The US moved towards passage of the aid bill for Ukraine
The Senate is on track to approve the $95 billion foreign aid package to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. A final vote is expected within hours, and President Biden plans to sign it.
The bill would be a big boost for Ukraine, where troops are fighting Russia with dwindling ammunition supplies. It was blocked for months by Republican lawmakers, sparking a wave of concern in Kiev and across Europe that the U.S. would turn its back on Ukraine.
“What this aid means in the simplest terms is guns and bullets,” said my colleague Marc Santora, who has been reporting from Ukraine since the start of the war.
He said it would also “provide a much-needed boost to the morale of both Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines and civilians living under the threat of near-nightly Russian drone and missile bombardments.”
The breakthrough in Congress is also a boost for Biden, who for months has pledged support to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The bill gives him a boost at a time when his credibility and American leadership on the world stage are being questioned.
What’s next: The first significant U.S. military aid to Ukraine in 16 months could come soon. “Most military analysts think it will take a month or two before we see this really change the dynamics on the front,” Marc said.
High-tech warfare: For the US military, the war has been a testing ground for new AI tools and other rapidly evolving technologies. The question remains whether the high-tech will be enough to help turn the tide of the war, now that the Russians appear to have regained their momentum.
A tabloid publisher testified against Trump
Donald Trump endured an painful court hearing yesterday. The judge questioned his lawyer’s credibility and a key witness pulled back the curtain on what prosecutors said was a conspiracy to influence the 2016 election.
“To me, he looked much angrier yesterday and today than he did all week during jury selection,” said my colleague Jonah Bromwich, reporting from the courtroom.
In the crucial piece of testimony, David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquirer, described a 2015 meeting with Trump and his fixer, Michael Cohen. He said the men asked him what he and his magazines could do “to help the campaign.” That statement supports the prosecutor’s argument that they helped Trump’s campaign and not just protected his reputation.
Britain wants to send asylum seekers to Rwanda
The passage of a controversial bill by the British parliament on Monday brought the country closer to sending asylum seekers to Rwanda.
The legislation overturns a Supreme Court ruling that found the plan illegal. The law describes Rwanda as “a safe country” for refugees, after judges ruled that this is not the case. The government says the policy will act as a deterrent, especially for people trying to cross the Channel in flimsy boats. At least five people were killed yesterday while trying to cross the Channel.
Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, said the first flights to deport asylum seekers would not depart until June or July. Legal experts say the plan is deeply flawed, and rights groups have vowed to fight any attempt to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
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Communal canteens in China cater to seniors, offering huge plates for just a dollar or two. But in these tough economic times, they have become popular among young professionals who are spending their money.
The portions are often so generous that they can be divided into multiple meals, and you’ll often see guests packing dishes they haven’t finished yet.
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AI is coming to elections in India
For a glimpse of where artificial intelligence is heading in election campaigns, look to India, the world’s largest democracy, where voters can cast their ballots until June 1.
AI avatars of candidates have been used in some campaigns. An AI-generated version of Prime Minister Narendra Modi shows him addressing voters directly by name. Workers from Modi’s party send video messages to voters that can be automatically generated in any of India’s dozens of languages.
As technology enters the political stage, there are few guardrails to prevent its misuse. Some experts worry that voters will have difficulty distinguishing between real and synthetic messages.