UNITED NATIONS: President Joe Biden summoned the world's nations to forcefully address the festering global issues of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and human rights abuses in his first address before the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. He decried military conflict and insisted the US is not seeking 'a new Cold War' with China.

But while stressing to fellow world leaders the urgency of working together, Biden avoided addressing criticism from allies about the chaotic US withdrawal from Afghanistan and a diplomatic tempest with France.