Briefly

MIDDLE EAST

Israeli special forces capture Hamas official

Israeli special forces captured a Hamas militant leader in a raid in Gaza City on Tuesday, authorities said. Israel's military said in a statement that special forces from the Shin Bet intelligence agency captured Hamas' internal security service chief in a joint operation with the military in a Hamas-controlled area of Gaza City. Hours after the raid, the Hamas-run Gaza interior ministry said that a Hamas officer, Moin Al-Arabeed, was injured and captured by Israel while his wife was killed and some of his children were injured. While Hamas did not identify his role, Al-Arabeed is known to be a powerful member of the group's security service.

AFRICA

Ebola deaths cross 3,000 in DR Congo

The number of deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ebola outbreak has surpassed 3,000, government data showed on Wednesday, as the country's worst-ever epidemic continues to spread across its northeast. The outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, became the largest and deadliest in the DR Congo's history after surpassing the 2018-20 epidemic. It is now second only to the 2014-16 West African outbreak, which infected over 28,600 people and killed more than 11,000 across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Government figures showed the death toll had risen to 3,007, while confirmed cases reached 6,186. The outbreak was formally declared in Ituri Province on May 15, though some health officials and experts say it may have started as early as January.

RUSSIA

Moscow summons Germany's envoy

Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday summoned German acting ambassador to Moscow after Germany blamed Moscow for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport last month and ordered a series of measures in response, including a consulate closure in Bonn. The European Union and several individual member states have summoned Russian embassy officials over the alleged drone attack attempt. Russia has said it has seen no evidence supporting Berlin's accusations and that it will respond. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Germany's government wants to distract from its own failings and dissatisfaction among voters with "the need to counter an aggressive Russia".

EGYPT

Bus crash leaves 22 dead in Sinai

At least 22 people were killed in a bus accident on Egypt's Dahab-Nuweibaa road in South Sinai on Wednesday, the health ministry said. A number of Jordanians were on the bus and initial information indicated some were killed and some were injured, Jordan's Foreign Ministry said.

AGENCIES VIA XINHUA