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  • 2030 Winter Olympics boss departs amid turmoil

    2030 Winter Olympics boss departs amid turmoil

    Just 18 months after accepting the top leadership role for the 2030 French Alps Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, two-time Olympic medalist and three-time world champion freestyle skier Edgar Grospiron has officially stepped down from his position as president of the event’s organising committee. His departure was formally confirmed during a scheduled meeting of the committee’s executive board on Thursday, and it marks the latest in a string of high-profile setbacks that have plagued the event’s troubled planning and governance process.

    In an official statement released following the meeting, the organising committee framed Grospiron’s exit as a pre-planned transition aligned with the best interests of the project. “His decision to leave the presidency is part of a deliberate, organised and fully assumed transition, taken in the interests of the project and its governance,” the statement read. “It reflects a shared desire with stakeholders to enable the organisation to quickly enter this new operational phase.”

    Grospiron himself confirmed the news in a public post to professional networking platform LinkedIn, where he openly acknowledged that his decision came after an extended period of internal friction. “I draw the conclusion that the conditions are not met for me to continue this,” he wrote.

    Grospiron’s tenure, which began with his appointment in February 2025, has been consistently marred by internal organisational turmoil and pressing logistical challenges that have delayed and complicated planning efforts. In February 2026, the committee’s chief executive officer Cyril Linette stepped down, publicly citing “insurmountable disagreements” with Grospiron’s leadership. Linette’s departure was far from an isolated incident; it followed the earlier resignations of multiple other senior leaders, including chief operating officer Anne Murac and communications director Arthur Richer.

    Beyond internal leadership strife, the project has also struggled with significant financial constraints. Just months after Linette’s exit, Grospiron admitted in public comments that planning efforts faced a dual crisis of limited resources and tight timelines, noting that the project had “little time, little money.” Even amid those challenges, Grospiron maintained that he remained optimistic about delivering a successful event, stating he could “deliver a Games that will honour our vision and ambition” if the committee provided the “serenity” and “continuity” he needed to move forward.

    Governance and logistical issues have extended far beyond internal leadership turnover. In May 2026, the organising committee was forced to scrap plans for a central ‘ice sports hub’ in the southern French city of Nice, after local mayor Eric Ciotti refused to approve the conversion of OGC Nice’s Allianz Riviera Stadium into a temporary ice rink for the Games. The sudden cancellation required a last-minute reshuffle of event venues: most ice sports will now be hosted in Lyon, while speed skating events will be moved all the way to Heerenveen in the Netherlands.

    By July 2026, the scale of the ongoing governance issues was acknowledged by senior French Olympic leadership. Following a tense executive board meeting that month, French Olympic Committee president Amelie Oudea-Castera told French outlet La Tribune Dimanche that the organising committee was “once again facing governance problems.”

    Despite Grospiron’s high-profile departure, senior French officials have moved quickly to downplay concerns about the future of the 2030 Games. French sports minister Marina Ferrari told reporters that there is “no concern about what comes next.” “The bid is continuing to move forward,” she said. “Our teams are mobilised and working. We are confident about the future of the Alpes project.”

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC) also released a statement praising Grospiron’s contributions to the early stages of the project, noting he had done “crucial work in laying the foundations for the success” of the 2030 Games. “The IOC will continue working in close collaboration with the organising committee to build on the solid foundations that Mr Grospiron has laid,” the statement added.

  • Four killed and 60 injured in Russian strike on shopping centre, Ukraine says

    Four killed and 60 injured in Russian strike on shopping centre, Ukraine says

    Four and a half years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a new wave of cross-border attacks targeting civilian infrastructure has left multiple civilians dead and dozens injured on both sides, marking a sharp escalation of violence that dims faint hopes for an early breakthrough in recent US-backed peace efforts. The deadliest of the latest strikes hit a crowded shopping mall in the central Ukrainian city of Pavlohrad, located in Dnipropetrovsk region, on Thursday. Ukrainian officials confirmed that four people were killed in the assault, with another 60 people wounded – including a child and two emergency service responders. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ivan Vyhivskyi noted the attack unfolded in broad daylight, when public streets surrounding the mall were already packed with local residents going about their daily routines. The strike left damaged storefronts and smoldering vehicles in its wake, with footage released by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service showing firefighters battling thick plumes of smoke rising from burning cars along the city’s streets. In a statement following the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, condemning what he called a deliberate strike on ordinary civilians. “The Russians used drones to kill people who were simply standing near shopping centres,” Zelenskyy said. This assault is only the latest in a string of Russian attacks on Ukrainian commercial hubs across the country this week. Just one day prior, a Russian drone strike on a shopping mall in the northern city of Sumy killed two people and wounded 20. A second Russian aerial bombardment on Sumy on Thursday injured eight more people, three of them children. Earlier this week, a Russian strike on a shopping mall in Zaporizhzhia, a southern Ukrainian city partially occupied by Russian forces, nearly destroyed the entire building, according to its owners. The mall was closed at the time of the attack, however, so no casualties were reported. Last month, an even deadlier assault on a Kryvyi Rih shopping center left at least 16 civilians dead and 130 wounded, Ukrainian officials say. Pavlohrad, a key logistics hub located close to the major central city of Dnipro, has already faced repeated Russian targeting; a strike on local storage facilities there just one month ago killed two people. Attacks have not been limited to Ukrainian government-held territory, either. Russian authorities report that Ukrainian drones have struck civilian sites in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, including a shopping mall in the port city of Mariupol this week and another attack in the city of Donetsk last month. The violence has also spilled across Russia’s internationally recognized borders, with Moscow confirming a new wave of Ukrainian attacks this week that have left casualties among Russian civilians. Overnight Wednesday, Russian officials say multiple Ukrainian seaborne drones targeted the popular Black Sea resort city of Sochi, wounding 28 people – two of them children. On Thursday, Russian authorities reported a Ukrainian drone strike on the town of Novy Oskol in Belgorod Region killed one person and injured six more. In Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia region, Russian officials said a Ukrainian attack on a civilian car Wednesday killed a 15-year-old girl and injured a six-year-old child and two adult women, while a separate strike on a civilian truck in the same region left one male driver dead. This latest surge of bloodshed comes just days after a long-awaited peace mission by envoys of US President Donald Trump, who held separate talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Zelenskyy in Kyiv over the weekend. Early assessments indicate the diplomatic push has produced little to no tangible progress toward ending the conflict, leaving civilian populations on both sides to bear the brunt of continued hostilities.

  • Watch: Is the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition worth the hype?

    Watch: Is the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition worth the hype?

    Almost a millennium after its creation, one of Europe’s most iconic medieval artworks is drawing unprecedented crowds to one of London’s most famous cultural institutions. The Bayeux Tapestry, the 70-meter-long embroidered masterpiece chronicling the 1066 Norman Conquest of England, has not been publicly exhibited in the United Kingdom since it was stitched nearly 1,000 years ago – making this landmark showing a once-in-a-generation cultural event.

    Since opening to the public, visitor numbers have surged at the British Museum, with daily queues stretching around the museum’s Bloomsbury complex as history enthusiasts, casual tourists, and art lovers alike rush to secure a glimpse of the one-of-a-kind artifact. For centuries, the tapestry has been housed in the French town of Bayeux, with only rare outings outside its permanent home, making this UK debut a historic moment that has captured the imagination of cultural audiences across the country.

    The long-awaited display has sparked widespread public debate, with many asking whether the massive hype surrounding the exhibition matches the experience of seeing the tapestry in person. As crowds continue to turn out in record numbers, the event has underscored the enduring public fascination with medieval history and iconic cultural artifacts that bridge centuries of shared British and European history.

  • Bayeux Tapestry unveiled to UK public for first time at British Museum

    Bayeux Tapestry unveiled to UK public for first time at British Museum

    Nearly a millennium after it was stitched by hand, the iconic Bayeux Tapestry has opened to the public in the United Kingdom for the first time in its history, marking a landmark cultural exchange between France and Britain that has been nearly a century in the making.

    Believed to have been originally embroidered in England shortly after the 1066 Norman Conquest, the 70-meter 11th-century artwork has resided in Normandy, France, for centuries. It chronicles the lead-up to the Battle of Hastings and William of Normandy’s decisive invasion of England, breaking down the narrative into 58 vivid sequential scenes. This unprecedented loan comes as Bayeux’s permanent museum undergoes critical renovation work, creating a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for UK audiences to view the treasure in person.

    The British Museum opened its exhibition doors at 10:00 BST on opening day, where costumed re-enactors bearing shields, dressed in period-accurate 1066 garments, greeted thousands of early arriving history lovers who queued for hours for their chance to see the tapestry. When the priceless artifact made its overnight cross-channel journey from Normandy to London this July—echoing William the Conqueror’s original crossing—it was transported in a custom-built protective case under cover of darkness, a carefully planned operation designed to avoid vibration and damage from poor road conditions.

    For many first-time visitors, the experience exceeded all expectations. Adrian Harris, one of the first members of the public to view the exhibition, called the opportunity a “real privilege.” “I’m not a very emotive or expressive person but I was absolutely blown away by it,” he said, describing the shock of seeing the full tapestry stretch out before him at the start of the exhibition gallery. Serena Smith, an enthusiastic tapestry fan, secured her ticket after landing 4,000th in the online queue—despite clicking the booking link moments after the British Museum’s alert went out—and arrived with 24 pages of detailed notes to spot historical details, from the Normans’ distinctive round haircuts to the invasion boats that carried the army across the Channel.

    Italian visitors Cecilia and Fabio Zanini said the scale and detail of the tapestry left them stunned. “I was amazed by the vibrancy of the colours. The detail of the characters,” Cecilia said. “It gave both of us goosebumps.” Fabio praised the embroidery’s dynamic energy, noting: “It feels like you’re in the battlefield. It really allowed you to go back to 1066.” BBC Culture Editor Katie Razzall, who spent months preparing to cover the exhibition, echoed that reaction: after studying texts and photos for months, and even witnessing the careful unfurling of the tapestry after its arrival, nothing prepared her for the impact of seeing the full work stretch the entire length of the British Museum gallery.

    Michael Lewis, one of the four curators organizing the landmark exhibition, framed the cross-Channel loan as a major gesture of international diplomacy. “1066 is, of course, one of the most important events in English history, and the tapestry is the ultimate reflection of that in terms of a visual narrative,” he explained. “Some people see it as akin to a graphic novel or a cartoon or something like that, it’s immediately recognisable.”

    Not all feedback about the event has been positive, however. Some UK residents outside of London have criticized the exhibition as inaccessible to working-class and northern British families, noting that combined costs of entry tickets, train travel, and on-site food put the experience out of reach for many. “London-only cultural events alienate many families north of Watford,” said Angie, a resident of Leeds, who called the historic occasion “out of reach for many, many families in the north.” Other visitors complained of overcrowding and extreme wait times, with one visitor comparing the flow through the exhibition to being moved along a conveyor belt.

    Despite the criticism, public demand for tickets remains overwhelming: all advance tickets for the exhibition are sold out until the next release on 21 October. The tapestry will remain on display at the British Museum until 11 July 2027, giving audiences a limited window to see the historic artwork before it returns to its permanent home in France. Even with the early public debate around accessibility, the exhibition stands as a singular cultural moment, bringing one of the most famous artifacts of medieval European history back to the country where it was first created, nearly 1,000 years later.

  • Russian drone incursion delays Zelensky flight

    Russian drone incursion delays Zelensky flight

    A high-stakes diplomatic trip for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hit an unexpected disruption this week, when a rogue Russian drone crossed into Moldovan airspace just as his aircraft prepared for departure from Chisinau to Oslo. The incursion forced an urgent shutdown of Moldova’s airspace, leaving Zelensky, his wife Olena, and the entire presidential delegation stranded on the runway for nearly an hour before flight operations could resume.

    The unexpected hold-up was only lifted after Moldovan authorities confirmed the drone had crashed and exploded 160 kilometers away from Chisinau International Airport in the village of Mihailenii Vechi. Originally scheduled for takeoff at 16:30 local time, the flight’s delay rippled across airport operations: three departing and four arriving commercial flights were also pushed back, according to Moldovan government spokesperson Dumitru Ciorici.

    Despite the disruption, Zelensky and his wife landed safely in Oslo on Tuesday evening, where the Ukrainian leader immediately got down to diplomatic business, holding bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and other senior officials focused on securing additional military aid for Ukraine’s war effort. The couple then joined dozens of global dignitaries to attend the funeral of Norway’s late King Harald V, as planned, before continuing their pre-scheduled international tour with a brief stop in Iceland and subsequent travel to Canada for further strategic discussions.

    Initial reports of the incident stoked concern over the proximity of the drone to the presidential aircraft, with Støre telling Norwegian public broadcaster NRK that the flight “was almost hit by a drone when it was taking off from Moldova.” However, an anonymous Ukrainian source speaking to Agence France-Presse pushed back on that framing, characterizing the reported risk as “exaggerated.”

    This drone incursion into Moldova comes amid a sharp escalation in Russian drone strikes across Ukraine in recent weeks, which has already had deadly spillover into border regions of neighboring countries. Overnight ahead of the incident, a Russian drone attack on a Moldovan border crossing at Starokozache left two people dead. Military analysts note that the Russian military has recently deployed a new fleet of jet-powered drones that fly significantly faster than older models, making them far harder for Ukrainian air defenses to intercept.

    Analysis from BBC Verify confirms that Kyiv now faces more frequent air raid alerts than at any point since the initial 2022 invasion, with an average of ten alerts per day. Overnight this week, a Russian strike on a Kyiv petrol station left four people seriously injured, drawing condemnation from Ukrainian energy leaders. Ukrnafta CEO Bohdan Kukura wrote on Facebook that the attack “is terror and intimidation of the civilian population.” Targeting of civilian energy infrastructure has become a consistent Russian strategy in recent months, with hundreds of Ukrainian petrol stations hit in an effort to disrupt Ukrainian military logistics and civilian daily life.

    Ukraine has not stood idle in this escalating drone conflict, however, claiming a major breakthrough in long-range strikes this week. On Thursday, Ukrainian officials announced what they called a “record hit” against Russian energy infrastructure, after Ukrainian drones flew more than 3,000 kilometers into northern Russia to strike a key gas processing plant in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district of Siberia. Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces called the strike the deepest attack into Russian territory since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Yamalo-Nenets is one of Russia’s most critical hubs for oil and gas production and processing, making the strike a significant symbolic and strategic blow to Russian energy operations.

    More than four years into the full-scale invasion, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue, led by U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, but so far talks have failed to produce any lasting breakthrough toward a peace agreement.

  • ‘It started as a joke, a fantasy’ – F1 heads to football-obsessed Madrid

    ‘It started as a joke, a fantasy’ – F1 heads to football-obsessed Madrid

    After a 45-year absence, Formula 1 is set to make its historic return to Madrid this weekend, ending a drought that stretches back to the Spanish capital’s last grand prix in 1981. For a city and nation utterly dominated by world-class football, the arrival of F1 represents a high-stakes experiment: can one of motorsport’s biggest global brands carve out a new fanbase in a market already saturated with elite sporting spectacle, and does F1 really need another race on its already crowded European calendar?

    Madrid’s football legacy is unmatched: home to Real Madrid, the most decorated club in European football history with 15 European Cup titles and 36 La Liga crowns, and a city that has long turned out elite global talent from Zinedine Zidane and the original Galacticos era to modern superstars like Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe. Just last month, 75,000 passionate Madridistas packed the Santiago Bernabeu to roar on Mbappe’s stunning volley against Malaga, with cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid also competing at the top of La Liga. It begs the question: what room is left for another major sporting attraction in a city where football already fulfills every local sporting appetite?

    Yet local fans are far from dismissive of F1’s return. Many Madrilenos have long dreamed of a grand prix on their doorstep, with some making regular trips to Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya and overseas races to follow the sport. “It’s good for Madrid,” one local fan told BBC Sport. “This race can show Madrid’s identity beyond football, and getting more exposure on the global stage can only be a good thing. I’m not just excited – I’m curious to see how it goes.” Another local fan added: “We’ve always wanted an F1 race closer to home, so having it back is fantastic. I hope it puts Madrid more in the global spotlight. Madrid can learn a lot from F1 about hosting global events, and F1 can get a true taste of authentic Spanish culture here, unlike the more international vibe of Barcelona.”

    The new Madring circuit, built around the IFEMA exhibition precinct adjacent to Madrid-Barajas Airport, was far from an obvious choice for a grand prix. Once written off as little more than a pipe dream – even a joke – the project was spearheaded by Luis Garcia Abad, CEO of Madring and former manager to Spain’s only F1 world champion, Fernando Alonso. “An F1 grand prix is like chasing a unicorn,” Abad explained. “You spend your whole life trying to see it, and most of the time you accept it’s impossible. There’s a huge queue of cities fighting to host an F1 race, so we know they had to pick the right bid. We signed a 10-year contract, and when IFEMA first reached out to me about viability seven or eight years ago, I walked the site one morning and knew: it could work.”

    Unlike a purpose-built rural track or a tight street circuit woven through central Madrid’s historic district, the IFEMA location leverages the city’s compact size and extensive high-quality public transport network. Organizers have eliminated most private car parking, asking general admission fans to leave their vehicles at home and take public transit, while VIP guests including celebrities, sports stars and dignitaries will have access to exclusive dedicated parking adjacent to the expansive six-section VIP paddock.

    The circuit itself has already turned heads in the F1 world, thanks to its signature corner: the 26-degree banked Turn 12, dubbed La Monumental. Far steeper than the famous banked corner at Zandvoort’s Dutch Grand Prix, La Monumental cuts through a section of the venue that will feel like a small packed town on race weekend, with capacity for more than 30,000 spectators around the bend alone. It even features a dedicated VIP viewing platform perched atop the corner’s hill, sized to accommodate the King of Spain and his family. “Luis always wanted an iconic, recognizable feature for this circuit – something no one would forget,” said Carlos Jimenez, operations director for IFEMA.

    Building the new circuit came with no shortage of challenges, from laying tarmac on La Monumental’s extreme 26-degree bank to overcoming the wettest Spanish winter in two decades, which left contractors struggling to stabilize waterlogged clay soil across the site. In total, the project required 150 million euros of investment, 85 million euros of which went to the track itself. Jimenez noted that the build prioritized sustainability, with all race power coming from renewable energy and partial reuse of existing on-site buildings, while crews laid three separate layers of asphalt to address the difficult ground conditions. “Back in 2022, this whole thing sounded like a crazy idea,” Jimenez said. “But Madrid has momentum right now. It’s a vibrant city famous for football, but just like a ski resort needs apres-ski entertainment, a grand prix needs off-track attractions. Madrid’s offer is unbeatable – incredible gastronomy, fantastic mild September weather, and a nightlife that can’t be matched anywhere else.”

    Madring is a hybrid street circuit, combining modified public roads with purpose-built track sections, and drivers who have already tested the track in Formula 3 sessions have described it as one of the most intense challenges on the global F1 calendar. With narrow lanes and close retaining walls on both sides, early assessments suggest overtaking will not be easy, but Abad argues that fits F1’s modern identity. “From a driver’s perspective, this is a tough circuit,” Abad said. “Twenty-two corners, elevation changes, banked turns – it’s built to fit the latest F1 regulations. Charles Leclerc told me it’s an amazing track, and while overtaking won’t be free, these are the best drivers in the world – gladiators.”

    Bruno del Pino, a Madrid-born F3 driver who tested the circuit, said: “It’s always on the limit, quick corners with walls right on top of you. It’s like Jeddah but even more difficult. When you first approach La Monumental, you see this steep angle going up and it feels like you’re going to fly straight off the track. Turns 10 and 11 are high speed with walls right there – a lot of drivers are going to end up kissing the barriers this weekend.”

    British F3 driver Freddie Slater went even further in his praise: “A lap around Madrid is so exhilarating, your adrenaline is just pumping the whole time. It’s one of the best tracks on the whole calendar, if not the best. It’s got real character, bumps, elevation changes – it feels a bit old-school, in the best way.”

    For Abad, the success of Madrid’s new grand prix will be defined by the fan experience – and he believes the event could point to the future of F1 as a whole. “It’s not just that Madrid needs F1 – maybe F1 needs Madrid too,” he said. “We’ve invested to create a first-class experience right in the heart of a major city, and that’s the direction the championship is heading. Our spectators are our future, and taking care of them is what matters most.” This weekend, both F1 and Madrid will find out if the 45-year wait for a Madrid grand prix was worth it.

  • Russia outpacing Ukraine’s air defences with daily use of new jet-powered drones

    Russia outpacing Ukraine’s air defences with daily use of new jet-powered drones

    An analysis of Ukrainian Air Force data conducted by BBC Verify has uncovered a significant escalation in Russia’s air campaign against Ukraine: throughout the entire month of August, Moscow launched daily strikes using its newly upgraded, high-speed jet-powered Geran drones, a weapon that Kyiv’s existing air defense systems are currently ill-equipped to counter. This marks the first recorded instance of daily attacks using these modified drones since the start of the conflict, and the growing frequency of their deployment has drawn sharp condemnation from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who decried the unfolding “horror” over Ukraine’s capital and other cities across the country.

    Data shared with the BBC by Ukraine’s military illustrates the stark, rapid growth in the use of these jet-propelled munitions. Attacks climbed from just 350 in June to 1,600 in July, before surging to 2,800 in August alone. On five separate nights of August strikes, the newer jet-powered drones outnumbered Russia’s older, slower propeller-driven models that Kyiv has had more success intercepting.

    Military technology experts explain Russia’s shift to jet-powered drones as a direct response to Ukraine’s previous success in downing older, slower unmanned aerial vehicles. “The reason for turning to jet-powered drones is that they are much faster than the previous generation and it makes it much more difficult for Ukraine to intercept them,” explained Dr. Marina Miron, a specialist in military technology at King’s College London. The upgraded Geran drones can cruise at speeds exceeding 300 miles per hour, a major jump over older models that puts them well beyond the maximum speed of many of Ukraine’s existing interceptor platforms. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, some of the turbojet engines powering these new drones are sourced from China, a claim that adds a new layer of international dimension to the conflict.

    The human cost of this escalating drone campaign has already been severe. On September 1, a mass wave of attacks including these new drones left at least 12 people dead and 20 more injured, according to Zelenskyy. Six of those killed were railway workers at a targeted depot in Kyiv.

    Earlier in the conflict, Ukraine boasted a 94% interception rate for Russian long-range drones, a major success for Kyiv’s air defenses. But the introduction of high-speed jet-powered drones has upended that balance, triggering a new round of the ongoing arms race between the two nations. In mid-August, Ukrainian military intelligence deputy head Major General Vadymym Skibitskyi noted that Kyiv urgently needs new interceptor missiles designed to match the speed of these advanced drones.

    In response to the threat, four domestic Ukrainian defense companies have already begun testing domestically produced missiles capable of shooting down the upgraded Geran models, Kyiv officials confirmed. Ukraine’s new defense minister Yevhenii Khmara has issued a mandate for the firms to ramp up production to “thousands of units” as quickly as possible to close the air defense gap.

    Beyond tactical advantages, analysts point to economic incentives driving Russia’s investment in jet-powered drones. John Hardie, an analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a national security-focused think tank, noted that the improved speed and maneuverability of the new drones have blurred the line between low-cost unmanned drones and far more expensive traditional cruise missiles. “Long-range one-way attack drones are basically a poor man’s cruise missile,” Hardie explained. “The more you add capability to a drone, the less meaningful the distinction between the drone and a lower-end cruise missile.”

    However, independent arms research group Conflict Armament Research emphasizes that jet-powered drones are not yet on par with full-size cruise missiles. The group notes the new munitions have a shorter operational range, carry smaller explosive warheads, and remain more vulnerable to electronic jamming systems than their more costly counterparts.

    Satellite imagery further confirms that Russia is preparing to scale up its use of these drones long-term. The imagery shows Moscow has overhauled and expanded key military facilities dedicated to its war effort in Ukraine to accommodate jet drone operations, with extended rail infrastructure needed to transport the munitions visible at a newly constructed drone base in Tsymbulova, located in Russia’s Oryol region. The base, which sits roughly 175 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, includes multiple purpose-built launch sites. Before September 2024, the Oryol region was never named as a Russian drone launch site in Ukrainian Air Force reports; by August 2026, it was cited in nearly every recorded attack.

    The expanding use of jet-powered drones aligns with a broader shift in Russia’s strike strategy, BBC Verify found. Moscow now carries out large, complex combined strikes involving hundreds of drones and missiles roughly once per week, a major increase from earlier in the war. RAND Corporation analyst Michael Bohnert told BBC Verify that the growth in strike size stems from Moscow’s new tactic of combining a “greater variety of munitions” — including jet-powered drones and decoy drones — alongside costly, nearly impossible-to-intercept ballistic missiles. Ukrainian military data shows Russia now deploys more than 15 times the number of drones per strike than it did four years ago at the start of the full-scale invasion.

    Bohnert added that this increasingly complex attack strategy, combined with a global shortage of advanced air defense systems capable of stopping ballistic missiles — a shortage exacerbated by regional conflicts including the U.S.-Israeli confrontation with Iran — has driven down Ukraine’s interception rates. Ukrainian Air Force data showed a steady drop in successful ballistic missile interceptions through the end of July, and in August, Kyiv halted public disclosure of interception rate figures, drawing a veil over its current defensive capabilities.

  • Zverev storms into semi-finals despite late bedtime

    Zverev storms into semi-finals despite late bedtime

    The 2026 US Open has delivered another dramatic chapter of men’s singles action, with German top seed Alexander Zverev etching his name into the record books while producing a dominant display just hours after pulling an all-nighter to watch one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.

    Zverev secured his spot in the final four of the Flushing Meadows major with a commanding straight-sets victory over Dutch contender Botic van de Zandschulp, wrapping up a 6-2, 7-5, 6-1 win on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium’s night court. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the 29-year-old’s admission that he stayed up until 3:30 a.m. local time to watch Ben Shelton’s stunning defeat of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz – a clash that finished at 3:34 a.m., marking the latest completed match in US Open history.

    Far from regretting the late night, Zverev downplayed any impact on his performance, noting he had planned to sleep in until 1 p.m. anyway. This is not the first time the German has navigated a grueling late schedule at this year’s tournament: his first three matches ended at 1:55 a.m., 2:15 a.m., and 1:09 a.m. respectively, giving him plenty of practice adjusting to erratic sleep patterns.

    With this quarter-final win, Zverev not only keeps alive his bid for a second Grand Slam title and a third consecutive major final – he also achieves a career first: reaching the semi-finals of all four Grand Slam tournaments in a single calendar season. The milestone comes months after he ended his long wait for a maiden major crown at the 2026 French Open, and the German says the achievement carries special meaning.

    “The more often you get to that stage, the more normal it becomes, which is something that you should never take for granted,” Zverev said after his win. “I think it’s a very special feeling when it becomes normality.”

    Beyond the season-defining semi-final streak, Zverev has already broken a 37-year-old German record this year: his 23 Grand Slam singles wins in 2026 mark the most by any German male player in a single season, surpassing Boris Becker’s 22 wins set back in 1989. While he enters the semi-finals as the odds-on favorite following Alcaraz’s shock exit, Zverev acknowledged he has had to fight through inconsistent form to reach this stage. He was pushed to five-set thrillers in his opening two matches, and has conceded 80 games en route to the semi-finals – the second-highest total for any top seed at this stage of the tournament, behind only Rafael Nadal’s 85 games in 2018.

    “In other tournaments I would be out in the first round, but here I can fight back and play best of five sets, play four-and-a-half hours,” Zverev said. “I’ve started playing better throughout the tournament and I’m definitely happy to be in the semi-finals here.”

    Waiting for Zverev in the semi-finals is unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov, who advanced when Belgian rising star Alexander Blockx was forced to retire from their quarter-final clash. Blockx, 21, was playing in the first Grand Slam quarter-final of his career, and had already never advanced past the second round of any major before this year’s US Open. His dream run came to a disappointing end Wednesday after a cascade of injury issues: he first received medical attention for a foot blister, then began struggling with a sudden back problem, compounded by a rib injury that had already forced him to consider retirement in his fourth-round win over Francisco Cerundolo.

    “During the match, it was quite funny to me. I just had to laugh it off because it was just something new the whole time,” Blockx said after announcing his retirement when the scoreline read 6-2, 7-5, 3-2 in Khachanov’s favor. “I felt it was getting worse and worse. I couldn’t land without feeling pain, without feeling my back, my ribs. So I just didn’t want to … maybe make it worse to miss the entire season.”

    Khachanov extended well wishes to the young Belgian after the match, wishing him a speedy recovery. For the 30-year-old Russian, the semi-final spot is his first at a Grand Slam since the 2023 Australian Open, and comes amid a difficult stretch of form that has dropped his world ranking to 50 – leaving him unseeded at a major for the first time since 2018.

    To beat Zverev and reach his first ever Grand Slam final, Khachanov said he will need to bring his absolute best tennis. “He’s been in the top five for so many years. This year he did also step forward. He won his first Grand Slam, played the final in Wimbledon, as well. He’s coming up really in hot form,” Khachanov said of his upcoming opponent.

    Zverev, for his part, said he is under no illusions about the challenge Khachanov poses, joking that the Russian is nicknamed “The Professor” among players for his encyclopedic knowledge of the sport. “He knows everything about tennis, and he knows every single string tension, knows what everybody does, so that’s quite fun,” Zverev said.

  • Google picks Finland for its largest single investment in Europe

    Google picks Finland for its largest single investment in Europe

    In a landmark move that underscores the global race to scale artificial intelligence capacity, Google has unveiled a €13bn ($15bn) investment in Finnish AI infrastructure — the largest single European investment in the company’s history. The massive spending package will fund construction of three brand-new data centres, expansion of an existing Google facility, and targeted energy projects designed to meet the surging global demand for AI-powered services.

    As a core component of the deal, Google signed a 22-year power purchase agreement with Finnish state-owned energy utility Fortum to acquire up to 50% of the total electricity output generated by the Loviisa nuclear power plant, one of Finland’s oldest and most productive nuclear facilities. The plant currently supplies roughly 10% of Finland’s total domestic electricity, and Google’s long-term commitment will provide Fortum with stable financial certainty to fund life-extension upgrades and capacity expansions at the site, securing its operation for decades to come.

    Google’s announcement comes just days after TikTok, the short-form video platform owned by ByteDance, revealed its own $1bn investment in a new Finnish data centre to be built in the southern city of Kouvola. Both global tech giants have cited Finland’s unique competitive advantages for large-scale data centre development: a consistently cool natural climate that cuts the energy required to cool heat-intensive server farms, an abundant supply of low-carbon energy, a largely uncongested national power grid, robust data governance frameworks, and a deep pool of skilled tech sector workers. These attributes have turned the Nordic nation into one of the most sought-after locations in Europe for AI and data infrastructure investment.

    The Google investment is projected to deliver substantial economic benefits to Finland over the development period: the company estimates it will support more than 37,000 construction jobs and add €3.6bn annually to Finnish gross domestic product during the 2027–2028 construction window. Beyond direct infrastructure development, the funding package also allocates resources to local clean energy projects, dedicated community and nature conservation funds, and initiatives to support biodiversity, education, academic research, and regional workforce development.

    The new data centres will be sited in the Finnish locations of Kajaani, Muhos, and Vaala, while Google will expand its existing facility in Hamina — a site first established in 2009, when the company converted a decommissioned paper mill into a data hub. The expanded and new infrastructure will underpin core Google services ranging from its flagship Search, Maps, and YouTube platforms to the company’s growing AI product line, led by its Gemini large language model chatbot.

    “This is Google’s largest single investment in Europe and a testament to Finland’s leadership in responsibly building AI infrastructure,” the company stated in its official announcement Wednesday. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo welcomed the deal, emphasizing the broader economic spillover benefits of the growing data economy. “Google’s decision is a clear testament to our strengths,” Orpo said in a statement. “The value of the data economy extends far beyond direct investment into spurring innovation, research and development. Deepening our collaboration with Google will deliver lasting benefits for both parties.”

    Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Google’s parent company Alphabet, framed the investment as aligned with Google’s goal of responsible, sustainable infrastructure growth. “Google is proud to deepen our roots in Finland,” Porat said. “This investment underscores Google’s commitment to grow our presence responsibly, pairing the expansion of our technical infrastructure with new energy capacity, grid enhancements, and energy affordability initiatives.”

    The deal comes as the global AI boom has sent demand for data centre capacity and reliable power supplies soaring, forcing big tech firms to lock in long-term energy contracts to support their expanding server networks. Earlier this year, Alphabet raised its total global capital expenditure budget to as much as $205bn, a move explicitly tied to expanding computing capacity to meet fast-growing AI service demand.

  • Europe’s royalty pay respects to King Harald V in Norway

    Europe’s royalty pay respects to King Harald V in Norway

    OSLO — Nearly two weeks after the passing of Norway’s King Harald V at the age of 89, dignitaries from across the globe gathered in the Norwegian capital Wednesday to lay to rest one of the nation’s most popular modern monarchs, closing 13 days of national mourning with a day of full ceremonial honors.

    The day of remembrance began with ceremonial troops assembling at Akershus Fortress, the medieval hilltop castle that would become Harald’s final resting place. A formal procession then carried the late king’s casket from the Royal Palace through central Oslo to Oslo Cathedral, where the public funeral service was held. Tens of thousands of Norwegians lined the procession route to pay their final respects, as members of the royal family followed the coffin through the city streets. Newly ascended King Haakon, Harald’s only son, walked alongside his sister Princess Märtha Louise and their children, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus. Queen Sonja, Harald’s 89-year-old widow, and Queen Mette-Marit, Haakon’s wife who recently underwent a successful lung transplant, followed behind in a motor vehicle.

    More than 30 senior royal figures from 10 nations around the world joined the ceremony, alongside multiple heads of state and government. The United Kingdom’s delegation included Prince William, the Prince of Wales, who represented his father King Charles III, and Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, who attended in a personal capacity as King Haakon’s godmother. Nordic neighbors were represented by Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf and Denmark’s King Frederik X, completing the group of three reigning Nordic monarchs in attendance. Other high-profile guests included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, alongside five foreign prime ministers and royals from Jordan, Monaco, Belgium, Spain, Japan and the Netherlands.

    During the service inside Oslo Cathedral, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre delivered a moving eulogy honoring the late king’s 35-year reign. Støre praised Harald for his rare ability to strike a balance between regal dignity and approachable groundedness, noting that he had “made Norway greater” through his steady leadership. Queen Sonja placed a single red rose atop her late husband’s casket, and both she and Mette-Marit were visibly emotional throughout the ceremony, with Mette-Marit seen wiping tears from her eyes. A brief, poignant moment of unintended disruption occurred when a mobile phone alarm interrupted three tolling bells marking the end of a national minute’s silence, which had been observed across every corner of Norway.

    A notable guest at the service was Marius Borg Høiby, Mette-Marit’s son, who is not a working royal but was raised in the royal household. Høiby, who was sentenced to four years in prison in June on two counts of rape and is currently under house arrest pending an appeal, received special court permission to attend his step-grandfather’s funeral, and sat in the second row alongside Märtha Louise’s children. The service concluded with a dramatic flyover of four F-35 fighter jets in the “missing man” formation, a traditional tribute to fallen leaders.

    Following the cathedral service, the casket was processed back to Akershus Fortress for a private interment ceremony in the Palace Chapel, attended by close family, visiting dignitaries and Norwegian political leaders. Harald was laid to rest alongside generations of Norwegian royal predecessors, including his father King Olav V, his mother Crown Princess Märtha, and his grandparents King Haakon VII and Queen Maud.

    After the burial, Norwegian flags across Oslo were raised from half-mast to full staff to mark the close of the national mourning period. The new royal leadership — King Haakon, Queen Mette-Marit, Crown Princess Ingrid Alexandra, Prince Sverre Magnus and Queen Sonja — returned to the Royal Palace, where they appeared on the palace balcony to greet the tens of thousands of Norwegians gathered outside. The appearance was a gesture of gratitude for the outpouring of public support the family has received since Harald’s death on August 28.

    Long remembered by Norwegians as a unifying, modernizing force who brought the Norwegian monarchy into the 21st century, Harald was widely described by royal observers as the “grandfather of the nation,” deeply respected and beloved across the political and social spectrum. In a statement released the day after his father’s passing, King Haakon thanked Harald for “being such a good dad” and praised him for remaining “always stayed true” to his core values and public commitments throughout his decades on the throne. The late king’s final months were marked by private and public turmoil for the family: earlier this year, documents revealed Mette-Marit’s past frequent contact with disgraced late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a connection she later said she regretted, alongside Høiby’s June conviction, which cast a shadow over the final period of Harald’s reign.