UN General Assembly concludes General Debate
The General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly concluded on Monday.
In her closing remarks, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said 189 UN member states delivered speeches at the General Debate, including those from 124 heads of state and government.
"At the beginning of this week, we referred to the United Nations as the house of diplomacy and dialogue, standing at a crossroads, a place where we gather to have hard conversations during challenging times," she said. "If this high-level week is an indication, this house is fulfilling that purpose: the United Nations is still relevant."
Trump says Israel agrees to White House Gaza ceasefire plan
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to a 20-point plan proposed by the Trump administration aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza, following their talks at the White House.
"I also want to thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for agreeing to the plan and for trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that we've seen for so many years, decades, even centuries, and begin a new chapter of security, peace and prosperity for the entire region," Trump told a joint press conference with Netanyahu at the White House.
EU restores sanctions against Iran
The Council of the European Union on Monday announced that it was reimposing a broad range of sanctions on Iran, citing Tehran's failure to comply with its nuclear commitments under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The sanctions cover travel bans, asset freezes, and restrictions on trade, finance, and transport. They also include bans on Iranian oil, gas and petrochemical imports, the supply of energy-sector equipment and precious metals, as well as limits on Iranian banks and cargo flights.
UK Chancellor vows to build renewed economy amid growth challenges
British Chancellor Rachel Reeves has vowed to build a renewed economy, rejecting austerity, supporting public services, boosting investment and decreasing inflation.
When addressing the Labour's annual party conference on Monday, Reeves laid out some specific measures, including funding libraries in primary schools, offering job opportunities to qualified young people who are out of work or education over a certain period of time, tackling the housing crisis, ensuring fiscal stability and improving infrastructure.
Madagascar's president announces dissolution of government
Andry Rajoelina, president of Madagascar, on Monday announced the dissolution of the government and promised to appoint a new prime minister within three days.
"I have decided to terminate the duties of the prime minister and the members of the government," he said in a televised address.
The announcement followed days of protests in major cities across the country, including the capital Antananarivo, over frequent power outages and water shortages. Some demonstrations turned violent, with incidents of looting causing significant economic damage.■
