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The White House confirmed that President Donald Trump will travel to New York to deliver remarks at the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced during her daily briefing.

“The president will travel to New York City on September 22 to address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, September 23,” Leavitt said.

This appearance will be Trump’s first UNGA speech of his second term. He is expected to underscore his “America First” trade-war agenda, arguing that punitive tariffs are necessary to counter what he considers decades of unfair practices by U.S. trading partners.

Trump spoke at the UNGA multiple times between 2017 and 2021. His first address in 2017 was combative, warning he would “totally destroy North Korea” if provoked and mocking Kim Jong-un as “Rocket Man.” He also castigated Iran’s leadership and labeled the Iran nuclear agreement an “embarrassment.”

In 2018, he amplified his “America First” posture and dismissed globalism. By 2019, he again spotlighted nationalist themes, tariffs on China, and ongoing concerns about Iran and immigration. In 2020, with the COVID-19 crisis dominating global affairs, he delivered a brief prerecorded message attributing the virus’s spread to China.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also slated to speak during the UNGA’s annual high-level week, according to a PTI report earlier this month citing the UN’s provisional speakers list. The 80th session’s General Debate is scheduled for September 23–29, with Brazil customarily opening, followed by the United States.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration has authorized an $825 million weapons package for Ukraine, which includes long-range missiles and related equipment aimed at strengthening the country’s defense as U.S.-led peace efforts with Russia remain stalled.

The State Department announced Thursday that Congress was formally notified about the planned sale, which involves 3,350 Extended-Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles, 3,350 GPS navigation units, spare components, replacement parts, accessories, as well as training and technical assistance.

The department stated that Ukraine will cover the costs using funds from NATO partners Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, in addition to U.S. foreign military financing.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the department said in a statement.

The deal was unveiled as Russia escalated its military campaign against Ukraine, despite President Donald Trump meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska earlier this month to push for a negotiated settlement in the nearly three-year conflict.

On Thursday, Russia launched one of its deadliest attacks in months, firing waves of missiles and drones into Kyiv that killed at least 21 people — including four children — and left nearly 50 others wounded, according to multiple reports.

The large-scale strike, involving more than 600 projectiles, devastated all 10 districts of the Ukrainian capital, damaging residential neighborhoods, EU diplomatic offices, and cultural institutions, including the British Council.

Although Moscow insisted its strikes were aimed at military-industrial targets, civilian zones bore the brunt of the damage. European leaders condemned the assault, summoning Russian diplomats in protest. In response, the United Nations Security Council held an emergency session, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy demanded harsher international sanctions, warning that the global community’s restrained reaction was emboldening Russia.

This arms package follows two previously announced U.S. deals in July: one worth $322 million for air defense upgrades and armored combat vehicles, and another valued at $330 million to supply air defense systems and provide maintenance and repairs for self-propelled artillery units.

{Matzav.com}

Low-value imports lost their duty-free status in the United States on Friday as part of President Donald Trump’s agenda for making the nation less dependent on foreign goods and resetting global trade with tariffs. An executive order eliminated a widely used customs exemption for international shipments worth $800 or less as of 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, nearly two years earlier than the deadline set in the tax cuts and spending bill approved by Congress. Saying they received too little time and information to start collecting duties on small parcels, the national postal services of more than 30 countries have temporarily suspended sending some or most U.S.-bound packages. They include the mail systems of Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, Mexico, Thailand and almost every country in Europe. Purchases that previously entered the U.S. without needing to clear customs will require vetting and be subject to their origin country’s applicable tariff rate, which can range from 10% to 50%. For the next six months, mail carriers can instead apply a flat duty of $80 to $200 to packages sent through the global postal network. After that, both mailed parcels and those handled by private courier services will be subject to the value-based tariff rate. Although the president previously ended the “de minimis” rule for inexpensive items sent from China and Hong Kong, having to pay import taxes on small parcels from everywhere else likely will be a big change for some small businesses and online shoppers. In addition to bringing new costs, the withdrawal of duty-free treatment is likely to delay orders, according to logistics experts. Exemption created in 1938 for $1 imports The Trump administration says the exemption has become a loophole that foreign businesses exploit to evade tariffs and criminals use to get drugs, counterfeit products and other contraband into the U.S. Former President Joe Biden and members of Congress also discussed the issue. Other countries have similar exemptions, but the threshold is usually lower. For example, 150 euros ($175) is the value limit in the 20 European Union countries that use the euro as their official currency. The U.K. allows foreign businesses to send parcels worth up to 135 pounds ($182) without incurring tariff charges. In the U.S., the “de minimis” — Latin for lacking significance or importance — exemption started in 1938 as a way to save the federal government the time and expense of collecting duties on imported goods with a retail value of $1 or less. U.S. lawmakers eventually increased the eligibility cutoff to $5 in 1990, to $200 in 1993 and to $800 in 2015, according to the Congressional Research Service. Since then, the number of shipments claiming de minimis treatment has exploded. A total of 1.36 billion packages with a combined value of $64.6 billion reached the U.S. last year, compared to 134 million packages sent under the exemption in 2015, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency reported. About 60% of the 2024 shipments came from China and Hong Kong, according to an analysis logistics firm Flexport prepared based on U.S. government data. Multiple countries and regions accounted for the remainder, including Canada, Mexico, the European Union, India and Vietnam. Boutique owner anticipates higher costs for European apparel Proponents of limiting the exemption argue that it has served as a way for China-founded retail platforms like Temu and Shein to flood the U.S. with low-priced goods. The National Council of Textile Organizations […]

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, one of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s closest advisers, took on a key role during a White House meeting led by President Donald Trump on Wednesday to discuss possible plans for governing Gaza after the war, according to a report by Barak Ravid of Axios on Thursday.

Sources with direct knowledge of the session, which included senior figures such as Jared Kushner and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, said Dermer made it clear that Israel has no plans to permanently occupy Gaza and is not seeking to force the Palestinian Arab population out — despite proposals from some Israeli officials suggesting otherwise.

Instead, Dermer underscored that Israel’s priority is finding a practical and stable replacement for Hamas to manage the territory.

“Dermer’s message was: As long as our conditions are met, we will be flexible about everything else,” one source told Axios.

Dermer’s visit to Washington was aimed at presenting Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff with Israel’s operational strategy for capturing Gaza City while coordinating a significant humanitarian relief effort during the military campaign. Toward the end of the meeting, President Trump reportedly invited Dermer to share his perspective to better understand Israel’s red lines and priorities for the “day-after” phase.

Kushner and Blair, who had already shared ideas with Witkoff and other officials in previous discussions, used the meeting to outline their vision for Gaza’s future administration and rebuilding efforts. “They tried to give an idea of how Gaza could be governed and how you create an environment for investment so that reconstruction can happen,” a source explained. “The goal was to run the ideas by Trump to see if he likes them and want to move forward, so that Witkoff and Rubio can use them.”

President Trump approved continued work on the proposals by Kushner and Blair, but no binding decisions were reached. A central hurdle remains unresolved: determining who would govern Gaza and meet the stringent security and political conditions acceptable to all parties.

Sources familiar with the ongoing efforts noted that Kushner and Blair are still in the early stages of drafting a complete proposal and have not finalized their recommendations. Most importantly, there is no agreement yet on which entity or leadership structure would be responsible for Gaza’s administration and security.

“The goal is for the US to lead the effort to find an internationally accepted governance structure in Gaza that will allow Israel to pull out without deteriorating back to the old reality again from a security standpoint,” one source said.

{Matzav.com}

Nearly half of American voters now believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, according to a bombshell Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday. The findings mark a stunning shift in U.S. public opinion nearly two years into Israel’s war against Hamas. The survey found that 50% of registered voters agreed with the statement that Israel is carrying out genocide, while 35% disagreed and 15% were undecided. Voters were almost evenly split when asked where their sympathies lie in the conflict: 37% with Palestinians and 36% with Israelis, while 27% expressed no preference. The poll also recorded a sharp decline in American support for continued U.S. military aid to Israel. Six in ten voters (60%) now oppose sending more weapons or assistance, compared to just 32% who support it — the lowest level of backing and highest level of opposition in Quinnipiac polling since the war began in October 2023. “Support for the Palestinians grows while the appetite for funding Israel militarily dips sharply,” said Quinnipiac polling analyst Tim Malloy. “A harsh assessment of the way Israel is prosecuting the Gaza campaign invokes a word of infamy.” The results revealed deep partisan fractures. Among Democrats, 75% agreed with the “genocide” claim and an equal share opposed further military aid. By contrast, 64% of Republicans rejected the genocide label, and 56% supported continued U.S. aid. Independents leaned toward the Democratic position, with 51% saying Israel is committing genocide and 66% opposing additional aid. The poll’s release coincided with bitter debates inside the Democratic Party. Activists had pushed the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to adopt a resolution calling for an arms embargo on Israel and recognition of Palestinian statehood. The measure was blocked by the party’s resolutions committee, which instead called for more humanitarian aid, a ceasefire, the release of Hamas hostages, and renewed efforts toward a two-state solution. Party chair Ken Martin ultimately withdrew the more aggressive resolution to avoid deepening rifts within Democratic ranks. The poll highlights a worrying transformation in American views on the Middle East conflict. Once seen as a bedrock bipartisan issue, support for Israel is now sharply polarized, with independents and Democrats increasingly critical of its Gaza campaign. With U.S. military aid to Israel facing record-low public support, the Trump administration — and successive administrations — may face mounting political pressure to recalibrate America’s decades-old security relationship with Jerusalem. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Jewish educators and activists sharply criticized the leadership of the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) for failing to properly address antisemitism within New York City’s public school system and for endorsing Zohran Mamdani, a politician known for supporting boycotts against Israel, in the mayoral race.

During the heated protest, one frustrated teacher called on colleagues to stop paying union dues, while others demanded that the UFT withdraw its support for Mamdani, the socialist Democratic nominee.

Moshe Spern, who leads the United Jewish Teachers faction within the union, condemned the UFT’s response to antisemitic incidents, particularly last year’s chaos at Hillcrest High School, where a Jewish teacher was forced to hide in a locked room during an anti-Israel riot. He described the union’s actions as inadequate and deeply disappointing.

“Where was the UFT? … It took them almost two weeks to issue a statement, and that statement didn’t even mention antisemitism or the Jewish community,” Spern said Thursday at an “End Jew Hatred” rally held outside the UFT’s downtown headquarters, which was attended by around 40 educators and Jewish civil rights advocates.

“How can we feel safe? When our teachers get attacked, our union says little and does nothing. When our protected rights are infringed upon, our union says little and does nothing. When they need us, they pretend we matter, and when they don’t, they ignore our concerns.”

Spern, himself a high school history teacher, said he was particularly upset with UFT president Michael Mulgrew. His group of Jewish teachers had supported Mulgrew during a contentious re-election battle earlier this year, expecting their backing would lead to stronger representation of Jewish members’ concerns.

Instead, Mulgrew’s leadership endorsed Mamdani — who openly supports the boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel — after Mamdani defeated Andrew Cuomo and other opponents in the Democratic primary.

“His explanation was that the candidate was the best for the union, but not for its Jewish union members who voted for Mulgrew,” Spern said.

“I’m a history teacher, and this country was founded on the principle of ‘no taxation without representation.’ Guess what? I say the same thing today, on August 28, 2025: let’s make it very clear: No union representation, no union dues!,” he declared.

According to Spern, 150 teachers have already prepared letters to cancel their union membership dues, and he pledged to hand-deliver the letters directly to UFT leadership.

Other speakers at the rally echoed his frustration, saying the UFT has neglected Jewish educators and students for far too long.

“The UFT has failed the Jewish community,” said Michelle Ahdoot, director of programming and strategy at End Jew Hatred NY, which co-organized the protest.

“It seems that the UFT will support you — unless you are a Jew,” Ahdoot added.

“The UFT chose to endorse the candidate for mayor who has refused to denounce anti Semitic rhetoric. This choice is just the latest example of the pattern of neglect and indifference to the equality and inclusion of the Jewish community.”

Activists at the event demanded that the UFT adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, ban hate-filled materials from schools, require mandatory anti-bias training focused on antisemitism, and rescind endorsements for candidates who normalize slogans like “globalize the intifada.”

“We are asking that they retract their endorsement of Zohran Mamdani,” said attendee Lizzie Savetsky.

She criticized Mamdani for failing to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada,” which many see as a dangerous incitement encouraging violence against Jews.

In response, a UFT spokesperson defended the union’s history and commitments: “The UFT has a long history of working with, listening to, and protecting the diverse Jewish community in our schools and our city, and we will continue to do so.”

{Matzav.com}

A federal judge on Thursday rejected Saudi Arabia’s bid to throw out a long-running lawsuit brought by families of 9/11 victims, clearing the way for the case to move toward trial. U.S. District Judge George Daniels found the plaintiffs had presented enough evidence to support their claims that Saudi Arabia played a role in assisting the hijackers who carried out the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. The case, consolidated over years of litigation, alleges that Riyadh backed an extremist support network inside the United States that helped the hijackers navigate the country in the months leading up to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly denied the accusations. In his opinion, Daniels said the kingdom’s “attempts to offer seemingly innocent explanations or context” for its alleged actions were “either self-contradictory or not strong enough to overcome the inference” that Saudi Arabia had employed Omar al-Bayoumi and Fahad al-Thumairy to assist the hijackers. Court filings describe Thumairy, then a Saudi diplomat in Los Angeles, as a designated contact for al Qaeda who worked closely with Bayoumi to establish a support system for the hijackers when they first arrived in California. Saudi Arabia has countered that Bayoumi was merely a devout student associated with a San Diego mosque, whose congregants offered the newcomers hospitality without knowing their intent. At a hearing last year, Saudi attorney Michael Kellogg argued that any aid provided by Bayoumi was “limited and wholly innocent,” citing his deposition, FBI interviews and the 9/11 Commission report. The plaintiffs’ legal team — including co-lead attorneys Jodi Westbrook Flowers and Donald Migliori of Motley Rice LLC — hailed the decision as a milestone. “Today’s landmark decision in the September 11, 2001 case marks an important day for justice,” they said in a statement. “The court concluded ‘the total evidence creates a high probability as to Bayoumi and Thumairy’s roles in the hijacker’s plans, and the related role of their employer [Saudi Arabia]’ and noted that a public trial will determine the rest.” Terry Strada, chair of 9/11 Families United, called it “another powerful step toward justice,” vowing to present “the full scope of evidence in court, so that the truth is undeniable and justice is finally delivered.” Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. While Riyadh has consistently denied any government involvement and U.S. administrations have long maintained al Qaeda acted independently, suspicions of Saudi complicity have lingered for two decades. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

President Donald Trump has told House Speaker Mike Johnson that he won’t be spending $4.9 billion in congressionally approved foreign aid, effectively cutting the budget without going through the legislative branch. Trump, who sent a letter to Johnson, R-La., on Thursday, is using what’s known as a pocket rescission — when a president submits a request to Congress to not spend approved funds toward the end of the fiscal year, so that Congress cannot act on the request in the 45-day timeframe and the money goes unspent as a result. It’s the first time in nearly 50 years a president has used one. The fiscal year draws to a close at the end of September. The letter was posted Friday morning on the X account of the White House Office of Management and Budget. It said the funding would be cut from the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, an early target of Trump’s efforts to cut foreign aid. The last pocket rescission was in 1977 by then-President Jimmy Carter, and the Trump administration argues that it’s a legally permissible tool. But such a move, if standardized by the White House, could effectively bypass Congress on key spending choices and potentially wrest some control over spending from the House and the Senate. The 1974 Impoundment Control Act gives the president the authority to propose canceling funds approved by Congress. Congress can vote on pulling back the funds or sustaining them, but by proposing the rescission so close to Sept. 30 the White House ensures that the money won’t be spent and the funding lapses. Trump had previously sought to get congressional backing for rescissions and succeeded in doing so in July when the House and the Senate approved $9 billion worth of cuts. Those rescissions clawed back funding for public broadcasting and foreign aid. The Trump administration has made deep reductions to foreign aid one of its hallmark policies, despite the relatively meager savings relative to the deficit and possible damage to America’s reputation abroad as foreign populations lose access to food supplies and development programs. In February, the administration said it would eliminate almost all of USAID’s foreign aid contracts and $60 billion in overall assistance abroad. USAID has since been dismantled, and its few remaining programs have been placed under State Department control. The Trump administration on Wednesday appealed to the Supreme Court to stop lower court decisions that have preserved foreign aid, including for global health and HIV and AIDS programs, that Trump has tried to freeze. (AP)

Vice President JD Vance insisted Tuesday that President Donald Trump, the oldest man ever sworn in for a first or second presidential term, remains vigorous and fully capable of carrying out his duties — but acknowledged that he has been preparing himself to step in if necessary. “I’ve gotten a lot of good on-the-job training over the last 200 days,” Vance told USA TODAY in an interview. Asked if he was ready to assume the presidency in the event of a crisis, the 39-year-old vice president replied, “If, God forbid, there’s a terrible tragedy, I can’t think of better on-the-job training than what I’ve gotten.” Trump, now 78, has faced renewed questions about his health since the White House disclosed in July that he had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a circulatory condition that can cause leg swelling. White House physician Sean Barbabella called the condition “benign and common” and attributed visible swelling to “minor soft tissue irritation from frequent handshaking.” Democrats — and even some Republicans — have seized on Trump’s age. During the GOP primary, Nikki Haley’s campaign aired an ad titled “Grumpy Old Men” portraying both Trump and Joe Biden as stumbling seniors. Vance, however, dismissed the doubts. “The president is in incredibly good health. He’s got incredible energy,” he said. “He’s the last person making phone calls at night, and he’s the first person making phone calls in the morning.” Trump’s longevity has become a matter of national security after two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign. In July, he was shot in the ear at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, surviving what could have been a fatal attack. Weeks later, Secret Service agents foiled another attempt when a man with a rifle was spotted in shrubbery near Trump’s golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. “Yes, terrible tragedies happen,” Vance said. “But I feel very confident the president of the United States is in good shape, is going to serve out the remainder of his term and do great things for the American people.” Vance downplayed speculation about his own ambitions, joking about the Oval Office drapes being “dark and gloomy” during his first visit but insisting he is not “measuring them for a future turn” behind the Resolute Desk. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef met with leading figures from Israel’s major faith communities at the Druze “Emergency Center” established by Sheikh Muwaffaq Tarif in the village of Julis in the Galilee, a spokesperson for the Chief Rabbinate said.

“We have a blood covenant with the Druze community, and the state must do everything to protect the Druze wherever they are,” Rav Yosef said.

Reports indicate that roughly 780,000 Druze live in Syria’s Sweida province, which has been the scene of severe violence over the past two months. About 1,800 Druze have been killed there, including some by forces loyal to the Syrian government, according to those accounts.

“Here sit the leaders of religions from around the world, and every religion worthy of this name is obligated to sanctify life,” Rav Yosef also said. “We must raise a clear and unequivocal voice: we choose life.”

He also called on fellow religious leaders to speak out for the release of the hostages held in Gaza.

The gathering drew several Muslim clerics and Christian leaders, among them Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilus III.

“The visit of Rishon LeZion Rabbi Dovid Yosef, together with the heads of the Christian communities and Muslim religious leaders, and their solidarity with the Druze community, is an explicit statement of light against darkness, of good against evil,” Tarif said according to the Chief Rabbinate statement.

“This solidarity is encouraging and serves as a light at the end of the tunnel in the face of the evil and inhumanity that our Druze brothers in Syria have experienced during attempts at annihilation,” he adds.

{Matzav.com Israel}

Israeli airstrikes in Yemen on Thursday reportedly killed the prime minister of the Iran-backed Houthi movement, in what would mark Israel’s highest-level strike yet against the Iran-backed terror group that has waged a campaign of missile and drone attacks on Israel and international shipping. Yemen’s Al-Jumhuriya channel and the Aden Al-Ghad newspaper reported that Ahmed al-Rahawi, the Houthis’ prime minister, was killed in an Israeli attack on an apartment in Sanaa. Several of his aides were also said to have been killed. Israel has not confirmed the strike. The reported killing appeared to be separate from another Israeli strike Thursday that targeted what intelligence sources described as a gathering of 10 senior Houthi ministers outside the capital, where they had assembled to hear a speech by group leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi. Israeli media suggested the operation may have succeeded in eliminating much of the Houthis’ top political and military leadership, though results remain unverified. Among those said to be in the crosshairs were Defense Minister Muhammad Nasser al-Attafi, the Houthis’ top military figure since 2016 with close ties to Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah, and Chief of Staff Muhammad al-Ghamari, who survived a previous Israeli strike in June. According to reports, Israeli intelligence supplied real-time tracking of the officials’ movements, enabling the coordinated assault. The Houthis denied the claims, saying Israel was striking “civilian targets and the Yemeni people because of their positions supporting Gaza.” Earlier Israeli airstrikes largely focused on Houthi infrastructure, but Thursday’s bombing raids suggest an escalation toward decapitating the group’s leadership. An Israeli official told Channel 12 the military had been prepared to act earlier in the week but delayed until conditions aligned Thursday. Since March 18, when Israel resumed major operations in Gaza, the Houthis have fired 72 ballistic missiles and at least 23 drones toward Israel, according to official figures. A July missile strike killed one civilian and wounded several others in Tel Aviv, triggering Israel’s first major bombardment of Yemeni targets. Thursday’s operation marked Israel’s 16th strike in Yemen since November 2023, when the Houthis first began launching attacks in solidarity with Hamas. The group’s slogan openly calls for “Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse on the Jews.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Israeli forces have recovered the body of slain hostage Ilan Weiss during a joint IDF and Shin Bet operation in the Gaza Strip. Weiss, 56, was killed on October 7 while defending Kibbutz Be’eri as part of its civilian emergency squad. His body was located alongside the remains of another hostage whose identity has not yet been made public. The second set of remains is undergoing identification at the Abu Kabir National Institute of Forensic Medicine. Weiss’s wife Shiri and daughter Noga were also taken captive during the Hamas-led assault and later freed as part of a November 2023 truce and hostage-release deal. According to the IDF, the recovery mission was carried out under the Southern Command, using intelligence from the Military Intelligence Directorate, the Shin Bet, and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum. The army described the operation as “complex,” citing coordination across multiple branches. Prime Minister Netanyahu issued condolences to the families and praised the security forces for their “determination and courage,” vowing that Israel “will not rest until all hostages are returned — the living and the dead.” As of now, Israeli officials estimate that 48 hostages remain in Gaza, including 20 believed to be alive. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

A 71-year-old man has been charged after a woman in her 70s was brutally stabbed inside a kosher grocery store in Ottawa on Wednesday afternoon, in an attack now under review by the Hate and Bias Crime Unit. Police said the assault unfolded just after 1:30 p.m. at the Loblaws supermarket that houses the city’s main kosher section. The victim, who had entered the store with a friend, was suddenly approached and stabbed by the suspect, leaving her with serious injuries. Store staff rushed to her aid until paramedics arrived. She was transported to the hospital, treated, and later released. Authorities confirmed the suspect and the victim were strangers. “The suspect was taken into custody at the scene,” Ottawa police said in a statement. “Detectives continue to investigate the matter to ensure all aspects of the case are understood, and additional charges are expected.” The attack has rattled Ottawa’s Jewish community. In a statement on Facebook, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa described the victim as a “cherished” community member and confirmed she is recovering, though they withheld further details to protect her privacy. The Federation said the incident took place in the kosher section of the Loblaws on Isabella Street, a hub for Jewish residents seeking kosher products. While police have not released a motive, the Hate and Bias Crime Unit is assisting the investigation. The incident comes amid a rise in antisemitic incidents reported across Canada, leaving Jewish leaders urging vigilance. The accused, whose name has not been released, remains in custody as police build their case. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

On Thursday, Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran is prepared to restart “fair” negotiations on its nuclear program if Western governments demonstrate “goodwill”.

He relayed the message in a letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, dispatched just hours after the E3 — Britain, France and Germany — declared they would set the “snapback” mechanism in motion to restore UN penalties on Iran.

“Araqchi reaffirmed Iran’s readiness to resume fair and balanced diplomatic negotiations, on the condition that the other parties show seriousness and goodwill and avoid actions that harm the chances of success,” the letter stated, according to Reuters.

Earlier in the day, Britain, France and Germany opened a 30-day process to bring back United Nations sanctions on Iran, citing continuing breaches of the 2015 nuclear accord.

In a communication to the UN Security Council obtained by Reuters, the three governments said they had triggered the snapback mechanism, a procedure that revives sanctions lifted under the agreement. They acted ahead of an October cutoff that would have ended their ability to invoke it.

Their step followed several fruitless rounds with Tehran. The E3 have pushed Iran to restart inspections and substantive diplomacy, which have largely stalled since the 2015 deal unraveled. They tied any extension of the “snapback” to Iran allowing UN inspections to resume, addressing its sizable stockpile of enriched uranium, and reengaging in talks that could involve the United States. Tehran has repeatedly rejected direct talks with Washington.

This week’s discussions were described as tense, with Iranian anger still simmering over the June bombing of its nuclear facilities by the US and Israel, allies of the E3.

A source familiar with the exchanges told Axios’ Barak Ravid that the Iranians “haven’t put tangible detailed deliverables on the table.”

{Matzav.com}

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has opened a sweeping investigation into alleged manipulation of Wikipedia, citing mounting evidence that coordinated groups—including hostile foreign actors and U.S.-based operatives—have used the world’s largest online encyclopedia to shape public opinion on politically sensitive issues. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the committee, and Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), chair of its Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Government Innovation, announced the probe Wednesday. In a letter to Maryana Iskander, CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, lawmakers demanded documents and internal records on efforts by editors accused of violating platform rules, as well as the foundation’s response to organized disinformation campaigns. The inquiry follows reports that Wikipedia entries have been systematically targeted to advance antisemitic, anti-Israel, and pro-Kremlin narratives. A recent Anti-Defamation League study found that at least 30 Wikipedia editors had coordinated to insert anti-Israel bias and antisemitic language into articles on the platform. Separately, an Atlantic Council report flagged evidence of “hostile nation-state actors” using Wikipedia and related platforms to amplify pro-Russian and anti-Western propaganda. “Multiple studies and reports have highlighted efforts to manipulate information on the Wikipedia platform for propaganda aimed at Western audiences,” Comer and Mace wrote. Larry Sanger, co-founder of Wikipedia and a longtime critic of the project, welcomed the congressional scrutiny. “I am glad that Congress is investigating the use of foreign and U.S. government funds to pay for biased editing on Wikipedia,” Sanger told JNS. He revealed that in February he urged President Donald Trump and entrepreneur Elon Musk, who heads the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, to enact rules prohibiting federal workers from editing Wikipedia on government time and blocking taxpayer dollars from being used for online edits. Sanger further argued that the Wikimedia Foundation effectively acts as a “publisher” rather than a neutral platform, making broad editorial decisions on what sources are deemed reliable while shielding the identities of its most influential editors. “The Wikimedia Foundation could address the situation but does not,” he said, adding that former leaders of the foundation have admitted to coordinating with government agencies on “disinformation.” The Anti-Defamation League praised the launch of the congressional inquiry. “As our research showed earlier this year, antisemitism and anti-Israel bias on Wikipedia are a significant problem,” the ADL said in a statement. “We welcome the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform opening an investigation into this issue and thank Rep. Comer for his leadership efforts to address this hate.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

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A missing 12-year-old boy with autism, whose body was discovered in a New Orleans canal following a nearly two-week-long search, died from “blunt force due to an alligator” and drowning, police said Wednesday. Bryan Vasquez was first reported missing on the morning of Aug. 14, after he reportedly escaped through a bedroom window in the East side of the city, the New Orleans Police Department said. The nonverbal boy was seen on doorbell camera footage, wearing only a diaper and walking down the street alone, around 5:20 a.m. that morning. His body was found on Tuesday, located by a drone. The boy’s mother, Hilda Vasquez, had told The New Orleans Advocate/The Times-Picayune that her son would often sneak away from their home to head to a playground nearby. However, they’d recently moved to a new house. Bryan’s disappearance prompted a massive search that included multiple agencies, volunteers, airboats and bloodhounds. As local and state crews combed the area, criticism mounted over the New Orleans Police Department’s delayed response. Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said that there was a nearly five-hour gap between when the boy was reported missing and an officer arriving at the scene. Kirkpatrick said the police department has launched an internal investigation into the lapse. A coroner’s autopsy determined that Bryan drowned after he sustained trauma from an alligator, Kirkpatrick said at a news conference on Wednesday. The boy was found about 200 yards (183 meters) from where the search had started. Kirkpatrick said it is possible his body resurfaced after he died, which is common in drowning deaths. “Bryan was a bright, charismatic, and energetic young boy whose joy and spirit touched the lives of his family, friends and community,” city officials said in a press release. Kirkpatrick said she has asked the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to remove “nuisance” alligators from the area where Bryan was found. According to the wildlife agency, hunters capture and remove more than 1,000 nuisance alligators every year in an effort to minimize encounters between the alligators and humans. Louisiana is home to the largest alligator population in the country. (AP)

A federal judge in New York has ruled against Saudi Arabia’s most recent attempt to have civil lawsuits dismissed that accuse the kingdom of aiding the 9/11 hijackers.

In a written ruling issued Thursday, Judge George B. Daniels clarified that his decision focused on the question of jurisdiction, not on whether the allegations against Saudi Arabia are ultimately true.

Despite the kingdom’s arguments, the judge determined that the lawsuits present sufficient legal grounds to proceed. He pointed to evidence suggesting that two Saudi employees — an imam and an accountant — may have played roles in supporting two al-Qaida operatives who arrived in the U.S. in 2000 to learn English and take flying lessons.

Attorneys representing Saudi Arabia maintained that during the 1990s, the kingdom and the U.S. were aligned in their fight against terrorism, specifically against al-Qaida and its leader, Osama bin Laden.

The lawyers for the families of 9/11 victims, however, contend that a group of radical religious figures connected to Saudi Arabia helped facilitate the attacks. These lawsuits — filed by hundreds of victims’ relatives, injured survivors, insurers, and businesses — claim that Saudi government employees knowingly assisted the hijackers and contributed to al-Qaida’s growth by financing charities tied to terrorism.

Other defendants in related cases, including Iran, the Taliban, and al-Qaida itself, have already been found in default after failing to respond to the lawsuits.

During court hearings last year, Saudi Arabia’s attorney Michael Kellogg emphasized that the kingdom revoked bin Laden’s citizenship in the 1990s and took more aggressive actions against him than any other country before the September 11 attacks.

Following the ruling, Kreindler & Kreindler, the law firm representing the plaintiffs, issued a statement praising the outcome, saying the decision “ensures that the plaintiffs may continue their long pursuit of truth and justice.”

{Matzav.com}