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Azerbaijan Protests After Russian Missile Damages Kyiv Embassy

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Azerbaijan has summoned Russia’s ambassador, Mikhail Yevdokimov, to lodge a formal protest after a Russian Iskander missile strike damaged its embassy in Kyiv. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said the blast destroyed part of the perimeter wall and caused significant structural damage to the diplomatic compound.

According to the ministry, the incident occurred during a wave of Russian missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital. Despite the extent of the damage, no injuries were reported among embassy personnel.

Azerbaijan called the situation unacceptable and demanded a clear explanation from Russia. The protest adds a new diplomatic strain as regional tensions continue to escalate amid the ongoing conflict.

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Apple’s China iPhone Sales Jump 22% After iPhone 17 Launch

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Apple’s iPhone sales in China surged 22% year-on-year in the first month following the iPhone 17 launch, according to Counterpoint Research. The new lineup, released on September 19, 2025, accounted for nearly 80% of Apple’s total smartphone sales during the period, driving strong consumer demand even as the overall market softened.

The performance marks a sharp contrast to the previous year, when iPhone 16 sales fell 5% in the first month after launch. Large crowds gathered at Apple’s Beijing flagship store on release day, underscoring continued brand loyalty despite growing competition from Xiaomi and Huawei in the premium segment.

China’s broader smartphone market remains weak, with Q3 sales declining 2.7% year-on-year amid cautious consumer spending. Still, Apple’s strong momentum with the iPhone 17 series highlights its ability to stand out in a challenging market environment.

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Russian Strikes Devastate Kyiv as Ukraine Reports Rising Casualties

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A massive wave of Russian drone and missile strikes on Kyiv has left four people dead and dozens injured, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed. More than 430 drones and 18 missiles were launched, damaging high-rise buildings across nearly every district and leaving parts of the capital without heat as energy infrastructure took heavy hits. Emergency crews rescued more than 40 people from burning and collapsed structures.

The strikes also targeted several other Ukrainian regions, while Kyiv’s air defences intercepted multiple incoming threats. Fires, falling debris, and widespread destruction hit residential blocks, a hospital and administrative facilities, with some victims pulled from under rubble. Mayor Vitali Klitschko warned that parts of the city’s power, water and heating network had been disrupted.

In a parallel escalation, Ukraine struck Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, igniting a major oil refinery and damaging ships and apartment buildings. Local authorities declared a state of emergency and halted oil exports. The attacks follow another deadly Russian barrage less than a week earlier, prompting Zelensky to urge Western allies to tighten sanctions on Russian energy amid stalled ceasefire talks.

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Babis Outlines Plan for Business Holdings Ahead of Czech PM Appointment

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Czech ANO party leader Andrej Babis has said he will publicly reveal how he plans to restructure his extensive business assets just before his expected appointment as prime minister. The announcement aims to address concerns raised by President Petr Pavel, who insists Babis must clarify his intentions to resolve conflicts of interest before forming a new government with two right-wing parties, including the far-right SPD.

Babis, a billionaire with business interests spanning agriculture, chemicals, and healthcare, faces legal restrictions that bar government officials from owning companies receiving state or EU subsidies. While he has ruled out selling his flagship holding, Agrofert, he claims he will meet both Czech and EU rules—though he has not disclosed details. His previous attempt, placing companies into trust funds during his 2017–2021 term as prime minister, was ruled insufficient by Czech courts and the European Commission.

Legal experts and anti-corruption groups argue that the only clean solutions are selling his businesses, forgoing subsidies and public contracts, or staying out of government entirely. Despite his alliances with Europe’s far-right, Babis says he remains committed to keeping the Czech Republic firmly within the EU and NATO, even as he challenges EU climate and migration policies.

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Germany Approves New Military Service Plan to Expand Bundeswehr

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Germany’s coalition government has agreed on a new military service plan aimed at significantly expanding the Bundeswehr amid growing security concerns in Europe. Starting next year, all 18-year-old men will be required to complete a military service questionnaire, with women participating voluntarily. From 2027, mandatory medical examinations for men will follow. The plan is designed to help Germany build Europe’s strongest conventional army and could pave the way for compulsory enlistment if targets aren’t met.

The government aims to boost active troop strength from around 182,000 to as many as 260,000 by 2035, supported by an additional 200,000 reservists. Defence leaders—including Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger—believe the goal is achievable within five years, especially as NATO pressures member states to strengthen defence capabilities in response to potential threats from Russia. Recent warnings from German defence officials have emphasised the need to be fully prepared by 2029.

However, the plan faces strong opposition from Germany’s political left and many young people, who argue that compulsory service infringes on personal freedom. Protests have emerged, with some youths expressing fear of being drawn into conflict, while others have voluntarily enlisted citing a desire to protect democracy. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has attempted to reassure the public, insisting that a stronger, better-equipped military serves as a deterrent and reduces the likelihood of Germany entering a conflict.

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Spain Locks Down All Poultry Amid Rising Bird Flu Threat

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Spain’s Agriculture Ministry has ordered an immediate nationwide lockdown of all poultry to curb the growing risk of bird flu, expanding measures first introduced last week for high-risk areas.

The move comes after a surge in avian influenza cases across Europe — 139 outbreaks since July, including 14 in Spain, with half detected in the Castille and Leon region. The ministry said the decision follows a heightened risk of the virus entering the country in recent days.

Under the new rules, all poultry farms — including organic and small-scale operations — must keep birds indoors to avoid contact with migratory species that could carry the virus. The order also prohibits mixing ducks and geese with other poultry, using untreated surface water, and holding bird fairs or exhibitions.

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Croatia’s White Truffle Hunters Chase a Vanishing Luxury

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In Croatia’s Istria region, truffle hunter Ivana Karlic Ban and her dogs scour the autumn forests for white truffles — one of the world’s most expensive delicacies, fetching up to €7,000 per kilogram. These rare fungi, which grow underground from September to December in harmony with certain trees, are found only in Croatia and Italy and cannot be cultivated like their black counterparts.

Karlic Ban, a third-generation truffle hunter, continues her family’s long-standing tradition in the village of Paladini near Buzet. Together with her brother, she runs a shop offering unique truffle-based creations, including truffle-infused chocolate and even dog treats. Their business celebrates Istria’s rich culinary heritage while adapting to modern gourmet tastes.

However, the white truffle’s future is under threat. Climate change and deforestation have diminished its natural habitat, leading to lower yields. “Severe droughts stop the fungus from forming, while heavy rains make it rot,” Karlic Ban explains. With fewer truffles being found each season, prices continue to climb — turning the hunt into a race against time and nature.

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France Remembers Bataclan Attacks as Jihadist Threat Persists a Decade Later

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As France marks ten years since the deadly Bataclan attacks, the nation faces renewed reminders of the enduring jihadist threat. Authorities have arrested Maëva B, a 27-year-old French convert linked to Salah Abdeslam, the only surviving attacker from November 2015, on suspicion of plotting a violent act. The arrest underscores the persistence of home-grown extremism, even as large-scale terror plots have diminished following the fall of the Islamic State.

The coordinated Paris attacks on 13 November 2015 killed 130 people and wounded hundreds more, becoming a defining moment in France’s modern history. Since then, intelligence agencies have strengthened counter-terror capabilities, yet experts warn of “ambient jihadism” — a decentralized, ideology-driven threat fueled by social networks, political polarization, and global conflicts like the Israel-Gaza war.

Thursday’s national commemorations include tributes at attack sites, the opening of a memorial garden, and the illumination of the Eiffel Tower in France’s tricolour. Survivors continue to share how their lives were forever altered, while Abdeslam’s offer to participate in “restorative justice” has drawn outrage from victims’ families, who insist terrorism cannot be treated as an ordinary crime.

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Cardiff to Host Euro 2028 Opener, Wembley to Stage Semis and Final

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Cardiff’s Principality Stadium will host the opening match of Euro 2028, while London’s Wembley Stadium will stage the semi-finals and final, UEFA confirmed at the tournament’s official launch in London. The 24-team championship will be played across nine venues in four nations — England, Scotland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland — after Belfast’s Casement Park was dropped due to funding issues.

Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney called it a “historic moment” for Welsh football, marking the first time Wales will host a major international tournament. He said the event would unite communities, inspire young players, and showcase Welsh culture on a global stage.

The quarter-finals will be shared among Cardiff, Dublin, Glasgow, and Wembley, while other English venues include Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Villa Park, Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, and St James’ Park. The qualifying draw will take place in Belfast in December 2026, with organizers pledging to deliver the “best-ever” European Championship.

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Algeria Pardons Jailed Novelist Boualem Sansal Amid Diplomatic Efforts

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Almost a year after his arrest at Algiers airport, French-Algerian novelist Boualem Sansal, 81, has been pardoned by the Algerian presidency and allowed to leave the country. Sansal, who has been at the center of a tense diplomatic row between Paris and Algiers, departed for Germany on a military plane to receive medical treatment for prostate cancer.

The release came after German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier directly appealed to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, leveraging his trusted relationship with the Algerian leader. French President Emmanuel Macron thanked Tebboune for the “act of humanity,” highlighting France’s respectful and calm approach in securing Sansal’s freedom.

Sansal had been sentenced to five years in prison in July for remarks deemed to undermine national unity, having long been critical of the Algerian government. His pardon was granted on humanitarian grounds due to his advanced age and fragile health, overriding earlier unsuccessful appeals from France.

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