New York News

 On Monday, former President Donald Trump and Jewish media mogul Ben Shapiro visited the tomb of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson in Queens to mark the first anniversary of Hamas’ large-scale attack on Israel. This attack resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the abduction of 254 individuals, many of whom are still held captive. During the visit, Shapiro reflected on the tragedy, calling it the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and honored the memory of the victims. Trump also left a prayer for the safe return of the remaining hostages.


 

Two adults were arrested and charged with second-degree gang assault for their involvement in an attack on former New York Governor David A. Paterson and his stepson in Manhattan. One man was additionally charged with assaulting a senior citizen. The attack, which occurred following an argument between the stepson and a group of boys who were climbing a fire escape, escalated when the adults joined in and allegedly instigated the assault. Two boys, aged 12 and 13, were also charged with gang assault. Paterson and his stepson were treated for injuries and later released from the hospital. Paterson expressed relief that the adults were apprehended and hopes the incident will be quickly resolved.


 

Mohamed Bahi, a former New York City official, was charged with witness tampering and destroying evidence in a federal investigation linked to Mayor Eric Adams’ bribery indictment. Prosecutors allege that Bahi, who resigned recently, instructed campaign donors and a businessman to lie to the FBI and deleted messages on the encrypted app Signal, which he used to communicate with Adams, as agents searched his home. Bahi is the first individual other than Adams charged in this case. This comes amid a wave of high-profile resignations from Adams’ administration, including key figures like First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and others. Adams, who has pled not guilty to bribery charges, remains under investigation for allegedly accepting illegal campaign donations. Federal authorities are pursuing related investigations, with more charges possibly forthcoming.


Sheena Wright, a close ally of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, has resigned as first deputy mayor, marking the seventh high-level departure from the administration during a period of crisis. Wright’s resignation follows a federal indictment against Adams on bribery charges. She will likely be replaced by Maria Torres-Springer, the current deputy mayor for housing and economic development, with an official announcement expected soon. Wright, praised by Adams for her leadership and contributions to the city, plans to remain in her role until the end of the month.


 

Nassau County boasts 8 of New York’s top 10 school districts, with three—East Williston, Syosset, and Jericho—ranked among the top 10 nationwide, according to Niche’s 2025 Best Schools rankings. Roslyn and Great Neck also make the top 25, giving Nassau five districts in the country’s upper tier. Half of New York’s top 50 districts are in Nassau, reflecting the county’s strong educational performance. Niche’s rankings are based on a variety of factors, including academic performance, teacher quality, college readiness, and feedback from students and parents, with data from the U.S. Department of Education playing a key role.


 

The New York Jets have fired head coach Robert Saleh following a disappointing start to the 2024 season, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. Saleh, in his fourth year with the team, faced high expectations after the acquisition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a talented offense, but the Jets lost three of their first five games, including a recent defeat to the undefeated Minnesota Vikings in London. Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will serve as the interim head coach. During his tenure, Saleh compiled a record of 20-36 and struggled with quarterback consistency, starting six different quarterbacks over 56 games, particularly after Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury on his first drive last year. The Jets’ offense has struggled this season, ranking among the worst in the league. Ulbrich’s first game as head coach will be against the Buffalo Bills.



 

US NEWS

 

On the one-year anniversary of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack, U.S. President Joe Biden participated in a solemn memorial, lighting a yahrzeit candle alongside Rabbi Aaron Alexander and first lady Jill Biden, in remembrance of the victims. While lighting the candle, Biden briefly crossed himself, a Catholic gesture not traditionally part of Jewish rituals. The rabbi recited the Kel Malei Rachamim prayer for the dead, honoring the souls of those killed in the attack. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris and husband Douglas Emhoff plan to plant a memorial tree in tribute to the victims, with further remarks expected later. Former President Donald Trump also plans to attend a remembrance event in Miami, where he is expected to criticize the Biden administration’s foreign policies and highlight the broader global implications of the Hamas attack.


 

The death toll from Hurricane Helene rose to 227 as recovery efforts continued over a week after the storm devastated the southeastern U.S., affecting six states. Helene, a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall on September 26, caused widespread destruction, leaving homes destroyed, roads damaged, and millions without power. The storm is the deadliest to hit the mainland U.S. since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with North Carolina suffering the most fatalities. Asheville, in western North Carolina, was hit particularly hard. So far, FEMA has approved over $27 million in individual assistance for North Carolinians, with more than 83,000 people applying for help. Local officials continue to urge affected residents to register for disaster assistance.


 

On the first anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, 85 retired U.S. generals and admirals published an open letter urging the United States to fully support Israel in its defense against the Iranian terror network, which includes Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. The letter emphasized that the war initiated by Iran and its proxies is not limited to Israel but is a global struggle that threatens U.S. interests and security as well. The retired military leaders stressed the importance of arming Israel to fight Hezbollah in Lebanon and called for unwavering U.S. support to defeat the Iranian axis. They concluded by reaffirming the strong bond between the U.S. and Israel, urging Americans to stand with Israel in this fight.


 

A Minnesota man was arrested for allegedly threatening to “shoot up” Temple Israel in Minneapolis. The synagogue had received several threatening phone calls, and a police detail patrolling the area ahead of Jewish holidays and the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel spotted a man with a firearm outside the building. Though he fled, officers arrested a 21-year-old man the next day. He is being charged with making terroristic threats, and while no firearm was recovered, authorities are treating the situation seriously due to the timing and context of recent global events. Police are working to ensure the safety of religious communities in Minneapolis.


 

The dock worker strike that significantly impacted the economy has ended with the International Longshoremen’s Association and port ownership reaching a tentative agreement on Thursday. They announced an extension of the expired contract until January 15, 2025, while negotiating outstanding issues, including a wage agreement that includes a $4 hourly raise for each year of the six-year contract. Work covered by the Master Contract will resume immediately. The agreement still requires ratification from union members, who could potentially reinstate the strike if the deal is rejected. President Biden praised the agreement, highlighting the importance of a strong contract for dockworkers, while Vice President Kamala Harris expressed support for the strike, emphasizing fairness in the face of record profits from foreign-owned shipping companies. The strike had already caused supply chain disruptions, leading to panic buying among consumers, although some companies had anticipated the strike and stocked products in advance.



 

Israel NEWS

 

As the conflict marked its one-year anniversary on October 7, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) published critical operational data reflecting the ongoing military engagements in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Since the conflict began, approximately 17,000 Hamas operatives and members of other militant groups have been killed in the Gaza Strip, while the Hamas-run health ministry claims over 41,000 Palestinians have died, a figure that includes both civilians and combatants but remains unverified. On the fateful day of October 7, around 1,000 terrorists infiltrated Israel, resulting in the deaths of about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals to Gaza. The IDF has also conducted extensive military operations, striking around 40,300 targets in Gaza and uncovering approximately 4,700 tunnel shafts used by Hamas. In Lebanon, the IDF reports over 800 Hezbollah operatives killed, including 90 commanders, and nearly 11,000 Hezbollah positions targeted amid ongoing hostilities. Throughout the year, more than 26,000 projectiles, including rockets, missiles, and drones, have been launched at Israel, primarily from Gaza and Lebanon. Concurrently, in the West Bank, the IDF has arrested over 5,250 Palestinians and killed around 690 suspected militants, indicating the extensive military and intelligence efforts in that region as well. Overall, these figures highlight the severe intensity and complexity of the conflict, characterized by high casualties and ongoing military actions on multiple fronts.


 

Hezbollah launched over 100 rockets from Lebanon into the Haifa area of northern Israel on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in at least one injury. A 71-year-old woman sustained a mild shrapnel injury to her hand and was taken to Rambam Hospital, while six others were injured while rushing to shelters and five experienced anxiety. The barrage followed Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah in Beirut and came after a speech by the group’s deputy leader, Naim Qassem. The IDF reported that their Iron Dome defense system intercepted many rockets, but some caused damage in Haifa, including a direct hit on a building in Kiryat Yam. This incident is part of a larger pattern of increased hostilities, with Hezbollah launching nearly daily attacks on Israel since October 8, totaling over 12,400 projectiles in the past year. The IDF has escalated its operations against Hezbollah, recently taking control of a compound in Southern Lebanon that threatened northern Israeli communities.


 

A deadly shooting and stabbing attack in Tel Aviv resulted in seven fatalities and 16 injuries, with Hamas claiming responsibility shortly after the incident. The attack began on the city’s light rail system and continued on Yerushalayim Street, where two assailants were ultimately killed by municipal security patrols and armed civilians. This violent event coincided with an Iranian missile barrage targeting Israel, in which approximately 180 missiles were fired. Although most of the missiles were intercepted, some caused damage, and assessments were underway. In the aftermath of the attack, Israeli police increased their presence in Tel Aviv to search for any additional threats, highlighting the tense security situation in the region amidst escalating violence.


 

Standard & Poor’s Global (S&P) downgraded Israel’s credit rating from ‘A+’ to ‘A’, citing escalating violence with Hezbollah and Iran’s recent ballistic missile attacks as significant risks to the country’s economy and public finances. This marks S&P’s second downgrade this year, joining Moody’s in expressing concerns over Israel’s sovereign rating amid ongoing military conflict. S&P maintained a negative outlook, indicating potential further downgrades if the conflicts hinder Israel’s economic growth and fiscal stability. They predict that military operations in Gaza and heightened tensions along the northern border may continue into 2025, delaying economic recovery until at least 2026. The financial implications of the ongoing war, which has already cost Israel over $66 billion, include expected fiscal deficits and stagnant growth rates for 2024 and 2025. Despite these challenges, S&P recognized Israel’s strong balance of payments and high foreign exchange reserves as economic strengths. In response, Israel’s Finance Ministry highlighted the importance of swiftly approving the 2025 state budget to foster investor confidence and address fiscal challenges, emphasizing the need for a budget that supports infrastructure and security while maintaining a manageable deficit.


 

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz has declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres ‘persona non grata’, effectively banning him from entering the country. This decision was announced via a post on X/Twitter, with Katz citing Guterres’s failure to “unequivocally condemn” Iran’s missile attack on Israel as the primary reason for the ban. Katz criticized Guterres for not denouncing the October 7 massacre by Hamas or condemning the group’s use of sexual violence. In response to this move, U.S. State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the ban is “not productive at all,” highlighting the importance of the UN’s role in the region and urging Israel to consider its standing in the international community. Miller emphasized that actions like this do not enhance Israel’s global reputation. Following Israel’s recent military actions in Lebanon, Guterres expressed concern about the escalating violence and urged for the respect of Lebanon’s sovereignty.



 

WORLD NEWS

 French President Emmanuel Macron is facing backlash for suggesting a halt to the delivery of weapons used by Israel in its operations in Gaza, a statement that has drawn ire both domestically and internationally. Criticism came swiftly from within his own political party and from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who condemned Western leaders advocating for an arms embargo as shameful. UK Defense Secretary John Healey also rejected Macron’s stance, emphasizing that the UK follows a different protocol regarding arms sales. Macron’s comments aired just days before the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attacks. The call for an arms embargo has been echoed by various NGOs and politicians globally, including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. The situation in France is particularly contentious, given its large Jewish and Muslim populations. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have criticized Macron’s proposal, with many arguing that Israel needs to maintain its defense capabilities amidst threats from surrounding nations. Even within Macron’s party, there are voices supporting Israel’s right to self-defense against what they perceive as excessive Palestinian violence.


 

Montreal police reported on Thursday that five individuals arrested last week, found with incendiary materials, may have been plotting a violent act related to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly in connection with Israel’s war against terrorist forces. Authorities are investigating whether these suspects had intentions to target local synagogues. The situation came to light when a security officer noticed a suspicious vehicle parked near a synagogue in Côte-St-Luc around 2 a.m. on Wednesday and alerted the police. Two occupants, aged 20 and 22, were apprehended, and incendiary materials were discovered in their vehicle. Additionally, police stopped another vehicle shortly before that, containing three minors who were also found with incendiary items but were later released with promises to appear in court. Montreal police have indicated that they will increase their presence throughout the city in the coming days as a precautionary measure.

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