First Thing: Zelenskiy secures $325m in new US aid on whirlwind Washington visit

Ukraine president delivers upbeat message on war progress. Plus, how Murdoch drove the UK, US and Australia to the right

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Good morning.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy worked to shore up US support for Ukraine on a whirlwind visit to Washington yesterday, delivering an upbeat message on the war's progress while facing new questions about the flow of US dollars that for 19 months have helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces.

What did Biden say about Congress? Asked about the funding issue after meeting with Zelenskiy, Biden answered: I'm counting on the good judgment of the United States Congress. There's no alternative."

Why is support waning among Republicans? There is intensifying opposition to continued Ukraine funding from a faction of congressional Republicans who are largely aligned with the party's presidential frontrunner Donald Trump. This is threatening what had been easier congressional approval for four previous rounds of funding for Ukraine, delivering $113bn. Any momentum towards opposing US aid for Ukraine also potentially puts public backing of the war effort at risk.

Who has been targeted? Among those targeted are Maryam Banihashemi, the face of the Iranian women's movement in Switzerland, where she has lived since 2016. In June this year, Banihashemi was informed that her life may be in danger. The message, delivered to her by a person she knows works for Iran's Revolutionary Guards, was chilling: They intend to assassinate you there."

What has Iran said about the allegations? An Iranian government spokesperson denied all accusations of wrongdoing.