Global Geneva: NuseReal

Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett and Otunnu show biggest gains in UN SecGen poll (LINK) — 21 August 2026

— Birkett moved into first place in the race to become the next United Nations secretary-general among eight candidates so far, after the Security Council held its second secret straw poll, on Friday, Aug. 21. Uganda's Olara Otunnu gained the sharpest percentage increase support for his candidacy. Yet no nominee drew the required nine yes votes from the Council poll to fully command a lead.

US plans $725 million payment towards its large UN debt (LINK) — 21 August 2026

— The $725 million would be less than 20% of the more than $4 billion that the U.N. said in May that the United States owed — though Washington has said that total figure is much lower and that it has made some payments. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said this year that the U.N. faced "imminent financial collapse" due to unpaid contributions from member states, and the global body has brought in large budget cuts.

Iran and its major trading partner China push back after Trump threatens 'economic D-Day' (LINK) — 21 August 2026

— China: sanctions do not "fit the interest of any party". Iranian Foreign Ministry: "a recipe for an abysmal return to full-scale classic colonialism".

U.S.-Canada trade talks collapse minutes before deadline for 50% tariffs to take effect (LINK) — 21 August 2026

US judge strikes down Trump immigrant visa ban affecting 75 countries (LINK) — 21 August 2026

U.S. Supreme Court allows Trump's ballroom construction to proceed for now while the court weighs his request (LINK) — 21 August 2026

— It did not address the legality of Trump's project or give a timeline for when the court will weigh in.

Panama Canal to cut number of ships passing through due to low rainfall caused by El Niño: 32 vessels a day from 15 September, compared to 36 currently (LINK) — 21 August 2026

Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan's family accuses gov't of defying hospital order: Khan was to remain there under medical care until the case was next heard on September 16: now back in jail (LINK) — 21 August 2026

Paredes banned 10 games as FIFA suspends 3 Argentina players for World Cup final scuffle (LINK) — 21 August 2026

— The ban for Paredes — who grabbed Spain's Eric Garcia by the throat and pushed Gavi to the ground — ranks with the FIFA sanctions for Uruguay forward Luis Suárez in 2014 as among the most severe in World Cup history. The ban for Paredes is effectively a one-year expulsion from the Argentina team as the FIFA calendar for national team schedules includes 10 games through June 2027. Argentina defender Nahuel Molina was handed a seven-game ban while Thiago Almada was given a one-game suspension. FIFA imposed fines of $90,000 on Paredes and Molina, and $30,000 for Almada.

Trump's misleading crime drop claims: in fact, crime had been falling for a couple years before Trump was elected to a second term. In fact, the violent crime rate Trump inherited from Biden was lower than what Biden inherited from Trump (LINK) — 21 August 2026

Vote on best language learning app 2026 by 10 September for 23 September award: app profiles (LINK) — 18 August 2026

Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues organizes its 18th run of hope on 27 September to raise funds for the Geneva League Against Cancer (LINK) — 20 August 2026

— Participants may choose between a 5-kilometre run, a 10-kilometre run, or a 5-kilometre family walk along Geneva's Quai du Mont-Blanc and Quai Wilson.

Denmark targets August 21 for second Security Council UN chief poll (LINK) — 3 August 2026

25 to 27 October 2026: UNCTAD World Investment Forum 9: in Doha (LINK) — 22 January 2026

Road to the First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals being held in Geneva on 16 to 20 November 2026 (LINK) — 11 February 2026

11 to 15 July 2027: International AIDS Society announces Geneva as host city for IAS 2027: Around 5,000 people from more than 130 countries are expected to attend. Registration for IAS 2027 will open in November 2026 (LINK) — 22 January 2026

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