September 2026 greeted Europeans with a deceptive calm. The lights are still on in Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam, and officials insist that the worst energy shocks are behind them. Behind closed doors, however, analysts and energy-crisis staff are growing uneasy. Autumn is here, temperatures across Europe are sliding, and the...
Bundeswehr to set up first drone regiment in 2027
Germany’s armed forces will form their first regiment for unmanned systems. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced this on Thursday at the Bergen training area. He said an independent unit for unmanned systems will be established in the course of 2027. The regiment is planned to have up to 600 service...
UK imposes a new package of sanctions against Russia
The UK Foreign Office announced a new package of sanctions against Russia on 1 October. It covers 23 individuals and entities and eight vessels. According to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the package is aimed at restricting funding for the war, putting pressure on networks that London describes as...
Burnham says Iran was involved in incident at US-used base in Gloucestershire
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the authorities have “convincing grounds” to believe Iran was involved in an incident at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The base is used by US forces for operations linked to Iran. Burnham made the remarks on Wednesday, 30 September, in interviews with the BBC and...
Berlin airport activates early-warning drone detection system
A new drone detection system has entered service at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport said. The system is designed to detect unmanned aircraft at an early stage in approach and departure zones and promptly alert the authorities responsible for air traffic safety. Germany’s air navigation service...
Police from four countries carry out Europe’s largest raid against Hells Angels
Early on Wednesday, 30 September, more than 1,000 police officers launched coordinated raids in Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria and the Netherlands. The operation targeted an international money-laundering network linked to members of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang. According to Duisburg police and the dpa news agency, 14 arrest warrants were executed....
Russia sends nuclear warning to NATO in informal diplomatic note
Russia has delivered an informal diplomatic document to NATO warning that it is prepared to use its entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons, if alliance countries attempt to isolate the Kaliningrad region from the rest of Russian territory. The document, seen by Reuters, accuses NATO of a “dangerous and reckless course”...
How Croatia became Europe’s dumping ground for toxic waste
Not far from the centre of the Croatian town of Gospić, in the historic region of Lika, stands the grim industrial complex of the former company PPK Velebit. Here, at the foot of the mountains, in a region known for its national parks and clean rivers, the morning air no...
German intelligence services step up surveillance of the Russian embassy in Berlin
German intelligence services have tightened surveillance of the Russian embassy in Berlin. The newspaper Bild reported this on September 28, citing sources in German government circles. According to the paper, cars and vans believed to belong to German security agencies have in recent days been regularly parked outside the diplomatic...
UK offers to extend its nuclear umbrella to nine JEF countries
The United Kingdom has offered to extend its national nuclear deterrent to nine partner countries in the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). The corresponding agreement is expected to be signed in November. The countries in question are Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The Finnish newspaper...