What are the GCC’s air defence capabilities?
The Gulf Cooperation Council’s (GCC) Joint Defence Council held an emergency session in Doha, Qatar, on Thursday, to discuss urgent regional security measures in response to the recent Israeli strike on a Hamas office in Qatar’s capital, which killed six people. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi said the attack on the State of Qatar can be considered an attack on all GCC countries. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list AlBudaiwi said member states would activate joint defence mechanisms, enhance intelligence sharing, coordinate aerial positions, activate an early-warning system against ballistic missiles and carry out joint training exercises, including a regional air force drill. Qatar is the seventh country Israel has bombed since the start of this year. (Al Jazeera) Which countries make up the GCC, and what do they spend on their militaries? The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a political and economic bloc which was formed in 1981. It brings together six Arab states on the Arabian Peninsula: Bahrain Kuwait Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates (UAE) The GCC was established to promote cooperation on security, economics and politics, and it often coordinates positions on regional and international issues. In 2023, GCC countries collectively spent $114.5bn on their militaries. Saudi Arabia accounted for the largest share, budgeting for at least $69bn and ranking as the world’s seventh-largest military spender, followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at $20.7bn, Qatar at $9.02bn, Kuwait at $7.77bn, Oman at $6.5bn and Bahrain at $1.4bn, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Military Balance 2024. (Al Jazeera) Where are the US military bases in the Middle East? The US has operated military bases in the Middle East for decades. Advertisement According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the US operates a broad network of military sites, both permanent and temporary, across at least 19 locations in the region. Of these, eight are permanent bases in five of the six GCC countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – as well as in Egypt, Iraq and Jordan. (Al Jazeera) The strategic partnership between Qatar and the US Al Udeid Air Base was established in Qatar in 1996 and is the largest US military base in the Middle East. Covering an area of 24 hectares (60 acres), the base accommodates almost 100 aircraft as well as drones. This base, which houses some 10,000 troops, serves as the forward headquarters for US Central Command (CENTCOM) and has been central to operations in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Following Israel’s attacks on Doha, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Qatar, arriving the day after he attended meetings in Israel. During his visit, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Majed al-Ansari, emphasised the country’s strategic relationship with the United States, particularly on defence matters. He added: “We are determined to defend our sovereignty and take measures to prevent any recurrence of such an attack.” US President Donald Trump gestures on stage as he tours the Al Udeid Air Base on May 15, 2025, in Doha, Qatar [Win McNamee/Getty Images] Saudi-Pakistan defence pact On Wednesday evening, Saudi Arabia signed a “strategic mutual defence agreement” (SMDA) with nuclear-armed Pakistan. The agreement states that any aggression against either country shall be considered an act of aggression against both. The pact came just days after nearly 60 member states of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) gathered in Doha in a show of regional solidarity with Qatar in the wake of the recent attack. A handout picture provided by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on September 17, 2025, shows Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ahead of their meeting in Riyadh (AFP) Which air defence systems do Gulf states rely on? The six Gulf states have built layered air defence networks combining US, European, Russian and Chinese systems. Their arsenals range from long-range interceptors to point-defence missiles and anti-aircraft guns. Long-range systems cover threats beyond 100 km (62 miles), medium-range protect targets 30–100 km (19–62 miles) away and short-range systems defend assets within 1–30 km (0.6–19 miles). (Al Jazeera) Saudi Arabia possesses the Gulf’s largest air defence network, anchored by US-made THAAD systems and long-range Patriot PAC-3 batteries. Advertisement Its layered arsenal also includes medium-range US-made I-Hawk missiles, short-range French Crotale, Shahine and MICA systems, as well as a large number of American and French point-defence launchers such as Stinger, Avenger, Mistral and MPCV. Complementing these are extensive anti-aircraft guns from several countries, including the US-made Vulcan, Swiss/German Oerlikon, and Swedish Bofors L/70 models. Saudi Arabia is the only GCC country to deploy the Chinese-made Silent Hunter laser system, which tracks and neutralises low-flying drones and other small aerial threats by emitting a high-energy beam that can disable or destroy them. (Al Jazeera) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) operates US-made THAAD and long-range Patriot systems, alongside a version of the Israeli-made Barak air defence system. For medium-range threats, the UAE relies on the South Korean-made Cheongung II. Its short-range defences include French Crotale and Mistral, Russian Igla and Pantsir-S1, Swedish RBS-70 and British Rapier systems, all supported by a variety of European anti-aircraft guns. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are the only two GCC countries which operate the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defence) system, giving them advanced missile interception capabilities against ballistic threats. (Al Jazeera) Qatar has invested in US-made Patriot systems and NASAMS III for long- and medium-range air defence, while its short-range defences feature a mix of Russian Igla, US Stinger, Chinese FN-6 and French Mistral systems, supported by German Gepard and Skynex anti-aircraft guns. Kuwait fields US-made Patriot PAC-3 batteries for long-range defence, Italian Aspide launchers paired with Skyguard systems for short-range defence and Stinger, Starburst and FIM-92 missiles for point defence, complemented by German Oerlikon GDF anti-aircraft guns. Bahrain has recently acquired the Patriot PAC-3 MSE system, joining Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Kuwait as the GCC countries with advanced long-range, surface-to-air missile capabilities. For medium- to short-range threats, it relies
UN Security Council rejects resolution to extend Iran sanctions relief
The United Nations Security Council has voted not to permanently lift economic sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme, delivering a major economic blow that Tehran claims is “politically biased”. A resolution on Friday to block the sanctions fell in the Security Council by a vote of four to nine, meaning European sanctions will return by September 28 if no significant deal is reached beforehand. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Russia, China, Pakistan and Algeria voted to stop the sanctions from being reintroduced, while nine UNSC members voted against sanctions relief. Two countries abstained. The vote follows a 30-day process launched in late August by Britain, France and Germany – known as the E3 – to reinstate sanctions unless Tehran meets their demands. “Any attempt by the E3 to reimpose sanctions already terminated is not only baseless but a direct assault on international law and the credibility of the Security Council itself,” Amir Saeid Iravani, Iran’s permanent representative and ambassador to the UN, said at the session on Friday. “This travesty unfolds against the backdrop of blatant aggression,” he added, referring to Israel and the United States’s attacks on his country’s nuclear facilities during June’s 12-day war. The council, he added, had “squandered an opportunity for dialogue and consensus”. Iran says Europeans ‘misusing JCPOA mechanism’ Iranian officials have accused the European trio of abusing the dispute mechanism contained in the 2015 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which allows for the application of sanctions under a “snapback mechanism”. Advertisement “What Europeans are doing is politically biased and politically motivated … They are wrong on different levels by trying to misuse the mechanism embedded in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA),” Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said before the vote. The Europeans offered to delay the snapback for up to six months if Iran restored access for UN nuclear inspectors and engaged in talks with the US. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that Tehran had presented a “reasonable and actionable plan” and insisted Iran remains committed to the NPT. But the E3 accuse Tehran of breaching their nuclear commitments, including by building up a uranium stockpile of more than 40 times the level permitted under the JCPOA. The UN’s nuclear watchdog board also ruled back in June that Iran was not respecting international nuclear safeguards. “However slim, there is still a possibility of diplomatic engagement to fix this already complicated issue,” said Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi, reporting from Tehran. But today’s vote adds another “layer of complexity” and puts Iran “on the very brink” of deeper sanctions that would compound pressure on its economy, he added. ‘Clock is ticking for high-level diplomacy’ The UNSC vote allowing sanctions to snap back is not the complete “end of negotiations,” as the parties have just over a week to come up with a last-ditch deal, said Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bays, reporting from the UN. “It’s the week where world leaders are all here in New York for the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly, so it sets the stage for high-level diplomacy between Iran and particularly the three European countries,” said Bays. But “we’re reaching the end of this high-stakes diplomacy, and the clock really is ticking.” Iran has repeatedly denied pursuing nuclear weapons but affirmed its right to peacefully pursue nuclear energy. Under the JCPOA – signed by Iran, the United States, China, Russia and the EU – Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief. But the agreement unravelled in 2018 after then-US President Donald Trump pulled out and reimposed unilateral sanctions. Tensions escalated further earlier this summer, when Israel launched a 12-day war on Iran, with Israeli and US forces striking several nuclear facilities. “It was the United States that unilaterally tore up the agreement in 2018, reimposing sanctions in open defiance of this Council. It was the E3 that failed to meet their obligations, hiding behind empty promises while quietly following Washington’s lead and instructions,” said Iravani. Advertisement “This contradiction between their rhetoric and actions proves, once more, their real intention is not diplomacy but escalation,” he added. Adblock test (Why?)
Safety concerns on eve of World Cup after Italian skier death
It’s usually not until December or January and after a series of tumbles, twisted knees, torn ACLs and worse that the debate over safety in World Cup skiing becomes an annual topic. Not this season. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The death of Italian skier Matteo Franzoso this week following a crash in preseason training in Chile has resurfaced concerns over how to limit risks in the high-speed sport more than a month before the racing even starts. The debate also comes less than five months before the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Franzoso, who was 25, became the third rising Italian skier to die in less than a year. Matilde Lorenzi, who was 19, died from her injuries after a crash last October. Then in March, Marco Degli Uomini, who was 18, died while testing the course for a regional children’s race. A month later, Margot Simond, who was a promising 18-year-old French skier, died in a training crash, too. In 2017, French downhill skier David Poisson, a former medallist at the world championships, died following a training crash in Canada. He was 35. “How many tragic losses will we have to experience before we finally open the debate on safety, especially during training?” veteran French downhiller Adrien Theaux wrote on Instagram. Added Lucrezia Lorenzi, Matilde’s older sister and a competitive skier herself: “The time has come to stop … You can’t go out to ski and then not return home.” Franzoso crashed through two layers of safety fencing on a course at La Parva and slammed into another type of fence positioned six to seven meters (20-23 feet) outside the course, the Italian Winter Sports Federation said. He was transported by helicopter to a hospital in Santiago, but couldn’t survive cranial trauma and a consequent swelling of his brain. He died two days later — a day before what would have been his 26th birthday. Advertisement The La Parva course has been widely used by World Cup skiers for years. Lindsey Vonn and the US Ski Team were training there a week before Franzoso’s crash and several other national teams have been there this month. Italian veteran Christof Innerhofer had completed a run just before Franzoso’s crash and heard about the crash. Then Innerhofer saw the crash site with his own eyes when he went back up on a chairlift and looked down at his fallen teammate. “Matte, when I saw where you fell, where they were applying emergency aid, with you on the other side of the fence, I lost my mind because I feared for the severity of the situation,” Innerhofer wrote on Instagram. The 40-year-old Innerhofer was so shaken that he abandoned the training camp and flew home to Italy: “These are the toughest days I’ve ever experienced as an athlete,” he said. United States’ Ryan Cochran Siegle crashes onto the safety net during an alpine ski, men’s World Cup downhill in Kitzbühel, Austria in 2021 [Marco Trovati/AP] Franzoso’s death has sparked debate over whether the Switzerland-based International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) should take on a greater role in ensuring safety for preseason training courses in the Southern Hemisphere. Ushuaia in Argentina and Coronet Peak in New Zealand are also popular destinations for World Cup skiers in August and September. The Italian federation held an urgent meeting Friday and called for the FIS to establish dedicated training courses for national teams. “The proposal could include two courses in the Southern Hemisphere for summer training, and a few courses in Europe and North America for fall and winter training,” the Italian federation, known as FISI, said. FISI added that the training courses should have A, B and C safety netting just like courses used for World Cup races. “In the coming weeks, FIS will further intensify dialogue with its stakeholders, always with a single guiding principle: the wellbeing and safety of athletes must come first,” the FIS said in a statement Friday. Starting this season, all World Cup skiers will be required to wear protective air-bag systems under their racing suits for downhill and super-G races; and cut-resistant underwear for all events. The air bags, which inflate briefly when activated by a sophisticated algorithm that can sense when a skier loses control, have been around as an optional safety device for years. The cut-resistant underwear protects against laceration injuries from ultra-sharp ski edges. For example, the underwear may have helped prevent the severe cut and nerve damage to the right calf of Norwegian standout Aleksander Aamodt Kilde during a horrific crash in January 2024. Kilde has been out ever since that fall but hopes to return this season. Advertisement “Moments like this bring into sharp focus the profound risks that are an inseparable part of our sport,” the FIS said. “It is not possible to eliminate the inherent dangers of alpine skiing, but — by listening, by raising awareness, and by fostering dialogue that leads to collective action — we can mitigate the risks.” Franzoso was from the coastal city of Genoa but had moved to the mountains near Sestriere to pursue his skiing career. His funeral will be held on Tuesday in Sestriere — where skiing was contested at the 2006 Turin Olympics. For the Milan-Cortina Games in February, men’s skiing will be held in Bormio and women’s skiing will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Both the Stelvio course in Bormio and the Olympia delle Tofane course in Cortina have been the site of numerous high-profile crashes in recent years. Mikaela Shiffrin hit the Cortina nets at high speed in 2024, and French standout Cyprien Sarrazin needed surgery to drain brain bleeding after he was catapulted into the air and landed hard on the Stelvio last season. This season’s World Cup circuit opens on the Rettenbach glacier in Solden, Austria, at the end of October. Adblock test (Why?)
Trump celebrates Kimmel show suspension as Democrats push free speech bill
United States President Donald Trump appears to be relishing in the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel after the late-night comedian’s popular talk show was taken off air over comments he made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. “He made a total FOOL of himself,” President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Thursday evening, reposting a clip from last year’s Academy Awards in which Kimmel spontaneously took aim at the US leader. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Earlier in the day, Trump said Kimmel was fired because he said a “horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk”. Trump told reporters on his return from visiting the United Kingdom that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – which regulates all broadcasts in the US – should consider removing the licences of broadcasters who “hit Trump”. “I would think maybe their licence should be taken away,” Trump said, though federal law prohibits the FCC from revoking a broadcaster’s licence for negative coverage or speech disliked by the government. “It will be up to [FCC Chair] Brendan Carr,” Trump added. The Disney-owned ABC network removed the Jimmy Kimmel Live show from programming indefinitely on Wednesday after an opening monologue by Kimmel in which he said “the MAGA gang” was trying to “score political points” from Kirk’s death. Disney made the move after the FCC’s Carr – a Trump appointee – appeared to imply on a right-wing podcast that Kimmel’s remarks had put Disney’s licence in jeopardy. “This is a very, very serious issue right now for Disney,” Carr said. Advertisement “They have a licence granted by us at the FCC, and that comes with it an obligation to operate in the public interest.” Brendan Carr, then commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission, testifies in a 2020 US Senate oversight hearing [File: Jonathan Newton/Reuters] Kimmel was due to meet with three Disney network executives to discuss the fate of his show, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. The comedian is the latest in a growing list of media figures, journalists and news organisations to face Trump’s wrath in the form of lawsuits and personal vendettas. In July, CBS said The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would go off air in 2026, days after Colbert criticised CBS’s parent company Paramount for a $16m settlement in a case with Trump. ABC News also agreed to pay $15m over inaccurate on-air comments made by an anchor that Trump had been found “liable for raping” writer E Jean Carroll. Trump had, in fact, been found liable for sexual abuse. More recently, Trump is bringing a multibillion-dollar lawsuit against The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal for their coverage of his relationship with high-flying financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In another Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump seemed to suggest further suspensions of late-night comedians, namely two popular NBC hosts. “That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC,” the president said, referring to Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. “Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!” Democratic Party lawmakers are now pushing to pass a new bill, called the No Political Enemies Act, which they in part credited to Kimmel’s suspension. The bill aims to deter officials from retaliating against free speech and provides tools for those targeted by the government, according to a legislative summary, though it is unlikely to pass the Republican-controlled Congress. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has also called for Carr’s resignation from the FCC in a social media post on Thursday, before railing against the Trump administration in a news conference announcing the bill. “First, let’s be very clear: Political violence has no place in America,” Schumer said. “But let’s also be clear: The Trump administration campaign of threats against civil society and free speech … is an assault on everything this country has stood for since the Constitution was signed,” Schumer said. “There’s an assault on democracy coming out of the White House and their allies, and we see more evidence of it every day,” he said. Brendan Carr should resign immediately, or Trump should fire him. pic.twitter.com/bow6H1ZsFY — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) September 18, 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
Alleged stalking suspect ambushed Pennsylvania police officers, killing 3
Police detectives were attempting to arrest 24-year-old suspect on suspicion of stalking his ex-partner when he opened fire with AR-15-type rifle. Published On 19 Sep 202519 Sep 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share A man who ambushed five Pennsylvania police officers this week, killing three of them, is a suspected stalker who opened fire with an assault-style rifle, according to a local prosecutor. Officers from the North York County Regional Police Department and York County Sheriff’s Office were attempting to serve an arrest warrant for 24-year-old Matthew Ruth when he opened fire, county District Attorney Tim Barker said on Thursday. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Ruth was killed in the ensuing gunfight with police, which unfolded at a farmhouse that belonged to his ex-girlfriend and her mother in North Codorus Township, about 185km (115 miles) west of Philadelphia. Barker said five police detectives and a deputy sheriff sought to arrest Ruth on suspicion of stalking his ex-partner, as well as prowling and trespassing. Ruth’s former partner, who has not been named, told police she believed he had set fire to her pick-up truck in August. She then reported to police on Tuesday that he was lurking outside her home in camouflage clothing and peering in through a window with binoculars. After a fruitless search for Ruth on Tuesday night, police visited his home with an arrest warrant on Wednesday afternoon, but he was not there. Officers drove to the farmhouse, from which the ex-girlfriend and mother had fled for their safety, and found the door unlocked. When officers entered the property, Ruth immediately opened fire with his AR-15-type rifle, Barker said. Four police detectives and a sheriff’s deputy were struck by gunfire in the shootout, Barker added. Advertisement Three of the detectives were fatally wounded. Images from the scene after the incident showed officers being airlifted to hospital by a medical helicopter. The ambush-slaying of three police officers in the quiet farm country of southeastern Pennsylvania represented one of the deadliest days for police – not only in the state, but across the United States – in recent times. The attack also came at a time of heightened tension surrounding gun violence in the US, just days after right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk was fatally shot by a lone gunman while speaking in front of a large crowd at Utah Valley University. Adblock test (Why?)
Pentagon official denies report of Charlie Kirk military recruitment drive
An NBC news report said the military planned to invoke the activist’s memory to recruit a ‘generation of warriors’. Published On 19 Sep 202519 Sep 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share The United States Department of Defense has denied reports that it plans to launch a recruiting drive to honour the legacy of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed at a Utah university event. US network NBC first reported the news on Thursday, citing two officials familiar with the matter, but a Pentagon spokesperson quickly dispelled the report to Fox News. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list NBC said the Pentagon was debating slogans such as “Charlie has awakened a generation of warriors” as part of its campaign drive, although Kirk himself was not a military veteran. The military also hoped to work with Kirk’s political organisation, Turning Point USA, as part of its recruitment drive, the story said. Turning Point was credited with helping US President Donald Trump win at the polls in 2024 through its work with young voters on high school and university campuses. “This is not happening,” Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson told Fox News later on Thursday. Wilson blasted NBC for using anonymous sources to publish “false claims” that were “100 percent wrong”, according to the Fox News report. The two unnamed Pentagon officials in the NBC report said the recruitment plan had been met with resistance from “some Pentagon leaders” who feared they would be seen as capitalising on Kirk’s murder. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment. Turning Point USA announced on Thursday that Erika Kirk, Kirk’s wife, will take over Turning Point as CEO and chairman of the board. Advertisement “We will not surrender or kneel before evil. We will carry on,” the organisation said in an announcement on social media. “The attempt to destroy Charlie’s work will become our chance to make it more powerful and enduring than ever before.” Kirk’s death has been met with an outpouring of grief from leading Republican lawmakers as well as the White House and the targeting of Kirk’s critics, with people losing their jobs over comments allegedly disparaging the late conservative activist. The US military has also reportedly suspended “several people” for social media posts about Kirk, according to ABC News, although the exact figure is unknown. President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are all due to speak at Kirk’s memorial service on Sunday, according to a post shared on Turning Point USA’s X account. https://t.co/t0KIbEbhaP pic.twitter.com/ag6kIQBSjh — Turning Point USA (@TPUSA) September 17, 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk’s killing?
NewsFeed US talk show host Jimmy Kimmel was pulled off air indefinitely after he joked about the political reaction to the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk. Here’s what the row is all about. Published On 18 Sep 202518 Sep 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
Displaced Palestinians shelter at garbage dumps
NewsFeed With nowhere else to go, Palestinians displaced from Gaza City are pitching tents on landfill sites where families say they are surrounded by garbage and disease. Published On 18 Sep 202518 Sep 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
Fed rate cuts: Saving American jobs or stoking inflation?
US Federal Reserve reduces interest rates and signals more cuts ahead as the labour market slows. The United States Federal Reserve is walking a tightrope. It wants to keep employment high and inflation low. But both are pointing in the wrong direction. For now, policymakers seem more worried about the health of the labour market than the risk of rising prices. For the first time since December, the central bank has lowered interest rates to help shore up the ailing job market. But that might also push prices up. Also – the Fed faces political pressure, with President Donald Trump accused of challenging its independence. Can European electric cars catch up with China? Plus, Senegal’s hidden debt crisis. Published On 18 Sep 202518 Sep 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,302
Here are the key events on day 1,302 of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Published On 18 Sep 202518 Sep 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Here is how things stand on Thursday, September 18: Fighting A Ukrainian drone has struck a car in Russia’s Belgorod border region, killing one person and injuring another, according to the region’s governor. The Ukrainian army lost more than 1,500 troops during front-line fighting over the past day, reported Russia’s state TASS news agency, citing the Ministry of Defence. Ukraine has not confirmed the claim, and both sides have engaged in what independent analysts described as unsurprising narrative warfare aimed at projecting military gains. The General Staff of the Ukrainian armed forces said Russia had lost an estimated 1,020 people, along with 360 unmanned aerial vehicles and 36 artillery systems, in the past day. Russia has not confirmed the claim. Meanwhile, Russian forces also hit Ukrainian railway infrastructure facilities, “storage and launch sites for long-range unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as temporary deployment sites”, the Russian Defence Ministry said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on social media platform X that although Russia had prepared offensives in Sumy, Novopavlivka, Pokrovsk and Zaporizhzhia this year, Russia has lost “so much manpower” that “as of now, they lack the strength for large-scale offensives.” Military Speaking at a joint news conference with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Zelenskyy said missiles for Western air defence systems were among the first set of US weapons being sent under the Priority Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, which allows NATO states to pay for the transfer of United States-sourced weapons and technology. Ukraine has received more than $2bn so far as part of the PURL scheme, Zelenskyy said, with the total expected to rise to up to $3.6bn in October. Lithuanian prosecutors charged 15 people in connection with detonations of DHL parcels at logistics depots in Europe last year, which prosecutors allege were organised by Russian citizens with ties to Russian military intelligence. In what Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called “a paradigm shift”, Denmark will procure “long-range precision weapons” for the first time in response to the threat posed by Russia. Moscow’s ambassador to Copenhagen said the decision was “pure madness”. Advertisement Politics and diplomacy After a birthday phone call from Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked the Russian president – who he referred to as “my friend” – on X, writing that India is “ready to make all possible contributions towards a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict”. King Charles seemed to gently nudge US President Donald Trump on standing firm in Ukraine’s corner, during a lavish ceremony for Trump during his visit to the United Kingdom, when the British monarch recalled the US-UK alliance during World Wars I and II. “Today, as tyranny once again threatens Europe, we and our allies stand together in support of Ukraine, to deter aggression and secure peace,” the king said. The comments came amid questions over whether Trump has put sufficient pressure on Putin to negotiate a peace deal. Ahead of the 80th United Nations General Assembly “high-level” week, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he would meet with Russian and Ukrainian delegations but was “not optimistic about the short-term progress in the peace process in Ukraine”. The two sides’ positions are too different, he said, with Ukraine driven by “a legitimate interest to preserve its territory” and Russia “determined to [do] something that would mean the occupation of large parts of Ukraine”. Russian nationalists and online bots moved quickly to sow division after the killing of conservative right-wing figure Charlie Kirk, The Associated Press news agency reported, tying his death to US support for Ukraine and even spreading the conspiracy theory that Ukraine was responsible for his death. US President Donald Trump and King Charles speak on day one of Trump’s second state visit to the UK [Yui Mok/Reuters] Economy and energy Ukraine and the US International Development Finance Corporation said they would each commit $75m to a joint investment fund that is part of Kyiv’s minerals deal with Washington. The deal – which Trump has referred to as “payback” for Ukraine aid – was signed in May and will give the US preferential access to new Ukrainian minerals and natural resources licences in exchange for post-war financial and military assistance. Ukraine has gas reserves to meet about 80 to 90 percent of its demand for the upcoming winter, but still needs up to $1bn in additional fuel stockpiled, data show. Russia’s consumer price index rose by 0.04 percent in the week ending September 15, the state statistics agency said, compared with 0.1 percent growth in the previous week. Overall price growth in the year to date stands at 4.08 percent, compared with 5.78 percent for the same period last year. Advertisement Adblock test (Why?)