October 4, 2026 · 11 stories

Japan’s defence ministry said North Korea launched at least one ballistic missile early on October 3. Tokyo estimated a peak altitude of about 90 km and a flight of roughly 680 km, ending outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone, with no damage reported. South Korea assessed the flight at more than 700 km. Before the Taipei cutoff, KCNA said the drill used an intermediate-range strategic missile and claimed it struck a target 1,000 km away. The latter distance and the hypersonic-system description are North Korean state-media claims, not independently verified measurements.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters that Ukraine would step up attacks on Russian oil refineries in response to recent Russian strikes on energy, transport and urban infrastructure, while avoiding indiscriminate attacks on civilians. He said Ukrainian intelligence had obtained documents showing a broader Russian doctrine for striking civilian infrastructure. Reuters could not independently verify those documents, and the Kremlin was not available to comment at the time. The stated policy puts energy infrastructure even more clearly at the centre of the war’s winter strategy.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro held their final campaign events on October 3 ahead of Sunday’s first-round presidential vote. Polling pointed to a close race and a likely runoff rather than a first-round majority. Under Brazil’s rules, if no candidate wins more than 50% of valid ballots, the top two advance to a second round on October 25. This edition does not project a winner.

Iraq’s state-owned Oil Tanker Company said a very large crude carrier transported 2 million barrels of Iraqi oil through the Strait of Hormuz, a manoeuvre its director general described as the company’s first of its kind in decades. The operation gives state marketer SOMO more flexibility over delivery and pricing. It is a company-reported shipment and should not be read as evidence that normal commercial traffic through the strait has been fully restored.

Vietnam’s National Statistics Office estimated third-quarter GDP growth at 9.95% year on year, up from 8.15% in Q1 and 8.81% in Q2. Growth for the first nine months reached 9.01%. Industry and construction expanded 12.50% in Q3, while services grew 9.54%. Final consumption rose 8.96%, gross capital formation 21.39%, exports of goods and services 23.27%, and imports 28.75% in the quarter. The mix points to unusually strong domestic investment and trade activity rather than one single sector driving the headline.

The US administration’s safety agreement with Nvidia, SpaceX, OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta and Google calls for stronger internal controls and independent external audits. Reuters reported on October 3 that the document contains no stated penalty or enforcement mechanism if a company does not comply. The administration argues the approach can address public anxiety without slowing innovation; critics say voluntary commitments may be weak at preventing harm before it occurs. The core policy divide is therefore not whether safeguards are needed, but how enforceable they should be.

Indonesia’s Geology Agency said comparisons of Sentinel satellite imagery show Anak Krakatau expanded by 32.8 hectares after September eruptions produced lava flows. Imagery from September 23 also showed two new land formations, roughly 760 metres northwest of the coastline and 495 metres southeast. The eruption phase lasted about 25 hours from September 4 to 6. The measurements describe rapid geomorphological change around an active volcano; they do not mean the hazard has ended.

Tens of thousands marched across Spain demanding action on housing after parliament rejected a package of measures. The Spanish government estimated around 70,000 people joined the Madrid demonstration, while related protests took place in about 50 cities. Later, far-right activists tried to reach protesters in Puerta del Sol and police arrested three people. The movement is feeding into a broader political debate over housing, labour action and the possibility of an early election; no election decision had been confirmed at publication time.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said Paris would propose additional humanitarian funding for Ebola during upcoming budget discussions. France allocated €13.4 million to the Ebola response between January and July. A national humanitarian conference is scheduled in Paris on October 6 with Ebola on the agenda. The extra funding is a proposal, not yet a completed appropriation. Barrot warned that outbreaks can return quickly if surveillance and local response capacity weaken.

Exiled Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Minotaur sets a story of conscription and moral compromise against the war in Ukraine. The French-produced Russian-language film won the Grand Prix at Cannes and has been selected by France for the 2027 Academy Award for best international feature. Zvyagintsev, known for Leviathan and Loveless, has been designated a foreign agent by Russian authorities. The film’s international awards route contrasts with its politically fraught status in Russia.