{
  "id": 5618362,
  "title": "UN ditches Mercator map to adopt more accurate one reflecting Africa's true size",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/un-ditches-mercator-map-to-adopt-more-accurate-one-reflecting-africas",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T18:31:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "France 24",
    "slug": "france-24",
    "url": "https://www.france24.com/en/earth/20260904-un-ditches-mercator-map-to-adopt-more-accurate-one-reflecting-africa-s-true-size"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The UN General Assembly on Friday voted to shift away from the 16th-century Mercator map, designed by Flemish cartographer Gerardus Mercator, for a more accurate one reflecting the true size of continents. The resolution, spearheaded by several African countries and co-sponsored by France, was backed by 164 countries. The US voted against and six other states abstained.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RFI English",
        "title": "France drops Mercator maps as Africa pushes for truer world view",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/france-drops-mercator-maps-as-africa-pushes-for-truer-world-view",
        "published": "2026-09-04T15:46:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa's true size",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/un-votes-to-adopt-new-world-map-to-reflect-africas-true-size",
        "published": "2026-09-04T17:26:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
        "title": "UN approves resolution in support of map that shows Africa’s true size",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/un-approves-resolution-in-support-of-map-that-shows-africas-true-size",
        "published": "2026-09-04T17:54:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "US opposes UN adoption of map showing Africa’s true size",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/us-opposes-un-adoption-of-map-showing-africas-true-size",
        "published": "2026-09-04T17:55:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Premium Times",
        "title": "UN votes to adopt new world map that shows true size of Africa",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/un-votes-to-adopt-new-world-map-that-shows-true-size-of-africa",
        "published": "2026-09-04T18:11:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "UN backs African-led push for world maps that show Africa’s size more accurately",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/un-backs-african-led-push-for-world-maps-that-show-africas-size-more",
        "published": "2026-09-04T19:03:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "UN votes to adopt new world map that reflects Africa’s true size",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/un-votes-to-adopt-new-world-map-that-reflects-africas-true-size",
        "published": "2026-09-04T19:25:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "UN adopts proposal for new world map showing Africa’s true size",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/un-adopts-proposal-for-new-world-map-showing-africas-true-size",
        "published": "2026-09-04T20:42:33.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}