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🚆 NJ Transit Engineers Strike, Paralyzing Commuter Rail
About 450 locomotive engineers at NJ Transit went on strike, halting service for 350,000 daily riders across New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia. It’s the state’s first transit strike in over 40 years. The dispute centers on wage disparities with peers at Long Island Rail Road, with officials warning union demands could trigger $684M in broader labor costs. No resolution is expected before next week.
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🏛️ House GOP’s “Big Beautiful Bill” Stalls in Committee
President Trump’s flagship tax and spending bill, dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” faced a setback as five Republicans joined Democrats in the House Budget Committee to block it. The bill aimed to deliver sweeping tax cuts and Medicaid reforms but was criticized for potentially adding $5.2 trillion to the deficit. It’s expected to return to committee next week.
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📺 Charter and Cox Announce $34.5B Merger
Charter Communications will acquire Cox Communications in a deal valued at $34.5 billion, combining the first- and eighth-largest cable providers in the U.S. by subscribers. The move is designed to better compete with streaming services and broaden broadband access.
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🏀 Knicks Advance to Eastern Conference Finals
The New York Knicks defeated the Boston Celtics 119–81 in Game 6, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby each scored 23 points, and Josh Hart recorded a triple-double.
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💊 Novo Nordisk CEO Steps Down Amid Market Challenges
Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen will step down following a mutual agreement with the board. The move comes amid pressure from competitors like Eli Lilly and a steep drop in Novo’s stock price—down more than 50% since mid-2024. A leadership transition is underway.
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🌍 Israel Launches Major Offensive in Gaza
Israel began “Operation Gideon’s Chariots,” striking more than 150 targets across Gaza in an escalation of the ongoing conflict. Gazan health authorities report at least 93 people killed and hundreds wounded. The offensive coincides with President Trump’s Middle East tour.
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📚 Salman Rushdie’s Attacker Sentenced to 25 Years
Hadi Matar, who stabbed author Salman Rushdie during a 2022 lecture, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for attempted murder. Rushdie lost vision in one eye as a result of the attack.
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📉 Mortgage Rates Remain Below 7%
The 30-year fixed mortgage rate held steady at 6.81%, staying below 7% for the 17th straight week, giving prospective homebuyers a modest reprieve amid high home prices.
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💼 U.S. Jobless Claims Steady at 229,000
Weekly unemployment claims held at 229,000, signaling continued labor market resilience despite broader economic uncertainty.
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🍔 McDonald’s Reintroduces $5 Value Meal
McDonald’s will re-launch its $5 Meal Deal as part of its new McValue platform, hoping to attract price-sensitive customers amid inflation and increasing fast-food competition.
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🌪️ Severe Storms Cause Fatalities in the Midwest
A deadly line of tornadoes and storms swept through the Midwest, killing at least seven people and leaving thousands without power.
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🛰️ NASA Progresses Toward Crewed Moon Mission
NASA’s Artemis II mission is on track for a 2026 launch, with major milestones reached on both spacecraft and rocket components.
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💳 U.S. Household Debt Reaches $18.2 Trillion
Americans now owe a record $18.2 trillion in household debt, according to the New York Fed, with significant increases in mortgage and credit card balances.
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