26/09/2026: US–China trade truce extended, UN Gaza row

1. US–CHINA EXTEND TRADE TRUCE TO JANUARY 10
Chinese President Xi Jinping ended his US state visit on September 25; President Donald Trump said the two leaders would meet again in November in China and at the G20 summit in Miami in December. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the bilateral trade truce has been extended to January 10 instead of expiring in November. The move reduces short-term risk of tariff escalation and gives businesses and markets time to adjust.

2. NETANYAHU ADDRESSES UN AS DELEGATES WALK OUT
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the 81st UN General Assembly debate before a largely empty hall; scores of delegates walked out over the Gaza war. He denied genocide allegations, saying Israel 'didn't commit genocide. Israel prevented genocide.' New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani pushed back, citing the ICC arrest warrant; Jordan's foreign minister said Israel is 'toying with the region's security.' South Africa and Malaysia convened 40 countries to propose a UN monitoring mechanism, an arms embargo on Israel, and protection for the ICC.

3. UN SECURITY COUNCIL CONDEMNS HOUTHI ATTACKS ON SAUDI ARABIA
The UN Security Council strongly condemned continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, demanded an immediate halt to military escalation and noted at least 125,000 people displaced in Yemen since early September. The Saudi-led coalition said six Houthi ballistic missiles were intercepted and destroyed before reaching Taif and Yanbu. Military chiefs from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye met in Riyadh; Pakistan called any attack on Mecca a 'red line.'

4. IRAN PROPOSES SEVEN-DAY PLAN FOR STRAIT OF HORMUZ
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has conveyed to the US via Qatar a seven-day plan under which the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened if conditions are met. According to The Wall Street Journal, President Trump rejected the proposal and plans to resume strikes on Iran after the midterm elections; Reuters could not immediately verify the report. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran wants to return to the June memorandum with the US, but ending the war depends on Washington; Egypt warned that Middle East neighbors are paying a heavy economic price.

5. RUSSIA CONFIRMS DUMA RESULTS, UKRAINE TENSIONS CONTINUE
Russia's Central Election Commission confirmed United Russia won 349 of 450 Duma seats, with turnout at 59.8 percent. The Kremlin called EU plans to transfer frozen Russian asset revenue to Ukraine illegal. President Vladimir Putin said Russia is not preparing military action against European countries and is weighing whether to resume peace talks with Ukraine; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected a proposed meeting with Putin in Moscow and left the door open to Turkish-hosted trilateral talks.

6. SOUTH CHINA SEA ROW AND PAKISTAN STRIKES IN AFGHANISTAN
The China Coast Guard urged the Philippines to stop provocations after Manila sent a vessel to resupply a grounded ship at Ren'ai Reef. Pakistan said it carried out precision strikes on 10 locations in Afghanistan used to launch and store drones. The South China Sea dispute remains heated during China's Mid-Autumn Festival holiday; Pakistan acted after attempted drone attacks from Afghan territory.

7. OTHER DEVELOPMENTS
Morocco's Authenticity and Modernity Party won 97 seats, leading legislative elections. Thailand's Supreme Administrative Court rejected former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra's retrial petition, upholding liability of about 10 billion baht. Kazakhstan confirmed nine servicemen died after being swept out to sea during a Caspian naval exercise. Britain's food and drink trade deficit rose above 21 billion pounds, the highest since 2000; Cyprus diesel prices hit a record 1.997 euros per liter.

What to watch today: Washington's response to Iran's seven-day Hormuz proposal.

*This is a roundup for reference, reflecting multiple sources at the time of publication.*