Russia will this week hold tightly controlled elections in a vote seen by the Kremlin as a barometer of public opinion on the war with Ukraine which is dragging through its fifth year.

The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a major blow on Sept. 14 to President Donald Trump’s attempts to restrict mail-in voting before the November midterm elections, denying his request to lift an order halting the divisive plan.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine is ready to de-escalate the war with Russia if its rival did the same, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the foes had agreed to end strikes on energy targets.

Thailand accused Cambodia on Sept. 15 of playing the victim in a dispute over maritime resources, as the Southeast Asian neighbors took their feud to international mediators a year after deadly clashes over their land border.

Disruptions to oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz are raising energy costs worldwide as the war with Iran reaches its 200th day on Sept. 15, putting pressure on importers.