'Backsliding' in women's and kids' health care
Health care for women and children suffered major setbacks from multiple crises in recent years, requiring serious investment in public health resources.
Global Issues
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Wildlife populations plunge 69% since 1970
WWF: Global populations of wildlife species fell on average more than two-thirds between 1970 and 2018 from a "broken relationship with nature."
Researchers seek greater Indigenous peoples' voice in climate policy
Indigenous communities have long coped with climate uncertainties. Researchers suggest tapping that knowledge.
Nations set aviation net zero climate goal for 2050
Countries set an "aspirational goal" of net zero CO2 aviation emissions by 2050 in response to pressure on the industry to do more to fight climate change.
U.N. warns world 'on edge of recession'
The world is on the brink of recession, UNCTAD said in projecting growth slowing to 2.2% in 2023 with cascading crises of debt, health and climate.
Hunger from climate, conflicts and rising prices hits developing world
With 50 million 'a step away from starvation,' humanitarian groups calculate a person dies of hunger every four seconds.
Global Fund raises record amount but falls short of US$18B goal
Reeling from pandemic setbacks, the world's largest disease-fighting fund sought money to work in more than 100 nations.
World faces a 'turning point' as U.N. meets
Confronting a world in "great peril," world leaders gathering at the U.N. General Assembly this week are being asked to set aside nations' grievances.
WHO chief sees pandemic 'finish line'
With the number of deaths from COVID-19 reaching its lowest point of the pandemic, WHO's director-general for the first time said "the end is in sight."
Organizations call for fossil fuel ban treaty
Nearly 200 public health organizations want a "fossil fuel nonproliferation treaty" to end global dependence on carbon emissions linked to air pollution.
Modern slavery traps almost 50 million people
New estimates show nearly one of every 150 people trapped in modern slavery, up 23% in five years. That's 49.6 million working or married involuntarily.
U.N. settles on new climate leader for 'decisive decade' of urgent action
Simon Stiell, a former senior official in Grenada's government and engineer, has been appointed the new U.N. climate chief.
Talks fail to clinch global ocean treaty
Diplomats suspended talks after they could not agree on a proposed treaty to protect marine species and minerals in high seas covering 43% of Earth.
First ships sail from Ukraine in grain deal with Russia, Turkey and U.N.
Several grain ships left Ukrainian ports under a U.N.-brokered deal that could help ease the global food crisis.
U.N. chief warns nuclear 'guardrails' weakening
The world is perilously close to blundering into nuclear catastrophe, the U.N. secretary-general told a conference on a cornerstone of global nonproliferation.
U.N. declares healthy environment a human right
A second vote in the United Nations solidifies international recognition that everyone's access to a clean and healthy environment is a fundamental right.