Mexico’s Security Ministry said Saturday that it arrested an alleged local leader of the Tren de Aragua gang in Mexico City. Officials identified the suspect as Nelson Arturo “N,” 29, described as the leader and main operator of the transnational criminal group in the country. Authorities said that he was wanted on multiple charges, but in keeping with Mexican law don’t release suspects’ last names. Tren de Aragua originated in Venezuela more than a decade ago at an infamously lawless prison with hardened criminals in the central state of Aragua. The gang has expanded in recent years as more than 7.7 million Venezuelans fled economic turmoil and migrated to other Latin American countries or the U.S. The Trump administration declared the group a terrorist organization. U.S. officials have consistently blamed the gang for being at the root of the violence and illicit drug dealing that plague some U.S. cities. Trump has repeated his claim — contradicted by a declassified U.S. intelligence assessment — that Tren de Aragua is operating under Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s control. The size of the gang is unclear. Countries with large populations of Venezuelan migrants, including Peru and Colombia, have accused the group of being behind violence in the region. On Friday, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that he ordered another strike on a small boat that he accused of carrying drugs in the waters off Venezuela, expanding what the Trump administration has declared is an “armed conflict” with cartels. So far, at least three of the strikes have been carried out on vessels that U.S. officials said had originated from Venezuela. The strikes followed a buildup of U.S. maritime forces in the Caribbean unlike any seen in recent times. In a post about the first strike last month, Trump claimed that the vessel was carrying members of the Tren de Aragua gang. Security agents carried out intelligence work and identified the suspect, who they accused of crimes including human trafficking, drug dealing, homicide, kidnapping and extortion. Along with the gang leader, two other men, ages 36 and 37, were arrested. Authorities said that they were found with more than 100 doses of drugs, two cellphones and cash. After the arrests, they were placed under the jurisdiction of the Attorney General’s Office to determine their legal status. On Wednesday, five alleged members of the gang were extradited from the United States to Chile, including one linked to the killing of a former Venezuelan soldier last year. (AP)
SING Entertainment has announced that with the help of the show’s sponsor, Whee, their chol hamoed concert will include a section with more affordable seating for families that wish to join their family show starring Benny Friedman. Tishrei is a time where expenses tend to begin to pile up for families. For some, the expense of chol hamoed activities for a whole family can be overwhelming. It is with that in mind that SING Entertainment, together with the show sponsor Whee, have announced a new feature for this year. They designated a balcony section where tickets are listed at the most affordable price yet, with seats starting at just $36. The goal of these seats is to make the show accessible and affordable to all fans to come and enjoy a fresh batch of simchas yom tov. “We’re seeing these sell pretty fast” Eli Ickowics of SING Entertainment shared with YWN. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re sold out pretty soon. But that underscored the need that there is for these types of seats, and we are grateful to the team at Whee for helping us make this happen.” Jewish music fans have been abuzz ever since last week’s concert announcement, eagerly trying to guess and predict which guest stars will be joining Benny Friedman at his October 12 show at the Newark Symphony Hall. Keeping the info tight-lipped, the show’s producers have just kept saying “people are going to be stunned.” On Sunday, October 12 at 3:00 PM “Benny and Friends” will take the stage for an afternoon concert titled “Whee Want To Sing With You” live at the Newark Symphony Hall brought to you by Whee. Doors open at 2:00, show begins at 3:00. Tickets are now on sale at https://t.ly/sing.ywn
Secretary Rubio on the Hamas response to President Trump’s peace plan: “They have said, basically, that they agree to his proposal and the framework for releasing the hostages. That’s an enormous achievement… There’s a lot of international pressure on Hamas to make this happen.”
President Trump told CNN Hamas faces “complete obliteration” if the group refuses to cede power and control of Gaza, amid ongoing efforts to push forward his proposed ceasefire plan. “Complete Obliteration!” Trump told CNN’s Jake Tapper when asked via text message on Saturday what would happen if Hamas insists on staying in power.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio: “Hope to reach a deal very soon. Hamas has agreed in principle to what will happen in Gaza after the war. The phase of disarming Hamas will be difficult. Very soon we’ll know if Hamas is serious.”
Severe flooding in Nepal has killed at least 47 people after heavy rains triggered landslides that destroyed bridges and blocked roads, with dozens still missing.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said he expects the first phase of President Trump’s Gaza peace plan to be implemented soon, leading to the immediate release of all hostages. Speaking at a Yom Kippur War memorial, Katz said Hamas’s shift stems from Israeli pressure in Gaza City and warned that if the group refuses to release the hostages, the IDF will intensify its operations until Hamas is defeated.
Nearly two years after the October 7 attacks, Israeli police discovered a grenade on the Gaza border community of Be’eri that had been used by Hamas terrorists during their invasion of the kibbutz.
REPORT: Former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was hospitalized in Russia after being poisoned, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The group said Assad, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, was rushed to a private hospital near Moscow on September 20 in critical condition, treated in intensive care, and released nine days later.
A senior Hamas terrorist said the terror group is eager to reach an agreement to end the war in Gaza and begin a prisoner exchange, urging Israel not to obstruct President Trump’s plan. Speaking anonymously, the terrorist said Hamas is ready “if the occupation has genuine intentions to reach an agreement.” A Palestinian source told AFP that both delegations will be in the same building when talks begin in Egypt on Monday.
David Zini has officially taken over as head of the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated him and wished him success in the major mission ahead, while also thanking the acting chief who had been leading the agency until now, whose identity remains classified.
The IDF’s Chashmonaim Brigade has begun operating in Gaza for the first time as a battalion-level combat team, the army announced this week. The deployment marks a milestone for the chareidi unit, which until now had only sent smaller reserve teams into combat zones. The brigade — made up of its first standing army company and its first reserve company — will operate under the IDF’s 98th Division, currently active in Gaza City. “This is the first time we’ve deployed the Chashmonaim as a complete operational battalion,” said one senior IDF officer. “It reflects their growing role in defending Israel — not just as soldiers, but as a full fighting force within the army.” With a potential ceasefire looming, the brigade’s current mission may focus less on urban combat and more on securing key corridors — particularly the Philadelphi and Netzarim routes — to prevent weapons smuggling and the infiltration of terrorists into Israel. Before entering Gaza, the Chashmonaim soldiers gathered for a hachnosas sefer Torah — dancing and singing as they escorted an army-issued sefer Torah into the Strip. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
There’s a moment each morning when Shamgar Street transforms. The snarl of buses, streams of coffee-sipping girls, stroller-pushing Mommas and fathers walking sons to cheder. It all flows toward the Yirmiyahu intersection, a thronging wave of beauty in routine schedules. The daily rhythm intensifies, and the city’s heartbeat becomes audible. Feigin Architects saw this convergence when they envisioned Y38. These are the same designers who transformed spaces for the Waldorf Astoria and Jerusalem Estates, who understand that great buildings don’t just occupy locations, they amplify them. An architectural marvel, this 40-residence boutique building captures the essence of this intersection — the marriage of Yerushalayim’s spiritual gravity with its forward momentum. Construction crews are now turning this vision into foundation. Excavation is in full swing! Each apartment is being crafted with floor-to-ceiling windows that will bring Yerushalayim’s iconic blue skies indoors, while expansive balconies are set to become your family’s favorite setting for impromptu hosted bbqs and quiet morning moments alike. Y38 is more than a sought-after, central address and this building goes beyond modern architecture and finer details. It’s in the amenities that make coming home to Y38, a retreat to your private resort. Luxury, five-star hotel-grade facilities include everything you need to work, unwind and go about your day in comfort and privacy. Your building’s gym becomes your morning sanctuary. The spa transforms stressful days into restoration. A residents’ shul creates instant community, while the business lounge offers professional space just an elevator ride from your kitchen table. And with glamorous private mikvas available you no longer will wait in crowded — or neglected looking — facilities again. As you know, the neighborhood has evolved into a place where English-speaking families build lives, bridge modernity and home comforts with the authentic spirituality they come for. Celebrating Sukkos in Jerusalem? Come witness the transformation in real time. Walk a few feet past the corners of Yirmiyahu/Shamgar. Picture the building rising upon this gaping hole. Imagine spending yom tov at the Rebbe or summer vacation with the local grandkids with Y38 as your beautiful home base. Hear more details about why Y38 is more than address! >>> https://api.jewishadgroup.com/YUBvLz
Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist assemblyman leading the New York City mayoral race, attended Kol Nidrei at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, wearing a white kippah and seated prominently between Rep. Jerry Nadler and State Comptroller Brad Lander. The event, hosted by Lab/Shul — a self-described “artist-driven, everybody-friendly, God-optional, pop-up, experimental community for sacred Jewish gatherings” — saw Mamdani receive a standing ovation from attendees. Nadler, the outgoing dean of the Congressional Jewish Caucus and a longtime figure in New York Democratic politics, has publicly endorsed Mamdani’s campaign. Nadler’s own synagogue, B’nai Jeshurun, circulated an email to congregants last week clarifying that Mamdani would not be attending services there, calling Yom Kippur “a holy day of deep spiritual significance, of introspection and prayer — not a time for political campaigning.” Mamdani’s appearance has reignited criticism from major Jewish organizations, who have accused the candidate of antisemitic rhetoric and hostility toward Israel. The assemblyman, a vocal supporter of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, has said he would order the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visited New York City. He has also refused to condemn the slogan “globalize the intifada,” declining to acknowledge its violent implications against Jews. David May, senior analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, responded to Mamdani’s appearance, posting a photo from the event on X and quoting the introduction to Kol Nidrei: “We allow praying with sinners.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scrambled to save his political career in the chaotic days following Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault, as fears spread within his own party that Likud lawmakers were preparing to replace him, according to a new report in Haaretz. Citing multiple sources inside the Prime Minister’s Office, the report describes Netanyahu’s urgent internal campaign to secure his position — one that included quickly assembling a wartime unity government and personally lobbying ministers not to resign. “The fear was that the government was about to be replaced in short order — maybe a week,” one official told Haaretz. “They would pick a new prime minister to manage the war. That process didn’t happen only because they couldn’t agree on Netanyahu’s replacement — and because [Benny] Gantz wasn’t on board.” In the hours after Hamas gunmen breached Israel’s southern border, Netanyahu’s political allies reportedly began to panic. Some Likud figures privately discussed a “constructive vote of no confidence” — a parliamentary maneuver to oust the government and immediately approve a new one in its place. A senior opposition source told Haaretz that even some within Likud were ready to move on. “The MKs we spoke to thought it was over,” the source said. “But it wasn’t. That effort just blew up. They got half a year of quiet, and everything got normalized.” Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a Netanyahu confidant, reached out to both National Unity leader Benny Gantz and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid early on October 7 — without informing Netanyahu — to invite them into an emergency unity government. Gantz immediately accepted. Once Netanyahu learned of the outreach that afternoon, he moved quickly to formalize the arrangement. The unity government was established on October 11. The deal bought Netanyahu what aides described as “breathing room.” Behind closed doors, Netanyahu worked to shore up loyalty inside his cabinet. He held small, sometimes one-on-one meetings with ministers to dissuade them from quitting — giving the impression they were integral to military decision-making even when their influence was limited. “He would call them to the room, show them a map of the Middle East on the wall, and say, ‘Look, our forces are here and here, the terrorists are there,’” one attendee recalled. “Then at the end — ‘How can you talk about resigning now and toppling the government?’” Those efforts succeeded. Netanyahu held his coalition together long enough to stabilize the government and project an image of control as Israel entered a prolonged war. The emergency government lasted until June 2024, when Gantz resigned — accusing Netanyahu of political paralysis and mishandling of the war. But by then, the prime minister had regained his footing. Within weeks, Netanyahu sought to deepen divisions between opposition parties and frame calls for his removal as unpatriotic during wartime. Opposition leaders, wary of being seen as undermining national unity, largely refrained from public confrontation. “On the one hand, soldiers were being killed, and we couldn’t create more division,” said a Yesh Atid source. “On the other hand, every day that these people are in power is bloodshed in vain.” A Likud insider described the opposition’s restraint as a political gift. “They didn’t miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity,” the source said. “If the roles were reversed, Bibi would have torn them apart.” Though […]
Harvard Law School placed a visiting professor on administrative leave after police say he fired a pellet rifle steps from a Boston-area synagogue as people arrived for the start of Yom Kippur. Carlos Portugal Gouvea, 43, was arrested Wednesday night after two shots rang out near Temple Beth Zion on Beacon Street. He later told authorities he had been “hunting rats,” according to a police account cited by local outlets. Investigators said there is no indication the synagogue itself was targeted, but the gunfire triggered a heavy police response as security guards and people scrambled at the scene. Gouvea was charged in Brookline District Court with illegally discharging a pellet gun, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and malicious destruction of property after officers found a shattered car window with a pellet lodged inside, according to the police report. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Thursday, was released on personal recognizance, and is due back in court in early November. Harvard Law School spokesperson Jeff Neal said Gouvea “has been placed on administrative leave as the school seeks to learn more about this matter.” The law school has not announced additional disciplinary action. Two private security guards stationed at Temple Beth Zion told police they heard “two loud shots” and saw a man holding a pellet rifle. When they approached, the man set the gun down, a brief struggle ensued, and he fled into a nearby residence before reemerging and being taken into custody, according to the police narrative. Harvard has been a flashpoint in the national fight over campus antisemitism, facing political and legal pressure from Washington over whether it adequately protects Jewish and Israeli students. The university has sued to challenge federal funding freezes it says are punitive and politically motivated, even as both sides inch toward a potential settlement. Gouvea is a Harvard Law alumnus who earned his doctorate in 2008. He also serves as an associate professor at the University of São Paulo Law School and leads a Brazilian policy institute focused on social and environmental issues. Neither he nor an attorney listed in court records responded to requests for comment from local media. Brookline police said additional details would be released as the investigation progresses. Gouvea’s next court appearance is scheduled for November. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
