First Thing: Senate advances funding bill to end longest US government shutdown in history

The amended package must be passed by the house and signed by the president. Plus, Volodymyr Zelenskyy on why he’s not afraid of Donald Trump

Good morning.

The Senate has made significant progress towards ending the longest US government shutdown in history, narrowly advancing a compromise bill to reauthorize funding and undo the layoffs of some employees.

What did the Democrats say about the bill? “This healthcare crisis is so severe, so urgent, so devastating for families back home, that I cannot in good faith support this [resolution] that fails to address the healthcare crisis,” said Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader.

What has the IDF said in response? In a written statement, the IDF said it “remains committed to the rule of law and continues to operate in accordance with its legal and ethical obligations, despite the unprecedented operational complexity posed by Hamas’s systematic embedding within civilian infrastructure and its use of civilian sites for military purposes”. Continue reading...