Delays foreseen with COVAX vaccine deliveries
International organizations acknowledged significant delays in delivering COVID-19 vaccines to poor nations due to pressure from India.
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, home to 54 recognized countries. With the world's youngest population, over 60% of its inhabitants are under the age of 25, creating both opportunities for innovation and challenges for job creation.
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U.N. handoff to Libya's new unity government
The U.N.-backed administration in Libya transitioned to an interim government without a hitch in a process leading to nationwide elections in late December.
U.N. calls on Myanmar military to show 'restraint'
The U.N. Security Council unanimously agreed to condemn violence against Myanmar protesters and called on its military to exercise the 'utmost restraint.'
U.N. study shows 'horrifying' violence against women
About 30% of all women worldwide have been subjected to physical or sexual violence at least once during their lives, U.N. agencies found in a survey.
Risk of child marriage rising with pandemic
Child marriage is increasing with up to 10 million more girls at risk of becoming brides before the age of 18 due to the pandemic, UNICEF reported.
UNICEF sounds alarm over global school closures
The pandemic has kept 168 million children from attending schools and for many of them the consequences could be disastrous, UNICEF reported.
COVAX starts global vaccine push in Ghana
The COVAX Facility's global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines finally launched with the delivery of 600,000 doses to Ghana's capital Accra.
U.S. seeks to rejoin Human Rights Council
The United States will campaign for a seat on the world's top human rights body, in another reversal of the former Trump administration's foreign policy.
UNEP plan seeks way out of nature crisis
In a new major report, the U.N. Environment Program recommended a "scientific blueprint" for governments to tackle three environmental crises at once.
U.S. to 're-engage' with Human Rights Council
The Biden-Harris administration will seek U.S. 'observer' status with the U.N. Human Rights Council at Geneva in a reversal of former Trump-era policy.
Okonjo-Iweala to head WTO with U.S. backing
Nigerian-American Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is poised to become the next head of Geneva-based WTO after clinching the "strong support" of the United States.
Watchdog ties corruption to virus response
Transparency International found nations doing the most to combat corruption had better health care systems in place to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Global COVID-19 cases exceed 100 million
Confirmed cases of coronavirus surged past 100 million people — one of every four cases in the United States alone — with 2.1 million deaths worldwide.
China overtakes U.S. in new foreign investment
China surpassed the United States as the world's top recipient of foreign direct investment with inflows of US$163 billion in 2020, new UNCTAD figures show.
Study finds most large dams obsolete by 2050
Most of the world's population by mid-century will face risks living downstream from tens of thousands of aging concrete dams, says a U.N. University report.
Panel cites 'early failings' in virus response
An expert panel faulted WHO along with China and other nations in a report that found numerous "lost opportunities" to try to head off the pandemic.