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Election in Russia sparks a dispute with Moldova about voting in a separatist region
The Russian parliamentary elections have sparked a diplomatic dispute with Moldova, which has objected to the Kremlin’s plan to open 15 voting stations for Russians in the separatist Transdniestria Region. Moscow has confirmed that '220,000 residents' of pro-Russian Transdniestria (a small sliver which separated from Moldova at the end the Soviet regime in 1990) hold Russian passports, and have the right to vote in Sunday's election for the State Duma. Moldova's pro Western government wants to join the European Union by 2030, and denounces Kremlin war in Ukraine. It says that Russians can vote only at the Russian Embassy in Chisinau. It disputes the 220,000 figure, and opposes all polling stations in Transdniestria where it does not have control over the procedures. The Moldovan authorities have branded the Kremlin’s 15 planned voting stations as “unacceptable and hostile” and summoned Russian Ambassador Oleg Ozerov for questioning at the Foreign Ministry. Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, retorted that Moldova should drop its objections and stop actions which "run counter to democracy, international law and good sense". Mihail Popsoi, Moldova's Foreign Minister, told Moscow to "not interfere with Moldova's plans" for a peaceful reintegration of the separatist territory. The last Russian parliamentary election was held in 2021. Authorities in Moscow opened 27 voting stations in the area and more than 59,000 people voted, with 76.2% of them supporting United Russia, a party that supports Russian President Vladimir Putin. Transdniestria has not been recognised internationally,?not by Moscow either, but a Russian contingent of about 1,500 troops that Russia describes sometimes as peacekeepers remains there, despite Moldova's demands for them to leave.
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Coast guard: China vessel rams Philippine vessel on a refuelling mission
The Philippine Coast Guard said that a China Coast Guard vessel had rammed a Philippine boat on a refueling trip in the South China Sea on Friday. This was the latest incident between the two nations in disputed waters. The BRP Datu Magat Salamat, a vessel of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFA), was en route to provide fuel to Filipino fisherman about 54 nautical mile off the coasts of Palawan Province. The coast guard reported that a China Coast Guard vessel made contact with a Philippine ship and damaged the railings and deck structure of the vessel. However, no one was injured, according to the coastguard. In a statement, it stated that "the?China Coast Guard deliberately ran a civilian government ship on a humanitarian mission and livelihood mission." The PCG released a video showing crew members shouting, "brace yourself for impact!" Moments before the collision which took place at 0313 GMT, 11:13 am. After the collision, photos showed bent and 'detached railings and damaged metal'supports. Debris was scattered on the deck. In a press release, the China Coast Guard stated that they conducted law enforcement operations near Sabina Shoal, Friday, after a Philippine vessel "disregarded multiple solemn warnings and deliberately changed its course, suddenly accelerating to cut across our vessel's bow." The Chinese boat was said to have operated professionally, and the collision blamed on the Philippine side. In a Facebook post, US Ambassador Lee Lipton said: "We strongly condemned the China Coast Guard’s deliberate ramming." According to a post on X, the Chinese Embassy in Philippines condemned the US Embassy for'supporting what they called Philippine infringements and provocations in water near Sabina Shoal. Manila accused Beijing in July of firing "water cannon" at government vessels near 'Scarborough Shoal' and hitting a Philippine Navy staff member with a wooden baton on the head during an encounter off the Second Thomas Shoal.
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Cuba's electric grid collapses once again, plunges island into darkness
Cuba's electrical system collapsed on Friday, leaving millions of people without power and plunging Cuba into darkness. This was due to a US pressure campaign which has prevented oil from reaching Cuba's largest Caribbean island. Authorities said that the failure of high-voltage transmission cables in central Cuba around 2 pm local time was responsible for Friday's collapse. Felix Estrada, a Cuban National Electrical Union official (UNE), said: "Protocols have been put in place for the gradual restoration of system." By late evening power had been restored to a few neighborhoods, mostly around hospitals. However, the rest of Havana was still completely dark, due to cloudy skies and rain. The blackout in the United States, which was at least six partial or complete grid collapses from January onwards, barely registered with a nation that is used to going for long hours, or days, without electricity. The blackout struck as many residents of Havana, the capital city, were already exhausted and without electricity. Yesterday I was without power for 24 hrs. "They turned on the lights for an hour and then the grid collapsed," Frank Lorenzo said, a 23-year-old Havana local looking forward to sweating and slapping at mosquitos. Cuba's decrepit power system, which has suffered from fuel shortages for many years, has now been further strained by the US oil blockade. Since July, the grid has 'collapsed' three times and blackouts spanning 30 hours or longer have been experienced across most of Canada. Human rights experts from the United Nations have condemned the US oil embargo, calling it a violation to international law and warning that Cuba could become a "silent Gaza", as shortages and blackouts continue to grow.
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After a temporary suspension due to drone activity, flights resume at Luxembourg Airport
Authorities resumed flight operations at Luxembourg Airport on Saturday after suspending them the previous evening due to the discovery of "unauthorized unmanned aerial systems", or drones. The airport, Luxembourg’s only international airport, announced that it had imposed a'suspension' on Friday, as a precautionary measure, to ensure the safety and security of passengers, airline crews, airport staff, and aircraft. The airport did not provide any details about the origin or operator of the drones. Although flights have resumed as scheduled, some 'delays and disruptions' may persist while airlines and airport partners work to restore the normal schedules. Luxair's main hub at Luxembourg Airport, which is the country's main airport, has said that it will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities.
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Saudi civil defence sends all-clear after danger warning for capital Riyadh
Saudi civil defense sounded the all-clear on Saturday morning after issuing alerts for potential danger in Riyadh, and Al-Kharj city east of the capital. This was amid a surge of attacks by Iran-aligned Houthis against the Gulf nation. This was the first alert for the capital city since Houthis in neighbouring Yemen intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia. A? Two booms were heard by a journalist in the Olaya district of Riyadh. The alert comes hours after the Houthis’?military spokeswoman said that the?group foiled "criminal efforts" of unspecified nature in the Yemeni Capital Sanaa. She blamed Saudi Arabia for the failure and promised a reaction. Since declaring a blockade on 'Riyadh' in July, the Houthis have launched attacks against Saudi Arabia, with strikes in the Red Sea targeting Saudi vessels. According to the group, which has been able to seize Yemen's entire Red Sea coast in a flash of lightning since last week, the Saudi Air Force has carried out?hundreds? of airstrikes over recent days.
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US and China discuss cutting tariffs for US LNG before Xi's visit
According to two people who have been briefed about the discussions, the US and China are discussing a proposal to reduce or eliminate 'China's tariffs against American LNG. This is part of a broader agreement on energy and agriculture that could be announced if Chinese President Xi Jinping comes to Washington next week. People said that the?potential?relief of US exports of Liquefied Natural Gas is being discussed along with a larger framework whereby the US and China each would cut tariffs on around $30 billion worth of goods. In February 2025, China increased its tariffs on US LNG by 15% in response to President Donald Trump's duties against Chinese goods. This effectively ended the US-China LNG trading, and the last significant cargoes arrived early in 2025. American LNG producers are looking for new markets to absorb the new export capacity that is being built along the US Gulf Coast. Years of trade tensions have made China, one of the largest LNG markets in the world, less accessible. These?discussions' are part of efforts to stabilise trade ties in advance of a meeting between Trump and Xi on September 24, and they are not finalized, according to the people. The White House nor the Chinese Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comments. The American LNG Industry is entering a phase of major expansion. Export capacity will grow by approximately 10 billion cubic feet a day through 2027, as new and expanded installations ramp up. Projects involving Cheniere Energy Venture Global Sempra NextDecade, Exxon Mobil and Venture Global are among those adding capacity. Return of Chinese buyers could?give US gas producers another major destination at a time when geopolitical turmoil is reshaping the global energy flow, possibly helping to underpin demand for those projects that are currently under construction or seeking financing and long term customers. According to estimates and analyses by the industry, of the nearly 100 million metric tonnes of LNG capacity currently under construction in the US 24,5 million metrictons have yet to be contracted to long-term clients. Global LNG FLOWs US LNG cargos, which would have otherwise gone to Asia, were increasingly drawn to Europe after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 disrupted Europe’s access to Russian gas pipelines. As a result of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the US in the Middle East, global energy flows have shifted, as disruptions in supply are increasing the competition for LNG cargoes from Asia. China is the largest LNG -importer in the world, and the US the largest LNG-exporter. This gives the two countries a strong economic incentive to reestablish a trade relationship that was growing rapidly?before tariff disputes. US data shows that after Beijing implemented the tariff on US LNG, US exports to China dropped from 64 vessels to zero in 2025. In 2021 the number of vessels had "reached a new record", reflecting the rapid expansion of US LNG trade to China since large-scale exports began from the Lower 48 States in 2016. US LNG shipments from the US to China dropped to only two vessels during Trump's first term trade dispute with Beijing in 2019, before bouncing back in 2020 and 2021. According to LSEG shipping information, in recent months several US cargoes left the Gulf 'Coast terminals for export have either arrived in China, or are heading there. This suggests that Chinese buyers began to return to the US even though the tariff remained. According to the Energy Information Administration, US LNG exports in the first half 2026 averaged 17,4 bcf/d, up by 23% compared to a year ago.
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FedEx and Advent-led consortium secures more than 89% of InPost's shares in the takeover offer
InPost, a Polish parcel locker operator, announced on Friday that FedEx International, Advent International as well as other InPost shareholders had offered 89.81% of its shares. InPost?reported in a press release that the minimum acceptance threshold of 80% shares had been reached. The consortium agreed in February to purchase InPost for approximately EUR7.8 Billion ($8.95 Billion)?in a cash-only offer of EUR15.60 per equity share. After the transaction is completed, InPost's shares will be removed from Euronext Amsterdam. It is one of Europe's biggest networks of automated parcel lockers. The company operates in nine countries, including Poland. The company will continue to be known as InPost and keep its headquarters and management structure in Poland. Since 2021, the shares of 'its company have been under pressure due to intense competition in its home market and heavy investment expenditure?to support rapid growth.
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Major US airlines reject Air China's bid to schedule more US flights
Air China has been criticized by a group of major US airlines for its plans to schedule additional flights between Beijing and New York, Washington, as part of the President Xi Jinping meeting with Donald Trump. Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, opposed the request. US carriers are effectively prohibited from flying to China from the US eastcoast because they can't access Russian airspace. Chinese carriers, however, have the ability to fly some US flights. US Airlines said that adding two flights to the schedule would allow Chinese carriers to request additional regular flights, and they should be classified a 'charter flight. The US Transportation Department has proposed that in October 2025 Chinese airlines be banned from flying over Russia on routes between the United States and China. They claim the shorter flight times this practice allows puts American carriers at an unfair disadvantage. The proposal was withdrawn after it faced opposition from US agencies. USDOT and an attorney for Air China did not comment immediately. US airlines have long been critical of the decision to let Chinese carriers use Russian airspace to fly on US routes, because it allows them to reduce their flying time. It also burns less fuel and lowers costs. In its filing, released on Friday, the airline group said that Chinese carriers offer "shorter and less expensive routes?to and from China, as well as more economical flights?from and to the United States." In retaliation to Washington's ban on Russian flights over the US in March 2022, after Ukraine invaded, Russia has banned US airlines as well as many other foreign carriers. Chinese airlines are not banned, and they have used this advantage to gain market share over non-Chinese carriers in international routes.
Luxembourg deploys additional surveillance assets after drone sightings
Luxembourg's government announced on Sunday that "additional" detection assets had been deployed to strengthen the airspace monitoring after Luxembourg Airport temporarily suspended services late Friday night due to drone sightings.
In a statement, the government stated that "to strengthen airspace analysis and monitoring capabilities, additional detection resources have been deployed. These include resources provided by our foreign partners."
The report added that "These supplementary system have contributed to further consolidating the?airspace monitoring and a better assessment by the competent authorities of?the?situation".
The government said also that on Saturday evening, police "received a number of reports"?concerning?the suspected presence?of?drones in national airspace but that after "verifications", "no situation required an operation intervention by the authorities".
After flight operations were temporarily suspended Friday evening, the Luxembourg authorities began an investigation following the sighting of unidentified drones.
Prime Minister Luc Frieden said to reporters?on a Saturday that his country was "confronted?with?something _new for Luxembourg, namely the presence of?larger drones in Luxembourg airspace".
"We've observed this over the past few days and took precautionary measures last night," said he.
The Luxembourg government said on Sunday that its drone assessment cell continues to work with partners in order to monitor the situation.
(source: Reuters)