G-20 supports corporate tax overhaul
Leaders at the G-20 summit in Rome endorsed a new measure to hinder multinationals from reaping huge profits where they pay few if any taxes.
Global Issues
Global issues are complex challenges that require international cooperation, from mitigating climate change to addressing global poverty and geopolitical conflicts. Of the U.N.'s 169 targets for sustainable development, only 35% are on track or making moderate progress toward their 2030 deadline.
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New rise in Cold War tensions over science and technology feared
A Swiss science diplomacy foundation wants to prevent a new Cold War from being fought over science and technology.
Report urges more water crisis planning
Nations must prepare better for more water-related disasters along with a growing lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation, WMO reported.
Trove of financial documents reveal 'shadow economy'
An analysis found offshore assets of politicians and officials from 91 countries and territories, including 35 current and former leaders, ICIJ reported.
Biden pledges 'new era' before U.N. leaders
U.S. President Joe Biden used his first address to the United Nations to reassure other nations his administration is committed to multilateralism.
U.N. report warns of 'catastrophic' climate failure
Governments must be far more ambitious about cutting greenhouse gases to avoid catastrophically overheating the planet, according to a new U.N. report.
Pandemic brings 'short-lived' air quality gains
Lockdowns and travel restrictions resulted in a "dramatic short-lived fall in emissions of key air pollutants" last year, the U.N. weather agency reported.
Extreme climate risks for 1 billion children
Almost half of the world's 2.2 billion children face an "extremely high" potential for deadly exposure to multiple shocks, according to UNICEF.
IPCC warns some warming is locked in
The U.N. chief called a major new report on human-caused global warming ‘a code red for humanity’ though a brief window exists to avoid the worst.
Global coronavirus cases surpass 200 million
Confirmed cases of coronavirus worldwide topped 200 million with 4.25 million deaths, amid a surge in highly transmissible delta variant infections.
WMO's climate-linked 'summer of extremes'
Amid devastating floods in Western Europe, the U.N. weather agency stressed the rising frequency of extreme weather due to the climate crisis.
Almost 10% of all people went hungry in 2020
World hunger "shot up" during the pandemic, leaving nearly 1-in-10 people undernourished mostly in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Bachelet calls pandemic key test for leaders
The U.N. human rights chief opened the Human Rights Council's summer session urging leaders to correct the many inequalities laid bare by the pandemic.
Nearly 3 million more displaced people from wars and conflicts
Despite the pandemic, the number of people fleeing for safety around the world rose to almost 82.4 million last year.
G-7 takes on pandemic, climate and China's role
The G-7 summit wrapped up with vows to end the pandemic, fight climate change and incorporate U.S. President Biden's pledge to “build back better."
Experts urge policy nexus to nature, climate crises
The planet's massive losses of species and rising temperatures are driven by human activities that must be tackled together, two organizations reported.