News of the World
06-02-2025, 12:06 AM
USA
Quote:One person is dead and 11 others injured following a mass shooting early Sunday morning in the Mountain View community of southwest Catawba County, North Carolina.
According to the Catawba County Sheriff's Office, deputies and Hickory Police officers responded around 12:45 a.m. to reports of multiple people shot at a residence.
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In total, 12 victims have been reported. One person was pronounced dead, another is in critical condition, and several others remain hospitalized, officials said. Local and state-level investigators are currently working at the scene to identify the suspect or suspects involved and determine a motive.
What To Know
Catawba County lies in the western region of the state, approximately an hour north of Charlotte. The shooting took place at a home on a section of Walnut Acres Drive, according to officials statements and images of the residence.
Witnesses report that there was a large party at the residence before the shooting, with around 100 attendees. During the gathering, several individuals began discharging firearms, leading to chaos and panic among the crowd.
Drone footage taken by the North Carolina station WBTV shows the house cordoned with tape, with several law enforcement vehicles parked outside and investigators collecting evidence.
Quote:Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, a Democrat, has drawn criticism from right-wing commentators and social media after making a gesture that bears similarity to the controversial one previously made by Elon Musk and Steve Bannon, for which they faced heavy backlash.
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Musk during President Donald Trump's second inauguration in January made a gesture that many claimed was a Nazi salute, while the tech mogul and his allies defended it as a harmless and well-intentioned gesture meaning "my heart goes out to you." Musk made the gesture twice.
Musk responded at the time to the criticism with a message on X, saying: "Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired."
Bannon, host of the influential War Room podcast and former White House strategist, then made a similar gesture during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February and saying, "fight, fight, fight."
Supporters of Musk and Bannon have also claimed that the pair have made a "Roman salute," which was depicted in 18th and 19th-century art, but there is no historical evidence from ancient Rome that it was a common practice.
What To Know
Booker spoke at a Democratic convention in California on Saturday, ending his speech with a gesture where he put his hand over his heart, then extended his hand out to the crowd – much in the way Musk and Bannon did, though not as forcefully as Musk did it.
The video was first posted by Richie Greenberg, a San Francisco-based political commentator and former GOP mayoral candidate for the city, and quickly spread among MAGA-social media.
Quote:Anew analysis of U.S. Census Bureau figures by real estate company Redfin has found that 49 percent of newly built apartments completed in the last quarter of 2024 hadn't been rented out within three months, the fifth quarter in a row this figure was below 50 percent.
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A near record number of new apartments were completed in the fourth quarter of 2024, which coincided with a year-on-year rent fall of 1 percent in April 2025, according to Redfin.
This suggests a surge in building has provided some relief to renters, but the latest figures could concern developers looking to sell properties.
What To Know
Redfin's analysis of Census Bureau data found 49 percent of newly built apartments that were completed between October and December 2024 hadn't been rented out three months later, a slight rise on the 47 percent recorded for the third quarter of 2024.
Notably, this was the fifth consecutive quarter that the rental adoption rate for newly built apartments was below 49 percent with Redfin saying the market is continuing to "lag behind pre-pandemic norms."
For one- and two-bedroom apartments, 44 percent of the newbuilds had been rented out within three months, compared to larger three-bedroom-plus apartments where the figure was 53 percent.
The analysis also concluded that the vacancy rate for buildings up for rent with five or more units was 8.2 percent in the first quarter of 2025, which tied with the fourth quarter of 2024 as the highest figure since 2021.
Quote:The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has elevated the risk level of a recent cookie recall to Class I—the highest and most serious category—amid concerns over undeclared allergens.
New Grains Gluten Free Bakery announced a product recall that was publicized by the FDA earlier in May. The company found that some of its baked goods, including four types of cookie, may contain eggs, soy, or milk, despite consumers not being advised of this.
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According to the FDA, millions of people in the U.S. have food allergies or food sensitivities. Food sensitivities can range from mild reactions to potentially life-threatening symptoms. The FDA recognizes nine major food allergens: milk, eggs, sesame, fish, tree nuts, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, wheat and soybeans.
The inclusion of these ingredients in a product without proper disclosure poses a serious risk of allergic reactions, which can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening anaphylaxis.
What To Know
The affected products, which include gluten-free varieties of Chocolate Chip, Frosted Sugar, Coconut Macaroon, and Brownie Chocolate Chip cookies, were found to contain undeclared allergens such as egg, milk, and soy.
These allergens were not properly identified on the packaging due to print quality issues that rendered ingredient lists and allergen warnings either unreadable or missing.
Compounding the problem, the lot codes and date codes printed on the cookie packaging were also unreadable or absent, making it difficult for consumers and retailers to identify and isolate affected batches.
Quote:The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) initiated a recall of about 24,000 kitchen faucets made by BASDEHEN and sold on Amazon.com, after tests showed these products could leach dangerous amounts of lead into drinking water.
Why It Matters
Lead is a potent neurotoxin that can cause irreversible health effects, particularly in young children, including cognitive impairment, behavioral issues, and lower IQ. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Early action against dangerous consumer products, such as contaminated faucets, is critical to preventing lasting harm and public health crises across American homes.
The recall highlights growing concerns over imported plumbing products and their role in contaminating U.S. drinking water, raising new questions about product oversight, e-commerce platforms, and consumer protections.
What To Know
The CPSC advised consumers to immediately stop using and properly dispose of the affected faucets, which pose a particular risk to infants, young children, and pregnant women, according to a CPSC recall notice. Testing found excessive lead levels in the faucets, with the CPSC urging Americans to check their kitchen and bathroom fixtures for the recalled model.
About 24,000 units are impacted by the recall and were sold on Amazon from May 2024 through May 2025 for about $30.
When reached for comment, the CPSC directed Newsweek to a press release published by the commission on May 15 that warns consumers of nine Chinese-made faucets that pose dangerous lead exposure risks to those who use them.
"These warnings follow a CPSC enforcement sweep targeting dangerous faucets manufactured in China. None of the Chinese firms has agreed to conduct an acceptable recall," the press release said. "Earlier this week, CPSC issued a public health and safety finding to expedite public warnings about these faucets because individuals may be in danger from these product hazards."
Quote:Three different companies' products have been pulled from shelves in the past four days due to concerns about salmonella contamination.
Why It Matters
Salmonella causes symptoms from diarrhea and fever to severe, sometimes life-threatening infections in vulnerable groups. U.S. consumers are being urged to thoroughly inspect their deli, salad, and produce purchases, as healthy individuals are at risk.
The widespread nature of both the distribution and consumption of these products underscores the importance of rapid response and cross-state coordination to contain foodborne outbreaks and protect public health.
What To Know
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced voluntary recalls this week on products made and distributed by Supreme Service Solutions, The Coastal Companies, and Isabelle's Kitchen Inc.
Products withdrawn include fresh cucumbers, salads, salsas, and vegetable trays that were sold to supermarket chains, food service distributors, and local grocers, with official notices warning consumers not to eat, sell, or serve any affected items.
Quote:Millions of residents in Texas, Minnesota, and Michigan are under air quality alerts this weekend as authorities warn of unhealthy levels of ozone and fine particle pollution.
Why It Matters
The alerts come as wildfires are burning across Canada, creating harmful conditions and affecting air quality.
Smoke and airborne pollutants can be especially hazardous for individuals with respiratory conditions.
So far this year, wildfires have scorched over 1.58 million acres in Canada—roughly 40 percent above the 10-year average for this time of year, CNN reported.
What To Know
The air quality issues affecting these three states stem from a combination of factors. In Texas, high temperatures and stagnant atmospheric conditions have created an environment conducive to ozone buildup. In Minnesota and Michigan, strong northerly winds are carrying smoke from the Canadian wildfires, impacting air quality across the Midwest and Great Lakes regions.
Residents in affected areas are advised to check air quality forecasts, limit outdoor activities, avoid exercising outside during peak pollution hours, and use air conditioning systems to keep indoor air clean. Health officials warn that these alerts may extend into the following week if weather conditions persist.
Minnesota
In Minnesota, the entire state is under an Air Quality Alert issued by the state's Pollution Control Agency. It remains in effect until 6 p.m. on Monday, June 2.
Smoke from massive wildfires burning in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada, has been pushed south by northerly winds, blanketing Minnesota in a dense haze.
Quote:President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is doubling the tariff on steel to 50 percent, a sharp escalation that could drive up costs for housing, automobiles, and other steel-based goods as he announced what he called "a blockbuster agreement" to let U.S. Steel merge with Japan's Nippon Steel.
Why It Matters
Trump in March announced that the U.S. would apply a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, followed shortly by the announcement that he would seek to make a deal with Japanese steel manufacturing firms to acquire Nippon Steel, creating one of the biggest steel manufacture companies in the world.
Some praised the measure as vital to helping breathe fresh life into America's domestic production, while others worried that the increased costs would hurt sectors reliant on steel and aluminum, impacting access to overseas markets in the face of retaliatory measures.
What To Know
Speaking at U.S. Steel's Mon Valley Works–Irvin Plant in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, Trump highlighted Japan's Nippon Steel while defending his administration's trade policies. Since he took office, the price of steel products has risen by approximately 16 percent, according to the government's producer price index.
Trump told workers, "It's headquartered in the great city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where it belongs."
The president announced Nippon Steel's "record-setting" $14 billion commitment to future of the company.
AFRICA
Quote:Egypt, traditionally a U.S. ally, could be seeking to acquire Chinese J-35 fighter jets, according to aviation and defense outlets.
Newsweek has contacted the Egyptian Foreign Ministry and China's State Council Information Office (SCIO) for comment.
Why It Matters
The J-35 fighter jet, modeled after the American F-35, is gaining more appeal as China, competing with the U.S., seeks to expand its influence in South Asia, the Middle East and the broader Arab region.
What To Know
Egyptian Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Abdel Gawad has reportedly shown interest in China's J-35 stealth fighter, according to the Belgian-based Army Recognition Group, which specializes in military analysis.
Reports have not been confirmed by the Egyptian or Chinese authorities.
Retired Egyptian Army Major General Sayed Ghoneim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi-based Institute for Global Security and Defense Affairs (IGSDA), pointed out to the display of a model of a J-35 during an Egyptian event earlier this month marking 45 years of military ties with China, as an indicator of interest in buying the jets.
According to Ghoneim, Egypt may be pushing against the United States, which has hindered the upgrade and upkeep of Egypt's fighter jet fleet.
CHINA
Quote:Chinese scientists have developed a new material that could lead to stealthier missiles and combat aircraft.
The technology could potentially compromise the effectiveness of U.S. missile defense systems, including President Donald Trump's much-hyped "Golden Dome."
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The United States is concerned about the growing intercontinental missile (ICBM) stockpiles of nuclear-armed China and Russia, including faster-than-sound hypersonic missiles. These arsenals are expected to become even more capable in the coming years.
Trump has ordered work to begin on the "Golden Dome," a satellite-based missile shield. Beijing has said it's "gravely concerned" about the project, which draws inspiration from the Strategic Defense Initiative, or "Star Wars," proposed by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan in the 1980s during the Cold War.
What To Know
Aircraft and missiles emit strong thermal radiation, created by superheated components such as exhaust nozzles, which raises the risk of detection. These temperatures can also degrade and even destroy the structure of standard materials.
A Chinese research team led by Professor Li Qiang of Zhejiang University detailed a possible solution to this problem in a study published in March.
Their new material is designed to evade both microwave and infrared detection technologies widely used in modern military surveillance, even when exposed to extremely high temperatures, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
To test its stealth potential, the team compared the material to a standard blackbody, or a surface that absorbs various types of radiation.
Even when heated to 700 degrees Celsius (1,292 degrees Fahrenheit), the material emitted a far lower radiation temperature—422 degrees Celsius—than the blackbody's 690 degrees.
Quote:China continues to challenge the United States' maritime containment strategy in the Pacific Ocean by sending an aircraft carrier to contested waters near Japan, a key Washington ally.
Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a news conference on Wednesday that China's naval activities "are entirely in accordance with international law and international practice" and also urged Japan to view the matter "objectively and rationally."
Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
Under the U.S.'s island chain strategy, three defensive lines are established by leveraging U.S.-aligned territories to restrict China's access to the Pacific Ocean. The closest one to the East Asian power is the first island chain, consisting of Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines.
China has the world's largest navy by hull count, according to a Pentagon report, with more than 370 ships and submarines, including two aircraft carriers in active service. This naval fleet enables China to expand its military presence and reach within and beyond the island chains.
The recent deployment of the Chinese aircraft carrier comes as the U.S. Navy has sent a pair of aircraft carriers to different waters in the western Pacific Ocean this week: the USS Nimitz, operating in the South China Sea, and the USS George Washington, operating near Japan.
What To Know
The Chinese aircraft carrier CNS Liaoning, previously spotted in the East China Sea north of Japan's southwestern Senkaku Islands, passed through the Miyako Strait southeast toward the Philippine Sea on Tuesday, the Joint Staff of the Japanese Defense Ministry announced.
UKRAINE WAR
Quote:The United Kingdom is hoping to purchase American-made fighter jets, capable of both carrying and deploying nuclear weapons, according to a report in The Sunday Times.
The British newspaper cited anonymous senior officials familiar with the matter, who said the U.K. intends buying Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning stealth fighter aircraft, but that other options are also being evaluated.
The Sunday Times reported that the potential deal was part of the country's broader strategy to address threats posed by Russia, and that the "highly sensitive" talks between the Pentagon and the Ministry of Defence have been led by Admiral Sir Antony David Radakin, head of the UK's armed forces, and Secretary of State for Defence John Healey.
When contacted for comment, the Ministry of Defence directed Newsweek to an interview given by Healey on Sunday morning, in which he said that such discussions "are not conducted in public," but refused to rule out whether the purchase was an option.
Why It Matters
Combined with other actions taken and statements made by the U.K. government in recent days, including tomorrow's release of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, the purchase would signal a significant escalation in Britain's assessment of the threats posed by Russia and the urgency of countering these.
Additionally, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has recently set out plans to increase the country's defense budget to 2.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027, up from the current 2.3 percent. This follows calls from NATO officials for member states to devote a greater portion of their budget to counter Russian threats, and similar requests from President Donald Trump
What To Know
According to the U.S. Air Force, the F-35A Lightning possesses a range of more than 1,350 miles and is capable of carrying payloads of up to 18,000 pounds. Variants of the F-35 have already been certified to carry B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs, a type of low-yield nuclear munitions.
Having decommissioned its stockpile of tactical, air-delivered nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War, the U.K. has relied on its "Trident" system as a nuclear deterrent. The arsenal is exclusively capable of being deployed by four Royal Navy Vanguard-class submarines.
Quote:Major Zaur Gurtsiyev, who commanded Russian air operations during the brutal siege of the Ukrainian city of Mariupol has been killed in an explosion in Russia's Stavropol.
Russia's Investigative Committee named Gurtsiyev, 34, as one of the two male victims in the blast on Wednesday night, which they believe was caused by an improvised explosive device.
"Investigators are considering all possible versions of the crime, including a terrorist act," the committee said in a post on Telegram.
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Why It Matters
Gurtsiyev played a key role in one of the most devastating chapters of Russian President Vladimir Putin's ongoing war in Ukraine. The Russian military assault on Mariupol in March 2022 killed thousands of civilians. Hundreds of thousands of others were trapped for weeks in Russia's siege of the Ukrainian port city, which is located on the Sea of Azov.
Gurtsiyev had also served as deputy mayor of Stavropol.
What To Know
The explosion took place near a residential apartment building. Surveillance footage of the incident circulated by Telegram channels linked to Russian law enforcement agencies purportedly showed the moment Gurtsiyev was caught up in the blast. The video shows one man approaching another near a parking lot.
Quote:Atop Russian official praised North Korean troops for assisting President Vladimir Putin's military in the Ukraine war.
Sergei Shoigu, secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, said the troops deployed by Pyongyang to Russia had fought "valiantly" in the Kursk region, Kremlin newswire Tass reported on Thursday.
Why It Matters
Just months ago, Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov dismissed claims by Ukraine and South Korea, denying reports that North Korean troops were involved in the conflict. However, Moscow and Pyongyang issued statements confirming the deployment in April. The praise from Shoigu highlights the growing ties between the two nations amid the ongoing war.
What To Know
Kyiv and Seoul said in December that Pyongyang had deployed an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 servicemen to Russia to fight Ukrainian forces.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Shoigu said the troops deployed to Russia by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un fought as if they were defending their own country.
"They fought for the liberation of our land, as for the liberation of their own land," the former defense minister said, adding that he thanked North Korean officials for their assistance in the border region of Kursk, where Ukraine had launched a cross-border incursion last year.
In April, Moscow said it had repelled Ukrainian forces from the area.
Andriy Kovalenko, an official on Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said in March that North Korean troops were storming the front lines in Kursk in "columns."
Quote:Ukraine will send a delegation to Istanbul for a new round of direct peace talks with Russia on Monday, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Sunday, as the conflict rages on with deadly missile strikes and the largest drone assault of the three-year war.
Ukrainian negotiators plan to present a roadmap for a long-term peace settlement during the upcoming talks in Istanbul, according to a document reviewed by Reuters.
The proposal outlines an initial 30-day ceasefire as a first step, followed by the mutual return of prisoners and the repatriation of Ukrainian children taken to Russian-controlled territory.
A meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin would follow.
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Why It Matters
The talks come amid mounting tensions after a Ukrainian drone operation reportedly destroyed more than 40 military aircraft's from Putin's war machine deep inside Russian territory. A Ukrainian security official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the drone strike targeted airfields including the Belaya air base in Irkutsk, located over 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) from Ukraine. It marks the first confirmed Ukrainian drone activity in the region.
What To Know
The official stated the long-range operation was planned over a period of 18 months and was personally overseen by President Zelensky. The drones, hidden in containers and transported by truck, reached their targets without being detected, according to Ukrainian sources.
Quote:A surprise Ukrainian drone attack is being described as "Russia's Pearl Harbor" by some commentators online after 41 military aircraft were hit on Sunday.
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Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and mediated by the United States, have remained in a delicate position for months as both sides continue to attack each other despite engaging in discussions to agree a peace deal.
President Donald Trump has regularly voiced his frustration with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, particularly with what Trump has perceived as a potential lack of interest in actually attaining a peace deal.
Zelensky during an explosive argument with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office in February said that Russia had already blown up previous deals made with Ukraine, and Trump has questioned whether Putin is just "tapping him along" and drawing out negotiations while seeking to prolong the conflict that started in February 2022.
What To Know
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said on Sunday that "enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia," saying that Ukraine is conducting "a large scale special operation aimed at destroying enemy bomber aircraft," Euro News reported.
The Ukrainian attack follows ground advances by Moscow troops in recent days in Ukraine's Sumy border region.
Trump administration sources told CBS News on Sunday that the White House was not aware that an attack was coming.
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My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
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Maranatha!
The Internet might be either your friend or enemy. It just depends on whether or not she has a bad hair day.
My Original Stories (available in English and Spanish)
List of Compiled Binary Executables I have published...
HiddenChest & Roole
Give me a free copy of your completed game if you include at least 3 of my scripts!
Just some scripts I've already published on the board...
KyoGemBoost XP VX & ACE, RandomEnkounters XP, KSkillShop XP, Kolloseum States XP, KEvents XP, KScenario XP & Gosu, KyoPrizeShop XP Mangostan, Kuests XP, KyoDiscounts XP VX, ACE & MV, KChest XP VX & ACE 2016, KTelePort XP, KSkillMax XP & VX & ACE, Gem Roulette XP VX & VX Ace, KRespawnPoint XP, VX & VX Ace, GiveAway XP VX & ACE, Klearance XP VX & ACE, KUnits XP VX, ACE & Gosu 2017, KLevel XP, KRumors XP & ACE, KMonsterPals XP VX & ACE, KStatsRefill XP VX & ACE, KLotto XP VX & ACE, KItemDesc XP & VX, KPocket XP & VX, OpenChest XP VX & ACE
