It was a fairly regular day on the ward for Canberra hospital infectious diseases physician Sanjaya Senanayake, until a neurosurgeon colleague called him and said: “Oh my god, you wouldn’t believe what I just found in this lady’s brain – and it’s alive and wriggling.”

The neurosurgeon, Dr Hari Priya Bandi, had pulled an 8cm-long parasitic roundworm from her patient, prompting her to call on Senanayake and other hospital colleagues for advice about what to do next.

The patient, a 64-year-old woman from south-eastern New South Wales, was first admitted to her local hospital in late January 2021 after suffering three weeks of abdominal pain and diarrhoea, followed by a constant dry cough, fever and night sweats.

By 2022, her symptoms also included forgetfulness and depression, prompting a referral to Canberra hospital. An MRI scan of her brain revealed abnormalities requiring surgery.

“But the neurosurgeon certainly didn’t go in there thinking they would find a wriggling worm,” Senanayake said. “Neurosurgeons regularly deal with infections in the brain, but this was a once-in-a-career finding. No one was expecting to find that.”

The surprising discovery prompted a team at the hospital to quickly come together to uncover what kind of roundworm it was and, most importantly, decide on any further treatment the patient might require.

“We just went for the textbooks, looking up all the different types of roundworm that could cause neurological invasion and disease,” Senanayake said. Their search was fruitless and they looked to outside experts for help.

“Canberra is a small place, so we sent the worm, which was still alive, straight to the laboratory of a CSIRO scientist who is very experienced with parasites,” Senanayake said. “He just looked at it and said, ‘Oh my goodness, this is Ophidascaris robertsi’.”

Ophidascaris robertsi is a roundworm usually found in pythons. The Canberra hospital patient marks the world-first case of the parasite being found in humans.

The patient resides near a lake area inhabited by carpet pythons. Despite no direct snake contact, she often collected native grasses, including warrigal greens, from around the lake to use in cooking, Senanayake said.

The doctors and scientists involved in her case hypothesise that a python may have shed the parasite via its faeces into the grass. They believe the patient was probably infected with the parasite from touching the native grass and transferring the eggs to food or kitchen utensils, or after eating the greens.

Senanayake, who is also an infectious diseases expert based at the Australian National University, said the patient needed to be treated for other larvae that might have invaded other parts of her body, such as the liver. But given no patient had ever been treated for the parasite before, care was taken. Some medications for example could trigger inflammation as the larvae died off. Inflammation can be harmful to organs such as the brain, so they also needed to administer medications to counteract any dangerous side-effects.

“That poor patient, she was so courageous and wonderful,” Senanayake said. “You don’t want to be the first patient in the world with a roundworm found in pythons and we really take our hats off to her. She’s been wonderful.”

The patient is recovering well and is still being regularly monitored, Senanayake said, and researchers are exploring whether a pre-existing medical condition that caused her to be immunocompromised could have led to the larvae taking hold. The case has been documented in the September edition of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, three-quarters of new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals.

Senanayake said the world-first case highlighted the danger of diseases and infections passing from animals to humans, especially as people and animals start to live more closely together and habitats overlap more.

“There have been about 30 new infections in the world in the last 30 years,” he said.

“Of the emerging infections globally, about 75% are zoonotic, meaning there has been transmission from the animal world to the human world. This includes coronaviruses.

“This Ophidascaris infection does not transmit between people, so this patient’s case won’t cause a pandemic like Covid-19 or Ebola. However, the snake and parasite are found in other parts of the world, so it is likely that other cases will be recognised in coming years in other countries.”

Infectious diseases physician Prof Peter Collignon, who was not involved in the patient’s case, said some cases of zoonotic diseases may never be diagnosed if they are rare and physicians don’t know what to look for.

“Sometimes, people die with the cause never being found,” he said.

“It’s worth taking care when encountering animals and the environment, by washing foods thoroughly and cooking food properly, and wearing protection like long sleeves so you don’t get bitten,” he said.

The Guardian, UK

Gary Marcus, cofounder of the Center for the Advancement of Trustworthy AI, has for years been highly critical of generative artificial intelligence and large language model applications like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. These programs consume vast quantities of data to perform various functions, from creating new cocktail recipes to sharing insights about the folding sequences of proteins.

Marcus recently wrote that there are “not one, but many, serious, unsolved problems at the core of generative AI.” He isn’t alone. During an interview earlier this month, theoretical physicist Michio Kaku dismissed AI chat bots as “glorified tape recorders” that are only a “warped mirror of what’s on the internet the last 20 years.”

Yet that hasn’t stopped popular culture, business blogs, and tech enthusiasts from contemplating their supposedly revolutionary implications. There are many unknowns about general artificial intelligence and its role in American society, but one point is becoming clear: Open-source AI tools are turning the internet into an even murkier den of confusion. 

One of Marcus’s chief concerns is that these models can create self-amplifying echo chambers of flawed or even fabricated information, both intentionally and unintentionally. AI researchers Maggie Harrison and Jathan Sadowski have each drawn attention to what the latter cleverly termed “Habsburg AI,” which appears when AI-generated information is fed back into another AI program on a loop. What results is a sort of information “inbreeding” that drives the AI mad, causing it to spew abominations of data. Yet even absent these conditions, human influence on the information filtering process creates opportunities for additional forms of distortion.

Practices known as search-engine poisoning, keyword stuffing, or spamdexing involve programmers boosting the visibility of certain sites or products artificially by manipulating a search engine’s indexing system. Unfortunately, AI can supercharge these manipulative schemes. But malicious intent aside, the sheer breadth of online data can lead programs to mistake such volume for veracity. Take, for instance, something as simple as a famous quote.

“The society that separates its scholars from its warriors will have its thinking done by cowards and its fighting done by fools” is one of the most misattributed phrases on the internet. Google and Bing searches yield an avalanche of results giving credit for this wisdom to the fifth-century B.C. Athenian general Thucydides. Indeed, the quote is one of ChatGPT’s top three responses to the prompt “Thucydides quotes.”

Though he was a warrior and a scholar, Thucydides never wrote those words. The quote, transformed over the years through endless paraphrasing, is from a biography of British General Charles George Gordon written by Sir William Francis Butler and published in 1891. Ironically, another quote frequently misattributed to Thucydides is that “knowledge without understanding is useless.”

Yet according to the dominant search engines — increasingly popular sources of human knowledge — Thucydides did say those things. This is one example of an artificial historical fact. The problem might seem trivial when quoting an ancient Athenian, but what about when vetting U.S. foreign policy for historical context, responding to a rapidly evolving pandemic or trying to make sense of potentially cherry-picked declassified intelligence that could lead a nation to war?

Earlier this month, I published a study describing how disinformation made its way into trusted sources and shaped the consensus to invade Iraq in 2003. If available at the time, AI-powered news filters could have further reinforced that narrative and stifled or altogether silenced opposition. Such a predicament emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 presidential election, as social media platforms banned what they considered suspect reports that wound up being true. Society’s insatiable demand for rapid and continuous information access has also become a lucrative market that large language models are perfectly suited to exploit.

Questionable AI-authored literature now floods online bookstores, luring buyers with trending topics and promises of expertise on a budget. One error-riddled book about the recent fires in Maui appeared on Amazon within two days of the disaster. It had the same title as Michael Wolff’s wildly popular 2018 book on the Trump administration, “Fire and Fury.” The book was #1 in the natural disasters category before Amazon took it down, and this incident is far from isolated. 

If these practices are not curbed, they could produce a Tower of Babel effect by creating an online ecosystem of self-replicating fictions. Americans read fewer books, have less faith in the news, view higher education as less important and rely more than ever on TikTok for their news, all of which makes the modern world fertile ground for algorithmic manipulation. Making matters worse, traditional checks on specious information — such as expert knowledge, reputable publishing agenciesand hard news sources — have lost much of their influence.

AI’s threat to society therefore looks less like James Cameron’s vision of a cyborg Armageddon and more like a hopelessly polluted information environment in which everything is disputed and meaningful communication is impossible. Advanced search tools can reinforce rather than refine the prejudices or policies of their human masters, which hyper-accelerates human bias online.

AI itself poses less of a risk to humanity than malign actors who seek to abuse it or those who put misplaced faith in its role as a gatekeeper of human knowledge. If Washington and Silicon Valley wade into the age of artificial truth without a clear strategy for managing its risks, America could end up drowning in a sea of incoherence.

Capt. Michael P. Ferguson, U.S. Army, is a Ph.D. student in the Department of History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is coauthor of “The Military Legacy of Alexander the Great: Lessons for the Information Age.” The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policies or positions of the U.S. Army, U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. Government.

The Hill

Few names command as much respect and admiration as Warren Buffett in business and investment. The "Oracle of Omaha" is known for his exceptional investment prowess and his unwavering commitment to ethical practices.

One of the most crucial lessons he imparts is the significance of hiring people with integrity. He often cites the quote, "In looking for people to hire, you look for three qualities: integrity, intelligence, and energy. And if they don't have the first, the other two will kill you."

For Buffett, integrity isn't just a nice-to-have quality; it's a non-negotiable foundation on which successful companies are built.

Integrity as a competitive advantage

Buffett's emphasis on integrity is not just a moral stance; it has far-reaching implications for decision-making and long-term success. 

He believes that when a company's leaders and employees operate with integrity, they are more likely to make decisions that benefit the organization as a whole, rather than pursuing short-term gains or engaging in unethical practices.

I agree. 

In my work as an executive coach, I have seen numerous companies with a strong culture of integrity as having a competitive advantage. Businesses that prioritize ethical behavior tend to attract loyal customers and dedicated employees, fostering an environment of trust that is invaluable in the business world.

Two big lessons for business leaders

Warren Buffett's emphasis on hiring people with integrity carries profound lessons for both established business leaders and aspiring entrepreneurs:

1. It cultivates trust

Investing in individuals with integrity fosters an environment of trust and accountability that pays dividends over time. 

When someone exercises good judgment, trust is gained, especially with those working and collaborating in close proximity. Colleagues see one another as dependable and accountable for their actions. In turn, people feel safe in each other's presence.

2. It sets the tone for ethical behaviors

Integrity should be a way of life for how people behave in the business world. And it starts with leaders modeling the way. They must embody the values they espouse and set the tone for ethical behavior throughout the organization. 

A leader who walks the walk of integrity becomes a role model who commands respect. By hiring and promoting people with integrity up the ranks, the workforce will naturally gravitate to their leadership because they respect the decisions they make on behalf of others and the organization.

Warren Buffett's belief that integrity is the bedrock on which successful companies are built serves as a guiding light for leaders in today's ever-shifting business landscape. His words remind us that integrity isn't just a virtue – it's a strategic imperative.

Inc

KPMG has adjusted its growth forecast for the Nigerian economy to 2.65 percent in 2023 – down from 2.85 percent earlier projected.

The professional services firm, in a flashnote titled ‘Underwhelming Q2 2023 GDP Growth Recorded’, and released over the weekend, said the revision is premised on various considerations.

KPMG listed the factors to include the recent contraction in oil production, muted government investment in the economy, the impact of subsidy removal and foreign exchange

(FX) rates unification on households, among others.

“Q2 2023 GDP results is broadly in line with our earlier downward revision of 2023 GDP to 2.85%. Nevertheless, we are adjusting our 2023 forecast further downwards to 2.65%,” KPMG said.

“Firstly, half-year 2023 GDP currently stands at 2.41% and will require an average growth in H2 2023 of 3.30% and 3.50% to end the year at 2.85% and 3.0% respectively for 2023 which we believe is challenging and unlikely.

“Q2 2023 is however the quarter where the impact of Subsidy removal, FX unification and other reforms of the new administration had it major impact on squeezing household consumption demand and firms’ costs of operations as well as reduced private investment as firms continued to adopt a wait and see approach, tweak strategies to cope with rising costs and reduced demand for their goods and services and struggled to find FX to operate. These factors will likely constrain non-oil growth given that household consumption and private investment constitute the largest share of GDP.

“The impact of subsidy removal was evident in the biggest contraction in road transportation GDP since the new GDP series. Though, subsidy was only removed in June 2023 representing one month impact of the three months of the quarter, road transport GDP contracted by -55.14% in Q2 2023, representing the biggest contraction in road transport GDP in history.

“This contradicts the muted results recorded with respect to inflation for that same month which according to NBS was not expected to fully reflect on the CPI though methodologically, the Inflation rate in each sector is used to deflate nominal GDP for that sector.

“At the same time, there has been muted government capital investment in the economy in Q2 2023 and the first half of Q3 2023 so far, with new administrations at the Federal and State level settling down in Q3 2023.

“Furthermore, oil production has started Q3 2023 with a further contraction in July 2023 and if this trend continues for the remaining two months of Q3 2023, we will have a situation where non-oil sector growth and oil sector growth underperform.”

The firm also said it expected further increases in inflation for the rest of the year which would make the pressure on nominal to real gross domestic product (GDP) to be higher, thereby curtailing higher real GDP growth in Q3 2023.

Recently, the National Bureau of Satistics (NBS) disclosed that Nigeria’s GDP slowed to 2.51 percent in the second quarter (Q2) of 2023 due to the challenging economic conditions being experienced.

The Cable

The Supreme Court has put to rest the lingering argument and confrontation between the Police Force headquarters and the Police Service Commission (PSC) over who is statutority responsible for recruitment of personnel into the force.

The court ruled that it was the mandate of the PSC to recruit police personnel, with chairman of the PSC, Solomon Arase, declaring that the judgment was for the overall best interest of national security.

Arase said “the judgment simply and legally cements the resolution of the issue in a win-win situation for the two institutions which ordinarily cannot effectively function, and deliver on its respective mandates without the cooperation of each other.”

Making this known in a statement yesterday, spokesman of the commission, Ikechukwu Ani, said: “On July 11, 2023, the Supreme Court decided and laid to rest the contentious issue and controversy between the Police Service Commission and the Nigeria Police Force, as to whose duty it is to recruit Constables for the Nigeria Police.

“In the judgment; the Supreme Court unequivocally pronounced the Police Service Commission as the agency statutorily mandated to do so.

“Prior to the judgment, efforts were already in process and at advanced stage towards amicable resolution of the issue between the two critical institutions, as it was highly embarrassing to government, and, indeed, other stakeholders for the duo which ought to work in harmony and mutuality to have engaged in such avoidable legal disputation over an issue that sought understanding, respect and compromise.

“It must be said and seen, therefore, that the judgment was delivered for the overall best interest of our national security, and goes to underscore the need for harmonious working relationship and mutual trust amongst agencies of government.

“Consequently, it is important that all concerned de-escalate and eschew all forms of hostilities, misconceptions, preconceptions and prejudices against each other which were at the base of the hitherto characterizing of a no love lost relationship between the Commission and the NPF.”

Arase noted that the unnecessary imbrogilo impacted negatively on staff of Police Service Commission and officers as well as other ranks of the Nigeria Police Force.

“Going forward, he announced that a Recruitment Board has been constituted, chaired by the Police Service Commission, with other relevant stakeholders as members, and will be inaugurated in no distant time.

“The Board will screen and ensure that only able and qualified members of the public are recruited into the NPF, reflecting also the principle of federal character.”

”The imperativeness of peace, harmony and cordiality between the two institutions, according to him cannot be over-emphasized, as contemporary security provisioning has become more tasking than ever, and demands a robust policy guideline from the commission.

This is to ensure that the “Nigeria Police Force is repositioned for greater efficiency and effectiveness in not only meeting up with the myriad of security challenges confronting our dear country, Nigeria, but also birthing a responsive, responsible and accountable police to our people.

“Peace is essential for growth and success of any institution in delivering on its mandate, and it is hoped that the Commission and NPF will continue to build and consolidate on the emerging trust, confidence and mutual respect,” he added.

Vanguard

Police Service Commission has compulsorily retired four Deputy Inspectors General of Police.

The commission said it took the decision “pursuant to the Third Schedule, Part 1 M, para A&B of the 1999 Constitution, reinforced with Section 6 of the Commissions (Establishment) Act 2001, para a, c, d, e, &f.”

The affected DIGs are Dan-Mallam Mohammed, Moses Jitiboh, Hafiz Inuwa and Adeleke Bode.

The PSC, in a statement by its spokesperson Ikechukwu Ani, said it took the decision following the refusal of the officials to resign after the appointment of their junior, Kayode Egbetokun, as the new Inspector General of Police.

“In the wake of the appointment of the acting Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun on the 19th of June, 2023 by Mr. President, the Commission had expected in consonance with the revered tradition of discipline and regimented culture of the Nigeria Police Force that those DIGS who were seniors in rank prior to his elevation would voluntarily apply for retirement or elect to leave the Force.

The Commission, having waited for ample time with no such application from any of them, took the decision to compulsorily retire them in order to uphold discipline which is the bedrock of the Force, and to discourage status reversal which is inherently inimical to the exercise of authority by the Inspector General.”

PT

Nigerians and other individuals living within the country have used Bolt for over 250 million rides since the firm began operations in 2016.

The firm disclosed this recently as it commemorated 10 years of global operations in Europe and Africa. It stated that it has seen over three billion kilometres in distance recorded by users on the app.

According to Bolt, it has surpassed 150 million customers in over 45 countries and 500 cities, and these customers are spread across a suite of mobility products which include ride-hailing, micro-mobility (scooter and e-bike rental), food delivery, grocery delivery, Bolt Drive, a free-floating car-sharing service, and Bolt Business, a corporate mobility service.

It noted that it now has over 3.5 million partners (drivers and couriers) using the app to earn a living, including over one million in Africa alone.

In a statement, the Country Manager, Nigeria, Yahaya Mohammed, said, “As we reach these remarkable milestones in the ride-hailing market, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring safety, affordability, and reliability for all users on our platform.

“Even amid the challenges posed by the ever-changing macroeconomic landscape, our dedication to providing exceptional service remains unwavering.

We also remain dedicated to collaborating with our driver partners, regulatory bodies, and other industry stakeholders to ensure the growth of the ride-hailing industry in Nigeria.”

Commenting on its strides in Nigeria, the firm added, “Implemented innovative safety features and protocols to safeguard the welfare of both riders and drivers. For example, the audio trip recording feature which empowers both drivers and riders to initiate an audio recording of their trip within the Bolt app, offers a solution in situations where they may feel uncomfortable during the ride.”

The Guardian

A private warehouse in the Kpansia area of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital used by the state government to store foodstuffs and other materials was on Sunday invaded by some residents of the state capital who stole food items and others.

The items included bags of rice and garri as well as cartons of noodles and bottled water said to be part of the relief materials donated by some concerned Nigerians during the 2022 flood in the state.

The incident occurred around 7.30pm when the residents stormed the warehouse located along the Isaac Boro Expressway with pick-up vans and private vehicles to move the foodstuffs, most of which had already gone bad, away.

While the looting was ongoing, the state government deployed men from its security outfit called Doo Akpo to disperse the residents and secure the building.

The state government expressed surprise and concern over the invasion of the premises of the privately owned warehouse and described the incident as unwarranted, saying the food items were remnants being gathered for disposal as they were no longer fit for human consumption.

A statement issued by the State Emergency Management Agency, on Monday, said the incident happened around 7.45pm on Sunday after the Director-General of BYSEMA, Walamam Igrubia, and some personnel of the agency had left the warehouse premises.

 The statement read in part, “During the 2022 flood in the state, the agency used the warehouse to store food items.

 “As part of preparations for an impending flood this year, the DG visited the premises, and in his presence, remnants of food items, notably rice and garri that were no longer fit for consumption, were cleared from the warehouse and placed outside for disposal the next day.

 “The remnants, which were swept from the floor and packed in disused bags, were less than 10 bags of rice and garri and with some broken cans of oil. For emphasis, BYSEMA states that these items were not fresh food palliatives and were not hoarded by the agency or the state government.

 “These items are unfit for human consumption and a responsible, caring government like ours will not give Bayelsans such items as palliatives. In essence, there were no food items to loot. So, those who carted away the unfit items are please advised in their interest not to consume them.”

Punch

Paris will back any military action by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Niger to restore the rule of ousted leader Mohamed Bazoum, French President Emmanuel Macron has said.

Macron made the comment in response to the expulsion of French Ambassador Sylvain Itte from Niamey by the new military government that seized power in a coup last month.

The Nigerien Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the envoy had 48 hours to leave the country for refusing to meet with the new military rulers and for “other actions of the French Government contrary to the interests of Niger.”

Speaking to diplomats in Paris about French foreign policy on Monday, Macron stated that, despite the coup leaders’ order, the ambassador would remain in Niger.

“France and its diplomats have faced particularly difficult situations in some countries in recent months, from Sudan, where France has been exemplary, to Niger at this very moment, and I applaud your colleague and your colleagues who are listening from their posts,” he said.

The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, has been attempting to negotiate with Niger’s coup leaders, but has warned that, if diplomatic efforts fail, troops would be sent to Niamey to restore democratic rule.

Macron called Bazoum’s decision not to resign, which has kept him under house arrest since the July 26 coup, “courageous” on Monday.

France would not change its stance on condemning the coup and supporting Bazoum, the French president insisted, emphasizing that the ousted leader had been democratically elected.

“I think our policy is the right one. It’s based on the courage of President Bazoum, and on the commitments of our ambassador on the ground who is remaining despite all the pressure, despite all the declarations made by the illegitimate authorities,” said Macron.

Meanwhile, hundreds of supporters of the military rulers reportedly rallied on Saturday near a French military base in the capital, Niamey, calling for the removal of the soldiers, while accusing Paris of meddling in the country’s affairs.

France still has 1,500 soldiers in its former French colony, its last remaining ally in the Sahel region in the fight against jihadist insurgencies.

Earlier this month, Niger’s new rulers announced the cancellation of five military treaties with France. However, Paris insisted on carrying out the cooperation agreements, claiming they were signed with the country’s “legitimate authorities.”

Russia Today

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine says it liberates strategic settlement

Ukraine said on Monday its troops had liberated the southeastern settlement of Robotyne and were trying to push farther south in their two-month-old counteroffensive against occupying Russian forces.

The Ukrainian military said that its troops last week had raised the national flag in the strategic village and posted a video showing the move. The forces then carried out mopping-up operations until they confirmed control on Monday, the military said.

"Robotyne has been liberated," Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar was quoted as saying on Monday by the military.

The settlement is 10 km (six miles) south of the frontline town of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region on an important road towards Tokmak, a Russian-occupied road and rail hub.

Tokmak's capture would be a milestone as Ukrainian troops press southwards towards the Sea of Azov in a military drive that is intended to split Russian forces following Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russia has not confirmed the Ukrainian advance. In a statement, Russia's defence ministry said Moscow's troops had repelled attacks by Kyiv's forces near Robotyne and Verbove.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke on Monday of different sectors of the front in his nightly video address but made no reference to Robotyne. He said Ukrainian forces were preparing responses to Russian plans "definitely. In a way they do not anticipate.”

Ukraine believes its fighters have broken through the most difficult line of Russian defences in the south and that they will now start advancing more quickly, a commander who led troops into Robotyne told Reuters last week.

Separately, Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Monday any suggestion of differences with Washington over Ukraine's military strategy were "mistaken and invented".

He told a news conference that Ukrainian commander-in-chief Valery Zalunzhniy was meeting "systematically" with senior officials from allied countries supplying Ukraine with weaponry.

"Everything is going according to the plan, which was discussed with our partners in advance when our brigades were being formed, when they were equipped...," Reznikov said.

Media have reported on a meeting this month of senior NATO military chiefs and Ukraine's top general on resetting Ukraine's military strategy.

The New York Times last week quoted U.S. and other Western officials as saying that the offensive had made limited progress because Ukraine had too many troops in the wrong places.

FORTIFYING POSITIONS

A military spokesman told Ukrainian television Kyiv's forces were continuing to fortify their positions in Robotyne.

"Stabilisation measures, demining and preparations for further actions are under way," Oleksandr Shtupun said.

Maliar told Ukrainian television earlier that Kyiv's troops, who began their counteroffensive in early June, were now moving southeast of Robotyne and south of nearby Mala Tokmachka.

Ukrainian forces are also fighting Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, and progress has been slower than had been widely expected because they have encountered vast Russian minefields and trenches.

Maliar described the battlefield situation in the east as "very hot" in the past week. She said Russian troops were gathering new forces there and regrouping, and Moscow was aiming to deploy its best troops there.

Ukrainian forces had continued to advance south of Bakhmut, she said, referring to the shattered eastern city captured by Moscow's troops in May after months of fierce fighting.

** Five killed in Russian attacks in Ukraine, Ukrainian officials say

Three people were killed in an overnight Russian missile strike in central Ukraine, and two died in shelling later on Monday in the east and south. Ukrainian officials said.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the three people were killed at an industrial plant in central Poltava region. Five were wounded and another person was unaccounted for, he said.

Presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak said those killed were night shift workers at a vegetable oil factory in the Myrhorod district and posted photos showing the plant in flames. Klymenko said the fire had later been extinguished.

Oleksandr Prokudin, governor of southern Kherson region, said a 63-year-old woman had been killed in the mid-morning shelling of the village of Sadove.

Russian shelling killed a man working outside his home in the early evening in Toretsk, in eastern Donetsk region, prosecutors said.

The Ukrainian military said Russia had launched four missiles from the Black Sea overnight. Two were shot down.

Other reports from Ukrainian officials described heavy Russian shelling of Marhanets, opposite the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with four people injured.

Regional officials reported three injured in the shelling of nine localities in northern Sumy region.

Ukraine's military also said central Kryvyi Rih region in had been struck in a missile attack. Local authorities said private houses were damaged, but reported no casualties.

The reports could not be independently confirmed. Russia, which sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine 18 months ago, did not immediately comment.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Russia wipes out Ukrainian aircraft armament, ammo site in overnight precision strike

The Russian Navy delivered a multiple-launch precision strike, wiping out a Ukrainian aircraft armament and ammunition site over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Monday.

"Last night, the Navy delivered a multiple-launch strike by seaborne long-range precision weapons against an aircraft armament and ammunition depot of the Ukrainian army," the spokesman said.

The goal of the strike was achieved. "The site was destroyed," the general stressed.

Russian forces repulse two Ukrainian attacks in Kupyansk area over past day

Russian forces repulsed two Ukrainian attacks in the Kupyansk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kupyansk direction, units of the western battlegroup repulsed in their active operations supported by aircraft and artillery two enemy attacks near the settlements of Sinkovka in the Kharkov Region and Novosyolovskoye in the Lugansk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroyed as many as 30 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, three motor vehicles and a D-20 howitzer in the Kupyansk direction over the past 24 hours, the general reported.

Russian forces destroy 60 Ukrainian troops in Krasny Liman area over past day

Russian forces struck Ukrainian army units in the Krasny Liman area, destroying roughly 60 enemy troops over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Krasny Liman direction, two attacks by forces of the Ukrainian army’s 12th special operations brigade and 42nd mechanized brigade were repulsed by well-coordinated operations of units of the battlegroup Center, army aviation strikes, artillery and heavy flamethrower fires near the settlement of Kuzmino in the Lugansk People’s Republic. The enemy’s losses in the Krasny Liman area totaled as many as 60 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, two pickup trucks, a Gvozdika motorized artillery system and a D-30 howitzer," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroy Ukrainian command post in LPR over past day

Russian forces destroyed a Ukrainian command post in the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Near the settlement of Chervonaya Dibrova in the Lugansk People’s Republic, a command/observation post of the Ukrainian army’s 67th mechanized brigade was destroyed," the spokesman said.

Russian forces repulse two Ukrainian attacks in Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces repulsed two Ukrainian army attacks in the Donetsk area, eliminating over 185 enemy troops in the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Donetsk direction, units of the southern battlegroup in interaction with aircraft and artillery repulsed two attacks by Ukrainian army assault groups in areas near the settlements of Kleshcheyevka and Krasnogorovka in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The enemy’s losses in the Donetsk direction totaled over 185 Ukrainian personnel," the spokesman said.

Russian forces also destroyed three Ukrainian armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery gun and a Grad multiple rocket launcher in the Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours, the general reported.

Russian forces destroy 100 Ukrainian troops in south Donetsk area over past day

Russian forces destroyed roughly 100 Ukrainian troops in the south Donetsk area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"The enemy’s losses in the south Donetsk direction over the past 24 hours amounted to 100 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, three motor vehicles, two D-20 guns and a Msta-B howitzer," the spokesman said.

Russian forces also repulsed two enemy attacks in the south Donetsk area over the past 24 hours, the general reported.

Russian forces repel seven Ukrainian attacks in Zaporozhye area over past day

Russian forces repelled seven Ukrainian army attacks in the Zaporozhye area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian battlegroup, aircraft and artillery repelled seven attacks by the Ukrainian army’s 82nd air assault brigade and 46th air mobile brigade in areas near the settlements of Rabotino and Verbovoye in the Zaporozhye Region," the spokesman said.

Russian forces destroy 160 Ukrainian troops in Zaporozhye area over past day

Russian forces destroyed roughly 160 Ukrainian troops, two US-made artillery systems and two British howitzers in the Zaporozhye area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"As many as 160 Ukrainian personnel, two armored combat vehicles, four motor vehicles, two US-made M777 artillery systems, an AS90 Braveheart self-propelled artillery system and an FH70 field gun of UK manufacture and two D-30 howitzers were destroyed," the spokesman said.

Russian forces eliminate 35 Ukrainian troops in Kherson area over past day

Russian forces eliminated roughly 35 Ukrainian troops and a US-made artillery system in the Kherson area over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"In the Kherson direction, as many as 35 Ukrainian personnel, three motor vehicles, a US-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system and two D-30 howitzers were destroyed in the past 24 hours as a result of damage inflicted by firepower," the spokesman said.

Russian air defenses intercept three US-made JDAM smart bombs in Ukraine operation

Russian air defense forces intercepted three US-made JDAM guided bombs, one rocket of the US-manufactured HIMARS multiple launch rocket system and destroyed 27 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the past day, Konashenkov reported.

"Air defense capabilities intercepted three JDAM guided bombs and a rocket of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system," the spokesman said.

During the last 24-hour period, Russian air defense systems also destroyed 27 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in areas near the settlements of Druzhelyubovka and Voskresenka in the Kherson Region, Lisichansk in the Lugansk People’s Republic, Mirnoye and Pologi in the Zaporozhye Region, Paraskoviyevka, Novoandreyevka, Lidiyevka and Soledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the general reported.

Russian forces strike Ukrainian troops, military hardware in 128 areas over past day

During the last 24-hour period, operational/tactical and army aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Russian groupings of forces struck Ukrainian manpower and military hardware in 128 areas, the spokesman said.

In all, the Russian Armed Forces have destroyed 466 Ukrainian warplanes, 247 combat helicopters, 6,179 unmanned aerial vehicles, 433 surface-to-air missile systems, 11,538 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 1,146 multiple rocket launchers, 6,095 field artillery guns and mortars and 12,480 special military motor vehicles since the beginning of the special military operation in Ukraine, Konashenkov reported.

Reuters/Tass