Twin tropical systems threaten to pound battered Mexico. Will US get hit?

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<p>John Bacon, USA TODAYJune 29, 2025 at 11:59 PM</p>

<p>Two tropical depressions gaining strength off the coasts of Mexico could both become named storms Sunday − and one could become a "significant hurricane" by Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center warned.</p>

<p>Neither storm was foreast to have much impact on the U.S., but parts of Mexico could face mudslides, 10 inches of rain and heavy winds, forecasters said.</p>

<p>Tropical Depression 2, which formed in the Atlantic Basin, was driving winds of about 30 mph early Sunday and could reach 39 mph required to become Tropical Storm Barry.</p>

<p>"There are areas that could get 10 inches of rain regardless of whether it reaches tropical storm status," AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva told USA TODAY. "The main issues will be heavy rainfall and mudslides. Some areas such as Acapulco are still recovering from Hurrcane Erick."</p>

<p>Hurricane Erick, which was actually a Pacific Basin storm, made landfall on Mexico's southern Pacific coast as a Category 3 storm on June 19. The storm brought destructive winds, heavy rains and widespread flooding to the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero. Homes, roads and infrastructure were destroyed or damaged, leaving thousands of people without shelter, food, water and electricity.</p>

<p>How do hurricanes form? An inside look at the birth and power of ferocious storms</p>

<p>Flossie forming in Pacific, could become hurricane</p>

<p>A Pacific Basin storm, Tropical Depression Six-E, was also gaining strength and was expected to become Tropical Storm Flossie some time Sunday.</p>

<p>"What will become Flossie is hanging off the western side of Mexico in a very favorable environment for intensification," DaSilva said. "Unlike the storm on the eastern side, Flossie could rapidly intensify and we do expect it to become a hurricane on Tuesday."</p>

<p>DaSilva said Flossie could top out as a Category 2 storm later Tuesday or Wednesday but is expected to remain offshore. Still, it is expected to get close enough to land to bring damaging winds to Mexico's coast.</p>

<p>Tropical Depression 2: Forms off southeastern Mexico, forecast to become tropical storm</p>

<p>Flossie, Barry get names from separate lists</p>

<p>The National Hurricane Center names storms in both basins, but pulls from separate lists. The Pacific hurricane season actually starts May 15, while the Atlantic season began June 1.</p>

<p>Both basins are seing named storms ahead of average, DaSilva said. If Tropical Depression 2 does reach tropical storm status, the second named storm for the basin would be more than two weeks early. On average, second is named on July 16.</p>

<p>"Flossie will be sixth named storm in the Pacific, where the average 6th named storm is Aug. 3. So we are two months ahead. This has been a very hot start to the season."</p>

<p>A man checks damage following the passage of Hurricane Erick in Puerto Escondido on June 19, 2025.System could threaten Florida on Fourth of July</p>

<p>Later in the week, forecasters are watching for disturbances off the Southeast coast of the U.S. starting around the Fourth of July.</p>

<p>"The next thing to watchi is what might happen July 4-7," DaSilva said.</p>

<p>He said a cold front is expected to stall in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. Storms often form from stalled cold fronts, he said. DaSilva does not expect a hurricane, although the weather front could bring heavy rains to North Florida. But the threat remains several days out and it is possible it could result in only rip currents, he said.</p>

<p>Tropical Depression Two has formed off the eastern coast of Mexico and is expected to become a tropical storm sometime on June 29 before making landfall in Mexico by June 30.How do hurricanes form?</p>

<p>Hurricanes are born in the tropics, above warm water. Clusters of thunderstorms can develop over the ocean when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If conditions are right, the clusters swirl into a storm known as a tropical wave or tropical depression.</p>

<p>A tropical depression becomes a named tropical storm once its sustained wind speeds reaches 39 miles per hour. When its winds reach 74 mph, the storm officially becomes a hurricane.</p>

<p>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Two tropical systems threaten to pound Mexico. Will US get hit?</p>

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Twin tropical systems threaten to pound battered Mexico. Will US get hit?

<p>- Twin tropical systems threaten to pound battered Mexico. Will US get hit?</p> <p>John Bacon, US...

US Senate version of Trump tax-cut bill would add $3.3 trillion to debt, CBO says

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<p>June 29, 2025 at 11:59 PM</p>

<p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Donald Trump's sweeping tax-cut and spending bill would add $3.3 trillion to the nation's debt over a decade, the nonpartisan U.S. Congressional Budget Office said on Sunday.</p>

<p>(Reporting by Scott Malone; Editing by Aidan Lewis)</p>

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US Senate version of Trump tax-cut bill would add $3.3 trillion to debt, CBO says

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UN nuclear watchdog chief says Iran could again begin enriching uranium in 'matter of months'

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<p>Laura Sharman and Sophie Tanno, CNNJune 29, 2025 at 3:17 AM</p>

<p>IAEA chief Rafael Grossi's comments appear to support an early assessment from the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency. - Elisabeth Mandl/Reuters/File</p>

<p>The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog says US strikes on Iran fell short of causing total damage to its nuclear program and that Tehran could restart enriching uranium "in a matter of months," contradicting President Donald Trump's claims the US set Tehran's ambitions back by decades.</p>

<p>Rafael Grossi's comments appear to support an early assessment from the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency, first reported on by CNN, which suggests the United States' strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites last week did not destroy the core components of its nuclear program, and likely only set it back by months.</p>

<p>While the final military and intelligence assessment has yet to come, Trump has repeatedly claimed to have "completely and totally obliterated" Tehran's nuclear program.</p>

<p>The 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran began earlier this month when Israel launched an unprecedented attack it said aimed at preventing Tehran developing a nuclear bomb. Iran has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.</p>

<p>The US then struck three key Iranian nuclear sites before a ceasefire began. The extent of the damage to Tehran's nuclear program has been hotly debated ever since.</p>

<p>US military officials have in recent days provided some new information about the planning of the strikes, but offered no new evidence of their effectiveness against Iran's nuclear program.</p>

<p>Following classified briefings this week, Republican lawmakers acknowledged the US strikes may not have eliminated all of Iran's nuclear materials – but argued that this was never part of the military's mission.</p>

<p>Severe but not 'total' damage</p>

<p>Asked about the different assessments, Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told CBS's "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan": "This hourglass approach in weapons of mass destruction is not a good idea."</p>

<p>"The capacities they have are there. They can have, you know, in a matter of months, I would say, a few cascades of centrifuges spinning and producing enriched uranium, or less than that. But as I said, frankly speaking, one cannot claim that everything has disappeared and there is nothing there," he told Brennan, according to a transcript released ahead of the broadcast.</p>

<p>"It is clear that there has been severe damage, but it's not total damage," Grossi went on to say. "Iran has the capacities there; industrial and technological capacities. So if they so wish, they will be able to start doing this again."</p>

<p>Grossi also told CBS News that the IAEA has resisted pressure to say whether Iran has nuclear weapons or was close to having weapons before the strikes.</p>

<p>A satellite image shows damage at Iran's Fordow enrichment facility after the US strikes on June 22. - Maxar Technologies/AP</p>

<p>"We didn't see a program that was aiming in that direction (of nuclear weapons), but at the same time, they were not answering very, very important questions that were pending."</p>

<p>CNN has asked the White House for comment on Grossi's claims.</p>

<p>Grossi stressed the need for the IAEA to be granted access to Iran, to assess nuclear activities. He said Iran had been disclosing information to the agency up until recent Israeli and US strikes, but that "there were some things that they were not clarifying to us."</p>

<p>"In this sensitive area of the number of centrifuges and the amount of material, we had perfect view," he said. "What I was concerned about is that there were other things that were not clear. For example, we had found traces of uranium in some places in Iran, which were not the normal declared facilities. And we were asking for years, why did we find these traces of enriched uranium in place x, y or z? And we were simply not getting credible answers."</p>

<p>The initial Pentagon assessment said Tehran may have moved some of the enriched uranium out of the sites before they were attacked but Trump has insisted nothing was moved.</p>

<p>"It's logical to presume that when they announce that they are going to be taking protective measures, this could be part of it (moving the material). But, as I said, we don't know where this material could be, or if part of it could have been, you know, under the attack during those 12 days," Grossi told Brennan.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Tehran has made moves towards withdrawing from international oversight over its nuclear program.</p>

<p>Iran's parliament passed a bill halting cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, while the Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, also said that the country could also rethink its membership of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which prohibits signatories from developing nuclear weapons.</p>

<p>CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed reporting.</p>

<p>For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com</p>

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UN nuclear watchdog chief says Iran could again begin enriching uranium in ‘matter of months’

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After centuries of isolation, ultra-Orthodox Jews engage with the world more than ever

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<p>MICHAEL WEISSENSTEINJune 29, 2025 at 4:52 AM</p>

<p>Tour participants walk past an ultra-Orthodox Jewish man during a tour by Frieda Vizel of the Hasidic section of Williamsburg in the Brooklyn borough of New York on Monday, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)</p>

<p>NEW YORK (AP) — Frieda Vizel left an ultra-Orthodox Jewish sect in New York in a crisis of faith at 25. But instead of cutting ties, she became a successful online personality and guide to the tight-knit world she had been raised in.</p>

<p>She gives sold-out tours of Williamsburg, Brooklyn — home base of the Satmar dynasty — and runs a popular YouTube channel focused on the subculture engaging more with the outside world after centuries of separation.</p>

<p>In mid-June, Vizel took a group of Jewish, Christian and Muslim tourists to see synagogues and schools, and visit kosher delis and shops. Instead of Barbie dolls, there were little ultra-Orthodox Jewish figurines. The rabbinically approved products included cellphones without screens, and DVDs and MP3 players preloaded with approved music and films, so no internet connection is needed.</p>

<p>Yet ultra-Orthodox men on the street offered friendly greetings and praise for Vizel's recent postings even though rabbis advise them to avoid the internet unless needed for business, family or other essential needs.</p>

<p>"It's an interesting moment," Vizel said. "They're saying, 'What is the whole world saying about us?'"</p>

<p>Growth and religious change</p>

<p>Williamsburg and a handful of other locations worldwide — from Monsey, New York, to Stamford Hill, London to Bnei Brak, Israel — host the strictest followers of Orthodox Judaism. In a minority religion it's a minority set apart by its dedication above all else to the Torah and its 613 commandments, from No. 1 — worshipping God — to less-followed measures like No. 568 — not cursing a head of state.</p>

<p>One in seven Jews worldwide are strictly Orthodox, or Haredi. It's a population of roughly 2 million out of 15 million Jews, according to Daniel Staetsky, a demographer with the London-based Institute for Jewish Policy Research.</p>

<p>In a 2022 report, he projects that the strictly Orthodox population could double in size in 15 years. Another study projects that a third of American Jews will be Orthodox by 2063.</p>

<p>Many in the community marry young and have large families.</p>

<p>"You're getting three generations of ultra-Orthodox for every two generations of Reform Jews in the U.S.," said Alan Cooperman, director of religion research at the Pew Research Center.</p>

<p>"They are becoming the face of Judaism," Vizel said.</p>

<p>Reform and secular Jews</p>

<p>It's happening while many Reform Jews in the U.S. are becoming less religious and intermarrying. That means that Jewish Americans as a whole are becoming either Orthodox or more secular, Cooperman said.</p>

<p>"There has been a major change, I think, that has taken place over the last generation or two and that is the polarization of American Jewry, much as we've seen the vast polarization of America as a whole," said Jonathan Sarna, a professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University.</p>

<p>Among American Jews aged 18 to 29, 17% are Orthodox — a bigger share than in older generations, Pew found. And as a growing number of American Jews are Orthodox, a greater percent is Republican. Still, the majority of American Jews remain Democrats.</p>

<p>The Pew Research Center found in 2020 that 75% of Orthodox Jews voted or leaned Republican.</p>

<p>Walking out of Gottlieb's Restaurant with his salami sandwich, Samuel Sabel — a grocery store worker and journalist — said that "a lot of the policies Republicans have go together with our beliefs," citing school choice, and opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage as examples.</p>

<p>Orthodox political activism is "at the highest point it's ever been," said Rabbi Avi Shafran, the retired director of public affairs at the Orthodox group Agudath Israel. "No question about that."</p>

<p>"There is time and money and ability and savvy and education that allows for a much more, aggressive, much more positive and active effort on political things," he said.</p>

<p>But while cultural issues are important, "when push comes to shove, we'll vote our interests, our immediate interests, not the larger issues that are always on the table," Shafran said.</p>

<p>"We are practical," he said. "Put it that way."</p>

<p>Politics — local, national and global</p>

<p>Vizel guided her group past "Get out the vote" signs in Yiddish, along with a campaign letter from Donald Trump in the window of Gottlieb's deli.</p>

<p>In New York City's Democratic primary for the mayoral election, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo intensely courted Orthodox communities, counting at least 36 sects and yeshivas — religious schools — among his supporters.</p>

<p>But Cuomo suffered a stunning upset at the hands of Zohran Mamdani in a demonstration of grassroots organizing over bloc voting.</p>

<p>In Florida, Orthodox Jews backed Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis before he signed a expansion of taxpayer-funded vouchers for private schools, a movement that has galvanized religious groups across denominations.</p>

<p>But the election this month for the World Zionist Congress — an international body predating Israel that controls more than 1,500 square miles (3885 square kilometers) of land there, along with about $1 billion a year from land sales — showed dominance by the Reform bloc despite intense campaigning by Orthodox parties and strong results ahead of coalition building.</p>

<p>The 2020 Pew study found that Reform Jews are 37% of the American Jewish populace, followed by Jews that claim no particular branch — 32% —and then Conservatives at 17% .</p>

<p>The Orthodox make up 9%.</p>

<p>The president of the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish group in North America, said "it's a mistake to assume unaffiliated Jews don't care about being Jewish — many do, and Reform Judaism often reflects their spiritual and moral values.</p>

<p>"Reform Jews continue to hold overwhelmingly liberal worldviews and political values," Rabbi Rick Jacobs wrote. "In the aftermath of October 7th, many have deepened their connection to Jewish peoplehood while remaining firmly committed to justice, equity, and peace through the Reform Movement."</p>

<p>Rabbi Pesach Lerner founded the Orthodox party Eretz Hakodesh five years ago to compete in the election for the World Zionist Congress.</p>

<p>The main American party representing Reform Judaism in the Zionist Congress had a better individual showing than Lerner's in voting in the United States, but Orthodox parties did well and said they were optimistic that coalition-building would let them compete with traditional liberal Jewish interests.</p>

<p>Reform Jews and their allies "went so far to the left of traditional, of national, or family values, in 'wokeism,' that I'm glad the right finally decided that they can't sit back on the sidelines," Lerner said.</p>

<p>___</p>

<p>religion coverage receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.</p>

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Meet the 4 Mutable Signs, the Open-Minded Shapeshifters of the Zodiac

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<p>Sarah ReganJune 28, 2025 at 8:01 PM</p>

<p>Getty Images</p>

<p>The Gist -</p>

<p>The 12 signs of the zodiac all fall into one of three modalities: cardinal, fixed, or mutable.</p>

<p>The four mutable signs come at the end of each season. They include Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces.</p>

<p>Mutable signs are known to be changeable, open-minded, and adaptable.</p>

<p>Out of all the zodiac signs, there are four known to be more flexible and go-with-the-flow, if not a bit scatterbrained. These are none other than the mutable signs.</p>

<p>If you need the refresher, the 12 signs of the zodiac all land in one of three modalities (cardinal, fixed, or mutable), with your sign's modality influencing everything from what motivates you, to how you approach life in general. The modalities are determined by the seasons of the astrological year, with the cardinal signs beginning every season (i.e. Libra beginning fall), fixed signs falling in the middle of the season (i.e. Scorpio right in the middle), and the mutable signs ending the season (i.e. Sagittarius wrapping up fall and transitioning into winter).</p>

<p>Here, we're taking a closer look at the mutable signs, which are none other than Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces. An unlikely grouping? It might look like it, but you'd be surprised what these signs have in common.</p>

<p>Mutable Sign Traits</p>

<p>Coming at the end of their respective seasons, the mutable signs embody a sense of transition. Where the cardinal signs are all about initiating, and the fixed signs supply the drive and power, the mutable signs come in to tie up any loose ends—and enrich or improve things along the way.</p>

<p>We have Gemini, coming at the tail end of spring, Virgo, representing the end of summer, Sagittarius winding down fall, and lastly, Pisces marking the end of winter (and the astrological year as a whole). If you're privy to the astrological elements, you may have noticed each mutable sign is a different element. Gemini represents mutable air, Virgo is mutable earth, Sag is mutable fire, and Pisces, mutable water.</p>

<p>Yet, despite being different elements, the mutable signs are all known to be flexible, which is why they're often considered the shapeshifters of the zodiac. These are the people who can easily adapt to any situation, talk to just about anyone, and have a wealth of knowledge and experience to show for it.</p>

<p>Of course, signs of the same modality do form squares or oppositions with each other on the zodiac wheel, which are essentially tense angles or "aspects" that can cause friction between the signs. Signs that square each other are often known to clash, which can definitely be true for the mutable signs, although their flexible natures help them to be a bit more easy-going.</p>

<p>Not to mention, your opposite sign on the zodiac wheel (AKA your "soulmate sign") will always be the same modality as you, by creating a balance of polarity on that axis. These are Gemini and Sagittarius, and Virgo and Pisces in the case of the mutable signs. All that to say, it can be a toss-up whether these signs will get along with each other or even be compatible, but they definitely have adaptability going for them.</p>

<p>Ahead, find a full breakdown of all four mutable signs.</p>

<p>Getty Images</p>

<p>Gemini</p>

<p>Gemini is the third sign of the astrological year, marking the end of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Represented by the twins, Gemini is known for being talkative, witty, and yes, a little two-faced.</p>

<p>But don't let their reputation fool you; What some people call two-faced, others recognize as changeability. If "containing multitudes" was one sign's motto, it would be Gemini, who definitely does not see their curiosity and openness to the world as a bad thing.</p>

<p>In fact, it's what makes them who they are. Often considered the most social sign, Gemini is constantly buzzing with excitement to experience everything (and anyone) they can. And as an air sign ruled by the planet of communication and information, Gemini is incredibly smart as well.</p>

<p>Virgo</p>

<p>Representing mutable-earth, we have none other than Virgo—the devoted perfectionist of the zodiac. Virgo season comes at the end of summer, so if you can imagine the feeling of back-to-school energy, that's very much Virgo's vibe.</p>

<p>They're detail-oriented and grounded thanks to their earthly element, but with mental Mercury as their planetary ruler (like Gemini), Virgo is also something of a brainiac. Always striving to improve and optimize everything, when a Virgo puts their mind to something, you can safely bet they'll be the best at what they can deliver.</p>

<p>The kicker is, while Virgos do naturally excel, their own expectations and standards can be their biggest source of misery. However, if they can accept that perfection doesn't exist, they're ultimately practical and selfless people.</p>

<p>Sagittarius</p>

<p>Sagittarius is the third mutable sign, arriving just in time for fall's finale. As if marking one last hurrah before the cold of winter creeps in, this sign is known for being the most adventurous and free-spirited in all the zodiac.</p>

<p>Sagittarius represents mutable fire, so it's no surprise you can't pin these folks down. Like a fire that can't be contained, Sagittarius refuses to let anyone or anything stand in the way of their own growth. They are ruled by Jupiter, after all, which is literally the planet of expansion, so don't expect them to ever get boxed in.</p>

<p>Not to mention, they're symbolized by the ever-seeking archer, always reaching for broader horizons. (Siri: Play Follow Your Arrow by Kacey Musgraves!) Sure, they might be relatively unreliable and brash compared to some other signs, but that's what makes them so fascinating.</p>

<p>Getty Images</p>

<p>Pisces</p>

<p>As the last sign of winter just before the Astrological New Year, Pisces balances out the mutable signs as mutable water. Ruled by Neptune, the planet of dreams, imagination, and spirituality, these folks exist in an idealistic world of their own—even if they struggle to achieve the same results in reality.</p>

<p>This quality can definitely make them a bit naive (like, in a rose-colored glasses way), but it's also what makes them sweet and compassionate. With water as their element, Pisces is an emotional and sensitive creature, but their mutability can sometimes make them vulnerable.</p>

<p>Represented by two fish, it's as if Pisces has no armor, which can manifest as a lack of emotional boundaries. Nevertheless, they're easily the most mystical sign, providing the zodiac wheel with a much-needed dose of the divine.</p>

<p>Cardinal vs Fixed vs Mutable</p>

<p>Now that we've covered everything to know about the mutable signs, you might be wondering about the cardinal and fixed signs. Here's a brief explainer:</p>

<p>Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn): Starting the season with leadership, energy, and enthusiasm.</p>

<p>Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius): Landing in the middle of the season with hard-working, sometimes stubborn energy.</p>

<p>Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces): Ending the season by tying up loose ends and transitioning to the next.</p>

<p>The cardinal signs are your ideal people with grand plans and vision. They're the ones to call when you want to get something started, in terms of embodying leadership qualities or simply getting friends together. They need the support of the fixed and mutable signs to see things through, but they're the self-starters and trendsetters of the zodiac.</p>

<p>The fixed signs, meanwhile, are like the workhorses of the zodiac, with the necessary power to push through their season. They tend to prefer structure and routine over going with the flow, so they rely on the cardinal signs to get things started—and for the mutable signs to take over and spruce things up. These folks are known to be stubborn, determined, and loyal.</p>

<p>on InStyle</p>

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Meet the 4 Mutable Signs, the Open-Minded Shapeshifters of the Zodiac

<p>- Meet the 4 Mutable Signs, the Open-Minded Shapeshifters of the Zodiac</p> <p>Sarah ReganJune 28...

 

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