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The Gates Foundation has been a major supporter of Unitaid, donating $50 million in each 2012 and 2017, according to the foundation's grant database. The two announced their divorce in 2021 but committed to continuing to work together at the foundation. I think we will overcome that because the U.S. has a lot to be proud on this one,” Gates said. Cumulatively, the results of that study, which the foundation funded, has advanced knowledge about the causes of infant mortality. The Gates Foundation was not alone in announcing new commitments to support progress toward the development goals.

Persons: Melinda Gates, Melinda French Gates, “ Nona, gesturing, Jennifer, Omakwu, ’ ”, Gates, Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn Carter, Singer Bono, George W, Bush, Bill Gates, Joe Biden, French Gates, ” Gates, Eden Tadesse, Aidan Reilly, Ben Collier, James Kanoff, Ashu Martha Agbornyenty, There’s, ”, Clinton Organizations: Melinda Gates Foundation, General, UNFPA, Gates Foundation, Sustainable, President’s, AIDS Relief, U.S, Congress, Midwifery, IKEA Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative, Associated, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: New York, Ukraine, PEPFAR, U.S, South, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Vietnam, South Africa, Indonesia

☆ Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen tackles 'disconnect' on Biden polling and U.S. economy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Chelsey Cox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Janet Yellen, U.S. Secretary of the Treasury at Clinton Global Initiative summit at Hilton Midtown Hotel. WASHINGTON — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday said there is a "disconnect" between the actual performance of the U.S. economy and how Americans feel about how President Joe Biden has handled it. The negative opinions that Americans share in polls on the economy "mainly reflects their answers on how is the economy more broadly doing," Yellen said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." But she predicted that people will start to feel more positive about the overall economy once they see the effects of Biden administration legislation and policies. We've had a trifecta of legislation that President Biden and Congress have passed," Yellen said.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Joe Biden, Yellen, Joe, Biden, We've Organizations: Treasury, Clinton Global Initiative, Midtown, Midtown Hotel . WASHINGTON —, Congress, Wall Street Locations: U.S, Midtown Hotel . WASHINGTON, America

NEW YORK (AP) — The Clinton Global Initiative added gender equity as a pillar of the nonprofit’s work to sound the alarm about the increasing challenges women and girls currently face, Clinton Foundation Vice Chair Chelsea Clinton told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday. “Whatever the issue -- it’s connected to women and it falls more heavily on women,” Chelsea Clinton said. “We are in this for the long haul for Ukraine, Ukrainians, and for democracy everywhere," Hillary Clinton said. “From the World Food Programme's perspective, the world on fire,” she told former President Bill Clinton. Andres said he was proud to be part of the Ukraine Action Network to help out through World Central Kitchen.

Persons: Chelsea Clinton, Cindy McCain, ” Chelsea Clinton, Hillary Clinton’s, “ we’ve, ”, “, we’ve, Hillary Clinton, Ukraine —, Orlando Bloom's, Don’t, Clinton, ” Zelenska, ” Cindy McCain, Bill Clinton, ” McCain, ” Chef Jose Andres, McCain, Andres, I’ve, “ WCK Organizations: Clinton Global Initiative, Clinton, Associated Press, United Nations Conference, Women, Network, Ukraine, Clinton Global, Ukraine Action Network, World, Kitchen Ukrainian, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Beijing, Ukraine, Russia, “, Africa

Fox won this year’s Elevate Prize Catalyst Award, which the “Back to the Future” star plans to use to further his foundation’s work to find treatments for Parkinson’s disease. The annual prize, which went to Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai last year, includes $250,000 from the Elevate Prize Foundation and support to amplify the winner’s messaging. “He is a brave, good man.”Joseph Deitch, founder of The Elevate Prize Foundation, called Fox “a lightning rod for good,” as he presented him with the award. “He is an icon,” Elevate Prize Foundation CEO Carolina García Jayaram told The Associated Press in an interview. Fox Foundation, said the award comes at an important time for the nonprofit.

Persons: Michael J, Fox, Malala Yousafzai, Hillary Clinton, Michael hadn’t, ” Fox, “, Bill Clinton, ”, ” Joseph Deitch, Carolina García Jayaram, ” Garcia Jayaram, ” Deborah Brooks, ” Brooks, Brooks, it’s Organizations: Clinton Global Initiative, Fox, Associated Press, Fox Foundation, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: New York

More than 120 small boats arrived in Lampedusa in the span of roughly 24 hours, bringing the number of people at the local reception center to 7,000 people at one point. But consecutive arrivals on the small island in a short period of time made things difficult to manage, Di Giacomo said. Most of those boarding smugglers' boats for Europe are young men and unaccompanied minors, though women and children are seen but in smaller numbers. As soon as the weather improved, they launched more than 100 small iron boats from Tunisian beaches carrying between 30 to 40 people. Migrants pay smugglers between 1,500 and 5,000 Tunisian dinars (roughly $500-$1,600) for a spot on the dangerous boats.

Persons: Giorgia Meloni, Kais Saied, Flavio Di Giacomo, Di Giacomo, Daniel, “ It's, ”, Chris Borowski, Saied's, Giacomo, Ursula von der Leyen, It's, ” Abderrahim, Saied, doesn’t, “, ___ Frances D'Emilio Organizations: Union, Italy's Interior Ministry, International Organization for, WHO, IOM, Border, Coast Guard Agency, Global, Transnational, EU Locations: BARCELONA, Spain, Lampedusa, Tunisia, Italy, North Africa, Italian, Europe, Ukraine, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya, Egypt, Eritrea, Sudan, Sfax, Tunisian, African, Greece, Rome

☆ Analysis: China's Xi Jinping skipping G20 may be part of his plan to reshape global governance
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Since its first leaders’ summit in 2008, China’s top leader has always attended the gathering – including by video link during the Covid pandemic. Now, “China sees the G20 space as increasingly oriented toward the US and its agenda, which Xi Jinping regards as hostile to China,” Werner said. Alternative governance structureXi last attended the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November last year, when he emerged from China’s Covid isolation and declared his return to the world stage. All the while, Xi has only made two trips abroad this year – and both are central to his attempt to reshape the global world order. Next month, the Chinese leader is expected to host the Belt and Road Forum to mark the 10th anniversary of his global infrastructure and trade initiative – a key element in Beijing’s new global governance structure.

Persons: Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, Beijing’s reticence, Xi, ”, George Magnus, I’m, I’ve, Jake Werner, ” Werner, Biden, Werner, Happymon Jacob, China’s, Shi Yinhong, Joe Biden –, Antony Blinken, Vladimir Putin –, Magnus, they’re, ” Magnus, –, “ It’s Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Premier, China Center, Oxford University, “, Quincy Institute in, Quincy Institute in Washington DC, Pacific NATO, ”, India, New, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Divisions, Renmin University, EU, Beijing, Global Security Initiative, Global Development Initiative, Civilization Initiative, Forum, Shanghai Cooperation Organization – Locations: Hong Kong, New Delhi, China, Xi’s, India, United States, Quincy Institute in Washington, Beijing, New, Washington, Pacific, Ukraine, Moscow, Bali , Indonesia, Germany, France, Brazil, Indonesia, Johannesburg, South Africa, BRICS

☆ Fast, cheap and deadly
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +18 min

Fast, cheap and deadly How fentanyl replaced heroin and hooked AmericaLeer en EspañolReuters obtained and analyzed ten year’s worth of data on drugs seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at ports of entry along the southern border. It shows: Fentanyl seizures by weight more than tripled in the last quarter of 2022 compared to a year earlier. Pills were mentioned in nearly half of fentanyl border seizure incidents in 2022, up from just 6% five years earlier. A fifth of fentanyl seizures take place on pedestrians, the Reuters analysis shows. Over the same period, heroin seizures fell more than 80% from over 2,000 kg, according to the Reuters analysis.

Persons: Bryce Pardo, Troy Miller, Joe Biden, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, ”, Chris Urben, Urben, Joaquin ‘ El Chapo ’ Guzman, “, CBP’s Miller, Jonathan Caulkins, James Mandryck, Oxycontin, Lopez Obrador, narcotrafficking, Lopez, Rosa Rodriguez, Cecilia Farfan, Mendez, Freed, Pardo, Romain Le Cour, Cour, Carlos Perez, Perez Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, United Nations Office, Drugs, DEA, CBP, U.S, Nardello, Carnegie Mellon University, U.S . Postal Service, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mexico's, North, Forensic Laboratory, University of California, Global, Transnational, U.S . Congress ’ Commission, New Generation, Center for Research Locations: Mexican, U.S, Mexico, Sinaloa, El Paso, Arizona’s Nogales, United States, offscreen, sierra, China, Beijing, Washington, University of California San Diego ., ”, New, New Generation Jalisco, Mexico City

☆ Tony Bennett, crooner who sang ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco,’ dies at 96
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

CNN —Legendary singer Tony Bennett, best known for singing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” has died, according to his longtime publicist, Sylvia Weiner. From Tony Bennett Bennett was discovered by Bob Hope while performing at a New York City club in 1949. In 1963, his recording of "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" won Grammy Awards for record of the year and best solo vocal performance. ABC Photo Archives/Walt Disney Television/Getty Images Bennett and San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein hang onto the outside of a San Francisco cable car before taking a test ride in 1984. His performance of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” won Grammys for best record and best male vocal performance.

Persons: Tony Bennett, “, ”, Sylvia Weiner, Bennett, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Lady Gaga, ” Bennett, he’d, CNN’s Larry King, Susan Benedetto, Danny, Dae Bennett, Johanna Bennett, Antonia Bennett, Paul McCartney, Larry Busacca, Anthony Benedetto, Tony Bennett Anthony Dominick Benedetto, Hope, ‘, ’, ‘ Anthony Dominick Benedetto, ’ ” Tony Bennett, Virginia Sherwood, Anthony Dominick Benedetto, John, Mary, John Jr, Tony Bennett Bennett, Bill Randall applauds, Patricia, D'Andrea, Daegal, Pat, collie, David McLane, Sammy Davis Jr, David Redfern, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Ley, Sandra, Malcolm MacNeil, Mirrorpix, Joanna, Howard Cosell, Dianne Feinstein, Feinstein, Jeff Reinking, David Letterman, Richard Drew, Patti LaBelle, Hans Deryk, Mark J, Terrill, Elton John, Scott Gries, Madame Tussaud's, Kevork, Tim Mosenfelder, Fernando Leon, Tina Turner, Robert Redford, Julie Harris, Suzanne Farrell, Scott Suchman, Kevin Winter, Billy Joel, York's Shea, Kevin Mazur, Duke Ellington, Brendan Hoffman, Stevie Wonder, Shahar Azran, Amy Winehouse, Kevork Djansezian, Susan, Michael Loccisano, Sean Zanni, Ball, Tony, San Francisco ”, …, ’ ” Bennett, NPR’s Terry Gross, it’s, Clinton, JP Yim, you’re, “ It’s, Danny Bennett, kd, Elvis Costello, “ Tony Bennett, Jack Benny, Charlie Chaplin, Walt Disney, Gary Gershoff, –, Sinatra, Jon Bon Jovi, Bono, ” Sinatra, “ Larry King, Ella Fitzgerald, Ella, Bing Crosby, “ Cheek, Cheek, Alzheimer’s Organizations: CNN, MTV, Recording Academy, Los Angeles Convention Center, Paramount, NBCU, Bank, Getty, Facebook, Columbia Records, Bettmann, Patrick's, NY, Smithsonian, Daily, Hulton, ABC, Walt Disney Television, San Francisco, United Nations, Super, Rainforest Foundation, New York's Carnegie Hall, San Francisco Giants, Kennedy, Apollo, New York's Radio City Music Hall, American Ballet, Children's Diabetes Foundation, Children's Diabetes, Radio City Music Hall, San, Clinton Global, New York Times, New York’s High, of Industrial Art, Kennedy Center, ”, AARP, Radio City Music, CBS Locations: San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Astoria , New York, Greenwich Village, New York City, Cleveland, St, Manhattan, Redferns, Washington , DC, View , California, Washington, Lady

☆ Here's what could happen to the Wagner Group after the armed rebellion against Russia failed
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Wagner paramilitary group attempted an armed rebellion in Russia but failed. Around 1,000 Wagner fighters have already decided to go to Belarus, the independent Russian media outlet Meduza reported, citing a source in Russia's Ministry of Defense. Putin admitted earlier this week that from May last year to May 2023, the Russian state paid more than 86 billion rubles ($940 million) to the Wagner Group. De Deus Pereira told Insider that this is where many fighters will return. Lukashenko told reporters earlier this week that he convinced Putin not to "wipe out" the Wagner chief after the failed rebellion, though some experts have disagreed.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, —, group's, Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Putin, Joana de Deus Pereira, Belarussian, Mikhail Svetlov, De Deus Pereira, Julia Stanyard, Lukashenko Organizations: Service, The Times, Prighozin, Russia's Ministry of Defense, Guardian, Prigozhin, Press, REUTERS Russia's Ministry of Defense, Marshall Fund, Wagner, Royal United Services Institute, Ministry of Defense, Russian, Central African, Global Initiative, Transnational, BBC Locations: Russia, Belarus, Moscow, Eastern Europe, Africa, Prigozhin, British, Russian, Luhansk, Donbas, Krasnodar, North Caucasus, Concord, Europe, Sochi, Libya, Syria, Central African Republic, Mali

☆ China unveils sweeping foreign policy law as Xi consolidates power — and aims to counter the US
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Hong Kong CNN —China has unveiled a sweeping foreign relations law enshrining its right to impose “countermeasures” against actions that it deems a threat – in Beijing’s latest bid to bolster its position amid strained relations with the West. “This is the first comprehensive foreign relations law … but it (reads) more like Xi Jinping’s foreign policy declaration,” Zhao said, adding that its release comes at a moment when Xi is focused on countering what it sees as US efforts to contain China. “The party, not the government, runs China’s foreign relations. The law also includes China’s pledge to promote “high-level opening-up” of its economy, development of foreign trade and and encouraging and legally protecting foreign investment. In recent months, a campaign against consulting and due diligence firms has unnerved foreign businesses in China.

Persons: enshrining, Antony Blinken, Jinping, –, Zhao Leji, “, Xi, Washington, Lockheed Martin, Suisheng Zhao, University of Denver’s Josef, ” Zhao, ”, China’s, Sung, Li Qiang, Zhao Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, West, Global Times, Lockheed, Raytheon, Communist Party, Center for, Cooperation, University of Denver’s, University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies, Australian National University’s Taiwan Studies Locations: Hong Kong, China, Beijing’s, Beijing, China’s, United States, Ukraine, Taiwan, Center for China, Tianjin, Europe, Denver

☆ Global initiative launched to rate corporate carbon offset claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Susanna Twidale | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 28 (Reuters) - A standard to assess companies' claims about progress towards internal climate targets and their use of carbon offset credits was launched on Wednesday by a global initiative seeking to bring transparency and confidence to an unregulated market. Many companies have set net zero emission targets but acknowledge they will need to buy or generate carbon credits to offset emissions they are unable to eliminate from their operations. The Claims Code of Practice launched by the Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative (VCMI), backed by the British government, seeks to help investors establish whether claims made by companies using carbon offsets are credible. “There was so much use and misuse, if not abuse of terms like carbon neutral, climate neutral, net zero, net zero aligned, net zero positive etc,” Kenber said in an interview. These standards are expected by the end of the year and in the meantime, companies would be expected to use offsets meeting standards set under the under the global airline industry carbon offsetting scheme called CORISA.

Persons: Mark Kenber, ” Kenber, Kenber, Susanna Twidale, Mark Potter Organizations: Voluntary, Initiative, Gold, Integrity Council, Thomson Locations: British

☆ HPV vaccine: Some studies say one and done might be better
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Jen Christensen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The HPV vaccine protects against the strains that cause most HPV-related cancers. But not every country has the same vaccination options, which is part of the reason WHO has been pushing to change the way doctors give the HPV vaccine. A one-and-done approach to the HPV vaccine could be a huge help around the world, experts say. But she’d also like more people to get the HPV vaccine. So I think that’s really, really important,” Abraham said.

☆ WTO chief pushes for reglobalized supply chains to cut down bottleneck risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urged diversification in global supply chains, amid ongoing efforts to progress the body's reform. "I agree that we need to build resilience, that the world cannot be reliant on a few countries for a few key products." The WTO's chief pitched the dual benefits of pursuing diversification in developing countries to simultaneously boost their economic growth and meet global supply requirements. One is we build global resilience beyond just our neighbors and our friends, because you never know who is your friend. The emphasis on "reglobalization" comes as geopolitical tensions and recent U.S. legislation have stoked worries over the potential fragmentation of global trade.

☆ The search for 100,000 new species in Earth’s oceans
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-29 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —In some ways, Earth’s oceans are as alien to us as distant moons in the solar system. When scientists dived to the twilight zone and the mesophotic zone directly above it in recent years, they found colorful fish and sprawling pristine coral reefs. The global initiative seeks to find 100,000 unknown species over the next 10 years. While scientists believe 2.2 million marine species exist in Earth’s oceans, they estimate that they’ve only found 240,000, according to Ocean Census. Identifying new species also enables conservationists to find ways to protect them as Earth changes due to the climate crisis.

☆ Ocean census aims to discover 100,000 marine species
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Katie Hunt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Researchers have embarked on an ambitious global initiative to discover and record marine life hidden in the world’s oceans. Ocean Census aims to identify 100,000 unknown species in the next 10 years, allowing scientists to better understand and protect the deep-sea ecosystem. The initiative builds on past projects such as the Census of Marine Life, which concluded in 2010 and identified 6,000 potential new ocean species. Ocean Census will also help to identify how marine ecosystems are responding to the climate crisis, and assess how marine life could adapt to a warmer climate. The project is being led by Nekton, a UK-based marine science and conservation institute, and funded by The Nippon Foundation, a nonprofit foundation based in Japan.

☆ Fact Check-‘New World Order’ website using UN branding is not official
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A website using United Nations branding with the slogan “New World Order” is not a legitimate UN initiative, as a viral video claims, but an independent third-party campaign. The clip seen by more than 10,000 users on social media here claims the United Nations “New World Order” website is “official”. A “general notice” on the site unnwo.org/ reads: “The United Nations New World Order Project is an independent global initiative campaigning for a new world order at the United Nations, and worldwide. “The views expressed herein are solely those of the United Nations New World Order Project, and do not reflect the views of the United Nations, or any other entity.”The official website of the UN can be seen at the address “un.org” www.un.org/en/ . A website using United Nations branding with the “New World Order” tagline is not an official UN site.

☆ ‘I Live in Hell’: The Psychic Wounds of Ukraine’s Soldiers
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Photographs Antoine D Agata | Text Ellen Barry | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +15 min

The soldier’s ward is a quiet place, high-ceilinged, with chess boards and a Ping-Pong table; you could mistake it for a rest home, except that the door handles have been removed. Tap Click to read their stories Oleksandr, 21 Occupation: Soldier, former student “I finished school and joined the army in 2021. Now I’m mostly sad; I’m better off alone.” Yulia, 47 Occupation: Soldier; combat medic, independent forensic expert I’m a combat medic. Stanislav, 29 Occupation: Soldier, former cook “I didn’t plan to end up here. I adjust to each person in this way.” Serhii, 42 Occupation: Soldier, former employee at a shipping company On April 28 2022, I joined the air assault forces.

☆ India's rural women are 'bearing the brunt' of climate shocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

India's rural women are bearing the brunt of climate related shocks like severe drought and extreme weather events, Universal Images Group | Getty ImagesIndia's rural women are bearing the brunt of climate related shocks like severe drought and extreme weather events, which are drastically affecting their daily livelihoods. The climate fund will allow women and communities to fight climate change and help provide new livelihood resources and education, said Clinton. Having access to clean water makes a huge difference in tackling the overall health issues for rural women, she added. In the latest economic survey released in February, the government said rural women were increasingly participating in economic activity. Government schemes and policies have helped rural women, said Akanksha Khullar, a visiting fellow with the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.

☆ Exclusive: BlackRock fast-tracks eviction of ESG violators from MSCI-linked ETFs
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Virginia Furness | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The ruling covers 35 of its European listed ESG ETFs that track MSCI indices. "We found that there was a desire to re-examine the timescales around the removal of companies with the worst controversies," the spokesperson added. MSCI ESG Controversies measure companies based on actual or alleged involvement across a range of adverse ESG indicators including human rights, child labour and toxic waste. Separately, MSCI introduced a similar set of rules for its MSCI ESG Screened Indexes range in February after a consultation with the broader funds industry that began last year. BlackRock has six ETFs based on MSCI's Screened range with assets of around $15 billon.

☆ FIFA appointment of supermodel Lima 'baffling' - ex-Council member Dodd
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

March 2 (Reuters) - FIFA's appointment of supermodel Adriana Lima as its global fan ambassador in a Women's World Cup year is "baffling" and sends the wrong message to players and fans, former FIFA Council member Moya Dodd said. "I asked whether the FIFA ambassador will be delivering messages on body image, wellbeing and healthy eating. A prominent women's soccer advocate, Dodd represented Australia 24 times from 1986-95 and played in FIFA's women's invitational tournament in 1988, three years before the inaugural Women's World Cup. "In a FIFA World Cup year, that's the message that should be ringing loud and true around the world. This month, Dodd criticised FIFA for a lack of understanding of the women's game amid reports that Saudi Arabia's tourism authority would sponsor the July 20-Aug. 20 World Cup.

☆ Amazon used enough plastic air packets in its boxes to circle the planet 800 times in 2021, an outside group found. The company said it used far less.`
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon said its plastic packaging footprint came to 97,222 metric tons in 2021. Oceana estimated that Amazon used nearly 322,000 metric tons of plastic in 2021, more than triple what the company calculated. By Oceana's count, Amazon used 52% more plastic last year compared with 2019, the first year the group conducted its analysis. In 2021, Target, Walmart, Coca-Cola, and PepsiCo each used more plastic packaging than the previous year, contributing to an overall 4.3% increase across brands and retailers. California, the largest economy in the US, passed a law in June to cut plastic packaging in the state by 25% over a decade.

☆ This California city asked where its recycling went. The answer wasn’t pretty.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Saqib Rahim | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

In recent years the global plastic trade has shrunk amid new controls by rich and developing countries alike. U.S. plastic waste exports to Asia fell to 330 million pounds in 2021, according to government data, half their 2017 level. But even these reduced volumes, environmental groups charge, can overwhelm developing countries that lack the facilities to manage them. In May, city staff asked to divert some of Palo Alto’s waste streams to facilities in Louisiana and Southern California. The second lesson, City Manager Ed Shikada said, is that Palo Alto can’t transform the global recycling system alone.

☆ How to transform your business's payables and receivables to keep up with customer demand
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Citizens With Insider Studios | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

By Matt Richardson, head of treasury product solutions, CitizensFueled by greater connectivity and faster transactions, the digital transformation of the payables and receivables landscape continues to reshape the outlook for treasury management. We've seen many companies embrace faster and easier payments systems. This is set to launch by 2023 and will extend access to real-time payments to more financial institutions and customers nationwide. The dominant force in this area will be cloud-based, intelligent payables and receivables platforms like Citizens' integrated payables solution powered by Paymode-X. Relatedly, payment messaging will be an essential area to keep track of as new digital payment options are becoming increasingly sophisticated and data-intensive.

Summary 85 insurers make pledge to extend climate coverComes as COP27 talks focus on issue of loss & damageAfrican Climate Risk Facility to cover 1.4 bln peopleSHARM EL-SHEIKH, Nov 9 (Reuters) - A group of over 85 African insurers has pledged to provide $14 billion of cover to help the continent's most vulnerable communities deal with climate disaster risks such as floods and droughts. Demand for compensation for the so-called 'loss and damage' caused by global warming has long been rejected by wealthy countries, wary of accepting liability for the emissions driving climate change. Against that backdrop, the African insurance plan is based around creating a scaleable, local market-based funding tool for resilience, the group said. "This is the African insurance industry saying let's come together and try and solve this ourselves," said Kelvin Massingham, director risk and resilience at FSD Africa, one of the partners behind the launch. The African Climate Risk Facility (ACRF) will provide protection for 1.4 billion people against floods, droughts and tropical cyclones by providing $14 billion of climate risk insurance by 2030 to African sovereigns, cities, humanitarian organisations and NGOs, the insurers said in a statement.

☆ EU seeks better alignment with global sustainability rules
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Huw Jones | Nita Bhalla | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The European Union sought on Thursday to reassure international companies it would seek to align its sustainability disclosure rules with a global initiative, after warnings from regulators over fragmenting capital markets. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) is writing global baseline standards for corporate disclosures on climate for use in non-EU countries such as Britain, while the United States is working on its own disclosure rules. "We want to see as much alignment as possible with the work of the International Sustainability Standards Board, even though as I have said Europe is likely to go further and faster to meet our more higher ambitions on climate," McGuinness said. She is moving to the next stage of the EU's green plans by assessing how best to encourage sustainable retail lending for small firms and households. "With the support of the European Banking Authority, we are examining what needs to be done to promote the growth of green loans and green mortgages," McGuinness said.

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