New York News
New York Governor Kathy Hochul stirred controversy by labeling New Yorkers who support Republican House candidates as “anti-American” and “anti-women,” implying that such votes align with anti-abortion stances and support for former President Donald Trump.
Hochul’s remarks, made during an MSNBC interview, were met with significant backlash, with critics arguing she was unfairly characterizing Republican voters and dismissing their values as contrary to American ideals. Her comments ignited debate across New York and beyond, reflecting the deep political divides and the charged nature of current electoral rhetoric.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams issued a drought watch after October brought record-low rainfall to Central Park, with only 0.01 inches instead of the typical 4.4 inches, marking the driest October in over 150 years. Adams encouraged residents to conserve water by shortening showers, fixing dripping faucets, turning off taps while brushing teeth, and sweeping instead of hosing sidewalks. The drought watch, the initial stage in a three-tier system of water conservation directives, is intended to prevent more serious shortages as the city faces additional strain from repairs on a major Catskill aqueduct, which has shifted more reliance to suburban reservoirs that received only 0.81 inches of rain last month. This flash drought—marked by sudden drying due to limited rain and unusually warm temperatures that reached the 70s and 80s along the Northeast—has impacted nearly half the U.S., constraining Mississippi River shipping and increasing wildfire risks, including deadly fires in Connecticut.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is facing backlash following a GOP-led House Education and Workforce Committee report alleging he advised Columbia University administrators to downplay criticism of their response to antisemitic incidents on campus after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The report claims Schumer assured then-president Minouche Shafik that scrutiny would only come from Republicans and recommended that Columbia “keep heads down” to avoid further attention. These allegations surfaced alongside revelations of increasing antisemitic harassment at Columbia, where Jewish students have reported death threats, physical intimidation, and vandalism. Schumer’s spokesperson denied the report’s validity, asserting Schumer has consistently condemned antisemitism. However, texts between Columbia trustees and Shafik indicated that after Schumer’s guidance, university leaders felt confident in avoiding further Republican scrutiny. The report also found Ivy League administrators intentionally refrained from condemning Hamas’ attacks in statements, intensifying accusations of institutional tolerance for antisemitism.
After a season marked by high hopes and a blockbuster acquisition of Juan Soto, the Yankees ended their 2024 campaign in heartbreak, falling to the Dodgers in a dramatic 7-6 loss in Game 5 of the World Series. General Manager Brian Cashman, who had touted Soto as a critical piece in their championship pursuit, now faces an offseason filled with questions, as the team’s World Series drought extends to 15 years. Aging stars Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, and Giancarlo Stanton performed valiantly but struggled at crucial moments, underscoring concerns about the team’s future. With Soto’s contract up and likely to demand a historic payday, the Yankees are left uncertain about whether they can keep their core intact or if they need to retool to remain contenders. Manager Aaron Boone expressed deep disappointment, calling the ending “cruel,” as the Dodgers celebrated on their home field—a painful reminder of the Yankees’ missed opportunity.
The 2024 TCS New York City Marathon saw more than 50,000 runners navigate the five boroughs, with Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui winning the women’s race in 2:24:35, edging out defending champion Hellen Obiri by nearly 15 seconds. Abdi Nageeye of the Netherlands took the men’s title with a time of 2:07:39, narrowly beating 2022 champion Evans Chebet. In the wheelchair division, Americans dominated: Daniel Romanchuk claimed the men’s title in 1:36:31, ending Marcel Hug’s three-year winning streak, while Susannah Scaroni won the women’s race in 1:48:05, finishing over 10 minutes ahead of fellow American Tatyana McFadden. This year marked the first time both wheelchair races were won by Americans. Winners in the open division earned $100,000, and wheelchair champions received $35,000 plus a $50,000 bonus for setting new course records.
US NEWS
A Chicago man, Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, is facing terrorism and hate crime charges after allegedly shooting a Jewish man on his way to a synagogue and later firing at responding officers in a weekend incident on the city’s North Side. Abdallahi, who was wounded by return fire from police, remains hospitalized and has not yet been interviewed by authorities due to his injuries. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling explained that digital evidence, including data from Abdallahi’s phone, indicated he specifically targeted individuals of Jewish faith. Abdallahi also faces multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated battery. Mayor Brandon Johnson denounced the attack as a hateful act against the Jewish community and emphasized that antisemitism contradicts Chicago’s values. Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx highlighted the unusual severity of terrorism charges in this case, underscoring the incident’s seriousness. Abdallahi’s next court date is set for November 7.
In Oregon and Washington, ballot boxes were reportedly set on fire by an individual possibly motivated by anti-Israel sentiments, with investigators discovering a note stating, “ALL DROP BOXES WILL BURN. FREE GAZA.” The fires, occurring between 3 and 4 a.m. on Monday, were detected at ballot boxes in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. A built-in fire suppressant at the Portland location minimized damage, but hundreds of ballots were destroyed at Vancouver’s Fisher’s Landing Transit Center. The FBI has taken over the investigation, linking these incidents to a similar attempted arson earlier in the month in Vancouver. Officials have advised affected voters to track their ballots online and request replacements if necessary, while limiting public details about the investigation to avoid deterring voters and prevent potential copycat incidents.
Jonathan Hirsch, a Jewish resident of Oakland, California, and his 5-year-old son were asked to leave Jerusalem Coffee House on Oct. 26 after the cafe’s owner, Abdulrahim Harara, confronted Hirsch over his Star of David hat, calling it “a violent hat” and repeatedly questioning if Hirsch was a Zionist. Harara, whose family is from Gaza and whose menu recently featured a drink named “Sweet Sinwar” after a Hamas leader, called the police; officers then escorted Hirsch and his son out, with Harara reportedly shouting anti-Zionist remarks as they left. The incident, captured on video, has sparked significant backlash, with Jeremy Russell of the Jewish Community Relations Council calling it “clear-cut anti-Jewish discrimination,” and Rep. Adam Schiff condemning the confrontation as blatant antisemitism, affirming that such bigotry has no place in California.
The U.S. economy added only 12,000 jobs in October, significantly below the expected 100,000, marking the smallest gain since December 2020, according to a dismal jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Friday. Additionally, revisions for August and September indicated that previously reported job growth was overestimated by about 112,000. The report highlighted notable declines in sectors such as temporary help services, which lost 49,000 jobs, and manufacturing, which saw a decrease of 46,000 jobs largely due to strike activity. The unemployment rate rose to 4.1%, up from 3.8% a year earlier, with approximately 7 million people unemployed. The Trump campaign quickly criticized the report, attributing the poor job numbers to the economic policies of President Biden and Vice President Harris, while emphasizing the impact on working-class Americans.
New Jersey’s largest newspaper, the Star-Ledger, will transition to an online-only format early next year, as announced by the Newark Morning Ledger Co, citing rising costs, decreasing circulation, and reduced demand for print copies. This shift comes amid a broader trend affecting local newspapers across the U.S., with two other New Jersey daily publications expected to end their print versions soon and the Jersey Journal set to cease publication entirely after 157 years. The move reflects significant challenges in the media industry, where local outlets have faced severe cutbacks, losing one-third of newspapers and two-thirds of newspaper journalists from 2005 to 2023, according to a Northwestern University study. The Star-Ledger will close its Montville production facility in February 2025, coinciding with the cessation of its print edition. The declining advertising climate and the decision by major outlets like the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times to limit endorsements have exacerbated subscriber losses and contributed to layoffs in journalism, particularly at the local level.
Unionized machinists at Boeing voted to ratify a new contract on Monday, ending a strike that lasted over seven weeks and allowing the aerospace company to resume production of its bestselling airliner. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers reported that 59% of members who voted accepted Boeing’s fourth formal offer, which includes a 38% pay increase over four years and bonuses for ratification and productivity. However, the company did not restore a pension plan that had been frozen nearly a decade ago. Despite the agreement, some workers expressed frustration, feeling that the union was unable to secure more of their demands. Boeing’s CEO Kelly Ortberg welcomed the ratification and emphasized the need for collaboration moving forward. The new contract allows approximately 33,000 workers to return to work as early as Wednesday, although full production may take a couple of weeks to resume due to retraining needs. Ortberg, who recently joined Boeing, announced plans to lay off about 10% of the workforce, approximately 17,000 employees, citing the strike’s impact and other challenges facing the company.
Bernard Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot and a prominent figure in American retail, passed away at the age of 95 at his home in Boca Raton, Florida, due to natural causes. Born to Russian-Jewish immigrants in Newark, New Jersey, Marcus helped establish Home Depot alongside Ken Langone and Arthur Blank, transforming it into the nation’s largest home-improvement chain with nearly 2,300 stores and a market valuation exceeding $400 billion. Renowned for his advocacy of free-market capitalism, Marcus was also a major philanthropist, donating millions to causes aligned with his beliefs, including the Jobs Creator Network, which he founded to support small businesses. A staunch Republican and supporter of Donald Trump, he remained politically active into his 90s, emphasizing the importance of entrepreneurship and opposing progressive policies. His passing was mourned by many, including the Home Depot family, who recognized him as a visionary leader who prioritized associates, customers, and communities.
Israel NEWS
A draft truce deal between Israel and Lebanon, as reported by Israel’s Kan News, outlines a plan for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to withdraw from Southern Lebanon within seven days, while allowing for defensive actions against any re-emerging threats. The eight-page document, presented to Israeli officials by U.S. presidential envoy Amos Hochstein, mandates that Hezbollah and other terrorist groups withdraw from the region within 60 days of signing the agreement. The deal will be supervised by the United States, along with unspecified countries and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Furthermore, it includes provisions for the Lebanese government to oversee any arms sales to local organizations and weapons production. The draft emphasizes the importance of implementing U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the Second Lebanon War in 2006, and aims to foster better living conditions for civilians on both sides of the Blue Line, the de facto border. However, U.S. National Security Council spokesman Sean Savett indicated that the circulating reports and drafts do not accurately represent the current state of negotiations.
Israel has officially terminated its 1967 agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), following the Knesset’s recent legislation that prohibits the agency’s operations within the country. The Foreign Ministry communicated this decision to U.N. General Assembly President Philemon Yang, stating that Israel will instead collaborate with other international partners to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza without compromising its security. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized UNRWA, claiming its staff were complicit in terrorism and that the organization has been ineffective in addressing the presence of Hamas operatives among its employees. He asserted that the majority of humanitarian aid in Gaza is already provided by other organizations, with only a small fraction delivered through UNRWA.
The IDF is reportedly exploring the formation of a new anti-tank unit utilizing weapons captured from Hezbollah, as detailed in an exclusive report by Israel Hayom. The decision comes after the IDF seized “tens of thousands” of anti-tank missiles, including Russian-designed Kornet and Iranian-designed Almas systems, which have counterparts produced in Israel. Initially contemplating the destruction of these weapons, the IDF has instead opted to transport them to Israel for repurposing, indicating a strategic shift in utilizing captured enemy armaments.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi was updated today on the progress of the Hasmonean Brigade, an in-development military unit specifically for ultra-Orthodox Jews. The IDF has completed the drafting of staff for this first Haredi brigade and has established the necessary infrastructure to induct its inaugural company next month. Senior military officers, including the chief of the Ground Forces, provided Halevi with details on the ongoing efforts to launch the brigade, which has been created in response to increasing public demands for the ultra-Orthodox community to contribute to military service alongside other sectors.
WORLD NEWS
Two senior members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) died in a light aircraft crash in southeastern Iran during an operational exercise. The deceased were identified as Commander Hamid Mazandarani, who commanded the Nineveh Brigade in Golestan province, and IRGC pilot Hamid Jandaqi, both of whom served in ground forces. The crash occurred during an exercise dedicated to honoring “Security Martyrs” in the Saravan region, and images of the wreckage were later shared across Arab media outlets.
Kemi Badenoch has been elected as the new leader of Britain’s Conservative Party, making history as the first Black woman to head the party following its significant defeat in the July elections. At 44, she succeeds Rishi Sunak and promises to rebuild the party on traditional conservative values, emphasizing freedom and individual responsibility while addressing contentious issues like transgender rights and “woke” ideology. Badenoch won a competitive leadership contest against former cabinet minister Robert Jenrick, securing 53,806 votes to his 41,388 among approximately 130,000 party members. Despite her rapid ascent, she faces a challenging political landscape, with the Labour Party holding a strong majority in Parliament and the Tories expected to remain in opposition for the next several years. Notably, she has refrained from outlining specific policies, opting instead to acknowledge past mistakes, which has led to questions about her approach as she prepares to navigate her party’s future.
