World leaders gather at UN amid wars, AI fears and global divisions

Trump approval falls to career low of 32% as high costs bite, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's approval rating fell to 32 percent — the lowest of his political career — as his fellow Republicans soured on his handling of the cost of living amid the unpopular Iran war, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found. The four-day poll, which closed on Sunday, showed 73 percent of Republicans approved of Trump's job performance, down from 82 percent in a Reuters/Ipsos poll a week earlier. His overall approval stood at 35 percent that week. Trump returned to the White House in January 2025 on promises to tame inflation and end foreign wars. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in the hours after he was first sworn in, he enjoyed a 47 percent approval rate. Just 17 percent of respondents in the new poll approved of his handling of the cost of living — the top issue Americans say will determine how they vote in the November 3 midterm elections, when Trump's Republicans are defending narrow congressional majorities. Dissatisfaction among Republicans on the subject has been growing since Trump launched the war on Iran in February that has pushed gasoline and die

Korea, US, Japan reaffirm N. Korea's denuclearization goal, urge dialogue

WASHINGTON/SEOUL —The top diplomats of South Korea, the United States and Japan reiterated their "resolute" commitment to the "complete" denuclearization of North Korea and called on the recalcitrant regime to resume dialogue in a joint statement issued after their trilateral talks in New York on Monday. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly High-Level Week, also stressing the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. "The Secretary and the Foreign Ministers reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the prohibition on support for revenue generation for the DPRK's nuclear and ballistic missile programs in accordance with the relevant U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions," the three governments said in the statement, referring to North Korea by its official name. "They also reaffirmed that the path to dialogue remains open and called on

Shadow of Xi summit hangs over Trump's high-stakes talks with Japan's Takaichi

When Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets U.S. President Donald Trump in New York on Tuesday, the leader casting the longest shadow over the meeting will not even be in the building. Trump will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington on Thursday — two days after Takaichi meets the U.S. leader on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. It will be Xi’s first state visit to the U.S. in over 10 years. Faced with an unpredictable American president eager for tangible results ahead of what could be a tough November midterm election, Japan is working to ensure its vital interests are not traded away at the Xi-Trump summit. The Takaichi-Trump talks will unfold amid frosty ties between Tokyo and Beijing. Takaichi’s remarks last November that an attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan infuriated Beijing and sparked months of diplomatic freeze. Beijing sees Taiwan as part of China to be reunited by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washin

First ladies step forward as Trump lays on rare honors for Xi

U.S. first lady Melania Trump is set to lead key cultural diplomacy events during the coming official state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, marking their first visit to the White House since 2015. According to an official itinerary released by the first lady’s office, the three-day visit, scheduled from September 23 to 25, will feature extensive ceremonial honours alongside dedicated cultural exchanges highlighting Sino-American relations. Melania will join U.S. President Donald Trump to officially welcome Peng and President Xi to the White House on Thursday following their scheduled arrival at Joint Base Andrews the previous evening. The SCMP reported on September 17 that Trump would greet Xi at Joint Base Andrews, not only at the White House, a rare presidential airport welcome. The official reception will take place across the South Lawn, State Floor and Rose Garden of the White House. It will begin with military pageantry along the White House grounds, where an Armed Forces honour guard will line the South Drive alongside displayed U.S. and Chinese

No Shopping, No Straying: Iran's UNGA Delegation Faces Tight Curbs In New York

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi touched down in New York, even as Trump stepped up his rhetoric against Tehran by warning that "very big things" will happen

From Iran War To AI Boom: 7 Things To Watch At UN General Assembly 2026

UN General Assembly begins in New York, focusing on AI, conflicts, and leadership transition. Trump to meet Gulf leaders, Zelensky, and sign Greenland deal.

South Korea president urges US to ease North Korea sanctions to freeze nuclear programmes: Report

Piers Morgan ‘snarled with annoyance’ at being uninvited to Diana’s funeral over press intrusion

The broadcaster and former newspaper editor was reportedly ‘surly’ on the phone to Earl Spencer

Tom & Stefanie down to three stores from 10 as founders' daughter aims to keep business going

The founders’ daughter, who is also named Stefanie and grew up helping out at the family’s stores, says she wants to keep the business going for longtime staff who have been with the company for almost 20 years.

Iran-US war latest: Tehran-backed Houthis move to seize Yemen highlands as Trump ‘calls off strikes’

The US president said choices include “wiping them out, letting Iran rot economically, or making a deal”

Typhoon Dujuan tracker: Path of 80mph storm as two killed and 1.6 million urged to evacuate in Japan

While the storm is not expected to make landfall, officials say the risk of further flooding remains on Tuesday