High seas treaty moves a step closer to reality among U.N. delegates
Diplomats, experts and international organizations are negotiating a new treaty aimed at protecting the rich biodiversity of open oceans against commercial pressures.
Global Issues
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Hot planet on a path of 'suicidal emissions' from fossil fuel burning
The U.N. secretary-general demanded that nations act far faster and more decisively to combat the climate crisis.
Under pressure, global postal system grapples with tech and costs
For only a second time in its 144-year history, the Swiss-based Universal Postal Union held an "Extraordinary Congress," this time under U.S. pressure to change international postal rates.
Frontier of machine learning raises questions and risks for human rights
International organizations are calling on governments and technology companies to adopt a human rights declaration.
U.N. rights chief urges more global support for people and not nations
The departing U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, a Jordanian prince and diplomat, warned people's rights must be defended amid a rise in populist-driven authoritarians.
UNDP joins partnership with big tech testing AI for poverty reduction
Artificial intelligence will be examined as a potentially powerful tool for helping to achieve sustainable development by international organizations, tech giants and academics.
Out of limelight, a quiet force for civilian and political rights
Three times a year, a little-known panel of human rights experts gathers in Geneva and New York with a monumental task: upholding people's civil and political rights.
Modern slavery traps 40.3 million people around the world
The report found the highest concentration of modern slavery in North Korea — and bigger numbers than previously reported in Australia, Europe and the United States.
U.S. and Hungary reject U.N.-led push for a new global migration pact
A new pact for promoting safe migration that's supported by 190 countries has been advancing through the United Nations without participation from the United States and Hungary.
Experts warn of U.S.-led existential threat against global trade body
A panel of independent experts said global tensions resulting from U.S. President Donald Trump's trade wars could cause wider "backsliding" towards trade protectionism.
Clean energy investment lagging behind global decarbonization goals
Investment in renewable power, accounting for two-thirds of all power generation spending, dropped 7% last year and "there is a risk" that it will slow more this year, IEA said.
Faster eco-improvement urged on multiple fronts despite financial cuts
The world's foremost international organization for financing projects on environmental change sent up smoke signals warning that 'incremental change will not suffice.'
Food and fish waste challenge import-dependent poorer nations
A third of the world’s fish stocks are overfished, FAO said, and 35% of what's caught never makes it one someone's plate.
Twiplomacy study of social media finds 'all the world's atwitter'
The United Nations and UNICEF are the most popular organizations on Twitter, where U.S. President Donald Trump has overtaken Pope Francis in the most-followed ranking.
An 'alphabet soup' of high seas rules stands in way of sustainability
Because these ocean areas and deep seabeds lie beyond national jurisdictions, they fall within a patchwork of laws overseen mostly by U.N.-affiliated international organizations.
Chemical weapons watchdog augments its accountability powers
As the international organization created to oversee the ban on chemical weapons, OPCW has until now been unable to name those it found responsible for carrying out attacks.