Category: ESTA News

President Donald Trump has rejected an Israeli plan to eliminate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Reuters reported on the 15th.

According to the report, senior U.S. officials have been in constant contact with Israel since Israel launched a large-scale preemptive airstrike on the 12th to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons program, two U.S. officials who requested anonymity said. They said the Israelis specifically informed them that they had the opportunity to eliminate Iran’s Khamenei, but Trump rejected the plan.

The sources did not mention whether Trump personally conveyed this message. A senior U.S. official said, “Did the Iranians kill an American? Until they do, we will not even discuss targeting the (Iranian) political leader.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News on the same day, when asked by the host about the plan to assassinate Khamenei, “There are too many false reports about conversations that did not actually happen. I will not comment on that.”

Netanyahu continued, “But what I can say is that we will do what is necessary”.

“I’m excited to be joining the next generation of developers. I wonder what kind of exciting apps will be developed this year.”

On the morning of the 8th, CEO Tim Cook appeared on the outdoor stage set up at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, waving his hand and saying, “Hello, everybody.” Hewore a casual outfit of his usual blue short-sleeved T-shirt and gray pants.

On this day, the day before the opening of Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), he visited this place to see in person the apps of university students from around the world selected for this year’s ‘Swift Student Challenge’.

The ‘Swift Student Challenge’ is one of the WWDC events and was launched in 2020. It is Apple’s talent development program that selects and encourages students who have developed excellent apps.

This year, the ‘Swift Student Challenge’ received applications from thousands of people from around the world, and 350 people from 38 countries and regions were selected as winners. Of these 50 winners, only 11 were given the opportunity to demonstrate on this day. Five Korean university students were among the 50, a significant increase from two last year.

Han Ga-on (24), who developed an app that helps quadriplegic patients with Lou Gehrig’s disease communicate by blinking, was also included in the 11 and had the opportunity to demonstrate.

CEO Cook personally listened to 11 college students from around the world explain the apps they had developed. After hearing the explanations, CEO Cook encouraged them by saying things like, “Good idea,” and “Interesting,” and he also asked them questions directly.

The college student developers were given about 3 minutes each. They appealed to the Apple CEO about the usefulness of the apps they developed.

One attendee said, “I didn’t know CEO Cook was coming,” and “It was nice because he seemed to be really listening.” Korean college student Han was the third out of 11 to complete the demonstration.

After seeing Han’s demonstration, CEO Cook said, “We opened the ‘Apple Developer Academy’ in Korea to support the next generation of developers,” and “It’s very encouraging to see graduates like Gaon who are trying to make the world a better place with creativity, dedication, and passion.”

He continued, “Coding has the power to change people’s lives, and Gaon’s app is a powerful example of that possibility,” and added, “I’m glad to meet him, and I’m excited to see what he’ll do in the future.”

Apple has been operating the ‘Apple Developer Academy’ since 2013 in Brazil, which provides education on app development and design, new business development, and entrepreneurship.

Apple Academy is established and operated in 18 regions in 8 countries around the world, and is the only one in Northeast Asia, established in Korea in 2022, producing excellent developers.

President Donald Trump said on the 8th that the protests illegal immigration in Los Angeles was not a civil war, but that he deployed the military to maintain order and that more troops may be deployed in the future.

According to the White House press corps, President Trump met with reporters at Morristown Airport in New Jersey and answered a question about whether he was prepared to invoke the Insurrection Act in the Los Angeles area, saying, “That depends on whether there is a civil war.” When asked if he thought there was a civil war, he said, “No, but there are violent people, and we will not let them get away with it.”

In the United States, the military cannot be used to enforce the laws of a civilian government, but the Insurrection Act authorizes the president to use the military domestically only under certain conditions, such as insurrection. Progressives in the United States have raised concerns that President Trump could use this law to crack down on illegal immigrants.

When asked how he would define insurrection, President Trump said, “You just must really look at what’s happening on the ground. We were watching very closely last night in Los Angeles. There was tremendous violence there.” When asked whether he would send in the military without invoking the Insurrection Act, he said, “We’re going to have troops everywhere.”

After speaking with reporters, he posted on the social media platform TruthSocial that “a violent and insurgent mob is coming and attacking our federal agents in an attempt to stop our (illegal immigrant) deportation operations.” He then said that he was directing the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Attorney General to “take whatever action is necessary to liberate LA from this immigrant invasion and end these immigrant protests,” adding that “order will be restored, illegal immigrants will be deported, and LA will be free.”

Earlier, the day before, President Trump had granted the Secretary of Defense control of the National Guard, which normally follows the direction of the governor, under Title 10, United States Code, Section 12406, instead of the Insurrection Act, and directed that 2,000 National Guard troops be deployed to the protest area to protect government functions and property. In addition, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that the Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton near LA are ready to support the National Guard deployed to LA.

Regarding the Marines’ deployment, President Trump told reporters, “We’ll see what’s needed. We’ll send whatever we need to maintain law and order.” The New York Times reported that the military authorities were unclear on the rules of engagement for the National Guard sent to LA under President Trump’s order.

The NYT reported that the National Guard was tasked with protecting federal assets and personnel in the protest area and that they were informed of the rules of engagement just before their deployment, but the Department of Defense is not disclosing the details. Meanwhile, President Trump is scheduled to hold a meeting with the military authorities at Camp David, the presidential retreat, on that day.

“We’re going to have meetings with a variety of people on very important topics. Camp David is probably better secure than anywhere else,” Trump told reporters at the airport. He added, “We’re going to have meetings with a lot of people, including generals and admirals.”

According to the White House, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will be heading to Camp David.

President Donald Trump has pressured the judiciary, which is currently deliberating on the validity of the reciprocal tariffs he imposed, saying that a court’s blocking of tariffs will lead to the destruction of the American economy.

In a post on the social network service (SNS) Truth Social on the 1st, President Trump wrote, “If the court rules against our tariff’s contrary to expectations, it will allow other countries to hold our country hostage with ‘anti-American tariffs. ‘”President Trump added, “This will mean the economic destruction of the United States.” There is an argument that if a ruling is made to block President Trump’s tariffs, it will have a major impact on the U.S. economy.

Earlier, on the 28th of last month, the United States Court of International Trade (USCIT) ruled that Congress has the exclusive authority to impose tariffs and ordered the withdrawal of the reciprocal tariffs implemented by President Trump based on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).However, the Trump administration immediately appealed, and the appellate court has decided to suspend the effect of the USCIT ruling.

While the case is currently pending in the appellate court, the final decision is expected to be made by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has a 6-3 majority of conservative justices.

In relation to this, Secretary of Commerce Howard Rutnick emphasized in an interview with Fox News that day that “tariffs will not disappear.” He argued that regardless of the decision of the judiciary, President Trump, who has extensive authority to impose tariffs, will use that authority to maintain the tariffs.

Secretary Rutnick added that America’s trading partners are entering into tariff and trade negotiations with the United States, adding that “over the next two to three weeks, we will see ‘first-rate deals’ (between the United States and its trading partners) that are good for American workers.”

A high school track and field athlete who transitioned from male to female has caused controversy by winning a meet in California, the Associated Press and the New York Times reported on the 1st.

AB Hernandez, a transgender senior at Hurupa Valley High School in southern California, won first place in the women’s high jump and triple jump, and second place in the long jump at the state high school track and field meet held near the south-central city of Fresno on the 31st of last month.

This is not the first time a transgender athlete has won in the United States, but Hernandez’s win became a national issue after President Donald Trump criticized her participation, and even the federal government joined in.

California allows students to compete in categories that align with their gender identity under a 2013 state law. But after criticism from the president over allowing transgender athletes to compete in women’s competitions, the governing body, the Higher Education Merit Association, released new rules earlier this week. It allowed one more athlete to compete in the event Hernandez competed in and receive a medal. It also allowed other athletes to take their places in the event Hernandez did not compete in. Hernandez finished first in the high jump and triple jump, but they were tied for first place at the awards ceremony. In the high jump, he jumped 5 feet, 7 inches without fail.

The runners-up were two athletes who jumped the same height as Hernandez but missed once each. However, both Hernandez and the two athletes stood on the podium together. The federation acknowledged Hernandez’s performance but also recognized the next-place finisher as a tie.

In the triple jump, Hernandez won the title on paper but was named joint winner with the second-place finisher at the awards ceremony. During the two-day event, some critics wore pink wristbands and T-shirts with the phrase “Save Women’s Sports,” while an airplane with a banner reading “No Boys in Women’s Sports” circled the stadium.

Ahead of the event, President Trump threatened to cut federal funding to California if it did not ban transgender students. The U.S. Department of Justice also announced that it would investigate whether the federation and Hernandez’s school district violated federal anti-discrimination laws.

In response, the federation said, “We respect all student-athletes and will continue to comply with state laws that support our mission of providing students with a sense of belonging, solidarity, and opportunity to compete.”

The Jerusalem Post reported on the 25th (local time) that the United States has asked Israel to postpone a large-scale ground invasion of the Gaza Strip. According to multiple sources, the United States has proposed to Israel to postpone a full-scale invasion operation so that it can conduct ceasefire negotiations with the Palestinian armed group Hamas in parallel with the military operation in the Gaza Strip.

As soon as President Donald Trump finished his Middle East tour on the 16th, Israel launched Operation Gideon’s Chariots, a high-intensity offensive aimed at recapturing the Gaza Strip. Israeli officials said that if the Israeli military launches a full-scale ground invasion, it is highly likely that it will not withdraw from the occupied Gaza Strip regardless of the terms of future negotiations, which will further complicate the prospects for a ceasefire.

Israel and Hamas have been discussing the release of 10 hostages and a 60-day ceasefire proposed by President Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, but the negotiations have stalled.

The Jerusalem Post added that the previous day, Israel withdrew all its delegation sent to Qatar, a mediator, but the U.S. side remains and continues indirect discussions with Hamas. The Israeli military issued a statement on the same day, saying that tanks from the 401st Brigade killed several terrorists in northern Gaza the previous day, and that airstrikes by Air Force fighter jets continued.

The Hamas-run Gaza Information Bureau claimed that Israel effectively controls 77 percent of the entire Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, he criticized Israel for “direct ground invasions, deployment of troops in residential and civilian areas, strong fire control to prevent Palestinian residents from accessing their homes and property, and unjust forced evictions.”

Amid President Donald Trump’s so-called “judge tagging,” or public criticism of judges who block his policies, and amid threatening behavior from some of his supporters, some in the U.S. judiciary are discussing the idea of operating an independent security team for each federal court.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 24th that this idea was raised in early March at the “Judicial Conference,” a federal-level judicial policy discussion body where about 50 judges meet privately every six months.

According to the report, members of the conference’s “Security Committee” brought up the issue of operating an independent security team for each court, citing the threat posed by President Trump’s increasing criticism of judges who have made rulings that block his policies.

Currently, Supreme Court justices are protected by Supreme Court police officers, and the approximately 2,700 federal judges under them are protected by the Marshals Service. The problem is that the Marshals Service reports to the Attorney General, who is part of the executive branch. Some worry that if President Trump were to “retaliate” by ordering the Attorney General to stop providing security to judges he believes are holding him back, the judges in question could be exposed to threats.

The WSJ reported that these concerns were relayed to Chief Justice John Roberts. Meanwhile, on the 22nd, Democratic Senator Cory Booker (New Jersey) proposed a bill that would allow courts at all levels to be responsible for their own security and allow the Chief Justice to appoint the head of the Marshals Service.

The idea was to have the judiciary itself take charge of protecting judges, rather than having the executive branch, which cannot be free from the president’s influence, take charge of protecting members of the judiciary.

In a statement, Booker said Trump “has made clear through his words and actions that he has no respect for the law, the orders of our courts, the safety of our judges, or our institutions.” There are many who point out that President Trump’s ‘targeting’ of judges who put the brakes on his policies and the ‘threats’ of extreme Trump supporters are approaching a dangerous level.

In March, when Judge James Vosberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia pointed out the illegality of his deportation of illegal aliens, President Trump said that he was “trying to usurp presidential power” and that he should be impeached. In effect, he was ‘targeting’ the judge who raised an issue with President Trump’s application of the ‘Enemy Nationals Act’ to designate about 300 Venezuelan nationals as members of a criminal organization and then deport them. Meanwhile, the WSJ reported that dozens of judges and their families and acquaintances recently received anonymous pizzas delivered to their homes.

The ‘unordered’ pizza delivery means that ‘we know where you live’ and conveys the message, ‘be careful, there may be a terrorist attack.’ In March, the sister of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett received a bomb threat after the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling ordering the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to pay contractors, the WSJ reported.

Another judge was visited by SWAT officers after they detected threats against her after she blocked President Trump’s executive order limiting the constitutional provision granting citizenship to those born in the U.S. under the principle of sojourn.

In this regard, the Trump administration has stated that it has no plans to remove the Marshals Service’s protection of federal judges and that Marshals Service agents will continue to protect them.

For years, Wilshire-Western Metro Plaza in Los Angeles had been synonymous with disorder. Once a public space meant for community gathering, it had become dominated by homeless individuals, drug addicts, and the mentally ill. The area, particularly around the metro station entrances and elevators, was notorious for unsanitary conditions and frequent disturbances. Yet recently, residents and passersby were struck by a surprising transformation the plaza looked clean, calm, and accessible again. What had changed?

On May 21, reporters returned to the plaza for a follow-up investigation. Two Metro Ambassadors and two Metro Security officers were stationed at the entrance. When asked about the noticeable difference, their answer was simple: the subway station was temporarily closed.

This temporary closure turned out to be the key to revitalization. Although the city of Los Angeles and Metro claimed that increased policing and patrols helped improve the area, those efforts alone hadn’t yielded visible results in the past. The real turning point came when the subway access, once free and open, was cut off due to construction. The entry route used by many vulnerable individuals as a makeshift shelter vanished and with it, much of the disorder.

Previously, Wilshire-Western had served as a transfer hub and the temporary terminus of the subway line. This status created a bottleneck, drawing in large, diverse crowds and concentrating social problems. With the station’s closure, the area stopped functioning as a conduit for this influx. In a stark example of cause and effect, the plaza once overrun, quickly returned to something resembling its intended purpose as a public space for citizens.

This transformation has broader implications. The situation is not just a story of beautification or temporary relief. It highlights how urban infrastructure, particularly public transportation, can unintentionally become a vector for complex social issues. When not paired with thoughtful planning and services, these systems can worsen already fragile urban ecosystems.

The city of Los Angeles and Metro must now confront a deeper question: what role should public spaces and transit hubs play in the life of the city, and for whom are they designed? As the Metro line extends westward toward affluent neighbourhoods like Beverly Hills, Westwood, and Santa Monica, the question becomes even more pressing. How will those communities respond to the potential influx of socially vulnerable individuals that the subway might bring?

This case is a vivid reminder that transportation planning is inseparable from social policy. It demands not just security measures but structural strategies to support all city residents, especially the most marginalized.

Tensions flared at Columbia University on the morning of May 21st as the university held its general commencement ceremony. Outside the campus, pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli demonstrators gathered in protest, leading to a significant police presence and at least two arrests. The demonstrations are the latest in a series of protests that have rocked Columbia since last spring, when the university became a focal point for nationwide campus activism related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.

This week, Columbia began its series of commencement ceremonies, with individual departments celebrating on separate days. The general commencement ceremony, held on the 21st, drew approximately 37,000 attendees and proceeded mostly without incident inside the campus. However, Interim President Claire Schiffman’s speech was repeatedly interrupted by graduating students, many of whom chanted “Free Mahmoud Khalil,” a call in support of a Palestinian student activist and Columbia graduate. Schiffman acknowledged the outcry, referring to the university’s commitment to free speech, but her remarks were met with boos and further expressions of dissatisfaction over the university’s handling of protests and cooperation with federal authorities.

Outside the university gates, dozens of demonstrators staged a vocal protest. Some participants burned or tore up their diplomas, chanted slogans such as “Columbia is a liar, they burned Palestine,” and carried signs condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza. Many wore masks, and tensions escalated to the point where at least two individuals were arrested following confrontations with NYPD officers deployed to control the crowd.

The protests were largely centred around Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist who had played a prominent role in previous pro-Palestine demonstrations at Columbia. In March, Khalil was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is currently facing deportation. The Trump administration has linked Khalil’s activism to Hamas and is seeking his removal despite his status as a permanent resident. Civil rights organizations, faculty, and student groups have strongly condemned the move, labelling it an attempt to suppress free speech and political dissent.

Protests also disrupted the commencement ceremony held on May 20th, where graduates booed another university official and again called for Khalil’s release. In response to federal pressure and criticism over its handling of campus protests and allegations of anti-Semitism, Columbia has promised to implement new policies. These include increased campus security, a ban on mask-wearing during demonstrations, and the hiring of agents tasked with forcibly removing protesters. The federal government has threatened to withhold $400 million in funding from Columbia if it fails to comply with demands related to campus safety and anti-Semitism concerns.

A truck transporting freshly minted coins overturned on a highway near Albord, Texas, spilling about 1.12 billion won (approximately $850,000) worth of newly minted 10-cent coins. The incident occurred on April 29 at 5:30 AM, when the truck, which was hauling coins from the mint, left the road and swerved excessively, eventually overturning on its side. The Texas Department of Public Safety explained that the driver’s loss of control caused the truck to fall over.

The crash injured both the driver and the passenger, who were subsequently transported to the hospital. Fortunately, their injuries were not life-threatening. The authorities shut down two lanes of the highway for 14 hours while workers scrambled to recover the coins scattered across the road. Some workers used large vacuum cleaners to suck up the coins, while others dug through piles of dirt with shovels and their hands. The scene was likened to a “giant piggy bank that had been broken open,” with coins spilling out across the highway, as described by The New York Times.

Despite the extensive recovery efforts, Albord Mayor Caleb Cavinis confirmed that while most of the coins were recovered, some were likely washed away by rain that morning. The incident caused significant disruption, but authorities were able to clear the area and resume normal traffic flow after the lengthy recovery operation.