New York
New York Governor Kathy Hochul endorsed Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, in a New York Times opinion essay, providing a key establishment boost to the 33-year-old democratic socialist ahead of the November election.
Hochul, who had withheld support for over two months citing policy differences such as Mamdani’s proposals for taxing the wealthy, emphasized their shared commitment to safer neighborhoods, affordable housing, and opposing President Donald Trump’s agenda. “Zohran Mamdani and I will both be fearless in confronting the president’s extreme agenda — with urgency, conviction and the defiance that defines New York,” she wrote. Mamdani, a vocal pro-Palestinian advocate, has pledged rent freezes for subsidized tenants and free bus service, while committing to expand protections against antisemitism and support for the NYPD.
President Donald Trump filed a $15 billion defamation and libel lawsuit against The New York Times, four of its reporters — Susanne Craig, Russ Buettner, Peter Baker, and Michael S. Schmidt — and publisher Penguin Random House in U.S. District Court in Florida. The 85-page complaint alleges a decades-long pattern of malicious falsehoods in articles and the September 2024 book Lucky Loser: How Donald Trump Squandered His Father’s Fortune and Created the Illusion of Success, which falsely depicted his business dealings and family wealth. Trump accused the outlet of acting as a “virtual mouthpiece for the Radical Left Democrat Party,” citing its 2024 endorsement of Kamala Harris as evidence of bias.
New York City mayoral Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed his pledge to order the NYPD to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits the city while honoring an International Criminal Court warrant issued for alleged war crimes in Gaza. In a New York Times interview, Mamdani described Netanyahu as a war criminal committing genocide and stated, “This is a moment when cities and states will have to demonstrate what it actually looks like to stand up for our own values.” Legal experts, including Columbia Law professor Matthew C. Waxman, deemed the plan illegal and impractical, citing the U.S. nonrecognition of the ICC and federal authority over foreign policy, which could lead to conflicts with the Trump administration. Netanyahu dismissed the threat as “nonsense” in July, expressing no concern during a White House meeting with Trump.
The Mount Kisco Recreation Commission reversed its June decision to deny Chabad of Bedford a permit for its Rosh Hashanah Tashlich ceremony in Leonard Park, allowing the Jewish organization to hold the event as planned. The initial denial stemmed from a deed clause prohibiting religious activities in the park, though the commission had permitted an Easter egg hunt earlier in the year. Chabad’s attorney, Robert Garfinkle, argued that blanket bans on religious events in public parks violate constitutional protections under the First Amendment. The decision followed negotiations and legal pressure, ensuring the ceremony’s inclusion of Mount Kisco’s Jewish community. The commission clarified that future permit reviews would align with constitutional standards.
A career criminal with over 17 prior arrests, including robbery and assault convictions, was arrested Wednesday in Midtown Manhattan after a multiday manhunt for the brutal murder of elderly Queens couple Frank and Maureen Olton. Authorities state the man, on parole after serving 16 years for a 2006 armed robbery, approached the Bellerose home claiming he needed to charge his cellphone, gaining entry after being turned away at a neighbor’s door. Surveillance video captured him entering the residence around 11 a.m. Monday and departing five hours later, after which he allegedly terrorized, stabbed, and bound the victims before dousing them with flammable liquid and setting the house ablaze. The couple’s son, an off-duty FDNY paramedic, responded to the fire alarm and discovered the scene. McGriff faces multiple first-degree murder charges, along with arson and robbery, carrying potential consecutive life sentences.
President Trump attended the New York Yankees’ victory over the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium on the 24th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, marking his presence amid pregame ceremonies honoring victims and first responders. Arriving earlier, Trump delivered a motivational speech to the Yankees in the clubhouse, emphasizing national resilience and unity. Seated in the Steinbrenner family suite with team president Randy Levine, he was shown on the jumbotron during the national anthem, prompting a mix of cheers and boos from the nearly 41,000 attendees, with “U-S-A” chants echoing throughout. Trump waved and gave a thumbs-up upon taking his seat, later receiving repeated ovations, including chants of “Donald Trump” from sections below his suite.
U.S.
Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA and prominent conservative activist, was assassinated during an outdoor event at Utah Valley University, struck by a single rifle round while addressing a crowd of thousands. The assailant, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Robinson from St. George, Utah, fired from a distance before fleeing, prompting a 33-hour multiagency manhunt that ended with his surrender on Thursday night after a family member recognized him from surveillance images and alerted authorities. Robinson, a former Utah State University student enrolled in a technical college apprenticeship program, faces charges of aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, and felony discharge of a firearm, with officials pursuing the death penalty. Utah Governor Spencer Cox described Robinson as having adopted a “leftist ideology” divergent from his conservative family’s views, noting he had become more political recently and mentioned Kirk’s event during a family dinner. Authorities found ammunition engraved with antifascist phrases and internet memes, suggesting online radicalization, though Robinson has not cooperated and no formal motive has been confirmed. President Trump condemned the act as “radical left political violence,” lowering flags to half-staff and vowing accountability for such extremism.
The nation observed a period of mourning for Charlie Kirk following his assassination, with candlelight vigils held across multiple states, including Arizona, Texas, and California. Thousands gathered in Phoenix, where Kirk resided, to light candles and share stories of his conservative activism that mobilized young voters for traditional values and Trump administration initiatives. Vice President JD Vance, a close friend who credited Kirk for supporting his vice-presidential selection, personally helped carry Kirk’s casket onto Air Force Two in Salt Lake City for transport to Arizona, accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance, Kirk’s widow, Erika, and their two young children. Upon landing, the group deplaned somberly as a hearse awaited, with mourners lining the route in tribute. President Trump ordered flags at half-staff nationwide, stating, “Charlie was a warrior for America, and his loss reminds us of the radical threats we face.” Turning Point USA announced plans for a national memorial service to honor Kirk’s legacy in youth outreach. The outpouring of support highlighted Kirk’s influence on the right, amid ongoing investigations into the suspect’s leftist radicalization.
MSNBC fired political analyst Matthew Dowd after his on-air comments suggested that conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s divisive rhetoric contributed to the environment leading to his assassination. Dowd described Kirk as one of the most divisive figures in politics and stated, “Hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.” The remarks, made shortly after the shooting, prompted swift online backlash from conservatives accusing Dowd of justifying violence. MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler called the comments “inappropriate, insensitive, and unacceptable” in a statement, emphasizing there is no place for political violence. The termination, confirmed by multiple sources, marked the first major professional repercussion following Kirk’s death. This incident initiated a broader wave of dismissals across the country for individuals whose public statements appeared to celebrate or mock the killing, including a Washington Post columnist, university staff, corporate employees at Nasdaq and Office Depot, and public-sector workers, as employers enforced policies against condoning violence.
George Zinn, 71, was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice after shouting “I shot him, now shoot me” immediately following the assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University. Authorities state Zinn admitted during interrogation that he falsely claimed responsibility to divert attention from the actual shooter, and later expressed satisfaction that his actions aided the suspect’s escape during the initial manhunt. Zinn, a local resident with no prior criminal history, was taken to a hospital for an undisclosed medical issue before being booked into Utah County Jail on the second-degree felony charge, facing up to five years in prison. Police described the false confession as a deliberate interference that complicated the multiagency investigation.
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone conducted three interdictions in a single night in the southern Caribbean as part of Operation Pacific Viper, seizing nearly 13,000 pounds of cocaine valued at millions and detaining seven suspected smugglers from Ecuador and other nations. The operation, launched in August under President Trump’s directive to combat Latin American drug cartels and human smuggling, involved coordination with the U.S. Navy and international partners to surge assets in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean. Video footage released by the Department of Homeland Security showed crew members boarding and destroying one drug boat by fire to prevent reuse, with the vessel fully sunk afterward.
President Donald Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum establishing the Memphis Safe Task Force in the Oval Office, at the request of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, to address surging street and violent crime in the city. The task force will mobilize National Guard troops and federal law enforcement for large-scale neighborhood saturation operations aimed at restoring order and reducing homicides, which have risen sharply amid gang activity and drug trafficking. Governor Lee, present for the signing, emphasized the collaboration’s necessity for community safety, stating, “Memphis deserves a future free from fear.” Trump highlighted the initiative’s urgency, noting, “It’s very important because of the crime that’s going on.” The memorandum directs the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to coordinate with local authorities, building on similar federal interventions in high-crime urban areas.
Larry Ellison, Oracle Corporation’s co-founder and chairman, surpassed Elon Musk to become the world’s richest person on Wednesday, with his net worth reaching $393 billion following a robust earnings report. The surge stemmed from heightened demand for Oracle’s AI-optimized cloud infrastructure and data centers, highlighted by a multiyear, multibillion-dollar contract to support OpenAI’s ChatGPT and other generative AI models. Oracle’s shares climbed 40 percent in after-hours trading, adding over $100 billion to Ellison’s fortune, which constitutes about 42 percent of the company’s market capitalization. At 81, Ellison has led Oracle since co-founding it in 1977, transforming it into a database software giant now pivoting toward AI services. He also owns nearly all of Hawaii’s Lāna‘i Island, a 140-square-mile property acquired in 2012 for $300 million.
Robert Redford, the acclaimed actor, director, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival, died at age 89 at his home in the mountains outside Provo, Utah. His publicist, Cindi Berger, confirmed he passed peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by family, with no specific cause disclosed. Redford, born Charles Robert Redford Jr. in 1936, rose to stardom in the 1960s and 1970s with iconic roles in films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid opposite Paul Newman, The Sting, and All the President’s Men alongside Dustin Hoffman, where he portrayed journalist Bob Woodward exposing the Watergate scandal. He transitioned to directing with his 1980 debut Ordinary People, earning an Academy Award for Best Director and helping the film win Best Picture.
Israel
Israeli forces launched airstrikes targeting at least six Houthi sites in Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, including the headquarters of the Houthi ministries of defense and finance, along with military camps, fuel storage facilities, and propaganda offices. The operation, conducted by the Israeli Air Force using over 30 munitions from a distance of 2,350 kilometers, was in direct retaliation for recent Houthi drone and missile attacks on Eilat and central Israel. Houthi health officials reported 35 deaths and 131 injuries, primarily in Sana’a, with additional strikes in al-Jawf province. The IDF described the targets as vital to the group’s terrorist operations, emphasizing precision to minimize civilian impact.
The IDF demolished the homes of Abd al-Arouf Masri and Ahmed Abu Ara, two Hamas operatives responsible for a deadly shooting at Mehola Junction in the Jordan Valley that killed 23-year-old Yonatan Deutsch and wounded 32-year-old Anas Jaramana. The attack involved the terrorists firing on vehicles at a bus stop, highlighting ongoing security threats in the region. Masri was eliminated in a clash with troops shortly after, while Abu Ara was killed in a targeted drone strike. The demolitions, carried out as a deterrent against terrorism, followed standard IDF procedures for structures linked to attackers.
Israel’s Antiquities Authority unveiled a comprehensive digital database containing nearly four million records of archaeological artifacts, excavation reports, images, and 3D models, enabling public and scholarly access to the nation’s rich heritage. Users can search by site location, historical period, or artifact type, including scans and archival documents from thousands of digs. Antiquities Authority Director Eli Escusido described the platform as a “game-changer for preserving and sharing Israel’s cultural legacy.” The initiative digitizes physical collections to enhance research and education while protecting sites from looting. It builds on years of cataloging efforts across biblical and ancient eras. International scholars praised the resource for its depth and usability. The database supports tourism and academic collaborations, promoting awareness of Israel’s historical significance.
A 13-member delegation of law-enforcement officials from the New York area visited Israel to examine counterterrorism strategies, combat antisemitism, and build community resilience amid rising threats. Organized by Israel’s Ministry for Diaspora Affairs, the six-year-old program — informally called “Birthright for American police chiefs” — has trained 15 groups from around the world, focusing on practical exchanges with Israeli security forces. Participants included Rye Commissioner Michel Kopy, Ramapo Chief Daniel Hyman, and Suffolk Commissioner Kevin Catalina, who commended Israel’s innovative approaches to urban safety and interfaith cooperation. The itinerary featured site visits to Jerusalem’s security operations and discussions on post–October 7 challenges.
WORLD
Russia launched approximately 415 drones, along with over 40 cruise and ballistic missiles in a massive overnight assault on Ukraine, marking one of the largest aerial barrages since the invasion began. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 386 drones and 27 missiles, while 415 additional drones were jammed or lost from radar, according to the Air Force’s radio-technical troops. The attack targeted multiple regions, including Khmelnytskyi, where a missile struck a sewing workshop, injuring three people, and caused one death and nine injuries. Explosions damaged civilian infrastructure such as warehouses and residential buildings in Lviv and Kyiv. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the operation’s scale, stating rescuers were working amid the strikes.
Protesters across France participated in the “Block Everything” campaign, obstructing highways, burning barricades — including trash bins and bicycles — and clashing with police in cities like Paris, Montpellier, and Toulouse to protest President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership and proposed budget cuts exceeding $50 billion. Authorities deployed 80,000 officers, who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds, resulting in nearly 300 arrests by midday. Demonstrators blocked access to high schools, train stations, and an Amazon depot, while unions reported 715 disruptions nationwide affecting rail and air travel. The unrest coincided with conservative Sébastien Lecornu’s first day as prime minister after his predecessor’s ouster over austerity measures.
A total blackout struck Cuba on Wednesday, plunging the entire island into darkness due to the collapse of the national electrical grid from aging infrastructure and acute fuel shortages at power plants. The outage, triggered by the unexpected shutdown of a thermoelectric plant, marked the second island-wide failure this year following three similar events late last year. The disconnection affected over 10 million residents and exacerbating shortages of food, medicine, and essential services. Many plants, operational for over 30 years, lack maintenance parts due to U.S. sanctions limiting foreign currency for imports.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz grew emotional, fighting back tears during his speech at the reopening of Munich’s Reichenbachstrasse Synagogue, the city’s only surviving Jewish house of worship from the Nazi era, restored since 2021 to its original 1931 Bauhaus design with colored walls, stained-glass windows, and textiles by artist Gunta Stölzl. Merz expressed deep shame over the resurgence of antisemitism in Germany, stating, “I would like to tell you how ashamed I am of this: as chancellor... as a child who grew up with ‘never again’ as a mission.” He blamed prior governments for ignoring antisemitic influences among immigrants from countries where it is state doctrine and vowed, “I declare war on all forms of old and new antisemitism in Germany on behalf of the entire federal government.” The synagogue will function as a house of worship and cultural center, hosting tours, lectures, and concerts to promote Jewish life.
Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced former President Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison after convicting him on five charges related to plotting a military coup to overturn his 2022 election loss and retain power. The panel of five justices, with four voting guilty, found him responsible for leading a criminal organization that sought to abolish the democratic order, including plans to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and storm government buildings on January 8, 2023. Bolsonaro, 70 and under house arrest, denied the allegations, with his lawyers calling the sentence “absurdly excessive” and planning appeals for leniency due to health issues. The ruling, the first conviction of a former Brazilian president for attacking democracy, drew U.S. criticism from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who labeled it a “witch hunt.”
