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Michelle Nichols
For Michelle Nichols's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Smoke rises from the Gaza Strip during an explosion following an airstrike on Saturday. The war in Gaza has not stopped and Hamas has not freed anyone despite the adoption of a U.N. resolution on Monday demanding a cease-fire and the release of hostages.
WORLD / Politics
Mar 27, 2024
The U.N. Security Council demanded a Gaza cease-fire. What happens now?
While the U.S. did not veto the cease-fire resolution, its description of the text as "non-binding" sparked an uproar in the world body.
A formal conclusion that famine has arrived in the Gaza Strip could come as early as next week.
WORLD / EXPLAINER
Mar 6, 2024
Famine looms in Gaza: How will the world know it has arrived?
The U.N. has said that more than a quarter of Gaza's 2.3 million people are "estimated to be facing catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation."
Displaced Palestinians gather to collect food in the northern Gaza Strip on Monday. One in six children under age 2 in northern Gaza suffers from acute malnutrition, a U.N. aid official said.
WORLD / Society
Feb 28, 2024
One quarter of Gaza's people one step away from famine, U.N. says
Practically all the 2.3 million people in the Palestinian enclave rely on "woefully inadequate" food aid to survive.
Members of the Palestinian civil defense extinguish a fire in a building following Israeli bombardments east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Feb 20, 2024
U.S. proposes its own U.N. Security Council draft opposing Rafah offensive
The U.S. draft comes ahead of a vote by the U.N. body on an earlier proposal for a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, which Washington has opposed.
Since 2006, North Korea has been subject to sanctions, which the U.N. Security Council has repeatedly strengthened to try and cut off funding for its weapons of mass destruction development.
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 8, 2024
U.N. experts investigate cyberattacks worth $3 billion by North Korea
Monitors wrote that the funds reportedly help the country's development of weapons of mass destruction.
Damaged buildings following an Israeli air strike on Tuesday
WORLD / Politics
Dec 13, 2023
U.N. urges Gaza cease-fire as divide between Israel and U.S. grows
U.S. President Joe Biden told the longtime ally its "indiscriminate" bombing of civilians was hurting international support.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jul 19, 2023
U.N. says ideas 'floated' on getting Ukraine and Russia grain to global markets
The Black Sea deal was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey in July last year to combat a global food crisis worsened by Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Mar 11, 2023
China role in Saudi-Iran deal a tricky test for U.S.
The surprise deal to restore diplomatic ties offers much for the United States to be intrigued about. It also contains an element sure to make officials in Washington deeply uneasy.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
Feb 7, 2023
2022 was record-breaking year for North Korean crypto theft, U.N. says
Sanctions monitors said most cyberattacks were carried out by groups controlled by North Korea's primary intelligence bureau — the Reconnaissance General Bureau.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 31, 2022
U.N., Turkey and Ukraine press ahead with Black Sea grain deal despite Russian pullout
Russia, which invaded Ukraine on. Feb 24, on Saturday halted its role in the Black Sea deal for an 'indefinite term,' cutting shipments from one of the world's top grain exporters.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 4, 2022
Musk and Zelenskyy in Twitter showdown over billionaire's Ukraine peace plan
The Tesla CEO proposed U.N.-supervised elections in four occupied regions that Moscow last week moved to annex after what it called referendums.
Japan Times
WORLD
Sep 24, 2022
'Time is up': Countries trapped in climate crisis raise alarm at U.N.
During the gathering of world leaders at the U.N. this week, Vanuatu urged the world to focus on combating global warming by calling for a fossil fuel nonproliferation treaty.
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Aug 17, 2022
U.N. action to isolate Russia wanes almost six months into Ukraine war
'As the war has dragged on, it has become harder to find meaningful ways to penalize Russia,' said Richard Gowan, U.N. director at the independent International Crisis Group.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Apr 7, 2022
China's balancing act over Ukraine offers Washington a subtle 'win'
U.S.-led pressure on China, including the specter of sanctions should it provide material support for Russia's war, appears to be helping keep Beijing on the fence over the conflict.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 6, 2022
North Korea grows nuclear, missiles programs, profits from cyberattacks: U.N. report
The annual report note cryptocurrency theft and the largest number of missile launches in a single month for the country's weapons programs.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 31, 2022
Can the U.N. do more than talk about the Russia and Ukraine crisis?
The U.N. Security Council is due to meet to discuss Russia's troop build-up on the border with Ukraine, but there will be no action by the council — even if Russia were to invade Ukraine.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 20, 2022
First aid finally reaches Tonga as telephone lines partially restored
The delivery of the supplies brought in by aircraft was contactless to ensure Tonga remains free of the coronavirus.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 12, 2021
Russia and western nations clash at UNSC over Belarus migrant crisis
Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway, the United States and the U.K. have accused Belarus of putting lives 'in danger for political purposes.'
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 2, 2021
China and Russia revive push to lift U.N. sanctions on North Korea
The sanctions on industries that Russia and China have proposed lifting previously earned North Korea hundreds of millions of dollars.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 27, 2020
As U.S. and China squabble at U.N., a plea — and warning — from Micronesia
As China and the United States feuded at the United Nations last week over COVID-19 and the climate, one of the world's smallest states pleaded for detente.

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