Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has labeled the drone incursion that disrupted Copenhagen Airport on Monday night as “the most severe attack on Danish infrastructure so far.” The incident, which forced the closure of Kastrup Airport for several hours, was described as an attempt to “disrupt, create unrest, and test the limits” of Denmark’s defenses. Frederiksen drew parallels between this event and recent Russian drone incursions in Poland, Romania, and Estonia, suggesting a broader pattern of destabilization. While Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the allegations as “unfounded,” Danish intelligence warned of a “high threat of sabotage.” Flemming Drejer, director of operations at Denmark’s intelligence service PET, noted that the motive may have been to “stress us out and see how we react.” Around 20,000 passengers were affected by the airport closure, which resumed operations after midnight. Danish police described the drone operators as a “capable actor” but have yet to identify their origin. In Norway, Oslo Airport also faced a temporary closure due to suspected drone activity, with 14 flights diverted. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store condemned Russia’s repeated airspace violations in 2025, emphasizing that such actions are “not acceptable.” The incidents have heightened tensions in Europe, with NATO bolstering its eastern flank by deploying troops and fighter jets from member states, including the UK, France, Germany, and Denmark. The alliance has also warned of a “wider pattern of increasingly irresponsible Russian behavior” following recent incursions into Poland, Romania, and Estonia. As the conflict in Ukraine continues, NATO members like Poland and Sweden have vowed to shoot down any unauthorized objects in their airspace, underscoring the growing security challenges in the region.
分类： world
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Copenhagen and Oslo airports forced to close temporarily due to drone sightings
Major airports in Denmark and Norway were temporarily shut down on Monday night following unidentified drone sightings, causing significant disruptions to air travel. Copenhagen Airport in Denmark and Oslo Airport in Norway were both forced to suspend operations for nearly four hours, impacting approximately 20,000 passengers. Danish authorities reported that two to three large drones were observed flying near Copenhagen Airport, prompting the activation of armed forces. However, police emphasized there was no evidence suggesting the drones intended to cause harm, speculating instead that the operator aimed to ‘show off.’ Both airports resumed operations by early Tuesday morning. Investigations are ongoing, with Danish police implementing unspecified measures to address the incident. Meanwhile, Norwegian authorities confirmed a drone sighting near Oslo Airport, leading to similar airspace closures. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky referenced a ‘Russia’s violation’ of NATO airspace in Copenhagen on September 22, though no official attribution has been made by EU or NATO leaders. Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 reported at least 35 flights bound for Copenhagen were diverted due to the closure. Both countries are now assessing the security implications of these incidents.
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Clashes break out as Italians strike demanding action over Gaza
Italy witnessed widespread protests on Monday as thousands of citizens rallied in solidarity with Palestinians, coordinated by trade unions across the country. The demonstrations, marked by clashes with police, were particularly intense in Milan and Rome, with around 60 officers reported injured near Milan’s central station. Protesters called for a ceasefire in Gaza and burned a U.S. flag, while fringe groups engaged in violent confrontations, throwing stones and smoke bombs at law enforcement. The unrest disrupted public transport, shut down key metro lines, and blocked major ports in Livorno and Genoa. University students in Turin and Bologna also joined the protests, barricading lecture halls. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala condemned the vandalism, stating it undermined the cause of Gaza. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has faced criticism for her stance on Gaza, labeled the violence as shameful and counterproductive. Meanwhile, France’s President Emmanuel Macron announced the formal recognition of a Palestinian state, describing it as a necessity for peace. This move, following similar decisions by the UK, Canada, and Australia, was met with backlash from Israel, which denounced it as a reward for Hamas. Macron’s decision, supported by Belgium, Malta, and Luxembourg, was hailed by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot as a diplomatic victory. However, Italy and Germany, key European powers, have not followed suit. The protests and diplomatic shifts highlight the deepening divide over the Israel-Gaza conflict in Europe.
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‘I’m Kenyan, don’t shoot’ – the athlete who says he was duped into the Russian army
In a heart-wrenching video released by a Ukrainian army brigade, Evans Kibet, a 36-year-old Kenyan athlete and prisoner of war, tearfully pleaded not to be sent back to Russia, fearing for his life. The aspiring long-distance runner, dressed in a red sports top with the brigade’s flag behind him, claimed he was deceived into joining the Russian army and is desperate to return home to his 16-year-old daughter. The 57th Separate Motorised Infantry Brigade, which shared the video on Facebook, stated that Kibet had fought on the enemy’s side, leaving the credibility of his emotional appeal to viewers’ discretion. The brigade confirmed the interview was conducted with Kibet’s consent, though the BBC has not independently verified this. Kibet’s case highlights the plight of foreign recruits in the Russian army, many of whom are reportedly from poorer countries and end up in Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps. Petro Yatsenko, Ukraine’s spokesperson on POW treatment, revealed that citizens from Somalia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Cuba, and Sri Lanka are among those currently held. Kibet’s family in Kenya is in shock, with his cousin Edith Chesoi expressing deep trauma and sleepless nights. Known as a humble and dedicated athlete, Kibet had built his life around running, competing in lesser-known races across Europe and Asia. Friends say he had been struggling financially, which may have led him to accept an offer from a sports agent to travel to Russia for races. Kibet insists he went as a visitor, not for military purposes, but was coerced into signing Russian-language documents that bound him to the army. After a week of basic training, he escaped during his first mission and surrendered to Ukrainian soldiers. Kibet’s family is urging Kenyan authorities to intervene, and a senior foreign ministry official assured that the government is actively pursuing the matter. Ukraine has expressed openness to repatriation negotiations if Kenya shows interest. For Kibet’s loved ones, his safety is the only priority. ‘If he made a mistake, let them forgive him. We only want him back,’ his brother said.
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Murdered Kenyan’s friends want UK soldier to face justice
More than a decade after the tragic murder of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru in Kenya, a Kenyan court has issued an arrest warrant for a British national suspected of the crime. If extradited, this would mark the first instance of a serving or former British soldier being tried abroad for the murder of a civilian. Agnes, a young mother, was killed in March 2012, and her body was discovered in a septic tank near the Lions Court Hotel in Nanyuki, Kenya. The case has drawn significant attention due to allegations of a cover-up by the British Army. Agnes’s friends recall the night she went missing, describing her interactions with British soldiers at a local bar. Despite initial assumptions of a consensual arrangement, Agnes was later found stabbed to death. The Kenyan judge concluded in 2019 that British soldiers were responsible for her murder. Recent investigations have revealed ongoing misconduct by British soldiers in Kenya, including transactional sex with vulnerable women. In April 2025, UK Defence Secretary John Healey met with Agnes’s family, offering condolences and pledging support for justice. The issuance of the arrest warrant in September 2025 is seen as a significant step toward accountability, though legal hurdles remain. Agnes’s family and friends continue to seek justice, emphasizing the need for financial security for her now-teenage daughter.
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Israel’s genocide in Gaza: Whatever happened to South Africa’s case at the ICJ?
In December 2023, South Africa brought a landmark case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of genocide in its military operations in Gaza. This marked the first time Israel’s actions were formally challenged on the global stage since the war began on October 7, 2023. The case has since become one of the most significant legal disputes in recent history, drawing widespread international attention. However, nearly two years later, the ICJ has yet to deliver a final judgment, with the process expected to extend into 2027 or beyond. The case has been characterized by its complexity, with multiple provisional measures issued against Israel, though compliance has been minimal. The death toll in Gaza has surged to over 66,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, underscoring the urgency of the situation. South Africa has pursued a multifaceted strategy, including diplomatic efforts and the formation of the Hague Group, to hold Israel accountable. Meanwhile, a recent UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, further intensifying the legal and political stakes. The ICJ’s eventual ruling, while legally binding, faces enforcement challenges, particularly given the likelihood of a US veto in the UN Security Council. The case’s outcome could have profound implications for international law, Israel’s global standing, and the pursuit of justice for Palestinian victims.
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Significant rise in civilian killings in Sudan conflict this year, says UN human rights office
The United Nations Human Rights Office has raised alarm over a sharp increase in civilian fatalities in Sudan during the first half of 2025, attributing the surge to escalating ethnic violence. Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva on Friday, Li Fung, a representative from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Sudan, described the situation as dire, stating, ‘Every day we are receiving more reports of horrors on the ground.’ According to a newly released report by the OHCHR, at least 3,384 civilians lost their lives between January and June, with the majority of the killings occurring in the Darfur region. The report underscores the urgent need for international attention and intervention to address the growing humanitarian crisis in the country. The UN has called for immediate action to protect civilians and prevent further loss of life.
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From Sudan to Ukraine: Why Colombian mercenaries keep fighting foreign wars
In the desolate plains of Sudan, where a brutal civil war has left the nation in ruins, a small convoy of makeshift militarized vehicles gathers. Amidst the chaos, the sounds of vallenato—traditional Colombian folk music—echo from a car radio, a stark reminder of the presence of Colombian mercenaries in this distant conflict. Their involvement has recently come under intense scrutiny after Sudan lodged a formal complaint with the UN Security Council, accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of financing and deploying these mercenaries to fight alongside the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group opposing the Sudanese military. The UAE has denied these allegations.
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Feathers fly in dispute over Ambani zoo’s pursuit of rare parrot
In a complex international saga involving conservation, diplomacy, and wildlife trade, the transfer of 26 Spix’s macaws to a private zoo in India has sparked global scrutiny. The birds, declared extinct in the wild in 2019, were part of a captive-breeding program in Brazil before being sent to the Vantara animal rescue and rehabilitation center in Gujarat, India, in 2023. The facility, operated by the philanthropic arm of the Ambani family, Asia’s wealthiest, has faced questions over the legality and ethics of the transfer. While Indian investigators cleared Vantara of wrongdoing, Brazil and European officials remain concerned. Brazil claims it did not consent to the transfer and has raised the issue at CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) meetings. Germany, which initially approved the transfer, later rejected further shipments after consulting with Brazilian authorities. Vantara, which houses over 2,000 species, insists the transfer was lawful and non-commercial, aimed at conservation breeding. The controversy highlights the challenges of balancing conservation efforts with international wildlife trade regulations. As discussions continue, the fate of these rare birds remains a focal point of global conservation debates.
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British couple held for months by Taliban released from prison
An elderly British couple, Peter Reynolds, 80, and his wife Barbie, 76, who had been detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for nearly eight months, have finally been released. The couple, who had lived in Afghanistan for almost two decades, were apprehended on February 1 while traveling home. Their release was secured through Qatari mediation, according to an official familiar with the case. During the final stages of negotiations, the couple was transferred from Kabul’s central prison to a larger facility. A Qatari official confirmed that the couple will first travel to Qatar for medical evaluations before returning to the UK, despite their long-term residence in Afghanistan’s Bamiyan province. The release comes after months of relentless public advocacy by their family. Just six days prior to their release, Faye Hall, an American woman who had been detained with them but was released two months into her captivity, shared with the BBC that the couple’s health had severely deteriorated in prison, stating they were ‘literally dying’ and that ‘time is running out.’