What are the 10 biggest news stories from today?

Here are ten of the most significant global and national news stories from today, September 18, 2026:

1. U.S. Approves Historic $24.3 Billion F-35 Fighter Jet Sale to Saudi Arabia

The U.S. Department of State cleared a potential $24.3 billion sale of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. The deal, which includes 48 fighter jets, 49 Pratt & Whitney engines, and associated communication and spare parts, marks a major policy shift. This sale is expected to alter the balance of military power in the Middle East and tests Washington's traditional policy of maintaining Israel’s "qualitative military edge".

2. Russia and China Veto UN Mandate to Monitor Iran Sanctions

In a highly contentious United Nations Security Council vote, Russia and China vetoed a resolution that would have extended the mandate for an independent panel of experts to monitor international sanctions on Iran. The veto leaves the UN without a formal, impartial body to track sanctions compliance. The U.S. and European allies strongly criticized the move, warning that the resulting "monitoring gap" will heavily benefit the Iranian regime amidst ongoing regional conflicts.

3. F-16 Fighter Jet Crash in Michigan Prompts Evacuations

An F-16 Fighting Falcon belonging to the Texas Air National Guard crashed in a rural field in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, during a joint training exercise. While the pilot successfully ejected and is currently in stable condition, the crash triggered emergency protocols. Local authorities issued a mandatory evacuation order for residents and businesses within a one-mile radius of the crash site due to a hazardous chemical spill of hydrazine, a highly toxic compound used in F-16 emergency power units.

4. President Trump Prepares Post-War Iran Strategy Ahead of GCC Summit

Ahead of next week's UN General Assembly in New York, President Donald Trump stated that while Iran "wants to make a deal," they are "not ready yet," adding that any agreement must fully meet U.S. expectations. Axios reports that Trump is scheduled to meet with leaders of the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations—including Saudi Arabia and the UAE—to map out Washington's ideas for a post-war regional strategy and address security threats.

5. USCIS Implements Stricter "Public Charge" Guidance for Green Cards

Starting today, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has officially enacted new, broader public charge guidelines. The updated rules expand financial scrutiny for most family- and employment-based Green Card applicants. Under the new criteria, officers will heavily weigh an applicant's use of non-cash government assistance—including food stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, and housing vouchers—when determining if they are likely to rely on government aid.

6. Health Secretary RFK Jr. Reassures Anti-Vaccine Advocates at National Conference

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. addressed a conference hosted by Children's Health Defense (the organization he formerly led), reassuring anti-vaccine activists that they have a "strong and steadfast friend" in the White House. Kennedy defended the administration's aggressive efforts to reshape national vaccine and health policies, claiming that they have achieved priorities in a short window that seemed "unthinkable" just two years ago.

7. Australia Slashes Migration Intake but Spares ASEAN Students from Family Ban

The Australian Labor Party announced sweeping migration curbs targeting international students and working holidaymakers to control immigration numbers. However, a new, controversial ban preventing foreign students from bringing family members to Australia will not apply to students from ASEAN nations. The Australian government explicitly noted the exemption is designed to bolster regional ties with neighbors like Singapore.

8. Bolivia and Paraguay Formally Demarcate Border, Ending 88 Years of Negotiations

In a major diplomatic milestone, Bolivia and Paraguay officially completed the technical demarcation of their entire shared border. Working in La Paz, a joint boundary commission utilized high-precision drones to finalize the final outstanding 3.5-kilometer stretch along the Rio Negro. The agreement brings a definitive end to a process that began 88 years ago following the devastating Chaco War (1932–1935).

9. NASA Announces Discovery of Building-Sized Lunar Crater "McGetchin"

NASA researchers announced the discovery of a massive, recently formed impact crater on the moon. Dubbed "McGetchin," the crater measures 222 meters (728 feet) wide and is believed to have been created in early 2024 by an asteroid or comet the size of a multi-story building. Scientists estimate that an impact of this scale only occurs on the moon once a century, and it was recently identified via new Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter scans.

10. DEA Traces Final Texts in Investigation of Hayden Panettiere's Tragic Death

Federal investigators with the DEA are focusing on text messages in their probe into the death of 36-year-old actress Hayden Panettiere, who passed away on August 16. Agents are actively tracing a "slew" of text messages between Panettiere and an alleged Los Angeles-based supplier regarding black-market prescription pills, which continued up to the week of her death. Toxicology reports remain pending, but authorities are seeking to build a criminal case against the supplier.