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U.N. chief forces Security Council to address Gaza humanitarian crisis
For the first time since becoming leader of the world body, António Guterres invoked Article 99 of the U.N. Charter.
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Diplomats examine AI risks to peace and potential for global oversight
The U.K.'s push at the U.N. Security Council could serve as a starting point for a multilateral approach toward addressing the serious security risks posed by artificial intelligence.
For world's poorest nations, economic outlook is bleak
As interest rates soar and the economy slows, the World Bank sees an 'enduring setback' for developing economies due to high interest rates, war in Europe and the pandemic.
U.N. stalemate over autonomous weapons enters second decade
Delegates in Geneva were able to muster a non-binding report that essentially prolongs a decade-old geopolitical impasse.
DIANA makes low-key entrance as NATO’s DARPA-style innovation hub
The new technology accelerator, known by an acronym that shares its name with a storied goddess, quietly began taking shape a year before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
World on track to breach Paris treaty and head to almost 3° C. of warming
Emissions must decrease 42% by 2030 to keep the 1.5° target alive. Instead, they're expected to rise 3% by then.
U.N. sees no reduction of primary gases that cause global warming
Heat-trapping gases keep collecting in the atmosphere at a record rate, the U.N. weather agency found.
Nations seeking to expand fossil fuel production despite climate pledges
Government plans would blow past limits needed to limit warming to 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Hidden costs of 'broken' agrifood systems exceed US$10 trillion a year
The food on our tables often comes with high, unseen costs to our health, environment and society, a new FAO report finds.
Drought data shows “unprecedented emergency" for 1.84 billion people
Almost a quarter of the world faces human-induced drought, and 85% of those live in low- or middle-income countries.
Treaty to curb plastic pollution stalled as industry pushes back
Oil and plastic producing nations and lobbyists sought more emphasis on recycling instead of production cuts.
Plastic pollution treaty targets production or waste management
This is the third round of talks to develop an international legally binding deal that includes plastic waste in the ocean.
War overshadows calls for more IMF and World Bank funding for Africa
The heads of some of the biggest multilateral development banks said the world faces a global “polycrisis” affecting development at an unprecedented scale.
Threats of diminished U.S. role in U.N. returns with political season
Nikki Haley has adopted Trump's hard line against U.N. participation but stopped short of calling for total withdrawal.
Amazon nations renew cooperation but fall short on deforestation plan
The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization agreed on some policies but not a unified goal to end deforestation.
U.S. rejoins UNESCO as countermove to China's growing influence
The United States signaled its intent to return to UNESCO and pay arrears after China became its biggest contributor and a Chinese diplomat took over as deputy chief.
Fearing precedent, Pentagon won't cooperate with top global court
A top U.S. diplomatic official said the ICC won't pursue war crimes charges against Americans if the U.S. courts handle it.
China's Belt and Road Initiative recast as 'open, green and clean'
The summit marking BRI's 10-year anniversary notably drew Russia's President Vladimir Putin as a guest of honor among leaders and officials from 130 nations.
IAEA to monitor Japan's release of water from Fukushima nuclear plant
The U.N. agency's report last month concluded that Japan's plans were consistent with international safety standards.
Extreme weather is 'new norm' as sea level rise threatens Pacific areas
WMO said the summer of extremes continues: July was the hottest month ever recorded and the high-impact weather continues through August.
Top U.N. panel hears evidence of North Korea human rights abuses
The U.S., Albania, Japan, and South Korea led a U.N. Security Council session that shone a spotlight on starvation and repression under Kim Jong Un's regime.
U.N. climate transparency hampered by funding gap and internal controls
An internal audit found a US$31 million funding gap and deficiencies in U.N. Climate Change's Transparency Division.
'World Court' gains new judges and Russia loses seat with U.N. election
The election adds only the sixth female judge and denies Russia a seat for the first time in the court's 77-year history.
Swiss vote marks return to a more conservative, less green mindset
Swiss right-wing populist and Socialist parties gained strength at the expense of Greens, reflecting increasingly conservative voter sentiment on issues like climate, health and migration.
Geneva gains new quantum institute and science diplomacy curriculum
Each of the Geneva-based global initiatives developed by the GESDA Foundation won pledges of millions of Swiss francs.
U.N. chief forces Security Council to address Gaza humanitarian crisis
For the first time since becoming leader of the world body, António Guterres invoked Article 99 of the U.N. Charter.
First "global stocktake" dominates negotiations at COP28 climate talks
Rich nations have pledged less than 0.2% of the US$400 billion a year that developing countries need for losses and damage.
Hotter than ever, world holds U.N. climate talks under cloud of doubt
'Minutes to midnight': World hits 1.4° of warming as Dubai summit opens with new fund and report disputing a leader's credibility.
Negligible relief seen for people of Gaza as pause in fighting begins
The U.N. and other aid agencies scrambled to step up relief as Israel and Hamas began a four-day truce.
Accelerated melting in the world's cryosphere alarms climate scientists
New measurements show a dramatic decline in the health of glaciers and sea ice, perpetuating the cycle of warming.
China and Russia keep commission blocked from Antarctica safeguards
Deadlock stymied a third East Antarctica protection plan. Only twice before has the panel created marine protected areas.
'Continuous advance' of climate crisis pushes 1.15° C. warming
Droughts, floods and heatwaves drove food insecurity and mass migration as communities on every continent were hit by massive costs, the World Meteorological Organization said.
Nearly even odds of 1.5 degrees by 2026
Within the next five years the world has an almost 50-50 chance of temporarily surpassing the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold, WMO reported.
Editors' Picks
Diplomats examine AI risks to peace and potential for global oversight
The U.K.'s push at the U.N. Security Council could serve as a starting point for a multilateral approach toward addressing the serious security risks posed by artificial intelligence.
It’s here: Global warming takes center stage in season of records
Don't say we weren't warned: Extreme weather events and new records are becoming the norm as our polluted Earth suffers warming oceans, raging fires and rising floods.
A year of firsts for Somalia's U.N.-backed all-women media team
Bilan is marking its first anniversary with a look back at what U.N. Development Program calls "a year of smashing taboos and shining a light on stories other media have long ignored."