UNITED NATIONS -- Munir Akram, the president of United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Pakistan's UN ambassador, on Friday called on the global community to address the crisis of inequality and mobilize financing for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have to address the crisis of inequality, because we cannot build back better if we continue on this path of inequality," Akram told journalists at a virtual press conference ahead of ECOSOC's high-level meeting on Financing for Development, which falls on Monday. (ECOSOC-COVID-19-Inequality)

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SAN FRANCISCO -- U.S. San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Friday signed legislation to fund new grants and loans to provide immediate financial relief for small businesses struggling as a result of COVID-19.

The 10.9-million-U.S.-dollar grant program will focus on helping storefront businesses that have received little to no federal or city funding, businesses that have been forced to close for six months or longer due to state and local regulations, long-established businesses, and those in high need neighborhoods, an announcement said. (US-San Francisco-Financial Relief)

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MEXICO CITY -- Mexico's industrial activity grew 0.4 percent in February compared to the previous month, marking nine consecutive months of growth, according to seasonally adjusted figures released Friday by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi).

A breakdown by sectors shows construction grew 2.5 percent in February, while mining rose 2.3 percent, Inegi's monthly report said. (Mexico-Industrial Activity-Grow)

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TASHKENT -- Uzbekistan will build a hydrogen energy infrastructure to help the nation with its transition to a green economy, the Uzbek Justice Ministry said Friday, citing a presidential decree.

The decree considers structural changes in demand for energy resources, and envisages a widespread introduction of innovative technologies to develop hydrogen energy and renewable energy sources, the ministry said. (Uzbekistan-Hydrogen Energy Infrastructure-Green Economy) Enditem

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