Officials recently sounded the alarm over Russia intercepting communications from European satellites. But this isn’t a new problem.

Ever since the initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014, two Russian satellites have been secretly stalking European spacecraft. They have been manoeuvring close enough to raise concerns about more than mere observation.

In 2018, the French defence minister accused Russia of espionage after one of these vehicles was spotted in the vicinity of a Franco-Italian military communications satellite. Two Intelsat satellites were similarly targeted before that.

These so-called proximity and rendezvous operations (RPOs), in which a spacecraft
deliberately manoeuvres to dock or operate near another object in space, are
becoming commonplace in geostationary orbit (GEO), where satellites effectively
stay fixed over the same spot on Earth.

RPOs are not inherently malicious. These operations can sometimes be used to refuel a satellite and extend its lifespan, or to remove defunct satellites and debris, keeping orbits clear for future missions.

Because the technology to improve satellite manoeuvrability is dual use – it has both civilian and military applications – the challenge is then to define intent
and, if required, respond accordingly.

Satellite inspections

Launched in 2014 and 2023, the two highly secretive Russian “inspector” satellites,
Luch/Olymp 1 and 2, are part of Russia’s efforts to identify any technical
vulnerabilities embedded in Nato countries’ satellites.

If this had been their sole purpose, European officials would have had few grounds for serious concern or complaint. Approaching a satellite to characterise its profile is neither a new mission nor exclusive to Russia.

The US Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) inspection satellites have come as close as ten kilometres of other satellites in the past. Even commercial companies have begun to provide inspection services.

An Australian company called HEO recently flew by a classified Chinese satellite to uncover its technical features. In theory, information like this could be used in the future to disrupt the functioning of satellites.

However, the Russian satellites have often shadowed the same spacecraft for
months, occasionally approaching within five kilometres of their targets. This does not fit the mission profile of satellite inspection, which would involve merely passing by a target, taking pictures and quickly moving on to another trajectory.

GSSAP satellites, for example, typically work in pairs, adopting a pincer-like approach: one satellite orbits above GEO, inspecting the back of a target satellite, while the other moves just below, surveying its front.

Luch satellites by contrast are essentially signals intelligence (Sigint) systems. By positioning them between a target satellite and its ground station, Russia can
intercept the signal and eavesdrop on communications from European satellites such as those operated by Eutelsat, a French company, and Intelsat, a Luxembourgish-American company. Among other customers, these European satellites provide bandwidth to European militaries for secure communications.

Examined in isolation, these Luch vehicles should be viewed as surveillance
satellites rather than counterspace weapons – which are satellites that can actually disrupt or disable another spacecraft. The Russian satellites are simply collecting information. On this basis alone, they do not pose a significant security threat.

However, space as a domain remains entangled with broader geopolitical dynamics
on Earth. Any Russian space operation should be seen as part of a larger campaign
to accrue strategic benefits, whether to gain a military advantage over Ukraine or to coerce European countries into withdrawing their support for Ukraine.

Future threat

From this perspective, the Luch RPOs could be interpreted not only as part of a
Sigint effort, but also as a warning to European countries that their satellites are vulnerable to disruption.

As Major General Michael Traut, commander of Germany’s Space Command has noted, the Luch satellites have also likely intercepted the command links of their targets. The command links are supposedly secure transmissions from ground stations to satellites that convey operational instructions.

If this is true, Russia could potentially replicate the uplink signals used by ground stations to control satellites, allowing them to disrupt European space operations in the future.

If this sounds familiar, it is because the scenario would closely mirror Russia’s hybrid campaign against European undersea cables. This has included years of covertly mapping western infrastructure and, more recently, a sustained effort to sever fibre optic cables.

The RPOs conducted over the last few years by the two Luch satellites could be suggestive of more escalatory moves in the future should Russia continue to fail in deterring Europe from continuing its support for Ukraine.

What can Europe do, in this scenario? A first welcome step has been the release of
public information exposing Russia’s activities in geostationary orbit. In the past, space operations were generally concealed under a veil of secrecy.

More transparency can be leveraged to delegitimise these activities in the eyes of the international community whilst also legitimising the development of Europe’s own counterspace programmes for self defence.

Indeed, European countries including the UK and Germany have been much more vocal about the requirement to deploy their own counterspace systems. Russia has demonstrated other in-orbit capabilities that use RPOs and can be employed as counterspace weapons.

Without a comprehensive toolbox that includes self-defence options, Europe may be
exposed to more escalatory in-space activities for which it is not adequately
prepared.

Safeguarding its dependence on space-enabled services, from military
communications to economic connectivity, therefore requires treating orbital security as an integral component of its broader strategic posture.

👉Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app👈

Ken Burns is one of America’s most successful documentary filmmakers.

Ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence later this year, he sits down with Yalda in this extra episode to reflect on where the US has come from, as well as the current state of the nation.

Burns has been making films for more than 40 years, winning Emmys and Grammys, and has even had a film effect named after him – “the Ken Burns”.

His most recent project is a six-part series on the American Revolution that took Burns and his team at PBS 10 years to make.

He also talks to Yalda about why he chose this project, the process of making it and why he fears for the current state of America under Donald Trump.

You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.

Do you have a question for Richard and Yalda? Write to them at theworld@sky.uk

Personal Independence Payment claimants must inform the Department for Work and Pensions about holidays abroad lasting more than four weeks or risk having their benefit payments stopped

There are several changes in circumstances that people receiving Personal Independence Payments ( PIP ) must inform the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) about, or risk losing their benefit entitlement and having regular payments paused or stopped.

It is worth noting that changing your name, doctor, health professional or address do not need to be reported to the DWP and will have no bearing on your payments – however, it is advisable to ensure the details the DWP holds on file for you remain current.

That said, leaving the country or planning to do so for a period exceeding four weeks – even for a holiday – may affect your entitlement.

Guidance on GOV.UK for those planning to leave the country for more than four weeks states: “This change may affect the claimant’s entitlement to PIP. We will need to know the date the claimant is leaving the country, how long they are planning to be out of the country, which country they are going to and why they are going abroad.”

If you are planning to travel overseas this year, or are currently booking a holiday lasting more than four weeks, ensure you contact the DWP with the required details at the earliest opportunity, reports the Daily Record.

How to report a change of circumstances to DWP

Contact the PIP enquiry line on 0800 121 4433 to report a change of circumstances – lines are open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Below is a comprehensive guide to all the changes in circumstances and whether you need to notify the DWP about them.

Changes to daily living or mobility needs

You should inform the DWP if, for instance, you require more or less assistance or support, or if the condition will persist for a longer or shorter duration than you previously informed the DWP about.

This change may affect entitlement to PIP, the amount and the period of the PIP award.

Leaving the country or planning to leave the country for a period of more than four weeks – even if this is a holiday

This change may affect the claimant’s entitlement to PIP. The DWP needs to know the date the claimant is leaving the country, how long they are planning to be out of the country, which country they are going to and why they are going abroad.

Stays in hospital or similar institutions

DWP guidance states both components of PIP cease to be payable 28 days after the claimant is admitted to an NHS hospital.

Privately funded patients are unaffected by these rules and can continue to be paid either component of PIP.

If a claimant is in hospital or a similar institution at the date entitlement to PIP starts, PIP is not payable until they are discharged.

Care homes

The daily living component of PIP ceases to be payable after 28 days of residency in a care home where the costs of the accommodation are met from public or local funds. The PIP mobility component can continue to be paid.

Individuals who completely self-fund their placement remain unaffected by these regulations. Should a claimant be residing in a care home on the date of entitlement, the PIP daily living component cannot be paid until they depart.

Linked spells in hospital and a care home

Hospital stays are considered linked if separated by no more than 28 days. Care home stays for the daily living component are similarly linked if the interval between them does not exceed 28 days.

No link exists for the mobility component as payment continues unaffected during care home residence. Both PIP components will cease after a cumulative 28 days in hospital.

The daily living component of PIP will cease after a cumulative 28 days in a care home.

Should a claimant transfer between hospital and care home, or vice versa, these periods will also be linked.

Imprisonment or claimant held in legal custody

This circumstance may influence the PIP amount payable to the claimant.

The DWP requires notification of the date the claimant entered prison or legal custody and the anticipated duration of their detention, if available.

Detained in legal custody

PIP becomes non-payable after 28 days when someone is detained in legal custody. This applies regardless of whether the offence is civil or criminal and whether they have been convicted or remain on remand.

Benefit payments that have been suspended will not be reimbursed, irrespective of the outcome of any legal proceedings brought against the claimant. Should two or more separate periods of legal custody occur within one year of one another, they will be treated as linked.

Change of name

Whilst a change of name will have no bearing on PIP payments or eligibility, it is essential that the DWP holds the most current details for the claimant.

This change must be reported in writing – should the claimant telephone to provide these details, the DWP will request that they be submitted in writing. The written notification must include:

• full details of their previous name
• their new name
• details of any changes made to the bank or building society account into which PIP is paid, such as the name of the account or the account number
• their signature on the letter

Change of account PIP is paid into

The DWP requires full details of the name and address of the new bank or building society, along with the particulars of the new account, including the account name, account number and sort code or roll number.

Change of person acting for the claimant

This relates to an appointee or an individual holding power of attorney on behalf of the claimant.

This update is crucial to ensure the DWP can direct payments to the correct person in a timely manner. They will require the full name, address and contact details of the new individual acting on the claimant’s behalf.

Should the person acting for the claimant have relocated or have updated contact details, the DWP will simply require the revised information.

Change of address

This change, providing it is not a hospital or nursing home, will not affect eligibility or payment of PIP. It is essential that the DWP holds the most current details for the claimant.

They require complete details of the new address the claimant has relocated to, including the postcode and the date of the move.

Change of doctor or healthcare professional

This change will not affect payment or eligibility for PIP and is not mandatory once a decision on the PIP claim has been reached.

However, should the change occur during the claiming stage, it is vital that the DWP holds the most current information. This will ensure that the assessment provider has the correct contact details to obtain any further information they may need.

The DWP requires the full name, address and contact details of the new doctor or healthcare professional.

Comprehensive details regarding changes of circumstance whilst receiving PIP can be found on GOV.UK.

The Great British Bake Off winner, who claimed the crown in 2015, revealed in a candid Instagram video that she left the role after just three months due to health concerns.

Nadiya, 41, has released several cookbooks since her win on The Great British Bake Off and has presented numerous TV shows.

This includes Nadiya Bakes, Nadiya’s Fast Flavours and Nadiya’s Simple Spices.

However, in June 2025, the celebrity chef told fans that the BBC had “decided they didn’t want to commission the show anymore”.

While broadcasters like ITV and Channel 4 had been in contact about a new series, Nadiya shared that it was “not something” she wanted to do at the time.

Instead, she changed career paths to work as a teaching assistant at a primary school, with the view to becoming a teacher in the future.

Nadiya Hussain steps down from primary school role

After a few months of working as a teaching assistant, Nadiya shared she had to step away due to health concerns.

In a post on Instagram, Nadiya said: “Hi guys, giving you a life update that you didn’t ask for but you are going to get anyway.

“So, as you guys know when the BBC cancelled my show, I was kind of at a crossroads, I wasn’t sure where I was going, what I wanted to do.

“I had loads of options, I toyed with lots of options, open a business, I could do a pop-up restaurant or kitchen, none of which appealed to me at the time.

“I’m still obviously publishing books, cookbooks, which I will always love but I kind of reluctantly, you know I was scared, really scared to apply for jobs.”

The experience led her to consider a long-held interest in working with children.

“I’ve always wanted to work with children in younger years as a teaching assistant and I applied for a few jobs, which in itself was difficult for lots of reasons,” she explained.

Nadiya was offered and accepted a role in a primary school.

She said: “I applied and got a job as a TA [teaching assistant] at a primary school and I’ve got to say, apart from raising my own children, it was one of the best jobs I’ve ever done.

“I loved every second of waking up in the morning with a spring in my step for these beautiful children.”

However, being in a school environment caused some issues for her health.

Nadiya suffers from fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread pain throughout the body.

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She said: “But unfortunately, doing a job like that as somebody with a weakened immune system, it just played havoc with my health.

“As you know, anyone who works in a school setting, there are lots of coughs and colds, bugs, and I just couldn’t get better.

“So, I was sick all the time and it got to the point where it was affecting my mental health and I just wasn’t performing, giving my best because I was always sick.”