U.N. extends humanitarian aid border crossing to rebel-held Syria
The U.N. approved a compromise to keep open Syria's last non-government controlled border crossing for aid.
Switzerland
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Nearly 3 million more displaced people from wars and conflicts
Despite the pandemic, the number of people fleeing for safety around the world rose to almost 82.4 million last year.
Biden and Putin agree at face-to-face Geneva meeting to cut nuclear risks
With U.S.-Russia tensions nearing Cold War-era dimensions, the leaders turned to Swiss diplomacy to improve relations.
U.N. inspectors find promise and hype with blockchain technology
Ten U.N. agencies use blockchain and most others plan to despite environmental issues, data privacy, and cyber risks.
Central banks lean into era of big data for research and decisions
Machine learning applications that use big data are increasingly helping central banks, according to BIS.
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.
COVAX starts global vaccine push in Ghana
The COVAX Facility's global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines finally launched with the delivery of 600,000 doses to Ghana's capital Accra.
Mammoth digital effort aims to resuscitate League of Nations' legacy
Ten million pages scanned, five million more to go. The digitization project for the archives hit the two-thirds mark.
Vaccine nationalism clouds the world's pandemic recovery efforts
Rich countries locked up most of the COVID-19 vaccine supply despite the COVAX Facility's efforts to provide equal access.
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.
Swiss achieve first full-blown vaccine approval
Switzerland announced it has become the first government in the world to approve a coronavirus vaccine using a standard process of regulatory approval.
U.S. currency dispute puts IMF role in spotlight
The IMF was thrust into a dispute over currency manipulation as the U.S. accused Vietnam and Switzerland of currency manipulation.
Big pharma sees wide use of vaccines by late 2021
Several CEOs of leading drugmakers expressed confidence the pandemic can be brought under control starting sometime in the second half of next year.
U.N. talks open on Syria national governance
Syrian representatives, dogged by mistrust from an almost decade-long civil war, began a fourth round of peace talks on a new system of governance.
CERN particle collider to reopen next year after high energy upgrade
CERN's governing council agreed to a new operating calendar of proton-smashing experiments through the end of 2024.
Groups cite high number of land mine casualties
At least 5,554 people were killed or wounded last year because they stepped on a land mine or other unexploded devices from war, a new report found.