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The US approved the possible sale to Israel of fighter jets and other military equipment worth over US$20 billion (S$26.4 billion).
PHOTO: REUTERS
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US approves $26b Israel weapons package
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Aug 13 approved the possible sale to Israel of fighter jets and other military equipment worth over US$20 billion (S$26.4 billion), the Pentagon said.
In a statement, the Pentagon said Mr Blinken approved the possible sale of F-15 jets and equipment worth nearly US$19 billion. He also approved the possible sale of tank cartridges worth around US$774 million and army vehicles worth US$583 million, the Pentagon said.
The tank rounds would be almost immediately available for delivery. The Boeing F-15 fighter jets would take years to produce and deliver.
The US has staunchly supported Israel as its top Middle East ally prosecutes a war in the Gaza Strip that has devastated the Palestinian enclave. The war was set off by the militant group Hamas’ Oct 7 attack in southern Israel.
Ukraine says it is still advancing in Russia’s Kursk region
Ukraine said on Aug 13 its biggest cross-border assault of the war to date had taken control of 74 settlements in Russia’s region of Kursk and was still advancing, making gains of one to three kilometres in the previous 24 hours.
Ukraine blindsided Moscow by pouring thousands of troops into the western Russian region of Kursk last week, in a surprise operation that has given Ukraine its biggest battlefield gains since 2022 after months on the backfoot.
Kyiv’s account jarred with the picture painted by Russia where Major-General Apti Alaudinov said Ukraine’s troops had been halted, while the defence ministry said attacks at villages about 26km to 28km from the border had been repelled.
US workers union files charges against Trump, Musk
The United Auto Workers union said on Aug 13 it has filed charges with the National Labour Relations Board against Donald Trump and Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk over attempts to threaten and intimidate workers.
The action came after Mr Musk and Trump held a two-hour conversation on social media platform X on Aug 12, during which Trump complimented Mr Musk’s ability to cut costs by saying he would not tolerate workers going on strike.
“You’re the greatest cutter,” Trump said during the conversation. “I mean, I look at what you do. You walk in, you just say: ‘You want to quit?‘ They go on strike - I won’t mention the name of the company - but they go on strike. And you say: ‘That’s okay, you’re all gone.’”
Norwegian man boards plane without ticket - twice
AFP
A Norwegian traveller managed to board a plane at Munich airport without a ticket two days in a row – and even flew to Sweden on the second occasion, police said on Aug 13.
The 39-year-old sneaked past security at Germany’s second-busiest airport for the first time on Aug 4.
Passengers are supposed to scan boarding passes at an automatic gate, but he stood close to another traveller and got through without one, the Bild daily reported.
Delay over Man City case creates ‘uncertainty’: EPL chief
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters admits the legal cases facing Manchester City and other top-flight teams have created “uncertainty and frustration” ahead of the new season.
An independent commission is set to rule on the 115 charges against Premier League champions City for alleged financial breaches during the season.
There are also cases to be resolved involving Leicester and Everton, related to alleged breaches of the league’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).
