The US Justice Department has announced it will be filing a lawsuit to block JetBlue Airways' proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines, citing concerns that it would reduce competition and lead to higher prices for consumers. The Biden administration has been vocal in its stance that there needs to be greater competition between businesses, especially in the airline industry, to lower costs for consumers. The lawsuit is the first time in more than 20 years that the government has sought to block a US airline merger.
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Mexican authorities have announced that two of the four American citizens kidnapped in Tamaulipas last week have been found dead, while the other two are alive. The group had traveled to Mexico for a medical procedure, but were likely mistaken for Haitian drug smugglers by a Mexican cartel. The FBI is currently investigating the incident and the families of the victims have not yet released any statements.
Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Chair, is set to testify before Congress on Tuesday and investors are watching closely for signs of future rate hikes. The Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate to 4.6%, its highest level in 15 years, making mortgages, auto loans, credit card rates and business lending more expensive. Powell will have to convince lawmakers that the central bank is capable of bringing down inflation without crashing the US economy in its wake.
China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang warned of "catastrophic consequences" if the US does not change its current course, accusing the US of taking a "reckless gamble" in how it treats its fellow superpower. He urged the US to recognize China's "core interests" and "major concerns" and to respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Tensions between the two countries remain high, with the US accusing China of unfair trade practices and human rights abuses, and the two countries yet to reach a comprehensive trade deal.
On Monday, Fox News host Tucker Carlson aired newly released footage from the January 6, 2021 US Capitol attack on his show. Carlson used the footage to falsely claim that no riot happened on Jan. 6, despite the attack leaving five people dead and resulting in more than 300 arrests. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) granted Carlson access to the footage, and Capitol Police have warned that its release could pose a security risk. It is unclear if the footage will be released to the public or remain in the hands of Carlson and McCarthy.
A federal judge in Washington has issued bench warrants for the arrest of two defendants in the January 6, 2021 US Capitol riot case, Olivia Pollock and Joseph Hutchinson III, after they were found to have tampered with or removed their ankle monitors. The FBI is now searching for Pollock and offering a reward for information leading to their arrest, and District Judge Carl Nichols has ruled that the trial will proceed with two of Pollock’s codefendants and she will be tried separately.
Four US citizens were kidnapped in Matamoros, Mexico on Friday after their vehicle came under fire. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for the return of the victims and the arrest of the culprits, and is seeking the public's help in locating the missing Americans. The FBI is working with Mexican authorities to locate the missing Americans and bring them home safely.
Two Ukrainian pilots have arrived in the United States to have their skills evaluated by American military trainers, as part of a larger effort to strengthen US-Ukraine military ties. The pilots are currently at a military base in Tucson, Arizona, undergoing an assessment to determine how long it would take to train them to fly attack aircraft, including F-16 fighter jets. The familiarization event is essentially a discussion between the Air Force personnel and an observation of how the pilots operate the simulators, with more of their fellow pilots potentially joining them soon.