Author: HeraldStar

The COP29 Presidency announced today that the Government of Azerbaijan will fund the participation of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) at COP29, as well as in the preparatory meetings preceding the Conference.The COP29 Presidency is committed to running an inclusive process that delivers tangible outcomes. Central to this inclusive process will be the active participation of those particularly vulnerable communities who stand to lose the most from the climate crisis.Funding will cover the participation of delegations from each SIDS Party at COP29 as well as at the preparatory meetings preceding the Conference, encompassing: The Government of Azerbaijan’s offer is in…

Members of the COP29 Presidency are in New York City for the 79th United Nations General Assembly and New York Climate Week, where they will continue to engage with Parties and non-party stakeholders and build momentum to enhance ambition and enable action at COP29.With leaders and stakeholders from all over the world gathering to focus on international cooperation and climate action, UNGA and NYCW are important venues for progress before COP29 in November.Throughout the week, the Presidency will participate in, and co-host, a series of events highlighting some of the most pressing climate issues and convening a variety of stakeholders…

China is launching an initiative to encourage its rapidly ageing population to engage in community services and support development efforts as part of a broader strategy to address a declining workforce. With a two-year population decline and fewer births expected in the coming decades, authorities are implementing measures such as delayed retirement to mitigate the demographic crisis. Last week, a national panel focused on ageing announced plans to revamp its ‘Silver Age’ scheme, initially introduced over two decades ago. This updated initiative aims to expand opportunities for elderly citizens to contribute to various areas, including education, sports, and grassroots governance.…

China successfully launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean on Wednesday, in a rare move that has heightened global concerns about its growing nuclear arsenal. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force conducted the test at 8:44 a.m. Beijing time, launching a dummy warhead into the sea as part of what the Chinese defense ministry described as a “routine annual training exercise.” The test is seen as a demonstration of China’s advancing nuclear capabilities amid increasing geopolitical tensions. The Chinese defense ministry emphasized that the missile test was not aimed at any specific country, and China had…

A Tunisian court has sentenced presidential candidate Ayachi Zammel to six months in prison on charges of falsifying documents, his lawyer confirmed to Reuters on Wednesday. This marks the second prison sentence against Zammel within a week, just days before the country’s highly anticipated presidential election. Last week, Zammel received a 20-month prison sentence for allegedly falsifying popular endorsements, which his defense team denounced as politically motivated. The court’s decision has intensified concerns about the fairness of the upcoming election, with opposition parties and civil society groups accusing the Tunisian government of attempting to rig the vote to ensure President…

Somalia has accused Ethiopia of smuggling weapons into the country, escalating tensions between the two Horn of Africa neighbors amid fears that arms could fall into the hands of Islamist militants. The accusation came a day after an Egyptian warship delivered a shipment of heavy weaponry to Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, under a security agreement signed in August. This marks the second such delivery, heightening concerns over regional security and the potential for arms trafficking. The spat between Somalia and Ethiopia has grown following Ethiopia’s plans to build a port in the self-declared independent region of Somaliland in exchange for potential…

The United States is preparing to unveil a significant military aid package exceeding $8 billion for Ukraine during President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit to Washington on Thursday. The Biden administration is set to announce two major aid components, totaling $8 billion, as part of its ongoing efforts to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. U.S. officials confirmed the aid, which is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s military capabilities, will include resources drawn from U.S. weapon stocks and new purchases through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). The first segment of the aid package, valued at $5.6 billion, will come from a drawdown…

Russia has launched a weapons program in China to develop and produce long-range attack drones intended for use in the ongoing war against Ukraine, according to European intelligence sources and documents obtained by Reuters. The project is spearheaded by IEMZ Kupol, a subsidiary of Russia’s state-owned arms manufacturer Almaz-Antey. Kupol has reportedly developed a new drone model, the Garpiya-3 (G3), with the help of Chinese experts, and is now capable of large-scale production at a Chinese factory. The G3 can travel up to 2,000 km with a payload of 50 kg, and early prototypes have already been delivered to Kupol…

Small tsunami waves splashed ashore on Japan’s remote islands on Tuesday morning after a magnitude 5.8 earthquake, likely triggered by volcanic activity, shook the area. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) issued a tsunami advisory, warning of waves up to 1 meter above tide levels along the Izu and Ogasawara island chains, although the tremor was not felt on land. The earthquake struck offshore, approximately 180 kilometers (111 miles) south of Hachijo Island, which lies about 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of Tokyo. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake’s magnitude as 5.6. Within 30 minutes of the quake, a tsunami…

Tropical Storm Helene has formed in the Caribbean Sea and is expected to intensify into a major hurricane as it moves north toward the United States. Already, heavy rains and large waves have impacted the Cayman Islands, prompting some residents in Florida to evacuate and prepare for potential flooding by filling sandbags. Hurricane watches are now in effect for portions of Cuba, Mexico, and parts of Florida’s coastline, including Tampa Bay, as reported by the U.S. National Hurricane Center. A tropical storm warning has also been issued for parts of the Florida Keys. As of now, the storm is located…