World News
Kwasi Kwarteng named first black business secretary as Alok Sharma leads United Nations COP26
The mini reshuffle means that Kwarteng, who has been Conservative MP for Spelthorne since 2010, will be first black secretary of state. He is currently the only black politician in the Cabinet.
Original link
2021 seen as a year to make up lost ground on climate change
The platform's seven sets of Laudato Si' goals include steps like achieving carbon neutrality, defending all life, using less plastic and eating less meat, and divesting from fossil fuels while reinvesting in renewable energy.
Biden has made the climate crisis one of four priorities once he enters the White House Jan. 20. On that day, he has said, he will advise the U.N. that the U.S. will return to the Paris Agreement on climate change, a decision that would take effect 30 days later.
climate policy in 2021 pledge for reducing our greenhouse gas emissions" ahead of COP 26, set for November in Glasgow, Scotland
The basis of that pledge is likely to be Biden's climate plan — spending $2 trillion over four years to decarbonize the U.S. power sector by 2035 and shift the economy to 100% clean energy and net-zero emissions no later than 2050, creating tens of millions of jobs and revamping the nation's infrastructure along the way.
that climate and environmental justice will play a central role in stimulus or infrastructure packages passed by Congress.

the Green Climate Fund - the 100% Clean Economy Act in the House and the Environmental Justice for All Act and Environmental Justice Legacy Pollution Cleanup Act the environmental recommendations listed
Original link
British-Indian minister Alok Sharma given sole charge of UN climate summit
Alok Sharma has relinquished his role as Business Secretary in a mini-reshuffle to take sole charge as President of COP26 — the United Nations climate summit Alok Sharma, one of the Indian-origin ministers in UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s cabinet, has relinquished his role as Business Secretary in a mini-reshuffle to take sole charge as President of COP26 — the United Nations climate summit scheduled for Glasgow, Scotland, in November.

commitments and financing for 100% renewable energy for all people, including those lacking access to electricity; net-zero emissions from wealthy nations by 2030; an end of financing for fossil fuel exploration, industrial agriculture and deforestation; and respect for the legal rights of Indigenous communities.

accelerate renewable energy development; ensure universal access to clean water and air, affordable clean energy, and food grown with respect for the land; create jobs paying family-sustaining wages to workers in safe conditions.
Original link
Six Takeaways on What the USMCA Means to Texas and the World
Texas has a special trade relationship with Mexico and Canada, with the two countries employing roughly 1 million Texans and the relationship resulting in $270 billion in trade annually. You can find more takeaways from the United States and these countries' trade representatives below.
Original link
2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference - Wikipedia

The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, is the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference. It is scheduled to be held in Glasgow, Scotland from 1 to 12 November 2021 under the presidency of the United Kingdom.[1][2] The conference is set to incorporate the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the 16th meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP16), and the third meeting of the parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA3).

This conference is the first time that Parties are expected to commit to enhanced ambition since COP21. Parties are required to carry out every five years, as outlined in the Paris Agreement, a process colloquially known as the 'ratchet mechanism'.[3]

The venue for the conference is the SEC Centre in Central Glasgow. Originally due to be held in November 2020 at the same venue,[4] the event was postponed for twelve months in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth Claire Perry O'Neill was originally appointed president of the conference, but was abruptly removed on 31 January 2020, several months after she had stepped down as an MP.[5][6] Former Prime Minister David Cameron and former First Secretary William Hague were unwilling to accept the role,[7] but, on 13 February 2020, Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary Alok Sharma was appointed.[8] On 8 January 2021, Sharma was succeded by Kwasi Kwarteng as Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Secretary and moved to the Cabinet Office, in order to focus on the presidency full-time, in a move that was described as not a surprise.[9]

Nigel Topping was appointed as the UK government's High Level Climate Action Champion for COP26;[10] he is the former CEO of We Mean Business, a climate change action organisation.[11] Also appointed by the Prime Minister and taking a finance advisory position is Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of England.[12]

Italy will partner with the UK in leading COP26. For the most part, their role will be in preparatory work such as the hosting of a pre-COP session and an event for young people called Youth4Climate 2020: Driving Ambition. These events were scheduled to take place between 28 September and 2 October 2020 in Milan.

Under the Paris Agreement, countries submitted Intended nationally determined contributions, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to a "business as usual" scenario. Under the framework of the Paris Agreement, each country was expected to submit enhanced nationally determined contributions every five years, to ratchet up ambition to mitigate climate change.[14] Since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015, at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, the conference of 2020 was set to be the first iteration of the ratchet mechanism. Future iterations will also take into account the "global stocktake", the first of which is in 2023.

In light of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, the Conference of Parties was postponed until 1–12 November, 2021.[15] Host nations Italy and the United Kingdom were heavily affected by the pandemic, and the venue of the conference, the SEC Centre in Glasgow, was converted in May 2020 into a temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients.[16]

UNFCCC Secretary Patricia Espinosa tweeted that "in light of the ongoing, worldwide effects of COVID-19, holding an ambitious, inclusive, COP26 in November 2020 is not possible."[17] She also indicated that when economies restart, this will be an opportunity to "shape the 21st century economy in ways that are clean, green, healthy, just, safe and more resilient."[17] The rearranged date was announced in May 2020.[2] Earlier in 2021, the UK and Italy are due to host summits of the G7 and G20 respectively.[18]

Independent observers noted that though not directly related, the postponement gave the international community time to respond to the outcome of the United States presidential election, held in November 2020.[19][20] President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement, although this could not take effect until 4 November 2020; while his Democratic challengers pledged to immediately rejoin the Paris Agreement and increase ambition to reduce emissions.

Previous summits have been sponsored by fossil fuel companies. To reduce this influence, the UK government decided that sponsors "have to have real commitments in place to help them reach net zero in the near future".[22] The first principal partners are the British companies SSE, Scottish Power, NatWest Group and National Grid.[

Original link
Trump backs down from threat to skip next GOP debate unless he's paid
Republican presidential front-runner had said he would boycott upcoming primary debate on CNN unless he was paid for his appearance CNN refused; Trump relented but said he is irritated by coverage of his campaign Fifth GOP debate is Tuesday, Dec.
Original link
China's first manned electric aircraft is ready for production
The RX1E aircraft is powered by rechargeable lithium batteries The plane can fly for 45-60 minutes on one 90 minute charge It will be used to train pilots and conduct sightseeing flights The model was given approval for production on Thursday China's first manned electric aircraft has been given a licence for production.
Original link