Latest United Nations General Assembly News
U.S. sanctions officials from Afghanistan to China on declaration of human rights anniversary
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ahead of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the U.S. on Friday imposed sanctions on 20 people, from Afghanistan to China to Haiti to Iran, accused of violating human rights in their respective nations. Included in the sanctions are...
UN nuclear chief says nuclear energy must be part of the equation to tackle climate change
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Nuclear energy must be part of the equation to tackle climate change, the U.N. nuclear chief said Wednesday. Climate-warming hydrocarbons still supply more than 80% of the world’s energy, even after the trillions of dollars spent in the green transition of...
Executions in Iran are up 30%, a new United Nations report says
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Iran is carrying out executions “at an alarming rate,” putting to death at least 419 people in the first seven months of the year, the United Nations chief said in a new report. That's a 30% increase from the same period in 2022. Secretary-General Antonio...
UN forum says people of African descent still face discrimination and attacks, urges reparations
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. body formed to promote respect for and protect people of African descent around the world says in its first report that they continue “to be victims of systemic racial discrimination and racialized attacks” and calls for reparations. The report,...
UN General Assembly calls for 'humanitarian truce' in Gaza leading to halt in Israel-Hamas fighting
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly approved a nonbinding resolution Friday calling for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza leading to a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers, the first United Nations response to the war. The 193-member world...
Hostilities in Syria are the worst in 4 years, with disregard for civilian lives, UN official says
BEIRUT (AP) — The head of the U.N. Commission of Inquiry on Syria said Tuesday that fighting in the country has reached its worst point in years, with devastating consequences for civilians. “We are witnessing the largest escalation of hostilities in Syria in four years,” Paulo...
UN summit of world leaders, by the numbers: The longest speech, the language that dominated and more
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Nearly all the world's on stage, and all the men and but 20 women merely players. That's what a less-inspired Shakespeare might have written about this year's U.N. General Assembly meeting of leaders, which concluded Tuesday. Over six days, a cavalcade of...
Vatican presses world leaders at UN to work on rules for lethal autonomous weapons
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Vatican's top diplomat urged world leaders Tuesday to put a pause on lethal autonomous weapons systems for long enough negotiate an agreement on them, joining a series of U.N. General Assembly speakers who have expressed concern about various aspects of artificial...
North Korea calls South's leader a 'guy with a trash-like brain' as it slams his UN speech
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea on Monday called South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol “a guy with a trash-like brain” and “a diplomatic idiot” as it blasted him for using a U.N. speech to issue a warning over the North’s deepening military ties with Russia. In a...
Back in full force, UN General Assembly shows how the most important diplomatic work is face to face
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — There are two opposing theses about the U.N. General Assembly: It's a place that shows the true power of words, where leaders inspire action with rousing speeches on the urgent issues of our times; or it's a talking shop, where leaders perform for domestic audiences with...
