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Expo City Dubai begins countdown for COP28

Expo City Dubai – a state-of-the-art ‘green’ destination that hosted the world for six months – shares COP28’s objectives of achieving sustainability and enabling action towards climate security…reports Asian Lite News

An engaging calendar of events will attract visitors of all ages and backgrounds to support global climate change mitigation as Expo City Dubai, proud host of COP28 – The Emirates Climate Conference with the UNFCCC, begins the one-year countdown to the global summit.

Thought-provoking youth discussions, performances, exhibitions and more will feature as part of Expo City Dubai’s sustainability-themed calendar, culminating in an unrivalled, impactful ‘Green Zone’ public area during COP28 (6-17 November 2023). More activations will be revealed over the next 12 months.

Like previous editions, the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), known as COP28, will assess and drive progress on combatting climate change. Expo City Dubai – a state-of-the-art ‘green’ destination that hosted the world for six months – shares COP28’s objectives of achieving sustainability and enabling action towards climate security.

Marjan Faraidooni, Chief of Education and Culture, Expo City Dubai, said, “Tackling climate change remains at the top of the global agenda, a priority for the UAE, and a conversation we are actively engaged in as a city and educational hub. It is clear that every individual must bear the responsibility to learn more about the challenges we face and how we can each play a role to help address them. Expo City Dubai is proud to host COP28, helping to cement its legacy through a full calendar of impactful and engaging events.

“Designed as a blueprint for green urban planning, Expo City Dubai is spearheaded by the same team that delivered one of the most sustainable World Expos in history and rallied all segments of society around topics that matter to humanity. Leveraging our signature creative storytelling and expertise as a convener, our diverse programming will engage everyone, regardless of age, background or awareness, in wider efforts to mitigate climate change, building momentum to COP28 and beyond as Expo City continues its journey to net zero.”

The Next Gen World Majlis, an Expo School Programme platform for youth to discuss issues that impact all our futures, makes its post-Expo 2020 comeback on 21 November, when a group of students aged 9-12 years, selected from schools across the UAE, will explore the climate crisis, probing who, if anyone, can be held responsible; what should be asked of world leaders; the current role and potential of schools in tackling the crisis; and the risks of inaction.

The event is in line with World Children’s Day, commemorated annually on 20 November to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and the improvement of children’s welfare.

Youth also takes centre stage in the return of Expo Young Stars on 24 and 25 November at Al Wasl, where students will express their thoughts and present an interpretation of climate issues through sustainability-themed performances. Part of the Expo School Programme, the Expo Young Stars performances are open to the public, and attendance is free of charge.

These events will be followed by the ‘Reflections on Climate Change’ exhibition, inviting visitors to learn about the history and goals of COPs, the components of the crisis, and initiatives in place to maintain hope for the future. Dates for the exhibition will be announced at a later stage.

Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion continues to welcome visitors as it brings Expo City Dubai’s commitment to sustainability to life, taking them on a journey under the ocean or through the forest and empowering individuals of all nationalities, ages and interests to make more sustainable choices in their own lives.

An example of sustainability in action, Expo City Dubai retains 80 percent of Expo 2020’s built infrastructure, including 123 LEED-certified buildings and eight infrastructure projects rated ‘Excellent’ under CEEQUAL.

ALSO READ: UAE to unveil net-zero pathway at COP27

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‘Trade must be a cornerstone of climate action’

The WTO’s flagship publication, released at the 27th COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, also examines the consequences of climate change on trading patterns…reports Asian Lite News

 The 2022 edition of the WTO’s World Trade Report presents new analysis and recommendations on how international trade and greater cooperation can amplify global efforts to address climate change and put the planet on a sustainable trajectory.

The WTO’s flagship publication, released on 7th November at the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, also examines the consequences of climate change on trading patterns and future prosperity.

“This report is being launched at the same time as COP27. What I hope to see emerge there and elsewhere is a trade and investment facilitation pathway in support of a just transition to a low-carbon economy,” Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who is participating in the climate summit, said in her foreword to the report. “The report argues that trade is a force for good for climate and part of the solution for achieving a low-carbon, resilient and just transition,” she said.

The Director-General will present the report at a high-level event for world leaders at COP27 on 8th November titled “Time to Act: Implementing Trade-Related Contributions to the Global Response to Climate Change.”

A man walks past a board showing the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Nov. 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai/IANS)

The report conveys four main messages: first, climate change is a major threat to future growth and prosperity due to potential productivity losses, production shortages, damaged transport infrastructure and supply chain disruptions.

Furthermore, without significant reductions in global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, many countries are likely to find their comparative advantages changing, with agriculture, tourism and some manufacturing sectors particularly vulnerable to climate impacts.

Second, trade is a force multiplier for countries’ adaptation efforts in the face of climate disruptions, reducing costs of technologies and critical goods and services. In the longer-run, open international markets would help countries achieve necessary economic adjustment and resource reallocation. This is particularly relevant for the most vulnerable economies — least-developed countries, small-island developing states and landlocked developing countries.

Third, trade can reduce the cost of mitigating climate change — by supporting the reduction or prevention of GHG emissions — and speed up the transition to a low-carbon economy and the creation of green jobs. WTO simulations presented in the report suggest that eliminating tariffs and reducing non-tariff measures on a subset of energy-related environmental goods could boost exports by 5 per cent by 2030, while the resulting increases in energy efficiency and renewable uptake would reduce global emissions by 0.6 per cent.

Finally, the report emphasises that international cooperation on trade-related aspects of climate policy is vital for making climate actions more effective, and the low-carbon transition more just, minimizing trade frictions and investor uncertainty.

The report shows that, without global cooperation on ambitious climate policies, the world will not achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting the global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius.

ALSO READ: UAE’s COP27 delegation has strong and diverse representation

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Abdullah participates in 2nd Green ME summit

To accelerate the implementation of initiatives to achieve the MGI goals, HRH the Crown Prince today announced that Saudi Arabia will establish and host a dedicated MGI Secretariat…reports Asian Lite News

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan took part in the 2nd Green Middle East Initiative summit (MGI) which held in tandem with UN climate conference COP27.

The Summit was co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, along with a host of world leaders; Presidents and Heads of Government of GGC; Middle East, Africa and international partners.

In his opening address at the MGI Summit, the Saudi Crown Prince said: “If we are to achieve the desired objectives of the ambitious Middle East Green Initiative, continued regional cooperation and active contributions by member countries are needed to achieve global climate goals and accelerate the implementation commitments as part of international agreements.

He added that two goals guide the MGI climate action roadmap. The first focuses on emissions reduction and serves to support efforts across the region to reduce emissions by 670 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). This figure represents the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) from all countries in the region, which represented 10 percent of global contributions at the time the target was announced.

The second goal under MGI is to plant 50 billion trees across the region. This ambitious project will rehabilitate 200 million hectares of degraded land, helping reduce emissions by 2.5 percent of current global levels. Planting 50 billion trees will combat desertification, reduce dust storms and protect against the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of land degradation, something that countries across West, Central and South Asia, North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa are especially vulnerable to. The Kingdom is spearheading regional cooperation to achieve the target, with the initial governance framework agreed by founding member countries during a ministerial meeting in Riyadh in October 2022, he indicated.

To accelerate the implementation of initiatives to achieve the MGI goals, HRH the Crown Prince today announced that Saudi Arabia will establish and host a dedicated MGI Secretariat and will allocate US $2.5 billion to support MGI projects and governance.

The Crown Prince also announced that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) will aim to reach net zero by 2050, the first sovereign wealth fund in the Middle East and one of the first globally to do so. This will be achieved by financing projects that support the green transition and encourage further innovation. This is in line with the Kingdom’s Circular Carbon Economy approach to climate action and enhances the fund’s role as a key player in supporting global efforts to address climate challenges.

The Summit was attended by Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of State.

ALSO READ: UAE lifts all Covid-19 curbs

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Sisi calls for innovative ideas to boost climate action

I am confident that our meeting today will come up with results that will demonstrate our rigorous commitment to climate action across all levels for the benefit of the coming generations,” said President El-Sisi..reports Asian Lite News

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, urged leaders participating in the Middle East Green Initiative Summit to put forward innovative ideas and constructive proposals that would contribute to bolstering climate action in ‘’our countries” in the context of the principle of implementation.

I am confident that our meeting today will come up with results that will demonstrate our rigorous commitment to climate action across all levels for the benefit of the coming generations of the Arab region and the entire world,” said President El-Sisi during his opening speech at the Middle East Green Initiative Summit.

He added that the launch of this initiative by Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Crown Prince, around a year ago, came to address one of the necessary aspects in climate action in our Arab world and in the Middle East region, which both suffer more than anywhere else from the negative impacts of climate change on the quality of agricultural land, the fertility of its soil, in addition to the steady rise of temperature, water scarcity and drought.

‘’The large number of countries which joined this initiative since its launch, might be testimony to the seriousness our countries in the Arab region accord to efforts to combat climate change, either in terms of reducing emissions and the transition to renewable energy or in taking vigorous measures to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change. The two aspects constitute the core of this initiative. In Egypt, for example, we were able to take broad steps toward the transition to renewable energy, either solar, wind or hydrogen energy. Currently, we are launching ambitious projects in the area of clean transport.”

With regard to adaptation, he noted that Egypt has succeeded to achieve tangible successes in the sustainable management of water resources. The document of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which was updated in accordance with the Paris Agreement, includes a number of ambitious goals for adaptation in the sectors of agriculture, the protection of coastal areas and sustainable urban development.

‘’And just like Egypt, all countries in our Arab region are exerting similar efforts in this context. Our region’s hosting of the Conference of the Parties (COP27) to the UNFCCC this year in Egypt, and next year in the United Arab Emirates, is good proof of the role our countries have assumed at the level of international climate action and their commitment to the implementation of climate pledges,” he further added.

ALSO READ: UAE lifts all Covid-19 curbs

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‘World must unite to tackle climate change’

UAE is a responsible energy supplier, and will continue to play that role as we pursue a transition to alternate resources and technologies, said Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has emphasised the importance of international cooperation to tackle climate change for the sake of future generations at the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

Speaking during the opening session of the Leaders’ Summit at COP27, in the presence of President Abdel Fattah El Sisi of Egypt and other world leaders,  President Sheikh Mohamed said UAE is a responsible energy supplier, and will continue to play that role as we pursue a transition to alternate resources and technologies.

The UAE President stressed the need for the international community to collaborate on finding practical climate action solutions, telling the assembled audience they are meeting at a critical time for our planet and our future generations.

“We have only one planet, ladies and gentlemen, and with that in mind, it is imperative that we partner and work together in a spirit of determination and optimism to address this common challenge through climate action. We look at this as an opportunity for innovation, and a chance to find new solutions and diversify our economy,” Sheikh Mohamed said.

The President spoke of the UAE’s position as a responsible energy provider, with a realistic view of the present as it invests in the future.

“By virtue of our geology, the oil and gas we have in the UAE is among the least carbon-intensive in the world. Nevertheless, we will continue to work towards reducing carbon emissions in the sector,” he said.

He reiterated the UAE’s support for efforts to accelerate the global energy transition and enable sustainable economic growth, highlighting recent initiatives such as the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy agreement signed between the UAE and the US.

“The UAE became the first country in the region to sign and ratify the Paris Agreement, committing to its requirement to cut carbon emissions across all areas of our economy. The Emirates then went on to announce the UAE Net-Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative,” he highlighted.

He concluded by thanking Egypt for its efforts in hosting COP27 and extended an open invitation for everyone to continue collaboration towards finding and implementing practical solutions when the UAE hosts COP28 in 2023 at Expo City Dubai, emphasising the importance of ongoing cooperation and communication within the international community.

“As we prepare to host COP28, we increasingly focus on supporting the implementation of recommendations from previous conferences, and we are working to complete the first global stocktake of emission pledges under the Paris Agreement. Moving forward, we will support efforts to organise a global dialogue to expedite progress in implementing the agreement by 2030,” he said.

Sheikh Mohamed said UAE wants to bring everyone on the same page to collectively drive an organised and effective transition in the global energy sector with a “realistic, pragmatic, ambitious, and economically feasible plan.”

Met world leaders

President Sheikh Mohamed has met with a number of heads of state and officials on the sidelines of the COP27 conference. He held talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Senegal President Macky Sall, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak; and the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva.

Discussions between Sheikh Mohamed and the other COP27 participants covered a number of topics, including the importance of international cooperation and collaboration to find practical climate change solutions that enable sustainable development for all, state news agency WAM reported.

He visited the pavilions of the Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, where he met with Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Bahrain.

The tour also included the pavilions of the United Nations and the UAE, where he met with the staff of the country’s pavilion representing various authorities, which are showcasing several clean energy and environmental action initiatives.

ALSO READ: UAE lifts all Covid-19 curbs

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China plays aggressive games with Canada democracy: Trudeau

The Prime Minister’s accusation comes after Canadian intelligence identified a “clandestine network” of Beijing-backed candidates at the recent elections…reports Asian Lite News

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has accused China of election interference and playing “aggressive games” with democracies.

Addressing reporters on Monday, Trudeau said: “We have taken significant measures to strengthen the integrity of our elections processes and our systems, and will continue to invest in the fight against election interference, against foreign interference of our democracies and institutions.

“Unfortunately, we’re seeing countries, state actors from around the world, whether it’s China or others, are continuing to play aggressive games with our institutions, with our democracies.”

The Prime Minister’s accusation comes after Canadian intelligence identified a “clandestine network” of Beijing-backed candidates at the recent elections, the BBC reported.

At least 11 candidates were supported by China in the 2019 federal elections, officials reportedly told Trudeau.

Citing unnamed intelligence officials, local broadcaster Global News reported that Beijing had directed funds to the candidates and that Chinese operatives had acted as campaign advisers to many candidates.

In one case, funding of C$250,000 was directed through the office of an Ontario-based provincial MP.

The operation, which was reportedly directed from China’s consulate in Toronto, also sought to place operatives within the offices of serving MPs in an attempt to influence policy, the outlet alleged.

And efforts were also made to “co-opt and corrupt” former Canadian officials in a bid to gain influence within political circles, the BBC reported citing the Global News report.

The attempted interference is believed to have targeted both major political parties — Trudeau’s Liberal party and the opposition Conservative party.

However, it is unclear whether the operation was successful.

The reports also come after authorities said they were investigating accusations that China had opened unofficial “police” stations on Canadian soil.

Last month, Royal Canadian Mounted Police said they were investigating reports of “criminal activity in relation to so-called ‘police’ stations”, which have also been reported in a number of European countries..

ALSO READ: China fumes as Hands visits Taiwan

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Leicester Riots conflated to Hindu-Muslim rivalry

British Hindus set to take on BBC over 'Hinduphobic' coverage of Leicester violence

The Hindu residents of Leicester objected to the media not putting forth their plight and turning this into a Hindu-Muslim rivalry when it was clear that clashes had the characteristic of post-game events riots that dot the European landscape every now and then, writes Arshia Malik

When violent clashes erupted in UK’s Leicester on 28 August, nobody had expected it to conflate into a Hindu-Muslim rivalry. After India won the Asia Cup T20 match against Pakistan, a cycle of violence was triggered with clashes breaking out between young men of Pakistan and Indian origin. Adding fuel to the fire some Muslim extremists and radicals joined the commotion with fake news and rumours and threats, using social media to widen the chaos to sour diplomatic relations between India and the UK.

Depending on who was reporting, Muslim heritage journalists presented a biased one-sided view and used their pet scapegoat of Hindutva, RSS, and Indian nationalism to give cover fire to instigators like Maajid Freeman and Mohamed Hijab, UK-based radicals with links to terror organisations. The Hindu residents of Leicester objected to the media not putting forth their plight and turning this into a Hindu-Muslim rivalry when it was clear that clashes had the characteristic of post-game events riots that dot the European landscape every now and then.

Also, a mob staged a violent demonstration outside the Durga Bhawan temple in United Kingdom’s Smethwick in Birmingham on September 20. Leicester Police Department took charge of the incident and released statements of Hindus not being involved in any kind of violence while the mob had been dog-whistled from different counties and cities of England to converge on planned dates and behave rowdily. India and Pakistan have permanent fissures and the Hindu and Muslim populations in India have permanent fault lines due to the Partition; whereas there isn’t any significant Hindu population left in Pakistan. The little percentage that is left is often targeted for their faith and their daughters are kidnapped and married forcibly to Muslim men, often middle-aged.

That Leicester would then be a battle of narratives between the countries of origin was a foregone conclusion. The United Kingdom stepped in, and a UK-based think tank Henry Jackson Society’s (HJS) Centre on Radicalisation and Terrorism carried out this research and published the report from their official Twitter handle. The 39-page report is written by Charlotte Littlewood. It mentions that influencers on social media spread a false narrative that “RSS terrorists” were to blame for the violence to persuade Muslims from across the UK to participate in the demonstrations. In a video showing himself leading a group through Leicester, an influencer named Mohammad Hijab with over 800,000 followers urged Muslims to “protect themselves against Hindu fascism” and wrote, “Muslim patrol in Leicester.”

The report debunked the narratives that RSS and Hindutva groups played part in the violent clashes, putting the wider Hindu community at risk from hate, vandalism, and assault. There was significant civil unrest from September 4-20 between ethnic minority groups in Leicester, including vandalism of property, assaults, stabbings, and attacks on places of worship, said the HJS report.

Littlewood insists the cause of the violence is a community cohesion breakdown pertaining to loud festivals, antisocial behaviour and a conflict between Muslim youth and Hindu youth stemming from territorial attitudes towards one another.

Commenting on how media relied on these Muslim social media influencers for reporting rather than going into the minor details of the incidents, Charlotte Littlewood noted, “The media has at times conflated the issue by regularly relying on influencers included in this report for comment and focusing on an issue of Hindutva extremism and India politics rather than providing nuanced and accurate analysis of the incidents.” Underlining threats in front of the local community, she further said, “There is a real concern that Majid Freeman is regularly being provided a platform to express his views regarding the presence of Hindutva extremism in the UK and posing as a ‘community leader, meeting with the City of Leicester’s mayor and discussing the future of the upcoming independent review.” Most notably, the report pointed out that on the weekend of September 17, marches comprised of Hindu and Muslim adherents occurred in the city, accompanied by chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Allah u Akbar’.

Fifteen arrested after continuing ‘disorder’ in Leicester (Ld)

In a statement issued earlier, the Labour Convention of Indian Organisations (LCIO) had said it was “deeply saddened” by the incidents of violence, which it fears is now fuelling religious hatred in the communities. The statement further read, “Having spoken to locals, it seems extremist groups are pushing 3 baseless narratives – that diversity in the UK has failed; the disturbances are being orchestrated by forces from India and historic differences mean that we can’t live together peacefully as one community.”

So in this age of social media, disinformation campaigns and digital warfare, the ancient Hindu-Muslim rivalry from the medieval times when Islamic conquests established Muslim rule and the Hindu population was left bereft of the control of their religious places, any event of festivity be it Diwali, Holi can be construed as triggering factors for the minorities in the UK, with extremist individuals like Anjem Choudhary of the Hizbut Tahrir conflating the issue to generate a false narrative of Hindutva forces disrupting local life in the English counties and towns.

ALSO READ: Braverman blames Leicester riots on new migrants

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Dawood has unit to target bizmen, leaders: NIA

Dawood Ibrahim

According to sources, the charge sheet was filed on Saturday against Dawood Ibrahim, Chotta Shakeel and three others in connection with carrying out terror activities across India…reports Asian Lite News

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in its charge sheet filed before a special court in Mumbai, has claimed that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim led D-Company has set up a special unit to target politicians and businessmen and made available lethal weapons to be used against prominent personalities.

“The D-company set up the unit to strike terror in people by attacking eminent personalities, including politicians and businessmen. We have learnt that the arrested as well as wanted accused were “active members” of an organised crime syndicate working as a terrorist gang,” the probe agency has mentioned.

According to sources, the charge sheet was filed on Saturday against Dawood Ibrahim, Chotta Shakeel and three others in connection with carrying out terror activities across India.

The charge sheet was filed against three arrested and two wanted accused.

It was filed against Arif Abubakar Shaikh alias Arif Bhaijaan, Shabbir Abubakar Shaikh alias Shabbir, Mohammad Salim Qureshi alias Salim Fruit and Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar alias Shaikh Dawood Hassan and Shakeel Shaikh alias Chhota Shakeel under sections 17, 18, 20 and 21 of the UA (P) Act, Sections 3(1) (ii), 3(2), 3(4) & 3(5) of The Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, read with sections 387, 201 and 120B of IPC.

National Investigation Agency.

A total of Rs 25 lakh in cash was sent to Arif and Shabbir through hawala channel from Pakistan via Dubai to Mumbai. It was nothing but proceeds of terrorism.

“Investigations have established that the accused persons who are members of the D-Company, a terrorist gang and an organised crime syndicate, had conspired to further the criminal activities of the gang by carrying out various types of unlawful activities. In furtherance of the said conspiracy, they raised, collected and extorted huge amounts of money by threatening and by putting persons in fear of death or grievous hurt, for the D-Company and for the benefit of an individual terrorist in the instant case, and with the intention to threaten the security of India and create terror in the minds of the general public,” the NIA has mentioned in the charge sheet.

The NIA has learnt that the arrested accused persons received huge amounts of money through hawala channels, from the absconding accused based abroad, meant for triggering sensational terrorist/criminal acts in Mumbai and other parts of India to create terror in the minds of people. The accused persons were in possession of the said “proceeds of terrorism”.

Further investigation in the matter is on.

ALSO READ: Modi to unveil logo, website of India’s G20 Presidency

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Iran issues death threats to British journalists for covering protests

protests in Iran.(Photo:iranhr.net)

Volant Media said the police force had also notified other journalists of threats…reports Asian Lite News

Two British-Iranian journalists working in the UK for an independent Farsi-language channel have received “credible” death threats from Iran’s security forces, the channel’s broadcaster said Monday.

Volant Media, the London-based broadcaster of Iran International TV channel, said in a statement that two of its journalists have received “death threats from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps”, calling this a “dangerous escalation” of attempts to suppress independent media.

“These are state-sponsored threats to journalists in the UK,” a spokesman for Volant Media was quoted as saying.

The Revolutionary Guards “cannot be allowed to silence a free press in the UK”, he added.

The channel is covering the anti-regime protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini for allegedly breaching strict dress rules for women.

Volant Media said that two journalists received formal “warnings of credible threats to their lives” and those of their families, from London’s Metropolitan Police.

Volant Media said the police force had also notified other journalists of threats.

The Met said that “we do not comment on matters of protective security in relation to any specific individuals”.

ALSO READ-Growing Iran-Russia bonhomie worries the West

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COP 27: 112 nations affirm support for 30×30 target

A man walks past a board showing the 27th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Nov. 5, 2022. (Xinhua/Sui Xiankai/IANS)

All the leaders at the event expressed their determination to get a global agreement for 30×30 at the upcoming COP15, the Convention on Biological Diversity summit to be held in Montreal in December…reports Asian Lite News

On the first day of COP27, the presidents and ministers from Palau, Nigeria, Costa Rica, the UK, France, and the US have affirmed their support for the 30×30 target which commits countries to a global effort to achieve the protection of at least 30 per cent of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030 to help curb biodiversity loss and climate change.

President of Palau, Surangel S. Whipps Jr, on Monday announced that Palau has joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, an intergovernmental group championing the protection of at least 30 per cent of the world’s land and ocean by 2030.

Engineer H. Musa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Environment and Climate Change from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, announced that all 15 members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had agreed to support 30×30 as part of an “ECOWAS Appeal for an Ambitious Global Response to the Biodiversity Crisis”.

Lord Zac Goldsmith, Minister of State for the UK, announced that in discussions with the governments of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, they had all declared their support for the 30×30 land and ocean target.

This makes a total of 112 countries from every region on the earth who now support the 30×30 target.

All the leaders at the event expressed their determination to get a global agreement for 30×30 at the upcoming COP15, the Convention on Biological Diversity summit to be held in Montreal in December, and affirmed their ambition to achieve 30×30 targets together.

“The commitments to be made this week should include the goal of achieving 30×30. Protecting 30 per cent of the world’s ocean is a manageable target for all countries and we should not entertain any excuses for not achieving that goal,” said Surangel S. Whipps Jr, President of Palau.

“Palau and other small island states cannot and should not shoulder the burden of protecting the world’s ocean and land alone. It is time for the world to take responsibility and act so that we are all able to protect and preserve our planet for the generations to come.”

Scientists have issued repeated warnings that nature is in a state of crisis, threatened by habitat loss, pollution, overexploitation, invasive species, and climate change.

The ongoing and rapid loss of natural areas across the world poses a grave threat to the health and security of all living things. However, overwhelming scientific evidence shows that conserving at least 30 per cent of the global land and ocean can not only help curb biodiversity loss and prevent extinctions but also store carbon, help prevent future pandemics, and bolster economic growth.

ALSO READ: At COP27, Sunak vows to triple funding for adaptation