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Local officials in a Bergen County borough are accusing the operators of a major shopping complex of violating long-standing restrictions on Sunday sales, labeling the property a “public nuisance” and taking the matter to court.

The lawsuit, filed by leaders in Paramus, a community located just a few miles from Hackensack, was reviewed by USA TODAY. According to the filing, Mayor Christopher DiPiazza and the entire borough council authorized the action, their attorney Richard Malagiere confirmed on August 29.

In the complaint submitted to the Superior Court of New Jersey on August 25, the borough asserts that American Dream Mall, a 3-million-square-foot complex, has ignored Bergen County’s “blue laws.” These rules forbid Sunday sales of items such as apparel, lumber and construction materials, furniture for homes or offices, and both residential and commercial appliances.

Officials in Paramus maintain that the blue laws are binding only if county residents vote to keep them in effect. In Bergen County, voters chose to uphold the rules. Yet, the lawsuit claims that businesses inside American Dream have chosen to ignore them.

“These businesses, with the encouragement and support of the mall’s ownership and the acquiescence of the other defendants here, have violated the law hundreds if not thousands of times since January of this year,” the filing says.

The lawsuit explains that although the mall initially followed the prohibition, stores began trading on Sundays in 2024. According to reporting by The Bergen Record, which is part of the USA TODAY network, the mall had already been opening on Sundays for at least a year by January 2025.

Paramus officials argued in the complaint that businesses violating the law could face fines or even forced closures if the practice continues. They also noted their intent was to pressure the mall’s management to return to compliance.

Mayor DiPiazza said that American Dream had “promised on record” it would abide by Bergen County’s blue laws when opening its doors, according to the Associated Press.

The legal action lists several defendants: Ameream LLC, which owns the mall, the Borough of East Rutherford where the property is situated, Bergen County itself, and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA), which owns the land American Dream sits on.

“The lawsuit is a meritless political stunt driven by private competitors’ interests,” American Dream said in a statement obtained by the AP.

On August 29, USA TODAY reached out to Mayor DiPiazza along with the other defendants named in the case. The NJSEA and a Bergen County official replied, though the NJSEA declined to comment, citing active litigation.

Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, in a statement to USA TODAY, defended the importance of the blue laws, saying they safeguard quality of life for county residents and provide retail employees with needed rest. He emphasized that the matter comes down to “fairness.”

“When American Dream was preparing to open, its operators personally assured me and the State that they would honor the Sunday closing law and keep their retail doors shut,” Tedesco said. “They broke that promise.”

Tedesco added that operating on Sundays not only violates the statute but gives the mall “an unfair advantage” over local retailers that continue to comply.

American Dream, located in East Rutherford, is the second-largest retail and entertainment destination in the country, surpassed only by the Mall of America in Minnesota. According to Visit New Jersey, the complex contains more than 400 shops.

The mall’s official website lists its Sunday hours as 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for retail and dining, and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. for The Avenue, a luxury wing featuring brands like Gucci and Balenciaga.

The roots of blue laws trace back centuries. The National Alcohol Beverage Control Association notes that as early as 1617 in Virginia, residents were required to attend church, with militia tasked to enforce the rule. In the 1800s, reformers advocated bans on commercial and “immoral” activity on Sundays.

The U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on the issue, finding in some instances that Sunday restrictions are constitutional. In McGowan v. Maryland (1961), the justices upheld a ban on Sunday sales, reasoning the law’s aim was to promote health, rest, and general welfare rather than advance a particular religion.

The Bergen Record, also part of the USA TODAY Network, has noted that Paramus’s blue laws date back to colonial times and were first adopted in 1704, later codified in 1798. The rules once prohibited leisure activities and even nonessential travel, far stricter than today’s targeted sales bans.

According to Wyckoff Township’s municipal clerk, Bergen County residents voted to continue the laws in 1980. More than a decade later, in November 1993, county voters once again rejected a proposal to repeal the restrictions, with a two-to-one margin in favor of keeping Sunday closures.

The complaint against American Dream cites evidence that the mall has defied those rules, including a sign inside the complex stating, “All stores open Sundays.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF and Shin Bet announced on Motzei Shabbos that a key Hamas official was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Shabbos it is believed the strike targeted Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida, who has been targeted in several previous strikes.

Yerushalauyim witnessed a powerful scene on Motzoei Shabbos as thousands flocked to participate in the historic first tisch of the five sons of the late Kretchnif-Sighet Rebbe zt”l.

The event, held in a massive tent at the Pinsk Karlin Bais Medrash in the Beis Yisroel neighborhood, was arranged as part of a joint Shabbos announced by the chassidus in the wake of the Rebbe’s passing last week.

At midnight, the five sons—each now serving as admorim—entered together, with the eldest son leading. The gathering began with the singing of Kol Mekadesh, and the atmosphere was so crowded that organizers were forced to add additional bleachers to accommodate the throngs.

Chassidim described a remarkable display of mutual respect, as each of the brothers honored the others throughout the night. The tisch continued with song and divrei Torah until 4:00 a.m.

Earlier, during seudah shlishis, the Rebbes had also conducted a joint tisch, which likewise drew a vast crowd of participants.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Bill Clinton is once again drawing questions about his health after he and his wife, Hillary, were seen leaving the Hamptons this week with a portable defibrillator bag — just two months after the 79-year-old was spotted stumbling on a Manhattan sidewalk.

On Thursday, the pair was photographed boarding a private jet while carrying what appeared to be a Propaq MD Air Medical Bag, a defibrillator and monitoring device typically used in emergency situations.

Clinton wore a blue jacket and tan hat as he was escorted by his security detail, while Hillary, the former secretary of state and two-time presidential candidate, covered her blue outfit with a black sweatshirt for the flight.

The sight of the bag quickly fueled speculation about the former president’s declining health, especially given his long record of heart disease.

Clinton has contended with major health issues for over 20 years, undergoing a quadruple bypass and multiple hospital stays.

Though Clinton has never said publicly that he needs a portable defibrillator, his medical challenges have been well documented.

In 2004, just three years after leaving office, he had emergency quadruple bypass surgery at Presbyterian Hospital in New York to repair severe artery blockages. Doctors said at the time he had narrowly avoided a massive heart attack.

A year later, he returned to the hospital for surgery to fix a collapsed lung caused by scar tissue from his earlier bypass.

In 2010, Clinton was hospitalized again after experiencing chest pains, and doctors placed two stents in one of his arteries.

Following those events, the Arkansas native changed his lifestyle, adopting a mostly vegan diet, shedding pounds, and saying it gave him a “second chance.”

But the health scares didn’t end. In October 2021, Clinton was hospitalized in California with a urological infection that turned into sepsis. He was treated with IV antibiotics and released after several days.

His most recent incident came last December, when he spent Christmas Eve at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, with a fever. After tests, he was discharged the following day.

Clinton was also caught on video stumbling while walking in New York City during a book tour appearance. He clutched a pole for support, and his left leg appeared to give way.

The emergence of the defibrillator bag is now expected to intensify debate about whether his condition is worsening. Such devices are typically used to deliver life-saving shocks and to monitor patients at high risk of sudden cardiac arrest.

Although gossip outlets have speculated about possible degenerative illnesses like Parkinson’s, no reputable source has verified such claims. Clinton’s doctors and staff have only acknowledged his previous heart and infection-related medical treatment.

The Clintons have also remained in the headlines this summer for reasons beyond health.

Earlier this month, the House Oversight Committee subpoenaed both Bill and Hillary in connection with its investigation into the government’s handling of Jeffrey Epstein.

Neither has been accused of criminal conduct, but both are scheduled to testify in the fall — Hillary on Oct. 9 and Bill on Oct. 14.

In his 2024 memoir, Clinton admitted to taking flights on Epstein’s plane but insisted he was unaware of Epstein’s crimes.

“The bottom line is, even though it allowed me to visit the work of my foundation, traveling on Epstein’s plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward,” Clinton wrote.

“I wish I had never met him.”

The renewed focus on his health comes as Clinton remains active in Democratic politics, appearing at fundraisers and Clinton Foundation gatherings even as his physical stamina seems diminished.

At 79, Clinton is the third-oldest living president, behind Joe Biden, now 82, and George W. Bush, who is slightly older than Clinton.

Jimmy Carter, the nation’s longest-lived president, passed away in December at the age of 100.

{Matzav.com}

Israel’s opening salvo in June’s war with Iran was not only military — it was technological. By breaking into the phones of Iranian bodyguards and drivers, Israeli intelligence mapped the movements of the Islamic Republic’s most senior leaders, unleashing one of the most devastating decapitation strikes in modern conflict, according to new reporting by the New York Times. In the early hours of June 13, Israeli forces targeted and killed numerous top Iranian generals and nuclear scientists. Among them were Revolutionary Guards chief Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, Armed Forces chief Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri, and missile chief Brig. Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh. The precision of the strikes paralyzed Tehran’s command structure for hours, stunning both the regime and its allies. Although Iran’s top officials avoided smartphones, their entourages did not. “We know senior officials and commanders did not carry phones, but their interlocutors, security guards and drivers had phones; they did not take precautions seriously and this is how most of them were traced,” Sasan Karimi, a former Iranian deputy vice president for strategy, told the Times. The very measures Iran adopted to shield its leaders — layers of security and bodyguards — became liabilities. Israeli officials said those guards’ digital footprints allowed the IDF and Mossad to hunt down targets with unprecedented precision. “Using so many bodyguards is a weakness that we imposed on them, and we were able to take advantage of that,” one Israeli defense official told the Times. Iran had been aware of assassination threats and tightened protection of its top brass before the war. But the operational discipline collapsed quickly: guards used personal phones, sometimes posting updates on social media, exposing their principals’ locations. After the first wave of assassinations, guards were ordered to rely solely on walkie-talkies. Even then, lapses proved costly. On June 16, Israeli strikes hit a bunker during a meeting of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. President Masoud Pezeshkian was injured in the leg, and several guards were killed, though senior leaders survived. Brig. Gen. Ahmad Vahidi, newly appointed to head the Revolutionary Guards Corps, later acknowledged the depth of Israel’s intelligence penetration. “The enemy gets the majority of its intelligence through technology, satellites and electronic data,” he said. Israel claims its 12-day campaign killed dozens of senior Iranian security officials and at least 11 nuclear scientists. The strikes also damaged uranium enrichment facilities and ballistic missile infrastructure, inflicting what analysts describe as Iran’s gravest security crisis since the 1980s war with Iraq. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks that killed dozens in Israel, escalating the confrontation until a ceasefire was reached on June 24. In the aftermath, Tehran launched sweeping arrests and executions of suspected spies, desperate to root out leaks. Israel has declined comment on those measures. The strikes intensified global efforts to constrain Iran’s nuclear program. Last week, Britain, France and Germany triggered the “snapback” mechanism to reinstate UN sanctions, citing Tehran’s non-compliance with its 2015 nuclear commitments. Iran has threatened retaliation, while negotiations with international mediators remain stalled. Israel, meanwhile, has signaled it is prepared to act again. Officials warn that any attempt by Tehran to rebuild its nuclear and missile programs could trigger a renewed offensive. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A federal appeals court issued a major setback to President Trump’s trade policy on Friday, ruling that the bulk of his worldwide tariffs are unlawful.

The decision, however, is not yet final. The three-judge panel allowed the tariffs to remain active until Oct. 14, giving the administration time to bring the case before the Supreme Court.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit determined that the statute Trump used as justification for his broad tariff program did not actually give him the power to impose them.

Both Trump and the White House confirmed Friday that the case will be appealed to the high court, setting up a new clash over the president’s authority to impose duties on imported goods.

Late Friday, Trump blasted the ruling on Truth Social, slamming the “Highly Partisan Appeals Court” and stressing that “ALL TARIFFS ARE STILL IN EFFECT!”

“If these Tariffs ever went away, it would be a total disaster for the Country,” Trump wrote. “It would make us financially weak, and we have to be strong.”

The ruling undermines the centerpiece of Trump’s trade strategy, which dramatically altered America’s economic relations with countries worldwide.

The case began when a coalition of small businesses and a dozen states filed suit against Trump’s 2025 tariff initiative, a package of executive orders enacted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

The program included “trafficking tariffs” of up to 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada and 10–20% on imports from China, which Trump said were necessary to combat fentanyl and drug trafficking. It also established “reciprocal tariffs” — a 10% duty on nearly all imports, with additional surcharges on certain countries.

Trump declared a national emergency at the southern border the day he took office on Jan. 20, later extending it to Canada and China by Feb. 1, before unveiling the global tariff regime in April.

In May, the Court of International Trade struck down those orders, ruling that IEEPA does not authorize blanket tariffs, and the Federal Circuit upheld that conclusion on Friday.

The appeals court stated explicitly that IEEPA does not empower presidents to impose duties.

“The power to ‘regulate’ has long been understood to be distinct from the power to ‘tax,’” the panel wrote, stressing that the statute’s language is insufficient to support Trump’s tariff program.

“IEEPA’s grant of presidential authority to ‘regulate’ imports does not authorize the tariffs imposed by the Executive Orders,” the judges said, echoing the lower court’s decision.

The court emphasized that IEEPA has historically been used for sanctions, embargoes, and asset freezes — not the kind of sweeping duties Trump imposed.

“Whatever the policy justifications may be, they cannot override Congress’s choice of statutory limits,” the opinion added.

Responding online, Trump said the US “will no longer tolerate enormous Trade Deficits and unfair Tariffs and Non Tariff Trade Barriers imposed by other Countries, friend or foe, that undermine our Manufacturers, Farmers, and everyone else.”

“Now, with the help of the United States Supreme Court, we will use them to the benefit of our Nation, and Make America Rich, Strong, and Powerful Again!” he declared.

In a separate statement, the White House maintained that Trump “lawfully exercised the tariff powers granted to him by Congress to defend our national and economic security from foreign threats.”

“The President’s tariffs remain in effect, and we look forward to ultimate victory on this matter,” the statement said.

Trump wasted little time restoring his aggressive tariff program after returning to office.

On April 2, he declared a national emergency and introduced broad “reciprocal tariffs,” imposing a 10% baseline duty on almost all imports.

Soon after, he levied a 25% tariff on foreign cars and doubled steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%.

The moves sent relations with top trading partners into turmoil, particularly China.

Tariffs on Chinese goods climbed as high as 145% before a July truce lowered them to 30%.

Trump has also targeted other nations, imposing tariffs of 50% on India, 35% on Canada, and 25% on Mexico.

He ended the longstanding “de minimis” exemption for low-value online imports, ensuring that even inexpensive foreign shipments are subject to tariffs or fees.

Additional sector-specific duties were also introduced, including a 100% tariff on foreign films and a 25% “fentanyl tariff” aimed at countries, primarily China, accused of enabling opioid smuggling into the US.

{Matzav.com}

The Gerrer Rebbe, who suffered a fall several weeks ago and subsequently weakened, showed signs of improvement over Shabbos.

On Friday night, his grandchildren were able to pass before him for brachos. Throughout the Shabbos, special Mi Shebeirachs for the Rebbe’s recovery were recited in Gerrer shtieblach and batei medrash across Eretz Yisroel.

The Rebbe had been resting in the moshav of Ora, near Yerushalayim, since he fell on Shabbos Parshas Va’eschanan, sustaining a fracture. Since then, he has not appeared in public, apart from receiving chassidim for two days of kabbalas kahal a week and a half ago.

Toward the end of last week, the Rebbe felt unwell, prompting heightened tefillos among Gerrer chassidim on his behalf.

Sources tell Matzav.com that the Rebbe’s condition showed improvement over Shabbos.

Chassidim are hopeful that later this week, the Rebbe will once again hold kabbalas kahal, and that by the first night of Selichos he will be able to appear publicly.

All are asked to continue davening for a refuah sheleimah for Rav Yaakov Aryeh ben Yuta Hena.

{Matzav.com Israel}

In a dramatic move expected to affect tens of thousands, senior Ukrainian officials announced that this year, pilgrims will not be permitted to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah. The decision, they said, stems from security concerns tied to the ongoing war with Russia.

Journalist Barak Ravid reported on Channel 12 that a senior Ukrainian source stated: “At this stage, because of security considerations, pilgrims will not be able to travel to Uman this year.” Similarly, i24 reported that officials in Kyiv are furious with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and are threatening to bar Israelis from entering Uman during the Tishrei Yomim Tovim.

According to the reports, the ruling is also linked to tensions between Ukraine and Israel. Kyiv expressed anger over Netanyahu’s failure to call and congratulate Ukraine on its Independence Day last week. Ukrainian officials have also demanded economic assistance from Israel, along with the deployment of Israeli police forces to help manage the influx of pilgrims.

For many in Israel, especially among the tens of thousands of Breslover chassidim, the decision represents a crushing blow. The annual pilgrimage to Uman on Rosh Hashanah, to daven at the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov, is a highlight of the year for them.

In response, Rabbi Natan Ben Nun, head of the Breslover Union in Uman, rejected the reports: “We sat this week with all the relevant government authorities in Kyiv, finalized every security arrangement with the emergency services, and received all the necessary approvals for the gathering. We are continuing to prepare as usual for the arrival of the multitudes on Rosh Hashanah.”

Rabbi Ben Nun added: “We call on the public not to panic and to continue making preparations for traveling to Uman without any changes.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Border crossings at the US-Mexico border rose sharply in August, driven largely by migrants who had been deported under President Trump’s immigration enforcement and are now attempting to reenter, sources told The NY Post.

According to preliminary figures obtained by The Post, Border Patrol recorded more than 7,200 illegal entries this month. That represents a 57% jump from July, when just 4,600 migrants were caught — the lowest figure ever documented.

Even with this increase, the numbers remain far below the massive surges that occurred under the Biden administration.

Government statistics show that in August 2024, federal authorities detained about 58,000 illegal migrants, while in August 2023 the figure was more than 132,000, Customs and Border Protection reported.

A source within the Department of Homeland Security said the recent rise stems from individuals who had been expelled in Trump’s sweeping deportation campaign and are now trying again.

“They are trying to come back,” the source explained.

A Border Patrol officer added that agents are confronting a growing number of dangerous migrants.

“What we are seeing right now is a lot of criminals and we are having a lot of people trying to assault us,” the officer said.

“It used to be maybe one out of every thousand would do something like that, now it’s probably every day.”

In the San Diego sector, officials apprehended “numerous people” who had recently been deported after being discovered working at an illegal marijuana farm in southern California in July, sources confirmed.

That enforcement action resulted in 361 arrests of undocumented workers, and DHS reported that 14 children exploited at the site were also rescued.

Unlike during Joe Biden’s presidency, the Trump administration has eliminated catch and release, ensuring that there are real consequences for those who cross illegally.

Now, when migrants are apprehended at the border, agents process them and then either return them to Mexico or transfer them to ICE for deportation.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said that between May and July, not a single illegal border crosser was released into the United States.

“More than 200 days into this job, we have achieved operational security at the border,” she declared.

In addition, the Trump administration has stepped up prosecutions of offenders, pursuing federal charges for crimes such as unlawful entry, reentry after deportation, and human smuggling, sources said.

{Matzav.com}

The Belzer Rebbe remains hospitalized at Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Yerushalayim as he awaits surgery on his leg.

According to information obtained by Matzav.com, the surgery is expected to take place as early as tomorrow, led by senior physicians Dr. Ram Mosheov, head of the Orthopedic Department at Hadassah, together with Dr. Meir Eri Liebergall.

Over Shabbos, the Rebbe was accompanied by his son, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, along with his close attendants.

Before the onset of Shabbos, the gabbai, Rav Michoel Firer, relayed to the Rebbe that chassidim would be gathering in all batei medrash and shtieblach to recite Shir Hashirim. Women were also asked to say chapters of Tehillim beginning with Shir Hamaalos, following the instructions of the Belzer Badatz. The Rebbe expressed great satisfaction and gave his heartfelt bracha that the tefillos should be accepted with mercy and favor.

Tefillos and Shabbos meals took place outside the Rebbe’s hospital room. On Friday night, zemiros were sung before Kiddush, and during the seudah the participants sang the traditional Belzer melodies.

On Shabbos morning, Kiddush was recited by the Rebbe’s grandson, Rav Chaim Meir Rokeach.

During seudah shlishis, the gathered chassidim continued with traditional zemiros. Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach then led Maariv at the Rebbe’s instruction, since this Shabbos marked the yahrtzeit of Rebbetzin Malka a”h, wife of the Belzer Rebbe Rav Shalom Rokeach zt”l.

After Havdalah, the assembled sang Hamavdil.

All are asked to continue davening for a refuah sheleimah for the Rebbe, Rav Yissachar Dov ben Miriam.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara on Friday struck down a government initiative that would have allowed bochurim and yungeleit who did not serve in the army to travel freely to Uman for Rosh Hashanah without fear of arrest at airports or border crossings. In a sharply worded ruling, Baharav-Miara declared that the arrangement was “contrary to the law” and undermined what she called the state’s obligation to enforce the draft equally. She insisted that the government and its ministers “have no authority” to instruct security agencies to look the other way. Her announcement sparked fierce criticism from chareidi leaders and askanim. One senior political figure accused the attorney general of “seeking to sow division and chaos.” Rabbi Natan Ben Nun, head of Ichud Breslov in Uman, said the decision unfairly tramples on the religious obligations of those who travel to the kever of Rav Nachman of Breslov for Rosh Hashanah. “We hope a solution is found quickly so that talmidei hayeshivos can travel without fear,” he said. The plan, championed by Shas leader Aryeh Deri, had been linked to a funding package of 10 million shekels from several ministries to bolster infrastructure and security in Moldova, the transit point for most travelers to Uman. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu personally raised the matter with the Moldovan prime minister, officials said. But opposition figures pounced. Yair Lapid urged Baharav-Miara to block the plan, calling it “illegal,” and warned he would petition the High Court if the government attempted to move forward. Secular advocacy groups also demanded its cancellation. On the chareidi side, fears of mass arrests have fueled talk of protests. Former Elad mayor Yisrael Porush, head of the advocacy group Magen U’Moshia, warned that if talmidei hayeshivos are barred from flying, “no one will fly.” He said as many as 20,000 could gather at Ben Gurion Airport if the government does not find a solution. Transportation officials condemned the comments as “dangerous rhetoric.” Even within the coalition, not all ministers support the plan. Immigration Minister Ofir Sofer of the Religious Zionist Party said he was troubled that the government was prioritizing funding for travel to Uman “in complete detachment from the difficult situation the nation is facing.” For now, with Rosh Hashanah just weeks away, the fate of thousands of Breslov chassidim hoping to spend Yom Tov in Uman remains in limbo — caught between legal rulings, political fights, and their yearning to be mispallel at the tziyun of Rav Nachman. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump said in an interview with the Daily Caller that he does not expect Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet in the near future, suggesting the war may “have to fight a little longer.”

“A trilateral meeting would happen. A bilateral, I don’t know about, but a tri will happen. But, you know, sometimes people aren’t ready for it,” Trump told White House correspondent Reagan Reese in the interview, which was published on Saturday.

“I say, I use the analogy. I’ve used it a couple of times. You have a child, and there’s another child in the lot, in the playground, and they hate each other, and they start swinging, swinging, and swinging, and you want them to stop, and they keep going.

“After a little while, they’re very happy to stop. Do you understand that? It’s almost that way. Sometimes they have to fight for a little bit before you can get them to stop,” he explained.

“But this has been going on for a long time. A lot of people are dead.”

Earlier this month, Trump and Putin held a summit in Alaska, but the meeting concluded without any clear steps toward peace. Trump has since expressed frustration that Putin is unwilling to hold direct talks that would involve conceding territory captured by Russia.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the chances of a broader peace conference happening in the future, saying Putin’s agreement to participate was only to “raise the level of its representation at talks with Ukraine.”

Trump has said he would be prepared to use American airpower in support of European forces in Ukraine, but he has also pledged not to send U.S. ground troops.

“Maybe we’ll do something. Look, I’d like to see something get solved. They’re not our soldiers, but there are, 5 to 7,000, mostly young people being killed every single week,” Trump told Reese.

“If I could stop that and have a plane flying around the air every once in a while, it’s going to be mostly the Europeans, but we, we’d help them.

“They, you know, they sort of need it, and we’d help them if we could get something done,” he added.

{Matzav.com}

The Israel Defense Forces said on Saturday that it had killed the Houthi prime minister and several other senior officials in a strike in Yemen. “Houthi Prime Minister, Ahmed Al-Rahawi, along with additional senior officials of the Houthi terrorist regime were eliminated during an IDF strike in Sanaa, Yemen,” the IDF said in a social media post. The IDF said it had targeted a Houthi site where officials responsible “for the use of force, the military buildup of the Houthi terror regime, and the advancement of terror actions against Israel. The IDF will continue to target all threats against Israeli civilians.” The airstrike was conducted by the Israeli Air Force Thursday using intelligence gathered by the IDF. “The strike was made possible by seizing an intelligence opportunity and completing a rapid operational cycle, which took place within a few hours,” the IDF said. A Houthi statement confirmed Al-Rahawi’s death. It was Israel’s second strike against the Houthis in Yemen in a week. On Sunday, Israel hit Yemen’s capital in response to missiles fired by the Houthis. The attack killed six people and wounded 86 others, according to Reuters, which cited a Houthi Health Ministry spokesperson. “As we warned the Houthis in Yemen: ‘After the plague of darkness comes the plague of the death,’” said Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who was in the IDF central command during the attack. “Whoever raises a hand against Israel, their hand will be cut off.”

The U.S. Department of Justice has moved to secure an immediate ruling from a federal court in New York that would block the state from enforcing billions of dollars in liability claims against energy companies under its newly enacted “Climate Change Superfund Act.”

The DOJ first challenged New York in May as part of a larger effort opposing similar climate-related liability actions being pursued by Vermont, Hawaii, and Michigan.

Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, signed the legislation in December 2024, calling it a “landmark” measure. The law holds energy producers financially responsible for billions in damages that state legislators argue are the result of their industry practices.

State Senator Liz Krueger celebrated the move, declaring that New York “has fired a shot that will be heard round the world: the companies most responsible for the climate crisis will be held accountable.”

In its filing, the DOJ cited an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that specifically pushed back against such state-level initiatives. It referred to New York’s statute as “a climate change extortion law that seeks to retroactively impose billions in fines (erroneously labelled ‘compensatory payments’) on traditional energy producers for their purported past contributions to greenhouse gas emissions.”

Trump’s directive stated that such policies “weaken our national security and devastate Americans by driving up energy costs for families coast-to-coast.”

The Justice Department is now asking the federal court in New York to immediately halt all attempts by the state to enforce the superfund law.

Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson argued in a statement that the judiciary “must put a stop to New York’s brazen disregard of federal law, the Constitution, and binding precedent, not to mention our Nation’s energy needs.”

{Matzav.com}

Senator Bernie Sanders has called on Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to step down, accusing him of spreading conspiracy theories, promoting vaccine skepticism, and pursuing health policies that Sanders says put millions of Americans at risk.

“Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the secretary of health and human services, is endangering the health of the American people now and into the future. He must resign,” Sanders, the Vermont independent who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, wrote in a New York Times opinion piece published Saturday.

Sanders highlighted a recent leadership shake-up at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as proof, in his view, of Kennedy’s disregard for science.

According to Sanders, Kennedy forced CDC Director Susan Monarez to step down less than a month into her role after she resisted his directives, leading to the resignations of four senior officials. One of them said Kennedy’s staff tried to pressure him to “change studies that have been settled in the past” to reflect Kennedy’s anti-vaccine agenda, Sanders added.

“This is not Making America Healthy Again,” Sanders said, directly referencing the Trump administration’s slogan.

Sanders contrasted Kennedy’s claims with the position of mainstream medicine.

“It is absurd to have to say this in 2025, but vaccines are safe and effective,” he wrote, pointing to the support of leading professional organizations.

He noted that the American Academy of Pediatrics has described immunizations as “one of the greatest public health achievements,” while the American Medical Association stated that vaccines for flu, RSV, and COVID-19 are “the best tools to protect the public against these illnesses.”

Sanders further cited the World Health Organization, which recently estimated that vaccines have prevented 154 million deaths over the past half-century and reduced infant mortality worldwide by 40 percent.

He sharply criticized Kennedy’s repeated claims that vaccines are dangerous, pointing to Kennedy’s suggestion that COVID-19 vaccines were the “deadliest ever made” and his claim that the polio vaccine killed more people than the illness itself. Sanders rejected these statements as “absurd.”

“Who supports Secretary Kennedy’s views? Not credible scientists and doctors,” Sanders said. Instead, he argued, Kennedy is backed mainly by activists from Children’s Health Defense — the anti-vaccine organization Kennedy created — along with a small group of close allies who have consistently spread misinformation.

Sanders warned that Kennedy’s influence is already making vaccines harder to access. He said the administration has pulled back COVID-19 vaccine availability, particularly for young and healthy people, creating higher costs and new barriers for families.

“This means more doctors’ visits, more bureaucracy, and more people paying higher out-of-pocket costs — if they can manage to get a vaccine at all,” Sanders wrote.

The senator also expressed fears that Kennedy could move to change the childhood vaccine schedule, which could reintroduce once-eradicated illnesses such as polio and measles. Sanders noted Kennedy’s decision to cancel nearly $500 million in vaccine research projects and reduce state-level funding for pandemic readiness as further alarming moves.

“Unfortunately, Secretary Kennedy’s actions are making a worrisome situation even worse,” Sanders said.

Sanders linked Kennedy’s policies to the broader health agenda of the Trump administration, which has proposed more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.

He cautioned that such cuts would leave an estimated 15 million Americans uninsured, raise premiums for millions of others, and force nursing homes, hospitals, and community health centers to close or reduce services.

“Secretary Kennedy is putting Americans’ lives in danger, and he must resign,” Sanders concluded, calling on President Donald Trump to replace him with leaders who follow scientific expertise rather than advance conspiracy theories.

{Matzav.com}

Over the past day, social media has been flooded with posts carrying the hashtag “Trump Is Dead,” even though the claim has no basis in fact. White House representatives confirmed that President Donald Trump is alive, well, and continuing with his usual schedule.

A senior American official told Channel 12 that Trump was in good health and preparing for a round of golf. Reporters stationed at the White House noted that he was spotted entering his motorcade on the way to a golf course.

The wave of speculation seems to have been triggered by Vice President J.D. Vance’s recent conversation with USA Today. In that interview, he was asked whether he was ready to step into the presidency should Trump pass away unexpectedly. Although Vance stressed that the 79-year-old president is vigorous and constantly active, his comment that “terrible tragedies happen” was enough to set off rumors online.

Adding to the chatter are past revelations about Trump’s health and his security risks. In July, the White House disclosed that he suffers from chronic venous insufficiency, which leads to swelling in the legs. He has also survived two assassination attempts during his most recent campaign, incidents that have heightened public concern.

This is not the first instance of such false reports spreading. Back in September 2023, Donald Trump Jr.’s X account was hacked, and the hacker falsely declared Trump had died. Trump quickly posted on Truth Social to reassure the public that he was alive and in good health.

{Matzav.com}

Yerushalayim’s light rail will return to full service on Sunday, once again operating between Neve Yaakov in the north of the city and Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in the south.

Since May, service had been interrupted due to extensive construction designed to link the upcoming “Green Line” with the current “Red Line.” Officials have described the project as one of the most technically challenging engineering undertakings ever attempted in Israel.

Work took place at six central sites throughout Yerushalayim, involving infrastructure integration, laying of new tracks, installation of power and control systems, and the building of an additional “island” station. Despite the difficulties, including the period of Operation Rising Lion, the project was finished on schedule and secured the required safety approvals from the Transportation Ministry for passenger service to resume.

In the coming days, the Neve Yaakov depot is also slated to begin operations, providing greater flexibility for scheduling and improving the reliability of the system for daily riders. As part of the changes, shuttle bus lines 500 through 503 will cease running beginning Tuesday, September 2, 2025, while southwestern bus routes will revert to their original paths. Line 27 will remain an exception, continuing to serve the Central Station.

Haturim Station will remain closed for now, as additional infrastructure and safety upgrades are still in progress. The city has said a reopening date will be shared once the work is complete. Development projects along the Red Line will continue during nighttime hours only, allowing trains to run normally during the day.

Yerushalayim Mayor Moshe Lion commented, “The return of the Red Line to full operation is significant news for the residents of Yerushalayim. We successfully completed a complex task while remaining on schedule, restoring essential light rail service to tens of thousands of passengers. This is a significant step on the path towards an outstanding transportation revolution, at the end of which Jerusalem will become the first city in Israel with a modern, comfortable, light rail network connecting all parts of the city.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

The Supreme Court could be forced to prevent Democrat Fed Governor Lisa Cook from attending the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting on interest rates due to allegations of mortgage fraud and a potential firing by President Trump.

Fresh reports from Yemen reveal that following an Israeli airstrike in Sana’a earlier this week, only four ministers from the Houthi government remain alive.

Those killed in the Thursday strike reportedly included Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi, the Ministers of Economy, Industry and Investment, the Deputy Prime Minister for Defense and Security, the Deputy Prime Minister who also served as Minister of Local Administration, and the Deputy Interior Minister.

The attack also claimed the lives of the Prime Minister’s office director, the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Justice Minister Majahad, and the Minister of Youth and Sports.

Additional accounts indicate that the Transportation Minister was among the casualties as well.

Reports further state that Houthi Defense Minister Mohammad Nasser Al-Aatfi sustained serious injuries, while the group’s Chief of Staff, Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari, was also hurt in separate strikes near Sana’a.

An IDF spokesperson explained that the target was “a facility that hosted dozens of senior officials of the Houthi terrorist regime.” The airstrike was carried out by Israeli Air Force planes, acting on intelligence provided by the military’s Intelligence Directorate.

“At the facility were senior officials responsible for the use of force, the military buildup of the Houthi terror regime, and the advancement of terror actions against Israel, along with other key Senior Houthi officials,” the spokesperson said.

“The strike was made possible by seizing an intelligence opportunity and completing a rapid operational cycle, which took place within a few hours.”

The IDF added that assessments are still underway to determine the full extent of the strike, including whether more high-ranking Houthi commanders were eliminated.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump’s HUD Secretary, Scott Turner, is beginning the process of removing illegal immigrants from Section 8 housing, requiring all tenants to provide proof of citizenship.