The Syrian military rushed in reinforcements Sunday to push back insurgents from advancing farther into the northern Hama countryside after they seized Aleppo and surrounding strategic locations in an adjacent province in a surprise offensive. The insurgents led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham took over most of Aleppo on Saturday and claimed to have entered the city of Hama. There was no independent confirmation of their claim. Rebel commander Col. Hassan Abdulghani said separately the insurgents also took control of Sheikh Najjar, also known as the Aleppo Industrial City, northeast of the city, Aleppo’s military academy and the field artillery college to the southwest. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi travels to Syrian capital Damascus later Sunday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin approved budget plans, raising 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine. Around 32.5% of the budget posted on a government website Sunday has been allocated for national defense, amounting to 13.5 trillion rubles (over $145 billion), up from a reported 28.3% this year. Lawmakers in both houses of the Russian parliament, the State Duma and Federation Council, had already approved the plans in the past 10 days. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine since February 2022 is Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II and has drained the resources of both sides.

The IDF struck over 12,500 Hezbollah targets in Lebanon during its nearly 14-month conflict that erupted after the Iranian-backed group opened fire on Israel, following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis. Among the targets destroyed were 1,600 command and control centers and 1,000 weapons storage facilities. The IDF confirmed the deaths of around 2,500 Hezbollah terrorists, though military estimates place the number closer to 3,500.

New data from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reveals that 58,626 illegal migrants in New York City, roughly 7.7% of the 759,218 living in the area, have either been convicted of crimes or face pending charges as of November 17, the NY Post reports. The figures also include 1,053 individuals identified as suspected or known gang members. Nationwide, ICE reports that out of 7.8 million illegal immigrants, 662,586 – around 8.6% – have criminal convictions or pending charges. Data on suspected gang affiliations at the national level remains unspecified. Since the immigration surge began in spring 2022, over 223,000 migrants have arrived in New York City. Currently, at least 58,000 remain in taxpayer-funded shelters. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Iran views the recently established ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah as an opportunity to rebuild the Lebanon-based terror organization, according to sources close to Hezbollah quoted by The Washington Post. The four-day-old truce reportedly allows Iran to reassess its strategies for its strongest regional proxy, restore its strength, and bolster its deterrence capabilities. Sources cited by The Washington Post revealed that Hezbollah was disappointed with the lack of support from Iran’s other proxies in the region during Israel’s recent military campaign in Lebanon. “Lebanon was at its most vulnerable during heavy bombings, yet support from other members of the resistance axis, including Yemen and Iraq, was minimal at best,” a source close to Hezbollah said.

A tax break for millionaires, and almost everyone else. An end to the COVID-19-era government subsidies that some Americans have used to purchase health insurance. Limits to food stamps, including for women and children, and other safety net programs. Rollbacks to Biden-era green energy programs. Mass deportations. Government job cuts to “drain the swamp.” Having won the election and sweeping to power, Republicans are planning an ambitious 100-day agenda with President-elect Donald Trump in the White House and GOP lawmakers in a congressional majority to accomplish their policy goals. Atop the list is the plan to renew some $4 trillion in expiring GOP tax cuts, a signature domestic achievement of Trump’s first term and an issue that may define his return to the White House.

Republicans will control the White House and both houses of Congress come January. But President-elect Donald Trump’s intent to nominate loyalists to fill key Cabinet posts has set up a possible confrontation with the Senate, which has the constitutional responsibility for “advice and consent” on presidential nominees. Trump and his Republican allies are talking about going around the Senate and using temporary recess appointments, which last no more than two years. Invoking that authority could result in a fight that lands at the Supreme Court. Trump might also have to claim another, never-before-used power to force the Senate into a recess, if it won’t agree to one.

Southwest Airlines says it is ending its cabin service earlier on its flights starting next month. Beginning on Dec. 4, a company spokesperson said, flight attendants will begin preparing the cabin for landing at an altitude of 18,000 feet (5,486 meters) instead of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). The change in procedure is designed to “reduce the risk of in-flight turbulence injuries” for crew members and passengers, the company said. For passengers, that means they will need to do the usual pre-landing procedures — such as ensuring their seatbelts are fastened and returning their seats to an upright position — earlier than before. While turbulence-related fatalities are quite rare, injuries have piled up over the years.

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman A Historical Parallel The thoughts expressed in this article are likely to ellicit emotional reactions on all sides.  But let’s try to use reason and logic to understand the underlying points.  True, there is a difference between the parallel and the current situation, which will be addressed in Part II with a discussion of the fifth chapter of the Rambam in Hichos Melachim..  Let’s first read Part I, however.  Please try not to comment, until you have readboth Part I and  Part II.  In the interest of brevity, this article has been kept to less than 4900 words.

The Islamist attack on Aleppo, Syria, could present strategic advantages for Israel, according to Daniel Rakov, a senior research fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS) and a reserve lieutenant-colonel in the IDF. In a post on X, Rakov analyzed the implications of the assault on northern Syria and its potential impact on Iran, Hezbollah, and regional powers. “The fall of northern Syria to the rebels damages the infrastructure of the Iranians and Hezbollah there and will make it difficult for them to work to restore Hezbollah,” Rakov wrote. He argued that the conflict would force Syrian President Bashar Assad to focus on preserving his regime rather than aiding Iranian and Hezbollah efforts in Lebanon.