cenc automatic measurement: 20:09 Sep 18 preliminary M3.8 earthquake near Xinlong County, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan (30.92N, 99.89E). Final magnitude pending formal rapid report.

As an ally bound by a mutual defense agreement with Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s military said on the 17th it will support Riyadh "at all costs" amid rising Houthi attacks from Yemen, including helping to defend the holy cities Mecca and Medina. Military spokesman Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan will back Saudi Arabia both diplomatically and through substantive action to safeguard the holy sites and the kingdom’s security.

CCTV reported Li Qiang chaired a State Council executive meeting calling for increased supply of high-quality sports events, activation and better use of sports venues and event resources, and promotion of integration between sports events and culture, tourism and commerce.