Elta Systems, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced on Monday that its “Drone Guard” – a new anti-drone solution – has successfully passed tests at several large international airports, according to a report by the Globes business daily. There has been increasing demand for dome protection systems since Gatwick Airport in London – the UK’s second busiest airport – was forced to suspend flights in December 2018 during the busy holiday season due to drones in the runaway areas, affecting 1,000 flights and disrupting the travel plans of over 100,000 people. After 36 hours of flights being unable to take off, the British army deployed the “Drone Dome” system – an anti-drone system developed by Rafael, an Israeli defense company.

After a LOT Airlines flight was forced to unexpectedly land in Iceland due to an unruly passenger on Sunday night, some frum passengers passed the time by holding a kumzits. But eventually, the passengers, including 60 frum ones, were put up in a hotel for the night around midnight. The frum passengers contacted the closest shilichei Chabad, Rabbi Avi and Mushky Feldman, who have been living in Iceland’s capital city of Reykjavík since February 2018. The Feldmans traveled for 45 minutes to bring food to the passengers and made the round trip again on Monday morning, bringing a Sefer Torah for Shacharis of Rosh Chodesh Shevat as well as breakfast and lunch, a Collive report said. The passengers were scheduled to leave Iceland on Monday at about 5 p.m.

Singer Shulem Lemer sang Ani Ma’amin and Kal Malei Rachamim at the United Nations Holocaust Memorial Ceremony at the United Nations Headquarters in Manhattan on Monday. The ceremony marked 75 years to the day of the liberation by the Soviet forces of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. The event included remarks by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and other political figures and Holocaust survivors Mr. Shraga Milstein and Ms. Irene Shashar told their stories. Rabbi Arthur Schneier recited the Kaddish and Mr. Itzhak Perlman was the musical contributor. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is working on an agreement to have Jonathan Pollard brought to Israel a week before the March 2 elections, a Times of Israel (TOI) report said, quoting a Likud source who spoke to Zman Yisrael, TOI’s Hebrew sister site. Former Israeli spy Pollard told Channel 12 News in an interview in August that he asked Netanyahu to use his influence to convince US President Donald Trump to allow him more freedom in order to care for his ailing wife Esther. Esther Pollard is seriously ill with aggressive breast cancer and Pollard explained that he doesn’t have the freedom to properly take care of her since all his restrictions are like a “virtual prison.” “I can’t take care of my wife properly now because I have no freedom of movement,” Pollard said in August.

All you ever wanted to know about pomegranates, dates, and olives! …will not be the topic under discussion at Khal Ner L’Meah’s upcoming Yom Iyun, on Sunday, Feb. 9, in honor of Tu B’Shvat. Instead, this exciting day of learning, co-sponsored by PUAH, the fertility the organization, will feature expert and engaging lectures on topics relating to the most important fruitin our lives – our children. The day’s sessions include the following high-relevance topics: Sensitive Information in Shidduchim,presented by Rabbi Baruch Goldstein; Problem + Problem = Solution, presented by Rabbi FischelSchachter; and A Torah Perspective on Genetic Testing, presented by Rabbi Elan Segelman, PUAH rabbinic advisor.

Former Vice President Joe Biden stopped short Tuesday of saying he’d support Bernie Sanders if the progressive Vermont senator wins the Democratic presidential nomination. “I’m not going to make judgments now,” Biden told reporters in Muscatine, six days before the Iowa caucuses. “I just think that it depends upon how we treat one another between now and the time we have a nominee.” Biden had previously promised to support the Democratic nominee, “regardless” of who it is. At some stops along the campaign trail, Biden has even pledged to “work like hell” to help any of his rivals defeat President Donald Trump. Yet tensions are rising between Biden and Sanders on the campaign trail.

Baba Sali zt”l We (Yad L’Achim) have arranged for a special tefillah by grandsons of the Baba Sali & Talmidei Chachamim of Yad L’Achim, to take place Thursday, 4th of Shevat, at the hilula (yahrtzeit) of the holy BABA SALI, RAV YISRAEL ABUCHATZEIRA zt”l, this Thursday (CLICK HERE) Please submit any names for tefillah for free by visiting YadLachim.org PLEASE SHARE THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDSshare via WhatsApp The Baba Sali zt”l was very close to Yad L’Achim and encouraged us in our work every step of the way. Shortly before his passing, he penned a letter of great inspiration and encouraging Klal Yisrael to support Yad L’Achim. He included a bracha (blessing) to all who support Yad L’Achim: “הנה בא לפני גודל המעשים של ארגון יד לאחים. .

Following Israel’s announcement on Sunday that Israelis can now travel to Saudi Arabia for specific purposes such as business or religious pilgrimages for Muslims, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister stated on Monday that Israeli citizens are not welcome in the country. “Our policy is constant. We don’t have relations with Israel and holders of Israeli passports cannot visit the kingdom for now,” Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said, as quoted on CNN’s Arabic language website. “We strongly encourage the reaching of a solution” to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, said Bin Farhan.

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An annual congressional report says the U.S. budget deficit is likely to burst through the symbolic $1 trillion barrier this year despite a healthy economy. Tuesday’s Congressional Budget Office report follows a burst of new spending last year and the repeal in December of several taxes used to help finance the Affordable Care Act. Those have combined to deepen the government’s deficit spiral well on into the future, with trillion-dollar deficits likely for as far as the eye can see.