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Friday, 18 September 2026 Daily Edition

The Daily Edition

Friday, 18 September 2026

400 stories across 8 sections

The Takeaway

10 outlets reported on a military incident in Michigan, where an F-16 fighter jet crashed during training exercises, but the pilot ejected safely. In South Korea, the Kospi index led advances in Asian equities and bond markets, with a decline in oil prices easing inflation concerns. The S&P 500 Index rose 1.1% on September 17, marking its largest gain since early August.

In the business and tech world, US robotaxi operator Waymo announced plans to launch robotaxis in Singapore by 2028, its first entry into Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, oil prices fell 1% on hopes of limited supply disruptions, and Bursa Malaysia rebounded as lower oil prices and easing US Treasury yields spurred tech bargain hunting. Qantas ground workers are set to strike over pay and conditions next week, according to the Transport Workers Union.

Written by urgent.news from the day's reporting.

AI

AI

Sources: the US "almost started a war" after an AI-assisted report hallucinated that a Chinese ship in the Middle East was carrying nuclear weapons components (CNN)

The intelligence report, circulated across the US military this spring in the midst of the war with Iran …

·cnn.com·12 outlets

In the midst of the war with Iran this spring, a US military intelligence report raised alarms when it falsely stated that a Chinese ship in the Middle East was transporting components of a nuclear weapons program. The report quickly prompted plans within the US military to intercept the vessel, according to four sources familiar with the episode.

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Anthropic partners with Accenture to embed evaluators within Anthropic, including red teaming models and conducting alignment assessments (Anthropic)

We're partnering with Accenture on independent evaluation of frontier AI. This is an important step toward the commitment, made in our CEO's essay …

  • Anthropic partners with Accenture for AI model evaluations.
  • Embedded evaluators, including red teaming models, will assess alignment.
  • $1 billion investment over five years for safety and accountability.

·anthropic.com·7 outlets

Tech

Tech

Hands-on with Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro Max: Does it impress? (VIDEO)

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — Today is the day the Apple 18 Pro models go on sale in the US and many parts of the world...

·malaymail.com·10 outlets

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — Apple has finally released the iPhone 18 Pro models in the US and several other countries, including Malaysia. The excitement has turned into reality, allowing us to finally purchase one instead of just dreaming about it. The Burgundy color is up for debate: is it worth choosing over the other colors? Photographers may appreciate the new shade; it is a deep wine hue that stands out without being too flashy or dull.

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Business

Business

Howard Buffett: The man taking over Berkshire chair

·economictimes.indiatimes.com·11 outlets

Howard Graham Buffett, born on December 16, 1954, as the middle child of Warren Buffett and Susan Thompson Buffett, has spent his life pursuing a diverse range of interests. Diverging from his father's investment-focused career, Howard has dabbled in farming, local government, corporate board membership, law enforcement, wildlife and conflict photography, and philanthropy centered on food security and humanitarian crises.

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Saudi Arabia channels 60 million barrels via Sohar

Saudi Arabia has sold about 60 million barrels of crude for loading in September and October from Ras Tanura, with cargoes crossing the Strait of Hormuz before being transferred ship-to-ship off Oman’s Sohar port, according to multiple trade sources.

·thearabianpost.com·6 outlets

Mbappe switches Nike for On in shock move

Dubai: Global football star Kylian Mbappe has ended his long-standing partnership with Nike and signed a new deal with On. The Swiss sportswear company has announced its move into football, with Mbappe as the headline name of its new venture.

·gulfnews.com·6 outlets

Finance & Markets

Finance & Markets

South Africa’s $21.5 billion SME funding gap is really a data problem

The OECD's Financing SMEs and Entrepreneurs 2026 report found that 56% of South Africa's MSMEs are unregistered.

·techcabal.com·7 outlets

South Africa's SME sector is grappling with a significant financing gap estimated at R350 billion ($21.5 billion). However, the number of small business funders has doubled, from 148 in 2018 to over 300 in 2025. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) suggests that this contradiction points to a deeper issue that cannot be solved merely by increasing the amount of money available in the market.

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Bank of Japan ups rates to 31-year high

The Bank of Japan raised interest rates to a 31-year high on Friday and signalled its readiness to keep pushing up borrowing costs, joining other major central banks in fighting persistent inflation pressures driven by soaring oil costs.

·news.rthk.hk·7 outlets

World

Science

Science

NASA’s new Roman Space Telescope sees starlight for the first time

NASA’s Roman Space Telescope has captured its first starlight. The blurry test image will help engineers prepare the telescope for its first science images, expected in early 2027.

·mashable.com·6 outlets

NASA's newest space telescope, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, captured its first view of the stars. The image is presently blurry, as anticipated. The telescope is positioned about a million miles from Earth, en route to its operational place, according to a NASA blog post dated September 15. Assembly of the telescope, completed in November 2025, concluded with its launch on August 30, 2026.

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Scientists Discover a New Wild Cat Species in the Forests of Bolivia

Science has recently added a new feline species to the known biodiversity of South America. It is Leopardus tilcayo, a small wild cat identified in the cloud forests of the Yungas in Bolivia. Its recognition represents a rare event in zoology: It is the first living wild cat species to be formally described in more […]

·colombiaone.com·4 outlets

Health & Medicine

Health & Medicine

Dr Reddy’s to distribute India’s first dengue vaccine Qdenga in 2027

·indianexpress.com·6 outlets

India's first approved dengue vaccine, Qdenga, is set to be distributed by Dr Reddy's Laboratories in the private market starting from the first half of 2027. This announcement comes after Takeda Pharmaceutical Company and Dr Reddy's Laboratories reached an exclusive collaboration agreement, with Dr Reddy's taking on the responsibility of promoting and distributing the vaccine across India's private sector for both pediatric and adult populations.

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Culture

Culture

Duncan Sheik, Tony- and Grammy-winning ‘Spring Awakening’ composer and pop star, dies at 56

NEW YORK (AP) — Duncan Sheik, the Tony- and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who crafted the music for “Spring Awakening,” has died. He was 56.

·toronto.citynews.ca·11 outlets

Duncan Sheik, the Tony- and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter who composed the music for the groundbreaking musical "Spring Awakening," has passed away at the age of 56. His death was announced on his Instagram page, where he expressed deep appreciation for his work and influence on music and theater. Known for his hit single "Barely Breathing," Sheik's musical legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

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