UPDATING LIVE: UN General Assembly votes by large majority for immediate humanitarian ceasefire during emergency session

UPDATING LIVE: UN General Assembly votes by large majority for immediate humanitarian ceasefire during emergency session

Video feed of the Emergency Special Session of the General Assembly. 4:26 PM Resolution adopted The vote on the main resolution is as follows: For: 153 Against: 10 Abstaining: 23 The resolution has passed by a large majority, securing the needed two-thirds of members. Widespread applause rings out around the General Assembly Hall. 4:24 PM…

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UPDATING LIVE: UN General Assembly debates US embargo against Cuba

UPDATING LIVE: UN General Assembly debates US embargo against Cuba

10:14 AM Chile Paula Narváez Ojeda, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Chile, reaffirmed her country’s conviction that the implementation of unliteral coercive measures runs counter to international law “Chile does not agree with the imposition of unilateral sanctions of any kind, the only legitimate sanctions are those adopted by the Security Council in the exercise…

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Explainer: What is a UN General Assembly emergency special session and why it matters

Explainer: What is a UN General Assembly emergency special session and why it matters

What’s an emergency special session? When the UN Security Council is unable to shoulder its primary responsibility to maintain international peace and security, as has thus far been the case following the 7 October outbreak of the latest Israel-Palestine crisis, the General Assembly can consider the matter immediately in an emergency special session. UN Member…

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Gaza crisis: General Assembly adopts resolution calling for ‘humanitarian truce’, civilian protection

Gaza crisis: General Assembly adopts resolution calling for ‘humanitarian truce’, civilian protection

The resolution breaks the deadlock at the UN over a response to the Israel-Palestine crisis which erupted on 7 October, where Member States on the Security Council have failed to reach agreement on four draft resolutions. Voting result The breakdown of the recorded vote, conducted shortly before 4 PM (New York time), included 120 members…

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UN General Assembly elects 15 new members to Human Rights Council

UN General Assembly elects 15 new members to Human Rights Council

After the ballots were cast and counted, Assembly President Dennis Francis announced Albania, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kuwait, Malawi, and the Netherlands were elected to serve for three years, beginning 1 January 2024. China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, France, and Malawi were re-elected for their second terms. …

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A ‘club of elites’ will not realise the multilateral future we need, Holy See tells UN Assembly

A ‘club of elites’ will not realise the multilateral future we need, Holy See tells UN Assembly

Real reform of the UN is vital to ensure an effective multilateral system, said Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States, as he argued for “a return to listening and dialogue” to solve conflicts and lessen the suffering of humanity. “Any reform of the United Nations must not be based in first instance on…

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‘The world cannot afford Cold War 2.0,’ Pakistan leader tells UN Assembly

‘The world cannot afford Cold War 2.0,’ Pakistan leader tells UN Assembly

Addressing the Assembly’s annual general debate, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, said, “the world cannot afford Cold War 2.0,” because there are a raft of challenges facing humankind that can only be addressed through global cooperation. Multiple shocks Indeed, a series of external “shocks” – COVID-19, climate change and conflict – have devastated developing economies, reversed decades of…

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At UN Assembly, Nepali Prime Minister urges focus on common goals

At UN Assembly, Nepali Prime Minister urges focus on common goals

He highlighted Nepal’s unique position as regards climate change, saying that even with low emissions, vast forested areas that help preserve biodiversity, Nepal “suffers unfairly from climate crisis.” “This kind of mismatch must be addressed,” the Prime Minister said, urging a mechanism to compensate countries making a positive difference in greening the planet. “On our…

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