The Taliban claimed responsibility for a huge bomb attack in #Kabul targeting the defense minister as the insurgents fought for control of a string of besieged cities.
The bomb-and-gun attack on Defence Minister Bismillah Mohammadi Tuesday was one of the biggest in Kabul for months, bringing violence to the capital after intense fighting in the south and west of the country.
The Afghan and US militaries have carried out airstrikes against the insurgents to push them back, and the Taliban said the Kabul attack was a response to that.
The bomb-and-gun attack on Defence Minister Bismillah Mohammadi Tuesday was one of the biggest in Kabul for months, bringing violence to the capital after intense fighting in the south and west of the country.
The Afghan and US militaries have carried out airstrikes against the insurgents to push them back, and the Taliban said the Kabul attack was a response to that.
Federal prosecutors in #Germany have charged a German Italian woman with espionage, alleging she worked with her husband to feed information to Chinese intelligence for years.
In a statement, prosecutors said the woman, identified only as Klara K., is the wife of Klaus L., a retired German political scientist. He was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China for almost a decade, using the political contacts he built up at a think tank.
At the time of his arrest, German public broadcaster ARD reported that Klaus L., who is in his 70s, had also been an informant for Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, for half a century. He was well-connected with senior officials in the spy agency, according to ARD.
In a statement, prosecutors said the woman, identified only as Klara K., is the wife of Klaus L., a retired German political scientist. He was arrested last month on suspicion of spying for China for almost a decade, using the political contacts he built up at a think tank.
At the time of his arrest, German public broadcaster ARD reported that Klaus L., who is in his 70s, had also been an informant for Germany’s foreign intelligence agency, the BND, for half a century. He was well-connected with senior officials in the spy agency, according to ARD.
⚡#Israel Air Force jets conducting airstrikes in southern #Lebanon in response to yesterday afternoon's rocket fire directed at Kiryat Shmona.
Preliminary info from An Nahar shows Israel Air Force jets struck an area with air-to-surface missiles, in the outskirts of the town of Al-Ayshiyeh in southern Lebanon.
Preliminary info from An Nahar shows Israel Air Force jets struck an area with air-to-surface missiles, in the outskirts of the town of Al-Ayshiyeh in southern Lebanon.
The new hardline President Ebrahim Raisi of #Iran is set to take the oath of office in a ceremony at Iran's parliament later today. His arrival has been preceded by major Iranian escalation in the Arabian Gulf, which saw two attacks on Western or Israeli oil tankers in the past week alone linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Analysts say the shadow tanker war between Iran and Israel is linked to stalled negotiations over reviving the nuclear deal in Vienna.
U.S. President Joe Biden is giving temporary safe haven to thousands of Hong Kong residents targeted by #China's anti-democratic crackdown, the White House announced Thursday morning. "There are compelling foreign policy reasons to defer enforced departure for Hong Kong residents presently in the United States," the president said in his memo codifying the 18-month delay.
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⚡️Israeli warplanes struck Lebanon for a second straight day Friday after more than 10 rockets were fired across the border amid rising tensions with Iran.
🚨 The Taliban launched series of attacks around Badakhshan capital of Fayzabad.
UN warns of a dangerous turning point in #Afghanistan, says over 1,000 people killed in the past month.
Alert: an updated map of #Afghanistan [Aug 7, 2021]. The Taliban forces continue to attack different areas. Dire situation in Sheberghan, Kunduz, Logar.
The Taliban have captured a second provincial capital in #Afghanistan, Sheberghan, a day after they took over the south-western financial hub of Zaranj.
The US sent B-52 bombers to Jawzjan province in a bid to stop the Taliban offensive there.
The US sent B-52 bombers to Jawzjan province in a bid to stop the Taliban offensive there.
⚡️#Afghanistan: The Taliban seized control of Taluqan, an important city in northern Takhar province along the border with Tajikistan - reports
An updated map of #Afghanistan [late Aug 8, 2021]. The Taliban forces are going south; clashes around Herat.
For the last 24 hours, we updated our #Afghanistan two times. The Taliban forces overran Sar-i-Pul, taken government buildings driving officials out of the main city to a nearby military base. Same situation in Kunduz.
Updated map of #Afghanistan [Aug 9]. Taliban fighters seize Aibak, the capital of Samangan – the sixth provincial capital to fall in four days. The Taliban also reportedly cut the road between Herat and Qala e Nau.
A Saudi court issued jail sentences for 69 Palestinians and Jordanians on charges of supporting #Hamas. The detainees, who have been held in #SaudiArabia since 2019, include business people, students, and academics.
❗Mozambican and Rwandan forces said they took back control of the northern Mozambican town of Mocimboa da Praia from the ISIS-linked fighters.
A coordinated #cyberattack, which most likely originated in #China, hit dozens of Israeli government and private organizations, according to the international cybersecurity company FireEye.
This is the first documented case of a large-scale Chinese attack on Israel. It was part of a broader campaign that targeted many other countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Thailand. FireEye has been monitoring the operation for two years.
According to the company’s report, the Israeli targets included state bodies and as well as private organizations from the fields of shipping, high-tech, telecommunications, defense, academia and information technology. (Haaretz)
This is the first documented case of a large-scale Chinese attack on Israel. It was part of a broader campaign that targeted many other countries, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Thailand. FireEye has been monitoring the operation for two years.
According to the company’s report, the Israeli targets included state bodies and as well as private organizations from the fields of shipping, high-tech, telecommunications, defense, academia and information technology. (Haaretz)
The Pentagon announced plans to require all 1.3m active-service American troops to get vaccinated against covid-19 by mid-September. Around 64% are already there.
All are accustomed to mandatory vaccinations, but a waiver would be needed to give them a shot which has only emergency approval. Joe Biden plans to wait until the Food and Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer vaccine, expected this month. (Economist)
All are accustomed to mandatory vaccinations, but a waiver would be needed to give them a shot which has only emergency approval. Joe Biden plans to wait until the Food and Drug Administration has approved the Pfizer vaccine, expected this month. (Economist)
#NorthKorea did not answer a daily call on a newly established military hotline with #SouthKorea hours after Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, criticized joint military exercises between Seoul and Washington.
#Thailand: At least 10 pro-democracy activists were arrested after protests against the monarchy over the weekend. They were denied bail, a human rights lawyer said. When students first called for the reform of the monarchy in protests last year, they broke a longstanding taboo in a country where the monarchy has long been a deeply revered institution with the king holding an almost God-like status.
The royal family is also protected by strict royal defamation laws carrying penalties of up to 15 years in prison.
The royal family is also protected by strict royal defamation laws carrying penalties of up to 15 years in prison.