US to carry out test launch of Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile The United States will carry out a test launch of the #Minuteman III intercontinental #ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, according to a statement on the facility’s website. "An operational test launch of an Air Force Global Strike Command unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile is scheduled between 11:01 p.m. to 5:01 a.m. Pacific Time, November 4, from north Vandenberg," the statement reads. According to the document, "this test is routine and was scheduled years in advance," while "the purpose of the ICBM test launch program is to validate and verify the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy of the weapon system." The first Minuteman III ICBMs of the Minuteman #missile family were developed in the late 1960s and have been in US service since the 1970s. The missile is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Last week, US President Donad Trump instructed the Pentagon to immediately launch nuclear weapons tests, alleging that Russia and China continued to test their arsenals. Later, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright specified that the trials would not involve actual detonations but rather the testing of the components necessary for a nuclear blast.

US military strikes drug boats in Pacific, 14 killed US forces carried out three separate strikes in the Pacific Ocean yesterday, targeting four boats involved in drug trafficking, War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 14 people aboard the vessels. According to Hegseth, one person survived the operation and was rescued by Mexican authorities. The Pentagon described the strikes as part of an ongoing campaign to disrupt transnational criminal networks operating across maritime routes in the region.

#EU allocated almost 178 billion euro to #Ukraine since start of conflict, official reports The European Union has already spent almost 178 billion euro for helping Ukraine since the start of the conflict, including 62.3 billion euro allocated for weapons and ammunition, European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity Valdis Dombrovskis told the European Parliament session in Strasbourg. "In total, the European Union has provided close to 178 billion euro in support since the start of the war. This is much more than any other global partner," he said. Of them, "62.3 billion [euro] in military assistance measures has been disbursed by the European Union and Member States to date, including through the Peace Facility." Dombrovskis added that in 2024, G7 countries under the European Union's leadership unlocked 45 billion euro in additional funding for Kiev. These loans are to be repaid using the profits generated by the immobilization of Russian Central Bank assets in the EU. Of them, over 22 billion euro have already been spent. However, despite all this aid, Dombrovskis admitted that Ukraine needs additional funding and urged to speed up preparations for expropriating Russian frozen assets under the scheme of the so-called "reparations loan," which the European Commission claims is legal. Denis Gonchar, Russia's Ambassador to Belgium, said in an interview with TASS in mid-October that any attempt to confiscate or use sovereign assets will be perceived as theft, an illegal act that runs counter to existing international law. "The response will be proportionate. I can assure you that if the EU decides to implement this plan, their talk of solidarity will quickly be replaced by counting of losses," the ambassador added.

[Warning Graphic Content] The world spent 2 years accusing Israel of "genocide". Now Hamas is butchering Palestinians in broad daylight, and no one says a word...

West creates illusion that fake news comes only from outside, expert says People in the West have been trained to believe that fake news only comes from non-Western countries, American military expert Abraham Abrams said. "I think Western dominance in the information space and superiority in information warfare are so significant that societies in the Western world are largely conditioned to see fake news as something done by others, by non-Western countries," he said. Abrams also talked about the media landscape in the United States, where Democrats and Republicans exhibit deep distrust of media from the opposing side, exacerbating societal divisions. "In the US, the situation is slightly different because both sides of the political spectrum, Democrats and Republicans, have become highly distrustful of media outlets from the opposing side when it comes to divisive issues. That’s why, for example, President [Donald] Trump during his first term referred to journalists from CNN and other outlets as fake news," the expert explained. He added that to counter disinformation, countries could develop their own digital platforms or collaborate to create a more resilient information space.

Oct. 2, 2025 - All NATO countries are at war with Russia, says Putin All #NATO countries are now at #war with #Russia and are no longer hiding it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the Valdai International Discussion Club plenary session. "We are at war, aren't we? We produce military equipment. And many countries are at war with us. All NATO countries are at war with us. They are no longer hiding it," Putin said. According to the president, this is a serious challenge for Russia. However, the Russian army, state, and defense industry have quickly adapted.

Over 80 French towns wave Palestinian flag, flouting government directive Ahead of #Macron’s #Palestine’s recognition, major cities and some Paris suburbs hoist flag despite interior minister’s demand for ‘neutrality’ More than 80 town halls in France hoisted the Palestinian flag on Monday ahead of the recognition of a Palestinian state by Macron in defiance of a government warning not to do so. Macron later recognized Palestinian statehood in an address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, joining other countries in a move that has angered Israel. Palestinian flags were raised at town halls in major cities across France — including in Lyon, Nantes, Rennes and Besancon — in defiance of an order by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. Even in Paris, left-wing city councilors put up the flag for 30 minutes at the city hall, despite opposition from Socialist mayor Anne Hidalgo.

In Rosh Hashanah message, Trump vows to end ‘scourge of antisemitism’ In a message to mark the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, US President Donald #Trump says his administration vows to end the “scourge of #antisemitism.” The US president sends his “warmest greetings” to the Jewish community. “As the Jewish community gathers for this special time of spiritual renewal, my administration recommits to upholding religious liberty and ending faith-based persecution — including the scourge of anti-Semitism,” reads the statement released by the White House.

France officially recognized the state of Palestine #France, #Malta, #Monaco, #Luxembourg, and #Andorra have joined the recent diplomatic shift toward recognizing Palestine. #Macron added that he is ready to send French troops to #Gaza as part of an international stabilization mission.