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.
Norway
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U.N. environment chief resigns after audit finds excessive plane flights
Aside from the money and time, the image of a jet-setting executive director in charge of an agency that sets environmental and climate agendas made for poor optics.
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.
U.N. task force seeks Syrian civilian protections but fighting doesn't stop
Russia and Turkey plan to allow a 'war on terror' to continue against fighters living near civilians in the Idlib region.
Evidence of election meddling competes with voting assistance
Russians and Americans have a complicated history of election meddling abroad but they are not equivalent, international organizations and democracy proponents say.
Danish cartoons stir Muslim push for international 'hatred' ban
Deep-seated Muslim anger at efforts to satirize Prophet Muhammad stirred the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to propose a ban against incitement of religious hatred.
International organizations 'under attack' says Bono at Irish U.N. event
The implications of the U2 frontman's message extended well beyond Ireland's expected three-way race against Canada and Norway for two temporary seats on the U.N. Security Council.
Backlash against Trump policies doom U.S. migration nominee
The defeat of a U.S. nominee reflects broad dissatisfaction with Trump's policies on migration, economy and trade.
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.
Case made for top-down U.N. reforms in staff management
The need to overhaul the U.N.'s vast bureaucracy is a more urgent topic as its single biggest donor, the United States, ratchets up pressure under the Trump administration.
Experts propose clean energy global fund to propel climate treaty
A global fund or international organization could speed innovation so the energy sector can 'meet the demands' of the Paris climate treaty, an intergovernmental alliance says.
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.
Threats to press and repressive leaders pose danger to democracy
Reporters Without Borders said hatred for the press was "steadily more visible” in 2018 among 180 countries it monitors each year and political leaders' hostility towards news media is no longer limited to authoritarian countries.