Xi Jinping visits US, UN debates Gaza on 24/09/2026

1. XI JINPING BEGINS STATE VISIT TO UNITED STATES
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrived at Joint Base Andrews on the afternoon of 23 September, opening a three-day visit. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump met them on the tarmac; the ceremony included a gun salute and both national anthems. The rare planeside welcome signals a desire for dialogue despite trade, technology and security tensions.

2. UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY SHARPENS DIVISIONS OVER GAZA AND IRAN
At the 81st General Debate in New York, President Trump said the US could quickly "destroy" Iran but did not rule out a deal after the November midterms; he defended late-February US-Israel strikes and claimed they destroyed Iran's nuclear programme. French President Macron urged a return to international law and sharply criticised Israel over Gaza. Turkish President Erdogan accused Israel of a "genocidal mentality", prompting the Israeli delegation to walk out. Iranian President Pezeshkian said Iran is "the victim of terrorism" and is ready for dialogue but will not accept pressure; the US delegation walked out during his speech. The speeches show deep divisions over Gaza and Iran's nuclear file.

3. US - IRAN TALKS ON SIDELINES AS HORMUZ REMAINS VOLATILE
US and Iranian representatives held a three-hour meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with Qatar as mediator; Foreign Minister Araghchi met envoy Witkoff and Trump called the talks "productive". Tehran set conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including a full ceasefire on all fronts and an end to what it calls US aggression. On the same day, the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged cargo ship Cape Dao was hit by an "unknown projectile" in Hormuz, caught fire; one Indian crew member died and 27 were evacuated, UKMTO confirmed the incident and warned nearby shipping. The waterway remains unstable.

4. RUSSIA - UKRAINE: NO CEASEFIRE BUT TALKS ON LIMITED TRUCE
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said Russia will not pause its military operation during any peace negotiations, rejecting unconditional-ceasefire proposals. US Secretary of State Rubio and Lavrov met privately for 50 minutes in New York; Rubio said both Russia and Ukraine have shown interest in a limited ceasefire covering grain and energy. In the early hours of 24 September, explosions rocked Kyiv; AFP correspondents heard about 10 blasts. Russia said it struck a warehouse and a military drone production facility near Kyiv and a vessel carrying military cargo in Odesa; Ukraine accused Moscow of targeting data centres. In Donetsk, four people died in Oleksandrivka. Australia signed a 10-year security agreement with Ukraine and pledged another A$60 million.

5. ISRAEL SAYS IT KILLED HAMAS FINANCE CHIEF; VIOLENCE CONTINUES
Israel announced it killed Mohammed Abu Alwan, head of Hamas's finance department, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza; Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Katz confirmed the strike. Six Palestinians were reported killed in Gaza, while the West Bank saw arrests, house demolitions, raids and closures. Continued violence hampers ceasefire efforts and causes civilian casualties.

6. SOUTH AFRICA, PAKISTAN, KOSOVO SEE NOTABLE DEVELOPMENTS
In KwaMakhutha, South Africa, 11 people were killed and three injured when three gunmen opened fire on 13 men and a woman inside a house on Tuesday night. In Pakistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Fazal Shakoor Khan was allegedly abducted by masked gunmen near the M-1 Peshawar toll plaza; the Peshawar High Court summoned the investigating officer. In Kosovo, protests in Pristina continued for a sixth day after the Hague Specialist Chambers convicted four former Kosovo Liberation Army leaders; the UK issued a travel notice citing possible disruption.

7. OECD RAISES FORECAST, US STOCKS FALL
The OECD raised its 2026 global growth forecast to 2.9%, with 3.0% projected for 2027. US stocks fell and the 10-year Treasury yield climbed back above 5% after strong PMI data boosted rate-hike expectations; Brent crude rose back above $100 a barrel, while gold, silver and LME base metals declined on 23 September.

What to watch today: Iran's official response to the US-Iran meeting and developments in the Strait of Hormuz after the Cape Dao incident.

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