SPECIAL presidential envoy for Climate John Kerry will travel to Abu Dhabi, New Delhi and Dhaka from April 1-9 to discuss the climate crisis.
Kerry would travel for consultations on increasing climate ambition ahead of US president Joe Biden's Leaders' Summit on Climate from April 22-23 and the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change later this year, the State Department said.
"Looking forward to meaningful discussions with friends in the Emirates, India, and Bangladesh on how to tackle the climate crisis," Kerry tweeted.
Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including prime minister Narendra Modi, to the two-day virtual climate summit to underscore the urgency and the economic benefits of stronger climate action, according to the White House.
Besides Modi, other leaders invited for the summit include Chinese president Xi Jinping, Russian president Vladimir Putin, Japanese prime minister Yoshihide Suga, Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Saudi Arabia king Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and UK prime minister Boris Johnson.
The White House said a key objective of both the Leaders' Summit and the COP26 would be to catalyse efforts to keep limiting warming 1.5 degrees Celsius' goal within reach.
The summit will also highlight examples of how enhanced climate ambition will create good paying jobs, advance innovative technologies and help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts.
The White House said, at the time of the summit, the US will announce an ambitious 2030 emissions target as its new nationally-determined contribution under the Paris Agreement. In his invitation, Biden has urged leaders to use the summit as an opportunity to outline how their countries also will contribute to stronger climate ambition.
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)