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The French Institute for International Relations has published an analysis of Russia's air force difficulties in the Ukraine war, arguing that drone-driven innovations are reshaping traditional air power. The study examines how drones and air defences have limited Russian aviation's effectiveness and are transforming doctrines for conventional air forces worldwide.

The Institute for the Study of War has published its latest Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, dated September 26, 2026. The think tank's daily reports track battlefield developments, Russian advances and Ukrainian defensive operations, and are widely cited by policymakers and analysts following the war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces released footage showing the detection and destruction of a Russian T-90 tank that had been concealed under camouflage on the battlefield. The T-90 is Russia's most advanced main battle tank in active service, and relatively few have been fielded in Ukraine. The strike highlights ongoing drone-led hunts for high-value Russian armour along the front lines.

The United States has seized around $600 million worth of Iranian crude oil, according to AFP reporting. Three Iran-linked tankers carrying roughly six million barrels are being quietly transferred to American custody. Two of the ships were seized in April and the third in June, as US authorities step up enforcement of sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

United States Abrams tanks have returned to Lithuania as NATO reinforces its heavy armor presence on the eastern flank. The deployment signals a continued effort to strengthen deterrence along the alliance's border with Russia, with Lithuania once again hosting American armored units as part of broader measures to bolster defenses in the Baltic region.

A Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker damaged in a strike is awaiting salvage operations, with the incident raising fresh concerns about shipping safety in the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway carries a large share of the world's LNG exports, and any escalation threatens energy supplies and freight routes. Observers are watching whether tensions in the region worsen.

Prices for second-hand supertankers have risen above the price of newly built vessels, a reversal driven by surging shipping costs. Middle East states are moving to secure their own tanker fleets, allowing state oil companies to reduce their reliance on third-party shipping firms and take direct control of how their oil is moved to market.

The Institute for the Study of War has published its latest Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, dated September 25, 2026. The think tank's daily reports track battlefield developments, Russian military activity, and Western policy responses in the war in Ukraine, and are widely cited by governments, analysts, and journalists following the conflict.

Russian forces buried three tanks roughly 65 kilometres behind the front line, apparently to conceal them from Ukrainian surveillance and strikes. Ukrainian drone operators located the hidden vehicles anyway, exposing yet another example of how constant aerial monitoring is making it harder to hide heavy equipment far from the fighting.

Vladimir Putin has stated that Russia is not preparing for a military conflict with Europe. The remark, circulated in English-language online discussions, comes amid ongoing tensions between Russia and European states over the war in Ukraine and concerns in NATO capitals about potential Russian aggression. Reactions appear divided, with some treating the denial skeptically and others amplifying it as an official position.

India's Defence Ministry has decided to divide the induction of the Zorawar light tank into two variants, a move intended to speed up deployment of the vehicle. The tank, developed for high-altitude operations, is a priority for the Army given tensions along the China border. Defence watchers are debating whether the split ordering will genuinely accelerate induction or complicate production and logistics.

The British military is incorporating a 'load of data' drawn from the war in Ukraine into the development of its next-generation Challenger 3 main battle tank. Lessons from drone warfare, anti-tank weapons and battlefield attrition in Ukraine are being fed into the tank's design and capabilities. The story is drawing attention as Western militaries reassess armored vehicles based on combat experience from the conflict.

Reports say German-made Leopard tanks are ready and being sent to reinforce Ukraine in its fight against Russia. The delivery of these battle tanks from Germany marks continued Western military support for Kyiv, and discussion is focused on what impact the heavy armour could have on the battlefield.

The Bruegel think tank argues that the European Union should lift its prohibition on paying interest on digital money, including any future digital euro. The piece contends that banning interest undermines the attractiveness of digital cash compared with bank deposits and hampers monetary policy transmission. The debate touches on how a central bank digital currency could coexist with commercial banking without draining deposits.

A Malaysian think tank is urging Bank Negara Malaysia to lower reserve requirements for banks, arguing the move would free up funds for green lending and support sustainable financing. The proposal ties monetary policy to environmental goals, and is being discussed in regional banking circles as a way to accelerate Malaysia's transition finance agenda.

Food Tank argues that data and AI technologies can accelerate responses to climate change, but should support rather than replace existing climate action. The piece emphasizes that tools like data analytics and artificial intelligence are complements to established environmental strategies, helping speed up decision-making and implementation, not substitutes for the fundamental work of reducing emissions and adapting to a warming world.

China's Coast Guard has carried out multi-vessel exercises near Huangyan Dao, known internationally as Scarborough Shoal, in the South China Sea. The waterway is contested between China and the Philippines, and Chinese maritime drills there regularly draw scrutiny from Manila and regional observers. Announcement of the exercises circulated with the hashtag #CoolChina among pro-China accounts.

Veteran pitcher Justin Verlander took the mound for what is being described as his final MLB start, with coverage describing him as 'emptying the tank' in a last, all-out outing. The moment marks the close of a career spent with teams including the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros, and fans are reflecting on his legacy as one of the game's greats.

In January 1966, a US Air Force B-52 bomber carrying hydrogen bombs collided mid-air with a KC-135 tanker during refuelling off the coast of Spain, scattering nuclear weapons near Palomares. One bomb fell into the Mediterranean and took 80 days to recover, in one of the most complex search operations of the Cold War. Renewed attention to the accident continues to highlight the risks of nuclear-armed airborne alert missions and the long aftermath of contamination in the area.

Tham Siew Yean has published an analysis of Malaysia's Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER), reviewing the programme's achievements so far and its future prospects. The piece, released through the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, examines how far the roadmap has gone in strengthening Malaysia's startup environment and what challenges remain as the country works to build a more competitive innovation economy.

French prosecutors have dismissed the defamation complaint filed by Nuñez against comedian Barré, who had called him a 'big piss tank' on air. Barré also compared the police to 'Daesh with job security'. The prosecutors' office, which does not initiate defamation investigations itself, closed the case without further action.

A pitch on Shark Tank US has drawn wide attention after an entrepreneur declined to surrender control of his company, pushing back against offers from the show's investors. The clip is being shared widely through Shark Tank Global's channels, with viewers debating whether he made the right call protecting his business or walked away from a valuable deal.

The Cato Institute argues that the greatest danger posed by artificial intelligence is not the technology itself but governments' haste to regulate it. The libertarian think tank contends that premature rules could stifle innovation and entrench incumbents before the technology's real capabilities and risks are understood. The argument feeds a wider debate between those calling for urgent AI safeguards and those warning regulation may do more harm than good.

Bruegel, the Brussels-based economics think tank, argues that the European Union must enlarge and refocus its budget to finance future priorities such as defence, climate transition and competitiveness. It calls for spending that is both larger in scale and more sharply targeted at shared European goals rather than scattered national interests. The proposal feeds into ongoing debate over the next long-term EU budget.

A new policy paper from The Hamilton Project, published through Brookings, argues that Medicare's home health benefit needs structural reform. The authors examine how the program pays for and delivers home-based care, and propose changes aimed at expanding access while controlling costs. The analysis is drawing attention among health policy experts as lawmakers weigh the future of care for older and disabled Americans.

The American Enterprise Institute has published an argument that single-family rental homes are critical to affordability for families with children, framing the issue around the basic need for a second bedroom. The piece suggests that preserving and expanding the supply of family-sized rental housing should be central to housing policy debates.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on X that she is getting little sleep, prompting a Japanese think tank to call for fundamental changes to the Prime Minister's Office, focused on time management and protecting the leader's health. The proposal comes amid growing concern about the demands placed on Japan's top office and the working conditions of its occupant.

A new report by NITI Aayog on financing India's net-zero transition is drawing attention, with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis characterising its implications as reflecting a tempered ambition. Analysts are weighing what the government think tank's conclusions mean for India's climate finance needs and the pace of its energy transition.