The crackdown takes place a week after the failed rebellion of the private military company Russia has blocked access to several news websites linked to businessman Evgeny Prigozhin, whose private military company, Wagner Group, was involved in a short-lived mutiny last week.

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Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz gave the green light on Friday to call up some 25,000 military reservists, should they be required. Israel is on a state of high alert, with Palestinian militants promising revenge for the killing of one of their top commanders in an Israeli airstrike.