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Forest fires fanned by high winds and hot, dry weather damaged some holiday homes in Turkey as a lingering heat wave that has cooked much of Europe led authorities to raise warnings and tourists to find ways to beat the heat on Monday. A heat dome hovered over an arc from France, Portugal and Spain to Turkey, while data from European forecasters suggested other countries were set to broil further in coming days. New highs are expected on Wednesday before rain is forecast to bring respite to some areas later this week. “Extreme heat is no longer a rare event — it has become the new normal,” tweeted U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres from Seville, Spain, where temperatures were expected to hit 42 Celsius (nearly 108 Fahrenheit) on Monday afternoon. Reiterating his frequent calls for action to fight climate change, Guterres added: “The planet is getting hotter & more dangerous — no country is immune.” In France, which was almost entirely sweltering in the heatwave on Monday and where air conditioning remains relatively rare, local and national authorities were taking extra effort to care for homeless and elderly people and people working outside. Some tourists were putting off plans for some rigorous outdoor activities. “We were going to do a bike tour today actually, but we decided because it was gonna be so warm not to do the bike tour,” said Andrea Tyson, 46, who was visiting Paris from New Philadelphia, Ohio. Authorities in Portugal issued a red heat warning for seven of 18 districts as temperatures were forecast to hit 43 degrees Celsius, a day after logging a record June temperature of 46.6 degrees C. Almost all inland areas were at high risk of wildfires. In Turkey, forest fires fanned by strong winds damaged some holiday homes in Izmir’s Doganbey region and forced the temporary closure of the airport in Izmir, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Authorities evacuated four villages as a precaution, the Forestry Ministry said. In Italy, the Health Ministry put 21 cities under its level three “red” alert, which indicates “emergency conditions with possible negative effects” on healthy, active people as well as at-risk old people, children and chronically ill people. Regional governments in northwestern Liguria and southern Sicily in Italy put restrictions on outdoor work, such as construction and agricultural labor, during the peak heat hours. In southern Germany, temperatures of up to 35 degrees Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) were expected on Monday, and they were forecast to creep higher until midweek – going as high as 39 degrees (102F) on Wednesday. Some German towns and regions imposed limits on how much water can be taken from rivers and lakes. (AP)

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Ali Larijani, a senior figure in the Iranian regime, revealed in a televised interview on Iran’s state broadcaster that he received a direct threat during the war with Israel warning him to flee the country or face assassination.

“In the midst of the war, I got a call telling me I had 12 hours to leave the country or I would be killed,” Larijani said. “They told me they’d send me to join my martyred friends Akri and Salami. I knew who was calling, and I gave Mr. Netanyahu an appropriate response.”

Larijani alleged that Israel had planned a sweeping strike to decapitate Iran’s leadership. “The Israelis targeted the site where the Supreme National Security Council was convening, with the intent to eliminate the heads of the state and then move on to strike the Supreme Leader Khamenei,” he said.

According to a report in Yisroel Hayom, Larijani also claimed that Iran had struck American military targets. “Of the 14 missiles we fired, six struck a U.S. base with significant impact. Each carried a 400-kilogram warhead. We know exactly what happened, but let Trump keep dreaming,” he said.

In response to President Trump’s assertion that Iran’s underground nuclear facility in Fordow had been destroyed, Larijani dismissed the claim mockingly: “I won’t say anything about Fordow—let them enjoy their illusions.”

{Matzav.com}

Iran’s representative to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, declared that Tehran has no intention of halting its nuclear enrichment activities, insisting the practice is a protected national right that the country will continue to uphold.

During an appearance on CBS News’s “Face the Nation,” host Margaret Brennan questioned Iravani directly about whether Iran aims to resume its uranium enrichment efforts domestically.

In response, Iravani referenced the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which grants nations that do not possess nuclear weapons access to peaceful nuclear technology, including the right to enrich uranium within regulated parameters.

“So the enrichment is our right, and an inalienable right, and we want to implement this right,” Iravani said.

“So you do plan to restart enrichment, that sounds like?” Brennan asked.

“I think that enrichment will not — never stop,” he said.

President Trump authorized military action over the weekend, targeting three nuclear-related facilities in Iran. The strikes came just as another series of negotiations was about to commence, part of ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to reach a nuclear agreement with Tehran.

While the administration has promoted the mission as a major strategic victory, several Democratic lawmakers have expressed skepticism over the true impact of the operation.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe and other senior intelligence officials gave a classified briefing to members of Congress earlier this week regarding the June 21 attack. The Trump team has been aggressively promoting the idea that the strikes delivered a significant blow to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, calling the sites “obliterated.”

However, on Tuesday, an early intelligence analysis began circulating suggesting the damage inflicted might only delay Iran’s nuclear ambitions by “a few months.” Trump administration officials rejected this assessment, with Defense Department spokespeople pushing back during a press briefing held Thursday.

{Matzav.com}

In a powerful display of gratitude to the Ribono Shel Olam for the miracles witnessed during the recent conflict with Iran, hundreds gathered this past Shabbos at Beis Medrash Mimizrach Shemesh in Beit Shemesh for a communal recitation of Nishmas Kol Chai, expressing thanks to Hashem for His protection and mercy.

The moving event took place following a halacha l’maaseh shiur delivered by the mara d’asra, Rav Dovid Cohen, which is regularly attended by hundreds of local residents each week. This time, even more community members joined to participate in the seudas hoda’ah for the miracles of the war.

In his remarks, Rav Cohen emphasized the magnitude of the hidden miracles that accompanied the war, many of which are still unknown to the broader public. “We witnessed hashgacha pratis in every step,” he said. “Hinei lo yanum velo yishan Shomer Yisrael.” He encouraged the tzibbur to not only express gratitude with words, but to make meaningful personal commitments—kabbolos tovos—as a gift of thanks to Hashem.

The emotional climax came when Rav Cohen opened the doors of the aron kodesh and the packed crowd, including a filled-to-capacity women’s section, stood united before the sifrei Torah. With deep feeling, the entire kehilla sang and recited every word of Nishmas Kol Chai aloud, voices lifted in song and thanksgiving.

Ahead of Shabbos, Deputy Minister and founder of Beis Medrash Mimizrach Shemesh Moshe Abutbul invited the community to attend the special gathering. He also shared a chilling anecdote that highlighted the depth of the miracle. Abutbul recounted testimony he had received from a rosh kollel in the city, who had taken his kollel on a trip to southern Israel just one day before the war broke out. During the trip, they witnessed 50 refrigerated trucks stationed by the IDF, prepared to hold up to 1,000 casualties in the event of mass fatalities. “In the end,” said Abutbul, “not a single truck was needed. That alone is a powerful window into the neis that occurred for Am Yisrael.”

“The miracle was immense,” he continued. “We must thank Hashem, the Gibor and Ish Milchamah. Others boast of their military success, but we, as maaminim bnei maaminim, know the truth: without Hashem’s mercy, this war could have ended in devastating loss. His chesed overwhelmed us, and we must respond with united hoda’ah and shevach.”

Abutbul also quoted the words of Rav Ovadiah Yosef zt”l on the verse in Tehillim (60:6), “Nasata lirei’echa nes lehisnoses—When Hashem performs a nes, and the recipient acknowledges it, he becomes worthy of more nissim in the future.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

CAN’T MAKE IT UP: A pro-Palestinian protester screams at virulently anti-Israeli socialist NYC mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani – who publicly supports “globalizing the intifada – for not being anti-Israel enough!

The International Association of Fire Fighters said that three of their IAFF members were ambushed while responding to the north Idaho wildfire. Two of them were killed with another in surgery.

The scene now at the Ohel of the Lubavitcher Rebbe ZT’L. Shomrim from Far Rockaway (RNSP) are assisting a smooth line at the Ohel.

The Senate’s clerks concluded a marathon reading session on Sunday, going through every word of the Republicans’ sweeping tax and spending legislation. With that hurdle cleared, the chamber is now on track to proceed toward a final vote, expected to take place Monday.

In a bid to stall progress, Democrats demanded that the entire 940-page bill be read aloud, a process that stretched nearly 16 hours and wrapped up shortly after 3 p.m. Eastern Time.

“I objected to stop Republicans moving forward on their Big, Ugly Bill until they read every single word of it to the American people,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote on X last night.

Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) publicly recognized the effort of the staffers who carried out the task.

“I would like to start by just taking a moment to thank the clerks, who stayed up all night reading the amendment and getting us to this point. I know it was a long night and that we’re not finished yet, but I want them to know the Senate appreciates their dedication, their stamina and their service,” he said.

With the reading complete, the Senate will now enter a period of up to 20 hours of floor debate, evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, before moving on to a potentially marathon session of back-to-back amendment votes known as a “vote-a-rama.”

Republican leadership is expected to waive much of their allotted debate time, potentially speeding up the process and allowing the vote-a-rama to begin during the early hours of Monday morning. If that happens, the final vote could take place later in the day.

During this next phase, senators may propose unlimited amendments as long as they pertain to the tax and spending legislation. Before the bill can reach a final vote, every amendment must be voted on and resolved.

Last night, the GOP successfully secured enough support to advance the bill following lengthy negotiations and a drawn-out voting session that remained open for over three hours. Even so, challenges remain.

Two Republican senators — Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Rand Paul of Kentucky — opposed the procedural vote and are anticipated to reject the bill itself, citing disagreements over Medicaid policies and the inclusion of a $5 trillion increase to the federal debt ceiling.

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), known for her centrist positions within the Republican conference, backed the procedural step last night but has not yet decided how she will vote on the final legislation.

“That’s going to depend on whether the bill is substantially changed,” she said last night. “There are some very good changes that have been made in the latest version, but I want to see further changes and I will be filing a number of amendments.”

Last night’s vote was complicated by opposition from four conservative Republicans — Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Rick Scott of Florida, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, and Mike Lee of Utah — who delayed proceedings for nearly four hours over concerns that the Medicaid expansions in the bill were overly generous.

The conservative holdouts said they only agreed to move forward after receiving commitments from Thune and President Trump that Scott’s proposal to reduce the 90% federal match rate for Medicaid expansion enrollees would be supported.

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a key moderate voice, also hesitated to commit, withholding her vote for several hours due to concerns about proposed changes to Medicaid and cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) included in the legislative framework.

{Matzav.com}

Sen. Thom Tillis after announcing he won’t seek reelection while opposing Trump’s spending bill: “The people in the White House, the amateurs advising the President, they’re not telling him that the effect of this bill is to break a promise.”

IDAHO SHERIFF AMID STANDOFF WITH SHOOTER(S) ON MOUNTAIN: “They’re not showing any evidence of wanting to surrender. As soon as somebody has a clear shot, I encourage them to take that shot.”  

BREAKING: At least two dead after gunman ambushed firefighters in Idaho Firefighters were ambushed by a gunman while responding to a brush fire in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Howard said. Two people are dead. The incident unfolded at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time after a small but growing brush fire broke out on Canfield Mountain Sunday afternoon. When fire personnel responded to the blaze about half an hour later, they started getting shot at by an unknown person in the woods, Howard said. Law enforcement is investigating whether the fire could have been intentionally set in order to lure first responders to the scene, Howard added.

During the ongoing Am K’Lavi military operation, Israel’s Chief Rabbi, HaGaon Rav Kalman Meir Bar, visited an Israeli Air Force base, where he met with pilots, UAV operators, and members of the maintenance crew to offer encouragement and deliver a message of gratitude and inspiration.

The visit came amid wide-ranging operational activity and was intended to uplift the spirits of the soldiers and technical teams serving under demanding conditions.

Rav Bar spoke with drone operators about the critical role they play in defending Israel’s skies, particularly in the recent campaign. He emphasized that his visit was not only to personally thank them, but to acknowledge the profound impact of their efforts on the morale of the entire nation. “The Air Force,” he stated, “has consistently been a key factor in raising the spirits of the people of Israel during trying times.”

He also met with members of the maintenance unit, who presented their meticulous work in preparing aircraft for missions while upholding the highest standards of precision and safety. The Chief Rabbi expressed deep admiration for their dedication and professionalism.

At the conclusion of the visit, Rav Bar joined the soldiers in tefillah at the base’s shul and offered them brachos for peace and safety. In his closing remarks, he urged them to continue safeguarding both the physical and spiritual strength of the Jewish people. Drawing on the imagery of the operation’s name, he remarked: “Just like the lavi, the lion, who may appear to be resting but when he roars it becomes clear to all that he is the king of the jungle, so too, the IDF, and especially the Air Force, projects strength and confidence through Operation Am K’Lavi.”

{Matzav.com}

In a dramatic closed-door session, top Israeli security officials told judges overseeing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s trial that there is “an opportunity to change the face of the Middle East and for Israel to expand its circle of peace, including with Syria,” according to a report by Kan News. Present at the confidential court hearing were the heads of the IDF Military Intelligence and the Mossad, who both emphasized the urgency and sensitivity of current regional developments. They explained to the judges why it was necessary to delay Netanyahu’s scheduled testimony hearings.

BREAKING: President Trump sends a message to “cost cutting Republicans” as he awaits passage of his Big Beautiful Bill “REMEMBER, you still have to get reelected. Don’t get too crazy!”

SEN. RAND PAUL: “The bill increases the debt ceiling by $5 trillion…They know that the ensuing years will add trillions more…That doesn’t sound at all conservative to me, & that’s why I’m a ‘no.’”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom sued Fox News on Friday over alleged defamation, saying the network knowingly aired false information about a phone call he had with President Donald Trump around the time the National Guard was sent Los Angeles. The lawsuit alleges Fox News anchor Jesse Watters edited out key information from a clip of Trump talking about calling Newsom, then used the edited video to assert that Newsom had lied about the two talking. Newsom is asking for $787 million in punitive damages in the lawsuit filed in Delaware, where Fox is incorporated. That’s the same amount Fox agreed to pay in 2023 to settle a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems. The company said Fox repeatedly aired false allegations that its equipment had switched votes from Donald Trump to Joe Biden during the 2020 election, and the discovery process revealed the network’s efforts not to alienate conservatives in its audience in the wake of Biden’s victory. “If Fox News wants to lie to the American people on Donald Trump’s behalf, it should face consequences — just like it did in the Dominion case,” Newsom said in a statement. “I believe the American people should be able to trust the information they receive from a major news outlet.” He asked a judge to order Fox to stop broadcasting “the false, deceptive, and fraudulent video and accompanying statements” that Newsom said falsely say he lied about when he spoke to Trump regarding the situation in Los Angeles, where protests erupted on June 6 over Trump’s immigration crackdown. Fox News said in a statement that it would fight the lawsuit “vigorously” and looks forward to it being dismissed. “Gov. Newsom’s transparent publicity stunt is frivolous and designed to chill free speech critical of him,” it said. Newsom’s suit centers on the details of the phone call with the president. Both Newsom and the White House have said the two spoke late at night June 6 in California, which was already June 7 on the East Coast. Though the content of the call is not part of the lawsuit, Newsom has said they never discussed Trump’s plan to deploy the National Guard, which he announced the next day. Trump said the deployment was necessary to protect federal buildings from people protesting increased immigration arrests. Trump later announced that he would also deploy Marines to the area. On June 10, when 700 Marines arrived in the Los Angeles area, Trump told reporters he had spoken to Newsom “a day ago” about his decision to send troops. That day Newsom posted on the social platform X that there had been no call. “There was no call. Not even a voicemail,” Newsom wrote. On the evening of June 10, Fox’s Jesse Watters Primetime show played a clip of Trump’s statement about his call with Newsom but removed Trump’s comment that the call was “a day ago,” the lawsuit said. Watters also referred to call logs another Fox News reporter posted online showing the phone call the two had on June 6. “Why would Newsom lie and claim Trump never called him? Why would he do that?” Watters said on air, according to the lawsuit. The segment included text across the bottom of the screen that said “Gavin Lied About Trump’s Call.” Newsom’s suit argues that […]