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?)
Palestinian patients on way to Egypt as Rafah crossing opens after 9 months
The Rafah border crossing has opened for the first time in nearly nine months to allow sick and wounded Palestinian patients in Gaza to travel to Egypt for medical treatment. Egyptian television showed a Palestinian Red Cross ambulance pulling up to the crossing gate, and several children brought out on stretchers and transferred to ambulances on the Egyptian side. The reopening of the Rafah crossing represents a significant breakthrough that bolsters the ceasefire deal Israel and Hamas agreed to earlier this month. Israel agreed to reopen the crossing after Hamas released the last living female captives in Gaza. More to come… Adblock test (Why?)
Trump envoy arrives in Venezuela to meet Maduro about deportation flights
Richard Grenell, an envoy for United States President Donald Trump, has arrived in Venezuela to meet with the country’s president and discuss possible coordination on Trump’s mass deportation push. At a White House news briefing on Friday, press secretary Karoline Leavitt explained that Grenell left for Venezuela with two “immediate directives” from Trump. “Number one, Rick Grenell has been instructed to identify a place and ensure that repatriation flights of Tren de Aragua members, of Venezuelan nationals who have broken our nation’s laws, will land in Venezuela,” she said. “Number two, Rick Grenell is in Venezuela to ensure that all US detainees in Venezuela are returned home.” The White House clarified, however, that the visit should not be seen as the US accepting the legitimacy of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s third term. During Trump’s first term, from 2017 to 2021, the Republican led a “maximum pressure” campaign against Maduro, in an effort to push the socialist leader from power. Advertisement But since Trump took office for a second term on January 20, there have been questions about how his relationship with Maduro might evolve, particularly in light of the cooperation needed for his “mass deportation” campaign. Leavitt on Friday indicated that there would be no leeway in Washington’s demands for Venezuela to accept deportation flights. “We expect every nation on this planet to cooperate,” she said. Mauricio Claver-Carone, the US special envoy for Latin America, echoed that sentiment during a conference call with reporters on Friday. He also pushed Trump’s false claims that foreign governments have intentionally sent criminals from their countries to the US. “The United States and President Trump expects Nicolas Maduro to take back all of the Venezuelan criminals and gang members that have been exported to the United States, and to do so unequivocally and without condition,” said Claver-Carone. “And that is non-negotiable.” While some figures in Trump’s cabinet have staked out hawkish positions towards Venezuela, some have speculated that the administration could offer incentives like sanctions relief in exchange for coordination on deportation flights. Maduro was sworn in for a controversial third term as president earlier this month, despite allegations that he fraudulently claimed victory in the country’s elections on July 28. No official breakdown of the voter tallies was ever published. But the opposition coalition has released copies of voter records that allegedly show a rival candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez, won. Advertisement In response to the controversial election, protesters demonstrated against Maduro’s government, and security forces responded with a harsh crackdown that killed an estimated 24 people. Facing an arrest warrant, Gonzalez has since gone into exile, though he took a tour this month of countries including the US to rally support for his claim to victory. The US has recognised Gonzalez as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, and leaders of the European Union have likewise rejected the legitimacy of Maduro’s victory. This is not the first time that the US has supported a rival claim to Venezuela’s presidency. In 2019, after another contested election, National Assembly leader Juan Guaido named himself acting president. Trump invited Guaido to attend his State of the Union speech the very next year. “Maduro is an illegitimate ruler, a tyrant who brutalises his people. But Maduro’s grip on tyranny will be smashed and broken,” Trump said at the time. For his part, Maduro has accused the US of fomenting instability inside the country. During Trump’s first term, the Republican leader ratcheted up sanctions on Venezuela and even called for a reward for any information that might lead to Maduro’s arrest. But critics say those sanctions contributed to Venezuela’s severe economic problems, one of the main reasons for the mass exodus from the country. The United Nations estimates that 7.7 million Venezuelans have fled abroad, due to economic and political pressures. Earlier this week, Trump revoked the temporary protected status (TPS) that had shielded about 600,000 Venezuelans living in the United States from deportation. Advertisement However, to deport foreign citizens back to their country of origin, the US must have an agreement with the government of a given country. This has spurred diplomatic clashes, with some governments — including Mexico and Colombia — briefly refusing to allow flights to land. Adblock test (Why?)
White House announces tariffs on Canada, Mexico & China
NewsFeed The White House spokeswoman has said that the US will place 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and 10% on China starting from February 1. She cited fentanyl shipments and undocumented border crossings as justifications. Published On 31 Jan 202531 Jan 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
Iran warns that any attack on its nuclear sites would trigger ‘all-out war’
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tells Al Jazeera that Iran would ‘immediately and decisively’ to an US or Israeli attack. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has told Al Jazeera that any attack by Israel or the United States on Iran’s nuclear facilities would plunge the region into an “all-out war”. In an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic during a visit to Qatar, Araghchi warned that launching a military attack on Iranian nuclear facilities would be “one of the biggest historical mistakes the US could make”. He said Iran would respond “immediately and decisively” to any attack and that it would lead to an “all-out war in the region”. Concerns have grown in Iran that US President Donald Trump might empower Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to attack Iran’s nuclear sites while further tightening US sanctions during his second term in office. Araghchi said he met Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Doha to discuss key regional issues. “We highly commend Qatar’s mediation role in reaching the ceasefire in Gaza,” Araghchi said in an interview broadcast on Friday. “I hope all other issues will be ironed out.” Advertisement He also met Hamas officials while in Qatar and said Palestinians had achieved “victory” in Gaza, despite the devastation of Israel’s war on the enclave. “Despite all the killings and destruction the whole world witnessed, the Palestinian people held their ground and upheld their values and principles. I believe this stands as a victory,” he said. “The Israeli occupation forces did all in their power to eliminate Hamas and free their captives, but they were forced at the end of the day to sit and negotiate with Hamas. This represents victory for Hamas,” he added. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 47,460 Palestinians, mainly women and children, and wounded 111,580 since October 7, 2023. At least 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the Hamas-led attacks that day and more than 200 taken captive. Much of the Strip has been reduced to rubble and the vast majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million population have been displaced. Regarding developments in Syria, Araghchi said Iran supports the formation of a government in which all segments of Syrian society can participate following the toppling of former President Bashar al-Assad, who was a strong ally of Iran. Araghchi said Iran’s goals are for stability in Syria and to preserve the unity of the country’s territory. “We endorse any government chosen and supported by the Syrian people. We want peace and security for Syrian, which is a precursor to the same in the region,” he said. “We don’t wish to see Syria as the epicentre of endless tension or ethnic conflicts, which may turn it into a safe haven for terrorists. Instability in Syria would spill over the region.” Advertisement Iran had supported al-Assad since Syria’s war broke out in 2011, providing him with fighters, weapons and other military support that aimed to keep him in power, as well as to maintain Tehran’s regional “axis of resistance” to Israel and the US. Regarding the re-election of Trump, Araghchi said the history of Iranian-American relations was “full of hostility and mistrust”. He pointed out that the US under the last Trump administration withdrew from the nuclear agreement and assassinated Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC’s) Quds Force. He called on the new Trump administration to take practical steps to restore confidence, such as returning frozen Iranian funds, and said Iran does not object to direct dialogue with the US, but insists on limiting negotiations to the nuclear issue. Adblock test (Why?)
Three million Hindus take ‘holy dip’ a day after fatal crowd crush
Millions of Hindus have thronged the northern Indian city of Prayagraj for the Mahakumbh Mela festival, a day after dozens died at a crowd crush at the world’s largest religious gathering. Train and bus stations in the city saw a surge in crowds as people continued to arrive for the festival, although some devotees remained nervous after the deadly crush. Krishna Soni, a student from the western state of Rajasthan’s Bikaner city, and his family of eight linked themselves together with string to ensure they would not lose each other in the massive crowd. Police said 30 people were killed in Wednesday’s crush and 60 were injured. The Mahakumbh Mela – held every 12 years – is expected to draw some 400 million devotees this year, officials estimate. The festival is taking place at a 4,000-hectare (9,900-acre) temporary township created for the purpose on the river banks – the size of 7,500 football fields. About 150,000 tents have been erected to accommodate devotees along with almost an equal number of toilets. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)
Myanmar military extends state of emergency for another six months
The declaration is widely anticipated to be the last before the military holds long-delayed national polls this year. Myanmar’s military has extended its state of emergency for another six months as it struggles to maintain its increasingly fragile grip on power, with fighting raging on multiple fronts across the country. The military-controlled National Defence and Security Council renewed the emergency rule in a meeting in the capital Naypyidaw on Friday, a day before the four-year anniversary of a coup that plunged the country into chaos after a decade of tentative democracy. “All members of National Defence and Security Council including the commander in chief as well as acting president decided in unison for the extension of the state of emergency for another six months according to the section 425 of the 2008 constitution,” the statement said. “There are still more tasks to be done to hold the general election successfully. Especially for a free and fair election, stability and peace is still needed,” state-run MRTV said on its Telegram channel in announcing the extension of emergency rule. Myanmar has been in turmoil since February 1, 2021, when the military seized power from the democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government and arrested its hugely popular leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Advertisement Justifying the coup, the military claimed, without evidence, that the NLD had committed widespread voter fraud in the 2020 elections that it won by a landslide three months earlier. The military imposed a yearlong state of emergency after seizing power, extending it for six-month intervals multiple times as it brutally crushed peaceful pro-democracy protests and battled ethnic armed groups and anti-military fighters that emerged in response to the coup. The military’s Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing – who is also serving as the country’s self-appointed prime minister and president – had promised to hold elections by August 2023. But he has repeatedly delayed doing so due to the increasingly intense armed rebellion unfolding across the country. Myanmar’s military has suffered a string of damaging defeats in the north and west of the country since late 2023, in what the United States Institute of Peace has described as a crisis of an “unprecedented scale” for the military – which has dominated the country’s politics since the 1960s. Despite this turmoil, growing internal and external pressure means the military is widely expected to hold the long-delayed national elections in late 2025. Opposition groups have pledged to violently disrupt the polls, which they condemn as an attempt to legitimise the military regime which seized power four years ago. Under the military-drafted 2008 constitution, authorities are required to hold elections within six months of a state of emergency being lifted, which is slated for July 31. Advertisement Richard Horsey, Myanmar adviser to the Crisis Group, told Al Jazeera that most indications point to elections finally being held later this year, with November traditionally being the month in which polls take place in Myanmar. “The National Defence and Security Council meeting is scheduled for July 31, or there could be an ad hoc meeting called before then, to potentially declare an end to the state of emergency,” Horsey told Al Jazeera. “Then they have six months to organise the polls.” Horsey added that the end of the state of emergency and the subsequent elections imply a “return to rule by the 2008 military-drafted constitution”, a move that would be welcomed by members of Myanmar’s military and its main backer, China. “A return to the 2008 constitution is seen as hopefully leading to a little bit more predictability and less random decisions [by Ming Aung Hlaing],” he said. Adblock test (Why?)
Israel attacks Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, violates ceasefire deal again
In the two months from November 27 to Monday, Israel killed at least 83 people in Lebanon Israel has launched a wave of attacks on Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley in its latest breach of a fragile ceasefire agreement with the Hezbollah group. The Israeli army said on Friday it struck “multiple” Hezbollah targets in the area near the border with Syria in the east, as tensions escalated following its extension of a recent deadline for removing its troops from the country. The army claimed that the sites it targeted in the overnight attack include “underground infrastructure used to develop and manufacture weaponry” and sites on the border used to “smuggle weaponry into Lebanon”. Israel was supposed to complete its army’s withdrawal from Lebanon by January 26 under a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah agreed last November. However, it refused to do so and the deadline was then extended to February 18. Under the terms of the ceasefire, the Lebanese army is to deploy in the south as Hezbollah pulls its forces back north of the Litani River, some 30km (20 miles) from the border. Israel made clear it had no intention of meeting the deadline, claiming that the Lebanese army had not fulfilled its side of the bargain. Advertisement In the two months from November 27 to Monday, Israel killed at least 83 people in Lebanon, according to data obtained from Lebanon’s Ministry of Public Health. At least 228 were also injured as displaced residents tried to return to villages where Israeli soldiers remain stationed. Earlier this week, as thousands of people in Lebanon tried to return to their homes, Israeli forces killed at least 24 in southern Lebanon. This week, Lebanese media reported repeated violations of the ceasefire agreement by the Israeli military, including attacks on the town of Taybeh and village of Kfar Kila, both on the border with Israel. The most recent drone attack injured at least five people in the southern Lebanese town of Majdal Selem on Wednesday, the Reuters news agency reported. From the beginning of the conflict on October 8, 2023 to November 26, 2024, Israeli forces killed at least 3,961 people across Lebanon and injured more than 16,520. Adblock test (Why?)
Chaotic crowds complicate third Israel-Hamas exchange
[unable to retrieve full-text content] Israel and Palestinian armed groups led by Hamas completed a tense third exchange of captives for prisoners.