WEF calls off Singapore summit over pandemic
The World Economic Forum cancelled a summer version of its annual meeting in Singapore and pushed its annual Davos meeting to "the first half of 2022."
Europe
Enjoy our Free+ stories and our weekly newsletter
Start your free accessAlready have an account? Log in
U.S. blocking call for Israel-Hamas cease-fire
The U.S. prevented the U.N. Security Council from issuing a statement calling for an immediate cease-fire between Israel and Gaza’s militant Hamas rulers.
Facebook-backed digital currency reboots
Facebook's global digital currency project is abandoning Switzerland as its hoped-for regulatory home and planning to launch a U.S.-based payment system.
Methane cuts urged as cheaper climate path
A new U.N. report recommended methane emissions cuts as the most efficient way of preventing another 0.3 degrees Celsius of global warming.
U.S. and WTO chief push IP vaccine waiver
The United States and WTO chief backed waivers to vaccine patent protections aimed at speeding efforts to end the coronavirus pandemic.
E-commerce rises to 19% of all retail purchases
Global online sales among seven major economies jumped to almost one-fifth of all retail sales last year during the pandemic, UNCTAD reported.
Diplomats see progress on Iran nuclear talks
Major powers completed a third round of talks in Vienna amid "cautious and growing optimism," seeking ways to resuscitate the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal.
Global COVID-19 infections top 150 million
Two of every five cases were in the United States, India and Brazil alone — with more than 3.1 million deaths and 87 million recoveries worldwide.
Challengers for U.N. chief lack official standing
The U.N. is considering one candidate for secretary-general in 2022 — incumbent António Guterres — despite the emergence of self-nominated challengers.
U.N. chief to prolong deadlocked Cyprus talks
The U.N. chief remained determined to bring Cypriot leaders together despite acknowledging failure to surmount differences over how to restart formal talks.
Biden summit buoys climate treaty hopes
A two-day global climate summit hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden ended with leaders and companies pledging to decarbonize the world economy.
FIFA and UEFA rebuff breakaway league
World football's governing body FIFA and Europe's UEFA faced down their biggest challenge in decades from the proposed European Super League.
E.U. pitches new measures on ESG investing
The E.U. proposed new rules that would require publicly-listed and large private companies to report information on their environmental and social impacts.
China rejects call for U.N. probe in Xinjiang
China lashed out against Human Rights Watch's report calling for a U.N.-led probe of alleged crimes against humanity targeting Uyghurs in Xinjiang Province.
Thunberg calls vaccine inequity a 'moral test'
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg joined WHO in calling on rich nations to stop hoarding vaccines and start accelerating the spread of shots worldwide.
IAEA supports plan to release Fukushima water
The U.N. nuclear watchdog agency offered support for Japan’s decision to release treated radioactive wastewater from Fukushima into the ocean in 2023.