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The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) opened on Monday in Belem, Brazil, with the goal of placing the global fight against climate change back at the center of international priorities, local authorities said. At the opening session, COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev urged delegates to build on the commitments made at last year’s summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago thanked Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for his appointment and stressed that the Belem summit must deliver practical solutions. He said that despite recent setbacks, improving living conditions worldwide remains possible through science, education, and culture. He also underscored that multilateralism is the only effective path forward in tackling climate challenges. The conference, which runs through November 21, will address key issues such as climate adaptation, just transition, and implementation of the Paris Agreement’s global stocktake. Delegations from over 190 countries and regions have registered to participate, according to the COP30 presidency. Source: Xinhua

Tensions flared between Japan and China on Monday after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested that a Chinese military strike on Taiwan could pose “a survival-threatening situation” for Japan, potentially justifying the use of force. Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister last month, said Friday that any Chinese military aggression near Taiwan would represent “an existential threat.” Her remarks drew swift condemnation from Beijing over the weekend. In a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), Chinese Consul General Xue Jian lashed out, writing, “We have no choice but to cut off that dirty neck lunging at us. Are you ready?” He also accused Takaichi and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of “blatant interference in China’s internal affairs” for previously claiming that “a Taiwan emergency is a Japan emergency,” and demanded an apology. On Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Japan had formally protested to Beijing, calling Xue’s remarks “extremely inappropriate.” Tokyo’s Foreign Ministry demanded that the post be deleted and requested an explanation from China. The exchange signals possible turbulence ahead for Japan-China relations under Takaichi, despite what had appeared to be a cordial meeting between her and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the recent APEC summit in South Korea. The Japanese leader has vowed to strengthen national defense and met Taiwan’s representative to the summit a day after seeing Xi — a move that further angered Beijing. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Xue’s post was “a personal response” to what he described as “erroneous and dangerous comments” supporting Taiwan’s separation from China. He accused Japanese politicians and media of “hyping” the issue to mislead the public. Lin confirmed that Beijing had filed a “solemn protest” with Tokyo, questioning Japan’s intentions: “Is Japan trying to challenge China’s core interests and obstruct national reunification? Where does Japan want to take China-Japan relations?” China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has not ruled out using force to achieve reunification. The controversy began Friday when Takaichi, during a parliamentary session, was asked what scenarios could threaten Japan’s security. She cited a possible Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan or military actions blocking U.S. forces as examples that could qualify as a “survival-threatening situation,” under which Japan could legally use force for self-defense. Her statement, seen as tougher than those of past leaders, sparked criticism and forced her to later clarify that her position remained consistent with Japan’s previous official stance.

The Senate voted Monday to approve a bill reopening the federal government, moving the nation closer to ending its longest-ever shutdown. The measure passed after a small group of Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the agreement, despite facing strong criticism from within their own ranks. The 41-day shutdown may continue for a few more days as House members, currently on recess since mid-September, return to Washington to vote. President Donald Trump signaled his backing for the bill, saying, “We’re going to be opening up our country very quickly.” The Senate passed the legislation 60–40, breaking a six-week impasse. Democrats had demanded negotiations on extending expiring health care tax credits, but Republicans refused. As the shutdown’s impact deepened — delaying food aid, grounding federal workers’ pay, and worsening airport backlogs — five moderate Democrats eventually voted with Republicans to end the stalemate. House Speaker Mike Johnson urged lawmakers to return immediately to Washington, citing travel delays caused by the shutdown. “We have to do this as quickly as possible,” he said. How the Deal Came TogetherAfter weeks of tense negotiations, Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire and Independent Senator Angus King of Maine agreed to advance three bipartisan spending bills and temporarily extend government funding through late January. In return, Republicans pledged to hold a Senate vote on the health care tax credits by mid-December, though passage is uncertain. Shaheen said it was “the only viable option” after Republicans refused to compromise. “The shutdown brought attention to the health care issue,” she said, adding that the future vote offers “a path forward.” The bill reverses mass firings of federal employees initiated during the shutdown and ensures workers are paid once operations resume. It also shields them from further layoffs through January. Alongside Shaheen, King, and Hassan, Democratic Senators Tim Kaine, Dick Durbin, John Fetterman, Catherine Cortez Masto, and Jacky Rosen also voted in favor. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and most Democrats opposed the measure. Although more Democratic support had been expected, only five senators ultimately switched their votes — just enough for the bill to pass. Divided Democratic ResponseMany Democrats condemned the decision. Schumer said he could not “in good faith” support the measure after consulting with his caucus, promising that Democrats “will not give up the fight” for affordable health care. Independent Senator Bernie Sanders called the deal a “horrific mistake,” while Senator Chris Murphy warned that Democrats risked betraying voters who had urged them to stand firm. House Democrats also voiced frustration. Representative Greg Casar of Texas called the agreement a “betrayal” of Americans struggling with health care costs. Others, however, backed Schumer’s leadership. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries praised his handling of the shutdown, noting that “the American people know we are on the right side of this fight.” Health Care Fight Still AheadWhether the two parties can agree on the tax credits remains uncertain. Speaker Johnson has refused to commit to bringing the issue before the House, though some Republicans say they’re open to extending pandemic-era subsidies with new limits on eligibility. Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins expressed support for extending the credits but suggested adding income caps. Some Democrats have indicated they might consider such a compromise. “We must act by year’s end, and that’s exactly what’s been promised,” Collins said. However, many Republicans, including Trump, have renewed calls to repeal or overhaul the Affordable Care Act entirely. In a preview of the coming debate, the Senate voted 47–53 on Monday — along party lines — against extending the health care subsidies for another year. The vote was allowed as part of a broader deal to speed up final passage of the shutdown-ending legislation before sending it to the House.

A car explosion near New Delhi’s historic Red Fort on Monday killed at least eight people and injured 19 others, according to police. The blast, which sparked a fire that damaged several nearby vehicles, occurred close to one of the Red Fort metro station gates, fire officials said. Authorities are still determining the cause of the explosion. Following the incident, security was heightened across New Delhi, including at the international airport, metro stations, and government buildings. Om Prakash Gupta, a resident living near the site, said he heard a loud bang and ran outside with his children. “There were vehicles on fire and body parts scattered around,” he told the Associated Press, describing one body lying on a car windshield. Another witness, a cab driver named Shahrukh, said he too heard the explosion and ran from his car along with others. The Red Fort, a former Mughal palace and a major tourist destination in Old Delhi, was shown in local media footage surrounded by damaged cars and a police cordon. Police spokesperson Sanjay Tyagi confirmed that eight people were killed and several others injured, adding that investigations were underway. The city’s fire department reported 19 injured individuals, all receiving treatment at a government hospital. Images from the scene showed burning cars, twisted metal, and shattered glass. Home Minister Amit Shah told local media that the explosion occurred in a Hyundai i20 near a traffic light close to the fort. CCTV footage from surrounding cameras will be reviewed as part of the investigation. “We are considering every possible angle and will conduct a full investigation,” Shah said, promising transparency in the findings. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, writing: “Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the blast in Delhi earlier this evening. May the injured recover quickly.” The 17th-century Red Fort, about six kilometers (3.7 miles) from India’s Parliament, is one of the country’s most iconic landmarks and the site of the annual Independence Day address by the prime minister. The investigation is being led by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) along with other federal bodies.      

A car explosion near the historic Red Fort in India’s capital on Monday left at least eight people dead and several others injured, police said. The blast also sparked a fire that damaged multiple nearby vehicles. According to the city’s fire service, several fire engines were dispatched to the area after the explosion occurred close to one of the gates of the Red Fort metro station. The cause of the blast has yet to be determined. Delhi Police spokesperson Sanjay Tyagi told The Associated Press that investigations are underway to identify what triggered the explosion.

BBC Chair Samir Shah has apologised for what he described as an “error of judgement” in editing a documentary that misrepresented a speech by US President Donald Trump. The apology follows the resignation of BBC Director General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness on Sunday night, after a leaked internal memo criticised the editing of a 2024 Panorama programme about President Trump, reports BBC. The memo, written by former BBC adviser Michael Prescott, alleged that producers had spliced together two separate portions of Trump’s speech to make it appear as though he explicitly encouraged the January 2021 Capitol Hill riots. In a letter to MPs on the UK Parliament’s Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Shah admitted that the editing “did give the impression of a direct call for violent action,” calling it a serious lapse in editorial judgement. President Trump has sent a letter to the BBC threatening legal action over the broadcast. Prescott’s memo also criticised broader areas of BBC News coverage, claiming he wrote it “in despair at inaction by the BBC Executive.” However, Shah defended the organisation in his letter to MPs, saying it was “simply not true” that the BBC had failed to address concerns raised in the memo. In a later interview, he insisted there was “no systemic bias” within the BBC.

Intense clashes between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have forced around 2,000 people to flee their homes in central Sudan over the past three days, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Monday. The displaced people fled several towns and villages in the Bara area of North Kordofan province between Friday and Sunday, according to the agency. North Kordofan and the western Darfur region have become the latest flashpoints in the country’s brutal conflict, which has raged for more than two years and killed tens of thousands. Recent RSF assaults in Darfur — including the capture of the key city of El-Fasher — have left hundreds dead and driven tens of thousands to overcrowded camps, amid reports of atrocities by the paramilitary group, aid agencies and U.N. officials said. The war erupted in 2023 after tensions between the army and the RSF — once partners in Sudan’s fragile political transition — exploded into open fighting. The conflict has killed at least 40,000 people and displaced 12 million, according to the World Health Organization, though aid groups believe the real toll is much higher. In late October, RSF fighters attacked the town of Bara, killing at least 47 people, including women and children, according to the Sudan Doctors Network. Between Oct. 26 and Nov. 9, nearly 39,000 people fled from several North Kordofan towns — including Bara, Sheikan, Ar Rahad, Um Rawaba, Um Siala and Sakra — the IOM reported. Many of them were moving north toward Khartoum, Omdurman, and Sheikan. The RSF also claimed on Monday that its fighters had entered the town of Babanusa in West Kordofan “in huge numbers” and were advancing toward the local army headquarters. Meanwhile, in Darfur, the Sudan Doctors Network said RSF fighters had collected hundreds of bodies from the streets of El-Fasher, burying some in mass graves and burning others — allegedly in an effort to destroy evidence of atrocities. Satellite images analyzed by the Colorado-based firm Vantor and the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab appeared to confirm the disposal and burning of bodies near El-Fasher’s Saudi hospital last week. The U.N. and aid agencies continue to warn of worsening humanitarian conditions across Sudan, as violence spreads into new regions and civilian casualties rise.  

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday said he intends to order 25 Patriot air defense systems from the United States to help counter Russia’s ongoing aerial attacks, which have caused rolling blackouts across the country ahead of winter. Acknowledging the high cost and long production time of the systems, Zelenskyy suggested that European countries could temporarily provide their Patriots to Ukraine while awaiting replacements, stressing that “we would not like to wait.” Russia’s combined missile and drone strikes have targeted Ukraine’s power grid, coinciding with Moscow’s push to capture the eastern stronghold of Pokrovsk. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine recently received additional Patriots from Germany, though the total number of systems in the country remains unclear. Air defenses are still stretched across Ukraine, leaving the nation vulnerable to winter energy disruptions. NATO allies continue to coordinate large weapons shipments to Ukraine, with European nations and Canada buying much of the equipment from the U.S. Unlike the previous Biden administration, the current Trump administration is not providing arms to Kyiv. Russia has increasingly refined its strikes on energy infrastructure, using hundreds of drones—some with cameras for precise targeting—to overwhelm Ukraine’s defenses, often attacking regional substations and switchyards instead of centralized grids. Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said Monday that the attacks have forced scheduled blackouts across most regions and urged citizens to conserve electricity, especially during morning and evening peak hours. Meanwhile, fighting continues around Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, where Zelenskyy said Russia has positioned 170,000 troops for a renewed offensive. Reports from the Institute for the Study of War indicate a recent relative lull but warn of intensified Russian attacks in the coming days.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday said he intends to order 25 Patriot air defense systems from the United States to help counter Russia’s ongoing aerial attacks, which have caused rolling blackouts across the country ahead of winter. Acknowledging the high cost and long production time of the systems, Zelenskyy suggested that European countries could temporarily provide their Patriots to Ukraine while awaiting replacements, stressing that “we would not like to wait.” Russia’s combined missile and drone strikes have targeted Ukraine’s power grid, coinciding with Moscow’s push to capture the eastern stronghold of Pokrovsk. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine recently received additional Patriots from Germany, though the total number of systems in the country remains unclear. Air defenses are still stretched across Ukraine, leaving the nation vulnerable to winter energy disruptions. NATO allies continue to coordinate large weapons shipments to Ukraine, with European nations and Canada buying much of the equipment from the U.S. Unlike the previous Biden administration, the current Trump administration is not providing arms to Kyiv. Russia has increasingly refined its strikes on energy infrastructure, using hundreds of drones—some with cameras for precise targeting—to overwhelm Ukraine’s defenses, often attacking regional substations and switchyards instead of centralized grids. Ukraine’s Energy Ministry said Monday that the attacks have forced scheduled blackouts across most regions and urged citizens to conserve electricity, especially during morning and evening peak hours. Meanwhile, fighting continues around Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, where Zelenskyy said Russia has positioned 170,000 troops for a renewed offensive. Reports from the Institute for the Study of War indicate a recent relative lull but warn of intensified Russian attacks in the coming days.  

Israel on Monday returned the remains of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, marking a step forward in the U.S.-brokered ceasefire, as a top White House envoy met Israeli leaders to discuss the next phase of the fragile agreement. The return came after Palestinian militants handed over a hostage on Sunday. With the latest exchange, only four hostage remains remain in Gaza. Jared Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem Monday, according to a photo released by Netanyahu’s office. The talks focused on advancing the next stage of the ceasefire, which involves establishing a governing body in Gaza and deploying an international stabilization force. The status of these plans remains unclear. The Gaza Health Ministry said the Red Cross facilitated the handover, bringing the total Palestinian remains returned to 315. Under the exchange agreement, Israel has been releasing 15 Palestinian bodies for each Israeli hostage returned. Only 91 of the bodies have been identified so far due to limited forensic resources in Gaza. The latest handover included the remains of Hadar Goldin, an Israeli soldier killed in Gaza in 2014, ending a long-standing campaign by his family to bring him home. Goldin was killed shortly after a ceasefire in that year’s conflict, and his remains were the only ones in Gaza predating the current war. The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel left around 1,200 people dead, mostly civilians, and 251 kidnapped. Meanwhile, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that Palestinian deaths in the conflict have risen to 69,176. Details of the ceasefire’s second phase—including disarming Hamas, postwar governance of Gaza, and deployment of an international security force—have yet to be finalized. Kushner is reportedly negotiating safe passage for 150-200 trapped Hamas fighters in exchange for surrendering their weapons following Goldin’s remains’ return. Hamas has not commented on these potential exchanges.