News Wrap: Norway, Ireland, Spain declare they will recognize a Palestinian state

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• Amna Nawaz:

  Norway, Ireland, and Spain declared that they will formally recognize a Palestinian state, joining some 140 other countries around the world. Palestinians have sought nationhood in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip since they were seized by Israel in the 1967 war.

  This morning in Dublin, the Irish prime minister said he hopes today's decision will create momentum.

• Simon Harris, Irish Prime Minister:

  Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision. In the lead-up to today's announcement, I have spoken with a number of other leaders and counterparts, and I'm confident that further countries will join us in taking this important step.

• Amna Nawaz:

  The recognition is largely symbolic, but it's still seen as a blow to Israel amid its ongoing war with Hamas. Israel's prime minister fired back today, saying that the three countries are rewarding terrorism.

• Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (through interpreter):

  This evil cannot be given a state. This would be a terrorist state that would repeat October 7 again and again. Rewarding terrorism won't bring peace and won't stop us from defeating Hamas.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Israel recalled its ambassadors to the three countries following the announcements. Their official recognition of a Palestinian state will take effect on May 28.

  Here at home the families of 19 victims of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, are suing nearly 100 state police officers for their botched response to one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. The families' legal team also announced they agreed to a $2 million settlement with the city of Uvalde. Friday marks two years since a teenage gunman entered Robb Elementary School, killing 19 fourth graders and two teachers.

  The Biden administration is canceling another round of student loans. The Education Department said today it will erase $7.7 billion in federal debt. The move will affect 160,000 borrowers. All told, the Biden White House has canceled $167 billion in loans for more than five million Americans. But those efforts have faced legal challenges by some Republican-led states, who say the president needs congressional approval for such actions.

  Hunter Biden's trial on federal tax charges in California will now start in September. It had been due to begin next month. U.S. district Judge Mark C. Scarsi agreed to delay the trial, so that the president's son can prepare for a separate case on gun charges he faces in Delaware. That trial begins on June 3.

  Biden's lawyers had argued they could not prepare for both trials adequately, citing the — quote — "uniquely challenging and high-profile nature of the prosecution." He has pleaded not guilty in both cases.

  Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley says she will vote for Donald Trump in November's election. She may be announcement in Washington today during her first public appearance since suspending her own campaign in March. The two had been sharply critical of each other during the primary campaign. The former South Carolina governor was one of the last high-profile governors not to endorse Trump's presidential bid.

  In Thailand, an investigation is under way into the Singapore Airlines flight that dropped suddenly amid severe turbulence, leaving one person dead and 20 others in intensive care. The Boeing 777 flight from London to Singapore made an emergency landing in Bangkok yesterday, shortly after falling 6,000 feet in just three minutes.

  Passengers described a scene of sheer terror, as loose items and even people lurched through the cabin.

• Dzafran Azmir, Passenger:

  I saw people from across the aisle just like — like, going completely horizontal, hitting the ceiling and landing back down in, like, really awkward positions, people getting massive gashes in their head, concussions.

• Amna Nawaz:

  Others said that the shuttering was so violent that large pieces of the plane's interior were falling off. About 140 passengers and crew were flown onwards to Singapore today. More than 80 others stayed behind in Bangkok.

  Britain's prime minister has called a general election for July 4 months earlier than many had expected. Rishi Sunak made the announcement during a televised address from outside 10 Downing Street. He's betting that recent signs of economic growth and lower inflation will give voters a reason to extend the Conservative Party's 14-year hold on power.

  But the opposition Labor Party is well ahead in most polls. Their leader, Keir Starmer, is widely expected to become the next prime minister.

  Regular use of marijuana has risen to the same levels as alcohol use. That's according to new research published today in the journal "Addiction." An estimated 17.7 million people reported using marijuana daily or almost daily in 2022. That's compared to 14.7 million regular drinkers. It's also a 15-fold increase since 1992.

  The study's author, Jonathan Caulkins, added that — quote — "A good 40 percent of current cannabis users are using it daily or near daily, a pattern that's more associated with tobacco use than typical alcohol use."

  On Wall Street today, stocks fell amid worries that the Federal Reserve won't cut interest rates soon after its latest meeting. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped more than 200 points to close at 39671. The Nasdaq lost 31 points, and the S&P 500 gave back 14 points.