New York News
Bruce Blakeman, Nassau County’s first Jewish county executive, launched his re-election campaign on Monday at the American Legion Post in Massapequa. He highlighted his close ties with Donald Trump, noting their attendance together at Trump’s recent inauguration in Washington, D.C. Blakeman praised Trump’s presidency for reversing economic decline and boosting national momentum with policies like tax cuts and deregulation.
He emphasized Trump’s personal connection to Long Island, citing the president’s frequent visits and a rally at Nassau Coliseum in September 2024. Blakeman, who won his first term in 2021 against Laura Curran, framed his campaign around continuing this momentum locally, focusing on public safety and economic growth. The event drew hundreds of supporters, including Republican leaders like Peter King and Joseph Saladino, who echoed Blakeman’s focus on Nassau County’s needs. He faces Democratic challenger Seth Koslow in the November election.
The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City will officially close as a migrant intake center by June. It began operating in May 2023, serving as a key facility for nearly two years. The hotel processed and housed thousands of migrants arriving in the city during that time. Its closure, announced this past week, ends a significant chapter in the city’s migrant management efforts. City officials have not yet revealed plans for the building’s future use. The decision comes as the city adjusts its approach to handling migrant arrivals. The Roosevelt, a historic Midtown property, had been repurposed to meet the urgent needs of the influx since 2023.
Governor Kathy Hochul decided not to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office despite federal corruption charges being dropped earlier this year. The charges, filed in September 2024, accused Adams of bribery and fraud involving luxury gifts and illegal campaign funds. Hochul announced this week she would instead impose new state oversight on City Hall, including a deputy inspector general position. Adams faced indictment, but the Justice Department halted the case on January 10, prompting calls for his removal. Hochul met with political leaders before concluding that removing Adams would disrupt the city and override voters’ choice. The mayor, preparing for his 2025 re-election bid, remains in office under increased scrutiny. No New York governor has ever removed an elected mayor.
New York State has terminated public funding for Yeshiva Bnei Shimon Yisroel of Sopron and Talmud Torah of Kasho, two Brooklyn yeshivas, due to their failure to meet secular education standards. The state education department determined that both schools, located in Williamsburg, do not provide an education substantially equivalent to public schools. Funding for meals, transportation, and textbooks will end on June 30, affecting over 1,000 students. Parents have been instructed to enroll their children in alternative schools by July 1. This action follows a decade-long investigation triggered by complaints from former students about inadequate secular instruction. It is the first instance of the state effectively closing Hasidic schools for noncompliance. A legal challenge from a yeshiva advocacy group is pending in New York’s highest court.
Rose Girone, recognized as the world’s oldest Holocaust survivor, died at 113 on Monday in Queens from natural causes related to old age. Born in Poland, she fled to Shanghai via Germany with her family during World War II, using knitting skills to support them before immigrating to the U.S. in 1947. She settled in Forest Hills, where she operated a knitting shop for decades, becoming a beloved figure in New York’s knitting community. Girone celebrated her 113th birthday on January 13, surrounded by family and friends. She endured the Holocaust, losing relatives, and later documented her experiences through testimonies for organizations like the USC Shoah Foundation. Her death marks the end of a remarkable life that bridged survival, resilience, and a lasting legacy in her adopted city.
Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, a 20-year-old Pakistani man, will be extradited from Canada to New York to face terrorism charges. The FBI accuses him, also known as “Shahzeb Jadoon,” of planning an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at a Jewish center in Brooklyn, aiming to kill Jewish people on October 7, marking the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. Khan was arrested in Quebec in September after attempting to cross into the U.S. from Toronto. He had entered Canada on a student visa in May 2023 and began expressing support for ISIS online by November that year. During a Montreal hearing, Khan agreed not to contest his extradition. The Justice Department alleges he sought rifles and ammunition through undercover agents to execute the attack. He remains in custody pending transfer to U.S. authorities.
A boat carrying six people overturned on Sunday in the Ambrose Channel, between Brooklyn, Staten Island, and Queens, resulting in three deaths, two injuries, and one person still missing. The U.S. Coast Guard received a distress call near Breezy Point just after noon, prompting a response with three rescue boats and a helicopter. Five individuals were pulled from the 38-degree waters, four of whom were unresponsive when rescued. Two survivors were airlifted to Staten Island University Hospital, one in critical condition, while three were taken to Coast Guard Station Sandy Hook, where three were later pronounced dead. The vessel, a 30-foot boat, had departed from Howard Beach for a fishing trip earlier that day. The Coast Guard searched over 842 square miles for the missing 52-year-old Vernon Glasford of the Bronx before suspending efforts on Monday evening. The cause of the capsizing remains under investigation by multiple agencies.
New York State illuminated 14 landmarks in orange to honor the memory of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, two young Israeli boys murdered by Hamas during their captivity in Gaza. The initiative, ordered by Governor Kathy Hochul, included sites like One World Trade Center, Niagara Falls, and the Empire State Plaza in Albany. The boys, aged 4 and 9 months, were kidnapped with their mother, Shiri Bibas, from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, during the Hamas attack on Israel. Their bodies were returned to Israel last week, confirmed dead after forensic analysis showed they were killed in November 2023. Shiri’s body was also recently returned, though Hamas initially sent a different body, prompting further demands for her remains. The orange lighting, reflecting the boys’ red hair, occurred alongside similar tributes worldwide, including in Rio de Janeiro.
The 35th annual International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Women Emissaries convened in New York from February 19 to 23, bringing together over 4,000 women leaders from across the globe. Held at the Hilton Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, the event focused on workshops, lectures, and networking for Chabad emissaries serving Jewish communities worldwide. The conference honored the legacy of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson, marking 37 years since her passing in 1988, with a tribute to her role in inspiring women’s leadership. Attendees hailed from places as distant as Thailand, Argentina, and Ukraine, representing over 100 countries. The gathering concluded with a gala banquet on February 23 at the New York Hilton Midtown, celebrating the emissaries’ contributions to education, outreach, and community building. Over 1,500 additional women joined virtually due to travel limitations.
The New York Yankees ended their 49-year-old ban on beards, a policy established by former owner George Steinbrenner in 1976. The rule, which also prohibited hair below the collar, required players to maintain a clean-shaven appearance, with mustaches as the only exception. Steinbrenner introduced the restriction to enforce a professional image, famously benching players like Don Mattingly in 1991 for noncompliance. The decision to lift the ban came after team president Randy Levine and general manager Brian Cashman reviewed the policy following Steinbrenner’s death in 2010. Players can now grow beards and longer hair, aligning the Yankees with other Major League Baseball teams that allow facial hair. The change was announced Friday, ahead of the 2025 season, ending a tradition upheld by stars like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.
US NEWS
President Donald Trump announced that Dan Bongino will serve as the next deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and New York City police officer, has no prior FBI experience, breaking from the tradition of the role being filled by a career agent. He previously worked as a special agent in the Secret Service from 1999 to 2011, serving on the presidential protection details for Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Since leaving law enforcement, Bongino has built a career as a conservative commentator, hosting “The Dan Bongino Show” podcast and a former Fox News program until 2023. He will serve under Kash Patel, recently confirmed as FBI director, overseeing the bureau’s day-to-day operations and its 38,000 employees. Bongino holds a master’s degree in psychology from the City University of New York and an MBA from Penn State University. The appointment does not require Senate confirmation.
Apple revealed plans to invest $500 billion in U.S. facilities over the next four years, a response to tariffs imposed on Chinese imports. The initiative will create 20,000 jobs across the country, focusing on manufacturing and technology development. A key component includes a 250,000-square-foot server manufacturing facility in Houston, set to open in 2026, producing servers for Apple Intelligence, previously made overseas. The company will also establish an AI and manufacturing academy in Detroit to train businesses in advanced techniques. Additional investments involve expanding data centers in North Carolina, Iowa, Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada, alongside corporate facilities and Apple TV+ production in 20 states. This shift follows Apple’s reliance on China for products like iPhones, with most assembly occurring there. The plan doubles Apple’s U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund to $10 billion.
The Trump administration has notified the U.S. Agency for International Development that it will terminate 2,000 employees, primarily based in the United States. Notices sent to staff indicate that all but a small group of workers overseeing critical functions and leadership roles will be placed on administrative leave worldwide. This affects the agency’s workforce of approximately 9,000, with about two-thirds stationed overseas in over 60 countries. The move follows a federal judge’s ruling allowing the administration to proceed with staff reductions and leave placements. USAID, responsible for U.S. foreign aid and development programs, will retain roughly 600 U.S.-based staff to manage essential operations and arrange return travel for overseas personnel. Affected employees overseas can opt for agency-funded travel back to the U.S. within 30 days, with case-by-case extensions available for hardships like medical needs or school schedules.
President Trump terminated Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position he held for 16 months after serving as Air Force chief of staff. The dismissal occurred Friday night, marking a significant change in Pentagon leadership. Brown, a fighter pilot with over 40 years of service, was replaced by Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine, who transitioned from retirement to active duty for the role. Caine previously served as the CIA’s associate director of military affairs from 2021 to 2024 and held special operations roles, including deputy commander of a joint task force in Iraq combating ISIS. The appointment requires Senate confirmation, as Caine lacks prior Joint Chiefs experience, though federal law allows presidential waivers. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth supported the transition, citing Caine’s warfighter credentials.
Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, has announced he will not seek re-election in 2026, ending a 40-year career representing Kentucky. First elected in 1984, he won his seventh term in 2020 with 57.8% of the vote. McConnell stepped down as Senate Republican leader in November 2024, succeeded by John Thune, but plans to serve out his current term, which ends in January 2027. His decision opens Kentucky’s Senate seat for the first time since 1972, with Daniel Cameron, former state attorney general, and U.S. Representative Andy Barr among potential Republican candidates. McConnell, who turned 83 this month, cited his long tenure and recent health challenges, including falls requiring a wheelchair, as factors in his choice. Kentucky, a Republican stronghold, last elected a Democratic senator in 1992.
Israel NEWS
Three empty buses exploded in a parking lot in Bat Yam, a suburb south of Tel Aviv, with two additional bombs found undetonated in the area. The incidents occurred after the buses had completed their routes, resulting in no casualties. The Israeli police and Shin Bet security agency determined the bombs, equipped with timers, were planted as part of a coordinated attack, suspected to originate from the West Bank. Two Israeli suspects were arrested overnight following the explosions, though their identities and motives remain undisclosed due to a court-issued gag order. The investigation revealed the devices were intended to detonate the following morning during peak hours, but malfunctioned. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered intensified military operations in the West Bank in response. Public transport nationwide was briefly halted for inspections.
The Israel Defense Forces intercepted a drone attempting to smuggle drugs from Egypt into Israel near the Paran Brigade area. Troops from the Bardelas Battalion, patrolling the border, identified and captured the drone after it crossed from Egyptian territory. The soldiers found two kilograms of marijuana attached to the device. The seized drugs were handed over to the Israel Police for further investigation and processing. This incident marks another in a series of frequent attempts to smuggle contraband across the Egyptian border using drones, a method increasingly employed in recent months. The Bardelas Battalion, a co-ed unit, has been actively involved in securing the region against such activities. The operation occurred as part of ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking along Israel’s southern frontier.
Israeli Air Force fighter jets flew low over Beirut during the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, held at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium. The flyover involved four jets—two F-15Is and two F-35Is—passing over the ceremony attended by tens of thousands mourning Nasrallah and his successor, Hashem Safieddine, both killed in earlier Israeli airstrikes. Nasrallah died on September 27, 2024, in a strike on Hezbollah’s underground headquarters, with his funeral delayed until after an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon under a ceasefire agreement. The IDF released images of the flyover, which occurred as crowds chanted anti-Israel slogans and Hezbollah’s new leader, Naim Qassem, spoke via video. Simultaneous strikes hit Hezbollah targets in southern and eastern Lebanon, targeting rocket launchers and weapons sites. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called it a demonstration of Israel’s air superiority.
French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan was denied entry to Israel on Monday after arriving from Brussels. The Israeli Interior Ministry, under Minister Moshe Arbel, ordered her immediate deportation, citing her history of promoting boycotts against Israel and public statements critical of the country. Hassan, of Palestinian descent and a member of the far-left France Unbowed party, landed at Ben Gurion Airport wearing a white-and-blue outfit—colors matching the Israeli flag—and dark sunglasses. Authorities identified her despite the attire and barred her entry, aligning with a recent law prohibiting non-residents who support boycotts or deny the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. She was part of an EU delegation planning to meet Palestinian officials, but the group canceled the trip after her refusal. Hassan was sent back to Brussels on the next available flight.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s testimony, set for Wednesday, February 26, was canceled due to unspecified security concerns. The decision followed a closed meeting between the presiding judge, Netanyahu, and the head of IDF Military Intelligence. Netanyahu has been on trial since May 2020, facing charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases tied to alleged favors for media tycoons and a telecom company. He had previously requested delays in his testimony, citing security issues, with this latest cancellation marking the third postponement since December. The court has not disclosed the nature of the security reasons, nor has it set a new date for the testimony. Netanyahu, who must appear three days a week when the trial is in session, remains in office while managing Israel’s ongoing military operations.
WORLD NEWS
A 19-year-old Syrian refugee stabbed a 30-year-old Spanish tourist at Berlin’s Holocaust Memorial, leaving the victim with severe neck injuries. The attack occurred on Friday evening near the Brandenburg Gate, targeting the memorial dedicated to the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust. The suspect, who arrived in Germany in 2023 as an unaccompanied minor and was granted asylum, was arrested three hours later with blood on his hands and clothes. He carried a backpack containing a prayer mat, a Quran, and the knife used in the assault. Investigators found he had planned for weeks to target Jews, choosing the site for its significance. The victim underwent emergency surgery and was placed in an induced coma, but his condition stabilized by Saturday. The suspect lived in Leipzig and had no prior record with Berlin police.
New Zealand Police are probing vandalism at the former Kadimah School site in Auckland, the nation’s sole Jewish school. The building, still hosting Jewish community facilities like a ritual bath, was defaced with graffiti overnight. Blue spray paint reading “Genocide High School” was scrawled across a brick wall, with “God hates you” added in smaller black text. The school relocated to Remuera in 2023, but the Greys Avenue property remains a Jewish hub. Authorities were alerted on February 6 after the incident, believed to have occurred the previous night. Police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the perpetrators, with no arrests made yet. The graffiti was removed shortly after its discovery.
Argentina’s government is considering a proposal to rename “Palestine Street” in Buenos Aires to “Bibas Family Street” to honor Shiri Bibas and her sons, Ariel and Kfir, who were kidnapped and murdered by Hamas. The initiative, led by city lawmaker Yamil Santoro, targets the street in the Almagro neighborhood, named “Estado de Palestina” since the mid-20th century. Shiri, Ariel, aged 4, and Kfir, 9 months, were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023, and killed in captivity in November 2023, with their bodies returned to Israel last week. President Javier Milei declared two days of national mourning and supports the change, aligning with his pro-Israel stance and designation of Hamas as a terrorist group. The Buenos Aires Legislature will debate the bill starting March 1, though it faces opposition from some who suggest honoring the family through a park instead. A local law requiring a 10-year wait after death to name streets poses a legal hurdle.