Global confirmed virus cases exceed 500 million
The global number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 500 million with nearly 6.2 million deaths as a highly contagious Omicron sub-variant surged.
Global Issues
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Massive fund scales up on biodiversity
GEF drew US$5.25 billion in pledges for its work over the next four years on improving how the Earth's resources are managed in developing countries.
IPCC finds climate options dwindling
Nations have just a few years left to achieve the 2015 Paris Agreement's goals of limiting global warming to a rise of 1.5 or 2 degrees C., climate experts say.
ILO picks Togo's Houngbo as next chief
The ILO elected Togo's former prime minister, Gilbert Houngbo, to serve as its next director-general, making him the first African to hold the post.
Paris climate treaty goal on 'life support'
The world is "sleepwalking" towards ruin as the coronavirus and Russia's war in Ukraine put a 1.5 degrees C. limit further out of reach, the U.N. chief said.
After 2 years, pandemic 'far from over'
Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO’s director-general says it is nowhere near the end as nations seek to lift restrictions.
Unbreaking the US$100 billion climate vow
A U.N. Security Council debate drew attention to the peace dividends of preparing for a warmer world and rich nations' broken climate promise.
Nations to draft plastic waste treaty
Delegates from 175 nations to the U.N. Environment Assembly voted unanimously to devise a treaty that tries to cleanse the world of plastic pollution.
Climate report reveals 'atlas of human suffering'
The world's top climate experts sounded the alarm over the consequences of inaction in an exhaustive new report that details the hell of a warming world.
UNEP urges rethink on wildfire policy
The incidence of extreme fires around the world is expected to increase by as much as 50% by the end of the century, environmental experts warned.
U.N. chief decries Russian 'violation'
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres described Russia's moves in Ukraine as a flagrant defiance of international law and the norms of peacekeeping.
IPCC wrapping up next major climate report
A panel of the world's top climate scientists began putting the final touches on their latest comprehensive look at how global warming affects the planet.
Attacks on 'blue helmets' last year claim 25
At least 24 peacekeepers and a civilian working for the United Nations were killed in deliberate attacks during 2021, according to the U.N. Staff Union.
U.N. condemns denial of Nazi Holocaust
The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution to combat Holocaust denial and urged all nations and social media companies to fight anti-Semitism.
Confirmed cases top 300 million mark
The global number of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 300 million with 5.47 million deaths as nations reeled from an Omicron variant of the virus.
Projected 17% rise in 2022 emergency aid
Some 274 million people will need emergency humanitarian aid in 2022 due to war, conflicts, hunger, climate change and the pandemic, the U.N. said.