U.N. refugee agency warns of 'dramatic' Tigray crisis in Ethiopia
After warning of 'a full-scale humanitarian crisis' in Ethiopia, officials said 32,000 people fled and 200,000 more may follow.
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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Libyan sides agree to 2021 nationwide elections
Libya’s two main warring factions agreed to hold nationwide elections on December 24, 2021, the U.N. acting envoy for Libya said.
Five judges win 9-year terms on U.N. top court
Four judges from China, Japan, Slovakia and Uganda were re-elected to the International Court of Justice, while a German candidate won the fifth open slot.
Days after election, U.S. rights under inspection
With U.S. elections just barely decided, the U.N. Human Rights Council finished putting America's human rights record under a microscope.
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.
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 IPI resigns over Epstein funding
Terje Rød Larsen resigned as head of International Peace Institute due to his "failed judgment" in taking money from Jeffrey Epstein, IPI's board announced.
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.
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.
Rwandan suspect in 1994 genocide sent to IRMCT
French authorities made a high-profile genocide trial possible by transferring a long-sought fugitive in the 1994 Rwanda genocide to a U.N. criminal court.
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.
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.
OSCE 'grave concerns' at Trump election ploys
OSCE election observers reported widespread concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to uncercut voter confidence in the presidential election.
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.