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·17 September 2026 · 10:43 UTCBreaking

Indonesia battles worst haze in 11 years, blanketing 12 million people as El Niño-driven fires rage across seven provinces

Fires have scorched 600,000 hectares in August alone, according to YKAN, and authorities warn they could persist through October. President Prabowo Subianto has ordered local governments to end exemptions for smallholders, while police investigate suspected arsonists and five companies face license suspensions.

+1 source·17 September 2026 · 10:38 UTCBreaking

EU proposes Canada become first associate member; Carney welcomes invite as 'stronger together'

The proposal would integrate defense industries and deepen ties on manufacturing, technology, energy, and the Arctic, moving beyond the existing trade pact. An EU spokesperson told Axios the goal is 'the closest imaginable form of association with a partner outside Europe.'

+1 source·17 September 2026 · 10:21 UTCBreaking

Takaichi reshuffles Japan's Cabinet to revive sagging support, keeps key ministers for U.S. ties; replaces 10 of 18 ministers

The reshuffle is the first by the right-wing LDP leader since she took office last October, and she retained Taro Aso as LDP vice president. Takaichi also pushed a two-year consumption tax cut to 1% from 8%, which has added to concerns about Japan's strained finances.

·17 September 2026 · 10:14 UTCBreaking

King Charles denies bombshell book claim he said world would 'forget' Princess Diana; memoir by Earl Spencer leaks after copies stolen

The denial comes after four copies of Spencer's memoir 'Swan Song: Diana, My Sister' were stolen from a truck in the Netherlands, with leaked revelations including a telephone argument with Charles after Diana's death. The Royal Family, whose relations with Spencer are strained, fear the book could contain more bombshells about the couple's troubled relationship.

+1 source·17 September 2026 · 10:14 UTCBreaking

Ninth woman's body found in Dawn Park, South Africa, as police probe series of killings in Ekurhuleni; fears of serial killer grow

Police have offered a 400,000 rand ($24,000) reward for information leading to arrests, and a multidisciplinary team is investigating. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said authorities are pursuing leads and making progress in two or three cases, while urging the public not to spread unverified reports.

·17 September 2026 · 09:47 UTC

China criticizes US sanctions law allowing 100% tariffs on Russian oil buyers; spokesman Guo Jiakun defends normal trade ties

Guo Jiakun said China maintains 'normal economic and trade relations' based on equality and mutual benefit, and that such cooperation is not directed against any third party. He also opposed extraterritorial application of laws lacking UN Security Council authorization.

·17 September 2026 · 09:15 UTC

Netanyahu threatens to revoke Israeli citizenship of NAZA filmmakers; pledges two bills to hit defamers in pockets and citizenship

Netanyahu's proposed legislation would increase statutory damages for defamation by 20 times, citing the documentary's portrayal of soldiers as war criminals. He also accused election rivals of failing to take a tough stand, and any new law may face court challenges similar to a 2022 Supreme Court ruling.

·17 September 2026 · 07:21 UTC

NBC4 helicopter crash in Chatsworth kills engaged reporter, soon-to-retire pilot, and young tourist; officials call it 'very, very, very tragic day'

Eliana Moreno, a Chapman University graduate, won a 2023 'Best TV Continuing Coverage' award from the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California. George Marciniw, a lifelong Angeleno and 1974 Burbank High School graduate, had flown 14,000 hours as a helicopter flight instructor for over 30 years.

+1 source·17 September 2026 · 06:51 UTC

Russia hits Kyiv with missiles and 157 drones as Ukraine strikes major Russian oil refinery and military airfield

Ukraine's Air Force said air defenses downed 131 targets, but it did not confirm whether any missiles were intercepted. The refinery strike is part of Kyiv's long-range drone campaign that has contributed to fuel shortages and pushed Russian production down sharply over the summer.

+1 source·17 September 2026 · 06:20 UTC

Study finds 'no doubt' climate change played role in Nepal-Tibet flood; disaster killed over 1,400 as glaciers thinned by half a metre a year

The World Weather Attribution study attributes the disaster to a 'compound event' of rising temperatures, thinning glaciers, thawing permafrost, and geological weaknesses. July and August temperatures were 1.5C warmer due to human influence, and the glacier impact registered as a magnitude 5.2 earthquake.

+1 source·17 September 2026 · 04:51 UTC

Ukrainian drone forces kill Russian general decorated as Hero of Russia after disputed Kostiantynivka capture claim; commander confirms strike

Brovdi said Grunis was the seventh Russian military commander killed by his drone forces, and the Institute for the Study of War noted Russian forces had only infiltrated, not fully seized, Kostiantynivka. The capture claim was part of a wider information campaign to portray Ukrainian frontlines as collapsing.

+1 source·17 September 2026 · 01:55 UTC

Trump says Kennedy Center could be 'ripped down' without 'recognition'; executive director cites safety concerns, not court, for closure

The closure, effective September 16 for seven days, follows a Sept. 4 incident where plaster fell 60 feet from the Grand Foyer ceiling. Rep. Joyce Beatty accused Trump of being 'in contempt of court' for trying to close the center.

+3 sources4 updates

17 September 2026 · 01:22 UTCKennedy Center board votes to close venue for renovations; Rep. Joyce Beatty seeks emergency hearing as fencing goes up, defying court order 17 September 2026 · 00:13 UTCKennedy Center board votes to close venue as Trump defends involvement, walks away from reporter asking 'Why does it have to have your name?'+1 more report

+1 source·17 September 2026 · 00:51 UTC

Anthropic report: Iran-linked and Russia-linked adversaries used Claude AI for naval targeting, espionage, disinformation, and drone swarms; company blocked activity and shared findings with governments

Anthropic identified a hacking group linked to Russia's SVR that used Claude to automate attacks on over 20 organizations, including government ministries and defense firms. The company also shut down a Russia-linked drone project that tested an autonomous targeting system on real hardware.

·17 September 2026 · 00:23 UTC

House passes Russia sanctions bill named for Lindsey Graham, sending it to Trump; measure targets energy buyers like China and India

The bill, which passed the Senate 86-11 last month, allows tariffs of up to 100% on third countries buying Russian energy, replacing the 500% tariff in the 2025 version. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he had to build consensus, while Daniel Balson of Razom for Ukraine called the passage 'momentous.'

Yesterday

+1 source·16 September 2026 · 21:48 UTC

Israel, Morocco, US agree to advance Abraham Accords at New York summit; upgrade ties, open embassies, appoint ambassadors

The trilateral summit, led by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, and US ambassador Mike Waltz, also set a goal to complete investment protection and double taxation agreements by end of 2026. Additionally, the sides agreed to expand air travel to include Moroccan airlines, with implementation targeted by end of 2026.

+2 sources·16 September 2026 · 20:49 UTC

Top House Democrat Gregory Meeks refuses to clear Trump's $2.8bn arms sale to Israel, citing lack of assurances that 2,000-pound bombs will be used lawfully

Meeks' hold is informal; the State Department can proceed despite his objection, but his public stance signals growing Democratic frustration. The package includes 40,000 bombs—20,000 MK-84s, 20,000 BLU-117s, and 20,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads—funded through Foreign Military Financing.