What to know as U.N. General Assembly opens, marking 80 years, tackling deep crises

Michele Kelemen

September 22, 2025 / 3:00 am

World leaders are preparing for their 15 minutes on the world stage as the United Nations General Assembly high-level week gets underway Tuesday in New York.

This year, the world body is marking its 80th anniversary, but diplomats don't have much to celebrate. The U.N. Security Council has been deadlocked over Russia's war against Ukraine and Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza . The United Nations itself is facing financial cutbacks, largely from the United States.

Here are a few of the things that we will be watching.

Is the U.N. fit for purpose in the 21st century?

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That was expected to be one of the big themes of the 80th U.N. General As

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