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.
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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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.
Berlin forum cites 'progress' in Libyan unity
Calling it "a new phase for peace in Libya," Germany and the U.N. ended a conference with diplomats expressing confidence in Libya's rebuilding.
Bachelet calls pandemic key test for leaders
The U.N. human rights chief opened the Human Rights Council's summer session urging leaders to correct the many inequalities laid bare by the pandemic.
Guterres re-elected as U.N. chief through 2026
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres was re-elected to lead the world body for the next five years, winning the General Assembly's unanimous support.
Nearly 3 million more displaced people in 2020
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the global number of people fleeing wars, conflicts or human rights violations rose to almost 82.4 million last year.