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Photo: CIA/X By Jonathan Landay, Reuters The US CIA launched a new drive to recruit informants in China, Iran and North Korea, adding to what it says has been a successful effort to enlist Russians. The premier US spy agency posted instructions in Mandarin, Farsi and Korean on its accounts on X, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, LinkedIn and the Dark Web on how to contact it securely, a CIA spokesperson said in a statement. "Our efforts on this front have been successful in Russia, and we want to make sure individuals in other authoritarian regimes know that we're open for business," the spokesperson said, adding that the CIA was adapting to increased state repression and global surveillance. A Mandarin-language video posted to Youtube featuring only written instructions advised individuals...

Relatives and friends mourn by the grave of Israeli soldier Eitan Itzhak Oster killed in fighting in the northern border area with Lebanon, during his funeral at the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem. Photo: AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP By Ari Rabinovitch and Maya Gebeily, Reuters Israel said eight of its soldiers were killed in combat in south Lebanon as its forces thrust into its northern neighbour in a campaign against the Hezbollah armed group. The losses were the deadliest suffered by the Israeli military on the Lebanon front in the past year of border-area clashes between Israel and its Iranian-backed Lebanese foe. Hezbollah said its fighters were engaging Israeli forces inside Lebanon on Thursday, reporting ground clashes for the first time since Israeli forces pushed over the bor...

Sean 'Diddy' Combs is already in custody awaiting trial on three counts of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering. Now he's set to face lawsuits from 120 people who have accused him of sexual assault and abuse. Photo: AFP / Angela Weiss Hip hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs, already in custody awaiting trial on three counts of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering, is now set to face lawsuits from 120 people who have accused him of sexual assault and abuse. Last month the 54-year-old was arrested in a New York hotel and taken into police custody. Reuters reported that prosecutors accused Combs of running a criminal enterprise to facilitate his exploitation of women, dating back at least 16 years. According to the 14-pag...

Photo: 123rf An earthquake measuring 6.8 magnitude has struck Tonga, the US Geological Survey says. The quake on Wednesday was at a depth of 10 km, USGS said. The US National Tsunami Center said it does not expect a tsunami after the earthquake. - Reuters Source link

By James Mackenzie and Maya Gebeily This picture shows projectiles being intercepted by Israel near the northern city of Baqa al-Gharbiya on 1 October, 2024. Photo: AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday in retaliation for Israel's campaign against Tehran's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon, drawing vows of a sharp response from both Israel and the United States. Alarms sounded across Israel and explosions could be heard in Jerusalem and the Jordan River valley. Israelis piled into bomb shelters and reporters on state television lay flat on the ground during live broadcasts. Israel said more than 180 missiles were launched into Israel from Iran and Israeli air defences were activated to intercept them. US Navy warships fired about a dozen interceptors again...

This video grab from AFPTV taken on 14 April, 2024 shows explosions lighting up Jerusalem sky during Iranian attack on Israel. Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirmed early April 14, 2024 that a drone and missile attack was under way against Israel in retaliation for a deadly 1 April drone strike on its Damascus consulate. Photo: AFPTV / AFP Israel's Iron Dome air defence system has intercepted thousands of rockets since it went into operation in 2011, providing the country with crucial cover during times of conflict. It has been heavily relied upon to protect military and civilian sites from frequent barrages of rockets fired from Gaza and Lebanon in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Israel's air defences were in operation on Tuesday night, when Iran fired missiles at Israel in w...