Biden Says Russia is celebrating U.S. divisions over providing aid to Ukraine
President Joe Biden warned Tuesday that Russia was celebrating American division over aid to Ukraine, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hit resistance from congressional Republicans during a daylong lobbying blitz in Washington. Speaking from the White House with Zelenskyy by his side, Biden said failing to support Ukraine would be a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Republican leaders in Congress have insisted that aid for Ukraine be paired with tighter security at the southern border. But even Republican supporters of aid for Ukraine appeared to have given up much hope of approving it before Congress’ holiday break.
Prisoners sue Alabama, calling prison labor system a ‘form
of slavery’
A group of current and former prisoners sued Alabama on Tuesday, saying the state’s system of prison labor is a “modern-day form of slavery” that forces them to work for the benefit of government agencies and private businesses. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama on behalf of 10 plaintiffs, who are all Black, accuses the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles of openly disregarding a 2015 state law that required it to make evidence-based parole decisions. Instead, the lawsuit says, the board denies parole to anyone convicted of a violent offense, and disproportionately denies parole to Black people.
EU moves to tap
frozen Russian assets
to help Ukraine
Following months of political wrangling, the European Union on Tuesday officially began a lengthy process to deliver on its pledge to use money derived from frozen Russian central bank assets toward the reconstruction of Ukraine. The European Commission, the bloc’s executive arm, said it had agreed on a proposal detailing a legal way to use interest earned and other profits from these assets, which are held in European financial institutions, to Ukraine’s benefit. But contrary to the usual practice, the commission has not disclosed publicly its contents, reflecting how politically fraught the plan is for many member nations.
U.N. General Assembly votes for Israel-Hamas cease-fire, countering U.S. veto
The U.N. General Assembly demanded an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, in an overwhelming vote Tuesday that highlighted much of the world’s desire to end the conflict. About three-quarters of the body’s members voted for the nonbinding resolution, underscoring the isolation of Israel and the United States, which last week blocked a cease-fire resolution in the Security Council. The vote was 153 in favor, 10 against and 23 abstentions. “How many more thousands of lives must be lost before we do something?” Dennis Francis, a diplomat from Trinidad and Tobago and current General Assembly president, said before the vote.
All 7 BTS members
are now doing
military service
Fans of K-pop band BTS have known for years that a day would come when its seven members would all be doing mandatory service in the South Korean military. That day arrived on Tuesday. For many BTS fans, who call themselves Army, the realization has hit that any potential reunion concert, once the members have all fulfilled their military duty, is at least a year and six months away. BTS enlistments began last December, when Jin, the oldest member of the group, entered military service first, followed soon after by members J-Hope, Suga, RM and V. The last two members, Jimin and Jungkook, began military service on Tuesday.
By wire sources
