5 things to know for May 28: Trump trial, Gaza airstrikes, Severe storms, Papua New Guinea, Pope Francis

The summer movie season historically draws the largest theater audiences of the year. However, the 2024 box office is seeing slumping sales following monthslong production delays and strikes that brought Hollywood to a standstill.

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

1. Trump trial

Former President Donald Trump’s unprecedented criminal hush money trial is expected to be in the hands of jurors this week. The closing arguments set to begin today will allow prosecutors to explain to the 12 jurors how each witness they called and piece of evidence they presented bolsters their case for a guilty verdict on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. After Trump’s attorneys also present their closing arguments, the judge presiding over the case will instruct the jury as to the charges it must consider against the former president. After that, the jurors will begin their deliberations. If convicted, the judge could sentence Trump to probation or a sentence of up to 4 years on each count in state prison, with a maximum of 20 years.

2. Gaza airstrikes

Global outrage is mounting over Israel’s airstrike on a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah that killed at least 45 people and wounded 200 others. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the strike a “tragic error” but reaffirmed that he would not end the war in Gaza until his military’s goals were accomplished. The White House said it is “actively engaging” with officials in Israel to determine what precisely happened. The deadly strike comes just weeks after President Joe Biden told CNN that he’d halt some shipments of American weapons to Israel if it invades Rafah. Israeli bombings in other areas of Gaza also killed at least six others today, a Palestinian news agency said.

3. Severe storms

Around 47 million people are at risk for severe weather today as powerful storms continue to ravage parts of the central, southern and eastern US. Destructive thunderstorms and tornadoes were responsible for at least 23 deaths over the holiday weekend, including four children, in parts of Kentucky, Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama. The storms killed 15 in Arkansas and Texas alone. Another five people died in Kentucky. Central and northern Texas appear to face the most serious threat of severe weather today. The area, which includes Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth, could be pelted by large hail, lightning and wind gusts as strong as 80 mph. A few tornadoes may also stir up, according to the National Weather Service.

4. Papua New Guinea

Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate Papua New Guinea following a massive landslide last week. As many as 2,000 people are feared to have been buried in the disaster that rattled the mountainous Enga region on Friday. Rescuers have struggled to reach such a remote part of what is already one of Asia’s poorest nations, leaving locals with little choice but to dig through the mountainside with whatever tools they have. The area continues to pose an “extreme risk,” officials said, as rocks continue to fall and the soil is exposed to constant increased pressure. It’s not clear what caused the landslide, but geologists say rainfall could have altered the minerals of the bedrock, weakening the rock that forms the steep hillsides.

5. Pope Francis

Controversy is brewing at the Vatican after Pope Francis allegedly told Italian bishops not to permit gay men to train for the priesthood. Two Italian newspapers claimed that the 87-year-old pontiff made a homophobic slur in a closed-door meeting on May 20. The newspaper articles, which were translated from Italian, claimed the Pope had said there is “frociaggine” — which translates in English to “faggotry” — in some of the seminaries. A source close to the Pope told CNN that it could also be understood as there is a “gay climate” in the seminaries. CNN reached out to the Vatican to request comment on whether the Pope used the term but has not gotten a response.

BREAKFAST BROWSE

Summer concerts 2024: Where you can see live music
Your favorite artists may be visiting a city near you. See who’s touring in the summer months of June, July and August in North America and beyond.

A household bug has unexpected origins
Move over, cicadas. Here’s how one of the world’s most successful indoor pests took over the planet.

Dreaming about retiring abroad?
We don’t blame you. These American couples are sharing the upsides — and challenges — of spending their golden years in southern Europe.

India celebrates historic Grand Prix win at the Cannes Film Festival
Payal Kapadia made history as she became the first person from India to win the Grand Prix award for her film “All We Imagine As Light.”

Dallas Mavericks one win away from NBA Finals
The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 3 on Sunday to move to 3-0 in the series and knock on the door of their first NBA Finals in 13 years. The Boston Celtics swept Indiana Monday to punch their ticket to the championship series.

IN MEMORIAM

Bill Walton, the basketball Hall of Fame center and colorful commentator died Monday following a prolonged battle with cancer, the NBA announced. He was 71. Among several notable accolades, Walton won two national titles at UCLA and two NBA championships in Portland and Boston.

TODAY’S NUMBER

$24 billion
That’s the valuation of Elon Musk’s AI firm after the startup received an additional $6 billion from Silicon Valley investors and a Saudi prince. The funding sets the project up as a potential rival to OpenAI, the company behind the wildly popular chatbot ChatGPT.

TODAY’S QUOTE

“Fly high, Bette.”

— American Airlines, mourning the loss of Bette Nash, the world’s longest-serving flight attendant. Nash, who was 88, started the job in 1957 and spent nearly seven decades caring for customers with “warmth, dedication and unparalleled service,” the airline said.

TODAY’S WEATHER

Check your local forecast here>>>

AND FINALLY …

Alligator ‘arrest’ caught on camera
Georgia police caught an alligator in a driveway and offered onlookers a chance to pet it! Watch the video here.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com