Global News Snapshot: Rising Tensions and Political Turmoil

A comprehensive overview of current global news including Taiwan's enhanced war games, Russia's potential changes to nuclear policy, France's far-right electoral lead, Israeli conflicts, and various geopolitical events. The article covers prominent international developments affecting multiple regions from Europe to Asia.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

Taiwan war games to mimic combat as closely as possible

Taiwan's annual war games this year will be as close as possible to actual combat, no longer just putting on a show to score points but aiming to simulate real fighting given a rapidly rising "enemy threat" from China, a senior official said. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its territory, has been staging regular exercises around the island for four years to pressure Taipei to accept Beijing's claim of sovereignty, despite Taiwan's strong objections.

Russia could reduce decision time for use of nuclear weapons, lawmaker says

Russia, the world's biggest nuclear power, could reduce the decision-making time stipulated in official policy for the use of nuclear weapons if Moscow believes that threats are increasing, parliament's defence committee chairman said. The war in Ukraine has triggered the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, with President Vladimir Putin last month saying that Russia might change its official nuclear doctrine setting out the conditions under which such weapons could be used.

France's far right National Rally still leading ahead of election, poll shows

France's far right National Rally (RN) party and its allies are seen leading the first round of the country's parliamentary elections with 35.5% of the vote, according to a poll published Sunday. The Ipsos survey - conducted for Le Parisien newspaper and Radio France on June 19-20 - showed the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) alliance in second place with 29.5% of the vote.

Israeli tanks at edge of Rafah's Mawasi refuge zone, residents say

Israeli tanks advanced to the edge of the Mawasi displaced persons' camp in the northwest of the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Sunday in fierce fighting with Hamas-led fighters, residents said. Images of two Israeli tanks stationed on a hilltop overlooking the coastal area went viral on social media, but Reuters could not independently verify them.

Russia missile attack on Kyiv region injures two, damages houses, Ukraine says

Two people were injured and scores of residential and other buildings were damaged in a Russian missile attack on the Kyiv region overnight, the head of the region's state administration said on Sunday. Of the three missiles launched by Russia, Ukraine's air defence systems destroyed two over the Kyiv region, Ukraine's Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said on Sunday.

Russia says three killed, nearly 100 wounded in Ukrainian ATACMS attack on Crimea

Ukraine attacked the city of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula on Sunday with five U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles, killing three people, including two children, and injuring about 100 more, Russian officials said. The Russian Defence Ministry said four of the U.S. delivered missiles were shot down by air defence systems and the ammunition of a fifth detonated in mid-air.

Israel defence chief to discuss Gaza, Lebanon on U.S. trip

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant headed to Washington on Sunday to discuss the next phase of the Gaza war and escalating hostilities on the border with Lebanon, where exchanges of fire with Hezbollah have stoked fears of wider conflict. Iran-backed Hezbollah has been trading fire with Israel since the Gaza war erupted more than eight months ago. The group has said it will not stop until there is a ceasefire in Gaza.

EU seeks defence industry partnerships with Japan, South Korea, says Nikkei

The European Union is seeking security and defence industry partnerships with Japan and South Korea aimed at joint development of military equipment, the Nikkei reported on Sunday, citing a senior EU commission official. These would mark the EU's first such security and defence-related collaboration with Asian nations, the Japanese business newspaper said in a report from Brussels that did not identify the official.

Israeli forces strap wounded Palestinian to jeep during raid

Israeli army forces strapped a wounded Palestinian man to the hood of a military jeep during an arrest raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin on Saturday. A video circulating on social media and verified by Reuters showed a Palestinian resident of Jenin, Mujahed Azmi, on the jeep that passes through two ambulances.

Philippines not in business of instigating wars, says President Marcos

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Sunday his country is not in the business of instigating wars and will always aim to settle disputes peacefully, amid escalating maritime confrontations with China. "In defending the nation, we stay true to our Filipino nature that we would like to settle all these issues peacefully," Marcos said in a speech to troops of the Western Command unit in charge of overseeing the South China Sea.