As the United Nations climate negotiations unfold in Belem, Brazil, the initial focus on implementing past promises has been overshadowed by a growing urgency to address the escalating climate crisis. Despite the Brazilian hosts’ intent to concentrate on practical steps, negotiators are now pushing for broader, high-impact actions. These include strengthening weak emissions reduction plans, increasing financial support for climate-affected nations, and accelerating the phase-out of coal, oil, and gas. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has been a vocal advocate for more ambitious measures, prompting the conference chair to consider a comprehensive end-of-session communiqué. Veteran observer Jean Su of the Center for Biological Diversity noted a positive shift in momentum, expressing hope for commitments on fossil fuel phase-out. However, the process remains challenging. The Paris Agreement’s voluntary nature limits the enforceability of such declarations, and past COP pledges, including financial aid for developing nations, remain unfulfilled. Key issues on the table include revising inadequate national climate plans and addressing the $300 billion annual climate finance pledge made by wealthy nations. Meanwhile, Indigenous groups have protested their exclusion from decision-making, despite the conference being dubbed the ‘Indigenous Peoples’ COP.’ UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock highlighted the need for a unified global effort to transition away from fossil fuels, echoing Lula’s call for a roadmap to achieve this goal. As the talks enter their critical phase, the world watches to see if this COP can deliver the ambitious action needed to combat the climate crisis.
分类： world
-
France secures release of French-Chilean national held in Venezuela
In a significant diplomatic achievement, France announced on Sunday the release of Camilo Castro, a French-Chilean national who had been detained in Venezuela for four months. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed the news via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that Castro was en route to France. Barrot attributed the successful resolution to the persistent efforts of French diplomacy. French President Emmanuel Macron also expressed his relief in a separate post, emphasizing France’s steadfast commitment to protecting its citizens. ‘France sometimes advances quietly, but always with determination and composure: That is how we protect our own,’ Macron wrote. Castro, a 41-year-old yoga teacher residing in Colombia, had reportedly crossed into Venezuela in June to extend his Colombian visa. According to Amnesty International, his disappearance sparked international concern, culminating in his eventual release.
-
Zelenskyy says Ukraine is working on prisoner exchange with Russia
Ukraine is intensifying efforts to resume prisoner exchanges with Russia, aiming to secure the release of 1,200 Ukrainian prisoners, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday. This development follows progress in negotiations mediated by Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, as revealed by Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, on Saturday. Zelenskyy expressed optimism on X, stating, ‘We are counting on the resumption of POW exchanges. Many meetings, negotiations, and calls are currently taking place to ensure this.’ The Istanbul agreements, established in 2022 with Turkish mediation, serve as the framework for these exchanges, which have previously facilitated the release of thousands of prisoners despite being sporadic. Umerov emphasized that technical consultations are imminent to finalize procedural details, expressing hope that the freed Ukrainians could ‘celebrate the New Year and Christmas holidays at home — at the family table and next to their relatives.’ Meanwhile, the conflict continues unabated, with Russian drone strikes damaging energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa region overnight, including a solar power plant. Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 139 of 176 drones launched by Russia, while Russia’s defense ministry claimed to have shot down 57 Ukrainian drones. These attacks exacerbate Ukraine’s struggle to maintain its power grid amid relentless Russian aerial assaults, which have caused rolling blackouts as winter approaches.
-
At least four dead after migrant boats sink in Mediterranean
In a devastating incident off the coast of Libya, at least four individuals lost their lives after two overcrowded migrant boats capsized on Saturday. The Libyan Red Crescent confirmed that the deceased were among 26 Bangladeshi nationals aboard one of the vessels. The fate of passengers on the second boat, which carried approximately 70 mostly Sudanese migrants, remains unclear as rescue efforts continue. The boats were traversing the central Mediterranean route, a perilous path between North Africa and Italy, which the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) has labeled as the ‘deadliest known migration route in the world.’ The vessels had departed from Al Khums, a port city in northwestern Libya. Disturbing images shared by the Libyan Red Crescent show rescue workers providing aid to survivors and black body bags lined up on the shore. This tragedy underscores the ongoing migrant crisis in the Mediterranean, where hundreds perish annually in unsafe and overcrowded boats. According to IOM data, more than 1,500 people have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean in 2025 alone, with a significant portion of these incidents occurring off Libya’s coast. Libya remains a primary departure point for migrants attempting to reach Europe, with nearly 59,000 individuals arriving via this route this year, as reported by Frontex, the EU’s border security agency. Earlier this week, another boat carrying migrants from Libya capsized, leaving dozens missing and presumed dead. Seven survivors from Sudan, Somalia, Cameroon, and Nigeria were rescued after enduring nearly a week adrift at sea.
-
Huge fire sparked by explosions near Argentine capital; 5 factories hit
A catastrophic fire triggered by multiple explosions at an industrial park near Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been successfully contained, according to local authorities. The incident, which occurred late Friday, sent towering plumes of black and orange smoke into the night sky, visible from miles away. The explosions and ensuing blaze caused widespread panic, shattered windows in nearby homes, and inflicted minor structural damage on surrounding buildings.
Fabian Garcia, the Civil Defense director for Buenos Aires province, confirmed that while the fire has not yet been fully extinguished, it is under control and poses no further risk of spreading. Garcia emphasized that the situation, though violent, was never out of hand to the extent of endangering the local population. Air quality in the affected area is being closely monitored, with detected smoke particles raising concerns, though not to the level of an extreme hazard.
Ezeiza mayor Gaston Granados described the explosions and fire as ‘huge,’ noting that efforts to control and extinguish the blaze were ongoing. Granados also mentioned that his own residence had sustained damage, and families in the vicinity were being evacuated as a precaution. Hospital director Carlos Santoro reported that 22 individuals were treated for minor injuries, including a heart attack patient and a pregnant woman with respiratory issues.
The industrial park housed several companies specializing in tire manufacturing, chemical products, and other goods. Local media indicated that five factories were impacted by the disaster, with at least one building completely reduced to ashes. Firefighters continued their battle against the flames into early Saturday, working tirelessly to bring the situation under full control.
-
Thieves in France steal jewellery worth up to $1.2 mn: Police
In a daring robbery, thieves in northern France have stolen jewelry valued at up to $1.2 million, according to police reports on Saturday. The burglars targeted a jewelry boutique in central Roubaix, near Lille, on Wednesday. During the heist, they briefly held the jeweler and his wife hostage before escaping with the valuable items. The stolen jewels are estimated to be worth between 500,000 and one million euros ($580,000 to $1.2 million). Authorities have initiated an investigation into charges of kidnapping, organized crime, and armed extortion. This incident follows another high-profile theft earlier on Wednesday, where individuals blew up a cash transfer safe at Roubaix’s main post office. However, the stolen bag contained only empty bags, leading to the arrest of six suspects that evening. These heists come in the wake of a recent raid on the Louvre museum in Paris, where a gang stole jewelry worth an estimated $102 million in broad daylight last month.
-
South Africa accepts plane of Palestinians ‘flushed out’ of Gaza
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed to investigate the circumstances surrounding a mysterious charter flight that transported 153 Palestinians from Gaza to Johannesburg. The passengers, including men, women, and children, arrived on a flight from Nairobi but were detained for over 12 hours by South African border police due to missing exit stamps from Israel on their passports. After receiving assurances from the NGO Gift of the Givers, the Department of Home Affairs authorized their entry later that evening. Ramaphosa described the situation as ‘mysterious’ and emphasized that while the passengers would be welcomed ‘out of compassion,’ a thorough investigation would be conducted. Reports from Al Jazeera suggest the flight was facilitated by Al-Majd, a controversial organization allegedly collaborating with the Israeli military. Al-Majd had advertised safe passage out of Gaza, but its operations have been questioned, with claims of impersonation and fraudulent activities. The Palestinian embassy in South Africa condemned the flight as ‘irresponsible’ and accused the organizers of exploiting vulnerable families. Since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October 2023, concerns have grown over Israel’s alleged intentions to displace Gaza’s population, with the UN warning of such plans as early as December 2023.
-
Watch: Kuwait seizes over 100kg of narcotics hidden in car in foiled smuggling attempt
Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday, November 15, 2025, the successful interception of a significant drug smuggling operation. Authorities seized over 100 kilograms of hashish and marijuana, which were meticulously concealed within a suspect’s vehicle. The individual, identified as a citizen, was apprehended upon arrival at Shuwaikh Port after intelligence indicated his involvement in transporting narcotics from Iran via ferry. The General Department for Drug Control, in collaboration with the General Directorate of Customs, executed the operation, ensuring the suspect and the illicit substances were handed over to the Drug Prosecution Authority for legal proceedings. To safely inspect the vehicle’s hidden compartments, the General Fire Force was called in, given the hazardous methods often employed by smugglers. This operation underscores Kuwait’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and maintaining national security.
-
Freed Palestinian child prisoners recount torture in Israeli custody
A shocking report by Defense for Children Palestine (DCIP) has unveiled the harrowing experiences of three Palestinian teenagers—Mohammad Nael Khamis al-Zoghbi, 17, Faris Ibrahim Faris Abu Jabal, 16, and Mahmoud Hani Mohammad al-Majayda, 17—who were abducted by Israeli soldiers while seeking humanitarian aid. The teens were subsequently detained at the Sde Teiman detention camp in southern Israel, where they endured severe physical and psychological torture.
-
Vatican returns dozens of indigenous artefacts to Canada
In a significant gesture of reconciliation, the Vatican has repatriated 62 indigenous artefacts to Canada, a century after they were removed from tribal communities to be displayed in a missionary museum in Rome. The items were formally handed over by Pope Leo XIV to the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) on Saturday, with plans to return them to their original native communities. This move follows Pope Francis’s historic apology in 2019 for the Catholic Church’s role in the cultural suppression and systemic abuse of Indigenous peoples through the residential schools programme. A joint statement from the Vatican and the CCCB emphasized the Pope’s desire for this act to symbolize ‘dialogue, respect, and fraternity,’ highlighting the artefacts as testaments to the intersection of faith and indigenous cultures. Among the returned items are an Inuit kayak historically used for whale hunting and a set of embroidered gloves from the Cree Nation. The artefacts, currently stored in Rome, are scheduled to be flown back to Canada on December 6. During Pope Francis’s 2022 ‘penitential pilgrimage’ to Canada, tribal leaders had requested the return of these cultural treasures. The CCCB has entrusted Canada’s National Indigenous Organizations with the task of reuniting the artefacts with their communities of origin. The repatriation costs have been covered by the tribes, who plan to hold ceremonial events before the official return. Canadian Foreign Minister lauded the initiative as a crucial step in honoring Indigenous heritage and advancing truth, justice, and reconciliation. The artefacts had been part of the Vatican Museum’s Anima Mundi ethnographic collection, described by the Church as ‘gifts’ from tribal leaders. However, critics argue this characterization overlooks the historical power imbalance during their transfer. The items were taken to Europe during a period when Canadian law and Catholic decrees prohibited native spiritual practices, leading to the confiscation of ceremonial objects.