North America

South Korea Aims to Finalise U.S. Investment Plan Details This Week: September 13, 2026

SEOUL — South Korea will hold further talks with the United States early this week to finalise details of Seoul’s proposed $350 billion investment commitment to the U.S., Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan said Sunday, Reuters reported.

Speaking after returning from the United States, Kim said a $200 billion ceiling for strategic investments — part of the broader $350 billion package — including a $20 billion annual cap, had already been agreed and would not change.

Kim said the two sides were close on many issues but that several matters remained unresolved. This week’s talks will be by videoconference. He declined to name specific projects before negotiations are finished.

Kim travelled to the United States last week for talks with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and other officials on the scale and conditions of the proposed package, tied to last year’s tariff agreement that lowered reciprocal U.S. rates from 25% to 15% in exchange for the investment pledge.

Sources: Reuters, Yonhap

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Trump Says He Could ‘Settle’ Falklands Dispute With Argentina: September 13, 2026

DUBLIN — President Donald Trump said Saturday he expects to be called on to “settle” any potential conflict over the Falkland Islands, describing rising U.K.–Argentina tension as a “potential disaster,” The Independent and Bloomberg reported.

Speaking alongside Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Trump questioned whether Britain would “be willing to travel that far” if Argentina invaded as in 1982, saying it would take “weeks by boat.” He added: “I’m sure I’ll be called into that potential disaster, but if they do, I’ll probably be able to settle it out.”

The remarks follow earlier comments in which Trump suggested Washington might not back Britain over the islands and said he was reviewing the traditional U.S. position. Argentine President Javier Milei, a Trump ally, has stepped up sovereignty claims and oil-related sanctions threats over the territory Argentina calls Las Malvinas.

In the Commons on Wednesday, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the United Kingdom would be “relentless” in defending the Falkland Islanders’ right to remain British. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband has said the islands “are British and will remain so” because that is the islanders’ overwhelming preference.

Sources: The Independent, Bloomberg

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Carney Explores Canada as EU ‘Associate Member’: September 13, 2026

BRUSSELS — Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney wants closer links with the European Union and is exploring whether his country could become an “associate member” of the bloc, Reuters reported Sunday, citing The Wall Street Journal.

The Journal said EU and Canadian officials described openness to a yet-to-be-created associate membership status. The Canadian embassy in Brussels and European Commission spokespeople did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Canada’s escalating trade war with the United States has added urgency to Ottawa’s pivot toward other partners. Relations with Washington have deteriorated since President Donald Trump returned to office in early 2025, with tariffs covering tens of billions of dollars in cross-border trade.

According to the Journal, Canada and the EU are discussing freer movement of goods, services, and workers in strategic supply chains such as energy, AI, defence, and critical minerals, plus underwater cables, data centres, and energy infrastructure. Carney has spoken regularly with EU leaders, notably French President Emmanuel Macron, about visa-free living and work arrangements; the two are set to meet later this month.

Sources: Reuters

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World Brief, Evening: September 12, 2026

Houthi control of Perim puts Washington in a tighter Red Sea bind as Trump confirms intelligence help for Riyadh but no direct fight; Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline stays shut after drones from Iraq; and BRICS leaders in New Delhi adopt a joint declaration after Iran and the UAE compromise. Ten stories as of Saturday evening, September 12.

1. Perim / Bab el-Mandeb. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis reached Perim (Mayun) Island on Friday, putting them in position to choke Bab el-Mandeb after seizing Mocha, Reuters reported. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked Trump for U.S. military help; Trump told him Washington would share intelligence but not intervene directly for now, three sources told Reuters. Trump confirmed Saturday he had spoken to the crown prince and said the Houthis had also contacted his administration asking Washington not to join the fight. Saudi Arabia has leaned on Red Sea export routes since Hormuz disruptions, Reuters reported.

2. Riyadh / oil markets. Saudi Arabia’s East-West oil pipeline remained shut as a precaution after drones launched from Iraq hit sites in the Riyadh and Medina regions, causing injuries and damage, the Saudi energy and foreign ministries said. The line had been moving about 4–5% of global oil supply by routing crude around Hormuz, Reuters reported. Riyadh said it would not retaliate for now at Baghdad’s request; Iraq dismissed the Maysan operations commander and opened an investigation, BBC and Al Jazeera reported. Brent settled Friday at $104.61 and U.S. crude at $100.05, down on the day but finishing the week above $100 with a weekly gain of more than 8%, Reuters reported.

3. New Delhi. BRICS leaders unanimously adopted the New Delhi Declaration on Saturday after Iran and the UAE agreed a last-minute compromise on West Asia language, The Hindu and wires reported. The text expressed “deep concern” over Middle East escalation and called for maximum restraint without directly naming U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran or Iran’s subsequent attacks on Gulf neighbours; it made no separate mention of the war in Ukraine. Chinese President Xi Jinping, after a bilateral with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said China would take the BRICS chair next year. Member leaders continue Sunday at Bharat Mandapam under India’s chair.

4. Stockholm. Sweden votes Sunday in a general election that could see the hard-right Sweden Democrats enter government if the ruling right holds, the Guardian, BBC, and Reuters reported. Final Friday polls left the centre-left opposition ahead, but bloc gaps ranged from about 0.3 points to more than 5 points depending on the survey; the Liberals cleared the 4% threshold in the last readings. Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson remains favorite to return as prime minister. Polling stations close at 8 p.m. Sunday.

5. Kyiv. Russian air strikes across Ukraine on Saturday killed nine people and injured dozens, damaging homes, a grocery store, and Black Sea port areas, local officials told Reuters. President Zelenskiy said Russia had launched nearly 500 drones against Ukrainian targets since early morning and was expanding attacks on the economy. Separately, Zelenskiy said he would be willing to meet Putin at December’s G20 in Miami; Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told AFP that was “impossible” and repeated that any face-to-face meeting would have to be in Moscow, RFE/RL reported. Ukraine said it struck a synthetic-rubber plant in Russia’s Samara region.

6. Wonsan / East Sea. North Korea fired several ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea around 5:20 a.m. Saturday; they flew about 250 kilometers, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, Al Jazeera, AFP, Reuters, and AP reported. The launches came a day after U.S.–South Korea–Japan Freedom Edge drills ended. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the event did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. territory or allies.

7. Washington. Trump confirmed Saturday he had spoken to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the Houthi advance and said the Houthis had also contacted his administration asking Washington not to become directly involved, Reuters reported. A senior administration official said the U.S. is focused on freedom of navigation in the Red Sea “while empowering our regional partners to take the lead.” Analysts told Reuters the Houthi move complicates Trump’s effort to keep the Iran fight from further driving U.S. energy prices.

8. Brasília. Newly unsealed Supreme Court records show Senator Flávio Bolsonaro — Lula’s leading right-wing challenger ahead of the October 4 election — has been under investigation since July for alleged corruption and money laundering tied to failed lender Banco Master and film financing linked to banker Daniel Vorcaro, Reuters and ABC News reported. Police examined about $12 million routed through a U.S. fund linked to Eduardo Bolsonaro. Flávio denies wrongdoing and says the film financing was legal. A full-court session on related Banco Master disputes is set for Tuesday.

9. Abuja / Johannesburg. Nigeria’s National Assembly suspended official visits to South Africa and ordered lawmakers to boycott South African-hosted legislative events over anti-migrant violence targeting Nigerians and other Africans, parliament spokesman Akin Rotimi said, Al Jazeera and Reuters reported. Nigerian officials have cited dozens of Nigerian deaths in related attacks since 2022; South Africa’s foreign minister visited Abuja in July on the issue.

10. Ambae–Santo, Vanuatu. Inter-island ferry MV Matui sank Friday in rough seas between Ambae and Santo with 34 passengers and 11 crew aboard. Seven people were rescued and about 38 remained missing as searches continued Saturday, police told Vanuatu broadcaster VBCTC, ABC News reported. Luganville harbour master Terry Ngwele said two people were rescued Saturday; communities on Ambae were asked to watch for survivors.

Coming up. Sunday 13 September — BRICS summit continues, New Delhi; Sweden general election. Tuesday 15 September — Brazil Supreme Court full session (Banco Master disputes). Tuesday–Wednesday 15–16 September — Federal Open Market Committee with projections. Sept. 20 — Russia State Duma election. UNGA high-level week Sept. 22–26 and 28. The standing calendar is at The Watch.

Sources: Reuters; BBC; Al Jazeera; Associated Press; AFP; ABC News (Australia); The Hindu; The Guardian; RFE/RL.

World Brief: September 12, 2026

Houthis hold Perim at Bab el-Mandeb as Trump tells Riyadh the U.S. will share intelligence but not fight them directly; Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline stays shut after drones from Iraq; and BRICS leaders in New Delhi urge maximum restraint in the Middle East. Ten stories as of Saturday morning, September 12.

1. Perim / Bab el-Mandeb. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis reached Perim (Mayun) Island at the mouth of the Red Sea on Friday, putting them in position to choke Bab el-Mandeb after seizing Mocha, Reuters reported. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman asked Trump for U.S. military help against the Houthis; Trump told him Washington would share intelligence but not intervene directly for now, three sources told Reuters. Trump confirmed Saturday he had spoken to the crown prince. Saudi Arabia has leaned on Red Sea export routes since Hormuz disruptions, BBC and Reuters reported.

2. Riyadh / East-West pipeline. Saudi Arabia shut its critical East-West oil pipeline as a precaution after drones launched from Iraq’s Maysan province hit sites in the Riyadh and Medina regions, causing injuries and damage, the Saudi energy and foreign ministries said. The line had been moving about 4–5% of global oil supply by routing crude to Yanbu and around Hormuz, Reuters reported. Riyadh said it would not retaliate for now at Baghdad’s request; Iraq dismissed the Maysan operations commander and opened an investigation, BBC and Al Jazeera reported. Brent has pushed above $100 a barrel.

3. New Delhi. BRICS leaders unanimously adopted a New Delhi Declaration on Saturday expressing “deep concern” over Middle East escalation and calling for maximum restraint and a multilateral approach, Reuters reported. The bloc includes both Iran and the UAE; the text also flagged concern over unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures. Member leaders are meeting this weekend at Bharat Mandapam under India’s chair.

4. Wonsan / East Sea. North Korea fired several ballistic missiles from the Wonsan area toward the East Sea around 5:20 a.m. Saturday; they flew about 250 kilometers, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said, Al Jazeera, AFP, Reuters, and AP reported. The launches came a day after U.S.–South Korea–Japan Freedom Edge drills ended. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the event did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. territory or allies.

5. Kyiv / New Delhi. Russian strikes killed civilians and wounded dozens across Ukraine; regional tallies put the overnight toll as high as 11 dead and 96 injured, with Odesa hard hit, Euronews and local officials reported. At the BRICS summit, Putin warned that deploying European troops to Ukraine would mean “a war with Russia,” while denying Moscow threatens Europe, AP and wires reported via The Independent.

6. Beirut / Rome. U.S.-mediated Israel–Lebanon talks scheduled for Rome next week were postponed to October, a U.S. official told Axios; Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors are due to meet in Washington instead, Reuters reported. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Saturday there are “no new negotiations with Israel at present,” insisting on Israeli withdrawal, prisoner returns, and reconstruction as southern Lebanon saw further strikes and demolitions, Al Jazeera reported.

7. Bogotá. Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella formally shut down all peace negotiations with illegal armed groups on Friday, ending Gustavo Petro’s “Total Peace” talks with the ELN, FARC dissidents, Clan del Golfo, and urban gangs, the presidency said. Negotiators’ credentials were revoked; groups face voluntary submission to justice or military confrontation, Anadolu Agency reported.

8. Dublin / Ottawa. In Dublin with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, President Trump said Canada wants a trade deal “very badly” and that one is likely “fairly soon,” without saying formal talks had resumed, Bloomberg reported. Formal Canada–U.S. negotiations were suspended in August; Canada’s matching counter-tariffs on about $27.6 billion of U.S. goods took effect September 8, per the Government of Canada.

10. Ambae–Santo, Vanuatu. Inter-island ferry MV Matui sank Friday in rough seas between Ambae and Santo with 34 passengers and 11 crew aboard; seven people were rescued and about 38 remained missing as searches continued Saturday, police told Vanuatu broadcaster VBCTC, ABC News reported.

Coming up. Saturday–Sunday 12–13 September — BRICS summit, New Delhi (underway). Sunday 13 September — Sweden general election. Tuesday–Wednesday 15–16 September — Federal Open Market Committee with projections. Sept. 20 — Russia State Duma election. UNGA high-level week Sept. 22–26 and 28. The standing calendar is at The Watch.

Sources: Reuters; BBC; Al Jazeera; Associated Press; AFP; ABC News (Australia); Bloomberg; Anadolu Agency.

Trump Says U.S.-Canada Trade Deal Likely ‘Fairly Soon’: September 12, 2026

DUBLIN — President Donald Trump said Saturday that Canada wants a trade deal with the United States “very badly” and that an agreement could come “fairly soon,” Reuters reported after his meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin.

“Canada has to treat our farmers better. They can’t charge our farmers tariffs,” Trump told reporters, adding: “You’ll probably see a deal with Canada fairly soon.” He did not say whether formal negotiations had resumed after talks collapsed last month.

Asked whether he intended to have the United States leave the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, Trump sidestepped the question and returned to demands for better terms for U.S. farmers, Bloomberg and Reuters reported.

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs covering about $20 billion of U.S. goods took effect September 8 after Ottawa suspended negotiations, intensifying an 18-month trade dispute between the neighbors.

Sources: Reuters, Bloomberg

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World Brief, Evening: September 11, 2026

Houthis reached Perim and Dhubab at Bab el-Mandeb; Saudi Arabia’s East-West pipeline was hit by drones from Iraq and shut as a precaution; and Brent settled near $105 with U.S. crude closing just above $100. Ten stories as of Friday evening, September 11.

1. Perim / Bab el-Mandeb. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis reached the strategic island of Perim (Mayun) in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Friday, and two Yemeni government sources told Reuters forces also pulled out of the facing coastal town of Dhubab a day after Mocha fell. Witnesses and local officials described Houthi control of the Bab al-Mandab area; Houthi confirmation was not immediate. Government forces said they would try to retake captured Red Sea ground, BBC, Reuters, and Al Jazeera reported.

2. Riyadh / Medina. Saudi Arabia said drones launched from Iraq struck its East-West oil pipeline in the Riyadh and Medina regions, causing injuries and material damage, and the Energy Ministry temporarily shut the line as a precaution, Reuters and Al Jazeera reported. Riyadh said it would hold off on retaliation for now at Iraq’s request while reserving the right to act; Baghdad condemned the attack and opened an investigation. The 1,200-kilometer line has been moving about 4–5 million barrels a day as a Hormuz workaround.

3. London / New York. Brent settled at $104.61 and U.S. crude at $100.05 on Friday, down on the day but on track for a weekly gain of more than 8% and a weekly finish above $100 for the first time since mid-May, Reuters reported. U.S. diesel cleared $6 a gallon for the first time (GasBuddy). The IEA said Saudi crude supply fell to 6 million bpd in August, the lowest in more than three decades.

4. Washington. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called President Trump at least twice on Thursday seeking U.S. military help against the Houthis, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters; Washington said it would not take direct military action for now but would help with intelligence and targeting. In a September 11 anniversary speech, Trump again called Iran the world’s top sponsor of terror.

5. Kyiv / Saratov. Russia attacked two Kyiv petrol stations with jet-powered drones early Friday, killing two people; Mayor Vitali Klitschko said twelve others including a child were injured, and President Zelenskiy said the jet-powered Shahed campaign was becoming “increasingly terrorist in nature,” Reuters reported. Ukraine’s General Staff later said it struck Rosneft’s Saratov oil refinery in the Volga region, with fires detected at the site.

6. Stockholm. Sweden’s centre-left opposition held a narrow lead two days before Sunday’s election, three Friday polls showed, with combined support of about 49.3–50.8% versus about 47.6–49.0% for the ruling right and Sweden Democrats, Reuters reported. Social Democrats leader Magdalena Andersson remains favorite to return as prime minister, but one survey showed a margin of a single seat and the Liberals clearing the 4% threshold kept the race tight.

7. New Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in New Delhi on Friday ahead of the BRICS Leaders’ Summit Saturday–Sunday, discussing trade toward a $100 billion target by 2030, defence, civil nuclear cooperation, and conflicts affecting Indian seafarers, Indian reporting and Reuters said. Putin said BRICS was “not against anyone”; Xi Jinping’s first India trip in seven years and Iranian President Pezeshkian’s attendance keep the Hormuz fight inside the room.

8. Brasília. Chief Justice Edson Fachin ordered thousands of Banco Master fraud-probe pages unsealed; records show Senator Flávio Bolsonaro — Lula’s leading runoff rival — is under investigation for alleged corruption and money laundering tied to banker Daniel Vorcaro’s film financing, Reuters reported. A full-court session is set for Tuesday on the Moraes–Mendonça clash; Lula backed full disclosure.

9. Kampala / Tooro. Uganda’s government is mediating last-ditch talks so King Oyo Nyimba can be buried Saturday after a succession fight: a royal-clan committee named cousin Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, while the late king’s sister says his will points to a biological son, Reuters reported. A new king is required to perform burial rituals.

10. Sydney. A controller shortage cancelled about 14 inbound flights and caused hour-plus delays at Sydney Airport Friday morning, Airservices Australia told a Senate committee, Reuters reported. Eight of 49 Sydney controllers are on long-term absence; flow measures lifted at 8:15 a.m. local after unplanned absenteeism. The ATSB is probing a recent string of near-misses.

Coming up. Saturday–Sunday 12–13 September — BRICS summit, New Delhi. Sunday 13 September — Sweden general election. Tuesday 15 September — Brazil Supreme Court full session. Tuesday–Wednesday 15–16 September — Federal Open Market Committee with projections. Sept. 20 — Russia State Duma election. UNGA high-level week Sept. 22–26 and 28. The standing calendar is at The Watch.

Sources: Reuters; BBC; Al Jazeera; AFP.

World Brief: September 11, 2026

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Houthis reached Perim Island at Bab el-Mandeb; U.S. diesel cleared $6 as oil stayed on track for a weekly finish above $100; and Trump said he does not regret the Iran war. Ten stories as of Friday morning, September 11.

1. Perim / Bab el-Mandeb. YemReuters, a day after seizing Mocha. Witnesses and a local official told AFP the Houthis had taken the Bab al-Mandab area and Mayun; Houthi confirmation was not immediate. Saudi Arabia has leaned on Red Sea shipping since Hormuz disruptions, BBC, Reuters, and Al Jazeera reported.

2. London / New York. Brent fell to about $104.35 and U.S. crude to about $99.07 on Friday but remained on track for a weekly gain of more than 8% and a close above $100 for the first time since mid-May, Reuters reported. U.S. diesel cleared $6 a gallon for the first time (GasBuddy); the IEA said Saudi crude supply fell to 6 million bpd in August, the lowest in more than three decades. Prices eased after the Financial Times reported Gulf ministers were seeking a temporary Hormuz shipping deal with Iran.

3. Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its navy struck a U.S. “Saildrone-type” unmanned vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, and the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre reported projectiles hitting two vessels off Oman, Al Jazeera reported. Vessel transits at Hormuz fell to seven on Thursday from 11 the day before, Reuters ship-tracking data showed.

4. Washington. President Trump told Fox News he does not regret the Iran war despite midterm risk — “If I had it to do again, I would do exactly as I did” — and again said the war “ends right after the election,” framing Tehran as trying to influence November, Reuters reported.

5. Islamabad / Dubai. Pakistan’s dual role as Riyadh’s defence partner and a backchannel to Tehran is under strain as Saudi–Houthi fighting escalates; Islamabad delivered a Saudi warning urging Iran to rein in the Houthis, Saudi, Pakistani, and Iranian sources told Reuters. Field Marshal Asim Munir spoke with Iran’s foreign minister on de-escalation; the foreign ministry said no military response to Houthi attacks was under discussion.

6. Kyiv. Russia attacked two Kyiv petrol stations with jet-powered drones early Friday, killing two people; Mayor Vitali Klitschko said twelve others including a child were injured, and President Zelenskiy said the jet-powered Shahed campaign was becoming “increasingly terrorist in nature,” Reuters reported. Ukraine said it struck Russian energy and logistics targets; Russian officials reported deaths in Tula and Kursk from Ukrainian drones.

7. Brasília. Chief Justice Edson Fachin ordered thousands of Banco Master fraud-probe pages unsealed; records show Senator Flávio Bolsonaro — Lula’s leading runoff rival — is under investigation for alleged corruption and money laundering tied to banker Daniel Vorcaro’s film financing, Reuters reported. A full-court session is set for Tuesday on the Moraes–Mendonça clash; Lula backed full disclosure.

8. Kampala / Tooro. Uganda’s government is mediating last-ditch talks so King Oyo Nyimba can be buried Saturday after a succession fight: a royal-clan committee named cousin Edward Rukidi Kijanangoma, while the late king’s sister says his will points to a biological son, Reuters reported. A new king is required to perform burial rituals.

9. Sydney. A controller shortage cancelled about 14 inbound flights and caused hour-plus delays at Sydney Airport Friday morning, Airservices Australia told a Senate committee, Reuters reported. Eight of 49 Sydney controllers are on long-term absence; flow measures lifted at 8:15 a.m. local after unplanned absenteeism. The ATSB is probing a recent string of near-misses.

10. Gaza. Israel’s military said Friday it killed senior Hamas commander Mohammed Abdel Salam al-Yazouri in a Thursday Gaza airstrike, and Hamas’s armed wing confirmed his death, saying he helped plan the October 7, 2023 attacks, Reuters reported. The military said two other commanders were also killed in the strike.

Sources: Reuters; BBC; Al Jazeera; AFP.

Mexico and Washington Race for Trade Deal Before Midterms: September 11, 2026

Mexico and the United States are racing to strike an interim bilateral trade deal before the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections, according to six sources in both countries familiar with the talks, Reuters reported Friday.

Officials see political benefits for President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum if they can announce tariff relief and investment rules before voters go to the polls. “We both want to reach a deal before the midterms,” one Mexico-based source said.

The push accelerated after U.S.-Canada talks collapsed last month and Washington this week banned a broad swath of Canadian alcohol, motorcycle, and dairy imports. Mexico sends more than 80% of its exports to the United States and has pursued a more conciliatory track than Ottawa.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met virtually with Sheinbaum on Thursday. A major sticking point remains Section 232 tariffs of 50% on Mexican steel and 25% on vehicles. Automakers expect a possible framework similar to one discussed with Canada: about 15% on vehicle imports, with further cuts tied to U.S. content. Mexico this month floated investment-screening powers widely seen as answering U.S. pressure over Chinese capital.

Sources: Reuters, Globe and Mail

Americans Mark 25 Years Since September 11 Attacks: September 11, 2026

Americans paused Friday to mark 25 years since the September 11, 2001, attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people when hijacked planes struck the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

In New York, Vice President JD Vance and the four living former presidents — George W. Bush, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton — joined Mayor Zohran Mamdani and victims’ relatives at the downtown memorial. Family members were to read the names of all 2,977 victims, with moments of silence marking the crashes and collapses. No speeches were planned at the Ground Zero ceremony.

President Donald Trump commemorated the anniversary at the Pentagon. A parallel ceremony was held in Shanksville. A drone display of 2,977 lights rose over New York Harbor ahead of the memorials, organizers said, one light for each person killed.

The New York City Fire Department lost 343 members on the day of the attacks; department figures show more than 600 additional firefighters, including some retirees from the rescue effort, have since died of 9/11-related illnesses, 26 of them this year alone, Reuters reported.

Sources: Reuters via Straits Times, BBC, RTÉ

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