October 4, 2023

John Kerry, the US local weather envoy, arrived in Beijing yesterday to renew local weather talks with China. Throughout the three days of talks, he and his Chinese language counterpart Xie Zhenhua will search for methods to cooperate regardless of simmering tensions.

China and the US are the 2 largest sources of fossil gas air pollution, accounting for about 40 % of greenhouse gases. Analysts say the velocity with which they cut back emissions and assist different international locations change to wash power will decide whether or not the planet can keep away from essentially the most catastrophic results of local weather change.

Kerry desires to speak about three fundamental points:

Many observers have excessive hopes for this assembly: Beijing, like most governments, doesn’t need to be pressured. Whereas Kerry desires to push China to set harder targets, Beijing desires to concentrate on its present objectives and insurance policies.

However the two international locations may agree on common US-China conferences on local weather change, which consultants say could be an excellent factor. They may additionally lay the groundwork for larger modifications on the UN local weather summit in Dubai this November.

Rigidity: Negotiations have stalled since August, when Beijing froze high-level diplomatic relations with the USA after Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the Home of Representatives, visited Taiwan. Plans to renew talks had been thwarted earlier this 12 months after a Chinese language spy balloon flew over the US.

Guarantees: The US is aiming to chop carbon emissions by virtually 50 % this decade and cease emitting carbon into the ambiance by 2050. China has mentioned its emissions will enhance till 2030 earlier than they begin to fall after which cease by 2060.

Excellent news: Each are on monitor to attain their instant objectives, analysts say.


Janet Yellen, US Treasury Secretary, known as on wealthy international locations to assist low-income international locations cancel their debt forward of a gathering with different G20 finance ministers in Gandhinagar, India.

She cited a current settlement between worldwide collectors, together with China, to assist Zambia repay its money owed. She mentioned the settlement needs to be the idea for serving to different international locations, comparable to Sri Lanka, to speed up debt aid and restore progress, benefiting the worldwide financial system.

Context: Yellen famous that greater than half of low-income international locations are in or near debt misery, twice as many as in 2015.


A number of Chinese language-Canadian politicians who’ve been brazenly essential of Beijing have seen their campaigns derailed as China expands its presence in diaspora communities.

Canada has warned at the least half a dozen present and former elected officers that they’re being focused by Beijing. In 2021, for instance, Kenny Chiu was predicted to win re-election to Parliament. However ethnic Chinese language voters turned their backs on him after he criticized China’s human rights document. His marketing campaign collapsed all of a sudden and he misplaced his utility.

Context: The Chiu case is now underneath scrutiny as soon as once more after a collection of extraordinary leaked intelligence studies reveal Beijing’s meddling in Canadian democracy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is underneath growing strain to name for a public inquiry.

Texas is understood for its love of soccer. However the quickly rising inhabitants of South Asia has drawn consideration to cricket.

The neighborhood has made the state the launching pad for America’s first skilled cricket league, Main League Cricket, whose first season started final week exterior of Dallas.

Lives lived: Jane Birkin, the British-born actress who impressed French trend, has died on the age of 76.

For many years, the world’s dominant powers have benefited from a big working-age inhabitants that fueled financial progress. Within the creating world, a younger inhabitants meant that assets had been diverted to elevating youngsters, limiting financial alternative.

However the world’s demographic benefits are altering quickly. Inhabitants growing older in Europe and China will put pressure on welfare methods. In creating international locations, a younger workforce will drive financial progress. Quickly, based on UN initiatives, essentially the most balanced workforce will probably be primarily situated in South and Southeast Asia, Africa and the Center East.

These charts present how the approaching shift may change the worldwide steadiness of energy.

In Britain: The NHS, beloved public well being service, is overwhelmed with older sufferers. Now it’s within the deepest disaster in its 75-year historical past.

In Poland: The best-wing authorities doesn’t want migrants, however the inhabitants is growing older, and the nation wants a labor power. In a single tiny village, 6,000 employees from Asia are coming to construct a brand new petrochemical plant.

Puttanesca Chickpea and Tomato Salad is an easy bean salad that may be eaten all week lengthy.

In The Good Ones, a professor investigates the disappearance of his girlfriend.

20 Days in Mariupol, which chronicles Russia’s assault on a Ukrainian metropolis, is “a cruel and actually vital documentary.”

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