Big pharma sees wide use of vaccines by late 2021
Several CEOs of leading drugmakers expressed confidence the pandemic can be brought under control starting sometime in the second half of next year.
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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New U.N. 'day' to aid efforts against epidemics
After holding its first high-level session on the pandemic, the U.N. General Assembly created a new "international day" to prevent health crises like COVID-19.
U.N. calls on nations to end 'war on nature'
The U.N. chief appealed to world leaders to start fixing our "broken" planet by ringing in 2021 with a commitment to a carbon pollution-neutral future.
IUCN finds climate top threat to UNESCO sites
Climate change is damaging one-third of the world's UNESCO sites and has become the single-biggest threat they face, IUCN warned.
Humanitarian aid groups confront toll of pandemic on poor nations
U.N. officials released a 2021 humanitarian plan that projects a 40% increase in people who need aid from a year earlier.
Report: UNDP audit looks into GEF projects
UNDP said in response to a news article it examined possbible "misuse of funds" affecting almost US$100 million in GEF-funded projects.
U.N. talks open on Syria national governance
Syrian representatives, dogged by mistrust from an almost decade-long civil war, began a fourth round of peace talks on a new system of governance.
WHO plugs need for testing even after vaccines
Even after COVID-19 vaccines become available, nations must offer widespread testing against infections to end the pandemic, WHO's chief said.
CERN particle collider to reopen next year after high energy upgrade
CERN's governing council agreed to a new operating calendar of proton-smashing experiments through the end of 2024.
Global coronavirus cases surpass 60 million
The number of confirmed COVID-19 infections across the world topped 60 million with 1.4 million deaths as drug makers rush to produce new vaccines.
WMO says CO2 levels again at record high
Atmospheric CO2 levels reached a record high in 2019 and are expected to keep rising this year despite an economic slowdown due to the pandemic.
Biden U.N. pick signals U.S. return to alliances
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s selection of Linda Thomas-Greenfield to serve as ambassador to the U.N. signals America's pivot back to multilateralism.
G-20 pledges global access to vaccines
G-20 leaders ended a summit promising to make COVID-19 vaccines affordable and equally accessible for all and to support the U.N. health agency.
IFRC finds climate aid not reaching most in need
None of the 20 nations most vulnerable to climate change were among the top recipients of aid to help adapt to global warming, IFRC reported.
WHO chief says vaccines alone won't end pandemic
WHO’s chief said reports of Moderna's experimental coronavirus vaccine were "encouraging news," but cautioned more will be needed to end the pandemic.
Asia-Pacific nations sign world's biggest trade pact
Fifteen Asia-Pacific nations including China signed a pact to create the world's biggest trading alliance, covering 30% of global GDP.