Groups cite high number of land mine casualties
At least 5,554 people were killed or wounded last year because they stepped on a land mine or other unexploded devices from war, a new report found.
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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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.
Coronavirus cases top 50 million worldwide
Coronavirus cases topped 50 million with 1.25 million deaths as a second wave made Europe the worst-hit region and brought a record number of U.S. cases.
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.
Head of WHO enters self-quarantine over virus
WHO's chief said he will self-quarantine because he was identified as a contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19, as a second wave hits Europe.
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.S. rejection upsets WTO leadership race
The U.S. upended WTO's selection of its next director-general as the sole nation to back South Korea's Yoo Myung-hee over Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
UNCTAD shows 49% foreign investments drop
Global foreign direct investment plummeted by 49% during the first half of 2020 compared with a year ago due to the pandemic, UNCTAD 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.
Global coronavirus cases surpass 40 million
The number of confirmed COVID-19 infections worldwide topped 40 million with 1.1 million deaths as a second wave of the virus hits European nations.
WTO to be led by woman from Nigeria or S. Korea
The final phase of a race to become WTO's next director-general began with two well-qualified women from Nigeria and South Korea vying for the top post.
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.
Trump dismisses Putin's New START offer
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to extend the New START treaty as is, but U.S. President Donald Trump's administration called it a "non-starter."
Experts urge G-20 to outdo debt suspensions
Experts cautioned a move by the world's richest countries to give the poorest ones more time to pay off debts will not do enough to alleviate massive suffering.
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.