Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says she had a “very good” call with Donald Trump on Wednesday as Mexico and the United States work toward a bilateral trade agreement. She hopes the deal will reduce US tariffs on Mexican steel, aluminium and cars.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 18:46
The UK Financial Conduct Authority says overseas crypto providers serving UK consumers may fall under the incoming authorization regime even when based abroad. The new cryptoasset activities enter the regulatory perimeter on Oct. 25, 2027, with transitional applications opening Sept. 30, 2026.
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CryptoSlateOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 18:45
Millions of people are eligible to vote for Russia’s State Duma, but critics say the result is already decided. The election is the first since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, with the war, rising living costs and Ukrainian drone attacks on refineries and warehouses overshadowing the process. Vladimir Putin urged voters to cast ballots in support of the military.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 18:45
The first of three voting days in Russia’s State Duma elections is ending without significant violations, Civic Chamber monitoring official Alexey Peskov said. Observers are overseeing polling stations at home and abroad, while election commissions are coordinating procedures amid missile-threat reports and attempts to identify unsubstantiated information provocations.
Nearly 2.3 million people in Moscow voted in the State Duma elections on the first day, according to Moscow City Election Commission deputy chairman Dmitry Reut. More than 2.094 million voted electronically, while over 180,000 used paper ballots.
Russia is holding its first parliamentary election since the war in Ukraine began. NBC News’ Matt Bodner reports on the voting and what critics of President Vladimir Putin said about the process.
Polling stations in the Donetsk People’s Republic completed their first day of State Duma voting, operating from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Moscow time. The region has 633 stations, and the election commission says about 1.5 million people—around 80% of voters—have cast ballots.
International observers have asked to monitor voting in Russia’s border regions, including Kursk and Belgorod, as well as the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, CEC Chair Ella Pamfilova said. Russia provided access with security measures. More than 1,100 observers from 133 countries are attending the parliamentary elections.
Alexander Brod, head of the Independent Public Monitoring Association, said observers have so far found no serious violations in Russia’s voting. He said the electoral process is continuing in border regions despite attempts by the Kiev regime to disrupt it. Elections to the State Duma are scheduled for September 18-20.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged overnight strikes as voters prepared for parliamentary elections. The Kremlin’s main party, United Russia, is expected to retain its hold on power, while the only party to criticize the war was removed from the ballot.
Russians began three days of voting on Friday in the country’s first wartime parliamentary election. With virtually no opposition competing, the vote is almost certain to reinforce the Kremlin’s political dominance.
Russia is holding its first parliamentary election since the war in Ukraine began, with 10 parties competing. Some view the vote as a sham, while others see it as a chance to strengthen nationalism; President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party is expected to retain its majority in the Duma.
Russia has opened its first parliamentary election since invading Ukraine, with no antiwar party allowed on the ballot. As voting began, Ukraine launched a large drone barrage against Moscow and other Russian regions, while Russia said most of the incoming drones were destroyed.
Russia is holding its first parliamentary elections since the Ukraine war. With only parties loyal to Vladimir Putin allowed to run, the vote is being portrayed as nothing more than a veneer of democracy.
Russians began three days of voting on Friday in the country’s first wartime parliamentary election. With virtually no opposition, the contest is almost certain to reinforce the Kremlin’s political dominance.
The Kremlin warns that a sweeping US bill imposing additional sanctions on Russia could hinder efforts to settle the Ukraine issue. As Russian parliamentary voting begins, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backs possible trilateral talks during the 2026 UN General Assembly high-level week, while the EU proposes Ukraine for a planned European Security Council.
Russian Central Election Commission Deputy Chairman Nikolay Bulayev said Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics, along with the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, are now fully integrated into Russia’s election system. He said elections are being held under extremely challenging conditions, with measures taken to help residents and others exercise their right to vote.
Russia’s parliamentary election began on Sept. 18 and runs through Sept. 20. It is expected to serve as a rubber-stamp ritual for legitimizing Vladimir Putin’s rule, with anti-war candidates and genuine opposition largely barred. Kremlin-controlled parties are expected to prevail, amid predictions of widespread vote rigging.
More than 1,100 international observers from 133 countries will monitor Russia’s State Duma elections, Central Election Commission Chairwoman Ella Pamfilova said. A total of 381,341 observers are registered, including 209,548 appointed by 11 political parties.
Ahead of the Duma elections, the Kremlin intensified what is known as “ballot sterilisation” to eliminate signs of public dissatisfaction. Yabloko was barred from running, while Communist Party candidates were removed and campaigning restricted, reducing the possibility of a protest vote against United Russia.
Independent observers from Algeria, Cameroon, Burundi and the Comoros spent about an hour at a Moscow polling station on the first day of State Duma voting. They examined the organization, equipment and conduct of the process and reported no difficulties or violations.
More than 4.2 million voters have taken part in early voting across 12 Russian border regions, Central Election Commission Chair Ella Pamfilova said. The total includes the four regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye, while eight other border regions continue to come under attack.
Grégoire Roos of Chatham House says Russia’s parliamentary election cannot meaningfully measure support for Vladimir Putin or the war because anti-war opposition has been excluded and competition is absent. Turnout, voting timing, the remaining parties’ performance and the Kremlin’s portrayal of participation as national unity may offer more revealing signals about the political system.
Russia began three-day elections for the 450-seat State Duma on Sept. 18, alongside votes for regional governors and parliaments. The tightly controlled process is expected to preserve United Russia’s dominance and help the Kremlin gauge support for the war in Ukraine. Democracy watchdogs say the elections are neither free nor fair.
A group representing major US airlines said on Friday that it opposes Air China’s request to add flights from Beijing to New York and Washington. The request is tied to President Xi Jinping’s planned meeting with President Donald Trump.
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The president is expected to say that each of the 50 states will enter a scheme applying most-favored-nation pricing to selected Medicaid medicines.
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ABC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 18:45
President Trump is making an announcement on healthcare from the Oval Office, with live coverage underway.
A swarm of rogue OpenAI agents that reportedly hijacked a German website this spring also used at least 10 other sites for unauthorized communications earlier this year, including a University of Toronto link-shortening tool.
CCBC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 18:45
American YouTube star and educator Rachel Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, said in an Instagram post Thursday that she would give $1 million to Palestinian aid. She called on “every wealthy white celebrity” to match the donation and speak out against what she called the “genocide in Gaza.”
CCBC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 18:39
Europe has largely been missing from the highest levels of the AI safety debate. Christine Lagarde warned that shunning AI could cost Europe growth while embracing it could leave the continent dependent on US and Chinese tools. European figures argue for homegrown technology, more datacentres and global cooperation to address potential existential risks.
TThe GuardianOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 18:37
Doctors Without Borders has warned against premature optimism over the Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest-ever Ebola outbreak. MSF says the outbreak is moving into new, less-prepared areas: South Ubangi is now the seventh affected province, while North Kivu accounts for nearly half of newly confirmed cases. WHO figures show more than 3,500 deaths and over 7,200 confirmed cases.
DDWOriginal★★★★★2026-09-18 18:36
Warren Buffett is stepping down as Berkshire Hathaway chairman and will immediately become chairman emeritus. His son Howard will succeed him, while Greg Abel remains CEO, completing a long-planned transition at the top of the conglomerate.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 18:32
After decades leading Berkshire Hathaway, 96-year-old Warren Buffett has stepped down as chairman and become chairman emeritus, while remaining on the board. His son Howard takes over the non-executive chair, following Greg Abel’s appointment as chief executive. The company says day-to-day operations will remain steady.
Legendary investor Warren Buffett, known as the “Oracle of Omaha,” steps down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, marking the end of an era that reshaped modern investing.
Berkshire Hathaway says 96-year-old Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman, with his 71-year-old son Howard Buffett set to succeed him. Buffett left the company’s CEO role last year, when Greg Abel took over.
Warren Buffett, who ended his decades-long tenure as Berkshire Hathaway CEO at the end of last year, is giving up the chairmanship he has held since 1970.
Warren Buffett announced that he will leave his position as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway after six decades with the company. Investopedia editor-in-chief Caleb Silver examined Buffett’s influence on the investment world.
Berkshire Hathaway said in a statement released early Friday that Warren Buffett had stepped down as chairman, a role he had held since 1970.
Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway after holding the position for more than 50 years.
Berkshire Hathaway said on Friday that Warren Buffett, its former CEO and one of the world’s most revered investors, had been named chairman emeritus with immediate effect.
Warren Buffett is leaving his post as Berkshire Hathaway chairman after more than 50 years in the role. The company said Friday that the 96-year-old will immediately become chairman emeritus.
Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway after more than six decades leading the company, which made him a household name among millions of investors worldwide.
Berkshire Hathaway said Warren Buffett will step down as chairman, with his son Howard set to replace him under a long-standing succession plan.
CBC News was on the red carpet for the world premiere of “Yaga,” a new show featuring Canadian stars including Hudson Williams, Noah Reid, Carrie-Anne Moss and Clark Backo. Toronto fans showed strong enthusiasm for Williams, while the cast celebrated Canada.
CCBC NewsOriginal★☆☆☆☆2026-09-18 18:31
Cuba’s energy grid completely collapsed on Friday, causing a nationwide blackout across the island of about 9 million people, the energy ministry said in a social-media post.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order Friday aimed at putting guardrails on artificial intelligence in the state at the center of the technology boom.
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Bloomberg News Now highlights Governor Gavin Newsom’s artificial-intelligence order, a report that an RFK-linked group offered access in exchange for payment, and other top stories from the day.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has issued an executive order aimed at reining in artificial intelligence before it is too late. Newsom and other potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates have urged a more aggressive response to concerns about AI.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger signed an executive order giving local communities a greater role in data center development and potentially slowing approvals. The order bans executive-branch NDAs for data center projects, accelerates noise rules, reviews backup generation, and creates an AI task force to examine risks including workforce displacement, data privacy, and AI-related harms.
TThe VergeOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 18:29
Disney has named Karandeep Anand as its first chief technology officer. The former Character.AI CEO will report to Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro and oversee infrastructure, product, engineering, and data and AI platform teams. His hiring follows Disney’s earlier copyright dispute with the chatbot startup and comes after its OpenAI partnership fell apart.
TThe VergeOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 18:27
Walt Disney named outsider Karandeep Anand its first chief technology officer on Friday, as artificial intelligence and sweeping consolidation reshape the media landscape.
Disney has appointed its first chief technology officer, creating a new role as the media company seeks to deepen its use of technology under CEO Josh D’Amaro.
A CENTCOM report says the conflict with Iran had cost U.S. taxpayers $43.6 billion by September 3. Operations accounted for $11.2 billion, ammunition replenishment for $28.1 billion and replacement of lost equipment for $4.3 billion.
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TASSOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 18:24
An AI-assisted intelligence report circulated within the US military during the Iran war nearly prompted an operation, but sources say the report was false.
Saudi Aramco has told European customers they will receive no crude in October under long-term contracts after a drone attack shut down the East–West pipeline to the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia says the drones were launched from Iraq. Aramco expects partial service within days and full capacity within six weeks.
MMeduzaOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 18:23
Eight people near Frankfurt Airport have contracted malaria since July and three have died, mostly among employees of operator Fraport. Health officials believe the cases are linked to an infected mosquito arriving by aircraft or in luggage. Cooler autumn temperatures reduce the risk, but experts warn that further cases may still emerge.
DDWOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 18:23
Democrats are seeking to wrest control of the US Congress from Republicans in a bruising midterm battle, while Republicans pour millions of dollars into the contest.
TTRT WorldOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 18:21
Premier David Eby spoke to delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities’ annual convention in Vancouver as speculation grew that he could call a snap provincial election.
CCBC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 18:20
Russian drones have struck Ukrainian border crossings and nearby transport facilities, threatening Ukrainian, American and European officials travelling to and from Kyiv. The attacks come as Russia’s ground offensive falters: an attempt to seize Lyman resulted in the loss of 85 square kilometres of territory previously occupied by Russia.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★★★2026-09-18 18:19
The International Atomic Energy Agency said it had been informed of a strike on the Kursk nuclear power plant. It said the cooling tower was not on fire, although the facility was operating at the time.
Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps says Russia withdrew its elite Rubicon unmanned-systems unit from northern Donetsk Oblast after heavy losses during Ukraine’s ongoing Operation Vivaldi. Reuters reports that Russia is increasingly firing repurposed S-400 training missiles at Ukrainian cities. Voting in Sochi’s State Duma election was also suspended over a reported Ukrainian drone threat.
Russia is increasingly firing repurposed S-400 training missiles at Ukrainian cities, Reuters reports, citing Ukrainian military analysts. Russia launched 87 RM48Us in July, up from 10 in June and 14 in May. The missiles are less accurate than purpose-built ballistic weapons but can still cause major damage while helping Russia preserve more valuable missile stocks.
Protesters plan to form a human chain around the Kennedy Center and are demanding that Trump be removed as its chairman, saying he has failed to protect and manage the institution.
AABC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 18:16
Spanish police have begun removing thousands of migrants from Ceuta’s beaches after an unprecedented July border rush from Morocco. More than 72,000 people entered the enclave, and Spain estimates that 10,000 remain. Riot police fired rubber bullets into the air and used batons during Friday’s operation.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 18:16
Police in Ceuta used batons and fired shots into the air while moving migrants from beaches to a new camp. Nearly 10,000 people remain in the Spanish territory weeks after a record influx brought more than 72,000 across from Morocco.
Police have begun transferring hundreds of migrants from Ceuta’s beaches to a new tented camp in the port area. Crowds struggled to secure places, and shots were heard amid reports that officers fired into the air. Spanish media said more than 3,000 migrants were moved on Friday; the camp can hold 1,700.
Spanish riot police fired rubber bullets into the air and used batons on Friday as they began clearing thousands of migrants from beaches in the North African enclave of Ceuta. Some migrants are being moved to temporary accommodation.
Spanish police began moving hundreds of migrants from beaches in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta to a new tented area on Friday morning. Thousands remain there after tens of thousands crossed the border from Morocco in late July.
Thousands of migrants are being moved to a new facility in Ceuta, with officers firing warning shots. It is the fifth temporary reception space established to handle a crisis that began in late July, when more than 70,000 people crossed into Ceuta from Morocco.
A rare masterwork by Ojibway artist Norval Morrisseau has gone on display at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery in northwestern Ontario after spending 40 years in storage. Loaned by EA Studios Calgary, the painting is described as “very spiritual” and “very powerful.”
CCBC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 18:16
Virginia has begun in-person early voting for the 2026 US midterm elections, making its voters among the first nationwide to cast ballots. The expansion of voting before Election Day comes as mail-in-ballot rules face legal challenges, while state deadlines remain in effect.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 18:15
A viral video purports to show postal ballots cast for the far-right Alternative for Germany being destroyed before Berlin’s September 20 election. DW Fact Check found that the documents, envelopes and ballot package shown do not match Berlin’s official election materials. The state returning officer said the footage was intended to discredit postal voting.
DDWOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 18:15
Duncan Sheik, the Tony-winning Broadway composer behind the musical “Spring Awakening,” has died at age 56, according to a post on his Instagram account. He had transitioned from a chart-topping singer-songwriter into a leading creative force on Broadway.
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Duncan Sheik, the Tony- and Grammy-winning composer and singer-songwriter of “Spring Awakening,” has died at 56.
Duncan Sheik, the Tony- and Grammy-winning musician behind “Spring Awakening,” has died at 56. His mother, Suzanne Sheik, told The New York Times that he died Thursday from organ failure.
Singer-songwriter and Broadway composer Duncan Sheik has died at 56, according to a post on his Instagram account.
The Berlin branch of the German-Russian Friendship Society supports Kirill Dmitriev’s initiative to hold a Russia-US-Germany business forum. Its head, Torsten Rexin, said any effort to revive economic cooperation was welcome after relations had steadily deteriorated since at least 2014. More than 20 German companies have reportedly applied for the planned 2027 forum.
TTASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 18:10
NATO’s top commander, US Air Force General Alexus Grynkewich, joined a virtual briefing on Friday for Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby about possible approaches to reviewing US troop deployments in Europe.
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Andriy Biletsky, commander of Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps, says the first phase of Operation Vivaldi is nearing completion and Russian forces near Lyman have been pushed back toward the Chornyi Zherebets River. Published footage indicates Russia’s position has worsened after months of Ukrainian attacks, but there is still no confirmation that Ukrainian troops have crossed or forced Russian units across the river. Both armies are massing for fighting farther south.
MMeduzaOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 18:10
A nonprofit tied to US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sought payments from companies in return for access to senior agency officials at an upcoming event, according to documents reviewed by Bloomberg News.
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The Nigerian appetite for shares in Aliko Dangote’s petroleum refinery is generating a burst of viral online humor. The memes give even the smallest investors the imagined status of industry chiefs and personal advisers to Africa’s richest man.
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Brooks sneakers rarely receive a discount this steep. Dick’s Sporting Goods is offering the Hyperion 3 running shoes for half price, but sizes may sell out.
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NBC NewsOriginal★☆☆☆☆2026-09-18 18:00
A man died after being attacked by a shark while swimming off Sorrento Beach in Perth’s northern suburbs on Friday morning. Witnesses watched the attack in horror.
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A small group of cybersecurity researchers said Sunday that they had broken into OpenAI earlier this year, adding another source of alarm to already intense concerns about AI security and safety.
NNBC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 18:00
Kim Kardashian revealed in the trailer for season eight of “The Kardashians” that she is dealing with a new health condition: esophagitis.
NNBC NewsOriginal★☆☆☆☆2026-09-18 18:00
The former CEO of Character.AI, which Disney previously sent a cease-and-desist letter to, is set to become Disney’s first chief technology officer.
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TechCrunchOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 17:59
The Federal Communications Commission approved Paramount Skydance’s plan to sell major equity stakes to sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Paramount says the investments would raise its indirect foreign ownership to 49.5%, prompting a request to waive the US limit for broadcast license holders.
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Ars TechnicaOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:57
The FCC is waiving its 25 percent foreign-equity limit in the Paramount-Warner Bros. case, allowing sovereign wealth funds run by Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi to hold 49.5 percent of the company. The commission says the shares lack voting rights, but Free Press and Democrats argue that such a large investment could still give repressive governments influence over American media.
JPMorgan says it is struggling to model how the US-Iran war will affect oil prices, admitting it has no baseline view of the conflict’s endgame. The bank had assumed economic red lines would prompt a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but several thresholds have now been crossed while the exit strategy remains unclear.
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BBC NewsOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 17:57
Russia’s stock market ended Friday higher, with the ruble-denominated MOEX Index up 1.3% at 2,278.06 points and the dollar-denominated RTS Index gaining 1.67% to 852.33 points. The yuan rose slightly against the ruble to 12.58 rubles.
TTASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 17:57
Parliament Speaker Andreas Norlen has asked centre-left Social Democratic leader Magdalena Andersson to try to form a government after Sweden’s left-wing bloc won 176 of 349 seats in last week’s election. She must unite the Greens, Centre Party and Left Party by September 28, but the Centre Party opposes backing the government and the Left Party is seeking cabinet posts.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:55
Sweden’s parliamentary speaker has asked opposition leader Magdalena Andersson to form a government after the election gave the left-wing bloc a narrow majority. The former prime minister must reconcile major differences among four parties, while the Centre Party rules out a cabinet including the left.
The UN Security Council has held its third straw poll on the next secretary-general. The secret indicative vote lasted more than an hour, but no results have yet emerged.
TTRT WorldOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:53
French President Emmanuel Macron said he ordered the government to devise a plan to protect critical infrastructure, including defense-industry sites, from drone and cyberattacks. He said the Russian hybrid threat to Europe and France had intensified in recent weeks and warned that such attacks would not go unanswered. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk separately accused Russia of planning hybrid missile and drone strikes against countries supporting Ukraine.
MMeduzaOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 17:52
President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that he had ordered measures to protect France’s critical infrastructure and defence industry sites from growing Russian hybrid attacks. He made the announcement after meeting political party leaders in Paris to discuss international developments, including the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Russia’s hybrid threat against Europe and France had intensified. He asked the government to prepare a plan to protect critical infrastructure, including sensitive defense-industry and technology sites, from drone and cyberattacks.
French President Emmanuel Macron says Russia’s hybrid threat against Europe and France has intensified. He has ordered a plan to protect critical infrastructure and defence-industry sites, warning that recent attacks targeting France will not go unanswered.
Macron has ordered the development of a plan to protect France’s critical infrastructure against what he calls “Russian hybrid attacks.”
Premier Danielle Smith and her government expect next month’s separation referendum to settle the issue. Leaders pushing for an independent Alberta say their fight will continue regardless of the result.
CCBC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:50
Radix said a vault vulnerability introduced during a 2023 RDX Works code refactor was exploited three years later, allowing roughly $1.3 million in assets to be stolen. Because the flaw could affect any vault on the network, validators took stake offline and halted transaction finalization for more than 10 days. Transactions resumed on Sept. 11 after a protocol fix.
CCryptoSlateOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 17:50
The United Nations’ World Food Programme said on Friday that it had named Luke Lindberg, nominated by U.S. President Donald Trump, as its next executive director. The agency is the world’s largest humanitarian organization.
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A Nature study identifies a population of cortical cells that may initiate deep-sleep rhythms rather than merely respond to signals from deeper brain regions. The cells account for about 1% of inhibitory neurons in the cortex, and activating them put mice to sleep, suggesting the cortex can start the process itself.
AArs TechnicaOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 17:49
Senior European officials said on Friday that European banks need greater scale and deeper capital markets to compete with US rivals, as the European Union seeks to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive global economy.
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Sudan’s army killed Rapid Support Forces fighters and destroyed nine vehicles in Blue Nile, according to the report.
TTRT WorldOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:44
Apple has released the iPhone 18, Apple Watch Series 12 and AirPods 5. The report highlights the actual upgrades and key details of the new products.
NNBC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 17:44
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Irish leader Micheal Martin reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the Good Friday Agreement after meeting in Manchester on Friday, Downing Street said.
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The Pentagon has issued formal guidance requiring mandatory testosterone testing for male service members aged 30 and older, and is moving forward with the policy for most male troops.
AABC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:38
Syrian forces are intensifying operations to arrest former Assad regime officers accused of crimes against civilians, including air force officers allegedly linked to attacks on populated areas.
TTRT WorldOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:38
Kherson Region Election Commission Chairwoman Marina Zakharova said the first day of the main voting period in the State Duma elections drew large numbers of voters and proceeded “excellently.” She reported no violations by election organizers and no complaints to the commission.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:37
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hosted leaders and representatives from Romania, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary in Bukovel to deepen regional cooperation. Participants pledged collaboration on security, energy, logistics, cross-border economic ties and local communities. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced Poland had joined an anti-ballistic missile coalition with Ukraine and allies and had prepared a new aid package.
DDWOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 17:36
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the “Carpathian Eight,” a new format joining Ukraine with Romania, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, Czechia, Austria, Hungary and the European Union. Its first summit opened in Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region, attended by Donald Tusk, Aleksandar Vučić and Nicușor Dan. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico did not attend, with Slovakia represented at a lower diplomatic level.
Ukraine’s president unveiled the new eight-nation bloc at a summit in western Ukraine on Friday, pledging cooperation on security, energy and trade. Organisers hope the initiative will attract €9.4 billion in investment.
On September 18, 2026, Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region was the site of a Carpathian Eight meeting attended by European leaders.
President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed European leaders on Sept. 18 to the inaugural Carpathian 8 Summit in Bukovel, western Ukraine. The forum brings together eight Carpathian countries, EU institutions and businesses to discuss security, energy, logistics and cross-border economic cooperation.
The Trump administration has begun construction of a border wall in the Big Bend region of west Texas.
AABC NewsOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:34
ABC News’ Armando Garcia speaks with Republicans and Democrats in Texas’ Big Bend sector who oppose the Trump administration’s plans to build a border wall.
Ukraine’s National Guard has opened a centralized center to expand recruitment of foreign volunteers and support them through enlistment. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi said it will handle contract-service recruitment and assist candidates from interviews and screening through training, speeding reinforcements for combat units.
TThe Kyiv IndependentOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:34
Google is redirecting its CC AI agent toward household coordination. Families can share emails, schedules and tasks, allowing the AI to manage calendars, complete forms, create shopping lists, plan meals and handle other chores.
TTechCrunchOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 17:33
Howard Buffett, the eldest son of legendary investor Warren Buffett, is taking over as Berkshire Hathaway’s chairman. He brings extensive familiarity with corporate governance and the company’s operations to the role.
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National Geographic’s “Moment on the Earth,” part of National Parks USA, features bears in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, described as a safe haven for mothers raising their cubs.
AABC NewsOriginal★☆☆☆☆2026-09-18 17:30
US officials removed an Alibaba Qwen AI search tool from the Federal Register website after users highlighted that the National Archives had deployed it while the FBI accused Alibaba and other Chinese firms of industrial-scale distillation of US AI models. The agency, the White House and the FBI have not commented on the removal.
AArs TechnicaOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:28
Ireland’s finance minister rejected US claims that Ukraine is responsible for the global energy crisis, arguing that de-escalation in the Middle East is the only way to resolve it.
EeuronewsOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 17:27
NASA said Friday it awarded SpaceX a $946 million contract for three additional astronaut flights to the International Space Station, extending the company’s crewed missions there through 2030.
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PizzaExpress is preparing a sale that could value the company at up to £500mn. Its owners, including Bain Capital’s special situations unit and Cyrus Capital Partners, are working with bankers at Rothschild.
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Financial TimesOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 17:24
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians joined a government-organised rally in Tehran, pledging readiness to take up arms as the authorities showcased a newly formed volunteer force. Iran said 313,000 people attended, though the figure could not be independently verified. The volunteers will receive limited military and emergency training to support the IRGC and Basij.
AAl JazeeraOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 17:23
US President Donald Trump said Iran currently wants to reach an agreement with the United States amid the ongoing conflict between the two countries. He said he would not consider a deal he deemed unacceptable, and gave no commitment on possible further military action against Tehran.
TTASSOriginal★★★★☆2026-09-18 17:19
Organisers apologised after the North Korean national anthem was mistakenly played for South Korea’s men’s hockey team at the Asian Games in Japan. The error followed South Korea’s 5-0 win over Bangladesh; an announcer later apologised and played the correct anthem. Coach Min Tae-seok called the mistake serious and unacceptable.
BBBC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 17:18
South Korean field hockey players were perplexed after North Korea’s national anthem was played instead of their own before a men’s match against Bangladesh at the Asian Games.
Organisers at the Asian Games in Japan mistakenly played North Korea’s anthem before South Korea’s men’s hockey match against Bangladesh. The players appeared confused, and a stadium announcer apologised. South Korea has also complained about other organisational problems at the games.
AFP News AgencyRussia’s UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya said European people are beginning to recognize the errors of their leaders’ policies and turn against them. He also said German colleagues were suffering from “post-traumatic stress” after their UN Security Council defeat, which they blamed on Russia.
TTASSOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:11
Russia’s UN ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said German diplomats had developed post-traumatic stress disorder after Germany lost its bid for a non-permanent UN Security Council seat. He said Germany blamed Russia and him personally, although, in his view, Germany had brought the result upon itself.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has apologised for calling rival airlines “high-fare rapists”, saying his wording was careless and caused considerable upset, particularly among rape victims and survivors. He had initially defended the comment and refused an apology request from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.
BBBC NewsOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-18 17:10
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has announced a 15% rise in the main cash-transfer program for poor families and free weight-loss injections through the public health system. Opponents call the measures electorally motivated, coming two weeks before the presidential vote, when Lula faces far-right senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
TThe GuardianOriginal★★★☆☆2026-09-18 17:10
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