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Scientists blame rising temperatures for the destruction caused by Typhoon Kalmaegi in Southeast Asia.
Scientists warn that extreme weather events will only increase in frequency as temperatures continue to rise. At least 188 people were killed by Typhoon Kalmaegi in the Philippines. It also caused extensive damage to farmland and infrastructure across the archipelago. After landing in central Vietnam on Thursday night, the storm destroyed homes and uprooted many trees. At least five people were killed. The path of destruction of Kalmaegi coincides with the meeting of more than 190 delegates in Belem, Brazil's rainforest city for the latest round in climate talks. Researchers claim that the failure of leaders around the world to control greenhouse gas emission has resulted in increasingly violent storms. Ben Clarke is an extreme weather researcher from London's Grantham Institute on Climate Change and Environment. He said that the sea surface temperatures over the South China Sea and the Western North Pacific are both unusually warm. The trend in sea surface temperature is clearly linked to global warming. WARMER WATERS PACK 'FUEL' INTO CYCLONES Scientists say that while it's not easy to link a specific weather event with climate change, in general, higher sea surface temperatures accelerate the evaporation and add more "fuel" to tropical cyclones. Gianmarco Megaldo, researcher at National University of Singapore, said that climate change increases typhoon intensities primarily through warming ocean surface temperature and increasing atmospheric moisture. He added that "although this doesn't mean every typhoon is going to get stronger, it does increase the probability of storms with greater intensity and heavier rains, as well as stronger winds." MUCH INTENSIER BUT NOT FREQUENTER While data doesn't indicate that tropical storms have become more frequent, Mengaldo said the number of storms with high intensity has increased. He co-authored a report on the role climate change played in Typhoon Ragasa, which hit the Philippines last September. He said that the total number of typhoons per year had not increased in a long time. Climate change is likely to be responsible for the increase in the number of intense events, and episodes of rapid intensification. This has been driven by the warmer oceans, and increased atmospheric instability. In November of last year, four tropical cyclones developed at the same moment, a rare event. This suggests that storms are now occurring over shorter periods. Dhrubajyoti Samantha, a climate researcher at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, said that even if the total number of cyclones doesn't increase dramatically each year, their proximity to one another and impact potential may increase. He added that "Kalmaegi serves as a reminder of this emerging risk pattern." BACK-TOBACK SEVERE STORMS CAUSING MORE DESTRUCTION Feng Xiangbo is a tropical storm scientist at the University of Reading in Britain. He said that "back-to-back" storms could cause more damage. This is because the soils are already soaked, the rivers are full and infrastructure has been weakened. Even a weak storm can cause catastrophic damage at this time. Feng and Mengaldo both warned that other regions may also be at risk, as storms could form in new locations and follow different paths and intensify. Feng said that recent studies show the coastal areas affected by tropical cyclones are growing significantly due to storm surges and ocean wave growth. This, along with the mean sea level increase, poses a serious threat to low lying areas, especially in the Philippines and on Vietnam's shallow coast shelves. (Reporting and editing by Saad Saeed; David Stanway)
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Oil prices rise on the optimism that the US government will reopen soon
Oil prices rose Monday, despite concerns over rising global supplies. This was due to optimism that the U.S. shutdown would end soon. Brent crude futures were up 47 cents or 0.74% to $64.10 per barrel at 0123 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude was $60.25 per barrel, up $50 cents or 0.84%. The historic U.S. shutdown is nearing its end. It has now lasted 40 days. On Sunday, the Senate moved towards a vote to reopen the federal government. Tony Sycamore, IG's market analyst, said: "The imminent reopening will be a welcome boost for 800,000 federal employees, restoring their pay and resuming vital programs, which will increase consumer confidence, spending and activity." He said that this would also improve the risk perception across all markets and lead to a rise in WTI oil prices towards $62 per barrel. Brent and WTI both fell by about 2% and recorded their second weekly drop, due to fears of an oversupply. OPEC+ (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries with their Allies) agreed to slightly increase output in December but also paused any further increases in the first three months, fearing a glut. Crude stocks are also rising in the United States, while the amount of oil on board ships in Asian waterways has doubled over the past few weeks as tighter Western sanctions have curtailed imports into China and India. Indian refiners are now looking to the Middle East, and even the Americas for alternative supplies to Russian oil. The Russian oil producer Lukoil faces increasing disruptions, as the November 21 deadline for American companies to stop doing business with it looms and after the sale of its operations to Swiss trader Gunvor fell through. Sycamore reported that the decision by U.S. president Trump to exempt Hungary from U.S. sanction on Russian oil imports for a year has added to concerns about global oversupply. (Reporting and editing by Christian Schmollinger; Florence Tan is the reporter)
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Stocks surge on optimism about possible end of US government shutdown
On Monday, global shares rose in Asia amid optimism that the historic U.S. shutdown may be nearing an end. Meanwhile, the dollar continued to suffer losses from the previous week. On Sunday, the U.S. Senate moved towards a vote to reopen the federal government. This came a day after Senate majority leader John Thune announced that bipartisan discussions in the chamber had taken a positive direction. Early trade saw Nasdaq 500 futures rise 0.5%, while S&P futures were up 0.8%. The Nikkei, Japan's stock market index, rose 0.6% and MSCI's broadest Asia-Pacific share index outside Japan gained 0.5%. Charu Chanana is the chief investment strategist for Saxo. She said that even if a deal was reached in the Senate, it would still need to be approved by the House of Representatives, where Democratic leaders had already indicated their opposition. The markets might see a short-term improvement, but headline-driven instability is likely to persist until there is a clear solution. The shutdown has had a negative impact on the U.S. economic system. Federal workers, from airports to the military and law enforcement are not paid. Meanwhile, the central bank is flying blind due to limited government reporting. Kevin Hassett, White House economist, said in an exclusive interview that the fourth-quarter GDP of the United States could be negative if shutdown continues. The data released on Friday showed that the U.S. consumer's sentiment fell to a low of about 3-1/2 years in early November, as consumers worried about economic consequences. Chanana said that while a deal could be beneficial to the market by restoring trust and liquidity, the damage done to the economy from the U.S. shutdown is not undone. On Monday, the overall risk sentiment was still positive. The EuroStoxx 50 futures, DAX Futures and South Korea's Kospi each rose 1.3%. The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield rose 3.5 basis points, to 4.1278%. The yield on the two-year bond rose by about 3 basis points to 3.5886%. The dollar has recovered some of the losses it suffered last week as investors weighed the prospects for the U.S. economic outlook against a Federal Reserve that is more hawkish. Although recent data has stoked concerns about a weakening U.S. labor market, Fed officials have maintained their preference to be cautious with further rate reductions. The dollar rose 0.28% to 153.87 Japanese yen while the euro fell 0.13%, closing at $1.1551 The value of the sterling fell by 0.17%, to $1.3142. Brent crude futures rose 0.4% to $63.89 a barrel while U.S. Crude edged up 0.45% to $60.01 per barrel. Spot gold rose 0.6% to $4.023.40 per ounce.
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Why is it important to attend the COP30 Climate Summit?
The U.N. Climate conference generates hundreds of headlines every year about global efforts to save the world from a climate catastrophe. The conference begins in Belem, a Brazilian rainforest city. What exactly takes place at these annual summits, then? What you should know WHAT IS A COP? The annual Conference is called a COP. This stands for Conference of the Parties who signed the U.N. Climate Treaty of 1992. The U.N. The Framework on Climate Change Convention, or UNFCCC, committed countries to work together to combat climate change. The treaty established the principle "common, but differentiated responsibility", which means that the countries with the highest emissions of greenhouse gases have a greater obligation to solve the problem. Brazil is currently the rotating presidency. It sets the agenda for the summit and works throughout the year to rally government leaders toward common goals and actions. The two-week summit is then hosted by the rotating presidency, now held by Brazil. This draws global attention to the problem while allowing national leaders to exchange ideas and be held accountable. The annual summits are a hub for geopolitical, financial and civil society discussion. They project the idea of "a global village" which welcomes all nations, businesses, and financiers. Why should we care about COP30 this year? This year's climate summit is a momentous occasion for many. Brazil hosted the Rio Earth Summit, where the UNFCCC Treaty was signed 33 year ago. The country has insisted that the event will return to its roots this year by acknowledging those who are most vulnerable, including indigenous groups. Some of these groups have joined the talks. Brazil has asked nations to focus on implementing past promises such as a COP28 commitment to phase out the use of fossil fuels, instead of making new ones. COP30 also marks the first time that the previous goal of preventing a warming over 1.5 degrees Celsius has been failed. Brazil chose to host COP30 at the Amazonian city of Belem in order to highlight the importance of the world forests, which remain targets for industries such as logging, mining and farming. Who are the main players at the Summit? The majority of national governments send teams. Many countries will speak in groups that share similar interests. The G77+China bloc of developing nations and the Alliance of Small Island States, which faces an existential danger from rising seas are two of the most prominent voices. The BASIC Group, which includes Brazil, South Africa and India, and the Africa Group are also influential. The United States, which announced in January that it would quit the Paris Climate Change Treaty, has now stepped down from its previous leadership role. China, Brazil, and other countries have filled the void. What Happens at the Summit? The sprawling COP Campus is often a hive, with campaigns trying to bring attention to their cause while corporations lobby for policy changes and seek business opportunities. This year, the side events were not held as usual. Instead, financiers met in Sao Paulo and local leaders in Rio de Janeiro. These events were held in conjunction with a gathering of world leaders at Belem to generate support and momentum in preparation for the COP30, which runs from November 10-21. In the first week of the summit, negotiators from each country will set out their priorities and assess one another's position. Themes will begin to emerge as countries and companies announce their action plans and financial pledges for projects. During the second week of negotiations, national ministers are usually present to discuss final decisions and legal and technical details. This sounds easy, right? The COPs are rarely smooth, as countries compete for deals that suit their national interests and draw red lines. Sometimes the talks can stall and cause acrimony. Negotiators spend many nights in frantic sessions to find compromises. The countries then reconvene and approve the decisions by consensus rather than unanimity. The closing session, which is marked by the hammering of a gavel, almost always takes longer than expected - sometimes even several days. Bring snacks. (Reporting and editing by Kati Daigle, David Gregorio, and William James)
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US sanctions official: It's time to stop Iran from funding Hezbollah
The top official of the U.S. Treasury Department said that the United States is looking to seize a "moment in Lebanon" to cut off Iranian funding for Hezbollah, and to press the group into disarming. John Hurley said in a late-Friday interview that Iran managed to send about $1 billion this year to Hezbollah despite the Western sanctions which have ravaged its economy. The U.S. is waging a campaign of "maximum pressuring" on Tehran to reduce its uranium-enrichment program and regional influence. This includes in Lebanon, where the Iran-backed Hezbollah has also been weakened since Israel destroyed its military strength in a war in 2023-24. Washington sanctioned last week two individuals who were accused of using money exchanges in order to fund Hezbollah. Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organization by many Western governments as well as Gulf states. "There is a moment now in Lebanon." Hurley stated that if we could convince Hezbollah of its need to disarm then the Lebanese could regain their country. The key is to remove the Iranian influence, which starts with the money they pour into Hezbollah, he said in Istanbul, as part of an international tour to Turkey, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates, and Israel, to put pressure on Iran. IRANIAN ECONOMY HIT BY SNAPBACK U.N. SANCTIONS Since September, when the talks to reduce its disputed nuclear activities and missile program failed, Tehran has been relying on stronger ties with China and Russia, as well as regional states, including the UAE. Western powers accuse Iran secretly of developing nuclear weapons capabilities. Tehran, whose economic situation is now at risk of hyperinflation, severe recession and hyperinflation, claims that its nuclear program was developed solely for civilian purposes. Israel, a U.S.-aligned country, says Hezbollah has been rebuilding its capabilities. On Thursday it carried out heavy airstrikes on southern Lebanon in spite of a ceasefire agreement reached a year earlier. The government of Lebanon has pledged to disarm all non-state organizations, including Hezbollah. Hezbollah was founded by Iran's Revolutionary Guards in 1982 and led the Iran-backed “Axis of Resistance”. It opened fire at Israel, declaring its solidarity with Palestinians in 2023 when war broke out in Gaza. The group, which is a political force also in Beirut has not prevented Lebanese forces from confiscating their caches in southern Lebanon, but it has refused to disarm in its entirety. Hurley has made his first Middle East trip since he took office in the Trump administration. He has met with bankers, government officials and executives from the private sector to push the case against Iran. He said: "Even after all that Iran has gone through, and despite the fact that its economy is not in a great state, they still pump a lot money into their terrorist proxies." (Reporting and editing by Christopher Cushing; Reporting by Jonathan Spicer)
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Governor of Voronezh says that a drone attack in Ukraine temporarily interrupts utilities in Russia's Voronezh
A drone attack overnight by Ukraine temporarily interrupted power and heating in Voronezh (southwestern Russia), a regional governor reported on Sunday. Alexander Gusev, Governor of Voronezh Region, said that the attack on Voronezh - the administrative center for the entire Voronezh area - did not result in any injuries. He added that electronic warfare systems suppressed several drones, which sparked a fire in a utility building. The fire was quickly put out. Gusev stated that safety measures caused a brief change in the central heating temperature in some homes as well as short power outages in certain parts of the city. However, supplies returned to normal later. In its Sunday Telegram update, the Russian Defence Ministry did not mention that drones had been downed in Voronezh. The ministry only reports the number of drones that its units have destroyed, not how many Ukraine launched. The ministry reported that a total 44 drones from Ukraine were destroyed or captured overnight. 43 of them flew over the border region Bryansk, and the other one was intercepted over Rostov in southern Russia. Ukraine has not yet commented. Ukraine has intensified its long-range drones and missile attacks inside Russia. It says these strikes are aimed at oil refineries and depots, as well as logistics hubs that feed the Kremlin’s war machine. Moscow has called the attacks terrorist acts, but Ukraine claims they were legitimate acts of self defense. The war The full-scale invasion by Russia of Ukraine began in February 2022. Reporting by Lidia Kelley in Melbourne, Editing by William Mallard & Raju Gopalakrishnan
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What's the latest climate science as COP30 gathers?
Climate change is accelerating, and extreme weather events and other impacts have a growing impact on the environment and populations around the world. Here are some of this year's developments in climate science. WARMER AND FASTER The global temperatures are climbing not only faster, but also warmer than ever before. New records have been set for 2023, 2024 and even at some points in 2025. This finding was made in a June study that updated the baseline data for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's science reports. New research indicates that the average global temperature is rising by 0.27 degrees Celsius per decade, or 50% faster than it did in the 1990s & 2000s. The sea level is also rising faster - by about 4.5 millimeters a year in the past decade, as opposed to 1.85 mm a year since 1900. Scientists warn that the world will reach a threshold of 1.5 C by 2030. After this, we may trigger irreversible, catastrophic impacts. According to the World Meteorological Organization, the Earth has already warmed up by 1.3-1.4 C compared to pre-industrial times. TIPPING POINTS The death of warm-water corals is almost irreversible due to successive marine heatwaves. This would mark the first "climate tipping point", when an environment system starts to shift from one state into another. Researchers warned in October that the Amazon rainforest would begin to shrink and change into a savannah if deforestation continued at a rapid rate as global temperatures reached 1.5 C. This is much earlier than originally estimated. Scientists said melting water from Greenland's thawing glacier could cause an earlier collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which keeps Europe's winters mild. Scientists are concerned about the declining sea ice around Antarctica where ice sheets also threaten. As in the Arctic region, the loss of ice exposes dark waters that absorb more solar radiation. This amplifies global warming. This also threatens the growth and consumption of CO2 by phytoplankton. Land on Fire Wildfires are still likely to be severe and frequent, along with heatwaves. The State of Wildfires Report, led by a coalition of universities and weather agencies, estimated that 3.7 million square kilometers (1,4 million square miles), or an area the size of India combined, had burned between March 20,24 and February 20,25. The average annual fires for the past two decades was about a third less. The fires did produce higher CO2 than previously, because more dense forests were burned. Researchers are trying to determine the health effects of heat, and how to reduce them. The U.N. weather and health agencies say that about half the population of the world is already suffering from it. They also estimate that worker productivity drops 2-3% per degree above 20 C. A study published in the Lancet journal last October estimated global losses of over $1 trillion due to this lost productivity. The definition of a heat-related fatality is not consistent internationally, but technological advances help scientists bridge data gaps to compare conditions across the globe. In Europe, for example, a team from the UK's Imperial College estimated that more than 24,400 deaths were caused by heat exposure this summer among about 30% of European population. Based on mortality trends, they attributed as much as 70% of these deaths to climate-driven heat. Another team examined mortality data, temperature data, and health parameters to estimate the number of heat-related deaths in Europe during last summer's record-breaking hot weather. This included more than 62 700 deaths, which is about 70%, across 32 countries. SCIENCE UNDER ASSESSMENT The U.S. Administration under climate-denying president Donald Trump hopes to cut funding for agencies that monitor and collect climate and weather data. This is alarming a scientific community who say that U.S. Leadership will be difficult to replace. Trump's budget request for 2026, which has yet to be approved in Congress, proposes cutting NOAA spending by over a quarter, to $4.5 billion, and halving NASA Earth Science's budget to around $1 billion. It also eliminates its climate research division. In other countries, science budgets are increasing. China, Japan, the UK and the European Union have all set records for their science research. Last month, the EU opened up its real-time monitoring of weather data to the public. Reporting by Ali Withers and Kat Daigle from Copenhagen; editing by Ni Williams
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The second external power line has been restored at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant
The Russian operators of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine have confirmed that a second external powerline has been restored. The plant, Europe's biggest with six reactors, was taken by Russian troops during the first few weeks of the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia and Ukraine accuse each of other's military actions which compromise nuclear safety. The plant does not produce electricity at the moment, but it needs external power in order to cool down the nuclear fuels and prevent the possibility of a meltdown. In a statement cited by Russian news agencies the station's Russian operators said that on Saturday, the second line, known as Ferosplavna-1, was reconnected. The completed work "significantly increased the stability of the power system at the station". Since May 7, the line was down. On October 23, the first Dniprovska Line was restored. The plant was without external power for 30 days with both lines not in operation. It relied on diesel generators. The International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency, was able to arrange a local ceasefire after fighting nearby prevented emergency crews carrying out repair works. The latest ceasefire came into effect on Friday. Chizu Nomiyama (Reporting and editing)
Shoigu leads a large Russian delegation to Egypt for talks on military issues, RIA reports
The Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, along with a large delegation that included senior nuclear and arms officials, arrived in Cairo Sunday to hold military discussions with Egypt's leaders. RIA reported.
RIA reported that Shoigu will meet with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Egypt's National Security Advisor, the Foreign and Defence Ministers, and other senior intelligence and security officials.
The Russian Security Council press service said that "priority topics" included the prospects of implementing agreements made at the highest levels, including those in military and military technical cooperation.
Shoigu is a close ally of Vladimir Putin, and was the former minister of defence who led Russia's involvement in Ukraine. He remains a major player in the Kremlin's security and defence apparatus, and has a significant voice.
Russia and Egypt have maintained close relations, with Moscow and Cairo balancing their relationship with Western allies and Gulf partners amid the conflict in Ukraine and Gaza.
The Russian delegation is made up of officials from Rosoboronexport (arms exporter), Roscosmos (space agency), Rosatom (nuclear agency), as well as the Interior, Foreign, Justice, Industry, and Industry Ministries, according to RIA. (Reporting and editing by Deepa Babyington in Melbourne. Reporting by Lidia Kelley)
(source: Reuters)