NATO summit: Turkey has agreed not to oppose Sweden’s entry into NATO. NATO leaders meeting in Lithuania hailed the turnaround by Turkey as a sign of NATO unity. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy today harshly criticized NATO leaders, especially the U.S., for not setting a firm timeline for Ukraine to join the organization. President Biden has said this is not the time for Ukraine to be admitted into the alliance.
Storm aftermath:Â The storm that caused major flooding in parts of Pennsylvania and New York including the Hudson Valley has moved through New England, causing heavy damage in Vermont. Repairs to homes, businesses and washed out bridges, roadways and railroad tracks continued today. Some areas received up to 10-inches of rain in a few hours. More rain is in the forecast for Thursday through Sunday.
Trump trial date:Â Lawyers for Donald Trump have filed papers asking that any trial of Trump in connection with the Mar-a-Lago classified document case be delayed until after the 2024 Presidential election. They claim that moving ahead during election season would interfere with Trump’s ability to obtain a fair trial. Trump-appointed Federal Judge Aileen Cannon had originally said the trial would start in August and the government asked that the start date be pushed back until December.
Protests in Israel:Â Protests involving tens of thousands of people have broken out in Israel, with police using a water cannon to clear protesters who shut down the main highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The protests are over moves by Prime Minster Netanyahu to strip powers and independence from the Israeli court system. Three separate court cases have been filed against Netanyahu on charges of corruption.
Entertainment strike threatened:Â The actors’ and broadcast performers’ union, SAG-AFTRA, is threatening to go on strike tomorrow if no contract agreement with Hollywood producers is reached today. This would be the second strike to affect the entertainment industry. The Writers Guild has been on strike shutting down most production since May.
Bank of America penalties:Â The federal government’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today ordered Bank of America to pay more than $100 million to customers for systematically double-dipping on fees imposed on customers with insufficient funds in their accounts, withholding reward bonuses explicitly promised to credit card customers, and misusing customers’ personal information to open accounts without customer knowledge or authorization. In addition, the Bank of America was ordered to pay a total of $150 million in penalties to the government.
