Stories from United States

Mexican artist Julieta Venega is scheduled to perform at the Summer Stage in Central Park this summer. She will appear during the Alternative Music Conference (AMC) on Wednesday, July 29. Venega will share the stage with Venezuelan artist Lazo and DJ Ana María Zaire.

An increasing number of American citizens are seeking to renounce their citizenship, according to a report by The Guardian. Reasons cited for this trend include political atmosphere, tax concerns, and security anxieties.

Minneapolis officials are increasing enforcement against fraud in the city. Tim Walz stated that authorities are actively pursuing individuals who commit fraud in Minneapolis. The announcement follows recent crackdowns on fraudulent activities in the region. No specific number of arrests or total fraud amounts were provided. Authorities identified at least 20 fraudulent operations in Minnesota, including the Quality Learning Center. These entities are described as fraud operations pretending to be legitimate businesses. The investigation is ongoing according to the report. Fraudulent operations pretending to be businesses have targeted the Somali-American community in Minnesota. The New York Post reported that these operations have resulted in approximately $20 billion in theft within the community.

A University of Phoenix survey of more than 5,000 workers shows 63% of respondents feel positive about their current jobs. This shift follows several years of job hugging driven by economic uncertainty.

California authorities have released new regulatory frameworks governing the operation of autonomous vehicles. The regulations also permit cities within the state to test and utilize self-driving shuttles for commuters. The decision follows ongoing debates regarding workplace safety and autonomous vehicle oversight. California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed two bills that would have required a human in the cab of autonomous heavy trucks. Rising gas prices are impacting food truck owners in Detroit, with one owner stating they are doing their best to keep prices steady. California authorities will begin issuing citations to driverless cars, including Waymo vehicles, starting in July. Previously, law enforcement faced challenges in issuing citations to autonomous vehicles that breached traffic laws.

The trial is currently underway and is expected to last approximately three to four weeks. Sam Altman is also expected to take the stand in the coming weeks, according to the report.

Republican party members are showing an increasing willingness to break with President Trump. An extension of the FISA 702 government surveillance tool is also facing difficulties. Former House Republican Speaker Pro Tem Patrick McHenry noted that political capital was spent on a spending plan Republicans called the 'one big beautiful bill'. The difficulty is attributed to leadership being closely tethered to President Trump, who is experiencing struggles with poll numbers during an election year. These factors are amplifying existing differences within the conference, according to the report. Internal differences within the Republican conference are being amplified, making it difficult for Speaker Johnson to reach consensus among conservative members like the House Freedom Caucus.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is expected to be questioned regarding his term during a Wednesday afternoon press conference. Financial analyst Steven Cates from Bankrate.com stated that Powell will likely sidestep the question to avoid the topic dominating the conference.

The US dollar's direction depends on signaling from the Federal Reserve regarding future inflation management. Hawkish statements from the Fed could prove positive for the dollar, while a data-dependent, quiet approach may keep the dollar stable.

Global markets are monitoring the upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate decision scheduled for 21:00 Turkish time. No interest rate changes are expected from the central bank. This meeting is noted as the final interest rate meeting to be chaired by Fed Chair Jerome Powell.