UN News

President Donald Trump spoke before world leaders at the United Nations summit, in an address carried live by major US news outlets. The speech drew large audiences as viewers followed his remarks to the General Assembly in real time, with commentary focusing on his message to the international community.

Commentary published by Asharq Al-Awsat and Arab News examines why ceasefire agreements reached in Jeddah between Sudan's warring army and the Rapid Support Forces have repeatedly failed, and how the issue has moved to the diplomatic stage in New York. The pieces argue that successive truces have not held, leaving Sudan's civil war grinding on despite international mediation efforts.

The UN General Assembly's annual general debate has reached its fifth day in New York, with world leaders continuing to deliver set-piece speeches on global challenges. The marathon session remains the main forum for heads of state and government to set out their foreign policy positions, and UN News is providing a daily takeaway summarising the key moments and statements as the debate winds down.

Finland's President addressed the United Nations General Assembly with a speech being widely shared as a frank assessment of today's world disorder. The address, distributed in full by news outlets, lays out his view of the state of international order and the challenges facing the multilateral system. Viewers are circulating it as essential viewing for understanding the current global situation.

Donald Trump has launched a sharply critical attack on the United Nations during one of its flagship international gatherings, according to BBC News. The remarks, delivered at the organisation's own major world meeting, amount to a public rebuke of the institution on its home stage. The speech is drawing wide attention and reaction from diplomats and observers worldwide.

The United Nations has drafted a document laying out plans for responding to a future pandemic. The move signals continued international efforts to strengthen preparedness after the COVID-19 crisis exposed gaps in global coordination. Details of the draft's contents and next steps in the approval process have not been widely reported yet.

An activist addressing the United Nations highlighted human rights violations while Pakistan attempted to interject, and the interjection was dismissed. A clip of the exchange, circulated by ANI News, has drawn wide attention. The moment is being discussed as another example of Pakistan being called out at international forums over rights concerns, with viewers debating the exchange online.

Canada is calling for stronger international partnerships, warning that the global order is facing a 'rupture'. The warning was carried by UN News, framing the appeal as a push for renewed multilateral cooperation at a time of mounting geopolitical strain. The message, tied to the United Nations, stresses that countries must work together to prevent further erosion of the rules-based international system.

Saudi Arabia has warned that the security of the Gulf region cannot be separated from global stability, issuing the statement amid heightened regional tensions. The warning, delivered in remarks reported by UN News, positions the kingdom as framing Gulf stability as an international concern rather than a purely local one. The message underscores Riyadh's push for broader international engagement as conflicts and political friction across the Middle East continue to raise concerns about wider spillover effects.

Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said Iran was not negotiating 'in good faith' to end the war. The claim, reported by the Guardian, places the blame for continued hostilities on Tehran and signals the Trump administration's hardening stance as diplomacy fails to halt the conflict, a story being widely shared across world news circles.

World leaders are meeting in New York for the UN General Assembly, with the annual gathering focused on ongoing conflicts, economic uncertainty and global security. Discussions around peace efforts for Ukraine are among the prominent topics drawing international attention at this year's session.

The United Nations has expanded its list of companies with business ties to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, adding firms to bring the total to 138. The database, maintained by the UN Human Rights Council, is intended to press companies to end activities linked to settlements, which most of the international community considers illegal. Israel rejects the blacklist, calling it politically motivated, while human rights groups welcomed the expansion.

Nearly every world leader is gathering in New York for the annual UN General Assembly, where heads of state deliver addresses and hold diplomatic meetings on the sidelines. The BBC explains what draws so many leaders to the city at once and why the week matters for global diplomacy.

Countries have adopted a global blueprint aimed at tackling fast-evolving crime in the digital age. The agreement, covered by UN News, sets out a common framework for governments to combat cybercrime, which increasingly crosses borders and outpaces national laws. It marks a significant step in international cooperation on digital security, though details on enforcement and how countries will implement the commitments remain to be seen.

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, accused Iran of orchestrating attacks across the Middle East and formally condemned the actions of the Houthi rebels. He called for accountability and an end to regional destabilisation. The remarks underscore ongoing Saudi-Iran tensions and Riyadh's frustration with Houthi activity, drawing attention at the annual gathering of world leaders.

A UN expert has criticized the investigation committee in Sudan, according to The National. The criticism adds to ongoing international scrutiny of how abuses linked to Sudan's conflict are being examined, with observers questioning the body's independence and effectiveness. Details of the expert's specific objections were not provided in the available reporting.

Britain's Chancellor is reported to be weighing budget decisions as the US-Iran war puts pressure on the UK economy. The item also notes that the UN General Assembly ended with mixed diplomatic outcomes on efforts to end the conflict. Attention is focused on how war-related economic strain will shape upcoming UK fiscal policy.

The German and Russian foreign ministers have met at the United Nations, a rare face-to-face encounter between the two governments amid deep strains over Russia's war in Ukraine. Direct talks between Berlin and Moscow have been almost entirely frozen since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, making even a brief meeting on the sidelines of the UN notable. Observers are watching for any sign of a shift in diplomatic contacts.

A week of intense diplomatic activity at the United Nations has drawn widespread attention, with analysts distilling the developments into six major takeaways. Coverage highlights the turbulence of the sessions, marked by clashes over key international issues and shifting alliances among member states. Observers say the week underscored deep divisions in global diplomacy while setting the tone for upcoming negotiations on the world stage.

The Board of Peace has decided to exclude the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from operations in Gaza. The move aligns with repeated Israeli government calls to sideline the refugee aid agency, and marks a significant shift in who will deliver humanitarian assistance in the territory. Observers are weighing what the decision means for aid delivery to Palestinian refugees, given UNRWA's long-standing role as the main UN agency serving them in Gaza and the wider region.

The United Nations has declared September 29 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information. The designation gives global recognition to the right of the public to seek and receive information, including from governments and public bodies. Observers see it as a boost for transparency, press freedom and open-government efforts, and it is expected to be marked annually with events promoting access-to-information laws worldwide.

Speakers from Global South countries voiced support for Cuba at the United Nations General Assembly, pushing back against the US embargo and Trump administration policy. The remarks came as part of the annual UN debate, where ending the US embargo against Cuba has long drawn near-unanimous backing from member states. The footage, produced by news collective Belly of the Beast, highlights those statements and the divide between Washington and much of the world over Cuba policy.

Turkey's deputy foreign ministers are holding diplomatic meetings in New York, Turkish state news agency Anadolu Ajansı reports. The meetings take place during the UN General Assembly period, when New York hosts a dense round of bilateral diplomacy. Ankara's deputies typically use such visits to discuss bilateral ties, regional conflicts and multilateral cooperation with counterparts from other countries.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi told the United Nations that all parties in the Middle East conflict should exercise self-restraint and foresight. He said Oman is ready to mediate disputes, positioning the country as a diplomatic bridge between rivals. The appeal aligns with Muscat's long-standing policy of neutral mediation in regional tensions.

A side event at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva has drawn attention to the situation of Tibetan children, with speakers raising concerns about their rights and treatment. The session highlighted issues affecting Tibetan minors, and coverage of the event is being picked up by international news outlets, keeping Tibet's human rights situation on the diplomatic agenda.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres have emphasized the importance of diplomacy in promoting peace, according to Mehr News Agency. The two officials underlined dialogue and international cooperation as the path to resolving conflicts. The remarks come as diplomatic engagement between Iran and the United Nations remains under close international scrutiny.

China's address to the United Nations General Assembly again framed global development as the main solution to the world's challenges, in keeping with Beijing's usual messaging at the annual gathering. The speech, widely covered by US and international outlets including AP News and ABC News, repeated China's appeal for developing countries to prioritise growth and cooperation over confrontation.

Hamas has accused the Board of Peace of aligning with Israel after the body excluded UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, from its operations in Gaza. The Palestinian group says the exclusion demonstrates bias against Palestinians and undermines the agency's critical humanitarian role. The dispute adds new friction to international efforts over Gaza's future and the delivery of aid.

Qatar is taking part in the 15th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, according to a report carried by Fana News. The congress brings together member states to coordinate international policy on crime prevention, criminal justice reform and related cooperation. Details of Qatar's delegation or contributions were not given in the available report.

Cuba has reaffirmed its support for the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination, a longstanding position in Havana's foreign policy toward Western Sahara. The statement was reported by the Sahrawi news agency and comes as the decades-old dispute over the territory, pitting Morocco against the Polisario Front, remains on the international agenda at the United Nations.