G-7 backs 15% minimum global tax rate
Finance ministers from the Group of Seven agreed to set a global minimum corporate tax of at least 15% to deter multinationals from using tax havens.
Americas
Enjoy our Free+ stories and our weekly newsletter
Start your free accessAlready have an account? Log in
New compact boosts marine protected areas
Five nations announced a new alliance to promote more conservation of marine ecosystems in the fight against climate change.
WHO chief urges treaty and 'lot of work'
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus closed out the World Health Assembly with a warning against complacency and an appeal for a global pandemic treaty.
Landmark climate ruling in Dutch court
Climate activists used the 2015 Paris Agreement to win a Dutch court ruling ordering Royal Dutch Shell to cut carbon emissions nearly in half this decade.
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.
Expert panel says pandemic was preventable
An independent expert panel faulted the World Health Organization and world leaders with a slow-moving response to the coronavirus pandemic.
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.
WHO grants emergency use of China's Sinopharm
WHO added a Chinese shot to its list of COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use, providing COVAX another option to broaden vaccine access.
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.
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.
COVAX expands with World Bank backing
The World Bank approved US$2 billion in financing for COVID-19 vaccines in 17 developing countries as part of a two-year US$12 billion package.