US senator Cory Booker's gesture at the California Democratic convention has sparked controversy, drawing comparisons to a similar action by Elon Musk. Social media users likened Booker's extended-arm movement to a Nazi salute, mirroring criticism Musk faced previously. Musk responded with an emoji on X.
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The race to become Africa's next "super banker" ends on Thursday, with five candidates, including one woman, vying to succeed Nigeria's Akinwumi Adesina as head of the African Development Bank in a contest that appears too close to call. In 2015 it took six rounds of voting to elect Adesina as president of the AfDB, which was founded in 1964 and now has 81 members, including 54 African nations.
Sixteen states, led by New York, are suing the Trump administration over significant funding cuts and program changes at the National Science Foundation. The lawsuit challenges the elimination of programs supporting diversity in STEM and a new rule limiting indirect research cost funding. These actions, resulting in $1.4 billion in grant cancellations, are argued to undermine U.S.
China has refuted US accusations of violating a trade tariff reduction agreement reached in Geneva, dismissing them as "bogus charges and unreasonable allegations." Beijing insists it is committed to the consensus, while criticizing the US for imposing discriminatory restrictions, including AI chip export limits and student visa cancellations.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini criticized the new US-backed aid distribution model in Gaza, deeming it a wasteful distraction from alleged atrocities. Speaking in Japan, Lazzarini asserted the UN's readiness to deliver aid effectively, warning of imminent famine. Chaotic scenes erupted at a new aid center in Rafah, highlighting the desperation amid severe shortages.
Donald Trump defended his administration's attempt to block foreign students from Harvard, criticizing the university's demographics and funding. He claimed American taxpayers shouldn't subsidize the high number of foreign students and alleged antisemitism. This came after Homeland Security revoked Harvard's ability to enroll foreign nationals, a decision challenged in court and temporarily suspended by a judge.
A significant earthquake, measuring 6.1 in magnitude, rattled the eastern coast of Hokkaido, Japan, on Saturday evening. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the quake struck at a depth of 20 kilometers near Kushiro.
Consumer confidence in the U.S. rebounded significantly in May, ending a five-month decline. The Consumer Confidence Index rose to 98, driven by easing inflation, steady job growth, and subsiding the tariff concerns. This surge in optimism could boost consumer spending and overall economic activity, signaling a potential turnaround in the near-term economic outlook.