The House Education and Workforce Committee has ordered acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su to hand over documents about the department’s plan for people to return to work.
Committee Chair Virginia Foxx said, “Under Acting Secretary Su, the Department of Labor has not been cooperating with our requests. They give vague answers and don’t provide what we ask for.”
This comes after Foxx warned Su during a committee meeting last week.
Foxx wrote to Su on March 6 asking for the department’s plan for people to return to the office. She wanted it by March 20, but she says Su didn’t give enough information. Foxx said if more information wasn’t given by May 6, she would force Su to give it by using a legal order called a subpoena.
Su did give some information on April 18, but Foxx said it wasn’t enough.
Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su
Foxx referred to a report from the Government Accountability Office that found the Department of Labor and five other government agencies only used about 23% of their office space. Foxx said this was not good, especially after guidance from the Office of Management and Budget in April 2023 said federal workers should go back to the office full-time.
Foxx said knowing how many people are in the office is important for making sure the Department of Labor is doing its job properly. She also said if workers don’t go back to the office, it could waste taxpayer money.
Media asked the Department of Labor for more comments but didn’t get a response.
Julie Su was picked by President Biden to replace former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh last March. But she faced problems getting approved by the Senate, especially from Republicans. Although she was nominated again in January, the Senate hasn’t voted on it yet.
Former President Trump said he might go to jail because he keeps breaking a rule made by a judge in New York.
The judge told him to be quiet or face jail time. Trump spoke to reporters after his trial about this rule. He said the Constitution is more important than going to jail. He thinks it’s a big sacrifice.
Trump thinks what’s happening is unfair. He wants higher courts to look into it.
The judge, Juan Merchan, said Trump broke the rule for the 10th time. He told Trump to pay $1,000 for saying bad things about the people involved in his trial. Merchan warned Trump that if he keeps breaking the rule, he might end up in jail.
Former President Trump (Credits: Getty Images)
Merchan told Trump he doesn’t want to send him to jail, but he has to follow the rules. He said Trump’s actions are like attacking the law itself.
The rule Trump broke stops him from insulting people like witnesses, jurors, and court workers. But he can still criticize the judge or the Manhattan District Attorney.
Trump doesn’t like this rule. He thinks it goes against his right to speak freely, especially since he’s running for president again.
In a big change for real estate plans in New York, Two Trees Management is worried about its River Ring project in Williamsburg.
This project got started with the help of a tax break called 421a, but now that it’s over, a new program called 485x is causing problems.
The main issue is that 485x has strict rules about wages and affordable housing that make parts of the project too expensive, according to Two Trees spokesperson David Lombino. Also, borrowing money is more expensive now than when they first planned the River Ring project.
The 485x Challenge
The new 485x program has changed the game for building apartments in New York, especially for big projects like the River Ring.
485x requires higher wages and more affordable housing, making River Ring financially difficult.
Under 485x, projects in the area where River Ring is located have to set aside 25% of the apartments for people who earn less money, with a cap on how much they can make.
This is different from the old 421a, which allowed for more flexibility in who could live there and how much they could earn.
Also, the wages that construction workers have to be paid under 485x are much higher than before, making it harder for River Ring’s second tower to meet the new rules since it doesn’t qualify for the old tax break.
The Ripple Effect
The River Ring project isn’t the only worry for Two Trees; they’re also working on fixing up the Domino Sugar refinery. One part of the Domino project is almost done, and they’re planning another tower with lots of apartments.
The Domino Sugar Refinery project was also affected, raising concerns about meeting the 421a deadline.
The first part of the Domino project got the old 421a tax break, showing how developers have to be smart to deal with changes in New York’s real estate rules.
However because the Domino project is taking longer, Two Trees might not be able to finish River Ring by the deadline in 2031, which makes things even more complicated for them financially.
A Bit of Hope Despite Challenges
Even though 485x and high interest rates are making things tough, there’s still some hope for the River Ring project.
Lombino says that if interest rates change or it becomes easier to get money for building from scratch, the project could still happen.
This feeling is shared by other developers in New York who are trying to figure out how to deal with the new tax break rules and thinking about different ways to lower risks, like selling land to someone else.
The latest Survey of Consumer Expectations from the New York Federal Reserve has shown that Americans are worried about housing costs going up soon. The report, which asked people in February about their thoughts, says that they expect home prices to increase by 5.1% in a year.
This is a big jump from the 2.6% increase predicted a year ago. Also, the survey says that rental costs are expected to go up by 9.7% in a year, which is the second-highest prediction ever in the survey’s history. This means it might be tough for people who want to buy a home or rent a place soon.
Looking further ahead, people expect home prices to go up by 2.7% in five years, which is not as much. But they’re worried about mortgage rates going up.
Future homebuyers face high costs, rising rates, limited supply; and complex housing market challenges ahead.
They think the average mortgage rate will be 8.7% in a year and 9.7% in three years, which would be the highest ever. This could make it hard for people to buy homes, making them less affordable and harder to get.
The effects of high mortgage rates reach beyond just people’s ability to afford homes. A report by Redfin says that fewer low-income Americans took out mortgage loans last year because of the high interest rates.
This makes it even harder for people to buy homes. Also, some homeowners are keeping their low-rate mortgages from the pandemic time, which means there are fewer homes for sale. This keeps prices high even though interest rates are going up.
Long-term: 2.7% home price rise expected; mortgage rates predicted at record 8.7%.
So, the situation for future homebuyers is complicated. They have to deal with higher housing costs, rising mortgage rates, and fewer homes for sale.
The survey from the New York Fed, along with reports from Redfin and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, shows that buying a home will be tricky in the coming years.
People, banks, and policymakers need to think carefully about how to deal with these challenges in the housing market, which is being affected by bigger economic changes.
During the trial involving former President Trump and hush money, there was a scary incident involving David Pecker, who used to run a magazine. Someone sent an email pretending to be in Pecker’s house, saying they’d hurt someone. But it was a lie, and the police were already at Pecker’s house, so nothing happened.
This trick, called “swatting,” is mean and dangerous. People do it to scare others by making fake reports to the police. Even important politicians have been targeted before.
David Pecker and Former President Trump
This was the first time someone involved in Trump’s legal issues got swatted. The case is about Trump supposedly paying money to hide a past affair and working with Pecker to stop the news from coming out before the election.
Pecker admitted in court that he helped Trump by hiding stories that could hurt his campaign. He said he did it because he didn’t want Trump to be embarrassed.
Protests for Palestine happened near the Metropolitan Museum of Art while famous people were at the Met Gala. The police arrested some people, but they didn’t say how many. Videos on social media showed protestors shouting and marching. They caused traffic jams and set off smoke bombs.
NBC News said the protests were part of a bigger day of rage across the city. Protestors marched from Hunter College through Central Park to disrupt the fundraising event. The police blocked areas near the Met Gala to keep protestors away and told them to leave the streets.
Protests for Palestine happened near the Metropolitan Museum of Art
These protests come as there are similar protests on college campuses nationwide. People are asking universities and the U.S. to cut ties with Israel because of the war in Gaza, where many Palestinians have died.
The Met Gala is a big event where celebrities dress up according to a theme. This year’s theme was “The Garden of Time.” Celebrities walked on a green carpet before going to cocktails and dinner with 400 guests. Last year, the gala raised about $22 million for the Met’s Costume Institute.
A judge said a lawsuit against Alabama’s attorney general can keep going. The suit is about a threat to prosecute people who help with abortions outside the state. The Yellowhammer Fund, which supports people needing out-of-state abortions in the Deep South, brought the case. They say the attorney general’s threats make them scared to help.
Alabama mostly banned abortions, even in cases of rape or incest, after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Last year, the attorney general said he’d prosecute anyone helping with abortions. This caused confusion and fear for health workers and groups like the Yellowhammer Fund.
The judge’s decision said the Constitution protects the right to travel and engage in lawful activities in other states, including getting an abortion. He said the attorney general can’t prosecute people for helping with lawful out-of-state activities.
Abortion protests in Alabama
The ACLU also sued the attorney general for threatening providers with felony charges if they help Alabama residents get abortions out of state. They said this ruling shows that efforts to stop people in states with bans from getting legal out-of-state abortions are unconstitutional.
The state faced a big fight over reproductive rights after its Supreme Court said frozen embryos are children, making those who destroy them liable for death. This led to a halt in IVF services, but lawmakers passed new laws to address this.
The White House said they’re taking steps to stop antisemitism, which is discrimination against Jewish people. This comes after a rise in such discrimination following attacks in Israel last October.
President Biden will speak about this on Holocaust Remembrance Day at an event by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
The Education Department will send guidance to schools about antisemitism and other hate acts. The Department of Homeland Security will help campuses with online safety. The State Department will talk with tech companies to tackle antisemitic content.
(Credits: National Education Association)
Since the October attacks in Israel, there’s been a surge in antisemitic incidents, especially on college campuses during protests against the Gaza war. Biden will urge unity against hate in his speech.
The Anti-Defamation League reported a big increase in antisemitic incidents after the attacks in October. The government has already started efforts to protect Jewish people.
Last May, the government made a plan to fight antisemitism nationally. Biden will speak about all this as protests about the Gaza war have grown, with concerns about antisemitism in some protests.
Biden has criticized violence and hate in these protests, saying they should stay peaceful and not target any group, including Jewish people. He said there’s no room for hate or violence in America.
Former President Trump’s friends are worried. They think he helped the not-so-extreme part of the GOP in Utah. He supported a conservative called Trent Staggs, even though Staggs is not very likely to win.
Staggs doesn’t have a lot of money or support in the polls. Some Republicans who like Trump worry that by supporting Staggs, they might split the votes of conservative people. This could make a more moderate Republican, Rep. John Curtis, win instead.
Curtis didn’t support Trump before and his wife liked another Republican, Nikki Haley. But Curtis has a lot of people from Mitt Romney’s team supporting him. Trump could have supported other candidates like Jason Walton or Brad Wilson, who have more money and a better chance to win. But he chose Staggs.
Some people say Senator Mike Lee asked Trump to support Walton instead. But Trump chose Staggs, who got attention by talking to people close to Trump, like Stephen Bannon and Charlie Kirk. This surprised some of Trump’s friends who thought he usually picks winners in GOP races.
Staggs needs to show that Trump’s support matters and that he can compete with Curtis. But Staggs hasn’t raised much money yet. He needs to get people to know about Trump endorsing him, and that’s hard without money.
Former President Trump
Staggs says he’s happy Trump supports him and thinks Utah wants a senator who puts America first, like Trump. Meanwhile, Mitt Romney thinks both Curtis and Wilson are good choices for Utah.
In Utah, winning the convention doesn’t always mean winning the primary. Brent Hatch, son of a former senator, couldn’t make it to the ballot because he didn’t get enough signatures. He started too late and didn’t have enough support.
Trump’s relationship with Utah Republicans has been up and down. He’s popular with primary voters but not as much as in other very Republican states. So, it’s unclear if his support for Staggs will make a big difference.
Some Republicans wonder if Staggs can really win. It’s not an easy House race; it’s for the Senate, and you need more than just support to win. Can he do it? That’s the big question.
President Biden is facing a big test this week. He has to tell Congress about Israel’s actions in Gaza. This report could stop the U.S. from helping Israel.
This report is required by the National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM 20). Biden made this in February, and he has to finish it by May 8. This memo says the government must check if Israel is using U.S. weapons according to the rules of war and human rights.
If Israel is breaking these rules, Biden has 45 days to decide what to do next.
Many people don’t think Biden will punish Israel a lot for fighting Hamas in Gaza. But he has been more open to punishing Israel for hurting Palestinians.
This includes punishing Israeli settlers and supporters in the West Bank for hurting Palestinians. Biden also said that five Israeli military units in the West Bank broke human rights rules.
Biden’s team has not punished these units yet. They say Israel is trying to fix the problems.
A lot of people on college campuses protested the U.S. helping Israel in the last few weeks. Some Democrats want Biden to follow NSM 20 and punish Israel. They say Israel is stopping humanitarian help from getting to Palestinians in Gaza.
President Biden
If Israel is stopping help from getting to Palestinians, the U.S. has to stop helping Israel.
Biden made NSM 20 because some Democrats wanted him to check Israel’s actions in Gaza. But Biden can cancel this memo if he wants. Some Republicans are angry about this memo. They say Biden is trying to make people who don’t like helping Israel happy.
Democrats are worried that Biden will hide behind unclear words and rules to protect Israel. They want to know how Biden will check if a country is breaking the rules, like Israel.
Some Democrats even made a report about Israel’s bad actions. They found a lot of times when Israel did not follow the rules of war and human rights.
This report doesn’t tell Biden what to do. Biden’s team has said that Israel is trying to fix its problems. But some people don’t think the U.S. will really punish Israel for what it did.
The situation in Gaza is really bad. Biden has said that Israel bombed Gaza too much and hurt a lot of people, including women and children.
But some people say Hamas, the group fighting Israel, is also to blame. They say Hamas puts civilians in danger by fighting from places where civilians live.
Biden has started to punish Israel a little bit for what it did. But some people say the U.S. is not being fair to Israel.
People are waiting to see what Biden will do next.
Former President Trump is making moves to weaken Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as they both aim for the same group of voters.
Trump criticized Kennedy at a Libertarian Party event, calling him “not a serious candidate.” Republicans also attacked Kennedy for saying controversial things about people in “red states.”
Many Republicans think Kennedy could take more votes from Trump than from Biden. They believe Kennedy appeals to Democrats unhappy with their party and those who still admired the Kennedy name.
Trump has called Kennedy a “Democrat plant,” suggesting he’s being used to harm Trump’s chances. Some Democrats argue the opposite, saying Trump supporters are behind Kennedy.
RFK Junior
Although Trump hasn’t attacked Kennedy as harshly as others, his supporters are trying to discredit him. They’re using social media and sharing negative information about him.
Polls show Kennedy has support from Republicans and young voters, which worries Trump’s team. They’re trying to paint Kennedy as too liberal by highlighting his past statements and associations.
Kennedy’s campaign got a boost when he chose Nicole Shanahan as his running mate. Her wealth has helped expand Kennedy’s presence on more ballots.
Despite focusing on Biden, Kennedy argues Biden is the real spoiler in the election. He says Biden can’t win and prevents others from winning by running.
As Kennedy faces attacks from both sides, he may struggle to defend against Trump’s tactics while also countering Democratic criticism.
The Biden administration has been busy making new rules to give workers and consumers more power. This comes as the president tries to boost confidence in the economy before the upcoming election, which is expected to be close.
Last Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) decided to stop companies from using noncompete agreements. These agreements stop employees from working for other companies or starting their own businesses after leaving a job.
On the same day, the Department of Labor made a rule. It says workers who make less than $59,000 a year should get paid for working overtime. The Department of Transportation also made two rules. They say airlines must give automatic refunds for canceled or delayed flights and tell passengers about fees upfront.
The Biden administration
These rules are all about making sure the economy works fairly for everyone, said Rakeen Mabud, an economist.
The Biden administration is making these changes because many people are worried about the economy. While Biden is not far behind Trump in the polls, more people think Trump is better at handling the economy.
People’s confidence in the economy has gone down recently, especially as prices have gone up a bit. The government might not lower interest rates soon because of this.
Some experts think Biden’s new rules might not change people’s opinions much. But others say they’re important for workers and could help Biden win over more voters.
With less than six months until Election Day, things are heating up between former President Trump and President Biden.
Trump has been making some harsh comparisons, likening the Biden administration to the Nazi secret police, the Gestapo. He’s also been calling Biden names like “grossly incompetent” and “crooked as hell.” At a recent fundraiser, he even used profanity against Jack Smith, the special counsel.
On the Democratic side, Jeffrey Katzenberg, co-chair of Biden’s campaign, hasn’t held back either. He’s been using strong language against Trump, calling him an “asshole” and drawing comparisons between Trump and the rise of the Nazis.
During the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, Biden took shots at Trump, too. He joked about Trump’s recent troubles with the hush money trial involving Stormy Daniels, saying, “Donald has had a few tough days lately. You might call it stormy weather.”
Trump VS. Biden (Credits: ABC News)
Both parties are getting uncomfortable with the tone of the campaign. Some Republicans are calling it “petulant,” saying it’s not about electing a president but more like a schoolyard brawl.
Polls show Biden and Trump neck and neck, with some voters still undecided. Political experts predict things will only get uglier as the campaign progresses.
Both sides are expected to continue their attacks. Trump will likely keep portraying the trial as politically motivated, while Biden will push back against criticisms of his age and mental acuity.
The tone of the campaign is expected to get worse before it gets better, with both sides willing to go lower to win.
Former President Trump is back in the spotlight, this time in a New York City courtroom. He’s aiming for a comeback to the White House in the 2024 elections, but his past is catching up with him.
The trial revolves around hush money payments Trump allegedly made to women who claimed they had affairs with him during his 2016 campaign. It also brings up the scandalous “Access Hollywood” tape where Trump boasted about inappropriate behavior.
Trump insists the trial is politically motivated and a ploy to keep him away from the campaign trail. Despite the embarrassing details, his allies believe it won’t have much impact on his political future.
The charges against Trump include falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress. Trump denies the affair and claims the payments weren’t illegal.
Former President Trump (Credits: Rolling Stone)
Testimonies, including that of former aide Hope Hicks, shed light on Trump’s concerns about his family’s reaction to the scandals. The defense argues the payments were to protect his family’s reputation, not his political career.
Trump’s current campaign differs greatly from his 2016 run, with a more experienced team. He’s visibly frustrated with the trial bringing back old controversies.
Despite his claims of innocence and cries of political persecution, the trial could affect his 2024 bid if he’s convicted. While most of his supporters remain loyal, a significant percentage might reconsider their support if he’s found guilty.
Billionaire investor Stanley Druckenmiller revealed on Tuesday that he reduced his big investment in chipmaker Nvidia earlier this year. He thinks the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) might be too much for now.
“We cut that and many other investments in late March. I just needed a break. We’ve had a great run. Many things we spotted are now well-known in the market,” Druckenmiller said on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.”
Druckenmiller explained that he decreased his investment after seeing Nvidia’s stock price go from $150 to $900. He joked, “I’m not Warren Buffett — I don’t hold onto things for 10 or 20 years. I wish I was Warren Buffett.”
Druckenmiller views AI as overhyped short-term, but underhyped long-term, like the Internet.
Nvidia has been doing very well lately because of the tech industry’s focus on large AI models. These models use Nvidia’s expensive graphics processors for servers. The stock was one of the best performers last year, going up by a huge 238%. In 2024, it’s already up by another 66%.
Druckenmiller first learned about Nvidia from his young partner in the fall of 2022. His partner believed that the excitement about blockchain would be overshadowed by AI.
“I didn’t even know how to spell it,” Druckenmiller said. “I bought it. Then a month later, ChatGPT happened. Even an old guy like me could figure out okay, what that meant, so I increased the position substantially.”
Famous for a $10 billion bet against the British pound, managed Soros’ Quantum Fund, and Duquesne Capital.
Even though Druckenmiller has reduced his Nvidia investment this year, he still believes in AI’s long-term potential.
“So AI might be a bit overhyped now, but underhyped in the long term,” he said. “AI could be like the Internet. As we spend a lot on it, we need to see the payoff as it comes in day by day. The big payoff might be four to five years from now.”
Druckenmiller has also invested in Microsoft and Alphabet as AI plays over the past year.
He became famous for making a $10 billion bet against the British pound in 1992 while managing George Soros’ Quantum Fund. Later, he oversaw $12 billion as president of Duquesne Capital Management before closing his firm in 2010.
Tesla‘s Chairwoman, Robyn Denholm, recently sold $17.3 million worth of her shares in the electric vehicle company. This brings her total stock sales for this year to over $50 million.
Denholm, who joined Tesla’s board in 2014 and became chair in 2018, sold these shares as part of a program called 10b5-1, which she started in October. With this sale, she’s now sold all the shares allowed in this agreement.
While Denholm still owns most of the 1.66 million shares she had at the end of last year, other big stakeholders have also sold shares. For example, Drew Baglino, a former Tesla Senior Vice President, sold shares worth around $181.5 million after he resigned in April.
Tesla faces competition, lower demand, and fewer deliveries, with shares down 26% this year. (Credits: Google Finance)
Another Tesla board member, Kathleen Wilson-Thompson, set up a trading plan similar to Denholm’s earlier this year, allowing her to sell up to 280,000 shares by February 2025.
Tesla’s shares have dropped by 26% this year, closing at $184.76 on Monday. This drop comes as the company faces more competition, lower demand for its electric cars, and fewer deliveries in the first quarter.
CEO Elon Musk has been talking a lot about Tesla’s future in self-driving cars rather than just its cars. He told investors last month that those who doubt Tesla’s ability to make self-driving cars shouldn’t invest in the company. Tesla has been working on self-driving technology for years but hasn’t released it yet.
Denholm sold all 281,116 shares allowed in her 10b5-1 program agreement.
Denholm joined Tesla’s board when she was part of the audit committee. She became chair in 2018 after an agreement with the SEC related to Musk’s tweets about taking Tesla private. Musk had to step down as chair temporarily.
Before Tesla, Denholm worked in executive roles at Sun Microsystems and in finance roles at Toyota in Australia, and accounting firm Arthur Andersen. She’s currently part of several committees at Tesla.
Denholm, who didn’t comment on this, is involved in a lawsuit called Tornetta vs. Musk, which was decided in January. The judge ruled that Tesla’s 2018 CEO pay plan, which was the largest in public corporate history, should be rescinded.
CEO Elon Musk emphasizes self-driving future amid challenges, urging skeptics to avoid Tesla stock.
Denholm’s recent stock sales come at a tough time for Tesla, with a lot of restructuring and layoffs happening. Demand for Tesla’s cars went down in the first quarter, and the company’s revenue dropped by 9%.
Musk said in April that Tesla was cutting more than 10% of its global staff. He called it a “pruning exercise” and said the company wasn’t giving up anything important.
Denholm and Musk are trying to get shareholders to vote with them on some proposals. One big proposal is to give Musk back his compensation package, which was canceled by a court earlier this year. This package could be worth billions of dollars in Tesla shares to Musk.
One of Tesla’s biggest individual retail shareholders, tech billionaire Leo Koguan, has told investors to vote against this plan. He recently wrote, “Don’t be a sucker, just vote NO.”
Former President Trump’s reluctance to commit to accepting the results of the 2024 election is causing a dilemma for GOP lawmakers, especially those aspiring for leadership roles. Senators John Thune and John Cornyn, who are seeking to become the next Senate GOP leader, have pledged support to Trump, but they previously opposed his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Other Republican senators, including Tim Scott and potential running mate for Trump, have also avoided committing to accepting this year’s election results. This puts them in a challenging position as they seek Trump’s support while navigating their previous stance against his baseless election fraud claims.
GOP strategist Brian Darling believes that Trump will likely claim widespread cheating if he loses the election to Biden, similar to his actions after the 2020 election. However, he warns that such claims could discourage Republican voter turnout, posing a challenge for the party.
Former President Trump (Credits: Britannica)
Thune and Cornyn, following McConnell’s lead, rejected Trump’s election fraud allegations in 2020. They emphasized focusing on future elections rather than dwelling on past disputes. Now, with McConnell stepping down as leader, they must decide whether to maintain their stance against unfounded claims of election fraud.
The issue of election integrity has gained renewed attention, with Trump refusing to commit to accepting the election results unless he deems them fair. This reluctance has left other Republicans grappling with whether to accept the outcome.
Senator Scott, when pressed on accepting election results, declined to give a clear answer, instead expressing confidence in Trump’s victory. Thune and Cornyn have urged their party to move forward and focus on future elections, emphasizing that dwelling on past controversies is not a winning strategy.
As the 2024 election approaches, Republicans face the challenge of maintaining unity within the party while addressing concerns about election integrity raised by Trump and his supporters. The outcome of this debate will have significant implications for the GOP’s future direction.
Over 500 individuals have been rushed to hospitals in southern Vietnam with suspected food poisoning after consuming bánh mì sandwiches from a shop in Dong Nai province. Among the affected, twelve are in critical condition, including two young boys aged six and seven.
Authorities have temporarily closed down the bakery responsible for the outbreak, located in Long Khanh city. Initial investigations suggest that the sandwiches may have spoiled due to the ongoing heatwave, exacerbated by inadequate food safety standards at the bakery.
Investigations suggest that the Bánh mì sandwiches may have spoiled due to the ongoing heatwave. (Stock photo via Getty Images)
Bánh mì, a beloved Vietnamese delicacy, features a French-style baguette filled with cold meats, pâté, and vegetables. The bakery, situated on Tran Quang Dieu Street, reportedly sells around 1,100 sandwiches daily, according to local officials.
The number of reported cases has been steadily rising, with symptoms including diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and severe abdominal pains. Tran Ngoc Phuong, a concerned mother, recounted purchasing sandwiches for her children, only for them to exhibit symptoms within 24 hours.
As cases surge, symptoms of food poisoning, including diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and severe abdominal pains, grip southern Vietnam, prompting urgent investigations. (Stock photo via Getty Images)
Health authorities have conducted blood tests on some critically ill patients, revealing the presence of E. coli, a bacterium commonly found in fresh produce like beef, cheese, and fruit. Samples of the bánh mì have been sent to labs for further analysis.
An investigation into the cause of the food poisoning has been launched by local police, as the community grapples with the alarming outbreak.
A recent incident has sparked international attention as a US Army soldier stationed in South Korea finds himself detained in Russia on accusations of theft. Staff Sgt Gordon Black’s apprehension in Vladivostock on May 2nd has raised eyebrows, particularly due to the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Reports from CBS, suggest that Sgt. Black was not on official travel when the incident occurred, adding a layer of complexity to the situation. The soldier stands accused of stealing from a woman, prompting a swift response from both US military and diplomatic channels.
US Soldier Under Scrutiny for Allegedly Stealing from a Woman. (Stock Photo via Getty Images)
John Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, addressed the issue during a White House briefing, confirming the US government’s awareness of the case. However, Kirby refrained from divulging further specifics, leaving many questions unanswered.
The US Army, in a statement, outlined that Sgt. Black was in the process of transitioning duty stations from South Korea to Fort Cavazos in Texas. This detail adds context to the soldier’s movements at the time of his detention.
Allegations of theft against a US soldier in Russia spark coordinated efforts from military and diplomatic authorities. (Stock photo via Getty Images)
Amidst the uncertainty, Sgt. Black’s family has been notified, and the US Department of State has stepped in to provide consular assistance. Nevertheless, the situation remains fluid, with details surrounding the allegations and subsequent legal proceedings yet to be fully disclosed.
As the case unfolds, it underscores the complexities of international relations and the challenges faced by military personnel serving abroad. For now, all eyes are on the developments in Vladivostock as efforts to secure Sgt. Black’s release continue.
Seven people have been killed and at least 35 injured in an air attack on Russia’s Belgorod region, on the border with Ukraine.
Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov blamed Ukrainian forces for the strike near the village of Beryozovka, which he said was carried out with drones and hit minibusses transporting workers to a meat production facility, as well as a private car.
Mr Gladkov said several other locations in Belgorod region had also come under attack in the last 24 hours, with residential buildings damaged.
Russian authorities claim that the Ukrainian drones attacked the buses. (Credit: The New Voice)
The Belgorod region has often been targeted by Ukrainian forces since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Hours later, Mr Gladkov reported another fatal attack, this time in the village of Nikolskoye. At least one person was killed when an outdoor cooking area was struck, he said.
The deadliest strike on the region so far occurred in December, when a drone and rocket attack killed 25 people and wounded another 100 in the city of Belgorod.
In March, Mr Gladkov said 9,000 children would be evacuated from the city and the wider region after shelling that authorities have blamed on Ukraine.
Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov blamed Ukrainian forces for the strike near the village of Beryozovka. (Photo by STRINGER / AFP)
Meanwhile, Russia has continued to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, damaging a facility in the northern Sumy region – which borders Belgorod region – in an overnight bombardment. Ukraine’s energy ministry said the attack had left more than 400,000 people without power. Power was partially restored by morning, local authorities said.
According to the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia is massing troops in the regions of Belgorod, Kursk and Bryansk in preparation for an offensive operation against northeastern Ukraine and the city of Kharkiv.
Citing a Ukrainian military observer, the ISW said that the Russian military has gathered roughly 50,000 personnel. Ukrainian officials have long warned that Russia is gearing up to launch an attack to seize Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
First responders are conducting operations at a damaged site after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May 5, 2024. (Photo by Eugene Titov/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
On Monday, the Russian Ministry of Defence said it had started preparations for missile drills simulating the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons.
Tactical nuclear weapons are small nuclear warheads and delivery systems intended for use on the battlefield, or for a limited strike.
TASS news agency reported that the drills, ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin, were expected to take place “in the near future” and would involve missile formations as well as air and naval forces.
People are walking past the scene of a Russian bomb attack on a residential building in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine. (Photo by Eugene Titov/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The decision to hold the drills was taken in response to “provocative statements and threats by certain Western officials against the Russian Federation”, the ministry added.
Although it did not name the officials, Russia has repeatedly criticized remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron about possible intervention by Nato troops in Ukraine.
Russia also reacted angrily to comments last week by the UK Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, who said that Ukraine can use British weapons for strikes within Russia.
