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BRICS Leaders Call for Urgent Action on Land Degradation Ahead of UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh

BRICS leaders call for increased financial resources and stronger partnerships to address land degradation, desertification, and drought. (SPA)
BRICS leaders call for increased financial resources and stronger partnerships to address land degradation, desertification, and drought. (SPA)
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BRICS Leaders Call for Urgent Action on Land Degradation Ahead of UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh

BRICS leaders call for increased financial resources and stronger partnerships to address land degradation, desertification, and drought. (SPA)
BRICS leaders call for increased financial resources and stronger partnerships to address land degradation, desertification, and drought. (SPA)

BRICS leaders called for increased financial resources and stronger partnerships to address land degradation, desertification, and drought ahead of a major UN environment conference in Saudi Arabia in December.

In a joint statement, the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates emphasized that these environmental challenges "are posing serious threats to the well-being and livelihoods of people and the environment."

While acknowledging ongoing efforts in sustainable land management, they stressed the need for "integrated policies" to tackle these interconnected issues.

The statement comes as Saudi Arabia prepares to host the 16th session of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) in Riyadh from December 2 to 13, amid growing global concern over land degradation that already affects 40% of the planet and impacts 3.2 billion people, according to UNCCD data.

"Saudi Arabia welcomes the BRICS leaders' statement on the critical issue of land degradation as it reflects the increasing urgency to slow and ultimately reverse the trend of degrading land worldwide," said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, deputy minister for environment at Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and advisor to the COP16 Presidency.

He added: "At COP16 in Riyadh, we will work to forge new partnerships that can accelerate land restoration and drought resilience efforts, particularly in vulnerable regions. Land degradation, drought, and desertification impact almost every corner of the planet, exacerbating forced migration and worsening global food and water insecurity. It is imperative that the international community addresses the root causes of these issues at the UNCCD COP16 in Riyadh."

The conference is expected to be the largest UNCCD COP to date and will feature the first-ever Green Zone, creating a dedicated platform for collaboration and innovation, aiming to increase the role of the private sector in land restoration.

It comes as the UNCCD targets the restoration of 1.5 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030. According to the UNCCD, every dollar invested in land restoration can yield up to $30 in economic returns.

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North Korea Bars Western Influencers from Trade Fair Tour

North Korea has barred Western influencers from joining tourists to an international trade fair, a China-based tour operator said. STR / KCNA VIA KNS/AFP
North Korea has barred Western influencers from joining tourists to an international trade fair, a China-based tour operator said. STR / KCNA VIA KNS/AFP
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North Korea Bars Western Influencers from Trade Fair Tour

North Korea has barred Western influencers from joining tourists to an international trade fair, a China-based tour operator said. STR / KCNA VIA KNS/AFP
North Korea has barred Western influencers from joining tourists to an international trade fair, a China-based tour operator said. STR / KCNA VIA KNS/AFP

North Korea has barred Western influencers from joining a delegation of tourists to an international trade fair in October, a China-based tour operator told AFP on Monday.

Diplomatically isolated North Korea has welcomed sporadic groups of international visitors in recent months, including hundreds of foreign athletes in April for the first Pyongyang International Marathon in six years.

China has historically been the biggest diplomatic, economic and political backer of North Korea, which remains under crippling international sanctions.

Travel agency Young Pioneer Tours (YPT) said on Saturday it would take a group of foreign tourists on a trip to the authoritarian state from October 24 to November 1.

However, the tour would not be open to journalists, travel content creators or influencers, the company said on its website.

YPT co-founder Rowan Beard told AFP the curbs on creators were "a specific request from the North Korean side".

"We anticipate that once the country officially reopens, there may be stricter scrutiny or limitations on influencers and YouTubers joining tours," Beard said.

The company had "no visibility" on when Pyongyang would restart official media delegations, he said.

Several online influencers have shared slickly produced videos from inside North Korea in recent months.

Chad O'Carroll, founder of specialist website NK News, said many influencers tend to have larger audiences than professional journalists, but "they are normally working without editors and tend to gain extra views through sensationalist-style content".

"North Korean authorities likely see few benefits and major risks with allowing social media influencers to visit the country, given what we saw earlier this year," O'Carroll told AFP.

"The result is a community of potential visitors who, in DPRK authorities' minds, are not likely to produce content that is favorable to state interests," he said, using North Korea's official name.

Lavish gifts

The YPT tour, priced at 3,995 euros ($4,704), will depart from the Chinese capital Beijing and take in the Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair, North Korea's biggest international business exhibition.

Participants will have a "unique chance" to stroll through more than 450 trade booths exhibiting machinery, information technology, energy, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and household items.

YPT also said the Pyongyang Chamber of Commerce would "hold a VIP presentation for us for an in-depth overview and insights into the (North Korean) economy".

The itinerary also includes major sights in Pyongyang as well as the first Western visit in more than five years to Mount Myohyang, which boasts a museum of lavish gifts presented to former North Korean leaders.

Chinese people used to make up the bulk of foreign tourists and business visitors to the isolated nuclear nation before it sealed its borders during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, numbers have not rebounded despite Pyongyang's post-pandemic reopening, a trend that some analysts have attributed to Beijing's anger at North Korea's explicit support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.