European bloc joins WIPO treaty on books for visually impaired people
The "Books for Blind" Marrakesh Treaty championed by United Nations Messenger of Peace Stevie Wonder will have 70 member nations when the European Union is added.
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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Geneva
Fear of retaliation or job loss discourages U.N. whistleblowing
A new review of U.N. whistleblowing policies and practices by the U.N.'s Joint Inspection Unit showed little improvement from retaliation cases reported more than a decade earlier.
Critics see lost chance on fighting noncommunicable diseases
Low- and middle-income countries and the poorest and most vulnerable populations worldwide are the hardest hit.
Global appeal at U.N. seeks freedom for captive journalists and free press
The special gathering at U.N. headquarters in New York highlighted the many challenges to press freedoms globally.
Wetlands vanishing at triple rate of forests as global temperatures rise
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands said the losses between 1970 and 2015 pose a serious threat to the "world's most valuable ecosystem" with a huge amount of biodiversity.
Trump calls U.N. 'unaccountable' in boastful attack on multilateralism
At the U.N. General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump unleashed a vicious attack on the U.S.-hosted world body that he described as a largely usesless "global bureaucracy."
Nuclear power's complexities emerge in the age of climate change
The picture is complicated by safety and environmental concerns and IAEA's dual roles as watchdog and promoter.
U.N. task force seeks Syrian civilian protections but fighting doesn't stop
Russia and Turkey plan to allow a 'war on terror' to continue against fighters living near civilians in the Idlib region.
Myanmar democratic push at a 'standstill' with military-led abuses
A U.N. panel identified six Myanmar military leaders it said should be prosecuted for genocide against Rohingya Muslims.
Syrian buffer zone for Idlib region is latest use of an old diplomatic tool
The concept of a demilitarization zone, like the one planned for Idlib, goes back almost a half-millennium to Europe's rules on demolishing forts or prohibiting their reconstruction.
Under U.S. pressure, WTO welcomes revamp from G-20 trade ministers
The World Trade Organization is under mounting pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to justify its global rules, dispute forum and even its existence.
High seas treaty moves a step closer to reality among U.N. delegates
Diplomats, experts and international organizations are negotiating a new treaty aimed at protecting the rich biodiversity of open oceans against commercial pressures.
Ethiopia tops list of newly uprooted people in latest global assessment
New ethnic clashes in the south of the country and violence along a border region displaced more than 1 million people.
Trump administration rebukes International Criminal Court
U.S. President Donald Trump's belligerent national security adviser John Bolton harshly condemned the International Criminal Court, which is hated by conservatives.
U.S.-led U.N. debate focuses on nexus of conflict and corruption
The U.N. Security Council, led by the U.S. this month, held its first meeting devoted to debating the ties between corruption, peace and security, focusing especially on Venezuela.
Hot planet on a path of 'suicidal emissions' from fossil fuel burning
The U.N. secretary-general demanded that nations act far faster and more decisively to combat the climate crisis.