UK Pledges 100,000 Military Drones to Ukraine
Israa Farhan
The British government has
pledged
to supply Ukraine with 100,000 military drones by the end of the current fiscal year in April 2026, marking a tenfold increase in drone support.
This major defence commitment reflects the UK's growing recognition of drones as a transformative element in modern warfare.
Valued at £350 million ($473 million), the drone package is part of the UK's wider £4.5 billion military assistance initiative for Ukraine, according to a statement reported by Reuters.
The announcement is set to be formally delivered by Defence Secretary John Healey at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in Brussels, co-hosted by Germany.
Ahead of the Brussels summit, Healey stated that the UK is intensifying its support for Ukraine by delivering hundreds of thousands of drones in 2025 and completing key deliveries of vital artillery ammunition.
The UK has already shipped 140,000 artillery shells to Ukraine since January 2025 and will invest an additional £247 million this year to continue training Ukrainian troops.
read more
Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685
NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria
Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO
Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided
News
Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks
News
Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank
News
Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region
News
One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid
News
China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier
News
Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content
Sports
Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer
Sports
Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
News
Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies
Arts & Culture
New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple
Business
Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
Arts & Culture
Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies
News
Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks
News
Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
See - Sada Elbalad
11 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Russia Cuts Interest Rates by 100 Basis-point for First Time since 2022
Taarek Refaat The Central Bank of Russia cut interest rates to 20%, the first cut since September 2022, amid signs of easing inflationary pressures. The Bank of Russia cut interest rates by 100 basis points, after having held them steady at 21% since last October, the highest level since the adoption of the new benchmark interest rate in 2013. Inflation in April reached 6.2%, a marked slowdown from an average of 8.2% in the first quarter of 2025, according to Central Bank data. The Bank of Russia confirmed in its statement that although domestic demand still exceeds supply, the Russian economy is gradually returning to a balanced growth path. The Bank added that monetary policy will remain tight for a "prolonged period" until inflation returns to its 4% target. The Russian-Ukrainian war, which erupted in February 2022, has led to severe economic pressures, most notably the weakness of the Russian ruble and rising import prices. Since then, Moscow has reoriented its economy to meet the challenges of war and Western sanctions. There were hopes at the beginning of the year that US President Donald Trump could broker a ceasefire or even end the war, but fighting continues on the ground. Despite everything, the rouble is currently the best-performing currency in the world this year, according to Bank of America, due to a combination of capital controls, tighter monetary policy, and a weaker US dollar. It's worth noting that with the interest rate cut announcement, the US dollar rose 2.72% against the rouble on Friday. (USD/Rouble = 78.56) read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
Al-Ahram Weekly
12 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UPDATED: Madleen sailing through Egyptian waters on way to break Israeli siege on Gaza - War on Gaza
An aid ship with 12 activists on board, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, is sailing through Egyptian waters and is nearing the besieged Palestinian territory, organisers said on Saturday. The Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Sicily last week with a cargo of relief supplies "to break Israel's blockade on Gaza". "We are now sailing off the Egyptian coast," German human rights activist Yasemin Acar told AFP. "We are all good," she added. In a statement from London on Saturday, the International Committee for Breaking the Siege of Gaza -- a member organisation of the flotilla coalition -- said the ship had entered Egyptian waters. The group said it remains in contact with international legal and human rights bodies to ensure the safety of those on board, warning that any interception would constitute "a blatant violation of international humanitarian law". European parliament member Rima Hassan, who is on board the vessel, urged governments to "guarantee safe passage for the Freedom Flotilla." The Palestinian territory has been under an Israeli naval blockade since 2007, long before the outbreak of Israel's devastating war on Gaza in October 2023. The blockade, coupled with repeated military incursions over the years, has devastated Gaza's infrastructure and economy, exacerbating poverty and limiting access to basic services like healthcare and clean water. In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 civilians during a raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, part of a similar aid flotilla attempting to break the blockade. In May, another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Conscience, reported coming under drone attack while en route for Gaza, prompting Cyprus and Malta to send rescue vessels in response to its distress call. There were no reports of any casualties. Earlier in its voyage, the Madleen changed course near the Greek island of Crete after receiving a distress signal from a sinking migrant boat. Activists rescued four Sudanese migrants who had jumped into the sea to avoid being returned to Libya. The four were later transferred to an EU Frontex vessel. Launched in 2010, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition is a coalition of groups opposed to the blockade on humanitarian aid for Gaza that Israel imposed on March 2 and left more than two million Palestinians on the verge of starvation. Israel has faced mounting international condemnation over the resulting humanitarian crisis in the territory, where the United Nations has warned that the entire population of more than two million is at risk of famine. For more information and live updates on the current Freedom Flotilla mission, visit: Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
12 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Israeli forces kill six more Palestinians near US-backed 'aid centre' in Gaza - War on Gaza
Israeli forces killed six Palestinians near a US-backed aid centre in southern Gaza on Saturday, as they carried out attacks that left at least 36 dead across the territory, including airstrike victims, the civil defence said. At around 7:00 a.m. (0400 GMT), Israeli forces opened fire near the Al-Alam roundabout in southern Gaza's Rafah area, killing six people and wounding several others, according to Gaza civil defence spokesman Mahmoud Bassal. Since late May, residents have gathered nearly daily at Al-Alam to receive humanitarian aid from a centre about one kilometre (0.6 miles) away, operated by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The organization has faced widespread condemnation for prioritizing Israeli military objectives -- including the ongoing displacement and humiliation of Palestinians starved by Israel -- over the efficient and effective delivery of aid. Samir Abu Hadid, who was at the scene early Saturday, told AFP that thousands had assembled near the roundabout. "As soon as some people tried to advance towards the aid centre, the Israeli occupation forces opened fire from armoured vehicles stationed nearby, firing into the air and then at civilians," he said. Saturday's incident marked the latest in a series of fatal shootings by Israeli forces near the Al-Alam aid point. In May, Israel and the US established aid centers to provide limited relief to Gazans through the GHF, amid an ongoing Israeli blockade imposed since 2 March. Despite this, Israeli forces have repeatedly opened fire on civilians -- including women and children -- attempting to access these humanitarian aid sites. Israeli troops killed 27 people in southern Gaza on Tuesday near one of the centers operated by the GHF, prompting the organization to temporarily suspend operations before resuming the next day. Since the GHF began operations on 26 May, Israeli attacks near its aid distribution sites have killed over 100 Palestinians seeking aid and wounded nearly 500. The United Nations and other aid groups have refused to cooperate with the GHF -- deeming it a private effort with opaque funding and neutrality issues -- and continue to warn that Gaza's entire population of over two million people is facing famine-level conditions. Israel has recently intensified its genocidal campaign in Gaza in what it claims is a renewed offensive. Since breaking a ceasefire on 18 March, Israeli attacks have killed at least 4,497 Palestinians, raising the overall death toll in Gaza to 54,772 -- the vast majority of them women and children. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
