Obama to UN: US Can't Solve World's Problems

Leaders of China, Libya, Japan, US make first General Assembly speeches

(NEWSER) - This week the world's heads of government gather in New York for the annual UN General Assembly, and attention will be focused on four leaders—two new to office, two long in power—making their debuts at the green marble lectern. NPR outlines who to watch:

• Hu Jintao: He'll be the first Chinese head of state at the General Assembly since the country joined the UN. He'll use the rare appearance to push for economic cooperation—but many see a sign of China's newly assertive foreign stance.

Especially because he made it so close to Ground Zero

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama was definitely not a fan of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s UN speech , in which he called for an inquiry into 9/11 conspiracy theories. “It was offensive. It was hateful,” Obama told the BBC today. “Especially for him to make the statement here in Manhattan, just a little north of Ground Zero … was inexcusable.” More»

Ignore the cynics, Obama urges

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama gave his second speech to the UN General Assembly today, and spent most of his time calling for support for the US’ latest stab at peace in the Middle East. “Peace must be made by Israelis and Palestinians, but each of us has a responsibility to do our part as well,” Obama said, according to Politico . “Now I recognize many are pessimistic about this process,” he allowed. “But consider the alternative.” More»

Manages to get Russia and China to cooperate

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama scored two significant victories at the UN yesterday, cajoling Dmitry Medvedev into saying he would get behind tougher nuclear sanctions against Iran, and convincing both Russia and China to support a resolution strengthening the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Publicly the administration wouldn’t acknowledge any quid-pro-quo, but several official tell the New York Times that the US won Russia over in part by ditching its plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe. More»

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama began his second day in Russia by meeting with Vladimir Putin at the president-turned-prime minister's country home outside Moscow. The two leaders both expressed a desire for improved relations, and observers said they had a cordial discussion. The president then addressed a Moscow economics university, where he told students that the US and Russia are not "destined to be antagonists." More»