New York News
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the City Council, led by Speaker Adrienne Adams, finalized a $115.9 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2026.
The agreement allocates $41.9 million for immigrant legal services, $12.5 million for pro bono legal aid for unaccompanied minors, and $10 million for a pilot program offering free child care for low-income families with children under two. It includes $6.1 million to regulate e-bikes through a new Division of Sustainable Delivery and $2 million to expand Sunday library services to 10 additional branches. The budget also provides $70 million for preschool disability services and $900,000 to enhance emergency preparedness. Negotiations concluded just before the June 30 deadline.
Recent polls on the 2025 New York City mayoral race, focusing on the general election following the Democratic primary on June 24, show Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, leading the field. A Manhattan Institute survey conducted from June 11–16, with 1,000 likely voters, found Mamdani capturing 40% of the vote in a general election matchup, compared to 15% for Republican Curtis Sliwa, 13% for incumbent Mayor Eric Adams (running as an independent), and 10% for independent Jim Walden. Mamdani’s support is strongest among voters aged 18–34, with 60% first-choice votes. About 22% of voters remain undecided, reflecting uncertainty in the race. The poll has a margin of error of ±3.1%.
The New York City Rent Guidelines Board voted to approve rent increases for over 1 million rent-stabilized apartments across the city. The decision allows a 3% increase for one-year lease renewals and a 4.5% increase for two-year lease renewals, affecting approximately 2.5 million tenants. The vote, finalized in a public meeting, followed heated debates between tenant advocates, who argued the hikes burden low-income renters, and landlords, who cited rising maintenance costs. The increases apply to leases signed on or after October 1, 2025, for apartments in buildings with six or more units constructed before 1974. This marks the highest rent adjustment since 2013, impacting a significant portion of the city’s housing stock.
U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York’s 21st Congressional District, is preparing to officially launch her campaign for governor of New York, aiming to challenge Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul in the 2026 election. Stefanik, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has been actively touring the state, rallying Republican supporters, and criticizing Hochul’s leadership on issues like taxes, crime, and affordability. A GrayHouse poll shows Stefanik leading the Republican primary with 44% support, far ahead of Rep. Mike Lawler at 7% and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman at 5%. She has raised nearly $10 million across her political entities. Stefanik’s team has not announced a specific launch date for the campaign.
Workers excavating at Manhattan’s World Trade Center site in 2010 uncovered over 600 sodden timber pieces from a 50-foot vessel dating to the Revolutionary War era, buried for over two centuries. The ship, identified as a Hudson River sloop, was likely used for trade and intentionally buried as landfill in the late 18th century. Archaeologists recovered the artifacts, including oak planks and iron fasteners, from 20 feet below street level. At the New York State Museum in Albany, conservators are meticulously reassembling the fragments, preserving them through chemical treatments. The ongoing project aims to reconstruct the vessel’s structure, offering insights into early American shipbuilding. The ship’s remnants are among the oldest maritime artifacts found in New York City.
US NEWS
Karen Diamond, an 82-year-old Jewish woman, died from severe injuries sustained in a Molotov cocktail attack on June 1 in downtown Boulder, Colorado. The assault targeted a group of approximately 20 demonstrators from Run for Their Lives, advocating for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Mohamed Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, threw two Molotov cocktails while shouting “Free Palestine,” injuring 13 people and one dog. Prosecutors have identified 29 victims, with Soliman facing over 100 state charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, and 12 federal hate crime counts. He pleaded not guilty. The Boulder Jewish Community Center mourned Diamond, a cherished volunteer known for her generosity.
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, ruled that federal district courts lack the authority to issue nationwide injunctions, limiting their ability to block executive actions across the entire country. The case, Trump v. CASA, Inc., arose from challenges to President Donald Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship, which three lower courts had blocked with nationwide injunctions. The majority, led by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, held that such injunctions exceed the equitable authority granted by Congress under the Judiciary Act of 1789, restricting relief to only the plaintiffs in a case. The ruling does not address the constitutionality of the executive order, which remains blocked for specific plaintiffs.
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision, ruled that parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, can opt their elementary school children out of classes involving storybooks with LGBTQ themes, citing First Amendment protections for religious freedom. The case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, involved Christian, Muslim, and Jewish parents objecting to some books on the subject. The Montgomery County school board had eliminated opt-out options in 2023, citing logistical challenges and potential stigma. Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, stated the policy burdened parents’ rights to direct their children’s religious upbringing. The ruling requires schools to notify parents and allow opt-outs pending further litigation.
The U.S. State Department revoked the visas of British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan, consisting of Bobby Vylan and Bobbie Vylan, following their performance at the Glastonbury Festival in England. During their set, the duo led the crowd in chanting “free, free Palestine” and “death, death to the IDF,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced the visa revocation, stating that foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome in the U.S. The decision disrupted the band’s planned U.S. tour, set to begin in October. British police are also investigating the performance as a public order incident.
The Trump administration filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the City Council in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleging the city’s sanctuary policies violate the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause by obstructing federal immigration enforcement. The suit claims these policies, which bar city resources from aiding immigration enforcement and limit cooperation with federal agents, led to “lawlessness, rioting, looting, and vandalism” during protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in June 2025. The Justice Department argues the city discriminates against federal authorities by restricting their access to detainees and facilities. Los Angeles, a sanctuary city since 2019, enacted a 2025 ordinance prohibiting city personnel from sharing immigration status data.
The New Jersey State Assembly passed a bill (41-35) amending the real estate transfer fee, known as the “mansion tax,” for high-value residential and commercial property sales. Homes sold for under $2 million retain the existing 1% tax rate. Properties sold between $2 million and $2.5 million now face a 2% tax, those between $2.5 million and $3.5 million a 2.5% tax, and sales over $3 million a 3% tax. Unlike the previous structure, where buyers typically paid the tax, the burden now shifts to sellers. The measure, part of the 2026 fiscal year budget, aims to generate $282 million for affordable housing and other programs. It applies to closings after November 15, 2025.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order terminating most U.S. sanctions on Syria to support the country’s stabilization following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. The order lifts economic restrictions while maintaining sanctions on Assad, his associates, and entities linked to terrorism or human rights abuses. Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa welcomed the move, which aligns with U.S. efforts to broker peace talks between Syria and Israel. Reports indicate Syria is open to recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, captured in 1967, as part of a potential peace deal. Negotiations, backed by the Trump administration, aim to expand the Abraham Accords, with Israel seeking a phased agreement starting with a modernized 1974 disengagement accord.
The Trump administration notified Harvard University that it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment. A federal investigation by the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights found Harvard was deliberately indifferent to severe and pervasive antisemitic incidents since October 7, 2023, including assaults, vandalism with antisemitic imagery, and a pro-Palestinian encampment that disrupted campus life. The administration threatened to cut all federal funding, exceeding $794 million from 2023 to 2025, if Harvard does not implement immediate changes. Harvard, which has lost over $2 billion in federal grants, disputes the findings, citing its efforts to combat antisemitism through policy changes and training.
A Gallup poll conducted from June 2–19 revealed a record-low 58% of U.S. adults are “extremely” (41%) or “very” (17%) proud to be American, down nine points from 2024. Democrats’ pride plummeted to 36%, a 26-point drop from 62% last year, while independents fell to 53%, a record low for the group. Republicans remained steady at 92%, up from 85%. The poll, taken before U.S. military strikes on Iran on June 21, showed 19% of adults are “moderately” proud, 11% “only a little” proud, and 9% “not at all” proud. Younger generations, particularly Gen Z, reported the lowest pride levels, with only 32% of Gen Z Democrats expressing high pride.
Israel NEWS
Israel’s Arrow missile defense system, a joint U.S.-Israel project, is advancing with the development of the Arrow 4 interceptor, designed to replace the Arrow 2 and counter emerging ballistic threats, including hypersonic missiles. Initiated in 2017, the Arrow 4, led by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) with Boeing, is nearing initial production, as confirmed by IAI CEO Boaz Levy. The system features enhanced “shoot-look-shoot” capabilities, allowing it to engage targets, assess results, and re-engage if needed. It can intercept missiles both inside and outside the atmosphere, offering improved defense against sophisticated threats. The Arrow 4 builds on the success of Arrow 2 and Arrow 3, which intercepted 90% of targeted Iranian missiles in recent conflicts.
The Shin Bet, in collaboration with the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police, arrested over 60 Hamas operatives and seized 22 firearms, 11 grenades, and ammunition during a three-month operation in Hebron, dismantling a major terror network in Judea and Samaria. The operation, described as the most complex in the region in a decade, uncovered a sophisticated Hamas infrastructure planning imminent attacks, including shootings and bombings. Many suspects, mostly former prisoners, were recruiting, arming, and training operatives. Approximately 10 terror cells were neutralized, and an underground hideout for weapons and fugitives was discovered. Interrogations also solved a 2010 shooting at Bani Naim Junction, where four Israelis were killed.
Israeli security forces arrested three Israeli citizens in two separate cases for allegedly compromising national security by performing tasks for Iranian intelligence operatives. In one case, Mark Morgein, a 33-year-old from the Jordan Valley in the West Bank, was detained for moving a grenade between hidden locations and filming a missile interception during the Israel-Iran conflict, as directed by his Iranian handler. The other two suspects, whose identities remain under a court-issued gag order, were also accused of carrying out missions for Iranian agents. The arrests, announced by the Shin Bet and Israel Police, followed investigations into Iranian efforts to recruit Israelis for espionage.
Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport resumed full operations following a ceasefire that ended a two-week conflict with Iran. The airport had faced disruptions due to heightened security measures and airspace restrictions during the Israeli air campaign targeting Iranian nuclear facilities. All commercial flights, including arrivals and departures, returned to normal schedules, with El Al and other carriers operating at full capacity. Airport authorities warned that travel backlogs, caused by canceled or delayed flights during the conflict, could take several days to clear. The resumption marked a return to stability for Israel’s primary aviation hub.
WORLD NEWS
Iranian authorities arrested over 700 people across provinces including Kermanshah, Isfahan, Khuzestan, Fars, and Lorestan, accusing them of ties to Israel during the 12-day conflict that ended with a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. State-affiliated media reported the detainees were involved in activities like directing drones, making bombs, and photographing military sites. On Wednesday, Iran’s judiciary executed three men for allegedly spying for Israel’s Mossad and smuggling equipment used in an assassination. These executions followed three others during the conflict, bringing the total to six. Human rights groups criticized the arrests and executions, citing forced confessions and unfair trials, particularly targeting Kurdish minorities.
British police launched a criminal investigation into performances by rap-punk duo Bob Vylan and Irish-language band Kneecap at the Glastonbury Festival, classifying them as a public order incident. During their sets, Bob Vylan’s frontman, Bobby Vylan, led the crowd in chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF,” referring to the Israel Defense Forces. Kneecap also led “Free Palestine” chants and criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had opposed their performance due to a band member’s prior terrorism charge for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag. Police are reviewing video evidence to determine if the chants constitute criminal offenses.
At the NATO summit in The Hague, all 32 member nations approved a five-point declaration committing to invest 5% of their GDP annually in defense and security-related spending by 2035. The agreement requires members to submit annual plans demonstrating a credible, incremental path to achieve this target, with a comprehensive review scheduled for 2029. The declaration allocates 3.5% of GDP to core defense needs, such as troops and weapons, and 1.5% to related areas like cybersecurity and infrastructure. Spain, initially resistant, agreed after securing flexibility to meet NATO capability targets with 2.1% GDP spending.
The Conference of European Rabbis (CER) rejected an apology from Borjana Krišto, chairwoman of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Council of Ministers, for the abrupt cancellation of their biannual Standing Committee meeting scheduled for June 16–18 in Sarajevo. The cancellation followed public pressure from Federal Minister of Labor and Social Policy Adnan Delić, who claimed the event would “legitimize a genocidal creation,” referring to Israel. CER President Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt welcomed Krišto’s letter, expressing regret and inviting him to visit but insisted that Delić, who led the campaign against the conference, must apologize. The CER, representing 50 chief rabbis, relocated the meeting to Munich. Goldschmidt called for Delić’s dismissal if he refuses to apologize.
