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For world's poorest nations, the 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.
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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.
Red Cross finds around half of all armed groups are state-supported
New ICRC guidelines on the obligations of international humanitarian law are meant to protect innocent civilians and detainees against violence by non-state armed groups.
Swiss devise US$3.25B deal for UBS to aquire 'too big to fail' Credit Suisse
The Financial Stability Board designated Switzerland's two biggest banks as so huge and critical to the world's global financial architecture that they must not be allowed to fail.
For world's poorest nations, the 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.
Paris summit approves drafting global plastic pollution treaty
The summit ended with support for creating a "zero draft" treaty ahead of the next negotiations at Nairobi in November.
Low-income countries 'far behind' in pandemic recovery from job losses
High debt, inflation and interest rates are blamed for "a significant divergence" in labor markets around the world.
Budget and broader access top assembly's global health agenda
The 76th World Health Assembly ended after moving to strengthen its budget and broaden access to health care.
Cholera spread fueled by conflict and climate puts 1 billion at risk
Heavy rains and warmer temperatures make it easier for the bacteria that causes cholera to spread, posing a major setback for global efforts to eradicate the disease.
UN appeal seeks US$2.56B for humanitarian needs in Sudan
The fighting that broke out last month caused the ranks of those who need humanitarian aid and protection to swell to 24.6 million, or slightly more than half of Sudan's 49 million.
Almost a quarter of all of WFP's food supplies in Sudan have been looted
The U.N. confirmed at least 17,000 metric tons of food – enough to feed more than half a million people – were taken.
Human rights and aid concerns spike as waves of Sudanese flee
Most of Khartoum, Darfur and North Kordofan are too dangerous to operate in, the U.N. refugee agency said.
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.
U.N. panel on racism and law enforcement ends first U.S. tour
Panel members said they heard countless painful stories from victims and their families but also learned of some promising initiatives against racial discrimination.
Zoonomia Project reveals genetic blueprint of 240 species of mammals
The collaboration found some parts of genomes remained the same for all mammalian species over millions of years of evolution, indicating regulatory functions essential to health.
The great Twitter cull looms for leaders and organizations
More than 300 accounts of heads of state, government leaders and their institutions, plus some 40 major international organizations and their leaders were slated to be demoted.
Italy undecided about exiting China's Belt and Road Initiative
As the only G-7 member to have joined Beijing's sprawling global pact, Italy had indicated it would leave. But now Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says the decision is still up in the air.
Nuclear tensions fuel disarmament agenda for Hiroshima G-7 summit
Humanitarian leaders say the risk of nuclear catastrophe is the highest 'since the worst moments of the Cold War.'
G-7 pushes back against aggressive nuclear moves by Russia and China
The Group of Seven's nonproliferation directors expressed alarm that Russia, China and North Korea have all been pushing to expand their nuclear-armed capabilities.
U.N. staff and appeal for aid in limbo from Taliban ban on Afghan women
Most of the employees who work for the U.N. Assistance Mission in Afghanistan are Afghan nationals, women and men, who have been told to stay home because of the ban.
Ukraine dam blast unleashes disaster with nuclear ramifications
Kyiv said Russian forces blew up the Kakhovka dam and hydroelectric power station along the Dnieper River, while Moscow blamed it on the Ukrainian military.
Slovenia outdistances Belarus in U.N. vote that reflects war in Europe
The U.N. General Assembly's vote for the next five seat-holders on the powerful Security Council for 2024-25 delivered a resounding win to an E.U. member over a Russian ally.
Argentinian meteorologist Celeste Saulo to lead U.N. weather agency
Saulo, who has led Argentina's National Meteorological Service since 2014, is the first woman elected as WMO's chief.
Russia sticks to Ukraine grain deal after U.N.-brokered negotiations
The Black Sea Grain Initiative, a U.N.-brokered agreement signed between the world body, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey on July 22, 2022, will now continue at least until mid-July.
U.N. labor conference led by Qatari despite migrant worker controversy
Delegates from 187 nations set aside concerns about human rights and migrant workers for Qatar's labor minister to head the International Labor Conference.
Syrian government's isolation eases with Arab bloc summit appearance
Syrian President Bashar Assad, formerly ostracized by most Arab nations, was warmly readmitted to the Arab League.
New U.N. estimate shows the Syrian civil war's deadly toll on civilians
More than half of the deaths were never documented due to the difficulty of collecting reliable data on death tolls in conflict zones, made still harder by the brutality of Syria's war.
U.N. vote opposes Taliban constraints against females
A U.N. Security Council resolution calls on Afghanistan's de factor rulers to quickly restore the rights of women and girls to 'full, equal, meaningful and safe' participation in society.
'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.
Report urges more water crisis planning
Nations must prepare better for more water-related disasters along with a growing lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation, WMO reported.
UNEP report points to catastrophic warming
Unmet promises to cut carbon emissions put the planet on track for temperatures to rise "in excess of 3 degrees Celsius this century," UNEP reported.
Editors' Picks
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.
El Niño could push temperatures even higher: climate agencies
The onset of a possible El Niño climate event later this year combined with rising greenhouse gases in the atmosphere could push global temperatures to a new warming record.
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."