New York News
The Mexican Navy training ship Cuauhtémoc, a 297-foot-tall sailing vessel, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge while departing from Pier 17 in New York City, causing significant damage to its masts.
The ship, carrying 277 people, lost power around 8:20 p.m., leading to the crash that killed two crew members and injured 22, with 11 in critical condition. Emergency responders, including FDNY, NYPD Harbor Unit, and the U.S. Coast Guard, conducted a search and rescue operation, though no one fell into the East River. The injured were transported to nearby hospitals, with critical cases prioritized. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the mechanical failure, and the ship remains docked at Pier 36 for damage assessment. The Brooklyn Bridge sustained no major structural damage and reopened by 10:30 p.m.
Queens College faces a lawsuit alleging it purged six Jewish adjunct professors from its accounting department in May 2023. Filed by Helen Schwalb, a 66-year-old adjunct since 2012, the suit claims the college declined to reappoint her and five Jewish colleagues to “clean house” of Jewish staff, retaining younger, non-Jewish educators with lower performance ratings. Schwalb, who had high ratings and was assigned two fully enrolled summer courses reassigned to others, alleges discrimination amid rising campus antisemitism post-October 7, 2023. The college cites a 39% enrollment drop from 2020 to 2024, including an 18% decline from 2022 to 2023, as the reason for cuts. The lawsuit, filed in Brooklyn federal court, seeks unspecified damages. Queens College has not commented publicly.
A Marist College poll shows Andrew Cuomo leading the NYC Democratic mayoral primary with 37% of likely voters, ahead of Zohran Mamdani at 18%. Mamdani leads among voters under 45, with 38% support compared to Cuomo’s 18%. In a ranked-choice voting simulation, Cuomo wins the fifth round with 60% to Mamdani’s 40%. City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams has 9%, Brad Lander 8%, Scott Stringer 4%, Zellnor Myrie 3%, Jessica Ramos 2%, Whitney Tilson 1%, and Michael Blake under 1%. The poll, conducted May 1-8 with 3,383 likely Democratic voters, has a ±2.6% margin of error. Seventeen percent remain undecided, and 74% want a mayor who opposes President Trump.
The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB) settled with former Mayor Bill de Blasio for misusing city resources during his 2019 presidential campaign. De Blasio agreed to pay $329,794.20 in restitution and fines, including $100,000 already paid, for $319,794.20 in NYPD security travel costs for 31 out-of-state campaign trips. Despite a COIB warning in April 2019, he proceeded, violating ethics rules. De Blasio admitted the violation, expressed regret, and withdrew a related court appeal against the city’s $475,000 repayment demand. The settlement resolves a years-long probe, with COIB noting his cooperation but emphasizing accountability for using taxpayer funds for personal political gain.
New York University is withholding the diploma of Logan Rozos, a Gallatin School student, after he used his commencement speech to condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and accuse the U.S. of complicity. NYU stated Rozos lied about his speech’s content, violating university rules requiring prior approval. The speech sparked backlash from pro-Israel groups like the ADL, who called it divisive. NYU apologized, citing misuse of the platform, and is pursuing disciplinary action. Rozos, a 24-year-old actor, has not commented, but supporters, including CAIR, defend his free speech. The move reflects pressure on universities to curb pro-Palestinian activism amid Trump administration funding threats.
Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation in the FY 2026 State Budget to send inflation refund checks to 8.2 million New York households starting this fall. Single taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 will receive $200, while those earning between $75,001 and $150,000 get $150. Joint filers with incomes up to $150,000 will receive $400, and those earning between $150,001 and $300,000 will get $300. Eligible residents must have filed a 2023 state income tax return, not be claimed as dependents, and meet the income thresholds. The $2 billion initiative, funded by excess sales tax revenue, requires no action from recipients, with checks mailed between October and November.
NYC Public Schools will launch Hidden Voices: Jewish Americans in 2025, a curriculum highlighting Jewish contributions to U.S. history, starting as a pilot in five districts. It features figures like Levi Strauss, who revolutionized denim, and Ernestine Rose, a women’s rights advocate. Developed with the Museum of Jewish Heritage, the free resource includes lesson plans and primary sources to promote inclusion. Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos said it aims to foster understanding amid rising antisemitism, with 1,900 hate crimes reported in NYC in 2024. The curriculum, part of the Hidden Voices series, will be available to educators nationwide by fall, targeting 1.1 million students in NYC and beyond.
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani declined to sign state Assembly resolutions recognizing Israel’s 77th anniversary and condemning the Holocaust, drawing criticism in a city with a large Jewish population. His campaign cited disagreement with the Israel resolution’s claim that the country “strives for peace,” pointing to the actions of Israel’s current government, and noted he stopped co-sponsoring resolutions in 2025 due to his mayoral run. Mamdani, who has backed 88 similar measures previously, like those for Juneteenth and Black History Month, voted for the Holocaust resolution via voice vote but didn’t co-sponsor it since 2022. Critics, including Assemblymember Sam Berger, called his choices evidence of antisemitic tendencies, and images of his posts supporting Palestinians on October 8, 2023, resurfaced online.
US NEWS
Former President Joe Biden, 82, was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer on May 16, after reporting urinary symptoms that led to the discovery of a small prostate nodule. The cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 with metastasis to the bone, is hormone-sensitive, allowing for effective management through treatments like hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, or radiation, though it is not curable. Biden and his family are reviewing options with physicians. The diagnosis, announced on May 18, prompted bipartisan support from figures like President Trump and Vice President Harris, alongside questions about Biden’s health during his presidency. He expressed gratitude on X, stating, “Cancer touches us all,” and is focusing on treatment.
New Jersey Transit train engineers, represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, began a strike at 12:01 a.m. Friday, halting all rail service and affecting 350,000 daily commuters in New Jersey and New York City. The strike, the first in over 40 years, followed failed wage negotiations, with engineers demanding pay parity with Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, averaging $113,000 annually versus NJ Transit’s claim of $135,000. Picket lines formed at Penn Station, Newark, and Atlantic City. NJ Transit’s contingency plan included limited bus services, accommodating only 20% of riders, while PATH and Amtrak ran normally but didn’t accept NJ Transit tickets. The strike ended Sunday with a tentative deal, and full rail service resumed Tuesday after inspections.
U.S. Attorney Alina Habba charged Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) with assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement under Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 111(a)(1), a felony, stemming from a May 9 incident at Newark’s Delaney Hall ICE facility. Habba alleges McIver physically confronted ICE agents during a chaotic oversight visit with Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez, where Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested for trespassing. Video footage shows McIver pushing past agents as Baraka was detained. McIver called the charges “purely political,” asserting she was fulfilling congressional oversight duties. Habba dropped Baraka’s misdemeanor charge, inviting him to tour the facility. McIver’s attorney, Paul Fishman, labeled the prosecution “spectacularly inappropriate.”
Federal authorities arrested Ammar Abdulmajid-Mohamed Said, a 19-year-old former Michigan Army National Guard member from Melvindale, for planning a mass shooting at the U.S. Army’s Tank-Automotive & Armaments Command (TACOM) in Warren, Michigan, on behalf of ISIS. Said, unknowingly working with two undercover FBI agents, provided armor-piercing ammunition, flew a drone for reconnaissance, and trained agents in firearms and Molotov cocktail construction. Arrested after launching his drone near TACOM, he faces charges of attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization and distributing information on destructive devices, each carrying up to 20 years in prison. The FBI found jihad references and ISIS flags on his phone last July.
Miami Beach city commissioners unanimously passed a resolution directing the Economic Development Department to launch an initiative to attract Israeli and Jewish-owned companies to the city. The measure, led by Commissioner Joseph Magazine, aims to diversify the local economy beyond hospitality by targeting tech and finance sectors, where Israeli firms excel. The resolution positions Miami Beach as a strategic hub for these businesses to grow and invest, citing its growing office spaces and economic development focus. Commissioner Alex Fernandez praised the initiative, noting its significance as a non-Jewish-sponsored effort to support the city’s large Jewish community. The plan follows a trend of pro-Israel policies in Miami Beach, despite some public opposition labeling it divisive amid regional tensions.
The NHL indefinitely suspended Florida Panthers minority owner and vice chairman Doug Cifu for social media posts made during an exchange with a Toronto Maple Leafs fan after a playoff game. The fan compared Panthers’ hits to Israel’s actions in Gaza, prompting Cifu to call the fan a “51st state anti-semite loser” and state, “Israel now and forever. Until ever last Hamas rat is eliminated.” The NHL deemed these comments “unacceptable and inappropriate,” barring Cifu from team and league activities pending a meeting with Commissioner Gary Bettman. Cifu apologized, admitting his remarks were “regrettable and inflammatory” and not reflective of the Panthers’ standards, committing to work with the NHL to amend his actions. His X account, which had five Israeli flags in its bio, was deactivated.
Harvard University settled a lawsuit with Orthodox Jewish student Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum, who alleged the school failed to address antisemitism on campus. Filed in January 2025, the suit claimed Harvard ignored harassment of Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests. Both parties agreed to dismiss the case, with Harvard acknowledging its ongoing efforts to combat antisemitism, including policy reforms and increased security. The undisclosed settlement terms followed mediation, avoiding a trial. Kestenbaum, a Harvard Divinity School student, expressed satisfaction, noting the agreement ensures stronger protections for Jewish students. The resolution comes as Harvard faces a separate lawsuit over frozen federal funding tied to antisemitism concerns.
The U.S. Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security are investigating former FBI Director James Comey for a now-deleted Instagram post showing seashells arranged to form “8647,” captioned “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” Trump allies, including Donald Trump Jr. and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, alleged the post was a call to assassinate President Trump, the 47th president, as “86” can mean “to get rid of” or, less commonly, “to kill.” Comey, fired by Trump in 2017, denied any violent intent, stating he assumed the shells were a political message and removed the post after learning some linked the numbers to violence. He was interviewed by the Secret Service for about an hour on Friday and was not detained.
A car bomb exploded outside the American Reproductive Centers fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, killing one person and injuring four others. The blast, labeled an “intentional act of terrorism” by the FBI, occurred in a parking lot near North Indian Canyon Drive, damaging the clinic and nearby buildings, with debris scattered across a 250-yard radius. The suspect, identified as 25-year-old Guy Edward Bartkus from Twentynine Palms, died in the explosion and was linked to anti-natalist ideology, expressing anger over existence in online writings. The clinic’s IVF lab and embryos were unharmed, and it planned to resume operations at a temporary location. The FBI, ATF, and local police continue investigating, with no ongoing threat to the community.
John Anthony Miller, a 44-year-old Las Vegas man, was sentenced to 46 months in prison for making antisemitic threats against U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen, a Jewish Democrat and vocal Israel supporter. Miller pleaded guilty in November 2024 to one count of transmitting threatening communications after leaving violent voicemails at Rosen’s office, threatening to “finish what Hitler started,” and attempting to confront her at the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse in October 2023. He was arrested after trying to enter the courthouse armed with a knife. The FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office investigated, and U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson emphasized the case’s priority due to rising antisemitic threats, with 2,478 incidents reported nationwide in 2024. Miller must serve three years of supervised release post-incarceration.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning local governments from adding fluoride to public water systems, making Florida the second state after Utah to enact a statewide prohibition. The measure, signed in Dade City, prevents municipalities from implementing or continuing water fluoridation, despite opposition from dentists and public health advocates who argue fluoride reduces tooth decay. The law cites concerns about potential health risks, though studies like those from the CDC show no significant harm at recommended levels. Effective immediately, it impacts 13 million Floridians in fluoridated areas, with local governments given 90 days to comply. The Florida Dental Association called it a setback for oral health, noting 78% of U.S. communities use fluoridated water.
The U.S. Senate confirmed Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner, as U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco with a 51-45 vote. New Jersey Senator Cory Booker was the only Democrat to support the nomination, while Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski was the lone Republican to oppose it. President Donald Trump nominated Kushner, a real estate developer and philanthropist, praising his business acumen and dealmaking skills. Kushner, who was pardoned by Trump in 2020 after a 2005 conviction for tax evasion, witness tampering, and false statements, acknowledged his past mistakes during his confirmation hearing, stating they enhanced his judgment. He is expected to strengthen U.S.-France relations amid strained trade and security ties.
Israel NEWS
Tsala Gaz, a 30-year-old mother of three from Baruchin, was fatally shot in a terrorist attack on Route 446 in Samaria while en route to deliver her fourth child. Rabin Medical Center’s Beilinson Hospital performed an emergency cesarean section to save her baby, who was transferred to Schneider Children’s Hospital in serious condition. The newborn, named Ravid Chaim in a ceremony during shivah, has shown slight improvement and remains in serious but stable condition in the neonatal intensive care unit. Gaz’s husband, Hananel, sustained light injuries and was released. The IDF and Shin Bet continue a manhunt for the attacker, with roadblocks around Bruqin and Kafr ad-Dik.
The IDF and Shin Bet eliminated Mahdi Kawareh, a senior Hamas commander of the Southern Khan Yunis Battalion, in a targeted airstrike in central Khan Yunis, Gaza. Kawareh, a key figure in Hamas’s military operations, was involved in planning attacks against Israel, including the October 7, 2023, massacre. The operation, part of ongoing efforts to dismantle Hamas’s leadership, followed precise intelligence and occurred alongside the killing of Ahmed Sarhan of the Al-Nasser Salah al-Din Brigades by IDF special forces in a separate raid. Palestinian sources reported additional casualties, though exact figures vary. The strike aimed to disrupt Hamas’s command structure in the region, with the IDF continuing operations to neutralize threats and secure hostages.
The IDF confirmed a drone strike in Qaaqaait al-Jisr, southern Lebanon, killing Hussein Nehmeh Milhem Shomran, a Hezbollah commander leading the Qabrikha area’s forces. The strike targeted a vehicle in Wadi al-Hujayr, near Nabatieh, setting it ablaze, with Lebanon’s Health Ministry reporting one death. The IDF stated the operation countered Hezbollah’s efforts to rebuild terror infrastructure, violating the November 2024 ceasefire. Lebanese sources, including the National News Agency, verified the attack, while a separate Israeli drone crashed in Shebaa due to a malfunction, causing no casualties but damaging a home. The strike reflects ongoing tensions, with Israel targeting Hezbollah operatives deemed threats despite the truce.
Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv discharged former hostage Edan Alexander on Friday after he completed medical evaluations following his arrival on Monday. Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier held by Hamas for 583 days since October 7, 2023, was released on May 12 and reunited with his family. The hospital confirmed his stable condition and will continue supporting him and his family with ongoing care. His release, facilitated by U.S.-Hamas talks, marked a significant moment, with Alexander expressing gratitude to medical staff. The center emphasized its commitment to his recovery, amid celebrations in his hometown of Tenafly, New Jersey.
Tens of thousands of Haredi Jews gathered at Mount Meron in northern Israel to celebrate Lag BaOmer at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, marking the 33rd day of the Omer with bonfires, dancing, and prayers. The annual pilgrimage, one of Israel’s largest religious events, drew over 70,000 attendees despite security concerns from recent Hezbollah tensions. The IDF and police deployed 7,000 personnel, with drone surveillance and roadblocks ensuring safety, following the 2021 Meron disaster that killed 45 people. Festivities included music and Torah study, centered around the second-century sage’s yahrzeit. Local authorities reported no major incidents, though minor injuries from bonfires were treated by Magen David Adom. The event highlighted unity amid Israel’s ongoing conflicts.
WORLD NEWS
President Donald Trump finalized a $1.2 trillion economic deal with Qatar during a May 2025 visit, including a $96 billion order for 210 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 777X jets, supporting over 1 million U.S. jobs. The agreement also includes a $2 billion deal for eight General Atomics MQ-9B drones and a $1 billion contract for Raytheon’s counter-drone systems, making Qatar the first international buyer of the FS-LIDS system. A $38 billion defense investment plan bolsters Al Udeid Air Base, hosting 10,000 U.S. troops, and enhances air defense and maritime security. Signed with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the deals aim to strengthen U.S.-Qatar ties and counter regional threats, though critics cite ethical concerns over a Qatari jet gift.
Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, announced that he would take a leave of absence pending the outcome of a United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) investigation into allegations of misconduct. The probe, initiated in November 2024, is reportedly in its final stages, examining claims that Khan harassed a female colleague, including unwanted contact, and retaliated against staff supporting the accuser. Khan, who denies the allegations, has not resigned but temporarily stepped aside, with deputy prosecutors assuming his duties. His office sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in May 2024 for alleged war crimes in Gaza, a move that prompted U.S. sanctions against him in February 2025. The investigation’s conclusion may determine whether Khan faces a vote for removal by ICC member states.
Belgian police raided the homes of several mohels in Antwerp’s Jewish Quarter, seizing circumcision kits and demanding records of infants circumcised in the past year, following a complaint by Rabbi Moshe Aryeh Friedman alleging six mohels performed metzitzah b’peh. Rabbi Aharon Eckstein, among those targeted, denied the allegations, insisting he does not practice this custom, and vowed to continue circumcisions. Rabbi Menachem Margolin of the European Jewish Association condemned the raids as a violation of religious freedom, citing Belgium’s 2019 kosher slaughter ban as a precedent. No arrests were made, but the Jewish community, numbering about 18,000 in Antwerp, fears increasing restrictions, with MP Michael Freilich noting unclear laws on ritual circumcision.
Christian Zionists in South Korea opened a Holocaust museum in Paju, near Seoul, led by the Korea Israel Bible Institute (KIBI). The 1,940-square-foot facility, inaugurated features exhibits on the Holocaust, Jewish history, and Israel, responding to rising antisemitism and anti-Israel protests, including an April 22 incident where Israel’s Ambassador was harassed. KIBI’s leader, Mansuk Song, emphasized educating Koreans about genocide and showing solidarity with Jews. The museum, funded by community donations, follows an inactive Holocaust exhibit in Busan and aims to engage Paju’s cultural hub visitors. Israel’s Ambassador Rafi Harpaz attended the opening, praising its role in combating hatred.
