At lord mayor’s banquet in London, British PM says ‘national interest demands that we work with both’…reports Asian Lite News
Keir Starmer has “utterly rejected” the idea that the UK must choose between the United States and Europe when Donald Trump comes to power, arguing that it is in the national interest to work with both.
The prime minister said the UK would “never turn away” from its relationship with the US, despite the difficulties the new administration could pose, as it had been the “cornerstone” of security and prosperity for over a century.
Yet he would also continue to “reset” Britain’s relationship with Europe, the country’s biggest trading partner, he said, after years of neglect post-Brexit, as strong bilateral links were vital for growth and security.
“Against the backdrop of these dangerous times, the idea that we must choose between our allies, that somehow we’re with either America or Europe, is plain wrong,” he said.
“I reject it utterly. [Clement] Attlee did not choose between allies. [Winston] Churchill did not choose. The national interest demands that we work with both.”
His remarks come after foreign policy and trade experts warned that Trump could pressure the UK to effectively pick sides between it and the European Union if he presses ahead with threatened trade tariffs when he takes over next year.
But despite Labour’s previously tense relationship with Trump, Downing Street sources said they felt equipped to deal with the “unpredictability and noise” that has already started coming their way from Washington.
Starmer’s team, they continued, has spent years preparing for the possibility of a Republican victory – building relationships and, crucially, bridges. However, as some of Elon Musk’s criticism of the prime minister has shown, the usual rules of diplomacy no longer apply.
Instead, the government believes it can capitalise on the global uncertainty that Trump’s presidency creates, with the new administration likely to reverse the US position in conflict zones and embark on a more protectionist approach on trade.
In a major foreign policy speech at the lord mayor’s banquet in London, Starmer insisted the UK could be a “constant and responsible actor in turbulent times”, with the return of Trump expected to shake up the global order, including in Ukraine and the Middle East.
“I recall Philip Larkin’s words about her late majesty Queen Elizabeth as a ‘constant good’ – a strong, still point in a changing world – because I think it also reflects Britain and the nation’s role today,” he said.
“To be a constant and responsible actor in turbulent times. To be the soundest ally and to be determined, always, in everything we do.”
In his speech, the prime minister said he would “never turn away” from the UK’s special relationship with the US, even though many inside government privately believe it will prove a difficult path to navigate in coming years.
“This is not about sentimentality,” he said. “It is about hard-headed realism. Time and again the best hope for the world and the surest way to serve our mutual national interest has come from our two nations working together. It still does.”
Starmer has also vowed to turn the page on the UK’s relationship with European partners, putting the fractious relations of the Brexit years behind it. Since taking office he has visited the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, in Berlin and met the French president, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris. He also hosted 50 leaders from across the continent for the European Political Community meeting within days of taking office.
He told his audience that the government had already improved relations with Britain’s European neighbours, with a “shared ambition to work more closely where necessary”, including through a new security pact covering foreign affairs and defence.
“This is about looking forward, not back,” Starmer added. “There will be no return to freedom of movement, no return to the customs union and no return to the single market. Instead we will find practical, agile ways to cooperate which serve the national interest.”
Ministers are hiring a new EU negotiator to act as a representative for all of the UK’s dealings with the bloc ahead of renewal talks on the trade and cooperation agreement, which underpins the post-Brexit relationship, in 2025.
The government has said that security is the bedrock on which the UK economy rests. “There is no greater responsibility for this government,” the prime minister said. He does not, however, plan to set out a timetable to reach 2.5% of GDP on defence spending until next year.
After becoming the first British leader in six years to meet Xi Jinping, the Chinese president, last month, Starmer argued that the UK could not “look the other way” on China, and instead planned to “keep talking” to Beijing.
Trump is proposing to slap huge 60% import tariffs on China. Trade experts expect that the US will call on the EU and UK to follow suit – a demand that both will strongly resist for their own trade reasons.
The UK is seeking to increase trade with Beijing while also stepping up efforts to find greater ways to access the EU single market.
Experts cautioned that China is building advanced military space capabilities, likely to deploy counter-space tactics in future conflicts, making space a contested warfighting domain and threatening access to vital space systems.
Chinese ambitions – “the grand rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” as Chairman Xi Jinping calls it – are almost unbridled in their scope. As well as seeking to dominate nearby territory such as Taiwan, the mountainous border with India, international waters in the South China Sea and the icy wastes of Antarctica – Beijing has cast its zealous net deep into space too.
A sharp warning came recently from the Headquarters of the US Space Force. In a space threat fact sheet it stated, “Intensifying strategic competition presents a serious threat to US national security interests in, from and to space. China and Russia seek to position themselves as leading space powers while undermining US global leadership. Both countries are developing new space systems to enhance military effectiveness and end any reliance on US space systems.”
Dr Malcom Davis, a senior analyst in Defence Strategy and Capability at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), concurred. He told ANI: “Clearly, China would like to dominate space in terms of control, and deny space access to the US and to US allies…In every sense of the word, I think the Chinese are determined to overtake the US in space.”
Before delving further into the contents of that American Space Force report, it is pertinent to see how China is already trampling upon international norms on Earth. If Beijing is willing to unashamedly do this on our terrestrial ball, against the wishes of others, then what will it attempt in the vast, uncontested reaches of outer space?
China is planning a permanent moon base, and it will presumably ride roughshod over the US-sponsored Artemis Accords of 2020 that recommend principles regarding moon colonization. A key provision in the Artemis Accords is license for lunar operators to establish “safety zones” around their activities “to avoid harmful interference”. Some 43 countries have signed the accords, but not China or Russia since they are developing their own frameworks.
China’s and minor partner Russia’s proposed base at the moon’s south pole is called the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS). Its roadmap was unveiled in 2021, but China revealed further information earlier this month. Five super-heavy-lift rockets are to help establish the first phase of the ILRS from 2030-35, after which it will expand through till 2050. Chinese state media said the extended station will be a “comprehensive lunar station network that utilizes the lunar orbit station as its central hub and the south pole station as its primary base, and it will include exploration nodes on the lunar equator and the far side of the moon”. Power will come from solar, radioisotope and nuclear generators. To date, 13 countries have signed up to the ILRS project.
However, how will China behave on the moon? It has already shown in Antarctica how it despises international treaties. Specifically, China requested an Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) around its Kunlun Station on Dome A in 2013. An ASMA is the equivalent of a lunar safety zone, but China’s request was roundly denied under the Antarctica Treaty System (ATS) since there is no threat to or need for deconfliction in this zone. China insisted it needed the ASMA for precautionary reasons, and the situation has devolved into an international stalemate. Since then, Beijing has spitefully obstructed various unrelated decisions by the ATS.
On the moon, China could just as easily spurn international treaties and efforts to deconflict exploration programs, especially since the south pole is the most favoured area for colonization sites. The Outer Space Treaty prevents any country from reserving a territorial claim on the moon, but “safety zones” are the nearest thing to establishing sovereignty there. However, if China were to arrive on the moon first, it could take control of parts of it by establishing its own massive “safety zones” in defiance of treaties or public opinion. Who is to stop it?
Xi certainly has a track record of bullying and disdainfully treating rules and norms. He is ramping up sustained pressure on Taiwan. Since President Lai Ching-te’s inauguration in May, the number of Chinese air defence identification zone (ADIZ) or Taiwan Strait centerline incursions has risen from an average of 7.5 to 18.7 per day. Year on year they are up 73%, and this year’s cumulative total of incursions already exceeds that of 2023. By the end of August, the PLA had intruded 1,986 times, compared to 1,703 for the whole of last year.
It is not just Taiwan that China is intimidating. On 26 August, a PLA Y-9 electronic intelligence aircraft violated Japanese airspace over the Danjo Islands in the East China Sea. This appeared to be the first time a Chinese military aircraft had violated Japanese airspace since World War II. With Tokyo supportive of Taiwan, China is increasingly eyeing the possibility of interdicting the Japanese Ryukyu Island chain, which includes Okinawa, critical to both the Japanese and American militaries.
Meanwhile, in the Western Pacific, for the first time a Chinese Type 075 landing helicopter dock ship operated with the aircraft carrier Shandong east of Taiwan during a surge deployment exercise in August. This was the first time these two powerful naval assets had operated together.
Back in the South China Sea, the Philippines noted the presence of 203 Chinese vessels, the most ever recorded, near its own occupied features last week. These were mostly maritime militia vessels (fishing boats acting at the behest of the state), but also coast guard and naval vessels. Some 71 boats were swarming Sabina Shoal alone, a site of tension between the Philippines and China. Malaysia’s government has been trying to play down Chinese encroachment into its maritime territory in the South China Sea.
Recently, the Chinese research ship Ke Xue San Hao was conducting an illegal survey of Chinese waters at Ardasier Bank within Malaysia’s exclusive economic zone, and before that three coast guard vessels were loitering.
As can be seen from this snapshot of recent nefarious Chinese activity, Beijing does not mind intimidating other nations in order to gain advantage.
Unfortunately, China also nominated space as a new domain of warfare in 2015, and it is boldly staking its claim in this celestial sphere. The US Space Force explained, “China’s rapidly growing space program – second only to the US in number of operational satellites – is a source of national pride and key to President Xi’s ‘China Dream’ to establish a powerful and prosperous nation. Beijing expects space to play an important role in future conflicts by enabling long-range precision strikes and by denying other militaries the use of space-based information systems.”
Last year, China conducted 66 successful space launches, placing 217 payloads into orbit. More than half – 114 payloads to be exact – were for satellites capable of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). China now has 470+ ISR-capable satellites with optical, multispectral, radar and radio frequency sensors that can detect American and others’ military assets. One of the most significant of these is the Yaogan-41 remote sensing satellite launched in December 2023. It allows China to persistently monitor American and allied forces in the region.
According to the US military, since the end of 2015, China’s on-orbit presence has grown by approximately 550%. Quantitatively this is more than 800 satellites and, indeed, as of March 2024, China had more than 950 satellites in orbit. Furthermore, Beijing’s improving space-based capabilities can combine with the PLA’s growing arsenal of long-range weapons to enable long-range precision strikes against US and allied forces.
China is even successfully utilizing reusable spaceplanes. Three launches have occurred, the first lasting two days and the second more than nine months, and both released unidentified objects. The third spaceplane launched in December 2023 and it remains in orbit today.
The US Space Force further warned: “Intelligence suggests the PLA likely sees counter-space operations as a means to deter and counter US military intervention in a regional conflict.
Moreover, PLA academics stress the necessity of ‘destroying, damaging and interfering with the enemy’s reconnaissance…and communications satellites’ to ‘blind and deafen the enemy’.”
Chinese intentions were made manifest in 2007 when it employed a direct-ascent antisatellite (ASAT) missile to destroy a defunct weather satellite in low Earth orbit (LEO). This created more than 2,700 pieces of trackable debris that remain an orbital hazard. The USA claimed, “That missile evolved into an operational ground-based system intended to target LEO satellites. The PLA actively trains on this system today.”
The Pentagon assessed that China “likely intends to field ASAT weapons capable of destroying satellites up to geostationary equatorial orbit (GEO) at 36,000km. In 2013, China launched a ballistic object which peaked at 30,000km, suggesting it may already have a basic ASAT capability against higher orbits.”
Addressing China’s counter-space capabilities, Dr. Davis of ASPI said: “What you’re seeing is that, while the Chinese are developing this sort of direct-ascent, kinetic-kill ASATs, the favored capability for them will be soft-kill systems that are either co-orbital or ground-based, because they can deliver reversible, scalable effects, and they also don’t create clouds of space debris.”
He added: “What they’re demonstrating, perfecting, is the technological means to do these sorts of attacks in a crisis leading up to war, to exploit the gray-zone attack using, for example, a dual-role commercial satellite that has an anti-satellite capability.” In fact, Beijing is developing satellite “inspection and repair systems” that could serve as weapons. In January 2022, for instance, the Shijian-21 satellite moved a derelict BeiDou navigation satellite to a graveyard orbit above GEO. “This technology could be used in future systems to grapple other satellites.”
Dr. David Stupples, professor of Electronic & Radio Engineering at City University of London, told ANI that, while the ASAT threat is “very serious”, any attack would lead to fratricide due to American retaliation. “But what China has then said is, okay, you can do all of that, but we will flood space with our signals intelligence satellites and our reconnaissance satellites, etc. and, therefore, we’ll make it very difficult to do that.”
Further evidence of nefarious Chinese intentions is seen in SJ- and TJS-series experimental satellites observed conducting unusual, large and rapid manoeuvres in GEO.
The USA believes these are “tactics which could have a number of different military applications”. Additionally, the PLA owns multiple ground-based laser weapons able to disrupt, degrade or damage satellite sensors. “By the mid-to-late 2020s, they could have higher-power systems able to damage satellite structures.”
Dr. Stupples commented: “They do have lasers powerful enough at the moment probably to destroy a satellite in LEO. But they’re also developing satellite-killer satellites which will go alongside another satellite and then aim a laser at the solar panels or antennas … I don’t know as yet whether they’ve launched any, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they had, because they would be testing it against their own satellites.”
PLA exercises routinely incorporate jammers against space-based communications, radars and navigation systems like GPS. There are also indications China may be developing jammers able to target satellite communications over a range of frequencies, including the US military’s protected extremely-high-frequency systems.
Another achievement was China’s July 2021 fractional orbital launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle. This was a world-first, and it marked the longest flight of any PLA land attack weapon ever. In 100+ minutes, it flew around 40,000km.
Dr Davis warned: “We should be very concerned, because the Chinese are clearly developing a world-class military space capability that includes both space support and counter-space. And I think that all the good intentions and flowery language of arms control and regulatory reform aside, the Chinese will use counter-space capabilities prior to or at the outset of the next war. We should expect space to be contested, and ultimately a warfighting domain, where the Chinese will seek to deny us access to critical space support.”
The US Space Force sounded the same alarm bells: “China is the pacing challenge and is rapidly improving its space capabilities to track and target US military forces.” (ANI)
The ATC judge Amjad Ali Shah heard the plea and approved his judicial remand in New Town police station and seven other cases…reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan’s anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Monday sent Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and the coutnry’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan, on a 14-day judicial remand in a New Town police station case, ARY News reported.
Imran Khan is currently in Adiala Jail after being held in New Town PS case after he was bailed in Toshakhana case, as per ARY News.
The ATC judge Amjad Ali Shah heard the plea and approved his judicial remand in New Town police station and seven other cases, as per ARY News.
The development came after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder was arrested in seven more cases related to vandalism.
The political committee of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) issued a statement on Sunday following an important meeting, urging full access to party founder Imran Khan due to serious concerns over his health and safety, ARY News reported.
The committee stated that Imran Khan’s health had become a significant concern, with growing public anxiety surrounding his condition. It called for the immediate restoration of access to Khan’s family, legal team, and party officials to ensure transparency and accountability in his treatment.
The statement also urged both the federal and Punjab governments, along with prison authorities, to provide clear and frequent updates on Khan’s health status.
Further, ARY News reported that the committee appealed to the judiciary to protect Imran Khan’s fundamental rights and ensure robust security measures are in place. It issued a stern warning, holding the Prime Minister, Punjab Chief Minister, and relevant state institutions accountable for any lapses in ensuring Khan’s safety.
Earlier, authorities from Adiala Jail reassured the public that Imran Khan was in good health. This clarification followed reports suggesting Khan might be moved to another location.
Khan is currently being held in a cell under the jurisdiction of the New Town Police Station, ARY News reported, citing sources. He remains on physical remand until December 2 in connection with a case linked to the September 28 protest. (ANI)
The approval of the second installment of the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) comes with 39 strict conditions…reports Asian Lite news
The Pakistani government has implemented several tough measures, including mandatory asset disclosures by civil servants and their families, to fulfil the conditions required to secure a USD 1.1 billion tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), The Express Tribune reported on Monday.
The approval of the second installment of the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) comes with 39 strict conditions, including asset disclosures by civil servants, the elimination of tax amnesties and exemptions, and the submission of a governance and corruption assessment report, as reported by The Express Tribune.
The IMF has outlined specific benchmarks, such as maintaining foreign exchange reserves equal to three months of import bills, meeting fiscal targets, and adjusting the public finance structure, The Express Tribune reported, citing sources. Other key reforms mandated by the IMF include keeping the difference between the open market and interbank exchange rates within 1.25 percent and ensuring that the State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves reach USD 8.65 billion by the end of the fiscal year.
The Ministry of Finance confirmed that the government must meet 22 specific points to qualify for the USD 1.1 billion installment. A key requirement is the deadline of February 2025 for civil servants to disclose their assets, The Express Tribune reported. The IMF also insists that no additional grants be given outside the budget and stresses the importance of fiscal discipline.
The agreement also focuses on reducing public sector liabilities, with a cap on outstanding government guarantees set at PKR 5.6 trillion. The IMF further mandates limiting power sector arrears to PKR 417 billion and managing tax refund backlogs to a maximum of PKR 24 billion as part of the government’s reform plan.
During a briefing to the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Finance, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb acknowledged the macroeconomic stability achieved in the past 14 months but emphasized the need to reduce the influence of intermediaries in addressing inflation. He also noted that the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) was developing strategies to review food prices monthly.
The minister stressed that the current IMF loan agreement would serve as Pakistan’s final message to the international community, urging urgent reforms in taxation, energy, and population control. He also raised concerns about climate change, child stunting, and the increasing number of out-of-school children.
Aurangzeb mentioned at the end that Pakistan was working on a 10-year partnership framework with the World Bank, aimed at strengthening the country’s economic stability, and highlighted that improvements in the economy had already led to positive trends in the stock market. (ANI)
Leading a delegation of more than 87 members, Nepali premier Oli left for Beijing with all eyeing on possible agreements to be signed in the Chinese capital….reports Asian Lite News
Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Monday embarked on a five-day official visit to China as Beijing kept mum on revised proposal of BRI pact floated by the Himalayan Nation.
Leading a delegation of more than 87 members, Nepali premier Oli left for Beijing with all eyeing on possible agreements to be signed in the Chinese capital.
Oli also the chairman of CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist) before heading out for China had held discussion with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and senior party officials about new text of the “BRI framework for cooperation.”
The proposal was prepared by a four-member joint taskforce formed by both the parties.
Taskforce renamed the “BRI implementation plan” to “Framework for cooperation.” After approval from the two senior leaders last week, the foreign ministry had sent the text to the Chinese Embassy on Saturday itself for Beijing’s consideration.
The visit of Nepali Prime Minister, scheduled from December 2-5 comes at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. During his four days’ visit to China, Oli also is set to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and hold bilateral talks with Premier Li Keqiang.
He will also engage with senior leaders of the Chinese Communist Party during his visit.
Oli also will make a keynote address by Prime Minister Oli at Peking University.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, confirmed the details of the visit, stating, “Nepal’s Prime Minister Oli will pay an official visit to China from December 2 to 5 at the invitation of Premier Li Keqiang of the State Council.”
“The entourage of the Prime Minister will comprise Arzu Rana Deuba, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister; Yuba Raj Khatiwada, Economic and Development Advisor to the Prime Minister; Members of the Parliament; high-ranking government officials; representatives of private sector; and media persons,” the release stated.
It will be the first visit to foreign nation since Oli came to power on July this year. (ANI)
The station aims to conduct continuous, long-term observations of atmospheric components, offering crucial data on their concentration changes…reports Asian Lite News
China has inaugurated its first overseas atmospheric monitoring station in Antarctica, marking a significant step in strengthening its presence in the resource-rich, icy continent. The Zhongshan National Atmospheric Background Station, situated in the Larsemann Hills of East Antarctica, began operations on Sunday, as announced by the China Meteorological Administration (CMA).
The station aims to conduct continuous, long-term observations of atmospheric components, offering crucial data on their concentration changes. According to the CMA, the findings will provide a reliable representation of the region’s atmospheric composition and characteristics, contributing to global efforts to address climate change. The initiative highlights China’s growing scientific and strategic interests in the polar regions.
Ding Minghu, from the Institute of Global Change and Polar Meteorology at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, underscored the importance of polar regions as “amplifiers” of global climate change. He noted that the station’s unique geographical location would provide valuable insights into the environmental impacts of human activities.
This station is part of China’s broader expansion in polar research, which includes five operational research stations in Antarctica and two in the Arctic. Earlier this year, China activated its fifth Antarctic research station, a sprawling facility capable of supporting 80 expedition members during summers and 30 in winters.
Globally, there are 70 permanent research stations in Antarctica, operated by 29 countries. The United States has six, Australia three, and India operates two active stations – Maitri and Bharti.
China joined the Antarctic Treaty in 1983, committing to preserving the continent as a natural reserve while prohibiting commercial resource extraction. Its ongoing research initiatives, including monitoring Antarctic krill populations, aim to protect the continent’s fragile marine ecosystems and underline its growing scientific footprint in polar exploration.
China also condemned this decision and urged the US to “immediately cease arming Taiwan.” ..reports Asian Lite News
Following the United States’ decision to approve more arms sales to Taiwan, the Chinese foreign ministry called on the US to “cease all official interactions with Taiwan and stop sending erroneous signals to ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces,” Taiwan News reported.
China also condemned this decision and urged the US to “immediately cease arming Taiwan.”
“US arms sale to Taiwan sends a wrong signal to the island’s Taiwan independence forces and undermines US-China relations,” Al Jazeera reported citing a China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement.
“China will closely follow the developments and take resolute and strong measures to defend our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it added.
Taiwan’s president has begun a tour of Taiwan’s South Pacific allies, with stops in Hawaii, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Guam, and Palau. The trip, which runs from November 30 to December 6, focuses on smart sustainability, sustainable democracy, and sustainable diplomacy, as per Taiwan News.
“Taiwan will continue expanding partnerships and demonstrate to the world that it is not only a model of democracy but also a crucial force for global peace, stability, and prosperity,” Lai said last week.
Further, China has expressed strong opposition to any official interactions between the US and Taiwan, including visits by Taiwanese leaders to the US.
The Chinese ministry has urged the US to adhere to the “One-China” principle and the three China-US joint communiques.
According to Taiwan News, China’s opposition comes as the US is considering a potential sale of F-16 spare parts and mobile subscriber equipment to Taiwan, worth around USD 385 million. This move is seen as a way to boost Taiwan’s defence capabilities, particularly in terms of air defence resilience.
According to Su Tzu-yun, Director of the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, the additional equipment will enhance Taiwan’s wartime preparedness.
Such actions “undermine China-US relations and harm peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” it said. The ministry urged the US to “immediately cease arming Taiwan.” (ANI)
Conference called for building a tourism landscape that celebrates diversity, empowers women and protects the environment by adopting sustainable and gender-inclusive practices in all verticals of tourism….reports Asian Lite News
A conference was held in Kerala on Monday which called for gender-inclusive and responsible tourism practices in the state.
The event called for building a tourism landscape that celebrates diversity, empowers women and protects the environment by adopting sustainable and gender-inclusive practices in all verticals of tourism.
The conference was titled, ‘The Kerala Declaration of Gender Inclusive and Women Friendly Tourism’.
The declaration, signed by an entire spectrum of stakeholders including state agencies, also unveiled a four-point “Call to Action” advocating collective efforts to secure the goals set out by the initiative.
The declaration pointed to an urgent need for fostering gender inclusivity, accessibility, and climate-responsive practices in the tourism sector while prioritising the safety, well-being and empowerment of women in the tourism economy.
It also emphasised the need to promote gender-sensitive practices across all areas of tourism to ensure fair representation of women, gender minorities, and other under-represented groups, guaranteeing equality in opportunities, leadership and decision-making.
It called for organising capacity-building programmes for women in entrepreneurship management, formulating and implementing robust policies to prevent harassment and exploitation of women and children by putting in place effective prevention and response mechanisms.
The declaration pitched for equitable pay and safe working conditions for women, reskilling and upskilling and leveraging of media and marketing campaigns to break stereotypes about gender roles in tourism.
The declaration underscored the critical role of women in protecting the environment, especially in promoting climate-responsive tourism practices, encouraging ecotourism and responsible tourism that supports the local community.
It noted that women can play a lead role in developing Responsible Tourism (RT) that aligns with local customs and practices, forging partnerships with local communities, reducing leakages in benefits, and supporting medium and micro enterprises through equitable business practices.
The “Call to Action” pledged to take forward the gender-inclusive and responsible tourism model to make it a transformative force on the ground.
These include integration of gender inclusivity and RT practices as the core principles of tourism planning, with a special focus on women-friendly initiatives, strengthening collaboration across sectors and stakeholders to share knowledge, resources and strategies, continuous monitoring and reporting to ensure gender inclusivity, transparency and accountability, advocacy of policies that protect women’s rights in tourism and addressing gender-based challenges and enhancing safety and empowerment.
The action plan is aligned with the larger goal of fostering a sustainable and inclusive tourism model that benefits local communities, businesses, destinations, travellers and governments, and called for all stakeholders to embrace this vision.
The signatories to the historic Kerala Declaration include State Minister for Tourism P.A. Mohamed Riyas, UN Women India Country Representative Susan Ferguson, Chairman International Centre for Responsible Tourism Global, Dr. Harold Goodwin and numerous others.
IMD issues red alert in 5 Kerala districts
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for Kerala districts Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod, predicting extremely heavy rainfall (over 204.4 mm) in the next 24 hours. An orange alert has been declared for Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, and Palakkad, while a yellow alert is in place for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, and Kottayam districts. Northern and central Kerala are bracing for very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on Monday, December 2.
Schools and Colleges Closed
In response to the downpour, holidays have been declared for educational institutions in Kottayam, Idukki, Wayanad, Pathanamthitta, and Kannur districts. Schools, Anganwadis, tuition centres, and professional colleges will remain closed, and scheduled examinations have been postponed. However, residential educational institutions in Idukki, operating on a hostel basis, are exempt.
Advisory from the Chief Minister
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged residents in landslide-prone areas to relocate to safer locations during the day. Those living in coastal regions have been advised to stay alert due to the likelihood of rough seas.
Weather Update: Tamil Nadu and Puducherry
Meanwhile, Cyclone Fengal has triggered heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry over recent days. Although the system weakened into a low-pressure area over North Interior Tamil Nadu early Monday, its impact continues to disrupt normalcy.
Schools and colleges remain closed in affected districts like Villupuram, Cuddalore, Vellore, and Ranipet. Puducherry has also shut all educational institutions, as announced by Education Minister A. Namachivayam.
Authorities in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are monitoring the situation closely as they address the aftermath of the cyclone’s passage.
Barkat outlined Israel’s ambitious goal to increase its exports and affirmed, “Israel knows how to partner with global partners with countries that share same values and interests….reports Asian Lite news
Israel Economy Minister Nir Barkat on Monday emphasized on the strong ties between India and Israel, built on shared values, government-to-government diplomacy, and people-to-people friendships, saying that “Israel is focused on expanding trade and business partnership.”
Speaking at the inaugural session of the 29th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Partnership Summit 2024 in Delhi, Barkat specifically mentioned the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Iran and its proxies, resulting in significant atrocities and the ongoing detention of 101 hostages in Gaza.
“Ties between India and Israel are built on shared values, complemented by strong government to government, diplomatic foundation and friendship, and also on people to people, friendship and respect. We’re living in an era of uncertainty and instability all over the world. Israel can testify to that more than others. Since our independence in 1948 Israel’s faced wars and terror, with the goal of our enemy to eliminate Israel off the map,” he said.
“On October 7, 2023, Israel was attacked by Iran and his jihadi proxies, Hamas and Gaza Hezbollah, Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and a direct attack from Iran by hundreds of ballistic missiles, we’ve seen the worst atrocities committed to Jews since the holocaust by Nazi Germany, and we still have 101 hostages held in inhumane conditions in the undergrown tunnels of Gaza,” he added.
Futher, Barkat outlined Israel’s ambitious goal to increase its exports and affirmed, “Israel knows how to partner with global partners with countries that share same values and interests. So Israel is focused on expanding in our trade and business partnership. Our whole goal is to scale our export from USD 160 billion today to a trillion dollars within the 15 to 20 years.”
Barkat also highlighted the country’s exceptional capabilities in cyber security, desert technology, and climate change solutions.
“Israel’s excellent cyber security companies hold 25 per cent of all global cyber business. We are also global leaders in desert tech and climate change tech, leading wastewater treatments and leaders in drip water irrigation, offering wide solutions for deserts and drought-stricken regions. Tech & innovation including agro tech, food tech and aqua tech companies are focused on creating healthier, higher yields and creating new sources of food,” he said.
Speaking at the summit, Bahrain Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro highlighted the country’s strategic position as a bridge between East and West, fostering trade and cultural exchange between India, the Middle East, Europe, and beyond.
“For centuries, Bahrain has been a vital link between East and West, situated at the heart of their kingdom, has been a help of trade and cultural exchange, connecting the thriving margins of India with the Middle East, Europe and beyond, Indian traders and back laying merchants have shared goods, knowledge and trust for hundreds of years, saving a partnership that continues to thrive in modern times,” Fakhro said.
“In access to both regional and global markets, to our over 20 free trade agreements, including the land, the landmark free trade agreement with the US, and ongoing GCC acting negotiations with over 10 major economic players and laws, we are creating opportunities for seamless trade and investment,” he added.
He stressed that “no nation can thrive in isolation”, given the interconnected nature of the global economy.
“No nation can thrive in isolation. The global economy is interconnected, and its future depends on our ability to build bridges and not walls, but in historical as a bridge between East and West is as relevant today as ever, and we are committed to enabling partnerships that deliver sustainable and inclusive growth against us ready to serve you as to gain wealth, and your partner in anterior and host,” said Fakhro.
While adressing the event, Nepal Industry Minister Damodar Bhandari extended an invitation to businesses and investors worldwide to invest in potential sectors of Nepal
“Nepal has a strong and historical relationship with India. India is the largest source country in terms of tourism. Similarly, India is Nepal’s largest trading partner, having about 68 per cent of total exports and 63 per cent of total imports in 2023,” Bhandari said.
“I invite businesses and investors from around the globe to invest in the highly potential sectors of Nepal and partner with us by bringing in new technology, capital and expertise to materialise our shared goals of economic growth, prosperity and inclusive growth,” he added.
The 29th CII Partnership Summit brings together 61 participating countries, 30 global speakers, and 11 international ministers. Discussions are underway on topics such as resilient supply chains, sustainability, research and development, green technologies, artificial intelligence, gender equality, and strategic growth initiatives.
The summit aims to foster productive partnerships and global cooperation, ensuring a shared vision for a sustainable and prosperous future. (ANI)
The Indian Navy is looking to induct the three submarines along with the Project 75 India programme, which aims to enhance India’s indigenous submarine capabilities. ..reports Asian Lite News
The Indian Navy is hoping to finalise the Rs 90,000 crore deals for 26 Rafale Marine combat aircraft and three additional Scorpene submarines by next month, announced Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Monday.
Addressing the annual Navy Day press conference, Admiral Tripathi stated, “The Indian Navy is hoping to sign the deals for Rafale-Marine and three additional Scorpene submarines by next month.”
The Indian Navy has been negotiating with France for the purchase of 26 Rafale Marine fighter aircraft and with the French Naval Group for the construction of three additional Scorpene-class submarines at Mazagon Dockyards Limited.
The three submarines will complement the six Scorpene-class submarines that have already been built by the dockyard.
The Indian Navy is looking to induct the three submarines along with the Project 75 India programme, which aims to enhance India’s indigenous submarine capabilities.
Meanwhile, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi on Monday said that the maritime force keeps a watch on the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) in the Indian Ocean Region.
“We are keeping a close watch on the extra-regional forces operating in the Indian sea including the PLA Navy, the warships and even their research vessels and know what they are doing and where they are,” Tripathi said while addressing the media at a press conference.
The Naval Chief further mentioned that while China’s naval presence is increasing in the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Navy remains focused on safeguarding India’s interests in the Indian Ocean region.
“I believe you must have heard about China calling itself the Middle Kingdom. The book- The Hundred Year Marathon is on how the Chinese are planning to become what they want to. There is a vision that they want to become a world power. We see that is happening… Our reading is that it will manifest more in the Pacific Ocean and we are keeping a watch to ensure that our interests in the Indian Ocean region are not affected.” Admiral Tripathi said.
Additionally, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi affirmed that the launch of the nuclear-capable missile from the INS Arighaat was successful. (ANI)
