Two Chinese cargo ships began their journey last month from Shanghai and Rizhao to the Baltic Sea, but not by the traditional route through the Suez Canal. Instead, with the assistance of a Chinese icebreaker, they are taking the Northern Sea Route through the Arctic Ocean.

After months of delays in the US Congress, an overwhelming bipartisan majority approved a new $61 billion aid package for Ukraine. Last week’s vote was a long time coming: the last time Congress authorized funding for Ukraine was December 2022.