Category: Hot News

Rebuilding silos for Sentinel missiles is creating headaches for the Pentagon Refurbishing the decades-old missile silos will cost billions of dollars more than originally thought and may not start for five years, the Wall Street Journal has reported, citing Pentagon officials. The US Department of Defense decided last month to move forward with the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program, even though its estimated cost has almost doubled from the original $78 billion. Replacing the aging Minuteman III missiles has no alternative, the Pentagon said. It could be “five years or more before work starts” on modernizing some 450 existing silos for the new missiles, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing a recent town meeting in Kimball, Nebraska. The community of less than 3,000 residents is surrounded by “one of the biggest missile fields” in the world. “There are a lot of unknowns here, and I understand the frustration,” Brigadier-General Colin Connor told residents earlier this month. Minuteman III missiles entered service in the early 1970s and were supposed to be replaced after a decade. Washington finally greenlit the Sentinel program in 2020, awarding the initial $13.3 billion contract to Northrop Grumman, after Boeing dropped out. The Sentinel project manager, Colonel Charles Clegg, was removed for unspecified reasons. Along with the new missiles, which are still on the drawing board, the project envisions modernizing the 50-year-old silos and command centers. Construction involves, among other things, laying down thousands of kilometers of fiber-optic cables. However, shutting down the silos or the command facilities is impossible, because the nuclear doctrine requires them to be available at a moment’s notice. Some silos may also need to be rebuilt from scratch. The scale, scope and complexity of the Sentinel project is “something we haven’t attempted as a nation for over 60 years,” Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Bill LaPlante told reporters last month, insisting that it had to be done nonetheless. The US Air Force is looking for ways to reduce the project’s complexity, but it might take up to 18 months to decide on the changes, LaPlante said, hoping for sometime in early 2025. Such delays may cause problems of another kind for the Pentagon, according to the WSJ. The US government has already negotiated about a third of the real-estate deals needed for laying down thousands of kilometers of fiber-optic cables. But some of them may need to be redone in light of the new timeline. Meanwhile, the rising costs of construction and raw materials have made early cost estimates “be unreliable and unrealistic,” Pentagon officials have said.

Former President Donald Trump has criticized the White House for failing to attend a ceremony honoring US troops killed during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. Trump, who attended the commemoration at Arlington National Cemetery for the 13 troops killed in the 2021 Kabul pullout, described the US withdrawal as “gross incompetence”. He also slammed President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for their absence at the ceremony. Eleven Marines, one soldier, and a Navy medic died in the August 26, 2021 bombing at Kabul airport, along with 170 Afghan civilians. Islamic State (IS/ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred amidst the frantic evacuation from the Kabul airport following the collapse of the US-backed Afghan regime and the Taliban takeover ten days prior. “This is the third anniversary of the BOTCHED Afghanistan withdrawal, the most EMBARRASSING moment in the history of our Country,’‘ Trump posted on his Truth Social account. He accused Biden and Harris of “gross incompetence” that led to the deaths of 13 troops and hundreds of civilians and made the US “a laughing stock all over the World.” The drone strike in response to the Abbey Gate massacre killed ten innocent Afghan civilians, most of them children. The actual mastermind of the suicide bombing was killed in April 2023. No one in the Biden administration nor the US military was held accountable for failures in Afghanistan. Only one officer who dared to publicly criticize the withdrawal operation and demand accountability – US Marine Colonel Stuart Scheller – was court-martialed and kicked out of the service. While attending the ceremony for those killed during the Afghanistan withdrawal, Trump laid three wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, alongside some of the family members of the fallen. Neither Biden nor Harris was in attendance at Arlington. The president’s last public appearance was at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last week. Harris issued a written statement on the White House website, praising Biden for “the courageous and right decision to end America’s longest war.” “On this solemn day, let us come together as one nation to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice three years ago on behalf of the United States and our cherished freedoms. Our grateful nation mourns and salutes them,” the statement said. “In their memory, let us re-dedicate ourselves to the cause they gave their lives for: to protect and defend the greatest democracy on Earth, the United States of America.” Biden has been criticized for snubbing fallen soldiers and their families before. He was caught avoiding the arrival of the remains of soldiers at a Delaware air force base in August 2021.

The chancellor has responded to a knife attack in Solingen perpetrated by a suspected ISIS-linked Syrian migrant German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has promised to take a stricter approach to illegal immigration and expedite refugee deportations in response to a deadly stabbing spree allegedly carried out by an asylum seeker of Syrian origin. Scholz made this pledge during a visit to the attack site on Monday. On Friday night, a lone knifeman attacked spectators at the Festival of Diversity in the city of Solingen. Three people were killed in the attack, and eight others were injured. While the suspected perpetrator fled the scene amidst the chaos, he later surrendered to authorities. German media later reported, citing authorities, that the suspect is a 26-year-old Syrian refugee who entered the country seeking asylum in 2022. According to reports, he may have been acting on orders from Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS), which initially claimed responsibility for the attack. Scholz condemned the attack as an act of “terrorism against us all,” and vowed to take action to prevent further incidents. “I am angry and furious about this act. It must be punished quickly and severely… We must do everything we can to ensure that such things never happen in our country,” the chancellor said, adding that Berlin must “ensure that those who… are not allowed to stay in Germany are repatriated and deported.” Scholz was referring to migrants who have committed serious crimes or whose asylum applications have been rejected. He added that while deportations have increased by roughly two-thirds compared to 2021, the government will continue to pursue legal and practical measures to remove individuals who pose a security threat from the country. He also proposed establishing a task force with other EU member-states to handle ‘Dublin cases’ – refugees who enter Germany from other European countries while already registered for asylum elsewhere. According to German media outlets, the suspect in Friday’s stabbing initially applied for asylum in Bulgaria before entering Germany. However, when his application was rejected by the German authorities in 2023, and they attempted to deport him, he could not be located. In addition to cracking down on illegal migration, Scholz pledged to tighten regulations on weapon ownership, particularly knives, in light of last week’s stabbing. Migration has been a subject of heated debate in Germany for years, with local governments frequently complaining that their budgets are stretched too thin to accommodate all asylum seekers. Following the Solingen stabbing, the leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU), Friedrich Merz, criticized Berlin’s immigration policies as “naive,” and called for a complete halt to the admission of refugees from countries considered unsafe, such as Syria.

Yaroslav Hunka, who was honored by Canada’s parliament, is wanted in Russia for hundreds of murders Russia has secured the cooperation of 15 Interpol member states in its pursuit of Yaroslav Hunka, a 99-year-old Waffen-SS veteran who was honored by Canada's parliament last year. The Russian Interior Ministry announced this development on Monday. Hunka gained notoriety when he was a guest at the Canadian parliament during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit last year. His Waffen-SS unit was responsible for atrocities against Jews and Poles on the Eastern Front during World War II, and he received a standing ovation. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was later compelled to apologize for this incident. After unsuccessful attempts to extradite Hunka since late 2023, the Russian Prosecutor General's Office added the Ukrainian-Canadian Nazi to Interpol's database last week. Moscow stated its intention to seek his extradition if he left Canada. The Russian Interior Ministry stated that as of Monday, 15 Interpol member states have agreed to arrest Hunka if he enters their territory. “All war criminals who committed bloody atrocities against civilians will receive the punishment they deserve,” the ministry stated. “After all, there is no statute of limitations for such crimes.” Hunka served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also known as the Galicia Division. Formed by the Nazi regime in 1943, the Galicia Division primarily consisted of Ukrainian recruits from the Galicia region, which is now part of western Ukraine and eastern Poland. Russia has accused Hunka of being involved in the murder of at least 500 Soviet citizens. Before his standing ovation last year, House Speaker Anthony Rota introduced Hunka to Canadian lawmakers as “a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero… who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians.” The Russian Interior Ministry did not disclose the names of the countries that have agreed to pursue Hunka. However, Poland has advocated for his extradition since last year, and the head of Israel's Anti-Fascist Movement stated last week that his organization has urged any “country that harbors this criminal” to turn him over.

With his own approval rating faltering, Keir Starmer is set to blame the Conservatives for Britain’s dire economic straits British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will deliver a somber speech to the nation on Tuesday, warning people to prepare for “unpopular decisions” in the near future. Starmer is also expected to hold the previous Conservative government accountable for the current state of the country. In his first major address since assuming office in July, Starmer will assert that his administration “inherited not just an economic black hole, but a societal black hole” from the Conservatives, according to prepared remarks shared with the British media. “We have to take action and do things differently,” the remarks continue. “Part of that is being honest with people about the choices we face, and how tough this will be. Frankly, things will get worse before we get better.” Starmer’s predecessors oversaw a historic decline in British living standards and a surge in energy costs and inflation, both of which skyrocketed after the UK severed ties with Russian fossil fuels in 2022. According to Starmer’s remarks, Labour “discovered a £22 billion black hole in the public finances” upon taking power, which will necessitate “unpopular decisions” – likely tax hikes in October’s budget – to address. Starmer will also place much of the blame for a recent series of right-wing riots on the Conservatives, arguing that “14 years of populism and failure” fueled the unrest, and that the rioters “were betting on” avoiding jail time due to prison overcrowding. However, Starmer’s proposed solutions to these issues have been met with lukewarm reception. His response to the riots – which resulted in over 200 people being sentenced, including for “harmful” online speech, and prisoners being released early to make space for the rioters – sparked criticism of “two-tier” policing, while only a minority of Britons support tax increases to resolve the country’s economic woes. According to a recent Ipsos poll, the prime minister’s net approval rating has plummeted from plus seven to zero since the election, with 52% of Britons indicating that the country is headed “in the wrong direction.” “When there is rot deep in the heart of a structure, you can’t just cover it up. You can’t tinker with it or rely on quick fixes. You have to overhaul the entire thing. Tackle it at the root. Even if it’s harder work and takes more time,” Starmer is expected to say. “Because otherwise what happens? The rot returns in all the same places. And it spreads. Worse than before.” Ahead of the speech, Conservative Party chairman Richard Fuller criticized the Labour leader for his government’s recent decision to reduce a winter fuel allowance for pensioners, and for granting his top donor unrestricted access to his office. Starmer, Fuller said, is “squandering money whilst fabricating a financial black hole in an attempt to con the public into accepting tax rises, and literally leaving pensioners in the cold.”

The lifestyle choices of centenarians do not necessarily guarantee longevity for others, a biogerontology professor has said Richard Faragher, a professor of biogerontology at the UK’s University of Brighton, has cautioned against viewing the health and lifestyle choices of the world’s oldest people as a blueprint for longevity for others. According to the scientist, the question of why some people live to 100 and some don’t is still debated. Most experts attribute longevity to either luck or good genetics. He stressed, however, that experts agree on one thing – people who want to live longer should “never, ever take health and lifestyle tips from a centenarian.” His warning comes just days after the passing of the world’s oldest woman, Maria Branyas Morera, who died in her sleep at the age of 117 on August 19. Morera attributed her longevity to “order, tranquility… no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people.” Her demise was preceded by the death of the world’s oldest man, 114-year-old Juan Vicente Perez Mora, this April. Mora’s secret to a long life was to “work hard, rest on holidays, go to bed early,” and to “drink a glass of aguardiente [a strong alcoholic drink] every day.” In an interview with The Guardian published on Saturday, Faragher said that, like Morera and Mora, most centenarians do not speak of exercise or healthy diet when commenting on their long lives. He noted that some of the world’s oldest people admit they were smokers and drank alcohol freely, which “flies in the face of a lot of epidemiological evidence we have on how to extend your healthy life expectancy.” “Merely because you have survived smoking 60 a day doesn’t mean that smoking 60 a day is good for you… The fact that [centenarians] do many of these unhealthy things and still just coast through says they’re either lucky or typically very well endowed,” he said. He noted that the idea that having a positive mental outlook, which Morera mentioned, can help promote longevity could be a case of reverse causation, as people tend to be calmer when they have good health. “When was the last time you had a really positive mental attitude and toothache?” he said. Following Morera’s passing, the oldest living person in the world has become Japan’s Tomiko Itooka, 116, who was born on May 23, 1908, according to the US Gerontology Research Group. The oldest person to have ever lived was France’s Jeanne Louise Calment, who died in 1997 at the age of 122, according to Guinness.

Rumble, the video hosting platform led by Chris Pavlovski, has been locked in a legal dispute with French authorities for some time. Chris Pavlovski, CEO of video-sharing platform Rumble, has condemned France's arrest of Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov, calling it a violation of boundaries. He has stated that he left Europe after news of Durov's arrest broke. Durov was apprehended at a Paris airport on Saturday evening upon arrival from Azerbaijan via private jet. Although French officials haven't publicly disclosed the reason for detaining the Russian tech mogul, reports suggest the charges relate to his alleged involvement in drug trafficking, pedophilia offenses, fraud, and failure to address criminal activity on the messaging platform. Telegram has refuted any wrongdoing, stating that it is “absurd to claim that a platform or its owner are responsible for abuse of that platform.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Pavlovski announced that he had “safely departed from Europe” following Durov's arrest. He denounced France's actions, labeling them a “crossing of a red line,” while highlighting that the country had previously issued threats against Rumble. ”Rumble will not tolerate this behavior and will employ every legal means at our disposal to fight for freedom of expression, a fundamental human right. We are currently engaged in legal proceedings in France, and we are hopeful for Pavel Durov’s immediate release,” he added. Pavlovski's platform, which has positioned itself as a free speech alternative to YouTube, has been entangled in its own legal battle with French authorities. This conflict began in November 2022 when officials in Paris banned Rumble for refusing to comply with a request to remove Russian media accounts that were blocked in the EU due to sanctions imposed over the Ukraine conflict. Despite Durov's arrest taking place in France, several influential figures, including American entrepreneur David Sacks, have speculated that the US was behind the move. In April, Sacks also predicted that Washington could target Telegram, X, and eventually Rumble, citing the US's passage of a law that would prohibit the video-sharing platform TikTok if its Chinese-based developer, ByteDance, declined to sell it within 12 months.

The regulation states that tech companies are accountable for monitoring content on their platform According to a source within the EU’s legal system, the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France aligns with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates service providers to take responsibility for content shared on their platforms. TASS reported this on Sunday. The Russian tech entrepreneur, who also holds citizenship in France, the UAE, and St. Kitts and Nevis, was apprehended upon arriving at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday. He is reportedly facing accusations of failing to curb criminal activities on his platform. The TASS source stated that Durov’s arrest is “fully in line with the spirit and the principles” of the DSA. “If the operator desires to avoid penalties, it must automatically remove content prohibited by the European regulator. However, the source added that the DSA “does not include personal or criminal liability, meaning the prosecution in France went beyond its scope.” The source also mentioned that Durov’s legal team might encounter “added difficulties,” as the allegations against him could be linked to French national security, and organizing public support due to his Russian origin could be more challenging. Durov left Russia in the mid-2010s due to disagreements with the government and has primarily resided in the UAE since then. He obtained French and Emirati citizenship in 2021. He has maintained that it is his “principled stance” to safeguard user data privacy and that he “would rather be free than take orders from anyone.” In an interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson in April, Durov revealed that he faced pressure from the US government to install a surveillance “backdoor,” which he refused to do. Telegram issued a statement on Sunday, asserting that its content-moderation policies are “within industry standards.” Several public figures in Russia and internationally have condemned Durov’s arrest, describing it as an attack on freedom of speech and the unhindered flow of information. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the consulate in Paris has requested access to Durov.

Tatyana Moskalkova has condemned the arrest of Pavel Durov as a violation of free speech Russia's top human rights official, Tatyana Moskalkova, has stated that the French authorities arrested Telegram founder Pavel Durov with the intention of shutting down the platform, which is known for its lack of censorship. The Russian-born tech entrepreneur was apprehended after his private jet landed at Paris-Le Bourget Airport on Saturday. While French authorities promised to release an official statement on Monday, local media reported that prosecutors believe Durov failed to prevent criminals from using his platform. In a Telegram post on Sunday, Moskalkova asserted that “the real reason behind Pavel Durov’s arrest is an attempt to shut down Telegram, the platform where you can find the truth about world affairs.” She added that the persecution of Durov angers “everyone who supports the freedom of speech and the creation of the multipolar world.” In a separate post, Moskalkova denounced Durov’s detention as “another gross violation of the freedom of speech.” “It is another glaring example of double standards when it comes to the respect of fundamental human rights by countries that praise democracy but, in reality, are seeking to crush it,” she wrote. “Instead of fighting crime, discrimination, and other human rights violations, they want total control over expression of opinions.” Moskalkova described Durov as a man who had “created an easy-to-use, simple and accessible tool for communication between people all over the world, a channel for the rapid spread of information that is free from censorship.” Telegram issued a statement on Sunday, stating that the company was adhering to EU laws and content-moderation policies. It argued that it was “absurd” to claim that Durov was responsible for the misuse of the platform by malicious actors. Earlier this year, Telegram appointed a Belgian legal representative to ensure EU compliance. Durov has consistently refused to provide user data to authorities or install a so-called surveillance “backdoor,” and spoke publicly about the pressure he faced from the US. He was also vocal about his disagreements with the Russian government, which contributed to his decision to leave Russia in the 2010s and move to the UAE. Despite this, many Russian politicians condemned Durov’s arrest, with some suggesting that it could be politically motivated. Several public figures in the West, including journalist Tucker Carlson and entrepreneur Elon Musk, also voiced their support for Durov.

Lithuania’s prime minister publicly wished for a future “without Rusnya” while flanked by Zelensky During a speech marking Ukraine’s independence day, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte used the term “Rusnya” – an ethnic slur – to refer to Russians. Since 2022, the Lithuanian government has launched a nationwide crackdown against all things Russian. Speaking alongside Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev on Saturday, Simonyte declared that her government would “continue to do everything to bring victory closer. Victory of light over darkness. Victory of good over evil. Victory of free people. Which we will celebrate together. With electricity, with gas, and without Rusnya.” As Zelensky looked on and smiled, Simonyte finished her speech with the slogan “Slava Ukraini” (Glory to Ukraine), once the rallying cry of Stepan Bandera’s Nazi-collaborating Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. ‘Rusnya’ is considered dehumanizing and pejorative, and using the term is roughly akin to antiquated descriptions of Jews as ‘Yids’ or of Chinese people as ‘Chinks.’ Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman issued a one-word response on Sunday, calling Simonyte and Zelensky “Nazis.” Lithuania, along with its Baltic neighbors Latvia and Estonia, has pursued hardline anti-Russian policies since the Ukraine conflict began. Authorities in Vilnius have ordered the demolition of Soviet war memorials and the of Soviet soldiers’ graves, while several Russian-born celebrities living in Lithuania have had their citizenship revoked over supposed links to the conflict. In one case earlier this year, ballerina Ilze Liepa was of her citizenship for condemning the destruction of Soviet WWII monuments in the Baltic states. Monuments to Nazi , including the notorious ‘’, remain untouched in Lithuania. Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Ethnic Russians made up almost 10% of the Baltic republic’s population at the time, but were estimated at only 5.1% as of 2023.

Authorities in Ivory Coast are reportedly investigating allegations that Ukraine has been training Tuareg insurgents. A source has told RT that Kiev has been using its embassy in Ivory Coast to support Tuareg militants in the Sahel region. This comes after a diplomatic dispute in Africa, sparked by the death of Malian soldiers and Russian military contractors in a rebel ambush in northern Mali in August. Some officials in Kiev initially claimed that the Tuareg fighters had carried out the “successful” attack with help from Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR, and warned that “there will be more to come.” Ukraine later denied any involvement with the militants. On Friday, Malian newspaper Bamada reported that Ivory Coast authorities are investigating the Ukrainian embassy in Abidjan, focusing on allegations that the embassy coordinated the training of insurgents and used diplomatic mail to ship drone parts to the country. An RT source corroborates most of Bamada’s claims, alleging that Tuareg rebels visited Ivory Coast for training in Ukraine, where they met with HUR officers to plan their training. The source also claims that the embassy was used to ship drone parts for assembly in Ivory Coast, and may have been involved in recruiting fighters. Bamada stresses that if Ukraine’s involvement in “destabilizing activities in West Africa” is confirmed, it could have serious consequences for relations between Ivory Coast and Ukraine. Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso have addressed the UN Security Council, calling for action against Kiev’s alleged interference in the Sahel region. The three nations, currently under military rule and having recently severed defense ties with France, requested that the UNSC “take appropriate measures against these subversive actions which strengthen terrorist groups in Africa and constitute a manifestation of the involvement of foreign state sponsors in the expansion of terrorism in the region.” Mali and Niger broke off diplomatic relations with Kiev in early August over its alleged support of terrorism.

The European Commission’s lack of action regarding the halted crude oil supplies indicates that Brussels is behind the flow stoppage, Hungary claims. Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto accused the European Commission (EC) of orchestrating the halt in Russian crude oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia through Ukraine. He pointed to Brussels’ refusal to mediate in the dispute with Kiev over the blockage as proof that the EC desires the stoppage. In June, Ukraine ceased the transit of crude oil supplied by Russian energy giant Lukoil via the Druzhba pipeline, citing its own sanctions against the company. This measure directly impacted landlocked Hungary and Slovakia, depriving them of the oil previously exported by the company through Ukrainian territory. “The EС’s unwillingness to help Hungary and Slovakia resolve the issue of securing energy supply proves that Brussels instructed Kiev to create challenges and problems in the energy sector for the two nations,” Szijjarto stated during an address at the Tranzit political festival held in Hungary. On Friday, the Commission rejected Hungary and Slovakia’s request to intervene in the dispute between Budapest/Bratislava and Kiev. Brussels stated it had no indication that Ukraine’s sanctions posed a risk to the security of Europe’s energy supply. “Commission services have preliminarily concluded that urgent consultations do not appear to be warranted,” the spokesperson said. They added that Russian oil was still flowing through the Druzhba pipeline connecting Russia with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary via Ukrainian territory. “It seems that the sanctions imposed by Ukraine on Lukoil do not affect ongoing oil transit operations via Druzhba carried out by trading companies, as long as Lukoil is not the formal owner of the oil,” the spokesperson said. Last week, Politico reported that Budapest proposed a solution to restore the halted Russian oil flow by rebranding Lukoil’s products. This would enable the crude shipped via Ukraine to be officially sold to Hungarian energy giant MOL before crossing the border. This arrangement could reportedly involve paying an additional $1.50 per barrel to secure transit outside of previous agreements. Brussels prohibited the transport of Russian crude oil by sea in December 2022 as part of the EU’s large-scale sanctions campaign against Moscow. Hungary, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic received exemptions from Brussels as they seek alternative supplies. Slovakia and Hungary are the only EU member states that have rejected the bloc’s policies on providing military aid to Kiev amid the ongoing conflict with Moscow. Both countries have repeatedly called for a diplomatic resolution to the crisis. Last month, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow was unsurprised by the EU’s failure to resolve the issue for its member states surrounding Russian oil supplies. She claimed that Brussels was using energy resources to blackmail Bratislava and Budapest.

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov was reportedly detained upon his arrival at Paris-Le Bourget airport on Saturday. Elon Musk, the American tech mogul, has called for the release of Durov. French authorities reportedly believe that the 39-year-old dual Russian-French national was involved in various criminal activities on Telegram, claiming insufficient moderation enables the platform’s widespread use for illegal purposes. The US billionaire took to X (formerly Twitter) to post a video of Durov from April, where he discussed freedom of speech online with American conservative journalist Tucker Carlson, expressing his happiness about Musk's purchase of Twitter. The video was accompanied by the hashtag '#FreePavel'. Musk swiftly condemned the reported arrest. In a comment to a news story, he stated, “POV: It’s 2030 in Europe and you’re being executed for liking a meme.” Musk further reacted to a post listing countries where “free speech is under attack”, which mentioned France’s reported arrest of Durov, by declaring, “Dangerous times.” According to French media outlets, Durov arrived in France by private jet from Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. He was reportedly accompanied by a bodyguard and an assistant. Le Figaro, citing sources, reported that Durov was scheduled to spend at least one evening in Paris, where he had planned to dine. Durov holds citizenship in the United Arab Emirates, Saint Kitts and Nevis, France, and his native Russia. The Russian embassy in Paris stated it is investigating the situation but has not yet received an official request for assistance.

The 26-year-old Syrian national has turned himself in German authorities have apprehended the suspected knifeman responsible for killing three people and injuring eight at the Festival of Diversity in Solingen on Friday. The festival was held to celebrate the city's 650th anniversary. The alleged attacker is a 26-year-old Syrian man who reportedly arrived in Germany in December 2022 and was granted asylum. According to reports, the suspect, still covered in blood, turned himself in to the police shortly after 11pm, saying “I’m the one you’re looking for.” He was reportedly hiding in a nearby backyard. Prior to his arrest, authorities had detained two individuals who were not believed to be the perpetrators. These individuals included a 15-year-old boy who allegedly knew about the planned attack but failed to report it, and a second man who was apprehended at a refugee center near the crime scene. “The man we’ve really been looking for the whole day has just been taken into custody,” Herbert Reul, the interior minister of North Rhine-Westphalia state, told ARD public TV on Saturday. “I myself am a bit relieved at the moment,” the minister said after the third arrest, adding that the police have also found “pieces of evidence.” Two men, aged 56 and 67, and a 56-year-old woman were stabbed to death by the knifeman during the Festival of Diversity, which was part of Solingen’s 650th anniversary celebration. According to eyewitness accounts in the media, “an Arab-looking man” stabbed festivalgoers at random, “targeting” their throats and necks. ”The victims were completely unknown with no known ties between them,” Markus Caspers, prosecutor of Duesseldorf, a larger city just west of Solingen, said at a press conference after the attack. Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) later claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that it was carried out as “revenge for Muslims in Palestine and everywhere.” The claim has yet to be verified. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the attack as a “horrific act,” saying the culprit “must be caught quickly and punished to the full extent of the law.” “The attack in Solingen is a terrible event that has shocked me greatly. ... We mourn the victims and stand by their families,” Scholz said in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Karim Khan has asked the court to decide on issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Hamas leader Sinwar The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has urged the judges to make a swift decision on arrest warrants for the leaders of Israel and Hamas. In May, Karim Khan submitted a request for warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, as well as Hamas officials Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Mohammed Deif. The prosecutors alleged their involvement in “war crimes and crimes against humanity” during the conflict in Israel and Gaza. The court has subsequently granted permission to 18 nations, including the US, Germany, and South Africa, along with numerous organizations and individuals, to provide their views on the ICC’s jurisdiction in this matter, considering that “Palestine cannot exercise criminal jurisdiction over Israeli nationals (under) the Oslo Accords.” In a 49-page document, Khan requested the judges to accelerate the process, emphasizing that “any unjustified delay in these proceedings detrimentally affects the rights of victims.” “It is established law that the Court has jurisdiction in this situation,” the prosecutor stated in the legal brief, as cited by the AP. He contended that suggestions of the court’s inability to handle the case were “without merit,” and that the contrary claim “misunderstands fundamental concepts of jurisdiction under international law.” Both Israel and Hamas dismissed the allegations of war crimes, with Netanyahu condemning the accusation as a “disgrace.” Hamas denounced Khan’s request for an arrest warrant, asserting that it equates “the victim with the executioner.” Israel is not a member of the ICC, meaning that Netanyahu and Gallant will not face immediate prosecution, although an active arrest warrant could significantly restrict their international travel. Haniyeh was assassinated last month in Tehran, and Sinwar was selected to succeed him. Israel claimed that Deif had been killed in an airstrike in the southern part of the Gaza Strip in July. However, Hamas maintains that Deif is still alive. Over 40,000 Palestinians have perished in Gaza since the war between Israel and Hamas erupted in October. The conflict began with a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people. The militant group also seized over 200 hostages, some of whom have subsequently been released through prisoner swaps or rescued by the Israeli army. In December, South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice, an international body distinct from the ICC. Israel has rejected these allegations while accusing Hamas of using civilians in Gaza as human shields.

Military Watch Magazine reported that the most recent Abrams M1 tank has been destroyed by Russian forces in the Kursk Region of Russia. Military Watch Magazine reported that Ukraine has lost two-thirds of its Abrams M1 main battle tanks provided by the United States in just half a year. According to the outlet's estimates, approximately 20 out of the 31 tanks supplied by Washington to Kiev have been destroyed by Russian forces. Military Watch Magazine reported that the latest Abrams was destroyed in Russia's Kursk Region based on videos uploaded by Russian Telegram channels. It also stated that this appears to be the first American tank destroyed by Ukraine during its incursion into territory recognized internationally as belonging to Russia. The report stated that the destroyed M1 had “a significantly improved” explosive reactive armor, as Ukraine took measures to enhance the protection of the US-made tanks, “particularly after they took heavy losses in their first engagements with Russian forces in February-April 2024,”. However, the Abrams still could not withstand a projectile from a handheld anti-tank missile system, likely a Kornet, which it was reportedly hit with, the report stressed. Military Watch reminded its readers that Ukrainian troops operating the M1s had previously complained to Western media about “technical issues, including vulnerability of electronic components to condensation, as well as their vulnerability to Russian fire.” The outlet categorized the Abrams, the German Leopard 2, the British Challenger 2, and the Soviet-era T-80 tanks as “the scarcest tank classes in Ukrainian service.” But it also noted that, while Kiev expects a replacement for its destroyed Leopards from the EU nations, “there have been few indications that the US could make further deliveries of Abrams tanks.” Russia’s Defense Ministry stated on Saturday that, since the beginning of its incursion into Kursk Region on August 6, Ukraine has already lost over 5,550 troops and hundreds of units of military equipment, including 71 tanks.

The former US President has promised RFK Jr. he’ll release all JFK assassination files if reelected to the White House Former US President Donald Trump has accepted the endorsement of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has said he will end his independent run for office in swing states. Hours after making the announcement on Friday, 70-year-old RFK Jr. joined Trump on stage during the Republican presidential candidate’s rally in Glendale, Arizona. Kennedy said that Trump will “make America healthy again” and be a president “who is going to protect us against totalitarianism.” Trump embraced and thanked Kennedy for his support and stated that his father, US Senator Robert Kennedy, and his uncle, John F. Kennedy, would be “very, very proud of Bobby.” “I am proud of Bobby,” Trump said, as the crowd chanted “Bobby! Bobby!” The former president vowed that if he wins the election in November, in honor of RFK Jr. he would establish a “new independent commission on presidential assassination attempts” that would be tasked with releasing “all of the remaining documents pertaining to the [1963] assassination of president John F Kennedy” and conduct an investigation into the attempt last month on Trump’s own life. The Republican candidate has also applauded RFK Jr.’s “decades of work as an advocate for the health of our families and our children.” Trump reiterated his vow to establish “a panel of top experts” that would work with Kennedy to investigate “what is causing the decades-long increase in chronic health problems and childhood diseases.” A former Democrat, Kennedy tried last year to challenge US President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination. However, after facing obstruction within the party, he announced a third-party bid last October. On Friday, he announced would partially withdraw from the race, having previously vowed to do so if he felt that he’d turned into a spoiler candidate. “In my heart, I no longer believe I have a realistic path to electoral victory,” he said, announcing that he will remove his name from the ballots in swing states while continuing to run in solidly “red” or “blue” states so that his supporters can still cast a vote for him without “harming or helping” anyone.

Ottawa is aware of Yaroslav Hunka’s past but refuses to extradite him, Russia’s ambassador has said Moscow will continue its efforts to ensure Canada extradites 99-year-old SS veteran Yaroslav Hunka to Russia to face charges, Russian Ambassador in Ottawa Oleg Stepanov stated. Hunka, who openly acknowledged joining the Waffen-SS Galicia Division during World War II, gained notoriety last September after receiving a standing ovation as a guest in Canada's Parliament during a visit by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Hunka's unit participated in brutal anti-guerrilla operations in Poland and Soviet Ukraine between 1993 and 1944, with members accused of massacres and other atrocities against Polish, Jewish, and Russian civilians. In late 2023, Russia requested Canada extradite the then 98-year-old Ukrainian-Canadian on accusations of genocide related to his suspected involvement in the murder of at least 500 Soviet citizens. However, Ottawa rejected the request, citing the lack of a relevant treaty between the two nations. On Thursday, Russia's Prosecutor General's Office announced that Hunka's name had been added to the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) database. The agency stated that the search for the Nazi veteran continues and that it would demand his extradition if he is found in other countries. Ambassador Stepanov told RIA-Novosti on Saturday that the Canadian government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is being “disingenuous” when it claims that Hunka is “clean.” The envoy explained that Canada's practice is to consider anyone claiming to have fled Communism and not committed crimes within Canadian territory as a good citizen. “They turn a blind eye to what they did before they arrived here, as if it never happened,” he added. “But the truth cannot be hidden… The authorities [in Ottawa] are well aware of [Hunka’s] dark past, and of the shameful biographies of thousands more of [Adolf] Hitler’s collaborators who found refuge in Canada after 1945,” Stepanov emphasized. Moscow's embassy in Canada will continue working to ensure that “the Nazi henchman is sent to Russia,” he insisted.

Mike Lynch and six others died after their at-anchor vessel sank in the Mediterranean Sea on Monday Italian authorities have launched a manslaughter investigation into the sinking of a yacht off the coast of Sicily earlier this week, claiming the lives of seven people, including British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his teenage daughter. The investigation was announced on Saturday by the local prosecutor’s office in the Palermo metropolitan area on the island. A case has been opened “against unknown persons for negligent shipwreck and manslaughter,” the prosecutor in charge of the investigation, Raffaele Cammarano, told a press conference, as quoted by Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera. The 56-meter-long British-flagged superyacht named ‘Bayesian,’ carrying 22 people, was moored less than a kilometer off the coast of Sicily on Monday when it was struck by what is believed to be a tornado or waterspout. The bodies of all seven victims, including Lynch, one of the UK’s most prominent tech entrepreneurs, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, have been recovered. Fifteen people survived, including Lynch’s wife and the yacht’s captain, and they have all been questioned. The investigation is focusing on “why the crew saved themselves by climbing into the lifeboat while the other guests were in the hull” asleep, Prosecutor Cammarano said. He questioned why the crew did not see the storm approaching and added that the yacht was hit by wind gusts reaching speeds of 100 kilometers per hour. “There are many possibilities for culpability. It could be just the captain. It could be the whole crew. It could be the guard,” CNN quoted the head of the public prosecutor’s office Ambrogio Cartosio as saying. The wreck is reportedly lying apparently intact on its side at a depth of 50 meters. The bodies were found “on the side of the vessel that faces the surface,” said the commander of the local Fire Department Girolamo Bentivoglio, who also participated in the press conference. The victims “were all looking [to be saved] in the last air bubbles,” he added. Lynch, 59, had invited friends to join him on the yacht to celebrate his acquittal in June in a US fraud trial, Reuters noted. Lynch’s lawyer Chris Morvillo, and Morgan Stanley banker Jonathan Bloomer, who had appeared as a character witness in the case, were among those who perished in the wreck. According to Reuters, the sinking has puzzled naval marine experts, who say a high-end boat like the Bayesian should have withstood the storm and in any case should not have sunk as quickly as it did. The Lynch family issued a statement expressing gratitude to the Italian coastguard and emergency services, and requesting privacy be respected “at this time of unspeakable grief.”

France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin described the incident as “clearly criminal.” A police officer was injured when a car exploded outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in the French town of La Grande-Motte on Saturday morning, police confirmed. Shortly before the blast, two vehicles were set on fire, one reportedly containing a gas canister. “An attempted arson, clearly criminal, affected the synagogue in La Grande Motte this morning,” France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on X, formerly Twitter, adding that authorities are working to locate the perpetrator. The mayor of La Grande-Motte, Stephane Rossignol, said surveillance cameras captured an individual setting fire to vehicles in front of the synagogue, according to French newspaper Le Figaro. A police source told the media the suspected perpetrator was seen leaving the area and was apparently wearing a traditional keffiyeh scarf and carrying a Palestinian flag. He remains at large. Two doors of the religious building were damaged by the blaze, police told Le Figaro, adding that a team of bomb disposal experts has been deployed to the site. Darmanin and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal are expected to visit the scene of the arson attack later in the day. The wounded municipal police officer was transported to the emergency room of Montpellier University Hospital, according to French media, with his injuries reportedly not being life-threatening. French authorities have increased security around synagogues, reporting a sharp rise in anti-Semitic incidents in France since 2023, following the attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in October which prompted the Jewish state to launch a large-scale military campaign in Gaza. In May, a man was fatally shot by French police after attempting to set fire to a synagogue in the city of Rouen. Earlier in March, a 62-year-old man wearing traditional Jewish headwear was assaulted in Paris as he was leaving a synagogue. The attacker reportedly shouted ethnic slurs as he tackled the victim to the ground before fleeing the scene on foot.