Myanmar coup raises stakes for investigations into rights abuses
Leaders fear the fall of a democratically elected government will trigger a human rights crisis as the junta returns to power.
China
China is a global power with the world’s second-largest economy and an increasing geopolitical rivalry with the United States. As the U.S. has reduced its engagement with certain multilateral institutions, China has increasingly sought to fill that vacuum by increasing its funding to the U.N. and placing its nationals in leadership roles.
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Vaccine nationalism clouds the world's pandemic recovery efforts
Rich countries locked up most of the COVID-19 vaccine supply despite the COVAX Facility's efforts to provide equal access.
Tug-of-war over pulled WHO Italy report
A suppressed WHO report on Italy's pandemic response says hospitals were "chaotic," dangers to elderly went unrecognized, and training was haphazard.
U.S. currency dispute puts IMF role in spotlight
The IMF was thrust into a dispute over currency manipulation as the U.S. accused Vietnam and Switzerland of currency manipulation.
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.
Pledges to ensure vaccines access in poorer nations
International organizations and European governments pledged to broaden access to vaccines among poorer nations at the third annual Paris Peace Forum.
Envoy says 126 nations seek carbon neutrality
The top U.N. official for global climate action said 65% of the world body's 193 member nations will seek net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
U.S. poised to rejoin global health, climate efforts
Elected 46th president of the United States on Saturday, Democrat Joe Biden signaled policy reversals to combat the pandemic and global warming.
U.S. formally withdraws from Paris climate accord
The U.S. became the first nation to withdraw from the 2015 Paris Agreement, jeopardizing efforts at curbing the worst impacts of global warming this century.
IPBES ties pandemic risks to nature crisis
Pandemics will become more frequent, faster-spreading and deadlier than COVID-19 if Earth’s natural life support systems are not restored, IPBES reported.
U.N. nuclear treaty ban to enter into force
Fifty nations ratified a treaty to ban nuclear weapons that will enter into force in 90 days, the U.N. confirmed on the same day it was founded 75 years ago.
U.N. lets Iran arms ban lapse despite U.S. dissent
The signatories to the Iran nuclear deal allowed a U.N.-imposed embargo on arms trade with the nation and some travel bans to expire as planned.
IMF sees global economy shrinking 4.4% in 2020
The pandemic-hit global economy is expected to contract by as much as 4.4% this year, the International Monetary Fund forecast.
Eight nations craft rules to develop Moon from business 'safe zones'
The U.S. persuaded seven nations to sign agreements for cooperating and extracting resources from the Moon's surface.
Mixed progress cited with 1995 gender goals
Leaders at a high-level U.N. meeting lamented the world's slow progress over the past quarter-century for advancing the rights of women and girls.
China tells UNGA of carbon-neutral 2060 plan
Chinese President Xi Jinping told the U.N. that his nation — the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases — plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.