![\nEU Forges Emergency Security Protocol Amid Heightened Russian Hybrid Threat Warning\n\nThe EU is drawing up a new mechanism to coordinate its response to Russian sabotage and other hybrid attacks, as European officials warn that Moscow is planning further operations across the continent.\n\nEuropean foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday have been tasked with developing the bloc’s so‑called “emergency security protocol,” designed to help member states coordinate their responses quickly when a hybrid threat is identified.\n\n“We need to be vigilant because we see in the intelligence that Russia is planning more sabotage acts,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said as she arrived for the talks.\n\nKallas said such attacks were aimed at European democracy, seeking to divide communities and intimidate them into withdrawing support for Ukraine.\n\n“We have to keep this in mind while standing up to these threats,” she added.\n\nThe mechanism, spearheaded by Kallas and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is intended to sit at the heart of the EU’s response to hybrid warfare.\n\nOutlined by von der Leyen in her State of the European Union speech in Strasbourg in mid‑September, it would form part of a new security structure and could be triggered by a member state when a hybrid threat is identified.\n\nEU countries would then convene to coordinate their response.\n\nKallas said the mechanism would cover incidents that fall “under the threshold for armed aggression” but nonetheless require a response.\n\nThe urgency has been underscored by a series of recent incidents, including the breach of Finnish airspace by a Russian aircraft over the Gulf of Finland on Friday, prompting Finnish and Swedish authorities to scramble fighter jets.\n\nFinnish Defence Minister Antti Hækkenän said on his way into Monday’s meeting that Europe and NATO must take “bigger measures” and establish “stronger coordination” to counter such activities.\n\nAsked about Friday’s airspace violation, Hækkenän said the incident should serve as a catalyst for Europe to strengthen its air defences further. “We need money,” he said, adding: “We need joint procurements.”\n\nSwedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson said Russia was seeking to “scare” and “intimidate” Ukraine’s allies through hybrid attacks, but argued that the strategy would fail as the EU continued to support Kyiv and impose further restrictions on Moscow.\n\n“We welcome more measures when it comes to combating the shadow fleet, when it comes to more sanctions, more visa restrictions, and of course with more support to Ukraine,” he remarked.\n\nThe incident occurred on the same day that the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (DDIS) said the risk of Russian military action against NATO countries was growing, while describing an outright invasion as “highly unlikely” but not impossible.\n\nSpanish daily newspaper El Mundo also reported last week that Russia could be preparing a drone operation targeting Spain, France and Italy.\n\nEstonia’s newly appointed Defence Minister Martin Herem said on his way into the defence meeting that Tallinn’s priority is to continue supporting Ukraine, whether through bilateral action or further discussions on the long‑debated immobilised Russian assets.\n\n“It’s all despite the fact that the Russian Foreign Minister (Sergey Lavrov) threatened us for that, and the Russian special forces are conducting sabotage acts,” he said.\n\nMinisters are also expected to discuss the EU’s first Defence Readiness Report — described by Reuters as an assessment warning that the bloc is not rearming quickly enough to be ready to defend against Russia by 2030.\n\nThe year 2030 has been identified by various European intelligence agencies as a potential point by which the Kremlin could be prepared to launch armed aggression against NATO allies.\n\nTo reduce that risk, EU member states must address gaps in air and missile defence, ground combat capabilities, naval forces, ammunition stockpiles and drones, according to Reuters.\n\nEOF_PROCESS_END\n[edit_tool(action=’read’, path=”)]](https://i0.wp.com/images.euronews.com/articles/stories/09/93/03/68/1200x675_cmsv2_99adb2f6-3185-529d-b3df-1b911e30bc41-9930368.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "\nEU Forges Emergency Security Protocol Amid Heightened Russian Hybrid Threat Warning\n\nThe EU is drawing up a new mechanism to coordinate its response to Russian sabotage and other hybrid attacks, as European officials warn that Moscow is planning further operations across the continent.\n\nEuropean foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday have been tasked with developing the bloc’s so‑called “emergency security protocol,” designed to help member states coordinate their responses quickly when a hybrid threat is identified.\n\n“We need to be vigilant because we see in the intelligence that Russia is planning more sabotage acts,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said as she arrived for the talks.\n\nKallas said such attacks were aimed at European democracy, seeking to divide communities and intimidate them into withdrawing support for Ukraine.\n\n“We have to keep this in mind while standing up to these threats,” she added.\n\nThe mechanism, spearheaded by Kallas and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, is intended to sit at the heart of the EU’s response to hybrid warfare.\n\nOutlined by von der Leyen in her State of the European Union speech in Strasbourg in mid‑September, it would form part of a new security structure and could be triggered by a member state when a hybrid threat is identified.\n\nEU countries would then convene to coordinate their response.\n\nKallas said the mechanism would cover incidents that fall “under the threshold for armed aggression” but nonetheless require a response.\n\nThe urgency has been underscored by a series of recent incidents, including the breach of Finnish airspace by a Russian aircraft over the Gulf of Finland on Friday, prompting Finnish and Swedish authorities to scramble fighter jets.\n\nFinnish Defence Minister Antti Hækkenän said on his way into Monday’s meeting that Europe and NATO must take “bigger measures” and establish “stronger coordination” to counter such activities.\n\nAsked about Friday’s airspace violation, Hækkenän said the incident should serve as a catalyst for Europe to strengthen its air defences further. “We need money,” he said, adding: “We need joint procurements.”\n\nSwedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson said Russia was seeking to “scare” and “intimidate” Ukraine’s allies through hybrid attacks, but argued that the strategy would fail as the EU continued to support Kyiv and impose further restrictions on Moscow.\n\n“We welcome more measures when it comes to combating the shadow fleet, when it comes to more sanctions, more visa restrictions, and of course with more support to Ukraine,” he remarked.\n\nThe incident occurred on the same day that the Danish Defence Intelligence Service (DDIS) said the risk of Russian military action against NATO countries was growing, while describing an outright invasion as “highly unlikely” but not impossible.\n\nSpanish daily newspaper El Mundo also reported last week that Russia could be preparing a drone operation targeting Spain, France and Italy.\n\nEstonia’s newly appointed Defence Minister Martin Herem said on his way into the defence meeting that Tallinn’s priority is to continue supporting Ukraine, whether through bilateral action or further discussions on the long‑debated immobilised Russian assets.\n\n“It’s all despite the fact that the Russian Foreign Minister (Sergey Lavrov) threatened us for that, and the Russian special forces are conducting sabotage acts,” he said.\n\nMinisters are also expected to discuss the EU’s first Defence Readiness Report — described by Reuters as an assessment warning that the bloc is not rearming quickly enough to be ready to defend against Russia by 2030.\n\nThe year 2030 has been identified by various European intelligence agencies as a potential point by which the Kremlin could be prepared to launch armed aggression against NATO allies.\n\nTo reduce that risk, EU member states must address gaps in air and missile defence, ground combat capabilities, naval forces, ammunition stockpiles and drones, according to Reuters.\n\nEOF_PROCESS_END\n[edit_tool(action=’read’, path=”)]")
Nathan Cleary has vowed to return after penning a message to fans from his hospital bed following an emergency surgery for a severe ankle injury.
The Penrith halfback was rushed to hospital during the club’s season-ending 22-14 defeat to the Newcastle Knights on Sunday after suffering a compound fracture and ankle dislocation.
Knights hooker Phoenix Crossland has been referred straight to the judiciary over the incident, with the hip-drop tackle set to rule him out of the grand final.
Cleary confirmed on Monday that he had successfully undergone surgery on his left foot via an Instagram post.
“Thank you so much to everyone that has reached out. The support has been unbelievable,” Cleary wrote.
“Yesterday sucked, but it’s all part of the journey, and it’s made me even more grateful for the people I have around me. I’ll be back.”
Further surgery remains necessary for Cleary’s right foot, after Penrith revealed the No. 7 had broken a bone in it during the week-one finals victory over the Sydney Roosters.
These injuries will prevent Cleary from attending Wednesday night’s Dally M ceremony at Barangaroo, where the playmaker is strongly expected to claim the top medal.
The Dally M is the sole major prize that has eluded Cleary throughout his illustrious career, though he remains the strong frontrunner to win the award this year.
The two-time Clive Churchill medalist held a commanding lead at the top of the leaderboard when votes were cast behind closed doors after round 12.
The severity of Cleary’s injury was highlighted when one Penrith official likened it to a gunshot wound upon his return to the sideline, following the moment the halfback was stretchered off on Sunday.
“It was really difficult to watch,” Sydney Roosters veteran Daly Cherry-Evans said on Monday.
“I’m sending out all my love to him and his recovery process. I hope it goes really smoothly. I watch it through the lens sometimes as a dad, and watching his dad up in the coach’s box, I just could not believe how he would be able to sit there, compose himself, and coach a side when his son has just had a pretty rough injury.”
What Cleary’s injury ultimately proved is the devastating damage required to remove one of Penrith’s players from the field during a crucial match.
Dylan Edwards also suffered a suspected PCL rupture in the first half of Sunday’s loss, though he managed to soldier through the match.
He is now in doubt for the upcoming World Cup, with fellow fullback Reece Walsh also racing against the clock to be fit for Australia’s October 15 tournament opener against New Zealand.
Blaize Talagi ruptured his Achilles tendon in the second half, while Australia captain Isaah Yeo has admitted he may also have to withdraw from the World Cup.
The Penrith lock had delayed surgery on a ruptured pectoral muscle to play in the Panthers’ finals series, but he still requires an operation.
“I don’t know if I’ll be available yet. I’ll have to talk to the club as well because it will affect the start of next season if I was to prolong it,” Yeo said.
“That’s a conversation for probably later on next week with Ivan and the staff.”
Also Read
- Newcastle United Set to Block January Move for Key Midfielder
- Virat Kohli Surpasses Two Sachin Tendulkar Records in Record-Breaking ODI Century Against West Indies
- Norris Issues Private Apology to Colapinto Over Controversial Race Ban Remarks
- Four Potential Paths Ahead for the Premier League Following Manchester City’s Verdict
