The Pentagon's military aid to Kyiv is rapidly shrinking, as US funds for Ukraine's efforts to push back the Russian invasion have almost dried up.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the US has disbursed 95 per cent of the initial $62.3 billion it had for Ukraine assistance and has only $1 billion left to replenish stockpiles of US weapons that have been sent to Kyiv.
“As you've seen, our packages have been getting smaller because we have had to [ration] our support for Ukraine,” Ms Singh told reporters on Thursday.
The US Congress is at an impasse when it comes to Ukraine funding.
Republican and Democratic senators want to authorise billions more dollars in funding but the Republican-led House of Representatives is refusing to even consider a White House spending package, as far-right opposition to sending more money grows.
Ms Singh said the US is continuing to send support to Ukraine, but packages “just are getting smaller”.
“We really implore Congress to pass the supplemental request that President [Joe Biden] set up so that we can continue to meet Ukraine's battlefield needs,” she said.
Mr Biden has pressed the US Congress to pass a $106 billion supplemental spending bill, with the bulk of the money going to bolster Ukraine's defences and the remainder split among Israel, the Indo-Pacific and border enforcement.
Republicans in the House instead put forward their own funding plan that includes $14.3 billion in aid to Israel, but nothing for Ukraine. The bill has no chance of succeeding as Mr Biden, a Democrat, has said he would veto it.
Ms Singh’s warning was only the latest from the Biden administration, which has said repeatedly it is scrambling to keep military aid flowing to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s forces.
Last month, the Pentagon said a government shutdown, which is also looming later this month, would slow the pace of replacing weapons stockpiles sent to Ukraine.
Rifts in the Republican Party on Ukraine were on display during a presidential candidate debate on Wednesday. Vivek Ramaswamy criticised the country for being led by a “Nazi” and said it has banned opposition groups, in comments that drew scorn from other candidates.
Ukraine-Russia conflict latest – in pictures
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]
Not before 7pm:
Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]
Court One
Starting at midday:
Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)
Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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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 biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
Virtual banks explained
What is a virtual bank?
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority defines it as a bank that delivers services through the internet or other electronic channels instead of physical branches. That means not only facilitating payments but accepting deposits and making loans, just like traditional ones. Other terms used interchangeably include digital or digital-only banks or neobanks. By contrast, so-called digital wallets or e-wallets such as Apple Pay, PayPal or Google Pay usually serve as intermediaries between a consumer’s traditional account or credit card and a merchant, usually via a smartphone or computer.
What’s the draw in Asia?
Hundreds of millions of people under-served by traditional institutions, for one thing. In China, India and elsewhere, digital wallets such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Paytm have already become ubiquitous, offering millions of people an easy way to store and spend their money via mobile phone. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are also among the world’s biggest under-banked countries; together they have almost half a billion people.
Is Hong Kong short of banks?
No, but the city is among the most cash-reliant major economies, leaving room for newcomers to disrupt the entrenched industry. Ant Financial, an Alibaba Group Holding affiliate that runs Alipay and MYBank, and Tencent Holdings, the company behind WeBank and WeChat Pay, are among the owners of the eight ventures licensed to create virtual banks in Hong Kong, with operations expected to start as early as the end of the year.
Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)
Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)
The biog
Name: Samar Frost
Born: Abu Dhabi
Hobbies: Singing, music and socialising with friends
Favourite singer: Adele
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RACE CARD
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8pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 (T); 1,400m
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Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
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