African nations pay 'extortionate' interest rates on debt, U.N. chief says
Women and girls still don't get the support they need, the U.N. chief said, and African nations cannot develop with "one hand tied behind their backs."
John Heilprin
Award-winning U.N.-accredited journalist, with 30+ years on four continents, almost half of it for AP in Washington, New York and Geneva.
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Geneva
Western leaders' tensions with Russia, China dominate summit
U.S. and Chinese diplomats met for the first time since the U.S. shot down what officials called a Chinese surveillance balloon.
WHO's COVID origins investigation in China has become 'very difficult'
The U.N. health agency says it updated its plans based on China's response but there's been "no quiet shelving of any plans" for investigating.
NATO allies to step up support for Ukraine's 'grinding war of attrition'
The move reflects the Ukrainian president's request for vastly more heavy weaponry and ammunition to launch an expected spring counteroffensive against Russia.
Malta elevates sea level rise on the world's peace and security agenda
The tiny island nation made the case that more attention must be focused on the threat of rising sea levels and gaps in international law about loss of land.
U.N. aid chief laments 'failure' as 50,000+ quake toll expected
The death toll from the earthquakes rose to more than 36,000 people as the search continued despite a closing survival window.
At Munich summit, a focus on democracy versus autocracy
Human rights has become "a major flashpoint in the growing systemic competition" between competing ideologies and governance systems.
ASEAN leaders' talks focus on peace in Myanmar and South China Sea
Southeast Asian foreign ministers sought to defuse conflicts from Myanmar's military, China's expanding footprint, and North Korea's missile testing.
Keywords for the next pandemic: accountability, equity, solidarity
Chief among the questions over a proposed pandemic treaty is an 'accountability gap' that undermines the proposed treaty's potential.
Pandemic treaty 'zero draft' gives WHO 20% share of responsibility
The rationale for the WHO's proposed pandemic treaty is to erase "gross inequities" between rich and poor that's a scourge of the pandemic.
U.S. says Russia is violating terms of the New START nuclear arms treaty
The U.S. says Russia won't allow American inspectors to inspect its arsenal to ensure compliance with a post-Cold War agreement.
We're still living in a pandemic, U.N. health agency chief and panel agree
WHO leaders agree the pandemic may be approaching "an inflection point" of higher immunity resulting in fewer deaths.
U.N. health agency urges nations to update preparations for nuke risks
Almost half of WHO's `94 member nations said they "still lacked essential elements of preparedness for radiation emergencies."
Odesa historic center added to UNESCO's World Heritage List
The listing means 194 nations must commit to not deliberately cause direct or indirect damage to Odesa, and to help protect it.
WHO's chief wants the pandemic declared over. Not all experts agree.
Despite the temptation to end the pandemic, some leading health experts say it would be better to keep up the pressure.
Asia-Pacific rocked by growing hunger, nutrition and health crisis
A lack of feed, fertilizer, financing, food and fuel is blamed for hunger, lack of nutrition and medical issues from conflicts, climate and other factors.