Trump calls EU offer to Canada of associate membership ‘laughable’, while threatening tariffs

• Iran-backed Houthi rebels swept down the west coast of Yemen this month, gaining control of a strategic strait. • The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that 125,000 people have already been displaced by this latest round of conflict.

• A new 34-country survey released ahead of the United Nations General Assembly found that preventing wars and conflicts is the top priority for international cooperation. • Support for global cooperation rose to 61% in wealthier economies but fell to 53% in developing economies this year.

• Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned an alleged drone attack attempt on Mecca and praised Saudi armed forces for stopping the strike. • The Prime Minister described the attempted attack as "dastardly and heinous" while the Houthis in Yemen denied any involvement.

• Climate experts are urging the United Nations General Assembly and COP31 to establish trackable commitments following a deadly glacier collapse in Nepal and a global energy crisis. • The current crisis is driven by the Iran war, which has triggered what is described as the worst energy crisis in history.

• Pope Francis welcomed a major pilgrimage from the Maronite Catholic Eparchy of Australia, New Zealand, and Oceania during a weekly general audience in September 2026. • The event included academic delegations alongside the religious pilgrims at the Vatican.

• Global leaders, including presidents and prime ministers, gather at the United Nations Headquarters in New York every September for the General Assembly High-Level Week. • The agenda focuses on specific global crises including climate change, pandemic preparedness, sea-level rise, and the fight against racism.

• Houthi rebels intensified attacks recently, triggering alerts in Jeddah, Taif, and the holy city of Mecca. • The UN refugee agency reported on Tuesday that more than 100,000 people have been displaced within Yemen.

• The UN Secretary-General and the UN Mission in Libya welcomed the House of Representatives' endorsement of the Smaller Convening Agreement signed on August 30. • This endorsement serves as a formal step toward resolving the current political deadlock within the country.

• A new UN Global Risk Report identifies the threat of a large-scale war as the top global fear among experts. • The report notes that this risk has shifted from a distant hypothetical to the primary concern in just two years.

• The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Tuesday to address rising violence in Yemen and threats to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait shipping route. • UN agencies reported that nearly 100,000 people have been displaced since fighting intensified earlier this month, with thousands fleeing to Djibouti.

• Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned an alleged drone attack attempt on Mecca and praised Saudi armed forces for stopping the strike. • The Prime Minister described the attempted attack by Yemen's Houthis as "dastardly and heinous."

• The conflict between the US and Iran is colliding with Yemen's long-term civil war, forcing more residents to flee their homes. • Economic collapse is compounding the hardship for millions of people already affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.