G20 finance chiefs resolved on food security; Ukraine war prevents formal communique
Nusa Dua, IndonesiaReuters The Group of 20 major economies’ finance chiefs on Saturday pledged to address global food insecurity and rising debt, but made few policy breakthroughs amid divisions over Russia’s war in Ukraine at a two-day meeting in Indonesia. With questions growing about the effectiveness of the G20 in tackling the world’s major problems, […]
Ukraine pleads for more weapons as Russian military shells Donbas
Kyiv, UkraineReuters Ukraine urged its allies on Friday to send more weapons as its forces dug in to slow Russia’s military advance through the eastern Donbas region, while a belligerent Moscow warned Western nations of consequences for their reprisals over its invasion. Signalling that the Kremlin was in no mood for compromise, President Vladimir Putin […]
Putin warns the West Ukraine “heading for tragedy”
Kyiv/Bakhmut, Ukraine Reuters Vladimir Putin on Thursday accused the West of decades of aggression towards Moscow and warned that if it wanted to attempt to beat Russia on the battlefield it was welcome to try, but this would bring tragedy for Ukraine. His remarks came as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov prepared for a closed-door […]
Russia bombards and US imposes sanctions as Ukraine urges decisive help
Lviv, Ukraine/Dublin, IrelandReuters Russian forces bombarded cities in Ukraine as the United States imposed more sanctions on Wednesday after civilian killings widely condemned as war crimes and Ukraine’s President urged a decisive Western response amid divisions in Europe. Russia’s 42-day-long invasion has forced more than four million people to flee abroad, killed or injured thousands, […]
Indonesia to urge G20 to establish global health fund
Jakarta, Indonesia Reuters Indonesia will urge the Group of 20 leading economies to establish a global body that can dispense emergency funds during a health crisis, functioning in a similar way to international financial institutions, its health minister said on Friday. Under the current system, countries are “basically on their own” if they need emergency […]
May “cry of the Earth” be heard at UN climate summit – Pope
Vatican CityAP Pope Francis on Sunday urged people to pray so that “the cry of the Earth” is heard at the UN climate summit getting underway in Glasgow, Scotland. People gather in St Peter’s Square to listen to Pope Francis deliver his blessing as he recites the Angelus noon prayer from the window of his […]
G20 offers little new on climate, leaving uphill task for COP26
Rome, ItalyReuters Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies agreed on a final statement on Sunday that urged “meaningful and effective” action to limit global warming, but angering climate activists by offering few concrete commitments. The result of days of tough negotiation among diplomats leaves huge work to be done at the broader United […]
India’s Modi invites Pope to visit after 2017 plan collapsed
Rome, ItalyAP Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday invited Pope Francis to visit the country, extending an official opening after plans for a 2017 papal visit fell apart. “I would like to see you in India,” Modi told Francis as he bade him farewell after an unusually long, 55-minute audience at the Vatican. “On […]
G20 leaders endorse tax deal, pledge more vaccines for the poor
Rome, ItalyReuters Leaders of the world’s 20 biggest economies endorsed on Saturday a global minimum tax aimed at stopping big business from hiding profits in tax havens, and also agreed to get more COVID vaccines to poorer nations. Attending their first in-person summit in two years, G20 leaders broadly backed calls to extend debt relief […]
G20 wants 70 per cent of world vaccinated by mid-2022, sets up pandemic task force
Rome, ItalyReuters Finance and health ministers from the world’s 20 biggest economies said on Friday they would take steps to ensure 70 per cent of the world’s population is vaccinated against COVID-19 by mid-2022 and created a taskforce to fight future pandemics. They could not reach agreement on a separate financing facility proposed by the […]