Trump news - live: White House insists Supreme Court did not rule against president in tax case as Michael Cohen is sent back to prison

Business group says Trump administration policy to remove international students could impact economy

The US Chamber of Commerce, a top business lobbying group, has released a statement against the Trump administration's new policy not allowing international students to take online classes while in the country. 

It was announced earlier this week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that international students studying at universities in the US would face deportation if their classes were strictly online amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

US Chamber of Commerce CEO Thomas J Donohue called the move "ill-conceived" and said it would "inflict significant harm" on both American colleges and the US economy. 

"We urge the administration to rethink this ill-conceived policy," he said.

Since the announcement, Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have sued the Trump administration over the guidance. Other universities, such as Columbia University and New York University, have created one-credit "in-person" classes that international students could sign up for that would step around ICE's policy. 

Universities and colleges are currently working with state and local officials about reopening plans that would protect students and staff while still providing students with an education. 

Coronavirus: Nearly 90% of infected meat plant workers are minorities, says CDC

Minority workers at meat processing plants are particularly affected by coronavirus, a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found.

The report found that as many as 87 per cent of those who contracted coronavirus belonged to racial and ethnic minorities even though they are only 61 per cent of the total worker population.

Germania Rodriguez Poleo reports: 

Trump signs executive order to launch the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative

Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday aimed at boosting up Hispanic workers in the US and making sure they have the opportunity to prosper. 

US-China relationship at 'lowest point' in decades as sanctions announced over Uighur concentration camps

The US announced sanctions on Chinese Communist Party officials for human rights abuses against Uighur Muslims as the two countries reached their lowest point since establishing diplomatic ties in 1979.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a speech on Thursday that one of the most important diplomatic relationships in the world is facing "its most serious challenge" in more than 40 years.

His comments came as both the Treasury Department and the State Department announced sanctions and visa restrictions on senior officials involved in the mass imprisonment of ethnic minorities in China's Xinjiang Province.

Justin Vallejo reports: 

Trump doubles down on 'political witch hunt' claims after Supreme Court ruling

Donald Trump was asked in person on Thursday what his thoughts were on the ruling by the Supreme Court that he would have to turn over his tax documents to the Manhattan DA. 

The president noted that the ruling opened the door for him to approach the lower courts again about the decision, but he still thought it was all a "political witch hunt". 

We are "basically starting all over again, sending everything back down to the lower court ... So, from a certain point I'm satisfied, on another point I'm not satisfied because frankly, this is a political witch hunt," Mr Trump said, according to CNN. 

"You know what's going on in New York. Everyone is leaving, and it turned out to be a hellhole, and they better do something about it because people are leaving New York. But this is a political witch hunt. It just continues, and it's been from before I got here..."

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio helps paint Black Lives Matter mural in front of Trump Tower

Work has begun on the "Black Lives Matter" mural being painted outside Trump Tower in New York, after Donald Trump described it as a "symbol of hate."

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio attended to help paint the large yellow letters outside the Trump Organisation's headquarters on Thursday.

"Our city isn't just painting the words on Fifth Avenue. We're committed to the meaning of the message. #BlackLivesMatter," Mr de Blasio tweeted.

Gino Spocchia and Louise Hall report: 

Teachers' union 'double-dog dares' Trump to sit in class during pandemic

 The president of the largest US teachers union has said they "double-dog dare" Donald Trump to sit in one of their classrooms during the pandemic when schools reopen.

Mr Trump has demanded that schools resume in-person classes in fall, and has also criticised the Centre for Disease Control's (CDC) guidelines for re-opening as "expensive" and "tough".

"There's no one that wants their kids back with us more than teachers... but we want to open it safely," National Education Association (NEA) President Lily Eskelsen García told CNN on Wednesday.

Louise Hall reports: 

Pentagon: US will respond if Russia bounty reports are true

Top Pentagon leaders told Congress on Thursday that reports of Russia offering Taliban militants bounties for killing Americans were not corroborated by defence intelligence agencies, but said they are looking into it and the US will respond if necessary.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said his military commanders heard initial reports on the bounty issue in January and he first saw an intelligence paper about it in February. While the threats were taken seriously, he said they have not yet been found credible.

Esper and Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, were testifying before the House Armed Services Committee on the role of the military during recent protests triggered by the killing of George Floyd. Several House members asked about the Russian bounty reports. Milley said Russia and other nations have long worked against the U.S. in Afghanistan and provided support to the Taliban, but the specific notion of bounties hasn't been proven.

President Donald Trump initially labelled the reports about bounties "just another hoax" made up by the media. The White House has said Trump wasn't briefed on the intelligence until after the stories broke. According to US intelligence officials, information that Russia offered bounties to Taliban militants for killing American troops was included in a briefing for Trump in late February.

Milley and Esper appeared to walk a fine line. Esper said he didn't recall a briefing that mentioned the word "bounties." But, under questioning, he later acknowledged that there were reports that mentioned "payments."

And Milley was pressed about the difference between Iran backing militants in Iraq -- which has triggered US retaliation -- and what the Russians are doing in Afghanistan. He said that while Russia continues to back the Taliban, there is no evidence it directed militant attacks on US troops in Afghanistan.

"In the case of the Russians, we do not have concrete, corroborating evidence, intelligence, to show 'directing.' That's a big difference. If we did, it would be a different response, too," he said, adding that the military is still digging into the matter and will get to the bottom of it.

"If in fact there's bounties directed by the government of Russia or any of their institutions to kill American soldiers, that's a big deal," Milley said. "I and the secretary and many others are taking it seriously, we're going to get to the bottom of it, we're going to find out if, in fact, it's true. And if it is true we will take action."

Associated Press

TLDR: Coronavirus edition

The only things spreading faster than coronavirus are stories about coronavirus. It can be hard to keep up, so here are some of the top stories doing the rounds of the outbreak's breaking news today:

• Mnuchin backs "another round" or stimulus checks

   

• The World Health Organisation acknowledges airborne spread of coronavirus is possible

   

• Dr Fauci says hot spots should pause but not cancel reopenings

   

• Benefits of another shutdown questionable, says Rubio

   

• Record-breaking cases in Florida, Texas and California erode hopes of economic revival

   

• Disney World reopening amid surge in Florida

   

• Ohio politician says "stop getting tested"

   

• Coronavirus has given investors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, says billionaire

   

• Tyson shifts to robot butchers after coronavirus outbreaks

   

Ghislaine Maxwell didn't kill herself

Expecting the outrage, conspiracy theories and memes if Maxwell suffers the same fate as Epstein before she can potentially implicate bigger fish in the FBI's investigation, the alleged sex trafficking accomplice has reportedly been given paper clothes and denied bedsheets.

Graig Graziosi has the full story. Oh, and, of course we'd be remis without saying #Espsteindidntkillhimself