Friday Briefing: U.S. may let Ukraine use long-range weapons

September 13, 2024

	By Gaya Gupta

Good morning. We’re covering talks on Ukraine’s use of Western weapons in Russia and the first commercial spacewalk.

Plus, will Taylor Swift’s endorsement affect the U.S. election?

A group of men, most wearing helmets and some wearing camouflage, lifting a person from a pile of rubble.

The aftermath of a Russian missile strike on a sports complex in Kharkiv, Ukraine, this month. David Guttenfelder for The New York Times

The U.S. is poised to allow Ukraine to fire long-range weapons at Russia

President Biden appeared on the verge of approving Ukraine’s use of long-range Western weapons on targets deep inside Russian territory on the condition that it doesn’t use arms provided by the U.S., according to European officials.

Biden is expected to discuss the issue today when he meets with Britain’s new prime minister, Keir Starmer, in Washington. Britain has signaled that it wants to grant Ukraine that permission for its own long-range missiles, but it wanted the White House to sign off in order to show a unified strategy with France and the U.S.

If Biden approves, the move could help Ukraine hold the line after it seizes Russian territory.

Kremlin reaction: President Vladimir Putin warned yesterday that Russia would “make appropriate decisions” in response to the Western move. “This will mean that NATO countries — the United States and European countries — are at war with Russia,” he said.

Context: Kyiv has argued for months that long-range weapons are necessary to target more Russian military sites. The Biden administration has so far hesitated, wary of provoking Moscow, particularly after warnings from U.S. intelligence that Russia could respond by aiding Iran in targeting U.S. forces in the Middle East.

On the ground: Three Red Cross workers were killed and two were wounded when artillery fire struck a frontline aid distribution site in eastern Ukraine.

A close-up of Kamala Harris with a solemn look on her face.

Dave Sanders for The New York Times

The race is still very tight despite Harris’s debate success

Vice President Kamala Harris’s strong debate performance has her campaign riding a political high. But polls show that Donald Trump still commands strong Republican support, and surveys in the battleground states forecast very tight contests. Harris’s aides are preparing for an exceedingly close grind every day until the election.

“This is a game of inches in the swing states,” Gov. Gavin Newsom of California said.

Harris’s aides have new hopes of focusing the race squarely on Trump’s fitness for office.

More on the U.S. election

Americans head to the polls in less than 60 days.

Trump said he would not debate Harris again.
Harris raised $47 million in the first 24 hours following the debate.
House Republicans pushed through a package of bills that target China. They’re trying to tell Americans that they’re the party to get tough on Beijing.
In Congressional races, Democrats are running as “team normal” and ridiculing Republicans as “weird” rather than a threat.

Do you have questions about the election?

Send them to us, and we’ll find the answers.

Stay up to date:

Jared Isaacman in a spacesuit outside the Crew Dragon capsule with Earth in the background.

Jared Isaacman. SpaceX

A billionaire’s sojourn into space

Two private astronauts completed the first-ever commercial spacewalk yesterday. The mission was one of several led by the billionaire entrepreneur Jared Isaacman in collaboration with SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket company.

“Back at home, we all have a lot of work to do, but from here, Earth sure looks like a perfect world,” Isaacman said while standing in the hatch of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule. He was joined by a SpaceX engineer, Sarah Gillis.

What it means: The success of the mission reinforces that space travel is no longer just for professional astronauts working for the government: If you have the cash, you too, can go to space. It also furthers Musk’s aim of sending people to Mars someday.

MORE TOP NEWS

Children standing among pieces of concrete and wood from a destroyed building.

The rubble of a school in Nuseirat, in central Gaza, after an Israeli strike. Mohammed Saber/EPA, via Shutterstock

Gaza: Condemnation of Israel mounted after an airstrike on a shelter killed 18 people. Six U.N. employees died, the most in a single strike since the war began.
Middle East: Israel destroyed a Hezbollah missile production facility during a commando raid in Syria on Sunday, according to U.S. and other Western officials.
Eurozone: The European Central Bank cut interest rates for the second time in three months as inflation has slowed.
Harvey Weinstein: The disgraced Hollywood mogul, whose conviction for sex crimes in New York was overturned in April, faces new charges in the state.
Diplomacy: The U.S. said it would support two permanent seats for African states on the U.N. Security Council, but the path to making that promise a reality is complicated.
U.K.: England’s National Health Service, one of the country’s most revered institutions, is in “critical” condition, according to a new report.
New York City: The city’s police commissioner resigned eight days after federal agents seized his phone as part of a criminal investigation.
Mexico: The country is poised to start electing its judges. Mexicans are split on the idea.
U.S.: Jon Bon Jovi helped talk a woman off the ledge of a bridge in Nashville where he was filming a music video.

Business

Tech: OpenAI, parent company of ChatGPT, is closing in on a funding round that would value it at $150 billion.
Cars: General Motors and Hyundai plan to work together on new vehicles and clean energy technologies.
Crypto: The U.S. is urging Nigeria to release a Binance employee who was arrested there in February and is in poor health.

Sports

The McLaren driver Lando Norris in his racecar being pushed by men in orange and bright yellow racing suits.

Lando Norris being pushed to the starting grid in Monza, Italy, this month. Luca Bruno/Associated Press

Formula 1: McLaren will have to get fully behind Lando Norris and give its all if he is to close the gap with Max Verstappen and claim the world drivers’ championship.
Soccer: Alex Morgan announced her retirement abruptly and without prolonged fanfare. The Athletic reflects on an athlete, a fighter and a human.
Barcelona: Gavi has returned to his team training for the first time in 10 months after his anterior cruciate ligament injury.

MORNING READ

People at a protest hold up signs with Korean writing on them.

A protest against deepfake pornography in Seoul last week. Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

In the past two weeks, South Koreans have been shocked to find that young men and teenage boys have taken hundreds of social media images of women and girls they know, including minors, and used them to create deepfake pornography. Many women say the deepfakes are simply the latest expression of the country’s deep-rooted misogyny.

Lives lived: Alberto Fujimori, the former president of Peru who revived his country’s economy but was later imprisoned for human rights abuses, died at 86.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

Get out in front of it: The rock star Dave Grohl admitted he had a child outside his marriage before the news hit the tabloid media. Crisis management experts called it a savvy move.
It does not glitter: Women in the same age bracket as “The Golden Bachelorette,” which premieres next week, say dating in your 60s and 70s is anything but a bed of roses.
Big love, small stories: He did thousands of dollars of work for her around the house. Finally she ran out of jobs and had no choice but to ask him out.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times .

ARTS AND IDEAS

Taylor Swift performs on stage in a sequin outfit.

Andre Dias Nobre/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Will Taylor Swift’s endorsement affect the election?

To some Americans, Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris after the presidential debate on Tuesday was the biggest news of the night. But will that translate into votes?

My colleagues at the Upshot looked at what the research says about how effective celebrity endorsements really are — and what might make this one different. Swift has great influence over her listeners: Her recent call to vote on social media sent hundreds of thousands of people to registration sites. And many of her fans are at an age when their political opinions are still forming. It’s possible that enthusiasm over the endorsement will increase turnout.

Read what else the Upshot learned.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Armando Rafael for The New York Times

Cook: This salmon and kimchi is prepared in a fragrant mix of butter and toasted sesame oil along with just a touch of sugar.

Sip: After decades of dry martinis, it’s great to go wet.

Watch: “My Old Ass” is a buoyant comedy with a big heart.

Let us know: What do you believe in? We want to hear from you.

Travel: Food is reason enough to visit Lima, Peru. But there’s more to discover.

Play: Spelling Bee, the Mini Crossword, Wordle and Sudoku. Find all our games here.

Have a good weekend. See you on Monday. — Gaya

P.S. The Times is opening a bureau in Vietnam, led by Damien Cave in Ho Chi Minh City.

We welcome your feedback. Send us your suggestions at briefing@nytimes.com.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance.

You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition from The New York Times.

To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Asia Pacific Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request.

Subscribe to The Times Get The New York Times app

Connect with us on: