New U.N. 'day' to aid efforts against epidemics
After holding its first high-level session on the pandemic, the U.N. General Assembly created a new "international day" to prevent health crises like COVID-19.
United Nations
The United Nations is the world's primary forum for diplomacy and peace. Founded in the wake of WWII to prevent global conflict, this organization of 193 member nations now serves as the stage for addressing our most pressing challenges — from climate change to human rights. We cover the U.N.'s policies and efforts to build a more peaceful, just, and prosperous world.
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U.N. calls on nations to end 'war on nature'
The U.N. chief appealed to world leaders to start fixing our "broken" planet by ringing in 2021 with a commitment to a carbon pollution-neutral future.
IUCN finds climate top threat to UNESCO sites
Climate change is damaging one-third of the world's UNESCO sites and has become the single-biggest threat they face, IUCN warned.
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.
Report: UNDP audit looks into GEF projects
UNDP said in response to a news article it examined possbible "misuse of funds" affecting almost US$100 million in GEF-funded projects.
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.
Global coronavirus cases surpass 60 million
The number of confirmed COVID-19 infections across the world topped 60 million with 1.4 million deaths as drug makers rush to produce new vaccines.
WMO says CO2 levels again at record high
Atmospheric CO2 levels reached a record high in 2019 and are expected to keep rising this year despite an economic slowdown due to the pandemic.
Biden U.N. pick signals U.S. return to alliances
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s selection of Linda Thomas-Greenfield to serve as ambassador to the U.N. signals America's pivot back to multilateralism.
G-20 pledges global access to vaccines
G-20 leaders ended a summit promising to make COVID-19 vaccines affordable and equally accessible for all and to support the U.N. health agency.
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.
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.