Elbit Systems Ltd. is in the news as Israel’s drone and defense export powerhouse, amid global protests, legal fights, and anti-arms actions. Israel-based defense contractor, founded 1966.
A Bristol Crown Court jury finds a 16-year-old defendant not guilty of murder and manslaughter in the death of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe in Weston-super-Mare. The boy admitted to stabbing during a playground-like confrontation but says it was intended to scare her, not kill. Aria’s family pays tribute to her life as the court hears the events of 15 December 2025.
A fire at an industrial site in Pardubice, Czech Republic, on March 20 was claimed by a pro-Palestinian group. Several individuals, including foreigners, have been detained. The attack targeted a company developing weapons for Israel, with no injuries reported. The case remains under investigation.
Serbia has announced plans to develop advanced drones and digitize its military, aiming to enhance regional security. The country has purchased significant military equipment from Israel, France, China, and Russia, and is establishing a drone manufacturing plant with Elbit Systems. This move signals Serbia's focus on modernizing its armed forces amid regional tensions.
Multiple attacks against Elbit Systems in Germany have been reported, including vandalism at an Ulm office and protests at a UK factory. The incidents are linked to ongoing tensions over the Gaza conflict, with activists citing opposition to Israel's military actions. The German court is pursuing charges against five activists involved in the Ulm attack.
Four members of Palestine Action have been convicted of criminal damage for the 2024 Elbit Systems raid in Bristol; one defendant is also convicted of grievous bodily harm. Sentencing is set for June 12 as courts review the proscription status and potential terror links.
Israeli defense firms have pivoted from film sets to military drone components, driving sales toward a record near $15 billion in 2024 and expanding international orders despite criticism of Israel’s wars. Massivit’s 3D-printed drone parts illustrate a broader shift in defense manufacturing amid global demand for missiles, rockets and air-defense systems.
A roundup of recent murder cases across several outlets, highlighting trials in Teesside, London, Southampton, and Oldbury. Reports cover the defendants’ actions, court findings, and sentencing developments as cases unfold.
The OUT Museum, created by Chen in San Francisco’s Chinatown, has opened with a small exhibit of Chinese queer art, as activists and artists push for broader recognition of LGBTQ+ voices in China and the diaspora. The project began in China via Kickstarter and now thrives in a city navigating policy changes around LGBTQ+ rights.
Palestine Action activists convicted of criminal damage at Elbit Systems UK facility in Bristol are facing potential terrorism-tagged sentences. A judge has found a terrorist connection, triggering harsher penalties and lifetime monitoring for the four defendants, with supporters and critics voicing strong opinions ahead of further legal action.
The Court of Appeal has ruled that the home secretary lawfully proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, reversing a High Court judgment. The ruling preserves a ban that criminalises membership or support and has already prompted thousands of arrests and fresh police action at protests outside the Royal Courts of Justice.