Most of U.N.'s most powerful members to skip high-level meeting
Despite the absences, the politics of catastrophe and climate inaction toward Earth's impaired health await the assembly's annual gathering of world leaders next week in New York.
Libya
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.
Syrian government's isolation eases with Arab bloc summit appearance
Syrian President Bashar Assad, formerly ostracized by most Arab nations, was warmly readmitted to the Arab League.
Migrants suffer deadliest quarter in central Mediterranean since 2017
The figures show an 'intolerable' loss of life amid more reports of government-led rescue delays and obstacles to NGOs' search and rescue efforts, the U.N. migration agency said.
Libya reaches cease-fire deal at Geneva talks
Libya’s two main warring sides signed a U.N.-brokered cease-fire deal that also requires military pullouts by Russia, Turkey and other regional powers.
Groups find authorities prey on African migrants
A new report found government officials inflicted almost half the violence suffered by people risking grave dangers to transit through North Africa for Europe.
Security Council backs COVID-19 cease-fire
The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for cease-fires worldwide so that everyone can focus on ending the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.N. targets nexus of terror and small arms
The U.N.'s counterterrorism chief launched a new project taking on the threat posed by terror groups, organized crime and trafficking in illicit small arms.
U.N. chief sees 'wind of madness' in world
The U.N. chief warned “a wind of madness is sweeping the globe” from a dangerous surge of instability and unpredictable geopolitical "hair-trigger" tensions.
UNHCR halts work at Libya migrant center
The U.N. refugee agency said it was suspending operations at a migrant center in the Libyan capital of Tripoli due to safety concerns as violence intensifies.
U.K. and France stick to Iran nuclear deal
Britain and France recommitted to the Iran nuclear deal despite the U.S. undermining it and Europeans triggering a process that may reimpose sanctions.
Paris forum pitches for global governance
The Paris Peace Forum promoted what French President Emmanuel Macron described as a need for "balanced cooperation" among nations.
IEA: Oil supplies plentiful despite attacks
Global oil markets are well-supplied and companies have reserves to meet demand for more than a month despite attacks on Saudi Arabia oil production.
G-7 allies in turmoil over trade and climate
G-7 leaders ended a summit with little progress in resolving tensions over U.S. policies, a troubled world economy, the climate crisis and Iran’s nuclear deal.
Almost 71 million people globally have been forced to flee their homes
The number of refugees, internally displaced people and asylum-seekers rose by 2.3 million from 2017. And over the past two decades, the number has doubled.
A record 41 million people are uprooted in their own nations
Disasters and conflicts drove nations atop a list of places adding to the 28 million people newly displaced at home.