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Sen. Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, will not seek reelection in 2026. The two-term senator’s decision opens up a high-stakes Senate race in a key battleground state.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has barred Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas from attending next month’s United Nations General Assembly, suspending visas for Abbas and his delegation. In a statement, the State Department said the move reflects U.S. national security interests and accused the PA and PLO of supporting terrorism and pursuing “lawfare” at international courts rather than engaging in peace efforts.

New Jersey’s governor is asking federal officials to impose restrictions on nonessential helicopter flights in his state after a New York City sightseeing helicopter broke apart in midair in April, killing six people. Gov. Phil Murphy, in an Aug. 18 letter, requested the Federal Aviation Administration use its authority to “prohibit or sharply reduce” the number of the aircrafts operating in the state. The Democrat noted that the helicopter involved in the April 10 crash was based at a heliport in Kearny, New Jersey and plummeted into the Hudson River just 75 feet (22 meters) from the Jersey City waterfront. He argued that future crashes could be more devastating if they occurred on land as he called on the FAA to impose more stringent regulations, akin to the cap on tourist helicopter flights over Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park that the agency adopted in 2023. “We must not wait for such a tragedy to occur being taking decisive action,” Murphy wrote. The governor suggested flights from Kearny could be routed over Newark Bay rather than directly over densely populated Jersey City and Hoboken, reducing impacts on residential neighborhoods and enhancing safety by having helicopters fly more over water than land. He also asked the FAA to consider limiting the operating hours for nonessential flights from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The FAA, in a statement Thursday, said it would reach out directly to Murphy. The agency also noted helicopters are not subject to the same minimum altitude restrictions as airplanes, which must fly at least 1,000 feet (300 meters) above the nearest obstacle when over densely populated areas. But, under federal regulations, they must not pose a hazard to people or property on land when operating. Vertical Aviation International, an industry trade group, said Friday that the heliport reached an agreement in June with Hudson County and Kearny officials to cut the number of flights by the thousands. It also has agreed to not bring in a new tour company. “Safety and community compatibility are top industry priorities every day and VAI and our members have for years been working with the communities we live and work in to find balance between our impacts and the vital services and missions our industry provides,” VAI spokesperson Bailey Wood said, noting that Murphy may not be aware of the deal reached between the officials and the heliport. The aircraft operated by New York Helicopter had been giving a typical tour of the Manhattan skyline when it broke apart about 18 minutes into the flight. The crash killed the helicopter pilot and a prominent family from Barcelona. It also revived concerns about the safety of the popular and costly aerial tours over New York City. The National Transportation Safety Board released its preliminary report on the doomed flight in May, but is still investigating what caused the helicopter to break apart. (AP)

A federal judge on Thursday denied Saudi Arabia’s bid to dismiss a lawsuit from families of 9/11 victims, clearing the case to proceed to trial. U.S. District Judge George Daniels said evidence suggests Saudi officials Fahad al-Thumairy and Omar al-Bayoumi helped support the hijackers in California, despite Riyadh’s denials. Victims’ families hailed the ruling as a landmark step toward accountability, while Saudi Arabia maintains the men’s actions were innocent. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals, a fact that has fueled suspicions of the kingdom’s involvement for more than two decades.

The Trump administration and House Republicans have opened an investigation into Wikipedia over claims that foreign actors and organizations have manipulated articles to influence U.S. public opinion. Lawmakers said they will scrutinize Wikipedia’s volunteer editors, who shape the site’s articles, and examine what steps the Wikimedia Foundation is taking to block organized bias from being injected into sensitive topics.

New York City health officials have confirmed a seventh death tied to the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in Central Harlem, where 114 people have been diagnosed and six remain hospitalized. The cluster has been traced to 12 contaminated cooling towers across 10 buildings, including a city-run hospital and health clinic, though all have since undergone remediation. Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria that spread through building water systems, can trigger cough, fever, muscle aches and shortness of breath within two days to two weeks of exposure.

The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge held steady in July at 2.6% despite President Donald Trump’s tariffs, though core inflation — which strips out food and energy — ticked up to 2.9%, its highest level since February. The Commerce Department also reported consumer spending jumped 0.5% last month, the biggest gain since March, while incomes rose 0.4% on higher wages.

As of Friday, the U.S. has ended duty-free status for imports under $800. The move, part of President Trump’s trade agenda, means small international packages will now face tariffs or flat duties of $80–$200. More than 30 countries’ postal services — including those in Europe, Japan, Australia, Mexico & India — have temporarily stopped sending some packages to the U.S. Experts warn the change could raise prices, delay deliveries & hit small businesses that rely on foreign suppliers.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: Putin is a predator. Putin’s proxies have been targeting our societies for years with hybrid attacks, cyber attacks, and the weaponizing of migrants.

In a move aimed at confronting Palestinian support for terror, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States will deny entry to Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September. The Trump administration has suspended the visas of Abbas and top PA officials, underscoring its demand that Palestinian leadership abandon policies that glorify violence and undermine peace. “In compliance with the laws and national security interests of the United States, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is denying and revoking visas from members of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA),” State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement. Pigott made clear that U.S. policy will not reward the PA’s ongoing campaigns against Israel. “Before they can be taken seriously as partners for peace, the PA and PLO must repudiate terrorism, lawfare campaigns at the ICC and ICJ, and the pursuit of unilateral recognition of statehood,” he added. The only exception will be waivers for the PA’s UN mission, in line with U.S. obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement. While often portrayed as a “moderate” counterweight to Hamas, the Palestinian Authority continues to fund and encourage violence against Israelis. Central to this policy is the Palestinian Authority Martyrs Fund, which pays stipends to families of terrorists killed, jailed, or injured while carrying out attacks. Critics argue that this so-called “pay-for-slay” program serves as a direct incentive for terror. By blocking Abbas’s trip to New York, the administration is signaling that business as usual is over. U.S. officials emphasized that re-engagement is possible — but only if the PA takes verifiable steps to end its financial and political backing of terrorism. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Trump has canceled the Secret Service protection assigned to former Vice President Kamala Harris, which had been quietly extended by Joe Biden before he left office.

Typically, ex–vice presidents are entitled to six months of protection after leaving office, which would have ended Harris’ detail on July 21.

According to a senior administration official who spoke to The Post, Biden extended Harris’ coverage for a full year just before departing the White House on January 20.

Trump issued his own directive on Thursday terminating Harris’ protection effective September 1, according to sources.

CNN, which first broke the news, noted that the decision comes as Harris prepares to release a memoir recounting her unsuccessful 2024 presidential bid, in which she became the first Democrat in two decades to lose the popular vote.

“You are hereby authorized to discontinue any security-related procedures previously authorized by Executive Memorandum, beyond those required by law, for the following individual, effective September 1, 2025: Former Vice President Kamala D. Harris,” read a letter obtained by CNN.

It is still uncertain why Biden prolonged Harris’ protection, but CNN reported that considerations such as her candidacy, race, and gender may have played a role.

Earlier this year, in March, Trump also revoked Harris’ security clearance, barring her from access to classified documents. Others whose access was removed included Biden, 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and New York Attorney General Letitia James.

By law, the Secret Service protects the sitting president, vice president, and their families, while former presidents and their spouses are entitled to lifetime protection, along with coverage for their children until age 16.

Before leaving office, Biden signed an executive order extending protection to his own family. When Trump assumed office, he rescinded that order, stripping security from Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden.

Hunter was later photographed in South Africa in March accompanied by a large security team, raising questions about the use of government resources for the travels of a private citizen.

On August 1, 2023, Kamala Harris was photographed preparing to board Air Force Two.

Trump has also withdrawn security details from other prominent officials, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

{Matzav.com}

The IDF and Shin Bet announced on Friday that they had located and identified the body of hostage Ilan Weiss in Gaza, along with what appears to be the remains of another hostage whose identity has not yet been released.

“Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I send our heartfelt condolences to the dear families and share in their deep sorrow,” Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said in a statement.

“The campaign to bring back the hostages continues without pause. We will not rest and we will not be silent until we return all our hostages home, both the living and the fallen.”

According to the military, the process of confirming the identity of the second hostage is still underway, and relatives have already been informed.

“Ilan showed courage and noble spirit when he fought the terrorists on that dark day. In his death, he gave life. And ever since, his family has shown extraordinary strength in their struggle for his return,” wrote President Isaac Herzog.

“I wish to express profound appreciation to our heroic fighters who risk their lives day and night to return all the hostages – the living and the fallen alike,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said. He emphasized that the mission of retrieving the captives is the “central goal of the approaching maneuver.”

Weiss, age 56, lived in Kibbutz Be’eri near the Gaza border and was part of the community’s emergency response team. In January 2024, the kibbutz confirmed he had been murdered during the October 7 attack, with Hamas taking his body back into Gaza.

His wife, Shiri, and daughter, Noga, were also seized by Hamas on that day but were freed in late November 2023 during a brief truce.

Two of his other daughters, Meytal and Maayan, managed to escape the terrorists by hiding and were rescued by IDF soldiers.

The family’s dog, Ketem, was also killed by the attackers during the abduction of Shiri and Noga.

{Matzav.com Israel}

President Donald Trump has revoked former Vice President Kamala Harris’ Secret Service protection that otherwise would have ended next summer, senior Trump administration officials said Friday. Former vice presidents typically get federal government protection for six months after leaving office, while ex-presidents do so for life. But then-President Joe Biden quietly signed a directive, at Harris’ request, that had extended protection for her beyond the traditional six months, according to another person familiar with the matter. The people insisted on anonymity to discuss a matter not made public. Trump, a Republican, defeated Harris, a Democrat, in the presidential election last year. His move to drop Harris’ Secret Service protection comes as the former vice president, who became the Democratic nominee last summer after a chaotic series of events that led to Biden dropping out of the contest, is about to embark on a book tour for her memoir, titled “107 Days.” The tour has 15 stops, including visits abroad to London and Toronto. The book, which refers to the historically short length of her presidential campaign, will be released Sept. 23, and the tour begins the following day. It is not unusual for Secret Service protection to continue well beyond the statutory six-month window, particularly when former officials face credible and ongoing threats. But Trump’s decisions to revoke the protection have stood out both for timing and for targets. During Trump’s second presidency, he repeatedly has cut off security for adversaries and figures who have fallen from favor, including his onetime national security adviser John Bolton and members of Biden’s family, including the former president’s adult children. The decision to strip Harris of protection is certain to raise alarms among security experts who view continuity of protection as essential in a polarized climate. A senior Trump administration official said an executive memorandum was issued Thursday to the Department of Homeland Security ending Harris’ security detail and security services. Those had been extended from six to 18 months by the Biden administration, so they would have ended in July 2026, but now they will be terminated on Monday. While she lost to Trump last November, Harris is seen as a potential candidate for 2028, and she has already announced she will not run for California governor in 2026. Harris is also a former senator, California attorney general and San Francisco district attorney. Last year was a particularly politically charged environment with Trump facing two assassination attempts, and the Secret Service played a crucial role in protecting the now-president. Harris has also faced threats before: In August 2024, a Virginia man was arrested and charged with threatening online to kill her and harm other public officials. (AP)

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, said that the antisemitism surfacing on the political right today is not only aimed at Israel, but also directed against America and against President Trump.

He spoke about what he called the “woke right,” pointing to certain conservative voices — including some who once backed Israel — that turned against Israel during the “12-Day War” with Iran and opposed American support for Israel in that conflict.

The matter came up in a conversation about antisemitism, which has long been evident on the left and is now reemerging among elements of the right.

Breitbart News asked: “Antisemitism has been rising around the world, and many of us had become used to seeing it on the extreme left, but now it does seem to be rising on the right as well — and not just from traditional sources on the right, the neo-Nazi fringe and so forth, but there are in the United States, certain popular conservative commentators who appear to have drifted in that direction. Where is that coming from? Is that based on foreign influence? Is it religiously based, somehow? Where is it coming from, in your view, and how do you stop it?”

Netanyahu answered: “There’s been a lot of foreign influence over the last two decades. There have been NGOs [non-governmental organizations] from various corners, … primarily from Europe, but also from from Qatar. That is, you know, spent billions on American universities, vilifying, vilifying Israel, vilifying Jews, and also, frankly, vilifying the United States. Because if you open Al Jazeera in Arabic, not in English, and you just track it over the years, it’s been horrible. It’s been antisemitic, anti Israeli, anti American, and all that was left to accumulate primarily in academia, you know, and from there, it sort of distributes itself elsewhere.

“But I can tell you this: look, the Jewish people have had this problem of vilification for for thousands of years, and we were accused of everything. In the Middle Ages, we were accused of killing Christian children and using their blood, okay? I mean, and these lies, these, these horrible blood libels always preceded massacres. They spread from one country to the other, and there was very little we could do about it. We were vilified, and then we were massacred, until this culminated in the worst massacre of them all — the Holocaust. The Nazis said we were spreading vermin — you know, just like in the Middle Ages. What has changed since the rise of Israel is not this vilification and not these cycles of latent antisemitism that burst forth from time to time, as it’s happening now. What has changed is that it’s not followed by massacre[s], because when they try, as they did on October 7, Hamas tried, we’re able to fend them off, defend ourselves and defeat our enemies. That’s the change that Israel has brought. But I think we have the continuous battle for truth, and I appreciate the opportunity that you have given me to tell the truth.

“And let me say one more thing — you talked about the “woke right”? Some of these people call themselves MAGA [Make America Great Again]. They’re not MAGA. If you support Iran, Iran tried to kill President Trump twice, not once, but twice. Iran has put a price on his head. … That’s Iran. Iran has murdered, has killed and wounded more Americans, thousands of them, in Iraq and in Afghanistan with their explosive devices. They killed 251 American Marines in Beirut. They bombed American embassies. They burn American flags. They chant, “Death to America.” The first thing they did when this regime took power was to take over 50 hostages in the American embassy.

“Iran wants to annihilate the United States. Israel is the best ally of the United States.

“Israel is fighting Iran, and you can’t be MAGA if you’re pro Iran, you can’t be MAGA if you’re anti-Israel. President Trump understands this, and he stands very strongly with us. And I, you know, I really appreciate the straightforward and courageous way that he he faces people, sometimes in his own constituency, because that’s what leaders, from time to time, have to do.”

{Matzav.com}

The IDF released footage from Thursday night’s raid in Syria, showing the capture of several terror suspects and the seizure of weapons.

Bochurim from Yeshiva Pe’er Yerushalayim (Rabbi Benguigi) enjoying a beautiful kumzitz at the Kosel and in the Old City on Thursday night.

The U.S. envoy to the UN criticized the IPC’s “Gaza famine” report, stating: “We can only address problems with credibility and integrity, and this report fails on both counts.”

Axios reports that Trump has ordered seven warships with 4,500 personnel to the waters off Venezuela.

US Envoy Tom Barrack on Syria: Al-Sharaa is engaging in historic talks with Israel, first meeting lasted 3.5 hours. They didn’t agree but built dialogue, exploring common ground. He’s leaning in to “appease all my neighbors.”

Nahal Special Operations Command forces operating in the Zeitoun neighborhood and the Netzarim Corridor in northern Gaza.