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CBT: How Checking Contributes to Mental Health Problems (Eating Disorders, Depression, Anxiety)

Although common ‘disorders’ (e.g., eating disorders, anxiety, and depression) look different on the surface, there are some common underlying mechanisms. One of these is checking. I’m going to go explain the role of checking in a selection of common mental health problems. Checking in Health Anxiety Examples: – Person goes to the Dr for blood […]

The post CBT: How Checking Contributes to Mental Health Problems (Eating Disorders, Depression, Anxiety) appeared first on Dr Alice Boyes.




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How To Change Negative Core Beliefs: A Straightforward Guide to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The core beliefs that cause the most common problems fall into the following 3 categories. These core beliefs commonly underlie depression and anxiety. Helpless Core Beliefs such as: “I’m incompetent” “I’m needy” “I’m weak” “I’m defective, I don’t measure up” “I’m a failure” Unlovable Core Beliefs such as: “I’m unlovable” “I’m different” “I’m bound to […]

The post How To Change Negative Core Beliefs: A Straightforward Guide to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) appeared first on Dr Alice Boyes.




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LGBTQ Issues Roil Florida School-Choice Debate

As lawmakers weigh expansion of the state’s voucher and tax-credit scholarship programs, some renew a push for anti-discrimination protection for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer students.




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Visita a una iglesia subterránea

Este año en el mes en que se llevó a cabo el mantenimiento anual de Logos Hope en Uruguay, la tripulante Cecilia* de Argentina se unió a un pequeño equipo que sirve en Asia Central. Mientras estuvo allí, pudo asistir a dos iglesias subterráneas que desbordaban de esperanza y fe.





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No conversion needed to wipe out debts

One widow in Pakistan finds herself supporting her family with no visible means of help; until she gains help from the OM tailoring skills course.




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Don’t doubt your calling

Coatzacoalcos, Mexico :: Logos Hope's crewmembers encourage a youth group to listen to God's call to serve.




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News24 Business | MONEY CLINIC | I can't afford to pay for debt clearance certificate. What are my options?

A News24 Business reader has to pay R500 to receive a debt clearance certificate but is currently unemployed.




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News24 Business | MONEY CLINIC | How do I initiate the process of prescribing my debt?

A News24 Business reader considering prescribing her debt looks to an expert for guidance on how the process works.




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News24 Business | MONEY CLINIC | How can I avoid falling into a debt spiral this year?

TransUnion CEO Lee Naik shares five tips that could help to resolve financial strains.




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News24 Business | Troubled China Evergrande pledges to repay debts in 2023

China Evergrande has pledged to repay its debt this year, as the property giant faces a restructuring following Beijing's crackdown on excessive borrowing and rampant speculation in the real estate sector.




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Learning Subtraction Strategies by Talking Through Number Strings (Video)

Elementary math specialist Kristin Gray helps her 2nd graders understand different subtraction strategies by talking through their thought processes.




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Crypto Price Today: Micro Losses Strike BTC, ETH Leaving Altcoins Turbulent

The overall crypto market cap tumbled by 4.12 percent over the last day due to market fluctuations. Bitcoin and Ether both registered losses on Wednesday. Tether, Solana, and Tron also saw registered losses alongside BTC and ETH. Ripple and Tron saw losses. 




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MTV EMAs 2024: Taylor Swift, BTS Jimin And Sabrina Carpenter Win Big. Full List Of Winners Out

The star-studded evening also featured a brief video tribute to former One Direction member Liam Payne




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Trending: On Solo Album Release, BTS Jin To Take 50 Lucky Fans On An Amusement Park Date

The exclusive fan event will take place in Seoul on November 24




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Consumer Protection Unit secures $337,000 in debt relief for Delaware ITT Tech

Attorney General Kathy Jennings and the Delaware Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Unit have secured an agreement to obtain $337,478.96 in debt relief for former ITT Tech students in Delaware as part of a multistate settlement that a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reached with PEAKS Trust, a private […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
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AG Jennings’ Consumer Protection Unit files Action Against Unlicensed Debt-Management Services Company

Attorney General Kathy Jennings’ Consumer Protection Unit announced Monday that it filed an administrative lawsuit against Centerdon Group, Inc. n/k/a Hilvanim Group, Inc., a California corporation, for violating the Delaware Uniform Debt-Management Services Act, the Delaware Consumer Fraud Act and the Delaware Deceptive Trade Practices Act. “Delawareans who are struggling with debt deserve our help, […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News
  • Attorney General Kathy Jennings
  • Consumer Protection Unit

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Attorney General Kathy Jennings joins call for Target to support LGBTQ+ community

                Attorney General Kathy Jennings joined a group of 15 state attorneys general calling on Target to support inclusivity and to reject anti-LGBTQ+ hate, intimidation and discrimination.                The letter, sent to national retail chain Target during Pride Month, comes in response to Target’s recent decision to remove certain Pride-related merchandise from its stores and […]



  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

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Attorney General Jennings obtains victory for manufactured housing residents

Attorney General Kathy Jennings has obtained a preliminary victory for residents of the Pine Haven manufactured home community after the community owner, Blue Beach Bungalows DE, LLC, violated statutory protections afforded to the residents. An administrative hearing officer issued an opinion last Thursday, April 4th, finding that Blue Beach has willfully violated Delaware’s Consumer Fraud […]



  • Department of Justice Press Releases

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Dover Health Care Provider Expands Behavioral Health Services for the LGBTQ Community

NEW CASTLE (Feb. 21, 2022) – A Dover primary care office is expanding behavioral health services for LGBTQ individuals thanks to federal grant funding. A Peaceful Place Integrated Care is using the grant to support the addition of a certified drug and alcohol counselor, a licensed clinical social worker, and a peer navigator to help […]




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Delaware’s Pandemic-EBT Program Returns for School Year 2021-2022

Eligible Families Will Be Reimbursed for Cost of Meals That Would Have Been Available in Schools NEW CASTLE (March 2, 2022) – Delaware households with children affected by school closures or reduced in-person hours or attendance caused by COVID-19 will receive emergency food assistance benefits under the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program. Eligible households […]




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El Programa de Pandemia-EBT de Delaware Regresa para el Año Escolar 2021-2022

Familias Elegibles Serán Reembolsadas por el Costo de Comidas Que Habrían Sido Disponibles en Escuelas NEW CASTLE (Marzo 2, 2022) – Los hogares de Delaware con niños afectados por el cierre de escuelas o la reducción en tiempo presencial o en asistencia a causa de la COVID-19 recibirán beneficios de asistencia alimentaria de emergencia bajo […]




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Delaware’s P-EBT Program Expanded to Children Under Age 6 in Households Receiving SNAP

Eligible SNAP Households Will Receive P-EBT Emergency Food Assistance on June 3 NEW CASTLE (June 1, 2022) – Delaware families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits will get emergency food assistance through the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program for children under the age of 6 living in their households. Eligible SNAP households […]




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El Programa P-EBT de Delaware se Expandió a Niños Menores de 6 Años en Hogares Que Reciben SNAP

Los Hogares Elegibles Para SNAP Recibirán Asistencia de Emergencia Para Alimentos P-EBT el 3 de Junio NEW CASTLE (1 de Junio de 2022) – Las familias de Delaware que reciben beneficios de alimentos del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP) obtendrán asistencia de emergencia de alimentos a través del programa de Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios […]




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Delaware’s Pandemic EBT Program will Provide Benefits to Feed Children During the Summer

Eligible Families Will Receive Emergency Food Assistance Benefits in 2 Distributions   NEW CASTLE (Aug. 2, 2022) – Eligible Delaware households will receive emergency food assistance benefits under the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program to cover the summer period when children are on break and not receiving meals at school. The following children are […]




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El Programa de Pandemia EBT de Delaware Proporcionará Beneficios para Alimentar a Niños/as Durante el Verano

Familias Elegibles Recibirán Beneficios de Asistencia de Alimentos de Emergencia en 2 Distribuciones   NEW CASTLE (Agosto 2, 2022) – Hogares elegibles de Delaware recibirán beneficios de asistencia de alimentos de emergencia bajo el programa de Pandemia de Transferencia Electrónica de Beneficios (P-EBT) para cubrir el período de verano cuando los niños están en vacaciones […]




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Delaware Proporcionará P-EBT de Primavera del 2022 para Niños Menores de 6 años 

Delaware Emitirá el Beneficio P-EBT de Cuidado Infantil de la Primavera del 2022 el 7 de Octubre para Niños menores de 6 Años en Hogares Recibiendo Beneficios SNAP NEW CASTLE (Octubre 6 de 2022) – Las familias de Delaware que reciben beneficios alimentos del Programa de Asistencia Nutricional Suplementaria (SNAP) obtendrán asistencia de alimentos de […]




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Delaware Will Provide Spring 2022 P-EBT to Children under Age 6

Delaware Will Issue Spring 2022 P-EBT Child Care Benefit on Oct. 7 to Children under Age 6 in Households Receiving SNAP Benefits NEW CASTLE (Oct. 6, 2022) – Delaware families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits will get emergency food assistance through the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program for children under the […]




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Delaware Begins Retroactively Issuing P-EBT Benefits for School Year 2022-2023 and Summer 2023

The Delaware Division of Social Services is issuing retroactive emergency food assistance benefits under the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program for School Year 2022-2023 and Summer 2023 to Delaware households with eligible children. Eligible households began receiving P-EBT benefits beginning in August. Benefits from Fall 2022 (September-December 2022) are available on EBT cards as […]



  • Delaware Health and Social Services
  • News
  • Delaware Department of Health and Social Services
  • Division of Social Services
  • P-EBT
  • Summer P-EBT

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Sennheiser CX 150BT Wireless Review

Read the in depth Review of Sennheiser CX 150BT Wireless Audio Video. Know detailed info about Sennheiser CX 150BT Wireless configuration, design and performance quality along with pros & cons, Digit rating, verdict based on user opinions/feedback.




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Sennheiser CX 400BT Review

Read the in depth Review of Sennheiser CX 400BT Audio Video. Know detailed info about Sennheiser CX 400BT configuration, design and performance quality along with pros & cons, Digit rating, verdict based on user opinions/feedback.




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Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT Review

Read the in depth Review of Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT Audio Video. Know detailed info about Audio-Technica ATH-M20xBT configuration, design and performance quality along with pros & cons, Digit rating, verdict based on user opinions/feedback.




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Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Review

Read the in depth Review of Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT2 Audio Video. Know detailed info about Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT2 configuration, design and performance quality along with pros & cons, Digit rating, verdict based on user opinions/feedback.




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USB4 Interoperability with Thunderbolt™︎ 3 (TBT3) Systems

One of the key goals for USB4 is to retain compatibility with the existing ecosystem of USB3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt  products, and the resulting connection scales to the best mutual capability of the devices being connected. USB4 is designed to work with older versions of USB and Thunderbolt . USB4 Fabric support high throughput interconnects of 10 Gbps (for Gen 2) and 20 Gbps (for Gen 3) and supports Thunderbolt 3-compatible rates of 10.3125 Gbps (for Gen 2) and 20.625 Gbps (for Gen 3). It becomes very important to verify the Thunderbolt  backward compatibility with the designs. Though the support of USB4 Interoperability with Thunderbolt  3 (TBT3) is optional in USB4 host or USB4 peripheral device and required USB4 Hub and USB4 Based Dock but it is very essential to work in the existing ecosystem. 

Few Main features of USB4 Interoperability with Thunderbolt  3 (TBT3) Systems

  • Support for Bi-Directional Pins & Retimers: TBT3 Active Cables can contain two bidirectional Re-timers which have the capability to send AT Responses on its RX channel. Router connected directly to such Retimer needs to support A Router that is connected directly to a bidirectional Re-timer shall support reception of Transactions on both TX and RX channels. 

  • Bounce Mechanism: This feature is used by Router to access the Register Space of a Cable Re-timer that can only be accessed by its Link Partner.
  • Asymmetric Negotiation: The Router which connects with Cable Retimers needs to follow Asymmetric TxFFE in Phase 5 of Lane Initialization. 
  • USB4 Link Transitions: In TBT3 mode, the configuration of two independent Single Lane Links can be used non-transient state or Single Lane Link just using the Lane1 Adapter.

Cadence has a mature USB4 Verification IP solution that can help in the verification of USB4 designs with TBT3. Cadence has taken an active part in the Cairo group that defined the USB4 specification and has created a comprehensive Verification IP that is being used by multiple members. If you plan to have a USB4-compatible design, you can reduce the risk of adopting new technology by using our proven and mature USB4 Verification IP. Please contact your Cadence local account team, for more details.




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Supporting F-1 Students in Obtaining Meaningful Employment Post-Graduation

Supporting F-1 Students in Obtaining Meaningful Employment Post-Graduation Supporting F-1 Students in Obtaining Meaningful Employment Post-Graduation

fairfieb

Web Article

Recent online articles and analysis that have been published on the East-West Center website.

Explore

Web Article

Recent online articles and analysis that have been published on the East-West Center website.

Explore




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China Is Not Conducting Debt Trap Diplomacy in the Pacific—At Least Not Yet

China Is Not Conducting Debt Trap Diplomacy in the Pacific—At Least Not Yet China Is Not Conducting Debt Trap Diplomacy in the Pacific—At Least Not Yet
Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 02/26/2020 - 11:57

East-West Wire

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News, Commentary, and Analysis
East-West Wire

The East-West Wire is a news, commentary, and analysis service provided by the East-West Center in Honolulu. Any part or all of the Wire content may be used by media with attribution to the East-West Center or the person quoted. To receive East-West Center Wire media releases via email, subscribe here.

For links to all East-West Center media programs, fellowships and services, see www.eastwestcenter.org/journalists.

Explore

East-West Wire

Tagline
News, Commentary, and Analysis
East-West Wire

The East-West Wire is a news, commentary, and analysis service provided by the East-West Center in Honolulu. Any part or all of the Wire content may be used by media with attribution to the East-West Center or the person quoted. To receive East-West Center Wire media releases via email, subscribe here.

For links to all East-West Center media programs, fellowships and services, see www.eastwestcenter.org/journalists.

Explore




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Consumers remain burdened by debt despite mproving economic conditions, says DebtBusters




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Financial mismanagement: Gauteng Health Department’s R743 million debt to suppliers




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Company falls victim to fraudsters, but must pay debt




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Why the Believer Doubts, Part 1 A




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Why the Believer Doubts, Part 1 B




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Why the Believer Doubts, Part 2 A




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Why the Believer Doubts, Part 2 B




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Netanyahu was aware of illegally obtained classified document, suspected leaker's attorney says


It is still unclear if Eliezer Feldstein, the PM's media team advisor suspected of leaking the documents, did so at the prime minister's orders.




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Will Ukraine Benefit if IMF Ends its Punitive Fees on Debt Burdened Countries?

Over the coming month, the United States has a window of opportunity to lift a multi-billion-dollar burden from Ukraine, and other countries in financial distress, without costing the US taxpayer a dime. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is currently considering ending its controversial “surcharges” — punitive fees that it imposes on countries whose debt exceeds […]



  • Development & Aid
  • Economy & Trade
  • Featured
  • Global
  • Headlines
  • IPS UN: Inside the Glasshouse
  • Sustainable Development Goals
  • TerraViva United Nations
  • IPS UN Bureau

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Between Harris and Trump, More Doubts Than Certainties for Latin America

Migration, trade, the defence of democracy, the confrontation with China and the collapse of multilateralism are issues that shed more doubts than certainties on Latin America’s expectations of the imminent presidential elections in the United States. Interest and tension have grown after dozens of polls and bookmakers have shown similar chances of victory for Democrat […]




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U.S. Forgives $1.14 Billion Debt to Somalia's Economic Recovery

[Radio Dalsan] In a move to bolster Somalia's economic recovery and stability, the United States has forgiven $1.14 billion in debt owed by Somalia. The debt cancellation, announced by US Ambassador to Somalia Richard Riley in Mogadishu, is part of a larger $1.2 billion assistance package for Somalia this fiscal year.




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Georgia’s Dangerous Anti-LGBTQI+ Law

Georgia’s ruling party has put LGBTQI+ people firmly in the firing line ahead of next month’s election. On 17 September, parliament gave final approval to a highly discriminatory law that empowers the authorities to censor books and films with LGBTQI+ content, stop discussion of LGBTQI+ issues in schools, ban people from flying rainbow flags and […]




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Debt cannot become acceptable new normal in climate financing: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that debt cannot become the “acceptable new normal” in climate financing, as he addressed the challenges faced by developing countries within the global climate finance framework.

His statement came during a Climate Finance Round Table Conference organised by Pakistan on the sidelines of the two-day World Leaders Climate Action Summit, also known as COP29, currently being held in Azerbaijan’s capital of Baku.

“We stand at a crucial threshold where global climate finance framework must be redefined to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable nations,” PM Shehbaz said.

He explained that financing in the form of loans increases the debt of developing nations and pushes them towards “mounting debt traps” which he referred to as “death traps”.

He added, “Debt cannot become the acceptable new normal in climate financing which is why we must resume focus on non-debt financing solutions enabling countries to fund climate initiatives.”

“Despite years of promises and commitments, the gaps are growing, leading to aggregate barriers in achieving objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).”

PM Shehbaz called climate financing an “urgent need of the hour”, stating that developing countries need to deliver Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and “need an estimated $6.8 trillion by 2030 to implement less than half of their current NDCs.”

The prime minister further urged donor countries to “fulfil their commitment” which is 4.7 per cent of their gross national product (GNP) and capitalise on existing climate funds.

“One such commitment is a $100bn annual climate pledge established a decade ago at COP15 [which] is now reported by OECD to have reached only $160bn,” he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, flanked by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, attends the Opening Ceremony of the United Nations climate change conference COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan on Nov 12, 2024. — Reuters

PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan can relate to the “agony and pain of other vulnerable countries”, highlighting how the country faced two devastating floods.

“In 2022, one-third of Pakistan was under water and the country had to repurpose all development and climate funds for financing basic relief and humanitarian efforts,” he said.

Pakistan is ranked among the top 10 most climate-vulnerable countries, according to the Global Climate Risk Index 2021. It has faced increasingly frequent and severe weather events, such as unprecedented floods, intense monsoon rains, devastating heat waves, rapid glacial melting and glacial lake outburst floods.

Pakistan witnessed devastating floods during the 2022 monsoon season, induced by climate change, resulting in the loss of at least 1,700 lives.

With 33 million people affected and swathes of agricultural land washed away, the damage incurred losses worth $30 billion, according to government estimates.

In June 2024, a heat wave brought record-high temperatures, severely impacting public health and agriculture.

Participating world leaders and delegates pose for a family photo during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku on Nov 12, 2024. — AFP

While emphasising transparency and coordination in financial commitments made to developing countries, he stated that Pakistan alongside other developing countries, calls for stronger more equitable climate finance mechanisms under the UNFCCC.

He reiterated the pertinent need for reform of international financial architecture saying that “now is the time to build up on the momentum for international financial reforms” so that no nation is left behind in the global response to climate change.

PM to highlight ‘balanced and ambitious’ climate action

According to the Foreign Office, several high-level events and roundtable discussions hosted by Pakistan will also take place at the Pakistan Pavilion during COP29.

It added that at COP29, Pakistan will call for “balanced and ambitious progress on all issues such as loss and damage, adaptation, mitigation and means of implementation”.

“It will seek predictable financing to address developing countries’ climate goals. Pakistan will also underscore the historical responsibility and the principle of Equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibility and call on developed nations to undertake deeper emission cuts.”

PM Shehbaz was warmly received by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and UN Secretary-General António Guterres upon his arrival at the summit venue today, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

PM Shehbaz Sharif is received by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and UN Secretary-General António Guterres as he arrives at the venue to attend COP29 in Baku on November 12. — Radio Pakistan

The first day of the Climate Action Summit will feature statements from various heads of states, beginning from 3pm Pakistan time.

Speakers include the United Kingdom’s PM Keir Starmer, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Among those scheduled to address the high-level meeting tomorrow, besides PM Shehbaz, are Bangladesh leader Muhammad Yunus and Russia’s PM Mikhail Mishustin.

PM Shehbaz is listed as the 37th speaker out of 47 leaders during the session scheduled from 10am to 6pm (Pakistan time).

The prime minister will also participate in a high-level event ‘Glaciers 2025: Actions for Glaciers’ organised by Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon on the protection of glaciers.

PM Shehbaz will also hold separate meetings with the prime ministers of Denmark and the Czech Republic, who are also attending COP-29, Radio Pakistan stated.

PM meets world leaders

On the sidelines of COP29, PM Shehbaz interacted with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed cooperation on climate change and matters of mutual interest, Radio Pakistan reported.

The premier also met with PM Starmer, where the two discussed enhancing Pakistan-UK cooperation.

He also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan, where they discussed environmental pollution as well as matters of mutual interest between the two friendly nations, the report added.

In his interactions with Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel and Bangladesh’s Yunus, PM Shehbaz discussed growing temperatures, the threat of rising sea levels, and forest conservation in South Asia.

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and PM Shehbaz explored strengthening bilateral relations as well as expanding regional connectivity.

In his meetings with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajikistan’s Rahmon, the leaders spoke about the conservation of glaciers and water resources in Central Asian countries and Pakistan.

They also exchanged views on expanding communication links among Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Radio Pakistan highlighted.

World leaders meet for climate talks, but big names missing

Dozens of world leaders convene in Azerbaijan for COP29 but many big names are skipping the UN climate talks where the impact of Donald Trump’s election victory is keenly felt.

UK’s Starmer will unveil an “ambitious” update to the UK’s climate goals later today, and said he wanted his country “to show leadership on the climate challenge.”

Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi and Emmanuel Macron are among G20 leaders missing the event, where uncertainty over future US unity on climate action hung over the opening day.

“It’s not an ideal situation,” acknowledged Steven Guilbeault, Canada’s environment minister. “But in 30 years of COP, it’s not the first time that we’ve faced obstacles,” he told AFP.

“Certainly, everything is still possible.”

Washington’s top climate envoy John Podesta is seeking to reassure countries in Baku that Trump’s re-election will not end US efforts on global warming, even if the issue will be “on the back burner”.

But despite calls for global cooperation, the opening day got off to a rocky start, with feuds over the official agenda delaying by hours the start of formal proceedings in the stadium venue near the Caspian Sea.

“This will be a tough COP,” said Fernanda Carvalho, global climate and energy policy lead at WWF.

“Countries are divided. There is a lack of trust,” she told AFP, and divisions over climate finance “will be reflected in every room of those negotiations.”




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Don’t ‘normalise’ debt burden of the vulnerable: PM

• At COP29 leaders’ summit, Shehbaz Sharif reminds West of broken promises, calls for overhaul of global climate financing framework
• Links humanity’s survival with health of glaciers, says Pakistan ready to work with world for their protection
• Meets British, Danish, Turkish, Central Asian leaders among others on sidelines of climate summit

BAKU: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tues­day said that debt cannot become the “acceptable new normal” in climate financing, as he addressed the challenges faced by developing countries within the global climate finance framework.

“We stand at a crucial threshold where global climate finance framework must be redefined to effectively meet the needs of vulnerable nations,” he told a Climate Finance Round Table Conference organised by Pakistan on the sidelines of the two-day World Leaders Climate Action Summit.

He explained that finan­c­ing in the form of loans increases the debt of developing nations and pushes them towards “mounting debt traps” which he ref­erred to as “death traps”.

“Debt cannot become the acceptable new normal in climate financing which is why we must resume focus on non-debt financing solutions enabling countries to fund climate initiatives,” the PM said.

“Despite years of promises and commitments, the gaps are growing, leading to aggregate barriers in achieving objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).”

Pakistan is ranked among the top 10 most climate-vulnerable countr­ies, according to the Glo­bal Climate Risk Index 2021. It has faced increasingly frequent and severe weather events, such as unprecedented floods, int­ense monsoon rains, devastating heat waves, rapid glacial melting and glacial lake outburst floods.

Calling climate financing an “urgent need of the hour”, PM Shehbaz said that developing countries need to deliver Nationally Determined Contribu­ti­ons (NDCs) and “need an estimated $6.8 trillion by 2030 to implement less than half of their current NDCs”.

He further urged donor countries to “fulfil their commitment”, which is 4.7 per cent of their gross nat­io­nal product and capitalise on existing climate funds.

The PM said that Pakis­tan can relate to the “agony and pain of other vulnerable countries”, highlighting how the country faced two devastating floods.

While emphasising tra­n­sparency and coordination in financial commitments made to developing countries, he stated that Pakistan alongside other developing countries, calls for stronger more equitable climate finance mechanisms under the UNFCCC.

He reiterated the pertinent need for reform of international financial architecture saying that “now is the time to build up on the momentum for international financial reforms” so that no nation is left behind in the global response to climate change.

Call to protect glaciers

In remarks delivered later at an event on glaciers, the PM linked the survival of mankind with the health of glaciers, adding that Pakistan, as one of the most affected country, was ready to work with the international community to protect these valuable natural resources.

Addressing Glaciers 2025; Actions for Glaciers, hosted by Tajik President Emamoli Rahmon, the prime minister called upon all the countries to unite in the efforts of protecting glaciers from pollution and snow melt by taking concrete and decisive actions to secure the future of glaciers as well as protect the mankind.

He said Pakistan was home to 7,000 glaciers which provided an approximately 60 to 70 per cent water for the Indus River flow, supporting 90pc of agriculture and serving its 200 million people.

However, the glaciers that provide water for this river have been shrinking over a period of time and at an alarming time, which is estimated at about 23pc decrease since 1960, he added.

The prime minister said this retreat was driven by rising temperatures and the consequences of these changes were glaringly visible.

He shared that accelerated glacial melt had led to the formation of more than 3,000 glacial lakes in the northern areas of Pakistan which were posing great threat. Out of these, he said, about 33 lakes were estimated at the risk of outburst flooding, putting lives of over 7 million people in danger.

Meetings with world leaders

On the sidelines of COP29, PM Shehbaz interacted with UAE President Sheikh Moha­m­med bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed cooperation on climate change.

Mr Sharif also met with UK PM Sir Keir Starmer, where the two leaders discussed enhan­c­­i­ng bilateral ties.

He also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife Emine Erdogan, where they discussed environmental pollution as well as matters of mutual interest between the two friendly nations, the report added.

PM Shehbaz also met with the Czech PM Petr Fiala and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen and stressed the need to enhance bilateral cooperation as well as build global consensus on the key climate change priorities.

In his interactions with Nepal’s President Ramchandra Paudel and Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus, PM Shehbaz discussed growing temperatures, the threat of rising sea levels, and forest conservation in South Asia.

Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and PM Shehbaz explored strengthening bilateral relations. In his meetings with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajikistan’s Rahmon, the leaders spoke about the conservation of glaciers and water resources in Central Asian countries and Pakistan.

With input from APP

Published in Dawn, November 13th, 2024