Pandemic hits anticipated halfway point
One year on, the pandemic has prompted one of the most remarkable scientific efforts — and brought into sharper focus many of the world's inequities.
United Nations
Founded at the end of World War II, the New York-based United Nations is an international organization with 193 member nations. It began with 50 nations meeting at San Francisco in 1945 to maintain international peace and security. Over two months, the U.N. Charter was created as the basis for the organization's hope of preventing another world war. Founding members Britain, China, France, the Soviet Union and the United States took permanent veto-wielding seats on the powerful Security Council.
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Risk of child marriage rising with pandemic
Child marriage is increasing with up to 10 million more girls at risk of becoming brides before the age of 18 due to the pandemic, UNICEF reported.
Food waste could circle Earth sevenfold
While one-in-10 people on the planet suffers chronic hunger, the world wastes about 17% of all the food that is produced each year, UNEP reported.
Myanmar's U.N. envoy defies ouster
A week after his nation's military tried to remove him, Myanmar’s U.N. Ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun remained in his post, the chief U.N. spokesman said.
UNICEF sounds alarm over global school closures
The pandemic has kept 168 million children from attending schools and for many of them the consequences could be disastrous, UNICEF reported.
U.N. appeal falls short of Yemen's needs
International donors contributed US$1.7 billion for people starving in Yemen, an amount that leaders of humanitarian organizations called disappointing.
U.S. intel implicates Saudi heir in Khashoggi hit
Saudi Arabia's crown prince "approved" the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a declassified U.S. intelligence report concluded.
IAEA to get 'less access' to Iran nuclear sites
The head of the U.N. atomic watchdog agency and Iranian top officials announced Tehran will give international inspectors reduced access to nuclear sites.
U.S. welcomed back to Paris climate treaty
French President Emmanuel Macron led a chorus of world leaders and advocates in celebrating the United States' official return to the 2015 Paris Agreement.
UNEP plan seeks way out of nature crisis
In a new major report, the U.N. Environment Program recommended a "scientific blueprint" for governments to tackle three environmental crises at once.
Nations debate call for 'vaccination cease-fire' in conflict zones
The U.N. took up a proposal calling for cease-fires in conflict zones to allow deliveries of coronavirus vaccines.
Airlines to help U.N. spread COVID-19 vaccines
Sixteen airlines joined a UNICEF-led initiative to push for speedier deliveries of coronavirus vaccines and medical supplies among more than 100 nations.
WHO adds vaccines for emergency use
WHO listed two of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccines for emergency use, only the second instance of approvals granted since the pandemic began.
Mammoth digital effort aims to resuscitate League of Nations' legacy
Ten million pages scanned, five million more to go. The digitization project for the archives hit the two-thirds mark.
China and U.S. spar over WHO probe
Chinese diplomats pushed back against U.S. skepticism about whether Beijing fully cooperated with WHO scientists investigating the pandemic's origins.
Human Rights Council 'deplores' Myanmar coup
Myanmar's military coup drew broad criticism by the U.N. Human Rights Council, which demanded Aung San Suu Kyi's release and civilian rule restored.