President Joe Biden has signed a bill into law that provides billions of dollars of new U.S. aid to Ukraine for its war with Russia. The legislation also includes $26 billion for Israel, as well as $1 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Biden also signed a separate bill tied to the aid package that bans TikTok in the U.S. if its owner fails to divest the video app.

Washington

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel is 'at war' following a surprise attack from Gaza by Hamas militants.

Israel-Gaza War

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine from land, air and sea with strikes causing widespread damage. Global leaders have condemned the move and imposed sanctions.

Ukraine Invasion

President Joe Biden has officially signed legislation providing a significant package of foreign aid, with nearly $100 billion allocated towards multiple global causes. The package encompasses a substantial component dedicated to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, earmarking $61 billion to assist in the nation's defense. Additionally, Israel is set to receive $26 billion in aid, coupled with $1 billion designated for humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

The passage of this bill comes after extended discussions in Congress, highlighting the bipartisan effort to support allies and uphold global stability. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude towards President Biden and the U.S. Congress for their support, which is pivotal as Ukraine continues to counter the Russian invasion that has surpassed two years. President Biden underscored the immediate initiation of the flow of arms to Ukraine, emphasizing support through air defense munitions, artillery, rocket systems, and armored vehicles.

Amidst the foreign aid package, a significant allocation of $8 billion is directed towards countering China's military influence, especially in the Indo-Pacific region. This includes substantial support for Taiwan and other key U.S. partners facing security challenges.

In addition to the foreign aid provisions, President Biden has also signed a separate bill associated with the package that imposes a ban on the social media platform TikTok in the U.S. This action will take effect if ByteDance, the Chinese company owning TikTok, does not divest the app within a stipulated timeframe. This move underscores concerns regarding data security and the influence of Chinese technology companies on American soil.



Biden signs Ukraine, Israel aid, TikTok ban package

It's a good day for America, it's a good day for Europe, and it's a good day for world peace, for real. U.S. President Joe Biden signed a nearly $100 billion foreign aid package into law Wednesday after months of wrangling with Republicans in Congress. Sixty-one billion dollars of that will go to help Ukraine in the fight against Russia's more than two-year invasion. America stands with our friends. We stand up against dictators. We bow to no one, to no one, certainly not Vladimir Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was grateful to Biden and Congress. Biden said he had already approved an initial $1 billion in weapons supplies for Ukraine, and that the flow of these arms would start Wednesday. I'm making sure the shipments start right away. In the next few hours, literally in a few hours, we're going to begin sending in equipment to Ukraine for air defense munitions, for artillery, for rocket systems and armored vehicles. The Democrat had pressed Republican lawmakers for six months to approve more funding for Ukraine. His 2024 election rival Donald Trump objected to aid for Ukraine. And some Republicans in Congress refused to back it, questioning whether Ukraine could ever prevail. But with the backing of Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, his chamber passed the bill Saturday and the Senate approved it late Tuesday. The legislation also includes $26 billion for Israel, as well as $1 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza. And Israel must make sure all this aid reaches the Palestinians in Gaza without delay. And everything we do is guided by the ultimate goal of bringing these hostages home, securing a ceasefire, and setting the conditions for an enduring peace. Another $8 billion will go to countering China's military might, with funding for Taiwan and other U.S. partners in the Indo-Pacific. Biden also signed a separate bill tied to the aid package that bans TikTok in the United States if its owner, Chinese tech firm ByteDance, fails to divest the popular short video app over the next nine months to a year. TikTok's CEO said on Wednesday that the company expects to win a legal challenge to block the legislation.

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Canberra

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Ensenada

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Kyiv

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Surrey

Canada police charge three with murder of Sikh leader

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Wenchang

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Britain's opposition Labour Party won a parliamentary seat in northern England on Friday (May 3) and control of several councils, inflicting heavy losses on the governing Conservatives to pile more pressure on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

London

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Ankara

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Paris

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Arizona's Democratic governor signed a bill overturning an 1864 law banning abortion, a month after the state's supreme court said the Civil War-era rule was valid.

Arizona

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U.S. President Joe Biden said that both freedom of speech and the rule of law must be respected in protests at college campuses over Israel's war in Gaza. In response to a reporter's question, Biden said that the campus protests had not forced him to reconsider his policies in the Middle East.

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New York

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Zaporizhzhia

U.S. accuses Russia of using chemical weapons in Ukraine

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Council of the City of Sydney

Grave fears for brothers missing on Mexico surf trip

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Colombian President Gustavo Petro says his country will break diplomatic relations with Israel. He's criticised Israel's conduct since the start of the war on Gaza. Petro requested to join South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide.

Bogotá

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, pushing to get more aid into Gaza, while urging Hamas to accept a deal that would halt fighting and bring some hostages home from the enclave.

Jerusalem

Blinken pushes for sustained aid into Gaza during Israel trip

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Tbilisi

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The International Court of Justice has ruled against issuing emergency measures over German arms sales to Israel as requested by Nicaragua, which had argued that there was a serious risk of genocide in Gaza amid Israel’s assault on the Palestinian territory.

The Hague

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New York police have entered Columbia University and arrested protesters barricaded inside a building who have been calling on the New York school to divest itself from companies associated with Israel.

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A smiling and healthy-looking King Charles returned to public duties on Tuesday (April 30) for the first time since he was diagnosed in February with cancer, paying a visit to a treatment center for the disease in London.

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Hainault

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Since taking office four months ago, Argentina's new president Javier Milei has slashed public employment in an effort to cut the country's deficit. So far, 24,000 people have been let go, and Milei has said he wants that figure to hit 70,000, about 10 percent of overall government employees.

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