Russia's Hybrid War on the West: A Creeping Threat
Russia is waging a hybrid war against the
West, using a variety of tactics to destabilize the region and weaken its
resolve to help Ukraine. These tactics include espionage, cyberattacks, disinformation,
and sabotage.
1. Russia has been ramping up its hybrid
war operations in recent months, targeting critical infrastructure and
government institutions across Europe.
2. The goal of these attacks is to sow
discord within NATO and undermine Western support for Ukraine.
3. Many of the attacks are carried out by
proxies, making it difficult to attribute them directly to Russia.
4. Experts warn that Russia's hybrid war is a long-term threat that the West needs to take seriously.
Read more on CNN:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/30/europe/russia-hybrid-war-nato/index.html
Bulgarian Customs Seize Massive Heroin Haul Worth €4.8 Million
1. Bulgarian customs intercepted 106
kilograms (233 pounds) of heroin valued at €4.8 million ($4.9 million) in a car
coming from Turkey.
2. The 38-year-old driver, holding both
French and Turkish citizenship, has been detained and faces up to 20 years in
prison if convicted of drug trafficking.
3. The heroin was concealed in 209 sealed
bags hidden under the car seats, discovered during a search on Monday.
4. The route used is a common drug
trafficking path from Afghanistan through Iran, Turkey, and Bulgaria to Western
Europe.
5. Bulgaria, an EU member, has recently
intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Read more:
Russian Missile Attack in Kharkiv Kills Four as Biden Approves U.S. Counterstrikes
1. Russian ballistic missiles struck an
apartment block in Kharkiv, killing at least four people and injuring 25 in a
night-time attack.
2. The strike came shortly after U.S.
President Joe Biden approved Ukraine's use of American weapons to counterattack
Russian military assets in the Kharkiv region.
3. Russia launched five S-300/S-400
missiles, with one hitting a residential building and another targeting first
responders 25 minutes later, a tactic known as a "double tap."
4. The attack is part of a broader Russian
offensive in Kharkiv, stretching Ukraine's already depleted forces and causing
mass evacuations.
5. While Biden's decision allows Ukraine to
use U.S.-supplied weapons for defensive counterfire, restrictions remain on
using these weapons to strike inside Russian territory, frustrating Ukrainian
officials.
Read more at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ukraine-ap-kharkiv-russia-prague-b2554378.html
NATO foreign ministers gathered in Prague to prepare for the upcoming leaders' summit
NATO foreign ministers gathered in Prague
to prepare for the upcoming leaders' summit and discuss increased support for
Ukraine, particularly regarding the use of Western-supplied weapons.
Following President Biden’s approval for
Ukraine to use American munitions to defend Kharkiv, several NATO countries,
including the Netherlands, Finland, Poland, and Germany, voiced their support.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
emphasized Ukraine’s right to self-defense, including targeting legitimate
military threats inside Russia.
Ukrainian officials, led by President
Zelenskyy, have been pressing for more flexibility in using Western weapons,
especially as Russian attacks from its territory have intensified.
The NATO summit in Washington will
celebrate the alliance's 75th anniversary, with expectations that at least
two-thirds of members will meet the defense spending commitment of 2% of GDP.
Read more at: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ukraine-ap-kharkiv-russia-prague-b2554378.html
Turkey and Germany in Diplomatic Row Over Turkish Soccer Player's Controversial Goal Celebration
1. Turkish defender Merih Demiral sparked
controversy by making a "wolf salute," linked to the right-wing
extremist group "Grey Wolves," after scoring against Austria in the
European Championship.
2. Germany summoned Turkey’s ambassador to
Berlin, escalating a diplomatic dispute, while Turkey recalled the German
ambassador in response.
3. UEFA is investigating Demiral’s gesture,
which has been condemned by German leaders as inappropriate and xenophobic.
4. Turkey criticized Germany’s reaction,
calling it xenophobic, and defended the gesture as a cultural symbol,
condemning UEFA's investigation.
5. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is
expected to visit Berlin for Turkey’s game against the Netherlands amidst the
ongoing diplomatic tensions.
Read more at: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/04/sport/merih-demiral-celebration-controversy-turkey-euro-2024-spt-intl/index.html
Migrants Struck by Train in Serbia
1. Incident Details: Two migrants were
killed by a train on the railway between Pirot and Dimitrovgrad in eastern
Serbia, near the Bulgarian border.
2. Time of Accident: The accident occurred
around 8 p.m. on Thursday.
3. Investigation: Police are working to
identify the men and determine whether they were alone or part of a larger
group.
4. Migration Route: Migrants often use
railway tracks to navigate towards Western Europe, entering Serbia from
Bulgaria before heading to EU member states.
Read more at: [AP News](https://apnews.com/hub/migration)
News bits collected and drafted by:
Deepanshi Pathak (BA IR, 2nd year) (Region Head)
Uttam Roy (BA IR 2nd year)
Published By: Varsha Das (BA IR, 2nd year)
