China announced Friday that it will raise tariffs on U.S. goods from 84% to 125% — the latest salvo in an escalating trade war between the world’s two largest economies that has rattled markets and raised fears of a global slowdown. While U.S. President Donald Trump paused import taxes this week for other countries, he raised tariffs on China and they now total 145%. China has denounced the policy as “economic bullying” and promised countermeasures. The new tariffs begin Saturday. Washington’s repeated jacking up of tariffs “will become a joke in the history of the world economy,” a Chinese Finance Ministry spokesman said in a statement announcing the new tariffs. “However, if the U.S.

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu issued a strong condemnation on Thursday in response to comments made by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who appeared to validate a protester’s allegation that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
“Canada has always sided with civilization. So should Mr. Carney. But instead of supporting Israel, a democracy that is fighting a just war with just means against the barbarians of Hamas, he attacks the one and only Jewish state. Mr. Carney, backtrack your irresponsible statement!” Netanyahu wrote on X.

President Donald Trump on Thursday claimed that negotiations are inching closer to securing the release of hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza, suggesting that a breakthrough may be imminent—though he offered few specifics. “We’re getting close to getting them back,” Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting. “We’re making progress. We’re dealing with Israel, we’re dealing with Hamas—and it’s a nasty group.” The president described meeting with previously released hostages, some of whom returned in poor physical condition, and emphasized the psychological toll of their ordeal. “A lot of people are very grateful. Some came back in pretty bad shape. They’re okay, but they’re going to be scarred mentally for a long time,” he said.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO — Two Jewish families from Brooklyn, New York, are safe and unharmed after the Gulfstream V executive jet they were traveling on skidded off the runway while landing at Cabo San Lucas International Airport on Thursday afternoon.

Former President Donald Trump revealed on Thursday that he has selected Yehuda Kaploun, a businessman, Chabad rabbi, and active Trump campaign supporter, to serve as his administration’s new special envoy charged with monitoring and fighting antisemitism.
Trump shared the announcement on Truth Social, stating: “I am proud to nominate Yehuda Kaploun as the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Ambassador-at-Large. Yehuda is a successful businessman, and staunch advocate for the Jewish Faith and the Rights of his people to live and worship free from persecution. With Anti-Semitism dangerously on the rise, Yehuda will be the strongest Representative for Americans and Jews across the Globe, and promote PEACE. Congratulations Yehuda!”

Agudath Israel of America presents a special Shailos Uteshuvos session on Hilchos Pesach and Erev Pesach Shechal B’Shabbos with Hagaon Harav Shmuel Kamenetsky, member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and Rosh Yeshiva of Philadelphia Yeshivah. The discussion, originally conducted four years ago, is moderated by Rav Doniel Osher Kleinman, noted rov and author of Kovetz Halachos containing Rav Kamenetsky’s p’sakim. With clarity, Rav Kamenetsky addresses a range of practical halachic questions.
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Lakewood, NJ – Lakewood, an area of 26 square miles, has 217 miles of Township streets. It also has thousands upon thousands of garbage receptacles – bins that, while serving town residents, belong to the Lakewood Public Works Department, which is responsible for the maintenance and repair of Township roads and sewers, Township parks and open space, snowplowing of Township streets, leaf and brush collection, and, of course, garbage and recycling collection.

New York City’s congestion tolling initiative is expected to stay active for at least several more months as legal battles between state leaders and the Trump administration continue to unfold.
A timeline proposed jointly in a legal filing on Friday outlines how the case may proceed, following threats made by President Donald Trump and his transportation secretary in February to halt the tolling system.
If approved by a federal judge in Manhattan, the proposed schedule would allow both parties to submit written arguments over several months, possibly extending into October or later. The toll would remain in operation during that time.