AHEAD

New data indicates the current El Niño is the strongest ever measured, marking a major shift in global weather patterns. The warming of the Pacific is expected to bring droughts, floods and temperature extremes across many regions, and scientists are watching closely for impacts on agriculture, water supplies and extreme weather in the months ahead.

Beijing has published its official statement on today's meeting between Xi Jinping and Donald Trump at the White House, while Washington has yet to release its own account. The Chinese readout is described as short but unusually dense, and observers are combing it for signals on trade and bilateral ties ahead of the US version.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian declared ahead of the 81st UN General Assembly that Iran 'will never seek to build a nuclear bomb'. The statement comes as world leaders prepare to gather in New York, with Iran's nuclear programme and ongoing talks over sanctions and inspections expected to feature prominently on the agenda.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has given an exclusive interview addressing the protests inside Iran and the future of the country's military actions. In the conversation, he speaks to Iran's stance amid regional tensions, responding to questions about domestic unrest and whether further military operations are ahead. The interview is drawing wide attention as audiences debate his remarks on both the protest movement and Iran's defense posture.

Attention is on a developing El Niño that commentators describe as unlike any previously recorded. The claim, made in a widely shared science explainer, suggests the current event is stronger or behaving differently than past El Niños, raising questions about extreme weather, hotter global temperatures and disrupted rainfall patterns in the months ahead.

A Wall Street Journal report says Egyptian intelligence warned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government ahead of October 7 that an attack by Hamas was imminent, but the warning apparently did not prevent the assault. The claim raises new questions about Israeli intelligence failures and about how much Israeli officials knew before the Hamas-led attack that killed roughly 1,200 people and triggered the war in Gaza.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said rising bond yields will weigh on economic growth and help bring down inflation, comments that traders and analysts are reading as a signal the ECB may not need to raise rates further. Markets are watching closely for confirmation ahead of the bank's next policy decision.

Forest fires in Indonesia are pushing smoke and haze toward Singapore just as the city prepares to host its Formula One Grand Prix. Organisers are drawing up contingency plans in case air quality deteriorates ahead of the major sporting event. Al Jazeera's Patrick Fok reports on the seasonal haze problem, which has long strained relations between Indonesia and its neighbours over the burning of land for agriculture.

Australia's central bank, the Reserve Bank of Australia, has raised its cash rate to its highest level in 15 years, according to Reuters. The move means higher borrowing costs for Australian households and businesses, and signals the bank is still working to bring inflation back to target despite signs of economic slowing. Markets and economists will be watching for hints on whether further tightening is ahead.

The United States has extended tariff relief to a broad set of products under its latest trade arrangement with China. The exemptions cover US coal and agricultural goods as well as Chinese-made toys, car seats and holiday decorations. The scope of the relief is drawing attention because it touches both American export sectors and everyday consumer imports ahead of the holiday shopping season.

CNN's Harry Enten, the network's senior data reporter, has highlighted what he called 'stunning numbers' showing President Trump reaching a new low in polling. The analysis points to declining support in recent surveys, and the figures are drawing wide attention as commentators weigh what they mean for Trump's standing and the political road ahead.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has departed Beijing for Washington, in what is described as his first state visit to the US capital since 2015. President Trump is expected to greet him personally on the tarmac rather than at the White House, a gesture some observers read as a sign of warmth ahead of high-stakes US-China trade and diplomatic discussions.

Fuel prices are climbing worldwide as threats issued by Donald Trump and ongoing armed conflicts weigh on energy markets. Traders and analysts are tracking how sanctions rhetoric, military escalation and supply disruption risks could push crude oil and refined fuel costs further up, leaving governments and consumers bracing for more expensive energy in the weeks ahead.

Election Commissioners of India have raised questions internally about irregularities in voter lists and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal, according to reports in Indian media. The development has drawn wide attention as it suggests concerns within the Election Commission itself over the accuracy of electoral rolls ahead of polls.

A nationwide public sector strike is planned for Tuesday, September 29, across France, affecting teachers, healthcare workers, firefighters and public transport workers. In Paris, a demonstration is set to march from Place de la République to Place de la Nation via Bastille. The RATP transport network is among services expected to be disrupted, and travellers should expect delays and cancellations.

The Bank of Japan has signalled it may raise interest rates sooner than markets had anticipated. The hawkish signal points to a possible shift away from Japan's long-standing ultra-loose monetary policy. Investors and analysts are watching closely for clues on the timing of the move, as an earlier hike could affect the yen, bond yields and global carry trades.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has travelled to the United Arab Emirates to meet the Emirati leader, in a rare visit by an Israeli premier to the Gulf state. The trip comes after reports that Israel received warnings ahead of Hamas's October 7 attack. The meeting is being closely watched for what it signals about Israeli-Arab relations amid the ongoing fallout from the intelligence controversy.

A report says Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered security forces to 'minimize escalation' in Gaza just days before Hamas's October 7 attack. The claim has drawn attention amid ongoing debate over whether Israeli leadership underestimated threats from Gaza and whether earlier signals of an attack were ignored ahead of the assault.

Venezuelan authorities have released dozens of political prisoners as calls grow, both at home and internationally, for elections in the country. The move comes amid mounting pressure on the government and is being read by observers as a possible gesture ahead of a potential electoral process, though the full scope of the releases and who was freed remains to be detailed.

The United States and Iran remain engaged in mediated negotiations, but significant disagreements persist over the terms of a potential agreement. Analysts say a deal is unlikely to be finalized before the upcoming US midterm elections, leaving the diplomatic track in limbo as political pressures build in Washington.

Iran is maintaining its stance on diplomacy even after a missile strike in the Strait of Hormuz, according to market commentary ahead of trading hours. The strike raises geopolitical risk in a waterway critical to global oil shipments, and observers are watching whether tensions will derail diplomatic channels or move energy markets when markets open.

A new poll projects France's 2027 presidential election could come down to a run-off between far-right leader Marine Le Pen's camp and hard-left veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon, sidelining President Emmanuel Macron's centrist bloc. Commentators see the projection as a sign of deepening polarisation in French politics, with the mainstream centre at risk of being squeezed out of the second round entirely.

Donald Trump said that new US military strikes against Iran are 'not ruled out' ahead of the upcoming US midterm elections, keeping open the possibility of renewed military action. The remark suggests continued tensions between Washington and Tehran even after earlier strikes, and signals that military options remain on the table as the political season intensifies.

South Sudan addressed the UN General Assembly with a call for elections to be decided by the ballot rather than violence, as the country prepares for its long-delayed national vote. The message, relayed by UN News and regional outlets, underscores international attention to whether South Sudan's transition and first elections since independence will proceed peacefully.

Reuters reports that the powerful forces — dubbed the 'G force' — propelling global markets higher may need to be slowed by the US Federal Reserve and the bond market. The item suggests that if equity momentum keeps running ahead of economic fundamentals, central bank policy and rising bond yields could act as the brake that curbs the rally.