New York
Rep. Elise Stefanik officially launched her campaign for governor of New York, presenting herself as a strong Republican alternative to Governor Kathy Hochul.
In her announcement, Stefanik called New York “the most unaffordable state in the nation,” blaming Democratic leadership for high taxes, burdensome regulations, and rising costs of living. She pledged to restore affordability, strengthen public safety, and “make New York safe and affordable for all.” Emphasizing her upstate roots and alignment with working families, Stefanik criticized Hochul’s policies as out of touch with everyday New Yorkers. Her campaign quickly drew attention from conservatives and former Republican officials, including endorsements from members of the state legislature and former governor George Pataki, underscoring her position as the party’s leading contender for the race.
Security camera footage captured a vandal spray-painting a large red swastika on the facade of Magen David Yeshiva High School in Brooklyn’s Gravesend neighborhood. The suspect, dressed in attire including a black suit and a black fedora to mimic a yeshiva student, was clearly impersonating one, with mismatched clothing and awkward demeanor giving away the disguise. NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force released stills and video showing the individual shaking the can vigorously before defacing the building, then fleeing. School officials discovered the graffiti Saturday morning, prompting swift cleanup. Principal Rabbi Saul Zucker called the act “cowardly” but emphasized community resilience. Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to arrest. The incident marks the third antisemitic vandalism at a Brooklyn Jewish institution in two weeks, amid a 40 percent spike in hate crimes citywide. Investigators are enhancing footage for identification and urge tips to Crime Stoppers.
Former NYPD officer Andrew Nguyen, from the Harriman–Monroe area, was indicted on federal corruption and narcotics charges after prosecutors said he accepted about $30,000 in bribes while providing protection and transport for drug traffickers. Over a span of three years, Nguyen allegedly used his badge and position to shield criminal activity, tipping off associates about police operations and escorting drug shipments through the city. Federal authorities called the conduct a “betrayal of oath and public trust,” emphasizing that it undermined confidence in law enforcement. Nguyen was taken into custody following a joint investigation by the FBI and NYPD Internal Affairs. If convicted, he faces severe penalties, including a potential life sentence, for conspiracy and obstruction tied to drug trafficking operations.
Zohran Mamdani announced two key appointments to lead his incoming New York City administration, naming Dean Fuleihan as First Deputy Mayor and Elle Bisgaard-Church as Chief of Staff. Fuleihan is a veteran of city government who previously served in the same role under Bill de Blasio. Bisgaard-Church, who managed Mamdani’s campaign, is set to oversee the mayor’s political and administrative coordination from City Hall. The selections signal a mix of establishment expertise and ideological loyalty, pairing an experienced technocrat with a close campaign ally.
FDNY firefighter Patrick Brady was killed while battling a massive five-alarm fire in a six-story apartment building on Kings Highway in Brownsville, Brooklyn. Officials said Brady and his team were working to evacuate residents and contain the rapidly spreading blaze when conditions suddenly deteriorated, trapping several firefighters inside. Crews fought for hours to bring the inferno under control amid heavy smoke and intense heat. Brady was later recovered and pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. City leaders and fellow firefighters mourned his loss, calling him a hero who gave his life protecting others. The incident marked one of the department’s deadliest in recent years, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding Brady’s death.
New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a motion in Norfolk federal court to dismiss mortgage fraud charges against her, labeling the indictment a “vindictive prosecution” orchestrated by President Donald Trump in retaliation for her $454 million civil fraud judgment against him in 2023. The 42-page filing cites Trump’s repeated Truth Social attacks calling her “corrupt” and vowing “justice,” arguing these demonstrate selective enforcement absent in similar cases. Prosecutors allege James misrepresented a 2020 Virginia home purchase as a secondary residence to secure lower rates, though no lender loss occurred. U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, a Trump appointee, defended the case as evidence-based, rejecting political bias claims. James’ lawyers invoked Supreme Court precedent requiring proof of animus and novelty in prosecution. The motion follows interim filings and awaits a judge’s ruling, with a hearing set for December.
President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to former New York Mets and Yankees star Darryl Strawberry for his 1995 tax evasion conviction and related drug offenses, citing the eight-time All-Star’s embrace of Christianity and over a decade of sobriety. A White House official confirmed the clemency, stating Strawberry served time, repaid taxes, and transformed his life through ministry work, including founding the Darryl Strawberry Recovery Center in Florida. Strawberry, 63, revealed Trump personally called him to deliver the news, praising his 1980s dominance and Mets legacy before announcing the pardon. In an Instagram post, Strawberry expressed gratitude, saying the act allowed him to be “truly free and clean from all of my past” and had “nothing to do with politics” but a friend’s compassion. The pardon fits Trump’s active use of clemency in his second term, following recent actions for figures like George Santos and Changpeng Zhao. Strawberry’s career, marked by three World Series titles and 335 home runs, was overshadowed by addiction struggles leading to multiple suspensions and prison stints.
U.S.
The Senate passed a bipartisan agreement to end the 41-day government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—by approving a continuing resolution extending funding through January 30, 2026, alongside a “minibus” of three full-year appropriations bills for agriculture, military construction-VA, and the legislative branch. The breakthrough came Sunday when five Democratic senators—Dick Durbin (IL), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Maggie Hassan (NH), Jacky Rosen (NV), and Tim Kaine (VA)—flipped to join Republicans, providing the 60 votes needed to advance the House-passed CR. Consistent Democratic supporters Catherine Cortez-Masto (NV), Angus King (I-ME), and John Fetterman (PA) voted with the GOP again. Senate Majority Leader John Thune guaranteed a December vote on Democrats’ Affordable Care Act tax credit extensions, rejecting earlier one-year proposals as non-starters. The deal reinstates workers affected by reductions in force and averts further SNAP disruptions. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposed the package for lacking immediate health care relief, but the House is expected to approve it. President Trump is set to sign the legislation, framing the resolution as a win for stability without major concessions.
President Donald Trump issued full pardons on Monday to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, attorneys John Eastman and Christina Bobb, ex-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, advisor Boris Epshteyn, and 74 Republican alternate electors from seven states charged with submitting false certificates after the 2020 election. Pardon attorney Ed Martin announced the clemencies, covering dozens convicted or indicted for efforts to challenge election results, including conspiracy and forgery charges. Trump described the recipients as “hostages” persecuted by a “weaponized Justice Department,” stating, “These patriots fought for election integrity and were unfairly targeted.” Giuliani faced disbarment and racketeering charges in Georgia; Eastman and Meadows were indicted for advising slate submissions; Bobb and Epshteyn handled legal defenses. The electors, from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, avoided prison through plea deals or dismissals post-2024 Supreme Court rulings.
Flight cancellations across the U.S. continued despite the Senate’s vote to end the 41-day government shutdown, with airlines scrubbing over 1,600 flights that day and nearly 1,000 for Tuesday due to persistent air traffic controller shortages at key facilities. The Federal Aviation Administration imposed capacity restrictions at hubs like JFK, Newark, and Philadelphia, where unpaid controllers called out sick at rates up to 30 percent, forcing ground stops and delays averaging 90 minutes. Major carriers including Delta, United, and American bore the brunt, rerouting passengers and issuing waivers for changes through November 15. International operations remained unaffected as they rely less on domestic TRACON systems. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned disruptions could linger 7-10 days post-funding restoration as workers return and backlog clears. The crisis highlighted vulnerabilities in FAA staffing, already 3,000 controllers short pre-shutdown, prompting calls for hazard pay and recruitment reforms.
President Donald Trump proposed introducing 50-year mortgages to reduce monthly housing payments for first-time buyers amid persistent affordability challenges. Speaking at a Nevada rally, Trump stated the extended terms would “make homeownership possible again” by slashing payments by up to 20 percent compared to standard 30-year loans. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte endorsed the idea as a “game changer” for millennials burdened by high rates and prices. The plan requires congressional action to amend Dodd-Frank Act provisions capping most mortgages at 30 years for safety reasons post-2008 crisis.
White House physician Dr. Mehmet Oz confirmed that National Security Advisor Gordon Findlay fainted in the Oval Office during a briefing on Iran sanctions, attributing the episode to dehydration and low blood sugar after Findlay skipped breakfast. President Donald Trump immediately assisted the 58-year-old advisor to a couch, loosened his tie, and personally called Findlay’s wife, Jennifer, to reassure her while medical staff administered fluids. Oz stated, “The president was calm and decisive—he even joked that Gordon works too hard for this administration.” Findlay regained consciousness within minutes, refused ambulance transport, and returned to duties after a 30-minute rest and examination showing normal vitals. Trump later posted on Truth Social praising Findlay’s dedication, saying, “Gordon is a warrior—back on his feet stronger than ever!” Findlay, a former Army colonel appointed in September, has no prior health issues reported.
President Donald Trump will host Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at the White House, announcing Syria’s formal integration into the U.S.-led anti-ISIS coalition and a comprehensive sanctions relief package. The measures include an immediate 180-day suspension of the Caesar Act, lifting restrictions on humanitarian aid, reconstruction, and energy imports, alongside full removal of secondary sanctions on entities engaging with Damascus. Trump stated the deal rewards al-Sharaa’s December ouster of Bashar al-Assad and commitment to counterterrorism, declaring, “Syria is back in the fight against radical Islamic terrorism.” The U.S. will reopen Syria’s embassy in Washington, closed since 2014, and appoint a chargé d’affaires. In exchange, al-Sharaa pledged to dismantle remaining ISIS cells, expel Iranian forces, and hold inclusive elections by 2027. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called it a “strategic realignment” for Middle East stability.
Israel
Israel Police and Shin Bet arrested a 27-year-old Tel Aviv resident for allegedly spying on behalf of Iran, marking another case of Iranian recruitment via social media. The suspect, identified only as “A,” initiated contact with Iranian handlers through encrypted platforms, offering services in exchange for cryptocurrency payments totaling thousands of shekels. He photographed sensitive sites, including missile impact locations from recent barrages, military bases, and infrastructure, transmitting images and reports to his contacts. Investigators uncovered instructions to gather intelligence on public figures and potential targets. The arrest followed a joint operation after suspicious activity flagged his communications. A gag order was partially lifted Monday, with the suspect remanded in custody pending indictment on charges of contact with a foreign agent and assisting an enemy in war. Shin Bet warned of Iran’s aggressive online recruitment targeting Israelis for espionage and sabotage. This incident is the 12th such arrest since October 2023, highlighting persistent threats from Tehran-backed networks.
Thousands of mourners lined the streets of Netanya and Tel Aviv as the funeral procession for Staff Sgt. Itay Chen, 19, traveled from his family home to Kiryat Shaul Cemetery. Chen, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen serving in the 7th Armored Brigade, was confirmed killed on October 7, 2023, at Nahal Oz base after Hamas released partial remains earlier this month under the Trump-brokered ceasefire. His father, Ruby Chen, an American citizen who advocated tirelessly in Washington, carried the flag-draped casket alongside siblings and IDF comrades. Public figures including U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, and Defense Minister Israel Katz attended the burial. Ruby Chen eulogized his son as “a gentle warrior who loved basketball and making people laugh,” thanking President Trump for securing the return of Itay’s remains. The ceremony concluded with Kaddish and a 21-gun salute, marking the 47th hostage burial since the ceasefire began.
Lt. Hadar Goldin, the Givati Brigade officer killed and abducted by Hamas during a humanitarian ceasefire in Rafah on August 1, 2014, was laid to rest after his remains were returned to Israel following 11 years in captivity. Hamas retrieved the body from a tunnel in an IDF-controlled area of Gaza and transferred it via the Red Cross to Israeli authorities, who confirmed identity at Abu Kabir forensic institute. Thousands attended the funeral at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery, including President Isaac Herzog, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. Goldin’s twin brother Tzur delivered a tearful eulogy, stating, “We never stopped fighting for you, and now you’re home.” The return, part of phase one of President Trump’s 20-point peace plan, brought closure to the Goldin family, who campaigned relentlessly for Hadar and civilian Oron Shaul, whose remains are still held. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a sacred moment of national healing.”
Mexican authorities, with assistance from U.S. and Israeli intelligence, thwarted an Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps plot to assassinate Israel’s ambassador to Mexico, Einat Kranz Neiger, which was planned from late 2024 through mid-2025. The operation, directed by the IRGC’s Quds Force Unit 11000, was coordinated by officer Hasan Izadi from Iran’s embassy in Venezuela, highlighting Tehran’s expanding terror networks in Latin America. U.S. officials confirmed the plot posed no current threat after disruption last summer, stating, “This is just the latest in a long history of assassination attempts by Iran.” The scheme fits Iran’s pattern of targeting Israeli diplomats abroad, including recent foiled attempts in Europe and Australia.
WORLD
Iran sentenced Kamran Hekmati, a 70-year-old Iranian-American Jewish jeweler from Great Neck, to one year in prison for visiting Israel in 2012 to celebrate his son’s bar mitzvah, violating a law banning Iranian citizens from traveling there. Hekmati, who immigrated to the U.S. at age 13 and holds dual citizenship, arrived in Iran in May for a family visit but was detained in July and held in prison. An Islamic Revolutionary Court initially imposed a four-year term in August, reduced to two years in September, then halved again, with an appeal pending. Family members, speaking anonymously, described Hekmati as apolitical and in poor health with aggressive bladder cancer, urging humanitarian release. Iran’s UN mission declined comment, while the U.S. State Department demanded his immediate freedom alongside three other detained Americans.
Poland unveiled its inaugural national strategy to combat antisemitism and foster Jewish life for 2025–2030, announced by Justice Undersecretary Maria Ejchart at the European Jewish Association conference in Kraków. The comprehensive draft allocates dedicated budgets across ministries, prioritizing heightened security for synagogues, cemeteries, and community centers amid rising incidents. It mandates expanded Holocaust education in schools, preservation of Jewish heritage sites, and promotion of cultural initiatives to rebuild ties severed by history. Ejchart emphasized the plan’s role in addressing “all forms of hatred,” aligning with EU standards while responding to domestic concerns from groups like the Union of Jewish Communities. Developed with input from Jewish organizations and international experts, the strategy undergoes inter-ministerial consultations before parliamentary review. Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government frames it as a moral imperative for a nation rebuilding its Jewish legacy post-Holocaust and communism. Implementation begins pending final approval early next year.
The Vatican launched an internal investigation into a Swiss Guard accused of spitting toward two Jewish women and shouting “les juifs” during a general audience on the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the landmark declaration rejecting antisemitism. The incident occurred as Pope Francis addressed thousands in St. Peter’s Square, reaffirming that “antisemitism is a sin against G-d and humanity.” Witnesses reported the uniformed guard making the gesture near the bronze doors after the women, wearing visible Stars of David, passed security. The Pontifical Swiss Guard commander immediately removed the individual from duty pending results. Jewish advocacy groups, including the ADL, welcomed the swift response while urging full transparency.
U.S. Central Command forces executed a lethal strike on a vessel in international waters of the Caribbean Sea targeting operatives of a designated foreign terrorist organization engaged in narcotics trafficking to fund terrorist activities. The precision operation neutralized three male narco-terrorists aboard the speedboat, which was intercepted after intelligence confirmed its role in smuggling routes supporting groups like the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia dissidents. No U.S. personnel were injured, and the vessel was destroyed to prevent reuse. The strike aligns with President Trump’s directive to intensify operations against transnational crime networks, building on prior interdictions seizing over 50 tons of cocaine this year.
