WHO adds vaccines for emergency use
WHO listed two of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccines for emergency use, only the second instance of approvals granted since the pandemic began.
Asia-Pacific
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China and U.S. spar over WHO probe
Chinese diplomats pushed back against U.S. skepticism about whether Beijing fully cooperated with WHO scientists investigating the pandemic's origins.
Human Rights Council 'deplores' Myanmar coup
Myanmar's military coup drew broad criticism by the U.N. Human Rights Council, which demanded Aung San Suu Kyi's release and civilian rule restored.
WWF says deep sea mining risks too high
Allowing mining companies to tap deep sea deposits beneath international waters poses too many underwater risks, a global environmental group reported.
WHO team focuses on virus from animals
The initial spread of the coronavirus among people most likely originated from an animal and not from a Chinese lab, WHO-led scientists told journalists.
U.S. to 're-engage' with Human Rights Council
The Biden-Harris administration will seek U.S. 'observer' status with the U.N. Human Rights Council at Geneva in a reversal of former Trump-era policy.
Okonjo-Iweala to head WTO with U.S. backing
Nigerian-American Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is poised to become the next head of Geneva-based WTO after clinching the "strong support" of the United States.
U.N. chief taps Bloomberg for key climate role
Michael Bloomberg was reappointed to the role of U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres' special envoy on climate ambition and solutions.
U.N. launches election procedure for next chief
The U.N. began its process of re-electing or replacing Secretary-General António Guterres with a formal request for nations to propose any challengers.
UNSC, G-7 and ASEAN warn over Myanmar
The U.N. Security Council expressed 'deep concern' but did not condemn Myanmar's military coup while urging Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate release.
U.S. and Russia renew New START Treaty
The Biden administration restored some stability to nonproliferation efforts by extending the last major U.S.-Russia nuclear treaty for another five years.
Lockdowns keeping fish off the hook
FAO expects a 1.3% decline in global aquaculture production and overall drop in fish supply, consumption and trade revenue for 2020.
Myanmar coup raises stakes for investigations
A military coup toppling Myanmar's democratically elected government adds urgency to human rights investigations into generals' long history of brutal rule.
Watchdog ties corruption to virus response
Transparency International found nations doing the most to combat corruption had better health care systems in place to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Poll finds wide agreement on 'climate emergency'
A U.N. survey found 64% of 1.2 million people polled in 50 nations — all of them video gamers — called climate change a global emergency.
Global COVID-19 cases exceed 100 million
Confirmed cases of coronavirus surged past 100 million people — one of every four cases in the United States alone — with 2.1 million deaths worldwide.