New York
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani appointed retired FDNY EMS Chief Lillian Bonsignore as the next fire commissioner,
marking her as the second woman and first openly gay individual to lead the department. Bonsignore, a 31-year veteran who retired in 2022 after serving as Chief of EMS, oversaw emergency medical operations but lacks direct firefighting experience. Mamdani praised her leadership in modernizing EMS response and her commitment to public safety, stating she will prioritize community health and equity in department reforms. The selection aligns with Mamdani’s focus on diverse representation amid his progressive agenda. Bonsignore will succeed Laura Kavanagh, who resigned earlier this year. The appointment requires City Council confirmation in January.
New York State’s minimum wage will increase on January 1, 2026, to $17 per hour in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, up from $16.50. The rest of the state will see a rise to $16 per hour from $15.50. The scheduled hikes, part of a 2016 law phasing increases toward a $17 statewide goal by 2026, aim to adjust for inflation and living costs. Governor Kathy Hochul stated the changes support working families amid economic pressures. Business groups warned of higher operational costs potentially leading to reduced hiring or price increases. The adjustments complete the original timeline, with future raises tied to inflation metrics.
Nurses at 12 New York City hospitals overwhelmingly authorized a strike, with 97 percent voting in favor, as announced by the New York State Nurses Association. The union represents over 15,000 registered nurses whose contracts expire December 31, 2025. No strike date has been set, but a walkout could commence January 1 if negotiations fail. Key demands include improved staffing ratios, higher wages, and better benefits to address burnout and retention amid ongoing shortages. Affected hospitals span major systems such as Montefiore, Mount Sinai, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Maimonides, serving millions annually. Hospital administrators expressed a commitment to bargaining in good faith, warning that a strike would disrupt patient care.
NYC Health + Hospitals is advancing a proposed merger with Maimonides Health in Borough Park, Brooklyn, aiming to integrate the independent safety-net hospital into the public system by April 1, 2026, pending final approvals. The partnership would grant Maimonides higher Medicaid reimbursement rates and a unified electronic health record system, addressing its $150 million in 2025 losses amid serving over 80 percent Medicaid and Medicare patients. Supporters, including Governor Kathy Hochul and hospital leaders, argue the deal safeguards essential care in underserved communities without closures. However, some Borough Park residents and Orthodox Jewish leaders expressed concerns over potential changes to religious accommodations and governance. Maimonides CEO Ken Davis emphasized the preservation of operational autonomy.
Rabbi Dov Kramer, one of WFAN’s longest-serving employees and a devout Orthodox Jew, announced his retirement after nearly 38 years at New York sports radio’s flagship station. As executive producer, Kramer revealed Monday that this week marks his final full one at WFAN, capping a career that began in 1988. Raised in an Orthodox home, he navigated the demanding broadcast schedule while strictly observing Shabbat, never compromising his religious principles—a rarity colleagues praised as inspirational. Kramer’s tenure spanned iconic eras, working alongside hosts like Mike Francesa and contributing to the station’s dominance in sports talk. WFAN leadership lauded his professionalism and dedication, noting his behind-the-scenes role in shaping daily programming.
U.S.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s effort to deploy National Guard troops to Illinois in a 6–3 unsigned ruling, leaving in place a lower court order blocking the move. The administration sought to send guardsmen to Chicago to protect federal immigration agents amid local resistance to enforcement operations. Illinois officials sued to prevent the deployment, arguing it violated state sovereignty and lacked gubernatorial consent. The Court’s three-page order affirmed that the president’s authority under existing statutes does not extend to such unilateral actions without state approval. The decision represents a significant check on executive power in domestic security matters. A Trump administration spokesperson stated, “We respect the ruling but will continue pursuing all legal avenues to ensure agent safety.”
Former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse, 53, announced Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer and does not expect to survive the disease. In a written statement, the Nebraska Republican and former University of Florida president described advanced pancreatic cancer as “a death sentence,” adding, “But we’re all on the clock.” Sasse, a prominent pro-Israel advocate and outspoken defender of the Jewish community despite not being Jewish himself, received a major leadership award from a Jewish organization in 2024 for his support. He stepped down from the Senate in 2023 to lead the university, where he navigated controversies over campus protests. Sasse expressed gratitude for his family’s support and urged a focus on faith and service amid his prognosis.
The Trump administration announced that the U.S. Department of Education will resume wage garnishment for defaulted federal student loans starting January 2026, ending the pandemic-era pause initiated in March 2020. Borrowers in default will receive at least 30 days’ notice before collections begin, with up to 15 percent of disposable pay withheld under federal law. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated the policy restores accountability for the $1.6 trillion federal loan portfolio, emphasizing that voluntary repayment options, such as income-driven plans, remain available.
A man vandalized a public menorah outside the Miami-Dade County Tax Collector’s downtown office on December 28, just days after the site’s inaugural Chanukah lighting ceremony. Surveillance video captured the suspect, wearing a backpack, deliberately knocking the menorah to the ground and shattering several light bulbs. No injuries were reported. Miami-Dade Police are investigating the incident as potential criminal mischief with a bias motivation and urged the public to provide tips. The menorah was promptly repaired for continued display.
A massive explosion, preliminarily attributed to a natural gas leak, rocked the Bristol Health & Rehab Center, formerly Silver Lake Nursing Home, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, killing two people. The blast partially collapsed the building, trapping residents and triggering a second explosion amid rescue efforts. First responders evacuated all occupants, with firefighters braving flames and debris to carry immobile patients to safety. Governor Josh Shapiro called the incident “catastrophic,” praising emergency personnel’s heroism. Utility crews had responded to gas odor reports shortly before the explosion. The 174-bed facility sustained extensive damage.
A 21-year-old Utah man was arrested after posting antisemitic threats online targeting Jewish houses of worship. Authorities executed a search warrant at his home, discovering homemade explosive devices and a firearm. He faces charges of making terroristic threats and possessing prohibited weapons. The threats prompted a swift response from local law enforcement and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which described the case as a credible risk to community safety. No injuries occurred, and investigators confirmed that no immediate attacks were carried out.
Israel
Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent sovereign state on December 26, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar signing a joint declaration of mutual recognition alongside Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi. Netanyahu described the move as expanding ties in agriculture, health, technology, and the economy, framing it “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords.” Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia in 1991 and maintains de facto autonomy with its own government, currency, and institutions, hailed the recognition as a “historic moment” that could pave the way for broader international acceptance.
Israeli authorities arrested Vadim Kupriyanov, an Israeli citizen in his early 40s from Rishon LeZion, in December on suspicion of spying for Iran. The Shin Bet and police stated that Kupriyanov conducted surveillance near former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s home in Ra’anana, filming the area and transmitting images to Iranian intelligence handlers. Over two months, he was tasked with photographing security-related sites in multiple cities, receiving cryptocurrency payments in return. Investigators described the activities as part of Iran’s efforts to gather intelligence on high-profile targets. Kupriyanov faces charges of contact with a foreign agent and assisting an enemy state.
The Israel Defense Forces uncovered approximately 10 mortar shells concealed inside a children’s blanket during a search of a residential home in Beit Hanoun, northern Gaza. The discovery highlights Hamas’ tactic of embedding military assets in civilian areas. In recent months, Northern Brigade forces along the Yellow Line destroyed over four kilometers of underground tunnels and dismantled terror infrastructure in Jabalia, Beit Hanoun, and Beit Lahia. Operations eliminated dozens of terrorists while exposing weapons caches in homes, schools, and mosques.
Israel is set to appoint a new chief rabbi for Tel Aviv after an eight-year vacancy since Rabbi Israel Meir Lau’s departure. The appointment committee will vote on January 6, 2026, with leading candidates including Rabbi Zevadia Cohen, former lawmaker Rabbi Haim Amsalem, and Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Lau, son of the former chief rabbi. The role oversees kosher certification, marriage registration, and municipal religious services in Israel’s largest and most secular city. The process follows reforms restoring local authority over selections that were previously centralized. Community leaders emphasized the need for a rabbi who can bridge religious and secular divides.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a multibillion-shekel investment plan to achieve greater military independence for Israel, emphasizing domestic production of advanced defense systems. During a cabinet meeting, he outlined expanded funding for Israeli companies such as Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers amid global uncertainties. Separately, President Isaac Herzog toured Rafael’s facilities, receiving briefings on air-defense technologies, including the newly operational Iron Beam laser interception system and Iron Dome production lines. Accompanied by Chairman Yuval Steinitz and CEO Yoav Tourgeman, Herzog called Iron Beam a “sea change” in warfare capabilities. He expressed hope that Netanyahu’s upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump would further strengthen the U.S.–Israel strategic partnership.
Immigration to Israel from North America surged in 2025, with Nefesh B’Nefesh facilitating the aliyah of over 4,150 Jews from the United States and Canada. This marks the highest annual total in four years and a 12 percent increase from 2024. The nonprofit attributed the rise to growing concerns over antisemitism in North America, coupled with Israel’s strengthened security and economic opportunities following a ceasefire. Many immigrants cited community support programs and professional integration incentives as key factors. Nefesh B’Nefesh coordinated flights, absorption assistance, and employment resources in partnership with the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. Officials noted that families and young professionals dominated the wave, settling primarily in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and northern cities.
WORLD
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested Tuesday in central London during a pro-Palestinian demonstration after holding a placard expressing support for prisoners associated with Palestine Action, a group the British government designated as a terrorist organization in November 2025. Police detained Thunberg and several others near Parliament for breaching public order conditions. Thunberg, 22, has faced prior arrests in the UK for similar protests, including blocking oil terminals. Palestine Action, known for direct actions against arms companies linked to Israel, was banned under anti-terror laws following attacks on defense facilities.
Australian police identified a person of interest in the suspected antisemitic firebombing of a vehicle displaying a “Happy Chanukah” sign in Melbourne’s St Kilda East neighborhood early Thursday. The attack targeted an SUV parked in an area with a large Jewish population, causing severe fire damage, smashed windows, and interior destruction. No injuries occurred, as the vehicle was unoccupied. Investigators reviewed extensive surveillance footage and increased patrols amid rising concerns over hate crimes during the holiday season. Authorities classified the incident as deliberate and potentially motivated by antisemitism, with no arrests reported.
Iran’s Central Bank Governor Mohammad Reza Farzin resigned on Monday amid widespread protests in Tehran and other cities triggered by the rial’s plunge to a record low of 1.42 million to the dollar on Sunday, before recovering slightly to 1.38 million on Monday. Traders and shopkeepers shuttered businesses in downtown Tehran, including the Grand Bazaar, chanting against economic conditions as inflation reached 42.2 percent year over year. Security forces used tear gas in some areas to disperse crowds, marking the largest demonstrations since 2022. The currency crisis, exacerbated by renewed sanctions and fiscal pressures, has fueled fears of hyperinflation, with food prices up 72 percent annually.
