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| Theresa May gives debut address to UN general assembly – live | Theresa May gives debut address to UN general assembly – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.28pm BST | |
| 21:28 | |
| The UN Leaders’ Summit on refugees is about to begin. | |
| The Guardian’s Patrick Kingsley is on the scene and will bring you more detail from the event as it unfolds, but politicians have squandered a chance to radically rethink the treaties and organisations that govern the world’s handling of refugees, the director of Oxford University’s Refugee Studies Centre told Kingsley earlier. | |
| Interviewed here in New York, Alexander Betts said that the refugee system needs to be rethought in the same way that the international monetary system was reworked in the 1970s. | |
| “The refugee regime was created in the 1950s for Europe and the early Cold War era,” says Betts. “Yes it’s been adapted incrementally but we’ve never had a moment of systematic reflection.” | |
| Betts adds: | |
| “In other areas like the international monetary system, when there was a big crisis as we saw in 1971, reform took place. 2016 should be the refugee system’s 1971. It should involve reflection on our legal model, our organisational model, and our operational model – and that’s what the political capital that we’ve invested in these two days should have gone towards. | |
| But as it is, I think there are achievements, but I’m not sure these achievements reach the level of ambition that the international community should have had in response to the refugee crisis. | |
| 9.16pm BST | |
| 21:16 | |
| Poland joins the UK in announcing that it has begun the process of ratifying the Paris climate agreements, Duda says, invoking the new beginning of the so-called “anthropocene” era. | |
| 9.10pm BST | 9.10pm BST |
| 21:10 | 21:10 |
| The afternoon plenary session is underway. Now speaking is Andrzej Duda, the president of Poland. | The afternoon plenary session is underway. Now speaking is Andrzej Duda, the president of Poland. |
| Poland’s ambassador to the UK has expressed concern about xenophobic attacks on Polish nationals which have begun occurring in Britain following the UK’s vote to leave the European Union. It is not known whether Duda will address the issue in today’s speech. | Poland’s ambassador to the UK has expressed concern about xenophobic attacks on Polish nationals which have begun occurring in Britain following the UK’s vote to leave the European Union. It is not known whether Duda will address the issue in today’s speech. |
| 8.51pm BST | 8.51pm BST |
| 20:51 | 20:51 |
| “We will refuse to give into pressure to give in to pressures for easy votes” Trudeau says. | “We will refuse to give into pressure to give in to pressures for easy votes” Trudeau says. |
| There is a choice to be made. Strong, diverse countires like Canada didn’t happen by accident, and won’t continue without effort. Every single day, we need to choose hope over fear, and diversity over division. Fear has never created a single job. Our citizens, the nearly 7.5 billion people we collectively serve, are better than the cynics and pessimists think they are. People want their problems solved, not exploited. | There is a choice to be made. Strong, diverse countires like Canada didn’t happen by accident, and won’t continue without effort. Every single day, we need to choose hope over fear, and diversity over division. Fear has never created a single job. Our citizens, the nearly 7.5 billion people we collectively serve, are better than the cynics and pessimists think they are. People want their problems solved, not exploited. |
| “Canada is a modest country. We know we can’t solve these problems alone. We know it will be hard work. But we’re Canadian, and we’re here to help,” he concludes. | “Canada is a modest country. We know we can’t solve these problems alone. We know it will be hard work. But we’re Canadian, and we’re here to help,” he concludes. |
| 8.46pm BST | 8.46pm BST |
| 20:46 | 20:46 |
| Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau is giving the final address of the morning session, switching between English and French. | Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau is giving the final address of the morning session, switching between English and French. |
| We need to create economic growth that is broadly shared, because a fair and successful world is a peaceful one. We need to focus on what brings us together, not on what divides us. | We need to create economic growth that is broadly shared, because a fair and successful world is a peaceful one. We need to focus on what brings us together, not on what divides us. |
| In Canada, we see diversity as a source of strength. | In Canada, we see diversity as a source of strength. |
| He says that in recent months Canadians “have opened their arms and hearts” to refugees fleeing the Syrian war, and “welcomed them as new Canadians”. | He says that in recent months Canadians “have opened their arms and hearts” to refugees fleeing the Syrian war, and “welcomed them as new Canadians”. |
| 8.40pm BST | 8.40pm BST |
| 20:40 | 20:40 |
| May says the UK will ratify Paris climate change agreement this year | May says the UK will ratify Paris climate change agreement this year |
| Rowena Mason | Rowena Mason |
| May also used her speech to give her first major commitment that Britain will continue to tackle climate change after leaving the EU, as she promised to ratify the Paris agreement by the end of the year. | May also used her speech to give her first major commitment that Britain will continue to tackle climate change after leaving the EU, as she promised to ratify the Paris agreement by the end of the year. |
| The UK remained determined to “play our part in the international effort against climate change … In a demonstration of our commitment to the agreement reached in Paris, the UK will start its domestic procedures to enable ratification of the Paris agreement and complete these before the end of the year,” she said. | The UK remained determined to “play our part in the international effort against climate change … In a demonstration of our commitment to the agreement reached in Paris, the UK will start its domestic procedures to enable ratification of the Paris agreement and complete these before the end of the year,” she said. |
| The UK was party to negotiations as part of the EU and will be expected to take on emissions reductions based on an EU-wide “burden-sharing” agreement, which is yet to be worked out, reports Rowena Mason. | The UK was party to negotiations as part of the EU and will be expected to take on emissions reductions based on an EU-wide “burden-sharing” agreement, which is yet to be worked out, reports Rowena Mason. |
| May’s decision to speed up ratification will relieve green campaigners and charities amid worries that the new prime minister could start retreating from Britain’s position as a leader on tackling climate change after leaving the EU. She has rarely spoken about the subject in the past and was accused of a regressive step when she abolished the Department for Energy and Climate Change after taking office. | May’s decision to speed up ratification will relieve green campaigners and charities amid worries that the new prime minister could start retreating from Britain’s position as a leader on tackling climate change after leaving the EU. She has rarely spoken about the subject in the past and was accused of a regressive step when she abolished the Department for Energy and Climate Change after taking office. |
| However, pressure on the prime minister to agree to ratify the deal intensified after China and the US made a joint declaration that they would do so earlier in the month. | However, pressure on the prime minister to agree to ratify the deal intensified after China and the US made a joint declaration that they would do so earlier in the month. |
| A UK official said the prime minister’s announcement was “absolutely a reflection of her commitment to delivering on that international agreement where the UK has been at the forefront of efforts”. | A UK official said the prime minister’s announcement was “absolutely a reflection of her commitment to delivering on that international agreement where the UK has been at the forefront of efforts”. |
| You can read the whole piece here. | You can read the whole piece here. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.47pm BST | at 8.47pm BST |
| 8.36pm BST | 8.36pm BST |
| 20:36 | 20:36 |
| “When the British people voted to leave the EU, they did not vote to turn inwards from our partners around the world,” May says. “They demanded action ... but that action must be more global, not less.” | “When the British people voted to leave the EU, they did not vote to turn inwards from our partners around the world,” May says. “They demanded action ... but that action must be more global, not less.” |
| Only we ... can act to ensure this great institution is as relevant to our future as to our past. So let us come together ... and work together to build a better, safer, and more prosperous world for generations to come. | Only we ... can act to ensure this great institution is as relevant to our future as to our past. So let us come together ... and work together to build a better, safer, and more prosperous world for generations to come. |
| 8.32pm BST | 8.32pm BST |
| 20:32 | 20:32 |
| “We should be clear that there is nothing wrong with going in search of a better life ... but countries must be able to exert control over their borders,” May says. She says there are three fundamental principles that need to be established for migration. | “We should be clear that there is nothing wrong with going in search of a better life ... but countries must be able to exert control over their borders,” May says. She says there are three fundamental principles that need to be established for migration. |
| “First, we must make sure that refugees claim asylum in the first safe country they reach,” she says, adding that we should all do more to help those countries where refugees first arrive. | “First, we must make sure that refugees claim asylum in the first safe country they reach,” she says, adding that we should all do more to help those countries where refugees first arrive. |
| Second, she says, a distinction must be made between economic migrants and those fleeing violence. | Second, she says, a distinction must be made between economic migrants and those fleeing violence. |
| And third, she reaffirms the declaration of human rights, saying that “nearly 70 years on we are presented with a new form of slavery” run by organised crime groups. “Trafficked and sold across borders, victims are forced into the kind of existence which is almost beyond imagination. Victims are held captive in squalid conditions and forced into sex and labour.” | And third, she reaffirms the declaration of human rights, saying that “nearly 70 years on we are presented with a new form of slavery” run by organised crime groups. “Trafficked and sold across borders, victims are forced into the kind of existence which is almost beyond imagination. Victims are held captive in squalid conditions and forced into sex and labour.” |
| 8.26pm BST | 8.26pm BST |
| 20:26 | 20:26 |
| May talks now about fighting extremism; she mentions the UK-led resolution on aviation security, on which the UN will vote later. “It is not enough merely to focus on violent extremism; we must focus on ... hate and fear in all their forms,” she continues. | May talks now about fighting extremism; she mentions the UK-led resolution on aviation security, on which the UN will vote later. “It is not enough merely to focus on violent extremism; we must focus on ... hate and fear in all their forms,” she continues. |
| “Across the world today there are 65m people displaced,” she says. “That is equivalent to the entire population of the United Kingdom.” | “Across the world today there are 65m people displaced,” she says. “That is equivalent to the entire population of the United Kingdom.” |
| She calls for an end to the conflict in Syria. | She calls for an end to the conflict in Syria. |
| 8.19pm BST | 8.19pm BST |
| 20:19 | 20:19 |
| “It is a great honour for me to address this assembly for the first time,” May starts. | “It is a great honour for me to address this assembly for the first time,” May starts. |
| She says that the UN began to “deliver security across the globe.” Some of the threats we face today are the same as those faced by the founders, she continues, but some are new - “global warming, international terrorism, and mass movement of unprecedented number of people.” | She says that the UN began to “deliver security across the globe.” Some of the threats we face today are the same as those faced by the founders, she continues, but some are new - “global warming, international terrorism, and mass movement of unprecedented number of people.” |
| “As a new prime minister of the UK, my message is simple: the UK will be a strong, dependable partner internationally. ... we will continue to honour our commitment to spend 0.7 percent of our GDP on development.” | “As a new prime minister of the UK, my message is simple: the UK will be a strong, dependable partner internationally. ... we will continue to honour our commitment to spend 0.7 percent of our GDP on development.” |
| She says that the UK will continue to be “a steadfast member of the security council,” and condemns the bombing of the aid convoy in Syria yesterday. | She says that the UK will continue to be “a steadfast member of the security council,” and condemns the bombing of the aid convoy in Syria yesterday. |
| She says, however, that those standing before the assembly must not forget that they serve their people at home, and that many have been left behind by globalization. “We need this, our United Nations, to forge a bold new multilateralism.” | She says, however, that those standing before the assembly must not forget that they serve their people at home, and that many have been left behind by globalization. “We need this, our United Nations, to forge a bold new multilateralism.” |
| 8.14pm BST | 8.14pm BST |
| 20:14 | 20:14 |
| Theresa May to speak now | Theresa May to speak now |
| Rowena Mason | Rowena Mason |
| It is the new prime minister’s second outing on the international stage after attending the G20 summit in China earlier this month, reports Rowena Mason. | It is the new prime minister’s second outing on the international stage after attending the G20 summit in China earlier this month, reports Rowena Mason. |
| She made a similar warning in Hangzhou about anti-globalisation sentiment, which has been linked to the rise of populist movements and leaders in many countries across the world, from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the US to the leftwing party Syriza in Greece. | She made a similar warning in Hangzhou about anti-globalisation sentiment, which has been linked to the rise of populist movements and leaders in many countries across the world, from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in the US to the leftwing party Syriza in Greece. |
| May’s priority at both summits has also been to reassure world leaders that the UK is not turning away from the world because of the vote to leave the EU. | May’s priority at both summits has also been to reassure world leaders that the UK is not turning away from the world because of the vote to leave the EU. |
| She will meet the presidents of Turkey and Egypt on Tuesday morning before having her second meeting in a fortnight with the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe. Their discussion comes after Tokyo warned at the G20 that companies could withdraw from the UK without more clarity about access to the single market and other benefits of the EU after Brexit. | She will meet the presidents of Turkey and Egypt on Tuesday morning before having her second meeting in a fortnight with the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe. Their discussion comes after Tokyo warned at the G20 that companies could withdraw from the UK without more clarity about access to the single market and other benefits of the EU after Brexit. |
| On Monday night, May hosted a business reception at the consul general’s residence in New York for US companies such as Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Black Rock, IBM and Morgan Stanley in a bid to convince them that Britain remains a good place to invest. | On Monday night, May hosted a business reception at the consul general’s residence in New York for US companies such as Goldman Sachs, Amazon, Black Rock, IBM and Morgan Stanley in a bid to convince them that Britain remains a good place to invest. |
| May has attracted criticism at the summit for her proposals about refugees, after she suggested it was better to help those fleeing war in the first safe country they reach than to resettle them further away. She argued that the UN needed to help stop “mass uncontrolled migration of people” because it is dangerous, and asserted the right of countries to control their own borders. | May has attracted criticism at the summit for her proposals about refugees, after she suggested it was better to help those fleeing war in the first safe country they reach than to resettle them further away. She argued that the UN needed to help stop “mass uncontrolled migration of people” because it is dangerous, and asserted the right of countries to control their own borders. |
| Speaking before the summit, the prime minister also challenged the arguments for taking in more refugees than the total to which the UK has already committed. | Speaking before the summit, the prime minister also challenged the arguments for taking in more refugees than the total to which the UK has already committed. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.44pm BST | at 8.44pm BST |
| 8.04pm BST | 8.04pm BST |
| 20:04 | 20:04 |
| Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, the prime minister of Fiji, is talking about February’s Cyclone Winston, as a harbinger of the ecological disaster that faces his island nation as global warming increases. | Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, the prime minister of Fiji, is talking about February’s Cyclone Winston, as a harbinger of the ecological disaster that faces his island nation as global warming increases. |
| “If this is what awaits us as global warming increases, then god help us,” he says. “We are facing a nightmare scenario.” | “If this is what awaits us as global warming increases, then god help us,” he says. “We are facing a nightmare scenario.” |
| Our message from the Pacific is this: the two degree cap is not enough. We want the world to go one better and embrace the 1.5 degree cap. ... but as a first step, I appeal to you all to ratify the Paris agreement, and turn our backs on the coalition of the selfish which would rather see the Pacific nations submerged than change their lifestyles. | Our message from the Pacific is this: the two degree cap is not enough. We want the world to go one better and embrace the 1.5 degree cap. ... but as a first step, I appeal to you all to ratify the Paris agreement, and turn our backs on the coalition of the selfish which would rather see the Pacific nations submerged than change their lifestyles. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.08pm BST | at 8.08pm BST |
| 7.58pm BST | 7.58pm BST |
| 19:58 | 19:58 |
| In a dramatic display of Latin America’s political divisions, the delegations of Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua walked out during Brazilian President Michel Temer’s speech at the U.N. General Assembly, according to the Associated Press. | In a dramatic display of Latin America’s political divisions, the delegations of Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua walked out during Brazilian President Michel Temer’s speech at the U.N. General Assembly, according to the Associated Press. |
| Venezuela’s U.N. Ambassador Rafael Ramirez told the AP today that Temer is “an illegitimate president, the product of a coup d’etat. We do not recognize him.” | Venezuela’s U.N. Ambassador Rafael Ramirez told the AP today that Temer is “an illegitimate president, the product of a coup d’etat. We do not recognize him.” |
| Ecuadorean diplomat Carola Iniguez says her country’s delegation walked out “to protest the political situation in Brazil.” | Ecuadorean diplomat Carola Iniguez says her country’s delegation walked out “to protest the political situation in Brazil.” |
| Temer became Brazil’s president following the ouster of Dilma Rousseff by the Senate over accusations of fiscal mismanagement. | Temer became Brazil’s president following the ouster of Dilma Rousseff by the Senate over accusations of fiscal mismanagement. |
| In his speech, Temer defended the impeachment process, insisting it was an example of democracy at work. He said: “impeaching a president is certainly not a trivial matter in a democratic regime. But there is no democracy without rule of law without rules applicable to all, including the most powerful. This is what Brazil is showing the world.” | In his speech, Temer defended the impeachment process, insisting it was an example of democracy at work. He said: “impeaching a president is certainly not a trivial matter in a democratic regime. But there is no democracy without rule of law without rules applicable to all, including the most powerful. This is what Brazil is showing the world.” |
| 7.52pm BST | 7.52pm BST |
| 19:52 | 19:52 |
| Now Erdoğan is calling for reform of the Security Council. “What about the other countries around the world? We ignore them,” he says. “The representative nature of the security council should be effective so that the security council could be more just and fair.” | Now Erdoğan is calling for reform of the Security Council. “What about the other countries around the world? We ignore them,” he says. “The representative nature of the security council should be effective so that the security council could be more just and fair.” |
| 7.44pm BST | 7.44pm BST |
| 19:44 | 19:44 |
| Erdoğan says that Turkey is now home to 2.7m refugees, and he hits out at countries who turn refugees away. | Erdoğan says that Turkey is now home to 2.7m refugees, and he hits out at countries who turn refugees away. |
| “The rest of the world may not but we will keep on admitting them, because they are human being. We will keep our doors open, and we will keep our doors open in the future.” | “The rest of the world may not but we will keep on admitting them, because they are human being. We will keep our doors open, and we will keep our doors open in the future.” |
| The international community has failed its humanitarian values. | The international community has failed its humanitarian values. |
| It is notable that Erdoğan is mentioning Kurdish separatist groups such as the PKK in the same lists as groups like Isis. | It is notable that Erdoğan is mentioning Kurdish separatist groups such as the PKK in the same lists as groups like Isis. |
| This is a fraught topic; Turkey is an ally of the coalition against Isis, but so is Kurdistan, the autonomous northern region in Iraq that is home to the de facto Kurdish state - but Turkey is also home to a large number of Kurds, and the Turkish military has often engaged in fierce fighting with Kurdish separatists within south-eastern Turkey. | This is a fraught topic; Turkey is an ally of the coalition against Isis, but so is Kurdistan, the autonomous northern region in Iraq that is home to the de facto Kurdish state - but Turkey is also home to a large number of Kurds, and the Turkish military has often engaged in fierce fighting with Kurdish separatists within south-eastern Turkey. |
| 7.35pm BST | 7.35pm BST |
| 19:35 | 19:35 |
| “Within the first quarter of the 21st century, mankind has reached the peak in science, economy, development and health,” Erdoğan begins. “However, this achievement conceals a dark face. In Syria, Iraq, and counties in the grip of terrorism around the world, hundreds of thousands of children, young, and elderly, are killed. Refugees running from oppression face derading treatment in many european cities.” | “Within the first quarter of the 21st century, mankind has reached the peak in science, economy, development and health,” Erdoğan begins. “However, this achievement conceals a dark face. In Syria, Iraq, and counties in the grip of terrorism around the world, hundreds of thousands of children, young, and elderly, are killed. Refugees running from oppression face derading treatment in many european cities.” |
| “It’s nigh time to show leadership with a sense of responsibility in addressing these problems in a determined fashion.” | “It’s nigh time to show leadership with a sense of responsibility in addressing these problems in a determined fashion.” |
| Now he turns to the coup, which he describes as being orchestrated by a “terrorist organisation”. | Now he turns to the coup, which he describes as being orchestrated by a “terrorist organisation”. |
| This coup attempt was successfully repelled by our nation, protected heroically her democracy, govt, freedoms, future and const order. That’s why I take pride in my nation as my nation defeated this heinous coup attempt by risking their lives, and for a period of 29 days they never abandoned the squares around Turkey. | This coup attempt was successfully repelled by our nation, protected heroically her democracy, govt, freedoms, future and const order. That’s why I take pride in my nation as my nation defeated this heinous coup attempt by risking their lives, and for a period of 29 days they never abandoned the squares around Turkey. |
| They threw their bodies in front of the tanks. They showed a very noble stance. If I stand here today before you it is thanks to our nation’s brave stance. | They threw their bodies in front of the tanks. They showed a very noble stance. If I stand here today before you it is thanks to our nation’s brave stance. |