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As Russia continues its airstrikes across Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have retaliated with drone attacks targeting Russian energy and infrastructure facilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on the 3rd that Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered an expansion of military strikes to include more civilian targets. In response to Moscow's offensive, Ukraine will step up strikes against Russian oil refineries.

According to a report by Reuters, Zelenskyy noted that documents obtained by Ukrainian intelligence reveal Putin issued new military strike guidelines ahead of winter, permitting Russian forces to broaden their target range to civilian sites. Zelenskyy stated that the documents show troops have been authorized to strike infrastructure, logistics facilities, as well as roads, schools, and hospitals in cities and villages. He believes this move is intended to exert pressure on civilians, forcing residents to flee Kyiv and other cities.

Zelenskyy suggested that Putin's strategic shift may be an effort to project strength amid Russian setbacks and mounting casualties on key frontline sectors. Addressing Russia's tactical pivot, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine will take necessary countermeasures, but will not indiscriminately target civilian facilities as Russia does. He pointed out that with Russian forces persistently attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Ukraine must respond proportionately, making Russian oil refineries a primary target in order to cut off funding for Moscow's war effort.

The Kremlin has not yet responded to Zelenskyy's statements. Meanwhile, in a statement advising foreign nationals to leave Kyiv, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Moscow will continue to strike targets "systematically," describing the operations as retaliation for attacks launched by Ukraine against Russia in recent months.

According to a report by Reuters, Saudi Arabia is preparing to launch a new round of military operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen, with one of the primary goals being to retake the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and restore maritime security in the Red Sea. The scale of the operation could involve over 100,000 Yemeni ground troops. Citing multiple sources familiar with the matter, the report stated that the campaign could be launched within the coming weeks, with ground fighting conducted primarily by Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces while Saudi Arabia provides air support.

The report noted that Saudi Arabia is currently considering two offensive plans. One focuses on the area surrounding the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, advancing along Yemen's Red Sea coast to regain control of this critical shipping lane. The other is broader in scope, launching further offensives into more inland areas such as Al-Bayda, Marib, Taiz, and Al-Jawf. Sources said the specific scale of mobilization still depends on which plan Saudi Arabia adopts, with the deployed Yemeni ground forces potentially exceeding 100,000 troops at most.

Accounts vary widely regarding when the military action might begin. Some anticipate operations within a week, while others believe they could be delayed until after the U.S. midterm elections in November. Michael Ratney, former U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, suggested that the new offensive would likely be more limited in scope and smaller than the 2015 Saudi-led military campaign. The operation would likely focus on recapturing coastal regions to restore normal maritime traffic.

In addition, the United States is providing military advisors and intelligence support to Saudi Arabia, including targeting intelligence for Saudi air operations. However, the U.S. has no plans to participate directly in ground combat.

Meanwhile, multiple parties have not abandoned diplomatic negotiations. Pakistan's Foreign Minister stated that Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan will hold a meeting in the near future to discuss diplomatic options for engaging the Houthi rebels.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait serves as a vital gateway to the Red Sea, an essential shipping route to the Suez Canal, and a major conduit for Saudi oil exports. This year, following the outbreak of the U.S.–Iran war and the resulting severe disruptions to Persian Gulf shipping, the strategic significance of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has surged even further. In September, the Houthis advanced rapidly along Yemen's Red Sea coastline and seized control of the strait. Riyadh views continued Houthi control over the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as a direct threat to its oil exports and economic lifeline.

RAF Fairford, a Royal Air Force base hosting U.S. bombers, was reportedly targeted in an attempted terrorist attack on the 27th of last month. Police arrested five male suspects near the base on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses. On the 2nd, another 25-year-old male suspect holding dual British and Iranian citizenship was arrested in London. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham convened an emergency cabinet meeting regarding the incident, stating that there were strong indications of Iranian involvement, echoing prior suggestions from U.S. officials that foreign powers may have been implicated.

The five British men detained by police were granted bail the following day, sparking widespread public discussion. Because police found no explosive devices inside the vehicle used by the suspects or around the air base—recovering only an unspecified quantity of gasoline—authorities declined to comment on the source or intended purpose of the fuel. While the five suspects have been released on bail, they remain under active investigation. Meanwhile, the dual British-Iranian national was arrested and questioned on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism, and police also searched two residential addresses linked to him.

Vicki Evans, Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP), stated that the investigation remains complex and that authorities are keeping all investigative lines open, including the possibility of foreign state involvement. The Iranian Embassy in London firmly rejected and strongly condemned any speculation regarding Iranian involvement.

RAF Fairford is one of Europe's largest air bases and the only installation on the continent hosting U.S. heavy bombers. Since hostilities between the U.S. and Iran erupted in February this year, the UK has permitted the U.S. military to launch strike missions against Iran from Fairford. As Iran had previously warned the UK against allowing the U.S. to use British bases to attack Iranian targets, Tehran had stated that it would view RAF Fairford as a legitimate military target.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced on September 30 plans to establish the Autonomous Warfare Command (AUTOWARCOM). Primarily focused on drones and AI-driven autonomous systems, this organization will introduce and integrate artificial intelligence across the armed services, deploying unmanned platforms and robotics into combat operations to enhance military responsiveness and operational readiness. Commanded by a four-star general, the command will continuously coordinate with Congress on legislative authorities and budget appropriations to drive the long-term, institutional transformation of autonomous capabilities across the U.S. military. It is targeted to stand up on October 1, 2027.

The command's core strategy stems from lessons learned in the Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts across the Middle East, which demonstrated that the modern battlefield has been dramatically transformed by the proliferation of low-cost, high-precision, and AI-enabled strike capabilities. The operational efficacy and rapid adaptability of unmanned systems have emerged as critical determinants of mission success. The Pentagon aims to break away from its legacy reliance on a small number of high-cost conventional weapons, building a balanced force structure that pairs high-end strike capabilities with low-cost autonomous systems. Through an 'operationally driven acquisition' model, it seeks to compress the timeline from development to front-line deployment, enabling rapid iteration on the battlefield.

The U.S. military has launched a transition mechanism known as 'Project Agincourt,' co-chaired by Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) Director Owen West and Naval Special Warfare Senior Chief Petty Officer Max Strasiser. The project directly connects front-line operators with commercial technology firms, pushing decision-making and capital allocation down to edge units. Simultaneously, the U.S. armed services are establishing new Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) frameworks to integrate 'unmanned and autonomous warfare' specialties into long-term career progression and institutional training, rather than treating them as temporary assignments or collateral duties. In parallel, the Pentagon has initiated 'Project Meridian,' convening experts from across the tech industry and national security sector to evaluate future warfare paradigms and technological gaps over the coming decades.

Aiming to rein in public debt exceeding 117% of GDP, the French government is pushing forward with budget austerity measures, planning to cut approximately 4,000 primary and secondary teaching posts for the 2026/2027 school year. The move has triggered severe backlash from the education sector and students alike. Since late September, massive strikes and school blockades have erupted across more than 400 high schools nationwide, sparking violent clashes with law enforcement and resulting in over 1,000 arrests within just two days. Protesters, teachers, and students are demanding solutions to long-standing grievances, including overcrowded classrooms, rigid and grueling schedules caused by teacher shortages, and crumbling campus infrastructure. The unrest has escalated into a major political crisis for President Emmanuel Macron's administration.

Although Minister of National Education Édouard Geffray defended the cuts as a reasonable 'soft landing' adjustment in response to falling birth rates, unions such as SNES-FSU and FSU-Snuipp pushed back, pointing out that France's average class size already exceeds the EU average, with some high school classes reaching 32 to 35 students. Unions warned that staff cuts will lead to more classroom closures, exacerbate teacher shortages, and cause severe deficits in special education assistants (AESH) and substitute teachers, severely undermining students' right to education. Furthermore, due to acute staffing shortages and inflexible scheduling, students face numerous unproductive gaps throughout an 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. school day. With classes frequently interrupted, pupils are stranded on campus for up to 10 hours a day under grueling timetables. Compounding the issue, neglected, dilapidated facilities lacking heating and air conditioning force students to endure extreme temperature swings ranging from -5°C to 40°C. Meanwhile, schools in low-income disadvantaged districts suffer from even wider resource disparities, deepening educational inequality.

On September 29, approximately 300,000 civil servants, teachers, and healthcare workers took to the streets in response to union calls, launching a nationwide cross-sector general strike. As protests escalated, students at more than 350 high schools across France barricaded school entrances by piling up and setting fire to trash bins, triggering violent clashes with police. Riot police deployed tear gas, batons, and mounted units to disperse crowds. On September 29 alone, 440 individuals were detained; Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed that single-day arrests on September 30 surged to 625, the vast majority being underage high school students. The Union Syndicale Lycéenne (USL) strongly condemned the government for deploying anti-crime tactical units (BAC) against 15- to 18-year-old youths, denouncing it as 'systemic repression.'

Facing the escalating unrest, President Macron emphasized: 'High schools exist to share knowledge; they should not be blockaded, nor should trash cans be set on fire.' Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also condemned the actions as 'utterly irresponsible' violence. Conversely, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI), openly voiced solidarity with the students, sharply criticizing the government's heavy-handed crackdown and urging local officials and party members to join the resistance—with several local mayors even standing alongside students and singing the national anthem in support. As the government prepares to formally present its new annual budget, this nationwide movement is exerting unprecedented political pressure on the Macron administration.

Swiss voters on the 27th overwhelmingly rejected the 'Neutrality Initiative'—a referendum proposal aimed at tightening the country's neutrality principles—with 70.1% voting against it.

Launched by the far-right, sovereigntist group 'Pro Suisse', the initiative sought to constitutionally enshrine Switzerland's 'armed and permanent' neutrality and prohibit accession to military alliances unless attacked. The most critical restriction would have banned 'non-military coercive measures,' effectively barring Bern from unilaterally imposing economic sanctions on belligerent states unless explicitly authorized by the UN Security Council. Sparked by opposition to the Swiss government aligning with European Union sanctions against Russia, the proposal was lauded by Moscow but condemned as 'pro-Russian' by the Federal Council, parliament, major political parties, and critics.

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war, the modern application of Switzerland's traditional armed neutrality has sparked intense domestic debate. Political scientist Laurent Wasserfallen noted that while voters still support neutrality, they endorse the government's current approach and its sanctions against Russia, showing reluctance to alter course lightly.

Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis stated in Bern that the outcome was by no means a rejection of neutrality, affirming that Switzerland 'was, is, and will remain neutral.' The decisive 'no' vote illustrates how Swiss voters navigated the balance between upholding traditional neutrality and retaining necessary diplomatic flexibility.

Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on the 27th, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed support for India becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). He advocated that UNSC reforms should prioritize enhancing the representation of the Global South and opposed adding new permanent seats for Western countries.

According to The Times of India, during the BRICS summit held in New Delhi earlier this month, Russia and China publicly backed India and Brazil's bids to become permanent members of the UNSC. In his UNGA address, Lavrov pointed out that UNSC reforms should focus on the representation of Asia, Africa, and Latin America, enabling the Global South to play a more significant role in international governance.

As reported by Asian News International (ANI), Lavrov stated that the reforms should not allow Western nations to acquire additional permanent seats. He criticized countries such as Germany and Japan for trending toward militarism and revanchism, arguing that they should not be granted this power. Meanwhile, the Hindustan Times noted that Lavrov reaffirmed his support for India and Brazil as permanent members, emphasizing that African interests must also be a key consideration in UNSC reforms.

Beyond Russia, India has garnered public support from multiple countries during the UN General Assembly. Mauritian Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful and Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro both called for UNSC reforms to enhance representation and expressed support for India's bid for a permanent seat.

Currently, the Security Council consists of 15 member states: five permanent members with veto power—the United States, China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom—and 10 non-permanent members serving two-year terms. Under the United Nations Charter, any UNSC reform involving a charter amendment must first be passed by a two-thirds majority of the UN General Assembly and subsequently ratified by two-thirds of the member states. Furthermore, it requires the unanimous approval of all five permanent members, setting an extremely high threshold for reform.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on September 26 that Tehran’s latest proposal had been coordinated with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and had received his support. Under the plan, the strategic Strait of Hormuz would be reopened within seven days, subject to conditions including a ceasefire and the lifting of some U.S. sanctions, as part of efforts to end the nearly seven-month conflict between Iran and the United States.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier revealed during the United Nations General Assembly that Tehran had conveyed a “seven-day plan” to the United States through Qatar. Iran said that if Washington accepts the conditions, the two sides could immediately begin implementing the timetable, with normal maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz resuming on the seventh day.

According to the Iranian side, the proposal calls not only for an end to hostilities on various fronts across the Middle East, but also for the lifting of the U.S. maritime blockade of Iran, an easing of oil sanctions and the unfreezing of some Iranian assets held overseas. Once these conditions are met, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, followed by further negotiations on issues including its nuclear program.

In an interview with CBS, Pezeshkian said Iran would fulfill its commitments if the United States accepts the latest proposal. He also stressed that an atmosphere of distrust currently exists between Iran and the United States. Tehran therefore wants to establish a framework acceptable to both sides before moving forward with broader diplomatic negotiations.

However, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly rejected Iran’s proposal on September 26. Trump said he had turned down the “deal” and indicated that Iran wanted the Strait of Hormuz reopened immediately. The U.S. position highlights major differences between the two sides over the sequence and conditions for negotiations.

The Strait of Hormuz, located between Iran and Oman, is a crucial shipping route for oil and natural gas exports from the Persian Gulf. Recent tensions have severely disrupted maritime traffic and affected energy markets. Whether the strait can return to normal operations could therefore have implications not only for U.S.-Iran diplomacy, but also for global energy supplies and oil prices.

Iran continues to say it is willing to resolve the crisis through diplomacy. However, following Washington’s rejection of the latest proposal, it remains uncertain whether the two sides can reestablish a negotiating framework and when normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz might resume. The outcome will depend on whether they can narrow their differences over a ceasefire, sanctions, the maritime blockade and Iran’s nuclear program.

The Danish Defence Intelligence Service (DDIS) issued a warning on the 24th that Russia could launch military attacks against member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the coming months. Just hours before the warning was released, a fire broke out at a critical Starlink satellite ground station in Poland. Polish authorities suspect it was a deliberate act of sabotage by Russia, indicating the incident may involve hybrid warfare.

Polish Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski stated that the overnight fire in the Mazovian Voivodeship was a deliberately planned attack. It disrupted communications networks for several entities, including the Ukrainian military, and affected power systems as well as backup generators. While the perpetrators behind the fire have not yet been definitively identified, multiple indicators are consistent with the outcomes of Russian attacks.

In an investigative report released on the 24th, the DDIS pointed out that although the likelihood of a full-scale Russian invasion remains extremely low, Russia is still capable of striking NATO facilities supporting Ukrainian forces or launching small-scale incursions using troops without military insignia, with the probability continuing to rise. Currently, NATO allies have yet to reach a consensus on a collective counterstrike; thus, such aggressive actions could test the resilience of NATO's Article 5 collective defense clause, aiming to sow division within NATO and distract European nations from supporting Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on the 25th that Russia has no motive to engage in hostile conflict with Europe, adding that resuming Russia-Ukraine peace talks remains on the table, though Moscow will first evaluate Ukraine's recent attacks against Russia before deciding on subsequent response measures.

Against the backdrop of the 81st United Nations General Assembly General Debate underway in New York and the upcoming second bilateral summit of the year between the U.S. and Chinese leaders, the international community has consistently underscored its grave concern over cross-strait developments across various diplomatic forums. According to an official statement released by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, foreign ministers and senior representatives of the 'European and Indo-Pacific Partners'—including Australia, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, South Korea, and the United Kingdom—convened for their second meeting on September 22 and issued a joint statement. In addition, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun held a trilateral meeting on the same day, jointly reaffirming their steadfast concern regarding the Taiwan Strait situation and voicing support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in multilateral international frameworks.

In the joint statement issued by the 'European and Indo-Pacific Partners,' the delegates directly noted that the global strategic environment has grown increasingly volatile and fractured since their prior meeting in September 2025. Anchored in shared principles of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights, the parties reaffirmed their resolute defense of the multilateral system centered on the UN Charter and their support for the sovereignty and independence of all nations. The statement dedicated an independent section to explicitly highlight the strategic imperative of preserving peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific, expressed opposition to any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, and urged all sides to engage in dialogue. Beyond geopolitical concerns, the statement also condemned acts of armed disruption, unlawful levies, and the imposition of conditional passage targeting maritime sea lanes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Complementing the joint statements from various foreign ministers, an EU spokesperson recently extended robust support to Taiwan during a media interview. The spokesperson noted that UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 contains merely 150 words in its entirety, making it exceptionally brief, and that the word 'Taiwan' never appears in the text. The EU emphasized that the international system should accommodate Taiwan’s international participation, provided it adheres to the internal rules or established practices of the respective organizations. Concurrently, the EU reiterated that enduring peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait hold strategic significance for global security and economic prosperity, opposed any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo, and underscored that cross-strait differences must be resolved peacefully through dialogue.

In response to the frequent statements made by democratic allies during the UNGA, Taiwan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung expressed sincere appreciation and gratitude on behalf of the government. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) reiterated that Resolution 2758 neither mentions Taiwan nor establishes any legal basis for Beijing’s so-called 'one-China principle.' MOFA stressed that the international community must not allow specific countries to misrepresent and blindly invoke the resolution to disenfranchise the 23 million people of Taiwan. MOFA reiterated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other—a widely recognized international reality—and that only Taiwan’s democratically elected government can represent the Taiwanese people. In the face of mounting regional challenges, Taiwan will continue to bolster its self-defense capabilities and societal resilience while joining hands with like-minded democratic partners on existing solid foundations to defend the rules-based international order.