5 things to know for May 24: State visit, Gaza aid, Covid-19, College sports, Mortgage rates
Memorial Day weekend is upon us — a time to honor members of the US armed forces who died serving our country. Most major retailers will remain open on Monday’s federal holiday, but post offices and banks will be closed.
Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.
1. State visit
President Joe Biden is holding a lavish state visit for Kenya’s President William Ruto. This comes as Biden has hailed cooperation with Africa and is seeking to build relationships with key leaders in the region as a counter to Russia and China’s inroads on the continent. A state visit is among the highest diplomatic tools the White House can employ to honor a top ally, with the meticulously planned event aimed at intertwining and highlighting American and Kenyan cultures. Former President Barack Obama and other distinguished guests made appearances at a state dinner honoring Ruto on Thursday. This visit marks the first time an American president has hosted an African leader since 2008, when President George W. Bush hosted the president of Ghana.
2. Gaza aid
Aid groups have begun distributing the humanitarian assistance offloaded at the US-built pier in Gaza to Palestinians after encountering significant obstacles on distribution routes. The deliveries were initially hindered by a Hamas drone attack on Israeli forces “several miles away” from the pier that led to a freeze on convoy movements, US officials said. Some trucks were also looted along one of the distribution paths earlier this week. More than 1,000 US troops helped to build the humanitarian pier and causeway off the coast of Gaza over the last two months, and the operation launched last week. Since then, more than 500 metric tons of food and other aid have been offloaded and handed off to humanitarian partners, officials say.
3. Covid-19
The Covid-19 variant KP.2 has become the dominant strain in the US in recent weeks, according to the CDC. The variant is part of the broader Omicron family — which caused the last wave of cases in the winter — but does not appear to result in more severe disease. Between April 28 to May 11, nearly 30% of new cases in the US were caused by KP.2, up from less than 16% in the two-week period before that. Health experts say the mutations of this variant threaten increased transmissibility and a possible summer wave because existing vaccines may not be as effective. Covid-19 is also settling into some seasonal patterns, which have included a summer bump in years past, but the exact level of risk for this year is unclear.
4. College sports
The NCAA and the five power conferences have agreed to a settlement that will pave the way to allow schools to pay student-athletes. Per ESPN, sources said the parties have agreed to a plan that would allow each school to share up to “roughly $20 million per year with its athletes” — a profound moment that will usher in a new era in college sports. The agreement settles three antitrust cases and includes the payment of more than $2.7 billion in damages to past and current student-athletes. Over several years, numerous college programs were punished by the NCAA for their players being compensated in some way for their exploits on the field.
5. Mortgage rates
Mortgage rates declined for the third straight week, dipping just below 7%, according to new Freddie Mac data. This is positive news for prospective homebuyers as stubbornly high inflation in the US has dashed many hopes that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates in the spring or summer. However, financial experts say the housing market’s recovery will remain stagnant, at least in the short term. Sales of previously owned homes, which make up the vast majority of the US housing market, fell in April for the second month in a row, the National Association of Realtors reported this week. That’s a stark contrast from earlier in the year when sales soared.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
The best barbecue from around the world
Barbecue is an American tradition around Memorial Day, but the beloved cooking style spreads far beyond US shores. Take a look at the best BBQ around the world — from Brazilian and Indian to Korean and Peruvian.
Hundreds of mammoth bones discovered in wine cellar
An Austrian man discovered huge mammoth bones while renovating his wine cellar. Researchers are calling it an “archaeological sensation.”
Massive underground museum under construction in Rome
Rome is building a six-story underground museum — but treasures also keep getting in the way!
US sues to split up Ticketmaster and Live Nation
The US government alleges that for years the parent company of Ticketmaster abused its industry dominance to harm concertgoers nationwide. Here’s how the groundbreaking lawsuit could affect the concert industry.
Celine Dion chronicles her battle back to the stage after stiff person syndrome diagnosis
The new trailer for her upcoming documentary “I Am: Celine Dion” showcases how much Dion’s love of performing live keeps her going while living with stiff person syndrome.
QUIZ TIME
Which airline was rocked by deadly turbulence this week?
A. United Airlines
B. Singapore Airlines
C. American Airlines
D. Qatar Airways
Last week, 38% of readers who took the quiz got eight or more questions right. How will you fare?
TODAY’S NUMBER
600%
That’s how much prescriptions have increased for weight loss and diabetes drugs among young people since 2020, a new study shows. The rapid surge is attributed, in part, to the soaring popularity of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy.
TODAY’S QUOTE
“This is an attempt to, I think, trick some of our folks here.”
— Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, reacting to former President Donald Trump holding a rally Thursday in the Bronx. The event was Trump’s first major campaign rally in New York since his initial presidential run in 2016. Trump and President Biden alike have been courting minority voters in recent weeks to boost their potential turnout in the November election.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check your local forecast here>>>
AND FINALLY …
Highlights from the 77th Cannes Film Festival
Any movie buffs out there? See which films are getting the most buzz so far at this year’s prestigious festival.
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