Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Aug 17, 2026

UK Bolsters Ukraine's Defense Amid Russian Attacks; US Commits Millions to Aid Haiti; Hunter Biden Faces Tax Evasion Charges; Trump Plans Antisemitism Crackdown and Federal Overhaul

UK to bolster Ukraine air defenses with £162m missile systems and artillery amid Russian attacks; US pledges $45m in aid to Haiti amid gang violence.
The UK is stepping up its support for Ukraine by providing 650 new Lightweight Multirole Missile systems, as part of a £162 million package, to bolster air defenses amidst ongoing Russian attacks. Additionally, the UK will send £300 million worth of artillery ammunition to Ukraine, reflecting a broader effort to increase defense production in Europe.

Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the US has pledged $45 million in aid to Haiti, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasizing support for a Kenya-led security mission and the importance of elections. This commitment is part of a larger $360 million package aimed at stabilizing Haiti amidst severe gang violence and political instability.

In a notable domestic development, Hunter Biden has pleaded guilty to nine counts of tax evasion, admitting to skirting $1.4 million in taxes over the past decade. Facing sentencing in December, he could spend up to 17 years in prison, coupled with substantial fines, for his financial and drug-related offenses.

Shifting gears to political pledges, Donald Trump has announced he would strip US universities of federal support over "antisemitic propaganda" if re-elected, aiming to hold institutions accountable. He also plans to ban refugees from Gaza, targeting "pro-Hamas" protesters, while criticizing current policies toward the conflict.

On a related note, Trump has proposed appointing Elon Musk to lead a commission for overhauling federal efficiency, promising to root out fraud and save trillions. However, this suggestion has sparked an ethics debate, with concerns about potential conflicts of interest given Musk's vast business holdings.

Finally, Super Typhoon Yagi has wreaked havoc in southern China and Hong Kong, closing schools, canceling flights, and even shutting down the Hong Kong stock exchange. With sustained winds of 245 km/h, the storm has prompted authorities to urge residents to stay indoors and disrupted activities across the region, extending to northern Vietnamese airports.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez Sign Prenup Protecting Their Separate Fortunes
Google Launches Pixel 11 With Gemini AI at the Center of Its Hardware Strategy
Turkish Parliament Passes Landmark Bill Granting Conditional Amnesty to Disarmed PKK Members
Jorge Messi, Lionel Messi’s Father and Longtime Agent, Dies at 68
AI’s Next Bottleneck Is Power, Not Just Nvidia Chips
Meta Raises AI Spending Target to as Much as $145bn Despite Pressure Over Returns
Joe Biden’s Cancer Has Spread Beyond His Bones, Hunter Biden Says
Why 2027 Could Be a Strong Year for Stocks—and Why the Forecast Is Fragile
Why Markets May Look Quiet in August After Big Tech Earnings
Trump’s Top General Seeks an Exit Strategy From Iran War, Report Says
Brock Lesnar Retires From Wrestling, Closing a Career of Rare Athletic Range and Lasting Controversy
UFO: Pentagon Releases Video of Unidentified Object Tracked Over Middle East
Ukraine Tells Senate Republicans Its Drone War Offers a Blueprint for America
Weight-Loss Drug Boom Tests the Limits of Prescription Advertising Rules
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Sign Mutual-Defence Pact
AI Is Remaking the US Economy, From GDP Growth to iPhone Prices
A SpaceX Rocket Is About to Crash Into the Moon — and Scientists Hope to Watch
Modern Slavery Decisions Broaden the Al Fayed Inquiry’s Frame
FIFA’s Retreat Leaves a Larger Question Over Who Guards the Game
Finland Deploys Commercial-Scale Thermal Batteries Using Crushed Rock to Store Renewable Grid Energy
Valued at $109 Million: F-35B Fighter Jet Crashes in Southern California
US Says It Has Carried Out Heavy Strikes on Iran After Attempted Attacks on Its Forces
Over 24 Hours in the Air: Qantas Airbus Completes Record-Breaking Test Flight
Arrest Warrant Issued in Lebanon for Tycoon Spotted Meeting Netanyahu in Washington
Trump says Israel ‘would not survive’ without US
Nvidia Reportedly Takes Vast Texas Data-Centre Lease to Underwrite AI Expansion
FIFA’s Private-Investment Plan for World Cup Rights Draws European Revolt
Following OpenAI's Cyberattack: 'Most Companies Still Do Not Understand What Is Coming'
OpenAI Sued After ChatGPT Allegedly Discouraged Emergency Care Before Near-Fatal Embolism
Miliband Sets Climate and International Law at Centre of UK Diplomacy
Pentagon Discloses Nearly 100 US Troop Injuries During Renewed Iran Fighting
Trump Readies New Tariffs as Temporary Global Levy Nears Expiry
High Prices Push Coffee Drinkers Toward Whole Beans and Home Brewing
Trump Draws Boos and Podium Scrutiny at Spain’s World Cup Triumph
Spain Defeats Argentina in Extra Time to Win Second World Cup
Turkey Explores S-400 Transfer to UAE in Bid to Rejoin F-35 Program
US Retaliates Against Iran After Two American Troops Killed in Jordan
Proposed U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Pact Could Permit Limited Uranium Enrichment Under International Safeguards
Why Kentucky Fried Chicken Became KFC—and Why the False Explanations Persist
Iran Claims It Destroyed Bahrain’s Main Artificial Intelligence Center in Missile and Drone Strike
Ukrainian Drones Strike Wildberries Warehouses Deep Inside Russia
Reported CIA Mission Helped Clear the UAE’s Path to Advanced US AI Chips
Artificial Intelligence Capital Fuels Markets While Governments and Regulators Face Mounting Strategic Tests
China’s Moonshot’s Kimi K3 Narrows the Gap With Anthropic Through Scale, Openness and Lower Cost
Gold and Cash Seizure Puts Indonesia’s Senior Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Under Investigation
The Ledger Will Not Trust on Faith
Passenger Bound for Germany Refused to Sit Beside a Woman on a Plane — Then Slapped a Flight Attendant
Ukraine’s Leadership Rift Spills Into the Streets as Protesters Target Army Chief
The Ten World Cup Finals That Defined Football History
Smartphones Are Getting More Expensive, Sales Are Collapsing, and Even Apple Admits: "Prices Will Rise"
×