Real-time News

September 19th - Tensions between Yemen and Saudi Arabia escalated. On the 19th, Riyadh, the Saudi capital, issued its first-ever air raid sirens. British media revealed that Saudi Arabia's interceptor missiles are running low. Saudi Arabia is seeking air defense assistance from its allies. The Associated Press, citing local officials, reported that Saudi Arabia has contacted France, Britain, Pakistan, and Egypt, requesting air defense support. However, apart from Pakistan, its allies have offered more sympathy than military support. In fact, Saudi Arabia's largest ally and arms supplier is the United States, but its interceptor missile stockpile has been depleted in the war with Iran. Last week, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called Trump, requesting deeper US involvement in the conflict. The US rejected this request.

On September 19th, CNN reported on September 18th that sources said the US military narrowly avoided an incident after using an AI-generated false intelligence report. The report stated that this spring, during the war with Iran, an intelligence report circulating among US military personnel raised concerns. The report claimed that a Chinese ship was transporting components for a nuclear weapons program in the Middle East. Four sources familiar with the incident said the US military quickly initiated a plan to intercept the ship. Two of the sources indicated that US military personnel were preparing to board. One source and another informed source stated that US military aircraft had been scrambled. However, just as the planned operation was about to begin, US officials thoroughly examined the report, compiled by analysts from the US Special Operations Command, and discovered that it was generated using AI. The chatbot used by the analyst had incorrectly identified the cargo.

Musk: Usage of the X platform has reached an all-time high.

According to AFP: A Saudi Aramco fuel storage tank caught fire near Riyadh airport.

Commander of U.S. Central Command: We are forming a new coalition attack drone force.

Commander of U.S. Central Command: The U.S. is working with partners to increase shipping volume through the Strait of Hormuz.

Commander of U.S. Central Command: The main passageways of the Strait of Hormuz have not been affected by mines.

On September 19th, MS NOW stated that its reporters were denied entry to the White House premises earlier that day. MS NOW stated, "The White House belongs to the American people, and decisions made within the White House are supported by our taxpayer money." The media outlet indicated that MS NOW plans to take all necessary measures to uphold its First Amendment rights and the vital role of independent journalism in a democratic system. This comes after US President Trump announced an immediate ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from entering the White House, citing their long-standing practice of publishing "fake news."

The China Earthquake Networks Center officially reported that a magnitude 4.0 earthquake occurred at 20:19 on September 19 in Shenzha County, Nagqu City, Tibet (31.99 degrees north latitude, 89.26 degrees east longitude), with a focal depth of 10 kilometers.

The China Earthquake Networks Center automatically determined that an earthquake of approximately magnitude 4.2 occurred at 20:19 on September 19 near Shenzha County, Nagqu City, Tibet (32.03 degrees north latitude, 89.29 degrees east longitude). The final result is subject to the official rapid report.

On September 19th, European Central Bank (ECB) Governing Council member Stournaras stated that the ECB must be wary of upward inflation risks but should not act hastily. He noted that while a second-round effect through channels such as wages has not yet materialized, this situation cannot be taken for granted. "We are seeing a series of ongoing supply-side shocks that cannot be simply ignored. At the same time, there are strong demand factors due to fiscal expansion and the AI investment boom. We must remain vigilant." With more than a month until the next policy decision, Stournaras said he has not yet made a decision, and the various economic outlook forecasts prepared by the ECB may provide some guidance. "If inflation surges in September, or if rising energy costs clearly put us in an adverse scenario, then a rate hike in October cannot be ruled out. But if there are some doubts, we will not take any action but will wait for the next round of forecasts." Stournaras emphasized that this week's Fed rate hike also helped the ECB, stating, "The Fed's rate decision enhanced its credibility and also enhanced the credibility of global monetary policy, because the Fed and the dollar play a central role."

September 19th - The French government stated that its draft budget for 2027 will meet EU recommendations, despite the country's debt burden being projected to exceed 120% of economic output. The French Budget Ministry stated in a statement on Saturday that the budget plan projects net primary spending to increase by 0.7%, while the European Commission recommends an increase of no more than 1.2%. France is struggling to control its public finances amid weak economic growth and rising interest costs. On Thursday, the government announced that this year's fiscal trajectory has deviated from its target, with the budget deficit projected to rise to 5.4% of GDP, while the previous fiscal law aimed to slightly narrow the deficit to 5%. The French Budget Ministry stated that the draft budget submitted to the public finance oversight body aims to reduce spending as a percentage of economic output to 56.9% by 2027, from 57.1% in 2026. On the same basis, tax revenue will account for 44.2%. Under this plan, France's debt ratio is projected to rise from 119.3% this year and 115.7% in 2025 to 121.7% of economic output in 2027.

On September 19, the General Office of the People's Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region recently issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of Guangxi's Financial Industry." The plan states that by 2030, the overall strength of the financial industry will be significantly enhanced, the quality and efficiency of financial services to the real economy will be comprehensively improved, the function of Guangxi as a financial gateway to ASEAN will be fully upgraded, artificial intelligence and the financial industry will be deeply integrated, the financial market service system will be further optimized, financial governance capabilities and risk prevention and control levels will be significantly improved, the system and mechanism for the Party's leadership over financial work will be further improved, and a modern financial system that matches the positioning of "one region, two places, one park, and one channel" and adapts to the requirements of Guangxi's chapter in China's modernization will be established.

September 19th - At 18:50 Beijing time on September 19, 2026, my country successfully launched the Zhuzhou Space PIESAT-2 13-16 satellites into their predetermined orbit using a Long March-2D carrier rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center. The launch mission was a complete success. This mission marked the 668th flight of the Long March series carrier rockets.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Oleksandr Poklad, head of the Security Service of Ukraine, reported that the military counterintelligence unit of the Security Service of Ukraine has achieved good results in defending against the Shahd jet-powered drone. A new interceptor drone has been developed and successfully put into use.

September 19 - Al Jazeera reported that the Gaza Ministry of Health stated that Bashir al-Bursh, son of its Director-General Munir al-Bursh, was killed by Israeli artillery fire in northern Gaza. The attack occurred in the Zahra community, west of the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza.

The French Ministry of Finance has set a target of a budget deficit of 5.0% of GDP in 2027 and 5.4% in 2026.