Friday, May 01
US President Donald Trump began his four-day diplomatic and economic tour of the Gulf States, with Saudi Arabia hosting the first leg of his journey.
Cassie Ventura's testimony in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-trafficking trial revealed shocking details, including Combs inviting Britney Spears to her 21st birthday and suspecting her of an affair with Michael B. Jordan. Ventura also recounted threats against Kid Cudi, alleging Combs mentioned blowing up Cudi's car.
A $500 million Trump hotel project in Belgrade faces legal challenges after a Serbian official admitted to forging documents to remove protected status from the bombed-out site. The project, led by Jared Kushner's firm, aims to build a luxury complex. This revelation raises concerns about potential political influence and ethical issues surrounding the Trump family's international business ventures.
Representative Shri Thanedar's attempt to impeach Donald Trump faltered due to strong opposition from his own Democratic party. Facing pressure, Thanedar withdrew his resolution to revise it and seek bipartisan support. Democratic leaders criticized the move as a distraction from key legislative priorities, while Thanedar defended his actions as a necessary defense of the Constitution.
During congressional hearings, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined to endorse childhood vaccinations, sparking controversy amidst a measles outbreak. He advised against taking medical advice from him, despite overseeing agencies like the CDC. His stance contradicts past statements and drew criticism from lawmakers concerned about public health.
Insurance giant UnitedHealth Group is facing a criminal investigation by the US Justice Department for possible Medicare fraud, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal previously reported in February that UnitedHealth was under investigation over allegations it directed doctors to make patient diagnoses that would trigger high government payments under Medicare Advantage.
Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born Harvard scientist, faces deportation and smuggling charges after being detained for undeclared frog embryos found at Boston Logan Airport. She claims political persecution in Russia, while prosecutors cite suspicious text messages and her past work in Russia. The case has sparked concern at Harvard, with supporters questioning the severity of the charges and her prolonged detention.
Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, sold Trump Media shares worth between $1 million and $5.5 million on April 2, coinciding with Donald Trump's tariff announcement dubbed 'Liberation Day.' This sale occurred within her ethics agreement window after receiving the shares as compensation for consulting work related to Trump Media's Wall Street debut.
Delegations from Ukraine and Russia have reached Turkey for peace discussions. This occurs as the war continues. Russia claims to have captured two villages. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticised Vladimir Putin's absence. He called the Russian delegation a 'dummy'. Russia responded by calling Zelenskyy a 'clown'. Talks are a restart of previous negotiations.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. faced intense scrutiny from lawmakers regarding his controversial vaccine views and proposed budget cuts. Despite a measles outbreak, Kennedy stated Americans shouldn't seek medical advice from him. He defended slashing billions from health agencies, claiming it would save taxpayer money.
