September 18, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Update from regional conflicts:

• The BBC cites Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich as saying at an event in Tel Aviv that he is in talks with the United States about dividing up Gaza after the war with Hamas and that the territory could be a "real estate bonanza." The statements follow reports earlier this month of a plan, a version of which was previously floated by U.S. President Trump, under which Gaza would be turned into a trusteeship administered by the U.S. for at least a decade while it is developed into a tourism resort and high-tech manufacturing hub following the "voluntary" emigration of the Palestinian population. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,302 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday that he expects his country will have received about $3.5 billion in contributions from various NATO countries by next month to purchase weapons from the United States and help sustain his country's fight against the Russian invasion. [more]

U.S. GUN VIOLENCE | Three police officers were killed, and two others were wounded, yesterday near southern Pennsylvania's North Codorus Township while taking part in a follow-up to a domestic-related investigation that began on Tuesday. Authorities have yet to release the identities of the shooter, who was killed by police, or of the officers who were shot. [more]

U.S. ECONOMY | The Federal Reserve voted yesterday to cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point to about 4.1%. Fed Chair Jerome Powell suggested the possibility of two more rate cuts this year, but said both inflation and a weakening labor market are areas of concern for fiscal policymakers. [more]

U.S. EXECUTIVE ACTION | President Donald Trump said in a social media post yesterday that he intends to designate the activist movement Antifa – short for anti-fascist – as a "major terrorist organization." Reports note that Antifa is not a singular organization or entity and that it remains unclear how the terrorist organization designation and any legal ramifications would be implemented. [more]

U.S. SPEECH | Broadcasting network ABC announced the suspension of the late-night “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” show yesterday after network affiliates complained about comments Kimmel made about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Reports note that the ABC move also came just hours after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said he believed his agency had a strong case for holding Kimmel, ABC, and network parent Walt Disney Co. accountable for spreading misinformation. [more]

OREGON | Portland, Oregon, said yesterday that it will issue a land use violation notice to the city’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building for violation of the building's conditional land use approval that does not allow people to be kept overnight or held for more than 12 hours. [more]

U.S. BUDGET AND HEALTHCARE | Ahead of a September 30 federal funding deadline, Republican Congressional leaders said yesterday that they will reject Democratic demands for an immediate extension of health care subsidies as part of any stop-gap spending bill that would prevent a government shutdown. [more]

U.S., CANADA, AND MEXICO | Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney begins a two-day visit to Mexico today, where discussions with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are expected to focus on trade policies ahead of next year's scheduled review of the United States-Mexico-Canada trade pact, or USMCA. [more]

U.S. AND U.K. | U.S. President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer are meeting today on the second full day of Trump's state visit to Britain. Among the topics expected to be discussed by the two leaders are tech industry cooperation, steel and aluminum tariffs, and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. [more]

CHINA AND TAIWAN | Speaking at a security forum in Beijing today, Chinese defense minister Dong Jun said China would “never allow any separatist attempts for Taiwan independence to succeed” and that his country is prepared to respond to “any external military interference.” [more]

SAUDI ARABIA AND PAKISTAN | Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed a mutual defense pact yesterday that defines an attack on either of their countries as an attack on both. [more]

MALDIVES | President Mohamed Muizzu signed controversial new media measures into law today that allows for suspension of media licenses, filing of litigation, and potential forced prevention of broadcasts and publication for media companies and journalists in the Maldives found to be in violation of provisions that require respect for the nation’s constitution, Islam, national security, and social values, and that protect personal honor and human rights. [more]

AFGHANISTAN | Reports cite regional Taliban government officials as saying that a ban on high-speed internet in Afghanistan has been expanded this week to include at least six of the country's provinces. Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada ordered the ban earlier this week to "prevent immorality," prompting criticism from groups such as the Afghanistan Media Support Organization, which said the move "not only disrupts millions of citizens’ access to free information and essential services but also poses a grave threat to freedom of expression and the work of the media." [more]

FRANCE | Demonstrations and strikes have been planned at scores of locations across France today as protesters rally against proposed budget cuts for public services. [more]

EUROPE AND RUSSIA | Federal prosecutors in Lithuania said in a statement yesterday that they have uncovered a Russia-linked network of at least 15 suspects who are thought to have planned and organized arson attacks in various European countries. [more]

AUSTRALIA | Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a new target for Australia's greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts, with the goal now being to reduce such emissions by between 62% and 70% below 2005 levels by 2035. [more]

TECH INDUSTRY | Chipmaker Nvidia announced plans today to invest $5 billion in struggling rival Intel – an investment that would make Nvidia one of Intel's largest shareholders. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1931, in the so-called Mukden Incident, the Japanese army in Manchuria used the pretext of an explosion along its railway to occupy Mukden (now Shenyang) and to justify its invasion, and eventual control, of all of Manchuria, which lasted until 1945. [more history]