U.S. formally withdraws from Paris climate accord
The U.S. became the first nation to withdraw from the 2015 Paris Agreement, jeopardizing efforts at curbing the worst impacts of global warming this century.
Global Issues
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Head of WHO enters self-quarantine over virus
WHO's chief said he will self-quarantine because he was identified as a contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19, as a second wave hits Europe.
IPBES ties pandemic risks to nature crisis
Pandemics will become more frequent, faster-spreading and deadlier than COVID-19 if Earth’s natural life support systems are not restored, IPBES reported.
U.S. rejection upsets WTO leadership race
The U.S. upended WTO's selection of its next director-general as the sole nation to back South Korea's Yoo Myung-hee over Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
UNCTAD shows 49% foreign investments drop
Global foreign direct investment plummeted by 49% during the first half of 2020 compared with a year ago due to the pandemic, UNCTAD reported.
U.N. nuclear treaty ban to enter into force
Fifty nations ratified a treaty to ban nuclear weapons that will enter into force in 90 days, the U.N. confirmed on the same day it was founded 75 years ago.
Global coronavirus cases surpass 40 million
The number of confirmed COVID-19 infections worldwide topped 40 million with 1.1 million deaths as a second wave of the virus hits European nations.
WTO to be led by woman from Nigeria or S. Korea
The final phase of a race to become WTO's next director-general began with two well-qualified women from Nigeria and South Korea vying for the top post.
U.N. lets Iran arms ban lapse despite U.S. dissent
The signatories to the Iran nuclear deal allowed a U.N.-imposed embargo on arms trade with the nation and some travel bans to expire as planned.
Trump dismisses Putin's New START offer
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered to extend the New START treaty as is, but U.S. President Donald Trump's administration called it a "non-starter."
Experts urge G-20 to outdo debt suspensions
Experts cautioned a move by the world's richest countries to give the poorest ones more time to pay off debts will not do enough to alleviate massive suffering.
IMF sees global economy shrinking 4.4% in 2020
The pandemic-hit global economy is expected to contract by as much as 4.4% this year, the International Monetary Fund forecast.
China, Russia join U.N. Human Rights Council
Despite criticism from the U.S. and human rights groups, China, Cuba and Russia were among 15 nations that won seats on the U.N. Human Rights Council.
Eight nations agree on rules to develop Moon
Seven nations joined the U.S. in signing agreements to reinforce and use international rules for peacefully cooperating on and around the Moon's surface.
Report cites climate-linked rise in disasters
A new report found disasters due to weather may force nearly 162 million people to seek humanitarian aid by 2030, almost 50% more than in 2018.
WFP wins Nobel Prize to focus world on hunger
The Nobel Peace Prize went to the World Food Program for its efforts to alleviate hunger amid the pandemic and to urge more international cooperation.