TheLittleTwentieth – Renowned Papers Edition, AI Infused

Local sources from United States: Sky News, Hindustan Times.
UK coverage: Sky News.

In a rare address from the Oval Office, US President Joe Biden on Friday said both Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin want to ‘annihilate’ neighbouring democracies. He emphasized the importance of ensuring the success of Israel and Ukraine for America’s national security and announced an urgent budget request to Congress for billions of dollars. The proposed budget includes funds for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, humanitarian aid, and border management. Biden also expressed solidarity with Israel and called for more humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The president said Hamas and Putin represent different threats, but they share this in common: they both want to completely annihilate a neighbouring democracy. He added that making sure Israel and Ukraine succeed is vital to America’s national security and he would be making an urgent budget request for billions of dollars to Congress on Friday. The proposal includes money for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, humanitarian aid and border management.

Biden also spoke about the recent blast at a Gaza hospital, saying Israel was not responsible for the blast, as Hamas officials had claimed, but said: ‘We can’t ignore the humanity of innocent Palestinians who only want to live in peace and have opportunity.’ He went on to make the case for US involvement to ordinary Americans, saying some are asking, ‘Why does it matter to America’ that the US support the wars?’

Ahead of his address, Mr Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stress that the US remained committed to backing Kyiv, the White House said. The US president also said that his priority is the safety of Americans who have been taken hostage by Gaza.

In his address, Biden urged the US Congress to approve the budget request to support Israel, Ukraine, and the Palestinians. He argued that this was an investment for the United States’ future as a global leader, saying, ‘It is a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations. American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values make us a partner that other nations want to work with.’