News for September 18, 2026
Warren Buffett gives up chairman title at Berkshire Hathaway in the next step of his succession plan
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett is stepping down as chairman of Berkshire Hathaway in the next step of the transition at the top of the $1 trillion conglomerate he led for more than six decades.. The company said Friday that the 96-year-old Buffett will take become chairman emeritus and will take on his new role immediately. His son, Howard, will serve as Berkshire Hathaway’s new chairman as part of the company’s longstanding succession plan. Howard Buffett has served as a Berkshire Hathaway board member since 1993. Longtime Vice Chairman Greg Abel was promoted to CEO in January and has been leading the company since then.
Hundreds of thousands attend Iran’s biggest government-organized rally since the war began
CAIRO (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have rallied in the biggest government-organized show of defiance since the war began. Those in Friday’s march in Tehran pledged readiness to take up arms after the United States and Israel attacked in February. The rally and weapons display come as the U.S. applies new measures to increase Iran’s economic pain. State media had encouraged Iranians to join the campaign, and Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard chief says over 600,000 registered to participate. The events also suggest that hard-liners in Iran’s leadership will be more prepared to suppress any future demonstrations against the theocracy.
China Sold Iran the Satellite That Aimed the Missiles That Killed Three American Soldiers
Army First Lt. Tyler James Feehan was twenty-five years old. Pvt. Isabella Gonzales was nineteen. Sgt. Angel S. Rampersad’s was twenty-eight. All three died on July 17 when 20 Iranian ballistic missiles hit a U.S. military base in Jordan called Muwaffaq Salti; a strike so precise it damaged eight F-15 fighter jets and ripped a wing off an A-10 Thunderbolt II. The precision wasn’t luck, Chinese satellite imagery helped Iran aim. The satellite in question is a TEE-01B, a Chinese-made spy satellite Iran acquired in September 2024 for $36 million. It provides high-resolution surveillance imagery — the kind you’d want if you were trying to map the layout of an American air base in a foreign country, identify where aircraft are parked, and time your volley for maximum damage. Iran didn’t develop this capability on its own. Beijing sold it to them.
Fatal building collapse highlights dangers plaguing Gaza nearly a year after ceasefire
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — A deadly building collapse in Gaza has highlighted ongoing hardships for Palestinians nearly a year after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Reconstruction plans have stalled, forcing many to live in damaged homes despite risks. Earlier this month, the U.N. reported five shelters collapsed in one week. The Palestinian Ministry of Public Works says over 2,000 buildings are at risk. Israel has restricted rebuilding until Hamas disarms, leaving many in unsafe conditions. Aid groups urge Israel to allow more shelter materials into Gaza, but security concerns have blocked entry. The nearly three-year conflict has severely impacted housing and affected millions.
Attorney General Blanche’s appearances at political events blur Justice Department boundaries
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Todd Blanche took the stage this week at an event for a Republican Senate candidate in North Carolina days after speaking at the GOP midterm convention, where he praised President Donald Trump and the administration’s tough-on-crime approach. Blanche’s participation at the rallies has amplified concerns about politicization of the Justice Department from critics who say it threatens to undermine public faith in prosecutorial decisions that are supposed to be free of political influence.
Bombing at mosque near police offices in Pakistan kills at least 21
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — A powerful bomb has exploded at a mosque near police offices in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 21 people and wounding at least 80. The attack occurred in Kohat, a district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and comes amid a surge in regional violence. Police say an attacker rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the mosque. Several armed gunmen also attempted to enter the police compound. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack and urged swift rescue operations. No group has claimed responsibility, but suspicion likely falls on the Pakistani Taliban. This attack follows a roadside bomb that killed six soldiers on Thursday.
Infantino’s opponents at FIFA call for $10M payments to federations from post-World Cup reserves
GENEVA (AP) — FIFA’s vice presidents from Europe and North America have said in a letter to its president Gianni Infantino that each of the world soccer body’s member federations should each get an extra $10 million from its rising cash reserves. UEFA’s president Aleksander Ceferin and CONCACAF’s leader Victor Montagliani want to oust Infantino for trying to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors. They have told Infantino in a letter seen by The Associated Press that FIFA’s $6 billion reserves can fund such a “one-off release.” Their message appears to be reassuring FIFA members they’ll get increased funding even without Infantino as president.
Trump refers to Black man from racially offensive 1988 campaign ad while stumping in North Carolina
President Donald Trump is using a controversial campaign ad from 1988 to criticize Democrats on crime. During a Wednesday rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, Trump referred to the Willie Horton ad, which targeted then-Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis. Trump compared it to a recent case involving a Black man accused of murder in North Carolina. He claims Democrats, like Senate candidate Roy Cooper, are soft on crime. Trump argues North Carolina has become more dangerous under Democratic leadership. Critics say Trump is using racial division to rally his base and distract from issues like inflation.
Russia begins 3 days of voting in a parliamentary election set to cement the Kremlin’s power
Russians have begun three days of voting in the country’s first wartime parliamentary election. It’s a heavily stage-managed election featuring virtually no opposition in order to secure the Kremlin’s political dominance. The balloting is spread over three days to help boost turnout among the 111 million eligible voters. Voting started Friday and ends Sunday. The Kremlin wants the election — the first since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine — to underline public support for the war and give its actions a veneer of legitimacy. It has sought to avoid any political risks by stamping out even the slightest sign of dissent.
