Diplomacy

NATO drills in US showcase allied unity despite political tensions

A major NATO exercise off the coast of North Carolina has highlighted continued military cooperation between the United States and its European allies despite renewed political tensions over the alliance.…

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Cruise ship infections rise with the WHO now confirming eight cases

The World Health Organization has confirmed an eighth hantavirus case linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius, as health authorities continue to investigate an outbreak that has already resulted in…

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NATO Allies Refuse To Join Trump’s Strait of Hormuz Plan

The United States’ NATO allies signalled they will not take part in President Donald Trump’s plan to impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, deepening strains within an already…

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What to Know About the Strait of Hormuz Under the Cease-Fire

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the most sensitive maritime corridors in the world, and recent developments following a fragile cease fire between the United States and Iran have…

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WHO calls for urgent action on mental health

The World Health Organization reports that over 1 billion people worldwide are living with mental health disorders, with anxiety and depression creating immense human and economic costs. Despite some progress…

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ICC hit by cyberattack around NATO summit

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has confirmed it was targeted by a “sophisticated and targeted” cyberattack, coinciding with last week’s NATO summit held in The Hague. In a statement issued…

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NATO allies agree to 5 percent defense spending goal

NATO members agreed on Sunday to a big increase in their defence spending target to 5% of gross domestic product, as demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump, but Spain said…

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Russia could be ready to attack Nato within five years, says secretary general

Russia could be ready to attack Nato within five years and leaders of the western alliance are expected to agree to increase military spending to 5% of GDP this month…

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NATO allies cannot rely on America for their defense, warns US defense chief

NATO allies cannot rely on the United States to defend them and need to step up themselves, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. "The United States is proud to be…

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Former German FM Baerbock elected president of UN General Assembly

Former German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock was elected President of the General Assembly’s 80th session on Monday. Her appointment comes as the regional group that includes Western Europe takes its…

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Human trafficking rises sharply after dropping during pandemic, UN says

Human trafficking has risen sharply due to conflicts, climate-induced disasters and global crises, according to a United Nations report published on Wednesday. In 2022, the latest year for which data…

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Top NATO official calls on business leaders to prepare for ‘wartime scenario’

A top NATO military official urged businesses to be prepared for a wartime scenario and adjust their production and distribution lines accordingly, in order to be less vulnerable to blackmail…

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US supports two permanent UN Security Council seats for Africa

The United States supports creating two permanent United Nations Security Council seats for African states and one seat to be rotated among small island developing states, U.S. Ambassador to the…

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NATO finds gaping holes in Europe’s defences

The war in Ukraine and the looming U.S. presidential election dominated a NATO summit in Washington this month but, away from the public stage, the alliance's military planners have been…

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NATO picks Netherlands’ Mark Rutte as next boss

NATO on Wednesday selected Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO's next boss, as the war in Ukraine rages on its doorstep and uncertainty hangs over the United States' future…

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Mark Rutte set to be Nato chief as rival drops out

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is poised to become the next NATO secretary general after Romanian President Klaus Iohannis withdrew his candidacy last week. Rutte and Iohannis had been competing…

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NATO chief says Russia, North Korea pact shows mutual support by authoritarian powers

Russia's new defensive pact with North Korea shows increasing alignment among authoritarian powers and underscores the importance of democracies presenting a united front, the head of NATO said. Russian President…

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Dutch PM Rutte to succeed Stoltenberg as NATO chief

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, a staunch ally of Kyiv and a critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, will succeed Jens Stoltenberg as NATO chief, Dutch national broadcaster NOS reported…

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NATO targets AI, robots and space tech in $1.1 billion fund

A consortium of NATO allies has confirmed the first tranche of companies awarded funding as part of the group’s one billion euro ($1.1 billion) innovation fund. The alliance unveiled the…

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NATO in talks to put nuclear weapons on standby

NATO is in talks to deploy more nuclear weapons, taking them out of storage and placing them on standby, in the face of a growing threat from Russia and China,…

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World falling behind on environment, health and hunger goals, UN report says

The world is way off track on most of the sustainable development targets agreed in 2015, such as tackling poverty and hunger, says a United Nations report which cites funding…

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Finnish president says Mark Rutte likely to become next NATO chief

Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will likely become NATO's next secretary general, Finnish President Alexander Stubb told a press conference on Thursday.

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UN refugee agency says record 117 mln people forcibly displaced in 2023

The United Nations refugee agency on Thursday said the number of people forcibly displaced stood at a record 117.3 million as of the end of last year, warning that this…

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NATO adapting its nuclear arsenal to security threats

In a rare reference to the Western nuclear arsenal, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg highlighted the alliance's efforts to adapt its capabilities to current security threats, taking note of Russia latest…

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UN adopts first global artificial intelligence resolution

By Alexandra Alper (Reuters) - The United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted the first global resolution on artificial intelligence that encourages countries to safeguard human rights, protect personal data, and…

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Ancient Law: A Joy And A Process

By David Fabri I recently re-visited Gorthyna, an old Cretan city-state, home to a famous code of laws (app 450 BC), which in part survives to this day. Significant fragments were…

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NATO chief says 18 countries meet 2% military spending target

Eighteen out of 31 NATO countries will hit the target of 2% in defence spending of their gross domestic product in 2024, NATO's Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday.…

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Rise in reports of fake weight-loss drugs linked to shortage of real thing, WHO says

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday warned that global shortages last year of popular diabetes medicines that are also used for weight loss, such as Novo Nordisk's Ozempic, had…

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NATO’s Stoltenberg expects Hungary to ratify Sweden membership at end of Feb

BRUSSELS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - NATO boss Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday he expected Hungary's parliament to ratify Sweden's accession as soon as it reconvenes at the end of February,…

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World risks missing deadline for pandemic accord, says WHO chief

Countries risk missing a May deadline for agreeing a legally binding treaty on fighting pandemics, which would be a big blow for future generations, the head of the World Health…

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Geo-Politics in 2024: Out With The Old, In With The Same

Tonio Galea, Editor www.cde.news Most years in the geopolitical sphere end with more or less the same issues, though their intensity somewhat varies year in year out. Though then as…

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The Thalidomide scandal: a legislative, political and regulatory failure

If you have never heard of Thalidomide, this may be a useful place to start. Interest in the scandal and its past ongoing consequences has recently been revived in the…

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NATO air forces scrambled over 300 times in 2023 due to Russian military aircraft

BRUSSELS, Dec 29 (Reuters) - NATO air forces were scrambled more than 300 times in response to Russian military aircraft in 2023, the treaty organisation said on Friday. "The vast…

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WHO classifies JN.1 coronavirus strain as ‘variant of interest’

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday classified the JN.1 coronavirus strain as a "variant of interest", but said it did not pose much threat to public health. "Based on…

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UN marks 75 years of human rights declaration in shadow of Gaza

By Emma Farge GENEVA, Dec 11 (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights chief urged countries on Monday to work together to defeat threats such as war and pollution at an…

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Russia fails to get re-elected to UN ship agency’s governing council; Malta re-elected

LONDON - Russia on Friday failed to win enough votes for re-election to the United Nation's shipping agency's governing council after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had urged countries not to…

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NATO urges members to get their logistics homework done

By Sabine Siebold BRUSSELS, Nov 23 (Reuters) - NATO has warned its members that too much red tape is hindering troop movements across Europe, a problem that could cause major…

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In UN talks for a global plastic treaty, delegates to face off over production limits

By Valerie Volcovici Nov 12 (Reuters) - As the world's nations enter another round of talks this week on creating a first-ever treaty to contain plastic pollution, officials are bracing…

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G7 to agree AI code of conduct for companies -G7 document

By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, Oct 29 (Reuters) - The Group of Seven industrial countries will on Monday agree a code of conduct for companies developing advanced artificial intelligence systems,…

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UN chief rejects Israel accusations he justified Hamas attacks

By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres rejected accusations by Israel that, in a statement to the Security Council, he had justified attacks by the…

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Red Cross cuts 2024 budget as donations fall

The International Committee of the Red Cross will cut its budget next year by about 13%, its director-general said on Monday, as major donors including the United States have reduced…

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UN Security Council meets for first time on AI risks

By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council held its first meeting on artificial intelligence on Tuesday where China said the technology should not become a…

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UN food aid deliveries by AI robots could begin next year

AI-powered robotic vehicles could deliver food parcels to conflict and disaster zones by as early as next year in a move aimed to spare the lives of humanitarian workers, a…

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NATO extends boss Stoltenberg’s term by a year

BRUSSELS, July 4 (Reuters) - NATO on Tuesday extended Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s contract by another year, opting to stick with an experienced leader rather than try to agree on a successor…

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World Bank, WTO chiefs seek to reignite services trade negotiations

The heads of the World Bank and the World Trade Organization on Monday called for countries to boost efforts to make trade in global services more transparent and predictable, saying…

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NATO races to design long-term package for Ukraine but differences remain

NATO members are racing to complete a plan to provide long-term support to Ukraine, but are wrestling with how best to assure the country's security until it can join the military…

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UN chief backs idea of global AI watchdog like nuclear agency

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday backed a proposal by some artificial intelligence executives for the creation of an international AI watchdog body like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).Generative…

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Five nations elected to U.N. Security Council, but Belarus denied

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations General Assembly elected Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Slovenia and South Korea to the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday for two-year terms starting on…

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NATO struggles in the shadows to find new leader

By Andrew Gray Stoltenberg due to step down later this year Big post in Western response to war in Ukraine Britain's defence minister Wallace wants the job Danish PM Frederiksen…

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NATO needs bigger presence in Black Sea, Romania’s president says

NATO needs a bigger presence in the Black Sea, Romania's President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday (April 3) after meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “The Black Sea is now, more…

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Sweden summons Russia’s ambassador over “legitimate target” statement

Sweden's foreign ministry said on Wednesday it will summon Russia's Stockholm ambassador to complain about an "attempt at interference" with the Swedish NATO application process.Sweden and Finland in 2022 both…

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U.N. chief urges faster shift to ‘net zero’ after report highlights climate threat

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on rich nations to accelerate their shift to "net zero" emissions on Monday after a new assessment from scientists warned there was little time…

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IAEA board backs Grossi’s appointment to second four-year term

VIENNA, March 10 (Reuters) - The U.N. nuclear watchdog's 35-nation board of governors on Friday backed the reappointment of Argentina's Rafael Grossi to a second four-year term as director general, diplomats at…

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Nations secure U.N. global high seas biodiversity pact

By David Stanway March 5 (Reuters) - Negotiators from more than 100 countries completed a U.N. treaty to protect the high seas on Saturday, a long-awaited step that environmental groups…

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Fresh from Kyiv, Biden rallies NATO allies in Poland

Fresh from an unannounced visit to Ukraine, President Joe Biden rallied NATO allies in Poland on Tuesday, proclaiming "unwavering" support for Kyiv and a commitment to bolstering the alliance's eastern…

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Boost in arms for Kyiv needed as Putin escalates war – NATO

Western countries need to boost ammunition supplies to Ukraine as Russia escalates its war effort before the first anniversary of the Feb. 24 invasion, NATO military alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg…

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Invited by Russia, Roger Waters tells UN: Ukraine invasion illegal

UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters) - Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters on Wednesday evening addressed the U.N. Security Council at Russia's invitation, condemning Moscow's invasion of its neighbor as illegal - though…

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