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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday that he will visit U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. The high-stakes meeting comes as Trump continues his trade war and annexation threats. Carney’s Liberal Party scored a stunning comeback victory in a vote widely seen as a rebuke of Trump, whose trade war and attacks on Canadian sovereignty outraged voters. “We are meeting as heads of our government,” Carney said. “I am not pretending those discussions will be easy.” In his first comments since election night, Carney said that Canadians elected a new government to stand up to Trump and build a strong economy. Carney also said that King Charles III will deliver a speech outlining the Canadian government’s priorities on May 27, when Parliament resumes. Charles is the head of state in Canada, which is a member of the British Commonwealth of former colonies. Queen Elizabeth II delivered the speech twice, in 1957 and 1977. “That clearly underscores the sovereignty of our country,” Carney said. Carney has emphasized Canada’s founding nations, the United Kingdom and France, since becoming prime minister after the resignation of Justin Trudeau. Carney repeated that the old relationship with the U.S. based on steadily increasing integration is over. “On Tuesday, I had a very constructive call with President Trump, and we agreed to meet next Tuesday in Washington,” Carney said. “My government will fight to get the best deal for Canada.” Carney previously said that Canada’s close friendship with the U.S. has ended and that the 80-year period when the U.S. embraced the mantle of global economic leadership and forged alliances rooted in trust and mutual respect is over. Trump mocked Carney’s predecessor by calling him Governor Trudeau. He hasn’t trolled Carney. Robert Bothwell, a University of Toronto professor of Canadian history and international relations, said that Carney shouldn’t go to Washington, because he risks Trump insulting Canada and him too. “There is absolutely no reason to. You can’t bargain with Trump. His word is not his bond. It’s like writing on the water of a pond, a scummy pond. We have nothing to gain,” Bothwell said. Carney also outlined the priorities of his new government four days after Canadians voted in the Liberals for a fourth mandate. He said that a new Cabinet would be sworn in on May 12. “Now the election is over, and we are in a once-in-a-lifetime crisis. It’s time to come together, to put on our Team Canada sweaters, and win big,” Carney said. “Now is the time for ambition, to be bold, to meet this crisis with the overwhelming, positive force of a united Canada.” He said that he will call for an election for a specific district as soon as possible if the opposition Conservatives want Pierre Poilievre, who lost his own seat in the election, to run in a by-election so he can sit in the House of Commons. “No games, nothing like that,” Carney said. The Conservative Party announced shortly after that a current Conservative member of Parliament from Alberta will resign so Poilievre can run in that district. Carney said that he had a constructive conversation with Poilievre about Canada’s strategy with the Americans. “I am in politics to do big things, not to be something,” Carney said. (AP)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sharply criticized Israel on Friday for conducting an airstrike the night before near Syria’s presidential palace in Damascus.

Stephan Dujarric, the UN spokesperson, released a statement saying that Guterres denounced the attack as a breach of Syrian sovereignty. He urged Israel to respect “its unity, its territorial integrity and its independence.”

In a coordinated statement, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz defended the operation, stating that the strike was meant to deliver “a clear message to the Syrian regime. We will not permit Syrian troops to move south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community.”

The airstrike took place amid ongoing fighting inside Syria, triggered by a controversial audio message attributed to a Druze resident, which many found offensive to religious sentiments.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an independent group based in the UK, the violence has included confrontations between regime security forces, allied militias, and Druze groups. Their latest report stated that at least 102 people had died, including 30 pro-government personnel, 21 Druze combatants, and 10 civilians.

The U.S. State Department also condemned the attacks against the Druze population in Syria, demanding accountability from Syrian authorities.

“The recent violence and inflammatory rhetoric targeting members of the Druze community in Syria is reprehensible and unacceptable. The interim authorities must stop the fighting, hold perpetrators of violence and civilian harm accountable for their actions, and ensure the security of all Syrians,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a formal statement.

She went on to stress the dangers of sectarian violence: “Sectarianism will only sink Syria and the region into chaos and more violence. We have seen that Syrians can solve their disputes peacefully through negotiations. We call for a representative future government that protects and integrates all of Syria’s communities, including ethnic and religious minorities.”

Since the brutal October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, Guterres has repeatedly taken critical stances toward Israel, drawing increasing scrutiny for his comments.

Not long after the massacre, Guterres said the attack by Hamas “did not happen in a vacuum,” a remark widely seen as deflecting blame from the terror group and placing it on Israel.

After a wave of backlash, Guterres tried to walk back the interpretation of his comments, saying his words were misread and insisting that he had clearly condemned Hamas.

Nonetheless, he later made statements comparing the horrific sexual violence committed by Hamas on October 7 to “reports of sexual violence against Palestinian detainees,” prompting further outrage.

In the weeks that followed, Guterres continued to issue pointed criticisms of Israel, often portraying the humanitarian situation in Gaza as morally equivalent to Hamas’s atrocities on Israeli soil.

Just last month, Guterres condemned Israel’s renewed military actions in Gaza, saying he was “outraged” by the resumption of airstrikes.

That statement drew a blistering response from Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein, who said, “We are outraged that you, Antonio Guterres, are the Secretary-General of the UN.”

Marmorstein also added, “Not a word about the fact that Hamas rejected two American proposals to extend the ceasefire and release more hostages—two proposals that Israel accepted.”

He continued: “Not a word about the fact that Hamas exploits the transfer of goods to Gaza to rebuild its war machine in order to further attack Israel.”

He concluded by taking direct aim at UNRWA and Guterres’s leadership: “Not a word about UNRWA, which, under your leadership, employs Hamas terrorists, and its facilities were used by Hamas to hold hostages. Indeed, we are outraged by your moral bankruptcy.”

{Matzav.com}

In a heartwarming and bittersweet update, 4-year-old Pinchas Raphael ben Sara (Saada) has returned home following a miraculous recovery from a horrific car accident in Flatbush that claimed the lives of his mother and two sisters several few weeks ago. When Hatzalah reached Pinchas Raphael – after a reckless, speeding driver crashed and flipped her vehicle on a balmy Shabbos afternoon and struck the Saada family – he was in traumatic arrest. With CPR in progress, Hatzolah rushed him to Maimonides Medical Center. Initially listed in extremely critical condition, Pinchas survived against the odds and returned home on Friday afternoon – thanks to the fervent outpouring of tefillos by Klal Yisroel. The Saada family specifically thanked Zura Zafrani, Nathan Hoffman, Dudu Mizrahi, Simon Nissim of SBH, Chief Richie Taylor of the NYPD, Isaac Wolf, Heshy Horowitz, Rabbi Yosef Ozeri, Mrs. Simone Esses, Sandra Gemal, Pamela Sayejh, Rabbi Netanel, Rabbi David Ozeri, and all the Hatzolah members who gave everything they could to save Pinchas Raphael’s life and bring him back home to his loving father’s embrace. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that confirmed measles cases in the United States have now climbed to 935, marking a dramatic surge compared to the total for all of 2024, which ended with 285 confirmed cases.

This new tally, released in the CDC’s update on Friday, is based solely on lab-confirmed diagnoses and does not account for “probable” cases, which means the actual number of infections could be even higher. The CDC noted that 96% of individuals with confirmed cases were either not vaccinated or had an unclear vaccination history.

Texas continues to experience the most significant outbreak nationwide, with 683 confirmed infections, according to the state’s health department. Most of those cases were detected in Gaines County, near the border with New Mexico. Approximately 450 of the Texas cases were among minors, and state officials reported that two school-age children have died due to complications from the disease.

Next to Texas, New Mexico has seen the highest number of confirmed cases, with 67 reported. One person from Lea County, which borders Texas, tested positive for measles posthumously earlier in the year.

According to the CDC’s update, residents in 29 states have now been affected by the outbreak. These states include Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

Health experts have attributed the resurgence of measles to falling immunization rates, which have left more people vulnerable to infection.

“Measles used to kill, you know, so many children, and we’re starting to see outbreaks again because parents are not getting their kids vaccinated,” Dr. Dale Bratzler, dean of the University of Oklahoma’s Hudson College of Public Health, told Nexstar’s KFOR.

Amesh Adalja, an expert from Johns Hopkins University, pointed out to Agence France-Presse that areas like Gaines County in Texas have some of the “lowest rates of vaccination in the state,” describing it as “kindling for such outbreaks.”

The World Health Organization has long warned that vaccine coverage must remain above 95% to maintain herd immunity and prevent the spread of measles.

“When the population rate of vaccination starts to fall below 95%, you’re going to have outbreaks,” said Dr. Bratzler.

The CDC’s measles information page highlights a concerning trend: immunization rates among kindergartners have dropped from 95.2% before the 2019 school year to just 92.7% before the 2023 school year.

During a press briefing last month, Dr. William Moss, a professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, warned that measles is likely to persist in communities that lack sufficient vaccination coverage.

“I like to think of this like a forest fire with sparks spreading out,” Moss said. “If those sparks land in a community with low vaccine coverage, we’re going to see a larger measles outbreak. If it lands in a community with high vaccine coverage, we may only see one or a few cases.”

{Matzav.com}

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier to remain in the Middle East for a second time, keeping it there another week so the U.S. can maintain two carrier strike groups in the region to battle Yemen-based Houthi rebels, according to a U.S. official. In late March, Hegseth extended the deployment of the Truman and the warships in its group for a month as part of a campaign to increase strikes on the Iran-backed Houthis. The official said Hegseth signed the latest order Thursday and it is expected the Truman and its strike group warships will head home to Norfolk, Virginia, after the week is up. Gen. Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, requested that the Truman be extended again, according to officials. The San Diego-based USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier and its strike group arrived in the region a few weeks ago and are operating in the Gulf of Aden. The Truman, along with two destroyers and a cruiser in its strike group, is in the Red Sea. The officials spoke Friday on the condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The U.S. has increased its attacks on the Houthis, launching daily strikes since March 15, when President Donald Trump ordered a new, expanded campaign. He promised to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Houthis stop their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a vital trade corridor. According to Central Command, the U.S. has been waging an “intense and sustained campaign” against the Houthis. In a statement over the weekend, the command said the U.S. has struck more than 1,000 targets in Yemen since Operation Rough Rider began. It hasn’t provided details on the targets or how the data is compiled. It has been rare in recent years for the U.S. to have two aircraft carriers in the Middle East at the same time. Navy leaders have generally been opposed to the idea because it disrupts ship maintenance schedules and delays time at home for sailors strained by the unusually high combat tempo. If there are no additional extensions and the Truman and its warships leave the region next week, those sailors could be back home by next month. Last year, the Biden administration ordered the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier to remain in the Red Sea for an extended time as U.S. warships waged the most intense running sea battle since World War II. Prior to that, it had been years since the U.S. had committed that much warship power to the Middle East. The Houthis had been waging persistent missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group’s leadership has described as an effort to end Israel’s war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. From November 2023 until this January, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it annually. The group paused attacks in a self-imposed ceasefire until the U.S. launched a broad assault against the rebels in mid-March. In another action, Hegseth on Friday ordered the Defense Department to produce a new national defense strategy […]

A recently posted video on the official YouTube channel of Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s office has drawn attention after it was edited to omit a moment from a speech earlier this week in which he briefly forgot the name of his son, Avner.

The updated version of the video features an obvious jump cut, removing the segment where Netanyahu mistakenly referred to his son as Abraham before pausing to ask the audience for help recalling the correct name.

“What’s his name?” Netanyahu said before asking someone in the crowd his son’s name. “Avner, thanks.”

Following the incident, Netanyahu laughed it off and attempted to play it cool by joking, “No, I was testing you.”

{Matzav.com}

Security around Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has reportedly been tightened to extraordinary levels by the Shin Bet, with the agency implementing what has been described as the most comprehensive protective measures to date.

According to a Friday report by Ynet, the stepped-up precautions now include the deployment of a high-tech body screening machine and advanced surveillance systems. These upgrades accompany thorough manual checks, including physical searches. The report did not cite specific sources.

In addition, new equipment designed specifically to inspect footwear has been brought into use as part of this expanded security protocol.

Ynet noted that the scanning device now in operation closely resembles those found at American airports, where individuals must stand still and lift their arms overhead inside the machine.

These enhanced measures were used earlier this week at two events attended by Netanyahu: the official Memorial Day service for terror victims at Mount Herzl and the national Bible Quiz held at the Yerushalayim Theater. At the Mount Herzl ceremony, Netanyahu was reportedly seen wearing a bulletproof vest.

Guests attending both events were also subjected to direct questioning by masked Shin Bet officers, who inquired about who had invited them and what their connection was to the host.

The tight screening process included requests for participants to remove their shoes and even briefly take off their yarmulkes. As a result, the Bible Quiz began before many of the invited attendees had reached their seats.

The Shin Bet neither confirmed nor denied the increased level of protection, offering no official comment on the matter.

Earlier this month, Netanyahu submitted a sworn statement to the High Court of Justice in which he claimed that there had likely been attempts on his life — both from abroad, such as the Hezbollah drone incident in October that targeted his home in Caesarea, and from within Israel, by extremists who he said had been stalking him and his family.

Netanyahu explained that due to these threats, he had asked to testify in his criminal case from a more secure location, emphasizing that his request stemmed from genuine safety concerns. In a separate affidavit, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar stated under oath that Netanyahu had pressed him to endorse a legal opinion declaring that the prime minister could not provide uninterrupted testimony in his trial. The proceedings were ultimately relocated from the Yerushalayim District Court to a protected underground courtroom in the Tel Aviv District Court.

These affidavits were filed amid a legal confrontation over the government’s move to dismiss Bar. The dispute ended earlier this week after Bar agreed to step down in June.

{Matzav.com}

A pickup truck and tour van collision near Yellowstone National Park has killed seven people and injured eight others, Idaho State Police say. The crash happened just before 7:15 p.m. Thursday on a highway near Henry’s Lake State Park in eastern Idaho, police said in a press release. The state park is roughly 16 miles (26 kilometers) west of Yellowstone National Park. Both vehicles caught fire after the crash, the Idaho State Police said in a press release. The driver of the Dodge Ram pickup and six people inside the Mercedes passenger van died. The van was carrying a tour group of 14 people, and the surviving occupants were taken to hospitals with injuries, police spokesman Aaron Snell said. Air ambulances and emergency paramedics responded to the collision, which remains under investigation. Authorities have not said what led up to the crash. The Fremont County coroner’s office had not released the names of those killed as of Friday morning. The Idaho State Police said officials were still working on notifying family members of those killed and injured, so the agency was not yet releasing the names, ages, hometowns or nationalities of the people involved. Roger Merrill, 60, was driving home when he saw the flames engulfing the two vehicles as bystanders tried to care for survivors from the van on the side of the highway. Merrill said he often sees tourist vans on the highway that leads to Yellowstone National Park. “It is a very dangerous highway because it leads to the main entrance of Yellowstone National Park,” he said. “It’s extremely busy.” Merrill captured video of the wreckage with smoke blanketing the van. Due to the remote location, Merrill said he anxiously awaited the help of first responders. “It took an unnervingly long time for help to arrive just because of the location,” he said. (AP)

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a strong condemnation of both Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza and Hamas for exploiting the humanitarian crisis by plundering aid supplies meant for the local population.

The remarks, published by the PA’s official Wafa news agency, stated that Abbas “also expressed his categorical rejection and firm condemnation of the looting and theft carried out by criminal gangs targeting warehouses and storage facilities of humanitarian aid designated for the people of Gaza.”

Abbas’s statement further asserted that the PA “held Hamas-affiliated gangs primarily responsible, emphasizing that the Palestinian people will not forgive these disgraceful acts committed in such a critical time, especially in the besieged Strip.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

Just days after removing eight individuals appointed during Joe Biden’s presidency from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council—including Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris—President Donald Trump has selected eight new individuals to take their place.

The incoming group includes radio personality Sid Rosenberg, a vocal supporter of Trump during the last presidential race, and Rabbi Pinchos Lipschutz, founder and editor of the Yated Ne’eman. Also named is Alex Witkoff, son of Trump’s diplomatic representative Steve Witkoff.

These new appointees are stepping into the roles vacated by Emhoff and other figures tied to the Biden administration, such as Susan Rice, Tom Perez, and Ron Klain, all of whom were removed earlier this week by Trump in a swift shakeup.

“This Council has the important task of preserving the memories and stories of the loved ones whose lives were robbed in one of the darkest moments in History. NEVER FORGET!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, while announcing the new appointments.

According to the Washington Post, the eight additions will join the 41 existing council members, many of whom were also named under the Biden administration. The Council, which oversees the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, traditionally consists of political appointees serving five-year terms. It is rare for a sitting president to remove multiple members midterm, making this move particularly noteworthy.

{Matzav.com}

The Trump administration could gut research on the effectiveness of child welfare programs, with plans to terminate dozens of university grants studying improvements to Head Start and child care policy, according to a spreadsheet mistakenly made public this week. The document listed more than 150 research projects under consideration for termination by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It covered grants funded by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, which says it “builds evidence to improve lives” by helping policymakers evaluate programs that help low-income children and families. “These grants are aimed at learning how to make programs more effective at pursuing goals like healthy child development, reducing abuse and neglect and promoting economic self-sufficiency,” said Naomi Goldstein, who led the office for nearly two decades before she retired in 2022. “It’s hard to see why they would want to cancel these efforts.” The grant cancellations would add to deep cuts already enacted at HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, which plans to close five regional offices and abruptly fired hundreds of workers one month ago. Its staffing has dropped from approximately 2,400 in January to 1,500, former employees say, and the administration has said it will fold ACF into other parts of HHS. Other HHS divisions, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, have already cut billions of dollars in grants, including those related to public health, gender, race and other subjects opposed by President Donald Trump’s administration. The document released Wednesday marked the first news of plans for the possible mass terminations of ACF grants, although a department spokesperson later said it was only an outdated draft. The proposed terminations would further undercut Head Start, the 60-year-old program overseen by ACF that supports preschool and services for hundreds of thousands of low-income children. Head Start has faced mass layoffs and a plan to eliminate its funding altogether in recent months. The grants facing termination included studies intended to answer key questions and improve its operations, such as how to retain more educators at local Head Start programs. The spreadsheet also listed for termination grants worth millions of dollars for first-of-their-kind centers dedicated to better serving low-income Black and Hispanic children and families, located, respectively, at Morehouse College in Atlanta and at a nonprofit in Maryland. Dozens of grants related to child care policy, child development, foster care, preventing child abuse, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and more were also listed as set for cancellation, reflecting ACF’s widespread portfolio. Those studies help policymakers understand what works, a former administration official said. “Ending these projects without explanation not only wastes taxpayer dollars, it also threatens the evidence base behind key safety net programs,” said Katie Hamm, who was ACF’s deputy assistant secretary for early childhood development until January. “It’s alarming that grantees and contractors had to find out this way, through an accidental email, rather than a transparent process.” The information was mistakenly included in an email sent Wednesday to grant recipients at universities and nonprofits by an HHS employee, who asked them to review and update their contact information. HHS recalled the message only after the spreadsheet, which had a column on whether funding would “terminate” or “continue” for each grant, had been downloaded by recipients. […]

At a high-level security meeting led by Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu on Friday evening, Israeli leadership evaluated plans to intensify IDF activity in the Gaza Strip.

Military commanders laid out a strategy before the political leadership that includes significantly ramping up pressure on Hamas. The approach would mirror the IDF’s recent operations in Rafah, focusing on capturing territory, dividing sections of Gaza, rooting out terrorist infrastructure both above and underground, and retaining control over these areas. The goal is to force Hamas to become more flexible in hostage release negotiations.

To support this escalation, the IDF plans to call up additional reservists. According to Ynet, the reservists will be split into two operational groups: combat battalions that will penetrate deeper into Gaza with offensive assignments, and reserve brigades that will take over from the regular forces currently operating in the Strip as part of the renewed push.

Final approval of the plan is expected to take place during a meeting of the Security Cabinet on Sunday. The operation is not intended to be a massive ground offensive or full reoccupation of Gaza but is considered a tactical escalation designed to retain strategic leverage.

An Israeli official addressed the emerging reports, clarifying, “At the conclusion of the discussion at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence this evening, no decision has yet been made regarding the expansion of combat in the Gaza Strip. Security officials presented the political echelon with various options, but no final decision has been reached. The Cabinet will convene on Sunday to discuss and make decisions on the matter.”

{Matzav.com}

At a meeting this week, New York City’s Rent Guidelines Board advanced a proposal allowing rent hikes of as much as 7.75% for two-year leases on rent-stabilized units.

During the session at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, the board also recommended a maximum increase of 4.75% for one-year lease renewals. The motion narrowly passed in a 5-4 vote. Final approval of the proposed ranges is expected at a board vote scheduled for late June.

Each year, the Rent Guidelines Board sets adjustment limits for the city’s approximately one million rent-regulated apartments. The board is composed of members representing the public, tenant interests, and property owners.

These gatherings are frequently marked by spirited protests, as tenants and their advocates turn out in large numbers to push back against possible rent hikes.

Following the vote, Mayor Eric Adams issued a statement acknowledging the complexity of the board’s decision. He emphasized that the city would thoroughly evaluate the proposed adjustments while continuing efforts to improve housing affordability. “I must be clear that an increase as much as 7.75% is far too unreasonable of a burden for tenants, especially as our entire city is feeling the squeeze of a 1.4% housing vacancy rate and a decades-long affordability crisis,” Adams said. “New Yorkers simply cannot bear these costs.”

Building owners had lobbied for even larger increases—8% for one-year agreements and 9% for two-year contracts—citing steep hikes in maintenance and operational expenses. Tenant representatives, on the other hand, called for either a full rent freeze or more modest increases of 1.75% and 3.75%, arguing that the cost of living continues to outpace renters’ incomes.

The board’s decision in June will apply to leases beginning on or after October 1.

The first of several public hearings on the proposal will take place May 22, with additional sessions expected throughout June.

{Matzav.com}

A 15-year-old Nigerian has set a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest art canvas to raise awareness for autism. Kanyeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke, who is autistic, executed a painting featuring a multi-colored ribbon — the symbol for autism — surrounded by emojis, covering 12,304 square meters. That’s a lot bigger than a typical soccer field, which is 7,140 square meters. The massive painting is aimed at highlighting the spectrum disorder and challenges that people like him face amid stigma and limited resources in Nigeria. “I felt fine. Happy. Just fine,” said Tagbo-Okeke, whose disorder limits his speech. His artwork eclipsed that of Emad Salehi, the previous world record holder, who was nearly three times older at 42 when he set the record with a 9,652-square meter canvas. The artwork, created in November 2024, was unveiled and officially recognized by the Guinness World Record organizers in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja during the World Autism Acceptance Day in April. Nigeria’s art and culture minister Hannatu Musawa said Tagbo-Okeke’s artwork is “a beacon of hope and inspiration” for people with autism. “We recognize the unique abilities and potential of individuals with autism and are dedicated to providing opportunities for them to thrive in the creative industries,” Musawa added. ‘Impossibility is a Myth’ Born in Canada before moving to Nigeria, Tagbo-Okeke’s upbringing has been challenging, his family said. His father told The Associated Press during a recent interview that there was often fear, confusion and sadness along the way. “Not being able to communicate with your son or have regular activities you could have with any other child is quite depressing,” Tagbo Okeke said. Many people on the spectrum face stigma and limited resources in Nigeria, but Tagbo-Okeke’s family was determined to give him the best support. The young artist’s record-breaking attempt, accompanied by a campaign tagged “Impossibility is a Myth,” was widely celebrated among Nigerians, partly because of his young age. “We felt an overwhelming sense of relief and pride, knowing the countless hours and months of effort he poured into breaking the record,” his mother Silvia said. Many young people in Nigeria have attempted to break the Guinness World Record in recent years. At least seven Nigerians have broken world records in the past three years, including Hilda Baci, who won the longest cooking marathon and Tunde Onakoya, who played the longest chess marathon. Early support is key Kanyeyachukwu’s world record attempt also sought to raise funds for the Zeebah Foundation, a nonprofit focusing on providing support to those on the spectrum and their families. While there are no official records from within Nigeria, about 1 in 100 children worldwide is autistic, according to the World Health Organization. Like in many other countries, autism is often not diagnosed in Nigeria until in older years. The lack of reliable data on autism, adequate awareness and government support for the spectrum disorder are some of the biggest challenges autistic people face in Nigeria, said Stanley Effah, founder of the Ferdinand Effah Music Heritage Foundation. Effah, whose child is autistic, said his foundation is planning to launch an annual musical concert featuring major artists as part of efforts to raise awareness about autism in Nigeria. Access to stem cell therapy for autistic children should also be included under the Nigerian National Health Insurance plan as a way to improve their care, Effah said. Kanyeyachukwu’s […]

The Sanzer Rebbe will spend a Shabbos at the Kosel HaMaaravi together with a group of Chassidim, marking the first time in his 31-year leadership that he will be spending Shabbos at the site.

The original plan had been for the group of donors to travel to Poland to visit the kevorim of tzaddikim. However, this trip was never scheduled to include the Rebbe himself. In accordance with the firm stance of his father, the Shefa Chaim of Sanz zt”l, the Rebbe has consistently refrained from visiting the graves of tzaddikim in Poland and Ukraine. The Shefa Chaim had passionately argued that there is no reason to return to the lands of our slaughter following the horrors of the Holocaust, famously declaring: “Those tzaddikim who were truly worthy were brought to Eretz Yisroel immediately after their passing—not by men, but through miraculous means, as is well known.”

True to this approach, the Rebbe and his descendants have never visited these countries or the gravesites of their ancestors located there, viewing them as places stained by the blood of the six million kedoshim who were murdered al kiddush Hashem during the war.

Nevertheless, due to the severe financial strain currently facing Torah and chinuch institutions throughout Eretz Yisroel—and within the Sanz community in particular—the leadership of the Sanzer mosdos initially planned a special fundraising trip to the cities of Sanz, Lizhensk, and Mezhibuzh, with a visit to Auschwitz.

The Rebbe granted reluctant and temporary permission for the trip, given the pressing needs of the mosdos. However, this past week, an alternative plan emerged: rather than sending the donors on a pilgrimage abroad, the Rebbe would spend Shabbos together with them at the Kosel.

He agreed to the proposal, and for the first time, he will remain with the philanthropists for the duration of Shabbos, holding tefillos and tishen in the shadow of the Kosel.

The Shabbos will take place on Shabbos Parshas Shelach, Shabbos Mevorchim for the month of Tammuz.

{Matzav.com Israel}

At a gathering at Slabodka Yeshiva marking the shloshim since the passing of Rav Nachman Plonczek zt”l—one of the roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka—the renowned posek Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein delivered an emotional hesped that also touched on the devastating wave of wildfires affecting Eretz Yisroel in recent days.

Speaking in the main bais medrash of Yeshivas Slabodka, Rav Zilberstein addressed the bochurim. He emphasized that amid the chaos and uncertainty, the true security for Klal Yisroel lies in the eish haTorah, the holy fire of Torah.

“There is trouble,” Rav Zilberstein said solemnly. “Today, Rachmana litzlan, I’m hearing what’s going on—so many fires, this one here, that one there. It’s terrifying what’s happening in the streets, what I’m hearing… We are living through a time of great distress. Fires here, fires there… We don’t know where this is heading. But the one security we rely on is you—the precious and beloved talmidei chachamim, more precious than gold and pearls. It’s your learning, your behavior—that is our protection.”

{Matzav.com Israel}

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.