{
  "id": 9068199,
  "title": "As leaders meet in New York, the fate of the world may rest on Trump and Xi",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/as-leaders-meet-in-new-york-the-fate-of-the-world-may-rest-on-trump",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T02:39:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-22/un-general-assembly-meets-amid-changed-world-and-trump-xi-meet/107179452"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In just a few days, presidents and prime ministers from approximately 130 nations will convene in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. Within this vast gathering, there exists one critical meeting that could potentially alter the immediate future of the world: the summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. During the UN meeting, a multitude of pressing issues will be addressed, including the recent surge in interest surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), the ongoing Iran conflict and its implications on the global energy market, irregular immigration patterns, and climate change.\n\nThe situation in Iran continues to deteriorate, with President Trump seemingly unable to resolve the ongoing war. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which governs Iran, is determined to inflict maximum political consequences on Trump for perceived unjustified attacks on Iranian infrastructure and civilians. One such incident involved a suspected US airstrike on an Iranian school, resulting in the death of 120 children, a potential war crime confirmed by the UN last week. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian will address the UN from the host nation of the conflict, while the US has barred Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas from attending the summit, despite his moderate stance and opposition to Hamas. This decision is unprecedented, as it sees the US welcoming the leader of an adversary while excluding a moderate Palestinian representative, the second consecutive year of such an action.\n\nChina, the world's most influential player in this new global order, has the potential to mediate between the US and Iran. The Chinese economy has not suffered significantly from the Iran conflict, owing to its ample oil reserves. However, should the war persist into the following year, China would have a strong incentive to pressure Iran to cease hostilities, as its oil supply would begin to dwindle. China holds a greater capacity to bring an end to the war than the United States, indicating that China is challenging US supremacy in international affairs.\n\nSince last year's UN General Assembly, the BRICS trade alliance, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has grown stronger. Xi Jinping, China's leader, expressed willingness to collaborate with fellow BRICS members to foster peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region. Additionally, South Korea, Japan, and China are in discussions about a new trade pact. This year, China has refrained from attending the UN General Assembly, instead heading directly to Washington to meet with Trump.\n\nAnother significant development is Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, affecting 20 percent of the world's energy flows, and the ongoing threat posed by Iran-allied Houthis in Yemen, who also endanger oil shipments through the Red Sea. In recent weeks, President Trump reportedly declined Saudi Arabia's requests for military assistance against the Houthis, leaving the country largely on its own in the battle, apart from shared intelligence. Canada, historically a close ally of the US, has faced a trade war initiated by President Trump, affecting 25 American states as one of its major trading partners.\n\nIn terms of America's relationship with Israel, there has been a shift in public opinion. Recent surveys by the Pew Research Centre and Gallup indicate a growing preference for Palestinians over Israelis among the American public. Furthermore, US Vice-President Mike Pence has warned that the US is now Israel's only remaining ally in the world. Europe has also begun contemplating the possibility of a NATO alliance without the US, with countries like Poland on high alert for potential Russian aggression. French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned of the increasing risk of Russian hybrid warfare in Europe, stating that no one is safe.\n\nFinally, the ongoing war in Ukraine is escalating, with reports of up to 138 drone or cyber attacks by Russia on neighboring countries other than Ukraine, including Estonia and Poland. These conflicts, combined with ongoing struggles in Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, and the Congo, raise questions about the United Nations' capacity to resolve global conflicts. As leaders from 130 countries face these challenges, President Trump and President Xi Jinping are set to meet in Washington, where their decision-making could influence the fate of the entire world.",
  "summary": "A lot has changed since last year's United Nations General Assembly while conflicts in the Middle East, Sudan, Myanmar and the Congo continue, raising the question of the UN's efficacy to end global conflicts.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Fulfilling earlier US-China agreements is a work in progress as Trump and Xi meet again",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/fulfilling-earlier-us-china-agreements-is-a-work-in-progress-as-trump",
        "published": "2026-09-22T01:07:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}