The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly has begun in New York and will continue from September 22 to 28, bringing together heads of state and government and senior representatives from all 193 UN member states.Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is serving as president of the 81st UN General Assembly.Conflicts in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Myanmar are expected to dominate discussions during the session. Leaders will also address disruptions to energy and commodity supplies caused by wars, the rising cost of living, global economic inequality and the growing impacts of climate change.Artificial intelligence is another major issue on the agenda. Despite the rapid development of AI, effective global mechanisms to regulate the technology remain limited. The UN Security Council is scheduled to hold a high-level meeting on AI on Wednesday.While several technology leaders have warned about potential risks associated with AI, US President Donald Trump has dismissed such concerns as a “hoax” and backed continued US development of the technology.Climate change will also receive significant attention. The UN will host a climate conference in New York on September 23, bringing together leaders from developed and developing countries, climate-vulnerable states, and major energy-producing and consuming nations. Discussions are expected to focus on climate cooperation, energy security and climate justice.The UN’s own future and effectiveness will also be under discussion. Although the 193 member states have agreed on a broad reform package for the Security Council, questions remain over its implementation. UN Secretary-General António Guterres will complete his second term on December 31, while diplomatic efforts are underway to select his successor.The organisation’s financial crisis is another concern. The United States has avoided losing its voting rights in the General Assembly this year after paying part of its outstanding contributions. However, financial pressures continue to threaten UN peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron are scheduled to address the General Assembly on Tuesday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian are due to speak on Wednesday, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the assembly on Thursday.Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to deliver his address to the General Assembly on September 24.Several other major world leaders will not attend the session in person. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to meet Trump in Washington instead of travelling to New York, with China's vice president representing the country at the UN. Russian President Vladimir Putin will also not attend, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cancelled his visit.With wars and security crises unfolding alongside climate change, economic inequality, AI-related challenges and questions over UN reform, the 81st General Assembly is set to focus on a wide range of global challenges.As UN Secretary-General António Guterres has said, the need for international cooperation has become even greater at a time of growing uncertainty. Source: AP News and Reuters