Former Russian military intelligence officer turned double agent
British authorities report a surge in proxy-style arson and sabotage linked to foreign-state tactics. Suspects are lured via social media for money; Iran, Russia, and others are cited as potential sources. Legislation aims to curb such proxies, with penalties up to 14 years in prison.
The UK has sanctioned Russian individuals and institutes over chemical weapon usage and a Russian Bear-F aircraft has been intercepted near HMS Prince of Wales in the Norwegian Sea amid NATO operations. The incident comes as Britain stresses safety and prods Russia over its conduct at sea and in airspace.
EU and UK sanctions have broadened to seven individuals and two institutes in response to the use of chemical agents, including Novichok and epibatidine, in Salisbury and against Alexei Navalny. Foreign officials condemn Russia’s actions as a violation of international law and vow accountability.
David Robert Mitchell has released The End of Oak Street, a 1982‑set sci‑fi horror that transports a suburban neighbourhood into a dinosaur‑infested prehistoric landscape. Critics have praised Anne Hathaway’s performance and the film’s technical craft, but they have criticised its uneven tone, derivative Spielberg pastiche and an undercutting finale. Reviews started publishing 12 August 2026.
Germany is confronting a wave of hybrid threats including drone incursions, espionage, and cyber activity. Authorities say a drone loaded with explosives at Leipzig-Halle airport did not detonate, prompting a broader push to expand anti-drone capabilities and strengthen oversight. The incident underscores a persistent security challenge linked to foreign powers and the evolving nature of state-backed interference.
Poland has detained a suspect on Aug. 7, believed to be recruited by Russians and aimed at an American-Ukrainian citizen, in what Prime Minister Donald Tusk calls the first known attack on a US national ordered from Moscow on NATO soil. Poland says the operation involved US services and its own security agencies; authorities offer few further details.