A new policy implemented by the Meuchedet health fund is causing consternation amongst English speakers in Israel. The new policy requires all online correspondence with doctors — including the submission of medication names — to be written exclusively in Hebrew. This change, reportedly introduced as a directive from Israel’s Ministry of Health, has sparked concern among English-speaking olim, whose Hebrew is often limited. It has also raised broader health and safety issues. Efforts to Reverse the Policy After unsuccessfully reaching out to Meuchedet officials for clarification and resolution, Chaim V’Chessed, the NGO which assists the integration of English speakers in Israel, escalated the issue to senior government officials.

A former South Korean defense minister was formally arrested Wednesday over his alleged collusion with President Yoon Suk Yeol and others in imposing martial law last week, as authorities investigate whether their acts amount to rebellion. Martial law, the first in more than 40 years, lasted only about six hours but has triggered a domestic firestorm and large street protests. Yoon and his associates face criminal investigations and impeachment attempts. The Justice Ministry has banned Yoon and eight others from leaving the country as authorities see them as key suspects in the martial law case. It’s the first time that a sitting president in South Korea has received a travel ban.

CNN’s Clarissa Ward provided a striking glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, reporting from one of his garages filled with luxury vehicles, including Aston Martins and Lamborghinis. The report highlighted the sharp contrast between Assad’s wealth and the dire conditions endured by much of Syria’s population. Speaking with anchor John Berman, Ward described Assad as “literally living like a king” while millions in Syria struggled to meet basic needs. The garage, just one of many owned by Assad, housed an extensive collection of armored cars, which Ward noted seemed excessive. “I don’t know how anyone would need so many armored cars,” she remarked.

The grinding war between Ukraine and its Russian invaders has escalated ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, with President Joe Biden rushing out billions of dollars more in military aid before U.S. support for Kyiv’s defenses is thrown into question under the new administration. Russia, Ukraine and their global allies are scrambling to put their side in the best possible position for any changes that Trump may bring to American policy in the nearly 3-year-old war. The president-elect insisted in recent days that Russia and Ukraine immediately reach a ceasefire and said Ukraine should likely prepare to receive less U.S. military aid. On the war’s front lines, Ukraine’s forces are mindful of Trump’s fast-approaching presidency and the risk of losing their biggest backer.

Women should have the option of taking their own test samples for cervical cancer screening, an influential health panel said Tuesday. Draft recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force are aimed at getting more people screened and spreading the word that women can take their own samples to check for cancer-causing HPV. Women in their 20s should still get a Pap test every three years. But after that — from age 30 to 65 — women can get an HPV test every five years, the panel said. And those HPV tests can be done with samples collected either by a doctor or by the patient herself in a mobile clinic or medical office. Women ages 30 to 65 can still opt for a Pap test done by a doctor every three years.

The IDF on Tuesday completed the main part of the extensive operation across Syria, named “Bashan Arrow,” during which 70% to 80% of the Assad regime’s strategic capabilities were destroyed. The operation began this week overnight Motzei Shabbos, after the political-security cabinet approved the IDF’s proposal, before Assad’s regime had completely fallen. IDF Chief of Staff Hertzi Halevi visited Ramat HaGolan and confirmed the plans, after which ground forces swept in and took control of the buffer zone in Ramat HaGolan. That night, 350 Air Force planes launched a wave of comprehensive strikes, severely damaging the Syrian Air Force. During the operation, 320 strategic targets were destroyed, from Damascus, the capital of Syria, to Tartus, the country’s second-largest port city.

The lower house of the Russian parliament gave initial approval Tuesday to a long-discussed bill that would set the stage for Moscow to remove the designation of the Taliban in Afghanistan as a terrorist group. Under the bill passed by the State Duma in the first of three required readings, the official terrorist designation of an organization could be suspended temporarily by a court. The legislation also needs to be approved by the upper house and signed by President Vladimir Putin to become law. The Taliban were put on Russia’s list of terrorist organizations in 2003, and any contact with such groups is punishable under Russian law. At the same time, Taliban delegations attended various forums hosted by Moscow.

Iran’s armed forces are caught in a spectacular blame game following the dramatic downfall of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, according to sources who spoke to The Telegraph. The collapse of Assad’s regime, once a cornerstone of Iran’s regional influence, has triggered an unprecedented meltdown within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with commanders trading furious accusations over the catastrophic loss. “The atmosphere is like something out of a bad comedy,” an official in Tehran revealed. “They’re yelling at each other, punching walls, and kicking rubbish bins. Everyone is blaming everyone else, and no one wants to admit fault.” The unraveling of Iran’s decade-long effort to prop up Assad has sent shockwaves through the regime.

A coalition of Jewish leaders, along with several high-profile political figures, is urging New Jersey officials to reschedule the 2025 primary election to avoid a conflict with Shavuos, during which observant Jews are prohibited from using electronic devices, writing, driving, or traveling. The overlap, they say, could disenfranchise a significant portion of the Jewish community, despite the availability of mail-in and early voting options. The 2025 primary is currently scheduled for Tuesday, June 3, while Shavuos concludes at sundown on that day, at 9:14 PM. Observant Jews would not be able to cast in-person ballots on Election Day, a concern echoed by more than five dozen Jewish leaders in a letter to state officials.

A week after President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, Elon Musk said his political action committee would “play a significant role in primaries.” The following week, the billionaire responded to a report that he might fund challengers to GOP House members who don’t support Trump’s nominees. “How else? There is no other way,” Musk wrote on X, which he rebranded after purchasing Twitter and moving to boost conservative voices, including his own. And during his recent visit to Capitol Hill, Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy delivered a warning to Republicans who don’t go along with their plans to slash spending as part of Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency.