| 28 | 29- Ola de calor peligrosa y potencialmente récord abrasará a millones este 4 de julio en EE.UU.
Ola de calor peligrosa y potencialmente récord abrasará a millones este 4 de julio en EE.UU.
Por Briana Waxman, meteoróloga de CNN
Millones de estadounidenses en la mitad oriental de Estados Unidos se enfrentan a un periodo prolongado de calor peligroso y potencialmente récord, justo cuando los estadounidenses se preparan para salir al aire libre y celebrar el 250º Día de la Independencia del país.
El calor y la humedad opresivos se mantendrán sobre el Medio Oeste a principios de esta semana, luego se desplazarán hacia el Atlántico medio y el Noreste para este miércoles. La extensa cúpula de calor persistirá sobre el este, especialmente en el corredor de la I-95, y alcanzará su punto máximo este viernes, justo a tiempo para el largo fin de semana del 4 de julio.
Muchas zonas soportarán varios días consecutivos con temperaturas cercanas o superiores a los 38 °C, mientras que la humedad hará que los índices de calor, o temperaturas de “sensación térmica”, lleguen a los 43 °C o más.
Las olas de calor en todo el mundo se están volviendo más intensas y frecuentes debido al calentamiento causado por el ser humano a partir de la contaminación por combustibles fósiles. Las olas de calor récord en Europa la semana pasada y en el oeste de Estados Unidos en marzo son dos ejemplos recientes.
El calor también es el tipo de clima más mortal en Estados Unidos, con un promedio anual de muertes mayor que el de tornados, huracanes y rayos combinados, según las estadísticas del servicio meteorológico.
La mayor preocupación no es solo cuán calurosas se vuelven las tardes, sino también que el calor no se detendrá cuando se ponga el sol. La combinación de varios días consecutivos de calor y noches excepcionalmente cálidas en una vasta área geográfica representa una grave amenaza para la salud.
Más de 100 récords diarios de temperaturas máximas podrían igualarse o superarse, pero más de 250 récords de temperaturas mínimas nocturnas cálidas podrían ser desafiados solo esta semana.
El mensaje del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional ha sido consistente: esta ola de calor es diferente. En el este de Virginia, el servicio meteorológico dice que esta podría ser la ola de calor más significativa de la región desde julio de 2012, que resultó en una decena de muertes en el estado, entre más de 30 fallecimientos relacionados con el calor en cuatro estados. Otras oficinas de pronóstico desde el Atlántico medio hasta Nueva Inglaterra advierten de que varios días de calor peligroso y noches inusualmente cálidas crearán un riesgo elevado de enfermedades relacionadas con el calor.
Se pronostica que Richmond, Virginia, superará los 38 °C durante tres días consecutivos, lo que podría romper récords diarios cada día y acercarse a las temperaturas más altas registradas en julio en la ciudad.
En Carolina del Norte, no se espera que Raleigh desafíe su récord histórico de temperatura máxima de 41 °C, pero las temperaturas mínimas nocturnas a finales de esta semana podrían acercarse al récord histórico de temperatura mínima nocturna más cálida de la ciudad, de 27 °C.
En la ciudad de Washington, máximas de 38 °C el jueves y 39,4 °C el viernes romperían récords diarios si se confirma el pronóstico, mientras que las temperaturas nocturnas podrían mantenerse por encima de los 27 °C, amenazando los récords de mínimas cálidas. La ciudad de Nueva York podría igualar tanto su récord diario de temperatura máxima el jueves como su récord de temperatura mínima nocturna más cálida la noche del jueves.
La próxima ola de calor también tendrá un alcance masivo. Más de 100 millones de personas se encuentran en un nivel 3 de 4 de riesgo de calor “mayor” o nivel
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- Futbolista argentino pierde a su esposa y dos hijos en terremotos de Venezuela
Futbolista argentino pierde a su esposa y dos hijos en terremotos de Venezuela
Por Anabella González, Ione Molinares y Laura Sharman, CNN
Un futbolista argentino de un equipo de la segunda división venezolana perdió a su esposa y a sus dos hijos tras los terremotos de la semana pasada, los más fuertes que han sacudido Venezuela en más de un siglo.
Lucas Trejo, quien juega para el Club Sport Marítimo La Guaira, pasó gran parte de los últimos tres días buscando entre los escombros y buscando señales de su esposa Yanina y sus hijos Aarón y Ainhoa.
El cuñado de Trejo, Ricardo Ardiles, dijo a CNN Español el viernes que el futbolista estaba “emocionalmente abrumado” y que “absolutamente nada” quedaba de la casa familiar frente al mar en La Guaira, una de las zonas más afectadas.
Más de 1.400 personas murieron y miles más están desaparecidas en Venezuela, informaron las autoridades el domingo.
Trejo, de 38 años, se encontraba en un campo de entrenamiento del equipo en Caracas cuando ocurrieron los dos terremotos, informó CNN Español. Inmediatamente se apresuró a llegar a su casa en La Guaira, a 18 millas al norte de la capital.
“Lo que encontró fue una escena horrible”, dijo Ardiles. “No encontró absolutamente nada de lo que había sido el edificio. Nuestra esperanza es que no estuvieran allí”.
Trejo revisó los escombros y buscó pistas en la zona, pidiendo ayuda que requería maquinaria pesada, según CNN Español.
Amigos y compañeros de equipo también habían hecho un video suplicando por más maquinaria.
“En este momento solo tenemos una máquina, pero no es suficiente”, dijo Robert Garcés, quien juega para el Metropolitanos F.C. de Venezuela.
Sin embargo, la búsqueda llegó a un final desgarrador.
El domingo, el Club Sport Marítimo La Guaira dijo que “lamenta profundamente la irreparable pérdida” de la familia de Trejo en una publicación en redes sociales, compartiendo una foto de los cuatro juntos; Trejo con una mano sobre el hombro de su hija y la otra alrededor de su esposa.
“Lucas, no estás solo. Tu familia en Marítimo La Guaira está contigo”, decía la publicación.
El desastre de la semana pasada, que el Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos calificó como un raro “doblete”, con dos grandes terremotos ocurriendo con solo 39 segundos de diferencia, también ha matado y afectado a varios futbolistas en el país.
Yimvert Berroterán, un joven talento prometedor, estuvo entre las cientos de personas que murieron, dijeron el viernes la selección nacional de Venezuela y la Federación Venezolana de Fútbol (FVF).
El joven de 18 años jugó en la Copa Mundial Sub-17 en Doha hace unos meses y recientemente para la selección nacional Sub-20.
El sismo también cobró la vida de los jóvenes jugadores Víctor Palacios y Razan Sijaa, según la FVF y sus respectivos clubes.
La pareja de otro jugador, Héctor Bello, murió mientras protegía a su hija pequeña, dijo Bello el sábado en redes sociales.
“Me aseguraré de recordarle a nuestra niña lo maravillosa que eras y cuánto la amabas”, escribió Bello en una publicación en Instagram.
Entre los fallecidos también hay turistas y residentes extranjeros, incluidos ocho ciudadanos chinos, según informaron el domingo medios estatales chinos.
El Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de España informó que al menos nueve ciudadanos españoles han muerto y más de 100 están desaparecidos.
La búsqueda ya ha superado las
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- After 40 years in Congress, Nancy Pelosi to help create institute to train leaders of the future
After 40 years in Congress, Nancy Pelosi to help create institute to train leaders of the future
By Dana Bash, CNN
(CNN) — For the first time in 40 years, retiring Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California will not be returning to Congress in January.
CNN has learned where she will direct her legendary energy — at the University of California, Berkeley, which is creating the Nancy Pelosi Institute. The institute, dedicated to research, learning and civic engagement, is slated to open in January 2027.
“I think all of us in public service who have an opportunity to do so, want to use our experience to train leaders for the future,” Pelosi said in a phone interview.
“I viewed this as a liberation for me from the political, not politics, but partisanship. Because you’re going to an academic institution. It’s about what our founders had in mind with our Constitution, and it’s a beautiful story to tell,” she said.
The former House speaker said a group of administrators and about eight professors at Berkeley approached her almost a year ago with the idea of the Nancy Pelosi Institute. She said she was complimented and, even, “dazzled” by the proposal, but also surprised — so much so that she took some time before agreeing to go forward.
What intrigued Pelosi the most, she said, was the notion of a bipartisan academic center at Berkeley, “the epitome of public education,” with a concentration on issues she spent her decadeslong political career focused on.
“I loved it because they talked about human rights in the US and in the world, talking about and addressing the challenges to our democracy, talking about challenges of the climate and economic income inequity,” Pelosi, 86, said.
After hearing their ideas, Pelosi agreed to raise $25 million before the announcement, which the famously prodigious fundraiser said she did “quite easily.” The university said in a press release that this is a $50 million campaign.
Unlike other academic institutes or eponymous endeavors, Pelosi said this will not be a “brick-and-mortar thing” but rather “programmatic.”
She was asked: You won’t see “Nancy Pelosi Institute” on a building?
“I hope not,” she replied with a laugh.
“They have classrooms, they have auditoriums, they have theaters,” she added.
While Pelosi’s papers from her time as speaker of the House are at the Library of Congress, she said the institute will display of some of the awards she received, the legislation she helped pass, and, maybe, even some “personal effects” to make it “fun and interesting to get people there.” This exhibit is slated to open in spring of 2027.
“It’s about technology. Anything you wany to convey, you can convey technologically. It doesn’t mean you don’t want physical evidence so that people have excitement about seeing the original … but people want to know how these things happened more than what they were exactly,” Pelsoi said.
The California congresswoman said she will bring high-profile people from both parties to visit and lecture at Berkeley, and that she will even co-teach a class with professor Eric Schickler, a leading scholar on Congress.
“If you’re trying to engage another generation to prepare them for the future, you must listen to them. That’s the exciting part of it.” Pelosi said.
To be sure, the two-time House speaker still has this November’s elections on her mind, saying, unsolicited, that “we’re going to win the House,”
“I’m so proud of what I leave behind, and how they go on to what’s next,” Pelosi said.
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- Alex Murdaugh expected to be in court for first time since his murder convictions were overturned
Alex Murdaugh expected to be in court for first time since his murder convictions were overturned
By Dianne Gallagher, Eric Levenson, CNN
(CNN) — Alex Murdaugh, the disbarred South Carolina attorney accused of killing his wife and son, is expected to appear in court Monday in what will be his first hearing since his murder convictions were overturned on appeal.
Murdaugh, 58, is due in court for a status and scheduling conference on Monday at 10 a.m. in Lexington before Circuit Court Judge Debra McCaslin, who will now oversee the case. The hearing is expected to be on camera.
Murdaugh’s attorneys filed several pretrial motions last week, including requests for a change of venue, for further independent testing of DNA evidence and for Murdaugh to get access to a computer behind bars.
It is possible, but unlikely, the judge will rule on all of the motions from the bench Monday. Instead, both parties will likely learn more about the timeframe for the next steps in the potentially lengthy legal re-do.
Separate from the murder case, Murdaugh pleaded guilty to dozens of financial crimes and remains behind bars on concurrent state and federal sentences of 27 and 40 years. He is expected to be in shackles when he comes to court Monday, the result of an intriguing legal back-and-forth with prosecutors.
The hearing marks the start of the road to retrial for Murdaugh in a sprawling saga that has already had enough twists to fill multiple true-crime documentaries, dramatized shows and best-selling books.
The case stems from the June 2021 fatal shootings of Murdaugh’s wife, Maggie, and 22-year-old son, Paul, outside their family home in Islandton, a small community in South Carolina’s Lowcountry.
Murdaugh was a partner at a powerful law firm with his name on it, and his father, grandfather and great-grandfather served as the local prosecutor consecutively from 1920 to 2006.
But that prominence belied underlying issues, and the alleged killings of his wife and son were followed by accusations of misappropriated funds, his resignation, a bizarre alleged suicide-for-hire and insurance scam plot, a stint in rehab for drug addiction, dozens of financial crimes, his disbarment and, ultimately, the murder charges.
In 2023, Murdaugh was found guilty of the murders after a six-week trial that featured testimony about his years of embezzlement and theft as an attorney, video placing him at the crime scene and his dramatic admission on the stand that he had repeatedly lied to investigators. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Murdaugh’s attorneys appealed the convictions, saying the trial was tainted by the county clerk Becky Hill’s inappropriate comments to jurors implying his guilt. Hill later pleaded guilty to criminal charges connected to the case, though she has never been charged with jury tampering.
Last month, the state Supreme Court overturned the murder convictions and ordered a new trial, saying his previous trial was marred by Hill’s “improper” influence.
Defense’s pretrial motions
The defense’s pretrial motions focus on issues related to venue and evidence as well as Murdaugh’s preparation for court and appearance.
Murdaugh’s attorneys argued that their client cannot receive “the fair and impartial trial guaranteed to him” in the Fourteenth Circuit, which includes Colleton County, where his 2023 double-murder trial was held.
“The b
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| 30- Manhunt underway after bomb explosion wounds three at Monaco residence
Manhunt underway after bomb explosion wounds three at Monaco residence
By Lex Harvey, CNN
(CNN) — Authorities in the wealthy city-state of Monaco have launched a manhunt that’s stretched across the border into France after several people were wounded in an explosion caused by a bomb that was planted in a residential building.
The bomb exploded shortly before 9 p.m. local time Monday, with the wounded, including a child, transported to hospital in Nice in neighboring France, according to the Monaco government.
A man was caught on camera fleeing to Beausoleil, a French town which borders Monaco, the town’s mayor Gérard Spinelli said in a press conference, according to the Associated Press.
About 40 French soldiers and two helicopters have been deployed to assist with the chase, according to CNN-affiliate BFMTV.
Violent crime is virtually nonexistent in Monaco, a city state located on the Mediterranean Sea, home to roughly 40,000 people and known as a playground for the wealthy.
Monaco’s Prince Albert II said in a statement that “all the relevant State services are currently mobilized, in close cooperation with the French authorities.”
“We trust them to establish the circumstances of this tragedy as swiftly as possible, to identify those responsible and to provide every necessary response, at every level.”
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- A soccer star’s Birkin collection is turning heads at the World Cup
A soccer star’s Birkin collection is turning heads at the World Cup
By Teddy Brown, CNN
(CNN) — Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is used to attention. He’s six foot five inches with shoulder-length blonde hair that loudly gestures towards his Viking pedigree. He is also among the best soccer players in the world and has led his country’s men’s team to its first FIFA World Cup appearance in nearly three decades. But a couple of weeks ago, stylist and TikToker Jack Savoie pointed to something else Haaland is known for: his collection of Hermès bags.
“Have you seen Erling Haaland’s custom Birkins?” Savoie said in a video that quickly went viral. “Baby, buckle up.”
“OK the first thing I should say is that they’re not all Birkins,” Savoie said in a phone interview. Many of Haaland’s bags are actually Haut à Courroies (HAC), the model that the Birkin is based off, but with a slightly taller and narrower profile. That doesn’t do anything to dull the impact of Haaland’s collection, though.
In the video, with over 10 million views, Savoie spends several minutes breaking down the soccer star’s collection. There’s the special edition “Endless Road” HAC that he carried as he deplaned in North Carolina ahead of the World Cup. The bone colored bag is decorated with a patchwork of blue and gray leather that creates a mountain highway scene. There’s a moss-colored canvas HAC and a black-and-orange checkerboard HAC, and he was even spotted with his girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen’s Birkin 25 tucked inside his HAC 50. “He was doubled up on Birkins, it was so chic,” Savoie said.
Haaland isn’t the only soccer player with a taste for Hermès: Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi has a pocket-festooned cargo HAC 40 he travels with, and Dutch defender and fashion aficionado Virgil van Dijk has a putty gray leather one. David Beckham seemingly has a small collection of XL-sized bags as well.
Fancy bags of all kinds are being seen at the World Cup. The French men’s national team — one of the favorites to win the entire tournament — arrived with HACs, as well as bags from Chanel and Louis Vuitton. French forward Marcus Thuram carried a bright green suede maxi flap bag from a Chanel collaboration with Pharrell Williams, while Rayan Cherki carried an oversized Hermès Kelly Maxi.
But Haaland’s enviable collection has triggered another round of discussion about men and the innocent handbag. The juxtaposition of the apex masculinity of the professional athlete with traditionally feminine signifiers of the luxury handbag does seem to short circuit something in the wider culture.
Photos of Haaland on the tarmac posted to social media were riddled with homophobia and comments questioning the striker’s masculinity. “I will never understand why a grown man wants to carry a handbag,” one Instagram user wrote.
Others were more supportive. “So this is how I find out Haaland is a baddie???” another commented.
“I think for so long people have been told what they can and can’t wear, but there’s this shift where people are saying, ‘I don’t care,’” said Savoie. “If it makes me happy, I’m going to wear this in the way I want to wear it.” He points to the increasing number of male athletes wearing high-end jewelry like Van Cleef & Arpels on the playing field, even if the specific pieces have more feminine associations.
The specific irony of something like an Hermès HAC being categorized as hyperfeminine is that the bag was created in the late 19th century as a carryall for horse riding equipment, much like the rest of the brand’s offerings at the time. The brand wouldn’t introduce
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- Lanzan operación de búsqueda tras la explosión de una bomba que dejó tres heridos en una residencia de Mónaco
Lanzan operación de búsqueda tras la explosión de una bomba que dejó tres heridos en una residencia de Mónaco
Por Lex Harvey, CNN
Las autoridades de la acaudalada ciudad-estado de Mónaco han puesto en marcha una operación de búsqueda que se ha extendido hasta Francia, después de que varias personas resultaran heridas en una explosión provocada por una bomba colocada en un edificio residencial.
La bomba explotó poco antes de las 9:00 de la noche, hora local, del lunes, y los heridos, entre ellos un niño, fueron trasladados a un hospital en Niza, en la vecina Francia, según el gobierno de Mónaco.
Un hombre fue captado por las cámaras huyendo hacia Beausoleil, una ciudad francesa que limita con Mónaco, declaró el alcalde de la ciudad, Gérard Spinelli, en una rueda de prensa, de acuerdo con la agencia Associated Press.
Según BFMTV, filial de CNN, unos 40 soldados franceses y dos helicópteros han sido desplegados para ayudar en la persecución.
Los delitos violentos son prácticamente inexistentes en Mónaco, una ciudad-estado situada en el mar Mediterráneo, hogar de aproximadamente 40.000 personas y conocida como un lugar de recreo para los ricos.
El príncipe Alberto II de Mónaco declaró en un comunicado que “todos los servicios estatales pertinentes están actualmente movilizados, en estrecha colaboración con las autoridades francesas”.
“Confiamos en que esclarezcan las circunstancias de esta tragedia lo más rápidamente posible, identifiquen a los responsables y proporcionen toda la respuesta necesaria, a todos los niveles”, apuntó.
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- Inside the SpaceX trading frenzy
Inside the SpaceX trading frenzy
By John Towfighi, CNN
New York (CNN) — SpaceX was expected to be one of the hottest stocks on Wall Street this year – and it has quickly delivered on that promise, shattering trading volume records while companies race to launch new products tied to the stock.
Both the size of the IPO and the hype around it – and CEO Elon Musk – have ignited outsized interest from investors.
“I don’t recall seeing one stock dominate our customers’ activity in this manner,” Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers, said in a note.
SpaceX stock by the numbers:
- IPO: Priced at $135 a share
- June 12: Stock debuts at $150 – and closes at roughly $161
- June 16: Stock rockets to an intraday high of almost $226 before closing at $202
- June 23: Stocks hits intraday low of $147 before closing at $156
- June 26: Stock end the week at $153, down 17% on the week
- June 29: Stocks closes at $164, up 7.15% on the day
Trading frenzy
Charles Schwab, which has been offering trading services for more than 50 years, told CNN that SpaceX’s IPO day was in the top five most active trading days in Schwab’s history.
At Citadel Securities, a market maker, SpaceX’s IPO was the largest single day of net buying from retail investors in the firm’s history, outpacing the previous record by 50%, a company spokesperson said.
The stock’s initial post-IPO surge briefly lifted SpaceX’s market value above Amazon and Microsoft. At $150 a share – its debut price – SpaceX still has a larger market value than either Meta or Tesla.
Investors who bought and held are experiencing volatility. SpaceX shares soared 15% in their first week of trading before falling 17% in their second week. But it hasn’t dissuaded people from getting involved.
“Investors who chased the first-week rally got hurt,” Luke Lango, technology analyst and publisher of Innovation Investor, said in an email. “That’s the oldest IPO story in the book.”
“But the underlying business — dominant launch monopoly, profitable Starlink, xAI embedded at the core — is a decade-long story, not a two-week story,” he added.
On trading platform Interactive Brokers, SpaceX has consistently been in the top two most traded stocks every day since its IPO. The one stock that has overtaken SpaceX on Interactive Brokers: Micron Technology (MU). Micron has soared as part of the chipmaker boom.
“SpaceX has captured the imagination of a lot of traders who are normally very active in Tesla, and they’ve moved their focus toward SpaceX,” Sosnick at Interactive Brokers told CNN in a phone interview.
Jay Ritters, professor emeritus at the University of Florida, told CNN that IPOs with the most volatility tend to be highly valued growth companies.
“These companies are almost always growing rapidly, but with a lot of uncertainty about how big and how profitable they will become,” Ritter said. “SpaceX certainly fits into this category.”
SpaceX has enormous business ambitions, including data centers in space and perfecting its rocket launch capabilities. But SpaceX is burning cash on its AI businesses, and investors are making a bet that the company will be able to reach profitability in the future.
“I expect that the stock will continue to be volatile for many years,” Ritter said.
Wall Street and ETFs
SpaceX won’t be a part of the S&P 500 for at least a year, but it’s set to become a part of other popular indexes. SpaceX has officially joined the Russell 1000 and will join the Nasdaq 100 in Ju
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| 1- A Wing of Her Own
- The price tag behind Taylor Swift’s rumored wedding bash at Madison Square Garden
The price tag behind Taylor Swift’s rumored wedding bash at Madison Square Garden
By Ramishah Maruf, CNN
New York (CNN) — It’s a cruel summer for anyone who wants details on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s impending wedding celebration. But one thing is for certain: If the nuptials do happen at Madison Square Garden, the newly minted billionaire and three-time NFL champion can afford to go all out.
Here’s what we know so far: Sources told CNN on Tuesday that the Garden is set to host two events related to their union this week: a rehearsal on Thursday evening and a larger celebration for 1,000 people the next day. Reporters confirmed a street permit in the area. And Stevie Nicks is rumored to perform?
MSG, known as “the world’s most famous arena,” can hold a dual meaning for the couple.
“The significance of it being a venue that’s in the city that she has a home in, and because it’s a venue that caters to both music and to sports, (it) is a perfect fit for their union,” Tracy Taylor Ward, a luxury wedding designer, told CNN.
But one does not casually tie the knot at an arena in bustling midtown. Regardless of whether the wedding will take place at the Garden, it underscores the star power – and fat wallet – of the couple.
One luxury wedding planner, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, citing the privacy expectations of her clientele, estimated a luxury wedding at the Garden could cost from $15 million to $20 million. Another luxury wedding planner, Jason Rhee, estimated it could be “$10 million.”
Here’s what it could take to get married at the arena.
‘Welcome to New York’
Every couple knows that the biggest expense in a wedding is the venue (an average of $12,900 in 2026 for us mortals, according to The Knot). The price significantly jacks up at a venue that just hosted courtside NBA championship seats for $220,000.
Rhee estimated venue costs could go into the millions, including the days needed to load and unload décor and materials. TMZ reported booking MSG costs $1 million a night.
CNN has reached out to Madison Square Garden to confirm its rental costs and labor policy.
The cost of the extras
Ira Levy said he has handled the lighting and sound for weddings of high-profile clientele including the Ambani family in India and Ivanka Trump. At a venue like Madison Square Garden, lighting could start at $650,000 for an event and go up to “almost a million dollars,” Levy said.
For context, lighting for large-scale weddings in luxury tents are usually between $150,000 to $300,000 for the entire event, he said.
The anonymous wedding planner said that while they have seen people spend up to $500,000 on flowers and decor, Swift could easily hit $1 million or more based on the arena’s size.
And then there’s the people behind the scenes.
It’s a production – which Swift is well-equipped in dealing with after the Eras Tour – from stagehands to riggers, who are the tradespeople responsible for hanging equipment from ceilings. It’s already pricey, but at Madison Square Garden, much of this labor is unionized. That means costs are higher than they would be in many other parts of the US.
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- Entran en vigor los cambios radicales de Trump en los préstamos estudiantiles. Esto es lo que significan
Entran en vigor los cambios radicales de Trump en los préstamos estudiantiles. Esto es lo que significan
Por Tami Luhby, CNN
Atención, beneficiarios de préstamos estudiantiles federales: Se avecinan cambios importantes a partir de este miércoles.
Es entonces cuando entran en vigor muchas de las disposiciones contenidas en la ambiciosa Ley “One Big Beautiful Bill” del presidente Donald Trump.
Algunos prestatarios, sobre todo los de bajos ingresos, se verán afectados por cuotas mensuales más altas.
Los nuevos estudiantes de posgrado y profesionales tendrán que lidiar con límites de préstamo más estrictos.
Los padres también se enfrentarán a límites más estrictos en la cantidad que pueden pedir prestada para ayudar a sus hijos.
El Departamento de Educación de EE.UU. afirma que las reformas implementan límites de préstamos sensatos, simplifican las opciones de pago y mejoran la salud del sistema federal de préstamos estudiantiles.
Sin embargo, los críticos temen que estos cambios dificulten y encarezcan la financiación de la educación y el posterior pago de los préstamos para los estudiantes.
Los préstamos estudiantiles federales son fundamentales para que muchos estadounidenses puedan ir a la universidad o a la escuela de posgrado.
Casi 43 millones de beneficiarios tienen préstamos estudiantiles, por un total de US$ 1,7 billones, a marzo, según la Oficina de Ayuda Federal para Estudiantes.
Esto es lo que los prestatarios deben saber.
La ley que Trump promulgó el pasado mes de julio creó un nuevo plan de reembolso estándar escalonado y un nuevo Plan de Asistencia para el Reembolso, conocido como RAP.
Según el plan estándar, los prestatarios tendrán entre 10 y 25 años para pagar sus préstamos, dependiendo del monto solicitado.
Quienes tengan saldos más altos dispondrán de más tiempo para amortizar sus préstamos, lo que se traducirá en cuotas mensuales más bajas.
En el plan RAP, los pagos mensuales de los prestatarios oscilarán entre el 1 % y el 10 % de sus ingresos, según sus ganancias, aunque deberán pagar al menos US$ 10 al mes.
Los beneficiarios recibirán una reducción de US$ 50 en sus pagos mensuales por cada dependiente, y los saldos restantes se cancelarán después de 30 años de pagos.
Según expertos en préstamos estudiantiles, algunos prestatarios pagarán más con el programa RAP que con las opciones de reembolso actuales basadas en los ingresos, debido a la forma en que están estructurados los nuevos programas.
Es importante destacar que estas nuevas opciones de planes de reembolso solo se aplican a los estudiantes que soliciten nuevos préstamos, al menos durante los próximos dos años.
Los prestatarios que actualmente están pagando sus préstamos no notarán cambios inmediatos.
Sin embargo, la mayoría de los planes de pago existentes, incluidos el Plan de Pago Contingente a los Ingresos (ICR) y el Plan de Pago Según Ingresos (PAYE), se eliminarán a partir de julio de 2028.
En ese momento, los prestatarios deberán cambiarse al nuevo plan de pago estándar escalonado, RAP, o al Plan de Pago Basado en los Ingresos.
Quienes participan en el plan Saving on Valuable Education (SAVE), un plan de reembolso basado en los ingresos implementado durante la administración Biden y bloqueado por tribunales federales, están siendo notificados de que deben cambiarse a un plan alternativo en un plazo de 90 días.
Según los expertos, pagarán considerablemente más con el plan RAP.
Los nuevos graduados de 2026 tienen la opción de elegir el nuevo plan de reembolso RAP o los planes de reembolso estándar escalonados, pero también tienen acceso a las opciones de reembolso existentes hasta julio de 2028.
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- How a new super PAC formed to counter AIPAC is fueling democratic socialists’ wins
How a new super PAC formed to counter AIPAC is fueling democratic socialists’ wins
By Patrick Svitek, CNN
(CNN) — Two years ago, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee spent millions of dollars through its super PAC to defeat two vocal critics of Israel, Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri and Jamaal Bowman of New York.
“AIPAC, I’m coming to tear your kingdom down,” Bush vowed in her concession speech.
Now AIPAC’s opponents believe that they are on the offensive – and a new group called American Priorities has a lot to do with it.
The super PAC, which started just six months ago, has quickly emerged as an influential force in House Democratic primaries, spending at least $5.6 million to boost Democrats who are fiercely critical of Israel, its war in Gaza and AIPAC’s influence in Democratic primaries. American Priorities helped two democratic socialists – Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez – pull off wins in the recent New York primaries and also chipped in to help a third, Melat Kiros, defeat Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette on Tuesday.
The group’s spending is still dwarfed by that of AIPAC’s super PAC, the United Democracy Project, which has spent at least $34 million this election cycle. The two sides have not gone head-to-head in many primaries yet, picking their fights more pragmatically. But to progressives who had gotten used to being vastly outspent, American Priorities has become something of an unexpected savior.
The 2024 election year was a “bruising cycle for us, but it was a real building cycle,” said Usamah Andrabi, a spokesperson for Justice Democrats, a progressive group that is often aligned with American Priorities in primaries. “We are seeing this cycle the fruits of this labor.”
A spokesperson for American Priorities said the group was created out of a belief that there was “nothing close to a countervailing force” to AIPAC in primaries.
“The idea was to build a spending force that would back people who speak plainly about what most Democratic voters – and indeed most Americans – already believe, so that telling the truth stops being the thing that gets you outspent three to one,” the spokesperson, Greg Krieg, said in a statement.
American Priorities poses an ideological test for progressives who have long denounced not just AIPAC’s spending, but also all big money in politics. So far, that has been the basis of AIPAC’s response to American Priorities.
“The same scrutiny that’s applied to the AIPAC super PAC should be applied to anti-Israel dark money as well,” Patrick Dorton, a spokesman for United Democracy Project, told CNN in response to requests for comment for this story.
Asked whether American Priorities was having an impact on AIPAC’s strategy in primaries, Dorton said the super PAC makes “our own independent decisions based on evaluating each race.”
Bush, who is making a comeback bid for her old seat in an August primary, told CNN recently that she does not know much about American Priorities but that AIPAC’s opponents now know they “need to go full force” to combat its influence.
“I truly believe that we need to get the big money out of politics,” Bush said. “But right now, having a counterweight to AIPAC and … the big cryptocurrency folks and big real estate, big pharma, the war profiteers, ICE contractors … will be useful to us because often one of the issues we have is we are grassroots.”
The group’s impact
American Priorities has raised $5.5 million as of June 3, according to its filings with the Federal Election Commission. That’s a modest sum compared to the eight-figure funding of AIPAC’s super PAC, which spent nearly $6 million alone in one recent House primary in Maryland in which its preferred candidate won.
But American Priorities’ willingness to spend upwards of $1 million in individual races – and to spend at critical junctures in campaigns – represents a new capacity for the anti-AIPAC left. Oper
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| 2- El vertiginoso aumento de los ingresos en Mar-a-Lago muestra los lazos entre los intereses comerciales y políticos de Trump
El vertiginoso aumento de los ingresos en Mar-a-Lago muestra los lazos entre los intereses comerciales y políticos de Trump
Por Casey Tolan, Isabelle Chapman y Kevin Liptak, CNN
Desde que el presidente Donald Trump retomó el cargo, su fortuna se ha disparado. Una nueva declaración financiera muestra que sus dos principales complejos turísticos de Florida también han registrado aumentos récord en sus ingresos, una clara muestra de cómo se superponen los negocios personales de Trump y su política presidencial.
Trump ha visitado las propiedades de Mar-a-Lago y Trump National Doral más de dos docenas de veces desde principios del año pasado, organizando cenas de recaudación de fondos con un coste de un millón de dólares por cubierto, agasajando a dignatarios extranjeros y dando la bienvenida a galas republicanas.
Líderes de la industria y grupos políticos también se han apresurado a reservar allí también sus propios eventos.
Trump también ha impulsado enormemente los ingresos de Mar-a-Lago al elevar la cuota de inscripción a un millón de dólares poco antes de su reelección.
El lujoso complejo propicia conversaciones improvisadas con el presidente, quien suele cenar en el patio por las noches, según fuentes cercanas al club.
Algunos expertos en ética describieron la confluencia de política y lucro como una oportunidad descarada para que los intereses especiales obtuvieran una línea directa con Trump.
“La gente va a Mar-a-Lago porque quiere estar cerca del presidente”, declaró Robert Weissman, copresidente de Public Citizen, un grupo de defensa de los derechos del consumidor. “Un simple susurro al oído del presidente vale muchísimo, más que lo que pagan para entrar”.
Anna Kelly, portavoz de la Casa Blanca, declaró que “ni el presidente ni su familia han participado jamás, ni participarán jamás, en conflictos de intereses”, y añadió que “todas las acciones del presidente Trump y su administración se realizan en beneficio del pueblo estadounidense”.
Antes de retomar el cargo, Trump se comprometió a no involucrarse en la gestión de su empresa homónima y transfirió sus activos a un fideicomiso administrado por sus hijos, tal como ocurrió durante su primer mandato.
La fortuna personal de Trump se ha disparado durante su mandato como nunca antes, reveló la declaración anual publicada el martes por la Oficina de Ética Gubernamental.
Incrementó significativamente los ingresos que recibió de sus propiedades en Florida, obteniendo casi US$ 77,5 millones de Mar-a-Lago, más del 50 % más que el año anterior y el triple de lo que ganó con el complejo turístico en 2020.
La información revelada también muestra que los complejos turísticos están siendo eclipsados en la cartera del presidente por más de US$ 1.400 millones en ingresos provenientes de sus lucrativas nuevas empresas de criptomonedas, incluyendo la criptomoneda meme $TRUMP y World Liberty Financial, una empresa cofundada por los hijos de Trump.
En total, Trump declaró el año pasado ingresos por criptomonedas casi tres veces superiores a los que obtuvo de su imperio de clubes de golf, hoteles y complejos turísticos.
Trump también declaró ingresos de casi US$ 60 millones procedentes de acuerdos de licencia con empresas inmobiliarias extranjeras para utilizar el nombre Trump en hoteles, campos de golf, rascacielos y otros proyectos inmobiliarios en lugares como Vietnam e India.
En declaraciones a los periodistas el miércoles, Trump atribuyó su inesperada ganancia del año pasado en parte a la subida del mercado de valores, que, según él, también fue beneficiosa para muchos otros.
“¿Saben por qué estoy ganando dinero? Porque la bolsa está subiendo. Todo el mundo está ganando dinero”, declaró Trump. Añ
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- Santa Barbara City Council votes to keep State Street closed to regular vehicle traffic
Santa Barbara City Council votes to keep State Street closed to regular vehicle traffic
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — After years of debate over the future of downtown Santa Barbara, the City Council has voted to keep State Street closed to regular vehicle traffic, preserving the pedestrian promenade while officials continue planning the corridor's long-term future.
The council approved the measure Tuesday night in a 5-2 vote following hours of public comment from residents, business owners and community members who shared differing opinions about the future of the city's main downtown street.
The vote means the current car-free promenade will remain in place as the city continues developing its long-term vision for State Street.
Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez said he supported extending the promenade because it has become an important gathering place for the community.
"It's hard for people to find a space, like a third space where they could feel at home and welcome to," Gutierrez said. "State Street's become that for a lot of the community members. So I wanted to continue honoring that until we come up or approve the master plan."
Not everyone on the council agreed.
Councilmember Eric Friedman said he opposed extending the closure after hearing concerns from businesses in the northern portion of State Street.
"I've been talking with a lot of the businesses that are in the northern part, you know, the 800, 900, 1000 block of State Street, and they are really struggling right now," Friedman said.
Reaction from people on State Street Wednesday was mixed, though many News Channel spoke with supported keeping the street pedestrian-friendly.
"I like it without the cars," said visitor Sofia Chicote.
Another supporter pointed to the availability of nearby parking, saying reopening the street to vehicles would not necessarily improve business.
"There's already parking lots every half block off State Street that they can park and walk on State Street," the supporter said. "It's just imaginary to think that somehow, magically, if people drive on State Street, business is going to get better."
Others said they believe businesses have suffered since the street closed to vehicles.
"I don't come here anymore. I used to love to come down here," said Santa Barbara resident Bonnie Carroll. "It's sad that there's no place to shop."
Bonnie Hyra, who was visiting from Laguna Beach, said she prefers the current setup.
"It's better. We're not breathing gas fumes," Hyra said.
Some community members also suggested a middle-ground approach, including bringing back a trolley to help people travel up and down State Street without reopening it to regular vehicle traffic.
During Tuesday night's discussion, councilmembers also acknowledged ongoing concerns about safety along the promenade, including speeding e-bikes, conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians, and improving accessibility for people with disabilities.
While the vote keeps the existing promenade in place for now, city leaders emphasized it does not determine the final design of State Street. Work on the city's long-term master plan for the downtown corridor will continue before any permanent changes are made.
The post Santa Barbara City Council votes to keep State Street closed to regular vehicle traffic appeared first on News Channel 3-12.
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- Santa Barbara City Council votes to keep State Street closed to regular vehicle traffic
Santa Barbara City Council votes to keep State Street closed to regular vehicle traffic
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — After years of debate over the future of downtown Santa Barbara, the City Council has voted to keep State Street closed to regular vehicle traffic, preserving the pedestrian promenade while officials continue planning the corridor's long-term future.
The council approved the measure Tuesday night in a 5-2 vote following hours of public comment from residents, business owners and community members who shared differing opinions about the future of the city's main downtown street.
The vote means the current car-free promenade will remain in place as the city continues developing its long-term vision for State Street.
Councilmember Oscar Gutierrez said he supported extending the promenade because it has become an important gathering place for the community.
"It's hard for people to find a space, like a third space where they could feel at home and welcome to," Gutierrez said. "State Street's become that for a lot of the community members. So I wanted to continue honoring that until we come up or approve the master plan."
Not everyone on the council agreed.
Councilmember Eric Friedman said he opposed extending the closure after hearing concerns from businesses in the northern portion of State Street.
"I've been talking with a lot of the businesses that are in the northern part, you know, the 800, 900, 1000 block of State Street, and they are really struggling right now," Friedman said.
Reaction from people on State Street Wednesday was mixed, though many News Channel spoke with supported keeping the street pedestrian-friendly.
"I like it without the cars," said visitor Sofia Chicote.
Another supporter pointed to the availability of nearby parking, saying reopening the street to vehicles would not necessarily improve business.
"There's already parking lots every half block off State Street that they can park and walk on State Street," the supporter said. "It's just imaginary to think that somehow, magically, if people drive on State Street, business is going to get better."
Others said they believe businesses h
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- Breakaway Catholic group excommunicated after defying warnings from Pope Leo
Breakaway Catholic group excommunicated after defying warnings from Pope Leo
By Christopher Lamb, CNN
Rome (CNN) — The Vatican announced Thursday that priests and members of a breakaway Catholic group that ordained four new bishops in defiance of Pope Leo XIV’s wishes are in schism and excommunicated.
The Society of Saint Pius X, an ultra-traditionalist group, went ahead with the ordinations on Wednesday without papal approval and despite appeals from Leo to reverse the decision.
In response, the Vatican’s doctrinal office on Thursday published a decree saying that the four bishops are excommunicated, along with the two bishops who participated in the ordination ceremony. Excommunication means they are excluded from the sacraments of the church.
It added in an explanatory note that priests belonging to the society and lay members who “formally adhere” to the group are also in schism and excommunicated.
The decree warns all “clerics and the lay faithful” not to formally follow the society as they will automatically incur the penalty of excommunication.
In a final appeal to the group Monday, Leo had warned that the ordinations would be a “schismatic” act and a “sin of extreme gravity,” and the ruling by the Vatican is wide-ranging in clamping down on the group.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, expressed his “deep sorrow” on Wednesday about the ordinations, saying they “break the unity of the Church and incur very specific sanctions – fundamentally, excommunication.”
Leo has not commented publicly since the ordinations were carried out.
The society, known as the SSPX, was founded in 1970 in Switzerland by Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, a French prelate, but five years later was officially suppressed by the Bishop of Fribourg. In 1988 the group ordained four bishops without papal approval, which led to their excommunication.
The latest action from the Vatican goes further than the sanctions in 1988, which were limited to the bishops. And while Pope Francis had allowed the society to administer the sacraments of marriage and confession, the latest Vatican ruling states that any marriage or confession offered by the group will be considered “invalid.”
The note does say, however, that “the Church, as a caring mother, will welcome with sincere affection and active care all those who wish to return to full communion.”
At the heart of the splintering from the mainstream church was Lefebvre and his followers’ opposition to church reforms introduced in the 1960s by the Second Vatican Council.
The “Lefebvrists” do not accept what the council taught on religious freedom, on ecumenism (teaching on other Christian denominations and religions) and reforms to Catholic worship, such as celebrating Mass in languages other than Latin. One of the major reforms at the council was a condemnation of all forms of antisemitism.
During his pontificate, Leo XIV has made church unity a priority, with a foundation stone of that unity being the link between the pope and bishop.
On June 16, the pope pointed out to journalists that the Lefebvrists “refuse to accept certain fundamental elements of the Church, beginning with several points of the Second Vatican Council.” On the planned ordinations, he said: “If that is the choice they make, I am sorry, but we must move forward.”
The group has an active presence in the United States, with a headquarters in Missouri and a seminary for training priests in Dillwyn, Virginia. One of the bishops newly ordained on Wednesday is Father Michael Goldade, who leads that seminary.
“The ‘modernist church’ is a desert that kills everything that it touches,” Goldade said at a service after the ordinations.
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| 3- What it takes to be chosen as a World Cup referee – and how to ref the final
What it takes to be chosen as a World Cup referee – and how to ref the final
By Reagan Yip, CNN
(CNN) — As 48 nations battle for World Cup glory, another group has endured a similarly grueling path to soccer’s biggest stage: the referees.
This year, 52 referees, 88 assistant referees and 30 video assistant referees (VARs) have been selected. The 170-strong contingent is the largest in World Cup history, with the expanded format now featuring a record 48 teams and 104 matches.
The officials come from 50 FIFA member nations across all continental confederations, with eight representing the United States. Among them are also six women, following FIFA’s historic move to include female referees at the last edition in Qatar.
It’s a role that has been unexpectedly thrust into the limelight. A Somali referee slated for the showpiece was denied entry to the US due to “vetting concerns.” A record three red cards were brandished in the opening game. In China, fans are rallying behind one referee as the country’s sole representative after the national team failed to qualify.
“It was my first World Cup game – and South Korea’s first World Cup game ever (at home), too. We had 50,000 spectators all in red jerseys. The noise was incredible,” Leif Lindberg, one of the two assistant referees at the 2002 final between Brazil and Germany, tells CNN Sports of his World Cup debut on June 4, 2002.
“Every one of us was dreaming about officiating the World Cup.”
But turning that aspiration into reality demands more than intense training and an unblemished on-field record. For many, juggling match duties alongside a full-time job comes at a heavy personal cost.
“Most referees have been through at least one divorce,” says Lindberg, who is retired and on his second marriage. “Many sacrifice family life in one way or another.”
How referees are picked
The selection process for this World Cup began immediately after Qatar 2022, according to FIFA.
Candidates were required to attend seminars, undergo fitness tests and have prior FIFA tournament experience. Their performances in domestic and international competitions were also monitored over the past three years, before a committee finalized the lineup.
“In every important match ahead of the World Cup, we have one or two observers,” former assistant referee Renato Faverani explains to CNN Sports, adding referees at the elite level are assigned to the same officiating teams across international games and assessed as a group.
“Afterwards, you receive an evaluation, which is then compared with other referee teams,” says the Italian, who worked four matches at the 2014 World Cup, including the final between Germany and Argentina.
Even being considered is no small feat, since only those active in top-level fixtures are in contention. Before earning his appointment, for example, Faverani had built an extensive resume across the UEFA Champions League (even officiating the 2013 final), the European Championship and Serie A, among others.
Once chosen for a World Cup – as the tournament progresses – referees are appointed three to four days
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- This heat wave would be ‘virtually impossible’ if not for fossil fuel pollution, study says
This heat wave would be ‘virtually impossible’ if not for fossil fuel pollution, study says
By Meteorologists Briana Waxman, Mary Gilbert, with Kate Petersen reporting
(CNN) — The dangerous, multi-day heat wave is tightening its grip on the eastern US, shattering records, straining the electric grid and raising the risk for millions of people preparing to celebrate the Fourth of July outdoors. And human-caused climate change is making the familiar summer weather pattern far more dangerous.
The heat wave was triggered by the strong heat dome parked over the Northeast — a stagnant area of high pressure that traps and enhances hot, humid air.
But the intensity of the heat and humidity combined this week would have been “virtually impossible” without the effects of fossil fuel pollution. The finding was published early Friday from World Weather Attribution, a scientific network which analyzes the role of climate change in driving extreme weather events.
 Get your heat forecast in the CNN Weather app
“When a historic 4th of July celebration is disrupted, and World Cup matches are played in conditions that are unsafe for players and fans, it shouldn’t take another scientific study to wake people up,” said Friederike Otto, a professor of climate science at Imperial College London. “Climate change is here, it’s already impacting the things we enjoy in our everyday lives, and it will continue to get worse the longer we drag out the inevitable transition to net zero emissions.”
The worst of the heat is here Friday, after at least 20 locations broke or tied daily temperature records Thursday. As homes and businesses crank up air conditioning to stay cool, demand for electricity is surging in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, where heat and humidity are pushing conditions into dangerous territory.
Washington, DC, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston are all forecast to see highs near or above 100 degrees Friday. The combination of heat and humidity will make conditions feel even hotter, with heat index values — what the air actually “feels like” to the body — forecast to climb as high as 107 degrees in Washington and New York City, 110 in Philadelphia and 106 in Boston.
The brutal heat continues Saturday for DC, which is forecast to remain near 103 degrees with a heat index up to 108. Philadelphia could reach 101 with a heat index up to 106. New York City is expected to hit 97 and Boston is forecast to top out near 95 degrees Saturday.
Heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the US, and the high humidity increases the risk, keeping temperatures elevated and preventing sweat from evaporating efficiently, making it harder for the body to cool itself. Overnight lows are also hotter now than they were decades ago, making it harder for people to get respite and rest.
The risk can build quickly, especially for older adults, children, outdoor workers and people without reliable access to air conditioning. Anyone heading outside for the holiday weekend should plan for frequent breaks indoors or at least in the shade. Drink water often, avoid intense activities and never leave children or pets in parked cars.
Heat strains power grid
Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed data centers in the mid-Atlantic this week to use their backup power supplies instead of
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- How Empire State Building climbers pulled off death-defying stunt: ‘Security always has a blindspot’
How Empire State Building climbers pulled off death-defying stunt: ‘Security always has a blindspot’
By Ray Sanchez, John Miller, CNN
New York (CNN) — Extreme climber Angelina Nikolau, in the trailer for the 2024 Netflix documentary, “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” said: “Love is like heights. The fear never goes away. You just get better at facing it.”
On Wednesday, Nikolau, 33, who goes by Angela, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, who goes by Ivan Beerkus, elevated their romance to a height of about 1,450 feet above the sweltering city, ascending the needle of the Empire State Building, unfurling a black banner that read “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace,” and getting engaged. A day later, they were arraigned on felony charges and released under court supervision.
Many New Yorkers and observers from afar are likely asking how the two trespassing daredevils managed to breach security at one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks – and how they did it amid a heightened NYPD presence for World Cup matches, the expected wedding celebration for pop star Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden, and festivities commemorating America’s 250th birthday.
On Instagram, Nikolau posted photos and video from the climb, along with a shot of her glittering engagement ring with the city in the background.
After their precious moment ended in handcuffs, Kuznetsov later told the NYPD he wanted to “do something special for his engagement,” according to prosecutors.
Of course, he could have booked a $1,000 per couple “Happily Ever Empire Proposal Package” from the Empire State Building, popping the question in the “iconic 86th Floor Observation Deck, in a designated, semi-private corner with stunning open-air views of New York City reserved for your special moment.”
But this couple went beyond the observation deck. As Nikolau said in the documentary trailer, “Security always has a blindspot.”
The pair are well-known social media influencers who engage in extreme risk-taking behavior, including breaking into restricted areas of commercial buildings, hanging from rooftops and free-climbing skyscrapers, according to prosecutors with the Manhattan DA’s office.
Couple hid in maintenance room overnight
Nikolau and Kuznetsov entered the Empire State Building as visitors the night before their stunt and hid inside after closing, according to a law enforcement official. They purchased tickets to the open-air observatory on the 86th floor at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, about two hours before access to ticket holders is cut off, the official said.
Like the more than 2.5 million visitors each year, the pair likely waited in line with people from around the globe who flood the building’s ornate lobby, with a grand staircase and hulking two-story model of the Art Deco icon.
In the lobby, visitors must pass through an airport-style security screening area with bag checks and X-ray machines. Nikolau and Kuznetsov both went through security screening, the official said.
An enhanced ticket gives visitors access to the enclosed, climate-controlled 102nd-floor observation deck with floor-to-ceiling windows. The deck, which sits at the base of the needle atop the building, is reached via a glass elevator, according to the building’s website. It’s unclear whether the couple purchased enhanced tickets.
Security camera footage showed Nikolau
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- How Empire State Building climbers pulled off death-defying stunt: ‘Security always has a blindspot’
How Empire State Building climbers pulled off death-defying stunt: ‘Security always has a blindspot’
CNN, NYPD, ATC.COM, WABC, WCBS
By Ray Sanchez, John Miller, CNN
New York (CNN) — Extreme climber Angelina Nikolau, in the trailer for the 2024 Netflix documentary, “Skywalkers: A Love Story,” said: “Love is like heights. The fear never goes away. You just get better at facing it.”
On Wednesday, Nikolau, 33, who goes by Angela, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32, who goes by Ivan Beerkus, elevated their romance to a height of about 1,450 feet above the sweltering city, ascending the needle of the Empire State Building, unfurling a black banner that read “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace,” and getting engaged. A day later, they were arraigned on felony charges and released under court supervision.
Many New Yorkers and observers from afar are likely asking how the two trespassing daredevils managed to breach security at one of New York City’s most iconic landmarks – and how they did it amid a heightened NYPD presence for World Cup matches, the expected wedding celebration for pop star Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden, and festivities commemorating America’s 250th birthday.
On Instagram, Nikolau posted photos and video from the climb, along with a shot of her glittering engagement ring with the city in the background.
After their precious moment ended in handcuffs, Kuznetsov later told the NYPD he wanted to “do something special for his engagement,” according to prosecutors.
Of course, he could have booked a $1,000 per couple “Happily Ever Empire Proposal Package” from the Empire State Building, popping the question in the “iconic 86th Floor Observation Deck, in a designated, semi-private corner with stunning open-air views of New York City reserved for your special moment.”
But this couple went beyond the observation deck. As Nikolau said in the documentary trailer, “Security always has a blindspot.”
The pair are well-known social media influencers who engage in extreme risk-taking behavior, including breaking into restricted areas of commercial buildings, hanging from rooftops and free-climbing skyscrapers, according to prosecutors with the Manhattan DA’s office.
Couple hid in maintenance room overnight
Nikolau and Kuznetsov entered the Empire State Building as visitors the night before their stunt and hid inside after closing, according to a law enforcement official. They purchased tickets to the open-air observatory on the 86th floor at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, about two hours before access to ticket holders is cut off, the official said.
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| 4- God Forgive America
- There’s Music in Us
- Courage Matters in These ‘Interesting’ Times
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding was the spectacle you expected it to be
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding was the spectacle you expected it to be
By Alli Rosenbloom, Zoe Sottile, CNN
(CNN) — In the end, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s marriage was announced to the world like something out of one of her music videos: Billboards outside of Madison Square Garden lit up in purple with the message “JUST&T MARRIED” announcing the news to those on the streets of Midtown Manhattan and the entire globe.
A few blocks over, the Empire State Building was lit up in blue in their honor, a nod to the age-old wedding rhyme. Then, a rainstorm began.
The milestone marks a new era for the couple, whose romance played out in the public eye, until they threw a wedding shrouded in secrecy thanks to what were said to be ironclad non-disclosure agreements and TSA-level security.
Leading up to the big day, which began Thursday evening with what was described as a rehearsal event for about 100 attendees, few guests would even confirm they were invited and even fewer confirmed they would be attending.
Watching the arrivals at Madison Square Garden, where Swift has performed eight times in her 20-year career, wasn’t just like any celebrity-packed red carpet. It was like watching the arrivals at the Grammys, Oscars and ESPY Awards combined. Everyone from Ed Sheeran to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell were spotted, as were several Kansas City Chiefs players, many of whom were captured loading into blacked out sprinter vans from a swanky hotel that media and some fans staked out.
Social media was flooded with images and footage of guests making the pilgrimage to MSG. “Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay, whose character inspired one of Swift’s cat’s names, lowered her window and greeted onlookers.
It all took place amid a sweltering, scalding heatwave that saw temperatures reach triple digits, tough scene for those outside without an invite.
Little we know, much we don’t
So – what really happened inside MSG last night?
Instead of opting for a traditional bridal party, Swift’s brother Austin served as her “man of honor” and Kelce’s brother Jason acted as his “best man,” according to an emailed statement from Swift’s representative, issued in tandem with the billboard messages.
The bride and groom both wore custom Christian Dior looks designed by Jonathan Anderson, who’s known for elaborate, mischievous designs.
The couple’s friend Sandler, who gave Kelce a cameo in “Happy Gilmore 2” last year, served as their officiant.
Stevie Nicks was reportedly among the performers, a person with knowledge of the event told the New York Times. Page Six was the first to report Nicks’ expected performance.
The 1,000-person guest list was impressive, expansive and, occasionally, befuddling.
There was the Hollywood contingent, including Steven Spielberg, Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, Dakota Johnson, Eric Stonestreet and Hugh Grant. Kansas City native and Chiefs fan Jason Sudeikis was also there, as well as self-professed Swiftie Nikki Glaser. Jennifer Lopez, Graham Norton, Jimmy Fallon and Zoe Kravitz were also spotted among the arrivals.
Then you had the sports figures, like New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and sportscaster Erin Andrews.
And, of course, the music industry was heavily represented with artists including Gwen Stefani, Fergie, the Chainsmokers, Miranda Lambert, Camila Cabello, Benson Boone and more.
Writer and filmmaker Lena Dunham, a longtime friend of Swift, was seen arriving at the Garden for Swift and Kelce’s big day. Swift had previously served as a bridesmaid at Dunham’s 2021 wedding to Luis Felber. Supermodel Karlie Kloss also attended, seemingly putting to rest any rumors of a rift between her and Swift.
“The Summer I Turned Pretty” author Jenny Han and celebrity chef Alison Roman, who Swift is a known fan of, were also among those who scored invites, as well as Jessica Alba and
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|
5- Beyoncé lanza nueva música en medio de las celebraciones del 4 de julio
Beyoncé lanza nueva música en medio de las celebraciones del 4 de julio
Por Lisa Respers France, CNN
Los estadounidenses que celebraban el 4 de julio el sábado despertaron con la noticia más grande de todas: nueva música de Beyoncé.
La superestrella lanzó un sencillo titulado “Morning Dew (Donk)”, su primera música desde el álbum de 2024 “Act II: Cowboy Carter”.
El sencillo “inicia una cuenta regresiva de 60 días hasta su próximo cumpleaños, y la reedición de ‘B’DAY’, su innovador segundo álbum que fue lanzado hace dos décadas, el 4 de septiembre de 2006”, según un comunicado de prensa.
La Beyhive, como se conoce a la base de fans de Beyoncé, ha estado esperando ansiosamente su proyecto “Act III”, que durante mucho tiempo se ha especulado que será un tributo a la música rock, así como “Act I: Renaissance” de 2022 rindió homenaje al disco, club, house y funk, mientras que “Act II: Cowboy Carter” de 2024 fue su carta de amor al country, la música sureña y sus raíces tejanas.
Beyoncé ha dejado pistas para avivar la especulación.
Se disfrazó de la ícono del rock/funk Betty Davis para Halloween 2024, participó en la campaña “Denim Cowboy” de Levi’s el año pasado que terminó con ella conduciendo una motocicleta y publicó una serie de fotos en abril vestida de púrpura que muchos fans interpretaron como un guiño al fallecido rockero Prince, quien murió en abril de 2016.
“Morning Dew (Donk)” probablemente reforzará la teoría, ya que en las líneas iniciales Beyoncé menciona la legendaria película de Prince de 1984 “Purple Rain”, que inspiró un exitoso sencillo y una banda sonora del mismo nombre.
La nueva canción, escrita por Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams, The-Dream y Darius Dixon, y producida por Beyoncé y Pharrell Williams, será incluida en la edición del 20º aniversario de “B’Day”.
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- Putin and Trump held ‘businesslike’ 90-minute July 4 call, Moscow says
Putin and Trump held ‘businesslike’ 90-minute July 4 call, Moscow says
By Tim Lister and Daria Tarasova Markina, CNN
(CNN) — Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke with Donald Trump for nearly 90 minutes on July 4 in which the US leader again offered to help end the Ukraine war, according to the Russian foreign ministry.
Putin personally congratulated Trump “and the entire American people on this significant holiday” — the 250th anniversary of the US declaration of independence — the foreign ministry said.
The conversation was their fourth this year and “businesslike and highly constructive,” the ministry said, adding that Trump had “reaffirmed his readiness to facilitate the earliest possible cessation of hostilities” in the Ukrainian conflict.
CNN has reached out to the White House for comment on the conversation.
“The Russian side once again emphasized the preference for a political and diplomatic resolution to the conflict,” according to the foreign ministry, while claiming that “Kyiv and its European sponsors are banking on prolonging and even escalating the conflict.”
“Our president has outlined the reality of the situation on the battlefield, where the Russian Armed Forces are advancing confidently,” the ministry said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had also had a “very good call” with Trump on Saturday.
“There is a real prospect to put an end to this war, and America’s resolve is decisive,” Zelensky said.
Russia meanwhile has claimed that its forces now control the important town of Kostyantynivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
“It is just another Russian lie, an attempt to generate some kind of a news story,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday.
The Ukrainian military said Saturday that small groups of Russian soldiers had infiltrated the town, but counter-sabotage operations were ongoing.
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- El recién liberado fundador de una de las mayores iglesias clandestinas de China se reúne con su familia en EE.UU.
El recién liberado fundador de una de las mayores iglesias clandestinas de China se reúne con su familia en EE.UU.
Por Chris Lau y Jessie Yeung, CNN
Un pastor que fundó una de las iglesias clandestinas más prominentes de China fue liberado de prisión y reunido con su familia en Estados Unidos, según informó su hija a CNN.
Ezra Jin, el fundador de la Iglesia Zion, fue uno de los numerosos feligreses atrapados en una amplia represión por parte de las autoridades chinas a finales del año pasado.
Las autoridades chinas han visto durante mucho tiempo al cristianismo como una influencia extranjera indeseada y una amenaza para el control gubernamental. La práctica religiosa es legal pero está estrictamente controlada y vigilada por el Gobierno, que registra iglesias “oficiales” autorizadas por el Estado.
La liberación de Jin se produjo después de que el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, planteara su caso al líder chino Xi Jinping durante una visita a Beijing en mayo.
“Nos sentimos abrumados de alegría. Damos gracias a Dios por este tremendo milagro”, dijo su hija Grace Jin Drexel en una declaración familiar a CNN.
“También agradecemos al presidente Trump y a su administración por su inmenso liderazgo”, añadió, diciendo que esto no podría haber sucedido “sin la intervención directa del presidente Xi Jinping”.
Drexel dijo que esperaban que la liberación de Jin fuera “una señal de un giro positivo para las personas de fe en China y para las relaciones entre nuestras dos naciones”.
CNN ha contactado al Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores de China, así como a la Casa Blanca y al Departamento de Estado de EE.UU., para obtener comentarios.
Jin fundó la Iglesia Zion en Beijing en 2007. Pero a medida que la represión contra las iglesias no registradas se intensificó en 2018, él y su familia se mudaron a Estados Unidos, con la esperanza de apaciguar a las autoridades chinas.
Mientras su familia permanecía en Estados Unidos, Jin regresó a China mientras las autoridades continuaban hostigando a los miembros de la iglesia. Posteriormente, se le prohibió salir del país.
Su hija dijo anteriormente que perdieron contacto con Jin en octubre del año pasado, lo que provocó llamados de Drexel, un miembro del personal en el Senado de los EE.UU., para que la administración Trump ayudara a asegurar la liberación de su padre.
Los grupos de derechos humanos celebraron el regreso de Jin pero pidieron a la administración Trump que hiciera más, mientras instaban a las autoridades chinas a liberar a otros miembros de la iglesia que permanecen detenidos.
“Aunque su liberación traerá el tan necesario consuelo a su familia, amigos y muchos simpatizantes, no podemos olvidar a los líderes y miembros de la Iglesia Zion que siguen detenidos, y a otros asociados con la iglesia que aún enfrentan cargos penales graves”, dijo Brian Tronic, director del programa Free Them All: The Fred Hiatt Program to Free Political Prisoners de Freedom House.
El reverendo Dr. Bob Fu, presidente de ChinaAid, un grupo de defensa que promueve la libertad religiosa en China, calificó la liberación de Jin como “una victoria inmensa”, pero dijo que aún queda trabajo “hasta que cada prisionero de fe sea libre”.
“Hacemos un llamado respetuoso al presidente Trump y a su administración para que continúen haciendo de la libertad religiosa y la liberación de todos los prisioneros de fe una prioridad máxima en cada encuentro con Beijing”, dijo.
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- Workers claim unsafe conditions at a restaurant owned by the South Park creators. They have Brooke Shields on their side
Workers claim unsafe conditions at a restaurant owned by the South Park creators. They have Brooke Shields on their side
By Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN
New York (CNN) — This March, actress Brooke Shields made a reservation at a Mexican restaurant in Denver, Colorado called Casa Bonita under a fake name – but not to avoid paparazzi
It was so the restaurant’s management team and owners Trey Parker and Matt Stone, who are also the creators of South Park, wouldn’t know she was coming.
“The place is so big it took a while for management to realize we were there,” Shields told CNN. “And then word got out because, you know, I didn’t have a hat on and mustache or anything,” she said.
She was there to deliver a letter asking for better wages for Casa Bonita’s performers. The restaurant doesn’t just serve Mexican cuisine; performers provide entertainment from breakfast to dinner. Cliff divers jump and twirl into a blue lagoon, puppeteers put on tableside shows and magicians make the rounds. The live entertainment is why so many people know Casa Bonita.
But in April 2024, for the first time, Casa Bonita’s performers unionized, with about 80 of them represented by Actor’s Equity, led by Shields.
Shields said she’s escalating after prolonged negotiations over not just pay, but fundamental safety issues.
“It was slightly an ambush… you try doing things respectfully, and then you’re not met with equal respect… so you have to resort to other tactics,” said Brooke Shields, of her visit to Casa Bonita.
Since April of last year, Shields and Casa Bonita performers have been locked in negotiations with management. The group is asking for better protections for performers who say they got hypothermia and chlorine toxicity from the diving pool, as well as security for costumed performers who say they’ve been grabbed sexually by patrons. The group is also asking for a raise to bring them more in line with the servers, who they say make more. The union says it’s already made concessions at the bargaining table but with little offered in return to improve current conditions and wages.
Casa Bonita’s management said in a statement to CNN that “we value all of our team members and their well-being. As a policy we do not comment on ongoing labor negotiations.”
Parker and Stone did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Casa Bonita has been a Denver institution for more than 50 years. Set in a strip mall, it has a palatial bubblegum pink exterior with a jungle-esque interior.
Up to 3500 patrons dine on Mexican cuisine daily, but a large part of the appeal is the show. Every twenty minutes cliff divers, costumed characters, and magicians put on performances and interact with diners.
Five years ago, the restaurant was saved from the brink of bankruptcy and closure by Stone and Parker, the team who created South Park and the Broadway show Book of Mormon. Stone and Parker grew up in the Denver area and have been going to the restaurant since they were kids. They loved the restaurant so much that it was featured as the crux of a South Park episode in 2003, and they named their offices “Casa Bonita,” too.
“You could see what this place was in the 70’s when they built it. They were trying to make a little Disneyland here,” Trey Parker told NBC’s “The Today Show,” in 2023.
Parker and Stone have frequented the restaurant recently but have not attended one of the 14 bargaining sessions with Actor’s Equity, according to Shields. She says performers are paid between $21 and $26 an hour, about $10 per hour less than servers who also get tips and who were given a raise shortly after the restaurant reopened.
Shields and union performers tell CNN they lack protections, as there is no active shooter policy, no emergency action plan and no security for performers who interact with patrons.
And while the union has already made concessions on paid time off, holiday pay, extra pay, and wages, management has offered a less t
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| 6- Suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing due to appear in court for multiday hearing that will preview prosecutors’ evidence
Suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing due to appear in court for multiday hearing that will preview prosecutors’ evidence
By Nicki Brown, Andi Babineau, CNN
(CNN) — Tyler Robinson, the 23-year-old man accused of killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk, will appear in court this week for a multiday hearing where Utah prosecutors are poised to preview some of their evidence in the case, including a videotaped statement by Robinson’s former roommate, a key witness.
The roommate – who has been described in court documents as Robinson’s romantic partner – is expected to offer insight into messages the pair purportedly exchanged after the fatal shooting last September, including what investigators allege is a confession by Robinson.
Kirk’s parents and his widow, Erika Kirk, will attend this week’s hearing, a source familiar with the situation told CNN.
The recorded statement is just one piece of evidence the Utah County Attorney’s Office has said it plans to present during the preliminary hearing, which is scheduled to last several days. Prosecutors intend to call a handful of law enforcement officials to testify, they said in court filings, as well as display physical evidence – including surveillance footage, photos of the alleged murder weapon, ballistics evidence and the messages between Robinson and his roommate.
The defense team said it plans to call three forensic experts to testify.
The hearing comes about ten months after Kirk, the 31-year-old conservative firebrand and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot as he addressed a crowd of roughly 3,000 people during an event at Utah Valley University in Orem. News of his death – one example of the political violence roiling America in recent years – quickly went global, with graphic videos flooding social media and politicians on both sides of the aisle swiftly condemning the killing.
The day after the shooting, Robinson surrendered to police.
Prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty against Robinson, who is charged with aggravated murder, felony use of a firearm, committing a violent offense in the presence of a child and obstruction of justice. He is also charged with witness tampering related to some of his alleged communications with his roommate.
Robinson has not yet entered pleas: In Utah, a preliminary hearing is used to determine whether there’s probable cause to support the filed charges. If the judge finds there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial, Robinson will be arraigned and enter pleas.
News cameras will be allowed to record and broadcast much of the hearing, the judge ruled last week over the objections of Robinson’s attorneys.
His defense team has repeatedly raised concerns about news coverage of the high-profile proceedings, arguing in court filings it could impair his right to a fair trial and turn his case into “a reality TV show,” while prosecutors have said having cameras in court is the best way to combat rampant misinformation and conspiracy theories.
The defense had argued to delay the hearing, saying in court filings this spring the high volume of discovery meant Robinson’s attorneys would be unable to adequately prepare.
They also previously argued they had not been given the opportunity to review the full scope of forensic evidence, again limiting their ability to respond to the state’s case. The defense has since received the full evidentiary reports it sought.
The killing of Charlie Kirk
Kirk was shot in the neck
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- China conducts rare submarine-launched ballistic missile test, angering Pacific neighbors
China conducts rare submarine-launched ballistic missile test, angering Pacific neighbors
By Brad Lendon, CNN
(CNN) — China on Monday conducted a rare test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile in the Pacific Ocean, sparking criticism from New Zealand and Australia for actions that they said threatened peace and stability in the region.
A People’s Liberation Army Navy submarine “launched a strategic missile carrying a dummy warhead toward relevant high seas of the Pacific Ocean, which landed precisely within the designated waters,” said a statement from Senior Capt. Wang Xuemeng, a spokesperson for the PLA Navy.
“This test launch was a routine part of China’s annual military training schedule,” said Wang, who added that “relevant nations” were informed in advance about the test.
“The operation was in accordance with international law and practice, targeting no specific country or objective,” Wang said.
CNN has asked China’s Defense Ministry for comment on the test.
Beijing did not say what type of missile was tested.
The PLA Navy operates two types of submarine-launched ballistic missiles, the JL-2 and the JL-3. The latter has sufficient range to reach the continental United States from waters off the coast of China, including the South China Sea, according to missile experts.
China’s main ballistic-missile submarine is the Type 094, also known as the Jin class, of which it operates six vessels.
Beijing rarely reports its missile tests, but according to the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the JL-3 was first tested in 2018 and then once more a year later.
‘Unwelcome and concerning’
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters said China fired the missile on Monday into waters of the South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, established in 1986 by the Treaty of Rarotonga. China signed protocols II and III of the pact in 1987.
Protocol II calls on signatories not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against other nations or their territories within the zone; protocol III bans nuclear testing in the zone.
“Earlier today, China informed us of its plans to launch a long-range ballistic missile into the South Pacific,” Peters said.
“New Zealand considers this an unwelcome and concerning development. We, like our neighbors in other Pacific countries, have no interest in China using the South Pacific as a testing site for missile capability,” Peters said.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Monday called the test “destabilizing to the region.”
The test must be viewed “in the context of a rapid military build-up by China, which is lacking in the transparency and reassurance as to intent that the region expects,” Wong said, adding that she would leave it up to China to “speak to its intent.”
New Zealand’s Peters said the Chinese test brought back memories of 2024, when the PLA test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile in the region.
“We as a region should not sit by and allow such tests to become normalized or routine,” Peters said.
But missile tests are routine for nuclear powers.
For instance, the US Navy last September conducted four tests of its Trident submarine-launched ballistic missile off Florida, according to a press release.
India tested a submarine-launched ballistic missile in December, and Russia test-launched an SLBM last October.
China has been building up its nuclear-powered sub fleet as part of an overall boost to its nuclear forces.
China last tested an ICBM launched into the Pacific in September 2024, firing a DF-31B nuclear-capable missile from Hainan Island in the South China Sea into the open Pacific near French Polynesia. It was China’s first test of an ICBM int
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- What the Guadalupe River left behind
What the Guadalupe River left behind
By Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN
(CNN) — When the Guadalupe River surged through Texas Hill Country last summer, Elida Sierra Lutz and her three children were swept into the deadly flooding like debris in the current.
The family fought for three hours last July Fourth to stay alive after more than a summer’s worth of rain fell overnight on bone-dry soil, pushing the waterway from about 3 feet to 30 feet in just 45 minutes.
It wasn’t long after they were rescued that they realized everything they’d brought camping with them was gone: the black zippered hoodie Elida’s 18-year-old son was rarely seen without, plus his wallet, glasses and cell phone; her daughter’s Nintendo devices, lifejacket and a pair of white Crocs for which the 10-year-old had handpicked charms; even their travel trailer.
About 10 miles away at Heart O’ the Hills, a girl’s summer camp along the river, program director Bailey McEachern returned from a scheduled break between sessions to a similar scene – amid shock the flood had killed the camp’s cherished director and co-owner.
The ferocious waters had swallowed key pieces of the camp’s rich history: cabin signs; 1950s-era sterling-silver necklaces with thunderbird and crossed-arrow pedants worn by each sisterhood’s Firelighter leader; a trophy known as The Cup, awarded at the end of each term.
Also missing were slats of crown molding from Director Jane Ragsdale’s office spelling out on weathered red wood the camp’s Eight Traits, among them courage, trust and faith.
Whisked away. Taken. Gone.
The survivors, of course, were grateful just to be alive, knowing the surging water that rose without much warning had claimed the lives of at least 136 people, including dozens of children at other sleepaway camps, a doting grandmother, a heroic father and a beloved coach.
And, yet, they wondered about their possessions: Where had they landed? Would they turn up? Would they ever be returned? Though it all was replaceable, those items had been pieces of their lives – and now also were symbols, in a way, of their harrowing survival.
As it turned out, an army of strangers with an unlikely leader soon would launch a mission to reunite them – and many, many others – with the things the river stole.
‘I would want my things’
Soon after the flood receded, recovery efforts ramped up. Dondi Voigt Persyn, a mother of three and grandmother of four from Boerne, Texas – on a hill above the Guadalupe River about 35 miles from the disaster zone – joined as a volunteer.
A perfume maker with a background in pathology, Dondi didn’t know it was the start of an enormous project she would come to describe as a calling.
On that first day alone, she found a handful of mixed-metal necklaces, a photograph of a small child, some clothing and a bag full of stuff – all items that once belonged to someone. She quickly realized flood survivors, who’d just experienced such horror, would now have to face the notion of their personal belongings strewn across the Cent
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- México despierta del sueño que fue el Mundial 2026 entre truenos, cánticos, banderas, lágrimas y súplicas
México despierta del sueño que fue el Mundial 2026 entre truenos, cánticos, banderas, lágrimas y súplicas
Por Andrea Saint Martin, CNN en Español
La selección mexicana de fútbol llegó este domingo al tan esperado quinto partido del Mundial 2026 con la frase “¿Y si sí?” repetida entre sus aficionados como si se tratara del mantra que les permitió soñar, por primera vez, en cosas tan grandes como ganar su primer título.
Desafortunadamente, toda una nación que ya se veía viajando a Miami para enfrentar a Noruega se vio obligada a despertar de golpe tras caer 3-2 ante Inglaterra en el último duelo que el Estadio Ciudad de México —conocido popularmente como Estadio Azteca— albergó del torneo.
México es coanfitrión de esta Copa del Mundo con Estados Unidos y Canadá, por lo que el Coloso de Santa Úrsula no verá rodar el balón ni un minuto más, aunque se podría argumentar que podría ser la sede ideal para la final. Momentos legendarios en la historia del fútbol como el “Partido del Siglo”, “la mano de Dios” y los campeonatos de Pelé y Maradona en 1970 y 1986, respectivamente, lo avalan.
“Creo que el país, en general, ha demostrado que fuimos la mejor sede y es una lástima que se termine la Copa del Mundo para México, pero ni hablar”, dijo a CNN en Español Fernando, aficionado mexicano de Monterrey, Nuevo León, que junto a un grupo de amigos se uniformó con un traje sastre verde y un sombrero ranchero para ir a todos los partidos del Tri este Mundial.
Jesús, de la Ciudad de México, está de acuerdo, aunque no tenía boleto para el partido. “Hay mucha gente que no vamos a entrar y estamos aquí conviviendo y disfrutando todo el ambiente”.
Ese es el mismo caso de Lucía, también de la capital del país, quien decidió llevar a sus hijos, Alberto y Andrea, a las afueras del recinto para que vivieran la experiencia y tuvieran recuerdos similares a los que ella vivió en México 1986.
“Tenía como 9 años y es increíble cómo el fútbol te hace soñar”, aseguró a CNN en Español, agregando que, aunque han pasado 40 años, “para los aficionados del fútbol, no hay diferencia porque lo disfrutamos, lo vivimos y lo gozamos. La pasión es la misma”.
“Les digo a ellos que yo tengo un buen recuerdo de 1986, a pesar de muchas cosas vividas, como la eliminación con Bulgaria, que fue sumamente triste”, añadió. “Ahora, llegar hasta estas instancias con un equipo como Inglaterra es otra cosa. No importa el resultado”.
En el caso de Ernesto, de Acatlán de Osorio, Puebla, la diferencia entre haber vivido México 1986 y el actual Mundial está en la tecnología.
“Los tiempos han cambiado. La gente, la afición. Es muy bonito. En 1986 todo era analógico y ahora todo es digital, pero no importa. La alegría sigue siendo la misma”, dijo a CNN en Español, añadiendo que se sentía afortunado porque las entradas las consiguió su hijo en un sorteo del trabajo.
Cuarenta años antes, visitó el Estadio Azteca para otro partido de Inglaterra, que en esa instancia cayó ante Argentina, Diego Armando Maradona y “la mano de Dios”.
Que México lograra jugar como local hasta el último partido calendarizado en el país ya suena para muchos aficionados como algo histórico, sobre todo si se toma en cuenta que el hecho no se había logrado en 40 años y que la afición tricolor aprendió a no ilusionarse. Tras su eliminación en Qatar 2022 en fase de grupos, parecía absurdo que siquiera cruzara por su cabeza esa posibilidad.
En casa, los dirigidos por Javier Aguirre hicieron pase perfecto por la fase de grupos: tres victorias, nueve puntos y ni un solo gol en contra. En dieciseisavos de final, ante Ecuador, una maldición pareció romperse al obtener la victoria, aún sin recibir goles y pasando a la siguiente ronda en un duelo de eliminación directa.
Las celebraciones de millones en el Ángel de la Independencia, los videos en redes sociales de la selección musicalizados por temas icónicos como “El Rey”, de José Alfredo Jiménez; “Hasta que te conocí”, de Juan Gabriel; “Mi mayor anhelo
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| 7- Heat Advisory issued July 7 at 12:20AM PDT until July 10 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
Heat Advisory issued July 7 at 12:20AM PDT until July 10 at 8:00PM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
* WHAT…Temperatures from 90 to around 100 expected…except up to
105 across the warmest mountains and interior valleys of San Luis
Obispo county.
* WHERE…A portion of southwest California.
* WHEN…From 10 AM this morning to 8 PM PDT Friday.
* IMPACTS…There is a high risk for heat illness for sensitive
populations including the very young, the very old, those without
air conditioning, and those active outdoors.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…The warmest temperatures with this event are
expected to occur Wednesday and Thursday afternoons with only a
very modest cool down Friday providing little relief. Temperatures
are expected to cool down slightly more over the weekend, but
remain above normal into the following week.
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of
the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose
fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning
or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and
heat stroke.
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- Wind Advisory issued July 7 at 12:20AM PDT until July 7 at 6:00AM PDT by NWS Los Angeles/Oxnard CA
- Revelan cuál es la ciudad con mejor calidad de vida del mundo en 2026
Revelan cuál es la ciudad con mejor calidad de vida del mundo en 2026
Por Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN
El mundo parece estar cambiando a la velocidad del rayo, así que quizás sea bueno saber que algunas cosas permanecen igual, al menos en lo que respecta a la ciudad con mejor calidad de vida.
Copenhague ha ocupado el primer puesto en la lista anual de la Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) por segundo año consecutivo.
Por segundo año seguido en la lista anual publicada el martes, la capital danesa superó a Viena, Austria, que había ocupado el primer puesto durante tres años en línea.
La EIU, organización hermana de la revista The Economist, clasificó 173 ciudades de todo el mundo según diversos factores, como la educación, la estabilidad, la atención médica, la infraestructura y la cultura.
Copenhague obtuvo puntuaciones “perfectas” en tres categorías, entre ellas estabilidad, infraestructura y educación.
Para el público estadounidense que consulta el índice, Nueva York subió tres puestos hasta el 66, gracias a una mejora significativa en sus puntuaciones en la categoría de estabilidad, resultado de la disminución de los índices de delincuencia y de la percepción de un menor riesgo de ataques terroristas.
Si bien la Gran Manzana está escalando posiciones, Honolulu sigue siendo la ciudad estadounidense mejor clasificada en general, a pesar de haber descendido dos puestos hasta la posición 25.
Vancouver, en el puesto número 9, fue la única ciudad norteamericana que logró entrar en el top 10 mundial.
El éxito constante de Copenhague en los primeros puestos se debió a una “combinación ganadora de excelentes puntuaciones en estabilidad e infraestructura, una gran cultura y medio ambiente, y servicios públicos de alta calidad”, según un portavoz de la Economist Intelligence Unit.
En tercer lugar quedó Melbourne, Australia, que subió un puesto respecto al año anterior. Otra ciudad australiana, Sydney, pasó del sexto al cuarto lugar.
La ciudad suiza de Zúrich, que el año pasado empató con Viena en el segundo puesto, descendió tres posiciones, mientras que Ginebra, también suiza, quedó justo detrás, en sexto lugar.
Osaka, Japón, mantuvo el séptimo puesto, mientras que Adelaida, Australia, se situó en octavo. Tokyo ocupó el décimo lugar.
Mientras tanto, las repercusiones de la guerra con Irán se reflejaron en la clasificación de las ciudades de la región del Golfo, que experimentaron un descenso en las puntuaciones de la categoría de estabilidad.
Las ciudades que más descendieron fueron Mascate, la capital de Omán, que cayó 14 puestos hasta el 123, y Ciudad de Kuwait, que bajó 12 puestos hasta el 105.
El Reino Unido se ha recuperado tras el descenso en las puntuaciones del año pasado debido a un período de disturbios y agitación social.
Manchester lidera la clasificación como la ciudad mejor posicionada por segunda vez, en el puesto 52, superando a Londres, que quedó en el puesto 54, y a Edimburgo, en el puesto 64.
Aunque Europa Occidental se situó como la región con mejor calidad de vida, su puntuación media de 91,7 fue ligeramente inferior a la de 2025.
Asia, por su parte, aumentó en 0,3 puntos hasta los 73,9, en gran parte gracias a mejores puntuaciones en el sector sanitario, especialmente en ciudades chinas como Fuzhou, situada en el sureste del país, que subió siete puestos hasta el 93.
“Hemos mejorado las puntuaciones de atención médica en general para las ciudades chinas, lo que refleja las mejoras nacionales en los planes de financiación y la inversión”, añadió un portavoz de la Economist Intelligence Unit, señalando un nuevo sistema de seguro de atención a largo plazo en el país, así como la mejora en la prestación de servicios de salud.
Si bien Damasco, en Siria, sigue estand
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- The new tastemakers are cutlery designers
The new tastemakers are cutlery designers
By Jessica Salter
(CNN) — The design writer and collector Dung Ngo owns more than 10,000 pieces of cutlery. It started 25 years ago, when Ngo turned 30 and decided that “the cutlery I bought after college from Target, no longer fit who I was.” He found a 40-piece set he loved in a vintage shop for $400, and spent a week searching through old design journals until he identified it: Composition, by the renowned Finnish designer Tapio Wirkkala. These days, a complete Wirkkala set can fetch upwards of $3,600.
The discovery started an obsession, with Ngo buying piece after piece of iconic cutlery from eBay and antique shops, searching for matches to grainy photographs he found in design magazines from the 1940s, 50s and 60s. “I became hooked,” he said.
That vast collection – which has to be stored out of Ngo’s New York apartment – is the basis of his new book, “Knife Fork Spoon: Modernist Cutlery 1900–2025,” due out in August. The 600-page survey of iconic flatware is accompanied by a recently-opened exhibition at the Denver Art Museum which features over 150 designs, chronologically arranged across themes like airlines, children and travel.
Both projects trace 125 years of flatware design, but, “I thought, that’s not the full story,” said Ngo, who is also editor in chief of the architecture and design journal, AUGUST. “There is also a future to this category, and maybe I can actually participate in that future in a real, physical way, rather than just writing about it.”
Ngo’s research had already pointed him toward a structural problem: modern cutlery has barely changed in 150 years. “We start the production with a flat sheet of metal, and then you bend it,” he said, adding “it can get quite three-dimensional, but never highly sculptural.”
The second problem is the craft behind that production is disappearing. Researching in Solingen, the traditional town of Germany’s cutlery makers, Ngo found that only a handful of manufacturers remained. In England, a visit to see influential designer David Mellor’s workshop near Sheffield – nicknamed the “Steel City” thanks to its heritage in steel and cutlery production during the Industrial Revolution – turned up much the same story. “It’s nearly all gone,” Ngo said. “That was heartbreaking.”
Cutting edge design
Thinking about cutlery production of the future, Ngo was inspired by a 3D-printed metal cutlery set he had included in the book, designed by the architect Greg Lynn for Alessi in 2007. At the time it was an experiment that cost $10,000 to $20,000 per set, with only a handful ever made. “I called Greg and said, ‘Can I take your design and put it back into production?’ He said, ‘Absolutely. Now is the time – twenty years later is perfect.’”
Ngo commissioned eleven other international artists to reimagine what cutlery could look like, with three important rules: make it personal, make it cultural, and design something that could only exist through 3D printing onto sintered steel (produced from compressed steel powder). He told the designers not to worry too much about function: “You can buy that stuff from anywhere for fifty bucks.” The result was the exhibition Knife, Fork, Spoon 3.0, curated by Ngo and presented by the Los Angeles gallery Marta at 3 Days of Design in Copenhagen earlier this month.
Ngo was conscious to include not only female designers (historically underrepresented in cutlery design), but also those who would use the brief to make a typical Western cutlery set more applicable to different cultures. The Korean multi-discipline designer Minjae Kim, produced a set of knife, fork and spoon – along with a set of chopsticks. While the Nigerian designer Nifemi Marcus-Bello included a bowl printed in resin along with his graphically-shaped cutlery. “He explained that in Nigeria, when you go out to eat, you’re asked if you want to eat with a fork and a spoon, or
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| 8- Vacían el estanque reflectante, una vez más, mientras la administración Trump intenta nuevamente reparar el emblemático lugar
Vacían el estanque reflectante, una vez más, mientras la administración Trump intenta nuevamente reparar el emblemático lugar
Por Serfaty soleada, CNN
Las autoridades comenzaron a vaciar el domingo el estanque reflectante del Monumento a Lincoln por segunda vez en tres meses, según el secretario del Interior de EE.UU., Doug Burgum.
En una entrevista publicada el martes con Katie Miller, presentadora de podcasts conservadora y esposa del subsecretario de la Casa Blanca del presidente Trump, Stephen Miller, Burgum declaró que el drenado de la piscina se realiza según lo planeado después del espectáculo de fuegos artificiales del 4 de julio, y señaló que algunos de los restos de los fuegos artificiales todavía estaban en el agua.
Al preguntársele sobre el cronograma de esta ronda de renovaciones, no dio detalles más allá de una descripción general.
“Drene el agua. Limpie los restos de los fuegos artificiales. Repare los daños causados por el vandalismo. Vuelva a llenarlo”, manifestó Burgum.
Hasta el martes por la noche, todavía había agua en la piscina y no estaba claro si se vaciaría por completo. Burgum indicó durante el fin de semana que tal vez solo sería necesario vaciarla parcialmente.
Esta medida se produce tras semanas de problemas —proliferación de algas, agua verdosa, deterioro del casco y acusaciones de vandalismo— que han afectado a este emblemático monumento, convirtiendo sus problemas en objeto de preocupación nacional.
Miembros de la administración Trump, incluido el presidente, han afirmado que vándalos dañaron el estanque reflectante al rajar el revestimiento, aunque no han presentado pruebas que respalden esta afirmación.
A finales de junio, el presidente anunció que el estanque se vaciaría después del feriado del 4 de julio para repararlo.
La administración empleará al mismo contratista, Atlantic Industrial Coatings, con sede en Virginia, para esta próxima ronda de reparaciones.
Anteriormente, la empresa obtuvo un contrato sin licitación por valor de más de US$ 14 millones para su parte del trabajo: sellar la piscina y pintar el fondo de azul, el color de la bandera estadounidense.
Al ser consultado sobre el cronograma para su parte de las reparaciones, Eddie Gross, propietario de Atlantic Industrial Coatings, declaró a CNN que “aún no hay nada definido”. Se negó a responder preguntas sobre su contrato y el costo de las reparaciones adicionales.
El Departamento del Interior no respondió a las preguntas sobre el cronograma de esta ronda de reparaciones.
Burgum, en una entrevista en el programa “State of the Union” de CNN el domingo, sugirió que las reparaciones podrían realizarse con la piscina solo parcialmente vacía. Intentó presentar los costos como mínimos.
“Será una cifra pequeña porque la mayor parte del trabajo estaba relacionada con la mano de obra y los materiales para el revestimiento”, indicó Burgum.
“Seguiremos utilizando la misma empresa, porque hicieron un trabajo fantástico”, señaló.
Burgum también afirmó que el Gobierno podía probar “absolutamente” que los daños fueron causados por vándalos y que existen fotografías que respaldan esta afirmación.
Sin embargo, eludió la pregunta sobre si dichas fotografías muestran a alguien dañando la piscina.
El secretario también negó que el hecho de que la caravana de vehículos de Trump atravesara la piscina en plena renovación en mayo hubiera causado algún daño al lugar.
“No, yo estaba con él cuando llegamos esa noche… Íbamos en un Cadillac Escalade. Es uno de los coches de la flota presidencial”, contó Burgum, añadiendo que el vehículo que usó Trump para el trayecto era “considerablemente más ligero” que la limusina presidencial blindada conocida como “La Bestia”.
“Todavía no se había terminado la capa base de caucho industrial, por lo que no hubo ningún daño esa noche”, apuntó. “Esa fue una de las preguntas que nos hicimos incluso antes de llevar la caravana presidencial allí, pero no hubo ningun
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- New York hopes converted offices can ease a housing crisis. A structural emergency at a high-rise tower shows the challenges
New York hopes converted offices can ease a housing crisis. A structural emergency at a high-rise tower shows the challenges
By Samantha Delouya, CNN
(CNN) — New York City has bet heavily on converting aging office buildings into apartments to help ease a housing shortage. But the threat of a partial collapse Tuesday by one such conversion in progress highlighted the significant challenges of those construction projects.
The former Pfizer building, located on East 42nd Street, was undergoing work to become roughly 1,600 apartment units with amenities such as a rooftop pool and a fitness center.
But on Tuesday, structural columns buckled and floors sagged, prompting the evacuation of that building and several others nearby, according to New York City officials. Nearby bus routes that pass were also delayed or partially suspended.
Office-to-apartment conversions have surged since the pandemic emptied out aging office buildings, offering cities a way to add desperately needed housing. And New York City has championed these conversions, offering tax incentives to turn older vacant office buildings into livable spaces.
But the projects often require extensive structural, plumbing, mechanical and redesign work that can make the project more complicated than building new housing from scratch.
The conversion of the former Pfizer headquarters is among the most ambitious office-to-apartment projects in the country. It is the largest such conversion in New York City history and is slated for completion in 2027, according to the project’s architectural firm, Gensler.
The project, located just a block away from Grand Central Terminal, consists of two buildings originally built in the 1970s and includes adding 19 new stories atop one of the existing 10-story structures – and “reconfiguring and recladding” the adjoining 33-story tower, according to Gensler.
Videos and photos circulating on social media showed steel columns on the building’s higher floors buckling and contorting on Tuesday. The FDNY said the building was at risk of a “localized collapse” and “continued to move” as of Tuesday afternoon.
Andrew Alpern, an architectural historian who has written extensively about New York apartment buildings, told CNN he was skeptical of the conversion from the outset because the building’s design didn’t easily lend itself to apartment units. Apartments need more windows than an office space, for example.
“The project bothered me right from the start, and now this has happened,” he said.
New York City’s comptroller said in a social media post Tuesday that “there will be an investigation into what caused this dangerous situation.”
Like a ‘surgery’
Breaking up sterile, expansive workspaces into inviting multi-family homes is harder than it may look. Office buildings are designed with very different considerations than apartment dwellings.
For example, unlike a traditional office layout, each apartment unit must have at least one bathroom and a kitchen, which means the plumbing must be reworked. Most office buildings have central air conditioning, so the system needs to be replaced with individual heating and cooling systems for each unit.
Larger office towers, like the former Pfizer headquarters in Midtown Manhattan, present another major hurdle: Because many areas sit far from exterior windows to maximize office space, developers often must completely reconfigure the layout to bring in natural light, which can require removing and rebuilding portions of the building.
Robert Fuller, a principal at Gensler working on the Pfizer building conversion, compared the project to surgery in an interview with Read more
- New York hopes converted offices can ease a housing crisis. A structural emergency at a high-rise tower shows the challenges
New York hopes converted offices can ease a housing crisis. A structural emergency at a high-rise tower shows the challenges
CNN
By Samantha Delouya, CNN
(CNN) — New York City has bet heavily on converting aging office buildings into apartments to help ease a housing shortage. But the threat of a partial collapse Tuesday by one such conversion in progress highlighted the significant challenges of those construction projects.
The former Pfizer building, located on East 42nd Street, was undergoing work to become roughly 1,600 apartment units with amenities such as a rooftop pool and a fitness center.
But on Tuesday, structural columns buckled and floors sagged, prompting the evacuation of that building and several others nearby, according to New York City officials. Nearby bus routes that pass were also delayed or partially suspended.
Office-to-apartment conversions have surged since the pandemic emptied out aging office buildings, offering cities a way to add desperately needed housing. And New York City has championed these conversions, offering tax incentives to turn older vacant office buildings into livable spaces.
But the projects often require extensive structural, plumbing, mechanical and redesign work that can make the project more complicated than building new housing from scratch.
The conversion of the former Pfizer headquarters is among the most ambitious office-to-apartment projects in the country. It is the largest such conversion in New York City history and is slated for completion in 2027, according to the project’s architectural firm, Gensler.
The project, located just a block away from Grand Central Terminal, consists of two buildings originally built in the 1970s and includes adding 19 new stories atop one of the existing 10-story structures – and “reconfiguring and recladding” the adjoining 33-story tower, according to Gensler.
Videos and photos circulating on social media showed steel columns on the building’s higher floors buckling and contorting on Tuesday. The FDNY said the building was at risk of a “localized collapse” and “continued to move” as of Tuesday afternoon.
Andrew Alpern, an architectural historian who has written extensively about New York apartment buildings, told CNN he was skeptical of the conversion from the outset because the building’s design didn’t easily lend itself to apartment units. Apartments need more windows than an office space, for example.
“The project bothered me right from the start, and now this has happened,” he said.
New York City’s comptroller said in a social media post Tuesday that “there will be an investigation into what caused this dangerous situation.”
Like a ‘surgery’
Breaking up sterile, expansive workspaces into inviting multi-family homes is harder than it may look. Office buildings are designed with very different considerations than apartment dwellings.
For example, unlike a tradi
Read more
- ICE officer fatally shoots man while conducting traffic stop in Houston, agency says
ICE officer fatally shoots man while conducting traffic stop in Houston, agency says
By Karina Tsui, CNN
(CNN) — An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed a Mexican national while he attempted to evade arrest in Houston on Tuesday, the agency said.
In a statement to CNN, an ICE spokesperson said agents tried to conduct a traffic stop and arrest Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, who was living in the US without legal permission. The agency claims Salgado Araujo refused to follow several verbal commands and rammed into one of its law enforcement vehicles.
Salgado Araujo “weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defense,” the statement said, adding that he was later transported to a hospital where he died from his injuries.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General is leading an investigation into the shooting, the statement said, noting that the FBI’s Houston field office is investigating a potential assault on a federal law enforcement officer.
CNN has reached out to DHS-OIG and FBI Houston for more information.
Tuesday’s incident is the second ICE-involved shooting in less than a week and comes amid an uptick in immigration enforcement prompted by President Donald Trump’s sweeping deportation agenda.
Demanding a transparent investigation
Salgado Araujo’s death has brought an outpouring of grief and calls for transparency, with activists and Texas Democratic lawmakers demanding all evidence from the scene be reviewed.
“We demand a full, independent investigation, the immediate release of all available evidence, and accountability for the wrongful death of Lorenzo. The public deserves the truth, and the Salgado family deserves justice,” the League of United Latin American Citizens said in a Tuesday statement.
“ICE has released an initial account, but the facts must be independently and thoroughly investigated, including the circumstances that led to the use of deadly force,” Rep. Sylvia Garcia, whose district includes the area of the incident, said on X.
“All available footage, communications, and other evidence should be preserved and reviewed as part of a full and impartial investigation,” she said.
Echoing Garcia’s remarks, Rep. Christian Menefee, who represents parts of Houston, said all information gleaned from the investigation must be made public.
“ICE’s actions across the country have caused them to lose the faith and confidence of communities,” he said on X.
Salgado Araujo’s son Ronaldo Salgado took to Facebook to respond to his father’s killing, saying that Salgado Araujo was a “hardworking Mexican man” who worked in construction to provide for his wife and three children.
Having been in the US for nearly 35 years, Salgado Araujo “was in the process of obtaining his work permit through the legal process,” his son said. “He was on his way to work, picking up his workers.”
“My father did not deserve this,” he added. Ronaldo Salgado is expected to hold a news conference Wednesday.
CNN has reached out to Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Houston police for comment.
Several immigration enforcement operations in the US over the last year have resulted in fatalities –– with initial descriptions from authorities of clashes between agents and suspects later contradicted by video evidence.
A federal agent last year shot and killed 23-year-old Ruben Ray Martinez, a US citizen, during a traffic encounter, to which DHS claimed was in response to the driver’s attempted run over of a fellow agent. It is not clear in footage of the encounter, however, that the vehicle struck
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| 9- The US is striking Iran again. Can it ever deliver a knockout blow?
The US is striking Iran again. Can it ever deliver a knockout blow?
By Jessie Yeung, Brad Lendon, CNN
(CNN) — In many ways it was already the ceasefire that never was. But with the United States and Iran claiming to have hit dozens of targets each with air, drone and missile strikes in the past 48 hours, it’s increasingly hard to see where this goes next.
The new strikes are the latest in a series of back-and-forth attacks since the two sides first agreed to a shaky ceasefire in April and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June that was supposed to set the stage for a permanent end to the fighting.
Iran has claimed the US hasn’t lived up to its side of the deal; Washington has pushed back that it’s Tehran going back on its promises.
But US President Donald Trump is losing patience – especially this week, irked by the Iranian strikes while he met world leaders at the NATO summit in Turkey. The MoU with Iran is “over,” he declared on Wednesday, calling Iran’s leaders “cuckoo” and a “waste of time.”
Tehran has issued its own warnings – its parliament speaker and top negotiator posting on X: “If you strike, you’ll get hit.”
What we now have is the US military pounding multiple, mostly coastal, targets in Iran. Yet Iranian forces are still able to fire back, sending missiles and drones toward US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Things also remain precarious in the Strait of Hormuz – and experts say the latest attacks likely won’t remove Iran’s ability to threaten shipping in one of the world’s most important energy arteries.
Because the latest strikes from both sides are less intense than those launched when the war began in late February, some suggest a peace process still has a chance.
But others see little reason for optimism.
“The ceasefire had little chance of survival because the Iranian government that signed it has no authority over the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC),” said Carl Schuster, the former director of the US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center.
The IRGC are Iran’s elite troops, fully separate from the regular forces. They control the country’s missile arsenal, and their job is to protect the country’s Islamic revolution. They report only to the supreme leader, and they’ve shown little interest in making a deal with Washington – at least on terms Trump would be happy with.
“Their overarching goal is to keep their theocratic regime in power. This air campaign won’t force them to change any of that. It’s too limited in scope,” said retired US Air Force Col. Cedric Leighton, a CNN military analyst.
And the IRGC wants to keep control over the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s oil passes in peaceful times – something they’ve done since the early days of the war, spiking world oil prices.
Trump wants the strait open and free, but analysts say Iran – through the IRGC – maintains a strong hand.
“The only viable ceasefire is one to which the IRGC agrees, and that will happen only if the IRGC leadership believes a ceasefire is the only option that ensures the organization’s survival as an independent entity,” Schuster said.
What’s happening on the ground?
The latest hostilities followed a now-familiar pattern: they were triggered by Iran firing on three commercial vessels on Tuesday, in Oman’s territorial waters near the Strait of Hormuz, according to a US official.
Iran sees control of the waterway as its most valuable point of leverage in negotiations, and says vessels must use its designated routes and have its permission to cross it. But a growing number of ships are using a route close to the Omani coast instead, threatening Iran’s leverage over the waterway.
In Iran’s eyes this violates the MoU,
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- Linking Needed Housing and Climate Resilience Gains
- For 35 years, a Mexican father built homes in Houston. Then a morning drive ended in tragedy
For 35 years, a Mexican father built homes in Houston. Then a morning drive ended in tragedy
By Dalia Faheid, Chris Boyette, CNN
(CNN) — For the last 35 years, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo’s day began the same way: He woke up at 5 a.m., kissed his wife goodbye, loaded his work van and drove off to pick up his construction crew for work in Houston, his family said.
But on Tuesday, Salgado Araujo’s day would not end as it always did. He would not come home to eat a hearty dinner prepared by his wife, then spend the rest of the evening on the porch listening to music in the house he had built for his family.
Around 7 a.m., as the 52-year-old father of three picked up the last of his crew in Houston’s East End area before heading north to finish construction on several houses, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in an unmarked car fatally shot the Mexican man inside his van, Salgado Araujo’s oldest son recounted Wednesday.
ICE said Salgado Araujo attempted to evade arrest as agents tried to conduct a traffic stop as part of a “targeted operation.” He rammed into a law enforcement vehicle and refused to follow several verbal commands before an ICE agent fired his weapon in self-defense, the agency told CNN in a statement Tuesday.
Salgado Araujo had been living in the US without legal authorization, ICE said, without specifying whether the agents had been looking for him. CNN has asked the agency for more information.
But Salgado Araujo’s family disputes the agency’s account, saying they believe the man who’d been seeking a work permit would have stopped and complied with federal agents if he had known the car following him belonged to ICE or other law enforcement. Salgado Araujo did not appear to have a criminal record, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office said.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Inspector General is leading an investigation into the shooting, according to ICE. And the FBI’s Houston field office is investigating the alleged assault on a federal law enforcement officer.
Now, Texas Democratic lawmakers, activists and Salgado Araujo’s family want a fuller investigation into his death.
The case is the latest in which someone was severely injured or killed this year after being shot by a federal immigration enforcement agent. It also again raises questions about who is targeted by a nationwide immigration enforcement push the Trump administration says aims to remove dangerous criminals from the US.
‘Help me! They shot me!’
Salgado Araujo over the last year and a half had submitted pictures and statements from employers and loved ones for a work permit application, his son recalled, saying he was “close to obtaining his legal status.”
“We dotted every ‘i’, crossed every ‘t,’ filled every document, attended every appointment,” Ronaldo Salgado said.
The father had no criminal history, Ronaldo Salgado said, and was a private, hardworking family man who spent three decades supporting his wife and three sons by building hundreds of homes in Houston suburbs.
He “never wanted his name to be known by anyone outside of his family,” Ronaldo Salgado said at a news conference Wednesday. “He wanted nothing else in life but to provide for his wife and see his sons become great people.”
On Tuesday morning, Ronaldo Salgado’s mom told him “something bad” happened to his father, the son said. They didn’t know what it was – except that it involved ICE.
Salgado Araujo had talked with his lawyers about what to do if he was taken by
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- Trabajan para mantener estables los rascacielos de Nueva York, pero es solo el comienzo. Esto es lo que viene a continuación
Trabajan para mantener estables los rascacielos de Nueva York, pero es solo el comienzo. Esto es lo que viene a continuación
Por Emma Tucker, CNN
Jason Polanco dejó atrás casi todas sus pertenencias este martes, cuando él y sus compañeros, que apenas comenzaban su jornada laboral, recibieron la orden de evacuar su edificio de oficinas en Midtown Manhattan. Esperaban que fuera algo breve.
En cambio, pasaron las siguientes horas intentando volver a entrar para recuperar sus ordenadores portátiles, documentos y otros objetos esenciales después de que las columnas estructurales de un edificio alto cercano cedieran.
Confundidos y frustrados, los trabajadores evacuados huyeron de sus edificios de oficinas y los huéspedes de los hoteles sacaron sus maletas de la zona de peligro mientras aumentaban las preguntas sobre el inmueble que, según los funcionarios de la ciudad, era “inestable” y podría sufrir un “derrumbe localizado”.
Ni los bomberos ni la oficina de Polanco han proporcionado plazos concretos sobre cuándo se les permitirá regresar al interior, con estimaciones que van desde unos pocos días hasta dos semanas, indicó.
Un día después del incidente, varios edificios cercanos permanecían evacuados y las calles aledañas, normalmente muy concurridas, estaban prácticamente vacías debido a los cierres mientras los equipos continuaban con las labores de estabilización.
El inmueble de East 42nd Street permanece estable desde el martes por la mañana, pero cuatro edificios cercanos siguen evacuados, informaron las autoridades municipales.
Su promotor afirmó que se han colocado apuntalamientos temporales y que ninguna parte del edificio estuvo en riesgo de derrumbe en ningún momento, a pesar de que la ciudad había establecido previamente una “zona de riesgo de colapso” a su alrededor tras advertir que no era estable.
Hemos podido ver a agentes de policía caminando junto a las barricadas para mantener alejados a los peatones. Durante todo el día, algunos curiosos se detuvieron a observar lo que solía ser la sede de Pfizer.
A media cuadra de distancia, una panadería local, un salón de manicura y un Dunkin’ Donuts permanecían cerrados.
Esto es lo que sabemos sobre lo que sucederá a continuación:
Según informaron las autoridades, los equipos de construcción trabajaron durante toda la noche para reforzar los puntos más débiles del edificio y luego comenzaron a añadir nuevos soportes de acero para permitir que los trabajadores comenzaran a estabilizar el edificio de forma segura mediante un proceso llamado apuntalamiento.
Se espera que terminen de apuntalar los pisos afectados para el jueves por la mañana, declaró Nathan Berman, fundador y director gerente de MetroLoft, la empresa constructora del rascacielos.
Según indicó, las columnas y vigas afectadas serán reemplazadas por completo una vez que el Departamento de Edificios autorice a los equipos a realizar dichas tareas.
Según el jefe del Departamento de Edificios de la ciudad, los trabajadores están utilizando gatos hidráulicos de emergencia e instalando nuevos soportes de acero para ayudar a estabilizar el edificio.
Los gatos de apuntalamiento son puntales ajustables de alta resistencia que se utilizan para sostener temporalmente estructuras verticales como techos, losas de hormigón y paredes. Se suelen usar durante la construcción para mantener la estabilidad.
Para estabilizar completamente el edificio, los ingenieros podrían necesitar extender el apuntalamiento hasta 20 pisos de profundidad, llegando a los cimientos y a los pisos superiores que se están hundiendo.
Hasta el miércoles, se habían entregado más de 100 gatos de apuntalamiento adicionales en la obra, los cuales estaban listos para ser instalados.
Según el ingeniero estructural Matthew Roblez, los equipos que realizan trabajos de apuntalamiento deben tomar precauciones debido al riesgo inherente de su labor.
Trabajan en estrecha colaboración con ingenieros estructurales para enc
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