Ireland, Norway, Spain recognizing a Palestinian state; Israel responds
Three European nations make a historic announcement: They will be recognizing a Palestinian state. And, a passenger describes what it was like on the Singapore Airlines flight hit by turbulence that resulted in one death and multiple injuries. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
Ireland, Norway, Spain recognize a Palestinian state; Israel responds
Simon Harris, the Irish prime minister, announced Wednesday, May 22, that Ireland, Norway and Spain are recognizing the state of Palestine. This declaration comes amid Israel’s ongoing seven-month conflict with Hamas. Harris expressed confidence that more countries will soon join these three European nations in recognizing Palestine.
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In response, Israel has ordered its ambassadors in Ireland and Norway to return immediately, with similar actions planned for Spain. Despite these diplomatic tensions, Harris reiterated Ireland’s recognition of Israel’s right to exist, condemned Hamas’ actions in October and called for the immediate release of all hostages.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre emphasized the importance of pursuing a two-state solution, “living side-by-side in peace,” as the only viable political solution for both Israelis and Palestinians. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told the Spanish Parliament that recognizing Palestine grants the Palestinian people “dignity and hope.”
The move was welcomed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. However, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized the recognition, stating that it sends a message that “terrorism pays.”
Currently, over 140 United Nations member-states recognize a Palestinian state. The Biden administration supports a two-state solution but insists it should be achieved through negotiations.
Severe turbulence on Singapore Airlines flight; 1 dead, multiple injured
A 73-year-old British passenger died of a suspected heart attack and at least 30 people were injured when a flight from London to Singapore encountered severe turbulence Tuesday, May 21. The Boeing 777, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok after a sudden descent of 6,000 feet, likely caused by clear air turbulence.
Most passengers continued to Singapore on a relief flight, while 79 remained in Bangkok, including those who were hospitalized.
“I saw people from across the aisle just going completely horizontal, hitting the ceiling and landing back down in really awkward positions,” Dzafran Azmir, a passenger on Flight SQ321, said. “People, like, getting massive gashes in the head, concussions.”
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and Singapore’s Transport Safety Investigation Bureau are investigating the turbulence.
Deadly tornado leaves trail of destruction in Greenfield, Iowa
Multiple tornadoes swept through the Midwest, Tuesday May 21, causing extensive destruction, especially in Greenfield, Iowa, where police confirmed several fatalities and numerous injuries.
The powerful storm system left a trail of devastation, flattening homes and businesses, uprooting trees and scattering debris across the town of about 2,000 residents.
The severe weather disrupted power to more than 34,000 homes in Iowa. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, R, has declared a disaster emergency for 15 counties.
Emergency services are actively conducting search and rescue operations, and authorities are closely monitoring the ongoing situation while beginning to assess the scale of the damage. The same storms also wreaked havoc across Nebraska, unleashing torrential rains, high winds and large hail.
Closing arguments set for Tuesday after defense rests in Trump trial
The defense rested on the 20th day of the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump after calling two witnesses and opting not to have Trump testify in his own defense.
The witnesses, paralegal Daniel Sitko and attorney Robert Costello, testified before a hearing was held to debate the exact instructions the judge will present to the jury.
The trial will resume on Tuesday, May 28, delayed by jurors’ schedules and the Memorial Day holiday. Both the defense and prosecution will make their closing arguments, then the case will be handed over to the 12-person jury.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to his then-lawyer Michael Cohen.
Biden administration to forgive $7.7 billion in student loan debt
The Biden administration announced Wednesday morning that it will forgive $7.7 billion in student loans for more than 160,000 borrowers.
The relief is categorized into three groups: those receiving Public Service Loan Forgiveness, those enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education plan (SAVE) and those receiving forgiveness through income-driven repayment plans.
After the Supreme Court struck down a more extensive cancellation plan last summer, the Biden administration has continued to find ways to reduce or cancel borrower payments.
As of this announcement, the Department of Education reports that the total loan forgiveness approved by the administration amounts to $167 billion for more than 4.5 million Americans.
Nestle releasing line of food targeting shoppers using weight loss drugs
Nestle, the world’s largest food company known for brands like DiGiorno Pizza, Hot Pockets and Stouffer’s, is launching a new line of frozen food products targeted specifically at people using weight loss drugs.
The company announced it will begin marketing $5 pizzas and protein-enriched pastas to American shoppers who use weight loss medications such as Wegovy and Ozempic. These products will be under a new brand called “Vital Pursuits,” described as “food solutions” complementing the eating habits of millions of Americans prescribed a weight loss drug.
The products are set to hit store shelves in October.
Tags: Boeing, Donald Trump, Extreme weather, Gaza, Hamas, Iowa, Ireland, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Joe Biden, National Weather Service, Nebraska, Norway, Palestine, Severe Weather, Spain, Student loan debt, Student loan forgiveness, Student Loans, Tornadoes, Trump investigations, Trump Organization, Weight Loss
[KARAH RUCKER]
THREE EUROPEAN NATIONS MAKE A HISTORIC ANNOUNCEMENT — THEY WILL BE RECOGNIZING PALESTINE AS A STATE
AND — A PASSENGER DESCRIBES WHAT IT WAS LIKE ON THE SINGAPORE AIRLINES FLIGHT HIT BY TURBULENCE THAT RESULTED IN ONE DEATH AND MULTIPLE INJURIES
THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.
TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, MAY 22ND.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
I’M KARAH RUCKER.
SIMON HARRIS | IRISH PRIME MINISTER
“TODAY, IRELAND, NORWAY AND SPAIN ARE ANNOUNCING THAT WE RECOGNIZE THE STATE OF PALESTINE. EACH OF US WILL NOW UNDERTAKE WHATEVER NATIONAL STEPS ARE NECESSARY TO GIVE EFFECT TO THAT DECISION.”
[KARAH RUCKER]
AT A NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY — IRISH PRIME MINISTER SIMON HARRIS ANNOUNCING THE THREE U.S. ALLIES COMING TOGETHER FOR A HISTORIC MOVE — RECOGNIZING PALESTINE AS A STATE – AMID ISRAEL’S 7-MONTH WAR WITH HAMAS.
HARRIS SAYING HE IS CONFIDENT THAT MORE COUNTRIES WILL FOLLOW THE LEAD OF THE THREE EUROPEAN NATIONS IN THE COMING WEEKS.
IN RESPONSE – ISRAEL HAS ORDERED ITS AMBASSADORS TO RETURN FROM IRELAND AND NORWAY IMMEDIATELY – AND SAID IT WILL DO THE SAME FOR SPAIN.
HARRIS SAYING THAT IRELAND FULLY RECOGNIZES THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND ITS RIGHT TO EXIST – ADDING HIS COUNTRY CONDEMNS HAMAS’S MASSACRE BACK IN OCTOBER – AND CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES.
THE NORWEGIAN PRIME MINISTER released A STATEMENT –
“In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security.’”
SPAIN’S PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ SPEAKING TO THE SPANISH PARLIAMENT SAYING THIS MOVE WILL GIVE PALESTINIANS “DIGNITY AND HOPE.”
WHILE THE DECISION WAS WELCOMED BY THE PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT AND THE HEAD OF THE ARAB LEAGUE – THE ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER RESPONDED — SAYING THE COUNTRIES ARE SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE PALESTINIANS AND THE WHOLE WORLD — that TERRORISM PAYS.
MORE THAN 140 MEMBER-STATES OF THE UNITED NATIONS RECOGNIZE A PALESTINIAN STATE. MEANWHILE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS SUPPORTED THE IDEA OF A TWO-STATE SOLUTION – BUT SAYS IT MUST BE REACHED AS PART OF NEGOTIATIONS.
AND Remember — you can get our latest coverage of the war in gaza by downloading the Straight Arrow News App.
MOST OF THE PASSENGERS WHO WERE ABOARD A BATTERED SINGAPORE AIRLINES FLIGHT FINALLY MADE IT TO THEIR DESTINATION THIS MORNING. THE ORIGINAL FLIGHT FROM LONDON ENCOUNTERED SEVERE TURBULENCE ON TUESDAY. A 73-YEAR-OLD BRITISH PASSENGER DIED OF A SUSPECTED HEART ATTACK AND AT LEAST 30 OTHERS WERE INJURED.
TEN HOURS INTO THE FLIGHT — THE BOEING TRIPLE 7 — CARRYING 211 PASSENGERS AND 18 CREW MEMBERS — WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN BANGKOK AFTER A SUDDEN DESCENT OF 6-THOUSAND FEET — LIKELY CAUSED BY CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE.
ONE OF THE PASSENGERS SPOKE OF WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE ON THE PLANE.
DZAFRAN AZMIR
PASSENGER
“I saw people from across the aisle just going completely horizontal, hitting the ceiling and landing back down in really awkward positions. People, like, getting massive gashes in the head, concussions.”
[KARAH RUCKER]
MOST PASSENGERS CONTINUED TO SINGAPORE ON A RELIEF FLIGHT, WHILE 79 ARE STILL IN BANGKOK, INCLUDING THOSE WHO are HOSPITALIZED.
THE U.S. NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD AND SINGAPORE’S TRANSPORT SAFETY INVESTIGATION BUREAU ARE AMONG THE AGENCIES INVESTIGATING THE TURBULENCE.
MULTIPLE TORNADOES TORE THROUGH THE MIDWEST, CAUSING EXTENSIVE DESTRUCTION, PARTICULARLY IN GREENFIELD, IOWA, WHERE POLICE CONFIRMED SEVERAL FATALITIES AND NUMEROUS INJURIES.
THE POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM LEFT A TRAIL OF DEVASTATION, FLATTENING HOMES AND BUSINESSES, UPROOTING TREES, AND SCATTERING DEBRIS ACROSS THE SMALL TOWN OF ABOUT 2,000 RESIDENTS.
THE SEVERE WEATHER cut POWER TO more than 34-THOUSAND HOMES IN THE STATE.
IOWA GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS HAS DECLARED A “DISASTER EMERGENCY” FOR 15 COUNTIES.
EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE ACTIVELY CONDUCTING SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS, AND AUTHORITIES ARE CLOSELY MONITORING THE ONGOING SITUATION WHILE BEGINNING TO ASSESS THE SCALE OF THE DAMAGE.
THE SAME STORMS swept ACROSS NEBRASKA, UNLEASHING TORRENTIAL RAINS, HIGH WINDS, AND LARGE HAIL.
THE DEFENSE RESTED TUESDAY ON THE 20TH DAY OF THE CRIMINAL TRIAL OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP – AFTER CALLING TWO WITNESSES TO THE STAND —
AND OPTING NOT TO HAVE trump TESTIFY IS IN OWN DEFENSE.
FOLLOWING TESTIMONY OF PARALEGAL DANIEL SITKO AND ATTORNEY ROBERT COSTELLO – A HEARING WAS HELD WITH BOTH SIDES DEBATING OVER THE EXACT INSTRUCTIONS THE JUDGE WILL PRESENT TO THE JURY.
THE TRIAL WILL RESUME ON TUESDAY – DUE TO JURORS’ SCHEDULES AND THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY.
THE DEFENSE AND PROSECUTION WILL MAKE THEIR CLOSING ARGUMENTS – THEN THE CASE GOES INTO THE HANDS OF THE 12-PERSON JURY.
TRUMP HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN THE CASE WHERE HE IS CHARGED WITH 34 FELONY COUNTS OF FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS IN CONNECTION TO PAYMENTS MADE TO HIS THEN-LAWYER MICHAEL COHEN.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCING THIS MORNING – IT WILL BE FORGIVING 7 POINT 7 BILLION DOLLARS IN STUDENT LOANS. THE RELIEF COMING FOR MORE THAN 160 THOUSAND BORROWERS.
AND IT BREAKS DOWN INTO THREE CATEGORIES: THOSE RECEIVING PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS –
THOSE WHO SIGNED UP FOR THE SAVING ON A VALUABLE EDUCATION PLAN – ALSO KNOWN AS “SAVE” –
AND THOSE RECEIVING FORGIVENESS ON INCOME-DRIVEN REPAYMENT PLANS.
THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN FINDING VARIOUS WAYS TO REDUCE OR CANCEL BORROWER’S PAYMENTS AFTER THE SUPREME COURT STRUCK DOWN A SWEEPING CANCELLATION PLAN LAST SUMMER.
AS OF TODAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT – THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SAYS THE TOTAL LOAN FORGIVENESS APPROVED BY THE ADMINISTRATION COMES TO 167 BILLION DOLLARS FOR more than 4 and a half MILLION AMERICANS.
FINALLY THIS MORNING – NESTLE — THE WORLD’S LARGEST FOOD COMPANY – BEHIND SUCH BRANDS AS DIGIORNO PIZZA, HOT POCKETS AND STOUFFER’S – IS RELEASING A LINE OF NEW FROZEN FOOD PRODUCTS – TARGETing A SPECIFIC GROUP OF PEOPLE: THOSE TAKING WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS.
NESTLE ANNOUNCING IT WILL BEGIN TO MARKET FIVE DOLLAR PIZZAS AND PROTEIN-ENRICHED PASTAS TO AMERICAN SHOPPERS WHO USE WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS LIKE WEGOVY AND OZEMPIC.
THEY WILL BE UNDER A NEW BRAND CALLED “VITAL PURSUITS” – DESCRIBED AS “FOOD SOLUTIONS” – COMPLIMENTING “THE EATING HABITS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS” – WHO ARE PRESCRIBED A WEIGHT LOSS DRUG.
THE PRODUCTS ARE SET TO HIT STORE SHELVES IN OCTOBER.
THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS WEDNESDAY.
WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.
UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!
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