Latest United Nations General Assembly News

UN investigative team says Syria's new authorities 'very receptive' to probe of Assad war crimes

Dec. 24, 2024 01:06 AM EST

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. organization assisting in investigating the most serious crimes in Syria said Monday the country’s new authorities were “very receptive” to its request for cooperation during a just-concluded visit to Damascus, and it is preparing to deploy. The...

UN General Assembly asks court to say what Israel needs to provide in Gaza

Dec. 19, 2024 19:35 PM EST

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution Thursday asking the U.N.’s highest court to state what Israel’s obligations are in Gaza and the West Bank to provide humanitarian assistance essential for the survival of Palestinian civilians. The vote on...

Hearings are done: Now the wait begins for verdict on closely-watched climate case at UN’s top court

Dec. 13, 2024 13:25 PM EST

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A lawyer for a small South Pacific island nation told the world’s highest court to heed her warning. “Tuvalu will not go quietly into the rising sea,” Phillipa Webb said, hoping her ominous words this week would make a mark as two weeks of...

UN General Assembly demands ceasefire in Gaza and backs UN agency helping Palestinian refugees

Dec. 11, 2024 20:12 PM EST

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly approved resolutions Wednesday demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban. The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9, with 13...

Closely-watched international climate case in the Hague wraps up its first week of testimony

Dec. 06, 2024 13:53 PM EST

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A closely-watched international climate case that could yield guidance for governments around the world wrapped its first week of arguments before the top court of the United Nations in The Hague Friday. The case, though not binding, is expected to spell out what...

Key UN committee adopts resolution paving the way for a first-ever treaty on crimes against humanity

Nov. 23, 2024 01:08 AM EST

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — A key U.N. General Assembly committee adopted a resolution late Friday paving the way for negotiations on a first-ever treaty on preventing and punishing crimes against humanity after Russia dropped amendments that would have derailed the effort. The...

UN General Assembly condemns the US economic embargo of Cuba for a 32nd year

Oct. 30, 2024 17:06 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to condemn the American economic embargo of Cuba for a 32nd year after its foreign minister strongly criticized the Biden administration and expressed hope a new president would end it. The vote in the...

Where has Cameroon’s 91-year-old leader been? In Europe, an official says

Oct. 08, 2024 17:39 PM EDT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Authorities in Cameroon on Tuesday dismissed widespread speculation about the health of 91-year-old President Paul Biya after a long public absence, saying he is on a visit to Europe and doing well. Biya was last seen in public at the China-Africa summit in...

Leaders depart UN facing prospect of a wider Mideast war — but with a blueprint for a better future

Sep. 30, 2024 21:03 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — They gathered at the United Nations surrounded by unsettling warnings of an escalating conflict that could engulf the Middle East and further shatter international relations that are based on "multilateralism" — nations working together and sharing power. A week later,...

On a day when isolated nations get their say at the UN, North Korea reups condemnation of US

Sep. 30, 2024 20:10 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — North Korea condemned the United States and its allies Monday for “stirring up military confrontations still further" by engaging in war games in the Asia-Pacific region and “talking unceasingly” about regime change in the diplomatically isolated nation. U.N....