What are the most important events and topics in the news today?

Here's a roundup of the most significant news stories today, September 21, 2026:

US-Iran Tensions Escalate Ahead of UN General Assembly

Donald Trump said on Sunday he is in "deciding mode" on Iran and that "very big things" are coming. Trump described the options as "wiping Iran out," letting them "rock economically" or "making a deal," adding, "They better behave." Notably, Pezeshkian is attending the UN General Assembly in New York this week and was asked about meeting his Iranian counterpart, replying he would "probably be open" to it. This comes as Iran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said Tehran had conveyed to Washington through mediators its conditions for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has attempted to blockade during the ongoing conflict. Adding to regional tension, Iran-backed Houthi rebels based in Yemen said they attacked "sensitive" sites in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh with missiles and drones on Saturday.

German Political Earthquake

Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a major setback as exit polls showed his party suffering heavy losses in two German state elections on Sunday, increasing pressure on a leader who has struggled to deliver on promises to revive Europe's biggest economy and curb the ascent of the far-right AfD party. Specifically, exit polls indicated that Merz's center-right Christian Democratic Union came in with just 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania -- the lowest result ever since World War II for the party in any state. In Berlin, the CDU is projected to finish second with 20% of the vote, trailing the Left Party at 24.5%. The fallout was significant enough that Merz abandoned a planned trip to New York next week to attend the UN General Assembly, though Merz acknowledged the CDU's result as a "disaster" but struck a defiant note, rejecting any retreat from his government's reform agenda.

Ukraine War Continues

Fighting remains active, with recent images showing a Ukrainian soldier preparing an FPV drone to fire toward Russian positions in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Asian Games 2026 (Nagoya)

On the sports front, the men's national basketball team defeated Japan in the final to win the gold medal at the Nagoya Asian Games, marking South Korea's return to the top of Asia for the first time in 12 years. Overall, athletes made a strong start on the first day, securing 4 gold medals, 3 silver medals, and 7 bronze medals.

Africa: Rising Tensions

In Africa, several serious stories are developing: a ninth body has been found as South African police probe a series of killings, with women reportedly "terrified". Separately, protests erupted in Nigeria after 33 miners died in the custody of a paramilitary agency, while Nigeria and South Africa's attempts to ease tensions after violent anti-migrant protests have seen the rift return.

Other Notable Developments

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