Morning Brief: Gunman Kills 4 in Manhattan Skyscraper Shooting, Hackers Ground Dozens of Russian Flights in Major Cyberattack

· Guy D. McCardle

An Aeroflot Airbus A350 (Wikimedia Commons)

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, July 29, 2025. Overnight headlines bring sharp escalations and fragile truces. A deadly Manhattan shooting has shaken one of the city’s most secure business towers. Israel faces growing backlash over Gaza aid as Netanyahu doubles down. Hackers grounded Russian flights, Trump tightened his Ukraine ultimatum, and North Korea made its nuclear stance clear. Here’s what you need to know.

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Gunman Kills 4, Including NYPD Officer, in Manhattan Skyscraper Shooting

A gunman armed with an assault-style rifle opened fire Monday inside a Manhattan skyscraper that houses the NFL headquarters and offices of major firms like Blackstone and KPMG, killing four people, including a New York City (NYC) police officer, before taking his own life.

The shooter, identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura of Las Vegas, began his attack in the lobby of 345 Park Avenue during evening rush hour, then moved to a 33rd-floor office suite before fatally shooting himself.

Authorities said Tamura had a documented history of mental illness but no significant criminal record. Investigators have yet to determine a motive.

One of the victims was Officer Didarul Islam, 36, a Bangladeshi immigrant, father of two, and security detail assigned under a New York City Police Department (NYPD) commercial protection program.

NYC Mayor Eric Adams called him a “true blue” hero. Three additional victims, two men and a woman, were also killed, and a fifth victim remains in critical condition.

NYPD and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel secured the building, locked down the area, and launched an investigation. Witnesses described panic and confusion as the incident unfolded.

The shooting marks a rare but deadly act of gun violence in Midtown Manhattan’s corporate corridor, sparking renewed concern over public safety in high-profile commercial hubs.

 

Netanyahu Denies Starvation in Gaza as Trump, Aid Workers Dispute Claim

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted Monday that “there is no starvation in Gaza,” denying accusations that Israel is restricting humanitarian aid. He stated that Israel has consistently allowed aid to enter the territory and claimed that, without it, “there would be no Gazans.”

US President Donald Trump publicly disagreed, citing widespread images of malnourished civilians. “Those children look very hungry,” Trump said, pushing back against Netanyahu’s denial.

Over the weekend, Israel announced humanitarian pauses, airdrops, and expanded aid routes under international pressure. However, residents and aid groups say conditions remain unchanged.

The United Nations described the effort as a limited one-week scale-up and noted Israel has not committed to sustaining the measures.

On the ground, Palestinians like Hasan Al-Zalaan criticized the aid deliveries as inadequate and disorganized. “This aid, delivered in this way, is an insult,” he said, describing chaotic scenes at drop sites.

Israel maintains that Hamas is obstructing aid distribution, claiming militants divert supplies for their own use. The UN disputes that claim, stating that looting is not systematic and that aid reaches civilians when delivered in sufficient volume.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains dire, with international scrutiny increasing.

 

European Union Proposes Cutting Israeli Tech Funding Over Gaza Humanitarian Crisis

The European Commission on Monday proposed suspending Israel’s access to European Union (EU) funding for tech start-ups under the Horizon research program, citing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The move comes amid rising pressure from several EU member states demanding concrete action against Israel.

The proposed suspension, described as “targeted and reversible,” would halt funding for Israeli companies working in areas such as drone technology, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence (AI).

In 2024, Israel ranked among the top three Horizon applicants, alongside Germany and France.

The decision now awaits approval from a majority of the EU’s 27 member states, who will meet on Tuesday to discuss the measure.

The EU has struggled to form a unified stance on the Gaza conflict due to internal divisions. However, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas recently advanced punitive options after determining Israel breached a human rights cooperation agreement with the bloc.

While the EU acknowledged that Israel has allowed more aid access into Gaza and announced limited daily humanitarian pauses, Brussels said the steps remain insufficient. Humanitarian organizations warn that Gaza’s two million residents face famine and malnutrition despite modest improvements in aid delivery.

Officials say suspending Horizon funding would serve as a signal that the EU is prepared to escalate pressure unless Israel takes more significant action to alleviate the crisis.

 

Ukrainian, Belarusian Hackers Ground Dozens of Aeroflot Flights in Major Cyberattack

Ukrainian group Silent Crow and Belarusian group Cyber Partisans claimed responsibility Monday for a cyberattack on Russia’s national airline Aeroflot, which disrupted at least 64 flights and forced the cancellation of 14 more.

The attack, which targeted Aeroflot’s internal IT infrastructure, marks the first major instance of a cyber operation grounding flights in Russia since the Ukraine war began.

Russia’s prosecutor’s office confirmed a criminal investigation is underway and described the incident as a “hacking attack.”

Aeroflot cited a general IT system failure, while the Kremlin expressed concern and said it was awaiting a full explanation.

Hackers claimed they exploited lax cybersecurity, noting that Aeroflot’s CEO had not changed his password since 2022 and that the airline still relied on outdated systems like Windows XP and Windows 2003. They also threatened to release personal data of Russian passengers.

Although Aeroflot insisted that most flights were operating normally and that recovery efforts were underway, the attack caused significant travel disruptions at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport.

This cyberattack follows a broader trend of digital warfare since the Ukraine invasion, with pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian hacking groups escalating operations.

Europol recently dismantled a pro-Russian cyber group tied to thousands of attacks across Europe.

The Aeroflot incident adds to the growing cyber dimension of the conflict, underscoring vulnerabilities in Russian critical infrastructure.

 

Russian Strikes Kill 21 in Ukraine as Trump Issues Ultimatum to Putin

Russian airstrikes overnight killed at least 21 people and wounded scores in Ukraine, targeting a prison and medical facilities, Ukrainian officials said Tuesday.

The attacks come as US President Donald Trump warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that he has 10 to 12 days to halt the violence or face sanctions and tariffs, advancing a prior 50-day deadline.

In Zaporizhzhia, four Russian glide bombs struck the Bilenkivska Correctional Facility, killing 17 inmates and injuring over 80 others. The strike destroyed key prison infrastructure but no escapes were reported.

In Dnipro, Russian missiles hit Kamianske, killing four, damaging a maternity hospital and other medical buildings, and injuring several civilians, including a pregnant woman now in critical condition.

Ukrainian authorities condemned the attacks as war crimes. In total, Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 37 Shahed-type drones, and decoys overnight. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 32 drones.

Trump, speaking from Scotland, expressed disappointment in Putin and demanded immediate progress on peace by August 7–9.

The Kremlin rejected the ultimatum, with Dmitry Medvedev warning it risks war not with Ukraine, but with the US.

Despite the rhetoric, Moscow shows no sign of de-escalating as the war enters its third year and civilian casualties’ mount.

 

Kim Yo Jong Rejects US Denuclearization Push, Demands Recognition of North Korea’s Nuclear Status

Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a top foreign policy official, dismissed US interest in resuming denuclearization talks, insisting Washington must accept North Korea as a nuclear state and offer incentives to restart dialogue. Her remarks signal Pyongyang’s demand for recognition and rewards in exchange for only partial nuclear concessions.

In a statement Monday, Kim rebuked reported US suggestions that President Donald Trump remains open to engaging with Kim Jong Un. While acknowledging the personal rapport between Trump and her brother, she said relying on their past relationship without a changed approach would be “a mockery.”

She emphasized North Korea’s nuclear capability has “sharply increased” since the 2018-19 Kim-Trump summits collapsed over sanctions relief disagreements.

Analysts say North Korea seeks phased denuclearization talks tied to major benefits, including broad sanctions relief and the suspension of US-South Korea military drills. Trump’s desire for a diplomatic win and possible Nobel Peace Prize may motivate renewed outreach, but experts note his unpredictability complicates the path forward.

Kim Yo Jong also dismissed South Korea’s recent peace overtures, calling them insincere due to Seoul’s alliance with Washington. North Korea’s alignment with Russia and its focus on military cooperation with Moscow suggest Pyongyang sees no urgency to resume US-led diplomacy.

The prospect of renewed talks may hinge on the outcome of the Russia-Ukraine war and whether Trump uses upcoming global forums, such as the APEC summit in South Korea, to propose a direct meeting with Kim Jong Un. However, Kim Yo Jong derided the idea of her brother attending such a summit as “a daydream.”

 

Thailand-Cambodia Ceasefire Holds Amid US Trade Pressure, But Tensions Linger

A fragile ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia appeared to hold Tuesday following deadly border clashes that killed at least 41 people and displaced over 260,000.

The truce, brokered under US pressure and finalized in Malaysia, was quickly tested as Thailand accused Cambodia of early violations, claims Phnom Penh denied.

Local commanders later met and agreed to halt troop movements, avoid escalation, and coordinate ahead of an August 4 joint border meeting.

The agreement, made during talks hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, followed warnings from President Donald Trump that US trade deals with both countries would be suspended if fighting continued.

Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the ceasefire, with Trump pledging US involvement in ceasefire monitoring and promising favorable tariff negotiations with both sides.

Despite signs of calm and partial returns of displaced residents, communities along the 800-kilometer (497-mile) disputed border remain wary.

Residents in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchay and Thailand’s Surin province reported shelling and airburst artillery as recently as Monday night. Some locals have returned home cautiously, while others remain on alert.

The conflict reignited Thursday after a landmine injured five Thai soldiers, exacerbating tensions rooted in a long-standing territorial dispute. Analysts warn the truce remains politically fragile.

Experts stress that the ceasefire may only be temporary without a clear border demarcation and long-term diplomatic effort. Trump’s trade leverage provided a short-term solution, but the core issues remain unresolved.

 

Sources: News Agencies