World News
S&P downgrades French credit rating in blow to Macron
Ratings agency Standard & Poor's downgraded France's credit score on Friday citing a deterioration in the country's budgetary position, a blow to Emmanuel Macron's government days before EU parliamentary elections. France's general government debt will increase to about 112 percent of GDP by 2027, up from around 109 percent in 2023, "contrary to our previous expectations", the agency added.
Spelling Bee finalists, mostly Indian-American children, visit White House
Bruhat, sporting a yellow championship T-shirt and a red tilak on his forehead, was joined by seven other finalists, including four others of Indian descent, and their parents. The four other Indian Americans were: Rishabh Saha, 14 and Shrey Parikh, 12, from California; Aditi Muthukumar, 13, from Colorado; and Ananya Rao Prasanna, 13, from North Carolina.
'Reckless' for Trump to call Hush-money trial rigged: Biden
President Joe Biden took on his newly convicted opponent Friday, declaring that a New York jury’s guilty verdict against former President Donald Trump should be respected and denouncing efforts to undermine the justice system as “reckless,” “dangerous” and “irresponsible.”Breaking his long silence over Trump’s legal troubles, Biden directly and unambiguously characterized the putative Republican nominee as a lawbreaker whose conviction amounted to a victory for the rule of law. And he rejected assertions that the prosecution was a political witch hunt, noting that it was not a case brought by his own administration.
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu insists Gaza war will not end until 'elimination' of Hamas
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Gaza war will continue until Hamas's capacity to govern and make war is eliminated, despite US President Joe Biden offering a new peace roadmap.
Biden details a 3-phase hostage deal aimed at winding down the Israel-Hamas war
President Joe Biden on Friday detailed a three-phase deal proposed by Israel to Hamas militants that he says would lead to the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza and could end the grinding, nearly 8-month-old Mideast war.Biden added that Hamas is “no longer capable” of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel as he urged Israelis and Hamas to come to a deal to release the remaining hostages for an extended cease-fire.The Democratic president in remarks from the White House called the proposal “a road map to an enduring cease-fire and the release of all hostages.”
Michelle Obama's mother Marian Robinson passes away at 86
Marian Shields Robinson was 86. Her death was announced by Michelle Obama and other family members in a statement that said "there was and will be only one Marian Robinson. In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life".
Donald Trump's attorney says he was 'shocked' the former president took the verdict with 'solemness'
Donald Trump's lawyer, Todd Blanche, expressed surprise at Trump's composed reaction to being convicted, making him the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime, in a Manhattan courtroom by a jury foreman repeating 'guilty' 34 times.
Israel's new proposal provide roadmap to ceasefire, hostage release: US President Joe Biden
President Joe Biden announced Israel's proposal for a ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, involving the release of hostages. The proposal outlines a six-week plan for a ceasefire and hostage release, with involvement from Qatar and a diplomatic source. The White House clarified criteria for US policy regarding a ground invasion in Rafah.
What's in the new Israel ceasefire proposal Biden announced?
U.S. President Joe Biden proposed a three-phase ceasefire plan to end the war in Gaza, involving a ceasefire, release of hostages and prisoners, and Gaza reconstruction, amidst a humanitarian crisis.
An angry Trump vows to keep fighting after guilty verdict
Donald Trump delivers defiant message at Trump Tower, ready to fight after guilty verdict related to hush money payments to a porn star.
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US congressional leaders invite Netanyahu to address joint meeting of Congress
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson. The invitation was signed by Johnson, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Netanyahu has already given three such addresses, making him the first foreign leader to address joint meetings of Congress four times, tied with Britain's wartime prime minister, Winston Churchill.
Jacob Zuma's party emerges big winner in South Africa
MK is not going to win the election and is unlikely to be a coalition partner, analysts say, while Zuma is barred from standing for parliament because of a conviction for contempt of court. But the party, which advocates nationalising land and banks and scrapping the constitution, is on course to unseat the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma's home region. With results from about 70% of polling stations in, MK was in third place on Friday with 12.6% of votes. The ANC had 41.5%, down from 57.5% in the last 2019 election.
Donald Trump slams 'rigged trial' after guilty verdict in hush money case
A day after a New York jury delivered a historic guilty verdict in his criminal hush money trial, Donald Trump began his day-after-verdict remarks by launching into a critique of the "rigged" trial.In a message aimed to galvanize his supporters, Trump declared: “If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone." (AP)
Donald Trump says he will appeal historic conviction
In rambling remarks at the Trump Tower lobby in Manhattan where he announced his first presidential run in 2015, Trump repeated his complaints that the trial was an attempt to hobble his comeback White House bid and warned that it showed no American was safe from politically motivated prosecution.
US Fed's favored inflation measure remains unchanged in April
The US Federal Reserve's key inflation gauge, the PCE price index, remained steady in April, indicating that interest rates are likely to stay high throughout the summer. Services prices, a major factor, remained elevated. The current inflation trend reduces the likelihood of early rate cuts and complicates President Joe Biden's reelection message on the economy. Despite expectations of moderating inflation later in the year, Fed officials, like New York Fed President John Williams, see no urgency in changing policy now. Personal income eased slightly in April, with personal savings remaining steady.
Hush Money Trial: Donald Trump convicted; former US Prez calls it “rigged”, to challenge verdict
A Manhattan jury on May 30 convicted Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the NY Hush Money Trial, CNN reported. Prosecutors alleged Trump of involved in an illegal conspiracy aimed at undermining the integrity of the 2016 election, suppressing negative info. The central to the case was the concealment of a hush money payment made to adult film star, Stormy Daniels. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg praised a 12-member jury, and prosecution team for their service after the former US Prez was found guilty. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg praised a 12-member jury, and prosecution team for their service after former US Prez was found guilty. However, the former US Prez vehemently denounced the trial, labelling it a "disgrace" and decrying it as "rigged".
