G20 Meeting Stumbles Amid Climate, Debt, and Inequality Disputes

The G20 meeting in South Africa faces challenges with absent key figures and disagreements on climate, debt, and inequality issues. Notable absences include Japan's finance minister and the U.S. Treasury Secretary. South Africa aims to push rich nations on climate finance, but prospects for consensus appear bleak.

Finance ministers and central bankers from the G20 top economies convened in South Africa this week, amid tensions surrounding climate, debt, and inequality issues.

Key figures, such as Japan's Finance Minister and the U.S. Treasury Secretary, were notably absent, intensifying the challenge of reaching a consensus on these pressing topics.

South Africa sought to leverage this gathering to urge wealthy nations toward greater climate action, but continued disagreements suggest that achieving substantial commitments remains uncertain.

(With inputs from agencies.)