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American employers added a surprising 177,000 jobs in April as the job market showed resilience in the face of President Donald Trump’s trade wars. Hiring fell slightly from a revised 185,000 in March, but that is above economist projections of 135,000 jobs. The unemployment rate remained at a low 4.2%, the Labor Department reported Friday. Trump’s aggressive and unpredictable policies – including massive import taxes – have clouded the outlook for the economy and the job market and raised fears that the American economy is headed toward recession. Friday’s report showed employment, one of the strongest aspects of the U.S. economy, remains solid, yet many economists anticipate that a negative impact from trade wars will materialize this year for American workers and potentially, President Trump. “Politicians can count their lucky stars that companies are holding on to their workers despite the storm clouds forming that could slow the economy further in the second half of the year,” said Christopher Rupkey, chief economist at fwdbonds, a financial markets research firm. Transportation and warehousing companies added 29,000 jobs last month, suggesting companies have built up inventory before imported goods are hit with new tariffs. Healthcare companies added nearly 51,000 jobs and bars, restaurants almost 17,000 and construction firms 11,000. Factories lost 1,000 jobs. Labor Department revisions shaved 58,000 jobs from February and March payrolls. Average hourly earnings ticked up 0.2% from March and 3.8% from a year ago, nearing the 3.5% that economists view as consistent with the 2% inflation the Federal Reserve wants to see. Trump’s massive taxes on imports to the U.S. are likely to raise costs for Americans and American businesses that depend on supplies from overseas. They also threaten to slow economic growth. His immigration crackdown threatens to make it more difficult for hotels, restaurants and construction firms to fill job openings. By purging federal workers and cancelling federal contracts, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency risks wiping out jobs inside the government and out. The drastic changes have shaken markets and consumers. The Conference Board, a business group, reported Tuesday that Americans’ confidence in the economy fell for the fifth straight month to the lowest level since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, Bill Adams, chief economist at Comerica Bank, called the jobs report “reassuringly normal. The fears of a softer labor market due to tariff uncertainty went unrealized last month … There are signs that businesses are reining in plans for hiring and capital spending and that consumers are turning more cautious toward discretionary spending.’’ American workers have at least one thing going for them. Despite the uncertainty about fallout from Trump’s policies, many employers don’t want to risk letting employees go – not after struggling to bring people back from the massive but short-lived layoffs from the pandemic. “For now, the unemployment rate and the number of people filing claims for jobless benefits every week remain low by historical standards,” Boston College economist Brian Bethune said this week. The federal government’s workforce fell by 9,000 on top of 17,000 job losses in February and March, The full effect of Musk’s DOGE cuts may yet to be seen. Bethune noted job cuts by the billionaire’s DOGE are still being challenged in court. Also, some of those leaving federal agencies were forced into early retirement and […]

Frustrated by delays in the production of a new Air Force One, President Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly decided to overhaul a jet once operated by the Qatari government as a temporary substitute.

“I’m not happy with Boeing,” Trump said in February about the drawn-out progress on the Air Force One replacements. “We may buy a plane or get a plane, or something.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, the federal government has enlisted defense contractor L3Harris to retrofit a Boeing 747 that previously belonged to Qatar’s leadership. Sources told the outlet that Trump is aiming to have the upgraded aircraft ready for use by the fall and is keeping close tabs on its status. This refurbished jet is expected to serve as a stand-in until the official replacements are completed.

The existing fleet of presidential aircraft — introduced during George H.W. Bush’s presidency — is approaching retirement.

During his first term, Trump reached a $3.9 billion agreement with Boeing to produce two new presidential aircraft. But seven years after securing the deal, Boeing has fallen behind schedule, and the program has encountered soaring costs due to supplier issues and engineering problems.

Given the delays, and barring an end run around the 22nd Amendment — something Trump has joked about — the new Air Force One planes may not be ready during his presidency.

This effort to find an interim solution reportedly began shortly after Boeing’s CEO visited the White House on April 18 for a meeting with the president.

Even prior to Trump’s return to the Oval Office, high-ranking officials in the Air Force and the White House Military Office had discussed canceling the Boeing contract, sources told the Journal.

Under Trump’s direction, there have also been internal conversations about whether the administration can pursue legal action against Boeing for the setbacks, according to the report.

{Matzav.com}

The CDC says 216 children have died this flu season, the most since the 2009-2010 H1N1 (swine flu) season 15 years ago.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on President Trump: “It’s important to get engaged immediately…I’m pleased to have the opportunity for quite a comprehensive set of meetings that will take place on Tuesday.”

The IDF says one of the leaders of a terror network in the Nablus area of the northern West Bank was killed by troops earlier today. Abu Lail, 39, was involved in several shooting attacks on troops in the Nablus area, along with transferring weapons to other operatives in Nablus and Jenin, and providing shelter for wanted Palestinians.

BREAKING: According to Axios, Stephen Miller is now the top contender for President Trump’s new National Security Advisor.

CBS: “In April, Border Patrol made 8,400 migrant apprehensions… The last time the U.S. averaged fewer than 9,000 monthly apprehensions was in the late 1960s.”

President Donald Trump said Friday that he will revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status, the latest move in the escalating clash between the administration and the Ivy League school. “We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. The president had previously suggested the university should lose its tax-exempt status. His latest statement came after Harvard sued the administration over its decision to freeze more than $2 billion in funding to the Ivy League school. The administration claimed the university was refusing to follow the administration’s demands that it take actions aimed at ending antisemitism on campus. “Perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity if it keeps pushing political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’” Trump threatened in a Truth Social post last month. He added, “Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!” Responding to Trump’s announcement Friday, Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton said that the government has “long exempted universities from taxes in order to support their educational mission” and that there was no legal basis to rescind its status. “The tax exemption means that more of every dollar can go toward scholarships for students, lifesaving and life-enhancing medical research, and technological advancements that drive economic growth,” he said. Newton added that revoking the university’s tax-exempt status “would endanger our ability to carry out our educational mission.” “It would result in diminished financial aid for students, abandonment of critical medical research programs, and lost opportunities for innovation,” he continued. “The unlawful use of this instrument more broadly would have grave consequences for the future of higher education in America.” (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

In a powerful letter, Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl, rov of the Old City of Yerushalayim and noted posek, has issued a public call urging Torah Jews around the world to vote for the Eretz HaKodesh slate in the current WZO elections.

The rov describes Eretz HaKodesh as “a clear and strong voice from the bnei haYeshivos and the Torah-faithful communities who seek to increase holiness in the Land, to spread Torah and prayer, and to reinforce the voice of Torah that resonates throughout the batei midrash in Eretz Yisrael.”

He contrasts this effort with those who, in his words, “are attempting to import Diaspora-style Judaism via the Reform movements,” warning that such efforts are aimed at “combating those who work to preserve the values of Torah and the mesorah of Klal Yisrael.”

The letter ends with a resounding endorsement of participation and support: “Certainly, it is a great merit and obligation to join and vote for the Eretz HaKodesh movement, and to partner with its members and activists in strengthening their efforts.”

{Matzav.com}

A 70-year-old Jewish man was viciously assaulted on Wednesday night in the quiet French town of Anduze, near Alès. According to a report by Entrevue, the victim—wearing a kippah and tzitzis—was feeding stray cats in the street when a drunken man approached him and demanded money. When the elderly man refused, he attacked. Eyewitnesses say the attacker, a 45-year-old man known to local police for previous theft-related offenses, launched into a brutal assault—punching and kicking the defenseless victim while shouting antisemitic slurs, including “dirty Jew.” Local authorities arrested the suspect on Thursday morning. He was reportedly still intoxicated at the time of arrest and is currently in custody on charges of “violence and insults based on religious affiliation or non-affiliation.” The incident has once again raised worries over the safety of visibly Jewish individuals in public spaces in France, a country that has seen an alarming increase in antisemitic attacks in recent years. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The United States is pulling back from its role in brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine, according to a statement Thursday from a senior State Department official.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters that the U.S. “will not be the mediators” going forward. Her comments reflect President Trump’s growing dissatisfaction with the stagnant negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian governments.

“We are not going to fly around the world at the drop of a hat to mediate meetings,” Bruce said, emphasizing that while the U.S. still supports a peaceful resolution, it will no longer take the lead.

“It is now between the two parties, and now — now is the time that they need to present and develop concrete ideas about how this conflict is going to end. It’s going to be up to them,” she stated.

Bruce noted that the Trump administration is increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has yet to follow through on his repeated claims of being prepared for peace.

“We are watching Putin’s actions, right, not his words. And in the process, he’s refined a very specific timeline. Weeks ago it was weeks; a few days ago it was days,” she said.

“This would be a pivotal week,” she added, hinting that a turning point may be approaching.

Her remarks came one day after the United States finalized a major mineral resource agreement with Ukraine, following two months of intense back-and-forth. The timing of the deal could further reduce Russia’s willingness to negotiate.

The agreement establishes a joint investment mechanism to which both Washington and Kyiv will contribute. Under the terms, the U.S. can count military supplies, technology, or training toward its share of the contributions.

Meanwhile, previously approved military aid packages from the Biden-era Congress are expected to be exhausted by next month. With Republicans controlling the House, it remains uncertain whether more assistance will be approved.

Despite the uncertainty over congressional funding, Ukraine has continued to purchase arms directly from American defense companies. On Tuesday, the State Department informed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it had authorized a $50 million export license for weapons, technical data, and defense services to Kyiv.

Sources in Ukraine have told The NY Post that they’re hoping this minerals partnership may open the door to more direct weapons sales from the U.S.—a policy the American government has hesitated to embrace in the past.

Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he asked President Trump if the U.S. would sell up to 10 Patriot missile batteries—systems exclusively manufactured in America—for $15 billion. Trump declined the request.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have both echoed the sentiment that any peace agreement will ultimately have to come from the warring sides themselves.

“It’s going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict,” Vance said in a Fox News appearance on “Special Report with Bret Baier.”

Vance went on to explain that the current military standoff shows little sign of changing. “It’s not going anywhere,” he said.

“It’s not going to end any time soon,” he added. “For the Ukrainians, yes, of course they are angry that they were invaded, but are we going to continue to lose thousands and thousands of soldiers over a few miles of territory this or that way?”

Rubio, speaking in a separate interview on “Hannity,” remarked that unless substantial progress is made, President Trump “is going to have to make a decision about how much more time we’re going to dedicate to this.”

On Monday, the Kremlin announced a temporary 72-hour halt in combat operations to coincide with the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat. However, U.S. officials suspect the ceasefire is more about optics than genuine peacemaking.

The pause is scheduled to begin at midnight on May 8 and extend through May 10, aligning with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations.

{Matzav.com}

President Donald Trump’s 2026 budget plan would slash non-defense domestic spending by $163 billion while increasing expenditures on national security, according to White House statements Friday. The plan shows a desire to crack down on diversity programs and initiatives to address climate change. But it doesn’t include details about what Trump wants on income taxes, tariffs, entitlement programs or the budget deficit — a sign of the challenge confronting the president when he’s promising to cut taxes and repay the federal debt without doing major damage to economic growth. Budgets do not become law but serve as a touchstone for the upcoming fiscal year debates. Often considered a statement of values, this first budget since Trump’s return to the White House carries the added weight of defining the Republican president’s second-term pursuits, alongside his party in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the plan showed fiscal discipline given the problems of persistently high budget deficits. The budget released on Friday did not, in fact, include a forecast on government borrowing. “President Trump’s plan ensures every federal taxpayer dollar spent is used to serve the American people, not a bloated bureaucracy or partisan pet projects,” Johnson said. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said the cuts could ultimately be more extreme than what the administration has proposed, noting that the budget doesn’t provide funding levels for programs such as Head Start. “President Trump has made his priorities clear as day: he wants to outright defund programs that help working Americans while he shovels massive tax breaks at billionaires like himself and raises taxes on middle-class Americans with his reckless tariffs,” Murray said. The budget seeks to cut discretionary spending by a total of 7.6% next year, but includes a 13% increase in national security spending. The State Department and international programs would lose 84% of their money and receive $9.6 billion, a cut that reflects the existing efforts by adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. The Housing and Urban Development Department would get a $33.6 billion cut, while the Health and Human Service Department would receive $33.3 trillion less and the Education Department’s spending would be reduced by $12 billion. The Defense Department would get an additional $113.3 billion and Homeland Security would receive $42.3 billion more. The IRS and FBI would lose money, while the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program would be ended. There would be $980 million less for college students in work-study programs, as well as similarly sized cuts for adult education and instruction for learning English. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would lose nearly $3.6 billion under the plan, while the National Institutes of Health would face a steep cut of almost $18 billion. The budget would eliminate more than $15 billion for infrastructure-related programs tied to climate change and $1.3 billion from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The White House budget plan arrives as Trump has unilaterally imposed what could hundreds of billions of dollars in tax increases in the form of tariffs, setting off a trade war that has consumers, CEOs and foreign leaders worried about a possible economic downturn. The White House’s Office of Management and Budget, headed by Russell Vought, a chief architect of Project 2025, provided contours of a so-called skinny version of topline numbers only regarding discretionary […]

President Trump introduced his 2026 budget blueprint on Friday, laying out plans to slash $163 billion from a variety of government programs including education, foreign assistance, and environmental initiatives, while ramping up military spending past the $1 trillion threshold.

The proposed reductions to non-defense discretionary funding represent a 22.6% decrease compared to current appropriations, according to documents released by the White House.

At the same time, Trump is requesting a 13% increase in defense allocations, pushing the Department of Defense budget to $1.01 trillion. Additionally, the administration is asking for $175 billion to address border security, aiming to, as the budget puts it, “at long last, finally secure our border.”

Despite the administration’s proposal, Congress retains the responsibility of crafting its own version of the federal budget—a process that could take several months of negotiations.

The White House is making a concerted effort to see the budget passed quickly, with Chief of Staff Susie Wiles telling The Post that enacting Trump’s legislative priorities is the central focus for the coming half-year.

“We ought to have a budget by then which would contain virtually all of the president’s priorities,” Wiles said Tuesday, “which are the things that he campaigned on, and renewal of the Trump tax cuts.”

“And if, if that is all we do, which it won’t be. That is an enormous accomplishment, because it’s the framework for everything else we will work to do.”

{Matzav.com}

President Trump announced Friday that Harvard University will be losing its tax-exempt designation.

“We are going to be taking away Harvard’s Tax Exempt Status. It’s what they deserve!” he posted on Truth Social.

This development follows the Trump administration’s recent decision to suspend $2.2 billion in federal grant money that had been allocated over several years. The suspension was in response to Harvard’s alleged failure to adequately address antisemitism and hate-related activity on its campus.

Earlier, Trump had suggested that Harvard’s continued promotion of “political, ideological, and terrorist inspired/supporting ‘Sickness?’” could place its tax-exempt status in jeopardy.

“Remember, Tax Exempt Status is totally contingent on acting in the PUBLIC INTEREST!” he warned.

Being tax-exempt allows universities like Harvard to attract substantial donations from wealthy benefactors looking for tax deductions, and ensures that the institution doesn’t pay income tax on its net earnings.

However, current federal law bars the president and other top government officials from ordering or halting any IRS audits or investigations.

The administration has yet to explain the legal justification it plans to use in order to revoke Harvard’s tax exemption.

Harvard has long benefited from its tax-exempt designation, helping it accumulate the country’s largest university endowment, now estimated at $53 billion. In the 2024 fiscal year alone, the school reportedly generated $2.4 billion in earnings from that endowment.

That endowment is crucial to the school’s financial operations, reportedly covering nearly 38% of its $6.4 billion annual budget. Additionally, $686 million in yearly federal funds comprise about 16% of its total budget.

Should Harvard’s tax-exempt status be revoked and its endowment earnings be taxed at the corporate rate of 21% instead of the current 1.4%, the school could face a $525 million annual loss in available funds.

{Matzav.com}

For Ethel Caterham, the trick to a long life — and in her case, it really has been — is not to argue. Caterham, who is 115, became the world’s oldest living person, according to the Gerontology Research Group, after Inah Canabarro, a Brazilian nun and teacher, died on Wednesday at the tender age of 116. “Never arguing with anyone, I listen and I do what I like,” she said from her nursing home in Surrey, southwest of London, on the secret to her longevity. She was born on Aug. 21, 1909, in the village of Shipton Bellinger in the south of England, five years before the outbreak of World War I. She was the second youngest of eight siblings. Travel has been in her blood, it’s clear. In 1927, at the age of 18, Caterham embarked on a journey to India, working as a nanny for a British family, where she stayed for three years before returning to England, according to the GRG. She met her husband Norman, who was a major in the British army, at a dinner party in 1931, and they were stationed in Hong Kong and Gibraltar, the GRG said. They had two daughters whom they raised in the U.K. Norman died in 1976. Hallmark Lakeview Luxury Care Home in Camberley, where Caterham is a resident, posted pictures of her cutting a cake and wearing a “115” tiara in a Facebook post on Thursday. “Huge congratulations to Lakeview resident, Ethel on becoming the oldest person in the world! What an incredible milestone and a true testament to a life well-lived,” it said in an accompanying statement. “Your strength, spirit, and wisdom are an inspiration to us all. Here’s to celebrating your remarkable journey!” The title of the oldest person ever is held by French woman Jeanne Calment, who lived to 122 years 164 days, according to Guinness World Records. (AP)

Jerusalem Hills wildfires update: Firefighters, supported by two Croatian firefighting aircraft, are in the final stage of extinguishing the blaze in Operation “Wall of Fire.”

President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that he plans to rebrand Veterans Day, calling it “Victory Day for World War I” as a tribute to what he described as America’s decisive military triumphs.

In a message posted late at night on Truth Social, Trump said the renaming effort is intended to spotlight America’s unmatched contributions in both global conflicts. He also proposed replacing the name “Victory in Europe Day,” observed on May 8, with “Victory in World War II Day,” asserting, “we did more than any other Country, by far, in producing a victorious result on World War II.”

“We won both Wars, nobody was close to us in terms of strength, bravery, or military brilliance, but we never celebrate anything,” Trump wrote. “That’s because we don’t have leaders anymore, that know how to do so! We are going to start celebrating our victories again!”

The suggestion to change the name of Veterans Day comes as a surprise, considering the holiday’s origins. It was first introduced as Armistice Day after the end of World War I to honor the American soldiers who had served in that devastating war. During the 1950s, its scope was expanded to include all U.S. military veterans, encompassing those who had fought in World War II and the Korean War. It became an official federal holiday in 1968, and over time has come to commemorate veterans of numerous other conflicts, including those in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

May 8 is recognized as the date when Nazi Germany surrendered, marking the end of fighting in Europe. However, the war against Japan continued for several more months, concluding in September 1945 after the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Unlike Veterans Day, Victory in Europe Day is not an official federal holiday in the United States.

Trump’s assertion that the United States played the most significant role in winning World War II is likely to provoke pushback, particularly from Russia, which highlights its immense wartime losses during what it calls the “Great Patriotic War.” Approximately 9 million Soviet soldiers and 19 million civilians were killed in battles against the Nazi regime on the Eastern Front. Britain also endured severe destruction during Germany’s prolonged bombing campaigns.

{Matzav.com}

VP Vance on Elon: “He’s not really exiting the stage. He’s not going to disappear, he’s still going to play a regular role. He’s just not going to be in Washington every single day. One of the biggest improvements in govt. efficiency, we’ve seen in the history”

Wild video shows a malfunction during a drone show causing hundreds of drones to come crashing to the ground.

Secretary LCD on the jobs report: “[President Trump] mentioned to the American people over and over again that the Golden Age was coming. I will tell you the Golden Age is here… This is another great jobs report… Better than expected.”