President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss a way to break the logjam on the debt ceiling and avert a potential economic calamity. The White House has indicated that Biden is open to making changes to the budget, but will not accept any cuts to Social Security or Medicare. If an agreement is not reached by June 1, the U.S. could face a default on its debt, a situation that could have devastating economic consequences.
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Former Indianapolis police sergeant Eric Huxley pleaded guilty this week to violating the civil rights of a homeless man by kicking him in the face during an arrest in 2021. Huxley faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted, and the incident has sparked outrage in the Indianapolis community. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has launched an internal investigation into the incident and will take appropriate action once it is complete.
The U.S. Virgin Islands has issued a subpoena to Tesla CEO Elon Musk in connection with its lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase over sex trafficking by the late Jeffrey Epstein. The subpoena seeks documents related to any communication between Musk, JPMorgan and Epstein, and the Virgin Islands government believes Epstein may have referred Musk as a client to JPMorgan. Musk has not been accused of any wrongdoing, and the subpoena is part of the government's effort to obtain documents related to the case.
Salman Rushdie was awarded the Freedom to Publish Award at the British Book Awards, in recognition of his courage and determination to stand up for freedom of expression and freedom to publish in the face of ongoing threats. He spoke out against censorship and intolerance, and said that this is a “moment of crisis” for those rights in the West. The award is a new one, given for the first time in 2022.
Noelle Dunphy, a former aide of Rudy Giuliani, has filed a lawsuit in New York alleging that Giuliani offered to sell presidential pardons for $2 million and discussed plans to overturn the 2020 election results. Dunphy also alleges that Giuliani sexually assaulted and harassed her, refused to pay her wages, and made offensive remarks. She is seeking $10 million in damages, and Giuliani has not commented on the allegations. The lawsuit comes as Giuliani faces a criminal investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan for his role in the Trump administration.
Five men were sentenced to prison terms ranging from four to six years for their involvement in the theft of 21 pieces of jewelry containing over 4,300 diamonds from the Green Vault Museum in Dresden, Germany. The theft is one of the largest art heists in recent history, and the investigation is ongoing.
The Supreme Court has rejected Alabama's bid to execute death row inmate Kenneth Smith by lethal injection, leaving in place a lower court ruling that his preference for lethal gas is a viable alternative method. This marks the first time an inmate has been allowed to choose an execution method other than lethal injection, as the state has authorized nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for Smith in November, allowing him to choose nitrogen hypoxia as an alternative to lethal injection.
Ukraine's air defenses successfully thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early Tuesday morning, shooting down all 18 missiles. This was the eighth time this month that Russian air raids had targeted the capital, and the attack was described as “exceptional in its density”. The international community has condemned Russia's actions and called for a de-escalation of the conflict in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia since 2014.