WHO chief calls 3-year pandemic 'a chaotic patchwork of responses'
WHO's chief offered three lessons the world must learn to be able to effectively cope with future global health crises.
Global Issues
Global issues are complex challenges that require international cooperation, from mitigating climate change to addressing global poverty and geopolitical conflicts. Of the U.N.'s 169 targets for sustainable development, only 35% are on track or making moderate progress toward their 2030 deadline.
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U.N. panel prepares last report of series to shape climate policy
The head of the U.N. panel of climate experts called for quick action because 'inaction and delays are not listed as options.'
U.N. raises concerns about human rights records in over 40 nations
A quarter of all humanity lives today in places that are affected by conflict and usually it's the civilians 'who suffer the most.'
U.N.'s early warning climate plan for extreme weather picks up support
A third of the world, mainly in least developed countries and small island developing states, isn't covered by early warning systems.
Negotiators clinch historic deal for high seas biodiversity
The treaty is intended to strengthen marine protections on international waters beyond the 200 nautical mile jurisdiction of coastal nations.
Male-only parliaments are no longer as gender parity slowly advances
Six nations have gender parity or a women's majority: Rwanda, Cuba, Nicaragua, Mexico, New Zealand and U.A.E.
Nations work to update draft of WHO's proposed pandemic treaty
The treaty takes aim at the huge inequalities in health care and access to products that the COVID-19 pandemic brought into sharp focus.
Researchers find 1.77B children worldwide lack basic safety net
The number of children without basic social protections is increasing worldwide, UNICEF and ILO say in a new study.
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.
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.
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.
Pollution and climate change feeding drug-resistant 'superbugs'
Strains of bacteria immune to all known antibiotics may become a major cause of death by mid-century.
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.
Watchdog finds scant progress in the global fight against corruption
A new report finds a clear connection between more violence and corruption as the world becomes a less peaceful place.
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.