U.S. and world news for June 7

Hunter Biden: In an interview with ABC News, President Biden said that he would accept whatever verdict comes from the jury sitting in his son Hunter’s trial on charges of lying on a federal form when he purchased a gun. Biden also said that he would not pardon Hunter if he’s convicted. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty and takes the position that he was recovering from drug use when he bought the gun and therefore did not lie on the form when he said he was not addicted to illegal drugs.

Biden and Zelenskyy: President Biden and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy held a one-on-one meeting in Paris today after both attended ceremonies in Normandy yesterday marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Biden said he regrets the delays in providing additional military supplies to Ukraine caused by Republicans in Congress. Zelenskyy, in a speech to France’s National Assembly today, warned that Europe is no longer a continent of peace. He said that Russia does not respect borders and is working to destabilize various governments.

Employment statistics: Employment went up by an unexpectedly large amount according to numbers released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 272,000 in May, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4%. Employment continued to trend up in several industries, led by health care; government; leisure and hospitality; and professional, scientific, and technical services. Both the unemployment rate at 4% and the number of unemployed people at 6.6 million changed little in May. In May of 2023, a year earlier, the jobless rate was 3.7% and the number of unemployed people was 6.1 million.

Gaza employment: The United Nations Labor Agency, ILO, reports that the labor market in Gaza has just about collapsed with an unemployment rate of 79.1%. The Director-General of the ILO Gilbert Houngbo told a conference in Geneva that livelihoods have been shattered and work is scarce. He said this is the worst year for workers in Gaza since 1967. That’s when Israel defeated Arab forces in the six-day war. The gross domestic output in Gaza has shrunk by 83.5% in the past eight months.  

Trump rally: At least 11 people were taken to hospitals in Phoenix yesterday after they were felled by the heat while waiting to get into a Donald Trump rally. The temperature of 112 degrees recorded at the Phoenix airport broke the previous record that was set in 2012. During the rally, Trump falsely said that President Biden has allowed illegal immigrants into the U.S. so he can get their votes. He also falsely claimed that his conviction by a jury on 34 felony counts was a result of made-up charges.

Capitol police: Some Republican members of Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives booed and then walked out on two former U.S. Capitol police officers who defended the Capitol from Jan. 6 attackers. The former police officers, Harry Dunn and Aquilino Gonell, were introduced during a session of the Pennsylvania House by House Speaker Joanna McClinton and then the booing and walkouts began. A few Republican House members did applaud the officers but more booed and walked out. Democrats called it a display of despicable behavior and shameful show of disrespect for heroes.