An Israeli citizen from Nof Hagalil has been arrested and indicted for allegedly carrying out tasks for Iranian operatives, according to a joint statement by the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Police. Artyom Zolotarev, 33, faces charges of contact with a foreign agent, arson, and vandalism. Authorities allege Zolotarev was recruited online in October by an individual named “Eliad,” who directed him to spray anti-government graffiti across northern Israel and document his activities. He was reportedly paid $2,800 in cryptocurrency for these acts. When Zolotarev realized “Eliad” might be an Iranian agent, he initially refused further instructions, including assassination and arson. However, he allegedly accepted $2,000 to set a vehicle on fire in Haifa.

David Seymour’s job over the next few weeks is making sure that American Airlines flights take off on time and fly safely during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Seymour is American’s chief operating officer, which means he oversees flight and airport operations for a carrier that figures to make about 6,500 flights a day between now and New Year’s Day. A West Point graduate and former U.S. Army infantry officer, Seymour joined America West Airlines in 1999. America West became US Airways, then merged with American in 2013. Seymour has held a variety of operations-related jobs and was promoted to his current post in 2020.

TikTok asked a federal appeals court on Monday to bar the Biden administration from enforcing a law that could lead to a ban on the popular platform until the Supreme Court reviews its challenge to the statute. The legal filing was made after a panel of three judges on the same court sided with the government last week and ruled that the law, which requires TikTok’s China-based parent company ByteDance to divest its stakes in the social media company or face a ban, was constitutional. If the law is not overturned, both TikTok and its parent ByteDance, which is also a plaintiff in the case, have claimed that the popular app will shut down by Jan. 19, 2025. TikTok has more than 170 million American users who would be affected, the companies have said.

The United States has defended Israel’s recent takeover of the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, describing the move as a necessary response to regional instability but stressing its expectation that the occupation will be temporary. The IDF seized positions on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights over the weekend after the collapse of the Assad regime caused Syrian military forces to abandon the area. This left a vacuum that could have been exploited by terror groups hostile to Israel, according to U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

Today’s “WhatsApp generation” spends hours glued to their phones, endlessly scrolling, chatting, and debating. While much has been said about the dangers of this tech-driven lifestyle, the most damaging consequence, in my view, is the apathy it has created. In the past, communal discussions had a clear purpose: solving problems. For example, when Rav Avraham Pam zt”l highlighted the struggles of Jewish Russians integrating into frum life after the fall of the Soviet Union, the community responded. Within weeks, Shuvu was founded, providing education and resources to thousands. Contrast that with today. At the Agudah Convention this past weekend, crucial issues like the cost of living were discussed.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had no intention of yielding to the rebel forces at the start of this past weekend, the Wall Street Journal reported. As the rebels neared Damascus, Assad ordered his army to defend the capital, Syrian sources said. But by late Saturday, Assad has vanished into thin air, failing to appear for a scheduled speech. His cabinet members had no idea where he was until they learned from the media, along with the rest of the world, that he had escaped the country hours before the rebels’ arrival to the capital. The fall of the Assad regime highlighted the failures of Syria’s army after years of corruption, defections, and economic woes. The army was low on supplies and suffered from a decline in recruitment.

Shares of Nvidia slid early Monday after China said it is investigating the high-flying U.S. microchip company over suspected violations of Chinese anti-monopoly laws. In a brief press release with few details, Chinese regulators appear to be focusing on Nvidia’s $6.9 billion acquisition of network and data transmission company Mellanox in 2019. Nvidia shares dipped 2.5% in morning trading Monday, falling below $140 each. Considered a bellwether for artificial intelligence demand, Nvidia has led the AI sector to become one of the stock market’s biggest companies, as tech giants spend heavily on the company’s chips and data centers needed to train and operate their AI systems.

In an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump  touched on the ongoing Middle East crisis, the future of U.S.-Israel relations, and the plight of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Trump expressed skepticism about the fate of the approximately 100 hostages still in Hamas custody, signaling doubt about their survival. “I’m not a big believer in the fact that there are too many of them living, sadly,” Trump said. “I hate to say it, I think you have far fewer hostages than people think.” Addressing Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas, Trump stressed the importance of a decisive outcome. “I want [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] to end it, but you have to have a victory,” Trump said.

Syria’s prime minister said Monday that most cabinet ministers were still at work after rebels overthrew President Bashar Assad, but some state workers failed to return to their jobs, and a United Nations official said the country’s public sector had come “to a complete and abrupt halt.” Meanwhile, streams of refugees crossed back into Syria from neighboring countries, hoping for a more peaceful future and looking for friends and relatives who disappeared during Assad’s brutal rule. There were already signs of the difficulties ahead for the rebel alliance now in control of much of the country. The alliance is led by a former senior al-Qaida militant who severed ties with the extremist group years ago and has promised representative government and religious tolerance.