New York
Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced new state support measures to address the city’s budget deficit ahead of the release of Mayor Mamdani’s Fiscal Year 2027 Executive Budget.
In partnership with the state legislature, Governor Hochul secured an additional $4 billion in gap-closing aid, increasing total new state assistance to New York City to nearly $8 billion over two years. The announcement highlights ongoing efforts to stabilize city finances through direct state transfers. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, the Republican candidate for governor, sharply criticized the plan. “Kathy Hochul just committed the largest daylight robbery in New York history, looting $4 billion from your family’s grocery and rent budget to bankroll Zohran Mamdani’s socialist experiment,” Blakeman said. He added that the funds were being taken from police and schools statewide to support a radical agenda, promising that as governor he would cut taxes, reduce utility bills, and return money to taxpayers.
Swastikas were discovered in two public parks in Queens, prompting condemnation from New York City officials amid a recent rise in antisemitic vandalism across the borough. At least 11 swastikas were found spray-painted in Highland Park and Forest Park, according to a statement released Monday by Julie Menin. The incidents represent the latest examples of hateful graffiti targeting Jewish communities in the area. City leaders expressed strong disapproval of the vandalism and pledged to address the growing problem. Officials emphasized the need for swift investigation and prosecution to deter further acts. The discoveries come as reports of antisemitic incidents have increased in Queens over recent months. Authorities continue to gather evidence and encourage public tips to identify those responsible.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is expected to eliminate a proposed 9.5 percent property tax hike on homeowners from his plan to close the city’s $5.4 billion budget gap. The increase had been introduced in February as a last-resort measure if state leaders in Albany declined to approve new taxes on high earners and corporations. It drew strong opposition from the City Council, homeowners, and business groups across the city. As Mamdani prepares to release his Fiscal Year 2027 executive budget, officials will instead emphasize spending efficiencies, revised revenue estimates, and anticipated state aid. The shift avoids placing additional tax burdens on property owners amid persistent fiscal pressures. City leaders described the adjustment as a response to stakeholder feedback while maintaining efforts to balance the budget. This decision comes after earlier announcements of nearly $8 billion in new state assistance over two years.
A Jewish community venue in Brooklyn came under siege Monday evening when a hostile pro-Palestinian demonstration descended on the neighborhood, prompting a strong counter-presence from pro-Israel supporters determined to stand their ground. The Young Israel of Midwood was peacefully hosting a legitimate real estate event when agitators gathered outside in an effort to intimidate and disrupt. Local pro-Israel residents and supporters refused to allow the harassment to go unanswered, meeting the demonstrators head-on. New York City Police Department officers worked to contain the aggression and separate the groups before the situation could escalate further. Law enforcement detained multiple individuals in connection with the unrest. Footage from the scene spread rapidly online, including one clip of a frum girl being shoved to the ground by a masked woman in a keffiyeh.
A 32-year-old man, Rhamell Burke, stands accused of murdering 76-year-old retired special education teacher Ross Falzone by shoving him down the stairs of the 18th Street subway station in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. The unprovoked attack occurred Thursday night around 9:30 p.m., leaving Falzone with a traumatic brain injury, fractured spine, and broken rib; he died hours later at Bellevue Hospital. Police say Burke approached Falzone from behind and pushed him forcefully down the entire flight of concrete stairs. Just hours earlier, NYPD officers had taken Burke to Bellevue Hospital’s psychiatric ward for evaluation after he acted erratically, but he was released after about an hour. Burke, a repeat offender with multiple recent arrests, faced second-degree murder charges in court.
An Orthodox Jewish family from Nassau County on Long Island has filed a lawsuit against Uber, alleging the ride-share company failed to enforce its safety policies for underage riders. Their 16-year-old daughter was allegedly assaulted in a car in Bushwick last March after an Uber driver picked her up without verifying her age or requiring a responsible adult. The teen had arranged to meet a man she connected with on Snapchat. Court papers claim the driver transported the minor alone and dropped her off without confirming her safety. The suspect faces first-degree rape charges. The family, from a prominent Orthodox community, contends the violation of Uber’s minor ride policies directly enabled the assault.
USA
Abraham Foxman, the longtime national director of the Anti-Defamation League and a leading voice against antisemitism in America, died on May 10, at the age of 86 in Manhattan. A Holocaust survivor who was hidden as a child during World War II, Foxman dedicated more than 50 years to the ADL, serving as its national director from 1987 until 2015 before becoming national director emeritus. Under his leadership, the organization expanded its monitoring of hate crimes, advocacy for Jewish communities, and efforts to combat extremism across the political spectrum. He was succeeded by Jonathan Greenblatt. Foxman earned recognition as a forceful advocate for Israel and against prejudice, building the ADL into a prominent watchdog group. His death was confirmed by his son Ariel and mourned by Jewish leaders and organizations nationwide.
Confirmed hantavirus cases linked to an outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship have risen to nine, according to the World Health Organization, which expects the number to increase as monitoring continues. WHO officials stated that containment plans are actively being followed while emphasizing limited human-to-human transmission of the Andes virus strain. In the United States, health authorities report one confirmed case and one individual showing symptoms among evacuated American passengers. Sixteen others remain isolated at a specialized biocontainment facility in Nebraska, with additional monitoring underway in eight states. The White House confirmed it is tracking the situation closely in coordination with federal and state agencies. Officials stressed that the overall risk to the general public remains low, with no evidence of community spread outside the vessel.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched Moms.gov on Mother’s Day as a new federal website to support pregnant women and families. The platform provides centralized resources on prenatal care, pregnancy support, nutrition, and adoption services. A key feature is its searchable database that directs users to nearby pregnancy centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers. Officials positioned the site as a practical tool to connect expectant mothers with essential health and family services nationwide. The initiative reflects the administration’s focus on strengthening maternal health resources without expanding government mandates. Families can access information on available programs and local support options through the user-friendly interface. HHS stated that Moms.gov aims to empower parents with reliable, government-curated assistance during pregnancy and early family formation.
President Donald Trump nominated former Navy SEAL Cameron Hamilton to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Hamilton previously served as the agency’s temporary leader before his dismissal last year after he defended FEMA’s continued existence against calls for its elimination. The nomination signals the Trump administration’s retreat from earlier promises to dismantle the agency, which has drawn repeated criticism from the president over its performance and bureaucracy. Hamilton had argued publicly that abolishing FEMA was not in the nation’s best interest, emphasizing the need for effective federal disaster response capabilities. The move represents a pragmatic adjustment in the administration’s approach to emergency management. Senate confirmation proceedings for Hamilton’s nomination are expected to begin in the coming weeks.
Arcadia Mayor Eileen Wang, 58, was federally charged in the Central District of California with one count of acting in the United States as an illegal agent of the People’s Republic of China. Wang has agreed to plead guilty under a plea agreement and has already resigned from her position as mayor and from the Arcadia City Council. The charges stem from allegations that she operated on behalf of Chinese interests without proper registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Federal prosecutors pursued the case as part of broader efforts to counter covert influence operations by the Chinese government in American local governments. Wang’s resignation removes her from office immediately following the filing of the criminal complaint.
Cole Tomas Allen pleaded not guilty to the federal charge of attempting to assassinate the President of the United States during an arraignment hearing tied to the White House Correspondents Dinner shooting. Allen remained silent in court as his attorney entered the plea on his behalf. The incident occurred at the annual event in Washington, where Allen allegedly opened fire in an attempt on the president’s life. Federal prosecutors charged him with the serious offense, which carries severe penalties upon conviction. The case has drawn national attention amid heightened concerns over political violence and security at high-profile gatherings. Authorities have not released additional details on Allen’s motive or background pending further investigation.
Israel
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee announced that Israel has deployed Iron Dome air defense batteries along with Israeli personnel to the United Arab Emirates. Speaking at an event in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Huckabee stated, “Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them.” He attributed the move to the strong bilateral ties forged under the Abraham Accords. Huckabee highlighted the UAE’s steadfast support, noting, “When every other airline stopped flying into Israel, the Emiratis continued.” He described the UAE as “an example” of the benefits of normalized relations with Israel.
The Jerusalem District Court has frozen 65 million shekels in Palestinian Authority tax revenues held by Israel following a major lawsuit filed by 15 victims of the 2014 Glilot Junction ramming terror attack. The victims allege that the Palestinian Authority encourages and supports terrorism through its “pay-for-slay” policies that reward attackers and their families. The court action aims to secure potential compensation for the plaintiffs under Israel’s updated terror victim laws, which allow families of murder victims to receive up to 10 million shekels each. The 2014 attack at the Glilot Junction near Jerusalem killed or injured multiple civilians when a Palestinian terrorist rammed a vehicle into a crowd. This freeze represents one of the largest such seizures tied to terror compensation claims against the PA.
The Israel Defense Forces reported that Hezbollah fired a surface-to-air missile at an Israeli drone operating over southern Lebanon, though the attack failed and caused no damage or injuries. Shortly afterward, the Israeli Air Force conducted a targeted strike on a terrorist fleeing the launch site on a motorcycle. Earlier in the day, Hezbollah launched several explosive drones toward Israeli troops positioned in southern Lebanon. The Israeli Air Force successfully intercepted multiple additional Hezbollah drones in the same area.
Israeli authorities denied entry to controversial online personality Tyler Oliveira at Ben Gurion Airport. Photos circulating online showed Oliveira at the airport, where reports indicated he was questioned by officials reviewing his eligibility to enter the country. No official statement had been released by Israeli authorities as of Monday evening. Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli addressed the matter, stating, “The celebration is over. Anyone who comes here with the goal of spreading hatred will be sent back the way they came.” Chikli added, “As part of the implementation of the new policy I outlined, entry or activity in Israel will not be permitted for anyone who spreads antisemitic content, supports BDS, or incites against the State of Israel and the Jewish people.” He concluded, “The rule is simple: whoever incites against us simply will not be here.”
Bomb squads evacuated Tel Aviv’s northern Zuk beach after munitions fragments were discovered in shallow water and washed ashore. Israeli police and bomb disposal teams responded swiftly to the scene, prompting the immediate closure of the popular swimming area. Authorities treated the find as a serious public safety threat and conducted thorough searches of the coastline. The beach remains closed to swimmers while operations continue to secure the site and remove any potential explosive remnants.
World
The European Union unanimously agreed to impose new sanctions on leaders of the Palestinian Hamas terrorist group and members of the Israeli settler movement. The decision by EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels was driven by outrage over the ongoing devastation in Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war. However, the 27-nation bloc stopped short of approving broader economic sanctions against the Israeli government itself. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar strongly rejected the move. “Israel firmly rejects the decision to impose sanctions on Israeli citizens and organizations,” Saar said. “The European Union has chosen, in an arbitrary and political manner, to impose sanctions on Israeli citizens and entities because of their political views and without any basis.” He added that equating Israeli citizens with Hamas terrorists represented “a completely distorted moral equivalence.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called on Indians to reduce fuel consumption amid ongoing global energy market pressures. He encouraged businesses to expand work-from-home policies and conduct more meetings online to lower petrol and diesel demand. Modi also urged citizens to avoid unnecessary foreign travel and to postpone gold purchases for one year in order to protect India’s foreign exchange reserves. Households were asked to cut back on edible oil consumption as part of the broader conservation drive. The measures aim to decrease imports and ease economic strain on the country. Modi’s appeal emphasizes personal responsibility and national self-reliance during a period of elevated international commodity prices.
A Jewish schoolboy was allegedly punched by a woman outside a Jewish boys’ school in Stamford Hill while antisemitic abuse was shouted at him. The incident occurred Sunday evening on Amhurst Park in the Hackney area of north London. London Shomrim volunteers responded to the scene and immediately contacted the Metropolitan Police Service. Officers arrested a suspect on suspicion of racially aggravated assault. The community patrol group described the attack as part of a continuing pattern of antisemitic incidents targeting visibly Jewish individuals in the area. Police confirmed they are investigating the assault as racially motivated.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting to retain his leadership after Labour suffered heavy losses in local elections, prompting dozens of his own MPs to demand his resignation. The poor results have left Starmer’s position increasingly fragile as senior party figures openly weigh challenges to his authority. He is scheduled to deliver a speech on Monday in which he will attempt to reassure lawmakers that he can shift course and restore the government’s standing with voters. One Labour MP, Catherine West, stated she would seek to trigger a formal leadership contest if Starmer’s address fails to convince her. The crisis reflects deep dissatisfaction within the party over Starmer’s performance less than two years into his premiership. Conservative opponents have seized on the turmoil as evidence of Labour’s broken promises to the British public.
