New York
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to build a $30 million taxpayer-funded grocery store in Harlem has drawn sharp criticism from supermarket industry leaders.
The proposed city-owned market, scheduled to open next year, would be the first of five municipally run stores intended to lower food costs in underserved neighborhoods. Critics argue the $30 million price tag is excessive and that the government-run model could unfairly compete with and damage existing private grocers in the area. Industry representatives warned that the initiative risks distorting the market and could lead to job losses among local businesses. Supporters of the plan claim it will provide affordable, fresh food to low-income residents where private options are limited.
A 44-year-old man was shot and killed by police at Grand Central Station after he stabbed three people with a machete and refused to drop the weapon. The man ignored approximately twenty commands from officers before he was fatally shot. The three victims and responding officers were transported to nearby hospitals in stable condition. The man had three prior arrests but no documented history as an emotionally disturbed person. The incident caused temporary chaos and lockdowns inside the busy transit hub during the morning rush. The NYPD is investigating the attack as a possible random act of violence.
Nearly 100 protesters were arrested during a demonstration in Manhattan organized by Jewish Voice for Peace calling on Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to block the sale of thousands of U.S. bombs to Israel. The crowd of hundreds initially attempted to stage a sit-in inside the senators’ offices, accusing them of complicity in Israel’s military actions in Lebanon and the ongoing U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran. After being ordered to disperse, protesters blocked streets outside the building, leading to the mass arrests. The NYPD said the demonstration caused significant traffic disruptions in Midtown.
A 39-year-old man was charged in connection with a three-alarm fire that damaged multiple businesses in Borough Park. Isidro Aquino is accused of entering a commercial building on Fort Hamilton Parkway near 53rd Street and deliberately starting the blaze before fleeing the scene. The fire quickly spread, requiring a large response from the FDNY. Aquino has a lengthy criminal record that includes at least 15 prior arrests. He faces charges including arson and reckless endangerment. Officials have not released further details on his full criminal history or a possible motive. The fire caused significant damage to several businesses but resulted in no reported injuries.
Former U.S. Congressman Eliot Engel has passed away at the age of 78. Engel, a Democrat who represented New York’s 16th Congressional District in the Bronx and southern Westchester for 32 years (1989–2021), died on March 24. A staunch pro-Israel voice in Congress, he served as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee from 2019 to 2021 and was known for his strong support of U.S.-Israel relations and his work on international human rights issues. He is remembered for his dedication to the memory of the kedoshim and the security of the Jewish people. Engel lost his seat in the 2020 Democratic primary to Jamaal Bowman.
U.S.
Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announced that he will resign from Congress effective immediately, citing mounting assault accusations and related scandals. The announcement came just one day after Swalwell dropped out of the California gubernatorial race. In a brief statement, Swalwell said the controversies had become a distraction from his legislative duties and that he had decided to step down to focus on his family and legal defense. The California Democratic Party is expected to call a special election to fill the vacancy in his East Bay district. Swalwell has denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated, but the claims have drawn intense scrutiny and calls for his resignation from both sides of the aisle.
President Donald Trump has officially authorized a full naval blockade of Iranian ports, effectively severing the country’s maritime trade routes after diplomatic talks in Islamabad collapsed without an agreement. The “Maximum Pressure 2.0” campaign involves U.S. carrier strike groups taking up strategic positions in the Gulf of Oman and the Strait of Hormuz to intercept all vessels entering or exiting Iranian waters. The administration stated that the move is a direct response to the regime’s continued harassment of commercial shipping and its refusal to dismantle its ballistic missile infrastructure. The blockade represents the most significant use of American naval power in the Middle East in decades, as the President vows to maintain the pressure until a “real agreement” is reached that addresses the regime’s nuclear ambitions and its support for regional proxies.
The FBI raided the Texas home of a 20-year-old suspect accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s residence in San Francisco. The early-morning raid took place at the suspect’s family home in a suburb outside Dallas. Authorities believe the individual traveled to California specifically to target Altman’s house in an apparent act of protest. The Molotov cocktail caused minor damage to the exterior of the property but no injuries. The suspect faces federal charges including arson and use of an incendiary device. The investigation is ongoing, and the suspect has not yet been taken into custody.
An immigration appeals board has denied Mahmoud Khalil’s latest bid to dismiss his deportation case, a ruling that brings the former Columbia University student and Palestinian activist one step closer to potential expulsion from the United States. The Board of Immigration Appeals issued the final administrative removal order last Thursday, following months of high-profile litigation over Khalil’s role in organizing campus protests that the government characterized as “aligned with hostile foreign interests.” Khalil, born in Syria, now faces the prospect of immediate re-detention as his legal team petitions for an emergency stay in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Israel
The IDF Home Front Command announced further easing of wartime restrictions as the ceasefire with Iran holds and fighting with Hezbollah continues along the northern border. In areas near the Lebanon border, education is now permitted only in protected spaces or reinforced classrooms. In the northern Golan Heights and Upper Galilee, schools may operate normally provided students can reach shelters within the required time. The military also expanded gathering limits, allowing up to 5,000 people in several southern and central regions, including Jerusalem, the Negev, Eilat, and communities along the Gaza border. Officials stressed that restrictions could be tightened again if security threats increase.
The IDF announced it has nearly completed the capture of the Hezbollah stronghold of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, killing more than 100 terror operatives and uncovering hundreds of weapons during the operation. Troops from the 98th Division, supported by paratroopers, commandos, and Givati Brigade forces, encircled the town, destroyed dozens of terror sites, and continue clearing operations to eliminate remaining Hezbollah fighters. Bint Jbeil holds significant symbolic value for Hezbollah as the site where Hassan Nasrallah delivered his famous 2000 “spider web” speech claiming Israel’s weakness. The IDF described the operation as a major blow to Hezbollah’s military infrastructure near the border and said it will maintain a presence in the area to prevent the group’s return.
Israeli police and security forces intercepted a garbage truck at the Samaria crossing and discovered 60 Palestinians hidden in the back, attempting to enter Israel illegally. All sixty individuals were arrested at the scene after being found packed tightly inside the vehicle in an apparent smuggling operation. Authorities described the incident as a serious attempt to bypass security checkpoints. The driver of the truck was also detained. No injuries were reported. The event highlights ongoing efforts by Israeli security forces to prevent unauthorized crossings from the West Bank into Israel amid heightened security concerns.
The IDF and Shin Bet announced that they eliminated an armed Hamas terror cell in Gaza last week that had approached the Yellow Line and was planning an imminent attack on Israeli troops. Among those neutralized was Yousef Ibrahim Mahmoud Basheti, a Hamas operative Israel identified as having participated in the anti-tank missile ambush that killed 21 IDF soldiers earlier in the war. The IDF stated the cell was actively preparing to carry out an attack when it was struck. The action was described as a proactive measure to prevent threats to chayalim operating along the security corridor in Gaza. No Israeli casualties were reported in the incident.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog will award the Presidential Medal of Honor to Argentine President Javier Milei during his upcoming official visit to Israel. The medal recognizes Milei’s strong and consistent support for Israel since taking office in December 2023. Israeli officials highlighted Milei’s vocal backing of families of the hostages, his firm opposition to antisemitism, diplomatic support at international forums, and his public commitment to move Argentina’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Herzog praised Milei as “a true friend of the Jewish people and the State of Israel.” The award is one of Israel’s highest civilian honors.
The IDF struck eight rail bridges and road sections across Iran, including key routes in Tehran, Karaj, Tabriz, Kashan, and Qom. The targets were chosen specifically because they were used by the Iranian regime to transport weapons, missiles, and military equipment. The IDF stated the operation was designed to disrupt Iran’s logistical capabilities and military supply lines. Prior to the strikes, the Israeli military issued warnings to Iranian civilians to avoid train travel and stay away from military-related infrastructure. No casualties were reported in the immediate aftermath.
WORLD
Last year saw the highest level of deadly violence against Jews in over three decades, according to an annual study released by Tel Aviv University’s Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry. Twenty Jews were murdered in antisemitic attacks worldwide in 2025, the highest annual death toll since the early 1990s. The report highlighted a sharp and sustained spike in violence that began after the October 7, 2023 massacre and Israel’s subsequent war in Gaza. Among the deadliest incidents was the shooting at a Chanukah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia. Researchers noted a dramatic rise in both lethal attacks and overall antisemitic incidents globally, describing 2025 as one of the most dangerous years for Jews since the end of the Second World War.
Hezbollah will not abide by any agreements reached in the upcoming direct Lebanon-Israel talks in Washington, a senior official warned. Wafiq Safa, a high-ranking member of Hezbollah’s political council, said the group firmly opposes the negotiations and will not consider itself bound by any outcome. The talks, expected to begin this week, mark the first face-to-face meeting between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in decades. The discussions are aimed at reaching a lasting ceasefire and implementing UN Resolution 1701, which calls for Hezbollah to withdraw north of the Litani River.
Hungary’s longtime leader Viktor Orbán suffered a landslide loss in national elections yesterday, marking the end of a 16-year far-right era that has significantly influenced European politics. The opposition coalition, led by a united front of center-left and moderate parties, secured a decisive majority in parliament, campaigning on a platform of restoring democratic institutions and re-aligning Hungary with the European Union. Orbán’s defeat is seen as a major turning point for the continent, as he was a key ally of populist movements worldwide and a vocal critic of the EU’s central leadership.
British law enforcement has disrupted a sophisticated Iranian-backed terror cell that was allegedly conducting surveillance on prominent Jewish community leaders and institutions in London. Ten suspects were taken into custody following a multi-month investigation that uncovered detailed plans for potential attacks against synagogues and community centers. The plot is believed to have been directed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as part of a broader “shadow war” against Jewish targets abroad in retaliation for the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
SPACE
NASA’s Artemis II mission successfully concluded when the Orion spacecraft splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean, marking a historic milestone in humanity’s return to deep space. The four-member international crew — NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen — completed a 10-day journey that took them farther from Earth than any humans have traveled since 1972. The spacecraft reached a maximum distance of approximately 270,000 miles from our planet and achieved a record-breaking re-entry speed of more than 24,500 mph. During the flight, the crew conducted critical tests of Orion’s life-support systems, navigation, and communication capabilities while performing a lunar flyby. The mission served as a crucial dress rehearsal for Artemis III, which aims to land astronauts on the lunar surface later this decade. NASA officials described the flawless return as a major validation of the Orion spacecraft and the SLS rocket system, paving the way for sustained human exploration and eventually sending astronauts to Mars.
