5 things to know for May 16: Presidential debates, Gaza, Assassination attempt, Campus unrest, Stock market

If you tend to be easily distracted during work — squirrel! — you’re not alone. Medical experts say our attention spans are getting shorter, but a few mindful practices can help increase your focus.

Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.

1. Presidential debates

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have accepted an invitation from CNN to debate on June 27, a historically early showdown that will set the tone for the final months of the 2024 campaign. The debate will be held at CNN’s Atlanta studios with no audience present — an anomaly in debates between presidential candidates. Republicans have for months been piling the pressure on Biden to debate Trump after the president offered non-committal answers on whether the face-offs would take place. But several sources say that the debate had actually been in the works for weeks, as the campaigns separately came to the conclusion that debates over the summer would benefit both their candidates and American voters.

2. Gaza

A US-built floating pier that will allow for humanitarian aid to flow into Gaza was anchored to a beach today along the besieged enclave. The pier aims to “support the humanitarian mission to deliver additional humanitarian aid to Palestinian civilians,” US Central Command said in a statement. Dozens of trucks are expected to begin moving the humanitarian aid ashore in the coming days, officials said, adding that no US troops had entered Gaza. Amid signs that Israel may launch a full-scale incursion in Rafah, aid agencies are warning any escalation in the southern Gaza city risks exacerbating the already deteriorating humanitarian situation.

3. Assassination attempt

Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico is in stable but serious condition after being shot five times in what officials described as a politically motivated assassination attempt. The 59-year-old populist leader was attacked on Wednesday after an off-site government meeting in the town of Handlova. The alleged shooter is in custody and no one else was injured, officials said. Slovakia’s defense and interior ministers blamed rising hate speech and division for the political atmosphere in the country, which they said led to the assassination attempt. Fico, an ally of Russia, was elected in October after running a campaign that criticized Western support for Ukraine.

4. Campus unrest

Police arrested at least a dozen pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the University of California, Irvine, as they cleared an encampment in front of a lecture hall on Wednesday. This comes as several pro-Palestinian encampments were removed from at least three other college campuses in recent days as schools across the country continue to call in law enforcement to quell demonstrations. Additionally, at least 50 professors have been detained at campus protests across the country in the last month, according to a CNN review. Since April 18, more than 2,400 students have been arrested amid protests on more than 50 campuses.

5. Stock market

All three major indexes — the S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow — surged to record highs Wednesday. This comes after the latest Consumer Price Index showed that prices were up 3.4% for the 12 months ended in April, easing from 3.5% the month before. Investors believe that the cooler inflation reading, coupled with a separate report showing weak retail sales in April, increases the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this year. While the new report shows elevated housing costs and high gas prices are weighing on Americans, the data provided welcome news on another staple spending area: Grocery prices fell for the first time in a year, dropping 0.2% from March.

HAPPENING LATER

Michael Cohen cross-examination resumes today
Former President Donald Trump’s ex-lawyer Michael Cohen will face more grilling by Trump’s defense team when he returns to the stand today for more cross-examination. Cohen is the last prosecution witness, and analysts say his testimony is a sign that Trump’s hush money trial is moving to a close.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

15 of the world’s most spectacular airport landings
These are some of the world’s best airplane approaches — and what side of the plane you should be sitting for them.

Netflix releases ‘Bridgerton’ season 3 today
Dearest gentle reader, the third season of the beloved Netflix show “Bridgerton” releases today after a two-year wait. Here’s what you can expect.

New Miss USA crowned amid ongoing turmoil at pageant
Amid a flurry of resignations, the new Miss USA, Savannah Gankiewicz, stepped up to be crowned on Wednesday in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Tom Brady says his appearance on ‘The Greatest Roast of All Time’ has ‘affected’ his children
The NFL star agreed to be roasted by comedians on a Netflix special but now says some of the jokes hit too close to home.

Warren Buffett reveals mysterious company he’s invested billions in
Buffet’s decision to invest billions in an insurance company is catching the eyes of investors who mimic his moves.

TODAY’S NUMBER

300 million
That’s how many images were combined to create the most detailed ever map of the human brain. The project, developed by researchers at Google and Harvard University, took over a decade to complete.

TODAY’S QUOTE

“I have come to Ukraine with a message: You are not alone.”

— US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, sharing a speech during a surprise trip to Ukraine’s capital Kyiv. Blinken on Wednesday reaffirmed US support for Ukraine with an additional $2 billion in military financing amid Russia’s advances. Meanwhile, Chinese leader Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing today as the two leaders bind their countries closer in the face of Western sanctions.

TODAY’S WEATHER

Check your local forecast here>>>

AND FINALLY …

See what it’s like in a ‘doing nothing’ competition
See moments from Seoul’s annual Space-Out Competition, the ultimate challenge to relax and battle boredom.

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