What to know as U.N. General Assembly opens, marking 80 years, tackling deep crises

"World leaders are preparing for their 15 minutes on the world stage as the United Nations General Assembly high-level week gets underway Tuesday in New York. This year, the world body is marking its 80th anniversary, but diplomats don't have much to celebrate. The U.N. Security Council has been deadlocked over Russia's war against Ukraine and Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. The United Nations itself is facing financial cutbacks, largely from the United States."

"The U.N.'s top humanitarian and emergency relief official Tom Fletcher says the U.N. system is facing 'this perfect strom: underfunded, overstretched and under attack.' It has lost 40% of its funding since last year and aid workers have been killed in record numbers, mostly in Gaza. President Trump has cut funding and pulled the U.S. out of the World Health Organization and UNESCO."

The U.N. General Assembly high-level week convenes in New York as the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary amidst limited diplomatic successes. The U.N. Security Council is deadlocked over Russia's war against Ukraine and Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. The U.N. system faces severe financial cutbacks, having lost 40% of its funding since last year. Humanitarian operations are underfunded, overstretched, and under attack, with aid workers killed in record numbers, mostly in Gaza. The United States has cut funding, withdrawn from the World Health Organization and UNESCO, and opposes Sustainable Development Goals-related resolutions.

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