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Russian Special Forces Used an Abandoned Gas Pipeline to Launch an Attack on Ukranians in the Kursk Region

Ukrainian troops successfully repelled an attack by Russian special forces who used a gas pipeline to infiltrate the outskirts of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast, Ukraine's General Staff reported on Saturday. Ukrainian military sources and Russian pro-Kremlin war bloggers said the Russian special forces traveled approximately 9 miles inside the gas pipeline—formerly used to transport gas to Europe—before emerging near Sudzha. (Read More)​

Europe Urged to Reconsider F-35 Purchase from US Over 'Kill Switch' Fears

Germany's impending acquisition of 35 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets has sparked concerns that the United States could remotely disable the aircraft in a crisis. Fears of a so-called “kill switch” have intensified following reports that the U.S. may have restricted critical targeting data for HIMARS rocket systems in Ukraine after the U.S. announced its decision to pause intelligence aid to the country. (Read More)​

Escalating Violence in Syria Leaves Over 1,000 Dead Amid Sectarian Tensions

Syria is experiencing one of its deadliest outbreaks of violence since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad, with over 1,000 people killed in recent clashes. The violence, centered in Assad’s coastal strongholds, has escalated rapidly, drawing international concern and sparking urgent calls for accountability. (Read More)​

Ukraine Struggles to Hold Kursk as Russia Advances

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Sunday that its forces had recaptured four settlements in the Kursk region: Malaya Lokhnya, Cherkasskoye Porechnoye, Kositsa, and Lebedevka. Russian forces have also claimed the capture of Novenke in Ukraine’s Sumy region, marking Moscow’s first territorial gain there since the early days of the war in 2022. Additionally, Russian advances in Donetsk have brought troops closer to the Dnipropetrovsk region, an area previously untouched by direct fighting. (Read More)​

Qatar Warns of Environmental Threat from Attack on Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani has warned that a military strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities would pose a severe environmental and humanitarian threat to the Gulf region, potentially contaminating the waters that sustain Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Kuwait. (Read More)​

12th Marine Littoral Regiment Activates Final Combat Team to Bolster Indo-Pacific Readiness

The 12th Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) activated its third and final subordinate element, the 12th Littoral Combat Team (LCT) in Okinawa this week. “The MLR is growing fast, but we got a whole lot stronger today,” said Col. Peter Eltringham, commanding officer of 12th Marine Littoral Regiment. (Read More)​

Humanoid Robots Join Police Patrols in China, Drawing Public Fascination

Humanoid robots have joined police patrols in Shenzhen, China, capturing public attention with their human-like movement. The PM01 model robots, developed by Shenzhen-based startup EngineAI, have been seen walking alongside police officers, greeting pedestrians, and responding to voice commands. (Read More)​​​​

European Ministers Back Arab-Led Gaza Reconstruction Plan Amid US and Israeli Rejection

Foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom announced their support on Saturday for an Arab-backed plan to rebuild Gaza, which is projected to cost $53 billion. The European ministers described the initiative as a “realistic path” to improving conditions in the war-torn enclave and emphasized the importance of avoiding the displacement of Palestinians. (Read More)​

Secret Space Force Payloads Monitor China’s Satellite Surveillance Network, Official Says | Breaking Defense

The U.S. Space Force has been using classified sensors since 2023 to monitor China’s space surveillance network (SOSI). While the project is a success, SRCO director Kelly Hammett warns that workforce cuts under the Trump administration are straining operations. With a hiring freeze in place, maintaining and expanding these capabilities is becoming increasingly difficult. (Read More)​