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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.

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington on Wednesday that China’s UN missions also “serve a dual purpose as eyes and ears on the ground”. Photo: Reuters

US-China relations

US lawmakers accuse China of using UN peacekeeping forces to spy on countries

Chinese peacekeeping roles are ‘concentrated in strategically sensitive regions’ to gain intelligence, House Foreign Affairs Committee told.

5 hours agovideocam

Americas and the Caribbean

Cuban dissident artist Otero Alcantara lands in US exile

19 Jul 2026 - 7:18AMvideocam

US-China relations

UN bloated, costly, but China fears to keep US involved, House committee told

30 Apr 2026 - 11:09PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

‘Might over right’ imperils international justice, Wang Yi tells UN’s Baerbock

UN General Assembly president meets Chinese foreign minister in Beijing amid Iran war tensions and global energy crisis.

29 Apr 2026 - 8:24PMvideocam

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.

23 Apr 2026 - 12:47PM

United Nations

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

US, Israel and Argentina opposed the UN measure, while Britain and EU member states abstained.

26 Mar 2026 - 1:37PM

United Nations

Opinion | More than funding, the UN needs restructuring

The UN’s financial strain is a chance to rethink its structure, cut inefficiencies and empower local work that delivers more impact.

15 Feb 2026 - 5:30AM

Internally displaced Palestinians walk among the ruins of the Al Tuffah neighbourhood in eastern Gaza City on February 11. The UN human rights office has maintained a presence in Gaza despite the challenges. Photo: EPA

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.

30 Dec 2025 - 11:21AM

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.

25 Nov 2025 - 9:30AM

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.

18 Nov 2025 - 5:17PM

The Gaza Strip has been largely reduced to rubble after two years of fighting, sparked by Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Photo: Reuters

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.

26 Oct 2025 - 8:15AM

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.

22 Oct 2025 - 11:15PM

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.

21 Oct 2025 - 7:04PMvideocam

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.

9 Oct 2025 - 12:23PM

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.

6 Oct 2025 - 11:11PMvideocam

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.

5 Oct 2025 - 7:05AMvideocam

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.

2 Oct 2025 - 1:18AM

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.

30 Sep 2025 - 11:30AM

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.

30 Sep 2025 - 6:08AMvideocam

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.

28 Sep 2025 - 11:06PMvideocam

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.

28 Sep 2025 - 7:05AMvideocam

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a press conference after addressing the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

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.

27 Sep 2025 - 2:19PMvideocam

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.

27 Sep 2025 - 4:18AMvideocam

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.

27 Sep 2025 - 2:40AM

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.

27 Sep 2025 - 12:42AMvideocam

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.

26 Sep 2025 - 10:40PM

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.

26 Sep 2025 - 5:00PM

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.

26 Sep 2025 - 5:20PMvideocam

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United Nations General Assembly

US lawmakers accuse China of using UN peacekeeping forces to spy on countries

Chinese peacekeeping roles are ‘concentrated in strategically sensitive regions’ to gain intelligence, House Foreign Affairs Committee told.

Cuban dissident artist Otero Alcantara lands in US exile

UN bloated, costly, but China fears to keep US involved, House committee told

‘Might over right’ imperils international justice, Wang Yi tells UN’s Baerbock

UN General Assembly president meets Chinese foreign minister in Beijing amid Iran war tensions and global energy crisis.

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.

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

US, Israel and Argentina opposed the UN measure, while Britain and EU member states abstained.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}Opinion | More than funding, the UN needs restructuring

The UN’s financial strain is a chance to rethink its structure, cut inefficiencies and empower local work that delivers more impact.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}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.

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.

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.

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.

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’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.

Opinion | More than funding, the UN needs restructuring

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