MANHATTAN — A company and a mission scaled for the future: Applied Aerospace & Defense CEO Trip Ferguson watches as his daughter Sofia, age 5, rings a ceremonial bell when his company begins trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Wednesday, June 3, 2026.
The defense tech firm opened 3.8% above its offering price, reaching a valuation of $3.54 billion, the latest in a string of defense-sector IPOs as investors pour money into companies capitalizing on rising global tensions.
Usually, the CEO or another corporate leader rings the bell in conjunction with a timed announcement, such as an initial public offering or other corporate milestone. Occasionally, celebrities — including the Muppet, Miss Piggy — have rung the bell.
NEW JERSEY — ‘Goddamit, I always lead in the waltz, even though I’m shorter …’ New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh instructs defensive back Elijah Campbell (28) during an NFL football practice Wednesday, in East Rutherford.
The NFL’s preseason begins in early August, so the teams will be practicing in hot weather. The Giants are scheduled to play their first preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 15, against the Vikings at MetLife Stadium.
PETER’S SQUARE — When you’re big enough and good enough, just a smile and a nod will work: Pope Leo XIV waves as he arrives for his weekly general audience in The Vatican, Wednesday
Pope Leo is scheduled on Saturday to begin a seven-day tour of Spain in what will be his fourth international pilgrimage outside Italy since being elected in May 2025.
During the June 6–12 International Apostolic Journey, Leo will visit Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands and is expected to address themes including peace, disarmament, unity, youth, culture, new technologies and migration.
BEIJING — The sun is hot — what’re you gonna do? A man shields himself with an umbrella from the sun as he walks by a resident sunbathing on a bench along the Liangmahe River on a hot day, Monday, June 1, 2026.
Beijing has been experiencing a heatwave since May 30, recording temperatures as high as 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The city recently improved the air conditioning systems on its subway cars, just in time.
The Liangmahe has become a favorite among visitors. Dubbed “Beijing’s Seine,” it runs near the trendy urban district of Chaoyang. One popular feature is the International Style Bank, a business and leisure hall.
NEW DELHI — Thank God, it seems to be human nature to help strangers in extreme emergencies: Local people rescue a foreign national from a hotel fire in India, Wednesday.
Officials recorded at least 21 deaths. Forty people were rescued from the blaze, considered to be the worst in years. The hotel was in a district popular with young professionals and students.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A cabinet member performs his most demanding task — defending a Donald Trump social media post: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent holds up a Truth Social post by President Donald Trump during the Senate Committee on Finance hearing to examine the President’s proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027, Wednesday.
Bessent struggled to defend Trump’s claims regarding Americans’ personal finances, including his comment that he “doesn’t think about Americans’ financial situation.” Bessent replied that the President’s remark was taken out of context.
A heated dialogue about grocery prices ensued, with Bessent arguing that some food prices had stabilized or fallen, despite data showing April having the biggest increase in grocery prices in four years. Sen. Maggie Hassan asked him, “When’s the last time you were in a grocery store?”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Billions — a Trump-era measurement of the number of calories burned in pure acrimony based on misleading information: Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., asks questions following Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s testimony before the Senate Committee on Finance hearing to examine the President’s proposed budget request for fiscal year 2027, Wednesday.
Bessent refused to answer questions from both sides of the aisle on whether Trump and his family would remain exempt from IRS audits after the Justice Department halted the “anti-weaponization” fund tied to a settlement with the IRS.
Bessent is also scheduled to appear for a House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee hearing, which will be live-streamed on Thursday at 10 a.m.
NEW JERSEY — Launching into political life … not really the best thing for kids in this environment: From left, Rebecca Bennett, Democratic candidate for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, holds her daughter Rosie, alongside her husband Alex Hydrean and daughter Millie during a primary election night watch party after winning the Democratic nomination Tuesday, June 2, 2026, in Bridgewater.
A veteran and former Navy pilot, Bennett aims to unseat Rep. Tom Kean, Jr., a Republican Congressmember with a pedigree that dates back to the American Revolution.
Kean has been absent from the Capitol due to an unspecified illness and has missed votes for three months.
