NEW YORK NEWS
A construction crane atop a high-rise building in Midtown Manhattan caught fire and partially collapsed onto the street, injuring 11 people. The fire originated in the crane’s engine compartment and was possibly caused by a hydraulic line rupture. The crane’s operator tried to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful before fleeing to safety. Fortunately, injuries were minor. The crane was being used in the construction of a 54-story building, and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the incident. The crane company has been involved in previous accidents, raising concerns about safety.
New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams is launching a program in partnership with Medical Debt Resolution/RIP Medical Debt, a not-for-profit organization, to eliminate potentially hundreds of millions of dollars in medical debt owed by patients to hospitals and healthcare providers. RIP Medical Debt will acquire the patients’ debt at a fraction of its face value and use private donations and public funding to pay it off. The debt cancellation will benefit New York City patients in financial hardship who qualify based on specific criteria. The move is expected to benefit the city’s Health+Hospitals agency, which handles a significant number of indigent patients. RIP Medical Debt has already cancelled billions of dollars in medical debt nationally and is partnering with other regions to expand the program. The initiative aims to provide health equity and financial relief to struggling patients while benefiting hospitals’ bottom line by recovering at least a portion of the debt that otherwise might remain unpaid. The move is seen as positive by advocates who hope it will bring changes in hospital practices to provide more financial assistance to patients rather than resorting to debt collection.
New York City is establishing an emergency relief center for up to 1,000 adult male asylum seekers in the parking lot of Creedmoor Psychiatric Hospital in Queens. The shelter will offer services like meals and medical care to support these migrants. The state of New York will provide the space and reimburse the city for setting up and staffing the center. The city is currently caring for over 56,000 migrants, and the new center aims to accommodate the continuous influx of asylum seekers arriving weekly. Mayor Eric Adams has called for a national solution to address the ongoing crisis, and in preparation for the new center, some adult asylum seekers without children in the shelter system have been given notice to find alternative accommodations. The Creedmoor migrant center is expected to be operational next month.
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York have dropped the campaign finance violation charge against cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried, who was previously charged with fraud and campaign finance violations after his company, the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, collapsed. The prosecutors stated that the Bahamas, from where Bankman-Fried was extradited to the United States, did not intend to extradite him on the campaign finance charge. This decision comes after the prosecution dropped five other charges from Bankman-Fried’s indictment. He is now set to face seven charges, including accusations of defrauding customers and lenders of FTX. Prosecutors are planning a second trial on the withdrawn charges. Despite the removal of the campaign finance charge, prosecutors still have overwhelming evidence against Bankman-Fried, and if convicted on the securities fraud and wire fraud charges, he could face significant prison time.
US NEWS
Hunter Biden’s plea deal with the Department of Justice, involving pleading guilty to two tax misdemeanors and a gun charge, fell apart after a judge questioned the extent of immunity granted to him. Republicans criticized the deal as too lenient, and Judge Maryellen Noreika put the deal on hold to seek more details on the investigation and immunity. After negotiations, the deal appeared to offer immunity for tax, gun possession, and drug offenses from 2014-2019, but the judge did not accept it due to potential constitutional issues. Both parties will return to court to argue for the deal’s acceptance. Some commentators, including Republican candidate Will Scharf, raised concerns about the immunity aspect of the plea deal.
The Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate to 5.3%, the highest level since 2001, in its effort to control inflation. However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell provided little guidance on future rate hikes, stating that they may or may not raise rates again at their next meeting in September. The Fed has often telegraphed its actions in the past, but this time, Powell was noncommittal. While the economy has shown resilience, inflation remains a concern, and the Fed wants to achieve a “soft landing” without causing a deep recession. The Fed will assess economic data before deciding on further rate actions. Some analysts caution that bringing inflation down to the Fed’s 2% target will be challenging and take time.
Special Counsel Jack Smith has charged former President Donald Trump with additional criminal counts related to his handling of classified U.S. material after leaving office. Trump was charged with one count of willful retention of national defense information and two obstruction counts for allegedly attempting to delete surveillance footage at Mar-a-Lago after receiving a subpoena. The superseding indictment reveals that prosecutors now possess the document Trump showed during a recorded interview in July 2021, contradicting his previous claims of not holding any documents. Trump, co-defendant Walt Nauta, and newly-added co-defendant Carlos De Oliveira, a maintenance worker, were charged in connection with the alleged attempt to delete surveillance footage at the property.
Reports showed that consumer prices in the United States rose at their slowest pace in more than two years in June, indicating easing inflation pressures. The Federal Reserve’s efforts to tame inflation may succeed without causing a recession, leading to a “soft landing.” However, a price gauge closely monitored by the Fed rose 3% in June from a year earlier, above the Fed’s 2% inflation target. On a positive note, core inflation eased, and wage growth also cooled last quarter, suggesting that employers were feeling less pressure to boost pay. Despite inflation, consumer spending remained resilient, and the economy showed signs of continued growth.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell had a momentary freeze while speaking to the press, causing concern among his colleagues. Sen. John Barrasso, a physician, checked on McConnell, who later returned and said he was fine. An aide explained that McConnell felt light-headed. Barrasso mentioned that he was concerned about McConnell’s previous fall and hospitalization but praised his remarkable recovery. McConnell later took a shot at President Joe Biden over a past incident where the president fell on stage, jokingly saying, “Gotta watch those sandbags!”
President Joe Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, visited Saudi Arabia for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to push for a normalization of relations between the country and Israel. The discussions covered initiatives to achieve a more stable Middle East and resolve the conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen. They also discussed the Biden administration’s hopes to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a move that could reshape the region and boost Israel’s standing. However, the kingdom has stated that it won’t officially recognize Israel before a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The visit comes after Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to the kingdom to promote normalization. Saudi Arabia has shown hesitance due to Israel’s right-wing government and tensions with the Palestinians. Additionally, the kingdom seeks a nuclear cooperation deal that allows uranium enrichment, raising concerns about nonproliferation and potential nuclear arms race in the region.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) clarified that its prison request for Devon Archer, Hunter Biden’s former business partner, would not interfere with his scheduled closed-door testimony before the House Oversight Committee. The DOJ had requested a date for Archer to begin a prison sentence related to a fraud scheme conviction, but they ensured that Archer’s testimony would be completed before any potential surrender date. Republicans raised concerns about the timing of the DOJ’s initial letter, suspecting potential witness intimidation and obstruction, but the DOJ stated that the surrender process could take weeks or months. Archer’s lawyer denied any intimidation attempts and confirmed his willingness to testify before Congress. Despite the clarification, some members of the House Oversight Committee remained skeptical about the DOJ’s motives and questioned the unusual weekend activity.
Afederal judge dismissed Donald Trump’s $475 million defamation lawsuit against CNN, where he claimed that the network’s statements about his false 2020 election fraud claims equated him to Adolf Hitler. Trump’s team argued that CNN’s use of the phrase “the Big Lie” incited hatred and fear against him. However, the judge reasoned that the statements were opinions and not defamatory. The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, meaning Trump cannot file another lawsuit based on the same reasoning. Trump has targeted the media before, often calling stories he dislikes “fake news” and filing multiple lawsuits against news organizations he perceives as critical.
Actor Paul Reubens, best known for his role as Pee-wee Herman, has passed away at the age of 70 after a private battle with cancer. Reubens became famous for creating the iconic character Pee-wee Herman, who gained popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s. He starred in the Los Angeles stage play Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, followed by the movie adaptation directed by Tim Burton. The success led to a Saturday morning CBS show, Pee-wee’s Playhouse. Reubens faced legal troubles in the 1990s, but he continued his career, making TV and movie appearances. He was remembered for his impact on comedy and entertainment and his genuine kindness and generosity.
Israel NEWS
Inspectors searching for more Dead Sea Scrolls in Israel’s desert caves discovered a rare half-shekel coin from 66 or 67 CE, the first year of the Jewish Revolt against the Romans. The coin was part of an underground Jewish economy during the rebellion and bore the words “Holy Jerusalem” in ancient Hebrew script, reflecting their Jewish identity and decision to mint coins autonomously. The coin featured a depiction of three pomegranates and a chalice, symbolizing the revolt’s connection to the Holy Temple. The decision to mint their own coins was a political statement and an expression of national identity. The discovery was made during a survey of Israel’s caves in the Judean desert to document archaeological finds before they are looted, and it was a joint initiative by the Israel Antiquities Authority, the Ministry of Heritage, and the Civil Administration Archaeology Unit in Judea and Samaria.
Israel’s highest court has announced that it will hear legal challenges to a new law that weakens its power, marking a major political crisis and sparking the country’s largest protests in history. The law, enacted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, is part of a broader plan to overhaul Israel’s judiciary and has faced strong opposition from civil society groups and others. The court now faces immense public pressure to strike down the law and preserve its powers and independence, but doing so could lead to a crisis over ultimate authority as the government might ignore the ruling. Critics argue that the law is a blow to democracy and weakens the judiciary’s check on the prime minister’s powers, while supporters claim it prevents unelected judges from interfering with elected lawmakers’ decisions. The law strips the Supreme Court of its power to block government actions and appointments deemed “unreasonable.” The court will hear challenges to the law in September.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu unveiled a massive 100 billion shekel ($27 billion) plan to build a high-speed rail line that will link the north and south of the country, covering about 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Kiryat Shmona to Eilat. Netanyahu’s vision is to allow every Israeli citizen to travel to or from the center of the country in less than two hours, with the possibility of linking Israel by train to Saudi Arabia and the Arabian Peninsula, which is currently being discussed in Washington. The rail project is also intended to boost regional peace efforts, and it will include a bullet train segment through the Negev desert.
WORLD NEWS
Indian authorities have detained two suspects linked to an Islamist terror group known as Al-Sufa who were planning a series of bombings. During the investigation, it was revealed that the suspects had conducted surveillance on the Chabad House in Mumbai, the site of a deadly attack in 2008 where seven people were killed, including Rabbi Gavriel and Rivka Holtzberg. The suspects were found to be in possession of explosives, drone equipment, and incriminating books written in Arabic. Israeli intelligence reportedly cooperated in the probe, and security at the Chabad House has been increased. The investigation is also looking into a possible link between the suspects and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, although Al-Sufa is likely connected to jihadist groups in Pakistan.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un showcased his country’s most powerful nuclear-capable missiles in a military parade attended by senior Russian and Chinese delegates. The parade marked a major war anniversary and displayed defiance against the United States, while also strengthening ties with Moscow amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula. The parade featured new intercontinental ballistic missiles with ranges that could reach deep into the U.S. mainland. North Korean state media highlighted messages from Russian President Vladimir Putin, thanking Kim for supporting Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine. The parade is seen as a diplomatic opening by Kim to counter pressure from the United States.
A drone attack targeted a skyscraper in central Moscow for the second time in two days, damaging the building’s facade and raising concerns about the Russian capital’s vulnerability. Russian authorities accused Ukraine of staging the assault, leading to further tensions in the region. The repeated attacks on Moscow and Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014, come in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and highlight the challenges in tracking low-flying drones. Additionally, Russian forces attacked Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, with Iranian-made drones, causing damage to buildings and injuries to civilians. The attacks have escalated the conflict and raised concerns about the safety of civilians in the region.
