Belarus has released 25 political prisoners in exchange for the United States lifting sanctions on two companies. Hundreds remain imprisoned, including journalists, trade unionists and others who backed the 2020 protests against Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s re-election.

Belaruspolitical prisonersUS sanctions

U.S. envoy John Coale said Washington will lift sanctions on Belarusian companies Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom after Belarus releases 25 prisoners as a “goodwill gesture.” He said efforts to improve U.S.-Belarus relations and secure further releases would continue.

BelarusUnited Statespolitical prisonerssanctions

Belarus will release 25 prisoners under an interim agreement with the United States, in exchange for Washington lifting sanctions on two companies. The sides say they will pursue broader negotiations, including the release of additional prisoners and further sanctions relief.

BelarusUnited Statespolitical prisonerssanctions

U.S. special envoy John Coale said Belarus will release 25 political prisoners while Washington lifts sanctions on the Belarusian companies Lakokraska and Bellesbumprom. The prisoners’ identities and destinations remain unknown. Viasna estimated Belarus had 889 political prisoners at the end of August.

Belaruspolitical prisonersUS sanctionsdiplomacy

A tribunal in The Hague found former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci guilty of war crimes committed as part of the Kosovo Liberation Army, including murder, torture and illegal arrests. Thaci received a 25-year prison sentence, while other former KLA figures were also convicted and sentenced.

Kosovowar crimesHashim Thaci

An EU-backed court convicted former Kosovo president Hashim Thaçi on Wednesday of four war-crimes counts tied to Kosovo’s fight for independence from Serbia in the 1990s. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Kosovowar crimesHashim Thaçi

Former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci has been sentenced to 25 years for war crimes. He resigned as president and surrendered to the court after being indicted in 2020.

KosovoHashim Thaciwar crimes

The Kosovo war crimes tribunal in The Hague convicted former president Hashim Thaci of illegal or arbitrary arrest and detention, cruel treatment and torture as war crimes. He received a 25-year sentence with credit for time served, leaving him to serve about 19 years after nearly six years in custody.

KosovoHashim Thaciwar crimesspecial court

An EU-backed court convicted former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci on four war-crimes counts linked to the country’s war for independence from Serbia and sentenced him to 25 years in prison.

KosovoHashim Thaciwar crimesThe Hague

Hashim Thaçi, who previously served as Kosovo’s prime minister and president, was convicted by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers of murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention. Tens of thousands gathered in Prishtina expecting his acquittal and watched the proceedings via livestream.

KosovoHashim Thaçiwar crimesHague court

Canada, hybrid warfare, climate change, digital safety and migration were the central themes of Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the Union address.

EUUrsula von der Leyenmigrationclimate change

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed barring children under 13 from social media, online games and chatbots in her annual State of the European Union speech in Strasbourg on Wednesday. She also called for closer EU-Canada ties, including associate-member status for Canada.

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Following Ursula von der Leyen’s address, MEPs Li Andersson and Lukas Mandl analyse and debate the European Commission president’s speech in a live edition of The Ring.

European CommissionUrsula von der LeyenEuropean Parliamentpolitical debate

In her State of the Union address, Ursula von der Leyen urged a slower pace for developing frontier AI models because of their potential to be disruptive. She also pledged closer safety cooperation with Canada, the UK and other like-minded countries.

EUfrontier AIAI safety

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen is due to address the European parliament on the EU’s place in an increasingly complicated world. Security, competitiveness, nationalism and populism, digital regulation, migration, and climate and energy are expected to feature. Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, will attend as Canada seeks closer EU ties.

EUUrsula von der LeyenEuropean ParliamentEU policy

Strasbourg is buzzing ahead of Ursula von der Leyen’s long-awaited State of the European Union speech, with the European Parliament preparing for the closely watched address.

EUUrsula von der LeyenEuropean Parliament

At least 20 people have been killed after a damaged apartment building collapsed overnight in Gaza City. Rescuers are combing through the rubble for survivors, with dozens still trapped, including women and children.

Gaza Citybuilding collapserescue

Local authorities said a war-damaged residential building in Gaza City collapsed early Wednesday, killing at least 20 people, including several children. Dozens more were feared trapped beneath the rubble.

Gaza Citybuilding collapsecasualties

A building housing about six families collapsed in Gaza City overnight into Wednesday, killing at least 19 people, including children. Rescuers were searching through the rubble for dozens of others who had been sheltering inside.

Gaza Citybuilding collapsecasualties

A Gaza City building sheltering displaced Palestinian families collapsed after being weakened by earlier Israeli strikes, killing at least 12 people. Rescuers are searching for about 100 people, including 50 children, but say the effort is severely hindered by a lack of heavy machinery. Fourteen injured people were taken to hospital, while voices were still heard beneath the rubble.

Gaza Citybuilding collapseIsraeli strikesrescue operation

A building collapsed overnight in Gaza City, killing 19 people, including at least 12 women and children. Palestinians continue to face perilous conditions during the truce.

Gazabuilding collapsetrucePalestinians

At least 12 people were killed and dozens remain missing after a multi-storey building housing displaced families collapsed in Gaza City on 16 September, according to Shifa Hospital.

Gaza Citybuilding collapsecasualties

Kraft Heinz CEO Steve Cahillane says changes in the grocery marketplace require the company to shift strategy so its legacy brands remain affordable for shoppers watching their spending.

Kraft Heinzconsumer goodsfood prices

On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed creating an opening for Canada to take the European Union’s inaugural associate-member position.

European UnionCanadaassociate membershipdiplomacy

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting Strasbourg to pursue a “unique alliance” with the EU. Ursula von der Leyen says she wants to open the door to Canada becoming an associate member, with closer cooperation in areas including manufacturing and energy. The push is being driven by Trump’s escalating tariff dispute with Ottawa and Canada’s desire to reduce reliance on Washington.

CanadaEuropean UnionMark CarneyDonald Trumptariffs

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Wednesday that Canada could become the 27-nation bloc’s first “associate member”. She proposed closer cooperation with Canadian leader Mark Carney on technology, defence and energy.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney received a standing ovation at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen raised the possibility of Canada becoming the bloc’s first “associate member” and called for the relationship to reach its highest possible level through closer cooperation on technology, defence and energy.

European UnionCanadadiplomacyMark Carney

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen suggested that Canada could become an “associate member” of the European Union while delivering her State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

European UnionCanadaassociate membership

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed proposals for Canada to become the EU’s first “associate member”, with closer cooperation in areas including energy, critical minerals, batteries, AI, cyber and economic security. The proposal comes as Canada seeks a “unique alliance” with the EU amid tense relations and collapsed trade talks with the US.

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The US Department of Justice announced charges against five alleged Russian intelligence agents accused of recruiting a global network to plot attacks and carry out assassinations on orders from the Kremlin. The suspects remain at large.

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Bitcoin’s performance is diverging from the Dollar Index and U.S. stocks as markets look ahead to the Federal Reserve. The item offers a day-ahead view for Sept. 16, 2026.

BitcoinDollar IndexU.S. stocksFederal Reserve

With inflation and consumer prices rising, Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting is being closely watched for signals about interest rates in the present and future. The Fed is expected to raise rates for the first time since 2023 and the first time under newly appointed Chair Kevin Warsh.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesinflationeconomy

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates for the first time since 2023, as persistent inflation and rising borrowing costs worldwide drive the move. That will intensify scrutiny of how Kevin Warsh characterizes the first monetary-policy change under his watch.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesinflation

Bitcoin is hovering near $80,000 as traders build stablecoin positions that could flow back into the market once uncertainty around the Federal Reserve clears. A surprise decision to hold rates could present a greater risk.

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Global shares are rising as investors await the Federal Reserve’s interest rate decision, with expectations for a rate hike running high. U.S. stock futures have edged upward.

global stocksFederal Reserveinterest rates

The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates for the first time since 2023. The consequential move comes less than two months before the midterm elections.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesUS economy

The 10-year Treasury yield is hovering above 5% as investors await the Federal Reserve’s decision. The Fed is widely expected to raise interest rates on Wednesday.

Federal Reserveinterest ratesTreasury yields

The Washington Post reports that the Trump administration is planning to sell Israel $2.8 billion worth of bombs—40,000 units weighing one ton each.

Donald TrumpIsraelarms sales

The US administration is preparing a roughly $2.8 billion sale of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, The Washington Post reported, citing sources. The package would include 40,000 bombs and 20,000 penetrator warheads, and would be carried out through the Foreign Military Financing mechanism.

United StatesIsraelarms salemilitary financing

The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8bn package of 907kg bombs for Israel, including 40,000 munitions and warheads designed to hit hardened underground structures. The proposed sale has drawn criticism over Israel’s use of similar bombs in Gaza and Lebanon, while some US lawmakers say they will seek to block it.

United StatesIsraelarms salesGaza

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine is ready for an energy ceasefire, but Russia has not agreed. Donald Trump claimed Moscow and Kyiv had agreed not to target each other’s energy infrastructure, though no agreement has been confirmed and strikes have continued.

UkraineRussiaenergy ceasefireDonald Trump

The US has announced visa restrictions on some South Africans, as Donald Trump’s administration continues to accuse South Africa of discriminating against white Afrikaners. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the measures would target foreigners who enable race-based discrimination, violence or uncompensated land confiscation policies.

United StatesSouth Africavisa restrictionsracial discrimination

The United States has announced new visa restrictions targeting South African nationals whom Secretary of State Marco Rubio says promote race-based discrimination against white citizens, incite violence or enable uncompensated land confiscation. President Cyril Ramaphosa says there is no evidence of discrimination against white people in South Africa.

United StatesSouth Africavisa restrictionsrace discrimination

The United States announced visa restrictions on certain foreign nationals linked to South African policies it says discriminate against racial minorities or could permit land expropriation without compensation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Pretoria had failed to address earlier concerns. The measures target alleged promoters of race-based discrimination, violence or uncompensated land confiscation, but are not a blanket ban on South African citizens.

United StatesSouth AfricaVisa restrictionsLand reform

The US has imposed visa restrictions on people it accuses of discriminating against South Africa’s white minority. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Pretoria had not adequately addressed Washington’s concerns, while South Africa has repeatedly rejected allegations of persecution or arbitrary land confiscation.

United StatesSouth Africavisa restrictionsracial inequality

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new US policy restricting visas for South African officials alleged to be involved in “race-based discrimination” and “uncompensated land seizures.”

United StatesSouth Africavisa restrictions

The United States announces visa restrictions targeting South African nationals over what it describes as “race-based discrimination.” Rubio says those responsible for the injustices have no place in the United States.

United StatesSouth Africavisa restrictionsracial discrimination