Russian president and former intelligence officer, in office since 2012
Russia has held a three-day parliamentary election from Sept. 18–20 that is set to return a United Russia-dominated State Duma. Most anti-war candidates were barred, the liberal Yabloko party was disqualified from the nationwide list, voting is being held in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, and Moscow reported large drone attacks and a sustained cyberattack on electronic voting in the capital.
President Donald Trump has promised a $5,000 payment to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of both houses in November’s midterms. The White House has provided only a short fact sheet; Republicans, legal experts and budget analysts have questioned the plan’s legality, cost (about $1.2–1.4 trillion) and how it would be funded.
During a two-day visit to Ireland this weekend President Donald Trump has said he would "love to see" a united Ireland and called reunification "going to happen eventually." His remarks have prompted rebuttals from UK and unionist politicians, sparked protests in Dublin and renewed debate over the Good Friday Agreement's border-poll provisions.
ProPublica has reported that Umar Kremlev, a Russian boxing official with ties to President Vladimir Putin, has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars toward Donald Trump Jr.'s May wedding weekend in the Bahamas, covering an island rental and a fireworks show. Rep. Robert Garcia has opened a congressional inquiry and asked the White House and Trump Jr. for records.
Multiple sources report Russia’s renewed strikes on Ukraine while warnings rise of hybrid attacks aimed at weakening NATO. Polish officials warn border and energy infrastructure could be targeted; leaders plan Ukraine visits and sanctions discussions.
Global government bond yields have risen to multi‑decade highs this week after renewed US–Iran fighting pushed oil toward $90–$97 a barrel and revived inflation fears. Governments from the UK to the US and Japan have paid higher borrowing costs; central banks are signalling tighter policy and markets are pricing more rate rises, lifting mortgage and corporate loan rates.
Vice‑President Sara Duterte has posted bail on three counts of grave threats after a Quezon City court issued an arrest warrant tied to comments she made in 2024. Her lawyers have won a court order deferring arraignment while they press a motion to postpone; she is also facing an ongoing Senate impeachment trial and denies making assassination threats.
The UN General Assembly has backed a non-binding move to encourage adoption of the Equal Earth projection over the Mercator map, aiming to correct longstanding distortions that disproportionately shrink Africa. The US is the sole vetoing opposition, with several countries abstaining. The resolution is a policy nudge, not a mandate.
Kravchenko has offered his resignation as Ukraine’s prosecutor general, citing political reasons, while anti-corruption agencies allege a money-laundering network tied to call centres. Kyiv faces ongoing pressure as anti-corruption probes proceed and Ukraine navigates political tensions during the war.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has won almost 44% in Saxony-Anhalt, threatening to form Germany’s first far-right state government since World War II. Minorities fear an uptick in hostility and calls grow to curb the party. Several eastern and western states vote soon, testing coalition dynamics and Germany’s post-war memory culture.
Drones have struck border checkpoints and cities across Ukraine and Russia, killing and injuring civilians. Authorities report multiple attacks, with border crossings closed and infrastructure damaged. Ukraine and Russia escalate long-range strikes as Moldova and border regions face spillover tensions.
US President Donald Trump is visiting Ireland for a two-day trip that includes meetings with Irish leaders and a stop at his Doonbeg resort to watch the Irish Open. Protests are planned, security is unprecedented, and Dublin’s Phoenix Park will host high-level talks amid a tense political and economic backdrop.
A wave of AI-safety warnings has amplified political pressure ahead of elections. A low-level Anthropic employee’s resignation and viral warnings have sparked debate about how to regulate AI, while industry and lawmakers push for faster action amid public backlash and concerns about data centers and national competitiveness.
The International Criminal Court is confronting intensified pushback from the United States as multiple states weigh or enact withdrawals from the Rome Statute. ICC officials, led by interim prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang, say sanctions are complicating operations but the court will pursue accountability with technical safeguards.
BRICS leaders gather in New Delhi amid tensions from the US–Iran war, amid broader global upheaval. The expanded bloc faces divisions over how to respond to Middle East conflicts, energy markets, and trade wars, while stressing a Global South-led reform agenda.
A BRICS summit under India’s presidency has endorsed the New Delhi Declaration, pledging resilience, cooperation and sustainable development. Leaders highlight Africa engagement and private-sector role, while Bilateral talks explore investment, technology transfer and regional integration.
BRICS leaders have adopted the New Delhi Declaration, calling for maximum restraint in the Middle East, protection of civilians and nuclear facilities, and opposing unilateral trade measures. The statement has avoided naming the US, Israel or Iran and authorised a payments task force to ease local‑currency settlements among members.
Overnight attacks across Ukraine involve hundreds of drones and missiles, targeting infrastructure and border areas with Poland. Several deaths are reported, and cross-border warnings have prompted international concern.
Several Ukrainian border trains were struck near Yahodyn just days after strikes on the Ukrainian-Polish border. Former UK PM Boris Johnson and ex-CIA director David Petraeus were reportedly at a border station near the time of the attacks. Ukraine and Poland condemn the strikes, with officials warning of further escalation as Russia presses its campaign against Ukrainian rail infrastructure.
President Donald Trump has said Ukraine has agreed not to target Russian energy sites and urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop strikes on Russian diesel and oil facilities, blaming those attacks for record U.S. diesel prices above $6 a gallon. Kyiv has continued long-range strikes on Russian refineries and logistics; neither Moscow nor Kyiv has formally confirmed a bilateral pledge.
An Italian NATO fighter has intercepted and shot down a Gerbera-type drone that entered Lithuania from Belarus and crashed near Pratkunai, central Lithuania. President Gitanas Nausėda and Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas have said the device likely carried explosives; Lithuanian forces are analysing debris and electronics to determine targeting and origin.
Energy ministers and key delegates from G20 nations, including Canada and Saudi Arabia, gather in Houston for discussions on energy security as gas storage in Europe strains ahead of winter. Russia’s attendance has stirred debate amid ongoing tensions over Ukraine and Iran, with US officials highlighting the need for affordable, reliable energy.
Diplomatic train carrying Boris Johnson, Carl Bildt and EU security advisers has left Yahodyn ahead of schedule. A Russian drone struck nearby infrastructure as a second train faced evacuation; officials say the attack targets infrastructure and underscores escalating cross-border tension near the Poland-Ukraine frontier. No casualties have been reported.
Japan is accelerating its defense planning as Tokyo contemplates a broader military buildup. Okinawa’s governor race has tied into national security concerns, with the winner potentially expanding U.S. military access and shaping regional balance.
Amazon has paused operations with 21 Air after a Miami crash involving a cargo jet. Investigators are reviewing speed, descent, and maintenance as the NTSB probes the fatal Sept. 6 incident that killed five people and injured five others. Amazon is supporting the investigation and seeking other carriers to fill gaps.
Leaders at the European Arctic Summit in Rovaniemi push for a more proactive EU Arctic policy as climate change opens new sea routes and Russia's influence grows. No formal decisions were taken, but momentum builds for a forthcoming EU Arctic strategy. The event highlights security concerns, economic interests, and indigenous rights.
Drones have targeted energy infrastructure around Moscow, with authorities reporting interception of more than 1,600 drones and damage at the Moscow Oil Refinery. Officials say several drones hit a refinery and a residence, while evacuations and casualties are confirmed in some areas as Ukraine continues long-range strikes amid ongoing election activities in Russia.
Lithuania reports the first drone downing in its airspace near Pratkūnai, with authorities saying an explosives device was detected and neutralized. NATO members are weighing the broader implications as Baltic security tensions rise.
Ukraine has proposed a de-escalation framework with Russia while both sides exchange strikes on energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy has urged allies to push for a halt to Russian attacks on critical infrastructure, and Kyiv says de-escalation depends on Russia’s willingness to stop the war long-term. Meanwhile, Russia continues strikes and Ukraine targets energy facilities, signaling a tense path into winter.
Belarusian authorities have released 25 political prisoners as part of a U.S.-brokered interim deal, with sanctions relief on two state companies linked to the move. Washington says more releases and relief will follow as talks continue, while opposition figures warn that repression persists.
Congress has passed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 and sent it to President Donald Trump. The law expands sanctions on Russian officials, banks and a "shadow fleet" of tankers, and gives the president authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
Ovechkin has participated in a campaign video for United Russia, sparking backlash as Russia’s parliamentary elections unfold. Capitals say he is Russian and not in politics, while critics call for accountability as international responses mount and questions about the player’s influence in Washington grow.
The Seoul court has ruled that North Korea must pay 44.6 billion won in damages over the destruction of the inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong, a move the South regards as a symbolic judgment in a long-running diplomatic standoff.
The Mirror and New York Post report that Don Jr.'s Bahamas wedding, funded in part by Umar Kremlev, a Russian oligarch close to Putin, has intensified exchanges between the Trump siblings. The drama extends to Hunter Biden and domestic incidents involving unrelated parties, creating a swirl of family controversy that feeds into broader political theatre.
Friedrich Merz has cleared his schedule and called a CDU crisis meeting as Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania hold regional votes today. Polls suggest the far-right AfD will make further gains while the CDU risks losing power in Berlin and falling below the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg, a result that would intensify pressure on his 16-month chancellorship.
Beijing is pushing dialogue as Tehran and Washington face renewed scrutiny ahead of Xi Jinping’s Washington visit. China is urging restraint while weighing its energy security and regional leverage amid Iran’s war with the United States and ongoing tensions in the Red Sea and Hormuz corridors.
Chelsea Football Club's ownership moves to full control by Clearlake Capital as Todd Boehly and Mark Walter exit their stakes. Wyss remains a stakeholder; Chelsea reiterates no change to day-to-day operations while pursuing long-term sporting and infrastructure ambitions.
The BRICS bloc has expanded to include new members and partners, and its leaders are pursuing deeper practical cooperation across politics, economy, and security. Xi and Modi are signaling a push for a multipolar world, with open-source AI, special zones, and service-trade forums on the agenda. The summit in New Delhi is framed as a step toward a broader Global South alliance.
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 has cleared both houses, expanding sanctions on Russia and Iran and allowing tariffs of up to 100% on the top buyers of Russian energy. The bill carries broad support and highlights tensions with China and India, while drawing scrutiny over potential domestic costs.
Nestlé says it is assessing the Kremlin decree transferring some Russian assets to a shell company as Moscow extends its control over Western operations. Other affected firms include Auchan and Lemano Pro, with LEV Management named as the new vehicle.
Umar Kremlev has hosted two nights for Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Trump, a gift now drawing ethics and foreign influence questions. Trump says the gifts were paid back and calls the arrangements ordinary, while critics argue the connections warrant scrutiny across politics and sport.
European leaders report intensifying Russian hybrid attacks targeting critical infrastructure and defense sites. Macron has directed measures to shield infrastructure, prepare for drone and cyber threats, and coordinate a G7 response on energy amid rising prices and security concerns. Poland and Baltic states are boosting defenses as NATO monitors potential spillovers from the Ukraine conflict.
Ukraine and Western officials condemn Russia-held elections in occupied territories as illegal while Putin underscores the vote’s purpose to showcase public backing for the war; observers report coercion and security-driven voting extensions.