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Ukraine's Third Army Corps says it used ground robots fitted with grenade launchers to attack Russian shelters while infantry stayed out of direct contact. Operators reportedly controlled the machines from safe positions tens of kilometers away. The unit claims no side has used similar tactics before in this war, with United24 also covering the operation.

A nationwide public sector strike is planned for Tuesday, September 29, across France, affecting teachers, healthcare workers, firefighters and public transport workers. In Paris, a demonstration is set to march from Place de la République to Place de la Nation via Bastille. The RATP transport network is among services expected to be disrupted, and travellers should expect delays and cancellations.

Google has announced Project Suncatcher, a research initiative to put machine learning infrastructure into space, using solar-powered satellites to run AI compute in orbit. The company published early findings on its blog, describing how constellations of small satellites could capture near-continuous solar energy and address terrestrial power and cooling limits for data centers. The plan is at an exploratory stage, with prototype launches proposed in the coming years.

Researchers with the Max Planck Society and partners are tracking how the war in Ukraine has affected Ukrainian academics, documenting displacement, disrupted careers and the breakdown of free scholarly mobility during armed conflict. The work highlights how scientists' international movement and collaboration collapse under war, raising questions about how the global research community can support scholars in conflict zones.

Robotics startup Microagi has hired eight university researchers, the latest example of young robotics companies recruiting directly from academia. The trend points to growing competition for specialized talent as startups race to develop advanced robots and compete with established labs for the limited pool of researchers with hands-on expertise.

At the German School Award ceremony, Chancellor Friedrich Merz described teachers as the most important professional group in the country, while conceding he rarely had 'much desire' to go to school himself. The remarks came as the award highlighted excellence in German schools, drawing attention to the profession's status amid ongoing debates over teacher shortages and working conditions.

Teachers unions in California are campaigning to renew a state tax that generates billions of dollars annually for public education. The pitch comes as the tax faces an expiration deadline, with unions arguing the revenue is essential to maintaining school funding levels across the state. The debate over extension is expected to feature prominently in upcoming legislative and budget discussions.

Archery competition at the 2026 Asian Games is drawing attention, with a full guide covering schedules, scores, medal winners and India's results. Indian fans are tracking the national team's performance and medal prospects as the event unfolds, making archery results a trending search topic during the Games.

The Yuelu Conference 2026 opened in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, on September 23–24, bringing together artificial intelligence companies, robotics developers, researchers and investors. The event featured an opening ceremony, ten 'AI+' themed forums and other sessions focused on AI development and investment in the region.

Military researchers are discussing the obstacles standing in the way of fielding quantum technology, covering challenges that range from hardware stability and scaling to transitioning laboratory systems into operational defense use. The conversation highlights how quantum sensing, computing and communications could affect national security, and why significant engineering and scientific barriers must still be overcome before these capabilities can be widely deployed by armed forces.

Stephen Richer appeared before a US House committee hearing examining allegations of noncitizen voting in New Jersey. The hearing, highlighted by the Ash Center, brings election administration figures to Capitol Hill as Republicans press claims about voting integrity and Democrats challenge the evidence. Richer, a former Arizona county election official known for defending election administration, testified amid ongoing national debate over voter eligibility rules.

Twenty-year-old catcher Salas is in position to become the youngest catcher ever to appear in an MLB postseason. If he takes the field, he would break a longstanding age record at baseball's most demanding defensive position. Fans and commentators are watching to see whether the young backstop gets the chance during the playoffs.

Startup Star Catcher is preparing to launch a system designed to beam energy between two separate spacecraft, which would be a historic first if it works. The company aims to demonstrate wireless power transfer in orbit, a capability that could eventually allow satellites to share energy and extend mission lifetimes. The project is drawing attention as a notable step for space-based power infrastructure.

Climate researchers have explained how a Kelvin Wave impacts ocean waters, describing how these large-scale waves move warm or cold water along the equator and along coastlines. The explanations come as scientists track ocean temperature shifts that can influence weather patterns, including the development of El Niño conditions and their effects on global climate.

Researchers at Brown University's School of Public Health have published a new tracker mapping private equity involvement in healthcare across the United States. The tool aims to document which hospitals, physician practices and other providers are owned by private equity firms. It comes amid growing scrutiny of buyout firms' role in medical care and its effects on costs and quality.

Researchers are examining Indigenous foods such as wild rice and tarwi for their potential health benefits, according to reporting by News-Medical. The work highlights growing scientific interest in traditional crops and how they might contribute to nutrition and disease prevention, drawing attention to knowledge held by Indigenous communities and the role these foods could play in modern diets.

The Department of Loir-et-Cher in central France is entering a period of budget savings, according to local coverage tied to the 2027 budget cycle. The department says spending cuts are needed to keep its finances balanced, and the topic is drawing attention as French local authorities brace for tighter public finances in the run-up to the next budget.

Botanist Richard Lent notes that Sarracenia oreophila, the green pitcher plant, differs from its relative S. leucophylla by producing its main pitchers in spring rather than late summer. Those pitchers are now dying back ahead of winter dormancy, with smaller non-trap leaves called phyllodia forming at the base of the plant.

A German-language wordplay question is circulating online: Sweden has the Schwedin, China the Chinesin, Brazil the Brasilianerin — but Germany has no 'Deutscherin'. Users are discussing the quirk that the German noun for a woman from Germany is simply 'Deutsche', unlike most country-based female forms, with replies mixing linguistic explanations and jokes about migration and language.

The Perth Scorchers have moved to sign an exiled England opener as a replacement for New Zealand star Finn Allen. The Big Bash club turned to the out-of-favour English batsman to fill the void left by Allen, and the signing is drawing attention given the player's fall from England's international plans despite his strong T20 pedigree.

Air raid alerts were declared across Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and Chernihiv regions of Ukraine after drone activity was detected near Slavutych, Chornobyl, Strakholissia, Ovruch, and the Chernihiv area. Authorities urged residents to take shelter as monitoring services tracked the unmanned aerial vehicles moving through northern Ukraine.