What are the 10 biggest news stories from today?
Here are ten of the most significant news stories from around the world today, September 19, 2026:
1. U.S. Announces Arctic Pact for "Permanent Control" Over Greenland Security
U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States has reached a historic, "infinite life" agreement with Denmark and Greenland. The deal grants the U.S. permanent control over security, overflight, and basing rights on the mineral-rich Arctic island, while blocking non-NATO countries and adversaries from establishing military footprints or making sensitive investments. Denmark and Greenland confirmed the deal, which will be signed on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York next week.
2. President Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House
In a major escalation of his long-running feud with the press, President Trump announced that he is banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, accusing them of reporting "fake news" and "fiction." Press freedom watchdogs and the affected news organizations have denounced the move as an illegal, unconstitutional assault on the First Amendment, with legal challenges expected to be filed immediately.
3. Early Voting Begins in Pivotal 2026 U.S. Midterm Elections
In-person early voting has officially kicked off in several states, including Virginia, Minnesota, and South Dakota, marking the start of the final six weeks of campaigning before the November 3 midterm elections. The outcome of the elections will determine which party controls Congress for the remainder of President Trump's term, with key issues like a cost-of-living crisis and the ongoing conflict in Iran dominating voters' minds.
4. Russia Seizes Russian Assets of Nestlé and French Retail Giants
In its most significant crackdown on Western companies since 2023, the Kremlin has seized the Russian assets and business operations of Swiss food giant Nestlé and French retail groups Auchan, Lemana Pro (formerly Leroy Merlin), and FM Logistic. A decree signed by President Vladimir Putin has transferred these operations to LEV Management, a state-controlled holding company. Nestlé stated it is assessing the situation to protect its rights and employees.
5. Bank of Japan Hikes Interest Rates to a 31-Year High of 1.25%
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) voted 7-to-2 to raise its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 1.25%, pushing borrowing costs to their highest level since 1995. The central bank cited rising inflation risks and a weak yen—driven primarily by global energy pressures linked to the conflict in Iran—as the core drivers behind the tightening measures.
6. Coordinated Mosque Bombing and Gun Attack Kills 21 in Kohat, Pakistan
At least 21 people, mostly counterterrorism police officers, were killed and 80 others injured after a vehicle bomb and a group of heavily armed gunmen targeted a mosque inside a historic police compound in northwestern Pakistan during Friday prayers. The attack, which was followed by hours of gunfire and a secondary suicide blast at a nearby intelligence office, underscores a violent surge in Pakistani Taliban-linked militancy along the Afghan border.
7. PM Mark Carney Welcomes Proposal for Canada to Become first EU "Associate Member"
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a major address to the European Parliament, embracing a proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to make Canada the European Union’s first-ever "associate member." The move is aimed at building strategic resilience and diversifying trade amid a worsening economic trade war with the U.S.. In response, President Trump has threatened "very heavy tariffs" or a complete halt to trade on certain European goods if the partnership proceeds.
8. Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson Resigns Following Left-Wing Election Victory
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has formally submitted his resignation after a complete vote count confirmed a narrow victory for Sweden's left-leaning opposition. The coalition led by Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson secured 176 seats in the 349-seat parliament, clearing the path for her to attempt to form a new government.
9. South Korea Set to Approve Abortion Pills for the First Time
The South Korean government has announced plans to introduce regulated medication abortions (abortion pills) for pregnancies up to nine weeks starting in early 2027. The phased rollout aims to end a legal vacuum and curb dangerous illegal online sales of unverified pills, which have persisted since the country decriminalized abortion.
10. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to Brief the United Nations Security Council
OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman is scheduled to address the 15-member UN Security Council next week during the UN General Assembly in New York. The briefing, set for September 23, will focus on artificial intelligence, international security, and concerns that rapidly evolving AI models could soon slip beyond human control.
Citations (26)
- apnews.com
Backs: “U.S. Announces Arctic Pact for "Permanent Control" Over Greenland Security. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States has reached a historic, "infinite life" agreement with Denmark and Greenland.”
- afp.com
Backs: “U.S. Announces Arctic Pact for "Permanent Control" Over Greenland Security. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States has reached a historic, "infinite life" agreement with Denmark and Greenland.”
- cbsnews.com
Backs: “The deal grants the U.S. permanent control over security, overflight, and basing rights on the mineral-rich Arctic island, while blocking non-NATO countries and adversaries from establishing military footprints or making sensitive investments.”
- cp24.com
Backs: “The deal grants the U.S. permanent control over security, overflight, and basing rights on the mineral-rich Arctic island, while blocking non-NATO countries and adversaries from establishing military footprints or making sensitive investments.”
- washingtonpost.com
Backs: “President Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. In a major escalation of his long-running feud with the press, President Trump announced that he is banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, accusing them of reporting "fake news" and "fiction." Press freedom watchdogs and the affected…”
- aljazeera.com
Backs: “President Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House. In a major escalation of his long-running feud with the press, President Trump announced that he is banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, accusing them of reporting "fake news" and "fiction." Press freedom watchdogs and the affected…”
- aljazeera.com
Backs: “Early Voting Begins in Pivotal 2026 U.S. Midterm Elections. In-person early voting has officially kicked off in several states, including Virginia, Minnesota, and South Dakota, marking the start of the final six weeks of campaigning before the November 3 midterm elections.”
- pbs.org
Backs: “Early Voting Begins in Pivotal 2026 U.S. Midterm Elections. In-person early voting has officially kicked off in several states, including Virginia, Minnesota, and South Dakota, marking the start of the final six weeks of campaigning before the November 3 midterm elections.”
- themoscowtimes.com
Backs: “Russia Seizes Russian Assets of Nestlé and French Retail Giants. In its most significant crackdown on Western companies since 2023, the Kremlin has seized the Russian assets and business operations of Swiss food giant Nestlé and French retail groups Auchan, Lemana Pro (formerly Leroy Merlin), and FM Logistic. A decree…”
- afp.com
Backs: “Russia Seizes Russian Assets of Nestlé and French Retail Giants. In its most significant crackdown on Western companies since 2023, the Kremlin has seized the Russian assets and business operations of Swiss food giant Nestlé and French retail groups Auchan, Lemana Pro (formerly Leroy Merlin), and FM Logistic. A decree…”
- thegrocer.co.uk
Backs: “A decree signed by President Vladimir Putin has transferred these operations to LEV Management, a state-controlled holding company. Nestlé stated it is assessing the situation to protect its rights and employees.”
- kfgo.com
Backs: “Nestlé stated it is assessing the situation to protect its rights and employees. 5.”
- intacapitalswiss.com
Backs: “Bank of Japan Hikes Interest Rates to a 31-Year High of 1.25%. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) voted 7-to-2 to raise its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 1.25%, pushing borrowing costs to their highest level since 1995. The central bank cited rising inflation risks and a weak yen—driven primarily by global energy…”
- qz.com
Backs: “Bank of Japan Hikes Interest Rates to a 31-Year High of 1.25%. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) voted 7-to-2 to raise its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 1.25%, pushing borrowing costs to their highest level since 1995. The central bank cited rising inflation risks and a weak yen—driven primarily by global energy…”
- theguardian.com
Backs: “The central bank cited rising inflation risks and a weak yen—driven primarily by global energy pressures linked to the conflict in Iran—as the core drivers behind the tightening measures. 6.”
- latimes.com
Backs: “Coordinated Mosque Bombing and Gun Attack Kills 21 in Kohat, Pakistan. At least 21 people, mostly counterterrorism police officers, were killed and 80 others injured after a vehicle bomb and a group of heavily armed gunmen targeted a mosque inside a historic police compound in northwestern Pakistan during Friday…”
- pbs.org
Backs: “PM Mark Carney Welcomes Proposal for Canada to Become first EU "Associate Member". Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a major address to the European Parliament, embracing a proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to make Canada the European Union’s first-ever "associate member." The…”
- cbsnews.com
Backs: “PM Mark Carney Welcomes Proposal for Canada to Become first EU "Associate Member". Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a major address to the European Parliament, embracing a proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to make Canada the European Union’s first-ever "associate member." The…”
- theguardian.com
Backs: “PM Mark Carney Welcomes Proposal for Canada to Become first EU "Associate Member". Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a major address to the European Parliament, embracing a proposal by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to make Canada the European Union’s first-ever "associate member." The…”
- democracy-news.org
Backs: “Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson Resigns Following Left-Wing Election Victory. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has formally submitted his resignation after a complete vote count confirmed a narrow victory for Sweden's left-leaning opposition. The coalition led by Social Democrat leader Magdalena…”
- ctvnews.ca
Backs: “Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson Resigns Following Left-Wing Election Victory. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has formally submitted his resignation after a complete vote count confirmed a narrow victory for Sweden's left-leaning opposition. The coalition led by Social Democrat leader Magdalena…”
- theguardian.com
Backs: “The coalition led by Social Democrat leader Magdalena Andersson secured 176 seats in the 349-seat parliament, clearing the path for her to attempt to form a new government. 9.”
- latimes.com
Backs: “South Korea Set to Approve Abortion Pills for the First Time. The South Korean government has announced plans to introduce regulated medication abortions (abortion pills) for pregnancies up to nine weeks starting in early 2027. The phased rollout aims to end a legal vacuum and curb dangerous illegal online sales of…”
- inquirer.net
Backs: “South Korea Set to Approve Abortion Pills for the First Time. The South Korean government has announced plans to introduce regulated medication abortions (abortion pills) for pregnancies up to nine weeks starting in early 2027. The phased rollout aims to end a legal vacuum and curb dangerous illegal online sales of…”
- kvue.com
Backs: “The phased rollout aims to end a legal vacuum and curb dangerous illegal online sales of unverified pills, which have persisted since the country decriminalized abortion. 10.”
- straitstimes.com
Backs: “OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to Brief the United Nations Security Council. OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman is scheduled to address the 15-member UN Security Council next week during the UN General Assembly in New York. The briefing, set for September 23, will focus on artificial intelligence, international security, and…”