'The future is raising its voice': A dire mood at UN meeting

United Nations: Racism, climate change and worsening divisions among nations and cultures topped the agenda Wednesday as leaders from China to Costa Rica, from Finland to Turkey to the United Nations itself outlined reasons why the world isn't working as it should - and what must be done quickly to fix it. Said one country's president: "The future is raising its voice at us.”

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began early last year, more than two dozen world leaders appeared in person at the U.N. General Assembly on the opening day of their annual high-level meeting Tuesday. In speech after speech, the atmosphere was somber, angry and dire.

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned that "the world has entered a period of new turbulence and transformation.” Finland President Sauli Niinistö said: "We are indeed at a critical juncture.” And Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado Quesada declared: "The future is raising its voice at us: Less military weaponry, more investment in peace!”