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Europe

Belgian official says attacks on Jews in country a coordinated effort 'inspired' by Iran

2026-09-27

[IsraelTimes] Head of nation’s Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis says synagogue bomb blast and torching of car were not isolated incidents, followed Iranian call to harm Jews and Israelis

A top Belgian security official has said an Iranian-led effort was behind a number of attacks targeting Jews in the country earlier this year.

Speaking to public broadcaster RTBF, Gert Vercauteren, head of Belgium’s Coordination Unit for Threat Analysis, said those behind a kaboom on a synagogue in Liege and the torching of a car in Antwerp "certainly followed Iran’s call to strike Jewish and Israeli interests everywhere in the world."

None were hurt in either attack.

Vercauteren said the attacks were part of a coordinated effort, and not isolated cases. He said an individual later arrested in ~~The Sick Man of Europe~~ Turkey
...a NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A single organization with differing goals, equipment, language, doctrine, and structure....
member, but not the most reliable...
was leading the coordination of attacks in Europe.

That’s Mohammad Al-Saadi (more fully Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi), from Iraq’s Kataeb Hezbollah on behalf of the IRGC, whose hired local criminals claimed 18 attacks in Europe and two in Canada in the name of figleaf organization Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), whose name roughly translates to the Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand.

"There have been other interventions, and that is why, for now, we have not seen any more attacks inspired by Iran," he said.

That’s a comfort.

Iran
...a theocratic Shiite state divided among the Medes, the Persians, and the (Arab) Elamites. Formerly a fairly civilized nation ruled by a Shah, it became a victim of Islamic revolution in 1979. The nation is today noted for spontaneously taking over other countries' embassies, maintaining whorehouses run by clergymen, involvement in international drug trafficking, and financing sock puppet militias to extend the regime's influence. The word Iran is a cognate form of Aryan. The abbreviation IRGC is the same idea as Stürmabteilung (or SA). The term Supreme Guide is a the modern version form of either Duce or Führer or maybe both. They hate ~~Jews~~ ~~Zionists~~ Jews. Their economy is based on the production of oil and vitriol...
is believed to have boosted efforts to harm Jewish and Israeli targets around the world since Jerusalem and Washington launched their war against Tehran in late February, leading to increased security for locations tied to Jews and Israel.

The blast at Liege’s Great Synagogue in March shattered windows and damaged the main door. It was condemned by the government as a "despicable antisemitic act."

Several people were later detained, though no charges have been filed.

Two teens were also arrested later in March for a suspected antisemitic torching of a car in Antwerp.

In several cases, claim-of-responsibility videos circulated on social media, shared by groups identified as pro-Iranian.

The Great Synagogue reopened two months after the blast, according to Belgium’s national Belga News Agency.

Built in 1899, the synagogue also serves as a museum for the history of Liege’s Jewish community.

Antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments have skyrocketed in Belgium since the start of the war sparked by the devastating Hamas
Hamas

..a regional Iranian catspaw,...
attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Attacks such as verbal abuse, intimidation, physical violence and graffiti continue to occur in the 30,000-strong Jewish community on a weekly basis, Ralph Pais, vice-chair of the Jewish Information and Documentation Centre (JID), said in December.

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Britain

Man who stabbed 2 Jews in Golders Green pleads not guilty to attempted murder

2026-09-26

[IsraelTimes] Essa Suleiman, 45, appears for brief hearing at London court for April 29 attack in heavily Jewish neighborhood that left victims seriously injured; his trial is due to start in March

A 45-year-old man pleaded not guilty
"Wudn't me."
on Friday to attempting to murder two Jewish men who were stabbed in a knife attack in north London in April — an offense prosecutors said they were no longer treating as terrorism.

Essa Suleiman, a Brit who was born in Somalia, is alleged to have attacked the men in Golders Green on April 29, one of a spate of incidents targeting Jewish premises in the same area of London, which is home to a large Jewish population.

The attacks left Britannia’s 290,000 Jews fearing for their safety, and prompted the government to promise stronger action to protect them.

In March, a separate arson attack in the Golders Green neighborhood destroyed four ambulances owned by Hatzola, a Jewish rescue group, parked outside a synagogue. Four men pleaded guilty to the attack, including British nationals Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, Judex Atshatshi, 18, and British-Pak Saif Ali, 18.

The arsonists destroyed four ambulance vehicles, causing damage valued at £1 million ($1.4 million).

Suleiman appeared for a brief hearing at London’s Old Bailey court on Friday and pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder.

He also denied a third count of attempted murder, relating to an unconnected incident at the home of a former acquaintance earlier the same day, and possession of a bladed article.

Police had initially said the stabbings were being investigated as suspected terrorism.

Prosecutor Deanna Heer said on Friday, however, that the Crown Prosecution Service had concluded that following a review, there was insufficient evidence to say the stabbings had a terrorist connection.

Suleiman was remanded in jug and will next appear in court on January 15, with his trial due to start in March 2027.

London’s Metropolitan Police has announced the creation of a special unit to protect Jews following a spate of hate attacks amid growing antisemitism in the country.

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Home Front: Politix

Democrats in Crisis After Key Senate Campaign Implodes Amid Bombshell New Allegations

2026-09-26

Twenty minutes.

[YouTube] A major Democrat campaign is rocked by crisis after former staffers of Mary Peltola

…Democratic candidate for Alaska for the US Senate…

expose inappropriate behavior and an abuse scandal to the New York Times, hinting at major political fallout for Democrats in their battle against Dan Sullivan

…that is to say, the real Dan Sullivan, not the Democratic ringer by the same name who was intended to sneakily siphon off Republican votes…

for Alaska Senate Control.

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Economy

Greenbrier racks up $600 million in new railcar orders

2026-09-24

[Freight Waves] Freight car builder Greenbrier received orders for 3,400 new railcars worth about $600 million during its fiscal fourth quarter, including a 780-car order from Saudi Railway Company that expands the manufacturer’s relationship with the state-owned rail operator into intermodal equipment.

Lake Oswego, Ore,-based Greenbrier (NYSE: GBX) said that the orders were booked in the quarter ended Aug. 31 and cover several railcar types and end markets. The company said the volume provides a foundation as it enters fiscal 2027.

The orders represent a mix of new and replacement fleets across several care types, Vice President of Marketing and General Manager Thomas Jackson told FreightWaves. They include hoppers, flatcars, tank cars, boxcars/refrigerated cars and gondolas. The orders are spread evenly across railroads, shippers and operating lessors, he added.

A TrinityRail (NYSE: TRN) executive in a recent interview with Trains described a tightening North American railcar market.

Link

Good Morning

2026-09-24

Thursday 09/24/2026

A woman in the US has been sentenced
for putting her month-old daughter in an oven

9904072j

Europe Norway says sanctioning settlements 'the right thing to do,' as potential Israeli retaliation looms		Olde Tyme Religion 150 Catholic priests and nuns march toward Vatican to demand end to Gaza %u2018genocide%u2019
Great White North Ontario Jewish community saddened, but not shocked, by shootout outside synagogue		Israel-Palestine-Jordan Son of Israel's US envoy, a soldier, seriously hurt in car-ramming attack in West Bank; assailant shot dead
Israel-Palestine-Jordan Board of Peace unveils $2.4B Gaza recovery plan, but hurdles remain before implementation		-Great Cultural Revolution Florida state fund sues NY Times over alleged anti-Israel bias, demands records

Everyday life of the Greenland Protectorate

Link

India-Pakistan

Pakistan Military Signs Defense Deal With Trump Sons-Backed U.S. Drone Company

2026-09-24

[KhaamaPress] A U.S. drone company backed by the two eldest sons of President Donald Trump
...Never got invited to a P.Diddy party...
has signed a defense cooperation agreement with Pakistain’s military, securing an initial order for unmanned aerial systems in a deal that has drawn scrutiny because of the firm’s ties to India, Israel, and the Trump family.

Powerus, a Florida-based drone manufacturer founded in 2025, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Pakistain Army following a meeting between its delegation and Pakistain’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, at military headquarters in Rawalpindi on September 16. A day later, the company announced it had received an undisclosed initial procurement order from Pakistain’s Ministry of Defence for unmanned aerial systems. Neither the value of the agreement nor the specific systems involved has been disclosed because of security and confidentiality concerns.

The agreement marks one of the most significant recent defense partnerships between Pakistain and a U.S. drone manufacturer, reflecting broader efforts by Washington and Islamabad to strengthen military and technology cooperation after years of strained relations. Powerus executives have said the company hopes to build long-term technology partnerships and potentially localize some drone manufacturing in Pakistain.

The deal has attracted international attention because Powerus is preparing to merge with Nasdaq-listed Aureus Greenway Holdings, a company backed by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump through their investment vehicle, American Ventures. Regulatory filings indicate the investment fund is expected to hold a nearly 10 percent stake in the combined company after the merger is completed.

Powerus and representatives of Trump’s sons have stressed that Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump are passive investors with no role in the company’s management, operations, or contract negotiations. The White House has also rejected suggestions that the Pakistain agreement represents a conflict of interest involving the Trump family.

INDIA LICENSING DEAL RAISES REGIONAL CONCERNS
Less than three months before signing the Pakistain agreement, Powerus granted an Indian defense manufacturer exclusive rights to manufacture and sell its Guardian-1 drone interceptor technology in India. The company is therefore positioned to work with both India and Pakistain; two nuclear-armed rivals whose militaries have increasingly relied on drones in recent border confrontations.

Defense analysts say the arrangement raises operational and strategic questions about supplying related drone technologies to both countries, particularly as tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad remain high.

ISRAELI CONNECTION FUELS DEBATE IN PAKISTAN
Another controversial aspect of the deal is the background of Powerus co-founder Brett Velicovich, a former Israeli soldier. Pakistain does not recognize Israel and has repeatedly accused it of committing genocide in Gazoo
...Hellhole adjunct to Israel and Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, inhabited by Gazooks. The place was acquired in the wake of the 1967 War and then presented to Paleostinian control in 2006 by Ariel Sharon, who had entered his dotage. It is currently ruled with a rusty iron fist by Hamas with about the living conditions you'd expect. It periodically attacks the Hated Zionist Entity whenever Iran needs a ruckus created or the hard boyz get bored, getting thumped by the IDF in return. The ruling turbans then wave the bloody shirt and holler loudly about oppression and disproportionate response...
Analysts quoted by media have questioned why Pakistain which already manufactures drones domestically and imports advanced systems from China and Turkiye, would partner with a newly established U.S. company that also maintains business ties with India and has Israeli-linked leadership.

Pakistain’s military confirmed discussions with Powerus focused on defense procurement, production, and long-term capacity building but did not publicly mention the MoU in its official statement. Powerus said the agreement provides a strategic framework for future cooperation and remains subject to U.S. export controls and government approvals.

The company said Pakistain’s developing defense sector presents opportunities for joint technology projects, while insisting that its business relationships are pursued on their own commercial merits rather than political connections.

The agreement comes as Pakistain seeks to diversify its defense partnerships while maintaining close military cooperation with China, its largest arms supplier, and expanding engagement with the United States in emerging defense technologies.

Link

Home Front: WoT

'Something's going to happen': The US has once again stepped up its peacekeeping efforts (Ukraine, Iran, Greenland)

2026-09-24

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
by Ilya Maximov

[Regnum] On the first day of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, negotiations were held that could determine the resolution of several international crises.

On the sidelines of the forum, a brief discussion on the Ukrainian settlement took place; US and Iranian delegations met, sitting down at the negotiating table through mediators for the first time since June; and a Greenland security agreement was signed, changing the balance of power in the Arctic.

The results were uneven: in some places, the parties merely indicated a willingness to negotiate, while in others, they recorded real progress.

The meeting between US President Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy lasted approximately 40 minutes. Zelenskyy stated his hope for the conflict to end "before winter," while Trump merely stated that both sides were willing to reach a settlement through him.

"I think they're going to make a deal, and I don't want to say in advance what that deal is. We're discussing it a lot, including with President Vladimir Putin. And I think something will happen," the American leader said.

Behind the scenes, the situation appeared different. According to Axios sources, Trump, in a phone call with Zelenskyy shortly before the meeting, repeatedly asked the Ukrainian leader to stop the attacks on the Russian oil refinery.

These attacks are driving up global diesel prices, which is also hitting American consumers. "The word 'diesel' was mentioned multiple times during the conversation," the source noted.

Diesel fuel prices in the US have indeed reached an all-time high—over $6.50 per gallon. By comparison, a year ago the price was around $3.70 per gallon.

This increase was a direct consequence of the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. However, Trump's requests fell on deaf ears.

Zelensky noted that the issue of ending strikes on the oil refinery was not discussed at the New York meeting, and continued to insist on the need for a new air defense package—additional Patriot missiles, which Kyiv is urgently demanding be transferred to him.

Apparently, he was trying to prove once again that Ukraine is still capable of negotiating from a position of strength. However, in practice, such attempts always backfire: in response to Ukrainian attacks, Russia launches far more significant strikes, destroying Ukraine's infrastructure beyond repair.

While the Ukrainian Armed Forces are struggling to cripple Russia's oil refining sector, the Russian Armed Forces are consistently depriving Ukraine of literally everything it so loathes about its Soviet legacy—industry, fuel infrastructure, power generation, central heating, and railways.

Thus, the head of the Kyiv regime is only driving himself and his allies into a dead end, leaving them with ever fewer levers of influence over the situation.

Kyiv's persistent demands for new arms supplies are becoming increasingly burdensome for Washington against the backdrop of the war with Iran, which has significantly depleted American arsenals. Meanwhile, Russia has had, and still has, the strategic resources to continue the conflict, while Ukraine has nearly exhausted its reserves.

Despite this, Zelenskyy continues to travel the world with his hand outstretched, demanding money and weapons. However, it's already clear to any sane person that this support will never be sufficient, and "give us" will forever be heard from Ukraine in its current configuration.

So, insistent assurances that Ukraine would surely win if given more weapons and money were the last thing Trump needed right now. He needed a resounding diplomatic success, so in the negotiations, he sought to demonstrate that he had established excellent rapport with Ukraine as one of the parties to the conflict.

But, unlike Moscow, which has repeatedly stated its willingness to negotiate on reasonable terms, Kyiv is not prepared for any compromises, so the US president has so far been unable to get what he wants from Zelensky.

Meanwhile, the Iranian track has given the first hope in months for a diplomatic solution, despite the belligerent rhetoric of both sides.

Speaking to the General Assembly, Trump delivered an ultimatum to Iran in his characteristic style: “I have a big decision to make: There will be a deal with Iran that will allow it to recover and build itself into a much greater country than it has ever been, perhaps one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world, or I will destroy the Islamic Republic – and I will do it quickly.”

The Iranian delegation left the hall within ten minutes of the speech beginning, a gesture that speaks volumes about Tehran's attitude toward such statements from the United States.

However, just a few hours later, Trump told reporters that American representatives had held a "very good" three-hour meeting with Iranian representatives on the sidelines of the meeting.

The negotiations were conducted through intermediaries—Qatari diplomats who shuttled between the parties throughout the day. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner represented the American side, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi represented the Iranian side.

Iran presented the United States with de-escalation conditions. These included an immediate lifting of the naval blockade, the release of frozen assets, and an end to the war on all fronts. Tehran also indicated its willingness to open the Strait of Hormuz within a week if Washington complied with these demands.

"I believe we will make a deal immediately after the election, because it makes no sense for them not to do so," the head of the White House reassured the public.

The market reaction was immediate: oil prices plunged. Analysts attribute the decline to hopes for a diplomatic solution.

Despite any aggressive statements, it's already clear to everyone that the war that began on February 28 has reached a stalemate. US and Israeli strikes have killed some of the Islamic Republic's top leadership and damaged its air force and navy, but they haven't broken the resistance.

At the same time, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's oil passed before the war, is keeping markets on edge. Trump, judging by his own words about a "deal after the election," understands that the only way out is to negotiate.

Therefore, his aggressive rhetoric in this case is more of a matter of image. The US is forced to resort to it: the leader of the planet's largest military alliance can't simply give in to Iran—it must at least verbally demonstrate that the choice in favor of a peaceful settlement was conscious and voluntary, not forced.

In fact, the Americans are clearly seeking peace, and this is a laudable undertaking, since resolving the conflict, given its significance for global supply chains, benefits not only the United States and Iran, but the entire international community.

While Trump had a tough time with Ukraine and Iran, the Greenland deal was an unqualified success. The United States, Denmark, and Greenland signed a new security agreement that expands the American military presence on the Arctic island.

Trump described the document as "a deal with no end in sight." He said the agreement gives the United States "permanent control over Greenland's security."

The agreement provides for expanded operations at the Pituffik air base, the creation of new bases in Narsarsuaq and Mestersvig, and the possibility of deploying elements of the Golden Dome missile defense system. American military aircraft have been granted unimpeded overflight and landing rights throughout the territory, and US vessels have been granted unrestricted access to Greenlandic territorial waters.

Denmark interprets the document differently. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized that the agreement "recognizes the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark and the right of the Greenlandic people to self-determination."

In reality, however, the Danes were left with only formal political sovereignty over the island, allowing them to save face, even though actual control over Greenland's security and international relations passed to Washington. Importantly, according to the terms of the agreement, it will remain in effect even if Greenland gains independence.

So, in effect, Trump got what he was looking for: a long-term military presence and the ability to veto the activities of his competitors.

The fact is that the new treaty not only allows the US to project power, but also prohibits countries outside NATO and the EU from establishing their own military installations on the island, as well as from making sensitive investments in the local economy without written approval from the White House.

The first day of the UN General Assembly showed that Washington is trying to make the most of even the least effective diplomatic format.

Tactics varied—persuasion, threats, bargaining. But the goal remained the same: to move crises forward wherever possible. This approach, despite its contradictions, appears more productive than isolation and confrontation. But not everything depends on the United States, as seemed to be the case after the end of the Cold War.

However, the vector itself—seeking a resolution rather than escalation—deserves a positive assessment. The question is whether Washington has enough time, resources, and flexibility.

Link

Great White North

Everyday life of the Greenland Protectorate

2026-09-24

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited

Text taken from the Telegram channel of @theaterVD

Commentary by Russian miliary journalist Boris Rozhin ins in italics.
[ColonelCassad] The United States plans to restore a military base and establish a new facility in Greenland. The United States intends to restore the former Blue West One airbase in Narsarsuaq (southern Greenland, Denmark) and establish a new military facility in Mestersvig (on the east coast).

An agreement to expand Washington's military presence in the Arctic is scheduled to be signed on September 22 between the United States, Denmark, and Greenland on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Narsarsuaq Air Base was used by the United States during World War II and the early years of the Cold War. American military engineers have already conducted a technical survey of the facility, including the runway and infrastructure, to assess its suitability for use by the armed forces of the United States, Denmark, and NATO allies.

Mestersvig is a remote military outpost currently used by the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol unit of the Danish Special Operations Forces to patrol the northern and eastern regions of the island. The decision to expand the US presence is linked to Greenland's strategic importance. The island is located between North America, Europe, and the Arctic, and is the shortest route between Russia and North America, making the region crucial for missile warning systems, airspace control, and space monitoring. The key US facility on the island remains the Pituffik Space Base, which provides missile warning and space monitoring.

The agreement was signed yesterday in New York, where Denmark officially recognized the US military protectorate over Greenland. The US has already announced large-scale development of the two aforementioned bases and the transfer of additional troops and resources to Greenland. In the future, these bases, if necessary, could facilitate the rapid transition from a military protectorate to a political one. This situation also concerns us, as US efforts are aimed at intensifying the militarization of the Arctic, including in the context of territorial disputes over continental shelves.

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International-UN-NGOs

Trump's U.N. speech reveals a world realigned by his policy and pressure, with China in the wings

2026-09-23

[JTN] President Donald Trump used the United Nations gathering this week and the run-up to a White House summit to work through the largest foreign-policy files on his desk in one stretch: Iran, Russia, China, artificial intelligence, Greenland and a contracting global peace organization.

The results were plainly evident Tuesday when the second-term president signed an Arctic security deal that many said was impossible, forced Cuba's diplomats to storm out of a global meeting and earned polite applause from the UN General Assembly (UNGA) audience for defanging Iran's nuclear ambitions.

And on Wednesday, Trump pivots to another high-stakes meeting when China's president arrives for the summit.

"We've not seen anything like this, even during President Trump's first term, which in many ways was his learning phase. He was figuring out how to pull the levers of government. Now he's very very capable at it," former Deputy National Security Advisor Victoria Coates told Just The News.

"That's what he really laid out today in this historic UNGA speech: everything he's been doing while everyone else in that hall has been sitting around and bellyaching and clutching their pearls and generally getting upset over things," Coates added.

Link

Great White North

US, Greenland, Denmark sign deal in bid to end Arctic standoff

2026-09-23

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 22 (Reuters) - US President Donald Trump and the leaders of Greenland and Denmark signed an agreement on Tuesday that permits a larger US military presence on Greenland and may resolve a standoff over the strategically located and mineral-rich island.

The agreement, signed during Trump's visit to ‌the UN General Assembly in New York, stops short of Trump's demand that the US annex Greenland as a US territory to head off the growing Arctic presence of Russia and China.

But the deal does codify a greater US military presence on the icy territory, an option that emerged as Greenland leaders argued against a complete US takeover.

A text of the deal released after the event said the US can establish a "Golden Dome" defense system in Greenland as a shield against ballistic missile threats. The shortest route from Europe to North America runs via the Arctic island, which is the location of the northernmost US military base.

In his speech to the assembled world leaders at the UN before the signing ceremony, Trump said the agreement gives the US "permanent ⁠control over security and all other needs on that territory."

"No US adversary will ever be permitted to establish a military presence in Greenland any more, or make sensitive investments there without our express written approval," Trump said.

Trump signed the agreement along with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen in a trilateral ceremony after Trump gave his UN speech.

Frederiksen described the agreement as a deal that can "last forever" and said it underlines the importance of the NATO alliance and respects Greenland's right to self-determination.

Link

Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

'Many Winners': The 2026 Unified State Day demonstrated Russia's stability

2026-09-22

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited

For details about the vote, see here.

by Vadim Kushakov

[Regnum] Electoral commissions are summing up the results of the voting at various levels that took place from September 18 to 20. On the morning of the 21st, the Russian Central Election Commission released preliminary results (based on the counting of 90.43% of the ballots) for the State Duma elections.

United Russia has secured 57.86% of the vote in the federal party list vote. Eighty-six members of the SVO who ran for the party will receive parliamentary seats, according to Vladimir Yakushev, Secretary of the United Russia General Council.

The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) came in second with 13.84% of the vote. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR) received 8.9%, and New People received 7.94%.

With 4.95% of the vote, A Just Russia currently fails to overcome the 5% threshold for parties to enter the Duma in the federal electoral district.

The results of other parties participating in the elections were significantly lower than the threshold: the Pensioners' Party received 2.04%, the Greens gained 1.13%, the Communists of Russia party received 0.86%, Rodina received 0.72%, and the Direct Democracy Party received 0.34%.

On the evening of September 20 and the night of the 20th to the 21st, participants of the 12th All-Russian online marathon "Election Night. State Duma 2026" observed the vote counting in real time for the State Duma and regional elections. Leading politicians, observers, sociologists, political scientists, and election administration specialists gathered at the International Multimedia Press Center of the Rossiya Segodnya International News Agency.

The main topic, of course, was the nationwide vote, which will determine the composition of the new 9th State Duma. Starting at 10:00 PM, party representatives joined the discussions: candidates and election staff members shared their assessments of the Central Election Commission's initial data. The discussion was broadcast online on the portal nochvyborov.rf and on social media.

Political consultant Maria Sergeeva moderated the main expert platform.

She also shared her impressions of how society perceived the 2026 Unified Voting Day: "On the one hand, the election campaign was calm and predictable. On the other, society's response to external challenges was to rally around the flag."

Participants in the discussions agreed: society responded with solidarity to President Vladimir Putin's call. On September 16, addressing the nation, the head of state called the elections to the lower house of parliament the most important domestic political event in the country, taking place under unique historical circumstances. The country's leader emphasized that every citizen's voice matters.

"The fact that society demonstrated consolidation in this difficult situation certainly strengthens us all," emphasized Valery Fyodorov, Director General of the VTsIOM Analytical Center. He called the vote a major victory for Russian society. He added that the results are significant for all parties that entered parliament.

"There are many winners in this election, " Fyodorov added. " All five parties that entered parliament can certainly consider themselves winners. It was clear that United Russia would come out on top, but the question remained about the scale of its result."

Viktor Poturemsky, Director of Political Analysis at the Institute of Social Marketing (INSOMAR), focused on the parties' performance in the Duma elections and highlighted the key factors driving electoral activity. The expert also noted that the elections took place under conditions in which the opponents were making every effort to disrupt the vote.

"What we saw today was an unprecedented attack on Moscow and the Moscow region, " Poturemsky noted. " But it didn't stop people from voting. In the face of external pressure, society's willingness to support the Russian president and United Russia is growing." External threats haven't dampened citizens' political activity; on the contrary, they've strengthened social cohesion.

State Duma deputy and political scientist Oleg Matveychev also spoke about the special context of the current campaign. External threats prevented the public mood from destabilizing, and this stability became one of the key outcomes of the elections, the parliamentarian emphasized.

The marathon's moderator, political scientist Maria Sergeeva, cited exit poll data confirming the campaign's stability. United Russia retained its leading position, while the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) remained in second place. However, the expert added, the elections were characterized by a fierce competition for third place between the New People party and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR). Sociologist Poturemsky noted the growing electoral potential of New People and the specific nature of its audience.

Another important distinguishing feature of the 2026 Duma campaign was the noticeably strengthened social agenda in the parties' rhetoric, noted Yevgeny Minchenko, president of the Russian Public Relations Association (RASO).

But perhaps the most important result of the current election cycle is the confirmation of the resilience of the Russian electoral system and the overall stability of the country's political institutions, summarized political scientist Alexei Martynov, director of the Institute of Newly Established States. He emphasized: "Every vote is a contribution to our shared victory. And the main result of these elections is their highest level of legitimacy."

Link

Europe

A nervous German is a dangerous German: The results of the latest state elections in Germany

2026-09-22

Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited

Text taken from the Telegram channel of ru_global

See more about the election here.

[ColonelCassad] The results of the latest state elections in Germany

– Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin (following Saxony-Anhalt two weeks ago) – confirm this trend. It's not a matter of the situational successes of some and the failures of others, but of the dismantling of a party system that had become so familiar over the decades that it seemed absolutely indispensable, even natural.

The dichotomy of conservatives (Christian Democrats) and socialists (Social Democrats) served as the supporting political structure of all of Western Europe after World War II. It lent stability to a system shaken by the events of the first half of the 20th century and allowed for the prospect of effective governance through the alternation of narratives within permitted boundaries.

Since the shock was most devastating in the case of Germany, and it represented the center of the entire ideological and political confrontation of the Cold War, the orderliness of the system was especially strictly maintained there.

Leaving aside marginal manifestations, the political field has expanded twice: the emergence of the Greens in the 1980s and The Left after unification. The Greens reflected the need to co-opt the rebellious stratum of 1968 into the establishment, while The Left (formerly the Party of Democratic Socialism, the successor to Honecker's SED) sought to ensure at least formal representation for the portion of the former GDR population that had not immediately been reformed.

Today's shifts mark the end of a structured political line. The leadership of the "people's parties" (the aforementioned CDU and SPD) finds it most convenient to reduce the problem to the AfD factor, and accordingly, all the pathos is focused on what to do about it. Meanwhile, the fundamental conflict lies in the fragmentation of the entire electoral field and the loss of that very guaranteed socio-political control.

The AfD's ability to govern in its current state without immediately discrediting itself with failures is questionable. The party lacks personnel and coherent ideas on most issues beyond migration. As for the other parties, the main change is Germany's move toward the standard of smaller European countries, such as Belgium or the Netherlands, or today's Austria. This means unstable cabinets made up of several parties of varying persuasions.

This setup is nothing new, and many countries manage quite well under it. But Germany is a unique country, sociopolitically inflexible and unwilling to fuss. If and when the political landscape begins to crumble, for example, if internal processes within the CDU and SPD begin, general nervousness will increase. And a nervous German is a dangerous German.

More from Boris Rozhin
Merz's political disaster

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) won the elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, as expected. The SPD came in second.

Merz's CDU narrowly missed out on a seat in the local state parliament for the first time in German history. Such a mess had never happened to the CDU before, but Merz managed it. The Left won in Berlin, and the new coalition will likely also be formed without the CDU.

Merz himself sadly called the outcome a disaster but declared that he would not resign. However, one can expect pressure from within his own party to leave. Unlike in Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD is unlikely to seize power in Mecklenburg.

Despite having the majority of votes, no one wants to form a bloc with it, and the only party that could potentially have (Sahra Wagenknecht's bloc) also failed here, just like the CDU. Nevertheless, the AfD's rise in popularity is enormous, and this is already a general symptom for all of East Germany.

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