The Straits Times World News
· collected 2026-09-04 · by The Straits Times
analysis
The United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt a new world map, known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection, which makes Africa larger while shrinking North America and Europe, with 164 countries in favor and the US voting against it. The resolution aims for a more accurate representation of world geography. Six other states abstained from the vote. The new map is intended to replace the traditional Mercator projection, used since 1569.
A key aspect of this article is the US's stance on the matter, with only one country opposing the adoption of the new map.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 4, the United Nations General Assembly voted to adopt a new world map that more accurately reflects the size of Africa and other continents. The resolution, sponsored by several African countries, including Togo, passed with the support of 164 countries and was opposed only by the United States. The old Mercator projection map had been widely used since the 16th century but had been criticized for distorting the relative size of land masses, making Africa appear smaller than it is. The new Equal Earth cartographic projection more accurately portrays the size of continents, with Africa appearing 14 times larger than Greenland. While the UN resolution is non-binding, it is expected to lead to changes in the maps used by institutions around the world, including schools and technology companies. Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey said that maps "guide education, nourish the imagination, and influence collective perceptions" and that a fair map is essential for a fair world.
Written for “UN Adopts New World Map” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
verbatim and was checked against the article text before being
stored, so you can find it in the original.
Leaning score -0.15 for article 4180 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-04
While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Sept 5, 2026
uncertain
you → sleep → ?
UN adopts new world map showing true scale of continents; only US votes against it
The United Nations General Assembly voted on Sept 4 for a resolution spearheaded by several African countries to adopt a map that makes their continent bigger while shrinking North America and Europe - aiming at “a more accurate representation” of world geography.
asserted
continent → adopt → geography
The resolution was backed by 164 countries while the United States voted against it and six other states abstained.
asserted
states → back → it
The new map - known as the Equal Earth cartographic projection - “offers a more accurate representation of the sizes of continental landmasses and to this end is a relevant option for improving the accuracy of the cartographic representation of the world,” the resolution says.
asserted
resolution → know → world
It urges member states to adopt the new map in place of the traditional Mercator projection, which was designed for maritime navigation by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator in 1569.
asserted
which → urge → 1569
US midterm elections begin with chaos over mail-in voting crackdown
America’s midterm elections opened on Sept 4 in a fog of confusion over mail-in voting, with ballots already going out as President Donald Trump presses courts to let him impose sweeping new restrictions on how they are handled.
North Carolina became the first state authorised to begin sending out ballots, formally launching an election season that culminates on Nov 3 and will determine control of Congress for the final two years of Trump’s term.
Yet voters and election officials still do not know what rules may govern millions of mail-in ballots, as Trump asks the Supreme Court to revive curbs blocked by a federal judge and as states scramble to prepare for changes that could come after voting has begun.
uncertain
voting → begin → changes
Trump says envoys Witkoff, Kushner heading abroad to discuss Ukraine peace
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, are heading abroad to attempt to forge a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, the US president told reporters on Sept 4.
asserted
president → say → Sept
During comments in the Oval Office, Trump suggested the US had a fresh concrete proposal aimed at ending the war, which is now in its fifth year.
uncertain
which → suggest → year
He did not, however, elaborate on what that proposal would be, nor did he say if Witkoff and Kushner would be travelling to Ukraine, Russia or both nations.
asserted
Witkoff → elaborate → Ukraine
EU to help cities clamp down on tourist rentals
The EU is set to lay out rules helping European cities to curb short-term rentals such as Airbnb in a bid to tackle rising house prices, according to plans seen by AFP on Sept 4.
The European Commission is expected to unveil next week a legal proposal setting out the conditions under which authorities can restrict the provision of short-term tourist lets.
Such rentals have increasingly come into the crosshairs of local authorities in tourist hotspots such as Florence and Barcelona, as residents complain about being priced out by visitors.
uncertain
residents → help → visitors
Air India A320 issued stall warning when seatbelt signs off, injuring 24, investigators say
An Air India A320 flying from Phuket to New Delhi in August issued a stall warning when seatbelt signs were off, while a rapid pitch up and then down threw passengers and cabin crew against overhead bins and injured 24 people, Indian investigators said.
asserted
investigators → issue → people
The Airbus plane, cruising at 36,000ft, initially ascended 372 feet (113m) and then fell to 292 feet (89m) below it, according to a preliminary report released on Sept 4.
uncertain
plane → cruise → Sept
The two-second stall warning came after the flight control system detected the loss of all three of the aircraft’s hydraulic systems within four seconds, disengaging the autopilot and setting off a continuous cockpit alarm.
asserted
system → come → alarm
