WEF calls off Singapore summit over pandemic
The World Economic Forum cancelled a summer version of its annual meeting in Singapore and pushed its annual Davos meeting to "the first half of 2022."
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.S. blocking call for Israel-Hamas cease-fire
The U.S. prevented the U.N. Security Council from issuing a statement calling for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers.
Expert panel says pandemic was preventable
An independent expert panel faulted the World Health Organization and world leaders with a slow-moving response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Facebook-backed digital currency reboots
Facebook's global digital currency project is abandoning Switzerland as its hoped-for regulatory home and planning to launch a U.S.-based payment system.
WHO grants emergency use of China's Sinopharm
WHO added a Chinese shot to its list of COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use, providing COVAX another option to broaden vaccine access.
Methane cuts urged as cheaper climate path
A new U.N. report recommended methane emissions cuts as the most efficient way of preventing another 0.3 degrees Celsius of global warming.
U.S. and WTO chief push IP vaccine waiver
The United States and WTO chief backed waivers to vaccine patent protections aimed at speeding efforts to end the coronavirus pandemic.
E-commerce rises to 19% of all retail purchases
Global online sales among seven major economies jumped to almost one-fifth of all retail sales last year during the pandemic, UNCTAD reported.
Diplomats see progress on Iran nuclear talks
Major powers completed a third round of talks in Vienna amid "cautious and growing optimism," seeking ways to resuscitate the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal.
WHO lists Moderna vaccine for emergency use
WHO listed Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine for emergency use, the fifth such designation since the pandemic began and another step towards global access.
Global COVID-19 infections top 150 million
Two of every five cases were in the United States, India and Brazil alone — with more than 3.1 million deaths and 87 million recoveries worldwide.
Challengers for U.N. chief lack official standing
The U.N. is considering one candidate for secretary-general in 2022 — incumbent António Guterres — despite the emergence of self-nominated challengers.
U.N. chief to prolong deadlocked Cyprus talks
The U.N. chief remained determined to bring Cypriot leaders together despite acknowledging failure to surmount differences over how to restart formal talks.
ASEAN calls for end to Myanmar killings
Nine Southeast Asian nations demanded that the military in Myanmar — the tenth ASEAN member — should immediately cease all violence and killings.
Biden summit buoys climate treaty hopes
A two-day global climate summit hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden ended with leaders and companies pledging to decarbonize the world economy.
FIFA and UEFA rebuff breakaway league
World football's governing body FIFA and Europe's UEFA faced down their biggest challenge in decades from the proposed European Super League.