​ Fans of ex-baseball star Ichiro Suzuki were startled when a statue of him cracked during its unveiling outside the Seattle Mariners’ stadium on Friday. As the blue tarp was pulled away, a cracking sound rang out and the bronze figure beneath seemed to shrink in height. The statue, depicting Suzuki with a broken bat, was unveiled outside T-Mobile Park. Suzuki, 52, stood before his likeness, pointing skeptically at the bat before bursting into laughter. The moment came a year after he earned near-unanimous induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame following an 18-year MLB career in the United States. After moving from Japan, he spent 12 seasons with the Mariners, later playing for the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins, and then returning to the Mariners for his last two seasons. Mariners CEO John Stanton, who helped with the bat-breaking tug, praised Suzuki’s meticulous preparation and play and told the crowd he was certainly worthy of this everlasting recognition. The statue shows the right fielder in his signature pose, wearing his 2001 rookie-season uniform. Suzuki said sculptor Lou Cella had asked him to wear the uniform for a photoshoot to help in creating the statue, adding, “I was happy that I was still able to fit into that uniform.”  

​ Melania Trump’s speech brings Epstein scandal back into the spotlight. Six hours ago. Nada Tawfik, correspondent for New York. When Melania Trump approached the White House podium on Thursday—mere days after President Donald Trump had delivered his national address on Iran from the same spot—nothing hinted at the stunning spectacle about to unfold. Curiosity was in the air, sure, but no one anticipated it would become essential viewing. Even officials closest to the administration received no advance notice of the topic. Surrounded by US flags, her opening sentence stunned the audience. The lies associating me with the disgraced Jeffrey Epstein must stop today. With those words, the Epstein crisis that had troubled the president was once again thrust into the spotlight, courtesy of his wife. US cable networks instantly shifted from their Iran coverage due to the unfolding drama’s severity. The first lady has consistently kept a low profile, carefully choosing her limited public appearances. She lacks her husband’s flair for the dramatic—or his urge to shock and awe the press. Reading from a prepared statement, she said she never had a relationship with Epstein or Maxwell, was not introduced to her husband by Epstein, and was unaware of Epstein’s crimes.  

​ Eric Swalwell, a candidate for California governor, rejects claims of sexual assault. Six hours ago. Max Matza. Images from Getty. Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, a top contender for California’s next governor, has rejected claims of sexual misconduct by ex-staffers. “These allegations are false and timed just before an election against the leading gubernatorial candidate,” he stated, following accusations from several women spanning sexual harassment to rape. His rivals—and some backers, such as House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries—have urged him to drop out. Democrats will select their nominee in a June 2 primary. The winner, poised to become the next governor in the heavily Democratic state, will advance to the November 3 general election. The initial allegation against Swalwell surfaced publicly on Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle. A former staffer informed the paper that, soon after her hiring in his Castro Valley district office, Swalwell started making improper remarks, such as soliciting sex from her and sending sexual texts. The unnamed woman also claimed that in September 2019, she awoke naked in the congressman’s hotel room with scant memory of the previous night’s events. Five years on, after leaving his staff, she encountered him for drinks at a gala. She stated that she struggled to remember specifics from that night but remembered shoving him away and saying “no.” She also mentioned waking up with evidence of sexual trauma on her body. Her account was reportedly backed by text messages she sent to friends at the time and by her ex-boyfriend, who informed the newspaper that he had urged her to report the incident to police. Later that Friday, CNN released allegations from four women who had worked for him, also accusing him of sexual misconduct. Swalwell’s lawyers had reportedly sent cease-and-desist letters to two of the accusers the previous day, per the broadcaster. Several prominent California Democrats, including Sen. Adam Schiff and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, called on Swalwell to withdraw from the race that Friday evening. Pelosi stated, “This extremely sensitive matter must be appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability. As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.” Swalwell strongly rejected the allegations in his Friday statement. “For nearly 20 years, I have served the public—as a prosecutor and a congressman—and have always protected women.”  

​ The Artemis II mission proved a resounding success. Here comes the difficult part. Eight hours prior. Pallab Ghosh, el corresponsal de ciencia. Esta es la primera vez que lo encuentro. Getty Images via NASA. NASA’s Artemis II mission successfully carried four astronauts around the far side of the Moon and returned them safely to Earth. The Orion spacecraft excelled, and the images captured by the astronauts have excited a new generation about the prospects of space exploration. But does this mean the children captivated by the mission will be able to live and work on the Moon during their lifetimes? Maybe even travel to Mars, as the Artemis program promises? It might seem rude to admit, but looping the Moon was relatively easy.  

​ Challenger to Hungary’s Orbán makes final vote push, sensing victory. Nine hours prior. Paul Kirby, editor digital european cu sediul la Budapesta pentru BBC. On the eve of Hungary’s fiercely contested and pivotal election, the two leading contenders are pushing their campaigns to the final moments, with Péter Magyar seeking to terminate 16 years of uninterrupted dominance by Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party. “We’re at the gates of a two-thirds majority victory.” “Let’s gear up and push for the final 903m!” he urged cheering supporters, before posing for selfies. His last campaign stop will be in the northeastern second city, Debrecen, as Orbán—who’s trailing in most polls—addresses a rally in Budapest. But the largest rally occurred Friday night, when tens of thousands of Hungarians packed the capital’s Heroes’ Square and nearby streets for an anti-Fidesz concert. “I feel it in my bones something’s going to change,” said first-time voter Fanni, who traveled with her mother from a village two hours south. “I wouldn’t vote for [Magyar] under ideal circumstances, but this is our sole opportunity.” Getty Images via AFP. Orbán’s greatest challenge stems from widespread public discontent, which has been effectively unified behind a single opposition force led by a former Fidesz insider who defected. The Fidesz leader received a boost from a two-day campaign appearance by US Vice-President JD Vance, followed late Friday by President Donald Trump’s commitment to “use the full Economic Might of the United States to strengthen Hungary’s Economy” should Orbán secure victory. Despite Hungary’s modest population of 9.6 million in this landlocked Central European country, Orbán has positioned himself as a major global figure. He maintains close ties with both Trump and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, while serving as a persistent irritant to his EU counterparts and neighboring Ukraine. Péter Magyar, the ex-Orbán associate now challenging for control in Hungary.