Global Governance

Consumer confusion exacerbates the issue. In the US, 6 per cent of waste – 3 billion pounds worth $7 billion – stems from misreading labels like “Sell by” (for retailers) or “Best if used by” (peak quality), prompting premature discards of safe food.

The body plays a central role in reviewing project proposals, approving budgets, and setting the inter-governmental agenda for regional cooperation.

Those calling for reform are joined by civil society voices demanding international scrutiny. Some urge consumers abroad to avoid Burmese jade, pointing to its role in funding violence.

In 2025, global emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels are projected to reach an unprecedented level, underscoring the widening gap between climate ambition and reality.

While the gathering in Belém sets the tone for two weeks of negotiations, the key test will be whether developed countries step up to match rhetoric with financial, technological and capacity-building support. India and its partners argue that ambition without means is hollow.

The two-day dialogue, hosted by Turkey and facilitated by Qatar, followed a period of heightened tension along the Durand Line

The meeting came amid a broader push by both countries to reinvigorate bilateral ties – spanning trade, defence cooperation and connectivity – in what Karachi and Dhaka describe as a “reset” in relations.

Muttaqi, a key architect of the Taliban's post-2021 takeover diplomacy, travelled to the southern province of Kandahar on Friday for the audience with Akhundzada.