WHO chief hopes for 2-year limit to pandemic
WHO's chief offered a tentative timetable for subduing the pandemic in less than two years if nations can pull together in fighting it.
Global Issues
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WHO chief urges unity over 'vaccine nationalism'
WHO's chief said nations must band together and stop competing over access to future supplies of a potential vaccine if they want to beat the pandemic.
World surpasses 20 million coronavirus cases
The world reached a staggering milestone surpassing 20 million COVID-19 cases with 736,000 deaths — a doubling of 10 million cases in just over six weeks.
China sanctions NGO heads and U.S. lawmakers
China announced economic sanctions on 11 NGO leaders and U.S. lawmakers, in a retaliatory move against outspoken critics of its crackdown on Hong Kong.
Cybercrime and terrorism profit off pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic is being exploited to radicalize would-be terrorists and to target vulnerable networks used by hospitals and healthcare systems.
Nationalism rejected on 75th A-bomb anniversary
On the 75th anniversary of the first atomic bombing, Hiroshima's mayor called on world leaders to ban atomic weapons and boost international cooperation.
ILO child labor treaty gains universal backing
The ILO said a two decade-old convention outlawing the worst forces of child labor has gained universal ratification among all of its 187 member nations.
Generation of students at risk from school closures
A generation of children could suffer major setbacks if nations fail to sufficiently contain the coronavirus so schools can reopen, according to UNESCO data.
UNICEF says lead poisons up to 800 million kids
A third of the world's children have elevated levels of lead in their blood that could lead to irreversible harm, UNICEF and Pure Earth reported.
COVID-19 'most severe' health emergency
The coronavirus pandemic is the worst global public health emergency to be declared under a 13-year-old international law for deadly disease outbreaks.
WHO calls Pompeo remarks 'unacceptable'
WHO's chief denounced U.S. allegations he is subservient to the Chinese government and helped cover up Beijing's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Organizations call on G-20 to cancel debts
Four anti-poverty international organizations called on G-20 finance ministers to cancel debts in poor nations so they can deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.
WHO warns 'normal' is still a long ways off
WHO warned there will be "no return to the 'old normal' for the foreseeable future" as COVID-19 spreads and too many governments fail to act effectively.
Chronic hunger threatens 130 million more
The number of people not getting enough nutrition rose by 60 million since 2014 — and the pandemic may add up to 132 million more this year.
Eight candidates in running for WTO chief
Eight contenders from Britain, Egypt, Kenya, Mexico, Moldova, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia and South Korea have until September 7 to campaign for the job of WTO chief.
WMO warns of 1.5° C. limit by 2024
A key threshold of the 2015 Paris Agreement against the worst effects of global warming could be reached within five years, WMO warned.