Asia News Wrap: COP28 kicks off in Dubai, and more

What could be the most important meeting of the year began in Dubai on Thursday. Delegates at COP28, the 28th annual United Nations climate meeting, will hope to clinch a deal on a new fund to pay for climate-caused damage. With 70,000 delegates having descended on the city, governments are preparing for long negotiations on whether to agree to phasing out the world's use of carbon dioxide-emitting coal, oil and gas. 

On the first day, a landmark deal to help the world's poorest and most vulnerable countries pay for the irreversible impacts of climate disaster was agreed. Host the United Arab Emirates and Germany both pledged $100 million to the loss and damage startup fund, which will aim to keep up with the rising costs caused by extreme weather and slow-onset disasters such as sea level rise, ocean acidification and melting glaciers.

Malaysia will grant visa-free entry to citizens of China and India for stays of up to 30 days starting December 1, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced on Sunday during a speech at his People's Justice Party congress. 

In a statement on Monday, Malaysia's Home Affairs Ministry said the visa exemptions would last until December 31, 2024. China and India are Malaysia's fourth- and fifth-largest sources of tourists. China last month announced visa-free entry for citizens of Malaysia and several European countries.

Rescuers have pulled out all 41 of the workers who were trapped for 17 days inside a collapsed Indian tunnel in Uttarakhand state. The Silkyara tunnel collapsed on November 12, about 200 meters from the entrance, trapping the workers inside. 

While large projects are required to undergo an Environmental Impacts Assessment, the Silkyara Tunnel was exempt as it is divided into segments smaller than 100 km each. The government said the National Highways Authority of India will carry out a safety audit of the 29 tunnels currently under construction across India.

Campaigning for Indonesia's presidential election kicked off officially on Tuesday with two of the three candidates starting campaign tours. 

Indonesia holds presidential and legislative elections on February 14, with Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto, the former governor of Central Java province, Ganjar Pranowo, and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan in contention to replace outgoing leader Joko Widodo. The campaign will run until February 10, 2024, followed by a three-day cooling-off period before voting day.

A Pakistan court overturned the conviction of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a corruption case on Wednesday, his lawyer said, removing one of the many obstacles for him to qualify to stand in elections in February. 

Sharif returned home after four years of self-imposed exile in London last month and according to his party is eyeing becoming prime minister for a fourth time. Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Nawaz Sharif said: "God has made us victorious today."

(Cover: A man attends the first day of the UN's COP28 climate summit, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, November 30, 2023. /Reuters)