Morning Briefing: Sept. 23, 2026

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calling on UN member states to press Israel for Gaza’s reconstruction, the US, Denmark and Greenland signing a security agreement, and the US and Iran holding talks in New York.

TOP STORIES

• Turkish president calls on UN member states to pressure Israel for Gaza’s reconstruction

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for Gaza's reconstruction to begin without delay and urged the international community to increase pressure on Israel.

Addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Erdogan expressed his sadness that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been unable to participate in the UN General Assembly for two consecutive years.

He said Gaza had become the world's largest cemetery for children and the region with the world's highest rate of child amputations.

• US, Denmark, Greenland sign Arctic security agreement at UN General Assembly

The US, Denmark and Greenland signed an agreement on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to strengthen security in the Arctic and North Atlantic.

US President Donald Trump described the agreement at the signing ceremony as "tremendous for Europe and for the United States and for everybody and for Greenland."

Denmark and Greenland hailed the agreement as beneficial for all three parties as well as NATO and Europe.

• US, Iran holds talk on sidelines of UN General Assembly

US President Donald Trump said that members of his team held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York.

"It was a very good meeting. I mean, I must tell you it was very good,” said Trump.

US envoy Steve Witkoff said delegations held “lengthy talks” through the mediators.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Britain’s prime minister vowed not to stand by as "horrific suffering" continues to grow and the prospect of a two-state solution "comes under attack" in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

• French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned that global credibility is at stake if the international community remains inactive regarding the crisis in the Gaza Strip.

• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that violence by Israeli occupiers, forced displacement and occupation expansion in the West Bank undermine peace and escalate risks of ethnic cleansing.

• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney affirmed that Israel's approval of the E1 plan east of occupied East Jerusalem represents a direct danger to regional peace.

• Colombia officially notified the International Court of Justice of its withdrawal from South Africa's genocide lawsuit against Israel concerning the Gaza Strip.

• Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said Syria and Israel had nearly reached 90% agreement on a joint security framework before Israeli negotiators retreated or introduced added stipulations.

• US President Donald Trump indicated that he believes a peace accord between Ukraine and Russia is imminent.

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated Kyiv's readiness for a mutual energy truce if Russian forces cease assaults on power and utility infrastructure.

• US President Donald Trump said he expects to conclude a diplomatic deal with Iran following the US midterm elections.

• The UK reaffirmed its commitment to defending sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, while Argentina contested London's posture at the UN.

• US President Donald Trump met with Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in their first direct talks since the capture of former President Nicolas Maduro.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Moldova declares energy, hydrological state of emergency for 60 days

Moldova announced that it has declared a state of emergency in its energy and hydrological sectors for 60 days.

Prime Minister Vasile Tofan stressed the necessity of the initiative to enable rapid action and ensure the continuity of access to energy resources and water amid multiple overlapping risks.

SPORTS

• Amnesty urges UEFA to suspend Israel, calls Nations League participation ‘unconscionable’

Human rights organization Amnesty International called on UEFA and FIFA to suspend Israel’s football association, saying its Nations League participation is “unconscionable” because of the association’s support for settlement-based clubs.

“UEFA and FIFA should have suspended the Israel Football Association (IFA) over its refusal to exclude clubs based in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s regional director for Europe.