EconomyBitcoin gives back Monday’s gain as Polymarket odds for Clarity Act fade
Bitcoin dropped 1.7% since midnight UTC to $76,862, reversing a late-Monday rally. Polymarket odds that the Clarity Act will become law this year fell by half overnight.

Bitcoin dropped 1.7% since midnight UTC to $76,862, reversing a late-Monday rally. Polymarket odds that the Clarity Act will become law this year fell by half overnight.

AFP News AgencyFertiliser exporters outside the Gulf are taking a larger share of the urea market as supplies moving through the Strait of Hormuz collapse, easing fears of a food crisis linked to the disruption.
Nairobi will host the 2029 World Athletics Championships after defeating bids from London, Munich and Rome, World Athletics announced. The Kenyan capital will become the first African host of the event. Munich was selected for 2031, while Beijing will host in 2027.


Nairobi will become the first African host of the World Athletics Championships, marking a historic milestone for the city and the continent.
Danish actor Mathilde Arcel, who won the Venice film festival’s Volpi Cup for her role in Woman Unknown, said she was receiving unemployment benefits and had flown back to Copenhagen to report to a job centre shortly before the awards. Since her win, her agent has received several new offers, including interest from abroad.

A container train carrying footwear, home appliances and daily necessities has left Mudanjiang in Heilongjiang for Moscow, officially opening the freight rail service. The train crosses China through the Suifenhe border port, creating a direct logistics route expected to cut costs, stabilize supply chains and support several industries.
Germany’s CDU plans to overhaul citizenship rules, ban dual nationality and tighten language tests as it seeks to counter the rise of the AfD.

CHN Energy’s Yunshan Substation in Qinghai’s Tongde County, located 3,365 meters above sea level, has transmitted more than 11.6 billion kWh of clean electricity during its first three years of operation. It gathers hydropower and other clean power from the Ma’erdang Hydropower Station and nearby areas, supporting the Qinghai Henan ultra-high-voltage direct-current project.
Harry and Meghan’s children, Archie and Lilibet, changed schools only days after starting, amid concerns about the security of transporting them.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink acknowledged that the United States has weapons in space, a statement seen as a clear warning to China and Russia.


The US Space Force has for the first time confirmed that the United States has orbiting weapons capable of controlling space, though it gave no details about them. It cited threats from Russia and China, while Beijing urged Washington to stop expanding its military capabilities in outer space and warned of an arms race.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink confirmed that the United States possesses “on-orbit space control weapons” able to defend against “hostile adversary actions.” NBC News’ Courtney Kube examines what kinds of weapons could be used in space.

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink has publicly declared for the first time that the United States now has “space control weapons” in orbit. He said they are capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action, while Space Force officials had previously voiced interest in acquiring such systems.

The US has acknowledged deploying a weapon in Earth orbit, marking the first public confirmation of such offensive capabilities. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the system was needed to protect US forces from hostile action, but gave no details about its functions or launch date.
U.S. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the Space Force has deployed space-control weapons in Earth orbit capable of defending against hostile action. Officials have acknowledged such a deployment for the first time, but Meink gave no details. Expert Victoria Samson said the system was likely space-based electronic warfare equipment rather than a kinetic weapon.

The US Space Force has acknowledged for the first time that the United States has weapons deployed in orbit. The disclosure comes as Washington, China and Russia expand their military capabilities in space, intensifying attention on controlling the domain and safeguarding satellites used for military communications, surveillance and navigation.
The US Space Force says the United States has deployed weapons in orbit. Once a venue for Cold War competition over propaganda victories, space has become a crucial strategic arena as countries compete for military and technological advantages.

The United States has confirmed that it deployed space-control weapons in orbit for the first time.
MediaTek unveiled a new smartphone chip made with TSMC’s most advanced manufacturing technology, targeting the premium handset market with hardware designed to run more AI features directly on the device.
Bill Gates is warning technology companies and world leaders that they must act now to ensure artificial intelligence helps combat social inequities. The Gates Foundation is pledging $1 billion to expand access to AI.
European auto workers are facing bleak conditions as job-cut announcements pile up. Volkswagen AG is cutting 100,000 employees, while Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc is eliminating about 10% of its workforce. Suppliers are also struggling.
Security firms traced a $7.8 million loss to a helper contract authorized by the wallet owner, rather than to Safe itself.

Glassnode says altcoin market capitalization rose 21% in a month, yet its share of the combined Bitcoin-and-altcoin market fell 0.9 percentage points over 90 days. Capital lifted the crypto market broadly, but Bitcoin captured most of the gains. This week’s Federal Reserve decision and a Senate vote on the CLARITY Act could test whether altcoins can catch up.

Guangzhou TTG defeated Chongqing Wolves in the 2026 King Pro League Summer Finals at Xiamen Olympic Sports Center. After the teams were level through six games, TTG took control of the deciding seventh match to win the title.

UN experts say Belarusian courts, police, security services, prosecutors and prison authorities have worked together since 2020 to suppress critics of President Alexander Lukashenko through arrests, imprisonment and surveillance. They describe systematic rights violations and say some abuses may amount to crimes against humanity.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow is ready to resume trilateral talks with the United States and Ukraine, saying Russia has “something to say.” He plans to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Russian and Ukrainian representatives said talks could resume in October, with Abu Dhabi viewed by Moscow as an acceptable venue.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the U.S. of prolonging the war against Ukraine by a year by withdrawing from what Moscow calls the “Anchorage agreements” between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. U.S. officials deny such agreements existed. Lavrov said Russia remains open to resuming trilateral talks with the U.S. and Ukraine.
US airmen faced 1,200 red alerts during Operation Epic Fury, the attack on Iran. A file photo shows a US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II landing aboard USS Tripoli on April 6, 2026, during the operation.
AFP News AgencyA Japanese Global Hawk drone has gone missing over the Sea of Japan.
Construction has begun in Qingdao, Shandong, on the $4 billion Qatar BH EPIC project for the Bul Hanine oilfield. COOEC calls it the largest international offshore oil and gas contract by value undertaken by a Chinese company. The project covers more than 60 offshore facilities, 40 subsea pipelines and cables, and platform modifications and removals.
The board of Washington’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is set to vote Tuesday on whether the venue will continue operating. Directors largely installed by President Donald Trump say its future depends on keeping his name on the complex.
Belarus appears to have resumed providing infrastructure for Russian drone attacks on Ukraine. After a drone flying from Belarus was shot down over Lithuania, the country is also emerging as a threat to NATO.
Denmark accused a Russian warship of firing two emergency flares at a Danish military helicopter during a routine monitoring operation in international waters in the Baltic Sea. One flare passed close to the aircraft. Copenhagen summoned Russia’s ambassador, while Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the act “reckless” and intended to “intimidate and divide”. Moscow has not commented.


Denmark summoned Russia’s ambassador after saying a Russian warship fired two flares toward a Danish Fennec helicopter conducting routine photographic reconnaissance in the Baltic Sea. One flare passed close to the aircraft. Danish officials called the incident unacceptable and part of increasingly aggressive Russian behavior in Europe.

A Russian frigate fired two emergency flares toward a Danish Fennec military helicopter during a routine monitoring mission in international waters near Gedser. Denmark summoned Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin and condemned the incident as unacceptable. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called it “reckless action from Russia.”

Denmark summoned Russia’s ambassador after a Russian warship fired two emergency flares at a Danish military helicopter during what Copenhagen described as a routine monitoring flight over the Baltic Sea. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the action reckless, while Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen said the frigate’s conduct was completely unacceptable amid worsening security tensions in Europe.
Denmark summoned Russia after a Russian warship fired flares at a helicopter during a routine Baltic patrol. The incident turned the patrol dangerous and added to a series of close encounters between Russian forces and NATO members this year.
China’s Ministry of Transport will host the 2026 Global Sustainable Transport Forum in Beijing on Sept. 22-23. Discussions will cover global initiatives, connectivity, green transport, AI-driven transformation and universal access, with the event seeking international consensus and deeper cooperation.
An ARD-Deutschlandtrend poll found that 54% of respondents in eastern Germany considered arms deliveries to Ukraine excessive, compared with 39% in the west. Although 56% of Germans viewed Russia as a strong or very strong threat, that view was less common in the east and among AfD supporters. The poll also showed declining support for Ukraine in recent years.
A wave of suspected coordinated rail sabotage brought Dutch train services to a standstill on Budget Day. The government has called for an investigation to identify those responsible.

Train services have been disrupted across the Netherlands amid suspected sabotage.

Rail services across parts of the Netherlands, including Amsterdam, were cancelled or delayed after objects were deliberately placed on tracks at multiple locations. ProRail said the disruption appeared intentional and police were investigating, with no suspects or motive identified.

Train services across parts of the Netherlands have been severely disrupted after materials were deliberately placed on tracks at several locations, infrastructure operator ProRail says. The objects caused track-circuit failures and affected level crossings around Zwolle, Deventer and Amersfoort. One train hit a pipe, but there were no injuries or accident.

A major disruption has struck the Dutch railway system during the morning rush hour. The company responsible for maintaining the rail infrastructure is treating the outage as possible sabotage.
An Italian NATO fighter jet brought down a drone over Lithuania shortly after midnight on Tuesday, according to the Lithuanian National Crisis Management Centre.

NATO jets shot down a drone overnight after it entered Lithuanian airspace.
NATO fighter jets shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace overnight on September 15, the first such incident in the country’s history, according to broadcaster LRT. Italian jets based in Šiauliai carried out the strike. The drone may have been carrying explosives, while its ownership remains unclear. Air raid alerts were issued and several international flights were delayed.
NATO says it is “committed and ready” after a drone was shot down over Lithuania. From the Baltics to Poland, Europe’s eastern edge is watching Russia’s war to stop it from spilling across its borders.

A drone entered Lithuania’s airspace before NATO fighter jets shot it down, President Gitanas Nauseda said. Preliminary data cited by national broadcaster LRT indicated the drone came from Belarus and was heading west when it was downed, with wreckage falling in a rural area near Lake Kaunas.

Nato fighter jets shot down a drone near Pratkunai in south-central Lithuania after an alert over Vilnius and the surrounding region. Lithuania’s crisis management centre said it reportedly entered from Belarus and was heading west. Poland also activated its air force as a precaution amid Russian drone attacks on Ukraine.

Nato fighter pilots shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace overnight, President Gitanas Nausėda said. Authorities believe it may have crossed from Belarus near Kaunas, although its origin remains unknown. Lithuanian forces and Italian pilots serving the Nato air-defence mission responded to the incursion.

On Tuesday, Lithuania’s president disclosed that alliance warplanes had destroyed an unmanned aircraft above the country. The event is the latest security-related episode on NATO’s eastern flank amid Russia’s war with Ukraine.

Lithuanian authorities say NATO fighter jets destroyed a drone that entered the country’s airspace from Belarus overnight on Sept. 15. It flew over Lentvaris near Vilnius before being intercepted near Kaunas. Air raid sirens sounded, airports faced temporary restrictions, and officials are still searching for wreckage without identifying the drone’s type.

NATO fighter jets destroyed a drone after it entered Lithuanian airspace.
Military expert Oleg Ivanov says mobile armed units in Russia’s border areas are bringing down the overwhelming majority of Ukrainian drones attempting to fly deep into the country. He describes the units in the Kursk Region as part of an effective layered defense, reinforced by MANPADS crews and interceptor-drone teams.
“From the Politics Desk” is a daily newsletter featuring the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.

Stack BTC, backed by Nigel Farage, is considering a $16 million acquisition of a gold dealer. The proposed deal would use cash flow from precious-metals sales to expand the company’s bitcoin holdings.

A Pakistan cricket fan holds up a sign during the third Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The report examines the crisis facing Pakistan cricket.

China says it hopes the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union will draw on its traditional goodwill toward China, fulfill its responsibilities and help create conditions for restoring bilateral relations to the right track. Spokesperson Guo Jiakun called Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on Taiwan the crux of the difficulties and urged Japan to uphold the four political documents and rebuild trust through concrete action.

Stocks sold off on Tuesday after the yield on the 10-year Treasury rose above 5%, highlighting the market significance of the key threshold.

A senior Ukrainian military commander said on Tuesday that Ukrainian forces had begun an offensive operation in the northern part of the eastern Donetsk region, a key focus of intense fighting during the war, which has lasted more than four years.
Prime Big Deal Days begins October 6, but early offers are already available. The roundup highlights more than 27 deals worth considering, with products from Dyson, Garmin, Ninja and other brands discounted by at least 20%.

Chechen activist Mansur Movlayev attempted to take his own life after 16 months in pretrial detention in Almaty, according to his lawyer. Lawyers cited by the Russian Anti-War Committee said he received help and was not in danger. Kazakhstan is considering extraditing him to Russia, despite a UN order to delay the transfer while his complaint is reviewed; rights activists fear he could face torture and death in Chechnya.
The World Trade Organization urged members on Tuesday to overhaul global trade rules, warning that failure to act could fragment the system, significantly cut economic output and hit poorer countries hardest.
A midday roundup of the most important stories from Europe and beyond on September 15, 2026, covering breaking news, world affairs, business, entertainment, politics, culture and travel.
Catch up on the most important stories from Europe and beyond on 15 September 2026, including the latest news from the world, business, entertainment, politics, culture and travel.
ANZ Group Holdings CEO Nuno Matos warned that the risks associated with artificial intelligence are unpredictable and declined to rule out large-scale job cuts as the bank adopts the rapidly evolving technology.
Takis Georgakopoulos became Fiserv’s chief executive as the company faced major cultural and structural challenges, putting him in charge of a particularly difficult turnaround.
Despite growing speculation that Chinese vehicles may soon be sold in the U.S., John Murphy does not expect Chinese automakers to enter the market by 2030. The forecast also points to a larger role for hybrids.

Russian newspapers highlight the EU’s possible transfer of frozen Russian assets from Belgium as pressure to fund Ukraine grows, a joint call by leaders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for greater control over independence referendums, and a corruption scandal that is further weakening Western confidence in Kyiv.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the European Commission still wants to confiscate Russian assets and return them only after Moscow pays some form of reparations to Ukraine. He said Russia would ensure the return of its foreign exchange reserves and had no doubt about it.
The first of five immigration-related questions in Alberta’s Oct. 19 referendum proposes giving the province more control over immigration.
Analysts warn that oil prices could surge sharply if the pipeline stays offline longer than the estimated five-to-seven-day inventory cushion.

The war with Iran has pushed the world into an energy crisis. The closure of a Saudi oil pipeline after an attack could worsen the crisis and affect the movement of oil.
The war with Iran has plunged the world into an energy crisis. The crisis could worsen after an attack led to the closure of a Saudi Arabian oil pipeline, potentially disrupting the movement of oil.
At least 11 people were killed and 64 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, local authorities said. Russia launched 200 Shahed-type drones on Sept. 15, while Ukrainian air defenses shot down or suppressed 187. A diesel locomotive in Volyn Oblast near Poland was hit and caught fire, with no injuries reported.

World Taekwondo has removed all previously imposed restrictions on organizing international tournaments in Russia, the Russian Taekwondo Federation said. The decision was taken at an extraordinary session in Chuncheon, South Korea. Earlier, the IOC Executive Board had recommended lifting restrictions on Russian athletes.
U.N. officials said efforts to contain Ebola in eastern Congo were starting to produce results, but warned that the epidemic remained massive and would take months to control.
The Arab Media Summit in Dubai marks its 25th year and, according to Mona Ghane l Marri in an Euronews op-ed, has grown beyond a city-organised event. It now serves as a shared platform for an increasingly diverse, global and interconnected media industry.
A South Korean lawmaker said Donald Trump was expected to disclose details of Seoul’s planned investment in the United States on Friday. The comment came during questioning of the country’s nominee for finance minister.
MEP Brando Benifei says the EU has the power to lead efforts toward a global treaty on artificial intelligence. He warns that citizens need to be worried about real risks from AI, including a possible loss of control.
The American Reserve Modernization Act will receive its first House committee vote on Sept. 16. It would establish the federal Bitcoin reserve in law, but has 23 cosponsors—22 Republicans and only one Democrat, who is not on the committee—raising doubts about whether bipartisan support for crypto-market rules extends to a government Bitcoin reserve.

Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate stayed at 1.8% in August, marking the fourth straight month at that level, according to government data released on Tuesday.
AFP News AgencyRussia’s Defense Ministry said its forces struck Ukrainian military energy and transport infrastructure and temporary deployment sites in 139 districts over the past 24 hours. A logistics center in Velikaya Balka, Odesa Region, and two cargo vessels at the port of Chernomorsk were hit, while Ukrainian authorities reported damage, fires and power outages in several regions.
Canterbury-Bankstown has overwhelmingly approved a ban on AI smart glasses at its public pools, after residents raised fears about covert filming in changing rooms, pools and near schools. Mayor Bilal El-Hayek called them “pervert glasses”. Brisbane, Yarra and Randwick councils have also introduced similar restrictions, while federal privacy reforms are being considered.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China rejects turning outer space into a “war zone” and urged the United States to stop expanding its military buildup there.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged the United States to halt its expanding military buildup and preparations for war in outer space, and to protect global strategic stability through concrete actions. Responding to a question about the US Space Force’s claim to possess in-orbit weapons, Guo said China opposes weaponizing space, turning it into a battlefield and starting an arms race there.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said fear-mongering, confrontation and vicious competition would obstruct sound global AI governance and serve nobody’s interests. After AI industry leaders urged slower frontier development, he called for open and inclusive AI progress for the benefit of all humanity.
Most Gulf stock markets declined in early Tuesday trading after a fresh Houthi assault on Saudi Arabia and a sharp fall in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz raised fears that the regional conflict could spread further.
Tonkeeper has changed its name to Keeper, and the wallet now supports seven blockchain networks, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Ukraine’s parliament dismissed Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko on Sept. 15 without a dissenting vote. The move came as anti-corruption agencies clashed with his office over an investigation into alleged protection for scam call centers and after Kravchenko announced charges against NABU chief Semen Kryvonos. His approved trip to a Paris conference, which he did not attend, also drew scrutiny.

Cathie Wood-led Ark Invest sold $14 million worth of Circle shares and reduced its Coinbase holdings as cryptocurrency stocks rallied. The investment firm routinely adds to and trims its crypto stock positions throughout the year.

Hong Kong-based crypto exchange CoinEx will shut down after nine years in business. Founder and CEO Haipo Yang said rising security and compliance risks led him to reject a sale and choose what he called a “clean ending.”

Republican Senator Mitch McConnell returned to the US Senate on Monday, marking his first appearance there since he fell at his home on June 14.

Senator Mitch McConnell has returned to Congress and cast his first Senate vote since a fall and hospitalisation in June. Saying he is not yet fully recovered, the 84-year-old Republican pledged to be present for difficult votes when his party needs him, amid concerns over his absence and ability to complete his term.

Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell returned to the Senate after a three-month absence.
Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell returned to the U.S. Senate on Monday for the first time since June 14, when he was hospitalized after falling at home.

Eighty-four-year-old Kentucky Republican Mitch McConnell is back in Washington after a fall, hospitalization, pneumonia and weeks of rehabilitation kept him away from the Senate for three months.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, who has been away from the Senate since a fall led to his hospitalization in June, says he is set to return Monday night.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., returned to the Senate on Monday after being absent for more than three months.
Sen. Mitch McConnell has gone back to Capitol Hill for the first time in three months, following an absence attributed to health issues. He was seen leaving his home in a wheelchair while heading to the Capitol.
India’s consumer regulator is stepping up an investigation into Apple’s software warranty terms, according to documents. The probe concerns allegations that the iOS 18 update damaged iPhone functionality and forced users to pay “exorbitant” repair costs.
In May 1935, the Central Red Army crossed the Jinsha River at Jiaopingdu in Huili City, Sichuan Province. Thirty-seven boatmen using seven wooden boats spent seven days and nights helping more than 20,000 soldiers cross. Visitors now come to retrace this chapter of the Long March.

A Bangladesh court has sentenced seven aides of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death in connection with the 2024 uprising.

AFP News AgencyThe United Nations is urging full access for investigators as the number of deaths in Gaza rises. A request to gain access to Gaza’s uncounted dead is raising questions that could influence how the war is judged.
Analysts said a proposed overhaul by India’s market regulator of derivatives expiry-day settlement could reduce volatility and remove a major overhang from the options market. The changes could also ease concerns that have weighed on trading since the closing auction session was introduced.
The US Supreme Court has rejected Donald Trump’s effort to restrict mail-in voting before the November midterm elections. The decision keeps states’ existing ballot-mailing practices in place and deals a setback to the president’s attempt to change election rules, while preventing possible last-minute legal challenges as voting begins in some states.

The US Supreme Court rejected Donald Trump’s attempt to restrict mail ballots ahead of the midterm election. The ruling allows states to keep sending ballots through procedures they have used for years; mail ballots have made up nearly one-third of votes cast.

The US Supreme Court has refused to revive a Trump administration rule allowing the Postal Service to reject mail-in ballots that failed new requirements. The unsigned order said the administration was unlikely to prevail on the merits, while critics warned the restrictions could disrupt thousands of ballots and disenfranchise voters who depend on mail voting before the midterms.

The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to impose new mail-ballot restrictions before November’s midterm elections. States can keep their existing voting procedures after election officials warned that last-minute changes could disrupt ballot distribution.

The US Supreme Court rejected Donald Trump’s restrictions on mail-in ballots ahead of the midterm elections. Only two of the court’s six conservative justices dissented in the nine-member panel’s decision.

The US Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration’s request to impose new restrictions on mail-in ballots before November’s midterm elections, upholding a temporary block on USPS requirements. Justice Brett Kavanaugh said the final ruling could still favour Trump as litigation continues.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to let the Postal Service enforce a rule aimed at mail-in ballots, dealing a setback to President Donald Trump’s effort to curb voting by mail before November’s midterm elections, which will decide control of Congress.
The US Supreme Court refused to authorize the Postal Service to enforce new mail-ballot restrictions for congressional midterm elections, rebuffing the Trump administration’s request for intervention after early voting began in several states.

The US Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s effort to restrict mail-in voting before the November midterm elections. The justices said election officials lacked enough time to implement the rule, allowing states to continue sending mail ballots under their longstanding procedures.

Before the midterm elections, the Supreme Court turned down Donald Trump’s push to curb ballots submitted by mail.

The Supreme Court left in place a lower-court ruling that blocks the U.S. Postal Service from putting new restrictions on mail-in voting into effect.
The court refused to let President Donald Trump change the nationwide process through which voters receive mail ballots, rejecting the controversial plan.

The Supreme Court rejected Donald Trump’s request to lift a block on a rule concerning mail-in ballots. Justice Brett Kavanaugh said applying the Postal Service rule in the 2026 midterm elections would be “arbitrary and capricious.”
The U.S. Supreme Court has, for now, rejected President Donald Trump’s effort to restrict mail ballots ahead of the midterm elections.

The Supreme Court ruled that Trump cannot enforce a new regulation on mail-in ballots. As a result, a Postal Service measure that could prevent ballots from being sent to voters will not take effect for November’s midterm elections.
Malaysia has detained more containers bound for Israel at a major port, Bloomberg reports.

U.S. envoy John Coale, appointed by President Donald Trump to negotiate the release of political prisoners in Belarus, returned to Minsk on Tuesday for his first meeting with President Alexander Lukashenko in six months.
Six months after succeeding his father, Mojtaba Khamenei has yet to appear publicly. His late wife’s family told state-affiliated outlets that he is a film enthusiast familiar with Christopher Nolan, follows start-ups and cognitive science, and works diligently on his English.
Since Kherson was liberated in fall 2022, the city has remained on the frontline between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the southern theater, enduring ongoing fire as the United States pushes for peace.

Russian presidential aide Nikolay Patrushev said Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and other Polish leaders were reviving “unhealthy ambitions” by speaking of restoring Poland’s greatness, creating a “sanitary cordon” against Russia and shielding Europe from a “mythical” Russian threat. Patrushev also recalled being surprised by Sikorski’s limited knowledge of history and Russia.
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