South Korea has sentenced Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han to two years in prison for political funding violations and bribery. The Seoul Central District Court found that Han was involved in giving 100 million won to a ruling-party lawmaker before the 2022 presidential election. She was also convicted over luxury gifts, including Chanel bags and a diamond necklace, given to former first lady Kim … Continue reading South Korea hands jail term to Unification Church leader

Israel and Greece have signed a $3.5 billion defense agreement for Israel to build Greece a multi-layered air defense system known as the “Achilles Shield.” The system will combine Israeli-made technologies, including David’s Sling, SPYDER, BARAK MX and advanced radar systems, to protect against missiles, aircraft and drones. Greece is also purchasing a separate Drone Dome system to defend strategic sites from drone attacks. The … Continue reading Israel signs $3.5 billion air defense deal with Greece

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is winning on the battlefield in Ukraine and claimed Russian forces are continuing to make advances. He said Russian troops had captured territory in Donetsk and were putting pressure on Ukrainian forces in several areas. Putin also dismissed reports that Russia may need another military mobilization, calling such claims “utter nonsense.” He accused Ukraine’s leadership of terrorism and said … Continue reading Putin says Russia is winning on battlefield, will not negotiate with ‘terrorists’

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned airlines and insurers that Russian airspace is becoming increasingly dangerous because of Ukraine’s expanding drone operations. He said the growing number of Ukrainian drones over Russia could effectively make the country’s airspace unusable for civilian aviation. Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine does not intend to target civilian aircraft, but warned that airlines flying through Russian airspace must account for the increasing … Continue reading Zelenskyy warns ‘Russian airspace will effectively be closing’

Germany has officially accused Russia of being behind an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August. German authorities said explosive-laden drones were found near Ukrainian cargo aircraft, raising concerns about a deliberate attack on critical infrastructure. Germany described the incident as part of a broader Russian hybrid warfare campaign involving sabotage, espionage and other covert operations. In response, Berlin announced the closure of Russia’s … Continue reading Germany blames Russia for airport drone plot, shuts down consulate

Japan’s Defense Ministry has requested a record 8.9 trillion yen ($55.6 billion) for the next fiscal year as it prepares for changing military threats.  The plan focuses heavily on drones, artificial intelligence and long-range weapons, including attack drones and hypersonic missiles.  Japan also wants to develop an AI system that can help military commanders make faster decisions and establish a Defense Ministry cloud for secure … Continue reading Japan to beef up its defense with drones, AI and missiles

Explosions were heard across Kyiv early Tuesday as Russia launched another major air attack on the Ukrainian capital and surrounding areas. The strikes killed at least 12 people in Kyiv and the surrounding region and injured more than a dozen others, including children. Russian drones and ballistic missiles struck residential areas, railway infrastructure and other locations, causing fires and significant damage. Ukrainian officials said the … Continue reading Russian air attacks kill 12 in Kyiv region on sixth day of strikes

Israeli forces carried out a heavy wave of strikes across Gaza, saying the attacks were intended to remove threats to Israeli security forces. The strikes came as an Israel-backed Palestinian militia reportedly conducted a raid in Gaza City targeting senior Hamas officials. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said a senior Hamas member was captured during the operation, with a security source identifying him as the … Continue reading IDF strikes Gaza as Hamas official captured in reported raid

Several improvised explosive devices were found at a power substation near Germany’s Jänschwalde coal-fired power plant in Brandenburg after what authorities believe was a deliberate attack. The attackers reportedly fired rockets at the facility, damaging several power lines and prompting emergency crews to respond. The grid operator 50Hertz said there was a brief interruption of service, but all power lines have since been restored. Police … Continue reading Improvised explosive devices found near German power plant, police say