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u.s. news Diamars 24 mei 2022

Pentagon says more high-tech weapons going to Ukraine

By LOLITA C. BALDOR missiles to Ukraine to help “The nature of the fight, as
Associated Press Ukraine defend its coast. you’ve heard us describe a
WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has ships in the Black number of times is ... really
Nearly 50 defense leaders Sea and has used them to shaped by artillery in this
from around the world launch cruise missiles into phase,” said Austin. “And
met Monday and agreed Ukraine. The Russian ships we’ve seen serious exchanges
to send more advanced have also stopped all com- of artillery fires over the last
weapons to Ukraine, in- mercial ship traffic from en- several weeks.”
cluding a harpoon launch- tering Ukraine ports. Austin said that during the
er and missiles to protect “We’ve gained a sharper, virtual meeting, Ukraine of-
its coast, Defense Secre- shared sense of Ukraine’s ficials made clear their secu-
tary Lloyd Austin told re- priority requirements and the rity needs. And he said those
porters. situation on the battlefield,” are consistent with what has
Austin told reporters at the been identified in recent
And Gen. Mark Milley, close of the virtual meet- weeks — long-range artil-
chairman of the Joint Chiefs ing with the defense leaders. lery and rocket systems, ar-
of Staff, said that “low-level” “Many countries are donat- mored personnel carriers and
discussion is underway on ing critically needed artillery drones.
how the U.S. may need to ammunition, coastal defense Milley provided the great-
adjust its training of Ukrai- systems and tanks and other est detail to date on the in-
nian forces and on whether whether the U.S. will send a Speaking to Pentagon report- armored vehicles. Others creased U.S. presence in Eu-
some U.S. troops should be Marine security force back in ers, Austin declined to say if came forward with new com- rope since Russia invaded in
based in Ukraine. to help protect the embassy the U.S. will send Ukraine mitments for training.” late February. Last fall. there
The U.S. withdrew its few or if other options should be high-tech mobile rocket The U.S. and other countries were roughly 78,000 U.S.
troops in Ukraine before the considered. launchers, which it has re- have been training Ukrainian troops in the region, and that
war and has no plans to send Asked if U.S. special op- quested. But Austin said that forces in nearby European has gone up to 102,000 —
in combat forces. Milley’s erations forces may go into some 20 nations announced countries. including 24 surface ships,
comments left open the pos- Ukraine, which officials have Monday that they will send Austin added that the Czech four submarines, 12 fighter
sibility troops could return insisted they are not doing new packages of security as- Republic recently donated jet squadrons, two combat
for embassy security or an- yet, Milley said that “any re- sistance to Ukraine, as its attack helicopters, tanks aviation units, and six Army
other non-combat role. introduction of U.S. forces war with Russia reaches the and rockets, and that Italy, brigade combat teams, along
The U.S. embassy in Kyiv into Ukraine would require three-month mark. Greece, Norway and Poland with their division and corps
has partially reopened and is a presidential decision. So In particular, he said that announced new donations leaderships.q
staffing up again, and there we’re a ways away from any- Denmark has agreed to send Monday of artillery systems
have been questions about thing like that.” a harpoon launcher and and ammunition.

For Americans, 2021 delivered healthiest finances in 8 years

By CHRISTOPHER RU- the child tax credit, included
GABER in President Joe Biden’s $1.9
AP Economics Writer trillion financial relief pack-
WASHINGTON (AP) age, was also likely an impor-
— Americans’ financial tant factor, Fed officials said.
health reached its high- Lower-income parents re-
est level in nearly a de- ported the biggest increases
cade last year, the Fed- in their financial health.
eral Reserve said Monday, For those earning less than
spurred by a strong job $25,000, the proportion that
market and government said they were doing at least
support payments okay jumped to 53% from
40%.
Almost eight in 10 adults The expanded child tax credit
said last fall that they were included monthly payments
either “doing okay or living of up to $300 per child to
comfortably” when it came most parents. Higher-in-
to their finances in 2021, ac- come parents said they most-
cording to an annual Fed sur- ly saved the money, while for
vey, the highest proportion to those with incomes of less
say so since the survey began than $50,000, three in 10 said
in 2013. they spent the largest portion
The survey of 11,000 adults on housing, while 15% said
was taken last October and the biggest portion went to
November, when inflation curred in late 2021, causing ported healthier finances, financial well-being, with food.
had topped 6% year-over- some Americans to pull back with Hispanics showing the three-quarters saying they The Federal Reserve, for the
year, though before Russia’s on travel and other spending. sharpest improvement and were doing “at least okay” fi- first time, asked about cryp-
invasion of Ukraine pushed The financial health captured whites the smallest. nancially, up eight percentage tocurrency in the survey. It
gas and food prices sharply by the report helps explain Nearly seven in 10 people points from 2020 and four found that 12% of Americans
higher. The Fed did not ask the resilience of consumers said they could pay an unex- points above 2019, before the had held crypto in the past
any specific questions about in the face of higher prices, as pected expense of $400 with pandemic. 12 months, but only 3% had
how inflation was impacting consumer spending, adjusted cash or its equivalent, the The boost for parents likely used it in financial transac-
Americans’ financial situa- for inflation, has continued highest since 2013. Still, 11% reflected the reopening of tions. The Fed said 2% used
tions. to rise even as inflation is said they would be unable to schools, Fed officials said, al- it to make a payment, and 1%
The survey also took place near a 40-year high. pay it at all. lowing more parents to work used crypto to send money to
before the huge omicron The report found that mem- People with children also and reduce their child care someone, Fed officials said.q
wave of COVID cases oc- bers of all racial groups re- reported a sharp increase in expenses. The expansion of