Sep 21, 2026, 08:00 AM UTC

Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted Russian commercial hubs and civilian infrastructure across several regions. Attacks on warehouses operated by e-commerce giants Wildberries and Ozon caused fires in Moscow Oblast, Leningrad Oblast, and Dagestan, prompting a sharp drop in Ozon shares.

The strikes resulted in casualties, including five deaths at a Moscow Oblast warehouse and seven fatalities when a drone crashed on a beach in Krasnodar Krai. Meanwhile, Russian bombardment of Kyiv killed nine people.

On the front lines, Russian troops made tactical gains near Kharkiv, while Ukrainian forces advanced in Donetsk. Additionally, Belarus planned a new brigade near Ukraine's border.

Sources: Mediazona, Point, Радіо Свобода, The Guardian, The Insider

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called off a scheduled telephone call with US President Donald Trump after Trump praised the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's recent regional election victories.

Following the AfD's strong showing in eastern state elections, where Merz’s conservative party suffered significant losses, the chancellor declared that post-World War II "unconditional" trans-Atlantic relations were "probably over" for the time being. Addressing the Bundestag during a heated debate, Merz clashed with AfD leader Alice Weidel, describing the anti-immigration party as a "destructive force" and condemning its policy platform. The AfD's surge has drawn international concern, as several German state intelligence agencies classify the party as a far-right extremist organization.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, Cyprus Mail, Sweden Herald, The Guardian

Moldovan authorities and health officials are raising alarms over youth exposure to nicotine pouches following the product's recent market launch by tobacco giant Philip Morris. The Ministry of Education and Research launched an informational campaign warning parents that the pouches, which resemble candy, pose significant developmental risks to children and teenagers. Although nicotine pouches are set to be banned under Moldovan law starting June 2026, Philip Morris introduced them shortly before the restriction took effect, claiming its statutory reading permits sales through June 2027.

In a separate law enforcement action, Moldovan police intercepted a major smuggling operation in the country’s northern region. Officers executed searches targeting two suspects, aged 56 and 66, confiscating nearly 1.9 million illicit cigarettes as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into excisable goods trafficking.

Sources: Moldova1, Point, Ziarul de Gardă.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described high-level talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng as "very successful" following discussions in New York focused on trade, investment, and artificial intelligence safety. Beijing also characterized the negotiations as positive.

During the meeting, officials discussed establishing a bilateral notification mechanism for AI incidents that could impact national security, with both nations agreeing to hold further talks on the technology. The discussions served as preparatory negotiations ahead of a scheduled summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington on Thursday. Trade negotiators noted that dialogue between the two largest economies will continue.

Sources: ANSA, BBC News, Bloomberg, Svenska Dagbladet, Sweden Herald.

Military tensions in the Middle East escalated as the United States launched a second wave of airstrikes against Iranian targets within 48 hours, following clashes in the Strait of Hormuz and strikes on American military bases. Simultaneously, Tehran appointed a hardline official to head its Supreme National Security Council. Domestically, Iranian women continue to defy strict dress codes four years after Mahsa Amini’s death, leading to a visible relaxation of mandatory hijab enforcement.

In Yemen, renewed violence broke out after Houthi strikes on the port of Moca killed 18 people, prompting retaliatory shelling by government forces in Marib province. Meanwhile, Afghanistan remains under Taliban rule, where relative security exists alongside severe economic hardship and strict social prohibitions.

Sources: Canarias7, El Día, El Mundo, La Provincia, La Vanguardia