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.
Global Issues
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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.
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.
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.
Summit marks U.S. re-entry to climate fight
A global summit's mood was perhaps best reflected in the U.N. chief beaming at the new U.S. climate envoy's pledge to restore American climate leadership.
ILO: Pandemic dwarfs global financial crisis
The U.N. labor agency estimated job losses in 2020 due to the pandemic were quadruple those during the 2008-2009 global financial crisis.
China overtakes U.S. in new foreign investment
China surpassed the United States as the world's top recipient of foreign direct investment with inflows of US$163 billion in 2020, new UNCTAD figures show.
Study finds most large dams obsolete by 2050
Most of the world's population by mid-century will face risks living downstream from tens of thousands of aging concrete dams, says a U.N. University report.
Nuclear weapons ban enters into force
Advocates of world peace celebrated "EntryIntoForceDay" as the first legally binding treaty to ban nuclear weapons finally became international law.