News headlines for “Free Trade and Globalization”, page 17
The final straw? Plastic pollution talks get underway in Geneva
- UN News

Efforts are getting underway in Geneva to finalize a global agreement to tackle the staggering and growing amount of plastic waste and its impact on human health, marine life and the economy.
Awaza gears up to host UN conference on landlocked developing countries
- UN News

In the city of Awaza, where the Caspian Sea meets the desert, UN and Turkmen flags were raised on Sunday ahead of the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), as final preparations continue to welcome world leaders and delegates for a week of high-level talks on boosting development in some of the world’s most geographically disadvantaged nations.
Spotlight on Landlocked Developing Countries Ahead of Third UN Conference
- Inter Press Service

NAIROBI, August 1 (IPS) - Landlocked developing countries face a unique set of challenges. Without coastal ports, they rely on transit nations, causing higher trade costs and delays.
Why Locally Led Development Works and How Funders Can Get It Right
- Inter Press Service

KAMPALA Uganda / SORIA Spain, July 31 (IPS) - In Uganda, local communities are routinely sidelined in development processes, despite knowing most about their own needs. When a Moroto District officer remarked, ‘This is the first time local leaders were truly heard’, it offered a powerful reminder of what so often goes wrong: development fails when communities are excluded.
Trade measures critical to ending plastic pollution
- UN News

Trade must be part of the solution to end plastic pollution – a global problem which disproportionately affects developing countries.
‘Delivering better’: New ECOSOC president emphasises climate action, food security
- UN News

The Ambassador of Nepal to the United Nations, Lok Bahadur Thapa, was on Thursday elected president of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) at what he called a “historic moment” for his country and its enduring commitment to multilateralism.
Africa’s Development at a Crossroads: Report Warns of Missed SDG Targets Without Urgent Action on Jobs, Equity, and Financing
- Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, July 30 (IPS) - Africa is making progress on over two-thirds of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but the pace remains far too slow to meet the 2030 targets, especially in areas like decent employment, gender equality, and access to social protection.
‘After Decades of Making Huge Profits, Companies Shouldn’t Be Allowed to Leave Behind a Toxic Legacy’
- Inter Press Service

CIVICUS speaks with Matthew Renshaw, a partner at a UK law firm that represents Nigerian communities taking legal action against Shell over environmental damage caused by its operations in the Niger Delta.
Bullying Southeast Asia with Tariff Threats
- Inter Press Service

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 29 (IPS) - US President Trump has successfully used tariff threats to achieve economic, political and even personal goals. These threats, reminiscent of colonialism, have secured submission and concessions.
Mining on the Rise as Clean Energy Demands Shifts Global Commodity Exports
- Inter Press Service

NEW YORK, July 28 (IPS) - Two-thirds of the developing world, or ninety-five out of 143 economies, are dependent on commodities for export value, making up 60 percent of their merchandise exports. For the least developed world, this number rises to 80 percent, leaving entire nation’s revenue vulnerable to price swings, fiscal shocks, and evolving trade compositions. Hidden behind the numbers lies a deeper transformation, one disrupting fossil fuel trade, triggering a higher reliance on mineral exports, particularly on mining essential for green technologies.
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