World leaders gather in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly amid escalating crises: war in Ukraine, Middle East turmoil, and for the first time, artificial intelligence topping the agenda. Secretary General António Guterres, stepping down in December after two terms, called the moment "hard to imagine a scenario as threatening." He will deliver his final address Tuesday, urging defense of international law and cooperation against "three existential threats" — runaway AI, climate crisis, and deepening inequalities.

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky will press leaders not to forget his country, while the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and its impact on oil supplies dominate discussions. The U.N. seeks global guardrails for rapidly advancing AI technology.

Meanwhile, the search for Guterres’ successor remains deadlocked. Seven candidates are running after Michelle Bachelet withdrew, but the Security Council has not reached consensus. The U.N., which faced imminent financial collapse in January, recently received $725 million from the United States for the regular budget and $102 million for peacekeeping, though $1.3 billion in dues remains owed. The assembly’s theme — "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformations" — underscores the organization’s struggle for relevance amid Security Council paralysis and funding uncertainty.