The United Nations General Assembly (Unga) is getting under way in New York City - our North America editor takes you through what to expect
Nearly 130 heads of state and government attend the annual week-long event to deliver a message from their nation to the world
US President Donald Trump is one of the first due to speak, with France's Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also on today's schedule
Elsewhere, Trump will have his first face-to-face meeting with UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has said he hopes the pair can find "common ground"
Some leaders have already been pictured having talks, with Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seen together last night. Earlier, Burnham walked through Central Park with Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersAndy Burnham met Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez for a stroll in Central Park this morning before the two leaders held a private meeting.
Photos show Burnham in conversation with Spain's PM as they stood in front of skyscrapers towering over the Manhattan park.
Chris Mason
Political editor, travelling with the prime minister
Andy Burnham has woken here in New York to the prospect of this being one of those talking-to-the-archive days. Moments on camera with the potential to be replayed on the loop of his emerging prime ministerial story.
There is the key first face-to-face encounter with President Trump in a few hours’ time. You don’t need to be steeped in political minutiae to spot the potential peril lurking for him there.
Later, a meeting’s expected with Ursula Von Der Leyen of the European Commission.
He will urge her not to use protectionist measures designed to counter China to freeze UK firms out of European contracts.
The prime minister has reflected that Brexit not only created “turbulence” as he put it, but claims “outside actors” sought “to manipulate, to distort facts” and “influence the democratic process” and the UK must be more “clear eyed” about these threats in the future.
Image source, ReutersUK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will have his first face-to-face meeting with Donald Trump at the United Nations in New York later today.
Burnham has travelled to the US with his wife, Marie-France van Heel, for a day of diplomacy and a speech to the UN General Assembly, which is expected to focus on the opportunities and dangers associated with artificial intelligence.
The prime minister told reporters on his flight that he expects to find "common ground" with the president, and he believes the relationship between the UK and US is "as strong as it's ever been".
The two men have spoken by phone twice since Burnham became prime minister in July, with Downing Street saying those calls established a "productive relationship".
Image source, ReutersThe United Nations is an international organisation which was formed after the end of World War Two with the aim of maintaining international peace.
The UN General Assembly is the organisation’s main meeting, during which member states discuss a range of international issues.
It is the only meeting at which all of the 193 UN members are represented and takes place every September at the UN's headquarters in New York.
The gathering also sees the appointment of the new secretary-general on the recommendation of the Security Council, as well as the election of the non-permanent members of that all-important body.
The UN’s budget will also be approved. Part of the meeting includes the general debate, during which representatives from every country in the UN can speak, to raise matters which concern them.
Bernd Debusmann Jr
Traveling with the president
Image source, ReutersIt’s early morning in New York City, where US President Donald Trump has a packed schedule ahead of him.
In a short while, the president will leave Trump Tower to head to the UN, where he is scheduled to deliver remarks at 09:55 ET/14:45 BST.
Administration officials have signalled that much of his speech will focus on what, in his opinion, the US has done to confront challenges around the world, including Iran’s nuclear programme.
Additionally, he is also likely to reiterate long-standing grievances against the UN and some of its member states over topics ranging from climate change to migration, and markets will be watching for any commentary on energy supplies or AI.
Following the speech, Trump has a long series of back-to-back meetings and events, including an event to sign a deal over Greenland, meetings with the UK and Japan’s prime Ministers, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Gulf leaders.
Notably, some of these events will take place without TV crews from the White House press pool which have pulled out of coverage in solidarity with CNN, which Trump has banned from the White House along with Politico and MSNOW.
Stay with us for more updates.
The world's signature diplomatic event is taking place in the shadow of a host of thorny issues. Among them, wars raging in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan - and mounting fears over the threats posed by rapidly advancing AI.
Here the BBC's North America editor Sarah Smith looks at what - and who - will be making the headlines.
Image source, ReutersWorld leaders have descended on New York for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
This year's annual event brings together nearly 130 leaders under the theme, “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all”.
Today we are expecting to hear from UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, who will present his annual report at the event's opening.
This will be followed by speeches from US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham later in the day.
Stick with us as we bring you latest from today's proceedings.
