Biden pledges 'new era' before U.N. leaders
U.S. President Joe Biden used his first address to the United Nations to reassure other nations his administration is committed to multilateralism.
John Heilprin
Award-winning U.N.-accredited journalist, with 30+ years on four continents, almost half of it for AP in Washington, New York and Geneva.
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U.N. report warns of 'catastrophic' climate failure
Governments must be far more ambitious about cutting greenhouse gases to avoid catastrophically overheating the planet, according to a new U.N. report.
U.N. raises billion-dollar 'lifeline' for Afghans
Donors pledged more than US$1.2 billion in emergency aid for Afghanistan at a U.N.-sponsored fundraiser as the Tabilan consolidates power.
Pandemic brings 'short-lived' air quality gains
Lockdowns and travel restrictions resulted in a "dramatic short-lived fall in emissions of key air pollutants" last year, the U.N. weather agency reported.
Organizations turn to airlift for Afghanistan
The U.N. health agency and other international organizations began airlifting emergency supplies to Afghanistan through neighboring Pakistan and its airline.
Extreme climate risks for 1 billion children
Almost half of the world's 2.2 billion children face an "extremely high" potential for deadly exposure to multiple shocks, according to UNICEF.
Taliban's grip imperils aid for Afghan civilians
Humanitarian aid agencies and U.N. leaders scrambled to protect civilians in Afghanistan while calling on the Taliban to end fighting and provide assurances.
IPCC warns some warming is locked in
The U.N. chief called a major new report on human-caused global warming ‘a code red for humanity’ though a brief window exists to avoid the worst.
Global coronavirus cases surpass 200 million
Confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide topped 200 million with 4.25 million deaths, amid a surge in highly transmissible delta variant infections.
Geneva hosts U.S.-Russia security talks
Diplomats from the U.S. and Russia held a new round of discussions in Geneva seeking ways to defuse rising tensions and to avoid a new nuclear arms race.
U.N. rights chief decries reported spyware abuse
Michelle Bachelet said reports of spying with military-grade malware on activists, dissidents and journalists "seem to confirm some of the worst fears."
WMO's climate-linked 'summer of extremes'
Amid devastating floods in Western Europe, the U.N. weather agency stressed the rising frequency of extreme weather due to the climate crisis.
New European carbon cutting plans unveiled
The European Commission adopted a set of proposals to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% from 1990 levels by the end of this decade.
Almost 10% of all people went hungry in 2020
World hunger "shot up" during the pandemic, leaving nearly 1-in-10 people undernourished mostly in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
U.N. extends humanitarian aid border crossing to rebel-held Syria
The U.N. approved a compromise to keep open Syria's last non-government controlled border crossing for aid.
400,000 face Ethiopia famine
Senior U.N. officials warned that more than 400,000 people are suffering from famine in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, and 1.8 million more are on the verge.