The edition of
Wednesday 16 September 2026
19 stories, section by section, the most important first.
International
Twenty-one people are killed, 45 are injured, and about 100 others are missing after a residential building in Gaza City collapses after it was previously hit by an Israeli airstrike. Twelve children are among the fatalities.
The first summit between South Korea and the five countries of Central Asia is held in Seoul.
The United States House of Representatives passes a bipartisan sanctions bill that imposes sanctions on Russia's energy revenues, financial institutions, officials, and shadow fleet, while authorizing tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil and gas. The bill will head to president Donald Trump's desk for his signature for it to become law.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen invites Canada to become the first associate member of the European Union amidst the ongoing trade war between Canada and the United States.
Politics
The Philippine Commission on Elections proclaims all 78 elected members of the Bangsamoro Parliament, with four parties given all seats for party representation. The Bangsamoro Federalist Party, earning most of the seats, fails to secure a majority, leading to a hung parliament. Meanwhile, six sectoral seats are given to the United Bangsamoro Justice Party.
The Law
A district court in Seoul, South Korea, orders North Korea to pay KRW 44.6 billion (US$32.5 million) in damages for destroying the Inter-Korean Liaison Office in Kaesong in 2020, in South Korea's first damages lawsuit against North Korea.
Macau begins its first closed-door national security trial against former legislator Au Kam San, who faces charges including subversion of state power and alleged ties with foreign groups and media outlets. He faces up to 25 years in prison.
The Kosovo Specialist Chambers sentences former prime minister Hashim Thaçi to 25 years in prison after convicting him on charges of murder, torture, cruel treatment and arbitrary detention committed during the Kosovo War.
Science
In a study published by the Nature Medicine journal, scientists report that the PANXEON blood test helps detect pancreatic cancer at early stages and treat the disease before it spreads.
Astronomers confirm the existence of Elias 2-24 b, the youngest known exoplanet, which is less than one million years old and located approximately 450 light-years from Earth. The discovery was observed through the W.M. Keck Observatory in Mauna Kea, Hawaii, U.S., using a coronagraph.
Fiji declares HIV a national crisis after reporting 2,016 new diagnoses in 2025, sixteen times the 2019 total. The government estimates that one in 60 adults lives with HIV and expands testing, prevention, and treatment services.
The United Kingdom records its second-best butterfly season in 16 years amidst record heat waves in the country.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter discovers a recently formed crater on the moon larger than the Colosseum in Rome, Italy.
A study published by the Science Advances scientific journal find that the Tyrannosaurus had a temperature of 97 °F (36 °C).
Environment
At least 82 people are killed when a gold mine explodes in West Kordofan, Sudan, an area under control of the Rapid Support Forces.
Guatemala announces food aid for about 1.2 million families affected by severe El Niño-related drought, which damages crops and livestock across the Dry Corridor. The programme distributes maize, beans, and rice with World Food Programme support.
Arts
The Americana Music Honors & Awards are held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, with the Heartbreakers performing for the first time since lead vocalist Tom Petty's death in 2017.
Sport
In association football, Clearlake Capital buys out Todd Boehly and Mark Walter's stakes to gain full control of Premier League club Chelsea. The deal is valued at around £950 million (€1.1 billion) for the 25% share. Chelsea is now worth about £5 billion (€5.8 billion).
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) announces that its finals will move from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States, for three years beginning in 2027. The WTA also relocates its global headquarters from St. Petersburg, Florida, to Charlotte.
Stories adapted from Wikipedia’s Current events portal for 16 September 2026, by Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.