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At the UN general assembly, Colombia calls for a criminal case against Donald Trump over deadly Caribbean boat strikes, Iran vows to never build nuclear weapons, and Ukraine warns that Russia’s AI-driven drone war risks sparking a catastrophic global arms race.

China sets first-ever absolute emissions reduction target in a landmark pledge seen as pivotal for global climate goals.

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Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇮🇷 🇺🇳 Pezeshkian vows to never build nuclear weapons, accuses Europe of subservience to Washington: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the UN General Assembly that Tehran “will never seek to build a nuclear bomb,” urging the E3 to halt efforts to trigger snapback sanctions before the September 27 deadline. He accused the UK, France, and Germany of acting at Washington’s behest and disregarding Iran’s legal rights under the 2015 nuclear deal, which the U.S. abandoned in 2018. Pezeshkian also condemned Israel’s push for a “greater Israel” as a campaign of genocide and regional domination, calling instead for a future built on dignity, trust, and cooperation with peace-seeking nations.

2️⃣ 🇪🇺 🇷🇺 Von der Leyen says NATO may shoot down Russian jets after repeated airspace violations: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that NATO could shoot down Russian aircraft violating alliance airspace, saying every “square centimetre” must be defended. Her remarks follow a series of Russian incursions over Poland, Romania, and Estonia, with U.S. President Donald Trump and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski backing a robust response. Von der Leyen called Russia’s actions part of a years-long “hybrid war” against European democracies, urging NATO to respond decisively to protect its territory.

3️⃣ 🇧🇪 🇵🇭 ICC charges Rodrigo Duterte with crimes against humanity over drug war killings: The International Criminal Court has charged former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte with three counts of crimes against humanity, accusing him of involvement in at least 76 murders linked to his “war on drugs.” The charges span killings in Davao City between 2013–2016, the assassination of “high value targets” in 2016–2017, and 43 extra-judicial murders during nationwide drug “clearance” operations through 2018. Duterte, now detained in The Hague, appeared frail at his initial hearing, with his lawyer arguing he is cognitively unfit to stand trial and urging indefinite suspension of proceedings.

4️⃣ 🇸🇾 🇮🇱 Sharaa confirms Syria-Israel talks but rejects Abraham Accords-style deal: Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Damascus is engaged in advanced, US-brokered security talks with Israel but ruled out joining the Abraham Accords, citing repeated Israeli strikes and global outrage over Gaza. Speaking alongside former CIA chief David Petraeus in New York, Sharaa’s landmark UN visit—the first by a Syrian leader since 1967—coincides with Damascus pushing for a full end to US sanctions and seeking to reassure minorities after recent sectarian unrest.

5️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇦🇷 Washington offers economic lifeline to Argentina: The US has pledged to help stabilise Argentina’s economy after a major market selloff, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying Washington is ready to do “what is needed” to restore confidence. Options include currency swaps, direct dollar purchases, and buying Argentine debt, with details to follow talks between Trump and President Javier Milei in New York. The announcement sparked a surge in the peso and markets, with Milei thanking Trump for his “unconditional support” as he seeks a stronger mandate for his economic reforms ahead of key midterm elections.

Major Story

🇨🇳 🇺🇳 CHINA PLEDGES LANDMARK EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGET TO UNGA

In a landmark announcement to the UN General Assembly, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to cut China’s economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 7–10% by 2035 — the first absolute reduction target Beijing has ever set. Xi said China would “strive to do better,” promising to expand wind and solar power sixfold from 2020 levels, boost forest stocks, and make new energy vehicles the dominant choice for future car sales. The commitment comes as the US retreats from climate action, with President Donald Trump recently dismissing climate change as a “con job.”

Impact on Global Climate Goals

China accounts for more than a quarter of global emissions, meaning even a modest reduction carries enormous weight. A 10% cut would remove 1.4 billion tonnes of emissions annually, nearly four times the UK’s yearly total. Yet analysts warn the plan still falls short of the reductions needed to keep global warming within the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C limit. Most pathways to meet that target would require China to slash emissions by at least 30–50% by 2035.

Missed Opportunity or Cautious First Step?

Climate experts say the target should be viewed as a baseline, not a ceiling, noting China’s history of exceeding its commitments, including reaching its 2030 renewables capacity goal six years early. Still, critics argue Beijing missed a chance to set a more ambitious target that would have earned international praise and contrasted sharply with Washington’s climate rollback. Despite its record coal use in 2024, early 2025 data shows emissions plateauing, suggesting the country may be at the start of a long-term decarbonisation trajectory.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇺🇳 AI-enabled drones transform nuclear strategy, heighten risks: Rapid advances in AI-powered drones are revolutionising warfare, enhancing nuclear delivery precision, penetrating enemy defences, and strengthening deterrence through superior surveillance and early warning. Yet, as highlighted by the UN, their proliferation introduces profound strategic and ethical risks, from miscalculated escalation and weakened human oversight to destabilising arms races as adversaries rush to develop countermeasures. To prevent nuclear instability, states must tighten command protocols, ensure robust human control, and establish global frameworks governing the use of autonomous drones in nuclear operations, writes Toda Institute.

2️⃣ 🇺🇦 🇷🇺 🇺🇳 Zelenskyy warns UN that Russia’s AI-enabled drone war risks triggering global arms race: Addressing the UN General Assembly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged world leaders to stop Russia from sparking “the most destructive arms race in human history,” warning that Moscow’s use of drones and emerging AI technology could expand the war across Europe. He argued that halting Russia now would be far cheaper than building defences against future attacks, adding that countries continuing to trade with Moscow are prolonging the suffering of abducted civilians and prisoners of war. Zelenskyy also warned against Russian efforts to sway Moldova’s pivotal election, framing the vote as part of a wider Kremlin strategy to destabilise Europe. His remarks contrasted sharply with President Donald Trump’s recent claim that Russia’s military is faltering, though Trump has stepped up calls for Europe to stop buying Russian oil and gas.

3️⃣ 🇨🇴 🇺🇳 Petro demands criminal case against Donald Trump over Caribbean boat strikes: Colombian President Gustavo Petro used his UN address to demand criminal proceedings against Donald Trump, accusing him of ordering U.S. strikes that killed unarmed youths on alleged drug boats near Venezuela. He said the attacks—which UN experts called extrajudicial executions—targeted “young people who simply wanted to escape poverty,” while cartel leaders remain untouched in the U.S. Trump, speaking hours earlier, vowed to “blow [drug smugglers] out of existence” and has deployed eight warships and a submarine to the Caribbean, alarming Venezuela and prompting President Nicolás Maduro to mobilise militias. 

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Book Shelf

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Prisoners of Geography

The Revenge of Geography

The World: A Brief Introduction

The Shock Doctrine

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