{
  "id": 5740131,
  "title": "World as we know it is about to change after UN vote on map of Africa’s true size",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/world-as-we-know-it-is-about-to-change-after-un-vote-on-map-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-05T07:40:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euro Weekly News",
    "slug": "euro-weekly-news",
    "url": "https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/09/05/world-as-we-know-it-is-about-to-change-after-un-vote-on-map-of-africas-true-size/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United Nations has approved a campaign to alter the way the world looks on maps, particularly to give Africa its proper size. The resolution, passed by 164 votes to one, replaces the centuries-old Mercator projection with the newer Equal Earth map. This change means that Africa, which is actually about 14 times larger than Europe, would be shown in its true relative size rather than the squashed version most of us learned in school. The move is backed by the African Union and is seen by some as a step towards \"cartographic justice.\" Critics argue it's a distraction from more pressing issues like wars and famine. While the new maps won't change physical borders, they could influence how the world perceives the size and importance of African countries compared to others.",
  "summary": "School walls, news graphics and sat-nav screens have always used the same stretched picture of Earth for generations. That picture […]",
  "key_points": [
    "UN approves campaign to change world maps",
    "Africa to be shown in true relative size",
    "Critics say it's a distraction from urgent issues"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "KBC",
        "title": "UN votes to adopt new world map to reflect Africa’s true size",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/un-votes-to-adopt-new-world-map-to-reflect-africas-true-size",
        "published": "2026-09-05T05:28:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "World map is misleading about Africa.The UN wants to fix it",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/world-map-is-misleading-about-africa-the-un-wants-to-fix-it",
        "published": "2026-09-05T07:30:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "Not just symbolic: Kenya hails UN map vote as step towards correcting Africa’s image",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/05/not-just-symbolic-kenya-hails-un-map-vote-as-step-towards-correcting",
        "published": "2026-09-05T08:14:01.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}