Federal prosecutors revealed this week that Ryan Routh—the man accused of attempting to assassinate Donald Trump in September 2024—had sought to acquire anti-aircraft weapons from Ukraine just weeks before his failed attack at Trump’s Florida golf course. Prosecutors allege that in August 2024, Routh tried to buy rocket launchers and stinger missiles via encrypted messaging, expressing interest in shooting down Trump’s plane. “Send me an RPG or stinger and I will see what we can do,” Routh allegedly told a contact he believed had access to Ukrainian military stockpiles. “Trump is not good for Ukraine.” The explosive revelation was included in a motion filed Monday, as the DOJ seeks to introduce the weapons discussions as direct evidence of Routh’s alleged assassination plot.

JERUSALEM – Israel’s simmering debate over Shabbat commerce reignited this week after Labor Minister Yoav Ben-Tzur (Shas) slapped a NIS 280,000 fine on the Millenniu

China again vowed to “fight to the end” Wednesday in an escalating trade war with the U.S. as it announced it would raise tariffs on American goods to 84% from Thursday. Beijing also added an array of countermeasures after U.S. President Donald Trump raised the total tariff on imports from China to 104%. Beijing said it was launching an additional suit against the U.S. at the World Trade Organization and placed further restrictions on American companies’ trade with Chinese companies. “If the U.S. insists on further escalating its economic and trade restrictions, China has the firm will and abundant means to take necessary countermeasures and fight to the end,” the Ministry of Commerce wrote in a statement introducing its white paper on trade with the U.S.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed firm opposition on Tuesday to a newly introduced Israeli plan for overseeing humanitarian aid to Gaza, warning that it could drastically reduce the flow of life-saving supplies to civilians.
“This proposal risks further controlling and callously limiting aid down to the last calorie and grain of flour,” Guterres said during a press conference, according to Reuters. “Let me be clear: We will not participate in any arrangement that does not fully respect the humanitarian principles: humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality.”

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, President Trump took to social media with a confident message for investors, declaring, “This is a great time to buy,” despite ongoing volatility in the stock market.

China fired back at President Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy on Wednesday, unveiling its own dramatic response: an increase in import taxes on American goods, now totaling an eye-popping 84%.
The Chinese government revealed that its earlier tariff rate of 34% would be raised to mirror the rate implemented by Trump.
This retaliatory measure, which takes effect Thursday, follows closely on the heels of the U.S. president’s unprecedented 104% import tax aimed at China that was enacted just hours earlier.
The timing of China’s move also aligned with a stern warning from its Ministry of Commerce, which pledged an unyielding stance in the growing trade conflict with Washington.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Manufacturers struggling to make long-term plans.

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri has drawn a red line regarding the controversial draft law, warning that his party will boycott all Knesset votes if no agreement is reached by the start of the summer session.
Speaking in an interview with HaDerech, the official Shas newspaper, Deri made his position unequivocally clear: “By the opening of the Knesset’s summer session, we must reach an internal agreement on all the core issues of the draft law — or we will refrain from participating in votes.”

A call for rachamei Shamayim has gone out across the Torah world following a significant deterioration in the condition of HaGaon HaRav Meir Mazuz, Rosh Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim.
Rav Mazuz, 80, was hospitalized earlier this week at Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah due to ongoing weakness. His condition worsened overnight.
All are asked to daven for Rav Meir Nissim ben Kamasna.
{Matzav.com Israel}