Richard Carapaz says he has no idea how he managed to stay upright after he came within a whisker of falling during the Giro d’italia stage 2 time trial, and he is now fully focussed on the challenges ahead and fighting for a second overall victory.
The 31-year-old EF Education EasyPost leader delivered an impressive ‘save’ during the Tirana time trial, where he skidded badly on a right-hand corner and only just managed to stay upright and in control of his bike
CNN
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Former Uruguay President Jose Musica, a leftist icon known for his progressive social reforms, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 89.
“It is a deep sadness to announce the death of our comrade Pepe Musica,” Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi announced in X.
“President, activist, leader, guide. Dear old man, we miss you so much. We appreciate everything you have given us and for the deep love for your people,” said Orsi, who is close to the late leader. CNN has contacted the President of Uruguayan for more details.
Former guerrilla Folksy is remembered for his modest lifestyle during his presidency. He is famous for avoiding the Presidential Palace to perform his duties from his country farm.
He had been battling cancer more than a year before his death, but told reporters in 2024 that he would fight as much as he could.
“I will continue to fight with my peers, stay true to my way of thinking and entertain myself with vegetables and chicken,” he said. “For the rest, I’m grateful. At the end of the day, I can’t take away what I had.”
“Pepe” Musica, as he is more widely known, entered the national scene in the 1960s as the leader of Tupamaros, a left-wing extremist group that engaged in armed rebellions in the 60s and 70s, after being inspired by the Cuban revolution in the 1960s.
The uprising was suppressed by government forces during Uruguay’s military dictatorship, and then Musica was imprisoned for nearly 15 years, enduring many forms of torture.
Musica spoke about the horrors of that period in 2020. “For six months, I was tied with a wire behind my back and then thrown out of the truck for two or three days. I have to bathe with a bottle, water and a handkerchief for two years, not taking me to the toilet,” he said.
He was released from prison in 1985 after democracy recovered to the country. Four years later, he and other members of Tupamaros established the Movement of Popular Participation (MPP), the party he won several legislative elections.
In 2009 he began bidding for the president, winning by leaks with over 50% of the vote.
Under his surveillance between 2010 and 2015, Uruguay’s economy expanded, and he implemented several progressive reforms. Uruguay has legalized abortion, gay marriage, allowed the use of cannabis recreation, and became the world’s first country.
Musica’s supporters saw him as one of the humble leaders the country has ever had, pointing to his decision to abandon the president’s palace and live in a rural farmhouse during his term.
In 2012 he gave CNN a tour of his farm, showing how he tormented the fields, planted fresh fruits and chrysanthemums, and ran around with old Volkswagen beetles.
His modest life led many to call him the “poorest president of the world.”
“I’m not a poor president. Poor people are people who need a lot of people,” he said in a 2014 interview with CNN. “My definition is Seneca. I am a calm president. I live the way I lived long before I became president, so I hardly need to live. I still live in the same neighborhood, I live in the same way, I live in the same way, I am a Republican president.
In April 2024, Musica announced that he had been diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his esophagus. After months of treatment, his doctors said in August that cancer in his esophagus appeared to be in remission, but developed “kidney disease” due to radiation therapy to treat the tumor.
In January, he said the cancer had spread to his liver and told Uruguay’s media outlet Busqueda that he was “dying.” He chose to refrain from additional treatment and was asked to be alone at the dusk of his life.
“I’m destined, brother. This is as long as I can go,” he said.
Latin American leaders lamented the former president, saying the region has lost a beacon of hope and humility.
Alberto Fernandez, the former president of nearby Argentina, praised Musica’s humility, calling it “an example of social austerity that rewards those who accumulate wealth.”
Former President Evo Morales, a fellow leftist leader who was in office around the same time as Musica, called him a “brother” full of wisdom, whose teachings continue to live.
Chilean President Gabriel Borik reiterated those feelings and said, “It was somehow hopeful that if you left us something, we could make things better – “In stages, just like you said, don’t leave the rails.”
Limiting eating during the day can increase your lifespan
Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center say eating during the day could add years to your life.
No brand – Lifestyle
McDonald’s plans to hire up to 375,000 workers at restaurants across the country this summer, the company announced on May 12.
McDonald’s US President Joe Arlinger, along with U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez Deremar and government Jim Tressel across Ohio, announced at one of the chain’s Ohio restaurants.
In a press release, the company said that Employment Blitz has been one of the biggest over the years. This is because McDonald’s is aiming to reach a total of 50,000 restaurants by 2027, so 900 restaurants are on the rise over the next two years, the chain said.
“I often think about the time I worked at a restaurant as a general manager. It quickly became clear that the crew was the heart and soul of this brand,” Erlinger said in the release.
According to Statista, McDonald’s is a major chain restaurant in terms of sales in the US, generating more than $53 billion in 2023.
McDonald’s says it employs nearly 2 million people worldwide. In the US, McDonald’s says one in eight people work in one of the restaurants.
However, fast food chain employees are believed to have a high turnover rate.
USA Today contacted McDonald’s about its sales but could not obtain any information about it.
In response to MacDonald’s announcement, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez Deremar said in a post on X that the company is “inducing ripple effects of economic prosperity for workers, communities and the economy.”
“Thanks to @Pothos’ leadership, the golden age is here,” she said.
Chavez Deremar also spoke at a press conference in Ohio.
“It’s my best first job here at McDonald’s,” she said.
Last year, he made a drive-thru at MacDonald’s, Pennsylvania, during President Donald Trump’s election campaign.
This story has been updated with additional information.
Melina Kahn is a trending reporter covering USA Today’s national news. She can be contacted at mkhan@gannett.com.
After four days of racing, three riders have abandoned the 2025 Giro d’Italia, with Nickolas Zukowsky (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) joining Mikel Landa (Soudal-QuickStep) and Geoffrey Bouchard (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) in the list of drop-outs.
The Canadian rider was involved in a crash on stage 4, when a stray bottle saw several riders towards the back of the peloton go down. All got back on, except Zukowsky, who stayed sitting and holding his shoulder in a position often associated with a collarbone break.
Sean “Diddy” Comb Sex Crime Day 1
Prosecutors and defense outlined their arguments, and witnesses rose to the first day of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sexual offence trial.
Casandra Ventura Fine told the ju umpire that her ex-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs physically abused her, kicking her in the face, kicking her, kicking, sex trafficking and transporting, kicking her to engage in prostitution. He also had a “career at his hands,” a rhythmic and blues singer best known as “Cathy.”
This came a day after former male stripper Daniel Philip, who rose up during cross-examination on May 12th, and explained the details of the physical abuse graphic that he said he had a wonderful enduring witness to Ventura. Philip recalls one example of hearing Combs screaming at Ventura Fine before Combs left the room in a towel. Philip said, “I jumped into my lap and shaking. I asked her, “Why is she doing this? Why is he with this guy, why is he with this guy?”
Philip’s reaction is not uncommon, and he also said in his testimony that he was concerned about his own safety during his interactions with Comb. Victims of abuse are often asked why they stay, but that’s a question, and psychologists and sociologists rarely help and can end up “decrying the victim.”
Research shows that there are many reasons why victims struggle to leave their abusers, including the threat of escalating violence. And there are other more useful questions to ask people in an abusive relationship.
Didi in the trial newsletter: As Sean “Diddy” Combs faces sex crimes and human trafficking charges, USA Today steps into court with USA Today. Subscribe to our newsletter.
According to a 2020 study by the National Domestic Violence Coalition, one in four women and one in ten men experience sexual, physical violence and/or stalking during their training life. As a result, approximately one in five female victims and one in 20 male victims need medical care. The most dangerous period for the safety of the victim is when they leave an abusive relationship. Notifying them of their abusive partner or plan to leave can put the victim at greater risk of murder and violence of their intimate partners.
“Many victims are safer than they stay in an abusive relationship than they leave, especially if they don’t have the opportunity to plan safety,” explains sociologist Nicole Bedella. “Victims tend to be very good at determining when it is safe to leave, and it’s important that the rest of us respect the expertise of perpetrators’ patterns of violence.”
In court, the prosecutor asked Philip why he didn’t go to police. “I was worried about my life,” he said. “I didn’t know if I would see a gun or not. If so, my life would have been in danger.”
Reactions focusing on the victim’s behavior may deprive them of discussing the abuses they have been inflicted by the perpetrator.
“The decision to stay in an abusive relationship is influenced by a variety of complex, deeply personal factors,” says Elizabeth L. Jeglick, a clinical psychologist specializing in sexual violence at the New York City University of Criminal Justice. “It’s wrong to assume that leaving an abusive relationship is a simple or available option for people with an abusive relationship.”
Common barriers to leaving an abusive relationship include retaliation, financial dependence, psychological manipulation, and concerns about the safety and well-being of oneself or loved ones.
“Abusers often have a successful psychological and physical isolation from others, and they may feel like they have nowhere to seek help,” adds Jeglick.
Ventura Fein, who is pregnant with her husband, Alex Fein, testifies that Comb has abused her for many years. She was 19 when she met Combs. He was 17 years old and was founded in the music industry and signed a contract for 10 albums. These types of power imbalances allow abusers to force and manipulate victims.
Ventura Fine testified that the comb would steal electronics, cars, jewelry and her “confidence.” “It didn’t matter physically. I wanted him to be approved,” she said.
Cognitive biases like the “halo effect” can also protect public figures’ images in the face of sexual abuse allegations, and survivors who speak up are subject to shame and distrust.
When giving a positive impression to someone like Combs, a Grammy-winning artist who won a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was awarded an honorary doctorate from Howard University, Jeglick says he tends to turn perceptions and inappropriate information into “inappropriate” especially those who have “less status than him.” “He was a bigger musician than he was,” Ventura Fein told the ju judge.
In a 2024 study conducted by Chloe Grace Hart, an assistant professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, she found that Americans are less likely to say they believe in black women who explain their experiences of sexual harassment compared to white women who explain the same thing.
“It suggests that when it comes to sexual violence, black female survivors face particularly sudden and difficult battles to be believed,” Hart previously told USA Today.
Sometimes people get evidence that they can’t refute before they change their perception of celebrities, such as when videos of people attacking Venturas at hotels.
During Venture Fine’s testimony, she was asked by the prosecution why she continued to attend Combs’ “freak-off” party if she was uncomfortable.
She said, “I don’t want to make anything bad.”
“When you really care about someone and love them, you don’t want to disappoint them,” Ventura Fein said. She sniffed and said she tried to “gentlely” brooch on the subject of not “freak off.”
“When I did this, I felt terrified. It made me feel worthless,” she said of “freak-off.” When she expressed discomfort, she “dismisses” the comb and says her feelings are “unprecedented.”
She called Combs “a scary person.”
Victims’ criticism occurs when society or individuals hold the victims of the harm they experience rather than the perpetrators. This may seem to ask why the victim didn’t leave the relationship early or the person who raped “what they’re wearing,” and ask the victim to believe the abuse was their fault. It also allows perpetrators to avoid accountability, which can perpetuate the cycle of abuse.
“The abuser also teaches victims to blame the victims for the abuse, leading many victims to believe they have an obligation to maintain and correct the dynamics of the relationship,” adds Bedella.
Rather than scrutinizing the victim, he states that one of the correct courses of action is “center survivors.”
“Domestic violence is complicated and a public health crisis where we all need to learn more,” Justice previously told USA Today. “For those who have seen recent reports and feel forced to take action on this issue, we encourage people to learn to recognize warning signs of abuse, listen to survivors when they share their experiences with you, provide help to survivors when they are safe, donate to local hotlines and shelters so that the services are available when they need them.”
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the domestic domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text “Start” 88788.
Children:e and Patrick Ryan
McDonald’s Adult Happy Meal Spark Collector Frenzy
McDonald’s recently started selling “Collector’s Meal,” also known as the adult happy meal.
They do – News
Squishmallows is back on the McDonald’s menu.
McDonald’s will be back with the popular squeeze plush toys on Tuesday, May 13th, with Happy Meal available at the fast food restaurant chain for limited hours.
Each toy in Squishmallow comes with a character hang tag detailing its name and story. For example, in Halley’s case, we would mention intergalactic travel capabilities. Each toy also includes codes that allow you to scan and play interactive games.
Squishmallows’ Happy Meal was a huge hit when it last became available in December 2023. Toy maker Jazwares has a huge following as it sells more than 400 million Squishmallows’ luxury toys around the world.
The complete set of toys already started on eBay at around $50.
McDonald’s says toys are available while supplies last.
Mike Snyder is a reporter for the trending team at USA Today. You can follow him in the thread, send BlueSky, X with X and send him an email Bliss & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider &msnider@usatoday.com
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Microsoft says it solves almost 3% of its total workforce.
The tech giant did not reveal the total amount of lost employment, but it would bring it to about 6,000. Microsoft employed 228,000 full-time workers as of June last year. Approximately 55% of these workers were in the United States.
Microsoft, based in Redmond, Washington, said layoffs will take place across all levels and regions but will focus on reducing the level of management. A notification occurred on Tuesday.
“We continue to implement the organizational changes necessary to maximize our company to succeed in a dynamic market,” the company’s statement reads.
Microsoft announced fewer rounds of performance-based layoffs in January. However, the 3% reduction will be Microsoft’s biggest layoff since early 2023. This has joined other tech companies that have cut 10,000 workers, almost 5% of the workforce, and are reducing expansion in the pandemic era.
After the newsletter promotion
The latest layoff comes just weeks after Microsoft reported strong sales and profits that beat Wall Street expectations from January 3rd to March. Microsoft has surpassed Wall Street revenue estimates for the last four consecutive quarters.
Amy Hood, the company’s chief financial officer, said in an April revenue call that the company is focusing on “building and agile high-performance teams by reducing the number of layers with fewer managers.” She also said that counties in March were 2% higher than a year ago, a slight decline compared to the end of last year.
Trump has proposed lowering China’s tariffs to 80% ahead of trade talks
In a social media post, President Donald Trump proposed lowering China’s tariffs from 145% to 80% ahead of trade negotiations.
Five small businesses, known as President Donald Trump’s tariffs, have taken away illegal power and urged the federal trade courts to stop them, but government lawyers argue that the president has been imposing tariffs since the country’s early days.
The U.S. International Trade Court has already rejected a request on April 22 to temporarily block a request from the operator while the lawsuit was filed. Jury Gary Katzman, Timothy Reef and Jane Restini heard a May 13 debate in New York about whether to quickly determine cases without gathering more evidence.
Trump imposed a 10% tariff on imports from around the world on April 2, bringing higher rates in countries such as China that sell more than imports. Trump claims tariffs generate billions of dollars in revenue while encouraging businesses to increase US manufacturing
The companies represented by the Liberty Center for Justice, a non-profit public interest litigation firm, claim that Trump has no authority to impose unlimited, unrecognizable tariffs on any country at any time.
“The president’s imposition of tariffs on the so-called ‘liberation day’, says Jeffrey Schwab, a lawyer representing the business: “This is not intended by Congress.”
Eric Hamilton, a Justice Department lawyer, said the Supreme Court upheld the president’s customs authorities in the 1974 case. Hamilton said the court has never reviewed political decisions, such as the declaration of a state of emergency, such as Trump declared under the International Emergency Economic Force Act. And the Senate refused to stop Trump’s tariffs in the April vote.
“These are questions ultimately decided by the political sector,” Hamilton said of the tariff decisions made by Congress or the president.
Judge Jane Restoni asked how the court could measure whether tariffs were responding to “abnormal” or “extraordinary” situations.
“How does the court draw that line?” asked Restoni. “When you know it, you know it” doesn’t work. Give me a few words. ”
Schwab said Trump’s call was out of the scope of the emergency as he had been operating a trade deficit for decades.
“I am asking this court to be a judge and call for a strike,” Schwab said. “You’re asking me, ‘Where is the strike zone? Is it on the knee, or is it a little below the knee?” I don’t need to discuss the difference as it’s wild pitch and it’s on the other side of the batter and hit the backstop. ”
Justice Department lawyers said Congress empowered the president to carry out diplomacy, including tariffs since 1794, and regulate trade.
Judge Gary Katzman said the US Supreme Court upheld the same language in a 1974 ruling.
“Why would you suggest that we reach the opposite conclusion when the legal language is the same?” Katsmann asked.
Schwab said the courts should take a fresh look as the laws Trump cited to “regulate” international trade were later approved.
“The term regulation does not mean taxation or customs authority,” Schwab said.
Judge Timothy Reif said the restrictions could mean customs duties.
“The “regulation” can mean many different things, so it could mean customs duties,” Reif said.
The companies that filed the lawsuit were:
Watch the Giro d’Italia as the first men’s Grand Tour of the season takes place over 21 stages from May 9 to June 1, with all the details here on live streams and TV broadcasts, wherever you are in the world.
Giro d’Italia: Key information
► Date: May 9 – June 1, 2025
► Location: Albania, Italy
► Category: UCI WorldTour
► TV & Streaming: TNT Sports, Discovery+ (UK) | Max (US), FloBikes (Canada) l SBS (Australia)
► Free stream: SBS (Australia) | RAI Play (Italy) | RSI (Switzerland)
► Watch from anywhere: Try NordVPN 100% risk-free
| Date | Stage | Distance | Stage Times (CET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 9, 2025 | Stage 1: Durres-Tirane | 160km | 13:10-17:14 |
| May 10, 2025 | Stage 2: Tirane-Tirane Tudor | 13.7km (ITT) | 13:55-17:14 |
| May 11, 2025 | Stage 3: Vlore-Vlore | 160km | 13:15-17:14 |
| May 12, 2025 | Rest Day | Row 3 – Cell 2 | Row 3 – Cell 3 |
| May 13, 2025 | Stage 4: Alberobello (Pietramadre) – Lecce | 189km | 13:05-17:12 |
| May 14, 2025 | Stage 5: Ceglie Messapica – Matra | 151km | 13:50-17:12 |
| May 15, 2025 | Stage 6: Potenza – Napoli | 227km | 11:50-17:15 |
| May 16, 2025 | Stage 7: Castl di Sangro – Tagliacozzo | 168km | 12:55-17:14 |
| May 17, 2025 | Stage 8: Giulianova – Castelraimondo | 197km | 12:25-17:14 |
| May 18, 2025 | Stage 9: Gubbio – Siena | 181km | 13:05-17:12 |
| May 19, 2025 | Rest Day | Row 10 – Cell 2 | Row 10 – Cell 3 |
| May 20, 2025 | Stage 10: Lucca – Pisa | 28.6km (ITT) | 13:15-17:14 |
| May 21, 2025 | Stage 11: Viareggio – Castelnovo ne’ Monti | 186km | 12:20-17:14 |
| May 22, 2025 | Stage 12: Modena – Viadana | 172km | 13:25-17:15 |
| May 23, 2025 | Stage 13: Rovigo – Vicenza | 180km | 13:05-17:11 |
| May 24, 2025 | Stage 14: Treviso – Nova Gorica/Gorizia | 195km | 12:55-17:16 |
| May 25, 2025 | Stage 15: Fume Veneto – Asiago | 219km | 11:35-17:12 |
| May 26, 2025 | Rest Day | Row 17 – Cell 2 | Row 17 – Cell 3 |
| May 27, 2025 | Stage 16: Piazzola Sul Brenta – San Valentino | 203km | 11:35-17:14 |
| May 28, 2025 | Stage 17: San Michele all’Adige – Bormio | 155km | 13:00-17:12 |
| May 29, 2025 | Stage 18: Morbegno – Cesano Maderno | 144km | 14:00-17:12 |
| May 30, 2025 | Stage 19: Biella – Champoluc | 166km | 12:30-17:15 |
| May 31, 2025 | Stage 20: Verrès – Sestrière, via Lattea | 205km | 10:50-16:14 |
| June 1, 2025 | Stage 21: Rome – Rome | 143km | 15:25-18:45 |
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Rain and storms return to the northeast
The rainy weather returned to the mid-Atlantic and northeasterly in mid-May.
ARLINGTON, Va. — A vast atmospheric river that hit the Mid-Atlantic state with heavy rain on Tuesday wiped out the Mid-Atlantic states on Tuesday, driving the threat of several inches of rain and coastal flooding, predictors said.
According to the National Weather Service, a “slash flood emergency” was declared in parts of western Maryland in the afternoon due to heavy rains and heavy rain. In Alleghany County in southwestern Maryland, the weather department warned residents, “This is a particularly dangerous situation. Look for high altitudes now!”
Flood clocks are issued throughout the region, including Washington, DC, the suburbs of Virginia, West Maryland and parts of West Virginia, the Meteorological Bureau says. Total rainfall of up to 3 inches is expected, with up to 5 inches along Blue Ridge Mountain.
Parts of central North Carolina, still recovering from the brutal rain fueled by remnants of Hurricane Helen in September, could see five inches by Wednesday, the National Weather Service warned. The risk of flash floods extends all the way to Pennsylvania.
The Weather Service office in Morehead City, North Carolina, posted on social media that “will continue to risk heavy rains and strong thunderstorms for the next few days.” “There are multiple ways to get warnings and avoid flooded roads.”
A river in the air is a long, narrow space that transports enormous amounts of water vapor, like a river in the sky. Although the size and strength of atmospheric rivers vary widely, weather services say that the average atmospheric river has roughly the same amount of water vapor as the average water flow at the mouth of the Mississippi River. A very strong atmospheric river can transport that amount of water up to 15 times.
This atmospheric river is trapped in a strong, high-pressure system to the north and hovering in the southeast for several days.
While much of the Mid-Atlantic region experiences moderate to severe drought conditions, rainfall rates can “be heavily high enough to support the flash flood threat,” writes meteorologist Peter Marinax in the National Weather Service’s short-range forecast discussion.
Marinax added that there was a “flood clock shortage” in parts of Virginia and North Carolina.
“Deep fetching” of Atlantic moisture reaches the Great Lakes and the Valleys of Ohio and Tennessee, prompting widespread storms, Marinax said. Thunderstorms become even more isolated on Wednesday, with rain going northeast until Wednesday.
In North Carolina, Asheville’s art and tourism town was devastated by Helen’s rain eight months ago. Homes and businesses were destroyed, bridges and highways were washed away, and water systems were severely damaged.
The area has slowly recovered, with the gorgeous Grand Bohemian Asheville Lodge, which has been closed since Helen and reopened on May 8th after a $20 million renovation.
Currently, the National Weather Service is issuing dangerous weather forecasts for the area, warning of heavy rain and potential flooding through Tuesday. The total rainfall is expected to reach 2 inches at higher elevations east of Asheville, with some areas likely receiving up to 3.5 inches.
A heat wave continued to engulf the Midwest. The recent record has fallen: a surprising 100 degrees in Humboldt, Minnesota, and a 99 degrees in Grand Fork, North Dakota. Many areas on Tuesday were projected to be near record or record highs, with strong winds and dry conditions spurring fire warnings for the majority of the area.
In Kansas City, Missouri, weather services said they continued to warm up, peaking mid-week at highs approaching 90 degrees. Denver was able to see 86 degrees on Tuesday.
The storms moving into the mid-Atlantic Ocean had previously stuck in the Southeast over the weekend, beating several cities with rain. In Georgia, about 7 inches of rain fell in the Savannah and over 3 inches in Augusta. More than four inches of rain fell on Columbia, South Carolina.
Some rural areas in the South Carolina, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle have been dumped in the biggest rain these days, Accuweather reported.
Several rivers in the southeast are expected to reach flood levels later this week. Flood clocks in northern Washington’s northern Virginia and Maryland suburbs are effective, the weather department said. Coastal Flood Advisory has been issued in parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, with potential flooding and water spikes in low-lying coastal areas.
Coastal cities along the Atlantic, such as Miami and Charleston, South Carolina, are already prone to high-water flooding, and if heavy rains apply pressure to drainage systems where it is already taxed, Accuweather said, could face an increased flood risk.
Contributors: Iris Seton and Will Hoffman, The Asheville Citizen Times
CNN
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Israel targeted Hamas leader Mohammad Singhwar on a strike at a hospital in southern Gaza on Tuesday evening, according to two sources familiar with the issue.
He became the de facto leader of extremist groups after Israeli forces killed his brother Yahya Sinwar last October.
The strike on Tuesday killed six Palestinians and injured at least 40 people, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) said it had struck at Khan Eunice’s European hospital to target “Hamasterolists from Command and Control Centres” in the underground infrastructure under the hospital. The IDF did not identify a strike target.
According to nurse Dr. Saleh Al Hams, multiple airstrikes have been struck in the hospital’s yards. Some people are buried under the tiled rub, he said, calling it a “catastrophe.” The medical team tried to move patients to a safe unit within the hospital.
Videos from the scene showed towering pillars of smoke and dust from what appears to be some of Gaza’s biggest strikes in recent weeks.
Hamas rejected Israeli claims about Singwar, saying in a statement, “Palestinian resistance is the only authority that has been empowered to confirm or deny what is publicly available through official platforms.”
The targeting of Singwar comes the day after Hamas released Israeli American Edan Alexander with a good-willed gesture to the United States. As Hamas communicated with the Trump administration, the contract to release a single hostage was on the sidelines for Israel.
The United States has expressed optimism about negotiations in Qatar with President Donald Trump and his envoy Steve Witkov in the Middle East. Before leaving Israel, Witkov promised the hostage family that he would “be someone who is less stolen by their pursuit.”
But with negotiations to begin in Doha and Israeli teams along the way – Singwar’s target has just tried to kill Hamas’ key decision makers, which Israel needs to seal off the potential agreement.
Israeli officials considered Mohammad Singwar as hard-liner as his brother Yahiya, but he was far more experienced in the military. According to the IDF, he ordered the Khan Eunice Brigade until 2016. Like Yahiya, he is considered to be one of the main plotters for the terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7th.
Since the start of the war he remained hidden along with many of the Hamas senior leaders in Gaza. In December 2023, IDF released a video of what they said. In February 2024, the IDF said they placed his office in West Khan Eunice.
Former US ambassador for Israeli Dan Shapiro said Singar is likely a barrier to negotiations. “There’s very little chance that the war will end before he dies,” Shapiro, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told CNN. “His removal opened the door for the release of all hostages and began moving towards the postwar future of Gaza, without Hamas.”
By October, most of the people at the Israeli military crossing were Yahyasinwar. Yahya, who was sentenced to four life sentences in 1988, said she became fluent in Hebrew and spent many years studying her enemies. He was released in 2011 as part of the contract to release Israeli soldier Girad Sharit. His release stems from the fact that his brother Mohammad was one of Sharit’s temptations and Yahiya insisted on inclusion in the deal.
Back in Gaza, Yahiya quickly passed through the ranks of extremist organizations and eventually became its leader.
From October 7th, Yahya became Israel’s most wanted man, and the IDF searched for him in a small coastal enclave. US officials believed that Israel had approached Yahya several times and washed him out of his underground hiding spot.
However, Yahiya moved undetected in the tunnel beneath Gaza, rarely coming to the ground, avoiding detection by Israeli electronic surveillance. Ultimately, it was a daily Israeli patrol in Gaza, engaged in a shootout in Rafa, southern Gaza, and discovered Yahiya’s body in Rafa.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
The health insurance industry has faced backlash after the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO
There is a common theme in the wave of empathetic posts about the death of United Health executive Brian Thompson: Anger for the health insurance industry.
The CEO of UnitedHealth Group has resigned, and a familiar face is at the helm of the company. This said despite 2024, which was tumultuous with higher than expected medical costs and murders of high-ranking executives, he said he “hopes to return to growth in 2026.”
Andrew Witty’s departure as CEO is for “personal reasons,” UnitedHealth Group announced on May 13th. The company tapped Stephen J. Hemsley, CEO from 2006 to 2017, replacing the resigning executive.
Witty is no longer the CEO, but he will serve as a senior advisor to Hemsley. Hemsley will continue to be the chairman of the company’s board of directors.
“We are grateful for Andrew’s stewardship at United Health Group, especially during the most challenging times that any company has faced,” Hemsley said in a news release. “The board and I wish him the best of his leadership and compassion as CEO and as director, and for him and his family.”
As CEO, Hemsley said the company is aiming to return to its “long-term growth target of 13-16%.”
“Leading the people at UnitedHealth Group has been a huge honor as they work to improve their health system every day.
In addition to the leadership changes, the company said it has suspended its 2025 outlook. This is partly because healthcare costs remain “higher than expected” for many UnitedHealthCare Medicare Advantage beneficiaries. The decision led to a decline in the healthcare giant’s shares down more than 10% in morning trading.
The company’s stock fell in February when the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Justice was investigating United Health’s Medicare claims practices. The civil fraud investigation is investigating the company’s practices to document diagnosis that lead to additional payments to Medicare Advantage plans, said WSJ cites people familiar with the issue.
As of 1:15pm on May 13, UnitedHealth Group shares were under $320 after falling more than 15% on Tuesday.
With UnitedHealth Group looking to the future, many are still working on a tumultuous year for the company.
In 2024, UnitedHealth Group was at the heart of the biggest health industry data breach of history. It was under public scrutiny after the murder of UnitedHealthcare, CEO of Brian Thompson, the company’s insurance unit CEO.
Regarding the February 2024 data breaches, the company said in January that hackers had stole a record of around 190 million people in cyberattacks from their changed healthcare subsidiary. The healthcare giant’s updated figures are nearly twice the previous estimate of 100 million victims.
The violation of Healthcare, owned by UnitedHealth, disrupted the healthcare industry as doctors and hospitals were unable to collect payments for weeks when computer systems were closed.
UnitedHealth Group’s 2024 was once again covered in the murder of Thompson in December, with the nationwide manhunt and Luigi Mangione being ultimately arrested at McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Mangion pleaded not guilty to Thompson’s murder, but his trial has not yet begun.
The CEO’s murder and the arrest of the 26-year-old sparked a nationwide debate about UnitedHealthcare and the entire US health insurance industry.
“The system is equipped for Americans who need care and those with health insurance. This is primarily due to the role Wall Street plays in our healthcare system,” Wendell Potter, a former Cygna executive who has become a whistleblower for the health insurance industry, previously told USA Today.
In an operation by the New York Times, which was announced after Thompson’s murder, Whitty said, “…we also struggle to understand this pointless act and Vitriol directed at our threatened colleagues.”
Similarly, witty and resourcefulness made publicly aware that the US health system was “flawed” and needed reform, but he also defended UnitedHealthcare.
“We know that the health system doesn’t work as well as it should be, and we understand people’s complaints about it,” Witty wrote in his opinion article. “No one designs the system we have, and no one did. It’s a patchwork built over decades.”
Jonathan Limehouse covers USA Today’s broken and trending news. Contact him at jlimehouse@gannett.com.
Contributions: Phaedra Treenan, Alltubecker, Jeanine Santucci, N’Dea Yancey-Brag & Cecilia Garzella/ USA Today
David Hogg on what Tim Waltz brings to gun law conversations
David Hogg on what Tim Waltz brings to gun law conversations
WASHINGTON – David Hogg, who was at the heart of the Democratic National Committee for his efforts to “not contacted, ineffective” incumbent in Congress, risks losing his position as vice-chairman of the committee.
Hogg announced in April that the leader we deserve was pouring $20 million to fund young candidates who will challenge the incumbent in the Safe Blue District. DNC Chair Ken Martin urged officers to remain neutral in the primary, giving Hogg the ultimate to step down from the committee or divorce from his organization.
The DNC Eligibility Committee voted in favor of the resolution on Monday to recommend ejecting the February election, which created the sub-chairs for Hogg and Malcolm Kenyatta.
The vote came after Oklahoma DNC member Kalyn Free, who ran for vice-chairman, allegedly elected a procedure in which Hogg and Kenyatta “unfairly disadvantaged” the vote. The resolution will come to the entire DNC body for the final vote.
“Before I became chairman, I am disappointed to learn that there was a procedural error in the February vice-chairman election,” committee chair Ken Martin said in a statement.
“The Credentials Committee has issued a recommendation. We believe that DNC members will carefully consider the committee’s resolution and resolve this issue fairly. We would like to thank all officers, including Kenyatta and Hog Chair.
The DNC has argued that recent votes have nothing to do with the neutral pledge, but Hogg in a statement said “it is impossible to ignore the broader context of my work to reform the party that has pushed this vote significantly.”
“I became the Vice-Chair of the DNC and ran to help the Democrats improve, and I didn’t defend the irrepreneurial status quo that caused voters from almost all demographic groups to be alienated from us,” Hogg said.
He added: “The DNC has committed to eliminating me. This vote provided a way to quickly track that effort.”
Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, became prominent for his participation in protests and marching against gun violence.
It’s only two years since Campagnolo launched Super Record Wireless, its first attempt at a wireless groupset that placed batteries inside each derailleur, but it appears to be getting an overhaul already.
What we assume to be a new version has been spotted aboard the bikes of Team Cofidis at the Giro d’Italia, and Campagnolo fans can rejoice, as the thumb shifter is back.
10 people complaining of Kim Kardashian’s 2016 robbery
Ten suspects accused of stealing Kim Kardashian during Paris Fashion Week in 2016 will be brought to trial nine years later.
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian said when she testified in a Paris court about the 2016 robbery, she testified about the robbery that she was stolen at gunpoint in a hotel room by a gang that stole millions of worthy gems, so she thought she would be raped and killed.
The Kardashian, dressed in a black suit and flashy jewels, arrived in court in a black van just minutes ago on May 13th, accompanied by his mother, Kris Jenner. The courtroom does not allow cameras and her testimony is not broadcast live.
“I thought I would definitely die,” she told the court, shed tears from time to time between testimony. “I thought of my sister and I thought she would come in and see me have that memory within her forever.”
Kardashian’s sister, Kourtney Kardashian, joined her on a trip to Paris. She was not in the hotel during the robbery.
The suspect is accused of tieting Kardashian with zip ties and duct tape before making it with gemstones. This includes the $4 million engagement ring, her then-husband rapper, formerly known as Kanye West.
“I came to Paris for Fashion Week, and Paris has always been a place I loved so much,” Kardashian told the court.
“We were leaving the next morning, so we were packing. It was around 3am. I heard him stomp the stairs while in bed,” she recalled the night of the robbery.
“And I thought there were a few police officers in my bedroom, or I thought there were police officers like they were wearing police uniforms.
“Then I heard one of the gentlemen say with force, ‘Ring! Ring!’ In English, refer to accents,” she said.
“I was pretty hysterical and I looked at the concierge and told him, ‘We have to make it into the baby’s house, what happens to us,” Kardashian said.
She says at one point that the robber threw her into the bed, one of them grabbed her by the leg, and she feared that she would be raped. “But he tied me up and closed my legs,” she said.
Prior to Kardashian’s testimony, her stylist Simone Harouche, who was sleeping in the same luxury hotel flat at the time of the attack, told the court of “terror” of “terror” they felt during the robbery.
“I have a baby, and I have to live” – that’s what I heard her say. “I’ll take it all – I need to live,” said Harrowch, who was downstairs in the double suite at the time of the attack.
Harrowch quickly locks him in the bathroom and asks Kardashian’s sister Kourtney and their bodyguard for help.
“She was by her own side, I’ve never seen her like that,” Harrowch said as the robbers left and Kardashian joined her downstairs. “She was just screaming and saying, “We need to get out of here, we need help. What will we do if they come back?”
Harouch also cryed from time to time during her testimony, saying she changed careers for the robbery and received medical treatment.
Overall, nine men and one woman have been tried by the Criminal Court. Five of them (all men) face accusations of armed robbery and lures and are at risk of potentially being sentenced to life in prison. Others have been charged with accomplices in robbery or with unauthorized possession of weapons.
When the robbers fled on foot or by bicycle, they lost some of their jewelry, including six diamond crosses that the corridors found in the street and brought to the police. However, most gems were never found, including a $4 million engagement ring.
Contribution: Brendan Morrow
CNN
–
Israel attacked hospitals in Gaza early Tuesday, a day after temporarily suspending military operations for Hamas’ release of Israeli-American Edan Alexander.
Israeli forces resumed strikes in Gaza about an hour after Alexander left the territory, attacking the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza on Tuesday after raiding the Al-Dalazi district of northern Gaza on Monday evening.
The IDF strike targeted the surgical ward on the third floor of the hospital. This is currently “completely unserved,” killing two patients and injuring medical staff, Palestinian Medical Assistance (MAP) said.
The strike target looked like Hassan Esreia, a well-known Gaza photojournalist. He was being treated at a hospital after being injured in an early targeted Israeli airstrike in April.
The IDF claimed that at the time of the strike in April, Esreia had participated in the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 and was part of Hamas’ Karnnis Brigade, but provided no evidence to support the claim. He claimed he worked as a “pronounced a journalist and owned a news company.” On Tuesday, Israeli forces said they “stricken a critical Hamas terrorist” at Nasser Hospital, but did not name him Esreia.
Esreia traveled to Israel on October 7, 2023 to document the attacks of photographs published by several major news organizations. He previously said that there was no prediction of an attack and rushed to the scene along with other photojournalists to document a major news event.
CNN, along with other press, regularly used materials provided by Eslaiah. CNN cut ties with Hamas in November 2023 after new allegations of ties with Hamas were revealed. CNN said on October 7, 2023 it was not collaborating with the network.
Eslaia said she faced “false allegations” from the IDF from her hospital bed in April and “whether or not she’s fighting.”
The Ramala-based Palestinian Journalist Conservation Centre condemned Esreia’s murder and called for an international investigation into what they described as “a vicious assassination.” The center was called Esreia killing “the intentional targeting of the voice of truth.”
The Nasser Hospital strike on Tuesday is the latest example of Israel’s intentional attack on health facilities in Gaza, where Israel has been accused of violating international law.
According to the Geneva Convention, hospitals are entitled to special protection during armed conflicts under international humanitarian law and can only be targeted in very limited circumstances.
According to the medical activities coordinator at Nasser Hospital-based MAP, the latest attack on Nasser Hospital “completely destroys” two patient rooms and partially damages the other three and the nursing station.
“The extension of the intensive care unit, which includes three ICU beds, was also affected. Its electrical and oxygen systems were damaged by the strike. We made the entire section unoperated,” the coordinator said in a statement provided by MAP.
The strike adds to a situation that is already rapidly deteriorating for healthcare facilities in Gaza.
Dr Atef Al-Hout, medical director at Nasser Hospital, said that amid the current 10-week strip lockdown in Israel, the hospital is rapidly running out of fuel to drive generators.
Following the release of Israeli-American hostage Alexander, the United States is renewing its push for a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The Israeli delegation was scheduled to fly to Qatar on Tuesday to resume negotiations, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that these talks will continue “under fire.”
Social Security Checks will increase in 2025
Living costs have increased in 2025, and the amount people receive will change during Social Security Checks.
Fox-10 Phoenix
Estimates from independent analysts show that it could increase by 2.4% next year, based on Tuesday’s Consumer Inflation Report.
According to the Labor Bureau’s Consumer Price Index, overall consumer prices rose 2.3% from the previous month, a measure of average changes in goods and services costs, up 2.4% from the previous month, and the lowest annual increase since February 2021. The so-called CPI-W subset of consumer price reports used to determine the increase in social security’s cost of living increased by 2.1% from a 2.2% increase in March.
Official 2026 Coke will not be determined until October as it relies on third quarter inflation data collected between July and September. However, analysts often track estimates in the months leading up to the important July-September time frame.
Coke at 2.4% is the smallest increase since 2020, with average retirement benefits rising to around $48 in April at $1,999.97 a month. In January, the average beneficiary received an increase of 2.5%. This was a $50 salary increase from $1,907 in January 2024 to $1,957.
The estimated 2.4% COLA increase is higher than last month’s 2.2% forecast, but it could underestimate the final 2026 cola, says Mary Johnson, Independent Social Security and Medicare policy analyst.
“Trump administration tariffs are just beginning to impact consumer prices,” she said.
While some of the highest in President Donald Trump’s tariffs have now fallen or suspended, economists believe that those on the spot are enough to quickly increase inflation.
“The escalation with China provided short-term relief, but the reality that inflation is likely to peak at 3% later this year remains a significant uncertainty about what US trade policy will look like over the next 90 days.”
On Monday, China and the US said they would suspend mutual tariffs for 90 days. The US, which is effective from Wednesday, will temporarily reduce China’s tariffs from 145% to 30%, while China will reduce US tariffs from 125% to 10%.
Coke should rise along with increased inflation.
The Social Security Administration plantes an average annual increase in the consumer price index for urban wage workers and administrative workers (CPI-W) from July to September.
CPI-W is a subset of the overall consumer inflation index that examines price inflation experienced by adults under the age of 62, Johnson said. The problem with that is that younger workers spend different money than older people eligible for Medicare. For example, economists estimate that younger workers spend around 7% of their budget on healthcare, but research and surveys show that older people tend to spend an average of 15% or more on healthcare.
As a result, cola often seems inadequate to keep up with rising costs, Johnson said.
However, this year, Johnson noted that prescription drug prices have not grown as fast as in the past few years. Prices for prescription drugs rose 2.3% from one year ago to April, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2023, prescription drug prices increased by 3.3% from December 20th to December 20th, 202223 before slowing down last year.
Since 2023, the Inflation Reduction Act requires pharmaceutical companies to pay a Medicare rebate if drug prices rise faster than inflation. “That provision, widely supported by Medicare beneficiaries, could be curbing runaway drug prices,” she said.
Trump signed an executive order on Monday, encouraging governments to negotiate costs for prescription drugs that have been paid in other countries, and to what tend to be much lower.
The proposal has been widely supported by older Americans, but it is unclear whether Trump’s order will cut costs, Johnson said.
“But the executive order is not the same as a change in the law that empowers Medicare to use these prices in negotiations with pharmaceutical companies,” Johnson noted. The court also blocked similar plans during Trump’s first presidency.
Instead, the executive order appears to use pricing in the most preferred countries to promote consumer sales. The executive order also mentions exemptions that allow prescriptions to be imported from other countries where prices may be low.
“If it doesn’t muddier the water enough, you need to wonder how tariffs will affect the final drug price,” she said.
Medora Lee is a money, market and personal finance reporter for USA Today. mjlee@usatoday.com and Subscribe to our free daily money newsletter Personal finance tips and business news every Monday to Friday.
On Monday, the top 220 buyers of Donald Trump-sponsored cryptocurrency gained access to an exclusive dinner with the president as a reward for pouring money into coins. It was the culmination of Trump’s promotions for weeks in a contest. This brings together claims that he uses his position to enrich his family business while opening himself up to foreign influence.
The cryptocurrency, called $Trump, was created in mid-January, boasts a market capitalization of over $2 billion after months of investors bought the coins that they had been significantly promoted. According to Reuters, companies related to Trump’s family and other companies own most of the coin.
“Congratulations. If you’re in the top 220 leaderboards, we’ll contact you within the next 24 hours. Check your inbox (and spam folders) and look forward to an invitation and a call for Trump’s official dinner,” Trump’s website announced daytime on Monday. “We’ll see you President Trump at the gala dinner held in Washington, DC on May 22nd.”
Trump’s crypto companies have garnered criticism from Democrats, ethics watchdogs and even the Securities and Exchange Commission for potential conflicts of interest and corruption allegations. The contest to dine with the president has reinforced these concerns as they created what is essentially a bid war for direct access to the president.
Dinner is being held at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia, and includes a “ultra-exclusive VIP reception with the President” for the top 25 owners of the coin. The rules listed on the Coin website suggest that those who purchase the coin can also send others on their behalf, and state that if the buyer is unable to attend, they can go to their place by listing the names of family members and friends.
Coin’s buyer leaderboard is public, but does not explicitly list the winner’s names. Instead, the site only lists the buyer’s username and cryptocurrency wallet number, leading to speculation about who was fighting for dinner and what political or economic benefits they could have.
According to an analysis of Bloomberg’s crypto wallet, many of the top $$ owners used foreign cryptocurrency exchanges that ban US users from purchasing coins. Democrats and government ethics groups argue that memecoin can allow foreign entities to purchase influence with the president. Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumental is launching an ethical investigation into Trump’s cryptocurrency activities.
“$Trump allows and even invites anyone in the world, including foreign governments and uncruel individuals, to directly enrich the president, hiding the potential rewards of blockchain pseudonyms.”
The White House argues that the auctions Trump personally promoted on his true social platform will not affect the president’s policy choices. White House spokesman Caroline Leavitt told reporters last week that Trump has “been stuck with all laws of conflict of interest” through his cryptocurrency efforts.
The price of $Trump Coin has fluctuated significantly since it debuted on January 17th. It first rose to about $75 per coin, then plunged downward the following week, hovering about $12 at the end of the auction. Approximately 750,000 buyers lost money trading coins, and the biggest buyers collectively spent millions reaching the top of the leaderboard.
“This is a security, high status event with President Trump,” Coin’s website said. “If you get a seat at a table, that’s you I won it. ”
President Donald Trump plans to accept Qatar jets
President Donald Trump is planning to accept the Qatar royal 747-8 jumbo jet to replace Air Force 1.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has said he will attempt to order the end of sanctions against Syria to “give them greatness” in order to normalize relations with the new Syrian government after the collapse of dictator Bashar al-Assad.
Trump made his pledge in his remarks on May 13 when he visited the Middle East on a four-day swing, a four-day term at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh on May 13.
“Yeah, what am I doing for the Crown Prince?” Trump said.
“Sansions were cruel and crippling and nevertheless served as an important function, but now it’s time to shine. We’re taking them all off,” Trump said. “So, do your best, Syria. Frankly, show me something very special, just like it was done in Saudi Arabia.”
While in Saudi Arabia, on May 14, Trump is expected to meet Ahmed al-Sharra, the new Syrian president, who came to power after the group Syrian rebels in December kicked out President Bashar al-Assad from Damascus and ended 50 years of tension control from the Al-Assad family.
Alshara was lobbying for the end of multi-tiered US sanctions that continued after Al Assad’s expulsion. Economic sanctions have cut Syria off the global financial system, making economic recovery extremely difficult after 14 years of crushing wars.
“In Syria, which has seen so much misery and death, there is a new government that will succeed in stabilizing the country and maintaining peace,” Trump said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is planning to meet Syria’s new foreign minister this week, according to Trump.
Contribution: Reuters. Reach Joey Garrison with @JoeyGarrison.
Dion Smith narrowly escaped a run-in with an Albanian goat on stage 3 of the Giro d’Italia, after the animal ran into the road and jumped at his back wheel on the 160km route that started and finished in Vlorë.
The New Zealand rider was forced into evasive action, however, forced into some mid-May cyclocross and a ride onto the grass, while the riders behind him braked and also avoided the goat, which escaped the bizarre incident similarly unscathed.
