‼️ 'From the Desk of Donald J. Trump': Former US president launches new communications platform

☎️ Joe Biden and Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates discussed Middle East issues of mutual interest concerning Afghanistan and Iran, among others, the White House said on Tuesday.

"They discussed regional and global challenges, including Afghanistan, the nuclear and regional dimensions of the threat posed by Iran, as well as the common quest for de-escalation and peace in the Middle Peace," the release said.

‼️ Derek Chauvin's attorney files motion for new trial on multiple grounds

Caitlyn for California: Jenner has released a first video for her campaign to become governor of California.

The Hollywood conservative is seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat Gavin Newsom in a special election set for late this year after a petition for the latter's recall gathered over 2.1 million signatures.

⚔️ American actor Steven Seagal presented the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, with a katana during a visit to the South American country.

US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez expressed concern regarding the risk posed to regional stability by the recent deadly police response to protests against a state-proposed tax reform in Colombia.

"Colombia is a close partner and ally whose stability and success is in the national interest of the US," Menendez tweeted on Tuesday. "I urge Colombian authorities and stakeholders to deescalate & create space for real dialogue to settle political differences and chart a better course for their country."

Menendez urged local authorities in the Colombian city of Cali to respect human rights and the global standards for use of force.

🚀 The Pentagon is "fairly close" to finalizing recommendations for creating a formal Space National Guard element of the US Space Force (USSF), Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the US National Guard Bureau, said.

Hokanson highlighted that Air and Army National Guard units are currently providing the USSF with some 11% of its forces.

🧐 So, the truth came out...again

Publisher Christine Favara Anderson, who had already spent five years in federal prison for securities fraud, now faces new accusations by the FBI in federal wire fraud and a scheme to rip off friends and authors.

According to an FBI affidavit, Anderson lied to people about having stage 4 cancer, about working for the former US president, Donald Trump, and about being friends with prominent celebrities including Morgan Freeman and the late Kobe Bryant.

❗️Facebook Oversight Board upholds ban on Donald Trump's account

Check out our brief summary of some of the latest news:

▪️A civilian plane fell on a residential house in the US city of Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Wednesday, killing four people.

▪️Democrat from Texas Gary O'Connor has apologised after dubbing Republican Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina an “Oreo”.

▪️The EU is considering taking a countermeasure for Washington’s “Buy American” drive.

▪️A Florida woman has been charged with a felony after assaulting a Burger King staffer over the thickness of the tomato on her sandwich.

▪️Twelve members of the US Congress have called on Biden not to support India’s intellectual property waiver request to the WTO – a proposal aimed at bolstering COVID vaccine production.

❗️ Facebook's Oversight Board has upheld the platform's decision to ban Donald Trump's account, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.

The board, however, found Facebook's decision of an indefinite suspension below the company's standards and urged the social media giant to review the decision and work out a proportionate response.

https://twitter.com/OversightBoard/status/1389928311174750211

❗️UPDATE: Trump decries 'election fraud' after Facebook board upholds ban

❌ The test launch of an unarmed intercontinental ballistic missile Minuteman III from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, has failed.

It is not known what caused the failure and the case is being investigated.

👍 or 👎?

Americans came close to a perfect 50-50 split on whether they support or oppose former President Donald Trump’s permanent removal from Facebook.

“Views are deeply divided along partisan lines”, a PEW Research Center press release explaining the poll said.

Just 11 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say Trump’s accounts should be permanently banned, while 88 percent say they should not be.

By comparison, 81 percent of Democrats and Democratic leaners say Trump’s accounts should be banned permanently.

Roughly one-in-five Democrats (18 percent) do not support a forever ban.

❗️ Trump slams 'corrupt social media companies', says they must pay 'political price'

❗️The former US president says that what Facebook, Twitter and Google have done is a “total disgrace and embarrassment”.

"The People of our Country will not stand for it! These corrupt social media companies must […] never again be allowed to destroy and decimate our Electoral Process", Trump said.

❗️Israel's president taps Yair Lapid to form new government

The announcement came as Netanyahu's deadline to form a new government has expired after the prime minister failed to reach an agreement with the chairman of the right-wing party Yamina, Naftali Bennett.

According to the announcement, the leader of the Yesh Atid party has the best shot at forming a coalition.

"It is clear that Knesset member Yair Lapid has a chance to form a government that will earn the confidence of the Knesset, even if the difficulties are many", Rivlin stated.