Trump announces US withdrawal from Paris climate agreement
On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate agreement. 196 nations signed the agreement, which Trump pulled out of during his first term in 2017.
The accord aims to prevent climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. It also aims to keep temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrialization levels.
The U.S. is currently the world’s second-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, following China and surpassing India. Since 1950, the United States has been responsible for about 20% of global CO2 emissions, according to data from the Global Carbon Project.
Laurence Tubiana played a key role in creating the Paris agreement. He highlighted ongoing climate disasters, such as the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, as stark reminders of the urgency of addressing climate change.
Scientists warn that the Earth’s temperature has risen 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit since the mid-1800s, surpassing the critical threshold. Scientists said 2024 was the warmest year on record, raising concerns about the long-term effects of higher temperatures.
Trump plans to increase domestic energy production, which clashes with global efforts to limit fossil fuel emissions. His withdrawal from the Paris agreement also contrasts with former President Joe Biden’s proposal to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60% by 2035.
It will be at least a year before Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the agreement is fully realized.
Olympians say medals from Paris 2024 games deteriorating
Several athletes who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics reported their medals deteriorating just months after the games ended. The French government minted more than 5,000 medals for the 2024 Olympics, including those awarded at the Paralympics.
However, several Olympians have raised concerns about their medals, reporting that they have become chipped, faded and tarnished.
Some athletes had already questioned the quality of the medals before the closing ceremony.
American skateboarder Nyjah Huston shared a photo of his damaged bronze medal on social media. He remarked it looked as though it had “gone to war and back.”
According to French news outlet La Lettre, more than 100 athletes have requested replacements for their damaged awards.
The French Mint, which produced the medals, said it has taken the issue seriously since the first complaints were made in August and has activated its internal teams to investigate the matter.
A spokesperson for the French Mint stated that while they have not disclosed the exact number of damaged medals, they are collaborating with the 2024 Olympic Organizing Committee to address the problem.
The medals drew attention last year because each contains iron from the Eiffel Tower, giving them a distinctive connection to the host city.
Officials in France have confirmed that replacements for the damaged medals will begin to be sent out in the coming weeks. Identical versions will be provided to the affected athletes.
Just Stop Oil targets Charles Darwin’s grave over climate change inaction
Climate activists took their message to a historic landmark on Monday, Jan. 13, vandalizing the grave of famed British naturalist Charles Darwin. Just Stop Oil protested at Westminster Abbey to demand urgent government action on climate change.
Two members of the group Just Stop Oil used chalk paint to write the words “1.5 is dead” on part of Darwin’s white gravestone, turning it orange. The protesters said the action was a direct response to the U.K. government’s failure to address the climate crisis.
“We’ve done it on Darwin’s grave specifically because he would be turning in that grave because of the sixth mass extinction taking place now,” one of the activists said as they were being led away by police.
The group is calling on world leaders to honor their climate commitments, particularly the 2015 Paris Agreement. World leaders agreed to keep the world’s temperature increase well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to push for limiting it to 1.5 degrees.
According to a recent report from European scientists, 2024 has been the hottest year on record, surpassing the 1.5-degree threshold. The Copernicus Climate Change Service, which monitors global temperatures, says human activity is one of the drivers behind the rising temperatures.
“We’ve already passed through the 1.5 degrees that was supposed to keep us safe,” the activist said during the protest. “Millions are being displaced. California is on fire, and three-quarters of wildlife has disappeared since the 1970s.”
The protest comes amid a wave of similar actions across the U.K. by Just Stop Oil activists. The group has previously staged high-profile demonstrations, including throwing soup on famous artworks and vandalizing historical monuments with orange paint.
The group’s message is clear, they want world leaders to take decisive action by phasing out the extraction of fossil fuels by 2030.
Westminster Abbey officials confirmed the damage to Darwin’s grave is not permanent. A spokesperson said a restoration team is working to clean the memorial.
Authorities with the London Police arrested the two activists who carried out the protest.
Biden announces new 2035 climate goals before Trump takes office
Just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, President Joe Biden is making a final push to ramp up U.S. climate goals, addressing concerns over global warming. He announced on Thursday, Dec. 19, he wants to slash greenhouse gas emissions to at least 61% below 2005 levels by 2035.
In 2021, he pledged at least a 50% reduction by 2030.
Trump has also already promised a series of executive actions that will undo most or all of Biden’s climate agenda to align with his plans to expand fossil fuel production.
While the incoming administration could dismiss Biden’s new climate goals, the Biden administration said states, cities and businesses can still aim to meet the new number with technology advancements like cheaper wind and solar energy, as well as nuclear power and grid upgrades.
A bipartisan coalition of governors from 24 states are joining the effort to meet the target. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, D, said the new collective goal will serve as their “north star.” President Biden’s target also sends a signal to other countries, including China, which is the world’s top emitter of annual carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use.
According to the Global Carbon Budget, China released 11.9 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2023, making it by far the world’s largest polluter. Several countries have updated their formal climate pledges under the Paris agreement, with the U.K. announcing that it would cut its emissions 81% below 1990 levels by 2035.
A recent study by Climate Action Tracker found that if every country followed through with their plans, global average temperatures would still be on track to rise roughly 2.6 degrees Celsius.
The Paris agreement originally hoped to reduce global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.
Trump’s trip to Notre Dame ceremony gives leaders chance to build closer ties
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is reopening the weekend of Dec. 7. And while the ceremonies will be an emotional moment for the French public, the events will also be a major opportunity for world leaders to meet.
With President-elect Donald Trump being among the roughly 50 world leaders to attend, it’s a chance for other countries to try to curry favor. It’s his first trip abroad as president-elect. Trump will attend events in Paris this weekend, as will First Lady Jill Biden.
Domestically, Macron is facing trouble after the resignation of prime minister Michel Barnier and collapse of the parliamentary government. However, Macron may be able to strengthen ties between France and President-elect Trump. The two overlapped as leaders during Trump’s first term.
Trump has met or spoken with a number of leaders since winning last month’s election, including U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came to the president-elect’s residence at Mar-a-Lago for talks last weekend. Trump has warned he will implement tariffs on many goods from Canada because of concerns about U.S. border security.
The first ceremony occurs Saturday afternoon. The archbishop of Paris will start things off by knocking on the doors to reopen them. The ceremony will include prayers, songs and remarks by President Macron to a crowd including the dozens of world leaders who accepted his invitation.
Trump to travel to Paris for reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral
President-elect Donald Trump announces plans to travel to Paris, his first trip overseas since winning the election. And a judge rejects Elon Musk’s bid to restore his $56 billion pay package. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024.
Trump to travel to Paris for reopening of Notre Dame cathedral
Trump posted his travel plans to his Truth Social platform Monday night, Dec. 2, saying in part, “President Emmanuel Macron has done a wonderful job ensuring that Notre Dame has been restored to its full level of glory, and even more so. It will be a very special day for all!”
A massive fire broke out at the cathedral in April 2019 and although it is not yet fully restored, visitors will be allowed back beginning Dec. 7. According to Paris police, Saturday’s reopening is expected to draw some 50 heads of state. Sources told CNN Trump was invited to the event by the French government.
https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1yoJMyjEyQXJQ
Macron is slated to deliver remarks at the ceremony. The French president was the first foreign leader to congratulate Trump on his victory last month, posting on X that he was ready to work with Trump again for peace and prosperity.
The news of Trump’s trip to Paris comes just days after the president-elect selected real estate mogul Charles Kushner, his son-in-law’s father, to serve as the ambassador of France during his second administration.
In 2020, Trump pardoned Charles Kushner, who had pleaded guilty in 2005 to 18 counts of tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal campaign donations. He served 14 months in prison.
Trump’s visit to Paris would be his first known trip outside of the U.S. since he visited his golf courses in Ireland and Scotland in May 2023.
Biden makes history as first US president to visit Angola
Biden’s visit is centered on the U.S.-backed Lobito corridor railway redevelopment project in Angola, Zambia and Congo. It’s meant to counter China’s influence on the continent.
This morning, I met with Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva of the Republic of Cabo Verde to discuss our growing relationship, the vibrant Cabo Verdean diaspora in the U.S., and ways we can work together to support democratic freedoms and climate resilience. pic.twitter.com/gMQQDKphsD
The goal is to increase the U.S.’ presence in the region which is rich in the critical minerals used to make things like electric vehicle batteries and other electronic devices, as well as clean energy technologies.
On his way to Angola, Biden stopped in the island nation of Cape Verde for a short, closed-door meeting with that country’s prime minister.
Raskin challenges Nadler for top Democratic House Judiciary Committee spot
Raskin is a former constitutional law professor who served as the Democrats’ lead prosecutor in the Trump impeachment trial after the Jan. 6 attack. Nadler has held the top job on the committee since 2019 and is currently serving in his 17th term in Congress.
Raskin, who is the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, said in a statement Monday that come next year, the Judiciary under his leadership would become “the headquarters of congressional opposition to authoritarianism.”
Judge rules Elon Musk’s $56B Tesla pay package can’t be reinstated
On Monday, a Delaware judge ruled Tesla failed to prove its fiscal plan for the CEO was fair, saying the board was under too much influence from Musk when it approved the massive payout in the form of stock options. The package was the largest compensation plan in U.S. history for a public company executive.
In a post on X, which Musk also owns, Tesla said it plans to appeal the decision.
A Delaware judge just overruled a supermajority of shareholders who own Tesla and who voted twice to pay @elonmusk what he’s worth.
The court’s decision is wrong, and we’re going to appeal.
This ruling, if not overturned, means that judges and plaintiffs’ lawyers run Delaware…
2,500 giant panda sculptures on display in Hong Kong
It was “panda-monium” at the Hong Kong International Airport on Monday as 2,500 giant panda sculptures were on display. It was all part of a launch ceremony for the panda-themed exhibition called “PANDA GO! FEST HK.”
Starting Saturday, the sculptures will be on the move throughout Hong Kong visiting various landmarks. The designs of six special editions were inspired by the half-dozen giant pandas currently living in Hong Kong.
What is “brain rot?” According to Oxford, the definition is the “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as a result of overconsumption of material — particularly online content — considered to be trivial or unchallenging.”
Oxford says it selected “brain rot” after a vote of 37,000 people, public discussion, and analysis. The publisher said “brain rot” has gained new prominence this year as a term used to reference the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content.
French president tours Notre Dame as cathedral prepares to reopen after fire
The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is reopening to the public. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on Friday, Nov. 29 to workers and donors who helped restore the nearly 1,000-year-old cathedral over the last five-and-a-half years, calling their efforts “the project of the century.”
“Don’t forget that you repaired, that you contributed to reinvent, that you loved this place and that you rebuilt it,” Macron said. “Don’t forget that during these five years of your life, you shared together, without a doubt, the most beautiful project of the century.”
Macron also toured the cathedral, where he had a chance to look at the new oak roof and the restored windows. He said that it felt like they were “rediscovering” it.
Notre Dame caught fire in April 2019. The blaze severely damaged the building and nearly took down its main bell towers.
In the years since, the cathedral has been closed to the public. But after firefighters contained the blaze, construction and restoration workers have worked on rebuilding the Paris landmark.
The effort focused on using construction methods that would align with the way the cathedral was first built in the 12th century.
French authorities still don’t know the cause of the fire, but think either an electrical issue or a burning cigarette may have started it.
The cathedral will reopen to the public after a ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 7. It will host a series of special masses in the first few days afterward.
Police reportedly used tear gas against protesters as officers in riot gear pushed back demonstrators. Activists accuse Israel of war crimes as the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 43,000 Palestinians have now been killed in the war. One activist declared, “We are not afraid of the police.”
At least one pro-Palestinian protest is expected to be held about 1.5 miles from the match on Thursday. The group leading the demonstration called Urgence Palestine is calling on the Israeli soccer team to be banned from competition over the war in Gaza.
Paris police say 4,000 officers will be working with 2,500 police officers around the event, and 1,500 officers in positions across the city.
Authorities also said only French and Israeli flags will be allowed inside the stadium.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to attend the match as a symbol of “fraternity and solidarity” in the wake of the violence in Amsterdam. Attendance is expected to be low with reportedly only around a quarter of the 80,000-seat stadium to be filled.
Bells of Notre Dame sound in Paris for the first time since 2019 fire
April 2019 saw the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris burn, with the iconic spire collapsing as the metal roof fell. Now, a little over five years later, the cathedral is about to reopen to the public.
French President Emmanuel Macron set an ambitious goal to have the building reopened in five years back in 2019. Now, just a little over five years later, the renovated cathedral’s bells rang for the first time on Friday, Nov. 8.
Notre Dame’s eight bells did not fall during the original disaster, which could have caused much further structural collapse. Experts say the bells could have acted like wrecking balls, destroying both towers, and the entire cathedral with them.
Old bells were replaced in 2013, due to some older bronze bells becoming discordant with time. One new bell joined older survivors of the fire for use during the Paris Olympics in July 2024.
Reuters
Onlookers and residents of Paris heard the bells on Friday ring one at a time, until they all chimed in harmony for around five minutes. The cathedral will be fully reopened to the public on Dec. 8. Macron will speak to mark the occasion on Dec. 7.
The bells of Notre Dame in Paris rang out together on Friday for the first time since a 2019 fire that devastated the historic cathedral, AFP reporters said.https://t.co/P7BQwDtrLZpic.twitter.com/zvjTbnlvsP
Now that the bells are back, the next thing to be finished is the famous organ, which did not sustain fire damage. The organ did have water damage due to firefighters putting out the flames, but it was saved and restored. Every piece was dismantled and cleaned or decontaminated. The organ will be played at the reopening ceremony later this year.
Australian breakdancer Raygun reveals she is retiring following backlash
As reported on Thursday, Nov. 7, Raygun, the Australian breakdancer, who gained instant fame during the 2024 Olympic Games said she’s retiring from the sport, citing backlash online and beyond. Raygun, whose real name is Rachel Gunn, broke the news on an Australian podcast this week.
She told the hosts that she wouldn’t compete in the Olympics again if given the chance. She said that she still breaks but doesn’t plan to participate competitively.
“I’m not going to compete anymore, no, no,” Gunn said.
Gunn notably failed to score a single point in the Olympic competition. Online reaction to her performance was swift from gifs of Gunn’s dance moves.
In the weeks following her performance in August, the negative criticism turned into a movement. A Change.org petition was even created to get answers about the selection process for breaking during the Summer Games.
Gunn said everything from hate mail to conspiracy theories took all of the fun out of competing in the sport.
Although breaking is not on the schedule for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Gunn said she won’t be breaking competitively anymore. Instead, she will just be doing it for fun and encouraging others to get out and bust a move.
Gunn said she’s kept her head up reading messages of support from fans and blocking out the negativity.
Despite her lack of success in Paris, Gunn represented Australia in the World Championships three times and won the Oceania Breaking Championships last year.
