(Al Jazeera Media Network) Intelligence experts have warned that Europe is under a growing threat from Russian sabotage operations, and believe those operations aim to secure concrete military results in Ukraine, political and economic costs to Europe, and nuisance value.
“We are experiencing the early stages of a systematic activation of Russian sleeper cells worldwide,” Joseph Fitsanakis, professor of Intelligence and National Security Studies at Coastal Carolina University, told Al Jazeera. “This is an unprecedented phenomenon...
(BBC News) A temporary pier built by the US military to deliver aid to Gaza has been damaged by heavy seas and will take at least a week to be repaired, according to US officials.
US forces began building the floating pier — which is attached to Gaza's shoreline by a temporary causeway — several weeks ago.
The causeway portion of the project has now reportedly broken off and will have to be repaired before being...
(BBC News) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says the strike that killed scores of displaced Palestinians in Rafah on Sunday was a "tragic mishap", amid growing international condemnation of the blast.
At least 45 people were killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. NGOs in Rafah say they treated hundreds more for severe burns, fractures, and shrapnel wounds.
Speaking in the Israeli parliament, Netanyahu said it was vital that Israel took "every precaution possible" to protect civilians...
(Al Jazeera Media Network) Hamas says it has launched rockets at Tel Aviv, prompting sirens to sound in the Israeli city for the first time in several months.
The Israeli military said on Sunday that eight rockets were launched from the Rafah area in southern Gaza, where its forces have continued a ground assault despite an order from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to halt operations there.
Israel’s air defence system intercepted several of them, the military...
(BBC News) About 670 people are estimated to be buried under a massive landslide in Papua New Guinea, a UN official says.
The head of the International Organization for Migration in the country, Serhan Aktoprak, said the impact of Friday's landslide in the isolated Enga province was greater than initially thought.
"There are an estimated 150-plus houses now buried," Aktoprak said.
The affected areas are in the highlands of Enga, in the north of the island nation...
(BBC News) This was the outcome Israel sought to avoid: a demand to halt a military operation the government regards as essential for the defeat of Hamas and the return of hostages.
But there is no immediate indication that Israel will change course as a result of Friday's ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Its tanks are pushing closer to the centre of Rafah, and just as the decision was being read out, a...
(BBC News) When one top defence official is arrested in Russia, that is interesting.
When five senior defence figures are handcuffed in less than a month, that is a purge.
The latest senior military man to be locked up is Lt Gen Vadim Shamarin, deputy chief of the army’s general staff and head of the Main Communications Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces.
Accused of large-scale bribe-taking, he’s been placed in pre-trial detention for two months.
Hours later...
(Al Jazeera Media Network) China has started military drills surrounding the self-governing island of Taiwan, according to Chinese state media.
The state-run Xinhua news agency said the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army started the drills at 7:45 am (23:45 GMT) on Thursday in the Taiwan Strait, the north, south, and east of Taiwan, as well as areas around the islands of Kinmen, Matsu, Wuqiu, and Dongyin.
Military spokesman Li Xi said the joint...
(BBC News) Rishi Sunak has vowed to "fight for every vote" as he called an early UK general election for Thursday, July 4.
The PM made the announcement in a rain-soaked speech outside 10 Downing Street, as he bids to win a fifth term in office for the Conservatives.
The surprise move overturned expectations of an autumn poll, which might have given the Tories a better chance of closing the gap with Labour.
Sir Keir Starmer said...
(The Telegraph) A former Royal Marine who was charged with spying on Hong Kong activists in the UK has been found dead in England.
Matthew Trickett, 37, who was awaiting trial, was found dead in Grenfell Park, Maidenhead, on Sunday at 5.15 pm.
Thames Valley police said an investigation was ongoing into his death, which was being treated as unexplained.
It comes after Trickett appeared at Westminster magistrates’ court last Monday alongside co-defendants Chi Leung Wai, 38, and Chung...
