Counting begins as first phase of AJK elections concludes

• Rare correspondence written by the Marquis de Lafayette was discovered in a Baltimore estate on September 20, 2026. • The newly uncovered letters detail Lafayette's personal reflections on human rights and the fragility of democratic institutions.

• Undisclosed letters written by the Marquis de Lafayette during his 1824–1825 farewell tour of the United States were recently discovered in a South Florida residence. • The documents date back to an era when Lafayette traveled across nearly every state as a symbol of the alliance between France and the young American republic.

• Amritsar businessman Rakesh Trehan, known as 'Raja D King', announced he will host an "iPhone Langar" in Chandigarh on September 22. • The event will feature the distribution of free Apple iPhones to participants.

• Researchers discovered late 19th-century letters in Lafayette that reveal secret negotiations and social divisions. • The documents contradict official local history narratives by exposing clandestine political dealings and social stratification.

• Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation intended to prevent outside interference in California elections. • Newsom framed the bills as a response to efforts by President Donald Trump and law enforcement allies to disrupt the voting process.

• Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise appeared on the ABC News program "This Week" on Sunday, September 20. • The broadcast reported that the average price for a gallon of regular gas rose to $4.46, which is $1.52 higher than when the Iran war started.

• Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine recently criticized the current state of American political divides and the rise of cancel culture. • Mustaine stated that people used to be able to speak freely in the United States, but now they cannot unless they are the ones silencing others.

• Supporters of independent candidate Anita from Ward 40 were attacked in the Vaishali Nagar police station area of Alwar during municipal elections. • The violence broke out after Anita declared her support for the BJP, resulting in two people being seriously injured.

• The Australian prime minister defended proposed immigration enforcement rules following calls for stricter net migration crackdowns from One Nation and the Coalition. • The government's position comes as political opponents demand a tougher approach to managing the number of people moving to the country.

• Russia began a three-day parliamentary election to select members of the State Duma, marking the first such vote since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. • The election features virtually no opposition candidates, making it nearly certain that the Kremlin will maintain political dominance.

• Saudi Arabia withdrew from the mBridge project, a cross-border payment platform using central bank digital currencies developed with China, on May 13, 2025. • The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) stated that the kingdom's role was originally temporary, moving from an observer to helping create a prototype and a minimally viable version of the platform.

• Abdul El-Sayed is running for the Michigan Senate seat as a progressive populist and a critic of Israel. • El-Sayed stated at a recent event that corporations with interests before the government should not be able to pay money to help elect officials who advance those interests.