Contraceptives are "one of the greatest anti-poverty innovations" - Melinda Gates
"Contraceptives empower women. And empowered women ... well, they transform societies"
Banks worth $7 trillion pledge to calculate costs of climate risks
"The goal is to shift lending away from carbon intensive sectors that are becoming risky towards green technologies that are becoming more attractive"
"Toilet: A Love Story": Bollywood spotlights India's sanitation crisis in new film
Open defecation is a major health, hygiene and environmental concern and leaves women and girls at risk of sexual assault
INTERVIEW-Village women transform into clean energy entrepreneurs in Nepal initiative
"There are many slogans to empower women. But in reality little has been done"
London mayor recruits architects to build "inclusive" city
Average property prices have risen 90 percent in the past decade in London, where a lack of affordable housing is depriving residents of the security of home ownership
In small-town India, book series helps gay men come out of the closet
"Gay men don't only live in an urban setting. Thousands are growing up in villages and towns, with no way to access information on sexuality"
Her future depends on our actions today
Family planning programs still tend to focus on married women, leaving adolescent girls without access to contraceptives
Child begging rampant in Senegal despite state crackdown - activists
At least 50,000 children are sent to beg in the streets to make money for teachers who beat them if they fail to bring in about 2,000 CFA francs ($3) per day
Largest canned tuna company tackles overfishing, labour abuse
Thailand's seafood sector has come under fire after investigations showed widespread slavery, trafficking and violence on fishing boats and in food processing factories
FACTBOX-Why contraceptive access is key to global development
Meeting the need for contraceptives would avert 67 mln unintended pregnancies each year