Obama: US wants new era of engagement

BARACK Obama pledged last night that the age of unilateral American action on the world stage was now over.

Addressing the United Nations general assembly for the first time, the US president insisted his country wanted a new era of engagement with the rest of the world.

In a firm break with the attitudes of the Bush administration, Obama called for the global community to come together to combat the four key challenges facing the world — disarmament, spreading peace, combating climate change and rebuilding the shattered economy.