Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, is dead

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View online August 31, 2022 1/ Mikhail Gorbachev, Soviet leader who helped end the Cold War and changed the world forever, dies aged 91 Mikhail Gorbachev, a man widely lauded in the West for reforms that changed the world but were often condemned at home, has died at the age of 91.   Moscow's Central Clinical Hospital said the last leader of the Soviet Union had died after a long illness but provided no other details.   At the height of his influence, Gorbachev was the tip of the spear pushing for exciting reforms and demands for more openness within a system that for decades had been closed and set against the US in a superpower battle for supremacy and survival.   Indeed, at times during the Cold War, such as the feverish Cuban missile crisis of 1962, it appeared that the stand-off would end in nuclear annihilation for everyone.   Rather, Gorbachev and his supporters became associated with a new lexicon that was picked up by many in the West, words such as "perestroika"(reform,) and "glasnost " (openness). 2/ Mar-a-Lago raid: Photos released of top secret documents seized by FBI from Trump's estate Human intelligence marking is clearly visible on one heading 3/ Biden renews call for updated assault weapons ban: 'We have to act' Biden called for a restoration of the 1994 assault weapons ban 4/ Texas confirms first Monkeypox death Texas Department of State Health Services says the unidentified man had been 'severely immunocompromised' 5/Officers involved in Uvalde shooting response could return to school, parents learn Some residents left frustrated at lack of answers The Big Question What conspiracy theories still persist about Princess Diana's death? On the night of 31 August 1997, Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris and the effects were felt around the world long afterwards. But that is where the consensus begins and ends.   For some, what happened that night was not simply a tragic accident. Instead, it was the result of a deep-rooted conspiracy, conducted secretly by agents of the British state. Or someone else.   Numerous reports, investigations and experts have all agreed with the official account of events: that Diana had been in a car driven by a man who was drunk and that failing, alongside other institutional blunders, allowed for the tragedy to happen. But others still insist that something even darker took place that night. Read the full story > Watch / Mikhail Gorbachev dies aged 91 NUMBER OF THE DAY $10bn   – The estimated cost of repairing flood damage to Pakistan, according to planning minister Ahsan Iqbal, after the monsoon rains washed away roads, crops, infrastructure and bridges, killing at least 1,000 people. QUOTE OF THE DAY "You're disgusting and clearly desperate! I really hope that none of the people that made this call have daughters." – Whitney Henriquez, Amber Heard's sister, lashes out at MTV after her former brother-in-law, Johnny Depp, made a cameo at the music channel's latest awards ceremony in the wake of the couple's protracted legal battles, in which both sides made domestic abuse allegations against the other.  Other stories you might like Nikolas Cruz asked if people 'ate' corpses and what Lincoln killing 'sounded like' in school Civil War lesson Vanessa Bryant accidentally awarded $1m extra in Kobe helicopter crash photo lawsuit Right-wing pundit Ann Coulter declares 'Trump is done' in new podcast Articles available exclusively to subscribers Len Williams - The AK-47: a malevolent power that changed the course of history Other newsletters you might like Morning Headlines Weekdays, 8am (UK time) Written by Joe Sommerlad Sign up The Race Report Every Tuesday, 7am (UK time) Written by Nadine White Sign up If you can spare a minute we'd love your feedback on our newsletters. Join the conversation or follow us Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's US Morning Headlines newsletter. Add us to your safe list of senders.   If you do not want to receive The Independent's US Morning Headlines newsletter, please unsubscribe.   If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe here.   This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our privacy notice and cookie policy.