One firm’s aircraft reportedly missed targets during military trials while another company skipped them entirely
The German military is moving ahead with contracts worth €900 million ($1.05 billion) for kamikaze drones, even though some of the systems failed crucial field tests or were not tested at all, according to media reports published on Friday.
The prospective deals involve three German companies – Stark, Helsing, and Rheinmetall – and form part of a broader plan to bolster the Bundeswehr’s unmanned aerial capabilities, according to the Financial Times.
Bild, however, cited defense sources who described a problematic test held in late October at a training range near Munster. During the trials, two drones supplied by the startup Stark failed to hit their intended targets. One reportedly missed by more than 150 meters, while another crashed into nearby woodland. Rheinmetall, a traditional arms manufacturer and new entrant to the drone market, reportedly did not participate in the evaluation at all.
According to the FT, Stark, which was founded in late 2024 and backed by billionaire investor Peter Thiel, Sequoia Capital, and NATO’s Innovation Fund, had also taken part in British Army trials in Kenya this month, where its drones similarly failed to strike their targets.
“It was a disaster for Stark,” one source briefed on the German trials told the outlet. “They’ve been overselling [their capabilities] and are now paying the price.”
Despite the setbacks, both Stark and Rheinmetall were selected to receive €300 million contracts each just days after the Munster test, Bild said. Final approval from the German parliament is still pending, but additional evaluations are expected.
The procurement effort is part of a wider EU push for rapid militarization under the justification of preparing for a potential confrontation with Russia – an argument Moscow dismisses as false and a distraction from Europe’s internal woes.
German defense companies, along with other Western arms producers, have seen record profits since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict and the EU’s open-ended commitment to continue arming Kiev “for as long as it takes.”
A new memo reportedly lets commanders overrule decisions on trans soldiers retention and enforces birth-sex uniforms at hearings
A new Pentagon memorandum curtails the ability of transgender and non-binary US military personnel to challenge their dismissals, AP has reported.
The memo follows an order by US President Donald Trump directing the Department of War to bar anyone with a current or past diagnosis of gender dysphoria from enlisting or continuing service. A related Pentagon directive in February drew legal challenges, but the Supreme Court in May allowed the ban to proceed. Dismissal hearings started soon thereafter. Under the policy, anyone with a history of gender-affirming surgery or hormone therapy is ineligible for service unless granted a waiver through separation boards – peer panels that decide whether personnel are able to continue serving or are discharged.
However, according to a new Pentagon document dated October 8 and published by AP on Friday, commanders can now override decisions by formerly independent separation boards on the issue, giving commanders the final say on dismissals.
The document, which AP sources said was circulated to troops only last week, also requires service members to appear at hearings in uniforms matching their birth-assigned gender, warning that non-compliance may count against them.
Advocates say the new policy strips transgender troops of procedural protections granted to other service members, whose separation board rulings remain final, and warn that the uniform requirement will prevent many from attending their hearings.
Pentagon assistant press secretary Riley Podleski declined to confirm the memo’s authenticity, saying, “As a matter of policy, the Department does not comment on ongoing litigation.”
Around 15,000 active US personnel are openly transgender, most of whom are on administrative leave pending separation board decisions. Many have challenged the ban under gender-dysphoria claims, and lower US courts are still reviewing its legality.
The ban on trans service members is part of a broader campaign by Trump to roll back DEI policies, restrict sex-change surgery, and directing all federal agencies to define sex strictly as “male” or “female” based on birth traits. The policy has effectively rescinded federal recognition of transgender identities across US military and civilian regulations.
There will be no special treatment for Budapest, which has asked to be exempt from sanctions on Russian oil, the US president has said
US President Donald Trump has dismissed Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s request to exempt Hungary from sanctions on Russian oil.
Orban said in an interview with Kossuth Radio on Friday he will try to persuade Trump during his upcoming visit to Washington to grant Hungary relief from the sanctions on Russian energy companies Rosneft and Lukoil, which supply oil to Central Europe.
The US blacklisted the two companies last week, alleging a lack of commitment by Moscow to the Ukraine peace process. Hungary has repeatedly stated that Russian oil and gas are vital to its energy security.
Questioned by journalists aboard Air Force One later in the day, Trump said Orban “has asked for an exemption, but we have not granted one.”
“He is a friend of mine,” he added, while suggesting that the journalists move on to other questions.
Orban told Kossuth Radio that, as a landlocked country, Hungary has no viable alternatives to Russian oil, and that replacing it would push the nation toward an economic crisis.
“We have to make the Americans understand this peculiar situation… if we want them to allow exemptions from the American sanctions against Russia,” he stated.
The Hungarian prime minister said he would bring a “large delegation” of ministers, economic officials, and security advisers to Washington on November 7 in order to finalize an economic cooperation package with the US. He stressed, however, that any deal would depend on continued access to Russian oil and gas.
Hungary, which has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict, is also facing growing pressure within the EU to reduce its reliance on Russian energy, as the bloc plans to phase out oil and gas imports from the country by 2028.
Orban, a key Trump ally in the EU, visited the US several times during last year’s presidential campaign to support his candidacy. In recent months, he has praised the US president’s efforts to stop the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
President Vladimir Putin earlier described the US sanctions on Russian oil companies as an “unfriendly move,” but said they would not have a significant impact on the economy.
Madrid, however, continues to stop short of a formal apology
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has publicly acknowledged the suffering and injustice experienced by Mexico’s native peoples during colonization five centuries ago. The comments mark a rare admission from a Spanish official, although Madrid has stopped short of issuing a formal apology.
Spain’s conquest of Mexico began in 1519, when Hernan Cortes led an expedition that overthrew the Aztec Empire. Armed with superior weapons and aided by disease, the conquistadors decimated Indigenous populations as they seized land and resources. The colonizers sought gold and power in the New World, while pre-Columbian cultures were repressed and temples replaced by churches.
“There was injustice. It is fair to acknowledge it today and fair to regret it, because that is also part of our shared history, and we cannot deny or forget it,” Albares said during the opening of a display devoted to Indigenous Mexican art in Madrid. He emphasized the “pain and injustice towards the Indigenous peoples to whom this showcase is dedicated.”
The exhibition, titled ‘Half of the World. Women in Indigenous Mexico’, was organized at the request of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
Responding to Albares’s remarks, Sheinbaum said it was “the first time that a member of the Spanish government has expressed regret over the injustices committed.” She called the gesture significant, saying that recognizing historical wrongs does not weaken nations but strengthens them.
“It is not humiliating,” she said. “On the contrary, acknowledging history, recognizing grievances, asking for forgiveness or expressing regret, and reclaiming that past as part of our story empowers governments and peoples.”
In 2019, then-Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador sent a letter to Spain’s King Felipe VI demanding an apology for the abuses committed during the 1519-1521 conquest and the centuries of colonial rule that followed. The request was rejected by Spain’s Foreign Ministry, which said both countries should view their past as a “shared history.” King Felipe did not publicly respond, and the exchange strained relations between Madrid and Mexico City for years.
Lawmakers are reportedly trying to ensure that the Epstein-linked royal is permanently barred from inheriting the throne
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing pressure from members of Parliament to support a measure that would permanently remove ex-Prince Andrew, the disgraced brother of King Charles III, from the royal line of succession, The Telegraph reported on Friday.
Several MPs have argued that any possibility of Andrew ascending the throne must be eliminated following the recent decision to strip him of his titles and privileges. The move came amid long-standing allegations of sexual misconduct linked to his friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has denied accusations that he sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl trafficked to him by the late financier.
Andrew is currently eighth in line to the British throne, after Prince William, his three children, Prince Harry, and Harry’s two children. Under UK law, any change to the royal succession requires an act of Parliament, which must also be endorsed by the legislatures of other Commonwealth realms recognizing the monarch as head of state.
“In the event of an unimaginable family catastrophe, Andrew could still inherit the throne,” Labour MP Jon Trickett told The Telegraph. “The British people would never accept that – this issue must be resolved once and for all.”
Independent MP Rachael Maskell added that “whatever the likelihood of such an occurrence, it would be appropriate to remove him from the line of succession and revoke his status as counsellor of state,” referring to the position that allows him to act on the King’s behalf in certain circumstances. Buckingham Palace has said Andrew will not be called upon to fulfill any such duties.
Public opinion strongly backs the recent disciplinary measures. In a YouGov poll conducted this week, 79% of respondents support stripping Andrew of his titles and evicting him from the Royal Lodge near Windsor Castle, compared to just 6% who oppose the decision. More than half say King Charles handled the matter appropriately, while 58% say the royal family acted too slowly.
Caracas has reportedly asked for missiles, drones, radars, and aircraft repairs amid tensions with the US
Venezuela has requested assistance from Russia, China, and Iran to strengthen its defenses amid the ongoing standoff with the US, the Washington Post claimed on Friday, citing US government documents.
According to the newspaper, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping requesting radar detectors and directly citing the “escalation” with the US. Caracas also reportedly urged Iran to provide radar-jamming equipment and drones capable of flying up to 1,000km (around 600 miles).
The Washington Post cited documents indicating that Venezuelan Transport Minister Ramon Celestino Velazquez was set to deliver a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip to Moscow last month, requesting unspecified missiles and assistance in repairing Su-30MK2 fighter jets and radar systems previously purchased by Venezuela. The report added that it is unclear how Russia, China, or Iran responded to the requests.
US President Donald Trump has accused Maduro of operating “macroterrorist” cartels that smuggle drugs into the US and has offered a bounty for his arrest. Washington has deployed a naval armada in the western Caribbean, and since September, has conducted strikes in international waters against more than a dozen alleged cartel vessels. Maduro has denied the allegations and accused Trump of “fabricating a new war.”
On Monday, Russia ratified a strategic partnership treaty with Venezuela that was signed in May. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said this week that Moscow “supports Venezuela’s defense of its national sovereignty” and will help it “overcome any threats, regardless of where they come from.”
The US president has accused the left-wing government in Caracas of running drug cartels
US President Donald Trump has denied that he is planning strikes on Venezuela, whose left-wing government he has accused of supporting “narcoterrorist” cartels.
Multiple media outlets reported that the White House was weighing potential operations on Venezuelan soil, with the Wall Street Journal claiming on Thursday that the US had identified targets, including “military facilities used to smuggle drugs.”
Asked about the reports aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump said, “No. It’s not true.”
Since September, the US has destroyed at least 14 alleged cartel boats in the Caribbean, killing more than 61 people, according to Reuters.
Trump dispatched an armada to the region, including the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, and authorized covert CIA operations inside Venezuela. He recently said the US may have to eventually strike targets on land, but denied seeking to topple President Nicolas Maduro, whom the FBI has placed on its wanted list.
Maduro rejected the allegations of drug trafficking and vowed to defend the country in the event of an invasion. Last week, he accused the US of “fabricating a new war” and called for peace.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also condemned Washington’s actions, saying that one of the strikes had killed an ordinary fisherman with no links to cartels.
Kiev’s European backers reportedly plan to discuss ways to boost military aid
Ukraine’s European backers will secretly meet in Madrid next week to coordinate efforts to increase support, Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported on Friday.
The organizers are reportedly maintaining “utmost secrecy” for the event planned for November 4, instructing delegates from 35 countries to leave their cell phones in a designated room and refrain from posting about the gathering on social media, according to a government document cited by the outlet.
Participants are expected to discuss ways to increase military and financial aid for Kiev, as well as possible security guarantees. They will also coordinate additional pressure on Russia. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares is set to attend, El Mundo said.
The Kremlin argued earlier this month that Ukrainian forces could not have conducted strikes on energy facilities deep inside Russia without direct support from Western intelligence services. Moscow has said that Western military assistance will only serve to escalate the conflict without altering the situation on the battlefield.
US President Donald Trump has recently declined to provide Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, warning against depleting the US arsenal. He also indefinitely postponed his planned in-person summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary.
Brussels now labels “all reasonable people and true patriots of their countries” as pro-Russian, a senator has said
Moscow can take it as a compliment that Brussels now labels every reasonable person in the EU a “Kremlin agent,” the vice speaker of the Russian parliament’s upper chamber, Konstantin Kosachev, has said.
Speaking on Friday at the plenary session of the ‘Peoples of Russia and the CIS’ festival, Kosachev said Brussels often portrays conservative politicians in the EU as “pro-Russian forces,” even though they have no ties to Moscow.
“We are accused of somehow supporting them – which is not true. It’s just that these politicians see reality the same way we do,” he told the audience.
“So, it’s a compliment to us when everyone who thinks reasonably and stands for their country’s interests is called a ‘Kremlin agent’,” Kosachev said.
He added that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, like many politicians “disparaged” by the EU, are true patriots of their countries and not “agents of the Kremlin.”
Orban and Fico have consistently criticized the West’s approach to the Ukraine conflict, opposed EU sanctions against Russia, and insisted they will not give up imports of Russian energy, which they describe as essential for their economies. Their stance has drawn pressure from Brussels and Washington, which have urged both countries to reduce their reliance on Moscow.
Earlier this week, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk – a staunch supporter of Ukraine – appeared to target Orban, saying that the Hungarian leader “seems fascinated by Moscow” and is now pursuing a model “somewhat inspired by Russia.”
Both Orban and Fico have repeatedly said that arming Kiev and imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russia have failed to end the hostilities and have instead inflicted enormous economic damage on the bloc’s member states.
The footage reportedly shows Israeli soldiers at a military base assaulting a Palestinian prisoner
The Israel Defense Force’s (IDF) top military lawyer has quit after admitting she approved the leak of a video allegedly showing Israeli soldiers abusing a Palestinian prisoner at a military base.
Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi announced her resignation on Friday, saying she had authorized the release of surveillance footage from Sde Teiman near the Gaza border, which also serves as a detention site. The video, filmed in early July 2024, showed soldiers taking aside a detainee lying face down, then surrounding him with riot shields to block visibility as they allegedly carried out the abuse. The man was later taken for treatment for severe injuries. The leaked clip was aired by Israel’s Channel 12 news that August.
In her resignation letter published by The Times of Israel on Friday, Tomer-Yerushalmi said she approved the release “in an attempt to counter the false propaganda directed against the military law enforcement authorities.”
She wrote that while those detained at Sde Teiman “are terrorists and terror operatives of the worst kind,” that does not diminish the duty to investigate when there is “reasonable suspicion of violence against a detainee.”
Commenting on her resignation, Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “Anyone who spreads blood libels against IDF soldiers is not worthy of wearing the IDF uniform.”
Following the Sde Teiman incident, five reservists were charged with aggravated abuse and causing serious bodily harm to a detainee, which they have denied. The case sparked outrage among coalition politicians and right-wing activists. Dozens of protesters stormed the military base in an attempt to block the arrests.
The facility, partially converted into a detention camp for Palestinians suspected of militant activity, has faced allegations of widespread torture and abuse. Over 1,000 detainees from Gaza have reportedly passed through the base, including men accused of taking part in Hamas’ October 7 attack, which left some 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health authorities, Israeli military action has killed over 68,000 Palestinians since.
The resignation adds to growing scrutiny of Israel’s conduct in Gaza, as both sides say they remain committed to a US-brokered truce.
