World leaders meet at UN as their planet grapples with war, division, runaway AI and climate shocks

The United Nations convenes its annual high-level gathering as the world faces escalating conflicts, AI risks, climate crises, and economic turmoil. World leaders grapple with ongoing wars in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo, and Myanmar, while the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence raises concerns about potential threats to humanity.

Simultaneously, climate shocks and escalating prices are worsening the lives of hundreds of millions of people. The U.N.'s 81-year-old structure, dominated by the victorious nations from World War II, is being called into question as it struggles to address modern global challenges. The reform package proposed by member nations aims to update key institutions like the Security Council, which is heavily influenced by the US, Russia, China, Britain, and France due to their veto power.

However, implementing such reforms proves challenging. The organization's secretary-general, Antonio Guterres, is set to complete his second five-year term at the end of this year, with no clear successor in sight. Among the 130 heads of state and government expected to address the General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron are scheduled to speak.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are also set to address the assembly. Notably, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will deliver his address via video due to the U.S. refusal to grant him a visa. China's President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin have chosen not to attend, with some diplomats suggesting their presence would be a snub.

The United States, which hosts the U.N. at its request, is criticized for its financial contributions, with a $725 million payment made to cover the organization's regular operations. Despite financial struggles, U.N. officials emphasize the importance of multilateralism and cooperation at a time of significant polarization and division.