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1

Ukraine took a big step toward joining the European Union yesterday.

• What happened? The E.U. agreed to open membership talks. It will be years before Ukraine can officially join the bloc, but the decision was an important sign of support.
• It’s not all good news for Ukraine: E.U. leaders couldn’t agree on $50 billion in funding for the country, exposing division within the 27-nation union.
• What else to know: President Vladimir Putin insisted Russia will win the war in Ukraine, speaking yesterday during a marathon news conference and call-in show.

2

The House passed the annual defense policy bill yesterday.

• What’s in it? The $886 billion bill includes a 5.2% pay raise for military personnel and funding to counter threats from Russia and China. President Biden is set to sign it into law.
• What’s not included? It was stripped of hard-line Republicans’ demands targeting abortion, diversity and LGBTQ+ rights.

3

The U.S. urged Israel to scale down its war in the Gaza Strip.

• What to know: National security adviser Jake Sullivan yesterday asked Israeli officials to lower the intensity of their operations in the near future.
• The timing: It follows President Biden’s remarks this week that “indiscriminate bombing” was costing Israel support. Israel’s campaign has killed thousands of Palestinians.

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4

Mortgage rates dropped below 7% for the first time in four months.

• The numbers: The average rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages stands at 6.95%, new data shows. Six weeks ago, it peaked at 7.8%, a high not seen since 2000.
• What it means: Borrowing costs remain more than double what they were early last year, and real estate prices remain elevated. But aspiring buyers are finally seeing some relief.

5

An unusually strong storm will lash the East Coast this weekend.

Google is taking steps to protect your location data.

Cats can play fetch, too.

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