Oct 15, 2026, 04:00 AM UTC

Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has called on parliament to begin laying the groundwork for post-war elections, even as martial law remains in effect across Ukraine. Fedorov, who was dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, emphasized that legal and logistical frameworks must be established early so voting can proceed promptly once hostilities end.

Under current Ukrainian law, elections are prohibited during active martial law. However, advocates argue that preliminary legislative planning is necessary to address complex voting logistics for millions of internally displaced citizens, refugees living abroad, and troops serving on the frontline. Parliamentary leaders have not yet indicated whether formal debates on election planning will be scheduled.

Sources: Le Monde

Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter has published an educational analysis outlining the primary aerial weaponry deployed in the war between Russia and Ukraine, detailing why these systems present significant air defense challenges.

The publication categorizes the threats into three major types: ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles. Ballistic missiles operate at extreme velocities along high trajectories, leaving minimal reaction time for interceptors. Cruise missiles fly at lower altitudes, maneuvering around geographical terrain to avoid early radar detection. Meanwhile, strike drones are increasingly used in saturated, low-cost attacks designed to exhaust modern defense batteries.

Military experts note that defending against these varied aerial profiles requires sophisticated, multi-layered air defense networks capable of coordinating responses across multiple altitudes and speeds.

Sources: Dagens Nyheter

Former French presidential candidate Ségolène Royal has gathered the required endorsements to participate in the Socialist Party and Place Publique primary ahead of the 2027 presidential election. Royal announced she retains strong support within the Socialist Party, joining six other contenders in the race. Among them is Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure, who recently confirmed his candidacy for the October two-round vote.

The primary dynamics have grown contentious following Royal’s recent criticism of rival contender Raphaël Glucksmann, whom she labeled the "chouchou des médias," breaking her prior commitment to avoid attacking fellow candidates. Meanwhile, French Communist Party national secretary Fabien Roussel announced he will skip the primary to launch an independent presidential campaign.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération.

Operations at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh remain suspended following consecutive projectile strikes targeting the facility. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree advised international airlines and passengers to avoid non-holy Saudi airports, warning that the country's airspace constitutes a "theatre of operations."

Discrepancies remain regarding casualties from the strikes. Local authorities and media outlets reported at least 12 to 13 people killed and over 300 injured, while aviation authorities cited lower casualty figures of three dead across airport strikes in Riyadh and Abha.

US President Donald Trump condemned the Riyadh strike as "not acceptable." In response, the Saudi-led coalition launched airstrikes against more than 80 Houthi targets across Yemen as regional hostilities intensify.

Sources: BBC News, Cyprus Mail, France24, STV News, The Guardian.

Turkish rights groups and media outlets have published August statistics on gender-based violence, documenting dozens of deaths across the country. According to the We Will Stop Femicide Platform, 22 women were killed and 33 died under suspicious circumstances last month, with 55 percent murdered inside their homes. Separately, monitoring by independent news outlet Bianet recorded at least 25 women killed and 71 injured over the same period.

In judicial developments, prosecutors in Siirt completed an indictment against five suspects regarding the death of a mother missing since October 2024. Investigators used digital footprints and location-tracking records to confirm her murder and charge her former husband and relatives. Siirt authorities are also investigating a separate suspicious incident involving the deaths of a 12-year-old boy and his father.

Sources: Bianet, Cumhuriyet, TRT Haber