New York
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa arrived in New York on Sunday to participate in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, marking the first attendance by a Syrian head of state in nearly six decades.
The last Syrian president to address the assembly was in 1967, before the 50-year Assad family dynasty began. Al-Sharaa, who ousted Bashar al-Assad in a swift December offensive ending Syria’s 14-year civil war, leads a large delegation for his debut speech on Tuesday. The visit underscores his efforts to normalize ties with Arab nations and the West, despite initial concerns over his past al-Qaeda links. President Donald Trump met al-Sharaa in May and lifted most U.S. sanctions to support Syria’s stabilization. Relations with Israel remain tense, with hundreds of Israeli airstrikes on Syrian sites since Assad’s fall.
Eleven members of New York’s Syrian Jewish community attended a historic gathering in Manhattan with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, marking the first such meeting in decades. The event at the Mandarin Hotel drew hundreds of U.S.-based Syrians, where al-Sharaa praised the diaspora for portraying an accurate image of Syria and urged collaboration for reconstruction. Attendees described the encounter as emotional and unifying, with Syrian-American Jewish businessman Joe Jajati noting the warm welcome for Jews wearing kippahs. One participant, identified as Rabbi Yusuf Hamra, offered $100,000 to aid Syria’s rebuilding efforts, prompting al-Sharaa to laugh and call it too modest while expressing visible appreciation. Israel was not raised during the discussions, though al-Sharaa has previously floated a potential security agreement. The meeting signals thawing relations after years of estrangement under the Assad regime.
A federal appeals court in the Second Circuit upheld New York’s Concealed Carry Improvement Act, affirming restrictions that ban firearms in “sensitive” areas such as Times Square, subways, and commuter trains. The unanimous decision by the three-judge panel rejected challenges from gun owners and advocacy groups, who argued the law violated Second Amendment rights under the 2022 Supreme Court ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. The court found that the state’s regulations align with America’s historical tradition of limiting weapons in crowded public spaces to ensure safety. New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, “This decision upholds critical protections for New Yorkers.” The law, enacted after Bruen struck down prior carry restrictions, also includes parks and religious sites as restricted zones. Gun-rights groups vowed to appeal to the Supreme Court, citing inconsistent application across states. The ruling reinforces New York’s authority to regulate concealed carry in high-traffic urban areas.
New York City mayoral Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani proposed expanding the city’s sanctuary policies by allocating $100 million in taxpayer funds to provide legal aid for an estimated 400,000 undocumented immigrants facing deportation proceedings. The plan, outlined in his platform to resist federal immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, includes barring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from city facilities, protecting immigrant data from federal access, and boosting support services to prevent family separations. Mamdani stated the initiative would safeguard vulnerable communities while upholding New York’s status as a sanctuary city. The proposal drew criticism from Republicans, including former ICE Director Tom Homan, who argued federal law supersedes local measures and vowed enforcement actions. Campaign finance records show Mamdani received over $14,600 from legal-aid groups like Brooklyn Defender Services that assist immigrants. The funding would come from reallocating city budgets amid fiscal pressures, prioritizing equity for the 37-percent foreign-born population. Mamdani leads polls by double digits ahead of the November election.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested Thursday by Department of Homeland Security agents at 26 Federal Plaza, marking his second detention at the facility following a June incident where he was accused of assaulting officers while escorting an immigrant from court. Lander, along with 10 other Democratic state officials, including Public Advocate Jumaane Williams and State Senators Julia Salazar and Jabari Brisport, staged a sit-in on the 10th floor outside ICE holding cells, refusing to leave until granted access for inspection. The group unfurled a “NYers Against ICE” banner and chanted during the hour-long standoff, prompting DHS officers to use zip ties for removal. All 11 were released without charges after processing. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin criticized the action as a “stunt” endangering personnel, stating, “No one is above the law.”
U.S.
The memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk drew an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 attendees at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, reaching its 63,400-seat capacity with thousands more in overflow areas. The five-hour event, hosted by Turning Point USA, featured worship music, prayers, and a lineup of prominent speakers honoring Kirk’s legacy in mobilizing young conservatives and promoting traditional values. Erika Kirk, the widow, delivered an emotional eulogy, forgiving the accused gunman and stating, “He died with incomplete work, but nothing that was unfinished business.” President Donald Trump called Kirk a “martyr for American freedom,” revealing his final words urged saving Chicago from crime. Vice President JD Vance praised Kirk’s role in his selection, while White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller vowed a crackdown on radical-left threats. Other speakers included Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Marco Rubio, and Benny Johnson, blending faith and politics. Super-Bowl-level security ensured a peaceful tribute to the 31-year-old’s influence.
The White House released a photo of President Donald Trump and Elon Musk seated together at the memorial service for Charlie Kirk, marking their first public appearance side by side since a falling-out three months earlier. The image, captured during the hours-long event attended by tens of thousands, shows the two shaking hands and conversing behind bulletproof glass in a private suite. Musk posted the same photo on X with the caption “For Charlie,” which the White House reposted via its Rapid Response 47 account, adding a heart emoji and handshake symbol. The reunion follows Musk’s departure as head of the Department of Government Efficiency in May, after he criticized the administration’s tax and spending bill as fiscally destructive. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that Musk approached him, stating, “I thought it was nice, he came over, we had a little conversation.”
A masked gunman shouting “Free Palestine” opened fire at a wedding reception in Nashua, New Hampshire, killing one guest just as the couple prepared for their first dance. Witnesses reported the suspect, dressed in black, raised his middle finger toward guests before firing a handgun around 8:30 p.m. Police arrested the man, charging him with second-degree murder in the death of a guest with no known connection to the shooter. A former employee at the venue, the shooter also wounded two other adults with gunfire. At least four more individuals suffered non-gunshot injuries while fleeing the chaos. The New Hampshire Attorney General stated that the gunman made multiple erratic statements during the incident.
Federal prosecutors disclosed in a court filing that Elias Rodriguez, accused of fatally shooting two Israeli Embassy staff members outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, wore a body camera capturing the killings from his close-range perspective. Rodriguez purchased the device online and had it delivered to his hotel before the May 21 attack, underscoring the premeditated nature of the crime. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky, 30, a German-Israeli embassy employee, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, a U.S. citizen and his partner, were killed as they left an American Jewish Committee event for young diplomats. Rodriguez flew from Chicago the day prior with a declared handgun in checked luggage and shouted “Free Palestine” during the shooting. He entered the museum afterward, stating, “I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza, I am unarmed.” A police body camera recorded his arrest inside. Rodriguez faces federal hate-crime and first-degree murder charges, with prosecutors yet to decide on seeking the death penalty.
The White House announced a new deal with China ensuring U.S. companies control TikTok’s video algorithm and data privacy, with Oracle leading the latter to safeguard against Beijing’s influence. The agreement establishes a seven-seat board overseeing U.S. operations, where six members are Americans, making the platform majority-owned domestically. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Fox News, “This deal means that TikTok will be majority-owned by Americans in the United States,” emphasizing the finalization of terms following President Trump’s call with Xi Jinping. The structure addresses national-security concerns from a 2024 bipartisan law mandating divestiture or a ban by January 2025.
The U.S. Senate confirmed former National Security Advisor and Florida Congressman Mike Waltz as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations on Friday in a 95–4 vote, filling President Donald Trump’s final Cabinet vacancy. Waltz, a retired Army Green Beret, was nominated on May 1 after Trump withdrew Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination due to House majority concerns. During his July Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Waltz emphasized UN reforms and countering China’s influence, stating, “Strong American leadership is critical to global stability.” Despite objections from Sen. Rand Paul over Waltz’s inclusion of a journalist in a sensitive Signal group chat, three Democrats joined Republicans in support. Waltz will represent the U.S. at the upcoming UN General Assembly amid tensions with Iran and Russia.
A drive-by shooting targeted the Sacramento ABC affiliate KXTV (ABC10) on Friday afternoon, with at least three bullets striking the lobby window at the building. The incident occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m., while the station was occupied, but no employees or visitors were injured. Authorities arrested 64-year-old local resident Anibal Hernandez-Santana at his home after identifying his vehicle via surveillance footage. He faced state charges including assault with a deadly weapon, shooting into an occupied building, and negligent discharge of a firearm, with bail set at $200,000. Hernandez-Santana posted bond Saturday morning but was re-arrested hours later by the FBI on a federal charge related to interfering with licensed radio communications.
Israel
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the elimination of Iyad Abu Yusuf, deputy commander of Hamas’ Naval Police, in a precision airstrike on the Central Camps in central Gaza. The operation, executed by the Israeli Air Force with intelligence guidance from the Israeli Navy and Military Intelligence Directorate, targeted Yusuf amid intensified ground maneuvers under Operation Gideon’s Chariots II. An IDF spokesperson stated that the strike significantly degraded Hamas’ naval capabilities, which include intelligence gathering on Israeli forces. Yusuf participated in the 10/7 invasion and massacre in southern Israel, where he crossed the border to perpetrate attacks. During subsequent Gaza operations, he orchestrated ambushes against IDF troops and oversaw security for the group’s military assets across the Strip. No civilian casualties were reported in the vicinity.
Edan Alexander, a former American-Israeli hostage held by Hamas for nearly 600 days, announced at a Friends of the Israel Defense Forces dinner in Manhattan that he will return to Israel next month to reenlist in the IDF. Speaking to over 1,000 attendees, Alexander, who was freed in a May 2024 prisoner exchange after his October 7, 2023, abduction from Kibbutz Nir Oz, described serving Israel as “one of the greatest honors of my life.” He vowed to fight “alongside my brothers” to defend his homeland, stating, “My story does not end with survival—it continues with service.” The crowd erupted in cheers, reflecting strong support for his decision. Alexander, a 26-year-old dual citizen, previously served as a combat soldier before his capture. The event raised funds for IDF welfare programs.
Hamas released a new propaganda video featuring Israeli hostage Alon Ohel on Monday, marking the second such clip this month amid stalled ceasefire negotiations. The footage, timed for Rosh HaShanah eve, shows Ohel, 24, briefly encountering fellow captive Guy Gilboa-Dalal in Gaza City, where Ohel states his death is “inevitable” due to deteriorating conditions and lack of medical care. Ohel, abducted from the Nova music festival, has endured 717 days in captivity and suffers from shrapnel injuries that blinded his right eye, as confirmed by his family after consulting specialists. The family urged media not to publish the video without approval, emphasizing Hamas’ obligation under international law to provide treatment. Gilboa-Dalal, appearing gaunt, pleads for release and criticizes Israel’s military operations. Israeli officials condemned the release as psychological warfare, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing continued pressure on the terror group. Of the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza, about 20 are believed to be alive.
WORLD
Pro-Palestinian protesters in Italy sparked widespread unrest after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government rejected recognizing a Palestinian state at the UN. Dockworkers in Genoa and Livorno blocked port access roads to stop arms and supplies bound for Israel, disrupting maritime trade. In Milan, police in riot gear clashed with demonstrators near the central station, using tear gas and water cannons after protesters threw stones and erected barricades, leading to 10 arrests and 60 injured officers. Nationwide strikes, led by the USB union, halted trains and closed schools in Rome, Turin, and Naples. Meloni condemned the violence as “unworthy,” stating it harms the Palestinian cause. The protests reflect Italy’s alignment with U.S. policy amid global recognitions of Palestine.
Hundreds of Iranian Jews gathered at the Yusef Abad Synagogue, known as Sukkat Shalom, in Tehran for the final night of Selichot prayers, a penitential tradition preceding Rosh HaShanah. The event, held at the largest synagogue in the city with a capacity exceeding 800, drew community members from across the capital’s estimated 6,000 to 7,000 Jews. Chief Rabbi Yehuda Gerami, spiritual leader of Iran’s Jewish community since 2011, led the solemn recitations, emphasizing themes of atonement and unity. The gathering also incorporated Hatarat Nedarim, a ceremony annulling vows, underscoring the observance’s spiritual depth. Gerami, who oversees kosher supervision and synagogues nationwide, highlighted the resilience of Jewish life in Iran despite regional tensions. Attendees described the atmosphere as poignant, reflecting on heritage amid global challenges. The synagogue serves as a central hub for cultural and religious activities.
Dutch authorities arrested a suspect after he attempted to break into the Israeli Embassy in The Hague and set fire to its lobby using arson materials, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry. Local police responded swiftly to the violent intrusion attempt, detaining the individual on site without any injuries or damage reported. All embassy staff remained safe, and the building’s security systems facilitated the rapid intervention. This marks the second assault on the embassy in over a month, following an August vandalism in which three individuals smashed the front door and splashed red paint. Israeli Ambassador to the Netherlands Zvi Vapni described the act as “another vile act” of hate, emphasizing resilience amid rising threats to Israeli targets abroad.
A cyberattack on Collins Aerospace’s check-in and boarding systems, provided to multiple airlines, extended into a second day on Sunday, disrupting operations at major European airports including Brussels, London Heathrow, Berlin Brandenburg, and Dublin. The incident, identified as ransomware by the EU Agency for Cybersecurity, forced reliance on manual procedures and caused widespread delays and cancellations. Brussels Airport, the most severely affected, reported scrapping 25 flights on Saturday and 50 on Sunday, while requesting airlines cancel nearly 140 of Monday’s scheduled departures to avoid chaos.
Authorities in Hong Kong evacuated approximately 6,000 residents from 1,900 households in the Quarry Bay neighborhood overnight on Friday to enable experts to defuse a large U.S.-made World War II bomb uncovered by construction workers at a site on Pan Hoi Street. The unexploded ordnance, identified as a 1,000-pound M65 general-purpose bomb containing about 500 pounds of TNT, measured 1.5 meters in length and was believed to remain fully functional due to high production standards. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau used sandbags and specialist equipment during the 12-hour operation, which concluded successfully around 11:30 a.m. Saturday without injuries. The bomb likely originated from a 1945 U.S. air raid on the former Taikoo Sugar Refinery to disrupt Japanese operations. Such wartime remnants surface periodically in Hong Kong, prompting similar emergency responses.
