The relationship between the United States’ top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci and former president Donald Trump has always been quite rocky. Both of them have publicly stated their disliking for each other and it looks like the situation has not changed at all. Fauci made it clear on Sunday that he will resign from his position if Trump is re-elected as President in 2024.

Fauci, who has served under seven US Presidents till date and was a vocal critic of the former president’s handling of COVID-19, said during his CNN interview that he will leave as the director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases if Trump wins the elections in 2024.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mcdonalds-to-leave-russia-after-more-than-three-decades-over-ukraine-conflict-479623" hreflang="en">McDonald's to leave Russia after more than three decades over Ukraine conflict</a>

In the interview, he once again said that he does not trust Trump’s ability to handle a public health emergency and said that the previous administration’s response to COVID-19 was ‘not optimal’.

“If you look at the history of what the response was during the administration, I think at best you could say it wasn’t optimal. And I just think history will speak for itself. I don’t need to make any further comment about that – it’s not productive,” Fauci told CNN in his interview.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/next-couple-of-months-will-be-the-most-difficult-special-statement-from-sri-lanka-pm-479590" hreflang="en">Couple of months will be most difficult, says Lankan PM amid economic crisis</a>

This week, the COVID-19 related deaths in the US exceeded one million – the most for any country in the world. According to the data provided by the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, 303 out of every 100,000 residents lost their lives to COVID-19 in the United States. The only other country with such high mortality rates in the world is Brazil, according to AFP.

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The relationship between the United States’ top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci and former president Donald Trump has always been quite rocky. Both of them have publicly stated their disliking for each other and it looks like the situation has not changed at all.

The relationship between the United States’ top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci and former president Donald Trump has always been quite rocky. Both of them have publicly stated their disliking for each other and it looks like the situation has not changed at all. Fauci made it clear on Sunday that he will resign from his position if Trump is re-elected as President in 2024. Fauci, who has served under seven US Presidents till date and was a vocal critic of the former president’s handling of COVID-19, said during his CNN interview that he will leave as the director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases if Trump wins the elections in 2024. Also read | McDonald's to leave Russia after more than three decades over Ukraine conflict In the interview, he once again said that he does not trust Trump’s ability to handle a public health emergency and said that the previous administration’s response to COVID-19 was ‘not optimal’. “If you look at the history of what the response was during the administration, I think at best you could say it wasn’t optimal. And I just think history will speak for itself. I don’t need to make any further comment about that – it’s not productive,” Fauci told CNN in his interview. Also read | Couple of months will be most difficult, says Lankan PM amid economic crisis This week, the COVID-19 related deaths in the US exceeded one million – the most for any country in the world. According to the data provided by the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, 303 out of every 100,000 residents lost their lives to COVID-19 in the United States. The only other country with such high mortality rates in the world is Brazil, according to AFP. WATCH WION LIVE HERE -

Anthony Fauci says he will resign if Donald Trump is re-elected as US president

In her first interview since leaving the White House, Melania Trump has hinted she would like to have a second term as the first lady of the United States.

Accusing the media of bias and double standards, Melania told Fox News: "People I see always criticise me, whatever I do, and I'm used to that."&nbsp;

"They're biased, and they have likes and dislikes. It's so obvious, and I think American people and everyone see[s] it."

"I move forward, and I'm here… helping people, and that is the mission," she added.

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Reflecting on her time as the first lady, "I have much [sic] more important things to do, and I did in the White House than being on the cover of Vogue."

Her comments were a jibe at First Lady of the United States Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris who had appeared on the cover of the fashion magazine.

When asked if she could be living in the White House again should her husband run for reelection, Melania said, "Never say never."&nbsp;

Melania Trump launched an NFT sales platform last year, with an inaugural image of her own eyes, and now a collection is coming that lauds Former US President Donald Trump's single term in office.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/melania-trumps-legacy-missteps-mystery-and-in-the-end-absence-357875">Also read |&nbsp;Melania Trump’s legacy: Missteps, mystery and, in the end, absence</a>

The 10,000-piece issue of "digital artwork highlights iconic moments from Trump's administration," her office said in a statement, citing an example of Christmas at the White House.

"Collectors will enjoy an element of surprise as the artwork of each NFT is revealed only after purchase," the statement added, noting Melania Trump provided "creative direction" for the collection.

The Republican billionaire's NFTs, dubbed "POTUS TRUMP NFT Collection," will be sold at a fixed price of $50 each via an extension of Melania Trump's platform.

Trump, who is 75, has hinted but never definitively said whether he will seek the presidency again. After losing the 2020 election, he is currently under the shadow of multiple investigations and lawsuits, including over his tax filings and his efforts to cling to power.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In her first interview since leaving the White House, Melania Trump has hinted she would like to have a second term as the first lady of the United States. Accusing the media of bias and double standards, Melania told Fox News: "People I see always criticise me, whatever I do, and I'm used to that.

In her first interview since leaving the White House, Melania Trump has hinted she would like to have a second term as the first lady of the United States. Accusing the media of bias and double standards, Melania told Fox News: "People I see always criticise me, whatever I do, and I'm used to that." "They're biased, and they have likes and dislikes. It's so obvious, and I think American people and everyone see[s] it." "I move forward, and I'm here… helping people, and that is the mission," she added. Reflecting on her time as the first lady, "I have much [sic] more important things to do, and I did in the White House than being on the cover of Vogue." Her comments were a jibe at First Lady of the United States Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris who had appeared on the cover of the fashion magazine. When asked if she could be living in the White House again should her husband run for reelection, Melania said, "Never say never." Melania Trump launched an NFT sales platform last year, with an inaugural image of her own eyes, and now a collection is coming that lauds Former US President Donald Trump's single term in office. Also read | Melania Trump’s legacy: Missteps, mystery and, in the end, absence The 10,000-piece issue of "digital artwork highlights iconic moments from Trump's administration," her office said in a statement, citing an example of Christmas at the White House. "Collectors will enjoy an element of surprise as the artwork of each NFT is revealed only after purchase," the statement added, noting Melania Trump provided "creative direction" for the collection. The Republican billionaire's NFTs, dubbed "POTUS TRUMP NFT Collection," will be sold at a fixed price of $50 each via an extension of Melania Trump's platform. Trump, who is 75, has hinted but never definitively said whether he will seek the presidency again. After losing the 2020 election, he is currently under the shadow of multiple investigations and lawsuits, including over his tax filings and his efforts to cling to power. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here:

'Never say never', says Melania Trump when asked if she wants to be US first lady again

The White House announced on Thursday that the number of COVID-19 related deaths in the United States has crossed the one million mark. While the situation has improved in the recent past, the cases are once again on the rise and a number of states are looking to introduce new regulations.

"Today, we mark a tragic milestone: one million American lives lost to Covid," President Joe Biden said in a statement. Biden also asked the citizens to "remain vigilant against this pandemic" and urged the Congress to increase funding for resources like vaccines, testing and vaccines.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-launches-probe-into-russias-alleged-human-rights-violations-in-ukraine-478477">UN launches probe into Russia's alleged human rights violations in Ukraine</a>

The cases are on the rise once again around the world but the United States has lifted a number of restrictions. In the last few weeks, the cases have gone up once again due to the Omicron subvariant and with the mask mandate no longer in practice, the rise in cases is extremely worrying.

"I think we are in a place where psychologically and socially and economically, people are largely done with the pandemic," said Celine Gounder, an infectious disease expert at New York University.

"(But) the pandemic is not over. So, you have a disconnect between what is happening epidemiologically and what's happening in terms of how people are responding," she told AFP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spain-to-ease-abortion-rules-for-over-16-women-introduce-menstrual-leave-up-to-five-days-478384">Spain to ease abortion rules for over-16 women, introduce menstrual leave</a>

In related news, the death toll in Europe has passed two million, according to World Health Organization (WHO). According to the official data, 2,002,058 people have died from COVID-19.

"A devastating milestone has passed as reported confirmed Covid-19 deaths from countries in the WHO European Region have exceeded more than 2 million people," WHO said in their statement.

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(With agency inputs)

The White House announced on Thursday that the number of COVID-19 related deaths in the United States has crossed the one million mark. While the situation has improved in the recent past, the cases are once again on the rise and a number of states are looking to introduce new regulations.

The White House announced on Thursday that the number of COVID-19 related deaths in the United States has crossed the one million mark. While the situation has improved in the recent past, the cases are once again on the rise and a number of states are looking to introduce new regulations. "Today, we mark a tragic milestone: one million American lives lost to Covid," President Joe Biden said in a statement. Biden also asked the citizens to "remain vigilant against this pandemic" and urged the Congress to increase funding for resources like vaccines, testing and vaccines. Also read | UN launches probe into Russia's alleged human rights violations in Ukraine The cases are on the rise once again around the world but the United States has lifted a number of restrictions. In the last few weeks, the cases have gone up once again due to the Omicron subvariant and with the mask mandate no longer in practice, the rise in cases is extremely worrying. "I think we are in a place where psychologically and socially and economically, people are largely done with the pandemic," said Celine Gounder, an infectious disease expert at New York University. "(But) the pandemic is not over. So, you have a disconnect between what is happening epidemiologically and what's happening in terms of how people are responding," she told AFP. Also read | Spain to ease abortion rules for over-16 women, introduce menstrual leave In related news, the death toll in Europe has passed two million, according to World Health Organization (WHO). According to the official data, 2,002,058 people have died from COVID-19. "A devastating milestone has passed as reported confirmed Covid-19 deaths from countries in the WHO European Region have exceeded more than 2 million people," WHO said in their statement. WATCH WION LIVE TV HERE - (With agency inputs)

COVID-19 related deaths cross one million in the US, two million in Europe

While America is staring at an overturn of legal abortion rights, the country's lawmakers have failed to pass a legislation which could make the right to abortion the law of the land.

Bill to protect abortion rights fails to advance in US Senate

The United States department has now made a major change in its fact sheet on Taiwan. In the updated fact sheet as it stands, the reference to the island nation being a part of China has now been removed.

US State Department edits Taiwan fact sheet, angers China

According to a new research published by Everytown for Gun Safety, on an average at least one gun is stolen from a car every 15 minutes in America.

America's worsening gun culture, alarming trend across United States

The subjects of gun ownership and gun violence have always been quite polarising in the United States and a new set of data shows quite an alarming problem when it comes to stolen guns.

A new data analysis, conducted by the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety, stated that more guns are being stoles from vehicles in the United States. This has given rise to the number of illegal firearms around the country and as shootings rise, this makes it difficult to trace the weapons.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-economic-crisis-pm-mahinda-rajapaksa-announces-decision-to-resign-477587" hreflang="en">Sri Lanka economic crisis: PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns as pressure mounts up</a>

According to the data, 180 cities around the country saw a rise in guns stolen from vehicles between 2019 and 2022. It also pointed out that vehicles are the major source of stolen guns at the moment.

In 2020 alone, around 77,000 guns were reported stolen in the 271 cities included in the study and almost half of them were taken from the vehicles of the gun owners. This is a relatively new trend in the US where burglaries were the main source of stolen guns for a very long stretch of time.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-must-protect-child-influencers-from-exploitation-through-labour-laws-says-report-477618" hreflang="en">UK must protect 'kidfluencers' from exploitation through labour laws - Report</a>

The data showed that the trend is more or less consistent in a number of states in the country and according to police records, a number of these stolen guns have turned up at various crime scenes.

The study did not offer any specific reason behind this trend but according to NBC News, the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to the rise of guns stolen from vehicles as most people were indoors and the cars were left unattended for a long time making it easier for the guns to be stolen.

WATCH:&nbsp;Report: One gun stolen&nbsp;from a car every 15 mins on an average in America

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/report-one-gun-stoles-from-a-car-every-15-mins-on-an-average-in-america-477682/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The subjects of gun ownership and gun violence have always been quite polarising in the United States and a new set of data shows quite an alarming problem when it comes to stolen guns.

The subjects of gun ownership and gun violence have always been quite polarising in the United States and a new set of data shows quite an alarming problem when it comes to stolen guns. A new data analysis, conducted by the nonprofit Everytown for Gun Safety, stated that more guns are being stoles from vehicles in the United States. This has given rise to the number of illegal firearms around the country and as shootings rise, this makes it difficult to trace the weapons. Also read | Sri Lanka economic crisis: PM Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns as pressure mounts up According to the data, 180 cities around the country saw a rise in guns stolen from vehicles between 2019 and 2022. It also pointed out that vehicles are the major source of stolen guns at the moment. In 2020 alone, around 77,000 guns were reported stolen in the 271 cities included in the study and almost half of them were taken from the vehicles of the gun owners. This is a relatively new trend in the US where burglaries were the main source of stolen guns for a very long stretch of time. Also read | UK must protect 'kidfluencers' from exploitation through labour laws - Report The data showed that the trend is more or less consistent in a number of states in the country and according to police records, a number of these stolen guns have turned up at various crime scenes. The study did not offer any specific reason behind this trend but according to NBC News, the COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to the rise of guns stolen from vehicles as most people were indoors and the cars were left unattended for a long time making it easier for the guns to be stolen. WATCH: Report: One gun stolen from a car every 15 mins on an average in America

More guns are being stolen out of cars in the United States, study finds

Reports suggest that CIA chief William Burns was in Jeddah this April. He apparently met the Crown Prince and had a good conversation. So why was the top US spymaster in Saudi suddenly? And does this mean a thaw in US-Saudi relations? Ghadi Francis tells you on The West Asia Post. Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the worlds unending wars. Catch our special series World at War every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

The West Asia Post: Thaw in United States- Saudi Arabia relations?

The choice debate is heating up after a leaked supreme court memo showed that the court is poised to overturn the landmark Roe vs Wade ruling as many states gear up to restrict or even ban abortion rights. Pro-choice groups have now called a nationwide.

United States: Abortion pill access to be restricted?

The White House has said that the United States is confident in addressing Sweden, and Finland's security concerns after they apply for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

Both countries fear they could be vulnerable to attacks by Russia following its invasion of its neighbour Ukraine.

According to White House spokesperson Jen Psaki, "We are confident that we could find ways to address any concerns either country may have about the period of time between a NATO membership application and the formal accession to the alliance."

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Russia has threatened both Sweden and Finland that will face adverse consequences if they choose to become a part of NATO.

But it decides to attack them nonetheless, the two militarily non-aligned countries do not have enough capability to defeat it and are thus leaning towards NATO as its article 5 clearly states that an attack on one member is an attack on all members.

Even if the Nordic neighbours both decide to join NATO, the approval process can take up to a year as all 30 members need to ratify any membership bid.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/to-rebuild-ukraine-win-war-against-russia-zelensky-launches-a-crowdfunding-platform-476590" hreflang="en">To rebuild Ukraine, win war against Russia, Zelensky launches a crowdfunding platform</a>

In an effort to assure both the countries, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told Swedish public television SVT, "We must remember that from the moment Sweden potentially applies, and NATO says that it wants Sweden to join, there is a very strong NATO obligation to guarantee Sweden's security."

"We have several ways of doing that, among other things with a heightened presence of NATO and NATO forces around Sweden and the Baltic Sea," he added.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde both have met officials from the US to obtain "security assurances."

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

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Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION. 
&nbsp;

The White House has said that the United States is confident in addressing Sweden, and Finland's security concerns after they apply for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).

The White House has said that the United States is confident in addressing Sweden, and Finland's security concerns after they apply for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Both countries fear they could be vulnerable to attacks by Russia following its invasion of its neighbour Ukraine. According to White House spokesperson Jen Psaki, "We are confident that we could find ways to address any concerns either country may have about the period of time between a NATO membership application and the formal accession to the alliance." Russia has threatened both Sweden and Finland that will face adverse consequences if they choose to become a part of NATO. But it decides to attack them nonetheless, the two militarily non-aligned countries do not have enough capability to defeat it and are thus leaning towards NATO as its article 5 clearly states that an attack on one member is an attack on all members. Even if the Nordic neighbours both decide to join NATO, the approval process can take up to a year as all 30 members need to ratify any membership bid. Also read | To rebuild Ukraine, win war against Russia, Zelensky launches a crowdfunding platform In an effort to assure both the countries, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told Swedish public television SVT, "We must remember that from the moment Sweden potentially applies, and NATO says that it wants Sweden to join, there is a very strong NATO obligation to guarantee Sweden's security." "We have several ways of doing that, among other things with a heightened presence of NATO and NATO forces around Sweden and the Baltic Sea," he added. Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde both have met officials from the US to obtain "security assurances." (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

US expresses confidence in addressing Sweden, Finland's security concerns over NATO application

The debate over Roe v Wade has engulfed the United States once again and with reports hinting at a possible overturn of the historic Supreme Court judgement in the coming days, Republicans lawmakers in Louisiana have come up with a bill that seeks to make abortion a ‘crime of murder’.

In the Roe v Wade judgement of 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that the access to abortion is a women’s constitutional right. Later, in 1992, the Planned Parenthood v Casey case guaranteed the right to abortion for any woman till the fetus is ‘viable outside the womb’ of the woman.

However, according to a leaked report accessed by Politico, the Supreme Court is likely to strike down the right to abortion in the United States by overturning the Roe v Wade judgement.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-wanted-to-secretly-launch-missiles-on-mexico-drug-lords-labs-ex-defence-secretary-476730" hreflang="en">Trump wanted to launch missiles on Mexico drug lords, labs: Ex-defence secy</a>

Following the report, Republicans in a number of states have floored bills that launch a clear attack on abortion laws but until the official overturn, none of them can be officially implemented.

The bill, which was brought forward by Danny McCormick in Louisiana, was cleared in the House Appropriations Committee on a 7-2 vote. But McCormick believes that the bill should move forward irrespective of when the Supreme Court decides to overturn the Roe v Wade judgement.

"We can't wait on the Supreme Court," said McCormick according to The Guardian.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-white-house-gets-first-black-lgbtq-woman-press-secretary-476699">US: White House gets first Black, LGBTQ woman press secretary</a>

The state of Louisiana already has a “trigger law” in place if Roe v Wade is overturned which will mean that doctors who perform abortions can face up to 10 years in prison. However, the new law also includes mothers and anyone helping them to be prosecuted and charged with murder.

The new bill also does not have any exemptions or special cases when it comes to prosecution.

WATCH |&nbsp;United States: Abortion pill access to be restricted?

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The debate over Roe v Wade has engulfed the United States once again and with reports hinting at a possible overturn of the historic Supreme Court judgement in the coming days, Republicans lawmakers in Louisiana have come up with a bill that seeks to make abortion a ‘crime of murder’.

The debate over Roe v Wade has engulfed the United States once again and with reports hinting at a possible overturn of the historic Supreme Court judgement in the coming days, Republicans lawmakers in Louisiana have come up with a bill that seeks to make abortion a ‘crime of murder’. In the Roe v Wade judgement of 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that the access to abortion is a women’s constitutional right. Later, in 1992, the Planned Parenthood v Casey case guaranteed the right to abortion for any woman till the fetus is ‘viable outside the womb’ of the woman. However, according to a leaked report accessed by Politico, the Supreme Court is likely to strike down the right to abortion in the United States by overturning the Roe v Wade judgement. Also read | Trump wanted to launch missiles on Mexico drug lords, labs: Ex-defence secy Following the report, Republicans in a number of states have floored bills that launch a clear attack on abortion laws but until the official overturn, none of them can be officially implemented. The bill, which was brought forward by Danny McCormick in Louisiana, was cleared in the House Appropriations Committee on a 7-2 vote. But McCormick believes that the bill should move forward irrespective of when the Supreme Court decides to overturn the Roe v Wade judgement. "We can't wait on the Supreme Court," said McCormick according to The Guardian. Also read | US: White House gets first Black, LGBTQ woman press secretary The state of Louisiana already has a “trigger law” in place if Roe v Wade is overturned which will mean that doctors who perform abortions can face up to 10 years in prison. However, the new law also includes mothers and anyone helping them to be prosecuted and charged with murder. The new bill also does not have any exemptions or special cases when it comes to prosecution. WATCH | United States: Abortion pill access to be restricted?

Louisiana lawmakers advance bill classifying abortion as 'crime of murder'

Chicago's police arrested a passenger for walking on the wing of the plane after opening an emergency exit at the O'Hare International Airport while the airplane was taxiing to the gate.

The shocking incident occurred on United Airlines flight 2478 which took off from San Diego and landed at 5 am according to the flight tracking app FlightAware.

According to a statement from the Chicago Police Department, "A male subject was onboard a plane that was approaching the gate when he pulled the emergency exit and walked out onto the wing of the plane."&nbsp;

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"The subject then slid down the wing and onto the airfield," police added.

The unidentified man was seated in row 21 of the plane and it was unclear if he was under any type of the influence.

After being apprehended by the ground crew of the airline, he was later arrested and charges against him are pending.

The flight's crew was able to safely evacuate the remaining passengers and called the law enforcement after safely deplaning at the gate of the airport.

United Airlines said in a statement, ''Our ground crew stopped the individual outside of the aircraft, and the person is now with law enforcement.'' &nbsp;

"CPD arrived and placed him into custody. Charges are pending," police said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

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Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION. 
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Chicago's police arrested a passenger for walking on the wing of the plane after opening an emergency exit at the O'Hare International Airport while the airplane was taxiing to the gate.

Chicago's police arrested a passenger for walking on the wing of the plane after opening an emergency exit at the O'Hare International Airport while the airplane was taxiing to the gate. The shocking incident occurred on United Airlines flight 2478 which took off from San Diego and landed at 5 am according to the flight tracking app FlightAware. According to a statement from the Chicago Police Department, "A male subject was onboard a plane that was approaching the gate when he pulled the emergency exit and walked out onto the wing of the plane." "The subject then slid down the wing and onto the airfield," police added. The unidentified man was seated in row 21 of the plane and it was unclear if he was under any type of the influence. After being apprehended by the ground crew of the airline, he was later arrested and charges against him are pending. The flight's crew was able to safely evacuate the remaining passengers and called the law enforcement after safely deplaning at the gate of the airport. United Airlines said in a statement, ''Our ground crew stopped the individual outside of the aircraft, and the person is now with law enforcement.'' "CPD arrived and placed him into custody. Charges are pending," police said. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

Police arrests passenger for walking on wing of plane after opening emergency exit

The United States state department announced on Wednesday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken has tested positive for COVID-19. The news comes just a week ahead of his visits to Europe and Morocco where he was scheduled to hold diplomatic meetings with various important leaders.

Ned Price, the spokesperson for the state department, said that Blinken is currently suffering from mild symptoms, and he has not come in close contact with President Joe Biden in the last few days.

&nbsp;“Mr. Blinken, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, will work at home and looks forward to returning to the department and resuming his full duties and travels as soon as possible,” he told the media.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-troops-fight-for-control-of-last-ukrainian-stronghold-in-mariupol-476439" hreflang="en">Russian troops fight for control of last Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol</a>

According to a CNN report, Blinken was supposed to travel to Marrakesh on May 11 followed by a G7 meeting in Germany. However, there is no clarity on whether he will be able to travel to the meetings and all the close aids of the Secretary of State have been advised to undergo testing.

The last meeting attended by Blinken was with the Foreign Ministers Ann Linde of Sweden on Wednesday and Marcelo Ebrard of Mexico and they have been notified of the situation.

Blinken became the latest high-profile personality to test positive after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April. Earlier, two journalists also tested positive after the event. &nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/indian-pm-narendra-modi-concludes-three-nation-european-tour-476445">Watch | Indian PM Narendra Modi concludes three-nation European tour</a>

Biden also attended the event but he has tested negative after tests were conducted on Tuesday.

The State Department also confirmed that Blinken has already received the second booster shot.

WATCH |&nbsp;Joe Biden warns Trump's 'Maga Movement' dangerous for United States

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/joe-biden-warns-trumps-maga-movement-dangerous-for-united-states-476455/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The United States state department announced on Wednesday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken has tested positive for COVID-19. The news comes just a week ahead of his visits to Europe and Morocco where he was scheduled to hold diplomatic meetings with various important leaders.

The United States state department announced on Wednesday that Secretary of State Antony Blinken has tested positive for COVID-19. The news comes just a week ahead of his visits to Europe and Morocco where he was scheduled to hold diplomatic meetings with various important leaders. Ned Price, the spokesperson for the state department, said that Blinken is currently suffering from mild symptoms, and he has not come in close contact with President Joe Biden in the last few days. “Mr. Blinken, who is fully vaccinated and boosted, will work at home and looks forward to returning to the department and resuming his full duties and travels as soon as possible,” he told the media. Also read | Russian troops fight for control of last Ukrainian stronghold in Mariupol According to a CNN report, Blinken was supposed to travel to Marrakesh on May 11 followed by a G7 meeting in Germany. However, there is no clarity on whether he will be able to travel to the meetings and all the close aids of the Secretary of State have been advised to undergo testing. The last meeting attended by Blinken was with the Foreign Ministers Ann Linde of Sweden on Wednesday and Marcelo Ebrard of Mexico and they have been notified of the situation. Blinken became the latest high-profile personality to test positive after the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on April. Earlier, two journalists also tested positive after the event. Also read | Watch | Indian PM Narendra Modi concludes three-nation European tour Biden also attended the event but he has tested negative after tests were conducted on Tuesday. The State Department also confirmed that Blinken has already received the second booster shot. WATCH | Joe Biden warns Trump's 'Maga Movement' dangerous for United States

US secretary of state Antony Blinken tests positive for COVID-19 ahead of Europe and Morocco visits

US Federal reserve has hiked interest rates by 50 basis points, in a bid to reign in the raging inflation in the country, the hike is the biggest rate hike since 2000 and the Fed chair has promised to use all available tools to check the four decade high inflation rate.

Fed raises interest rates by 50-bps, markets welcome interest rate

Colombian drug trafficker Dairo Usuga, also known as ‘Otoniel’, has been extradited to the United States. Colombian president Ivan Duque took to Twitter to announce the extradition. "I want to reveal that Dairo Antonio Usuga, alias 'Otoniel' has been extradited," Duque tweeted on Wednesday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-woman-pinned-down-as-healthcare-workers-forcibly-conduct-covid-19-test-watch-476497" hreflang="en">Chinese woman pinned down as COVID-19 test conducted forcibly - WATCH</a>

"Today legality, the rule of law, the security forces and justice triumphed," he added.

Usuga&nbsp;lead the drug cartel known as ‘Clan del Golfo’ who used to control cocaine routes through Mexico, will be facing multiple charges in both New York and Florida district courts.&nbsp; 
 
The extradition was approved by the Colombian president after he was captured in the Uraba region in Antioquia province by the authorities in October. Duque went on to call it "the biggest arrest of a narco-trafficker by the Colombian police since the days of Pablo Escobar."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-pm-modi-french-president-macron-hold-talks-call-for-end-to-russia-ukraine-war-476483">Indian PM, French president hold talks, call for end to Russia-Ukraine war</a>

After the declaration, an appeal was filed from the families who suffered at the hands of Usuga and his gang to prosecute him in Colombia, but the request was denied by the Colombian State Council.

According to the Colombian state department, Usuga faces 122 charges for drug trafficking, criminal association, murder and money laundering. The gang was considered to be one of the most dangerous in the country and the authorities were not able to determine the total number of lives which were lost or affected by the activity and businesses conducted by Usuga and his gang members.

Colombian drug trafficker Dairo Usuga, also known as ‘Otoniel’, has been extradited to the United States. Colombian president Ivan Duque took to Twitter to announce the extradition.

Colombian drug trafficker Dairo Usuga, also known as ‘Otoniel’, has been extradited to the United States. Colombian president Ivan Duque took to Twitter to announce the extradition. "I want to reveal that Dairo Antonio Usuga, alias 'Otoniel' has been extradited," Duque tweeted on Wednesday. Also read | Chinese woman pinned down as COVID-19 test conducted forcibly - WATCH "Today legality, the rule of law, the security forces and justice triumphed," he added. Usuga lead the drug cartel known as ‘Clan del Golfo’ who used to control cocaine routes through Mexico, will be facing multiple charges in both New York and Florida district courts. The extradition was approved by the Colombian president after he was captured in the Uraba region in Antioquia province by the authorities in October. Duque went on to call it "the biggest arrest of a narco-trafficker by the Colombian police since the days of Pablo Escobar." Also read | Indian PM, French president hold talks, call for end to Russia-Ukraine war After the declaration, an appeal was filed from the families who suffered at the hands of Usuga and his gang to prosecute him in Colombia, but the request was denied by the Colombian State Council. According to the Colombian state department, Usuga faces 122 charges for drug trafficking, criminal association, murder and money laundering. The gang was considered to be one of the most dangerous in the country and the authorities were not able to determine the total number of lives which were lost or affected by the activity and businesses conducted by Usuga and his gang members.

Colombian drug lord Dairo Usuga 'Otoniel' extradited to the US, President Ivan Duque announces

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and has recommended travelers should continue to wear masks in airplanes trains and airports this despite an order declaring 14-month-old transportation mask mandate completely unlawful.

United States CDC: Mask mandate should be back amid Covid-19 surge

There has been a number of books written by prominent figures in the Donald Trump administration chronicling their time in the White House and most of them have made some damaging claims about the former president of the United States. Former defense secretary Mark Esper became the latest official to provide a sneak peek into how Trump ran things during his tenure as president.

Esper, in his memoir called "A Sacred Oath," wrote that Trump was quite angry with the protests outside the White House in 2020 and even said "Can't you just shoot them?".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/leaked-draft-shows-us-court-set-to-strike-down-abortion-rights-politico-475914" hreflang="en">Leaked draft shows US court set to strike down abortion rights: Politico&nbsp;</a>

The preview of the memoir on the Axios news website stated that "the president complaining loudly about the protests under way in Washington" over the police killing of a Black man. The protests were part of a nationwide movement in 2020 after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

"Can't you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?" Trump was quoted as saying.

Esper was reportedly removed from his position in 2020 after he spoke against invoking the 200-year-old Insurrection Act which allows the military to be deployed in the United States, according to AFP.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sense-of-urgency-us-says-russia-is-planning-to-annex-ukraines-donetsk-luhansk-regions-475904">US says Russia is planning to annex Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk regions</a>

Earlier, journalist Michael Bender wrote in his book that according to sources, Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley had a disagreement with Trump when it came to using the military on US grounds. The account by Esper further bolsters the possibility of a rift in Trump’s inner circle.

The book by Mark Esper is slated for release on May 10 and according to the Axios website, it has been vetted by the Pentagon and reviewed by generals and cabinet members.

WATCH |&nbsp;US manufacturing activity slowest in more than a year as workers quit

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There has been a number of books written by prominent figures in the Donald Trump administration chronicling their time in the White House and most of them have made some damaging claims about the former president of the United States.

There has been a number of books written by prominent figures in the Donald Trump administration chronicling their time in the White House and most of them have made some damaging claims about the former president of the United States. Former defense secretary Mark Esper became the latest official to provide a sneak peek into how Trump ran things during his tenure as president. Esper, in his memoir called "A Sacred Oath," wrote that Trump was quite angry with the protests outside the White House in 2020 and even said "Can't you just shoot them?". Also read | Leaked draft shows US court set to strike down abortion rights: Politico The preview of the memoir on the Axios news website stated that "the president complaining loudly about the protests under way in Washington" over the police killing of a Black man. The protests were part of a nationwide movement in 2020 after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. "Can't you just shoot them? Just shoot them in the legs or something?" Trump was quoted as saying. Esper was reportedly removed from his position in 2020 after he spoke against invoking the 200-year-old Insurrection Act which allows the military to be deployed in the United States, according to AFP. Also read | US says Russia is planning to annex Ukraine's Donetsk, Luhansk regions Earlier, journalist Michael Bender wrote in his book that according to sources, Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley had a disagreement with Trump when it came to using the military on US grounds. The account by Esper further bolsters the possibility of a rift in Trump’s inner circle. The book by Mark Esper is slated for release on May 10 and according to the Axios website, it has been vetted by the Pentagon and reviewed by generals and cabinet members. WATCH | US manufacturing activity slowest in more than a year as workers quit

'Can't you just shoot them': New book makes explosive claim about Donald Trump's handling of protests

The rise in workers quitting their jobs and manufacturers becoming more anxious about supply over summer because of China's zero tolerance policy of COVID, US factory activity grew at its lowest space in more than one and a half years last month.

US manufacturing activity slowest in more than a year as workers quit

Apple has revealed its financial results for the first quarter of 2022 and it becomes the world's first company to hit the $3 trillion market valuation. CEO Tim Cook has warned that sales could take a hit of up to $8 billion.

Apple hits $3 trillion market valuation, declares record-breaking Q1 sales

When some two dozen New Yorkers filed into a Manhattan courthouse this week to finish out their grand jury service, the case against a man who would have been the world’s most prominent criminal defendant was no longer before them.

That man, Donald Trump, was facing potential criminal charges from the grand jury this year over his business practices. But in the weeks since the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, stopped presenting evidence to the jurors about Trump, new signs have emerged that the former president will not be indicted in Manhattan in the foreseeable future — if at all.

At least three of the witnesses once central to the case have either not heard from the district attorney’s office in months or have not been asked to testify, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

In recent weeks, a prosecutor at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office who played a key role in the investigation has stopped focusing on a potential case against Trump, other people with knowledge of the inquiry said — a move that followed the resignation earlier this year of the two senior prosecutors leading the investigation.

And the remaining prosecutors working on the Trump investigation have abandoned the “war room” they used to prepare for their grand jury presentation early this year, the people said, leaving behind an expansive office suite and conference room on the 15th floor of the district attorney’s office in Lower Manhattan.

The grand jury’s expiration at the end of the month does not preclude prosecutors from impaneling another jury, but the developments underscore the reduced possibility that Trump will face charges under Bragg, who along with several other prosecutors had concerns about proving the case. Some people close to the inquiry believe that it will not result in an indictment of the former president unless a witness cooperates unexpectedly — a long shot in an investigation that has been running for more than three years.

In recent weeks, Bragg’s prosecutors have issued a few additional subpoenas that indicate they are continuing to investigate but have not found a new path to charging Trump. The previously unreported subpoenas, people with knowledge of the matter said, appear to focus on the same topic that has long been the subject of the investigation: whether Trump falsely inflated the value of his assets in annual financial statements.

The subpoenas suggest that, rather than pursuing a new theory of the case, Bragg is looking at additional entities that received Trump’s financial statements as he sought loans and pursued other business, and that the prosecutors are seeking potential victims of the former president.

One of the subpoenas went to a major financial institution that may have received Trump’s financial statements. A second subpoena sent to the Trump Organization largely followed up on an earlier demand to the company for records related to the value of his properties. And the third went to the New York City agency that tracks municipal vendors, including Trump, who has done business with the city for years, operating a golf course in the Bronx and an ice rink in Central Park.

In an interview this month, Bragg said that his prosecutors were interviewing new witnesses and looking at additional evidence. He declined to provide details, citing grand jury secrecy law, but said that the inquiry must be allowed to run its course.

“It’s a work in progress,” Bragg said, adding later, “We’ve got seasoned prosecutors working every day. It’s not going to be on a timeline.”

But impaneling a new grand jury could create challenges for any potential case. Trump’s lawyers could argue — and a judge might agree — that prosecutors were inappropriately hunting for a more favorable group of jurors.

It would also take time to prepare a new presentation of evidence and months to lay out a case to jurors.

Bragg’s office does not have unlimited time to charge Trump. Witnesses could forget key information. Prosecutors would also face a deadline to file the charges within five years of any crimes being committed, although there are some exceptions that extend the deadline. And were Trump to announce another presidential run, Bragg would be likely to face political pressure not to indict a leading contender for the White House.

But even as the criminal investigation fades from public view, the New York attorney general, Letitia James, appears poised to take action against Trump as part of her inquiry into whether he falsely inflated the value of his assets in annual financial statements — the same conduct at the center of the criminal investigation.

At a court hearing Monday — during which a judge held Trump in contempt of court for failing to fully comply with a subpoena for records from James — a lawyer from her office said that the attorney general would probably take action against the former president in the near future. Because her investigation is civil, James can bring a lawsuit but not criminal charges.

Trump has long denied wrongdoing and accused James and Bragg, both of whom are Black and Democrats, of being politically motivated “racists.” If he ultimately is sued or indicted, his lawyers would be likely to point toward the disclaimer that his financial statements were not audited by his accountants and that they were submitted to sophisticated financial institutions that conducted their own due diligence.

James’ office is also participating in the district attorney’s criminal investigation, opened by Bragg’s predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr., more than three years ago.

In December, Vance directed the two senior prosecutors leading the criminal inquiry, Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, to present evidence to a grand jury with the goal of seeking an indictment of Trump.

But when Bragg took office this year, he and several of his aides raised concerns about the strength of the case, questioning whether they could prove that Trump intended to break the law. Other prosecutors in the office had raised similar concerns, people with knowledge of the matter said. In the final months of Vance’s tenure, three assistant district attorneys stopped working on the investigation, concerned about how rapidly it was proceeding and what they felt were gaps in the evidence against the former president.

Bragg eventually decided to halt the grand jury presentation, prompting the departure of Dunne and Pomerantz, who stated in his resignation letter that he believed Trump was “guilty of numerous felonies.”

Just weeks after their departure, Solomon Shinerock, one of the key prosecutors on the team, stopped investigating Trump. Shinerock, who for years was the lead assistant district attorney in the investigation, pulled back in part because it appeared to be winding down, two of the people familiar with the inquiry said.

The Daily Beast first reported that Shinerock was no longer actively involved in the investigation.

While Shinerock is not investigating Trump, he is still working on a Trump-related case. In July, Manhattan prosecutors indicted the Trump Organization and its longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, accusing them of a yearslong tax evasion scheme.

Shinerock is playing a central role in preparing for that trial, and, given that role, is participating in meetings in which the investigation into Trump is discussed, a person with knowledge of the meetings said.

In the interview this month, Bragg said that no one had left the Trump team since Dunne and Pomerantz. Asked this week to clarify his remarks, Bragg’s spokesperson stood by them, saying that there was one “dedicated team working on the indicted tax case and the Trump investigation.”

The team is led by Susan Hoffinger, an experienced prosecutor whom Bragg appointed to lead the office’s investigations division.

The spokesperson, Danielle Filson, said in a statement that the team included “lawyers who have worked on the case for years and skilled new prosecutors with decades of experience and fresh eyes.”

She declined to say how many prosecutors and other staff are assigned to the team investigating Trump, but said it was “actively probing unexplored avenues.”

In the early days of Bragg’s tenure, the core members of the Trump team took over a 15th-floor conference room as they pushed ahead with the presentation of evidence about the former president to a grand jury. But since the resignations of Pomerantz and Dunne, the team has abandoned that room — an indication, veterans of the office say, that the case is not headed toward a grand jury anytime soon. The team members are now sitting in offices in the Major Economic Crimes Bureau.

Bragg has told aides that the inquiry could move forward if a new piece of evidence is unearthed, or if a Trump Organization insider decides to turn on the former president, people with knowledge of the conversations said. Under Vance, the prosecutors tried for months to secure the cooperation of Weisselberg and were unsuccessful.

Pomerantz and Dunne had been considering charging Trump with the crime of falsifying business records, a low-level felony. Asked if he was still considering that charge, or charges relating to the possibility that Trump had inflated the value of his assets on his financial statements, Bragg said that prosecutors were looking at new evidence and seeing how it fit into the overall picture.

But Pomerantz warned in his resignation letter that time was of the essence, noting, “These facts are already dated, and our ability to establish what happened may erode with the further passage of time.” 
&nbsp;

When some two dozen New Yorkers filed into a Manhattan courthouse this week to finish out their grand jury service, the case against a man who would have been the world’s most prominent criminal defendant was no longer before them.

When some two dozen New Yorkers filed into a Manhattan courthouse this week to finish out their grand jury service, the case against a man who would have been the world’s most prominent criminal defendant was no longer before them. That man, Donald Trump, was facing potential criminal charges from the grand jury this year over his business practices. But in the weeks since the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, stopped presenting evidence to the jurors about Trump, new signs have emerged that the former president will not be indicted in Manhattan in the foreseeable future — if at all. At least three of the witnesses once central to the case have either not heard from the district attorney’s office in months or have not been asked to testify, according to people with knowledge of the matter. In recent weeks, a prosecutor at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office who played a key role in the investigation has stopped focusing on a potential case against Trump, other people with knowledge of the inquiry said — a move that followed the resignation earlier this year of the two senior prosecutors leading the investigation. And the remaining prosecutors working on the Trump investigation have abandoned the “war room” they used to prepare for their grand jury presentation early this year, the people said, leaving behind an expansive office suite and conference room on the 15th floor of the district attorney’s office in Lower Manhattan. The grand jury’s expiration at the end of the month does not preclude prosecutors from impaneling another jury, but the developments underscore the reduced possibility that Trump will face charges under Bragg, who along with several other prosecutors had concerns about proving the case. Some people close to the inquiry believe that it will not result in an indictment of the former president unless a witness cooperates unexpectedly — a long shot in an investigation that has been running for more than three years. In recent weeks, Bragg’s prosecutors have issued a few additional subpoenas that indicate they are continuing to investigate but have not found a new path to charging Trump. The previously unreported subpoenas, people with knowledge of the matter said, appear to focus on the same topic that has long been the subject of the investigation: whether Trump falsely inflated the value of his assets in annual financial statements. The subpoenas suggest that, rather than pursuing a new theory of the case, Bragg is looking at additional entities that received Trump’s financial statements as he sought loans and pursued other business, and that the prosecutors are seeking potential victims of the former president. One of the subpoenas went to a major financial institution that may have received Trump’s financial statements. A second subpoena sent to the Trump Organization largely followed up on an earlier demand to the company for records related to the value of his properties. And the third went to the New York City agency that tracks municipal vendors, including Trump, who has done business with the city for years, operating a golf course in the Bronx and an ice rink in Central Park. In an interview this month, Bragg said that his prosecutors were interviewing new witnesses and looking at additional evidence. He declined to provide details, citing grand jury secrecy law, but said that the inquiry must be allowed to run its course. “It’s a work in progress,” Bragg said, adding later, “We’ve got seasoned prosecutors working every day. It’s not going to be on a timeline.” But impaneling a new grand jury could create challenges for any potential case. Trump’s lawyers could argue — and a judge might agree — that prosecutors were inappropriately hunting for a more favorable group of jurors. It would also take time to prepare a new presentation of evidence and months to lay out a case to jurors. Bragg’s office does not have unlimited time to charge Trump. Witnesses could forget key information. Prosecutors would also face a deadline to file the charges within five years of any crimes being committed, although there are some exceptions that extend the deadline. And were Trump to announce another presidential run, Bragg would be likely to face political pressure not to indict a leading contender for the White House. But even as the criminal investigation fades from public view, the New York attorney general, Letitia James, appears poised to take action against Trump as part of her inquiry into whether he falsely inflated the value of his assets in annual financial statements — the same conduct at the center of the criminal investigation. At a court hearing Monday — during which a judge held Trump in contempt of court for failing to fully comply with a subpoena for records from James — a lawyer from her office said that the attorney general would probably take action against the former president in the near future. Because her investigation is civil, James can bring a lawsuit but not criminal charges. Trump has long denied wrongdoing and accused James and Bragg, both of whom are Black and Democrats, of being politically motivated “racists.” If he ultimately is sued or indicted, his lawyers would be likely to point toward the disclaimer that his financial statements were not audited by his accountants and that they were submitted to sophisticated financial institutions that conducted their own due diligence. James’ office is also participating in the district attorney’s criminal investigation, opened by Bragg’s predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr., more than three years ago. In December, Vance directed the two senior prosecutors leading the criminal inquiry, Mark Pomerantz and Carey Dunne, to present evidence to a grand jury with the goal of seeking an indictment of Trump. But when Bragg took office this year, he and several of his aides raised concerns about the strength of the case, questioning whether they could prove that Trump intended to break the law. Other prosecutors in the office had raised similar concerns, people with knowledge of the matter said. In the final months of Vance’s tenure, three assistant district attorneys stopped working on the investigation, concerned about how rapidly it was proceeding and what they felt were gaps in the evidence against the former president. Bragg eventually decided to halt the grand jury presentation, prompting the departure of Dunne and Pomerantz, who stated in his resignation letter that he believed Trump was “guilty of numerous felonies.” Just weeks after their departure, Solomon Shinerock, one of the key prosecutors on the team, stopped investigating Trump. Shinerock, who for years was the lead assistant district attorney in the investigation, pulled back in part because it appeared to be winding down, two of the people familiar with the inquiry said. The Daily Beast first reported that Shinerock was no longer actively involved in the investigation. While Shinerock is not investigating Trump, he is still working on a Trump-related case. In July, Manhattan prosecutors indicted the Trump Organization and its longtime chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, accusing them of a yearslong tax evasion scheme. Shinerock is playing a central role in preparing for that trial, and, given that role, is participating in meetings in which the investigation into Trump is discussed, a person with knowledge of the meetings said. In the interview this month, Bragg said that no one had left the Trump team since Dunne and Pomerantz. Asked this week to clarify his remarks, Bragg’s spokesperson stood by them, saying that there was one “dedicated team working on the indicted tax case and the Trump investigation.” The team is led by Susan Hoffinger, an experienced prosecutor whom Bragg appointed to lead the office’s investigations division. The spokesperson, Danielle Filson, said in a statement that the team included “lawyers who have worked on the case for years and skilled new prosecutors with decades of experience and fresh eyes.” She declined to say how many prosecutors and other staff are assigned to the team investigating Trump, but said it was “actively probing unexplored avenues.” In the early days of Bragg’s tenure, the core members of the Trump team took over a 15th-floor conference room as they pushed ahead with the presentation of evidence about the former president to a grand jury. But since the resignations of Pomerantz and Dunne, the team has abandoned that room — an indication, veterans of the office say, that the case is not headed toward a grand jury anytime soon. The team members are now sitting in offices in the Major Economic Crimes Bureau. Bragg has told aides that the inquiry could move forward if a new piece of evidence is unearthed, or if a Trump Organization insider decides to turn on the former president, people with knowledge of the conversations said. Under Vance, the prosecutors tried for months to secure the cooperation of Weisselberg and were unsuccessful. Pomerantz and Dunne had been considering charging Trump with the crime of falsifying business records, a low-level felony. Asked if he was still considering that charge, or charges relating to the possibility that Trump had inflated the value of his assets on his financial statements, Bragg said that prosecutors were looking at new evidence and seeing how it fit into the overall picture. But Pomerantz warned in his resignation letter that time was of the essence, noting, “These facts are already dated, and our ability to establish what happened may erode with the further passage of time.”

Likelihood of Trump indictment in Manhattan fades as grand jury wraps up

The US evacuation from Afghanistan is still fresh in everyone's minds. People hanging from planes, children being passed across fences and thousands scrambling to leave the country- it was a mission that failed miserably but a new Pentagon report has highlighted the catastrophic nature of this failure- nearly seven billion dollars of military equipment have been left behind in Afghanistan.

Report: US left $7 billion of military gear in Afghanistan

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States have decided to ban sales of menthol-flavoured cigarettes in an attempt to reduce smoking in the general population.

The menthol cigarettes are considered to be one of the most hazardous smoking products in the market and with the increasing cases of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases, this move was imminent.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-reveals-intentions-to-monetize-tweets-and-cut-salaries-as-part-of-his-pitch-to-bank-lenders-474812">Musk unveils plans to monetise tweets, cut salaries in his pitch to lenders</a>

Menthol cigarettes are extremely popular among smokers because of the cooling effect of menthol and as it is not harsh like normal tobacco products, the addiction rate is also quite high. As a result, they make up one third of the US cigarette market which is valued currently at roughly $80 billion.

Banning them “would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit,” Xavier Becerra, the health and human services secretary told New York Times.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-explosions-rock-kyiv-again-russian-spy-chief-makes-glaring-accusations-474749" hreflang="en">As explosions rock Kyiv again, Russian spy chief makes glaring accusations</a>

The entire process is expected to take around a year to be completed and the initial plan will be published on May 4 as a proposed regulation. However, it can get delayed due to impending legal battles with tobacco companies who have already expressed their displeasure with the decision.

“The scientific evidence shows no difference in the health risks associated with menthol cigarettes compared to non-menthol cigarettes, nor does it support that menthol cigarettes adversely affect initiation, dependence or cessation. As a result, we do not believe the published science supports regulating menthol cigarettes differently from non-menthol cigarettes,” Kingsley Wheaton, the chief marketing officer of British American Tobacco, the leading seller of menthol cigarettes, said.

WATCH |&nbsp;US Capitol riot probe: House committee to hold open hearings

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States have decided to ban sales of menthol-flavoured cigarettes in an attempt to reduce smoking in the general population.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States have decided to ban sales of menthol-flavoured cigarettes in an attempt to reduce smoking in the general population. The menthol cigarettes are considered to be one of the most hazardous smoking products in the market and with the increasing cases of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases, this move was imminent. Also read | Musk unveils plans to monetise tweets, cut salaries in his pitch to lenders Menthol cigarettes are extremely popular among smokers because of the cooling effect of menthol and as it is not harsh like normal tobacco products, the addiction rate is also quite high. As a result, they make up one third of the US cigarette market which is valued currently at roughly $80 billion. Banning them “would help prevent children from becoming the next generation of smokers and help adult smokers quit,” Xavier Becerra, the health and human services secretary told New York Times. Also read | As explosions rock Kyiv again, Russian spy chief makes glaring accusations The entire process is expected to take around a year to be completed and the initial plan will be published on May 4 as a proposed regulation. However, it can get delayed due to impending legal battles with tobacco companies who have already expressed their displeasure with the decision. “The scientific evidence shows no difference in the health risks associated with menthol cigarettes compared to non-menthol cigarettes, nor does it support that menthol cigarettes adversely affect initiation, dependence or cessation. As a result, we do not believe the published science supports regulating menthol cigarettes differently from non-menthol cigarettes,” Kingsley Wheaton, the chief marketing officer of British American Tobacco, the leading seller of menthol cigarettes, said. WATCH | US Capitol riot probe: House committee to hold open hearings

US FDA pushes ahead with move to ban menthol cigarettes to prevent youth initiation

In three southern states of the United States, more than 30 people bore witness to a fireball ‘ten times brighter than the moon’.

On Wednesday, more than 30 people in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi reported hearing a loud boom, and some reported seeing the fireball.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/revisiting-prehistoric-era-fossils-of-3-ichthyosaurs-including-giant-tooth-found-in-swiss-alps-says-study-474679" hreflang="en">Revisiting prehistoric era: Fossils of 3 ichthyosaurs including giant tooth found in Swiss Alps, says study</a>

A witness told the Vicksburg Post that she was in the downtown area when she witnessed an "orange fireball the size of a basketball" travelling west on a downhill course toward the Mississippi River, with a white tail behind it.

No injuries or damages were reported, but some people felt their house shake, as per Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office.

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❗️Here’s the official report received from NASA regarding this morning’s fireball (bolide) <a href="https://t.co/3YtwW0Dbq3">pic.twitter.com/3YtwW0Dbq3</a>
— msema (@MSEMA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSEMA/status/1519432385808547842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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As per Cooke, the fireball was too small to cause any damage and none of its pieces made it to the ground.

Watch |&nbsp;Expanding problem of space debris: What is space junk? Why is it a problem?

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He said that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration initially detected the fireball using satellites 22,000 kilometres in space. However, the fireball was already in the Earth's atmosphere at the time.

The fireball barrelled towards earth at the speed of 55,000 miles per hour, breaking into pieces as it descended deeper into Earth’s atmosphere.

According to NASA, the fireball was more than ten times brighter than the full moon at its peak and it disintegrated 34 miles above the swampy terrain north of Minorca in Louisiana.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/fascinating-fact-giant-moon-of-saturn-has-a-earth-like-landscape-474452" hreflang="en">Fascinating fact: Saturn Moon Titan has Earth-like landscape</a>

“The fragmentation of this fireball generated an energy equivalent of 3 tonnes of TNT (trinitrotoluene), which created shock waves that propagated to the ground, producing the booms and vibrations felt by people in the area,” said NASA in its statement.

Fireballs or Bolide are exceptionally bright meteors spectacular enough to be seen over a very wide area.

Every year, the American Meteor Society records an increasing number of fireballs. There are probably over 500,000 fireballs per year, but most of them go unreported since they occur over water and half of them happen during the day.

Watch WION LIVE HERE:

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(With inputs from agencies)

In three southern states of the United States, more than 30 people bore witness to a fireball ‘ten times brighter than the moon’. On Wednesday, more than 30 people in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi reported hearing a loud boom, and some reported seeing the fireball.

In three southern states of the United States, more than 30 people bore witness to a fireball ‘ten times brighter than the moon’. On Wednesday, more than 30 people in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi reported hearing a loud boom, and some reported seeing the fireball. Also read | Revisiting prehistoric era: Fossils of 3 ichthyosaurs including giant tooth found in Swiss Alps, says study A witness told the Vicksburg Post that she was in the downtown area when she witnessed an "orange fireball the size of a basketball" travelling west on a downhill course toward the Mississippi River, with a white tail behind it. No injuries or damages were reported, but some people felt their house shake, as per Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office. ❗️Here’s the official report received from NASA regarding this morning’s fireball (bolide) pic.twitter.com/3YtwW0Dbq3 — msema (@MSEMA) April 27, 2022 × As per Cooke, the fireball was too small to cause any damage and none of its pieces made it to the ground. Watch | Expanding problem of space debris: What is space junk? Why is it a problem? He said that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration initially detected the fireball using satellites 22,000 kilometres in space. However, the fireball was already in the Earth's atmosphere at the time. The fireball barrelled towards earth at the speed of 55,000 miles per hour, breaking into pieces as it descended deeper into Earth’s atmosphere. According to NASA, the fireball was more than ten times brighter than the full moon at its peak and it disintegrated 34 miles above the swampy terrain north of Minorca in Louisiana. Also read | Fascinating fact: Saturn Moon Titan has Earth-like landscape “The fragmentation of this fireball generated an energy equivalent of 3 tonnes of TNT (trinitrotoluene), which created shock waves that propagated to the ground, producing the booms and vibrations felt by people in the area,” said NASA in its statement. Fireballs or Bolide are exceptionally bright meteors spectacular enough to be seen over a very wide area. Every year, the American Meteor Society records an increasing number of fireballs. There are probably over 500,000 fireballs per year, but most of them go unreported since they occur over water and half of them happen during the day. Watch WION LIVE HERE: (With inputs from agencies)

NASA reports a fireball that generated energy equivalent of 3 tonnes of TNT! Read more

Chinese military has condemned the United States after US warship sailed through the sensitive Taiwan strait, Beijing has called this a deliberate attempt to harm peace and stability in the region.

United States-China faceoff over Taiwan strait

In a unexpected diplomatic breakthrough, Russia and the US have carried out a dramatic prisoner exchange, trading a marine veteran jailed in Moscow for a convicted Russian drug trafficker serving a long prison sentence in America.

Ex-US marine and Russian pilot freed in prisoner swap

Twitter's new buyer Elon&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;still must have his tweets about his electric car company Tesla pre-approved after a US judge on Wednesday rejected an appeal to free him from oversight.

Musk&nbsp;last month filed a motion to overturn Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) restrictions imposed following his 2018 tweet, in which he said he had acquired funding to take Tesla private, but did not provide proof or file paperwork with the securities regulator.

The tweet, which caused share prices to fluctuate wildly, was ruled to be "false and misleading" and shareholders have accused Tesla of securities fraud.

The SEC also charged&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;with fraud and ordered him to step down as chair of Tesla's board of directors, pay a $20 million fine and, after another unfortunate tweet in early 2019, demanded his tweets directly related to the business of the company be pre-approved by a competent lawyer.

Musk&nbsp;said he was forced to agree to the deal, and denies lying to shareholders.

However, "Musk's claim that he was the victim of economic duress is wholly unpersuasive," Judge Lewis Liman wrote in his ruling.

The judge said&nbsp;Musk's argument that the SEC has used the agreement "to harass him" and investigate his speech is "meritless" and "particularly ironic," since free speech rights do not allow him to make statements that are "considered fraudulent" or violate securities laws.

"Musk&nbsp;cannot now seek to retract the agreement he knowingly and willingly entered by simply bemoaning that he felt like he had to agree to it at the time but now -- once the specter of the litigation is a distant memory and his company has become, in his estimation, all but invincible -- wishes that he had not."

The judge also rejected&nbsp;Musk's request to quash part of the SEC's demand for documents about his November 6, 2021 tweet calling for followers to vote on whether he should sell 10 percent of his Tesla stock.&nbsp;

The tweet sent the company's share price lower, and the SEC wants to know if it was approved as required. The agency also is investigating possible insider trading after&nbsp;Musk's brother -- a Tesla board member -- sold $108 million in the car-maker's stock a day before the poll.

Musk's headline-grabbing deal to buy Twitter comes with a clause specifying that he is free to tweet about the pending $44 billion merger provided his posts "do not disparage the company or any of its representatives," a copy filed with US regulators shows.

That did not stop&nbsp;Musk&nbsp;on Wednesday from tweeting his displeasure with content moderation moves made by Twitter's top attorney Vijaya Gadde who is seen as a moral champion of the platform.

WATCH WION LIVE HERE&nbsp;

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Twitter's new buyer Elon Musk still must have his tweets about his electric car company Tesla pre-approved after a US judge on Wednesday rejected an appeal to free him from oversight.

Twitter's new buyer Elon Musk still must have his tweets about his electric car company Tesla pre-approved after a US judge on Wednesday rejected an appeal to free him from oversight. Musk last month filed a motion to overturn Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) restrictions imposed following his 2018 tweet, in which he said he had acquired funding to take Tesla private, but did not provide proof or file paperwork with the securities regulator. The tweet, which caused share prices to fluctuate wildly, was ruled to be "false and misleading" and shareholders have accused Tesla of securities fraud. The SEC also charged Musk with fraud and ordered him to step down as chair of Tesla's board of directors, pay a $20 million fine and, after another unfortunate tweet in early 2019, demanded his tweets directly related to the business of the company be pre-approved by a competent lawyer. Musk said he was forced to agree to the deal, and denies lying to shareholders. However, "Musk's claim that he was the victim of economic duress is wholly unpersuasive," Judge Lewis Liman wrote in his ruling. The judge said Musk's argument that the SEC has used the agreement "to harass him" and investigate his speech is "meritless" and "particularly ironic," since free speech rights do not allow him to make statements that are "considered fraudulent" or violate securities laws. "Musk cannot now seek to retract the agreement he knowingly and willingly entered by simply bemoaning that he felt like he had to agree to it at the time but now -- once the specter of the litigation is a distant memory and his company has become, in his estimation, all but invincible -- wishes that he had not." The judge also rejected Musk's request to quash part of the SEC's demand for documents about his November 6, 2021 tweet calling for followers to vote on whether he should sell 10 percent of his Tesla stock. The tweet sent the company's share price lower, and the SEC wants to know if it was approved as required. The agency also is investigating possible insider trading after Musk's brother -- a Tesla board member -- sold $108 million in the car-maker's stock a day before the poll. Musk's headline-grabbing deal to buy Twitter comes with a clause specifying that he is free to tweet about the pending $44 billion merger provided his posts "do not disparage the company or any of its representatives," a copy filed with US regulators shows. That did not stop Musk on Wednesday from tweeting his displeasure with content moderation moves made by Twitter's top attorney Vijaya Gadde who is seen as a moral champion of the platform. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Judge rejects Elon Musk bid to free tweets from oversight

A high-level delegation of US officials visited the Solomon Islands for talks with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and as per reports, they are convinced "only a handful of people in a very small circle" have seen the final version of its new security deal with China.&nbsp;

The delegation arrived in the Pacific nation last Friday and three days after that, Beijing announced the deal had been signed.&nbsp;

Concerns have been raised by the United States and its allies after China said it signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands earlier this month.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/humans-extract-enough-sand-every-year-to-build-a-wall-27-metres-wide-around-the-earth-un-474038">Humans extract enough sand every year to build a wall 27 metres wide around the Earth: UN</a>

The move prompted questions, what will happen next? As it is said that the apparently controversial pact would significantly extend China's military reach in the region.&nbsp;

Significantly, a draft version of the pact leaked on social media in March. It led to lobbying by US and Australia, who are considered longtime Solomons' allies. For a long time, the allies have feared an expansion of Chinese military reach in the region.&nbsp;

On being about the same, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink on Tuesday said: "I think it's clear that only a handful of people in a very small circle have seen this agreement."&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-police-officer-risks-life-to-save-baby-stuck-at-burning-apartment-in-us-474056">Police officer risks life to save baby stuck at burning apartment in US</a>

Kritenbrink was quizzed about whether the delegation had asked to see the deal during talks with Sogavare. As reported by the AFP agency, he further added that it was a source of concern that Sogavare had stated publicly he would "only share the details with China's permission".&nbsp;

Kritenbrink was critical of the "complete lack of transparency behind this agreement", saying other Pacific nations as well as "friends inside the Solomon Islands" were similarly concerned the deal had been inked behind closed doors.&nbsp;

"What precisely are the motivations behind the agreement? What exactly are China's objectives?" Kritenbrink asked.&nbsp;

"I think they are completely unclear, because this agreement has not been scrutinised, or viewed, or subject to any kind of consultation or approval process by anyone else," he added.&nbsp;

Meanwhile,&nbsp;PM Sogavare told a visiting Japanese delegation on Tuesday (April 26) that he had no intention of allowing China to build military bases in his country.&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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A high-level delegation of US officials visited the Solomon Islands for talks with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and as per reports, they are convinced "only a handful of people in a very small circle" have seen the final version of its new security deal with China.

A high-level delegation of US officials visited the Solomon Islands for talks with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and as per reports, they are convinced "only a handful of people in a very small circle" have seen the final version of its new security deal with China. The delegation arrived in the Pacific nation last Friday and three days after that, Beijing announced the deal had been signed. Concerns have been raised by the United States and its allies after China said it signed a security pact with the Solomon Islands earlier this month. ALSO READ | Humans extract enough sand every year to build a wall 27 metres wide around the Earth: UN The move prompted questions, what will happen next? As it is said that the apparently controversial pact would significantly extend China's military reach in the region. Significantly, a draft version of the pact leaked on social media in March. It led to lobbying by US and Australia, who are considered longtime Solomons' allies. For a long time, the allies have feared an expansion of Chinese military reach in the region. On being about the same, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink on Tuesday said: "I think it's clear that only a handful of people in a very small circle have seen this agreement." WATCH | Police officer risks life to save baby stuck at burning apartment in US Kritenbrink was quizzed about whether the delegation had asked to see the deal during talks with Sogavare. As reported by the AFP agency, he further added that it was a source of concern that Sogavare had stated publicly he would "only share the details with China's permission". Kritenbrink was critical of the "complete lack of transparency behind this agreement", saying other Pacific nations as well as "friends inside the Solomon Islands" were similarly concerned the deal had been inked behind closed doors. "What precisely are the motivations behind the agreement? What exactly are China's objectives?" Kritenbrink asked. "I think they are completely unclear, because this agreement has not been scrutinised, or viewed, or subject to any kind of consultation or approval process by anyone else," he added. Meanwhile, PM Sogavare told a visiting Japanese delegation on Tuesday (April 26) that he had no intention of allowing China to build military bases in his country. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

'Only a handful of people' have seen China-Solomon Islands deal, says US

A day after North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un vows to strengthen their nuclear capabilities, the United States signaled talks to end North Korea's nuclear program. The statement from America comes despite provocations from Pyongyang through the recent missile test.

Denuclearisation talks with North Korea, US open to engaging in diplomacy

Coronavirus cases are on the rise in United States. In the latest, US Vice President Kamala Harris has tested positive for Covid, according to a White House statement on Tuesday.

Kamala Harris, US vice-president, tests positive for Covid-19: White House

Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday released a report alleging that top Trump administration officials awarded a $700 million pandemic relief loan to a struggling trucking company in 2020 over the objections of career officials at the Defense Department.

The report, released by the Democratic staff of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, describes the role of corporate lobbyists during the early months of the pandemic in helping to secure government funds as trillions of dollars of relief money were being pumped into the economy. It also suggests that senior officials such as Steven Mnuchin, the former Treasury secretary, and Mark Esper, the former defense secretary, intervened to ensure that the trucking company, Yellow Corp., received special treatment despite concerns about its eligibility to receive relief funds.

“Today’s select subcommittee staff report reveals yet another example of the Trump administration disregarding their obligation to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., the chairman of the subcommittee, said in a statement. “Political appointees risked hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds against the recommendations of career DOD officials and in clear disregard of provisions of the CARES Act intended to protect national security and American taxpayers.”

The $2.2 trillion pandemic relief package Congress passed in 2020 included a $17 billion pot of money set up by Congress and controlled by the Treasury Department to assist companies that were considered critical to national security. In July 2020, the Treasury Department announced it was giving a $700 million loan to the trucking company YRC Worldwide, which has since changed its name to Yellow.

Lobbyists for Yellow had been in close touch with White House officials throughout the loan process and had discussed how the company employs teamsters as its drivers, according to the report.

Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, was a “key actor” coordinating with Yellow’s lobbyists, according to correspondences that the committee obtained. The report also noted that the White House’s political operation was “almost giddy” in its effort to assist with the application.

The loan raised immediate questions from watchdog groups because of the company’s close ties to the Trump administration and because it had faced years of financial and legal turmoil. The firm had lost more than $100 million in 2019 and was being sued by the Justice Department over claims that it had defrauded the federal government for a seven-year period. It recently agreed to pay $6.85 million to resolve allegations “that they knowingly presented false claims to the U.S. Department of Defense by systematically overcharging for freight carrier services and making false statements to hide their misconduct.”

To qualify for a national security loan, a company needed certification by the Defense Department.

According to the report, defense officials had recommended against certification because of the accusations that the company had overcharged the government. They also noted that the work that the company had been doing for the federal government — which included shipping meal kits, protective equipment and other supplies to military bases — could be replaced by other trucking firms.

But the day after a defense official notified a Treasury official that the company would not be certified, one of Mnuchin’s aides set up a telephone call between him and Esper.

Following the call, Esper certified that the company was critical to national security and a week later the approval of the loan was announced.

Mnuchin then sent an email to Meadows that included news reports praising the loan. He highlighted positive comments from James Hoffa, the longtime president of the Teamsters union, who according to documents in the report made a direct plea to President Donald Trump about the loan.

Mnuchin and Esper declined to comment.

At a congressional oversight hearing before leaving office in late 2020, Mnuchin said the loan was appropriate and necessary for saving jobs and maintaining trucking services to the Defense Department. Lawmakers from both parties, such as Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Pat Roberts, the Republican former senator from Kansas, had sent letters to Mnuchin urging him to consider the loan application.

Yellow had many connections to the Trump administration. The company had financial backing from Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm with close ties to administration officials. Trump had selected the company’s CEO, Darren Hawkins, to serve on a coronavirus economic task force. And he had nominated the company’s former CEO, William Zollars, to the U.S. Postal Service’s board of governors.

The report accuses Yellow of misrepresenting its business to help secure the loan. It claimed to provide a larger share of trucking services to the Defense Department than the department assessed. Communications included in the report also showed a company executive discussing using funds to catch up on capital investments when the relief money was supposed to be used for offsetting losses from the pandemic. The executive said the company had its “hand in the cookie jar.”

Along with the release of the report, Clyburn sent a letter to the Treasury Department’s inspector general asking for an investigation into whether Yellow had violated the False Claims Act.

A law firm representing Yellow sent a letter to Clyburn before the release of the report defending the company’s actions and describing many of the allegations as “baseless.” The letter noted that company had settled its dispute with the government last month.

The letter, which was written by Marc E. Kasowitz, who was previously Trump’s personal attorney, was provided to The New York Times by Heather Nauert, an adviser to Yellow who was previously a spokesperson for Mike Pompeo, Trump’s secretary of state.

Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday released a report alleging that top Trump administration officials awarded a $700 million pandemic relief loan to a struggling trucking company in 2020 over the objections of career officials at the Defense Department.

Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday released a report alleging that top Trump administration officials awarded a $700 million pandemic relief loan to a struggling trucking company in 2020 over the objections of career officials at the Defense Department. The report, released by the Democratic staff of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, describes the role of corporate lobbyists during the early months of the pandemic in helping to secure government funds as trillions of dollars of relief money were being pumped into the economy. It also suggests that senior officials such as Steven Mnuchin, the former Treasury secretary, and Mark Esper, the former defense secretary, intervened to ensure that the trucking company, Yellow Corp., received special treatment despite concerns about its eligibility to receive relief funds. “Today’s select subcommittee staff report reveals yet another example of the Trump administration disregarding their obligation to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., the chairman of the subcommittee, said in a statement. “Political appointees risked hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds against the recommendations of career DOD officials and in clear disregard of provisions of the CARES Act intended to protect national security and American taxpayers.” The $2.2 trillion pandemic relief package Congress passed in 2020 included a $17 billion pot of money set up by Congress and controlled by the Treasury Department to assist companies that were considered critical to national security. In July 2020, the Treasury Department announced it was giving a $700 million loan to the trucking company YRC Worldwide, which has since changed its name to Yellow. Lobbyists for Yellow had been in close touch with White House officials throughout the loan process and had discussed how the company employs teamsters as its drivers, according to the report. Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, was a “key actor” coordinating with Yellow’s lobbyists, according to correspondences that the committee obtained. The report also noted that the White House’s political operation was “almost giddy” in its effort to assist with the application. The loan raised immediate questions from watchdog groups because of the company’s close ties to the Trump administration and because it had faced years of financial and legal turmoil. The firm had lost more than $100 million in 2019 and was being sued by the Justice Department over claims that it had defrauded the federal government for a seven-year period. It recently agreed to pay $6.85 million to resolve allegations “that they knowingly presented false claims to the U.S. Department of Defense by systematically overcharging for freight carrier services and making false statements to hide their misconduct.” To qualify for a national security loan, a company needed certification by the Defense Department. According to the report, defense officials had recommended against certification because of the accusations that the company had overcharged the government. They also noted that the work that the company had been doing for the federal government — which included shipping meal kits, protective equipment and other supplies to military bases — could be replaced by other trucking firms. But the day after a defense official notified a Treasury official that the company would not be certified, one of Mnuchin’s aides set up a telephone call between him and Esper. Following the call, Esper certified that the company was critical to national security and a week later the approval of the loan was announced. Mnuchin then sent an email to Meadows that included news reports praising the loan. He highlighted positive comments from James Hoffa, the longtime president of the Teamsters union, who according to documents in the report made a direct plea to President Donald Trump about the loan. Mnuchin and Esper declined to comment. At a congressional oversight hearing before leaving office in late 2020, Mnuchin said the loan was appropriate and necessary for saving jobs and maintaining trucking services to the Defense Department. Lawmakers from both parties, such as Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Pat Roberts, the Republican former senator from Kansas, had sent letters to Mnuchin urging him to consider the loan application. Yellow had many connections to the Trump administration. The company had financial backing from Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm with close ties to administration officials. Trump had selected the company’s CEO, Darren Hawkins, to serve on a coronavirus economic task force. And he had nominated the company’s former CEO, William Zollars, to the U.S. Postal Service’s board of governors. The report accuses Yellow of misrepresenting its business to help secure the loan. It claimed to provide a larger share of trucking services to the Defense Department than the department assessed. Communications included in the report also showed a company executive discussing using funds to catch up on capital investments when the relief money was supposed to be used for offsetting losses from the pandemic. The executive said the company had its “hand in the cookie jar.” Along with the release of the report, Clyburn sent a letter to the Treasury Department’s inspector general asking for an investigation into whether Yellow had violated the False Claims Act. A law firm representing Yellow sent a letter to Clyburn before the release of the report defending the company’s actions and describing many of the allegations as “baseless.” The letter noted that company had settled its dispute with the government last month. The letter, which was written by Marc E. Kasowitz, who was previously Trump’s personal attorney, was provided to The New York Times by Heather Nauert, an adviser to Yellow who was previously a spokesperson for Mike Pompeo, Trump’s secretary of state.

Trump officials awarded $700 million pandemic loan despite objections

Oil and gasoline prices are climbing. Energy company profits are surging. President Joe Biden, who came into office promising to reduce the use of fossil fuels, has effectively joined the “drill, baby drill” chorus. Europe would love to end its dependence on Russia.

Is this the moment the U.S. oil business has been waiting for? Not exactly.

Production of oil by U.S. energy companies is essentially flat and unlikely to increase substantially for at least another year or two. If Europe were to stop buying Russian oil and natural gas as some of its leaders have promised, it won’t be able to replace that energy with fuels from the United States anytime soon.

U.S. oil production is up less than 2%, to 11.8 million barrels a day, since December and remains well below the record 13.1 million barrels a day set in March 2020 just before the pandemic paralyzed the global economy. Government forecasters predict that American oil production will average just 12 million barrels a day in 2022 and increase by roughly 1 million barrels a day in 2023. That would be well short of the nearly 4 million barrels of oil that Europe imports from Russia every day.

“You had this bombastic, chest-pounding industry touting itself as the reincarnation of the American innovative spirit,” said Jim Krane, an energy expert at Rice University. “And now that they could be leaping into action to pitch in to bring much needed oil to the world, they are being uncharacteristically cautious.”

The biggest reason oil production isn’t increasing is that U.S. energy companies and Wall Street investors are not sure that oil prices will stay high long enough for them to make a profit from drilling lots of new wells. Many remember how abruptly and sharply oil prices crashed two years ago, forcing companies to lay off thousands of employees, shut down wells and even seek bankruptcy protection.

Executives at 141 oil companies surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas in mid-March offered several reasons for why they weren’t pumping more oil. They said they were short of workers and sand, which is used to fracture shale fields to coax oil out of rock. But the most salient reason — the one offered by 60% of respondents — was that investors in oil companies don’t want companies to produce a lot more oil, fearing that it will hasten the end of high oil prices.

The Dallas Fed survey found that U.S. companies need oil prices to average just $56 a barrel to break even, a little more than half the current price. But some are worried that the price could fall to as little as $50 by the end of the year.

“There is a tremendous amount of muscle memory from COVID and the dramatic drop in prices,” said Ben Shepperd, president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association in Midland, Texas. “If we were convinced oil prices would hold at levels of $75 a barrel or more for another three years, you would see a higher level of capital deployment.”

U.S. oil companies are not alone. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have also refused to pump a lot more oil since Russia’s war began in late February.

This deep-seated reluctance stands in contrast to how the oil industry has typically behaved when prices have surged.

Over the past two decades, oil companies almost always responded to higher prices by investing and pumping more. A drilling frenzy accompanied the rise in prices in the early 2000s, and again in the recovery that followed the 2008 financial crisis. U.S. oil production has doubled since 2006, and the country has become a major exporter of oil, natural gas and petroleum products like gasoline and diesel.

But every price boom was followed by a huge crash — three in just the past 14 years. Scores of companies have filed bankruptcy cases. Only two years ago, oil prices plummeted by more than $50 a barrel in a single day to less than zero as the pandemic took hold and producers had no place to store oil that nobody needed to buy.

Exxon Mobil’s stock fell so much that the keepers of the Dow Jones Industrial Average kicked it off the index. The company had been in the average in one form or another since 1928, and its departure became a symbol of Wall Street’s growing distaste for fossil fuel stocks as more investors demand that companies reduce the emissions causing climate change.

Oil executives and investors cite a number of scenarios under which prices could again fall quickly. For example, Russia could lose the war and have to retreat. COVID outbreaks and lockdowns in China could hobble that country’s economy, driving down global growth and demand for energy. A new nuclear deal with Iran could open a spigot of oil exports.

Pioneer Natural Resources, a major Texas producer that last year acquired two other oil companies, is no longer aiming to increase production by 20% as it had in years past. It now aims to grow by just 5%. The company’s chief executive, Scott Sheffield, said he aimed to return 80% of its free cash flow — the cash left over after it pays its operating expenses and capital expenditures — to shareholders.

“The model has totally changed,” he said.

Oil executives also argue that they are spending a lot of money on new oil and gas production but that inflation is undercutting their efforts. Exploration and production spending will rise by more than 20% this year but about two-thirds of that increase will go toward paying higher prices for labor, materials and services, among other costs, according to RBN Energy, a research firm based in Houston.

“It is a bit of a sticker shock because we’re seeing inflation across the entire sector,” Jeff Miller, the CEO of Halliburton, which drills wells and performs other services for oil companies, told analysts on a recent conference call.

Smaller private companies, financed by private equity, are responsible for much of the new activity. According to the Dallas Fed survey, the median growth rate for companies that produce fewer than 10,000 barrels a day was projected at 15% this year, compared with only 6% for firms that produce more than 10,000 barrels a day.

Larger oil companies complain that even if they wanted to invest more, it would be hard to because Wall Street isn’t keen on financing new fossil fuel projects. Some investors who are concerned about climate change are instead choosing to put their money into renewable energy, electric cars and other businesses.

It is not that investors have become environmentalists. Many have run the numbers and concluded that the recent jump in fossil fuel prices will be short-lived and that they are better off investing in companies and industries that they believe have a brighter future.

“If you are an investor, has your view of the next five to 10 years actually changed? I think the answer is no,” said Amy Myers Jaffe, managing director at the Climate Policy Lab at Tufts University’s Fletcher School. “History tells us that oil shocks accelerate a shift to alternative energy, not the opposite.”

Many oil executives also complain that the future of their industry is clouded by political and regulatory uncertainty. They acknowledge that Biden has been calling on them to produce more but fear that his administration will go back to emphasizing the need for less oil and gas when prices fall.

“During Earth Day, the president said we have got to get off oil, and at the same time he’s begging us for 2 million additional barrels to send to Europe,” said Kirk Edwards, CEO of Latigo Petroleum, a West Texas producer. “You cannot have it both ways.”

The tension between the strategic advantages of domestic oil and gas production and the environmental costs of fossil fuel use are not likely to go away soon. Environmentalists are worried that awarding more permits for oil drilling on public lands and building new terminals to export natural gas to Europe will increase the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. But administration officials have countered that their emphasis on increasing oil and gas production will not deter longer-term efforts to make a transition to cleaner energy.

“We just can’t transition to green energy in a way that leaves us and our allies dependent on the oil of geopolitical rivals,” said Evan Ellis, a researcher at the U.S. Army War College and former State Department planner. “The ability of the U.S. to put more oil and gas into the market would be a useful weapon, enabling the Europeans to wean themselves off of Russian energy.”

David Braziel, CEO of RBN Energy, said the United States had the capacity to export more than 6 million barrels of oil a day, roughly twice what it is exporting now. While ramping up production will take time, he said the industry could produce 16 million barrels a day by 2027, more than 4 million barrels more than now, assuming prices remain high and investments increase.

“We have plenty of capacity to get extra crude oil out,” Braziel said. “We could be doing much more now than we are currently doing.”

Oil and gasoline prices are climbing. Energy company profits are surging. President Joe Biden, who came into office promising to reduce the use of fossil fuels, has effectively joined the “drill, baby drill” chorus.

Oil and gasoline prices are climbing. Energy company profits are surging. President Joe Biden, who came into office promising to reduce the use of fossil fuels, has effectively joined the “drill, baby drill” chorus. Europe would love to end its dependence on Russia. Is this the moment the U.S. oil business has been waiting for? Not exactly. Production of oil by U.S. energy companies is essentially flat and unlikely to increase substantially for at least another year or two. If Europe were to stop buying Russian oil and natural gas as some of its leaders have promised, it won’t be able to replace that energy with fuels from the United States anytime soon. U.S. oil production is up less than 2%, to 11.8 million barrels a day, since December and remains well below the record 13.1 million barrels a day set in March 2020 just before the pandemic paralyzed the global economy. Government forecasters predict that American oil production will average just 12 million barrels a day in 2022 and increase by roughly 1 million barrels a day in 2023. That would be well short of the nearly 4 million barrels of oil that Europe imports from Russia every day. “You had this bombastic, chest-pounding industry touting itself as the reincarnation of the American innovative spirit,” said Jim Krane, an energy expert at Rice University. “And now that they could be leaping into action to pitch in to bring much needed oil to the world, they are being uncharacteristically cautious.” The biggest reason oil production isn’t increasing is that U.S. energy companies and Wall Street investors are not sure that oil prices will stay high long enough for them to make a profit from drilling lots of new wells. Many remember how abruptly and sharply oil prices crashed two years ago, forcing companies to lay off thousands of employees, shut down wells and even seek bankruptcy protection. Executives at 141 oil companies surveyed by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas in mid-March offered several reasons for why they weren’t pumping more oil. They said they were short of workers and sand, which is used to fracture shale fields to coax oil out of rock. But the most salient reason — the one offered by 60% of respondents — was that investors in oil companies don’t want companies to produce a lot more oil, fearing that it will hasten the end of high oil prices. The Dallas Fed survey found that U.S. companies need oil prices to average just $56 a barrel to break even, a little more than half the current price. But some are worried that the price could fall to as little as $50 by the end of the year. “There is a tremendous amount of muscle memory from COVID and the dramatic drop in prices,” said Ben Shepperd, president of the Permian Basin Petroleum Association in Midland, Texas. “If we were convinced oil prices would hold at levels of $75 a barrel or more for another three years, you would see a higher level of capital deployment.” U.S. oil companies are not alone. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries have also refused to pump a lot more oil since Russia’s war began in late February. This deep-seated reluctance stands in contrast to how the oil industry has typically behaved when prices have surged. Over the past two decades, oil companies almost always responded to higher prices by investing and pumping more. A drilling frenzy accompanied the rise in prices in the early 2000s, and again in the recovery that followed the 2008 financial crisis. U.S. oil production has doubled since 2006, and the country has become a major exporter of oil, natural gas and petroleum products like gasoline and diesel. But every price boom was followed by a huge crash — three in just the past 14 years. Scores of companies have filed bankruptcy cases. Only two years ago, oil prices plummeted by more than $50 a barrel in a single day to less than zero as the pandemic took hold and producers had no place to store oil that nobody needed to buy. Exxon Mobil’s stock fell so much that the keepers of the Dow Jones Industrial Average kicked it off the index. The company had been in the average in one form or another since 1928, and its departure became a symbol of Wall Street’s growing distaste for fossil fuel stocks as more investors demand that companies reduce the emissions causing climate change. Oil executives and investors cite a number of scenarios under which prices could again fall quickly. For example, Russia could lose the war and have to retreat. COVID outbreaks and lockdowns in China could hobble that country’s economy, driving down global growth and demand for energy. A new nuclear deal with Iran could open a spigot of oil exports. Pioneer Natural Resources, a major Texas producer that last year acquired two other oil companies, is no longer aiming to increase production by 20% as it had in years past. It now aims to grow by just 5%. The company’s chief executive, Scott Sheffield, said he aimed to return 80% of its free cash flow — the cash left over after it pays its operating expenses and capital expenditures — to shareholders. “The model has totally changed,” he said. Oil executives also argue that they are spending a lot of money on new oil and gas production but that inflation is undercutting their efforts. Exploration and production spending will rise by more than 20% this year but about two-thirds of that increase will go toward paying higher prices for labor, materials and services, among other costs, according to RBN Energy, a research firm based in Houston. “It is a bit of a sticker shock because we’re seeing inflation across the entire sector,” Jeff Miller, the CEO of Halliburton, which drills wells and performs other services for oil companies, told analysts on a recent conference call. Smaller private companies, financed by private equity, are responsible for much of the new activity. According to the Dallas Fed survey, the median growth rate for companies that produce fewer than 10,000 barrels a day was projected at 15% this year, compared with only 6% for firms that produce more than 10,000 barrels a day. Larger oil companies complain that even if they wanted to invest more, it would be hard to because Wall Street isn’t keen on financing new fossil fuel projects. Some investors who are concerned about climate change are instead choosing to put their money into renewable energy, electric cars and other businesses. It is not that investors have become environmentalists. Many have run the numbers and concluded that the recent jump in fossil fuel prices will be short-lived and that they are better off investing in companies and industries that they believe have a brighter future. “If you are an investor, has your view of the next five to 10 years actually changed? I think the answer is no,” said Amy Myers Jaffe, managing director at the Climate Policy Lab at Tufts University’s Fletcher School. “History tells us that oil shocks accelerate a shift to alternative energy, not the opposite.” Many oil executives also complain that the future of their industry is clouded by political and regulatory uncertainty. They acknowledge that Biden has been calling on them to produce more but fear that his administration will go back to emphasizing the need for less oil and gas when prices fall. “During Earth Day, the president said we have got to get off oil, and at the same time he’s begging us for 2 million additional barrels to send to Europe,” said Kirk Edwards, CEO of Latigo Petroleum, a West Texas producer. “You cannot have it both ways.” The tension between the strategic advantages of domestic oil and gas production and the environmental costs of fossil fuel use are not likely to go away soon. Environmentalists are worried that awarding more permits for oil drilling on public lands and building new terminals to export natural gas to Europe will increase the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. But administration officials have countered that their emphasis on increasing oil and gas production will not deter longer-term efforts to make a transition to cleaner energy. “We just can’t transition to green energy in a way that leaves us and our allies dependent on the oil of geopolitical rivals,” said Evan Ellis, a researcher at the U.S. Army War College and former State Department planner. “The ability of the U.S. to put more oil and gas into the market would be a useful weapon, enabling the Europeans to wean themselves off of Russian energy.” David Braziel, CEO of RBN Energy, said the United States had the capacity to export more than 6 million barrels of oil a day, roughly twice what it is exporting now. While ramping up production will take time, he said the industry could produce 16 million barrels a day by 2027, more than 4 million barrels more than now, assuming prices remain high and investments increase. “We have plenty of capacity to get extra crude oil out,” Braziel said. “We could be doing much more now than we are currently doing.”

Why US oil companies aren’t riding to Europe’s rescue

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