An eleventh-hour deal to avoid default on the national debt is headed to President Joe Biden's desk for signature. Also in the news: The 2023 hurricane season has officially started and a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico is right on time. The Denver Nuggets bested the Miami Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. |
Now, here we go with Friday's news. |
Senate passes bill to stop debt default |
The White House announced President Joe Biden will address the nation Friday evening after the Senate approved a bipartisan agreement to avoid a catastrophic default on the nation's debt. |
The Senate acted with uncharacteristic swiftness last night, racing to complete the legislation before Monday, the earliest the federal government could be unable to pay all its bills. |
| • | "America can breathe a sigh of relief," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The 63-36 vote came a day after the House passed "The Fiscal Responsibility Act" by a wide margin. | | • | Some senators demanded votes on amendments in exchange for not dragging out debate, but none were approved. Other Senate Republicans complained the deal doesn't include enough defense funding since the increase is below the rate of inflation. | | • | Coming out of the debt deal, McCarthy is beginning to strut as House Republicans are poised to push for extending the Trump-era tax cuts and other objectives. |
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No spell-off required: Dev Shah wins 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee |
Dev Shah, an eighth-grader from Largo, Florida, spelled "psammophile" correctly to win the 95th national Bee and the $50,000 prize on Thursday. Charlotte Walsh, the hometown kid from just across the Potomac River in Arlington, Virginia, could not nail "daviely" in the preceding round. According to Merriam-Webster, a psammophile is "an organism that prefers or thrives in sandy soils or areas." Other words that Shah correctly spelled during the competition include: bathypitotmeter, tolsester, rommack, aegagrus, schistorrhachis, poliorcetics, Perioeci, exhortation, cocomat and ardoise. Read more | Dev Shah, 14, from Largo, Florida, celebrates after winning the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Josh Morgan, USA TODAY |
Hurricane season begins with a tropical depression in the Gulf |
As if on cue, a tropical depression formed in the Gulf of Mexico on the first day of the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season. Even though the depression could see "modest strengthening" overnight and become a tropical storm by Friday morning, the center's hurricane specialists expect it to weaken on Friday as it encounters greater wind shear and dry air. The development comes as forecasters have predicted 12 to 17 named storms will form this season with five to nine developing into hurricanes. Read more | In a satellite image provided by NOAA, a tropical depression is seen in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Florida late Thursday, June 1, 2023, the first official day of the hurricane season. AP |
Sweden draws closer to NATO membership |
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday the alliance wants to bring Sweden into the fold by the time leaders in the group meet in Lithuania next month. Turkey's government has balked as this prospect, however, accusing Sweden of being too lenient on terrorist organizations such as Kurdish groups linked to a 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. The words come as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy lobbied for financial and military assistance, his nation's peace plan and NATO membership at the European Political Community summit Thursday in neighboring country Moldova. Read more | US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (2nd L) attended an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers in Oslo, Norway on June 1, 2023. LISE ASERUD, NTB/AFP via Getty Images |
Nuggets score Game 1 victory over Heat in NBA Finals |
Denver's explosive offense, loaded with size, versatility, options, quickness and talented scorers, proved too much for the Heat. The Nuggets toppled Miami 104-93 Thursday for a 1-0 series lead. It was a great start for the Nuggets, who received an efficient scoring effort from two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and his presence as a facilitator opened up opportunities for his teammates. Game 2 is Sunday in Denver. Read more | Game 1: Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo shoots the ball against Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) during the third quarter. Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports |
Photo of the day: Jordan's royal wedding |
Jordan's crown prince has married the scion of a prominent Saudi family in a palace celebration attended by royals and other VIPs from around the world. The marriage of Crown Prince Hussein and Saudi architect Rajwa Alseif has drawn a star-studded list but also holds deep significance for the region. It emphasizes continuity in an Arab state prized for its stability and could help Jordan forge a strategic bond with its oil-rich neighbor, Saudi Arabia. Click here to for more highlights from the ceremony. | Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Alseif sit during the wedding ceremony in Amman, Jordan, Thursday, June 1, 2023. AP |
Associated Press contributed reporting. | | | |
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