World News updates: Strait of Hormuz sees sharp drop in shipping traffic as US-Iran war drags on
Hormuz traffic falls sharply as Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu oil loadings rebound in September.
by Nischai Vats · The Indian Express · JoinShipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has plunged to below the 10-day average of 14 on Thursday as vessel transits fell to seven from 12 the previous day, according to preliminary shipping traffic data, Reuters reported. Out of these seven ships, four vessels exited and three entered.
At the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, 28 commodity ships sailed through it on Wednesday, similar to the 10-day average of 27. Of the total, 16 ships entered and 12 exited.
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US President warns Iran ‘not to get cute’ as strikes intensify
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, September 9, warned Iran against activity at Pickaxe Mountain, saying the US would “hit them very hard” if necessary. In a speech at the midterm Republican convention, Trump said, “We notice there’s a little activity at Pickaxe. I would advise Iran not to get cute because we will have to hit them very hard.”
Pickaxe Mountain, near the Natanz uranium enrichment facility, is a fortified site with two deeply buried tunnel complexes. Trump has threatened to strike it since at least mid-July.
Meanwhile, multiple US military aircrafts were damaged in suspected overnight Iranian strikes on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, CBS reported. An A-10 Thunderbolt suffered major damage, with one wing missing, while around eight F-15s sustained light damage and were returned to service.
Iran and the US launched their biggest wave of attack since the six-month-old war began, with both sides targeting vessels near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it attacked 10 ships, including two US vessels and eight oil tankers. The US military said it had destroyed five Iranian oil tankers. At least one seafarer was killed and another was reported missing.
The attacks pushed Brent crude above USD 100 a barrel. Iran also fired missiles at a US base in Jordan, with Jordan saying it intercepted 18 of the 20 missiles.
Key world developments:
- A fire broke out in the Philippines ferry fire leaving at least 5 dead, 87 missing; 42 rescued out of 134 people on board.
- US President Trump promised USD 5,000 dividend to every adult US citizen if Republicans win Congress in November’s election.
- Trump says Putin wants deal to end Ukraine war, and that it would be positive if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also agreed.
- US strike on vessel in Caribbean Sea kills three, in a series of attacks targeting ‘narco-terrorists’ military says.
- US President Trump said the Iran war could end after November’s elections, while his advisers reportedly warned it could last through his presidency.
- Israeli PM Netanyahu to sue Haaretz newspaper over report that he was warned of October 7 Hamas attack .
- Pakistan says Mecca agreement with Saudi, Turkey is ‘defensive’, vows to act if needed.
- Houthi rebels said Saudi-backed forces carried out dozens of airstrikes across four Yemeni provinces.
Follow the latest world news and major international developments here. This live blog is a rolling curation of the day’s key global stories, with updates added as events unfold and the news agenda changes. The headline, introduction and Top Developments section will be refreshed throughout the day to reflect the stories that matter most at that moment.
Live Updates
Sep 10, 2026 10:18 PM IST
House Democrat urges US action over sleeping Tesla drivers
A Democratic lawmaker called on a US auto safety agency on Thursday to take action to address misuse of Tesla's Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems, citing dozens of videos that appear to show drivers asleep or disengaged from driving.
In a letter to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois cited an NBC News report that identified 43 videos appearing to show individuals asleep in the driver's seat of moving Teslas, including 17 this year.
- Reuters
Sep 10, 2026 08:47 PM IST
Iran attack on base in Jordan damaged American military aircraft, US official says
Iranian strikes damaged multiple American military aircraft this week on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, a US official told Reuters.
The US military, the highest-funded in the world, suffered material damage even before Iran's strikes on Tuesday. This includes the destruction of more than two dozen drones, Iran striking fighter jets, and aircraft being lost to accidents.
According to a May report from the Congressional Research Service, 42 US military aircraft had already been lost or damaged in the conflict.
- Reuters
Sep 10, 2026 06:19 PM IST
Who are Vikas and Anuradha Sinha, Indian-origin couple donating $20 million to US university?
Vikas and Anuradha Sinha, an Indian-origin couple, have donated $20 million to the University of North Texas (UNT), where the former earned his PhD, to establish a new college focused on artificial intelligence and advanced analytics.
The gift will establish the Anuradha and Vikas Sinha College of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics and six permanent endowments supporting college leadership, scholarships, professorships, entrepreneurship, research and emerging technologies.
But for the Sinhas, the donation is less about the size of the cheque than about returning the opportunity they once received.
“Education has opened doors for us throughout our lives, and we want to hold those doors open for others,” Vikas said.
He said the couple particularly wanted to support students who, like them, may arrive in the US from another country with “the same ambition and belief in education”.
“For us, this gift is about paying that opportunity forward and recognising that immigrants don’t simply participate in the American dream — they help build it,” he said.
Sep 10, 2026 06:00 PM IST
Strait of Hormuz sees sharp drop in shipping traffic as US-Iran war drags on
Shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has plunged to below the 10-day average of 14 on Thursday as vessel transits fell to seven from 12 the previous day, according to preliminary shipping traffic data, Reuters reported.
Out of these seven ships, four vessels exited and three entered.
At the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, 28 commodity ships sailed through it on Wednesday, similar to the 10-day average of 27. Of the total, 16 ships entered and 12 exited.
Sep 10, 2026 04:02 PM IST
Major casualties feared after international cargo ship docked in China catches fire
An international cargo ship caught fire while docked in eastern China, leaving major casualties on Thursday, China's Xinhua News Agency reported.
China’s President Xi Jinping issued “important instructions” to urgently conduct rescues of missing people. However, the Chinese president did not give a number for the casualties.
Sep 10, 2026 03:51 PM IST
Dubai Airports expects 2026 passenger traffic to reach 70 million: CEO
Dubai Airports expects annual passenger traffic to reach 70 million by the end of 2026, down from an earlier target of 100 million, CEO Paul Griffiths told Reuters on Monday.
Traffic reached 6.3 million passengers in July, up 26% from June, while capacity has recovered to 84% of pre-war levels and passenger numbers to 78%, he said.
- Reuters
Sep 10, 2026 03:06 PM IST
Pakistan warns Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia could activate Mecca defence pact: What it means
Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the recently signed Saudi-Turkey-Pakistan defence pact or Mecca agreement could become operational if Saudi Arabia faces “unprovoked aggression” or the conflict in Yemen spills into the kingdom, a day after Iran-aligned Houthi forces launched attacks on Saudi territory.
“If there is unprovoked aggression, or a spillover of whatever is happening in Yemen into Saudi Arabia, definitely the Mecca agreement will become operational,” Geo News quoted Asif as saying.
On Thursday, Pakistan foreign ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan, however, said at a weekly media briefing that there were no discussions about a military reaction from Islamabad under the Mecca agreement in response to the Houthis’ attacks on Saudi Arabia. But the defence minister noted that Pakistan will “act” when the “time comes”, news agency Reuters reported.
The comments by Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson came in response to a question on how Islamabad plans to fulfill its obligations under a joint defence accord it signed with Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
The joint defence agreement signed last month stipulates that an armed attack on any one of the three countries will be regarded as an attack on all of them.
“There is no such thing under discussion right now … When time comes (we) will act under the agreement,” Khan.
Sep 10, 2026 01:55 PM IST
Zelenskyy visits Canada seeking further military support for Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Canada on Thursday for talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney as Kyiv seeks further military support in its war against Russia. Zelenskyy said the main focus would be helping Ukraine protect its skies, strengthen resilience and prepare for winter. Ukraine has faced intensified Russian air attacks targeting its power infrastructure, while US-led efforts to end the war have so far made little progress. The visit comes amid continued drone attacks by both sides. Russia said it shot down 448 Ukrainian drones overnight, while Ukrainian officials reported casualties and damage from Russian attacks in several regions.
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Sep 10, 2026 01:50 PM IST
Ecuador court sentences former president Abdalá Bucaram to 9 years in prison
Former Ecuadorian president Abdala Bucaram was sentenced to nine years in prison by a court in connection with a corruption case linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. The case relates to alleged corruption during the pandemic, though no further details were provided in the initial report.
Sep 10, 2026 01:41 PM IST
Ukrainian attack kills one, wounds two in Russia’s Belgorod region
Ukrainian forces carried out an attack in Russia’s Belgorod region on Thursday, killing one person and wounding two others, local authorities said. The authorities did not provide further details about the nature of the attack or the damage caused.
Sep 10, 2026 01:38 PM IST
Netanyahu to sue Haaretz newspaper over report that he was warned of Hamas attack
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would sue Haaretz newspaper over a report claiming he was warned by UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed about a possible Hamas attack 10 days before October 7, 2023. Netanyahu rejected the report as false in a statement on X and said he would also sue its authors, Shlomi Eldar and Ruth Yaval. The UAE has declined to comment on the allegations. The report comes as Netanyahu seeks to maintain his position ahead of the Knesset elections scheduled for October.
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Sep 10, 2026 01:31 PM IST
Pakistan says no military response discussed under Mecca pact over Houthi attacks
Pakistan said on Thursday that no military response had been discussed under the Mecca agreement following Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. Foreign ministry spokesperson Sajjad Haider Khan said Pakistan would act under the agreement when required. The pact, signed with Turkey and Saudi Arabia last month, treats an armed attack on one of the three countries as an attack on all. Khan also said there were no plans at present to expand the Mecca alliance.
Sep 10, 2026 01:10 PM IST
Pakistan says Mecca alliance with Saudi, Turkey is ‘defensive’
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that the Mecca agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey is a “defensive alliance” and that there are currently no plans to expand it. When asked how Pakistan would fulfil its obligations after Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Foreign ministry spokesperson said Islamabad would act under the agreement when the time comes.
Sep 10, 2026 12:54 PM IST
Nepal flood toll rises to 1,377; over 5,000 missing
The death toll from flash floods in Nepal rose to 1,377 on Thursday as more bodies were recovered, while search and rescue operations continued for over 5,000 missing people.
According to the NDRRMA, 364 bodies were recovered from Chitwan, 228 from Nawalparasi East, 222 from Nawalparasi West and 198 from Nuwakot.
Another 178 bodies were recovered from Rasuwa, 77 from Gorkha, 70 from Dhading and 38 from Tanahu.
(PTI)
Sep 10, 2026 12:35 PM IST
Ukraine strikes Russian oil refinery, Dagestan seaport, says Zelenskyy
Ukraine struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Yamalo-Nenets region and a seaport in Dagestan over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday. Zelenskyy said eight other Russian infrastructure facilities supporting the war were also hit, along with unnamed sites in the Moscow, Voronezh, Astrakhan and Bryansk regions. This comes after Russian drone attacks killed five people and injured 24 in Ukraine’s Sumy region on Thursday.
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Sep 10, 2026 12:10 PM IST
Thailand police officer surrenders after 18-hour kindergarten standoff
A police officer accused of shooting his wife at a kindergarten in eastern Thailand surrendered on Thursday after an 18-hour standoff with authorities, officials said. Tatsapong Tongthat allegedly killed his wife inside the Nongplalai Municipal Kindergarten in Chonburi province on Wednesday. He then fled to his home, where police surrounded him until he surrendered. All 44 students at the school were unharmed and evacuated along with other teachers. Classes have been suspended until Friday as a safety precaution.
Sep 10, 2026 11:58 AM IST
Polish airports reopen after military aviation operations
Lublin and Rzeszow airports resumed operations after a temporary closure linked to military activity. Polish airports in Lublin and Rzeszow resumed air operations after being temporarily closed due to military aviation activity, the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency said on Thursday. The Polish Air Force was conducting preventive operations in response to Russian missile attacks on Ukraine, the Polish army said.
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Sep 10, 2026 11:43 AM IST
Iran used barter deal with China to bypass oil sanctions: Report
Iran used a barter-like arrangement with China to sell oil despite sanctions, with sources saying Tehran bought billions of dollars’ worth of Chinese goods through the system, reported Reuters citing sources. The oil-for-goods purchases from China included air defence equipment, according to the sources.
Sep 10, 2026 11:35 AM IST
Trump says Putin wants deal to end Ukraine war
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted to reach a deal to end the war in Ukraine. Trump said Putin was willing to make a deal and that it would be positive if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also agreed. The comments came after Trump spoke with Putin by phone on Tuesday.
"He is wanting to make a deal, and if (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskiy is wanting to make a deal, that'd be very nice," Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One en route to Dallas for the Republican National Convention. US, Ukrainian and European intelligence officials, however, continue to doubt whether Putin is seriously interested in ending the war, now in its fourth year.
Sep 10, 2026 11:34 AM IST
Poland closes Lublin, Rzeszow airports amid military aviation operations
Poland’s air navigation agency said the airports were closed due to military aviation activity.
Sep 10, 2026 11:18 AM IST
China landslide death toll rises to 16 in Jiangxi
Searchers in southeastern China found another body from rain-triggered landslides in Jiangxi province, raising the death toll to 16, state media reported on Thursday. Thirteen people were killed in a mudslide in Gaoping town, while two died in Zuo’an and one in Tanghu, all in Suichuan county. More than 18,000 people have been evacuated from the area. Heavy rain lashed the region after Typhoon Saudel made landfall on China’s east coast. Two more people were also killed in neighbouring Hunan province following rains linked to the typhoon.
Sep 10, 2026 11:16 AM IST
Hong Kong court convicts Wall Street Journal publisher over union case
The court acquitted Dow Jones of the charge of dismissing a reporter over her union role. A Hong Kong court on Thursday convicted Dow Jones Publishing Co (Asia) Inc of preventing former Wall Street Journal reporter Selina Cheng from taking up a trade union role. The court acquitted the company of a second charge alleging that Cheng was dismissed for exercising her union rights. Cheng had launched a private prosecution after losing her job in July 2024. Sentencing is expected at a later date.
Sep 10, 2026 11:08 AM IST
Woman killed in drone attack in Russia’s Voronezh region
A woman was killed and two people were injured after drone debris fell on a house in Borisoglebsk in Russia’s Voronezh region, Governor Alexander Gusev said on Thursday. Gusev said air defence systems destroyed 19 drones over the region. Russia’s Defence Ministry said 448 Ukrainian drones were shot down across multiple regions overnight.
Sep 10, 2026 11:02 AM IST
Japan to raise abducted citizens issue at planned North Korea summit
Japan will firmly raise the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents decades ago at a planned summit with North Korea, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said on Thursday. The abductions remain a key issue in Japan-North Korea relations, with Tokyo seeking answers about the fate of its citizens taken to North Korea.
Sep 10, 2026 10:37 AM IST
Saudi Arabia issues all-clear after fourth Khamis Mushait alert
Saudi civil defence authorities issued an all-clear on Thursday after an emergency alert was declared in Khamis Mushait for the fourth time in 24 hours. Officials said the danger had passed. At least 73 people were wounded in recent Houthi attacks on four southern Saudi cities, including Khamis Mushait, according to the Saudi-led coalition. The Houthis said they had attacked an airbase in Khamis Mushait and oil infrastructure in nearby cities. The coalition said Houthi attacks on Saudi national assets and infrastructure continued on Wednesday. Tensions between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis has intensified in recent months, raising fears of a wider conflict after a UN-brokered truce in 2022 largely halted years of war.
Sep 10, 2026 10:25 AM IST
Israel opens first embassy in Slovenia amid growing tensions with allies
Israel opened its first embassy in Slovenia on Wednesday, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar travelling to Ljubljana for the occasion. The move marks a shift in relations with the European Union nation under right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa. Saar called the opening a “historic day” and described Israel as Europe’s key partner in the Middle East. Slovenian Foreign Minister Tone Kajzer said the embassy would help strengthen dialogue and cooperation between the two countries. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the embassy, demanding its closure.
Sep 10, 2026 10:13 AM IST
Miami cargo plane crash: Pilot warned they were flying “too fast” before runway overrun
A pilot on an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane that crashed in Miami warned they were flying “too fast” just over a minute before landing, the National Transportation Safety Board said. The Boeing 767 overran the runway by about 1,300 feet and hit two vehicles, killing five people and injuring five others. The cockpit recording showed repeated warnings about the aircraft’s descent and terrain. One pilot called for the landing to be aborted 15 seconds after touchdown, but the plane was still travelling at 120 knots before the throttles were reduced to idle.
Sep 10, 2026 09:54 AM IST
Russian drone attacks kill five, injure 24 in Ukraine’s Sumy region
Russian drone attacks killed five people and injured 24 in Ukraine’s Sumy region, the national police said on Thursday. The police shared the casualty figures on Telegram, without providing further details on the attacks.
Sep 10, 2026 09:53 AM IST
Ukrainian President Volodymyr's flight delayed in Moldova after drone incursion
A flight carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from Moldova to Norway was delayed after Moldova closed its airspace following a drone incursion. A Russian drone crashed in a field in northern Moldova on Tuesday, causing four fires but no injuries. Airspace restrictions were later lifted and Zelenskyy’s flight took off. The drone had earlier entered Romania, where Spanish F-18 fighter jets tracked its trajectory before it re-entered Moldovan airspace.
Sep 10, 2026 09:41 AM IST
Saudi Civil Defence issues emergency alert
Saudi Civil Defence issues emergency alert for Khamis Mushait province.
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Sep 10, 2026 09:33 AM IST
Trump says US strikes prevented Iran from getting nuclear weapon
US President Donald Trump said US strikes on Iran prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Trump said that without his decision to withdraw from the JCPOA and US strikes using B-2 bombers, Iran would have a nuclear weapon now.
Sep 10, 2026 09:22 AM IST
Hormuz shipping traffic falls to seven vessel transits, data shows
Only seven vessels transited the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, preliminary ship-tracking data showed, down from 12 the previous day. Four vessels exited the strait and three entered, while some ships with transponders switched off may not have been counted.
At the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, 28 commodity ships transited on Wednesday, broadly in line with the 10-day average of 27.
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