List

Here are the key events from day 1,319 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is how things stand on Sunday, October 5, 2025:

Fighting

• One person was killed and about 30 others injured after two Russian drones struck trains at a station in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of “terrorism”, while Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Moscow deliberately targeted civilians during the attack.

• French photojournalist Antoni Lallican was killed, while his Ukrainian colleague Hryhory Ivanchenko was injured after a Russian drone attack struck the town of Druzhkivka in the Donbas region, one of the front lines of the three-and-a-half-year war, the Ukrainian military said.

• Russia has launched its most significant attack on Ukraine’s main gas production facilities in Kharkiv and Poltava regions, launching 35 missiles and 60 drones, according to Naftogaz CEO Sergii Koretskyi. The attack came as Ukraine prepares for a new heating season.

Regional security

• Danish Defence Intelligence Service director, Thomas Ahrenkiel, has accused Russia of risking unintended escalation, with its warships repeatedly sailing on collision courses with Danish naval vessels, aiming weapons and disrupting navigation systems in Denmark’s straits that connect the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.
• Germany’s Bild newspaper is reporting that drones have been spotted at airports and military installations across Germany over two days. The second drone sighting in two days has forced dozens of flights to be diverted or cancelled at Munich airport, although operations have resumed with delays by Saturday morning.

Politics and diplomacy

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi has called on Russia and Ukraine to show the “political will” required to keep the area around the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant safe to allow the external power line to be reconnected to the facility. The facility has been cut off from external power since September 23, making it more complicated to cool the reactors, while compromising nuclear safety.

• A senior Ukrainian intelligence official has accused China of passing on satellite intelligence to Russia to enable Moscow to better launch missile strikes inside Ukraine. Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Agency official Oleh Alexandrov told the state Ukrinform news agency that “there is evidence of high-level cooperation” between Moscow and Beijing in conducting satellite reconnaissance.
• The International Civil Aviation Organization has rebuked Russia for disturbances to critical satellite navigation systems that they say violate international rules, as the United Nations aviation agency’s assembly concluded in Canada. Estonia and Finland have accused Russia of jamming GPS navigation devices in the region’s airspace, charges that Moscow has denied.

Here are the key events on day 1,317 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is how things stand on Friday, October 3, 2025:

Fighting

• Russian President Vladimir Putin warned Ukraine it was playing a dangerous game by striking near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and suggested Moscow could retaliate against nuclear plants controlled by Ukraine.
• The plant, Europe’s largest nuclear power facility, has been cut off from external power sources for more than a week and is being cooled by emergency diesel generators, which were not designed for lengthy operations.
• As both Ukraine and Russia blame each other for cutting off the external power at Zaporizhzhia and shelling the area, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Russia deliberately cut the external power as it was preparing to connect the station to its own grid.
• Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said power had been fully restored in two areas of the border Sumy region hit by overnight Russian attacks. Repairs to power were also proceeding in the neighbouring Chernihiv region, where more than 300,000 consumers had been left without electricity after Russian strikes on Wednesday.
• The Trump administration’s desire to send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine may not be viable because current inventories are committed to the United States Navy and other uses, a US official and three sources have told the Reuters news agency.
• President Putin warned any decision by the US to supply the missiles to Ukraine would trigger a major new escalation with Washington, but would not change the situation on the battlefield.
• Ukraine and Russia have exchanged 185 service personnel and 20 civilians in the latest prisoner swap.

Regional security

• Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, southern Russia, Putin said Moscow would carry out a nuclear test if another nuclear power did so after saying that he had seen signs a country, which he did not name, was preparing to conduct tests.
• Putin repeated his offer to the US of voluntarily rolling over an agreement capping the number of nuclear warheads in Russia’s arsenal when a key arms control treaty expires next year, if Washington agrees to do the same.

• Putin said Moscow never had any issues with Sweden or Finland and that their decision to join the NATO military alliance was therefore “stupid”.
• France’s detention of a tanker vessel suspected of operating for Russia’s “shadow fleet” is part of a new European strategy to block revenue funding Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, President Emmanuel Macron said.
• The Kremlin said France’s boarding of the tanker was “hysteria” that could create problems for global energy transportation routes, while Putin condemned it as an act of piracy.
• Putin said the global economy would suffer without Russian oil, warning that prices would jump to more than $100 per barrel if its supplies were cut off.

Politics and diplomacy

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he saw great agreement among European leaders on supporting the use of frozen Russian assets to provide loans for Ukraine – to be repaid eventually using war reparations from Moscow – adding that he expects a concrete decision on the matter within three weeks.
• Russia said the European Union’s idea was “delusional” and would prompt it to retaliate very harshly.
• Maxim Kruglov, the deputy leader of Russia’s liberal Yabloko party, which opposes the war in Ukraine, has been charged with spreading lies about the Russian army and could face up to 10 years in jail if found guilty.
• Kruglov’s lawyer said her client had been charged over two posts he had made on the Telegram messaging app: One post referred to UN data about the number of people killed in the port city of Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, which Russia took control of in May 2022, and another to events in Bucha, a town north of Kyiv, in March 2022.
• Voters in the Czech Republic are likely to oust their centre-right government in an election on Friday and Saturday, with polls favouring populist billionaire Andrej Babis to return to power on pledges to raise wages and lift growth while reducing aid for Ukraine.

Here are the key events on day 1,315 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is how things stand on Wednesday, October 1 :

Fighting

• Russian forces claim to have captured a village near the city of Siversk in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, the Russian Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is engaging with Russia and Ukraine to restore offsite power to Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, as Russian shelling has prevented restoration of power needed to cool nuclear reactors and prevent a meltdown, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia’s shelling around the Zaporizhzhia plant “is a threat to everyone”.
• “No terrorist in the world has ever dared to do with a nuclear power plant what Russia is doing now,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on Tuesday.

Regional security

• European Union leaders will discuss proposals for a “drone wall” at a summit on Wednesday in Copenhagen, following days of airspace intrusions by unidentified unmanned aircraft that forced temporary closures at Danish airports.
• The “drone wall” summit will also be the first opportunity for leaders of the EU’s 27 countries to debate a proposal to use Russian assets frozen in European banks to fund a loan of 140 billion euros ( $164.37bn) for Ukraine.
• The Kremlin said that Germany has long been indirectly involved in the war in Ukraine after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Europe is “no longer at peace” with Russia.
• Moscow also said that Europe would be better off seeking dialogue with Russia about security issues rather than looking to build a divisive “drone wall”.
• Romania is looking to quickly set up production on its territory of a plant to build defensive drones, along with Ukraine, for use domestically as well as by EU and NATO allies, the country’s foreign minister, Oana Toiu, said.
• The French Navy said that authorities were investigating a possible sanctions infraction by the oil tanker Boracay, a vessel suspected of belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet” involved in the transport of Russian oil.

Military aid

• Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow did not believe that Washington had taken a final decision on supplying Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Politics and diplomacy

• The Kremlin said that there were many people living in Ukraine’s Odesa and Mykolaiv regions who wanted to “link their fate to Russia” but were afraid to speak out.
• Russia will expel an Austrian diplomat, according to Russian state news agencies, in response to Vienna’s decision to throw out a Russian diplomat over suspicions of relaying company secrets from Austrian oil company OMV to the Kremlin.
• US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that India is starting to diversify its oil purchases away from Russia, and that the EU is trying to strengthen economic ties with India.
• Russia’s Lavrov said that he believed Moldova’s election on Sunday had been openly manipulated, as the pro-European governing party won a resounding victory over its Russian-leaning rival in the key parliamentary election.

Published on
29/09/2025 – 11:58 GMT+2

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In order to attract global investors, AstraZeneca said it will directly list its ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange, in addition to its shares trading in the UK and Sweden.

To do so, the Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical giant needs to replace its existing US listing of AstraZeneca American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) on the Nasdaq.

The company said that the move aims to harmonise its listing structure “while remaining headquartered in the UK”.

“The Board of AstraZeneca is recommending to shareholders a Harmonised Listing Structure for the Company’s ordinary shares across the London Stock Exchange (LSE), Nasdaq Stockholm (STO) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE),” the company said in a statement.

The announcement follows increased speculation that the pharma company may move its shares entirely from the London Stock Exchange, where it is one of the largest companies traded. And according to analysts, the current announcement doesn’t exclude this possibility in the future.

“While there is logic to shifting to a direct listing in the US rather than American Depositary Receipts beyond setting up for any longer-term moves, it does at least hint at the possibility of a more dramatic shift at some point in the future,” said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould.  

The US has the world’s largest and most liquid public markets by capitalisation. A direct listing makes it easier for US investors to buy AstraZeneca shares directly without going through ADRs.

Compared to ordinary shares, American Depositary Receipts come with additional costs and extra steps. ADR investors may be subject to fees and double taxation, and ADRs come through a custodian bank.

“Enabling a global listing structure will allow us to reach a broader mix of global investors and will make it even more attractive for all our shareholders to have the opportunity to participate in AstraZeneca’s exciting future,” said Michel Demaré, Chair of AstraZeneca.

In response to the announcement, AstraZeneca’s shares listed on the FTSE 100 rose 0.71% at around 11.30 CEST.

Here are the key events on day 1,313 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is how things stand on Monday, September 29:

Fighting

• Russian forces killed four people, including a 12-year-old girl, and injured 13 in an attack on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on Sunday night, Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration, wrote in a post on Telegram. Those killed also included staff and patients at a cardiology centre, Tkachenko added.
• Polish news outlet RMF24, citing Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Pawel Wronski, reported that Poland’s embassy in Kyiv was also damaged in the attack.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X that Russian bombardment also targeted the regions of Zaporizhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv and Odesa, wounding at least 40 people across the country.
• The Russian assault led to military responses in neighbouring Poland, where fighter jets were deployed early on Sunday as Russia struck targets in western Ukraine, according to the Polish army.
• Russia fired a total of 595 exploding drones and decoys, and 48 missiles, of which Ukrainian forces shot down or jammed 566 drones and 45 missiles, Ukraine’s air force said on Sunday.
• Russia’s Ministry of Defence claimed that forces targeted the “military-industrial complex of Ukraine” with a “massive strike”, using “high-precision long-range air, sea-based weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles [drones]”.
• A civilian died in hospital after he was injured in a drone attack on the village of Novostroyevka-Pervaya, in Russia’s Belgorod region, Russia’s TASS news agency reported, citing Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
• Russian forces shot down 230 Ukrainian drones, six guided aerial bombs and six rockets in a 24-hour period, TASS reported, citing Russia’s Defence Ministry.

Regional security

• Zelenskyy said in his nightly address that “intelligence now indicates that the Russians are using tankers to launch and operate drones against European countries,” calling for Russian tankers, or at least their shadow fleet, to be banned from the Baltic Sea.
• Denmark’s military said on Sunday that the country was banning civilian drone flights, after drones were observed at several military facilities overnight, days after drone sightings caused the temporary closures of several Danish airports.

Politics and diplomacy

• Moldova’s governing pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) was in the lead over the pro-Russian Patriotic Bloc, with 90 percent of votes counted in Sunday’s parliamentary election, the country’s electoral commission said.
• Pavel Durov, the Russian founder of the Telegram messaging app, accused French intelligence on Sunday of having asked him through an intermediary to censor some Moldovan voices in return for help with his court case in France.
• In a post in English on X, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs noted that Durov had made similar accusations about France trying to manipulate politics in Romania earlier this year, around the time of elections there. “After Romania, Moldova. @durov likes making accusations while elections are ongoing,” the ministry wrote.

• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state television that Zelenskyy’s recent threats – in which the Ukrainian president said that Kremlin officials should know “where the bomb shelters are” – were about “trying to demonstrate to the Europeans, who now act as the breadwinners, that he is such a brave soldier”, as Ukraine’s position at the front was “inexorably deteriorating”.

Here are the key events on day 1,312 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is how things stand on Sunday, September 28 :

Fighting

• Ukrainian long-range drones hit an oil pumping station in Russia’s Chuvashia region, causing a fire and forcing the suspension of operations, an official from the Ukrainian security service, the SBU, told the Reuters news agency.

• Russian forces had taken over three more villages in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk and Dnipro regions, amid a grinding Russian advance in the area, Russia’s military said in a post on Telegram.

• Moscow and Kyiv have traded blame for attacks on the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which has forced the facility off the main power grid for the last four days.

Regional security

• NATO has announced that it is upgrading its mission in the Baltic Sea with an air-defence frigate and other military assets deployed to the region, after several days of unidentified drone sightings at airports in Denmark and military bases.

• Earlier, Latvia and Lithuania called on NATO to increase its military protection of the Baltic States, citing alleged Russian violations of the military alliance’s airspace.
• Norway has launched an investigation into “possible sightings of drones” near its biggest military base, Orland, where its advanced F-35 fighter jets are stationed, a military spokesman said.

Military aid

Politics and diplomacy

• Any aggression against Russia “will be met with a decisive response”, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov warned NATO and the European Union in his address at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Saturday. He warned that Moscow is prepared to act if provoked.
• In separate remarks to journalists, Lavrov also suggested that Germany is returning to its Nazi past, in what was seen as a personal attack on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his government moves to ramp up defence spending amid growing threats from Moscow.
• Russia has fallen short of the 93 votes necessary to get elected to the UN aviation agency’s governing council, in the latest rebuke following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia received 87 votes during the agency’s assembly in Montreal.
• South Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Hyun met Lavrov in New York, where he expressed Seoul’s “grave concern” over military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Thousands of North Korean troops have been sent to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine, and Pyongyang has bolstered Moscow with a huge transfer of weapons.

IT will come as no surprise to their stylish famous fans, but Chelsea supporters are the best dressed in the Premier League.

The club’s followers are most likely to wear a smart suit for a night out, a survey has revealed.

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Celebrity fans including Gordon Ramsay, Jeremy Clarkson, David Baddiel, Madness singer Suggs and actor Phil Daniels are always well turned out for a trip to the club’s Stamford Bridge home — and regular fans have followed suit.

But it’s not really a surprise, as back in the Seventies Chelsea’s players, including Alan Hudson and Peter Osgood, were known as the kings of the King’s Road for their fashionable sense of style.

And the club’s 21st-century fans have maintained the tradition, according to research by betting site freebet.com, with 16 per cent getting suited and booted for a big night.

While fans of Newcastle, Burnley and Wolves were in the relegation zone with just one per cent being bothered to look smart.

The table shows there’s a clear North/South divide when it comes to off-the-pitch style.

The top seven spots are filled by teams from London and the south, with Man City and Leeds sharing eighth place with Brentford and West Ham with five per cent.

Spokesman Tim Agnew said: “Our research shows Chelsea fans are the best dressed fans in the Premier League.

“They already had a reputation for wearing Gucci and Prada and our research confirms Chelsea fans like to look sharp.”

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Here are the key events on day 1,311 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is how things stand on Saturday, September 27:

Fighting

• A Russian attack on Ukraine’s Kherson region killed a 74-year-old woman and injured two other people, Regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote in a post on Telegram. About 70 homes and an administration building were damaged in the attack, Prokudin said.
• Ukraine’s General Staff said Ukrainian forces struck Russia’s Afipsky oil refinery. “Confirmed collision and fire,” the General Staff said in a post on Facebook, adding that the degree of damage was being investigated.
• Russian forces have occupied the Ukrainian village of Yunakivka in the Sumy region, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.

Politics and diplomacy

• Russia on Friday accused Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of making “irresponsible” threats after he said Moscow’s top officials should check for bomb shelters near the Kremlin if the country does not stop its offensive on Ukraine.
• In an interview with United States media outlet Axios, published on Thursday, President Zelenskyy said Russian officials “have to know where their bomb shelters are”, adding: “If they will not stop the war, they will need it in any case.”
• US President Donald Trump told Zelenskyy he was open to lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s use of American-made long-range weapons to strike deep inside Russia, but did not commit to doing so in their meeting on Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed officials.
• Axios also reported on Friday that Zelenskyy asked Trump for Tomahawk missiles, citing unnamed sources.

Regional security

• Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s military had recently “recorded violations of our airspace by reconnaissance drones, which are likely Hungarian”, along the country’s border with its neighbour. Speaking later in his nightly video address, Zelenskyy referred to “very strange incidents” and called for “thorough checks”.
• Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto replied in a post on X, saying: “President Zelenskyy is losing his mind to his anti-Hungarian obsession. He’s now starting to see things that aren’t there.”
• Earlier on Friday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had imposed an entry ban on three high-ranking Hungarian military officials, responding to an earlier entry ban imposed by Hungary on Ukrainian military officials.
• European Union Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said EU defence ministers have agreed to develop a “drone wall” along their borders with Russia and Ukraine, amid increasing reports of Russian violations of EU airspace.

• Moldova’s electoral commission barred two pro-Russian parties from taking part in this Sunday’s parliamentary election, a high-stakes vote overshadowed by claims of Russian interference.
• Serbian police arrested two people on Friday, accusing them of running “combat-tactical training” for dozens of protesters in advance of tense Moldovan parliamentary elections this weekend.
• The arrests come after Moldova’s president, Maia Sandu, accused Russia of paying “hundreds of people” to destabilise the country before Sunday’s vote.

Energy

• Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko put forward plans to either expand his country’s only existing nuclear power plant or build a second plant in order to supply energy to Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine, during a meeting at the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, according to Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency.
• Lukashenko also said after the meeting that he had reached an agreement for Russia to provide gas to Belarus for the next five years, RIA reported.
• Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled leader of Belarus’s opposition, told The Associated Press news agency that the energy plans put “all of Europe at risk” and “proves once again” that Lukashenko “is complicit in Russian aggression”.

Emma Ansley Knight has shared her top three recommendations for city break getaways on the continent this October, claiming they are on her ‘bucket list’ of autumnal escapes

If you’re mulling over an October getaway but haven’t settled on your destination, one travel expert has compiled a trio of European locations she believes are perfect to visit in the coming weeks. Each month, Emma Ansley Knight turns to TikTok to share video advice concerning her travel picks for the immediate period ahead.

And next month is no exception, with the revealing that as autumn vibes are kicking in, it’s time to unveil her “bucket list” of spots that are ideal to explore over the course of October before the much cooler weather sets in across the continent.

Ghent, Belgium

“This has been on my list for such a long time,” Emma admitted. “I’ve already done Bruges and Brussels, but Ghent often gets overlooked.”

Nevertheless, she noted that Ghent appears “a lot more charming” especially during autumn. “The thought of waking up there on an October morning with crisp blue skies, a little chill in the air and throwing on a jumper and walking down the canals with golden leaves on the floor is the picture of heaven in my head,” Emma declared.

Travellers can anticipate average temperatures of 14-15C in October.

Piedmont, Italy

“This place is an absolute paradise for foodies, wine lovers and truffle lovers as well,” Emma said of Piedmont, a region which borders Switzerland to the north and France to the west.

She continued: “It’s the white truffle capital of the world and there’s actually a lot of festivals that start in October (including the 2025 International Alba White Truffle Fair), so you can try pastas with different truffles or cheeses, and pair them with the local wine.”

Another advantage of travelling to Piedmont is its location at the base of the Alps – something Emma says offers “breathtaking views of unbelievable mountainous backdrops and golden vineyards”.

The area also enjoys an average October temperature of 18C, while Emma recommends flying into Turin.

Bratislava, Slovakia

Rounding off Emma’s recommendations is Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, which she explained lies just an hour from Vienna, Austria and therefore presents a practical option should you wish to “tackle” both cities during one trip.

Emma added of the city positioned along the Danube: “Because so many people do visit Vienna, it [Bratislava] seems like a bit of a hidden gem. The old town looks so colourful, so charming and it’s also a really walkable city.”

She also highlighted that Bratislava is “a lot more affordable” than many of Europe’s other capital cities, making it an ideal choice for those wanting to keep costs down. With an average October temperature of 15C, though, anticipate a somewhat chillier experience than Piedmont.

One TikTok user, responding to Emma’s post, gushed about Ghent: “I recently did Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp in one trip to Belgium and Ghent was definitely top of the list, it’s lovely!”

While a second person shared their approval of Emma’s third recommendation, writing: “Love Bratislava and the Christmas markets are ace.”

Here are the key events on day 1,310 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is how things stand on Friday, September 26:

Fighting

• Ukrainian naval drones hit Russian ports in Novorossiysk and Tuapse on Wednesday, causing the temporary suspension of operations by Russia’s oil pipeline monopoly Transneft’s oil terminals at the sites, according to a Ukrainian intelligence source.
• A drone was downed and detonated approximately 800m (some 0.5 miles) from the perimeter of the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant in the Mykolaiv region after 22 Russian drones were observed in the vicinity of the plant, the International Atomic Energy Agency said.
• Russian state news agency TASS claimed that Ukraine attempted an attack on the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in western Russia – one of the biggest nuclear plants in the country.
• Ukraine’s northern city of Chernihiv and surrounding districts are facing major power cuts after a Russian attack on critical infrastructure, affecting approximately 30,000 consumers, a local official said.

Regional security

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for “effective deterrence” by NATO in response to repeated airspace violations by Russia and reiterated the military alliance’s commitment to use “all necessary military and non-military tools” to defend itself.
• NATO’s Secretary-General Mark Rutte has backed United States President Donald Trump’s comments this week that NATO member countries should shoot down Russian drones and planes if they enter their airspace.
• Romanian Defence Minister Ionut Mosteanu said European states must respond “firmly but proportionally” to provocations, such as having their national airspace violated, adding that Romania’s top defence council agreed on a clear chain of command response in case of airspace breaches by manned and unmanned aircraft.
• German defence conglomerate Rheinmetall plans to build a new ammunition plant in Latvia, expanding the capability of the Baltic nation bordering Russia to defend itself militarily as European countries race to increase their defence capabilities in the wake of Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

Politics and diplomacy

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would be ready to step down from his position when the war with Russia is over, he told the Axios news site.
• Trump said NATO’s relationship with the US was the strongest it has ever been, speaking from the White House on Thursday during a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
• Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban held a phone call with Trump to discuss energy security in Central Europe, as the prime minister explained to the US president that Hungary’s energy supply cannot be guaranteed without Russian gas and oil imports.

Peace talks

• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow assumed the Trump administration still maintained the political will to find a solution to the war with Ukraine, and that Russia was ready to engage in peace negotiations.
• Peskov’s comment comes just days after Trump abruptly shifted his rhetoric and said he believed Kyiv could recapture all of its land taken by Russia.

Here is how things stand on Thursday, September 25 :

Fighting

• At least two people were killed by a daytime Ukrainian drone attack on the Russian city of Novorossiysk on Wednesday, according to The Moscow Times. Among those injured were employees of a Russian-Kazakh oil project.
• Russia’s Ministry of Defence on Wednesday said 1,495 Ukrainian troops were killed in the past 24 hours of fighting, according to Russia’s state news agency TASS. The numbers have not been independently verified.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed concerns about Russian incursions into NATO airspace as unfounded “hysteria”, according to the AFP news agency.
• “We hear such exaggerated hysteria about our military pilots allegedly violating some rules and invading someone’s airspace,” Peskov said.

Politics and diplomacy

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned world leaders of the threat posed by Russian weapons and innovation while speaking to the United Nations General Assembly.
• “Stopping Russia now is cheaper than wondering who will be the first to create a simple drone carrying a nuclear warhead,” Zelenskyy said on Wednesday.
• The Ukrainian leader also warned of the threat posed by artificial intelligence in the weapons industry, which could be the “most destructive” arms race in human history.
• Ukraine and Syria formally restored diplomatic ties on the sidelines of the UN summit. Kyiv broke off ties in 2022 after Syria’s then-leader Bashar al-Assad recognised Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory as independent.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov separately met with his United States counterpart Marco Rubio in New York on Wednesday. Rubio urged “Moscow to take meaningful steps towards a durable resolution”, while Lavrov accused Kyiv and Europe of “prolonging” the war.
• Kremlin spokesperson Peskov rejected a statement from US President Donald Trump that Russia is a “paper tiger” and said the country “maintains its macroeconomic stability”.

Economy

• Russia released its 2026 wartime budget on Wednesday, which included a proposal to raise its value-added tax (VAT) from 20 to 22 percent. This would draw in another $15.5bn in funds, according to The Moscow Times.
• VAT remains an important source of government revenue in Russia, the newspaper said, and approximately 40 percent of this year’s federal revenue will come from VAT.
• Moscow’s latest budget also came with the dire prediction that growth in 2025 will tap out at just 1 percent, down from 4.3 percent in 2024, according to the Reuters news agency.
• Russia’s economy is expected to grow just 0.5 percent in 2026, The Moscow Times said, while the federal deficit swelled to $61.1bn between January and July.

OPENING the thick, posh envelope with an embossed school logo in her council house, single mum Sophie Goffin was shaking and unable to catch her breath. 

This was no ordinary mail delivery. The contents of the letter would decide whether her little girl had been offered a life-changing place at a top-ranking private school for FREE.

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Sophie says: “It was a nerve-wracking moment. I was about to learn if my daughter was going to get a free private school education.

“When I read Sienna had been offered a full bursary, I screamed with joy. I will never forget the sense of pride I felt and the huge smile on my daughter’s face.

“It was like winning the lottery. Even today, I cannot believe it happened. She’d received a private education for free.”

Sophie, who runs her own cat care business, The Purry Godmother, and lives in Uxbridge, West London, could never have afforded the £30k a year plus expenses it costs to send a child to school. 

But she believed that a private school would help support Sienna better.

Sophie said: “Sienna started reception in September 2016 at a local government school. She was extra bright and, in the first two years, hit her milestones early.

“I asked the school to give her extra work, but with large class sizes, she was held back slightly. She ended up helping other children instead of moving forward herself.

“If I didn’t act, she would have been bored and frustrated. So I focused on securing a fully funded bursary.”

Private schools, also called independent schools, are run outside government control and paid for by parents, while Grammar schools are state-funded but selective.

Applying to a private school can feel intimidating, Sophie admits, but she knew it was the right move for Sienna and so set about applying.

She added: “It can feel overwhelming, but really it’s just about proving what you earn and showing your child is the right fit.”

Sophie contacted the Independent Schools Bursars’ Association and the Boarding Schools’ Association for guidance, then checked schools’ websites to see who still had bursary places.

She says: “Most scholarships are awarded on merit and achievement. They usually mean only a small discount.

“Bursaries are the golden ticket to elite private schools. They are means-tested, with bigger awards for lower incomes. Some schools also factor in talent in music or sport.”

Finding the right setting

Sophie and Sienna visited Maltman’s Green Girls School in Gerrards Cross, which was within commuting distance for them.

The school takes girls from as young as two up to 11 and has been operating for more than 100 years.

Fees range from £3,210 a term for nursery up to over £8,000 a term, or £32,000 a year for Year 6 pupils.

Sophie says: “Sienna’s eyes lit up when we visited. It was an educational wonderland.

“The school had a pool, science labs, 3D printers, art and drama rooms, small class sizes and an amazing Special Educational Needs department. I knew she would flourish there.”

Sophie and Sienna’s father, a chef, 32, had to complete forms because the full bursary is awarded to parents with low incomes who could not normally afford to send their child to the school.

As part of the means testing, parents must provide earnings information, tax forms, and bank statements and are assessed regularly once their child receives a place.

She says: “Having all your financial information up to date is critical to your application.

“Sienna had to do a written assessment for English literature and maths, which helps the school assess her level.

“We also met with the school head, and Sienna had a chance to explain why she wanted to attend.

“Bursaries are highly competitive, and the final decision is made by a specialist committee.

“Waiting for the letter was a roller coaster. Everyone wants the best for their child. It all rests on the letter. 

“Sienna wanted to go to the school, and I knew it would change her life dramatically.”

After three months, Sophie says the confirmation letter’s arrival in March 2021 was a “game changer.”

Sienna joined the Year three class in the 2021 summer term, proudly wearing the school’s distinct straw hat and its blue and green check uniform.

Sophie added: “Within ten minutes of arriving, another girl had said hello and invited her on an afternoon play date.

“A free private education can happen. Sienna is proof that the impossible is possible, no matter what your income is.”

Sienna’s mum Sophie

“The school pushed her abilities, and she started to thrive and shine.”

Sienna’s bursary included school trips in Year 4 and Year 5, and in Year 6, an overseas trip.

Sophie says: “That even included her spending money. School meals are included, free after-school care is offered, and you receive all-round support.

“For parents like me, it’s an education we could never afford but one our children deserve.

“During her three and a half years there, Sienna got to use an amazing computer kit, do photography, use the school pool, learn about coding, AI technology and use their 3D printer.

“I was amazed at the facilities and the friends she made.

“The smaller class sizes helped her learn at an even faster rate.”

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Sienna has now finished Year 6 and is being home-educated for her secondary education, but remains in contact with all her private school pals.

Sophie said: “I had only ever dreamt of her having access to that standard of education, and when it became a reality, I had to pinch myself.

“I was also shocked at how many parents are not aware that bursaries exist or that they may be eligible.

“It has been life-changing, and it proves that it isn’t always some other family that gets the gold ticket.

“Government schools suit many people, but for Sienn,a the system wasn’t working.

“I was also stunned that many of my friends had no idea bursaries existed or that they would be eligible.

“It is possible to win a bursary place. If you don’t get one the first year, keep trying. 

“It’s the golden ticket to helping a child like Sienna learn at the speed she needs to and thrive.

“Many children do that at standard schools. I was lucky enough that Sienna secured a bursary place.

“A free private education can happen. Sienna is proof that the impossible is possible, no matter what your income is.”

Here are the key events on day 1,308 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is how things stand on Wednesday, September 24:

Fighting

• Ukrainian drones attacked the Salavat petrochemical complex, controlled by energy giant Gazprom, in Russia’s Bashkortostan, causing a fire, regional Governor Radiy Khabirov said on Wednesday via his Telegram channel.
• Ukraine’s military struck two Russian oil distribution facilities in the Bryansk and Samara regions, as well as a military airfield in Russia-occupied Crimea, Kyiv’s general staff said on Telegram.
• The Russian Ministry of Defence said its troops hit bases of Ukrainian special forces and foreign mercenaries in retaliation for Ukraine’s strike on Crimea.
• Russian forces also took control of the village of Pereizne in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday.
• Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant lost all off-site power on Tuesday for the 10th time, prompting the  Ministry of Energy to call for decisive international action to secure the removal of occupying Russian forces from the site to restore nuclear safety in the region.

Politics and diplomacy

• United States President Donald Trump said on Tuesday at the United Nations headquarters that Ukraine can win back all territory lost to Russia, a major change of stance from his previous calls for Kyiv to make land concessions.
• Trump also said the US would continue to supply weapons to NATO for the alliance “to do what they want with them”, posting on his Truth Social platform following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York.
• Zelenskyy said he was surprised by Trump’s comments made earlier in the day and said it was a very positive signal that the US would be with Ukraine until the end of the war.
• Zelenskyy added that the US leader could be a “game-changer” for Ukraine, as there was an understanding “that President Trump is ready to give Ukraine security guarantees after this war will finish”.
• The Ukrainian president also met the US special presidential envoy, Keith Kellogg, to discuss procurement of weapons from the US and mutually beneficial agreements on drones, according to Zelenskyy’s post on X.
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Trump agreed on the need to quickly cut Russia’s revenues from fossil fuels – possibly by the end of the year, speaking to the US president on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

Regional security

• NATO issued a stern warning to Russia on Tuesday against what it called an “increasingly irresponsible” string of violations of its member states’ airspace, adding that it would employ “military and non-military” measures to defend itself.
• NATO said “our commitment to Article 5 is ironclad”, the provision in the alliance’s founding treaty that commits all member states to mutual defence in the event of an attack on any one of them.
• European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said “every country has the right to defend itself and act accordingly” if Russian planes violate airspace.
• Michael Waltz, the new US envoy to the UN, emphasised the US and its allies will “defend every inch of NATO territory”. He was speaking at a UN Security Council meeting on Monday to discuss accusations of a Russian airspace violation.

Here are the key events on day 1,306 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is how things stand on Monday, September 22:

Fighting

• A Ukrainian drone attack killed three people and injured 16 near the town of Foros on the Crimean Peninsula, the Russian-appointed head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, wrote in a post on Telegram.
• Russia’s Ministry of Defence said the attack occurred “using strike drones equipped with high-explosive payloads”, in a resort area “where there are no military targets whatsoever”.
• Two people were killed in a Ukrainian drone attack on a gas station in Pervomaisk, in Ukraine’s Luhansk region, occupied by Russia, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations for Luhansk said, according to Russia’s state news agency TASS.
• Anna Soroka, a Russian-appointed human rights commissioner for the Luhansk region, said that Ukraine was deliberately targeting gas stations during a period of fuel shortages, according to TASS.
• TASS also reported that one person was killed in a Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Belgorod region, and one person was killed and three people were critically injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on Vasylivka in Russian-occupied Zaporizhia.
• Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces attacked the Saratov Oil Refinery in Russia’s Saratov region on Saturday night, reportedly causing fires and explosions. Ukrainian forces also attacked the Novokuibyshevsk Oil Refinery in Samara, where the General Staff said “the results of the damage are being clarified”, in a statement shared on Facebook.

Regional security

• Germany’s air force said it scrambled two Eurofighter jets to track a Russian reconnaissance aircraft, which Germany said entered neutral airspace over the Baltic Sea.
• The incident comes after Estonia, Poland and Romania reported Russian fighter jets or drones entering their airspace in recent weeks.
• Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday that the United Nations Security Council will convene an emergency session on Monday “in response to Russia’s brazen violation of Estonian airspace”.
• Two officials told Reuters that a planned NATO North Atlantic Council meeting to respond to the violation of Estonia’s airspace would take place on Tuesday.
• Asked on Sunday whether he would help defend European Union countries if Russia intensified hostilities, United States President Donald Trump told reporters: “Yeah, I would. I would.”

Politics and diplomacy

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that his country is planning to meet with Trump this week, amid a “very intense week” of diplomacy during the UN General Assembly in New York, in a post on X.
• French President Emmanuel Macron said that European countries were complying with international law by using the proceeds from frozen Russian assets in European banks. But he added that seizing the assets from Russia’s central bank could cause “total chaos”, in response to a question from CBS news about recent comments made by Trump.
• Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova responded, saying: “If Moscow’s frozen assets are confiscated in Europe, there won’t be chaos, but rather very harsh countermeasures from Russia. And they know this,” Russia’s RIA Novosti agency reported.
• Russian Colonel General Alexander Lapin, a senior commander who served in the first phase of Russia’s war in Ukraine, has been dismissed from military service, Russian media outlet RBC reported on Sunday, citing an unidentified source.

LOVE a freebie? Don’t we all – but the best giveaways rarely last forever.

We’ve rounded up the very best offers and promotions that are due to run out before the end of 2025. Don’t ignore them: you could miss out on free Apple AirPods, a £400 laptop, cheap theatre tickets, and more video games than you could ever hope to play.

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FREE SAMSUNG LAPTOP

A tempting offer to claim a free £400 laptop from Samsung is due to expire this year.

Samsung launched the promotion back in August.

It gets you either a £399 14-inch Chromebook Go or a Samsung Galaxy Watch7 worth £239.

You can claim it if you’ve recently bought an eligible Samsung smartphone.

For a free laptop, you’d need to have bought:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge
• Samsung Galaxy S25+
• Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

And for a free smartwatch, you’d need to have snapped up one of the following:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE
• Samsung Galaxy S25
• Samsung Galaxy S25 FE

The promotion is due to close down on October 2 this year.

And you need to submit your claim for the freebie within 30 days of making your purchase.

To claim the offer, just follow our guide here: Samsung free laptop promotion.

THREE+ FREEBIES

Earlier this year, Three revealed a generous batch of freebies along with the dates that they would expire.

They’re part of the Three+ rewards scheme, which is free to join. You just claim the freebies through the dedicated app.

And many of them are currently due to cut off at the end of the year.

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That includes 10% off theatre tickets, a cut-price English Heritage membership, and cheap airport parking.

They’re all decent perks, so don’t miss out on claiming them.

Here’s the full list of Three perks with a current expiry date of December 31, 2025:

• LOVEtheatre – 10% off tickets
• English Heritage – 25% off annual membership for 2x adults and up to 12 children = £36
• Tiqets – Get up to 45% off museums, theme parks, zoos and more, plus an extra 10% off with Three+
• Airparks – Up to 30% off airport parking
• Go Henry – two months free on financial education app for kids, plus £15 pocket money
• Banjo Robinson – free activity pack

It’s always possible that some of these perks could be extended, but there’s no guarantee.

FREE APPLE AIRPODS

Yes, really.

Apple is running a back-to-school promotion that expires next month.

And the offer nets you a free pair of Apple AirPods if you’ve bought a qualifying gadget.

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You just need to be a teacher, staff, student or parent.

And students are anyone who has gone on to college, university, or any other public or private tertiary education institution.

But beware: the deal runs out on October 21, 2025.

If you’ve bought a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro then you can claim:

• Apple AirPods Pro 3 (with £50 fee) – saving £169
• Apple AirPods 4 with ANC (free) – saving £169

If you’ve snapped up an iPad Air or iPad Pro, you can get:

• Apple AirPods 4 (free) – saving £119
• Apple AirPods Pro 3 (with £100 fee) – saving £119

And if you’ve bagged an iMac, the options are:

• Apple AirPods 4 with ANC (free) – saving £169
• Apple AirPods Pro 3 (with £50 fee) – saving £169

The main catch is that you can only do this once for the promotion period. Just don’t miss the offer window.

It’s also worth noting that Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 are brand new, so they’re a good buy.

BONUS £100 FROM O2

If you’re planning to buy one of the new iPhone models recently announced by Apple, take a look at this O2 offer.

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It comes with a bonus £100 – but only until October 8, 2025.

If you buy the new iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, or iPhone 17 Pro Max on a pay-monthly plan, you’ll get an extra £100 if you recycle your existing mobile.

That’s in addition to the regular trade-in value of your phone.

It’s a special promotion on the O2 Recycle scheme, and you can only claim the deal once.

You don’t get the money in cash – but it’ll be credited to your plan.

So effectively, it’s a £100 discount on the amount you would’ve plaid.

You can check out the full terms for the offer here.

AMAZON PRIME GAMES

There are loads of Amazon Prime freebies that will vanish before the year is out.

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Amazon runs a special scheme for Prime members called Prime Gaming.

Every month, Amazon will dish out a selection of free games that you can keep forever.

Usually the monthly haul is worth hundreds of pounds, so it’s not bad at all.

The games drop in waves every single Thursday, and by the end of the month, the full batch is available.

But the games are only available for a month before they vanish from Amazon’s freebie list.

So you need to claim them before they disappear.

If you’re savvy, you’ll collect them all. You can bag September’s lot, and then get the October, November, and December offerings too.

You’ll probably end up with more than £1,000 in games from a four-month run.

But if you miss any of them then you’ll be too late – they’re then gone for good.

So make sure you’re hot on checking for the freebies each month. You can find them here at the Prime Gaming website.

Just note that you’ll need to have an active Amazon Prime membership to claim the games.

All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed.

Always do your own research before making any purchase.

Here are the key events on day 1,305 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is how things stand on Sunday, September 21:

Fighting

• Russian forces launched a large-scale missile and drone attack, targeting areas across Ukraine, killing at least three people and wounding dozens more, according to Ukrainian officials.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia launched 580 drones and 40 missiles, and that the attacks took place across nine regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, Zaporizhia, Poltava, Kyiv, Odesa, Sumy and Kharkiv.
• Ukrainian forces launched drone attacks on Russia’s southwestern Samara region, killing at least four people, according to Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev announced on social media. The region is located 800km (497 miles) from the front line in Ukraine.
• The Reuters news agency, citing Ukraine’s SBU security agency, said Ukrainian drones hit Russian oil pumping stations, which are part of the Kuibyshev-Tikhoretsk oil pipeline, in the Volgograd and Samara regions. The facilities that were targeted were involved in Russian oil exports via the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, the report said.
• The Russian Ministry of Defence said its forces shot down 383 Ukrainian drones over the past day.
• The ministry also claimed control of the village of Berezove in Ukraine’s southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region.

Regional security

• Poland and its allies scrambled aircraft to ensure the safety of Polish airspace early on Saturday after Russia launched attacks on western Ukraine, the country’s armed forces announced.
• The move came after Poland shot down suspected Russian drones in its airspace earlier this month, and Estonia said three Russian military jets violated its airspace for 12 minutes on Friday.
• The United Kingdom also sent two fighter jets on their first NATO air defence sortie over Poland as part of the alliance’s Eastern Sentry mission, its government said.
• Lithuanian Minister of Defence Dovile Sakaliene has called on NATO to urgently move air defence capabilities to front-line states, saying citizens of NATO states are “being threatened almost every day now”.

Politics and diplomacy

• Ukraine’s Zelenskyy said that he would meet United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week to discuss security guarantees for his country and sanctions on Russia.
• Zelenskyy said he expects the US to impose a new round of strong sanctions against Russia, a day after the European Union also announced its 19th round of sanctions package on Moscow.
• Russia has intensified its use of criminal prosecution, long-term imprisonment, intimidation, torture and ill-treatment to silence opposition since its invasion of Ukraine, according to Mariana Katzarova, the UN special rapporteur on the rights situation in Russia. The report detailing a “seismic decline” of the human rights situation in Russia will be presented to the Human Rights Council on Monday.

Here are the key events on day 1,303 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Here is how things stand on Friday, September 19 :

Fighting

• Ukrainian drones hit a key oil-processing and petrochemical complex in Russia’s Bashkortostan region, as well as an oil refinery in the Volgograd region, as Ukraine escalates its campaign against Russia’s extensive oil and gas sector.
• Russian military units claim to have breached Ukraine’s western village of Yampol and secured new positions near five residential areas in the same area, according to Russia’s state TASS news agency.
• Russia’s Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov has claimed Russia is gaining ground in “almost all directions” along the front lines with Ukraine.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that Russian losses have mounted in the eastern city of Pokrovsk amid Ukraine’s “heroic defence” of the area.
• Latvian authorities identified debris from a Russian drone found on the Baltic coast, near the country’s port city of Ventspils. Latvia’s Defence Minister Andris Spruds wrote on X that the object was the tail end of a “decoy” Gerbera drone and confirmed it was not explosive.

Regional security

• The United States Department of State has approved the sale of Javelin missile systems to Poland for an estimated $780m. The deal would “support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally”, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said.
• Ukraine has agreed to train Polish soldiers and engineers in drone warfare defence. The announcement came a week after Polish and NATO forces shot down more than 20 drones violating the country’s airspace during a Russian aerial attack on neighbouring Ukraine.
• The European Commission’s Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said he plans to convene talks with defence ministers next week on creating a “drone wall” along the European Union’s eastern border, a concept that was already under discussion before the most recent incidents of Russian drone incursions in EU airspace.
• Ukrainian anti-drone technology, battle-tested against Russia, was on display at a Taiwanese defence expo this week.

Peace process

• US President Donald Trump said in a Fox News interview that he was “very disappointed” with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his failure to secure a peace deal in Ukraine.
• “The one I thought was going to be easiest [to settle] was going to be Russia-Ukraine, because of my relationship with President Putin. So I’m disappointed,” Trump said.
• In the same interview, Trump proclaimed the US would play a role in post-war peace-building in Ukraine. “After the war is settled, we would help secure the peace. And I think ultimately that’ll happen,” he said.
• Trump said in another joint news conference, after meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, that President Putin “has really let me down”.
• During the meeting, Trump and Starmer discussed ways to increase defence support for Ukraine and “decisively” put pressure on Putin to agree to a peace deal, Starmer said.
• Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov took a swipe at Trump in response, according to TASS: “When President Trump says he is disappointed, it seems to me – I can’t say that I know him very well, of course, but I have spoken with him several times, and I have formed a certain impression – that this is partly because he wants quick solutions”.

Politics and diplomacy

• President Zelenskyy said he had spoken with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and thanked him on X for “assistance in returning Ukrainian children abducted by Russia”. In another post, he thanked the United Kingdom’s King Charles for “steadfast support” after the king referenced Ukraine during a dinner with Trump on Wednesday.

I spoke with the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani @TamimBinHamad.

I thanked him for his assistance in returning Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. We greatly value this solidarity and such sincere attention to our children.

I invited Qatar to take part in the…

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) September 18, 2025

Economy and energy

• Russia’s Ministry of Finance announced a new measure to help protect the state budget from oil price fluctuations and Western sanctions as Russian oil and gas sales for September are expected to see a 23 percent reduction compared with last year, the Reuters news agency reports.
• Putin suggested he was willing to raise taxes on the wealthy, such as imposing a luxury tax or higher taxes on stock dividends, to boost Russia’s wartime economy.

Sanctions

• The European Commission is slated to present its 19th package of sanctions against Russia to member states on Friday, which includes a proposal to ban Russian liquefied natural gas, an official said.
• Australia announced new sanctions against 95 “shadow fleet” Russian vessels, which are oil tankers used to evade Western sanctions. The government also lowered the price cap for Russian oil to $47.60 per barrel, down from $60 a barrel, following a similar move by the EU, the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Japan.

WASHINGTON — President Trump said early Thursday that he plans to designate antifa as a “major terrorist organization.”

Antifa, short for “anti-fascists,” is an umbrella term for far-left-leaning militant groups and is not a singular entity. They consist of groups that resist fascists and neo-Nazis, especially at demonstrations.

It’s unclear how the administration would label what is effectively a decentralized movement as a terrorist organization, and the White House on Wednesday did not immediately offer more details.

Trump, who is on a state visit to the United Kingdom, made the announcement in a social media post shortly before 1:30 a.m. Thursday local time. He called antifa a “SICK, DANGEROUS, RADICAL LEFT DISASTER.”

He also said he will be “strongly recommending” that funders of antifa be investigated.

Antifa is a domestic entity and, as such, is not a candidate for inclusion on the State Department’s list of foreign terror organizations. Dozens of groups, including extremist organizations like Islamic State and Al Qaeda, are included on that list. The designation matters in part because it enables the Justice Department to prosecute those who give material support to entities on that list even if that support does not result in violence.

There is no domestic equivalent to that list in part because of broad 1st Amendment protections enjoyed by organizations operating within the United States. And despite periodic calls, particularly after mass shootings by white supremacists, to establish a domestic terrorism law, no singular statute now exists.

In an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said he would pursue a domestic terrorism designation for antifa if such a move had the support of Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi and others in his Cabinet.

“It’s something I would do, yeah,” Trump said. ”I would do that 100%. Antifa is terrible.”

Wednesday night, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) praised Trump’s announcement, saying: “Antifa seized upon a movement of legitimate grievances to promote violence and anarchy, working against justice for all. The President is right to recognize the destructive role of Antifa by designating them domestic terrorists.”

In July 2019, Cassidy and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced a resolution in the Senate to condemn the violent acts of antifa and to designate the group a domestic terror organization.

In 2020, in the midst of the George Floyd protests, Trump also raised the idea of designating antifa as a terror organization.

Trump’s previous FBI director, Christopher Wray, said in testimony that year that antifa is an ideology, not an organization, lacking the hierarchical structure that would usually allow it to be designated as a terror group by the federal government.

Kim writes for the Associated Press.

The airline and package holiday provider is offering citybreaks to 11 destinations across Europe this winter

Believe it or not, Christmas is now just around the corner with fewer than 100 days to go until the big day. To help travellers get into the festive spirit early, Jet2 has rolled out what it said was its most extensive Christmas Markets programme ever, complete with a new destination and departures from airports across Scotland, Ireland and England.

Jet2.com and Jet2CityBreaks are giving holidaymakers the opportunity to discover the magic of Europe’s most festive cities with 11 enchanting Christmas market destinations to choose from. For winter 2025 and 2026, more than 250,000 seats are available across their UK departure points – marking its biggest festive programme to date, reports the MEN.

The airline and package holiday provider is offering city breaks to the likes of:

• Berlin
• Cologne
• Gdansk
• Budapest
• Krakow
• Prague
• Vienna
• Bratislava
• Malmo
• Copenhagen

This year, Jet2 is expanding its lineup with a new destination – Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. In winter, Tallinn’s historic Old Town is transformed into a magical scene straight from a fairytale, with its rich heritage, vibrant culture, festive shopping, and buzzing nightlife.

Travellers can choose between a flight-only option with Jet2.com or a full ATOL-protected city break with Jet2CityBreaks. These are both bookable with just a £60 per person deposit.

Jet2CityBreaks packages include return Jet2.com flights, 22kg of checked baggage, 10kg of hand luggage and a carefully selected range of 2 to 5-star hotels in central locations – perfect for exploring one of Europe’s most enchanting Christmas market destinations.

The Christmas Market programme runs from the following airports:

1. Belfast International Airport
2. Birmingham Airport
3. Bournemouth Airport
4. Bristol Airport
5. Edinburgh Airport
6. East Midlands Airport
7. Glasgow Airport
8. Leeds Bradford Airport
9. Liverpool John Lennon Airport
10. London Stanstead Airport
11. Manchester Airport
12. Newcastle International Airport

The European Union’s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) will begin next month, which will change requirements for British citizens travelling to the Schengen area

Next month the European Union‘s (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES) will commence. This represents a fresh digital border system that will alter requirements for British citizens journeying to the Schengen area.

The Schengen area permits more than 450 million people to move freely between member countries without passing through border controls. From October 12, if you are travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay using a UK passport, you will be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive.

You do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration. Guidance on Gov.uk states: “After it is fully implemented, EES registration will replace the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU. “.

READ MORE: Extra Ryanair fee parents can expect to be hit withREAD MORE: October travel rule change warning as ‘families could miss flights’

When EES is launched, you may need to establish a digital record on your first visit to the Schengen area at the port or airport upon arrival, reports the Liverpool Echo.

You will need to submit your fingerprints and have your photograph taken at dedicated booths. The government has also revealed that if you enter the Schengen area through the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or St Pancras International, EES checks will be completed at the border, before you depart the UK.

Your digital EES record remains valid for 3 years. If you enter the Schengen area again during this period, you will only need to provide a fingerprint or photo at the border, when you enter and exit.

The 29 countries in the Schengen area are:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

If you are travelling by air to a Schengen zone nation, you might face extended waiting times upon arrival at your destination. The fresh system is being rolled out to strengthen border security across the EU and its surrounding nations.

OPINION

It could also prove useful in cutting down on illegal immigration within the Schengen region. Automated border monitoring procedures will be put in place to assist the EU in preventing visitors from outstaying their welcome.

Your arrivals and departures, or entry denials will be digitally recorded in the EES. The EES system is anticipated to make travel “simplified” and more secure.

Non-EU citizens journeying for brief visits to a European nation using the EES are impacted. Though there are exemptions which can be found here.

If you decline to supply your biometric information, you will be refused entry into the territory of the European countries operating the EES. Your information will only be retained in the system for the reasons it was gathered. The information held in the EES is safeguarded against misuse and access to it is limited to designated personnel within national authorities.