Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed that the World Trade Center towers could not have been brought down by aircraft and suggested a planned explosion occurred, sparking widespread condemnation. Diplomats from over 30 countries walked out of his address to the UN General Assembly, which also included attacks on the West, Israel, and the Holocaust. Ahmadinejad criticized the US for killing Osama Bin Laden without bringing him to justice, calling it a "9/11 cover-up". His remarks led to criticism from Western leaders, including UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who accused Iran of violently suppressing dissent and detaining and torturing political opponents.

Labour Party members and politicians are attending the annual conference in Liverpool, where over 11,000 delegates will gather for five days. The event takes place amid global financial turmoil, with Labour leader Ed Miliband expected to emphasize the party's focus on ordinary people and the "squeezed middle". Miliband has criticized Prime Minister David Cameron for lecturing eurozone leaders without offering a credible growth plan. Delegates will vote on proposals to change the way the party leader is elected, including allowing non-party members who support Labour's principles to gain "supporter" status and have a vote, as well as ending multiple votes per person.

A group of MPs has warned that Prime Minister David Cameron’s Big Society plan will fail unless there are significant changes to the way the civil service works. The Public Administration Committee says ministers have underestimated the scale of reform required and think change will simply happen, but without the right skills and experience among civil servants, the plan is doomed. The committee calls for a more innovative and entrepreneurial civil service, with Whitehall departments working together under the leadership of the Cabinet Office to drive through comprehensive changes.

David Cameron wrote to the National Trust to defend his plans to simplify the planning system, saying it aims to balance environmental, social, and economic benefits. He pledged to protect the countryside and maintain protections for green belt, national parks, and areas of outstanding natural beauty. The Prime Minister emphasized that sustainable development would be defined as including environmental and social impact, and that a balance between the three dimensions is necessary.