France’s AUKUS revenge can help fight global terrorism
While the French seeking revenge against the British is hardly a new historical trend, these recent acts of vengeance could bear fruit in the continuing fight against global terrorism. This is brought into sharp focus following the drone terror attack on an oil tanker in Abu Dhabi, which killed three and injured six on 17 January. The attack was claimed by the Houthis, the Iran-aligned Yemeni movement. The UAE has since, with American support, prevented a further attack on 25 January, firing interceptor missiles to destroy ballistic missiles aimed at Abu Dhabi. France’s outrage at the Australian decision to terminate its contract for French submarines in favour of joining the new AUKUS pact with the USA and UK was fiery. Their response has been to broaden and deepen their alliance with the UAE, signing a historic €16bn agreement for the sale of Rafale fighter jets; renewing the Louvre Abu Dhabi Partnership, allowing the UAE to continue to use the Louvre branding at their museum on Saadiyat Island, and committing to cooperating on new energy projects including renewables and hydrogen fuel. France is also on a collision course with the forces of political Islam. As the main defence guarantor of the European Union, it is increasingly drawn into conflicts such as the escalating Turkish provocations against Greece and Cyprus. Further, France’s strong laïcité secularist culture has been the subject of Islamic rancour. The flames which led to the gruesome beheading of schoolteacher Samuel Paty in October 2020 were fanned by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, who equated cartoons of the prophet Mohammed with holocaust denial.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
India’s economy will become carbon neutral by the year 2070, the country’s prime minster has announced at the COP26 climate crisis summit in Glasgow. The target date is two decades beyond what scientists say is needed to avert catastrophic climate impacts. India is the last of the world’s major carbon polluters to announce a net-zero target, with China saying it would reach that goal in 2060, and the United States and the European Union aiming for 2050.
COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.