News for September 22, 2026
UN leaders’ meeting convenes with secretary-general calling for ‘world built on interdependence’
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is pleading for “a world built on interdependence” as he makes his final address to the General Assembly gathering of world leaders. The U.N. leader has long implored leaders not to give up on cooperation and shared decision-making in the face of accelerating global challenges and increasing great–powers competition. Tuesday’s message took on additional urgency because he leaves office at the end of this year.
Trump returns to UN at a moment of anxiety about Iran, AI and the future of the world body itself
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump addresses the U.N. General Assembly at a challenging moment for the world and his presidency. The global economy is unsettled by his war with Iran, and concerns about AI’s social impact are rising. Trump’s reduction of U.S. financial support for the U.N. raises questions about its future. After his speech Tuesday, Trump plans to meet with leaders from the U.K., Japan, and Venezuela, as well as Gulf Cooperation Council nations. The ongoing Iran conflict and its impact on oil markets are key topics. Trump also faces frustration over the Russia-Ukraine war, which continues despite his efforts to mediate.
Messy, troubled, unpredictable: Diplomats describe a world in turmoil as UN opens annual meeting
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — There is not much diplomats can agree on these days. But if asked about the state of the world ahead of the annual meeting at the United Nations General Assembly, heads of state and government and ministers alike will describe a globe in massive turmoil. With two escalating wars raging on in Europe and the Middle East, a global economy in flux and a shifting world order, international leaders are arriving in New York on Tuesday to an outlook that is massively dissimilar to this time last year.
Russia and Ukraine trade deadly strikes as Zelenskyy prepares to meet Trump
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Officials say Russia has bombarded at least four Ukrainian regions with missiles and drones in that attacks that have killed five people. Ukraine’s special forces meanwhile said Tuesday that they have damaged another Russian oil refinery in a long-range strike. This ongoing exchange of aerial attacks comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits the United States. Zelenskyy is meeting world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. He’s seeking support to end Russia’s invasion. French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged more radars to help protect Ukraine’s power grid. Zelenskyy also plans to discuss de-escalation measures and request more U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems.
China’s Alibaba unveils new powerful chip and ambitious AI model plans
HONG KONG (AP) — China’s Alibaba has unveiled new plans for its AI model and new chip technologies, including what it claims is China’s most powerful AI chip. This launch comes as U.S. AI leaders call for a slowdown in AI development over safety concerns. On Tuesday, at its annual conference in Hangzhou, Alibaba introduced the Zhenwu V900 AI chip, which it says triples the performance of its predecessor. The company also plans to train a new AI model with up to 10 trillion parameters, one of the measures of its capability. Analysts believe these advancements, announced just ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, could give China more leverage in U.S.-China talks.
Trump and Xi see tensions flare over AI, trade and Iran but still seek stability
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump is hosting Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Washington this week as economic and tech competition escalates between the two countries. Both leaders are aiming to stabilize fragile ties, though no major agreements are expected. The meeting itself is seen as significant given the deep differences and a lack of trust between the United States and China. An accelerating artificial intelligence race is a key issue, with both countries vying for dominance despite warnings about the rapid development of the technology. Along with persistent trade issues, the two leaders also are trying to maneuver around major hot spots like Iran and Taiwan.
No charges in Nolan Wells’ death following grand jury review
PASCAGOULA, Miss. (AP) — A grand jury has found there wasn’t evidence to bring charges in the death of Nolan Wells, a Black teen who was found dead after a July 4 boating trip off the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The decision was announced late Monday by Angel Myers McIlrath, the district attorney overseeing Wells’ case. It comes after months of intense speculation about how the 18-year-old disappeared from a bustling party and why the friends who ferried Wells to the island left without him. The grand jury in Jackson County, Mississippi, found no evidence of criminal conduct and noted that examinations of his body by the Mississippi medical examiner’s office and an independent forensic pathologist hired by Wells’ family found the cause and manner of death to be undetermined.
Polo strengthens to a Category 5 hurricane off Mexico’s Pacific coast
MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Polo has grown into a Category 5 storm in the eastern Pacific off southwestern Mexico. The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami says Tuesday that it had maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. Polo was forecast to sharply turn northwest and west-northwest. On that path, Polo would skirt the Mexican coast for a few days without directly making landfall. Category 5 is the highest level on the Saffir-Simpson scale, reflecting that the storm’s maximum sustained winds exceed 157 mph.
California farmers are struggling to sell grapes as demand for wine drops
LODI, Calif. (AP) — It’s harvest time in California wine country, but many growers are struggling to sell their grapes as Americans cut back on drinking. Farmers are tearing out their vineyards, selling their land or planting other crops as they lose faith in the wine business. Bill Berryhill can’t find buyers for grapes grown on 200 of his 500 acres of vineyards in California’s San Joaquin Valley. The third-generation grower faces another year of losing money and wasting hundreds of tons of healthy grapes. Many California growers can’t find buyers as the industry produces more wine grapes than the market wants. Wine consumption is declining globally as people drink less.
Wall Street ticks to the edge of its record as Brent oil falls toward $98 per barrel
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is ticking closer to its record high after the price of Brent oil fell back below $100 per barrel. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Tuesday and pulled within 0.2% of its all-time high set last month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 124 points, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.4% to its own record. They got help as the price for a barrel of Brent crude oil fell toward $98 from its perch of nearly $110 last week. That helped Treasury yields to ease a bit in the bond market, which removed some more pressure on stocks.
White House Drops a Mountain of Receipts After CNN, MS NOW, Politico Sue Over Press Ban WASHINGTON —The White House isn't prone to backing down when the press throws a temper tantrum, and that's certainly the case after CNN, MS NOW, and Politico jointly sued the Trump administration Monday over President Trump's Friday decision to revoke their access to the White House. The White House issued a blistering response to the lawsuit Monday afternoon – titled "White House Access Is a Privilege — Not a Right" – and systematically laid out how both the Obama and Biden administrations had restricted, punished, or shut out certain reporters and outlets from having White House access. "The First Amendment protects their right to publish; it does not entitle them to a hard pass, briefing room seat, or place in the press pool," the statement declared."
