UN talks on plastic pollution fail to reach deal – DW – 08/15/2025
Despite running over Thursday's deadline, representatives from 185 countries failed to reach a deal to bring the world closer to ending plastic pollution.
"We will not have a treaty to end plastic pollution here in Geneva," Norway's negotiator said following talks in Geneva that went into the early hours of Friday.
Countries could not agree on whether the treaty should reduce growth of plastic production and put legally binding controls on toxic chemicals used to make plastics or focus more on recycling, reuse and improved design.
"We have missed a historic opportunity but we have to keep going and act urgently. The planet and present and future generations need this treaty," said Cuba.To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
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UN talks on plastic pollution fail to reach deal – DW – 08/15/2025
Negotiations aimed at tacking plastic pollution have concluded without an agreement. Countries differed on how ambitious the treaty should be and whether to focus on cutting plastic production or waste management. Despite running over Thursday's deadline, representatives from 185 countries failed to reach a deal to bring the world closer to ending plastic pollution. "We will not have a treaty to end plastic pollution here in Geneva," Norway's negotiator said following talks in Geneva that went into the early hours of Friday. Countries could not agree on whether the treaty should reduce growth of plastic production and put legally binding controls on toxic chemicals used to make plastics or focus more on recycling, reuse and improved design. "We have missed a historic opportunity but we have to keep going and act urgently. The planet and present and future generations need this treaty," said view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
DW
08-08-2025
- DW
Latest rhino count a mixed bag for world's five species – DW – 08/08/2025
While Black rhino numbers have grown, other rhino populations face an existential threat, a new report finds. Poaching is on the rise in South Africa, which has more rhinos than anywhere else. The latest global rhino count shows a mixed bag for the world's five rhino species in Africa and Asia. The numbers of Black rhinos, found only in the wild in eastern and southern Africa, grew from 6,195 to 6,788. That's according to a report published Thursday by rhino specialist groups and commissioned by the CITES secretariat. The increase of 593 animals is "a win for this critically imperiled species," the International Rhino Foundation said in reaction to the report. The global population estimates don't include rhinos in zoos but rather only those in the wild or in national parks. The number of greater one-horned rhinos, native to northern India and southern Nepal, also nudged upwards slightly from 4,014 to 4,075. The greater one-horned rhino is a conservation success story — only around 200 of them remained in India at the beginning of the 20th century. Now, the largest rhino species on earth is considered to be in recovery, the report finds. But there is bad news for other rhino species. Southeast Asia's rhino species, which are only found in Indonesia, "remain on the edge of extinction," according to the report. The population of the Sumatran rhinos is virtually unchanged from 2022 estimates, with just 34-47 animals remaining. The smallest and only hairy rhino species in found mostly in the dense tropical forest and lowland swamps of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Poaching and habitat loss from palm oil plantations seriously threatens their survival. And the number of Javan rhinos has dropped significantly from an estimated 76 to just around 50, due entirely to poaching. There is only one known population of Javan rhinos left, at a national park on the Indonesian island of Java. In Africa, the number of white rhinos fell from 15,942 to 15,752. That's a drop of 190 animals since the last count in 2021, primarily due to increased poaching pressure, extended droughts and management limitations, the report says. Globally, the illegal trade in rhino horn has decreased in recent years. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video But the rhino report stressed that poaching was taking on a worrying new trend in South Africa, which has more rhinos than anywhere else. At least 91 rhinos killed in South Africa in the first quarter of 2025 alone. South Africa currently accounts for two-thirds of illegal rhino horns seized around the word, with most headed for Malaysia and Vietnam. It is often looking for new ways to deter poachers and one group of scientists launched a project last week to inject radioactive material into the horns of rhinos. The scientists say it's harmless for the animals but allows horns to be detected by border authorities when they are being smuggled. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
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Red Sea death trap: Why so many migrants drown – DW – 08/07/2025
Another boat recently capsized at Bab al-Mandab, the strait between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, killing dozens. Despite all the dangers, many migrants are willing to take the risks of the crossing. At least 92 people drowned when a vessel they were using to cross the Bab al-Mandab Strait from Djibouti to Yemen sank. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said around 200 people were on board. Most of the deceased and missing are Ethiopians. Despite the dangers of crossing Bab al-Mandab (meaning the "Gate of Grief"), which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden, more people are using this so-called Eastern Route every year. In 2023, around 395,000 people attempted to use it, according to the IOM. Last year, it was about 446,000, representing a 13% increase. From 2023 to 2024, most of the 234,000 migrants using this route were from Ethiopia. Somalis make up the following highest number. According to the IOM, 90% of migrants are fleeing economic crises, while most others are escaping armed conflict and persecution. A much smaller portion consists of Yemenis returning to their country after initially fleeing the civil war there, according to Nathalie Peutz, an anthropologist at New York University Abu Dhabi. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Apart from maritime traffic, strong tides, winds, waves and reefs add to the dangers. "If you don't know the route very well, you can get into real difficulties," Martin Plaut, a London-based expert on the Horn of Africa who has studied migration trends, said. According to Peutz, the migrants often use small fishing boats. "The passengers are crowded in so much that they when the sea becomes rough the boats sometimes sink," Peutz told DW, adding that when smugglers see that they are overloaded, "they actually force people to jump overboard or throw them overboard." Most migrants consider Yemen a stopover. From there, they hope to find work in the wealthy Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia. Between 2023-2024, the number of arrivals fell by over a third because authorities were intercepting boats off the coast. Those who do reach Yemeni territory face considerable dangers, including detention, extortion, and abuse by smugglers, the IOM says. At the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border, Saudi border guards have shot hundreds, if not thousands, of irregular migrants and refugees in the past. Still, the sea crossing is considered the most dangerous part of the Eastern Route. "It is very busy, with huge tankers and other large ships traveling along it," Plaut told DW. The strait forms one of the world's most important maritime trade routes. Ships from Asia navigate the Bab al-Mandab before entering the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean. From there, the ships head for the major European ports. The situation is exacerbated by the absence of an official sea rescue program, similar to those in the Mediterranean. In the Bab al-Mandab, a ship in distress can only hope for help from a passing cargo ship. But after numerous cases of piracy, captains have become wary. "Of course, they wonder who is in the water," said Plaut. "Pirates have used all sorts of ruses to get on board. And when they board the ship, they produce their weapons and take the crew captive." As a result, many captains are now hesitant to help migrant boats in distress. While theUS Navy and other militaries are present in the area, Peutz says their priority is to "stop piracy and attacks on oil tankers. But no one is protecting migrationroutes." Peutz told DW that despite the risks, there are many reasons migrants still attempt the crossing. Many people do not have travel documents because obtaining them is expensive and time-consuming. "A lot of the younger migrants leave on the spur of the moment. Sometimes they don't tell their parents or their family — they know they will be persuaded otherwise," Peutz said. Some migrants arriving in Saudi Arabia do not want to be officially recognized as such because it limits their prospects. "If they have a kafeel (local sponsor), they are bound to a contract," Peutz explained. "Some kafeels have been known to keep their employees' passports, making it difficult for them to leave abusive workplaces. This is particularly true for female workers. Working outside of this system allows greater employment opportunities."
