#BREAKING | Blinken: US condemns Minsk actions with regard to Ryanair plane

❗️ Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., stated that US President Joe Biden has been "rolling over for aggressors around the world," including China, Russia and Iran, adding that recently the president "seemed to draw moral equivalence between Israel and Hamas when it began to demand a cease-fire"

‼️ 🇧🇾 🛩 Washington is calling for a full investigation into the Ryanair plane emergency landing in Minsk and is working closely with the European Union on the incident, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

🔎 “The United States strongly condemns the forced diversion of a flight between two EU member states and the subsequent removal and arrest of journalist Raman Pratasevich in Minsk. We demand his immediate release,” Blinken said in a Sunday statement.

He said the incident endangered the lives of over 120 passengers, including US citizens.

👏 💪 American professional golf player Philip Mickelson has won the PGA Championship on Suday, becoming the oldest major winner

🥳 Congrats!

👮‍♀️ Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said that proposals by leaders in Kansas City and St. Louis – which have some of the highest crime rates in the state – to reduce funding to their police departments by millions of dollars is the "exact wrong way to go" amid what he characterizes as a violent crime surge.

"This is not a talking point anymore," he said of a trend to defund police departments and shift resources away from tactical gear to training. "These are millions of dollars and hundreds of positions being shifted away from the brave men and women of law enforcement who swear to serve and protect and that's what they want to do. These progressive politicians are looking to undermine that"

🥩 The steaks are too high!

About two-thirds of US shoppers say the prices of red meat and chicken have soared since the start of the year.

The rising prices come as soaring commodity costs, more expensive transportation and challenges securing labor have contributed to food inflation

🇺🇸 US President Joe Biden will meet with the family of George Floyd on Tuesday, May 25, to commemorate the first anniversary of his death in police custody, the White House informs.

#URGENT | Rocket strikes air base housing US troops in Iraq, coalition says sptnkne.ws/Gt28

🚫 Arvind Kejriwal, State Chief of India's National Capital, said that US pharmaceutical firms - Pfizer and Moderna - have refused to sell their coronavirus vaccines directly to Delhi.

He told the local media that the vaccine makers have said that "they will deal with the central government".

❗️ US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan raised strong concerns over the Ryanair incident during a discussion with his Russian counterpart Nikolay Patrushev, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday.

"Our National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also raised our strong concerns on this issue, the actions of the government of Belarus, with his Russian counterpart during their phone call this morning," Psaki said during a press briefing.

Jen Psaki said that President Joe Biden was briefed on the Ryanair incident in Belarus, but had no updates to provide on the matter.

🤔 The White House declined to compare the Ryanair plane incident in Minsk and the forced landing of the then-Bolivian president's plane in Vienna in 2013, on which Edward Snowden was thought to be onboard.

“We work with our partners all over the world, I can't tell you anything else,” said Psaki.

🕰 The United States is not ready to announce the date and location of a planned US-Russia summit as both parties are working on the details of the meeting, the White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

✈️❗️The US has warned Americans not to travel to Japan and Sri Lanka due to COVID-19 concerns

The Capitol Hill grounds in Washington, DC remain closed for visitors with fencing standing along the perimeter of the building and adjacent territory as National Guard troops departed on Sunday after nearly half a year presence, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the scene.

🤔 How to sit on two chairs when discussing a controversial topic? The “Squad” members will tell you how.

“Progressive Democrats” in the House of Representatives have been eager to condemn the recent rise in anti-Semitic attacks across the US.

As such, Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar has harshly criticised the “horrific and unacceptable” assault outside a sushi restaurant in LA, which is now being investigated as a hate crime against Israelis.

However, this does not prevent them from slamming Tel Aviv for its actions in relation to the Gaza Strip – and even calling Israel an “apartheid” state, like AOC did on Twitter this month.

Many believe that this line of argument is exactly what creates a pretext for violent attacks against Jews across the globe.

Read more on our website: https://sptnkne.ws/GtEz

Beto O'Rourke, a former Democrat congressman from Texas, is reportedly mulling another run for higher office – this time as the state governor.

His aide says that O'Rourke has not ruled out challenging Republican Governor Greg Abbott in the November 2022 elections. The politician, however, has not taken any formal steps to enter the race yet.

📃 Over 500 campaign staffers in an open letter have urged Biden to support Palestine.

The letter called on the president to demand that the Israeli government allow a humanitarian corridor to Gaza, investigate whether Israel’s actions violate laws that prohibit US aid from funding militaries implicated in human rights violations, and to end tax breaks for organizations that fund settlement of Palestinian territory, among other things.

Biden says US condemns diversion of Ryanair flight, arrest of Pratasevich

🇧🇾 Biden has welcomed an EU call for sanctions on Belarus, adding that his team is crafting options over the Ryanair issue