The Bank of Russia bought 2 billion rubles ($23.80 million) worth of yuan on the domestic market, with settlement on September 18, 2026. Purchases settled on September 17 also amounted to 2 billion rubles. The operations are conducted through the Moscow Exchange’s foreign-exchange section using the yuan-ruble instrument.
After Vladimir Putin announced “partial” mobilization in 2022, Grigory Sverdlin launched Idite Lesom (“Get Lost”) to help Russians avoid mobilization or leave the military. The group says it has assisted more than 82,000 people. Volunteers, psychologists, lawyers, programmers, and designers based outside Russia created guides on raids and draft summonses.
Saudi wealth fund presses LIV Golf’s saviour to prove commitment to tour
FlashTranslated by Minutes
🎤 Syrian megastar Assala returns to Damascus stage
Syrian singer Assala Nasri makes a triumphant comeback to Damascus in a sold-out concert after 15 years of exile due to her opposition to ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad.
🎤 Syrian megastar Assala returns to Damascus stage
Syrian singer Assala Nasri makes a triumphant comeback to Damascus in a sold-out concert after 15 years of exile due to her opposition to ousted ruler Bashar al-Assad.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said transactions using the digital ruble have been available in Russia since September 1, when cryptocurrency circulation also became legal. Legislation signed by the president establishes rules for crypto exchanges, digital depositories and market participants, along with conditions for investors to buy cryptocurrencies.
Iran warned Monday that it would deploy “new weapons with new capabilities” if the United States launched another assault. The warning came after President Donald Trump intensified his rhetoric against Tehran over the weekend while considering a meeting with Iran’s president.
Iran’s GDP fell 10.1 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of the Persian calendar, according to official data, as the US-Israel war hit the economy. Oil and gas activity contracted 26.4 percent, while US pressure and a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz sharply curtailed crude exports and trade.
Iran economyoil and gasUS pressureStrait of Hormuz
The US and Iran are exchanging threats as concern grows that an all-out war could return. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was prepared for a “long-term war” with strategic weapons it has not yet used, while Donald Trump told Fox News he was considering options “if and when do I blow the entire nation up.”
Donald Trump has adopted a less combative approach than usual before meeting Xi Jinping this week, China experts said, pointing to Beijing’s growing leverage from its control of critical minerals.
Donald TrumpXi Jinpingrare earthsUS-China relations
Treasury Secretary Bessent spoke with CNBC as the Trump administration confronts affordability concerns. Over the weekend, Bessent met with his Chinese counterpart, He Lifeng, ahead of a summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urged Japan to reflect on its history of aggression and abandon any attempt at “remilitarization.” He called the US deployment of the Typhon mid-range missile system in Kyushu unacceptable, saying it raises the risk of confrontation and an arms race and threatens regional stability.
Greece’s stock market entered FTSE Russell’s developed-market group on Monday, a move that could draw more international investment. Recent credit-rating upgrades also point to improving public finances.
Authorities say a police officer and a man were wounded in an exchange of gunfire near a synagogue in Belleville, Ont., on Sunday as members of the Jewish community observed Yom Kippur. The man was hospitalized in life-threatening condition.
Officials said a police officer was shot outside a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, while members of the Jewish community were gathered to mark Yom Kippur.
Rostec said its United Engine Corporation additive-manufacturing center produced a batch of muzzle brake-flame suppressor blanks for small arms in nearly one day. Using domestically made titanium powder and optimized printing parameters shortened production and lowered the cost of each part.
Ahead of a meeting with Xi, Trump continues to argue for artificial intelligence, maintaining that the technology does not need additional guardrails even as calls grow for a slowdown.
Donald Trumpartificial intelligenceUS-China relations
Officials from the United States and China discussed creating a mechanism for the two countries to notify each other about AI incidents that could pose a threat to national security.
United StatesChinaartificial intelligencenational security
Hyperliquid has launched BVIV perpetual futures linked to 30-day bitcoin volatility. Deployed through Kinetiq’s Markets frontend and led by Volmex CEO Cole Kennelly, the contracts allow traders to take long or short positions more easily.
Business leaders from Türkiye and the United States are targeting $100 billion in trade at a New York investment forum. The three-day TRICON gathering is organised by Türkiye’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) and its Türkiye-US Business Council (TAİK).
Shanghai Cooperation Organization observers monitoring Russia’s State Duma elections reported high civic engagement among voters. They said voting was calm and orderly, no complaints were received, and precinct staff acted professionally; the mission visited 47 polling stations and noted advanced election technology.
Russia’s Central Election Commission said United Russia won 57.83% with 95% of ballots counted, giving it a projected 355 of 450 State Duma seats. Opposition parties were barred from running, and voting included four Ukrainian regions occupied and illegally annexed by Moscow. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov was re-elected with 99.85%.
Russia electionUnited RussiaVladimir PutinChechnya
RIA Novosti removed a report saying 86 participants in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would receive State Duma mandates through United Russia. The party requested the withdrawal pending clarification, and General Council Secretary Vladimir Yakushev later told TASS that the figure was 49.
Russia electionUnited RussiaState Dumawar participants
Central Election Commission head Ella Pamfilova said turnout in Russia’s State Duma election reached a record 59.32%. With 95.18% of precincts counted, United Russia led the party-list vote with 57.83% and was projected to win 355 seats—well above the 301 needed for a constitutional majority and its largest faction ever in the chamber.
Preliminary results indicate that United Russia, backed by President Vladimir Putin, is set to retain control of Russia’s parliament and its constitutional majority. BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg said the result was unsurprising. Yabloko, the only anti-war party, was removed from the ballot before voting, though some candidates remained in several constituencies.
Russia’s Central Election Commission says State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has secured more than 92% of the vote in his single-member district in Saratov, with 4.05% of precinct reports counted. Communist Party candidate Denis Bulanov is second on 4.11%.
Russia held elections for every seat in the lower-house State Duma. The vote, affected by cyberattacks and drone attacks, was the first of its kind since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, while Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party was expected to remain in power.
Four AI giants publicly agreed to slow their own technology in the name of safety. A new lawsuit argues that the agreement was actually an illegal pact that shortchanged paying customers.
Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair wore eye black bearing the name of Wafaa Akila, an eight-year-old Palestinian girl killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. He did so days after receiving an $11,941 NFL fine for displaying the name of another slain child, Hind Rajab. Basketball player Kyrie Irving offered to cover the penalty.
President Donald Trump is facing fresh backlash after ordering CNN, MS NOW and Politico barred from the White House. The three outlets have filed a lawsuit to protect what they describe as their First Amendment rights. Trump also says he is revising plans for his 250-foot arch to include what he calls a “top-grade military complex.”
CNN, Politico and MS NOW say they will sue the Trump administration after their reporters were barred from the White House and had their credentials seized. Trump accused the outlets of publishing “fiction or lies”. The companies say the case will defend press freedom and their First Amendment rights.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico say they have notified President Donald Trump’s administration that they are filing a lawsuit after being denied access to the White House.
MS NOW, CNN and Politico said Monday they will sue the Trump administration to defend their First Amendment rights after President Donald Trump announced that the outlets would be barred from the White House grounds.
MS NOW, CNN and Politico plan to sue President Trump to overturn a White House ban on the three outlets. Trump said their “cumulative stories” prompted the ban, adding that he had “gotten sick of it.”
The Trump White House removed CNN from Monday’s assignment as the television pool representative for the entire White House press corps, escalating a dispute that began after the president said he was “banning” CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
Journalists from MS NOW, CNN and Politico were denied access to the White House grounds on Saturday. The move came a day after President Donald Trump said on social media that he had banned the outlets, accusing them of constant “reporting” of “FAKE NEWS.”
As the US presses for a 90-day humanitarian truce, Sudan’s rival factions continue to prioritise battlefield gains over mediation and aid access. Repeated initiatives involving the US, Saudi Arabia, the African Union and others have collapsed, while fighting worsens the humanitarian crisis. Analysts link the failures to the political ambitions of the warring leaders and their confidence in military victory.
The European Central Bank has launched Pontes, a wholesale platform linking distributed-ledger market infrastructure to its payment rails for settlement in central-bank money. It is separate from the retail digital euro pilot planned for 2027.
The delegation to the 2026 Global Mayors Dialogue in Wuhan visited Optics Valley on Saturday. Mayors and representatives rode China’s first commercial suspended monorail, explored HGTECH’s laser museum and toured a Xiaomi smart-appliance factory, expressing admiration for the city’s advanced technology and smart manufacturing.
Qatar Central Bank Governor Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al Thani said Iranian attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz had wiped out about 17% of Qatar’s LNG export revenue. He described damage to gas infrastructure as “huge” and said full restoration would take two to three years.
Israel targeted the Syrian countryside around Daraa with artillery and machine-gun fire. Israel has repeatedly raided Syrian territory and carried out airstrikes that killed civilians, according to the report.
Houthi fighters are advancing to capture strategic high ground in Yemen, seeking to sever the Red Sea coast from other areas still held by Saudi-backed forces. The move follows a report that President Donald Trump cancelled planned US strikes on the group at the last minute.
Yemen’s war has returned to global attention after the Iran-aligned Houthis made gains against forces loyal to the internationally recognised government and tightened their hold on the Red Sea coast. The conflict began with the Houthis’ 2014 takeover of northwestern Yemen and Sanaa, followed by Saudi-led intervention in 2015. A UN-brokered ceasefire largely held from 2022, while a proposed permanent-ceasefire roadmap agreed in 2023 was never formalised.
Protesters filled Austin streets Sunday night after an ICE agent shot a delivery driver inside his car. The driver was taken to a hospital and is now in federal custody, while city leaders are demanding answers and calling for a federal investigation.
Protesters gathered in Texas after an ICE agent shot and injured a Venezuelan man during an immigration enforcement operation. City officials and demonstrators are calling for transparency and an independent investigation.
Protests erupted in Austin, Texas, after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and wounded a man during a traffic stop. The man is in serious but stable condition, while anti-ICE protesters gathered quickly at the scene. Austin’s police chief said local officers were not involved.
Officials say a Venezuelan man was shot and injured by an ICE agent in Texas. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has called for an independent investigation, arguing that ICE should not investigate the incident on its own.
An ICE agent shot a man in the torso during a brief foot pursuit in Austin, Texas, leaving him in serious but stable condition, officials said. Mayor Kirk Watson called for an independent investigation involving local police, while about 100 protesters gathered at the scene to oppose ICE actions.
A man is in serious but stable condition after an ICE officer shot him in the torso following a traffic stop in north Austin, local officials say. City leaders called for police involvement and transparency in the investigation, while about 100 protesters gathered at the scene.
Municipal authorities said a man sustained injuries after an ICE officer fired a weapon in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. Officials described his condition as serious but stable.
A man was hospitalized after being shot and injured Sunday in an incident involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Austin, Texas, officials said.
A local official says a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent shot and wounded a man in Austin, Texas. City Councilmember Mike Siegel alleges the officer rammed the man’s car, exited the federal vehicle and fired at least five times.
Spain’s King Felipe VI and Turkish President Erdogan shake hands at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid on June 12, 2024, in a visual marker of the countries’ long-evolving relationship.
AfD co-chair Alice Weidel said the party wants to establish a dialogue channel with Russia together with the United States, including for talks on Russian gas supplies. She said AfD seeks good relations with both sides and claimed they now see the party as Germany’s only reliable partner. Russia’s Kirill Dmitriev has also raised possible cooperation with AfD on restoring Nord Stream.
Bitcoin climbed above $85,000 on Monday, extending its rally from the past few days and reaching its highest level since January. The market is debating whether the “crypto winter” has ended.
Bitcoin rose above $85,000, gaining more than 5% in 24 hours in its strongest advance since January. About $750.5 million in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated, including roughly $648 million in shorts, while forced unwinding and aggressive derivatives buying accelerated the rally.
Bitcoin reached $85,000 for the first time since January as short-position liquidations surged. CoinGlass recorded at least $750 million in crypto liquidations over 24 hours, most involving shorts.
Bitcoin climbed to $85,000 as a short squeeze forced $648 million in bearish bets out of the market. Open interest nevertheless rose 7.59% to $156 billion, suggesting traders are chasing the move rather than stepping back.
Rare-earth shortages are prompting some aerospace suppliers to revisit turbine-coating formulas developed decades ago and once considered obsolete, after tensions between the United States and China disrupted supplies from the world’s dominant producer of critical minerals.
United Aircraft Corporation CEO Vadim Badekha says the company still plans to raise aircraft production by 25-30% in 2026 and maintain that pace for several years. Output rose about 35% in 2025 from 2024, driven mainly by military aircraft; civilian planes are expected to account for most future growth. UAC also expects to remain profitable.
United Aircraft Corporation CEO Vadim Badekha says the company is keeping its plan to lift aircraft production by 25-30% in 2026 and expects to maintain a similar pace for several years. Output rose about 35% in 2025 from 2024; military aircraft drove recent growth, while civilian planes are expected to provide most future increases.
Thousands of people lined San Francisco’s Mission Street for the King of the Street parade, where more than 300 custom lowriders celebrated Chicano culture.
Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia, including hundreds toward Moscow, officials said Sunday, calling it the largest attack of the war so far. It came as Russia concluded voting in tightly controlled parliamentary elections that President Vladimir Putin had presented as a test of support for the war in Ukraine.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered another electoral setback as his centre-right CDU performed poorly in two state elections on Sunday. Projections indicated it would miss out on a seat in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the far-right AfD led, while the far-left Die Linke topped the vote in Berlin. The AfD also made major gains in both states.
Hong Kong is seeking to reinforce its role as Asia’s hub for family-business succession and cross-border capital allocation. Financial regulators and industry executives said wealthy families are navigating economic uncertainty alongside a generational transfer of wealth. Financial Services and the Treasury Undersecretary Joseph Chan Ho-lim highlighted what he called the city’s unique advantages.
Hong Kongfamily wealthwealth successioncross-border capital
SSouth China Morning PostOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-21 11:00
How Hong Kong is positioning for a bigger role in Asia’s family wealth transition
Ireland has proposed a compromise to adjust the European Union’s carbon-market supply controls, aiming to resolve a dispute among member states over surplus emissions allowances.
Nissan currently runs two production shifts at its assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee. Adding another shift could create hundreds, or possibly thousands, of new jobs.
El Niño is continuing to develop in the Pacific. Experts say it could become one of the strongest events on record and disrupt the Prairies’ typical winter weather patterns this season.
New participants with expanded powers could enter Russia’s crypto market by the end of the year, Bank of Russia First Deputy Governor Vladimir Chistyukhin said. A transition period runs until mid-2027. The law governing digital currencies took effect on September 1, while domestic crypto and stablecoin settlements are treated as illegal currency transactions and can incur fines of up to 40% of the transaction amount.
An iFixit teardown reveals the magnetic, mechanically adjustable iris inside the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. Its six overlapping blades are about as thin as a human hair. iFixit calls the design a feat of precision engineering, but says the mechanism is effectively impossible to repair, likely requiring replacement of the whole camera assembly.
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission has fined Google €403m for how it processed users’ location data. The watchdog said people may not have realised their information was being used to target adverts or infer sensitive details such as health conditions and political views, and ordered Google to comply with the GDPR within six months.
French and Italian sovereign bonds recovered alongside Brent’s descent to slightly above $100, amid talk of a possible meeting between Donald Trump and Iran’s president this week.
Three Palestinians were killed in Israeli fire in Gaza despite a ceasefire agreement. Smoke rose from a vehicle burning after an Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle strike north of Gaza City on September 19, 2026.
Although some analysts say Israel is militarily safer after nearly three years of war, security remains the dominant issue ahead of the general election. Many Israelis still fear threats from Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran, while the Gaza war, regional fighting and intensifying military operations and settler violence in the occupied West Bank continue to fuel insecurity.
TASS Director General and OANA President Andrey Kondrashov said cooperation among the organization’s member agencies rests on information and trust, which false information can destroy. He called for OANA to develop common standards through dialogue among equals rather than standards imposed from outside.
OANAnews agenciesmedia cooperationtrust in information
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said fact-checking has become one of the media industry’s most politicized areas. She argued that countries and organizations are now fighting over who can define truth and lies, while information distribution, algorithms and moderation are concentrated in a few Silicon Valley companies that can censor media outlets and promote falsehoods.
Youth and Children’s Minister Sira Rego told Cadena SER that the law protects unaccompanied foreign minors who reject family reunification schemes. As a result, most of the roughly 2,000 unaccompanied minors in Ceuta will not return to Morocco.
Seven Ethiopian armed groups, including longstanding enemies that fought on opposite sides during the 2020-2022 civil war, say they have formed an alliance aimed at overthrowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
Seven Ethiopian armed groups announce anti-government alliance
FlashTranslated by Minutes
🇧🇹 🎯 Bhutan's traditional archers lose ground to development
Traditional archery is Bhutan's national sport and has a storied history, but some fans fear for its future as development and safety concerns eat away at space for archery ranges.
🇧🇹 🎯 Bhutan's traditional archers lose ground to development
Traditional archery is Bhutan's national sport and has a storied history, but some fans fear for its future as development and safety concerns eat away at space for archery ranges.
Russian drones struck a city in southern Ukraine after Kyiv launched a weekend barrage involving 1,000 drones. The war’s relentless daily attacks highlight the lack of significant progress in diplomatic efforts to end the fighting, more than four years after Russia began its full-scale invasion of its neighbour.
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least six people and wounded 38 over the past day, local officials said. The Air Force said Russia launched 172 drones overnight, with 148 intercepted. A shopping mall and an educational institution were hit in Zaporizhzhia.
The forgetfulness, mental fog and cognitive changes some women experience during pregnancy—sometimes called “momnesia,” “mommy brain,” “pregnancy brain” or “baby brain”—may be linked to disrupted brain circuits. Examples include forgetting why they entered a room or misplacing car keys in the bathroom.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is urgently seeking to reduce Canada’s dependence on the United States as President Donald Trump applies tariffs and economic pressure to America’s longtime ally. Carney is pursuing a new relationship in Europe.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called Sunday for stronger bilateral ties in response to new global threats. Carney’s visit to Saint Pierre and Miquelon was the first by a Canadian leader to the French territory, amid increasingly awkward relations between both countries and the United States.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to deepen France-Canada ties during a meeting in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. They cited geopolitical tensions, climate change and the erosion of democratic values, while Ottawa seeks closer EU relations amid an increasingly acrimonious trade war with the US.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France strongly supports closer relations between Canada and the European Union, including the possibility of Canada becoming an EU associate member. Speaking with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, Macron said the two countries would deepen cooperation on fisheries, security and energy. Carney said Canada and Europe would build an “Alliance for the Future.”
Amid strained relations with the United States, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced deeper cooperation on defense, energy, business and advanced technologies. Speaking in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, they emphasized shared values, sovereignty and strategic autonomy.
The EU is nearing a deal to resolve France’s push to remove Uzbek-Russian Usmanov from its sanctions blacklist. The arrangement could secure the release and pardon of two French nationals in Azerbaijan, while EU sanctions on Russia risk expiring.
EU ambassadors are trying to resolve a standoff over France and Slovakia’s demand to remove Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the bloc’s sanctions list. Without unanimous approval for a 12-month renewal, all 3,000 Russia-related sanctions could lapse. Diplomats say some countries are yielding, but no consensus has yet been reached.
Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there has been no progress in resolving the Ukraine conflict, while Russia hopes to resume trilateral negotiations. He said massive Ukrainian attacks during Russia’s elections sought to disrupt voting but had no effect, and that Russia’s military operation would continue to pursue its goals.
Three peer-triggered vulnerabilities in Bitcoin Lightning software Eclair could cause operators to lose or lock funds during channel closures, splicing and on-the-fly funding. Developer ACINQ released version 0.14.3, urging operators to upgrade after a flaw could accept closing fees larger than a node’s balance and send the funds to miners as fees.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is travelling to New York on Monday for the United Nations General Assembly. His first venture into global diplomacy will test his pledge to pursue British interests even when they conflict with those of US President Donald Trump.
English superstar Ed Sheeran apologized for “making mistakes” and said the situation in Gaza was “unjustifiable.” His remarks came after opening act Macklemore was dropped from the tour over pro-Palestinian comments made onstage at an earlier show in New Jersey.
China and Pakistan have created a joint border committee covering issues including the Shaksgam Valley. India rejects the body as legally baseless and says the territory is Indian. Analysts say the move could institutionalise an arrangement New Delhi has long opposed and reinforce its concerns about pressure from both China and Pakistan.
US President Donald Trump urged Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a phone call to stop attacks on Russian refineries, officials said. Trump reportedly stressed that the issue was all about “diesel, diesel, diesel”.
Donald TrumpVolodymyr ZelenskyyRussian refineriesUkraine
Trump presses Zelenskyy to stop hitting Russian refineries
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🇪🇸 Spanish fans come out for Shakira as she caps world tour in Madrid
Shakira kicks off a marathon 12-concert run in Madrid, bringing an end to both her world tour and the Colombian superstar’s eight-year absence from Spain.
🇪🇸 Spanish fans come out for Shakira as she caps world tour in Madrid
Shakira kicks off a marathon 12-concert run in Madrid, bringing an end to both her world tour and the Colombian superstar’s eight-year absence from Spain.
A UN scientific panel says governments should rein in increasingly capable AI agents before their risks are fully understood. Its first thematic brief calls for more resources and stronger international coordination on AI safety and accountability, arguing that scientific uncertainty should not delay safeguards against potentially catastrophic or irreversible harm.
X has sued Vivek Kumar Sen and Zmyang Sherpa, alleging that they operated fake bitcoin headline accounts and fraudulently collected creator rewards from the platform.
X has sued two users in the UK, alleging they manipulated cryptocurrency-focused accounts to obtain $277,000 through the platform’s creator revenue-sharing program.
Military expert Andrey Marochko said Ukrainian forces had abandoned several heavily fortified positions in Dobropolye, Donetsk People’s Republic, amid a Russian offensive. He said Russian troops expanded their control around Druzhkovka, while Ukrainian units continued counterattacks near Krasny Liman and sought to retake positions in the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk area.
Russia’s single voting day has ended, with preliminary results showing United Russia holding a strong lead in the election for the ninth State Duma. The lower house is expected to retain its five-party composition, while Europe seeks a response to record gasoline and diesel prices. French President Emmanuel Macron called fuel costs “unbearable.”
Russia electionState DumaUnited RussiaEuropean fuel prices
Preliminary results released by Russian state media on Monday show President Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party winning a large majority in parliamentary elections. The vote took place amid Ukrainian drone strikes, cyberattacks and a crackdown on anti-war opposition, and was the first election since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Ukraine launched more than 1,000 drones at Russia on the final day of the State Duma election, including hundreds aimed at Moscow. Putin’s pro-government party is poised to win as the attacks highlight the war’s growing reach into the capital.
Russia electionUnited RussiaUkraine drone attacksMoscow
Early results from Russia’s parliamentary election put the Kremlin-backed United Russia party ahead in a tightly controlled contest. The first parliamentary ballot held during wartime began Friday and ended Sunday, with about 111 million eligible voters. Moscow’s mayor said voting proceeded as planned despite Ukrainian drone attacks.
With more than 90 percent of ballots counted, United Russia is projected to secure a landslide in Russia’s first parliamentary election since the full-scale war on Ukraine began. Most antiwar candidates were barred, while analysts say votes for systemic opposition parties may signal quiet protest and mounting domestic frustration.
China congratulated Russia on the successful State Duma elections, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun saying the result reflects the will of the Russian people. He added that Beijing supports the choice made independently by the Russian people.
Election officials say United Russia has preserved its parliamentary majority. With results counted from more than 95% of polling stations, the Kremlin’s main party had just under 58% of the vote for the 225 seats allocated by party lists.
With 90.45% of ballots counted, Central Election Commission data puts United Russia ahead in the State Duma election with 57.82% of the vote. The CPRF, LDPR and New People are also projected to enter the chamber, while regional legislative and gubernatorial elections were held across Russia.
Election officials say A Just Russia has received 4.96% on the party list with 94.95% of ballots counted, just below the 5% threshold for State Duma entry. United Russia leads with 57.83%, ahead of the KPRF, LDPR, and New People. Preliminary figures suggest United Russia could again win a constitutional majority.
Russia electionState DumaA Just RussiaUnited Russia
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Vladimir Putin on Russia’s successful State Duma elections, saying the results demonstrated broad support for the Russian leader’s strategic course to protect the state’s long-term interests. He highlighted interparliamentary cooperation as an important part of Kazakh-Russian allied relations.
Russia electionKazakhstanVladimir Putinparliamentary cooperation
United Russia is leading Russia’s Duma election with 57.86% of the vote after 90.43% of ballots were counted, according to Central Election Commission data. The CPRF has 13.84%, followed by the LDPR, New People and A Just Russia with 8.9%, 7.94% and 4.95%, respectively.
With 83.52% of precinct reports processed as of the morning of September 21, United Russia had 57.82% of the party-list vote and led in 208 of 225 single-member districts, according to Russia’s Central Election Commission. Preliminary results indicate the party is on track for a constitutional majority in the 450-seat State Duma.
A video showing an unidentified object hovering over Tehran has prompted online speculation. Theories range from a child’s kite to sophisticated military surveillance equipment, while Iranian authorities have not identified it.
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TASSOriginal★★☆☆☆2026-09-21 11:43
