Italy undecided about exiting China's Belt and Road Initiative
As the only G-7 member to have joined Beijing's sprawling global pact, Italy had indicated it would leave. But now Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says the decision is still up in the air.
Sustainable Development Goals
Many businesses, governments and organizations are committed to sustainable goals like reducing their environmental footprints and conserving resources. Sustainable finance includes environmental, social and governance considerations in investment decisions. In 2015, the U.N.'s 193 member nations adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. Despite some progress, the U.N. says 83% of the agenda is off-track from the pandemic, climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and conflict.
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Economic sanctions as a modern tool: Cruel to the most vulnerable?
A new study finds economic sanctions in target countries contribute to increases in mortality, poverty, and inequality, and to declines in per-capita income and human rights.
Nations agree to add pollutants under hazardous management
Methoxychlor, a pesticide, and two industrial chemicals, Dechlorane Plus and UV-328, are to be eliminated.
Global talks kick off on hazardous chemicals and waste management
Virtually all the world's nations are negotiating proposals under the legally binding Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions to limit toxic chemicals, pollutants and wastes.
Developing nations forecast to lose $800B from debt and slowdown
UNCTAD said it expects global growth in 2023 to drop to 2.1% but only if the financial fallout from higher interest rates is contained.
A year of firsts for Somalia's U.N.-backed all-women media team
Bilan marked its first year with a look back at what UNDP calls 'a year of smashing taboos and shining a light on stories other media have long ignored.'
Slower trade growth projected in 2023 mainly due to war in Ukraine
The WTO expects trade growth to slow to 1.7% this year due to Russia's war in Ukraine, high inflation, tight monetary policy and market uncertainty.
'Multiple challenges' undermine A.U.'s flagship peace plan for 2030
As the continent faces a raft of complications, the A.U.'s goal of tackling root causes and drivers of conflict for sustainable development is in doubt.
Nations back ambitious clean water and sanitation goals this decade
The voluntary commitments that came from the conference fall far short of a legally binding agreement like the 2015 Paris Agreement for climate change.
Swiss devise $3.25B deal for UBS to aquire 'too big to fail' Credit Suisse
The Financial Stability Board designated Switzerland's two biggest banks as so critical to the world that they must not be allowed to fail.
Study says bottled water industry undercuts safe drinking water for all
The bottled water industry is expected to grow to $500 billion a year in sales but isn't aligned with the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
Researchers find 1.77B children worldwide lack basic safety net
The number of children without basic social protections is increasing worldwide, UNICEF and ILO say in a new study.
Biden picks former Mastercard CEO to replace the World Bank's leader
As the largest shareholder in the World Bank, the U.S. traditionally nominates candidates for a five-year term as president.
African nations pay 'extortionate' interest rates on debt, U.N. chief says
Women and girls still don't get the support they need, the U.N. chief said, and African nations cannot develop with "one hand tied behind their backs."
WEF: Biggest risk to economy is cost-of-living crisis and social unrest
WEF's report finds the biggest short-term risk to the world economy is a globalized cost-of-living crisis and widespread social unrest.
Halfway to 2030, the Sustainable Development Goals need a rescue
The United Nations and its allies aren't giving up on efforts to clinch at least some of the 17 anti-poverty Global Goals for 2030 that have been set back by the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Ukraine, and other major crises.