Missed the headlines? Catch up quick with Debrief. The war in Yemen is escalating rapidly as the Houthis expand along the Red Sea coast and fighting with the Saudi-backed government intensifies. More than 100,000 people have been displaced in September, while shipping through the Bab al Mandab has plunged, threatening a vital route for global oil and trade. Meanwhile, the US-Iran standoff continues to put pressure on the Strait of Hormuz, leaving two key maritime chokepoints caught in regional conflict. In Washington, a Pentagon watchdog warned of US munitions shortages and replenishment bottlenecks, while a UN mission found reasonable grounds to believe US strikes in Iran amounted to war crimes.
All that plus more stories from the week: Collapse of war-damaged building kills dozens in Gaza, researchers warn AI could raise the prospect of human extinction, US raises interest rate for the first time in three years, and Macklemore has announced he’s donating $1 million to Palestinian aid groups after being kicked out of Ed Sheeran’s Tour because of his pro-Palestine remarks.