Most of U.N.'s most powerful members to skip high-level meeting
The politics of catastrophe and climate inaction await the assembly's annual gathering of world leaders next week.
India
A parliamentary republic and the world's most populous democracy. As a rising economic powerhouse and member of the U.N., G-20, and BRICS, it has a diverse economy driven by a large service sector, a growing manufacturing base, and a significant agricultural industry. Its strategic autonomy and influence in international affairs are key to its foreign policy.
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Danger of exhausting local water supply puts 1-in-4 at risk globally
'Extremely high water stress' afflicts 83% of the population in the Middle East and North Africa and 74% in South Asia.
Global food prices jump after Russia scraps U.N.-brokered grain deal
Increasing rice prices from India's ban “raises substantial food security concerns for a large swath of the world population."
Global climate litigation to force action more than doubles in 5 years
As climate litigation increases, the body of legal precedent grows, forming an increasingly well-defined field of law.
Groups warn of backsliding in nuclear security around the world
The biennial report noted the erosion of nuclear security coincides with growing nuclear security dangers and alarming increases in stockpiles of weapons-usable nuclear materials.
It’s here: Global warming takes center stage in season of records
Extreme weather events and new records are becoming the norm as Earth suffers warming oceans, fires and rising floods.
Just 1-in-5 countries keeping up with U.N. human rights reporting duties
The treaty body that gets the worst cooperation is the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Nuclear diplomacy suffers major setback in Russia’s war on Ukraine
The total number of nuclear warheads fell worldwide, but the amount of operational nuclear weapons started to rise.
U.N. stalemate over autonomous weapons enters second decade
Delegates in Geneva mustered a non-binding report that essentially prolongs a decade-old geopolitical impasse.
Nuclear tensions fuel disarmament agenda for Hiroshima G-7 summit
Humanitarian leaders say the risk of nuclear catastrophe is the highest 'since the worst moments of the Cold War.'
Human-induced climate change worsened Horn of Africa drought
Low rainfall and high evaporation rates 'would not have led to drought at all in a 1.2° C. cooler world,' scientists concluded.
UNICEF raises alert over lagging confidence in childhood vaccines
Public perception of the importance of vaccines for children fell during the pandemic in 52 of 55 countries studied.
International arms control at a 'crossroads' over nuclear threats
The NATO chief emphasized the need to negotiate new arms control arrangements, despite broad geopolitical worries.
Stockpiles of nuclear weapons available for use increased in 2022
Nuclear warheads available to nations for deployment reached 9,576 at the start of 2023, up from 9,440 a year earlier.
Biden picks former Mastercard CEO to replace the World Bank's leader
As the largest shareholder in the World Bank, the U.S. traditionally nominates candidates for a five-year term as president.
World's aging dams lose storage capacity at alarming rate
Storage loss by 2050 will equal the combined yearly water use of Canada, China, France, a U.N. University report shows.