Will your country’s leader take the podium on Monday? What should you watch for at the 74th UNGA session?

World leaders gathered at the United Nations headquarters in New York City over the past week for the 74th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

All eyes have been on the general debate podium starting September 24 as dozens of leaders used what has been called the world’s largest diplomatic platform to highlight the issues that matter most to their countries.

This year’s UNGA came as tensions flare in the Middle East, the prime minister of the United Kingdom pushes to secure a Brexit deal by the end of October, and demands grow for governments to take greater action to combat climate change.

Here’s a look at the general debate schedule and some key things to watch for.

Monday, September 30 speakers

During the general debate, leaders or country representatives are allotted 15 minutes to address the Assembly, but they are notorious for going overtime.

Here’s a look at the tentative speaker schedule for the last day of the general debate, September 30. The schedule is subject to change.

Morning session

The morning session begins at 9am local time (13:00 GMT).

Eritrea

Brunei

Togo

Thailand

Burundi

Uruguay

East Timor

North Korea

Afghanistan

Canada

Benin

Sri Lanka

Don’t see your country listed? See who spoke earlier in the week here.

Key things to watch for

US-Iran showdown

The stage is set for a US-Iran showdown this week as the leaders of both countries address the UNGA and put forward their competing visions of security in the Middle East.

The United States, Saudi Arabia, Germany, the UK and France blame Iran for this month’s attacks on Saudi oil facilities. Iran has denied responsibility for the attacks, which were claimed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

In his address on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said: “No responsible government should subsidise Iran’s bloodlust.”

“As long as Iran’s menacing behaviour continues, sanctions will not be lifted. They will be tightened,” he said. But he also told UNGA that the US “is ready to embrace friendship with all who genuinely seek peace and respect.”

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned on Wednesday that the Gulf region is “on the edge of collapse”.

He also called US officials criminals for imposing “merciless economic terrorism” on Iran, and said: “A single blunder can fuel a big fire.”

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Although it’s unlikely the pair will meet on the sidelines, Trump has not ruled out a meeting.

“Nothing is ever off the table, completely, but I have no intention of meeting with Iran and that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen,” Trump said earlier this week. “I’m a very flexible person, but we have no intention. It’s not set up.”

Iranian officials have said a meeting is only possible if Trump is “ready to do what is necessary” by exchanging sanctions relief for “permanent monitoring of Iranian nuclear facilities”.

Earlier this week, European countries met with the US and Iranian leaders separately on the sidelines of the UNGA, hoping to help defuse the heightened tensions.

More climate actions

Climate action – or inaction, according to many climate advocates – was a major theme in the days leading up to the UNGA. Days after millions of young people marched worldwide demanding a greater response to climate change, more than 60 leaders met on September 23 for the Climate Action Summit.

Advocates continued their protests and actions throughout the week, with millions taking to the streets around the world for climate strikes.

The first world leader to address the UNGA was Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been heavily criticised for his economic and environmental policies as fires continue to burn in the Amazon. In was his first UNGA appearance and he stressed the need for global powers to respect Brazil’s sovereignty.

Side events

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday made his UNGA debut but had to cut his visit short after Britain’s highest court ruled his decision to prorogue parliament unlawful. Johnson had wanted parliament suspended for five weeks in the run-up to the October 31 Brexit deadline.

The UK is racing towards its departure from the bloc without an exit agreement and with the looming prospect of economic disruption. On September 23, Johnson met European Council President Donald Tusk but no breakthrough appeared to be on the horizon.

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Meetings were also scheduled on Venezuela. On Monday, the US and more than a dozen Latin American countries agreed to investigate and arrest associates and senior officials of the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro who are suspected of crimes, including drug trafficking.

The diplomats, however, stopped short of approving military action. Expect sideline discussions to continue as countries who recognise opposition figure Juan Guaido as Venezuela’s legitimate leader attempt to put more pressure on Maduro, who maintains control of the country’s main state institutions.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has been speaking to Trump on plans to restart US-North Korea talks. The pair met on Monday at the UN and Moon said he hopes working-level negotiations between US and North Korean officials will be held soon to prepare for a third summit between the countries’ leaders. Trump said, however, he would want to know the probable result from a third summit with Kim Jong Un before agreeing to hold it.

Who will not be at the UNGA?

Among the world leaders not attending this year’s UNGA are Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, embattled Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Venezuela’s Maduro, who is seen as illegitimate by more than 50 countries.

Countries whose leaders will not be in attendance will send official delegations instead.

ICYMI: Tuesday, September 24 speakers

The UNGA kicked off last Tuesday. Here’s a look at who spoke.

Morning session

The assembly began with statements by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and UNGA President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, followed by:

Brazil

United States

Egypt

Turkey

Nigeria

Maldives

Qatar

Switzerland

Croatia

Bolivia

Jordan

South Korea

Burkina Faso

France

Chile

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Afternoon session

Angola

Portugal

Rwanda

Finland

Monaco

Niger

Netherlands

Argentina

Latvia

Slovakia

Kazakhstan

Poland

Marshall Islands

Lichtenstein

Peru

Senegal

Italy

Spain

New Zealand

Japan

United Kingdom

Morocco

Wednesday, September 25 speakers

Morning session

Ukraine

Romania

Iraq

eSwatini, formerly known as Swaziland

Liberia

Iran

Lebanon

Republic of Palau

Georgia

Central African Republic

Colombia

Seychelles

Mauritania

Estonia

Guinea

Zambia

Chad

Honduras

Australia

Fiji

Afternoon session

Ecuador

Guatemala

Kenya

Namibia

Panama

Togo

Costa Rica

Libya

Ghana

Lithuania

Ireland

Mali

Kiribati

Zimbabwe

Kuwait

Armenia

Czech Republic

Andorra

Thursday, September 26 speakers

Morning session

Tonga

East Timor

Cyprus

Ethiopia

Bulgaria

Democratic Republic of Congo

Serbia

El Salvador

Sierra Leone

Somalia

Moldova

Palestine

European Union

Suriname

Ivory Coast

The Gambia

Belgium

Luxembourg

Afternoon session

Montenegro

Sao Tome and Principe

Comoros

Nauru

Federated States of Micronesia

Malawi

Dominica

Djibouti

South Sudan

Malta

North Macedonia

Israel

Austria

Hungary

Saudi Arabia

Belarus

Denmark

Tunisia

Cameroon

Dominican Republic

Friday, September 27 speakers

Morning session

Mauritius

Indonesia

Lesotho

India

Norway

Singapore

Pakistan

Jamaica

Slovenia

Barbados

Tajikistan

Albania

Greece

Bahamas

China

Russia

Algeria

Solomon Islands

Afternoon session

Venezuela

Cape Verde

Malaysia

Saint Lucia

Samoa

Vanuatu

Bangladesh

Antigua and Barbuda

Trinidad and Tobago

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Sudan

Paraguay

Iceland

Nepal

Tanzania

Papua New Guinea

Equatorial Guinea

Saturday, September 28 speakers

Morning session

Bhutan

Uganda

Madagascar

Vatican

Vietnam

Syria

Tuvalu

Kyrgyzstan

Cuba

San Marino

Sweden

Mexico

Botswana

South Africa

Grenada

Marshall Islands

Guinea-Bissau

Bahrain

Afternoon session