NATO secretary general's successor rises on agenda ahead of summit
The debate over who should succeed Jens Stoltenberg, a Norwegian former prime minister, has become complicated. It's also possible he could agree to a fourth contract extension.
Norway
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Talks open on plastics treaty to defuse environmental 'time bomb'
About 69% of all the plastics produced, mainly through fossil fuel burning, are used just once or twice before they are thrown away. About 22% is mismanaged. Just 9% is recycled.
U.N. proposes global 'roadmap' to 80% cut in plastic pollution by 2040
The estimated annual social and environmental costs of plastic pollution range from $300 billion to $1.5 trillion.
Experts urge accountability for Russian war crimes in Ukraine
The report's alleged war crimes in Ukraine include killings, torture, rape, kidnapped children and attacks on civilians.
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.
Venezuelan deal sets stage for $3B in frozen assets to go to aid fund
The agreement restarts negotiations and clears the way for Chevron to resume pumping Venezuelan oil.
More frequent wildfires globally seen as sign of climate 'tinderboxes'
A UN report finds wildfires are burning longer and hotter, and will likely become more frequent in some areas.
Vaccine nationalism clouds the world's pandemic recovery efforts
Rich countries locked up most of the COVID-19 vaccine supply despite the COVAX Facility's efforts to provide equal access.
E.U. regulator approves first COVID-19 vaccine
A two-shot vaccine from BioNTech and Pfizer gained official approval in the E.U., two days after Switzerland approved it through a normal procedure.
Humanitarian aid groups confront toll of pandemic on poor nations
U.N. officials released a 2021 humanitarian plan that projects a 40% increase in people who need aid from a year earlier.
U.N. talks open on Syria national governance
Syrian representatives, dogged by mistrust from an almost decade-long civil war, began a fourth round of peace talks on a new system of governance.
OSCE warns Trump's false claims undermine democratic institutions
Election observers say the U.S. president's 'baseless allegations' of voter fraud erode public trust for democracy.
WFP wins Nobel Prize to focus world on hunger
The Nobel Peace Prize went to the World Food Program for its efforts to alleviate hunger amid the pandemic and to urge more international cooperation.
Leaders seek 'quantum leap’ for vaccines
More than 30 nations pledged to help 10 international organizations raise US$35 billion for fast-tracking coronavirus tests, medicines and vaccines.
Trump shuns multilateral vaccine effort
The Trump administration said it will steer clear of a multilateral effort to accelerate the development and production of COVID-19 vaccines.
Trials continue for Srebrenica 25 years on
Eight Bosnian men and boys killed 25 years ago were laid to rest outside Srebrenica, a reminder that justice for genocide victims comes slowly, if at all.