Ukraine's drone attack sparks fire at chemical plant in Russia's Tula region, governor says
AN OVERNIGHT Ukrainian drone attack sparked a short-lived fire at the Azot chemical plant and injured two people in Russia's Tula region, a regional governor said early on Sunday.
'The fire has been extinguished,' Governor Dmitry Milyaev said on the Telegram messaging app.
He said that there is no threat to the air quality near the plant, but environmental monitoring will continue.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Three dead, 35 injured in Ukrainian strike on factory in Russia's Izhevsk, governor says
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Three people were killed and 35 others injured in a Ukrainian drone strike on a factory in the Russian city of Izhevsk, regional governor Alexander Brechalov on his Telegram channel on Tuesday. Brechalov did not name the targeted facility, but a Ukrainian security official earlier told Reuters that at least two long-range drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine struck the Kupol plant, which manufactures drones and air defenсe systems, and caused a fire. A column of black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from the site of a fire at a cluster of buildings in videos shared by the Ukrainian official who said the plant's production facilities and warehouses had been hit. Reuters could not independently verify the claim. Brechalov said he had he informed Russian President Vladimir Putin about the incident. Kupol is a research and development enterprise and part of the state-owned Almaz-Antey defense conglomerate. Izhevsk is also home to the world-renowned Kalashnikov defense manufacturing concern. (Reporting by Reuters in Moscow and Kyiv; Writing by Gleb Stolyarov/Maxim Rodionov; Editing by Mark Trevelyan/Guy Faulconbridge)
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Drones, dark web used by wildlife traffickers in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Wildlife trafficking syndicates in Malaysia are stepping up their game by using drones, dark web platforms, and modern weaponry to avoid detection, said a source from federal police. The source from the Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigation Intelligence (WCB/PSK), under the Internal Security and Public Order Department, said the groups are operating covertly and across borders, making enforcement more difficult despite ongoing operations. "These syndicates are becoming more organised and technologically savvy. "They monitor law enforcement movements using drones and carry out illegal activities silently," the source told Harian Metro. He said investigations revealed that protected wildlife species are being sold through social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram, using coded terms like "rare items" or "special items" to avoid detection. "Transactions are often conducted using dummy accounts, making it difficult to trace financial trails and identify the culprits," he said. The syndicates also smuggle wildlife products such as pangolin scales, turtle eggs, and exotic species by hiding them in courier parcels declared as ordinary goods. The source cited the largest seizure to date as involving a full Malayan tiger skin, turned into a decorative trophy, with an estimated value of RM100,000. "Tiger skin, pangolin scales, elephant ivory, and exotic animals are in high demand on the black market, especially in foreign countries for traditional medicine, luxury items, and status symbols," he was quoted as saying in a front-page report in Harian Metro today (July 1). Malaysia has become a transit point for wildlife trafficking due to this demand, which is also fuelled by poverty among some locals who view poaching as a source of income. "Limited resources, vast forest areas, and a lack of awareness on species conservation have hampered enforcement," the source said. He said syndicates move in small groups and exploit hotspots where authorities are weakest. Although the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 (Act 716) and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Act are in place, the effectiveness of enforcement remains a challenge. "If enforcement is inconsistent and lacks preventive elements, existing penalties will not deter criminals," he said. While no direct threats have been made against officers, the source warned that most poachers are armed and that operations are conducted with officers' safety as a top priority. To address the growing threat, enforcement agencies have intensified joint operations through Op Bersepadu Khazanah (OBK), in cooperation with the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan), Customs Department, Sabah Wildlife Department, and Sarawak Forestry Corporation. The government has also increased penalties, with offenders now facing up to 15 years in prison and fines of up to RM1 million for serious offences. The bureau is also working with Interpol and foreign agencies to track and dismantle international smuggling syndicates. Meanwhile, enforcement is targeting exotic food outlets, black markets, and restaurants believed to store or sell protected species. A public awareness campaign is being carried out through social media, including WCB/PSK's official TikTok account, encouraging the public to report any suspicious activity to the police or Perhilitan hotline. "There will be no compromise. Anyone found promoting or engaging in illegal wildlife trade can be investigated under the Wildlife Conservation Act, the Anti-Money Laundering Act (Amla), and the Communications and Multimedia Act," the source said. To further strengthen efforts, the WCB/PSK has proposed the formation of an Inter-agency operation to synchronise enforcement under joint leadership and ensure all actions are monitored with proper checks and balances.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Canadian teen jailed in Poland as Russia spy may be freed early, court says
FILE PHOTO: An undated handout photo of Canadian teenager Laken Pavan standing by a military vehicle. Andelaine Nelson/Handout via REUTERS/File photo WARSAW (Reuters) -A Canadian teenager sentenced in Poland last year to 20 months in prison for spying for Russia could be released early under certain conditions, a Polish court said on Tuesday. A statement by the court did not give details of the possible conditional release. Europe is in a heightened state of alert over what security agencies across the continent call Russia's "hybrid war" of sabotage and espionage - accusations which the Kremlin has repeatedly denied. Laken Pavan, who turned 18 a few weeks after his arrest, pleaded guilty to charges of helping Russian intelligence and was sentenced in December 2024. He is due to leave prison in January 2026. On April 16, 2024 Pavan flew from Vancouver to Moscow via Istanbul and joined a volunteer group in the Russian-occupied eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, according to Polish court documents seen by Reuters. The organisation's social media account said it was set up in 2014 to recruit mercenaries to fight for Russia in Donetsk and the neighbouring Ukrainian region of Luhansk and to organise humanitarian projects for civilians. Pavan told Polish investigators that in late April 2024 he was arrested in Donetsk and questioned by men who said they were from Russia's Federal Security Service, according to the court documents. After several days of detention, Pavan said, he was instructed to return to Europe, lose his passport to conceal his trip to Russia and begin working for the FSB, the documents showed. He told Polish prosecutors he flew to Copenhagen, but later decided to move to Warsaw as life in Denmark was too expensive. A couple of days after checking into a Warsaw budget hotel, Pavan said, he asked a receptionist to call police. When they arrived, he confessed to working with the FSB and planning to pass information about Poland's military to his Russian handler, the court documents showed. (Reporting by Anna Koper; editing by Mark Heinrich)
