The US Senate on Tuesday passed $95 billion in foreign aid, ending months of chaos that threatened Ukraine's chances of staving off a Russian victory and blocked President Joe Biden's ambitions of sending more money to Israel for the war in Gaza.
The aid package easily passed with broad bipartisan support in a 79-18 vote.
“Tonight we tell our allies, we stand with you,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. “We tell our adversaries, don't mess with us. We tell the world, the United States will do everything to safeguard democracy and our way of life.”
The funding measures include $60 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel and $8 billion for Taiwan and Indo-Pacific security.
A fourth bill contains, among other Republican-led foreign policy provisions, a measure that would ban of TikTok in the US if its Chinese parent company does not sell it.
“This is an extremely important day in the history of our country and of the free world,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said.
Senate foreign relations committee chairman Ben Cardin called the vote “a major victory for democracy and international unity”, but celebration was tempered by the chaotic pathway to passage.
The package is similar to the $95 billion foreign aid bill already passed by the Senate in February, which Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson held up for months amid threats from his own party.
But Iran's recent strike on Israel broke the impasse, forcing the Republican Speaker to act on the funding requests.
“This critical support, however, arrived tragically late due to a relentless partisan campaign of obstructionism and misinformation, which had profound consequences for those on the front lines of conflict and in desperate need of humanitarian aid,” Mr Cardin told The National in a statement.
A far-right faction of the Republican Party affiliated with presidential front-runner Donald Trump has taken an increasingly anti-Ukraine stance.
Mr Trump has advocated Moscow's invasion of US Nato allies.
The movement has invoked a civil war of sorts within the conservative opposition party, between the more moderate old guard and a new wave of alt-right personalities.
Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell did not mince words on Ukraine and American interests on the European continent.
“There's no question the delay was harmful,” he told reporters at a Tuesday media conference.
Pentagon press secretary Maj Gen Pat Ryder, meanwhile, said the Ukrainian military would quickly start to receive US assistance, once Mr Biden signs the funding legislation into law.
“In general terms, I would say that we would expect to be able to deliver aid within days,” Maj Gen Ryder told reporters, noting that the security assistance package would be based on Ukraine’s most urgent needs.
“It’s a good assumption to expect that it’ll include air defence capabilities, as well as artillery ammunition.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy celebrated news of the coming relief for Kyiv at the weekend, after the funds cleared that critical hurdle in the House of Representatives.
“The people of Ukraine are counting on this decision,” he tweeted as bipartisan members of Congress celebrated with him in Kyiv.
The swift passage did not come without critics from right and left in the Senate.
In a sweeping floor speech, progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, who voted against the measure, denounced the body's decision to lump together the four House bills into one vote and deny the option for amendments.
Quoting a provision on Washington foreign aid policy, Mr Sanders asserted on the Senate floor that: “It is illegal to continue current military aid to Israel, let alone send another $9 billion with no strings attached.”
“What we can say about the House is they at least gave their members the opportunity to vote yes or no on funding for Ukraine and on aid to Israel … that is more than can be said for the US Senate right now.”
Democrat Dick Durbin meanwhile cautioned: “My greatest fear is that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition, once they receive these American funds, will act irresponsibly.”
Mr Sanders introduced a now-failed amendment to the bill that would have blocked “unfettered military aid for Netanyahu’s war on the Palestinian people” and restored funding for the UN Palestinian refugee agency, the UNRWA, “so that children in Gaza don’t starve”.
Meanwhile, Republicans in the House have intensified threats to remove Mr Johnson as Speaker, as he allowed the legislation to reach the floor.
And the handful of Trump-aligned Republicans in the Senate chamber, like first-term Ohio Senator JD Vance, are confident that while they lost this battle on Ukraine, they are winning the larger war within the party.
“Europe needs to step up and the United States needs to focus on Asia. Notwithstanding some lingering cold warriors, we’re winning the debate because reality is on our side,” Mr Vance told US outlet The Hill.
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Results:
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Al Montaqem, Bernardo Pinheiro (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m | Winner: Daber W’Rsan, Connor Beasley, Jaci Wickham
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m | Winner: Bainoona, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: AF Makerah, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 | Winner: AF Motaghatres, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,600m | Winner: Tafakhor, Ronan Whelan, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 2
Suarez (10'), Messi (52')
Real Madrid 2
Ronaldo (14'), Bale (72')
Director: Shady Ali
Cast: Boumi Fouad , Mohamed Tharout and Hisham Ismael
Rating: 3/5
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Uefa Nations League
League A, Group 4
Spain v England, 10.45pm (UAE)
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Palestine and Israel - live updates
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Day 3 stumps
New Zealand 153 & 249
Pakistan 227 & 37-0 (target 176)
Pakistan require another 139 runs with 10 wickets remaining
more from Janine di Giovanni
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
THE BIO
Age: 33
Favourite quote: “If you’re going through hell, keep going” Winston Churchill
Favourite breed of dog: All of them. I can’t possibly pick a favourite.
Favourite place in the UAE: The Stray Dogs Centre in Umm Al Quwain. It sounds predictable, but it honestly is my favourite place to spend time. Surrounded by hundreds of dogs that love you - what could possibly be better than that?
Favourite colour: All the colours that dogs come in
