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Now the big promises have been formally adopted in the Spanish city of Sevilla to turbocharge financing for sustainable development, how are the ambitious goals going to be met – and how quickly?

“We’re here in Sevilla to change course,” the UN chief told world leaders on Monday, calling on them to grasp a once-in-a-decade opportunity to close a $4 trillion financing gap facing developing countries to meet sustainable development goals – and build a better world for all.

From rising debt and shrinking investment, to the aid funding crisis and struggles to meet ambitious development goals, the global financial system is failing the people it's supposed to serve: fixing that is the challenge facing world leaders gathered in Spain's sweltering southern jewel of Sevilla this week, as the UN's 4th International Conference on Financing for Development gets underway. Follow our live Meetings Coverage below; app users can catch all the action from the opening session here and you'll find all related stories on our special dedicated page right here.

Funding cuts to international development have cast a pall over a major UN-led international conference set to address the huge challenges faced by countries in the Global South. Despite this sobering backdrop, Eva Granados, Spanish Secretary of State for International Cooperation, insists that global solidarity is still alive, despite indications to the contrary.

A decade after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), development is facing serious headwinds – including what UN officials describe as a “silent crisis” of surging debt service payments in low-income countries.

More than a decade after Asian and Pacific nations launched a campaign to ensure every life is counted, millions across the region still remain “invisible” – born, living, and dying without formal recognition.

It wasn’t an average Thursday morning in Manhattan. In the early hours, UN diplomats (and UN News) hit the streets in their sneakers – from Times Square to East River – following a route that traced the shape of “UN@80”.

It’s been 10 years since the Addis Ababa Action Agenda was established to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the world’s roadmap for ending poverty, protecting the planet and tackling inequalities.

Helping those with less isn’t charity – it’s a shared investment in a better future. Yet global development financing is under strain. An upcoming UN conference in Sevilla, Spain, aims to change that by mobilizing large-scale investment for a more just and sustainable world.

A story of grassroots persistence in Somalia could serve as a powerful reminder of the impact of innovative financing mechanisms as the international community meets in Spain to discuss how to fund global sustainable development.

Telling the time on the Moon is more complicated than you might think, but answering the question is becoming more important amid a resurgent interest in lunar exploration. The UN is helping to ensure the Moon is governed in a coordinated and peaceful way, and agreeing on a time zone is a central element of international discussions.