Today’s news briefs include Biden in France for D-Day, Executive Order limiting immigration, King Charles on British banknotes.
President in France for D-Day commemoration
President Joe Biden landed in Paris Wednesday for an official trip for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The trip also includes a state visit with French President Emmanuel Macron. The June 6 D-Day event in Normandy marks the 80th anniversary of the largest military invasion by sea in history on June 6, 1944. The landing resulted in 10,000 casualties and was a turning point in the war against the Axis nations. Biden is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky while they are in Normandy and again on the sidelines of the G7 in Italy next week, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.
Biden signs executive order on border policy
President Joe Biden issued a sweeping executive order Tuesday he claims will ease migrant arrivals at the US-Mexico border. Mass illegal immigration has become the second most important issue to voters behind the economy. The move reverses Biden’s earlier statements that the migrant crisis could only be solved with Congressional legislation. Under the plan, up to 75,000 immigrants could continue to enter the country illegally each month. If daily encounters hit 2,500, the border will be “closed.” In his first days in office, Biden issued several EOs to dismantle immigration policies put in place by Donald Trump. The result is that as of May, 7 million individuals have entered the country illegally under Biden.
Spain hits snag with new “Palestinian” embassy
Spain has a big problem after it recognized “Palestine” as a state. Its embassy personnel refuse to move to the Palestinian-controlled Ramallah where the new embassy is to be located. The diplomats, currently located in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, cited safety and quality of life concerns, according to Spanish news site OKDiario. With the diplomats already in Israel unwilling to make the move to Ramallah, Madrid will need to send diplomats from Spain or pull them from other embassies, which according to the article would be too costly for the Spanish Foreign Ministry. Critics say that Spain, Slovenia, Norway and Ireland, by recognizing a “Palestinian” state, rewarded Hamas for its brutal attack against Israel.
Children and social media
New York has moved forward landmark legislation that regulates social media feeds for children under 18. The bill, which now has the support of Gov. Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers, prevents social media companies from using addictive algorithms for users under 18 and to stop big tech firms from profiting off their data. If enacted, it would be the first such law in United States. Sources close to the discussions indicated that the exact text of the legislation could be released this week, multiple sources confirmed to the New York Post on Monday.
King Charles gets his own banknotes
Banknotes featuring a portrait of King Charles III entered circulation on Wednesday for the first time, the Bank of England said in a statement. Charles is pictured on the front of the £5, £10, £20, and £50 banknotes, and will be seen through the notes’ see-through security window. Otherwise the notes will remain unchanged in their design. As well as monarchs, banknotes in the U.K. feature historical characters including Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, JMW Turner and Alan Turing, reports CNBC.
–Dwight Widama and wire services