Some current threats and concerns

Although I generally admire and respect the UN (which does essential work on disaster relief, health [the WHO], international transport & communication, etc), this was <expletive deleted>  insane, and incredibly damaging to the UN's credibility:

• https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-human-rights-reps-overwhelmingly-applaud-iran-for-its-record/.

The following is partially edited (for length):

"Out of 111 countries present at the hearing, 95 of them, including North Korea, Qatar, Belarus, Malaysia, Iraq and Oman, praised Iran’s rights record. Only 16 countries criticised Iran, according to UN Watch, a Geneva-based non-governmental organisation, including the USA, which called for Iran to:
"One, immediately release all Iranian prisoners of conscience," including US citizens it holds in detention."Two, immediately end the use of torture and credibly investigate and prosecute all allegations of torture. Three, establish an independent judiciary, including significant reforms to the revolutionary courts.”

Iran's submission was rebutted by https://unwatch.org/iran-claims-commitment-to-human-rights-ahead-of-mandatory-review/ and
https://unwatch.org/un-condemns-iran-press-statement/.

I consider that the two biggest needs at the UN at the moment are:

• a counter or refinement of the veto power in the UN Security Council, which most people are aware of, but that veto power was the condition which allowed the UN to come into existence (the best suggestion I've come across is using the General Assembly more, which could overrule the Security Council, as I understand it); 
• a smaller Human Rights Council, which would allow the "less desirable" nations to be kept out (spaces are allocated on the basis of regional blocs, which is fair enough as it prevents the HRC being dominated by a few big nations, but the numbers are too high as a percentage of each region to ensure that abusive nations are kept out). Alternatively (or, perhaps, as well as), insist that nations wanting to be on the HRC meet minimum standards - sign up to, ratify and implement key international treaties, for instance.

Throwing the baby out with the bathwater would be a mistake: we need the UN, but there is also a need for continuous improvement, and addressing internal problems. Improve and address: don't destroy the world out of spite over problems that can be addressed.

Others' views on concerns at the UN are presented in this: https://www.crisisgroup.org/global/three-troubling-trends-un-security-council.

On others' concerns, this is a well-written article:

• "How an India-Pakistan nuclear war could start - and have global consequences" - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/00963402.2019.1680049. 

In my nation: 

•  this is a warning  to take note of: "The government is in authoritarian mode and now is not the time for complacency" - https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2019/nov/12/the-government-is-in-authoritarian-mode-and-now-is-not-the-time-for-complacency (if I had the time and energy, I'd do an article on this); and 
• some good news: "Suicide rates fall after gay marriage legalised in Sweden and Denmark" - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/14/suicide-rates-fall-after-gay-marriage-laws-in-sweden-and-denmark.