#1: Fist-Bump Diplomacy:
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed President Joe Biden at the royal palace in Saudi Arabia with a fist-bump. This is the beginning of one of the most important meetings between world leaders. Biden hopes to repair a strained relationship with the prince after Biden held him responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a US-based journalist.
#2: Senator Joe Manchin:
Joe Manchin is in the news again for his unpopular stance on topics needed to further President Joe Biden’s agenda. Democrats are not happy with him, to say the least. Manchin said he will oppose economic proposals if they include climate or energy provisions or higher taxes on corporations and the rich. This is a major blow to the Democratic party’s mid-term election-year goals. Manchin said he is willing to support a law that will regulate pharmaceutical prices and provide federal subsidies for health care premiums, but he will not vote for it if it has the provisions on energy and taxes. The Republicans would have unanimously voted against any legislation that included those provisions.
#3: Sharks in New York:
The population of sharks on Long Island, New York beaches is increasing. On Thursday, the Long Island shoreline had its fifth shark attack in two weeks. A man, 49, a tourist from Arizona, was bitten as he swam in waist-deep water at Seaview Beach near Fire Island. That same day, a 41-year-old paddle-board surfer at Smith Point Beach was attacked by a four-foot long shark, causing the beach to be closed to swimming. The man was knocked off his board and managed to fight off the shark, and it swam away. Officials are warning people to exercise caution while swimming in waters off of Long Island.
#4: Abortion Rights:
The US House of Representatives passed the Women’s Health Protection Act on Friday, as part of an effort to protect abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The bill passed in a 219 to 210 vote, with Republican opposition. Pro-abortion activists are pushing Democrats to use their powers, including executive actions by the president, to protect women’s rights on a federal level. The measure will go dead in the Senate and cannot survive the filibuster.
#5: Trump Testimony Postponed:
Testimony from the Trump family, in the NY Attorney General’s civil investigation into the Trump family business, is being postponed due to the death of former President Donald Trump’s ex-wife, Ivana Trump. Ivana’s children, Ivanka and Donald Jr., were also scheduled to testify between July 15-22. “This is a temporary delay and the depositions will be rescheduled as soon as possible,” the New York attorney general’s statement said.
Ivana Trump was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her New York Upper East Side apartment. She was 73-years-old.
