Threats of diminished U.S. role in U.N. returns with political season
Nikki Haley has adopted Trump's hard line against U.N. participation but stopped short of calling for total withdrawal.
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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Plastic pollution treaty targets production or waste management
This is the third round of talks to develop an international legally binding deal that includes plastic waste in the ocean.
Nations seeking to expand fossil fuel production despite climate pledges
Government plans would blow past limits needed to limit warming to 1.5° Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
Majority of nations pass measure setting up U.N. vote on 'killer robots'
A first-of-its-kind provision cites an 'urgent need' for nations to address concerns about autonomous weapons systems.
World 'dangerously' unprepared for another pandemic, panel concludes
The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board urged more trust-building to boost monitoring, accountability and financing.
Israel rejects cease-fire in Gaza as diplomats warn of war spreading
Israel pounded Gaza with increasingly intensifying airstrikes. The U.N. chief emphasized the rules of war must be obeyed.
China's Belt and Road Initiative recast as 'open, green and clean'
The summit marking BRI's 10-year anniversary notably drew Russia's Putin as a guest of honor among 130 nations' leaders.
U.N. resolution seeking 'pauses' for aid in Gaza divides major powers
The U.S. blocked a Security Council resolution as Russia pushed to omit mention of Hamas or Israel's self-defense.
Nations reject Russia's attempt to rejoin U.N. Human Rights Council
The vote undermined Moscow's claim it still has support from a silent majority of the United Nations' 193 member nations.
U.N. Security Council at impasse over Israel-Hamas war in Gaza
The U.S. and China said they favored a council statement on the war in Gaza, but it failed for lack of consensus approval.
Extreme weather likely to displace 113 million children in next 30 years
UNICEF forecasts 96 million displaced by river flooding, 10.3 million by cyclonic winds, and 7.2 million by storm surges.
UPU closes fourth 'Extraordinary Congress' in Riyadh on digital future
The talks centered on climate, financial services and more cooperation among governments and private partners.
Reprisals against human rights defenders cited among 42 nations
A new report's evidence of threats and retaliation extends to 12 of the U.N. Human Rights Council's 47 member nations.
Accelerated melting in the world's cryosphere alarms climate scientists
New measurements show a dramatic decline in the health of glaciers and sea ice, perpetuating the cycle of warming.
Clean energy buoys odds for Paris Agreement's preferred 1.5° limit
In 2015, nations committed to hold global warming to no more than 2° Celsius above pre-industrial levels, or preferably 1.5°.
Switzerland, Sweden and U.S. top WIPO's global innovation rankings
The world's five biggest science and technology clusters are now in East Asia; Japan's is the largest and China has the most.