What are the 10 biggest news stories from today?

I'll search for the top news stories from today.[1][2][3][4][3][5][5][3][6]To get more precise details and confirm the top stories, I'll check a couple of key sources.Here are 10 of the biggest news stories from September 16, 2026 (based on major outlets including AP, NPR, NYT, Google News aggregates, Democracy Now, and others). Rankings are approximate by prominence/coverage volume; ongoing conflicts like the Iran/Gaza situations dominate many headlines.[1]

Speaker Mike Johnson adjourned the House early (ahead of the planned midterm recess), delaying a forced vote on Rep. Thomas Massie’s (R-KY) privileged articles of impeachment against SecDef Pete Hegseth. Massie accused him of illegally waging/continuing the Iran war (defying Congress/War Powers), civilian casualties, extrajudicial actions, and other issues. The move also stalled related efforts. Hegseth has strong Trump backing; the vote was unlikely to succeed but exposed GOP rifts.[1]

The FOMC unanimously hiked the federal funds rate by 0.25 percentage points to a 3.75–4% target range (first increase since 2023) under Chair Kevin Warsh, citing elevated inflation (partly linked to the Iran war/oil prices). It defied President Trump’s calls for cuts. Projections suggest possible further hikes; this raises borrowing costs for mortgages, loans, etc., amid midterm election pressures and affordability concerns.[7]

The House voted (third time, with some Republican support) to direct an end to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. CBO estimates put Pentagon costs at ~$38 billion so far (high daily burn rate, interceptor depletion). Related: damage to U.S. bases, Houthi drone intercepted by Saudi Arabia near Mecca (Houthis deny targeting it; they claimed other attacks), and Gulf states seeking direct Iran talks as U.S. bases fail to fully deter.[4]

A residential building in Gaza City housing ~100 displaced people collapsed (previously damaged by Israeli strikes), killing at least 20–21 with dozens more missing/injured. This comes amid stalled ceasefire/reconstruction, UN warnings of possible war crimes and thousands of bodies still under rubble, Israeli airstrikes, and U.S. approval of a $2.8 billion package of 2,000-pound bombs for Israel.[4]

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Canada amid U.S.-Canada trade tensions and Trump pressure. It signals closer EU-Canada ties (and allies pulling together). Trump suggested it could be a “hostile act.” Related coverage includes heatwave responses and State of the Union elements.[3]

The Trump administration confirmed for the first time that the U.S. Space Force has orbital weapons. China warned of an “arms race” in space; Russia echoed calls to keep space weapon-free. This marks a notable shift from prior peaceful-use norms/treaties.[5]

A news helicopter (used by NBC/Telemundo) crashed while covering a deadly SUV-bus collision, killing three people (including crew members and one on the ground). The bus crash driver was arrested on murder charges. NTSB is investigating.[5]

The bill, giving the president authority for tariffs on top importers of Russian oil/gas (e.g., China, India), passed and headed to Trump’s desk. It is described as a major Ukraine-support effort.[3]

A disaster at an (unofficial) gold mine in West Kordofan state killed ~70, with more missing. Rescue chances were limited due to equipment shortages.[6]

A House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein held investor Leon Black in contempt after he refused a deposition. Related congressional activity and midterms context appeared in coverage. Other notables today included AI regulation discussions (e.g., Sanders and Bannon), Kennedy Center board actions/closure votes amid naming disputes, global fuel price protests, and various disasters/weather extremes.[3]

Notes: News evolves quickly—stories like the Iran/Gaza conflicts, midterms politics (polls showing Democratic edges, mail voting issues), inflation/economy, and AI safety remain overarching themes. For the absolute latest, check live sources like AP, Reuters, or Google News, as some details (e.g., exact death tolls) can update. Coverage has a U.S./Western tilt based on available English-language aggregates.