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Rudy Giuliani regained consciousness Monday and was described as responsive and communicative as he continued receiving treatment in a Florida hospital for pneumonia, according to close associate John Catsimatidis, the NY Post reports.

Catsimatidis said he was updated Monday afternoon by a longtime aide to the 81-year-old former New York City mayor, who shared encouraging news about Giuliani’s condition.

“He’s talking, he’s alert. To me, that’s great news,’’ the supermarket and media mogul told reporters.

Giuliani had been hospitalized over the weekend after falling ill with a serious respiratory infection, according to his business associate Tom von Essen, who served as the city’s fire commissioner during the September 11 attacks.

“Rudy had a tough weekend. He had pneumonia,” von Essen told The Post, calling Monday “an important day’’ in terms of Giuliani’s recovery.

A spokesperson for Giuliani, Ted Goodman, confirmed that the former mayor was being treated for pneumonia and remained under close observation as a precaution.

He added that Giuliani was breathing independently and was surrounded by family members and his primary physician.

“Mayor Giuliani is the ultimate fighter — as he has demonstrated throughout his life — and he is winning this battle,” Goodman said.

According to the spokesperson, Giuliani’s current illness is connected to long-term health complications related to his exposure during the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, when he served as mayor.

“On September 11th, Mayor Giuliani ran toward the towers to help those in need, which led to a restrictive airway disease diagnosis,” the spokesman said.

“This disease adds complications to any emerging respiratory issue, and the virus quickly overwhelmed his body, requiring mechanical ventilation to maintain his blood pressure.”

Monday’s update followed a rapid sequence of developments after it was revealed Sunday that Giuliani had been hospitalized in critical but stable condition with an illness that had not yet been publicly identified at the time.

President Donald Trump was among the first to publicly offer support, and by Monday, additional public figures had joined in expressing concern, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

“Absolutely, I’m wishing strength and recovery to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and his loved ones during this difficult time. And I hope that his recovery is steady, and I hope that his family finds peace in one another during this time,” Mamdani said at an unrelated press conference.

“I think former Mayor Giuliani is someone that we, as New Yorkers, know well, and he’s been a fixture in our city’s politics and public life for so many years, and I know that many New Yorkers are concerned by reports he is in critical condition and so we do keep him and his family in our prayers at this time,” he told reporters.

Former New York Governor George Pataki said Giuliani had been scheduled to appear at a charity event later in the week.

“I was looking forward to seeing him … and being able to talk at length,’’ Pataki said. “I haven’t talked to him in a few months.

“We were great partners for the city and the state for seven years together, and we were able to just do a tremendous amount to make the city and state a better place by working together.

“So obviously now we just hope he gets better,’’ Pataki said.

Pataki added that the news of Giuliani’s hospitalization came as a surprise.

“It was just a shock’’ to learn Giuliani was even hospitalized, the ex-governor said.

“You just take for granted that figures that have such a large profile in our state and our country will be around for a long time,’’ he said.

Veteran journalist and WABC radio host Dominic Carter also voiced strong praise while offering his support during the press gathering with Catsimatidis.

“History is going to judge [Giuliani] as the greatest mayor of New York City ever.”

When asked about the durability of his decades-long friendship with Giuliani — including after a legal dispute stemming from his dismissal from WABC — Catsimatidis emphasized their long-standing bond.

“Friends for 40 years, brothers for 40 years,’’ the wealthy businessman said.

“Do brothers have arguments? Of course, we did. We kissed and made up.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran has issued a stark warning of a dramatic escalation, declaring that “Tonight – a new chapter unlike anything seen before,” as tensions surged following missile launches and reports of Israeli defensive involvement in the Gulf.

The Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, quoted a military source warning that if the United Arab Emirates becomes a “plaything of Israel” and takes what it described as an “unwise” step, Iran will strike all Emirati interests and treat the country as “part of the Zionist regime.”

“So far, no official threat has been declared by the Emirates,” the military source said. “But if the Emirates become a game of Israel and make a wrong move, they will learn a lesson they will never forget.”

“If the United Arab Emirates takes any unwise action, all of its interests will become targets for Iran, and no part of its facilities will be safe,” the source continued.

“The United Arab Emirates knows it is sitting in a very fragile glass house, and insecurity is absolute poison for it,” the source added. “If it wants to repeat the mistake of the 40-day war, we will completely abandon restraint and treat this Zionist nest as part of the Zionist regime.”

At the same time, Iran’s military announced, “Tonight we will begin a new chapter that the enemies have never seen before.”

The threats followed a CNN report that an Israeli air defense system deployed in the United Arab Emirates was used to intercept Iranian missiles.

According to the report, Israel quietly positioned an Iron Dome battery in the UAE at the start of the conflict with Iran, including personnel to operate it, strengthening the Gulf state’s defenses and signaling growing cooperation between the two countries.

Additional air defense systems may also have been involved in intercepting the missiles. Emirati authorities said at least three missiles were intercepted, though it remains unclear how many were stopped specifically by the Iron Dome system.

As the escalation continued, with Iran launching missiles and drones toward the UAE and Oman, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu requested to postpone his scheduled testimony Tuesday at the Tel Aviv District Court.

According to his defense attorney, Amit Hadad, “The prime minister is required to participate tomorrow in a series of diplomatic and security meetings in Yerushalayim. These are urgent meetings that cannot be moved.”

Hadad added, “These meetings are tied to ongoing diplomatic and security developments, some of which were detailed in the sealed envelope submitted this morning and some of which have been reported in the media in recent hours, requiring the prime minister’s full time and attention.”

He further wrote, “Under these circumstances, the prime minister is unable to appear at tomorrow’s hearing, and the honorable court is requested to order the cancellation of the session. Details regarding the diplomatic-security meetings will be provided in a sealed envelope.” Prosecutors opposed Netanyahu’s request to shorten his testimony, and the court ruled that the hearing would proceed in a shortened format.

Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of Education announced that schools would shift to remote learning from Tuesday through Friday, citing concerns for the safety and well-being of students and staff. The decision followed Iranian missile and drone launches at the UAE, which reportedly sparked a fire at an oil facility in Fujairah.

In recent weeks, the UAE has come under more Iranian fire than any other country. The UAE and Israel normalized relations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, a major foreign policy achievement of President Donald Trump during his first term.

Earlier Monday, the UAE Ministry of Defense confirmed that missiles had been launched toward its territory from Iran. As tensions escalated, Israel raised its alert level. President Donald Trump warned in an earlier interview with Fox News that “Iran will be wiped off the face of the earth if it attacks American ships.”

As the situation intensified, Netanyahu again sought to cancel his testimony scheduled for Tuesday at the Tel Aviv District Court.

According to his defense attorney, Amit Hadad, “The prime minister is required to participate tomorrow in a series of diplomatic and security meetings in Jerusalem. These are urgent meetings that cannot be moved.”

Hadad added, “These meetings are tied to ongoing diplomatic and security developments, some of which were detailed in the sealed envelope submitted this morning and some of which have been reported in the media in recent hours, requiring the prime minister’s full time and attention.”

He further wrote, “Under these circumstances, the prime minister is unable to appear at tomorrow’s hearing, and the honorable court is requested to order the cancellation of the session. Details regarding the diplomatic-security meetings will be provided in a sealed envelope.” Prosecutors opposed Netanyahu’s request, and the court ruled that the hearing would be shortened.

{Matzav.com}

WATCH:

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is still listed in critical condition at a hospital in West Palm Beach, though individuals familiar with his situation report noticeable improvement over the past day.

According to a source close to the family, Giuliani is no longer dependent on a ventilator and has begun breathing independently, a meaningful development in his recovery.

Despite the continued seriousness of his condition, physicians are said to be carefully encouraged as they continue to observe him in the intensive care unit.

Hospital staff have reportedly seen clear progress, including Giuliani regaining consciousness and being able to hold brief conversations with relatives and medical personnel.

Though the situation remains delicate, these updates have brought a sense of cautious optimism to those around him.

“He’s showing signs of strength,” one source close to the family said. “The situation is still very serious, but we are seeing positive signs.”

Giuliani, 81, was taken to a hospital in West Palm Beach on Saturday after experiencing respiratory distress, where doctors diagnosed pneumonia affecting both lungs.

He was placed on a ventilator shortly after arrival and admitted to the ICU.

Giuliani became a nationally recognized figure during his time as mayor of New York City from 1994 through 2001, especially for his role following the Sept. 11 attacks.

He has dealt with ongoing lung complications connected to his exposure during the aftermath of Sept. 11.

As our source put it, “He’s not out of danger yet — but he’s improving and fighting, and that means everything right now.”

{Matzav.com}