Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 750
As the war enters its 750th day, these are the main developments. Here is the situation on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Fighting At least four people were killed and eight injured after a Russian drone and bomb attack on Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk and Sumy regions hit residential buildings. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskii, Ukraine’s army chief, said the situation on the eastern front was “difficult” and that Russian forces continued to conduct offensive operations. He said Russian activity on the southern front had “decreased significantly”. Ukraine targeted oil refineries in Russia’s Rostov and Ryazan regions in a second day of heavy drone attacks, causing a fire at Rosneft’s biggest refinery and temporarily halting production. A Ukrainian source told the Reuters news agency the attacks were the work of the SBU security services. Ukraine-based anti-Putin Russian paramilitaries supporting Kyiv urged civilians to flee Belgorod and Kursk, threatening large-scale attacks on military targets in the Russian border cities. Politics and diplomacy Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo warned that Russia was gearing up for a “long conflict with the West” and urged European countries to step up spending and coordination on defence. Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would send more troops to Russia’s border with Finland, which joined NATO in 2023 after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Leonid Volkov, an exiled Russian activist and one-time senior aide to Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who died in an Arctic penal colony last month, was attacked with a hammer and tear gas near his home in Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius. Lithuania accused Russia of being behind the attack, which left Volkov in hospital. The leaders of France, Germany and Poland said they would hold urgent talks in Berlin on Friday to boost support for Ukraine. Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, met the Chinese ambassador to Kyiv for further discussions on a visit last week by China’s special envoy and preparations for a peace summit to be held in Switzerland. Russia said it had no intention of joining the summit, even if invited. Austria ordered two diplomats from Russia’s embassy in Vienna to leave the country. The Foreign Ministry said the two had “engaged in acts incompatible with their diplomatic status”. It did not elaborate. Weapons After months of wrangling, European Union countries agreed to provide five billion euros ($5.48bn) for military aid to Ukraine as part of a revamp of an EU-run assistance fund. Czech National Security Adviser Tomas Pojar said the first deliveries of artillery ammunition under a Czech-led plan to boost Ukraine’s supplies should reach the country by June at the latest. Adblock test (Why?)
Hunter Biden’s federal gun charges trial slated for early June
A federal judge on Wednesday ruled that the president’s son, Hunter Biden, will go on trial for federal firearms charges as soon as June 3. U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika set the date during a telephonic hearing Wednesday, though she is still weighing several defense motions to toss out the case against Hunter Biden. The younger Biden has pleaded not guilty to lying about his drug use when he filled out a form to buy a gun in October 2018 – a violation of federal law. Biden has acknowledged his struggles with substance abuse during that period, including crack cocaine, but his lawyers have said he didn’t break the law and another nonviolent, first-time offender would not have been charged. HUNTER BIDEN REFUSES TO ATTEND HOUSE HEARING WITH FORMER BUSINESS ASSOCIATES He was indicted after a plea deal that would have resolved the case without the spectacle of a trial imploded in July 2023 when a judge who was supposed to approve it instead raised more questions. Hunter Biden’s attorneys have since sought to have the case tossed out by arguing that prosecutors bowed to political pressure after the agreement was publicly pilloried by Republicans – including former President Trump – as a “sweetheart deal.” Prosecutors have said there’s no evidence the case is politically motivated, the evidence against him is “overwhelming” and the immunity deal blew up with the rest of the plea deal. Biden’s attorneys also argued that immunity provisions from the original deal are still in effect, and defense attorney Abbe Lowell pressed Judge Noreika to make a final ruling on the matter. Noreika said she hadn’t fully decided how she would handle the case’s four pending motions to dismiss but wanted to ensure that time for any trial would be available on her calendar. The legal team for lawyer Derek Hines, who represents Special Counsel David Weiss, anticipates it will take three to give days to present the Delaware gun case to a jury. Lowell said he would need two days to present his case to a jury. Hunter Biden has also pleaded not guilty to the separate tax charges in Los Angeles alleging a four-year scheme to avoid paying $1.4 million in taxes while living an extravagant lifestyle. The trial in that case is scheduled from late June until mid-July.
US says working to get maritime aid into Gaza
NewsFeed The US says it has held talks with a number of countries, as well as the UN, to establish a maritime corridor for getting humanitarian aid into Gaza that could provide up to 2 million meals per day. Published On 13 Mar 202413 Mar 2024 Adblock test (Why?)
Who are Haiti’s gangs and what do they want? All you need to know
Haitian armed groups have dominated global headlines in recent weeks, as gunmen attack police stations, prisons and other institutions in the capital of Port-au-Prince, effectively paralysing the city. But the power of these gangs has long rocked daily life and politics in Haiti, plunging the country into a years-long crisis. The latest example came this week, as Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced he would resign his post once a transitional presidential council is established and a successor chosen. His announcement came amid pressure from both the international community and gang leaders, who warned that the Caribbean nation could face “civil war” if Henry, an unelected official, did not step down. Henry’s planned departure, however, has done little to temper the grip of the gangs, which control around 80 percent of Port-au-Prince. They have also promised to oppose any outside intervention in Haiti’s affairs. That includes an effort backed by the United Nations to send a multinational armed force, led by Kenya, to Haiti to help the national police respond to the widespread violence and unrest. But who exactly are Haiti’s armed gangs? How do the gangs function, and what do they want? And ultimately, how can — and should — the country handle them? Here’s what you need to know. Who are Haiti’s armed gangs? There are believed to be about 200 armed gangs operating in Haiti, about half of which have a presence in Port-au-Prince. In the capital, there are two major gang coalitions. The first — the G9 Family and Allies alliance, or simply G9 — is led by Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier, a former Haitian police officer who is under UN and United States sanctions for his involvement in Haiti’s violence. The second is GPep, led by Gabriel Jean-Pierre, also known as Ti Gabriel. He was the leader of a gang called Nan Brooklyn before the creation of G-Pep, which has been based in Port-au-Prince’s impoverished Cite Soleil district. G9 and GPep have been rivals for years, battling for control of neighbourhoods in Port-au-Prince. Both groups have been accused of mass killings and sexual violence in areas under their authority, as well as in districts they want to take over. But Cherizier has said that the two groups reached a pact late last year — dubbed “viv ansanm” or “live together” in Haitian Creole — to cooperate and oust Henry, the prime minister. “We are not sure how much this dynamic will last,” said Mariano de Alba, senior adviser at the International Crisis Group. “But they formed a joint alliance in September 2023, basically trying to respond to the possibility that a multinational security mission was going to be deployed to Haiti, and they wanted to prevent that.” Haitian gang leader Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Cherizier leads the G9 gang alliance [Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters] Where did the gangs come from? For decades, Haiti’s gangs have been closely associated with politicians, political parties, businessmen or other so-called “elites” in the country. G9, for example, has been linked to the Parti Haitien Tet Kale (PHTK), the political party of former President Jovenel Moise, who was assassinated in July 2021. Moise chose Henry for the prime minister post shortly before he was killed. For its part, GPep has been associated with Haitian opposition parties. When did the gang violence start? Most experts trace the phenomenon back to the era of Haiti’s former President Francois “Papa Doc” Duvalier and his son, Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, whose combined dictatorship lasted 29 years. The Duvaliers established and used a paramilitary group, the widely feared Tontons Macoutes, to stamp out opposition to their rule. The brigade killed and tortured thousands of people. Robert Fatton, a Haiti expert and professor at the University of Virginia, said armed gangs are not a new phenomenon in Haiti. “They’ve been part of the history of the country for a very, very long time,” he told Al Jazeera. But Fatton explained that the armed groups in Haiti today are different. How so? They have better weapons than before and have reached a new “level of sophistication” in their attacks, Fatton noted. For example, drones were reportedly used when gunmen stormed two Port-au-Prince prisons in early March, part of the latest round of violence. Fatton also explained that the armed groups were, “until fairly recently”, beholden to politicians, political parties and businessmen. Those individuals “could control them”, Fatton said. But that is no longer the case. “They are a force unto themselves,” Fatton said. “That means they can essentially dictate to certain politicians or to many politicians, as it were, what they ought to do or what they can do.” How did the gangs become autonomous? “They’ve been able to amass much more money independently of politicians and businessmen,” said Fatton. That includes through extortion, as well as kidnappings for ransom, drug trafficking and the smuggling of small weapons. But both Fatton and de Alba stressed that Haitian armed groups are not only criminal in nature. “They also have a political aspect,” de Alba told Al Jazeera. “They gain their income through illicit activities, and they are willing to use their arms for political purposes.” So what do they want? De Alba said Haiti’s major gangs have increasingly made political demands, particularly after the 2021 assassination of President Moise left a power vacuum in the country’s government. The gangs’ most recent surge in violence, for instance, included a call for Prime Minister Henry to resign. But their ambitions go further than that. For example, G9 chief Cherizier has warned that his forces will oppose any foreign intervention in Haiti, and he has said that he wants to help lead the country out of its current crisis. “These are groups that increasingly think that the only way to retain not only their relevance but their existence is if they are able to at least manage some important degree of political power,” said de Alba. Fatton summarised the gangs’ long-term goals as one of enduring influence in Haiti’s leadership. “It’s not just, ‘Let me do
Artists and speakers protest SXSW festival over defence sponsors, Gaza war
Dozens of acts scheduled to appear at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in the United States have withdrawn in an act of protest against sponsors with ties to Israel’s war in Gaza. As of Wednesday, at least 80 artists and panellists have pulled out of the nine-day festival, citing the involvement of several weapons companies and agencies tied to the US Department of Defense, according to the Austin for Palestine Coalition, which helped organise the protest. The event, billed as a “convergence of tech, film, music education and culture”, is among the most prominent entertainment festivals in the southern US. Taking place each year in Austin, Texas, the festival has been a launchpad for up-and-coming indie acts and filmmakers since its opening in 1987. This year’s festival will conclude on March 16. But several artists slated to appear this year have withdrawn, in an effort to show solidarity with the people of Gaza. “I have decided to pull out of my official SXSW showcases in protest of SXSW’s ties to the defense industry and in support of the Palestinian people,” musician Ella Williams, who is known as Squirrel Flower, posted on Instagram on March 4. We are boycotting @sxsw pic.twitter.com/mGN7XeXlwr — Lambrini Girls (@Lambrini_Girls) March 9, 2024 The Austin for Palestine Coalition identified Williams as one of the first nine acts to withdraw as part of the protest. Ibrahim Batshon, the founder of the BeatStars digital production company, posted a day later on social media that artists associated with his organisation would also boycott the festival, which attracted over 345,000 people last year. He cited the involvement of Raytheon and BAE Systems, two of the companies involved in this year’s SXSW festival. “Both of these companies manufacture and provide weapons to the terrorist state of Israel, whom is currently conducting an internationally condemned genocide against an occupied and besieged population of Palestinians,” Batshon posted. The boycott, however, has since ballooned to include featured speakers like labour union organiser Chris Smalls and musicians like Buffalo Nichols. The advocacy organisation United Musicians and Allied Workers has also thrown its support behind the protest, echoing its rallying cry on social media: “Warmongers have no place at SXSW!” We will not be appearing at @sxsw festival. 👇 pic.twitter.com/nt5hEMH2GM — KNEECAP (@KNEECAPCEOL) March 10, 2024 In announcing its withdrawal this week, Northern Ireland hip-hop trio Kneecap highlighted the costs small acts would incur by missing the high-profile event. “This decision will have a significant financial impact on Kneecap, both on lost income and on logistical costs already incurred,” the trio said in a statement. “But it isn’t an iota of hardship when compared to with the [unimaginable] suffering being inflicted every minute of every day on the people of Gaza.” As of Wednesday, at least 31,272 Palestinians had been killed in Israel’s operations in Gaza, the vast majority of them women and children, according to local authorities. The fighting has left the enclave on the brink of famine, with human rights groups accusing Israel of slowing the delivery of humanitarian aid. The administration of US President Joe Biden has continued to pledge political and material support to Israel, despite issuing stronger criticism of its military campaign in recent weeks. “There are a lot of innocent people who are in trouble and dying,” Biden said last month. “And it’s got to stop.” Governor responds: ‘Don’t come here’ The growing SXSW boycott effort, however, prompted a rebuke on Tuesday from Texas Governor Greg Abbott. “We are proud of the US military in Texas,” he wrote on social media. “If you don’t like it, don’t come here.” In late February, the Austin Chronicle also reported that SXSW organisers sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Austin for Palestine Coalition as they sought to rally support for the boycott. The letter said the group had used trademarked SXSW art in their social media posts and threatened legal action, according to the news site. Bands pull out of SXSW over U.S. Army sponsorship. Bye. Don’t come back. Austin remains the HQ for the Army Futures Command. San Antonio is Military City USA. We are proud of the U.S. military in Texas. If you don’t like it, don’t come here.https://t.co/t3RyQgLRKN — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) March 12, 2024 Still, the festival defended the artists who chose not to participate in this year’s festival, responding directly to Governor Abbott’s comments. “SXSW does not agree with Governor Abbott,” SXSW wrote on social media on Tuesday. “We fully respect the decision these artists made to exercise their right to free speech.” In the same thread of messages, however, SXSW also attempted to justify its ties to the defence industry. “The defense industry has historically been a proving ground for many of the systems we rely on today,” the festival wrote in its statement. “These institutions are often leaders in emerging technologies, and we believe it’s better to understand how their approach will impact our lives.” The Austin for Palestine Coalition and the United Musicians and Allied Workers Union are set to host a protest show in Austin on Thursday. Adblock test (Why?)
Sen. Katie Britt thought Scarlett Johansson’s ‘SNL’ portrayal was ‘awesome’: ‘Pretty pumped’
Sen. Katie Britt thought it was “awesome” that actress Scarlett Johansson was picked to roast her on “Saturday Night Live” following her Republican rebuttal to President Biden’s State of the Union address last week. In an appearance on Sen. Ted Cruz’s “Verdict” podcast, the Alabama senator said being portrayed by Johansson on “SNL” wasn’t on her “bingo card” for 2024. “How awesome is that?” Britt said of the casting selection. “I actually was pretty pumped about that.” “They bring in someone from ‘Avengers’ to play me in the cold open, I’m here for it,” the Alabama senator said. ‘BLESS YOUR HEART’: RISING REPUBLICAN STAR KATIE BRITT SHREDS BIDEN ON BORDER, RISING COSTS IN SOTU REBUTTAL Cruz argued that at least Britt got someone “hot” to play her. “Scarlett Johansson is hot,” Cruz said. “And I am genuinely jealous because, look, ‘SNL’ has come after me a bunch of times. They don’t ever have Tom Cruise play me!” Johansson skewered Britt in “SNL’s” opening segment after the senator delivered the Republican response to President Biden’s State of the Union address. “I have the honor of serving the great people of Alabama, but tonight I’ll be auditioning for the part of scary mom,” Johansson quipped. “And I’ll be performing an original monologue called: This Country is Hell.” SENATE REPUBLICANS INTRODUCE LAKEN RILEY ACT, URGE IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION OF ‘COMMONSENSE’ BILL I’m not just a senator, I’m a mother, a wife, and the craziest b–ch in the Target parking lot,” Johansson said. “Kitchens are where families have the hard conversations, like the one we’ll have tomorrow about how mommy freaked out the entire country,” Johansson continued. The “SNL” skit came after some criticized Britt’s rebuttal for being “cringe-inducing.” Britt, a first-term senator from Alabama, criticized current immigration policies in the GOP’s State of the Union response. “President Biden inherited the most secure border of all-time. But minutes after taking office, he suspended all deportations, halted construction of the border wall, and announced a plan to give amnesty to millions. We know that President Biden didn’t just create this border crisis. He invited it with 94 executive actions in his first 100 days,” she said. Britt, long considered a rising star within the Republican Party, has been rumored as a potential vice presidential running mate for former President Donald Trump in the general election this November. Fox News has reached out to Sen. Britt’s office for comment.
McDowell now uncontested in North Carolina House race after ex-Rep. Walker declines runoff
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A former North Carolina representative who finished second in last week’s primary for essentially his old U.S. House seat announced on Wednesday that he won’t ask for a runoff and will join Donald Trump’s campaign instead. Ex-U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, who served in Congress for six years through 2020, ran in the central North Carolina 6th District, which stretches from Greensboro and Winston-Salem south and west to Concord. VOTERS IN 2020 BATTLEGROUND STATE LEAN TOWARDS TRUMP IN 2024: POLL The top vote-getter in the six-candidate March 5 Republican primary, the Trump-endorsed Addison McDowell, failed to exceed the 30% vote threshold needed to avoid a May 14 runoff. But state law said it was up to Walker to formally ask for the runoff. A campaign spokesperson confirmed that Walker will not request a runoff, meaning that McDowell won the primary outright and almost assuredly will be the next 6th District representative, since he will face no Democratic opposition this fall. Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning, the current 6th District representative, did not seek reelection, citing redistricting by the GOP-controlled legislature that made the seat lean significantly rightward. No other Democrat filed as a candidate. Trump, in a social media posting earlier Wednesday, said that he had asked Walker, a former Baptist pastor, to “join my Campaign team to work with Faith Groups and Minority Communities, and he has agreed to immediately do so.” “Mark and I had many Wins together, and we look forward to continuing to build bridges to all Communities in our Great Nation,” Trump wrote. Walker, whose tenure in Congress was marked by efforts to aid historically Black colleges and universities, confirmed his hiring in a news release, saying that he had talked with Trump on Tuesday. “I’ll continue my work as a bridge builder and am looking forward to bringing these skills to the Trump campaign,” he said. McDowell, most recently a lobbyist for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, surfaced as a first-time candidate in December, already with Trump’s formal backing. McDowell later received support from top state legislative leaders. McDowell previously worked for GOP Rep. Richard Hudson’s campaign and as a district staffer for then-Rep. Ted Budd, who is now a U.S. senator. In a news release, McDowell thanked Budd for mentoring him and introducing him in 2016 to Trump. “I can’t wait to work in Congress to help him secure our Southern border and fight for the America First Agenda that protects and promotes American jobs as the top priority,” McDowell said of Trump. McDowell ran a television commercial in which he talked about his commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Mexico border in light of his younger brother dying of a fentanyl overdose in 2016. For Walker, who was elected to Congress in 2014, it was a round of redistricting that led him not to seek reelection. He finished third in the 2022 U.S. Senate primary to Budd, who got Trump’s endorsement in that race. Walker also ran for governor for several months last year before shifting to the 6th District seat. The Republican primary for North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District is headed to a runoff, however, as second-place finisher Brad Knott filed his formal request on Wednesday. Smithfield attorney Kelly Daughtry got the most votes in the 14-candidate race in the 13th — which arcs around most of Raleigh and stretches to the Virginia border — but fell short of exceeding 30%. The ultimate winner will take on Democrat Frank Pierce. Current 13th District Rep. Wiley Nickel, a Democrat, is also not seeking reelection, citing last fall’s redistricting that shifted the district to the right. Under the North Carolina map used for the 2022 elections, Democrats and Republicans won seven congressional seats each. But the latest map makes it likely the GOP will win at least 10 of the 14 seats, according to election data, helping national Republicans trying to retain what is now a fragile House majority in 2025.
Flint, Michigan held in contempt over lead pipe replacement case
A federal judge has found the city of Flint in contempt for failing to comply with a court order that spelled out the steps it needed to take to finish replacing old lead pipes following the Michigan city’s lead-contaminated water scandal. U.S. District Judge David Lawson wrote in Tuesday’s decision that he had found Flint in civil contempt because it had failed to meet deadlines for pipe-removal outlined in his February 2023 order. The city had originally promised to replace the pipes by early 2020. Lawson’s ruling comes after he held a June 2023 hearing on a motion seeking a contempt finding filed the previous month by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan and Concerned Pastors for Social Action. MICHIGAN PROGRAM LAUNCHES TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO PREGNANT WOMEN AND FAMILIES IN FLINT “Based on the evidence, it is apparent that the City has failed to abide by the Court’s orders in several respects, and that it has no good reason for its failures,” Lawson wrote. “The City has demonstrated belated compliance since the hearing, but even now, it has not actually replaced all of the lead service lines, which it originally promised to replace by March 28, 2020.” A phone message and email seeking comment on Lawson’s ruling were left with Mayor Sheldon Neeley’s office. The city had agreed to replace the pipes by early 2020, but still has not completed that work, the Natural Resources Defense Council said in a news release. Also, nearly 2,000 homes still have damage to curbs, sidewalks and lawns caused by the lead pipe replacement program, the council said. Other than offering to award attorney fees, costs and expenses to the plaintiffs, Lawson’s order did not set out other specific penalties for the city if it continues to not comply with the order. Pastor Allen C. Overton of Concerned Pastors for Social Action, one of the plaintiffs in the case, said it was encouraged by Lawson’s ruling but wants to see the work finished. “The true outcome we’re seeking is for the City of Flint to succeed in finishing the lead pipe replacement program, including by finishing the overdue work of repairing damage to residents’ properties caused by lead service line replacements,” Overton said. Lawson’s ruling came nearly a decade after the Flint water crisis began and nearly seven years after a settlement was reached in a citizen lawsuit against the city of Flint and Michigan state officials.
GOP senator grills TikTok CEO on how Chinese migrants learned to cross border: ‘Step-by-step instructions’
FIRST ON FOX: A Republican senator is calling for answers from TikTok and its Chinese-based owner about videos on its platform that reportedly show users how to cross the U.S. southern border as the number of Chinese nationals crossing the border is increasing. Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., in a letter to the CEOs of TikTok and ByteDance, cited “alarming” reports that Chinese nationals are using TikTok and its Chinese counterpart to cross the southern border illegally. CBS News reported how migrants were given step-by-step instructions for hiring smugglers and detailed directions about where gaps are along the southern border, particularly near parts of San Diego. Other outlets have reported on how Chinese immigrants drew on social media influencers, private groups and user comments to plan their trips overseas. 50 DEMOCRATS, 15 REPUBLICANS VOTE ‘NO’ ON BILL AIMED AT BLOCKING TIKTOK “The extent of information related to penetrating the United States southern border is so rife on your platforms that some nationals have reported details related to certain modes of transportation to use. There are even posts on how much border officials expect to be bribed in countries along the way,” Schmitt said. He said ByteDance’s contribution to the crisis “is of deep concern and jeopardizes our national security.” Fox reported last month how Chinese nationals are the fastest growing migrant demographic in at least one border sector. The number of Chinese nationals has been increasing since fiscal year 2021. In fiscal 2022, numbers increased to more than 2,000. In fiscal 2023, that number surged to more than 24,300. “Our nation is facing an unprecedented surge of illegal aliens crossing our southern border, threatening the safety and well-being of our citizens, and it is clear that your platform is directly contributing to this surge,” Schmitt said. His requests for information included a timeline of when the companies began seeing videos promoting illegal immigration and any efforts to mitigate the effects of these videos, as well as any communications with Chinese government officials about illegal crossings. CHINESE MIGRANTS ECLIPSE MEXICAN NATIONALS IN KEY SOUTHERN BORDER SECTOR In a statement to Fox, Schmitt said TikTok needs to “provide answers on why the platform is further empowering coyotes, cartels and human traffickers to facilitate illegal crossings at our Southern border.” “TikTok is jeopardizing national security and shamelessly contributing to the disaster at our border. We need to know exactly what TikTok’s leadership in Beijing and in the United States has been communicating with the Chinese Communist Party and the full extent of how the social media platform has enabled illegal immigration into our country,” he said. Fox News reached out to TikTok and ByteDance for comment for this story. In a statement to Fox last month, TikTok said it “strictly prohibits human smuggling, which we remove from our platform and report to law enforcement when warranted.” According to TikTok’s website, the company provides a space for “survivors of human exploitation to share their stories and for migrants and refugees to be able to document their journeys, so we provide a space to do so.” The social media company also claimed 93% of the human trafficking content on the platform was removed proactively. The letter comes as the House approved a bill to force ByteDance to divest from TikTok. Led by House China select committee Chair Mike Gallagher, R-Wis., and ranking member Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., the bill sailed through the House by a 352-65 bipartisan vote. If signed into law, the bill would block the app in the U.S. if its parent company, ByteDance, does not divest from it within 165 days of passage. It would also require it to be bought by a country that is not a U.S. adversary. Fox News’ Timothy Nerozzi contributed to this report.
Texas Democrat Colin Allred faces 6-figure ad campaign for calling border wall ‘racist’
EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Colin Allred, the Democrat nominee in Texas’ Senate race, is facing a six-figure advertisement campaign over his past remarks in which he labeled the southern border wall “racist.” The Truth and Courage PAC, which is working to re-elect Republican Sen. Ted Cruz this November, is launching the endeavor over what the group says is Allred’s efforts to “undermine” border security. “Colin Allred has consistently fought to undermine America’s border security, transform Texas into a sanctuary state, and make our communities less safe,” Truth and Courage spokesperson Jarrod Griffin told Fox News Digital. “He desperately wants America’s borders wide open, and he’s even willing to tear down the border wall to do it.” TEXAS DEMOCRAT’S ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION POSITIONS COULD COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM IN BID TO OUST TED CRUZ “No matter how hard he tries to hide his radical record, his promises to destroy America’s border security and the years he’s spent fighting for dangerous, open borders policies speak for themselves,” Griffin said. Allred has said he wants to “surge resources” to help Border Patrol. However, he has consistently opposed efforts to ban sanctuary cities, supported a pathway to citizenship for the millions of illegal immigrants residing in the U.S. and opposed multiple pieces of legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration. WATCH: BORDER PATROL UNION CHIEF EXPLODES ON BIDEN IN FIERY PRESS CONFERENCE, SAYS AGENTS’ P—-D’ AT POLICIES In 2018, he called the border wall “racist,” sparking the current ad campaign. “I’ll tell you what, if they build that racist wall, my generation is the one that will tear it down,” Allred said at the time. “We are not going to have a wall in this country.” Allred responded to Truth and Courage PAC’s ad buy in a statement to Fox News Digital on Wednesday. “Our immigration system is broken, and to fix it we need real solutions that secure our border, surge resources to Border Patrol and our border communities, create a pathway to earned citizenship for Dreamers and reform our system to better meet the needs of our economy,” Allred said. “When given the opportunity to actually do something, Ted Cruz put politics over a bipartisan border security bill backed by the Border Patrol Union.” Allred launched his campaign for the Senate last May and vastly outraised his Democrat primary opponents. He recently defeated a field of challengers to take on Cruz in the general election. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Allred’s general election matchup against Cruz will likely pose a more formidable challenge, considering that the border and illegal immigration are among the top issues that concern voters in the Lone Star state, which continues to bear the brunt of the migrant crisis that’s worsened under the Biden administration. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.