US Senate approves $40bn aid for Ukraine
The US Senate has approved nearly $40bn in aid for Ukraine – the largest aid package since the start of the war, the BBC reports.
It includes military, economic and humanitarian assistance, and was voted through with 86 in favor and 11 against.
The bill aims to release an urgently-needed injection of funds. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had previously warned that authorised funds for sending weapons to Ukraine would run out today, and the bill had been delayed in the Senate.
The package includes:
- $6bn for security assistance, including training, equipment, weapons and support
- $8.7bn to replenish stocks of US equipment sent to Ukraine
- $3.9bn for European Command operations
- $9 billion for an economic support fund for Ukraine.
- $5bn to address global food insecurity
It goes next to President Biden to be signed into law.
Related news
Colorado Supreme Court kicks Trump off ballot, citing ‘insurrection’
Colorado’s Supreme Court has ruled that Donald Trump cannot run for president next year in the state, citing a constitutional insurrection clause, the BBC reports.
Egypt's Sisi wins presidential election with 89.6 pct of vote
Egypt's National Election Authority (NEA) declared on Monday that incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi won the 2024 presidential election with some 40 million, or 89.6 percent of valid votes, MNA reports.
Number of presidential candidates in Azerbaijan reaches 6
The chairman of the National Front Party, MP Razi Nurullayev, has been nominated to participate in the snap presidential elections, as a relevant decision was made at the meeting of the party held today, Azerbaijani media reports.
EU takes action against Elon Musk’s X over disinformation
The European Union has formally announced it suspects X, previously known as Twitter, of breaching its rules in areas including countering illegal content and disinformation, the BBC reports.
Israel opens Gaza aid crossing for first time as ceasefire calls grow
UN aid has entered Gaza directly from Israel for the first time, as aid trucks from Egypt are stripped by desperate crowds, the BBC reports.
Pope deplores Israeli attack to a church in Gaza: It is Terrorism
Pope Francis on Sunday deplored the death of two women in a Catholic parish in Gaza, where he said "unarmed civilians" were being targeted by shootings and bombings, IP reports.
