📨 USPS rejects Biden’s recommendation to buy more electric mail trucks

The United States Postal Service authorized the replacement of its mail truck fleet with nearly all gasoline-powered vehicles, rejecting a plea from US President Joe Biden to include more electric vehicles in its purchase.

The move, announced Wednesday, signals the independent agency’s decision to move forward with a controversial plan to purchase 165,000 next-generation mail trucks, only 10 percent of which will be battery-electric vehicles (BEV). Although mitigating the effects of climate change were noted, the USPS determined that there was no legal reason to delay its plans.

As a quasi-independent agency, Biden cannot order the USPS to procure more EVs. But Congress, which is currently controlled by Democrats, could pass a law requiring the agency to do so and could provide extra funding as well.

Subscribe to @sputniknewsus

⚡ Ukrainian Army shelled Lugansk People's Republic 177 times within past 24 Hours - Official

🦠 Google will no longer require its US employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19

The change is one of many the company is reportedly making to its policies as it prepares to have employees return to the office. Google is lifting a policy that required anyone entering a Google facility, even vaccinated staffers, to have a negative COVID-19 molecular test.

The company has also outlined plans for a hybrid work week, where it will expect most employees to be in the office a minimum of three days per week.

Apple has also begun to relax its COVID-19 policies, and has dropped mask requirements in several states for customers shopping at its Apple retail stores.

Subscribe to @sputniknewsus

⚡ UNSC to consider draft resolution on Donbass conflict, says France's permanent representative

⚡ Putin authorizes special operation in Donbass

📲 Trump’s Truth Social app can’t beat Twitter, but it doesn’t have to

After months of speculation, tribulation and hype, the former US president, Donald Trump, launched his long-awaited social media platform — Truth Social — on Monday. The app, a shameless Twitter clone, is available for download on the Apple App Store and sits at the top of Apple’s download charts as of publication on Wednesday.

Currently, the Trump social media network is not functioning and it’s head, former US Republican Congressmember Devin Nunes, has stated that it should be working by the end of March, at the earliest.

Truth Social has positioned itself as an alternative for aggrieved conservatives who felt their posts - removed for violating social media terms of service - were unjustly taken down by liberal elites in Silicon Valley. Even if Truth Social’s user base grows, it’s unclear how the platform will monetize itself to stay afloat.

Subscribe to @sputniknewsus

⚡Explosion Reportedly Heard in Kiev, Kramatorsk, Odess, Kharkhov, Berdyansk & Near Boryspil Airport

⚡French envoy to UN calls on Russia to draw back on decision to recognize DPR, LPR

❗Sputnik correspondent: Quiet in Donetsk, mobile communications and internet are working

⚡China envoy to UN says believes door to peaceful resolution to Ukraine not fully shut

⚡Stoltenberg: NATO will meet to discuss Russia's actions regarding Ukraine

Stoltenberg condemns 'Russia's attack' on Ukraine, calls operation breach of international law, threat to Euro-Atlantic security

⚡Russian military operation in Donbas not war - Russian envoy to UN

⚡️ Explosions reported in Odessa, Ukraine

⚡️ Series of explosions heard from outskirts of Donetsk, Sputnik correspondent says

❗What Did Putin Say in His Address?

🔹 Special military operation will be launched to protect Donbass republics
🔹 Russia has no intention on occupying Ukraine but will defend itself against ‘any external threats’
🔹 Urged Ukrainian forces to ‘lay down’ their arms as they gave oath to people, not junta
🔹 NATO’s actions contradict morality and cannot allow Russia to feel safe, or exist with constant threats from Ukraine