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United Nations General Assembly

United Nations General Assembly
The latest news and top stories on United Nations General Assembly. A prominent New York City-based international governmental body, the United Nations General Assembly is the main deliberative policymaking and representative organ of the UN. Its primary mission is to discuss debate and make recommendations on international peace and security, development, human rights and international law. Comprising all 193 member states, it serves as a unique forum for multilateral discussion. Notable contributions include promulgating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and adopting the Sustainable Development Goals.
A screen shows Rafael Grossi speaking at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday. Photo: AP
United Nations

UN leadership race takes centre stage with first round of interviews

Contenders strike sombre tones during interviews as the next leader faces a huge task to revitalise an organisation in crisis.

United Nations

UN designates African slave trade as ‘gravest crime against humanity’

United Nations

Opinion | More than funding, the UN needs restructuring

United Nations

‘World stands at a crossroads’: UN chief issues grim New Year message

Antonio Guterres laments US$2.7 trillion global arms race and urges leaders to choose ‘people and planet over pain’ in 2026.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Photo: AFP
Women and gender

Opinion | Together, we can move closer to eliminating violence against women

No jurisdiction is spared from gender-based violence. Thus international cooperation is essential to build momentum and find solutions.

Israel-Gaza war

UN Security Council approves Trump plan for the future of Gaza

There were 13 votes in favour of the Gaza resolution, but both Russia and China abstained.

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United Nations

Language Matters | How multilingualism can help us work towards global peace and tolerance

Inclusion of and support for diverse languages are crucial for fulfilling goals of tolerance, peace, justice and building a future together.

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Multilingualism is vital for global cooperation, says Lisa Lim, and it has developed to be a core UN value. Photo: Shutterstock
Israel-Gaza war

ICJ rules Israel must allow UNRWA access to Gaza for aid

ICJ demands Israel permit UNRWA aid to Gaza, citing famine risks and humanitarian obligations under international law.

Indonesia

From pledges to policy: Indonesia’s Prabowo marks 1 year in office

His energetic diplomacy is boosting Indonesia’s profile abroad, but concerns over civil liberties and the economy remain.

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United Nations

UN to slash 25% of global peacekeeping force due to funding strains

The US, the UN’s largest donor, reduced its contribution by hundreds of millions, forcing cuts to peacekeeping missions.

UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo in January. File photo: Reuters
China-Latin America relations

Argentina tightens sorghum rules to boost China trade, risking new clash with US

Buenos Aires updates grain standards to meet Chinese demand, shifting exports from once-dominant US suppliers.

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Government data showed China has become Argentina’s dominant sorghum buyer, taking nearly all shipments this year. Photo: Shutterstock
Diplomacy

US retreat from UN may create ‘tremendous opportunity’ for nations like China

Global body is at a crossroads, and observers say a ‘leaderless’ era could emerge during second Trump administration.

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TikTok

Just Saying | Here’s proof that the world has gone mad

In a world that feels increasingly like the twilight zone, where not much makes sense anymore but everyone carries on with business as usual, here are some prime examples of madness.

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United Nations

Letters | UN must confront its paralysis or risk becoming a stage for posturing

Readers discuss the United Nations’ crisis of credibility, a fireworks stunt in the Himalayas, and the US-Russia-China nuclear impasse.

US President Donald Trump speaks at the general debate of the UN General Assembly on September 23 in New York. Photo: dpa
Israel-Gaza war

Trump says Netanyahu agreed to US-sponsored Gaza peace proposal at US talks

The 20-point plan does not require people to leave Gaza and calls for the war to end immediately if both sides accept it.

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US President Donald Trump, left, welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington on Monday. Photo: Zuma Press Wire / dpa
Israel-Gaza war

Hamas says it lost contact with 2 hostages as fighting intensifies

The fate of the two hostages could cast a shadow over a meeting between Israeli PM Netanyahu and US President Trump on Monday.

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Russia

Russia tells West any aggression will be met with ‘decisive response’

Foreign Minister Lavrov warned against attempts to shoot down aircraft in Russian airspace and accused Germany of militaristic rhetoric.

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New Zealand

New Zealand bucks trend, won’t recognise Palestinian state ‘for now’

The surprise move puts New Zealand out of step with traditional partners such as Australia, the UK and Canada.

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New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters speaks at the UN General Assembly on Friday. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

Exclusive | India-US trade talks on UN sidelines fail to break impasse

US officials say India’s tariff rates will only be lowered if it curbs its crude oil imports from Russia.

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United Nations

Calls grow for first female UN chief in 80 years: ‘let’s make history’

All nine people to hold the top job have been men, including Secretary General Antonio Guterres, whose second term ends next year.

Israel-Gaza war

Trump says Gaza deal near, hostages could soon be freed

The US president is set to meet Israeli PM Netanyahu on Monday in a bid to reach a framework for the agreement.

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Supporters of Israeli hostages held in Gaza demonstrate at the Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, Israel, on Wednesday. Photo: EPA
Israel-Gaza war

Netanyahu defies UN walkout, vows to ‘finish the job’ in Gaza

The speech was given amid ICC accusations and a genocide case, leading many delegates to walk out just as Israel’s leader was about to speak.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Friday. Photo: Reuters
TikTok

Trump’s TikTok sign-off, China climate target, Zijin Gold IPO

This week: Trump approves planned US TikTok deal, Xi unveils 2035 emissions targets, super typhoon batters Hong Kong. Next week: September PMI, golden week travel rush, K-type tech visa, world’s biggest indoor ski centre opens and more.

South Korea

South Korea’s Lee among leaders stuck in New York traffic by Trump’s motorcade

During the chaos of the UN summit, France’s Macron and Turkey’s Erdogan were also delayed by traffic as Trump’s motorcade took priority.

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US-China relations

Trump administration ties Argentina support to rollback of China credit line

Washington warns US$18 billion China swap endangers Argentina’s sovereignty and boosts Beijing’s sway in South America.

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Argentine President Javier Milei leaves the podium after speaking at the general debate of the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday. Photo: Zuma
Israel-Gaza war

Abbas tells UN: no room for Hamas in post-war Gaza, calls Israeli war ‘genocide’

Mahmoud Abbas spoke to UN General Assembly via video after his US visa was revoked, offered a vision for a Gaza run by Palestinian Authority.

President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas speaks via video conference during the General Debate of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly on Thursday. Photo: EPA
Donald Trump

Trump says Secret Service probing ‘sabotage’ of escalator at UN

The US president also cited a teleprompter failure and sound problems during his speech, calling them ‘very sinister events’.

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United States

Editorial | Trump’s speech raises questions about the future of the UN

There is an urgent need to restore the credibility of the organisation through reform, particularly of the Security Council.

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