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Russia suspected of jamming GPS on plane carrying Ursula von der Leyen | Ursula von der Leyen

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Russia is believed to have jammed the satellite signal of a plane carrying the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, over Bulgaria, reportedly forcing it to circle an airport for an hour.

Von der Leyen was travelling to Plovdiv on Sunday when her charter plane lost satellite navigation aids, delaying its arrival in the central Bulgarian city.

The commission deputy spokesperson Arianna Podestà confirmed the incident. “We have received information from the Bulgarian authorities that they suspect this was due to blatant interference by Russia. Of course, we are aware and used to … the threats and intimidations that are a regular component of Russia’s hostile behaviour,” she said.

Interference with satellite navigation has become increasingly common in airspace near Russia and it is unclear whether von der Leyen was deliberately targeted. Asked about this point, Podestà said: “The question is best asked to the Russians.”

Major airports use a variety of tools to navigate and land if GPS is not working, including radio navigation, which is reliable.

The incident was first reported by the Financial Times, which said von der Leyen’s plane circled Plovdiv airport for an hour.

The incident happened during a four-day trip by von der Leyen to seven EU member states on the bloc’s eastern border. In Vilnius on Monday, von der Leyen did not mention the incident but spoke of “constant military and hybrid threats” facing Lithuania.

Referring to two drones that crossed Lithuania’s border with Belarus last month, she said: “As Lithuania is being tested, Europe as a whole is being tested.”

The commission spokesperson said the incident “only reinforce[s] even further our unshakeable commitment to ramp up defence capabilities and our support for Ukraine”.

In March 2024, Russia was believed to have been responsible for jamming the signal of a plane carrying Grant Shapps, the then UK defence secretary, who was returning to the UK from Poland. The RAF plane was affected by GPS interference for about 30 minutes while it flew near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. It was reported at the time that it was unclear whether Shapps was the target.

GPS jamming and “spoofing” – an electronic warfare tactic that causes incorrect navigation information to be displayed – has increased since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and escalated even more sharply in the last year.

In June, 13 EU member states raised the alarm about jamming and spoofing threats disrupting air and sea travel. Poland recorded 2,732 cases of electronic interference in January 2025, up from 1,908 in October 2023, while Lithuania recorded 1,185 cases in the same month, up from 556 in March 2024, according to an internal EU document drafted in May.

The document describes interference to global satellite navigation systems as “not random incidents but a systemic, deliberate action by Russia and Belarus”. It says: “Causing significant damage has been simple and cheap” and is likely to continue without “proportional countermeasures”.

The commission said on Monday it had imposed sanctions on several companies involved in GPS signal disruption “in the very obvious blatant case of these originating from Russia”. It said it was developing an aviation-specific plan and broader strategies to prevent jamming.

Separately, Ukrainian police have accused Russia of involvement in the weekend killing of a former parliamentary speaker and pro-western politician.

Andriy Parubiy, a key figure in Ukraine’s anti-Russia movement, was shot dead in the western city of Lviv on Saturday by a man dressed as a delivery driver.

The national police chief, Ivan Vyhivskyi, said on Facebook: “We know that this crime was not accidental. There is Russian involvement. Everyone will be held accountable before the law.”

He said the killer disguised himself as a courier and opened fire on Parubiy in broad daylight, firing his weapon eight times. The shooter made sure that the victim was dead, Vyhivskyi said.

“He spent a long time preparing, watching, planning, and finally pulling the trigger. It took us only 36 hours to track him down and arrest him,” he said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the “horrific murder” had affected “security in a country at war”.

Hopes for a ceasefire are low after last month’s summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump provided no tangible results. A deadline set by the US president at the summit for the Russian leader to take action to end the war or face new sanctions is due to expire this week. Trump has a history of delaying threatened action. On Friday Emmanuel Macron said Putin was trying to “play” Trump.

Von der Leyen said Ukraine’s allies were working on security guarantees. She described the first line of defence as “a strong, well-equipped and experienced” Ukrainian army, and the second as “a multinational group from the coalition of the willing, with the backstop of the Americans”.

About 30 countries – known as the coalition of the willing – have pledged support for Ukraine but it remains unclear how many European countries would send troops or how those forces could be deployed. The US expects European countries to do the heavy lifting but could provide logistical support.

Zelenskyy is expected to meet European leaders in Paris on Thursday as part of an attempt to force an end to Russia’s three-and-a-half-year-old invasion.



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Packers deliver statement win over Commanders behind Jordan Love, Micah Parsons, Tucker Kraft

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If the Packers used a Week 1 domination of the Lions as a major statement, they backed it up and then some in Week 2. The Packers (2-0) defeated the Commanders (1-1), 27-18, fueled by an explosive, efficient offense and a tremendous defense that seemed to move at a completely different speed than Washington’s offense.

Love finished with 292 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns, with six completions for 124 yards and a score going to Kraft. Micah Parsons officially recorded a half-sack, but his impact was much larger than that, and Green Bay sacked Jayden Daniels four times while smothering would-be pass catchers.

After a slow start — Jayden Reed’s shoulder injury being the main development — Green Bay’s offense got rolling on its second drive, fueled by a 57-yard completion from Love to Kraft after Kraft broke free down the middle. Love connected with Romeo Doubs for a 5-yard touchdown shortly thereafter.

Washington did not manage a single first down in the first quarter — a first since Daniels’ arrival — and Green Bay embarked on another long drive early in the second quarter, highlighted by a remarkable, twisting 37-yard catch from Malik Heath.

Josh Jacobs powered in from two yards out to make it 13-0. Commanders defensive lineman Deatrich Wise Jr. got carted off after trying to block the extra point (which was successful), adding to Washington’s woes. He was later ruled out with a quad injury.

Washington finally got on the board with a 51-yard Matt Gay field goal, but Gay missed a 58-yarder that could have cut the deficit further just before the half. But Green Bay’s Brandon McManus then doinked a 48-yard try as time expired.

Down 17-3 after a McManus field goal, Washington finally found the end zone via a 20-yard Zach Ertz catch-and-run. Green Bay answered, though, with another touchdown drive, this one capped by Love’s 8-yard touchdown toss to Kraft.

McManus nailed a 56-yard field goal shortly thereafter to extend the lead to three scores. Daniels found Deebo Samuel Sr. for a touchdown late, but it proved to be only window dressing — and a costly one at that: Austin Ekeler suffered a non-contact Achilles injury and was carted off the field.

Washington will hope to use the mini-bye to recuperate before hosting the Raiders in Week 3. Green Bay will hope to carry momentum over to a Week 3 visit to the Browns.





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1 injured while U.S. Naval Academy building was cleared after reported threat

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A person was injured while a building was being cleared Thursday afternoon at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, according to the Naval Support Activity Annapolis.

Maryland Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth said a midshipman was injured.

The campus was on lockdown following reports of threats, the academy said. The NSA said the reports were of suspicious activity on the Naval Academy grounds.

“Our Midshipmen are our best and brightest young Americans, and like all students, they deserve to feel safe on campus,” Rep. Elfreth said. “Thankfully, the Midshipman who was injured during the clearing of a building is in stable condition.”

Navy officials said there was no active shooter threat. However, a person was injured when Naval Security Forces were clearing a building on campus. The person was flown by medevac to a hospital.

Police presence was seen around Bancroft Hall, a large residence hall on campus that houses 1,600 midshipmen.

“The base is on lockdown out of an abundance of caution,” a U.S. Naval Academy spokesperson said. “This is a developing situation, and we will provide updates as they become available.”

The governor’s office says there is no credible threat at the U.S. Naval Academy. 

“Absolutely terrifying,” said Annapolis resident Anne Lillefloren. “You are thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I know students there, I know staff there. I walk around the academy almost every morning with my dad. So everyone who comes in contact, you’re thinking. ‘Oh, who could be there? Who could this reach? Just panic, and in today’s climate, what can happen, all of these false reports, so you don’t know what the truth is.”



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Packers vs. Commanders live updates: Game score, analysis, highlights for ‘Thursday Night Football’

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Two franchises who are polar opposites, when it comes to roster construction, will collide Thursday night at Lambeau Field with the Washington Commanders (1-0) facing off against the host Green Bay Packers (1-0).

Washington is the NFL’s oldest team with an average age of 28 years and 243 days while Green Bay is the NFl’s youngest team for the third consecutive season with an average age of 25 years and 292 days. Thursday night will also feature a reunion of old “friends” with new Packers All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons reconnecting with one of his former NFC East foes in Washington 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year quarterback Jayden Daniels. 

Parsons obliterated the Commanders’ front in his two matchups as a Dallas Cowboy in 2024: he totaled seven quarterback pressures and four-and-a-half sacks in those meetings. That production made Parsons the only player in the NFL to sack Daniels more than twice last season. 

On the other side of the ball, Packers quarterback Jordan Love will become the first quarterback to start for Green Bay against Washington other than either Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers since Don Majkowski in 1988. Love also has eight consecutive regular season starts without an interception, and with a clean game Thursday night, he can tie Rodgers’ nine-game stretch in 2018 for the longest interception-less streak by a Packers quarterback in the Super Bowl era. 

Will Love, Parsons and the Packers power Green Bay to their first 2-0 start since 2020? Or will Daniels lead the Commanders to their  first win at Lambeau Field since 1986? Stay tuned to our live blog below to find out! 

Where to watch Packers vs. Commanders live





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