United states

The 7 things you need to know for Tuesday, May 31

1

There were at least 12 mass shootings over Memorial Day weekend.

  • Where? Across the U.S., from California to Michigan to Tennessee. Several took place at parties, and one at a Memorial Day event. At least eight people were killed and 55 injured.
  • What counts as a mass shooting? According to a nonprofit group that tracks them, when “four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.”
  • In Texas: The first funerals are taking place for the victims of last week’s school shooting in Uvalde, which left 19 children and two teachers dead.

2

Canada is planning a “national freeze” on handgun sales.

  • The details: The legislation, introduced yesterday, would stop both imports and sales, and allow judges to temporarily remove firearms from people who are considered dangerous.
  • What’s next? The bill is likely to pass. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the recent gun violence in the U.S. shows that, without action, things get “worse and worse.”

3

European Union countries will ban most Russian oil.

  • The details: It’s the E.U.’s biggest effort yet to hit Russia’s economy over the war in Ukraine. About 90% of oil imports will be phased out this year, with an exception for pipeline deliveries.
  • In Ukraine: Russia continues to capture more territory around Severodonetsk, a key Ukrainian-controlled city in the east. A French photojournalist was killed there yesterday.

4

The U.S. is changing the way it screens migrants seeking asylum.

  • A new system begins phasing in today: It relies more on asylum officers at immigration detention centers instead of judges to decide who can stay in the U.S. because of danger or persecution.
  • Why this matters: The U.S. has a huge backlog of asylum cases — nearly 400,000. Officials said the changes will speed things up without sacrificing fairness.
  • Not everyone is happy: The policy is being challenged in court, with Texas arguing it will increase illegal immigration.

5

Hurricane Agatha slammed into Mexico yesterday.

  • It was record-setting: The Category 2 hurricane was the strongest the country has seen on its Pacific coast in May, powered by warmer-than-normal waters.
  • What to watch: The storm is expected to bring potentially life-threatening flash floods and heavy rains today. It also could help bring storms to Florida this weekend.

6

Contaminated strawberries probably caused a hepatitis A outbreak.

Hundreds of mummies were discovered in an ancient Egyptian necropolis.