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GOP leader Thune says Republicans aiming for ‘detain and deport’ border policy

Senate Republican Whip John Thune said GOP lawmakers want a policy included in the ongoing border negotiations with Biden administration officials that would codify a policy to “detain and deport” illegal immigrants at the southern border.  “Right now, the Biden administration’s principal policy when it comes to the border has been catch and release,” Thune told reporters on Tuesday. “We want to codify a policy that is detain and deport — a very distinct difference.” Thune said the policy would be available for future administrations to implement.  “The next president on day one would have these tools available at their disposal to get operational control and maintain operational control of the southern border, but it’s got to start somewhere,” he said. “And it needs to start with strong, meaningful, real serious and enforceable policies at our southern border.” WHITE HOUSE FUNDING REQUEST INCLUDES $14 BILLION FOR BORDER AS CRISIS HITS NEW RECORDS In 2021, President Biden signed immigration-related executive orders, which included revoking then-President Trump’s order ending the so-called “catch and release” policy, which releases illegal migrants into the U.S.  Outstanding issues still remain in the border negotiations between lawmakers and Biden administration officials that would unlock billions in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan — and Republican leadership said they are not expecting a vote on it this week. It’s unclear when an agreement will be finalized, but it will likely face an uphill battle when it does get a vote in the upper chamber and makes it to the GOP-controlled House.  BORDER DEAL PRICE TAG LIKELY TO COST MORE THAN $14 BILLION, BUT GOP LAWMAKERS GROW RESTLESS TO SEE BILL TEXT The finalized border policy will be included in the Biden administration’s $110 billion national security supplemental request, which originally earmarked $14 billion for speeding up asylum processing at the southern border and increasing border patrol agents. A portion of the agreement dealing with heightening asylum standards made it to the Senate Appropriations Committee, lawmakers said Monday, estimating that it will cost more than Biden’s initial request.  “These are national security implications associated with what’s happening at our southern border,” Thune said. “And the fact that we are consistently dealing with threats coming across that border that put the American people at risk, so it’s got to be fixed.” Sources with Customs and Border Protection told Fox News Digital that migrant encounters hit a record 300,000 incidents in the last month of 2023.  Fox News’ Timothy H.J. Nerozzi and Griff Jenkins contributed to this report. 

Pentagon can’t say when Secretary Austin will resume working in person following secretive hospitalization

The Pentagon said Tuesday that Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin continues to recuperate at home following a medical procedure earlier this month, though there was no expected time frame provided for his return to the office. Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters during a press briefing that Austin is performing his duties from home, including participating in the 18th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Tuesday. The group consists of 50 plus countries who gather monthly to coordinate security assistance for Ukraine. In Austin’s opening comments during the meeting, he reaffirmed U.S. support to Ukraine, adding that the U.S. will collaborate with international allies and partners to ensure Ukraine gets the capabilities it needs to protect its citizens and sovereignty from Russian attacks during the winter and beyond. PENTAGON SLAMMED FOR CALLING LLOYD AUSTIN’S SURGERY TO REMOVE CANCER ‘ELECTIVE’: ‘ARGUING SEMANTICS’ Austin did not address his health or hospitalization during his comments. When asked why Austin did not mention anything about his health as he attended the meeting from his home, Ryder said it was the secretary’s prerogative to steer clear from such comments in his prepared remarks. Ryder also told reporters upon questioning that he did not have anything to announce in terms of Austin’s return to the Pentagon. DEFENSE SEC. LLOYD AUSTIN IN ‘GOOD CONDITION’ AS HOSPITALIZATION APPROACHES TWO-WEEK MARK: PENTAGON OFFICIALS “The secretary continues to recuperate from home,” Ryder said. “He’s recovering well. As I highlighted last week, part of his care at home continues to be physical therapy. But again, we’ll keep you updated on his return date to the Pentagon.” Austin, 70, and the Pentagon have come under heavy scrutiny for not being more transparent about the secretary’s hospitalization and communication gaps that left senior officials and the White House unaware of his condition or whereabouts for several days. Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Dec. 22 and underwent prostate cancer surgery. He developed an infection a week later and was readmitted to the hospital. DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER President Biden and other senior administration officials were not told for days about his hospitalization or his cancer. Despite being admitted to Walter Reed upon Jan.1, the Pentagon didn’t inform the public, press or Congress until Jan. 5.  Officials also acknowledged that the White House had not been informed about Austin’s hospitalization until Jan. 4.  According to the doctors, the cancer was detected when Austin had a regular screening in early December.  They said his prostate cancer was detected early, and his prognosis was excellent. Austin has been called to testify before congressional lawmakers to explain why his hospitalization was kept secret. The Pentagon is conducting an internal review into the communication lapse.  Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.

Schumer’s call for federal crackdown on Zyn nicotine pouches faces backlash: ‘Nanny state alive and well’

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has called for a federal crackdown on Zyn nicotine pouches, eliciting strong backlash in return. The Democrat lawmaker recently issued a “warning to parents” and said young people are getting hooked on the nicotine pouches from social media, CBS New York reported on Sunday. “It’s a pouch packed with problems – high levels of nicotine,” Schumer said at a press conference. “So today, I’m delivering a warning to parents because these nicotine pouches seem to lock their sites on young kids, teenagers and even lower. And then use the social media to hook them.” EX-LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WARN BIDEN’S MENTHOL CIGARETTE BAN COULD ‘CREATE A VACUUM’ FOR MEXICAN CARTELS The local outlet reported Schumer is urging the Federal Trade Commission and Food and Drug Administration to investigate Zyn “for concerns relating to marketing and health effects.” The news segment made its rounds on social media on Tuesday and provoked strong responses against Schumer and the call for a federal crackdown.  “Joe Biden wants to ban menthol cigarettes. Chuck Schumer wants to ban Zyn. The nanny state is alive and well with today’s Democrat Party,” the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) wrote on X. BIDEN ADMIN’S PROPOSED MENTHOL CIGARETTE BAN COULD BECOME LIABILITY IN 2024: ‘UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES’ “We live in a world where Joe Biden and the Democrats are allowing fentanyl to flood across the border from Mexico and China to poison our communities. What is Chuck Schumer’s response? ‘Let’s go after Zyn,’” GOP communications strategist Steve Guest said. “Schumer about to make a lot of people single issue Republican voters,” NRSC communications director Mike Berg wrote. Others, including Republican Reps. Lisa McClain of Michigan and Mike Waltz of Florida also joined in against Schumer. Schumer’s office did not immediately respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment. 

McConnell says NH primary of ‘great interest’ but declines to endorse Trump amid mounting pressure

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Tuesday the New Hampshire primary results are of “great interest,” but that he has no news to report regarding an endorsement for former President Donald Trump.  “I’ve stayed essentially out of it,” McConnell told reporters after the GOP luncheon. “But if I change my mind, I’ll let you know.” McConnell’s comments come after a growing number of Senate Republicans have thrown in their support behind Trump in the 2024 presidential race ahead of the New Hampshire primary. Several GOP lawmakers are also calling on former South Carolina Nikki Haley to drop out of the race so the party can unite behind Trump becoming the Republican nominee.  DONALD TRUMP, NIKKI HALEY BATTLE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARIES AS THE TWO TOP REPUBLICANS LEFT “I don’t have any news to make today,” McConnell asserted. “We’re watching New Hampshire with great interest.” Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., another Trump ally, said Tuesday, “there’s not a lot of love lost” between Trump and McConnell without an endorsement.  “We all know that,” Tuberville said. “You hear the former president come after him, and the leader has not been very kind with his words.” On Sunday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his presidential campaign in a video posted to X, subsequently endorsing Trump.  SEN. MARSHALL URGES GOP TO SAY ‘HELL NO’ TO SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING REQUEST WITHOUT TIGHTER BORDER SECURITY South Carolina Sens. Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham have also endorsed Trump, snubbing Haley, despite her being a former governor of the state from 2011-2017. Nearly a dozen other senators in the GOP have thrown their support behind Trump, including Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio.  Last week, Trump secured a win in Iowa during the first contest of the 2024 presidential election cycle.  Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report. 

Israel’s rising use of drone strikes in the occupied West Bank

NewsFeed “It’s illegal, and the world should be holding Israel to account.” Israel’s increase in the use of drone warfare in the occupied West Bank is being condemned by lawyers and rights activists. Al Jazeera spoke to lawyer Diana Buttu about the concerns raised and what can be done to hold Israel accountable. Published On 23 Jan 202423 Jan 2024 Adblock test (Why?)

How is the US presidential election shaping up?

Donald Trump is the favourite to become the Republican candidate and face Joe Biden in the presidential election. Campaigning is under way for the United States presidential election, and a repeat contest is expected between President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump. Biden is the oldest candidate in US history, and Trump is facing a series of criminal trials. So who do American voters want in the White House? And how might the world react? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Arshad Hasan – Democratic Party political strategist Leslie Vinjamuri – Director of the US and Americas Programme, Chatham House Trita Parsi – executive vice president at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft Adblock test (Why?)

Palestine enter Asian Cup 2023 knockouts with emphatic win over Hong Kong

Doha, Qatar – Palestine started their last group match of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 with their hopes of qualifying for the next round hanging by a thread, but ended it with an emphatic 3-0 win over Hong Kong and by sealing a last-16 spot. The compact Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium turned into a Palestinian den on Tuesday night as the Fedayeen roared into the knockout stage of the tournament. When the last two games of group C got under way at 6pm, Palestine were trailing Iran, who had sealed their spot as group leaders, and second-placed United Arab Emirates (UAE) on points and goal difference. Palestine’s supporters were hopeful but not entirely confident of securing a result that would bring them in contention for a last-16 spot. At full-time, they were in a state of disbelief at how their team turned their fortunes around. Some, like Linah al-Fatah, had faith in their team. “It says a lot about our determination, self-belief and faith in God [as Palestinian people] that we have bounced back in the tournament in this manner,” she told Al Jazeera after the match. According to Palestine’s captain Musab Al-Battat, it was a performance that showed the world that his team is among the best in the continent. “We wanted to deliver a message to the world that we have a right to participate in every major football tournament, and not just for the sake of participation, but to show our skills,” Al-Battats aid in his passionate post-match news conference. “We deserve to be here.” PALESTINE 🇵🇸 is in the #AsianCup2023 Round of 16 Their first ever win in the AFC Asian Cup secures them a spot in the next round #HayyaAsia pic.twitter.com/Thn5ioVGPN — AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 (@Qatar2023en) January 23, 2024 The captain said his team came into the tournament with a “clear objective” of putting a smile on the faces of their supporters. The supporters, in turn, helped the players pick themselves up after a crushing defeat in their opening match against Iran nine days ago. Their second match, against the UAE, saw an improved performance that was vociferously backed by a partisan crowd. Last week’s 1-1 draw against their regional rivals was the stepping stone in their progress and the win against Hong Kong sealed their reputation as a team that cannot be brushed aside. For their part, Hong Kong began the match brightly as their group of 500 travelling supporters made their presence felt from the one stand that they occupied. Dressed in red and carrying their banners from all the way back home, the fans arrived and settled in long before kickoff and before the local Palestinian supporters took their seats. However, once the match kicked off it was clear that their team was under pressure. FT | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, China 0️⃣-3️⃣ Palestine 🇵🇸 Palestine produce a remarkable performance and book their place in the Round of 16!#AsianCup2023 | #HayyaAsia | #HKGvPLE pic.twitter.com/2NVO5B4Vjj — #AsianCup2023 (@afcasiancup) January 23, 2024 Palestine relentlessly attacked the Hong Kong goal with a strong forward line, and reaped the reward with three goals. Every Palestinian attack was backed with a crescendo of noise. Different groups of Palestinian fans took turns in chanting pro-Palestine slogans and calling for freedom. Their captain, Al-Battat, acknowledged the support after the match. “The thousands of fans in Qatar and the millions of displaced Palestinians around the world are our number one motivation,” he said with a steely look. His team are nearly certain to face hosts, holders and favourites Qatar in their round-of-16 tie. The prospect may be daunting but if there is one thing Palestine have shown in the 12 days of this tournament and the 109 days of the war in Gaza, they will not give up without a fight. “We have faced every challenge with determination and we are not going to stop now.” For their Gaza-born defender Mahmoud Saleh, the full-time whistle brought a gush of emotions. The number five fell to the ground and buried his face in the grass as he cried uncontrollably. When he was finally pulled up on his feet by his teammates, Saleh pulled his shirt over his face as he sobbed. Saleh is one of the few players from Gaza who are part of the current squad, and has spoken of the difficulties of playing and training while not being able to hear about his family’s safety amid the war. The win gives Saleh, Al-Battat and their teammates another chance of ensuring the Palestinian anthem is played in the stadium, the Palestinian flag is waved by thousands and the Palestinian spirit is displayed for the world to see. Adblock test (Why?)

Art Acevedo says he won’t take job overseeing Austin Police

City leaders last week announced Acevedo would take on a new role overseeing policing, sparking controversy among some local officials and social justice advocates.

The White House has a pharmacy — and it was a mess, a new investigation found

A new Defense Department inspector general report reveals that a little-known in-house pharmacy at the White House erroneously dolled out prescription medications to staff and wasted $750,000 in taxpayer money. One former pharmacy staff member told investigators that a doctor once asked if the staffer could “hook up” someone with a controlled substance “as a parting gift for leaving the White House.” The report, according to an article in Stat News, revealed that the pharmacy office dispensed controlled medications like Ambien and Provigil without verifying the patient’s identity. Stat reported that in an office in the White House there was a sign that read “Pharmacy,” but the people in charge of it insisted it wasn’t actually one. DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN CALLED TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS ABOUT SECRETIVE HOSPITALIZATION The investigation, which was published this month, was conducted by the Department of Defense’s independent Office of the Inspector General as the White House pharmacy is run by the White House Military Office and its associated medical unit.  The probe was prompted by internal complaints the DOD received in 2018 about a senior military medical officer, who is not named, engaging in “improper medical practices.” It covers only activity in the office through early 2020 under the Trump administration, but investigators interviewed staffers who also worked there under former President Obama, according to Stat. BLUE STATE DEMOCRAT PUTS LLOYD AUSTIN ON BLAST, SAID HE WOULD FIRE DEFENSE SEC. ‘IN FIVE MINUTES’ According to the report, the “pharmacy” let people grab over-the-counter medicines from open bins. It also found that a larger affiliate of the office inappropriately covered care for a whole host of personnel who weren’t eligible, costing more than $750,000 in wasted taxpayer funds in just three years. Stat notes that even that number is “fuzzy” because so many records were poorly kept and even handwritten. BIDEN SAYS AUSTIN HAD LAPSE IN JUDGMENT FOLLOWING HOSPITALIZATION DEBACLE, SAYS HE STILL HAS CONFIDENCE IN HIM “If this had been a traditional pharmacy, they certainly would have been cited by their state board of pharmacy,” Douglas Hoey, CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association told the outlet. “And there’s probably even an outside chance that they’d be shut down by their state board of pharmacy, if this was a pharmacy operating outside of the cocoon of the White House,” he said.

Hunter Biden’s ‘sugar brother’ lawyer confirms he still holds stake in Chinese state-backed equity fund

Kevin Morris, a lawyer and close friend of Hunter Biden, confirmed to lawmakers that he still holds a stake in a Chinese private equity firm that he took over from the president’s son.  Morris, who has been dubbed Hunter’s “sugar brother” for loaning him millions of dollars to pay off back taxes and other bills, told lawmakers on the House Oversight and Judiciary Committees last week that he still holds a 10% stake in the Chinese private equity firm Bohai Harvest RST LLC (BHR). Morris initially acquired the shares after purchasing Skaneateles LLC, a company that Hunter had previously owned, in the fall of 2021 as pressure mounted for Hunter to divest. In a transcript reviewed by Fox News Digital, Morris invoked attorney-client privilege when asked how “it came up that he would purchase Skaneateles,” but said he eyed BHR because he thought it would be a promising investment. However, during the interview, he claimed he couldn’t recall “exactly what [the investments] were,” but said he remembers “going through them” and thought they were “infrastructure” related. “I did the transaction because, you know, I evaluated it as a businessman, and I thought it was something that could be a very successful investment,” Morris said. “I — you know, but I did diligence on the assets. I knew what — I knew what Hunter paid for it in the beginning, and I saw, and I still see upside.” HUNTER BIDEN LAWYER TESTIFIES THAT 1ST TRUMP IMPEACHMENT CREATED ‘EMERGENCY’ TO FILE UNPAID TAXES Morris, who stated he purchased Skaneateles for $157,000, was then pressed on only paying that amount for the 10% stake in the Chinese equity firm.  “Look, I am going to do the best I can, okay? Morris responded. “I thought it ended up being 157 in cash. There was also a payment in there for — there was a $250,000 payment for a loan. I can’t remember if that’s part of that transaction, but if it is — that’s what it does — and whatever the — I believe those two were combined for the purchase price.” Morris said he has not received any payout from BHR since he purchased Skaneateles in 2021. Before Morris took over the BHR shares, Hunter Biden continued owning a stake in the firm after his father pledged in October 2019 to keep his family free of foreign entanglements if he was elected president. “No one in my family will have an office in the White House, will sit in on meetings as if they are a cabinet member, will, in fact, have any business relationship with anyone that relates to a foreign corporation or a foreign country,” now-President Biden said at the time, despite Hunter reportedly living at the White House for an unknown amount of time and participating in official White House events, including state dinners and an official trip to Ireland. Other Biden family members have also visited the White House throughout his administration. KEVIN MORRIS GAVE ‘MASSIVE’ FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO HUNTER BIDEN, RAISING CAMPAIGN FINANCE CONCERNS: COMER During the 2020 campaign, now-White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates, who was a spokesperson for the Biden campaign at the time, took a shot at the Trump campaign in April 2020, calling the campaign’s communications director Tim Murtaugh a “liar.”  “When it was announced that Hunter Biden would be quitting the board of a Chinese equity firm, lots of news outlets credulously reported it,” Murtaugh tweeted, quote-tweeting a report about Hunter still being listed as a director and owning a 10% equity stake in BHR. “Six months later, records indicate that Hunter has not, in fact, quit. Will the mainstream media be following up?” Bates, who would later be implicated in the “Russian disinformation” narrative to discredit Hunter Biden’s laptop, then responded to Murtaugh while quote-tweeting a Washington Post “fact checker” sharing a screenshot of a letter dated the same day as the tweet, which appeared to show BHR CEO Jonathan Li confirming to Hunter’s lawyer that Hunter was no longer an “unpaid director” as of October 2019. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House to inquire whether Bates was aware that Hunter still held his stake in BHR when he attacked the Trump campaign regarding Hunter’s involvement with BHR, but he did not respond.  In late December 2020, Hunter still owned the shares in BHR less than a month before his father took office. In November 2021, Chris Clark, who was a lawyer for Hunter at the time, told The New York Times that Hunter “no longer holds any interest, directly or indirectly, in either BHR or Skaneateles.” The Washington Free Beacon reported in 2023 that Hunter’s stake in the Chinese private equity firm had moved to Morris after he had purchased Skaneateles. Hunter previously sat on the Chinese firm’s board — whose financial backers include the Bank of China — before announcing in October 2019 that he would be stepping down over mounting scrutiny of his father’s presidential bid. In December 2013, Hunter traveled with his dad on an Asia trip, which included China as a stop, and introduced him to Li in the lobby of the hotel where the U.S. delegation was staying. A recent closed-door interview with Hunter’s former business partner, Devon Archer, revealed that the elder Biden would have coffee with him too during the visit. Less than two weeks later, Hunter would enter into a joint-venture called BHR Partners, a Beijing-backed private equity firm controlled by Bank of China Limited. Hunter initially invested $420,000 in BHR in October 2017 through Skaneateles. His interest in the company spiked to an estimated $894,000, according to a March 2019 email from his former business partner, Eric Schwerin. Morris told lawmakers he did not know whether Hunter could buy back BHR in the future. Following Morris’ interview with lawmakers, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer released a statement expressing concern about the lawyer’s financial support for his own client. Comer claimed that Morris’ actions raised ethical concerns, noting the millions of dollars the lawyer