Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to deliver a highly anticipated and potentially divisive speech before a joint session of the US Congress on July 24. The address comes amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas war that has sparked political divisions in the United States. Netanyahu’s appearance is sure to provoke protests and highlight the growing rift within the Democratic Party over the prime minister’s war strategy.
US President Joe Biden has signed a package of bills granting $95 billion in financial and military assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific region. The aid package includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel, and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific. The package also includes a nine-month window for the TikTok video-sharing application to sell its stakes in the US or face a complete ban. The aid package for Ukraine was passed despite opposition from some members of Congress who believe that the war is unwinnable.
The US Congress has sent a bill to President Joe Biden, requiring TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform within nine months or face a ban. The legislation, passed by the Senate on Tuesday, is part of a package that includes aid for Ukraine and Israel. The move stems from concerns that Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over US user data or influence Americans through content manipulation.
A bill providing aid to countries facing threats from totalitarian regimes and terrorists has garnered enough support to pass the House of Representatives. Speaker Johnson played a pivotal role in navigating the bill through the challenges of the House, paving the way for it to advance to the Senate. Once the Senate vote is complete, the bill will be presented to President Biden for his signature, officially becoming law.
The US Senate has passed a bill to ban TikTok over concerns related to data privacy and national security. The bill, which has bipartisan support, requires federal employees and contractors to remove TikTok from their devices and prohibits its use on government-owned networks. The bill also extends the divestment period for certain US investments in Chinese companies from six months to one year.
George Santos, the former Republican congressman from New York, has withdrawn from his independent run for the 2024 election. Santos cited a desire to avoid splitting the ticket and potentially aiding the Democrats in retaining control of the House of Representatives. Despite his withdrawal, Santos indicated that he intended to remain active in politics in the future.
