Iranian agents target Sydney; Japan quake & more
Today’s briefing covers a major security warning regarding foreign-directed attacks in Sydney and Melbourne, a severe earthquake in northern Japan, and record-breaking heatwaves across Europe.
You should be aware of heightened security concerns in Sydney and Melbourne following reports that Iranian agents directed arson attacks against local Jewish targets. Australia’s spy chief confirmed that the Revolutionary Guard—a powerful branch of Iran’s military—used two individuals who previously lived in Australia to coordinate these strikes from abroad. This revelation highlights the reach of foreign interference and the specific risks currently facing Jewish community sites in major cities.
Travelers to northern Japan should prepare for significant disruption after a magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck on Thursday morning. The quake registered an "upper 6" on the Japanese seismic scale, a rare level of intensity that makes it nearly impossible to stand and can cause buildings to collapse. While no tsunami was triggered, the region is assessing damage to infrastructure and transport links.
A United Nations commission has issued a report accusing the Israeli military of deliberately targeting Palestinian children in Gaza, stating these actions amount to genocide. The findings represent a major development in the international legal assessment of the war, which continues to be a point of high concern and protest within Australia.
If you are heading to Western Europe, be prepared for record-breaking heat as a severe heatwave hits France, the UK, and Spain. France has recorded its hottest day ever, and authorities are warning of health risks and potential infrastructure failures due to the extreme temperatures.
For more on these stories and updates on a deadly earthquake in Venezuela, the arrest of a South Korean church leader, and rising tensions in the Taiwan Strait, visit the News section in the app.