NEW YORK – The United Nations General Assembly continues Friday in New York, bringing another day of high-level meetings between world leaders and traffic gridlock in Manhattan.
Here’s what to know about the UNGA today.
NYC Gridlock Alert: Friday street closures & traffic advisories
Local perspective:
The NYC Department of Transportation declared a Gridlock Alert Day for every day this week due to the UN General Assembly. Street closures are in effect on Manhattan’s East Side through Saturday, September 26. They are primarily active while the UNGA is in session, typically until about 9 p.m. each day.
NYC prepares massive security operation for UN General Assembly in Manhattan
New York City officials have launched a massive joint security operation ahead of the 81st UN General Assembly, locking down parts of Manhattan to protect nearly 200 visiting world dignitaries. Despite no specific credible threats, authorities maintain heightened security amid global tensions and high-profile arrivals.
Key street closures include:
First Avenue: Closed from 41st Street to 48th Street.44th through 47th Streets: Closed between First Avenue and Second Avenue.42nd Street: Closed between First Avenue and Second Avenue.FDR Drive: The 42nd Street exit off the FDR Drive will be completely blocked.
NYPD may close additional side streets at their discretion throughout the day.
UN week traffic in NYC
Additional street closures may occur at any time across Manhattan as motorcades and foreign dignitaries move throughout the city. Commuters are strongly urged to take mass transit and avoid driving, if possible.
UN General Assembly Friday speaker schedule
Here is the full list of world leaders scheduled to address the UNGA on Friday, Sept. 25:
Morning session Kiribati – President Taneti MaamauMaldives – Vice President Hussain Mohamed LatheefIraq – Prime Minister Ali Falih Al-ZaidiLebanon – President of the Council of Ministers Nawaf SalamMonaco – Minister of State Christophe MirmandMarshall Islands – President Hilda HeineMalta – Prime Minister Robert AbelaLesotho – Prime Minister Samuel Ntsokoane MatekaneTuvalu – Prime Minister Feleti TeoNorth Macedonia – President of the Government Hristijan MickoskiSolomon Islands – Prime Minister Mathew Cooper WaleSaint Lucia – Prime Minister Philip PierreAlbania – Prime Minister Edi RamaPakistan – Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz SharifPapua New Guinea – Prime Minister James MarapeNiger – Prime Minister of the Transition Government Lamine Zeine Ali MahamanBahamas – Prime Minister Philip Edward DavisHaiti – Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé Afternoon session Guinea-Bissau – Prime Minister Ilídio Vieira TéEgypt – Prime Minister Moustafa Kamal MadboulySaint Vincent and the Grenadines – Prime Minister Godwin FridayTonga – Prime Minister Lord FakafanuaSamoa – Deputy Prime Minister Mulipola Anarosa Ale MoliooSaint Kitts and Nevis – Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey HanleyBahrain – Minister for Foreign Affairs Abdullatif bin Rashid Al ZayaniAzerbaijan – Minister for Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Aziz oglu BayramovKazakhstan – Minister for Foreign Affairs Mukhtar TileuberdiMauritania – Minister for Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Mauritanians Abroad Mohamed Salem MerzougMexico – Minister for Foreign Affairs Roberto Velasco ÁlvarezMauritius – Minister for Foreign Affairs Dhananjay RamfulChad – Minister of Public Health and Prevention Abdelmadjid Abdelrahim MahamatNorway – Minister for Foreign Affairs Espen Barth EideGuatemala – Minister for Foreign Affairs Carlos Ramiro Martínez AlvaradoSweden – Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer StenergardTogo – Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and Togolese Abroad Robert Komlan Edo Dussey
The Source: This article is based on the United Nations General Debate schedule for Friday, Sept. 25 and street closures provided by the NYC Department of Transportation.