5 things to know for June 6: D-Day, Gaza, Trump, Covid-19 vaccines, Severe weather

Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft carrying two NASA astronauts is expected to make a historic docking at the International Space Station at 12:15 p.m. ET today. Those eager to follow along can tune into CNN for live coverage or follow the journey on NASA’s website.

Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.

1. D-Day

Today marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the first day of the Normandy landings that laid the foundations for defeating Nazi Germany in World War II. The Allied invasion in 1944 saw tens of thousands of troops from countries including the US, the UK and Canada landing on five stretches of the coastline of Normandy, France. It was a coordinated effort across air, land and sea which the US Department of Defense calls the “successful beginning of the end of Hitler’s tyrannical regime.” Presidents, prime ministers and monarchs from NATO nations are gathering in France this week in what will likely be the last major decennial commemoration attended by a significant number of veterans. Even a 19-year-old who stormed ashore in the biggest amphibious operation in history would soon be 100.

For more, view this photo gallery of the D-Day landings or watch this video to meet some of the last living WWII veterans who participated in the operation.

2. Gaza

An Israeli airstrike hit a UN-run school at a refugee camp in Gaza overnight, further inflaming tensions in the Middle East. The death toll from the strike has risen to at least 45, a spokesperson for Gaza’s Ministry of Health told CNN. The Israeli military confirmed it carried out the airstrike, which it said targeted a Hamas compound operating inside the school. On Wednesday, Israel’s Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant reiterated the country’s military offensive in Gaza would not be halted for any resumption of ceasefire and hostage release talks with Hamas. “We are in a process of continuous engagement to wear down the enemy. Any negotiations with the terrorist organization Hamas will only be conducted under fire,” Gallant said.

3. Trump

A Georgia appeals court has halted the election subversion conspiracy case against former President Donald Trump and several of his co-defendants — a massive victory for the Trump team seeking to push his legal issues until 2025 if they can’t beat them altogether. The new order from the Georgia Court of Appeals is the latest indication that a trial in the state-level Georgia election subversion case will not occur before the 2024 presidential election. The court said the case will be on hold until a panel of judges rules on whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be disqualified. On Wednesday, Trump and his allies also vowed legal revenge against his opponents if he regains control of the White House. Trump promised to prosecute President Joe Biden using state and local prosecutors, the Justice Department, or even a special counsel.

4. Covid-19 vaccines

Another new version of the Covid-19 vaccine will likely be coming this fall. A group of FDA vaccine advisers voted unanimously on Wednesday to recommend that the agency tell vaccine manufacturers to update the Covid-19 shots so they will be more effective against the JN.1 lineage of the coronavirus. JN.1 and its descendants KP.2 and KP.3 are the versions of the virus that are most common in the US right now, according to the CDC. The FDA told the advisory committee Wednesday that studies have shown that currently available Covid-19 vaccines appear to be less effective against the variants that are now in circulation.

5. Severe weather

Storms with damaging tornadoes hit parts of Maryland on Wednesday, leaving at least one person seriously injured. Video from Gaithersburg, Maryland, showed a tornado crossing the highway while other footage on social media showed neighboring areas impacted by downed trees and debris. The Storm Prediction Center had 10 tornado reports from Maryland as of Wednesday night. Forecasts show the severe storm threat is shifting to the northeast, where they are expected to weaken. Meanwhile, a brutal heat dome is escalating in the Western US that will send some temperatures surging into the triple digits through the rest of the week.

HAPPENING LATER

Millions to vote in European Parliament elections
Voters in the 27 nations of the European Union will head to the polls today through Sunday to elect 720 members of the next parliament. The results will shape the priorities and political direction of the bloc for the next five years.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

British banknotes featuring King Charles III enter circulation
Take a look at the new banknotes featuring King Charles III that entered circulation in the UK on Wednesday.

World’s best restaurant for 2024 revealed
The results are in from a competition described as the “Oscars of fine dining.” *Stomach begins to growl*

Experts share the best way to remove your hair for the summer
Shaving? Wax? Are at-home lasers a good idea? Dermatologists explain.

The NBA Finals are upon us
The Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks will face off in the 2024 NBA Finals, which begin today at TD Garden. Here’s how to watch.

Mega Millions $552 million jackpot winning ticket was sold online
A Mega Millions jackpot prize of $552 million has been won by a ticket buyer in Illinois who did it the new-fashioned way, making the purchase online.

TODAY’S NUMBER

10
That’s the number of career hits that baseball legend Willie Mays recently received — five decades after his last game. The change comes after Major League Baseball integrated Negro League statistics into its record books.

TODAY’S QUOTE

“I have come to the difficult decision that implementing the planned congestion system risks too many unintended consequences for New Yorkers at this time.”

— New York Governor Kathy Hochul, announcing she is indefinitely delaying the implementation of congestion pricing in New York City just weeks before the plan was set to take effect. As part of the measures to mitigate traffic, drivers would have paid $15 to enter Manhattan south of 60th street, with commercial vehicles and trucks paying steeper tolls.

TODAY’S WEATHER

Check your local forecast here>>>

AND FINALLY …

UAE breaks new ground with equestrian team heading to the Olympics
This athlete is leading the United Arab Emirates’ first-ever Olympic equestrian team, making it a historic moment for his nation. Watch the video here.

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