French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday named centrist ally François Bayrou as prime minister in an effort to address the country’s deep political crisis, after a historic parliamentary vote ousted the previous government last week. Bayrou, 73, a crucial partner in Macron’s centrist alliance, has been a well-known figure in French politics for decades. His political experience is seen as key in efforts to restore stability as no single party holds a majority at the National Assembly. Macron’s office said in a statement that Bayrou “has been charged with forming a new government.” Former Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned last week following a no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes in the National Assembly, leaving France without a functioning government.

Russia launched a massive aerial attack against Ukraine on Friday, firing 93 cruise and ballistic missiles and almost 200 drones, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, describing it as one of the heaviest bombardments of the country’s energy sector since Russia’s full-scale invasion almost three years ago. Ukrainian defenses shot down 81 missiles, including 11 cruise missiles that were intercepted by F-16 warplanes provided by Western allies earlier this year, Zelenskyy said. Russia is “terrorizing millions of people” with such assaults, he said on his Telegram channel, renewing his plea for international unity against Russian President Vladimir Putin. “A strong reaction from the world is needed: a massive strike – a massive reaction.

President-elect Donald Trump is exploring options to prevent Iran from advancing its nuclear program, including potential military airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Sources within Trump’s transition team have indicated that discussions regarding military options have gained momentum. The talks are influenced by Iran’s weakened regional standing due to the ongoing conflict in Syria, the fall of Tehran’s ally President Bashar al-Assad, and Israel’s actions against Hezbollah and Hamas, two Iranian-backed proxy militias. Recent reports about Iran’s expanding nuclear activities have further accelerated these deliberations. Trump has expressed concern about a potential Iranian nuclear breakout during his presidency.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman It is well known that on Shabbos Friday night, an additional neshama – an extra spirit and soul enters into a person.  What is not so well known, however, is that this happens in three different stages – with three different parts.  What follows is an elaboration of this. In Shaar HaKavanos (Drushei Tosefes Shabbos #2), Rav Chaim Vital writes that the extra soul that is received comes in three parts and three stages. The three parts are Nefesh, Ruach and Neshama. The extra Nefesh comes to us at the moment of Kabalas Shabbos The extra Ruach comes to us at the recitation of Barchu.

Restated by Rabbi Yair Hoffman They were Malachim The parsha begins with “And Yaakov sent Malachim to Esav his brother to the land of Seir..” Rashi  explains that they weren’t mere messengers. They were “malachim mamash” – actual Malachim. The Teaching of the Midrash- that tzaddikim are even greater than the Malachim In discussing this idea – the fact that Yaakov Avinu was able to use Malachim to serve him – the Midrash Tanchuma tells us that from here we see that “tzaddikim are greater than the Malachim.” In fact, says the Midrash, the same thing can be seen later in the parsha from Yaakov’s battle with, and victory over, the angel of Esav. There, too, we see that tzaddikim are even greater than the Malachim. Why Only by Yaakov? Why not earlier? There is an obvious question.

The family of Rabbi Paysach Krohn has expressed its thanks for the overwhelming support and tefillos following his stroke this past Friday night. In a statement, the Krohn family thanked everyone for their tefillos and the kabalos they have undertaken in Rabbi Krohn’s zechus. “We are grateful to the many individuals who have gone above and beyond to help,” the family said. Rabbi Krohn, a renowned author, speaker and mohel, has been discharged from Stamford Medical Center and is now continuing his recovery at a rehabilitation center. While his journey to full health remains ongoing, his family says they are very optimistic that the tefillos will lead to a refuah sheleima. Please continue davening for Paysach Yosef Ben Hinda. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an $895 billion annual defense bill on Wednesday, allocating hundreds of millions of dollars for U.S.-Israel defense collaboration while also addressing broader national defense priorities. The legislation, officially titled the “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025,” includes $500 million for U.S.-Israel missile-defense cooperation, $47.5 million for joint efforts in emerging technologies, and $80 million for anti-tunneling initiatives. One notable provision prohibits the U.S. Department of Defense from referencing casualty figures provided by the Gaza Ministry of Health, which is controlled by Hamas.

New Jersey is aiming to drastically reduce the amount of packaging material — particularly plastic — that is thrown away after the package is opened. From bubble wrap to puffy air-filled plastic pockets to those foam peanuts that seem to immediately spill all over the floor, lots of what keeps items safe during shipping often ends up in landfills, or in the environment as pollution. A bill to be discussed Thursday in the state Legislature would require all such materials used in the state to be recyclable or compostable by 2034. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says containers and packaging materials from shopping account for about 28% of municipal waste sent to landfills in the U.S.

In a joint operation, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced the elimination of key Hamas figures in a targeted airstrike on a command center in Gaza City. The strike, directed by intelligence from both organizations, neutralized a Department Head in Hamas’ Manufacturing Headquarters and a Company Commander in the Zeitoun Battalion. The command center, previously functioning as the “Al-Hurriya” School, was repurposed by Hamas for military operations. Prior to the attack, measures were taken to minimize civilian harm, including the use of precision-guided munitions and extensive aerial surveillance.

In recent days, hundreds of Israeli Air Force fighter jets and aircraft delivered extensive damage to Syria’s most critical military capabilities, including fighter jets, helicopters, Scud missiles, UAVs, cruise missiles, surface-to-air systems, and precision-guided rockets. According to IDF reports, over 90% of Syria’s identified surface-to-air missile systems were destroyed. This marks a significant blow to one of the Middle East’s strongest aerial defense networks, highlighting Israel’s regional air superiority. Key Syrian Air Force bases were also neutralized, including the T4 Airport near northern Damascus, where SU-22 and SU-24 squadrons were obliterated. Another major target was the Ble Airport, home to three fighter squadrons.