UN Security Council

Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, is scheduled to brief the United Nations Security Council next week on artificial intelligence, according to Reuters. The session would place the head of one of the world's leading AI companies directly before the body charged with international peace and security, as governments weigh how to regulate advanced AI. Details of the briefing's agenda and who requested it were not immediately available.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres used his last address to the UN General Assembly to repeat calls for global oversight of artificial intelligence and an end to ongoing wars. His remarks come as the Security Council prepares to brief AI leaders on the risks posed by the powerful technology, underscoring how central AI governance has become to the UN's agenda.

The UN arms embargo on Darfur is set to expire on Saturday and would need to be renewed by the UN Security Council. German outlets are highlighting the deadline amid ongoing conflict in Sudan, drawing attention to the Rapid Support Forces, the role of the United Arab Emirates, and the wider regional dimension stretching from Libya to Colombia and Puntland. Observers warn the outcome of the vote carries consequences for civilians in the war-torn region.

Russia's Foreign Minister briefed the press at UN Headquarters in New York. The appearance comes as Moscow's diplomacy remains under intense scrutiny amid ongoing tensions with Western governments. Journalists gathered at the headquarters for the minister's remarks, which drew attention from international media covering the Security Council and Russia's positions on current global disputes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has delivered a speech to the UN Security Council during the General Assembly, with footage of the address now circulating widely. The speech covers Russia's war against Ukraine and is drawing attention alongside related debates on NATO, European security and Poland's role in the conflict.

Technology industry leaders have appealed to the United Nations, asking international bodies to establish oversight of artificial intelligence they helped create, arguing that unchecked development could pose risks to humanity. The appeal, reported by AP News, puts the question of AI governance before the UN Security Council, adding momentum to global debates over how, and by whom, powerful AI systems should be controlled.

Turkiye has called for the abolition of the veto power held by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, renewing a long-running debate over whether the body reflects current global realities. Ankara has repeatedly pressed this position, arguing the veto paralyses the council during major crises. Reform would require amending the UN Charter, and the permanent members — the US, Russia, China, Britain and France — would have to consent, making any change highly unlikely.

Nigerian Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for permanent African representation on the United Nations Security Council, arguing the continent deserves a standing voice in global security decisions. The demand echoes the long-running Ezulwini consensus, backed by the African Union, which seeks at least two permanent seats for Africa. The appeal comes amid ongoing debate over reforming the council, whose permanent membership has remained unchanged since 1945.

Türkiye is promoting its 'world is bigger than five' diplomacy at the United Nations, a position arguing that global governance should not be decided solely by the five permanent Security Council members. Turkish officials frame the country as a stability-seeking mediator and advocate for a more representative international order. The Daily Sabah reports on the initiative.

Iran has called on the UN Security Council to examine the role of European countries in the ongoing war. The appeal, reported by Iranian state media, frames European involvement as a matter requiring international scrutiny. The specifics of what role Iran attributes to European powers remain unclear, and there has been no immediate public response from the European governments concerned or from the Security Council itself.

A new analysis from the Middle East Council examines how the United Nations and the postwar international order are coming under growing strain. It argues that great-power rivalry, regional conflicts and repeated vetoes are weakening the UN's ability to act, prompting debate over reform of the Security Council and whether a new framework for global governance is emerging to replace the one built after 1945.

A commentary argues that power divisions within the United Nations mean diplomacy effectively stops whenever a permanent Security Council member casts a veto. The piece reflects ongoing debate about whether the veto power of the five permanent members blocks collective action on major conflicts and reforms of the UN system.