The Week

The UN General Assembly, the largest annual gathering in world diplomacy, is underway in New York as of September 22, 2026. Coverage is focusing on what to expect from this year's session, including the annual leaders' addresses and the diplomatic meetings held on the sidelines as heads of state and government converge for the week.

Meta has blocked Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's Facebook page and his campaign advertisements, with the move coming roughly two weeks ahead of the election. The timing is drawing intense attention, as the platform's action against a sitting head of state's official campaign presence raises questions about what triggered the block and how it may affect his campaign's ability to reach voters in the final stretch.

A new project is scrutinising President Trump's changing statements on how long a conflict with Iran might last, highlighting his repeated claim that a resolution is 'about two weeks' away. The initiative catalogues the shifting timeline, drawing attention to questions over the administration's strategy and credibility on Iran.

Ukraine's defence ministry announced a week of long-range strikes on Russia's fuel and energy sector, saying six strategic oil refineries were hit, some up to 1,600 kilometres behind the front line. Kyiv described the targeted facilities as key suppliers of fuel to Russia's defence industry and framed the campaign as an answer to continued Russian attacks on Ukraine.

The Trump administration has moved to cancel roughly $100 million in education funding that Congress had already approved, according to Education Week. The move is the latest example of the president bypassing lawmakers on spending decisions, a practice that has drawn repeated criticism and is likely to fuel fresh disputes over presidential authority over federal budgets.

As the US midterm election season intensifies, members of Congress are spending less time in Washington and more time back in their districts campaigning. The squeeze raises familiar questions about whether legislation, spending bills and oversight can move forward when lawmakers' attention shifts to winning re-election. Commentators note the tension between legislative duties and campaign travel grows sharper with every week closer to the vote.

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will not take part in a major climate change case scheduled for next week, according to CNBC. The court is expected to hear arguments without him, which could affect the outcome if the justices divide closely. No reason for his recusal has been given in the report, and the case is being closely watched for its implications on climate regulation.

SpaceX is reportedly planning to launch three Starship test flights within roughly five weeks, a dramatic acceleration of its launch cadence from Starbase, Texas. The schedule would mark the fastest turnaround yet for the programme, which has so far flown flights weeks or months apart. Space commentators are debating whether the company can realistically achieve the rapid sequence, pointing to booster reuse, pad readiness and regulatory approvals as the key hurdles.

The Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers faced off in a Week 3 matchup of the 2026 NFL season, with the league releasing the official game highlights. The matchup is drawing heavy attention from football fans, with millions engaging with the highlight footage as viewers catch up on the key plays from the game.

Gold prices recovered slightly after falling to a seven-week low, with traders closely watching developments in the Middle East and upcoming US economic data. Market participants are weighing geopolitical risk against expectations for US interest rate policy, which could influence demand for the safe-haven metal in the coming sessions.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature used the UN General Assembly and New York Climate Week to advance its agenda on nature protection, ocean conservation and climate action. The organisation says the gatherings offered a key moment to push for stronger commitments linking biodiversity and climate policy ahead of upcoming global negotiations.

The New York Giants faced the Los Angeles Rams in a Week 2 matchup of the 2026 NFL season, and the league's official game highlights are drawing massive attention from fans. The clip has racked up over 3.2 million likes, indicating strong interest in how both teams performed early in the new season.

The sixth and final day of the UN General Debate has concluded, with a closing appeal for member states to translate their speeches into concrete action. The takeaway highlights the gap between rhetoric and delivery as world leaders wrap up a week of addresses at the United Nations, with calls for follow-through on commitments made during the debate.

Bitcoin ETFs pulled in $2.4 billion in inflows while exchange holdings dropped by 35,800 BTC in a single week, tightening available supply. Market watchers say the combination of strong institutional demand and shrinking exchange reserves could add upward pressure on the price, with traders watching whether the supply squeeze continues into next week.

In Japan, attention is turning to a possible review of the government guidance limiting overtime to 45 hours per month. Economist-weekly commentary by scholar Wakana Shuto examines what the reconsideration means for workers' rights and work-style reform, debating whether loosening or tightening the cap would affect labor conditions.

The Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys met in Rio de Janeiro as part of Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season, with the league publishing the game highlights. The matchup drew wide attention as one of the season's international showcase games, and fans are discussing the key plays and the spectacle of an NFL regular-season game staged in Brazil.

Australia's four major banks are now unanimous in forecasting that the Reserve Bank of Australia will raise interest rates at its meeting next week. The shift in forecasts, reported by ABC News' finance desk, suggests markets and economists see an rate hike as near-certain, with borrowers bracing for higher mortgage repayments should the central bank act.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins met in a Week 3 matchup of the 2026 NFL season, with official game highlights drawing over 1.2 million likes. Fans are watching and sharing the key plays from the game, keeping both teams in the football conversation early in the season.

Conflict with Iran is being linked to rising gasoline prices across the United States, as markets react to the risk of disruption in Middle Eastern oil supplies. Commentators are watching crude markets and warning that any escalation could push costs at the pump higher for American drivers in the coming weeks.

The Los Angeles Rams faced the Denver Broncos in a Week 3 matchup of the 2026 NFL season, with the league releasing the official game highlights. The clip is drawing heavy attention from football fans, ranking among the most-watched sports content globally as viewers catch up on the key plays from the game.

The Las Vegas Raiders faced the New Orleans Saints in Week 3 of the NFL 2026 season, with the game's highlight reel drawing massive attention from fans. Viewers are reacting to the key plays and moments from the matchup as the season's early storylines take shape.

Yale School of the Environment published five key takeaways from its experts following Climate Week in New York City. The roundup distills what environmental scholars saw as the most significant themes and outcomes from the annual gathering, which brings together governments, businesses and advocates on climate action.