UNGA81

The contest to select the next United Nations Secretary-General is intensifying as world leaders gather in New York for the General Assembly's high-level week. Diplomatic lobbying and positioning around the top UN job are drawing attention alongside the annual speeches, with candidates and member states vying for support in what is shaping up to be a closely watched race.

At the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Niger thanked Algeria, Sweden highlighted its commitment to women's rights, and China addressed the situations in Gaza and Cuba. The remarks came during the annual general debate, where member states set out their foreign policy priorities. Niger's gratitude to Algeria points to regional diplomacy in the Sahel, while China's statements underscore its positions on the Gaza conflict and Cuba.

Global leaders are gathering on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss the future of development finance, with a focus on how multilateral lenders can fund sustainable growth. CAF, the Development Bank of Latin America, is highlighting its role in shaping financing models for emerging economies. Discussions centre on reforming global financial systems so developing countries can access affordable capital for infrastructure and climate priorities.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met European Union counterparts in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's high-level week. He said talks covered India-EU cooperation and multilateral issues, including developments in the Gulf, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific. The meeting comes as India and the EU continue deepening strategic and trade ties amid global tensions.

International IDEA, the Stockholm-based intergovernmental institute supporting democracy worldwide, says it will work to put democracy on the agenda of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. The organisation announced its planned participation and priorities for UNGA81, framing democratic resilience as a matter for multilateral cooperation at a time of global democratic backsliding.

The Education Above All Foundation is using the UN General Assembly's 81st session to press for stronger protection of education in crisis zones and to promote innovative financing for schooling in emergencies. The Qatar-based foundation is presenting its work on safeguarding children's access to learning during conflict and displacement, while urging governments and donors to back new funding mechanisms for education in emergencies.