In Japan, the number of single-person households is increasing. Meanwhile, society is aging with a declining birth rate. These factors present a risk for social isolation and loneliness, which have been proven as serious health concerns. Could this Japanese community cafe movement hold the key to bringing people together?

Poverty is set to be one of the key issues dominating the 2024 European elections. The EU is home to 95 million people who live below the poverty line – that is, who live on less than 60 percent of the median income for their country. In all, that's one in five Europeans who live at risk of social exclusion.

Climate shocks are already disproportionately affecting war-torn countries, a report from the IMF has shown. Many also bear the least responsibility for climate change.

The health and cost-of-living crises has disproportionately affected the poor and women in developing Asia, hurting their chances of long-term improvement.

Nigeria’s population is growing at an exponential rate. Harnessing the potential of the young is possible if the right measures are taken, experts say. Otherwise, the country's problems could grow more intractable.

This week, Paris is aiming to send a message to world leaders that the major issues facing the planet such as extreme poverty and climate change have to be tackled now. The "Power Our Planet" concert on June 22 in front of the Eiffel Tower is being organised by the NGO Global Citizen, an organisation that has already raised over $40 billion worldwide to fight poverty.

French President Macron says no country should have to choose "between reducing poverty and protecting the planet," at a Paris summit to seek ways to tackle debt, poverty and funding green initiatives.