World leaders return to the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday for the fourth day of the high-level General Debate, with speeches and diplomatic meetings continuing throughout the day.
Azerbaijan has achieved “de facto peace” with Armenia following the Washington Peace Summit and the initialling of an agreement on peace and interstate relations, Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said during the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
Bayramov said Azerbaijan’s peace agenda had helped turn the South Caucasus into an “anchor of stability, connectivity, and tangible economic dividends.”
.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih told the UN Security Council that forced displacement poses a challenge to international peace and security, urging political solutions to conflicts.
Salih said more than 117 million people have been forced from their homes by violence, persecution and conflict, with displacement outpacing durable solutions.
Salih highlighted displacement crises in Sudan, the Sahel, Democratic Republic of Congo and Western Sahara, stressing that humanitarian aid cannot replace political action.
He also said 3.8 million displaced Syrians have returned home since December 2024, while nearly 8 million Afghans are expected to return by the end of the year.
UN Security Council members also raised concerns over displacement and humanitarian conditions in Gaza, with delegates calling for aid and action to address the root causes of displacement.
Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in New York on Friday on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 81st UN General Assembly.
According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, Fidan and Araghchi held talks in New York, where the UN headquarters is located.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held separate meetings with his Iranian and Kazakh counterparts and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi discussed the evolving situation surrounding Iran and other regional and international issues. The two sides also reviewed bilateral agreements and upcoming Russian-Iranian contacts.
In his meeting with Guterres, Lavrov discussed current issues concerning the UN and the organisation’s reform, according to the ministry.
Lavrov also met Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the General Assembly, as Moscow continues a series of diplomatic meetings in New York.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has met with world leaders visiting the city for the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Mamdani held talks with several foreign leaders as the annual gathering brought presidents, prime ministers and senior officials to New York.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama used his UN General Assembly address to discuss claims surrounding Israeli involvement in development projects along Albania’s coastline.
Rama characterised some of the claims circulating during the protests as disinformation and described the idea of an Israeli “invasion” of the coastline as a fabricated narrative that “never occurred”.
While acknowledging that protesters had genuine reasons to demonstrate, he argued that the narrative spread through sources already trusted by citizens and led some to protest against what he called a “phantom enemy”.
The remarks referred to Albania’s “Flamingo Revolution”, which began over controversial coastal development plans before expanding into broader anti-government demonstrations.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used his UN General Assembly address to focus on the Middle East, Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, tensions with India and the rise of Islamophobia.
Among his main remarks:
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the rise of Islamophobia was “deeply worrying”, pointing to attacks on mosques and incidents targeting Muslims, including in India.
“Religious hatred must have no place in this world at all,” Sharif told the UN General Assembly.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invoked Palestinian children Hind Rajab and Wafaa Akila during his UN General Assembly address as he spoke about the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza.
Sharif said their voices would “echo in history”, describing them as reminders of the international community’s “collective silence, failure and inaction”.
He also expressed concern that what he called Israel’s “genocidal agenda” was extending to the West Bank, arguing that the creation of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders was the only way to bring an end to the violence.
Sharif also said Pakistan condemned Israeli aggression against Lebanon and Syria.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warned India against attempts to restrict Pakistan’s water supplies, saying water “must never be weaponised”.
“Rivers should unite nations, not divide them,” Sharif told the UN General Assembly, warning that any attempt to deny Pakistan its water rights would be treated as an “act of war”.
“India must make no mistake about it,” he added.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the Mecca defence agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye during his address to the UN General Assembly.
Sharif said the agreement marked an important step in strengthening cooperation and solidarity between the three countries.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and Mecca during his address to the UN General Assembly, saying no Muslim should ever attack such holy site.
Sharif expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia and said Pakistan was renewing its partnership with the kingdom.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan brought Washington and Tehran together in Islamabad as tensions over the Strait of Hormuz intensified.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Sharif said the talks led to “historic steps” towards ending the war, including a memorandum agreed during the diplomatic efforts.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held separate meetings with his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed in New York on Friday.
According to Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, the meetings took place on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has warned that the planned withdrawal of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) could leave a security gap in southern Lebanon, stressing the need to “avert the vacuum”.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Salam thanked UNIFIL and the countries contributing troops to the mission, whose current mandate ends on 31 December.
He called for another international force to take over its role, saying it should maintain “monitoring, reporting and liaison functions”.
UNIFIL is due to begin drawing down and withdrawing after its mandate ends, with the process expected to continue through 2027.
Monaco has renewed its condemnation of Russia’s war against Ukraine, with Minister of State Christophe Mirmand describing it as a “war of aggression” by a permanent member of the UN Security Council in violation of the body's Charter.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Mirmand said Monaco would “never recognise any annexation of territory obtained through force,” warning that accepting such territorial seizures for one country would effectively legitimise them for all.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has told the UN that Iraq is working to diversify its energy export routes as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz raise concerns over regional trade and maritime navigation.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, al-Zaidi said Iraq was seeking to “contain the subsequent risks” from the conflict.
“We are working to diversify our oil export ports and develop energy lines and corridors linking Iraq, Türkiye, Jordan and Syria to reach global markets,” he said, adding that the plans aim to strengthen energy security and diversify supply routes.
Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has expressed solidarity with Gulf countries and Jordan following Iranian attacks, warning of wider consequences for regional security and the global economy.
Speaking at the UN General Assembly, Salam said Lebanon “stands with” Gulf states and Jordan, adding that the attacks “threaten regional security and the freedom and safety of maritime navigation”.
He warned that the impact would go beyond the immediate conflict, saying: “The effects of these attacks are not confined to theatres of confrontation.”
“They extend to supply chains, to the prices of goods, particularly food and energy, and to inflation rates,” Salam added.
The Prime Minister of Lebanon Nawaf Salam has called for Israel’s full withdrawal from Lebanese territory and a consolidated ceasefire, while insisting that weapons in the country must be held exclusively by the state.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, Salam said: “No one speaks for Lebanon and no one negotiates on its behalf,” stressing that decisions on war and peace must rest with Lebanon’s constitutional institutions.
He called for Israel to withdraw to Lebanon’s internationally recognised borders in line with the 1949 General Armistice Agreement, as well as the release of Lebanese detainees, the safe return of displaced people to their towns and villages, and the reconstruction of areas destroyed by the war.
Salam also criticised what he called the “selective application” of international law, saying sovereignty and international rules must be upheld consistently.
The Vice President of the Maldives Hussain Mohamed Latheef, has called for an end to what he described as Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza, saying the Maldives stands with the Palestinian people.
He described Israel’s presence in Palestinian territories as an illegal occupation and called for humanitarian assistance to reach Palestinians.
The Vice President also urged countries to recognise the sovereignty of the State of Palestine.
World leaders return to the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday for the fourth day of the high-level General Debate, with speeches and diplomatic meetings continuing throughout the day.
Leaders from Pakistan, Lebanon, Albania, Azerbaijan, Norway, Sweden, Mexico and Kazakhstan are among countries expected to address delegates on Friday.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage.
Follow us for the latest updates on the UN General Assembly Debate.
Thirty-five years after restoring independence, Azerbaijan's economy has more than tripled in real terms. Official data reveal how investmen...
The day after waiving sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturd...
Pope Leo returned to public life on Sunday, five days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, telling thousands of pilgrims in St Peter’s S...
An unknown projectile struck a tanker 68 nautical miles northeast of Saudi Arabia on Friday according to a report released by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) on Saturday.
U.S. President Donald Trump has called it “a disgrace” that Ukraine has resumed attacks on Russian oil refineries. Attacks are continuing from Russia and Ukraine as media reports say Ukraine has almost run out of Patriot interceptor missiles.
The day after waiving sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he has yet to announce a final decision on the matter as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials want more time to evaluate the situation.
A Saudi AH-6i helicopter crashed in the Najran region of Saudi Arabia due to a technical malfunction, killing its two crew members, the Saudi-led coalition's spokesman Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki said in a statement on Sunday.
What started out as planned protests against the cost of living, declining public services and education funding in France, quickly devolved into violent riots across the country on Saturday.
The day after waiving sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday he has yet to announce a final decision on the matter as Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials want more time to evaluate the situation.
Pope Leo returned to public life on Sunday, five days after undergoing surgery for lung cancer, telling thousands of pilgrims in St Peter’s Square that he would gradually resume his usual activities.
Several people have been killed and injured following a serious incident that sparked a major fire at a Canadian military base in Alberta, Defence Minister David McGuinty confirmed on Saturday (17 October). The cause of the incident and the number of casualties have not been officially released.
Singapore is experiencing severe haze as smoke from wildfires in Indonesia’s Kalimantan region drifts across the region, disrupting daily life, affecting businesses and prompting Singapore’s National Environment Agency issuing preventive notices to seven companies on 16 October.
What started out as planned protests against the cost of living, declining public services and education funding in France, quickly devolved into violent riots across the country on Saturday.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment