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UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Latest on the high-level U.N. General Assembly meetings (all times local): 1:40 p.m. In a dramatic display of Latin America's political divisions, the delegations of Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua walked out during Brazilian President Michel Temer's speech at the U.N. General Assembly. Venezuela's U.N. Ambassador Rafael Ramirez told The Associated Press Tuesday that Temer is "an illegitimate president, the product of a coup d'etat. We do not recognize him." Ecuadorean diplomat Carola Iniguez says her country's delegation walked out "to protest the political situation in Brazil." Temer became Brazil's president following the ouster of Dilma Rousseff by the Senate over accusations of fiscal mismanagement. In his speech, Temer defended the impeachment process, insisting it was an example of democracy at work. He said "impeaching a president is certainly not a trivial matter in a democratic regime. But there is no democracy without rule of law — without rules applicable to all, including the most powerful. This is what Brazil is showing the world." ____ 1:38 p.m. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg plans to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly to discuss measures to avoid accidental confrontation between the alliance and Russian armed forces. "I think it is important to continue to have a chance for political dialogue open, and I look forward to meeting him tomorrow," the NATO chief told The Associated Press on Tuesday. The secretary-general welcomed Russian "interest and willingness to sit down and discuss proposals on risk reduction and transparency." The two leaders will convene Wednesday amid increasing concerns over Russia's drills conducted without advance notification. NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alexander Vershbow estimated that there had been about a dozen in the past two years. ____ 1 p.m. Qatar's emir has criticized the weakness of the U.N. system and the paralysis of the international community in the face of the Syrian civil war and other conflicts. Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani told the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday that "theoretically, the majority of the countries of the world stood by the Syrian people, but practically they were left alone supported only by some loyal friends." He added that "red lines were set for the regime who has violated them, yet those who demarcated those lines have not felt provoked to raise a finger." Al Thani said it is "no longer possible to ignore the weakness of the United Nations' legal and institutional system and its inability in many cases to apply standards of justice and fairness to the mechanisms of its functioning." ____ 12:38 p.m. President Barack Obama says Nigeria has made "real progress" against an extremist organization linked to the Islamic State group. Obama says he and Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari discussed additional ways the country's military can achieve even more progress against Boko Haram militants. The group was responsible for the kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls from the town of Chibok more than two years ago. Many remain missing. The leaders met on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. ____ 11:30 a.m. President Barack Obama is telling world leaders they have to do more to open their hearts to refugees who are desperate for a home. Obama says the world is more secure if leaders are prepared to help people in need, but they have to follow through even when the politics are hard. He says leaders must have the empathy to imagine what it would be like for their families if the unspeakable were to happen. Seemingly speaking of the U.S., Obama says there are a lot of nations doing the right thing, but many countries, particularly those blessed with wealth and the benefits of geography can do more to help. The UN estimates that there are about about 21.3 million refugees forced to flee due to armed conflict or persecution. ___ 11:10 a.m. President Barack Obama is urging nations to reject authoritarianism and embrace more open societies. In his final speech to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Obama says the kind of thinking that favors "the strong man" over true democracy is wrong. He says economies can only grow so much in the 21st century before they will have no choice but to open up to give entrepreneurs access to information or to allow independent media to operate. Obama says democracy is hard work and takes generations, but that the gains are worth the effort. Obama adds that without evolving in the direction of democracy, people's expectations will go unmet, suppression and stagnation will set in and strongmen will be left to crack down on their societies or scapegoat enemies, leading to war. ___ 10:45 a.m. President Barack Obama is telling world leaders that a paradox defines the world today as the world is by many measures less violent and more prosperous than ever before. Yet, he says that people are losing trust in institutions, which makes governing more difficult. Obama says world leaders can choose to press forward with a better model of cooperation and integration, or they can retreat into a world that is sharply divided and ultimately in conflict. Obama is addressing the United Nations for the final time as president. Obama says the benefits of global integration need to be broadly shared. He says the global economy needs to work better for all people, not just those at the top. ___ 9:40 a.m. The top U.S. diplomat has urged Pakistan's prime minister to prevent "all terrorists" from using the nation's territory as safe havens. The appeal from Secretary of State John Kerry to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came as tensions escalated between Pakistan and India after suspected rebels killed 18 Indian soldiers in an attack on a military base in the disputed territory of Kashmir. The State Department said Tuesday that Kerry met Sharif Monday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly. Kerry expressed "strong concern" with the recent violence in Kashmir, particularly Sunday's attack, and called on all sides to reduce tensions. He also urged restraint in nuclear weapons programs. India on Tuesday accused Pakistan of firing at an Indian military position in Kashmir, which Pakistan denied. ___ 9:16 a.m. Taking the world stage for the last time as secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon unleashes years of pent-up anger at leaders who keep "feeding the war machine" in Syria, violate human rights and prevent aid deliveries to starving people. The U.N. chief told leaders at Tuesday's opening of General Assembly's annual ministerial meeting that "powerful patrons" of both sides in the more than five-year Syrian conflict "have blood on their hands" "Present in this hall today are representatives of governments that have ignored, facilitated, funded, participated in or even planned and carried out atrocities inflicted by all sides of the Syria conflict against Syrian civilians," he said. Ban said "many groups have killed innocent civilians — none more so than the government of Syria." And he accused South Sudan's feuding leaders of betraying their people. He said "in too many places, we see leaders rewriting constitutions, manipulating elections and taking other desperate steps to cling to power." ___ 9:10 a.m. Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli kicks off the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly as world leaders convene to address most pressing global and regional issues. Bocelli's performance of Nessun Dorma on Monday earned a standing ovation from heads of state. ___ 9:00 a.m. U.N. officials say at least 20 countries are expected to formally join the Paris Agreement on climate change this week, greatly improving the pact's chances of coming into force just a year after it was negotiated. That's considered a blistering pace in the world of international diplomacy, reflecting a sense of urgency in the fight against global warming and a desire to seal the deal before the Obama administration leaves office. Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Morocco are expected to hand over documents at the U.N. in New York on Wednesday to formally complete the ratification process. At least half a dozen small island nations including Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Kiribati will also follow suit. ___ 8:45 a.m. Standing before the United Nations for the last time as president, Barack Obama will reassure foreign leaders that the world is better equipped to tackle its challenges than at almost any point in history despite a cascade of harrowing crises that seem devoid of viable solutions. Obama's address marks his swan song on the international stage. He stepped into his role eight years ago with sky-high expectations and has struggled to deliver when it comes to solving global problems partially beyond America's control. Ben Rhodes, Obama's deputy national security adviser, said the president was cognizant of the fact that bright spots such as economic growth and climate change cooperation are offset by the "great deal of unease" in the world, including Syria's civil war and concerns about Russia's aggression toward Ukraine.

The Latest: Latin delegations walk out on Brazil's president