UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Developments at the United Nations General Assembly as marks its 70th year and world leaders debate issues gripping the global community and governments.
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10:20 a.m.
Brazil's president says her country's deeply troubled economy is in a "moment of transition to another cycle of economic expansion," one that is more profound, solid and long-lasting.
President Dilma Rousseff spoke to a packed chamber Monday at the annual U.N. General Assembly of world leaders. President Barack Obama was set to speak after her.
This is a time of extreme volatility for Brazil's economy, with inflation hovering around 10 percent and unemployment the highest in decades.
But Rouseff told world leaders that the economy is "stronger, more solid and resilient than some years ago."
Credit agency Standard & Poor's downgraded the country's sovereign debt to "junk" status earlier this month.
Rousseff has submitted a budget to Congress with a built-in deficit of about $10 billion.
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9:05 a.m.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for the first time is calling for the situation in Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court.
In his state of the world address to leaders from the U.N.'s 193 member states, Ban says "innocent Syrians pay the price of more barrel bombs and terrorism" and there must be no impunity for "atrocious" crimes.
His call opened the annual General Assembly gathering of world leaders that includes addresses from President Barack Obama, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday morning alone.
Ban says five countries "hold the key" to a political solution to Syria: Russia, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iran.
The U.N. chief says the Syrian conflict is "driven by regional powers and rivalries."