Superpowers cannot solve world’s problems, UN chief says in final general assembly address

Antonio Guterres says humanity faces unprecedented convergence of threats but mechanisms for collective action are under growing strain

The world's fault lines have turned from cracks into canyons as superpowers show that they alone do not have the military, economic and technological power to guarantee security or solve the world's problems, the outgoing secretary general of the United Nations has said in his final address to the general assembly.

In a speech laced with despair but also glimpses of defiant hope, Antonio Guterres said that over the last decade, largely spanning his 10-year period in office, wars erupted with devastating consequences and dragged on with despicable cruelty. Civilians were targeted. Human rights trampled. Hunger weaponised. Humanitarians killed. International law cast aside."