French Prime Minister Lecornu said ongoing austerity measures this year imply the 2026 budget deficit should be well below 5.5% of GDP.

Sept 17, Dushanbe — The 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Economic and Trade Ministers' Meeting convened; China was represented by Vice Minister and Deputy International Trade Representative Ling Ji. The meeting prioritized implementing the Bishkek summit consensus and planning next-stage regional economic cooperation ahead of the annual SCO heads (premiers) council. China pledged to advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, expand intra-SCO trade, deepen supply-chain collaboration, and improve infrastructure “hard connectivity” and rules/standards “soft connectivity” to further liberalize and facilitate trade and investment. Ministers adopted a joint declaration, approved regulations creating a special working group on the creative economy, and signed the meeting minutes.

The Houthi leader said Saudi Arabia, under US supervision and with support from Zionists, is conducting ongoing aggression in Yemen. He accused Riyadh of failing to use de-escalation seriously, instead exploiting it to tighten repressive measures, form Takfiri military forces and push Yemen toward collapse; he said the Houthis are on the defensive and did not initiate attacks. He added the latest escalation began with Saudi bombing of Sanaa airport and that Saudi forces have launched the first attacks at every stage.