Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to travel to New York to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where he is expected to address world leaders. The United States has approved visas for Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and a limited Iranian delegation despite ongoing hostilities between Washington and Tehran. The delegation will face strict travel restrictions and a ban on purchasing luxury goods. Pezeshkian’s visit comes as the US-Iran conflict continues alongside diplomatic efforts to resolve tensions. The UN General Assembly’s high-level week is scheduled for September 22–29, 2026. (PC: X)

US intelligence agencies have warned that China could gain access to F-35 fighter jet technology through Saudi Arabia, The New York Times reported. The concern centres on a proposed $24 billion sale of 48 F-35s and a spare engine, announced by President Donald Trump in November 2025. Officials fear Chinese spying or Riyadh's military ties with Beijing could expose sensitive technology. Analysts questioned whether Saudi Arabia would remove Huawei and ZTE equipment from defence sites. The State Department sent the deal to Congress in June. Saudi Arabia has also announced a find of 110 million tonnes of uranium-bearing ore in Madinah. (PC: India Today)

At least two people were killed and six injured after a “massive” overnight Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Moscow region, local authorities said. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said 450 drones targeting the capital were shot down in what he called an “unprecedented attack”. An oil refinery was damaged, while several homes and other buildings caught fire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv had struck a “key” Russian oil facility and a logistics site in the region. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials said eight people, including three children, were killed in separate Russian attacks in Kyiv and Sumy regions on Saturday. (PC: BBC)

Ed Sheeran apologised to fans for making "mistakes" as he opened his first concert since Macklemore was removed from his Loop Tour over pro-Palestinian remarks on stage. Speaking in Philadelphia, Sheeran said he never wanted to be an activist musician but could no longer hide his feelings. He called the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks "horrific" and described the situation in Gaza as "unjustifiable". He has said his promoters, not he, decided to drop Macklemore. The row has led all his support acts to quit, and some ticket prices have fallen to $32. Protesters gathered outside, but the show went ahead largely undisturbed. (PC: BBC)

Nila Vikhe Patil, 41, has been elected to Sweden's 349-seat Riksdag from the Stockholm City constituency in the September 13 national election. She is the daughter of Maharashtra educationist Ashok Vikhe Patil and niece of state minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. Born in Sweden, she spent her early years in Ahmednagar. A member of the Green Party for 25 years, she previously worked as a political advisor in the Swedish Prime Minister's Office. "I would like to be a voice for those who cannot vote," she told PTI. Sweden's opposition parties won 176 seats, narrowly ahead of the government bloc's 173. (PC: NDTV)

The US war with Iran has cost at least $45.1 billion, according to figures the Pentagon provided to Congress on September 19. The estimate includes $43.6 billion in costs recorded through September 3, plus about $1.5 billion in additional fuel expenses. A large portion of the spending has gone toward costly munitions, including missile interceptors. The estimate does not include repairs to US military bases and other facilities damaged during the conflict. The Congressional Budget Office had previously estimated the cost at $38 billion through August 1 and projected additional monthly expenses of roughly $2–3 billion, depending on the intensity of fighting. (PC: Reuters)

Ed Sheeran addressed the Gaza conflict during his first US concert since controversy erupted over the removal of rapper Macklemore from his Loop Tour. Speaking in Philadelphia, Sheeran said the devastation and loss of civilian and children’s lives had broken his heart, describing the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable.” He also acknowledged the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel as horrific. Sheeran said he had faced difficult decisions and apologized for mistakes while stressing that he had not intended to become a political activist. Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated outside the stadium, while other fans attended to support the singer and his music. (PC: AP)

The US military said it struck a high-speed vessel suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea on September 19, killing four people. US Southern Command said the boat was operating along established drug-trafficking routes and that intelligence indicated it was involved in narcotics trafficking. However, the military did not publicly provide evidence showing that the vessel was carrying drugs or identify those killed. The strike is part of the Trump administration’s broader campaign against alleged “narcoterrorists” in Latin American waters. The latest operation brings the reported death toll from such US military strikes to at least 231 people across 69 operations. (PC: Reuters)

Iran has conveyed seven conditions to the United States through Qatar to restart negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing war. Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said Tehran wants an end to hostilities on all fronts, release of frozen Iranian funds and lifting of the naval blockade. Qatar has passed the conditions to Washington, and Iran is awaiting President Donald Trump’s response. Tehran also warned it is prepared for a “decisive war” if its demands are rejected. Meanwhile, Iran says it is preparing for a possible further US strike while continuing diplomatic efforts through regional mediators. (PC: India Today)

Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 reported major problems at Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh King Khalid International Airport on Saturday, September 19, 2026, including flight cancellations and delays. The airport was listed under Flightradar24’s maximum disruption index of 5.0, indicating “major problems with long delays and several cancelled flights.” The disruption followed an overnight air raid alert issued by Saudi authorities. An Aramco fuel tank near the airport was reportedly on fire, according to an AFP journalist, after residents reported hearing explosions in the city. Smoke and flames were seen near the site. The incident caused disruption at Riyadh’s main airport, although the supplied report does not provide details of the number of affected flights.