'Andrew Cuomo apologizes to Jewish New Yorkers for COVID-19 lockdowns'

 Ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo apologized to Jewish New Yorkers for lockdowns he imposed during the COVID-19 outbreak five years ago that banned large gatherings, closed schools and disrupted religious traditions.

The mea culpa comes just hours before the beginning of Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar when one is meant to atone for sins — and while Cuomo runs as an underdog in his political comeback bid for mayor.

In the video, Cuomo said he made decisions to protect the health and safety of New Yorkers during the once-in-a-century pandemic that killed about 80,000 residents.

Cuomo apologized just before Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

“However, I recognize some of those decisions caused pain in the Jewish community because we did not always fully consider the sensitivities and traditions that are so deeply important,” Cuomo explained in the clip — which campaign sources said was distributed to rabbis in Orthodox Jewish communities, and first reported by Jacob Kornbluh of the Jewish Forward.

“We could have done better and for that I’m truly sorry,” Cuomo said.

“My decision doesn’t change the impact. I sincerely ask for your understanding.”

The lockdowns, aimed at preventing the spread of the highly contagious virus, drew backlash from residents in the ultra-Orthodox communities of Brooklyn and Queens.

Councilman Simcha Simcha Felder, who represents Orthodox communities in southern Brooklyn said of Cuomo’s apology, “G-d’s in charge, we will find out soon enough.”

The lockdowns, aimed at preventing the spread of the highly contagious virus, drew backlash from residents in the ultra-Orthodox communities.Getty Images
Cuomo was more defiant in October 2020, when he was asked if he saw reason to apologize for the lockdowns.

“No,” Cuomo said then.

“I am sorry that they feel the disruption, I am sorry that they are disrupted, their religious ceremonies are disrupted, how many people they can have in a synagogue is disrupted, how many people they can have at a wedding is disrupted, the operation of their schools is disrupted. I am sorry for that,” Cuomo said.

The then-governor continued, “In the same way I’m sorry to the Catholic community and Muslim community and to all New Yorkers. I’m sorry that we are going through this. I’m sorry that people are dying. I’m sorry the state has to impose disruptions on your life. I’m sorry that we had to close your businesses which may mean you lose your business.”

Socialist Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani is leading Cuomo in the polls after defeating him in the June 24 election.

Cuomo is now running on the independent “Fight & Deliver” ballot line while Curtis Sliwa is the Republican nominee who also is running on a separate animal rights ballot line.

Mayor Eric Adams announced on Sunday that he will not seek re-election.

https://nypost.com/2025/10/01/us-news/andrew-cuomo-apologizes-to-jewish-new-yorkers-for-lockdowns-hours-before-yom-kippur/

ICE Arrests More Than 400 Illegal Immigrants In Week-Long Operation In Central Florida

 by Aldgra Fredly via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

More than 400 illegal immigrants were arrested during a week-long immigration enforcement operation in central Florida last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said on Sept. 30.

The badge of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Hawthorne, Calif., on March 1, 2020. Lucy Nicholson/Reuters

ICE said that the operation, carried out between Sept. 22 and Sept. 26, targeted illegal immigrants with “outstanding criminal warrants” and those who are subject to deportation.

“Many of these individuals illegally remained in Florida and have gone on to wreak havoc in our local neighborhoods,” ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Miami Field Office Director Garrett Ripa said in a statement.

ICE said that all the detainees will be subject to removal proceedings in accordance with federal immigration law.

The operation was led by ICE Miami in coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and multiple local law enforcement agencies, including the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida National Guard, according to the agency.

Florida is leading nationwide in 287(g) partnerships, with 327 agreements currently in place, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The agreements allow local law enforcement agencies to carry out certain immigration duties, including identifying and processing removable illegal immigrants who face criminal charges.

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin praised the operation in central Florida, noting that the detainees included individuals convicted of criminal offenses such as “lewd and lascivious behavior, battery, domestic violence, prostitution, vehicle theft, hit and run, and driving under the influence.”

“This was another successful operation to arrest the worst of the worst with our Florida state and local partners and can serve as a blueprint nationwide,” McLaughlin said, calling on other states to follow suit.

The Trump administration has ramped up efforts to arrest and deport illegal immigrants across the country.

Federal law enforcement officers are confronted by demonstrators outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in Broadview, Ill., on Sept. 19, 2025. Ocavio Jones/AFP via Getty Images

The DHS said on Sept. 23 that federal immigration authorities have removed more than 2 million illegal immigrants since President Donald Trump took office.

That figure includes an estimated 1.6 million illegal immigrants who voluntarily self-deported, and more than 400,000 who were removed, according to the department.

After taking office on Jan. 20, Trump signed an executive order aimed at securing the United States’ borders, directing his administration to build barriers at the border, deter and prevent the entry of illegal immigrants, remove “promptly all aliens who enter or remain in violation of federal law,” and pursue criminal charges “against illegal aliens who violate the immigration laws.”

The order said the United States has seen a “large-scale invasion at an unprecedented level” over the past four years, with millions of illegal immigrants entering the country, including potential terrorists, foreign spies, members of cartels, and other hostile actors with malicious intent.

Stuart Liess contributed to this report.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/ice-arrests-more-400-illegal-immigrants-week-long-operation-central-florida

'Goldman Flags Coffee Demand Risks As Youth Unemployment Rises'

 Goldman analysts find that a softening labor market, slowing traffic at major QSR chains, and intensifying competition are raising investor concerns about ready-to-drink (RTD) and specialty coffee demand. Since Gen Z is a key driver of RTD coffee at QSRs, the analysts highlight several "swing factors" to watch that could influence demand from this younger cohort.

"We are observing rising investor concerns about the coffee category's macro and competitive backdrop," a team of analysts led by Christine Cho wrote in a note on Tuesday. 

Cho listed some of those key pressure points: 

1. Softening labor-market data, which is notable given that younger consumers have been a key growth engine for coffee and beverages in recent years;

2. Signs of 3QTD traffic deceleration across the broader coffee market; and

3. QSR brands' stepped up focus on beverage opportunities (i.e., MCD's new beverage test in hundreds of stores in the US and Taco Bell's plans to open 30 Live Mas Cafes by the end of the year).

Here's more: 

We have observed a modest uptick in SBUX's foot traffic trends in the top 3 coffee markets post the fall menu launch on Aug 26 vs. some deceleration in BROS' trends as per our latest Placer data analysis, and while it's early, McDonald's has gained 80 bps share of foot traffic in Colorado from 9/1-9/25/25 since the launch of its beverage tests on Sep 2 (Exhibit 4). We believe there are a number of key swing factors to watch for over the next few months including Gen Z spending intentions, Starbucks' launch of protein beverage / cold foam platform on Sep 29 and whether that influences net purchase intentions. That said, we maintain our Neutral ratings on SBUX and BROS as we await more clarity in these trends.

How will increased coffee/beverage competition impact existing market players?

On July 24, McDonald's announced a CosMc's-inspired beverage test across 500+ restaurants in Colorado, Wisconsin, and surrounding areas as consumers, particularly the Gen Z cohort, prefer cold beverages (link). This reflects a broader shift toward beverages we've seen across the restaurant industry as brands aim to capitalize on shifting coffee preferences (~40% of LSR offerings are now cold), with Taco Bell (Live Mas Cafe) and Chick-fil-A (Daybright) also testing beverage concepts and Wendy's launching cold brew coffee in August. Additionally, Jack in the Box announced the return of bigger cup sizes (25% more ounces) starting October 1 amid the stepped up value narrative across the industry. We think this could translate to intensifying competition in the coffee market especially for Dutch Bros, given that the brand has differentiated itself through its unique iced beverages and preference among younger consumers.

McDonald's beverages per ounce are priced at a discount of high teens/low 40% on average vs. Dutch Bros/Starbucks, respectively, based on our analysis of menu pricing for an array of offerings across 11 cities in Colorado as a way to assess which brands offer strong value in an increasingly competitive environment (Exhibit 3). Notably, Starbucks did not have any comparable offerings for two of the six categories analyzed, as the company aims to reduce operational complexity through a simplified menu, and offered the most expensive option across the remaining four categories.

For cash-strapped consumers, McDonald's offers the best RTD prices (at least in Colorado).

Coffee demand remains dismal. 

Given that Gen Z significantly drives coffee demand, analysts point to rising youth unemployment as a potential factor behind the slump in sales.

And soaring coffee bean prices don't help with price affordability. 

The takeaway is that the coffee market is facing mounting macroeconomic headwinds and intensifying competition, just as unemployment among Gen Zers ticks higher. A soft labor market, slowing traffic, and aggressive QSR beverage rollouts (McDonald's, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, Wendy's) are eroding demand momentum. Starbucks still commands premium pricing but risks losing share to cheaper, value-oriented rivals like McDonald's. 

https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/goldman-flags-coffee-demand-risks-youth-unemployment-rises

US government takes 5% stakes in Lithium Americas and joint venture with GM

 Vancouver-based Lithium Americas (LAC) said on Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has taken a 5% stake in the company, along with a separate 5% stake in its Thacker Pass lithium project joint venture with General Motors (GM).

Lithium Americas stock soared 30% in premarket trading on Wednesday following the news.

While the total deal value was not disclosed, Lithium Americas confirmed it has finalized an agreement with the DOE to initiate the first $435 million draw from a previously announced $2.26 billion loan to support development of the Thacker Pass site.

It will be the latest private sector investment by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration after recent stakes in Intel and MP Materials (MP), seeking to boost industries seen as vital to U.S. national security.

Last week, Reuters reported that administration officials were in discussions with Lithium Americas about an equity stake as they renegotiated terms of a $2.26 billion government loan for the Nevada-based mine, which is slated to become the largest source of battery metal lithium in the Western Hemisphere.

Representatives for GM were not immediately available to comment.

GM, which invested $625 million in the mine last year for a 38% stake, has the right to buy all of the project's lithium from its first phase and a portion from the second phase for 20 years.

Administration officials had initially sought a guarantee that GM would buy the metal regardless of market conditions, a request the automaker pushed back on and which led to the equity stake request, Reuters previously reported.

NYSE - Delayed Quote•USD

Lithium Americas Corp. (LAC)

7.04

+1.33

+(23.29%)

At close: 4:00:02 PM EDT

6.88

-0.16

(-2.27%)

After hours: 4:16:36 PM EDT

Advanced Chart

Loading chart for LAC

The Thacker Pass project has long been touted by both Republicans and Democrats as a key way to boost U.S. critical minerals production and cut reliance on China, the world's largest lithium processor.

China plays a dominant role in the global lithium supply chain, producing more than 40,000 metric tons each year, making it the third-largest producer after Australia and Chile. China's influence is far greater in refining, where it processes over 75% of the world's lithium into battery-grade material.

The U.S. produces less than 5,000 metric tons of lithium at a Nevada facility owned by Albemarle. Thacker Pass's first phase is expected to produce 40,000 metric tons of battery-quality lithium carbonate per year, enough for up to 800,000 EVs.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-government-takes-5-stake-052139823.html