EFE

The BBC reports that the UK military has been jamming satellites belonging to other nations as a defensive measure. The disclosure offers a rare glimpse into Britain's offensive and defensive space warfare capabilities. It is likely to raise questions about escalation risks in orbit and the rules governing interference with other countries' space assets.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will send soldiers and air defense systems to Saudi Arabia to help protect Yanbu's critical oil-export facilities from Houthi attacks. Macron also did not rule out an additional deployment of French Air Force fighter jets, signalling a deepening French security role in the Red Sea region amid ongoing threats to global energy infrastructure.

Russia is raising $178 billion for defense, its largest military budget since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The figure signals a continued prioritization of war spending over other areas of the economy. Observers say the allocation underlines Moscow's commitment to sustaining its military campaign, and the scale of the budget is drawing attention to how long Russia can maintain such expenditure.

Japan's defense minister has once again drawn attention to the country's 'nuclear taboo', questioning long-standing constraints on discussing nuclear weapons policy. The comments come from the only nation to have suffered atomic bombings, where official debate about nuclear options has long been politically sensitive. The remarks have reignited discussion at home and abroad about Japan's defense posture and regional security.

Russia plans to spend 17.1 trillion rubles, roughly US$202.58 billion, on defence in 2027, about 27% more than previously budgeted, according to Reuters. The increase signals Moscow's continued prioritisation of its military amid the war in Ukraine, drawing attention to how long Russia can sustain elevated wartime expenditure and what it means for NATO planning.

Ukraine's General Staff reports that Russian forces lost 1,440 soldiers and two air defense systems over the past day of the war. Total Russian combat losses since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, through September 29, 2026, are estimated at roughly 1,532,500 personnel. The figures come from Ukraine's military and cannot be independently verified.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he has instructed the government and parliament to cover all of Ukraine's existing financial needs for defense. He stressed that the government must fulfill its part of the task, amid continued pressure on the country's budget as the war with Russia grinds on and foreign aid remains uncertain.

United Nations leaders have renewed calls to combat racism and discrimination, marking 25 years since the 2001 World Conference against Racism held in Durban, South Africa. UN officials say racism remains a global problem and urged member states to recommit to the promises made at the Durban conference. The anniversary is prompting reflection on progress made and the work still needed to achieve equality.

European Union member states have approved five major pan-European defence projects, a step in the bloc's push to strengthen collective military capabilities and reduce reliance on external partners. The move is being reported by international outlets including Reuters, amid ongoing debate in Europe about security, rearmament, and funding for joint defence initiatives.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers is defending his economic record ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest cash rate decision, in ongoing coverage from Canberra. The decision is being closely watched by households and businesses dealing with mortgage costs and inflation, with the opposition and minor parties including One Nation pressing the government over economic management.

Japanese leader Takaichi will call on the United Nations to remove references in its charter that label Japan and Germany as enemy states, a Cold War-era designation still written into the UN Charter. The move comes after China recently invoked that classification to criticise Tokyo amid a sharp deterioration in bilateral relations, turning a largely symbolic legal relic into a point of diplomatic friction between the two Asian powers.

EU defence discussions in Brussels are being overshadowed by an unresolved shortfall in funding for Ukraine. As member states weigh future support, the funding gap has become a central sticking point, raising questions over how Europe will sustain military and financial aid to Kyiv and what role the bloc will play if United States backing remains uncertain.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Defense Department to take action against foreigners who attempt to meddle in U.S. elections, according to a report by Axios. The move signals a harder line on foreign interference, though details of what authorities the military would use, and how it would differ from existing intelligence and law enforcement efforts, remain unclear.

European Union officials are confronting a shortfall in funding for Ukraine as defence negotiations proceed in Brussels. The funding gap is set to complicate agreements on the bloc's long-term support for Kyiv and its broader defence planning. Member states remain divided over how to cover the shortfall, making it a central sticking point in the current round of EU defence discussions.

The European Union has agreed on five priority areas for defense investment, creating a framework to channel joint spending among member states. The move is part of broader efforts to coordinate European defense capabilities and reduce fragmentation across national armed forces. Details of the specific priority areas and funding mechanisms are expected to shape future EU defense cooperation.

Taiwan is accelerating investment in drone capabilities as part of a broader defence overhaul, driven by mounting military pressure from China. The push reflects Taipei's effort to build asymmetric defences, with unmanned systems seen as a cost-effective way to deter a potential Chinese attack amid ongoing cross-strait tensions.

Ukraine's air defense forces neutralized 112 drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack, according to Ukrinform. The large-scale drone barrage is the latest in Russia's sustained campaign of nightly aerial assaults on Ukrainian territory, with defenses intercepting the vast majority of incoming unmanned aircraft.

Russia's defence ministry said on Sunday that its forces carried out overnight drone strikes on Ukrainian logistics centres, port and transport infrastructure, communications facilities, and vessels. Moscow claims the targets supported Ukrainian military operations, though the full extent of damage and any casualties has not been independently confirmed.

Ukraine's General Staff says its forces struck a Russian defense plant that produces components for missiles. The attack targets Russia's military-industrial capacity as the war continues. Further details on damage or casualties were not immediately provided, and Russia has not yet commented on the strike.

Ukraine's Defense Forces carried out overnight strikes deep inside Russia, hitting two defense plants in the Tula and Voronezh regions, according to Ukrainian officials. The Security Service of Ukraine also reported hitting four oil depots in Russia's Krasnodar region, including facilities linked to LUKOIL-Yugnefteprodukt, Edelweiss-95, Din-Yug-Oil and Angelinskaya, in what Kyiv describes as a campaign against Russia's military and fuel infrastructure.

Russia's Defense Ministry announced that its strikes targeted data centers used to support the Ukrainian military's operations. The claim, reported by Xinhua, was not accompanied by independent verification or comment from Ukraine. Attacks on such infrastructure highlight how the war has expanded to digital and communications targets supporting military command systems.

The Financial Times examines whether the European Union can construct a 'hybrid defence' against Russia, addressing Moscow's use of non-military pressure such as disinformation, cyberattacks, sabotage and influence operations. The debate comes as EU member states weigh how to coordinate responses to threats that fall below the threshold of conventional armed conflict, and whether Brussels has the tools and authority to lead such an effort.

Ukraine has carried out strikes targeting Russia's air defense and drone infrastructure, including Pantsir-S2 systems and UAV launch sites. The attacks aim to degrade Russia's ability to intercept Ukrainian missiles and to launch drone barrages. The developments come as both sides continue long-range strikes deep into each other's territory amid the ongoing war.

Pope Leo has defended his decision to intervene in France's debate over its end-of-life legislation, saying the Church has a duty to speak on moral questions that affect society. His comments come as France considers expanding assisted dying, a move the pontiff and Catholic leaders have publicly opposed, drawing both support and criticism.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed US cyber and intelligence agencies to make defending upcoming elections a top priority. The order tasks agencies with protecting electoral infrastructure against foreign interference and cyberattacks. It is likely to draw attention ahead of the next US election cycle, as election security remains a politically charged issue in Washington.

Ukrainian forces have reportedly erased recent Russian territorial gains in what is being called Operation Vivaldi, with robots performing combat airdrops and clearing mines on the battlefield. The operation is being highlighted as another example of Ukraine's growing use of unmanned ground systems to reduce risks to soldiers while carrying out dangerous tasks under fire.

Russian authorities are instructing businesses to protect their own facilities from Ukrainian drone attacks, as strikes increasingly disrupt operations across the country. The move signals that Moscow's air defenses are struggling to intercept the growing number of drones targeting infrastructure and industry. The report, published by The Wall Street Journal, highlights the mounting economic strain the drone campaign is placing on Russia's war effort.

The Council of the European Union has identified the first five projects of common interest for the European defence industry, a step meant to boost cooperation between member states' defence manufacturers and strengthen Europe's capacity to produce military equipment collectively. The move is part of broader EU efforts to deepen defence integration in response to security concerns on the continent.

A reported data breach has exposed US Defense Department personnel information. The claim, published as a letter, says department employee data was compromised, though details on the scale, method, and who is responsible remain limited. Commenters are raising questions about cybersecurity safeguards protecting sensitive federal workforce records and what steps will follow.