In The News

UN Pledges to Fight Antibiotic Resistance in Historic Agreement

Michaeleen Doucleff September 23, 2016
Overuse of antibiotics and outright abuse have contributed to some bacteria adapting resistance to common drugs. The UN General Assembly is tackling the spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs as a priority: “The U.N.'s declaration requires countries to come up with a two-year a plan to protect the potency of antibiotics,” reports Michaeleen Doucleff for NPR. Common infections like...

UN Admits Role in Cholera Epidemic in Haiti

Jonathan M. Katz August 19, 2016
Disasters like the earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010 require fast response. But such responses can bring new problems. A cholera outbreak emerged in Haiti later that year. A UN report, prepared by law professor Philip Alston, suggests that the epidemic “would not have broken out but for the actions of the United Nations.” The report focuses on a peacekeeping group of more than 400 members...

Will This Be the Happiest Place in the World?

Louise Redvers August 5, 2016
People who don't need to resort full attention to survival turn to more fulfilling pursuits including happiness. The United Arab Emirates is intent on developing itself as a place of happiness, by appointing a state minister, renaming some departments, and selecting 60 officials to travel overseas to study the state of mind and how it spreads. “Currently ranked 28th out of 156 countries...

Law Challenges China Dream for Control of South China Sea

Nayan Chanda July 14, 2016
In a unanimous decision, the Arbitral Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines against China’s claims to virtually all of the South China Sea and suggested China’s actions violate the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Both the Philippines and China are signatories to the treaty. In rejecting China’s wide claims and describing its activities...

5 Refugee Crises You May Not Know About, But Should

Devon Haynie June 30, 2016
The Syrian refugee crisis, with 4 million leaving the country and 8 million internally displaced, captures the most attention from world leaders and the media. The world has nearly a total of 65 million forcibly displaced people, and Devon Haynie lists other crises for US News & World Report: Burundi in East Africa with more than 300,000 fleeing to nearby Tanzania, Rwanda and Democratic...

Indonesia’s Hesitancy on the Global Stage

Nithin Coca April 27, 2016
Indonesia’s President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo pursues trade, but otherwise keeps a low profile in foreign affairs. The country is in line for a seat on the UN Security Council. Widodo has spoken out in favor of better representation for developing nations, but the country has largely focused on domestic issues since the regional financial crisis in 1998 and global debt crisis in 2008. Widodo calls...

Yemen Conflict: Clashes Rattle Shaky Truce

April 11, 2016
A UN ceasefire is holding in Yemen as parties plan peace talks to end the 13-month civil war that has displaced more than 2 million. Yemen has a population of 27 million. “More than 6,000 people have been killed since a Saudi-led coalition began a military campaign to defeat the rebels and restore the exiled government,” reports the BBC News. “”The UN says most of those killed have been civilians...