The opening debates of the 81st General Assembly exposed the distance between collective promises and enforceable decisions. The question is what the UN can deliver when the states with the power to act cannot agree.
Leaders from around the world are gathering in New York for the latest session of the United Nations General Assembly, with conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, global security, trade, artificial intelligence, climate change and economic development dominating the agenda.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mounted a forceful defence of Israel's actions in the region at the United Nations on Thursday, seeking to counter growing international isolation ahead of elections he could lose, as dozens of delegates streamed out.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze used his address to the UN General Assembly's 81st session in New York this week to make a two-part case: that Georgia is becoming an indispensable regional hub, and that it remains open to repairing ties with international partners.
The 81st UN General Assembly has wrapped up its third day in New York on Thursday, with world leaders delivering high-level speeches and holding diplomatic meetings.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained low on Thursday, as Iran reiterated that it will neither enter into new negotiations with the United States nor re-open the Strait as long as its conditions are not met, despite recent indirect talks in New York mediated by Qatar.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 24 September 2026, with five key developments from the second day of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The 81st UN General Assembly continues in New York on Wednesday, with another day of high-level speeches and diplomatic meetings. The wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and international cooperation remain at the centre of discussions.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has told the UN that Tehran will not surrender to U.S. pressure but remains open to diplomacy, responding to Donald Trump’s threat to “annihilate” Iran.
Iran has confirmed holding indirect talks with the U.S., mediated by Qatar, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, reiterating Tehran’s conditions for de-escalating tensions.
Here’s your AnewZ Daily Brief for 23 September 2026, featuring five key highlights from the first day of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian left Tehran for New York on Tuesday heading a delegation to participate in the 81st United Nations General Assembly while Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived there earlier at the head of a diplomatic team.
Two of Georgia’s most senior officials used separate appearances in New York this week to deliver a similar message: the South Caucasus is gaining strategic importance, and Tbilisi wants to be at the centre of it.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for sweeping reform of the UN Security Council on Tuesday, saying the world body could no longer fulfil its mission of maintaining international peace and security.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in New York to lead Pakistan's delegation at the 81st UN General Assembly, where he is expected to outline Islamabad's position on regional security, diplomacy and global challenges.
World leaders are set to gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for several days of high-level debate, with Iran, Ukraine, artificial intelligence (AI) and a range of global crises expected to dominate discussions this week.
The Premier of the State Council of China Li Qiang speaking on behalf of President Xi Jinping, has blamed tariff hikes for the global economic slow down, urging greater cooperation among nations to remedy the situation.
Iran and Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build nuclear Small Modular Reactors (SMR) capable of generating maximum electrical power of 300 Megawatts electric (MWe) to be installed at the planned Iran Hormuz nuclear power plant site with a 5,000 MWe capacity.
President Ilham Aliyev has addressed the 80th United Nations General Assembly. In his speech, he highlighted Azerbaijan's evolving role as a regional force in transportation, digital transformation and energy security.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) first Contact Group meeting on Afghanistan was held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The meeting took place in New York during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
On September 23 and 24, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev conducted a series of high-level meetings at the United Nations headquarters in New York, engaging with prominent international leaders to strengthen bilateral and multilateral ties.
President Alar Karis of Estonia in his speech on day 2 of the UN General Assembly, urged international pressure to be put on Russia saying, 'it is evident Russia has no intention of agreeing to a ceasefire'.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he believed Ukraine could retake all its land occupied by Russia and that Kyiv should act now with Moscow facing "big" economic problems, in a sudden and striking rhetorical shift in Ukraine's favour.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that he will meet Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday to discuss a return of United Nations sanctions.
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