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.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed the OpenAI breach while speaking to reporters in New York, where he was attending the 81st UN General Assembly. The disclosure came on the same day that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other AI leaders addressed the UN Security Council about the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems.
Türkiye and Lebanon discussed cooperation opportunities in electricity interconnections, pipelines and hydrocarbons, with Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar saying Ankara could turn its energy infrastructure and resource diversification experience into concrete cooperation based on Lebanon’s needs and priorities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv is “very open” to Türkiye hosting a trilateral leaders’ meeting on peace negotiations, adding that Ukraine is ready to attend such a summit. He also highlighted strong Türkiye-Ukraine ties and discussions on Black Sea security, a possible ceasefire at sea and food security.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki called for reforms to enable the UN to respond to violations of international law and prevent impunity. He also condemned Russia’s war in Ukraine and backed a two-state solution allowing Israel and Palestine to coexist peacefully.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s support for Syria’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity during talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. Lavrov also called for international efforts to support Syria’s post-conflict recovery and assist its leadership during the transitional period.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi agreed to deepen security cooperation, restore state authority in Sinjar and end the presence of banned foreign armed groups. The leaders also agreed to expand bilateral trade and accelerate strategic projects, including the Development Road Project.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU aims to mobilise more investment and strengthen its partnership with Syria following her meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly. She said the bloc is supporting Syria’s reconstruction and recovery and the safe, voluntary return of refugees.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres met Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, with talks focusing on Syria’s political transition.
Guterres welcomed steps taken towards a political transition and stressed the importance of an inclusive process with broad participation.
The two also discussed removing barriers to Syria’s economic reintegration, recovery and reconstruction, while Guterres reiterated UN support for the country’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used his UN General Assembly address to warn that Russia’s ambitions could extend beyond Ukraine, while calling for greater international pressure on Moscow and urgent diplomacy before winter.
Among his main remarks:
Zelenskyy urged Ukraine’s partners to increase pressure on Russia, strengthen Ukraine’s defences and accelerate diplomatic efforts to bring the war to an end.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that artificial intelligence could fundamentally change warfare as early as next year, with autonomous systems potentially able to kill without direct human involvement.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Zelenskyy cited the rapid development of AI as another reason why diplomatic efforts to end the war must accelerate, warning that the nature of the battlefield could soon become even more dangerous.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Ukraine faced a difficult winter as Russia continues to target the country’s power and energy infrastructure.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Zelenskyy called for intensified diplomatic efforts “now”, before winter, warning of the impact further attacks could have on Ukrainians during the colder months.
He urged international partners to increase pressure on Moscow and strengthen support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s attacks on Russia’s energy sector were aimed at undermining Moscow’s ability to finance its war rather than targeting oil itself.
“Russia’s finances and Russia’s production are what must be stopped if Putin is to be stopped,” Zelenskyy told the UN General Assembly.
He said Russia’s oil industry was “running out of fumes”, arguing that pressure on Moscow’s revenues could limit its ability to prolong the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had carried out around 63,000 drone attacks against Ukraine, as he addressed world leaders at the UN General Assembly.
Zelenskyy pointed to the scale of Russia’s aerial campaign as he called for stronger international support and additional air defence capabilities for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s territorial ambitions extended beyond Ukraine, pointing to Poland and the Baltic states as countries potentially at risk.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Zelenskyy argued that Russia was seeking more territory and warned that Moscow’s ambitions would not necessarily end with Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader urged the international community to prevent further Russian expansion and strengthen support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had captured around 890 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory this year, while Ukraine had retaken about 800 square kilometres.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Zelenskyy argued that Moscow’s limited territorial gains had come at a heavy cost and pointed to Russia’s reliance on military support from North Korea.
The Ukrainian leader has accused Pyongyang of supplying Russia with ballistic missiles and troops to support its war against Ukraine.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he met EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and other European counterparts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
Araghchi said he warned them of “severe long-term consequences” for what he described as European facilitation and support for Israeli and U.S. “war crimes” in Gaza and Iran.
He also criticised NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, saying “groveling never satisfies a bully”.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
During the talks, Wadephul urged Iran to engage constructively in efforts to find a sustainable solution to the regional conflict and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz unconditionally.
Germany called for “free, safe and toll-free navigation for all” through the strategic waterway.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon thanked Argentine President Javier Milei for what he described as his firm support for Israel on the international stage.
Danon said Israel would continue strengthening ties with Argentina and seek to expand its diplomatic relations across Latin America “in the spirit of the Isaac Accords”.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon accused Iran of “spreading terror” after Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the UN General Assembly.
Danon rejected Pezeshkian’s portrayal of Iran as a victim of terrorism and accused Tehran of arming Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas and militias in Iraq.
“You are in no position to lecture Israel and the United States about morality,” Danon said in a post on X.
Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon said the Golan Heights would “always be part of Israel”, responding to remarks by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
“No speech will change reality,” Danon said in a post on X, referring to al-Sharaa by his former nom de guerre, al-Jolani.
Argentine President Javier Milei launched a blistering attack on the United Nations during his General Assembly address, calling it a “useless organisation” sustained by what he described as “arrogant parasites masquerading as well-intentioned bureaucrats.”
Milei also accused the UN of systematically voting against Israel while remaining silent on terrorism and the persecution of Christians in Africa, arguing that governments claiming to defend human rights have instead protected authoritarian regimes.
Argentine President Javier Milei accused the United Nations of choosing to “look the other way” on Argentina’s sovereignty dispute with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Milei criticised the organisation for not doing more to address the longstanding dispute over the British overseas territory, which Argentina claims as its own.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told the UN General Assembly that Iran would not surrender in its conflict with the United States, while stressing that Tehran remains committed to diplomacy as a means of ending the fighting.
Addressing world leaders in New York on Wednesday, Pezeshkian’s remarks came as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain at the centre of international diplomatic efforts.
A U.S. delegation official left the UN General Assembly chamber as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian began delivering his address in New York.
The official was seen standing, picking up his briefcase, removing his glasses and walking out of the meeting as Pezeshkian started his speech.
Iranian President Pezeshkian addresses the UN General Assembly while holding pictures of ''innocent children'' that have been killed in U.S. attacks.
Here are ones of his main remarks:
Iranian President Pezeshkian is set to address the 81st session of the UN General Assembly for the first time since the U.S. and Israel launched the war on Iran, and a day after President Donald Trump told the UN in his address that he could ''annihilate the Islamic Republic'' and ''drive them into hell.''
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, according to a photo posted on Wednesday on X by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova showing the pair shaking hands.
Here are the main remarks of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa as he addresses the 81st of the UN General Assembly:
World leaders return to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday for the second day of the high-level General Debate, with speeches and diplomatic meetings continuing at UN headquarters in New York.
The Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war remain among the major issues shaping discussions, alongside global security, humanitarian crises and the future of international cooperation.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are among the leaders due to address the General Assembly on Wednesday.
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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.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group toward Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
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.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling to accept the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
An explosion and fire have been reported at a major underground gas pipeline in Russia’s Penza region on 13 October, according to UA News, as cited by Azerbaijan’s APA news agency. The reports have not been independently verified.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling to accept the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg joined high school students protesting outside a school in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis on Tuesday, as a wave of student demonstrations continues across France.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited a newly opened defence museum displaying weapons developed under his leadership, including an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers are set to discuss measures to tackle transboundary haze during preparatory meetings ahead of the ASEAN summit in November, as forest and land fires in Indonesia continue to affect air quality across the region, the Philippines said on Tuesday.
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