New York News
Brian Cordasco, a former New York City Fire Department chief, pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge for soliciting bribes in exchange for giving preferential treatment in scheduling fire safety inspections. Cordasco, 49, admitted to Manhattan federal court that between 2021 and 2023, he and others accepted bribes from individuals and companies to expedite their inspections, pocketing $57,000 of the $190,000 generated by the scheme. He faces up to five years in prison and a fine between $30,000 and $300,000 at his sentencing in February. Cordasco was arrested three weeks ago alongside another FDNY chief, initially pleading not guilty to bribery and corruption charges. While the arrests coincided with federal corruption probes into Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, Cordasco’s case is not believed to be connected to those investigations.
NYPD Commissioner Tom Donlon is expected to step down as early as Friday, following complications with a background check and a federal raid on his home, according to sources. Donlon, who was appointed by Mayor Eric Adams after the resignation of former Commissioner Edward Caban amid a federal corruption probe, is now under scrutiny himself. Federal agents recently seized materials from Donlon’s home that he claimed were unrelated to his current role, but the incident has delayed his Department of Investigation background check. As Donlon prepares to vacate his position, Jessica Tisch, the city’s current Sanitation Department head, is seen as the leading candidate to replace him. Neither the NYPD nor the Department of Investigation has commented on the matter yet.
Thirteen Jewish students charged with digging a secret tunnel beneath the historic Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue in Brooklyn are refusing plea deals from prosecutors, expressing a preference for prison over a three-year ban from the synagogue, which they consider worse than incarceration. The defendants, facing charges of criminal mischief and obstruction of justice, excavated the tunnel beneath 770 Eastern Parkway, a sacred site for their community, in response to delays in a planned expansion during the pandemic. Yaakov Rothchild, one of the defendants, articulated the group’s stance, emphasizing the significance of the synagogue to their identity. The prosecution is seeking the ban as a precaution against further tunneling, citing the students’ behavior at court proceedings, while Judge Adam Perlmutter noted the stalemate and warned that any further excavation attempts would lead to jail time. Only one defendant, Menachem Molekandov, is considering a plea deal that would spare him jail but involve community service and an agreement to stay away from the synagogue. If no resolution is reached, the group could face trial in January.
A Turkish Airlines pilot, lçehin Pehlivan, 59, tragically died after collapsing mid-flight on a flight from Seattle to Istanbul on Tuesday night. Despite efforts to revive him, the pilot passed away before the plane, an Airbus A350, made an emergency landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York at 6 a.m. Wednesday. Pehlivan, who had been with Turkish Airlines since 2007 and passed his medical examination in March with no noted health issues, lost consciousness during the flight, prompting the other pilot and co-pilot to divert the plane for an emergency landing.
US NEWS
An alleged third assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump was reportedly thwarted just before his rally in California on Saturday when law enforcement apprehended an armed man near the event. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office announced that the suspect, Vem Miller, a 49-year-old Las Vegas resident, was intercepted in a black SUV at 4:59 p.m., one minute before the rally was set to begin. Sheriff Chad Bianco suggested that they had “probably stopped another assassination attempt.” Miller was found with a shotgun, a loaded handgun, and a high-capacity magazine, along with fake rally passes that alarmed deputies due to their irregularity. Despite Bianco’s comments, Trump campaign sources downplayed the situation, asserting there was no assassination attempt. Miller was arrested without incident, booked for firearm violations, and later released on $5,000 bail.
Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, a 27-year-old Afghan man, was arrested in Oklahoma for allegedly planning an ISIS terror attack on Election Day. Reports revealed that Tawhedi had worked as a security guard for the CIA in Afghanistan but had limited interaction with Americans and was not an informant for the agency. He entered the U.S. on humanitarian parole, which involves less rigorous vetting than the special immigrant visa program. Tawhedi is charged with providing material support to a terrorist organization, receiving firearms for terrorism, and collaborating with a juvenile co-conspirator, who is his brother-in-law. Prosecutors allege they attempted to fund the attack by selling their home and personal property, and they were found with ISIS propaganda and communication with extremist groups. Tawhedi reportedly purchased two AK-47s and 500 rounds of ammunition, and he admitted to investigators that the attack aimed at large gatherings of people.
Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. have surged by 500%, with over 1,200 reported cases, according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). This spike has been particularly pronounced on college campuses, where protests defending Hamas and promoting anti-Israel rhetoric have led to increased harassment and intimidation of Jewish students. In the previous year’s same period, there were 200 incidents reported on campuses, making the recent escalation especially alarming. Nationwide, more than 10,000 anti-Semitic incidents have been recorded since the attack, a 200% increase over the prior year. These include verbal and written harassment, acts of vandalism, and physical assaults, with over 2,000 incidents targeting Jewish institutions such as synagogues, many of which have received bomb threats. Anti-Israel rallies have also contributed to the rise in incidents, with some participants expressing support for terrorist organizations. The ADL expects these figures to rise as more incidents are reported in its final 2024 report.
Hurricane Milton tore through parts of Florida, making landfall near Siesta Key with winds reaching 120 mph. In St. Petersburg, the storm ripped portions of the roof off Tropicana Field, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, though no injuries were reported as first responders had staged inside the stadium. Winds of up to 105 mph were recorded in the area, with nearly two million Floridians losing power by midnight. Although Hurricane Milton weakened to a Category 3 storm at landfall, experts warned that significant damage was still expected due to the storm surge, drawing comparisons to past hurricanes like Katrina, which caused massive destruction even after weakening. Tornado warnings and storm surges also affected southwestern Florida, adding to the chaos.
Dr.Ruba Borno, a senior Vice President at Amazon Web Services (AWS), has sparked significant controversy for wearing a necklace that features a map of “Palestine from the river to the sea” in a promotional video for AWS’s upcoming conference. The phrase is often interpreted as an antisemitic slogan calling for the destruction of Israel, which has fueled outrage, particularly given the recent abduction of Sasha Troponov, an Israeli employee of Amazon, by Hamas on October 7. While Borno’s video was meant to promote the tech event scheduled for December in Las Vegas, the necklace—shaped like Israel but adorned with the Palestinian flag instead of the Star of David—drew most of the attention. Critics argue that Borno’s choice of jewelry is especially insensitive in light of Troponov’s kidnapping, as Amazon has not publicly addressed either the abduction or Borno’s provocative accessory. In a show of solidarity for Troponov, colleagues initiated the #coffee4Sasha campaign, urging supporters to drink coffee daily at 3:00 p.m. and share their experiences online using the hashtag.
The Justice Department (DOJ) is considering asking a federal judge to break up Google’s online search monopoly, which could significantly disrupt the tech giant’s business model. Proposed remedies include the forced divestment of Google’s Chrome browser, Google Play app store, or Android operating system to address unlawful conduct. This comes after a judge ruled in August that Google established its monopoly through illegal tactics, including substantial payments to stifle competition. The judge is expected to make a final decision on remedies by summer 2025. The DOJ also suggested requiring Google to share relevant search data with competitors and possibly banning it from paying smartphone manufacturers and carriers to pre-install its search engine. Google has criticized these proposals as “radical,” arguing they could hinder innovation, while rival search engine DuckDuckGo praised the DOJ’s approach as a step toward dismantling Google’s illegal dominance. As Google faces intensified regulatory scrutiny, the outcome could reshape the competitive landscape of the tech industry.
The Weather Channel issued an apology for a controversial ad campaign that displayed a woman wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh, which is often associated with terrorism against Israel and Jews. The apology came after the watchdog group StopAntisemitism.org criticized the campaign, prompting the channel to remove the advertisement and clarify that they do not condone antisemitism. StopAntisemitism highlighted the timing of the ad following the October 7 Hamas-led massacre. Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman also condemned the use of the keffiyeh, stating it has become a symbol for anti-Israel sentiment. This incident echoes recent controversies, including the firing of three workers at the Noguchi Museum for wearing keffiyehs as a sign of solidarity with Palestinians, which violated the museum’s dress code against political symbols.
SpaceX achieved a groundbreaking feat in space travel by successfully launching its Starship spacecraft and returning the Super Heavy booster used for the launch back to the Texas launch site. The 232-foot booster took off at 8:25 a.m. ET and returned within minutes, where it was caught mid-air by two massive arms, referred to as “chopsticks,” in an extraordinary engineering display. The decision to attempt the return was made mid-flight, leading to an outburst of excitement among SpaceX engineers, who described the achievement as “absolutely insane” and akin to magic. This marks a major milestone in space exploration, as reusing rocket components is key to reducing costs and advancing Elon Musk’s vision of revolutionizing space access. SpaceX noted that this successful test, following continuous improvements, brings the company closer to realizing a fully reusable spacecraft system. The booster recovery was a significant step, though the Starship itself, designed with an enhanced heatshield to withstand reentry, remains in flight and is not yet intended to survive its landing in the Indian Ocean. Over three million viewers watched the historic event live.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled two new autonomous vehicles, the “Robotaxi” and the “Robovan,” during an event in California called “We, Robot.” Musk described these vehicles as the future of transportation, with the Robotaxi being a small, fully autonomous car without pedals or a steering wheel, and the Robovan designed for public transit or goods transportation, capable of carrying up to 20 people. He emphasized Tesla’s shift from supervised Full Self-Driving to unsupervised capabilities, allowing passengers to sleep during travel. Musk arrived at the event in a Robovan and showcased 50 fully autonomous vehicles, as well as Tesla’s humanoid robot “Optimus,” designed for household tasks. He projected that the Robotaxi would cost around $30,000 when available, with production aimed for 2027, while the Robovan could revolutionize transportation in densely populated areas by reducing traffic and travel costs. Musk’s vision for these vehicles is part of a broader goal to reshape the appearance of roads and advance technological innovation in transportation.
Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy and a lifelong advocate for social justice and human rights, passed away on Thursday at the age of 96 after suffering a stroke. Her grandson, Joe Kennedy, announced her passing, expressing love and admiration for her contributions to her family and her work. Ethel, a devout Catholic, was the mother of nine children, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and leaves behind a large family of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her life was marked by her tireless dedication to causes she and her late husband championed, including the founding of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a nonprofit organization. Tributes poured in from family members, including Maria Shriver, who fondly recalled her aunt’s strength, humor, and devotion, as well as Cheryl Hines, RFK Jr.’s wife, who remembered Ethel’s wisdom and warmth. Ethel Kennedy was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014 for her lifelong work.
Israel NEWS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to remove UNIFIL peacekeepers from areas in Southern Lebanon where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) operate. He accused the U.N. of providing a “human shield” for Hezbollah by keeping peacekeepers in combat zones and stated that their presence endangers both the peacekeepers and Israeli soldiers. Netanyahu expressed regret for any harm caused to UNIFIL personnel and urged immediate evacuation from danger zones. His comments followed reports of Israeli fire impacting U.N. positions, resulting in injuries to peacekeepers. The IDF explained that troops had acted in response to an immediate threat and had previously warned peacekeepers to take shelter. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned Netanyahu’s statements and characterized them as non-compliance with international norms. Amid escalating tensions, sirens were activated in various northern Israeli regions due to ongoing rocket fire from Hezbollah, with the IDF reporting over 100 projectiles launched into Israel that day.
At least 60 people were injured, including three critically, when a Hezbollah drone struck the Binyamina area in Israel’s Coastal Plain on Sunday night. Magen David Adom reported that five casualties were seriously injured and another 15 suffered moderate wounds, with the remaining victims sustaining light injuries. Eli Bin, MDA’s director-general, stated that the army was requested to provide helicopters to evacuate some of the wounded to hospitals in central Israel. United Hatzalah’s first responders assisted over 60 injured individuals and evacuated them to various medical centers, including Rambam Medical Center in Haifa and Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan. Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that it launched a squadron of drones targeting an IDF training camp for the Golani Brigade in Binyamina. Reports indicated that two drones approached from the sea; one was shot down, but the second evaded interception. The IDF did not immediately comment on the incident but mentioned intercepting another drone launched from Lebanon shortly after the strike. Earlier that day, 28 IDF soldiers were injured by anti-tank fire from Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon, with two suffering serious wounds.
A terrorist attack in Hadera, north of Netanya, on Wednesday resulted in six people being wounded, two of them critically. A significant security presence quickly arrived at the scene, and the assailant was neutralized. The injured were transported to Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, where two victims were reported in critical condition, three in serious condition, and one in moderate condition. Initial reports from Magen David Adom (MDA) identified the victims, including two men aged 70 and 50 in serious condition, and three others aged 70, 60, and 55 in moderate condition, all suffering from stab wounds. Videos shared on social media showed security personnel with their weapons drawn as they confronted the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Ahmed Jabarin, an Israeli citizen from Umm al-Fahm. The attack unfolded across four locations, with reports indicating that the assailant used a motorcycle and attacked with both an ax and a knife. Hadera Mayor Nir Ben Haim described the chaotic scene, emphasizing the swift response by law enforcement.
WORLD NEWS
Lily Ebert, a 100-year-old Holocaust survivor whose story inspired millions—including King Charles—has died in London. Captured at age 20 and sent to Auschwitz, she lost her family but survived the horrors of the camp. Her narrative gained attention when her great-grandson, Dov Forman, shared her quest to find the American soldier who liberated her, leading to a heartfelt reunion with the soldier’s descendants. Recognized as a Member of the Order of the British Empire by King Charles, Ebert was celebrated for her strength and resilience. She is survived by her children, 10 grandchildren, 38 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, with her funeral planned in London and burial in Israel.
A Jewish school in Toronto, Bais Chaya Mushka, was targeted by gunfire early Shabbos morning, marking the second shooting incident this year amid rising antisemitism in Canada linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Shots were fired from a vehicle around 4 a.m., shattering a window but causing no injuries. This follows a similar incident in May, with police suspecting the two shootings are connected. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his concern, stating he was “very disturbed” by the incident, especially as the Jewish community was observing Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.
Poland will reinstate its ambassador to Israel on Monday after a three-year hiatus, signaling a new chapter in the two countries’ relations. The former intelligence and espionage chief, Maciej Hunia, 63, has been appointed to strengthen Polish-Israeli ties. The Polish Embassy in Tel Aviv announced his arrival, emphasizing the aim to improve relations that had soured over Holocaust-related issues. Tensions peaked when Poland’s previous government enacted laws seen as minimizing Polish involvement in the Holocaust and barred restitution claims from Holocaust victims and their heirs. Both countries recalled their ambassadors during this period, and Poland shifted from supporting to opposing Israel in international forums. Visits by Israeli teens to Poland for Holocaust education, which had been frozen during the dispute, have now resumed. Amid rising antisemitism in Europe, Poland has offered a safe haven for Israelis during Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas. The warming relations have been highlighted by Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Poland last year for the 80th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising.
