TOP STORY

Leaders from the 27 EU member states are meeting in Copenhagen today to define a joint strategy against the drone threat, following a series of unidentified intrusions into Danish airspace that disrupted traffic, including at Copenhagen’s airport—the largest in Northern Europe. Authorities have pointed to Russia as the likely culprit, adding to similar violations reported in Poland and Estonia in recent weeks, raising fears of a deliberate escalation by Moscow to destabilize Europe.

In response, the EU is prioritizing four key areas: protecting its airspace, strengthening its eastern flank, missile defense, and—above all—the creation of an "anti-drone wall." A €150 billion fund, already fully subscribed (with €100 billion from frontline countries like Poland and the Baltics), has been unlocked to finance european defense measures. Discussions are expected to yield a concrete roadmap by late October, while military reinforcements from Germany, Poland, Scandinavia, France, and even Ukraine have been deployed to Denmark. The U.S. has also supplied anti-drone equipment, underscoring the urgency.

As US financial support for Ukraine runs out of steam, the EU-27 are also seeking sustainable solutions to maintain their aid to Kiev. Among the options being considered is mobilizing the hundreds of billions of euros in assets held by the Russian central bank, which have been frozen in Euroclear since 2022. While direct seizure is controversial due to fears of market repercussions, the idea of using these funds as collateral for a €140 billion loan to Ukraine is gaining ground. This mechanism, still under negotiation, would require Kiev to repay the sum only if Russia refuses to pay war reparations, thereby extending the sanctions.

The EU is also attempting to circumvent Hungary's veto on Ukraine's accession by proposing a qualified majority vote to open the negotiation chapters—while maintaining unanimity to close them. This is a symbolic measure, but its adoption itself requires unanimity... and Budapest's agreement. France 24

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IN SHORT

🇪🇺 European Union • Europe is losing the equivalent of 600 football pitches of natural and agricultural land daily, a satellite-based investigation (2018-2023) reveals. A total of 9,000 km²—an area the size of Cyprus—has been developed, primarily for housing, roads, and tourism. Turkey, Poland, and France are among the hardest-hit countries.

🇺🇦 Ukraine - 🇷🇺 Russia • The Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant has been without grid power for seven consecutive days, the longest outage since the invasion. President Zelenskyy warns of a potential "critical" situation, as Russian shelling blocks repairs. One backup diesel generator has failed, while the IAEA urges both sides to restore power urgently to avoid nuclear risks.

🇺🇸 United States - 🇦🇺 Australia • Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles stated the U.S.-led review of the AUKUS pact is still ongoing, despite media reports claiming its approval. The planned sale of three Virginia-class nuclear submarines to Australia from 2032 hinges on this assessment, ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s meeting with President Donald Trump on October 20.

🇯🇵 Japan • The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will elect its new leader on October 4, with two frontrunners: Sanae Takaichi, who could become Japan’s first female prime minister, and 44-year-old Shinjiro Koizumi, potentially the youngest postwar leader. The successor to Shigeru Ishiba will face a divided parliament, persistent inflation, and trade tensions with the U.S.

🇺🇸 United States • The U.S. entered a government shutdown at midnight after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach a budget deal. 750,000 federal workers face furloughs, disrupting air travel and social aid programs. Donald Trump warns of "irreversible" consequences if the deadlock continues, with each week of shutdown potentially cutting U.S. GDP growth by 0.2%.

🇧🇧 Barbados - 🇧🇿 Belize - 🇩🇲 Dominica - 🇻🇨 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines • Four Caribbean nations launched a groundbreaking EU-style free movement deal today. Citizens can now live, work, and settle indefinitely across borders without permits. The goal: curb the brain drain to North America and boost regional economic and cultural integration.

🇫🇷 France - 🇷🇺 Russia • A Russian "dark fleet" oil tanker, the Pushpa, has been anchored off Brittany’s coast for days, suspected of launching drones that flew over Denmark. Under EU sanctions, the Benin-flagged vessel is under investigation for "failure to justify nationality."

CONFLICTS