Our daily morning stroll around the world

🇪🇺 The EU is one step away from enacting the world’s first comprehensive set of AI regulations. EU lawmakers approved the AI Act by a 532-46 vote yesterday, sending the measure to all 27 member-states for approval (which is expected by May). Among other things, the new law requires AI models to receive approval from the EU Council, bans AI-powered social scoring systems, and restricts biometric surveillance in public spaces to certain serious crimes. Companies risk fines of up to 7% of global revenue for breaking the new law.

🇺🇦🇺🇸 The US announced $300 million in military aid for Ukraine. It marks the US government’s first Ukrainian aid package since last December, when the Pentagon said all available funds had been exhausted. US officials say the new funding was created by cost savings from Pentagon contracts that came in under bid. The Senate recently approved $60+ billion in additional assistance to Ukraine, though the House has yet to vote on the bill.

🇬🇧 UK greenhouse gas emissions fell to their lowest level since the Victorian Era, per a new report. An analysis of government data from climate website Carbon Brief found UK emissions fell 5.7% last year to reach its lowest reading since 1879. The report attributes a majority of the decrease to a milder winter, lower demand for gas due to new electricity imports from France, and a decline in coal use.