- Trump reaffirms decision to appoint Pulte to intelligence role amid Congressional dissent
- US strikes Iran following Apache helicopter downing over Strait of Hormuz
- EU targets Patriarch Kirill for sanctions after Hungary’s earlier veto
- Auto group calls for cancellation of China EV deal to prioritise US focus
- House set to vote on $70 billion ICE funding bill after Senate approval
- Local father identified as hero who confronted knifeman in Belfast
- US Apache helicopter crashes near Strait of Hormuz; Israel is costing US lives!
- France bans Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich from entry amid sanctions
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Trump reaffirms decision to appoint Pulte to intelligence role amid Congressional dissent
Get you up to speed: Trump stands by decision to name Pulte to intel role, despite revolt in Congress that could block spy powers renewal
President Trump announced that Bill Pulte will serve as acting director of national intelligence, replacing Tulsi Gabbard, in a decision that has drawn criticism from Democrats. Pulte, who currently leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, will maintain his position there while the appointment raises concerns over bipartisan support for renewing a key surveillance authority.
Bill Pulte will officially assume the role of acting director of national intelligence in a week and a half, while retaining his position at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Lawmakers are working to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before its imminent expiration on Friday, amid significant opposition to Pulte’s appointment from both Democratic and some Republican senators.
President Trump confirmed that Bill Pulte will serve as acting director of national intelligence, prompting significant backlash from Democrats and some Republicans who cite Pulte’s lack of national security experience. The appointment risks undermining bipartisan efforts to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before its expiration deadline on Friday, with Democrats stating they will not support reauthorization while Pulte holds the position.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain whether President Trump will seek a permanent appointment for Bill Pulte as director of national intelligence in the future.
Trump reaffirms decision to appoint Pulte to intelligence role amid Congressional dissent
Caitlin Yilek
Politics Reporter
Caitlin Yilek is a politics reporter at WTXNews.com, based in Washington, D.C. She previously worked for the Washington Examiner and The Hill, and was a member of the 2022 Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship with the National Press Foundation.
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/ WTX US News
Bill Pulte will begin serving as acting director of national intelligence in a week and a half, President Trump announced Tuesday, effectively standing by his decision to name the housing regulator and Trump loyalist to the job — as the appointment endangers a bipartisan compromise on renewing a key spy authority.
Mr. Trump chose Pulte, who currently leads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to replace outgoing Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The decision drew intense backlash from Democrats due to both Pulte’s lack of a national security background and his controversial tenure at the housing agency, during which he accused a litany of Trump foes of mortgage fraud.
The president has said Pulte will not be named director of national intelligence permanently, which would require Senate confirmation. Pulte will remain director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The appointment came as lawmakers from both parties rushed to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act before it expires Friday. Democrats said they would not support any reauthorization of Section 702 — which allows the government to collect communications of noncitizens abroad — as long as Pulte remained in the position.
The choice of Pulte wasn’t met with enthusiasm by many Republicans, with Sens. John Cornyn, Bill Cassidy and Thom Tillis all voicing their disapproval.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
US strikes Iran following Apache helicopter downing over Strait of Hormuz
Get you up to speed: US Apache helicopter shot down over Strait of Hormuz with Trump promising retaliation on Iran | News World
The US launched self-defence strikes against Iran following the downing of an Apache attack helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, which President Trump attributed to Iranian aggression. US Central Command confirmed the strikes, highlighting the situation’s potential to threaten the existing ceasefire.
US Central Command has reported that the strikes on Iran are a proportional response aimed at deterring further aggression following the downing of the Apache helicopter. An investigation into the circumstances of the crash is ongoing, with military officials confirming it was struck by an Iranian drone, but the nature of the engagement is yet to be determined.
The US Central Command confirmed that strikes were conducted as a “proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression,” marking a significant escalation in hostilities. In light of the situation, President Trump stated the US must respond and previously expressed optimism about negotiations, implying this new military action could jeopardise the ongoing ceasefire talks.
What remains unclear — Military officials have not disclosed the specific cause of the Apache helicopter crash.
US strikes Iran following Apache helicopter downing over Strait of Hormuz
The US has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Donald Trump promised revenge for the downing of an Apache attack helicopter.
US Central Command confirmed they had carried out ‘self-defence’ strikes, threatening the fragile ceasefire between the two countries.
Explosions were heard soon after the announcement.
USCC said in a statement: ‘The mission is a proportional response to unjustified Iranian aggression.’
President Trump earlier called for revenge after two pilots had to be rescued when their military helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz.
In a Truth Social post, he said earlier: ‘I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz.
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‘There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States must, of necessity, respond to this attack.’
Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesman for US Central Command said it was the first known drone rescue at sea by the American forces.
Military officials did not say what caused the Apache helicopter to go down, saying the crash was under investigation but Trump said he learned Iran was responsible before posting.
A senior military official told Axios that an investigation determined that an Iranian drone struck the AH-64 Apache but the official stressed they had not yet determined whether that was an intentional Iran attack.
Before he accused Iran of shooting down the helicopter, Trump had expressed renewed optimism over negotiations with Iran.
‘We have a good chance’ of signing a deal in ‘two or three days,’ Trump said. But he didn’t provide any details on why there was reason for new optimism. In the two months since the U.S. and Iran agreed to an initial ceasefire, Trump has repeatedly predicted that a deal is near.
‘We’re very close to having a very, very good, strong, powerful deal,’ the president said.
‘If we go and bomb — which we could do very easily if we want, and we spend another two or three weeks bombing — they’ll have nothing left whatsoever. But you won’t have the Strait open for months.’
The US negotiations centre on demands Iran give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which is believed to be entombed in the aftermath of American airstrikes that happened during the 12-day war in 2025.
But Iran is refusing that and is demanding relief from sanctions. It also wants the release of frozen assets even before a final agreement is in place, something rejected by Trump.
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EU targets Patriarch Kirill for sanctions after Hungary’s earlier veto
EU targets Patriarch Kirill for sanctions after Hungary’s earlier veto
Patriarch Kirill has been added to a new package of sanctions proposed by the European Union, following Hungary’s change of stance on the issue.
With Hungary’s shift in stance, the EU aims to achieve unanimous support for the sanctions package, critical for maintaining pressure against Russian aggression prior to the July deadline.
“The decision to include Patriarch Kirill in the sanctions list marks a significant step in addressing his influence amid ongoing concerns regarding propaganda related to the conflict in Ukraine.”
EU targets Russia’s Patriarch Kirill in new sanctions proposal

The European Union will try again to sanction Patriarch Kirill, the head of Russia’s Orthodox Church, after Hungary vetoed the decision in 2022.
His name has been added to a wider package of sanctions presented on Tuesday, three diplomats confirmed to EU News.
Brussels does not reveal the identity of the blacklisted individuals until member states reach a final decision. Individual sanctions entail an asset freeze and a travel ban.
Kirill, a highly controversial figure with both religious and political influence, has been accused of spreading revisionist propaganda to justify the war in Ukraine.
Under his leadership, the Russian Orthodox Church approved a document that called for the annihilation of Ukrainian independence and described the invasion as a “Holy War”.
The EU first tried to blacklist Kirill in 2022. But Hungary, under then-prime minister Viktor Orbán, blocked the move, calling it an issue of religious freedom.
The veto made headlines and caused outrage among other countries.
The matter lay dormant until last month, when the new Hungarian government of Péter Magyar voiced readiness to go ahead with the move, as EU News reported.
EU officials seized the U-turn and added the name to the latest proposal.
However, due to Kirill’s unique position as the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, it remains uncertain whether all 27 member states will support adding him to the blacklist. In negotiations requiring unanimous approval, it is not unusual for certain names to be removed to secure consensus.
Brussels aims to secure agreement on the 21st package of sanctions by 15 July to avoid an automatic revision of the price cap on Russian oil.
Sándor Zsiros contributed reporting.
Auto group calls for cancellation of China EV deal to prioritise US focus
Get you up to speed: Scrap China EV deal, auto group says in push to focus on U.S.
A group has called on the Canadian federal government to terminate a trade deal with China that would allow 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) into the market annually. This appeal comes amid ongoing discussions about the implications of foreign EV imports.
The group is advocating for the federal government to terminate a trade agreement with China regarding the import of electric vehicles. Currently, 49,000 Chinese EVs are scheduled to enter the Canadian market annually under this deal.
The group has called on the federal government to terminate the trade agreement with China, which would introduce 49,000 electric vehicles into the Canadian market annually. In response, officials are reviewing the implications of the deal and may consider regulatory measures to protect domestic manufacturers.
What remains unclear — The federal government’s stance on the proposed elimination of the trade deal with China is yet to be revealed.
Auto group calls for cancellation of China EV deal to prioritise US focus

The group urged the federal government to ‘eliminate’ a trade deal with China that would see 49,000 Chinese EVs in the Canadian market every year.
House set to vote on $70 billion ICE funding bill after Senate approval
Get you up to speed: House to vote on ICE funding, ending months-long impasse
The House is set to vote on a $70 billion bill funding immigration enforcement agencies after the Senate approved it early Friday. House Speaker Mike Johnson expects the legislation to pass, with a procedural vote scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and final passage anticipated after 4:30 p.m.
The House Rules Committee convened on Monday to prepare for a procedural vote, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., with final passage expected post-4:30 p.m. if prior votes are successful. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence in the bill’s passage, although attendance concerns during primary season pose challenges for GOP leaders.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expects the $70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill to pass in the House, despite acknowledging a tight margin of error due to primary season attendance challenges. Meanwhile, Rep. Kevin Kiley plans to vote against the bill, citing concerns about the “strictly party-line process” and advocating for significant bipartisan reforms to interior immigration enforcement.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain whether House Republicans can secure sufficient votes for the bill despite the Speaker’s expectations.
House set to vote on $70 billion ICE funding bill after Senate approval
Washington — The House is set to vote Tuesday on Republicans’ $70 billion bill funding immigration enforcement agencies through the rest of President Trump’s term after the Senate approved it early Friday following weeks of roadblocks.
Barring any last-minute hiccups among House Republicans, passage would bring an end to the months-long stalemate over funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol.
The House is scheduled to take a procedural vote on the legislation around 1:30 p.m., with final passage expected after 4:30 p.m. if it clears the earlier vote. On Monday afternoon, the House Rules Committee met to tee it up for floor consideration.
House GOP leaders had initially expected to hold a vote late last week on passage, but delayed taking up the measure until this week.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said Monday that he expected the legislation to pass, although he acknowledged that he had a very small margin of error and that attendance during primary season “is a real challenge.”
“We have to fund border enforcement and immigration enforcement, and everybody here knows that, so they’re going to have to put their personal preferences aside to get the job done,” he said.
But at least one member who caucuses with Republicans, Rep. Kevin Kiley, a California independent, said he plans to vote against the bill. Kiley had “very strong concerns” about the “strictly party-line process” and wanted to see “significant bipartisan reforms to interior immigration enforcement.”
House Republicans have been waiting for weeks for their Senate counterparts to send over the legislation. Both chambers had hoped to have the bill on President Trump’s desk by Memorial Day in order to meet his June 1 deadline, but those plans were impeded by the president’s request for $1 billion related to construction of a massive ballroom at the White House and the announcement of a nearly $1.8 billion Justice Department fund to pay people who claim they were politically persecuted.
Rare GOP pushback against the president’s priorities forced Senate Republicans to delay votes until after their Memorial Day recess.
Language for ballroom security funding was ultimately stripped from the legislation and the Justice Department said it would no longer pursue the “anti-weaponization” fund. Though the administration’s assertion about no longer pursuing the fund failed to convince some who were skeptical, a number of amendments to formally bar such payouts were defeated during a marathon session of votes in the Senate that stretched from Thursday morning into the early hours of Friday.
Republicans used the budget reconciliation process to fund immigration-related agencies. The process allows them to pass some fiscal legislation by a simple majority in the Senate, bypassing the need for any Democratic votes to overcome the 60-vote filibuster threshold. Democrats have refused to fund ICE and Border Patrol without reforms.
Jaala Brown
contributed to this report.
In:
Local father identified as hero who confronted knifeman in Belfast
Get you up to speed: Hero of Belfast who struck knifeman with Irish hurley stick identified as local dad | News UK
Maitiu Mág Tighearnán confronted an attacker armed with a knife in Belfast, using a hurley stick to defend a man being assaulted. The suspect, who has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, has not been publicly identified, and the victim remains in serious condition in hospital.
The suspect, believed to be Sudanese, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, with a kitchen knife recovered at the scene. The victim, in his 40s, remains in serious condition in hospital with significant injuries.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack as “sickening,” expressing gratitude to those who intervened before police arrived. The PSNI confirmed the suspect has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, while the scene remains cordoned off for investigation.
What remains unclear — The condition of the victim remains serious, but updates on his recovery have not been provided.
Local father identified as hero who confronted knifeman in Belfast
Dozens of people are chipping in to buy the ‘hero of Belfast’ who stopped a knife man from stabbing a stranger a pint.
Maitiu Mág Tighearnán has posted that he was the man who confronted the attacker in Belfast last night.
As others shout ‘He’s trying to cut his head off’ and keep their distance local dad Maitiu runs into danger swinging his wooden hurley stick and landing well-aimed blows to the suspect’s face.
The suspect breaks his hold and rolls over moments before police arrive at the scene in Kinnaird Avenue.
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‘I live just 30 minutes away. I just thought this guy deserves something for his bravery, so I just got on it as soon as possible.
‘I have reached out to him online, but he hasn’t got back yet. He’s obviously got thousands of messages coming through.
‘It’s all over Facebook, everywhere on my feed is just full of pictures of him praising his bravery.’
Maitiu, himself, has been replying to social media comments saying how people could choose a more flattering photo of himself.
The victim, in his 40s, suffered ‘significant injuries to his eyes and serious slash wound injuries to his back and face’, police have said.
He remains in a serious condition in hospital.
Niall added: ‘For sure, he definitely has saved his life, providing the victim’s condition doesn’t worsen.
‘He’s given the man a chance. The hurley stick is such an Irish symbol – it is amazing what he did.’
He added: ‘If we can take anything from this horrific story, we can take pride in knowing that we can look out for each other. We should look out for each other, and that’s the beautiful thing about human connection and our society.’
PSNI chief constable Sir Jon Boutcher said the suspect, understood to be Sudanese, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder.
A kitchen knife was also found at the scene.
The suspect is believed to have entered Northern Ireland via Dublin and in February 2023 claimed asylum. It is understood the Home Office granted the man leave to remain in Northern Ireland on 28 September 2023.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, hailed the men who intervened before police arrived, saying: ‘The horrific attack in Belfast last night is sickening.
‘I have absolutely no tolerance for abhorrent scenes of violence like this on our streets.
‘My thoughts are first and foremost with the victim, and I thank the first responders, including members of the public who intervened.’
The scene outside an apartment complex off Kinnaird Avenue in the lower Antrim Road area remained cordoned off on Tuesday morning, with markers visible on the ground where the attack had taken place.
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