US marks 9/11 anniversary, Yemen clashes escalate on September 11, 2026

1. US COMMEMORATES 25 YEARS SINCE 9/11
On 11 September 2026, ceremonies were held in New York City, Washington DC and Shanksville, Pennsylvania to honor 2,977 victims. President Donald Trump spoke at the Pentagon, saying the US will never forget 9/11 and linking that memory to current fighting with Iran. EU and NATO leaders, including Antonio Costa, Ursula von der Leyen and Mark Rutte, also paid tribute and recalled NATO's only invocation of Article 5.

2. YEMEN FIGHTING DISPLACES MORE THAN 46,000
Clashes between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed Yemeni forces have displaced at least 46,000 people across the West Coast and Taiz governorates, the International Organization for Migration said on 11 September. IOM chief Amy Pope urged all parties to protect civilians and aid workers. The displacement is rising by the hour, according to IOM, alongside reported Houthi advances near the Red Sea.

3. HOUTHIS CLAIM CONTROL OF MOCHA; OIL PRICES JUMP
On 10 September, Houthi forces claimed control of the Yemeni port city of Mocha and said they advanced along the Red Sea coast toward strategic islands. UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned that Houthi control of Mocha places the group near one of the world's most important sea lanes, raising concerns over freedom of navigation through Bab el-Mandeb. Brent crude rose up to 4%, exceeding USD 105 per barrel. The Houthi claim has not been independently confirmed by other parties.

4. UN REPORT WARNS TERRORIST PROPAGANDA IS EVOLVING FASTER
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres honored nearly 3,000 victims from more than 90 countries. Separately, a report from CTED, linked to the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee, warned that terrorist propaganda is outpacing the global response, with groups increasingly using artificial intelligence, gaming platforms and channels such as Discord, Twitch and Stream, and targeting children and young people.

5. US PROPOSES ENDING H-1B 60-DAY GRACE PERIOD
On 10 September, the Trump administration proposed eliminating the 60-day grace period for temporary foreign workers, including H-1B visa holders, after losing their jobs. Under the Department of Homeland Security proposal, affected workers would have to leave the US immediately instead of having up to 60 days to find a new sponsoring employer. The move is expected to significantly affect US technology and consulting companies reliant on skilled foreign labor.

6. PHILIPPINES FERRY FIRE LEAVES 84 MISSING
Rescue operations resumed on 11 September for the ferry MV June Aster, which caught fire off Palawan province; at least 5 people were killed, 84 missing and 43 rescued. The ferry was carrying 117 passengers and 17 crew on the Manila-Coron route.

7. CARGO SHIP FIRE IN CHINA KILLS 25
A Liberia-flagged cargo ship, Ocean Melody, caught fire on 10 September at the Beihai Shipyard in Qingdao, Shandong province, killing 25 people; 12 were evacuated safely and 5 were injured. President Xi Jinping ordered urgent search and rescue efforts and preventive measures.

8. OTHER WORLD POLITICS BRIEFS
The APEC CEO Summit 2026 will be held in Shenzhen, China, on 17-18 November. India deployed around 15,000 police personnel and 200 paramilitary companies in New Delhi ahead of the BRICS summit. The Visegrad Four prime ministers from Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia agreed to intensify coordination before European Council meetings. Algeria announced it will close its airspace to aircraft registered in the UAE. Pakistan said no military action was currently under discussion under its Makkah Joint Defense Agreement with Turkey and Saudi Arabia in response to Houthi attacks. Iran's IRGC said its naval forces targeted a US unmanned surface vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz; this claim has not been independently confirmed. Israel's military said it destroyed more than 2 km of underground Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon. The IMF said the global economy has been resilient despite six months of war between the US and Iran, but uncertainty remains high. The European Central Bank raised key interest rates by 25 basis points, its second hike this year. Malaysia condemned recent calls by Israeli government officials for the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

What to watch today: Response from the United Nations and involved parties after Houthi forces claimed control of Mocha.
*Information aggregated for reference, reflecting multiple sources at the time of posting.*