Current-events digest: 24 September 2026

2026 09 24 yes

Armed conflicts and attacks

Middle Eastern crisis

Yemeni civil war, France–Saudi Arabia relations

Houthi–Saudi Arabian conflict

2026 Yemen offensives

France announces that it will deploy its soldiers and air defense systems to Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, to support the Saudi military against the Houthis. (Reuters)

Gaza war

The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet say that they have killed Hamas's chief financial officer in the Khan Younis area of the Gaza Strip. (Israel National News) (The Yeshiva World)

Ethiopian civil conflict

2026 Ethiopian offensive

Fano fighters launch several attacks in the Amhara Region. Shootouts with the Ethiopian National Defense Force are ongoing, causing several casualties, while a colonel is captured. (Daily News Egypt)

2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan war

Pakistan's military launches ten air strikes on Afghan military sites, claiming they were used to store and launch drones. At least four people are killed in the strikes. (AP)

Arts and culture

The beatification ceremony for the late American Catholic prelate and Rochester Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen is held at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. (Bastille Post) (Vatican News)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war

2026 Iran war fuel crisis

The European Commission reports that the average diesel price across the European Union reaches a record €2.23 (US$2.54) per litre, up from €2.16 ($2.46) the previous week. Nineteen member states record new highs. (AFP via Bangkok Post)

Economic D-Day, United States sanctions against Iran

The Emirati General Civil Aviation Authority announces the suspension of all flights between Iran and the United Arab Emirates amidst new U.S. sanctions until further notice. (Gulf News)

Economic impact of the Gaza war

UN Trade and Development reports that Gaza is experiencing the most severe economic crisis on record, with 92% of economic establishments damaged or destroyed, daily per capita GDP at US$0.58, and unemployment exceeding 90% among working-age residents. (AFP)

Disasters and accidents

At least nine people are killed and many others are injured as a sleeper bus catches fire on the Yamuna Expressway in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India. (Deccan Herald) (DW)

Twelve Kazakh military personnel are killed, three are rescued and two are missing after being swept into the Caspian Sea during a naval training exercise in the Mangystau Region. (Reuters)

Health and environment

Hungary's food chain safety office confirms the European Union's first detection of the invasive spotted lanternfly in Bács-Kiskun County. (AFP via France 24)

International relations

2026 state visit by Xi Jinping to the United States

Chinese leader Xi Jinping says that China will send two pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, to the Zoo Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. (PBS)

Law and crime

Chromebook procurement scandal

A court in Jakarta, Indonesia, reduces former education minister and Gojek co-founder Nadiem Makarim's prison sentence from 10 to nine years for corruption involving Chromebook procurement, while lowering restitution from Rp809 billion (US$45 million) to Rp548 billion ($30 million). (Reuters)

Croatia–Germany relations, Nord Stream pipelines sabotage

A Croatian court approves Ukrainian national Volodymyr Zhuravlov's extradition to Germany over his alleged involvement in sabotaging the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines in 2022. (AP)

Donald Trump's conflict with the news media

American news outlets CNN, MS NOW, and Politico regain access to the White House after U.S. federal judge Timothy J. Kelly temporarily blocked the ban by President Donald Trump, ruling that the outlets are likely to show that their press passes were revoked without adequate due process. (BBC News)

Mary Jane Veloso drug smuggling case

Philippine president Bongbong Marcos grants an absolute pardon to Mary Jane Veloso, a former overseas worker in Indonesia who was arrested for drug trafficking and sentenced to death in 2010, but was later granted a reprieve and extradited back to the Philippines. (Reuters) (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko says that he has pardoned 15 political prisoners. (Reuters)

A priest is killed and four other people are injured in a mass stabbing by a Ukrainian national at a Benedictine abbey in Jarosław, Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland. (AP) (Reuters)

Politics and elections

2026 Moroccan general election

Morocco's Authenticity and Modernity Party, led by Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, wins the most seats in yesterday's parliamentary election, taking 97 of 395 seats, followed by the ruling National Rally of Independents with 66 and the Istiqlal Party with 65, according to preliminary official results. (Reuters)

Hijab and burqa controversies in Europe, Islam in Italy

Italy's government approves a decree capping foreign students with limited Italian proficiency at 30% per classroom and banning burqas and niqabs in schools. The measure takes effect immediately but requires parliamentary approval within 60 days. (AP)

Sports

2026 Asian Games

Japan at the 2026 Asian Games, Swimming at the 2026 Asian Games

In swimming, Japan's Shin Ohashi wins gold in the men's 200-metre breaststroke at the 2026 Asian Games in 2:04.83, breaking China's Qin Haiyang's 2023 world record of 2:05.48 by 0.65 seconds. (AFP)

2026 Major League Baseball season

In baseball, the Major League Baseball's Chicago White Sox clinches the upcoming playoffs for the first time since 2021, following three-straight 100-loss seasons. (AP)

2026 09 24 yes