Iran International television station has reported that Iran has selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, to be the next Supreme Leader.  The report comes following recent reports that Khamenei was critically ill.
According to the report, Iran’s Assembly of Experts convened on September 26th for a secret disscussion, upon request of Khamenei.  60 council members attended the meeting, which was called without any warning.
At the meeting, the council unanimously decided to select Mojtaba as the next Supreme Leader.  However, reports claim that the meeting was contentious, with heavy pressure and direct threats leading to the final decision.

Neo-Nazis staged a march earlier today along North High Street in the Short North area of Columbus, Ohio.
A spokesperson from the Columbus Division of Police reported that officers were dispatched to the scene around 1:15 p.m. on Shabbos. By 2:40 p.m., authorities had begun clearing the area. Speaking to the Columbus Jewish News, the spokesperson stated, “Fights broke out and people were pepper sprayed,” adding that the investigation has been assigned to “a detective or undercover cop that does some digging into it” who specializes in addressing “gangs and supremacy groups.”

On leil Shabbos, as Shabbos began, the Sanzer Rebbe collapsed in the main Sanzer bais medrash of Kiryat Sanz, Netanya. The incident took place during Mincha when the Rebbe suddenly fainted.
He was immediately transported to Laniado Hospital, in Netanya, for urgent medical attention.
After undergoing a thorough battery of medical tests, doctors ruled out any cardiac-related concerns. According to sources close to the chassidus, the Rebbe’s condition was attributed to an infection that had caused significant physical weakness.
The medical staff administered light treatment, and by Shabbos morning, the Rebbe was discharged and returned home.
{Matzav.com Israel}

The IDF has announced that Sergeant Ori Nisanovich fell in combat in Lebanon.
Nisanovich, aged 21 from Yerushalayim, served in the 13th Battalion, Golani Brigade.
His levayah took place on Motzoei Shabbos on Har Herzl in Yerushalayim.
Israel has now lost 795 soldiers since the start of the war.
The Avinoam-Evyatar Yeshiva wrote: “Blessed is the true Judge. The yeshiva announces with deep sorrow the fall of Ori Nisanovich, may G-d avenge his blood, in battle in Lebanon. The funeral will take place tonight at 11:00 p.m. on Mount Herzl. ‘And bring him up there for a burnt offering on one of the mountains, of which I will tell you.’ (Bereishis 22:2)”
{Matzav.com} 

President-elect Donald Trump announced over Shabbos that he has selected Chris Wright, the head of fracking company Liberty Energy, to lead the Department of Energy and to serve on a new National Energy Council.
In his announcement, Trump credited Wright as “one of the pioneers who helped launch the American Shale Revolution,” adding that “as Secretary of Energy, Chris will be a key leader, driving innovation, cutting red tape.”
Trump on Friday tapped North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) to serve as interior secretary and as “energy czar” to oversee the new National Energy Council. The president-elect said the council will comprise all agencies and departments involved in the production, regulation and transportation of “ALL forms of American Energy.”

A Hezbollah rocket struck the Avos Ubanim shul near Haifa’s Carmel Center as well as another structure this evening. Yosef Tessler, a Viznitzer chassid residing in Haifa, shared his account with Arutz Sheva – Israel National News, emphasizing that the city had not experienced such a powerful explosion since the outbreak of the conflict.
“There was an alarm. I thought it was another one of the many rocket attacks to which we are unfortunately accustomed. I ran to the safe area, and after a few seconds, four horrific explosions shook the area,” Tesler recounted.

Jonathan Pollard, a former U.S. intelligence analyst who was jailed for spying for Israel, sat down with i24 News to discuss a range of topics from the antisemitic overtones of his interrogations in the U.S. to the unheeded warnings of October 7.

A future Trump administration will ensure its stance toward Israel is clear and unwavering, according to the president-elect’s pick for U.S. ambassador to Israel. Speaking with The New York Post, he emphasized that consistency will replace the mixed signals of past policies.
“The biggest challenge is that the message that our nation has given to Israel has often been very mixed,” said former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in his first exclusive interview since his appointment as ambassador was announced on November 12.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore expressed confidence that a second Donald Trump presidency would have minimal impact on the forward movement of the international climate agenda. Gore asserted that the global drive to address climate change will persist “despite” Trump’s actions.
Trump has renewed his promise to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord if re-elected, a decision that looms over the ongoing U.N. COP29 climate talks in Baku, according to AFP.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Gore aligned himself with President Joe Biden’s climate policy team, which has urged global leaders to stand firm against Trump’s potential policies.

Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz has authorized the issuance of 7,000 draft notices to chareidim starting next week, a decision that has provoked outrage from the United Torah Judaism party, a key member of the ruling coalition.
This move was initially approved by former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who was dismissed by Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu earlier this month. Although some anticipated Katz might reverse Gallant’s decision, he opted not to, and the Israel Defense Forces confirmed earlier this week that the plan would proceed.
The first batch of 1,000 enlistment notices will be dispatched on Sunday, with the remaining orders set to follow in the coming months.