Saudi Arabia issues emergency alerts as Houthi threats raise security concerns
Saudi authorities issued emergency warnings to residents on Monday, urging people to remain indoors and follow ...
U.S. President Donald Trump is addressing the UN General Assembly as world leaders gather in New York for the 81st session. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, global security and diplomacy set to dominate the event.
French President Emmanuel Macron described the situation in Gaza as “shameful” in an address to the UN General Assembly, questioning the credibility of continued inaction and saying claims of peace had not led to the reopening of humanitarian deliveries.
Macron also addressed the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, saying the Strait of Hormuz should not be used for “blackmail” and that reopening the waterway was a priority.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for renewed dialogue and peaceful coexistence with North Korea in his address to the 81st UN General Assembly, outlining proposals for cooperation and crisis management on the Korean Peninsula. He also called for UN Security Council reform, stronger global cooperation on climate change and safeguards for freedom of navigation and energy supply routes.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New York to attend the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, where he is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Wednesday and hold separate meetings with several heads of state.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met British Prime Minister Andy Burnham in New York on Tuesday, 22 September, on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly to discuss defence cooperation and the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the UK.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in New York on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly, praising Bangladesh for hosting more than 1 million Rohingya Muslims and saying Türkiye would continue its humanitarian assistance.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Polish President Karol Nawrocki discussed bilateral ties and regional and global developments in New York, with Erdoğan saying steps to increase trade between Türkiye and Poland would be beneficial. Erdoğan said Türkiye was working to help end the Russia-Ukraine war and ensure navigational safety in the Black Sea, while stressing international support for a two-state solution in Gaza.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and French President Emmanuel Macron met on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly session to discuss strengthening bilateral ties, regional issues, international developments and matters of mutual interest.
A delegation led by North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Son Gyong has left Pyongyang to attend the UN General Assembly, state media KCNA reported.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he discussed an energy ceasefire and efforts to end the war with Russia during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready for any format of an energy ceasefire, but there had been no discussion of Ukraine unilaterally halting attacks on Russian refineries.
He also reiterated that he was ready for a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Canada is providing about $73 million in international assistance for Palestine, including about $58 million for humanitarian aid to alleviate immediate suffering and $15 million for peace and security capacity building.
Chilean President José Antonio Kast urged UN reform, calling for reduced bureaucracy, a redirection of resources to issues “where lives are at stake” and changes to the Security Council so its decisions are respected. He also called for greater international coordination against transnational organised crime, including drug trafficking, illegal mining and human trafficking.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told the British prime minister that Israel’s actions show it does not seek peace in Gaza and the West Bank, stressing the need for international pressure.
Erdoğan also said no formula on Cyprus would produce results unless the sovereign equality and international status of Turkish Cypriots were recognised.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that U.S. and Iranian delegations held a three-hour meeting in New York, describing the talks as “very good” and “very productive”. He said another meeting was scheduled for the near future.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said US President Donald Trump did not demand that Ukraine unilaterally stop strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani discussed regional and global developments as well as bilateral ties on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Erdoğan called for strong international pressure to rein in what he described as Israeli aggression in the region, saying Israel had shown no willingness to take steps towards peace in Gaza.
The two leaders also discussed energy security and transport corridors, with Erdoğan warning that developments affecting regional energy supplies were creating difficulties for all countries.
French President Emmanuel Macron said decisions on artificial intelligence should not be left to the United States and China alone, calling for broader international involvement in shaping the technology’s future.
“We must hold fast and not yield,” Macron told the UN General Assembly.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
The closed-door talks marked the first face-to-face meeting between Erdoğan and Burnham since the British prime minister took office in July. No further details were immediately released.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the occupied West Bank was witnessing daily violations, calling for respect for Palestinians’ “legitimate rights”, including their right to exist.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France would continue its efforts to help build a “free Syria”, enabling the country to fully reassert its sovereignty and unity.
French President Emmanuel Macron said France would continue supporting the International Court of Justice (ICJ), rejecting what he described as a “new order of impunity” that some were seeking to establish.
French President Emmanuel Macron criticised what he called the “so-called peace” in Gaza during his address to the UN General Assembly, saying it had failed to open humanitarian corridors.
“This so-called peace in Gaza is a spectacle that shames us all,” Macron said.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that war crimes had become “industrialised”, saying the Geneva Conventions were being dismantled in what he described as a “new era of barbaric acts”.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Macron also called for reform of the Security Council, saying it “must open up to new members, new regions”.
U.S. President Donald Trump said his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York, describing the talks as “very productive”.
Trump said another meeting was expected “in the very near future”, while warning that Iran faced two alternatives: “obliteration” or “potential greatness”.
The U.S. president did not provide further details on what was discussed during the talks.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb warned that conflicts were spreading around the world, saying there were now 65 active armed conflicts — more than at any time since the end of the Cold War.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Stubb urged countries to defend multilateralism and international rules, warning that the world was moving towards a “non-cooperative and multipolar” order.
He also highlighted humanitarian crises in Gaza, Sudan and Haiti, calling for greater efforts to prevent conflicts and protect human rights.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held talks with Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
The meeting was held behind closed doors, with no details about the discussions immediately released.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
The two leaders held closed-door talks, with no further details about their discussions immediately released.
U.S. President Donald Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Trump said the two leaders would discuss the possibility of producing Patriot missile systems in Ukraine.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Britain was “ready to play our part” in the Middle East during talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Burnham said the UK was prepared to support efforts to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, adding: “We’re with you that Iran must never be a nuclear power.”
The two leaders also discussed Ukraine, trade, immigration and the Falklands during their first face-to-face meeting since Burnham became prime minister.
U.S. President Donald Trump described a meeting between the United States and Iran in New York as “very good”, while warning Tehran that it faced a choice between “obliteration” and “potential greatness”.
Trump did not immediately provide further details on the talks.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war is “going to happen”, but declined to provide details.
Trump said he discusses the issue frequently with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding: “We talk about it a lot.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told UN Secretary-General António Guterres that Israel’s “lack of willingness” to pursue peace had once again become apparent, stressing the need to preserve the basis for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
During their meeting in New York, Erdoğan also addressed Cyprus, saying no proposal that failed to recognise the “sovereign equality and equal international status” of Turkish Cypriots could produce a solution.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed Ukraine’s financial stability through the end of 2027 during talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Zelenskyy said the two also discussed EU sanctions against Russia and additional avenues of financial support for Kyiv.
Von der Leyen said a new EU-Ukraine anti-ballistic programme could rapidly scale up production, adding that €37 billion remained available for defence support this year.
U.S. President Donald Trump met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, with both leaders highlighting the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
Trump praised Takaichi as “one of the great prime ministers”, while the Japanese leader said cooperation was advancing in areas including artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical minerals.
European leaders welcomed the new security agreement between the U.S., Denmark and Greenland, saying it would strengthen security and cooperation in the Arctic and North Atlantic.
European Council President António Costa said the deal respected sovereignty, territorial integrity and Greenlanders’ right to self-determination, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the region’s strategic importance.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also welcomed the agreement, which expands U.S. military access to Greenland and allows Washington to establish new defence areas.
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov called for UN decisions to be treated as binding international obligations rather than political recommendations during his address to the General Assembly.
Japarov proposed a mechanism to monitor compliance with UN resolutions and hold states accountable for repeatedly failing to implement them.
He also criticised unilateral sanctions, arguing that sanctions against states should be imposed exclusively through the United Nations.
France authorised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane to cross French airspace on Tuesday as he travelled to New York for the UN General Assembly, Anadolu reported, citing a diplomatic source.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. France, which is a party to the ICC, has previously allowed Netanyahu’s aircraft to cross its airspace.
“This is the fifth time. It is time to put an end to this France that humiliates itself and tramples on international law,” European Parliament member Emma Fourreau said on X, as she criticized the authorization.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met UN Secretary-General António Guterres at UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday following his address to the General Assembly.
The meeting was held behind closed doors, with no further details immediately released.
Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said his country was determined to defend its territory and sovereignty as he addressed the UN General Assembly in New York.
The Qatari leader stressed the need to uphold international law and collective security amid continuing conflicts and tensions across the Middle East.
Qatar has also continued to push for diplomatic solutions to the region’s crises, including efforts to end the conflict involving Iran and prevent further escalation.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he supports banning imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning that public trust in politics would further erode without action.
“If we do nothing, trust in politics will further evaporate,” Burnham said during his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly.
U.S. President Donald Trump repeated his claim that he helped settle eight conflicts since taking office, crediting his relationships with world leaders as well as the use of trade, tariffs and the threat of tariffs.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Trump cited conflicts involving Cambodia and Thailand, Kosovo and Serbia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Pakistan and India, Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as Gaza.
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he had established a “good relationship” with U.S. President Donald Trump after the two leaders met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Speaking about trade between the two countries, Trump said, “Now we’re doing well.”
The talks marked their first face-to-face meeting since Burnham became prime minister.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah discussed regional and international developments on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace and stability and discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation, including in trade, investment and energy.
The foreign ministers of Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Egypt affirmed Saudi Arabia’s right to defend itself in accordance with international law following a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
In a joint statement, the ministers expressed “deep concern” over escalating regional hostilities and stressed the need to maintain safe navigation in the region.
They said dialogue and diplomacy were the only path towards a sustainable solution and voiced support for Yemen’s government in its efforts to achieve stability and peace.
French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed the Middle East and the war in Ukraine during talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Macron said the two leaders also discussed ways to maintain shipping through the Strait of Hormuz while preventing further escalation in the Red Sea.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II said the international community had chosen to “manage” the Palestinian-Israeli conflict rather than resolve it, despite repeated warnings over the consequences.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Abdullah said Israeli violations had repeatedly been treated as temporary “until temporary became permanent, and permanent became policy”.
He also described the forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank as a “war crime”, linking settlement expansion, violence and displacement to what he said was a policy aimed at forcing Palestinians from their land.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said attempts to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state would fail, as he addressed the UN General Assembly.
“We will see Palestine based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Erdoğan said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that Europe could not strengthen its security architecture by excluding Türkiye.
“To put it bluntly, it is not possible for a Europe that excludes Türkiye from its security architecture to be stronger or more secure,” Erdoğan told the UN General Assembly.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye wants the Russia-Ukraine war to end with Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity ensured.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye believes freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz must be preserved.
The United States, Denmark and Greenland signed an agreement on Arctic and North Atlantic security on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the deal would expand Washington’s security role in Greenland and announced plans to develop a larger U.S. military presence, including two major military bases.
Trump described the agreement as “tremendous for Europe and for the United States and for everybody and for Greenland”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the defence alliance established between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan was aimed at strengthening solidarity and finding solutions to regional problems.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Erdoğan said the three countries were working together to deepen cooperation amid growing regional tensions.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Türkiye was continuing efforts with all parties to end the conflict in the Gulf, warning that continued fighting “benefits nobody”.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Erdoğan also called on countries to increase pressure on Israel.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said people in Palestine, Lebanon and Sudan who had pinned their hopes on the United Nations had been “disappointed”.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Erdoğan criticised the organisation’s response to ongoing conflicts and reiterated his call for changes to the international system.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called for reform of the UN Security Council during his address to the General Assembly, reiterating his longstanding message that “the world is bigger than five”.
The phrase refers to the five permanent Security Council members — China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States — which hold veto power.
Erdoğan calls for end to UN Security Council veto and permanent seats
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described Gaza as “the most inhumane, most shameful concentration camp of our time” during his address to the UN General Assembly.
Erdoğan said Gaza had become “the world’s largest graveyard for children” and the region with the highest rate of child amputees, while describing the situation in the West Bank as the most severe period of “occupier terror”.
He said Türkiye would be the voice of a “free and sovereign” Palestinian state even in the absence of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from the General Assembly.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the United Nations had become unable to fulfil its responsibility of preserving international peace.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Erdoğan criticised the international body’s ability to respond effectively to conflicts around the world.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called on countries that do not recognise a Palestinian state to review their position during his address to the UN General Assembly.
Erdoğan said 74,000 Palestinians had “fallen victim to Israel’s state terrorism”, as he focused heavily on Gaza and the Palestinian issue.
Erdoğan also expressed regret that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had been unable to attend the General Assembly for a second consecutive year, as he put the Palestinian issue at the centre of his speech.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II said the forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank would constitute a “war crime”, describing it as a “fundamental shift” during his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
The king also criticised repeated Israeli violations, saying they had been treated as temporary until “temporary became permanent, and permanent became policy”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held up photographs from Gaza as he addressed world leaders at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, putting the Palestinian issue at the centre of his speech.
Erdoğan used the images to draw attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and renewed his criticism of Israel’s actions in the enclave.
The Turkish leader also called for greater international action on the Palestinian issue and reiterated Türkiye’s support for Palestinian statehood.
U.S. President Donald Trump said an oil agreement involving Venezuela was “starting to perk right now”, with some of the world’s largest oil companies entering the market.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States would develop a “large military presence” in Greenland, including two additional military sites, under a new security agreement with Denmark and Greenland.
The agreement is due to be signed on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The U.S. already operates a military base in Greenland.
U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed warnings over artificial intelligence as a “hoax” during his UN General Assembly speech, saying his administration would not “stifle” the technology’s growth.
Trump also said he wanted AI to be called “super intelligence”.
U.S. President Donald Trump criticised a number of United Nations organisations during his address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, describing them as “leftist” and “globalist”.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States was “totally opposed” to the International Criminal Court during his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
Trump also called on all members of the court to resign.
U.S. President Donald Trump described Mexico as the “epicentre of drug cartel violence” during his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
The remarks came as Trump discussed drug trafficking and organised crime during his speech to world leaders in New York.
Cuba’s delegation walked out of the UN General Assembly as U.S. President Donald Trump addressed world leaders on Tuesday.
During his speech, Trump described Cuba as a “failed state” and said “freedom will be coming to Cuba”.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned against foreign interference in the country’s October election during his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
Lula said Brazil would not allow “foreign and local enemies of democracy” to interfere in the vote, warning of disinformation campaigns aimed at distorting public debate.
He said Brazil’s electoral system was capable of safeguarding a transparent and competitive election.
U.S. President Donald Trump said at the United Nations that he believes the United States will reach a deal with Iran after the U.S. election. His comments come as Washington and Tehran signal possible openness to reviving negotiations over the conflict.
Trump is also scheduled to meet Gulf leaders on the sides of the General Assembly to discuss the Iran war and the region's future.
U.S. President Donald Trump said his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin was to “settle the war” as he arrived at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
Trump made the brief remark to reporters amid ongoing efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on world leaders to use the UN General Assembly’s high-level week to pursue de-escalation and dialogue across the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to make a brief visit to New York for the UN General Assembly without meeting U.S. President Donald Trump, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
Netanyahu is due to address the assembly on Thursday before returning to Israel hours later. Haaretz described his schedule as “particularly sparse”, reporting that only two meetings with foreign leaders were planned on the sidelines.
The newspaper said his speech is expected to focus on the war with Iran and Israel’s cooperation with the Trump administration.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ahead of his trip to the UN General Assembly, accusing him of supporting Hamas and inciting unrest against Jewish New Yorkers.
Netanyahu said he would “expose the truth” when he addresses the UN General Assembly. Mamdani has previously called Netanyahu a “war criminal” and said the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant against the Israeli leader should be honoured.
The 81st UN General Assembly’s General Debate begins in New York on Tuesday, with the wars involving Iran and Ukraine among the major issues expected to dominate speeches and diplomatic meetings throughout the week.
The Middle East will be a key focus, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian due to address the assembly on Wednesday, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to speak on Thursday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also due to address world leaders on Wednesday, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expected on Saturday.
Beyond the conflicts, leaders are set to discuss artificial intelligence, Sudan, climate change and the process of choosing a successor to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second term ends on 31 December.
Brazil traditionally opens the General Debate, followed by the United States as host country.
UN General Assembly: World leaders gather amidst wars, global crises and AI concerns
The United Nations General Debate is the week-long high-level event where diplomats and world leaders take the stage to give speeches for an estimated 15 minutes.
So far, G7 foreign ministers, Presidents Macron and Zelenskyy, Trump and Macron have met on the sidelines of the event, with more meetings scheduled to take place on the sides as the event unfolds.
For more information and a breakdown of hot topics on the global agenda, read our article below.
World leaders are gathering at the United Nations headquarters in New York as the high-level General Debate of the 81st UN General Assembly gets underway on Tuesday.
Nearly 130 heads of state and government are expected to attend, with the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine among the major issues shaping this year’s diplomatic meetings. Artificial intelligence, global security, climate action and the future of multilateral cooperation are also expected to feature prominently.
The debate is being held under the theme “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all”.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
Saudi authorities issued emergency warnings to residents on Monday, urging people to remain indoors and follow civil defence instructions amid concerns over a hostile aerial threat linked to the escalating conflict with Yemen's Houthi movement.
The 2026 Paris Motor Show has opened with a clear message: competition is intensifying as carmakers race to embrace electric vehicles, cutting-edge technology and new designs.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
A 14-year-old pupil has been arrested after shooting and injuring a headteacher and a teacher with a hunting rifle at a school in Aubagne, near Marseille, on Monday. Neither suffered life-threatening injuries, officials said.
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