world leaders

Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, is scheduled to brief the United Nations Security Council next week on artificial intelligence, according to Reuters. The session would place the head of one of the world's leading AI companies directly before the body charged with international peace and security, as governments weigh how to regulate advanced AI. Details of the briefing's agenda and who requested it were not immediately available.

President Donald Trump spoke to world leaders gathered at the United Nations summit in New York, delivering an address broadcast live to a global audience. His remarks drew wide attention, with hundreds of thousands of viewers following the live coverage and commentators weighing in on his message to the international community.

World leaders, including Iran's representative, are delivering speeches on the second day of the 2026 UN General Assembly in New York. The proceedings are being broadcast live, with audiences following addresses on issues expected to include the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, nuclear diplomacy, and tensions between Iran and Western powers.

Chinese President Xi Jinping missed the dinner for world leaders at the G20 summit in New Delhi because he was unwell, according to people familiar with the matter. The report has fueled fresh speculation about the 70-year-old leader's health, coming just days before he was scheduled to travel to the United States, and has drawn wide attention and debate about his condition and absence from a key diplomatic gathering.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, with the full address broadcast live by the Associated Press. The remarks drew wide international interest, with audiences closely following his message on Israel's security and foreign policy positions before the assembled world leaders and diplomats.

The annual UN General Assembly session is underway in New York, with diplomats and heads of state arriving for what is widely described as the biggest event in world diplomacy. Coverage is focusing on what to expect from this year's gathering, including the key speeches and debates set to dominate the agenda as world leaders take the floor.

World leaders continued addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York on the sixth day of the annual high-level debate. The sessions, broadcast live, feature speeches from heads of state and government on topics ranging from conflict and security to climate and development, drawing international attention to the diplomatic calendar's most prominent gathering.

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 General Assembly's annual 'High-level Week' is under way, drawing heads of state and government to UN headquarters in New York for a series of speeches and diplomatic meetings. The gathering is one of the busiest weeks in the international diplomatic calendar, with world leaders addressing the assembly and holding bilateral talks on the sidelines.

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.

The UN General Assembly's general debate continued into its fifth day in New York, with world leaders and foreign ministers taking the rostrum to lay out their governments' positions on conflicts, climate and development. UN News is summarising the day's key speeches and moments for audiences following the annual high-level week.

The United States and China have each released lists of products worth roughly $30 billion that will see tariff cuts, following a meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping. The reciprocal move is being read as a step toward easing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies, though details on timelines and implementation remain limited.

Donald Trump and other world leaders are delivering addresses at the United Nations General Assembly's 2026 session, with speeches broadcast live worldwide. The gathering is drawing broad attention as leaders use the annual forum to lay out their foreign policy positions and respond to ongoing international crises. Viewers are following the full speeches as they are streamed.

The United States and China have reached an agreement to reduce tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods, following a summit in Washington between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. The deal marks a step toward easing trade tensions between the world's two largest economies, though details of which products will be affected have not yet been fully outlined.

BBC News has published an explainer on what it calls the biggest political meeting in the world, setting out how the gathering works and why it matters. The piece walks through the purpose of the annual assembly of world leaders, its format, and the key diplomatic moments audiences should watch for as countries take the stage.

Volodymyr Zelensky appeared at the United Nations, with commentary focusing on his address and what it signals for Ukraine's ongoing diplomatic effort to maintain international support. Analysts discussed his message to world leaders amid the continuing war with Russia and Kyiv's push to keep Ukraine high on the global agenda.

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.

Russia's Foreign Minister has addressed the general debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The annual debate brings world leaders and top diplomats to the UN headquarters each September. The Russian minister's speech is being closely watched for signals of Moscow's position on the war in Ukraine and its wider relations with the West.

Pope Leo concluded his trip to France with a call for Europe to confront what he described as a 'desire for domination' driving wars in the world today. Speaking at the close of the visit, the pontiff urged European leaders and citizens to resist aggression and work for peace, a message landing amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Emmanuel Macron used what the Guardian describes as his final address to the United Nations to challenge Donald Trump, and commentators suggest the speech may have emboldened other world leaders to push back against the US president. The address is being read as a parting gesture aimed at rallying international resistance to Trump's positions.

At the United Nations, world leaders are framing the risks of artificial intelligence in starkly different ways. Some warn of autonomous 'killer robots' on the battlefield, while others point to the longer-term threat of 'super intelligence' beyond human control. The divide highlights the challenge of crafting international AI governance, with countries prioritising different dangers as they push for new rules on the fast-moving technology.

Envoys representing President Trump say they made 'real progress' after holding marathon meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The sessions covered diplomacy with world leaders gathered for the annual assembly, and the envoys characterized the outcome as substantive. Details of what was agreed have not been laid out, but the team's upbeat framing is drawing attention amid intense diplomatic activity.

Bill Gates said creating a global framework for artificial intelligence would be more difficult than negotiating the nuclear arms limitations of the Cold War era. He argued that AI's rapid spread among companies and governments, and the difficulty of verifying its development, make international agreement far harder than the nuclear treaties that shaped the 20th century. His remarks add to a growing debate over how the world should govern increasingly powerful AI systems.

The contest to select the next United Nations Secretary-General is intensifying as world leaders gather in New York for the General Assembly's high-level week. Diplomatic lobbying and positioning around the top UN job are drawing attention alongside the annual speeches, with candidates and member states vying for support in what is shaping up to be a closely watched race.

World leaders have renewed their commitment to protecting the world from future pandemics, according to a post from the World Health Organization. The announcement appears to be part of ongoing international efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness, though the posts collected do not include details on which leaders were involved, what specific commitments were made, or the occasion for the statement. Discussion of the news is limited in the available evidence, so the broader public reaction is not yet clear from the posts collected.

Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister of Egypt, delivered a statement during the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The remarks form part of the annual gathering where world leaders set out their governments' positions on international issues. Specific details of Madbouly's address were not provided.

Venezuelans have taken to the streets to demand the safe return of an opposition leader and to call for presidential elections. Demonstrators are pressing for the leader's protection and for a vote that would allow a challenge to the current government. The rallies add to ongoing tensions over the country's political leadership and disputed electoral process.

Donald Trump delivered a speech to the United Nations General Assembly that commentators describe as a stark contrast with addresses by previous presidents. NPR's opinion piece argues his tone and approach diverged sharply from the tradition of past US leaders at the world body. The speech is drawing attention for how differently Trump frames America's role on the global stage.

The race to select the next UN secretary-general is under way, with candidates framed as needing to be a 'mediator-in-chief' for a divided world. Commentary on the contest argues it highlights the multiple crises confronting the United Nations, from wars to institutional gridlock, as member states weigh who can restore the organisation's diplomatic clout.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan delivered a statement at the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. As is customary for the annual gathering of world leaders, his address covered Pakistan's positions on international issues before the assembled delegations.

An Ebola outbreak is dominating discussions as world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly. Health officials and governments are facing questions over containment efforts, funding and cross-border preparedness, with the outbreak expected to feature in leaders' speeches and side meetings during the annual gathering.

Commentators are summarising the key takeaways from this year's UN General Assembly meeting in New York. The annual gathering brings world leaders together for speeches and diplomacy, and observers are weighing what the discussions signal for global cooperation, ongoing conflicts and international priorities going forward.