International News 15 September 2026
-
India Approves Power Exports to Nepal Following Catastrophic Glacier Collapse and Grid Damage
India has authorized electricity exports of up to 654 megawatts (MW) to Nepal for 18 hours per day through December 31, 2026, aimed at easing severe energy shortages caused by massive disaster-related grid destruction across the Himalayan nation. India’s Ministry of Power confirmed that export volumes from January 2027 onward will be subject to a comprehensive review in December 2026. The emergency cross-border power supply comes in the wake of a catastrophic glacier collapse last month, which triggered torrential flash flooding that killed nearly 1,400 people across Nepal and Tibet. The deluge swept away more than a dozen hydroelectric power stations across Nepal, severely crippling domestic power generation capacity. Search and rescue efforts remain active, with approximately 900 hydropower plant workers among the more than 5,300 individuals still reported missing.
Oil Surges Over 3% Beyond $107 as Drone Strike Halts Crucial Saudi East-West Pipeline
Global crude oil benchmarks climbed more than 3% on Monday, September 14, 2026, driven by an acute escalation in Middle Eastern supply risks following fresh Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia and Iranian attacks on Gulf shipping lanes, culminating in the temporary shutdown of a vital Saudi crude pipeline. By 03:40 GMT, Brent crude futures jumped $3.21, or 3.1%, to $107.82 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose $3.17, or 3.2%, to reach $103.22 per barrel. The sharp rally followed drone strikes targeting Saudi Arabia's strategic East-West pipeline, forcing authorities to temporarily suspend operations. According to commodity strategists at ING cited by Reuters, the infrastructure outage represents a critical bottleneck for global energy markets: the pipeline serves as the Kingdom's primary conduit to bypass the vulnerable Strait of Hormuz by redirecting crude to Red Sea export terminals. Its closure immediately puts up to 4% of global oil supply at risk, compounding broader Persian Gulf transit disruptions.
Saudi Arabia Lifts Hazard Warnings for Southern Cities Amid Houthi Escalation
Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense declared the situation secure on Monday, September 14, 2026, lifting earlier hazard warnings issued for the southern border cities of Najran, Khamis Mushait, Jazan, and Abha. The initial alerts were prompted by a recent escalation in cross-border strikes targeting Saudi territory by Iran-aligned Houthi militants based in neighboring Yemen. According to Reuters, the Houthi faction—which controls Yemen's most populated regions and much of the north—has steadily intensified its offensive operations against the Kingdom. In addition to cross-border terrestrial strikes, the militant group has repeatedly targeted Saudi commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea since formally declaring a naval blockade against Riyadh in July 2026, adding another layer of geopolitical risk to regional maritime trade corridors.
https://internasional.kontan.co.id/news/arab-saudi-cabut-peringatan-bahaya-di-empat-kota-ini