Most nations failed to meet WHO fine particle pollution standards
Ambient fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 is considered the world’s leading environmental health risk factor.
Iceland
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Uneven post-pandemic recovery widens gap between rich and poor
Europe dominates the top rankings as development in half of the world’s poorest nations falls below pre-pandemic levels.
Progress is 'slow and mixed' for women joining national parliaments
IPU's chief Martin Chungong says its statistics show that 'women bear the brunt of the hate in the political space.'
Council of Europe presses ex-member Russia for accountability
The 46-nation council reaffirmed support for Ukraine and initiated a register to account for damages by former member Russia so human rights victims can be compensated.
E.U. regulator approves first COVID-19 vaccine
A two-shot vaccine from BioNTech and Pfizer gained official approval in the E.U., two days after Switzerland approved it through a normal procedure.
China dismisses rebuke at U.N. Human Rights Council over Uyghurs
The condemnation came from Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan and New Zealand, along with 17 European nations.
In Trump era, Arctic Council steers clear of addressing the climate crisis
Scientists say the Arctic region is warming about twice as fast as the rest of the planet, but the Trump administration blocked a council statement from referring to that threat.
Western nations rebuke Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi killing
The European Union and eight other nations condemned Saudi Arabia, demanding that it cooperate with a U.N.-led investigation into Jamal Khashoggi's brazen murder.
Japanese pullout from organization marks return to commercial whaling
Japan will leave the International Whaling Commission, which will drop to 88 members, and resume whaling in April.
U.N. review puts spotlight on China's treatment of ethnic minorities
A routine examination by the U.N. Human Rights Council looked at Chinese crackdowns on Uyghurs and Tibetans.
Review of Saudi human rights tainted by journalist's murder
The murder of Jamal Khashoggi overshadowed the U.N. examination of Saudi Arabia's troubled human rights record, with nations calling for a proper investigation into his killing.
Nations agree to fishing ban allowing Arctic marine protections
Concerns about climate change's rapid rate of advance in the far north drove three years of talks on commercial fishing.
Chile's former president Bachelet named U.N. human rights chief
Bachelet got involved in politics after becoming a Chilean human rights activist in the early 1970s, owing to her family becoming political prisoners and the death of her father, an air force general, after months of torture while in prison.
Iceland approved to replace U.S. on U.N.'s top human right body
Iceland won overwhelming approval to join the U.N. Human Rights Council, filling a vacancy left by the United States.
Polar research looks at climate unknowns in southernmost ocean
The need for more science focused on the Southern Ocean was among the themes of the Polar 2018 conference about the Arctic, Antarctic and high altitude regions.
New data protection rules for privacy impact organizations
The centerpiece of the European Union's new rules, and what makes them relevant for international organizations, is the policy of accountability, experts say. Data handlers must be able to demonstrate compliance and delete data if asked.