What to know from the UN: Biden stops by, Gaza takes the spotlight, a dour world outlook prevails

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The world’s leaders gathered in New York for the beginning of their annual meeting at the U.N. General Assembly. Let’s just say the vibe was pretty grim.

Leader after leader spoke of the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, climate problems, exclusion from U.N. decision making, poor nations struggling to feed their populations. “I cannot recall a time of greater peril than this,” said KING ABDULLAH II of Jordan.

A few speakers, including U.S. President JOE BIDEN, tried to push a message of hope for the future. “We are stronger than we think. We are stronger together than alone,” Biden said. “And what the people call impossible is just an illusion.”

But the U.S. was the target of much veiled criticism for acting unilaterally on the response to the Gaza war: “Impunity” was the word of the day.

Here’s your daily guide to what’s going on at the United Nations this week, day by day:

From the podium

WAR IN GAZA: Many delegates focused their speeches on the war in Gaza. Jordan’s Abdullah said Israel’s campaigns are undermining a key part of the international system protecting human rights. He listed as examples: the bombing of U.N. shelters and schools; inability for U.N. workers to assist; and humanitarian workers being subsumed by the conflict. As for the idea of Palestinians finding new homes in Jordan, he said, forced displacement is a war crime and “that will never happen.”

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