The American Music Awards in Las Vegas featured big wins for Billie Eilish, who collected seven awards, including artist of the year, although she was not present as she was touring in Europe. Eminem and Beyoncé also won awards but did not attend. The event was hosted by Jennifer Lopez and included performances by several artists, while Sir Rod Stewart received a lifetime achievement award and Janet Jackson was honored as an icon.
Key Facts
Billie Eilish won seven awards, including artist and album of the year, but was touring in Europe and not at the event.
Eminem and Beyoncé also won awards but did not attend.
Jennifer Lopez hosted the event and performed a medley of hits.
Sir Rod Stewart received a lifetime achievement award and was surprised by his children's presence.
Shaboozey's reaction to a statement about the Carter Family went viral on social media.
Janet Jackson received an icon award and performed some of her well-known songs.
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North Korea criticized the US's plan for a missile defense system called "Golden Dome," claiming it could lead to nuclear conflict in space. The system aims to protect against advanced missile threats, and North Korea, along with China, opposes the plan, fearing it could upset global security.
Key Facts
North Korea criticized the US missile defense system called "Golden Dome."
The system aims to defend against advanced missile threats like ballistic and cruise missiles.
North Korea warns that the system could cause a nuclear arms race in space.
The Golden Dome is part of plans announced by former President Donald Trump.
China also opposes the Golden Dome, saying it could disrupt global balance.
An initial budget of $25 billion is set aside for the Golden Dome, but costs could rise.
North Korea has passed a law making it a nuclear weapons state and has tested various missiles.
Analysts say updating US defense systems is needed, but political and technical challenges exist.
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A small truck exploded in Addison, a suburb of Chicago, injuring the driver and damaging four homes. The explosion was due to a leaking propane tank in the truck. The driver was hospitalized but did not suffer life-threatening injuries.
Key Facts
A truck exploded in Addison, a Chicago suburb.
The explosion injured one man and damaged four homes.
Debris, such as clothing and furniture, was spread across the street.
One home became temporarily unlivable because part of the truck hit a main wall.
The explosion was caused by a leaking propane tank in the truck.
The driver of the truck was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla visited Canada to highlight the country's independence and strengthen ties with the Crown. Their visit included symbolic events like a welcome at the airport, a puck drop at a street hockey game, and a tree planting ceremony. The King will also give a speech to the Canadian Parliament, a rare event since the last such occurrence in 1977.
Key Facts
King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrived in Ottawa for a two-day official visit to Canada.
The visit is focused on emphasizing Canada’s sovereignty and the relationship with the Crown.
They were welcomed by Prime Minister Mark Carney, Canadian officials, and indigenous leaders.
A welcome ceremony included the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Armed Forces.
They participated in a ceremonial street hockey puck drop and met with local community members.
The King will deliver the Speech from the Throne to outline the government's priorities.
The last time a monarch delivered the throne speech in Canada was in 1977.
The visit comes during a time of trade tensions with the United States.
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Grant Hardin, a former Arkansas police chief convicted of rape and murder, escaped from an Arkansas prison. He was serving a long prison sentence for two separate crimes and managed to escape by disguising himself as law enforcement.
Key Facts
Grant Hardin was the police chief in Gateway, Arkansas, for about four months in 2016.
He escaped from the North Central Unit prison in Calico Rock, Arkansas.
Hardin was wearing a makeshift outfit to look like law enforcement when he escaped.
He was originally sentenced in 2017 for the murder of James Appleton, a city water department worker.
Hardin also pleaded guilty to the 1997 rape of Amy Harrison, linked to him by DNA evidence.
He received a combined prison sentence of 80 years for his crimes.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections is working with multiple agencies to find Hardin.
The public has been asked to report any information to local law enforcement immediately.
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President Donald Trump attended a Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. He, along with Vice-President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, honored American service members by standing by the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Key Facts
Donald Trump attended a Memorial Day event at Arlington National Cemetery.
Vice-President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were also present.
The event took place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
The ceremony was to honor fallen American service members.
Arlington National Cemetery is located near Washington, D.C.
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King Charles is visiting Canada to deliver the Speech from the Throne, marking the opening of the 45th session of Canada's parliament. This is noteworthy because the last time a monarch delivered this address in Canada was in 1977. King Charles's visit includes various ceremonial activities, and he aims to underscore the strong relationship between Canada and the monarchy.
Key Facts
King Charles is in Canada to deliver the Speech from the Throne in Ottawa.
The Speech from the Throne outlines the government's plans for the new parliamentary session.
Usually, the governor general reads this speech, but King Charles was invited for this occasion.
The last time a monarch delivered the throne speech in Canada was in 1977 by Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles's visit is his first to Canada as king, although he visited 19 times as Prince of Wales.
Canadian leaders view the visit as a symbol of the country's sovereignty and its historic ties with the monarchy.
Governor General Mary Simon and Prime Minister Mark Carney will welcome King Charles.
The King will also participate in ceremonial events, such as a tree-planting ceremony.
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Sir Salman Rushdie expressed his satisfaction that Hadi Matar, the man who attacked him in 2022, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. The attack left Rushdie with significant injuries, including blindness in one eye and damage to his liver and hand.
Key Facts
Hadi Matar received a 25-year prison sentence for attempting to murder Salman Rushdie in 2022.
The attack happened during a lecture in New York, where Matar repeatedly stabbed Rushdie.
Rushdie lost sight in one eye, suffered liver damage, and has a paralysed hand due to the attack.
After the attack, Rushdie wrote a book called "Knife" as a way to process the event.
In the book "Knife," Rushdie imagines a conversation with his attacker.
BBC filmmaker Alan Yentob collaborated with Rushdie to create an animated version of this imagined conversation.
Sir Salman Rushdie also reflected on his friendship with Alan Yentob, who recently passed away.
Rushdie is set to publish a new collection of short stories titled "The Eleventh Hour" in November.
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A New York cryptocurrency investor, John Woeltz, and a second person, Beatrice Folchi, have been charged with kidnapping and other crimes after allegedly holding an Italian tourist captive in a Manhattan home. The victim, who was tortured and held for his bitcoin password, escaped and is now in stable condition.
Key Facts
John Woeltz, age 37, is charged with kidnapping and other crimes.
Beatrice Folchi, age 24, is also arrested in connection with the case.
The victim, a 28-year-old Italian tourist, was allegedly held and tortured in a SoHo home.
Police found photos of the victim tied up and firearms at the scene.
The victim traveled from Italy to New York on May 6 and escaped recently.
The suspects allegedly tried to obtain the victim's bitcoin password.
John Woeltz rented the SoHo home for $30,000 to $40,000 per month.
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Lawmakers in the U.S. are stopping a California law that aimed to ban petrol-only cars by 2035. Congress voted to cancel a special rule allowing California to have stricter car emission standards than federal rules, a decision that could lead to a legal dispute.
Key Facts
The U.S. Senate and House voted to block California’s petrol-only car ban.
The California rule aimed to stop the sale of petrol-only cars by 2035.
California had a special permission to set stricter emissions standards than federal rules.
President Trump is expected to sign this decision into law, potentially leading to a legal battle.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced plans to sue over this move.
Other states like New York and Massachusetts wanted to adopt similar rules, impacting a large part of the car market.
Electric vehicles made up about 10% of new car sales in the U.S. last year.
Critics argue the emissions standards set by California were unrealistic for carmakers.
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The US Treasury announced that it will stop making one-cent coins, or pennies, next year. This decision is expected to save $56 million each year in production costs, as it currently costs more to make a penny than it's worth.
Key Facts
The US will stop producing pennies next year.
Stopping production will save $56 million every year.
The cost to make a penny is now 3.69 cents.
Pennies have been in use in the US since 1793.
President Trump directed the halt on penny production earlier this year.
Opinions differ: some say pennies are wasteful; others believe they help keep prices low and support charities.
Other countries, like Canada, have also stopped making similar coins due to high costs.
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US President Donald Trump is hosting a dinner for major investors in a cryptocurrency named after him. Some people have raised ethical concerns and national security worries about the event. The White House says Trump is acting in public interest and not for personal gain.
Key Facts
President Trump is holding a dinner for the top investors of the cryptocurrency called $TRUMP.
$TRUMP is known as a meme coin, a type of cryptocurrency based on internet trends.
The value of $TRUMP rose sharply when launched but has since dropped significantly.
The event is for the top 220 purchasers of $TRUMP, including crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun.
Justin Sun, the top investor, was previously charged with fraud by the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Critics have raised ethical concerns and the potential for foreign influence.
In the past, Trump criticized Bitcoin, calling it a scam, but now supports cryptocurrencies.
The Trump family is involved with a cryptocurrency exchange called World Liberty Financial.
The White House states that the $TRUMP coin is unrelated to White House activities.
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Two Israeli embassy staff were shot and killed outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC. The incident occurred as they were leaving an event at the museum.
Key Facts
Two people working for the Israeli embassy were shot dead.
This shooting happened near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC.
The victims were leaving an event at the museum when the shooting occurred.
The BBC's North America correspondent, Nomia Iqbal, reported from the scene.
The shooting is under investigation, and updates are being followed closely.
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The Enhanced Games, a new sports event that allows the use of performance-enhancing drugs, claims that swimmer Kristian Gkolomeev set a faster time than a long-standing world record in a private trial. The event, planned to debut in May 2026 in Las Vegas, faces criticism for health risks and undermining fairness but has gained support from notable investors.
Key Facts
Kristian Gkolomeev swam 20.89 seconds in a 50m freestyle time trial, which is faster than a world record set in 2009 by 0.02 seconds.
The Enhanced Games permit athletes to use performance-enhancing drugs that are banned in traditional sports.
The inaugural Enhanced Games event is scheduled for May 2026 in Las Vegas.
The event will include sports like short-distance swimming, sprinting, and weightlifting.
Gkolomeev used a full-length polyurethane suit in his record-setting swim, a type banned in professional competition.
The Enhanced Games are supported by a venture capital fund, including figures like Donald Trump Jr. and Peter Thiel.
Despite his achievements, Gkolomeev's performance won't be officially recognized by World Aquatics.
Gkolomeev received a $1 million reward for his record-breaking swim.
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During a meeting in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump questioned South African President Cyril Ramaphosa about claims of violence against white farmers in South Africa, which Ramaphosa disputed. Trump showed a video of people chanting violent slogans, while Ramaphosa condemned the chants but denied that white people are being persecuted.
Key Facts
Donald Trump spoke with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office.
Trump mentioned claims of white farmers fleeing South Africa.
During the meeting, Trump played a video showing people chanting "kill the Boer, kill the farmer".
Cyril Ramaphosa responded by condemning the chants.
Ramaphosa pushed back against the claims that white people are being persecuted in South Africa.
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Allies of former US President Donald Trump are trying to pass a large tax and spending bill, but disagreements among Republicans have delayed it. The bill includes extending 2017 tax cuts and increasing spending on defense and border security. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that it will add significantly to the US national debt.
Key Facts
Trump's allies in Congress are pushing for a tax and spending bill.
The bill aims to extend tax cuts from 2017 and increase defense and border security spending.
Some Republicans want deeper spending cuts, while others seek larger tax cuts.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will add $2.3 trillion to the national debt over 10 years.
Trump campaigned on reducing the budget deficit, which is the gap between government revenue and spending.
Talks continued overnight, but no final agreement has been reached.
Democrats oppose the bill, arguing it favors the wealthy and harms lower-income people.
The bill must pass both the House and Senate to become law.
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Target has lowered its sales expectations for the year after seeing a 5.7% drop in sales over three months. The decline is attributed to challenges from new trade tariffs and backlash from ending diversity and inclusion targets. Target is trying to manage the impact of tariffs by sourcing more products domestically and diversifying suppliers.
Key Facts
Target saw a 5.7% drop in sales in the three months leading to May.
The company faces challenges from new trade tariffs and backlash from ending its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) targets.
Target sources 30% of its store-label products from China, down from 60% in 2017.
Tariffs imposed by President Trump aim to boost American manufacturing but might cause higher prices.
Target's chief executive, Brian Cornell, stated that pricing decisions depend on sourcing more US-made products.
Target expects a small decline in annual sales instead of the previous forecast of 1% growth.
The company is negotiating with suppliers to offset the impact of tariffs.
Target was sued by shareholders over the risks associated with its DEI policies.
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The Trump administration has announced that it will cancel police reform efforts introduced during the Biden administration in several U.S. cities, including Louisville and Minneapolis. These changes include ending oversight agreements and investigations into police practices, claiming the prior methods were overly controlling.
Key Facts
The Trump administration plans to end police reform efforts set by the Biden administration in some cities.
This move affects oversight agreements with police departments in Louisville, Kentucky, and Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The decision also involves stopping investigations into police actions in six cities, such as Phoenix and Memphis.
This announcement was made close to the fifth anniversary of George Floyd's death, which heightened awareness about racial issues and police conduct.
Derek Chauvin, the officer involved in George Floyd's death, was convicted and is serving a 22-year sentence.
The Biden-era investigations were launched to address concerns about police brutality after several high-profile cases.
The agreements that are being canceled aimed at improving police training, accountability, and data collection.
Approximately 70% of the justice department's civil rights division lawyers have resigned since Trump's re-election, citing changes in departmental focus.
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The U.S. Justice Department is investigating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo over his statements to Congress about his response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Cuomo's team has said he hasn't been contacted by law enforcement about this investigation.
Key Facts
Andrew Cuomo, former Governor of New York, is under investigation by the U.S. Justice Department.
The investigation is about Cuomo's testimony to Congress during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Congressional Republicans claim Cuomo lied about his role in reviewing a Covid-related report.
Cuomo's spokesperson stated he had no contact from law enforcement or received any subpoenas.
Cuomo describes the news of the investigation as election interference.
Cuomo is currently a candidate in the New York City mayoral race.
Eric Adams, Cuomo's rival for mayor, previously had charges dropped after a prosecutor's resignation.
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Police officers in Durango, Colorado, captured a kangaroo named Irwin after it escaped from its home. The animal was legally kept as a pet, and officers managed to corner and capture it without harm.
Key Facts
Durango Police Department in Colorado captured a kangaroo named Irwin.
The kangaroo had escaped from its home in Durango, a town in southwestern Colorado.
In Colorado, it is legal to keep kangaroos as pets.
Officers used body camera footage to record the capture.
Officer Shane Garrison mentioned they considered using a lasso before they caught Irwin.
The capture happened without any harm to the kangaroo.
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