⚡ TODAY IN HISTORY

On September 22, 1949, the Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb, ending the four-year American monopoly on nuclear weapons. In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. Today, President Trump tells the United Nations General Assembly that Iran must never be allowed to build one of its own.

TOP NEWS

Trump tells UN Iran can never get a nuclear weapon 130+ LEADERS

Seven months into the US war with Iran, President Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. Ambassador Mike Waltz said the speech would stress that Iran must never hold a nuclear weapon, alongside progress on Trump's 20-point Gaza peace plan. More than 130 heads of state and government are attending this year's high-level week, which runs through September 29.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico sue Trump over White House ban 3 OUTLETS

After Trump banned the three outlets on September 18 over coverage he called unfair, Secret Service officers blocked their reporters from the White House grounds and revoked their credentials on Saturday. CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed suit Monday in Washington's federal court, calling the ban a direct violation of the First Amendment. A judge ordered the administration to respond this week, and other networks pulled their own White House pool coverage in protest.

Wall Street closes at fresh highs on a chip rally

Falling oil prices and cooling bond yields sent US stocks higher Monday, led by chipmakers. The S&P 500 rose 1.49% to 7,764.70, and the Nasdaq Composite hit a record 27,122.09, its first since June. Intel jumped 12% and Advanced Micro Devices climbed 10%, pushing its market value past $1 trillion for the first time.

Helicopter crash kills two pilots battling Yosemite fire

Crews were dropping water on the Dome Fire in Yosemite National Park on Sunday afternoon when their helicopter went down southeast of Lake Ostrander, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Both pilots aboard the Eurocopter AS32 were killed, and their remains were recovered Monday afternoon. The Dome Fire, first reported September 15, continues to burn inside the park.

South Korea's presidential chief of staff offers to resign

After a string of failed ministerial nominations, Kang Hoon-sik offered his resignation as chief of staff to President Lee Jae-myung on Monday. A presidential official said Kang was taking full responsibility for the setbacks. President Lee left for the United States the same day for talks tied to a major investment deal.

WORLD

UN General Assembly opens with world leaders in New York 130+ LEADERS

The United Nations opened high-level week for its 81st General Assembly on Tuesday, with more than 130 heads of state and government expected in New York through September 29. The gathering follows a funding crisis in January, when Washington threatened to cut off UN support entirely. President Trump addressed the assembly and is set to meet separately with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez.

Oil prices ease as US and Iran signal openness to talks -9%

Seven months into the war between the US and Iran, crude prices have fallen more than 9% over the past four trading sessions as fears of a wider Middle East supply shock recede. Brent crude settled above $100 a barrel Monday, while US benchmark WTI held near $96, both down from highs above $109 earlier this month. Traders pointed to satellite data showing Saudi Arabia shifting exports back toward the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that carries roughly a fifth of the world's oil.

Heavy rain floods threaten India's eastern coast

A low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a depression as it moves toward the north Andhra Pradesh-south Odisha coastline, India's weather department said Tuesday. Odisha and coastal Andhra Pradesh face very heavy rainfall, strong winds and rough seas, while Kerala remains on alert further south. Delhi and the surrounding region are expected to stay largely dry.

Gaza ceasefire's second phase remains stalled

Nearly a year after President Trump's 20-point peace plan ended full-scale fighting in Gaza, disagreements over Hamas's disarmament and Israel's troop withdrawal have stalled the ceasefire's second phase. Israeli forces still control more than half of the territory, and mediators in Egypt, Qatar and Turkey continue pushing both sides toward the plan's remaining steps. The stalemate is expected to come up on the sidelines of this week's UN General Assembly.

South Korea sweeps pool and diamond at Asian Games

Twenty-year-old swimmer Kim Young-beom set a new tournament record to win gold in the 50-meter freestyle on Monday. South Korea's national baseball team shut out Taiwan 5-0 the same day, moving closer to a fifth straight Asian Games title. Both wins came as South Korea's political leadership faced turmoil at home, with the president's chief of staff offering his resignation.

POLITICS

CNN, MS NOW and Politico sue Trump over press ban 3 OUTLETS

Citing what he called unfair coverage, President Trump banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House on September 18. Secret Service officers blocked the outlets' reporters from entering the grounds and revoked their credentials on Saturday, prompting all three to sue in Washington's federal court Monday. Judge Timothy Kelly ordered the administration to respond to the outlets' request for a restraining order this week.

Networks refuse White House pool coverage over CNN ban

In solidarity with CNN after its ban from the White House grounds, several television networks declined to provide pool video coverage of President Trump's activities on Monday. Pool coverage normally lets one network share footage and audio with the rest of the press corps. The White House press office referred reporters back to Trump's original Truth Social post defending the ban.

Trump's approval rating falls to a new low 32%

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week put President Trump's approval rating at 32%, a record low for his current term. The decline comes as gas prices remain elevated and the war with Iran enters its eighth month. Midterm election season is intensifying scrutiny of his economic record heading into November.

Democrat crosses party lines to back a Republican colleague

Facing a tough reelection fight, New York Republican Congressman Mike Lawler picked up an unusual endorsement this week. Maine Democratic Congressman Jared Golden backed Lawler in an op-ed, pointing to their shared record of working across party lines in Congress. The endorsement stands out ahead of a midterm cycle otherwise marked by sharp partisan divides.

Rubio opens the stock exchange ahead of UN week

Ahead of the United Nations General Assembly's high-level week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. The appearance came as world leaders began arriving in New York for meetings running through September 29. Rubio's visit set the stage for a week of diplomacy layered on top of Wall Street's own record-setting rally.

MARKETS

Wall Street hits fresh highs as chip stocks rally +2.26%

Falling oil prices and easing bond yields lifted US stocks Monday, with technology shares leading gains. The S&P 500 climbed 1.49% to 7,764.70, while the Nasdaq Composite jumped 2.26% to a record 27,122.09, its first record close since June. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 366 points, or 0.71%, to 52,048.83.

AMD joins the trillion-dollar club

Shares of Advanced Micro Devices rose about 10% Monday, pushing the chipmaker's market value above $1 trillion for the first time. Intel gained 12% and Qualcomm rose more than 9% the same day. All three stocks benefited from renewed investor confidence in artificial intelligence spending.

Oil slips as US-Iran war talk turns to negotiation

Crude oil has fallen more than 9% over the past four trading sessions as traders track signs of progress toward ending the seven-month US-Iran war. West Texas Intermediate held near $96 a barrel Monday, while Brent settled just above $100. Both benchmarks remain well below the highs above $109 reached earlier this month, when strikes disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger nears the finish line

Paramount agreed in February to buy Warner Bros. Discovery for $31 a share, valuing the studio at $110 billion and combining libraries that include Harry Potter, Game of Thrones and SpongeBob SquarePants. Shares of both companies jumped this week as the merger, expected to close by the end of the quarter, moved closer to completion. The combined company plans to fold Paramount+, HBO Max and Pluto TV into one streaming service.

Gold and bitcoin climb alongside stocks

Gold traded near $4,391 an ounce Tuesday, building on a record year for the metal. Bitcoin rose nearly 6% to about $85,650, tracking a broader rally in risk assets. Both moves came as investors weighed falling oil prices against uncertainty tied to the Iran war and the Federal Reserve's next move on interest rates.

ENTERTAINMENT

Chiranjeevi marks 48 years in Indian cinema 48 YEARS

Telugu megastar Chiranjeevi marked 48 years since his 1978 film debut on Tuesday, thanking producers, directors and fans in a note posted online. The actor said the affection of his audience mattered more to him than any award he has won. Chiranjeevi is currently filming Kaaka, in which he plays a character named Kadiri Kalidas.

Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery deal lifts entertainment stocks

Investors pushed shares of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery higher this week as their $110 billion merger moved toward a close before the end of September. The combined studio would control more than 15,000 film titles, including Harry Potter and Mission: Impossible. Paramount has committed to releasing at least 30 theatrical films a year once the deal closes.

Prabhas period drama pushed back to 2027

Director Bobby Kolli's upcoming film Fauzi, starring Prabhas, is now expected to arrive in 2027 rather than its earlier target date. Kolli described the project as a large-scale production during recent promotional interviews. The delay follows a wider pattern of Indian studios extending post-production timelines for big-budget releases.

Hollywood studios brace for an AI-driven shakeup

Concerns about artificial intelligence replacing jobs across the film industry have grown through 2026, even as the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger reshapes the studio system. Industry analysts say the combined effects could shrink production budgets and crew sizes over the next several years. Despite the uncertainty, a steady lineup of new theatrical releases remains scheduled through the rest of the year.

Six-year-old piano prodigy releases debut album

A six-year-old pianist released a debut album this month, drawing attention across entertainment outlets for the range of material performed. The young musician's recordings include both classical repertoire and original compositions. Industry observers say the release adds to a string of young performers gaining mainstream attention in 2026.