Trump and Musk try to smooth over a threatened rift
After gutting federal agencies, stirring up a flurry of lawsuits and falling far short of his cost-saving goals, Elon Musk returned to the White House on Friday to say goodbye in person, a ceremonial ending to the 130 days that the world's richest man spent as a special government employee.
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Yahoo
33 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Iran Stands Alone Against Trump and Israel, Stripped of Allies
(Bloomberg) -- Iran's leaders are discovering they're on their own against the US and Israel, without the network of proxies and allies that allowed them to project power in the Middle East and beyond. Bezos Wedding Draws Protests, Soul-Searching Over Tourism in Venice One Architect's Quest to Save Mumbai's Heritage From Disappearing JFK AirTrain Cuts Fares 50% This Summer to Lure Riders Off Roads NYC Congestion Toll Cuts Manhattan Gridlock by 25%, RPA Reports As the Islamic Republic confronts its most perilous moment in decades following the bombing of its nuclear facilities ordered by US President Donald Trump, Russia and China are sitting on the sidelines and offering only rhetorical support. Militia groups Iran has armed and funded for years are refusing or unable to enter the fight in support of their patron. After decades of being stuck in a game of fragile detente, the entire geopolitical order of the Middle East is being redone. The Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel was only the beginning. It led to multiple conflicts and tested decades-long alliances. It offered Trump, on his return to power this year, a chance to do what no president before him had dared by attacking Iran so aggressively and directly. Since Israel started strikes on Iran on June 13, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken of goals beyond neutering Tehran's nuclear threat, even hinting at regime change. But the risk is that an isolated Iran could become more unpredictable with its once-steadfast allies keeping their distance. 'As Iran faces its most critical military test in decades, further tangible assistance from either Moscow or Beijing remains unlikely,' said Bloomberg Economics analysts including Adam Farrar and Dina Esfandiary. 'While both maintain bilateral strategic partnerships with Tehran, neither Russia nor China is a formal military ally, and neither is likely to provide significant military or economic aid due to their own limitations and broader strategic considerations.' Iran isn't getting any support, either, from the BRICS grouping of emerging markets that purports to want a new global order that's not dominated by Western nations. The organization — set up by Brazil, Russia, India and China and which Iran joined in early 2024 — has been silent over Israel and the US's attacks on the Islamic Republic. Iran signed a strategic cooperation treaty with Russia in January and it was a vital source of combat drones early in President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. However, Russian officials have made clear the pact includes no mutual-defense obligations and that Moscow has no intention of supplying Iran with weapons, even as they say Tehran hasn't asked for any. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters in Turkey on Sunday he plans to travel to Moscow to discuss the situation with Putin on Monday. He can expect warm words and little practical support. That's a far cry from 2015, when Russia joined Iran in sending forces to Syria to save the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad, which was eventually toppled by rebels last year. Moscow risks losing another key ally in the Middle East if the government in Tehran led by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei falls. Yet while the Kremlin has condemned the Israeli and US attacks, Putin is distracted and stretched — militarily and economically — by his war in Ukraine. China, too, 'strongly' condemned the US strikes as a breach of international law. But it hasn't offered assistance to Iran, which sells some 90% of its oil exports to Beijing. Iran's Gulf neighbors urged restraint and warned of potentially devastating implications for the region if Iran retaliates against US assets in the Middle East. Nations such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates spent months trying to use their geopolitical and economic heft to bolster nuclear talks between the Americans and Iran. In the end, the talks have been overtaken by military power. Iran's proxy militant groups are mostly absent too. Hezbollah in Lebanon, hitherto the most potent member of Tehran's 'axis of resistance' was pummeled by Israeli forces last year, much as Hamas was. Israeli strikes on Assad's military in Syria, meanwhile, played a part in his government's collapse. Hezbollah still poses a threat and on Sunday the US ordered family members and non-emergency government personnel to leave Lebanon. Still, the group's not threatened to back Iran by firing on Israel, as it did right after Hamas' attack in 2023. The Houthis in Yemen are an exception and hours about the US strikes on Iran, they issued fresh threats against US commercial and naval ships. Yet they risk another American bombardment like that one Trump ordered before a truce with the group in May. The Europeans, meanwhile, are increasingly irrelevant, in terms of swaying Trump and Israel, and Tehran. The UK, France and Germany have historically held an important role in the Middle East. They represented the dominant economies in Europe. The first two were colonial powers in the region and in the case of Germany, given its Nazi past, there was a strong pro-Israel voice. Both the UK and France have had to handle a vocal voter constituency that was pro Palestinian and complicated their messaging. That was not always an easy needle to thread. The current UK government is led by Labour, whose legacy was damaged by Tony Blair's decision to join US President George W. Bush in his invasion of Iraq in 2003. So for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has finally wrested control of the country from Conservatives, there is no upside to supporting any US military involvement. Trump didn't seem to need it, and the UK was happy to stay out of it even though it has enough of a presence that it could have been useful. Europeans find themselves sidelined with little power to influence the outcome. At the Group of Seven summit, Trump put France's President Emmanuel Macron in his place for suggesting the US was working toward a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. That did not stop Macron from working the phones, but the harsh reality that has filtered through is that Europe has its own existential crisis much closer to home. It needs Trump to at least make a cameo in The Hague for a NATO summit on Tuesday and Wednesday. The organization's leaders want assurances the US post-World War II commitment to stop Russian expansionism still stands. Europe has provided back channels for Iran in the past. In a climate where Europe and the US aren't working together on Iran, it's possible some valuable diplomatic signaling may be lost. That's one side effect of the US going it alone and of Europe being a bit player, as the crisis in the Middle East deepens. --With assistance from Eric Martin. Luxury Counterfeiters Keep Outsmarting the Makers of $10,000 Handbags Is Mark Cuban the Loudmouth Billionaire that Democrats Need for 2028? Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros The US Has More Copper Than China But No Way to Refine All of It Can 'MAMUWT' Be to Musk What 'TACO' Is to Trump? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNN
33 minutes ago
- CNN
Start your week smart: US strikes Iran, Pride rollbacks, Tesla robotaxis, NATO summit, Bezos' wedding
If everything goes according to plan, Tesla's long-awaited robotaxi service will roll out today in Austin, Texas. Tesla's CEO Elon Musk, who's been talking about robotaxis for years, has cautioned that the launch date isn't set in stone. Musk, of course, is also CEO of SpaceX — and has said he hopes to land humans on Mars by 2026. That timeline may need an adjustment after his monster Starship rocket exploded last week. Here's what else you need to know to start your week smart. • The US entered into conflict with Iran on Saturday after President Donald Trump ordered warplanes to drop bombs on three nuclear sites inside the country, thrusting him squarely into an escalating Middle East conflict even as he holds out hope the matter can be resolved diplomatically. Follow CNN's full coverage here.• Bodies of three hostages — an IDF soldier and two civilians — recovered from Gaza• Record-breaking heat will impact millions in US This June marked the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride celebrations in the nation's capital. In Washington, DC, and across the nation, Pride was the usual affair — parades, music, rainbow decorations — but some felt it was in some ways overshadowed by President Donald Trump's administration, which advocates say has rolled back rights for LGBTQ Americans. Ahead of this year's Pride Month, the Kennedy Center canceled a week's worth of events celebrating LGBTQ rights. The White House did not issue a Pride Month proclamation this year — or during Trump's first administration, reversing a tradition that started in 1999. 1️⃣ Pride and protest: Earlier this month, Washington, DC, hosted World Pride 2025, an international festival celebrating the LGBTQ community. The event included a parade and free concerts plus a march on the National Mall. 🏳️🌈 Icon spotlight: Harvey Milk was the first openly gay male politician elected to San Francisco's Board of Supervisors in 1977. The Trump administration ordered Milk's name be stripped from a US Naval Ship that had been named after him in 2019. Milk served in the Korean War and was forced to resign from the Navy due to his sexuality. 2️⃣ Brands stay quiet: Once common during Pride Month, LGBTQ-themed merchandise, rainbow decorations and social media campaigns were scaled back or silenced this year as some corporations avoid provoking the Trump administration, which plans to investigate companies with DEI programs. 3️⃣ Youth support and rights: The Trump administration announced last week the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline's specialized services for LGBTQ youth will no longer be in operation starting July 17. The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors. 📸 In pictures: As a gay teen, his dad didn't support him. Now the pair are bringing drag shows to rural towns. 4️⃣ 'We're not afraid': CNN spoke with trans people over the age of 60 about their lives and what they've learned from watching the battle for trans rights unfold. Some say after watching decades of progress, the current moment feels like a step back. Others said they feel resilient. 5️⃣ Freedom under fire: With the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, some advocates worry its decision that ruled same-sex marriage as a fundamental right could be next. Southern Baptists recently called for Obergefell v. Hodges to be overturned, as well as a ban on gay marriage. Get '5 Things' in your inbox If your day doesn't start until you're up to speed on the latest headlines, then let us introduce you to your new favorite morning fix. Sign up here for the '5 Things' newsletter. TuesdayThe 2025 NATO summit will begin in the Netherlands amid the backdrop of US strikes on Iran and the ongoing war in Ukraine. One item on the table is whether all alliance members will agree to a broad defense spending target of 5% of gross domestic product, a key demand made by President Trump, who will attend the summit. Trump has frequently criticized NATO members for not spending enough money on defense and has threatened to leave the alliance. New York City will hold a Democratic mayoral primary. Eleven candidates are on the ballot, including former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and a pack of several progressive challengers led by Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani. Meanwhile, in Venice, the stage is set for the highly anticipated nuptials between multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos and his bride-to-be, Lauren Sanchez. Three days of celebrations will reportedly kick off on Bezos' $500-million superyacht, Koru, which will be anchored in the Venice lagoon. WednesdayThe Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to vote on President Trump's nominee to lead the FAA. During a hearing earlier this month, airline executive Bryan Bedford was grilled by senators on critical safety-related issues, including the required hours needed for pilots, the outdated air traffic control system and ongoing problems at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. ThursdayJune 26 marks 10 years since the Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage across the US. FridayThe Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda will sign a peace agreement in Washington, DC, that aims to end the fighting in eastern Congo. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the signing ceremony. 🎧 Cuomo comeback?In this episode of the 'One Thing' podcast, CNN's Gloria Pazmino previews Tuesday's Democratic mayoral primary in New York City, where former governor Andrew Cuomo will attempt a political comeback. Listen here. Prev Next 📸 Check out more images from the week that was, curated by the CNN Photo team. 👀 At a glanceIn the NBA Finals, the Indiana Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder play a winner-take-all Game 7 tonight in Oklahoma City. In Game 6 last week, the Pacers beat the Thunder 108-91 to tie the series at 3-3. And the 2025 NBA Draft is set for Wednesday. The Dallas Mavericks won the draft lottery in May, securing the coveted top overall pick and the right to possibly select Duke University star forward Cooper Flagg. 📺 TV + streamingThe fourth season of FX's Emmy-winning show 'The Bear' arrives on Hulu on Wednesday. And the third and final season of 'Squid Game' arrives on Netflix on Friday. 🍿 In theaters'F1: The Movie' stars Brad Pitt as a washed-up Formula 1 racing driver coaxed out of retirement to mentor a rookie driver played by Damson Idris. 'F1' opens on Friday. 🧠 Looking for a challenge to start your week? Take CNN's weekly news quiz to see how much you remember! So far, 30% of readers got eight or more questions right. How will you fare? 🎶 'Stonewall'Saturday marks the 56th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a watershed moment for the LGBTQ+ pride movement in New York City. This song was released to commemorate Stonewall's 50th. (Click here to view) 5 Things Sunday was edited and produced by CNN's Tricia Escobedo and Dan Wine.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Loggerhead sea turtle spotted struggling in bay apparently free-swimming now: MERR
A loggerhead sea turtle spotted struggling in the Indian River Bay June 21 is apparently free-swimming now, according to the Lewes-based nonprofit Marine Education, Research and Rehabilitation Institute. MERR shared a photo of the turtle, which they said was provided by a boater who later lost track of it, on social media June 21. The turtle was surfacing briefly and repeatedly, the post said, and MERR urged other boaters to alert them if they spotted the turtle so they could assist it. "We don't know if it was entangled in something or injured, but it appeared to be struggling," the post said. That post was deleted, but an update was shared June 22. Natural resources police took MERR representatives out to the area where the turtle was spotted, the post said, and they searched extensively but were unable to locate it. "During our search we were able to scan the bottom and water column thanks to the 3-D depth finder on the vessel," the post said. "This enabled us to confirm that the turtle was apparently free swimming because it was nowhere in the vicinity of the original sighting." If you spot a sea turtle in the area, try to keep it in sight and contact MERR immediately at 302-228-5029. The loggerhead spotted June 21 may still be entangled in fishing gear or injured. "Safe and successful disentanglement of a multi-hundred pound animal in any depth of water requires special equipment so that the turtle isn't inadvertently injured," the post said. "This is also risky for rescuers, so it is always best to notify us so that we can bring our specialized equipment and trained personnel to the scene to assist the turtle." Loggerhead sea turtles, and all other sea turtles in Delaware waters, are federally endangered. Over 50% of those that strand in Delaware have boat propeller injuries, most of which are fatal, the post said. MERR is starting a campaign to raise awareness of boat propeller cages, similar to the cages that cover a house fan. "The cages help to protect sea turtles, terrapins, other wildlife, and boaters themselves from the harmful and even deadly impact of the blades, while also protecting the prop from damage during an impact," the post said. "The cost of the cages vary, but are far less costly than replacing a propeller in most cases." Testudines: What to know about Delaware's 15 native turtle species and how to help them Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@ or on Facebook. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: MERR searches for struggling loggerhead sea turtle spotted in bay
