At the BRICS+ Fashion Summit, experts said AI is reshaping shopping, branding and production across the fashion industry.
At the session ‘Smart Shopping: How Can Brands Navigate the Revolution in Consumer Behavior?’, held as part of the BRICS+ Fashion Summit, participants discussed the influence of artificial intelligence on the consumer journey, as well as how the functions of offline retail are changing.
Among those taking part in the session were Huu Nguyen Canh, head of the fashion division of the Vietnam Design Association, and Mohsen Gorji, head of the Fashion Department at Iran’s Ministry of Culture.
Huu Nguyen Canh noted that in conditions of a huge volume of content and recommendations, a brand’s task is no longer only to show a product, but also to help a person make a choice. For this reason, digital platforms are gradually moving from simply displaying ассортимент to creating ready-made consumption scenarios. According to him, a significant share of consumer behavior in Vietnam today is shaped by TikTok and other online platforms.
Mohsen Gorji named digital characters as another important tool of new consumer behavior, saying they allow brands to build more personalized communication and create sustained contact with audiences.
“By creating a closer connection with consumers, virtual influencers are becoming an important tool for e-commerce and online business,” Gorji said.
In addition, at the session ‘Investments in Creative Industries: Can Fashion Compete with Startups?’, participants discussed the criteria by which investors evaluate fashion businesses, the role played by brand and cultural capital in investment appeal, and what companies need in order to scale up and enter international markets.
Meanwhile, during the session ‘Production Technologies: What Will Change in the Next 5 Years’, the discussion focused on the impact of digitalization, artificial intelligence, automation, and the use of big data on production processes in the fashion industry.
The BRICS+ Fashion Summit opened on Monday, September 28, at the Zaryadye Concert Hall in Moscow and will run until September 30.
People from around the world are attending the Valdai Discussion Club to talk about fundamental issues, the University of Kent professor has said
The collective West’s efforts to isolate Russia have failed, as shown by the international turnout at this year’s Valdai Discussion Club, University of Kent professor emeritus of politics Richard Sakwa has told RT.
The 23rd annual session of the Valdai Discussion Club opened outside of Moscow on Monday, bringing together 120 participants from 40 countries. They include representatives from China, Brazil, Argentina, Algeria, Egypt, India, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Türkiye, as well as the US, UK, Germany, Italy, France, and Canada.
Panel discussions will run through Thursday, October 1.
In an interview with RT on Monday, Sakwa noted that even more participants from Western countries are attending this year’s Valdai session than in recent years.
“Russia remains far from isolated” despite Western governments’ efforts to sideline it on the global stage since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, he said.
Russia continues to play an active role in the G20 and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and is a founding member of BRICS, which has expanded to 11 countries representing “nearly half the world’s population [and] about half the world’s GDP,” Sakwa explained.
Forums such as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Primakov Readings, and the Valdai Discussion Club also continue to attract international interest, including from Western expert communities.
“If anyone is isolated, it’s more and more the West… and the world is getting on with trying to establish an agenda for peace and development,” the British political scientist told RT.
Describing the broader global shift, Sakwa argued that while the world remains within the post-WWII framework, “the institutions and patterns which have emerged after 1945 are changing,” along with the roles of major powers such as the US and Russia.
The Chabahar route will give Indian exporters direct access to landlocked markets in Central Asia, Afghanistan, and eastern Russia
Iran has completed laying track on the southern stretch of the Chabahar-Zahedan railway, closing a key gap in a route designed to connect the port of Chabahar on the Gulf of Oman to Zahedan near the Afghan border.
Iranian railway official Abbas Khatibi said last week that tracks had been laid for the crucial 480km stretch between Chabahar and Khash, and currently the priority is to complete the stations on the route, Tasnim news agency reported.
The Chabahar–Zahedan link stretches 630 km, or 735 km including branch lines. With the northern sections already linked to the existing rail network, the Iranian authorities are now preparing it for operation.
The Chabahar–Zahedan link is an extension of the larger International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC), backed by India, Iran and Russia. The project has been in the making for decades because of its huge infrastructure requirements and has also been slowed by Western sanctions on both Iran and Russia.
The milestone comes as the Middle East conflict has disrupted traditional transport and energy routes across the region. Chabahar has direct access to the Indian Ocean without requiring ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a major chokepoint affected by the conflict.
Strategic Step: Iran Completes Chabahar-Zahedan Rail Link – Connecting Central Asia to Indian Ocean
The major infrastructure project looks set to become fully operational within 3-4 months with final safety checks for the route underway. (Economic Times)
For India, the Chabahar-Zahedan link strengthens a trade route that reaches Afghanistan and Central Asia without transiting Pakistan. Cargo arriving by sea at Chabahar would be able to move inland through Iran’s rail and road network toward landlocked regional markets.
India’s role in Chabahar is complicated by US sanctions. A conditional waiver covering the project, in which India invested around $120 million, expired in April. New Delhi maintained it was discussing the issue with both Tehran and Washington, describing the regional conflict as a “complicating factor.”
In July, the conflict touched Chabahar itself, when US forces struck a surveillance tower at the neighboring Shahid Kalantari terminal linked to the project. India said the terminal was not damaged.
The Israeli PM reportedly secretly traveled to Abu Dhabi after claims that Mohamed bin Zayed had alerted him of the impending Hamas operation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly secretly flew to the UAE to ask President Mohamed bin Zayed to deny that he had warned the Jewish state of a major Hamas threat ahead of the deadly October 7 attack.
Netanyahu has faced growing scrutiny over claims that he had received multiple warnings from regional countries in the run-up to the Hamas-led incursion, which killed around 1,200 people, saw 251 taken hostage, and which led to the Gaza war.
Netanyahu met bin Zayed for about an hour in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to ask the Emirati president to deny the warning claim, AP reported on Monday, citing two people briefed on the trip.
Haaretz first reported earlier this month that Emirati intelligence had alerted Israel’s Shin Bet security service to a possible major Hamas operation, prompting bin Zayed to call Netanyahu about ten days before the assault. The UAE president reportedly warned that the plan could lead to bloodshed and destabilize the region.
Netanyahu reportedly played down the threat, saying he believed Hamas was more likely to act in the occupied West Bank and that Israel was prepared. His office has rejected the Haaretz report as an “absolute lie,” insisting no such call took place.
Egypt reportedly also gave Israel advance warning. The Atlantic reported that then-intelligence chief Abbas Kamel traveled to Israel less than two weeks before the attack to alert officials that Hamas appeared to be preparing a major operation.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday that Cairo had issued at least three warnings, including one to Netanyahu’s office just days before the incursion, and continued contacting Israel until roughly 48 hours before the attack. Netanyahu has denied receiving advance notice from Egypt.
Israeli intelligence had separately obtained a Hamas battle plan known as ‘Jericho Wall’, outlining a cross-border assault, attacks on military positions and hostage-taking. The New York Times later reported that the document closely resembled the October 7 attack, although Israeli officials have disputed how seriously it was taken and whether it was considered an imminent threat.
Former IDF chief of staff Dan Halutz has accused Netanyahu of concealing the warnings, saying the failure was “total, broad, and included everyone,” and that the prime minister bore ultimate responsibility.
Earlier this month, families of Israelis killed or abducted in the attack unveiled a 12-page dossier arguing that it was not simply an intelligence failure, but the result of a long-running policy under successive Netanyahu governments.
The controversy comes ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Netanyahu, who faces a challenge from former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, has described the Haaretz report as “politically motivated” and part of the “left’s election campaign.”
As the economy falters and winter approaches, Kiev’s commitment to its Western backers leaves little room for peace
Washington is pushing for an energy truce between Russia and Ukraine. Kiev supports the initiative, and Moscow has also responded favorably. Another round of shuttle diplomacy has taken place: US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, and a special representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to the US for talks with his American counterparts. Work is underway to revive the trilateral negotiation format involving Russia, Ukraine, and the US.
Judging by these and other news reports, one might get the impression that things are moving toward a diplomatic breakthrough and a truce between Russia and Ukraine. However, this impression is deceptive: A closer analysis reveals that the positions of the parties have not changed over the past year. On the contrary, Ukraine’s worsening situation has hardened its resolve to fight to the bitter end.
Up the down staircase
In spring 2025, Ukraine, with the backing of its European allies, launched a major campaign for a ceasefire. The expectation was that Trump would force Putin to accept the terms imposed by Europe and Ukraine, freezing the hostilities along the line of contact without any preconditions.
A truce would have cemented Ukraine’s defeat in the conflict. However, Russia’s primary objective would not have been achieved: The anti-Russian regime in Kiev would remain in place, and Ukraine would retain its role as a Western foothold against Russia. A temporary truce would allow Ukraine to recover and prepare for revenge in the future. A year ago, despite major issues, Ukraine still functioned: The remnants of the civilian economy operated, and despite considerable disruptions, steel and agricultural production (two of the country’s main export sectors) continued.
Without Western financial aid, Ukraine would have already faced a financial catastrophe; however, it continued to exist. Despite occasional disruptions, major industrial facilities remained operational, as did the small and medium-sized businesses that supported them – suppliers, transport companies, various outsourced services, construction and repair crews, and so on. Cafes, restaurants, the telecommunications sector, and small businesses stayed open. Ukraine’s robust logistics sector remained active. The government collected taxes from all these businesses.
However, in spring 2026, Ukraine decided to force Russia to conclude a truce by starting a ‘war on cities’ – large-scale strikes on the Russian rear. It first targeted oil refining and export facilities, and then the civilian sector, including the warehouses of companies such as Wildberries and Ozon.
The worst possible moment
Escalation only makes sense when ‘escalation dominance’ can be maintained. Otherwise, the outcome will be detrimental to the party that started the escalation. That is exactly what happened: In response to Ukraine’s attacks, Russia launched a broad offensive against Ukraine’s civilian sector.
From the start of the conflict, Ukraine has not concealed the fact that it uses civilian logistics infrastructure to transport military cargo. Launchers for long-range drones targeting Russia have often been hidden under the guise of civilian trucks.
Ukrainian strikes on Black Sea oil and grain exports gave Russia a pretext to respond in kind and effectively block Ukraine’s shipping in the Black Sea. As with strikes on warehouses, Russia maintained the upper hand in the escalation. There are several reasons for this: Russia’s increased firepower, the depletion of Ukrainian air defenses, and more broadly, Ukraine’s smaller size, its lack of strategic geographic depth, and fewer targets within the country. While the ‘war on cities’ affected Russia as well, Ukrainian strikes did not cause the same amount of damage.
All this prompted Zelensky to propose a truce. What he actually proposed was returning to the way things were before this year’s escalation, and pretending like it never happened. But does he really want a truce? It may look that way. After all, the Ukrainian economy – and consequently the Ukrainian state itself – is beginning to disintegrate; Ukraine’s key exports – its only source of revenue aside from foreign aid – have been effectively destroyed. For the first time in history, steel production in Ukraine has come to a complete halt; restarting it would take months if not years. By all accounts, the country is facing the most difficult winter yet. If this is not grounds for making political concessions, then what is?
The only available option
Zelensky’s calls for a truce are accompanied by opposing statements. One moment, he demands a “winter package” of weapons from Trump; the next, he declares that the war will not end until Crimea is “liberated.” Domestically, he is intensifying the crackdown on the Russian language and the Orthodox Church, even though this only heightens tensions within Ukrainian society. Clearly, given these parameters, Russia will never agree to a ceasefire. So is it all just schizophrenia or a calculated move?
I’d say it’s the latter. It’s true that if we consider Zelensky as the leader of Ukraine, then his actions are insane and amount to suicide. However, if one views him as the military proxy of Europe’s anti-Russia coalition, then everything falls into place.
For Zelensky and his regime, Ukraine is not their own land; it is a resource and an instrument for war against Russia. To save Ukraine, Zelensky must accept Russia’s terms. Yet Ukraine’s masters cannot accept Russia’s terms, as that would mean a crushing defeat for them.Consequently, the war must go on. If the destruction of rear-area logistics and energy infrastructure does not affect the ability of the Ukrainian army to hold the front line, then logistics and energy don’t matter. Of course, left without electricity, heat, and jobs, Ukraine’s civilian population will endure great suffering – but Zelensky doesn’t care about that.
Taking this logic into account, even an energy truce is bad for Ukraine, as a moratorium on mutual strikes would deprive Kiev – or rather, its masters – of the only effective leverage over Moscow.Of course, this is a one-way street. In an earlier article, we analyzed how the Ukrainian state is becoming detached from its own society. Today, I’d like to point out that in its current form, the Kiev regime has no other options: On one side of the scale lies the fate of Ukraine, and on the other, the interests of its masters. Zelensky has no real choice. In the interests of its masters, Ukraine must sacrifice itself and inflict the greatest possible damage on Russia, or if possible, even defeat it.
As long as there remains hope for Russia’s defeat, nothing else matters. Ukraine wants to either freeze the conflict along the line of contact and prepare to take revenge later, or fight to the bitter end. Russia understands this very well; that is why it has once again rejected any idea of a partial truce – this was recently expressed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the UN, and then by Putin. Even though this year, Russia was seriously affected by Ukrainian strikes, Moscow is only open to ending the conflict on its own terms.
***
What comes next? Both sides are actively preparing for the winter campaign, and it appears that, for the first time since the start of the conflict, long-range air strikes (the war on cities) will become the primary theater of operations. Moscow is confident that the Ukrainian army cannot inflict strategic damage on Russia; consequently, its only option is to maintain escalation dominance by responding to the Ukrainian strikes with even more powerful attacks. Under these circumstances, there can be no talk of either an energy truce or freezing the conflict along the line of contact.
Her National Rally party and an ally have won enough seats to form a group in the upper house for the first time
Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally (RN) and an allied party have won enough seats in the French Senate to form a group for the first time. The breakthrough comes months before a presidential election in which polls currently put Le Pen in the lead.
RN and the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR) will together hold at least 15 seats in the 348-seat upper house following Sunday’s vote. A group requires a minimum of ten members and gives its lawmakers a greater role in Senate committees, where legislation is examined.
“This is a historic victory, and a major milestone with the formation for the first time of a group in the Senate,” Le Pen wrote on X. She said the result showed the party gaining support across France and that its senators would carry the concerns of local communities into the presidential campaign.
Despite RN’s latest gains, the Senate will remain controlled by the conservative Republicans and their centrist allies.
RN president Jordan Bardella has nevertheless called the result a sign of the party’s momentum ahead of what he described as “the mother of all battles,” referring to the upcoming presidential election.
In July, the Paris Court of Appeals reduced Le Pen’s five-year ban on holding elected office over a misused funds conviction, clearing her to run in the 2027 race to replace Emmanuel Macron who will be leaving office after serving two terms.
A Toluna Harris Interactive poll published on Monday has placed Le Pen as the frontrunner at 35-36% in the first round and projected that she would defeat both left-wing France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon and centrist former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe in hypothetical runoffs.
The RN breakthrough has drawn a hostile response from rival factions, including from Socialist Senate group leader Patrick Kanner, who said his party would work to contain the “chamber of horrors” entering the Senate.
Le Pen accused Kanner of “dishonoring himself” and insulting both the newly elected senators and the local officials who voted for them.
The prospect of Le Pen replacing Macron raised particular concerns among the Western backers of Ukraine. The Telegraph reported in August that officials fear her election could disrupt the French-led effort to coordinate military and financial support for Kiev, as well as plans to deploy Western troops there after a ceasefire.
RN has long challenged Macron’s approach to the Ukraine conflict, opposing open-ended funding for Kiev and steps it says risk a direct confrontation with Russia. Le Pen has repeatedly stressed that the conflict needs a diplomatic solution and has called for normalizing relations with Moscow.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, the leader of a far-right party, has sparked a new double scandal
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has led a major incursion into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem.
Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, showed up at the compound on Sunday to mark the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Jews call the area around the mosque Temple Mount, as it used to house two Jewish temples in ancient times before becoming the third holiest site for Muslims.
The minister was accompanied by a heavily armed security detail, as well as backed up by crowds of Israeli civilians. A total of 1,143 Israelis breached the compound in several successive groups, according to the Jerusalem Governorate of the Palestinian Authority.
Ben-Gvir was seen brandishing a massive Torah scroll and performing Talmudic rituals while onlookers cheered, footage from the scene shows.
BREAKING 🚨
Itamar Ben-Gvir raises a Torah scroll during Sukkot at the Al-Buraq Wall in occupied Jerusalem.
You do not follow the Torah.
Stop using our holy Torah for national gains and your g-dless political movement of Zionism.
Shortly after entering the compound, Ben-Gvir stirred up further controversy, releasing on X footage of him confronting Hassan Salameh, a high-profile Palestinian prisoner, in jail. Salameh, believed to be a senior Hamas figure, has been held by Israel for three decades over the 1996 terrorist attacks, including a bus bombing.
Footage released by Ben-Gvir shows him alongside multiple guards armed with assault rifles meeting shackled Salameh inside a small room. “I want to kill you. I want to execute you,” Ben-Gvir told Salameh. The encounter left the prisoner “trembled and terrified,” the minister claimed.
סגירת מעגל ענקית עבורי!
כנער עמדתי ברחובות והפגנתי אחרי פיגועי התופת הנוראיים בקו 18 בירושלים. עשרות חפים מפשע נרצחו, ומשפחות שלמות נחרבו.
לפני כשבועיים הגעתי לכלא ופגשתי פנים אל פנים את הארכי מחבל חסאן סאלמה - מבכירי חמאס, חברו ושותפו של יחיא סינוואר ימ״ש, שנשלח בידי הצורר… pic.twitter.com/6HvGFKAroJ
The stunt has been strongly condemned by various rights groups as abusive and inhumane. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office, for instance, condemned Ben-Gvir’s actions as a “criminal act” and cheap political theatrics.
Ben-Gvir has been the key proponent of the recently adopted Death Penalty for Terrorists Law, which gives Israel broad powers to execute alleged “terrorists.” The legislation mandates the death penalty for those convicted of deadly terrorist attacks aimed at “ending Israel’s existence” – a provision critics say effectively exempts Jewish Israelis, making the law applicable almost exclusively to Palestinians. The death penalty must be carried out within 90 days of sentencing, with no right of appeal.
The far-right minister is known for inflammatory rhetoric toward Palestinians and heavy-handed treatment of prisoners, including international activists, and has been sanctioned by multiple countries for repeatedly inciting violence against them.
RT tracks the latest wave of psyops and propaganda from the UK and its allies
War rhetoric from the UK and its Western European allies has reached a fever pitch, with British officials and commentators pinning a bizarre security incident at RAF Fairford on Russia and Iran. With no letup in sight, RT is tracking the escalation and debunking the psyops in real time.
The arrest of five men near a US airbase on Sunday prompted a counterterror investigation that ended with a whimper, as the men were let go and no explosives or weapons were found. That hasn’t stopped Britain’s ruling Labour Party from declaring that the country is under “threat,” while the British media’s analysts and ‘experts’ pin the blame on Russia and Iran.
These accusations come after a week of intense fearmongering from British officials and journalists, in which retired generals told the BBC that the public must be “psychologically prepared” for conflict with Russia, a Labour Party thought leader suggested that dissidents and Russia sympathizers be “locked up,” and former Brexit Minister Jacob Rees-Mogg told British men and women that they “may have to die” in a cataclysmic European war.
This was a marked shift in rhetoric from the British elite. Since 2022, five successive prime ministers have insisted that the UK will arm Ukraine “for as long as it takes” to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, but only a handful of bellicose generals and analysts have predicted an imminent military clash with Moscow. The tactical situation has not changed, and Russia has repeatedly insisted it has no interest in a wider conflict with NATO, but talking heads from both the Labour and Conservative parties are now speaking of war as a done deal.
Meanwhile, Sky News ran ‘The Wargame’ all week – a bizarre five-episode reality show in which real politicians and military chiefs gamed out a hypothetical Russian invasion for the cameras.
With the threat from Russia rising in the real world, a new series from Sky brings together former ministers and military chiefs to test what might happen if the UK faced an attack.
On the continent, Spain’s El Mundo claimed that the CIA had learned of a potential Russian plan to launch drones at France, Italy, or Spain from ships in the Mediterranean. The claim, attributed to Lithuanian intelligence, was quickly shot down by Paris and Rome, as Finnish President Alexander Stubb appealed for calm across the West.
The stakes – and the likelihood of miscalculation – are high. RT is watching and listening, and debunking the most outrageous war propaganda in real time.
The spacecraft deployed 26 next-generation satellites designed to dramatically increase Starlink’s capacity
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has successfully put Starship into orbit for the first time, deploying 26 next-generation Starlink satellites. However, the mission was cut short and the spacecraft erupted in a fireball following its splashdown in the Pacific.
The spacecraft blasted off from Starbase, Texas, at about 7:49 AM local time on Monday, before reaching space roughly eight minutes later. During the ascent, one of the six engines shut down early, prompting SpaceX to assess whether the spacecraft was healthy enough to continue with the orbital portion of the mission.
Despite the hiccup, controllers ultimately gave a “go for orbit” command, with a single engine restarting for a 19-second burn, placing the Starship roughly 275 km above Earth.
Starship subsequently deployed all 26 Starlink V3 satellites it was carrying. Each is rated for around 1 terabit per second of downlink capacity and 160 gigabits per second uplink, roughly ten and 22 times the respective capacity of V2 satellites. The new generation is designed to provide about ten times the download capacity of its predecessor, according to SpaceX, allowing each satellite to handle significantly more internet traffic.
Sky News science and technology editor Tom Clarke said the spacecraft would not be recovered “because it’s just blown up, quite spectacularly” as it landed in the Pacific.
Monday’s mission was originally expected to see Starship circle Earth six times over about ten hours. SpaceX later cut the flight short, saying the spacecraft would instead reenter after around three hours and target a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii.
All 13 previous Starship flights had followed deliberately suborbital paths that would naturally bring the spacecraft back into the atmosphere. The Starship was expected to make six full laps of Earth over about 10 hours and perform a controlled splashdown in the Pacific west of Chile.
However, the starship encountered a technical issue on ascent, forcing mission control to cancel the planned orbits and instead bringing the craft back to earth some 3 hours after mission launch, in a Pacific splashdown that triggered an explosion.
SpaceX encountered major problems during the previous test mission in late July, with the booster suffering ice-related engine issues during its return, with only eight of 13 planned engines reigniting for its landing burn, resulting in a hard splashdown.
Reaching stable orbit marks a fundamental step for SpaceX because Starship is no longer simply following a high-speed arc that inevitably ends with reentry. Once in orbit, the spacecraft can remain circling Earth, which is essential to SpaceX’s plans to use Starship for large-scale satellite launches and eventually missions beyond Earth orbit.
SpaceX says future Starship missions could carry up to 60 V3 satellites and add more than 20 times as much capacity to the Starlink network in a single launch as current Falcon 9 missions.
The satellites are expected to reinforce the Starlink global network, which has been actively used by Ukraine in its conflict with Russia for piloting drones, targeting artillery, and maintaining battlefield connectivity.
The bloc has approved five industrial projects ranging from drones and missiles to military space capabilities, with Ukraine joining four of them
The EU has greenlit a slew of new joint defense-industrial initiatives, with Ukraine joining most of them, as Brussels presses ahead with its defense buildup despite Russia’s warnings against the bloc’s “rabid” militarization.
The initiatives are part of the European Defense Projects of Common Interest (EDPCIs), large-scale industrial programs pitched as a way for groups of countries to jointly develop, manufacture, and deploy military capabilities too big or complex to tackle alone. The projects fall under the €1.5 billion European Defense Industry Program (EDIP), one of the EU’s mechanisms for expanding weapons production.
The Council formally endorsed the first five megaprojects within the framework on Monday, including:
Drones and counter-drone systems (DECODER): scaling up and deploying military drones, along with systems to detect and neutralize UAVs;
Maritime and seabed defense (IMSD): creating joint systems to detect and respond to threats at sea and on the seabed;
SPACE: expanding military space capabilities, including missile-launch early warning, satellite communications, intelligence, and surveillance;
Integrated air and missile defense (EU-FIAMD): linking participating countries’ air and missile defenses, early-warning capabilities, and command systems;
On average, 18 member states will be involved in each project.
The European Commission has already earmarked €325 million to support the five initiatives. While the money has not yet been handed out, the decision on Monday makes the projects eligible to apply for this funding and opens the door to further EU financing later.
The initial sum is only a fraction of Brussels’ longer-term ambitions: EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius earlier put their combined funding at around €190 billion ($216 billion) by 2036. He hailed the decision as a “major breakthrough” aimed at closing critical gaps in the EU’s defenses.
Ukraine will take part in four of the five initiatives despite not being an EU member, only sitting out the space initiative. Brussels has been steadily drawing Kiev deeper into its defense-industrial system, arguing that European manufacturers should use Ukraine’s battlefield experience to develop new weapons and technologies.
The European Commission said it will help participating countries get the projects running and coordinate their work. Brussels has also left the door open to more initiatives under the framework in the future.
The EU believes its military buildup is needed to counter what it describes as a growing ‘Russian threat’. Moscow has dismissed the claims as “nonsense,” accusing European governments of using them to justify bloated military budgets and continued weapons supplies to Ukraine. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev slammed the EU’s militarization as “rabid.”
At the UN General Assembly last week, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed speculation that Russia plans to attack NATO or EU states, accusing European governments of preparing for a conflict with Russia, pointing to their stated goal of boosting military readiness by 2030 and the vast sums being poured into weapons production.
New Delhi has taken its concerns directly to Capitol Hill as Washington moves toward implementing measures that could hit major importers of Russian energy
India has directly appealed to US lawmakers over new sanctions that could expose major buyers of Russian crude to tariffs of up to 100% as New Delhi seeks to protect its energy security.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri discussed the recently enacted Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 (SRIA) with a bipartisan US Congressional delegation led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast in New Delhi on Sunday. Energy security was also part of the talks.
The law – which its original sponsor, the late Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, called the “sanctions bill from hell” – gives Washington authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on imports from countries that continue purchasing Russian energy.
It does not automatically impose those duties on Indian goods, with their application subject to conditions under the legislation and a decision by US President Donald Trump.
New Delhi had already raised the issue at ministerial level last week, when Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York. Jaishankar conveyed India’s economic and strategic concerns over the sanctions measure, while Rubio said Washington was “well-positioned to help regional partners address their energy security challenges.”
India is particularly exposed because it imports more than 88% of its crude requirements and Russia remains its largest supplier. Russian shipments stood at around 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd) in August and were tracking at roughly 1.9 million bpd in September, according to preliminary data.
New Delhi has repeatedly defended its purchases as necessary to ensure affordable and reliable energy for its 1.4 billion people. After Congress passed the legislation, India said it remained “firmly committed” to energy security through diversified sourcing and warned Washington about potential implications for bilateral ties and international energy markets.
Washington has meanwhile been positioning itself as a larger energy supplier to India. US crude supplies to India averaged about 177,000 barrels per day (bpd) during January-August, making it the country’s sixth-largest supplier over the period. The US has also become India’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG), with Indian imports rising 172% year-on-year in April-July to 2.39 million tons.
India has maintained that its energy purchases will continue to be guided by national requirements, market conditions, and supply availability, rather than dependence on any single source.
Six firms are competing for mining rights, with Nairobi requiring the winner to process minerals locally
Kenya’s political opposition has pushed back against a government tender for a vast rare earth deposit sought by US and Chinese firms, saying it is proceeding without an economic viability study.
The competition for the Mrima Hill deposit comes as Washington seeks alternatives to Chinese-dominated mineral supply chains. Kenya opened bidding for the coastal site in March, inviting companies to seek rights to develop its rare earths and niobium, a metal used in aerospace manufacturing.
In a post on X on Sunday, opposition Wiper Patriotic Front spokesperson Ndegwa Njiru questioned the tender, saying the government has no “economic viability report or bankable feasibility study” for the $62 billion project.
The tender document acknowledges that no economic viability report has been prepared, but says the initial invitation for expressions of interest does not constitute a mining contract.
The government has not published an estimated cost for developing the mine and processing plant. The widely cited $62 billion figure comes from a 2013 estimate of minerals in the ground by former license holder Cortec Mining Kenya, which was majority-owned by Canada’s Pacific Wildcat Resources.
Kenya revoked Cortec’s license that year, saying it had been issued irregularly without the approvals required to mine in a protected forest. The company later lost an international arbitration case challenging the decision.
Kenyan Mining Minister Hassan Ali Joho told Semafor on Monday that six companies, including firms from the US, China, and Australia, are competing for the license in the latest bidding round. US-based Critical Metals Corp has said its Mrima Earth consortium was shortlisted. Earlier reporting also named US firm ReElement and China’s Jinan Yuxiao among the contenders.
Nairobi wants the successful bidder to process minerals in the East African nation as part of an effort to retain more of the value from the deposit instead of exporting raw materials. The government requires applicants to demonstrate that they can build an on-site processing plant. Joho also said talks with the US on building refineries and processing plants in Kenya are at a “very advanced” stage and “intertwined” with the Mrima Hill bidding.
Earlier this month, US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia pledged support for Kenya’s mineral processing industry. During talks in New York last week, Kenyan President William Ruto and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed opportunities for American firms in the African country’s critical minerals sector.
Washington has made a similar push in DR Congo, the world’s largest cobalt producer. In December, the US signed a minerals partnership with Kinshasa alongside a peace agreement it brokered between Congo and Rwanda.
Congolese lawyers and rights advocates have challenged the minerals deal in court, arguing that it bypassed parliament and threatens national control over natural resources.
China, however, still dominates rare earth supply chains. The International Energy Agency said in April that the country accounts for more than 90% of global refining of the rare earths used in permanent magnets.
A US cutoff could hit Europe hard as Russian and Middle Eastern supplies remain disrupted
The White House is still “very seriously” considering a diesel export ban, US President Donald Trump has said, as fuel prices soar ahead of the November midterm elections.
Shipments being cut from the world’s largest exporter could deepen a global shortage and leave import-dependent Europe scrambling for supplies.
Diesel prices have surged amid a global supply crunch fueled by the US-Israeli war on Iran, which has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Russia, one of the world’s largest diesel exporters, has also restricted fuel shipments to stabilize its domestic market following Ukrainian drone attacks on its refineries. US diesel production is now barely keeping pace with domestic demand, raising concerns that growing exports could further squeeze supplies at home.
Trump told a Fox News reporter on Sunday that his administration was examining the measure. “We’re looking at it very seriously – we may do it,” he said while attending the Presidents Cup golf tournament near Chicago, acknowledging that the move could push gasoline prices somewhat higher.
Trump first floated the idea last week. “I’ve said let’s not send out the diesel,” he told reporters ahead of a meeting with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky.
The potential move comes as fuel prices surge. Energy Information Administration data put the nationwide diesel average at a record $6.529 a gallon ($1.72 per liter) on September 21, up from $5.454 just five weeks earlier, as tight global supplies and elevated crude prices drive costs higher.
The idea of the world’s largest diesel exporter shutting off supplies has drawn sharp pushback from the US energy industry. The American Petroleum Institute warned that a ban could force refineries to cut production of diesel, gasoline and jet fuel, tightening supplies at home while deepening the global fuel crunch.
Diesel and natural gas price changes, 2026
Diesel and natural gas price changes in the US and Europe in 2026
Change from start of period to latest reading, %
Dutch TTF gas, Europe€29.0 → €71.7 per MWh · Jan 2 – Sept 28
+147%
Henry Hub gas, US$4.25 → $2.94 per MMBtu · Jan 2 – Sept 18
−31%
Wholesale diesel (ULSD ARA), Europe$752 → $1,536 per metric ton · Feb 27 – Sept 18
+104%
Retail diesel, US$3.48 → $6.53 per gallon · Jan 5 – Sept 21
+88%
Retail diesel, Europe€1.54 → €2.11 per liter · Jan – Sept
+37%
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, GlobalPetrolPrices, S&P Global, Yahoo Finance, GasRadar
Increased exports from the US and China have partly offset lost supplies from Russia and the Middle East, according to the IEA. The agency warned that global diesel shortages are likely to persist unless Russian or Middle Eastern exports recover in the coming months or demand declines.
Russia’s diesel export restrictions, introduced after an unprecedented wave of Ukrainian drone strikes damaged refineries across the country, have added further pressure to an already strained global market, with fewer Middle Eastern barrels available to replace any potential loss of US supplies.
Trump has also repeatedly urged Zelensky to halt Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries, saying the attacks were contributing to a global diesel shortage. “There are plenty of other targets. Don’t hit diesel fuel. That’s hurting the world,” he said earlier this month.
A US cutoff could hit Europe particularly hard after the EU abandoned Russian energy following sweeping sanctions. Russia supplied nearly half of Europe’s diesel before the Ukraine conflict, but its share fell to around 5% by 2024 after Brussels imposed an embargo.
The US has supplied about a third of Europe’s diesel imports this year, rising to around half in August, while Middle Eastern shipments have fallen to a six-year low. The US accounted for 62-72% of diesel imports to Britain and the Netherlands that month, according to S&P Global.
Britain could be among the hardest hit. It imports around 55% of its diesel and has just four major refineries left. Analysts cited by The Telegraph warned on Sunday that a US ban could send prices from just under £2 ($2.68) to as much as £2.50-£3 ($3.35-$4.02) per liter this autumn.
The EU has also sounded the alarm over Trump’s threat, urging Washington not to proceed. “We believe this is a very bad idea,” European Commission spokesman Olof Gill said last week.
The US has supplied about a third of Europe’s diesel imports this year, with its share rising to around half in August, according to government data. Prices at the pump have already reached record highs in Germany and the Netherlands.
Bern has shown it is no longer neutral by rejecting restrictions on unilateral sanctions, Russian diplomat Mikhail Ulyanov says
Switzerland has shown that it is “not a neutral state anymore” by rejecting a proposal to tighten the country’s neutrality rules, Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov has said.
Swiss voters on Sunday rejected the ‘Safeguard Swiss Neutrality’ initiative, which would have barred Bern from imposing sanctions on states involved in armed conflicts unless mandated by the UN. It would also have restricted cooperation with military alliances unless Switzerland faced a direct or imminent attack.
In a post on X following the vote, Ulyanov said the result “simply proved that Switzerland is not strong enough to be really neutral and that neutrality is wishful thinking but not a principle of this country.”
According to the provisional official final tally, 70.15% voted against the initiative, while 29.85% supported it. The proposal was rejected in every canton.
The initiative was launched by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and the Pro Schweiz sovereignty movement. Its supporters argued that Bern had moved “dangerously close” to the EU and NATO, particularly since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, undermining Switzerland’s independence and credibility as a mediator.
Switzerland has largely aligned itself with EU sanctions against Russia since February 2022. Moscow subsequently placed the country on its list of “unfriendly” states and has argued that Bern can no longer serve as a trusted neutral mediator.
The Swiss government, however, maintains that adopting sanctions does not violate the country’s neutrality. Ahead of the referendum, the Federal Council argued that the existing policy gives Bern the flexibility to respond to international developments while safeguarding its security and independence.
Switzerland’s neutrality has been enshrined in its federal constitution since 1848. The country is not a member of NATO but has cooperated with the US-led military bloc for decades, with ties expanding in recent years.
Both the Federal Council and parliament had urged voters to reject the initiative, arguing that a more rigid neutrality policy would restrict Switzerland’s ability to respond to international crises.
Kiev has so far found just $7 billion through austerity measures and reallocations, Prime Minister Sergey Koretsky said
Ukraine and its Western backers still have not found a way to cover the unexpected $27 billion hole in this year’s defense budget, Prime Minister Sergey Koretsky said. Despite the funding gap, Koretsky urged Ukrainians to “gain optimism” – while announcing plans to raise VAT next year.
The scope of the defense gap became clear in late August after Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky’s 40-day PR pressure campaign on Russia, which involved long-range strikes on energy and civilian infrastructure. The escalation triggered a response from Russia, including attacks on military-related logistics, most notably the key port of Odessa.
Zelensky’s request to Kiev’s European backers to plug the gap reportedly caught them off guard, with EU officials privately questioning whether Ukraine is spending efficiently or overstating its needs. Publicly, Brussels has still not endorsed the figure of $27 billion. EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said there are “open questions,” while insisting on a “detailed assessment.”
Speaking to TSN on Sunday, Koretsky said the $27 billion gap is part of the $155 billion total military-related budget this year. He acknowledged that there has not been substantial progress in talks with European nations on the issue. “The question is that through our joint efforts, we have not yet found coverage for these expenses.”
He noted, however, that Ukraine managed to find $7 billion for military needs by cutting current expenses and reallocating resources.
Though the $27 billion shortfall should formally be covered by the end of the year, Zelensky warned that much of the money is needed sooner, saying drone orders for early 2027 must be paid for in October and November.
The prime minister also acknowledged that the conflict with Russia has “shaken” everyone and called on Ukrainians to “stock up on patience” and “gain optimism.” He also confirmed that the draft 2027 budget includes a 1% VAT increase, and acknowledged that this is an unpopular decision. “Unfortunately, there are no other sources,” he said.
Ukraine has already raised several taxes and excise duties this year, including doubling the profit-tax rate on banks to 50%.
As Kiev struggles to fill the defense gap this year, total military-related needs are expected to rise from $155 billion this year to $175 billion in 2027, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. On Monday, First Deputy Finance Minister Roman Yermolychev stated that around $70 billion would have to be met through partner funding.
The EU has tied much of the funding to Ukraine’s progress in adopting reforms, including governance and tackling corruption, as several measures remain stalled in the parliament. Brussels also signaled this week that around €20 billion in budget support is available for Kiev this year, but warned that “timely implementation [of the reforms] is key to enabling the [EU] Commission to proceed with the corresponding disbursements as planned.”
Russia’s diabetes strategy combines free appointments, regional programs, and locally produced glucose sensors
Many people think that diabetes is something like gout – that it primarily affects people with a poor diet or a sweet tooth.
The idea, besides being annoying for doctors and diabetics themselves, is also dangerous. It leads many to believe that only those who eat donuts and drink coffee with lots of sugar are at risk. In reality, diabetes poses a threat to almost everyone in the modern world.
According to the World Health Organization, the number of people worldwide with diabetes rose from 200 million to 830 million between 1990 and 2022, and the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes doubled from 7% to 14%. The number of cases is expected to surge further, driven by the realities of modern life.
This presents a genuine challenge for public health officials worldwide. Some nations are already managing the crisis more effectively than others.
Sedentary killer
To begin with, it is important to note that there are two types of diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The body virtually stops producing insulin, and the person requires daily insulin injections.
Type 1 diabetes often develops during childhood or young adulthood, though it can appear at any age. It is not caused by a high-sugar diet or excess weight.
In type 2 diabetes, the body typically continues to produce insulin, but the cells respond poorly to it – a condition known as insulin resistance. Over time, the pancreas may become exhausted and produce progressively less insulin.
While a poor diet can contribute to the disease, factors like genetics, being overweight, a sedentary lifestyle, and age put one at greater risk, though young or slim individuals increasingly suffer from diabetes as well.
The key difference is that in type 1 diabetes, the body produces virtually no insulin, whereas in type 2, insulin is present but the body fails to utilize it effectively. Type 1 diabetes always requires insulin therapy; type 2 diabetes can sometimes be managed for a long time through diet, physical activity, and oral medication, though some patients eventually require insulin as well.
Type 1 diabetes is virtually impossible to prevent. Type 2 is technically preventable, but difficult to avoid, because most people are even unaware of the danger it poses. Furthermore, its development is fueled by modern lifestyles.
Such a diagnosis is by no means a death sentence. In reality, having diabetes means a person must regularly monitor their blood sugar levels and make timely adjustments to their diet and medication. Moreover, a person often doesn’t have to totally exclude the consumption of sugar; sometimes, it is even necessary to maintain balance.
If acute crises are avoided, the life of a diabetic differs little from that of other people. However, this requires the right infrastructure.
The West’s diabetes blind spot
Since a lot depends on healthcare institutions, one might expect Western countries to be good at managing diabetes. Unfortunately, that’s not the case.
In the US, for example, due to the national healthcare model, insulin rationing is common. CDC studies have shown that approximately 25% of adults with diabetes reported cutting back on insulin use due to its cost. Skipping or reducing insulin doses leaves diabetics vulnerable and increases the risk of hospitalization, a sharp decline in health, and even death.
Complaints regarding a shortage of glucose meters, test strips, and other diabetic supplies are common in the US. Yet, even if patients had everything they needed, the problem would remain acute.
The US medical system is geared toward diagnosing and treating diseases rather than providing long-term patient support. Diabetes, however, cannot be cured; it stays with a person for life. The duration – and comfort – of life largely depends on regular check-ups and medical consultations.
Wealthy patients can secure a relatively safe and comfortable existence for themselves. However, those on a tighter budget and people without medical insurance (about 11% of Americans) remain highly vulnerable.
Lack of access to doctors isn’t the only problem. Studies show that in many parts of the US, living conditions contribute to diabetes. For example, insufficient dietary variety, a lack of large retailers, high electricity costs, and other factors can increase the risk of developing the disease.
And, of course, a sedentary lifestyle poses a major threat. About a quarter of Americans engage in no physical activity outside of work. Many also sit for more than eight hours a day. With such a lifestyle, diabetes is almost guaranteed.
Europe faces the same issues, plus two others: a shortage of doctors and a rapidly aging population. According to OECD estimates, over 40% of Europeans over the age of 65 suffer from at least two chronic conditions. The number of patients is rising, while the time for long-term monitoring and preventive care is shrinking.
There are also challenges that medicine alone cannot solve: obesity, mental health disorders, antibiotic resistance, new emerging infections, aging, climate-related risks, and vaccine hesitancy. Addressing these issues requires coordinated action from the state, the business sector, educational institutions, and the people themselves. While Europe and the US possess the necessary technology and resources, the complexity of modern problems often outpaces the speed at which systems can adapt.
However, the battle is far from lost. Around the world, there are examples of countries that successfully manage diabetes. Russia is one of them.
Unsugared pill
In Russia, approximately 6 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes. Russia is not immune to the problems of the West, such as sedentary lifestyles, unhealthy diets, and inconsistent infrastructure. The differences lie in the approach to managing the disease.
Firstly, while free medicine has its shortcomings, few would dispute its effectiveness in managing chronic conditions. Patients can schedule doctor appointments or lab tests at any time to check their health status and receive medical advice – all at no cost. It is also worth noting that many medications and medical supplies are provided to patients free of charge.
Secondly, the government has recognized the problem. The authorities realized that without active intervention, millions more could be diagnosed with diabetes, and took matters into their own hands. And the effort goes beyond simply promoting a healthy lifestyle and revising school cafeteria menus.
One of the key government initiatives was the launch of the Combating Diabetes federal project in 2023. All 89 regions are required to implement their own programs integrating diabetes prevention, early diagnosis, ongoing clinical monitoring, the treatment of complications, patient education, and the development of endocrinology services.
Additionally, Russia has opened over 1,600 “diabetes schools,” purchased more than 1,200 glycated hemoglobin analyzers, and trained over 1,000 doctors and mid-level medical specialists. Furthermore, 262 district and inter-district endocrinology centers are set to be equipped by 2030.
However, Russia’s strategy relies not only on institutions but also on technology.
Fewer needles, more chips
Every diabetic is familiar with the glucometer – a device that draws blood from the fingertip and quickly analyzes glucose levels. It is a convenient, reliable way to assess health status and determine whether medical intervention is needed.
Glucometers have two downsides, though. First, the test requires a clean, quiet environment; checking one’s glucose levels outdoors or in the middle of an office is inconvenient and potentially risky. Plus, the test reflects the patient’s condition at a single moment in time, without showing the dynamics over time. Not to mention that many people hate pricking their fingers.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices solve these problems. The small sensors are attached to the skin and passively track sugar levels, which can be viewed via an app. A sensor has to be replaced about every two weeks.
As a rule, these wearables are slightly less accurate than glucometers. However, their purpose is different: They track how glucose levels change over time. This allows doctors and patients to observe the body’s individual reactions to food, physical activity, and other stimuli, making adjustments to ensure the most comfortable lifestyle. CGM devices are also highly popular among parents of children with diabetes, as they allow them to monitor their child’s health remotely via an app.
Overall, glucose monitoring devices are one of the best ways to care for people with diabetes. They simplify health monitoring, eliminate the risk of sudden crises, and allow patients to live with greater peace of mind. In Russia, these devices are provided free of charge to children and pregnant women.
However, other diabetics need these devices as well, and shortages sometimes occur in certain regions. This is where the business sector steps in.
For a long time, the Russian CGM market relied on imports. This situation was often exploited to inflate prices. Recently, however, the company Saynoke Trade (the local partner for Sinocare) opened a large CGM manufacturing facility in Primorsky Region (in the Russian Far East) with the support of the local authorities.
The company acquired the technology from China and subsequently adapted production to utilize Russian machinery and software. The company plans to focus on the domestic market, aiming to provide Russians with affordable, reliable, and low-cost sensors.
“If we know that this technology helps people and improves their lives, how can we fail to provide it to everyone who needs it?” – Viktor Valuev, Saynoke Trade CEO.
We tend to think that we live in the safest and healthiest era in human history. And indeed, modern medicine can treat many diseases that were once fatal.
At the same time, however, this new world has made us vulnerable to other risks – ones that many people are unwilling to acknowledge. This is partly because modern living conditions foster diseases that appear harmless at first.
A great deal depends on the plans governments choose now to fight diabetes, from the size of their healthcare budgets to the health of entire generations. And as time goes on, it is becoming increasingly clear that neoliberal healthcare is failing to meet the challenge.
Addis Ababa’s military chief says foreign powers/Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan are supporting armed groups seeking to overthrow the government
Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan are backing armed militias seeking to overthrow Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, the country’s military chief has claimed.
Field Marshal Birhanu Jula made the accusation on Saturday amid renewed fighting involving the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), an armed political group that controls much of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region.
“Neither Shaebia [Eritrea] nor the TPLF can achieve anything alone, even if they are allied, unless they are backed, supported and supplied by Sudan, Egypt and other external powers,” Jula said in an interview with the military’s media outlet.
On Sunday, Sudan dismissed the accusation as “baseless.” Army spokesman Asim Awad Abdelwahab countered that Ethiopia was allowing support for Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to pass through its territory. Egypt and Eritrea had not publicly responded to Jula’s claims as of Sunday.
Ethiopia has increasingly strained relations with the three countries. Addis Ababa and Cairo have long been at odds over Ethiopia’s giant dam on the Blue Nile, while Ethiopia and Sudan have an unresolved border dispute. Relations with Eritrea have also sharply deteriorated despite Asmara having fought alongside Ethiopian government forces during the previous Tigray war.
The accusations come days after seven armed groups formed an alliance aimed at ousting Abiy’s government. The coalition brings together former enemies, including the TPLF and the Amhara Fano National Movement, which fought on opposing sides during the 2020-2022 war, as well as the Oromo Liberation Army.
Fighting has since intensified. TPLF-aligned forces seized airports in Mekelle, Axum and Shire last week and detained federal personnel, according to the African Union, forcing Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights to the region. Clashes have also spread into neighboring Amhara and Afar.
The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) claimed on Thursday that it had killed 272 TPLF fighters and captured another 260 during a counteroffensive. The battlefield figures could not be independently verified.
Jula said the military was responding with “wisdom and restraint,” warning that another major war would have devastating consequences for civilians.
The African Union has urged the sides to immediately de-escalate and return to direct talks, saying the airport seizures violated commitments under the 2022 Pretoria Agreement. It has also urged Ethiopia’s neighbors not to take actions that could further fuel the conflict.
The Pretoria deal ended a two-year war between federal forces and the TPLF that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. Eritrea backed Addis Ababa during that conflict, while Fano forces also fought alongside the federal government before later turning against it.
The cache was intercepted while reportedly being shipped to criminal groups in the country’s west
Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) has announced the transfer of weapons worth about $100,000 confiscated from an alleged smuggling ring to the notorious Azov Corps.
The cache, including about 17,000 rounds of ammunition, grenades, single-shot anti-tank grenade launchers, land mines and other weapons, according to the Ukrainian agency, was handed over this week, having been seized in May.
A criminal group had used a humanitarian vehicle to transport the weapons stolen from the front line to Ivano-Frankivsk Region in Western Ukraine, the DBR has alleged.
The weapons were intended for sale on the black market, but will instead be used by Azov, the agency said, describing its members as “defenders of Ukraine.”
Azov originated as an ultranationalist Ukrainian volunteer militia amid the country’s bloody armed coup in 2014, before being incorporated into the country’s security forces. The unit has been widely accused of atrocities and war crimes by both Russia, which designated it a terrorist organization in 2022, and Western organizations, including the UN, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
Prior to the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, US lawmakers had sought to restrict military assistance to the unit, citing its members’ far-right ideology. Western governments have since expanded their cooperation with the formation.
Moscow has for years warned that the Ukraine conflict would become a major source of illicit weapons for criminal groups and has alleged that elements within the Ukrainian state could be protecting trafficking networks.
Law enforcement agencies in several European countries have also warned about the risk that weapons from Ukraine could enter criminal markets.
Ukrainian organized crime tends to become joined at the hip with corrupt officials, as showcased earlier this month by the exposure of a protection racket operating in the prosecutor general’s office, which collected fees from scam-call centers.
The accusations by Western-backed anti-graft investigators forced the resignation of Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko. The former key ally of Vladimir Zelensky has fled the country and reportedly resides in Vienna now.
Ukraine’s backers are “turning a blind eye” to attacks on Europe’s largest nuclear plant, dismissing the risk of potentially catastrophic fallout, Rodion Miroshnik says
The West risks becoming a victim of the very “nuclear terrorism” it enables by backing Ukraine, Russian Ambassador-at-Large Rodion Miroshnik has warned.
Miroshnik, who oversees matters tied to Kiev’s military crimes and human rights violations, was commenting on the escalation in Ukrainian attacks on the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), Europe’s largest, and nearby Energodar, home to most of its workers. Russia took control of the facility in March 2022.
In remarks released on Monday, Miroshnik told TASS that Western governments understand Kiev’s “increasingly provocative tactics” but continue to “turn a blind eye.”
“They think that this situation, which is gradually heating up and genuinely threatens very serious consequences, will somehow pass them by,” he stated, arguing that Kiev’s progression “toward crimes, provocations, and outright terrorism” also threatens its supporters.
“Terrorism is a double-edged weapon. At some point it will come back to them... If they think they are somehow shielded from this, it’s some global naiveté.”
Miroshnik linked the escalation to the EU’s €90 billion ($102 billion) ‘loan’ package, finalized in April to bankroll Kiev’s military and failing budget. He said Ukrainian attacks had since intensified, driving residents from Energodar, targeting sensitive sites including nuclear waste facilities, and expanding to the Kursk and Smolensk nuclear plants. Ukraine’s strategy, he argued, now amounts to “manufacturing a humanitarian catastrophe” with EU money.
The diplomat also slammed Kiev’s Western backers for conveniently accepting Ukrainian denials over the attacks on the ZNPP, saying such “idiotic, twisted logic suits the West perfectly well” in its anti-Russian agenda.
The attacks have increasingly threatened the ZNPP’s safety. Its main external power line was severed in March and restored only this month, while the backup failed in August after an “incident” in Ukrainian-controlled territory, forcing the plant onto diesel generators for over two weeks. Ukraine has also recently targeted emergency fuel tankers, killing two Russian servicemen and wounding others, while a drone strike last week damaged a radiation monitoring post.
Attacks on the plant and its personnel have killed at least 13 people and injured scores more since the spring, according to site officials. The head of Russian state nuclear giant Rosatom, Aleksey Likhachev, has warned of the “real danger of a massive nuclear incident” affecting Russia, Ukraine, and the EU if the attacks continue.
Moscow has accused Kiev’s Western backers of effectively enabling the attacks by refusing to condemn them. It has particularly criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which maintains a permanent presence at the plant, for documenting military activity without publicly identifying Ukraine as responsible. Earlier this month, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi again urged “maximum military restraint,” citing “reported military activity” but assigning no blame.
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