Netanyahu Says Second Phase of U.S. Gaza Plan Nearing but Key Issues Remain 
Qatari PM Says Gaza Truce Negotiations Reach “Critical Moment” as Mediators Push for Lasting Ceasefire 
Trump Hosts Kennedy Center Honors for First Time as President Tightens Grip on Iconic Arts Institution 
Trump Urges Hall of Fame Induction for Roger Clemens Amid Renewed Debate 
U.S. and Rwanda Sign $228 Million Health Partnership to Boost Self-Reliance 
Southwest Airlines Has $11 Million Fine Waived as USDOT Cites Operational Improvements 
U.S.-EU Tensions Rise After $140 Million Fine on Elon Musk’s X Platform 
Japan–China Tensions Rise as Chinese Carrier Intensifies Air Operations Near Okinawa 
Supreme Court to Review Legality of Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Restrictions 
Hong Kong Election Sees Low Turnout Amid Public Anger After Deadly Fire 
Hong Kong Elections Proceed as Voter Turnout Scrutinized Amid Public Anger Over Deadly Fire 
Australia Imposes Sanctions on Taliban Officials Over Human Rights Abuses 
Trump Backs Review of U.S. Childhood Vaccine Schedule After Hepatitis B Policy Change 
Trump Signs Executive Order to Strengthen U.S. Food Supply Chain Security 
CFPB to Review Anti-Discrimination Policies and Fair Lending Rules Amid Policy Shift 
U.S. Defense Bill Sets Record $901 Billion Budget, Includes Ukraine Aid 
Honduran Election Deadlock Continues as U.S. Attention Intensifies 
The Ukrainian finance minister said Ukraine has received $16.7 billion in financial aid from its allies so far this year. The total was announced during a meeting of the G7 finance ministers, which included Ukraine in its conference this year.
Ukrainian finance minister Serhiy Marchenko said on Thursday during a meeting of finance ministers and central bankers of the G7 countries, including senior officials of international lenders. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has disrupted Ukraine’s economy and forced Kyiv to resort to seeking foreign assistance.
“In 2023, Ukraine has already received $16.7 billion in budget aid from foreign donors. We also have assurances from partners regarding further support in financing the state budget deficit of 2022,” said Marchenko during the meeting, according to the Ukrainian finance ministry. Marchenko also thanked those who have taken part in “unprecedented efforts” to put together the financing.
Ukraine is facing a $38 billion budget deficit, and the Ukrainian government is asking for an additional $14 billion for the immediate reconstruction of critical infrastructure and the energy sector in the country as Russia continues to bombard it with missiles and drones. Kyiv has already received $32.14 billion in foreign assistance for budget needs.
Meanwhile, United States senators have grilled defense chief Lloyd Austin for what they described as a failure to cooperate with the International Criminal Court in its probe of Russian war crimes in Ukraine. During the senate committee hearing, Democratic lawmaker Dick Durbin said he was informed by the ICC’s chief prosecutor that the defense department was refusing to cooperate with the case, which was launched shortly after the invasion.
In March this year, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian leader Vladimir Putin which Moscow has largely dismissed.
Durbin said the ICC’s top prosecutor Karim Khan told him that compared to the Pentagon, the State Department and the Justice Department were cooperating with the court. When Durbin pressed why, Austin said the Pentagon “firmly supports the goal of holding Russia accountable for its violations in Ukraine” but that he prioritized protecting US military personnel in “anything that we do.”
Photo by Kyivcity.gov.ua/Wikimedia Commons(CC by 2.0)
.jpg){kind=link}