Flash News

TREE NEWS update: The 81st UN General Assembly’s general debate opened on 22 September at UN headquarters in New York. GA President and Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Rahman said in his opening address that the UN must confront its shortcomings and pursue deep reform so its work becomes more inclusive and regains trust. He added that multilateralism, international law, international humanitarian law, protection of civilians and humanitarian access cannot be applied selectively.

TREE NEWS update: Iranian media said flights from Tehran to Baghdad and Muscat are canceled from local midnight on Wednesday. The cancellation covers the two routes as of that time, with no further details given on the reason or duration. The report did not say whether other services from Tehran were affected.

TREE NEWS update: US special envoy Steve Witkoff said he now feels “very good” about the situation regarding Iran. The remark, delivered as a brief on-the-record comment, offers no further detail on the state of US-Iran diplomacy or any specific negotiations. Witkoff is the US point man on Iran-related talks.

TREE NEWS reports: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is being viewed by President Donald Trump as a candidate for the role of “AI czar,” according to the material. The item gives no further detail on the scope of the position, the timing of any appointment, or whether it would be held alongside his current Treasury duties.

TREE NEWS update: US President Donald Trump said American officials met with an Iranian delegation for three hours, describing the talks as going very smoothly and producing fruitful results. Another meeting has already been scheduled, Trump said, without giving a date or location. No further details on the participants or agenda were provided.

TREE NEWS update: President Donald Trump said the United States will continue purchasing potash from Canada, while noting that Belarus has offered to supply the fertilizer at a lower price. Belarus holds abundant potash reserves, and US farmers need favorable prices, Trump said. He did not indicate any change to current US procurement plans.

TREE NEWS update: US Treasury Secretary Bessent said the administration is studying a diesel export ban, weighing whether a full prohibition or a partial one would be effective. He gave no timeline or decision date. The remark leaves open the scope of any measure, which would affect global fuel flows if adopted.

TREE NEWS update: US President Donald Trump voiced support for a diesel export ban, saying he had consistently called for such a measure. The statement, reported on the same day, gives no further detail on timing, scope or the mechanism by which any ban would be imposed. No effective date or implementing agency was named.

TREE NEWS update: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hopes US President Donald Trump will help end the conflict in Ukraine before winter. Zelensky made the remark in a statement, without giving further details on any plan or timeline. The comment points to Kyiv’s push for a faster diplomatic track as the war continues.

TREE NEWS update: US President Donald Trump said he has a good relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Trump said the two will discuss the issue of Ukrainian strikes on Russia and diesel.

TREE NEWS update: The Trump administration has removed more than 760,000 people from Affordable Care Act coverage as of the end of August, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said Tuesday. Vice President JD Vance said some were improperly enrolled and others did not exist, while the government suspended some ACA insurance brokers over alleged fraud. CMS said roughly 419,000 more people face additional verification.

TREE NEWS reports: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin said he does not believe the current rise in productivity is mainly driven by artificial intelligence. The remark pushes back on the view that AI adoption is already lifting US output per worker. Barkin spoke on the productivity question without giving a date for the comments.

TREE NEWS update: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said on the 22nd that the European Union has failed to address surging energy prices and should convene an emergency summit on the issue. Fico accused the EU of leaving member states exposed to the effects of the oil crisis and of spending heavily on Ukraine while neglecting citizens’ welfare. He said his government will take measures to control energy prices, with a decision due on the 23rd.

TREE NEWS reports: US President Donald Trump disclosed 1,156 securities trades executed in his accounts during July, with total transaction value estimated between $79 million and $270 million. The largest trades were Microsoft and Amazon stock sales on July 20, each in the $5 million to $25 million range. The filing shows another month of broad trading across tech, defense, ETFs and bonds.

TREE NEWS reports: Brazil lowered its 2026 GDP growth forecast to 2% from a previous estimate of 2.3%, and cut its 2027 growth projection to 2.3% from 2.5%. The government also trimmed its 2026 inflation estimate to 4.9% from 5.1%, while raising the 2027 inflation forecast to 3.8% from 3.6%.

TREE NEWS reports: A survey released on June 21 by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that 57% of Americans believe the US should pursue friendly cooperation and engagement with China, extending a trend of growing public support for engagement since 2024. Republican backing rose 10 percentage points from 2025 to its highest level since 2019, while Democrats also moved toward supporting engagement.

TREE NEWS reports: The Federal Reserve’s overnight reverse repurchase agreement (RRP) facility took in $453 million on Tuesday, September 22, from eight counterparties, down from $582 million the previous trading day. The RRP is a key gauge of excess liquidity in the US financial system, with usage having collapsed from more than $2 trillion at its peak.

TREE NEWS update: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s plane made a technical stop on Sept 22 at Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers, Algeria, while he was traveling to the United States to attend the UN General Assembly. Algerian officials did not disclose his activities during the stop. Pezeshkian is expected to address the General Assembly on Sept 23.

TREE NEWS reports: Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond President Thomas Barkin said the labor market is in a balanced state and is not overheating. The remark, delivered without further policy guidance, points to a jobs picture Barkin characterizes as neither tight nor cooling. It comes as markets weigh the Fed’s next rate decision.

TREE NEWS update: Brazilian President Lula da Silva addressed the opening of the 81st UN General Assembly general debate on September 22, calling for the defense of national sovereignty and multilateralism and reaffirming the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs. Lula said the UN Security Council must take up decisive issues for humanity’s future, framing the choice as one between sovereignty and subordination.