US News
President Trump is all over the place these days, especially when it comes to foreign policy. In a press conference with NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, Trump championed the value of the organization in fighting terrorism. "I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete." Trump also switched his view on Chinese currency manipulation, saying "They're not currency manipulators." He also sounded a downbeat note on Russia: "We may be at an all-time low in terms of relationship with Russia."—CNNManafort Shell Company Received $13 Million in Loans
Paul Manafort reportedly signed papers to create a shell company the day he stepped down as chairman of the Trump campaign last August, just before the company received $13 million in loans from two businesses with ties to Trump. Manafort has also reportedly decided to retroactively register as a foreign agent following a series of reports on his lobbying work for Ukraine.—The New York Times / VICE News
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First Female Muslim Judge in US Found Dead in Hudson River
Sheila Abdus-Salaam, the first Muslim woman to serve as a judge in the US, has been discovered dead in New York's Hudson River. Police said there were no obvious signs of trauma to the body. Governor Andrew Cuomo said Abdus-Salaam, an associate judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, was "a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come."—CBS NewsDavid Dao Mulling Legal Action Against United Airlines
Lawyers acting on behalf of David Dao, the 69-year-old forcibly removed from an overbooked United Airlines flight, have filed a request to make sure the airline and Chicago authorities preserve evidence relating to the incident. The emergency motion—which demands surveillance, cockpit recordings, and other documents are maintained—indicates the strong possibility of a lawsuit, with a press conference expected Thursday morning.—USA TodayNorth Korea 'Ready' for Next Nuclear Test, Says Research Group
Satellite photography shows North Korea is "primed and ready" to carry out a nuclear test, according to a US research group. Analysts at the 38 North institute warned that the images show plenty of activity at the Punggye-ri test site outside of Pyongyang, but a spokesman for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said there "has been no unusual activity so far."—The GuardianRussia Failed to Prevent 2004 Massacre, European Court Says
The European Court of Human Rights has found Russian officials knew of an impending attack on a school in Beslan in 2004, but did not act to stop it. The court ruled that Russia authorities failed to prevent Chechen militants from taking hostages. At least 330 people were killed during the siege. The court said Russia should pay $3.1 million in damages to the 400 survivors and relatives who brought the case against the country.—BBC News
Sheila Abdus-Salaam, the first Muslim woman to serve as a judge in the US, has been discovered dead in New York's Hudson River. Police said there were no obvious signs of trauma to the body. Governor Andrew Cuomo said Abdus-Salaam, an associate judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, was "a force for good whose legacy will be felt for years to come."—CBS NewsDavid Dao Mulling Legal Action Against United Airlines
Lawyers acting on behalf of David Dao, the 69-year-old forcibly removed from an overbooked United Airlines flight, have filed a request to make sure the airline and Chicago authorities preserve evidence relating to the incident. The emergency motion—which demands surveillance, cockpit recordings, and other documents are maintained—indicates the strong possibility of a lawsuit, with a press conference expected Thursday morning.—USA Today
International News
Satellite photography shows North Korea is "primed and ready" to carry out a nuclear test, according to a US research group. Analysts at the 38 North institute warned that the images show plenty of activity at the Punggye-ri test site outside of Pyongyang, but a spokesman for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said there "has been no unusual activity so far."—The GuardianRussia Failed to Prevent 2004 Massacre, European Court Says
The European Court of Human Rights has found Russian officials knew of an impending attack on a school in Beslan in 2004, but did not act to stop it. The court ruled that Russia authorities failed to prevent Chechen militants from taking hostages. At least 330 people were killed during the siege. The court said Russia should pay $3.1 million in damages to the 400 survivors and relatives who brought the case against the country.—BBC News
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At Least Five Killed in Suicide Bomb Attack in Kabul
Several people were killed and at least ten injured when a suicide bomber detonated a device outside the presidential palace in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, near the country's finance ministry. ISIS claimed responsibility for Wednesday's bomb attack, carried out by one bomber on foot.—Al JazeeraWarning of 'Trial by Ambush' for Women Accused of Kim Jong Nam Murder
A lawyer for one of the two women accused of killing Kim Jong Nam has warned against "trial by ambush." Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong appeared in a Malaysian court Thursday, where Aisyah's attorney Gooi Soon Seng argued that police had not provided security camera footage or evidence from three North Korean men questioned after Kim's death. The judge said the hearing would resume May 30.—APTrump Team Asked NASA About Raw Materials on the Moon
Internal communications obtained by a Freedom of Information Act request show Trump's transition team inquired about NASA's ability to develop technology for commercial use. The team also asked about plans to survey the Moon for useful raw materials and their potential extractability.—MotherboardTributes Paid to Comedian Charlie Murphy
Tributes have flooded in for comedian and legendary Chapelle's Show guest Charlie Murphy, who died of leukemia Wednesday at the age of 57. "We just lost one of the funniest, most real brothers of all time," said Chris Rock. "Rest in power," said Spike Lee.—VarietyStar Wars Heroines to Get Animated Series
Disney and Lucasfilm have announced a series of short, animated Star Wars films centered around the fictional universe's female characters. Star Wars Forces of Destiny will launch on YouTube in July, followed by two TV specials on the Disney Channel.—TIMERobert Kardashian Thought O.J. Was Guilty, Says Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner says that Robert Kardashian believed O.J. Simpson was guilty of murder in her forthcoming memoir The Secrets of My Life. "The implication was obvious that he believed O.J. was guilty," she writes of a conversation with Kardashian, who helped defend the football star.—RadarSigur Rós Selling Sigurberry Weed Edibles
Icelandic post-rock group Sigur Rós have branched out in the world of weed, releasing gumdrops that get you high. The Sigurberries are only available in the US to those with a prescription for medical marijuana in California.—NoiseyWillow Smith Turning Her Own Novel into an Animated Series
Willow Smith is working on an animated TV series based on her own planned fantasy novel Menencholy. Her production company is reportedly also working on bringing Alwyn Hamilton's young adult trilogy Rebel of the Sands to the big screen .—i-D
Several people were killed and at least ten injured when a suicide bomber detonated a device outside the presidential palace in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, near the country's finance ministry. ISIS claimed responsibility for Wednesday's bomb attack, carried out by one bomber on foot.—Al JazeeraWarning of 'Trial by Ambush' for Women Accused of Kim Jong Nam Murder
A lawyer for one of the two women accused of killing Kim Jong Nam has warned against "trial by ambush." Siti Aisyah and Doan Thi Huong appeared in a Malaysian court Thursday, where Aisyah's attorney Gooi Soon Seng argued that police had not provided security camera footage or evidence from three North Korean men questioned after Kim's death. The judge said the hearing would resume May 30.—AP
Everything Else
Internal communications obtained by a Freedom of Information Act request show Trump's transition team inquired about NASA's ability to develop technology for commercial use. The team also asked about plans to survey the Moon for useful raw materials and their potential extractability.—MotherboardTributes Paid to Comedian Charlie Murphy
Tributes have flooded in for comedian and legendary Chapelle's Show guest Charlie Murphy, who died of leukemia Wednesday at the age of 57. "We just lost one of the funniest, most real brothers of all time," said Chris Rock. "Rest in power," said Spike Lee.—VarietyStar Wars Heroines to Get Animated Series
Disney and Lucasfilm have announced a series of short, animated Star Wars films centered around the fictional universe's female characters. Star Wars Forces of Destiny will launch on YouTube in July, followed by two TV specials on the Disney Channel.—TIMERobert Kardashian Thought O.J. Was Guilty, Says Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner says that Robert Kardashian believed O.J. Simpson was guilty of murder in her forthcoming memoir The Secrets of My Life. "The implication was obvious that he believed O.J. was guilty," she writes of a conversation with Kardashian, who helped defend the football star.—RadarSigur Rós Selling Sigurberry Weed Edibles
Icelandic post-rock group Sigur Rós have branched out in the world of weed, releasing gumdrops that get you high. The Sigurberries are only available in the US to those with a prescription for medical marijuana in California.—NoiseyWillow Smith Turning Her Own Novel into an Animated Series
Willow Smith is working on an animated TV series based on her own planned fantasy novel Menencholy. Her production company is reportedly also working on bringing Alwyn Hamilton's young adult trilogy Rebel of the Sands to the big screen .—i-D