The Bulletin
World in Brief
Welcome to the Bulletin,
- Russia drops drone on kindergarten: Russia's military mistakenly dropped a drone on a kindergarten near the Ukrainian border, according to a report, in what appears to be the latest incident involving Moscow's forces accidentally striking their territory.
- Tornadoes in Alabama: At least three people died after strong storms and tornadoes ripped through the Midwest, central, and Southeast U.S. this week. Find out more.
- Child killed in Seattle shooting: Police reported a child was fatally shot in Seattle's Magnolia neighborhood on Wednesday evening. The young victim was pronounced dead at the scene after a woman told police her child had been shot. Learn more.
- In the ongoing war in Ukraine, different eras of warfare are colliding in war-torn Ukraine, highlighting a dramatic contrast between Russia and Ukraine's arsenals as Kyiv desperately awaits a new influx of weapons from the U.S.
Biden Issues Warning to Israel Over Rafah
President Joe Biden admitted on Wednesday that U.S. bombs had been used to kill Palestinians in Gaza and said he would not supply Israel with bombs that could be used to attack the city of Rafah. "I made it clear that if they go into Rafah—they haven't gone in Rafah yet—if they go into Rafah, I'm not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah," Biden said in a CNN interview.
Why it matters: Biden decided last week to halt a shipment of 3,500 bombs to Israel due to concerns they could be used in a ground assault into Gaza. The president's remarks come as Israel has ordered 100,000 Palestinians to evacuate Rafah ahead of a potential ground offensive into the city which is the last major stronghold for Hamas. Biden suggested on Wednesday that Israel had not yet crossed the administration's red lines after Israeli troops took control of Gaza's Rafah border crossing, which connects Gaza with Egypt.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Joe Biden Says Israel's Gaza Bombings 'Just Wrong'
Biden 'Not Complying' With Congress by Pausing Weapons to Israel: Stefanik
Joe Biden Is Trying His Very Best To Save Hamas
TL/DR: The president's remarks come as Israel has ordered 100,000 Palestinians to evacuate Rafah ahead of a potential ground offensive into the city, which is the last major stronghold for Hamas.
What happens now? Israeli officials, including UN Ambassador Gilad Erdan, expressed disappointment over President Biden's threat to halt specific arms supplies to Israel, according to Agence France-Presse. Meanwhile, U.S. political leaders, such as Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, demanded clarity from the White House on this decision by week's end.
Deeper reading Joe Biden Admits US Bombs Have Been Used to Kill Palestinians
Barron Trump No Longer 'Off Limits' After Political Move, Trump Critics Say
Several Donald Trump critics are suggesting that the former president's youngest son, Barron, is now open for scrutiny after wading into the world of politics.
Why it matters: Republican Party of Florida chairman Evan Power said Barron, who graduates high school in May, will be one of 41 at-large delegates from Florida at the Republican National Convention in July, where his father will be confirmed as the GOP's 2024 presidential candidate, NBC News first reported. Social media users believe Barron's political involvement makes him a "fair game" for media attacks.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Barron Trump's Working 'Customer Service,' Millionaire Says
Donald Trump to Attend Fundraiser on Day of Barron's Graduation
Is Donald Trump Skipping Barron Trump's Graduation? What We Know
TL/DR: The move marks Barron’s first time in the political spotlight in such a public way, joining his siblings Eric and Tiffany as being among the Florida at-large RNC delegates.
What happens now? Barron will be one of 41 at-large delegates from Florida at the Republican National Convention in July. Florida GOP chairman Evan Power said: "We have a great delegation of grassroots leaders, elected officials, and even Trump family members. Florida is continuing to have a great convention team, but more importantly we are preparing to win Florida and win it big."
Deeper reading Barron Trump No Longer 'Off Limits' After Political Move, Trump Critics Say
Republican Hints Marjorie Taylor Greene May Be Punished
Rep. Dusty Johnson hinted that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene could be punished after her failed push to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Why it matters: Greene's colleagues loudly booed her as she criticized the Republican speaker's leadership as "pathetic, weak and unacceptable" on the House floor late Wednesday. She had pledged to force a vote on a motion to vacate the speaker if he advanced a foreign aid package for Ukraine.
An overwhelming majority, 359-43, rejected the Georgia Republican's motion to vacate the speaker from his office, with 196 Republicans voting with 163 Democrats to block her motion procedurally.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Marjorie Taylor Greene Booed by Republicans
Donald Trump Tries to Tame Marjorie Taylor Greene
Mike Johnson Warns Marjorie Taylor Greene May Cause 'Chaos'
TL/DR: Even former president Donald Trump, who counts Greene among his biggest allies in the House, rebuked Greene's effort to oust Johnson.
What happens now? Critics accused Greene of seeking attention and harming party unity. Dusty Johnson, the chairman of the Republican Main Street Caucus, was asked if Greene should be punished for her actions. "One dumpster fire at a time," he told The Washington Post.
Deeper reading Republican Hints Marjorie Taylor Greene May Be Punished
Here's How China's Economic 'Nuclear Option' Would Impact US
China's insatiable appetite for gold, copper, and other commodities has led to a debate over whether Beijing is gathering resources to hedge against the consequences of devaluing its currency.
Why it matters: Weakening a currency boosts exports by making them cheaper, which could appeal to Chinese leadership facing a manufacturing glut and low consumer confidence. However, this poses risks such as pricier imports, higher inflation, global currency market instability, and trade wars with countries overwhelmed by cheaper Chinese goods. This has led economists to dub devaluation a "nuclear option."
Read more in-depth coverage:
China's Role Behind Gold's Soaring Value
China's Economic Gambit Could Nuke Putin's Dollar Ploy
Russia-China Trade Hamstrung by US-Fueled Bank Issues
TL/DR: The move would bring down the prices of a myriad of made-in-China products and put pressure on U.S. companies to do the same.
What happens now? If Beijing invoked the "nuclear option" and intentionally weakened its currency, this would likely draw a fiery response from Washington. Still, it could also take some pressure off American consumers and impact the 2024 elections. Polling shows that most Americans view inflation as a major issue in the lead-up to the presidential election. Asked which candidate could be trusted more with handling inflation, 44 percent chose Trump versus 30 percent, who said the same as Biden.
Deeper reading Here's How China's Economic 'Nuclear Option' Would Impact US
Map Shows Which States Will See Big Temperature Rises in Next 30 Years
A new map based on projections by the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) outlines the potential temperature increases across various U.S. states over the next 30 years due to climate change, with outcomes varying greatly based on emission levels.
Why it matters: Human activities have caused significant increases in greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. In a lower emissions scenario, by 2040-2059, nearly all of Minnesota and parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Utah would have temperature rises of 4 degrees Fahrenheit. In a higher emissions scenario, the vast majority of states would see a temperature increase of 4 degrees. The only exceptions would be Washington, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Texas Power Grid Warns of Outages as Temperatures Rise
Scientists Reveal 'Major' New Factor in Bumblebee Decline
Colorado River Water 'Extremes' Forecast by Scientists
TL/DR: Several states could see temperature rises of 4 degrees within the next 30 years.
What happens now? In response to the 2023 Emissions Gap report, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on countries worldwide to take more action to slow emissions, saying countries should commit to tripling renewables capacity, doubling energy efficiency, and bringing clean power to all by 2030. Sign up for Newsweek’s Better Planet newsletter here for more climate change news.
Deeper reading Map Shows Which States Will See Big Temperature Rises in Next 30 Years
Millennials Are Rapidly Getting Richer
The wealth of young Americans has grown rapidly after years of stagnation, thanks to the strong recovery of the U.S. economy.
Data compiled by the Center for American Progress (CAP) has found that Americans aged under 40 are outpacing other age groups when it comes to accumulated wealth, employment rates and wage growth following the coronavirus pandemic. In four years, the average wealth of households under this age has grown by almost 50 percent since 2019.
