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- Mongabay
Rare Indonesian maleo birds face new threat from international exotic pet trade
Critically endangered maleo birds native to Indonesia are facing heightened threats from the global exotic pet trade. Recent enforcement data reveals multiple seizures of live juveniles transported toward India. This emerging trafficking trend endangers the survival of the endemic, ground-dwelling species.
- Mongabay
As silky sharks decline, Costa Rica’s dominant trade faces a reckoning
Shark populations, particularly silky sharks, are declining due to heavy commercial exploitation, prompting a crisis for Costa Rica’s dominant fin export industry. Researchers tracking shipments in global trade hubs like Hong Kong have highlighted the scale of this commerce, raising concerns for marine conservation and sustainable fisheries management in the region.
- The Guardian — Global development
‘Drones all night. By morning, you smell the smoke’: life in the last hotel on Ukraine’s frontline
The Richelievsky Hotel in Kherson remains operational despite constant shelling and drone attacks from Russian forces stationed across the Dnipro River. The facility offers essential shelter for remaining residents amid severe infrastructure disruptions.
- Mongabay
Legal gaps allow rampant pet trade, poaching reptiles and amphibians towards extinction
Spanish authorities confiscated 209 reptiles, including critically endangered species, from unauthorized breeding facilities in Castellón. Nearly half of the seized animals were protected under international wildlife treaties. The operation underscores how regulatory loopholes facilitate illegal poaching and the commercial exotic pet trade.
- Mongabay
Cambodia was told to clean up its monkey trade. Regulators say it still hasn’t
Global wildlife authorities report that Cambodia has failed to implement required reforms in its primate export sector. Despite previous warnings regarding the capture and breeding of monkeys for biomedical research, oversight remains inadequate. This lack of progress raises ongoing concerns within the international regulatory community regarding the ethical and legal management of wildlife trade.
- Mongabay
Solutions to the risks posed by the global pet trade could be enacted quickly
- UN News
Sustaining livelihoods amid crisis in Gaza
- The Guardian — Global development
Nuclear war and malicious use of AI threaten end of humanity by 2100, says Lancet assessment
A new global commission assessment warns that humanity faces seventeen major hazards through 2100, led by nuclear conflict and artificial intelligence threats. The report highlights severe risks to global health and survival, alongside challenges including climate change, malnutrition, and reductions in wealthy nation assistance, while emphasizing that feasible mitigation strategies remain available.
- Global Voices
Trump’s ‘Agreements on Reciprocal Trade’ (ARTs) threaten equitable access to the internet in Global South
Proposed U.S. reciprocal trade agreements grant Washington significant leverage over digital policies in developing nations. Critics warn these pacts could widen global technology gaps and hinder economic expansion across signatory countries by undermining fair internet access.
- UN News
Global trade reaches record $35 trillion despite conflicts
- Mongabay
Endangered angelshark is still traded in Brazil despite import ban
- UN News
‘No plague case’ in Siberia, Russia tells WHO as assessments continue
- UN News
In Tanzania, the sea is moving inland – and taking livelihoods with it
- Mongabay
World’s smallest crocodile in high demand for bushmeat trade in Nigeria
The African dwarf crocodile, the planet's smallest crocodilian species native to West and Central Africa, faces intense hunting pressure for the regional bushmeat trade in Nigeria. Although currently classified as vulnerable, increased exploitation in swamp and forest habitats threatens the survival of these nocturnal predators and regional biodiversity.
- Inter Press Service
International Trade Theory Not Developmental
A recent analysis argues that mainstream trade theory fails to guarantee developmental benefits for developing nations through trade liberalization. The commentary challenges the assumption that specializing in primary commodities and low-skill manufacturing within global supply chains inherently drives sustainable economic advancement.
- UN News
Land models sprout as degradation threatens billions of livelihoods
The head of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification announced three winners of the World Restoration Flagships awards to highlight successful land rehabilitation initiatives. These projects address widespread soil decline and drought, which currently endanger billions of global livelihoods and compromise forty percent of the planet's terrain.
- Inter Press Service
Rising Trade Values Mask the True Cost of Global Supply Chain Disruptions
Global goods and services trade grew by over ten percent during the first half of 2026, adding two trillion dollars globally. However, international data indicates this monetary expansion is driven primarily by inflation rather than higher shipping volumes, masking ongoing operational vulnerabilities within international supply networks.
- Inter Press Service
Trade Liberalisation Never Lifted All Boats
President Trump has attributed the deindustrialisation of the U.S. to trade liberalisation promoted by globalists, while his administration employs aggressive economic policies to revive domestic industries. This approach, termed "Trump 2.0," relies on threats to secure investments and market advantages, raising questions about the effectiveness of trade policies in fostering equitable economic growth.
- UN News
Syria’s hopes for renewal hinge on rebuilding trust, lives and livelihoods
Syria faces a critical juncture requiring coordinated efforts to restore public trust and economic stability after years of conflict. International development and humanitarian stakeholders emphasize that reviving livelihoods and rebuilding communities are essential prerequisites for the nation's sustainable recovery and future stability.
- Inter Press Service
Arab Regions Remain the Most Underrepresented in the Global Trade System
Only 14 of the 22 Arab countries are members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), limiting their participation in the global trade system. This underrepresentation poses a risk to these nations, potentially hindering their economic growth and integration into the international economy. Enhanced membership could facilitate access to trade opportunities and resources.
- Inter Press Service
AI Helping Modernize Trade Across Asia and the Pacific, Though Adoption Gaps Remain
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