KeyLang Daily News - 2026年9月17日

📰 English Version

Hello, and welcome to KeyLang Daily News for Thursday, September 17, 2026. I'm your host, and over the next few minutes we will look at twenty stories from around the world, from central bank decisions in Washington to wildfires in Southeast Asia. As always, we report the facts and, where there is disagreement, we present both sides. Let's begin.

💰 US Federal Reserve Raises Interest Rates Again

The US Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by zero point two five percent on Wednesday. The central bank said inflation remains too high and signalled that another increase could come later this year. Higher US rates usually affect borrowing costs, currencies and investment flows far beyond the United States. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for lower rates, and the decision moves in the opposite direction. Fed officials said their choices are guided by price data, not by political pressure.

⚔️ Drone Strikes Hit Bus and Train in Southern Ukraine

Ukrainian officials said Russian drones struck a passenger bus and a train in southern Ukraine on Wednesday, killing five people. They said Moscow is continuing to target transport links and energy infrastructure. Russia has said it strikes only military-related targets, a claim Ukraine rejects. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin described turnout in an upcoming parliamentary election as a measure of public support for the war, and urged citizens to vote.

⚔️ Twenty-One Killed as Damaged Gaza Building Collapses

Rescue workers in Gaza City said twenty-one people died, including eight children, when a six-storey residential building collapsed. The building had been hit by an Israeli strike last year and was reportedly still home to about ten families. Rescuers said the structure had been weakened and that many people had nowhere else to go. Aid groups have warned repeatedly that damaged buildings across Gaza pose a continuing danger to residents.

🌍 US Military Presence in Iraq Nears Its End

Iraq faces two deadlines at the end of this month. The first is the end of a decades-long United States military presence in the country. The second is a plan to disarm armed groups that operate outside the state. Some Iraqi politicians have said the withdrawal restores full sovereignty. Others have warned that security forces may struggle to fill the gap. Iraqi officials say the disarmament process will continue through talks with the groups involved.

💰 Shipper Warns of Long Hormuz Disruption for Gas Market

A major Japanese shipping company said the disruption to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could last for an extended period. Asian spot prices for liquefied natural gas have climbed to their highest level since 2022. Traders say prices could rise further as winter demand approaches in Northeast Asia. The strait is one of the world's most important routes for energy shipments. Importing countries are reported to be looking for alternative supplies and longer shipping routes.

⚔️ Saudi Arabia Seeks Air Defence Help as Stocks Run Low

Two regional officials said on Wednesday that Saudi Arabia is running low on missile interceptors. The officials said Riyadh has asked France, Britain, Pakistan and Egypt to send air-defence support to the region. The request follows a long stand-off with Houthi forces in Yemen, who have fired missiles and drones at Saudi territory. The Houthis say their attacks are a response to regional military actions. Saudi officials have not publicly commented on the reported requests.

🌍 Former Kosovo President Sentenced to 25 Years

A court backed by the European Union convicted former Kosovo President Hashim Thaci of war crimes and sentenced him to twenty-five years in prison. The charges related to the conflict during Kosovo's push for independence from Serbia. Prosecutors said civilians were killed and mistreated by forces under his command. Thaci has consistently denied wrongdoing and described the case as an attack on Kosovo's fight for freedom. His legal team said it would study the judgment.

🌍 Duterte Appears Before ICC Judges for First Time

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte appeared before judges at the International Criminal Court in The Hague for the first time. The eighty-one-year-old, who led the country from 2016 to 2022, faces charges of crimes against humanity linked to his anti-drug campaign. Prosecutors say thousands of people were killed without trial. Duterte has said his policies were legal and aimed at protecting citizens. His supporters argue the court has no authority over the Philippines.

⚔️ Violence in Africa's Sahel Set to Reach Record Levels

New figures from the conflict monitor Acled suggest that violence in Africa's Sahel region will hit record levels this year. The data follow a series of large offensives by armed groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State. Researchers say these networks have expanded in parts of West Africa even as they have weakened elsewhere. Governments in the region have used military operations and, in some cases, foreign partners. Millions of people have been displaced by the fighting.

🌱 Scientists Report More Than 12 Trillion Tons of Ice Lost

Researchers estimate that more than twelve trillion tons of ice have been lost as polar melting speeds up. The findings point to a faster rise in global sea levels in the coming decades. Scientists say each centimetre of sea-level rise puts another two to three million people at risk of yearly coastal flooding. Low-lying island states and delta regions in Asia and Africa are described as especially exposed. The team called for improved monitoring of ice sheets.

🌪️ Ethiopia Faces Sharp Drop in Main Harvest

The food security monitor FEWS NET says Ethiopia's main meher harvest could be up to thirty percent below average. It reported the weakest kiremt rains on record during a strong El Niño year. The meher harvest normally supplies most of the country's annual food production. Aid agencies warn that a shortfall of this size could increase food prices and hunger in rural areas. The government has said it is assessing needs and planning support for affected farmers.

🌪️ Indonesian Wildfires Send Haze Across Southeast Asia

Indonesia is battling wildfires that have burned an area about three times the size of Singapore. NASA scientists have called this type of fire the 'apex predator' of wildfires because of its scale and intensity. Toxic haze has spread across parts of Southeast Asia, affecting millions of people and closing schools in some districts. Researchers link the severity to El Niño conditions and to dried peatland. Conservation groups say forests and wildlife habitats are also being destroyed.

🌍 US Removes Venezuela From Drug Cooperation Blacklist

President Donald Trump said the United States has removed Venezuela from its list of countries that fail to cooperate against illegal drug trafficking. It is the first time in more than twenty years that Venezuela has been taken off the list. Trump added that he may also consider removing neighbouring Colombia. The announcement marks a shift in Washington's approach to the region. Reaction in Latin America has been mixed, with some officials welcoming it and others asking for details.

🏥 US Senator Questions Vaccine Policy Amid Measles Deaths

Republican Senator Bill Cassidy publicly criticised the administration's vaccine policy during a hearing in Washington. He questioned President Trump's nominee for surgeon general about his views on vaccines and public health. The exchange came as measles deaths have been rising in parts of the United States. Health officials say vaccination rates in some communities have fallen below the level needed to stop outbreaks. The nominee said he supports informed choice and further research.

📱 China Builds Weather System on 100,000 Domestic AI Chips

China says it can now forecast weather ten days ahead at a resolution of five kilometres. The system runs on Sugon 8,000, a large computing platform built entirely with domestically produced AI chips. The China Meteorological Administration said about one hundred thousand chips are used. Most major global systems operate at resolutions of roughly five to ten kilometres. Officials say finer forecasts could help with disaster warnings, farming and energy planning across the country.

🏥 Texas Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Care Denial

The family of a pregnant woman in San Antonio has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Texas. Tierra Walker, aged thirty-seven, died in December 2024 at twenty weeks of pregnancy after being diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. The lawsuit names the state attorney general, doctors and health officials, and says she was denied a procedure that could have saved her life. State officials have defended the current law and have not commented on the specific case.

🔬 Stanford Team Creates Mice With Human Brain Cells

Researchers at Stanford University have developed mice that can receive and use human brain cells. The animals were genetically altered so that the transplanted cells could survive and function. Scientists say the work may help them study conditions such as autism and Alzheimer's disease in living tissue. Ethicists have asked how far such research should go and called for clear limits. The research team said the experiments followed existing review rules and safety standards.

🎭 Documentary on Gaza War Divides Opinion in Israel

A documentary film called NAZA received a standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival but has caused strong debate in Israel. The film questions how military strikes in Gaza were carried out and their effect on civilians. Many Israelis have defended the military, saying it takes steps to reduce civilian harm and operates under legal review. The filmmakers, who are Israeli, say critical discussion of the war is being blocked at home. The film has no Israeli distributor yet.

🎭 Lebanon Returns 37 Ancient Artefacts to Egypt

Lebanon has returned thirty-seven artefacts that were taken out of Egypt about six years ago. The objects date back to the pharaonic period of ancient Egypt. Officials said the items were identified and held by Lebanese authorities before the handover was arranged between the two governments. Egypt has been working for years to recover cultural objects held abroad. Egyptian officials thanked Lebanon and said the pieces would be examined and later displayed to the public.

🎭 Pulitzer Prize-Winning Writer Annie Dillard Dies at 81

The American writer Annie Dillard has died at the age of eighty-one. She won the Pulitzer Prize for her book Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, which combined close observation of nature with personal reflection. Her other well-known works include An American Childhood, The Maytrees and The Writing Life. Readers and critics often described her style as simple and precise. Her books are still widely used in writing courses in the United States and abroad.

That's all for today's world news. We covered twenty stories from Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Before you go, stay with us for today's key phrases, chosen from the stories you just heard. Thank you for listening to KeyLang Daily News, and we hope to see you again tomorrow.