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5 things to know for May 14: Syria, Gaza, Immigration, Afghanistan, Flooding

5 things to know for May 14: Syria, Gaza, Immigration, Afghanistan, Flooding

CNN14-05-2025

A judge in Michigan struck down the state's mandatory 24-hour waiting period before an abortion on Tuesday, saying it conflicts with the 2022 voter-approved amendment that added abortion rights to the state constitution. Judge Sima Patel also overturned a regulation that required abortion providers to share a fetal development chart and information about alternatives, declaring them 'coercive and stigmatizing.' The ruling 'reaffirms that Michigan is a state where you can make your own decisions about your own body with a trusted health care provider, without political interference,' Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.
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President Donald Trump announced plans to lift punishing sanctions on Syria during his Middle East tour on Tuesday. The change was positive news for the Syrian government, which is led by Ahmad al-Sharaa, who seized power after defeating the Assad regime in December. 'The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served as an important — really an important function — nevertheless, at the time. But now it's their time to shine,' Trump said. Although it hasn't formally reestablished diplomatic ties, Trump said the US is 'exploring normalizing relations' with Syria after meeting with al-Sharaa in Riyadh today. Before becoming Syria's unelected president, al-Sharaa founded a militant group known as Jabhat al-Nusra, which pledged allegiance to al Qaeda. But in 2016, he broke away from the terror group, according to the US Center for Naval Analyses.
Israel launched an airstrike on a hospital in southern Gaza late Tuesday in hopes of killing Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar. He became the militant group's de facto leader after the Israeli military killed his brother, Yahya Sinwar, last year, and is believed to be one of the main planners of the October 7 terror attack on Israel. The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that six Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded in the hospital bombing. There has been no word yet if Sinwar was among the casualties. Dr. Saleh Al Hams, the head of nursing at the hospital, said multiple airstrikes hit the yard of the facility, forcing staff to move patients to safer units inside. He also said some people were buried under the rubble and called the attack 'a catastrophe.'
A coalition of 20 state attorneys general has filed two lawsuits against the Trump administration over conditions that they say tied billions of dollars in federal grants to state participation in ongoing immigration enforcement. The collective of top state prosecutors said the grants were meant to be used for maintaining roads, counterterrorism efforts and emergency preparedness, and have nothing to do with immigration. The officials also argue that Congress, not the executive branch, determines federal spending. 'President Trump doesn't have the authority to unlawfully coerce state and local governments into using their resources for federal immigration enforcement — and his latest attempt to bully them into doing so is blatantly illegal,' California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release.
The Trump administration terminated a form of humanitarian relief for nearly 12,000 Afghan nationals living in the US this week. The Department of Homeland Security announced that it was ending Temporary Protected Status, which applies to people who would face extreme hardship if forced to return to their homelands devastated by armed conflict or natural disasters, for Afghanistan. Yet the country is in the midst of a food crisis, one that has seen millions surviving on only one or two meals a day. And humanitarian operations have been hobbled since January, when the State Department halted all foreign assistance. The Taliban is trying to establish diplomatic ties with the US. However, since taking control in 2021, the radical Islamist group has closed secondary schools for girls, banned women from attending universities and working in most sectors, restricted women from traveling without a male chaperone, prohibited women from public spaces and has even forbidden the sound of women's voices in public.
Approximately 150 students and 50 adults were safely rescued from an elementary school in rural western Maryland on Tuesday after heavy rains caused flooding in the region. First responders had to use boats to evacuate the students and staff from Westernport Elementary School. By the time help arrived, the children said the rising waters had nearly reached the second floor of the school. Homes, businesses and cars were also inundated with rising floodwaters. Westernport Mayor Judy Hamilton said the town has been prone to flooding, but officials weren't expecting it to occur on Tuesday. 'It just seemed to happen all at once,' she told the AP. 'My heart is breaking.'
MLB makes historic decisionPete Rose and 'Shoeless' Joe Jackson, who were kicked out of baseball for gambling on the game, were among more than a dozen other players who have been officially removed from the league's permanently ineligible list. 'Obviously, a person no longer with us cannot represent a threat to the integrity of the game,' MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said.
How big is women's soccer?Very big and it's getting bigger! The FIFA Women's World Cup plans to expand from 32 to 48 teams for the 2031 edition of the tournament. The event will also be extended by one week to accommodate the number of teams and a longer schedule.
Eggs-citing update at the grocery storeEgg prices fell 12.7% last month, the biggest monthly decline since 1984, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. The USDA said consumer prices began to drop as demand for eggs declined and avian flu cases decreased. That said, eggs still cost nearly 50% more last month than they did a year ago.
TGI Fridays gives itself a makeoverThe casual dining restaurant is attempting a comeback by revamping its menu with better-quality food and more visually appealing drinks. Some of its new offerings include mozzarella sticks with Frank's RedHot Buffalo, garlic parmesan and whiskey-glaze options, a Southwestern-inspired cheeseburger and modernized cocktails known as 'Power Pours.'
Citizens of Oz: Here's some wickedly wonderful newsNBC plans to broadcast a 'Wicked' special this fall that will feature stars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande performing live songs from the first movie 'and maybe a little bit from the second one as well.' Other 'Wicked' cast members and surprise guests are also expected to appear.
$2.7 billionThat's how much the Trump administration cut from research funding at the National Institutes of Health in the first three months of this year, a Senate committee report by minority staff said.
'News of the Qatari government gifting Donald Trump a $400 million private jet to use as Air Force One is so corrupt that even [Russian President Vladimir] Putin would give a double take. This is not just naked corruption, it is also a grave national security threat.'
— Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, announcing that he was placing a hold on all of the Justice Department's political nominees until he receives answers about the proposed transaction.
Check your local forecast here>>>
Unlucky geography?Three cars have crashed into the same Dallas townhouse complex over the past two years. Residents say they feel like sitting ducks.

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Miami commissioners cautious with answers on whether they'll vote for ICE agreement
Miami commissioners cautious with answers on whether they'll vote for ICE agreement

Miami Herald

time16 minutes ago

  • Miami Herald

Miami commissioners cautious with answers on whether they'll vote for ICE agreement

South Florida's largest city could deputize its police officers with immigration enforcement powers later this week, adding to a growing sense of uncertainty in the region as the Trump administration carries out its full-forced crackdown on immigration. On Thursday, the Miami City Commission is scheduled to vote to enter into what's known as a 287(g) agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The city would join the 'task force' model, which allows police officers to conduct immigration enforcement functions during routine work and to question, arrest and detain people suspected of violating immigration law. However, despite the fact that the agreement is on Thursday's meeting agenda, two city commissioners told the Miami Herald that the item might be deferred for the second time. The commission previously deferred the item in April in order to postpone the vote until after the June 3 special election to replace the late Commissioner Manolo Reyes. Commissioner Joe Carollo declined to say whether he plans to vote in favor of the agreement but said he has been monitoring the protests against ICE in Los Angeles, where Trump deployed the National Guard. Asked where he stands on the 287(g) agreement, Carollo said he's 'certainly looking carefully' at Los Angeles, which he said has 'frankly been a factor in the way that I'm gonna be going at this.' Commissioner Damian Pardo said in a statement that 'as a life long advocate for a legal path for US citizenship and a supporter of TPS, I am not in favor of 287(g).' 'Regardless of how well this plan may be implemented by local enforcement agencies, and in addition to the human rights considerations, I am very concerned with the hostile climate these policies create for immigrants,' Pardo said. He added that the city's economy is boosted by the 'inflow of business from Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe.' 'Our city has benefited enormously from our attraction as a destination to the international community,' Pardo added. 'I would argue that attraction is the 'Magic' in the Magic city. Let's keep it that way.' Both Carollo and Pardo said the item would likely be deferred. READ MORE: What the end of CHNV parole program means for a half-million migrants, many in Florida The City Commission was scheduled to take its vote on June 12, which will be the first commission meeting for newly elected District 4 Commissioner Ralph Rosado. According to voting map data, over 90% of voting-age citizens in District 4 are Hispanic, meaning Rosado's district has the largest concentration of Hispanics in the city's five voting districts. Speaking at his election night watch party last week, the freshman commissioner said he hadn't decided yet how he will vote on the 287(g) agreement. 'I've been discussing it with a number of people,' Rosado said, adding that he has 'a series of legal questions' that he wants to ask the city attorney before making a decision. Commissioner Christine King, who is also the commission chairwoman, declined to comment on the ICE agreement. Reached Monday, Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela said he would get back to the Herald at a later time with a comment. Mayor Francis Suarez, who does not have a vote on the commission but who does have veto power, did not respond to a request asking whether he supports the city entering the 287(g) agreement. A city spokesperson said Monday that it is 'too premature' to say whether the item will be deferred. She did not directly respond to questions asking if a potential deferral was related to current events like the L.A. protests or the travel ban that went into effect Monday. Municipal and local police departments are not explicitly required to join 287(g) agreements, but Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier have argued that under the state's sanctuary law, they are mandated to do so. Uthmeier threatened to punish Fort Myers City Council members earlier this year when they declined to enroll in the program. Still, most Miami-Dade cities, including Miami Beach and Miami Gardens, have yet to join the program, according to ICE's database for participating agencies. Entering the 287(g) agreement could have a major impact in Miami, where about 58% of residents are foreign born and over 70% are Hispanic or Latino, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. With just under a half-million people, Miami is the largest city in Miami-Dade County and the second largest in Florida. Miami would join a list of other Miami-Dade cities that have entered 287(g) agreements in recent months, including Hialeah, Sweetwater, Coral Gables, West Miami, Sunny Isles Beach and Miami Springs. If it happens this week, the City Commission vote would land at a time of increased uncertainty for non-citizens, with the Trump administration implementing a series of immigration policies in recent weeks that have targeted communities with large populations in South Florida. In addition to Monday's travel ban, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled late last month in favor of a Trump administration plan that ended the humanitarian parole program known as CHNV, which allowed people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to legally enter the United States. The decision affects more than 500,000 migrants who were granted temporary legal status.

Russian billionaire and Putin critic launches AI data centres in the UK
Russian billionaire and Putin critic launches AI data centres in the UK

Yahoo

time17 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Russian billionaire and Putin critic launches AI data centres in the UK

A Russian billionaire and critic of Vladimir Putin is preparing to invest hundreds of millions of pounds in artificial intelligence (AI) data centres in the UK. Nebius, a technology company headquartered in the Netherlands, will invest £200m to establish an 'AI factory' in Britain, deploying 4,000 graphics-processing chips designed to power the latest generation of machine-learning technology. The $12bn (£9bn) business is assessing potential data centre sites in the South East. Nebius was formed as part of a carve-up of Yandex, a company known as 'Russia's Google'. Arkady Volozh, a Russian entrepreneur worth a reported $2bn, founded Yandex in 1997 as a Russian rival to the US search engine. The business later listed in New York and in 2021 was valued at more than $30bn. However, its shares were suspended in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Mr Volozh was sanctioned by the European Union. Over the years Yandex faced growing pressure from the Kremlin to censor online news and search results, and the company was accused by Brussels of helping to spread Kremlin propaganda. In 2023, Mr Volozh labelled Putin's invasion 'barbaric' and said he was 'horrified' by the war. He said: 'I am categorically against it. Although I moved to Israel in 2014, I have to take my share of responsibility for the country's actions. 'There were reasons to stay silent during this long process. While there will anyway be questions about the timing of my statement today, there should be no questions about its essence. I am against the war.' The European Union removed its sanctions of Mr Volozh last year. Nebius was formed as part of a carve-up of Yandex, which spun off its Russian search division in a $5bn deal to Russian investors. Nebius, which is listed in the US, is made up of the remaining European, US and Israeli assets, including several data centres powered by Nvidia microchips and its self-driving car technology. Mr Volozh, Nebius's chief executive, said: 'The UK is where AI is being built, tested, and deployed at scale across industries from fintech to life sciences. Being here puts us closer to the start-ups, researchers, and enterprise leaders shaping what's next.' Nebius's UK investment comes after Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, announced plans to spend more than £1bn to boost the UK's computing power in a speech at London Tech Week alongside Jensen Huang, the Nvidia chief executive. On Monday, the Government announced a series of AI investments ahead of this week's Treasury spending review. These included £1bn for an AI research resource, made up of powerful AI data centres and supercomputers, as well as £187m to boost the technological skills of the UK workforce. On Tuesday, Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary, also announced plans for a new Turing AI fellowship in a speech at London Tech Week. Backed by £25m, the programme will seek five AI experts who will be offered a substantial package to relocate to the UK and hire a team to conduct AI research. Mr Kyle said: 'We will harness the vast potential of our trillion-pound tech sector to help remake our country for the better.'

Immigrant framed for Trump threats can be released on bond, judge says
Immigrant framed for Trump threats can be released on bond, judge says

CNBC

time17 minutes ago

  • CNBC

Immigrant framed for Trump threats can be released on bond, judge says

The undocumented Mexican immigrant who was detained after being framed by a jailed inmate for threatening President Donald Trump can be released on a $7,500 bond, a Chicago Immigration Court judge ruled Tuesday morning. Judge Carla Espinoza said at a hearing that she does not believe Milwaukee resident Ramon Morales-Reyes is a danger to the community pending removal proceedings. The judge noted that although the 54-year-old Morales-Reyes has been arrested several times since 1996, he has only been convicted once, for disorderly conduct. An attorney representing the Department of Homeland Security did not oppose a request by the immigrant's lawyer, Cain Oulahan, requesting bond. Oulahan and Morales-Reyes appeared remotely, with the immigrant still detained in Dodge County Jail in Wisconsin. Espinoza said that if Morales-Reyes is unable to post bond, the next hearing in the case will be on July 10, and that she would set another date if the married dad of three is released. CNBC has requested comment from Oulahan. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, in a statement, said, "While this criminal illegal alien is no longer under investigation for threats against the President, he is in the country illegally with previous arrests for felony hit and run, criminal damage to property, and disorderly conduct with domestic abuse." "The Trump administration is committed to restoring the rule of law and fulfilling the President's mandate to deport illegal aliens. DHS will continue to fight for the arrest, detention, and removal of illegal aliens who have no right to be in this country," McLaughlin said. Morales-Reyes, who has lived in the United States since 1986, was arrested May 22 on suspicion that he had written three letters to law enforcement officers in Wisconsin that threatened Trump and others. A week later, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem touted Morales-Reyes' arrest in a news release that called the dishwasher an "illegal alien," and featured his photo, as well as an image of a handwritten letter threatening to shoot "your precious president" Trump. But Milwaukee police who questioned Morales-Reyes quickly realized there was a problem with the allegations against him, court records show. First, a handwriting sample Morales-Reyes provided was "completely different" from the writing on the letters and the envelopes, which bore his home address as the return address, a criminal complaint says. Also, Morales-Reyes does not speak, read, or write English fluently, while the writing in the letters was in English. When a police detective asked Morales-Reyes, "Who would want to get [him] in trouble, [he] stated that the only person who would want to get him in [trouble] was the person who had robbed him and who law enforcement knows to be the defendant, Demetric D. Scott." Scott, who is detained in Milwaukee County Jail, was arrested in late 2023 for allegedly robbing Morales-Reyes and attacking him with a box cutter. Scott, 52, told police in late May that he had written the threatening letters about Trump, and put Morales-Reyes' address on the envelopes before they were sent on his behalf by others, to get the immigrant arrested by federal authorities so that he would be unable to testify at Scott's criminal trial in July, court records state. Scott hoped that his case would be dismissed when Morales-Reyes failed to appear in court, those records say. Scott has been charged with identity theft, felony intimidation of a witness, and bail jumping in connection with the letters plot. At the time Morales-Reyes was arrested, he had applied for a special type of visa available to victims of certain crimes. The web page announcing the Morales-Reyes' arrest remains up on DHS's site, with the now discredited allegations against him. At the bottom of that page is a "disclaimer," which notes that he is no longer under investigation for threatening Trump. —

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