A transcontinental state that existed 1922–1991, shaping 20th-century geopolitics.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage has struck the Moon near Einstein Crater at about 5,400 mph, carving a new crater and launching a dust plume. South Korea’s Danuri orbiter has photographed the site and released images. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is scheduled to image the impact next week while scientists begin analysing ejecta and crater formation.
A travel feature on Yerevan, Armenia, exploring Republic Square, the Dancing Fountains show, and the city’s heritage from Tamanian’s design to recent tourism growth linked to direct flights from London.
A series of historical accounts recount the first use of atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, underscoring lasting global fears, arms races, and the human cost reflected in witness testimonies and later reflections.
Survivors and officials mark the Nagasaki and Hiroshima anniversaries while Japan debates its nuclear policy. Leaders reaffirm non-nuclear principles while signals of policy shifts surface amid regional tension and calls for a clear stance.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has visited Iturup (Etorofu) in the disputed Kuril Islands, watched Pacific Fleet naval drills including live-fire missile launches, and toured a fish-processing plant, hospital and school. Japan has summoned the Russian ambassador and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi have called the visit "absolutely unacceptable," reaffirming Tokyo's claim to the islands.
Cuba marks Fidel Castro’s centenary as the island endures its worst crisis in living memory, with power shortages, water scarcity, and sanctions shaping daily life. Raul Castro remains an influential figure as the regime faces mounting external pressure and internal hardship.
A civilian-contracted Cessna 441 has crashed near Cape Newenham LRRS Airport west of Anchorage. Investigators have confirmed two pilots and six passengers were on board and rescuers have found no survivors. The aircraft had departed Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and was bound for the remote radar site; the NTSB and FAA are investigating.
The Chang’e-7 mission is delaying its launch as conditions for lift-off have not been met this year. The China Manned Space Agency has given a brief statement that the launch cannot take place within the planned window after a comprehensive assessment.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham travels to Kyiv for Independence Day amid European leaders’ meeting to boost Kyiv’s defenses. London has agreed to allow MBDA to declassify information on UK-made SCALP missiles to assist Ukraine’s local production. The visit marks a coordinated push to support Kyiv and degrade Russia’s war capabilities.
Leaders from 34 countries are meeting in Kyiv on Ukraine’s Independence Day to pledge additional air defences and military aid. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is co-chairing the Coalition of the Willing, with France and Germany, and will authorize the release of classified blueprints for the SCALP missile to support Ukrainian production. EU funds are also being stepped up to bolster Ukraine’s shield as Russia escalates strikes.
The UK has formalised support for Ukraine by sharing blueprints for long-range Scalp missiles, a French variant of the Storm Shadow. Kyiv is set to produce components domestically. Russia has warned of retaliation, while UK leaders press ahead with allied security cooperation and sanctions enforcement.
The UK has granted Ukraine access to declassified blueprints for British-made components used in the Scalp missile, the European-produced version of the Storm Shadow. Russia has warned of consequences and highlighted potential threats to UK bases in Europe as Kyiv deepens its defense production.
Former defence minister has admitted misleading parliament about medical records from nuclear test veterans. The MoD has published a records review, while veterans argue that blood and urine tests could prove health damages from radiation exposure. About 22,000-25,000 people participated in tests between 1952-1967 across Australia and the Pacific.
France star Kylian Mbappé says an AI-generated meme depicting him in militaristic poses and alongside controversial historical figures has a funny side but also serious drawbacks. He argues the comparisons can reveal a lack of political and human awareness, while noting a separate nickname incident and a past Manchester United scouting anecdote.
The Tu-95 strategic bomber has crashed during a training flight in the Amur region near Krasnoyarovo. Officials say the aircraft was not carrying weapons and one crew member has survived and is hospitalized. Investigators are at the scene to determine the cause, with mixed reports from multiple agencies about possible factors.
The Green Party has passed a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism and endorsing a Palestinian state. The vote has drawn condemnation from Israel and Jewish groups, while triggering internal divisions and prompting debates about the party’s future direction.
SpaceX has achieved an orbital Starship flight, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites and signaling a new era of high-frequency, reusable launches. The mission faced an early engine issue but proceeded to orbit with a Pacific splashdown and a rapid return-to-flight plan taking shape for future missions.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has delivered a speech at the Acropolis urging Western nations to reclaim classical values, rebuild industry and defence, and pursue an "unapologetic" national power. He has linked the rhetoric to warnings about Iran and called on Europe to strengthen alliances and reindustrialise amid rising geopolitical competition.
Ukrainian drone strikes have damaged three of Yandex’s data centers in Sasovo, Kaluga and Vladimir, disrupting a wide range of services from search and maps to banking and cloud. Yandex reports ongoing restoration efforts, while authorities discuss decentralised backups and the broader resilience of Russia’s digital economy.
A 28-year-old technician at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute has died after severe pneumonia on Oct. 2. Russian authorities have told the WHO they found no dangerous pathogens in more than 5,000 tests of the worker and roughly 200 contacts, but they have not produced a confirmed diagnosis or released detailed lab results, prompting international requests for transparency.
Homeland Security Investigations has executed a court-authorised search of Representative Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., home on 12 October as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. Agents have seized phones, notebooks, a passport and computers; grand jury subpoenas have been issued to some relatives. No charges have been announced.
Ukrainian drone strikes have knocked out several major Russian data centers, disrupting services across Russia as Kyiv’s response to Russian attacks intensifies. Yandex experiences outages, with European-style AI centers and supercomputers affected; Moscow and regional authorities report ongoing disruption containment and retaliation efforts.
The General Assembly has allocated 47 seats on the UN Human Rights Council to regional groups, with all regions submitting the same number of candidates for a three‑year term. Contested races have been avoided for a second year, drawing criticism from rights groups about genuine accountability.
A 40-year memorial in Mbuzini marks the Mbuzini plane crash that killed Mozambican leader Samora Machel and 34 others. Officials emphasise the right to truth as new remarks underscore unresolved doubts about the crash and its causes, with the event drawing ties between Mozambique and South Africa and reaffirming commitments to memory, peace and development.
Christiane Amanpour has announced she will separate from CNN after 43 years. She has said her nightly CNN International programme will be reduced to once a week early next year, end in May, and she will depart the network in June 2027; her PBS show will end this year and she will continue her podcast.
Japan has repeatedly demanded consular access and the journalist’s immediate release after a Japanese national working for Hokkaido Shimbun was detained on Sakhalin Island on espionage suspicions. Tokyo cites a consular-right protocol and a long-running Kuril dispute as context for Moscow's handling.
Elon Musk has pledged to give one SpaceX share to every child in America next year, a move tied to Trump Accounts and Treasury rules. The gift, worth about $10.5-10.7 billion at current prices, would reduce Musk’s SpaceX stake by roughly 1.5% while leaving voting power largely intact due to SpaceX’s dual-share structure. Details on eligibility and execution remain unclear.
NASA officials say Artemis III will dock with lunar landers in 2027 ahead of a 2028 moon landing, while Artemis IV remains targeted for late 2028. The agency aims to speed up development with lighter suits and faster launch cadence, as it weighs SpaceX vs. Blue Origin for the lunar lander.
The UN General Assembly has approved a resolution condemning the US embargo on Cuba by 130 votes to 17, with 25 abstentions. The vote has taken place as the Trump administration is intensifying economic pressure, including an effective fuel blockade that has caused widespread blackouts and shortages in Cuba, and US officials have openly discussed military options and covert engagement with dissidents.
Protesters have gathered in Prague as the lower house advances a plan to fund Czech Television and Czech Radio from the state budget, cutting current fees by about 15%. The move, supported by PM Babis’s coalition, has drawn criticism that it could empower the government to influence public media; staff plan a strike on Nov. 3 and rallies are planned for Nov. 15.
Novaya Gazeta has announced it is ending operations after Russian authorities revoked its licence, cut funding channels and issued an eviction order. Editor-in-chief Sergei Sokolov has said the security services have forced the newsroom to stop and that the paper will turn off its servers and vacate its Moscow office on November 9.