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The Nasdaq topped 10,000 for the first time ever, proving that during this period of economic uncertainty, America still has faith in tech stocks like Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Netflix.
1. Police reform
When the G20 economic summit is held next month in Japan, all eyes will be on President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. There’s more than a good chance the two will meet in person during the summit to discuss the ongoing trade battle between the two countries, White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said. Last week the Trump administration raised tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods to 25%. Kudlow said the Chinese will retaliate. Talks between the countries ended without a deal on Friday, and no new talks have been scheduled. President Trump feels he can wait out the economic damage because he says the Chinese will pay the tariffs. But even Kudlow admits that’s not really true: US companies pay the tariffs, and those extra costs are often passed on to consumers.
MONDAY
Two Saudi Arabian oil tankers were damaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, and the Saudis claim the attacks were sabotage. It’s not clear if this incident is related to suspected “sabotage attacks” on four commercial ships that the UAE reported over the weekend. The US warns “Iran or its proxies” could be targeting commercial vessels and oil production infrastructure in the region. That’s why the US has beefed up its military muscle in the area as tensions with Iran have escalated.
Kendrick Castillo died a hero. When a fellow student pulled out a gun in class this week, the 18-year-old lunged at the shooter, giving others at STEM School Highlands Ranch enough time to hide. Castillo’s sacrifice was remembered during a vigil at the suburban Denver school. Eight other students were injured in the shooting. The two suspects accused in the crime – both students at the school – made their first court appearances Wednesday. It’s the second time in as many weeks that a student was killed confronting a gunman at school. It happened last week at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte when Riley Howell died after knocking down a gunman. Howell’s parents say they are devastated that another family has to go through similar pain.
3. Election 2020
A group of passengers waiting for their flight over the weekend in Louisville, Kentucky, found out it was canceled for an unbelievable reason: the pilot had been arrested on triple murder charges. Christian Richard Martin, a pilot for a subsidiary of American Airlines, was arrested Saturday at Louisville International Airport. He’s accused of killing a Kentucky couple and their neighbor in 2015. One of the victims was expected to testify against Martin in a court case.
North Korea launched something today, but no one knows just exactly what it was. The North fired at least one unidentified projectile in the western part of the country, South Korea’s military said. The launch took place in a region that’s believed to be home to one of 20 undeclared missile facilities in the North. Just less than a week ago, Pyongyang test-fired several new weapons systems. State media in the North said the launches were part of a “strike drill,” but experts said they think the country was trying out some new short-range ballistic missile – the type that could carry a nuclear warhead.
THURSDAY
A hike on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia turned deadly after a man attacked two people with a machete. A Massachusetts man faces a federal murder charge and is expected to make a court appearance in the case this morning. Authorities found one of the victims, an injured man, on the trail through GPS technology after he sent an emergency notification on his phone. The injured man later died. A woman who was injured in the attack walked six miles while bleeding before she was found.
5. Nigeria
Just how bad is our greenhouse gas problem right now? There’s more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today than at any point since the evolution of humans. That shocking bit of news comes from data from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii. It says the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere is over 415 parts per million. That’s higher than at any point in the last 800,000 years, since before the evolution of homo sapiens. Elevated carbon dioxide levels prevent the Earth’s natural cooling cycle from working, trapping heat near the surface and causing global temperatures to rise.
THIS JUST IN …
Bouncing buzzer-beater
NBA Game 7s don’t get much more exciting than a series-clinching, buzzer-beating shot bouncing off the rim FOUR times before going in.
Hey ya!
Those of you clamoring for an OutKast reunion got one, sort of, when Big Boi and Andre 3000 attended a high school graduation in Georgia.
Mom’s moment
The UK celebrates Mother’s Day in March, but the Duchess of Sussex is still an American at heart, right? So she shared a new photo of baby Archie for US Mother’s Day.
Whatever it takes
When your building is without power for days, it’s nice to know someone with power, like an aide to Pope Francis who climbed into a manhole to restore electricity.
So long, Selina
As the rest of us tried to process all that went on in Westeros, “Veep” said goodbye after a seven-season run.
HAPPENING LATER
College admissions scandal
Actress Felicity Huffman is expected to plead guilty today to paying $15,000 to a fake charity that facilitated cheating for her daughter’s SATs. She faces up to 20 years in prison.
TODAY’S QUOTE
Open case
Sweden is reopening the investigation into an allegation of rape against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a prosecutor said this morning.
TODAY’S WEATHER
AND FINALLY
Wheat worship
A cathedral made out of breads, cereals and pastas? Yes, it’s in Italy. And no, you can’t eat it. (Click to view)