U.S. and world news for May 21

Iran mourns: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has proclaimed five days of mourning for Iran’s President Raisi and the others who were killed in a helicopter crash over the weekend. An election has been scheduled for June 28 to select a new president. Iran blames the crash on an unspecified technical issue. The U.S. State Department sent condolences to the Iranian people and added, “As Iran selects a new president, we reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.” The White House put out a statement criticizing President Raisi for having supported Middle East extremist groups.

Trump trial: After the prosecution in the Donald Trump porn star hush money trial rested its case yesterday, the defense rested today. Closing arguments are expected to take place next Tuesday. Defense witness Robert Costello, an attorney, was back for additional questioning today after having infuriated Judge Juan Merchan by making comments about the judge’s rulings and gestures such as rolling his eyes while testifying. Merchan cleared the courtroom and told Costello that what he was doing was contemptuous.

Trump tariffs: A report by the Peterson Institute for International Economics says that Donald Trump’s plan for a new international trade war if he is returned to the White House would cost the average American family at least $1,700 a year. Peterson says that Trump plans to slap 60% tariffs on all goods imported from China and 10% tariffs on an estimated $3 trillion worth of goods from other countries. It’s estimated the new Trump tariffs would amount to a $600 billion tax increase on U.S. consumers.

Container ship: The crew of the container ship Dali will be allowed to leave the ship for the first time since it hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse. They had been on the vessel since before the accident. Tugboats moved the ship back into the Port of Baltimore where it will be unloaded. The ship is expected to be moved to Norfolk, Virginia, where it will undergo repairs.

Turbulence: One passenger was killed and there were an unknown number of injuries when a Singapore Airlines Boeing 777 hit severe turbulence while en route from London to Singapore. The airplane made an emergency landing in Bangkok. The plane had 211 passengers and 18 crewmembers on board. Photographs showed the passenger cabin in disarray with the oxygen masks deployed.  

Georgia primary: Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis faces two challengers in today’s Georgia primary. She is prosecuting Donald Trump and co-defendants for attempting to force Georgia officials to change the result of the 2020 election to make Trump the winner. Willis is seeking the Democratic nomination to run for re-election as Fulton County District Attorney. She is being challenged by two attorneys, Christian Wise Smith and Courtney Kramer, both Trump supporters. A recent poll by a Georgia Fox TV station showed Willis winning with 71% of the vote.