NEW YORK NEWS
Governor Kathy Hochul announced an indefinite delay of the MTA congestion pricing plan, originally set to start on June 30, citing concerns over the economic strain it would place on New Yorkers amid a cost-of-living crisis and inflation. Hochul highlighted that a $15 toll could significantly impact working- and middle-class households.
The decision came in response to mounting public opposition and political pressure, with critics arguing the toll would exacerbate financial hardships for many residents. While the delay doesn't require legislative approval, finding alternative funding sources for the anticipated $1 billion annual revenue from the toll will likely involve legislative action, potentially increasing taxes on businesses or using state reserves. The plan's postponement has received mixed reactions, with some praising the decision as considerate of economic recovery, while transit advocates view it as a setback for necessary transportation improvements.
Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, New York, was transformed into a temporary stadium to host the highly anticipated T20 Cricket World Cup match between India and Pakistan, drawing over 34,000 fans. This event marked the largest attendance for an international cricket match in the United States. The atmosphere was electric as fans in blue and orange mingled with their green-clad rivals, enjoying the festive environment, South Asian food, and lively cheers. Despite some security concerns, including an ISIS threat, the event proceeded smoothly with extensive police presence. India ultimately emerged victorious after a thrilling match, with bowler Jasprit Bumrah earning the player of the match title. The event, part of a broader effort to bring cricket to the U.S., promises significant economic benefits for Nassau County and the potential for cricket's growth in the region.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg has agreed to testify before Congress regarding the prosecution of former President Donald J. Trump, suggesting his testimony occur after Trump’s sentencing next month. Bragg expressed the need to understand the hearing's scope before testifying and is also considering allowing prosecutor Matthew Colangelo to testify. Representative Jim Jordan, who leads the House Judiciary Committee, has called for a hearing on what he deems politically motivated prosecutions, including the case against Trump, which involved falsifying business records related to a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels. Bragg, who has faced political attacks from Republicans, aims to cooperate to avoid potential subpoenas or contempt charges.
The New York Police Department is seeking to revoke former President Donald J. Trump's concealed carry permit following his conviction in the New York hush-money case, as Trump, who has a permit for three pistols, is barred from firearm possession under federal and state laws due to his felony conviction. The police, who already have two of Trump's pistols, will likely revoke the permit after an investigation. Trump has the right to challenge this move. His campaign criticized the action as politically motivated without directly addressing the permit revocation.
US NEWS
President Joe Biden signed an executive order to address the border crisis, which temporarily halts asylum requests once daily encounters exceed 2,500 between official ports of entry. Critics, including former Obama Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and a former U.S. law enforcement official, argue the measure is insufficient and primarily for show, as it may redirect migrants to official entry points. Despite the administration's claim that illegal entrants will be barred from asylum, these actions are not permanent. Biden's order follows his earlier statements claiming inaction on border security and has been criticized by Republicans, who assert it fails to effectively tackle the border issues and the ongoing flow of fentanyl.
Thousands of anti-Israel protesters gathered in Lafayette Park next to the White House, demanding President Joe Biden to cease military aid to Israel and call for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip conflict against Hamas. Videos posted by reporters showed protesters chasing law enforcement officials out of the park, with chants escalating to profanities against the police. Some demonstrators climbed onto statues in the park, defaced them with graffiti, and set off red smoke bombs. Additionally, protesters threw objects at a park ranger, unfurled a red banner surrounding the White House, and displayed violent imagery, including burning an American flag and holding a bloody mask resembling President Biden. Senator Tom Cotton condemned the protesters' actions, calling for federal intervention akin to the response to the Capitol breach on January 6, 2021. Biden was not present at the White House during the protest, as he was commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in France.
House Republicans, including Oversight Chairman James Comer, Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, and Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, have referred President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, and brother, James Biden, for potential criminal prosecution over allegations of lying during the impeachment inquiry. They allege that both Hunter and James Biden made false statements during their testimonies related to their involvement in business dealings. The letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and special counsel David Weiss highlights instances where they claim the Bidens were untruthful, including Hunter Biden's denial of his association with a corporate entity receiving foreign funds and James Biden's statements about meetings with business associates. The referral does not guarantee charges, and Hunter Biden's attorney dismissed the accusations as attempts to revive a failed impeachment inquiry. This move comes amid ongoing legal issues for Hunter Biden, who is facing separate criminal cases involving gun charges and tax charges. The GOP lawmakers urge the Department of Justice to consider Hunter Biden's prior alleged criminal activity when evaluating potential charges, citing federal court orders prohibiting him from committing crimes while on supervised release.
U.S. antitrust enforcers are set to investigate the roles of Microsoft, Nvidia, and OpenAI in the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, according to anonymous sources. The Department of Justice will focus on chipmaker Nvidia, while the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will examine the relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI. This move comes amid President Joe Biden's call for tougher scrutiny of Big Tech. Lina Khan, chair of the FTC, previously signaled scrutiny of deals enabling dominant firms to exert undue influence. The investigations are expected to assess potential monopolistic behavior in the rapidly advancing field of AI, including chatbots and generative AI products like ChatGPT. Microsoft's close relationship with OpenAI, providing computing resources for AI systems, and Nvidia's role in supplying specialized semiconductors for AI applications will be under scrutiny. The entire AI industry has relied heavily on Nvidia's AI chips, contributing to its significant market value surpassing $3 trillion.
SpaceX's Starship rocket successfully completed its first full test flight, marking a significant milestone after three previous attempts ended in explosions. Standing nearly 400 feet tall, it soared above the Gulf of Mexico and achieved a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean, making it the longest and most successful flight yet. Despite losing some tiles and sustaining damage to a flap, the spacecraft managed a soft landing, prompting SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to hail the achievement. This success is crucial for SpaceX's plans to reuse the rocket for missions to the moon and Mars, with NASA already ordering Starships for future moon-landing missions. The ultimate goal is to establish human colonies on Mars, with SpaceX envisioning fleets of Starships facilitating interplanetary travel and city-building efforts.
Pro-Palestinian protesters at Stanford University staged a demonstration by barricading themselves inside the president's office, demanding the university divest from companies allegedly supporting Israel's military actions. The occupation led to the arrest of 13 individuals and resulted in vandalism, including graffiti criticizing various entities. This incident added to existing tensions between pro-Israel and pro-Palestine groups on campus, which had escalated amid the broader unrest surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict. The protest highlighted the ongoing debate over divestment from companies like Hewlett-Packard, Lockheed Martin, and Chevron, accused by protesters of aiding Israeli military campaigns. It reflects a broader trend of campus activism regarding the Israel-Palestine issue, with similar protests and demands for divestment occurring at universities nationwide.
A federal judge has instructed Steve Bannon, the former White House chief strategist under Trump, to report to prison by July 1 for defying a congressional subpoena. Bannon was found guilty of contempt of Congress for failing to comply with the subpoena issued by the Democrat-led House Select Committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot. Initially, U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols had postponed Bannon's sentence, allowing time for an appeal, but he revoked the stay following an appeals court's affirmation of the conviction. Bannon intends to appeal the case to the Supreme Court. Outside the courthouse, Bannon expressed defiance, attributing his legal troubles to efforts to suppress the MAGA movement and grassroots conservatism. He affirmed his commitment to continuing his advocacy despite the impending prison sentence.
The latest data from the Labor Department reveals a slight uptick in Americans filing for jobless claims last week, with unemployment benefit applications increasing by 8,000 to 229,000 compared to the previous week's 221,000. However, the four-week average of claims, which helps smooth out weekly fluctuations, saw a slight decline to 222,250. Despite this increase, weekly unemployment claims remain historically low, indicative of a relatively healthy job market despite lingering inflation and rising interest rates. The Federal Reserve's efforts to curb inflation through multiple rate hikes since March 2022 have not triggered a recession, thanks to resilient consumer demand and a sturdy labor market. However, some sectors, notably technology and media, have seen high-profile layoffs recently, while job growth has slowed, with just 175,000 jobs added in April. Nevertheless, the unemployment rate has stayed below 4% for 27 consecutive months, suggesting ongoing stability, although 1.79 million Americans were still collecting jobless benefits as of the week ending May 25, marking a slight increase of 2,000.
Israel NEWS
Israeli commandos successfully rescued four hostages from Hamas in a covert operation dubbed "Summer Seeds" in Nuseirat, central Gaza. The rescue, reminiscent of the 1976 Entebbe raid, involved meticulous planning and simultaneous entry into multiple buildings to prevent the hostages from being harmed. Tragically, an officer, Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, was critically wounded during the operation and later died, prompting the renaming of the mission in his honor. The hostages were extracted via helicopter amid gunfire, and all four were safely reunited with their families. Despite the success of the rescue, casualties were reported among both Palestinian civilians and Israeli officers. The operation received commendations from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the White House for its daring execution.
War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz announced the departure of his National Unity Party from the government formed after Hamas's October 7 massacre and the subsequent Gaza war. Gantz cited Prime Minister Netanyahu's failure to achieve true victory as the reason for their exit. He urged Netanyahu to pursue President Biden's proposed hostages-for-ceasefire deal with Hamas. Despite Netanyahu's plea for unity, Gantz affirmed the decision, emphasizing the need for a government trusted by citizens. With Gantz's departure, Netanyahu's coalition retains its majority, but challenges persist amidst ongoing talks with Hamas and internal political dynamics.
The Knesset is set to vote on a bill regarding ultra-Orthodox conscription in the IDF. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant opposes the bill, citing the need for more soldiers. The proposed legislation, identical to a previous bill from Benny Gantz, aims to bridge differences and achieve consensus. However, Gantz, who recently left the government, criticized the bill, claiming it's inadequate in the current situation. The haredi parties, initially against the bill, are now reportedly willing to let it pass in its first reading but seek changes for subsequent readings. The bill seeks to increase haredi enlistment gradually and impose fines for non-compliance with enlistment targets. Some coalition members, like Nir Barkat and Yuli Edelstein, have voiced concerns about the bill, while protesters fear it may lead to more casualties. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is hearing petitions regarding the expired law exempting ultra-Orthodox yeshivah students from mandatory service.
WORLD NEWS
Populist right-wing parties made significant gains in European elections, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron to call for emergency elections next month after his party suffered a major defeat. Marine Le Pen's National Rally party in France and the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Germany both made strong showings, signaling a shift to the right across Europe. The rise of nationalist parties could lead to fragmentation within the European Union and complicate legislative processes in the European Parliament, affecting issues such as financial regulations, climate policies, and aid to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The results reflect growing anti-EU sentiment and dissatisfaction with mainstream political establishments.
A gunman attacked the U.S. embassy near Beirut, leading to a shootout with Lebanese soldiers. The attacker was captured, sustaining injuries, while an embassy security guard was also wounded. The motive remains unclear, although the attacker was reportedly wearing apparel associated with the Islamic State. The incident occurred amid tensions in Lebanon due to conflicts between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, alongside political and economic challenges. The situation stabilized after the attacker's capture, with ongoing investigations. The U.S. embassy has previously been targeted in attacks, including bombings in 1983, with Hezbollah implicated.
The Spanish government's plan to open an embassy in Ramallah faces challenges as diplomats currently based in Israel are reluctant to relocate due to safety and quality of life concerns. Despite Spain's recent recognition of Palestine as a state, diplomats in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are hesitant to make the move. Israel's Foreign Minister has responded by forbidding the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem from serving Palestinian Authority residents. This leaves P.A. citizens with no option but to travel to Tel Aviv or Amman for consular services. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has stated that Spain will issue a coordinated response with Ireland and Norway in the face of Israel's backlash. Meanwhile, the incident echoes a recent attack on the German Ambassador to the Palestinian Authority over Germany's support for Israel.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced plans to resume deportations of criminals from Afghanistan and Syria following a knife attack by an Afghan immigrant in Mannheim that resulted in the death of a police officer and injuries to four others. Scholz emphasized the need to prioritize Germany's security interests over those of perpetrators, particularly in cases involving serious crimes and terrorism. The attack has intensified discussions on migration during the European election campaign, with far-right and mainstream parties seeking to address concerns over security and immigration. Germany currently faces challenges in executing deportations due to diplomatic complexities and security concerns in Afghanistan and Syria. While Scholz's announcement has received support, some question the feasibility of negotiating deportation agreements with relevant countries or finding alternative solutions. The issue of migration remains contentious in Germany, with shifting public sentiment and political dynamics shaping the debate.
The Bank of England has introduced new banknotes featuring the portrait of King Charles III, with denominations of £5, £10, £20, and £50. These notes, alongside coins and stamps bearing the king's image, mark a historic moment, as King Charles III is only the second monarch to feature on British banknotes after his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The new notes will replace worn ones and meet increased demand while minimizing environmental and financial impacts. The rollout of the new currency is accompanied by efforts to ensure continued access to cash for those who need it, with selected Post Office branches distributing the new banknotes across the UK.
