Deserted streets in Ecuador as president declares 'state of war' on drug gangs

Negotiations on Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution Reach Critical Phase

Negotiations on Global Treaty , to End Plastic Pollution , Reach Critical Phase . 'The Independent' reports that negotiators from around the world have met to discuss what could become a global treaty meant to end plastic pollution. . The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution has begun agreeing on treaty language at their fourth of five scheduled plastics summits. The most ambitious and contentious idea revolves around limiting how much plastic can be manufactured globally. As most plastics are made from fossil fuels and chemicals, oil and gas exporters have strongly objected to the limitations, along with plastic-producing countries and companies. According to Stewart Harris, an industry spokesperson with the International Council of Chemical Associations, the treaty also focuses on recycling and reuse. . We want to see the treaty completed. We want to work with the governments on implementing it. The private sector has a role to play, Stewart Harris, an industry spokesperson with the International Council of Chemical Associations, via 'The Independent'. 'The Independent' reports that the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty provided scientific evidence on plastic pollution at the negotiations. I heard yesterday that there’s no data on microplastics, which is verifiably false: 21,000 publications on micro and nanoplastics have been published, Bethanie Carney Almroth, an ecotoxicology professor at Sweden's University of Gothenburg who co-leads the coalition, via 'The Independent'. Ecuador's chief negotiator, Walter Schuldt stressed that countries present at the negotiation share a common vision of moving forward in the treaty process. Because at the end of the day, we’re talking about the survival of the future of life, not only of human life but all sorts of life on this planet, Walter Schuldt, Ecuador's chief negotiator, via 'The Independent'

Ecuador approves extradition, anti-gang measures in referendum

Second mayor in Ecuador assassinated ahead of anti-crime referendum

Second Ecuadoran mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum

US President Biden ‘considering’ dropping Assange charges

United States President Joe Biden says he is “considering” a request from Australia to drop the prosecution of Julian Assange. The WikiLeaks founder has been indicted on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse over his website’s publication of classified U.S. documents relating to the Afghanistan and Iraq wars almost 15 years ago. The Australian national was taken to Belmarsh prison in London five years ago, after being dragged out of the Ecuadorian embassy, where he stayed while fighting against being taken to the US. Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn