Remember when Southwest Airlines’ policy was “bags fly free?” Those days are now over. On flights booked today and going forward, the carrier will charge travelers $35 for checking one bag, $45 for a second and $150 for a third checked bag. Overweight luggage will require paying up to $200 in fees. Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. 1. Gaza It’s been 600 days since Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 others. Since then, the militant group has released some of the hostages, but continued to fire rockets at Israel. Israel has responded by negotiating for the release of hostages, bombing much of Gaza and killing more than 53,000 people. In recent months, Israel has also halted access to humanitarian aid, which has pushed the enclave’s population of more than 2 million Palestinians towards famine. Although access to aid resumed this week, chaos broke out at a distribution site in southern Gaza on Tuesday as thousands of desperate Palestinians arrived to receive food from a controversial new US and Israel-backed aid distribution program. Jake Wood, the head of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, resigned on Sunday, saying, “it is not possible to implement this plan while also strictly adhering to the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, which I will not abandon.” 2. Immigration President Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to make it easier for his administration to deport people to countries where they don’t hold citizenship. The policy, which was adopted soon after Trump returned to office, allowed the Department of Homeland Security to send immigrants to nations other than their home country without first notifying them or giving them a chance to claim a risk of persecution, torture or death in that third-party country. When a group of immigrants facing deportation to war-torn South Sudan sued, a federal judge blocked the US from deporting them unless they received written notice and had the chance to demonstrate a credible fear of persecution or torture there. The judge later said the administration violated his court order when it attempted to send several detainees of various nationalities to South Sudan. 3. DOGE A federal judge ruled in the Trump administration’s favor on Tuesday, saying the Department of Government Efficiency can access sensitive Treasury Department systems that contain private information about millions of Americans. A coalition of 19 states filed the lawsuit earlier this year to block DOGE from accessing the payment systems. In her latest ruling, US District Judge Jeannette Vargas said she would allow the Elon Musk-backed team at Treasury to access systems that control trillions of dollars of payments because the administration had created a process to train the DOGE staffers and prevent improper disclosures of private data. Earlier this year, DOGE staffers attempted to use the Treasury payment systems to shut down payments for programs they didn’t believe should be funded. 4. Harvard In its latest salvo against Harvard University, the White House has directed federal agencies to cancel all remaining contracts with the Ivy League school, two senior Trump administration officials said. Such a move would cost the university about $100 million. That’s on top of the $2.65 billion already cut from Harvard after the administration demanded the school change its hiring and admission requirements, eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs and alter rules for on-campus protests. The school resisted those orders and filed a lawsuit claiming the government’s actions violate the First Amendment. Last week, the administration tried to halt Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students, but a federal judge put that on hold. And on Tuesday, the State Department instructed US embassies and consulates around the world to pause new student visa appointments. 5. SpaceX While conducting the ninth uncrewed test flight of its Starship megarocket, SpaceX lost control of the spacecraft, which likely disintegrated over the Indian Ocean. The company was attempting to reuse a Super Heavy rocket booster that was previously flown and recaptured after a launch in January. The company wants to recover, refurbish and reuse as much of a rocket as possible to save money on future missions. Although Starship made it farther into its flight path during Flight 9 than in previous tests, it was not able to accomplish key objectives, such as deploying the test satellites it was carrying or reigniting engines upon reentry. The last two test missions — Flight 7 in January and Flight 8 in March — ended in explosive failures. BREAKFAST BROWSE Mary Lou Retton arrestedPolice in her West Virginia hometown took the 57-year-old gymnastics icon into custody earlier this month on suspicion of driving under the influence. Harry Potter TV show casts its starsHBO has finally found a trio of young actors to play Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley in its upcoming series about the magical world of witchcraft and wizardry. (HBO, like CNN, is owned by Warner Bros. Discovery.) CosMc’s to closeMcDonald’s is planning to shutter all five of its beverage-focused spinoff locations in June. However, some of the customizable drinks will stick around. There’s a fungus among usAs the climate crisis intensifies, researchers say Aspergillus, a common group of infection-causing fungi, will spread to new regions of the planet. Stop stealing the stones, folksA city in Belgium is asking tourists not to take a piece of its UNESCO-recognized medieval streets home with them. IN MEMORIAM Rock guitarist/producer Rick Derringer diesDuring his six-decade music career, Derringer released the hit singles “Hang On Sloopy” with his band The McCoys, and “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” from his solo album “All American Boy.” He also worked with numerous artists — including Ringo Starr, Steely Dan, B.B. King and Barbra Streisand — and produced “Weird Al” Yankovic’s first six albums. TODAY’S NUMBER 100That’s how many hours climate and weather scientists plan to livestream presentations to protest the Trump administration’s cuts to NOAA, NASA and the Department of Energy, as well as research funding to academia. The livestream marathon, which is billed as nonpartisan, begins today at 1 p.m. ET. TODAY’S QUOTE “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing. I think a bill can be big or it can be beautiful, but I don’t know if it can be both.” — Elon Musk on President Trump’s sweeping tax and spending cuts package. TODAY’S WEATHER Check your local forecast here>>> AND FINALLY … Joe Jackson’s 6-year-old son William suffers from Duchenne muscular dystrophy. There is a potential treatment available, but it costs $2.2 million. So, Jackson set out to raise those funds by rowing nonstop for 31 hours.
5 things to know for May 28: Gaza, Immigration, DOGE, Harvard, SpaceX
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Southwest Airlines Implements New Checked Baggage Fees Amid Ongoing Global Conflicts"
CNN
7.2
TruthLens AI Summary
Southwest Airlines has announced significant changes to its baggage policy, ending its long-standing 'bags fly free' initiative. Starting from today, the airline will impose fees for checked luggage, charging $35 for the first bag, $45 for the second, and $150 for any additional bags. Overweight luggage will incur fees of up to $200. This decision marks a major shift in the airline's customer service strategy, as it seeks to increase revenue amid rising operational costs. The new policy will affect all flights booked from this date onward, prompting travelers to reconsider their packing strategies and budget for added expenses when flying with Southwest.
In global news, the situation in Gaza remains dire as it marks 600 days since Hamas's surprise attack on Israel. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 53,000 Palestinians, with ongoing hostilities and a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by restrictions on aid. This week, access to humanitarian assistance was temporarily resumed, but chaos ensued at distribution sites as desperate residents sought food. Meanwhile, in the U.S., immigration policies are under scrutiny as President Trump seeks to modify deportation practices, allowing for deportations to third countries without prior notice. The administration has faced legal challenges regarding this approach, particularly concerning the safety of deportees. Lastly, SpaceX's recent test flight of its Starship megarocket ended in failure when the spacecraft lost control and likely disintegrated over the Indian Ocean, highlighting the challenges the company faces in its pursuit of reusable rocket technology.
TruthLens AI Analysis
The article presents a snapshot of several pressing global issues, including the ongoing situation in Gaza, immigration policies, and notable developments related to cryptocurrency, education, and space exploration. By combining these diverse topics, the article aims to inform readers about significant events while potentially shaping public perception on these matters.
Gaza Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis
The report highlights the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, emphasizing the protracted conflict that has resulted in substantial loss of life and destruction. The mention of the resignation of Jake Wood from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation adds a layer of controversy, suggesting that humanitarian efforts are being compromised. This might evoke feelings of sympathy and urgency among readers, pushing for a more profound engagement with the crisis. The portrayal of chaotic scenes at aid distribution sites reinforces the desperation faced by the Palestinian population, possibly instilling a sense of responsibility among the international community.
Immigration Policy Concerns
The immigration section underscores a contentious policy shift under President Trump that facilitates deportation to third-party countries without adequate safeguards for vulnerable populations. This aspect might resonate with advocates for immigrant rights, potentially framing the administration’s actions as increasingly draconian. By reporting on legal challenges to this policy, the article sheds light on ongoing debates surrounding human rights and the treatment of immigrants, which could mobilize public opinion against the administration's stance.
Cryptocurrency and Institutional Developments
The brief mention of DOGE and Harvard serves to highlight innovations and trends affecting finance and education. While these topics may seem disconnected from the more serious issues of Gaza and immigration, they reflect broader societal interests and the implications of technological changes. The reference to SpaceX contributes to the narrative of progress and exploration, contrasting with the struggles described in other sections of the article.
Overall Message and Intent
The combination of these topics appears to be aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of current events while subtly influencing public sentiment. The article's structure may lead readers to draw connections between humanitarian crises and broader systemic issues, such as the treatment of immigrants or the role of technology in society. It could be argued that there is an underlying intent to provoke emotional responses, which might facilitate advocacy for policy changes or increased humanitarian support.
Given the complexity of the issues covered, the news piece may not be entirely objective. The selection and framing of topics could lead to a perception of bias, particularly in the portrayal of political figures and policies. The reliability of the information presented hinges on the sources and context provided, which, while informative, may also be tailored to elicit specific reactions from the audience.
In conclusion, while the article effectively raises awareness about significant global issues, its potential manipulative aspects should be critically evaluated. The nuances of language, the selection of topics, and the context in which they are presented all contribute to the overall narrative, which may serve particular interests.