WHO report points to animal source of virus
The coronavirus was likely transmitted initially from bats to humans through another animal and not from an accident in a Chinese lab, scientists reported.
Middle East
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U.N. investigator takes charge at Amnesty
Amnesty International named Agnès Callamard as its new secretary general, tapping a veteran human rights investigator to lead a 60-year-old organization.
America commits to rights overhaul in U.N. review
The U.S. accepted four-fifths of the almost 350 recommendations for improving its human rights record that other nations served up in a U.N. peer review.
U.N. handoff to Libya's new unity government
The U.N.-backed administration in Libya transitioned to an interim government without a hitch in a process leading to nationwide elections in late December.
UNICEF sounds alarm over global school closures
The pandemic has kept 168 million children from attending schools and for many of them the consequences could be disastrous, UNICEF reported.
Media group accuses Saudis in 35 reporter cases
Reporters Without Borders filed a criminal complaint against the Saudi crown prince over Jamal Khashoggi's murder and the detention of 34 other journalists.
U.N. appeal falls short of Yemen's needs
International donors contributed US$1.7 billion for people starving in Yemen, an amount that leaders of humanitarian organizations called disappointing.
U.S. intel implicates Saudi heir in Khashoggi hit
Saudi Arabia's crown prince "approved" the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a declassified U.S. intelligence report concluded.
U.S. seeks to rejoin Human Rights Council
The United States will campaign for a seat on the world's top human rights body, in another reversal of the former Trump administration's foreign policy.
IAEA to get 'less access' to Iran nuclear sites
The head of the U.N. atomic watchdog agency and Iranian top officials announced Tehran will give international inspectors reduced access to nuclear sites.
U.N. panel documents decade of war crimes
Syria's combatants have taken advantage of the international community's disastrous failures, the chair of a panel of U.N. investigators said.
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.
Libyan sides pick interim government for elections
Delegates to a U.N.-backed forum in Geneva chose four Libyans to lead a transitional government that will oversee nationwide elections in late December.
Top U.N. court to hear Iran's case against U.S.
ICJ ruled it has jurisdiction to hear Iran's case challenging the U.S. economic sanctions reimposed by the former Trump administration in 2018.
U.N. envoy pans Syrian talks stalemate
Five days of discussions in Geneva ended with no progress. More Syria peace talks "can't continue like this," the U.N. special envoy to Syria told reporters.
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.