Heavy rains, typhoons, and hurricanes have led to serious flooding in places around the world. Deadly flooding has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes across affected countries in central Africa, central Europe, and Asia.
Published in “Asia”
Health care workers have begun a huge effort to vaccinate children in Gaza against polio. The effort comes as the area faces a polio outbreak for the first time in 25 years. The vaccination drive is being made possible by short breaks in the fighting between Israel and Hamas.
Last week Thailand lost its prime minister and quickly got another one. On Wednesday, Thailand's courts removed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Two days later, Parliament chose the daughter of a popular politician with a troubled history as the country's new prime minister.
The world's countries have reached a new climate agreement. For the first time, the deal clearly calls on countries to move away from using fossil fuels to create energy. But many people say the agreement doesn't go far enough to protect the planet from global warming.
Since last Thursday, representatives of hundreds of nations have been talking at an important climate meeting in Dubai. There has been progress, but there are also challenges. The biggest question is whether to end fossil fuels or just reduce them.
Tensions are rapidly rising between North and South Korea. The situation got worse quickly after North Korea launched a rocket that sent a spy satellite into space. Both sides have now pulled away from a 2018 agreement that was meant to prevent conflicts.
Last Wednesday, US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a four-hour meeting near San Francisco, California. The meeting was aimed at improving the relationship between the two countries, which has been getting worse in recent years.
Yesterday, the National Zoo in Washington, DC said goodbye to its giant pandas, as they left for China. It's the first time the zoo hasn't had pandas in 23 years, and it may mark the end of a 50-year program. The pandas will be greatly missed by the zoo and its visitors.
As winter comes to the northern part of India, the air pollution in the capital city of New Delhi is reaching levels that are too dangerous to breathe. The problem is so bad that schools have been closed, and people are being told to stay indoors.
On Saturday, the militant Palestinian group Hamas surprised Israel with a large, violent attack. Hundreds of people were killed, and over 150 were taken prisoner. Israel has responded by declaring war on Hamas, killing hundreds in its attacks on the Gaza Strip.
Over the weekend, people around the world turned out in huge numbers to protest the burning of fossil fuels. The protests - the largest since before the coronavirus pandemic - were meant to send a strong message to political leaders: "Take climate action now."