Following threats by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to respond “in kind” to actions against Russian vessels, the UK has stressed that the detention of Russia’s “shadow fleet” tankers is fully in accordance with international law. “The UK is disrupting and deterring shadow fleet vessels and their harmful maritime activity which...
German government approves major reform of intelligence services
The German cabinet, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, on Wednesday approved a package of bills that significantly expands the powers of the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV). The reform, prepared by the Interior Ministry under Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), is intended...
Spanish and Dutch police dismantle cocaine-smuggling and money-laundering network
Spain’s National Police has dismantled a criminal organisation that smuggled large shipments of cocaine into Europe and laundered the proceeds. Officers conducted the investigation jointly with Dutch law enforcement authorities. The network based itself in Spain’s Málaga province and maintained links with various European countries as well as South America....
Slovak opposition demands Interior Minister’s resignation over Russian road cameras scandal
Slovakia’s opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) party has called on Prime Minister Robert Fico to immediately dismiss Interior Minister Matúš Šutaj Eštok following a scandal involving road cameras containing Russian components. The party described the installation of the devices on Slovak roads as a “security scandal” and further evidence that...
Swiss government approves VAT increase to fund the Army
The Swiss Federal Council on Wednesday approved a decree on a temporary increase in the value-added tax (VAT) by 0.5 percentage points. This was announced by the Federal Council’s press service. The increase will apply to the standard VAT rate and remain in force for 12 years, starting in 2028....
US and 40 other countries call for 24-hour advance notice of missile launches
The governments of 41 states have called for mandatory 24-hour advance notification of launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and space launch vehicles. This is stated in a joint statement published on the website of the U.S. Permanent Mission to International Organizations in Geneva. The signatories include the...
German lawmaker calls for preemptive cyberattacks on Russian drone factories
The chairman of the Bundestag’s Parliamentary Oversight Committee, Marc Henrichmann of the CDU, has proposed giving German intelligence agencies the power to launch preemptive cyberattacks against Russian drone manufacturers. Henrichmann argued that the Federal Intelligence Service (BND) and the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV) require “the...
US begins sending confiscated “shadow fleet” tankers for scrap
The US government has sold for scrap two sanctioned oil tankers previously seized in operations targeting sanctions evasion linked to Russia, Iran, and Venezuela. The buyer is the Dubai-based ship recycling company Global Marketing Systems (GMS). The deal, whose value has not been disclosed, was concluded in July on the...
Austria exposes network supplying equipment to Russia’s defense industry in circumvention of EU sanctions
Austria’s Directorate of State Security and Intelligence (DSN) has exposed an international network that organized the supply of highly specialized industrial equipment to Russia’s defense industry in circumvention of European Union sanctions. This was reported on Monday by the website of Austria’s Ministry of the Interior. At the center of...
Scandal erupts in Poland over President Nawrocki’s free official housing
Poland’s Supreme Audit Office (NIK) has found that the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) failed to charge Karol Nawrocki for occupying a guest room at the institution while he served as its chairman. The audit concerns a 71-square-metre room. Unpaid rent and utility costs totalled 55,200 zlotys — roughly €13,000–14,000...