New York
New York City subway and bus fares will increase to $3 from $2.90, effective January 4, 2026, as announced by MTA officials during their monthly board meeting.
The fare hike, the first since 2023, coincides with the full transition to the OMNY tap-and-go payment system, phasing out the MetroCard by December’s end. The MTA will eliminate the 30-day unlimited fare option, making the seven-day fare the only unlimited ride option, rising to $36 from $34. Commuter rail fares will rise by up to 4.4%, and bridge and tunnel tolls will increase by about 7.5%. The MTA board will vote on the proposal after public hearings this fall.
A Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Central Harlem has resulted in one death and 22 illnesses, according to New York City health officials. The outbreak is linked to contaminated cooling towers in the area. Health officials have identified specific zip codes in Harlem as affected but have not released further details on the locations. The city is investigating the source of the contamination and working to ensure the safety of water systems. Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia, is caused by inhaling water droplets containing Legionella bacteria.
Severe flooding impacted New York City last week, disrupting multiple subway lines and causing widespread street closures. The flooding led to the temporary closure of 20 subway stations and delays or partial closures at 16 others. The MTA reported that service on subway trains, buses, and commuter railroads returned to normal the following day. Heavy rainfall overwhelmed parts of the city’s aging infrastructure, particularly in low-lying areas. Riders were advised to avoid travel during the worst of the storm, with some canceling plans due to flooded stations. The city’s environmental protection department is working on sewer upgrades to mitigate future flooding risks.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced that design work for the Interborough Express, a 14-mile light rail connecting Brooklyn and Queens, will begin this summer. The project includes 19 stations and links to 17 subway lines, reducing travel time between the boroughs to 32 minutes. The light rail is expected to serve 160,000 daily riders, making it the busiest in the U.S. The MTA is advancing the project to improve transit connectivity and reduce congestion. Construction timelines and funding details were not specified in the announcement.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed with police outside Grand Central Terminal in New York City, resulting in four arrests. The protest occurred on a Saturday afternoon, with demonstrators gathering to express their views on the ongoing conflict involving Israel. Police intervened to manage the crowd, leading to confrontations.
A 70-year-old Jewish New Yorker is among four U.S. citizens currently held in Iranian custody, according to reports from The New York Times and human rights groups. The individuals traveled to Iran to visit family before their detention. Details about the circumstances of their arrests or the conditions of their captivity have not been publicly released. The U.S. government has not issued an official statement regarding the situation.
The American Jewish Committee donated $25,000 to the Archdiocese of New York to support repairs to Gaza’s Holy Family Church, damaged in an Israeli strike. The donation aids the only Catholic church in Gaza, where three people died and others were injured in the incident. The contribution is distributed through a designated channel to assist the church’s community. This marks a rare instance of a major U.S. Jewish organization supporting a Palestinian cause in Gaza during ongoing conflict. The American Jewish Committee has not publicly commented on the broader Israeli operations in the region.
U.S.
The U.S. Senate rejected two resolutions introduced by Senator Bernie Sanders to block arms sales to Israel, with a vote of 27-70 on one measure and 24-73 on another. The resolutions aimed to halt $675.7 million in bomb sales and tens of thousands of assault rifles. A majority of Senate Democrats supported the measures, marking a shift from previous votes. All Republicans and some Democrats opposed the resolutions, citing Israel’s defense needs. The anti-Israel Democrats are proclaiming victory as this is the first time a majority of Democrats in the Senate voted for such a resolution.
Texas House Republicans unveiled a new congressional map, designed to create five additional Republican-leaning seats in the U.S. House, targeting Democratic districts in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and South Texas. The proposal, backed by President Donald Trump, aims to bolster the GOP’s slim House majority. In response, at least 51 Texas House Democrats fled the state, primarily to Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts, to deny the quorum needed for a vote, halting the legislative process. Texas Governor Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block a vote on a Republican-backed congressional redistricting plan. The Texas House, led by Speaker Dustin Burrows, voted 85-6 to issue civil arrest warrants for the absent Democrats.
President Donald Trump announced the dismissal of the Commissioner of Labor Statistics following revisions to the May and June jobs reports, which reduced job totals by 258,000. The decision came after Trump criticized the reports as inaccurate and damaging to his economic narrative. The commissioner’s identity was not specified in the announcement. The Bureau of Labor Statistics confirmed the revisions were based on updated data from employers. Trump has not named a replacement for the position.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) clarified that no current FEMA grant requirements are tied to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, following a Reuters report. The initial report claimed FEMA’s terms for $1.9 billion in disaster preparedness grants required states to certify they would not boycott Israeli companies. DHS stated that FEMA grants are governed by existing laws and policies, not political conditions, and no states have lost funding due to BDS-related issues. The agency removed language referencing Israel from its terms and conditions in August. DHS emphasized enforcing anti-discrimination laws, including those related to BDS, which it labels as antisemitic.
The U.S. State Department announced a 12-month pilot program requiring certain B-1 business and B-2 tourist visa applicants from countries with high overstay rates to post bonds of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The program targets nations with deficient screening and vetting or citizenship-by-investment programs without residency requirements. Consular officers will determine bond amounts, typically expecting at least $10,000, refundable if visa terms are met. The initiative, affecting an estimated 2,000 applicants, revives a 2020 plan halted by the pandemic. Countries like Chad, Eritrea, and Burundi have high overstay rates, per 2023 data. Travelers must use designated U.S. airports.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which provides funding to NPR and PBS, will begin winding down operations for a complete shutdown by January 2026. Congress voted to eliminate $1.1 billion in federal funding, prompting the closure. The CPB, established in 1967, supports public media across the U.S. The decision followed debates over the role of public broadcasting. Operations will gradually cease over the next year to ensure an orderly transition.
Federal Reserve Governor Adriana Kugler announced her resignation, effective August 8, before her term’s scheduled end in January. Appointed by President Joe Biden in 2023, Kugler was the first Hispanic Fed governor. Her early departure allows President Donald Trump to appoint a new governor to the central bank’s board. Kugler will return to teaching at Georgetown University.
NASA Interim Administrator Sean Duffy plans to announce an accelerated initiative to construct a nuclear reactor on the Moon, according to Politico. The project aims to provide a sustainable power source for lunar missions. Details on the timeline and funding were not disclosed. This marks Duffy’s first significant policy move since taking the interim role. The reactor is intended to support long-term lunar exploration.
The New York Post announced the launch of the California Post, a new daily newspaper targeting the California market. The publication will focus on local news, entertainment, and politics, expanding the Post’s brand beyond New York. The move aims to capture a West Coast audience with a print and digital presence. No specific launch date was provided. The initiative follows the Post’s strategy to broaden its national reach.
Israel
Hamas released a video showing Israeli hostage Evyatar David in a tunnel in Gaza, where he appeared emaciated and distressed. In the footage, David scraped at dirt with a shovel. The video marked the second release by Hamas featuring David. The family of Evyatar David condemned the video. Protesters gathered in Tel Aviv to call for a deal to secure the release of hostages.
The Temple Mount Sifting Project uncovered a rare clay seal inscribed in ancient Hebrew with “Belonging to Yedayah son of Asayahu.” Archaeologists dated the seal to the First Temple era, during the time of King Josiah. The seal may belong to a royal official connected to Josiah’s Temple reforms, as referenced in the Bible. The artifact includes a fingerprint and was likely used to seal a storage jar. It was recovered from debris removed from the Temple Mount in 1999. The seal is inscribed in Paleo-Hebrew script.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation announced the delivery of its 100 millionth meal to civilians in Gaza. The U.S.-backed organization launched at the end of May. The foundation provides aid through coordinated efforts with Israeli authorities. The milestone reflects the distribution of meals to support those affected by conflict. Teams work around the clock to facilitate the deliveries.
Uriel Nuri, a 36-year-old zookeeper at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, was killed by a leopard that escaped its enclosure. Nuri was preparing an enrichment activity when the incident occurred. The leopard attacked him, causing severe injuries. Emergency responders provided treatment at the scene before transporting him to Hadassah-University Medical Center in Ein Kerem. Nuri was pronounced dead at the hospital. The zoo confirmed the event took place during a behind-the-scenes tour.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson visited the city of Ariel in Judea and Samaria, marking the first such visit by a House Speaker to the region. The visit was organized by the Yesha Council and included meetings with Chairman Israel Ganz, CEO Omer Rahamim, and local leaders. Johnson stated that Judea and Samaria are the frontline of the State of Israel and must remain an integral part of it. He added that support remains even if the world thinks otherwise. The delegation toured the area as part of a private trip to Israel.
Israeli authorities euthanized approximately 200 crocodiles at the abandoned Petzael farm in the Jordan Valley due to public safety threats and animal welfare violations. The farm, originally opened in the 1990s as a tourist site, closed during the Second Intifada. Years of neglect led to repeated escapes by the crocodiles. The operation addressed inhumane conditions at the site. The Civil Administration ruled the location posed life-threatening risks.
WORLD
The Slovenian government announced a ban on all weapons trade with Israel, including imports, exports, and transit, making it the first European Union member state to enact such a policy. The decision was driven by Slovenia’s criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which the government cited as causing a humanitarian crisis. Slovenia has not issued military export permits to Israel since October 2023. The move is largely symbolic, as Slovenia has minimal arms trade with Israel. Prime Minister Robert Golob emphasized acting independently due to the EU’s inability to reach consensus on measures against Israel. The ban follows Slovenia’s recognition of a Palestinian state in June 2024.
Polish police prevented a 180-member Israeli delegation from bringing Israeli flags into the Birkenau concentration camp during a Holocaust remembrance event. The incident marked the first time such a restriction was imposed at the site. Despite negotiations, the delegation entered without their flags, which participants described as humiliating. Some delegation members suspected antisemitism, noting that similar restrictions had not occurred at other Holocaust sites like Treblinka or Majdanek. The Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum stated the decision was to maintain the site’s neutrality. The event proceeded without further incidents.
Hundreds of wildfires in Canada are causing widespread air quality issues across the Upper Midwest and Northeast of the United States. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre reported 742 active wildfires, with 201 out of control and 15 new fires starting on Sunday. Smoke from these fires has created hazy skies in cities like Detroit and New York City. A ground stop was issued at Boston’s Logan Airport due to low visibility from the smoke. At least eight U.S. states, from Wisconsin to Maine, are under air quality alerts.