Latest News
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Luxembourg deploys additional surveillance assets after drone sightings
Luxembourg's government announced on Sunday that "additional" detection assets had been deployed to strengthen the airspace monitoring after Luxembourg Airport temporarily suspended services late Friday night due to drone sightings. In a statement, the government stated that "to strengthen airspace analysis and monitoring capabilities, additional detection resources have been deployed. These include resources provided by our foreign partners." The report added that "These supplementary system have contributed to further consolidating the?airspace monitoring and a better assessment by the competent authorities of?the?situation". The government said also that on Saturday evening, police "received a number of reports"?concerning?the suspected presence?of?drones in national airspace but that after "verifications", "no situation required an operation intervention by the authorities". After flight operations were temporarily suspended Friday evening, the Luxembourg authorities began an investigation following the sighting of unidentified drones. Prime Minister Luc Frieden said to reporters?on a Saturday that his country was "confronted?with?something _new for Luxembourg, namely the presence of?larger drones in Luxembourg airspace". "We've observed this over the past few days and took precautionary measures last night," said he. The Luxembourg government said on Sunday that its drone assessment cell continues to work with partners in order to monitor the situation.
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Election in Russia sparks a dispute with Moldova about voting in a separatist region
The Russian parliamentary elections have sparked a diplomatic dispute with Moldova, which has objected to the Kremlin’s plan to open 15 voting stations for Russians in the separatist Transdniestria Region. Moscow has confirmed that '220,000 residents' of pro-Russian Transdniestria (a small sliver which separated from Moldova at the end the Soviet regime in 1990) hold Russian passports, and have the right to vote in Sunday's election for the State Duma. Moldova's pro Western government wants to join the European Union by 2030, and denounces Kremlin war in Ukraine. It says that Russians can vote only at the Russian Embassy in Chisinau. It disputes the 220,000 figure, and opposes all polling stations in Transdniestria where it does not have control over the procedures. The Moldovan authorities have branded the Kremlin’s 15 planned voting stations as “unacceptable and hostile” and summoned Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov for questioning at the Foreign Ministry. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, retorted that Moldova should drop its objections and stop actions which "run counter to democracy, international law and good sense". Mihail Popsoi, Moldova's Foreign Minister, told Moscow to "not interfere with Moldova's plans" for a peaceful reintegration of the separatist territory. The last Russian parliamentary election was held in 2021. Authorities in Moscow opened 27 voting stations in the area and more than 59,000 people voted, with 76.2% of them supporting United Russia, a party that supports Russian President Vladimir Putin. Transdniestria has not been recognised internationally,?not by Moscow either, but a Russian contingent of about 1,500 troops that Russia describes sometimes as peacekeepers remains there, despite Moldova's demands for them to leave.
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Coast guard: China vessel rams Philippine vessel on a refuelling mission
The Philippine Coast Guard said that a China Coast Guard vessel had rammed a Philippine boat on a refueling trip in the South China Sea on Friday. This was the latest incident between the two nations in disputed waters. The BRP Datu Magat Salamat, a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFA), was en route to provide fuel to Filipino fisherman about 54 nautical mile off the coasts of Palawan Province. The coast guard reported that a China Coast Guard vessel made contact with a Philippine ship and damaged the railings and deck structure of the vessel. However, no one was injured, according to the coastguard. In a statement, it stated that "the?China Coast Guard deliberately ran a civilian government ship on a humanitarian mission and livelihood mission." The PCG released a video showing crew members shouting, "brace yourself for impact!" Moments before the collision which took place at 0313 GMT, 11:13 am. After the collision, photos showed bent and 'detached railings and damaged metal'supports. Debris was scattered on the deck. In a press release, the China Coast Guard stated that they conducted law enforcement operations near Sabina Shoal, Friday, after a Philippine vessel "disregarded multiple solemn warnings and deliberately changed its course, suddenly accelerating to cut across our vessel's bow." The Chinese boat was said to have operated professionally, and the collision blamed on the Philippine side. In a Facebook post, US Ambassador Lee Lipton said: "We strongly condemned the China Coast Guard’s deliberate ramming." According to a post on X, the Chinese Embassy in Philippines condemned the US Embassy for'supporting what they called Philippine infringements and provocations in water near Sabina Shoal. Manila accused Beijing in July of firing "water cannon" at government vessels near 'Scarborough Shoal' and hitting a Philippine Navy staff member with a wooden baton on the head during an encounter off the Second Thomas Shoal.
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Cuba's electric grid collapses once again, plunges island into darkness
Cuba's electrical system collapsed on Friday, leaving millions of people without power and plunging Cuba into darkness. This was due to a US pressure campaign which has prevented oil from reaching Cuba's largest Caribbean island. Authorities said that the failure of high-voltage transmission cables in central Cuba around 2 pm local time was responsible for Friday's collapse. Felix Estrada, a Cuban National Electrical Union official (UNE), said: "Protocols have been put in place for the gradual restoration of system." By late evening power had been restored to a few neighborhoods, mostly around hospitals. However, the rest of Havana was still completely dark, due to cloudy skies and rain. The blackout in the United States, which was at least six partial or complete grid collapses from January onwards, barely registered with a nation that is used to going for long hours, or days, without electricity. The blackout struck as many residents of Havana, the capital city, were already exhausted and without electricity. Yesterday I was without power for 24 hrs. "They turned on the lights for an hour and then the grid collapsed," Frank Lorenzo said, a 23-year-old Havana local looking forward to sweating and slapping at mosquitos. Cuba's decrepit power system, which has suffered from fuel shortages for many years, has now been further strained by the US oil blockade. Since July, the grid has 'collapsed' three times and blackouts spanning 30 hours or longer have been experienced across most of Canada. Human rights experts from the United Nations have condemned the US oil embargo, calling it a violation to international law and warning that Cuba could become a "silent Gaza", as shortages and blackouts continue to grow.
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After a temporary suspension due to drone activity, flights resume at Luxembourg Airport
Authorities resumed flight operations at Luxembourg Airport on Saturday after suspending them the previous evening due to the discovery of "unauthorized unmanned aerial systems", or drones. The airport, Luxembourg’s only international airport, announced that it had imposed a'suspension' on Friday, as a precautionary measure, to ensure the safety and security of passengers, airline crews, airport staff, and aircraft. The airport did not provide any details about the origin or operator of the drones. Although flights have resumed as scheduled, some 'delays and disruptions' may persist while airlines and airport partners work to restore the normal schedules. Luxair's main hub at Luxembourg Airport, which is the country's main airport, has said that it will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities.
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Saudi civil defence sends all-clear after danger warning for capital Riyadh
Saudi civil defense sounded the all-clear on Saturday morning after issuing alerts for potential danger in Riyadh, and Al-Kharj city east of the capital. This was amid a surge of attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis against the Gulf nation. This was the first alert for the capital city since Houthis in neighbouring Yemen intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia. A? Two booms were heard by a journalist in the Olaya district of Riyadh. The alert comes hours after the Houthis’?military spokeswoman said that the?group foiled "criminal efforts" of unspecified nature in the Yemeni Capital Sanaa. She blamed Saudi Arabia for the failure and promised a reaction. Since declaring a blockade on 'Riyadh' in July, the Houthis have launched attacks against Saudi Arabia, with strikes in the Red Sea targeting Saudi vessels. According to the group, which has been able to seize Yemen's entire Red Sea coast in a flash of lightning since last week, the Saudi Air Force has carried out?hundreds? of airstrikes over recent days.
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US and China discuss cutting tariffs for US LNG before Xi's visit
According to two people who have been briefed about the discussions, the US and China are discussing a proposal to reduce or eliminate 'China's tariffs against American LNG. This is part of a broader agreement on energy and agriculture that could be announced if Chinese President Xi Jinping comes to Washington next week. People said that the?potential?relief of US exports of Liquefied Natural Gas is being discussed along with a larger framework whereby the US and China each would cut tariffs on around $30 billion worth of goods. In February 2025, China increased its tariffs on US LNG by 15% in response to President Donald Trump's duties against Chinese goods. This effectively ended the US-China LNG trading, and the last significant cargoes arrived early in 2025. American LNG producers are looking for new markets to absorb the new export capacity that is being built along the US Gulf Coast. Years of trade tensions have made China, one of the largest LNG markets in the world, less accessible. These?discussions' are part of efforts to stabilise trade ties in advance of a meeting between Trump and Xi on September 24, and they are not finalized, according to the people. The White House nor the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comments. The American LNG Industry is entering a phase of major expansion. Export capacity will grow by approximately 10 billion cubic feet a day through 2027, as new and expanded installations ramp up. Projects involving Cheniere Energy Venture Global Sempra NextDecade, Exxon Mobil and Venture Global are among those adding capacity. Return of Chinese buyers could?give US gas producers another major destination at a time when geopolitical turmoil is reshaping the global energy flow, possibly helping to underpin demand for those projects that are currently under construction or seeking financing and long term customers. According to estimates and analyses by the industry, of the nearly 100 million metric tonnes of LNG capacity currently under construction in the US 24,5 million metrictons have yet to be contracted to long-term clients. Global LNG FLOWs US LNG cargos, which would have otherwise gone to Asia, were increasingly drawn to Europe after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 disrupted Europe’s access to Russian gas pipelines. As a result of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US in the Middle East, global energy flows have shifted, as disruptions in supply are increasing the competition for LNG cargoes from Asia. China is the largest LNG -importer in the world, and the US the largest LNG-exporter. This gives the two countries a strong economic incentive to reestablish a trade relationship that was growing rapidly?before tariff disputes. US data shows that after Beijing implemented the tariff on US LNG, US exports to China dropped from 64 vessels to zero in 2025. In 2021 the number of vessels had "reached a new record", reflecting the rapid expansion of US LNG trade to China since large-scale exports began from the Lower 48 States in 2016. US LNG shipments from the US to China dropped to only two vessels during Trump's first term trade dispute with Beijing in 2019, before bouncing back in 2020 and 2021. According to LSEG shipping information, in recent months several US cargoes left the Gulf 'Coast terminals for export have either arrived in China, or are heading there. This suggests that Chinese buyers began to return to the US even though the tariff remained. According to the Energy Information Administration, US LNG exports in the first half 2026 averaged 17,4 bcf/d, up by 23% compared to a year ago.
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FedEx and Advent-led consortium secures more than 89% of InPost's shares in the takeover offer
InPost, a Polish parcel locker operator, announced on Friday that FedEx International, Advent International as well as other InPost shareholders had offered 89.81% of its shares. InPost?reported in a press release that the minimum acceptance threshold of 80% shares had been reached. The consortium agreed in February to purchase InPost for approximately EUR7.8 Billion ($8.95 Billion)?in a cash-only offer of EUR15.60 per equity share. After the transaction is completed, InPost's shares will be removed from Euronext Amsterdam. It is one of Europe's biggest networks of automated parcel lockers. The company operates in nine countries, including Poland. The company will continue to be known as InPost and keep its headquarters and management structure in Poland. Since 2021, the shares of 'its company have been under pressure due to intense competition in its home market and heavy investment expenditure?to support rapid growth.
SpaceX spends over $15 billion on Starship in rush to airline-like rocketry
SpaceX has spent $15 billion on its next-generation Starship launch vehicle, according to its IPO registration. This is a huge sum compared to its Falcon rocket which was its mainstay. Elon Musk’s space company has been working for a decade to develop a fully reusable rocket.
SpaceX's future as it races?towards public markets with a $1.75 billion valuation is largely dependent on Starship. This is a 'towering' two-stage rocket that Musk wants to use to launch more Starlink satellites and to carry humans to the moon and Mars. He also hopes to deploy thousands of artificial-intelligence computing satellites in place of power-hungry Earth-based data centers.
The previously unknown figure of $15 billion dwarfs the $400 million SpaceX invested in developing Falcon 9, which is the most commonly flown rocket in the world. Falcon 9 is the key to SpaceX's dominance in commercial launch services, as it enables rapid Starlink deployments.
SpaceX stated in its confidential IPO filing that it has continued to make significant investments in order to increase our lead. This includes investing more than $15 billion into Starship, the next-generation rocket. According to the filing, the company plans to launch its latest generation Starlink satellites (known as V3) in the second half 2026. This is most likely to happen on Starship. Its payload bay can hold up to 60 upgraded satellites in one flight.
This is a significant increase from the usual two dozen Starlinks launched by Falcon. It shows how closely Starlink's economics are tied to Starship.
Starship consumes now the majority of the company's research and development expenditures.
The filing shows that SpaceX spent $3 billion on research and development for its space segment in 2025, with the entire amount going to the Starship Program. This is a dramatic increase from the $1.8 million that was spent in this segment in the previous year. This surge in spending highlights the fundamental differences between Starship and Falcon, as well as any rockets that have come before.
STARSHIP SUFFERS EXPLOSIVE FAILURES
SpaceX has performed 11 Starship tests since 2023. These flights have produced both spectacular failures as well as eye-catching advancements. The rocket's Super Heavy booster was caught by massive mechanical arms on its return, which was designed to accelerate reusability.
SpaceX admitted in its filing, that despite these gains, it will still take several years before Starship can achieve Musk's goal "of thousands of launches per year." This launch rate would be needed to "deploy 100 Gigawatts" of solar-powered AI satellites each year, which is roughly one quarter of the US energy consumption in a single year.
Chris Quilty, President of Quilty Space a space industry research company, said that they were getting close. "But we don't yet know and won't for some time, is whether they can do it again."
The biggest challenge for Starship will be to build the ground infrastructure required to support Musk's flight cadence. This includes fuel supplies, water system and, for the core of the ship, a heat shield capable of withstanding repeated atmospheric reentry.
According to an analysis by the Federal Aviation Administration, a single Starship launch uses 244 tanker truck loads of natural gas. Around one million gallons are used to dampen the rocket's acoustic vibrating during launch. Quilty stated that there isn't enough water to launch Starship at this scale.
In-orbit fueling is another formidable obstacle. It's a risky, unproven procedure in which Starships dock to tanker versions of vehicles in order to transfer fuel. This maneuver is essential for deep-space missions, and it would require multiple Starship launches.
Hans Koenigsmann is a former SpaceX Vice-President of Flight Reliability, and one of SpaceX's first employees. If that happens, I think it will be a success from then on.
It is not just the propellant that poses a problem. The liquid oxygen must be maintained at very low temperatures, and sealed tightly to prevent leakage into space.
SpaceX stated in its filing that "in-orbit refueling" is complex and they haven't yet tried it.
It added, "We may be unable to develop, commercialize or scale up these or other strategies within the timeframes that we anticipate or even at all."
CITY OF THE STARS
SpaceX, over the last decade, has built an extensive Starbase development site dedicated to Starship in South Texas. The facility is part of a manufacturing effort designed to produce rockets faster than traditional space vehicles.
Koenigsmann explained that "when you build your production before having the product in hand, you run the obvious risk that you will change your mind... and every change to the rocket also has an impact on the factory."
The vehicle has undergone hundreds of changes due to testing failures. Koenigsmann called Starship "a totally different animal" than Falcon 9.
SpaceX has been preparing to launch its first Starship test since October. This is the longest gap between flights in the history of this program. This mission will be the first to fly the Starship V3 prototyp.
In a video SpaceX published on X Friday, Charlie Cox, director of Starship Engineering said, "Version '3 is essentially a clean-sheet ship design."
V3 Starship is a rocket with dozens and dozens of upgrades. It's designed for orbital flights, long-duration space tests, and crewed moon landings. This is the most difficult mission type for which NASA paid SpaceX $3 billion as part of its Artemis Moon Program.
Kent Chojnacki said that HLS will be based on Version 3. He is the Deputy Manager for NASA's Human Landing System Program. This first flight is going to be crucial. (Reporting and editing by Joey Roulette, Nick Zieminski and Joe Brock)
(source: Reuters)