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tv   BBC News  BBCNEWS  March 14, 2024 9:00am-9:31am GMT

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a ship carrying aid to gaza is set to reach shore today. also coming up this half hour, the uk government unveils a new definition of extremism, to tackle what it says is an increased threat from some groups. the un evacuates nonessential staff from haiti, as gangs continue their stronghold on much of the country. dua lipa and sza make history by being the first two female headliners at this year's glastonbury festival. you are life with bbc news from jerusalem. you are life with bbc news from jerusalem. israel says it plans to move displaced palestinians to what it's called �*humanitarian islands�* in the middle of the strip.
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it's ahead of a planned ground offensive in the southern city of rafah, where about 1.5 million people are sheltering. it is being reported this morning, not a huge amount of detail what those humanitarian islands would look like. it is right at the very southern end of the gaza strip, where more than half of the population is now sheltering and is a place where israel has said it needs to carry out a military ground offensive because it says in order to achieve its aim of fully removing hamas run gaza, the only way to do thatis hamas run gaza, the only way to do that is target hamas�*s remaining leadership when they are believed to be in and among civilians sheltering in rafa. of course this remains an operation which has questions attached, certainly the word ireland
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is interesting because a central part of the gaza strip has been left severely damaged by months of israeli ground and air attacks. people who live there have left their homes, been going back to those areas but of course buildings they were living in are left standing and are not habitable which is why you see down in rafah thousands of tents which people are living in, the flow and supply of aid is very limited and rafah is a main road by which aid get into gaza by road and there is continuing pressure on israel to try and increase the amount of humanitarian aid that is coming in. what those humanitarian islands, antony blinken has said he is here to see details of a plan from israel how they would protect civilians during a ground offensive in rafah but he also said it is important to see a plan to make sure civilians were moved out
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of harms way. we are also looking today at progress of what would be the inaugural ship uses new maritime aid corridor announced by the eu last week, set up between cyprus and gaza. spanish ship run by a charity set off from cyprus on tuesday, telling a barge with around 200 tonnes of meals provided by world central kitchen. important to say that when it arrives in gaza, there are a lot of challenges. we know it is approaching the coast but in terms of an actual timescale of when it might arrive and start distributing that aid, world central kitchen before now have said they have been reluctant to give an official timetable and you can see why because there isn't a part of a proper jetty why because there isn't a part of a properjetty or dog or anything like that on the coast of gaza at the moment. so what world central kitchen have been arranging in carter is a building of this
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temporary peer to try and receive the aid from the ship. actually using in some cases rubble from destroyed buildings to try and build some sort of structure that this badge could come up to and then unload their age. that is the first problem. the second issue they will face is how, when you are surrounded by so many desperate people, around 300,000 believed to still be in the northern part of the gaza strip, how you securely and safely and fairly as well manage to distribute that aid among the people who are so desperate for it and we have seen aid convoys swamped by people in the last few weeks. there was an occasion when more than 100 people were killed around in aid convoy, we saw some people crushed under the wheels of the trucks carrying aid so we know that even as that maritime corridor starts to build and more ships start to come in that those issues will remain and of course the
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scale of the need is not diminishing. infact scale of the need is not diminishing. in fact it is getting greater all the time and that is why the international community say they are continuing to put pressure, diplomatic pressure on israel to allow more and greater volumes of aid in. so we will talk about that through the day here on bbc news. in about an hour we will talk to the un special raconteur for the occupied territories about how these humanitarian territories could work and the aid situation. much more to come from jerusalem. back to london. here in the uk, the government has set out a new definition of extremism. it�*s part of its promise to tackle what is says is an �*increased threat�* since the hamas attacks in israel last october. the intention is to stop extremist groups or individuals from having a platform to spread their views. but concerns have been raised that any definition could be seen as unfair and undemocratic. with the details, here�*s our political correspondent damian grammaticas.
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the aftermath of the october 7th attacks on israel, the government says, has been increasing concern about radicalisation here in this country. so it�*s come up with this new definition of extremism, saying it means the promotion or advancement of an ideology based on violence, hatred or intolerance that aims to negate or destroy the fundamental rights and freedoms of others, undermine the uk�*s system of democracy and democratic rights, or intentionally create a permissive environment for others to do that. this month outside downing street, rishi sunak promised robust action. we will redouble our support for the prevent programme to stop young minds being poisoned by extremism. we will demand that universities stop extremist activity on campus. we will also act to prevent people entering this country whose aim is to undermine its values. this isn�*t a new legal standard, but his government will draw up
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a list of extremist groups. islamists and neo—nazis, it says, whose actions, while not illegal, are deemed threatening. some conservatives worry it could impinge on ourfreedoms. radical islamists pose a serious threat to our nation�*s security. and i agree with my right honourable friend that we must urgently address this. but reports that the government wishes to broaden the definition of extremism are concerning because in separating the definition of extremism from actual violence and harm, we may criminalise people with a wide range of legitimate views and have a chilling effect on free speech. this is absolutely not about silencing those with private and peaceful beliefs, nor will it impact free speech. the government insists the bar will be high so individuals attending marches won�*t be named, religious beliefs and strongly held convictions will be unaffected. but it says groups seeking to organise events that aim to subvert democracy will be listed, denied official meetings and funding so they can be identified and marginalised.
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critics say the government should be seeking a broad consensus, not deciding on its own what constitutes extremism. damian grammaticas, bbc news. but speak to our political correspondent. thank you for your time. we heard damien talk about critics and there are several groups i typically don�*t agree on much who are opposed to this idea. that i typically don't agree on much who are opposed to this idea.— are opposed to this idea. that is ri . ht, are opposed to this idea. that is right. this _ are opposed to this idea. that is right, this announcement - are opposed to this idea. that is right, this announcement todayl are opposed to this idea. that is i right, this announcement today has been sufficiently well trailed that you can kind of map out the contours of the likely debate already. i think roughly two groups of critics, one group who fear that in redefining extremism the government risks creating more division. that was the message from the archbishop of canterbury and york and that has been the message from some labour mps and we also heard earlier from
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three former conservative home secretaries who warned against the politicisation of extremism is an issue. another camp of critics generally on the libertarian wing of the conservative party are people who are warning that groups such as anti—abortion campaigners or those with gender critical views could end “p with gender critical views could end up being captured by this definition if the government insist they will be. it is worth knowing that this comes after days when the government was grappling with questions over alleged comments made by a donor to the conservative party. michael gove has been facing questions on this this morning. i has been facing questions on this this morning-— this morning. i take these things exceptionally _ this morning. i take these things exceptionally seriously, - this morning. i take these things exceptionally seriously, it - this morning. i take these things exceptionally seriously, it would | this morning. i take these things i exceptionally seriously, it would be the case _ exceptionally seriously, it would be the case that any assessment about whether_ the case that any assessment about whether or— the case that any assessment about whether or not an individual organisation is extremist would have to follow _ organisation is extremist would have to follow a _ organisation is extremist would have to follow a rigorous process. it wouldn't — to follow a rigorous process. it wouldn't be me making a decision on
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the basis _ wouldn't be me making a decision on the basis of— wouldn't be me making a decision on the basis of a quote, however horrific, — the basis of a quote, however horrific, it _ the basis of a quote, however horrific, it would be due diligence process— horrific, it would be due diligence process that would be conducted very carefully _ process that would be conducted very carefully |t— process that would be conducted very carefully. it is process that would be conducted very carefull . , , , , carefully. it is interesting because -icall carefully. it is interesting because typically the _ carefully. it is interesting because typically the conservative - carefully. it is interesting because typically the conservative party i carefully. it is interesting becausel typically the conservative party has been saying that it is against council culture.— been saying that it is against council culture. been saying that it is against councilculture. ., , ., council culture. certainly that has been dynamic _ council culture. certainly that has been dynamic for _ council culture. certainly that has been dynamic for a _ council culture. certainly that has been dynamic for a long - council culture. certainly that has been dynamic for a long time - council culture. certainly that has been dynamic for a long time and council culture. certainly that has - been dynamic for a long time and you heard some people, a government minister on tuesday morning just after these comments were first reported in the guardian newspaper saying, these comments were five years ago, he said he was wary of cancelling people for comments made in the past. frank esther must be noted, he has said he is deeply sorry for the comments —— frank hester. he believes it was not about diane abbott�*s race or gender. for a little while that was a conservative party position but richie sue nack in the house of commons yesterday said the comments were racist ——
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rishi sunak. but that doesn�*t mean they should hand back the money they receive from frank esther. taste they should hand back the money they receive from frank esther.— receive from frank esther. we will have more — receive from frank esther. we will have more on _ receive from frank esther. we will have more on that _ receive from frank esther. we will have more on that story _ receive from frank esther. we will have more on that story later - receive from frank esther. we will have more on that story later this| receive from frank esther. we will| have more on that story later this i was so stay with us. let�*s look at some other stories making news. the number of middle—aged people dying from cancer in the uk is at a 25—year low, according to new figures. a study from cancer research uk found deaths among those aged 35 to 69 have fallen, thanks to screening, better treatments and policies aimed at reducing smoking. labour has set out plans to cap re—sale prices for concert tickets, to crackdown on people who buy them to list online, at an inflated cost. sir keir starmer, said access to music, art and theatre should not be "at the mercy of ruthless ticket touts". the government says it�*s already introduced tough enough measures. north korea�*s state media have released pictures of kim jong—un own
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overseeing military exercises in a leatherjacket overseeing military exercises in a leather jacket with tank crews. pyongyang says they are rehearsals for an invasion. you can see that leatherjacket right for an invasion. you can see that leather jacket right there for an invasion. you can see that leatherjacket right there in the photo shoot. you�*re live with bbc news. let�*s look at the developing situation in haiti now. in a sign that the security situation is still deteriorating, the united nations says it is evacuating non—essential staff. only those who carry out what the un says are "life—saving" activities will stay. but the un has also announced that it is setting up an air—bridge from the dominican republic, to deliver aid to haiti. meanwhile, talks are continuing to try to form a new leadership council for haiti, after the prime minister, ariel henry, said he would resign — with violent gangs now seemingly in control of much of the country. the us secretary of state, antony blinken, says he hopes an international peacekeeping
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operation, which would be led by kenya, could be in place soon. we should be in a place where that mission can go forward. it can, we believe, help re—establish security, take back control of the country from the gangs. meanwhile, a political transition is moving forward with this interim presidential council, with an interim prime minister, with these new bodies that have stood up tracking towards elections, nd that in turn creates a better environment in which we can actually get assistance in, get it to people who need it, get development moving again and create some opportunity for people. now, you heard mr blinken there say he hoped that control of haiti could be taken back from the gangs. but that may be difficult to achieve. one of the most powerful gang leaders in haiti, jimmy cherizier, who is also known as �*barbecue�*, has said he will continue to fight for haiti�*s liberation. he didn�*t indicate any willingness to work with any other party, whetherfrom haiti or overseas. meanwhile, the government
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of the dominican republic, which shares the island of hispanyola with haiti, has increased security. our correspondent will grant sent this update from the border between the two countries. even at haiti�*s lowest ebb, migration trucks keep coming to this border crossing. with barely a word, scores of undocumented haitians, some of whom have spent years living in the dominican republic, are deported. men, women and children returned to a nation in turmoil. these people are notjust being deported to the poorest country in the americas, it is happening at the worst possible time, as it is facing its deepest, most acute humanitarian crisis since the 2010 earthquake. these men say they spent at least three years as construction workers in the dominican republic before the authorities detained them in their homes.
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in essence, the dominican government is sending a message — no matter how bad things get in haiti, its people should not expect to find refuge there. and things are very bad. gangs continue to control the capital port—au—prince, bodies left in the streets, no—one able to grant them a little dignity in death. for most, life has become a critical struggle to find enough food, to work, to make ends meet. what we�*re seeing is an increse in violence. an increase in population displacement. 15,000 newly displaced people over the first weekend of march, 15,000.
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regional diplomats see the solution of starting with prime minister ariel henry�*s resignation, something he confirmed on monday. few haitians are sad to see him gone. "ariel henry�*s resignation is a good thing," says this stallholder. "he wasn�*t doing anything good for the country. now we must unite to pull haiti out of this situation. "ariel henry was the biggest obstacle we had, he had to go," said this man, "but we should have had a proper plan in place to replace him". with the airport still closed, the land border between these two nations which share an island is increasingly the only route out of haiti. only a handful with the right papers can leave. and those who are returning face an uncertain and dangerous time. the spanish parliament is due to vote, in a few hour�*s time, on a controversial bill which would grant amnesty to people who were involved in the attempt to make the catalan region independent. let�*s go live to madrid — and our correspondent
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guy hedgecoe. how did this vote come about? this is an initiative _ how did this vote come about? ti 3 is an initiative of the government of socialist pedro sanchez, who presented this amnesty bill as an attempt to reduce tensions in the catalan region. he said it would improve coexistence in the region, after all those tensions the region has been living through due to their territorial issue and the attempt to break away that catalan so in 2017. the amnesty was presented to congress back injanuary. congress blocked it back then, voted against it so it has since then been revised, loopholes which catalan nationalists were unhappy about have been closed in theory, making the law from their point of view more
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what a tight and we expect today for that bill to be approved by a narrow majority. that bill to be approved by a narrow ma'ori . , .,, , majority. some people may remember catalonia's leader _ majority. some people may remember catalonia's leader in _ majority. some people may remember catalonia's leader in 2017, _ majority. some people may remember catalonia's leader in 2017, who - majority. some people may remember catalonia's leader in 2017, who fled - catalonia�*s leader in 2017, who fled after he unilaterally declared independence. could we see a return here? , , , independence. could we see a return here? ., , , , , , independence. could we see a return here? _ ,., independence. could we see a return here? possibly. he is a most high rofile here? possibly. he is a most high profile potential _ here? possibly. he is a most high profile potential beneficiary - here? possibly. he is a most high profile potential beneficiary of. profile potential beneficiary of this amnesty. more than 300 catalan nationalists could benefit from it but he is a most high profile, and he has been living in belgium, out of the reach of the spanish court since 2017. yesterday the presidents of catalonia and also will be a snap catalan election in may and he has said he would like to possibly run as a candidate in that election. the earliest that amnesty would be in place would be mid—may, so the timing there is rather tight but
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certainly he is a person everyone is looking at when they talk about this amnesty law and potentially the biggest beneficiary.— amnesty law and potentially the biggest beneficiary. where does su - ort biggest beneficiary. where does sunport for _ biggest beneficiary. where does sunport for the _ biggest beneficiary. where does support for the separatist - biggest beneficiary. where does - support for the separatist movement to stand? if this vote goes through, is it likely that we would actually see an independent catalonia? i think that is a long way off. we are not seeing the same kind of tensions in catalonia are between catalonia and madrid we were seeing a few years ago but it is so very by the issue. support within catalonia for independence has dropped somewhat since that failed bid for independence in 2017 and is knowing that low 40s in terms of percentage. so that is slightly lower than a few years ago when it is in the high 40s. but what they nationalists are pushing for is a referendum, a
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binding scotland style referendum on independence that they could agree on with the spanish government. the spanish government has said that is completely off the table but it is something that there catalan nationalist parties are pushing for, which they say they will continue to campaign for. which they say they will continue to campaign for-— campaign for. guy, thank you for that update- _ campaign for. guy, thank you for that update. we _ campaign for. guy, thank you for that update. we will _ campaign for. guy, thank you for that update. we will bring - campaign for. guy, thank you for that update. we will bring you i campaign for. guy, thank you for. that update. we will bring you more information one act vote happens. more than 700 investigations have been lodged by britain�*s biggest police force after nearly 3000 calls to an anti—corruption hotline in the first 18 months of its operation. the figures for the metropolitan police have been revealed, as a police corruption bows out nationally. a series of scandals, including the murder of sarah everard by serving officer wayne couzens and serial rapist david carrick carrying out his crimes whilst he was a police officer, severely damage the metropolitan
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police�*s reputation and lead it to become the first master tribe anti—corruption hotline in november 2022. it is now being rolled out nationally, run by the charity crimestoppers, it allows anyone to report concerns about corrupt, abusive or criminal police officers and staff. reports can be made online or by phone and people can choose to remain anonymous. any information will be passed at their relevant force for assessment and may lead to an investigation. since it launched in november 2022, the met has had more than 2800 online reports on calls made to the met. that information led to 720 investigations. last month an independent review found a series of red flags were missed about wayne couzens and police chiefs acknowledge scandals like sarah everard�*s murder have impacted the trust the public having policing and the ability to identify wrongdoing within their own ranks. trust
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the ability to identify wrongdoing within their own ranks.— the ability to identify wrongdoing within their own ranks. trust in the laces at within their own ranks. trust in the places at the _ within their own ranks. trust in the places at the lowest _ within their own ranks. trust in the places at the lowest level - within their own ranks. trust in the places at the lowest level it - within their own ranks. trust in the places at the lowest level it has - places at the lowest level it has ever been having a new, independent hotline is extremely important to give people confidence to report wrongdoing by police officers so they have a degree of confidence that the matter will be looked at independently and assessed and the police will not be marking their own homework. the police will not be marking their own homework. ., ., , ., homework. the government agrees that ublic homework. the government agrees that public confidence _ homework. the government agrees that public confidence in _ homework. the government agrees that public confidence in the _ homework. the government agrees that public confidence in the police _ homework. the government agrees that public confidence in the police had - public confidence in the police had been severely damaged. marking the launch of the hotline, the minister for policing chris philp said there could be no stone left unturned in our efforts to clean up their workforce and culture and rebuild trust. he added, he hoped the service will give people the confidence to challenge the behaviour of officers who fall below the high standards of public deserve. stay in the uk, there are growing calls from a stringent regulation of funeral directors, following the removal of 35 bodies and a quantity of ashes from the
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premises of a firm in humberside. police say more than 120 officers are now working on the investigation. two people arrested in connection with the case have been released on bail. our correspondent linsey smith reports. there can be nothing worse than saying goodbye to a loved one other than fearing they�*ve not been laid to rest at all. funeral directing is pretty much unregulated. you could decide now that we�*re going to be funeral directors and start trading tomorrow. a system of regulation and inspection would certainly help remove the risk that this could happen again. last week, humberside police were called to legacy funeral directors on hessle road in hull in relation to the storage and management of the deceased in those premises. by saturday, 3a bodies and human ashes had been recovered and transferred to the mortuary in hull. on sunday, a 46—year—old man and a 23—year—old woman were arrested on suspicion of the prevention of a lawful and decent burial and fraud charges.
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other business premises linked to the suspects were also being searched. the two people arrested were released on bail and police gave an update that the body count was now 35. i have a dedicated team of over 120 humberside police officers and police staff, together with partners from across the region and nationally. this reflects the sheer size and scale of this investigation and our shared commitment to establishing the truth and, where appropriate, seeking justice for those who are affected. we�*ve spoken to families who�*ve been asked to identify loved ones who they believed had already been cremated. others who�*ve been asked to provide dna and those distraught that the ashes jewellery that they�*re wearing may not be the loved ones that they cherished.
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investigations are continuing into what humberside police describe as a complex situation that will take time. linsey smith, bbc news. trailblazing footballerjosh cabello says it is felt right to share this special moment on the pitch after he proposed to his partner at adelaide united�*s stadium. he came out in 2021 and at the time he was the only top—flight openly gay male professional player. the australian midfielder, who is 2a, thank the eight league club for the help after getting engaged. he said the club had provided a safe space in football for him. stay with us here. there is plenty more to come. hello again. it�*s going to be mild for many of us today. then there�*s the dip in temperatures, and then they pick up again as we head into the weekend.
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you can see today we�*ve got the ambers across us, but then we�*ve got a slight change as blues return. but they are pushed out of the way on saturday and sunday as the milder weather returns. it will be with us on monday and tuesday. and then it looks like temperatures will dip a touch as we head through wednesday and the end of next week. what we�*ve got today, though, is rain pushing across scotland and northern ireland, showers in the west drifting eastwards. not all of us will catch one. and windy across england and wales. not as windy as yesterday in the far northwest, but temperatures could get up to 17 degrees somewhere in the southeastern quadrant of the country, dependent on sunshine amounts. so as we head on through the evening and overnight, the rain continues to push north for a time and then starts to move south eastwards. we�*ll have some clear skies ahead of it, but more showers coming into the southwest and still brisk winds across england and wales. here, too, it�*s going to remain mild but a bit
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cooler in the north as the wind turns round to more of a northerly. so into tomorrow, then, our band of rain slowly sinks south eastwards. ahead of it, we�*re looking at some showers, some sunshine. some of the showers could be heavy and thundery. windy, strong winds through the english channel, but brighter skies for scotland and northern ireland. but we still have that northerly wind, so feeling cooler. and even as we come further south, the temperatures will be lower than today. but still, we�*re looking at 13 or 1a as our top temperatures. friday night�*s going to be cold with a widespread frost, some mist and fog forming. in fact, temperatures could even fall as low as minus five in some sheltered glens. now, all of that will lift, leaving us with a dry and bright and sunny start to the day. but the cloud�*s going to build in from the west ahead of this weather front coming in, introducing some rain to western areas through the course of the day. temperatures, 5 in lerwick to about 12 or 13 as we push across england and wales. moving on into sunday, we got the dregs of the rain to clear away from the south east. it will start misty and murky,
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some low cloud around, but it will improve through the day with some sunshine developing. just some patchy rain coming in from the west through the day. these are our temperatures, 7 in the north to 15 or 16 for the south. but again, we could possibly see a 17.
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this is bbc news, the headlines:
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israel says it wants to move displaced palestinians in gaza to what it�*s called �*humanitarian islands�* in the middle of the strip. the uk government releases a new definition of extremism, to tackle what it says is an increased threat from some groups. the un evacuates non—essential staff from haiti — as gangs extend their stronghold on much of the country. for the first time — there will be two female headliners at this glastonbury. dua lipa and and sza will top the bill alongside coldplay. shania twain gets the legends slot. let's turn to the fallout in the us over_ let's turn to the fallout in the us over the — let's turn to the fallout in the us over the future of tiktok in the world's— over the future of tiktok in the world's biggest economy. a chinese forei . n world's biggest economy. a chinese foreign ministry _ world's biggest economy. a chinese foreign ministry spokesperson - world's biggest economy. a chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said. world's biggest economy. a chinese | foreign ministry spokesperson said a house of representatives vote that could see the app band went against international trade and fair competition regulations. beijing accused congress of adopting the logic of a bandit and the boss of the social media giant warned that
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any ban in america would

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