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ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר

ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר ערב ומוצאי יום כיפור אצל הגרמ”צ ברגמןצילום: שוקי לרר

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt repeated on Friday that President Donald Trump has set a firm ultimatum for Hamas to sign onto his peace initiative for Gaza by Sunday, cautioning the group that refusing will bring “very grave” repercussions.

“Right now, the president has made it very clear to Hamas that this is an acceptable and detailed proposal that they must accept, or the consequences are going to be very grave for them. And he has given them a deadline of Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. When I was out here on Wednesday, I told all of you, I’ll leave it to the president to make that red line, and he now has,” Leavitt said to reporters during the briefing.

“I think the entire world should hear the President of the United States loud and clear. And Hamas has an opportunity to accept this plan and to move forward in a peaceful and prosperous manner in the region. And if they don’t, the consequences, unfortunately, are going to be very tragic,” she continued.

Her remarks followed Trump’s own warning on Truth Social earlier that same day.

“An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time,” Trump posted. “Every Country has signed on! If this last chance agreement is not reached, all hell, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. There will be peace in the Middle East one way or the other.”

On Tuesday, CBS News noted that Hamas appeared to be leaning toward agreeing to Trump’s proposal to halt the conflict.

Yet by Wednesday, a Hamas official told the BBC that the group was more likely to reject the plan, saying it “serves Israel’s interests” and “ignores those of the Palestinian people.”

The following day, the BBC reported that Qatar and Egypt had reached out to Hamas’ Gaza-based military commander, Izz ad-Din al-Haddad, who openly stated that he opposed Trump’s initiative.

According to that account, al-Haddad is convinced the American framework is designed to dismantle Hamas’ control regardless of their decision, and for that reason he sees no benefit in accepting it and believes the group must press on with its fight.

{Matzav.com}

Henri Hamra, the son of Rabbi Yosef Hamra, who once served as Syria’s Chief Rabbi, has officially declared his candidacy for a seat in the Syrian parliament in Damascus, Kan News reported.

The vote is set for this coming Sunday, and his entry into the race has stirred considerable discussion across Arab social media platforms.

In his campaign message, Hamra lists his priorities as reinforcing a sense of Syrian national identity, supporting the rebuilding of the country, pushing for economic advancement, and creating a constitutional government grounded in social justice.

He further emphasizes protecting Syria’s historic and cultural legacy, while also encouraging stronger connections with Syrians who are living outside the country.

Hamra and his father moved from Syria to the United States during the 1990s. In recent months, he has returned under the current government, seeking to play a role in reviving and supporting the Jewish community still present there.

Another central point in his agenda is the call to articulate a vision for a “New Syria,” one that combines cultural continuity with economic growth in order to strengthen both society and the state.

{Matzav.com}

Lieutenant Dean Elsdunne, the international spokesperson for the Israel Police, uploaded a video to social media showing himself boarding one of the large ships involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla headed toward Gaza, which Israeli forces intercepted on Yom Kippur.

In the footage, Elsdunne appears inside a bare room on the vessel and points out that it carried no humanitarian supplies, contradicting what activists had claimed about their intentions.

“I’m inside one of the vessels, one of the largest vessels to come in this Yom Kippur flotilla. and while we’re processing this boat, there’s one thing missing, guys: All this aid that they were supposed to bring into Gaza,” he states in the video.

He went on to explain that the organizers had been given alternatives to deliver assistance properly but refused them. “When we and multiple other countries offered them to take this aid and bring it to the Gazans, we could facilitate its safe arrival, they flat out rejected it. And now we know why, because it was never about bringing aid to Gazans, but it was all about the headlines and the social media followings,” Elsdunne added.

On Friday morning, Israel’s Shayetet 13 naval commando unit seized control of the final ship still participating in the flotilla effort.

Among those taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla was climate activist Greta Thunberg, who had previously been expelled from Israel in June after she joined another flotilla, the Madleen.

{Matzav.com}

Freed Hamas hostage Keith Siegel joins ‘America’s Newsroom’ to discuss President Donald Trump’s imposed deadline on Hamas to release every hostage and to advocate for the lives of the remaining hostages.

WATCH:

President Trump said Thursday that he is still considering whether to hand out rebate checks of as much as $2,000 to Americans, using the revenue generated from his tariff policies.

The idea of redistributing a portion of the massive sums collected since he began imposing heavy tariffs on foreign countries in April comes just weeks before the Supreme Court will hear a case that could determine whether the president is legally permitted to impose such wide-reaching tariffs.

“They’re just starting to kick in,” Trump told One America News Network about the tariffs, “but ultimately, your tariffs are going to be over a trillion dollars a year.”

So what would happen with the funds?

“Number one, we’re paying down debt,” Trump said, “because people have allowed the debt to go crazy.”

He went on to claim that the current $37 trillion national debt is actually “very little, relatively speaking” given the unprecedented revenue flowing in from tariff collections.

“With that being said, we’ll pay back debt, but we also might make a distribution to the people,” Trump added.

Trump has previously floated the idea, calling it “a dividend to the people of America.”

“We’re thinking maybe $1,000 to $2,000 — it would be great,” he said of the possible payments.

Any such rebate would require approval from Congress before Americans could receive checks.

Government figures show that tariff revenues so far this year have reached around $214.9 billion, according to Fox Business, which cited Treasury Department data.

In September, $31.3 billion in tariffs were collected — slightly less than the record set in August by $73 million.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has repeatedly projected that the United States will collect no less than $300 billion from tariffs before the year concludes.

A ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in August determined that most of Trump’s tariffs were not justified under existing emergency powers laws. That decision followed two other lower court rulings that also concluded most of the tariffs imposed on trade partners were unlawful.

Even so, the appeals court allowed Trump’s tariffs to remain while the administration takes its appeal to the Supreme Court.

The high court is scheduled to begin hearing oral arguments on the case in the first week of November.

In a filing, Bessent cautioned that if the justices strike down the tariffs as illegal, the government could be forced to repay anywhere from $750 billion to $1 trillion in tariff revenue, both collected and anticipated.

{Matzav.com}

A huge display featuring dozens of 8.5×11 and 11×17 posters as well as a large vinyl posters great for hanging in one’s Sukkah or home will be sold for just a few dollars each in Lakewood at the Lakewood Arba Minim Shuk October 3-6 at this year’s new location of 400 Oak Street. Besides the dozens of small posters, there will also be hundreds of other Gedolim pictures and drawings to purchase in various sizes at discounted prices. Laminating will be available on the spot.  This will be your one-stop-shop for all your Gedolim portrait needs. Many of these Gedolim posters can be purchased as well in Brooklyn outside Shomer Shabbos on 13th Avenue through Sukkos. We are also accepting online orders at gedolimsukkahposters.com. Use code MATZAV25 for 10% off your order! {Matzav.com}

The Department of Energy announced it is scrapping 223 renewable energy projects launched under the Biden administration, a move officials say will save taxpayers in excess of $7.5 billion.

According to the agency, 321 federal funding awards linked to those projects were voided after a comprehensive internal review.

DOE explained that the canceled initiatives failed to meet U.S. energy priorities, lacked financial viability, and provided no benefit to taxpayers.

The eliminated awards had been allocated across a wide range of DOE divisions, including Clean Energy Demonstrations, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Grid Deployment, Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains, ARPA-E, and Fossil Energy.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright argued that many of the funding commitments were rushed through without proper oversight in the final weeks of Biden’s presidency.
“On day one, the Energy Department began the critical task of reviewing billions of dollars in financial awards, many rushed through in the final months of the Biden administration with inadequate documentation by any reasonable business standard,” Wright said.

The department revealed that more than a quarter of the canceled awards — totaling $3.1 billion — were granted in the short period between Election Day and Inauguration Day, just before Biden left office.

DOE did not specify which projects were halted.

The announcement followed a message from White House budget director Russ Vought on X, where he wrote, “Nearly $8 billion in Green New Scam funding to fuel the Left’s climate agenda is being canceled.”

Vought also shared a list of states affected by the cancellations: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.

With the exception of New Hampshire and Vermont, all of those states are led by Democrat governors — and every one of them supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 election.

Back in May, Wright issued new directives raising the bar for federal energy spending. Under those guidelines, every funding award is reviewed individually for potential waste, security concerns, and economic justification.

DOE officials said that under these stricter standards, the canceled projects failed to qualify. Organizations that lost awards now have a 30-day window to appeal.
“Some of the projects included in this announcement have already begun that process,” the DOE said.

The department added that additional audits are ongoing and more cancellations are likely in the near future.

{Matzav.com}

President Trump has given Hamas until Sunday evening to accept his peace initiative with Israel, warning that if the group refuses, severe consequences will follow.

“An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time. Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all H—, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.”

The president introduced his proposal earlier in the week during an appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, making clear that if Hamas does not accept the terms, Israel will be authorized to continue its military operations in Gaza.

The plan requires Hamas to release all hostages, establishes a transitional governing authority in Gaza led by a “Board of Peace” with Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair at the top, and offers amnesty for Hamas members.

“As retribution for the October 7th attack on civilization, more than 25,000 Hamas ‘soldiers’ have already been killed. Most of the rest are surrounded and MILITARILY TRAPPED, just waiting for me to give the word, ‘GO,’ for their lives to be quickly extinguished. As for the rest, we know where and who you are, and you will be hunted down, and killed,” Trump wrote.

He also called for civilians to evacuate, stating, “I am asking that all innocent Palestinians immediately leave this area of potentially great future death for safer parts of Gaza.”

{Matzav.com}

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday described the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk as evidence of a “deep rift” in the United States, while also extending sympathy to Kirk’s family.

At the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, during a forum with Russian policy specialists, Putin spoke about the incident, according to a Reuters report.

“This is a disgusting atrocity, especially since it was broadcast live. We all saw it. It was truly horrific,” Putin said. “First and foremost, I extend my condolences to Mr. Kirk’s family and all his loved ones. We sympathize and empathize.

“What happened is a reflection of a deep division within society. In the United States, I don’t believe there is any need to escalate the situation externally, as the country’s political leadership is working to restore order domestically,” he added.

Kirk was fatally shot in September while addressing an audience at Utah Valley University.

The accused gunman, Tyler Robinson, has been indicted on seven counts, including aggravated homicide, a charge that could lead to the death penalty, along with weapons violations, obstruction, and witness tampering.

Robinson appeared in court earlier this week, with another hearing scheduled for October 30. Prosecutors noted they had already compiled “voluminous” evidence against him.

The murder has reignited fierce discussion in America about the dangers of political violence. Republican lawmakers have urged Democrats to tone down their language toward President Donald Trump and encourage more tolerance for differing opinions.

Putin, in addition to commenting on Kirk’s killing, also responded to Trump’s description of Russia as a “paper tiger.”

“A paper tiger? Then go deal with this paper tiger,” Putin said. “If we are fighting the entire NATO bloc, moving forward, advancing and feeling confident, and we are still called a paper tiger, then what does that make NATO itself?”

Just days earlier, Trump suggested Ukraine could recover its lost territory and dismissed Russia as a “paper tiger.”

{Matzav.com}

Andrew Cuomo, campaigning for New York City mayor, stopped short of labeling Israel’s conduct in Gaza as genocide, even as lawmakers from both parties intensify criticism of Israel’s conduct during the campaign season.

“I believe it is obviously a horrific situation. We want peace. It’s long overdue. To watch on a daily basis the carnage that is going on in Gaza is difficult,” Cuomo told NBC’s “Meet the Press NOW” host Kristen Welker on Thursday.

When pressed on whether that meant he would call the situation a genocide, Cuomo answered, “I don’t, I don’t — it’s not my place to provide terminology in this political context.”

“But return the hostages. Eliminate Hamas, which is a terrorist organization, and let’s have peace finally, and that — that is long, long overdue,” he added. “Now my opponent talks about it all the time. It’s not really a mayoral issue, but it is his main political issue because it is a very emotional issue.”

Cuomo is competing in a three-way race that includes the Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa; the contest opened up after Mayor Eric Adams said this week he would not seek re-election.

A growing chorus of lawmakers has begun to describe Israel’s actions as genocide, and last month the U.N. Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory concluded in a report that Israel had committed genocide in Gaza, saying in part that it was “namely (i) killing members of the group; (ii) causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (iii) deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; and (iv) imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.”

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has strongly disputed those charges, telling reporters in August, “If we had wanted to commit genocide, it would have taken exactly one afternoon,” according to The Times of Israel.

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The Israel-Hamas war has also turned into a heated issue in elections across the United States, including the NYC mayoral contest, where the city’s large Jewish community has made the subject a major campaign flashpoint.

Mamdani faced fierce backlash after initially not denouncing the phrase “globalize the Intifada” — a slogan critics say could incite violence against Zionists and Jewish people, while many pro-Palestinian supporters describe it as a call for international solidarity with Palestinian resistance.

The New York City Democratic nominee has since said he would not use the phrase and that he could discourage others from repeating it. In media appearances this week he condemned Hamas, described the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel as “a horrific war crime,” and called what is happening in Gaza a “genocide.”

Cuomo used his interview with Welker to attack Mamdani over that controversy, accusing the nominee of failing to firmly repudiate the slogan.

“Also remember that Mr. Mamdani won’t condemn the use of the term ‘globalize the Intifada’, which you made this point during your interview with him. ‘Globalize the Intifada’ means kill Jewish people, right? New York has the largest Jewish population outside of Israel,” Cuomo said.

“He has made it clear he does not condone that term, though, in the wake of the interview that I did with him several months ago,” Welker responded.

“He doesn’t condemn the use either, and if it was, if I was saying, kill all Italian people, kill all — fill in the blank. Of course, you condemn that,” Cuomo pushed back. “Of course, you condemn it. It’s to me, it’s disqualifying to seek to be mayor of New York City when you’re unwilling to condemn the use of the term ‘globalize the Intifada’, which is kill all Jews, especially at a time when you see killings happening again and again and again today in the U.K.”

{Matzav.com}

Officials revealed Friday that one of the two people who died in the Yom Kippur synagogue attack in the UK was struck by police bullets as officers neutralized the knife-wielding assailant, whose given name was Jihad.

The victims, identified as 53-year-old Adrian Daulby and 66-year-old Melvin Cravitz, were killed on Thursday after 35-year-old Jihad Al Shamie, a British national of Syrian origin, drove into a crowd before stabbing pedestrians outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester.

Authorities later confirmed that one of those men lost his life due to gunfire in the chaos as officers moved quickly to stop the terrorist, who seemed to be wearing a suicide belt, from breaching the synagogue.

Because the attacker did not have a firearm, Greater Manchester Police Chief Stephen Watson explained that the victim’s “injury may sadly have been sustained as a tragic and unforeseen consequence” of the police response.

Watson added that one of the three people hospitalized following the assault may also have been injured by police gunfire.

“It is believed that both victims were close together behind the synagogue door, as worshippers acted bravely to prevent the attacker from gaining entry,” Watson said.

The attacker, whose first name is commonly used by radical Islamists, was killed by police roughly seven minutes after the rampage began, when he first used his vehicle to strike bystanders and then continued his assault with a knife.

He was found wearing what seemed to be an explosives vest, though investigators later confirmed it was a hoax device.

Lord Carlile, who previously served as the independent reviewer of terrorism laws, stressed that ultimate responsibility rests with the perpetrator regardless of who fired the bullet.

“Police acted extremely promptly and they were very efficient, aided by security guards at the synagogue and in my view it is of course tragic that somebody died in those circumstances,” he told The Times.

“It’s also very good that the chief constable of Greater Manchester has said so at an early stage so that inevitably there can be an examination of those circumstances but I’m confident that it will be shown that this was just a dreadful consequence of a terrible terrorist act.”

Authorities said Al Shamie entered Britain as a child and was granted citizenship in 2006.

His last name translates to “the Syrian” in English, though officials are unsure if that was his original surname.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood remarked that she had never before encountered someone named Jihad and confirmed that the attacker had no prior record with law enforcement.

She also cautioned that “it’s too early to say” whether he was part of a wider network or operating independently.

Police indicated that the investigation is ongoing and that the precise motivation behind the attack has not yet been established.

Three individuals were arrested Thursday on suspicion of involvement in terrorism-related activities — two men in their 30s and a woman in her 60s.

Meanwhile, the assailant’s relatives publicly condemned the violence and sought to disassociate themselves from the killings.

“The Al-Shami family in the UK and abroad strongly condemns this heinous act, which targeted peaceful, innocent civilians,” they wrote in a statement.

“We fully distance ourselves from this attack and express our deep shock and sorrow over what has happened. Our hearts and thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we pray for their strength and comfort.”

“May God have mercy on the innocent victims, and we pray for the swift recovery of the injured,” they added.

{Matzav.com}

“We would pay any money in the world and do just about anything to get a bracha from the holy Chofetz Chaim, the Rabban Shel Kol Yisroel in advance of Rosh Hashanah, right?! Well, the good news is that we CAN receive a bracha from the Chofetz Chaim. When we learn the Chofetz Chaim’s sefarim, whether the Mishnah Berurah, the sefer Chofetz Chaim, Shemiras Halashon or the many other sefarim that he wrote, it is clear that the Chofetz Chaim will be our defendant on Rosh Hashanah. This can be seen from the Gemarah (Bava Metziah 85) that teaches about one of the Amoraim who was ill and prostrated himself at the kever of his rebbi, Rav Chiya, saying, ‘I learn your Torah!’ In that merit, he was healed. “We see from here,” HaGaon HaRav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Shlomo, exclaimed, “that if one learns the Chofetz Chaim’s sefarim he has the right to ask the Chofetz Chaim for a bracha and it is clear from the Gemara that the bracha will be given.” These passionate words of Rav Ausband were said on the pre-Rosh Hashana videocast in conjunction with Dirshu’s Eleventh Annual International Yom Limud and Tefillah held on the yahrtzeit of the Chofetz Chaim, Wednesday, 24 Elul/September 17. Other prominent speakers on the videocast were Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Eytan Feiner, Rav of Kehillas Knesses Yisrael of Far Rockaway-Lawrence, and Rav Zev Smith, Maggid Shiur, Daf HaYomi B’Halacha. Another fascinating part of the videocast was the unique footage of HaGaon HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of the Ponovezh Yeshiva L’Tzeirim and one of the most insightful mechanchim of bachurim in his generation, answering questions about and discussing the rebbi-talmid relationship. The Yom Limud and Tefillah was established to designate the yahrtzeit of the Chofetz Chaim as a day to bring chizuk and hisorerus to Klal Yisrael in advance of the Yamim Noraim through the message of the Chofetz Chaim. This year, perhaps more than in any previous year, the Yom Limud and Tefillah resonated in a more profound way – as Yidden are under attack both in Eretz Yisrael and around the world, just because they are Jews. One of the especially notable aspects of the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrtzeit was the special Yom Limud and Tefilla programming for children which was created with the singular goal of connecting children to the teachings and life of the Chofetz Chaim. In North America alone, more than 100 schools held special sessions of learning from the legacy of the Chofetz Chaim while in Eretz Yisrael and Europe similar programming was held in many hundreds of schools! The Yom Limud and Tefillah is another way that Dirshu is unifying young and old all over the world to invoke rachamei shomayim.          

House Speaker Mike Johnson made clear Thursday that he would not consider any compromise proposals to resolve the government shutdown, even as some senators explore ways to end the impasse.

Standing outside his Capitol office during a press briefing, Johnson insisted that Democrats should end efforts to broker new deals and instead vote for the seven-week funding measure already passed by the House.

“I quite literally have nothing to negotiate,” Johnson said, again warning that the longer the stalemate continues, the more “inflict pain” it will bring on ordinary Americans.

Still, Johnson is navigating unease within his own party, as some Republicans privately express misgivings about President Donald Trump’s push to slash federal jobs and trim programs during the shutdown. Two GOP lawmakers voiced their objections directly to Trump’s budget chief, Russ Vought, during a private call on Wednesday.

Earlier that day, Trump announced he would be meeting with Vought to determine which “Democrat Agencies” would face cuts.

Other Republicans in the House expressed anger that GOP senators might be considering discussions on possible exit strategies, particularly if those talks included healthcare provisions. Rep. Rick Allen of Georgia strongly objected during a party conference call to any plan that would extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which Democrats are demanding. He urged Republicans not only to let the subsidies expire but also to revive their effort to repeal the ACA entirely.

Johnson aligned himself with Trump, asserting that the president does indeed have the authority to reduce staffing and funding in federal agencies during the shutdown. He also emphasized that Trump finds no satisfaction in taking such actions.

“He doesn’t want to do it,” Johnson said.

The speaker also addressed a wave of controversial AI-generated deepfake clips, some of which Trump himself shared after his Monday meeting with congressional leaders. Among them were a doctored video showing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a sombrero and mustache, and another fabricated audio track of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer appearing to say Democrats must attract undocumented immigrants because voters had turned on their “trans bullshit.”

Johnson said he would suggest Jeffries “just ignore it.”

He also faulted Senate leadership for considering leaving Washington for the weekend after another vote Friday on the House-approved stopgap plan. Johnson insisted that senators should remain in session until progress is made.

“Of course” the Senate should stay through the weekend and keep voting, Johnson said.

“The House is coming back next week, hoping they will be sending us something to work on, that we can get back to the work of the people,” he added. “They’re anxious to come back.”

{Matzav.com}

As respiratory viruses typically begin to climb in the fall, a new and highly contagious strain of COVID-19 is now fueling fresh outbreaks across the United States.

The variant, labeled XFG but more commonly referred to as “Stratus,” has overtaken NB.1.8.1, also called “Nimbus,” to become the most widespread strain nationwide. Stratus spreads so effectively because it can slip past many of the body’s immune defenses.

This new wave of cases coincides with the usual seasonal increase in respiratory illnesses like colds, influenza, and RSV, and comes as public health agencies continue to issue updated guidance on COVID vaccinations.

Federal monitoring shows the amount of virus circulating is “moderate” on a national scale, according to wastewater sampling data released September 20 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At the state level, however, 19 states are now registering “high” or “very high” COVID levels in wastewater. The most severe concentrations have been reported in Nevada, Utah, Connecticut, and Delaware.

Stratus, which is a blend of two Omicron offshoots, was first spotted in Southeast Asia at the beginning of the year and arrived in the United States later in the spring.

By June, it had already been identified in 38 different nations. That spread led the World Health Organization to label Stratus as a “variant under monitoring.”

The strain often produces symptoms such as hoarseness or a raw, scratchy throat, which are sometimes mistaken for seasonal allergies.

Doctors at Stony Brook Medicine note that most infections linked to Stratus remain relatively mild, particularly for people who have received COVID vaccinations.

Still, researchers warn that Stratus carries changes in its genetic code that make it harder for antibodies from either past infections or vaccines to neutralize it.

Its ability to surpass Nimbus has been striking, since Nimbus itself was highly efficient at latching onto human cells and spreading rapidly.

Nimbus, another member of the Omicron family, was the major strain responsible for a surge across the U.S. this summer.

Patients infected with Nimbus often reported extreme throat pain, a symptom that earned the nickname “razor blade” throat.

To reduce the spread of COVID and other respiratory viruses, health authorities continue to recommend strong hygiene practices, proper ventilation and air filtration indoors, and staying current on vaccinations.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has now endorsed the new 2025–2026 COVID vaccines for everyone six months and older, following consultation with a medical provider or pharmacist.

{Matzav.com}

Deposed Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad was the target of a poisoning operation in Russia last month and nearly died under the watch of his longtime patron Vladimir Putin, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The watchdog reported Thursday that Assad was rushed to an emergency facility near Moscow on September 20 and admitted to intensive care in critical condition. He was released last week after recovering, the group said. Rami Abdul Rahman, the organization’s director, said a “reliable source” confirmed Assad was poisoned inside his villa near Moscow, a property heavily guarded by Russian security forces. “We asked the Russian authorities to clarify what happened and who poisoned him,” Rahman wrote. “The source confirmed that the Russian government had nothing to do with the matter, but it may have been intended to implicate the Russian government.” Rahman stressed that those behind the operation were not connected to either the Syrian or U.S. governments. Still, he said, “Whether he was killed or not, the Russian government is responsible and has not yet responded to the matter.” Assad’s brother Maher and close aide Mansour Azzam were permitted to visit him in the hospital, Rahman added. The ousted strongman has been living in Russia with family and aides since rebels toppled his regime last year after two decades of iron-fisted rule. The Telegram channel General SVR, which claims to be run by a former Russian intelligence insider, alleged in December that Assad had been poisoned in an earlier assassination attempt. Fact-checking outlet Snopes, however, questioned the credibility of that account, citing the channel’s record of unverified claims and lack of corroborating evidence. Assad’s wife Asma has also been a focus of attention. Diagnosed with leukemia, she has reportedly sought a return to London, where her health could be “adequately monitored,” according to her father, who spoke to the Daily Beast last year. The Kremlin has not issued a statement on the poisoning allegation, leaving unanswered questions about how an ex-dictator living under Russian protection could be targeted so brazenly near Moscow. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The administration of President Donald Trump has authorized $230 million in assistance for Lebanon’s security institutions this week as part of efforts to weaken and eventually disarm Hezbollah, once considered the dominant armed group in the country, according to officials in both Washington and Beirut.

A Lebanese official familiar with the details explained that the allocation includes $190 million earmarked for the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and another $40 million directed to the Internal Security Forces (ISF).

Democratic congressional aides in Washington noted that the aid was finalized just before the close of the U.S. fiscal year on September 30. One aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “For a small country like Lebanon, that’s really, really significant.”

The U.S. State Department offered no response when asked for comment. The decision to release the money came despite the administration cutting back sharply on numerous foreign aid initiatives, under the principle that spending American tax dollars should be guided by an America First approach.

Observers suggested the release of the funds underscores Trump’s focus on pursuing a solution to the fighting in Gaza and broader regional tensions.

In a written response to inquiries, a State Department spokesperson said that U.S. support is intended to bolster Lebanese forces “as they work to assert Lebanese sovereignty across the country and fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the only viable framework for a durable security arrangement for both Lebanese and Israelis.”

The 1701 resolution, passed by the UN in August 2006, formally brought an end to the previous war between Hezbollah and Israel.

The current conflict, which reignited between Israel and Lebanon a year ago, has severely weakened Hezbollah while inflicting heavy damage across large areas of Lebanon.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, in an appeal made on August 5, urged the LAF to prepare a plan that would ensure all weapons in the country would be placed under the authority of official security services by the end of this year.

Hezbollah, however, has consistently refused to disarm since its last war with Israel, though it now faces growing pressure from within Lebanon as well as from Washington to give up its arsenal.

According to the Lebanese source, part of the American funding will enable the ISF to take greater responsibility for internal security, thereby allowing the Lebanese Armed Forces to concentrate on broader strategic priorities.

{Matzav.com}

None of the 40 vessels in the Global Sumud Flotilla, intercepted by Israel on Yom Kippur, contained any humanitarian aid bound for Gaza, Israel’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said. The ministry released footage showing the empty interior of one of the flotilla’s largest ships, narrated by Israeli Police spokesperson Dean Elsdunne. “It was never about bringing aid to Gaza,” Elsdunne said in the video. “It was about the headlines and social media followings.” He noted that the absence of supplies explained why flotilla organizers had rejected offers from Israel and other countries to transfer aid through legal channels rather than attempt to breach the naval blockade. The controversy comes as additional flotillas head toward the Gaza Strip in defiance of Israeli warnings. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition confirmed that a ship named Conscience departed Italy on Wednesday carrying roughly 100 people — described by the group as a mix of activists, healthcare workers, and journalists. Meanwhile, another eight boats that left Italy nearly a week ago are currently sailing near Crete, according to online tracking platforms. Social media accounts tied to the Sumud Flotilla also claimed that a second convoy of 45 vessels had departed from the Turkish port of Arsuz, releasing video purportedly showing the departure. Israeli officials have not yet confirmed whether those boats are bound for Gaza. The flotillas come amid intensifying pressure on Israel over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where international aid groups have warned of shortages of food, medicine, and basic supplies. Israel, however, has repeatedly described the maritime convoys as security threats and propaganda stunts rather than relief missions. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)