Inflation rose last month to its highest level since February as President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs are pushing up the cost of a range of goods, including furniture, clothing, and large appliances. Consumer prices rose 2.7% in June from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Tuesday, up from an annual increase of 2.4% in May. On a monthly basis, prices climbed 0.3% from May to June, after rising just 0.1% the previous month. Worsening inflation poses a political challenge for President Donald Trump, who promised during last year’s presidential campaign to immediately lower costs. The sharp inflation spike of 2022-2023 was the worst in four decades and soured most Americans on former president Joe Biden’s handling of the economy. Higher inflation will also likely heighten the Federal Reserve’s reluctance to cut its short-term interest rate, as Trump is loudly demanding. Trump has often insisted in comments on social media that there is “no inflation” and that as a result, the central bank should swiftly reduce its key interest rate from its current level of 4.3% to around 3%. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core inflation increased 2.9% in June from a year earlier, up from 2.8% in May. On a monthly basis, it picked up 0.2% from May to June. Economists closely watch core prices because they typically provide a better sense of where inflation is headed. The uptick in inflation was driven by a range of higher prices. The cost of gas rose 1% just from May to June, while grocery prices increased 0.35. Appliance prices jumped for the third straight month. Trump has imposed sweeping duties of 10% on all imports, plus 50% levies on steel and aluminum, 30% on goods from China, and 25% on imported cars. Just last week the president threatened to hit the European Union with a new 30% tariff starting Aug. 1. The acceleration in inflation could provide a respite of sorts for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, who has come under increasingly heavy fire from the White House for not cutting the benchmark interest rate. Powell and other Fed officials have emphasized that they want to see how the economy evolves as the tariffs take effect before cutting their key short-term rate. The Fed chair has said that the duties could both push up prices and slow the economy, a tricky combination for the central bank since higher costs would typically lead the Fed to hike rates while a weaker economy often spurs it to reduce them. Trump on Monday said that Powell has been “terrible” and “doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing.” The president added that the economy was doing well despite Powell’s refusal to reduce rates, but it would be “nice” if there were rate cuts “because people would be able to buy housing a lot easier.” Last week, White House officials also attacked Powell for cost overruns on the years-long renovation of two Fed buildings, which are now slated to cost $2.5 billion, roughly one-third more than originally budgeted. While Trump legally can’t fire Powell just because he disagrees with his interest rate decisions, the Supreme Court has signaled, he may be able to do so “for cause,” such as misconduct or mismanagement. Some companies have said they have or plan to raise prices as […]
Street clashes between Druze forces and Syrian General Security are ongoing at several locations in As-Suwayda city. The Syrian Observatory for human rights says at least 116 have been killed during 48 hours of sectarian clashes
The IDF has confirmed that the Israeli Air Force conducted a series of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah military compounds in Lebanon’s eastern Beqaa Valley, specifically focusing on facilities used by the elite Radwan force, which housed operatives and weapons depots.
The Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas will likely convene on Wednesday or Thursday to discuss the conscription crisis and instruct Shas to withdraw from the government this week. This follows the withdrawal of UTJ (Degel Hatroah and Agudah) from the government on Monday.
The IDF announced the demolition of a 3.5-kilometer-long Hamas tunnel in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis, which was located by troops of the Kfir Infantry Brigade and the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit during operations in the area.
Israel Air Force aircraft, guided by military intelligence and Northern Command officials, carried out numerous strikes against Hezbollah terror targets in the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon on Tuesday morning. The targets included Radwan Force military camps, where Hezbollah terrorists and warehouses used for storing weapons were identified.
Tesla Inc. opened its first showroom in India on Tuesday, marking the electric vehicle maker’s long-anticipated debut in the world’s third-biggest automotive market. Located in the Bandra-Kurla Complex, an upscale business center in the financial capital Mumbai, the showroom will serve as Tesla’s flagship retail and experience outlet as the company introduces its EV lineup to Indian customers. Tesla’s entry to India comes after years of delays and policy friction, marking a pivotal expansion in a fast-growing consumer base while global sales are plunging and the company faces challenges in its two core markets, China and the U.S. Sales of Tesla electric cars fell sharply from April to June as boycotts over Elon Musk’s political views continued keeping buyers away. For India, Tesla’s entry signals rising investor confidence and strengthens its move towards clean mobility, although Tesla’s higher pricing is likely to make its cars unaffordable for most Indians. The country’s nascent electric vehicle market made up a little more than 2% of total car sales last year. But the government wants to change that and increase the electric vehicle share to 30% by 2030. Tesla will begin by importing and selling its popular Y model cars in India. The base price would be 6.78 million rupees ($79,089) for the long-range, rear-wheel drive vehicle, according to a presentation by the company during the showroom launch Tuesday. Delivery is expected to start from the third quarter, Tesla officials said. By comparison, the price tag is around $44,990 in the U.S without a federal tax credit. Tesla will compete mostly with German luxury carmakers such as BMW and Mercedes Benz Group AG, and not budget Indian players like Tata Motors Ltd. and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. The luxury car market makes up just about 1% of total vehicle sales The debut by American EV giant, however, would bring in world class technology to the country, auto analyst Gaurav Vangaal said. “With deeper local investments, Tesla can accelerate India’s EV ecosystem, drive innovation and support the government’s goal of higher EV penetration,” said Vangaal, an associate director with S&P Global Mobility. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has wooed Tesla for years for its global brand value and to boost the country’s clean energy endeavors. CEO Elon Musk invited Indians in April 2016 to preorder the upcoming Tesla Model 3. Several customers placed an order but the cars never arrived and the booking amount had to be refunded. Despite his earlier enthusiasm, in 2019 Musk expressed concern in a post on his social media platform X that import taxes could double prices of Tesla cars, making them “unaffordable.” Tesla pressed Indian authorities to cut import taxes on EVs, which were up to 100%, to be able to test the local market. New Delhi, however, wanted Tesla to set up manufacturing facilities so a comprehensive policy could benefit all the players in the sector. The dynamics changed after Modi and Musk met in the U.S. in February during a state visit by Modi. Barely a month later, India rolled out a new policy to woo the likes of Tesla, reducing import taxes to 15% from 70% to 100% for EVs priced cheaper than $35,000 as long the automaker committed to building a factory in the country within three years. Soon after, Musk announced he would […]
India’s aviation regulator ordered on Monday airlines operating several Boeing models to examine fuel control switches, days after an investigation into last month’s Air India plane crash found they were flipped off, starving both engines of fuel. India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation stated the directive would apply to Boeing 787 Dreamliners and select Boeing 737 variants and that airlines must complete inspections and submit their findings to the regulator by July 21. A preliminary report into the Air India crash that killed 260 people in the northwestern city of Ahmedabad found that the switches shifted within one second of each other, cutting off fuel supply to both engines. The report, released last week, did not offer any conclusions as to why the plane crashed. It also did not say how the switches could have flipped from run position to the cutoff during the flight. The movement of the fuel control switches allows and cuts fuel flow to the plane’s engines. The Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner crashed on June 12 shortly after takeoff. It killed all but one of the 242 people on board as well as 19 people on the ground. The report, issued by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, noted a 2018 advisory from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, recommending airlines operating Boeing models to inspect the locking feature of fuel cutoff switches. According to the report, cockpit voice recordings captured a moment of confusion between the pilots, with one asking the other why he cut off the fuel. “The other pilot responded that he did not do so,” the report said. Some aviation experts in India speculated the crash was caused due to human error based on the preliminary report. At least two commercial pilots’ associations have rejected such claims. The Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association in a statement on Sunday said it was “deeply disturbed by speculative narratives … particularly the reckless and unfounded insinuation of pilot suicide.” Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Monday said the preliminary report into the crash of the London-bound plane found no mechanical or maintenance issues with the aircraft and its engines. In an internal memo to airline staff seen by The Associated Press, Wilson said the report stated that all mandatory maintenance tasks of the aircraft had been completed. “There was no issue with the quality of fuel and no abnormality with the take-off roll. The pilots had passed their mandatory pre-flight breathalyser and there were no observations pertaining to their medical status,” he said in the note. After the crash, Indian authorities ordered deeper checks of Air India’s entire Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet to prevent future incidents. Air India has 33 Dreamliners in its fleet. (AP)
Heavy rain swept across parts of the U.S. Northeast on Monday night, inundating sections of New York and New Jersey with flash flooding that stranded vehicles in roadways, closed subway lines and led to a declaration of a state of emergency. Most flash flood watches and warnings expired in parts of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania as the rain moved on, but some roads and streets were still flooded as of Tuesday morning. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency due to flash flooding and heavy rainfall, advising people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel. A video posted to social media by CBS showed flood waters bring a major roadway in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, to a standstill, stranding buses. In one flooded North Plainfield, New Jersey, neighborhood, a house caught on fire and collapsed, possibly due to an explosion, not long after the family inside had evacuated, authorities said. No injuries were reported. In New York City, some subway service was temporarily suspended while other lines were running with severe delays due to flooding, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. New York’s emergency services agency wrote on the social platform X that parts of the city and mid-Hudson were getting hit with flash floods. Video posted on social media appears to show water flooding down into a Manhattan subway station, submerging the platform while passengers inside a train watch. Another photo appears to show passengers standing on a train’s seats to avoid the water beginning to soak the floor. Parts of major thoroughfares in New York, such as the northbound lanes of the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Cross Bronx Expressway, were temporarily closed due to flooding and at least one downed tree. Officials in New York’s Westchester County were working to rescue people whose vehicles were submerged in water, according to Carolyn Fortino, a spokesperson for the county executive. “At this time, residents are still strongly advised to avoid all travel unless fleeing an area that is subject to flooding, or under an evacuation order,” she said in an email. A flood warning was also issued for Staten Island, which had seen about 4 to 6 inches (10.2 to 15.2 centimeters) of rain, according to NYC’s emergency notification system. Mount Joy, in southeastern Pennsylvania, declared a disaster emergency as more than 7 inches (17.8 centimeters) of rain fell in less than five hours Monday, according to the Fire Department Mount Joy. Some people reported over 5 feet (1.5 meters) of water in their homes and emergency responders made 16 water rescues, although no injuries were reported. “The declaration enables us to access additional resources to support residents and accelerate recovery efforts,” Borough Emergency Management Coordinator Philip Colvin said in a statement. By Monday evening, the rainfall had lessened and water in Mount Joy had started to recede. In Metuchen, New Jersey, about 34 miles (55 kilometers) southwest of New York City, Mayor Jonathan M. Busch, wrote on Facebook that the borough was significantly flooded, but by Monday evening water levels had already receded. “It looks like the worst of the storm is behind us and thankfully, everyone is safe,” he said. (AP)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Tuesday instructed the IDF to immediately strike Syrian regime forces in the Sweida area of southern Syria. The order came after three days of ethnic violence between local Druze in Sweida and Bedouins, during which the Druze were attacked by Syrian regime forces. According to a joint statement published by Netanyahu and Katz, the Syrian forces entered the Druze city of Sweida “in violation of the demilitarization policy, which involves refraining from introducing forces and weapons into the southern Syria area that endanger Israel.” “Israel is committed to preventing harm to the Druze in Syria due to the deep brotherly alliance with our Druze citizens in Israel and their familial and historical connection to the Druze in Syria—and we are acting to prevent the Syrian regime from harming them and to ensure the demilitarization of the area adjacent to our border with Syria.” According to local reports, the Syrian regime forces randomly opened fire on Druze civilians in Sweida, killing and injuring them, and captured civilians and publicly humiliated them, such as forcing them to bark like a dog. An Israeli security source said that the IDF strikes against the Syrian regime forces are very extensive, saying that Israel views this “as a test of the implementation of its policy of demilitarizing southern Syria and its commitment to the Druze.” The videos below show the Syrian regime forces in Sweida: Also on Tuesday, Syrian Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra announced a ceasefire in Sweida. His statement said that an agreement had been reached with the city’s dignitaries and that Syrian forces would only respond to fire from “outlaws.” The IDF also attacked the Sweida area on Monday, targeting Syrian army tanks that approached Druze villages in the district. Prior to the attack, Israel tried to send a warning to the Syrian regime through foreign elements not to enter Druze villages with armored vehicles. Sources in Syria said that Israeli air force planes did not hit the tanks but fired next to them as a warning. The clashes between Druze, Bedouins, and Syrian security forces in the Sweida area in recent days have claimed the lives of more than 100 people, including soldiers, and left over 200 people injured. The clashes began after Bedouin militants attacked a Druze youth on his way to Damascus on Friday and robbed him. The attack was part of a wave of abduction of Druze by Bedouin tribesmen in recent times. In response, Druze militants kidnapped several Bedouin tribesmen, causing the clashes to erupt. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
NASA has confirmed that a large asteroid, named 2025 MA90, will pass relatively close to Earth on Tuesday. While its size may sound alarming—estimated at nearly 89 meters in diameter, or, for the creatively inclined, roughly 145 antisemitic Elmos tall—experts say there’s no danger of it hitting the planet. The asteroid was recently discovered by NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies (CNEOS), which monitors space rocks that come relatively close to Earth. Although the object’s size could range anywhere from 66 to 150 meters, it will pass at a safe distance of over six million kilometers. To put things in perspective, the last time an asteroid caused real damage was in 2013 over Chelyabinsk, Russia. That asteroid was only about 20 meters across but still injured over 1,000 people due to the shockwave from its explosion in the atmosphere. By contrast, asteroid 2025 MA90 is over four times as wide—and significantly more powerful had it been on a collision course. Humanity’s defenses against dangerous asteroids are still in development. While NASA’s DART mission showed promise by nudging an asteroid off course, new research suggests the impact dynamics are more complex than initially thought. Still, for now, there’s no need for concern, as asteroid 2025 MA90 will keep its distance from us. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
The Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas will convene later this week to discuss the draft law crisis. Kikar HaShabbat has learned that the Moetzet will likely convene on Wednesday or Thursday to discuss the conscription crisis and instruct Shas to withdraw from the government this week. Shas party officials are coordinating a date and time for the meeting. Senior officials in the Chareidi parties told Kikar that it was clarified yesterday that MK Yuli Edelstein, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Security Committee, delayed the submission of the conscription law text with various excuses but behind the scenes worked to bring a law contrary to the agreements reached before Operation Rising Lion. Also, the Chareidi parties estimate that it will not be possible to pass the law during the summer recess, which mean that when the Knesset winter session begins, the Knesset will be dissolved and Israel will go to elections. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Ice cream makers representing about 90% of the U.S. supply of the frozen treat have pledged to remove artificial dyes from their products in less than three years, federal health officials said Monday. The move is the latest voluntary effort by food manufacturers to heed calls from the Trump administration to remove synthetic dyes over concerns about potential health effects. In recent weeks, companies including Nestle, Kraft Heinz and General Mills said they would pull artificial colors from their foods, too. “This is a Renaissance moment for health in America,” U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary said at a news conference. About 40 makers of ice cream and frozen dairy desserts said they would remove seven petroleum-based dyes from their products by 2028, according to Michael Dykes, president of the International Dairy Foods Association. The colors are Red 3, Red 40, Green 3, Blue 1, Blue 2, Yellow 5 and Yellow 6. The trade group wouldn’t identify the firms, although Turkey Hill Dairy chief executive Andy Jacobs joined the gathering. The national focus on artificial food dyes is “a good step to take,” but officials should not ignore larger known contributors to chronic disease, including the added sugars and saturated fat commonly found in ice cream, said Deanna Hoelscher, a University of Texas nutrition expert. “Just taking out or changing the food dye source is not necessarily going to make it a healthy option,” she said. “It still is a food that should be consumed in moderation.” However, Makary also hinted that new federal dietary guidelines, expected later this year, would challenge established links between saturated fat and heart disease, ending what he called “a 70-year demonization of natural saturated fat.” The average American eats about 4 gallons of ice cream a year, the IDFA said. Health advocates have long called for the removal of artificial dyes from foods, citing mixed studies showing that they may cause some neurobehavioral problems, such as hyperactivity and attention problems, in some children. The Food and Drug Administration has maintained that approved dyes are safe and that “most children have no adverse effects” when consuming foods made with them. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized the dyes and pressured manufacturers to remove them from foods. In their place, manufacturers should use dyes made from fruit juices, plant extracts and other sources, federal officials said. The FDA has approved new natural color additives in recent months, including a new blue color made from the fruit of the gardenia announced Monday. Gardenia (genipin) blue is approved for use in sports drinks, candies and certain other products, the agency said. Makary also sent a letter to food manufacturers on Monday that “encourages” them to speed up removal of the dye known as Red 3, which was banned in January. Food makers have until 2027 to remove the dye, which was found to cause cancer in laboratory rats, but not humans. Some food companies have said they will stop using artificial dyes, but relying on voluntary action rather than regulatory requirements won’t guarantee compliance, said Thomas Galligan, a scientist with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a consumer advocacy group. “Talk is cheap,” Galligan said. “It’s easy for companies to make promises to look like they’re being compliant and generate goodwill among […]
