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‘They’ll give you a little but…’: LoP Rahul Gandhi trains guns at centre over Union Budget 2025

Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, criticised the Union Budget 2025, alleging that the target of the budget was only to benefit 20-25 people and give money in the hands of the billionaires.

Pennsylvania gov rebuffs PETA’s demands on Punxsutawney Phil: ‘Come and take it’

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro hit back at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Friday, after the activist group sent a letter to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club promising to send them a vegan “weather reveal cake” if they agreed to stop pulling Punxsutawney Phil out of his burrow for his Feb. 2 prognostication. “Come and take it,” Shapiro tweeted in response to a New York Post story on PETA’s demand. Manuel Bonder, a spokesman for Shapiro, told Fox News Digital the governor stands by his comments and said he will again make the trip to Gobbler’s Knob in Jefferson County on Sunday to witness Phil’s 138th meteorological prediction. Shapiro has been on-hand for every Groundhog Day ceremony in Punxsutawney since taking office in 2023. PETA CALLS TO END GROUNDHOG DAY TRADITION, REPLACE PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL WITH CAKE PETA President Ingrid Newkirk told the Post that Phil is denied the traditional lifestyle of a groundhog “for a tired old gimmick.” Visitors to Punxsutawney year-round can visit Phil and his “wife,” Phyllis, at the borough library. On this reporter’s last visit to the area, the rodents had recently become proud parents to a new baby groundhog, as well. While Groundhog Day is considered a national holiday and has even been popularized in the classic 1993 Bill Murray film of the same name, the day — and Phil himself — hold a special place in many Pennsylvanians’ hearts. GROUNDHOG DAY QUIZ! HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT THIS UNIQUE DAY? Nineteen other lodges based around the state have held “Versommlinge” for decades, as well.  However, three — “#2, Schibbach” in Montgomery County, “#3, Temple U.” in Philadelphia County and “#5, Bind Bush” in Schuylkill County — have gone defunct in recent years as the Pennsylvania German language and culture see a decline in younger generations. A March 2024 Versommling for “Lodge #18 an de Forelle Grick” (on Trout Creek) in Slatington featured local beer on tap, a traditional Pennsylvania German supper, stories and riddles from lodge elders told in the Pennsylvania German language, and, of course, representations of Phil himself. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Until recently, it was the custom of groundhog lodges to forbid English-speaking in favor of “Pennsilfaanisch,” lest the violator toss a nickel in a donation jar on their table. Other states’ groundhogs have been less lucky than Phil, as then-New York Mayor Bill de Blasio infamously dropped Staten Island Chuck during a 2014 ceremony in West New Brighton. Chuck later died from internal injuries after appearing to land on his head. With the importance Groundhog Day and Phil himself hold to Pennsylvania past-and-present, Bonder said Shapiro will continue to defend the groundhog and his tradition, and will be on hand for future wintertime prognostications in Punxsutawney.

LGBT activists mobilize to challenge Trump’s ‘extreme gender ideology’ executive orders

LGBT activists and groups are already mobilizing to block gender-related executive orders President Donald Trump signed since taking office to fulfill one of his key campaign promises to crack down on “gender ideology extremism.” And more legal challenges are expected in the coming weeks. The executive orders, signed in late January, include a reinstatement of the ban on transgender troops in the military, a ban on federal funding for sex changes for minors and a directive requiring federal agencies to recognize only “two sexes,” male and female, in official standard of conduct. “This ban betrays fundamental American values of equal opportunity and judging people on their merit,” Jennifer Levi, director of Transgender and Queer Rights at GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD Law), said in a statement about the trans military ban.  “It slams the door on qualified patriots who meet every standard and want nothing more than to serve their country, simply to appease a political agenda.” TRUMP SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDERS BANNING ‘RADICAL GENDER IDEOLOGY,’ DEI INITIATIVES IN THE MILITARY GLAD Law and the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), were among the first groups to file a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration for its military ban. The lawsuit, Talbott v. Trump, was brought forward on equal protection grounds by six active-duty service members and two individuals attempting to enlist, according to the groups’ announcement. The plaintiffs include a Sailor of the Year honoree, a Bronze Star recipient and several who were awarded meritorious service medals. They were identified as U.S. Army Reservist Lt. Nicolas Talbott, Army Maj. Erica Vandal, Army Sgt. First Class Kate Cole, Army Capt. Gordon Herrero, Navy Ensign Dany Danridge, Air Force Master Sgt. Jamie Hash, Koda Nature and Cael Neary. The latter two are civilians who are seeking to enlist in the military. DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH SAYS ‘NO MORE DEI AT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE’: ‘NO EXCEPTIONS’ Another lawsuit, filed by a transgender inmate receiving taxpayer-funded medical treatments, is challenging Trump’s executive order that ends medical transgender treatments – such as hormones, sex changes and grooming accommodations – for federal prisoners. The unnamed inmate, who goes by “Maria Moe” in court documents and is represented by GLAD Law, NCLR and Lowenstein Sandler LLP, is claiming Trump and the Bureau of Prisons are violating the Fifth and Eighth amendments and claims to be “at imminent risk of losing access to the medical care she needs to treat her gender dysphoria.” U.S. District Judge George O’Toole in Boston temporarily blocked BOP officials from transferring “Maria Moe” to a men’s prison, according to a ruling released by the inmate’s attorney Thursday. The temporary restraining order was issued Sunday, the same day the suit was filed. Prison officials are expected to keep the inmate in the women’s prison general population and maintain her transgender medical treatments, NBC first reported.  CRACKING DOWN ON TRANS TROOPS: TRUMP ORDER NIXES PREFERRED PRONOUNS, RESTRICTS FACILITY USE Multiple lawsuits have been filed against Trump’s other executive orders, too, especially Trump’s immigration-related policies. More are expected in the coming weeks.  A memo released Wednesday by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management provided guidance on directing federal agencies to acknowledge that women are biologically female and men are biologically male, Reuters reported. Trump said last week federal funds would not be used to promote “gender ideology.”  Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on the litigation but did not hear back before publication. Fox News Digital’s Louis Casiano contributed to this report. 

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance serves millions at Maha Kumbh to facilitate pilgrims’ progress

Reliance is providing pilgrims with a wide spectrum of services – from nourishing meals and essential healthcare to safe transportation and seamless connectivity.

‘Extreme rules’: Top Arizona lawmaker leans on Trump EPA to fight California’s ‘radical’ climate agenda

FIRST ON FOX: One of the top Republican lawmakers in the key swing state of Arizona has sent a letter to President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting that the administration “prevent California from dictating the country’s energy policy.” “California’s radical rules will harm Arizona families by increasing costs, impacting jobs, and limiting consumer choice,” Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen said in a letter to the EPA. “By taking swift action, EPA can reverse the Biden Administration’s erroneous approval of California’s extreme rules.” In the letter, Petersen praised Trump’s reversal of burdensome regulations thus far, saying that his executive orders, including rolling back the EV mandate, are “important energy steps that will help usher in America’s Golden Age.” However, Petersen warned in his letter that California environmental waivers and regulations create a ripple effect that harms other places in the country, including Arizona. ‘FULL COURT PRESS’: FRESHMAN GOP LAWMAKER REVEALS BLUEPRINT TO FLIP SCRIPT ON GREEN ENERGY MANDATES “Victims of California’s war on fossil fuels include Arizonans who conduct business or make purchases in California,” Petersen wrote. “California’s radical rules also will indirectly affect Arizonans by increasing the cost, and decreasing the availability, of vehicles and products. Even Governor Katie Hobbs has been forced to recognize that California’s extreme policies can negatively impact Arizonans.” “California’s radical rules raise serious legal concerns relating to equal state sovereignty19 and the major “questions doctrine, among many others. EPA should take immediate action to remove these legal concerns, starting by submitting the approvals for California’s rules to Congress for evaluation under the Congressional Review Act,” he continued. “According to legal experts, ‘Congress can quickly disapprove the waivers and send a resolution to the White House for presidential signature. Ballgame over.’ As those experts note, Congressional Review Act decisions are final and unassailable in court because the Act expressly provides that ‘[n]o determination, finding, action, or omission under this chapter shall be subject to judicial review.’” SENATE ADVANCES TRUMP’S ENERGY SECRETARY NOMINEE TO FINAL CONFIRMATION VOTE Petersen’s letter continued, “Like it did during President Trump’s first administration, EPA also should revoke California’s ability to independently regulate greenhouse gases.” In a statement to Fox News Digital, Petersen said, “Over the past four years, the State of California and the Biden Administration teamed up to impose a radical environmental agenda on the United States, compromising our energy independence, crushing freedom of choice, and endangering our national security.” “I, like many of my fellow Arizonans and Americans, am thrilled to see the Trump Administration putting an end to these schemes. The State of Arizona looks forward to assisting our new president, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, and Members of Congress in their efforts to prioritize and protect our country’s interests,” he said. Petersen, who has filed paperwork to run for attorney general in Arizona, also sent a letter to Arizona’s congressional delegation voicing the same concerns. “As President of the Arizona State Senate, I write to urge you to block radical California rules that ban gas-powered cars and leaf blowers,” he wrote.  “These policies will harm Arizona families by increasing costs, impacting jobs, and limiting consumer choice. The Congressional Review Act empowers you to reverse the Biden Administration’s last-minute approval of these extreme policies, which I encourage you to do.”

Top Georgia Republican unveils statewide DOGE plan to ‘reset’ regulations: ‘Red Tape Rollback’

Georgia’s Republican lieutenant governor has introduced a plan similar to the DOGE efforts taking place with the Trump administration that he tells Fox News Digital will bring much-needed government accountability to his state. “I own my own business employing thousands of people, and I know one of the biggest things that we run into as small business owners is regulatory burdens. And that’s regulatory burdens at the local, state and federal level,” Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones told Fox News Digital of his Red Tape Rollback Act of 2025. “We’ve been fortunate here in Georgia to be the No. 1 state to do business for 11 years running, and if we want to stay like that, we’re going to have to always be retooling how we do things, improving how we do things, making government more efficient, making it try to work more like business.” WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT DOGE AND ITS QUEST TO SLASH GOVERNMENT WASTE, SPENDING Jones introduced the plan last year but was unable to move it through the Georgia Legislature. But he said Trump’s DOGE efforts provided an opportunity to pair the plan with the new DOGE brand that has become increasingly popular with Republicans and some Democrats in Washington, D.C.  “That’s what the essence or the genesis behind red tape rollback, which is our state version of DOGE that the Trump administration is doing, and I’m excited about what they’re doing with the first week of that administration,” Jones said.  Jones explained to Fox News Digital what the priorities of his statewide DOGE plan would entail if successfully passed through the Legislature. “The first thing we’d like to do is basically have a reset on all regulatory issues at every state agency. And what I mean by that is, instead of always adding more regulations, we’ll start back at zero and then the agencies just add what they need,” Jones said.  ELON MUSK’S DOGE MAKES ANOTHER HIRING PUSH “There are so many regulations that are on the books that have been put there from decades worth of, you know, legislative laws that were passed or whatever. What our bill will do is basically have a reset just like you would on a computer game or whatever.  “And say there’s a lot of things that are unneeded, whether we’re talking about on the educational front, on the environment front, transportation, whatever it might be, just the entire blanket. Have a reset, and then make the agencies tell us what regulations are needed and which ones they’re glad to get rid of.” Jones said in a press release his bill will “also give legislators the ability to request a ‘Small Business Impact Analysis’ for pending legislation to better understand how a bill might impact Georgia’s most important job creators.” Jones told Fox News Digital that statewide spending waste is at a much “smaller scale” than federal government waste, but he said he hopes his statewide efforts will help shine a light on waste in the federal government.  “There’s no question D.C. is the elephant, so to speak, in the room that has gotten so bloated through duplicate agencies, duplicate services, whatever it might be,” Jones said. “There’s a lot of ways to trim the fat at the federal level.  “State government, it won’t be anything like what you have at the federal level, but there’s definitely inefficiencies that need to be addressed, whether it’s in licensing, permitting processes, whatever it might be, regulatory codes and things that need to be repealed. Those are all things that are going to be on the table.”

California city’s massive $130M deficit threatens dangerous cuts to its firefighting capacity

Oakland’s $129.8 million budget deficit could eradicate up to 30% of its firefighting capacity, depleting a strapped department already stretched thin by station closures, according to sources on the ground. Fire response times in the Democrat-controlled California city are already three times the national average after budget cuts that recently closed two fire stations and kept a newly renovated station from reopening.  City Councilmember Zac Unger, who was an Oakland firefighter for 27 years, told Fox Digital that four more stations could face closures because of deficits. “We have three firehouses currently closed and another four slated to close … which would represent about 30% of our firefighting capacity here in Oakland, an absolutely catastrophic potential for the city of Oakland,” Unger said. “We simply cannot afford to lose 30% of our fire and emergency medical response.” LA RELIED ON TEEN VOLUNTEERS FOR YEARS DESPITE FIRE CHIEF’S WARNING, BUT LEADERS CAN’T BE SUED: LAWYER Firefighters and city officials have been working overtime in “an all-hands-on-deck moment,” Unger said, to identify available funds in the city’s budget and keep Oakland’s firehouses open. Fire Chief Damon Covington told Fox Digital inroads have been made to prevent the additional four fire stations from closing, but that’s not to say closures won’t come down the road. “Seven firehouses would represent about 30% of our fire department,” Covington said. “It’s a tremendous threat because, ultimately, we need more fire service to cover our city adequately, and to lose two firehouses and a third that was under renovation, it taxes our workforce.” The fire department’s limited capacity has slowed response time, creating the potential for a disaster like the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, President of Oakland Firefighters Local 55 Seth Olyer said. “We had a house fire in the end of east Oakland in Engine 28’s area,” he said. “Normally, that engine would have been able to get to the fire within four minutes. The closest fire engine took nearly 11 minutes to get there. With a fire doubling in size every minute, you can do the math. This went from a small fire inside the house to a total loss and nearly threatening the surrounding area and potentially starting a wildland fire, much like in L.A.” “Our firefighters do incredible work, and they will make do with whatever difficult circumstances you give them, but yes, we have seen slowed response times,” Unger told Fox Digital. “There’s simply no way to close firehouses and expect to receive the same level of service.” The interim mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment. But in its current budget proposal, the city cites one-time COVID-19 pandemic costs and retirement benefits, including OPEB liability and CalPERs benefits costs, as the “fiscal challenges leading to [a] projected deficit” of $129.8 million. Oakland’s 2024-2025 fiscal budget proposed fire station “brownouts” for six months beginning January 2025 to save the city $5.5 million.  But local firefighters say brownouts could come at a much higher cost.  “When you close firehouses, it creates a domino effect,” Covington said in an interview with Fox Digital. “It’s not just the firehouse that you’re closing, it’s the surrounding jurisdictions, the other firehouses that are close to that firehouse that have to cover the ground of that station.” Oakland firefighters say they face the same cuts that the Los Angeles Fire Department warned about ahead of the devastating Palisades and Eaton wildfires in January. Oakland is no stranger to fire devastation itself. The Oakland firestorm of 1991 killed 25 people, injured 150 and destroyed more than 3,000 homes. Olyer said the 1991 fire fundamentally changed fire department response tactics and how fire crews cooperate with surrounding agencies. “That fire was so massive it took a herculean effort by the Bay Area and basically fire departments from all over the western U.S. to control,” Olyer told Fox Digital. “You’re seeing the same thing with Los Angeles. It’s not realistic to think that any fire department would be able to stop any sort of huge fast-moving wildfire with hurricane force winds in conditions like that.” KELSEY GRAMMER SAYS CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS ‘TOOK THEIR EYE OFF THE BALL’ IN WILDFIRES CATASTROPHE A quick, efficient and collaborative firefighting operation is possible with ample resources. In October, Olyer described how proper staffing and cooperation with CAL FIRE prevented the Keller Fire from becoming another California catastrophe.  “The Keller fire, which happened last October, was a perfect example of what a properly staffed fire department and early intensive action can do to really stop a fire before it gets out of control,” Olyer said. The event, he said, showed what “cooperation among agencies looks like, with CAL FIRE doing water drops on top, helicopter drops on it and massive amounts of resources very early on.” “The department has been running bare bones in Oakland for decades,” Olyer said. “We have fire engines driving around with nearly 300,000 miles, and they’re literally falling apart. It’s just a matter of time until Oaklanders’ luck runs out.” “We’re all pushing in the same direction. Everybody wants those firehouses open. It really does come down to dollars and cents,” Covington said.

Sen. Tillis opens up about role in Pete Hegseth’s confirmation after Hegseth’s ex-sister-in-law’s allegations

FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., whose vote cemented Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s confirmation last month, opened up about the effort to corroborate last-minute allegations against President Donald Trump’s nominee. “Anytime you have an allegation and somebody is willing to put it in sworn testimony, you owe it to the process to review it and not just dispose it out of hand,” the North Carolina Republican told Fox News Digital in an interview.  “And that’s exactly what I did. And then I arrived at the conclusion that I’d support Pete’s nomination” DEMS DISMISS CALLS FOR APOLOGY AFTER JEFFRIES VOWS ‘FIGHT’ AGAINST TRUMP AGENDA ‘IN THE STREETS’ Hegseth was confirmed after a tie-breaking vote from Vice President JD Vance, making the final margin 51-50.  Three Republicans — senators Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, voted against Hegseth. Given the Republican conference’s 53-seat majority, nominees can only afford to lose three votes, assuming all Democrats are opposed and each senator is in attendance.  ELIZABETH WARREN GRILLED RFK JR. ON DRUG COMPANY MONEY, BUT RECEIVED OVER $5M FROM HEALTH INDUSTRY Tillis’ decision on whether to back Hegseth was not disclosed until minutes before he cast his vote. If he became the fourth Republican to oppose Hegseth, the confirmation would have failed.  The senator asked Hegseth several additional questions after the new allegations surfaced and the hours until his confirmation vote wound down.  The nominee’s response letter, which proved to be to Tillis’ satisfaction, was shared on X by Hegseth during the vote.  Speaking on the subject with Fox News Digital, the senator explained he had “developed a reputation for completing due diligence” and that he takes his role seriously.  According to Tillis, he agreed to speak with Hegseth’s former sister-in-law, Danielle, before she filed a sworn affidavit alleging that he made his ex-wife Samantha fear for her safety, in addition to claims of alcohol abuse. ‘OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC’: BIPARTISAN SENATORS TARGET FENTANYL CLASSIFICATION AS LAPSE APPROACHES Danielle is not the sister of Hegseth’s ex-wife. She is the former wife of his brother.  The call between the senator and Danielle was about “what conceptually would be in the affidavit,” Tillis said. “And I said, ‘If that’s true, and it could be corroborated, then it would carry weight,’” Tillis recalled.  However, he said the lack of corroboration left the allegations without credibility.  “I could never speak directly to a person who could corroborate the testimony of one person,” he said.  After Hegseth’s confirmation, it was reported that sources said Tillis had “personally assured” Danielle that if she provided the affidavit, it would be significant and might persuade Republicans to oppose the defense secretary nominee, according to The Wall Street Journal.  Asked about the report, Tillis emphasized that he gave the caveat that it must be corroborated in his conversation with Danielle.  “Corroboration means at least two people have to be involved, and they have to be involved in the event, not a bystander. And I was unable to. I attempted to do it, but I was unable to get to that point. And, therefore, I had to make the same judgment that I did with the other allegations,” he explained.  TENSION BUILDS AROUND TULSI GABBARD’S CONFIRMATION WITH KEY GOP SENATORS UNDECIDED Tillis wouldn’t divulge whether Danielle or her attorney suggested she had been a witness to the alleged events.  “I’m not going to get into those discussions because I do know that my conversation was leaked a couple of hours after I had it on Sunday. Clearly, I would have no reason to do it. But I don’t leak private conversations. I don’t even discuss them at any level of detail,” he said. Multiple requests for comment to Danielle’s attorney, Leita Walker, from Fox News Digital went unanswered. 

Is US egg shortage Biden’s fault, as Trump spokesperson claims?

President Donald Trump promised to lower prices for groceries, including eggs. But one crack in his plan is that egg prices haven’t fallen since he took office on January 20. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, in her first on-camera news briefing on January 28, blamed that on former President Joe Biden’s “inflationary policies”. Leavitt said the Biden administration and the US Agriculture Department “directed the mass killing of more than 100 million chickens, which has led to a lack of chicken supply in this country, therefore a lack of egg supply, which is leading to the shortage”. [embedded content] Leavitt’s statement is partially accurate about the culling of millions of chickens, but she omitted important details and context about why that happened. First, the chickens were killed to prevent the spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu. Second, it’s been longstanding USDA policy to cull an entire flock of birds once bird flu has been detected, including during Trump’s first administration. Advertisement White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly referred PolitiFact back to Leavitt’s news briefing comments. Egg prices rose under Biden – from $1.60 per dozen in February 2021 to $4.10 in December 2024 (his first and last full months in office), Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows. The Agriculture Department’s January food price outlook said egg prices could rise about 20 percent more this year. A spokesperson for Expana, a company that tracks consumer prices, told news outlet Axios that a dozen large eggs costs more than $7 in some US regions. Since February 8, 2022, when the virus was detected in a commercial flock, more than 147 million birds, including chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese, have died, the USDA said. USDA data shows 108 million egg-laying chickens died since 2022, including 13 million in 2025. It’s not clear how many were euthanised or died of the virus. As of January 29, bird flu has also been detected in dairy cattle, affecting 944 herds in 16 states, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows. Humans have also tested positive for the virus – 67 confirmed cases have been reported in the US and one person has died, the CDC said. Why are flocks culled? Experts told PolitiFact the birds are culled to stop the virus from spreading. This protects not only nearby farms and the poultry industry, but public health. A 2002 federal law, the Animal Health Protection Act, gives the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service authority to depopulate herds and flocks to stop the disease’s spread. Advertisement “If the birds are dead, the virus dies along with them,” Russ Daly, a veterinarian for the South Dakota Department of Health and a South Dakota State University professor, said. Chickens that contract the bird flu virus have little chance of survival; 90 percent to 100 percent percent of them die, usually within 48 hours, the CDC said. Waiting for the chickens to die naturally allows more viral load into the atmosphere, making it more dangerous for the farm workers and other people who come in contact with the farm, Jada Thompson, a University of Arkansas agricultural economics and agribusiness associate professor, said. Red Star chickens feed in their coop on January 10, 2023, at Historic Wagner Farm in Glenview, Illinois. A bird flu outbreak at the time led to the slaughter of tens of millions of birds to limit the spread of the virus [File: Erin Hooley/AP] Is this policy new? Several veterinary professors told PolitiFact that depopulation or “stamping out” of sick birds is a longstanding policy and pointed to a 2015 bird flu outbreak during the Obama administration. Depopulation is the USDA’s primary control and eradication strategy for avian influenza, Yuko Sato, a veterinarian and Iowa State University associate professor, said. “This latest outbreak is devastating because of the large numbers of premises involved since 2022,” Carol Cardona, a University of Minnesota veterinary professor and chair of avian health, said. “But the rule has been there for a very long time now.” Advertisement A 2016 USDA report shows that depopulation in 2015 resulted in 50 million birds being killed. A USDA bird flu response plan, updated in May 2017 during Trump’s first administration, incorporates policy guidance based on lessons from influenza outbreaks during the Obama and first Trump administrations. It said: “Rapid depopulation of infected poultry is critical to halt virus transmission and must be prioritised.” During a March 2017 bird flu outbreak, a USDA report said, “nearly 253,000 birds were depopulated.” How does depopulation work? The USDA encourages farmers who notice signs of illness to contact the USDA or their state veterinarian. Samples taken from the animals are tested and the USDA confirms cases; depopulation usually takes place within 48 hours of the virus’s confirmation. The USDA pays the farmers for the killed birds. “It’s in the best interest of the farmer to get this done quickly, as the USDA provides indemnity payments for the euthanised birds, but not the ones that die naturally,” Daly said. Our ruling Leavitt said there’s an egg shortage because the Biden administration “directed the mass killing of more than 100 million chickens”. During the Biden administration, more than 100 million egg-laying chickens died from bird flu or were killed to stop the virus’ spread. This led to an egg shortage and higher prices. Depopulation is a longstanding practice to prevent bird flu from spreading, agriculture experts said. Government documents show depopulation was the USDA’s bird flu strategy during Trump’s first term and during the 2015 outbreak under Obama. Advertisement Leavitt’s statement is partially accurate but leaves out important details and context. We rate it Half True. Adblock test (Why?)

A historic spectacle: The return to north Gaza

Few images hold as much symbolism as those of Palestinians returning. Plus, Trumpian White House media briefings, and Black Myth: Wukong. The return of more than half a million displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, having survived war, siege and starvation, is a historic moment. For right-wing media outlets in Israel, however, it’s a humiliation. Contributors:Abdullah Al-Arian – Associate Professor, Georgetown University in QatarJehad Abusalim – Executive Director, Institute for Palestine StudiesMichael Schaeffer Omer-Man – Director of Israel-Palestine Research, DAWNYara Hawari – Co-Director, Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network On our radar The new White House press secretary gives the media briefing a Trumpian makeover. Ryan Kohl reports. Black Myth: Wukong – China’s journey to the west Merging traditional Chinese folklore with modern technology, the video game Black Myth: Wukong is revolutionising China’s gaming industry – and politicians in Beijing are reaping the rewards. Featuring:Daniel Camilo – China Gaming ConsultantLizzi Lee – Host, The China ProjectTingting Liu – Research Fellow, University of Technology Sydney Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)