UK MP Theresa Villiers speaks on need for stronger UK, India ties



International Desk, Barta24.com
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UK Member of Parliament (MP) Theresa Villiers on Monday spoke about the success of India’s recently concluded G20 Summit and the need for stronger ties between the UK and India.

The MP also spoke about the rising Chinese interference in UK politics and the need for counter balance of the Global South.

She was speaking at the 'Indo-Pacific dialogue: Jammu Kashmir 2019 and beyond event' held by the Indo-Pacific All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) in the UK Parliament.

The event’s keynote speakers included Georgetown University Professor Christine Fair, an affiliate of the London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Burzine Waghmar.

The event was attended by a number of parliamentarians including MP and host Bob Blackman and Theresa Villiers.

MP Burzine Waghmar spoke about Pakistan's illegal occupation of a part of Kashmir (POK) and he also emphasised the inclusion of the African Union into the G20. Baghmar highlighted that India has shown leadership as a leading democracy by facilitating the inclusion of the African Union in G20, unlike China which uses Africa only for its commercial and defense needs.

MP Bob Blackman spoke about the need for deeper cooperation between UK and India. He also congratulated Modi for a successful G20. He also referred to the need of tackling extremist fringe Khalistani elements working closely between two governments.

“It was great to sponsor the #JammuAndKashmir Beyond 2019 event in Parliament yesterday in collaboration with @APPGIndoPacific,” Blackman wrote on ‘X’ formerly Twitter on Tuesday.
Christine Fair's talk was about Pakistan's interference in Jammu & Kashmir.

The event was attended by community members and students from various universities in the UK.

The G20 summit had reached a successful conclusion in Delhi on September 10, featuring numerous prominent global leaders who also engaged in a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines. The summit led to the consolidation of a comprehensive framework with the objective of fostering enhanced collaboration among the G20 member nations, the European Union, and the recently incorporated African Union. (ANI)

   

Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger passed away



International Desk, Barta24.com
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Former US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger has died. He was 100 years old at the time of his death. He died on Wednesday (November 29) local time.

The British media BBC reported this information in a report on Thursday (November 30).

Kissinger Associates, the political consulting firm Kissinger founded, confirmed his death, according to reports. The former diplomat of German origin died at his home in Connecticut on Wednesday local time.

Henry Kissinger passed his centenary in May this year. But still he was active in various activities. He attended meetings at the White House, published a book on leadership styles, and testified before a Senate committee on the nuclear threat posed by North Korea.

And in July 2023, he went to Beijing on a surprise visit to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

While serving as Secretary of State and Security Advisor under Republican President Richard Nixon in the 1970s, he had a hand in many epoch-changing global events of the time.

His efforts led to the establishment of diplomatic relations with China, US-Soviet arms control talks, expanded relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors and the Paris Peace Accords with North Vietnam.

After Nixon's resignation in 1974, Kissinger's reign as the chief architect of US foreign policy waned. Still, he served as a diplomatic force under President Gerald Ford and continued to express strong opinions on diplomatic issues throughout his life.

Notably, Henry Kissinger celebrated his centenary on May 27. He is the only official in US history to serve as both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor to the President.

He is also considered a forerunner of American diplomacy. His pragmatic approach to foreign policy became very important in Washington's policy in the 1970s in the wider world reality of the time.

Meanwhile, in 1973, Kissinger was widely criticized as he termed Independent Bangladesh as "bottomless basket". Henry Kissinger was unhappy with Indira Gandhi for taking a stand for the independence of Bangladesh. He even made obscene comments about Indira Gandhi. However, he later apologized for his comments.

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COP-28 climate conference in Dubai begins today



International Desk, Barta24.com
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The 28th session of the COP (Conference of the Parties) organized by the United Nations is starting from Today (November 30) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. This conference will continue till December 12.

Qatar-based media Al Jazeera reported this information.

This year's COP conference is being organized with more than 70 thousand delegates. However, no head of state or government of the United States, United Kingdom or China is participating in this conference.

Basically these dominant countries are more responsible for releasing more carbon into the atmosphere. According to statistics, the United States, China, India and Russia emit more than 55% of harmful carbon in the world.

Meanwhile, oil is one of the fossil fuels responsible for carbon emissions. One of its biggest producers is the United Arab Emirates. And in that country, discussions on reducing carbon emissions have started.

In addition, Sultan Al-Jaber, the chief executive of ADNOC, the national oil company of the Emirates, has been made the president of COP-28. Therefore, the question has been raised whether he can work honestly to make the conference a success. However, Al-Jaber wants companies to help reduce carbon emissions during oil and gas extraction.

It is known that more businessmen are participating in this conference than any previous conference. Besides, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, British King Charles will also participate in the conference.

On the other hand, should the use of coal, oil and gas be stopped to combat climate change, or should emphasis be placed on technological innovation to reduce the impact of industry on the climate; there is division among countries on that. That divide may be more pronounced this time around at the conference.

So Al-Jaber wants companies to help reduce carbon emissions during oil and gas extraction.

By 2030, the European Union, the United States and the United Arab Emirates want to greatly increase the use of renewable energy. For that they want to make an agreement in this conference. Officials of various countries told Reuters that more than a hundred countries are already in favor of this plan. However, China-India has not fully supported this plan yet.

In this conference, efforts will be made to finalize the formation of funds to compensate for the losses due to natural disasters such as drought and floods in the countries of the world due to climate change. It has already been drafted.

After 1760, when the industrial revolution began in Europe, the dangers of nature began. Since then, carbon emission has started in the world. As a result, the air temperature increases day by day; there is air pollution.

Environmental scientists said that the sea level may rise by at least 1.62 centimeters by the year 2100 due to climate change. As a result, at the end of the twenty-first century, about half a hundred countries will sink to the sea level.

They also think that due to the effect of climate change, sea level rise, salinity increase, river erosion, floods, droughts, fires are increasing.

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Building collapse in Penang: 3 Bangladeshis killed, 2 injured, 4 trapped



Special Correspondent, South East Asia, Barta24.com,Bangkok
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3 Bangladeshis died so far in a terrible building collapse in Penang, Malaysia. 2 people were hospitalized with serious injuries. Also, the rescue team believes that 4 people are trapped inside the collapsed building. Efforts are underway to rescue them.

This building collapsed last Tuesday at 9:45 pm. Penang deputy police chief Deputy Commander Datuk Mohd Yusuf Jan Mohd said nine people were trapped inside the building. 5 of them have been found.

A pillar weighing 14 tons and 12 meters in length collapsed on top of 14 other pillars at the spot, causing the building to collapse. There were 18 workers at the construction site. He said that 9 of them went for prayer at that time.

The deputy police chief also said that three people have died so far. Two died on the spot. Another died on arrival at the hospital. Two other seriously injured people are being treated at Penang Hospital.

He said, we think 4 more workers are trapped in the collapsed building. All the workers working in the building are Bangladeshis.

Penang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Zulfahmi Sutaji said the rescue operation was delayed and made difficult because the fallen pillars were very heavy. They have to gain momentum to move them. We need bigger and more powerful rescue vehicles to remove them and reach those trapped.

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Jimmy Carter in a wheel chair at his wife's funeral



International Desk, Barta24.com
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Former US President Jimmy Carter's wife Rosalyn Carter passed away on November 19. The funeral of the former first lady was held at the church in Georgia.

Jimmy Carter, 99, arrived in a wheelchair to say his last goodbyes to wife Rosalyn at the funeral on Tuesday (November 28).

Jimmy Carter, who is in hospice care, traveled two and a half hours to attend the ceremony, British media The Daily Mirror reported. Jimmy Carter arrives in a wheelchair.

Former First Lady Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and others appeared in this heartbreaking farewell. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were also present.

Earlier in a statement after Rosalina's death, former President Carter said, "She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it." As long as Rosalyn was on earth, I always knew that someone loved and supported me.

In 1976, former Democrat Jimmy Carter was elected President of the United States. The 39th President of the United States served one term. He later lost to Republican candidate Ronald Reagan in 1980 re-election. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. Jimmy Carter's current age is 99 years.

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