Trump pauses new Russia sanctions & Belgium pledges F-16s to Ukraine - News (Oct 17, 2026)

Support The Automated Daily directly: 15 free episodes a day, 5 editions, 3 languages, about $4 a day to produce. A coffee keeps it going: theautomateddaily.com/support Please support this podcast by checking out our sponsors: - Consensus: AI for Research. Get a free month - https://get.consensus.app/automated_daily - SurveyMonkey, Using AI to surface insights faster and reduce manual analysis time - https://get.surveymonkey.com/tad - Invest Like the Pros with StockMVP - https://www.stock-mvp.com/?via=ron Today's topics: Trump pauses new Russia sanctions - President Trump signed an executive order pausing a new Russia sanctions package, waiving energy-related sanctions and tariffs. Lawmakers and European allies may push back over Ukraine policy. Belgium pledges F-16s to Ukraine - Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever said Belgium will deliver 10 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine in 2026, announced during an EU summit in Brussels. Missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and Aden - Saudi Arabia intercepted a ballistic missile aimed at Yanbu, along with cruise missiles and drones. Three ballistic missiles hit Aden in Yemen, and two landed at Aden International Airport. Iran insists Hormuz remains closed - Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy says the Strait of Hormuz is closed to all ships. A tanker reportedly caught fire after hitting a mine, adding to global oil supply worries. Journalist attacked in West Bank - The US State Department condemned the attack on Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine in the occupied West Bank, amid concern over settler violence and press safety. Gaza malnutrition deaths reach 466 - Gaza's Health Ministry reports at least 466 Palestinians, including 157 children, have died of malnutrition and starvation since 2024, as the humanitarian crisis continues. Suspicious powder letters target election offices - Letters with white powder reached congressional and election offices in Louisiana, Oklahoma and New York, including Rep. Ritchie Torres's office. The incidents raise intimidation fears before the US midterms. White House press secretary removed quickly - White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was removed after five days, according to officials, pointing to turmoil in the Trump administration's communications team. Japan's false magnitude 9.9 alert - Japan's weather agency canceled an emergency warning after wrongly estimating an earthquake off northern Japan at magnitude 9.9. The error disrupted public transport. Deadly flash floods hit Ist