Australia

Former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö recommends that the EU create its own intelligence service. The proposal is part of a review of the bloc's war and crisis preparedness presented to Ursula von der Leyen.

On October 28, the South Korean delegation will present information to NATO on the deployment of DPRK troops in Russia. After the meeting, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will hold a press conference.

The Pentagon has approved the sale of NASAMS air defense systems and radar systems to Taiwan. The delivery includes advanced AMRAAM surface-to-air missiles successfully tested in Ukraine.

China has launched a diplomatic “charm offensive” against US allies amid a possible Trump victory. Beijing is seeking to improve relations with Japan, India, Britain and Australia over economic concerns.

The expected transition to La Niña in the Pacific Ocean is postponed until November-December with a 60% probability. El Niña may persist until March 2025, which will affect global weather conditions.

The European Parliament will consider a proposal for a €35 billion loan to Ukraine from the proceeds of frozen Russian assets. This is part of a $50 billion G7 package to support Ukraine.

Roksolana Pidlasa explained that Orban could not block the EU's €35 billion allocation to Ukraine. All that is needed to disburse the funds is a simple majority vote in the EU Council, not a unanimous decision.

Lydia Thorpe, an Indigenous senator, protested against King Charles III's visit to the Australian parliament. She accused the monarchy of genocide and demanded the return of stolen lands and a treaty.

Secret documents on the Israeli Air Force's preparations for an attack on Iran have been leaked online. The United States has launched an investigation into the leak, which could exacerbate tensions in the region.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the continuation of assistance to Ukraine. The Alliance has provided €20.9 billion in military assistance in the first half of 2024 and plans to fulfill its commitments by the end of the year.

Australia is planning to transfer 49 Abrams M1A1 tanks that are being decommissioned to Ukraine. This is part of a $245 million military aid package to be announced by the Minister of Defense Industry at a NATO meeting in Brussels.

Representatives of Ukraine met with G20 ambassadors to discuss the Victory Plan and the Peace Formula. The parties discussed holding thematic conferences and preparations for the Second Global Peace Summit.

Ukrainian Olympic champion Yaroslava Maguchikh is among the five nominees for the World Athlete of the Year according to World Athletics. The voting will last until October 20 on social media.

The European Parliament's Committee on Trade has supported a €35 billion financial assistance package for Ukraine. This is the EU's contribution to the G7 initiative to support Ukraine with $50 billion to meet its urgent needs.

The head of the Budget Committee, Roksolana Pidlasa, explained the need to distribute the $50 billion loan from the EU and the US over two years. This is due to the one-time nature of the payment and the lack of new agreements for the future.

The Latvian Saeima has passed amendments allowing citizens of other countries to serve in the Latvian army during mobilization. This applies to citizens of the EU, NATO, and Ukraine, provided they have legal residence and knowledge of the language.

EU member states have agreed on a plan to lend 35bn euros to Ukraine using frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia as collateral. This is part of a wider G7 initiative to provide Kiev with 45bn euros in aid.

A new study has revealed a slowdown in life expectancy growth in countries with the longest-lived populations. It also states that the increase in the number of centenarians does not lead to a significant increase in overall life expectancy.

Australia increases the number of police in Sydney and Melbourne ahead of pro-Palestinian rallies on October 6. Authorities warn of zero tolerance for violence during the rallies.

16 members of the Russian hacker group Evil Corp have been sanctioned by the UK, the US and Australia. The group attacked British institutions using malware and ransomware, causing more than $100 million in damage.

Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba has won the election as leader of Japan's ruling party. He plans to strengthen the military alliance with the United States and discuss the creation of an “Asian NATO.

Russia has opened a criminal case against two Australian and one Romanian journalists for reporting from the Ukrainian-controlled part of Kursk region. The FSB accuses them of illegally crossing the border.

The Japanese warship JS Sazanami has sailed through the Taiwan Strait between Taiwan and China for the first time. This is a significant step by Japan, which had previously avoided such actions in order not to irritate China.

France and the United States proposed a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon to allow for negotiations. The initiative was supported by several Arab countries and the EU, calling for de-escalation of the conflict and a diplomatic settlement.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister took part in a meeting of the Joint Investigation Team on the downing of MH17. Sibiga emphasized the importance of bringing Russia to justice and awaits the decision of international courts.

Australia, India, Japan, and the United States expressed concern over the war in Ukraine and its consequences. They called for respect for international law, condemned nuclear threats, and emphasized the need for a just peace.

The Australian government is working with the United States on a plan to send decommissioned M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. The former commander of the Australian army supported the idea of transferring decommissioned equipment.

For the first time, World Cleanup Day was held in 2018, when its participants managed to collect more than 80 thousand tons of garbage around the world. This year, at least 100 million people from 197 countries will join World Cleanup Day.

The shortlist for the Man Booker Prize 2024 includes 5 women authors out of 6 nominees, a record for 55 years. Writers from 5 countries are represented, including a Dutch author for the first time.

Meta is introducing new privacy and parental control settings for Instagram accounts of users under the age of 18. The changes include automatic private accounts, interaction restrictions, and time limits.