United Nations news covering Security Council resolutions, General Assembly sessions, peacekeeping, humanitarian efforts, and international cooperation.
A Change.org petition for the #CorrectTheMap campaign has gathered more than 11,000 signatures supporting Togo's proposal to phase out the Mercator projection. UN adoption would not mandate usage but aims to shift perceptions, with Togo planning implementation events with UNESCO and tech brands like Google Maps next year.
The UN Environment Programme's assessment confirms the 1.5°C limit is unavoidable, with global heating projected to reach at least 1.8C. Scientists warn that warming up to 3C could cause glaciers to lose over a quarter of their mass by 2100 and raise sea levels by up to 13cm.
Richard Horton argues that the World Health Organization is currently at its weakest point since 1998, despite claims of increased necessity. He suggests that restoring global trust and institutional strength requires addressing historical crises and mistrust, urging a fundamental reevaluation of the agency's operational credibility.
The UN Convention to Combat Desertification concluded its COP17 conference in Ulaanbaatar with a $1.3 billion pledge for 23 projects across five continents. A new catalytic financing platform was also established to mobilize up to $400 million specifically for drought resilience and proactive preparedness against land degradation.
The article reports on the UN General Assembly's vote regarding a resolution to promote equal-area map projections, such as Equal Earth, over the traditional Mercator projection. It outlines arguments that Mercator distorts perceptions of Africa and equatorial regions by enlarging northern landmasses.
The UN General Assembly has approved merging the UN System Staff College and UNITAR to create the UN Institute for Capability and Learning Innovation. Headquartered in Geneva, the new body launches in January 2027 to streamline training for member states and UN staff under the UN80 reform initiative.
Haiti's Foreign Ministry has urged the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of the international Gang Suppression Force before it expires on September 30. Officials cite rising gang violence and the need to secure December elections as critical reasons for continued international support.
The Washington Examiner argues that the UN Security Council must urgently extend the arms embargo to all of Sudan and explicitly include drones. The author contends that the current Darfur-specific restrictions are strategically negligent given the war's nationwide scale and high civilian casualty rates from drone strikes.
The UN Human Rights chief called for greater action to end Sri Lanka's long legacy of impunity in a new report. While acknowledging anti-corruption steps, the UN highlighted a lack of progress on accountability for international crimes committed during the nearly three-decade armed conflict.
The Wall Street Journal editorial board argues that the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has proven ineffective and detrimental to regional stability. Despite this assessment, the article contends that France remains committed to maintaining the peacekeeping mission rather than withdrawing it.