After Poland took the rare step to invoke Article 4 of the NATO charter on Wednesday in response to an incursion into Polish airspace by a large number of Russian drones, Europe has potentially inched closer to continent-wide warfare. The measure calls for member nations to “consult together” and determine if the “territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened.” If so, the group can then invoke NATO’s Article 5, which calls for a unified and potentially armed response.

What did the commentators say?
The drone incursion into Polish airspace has “thrust NATO’s collective defense principles into the spotlight,” said Al Jazeera. While Poland is “not quite” ready to invoke Article 5, beginning Article 4 consultations is a “political precursor” to any militarized deliberations. 

Although Russia has denied responsibility, the “violation” was “not an isolated incident,” said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. As the “most serious European airspace violation by Russia since the war began,” said European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on X, “indications suggest it was intentional, not accidental.”

But Russian drones and missiles have “strayed into Polish territory” over the past few years “with no consequence,” said The Atlantic. By failing to “prepare properly for immediate threats, much less future war,” the NATO member states have demonstrated a “constant weakness” that has in turn “emboldened Putin.” Although the drones were ultimately neutralized — the first time a NATO member state is “known to have fired shots in the war,” according to Reuters — the incident offers “little reason for confidence” in NATO, said The Atlantic.

What next?
Tusk has “pledged to push ahead” with the Polish military's “great modernization program” this week, said The Associated Press. This is particularly with eyes toward the expected first delivery of U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets.

Shortly after the drone attack, Poland closed its border with Russian ally Belarus, where Russia is conducting “very aggressive" military training exercises, said Tusk. Poland is also sending 40,000 troops to the border region. 

The “way ahead for NATO is clear,” said Foreign Policy. It must “immediately provide Ukraine with long-range strike weapons” capable of hitting targets in deep Russia and “dramatically upgrade its own defenses along its eastern border.”

As the U.S. and China compete for dominance in outer space, Africa is looking to get in on the race to the stars. China aims to enhance its cooperation with Africa by constructing new alliances for its space development, while many in the U.S. are pushing the Trump administration to shore up its own space alliances in Africa. All the while, the continent is moving ahead with its own space program.

How are the US and China involved?
China has been seeking to broaden its African footprint and has been “building space alliances in Africa to enhance its global surveillance network and advance its bid to become the world’s dominant space power,” said Reuters.

As China expands its influence, there have been calls for the White House to get ahead of the game, given that Africa's space sector “presents significant opportunities” for the U.S., said the international affairs think tank Atlantic Council. The U.S. “will need to take a collaborative approach”: To “harness the opportunities of the African space sector,” the U.S. “must also fill the gaps in its space coordination” with Africa.

How is Africa developing its program?
In May 2025, Africa “established the continent’s first space agency to boost Earth observation and data sharing,” said Bloomberg. This came at a time when a “more hostile global context is limiting the availability of climate and weather information.”

The African Space Agency (AfSA), which includes dozens of countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gambia, Egypt, South Africa and Tanzania, will help the existing space programs of African countries collaborate. It also “aims to improve the continent’s space infrastructure by launching satellites, setting up weather stations and making sure data can be shared across Africa and beyond,” said Bloomberg.

Prior African space initiatives were “happening in a very fragmented fashion,” Meshack Kinyua, a space engineer and an Africa space policy veteran, said to Bloomberg. AfSA “brings a coordination mechanism and economies of scale; it puts all members of the African Union at an equal level.”

Boats pass through a lake overrun by water lettuce in Suchitoto, El Salvador. Residents have come together to remove the aquatic weed, which feeds on chemical pollution, from Lake Suchitlan. So far, about 1,270 tons of the plant have been removed.
Marvin Recinos / Getty Images

As the leaves begin to drop from the trees and the weather chills, there are plenty of video games to keep you busy indoors. From a new LEGO game to a big sports title, plus one of the most anticipated action sequels in years, this coming season will prove to be a busy time for gamers. 

NBA 2K26
While this retails for a hefty $150, it features numerous bonuses for the MyCareer mode, which allows players to step into the role of an NBA player. The game also has different cover athletes for different editions. The standard edition offers Oklahoma City Thunder standout Shaivonte Gilgeous-Alexander, while the WNBA edition has Chicago Sky star Angel Reese. (order now for Xbox Series X, PS5, Steam)

LEGO Party
You can build your party brick-by-brick with the upcoming LEGO Party, which allows up to four players to compete at once in a series of digital challenges. The game offers at least 60 LEGO-themed minigames and lets players customize and control their own LEGO minifigures. (Sept. 30 preorder for Xbox Series X, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Steam)

Ghost of Yotei
Ghost of Tsushima is widely considered one of the best video games of the decade, and fans have been begging for a sequel since its 2020 release. The time has finally arrived, with Ghost of Yotei (pictured above). The game is set more than 300 years after Tsushima and has the player control Atsu, a ronin who embarks on a quest for revenge against six samurai. (Oct. 2 preorder for PS5)