binyamin’s archaeological sites, the place where our heritage comes to life. The artifacts they discovered are the best testimony to our historical right to every part of the Land of Israel.”

Ruthie Lieberman added: “This tour is part of a series designed to strengthen the connection between Israel’s supporters in the US and our homeland.”

A true friend of the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, Huckabee has made his visits to Binyamin a tradition. This marks the third time he has returned to Ancient Shiloh, this time with his grandchildren.

حماس والجهاد الإسلامي – لدى المختطَف السابق، البطل روم برسلافسكي، رسالة مباشرة وواضحة لكم، أيها الجبناء! pic.twitter.com/p0dozkmzlZ

— יוסף חדאד – Yoseph Haddad (@YosephHaddad) January 5, 2026

Braslavski concludes the video with a clip of him dancing on a recent occasion to the words “Do not fear Israel, do not be afraid, for are you not a young lion? And if a lion roars – who won’t be afraid?” and photos of him with fellow captivity survivors.

Family and close friends launched numerous initiatives in support of his recovery, including prayers, Torah study, and dedicating lessons. Additionally, various activities were organized in different communities, including challah separation and prayer at the Western Wall, all in the hope that “Ran, who raised a young family, was a loving and generous man, always remembered for his kindness and warm friendships,” his friends said.

Ran will be laid to rest on Tuesday morning at 10:30 am at the Mount Herzl military cemetery.

Jacobson didn’t immediately return an email seeking comment Monday. He had served as police chief in one of Connecticut’s largest cities and home to Yale University for more than three years.

The mayor said he was set to meet with Jacobson and place him on administrative leave when the chief instead submitted his paperwork to retire, effective Monday.

Elicker said it’s unclear how much and for how long Jacobson had been taking money from the informants’ account and that it doesn’t appear others were involved. He said city officials are cooperating with state investigators looking into the matter.

Elicker said he has tapped Assistant Police Chief David Zannelli, who was among the officers to confront Jacobson over the funds, to serve as interim chief.

Jacobson took office in July 2022, just weeks after a Black man was paralyzed in the back of a police van in an incident that roiled the police department and the city.

Five officers were arrested in connection with the mistreatment of Richard “Randy” Cox, who suffered a neck injury and was left paralyzed from the chest down when the police van with no seat belts he was in braked hard to avoid an accident and sent him flying into a metal partition.

Jacobson recommended firing four of the officers, and the city’s police commissioners terminated them. The fifth officer retired before he could be disciplined. One of the fired officers won his job back after an appeal.

Jacobson had been with the department for 15 years before being named chief. He previously served in the East Providence Police Department in Rhode Island for nine years.

The assessment highlighted concerns that a swift shift to opposition figures could risk chaos in Caracas, given the regime’s entrenched control over military and institutional structures.

Trump has publicly dismissed Machado as lacking sufficient domestic support, describing her as a “very nice woman” but not viable for leadership. In contrast, he has signaled willingness to work with Rodríguez, whom U.S. officials view as a pragmatic interlocutor capable of managing the country’s oil sector and maintaining order.

The decision comes amid ongoing U.S. efforts to shape Venezuela’s future after Maduro’s dramatic removal in a special forces operation over the weekend. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into U.S. custody and are facing drug-trafficking charges in New York.

Rodríguez was sworn in as interim president Sunday, initially condemning the U.S. action but later adopting a more conciliatory tone toward cooperation.

Critics, including some opposition supporters and former U.S. officials, argue the approach sidelines democratic forces and risks prolonging elements of the old regime. Supporters say prioritizing stability is essential to prevent further instability in the oil-rich nation.

“More to come,” O’Neill wrote, adding that the department was responding to growing public speculation about the ambassador’s U.S. business connections.

I can confirm public speculation that Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman, Permanent Representative of Somalia to the UN and President of the Security Council, is in fact associated with Progressive Health Care Services, a home health agency in Cincinnati.

HHS has previously taken… pic.twitter.com/zWIlC63Qer

— Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill (@HHS_Jim) January 5, 2026

Progressive Health Care Services has operated in Ohio’s Medicaid-funded home health sector, an area that has faced heightened scrutiny from federal and state regulators over billing practices and patient eligibility. HHS routinely works with state authorities and federal prosecutors to investigate fraud involving public health programs.

Neither Permanent Mission of Somalia to the United Nations nor representatives for Progressive Health Care Services immediately responded to requests for comment. The United States Department of Health and Human Services also did not provide further details beyond O’Neill’s public statement.

Osman’s role as Somalia’s U.N. ambassador places him at the center of international diplomacy, and his current position as president of the Security Council carries a rotating but influential leadership role within the body.

It was not immediately clear whether the alleged association raises legal, ethical or diplomatic concerns under U.S. or international rules governing diplomats, or whether any new enforcement action is pending.

Live Now: Mayor Zohran Mamdani Joins Governor Hochul to Make a Transportation Announcement https://t.co/9v7kLOaRQQ

— Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@NYCMayor) January 5, 2026

Supporters described the initiative as a measurable success. Hochul defended the policy against legal and political challenges, saying the administration remains confident in its standing. Mamdani echoed that sentiment, calling the program effective across multiple metrics, while Lieber said the results demonstrated disciplined, business-style government management.

Not all drivers agreed. Some motorists said the tolls placed an unfair financial burden on working people, while others said traffic improvements were noticeable but limited. Still, several drivers and local leaders said congestion has eased compared with previous years.

In Hudson Square, near the Holland Tunnel, business leaders reported a sharp drop in traffic volumes. The Hudson Square Business Improvement District said transit ridership in the area rose by more than 20% in 2025 compared with the previous year, alongside an increase in pedestrian activity.

Hochul said the congestion pricing system will remain in place as the city continues broader transportation reforms. The milestone comes as Mamdani has pledged to pursue free bus service for New York City residents.

The Marinera was previously Panama-flagged and sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2024 for involvement in Iranian oil transport. Its recent registration under the Russian flag could complicate U.S.-Russia diplomatic efforts, particularly amid talks to end the war in Ukraine.

Two U.S. intelligence officials said Venezuelan authorities, prior to Maduro’s capture by U.S. special forces over the weekend, discussed arming sanctioned tankers. Options reportedly included placing disguised military personnel aboard and equipping vessels with portable Soviet-era air defense systems to deter seizures.

Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken into U.S. custody during a military operation Saturday and face drug trafficking charges in New York.

The pursuits are part of a broader U.S. campaign targeting vessels in a “shadow fleet” accused of moving sanctioned oil from nations including Venezuela, Iran and Russia.

Court filings allege some of the posts responded to images and discussions related to the Bondi Beach attack, which occurred in New South Wales, a different Australian state from where Nukic worked, and killed 15 people, including a 10-year-old girl.

Prosecutors described the material as deeply offensive and antisemitic, saying some posts appeared to praise or trivialize violence. A police prosecutor told the court the comments reflected a broader ideological hostility rather than isolated political speech.

Defense lawyers argued the posts were political in nature and said Nukic identified as anti-Zionist rather than anti-Jewish. The magistrate rejected that argument, saying the alleged comments went beyond political expression and could reasonably be viewed as endorsing harm.

Despite the seriousness of the allegations, Nukic was granted bail. The court cited his lack of a prior criminal record and noted the case involves online speech rather than direct incitement to violence within Australia.

Under strict bail conditions, Nukic must live at a nominated address, report weekly to police, use only one mobile phone and avoid all social media platforms.

Queensland Police said the alleged conduct occurred between February 2024 and January 2026 and emphasized the charges are allegations that have not yet been proven in court.

She added, “Cooperation, yes. Subordination and intervention, no. I don’t believe in invasion. I don’t even think it’s something they are taking very seriously.”

Sheinbaum also condemned U.S. intervention in Venezuela, stating that Mexico “categorically rejects intervention in the internal matters of other countries” and reaffirming that Mexico is “a free, independent and sovereign country.”

Trump, speaking to reporters over the weekend, described Sheinbaum as a “terrific person” but claimed the cartels are “running Mexico” and that drugs are “pouring through” the border. He said he has repeatedly offered U.S. help to dismantle the cartels, adding, “We’re going to have to do something” about the situation.

The exchange highlights ongoing tensions over border security and drug trafficking, even as the two leaders have maintained cooperation on issues like migration and fentanyl interdiction.

Sheinbaum has consistently rejected unilateral U.S. military action on Mexican soil, a stance she has reiterated since taking office in 2024.

A spokesperson for Corrective Services NSW said the Goulburn prison is equipped to detain inmates who pose the highest risk to public safety, emphasizing that the agency treats the management of serious offenders as a top priority.

Officials declined to comment on the specifics of the inmate’s detention.

President Donald Trump’s administration associates the terms with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, which it has vowed to root out across the government.

The guidance could lead Head Start centers to preemptively drop anything that could be seen as fitting the administration’s definition of DEI, said Ruth Friedman, who led the Office of Child Care under President Joe Biden.

“Grantees are sort of self-selecting out of those activities beforehand because of fear and direction they’re getting from the Office of Head Start that they can’t do these important research-based activities anymore that are important for children’s learning and that are actually required by law,” Friedman said.

The filings came in a lawsuit filed in April by parent groups and Head Start associations in Washington, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other officials. They allege the Trump administration is illegally dismantling Head Start.

The plaintiffs say the administration is trying to force providers to change how they operate in violation of the Head Start Act, which requires directors to provide demographic information about their families, a task that becomes difficult if they are banned from using “Black,” “disability” and “socioeconomic.”

Health and Human Services officials said they do not comment on pending litigation.

Head Start centers receive the bulk of their funding from the federal government. The long-standing preschool and family support program serves babies, infants and toddlers who come from low-income households, foster care or homeless families.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys say the anti-DEI guidance has generated confusion for Head Start programs, which are operated by nonprofits, schools and government agencies. The grant application itself contains many of the banned words, asking directors to include demographic data about their community that includes estimates of the number of pregnant women and children with disabilities.

“This has put me in an impossible situation,” the unnamed Head Start director in Wisconsin wrote in the court filing. If she complies with the Head Start Act and includes the banned words in her application, she could end up losing her grant, she said. But if she follows the Trump administration’s guidance, she said she fears she’ll face penalties for violating the law down the line.

Another Head Start, located on a Native American reservation in Washington state, was told to cut “all Diversity and Inclusion-related activities,” leading it to drop staff training on how to support autistic children and children with trauma, according to the court filing. Officials there also told the director that she could no longer prioritize tribal members for enrollment — even though the Head Start Act expressly permits this. The word “Tribal” is among the disfavored terms.

For some, the new grant application rules are another attempt to undermine Head Start, a program with a history of bipartisan support that some conservatives have been attacking as problematic and ineffective.

“They don’t believe these public programs should actually be open to serving all communities,” said Jennesa Calvo-Friedman of the ACLU, an attorney for the plaintiffs. The effort to ban words from applications “is a way to gut the fundamentals of the program.”

Not long after Trump took office, his budget chief unsuccessfully tried to halt all federal grants, saying they needed to be reviewed to root out any DEI efforts. Head Start was not supposed to be part of the freeze, which was quickly reversed, but in the months afterward, grantees reported problems drawing down their funding. Some had to briefly close.

The Government Accountability Office later said the delays violated the Impoundment Control Act, which limits when the president can halt the flow of government funds.

She described Maduro as a “murderous, corrupt, sadistic son of a bitch,” drawing applause from the studio audience.

However, Navarro also criticized the Trump administration’s motives and methods, saying President Donald Trump “doesn’t give a damn about the Venezuelan people” and suggesting the operation was driven more by ego than humanitarian concerns.

Other co-hosts expressed stronger reservations. Sunny Hostin called the capture “completely, 100% illegal,” comparing it to a “kidnapping” and accusing the U.S. of violating international law.

The panel debated whether the ends justified the means, with Navarro arguing that both celebration of Maduro’s removal and criticism of the process could coexist.

Maduro was captured over the weekend in a U.S.-led operation and flown to New York, where he faces federal charges including narco-terrorism and drug trafficking. The action has sparked international debate over its legality and implications.

The higher numbers appear to be driven by the type of flu that’s been spreading, public health experts say.

One type of flu virus, called A H3N2, historically has caused the most hospitalizations and deaths in older people. So far this season, that’s the type most frequently reported. Even more concerning, more than 90% of the H3N2 infections analyzed were a new version — known as the subclade K variant — that differs from the strain in this year’s flu shots.

Flu seasons often don’t peak until January or February, so it’s too early to know how big a problem that mismatch will be.

“The fact that we’ve seen steady increases over the last several weeks without much of a decline or even a flattening would suggest to me that we’ve got the peak ahead of us,” said Dr. Robert Hopkins, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

The second bad flu season in a row
Last flu season was bad, with the overall flu hospitalization rate the highest since the H1N1 flu pandemic 15 years ago. Child flu deaths reached 288, the worst recorded for regular U.S. flu season.

Nine pediatric flu deaths have been reported so far this season. For children, the percentage of emergency department visits due to flu has already surpassed the highest mark seen during the 2024-2025 season.

Hopkins said H3N2 typically hits older adults hardest, and rising rates among children and young adults suggest a severe flu season across all age groups.

Another ominous sign: The percentage of doctor’s office and medical clinic visits that were due to flu-like illness also was higher late last month than at any point during the previous flu season.

Deaths and hospitalizations have not reached last year’s levels, but those are lagging indicators, Hopkins noted.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates at least 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths from flu have already occurred this season.

US government dials back vaccine recommendations
Public health experts recommend that everyone 6 months and older get an annual influenza vaccine.

But federal health officials on Monday announced they will no longer recommend flu vaccinations for U.S. children, saying it’s a decision parents and patients should make in consultation with their doctors.

However, flu vaccine will continue to be fully covered by private insurers and federal programs, including Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Vaccines for Children program, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said.

COVID-19 infections also have been rising, other federal data show, though so far this winter they remain less common than flu. The Trump administration stopped recommending COVID-19 shots for healthy children last year.

US will stop collecting Medicaid data
Hopkins voiced concern about a federal notice posted last week that said government Medicaid programs, which pay for medical services for low-income families, will no longer have to report on immunization rates.

CDC survey data suggests that U.S. flu vaccination rates are about the same as last year. But the Medicaid data — for flu as well as measles and other bugs — is a more comprehensive look at children who are at higher risk for many diseases, he said.

Federal health officials framed the move as part of an effort to distance how Medicaid doctors are rated and paid from how often they provided childhood vaccinations.

“Government bureaucracies should never coerce doctors or families into accepting vaccines or penalize physicians for respecting patient choice,” wrote Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who was a leading voice in the anti-vaccine community before President Donald Trump put him in charge of federal health agencies.

“That practice ends now,” Kennedy wrote on social media last week.

But Hopkins said the move will “eliminate a major source of data” that allows communities to assess efforts to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases.

“This is a disastrous plan,” he added.

The action represents a significant step in Israel’s broader campaign to end UNRWA’s presence in the capital, citing security and policy concerns tied to the agency’s activities.

On Saturday, Trump said the ailing Cuban economy will be further battered by Maduro’s ouster.

“It’s going down,” Trump said of Cuba. “It’s going down for the count.”

Many observers say Cuba, an island of about 10 million people, exerted a remarkable degree of influence over Venezuela, an oil-rich nation with three times as many people. At the same time, Cubans have long been tormented by constant blackouts and shortages of basic foods. And after the attack, they woke to the once-unimaginable possibility of an even grimmer future.

“I can’t talk. I have no words,” 75-year-old Berta Luz Sierra Molina said as she sobbed and placed a hand over her face.

Even though 63-year-old Regina Mendez is too old to join the Cuban military, she said that “we have to stand strong. ”

“Give me a rifle, and I’ll go fight,” Mendez said.

Maduro’s government was shipping an average of 35,000 barrels of oil daily over the last three months, about a quarter of total demand, said Jorge Piñón, a Cuban energy expert at the University of Texas at Austin Energy Institute.

“The question to which we don’t have an answer, which is critical: Is the U.S. going to allow Venezuela to continue supplying Cuba with oil?” he said.

Piñón noted that Mexico once supplied Cuba with 22,000 barrels of oil a day before it dropped to 7,000 barrels after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Mexico City in August.

“I don’t see Mexico jumping in right now,” Piñón said. “The U.S. government would go bonkers.”

Ricardo Torres, a Cuban economist at American University in Washington, said that “blackouts have been significant, and that is with Venezuela still sending some oil.”

“Imagine a future now in the short term losing that,” he said. “It’s a catastrophe.”

TANF is a federal welfare program created in 1996 that provides block-grant funding to states to assist low-income families with children. The money is commonly used for cash assistance, child care subsidies, job training and work-readiness programs, and emergency family support. While states have broad discretion in how TANF funds are spent, federal law restricts benefits to eligible recipients and requires states to enforce work participation and residency rules.

According to the Post, the administration plans to formally notify each affected state through letters citing concerns that taxpayer-funded benefits were being improperly directed to individuals who are not legally eligible.

Representatives for the governors’ offices in the five states did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The funding freeze comes amid broader efforts by the administration to tighten oversight of federal benefit programs and enforce eligibility requirements tied to immigration status. The situation remains fluid, and additional guidance from federal agencies is expected.

The ambassador accused the Maduro regime of transforming Venezuela into a hub for hostile activities, including ties to Hezbollah and Iranian operatives, while facilitating drug trafficking that has fueled violence in the United States.

'NOT A HEAD OF STATE': UN Ambassador Michael Waltz calls Nicolás Maduro an "illegitimate, so-called president" — arguing the U.N. should not treat Maduro like a duly elected world leader.

"If the UN…confers legitimacy on an illegitimate narco terrorist and the same treatment… pic.twitter.com/EWYerRxEEO

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 5, 2026

Waltz described the U.S. action as a “surgical law enforcement operation” against indicted fugitives, emphasizing that Washington is not waging war on Venezuela or occupying the country.

His comments drew visible reactions in the chamber, including anger from Venezuela’s representative.

The meeting highlighted sharp divisions, with Russia and China condemning the U.S. operation as a violation of sovereignty, while Waltz defended it under the U.N. Charter’s self-defense provisions.

NO ROOM AT THE INN has launched a coordinated campaign in Minneapolis to REFUSE service to DHS law enforcement.

When officers attempted to book rooms using official government emails and rates, Hilton Hotels maliciously CANCELLED their reservations.

This is… pic.twitter.com/qKMKypGtzi

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) January 5, 2026

The post included a screenshot of an email referencing a reservation at the Hampton Inn Lakeville, a Hilton-branded property in the Minneapolis area. The message stated that the hotel had identified multiple government reservations linked to DHS and was “not allowing any ICE or immigration agents to stay at our property,” adding that such reservations would be canceled.

DHS said the name of the Hilton employee who sent the message was redacted.

The agency further criticized Hilton for what it described as siding against law enforcement, writing that the refusal undermined efforts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws.

Hilton did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the allegations.

Maduro, wearing a blue jail uniform, was led into court along with his co-defendant wife just before noon for the brief, but required, legal proceeding. Both put on headsets to hear the English-language proceeding as it is translated into Spanish.

The couple were transported to the Manhattan courthouse under armed guard early Monday from the Brooklyn jail where they’ve been detained since arriving in the U.S. on Saturday.

The trip was swift. A motorcade carrying Maduro left jail around 7:15 a.m. and made its way to a nearby athletic field, where Maduro slowly made his way to a waiting helicopter. The chopper flew across New York harbor and landed at a Manhattan heliport, where Maduro, limping, was loaded into an armored vehicle.

A few minutes later, the law enforcement caravan was inside a garage at the courthouse complex, just around the corner from the one where Trump was convicted in 2024 of falsifying business records. Across the street from the courthouse, the police separated a small but growing group of protesters from about a dozen pro-intervention demonstrators, including one man who pulled a Venezuelan flag away from those protesting the U.S. action.

As a criminal defendant in the U.S. legal system, Maduro will have the same rights as any other person accused of a crime — including the right to a trial by a jury of regular New Yorkers. But he’ll also be nearly — but not quite — unique.

Maduro’s lawyers are expected to contest the legality of his arrest, arguing that he is immune from prosecution as a sovereign head of state.

Panamanian strongman Manuel Noriegaunsuccessfully tried the same defense after the U.S. captured him in a similar military invasion in 1990. But the U.S. doesn’t recognize Maduro as Venezuela’s legitimate head of state — particularly after a much-disputed 2024 reelection.

Venezuela’s new interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, has demanded that the U.S. return Maduro, who long denied any involvement in drug trafficking — although late Sunday she also struck a more conciliatory tone in a social media post, inviting collaboration with Trump and “respectful relations” with the U.S.

Before his capture, Maduro and his allies claimed U.S. hostility was motivated by lust for Venezuela’s rich oil and mineral resources.

The U.S. seized Maduro and his wife in a military operation early Saturday, capturing them in their home on a military base. Trump said the U.S. would “run” Venezuela temporarily, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that it would not govern the country day-to-day other than enforcing an existing ” oil quarantine.”

Trump suggested Sunday that he wants to extend American power further in the Western Hemisphere.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, he called Colombia’s president, Gustavo Petro, “a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States. And he’s not going to be doing it very long.”

He called on Venezuela’s Rodriguez to provide “total access” to her country, or else face consequences.

Trump has suggested that removing Maduro would enable more oil to flow out of Venezuela, but oil prices rose a bit more than 1% in Monday morning trading to roughly $58 a barrel. There are uncertainties about how fast oil production can be ramped up in Venezuela after years of neglect and needed investments, as well as questions about governance and oversight of the sector.

A 25-page indictment made public Saturday accuses Maduro and others of working with drug cartels to facilitate the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine into the U.S. They could face life in prison if convicted.

He and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been under U.S. sanctions for years, making it illegal for any American to take money from them without first securing a license from the Treasury Department.

While the indictment against Maduro says Venezuelan officials worked directly with the Tren de Aragua gang, a U.S. intelligence assessment published in April, drawing on input from the intelligence community’s 18 agencies, found no coordination between Tren de Aragua and the Venezuelan government.

Maduro, his wife and his son — who remains free — are charged along with Venezuela’s interior and justice minister, a former interior and justice minister and Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, an alleged Tren de Aragua leader who has been criminally charged in another case and remains at large.

Among other things, the indictment accuses Maduro and his wife of ordering kidnappings, beatings and murders of those who owed them drug money or undermined their drug trafficking operation. That included a local drug boss’ killing in Caracas, the indictment said.

Maduro’s wife is also accused of accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes in 2007 to arrange a meeting between “a large-scale drug trafficker” and the director of Venezuela’s National Anti-Drug Office, resulting in additional monthly bribes, with some of the money going to Maduro’s wife, according to the indictment.

The festival lasts until mid-February. And yes: If they want to, visitors can go swimming amid the ice, too.

An ice sculptor prepares his work for competition in the annual Ice and Snow Festival held in Harbin in China’s Heilongjiang province on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A security guard is dwarfed by a huge ice structure at the annual Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

A Wolf Supermoon rises over ice structures at the annual Ice and Snow Festival held in Harbin in China’s Heilongjiang province on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Competitors put the final touches on their piece for the ice sculpture competition at the annual Ice and Snow Festival held in Harbin in China’s Heilongjiang province on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

He described ongoing protests in Iran — sparked by economic hardship and now spreading across multiple cities — as potentially a “decisive moment” for the Iranian people.

“We, in Israel, sympathize with the struggle of the Iranian people and with their aspirations for freedom and justice,” Netanyahu said. “It is very possible that we stand before a decisive moment, in which the Iranian people take their destiny into their own hands.”

Referring to recent Iranian military drills, Netanyahu added: “I clarified … that if we are attacked, the implications for Iran will be very dire.”

The remarks come amid heightened tensions following a 12-day Israel-Iran war in June 2025 that damaged Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs. Protests in Iran, the largest since 2022, have turned violent in some areas, with reports of deaths and arrests as demonstrators demand economic relief and political change.

Iranian officials have accused Israel and the U.S. of inciting unrest, while Netanyahu’s comments drew criticism from Tehran for interfering in internal affairs.

Netanyahu spoke after recent talks with Trump, where the leaders discussed Iran policy and regional security.

Channel 12 political commentator Amit Segal described the prime minister’s tone as “not only harsh, but also unusual,” suggesting it was intended to deter Iran from launching a preemptive strike amid fears of regime collapse.

Segal noted a regional atmosphere of heightened tension over potential miscalculation, where one side might strike first believing the other is preparing an attack. He cited a recent press conference by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, which garnered millions of views due to its dramatic timing and countdown-style presentation, causing alarm in Tehran that it signaled an imminent Israeli operation.

“In this environment, such public threats from the Knesset are atypical,” Segal said.

The commentator argued that Netanyahu’s statement, issued after a security consultation, aimed to prevent Iran from concluding that attacking Israel could rally domestic support and save the regime — a “rally around the flag” effect observed during past conflicts.

“If the Iranians believe their regime is on the verge of collapse, an attack on Israel might be seen as their only salvation,” Segal explained, adding that Netanyahu seeks to block this scenario.