Author: space4knews

October 3, Kathmandu – Russian President Vladimir Putin has clearly stated that Russia has no plans to attack any European country. Speaking at the Valdai Forum on Thursday, he emphasized that if any Russian territory is attacked, Russia would retaliate using all available weapons to defend its security. Putin also accused Western countries of escalating tensions against Europe.

According to him, Western nations are preparing for war with Russia in the coming years, conducting military exercises in the Baltic Sea, and detaining Russian vessels. Putin warned that if any NATO member attempts to separate Russia’s Kaliningrad region from the rest of the country, Moscow might use nuclear weapons in defense.

Putin mentioned that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been consistently advocating for an end to the Ukraine war and that there are constructive proposals both sides could accept. During the event, Putin expressed gratitude towards Modi, saying, “Modi is a good friend of ours and continuously emphasizes the importance of ending the war in Ukraine. He is in favor of a swift conclusion to the conflict. I appreciate him for this.” He added, “Few people know this, but Prime Minister Modi told me that out of India’s 1.5 billion population, about 600 million speak Hindi, while the rest speak different languages. Despite this diversity, everyone lives together harmoniously.”

October 3, Kathmandu – The United States is reinforcing its military presence in West Asia. Alongside approximately 9,000 troops, the American aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt has been deployed to the region. Previously, the USS George H.W. Bush and USS George Washington were already stationed there. With the arrival of the Roosevelt, there will be three active US aircraft carriers in West Asia by the end of October. This move comes as US President Donald Trump signals the possibility of new attacks on Iran, particularly after the November 3 midterm elections. Trump has already rejected Iran’s previous ceasefire proposals.

According to Al Jazeera, American forces could expand their presence around Iran with three warships and two Marine units deployed by the end of November, pending orders from Trump. US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the military is fully prepared to take action if President Trump orders strikes against Iran. In an interview with Time magazine, Trump confirmed he has refused Iran’s ceasefire offer. Though Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Trump deemed the offer insufficient for the US.

Following the rejection of the ceasefire proposal, Trump indicated that the possibility of increased attacks on Iran after the November 3 elections cannot be ruled out. Last week, at the United Nations General Assembly, Trump claimed that if he chose to, he could completely dismantle Iran. The US has consistently emphasized that preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons remains a key objective for any military engagement. Iran had offered a seven-day ceasefire proposal to the US, which included reopening the Strait of Hormuz and beginning talks on its nuclear program, but the US dismissed the offer.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that Iran is willing under the agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but insists on the lifting of foreign sanctions, release of frozen assets, and permission to sell oil. He likened this demand to the temporary ceasefire agreement made in June, though the agreement was broken after attacks from both sides. Military actions between the US, Israel, and Iran escalated starting February 28, when US and Israeli forces commenced operations against Iran. In response, Iran attacked Israeli and American military targets. The US aims to reduce Iran’s nuclear capacity, while Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful and asserts its right to use the technology.

October 3, Canberra – Approximately 1,000 employees of Australia’s budget airline Jetstar have initiated a phased industrial action starting Friday, demanding pay increases and improved workplace benefits. According to the Australian Services Union (ASU), after talks with Jetstar management over wages and workplace conditions ended without resolution, employees planned one-hour work stoppages at various major airports.

The stoppages on Friday are scheduled at Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Cairns, Coolangatta, and Avalon airports. During this time, employees will halt regular passenger announcements, phone services, and certain tasks related to flight delays or cancellations. However, announcements concerning security and passenger welfare will continue uninterrupted.

The union stated that the pay raise offered by Jetstar is insufficient in light of rising living costs. Jetstar has proposed a 2.1% pay increase initially, with plans to raise this to 3% starting April 2027. The proposal also includes back pay adjustments and other benefits. The industrial action coincides with a busy travel period from Friday through Sunday, during which schools in Australia are closed and a long weekend is underway. Notably, the NRL Grand Final is scheduled in Sydney on October 4, and Sydney Airport expects around 94,000 passengers to travel through Terminals 2 and 3 on Friday.

Meanwhile, Jetstar has said the industrial action is not expected to significantly impact flight operations. The airline has implemented contingency plans and anticipates flights will operate normally. Passengers are advised to check their flight status before heading to the airport. The union has also announced that from Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4, it will implement additional measures including waiving fees for extra baggage, seat changes, and delays on eligible bookings as part of the industrial action.

October 3, Kathmandu – US President Donald Trump has indicated that he may urge European countries to make part of their diesel reserves available to the market. Amid a domestic diesel shortage, Trump is reportedly considering imposing a ban on diesel exports. This suggestion came after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called on Europe to build diesel reserves and use them if necessary.

Secretary Bessent emphasized that rising prices should not adversely affect American farmers, truck drivers, and industrialists. As diesel prices escalate due to the Iran conflict, the US has warned of a potential ban on diesel exports. This issue is becoming a focal point for American voters ahead of the midterm elections.

In anticipation of a possible export restriction, the United Kingdom engaged in discussions with European partners on Thursday about sharing diesel reserves. The US plays a key role in the global diesel supply, exporting between 1.2 million and 1.5 million barrels daily. Experts warn that a US ban on diesel exports could further intensify price pressures in other countries.

October 3, Kathmandu — The United States is increasing its military presence in the region surrounding Iran. Citing a US official, Al Jazeera reported that three aircraft carriers and two Marine landing groups are being prepared for deployment near Iran. According to the official, the USS Roosevelt Strike Group along with the Marine force of approximately 2,000 personnel from the USS Makin Island has already departed from San Diego. This military buildup is expected to be fully in place by November.

Meanwhile, UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that a large oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz caught fire after being struck by an unidentified object. The supertanker was carrying an estimated 2.5 million barrels of oil. The incident occurred within the waters of the Hormuz Strait, but the identity of the attacker remains unconfirmed. Following the event, further information regarding the condition of the vessel and security measures remains pending. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s key energy supply routes and has seen increased military tensions and maritime security incidents in recent years.

October 7, Zurich — Switzerland’s glaciers have lost 5.5 percent of their total ice this year. Experts attribute this significant decline to extreme heat and reduced snowfall during winter, accelerating the rate of ice melt. This marks the second-largest annual drop on record. According to a report released Thursday by Glamos, the Swiss Glacier Monitoring Service, and the Swiss Academy of Sciences, about one-fifth of the ice mass in Switzerland’s glaciers has disappeared over the past five years.

Mathias Huss, head of Glamos and professor of glaciology, stated that Alpine glaciers cannot sustain themselves in the long term under current conditions. He emphasized that recent temperature rises clearly reflect human-induced climate change, noting that without human emissions and fossil fuel use, such warming would not have occurred. The insufficient snowfall during winter poses a significant concern for the longevity of glaciers.

Snow plays a critical role in protecting old ice from melting and in creating the conditions for new ice formation at higher altitudes. In 2022, extreme heat, low snowfall, and red dust carried from the Sahara Desert combined to cause the most intense ice loss ever recorded in Swiss glaciers. Between July and September this year alone, Switzerland’s glaciers are estimated to have lost ice equivalent to approximately 22 trillion liters of water—about four times the annual water consumption of the country’s population of 9.1 million.

Hydropower generates more than half of Switzerland’s electricity, so glacier conditions directly impact water resources and energy production. Although the ice volume lost this year is less than in 2003, the percentage damage is greater. In 2003, total ice declined by 3.5 percent; currently, only about one-third of the ice remaining now is what existed 23 years ago. Some glaciers have seen an average loss in ice thickness between 2.5 and 4 meters, with reductions up to 10 meters in the frontal areas of certain glaciers.

The largest glacier in the Alps, Aletsch, along with glaciers in regions such as Elalin, Clariden, and Rhone, are among those experiencing the fastest ice loss. Experts note that the impacts of glacier melting are not confined to Switzerland alone. Known as Europe’s “water tower,” Switzerland feeds important rivers including the Danube, Po, Rhine, and Rhone. Globally, rising temperatures have led to significant changes in ice and glacier conditions in regions like the Himalayas, Greenland, and Antarctica.

October 7, Tehran (RASSAFP) – Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has welcomed the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq as a ‘historic victory,’ calling on the United States to completely exit West Asia. In a statement released Thursday, the Revolutionary Guards congratulated the Iraqi people, the Islamic Resistance Joint Front, and revolutionary fighters across the Islamic world for the US military’s pullout. The statement was published through the Guards’ official media channels.

The US-led coalition deployed in Iraq and Syria since 2014 to combat the Islamic State (IS) formally ended its military operations and withdrew from Iraq on Wednesday. At its peak, IS controlled significant territories in both countries. Although IS was defeated in Iraq in 2017 and in Syria in 2019, coalition forces continued operations against remaining IS cells.

The Revolutionary Guards asserted that the US military presence did not ensure regional security and urged America to leave West Asia, entrusting security management to the nations themselves. The US presence spanning two decades has been blamed for increasing regional insecurity, terrorism, and instability. Iraq and the US had agreed to conclude the coalition mission in 2024, after which coalition forces began gradually withdrawing from bases across Iraq. Recently, their presence had been limited to the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq.

The Iraqi government stated that following the coalition’s withdrawal, a significant justification previously used by powerful Iran-backed armed groups to retain their weapons has been removed. Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Jaidi announced a new deadline of June 30 for armed groups to hand over their weapons to the state.