Importance Score: 81 / 100 🟢
The White House is reportedly focusing on deporting international students. Former President Trump is said to be privately expressing discontent regarding Mike Waltz. The latest NBC News Home Buyer Index indicates a slightly improving housing market, albeit with ongoing economic uncertainties.
Here are today’s key developments.
Administration Targets International Students with Visa Revocations
The State Department has reportedly revoked over 300 student visas, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This action underscores the White House’s increasing scrutiny of foreign-born students, with activism appearing to be a primary concern.
Across the nation, academics are being detained, sometimes in locations distant from their residences, often with minimal forewarning and limited explanation. Authorities are reportedly utilizing a Cold War-era immigration provision to justify some detentions. Federal officials retain the authority to cancel a student visa if a student is deemed a threat.
“The number of students impacted might exceed 300 at this juncture,” Rubio stated regarding visa revocations. “This is a routine process. When we identify individuals posing a threat, we revoke their visas.”
This week, Rumeysa Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral candidate at Tufts University holding a valid student visa, was reportedly detained. Ozturk had previously co-authored an opinion piece in the university newspaper critical of the institution’s response to student demands.
The detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and Columbia University graduate student, due to his pro-Palestinian activism, has also triggered nationwide protests. These cases are among several recent detentions that have garnered national media attention.
Continue reading the full report
Major Earthquake Strikes Myanmar, Causing Damage in Bangkok
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake centered in Myanmar resonated throughout Southeast Asia, resulting in at least three fatalities in neighboring Thailand and leaving numerous individuals trapped beneath a collapsed high-rise in Bangkok, the capital city.
The earthquake’s epicenter was approximately 6 miles deep near Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. A 6.4-magnitude aftershock occurred shortly after.
In Bangkok, a metropolis of 17 million residents many of whom reside in tall buildings, the seismic event caused structures to sway, prompting widespread evacuations from homes and workplaces.
Bangkok’s governor declared the city a disaster zone after a 33-story building under construction near the Chatuchak market collapsed, causing at least three deaths. Over 40 individuals reportedly remained trapped within the wreckage. Read more details here.
Trump Reportedly Expresses Private Discontent with Mike Waltz
Despite publicly demonstrating support for Mike Waltz, former President Donald Trump has privately conveyed frustration regarding his national security advisor. This discontent surfaced during discussions concerning the decision to withdraw Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, according to two Republican sources familiar with the conversations.
Trump’s dissatisfaction is reportedly twofold. Initially, Waltz’s creation of a Signal group chat, which included an editor from The Atlantic, led to calls from allies for Waltz to be held accountable. Furthermore, the former president is purportedly concerned that the ensuing race to succeed Waltz in the House is becoming unexpectedly competitive. While GOP leaders express confidence in Randy Fine, the Republican candidate in the Florida special election, Trump is allegedly worried that recent events are fostering a negative narrative, reflecting poorly on the party.
However, while Trump and his associates scrutinize Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, despite sharing sensitive military information via non-secure channels, has reportedly received unwavering support.
Further Political Updates:
- A career Department of Homeland Security employee who unintentionally disclosed unclassified details of an ICE operation to a journalist earlier this year is facing significant disciplinary action, raising questions about disparities in punishment compared to the Signal group chat incident.
- Former President Trump is rescinding the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik for U.S. ambassador to the U.N., citing concerns over the Republican Party’s narrow majority in the House.
- A pivotal decision is anticipated next week regarding the potential for Republican senators to permanently extend Trump’s expiring tax cuts.
- The Department of Health and Human Services has announced plans to eliminate 10,000 full-time positions, effectively leading to the closure of numerous departments within the CDC and other health agencies.
- Trump has targeted the Smithsonian Institution through an executive order instructing Vice President JD Vance to remove “improper, divisive, or anti-American” ideology from its programs.
- Over 200 “Tesla Takedown” protests are scheduled for tomorrow, as individuals globally express opposition to Elon Musk’s political involvement.
Housing Market Shows Mixed Signals: Easing Conditions Amidst Uncertainty
Purchasing a home in the U.S. is becoming marginally less challenging, based on new data from the NBC News Home Buyer Index. This improvement is attributed to increased housing inventory and reduced buyer competition. However, housing prices remain elevated, and experts caution that future market improvements are contingent on policy decisions, particularly concerning tariffs and trade disputes.
February’s Home Buyer Index registered at 80.1, a decrease from pandemic peaks in the upper 80s. The index, ranging from 0 to 100, quantifies the difficulty of purchasing a home, considering factors such as cost, competition, scarcity, and economic instability.
Data analyst Jasmine Cui notes that housing supply is improving, and properties are remaining on the market for longer durations – averaging 40 days or more. However, economic uncertainty remains high, registering 91 on the Economic Instability sub-index, surpassing last year’s figures. Furthermore, rapid policy shifts could destabilize the market.
Further Developments
- King Charles III underwent a brief hospital stay due to side effects from his cancer treatment.
- Yolanda Saldívar, incarcerated for the 1995 murder of Tejano music icon Selena, was denied parole; her next parole review is scheduled for 2030.
- A Las Vegas resident faces state and federal charges following his arrest related to an arson attack on a Tesla dealership.
- The Sundance Film Festival is relocating to a new city after more than four decades in Park City, Utah.
Staff Highlight: Greenlanders React to International Attention
Greenland finds itself at the center of a diplomatic tug-of-war involving the U.S. and Denmark. Ahead of a visit by JD Vance and his wife, NBC News correspondent Molly Hunter, along with producer Charlotte Gardiner, traveled to Nuuk to gauge the sentiments of Greenlanders amidst increasing global attention. How do they perceive escalating discussions about the U.S. potentially acquiring their territory? Predominantly with anger and weariness. “This is unbelievable; this is not the America we once knew,” expressed one local entrepreneur. — Annie Hill, platforms editor
NBC Select: Streamlined Online Shopping
Amazon’s Big Spring Sale is underway. We’ve identified top tech deals worth considering, including discounts on Bose noise-cancelling headphones, Apple iPads, speakers, and more. Also, are you intrigued by beef tallow as a skin moisturizer? The NBC Select team delves into this skincare trend, where individuals are applying beef fat to their skin.
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