Sunday, June 15
John Ewing has been elected as the first Black mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, defeating incumbent Jean Stothert, who served for 12 years. Ewing, a former police deputy chief and county treasurer, promised to address issues like infrastructure, public safety, and affordable housing. His victory represents a significant cultural shift for Omaha, signaling a desire for new leadership and priorities.
Donald Trump's acceptance of a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar has sparked security and ethical concerns among intelligence and diplomatic experts. The opulent aircraft, previously owned by a Qatari royal, raises fears of potential foreign surveillance and compromised communications systems. Senator Mark Warner has criticized Trump's decision as reckless, highlighting the difficulty of thoroughly inspecting the plane for espionage tools.
Gaurav Jaisingh, an Indian-origin senior at Bentley University, tragically died in a balcony fall during a pre-graduation trip to the Bahamas. The incident occurred at a hotel on Paradise Island, prompting an investigation by local authorities. The university community mourns the loss of Jaisingh, a finance major, as commencement approaches.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Wednesday the humanitarian situation in Gaza was "ever more dramatic and unjustifiable", stressing she had repeatedly urged Israel to find a way to end the conflict. "It is a request that I renew today in the face of a humanitarian situation in Gaza that I have no difficulty in defining as increasingly dramatic and unjustifiable," Meloni told parliament.
In a dramatic policy shift, US President Donald Trump announced the lifting of long-standing sanctions on Syria during a visit to Saudi Arabia. This move aims to revitalize Syria's economy and reshape Middle East dynamics, following discussions with Turkish and Saudi leaders.
Trump’s decision to lift longstanding US sanctions on Syria triggered celebrations across Syrian cities. State media broadcast footage of public gatherings, flag-waving, and fireworks in Damascus and Aleppo, with hopes high for economic relief and renewed foreign investment. The sanctions, some of which had been in place since 1979, had long isolated Syria from global markets and credit systems.
Lyle and Erik Menendez, convicted in 1996 for the 1989 shotgun murders of their parents, have been resentenced, making them eligible for parole after serving over three decades. A Los Angeles judge reduced their sentence from life without parole to 50 years to life, citing their rehabilitation and new evidence supporting abuse claims.
A significant 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Kasos, Greece, early Wednesday, sending tremors across the eastern Mediterranean. The quake, centered near Kasos and Crete, was felt on several Greek islands, as well as in Israel and Egypt.
The US Coast Guard intercepted drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific, seizing narcotics worth an estimated $214 million. Dramatic footage shows the swift takedown of a suspect boat, highlighting the Coast Guard's role in battling transnational drug trafficking. This operation is part of intensified efforts to combat the flow of deadly narcotics into the US, amidst a growing drug crisis.
Donald Trump called for strict sanctions against Iran. He expressed hope for a nuclear agreement during a summit with Gulf Arab leaders in Riyadh. Trump conditioned any deal on Iran ceasing terror sponsorship and halting nuclear weapons pursuit. The US has already imposed sanctions on entities linked to Iran's oil and nuclear sectors.
