Author: AsiaOne

Azerbaijan has secured the hosting rights for the COP29 climate change summit, gaining support from Eastern European nations during the ongoing COP28 summit in Dubai.

The decision, resolving months of geopolitical deadlock, drew attention to Azerbaijan’s oil production and human rights record. While Azerbaijan’s Ecology Minister, Mukhtar Babayev, expressed gratitude for the support, concerns were raised by Zhala Bayramova, daughter of anti-corruption researcher Gubad Ibadoghlu, who criticized the country’s oil and gas industry. Bayramova noted that hosting COP29 gives legitimacy to the government and voiced apprehension about her father’s safety.

The bid faced obstacles as Russia vowed to veto any EU country’s bid, leading Azerbaijan to seek approval from the nearly 200 countries present at COP28.

The agreement with Armenia, a historical adversary, ensured no Armenian veto threat. However, Azerbaijan’s relations with some Western countries soured following the reclaiming of Nagorno-Karabakh in September. Hosting COP29 grants significant influence over the summit’s agenda and outcomes.

While concerns arose about holding climate talks in an oil-producing nation, Azerbaijan, a member of OPEC+, aims to diversify energy sources, including wind and solar power. The decision reflects the nation’s preparedness to handle the event.

COP28 in the UAE, with over 90,000 delegates, marked a substantial gathering. The hosting announcement for COP29 comes amid ongoing discussions at COP28 and underscores Azerbaijan’s pivotal role in shaping the global climate agenda.

Kenyan President William Ruto declared on Tuesday that visitors from around the world will no longer need a visa to enter Kenya, effective January. Ruto unveiled a state-of-the-art digital platform designed to streamline the process, ensuring all visitors receive electronic travel authorization in advance.

During an event in Nairobi commemorating 60 years of independence from Britain, President Ruto emphasized the government’s commitment to easing travel barriers. He expressed that individuals globally will no longer be burdened with visa applications when planning a trip to Kenya.

This announcement aligns with Ruto’s persistent advocacy for visa-free travel within the African continent. During a conference in the Republic of Congo in October, he outlined plans for visa exemptions for people from African countries visiting Kenya by the end of 2023.

Kenya’s thriving tourism industry, known for its picturesque Indian Ocean coastline and captivating wildlife safaris, plays a pivotal role in the nation’s economy.

Ruto concluded his speech with a warm invitation, stating, “Kenya has a simple message to humanity: Welcome Home!” The move is expected to boost international tourism and further solidify Kenya’s position as a premier travel destination.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO of Serum Institute of India (SII), famously dubbed the ‘Vaccine Prince,’ has reportedly sealed a deal to purchase the most expensive home to be sold in London this year. Mr. Poonawalla will pay approximately £138 million (Rs 1,446 crore) for the opulent 25,000 square foot Mayfair mansion known as Aberconway House.

The lavish 1920s residence, located near Hyde Park, will be acquired by Serum Life Sciences, a UK-based subsidiary of SII, according to sources familiar with the transaction. The deal was finalized with Dominika Kulczyk, daughter of the late Jan Kulczyk, Poland’s wealthiest man.

While Aberconway House’s price tag secures its position as the second-most expensive home ever sold in London, it falls short of the record set by 2-8a Rutland Gate in January 2020, which sold for a staggering £210 million.

Despite the significant investment, a source close to Serum Life Sciences clarified that the Poonawalla family has “no plans” to relocate permanently to the UK. Instead, the mansion will serve as a base for the company and family during their stays in the country.

Renowned for being the world’s largest vaccine maker, Serum Institute of India achieved this status by producing affordable vaccines for developing nations. Recent reports suggest that Poonawalla’s SII is now eyeing opportunities to cater to the rich world’s demand for these crucial inoculations.

Austria has signaled a willingness to reconsider its opposition to Romania and Bulgaria joining the Schengen open-travel area, but with conditions. While expressing openness to easing restrictions on air travel, Austria demands enhanced security measures at the EU’s external borders.

Austria, a leading voice against the Schengen accession of Romania and Bulgaria, previously cited concerns about high levels of illegal immigration. The proposal for a compromise focuses on allowing passport-free travel between Romania, Bulgaria, and Schengen countries, specifically for air travel.

“On the other hand, there are clear demands in exchange for that, namely massively strengthening the protection of the (EU) external border, land border checks staying in place, and asylum seekers being transferred to Bulgaria and Romania,” Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner said, referring to people who pass through there to reach Austria.

The demands include a threefold increase in border police numbers and technical upgrades at key border points, particularly Bulgaria’s border with Turkey and Romania’s border with Serbia.

The proposed agreement, dubbed “Air Schengen,” would only eliminate passport checks for air travel, provided the specified security measures are implemented. This marks a potential breakthrough in a longstanding debate, as Austria seeks to balance concerns over illegal immigration with addressing the aspirations of Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen zone.

The U.N. human rights chief urged countries to work together to defeat threats such as war and pollution at an event marking 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, risking overshadowing by the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Speaking in Geneva, Turk invoked the spirit that led to the adoption of the declaration in 1948, responding to what the document calls “barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind.”

Turk characterized the event as a “call to hope” and a “call to action,” highlighting the declaration’s historical impact, including the end of racial segregation in the U.S. and apartheid in South Africa. However, he acknowledged present-day challenges, citing conflicts, famine, discrimination, repression, and pollution.

The Israel-Hamas conflict loomed over the event, with Turk expressing concern about the suffering of millions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in Gaza. Despite the declaration’s milestone, the world currently faces 55 active conflicts, the United Nations reported.

In communications about the two-day event, Turk’s office has avoided the word “celebrate” in referring to the anniversary, preferring instead the term “mark.”

While Turk emphasized a call to overcome polarization, other U.N. officials conveyed a more somber tone.

Lynn Hastings, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, said human rights were under assault more than two months after Hamas’ deadly cross-border attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, followed by a retaliatory Israeli bombing campaign.

“In 2023, I should not have to issue such a statement,” she said. “It is as if we have learned nothing in the past 75 years.”