Russia suspected of planting device on plane that caused UK warehouse fire

Counter-terrorism police are investigating whether Russian spies planted an incendiary device on a plane to Britain which later caught fire at a DHL warehouse in Birmingham, the Guardian can reveal. Nobody was reported injured in the fire on 22 July at a warehouse in the suburb of Minworth that handles parcels for delivery, and the…

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US B-2 bombers strike Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen

The US carried out a round of strikes in Yemen against the Iran-backed Houthis on Wednesday evening, according to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, targeting five underground weapons storage facilities using B-2 stealth bombers. The facilities housed advanced conventional weapons used to target military and civilian vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,…

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Spain arrests 4 accused of shipping possible precursors for chemical weapons to Russia, breaching sanctions

Spanish authorities on Tuesday said they had arrested four people suspected of orchestrating a sanctions-busting commercial network after intercepting more than 14 tons of chemical products bound for Russia. “During the investigation, it was proven that internationally sanctioned chemicals, some of them possible precursors for chemical weapons or nerve agents, had been exported in the…

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Ukraine attacked by over 130 Russian drones in latest strike, Kyiv says

Russia launched one of its largest drone salvos at Ukraine in recent months, targeting Kyiv and other cities and igniting a fire at an industrial facility in the western region of Ternopil, officials said on Wednesday. Air defences shot down 51 of 136 drones used in the attack, the air force said in its readout.…

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Eritrea, Egypt and Somalia cement ‘axis against Ethiopia’

The leaders of Egypt, Somalia and Eritrea – countries which all have strained relations with Ethiopia – have been meeting in the Eritrean capital, Asmara. An Eritrean statement wrapping up the summit made reference to “respect for the sovereignty… and territorial integrity of the countries in the region”. This could be taken as a pointed…

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Taiwan celebrates its National Day holiday against a background of Chinese threats

Taiwan celebrated its National Day holiday Thursday against the background of threats from China, which claims the self-governing island republic as its own territory. Thursday’s commemorations included military displays, but no heavy military equipment such as those seen in years past. Addressing the threat from China, President Lai Ching-te took a firm but measured line…

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Viktor Bout Is Trying to Sell Weapons to the Houthis, Western Officials Say

The Russian arms dealer Viktor A. Bout is trying to broker a deal with Houthi militants in Yemen, according to Western officials. The negotiations between Mr. Bout and the Iran-backed group have been in progress for some time, but no deal has been completed and no arms have been transferred, the officials said. Nicknamed the…

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