New York

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, laying out what Tehran describes as its red lines on nuclear weapons, Israel and regional security. The speech comes as tensions over Iran's nuclear programme and the conflict with Israel remain high, and analysts are weighing whether his remarks signal openness to diplomacy or a hardening of Iran's position.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has declared that Iran 'will never seek to build a nuclear bomb,' speaking ahead of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The pledge, reported by APT, comes as Tehran seeks to reassure the international community about its nuclear programme and shapes expectations for Iran's diplomatic posture at the New York gathering.

New York and New Jersey have declared states of emergency as a powerful Nor'easter bears down on the region, forcing the cancellation of events and prompting officials to urge residents to stay off the roads. The storm is expected to bring heavy precipitation, strong winds and hazardous travel conditions, with authorities warning of possible power outages and coastal flooding across the two states.

Saudi Arabia has signalled it would be open to developing nuclear weapons, according to reports carried by major US outlets including The New York Times and The Seattle Times. The remarks raise fresh questions about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and about Riyadh's nuclear ambitions at a time of ongoing regional tensions and talks over normalisation and security guarantees with Washington.

Actresses Hannah Einbinder and Susan Sarandon were reportedly detained during a demonstration outside the United Nations protesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Both are longtime critics of the Israeli government's conduct in Gaza. The arrests come as Netanyahu's visit to the UN draws large protests in New York, with activists and celebrities joining calls over the war.

President Donald Trump spoke to world leaders at the United Nations summit, delivering remarks during the annual gathering of global representatives in New York. The address is drawing wide attention, with audiences following the speech live and reacting to his message to the international community.

Iranian leaders have delivered strongly worded remarks while in New York, in what is being framed as a warning to the United States against aggression. The comments come as Iran-US diplomacy remains in focus, with the Iranian leadership pairing harsh rhetoric with signals that negotiations are still possible.

The annual UN General Assembly opens in New York on September 22, 2026, bringing together world leaders for a week of speeches, meetings and diplomacy. Coverage focuses on what to expect from the event, which is widely described as the biggest gathering in world diplomacy, with global attention on the leaders attending and the issues they will address.

Donald Trump and other world leaders are addressing the UN General Assembly in 2026, with coverage of the speeches drawing a large live audience worldwide. The annual gathering in New York is a key moment for heads of state to set out foreign policy positions, and attention is focused on what Trump says about US priorities on the global stage.

The United States has rejected a United Nations declaration on preparing for future pandemics, according to a New York Times report. The declaration was intended as a framework for international cooperation on outbreak readiness. Details on the U.S. objections and the implications for global health coordination were not immediately available in the report.

Saudi Arabia is open to possibly developing nuclear weapons, according to a New York Times report on US-Saudi political discussions. The report is drawing attention given long-standing concerns about nuclear proliferation in the Middle East and the implications for regional rivals like Iran, as well as the future of US-Saudi security cooperation.

A nor'easter is expected to deliver its peak impacts to New York City and New Jersey over the weekend, with forecasters warning of coastal flooding, storm surge and wind damage. Local outlets are tracking the storm's timeline as communities along the Jersey Shore and Long Island brace for the worst conditions, with officials urging residents in flood-prone areas to prepare.

Sudan's repeated ceasefire agreements, brokered in Jeddah and most recently discussed in New York, have repeatedly collapsed as fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces continues. Commentators point to weak enforcement mechanisms, mutual distrust between the warring parties, and outside backers fueling the conflict as reasons the truces never hold.

China's address to the UN General Assembly in New York called on member states to safeguard the postwar international order. The appeal was delivered as part of the country's formal statement to the assembly, framing support for the existing multilateral system as a priority. The speech drew attention amid ongoing debate over the rules-based order and China's role within it.

Energy costs and surging electricity demand from artificial intelligence are reshaping climate negotiations underway in New York. Delegates are weighing how to meet climate goals while power-hungry AI data centres drive up consumption, making affordability and grid capacity central issues alongside emissions targets.

The foreign ministers of Russia and Germany met in New York on Saturday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, in the first meeting at that level since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The talks mark a rare diplomatic contact between Moscow and a major European power and are drawing attention for what they may signal about the state of relations between Russia and the West.

The New York Giants faced the Los Angeles Rams in a Week 2 matchup of the 2026 NFL season, with the league's highlight package of the game drawing millions of engagements from fans catching up on the action. Viewers are reacting to the key plays and turning points from the contest as the early-season NFL schedule continues.

A New York Times opinion piece asks what would happen if the artificial intelligence investment bubble were to burst, drawing parallels to a potential banking crisis and invoking the idea of AI firms being 'too big to fail'. The argument is that massive spending on AI infrastructure and valuations could pose systemic risks to the financial system if expectations collapse, echoing concerns raised about past speculative bubbles.

Jesse Wegman, the New York Times editorial writer on legal matters, has published 'Supremacy: How Rule by the Court Replaced Government by the People', arguing that Americans must reclaim ownership of their founding charter from the nine justices of the Supreme Court. The book contends that judicial supremacy has displaced government by the people, and early commentary frames it as a challenge to the Court's ultimate authority over constitutional meaning.

The United Nations has added more than 60 companies to its blacklist of firms doing business in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The move, reported by outlets including the New York Post, is expected to draw strong reactions from Israel and its allies, who have previously condemned the listing as biased, while human rights groups welcomed it.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has given an update on conditions as a nor'easter moves through New York, warning residents about storm impacts and state preparations. The briefing comes as heavy snow, wind and coastal flooding affect parts of the region, prompting officials to urge caution and monitor emergency responses across affected areas.

A Supreme Court ruling is unlikely to change how voter eligibility checks are carried out in the upcoming midterm elections, according to a report by The New York Times. The decision may have limited practical impact on voter screening procedures. Discussion is focused on what the ruling does and does not mean for election administration.

A New York Times opinion piece examines the potential consequences of a collapse in artificial intelligence investment, weighing whether soaring valuations around A.I. companies mirror past tech bubbles and what a burst would mean for markets, workers and the broader economy.

The United Nations General Assembly's annual general debate has entered its fourth day in New York, with world leaders continuing to deliver set-piece speeches on global challenges. UN News is providing a 'Takeaway' summary of the day's key moments, as attention focuses on the major speeches and diplomatic exchanges from the gathering of heads of state and government.