World leaders gather at United Nations General Assembly amid wars, AI fears, and climate shocks

World leaders met at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, facing wars in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Congo, and Myanmar, as well as concerns about runaway artificial intelligence and climate shocks. The meeting also addressed the UN's financial crisis, with the US owing billions in arrears, and the upcoming end of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' term. Leaders like US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron spoke, while Russian President Vladimir Putin and Indian President Narendra Modi were absent. The UN Security Council added a high-level meeting on AI to its agenda.