Welcome to the Bulletin,

• Deadly rally in Mexico: At least nine people, including one child, have died after a stage collapsed at an election campaign rally in Mexico. Get the latest.
• Putin's military purge: Vadim Shamarin, Deputy Chief of the Russian General Staff, has been arrested, local media reported, marking the latest detention of a Russian high-ranking military official in recent weeks. Learn more.
• Boebert criticized by White House: House Republican Lauren Boebert was criticized by the White House on Wednesday for having "secured over $51.4 million for the South Bridge," despite the funding coming from legislation she voted against in 2021. Know more.
• Winter storm warnings: Winter storm warnings have been issued for parts of Montana and Wyoming, with heavy snow and high winds expected. Here's what to expect.
• In the ongoing war in Ukraine, Russian military bloggers have expressed concerns over Ukraine's repurposed maritime drones fitted with multiple-launch rocket systems that a leading analyst has touted as being capable of reshaping naval warfare.

Former Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has revealed that she will vote for her primary rival, Donald Trump, in the 2024 presidential election.

Why it matters: Haley, whom Trump repeatedly denounced during her presidential primary challenge, said on Wednesday that she would vote for the ex-president while also urging him to extend an olive branch to her supporters. Although Trump is now the presumptive Republican nominee and expected to face Biden in a November rematch, Haley has continued to receive a significant share of Republican votes in primary elections that have taken place after she dropped out on March 6.

Read more in-depth coverage:

Donald Trump Has a GOP Base Problem

What happens now? Trump previously insisted that he did not want the support of those who voted for Haley in the Republican primaries, claiming that "radical left Communists" were voting for Haley. Despite suggestions that Haley could be an effective running mate, the former president also ruled out picking the former governor as his vice-presidential candidate.

Donald Trump has lashed out at Special Counsel Jack Smith after a hearing was held on whether the federal classified documents case against the former president should be dismissed.

Why it matters: In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused Smith of being "deranged" while also referencing a report from Robert Hur, a special counsel, who said charges should not be brought against Joe Biden over his handling of classified documents while also citing concerns about the president's cognitive ability and memory. On Wednesday, Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing proceedings, held hearings to hear arguments on whether the case against Trump and his co-accused, Walt Nauta, should be thrown out.

Read more in-depth coverage:

Aileen Cannon's Trump Hearing Suddenly Erupts Into Shouting

What happens now? Cannon did not rule on the latest motion on Wednesday. The decision meant it is highly unlikely that Trump will appear before a jury to face the classified documents charges before the start of the 2024 election. If Trump wins the race against Biden in November, he could order the DOJ to drop the classified documents charges once he enters office.

A spokesperson for French President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party has told Newsweek that NATO states should stop "negotiating" with themselves over the extent of allied commitment in Ukraine.

Why it matters: Paris has been at the forefront of reviving NATO's "strategic ambiguity" with its involvement in Ukraine, Macron's government declining to release details on what military support it is sending to Kyiv, and the president suggesting the eventual deployment of a multinational noncombat force. Momentum is "clearly" building for deeper NATO commitments inside Ukraine, Benjamin Haddad—a member of Parliament representing Macron's party–said. Still, Russia has consistently warned its Western adversaries against providing any kind of aid to Ukraine.

Read more in-depth coverage:

NATO Mulls Its Ukraine Options

What happens now? This year could prove decisive for Ukraine, with Russian forces on the offensive and pivotal elections taking place in the U.S. and the EU. The predicted far-right surge in the European Parliament poll and the potential return of former President Donald Trump's "America First" foreign policy transactionalism are casting dark clouds over Europe.

Proposed high-speed rail lines in Texas could "transform the state" as "a hub for business," according to one prominent academic as the Lone Star State wrestles with what could be some of its biggest infrastructure projects in decades.

Why it matters: The proposal is being worked on as a joint project between Amtrak, America's national passenger railroad company, and Dallas-based company Texas Central. There are preliminary plans to construct two new high-speed rail lines in the state, with one connecting Dallas to Houston and the other Dallas to Fort Worth, in moves supporters claim will slash journey times between the key cities. However, speaking to Newsweek, Republican Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz raised concerns about landowner rights and project funding. While acknowledging the potential benefits, they also highlight the controversy and logistical challenges.

Read more in-depth coverage:

Texas Map Shows Where High-Speed Rail Route Would Travel

What happens now? According to developers, if completed, the rail line would cut the travel time between the two cities to just 90 minutes, making it quicker than flying once time at the airport is factored in. The project could also significantly impact Texas's transportation infrastructure and business environment.

Red Lobster, the embattled casual dining seafood restaurant, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Monday, placing 550 locations across the U.S. in dangerous waters.

Why it matters: Earlier in May, the company abruptly announced the closure of 99 restaurants across 27 states, with much of the blame for the decision landing on poor management and costly shrimp deals.

Amid elevated inflation, data from Statista shows that Americans chose to eat out less than before. Only 13 percent of respondents in April 2023 said they dined out at full-service restaurants more than they did six months ago. Worse for Red Lobster, executives at its parent company noted that menus across many restaurants still needed to be updated to reflect rising inflation. Newsweek has mapped the brand's downfall, once a household name, in three charts.

Read more in-depth coverage:

Red Lobster Is in Trouble

What happens now? Thai Union Group, the Bangkok-based seafood supplier, bought the seafood chain as part of a consortium from its previous owners, Golden Gate Capital, in 2020. The group announced it would be parting ways with Red Lobster in an early 2024 press release due to the restaurant's "negative financial contributions to Thai Union and its shareholders."

ONE DEEPER READ:

Good morning, and welcome to Newsweek's summary of Thursday's national, regional, and international newspapers.

The Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal reports that three European nations—Norway, Spain, and Ireland — are set to recognize Palestine as an independent state, reflecting deepening international "frustration" with Israel's war in Gaza. The three countries said Palestinian independence cannot wait for a negotiated settlement with Israel's government. Other nations are expected to follow in the coming weeks. The move is a blow to President Biden, who argues a two-state solution should come about through a negotiated solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, not unilateral recognition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected calls for a two-state solution.

The New York Times

The Times leads on the story of Abdul Raziq, the former chief of police for the Kandahar Province in Afghanistan, backed by the U.S. and considered to be one of America's most important partners in the war against the Taliban. Despite his reputation among Americans, he was notorious among Afghan civilians for his brutal tactics, including torture, extrajudicial killings, and forced disappearances. There was widespread knowledge of his abuses, The Times reports, but American support for Raziq persisted due to his role in countering the Taliban. His reign exemplified the moral compromises made by the U.S. in its longest war, contributing to its eventual failure, the paper writes. The New York Times front page also focuses on the recognition of Palestine by Norway, Spain and Ireland as an independent state, reporting that the decision showed Israel's "growing isolation on the world stage".