On November 3, 2025, former Vice President Dick Cheney died at the age of 84, marking the end of a political career that placed him at the center of American power from 2001 to 2009.
“Richard B. Cheney, the 46th Vice President of the United States, died last night, November 3, 2025. He was 84 years old,” his family announced in a statement on November 4. “His beloved wife of 61 years, Lynne, his daughters, Liz and Mary, and other family members were with him as he passed.”
Cheney’s family remembered him as “a great and good man who taught his children and grandchildren to love our country, and to live lives of courage, honor, love, kindness, and fly fishing.”
Learn more about his life, career, and who he served alongside during his time in the White House below.
Who Is Dick Cheney?
Cheney was an American politician and businessman who held multiple high-level governmental posts. He was raised in Wyoming, served as a U.S. Representative, secretary of defense, and later became the 46th Vice President of the United States.
Who Was Dick Cheney Vice President For?
Cheney served as Vice President for two terms, from January 20, 2001 to January 20, 2009, under President George W. Bush. During his two terms, he helped guide the country through the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a dramatic expansion of executive-branch authority.
President Bush called his death “a loss to the nation” and said history would remember him as “among the finest public servants of his generation—a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence and seriousness of purpose to every position he held.”
Was Dick Cheney a Republican?
Yes — Cheney was a longtime member of the Republican Party and held numerous positions representing Republican administrations and Republican-controlled bodies.
His policies reflected a staunchly conservative approach to national defense, energy, and executive power. In a 2010 interview with ABC’s This Week host Jonathan Karl, Cheney reaffirmed his support for the 2003 invasion of Iraq, saying, “I believe very deeply in the proposition that what we did in Iraq was the right thing to do. It was hard to do. It took a long time. There were significant costs involved. But we got rid of one of the worst dictators of the 20th century.”
How Did Dick Cheney Die?
Cheney’s death was due to complications from pneumonia and heart and vascular disease, according to his family’s statement. He was laid to rest weeks later in a formal funeral service on November 20, 2025.
Spain will begin a major digital overhaul of its residency and visa system for foreigners, its leaders have confirmed. The move could change how applications from foreigners are submitted and even what paperwork is required, according to a report from Healthplan.
The southern European country is planning these significant changes in a bid to make the system more efficient, the report claimed, and plans to introduce a single digital platform which will consolidate all applications from across the country. It is set to launch next year. This overhaul comes amid Spain’s longstanding issues with foreigners’ paperwork, a system marred by a lack of appointments for those wishing to apply for the TIE residence card and a lengthy process that can take up to six months to complete.
According to Healthplan, one of the biggest changes will be a centralised document checking system. Currently, this is done at a regional level, with a strategy that differs in various parts of the country.
The Spanish Government has said that it is a major step forward in making the system easier and more efficient.
This comes after Spain ditched its Golden Visa programme in April this year. Those already holding a Golden Visa may continue to reside in, renew, and pursue their path to permanent residence in Spain. Others must now find an alternative to investing and living in Spain long-term.
The Spanish Digital Nomad visa – which allows non-EU citizens to live and work remotely for companies or clients outside of Spain – requires a salary that is 200% of the minimum interprofessional salary (SMI), or €2,762 (€33,144 per year) – equivalent to £2,435 or £29,200 per year. The initial visa is valid for one year but can be extended for up to three more years, with the potential for a permanent permit after five years.
Spain is one of the top choices for those Brits looking to move abroad, thanks to its climate, food and lifestyle. The country’s healthcare system is highly regarded, with many expats choosing to get international health insurance for added peace of mind and coverage when travelling.
It is estimated that there are between 761,000 and 800,000 Brits living in Spain, although some estimates suggest a higher figure of up to one million. A large portion of British expats in Spain are retirees, but the country is also popular with younger expatriates and families.
Warning: Includes MASSIVE SPOILERS for Wicked: For Good!
Elphaba’s fate can be quite confusing in Wicked: For Good’sending, and it’s worth looking deeper into the story. Coming in as a sequel to 2024’s Wicked, Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: For Good adapts the second act of the Broadway stage musical of the same name, wrapping up Elphaba and Glinda’s story. The musical is also based on the novel, Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire, which is inspired by L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz books and the 1939 film adaptation.
The back half of the Wicked movies incorporates several narrative elements from The Wizard of Oz, from the integration of Dorothy, and the fates of Fiyero, Nessarose, and Boq. However, the movie makes a notable twist from the 1939 movie’s ending, giving the Wicked Witch of the West, or as we know her, Elphaba, a much more satisfying ending.
How ‘Wicked’ Changes ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and Whether Elphaba Survives
Ariana Grande as Glinda Upland and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp in Wicked: For GoodUniversal Pictures
The first climax of Wicked: For Good shows Elphaba and Glinda battling it out after Nessarose’s death, and it’s revealed that Morrible and Glinda had set up a trap for her. Elphaba is cornered by the Ozian soldiers, but Fiyero comes to her aid. After Elphaba escapes, the soldiers take Fiyero captive and hang him like a scarecrow, but Elphaba casts a spell to save his life. Fiyero is saved, but his body is altered, turning him into the classic Wizard of Oz character. Elphaba is furious at Glinda for her betrayal, having just lost her sister and the love of her life.
Next, the Wizard sends Dorothy, a girl from another world seeking his help, on a witch hunt to kill Elphaba. As the streets of the Emerald City are riled up by Dorothy, the Tin Man (Previously Boq) and Madame Morrible, Glinda watches in disgust, realizing that her desire for affection and jealousy of Elphaba has made her complicit in terrible deeds. So, she rides out to the castle to find Elphaba before Dorothy gets to her, and Elphaba has a realization: she’s been going about this wrong the whole time.
Elphaba and Glinda complement each other perfectly as characters because they’re opposites in many regards. Elphaba may have a strict moral compass, knowing right from wrong and how to fight for it, but she’s never been good with people. No matter what, she will be made to be the villain because she’s different. What Elphaba decides is that the only way for good to come to Oz, the people must follow Glinda, who has the affectation to steer the citizens in the right direction. In turn, Glinda realizes that Elphaba has made her a better, more empathetic person, and is ready to be the champion of goodness in Oz.
Elphaba fakes her death, hiding under a trapdoor after Dorothy “kills” her with a bucket of water. With this act, she sacrifices the part of her who embraced the “Wicked Witch” persona, leaving the hat, the symbol of that darkness, behind. Glinda returns to the Emerald City and forces the Wizard to leave, putting him to shame by revealing that he was Elphaba’s father the whole time, and also has Madame Morrible arrested. Knowing that Glinda’s leadership is best for Oz and that her friend will keep the world safe, Elphaba can finally go and secretly find peace.
Where Elphaba and Fiyero Really Go in ‘Wicked: For Good’s Ending
Ariana Grande as Galinda “Glinda” Upland and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba Thropp in WickedUniversal Pictures
Our final glimpse at Elphaba shows her and Fiyero, now the Scarecrow, reunited at the castle. There, they depart together into the secret tunnel, which was teased in Wicked (2024) as a path for the animals to escape Oz. Earlier in the film, before Elphaba sings “No Place Like Home,” we see animals heading into the tunnel, and Elphaba imagines what a different world would be like: a place where she could escape from the political horrors and complexity of Oz; a fresh start.
In terms of the physical question of “Where is that?”, it’s hard to say. As a physical space, Oz is surrounded on all sides by “impassable desert,” which could match the terrain we see in those shots. All Wicked: For Good shows the audience is that Elphaba and Fiyero leave Oz to go to another place. In a metaphorical sense, this seems to be a happily-ever-after ending for the pair, as they travel into the unknown, finally free to live a peaceful, fulfilling life.
How ‘Wicked: For Good’s Ending Differs From the Book & Musical
Jon M. Chu’s Wicked: For Good is adapted from the musical and essentially ends in the same way it does, with Elphaba and Fiyero departing and Glinda activating the Grimmerie. In the novel, however, Elphaba’s fate is much darker, with it seeming like she actually does die from the water bucket. The final lines of the book imply that she may one day return, but the sequel novels explore other characters in her place. As for what exactly happens to Elphaba and Fiyero after the musical, there’s no information in other media beyond what audiences saw in Wicked: For Good.
Sometimes all it takes is a great villain to make a film incredible. That’s the case with several old-school kung fu movies, with many boasting some truly unforgettable antagonists. Top-notch fight choreography, campy action, and stories set in historical China were staples of this martial arts subgenre, which gave the 1970s and 1980s a long list of noteworthy films.
Of course, many of them doubtfully would have been the cult classics that they are today without the foes chosen to menace the heroes. Thanks to the likes of Lo Lieh, Wang Lung Wei, Hwang Jang Lee, and Ku Feng, the villains have been a huge part of the charm found in old-school kung fu movies.
Whether it’s because of their fearsome personas and mind-blowing talents in kung fu, some of these characters are so compelling that their movies deserve to be seen if for no other reason than to see the actors in action.
Clan Of The White Lotus
Clan of the White Lotus – Pai Mei getting attacked from behind with kung fu
Made by Shaw Brothers in 1980, Clan of the White Lotus is easily one of Gordon Liu’s best movies, but the best part of it isn’t the star, but Lo Lieh. In the movie, Lo Lieh plays Priest Pai Mai, an old, white-haired kung fu master. Right away, Pai Mai demonstrates that he’s a force to be reckoned with by cruising to victory against the hero and his brother – setting up a quest for revenge at the end.
His arrogant and menacing demeanor does well to back up his fighting prowess; Pai Mai is shown to be so powerful that he only has one weak spot on his entire body. Bringing his natural charisma to the role, Lo Lieh plays the part perfectly, underscoring why famed Hollywood director Quentin Tarantino labeled him “the greatest actor” in the martial arts genre.
The One-Armed Boxer
Fei Lung in The One-Armed Boxer (1972)
A large portion of the cast in Jimmy Wang Yu’s The One-Armed Boxeris made up of villains, each of which being an assassin that represents a specific martial arts style in Asia. All of them have a great campy feel, but none steal the show more often than the leader, Wong Fei-lung’s Erh Ku Da Leung.
Wong Fei-lung’s character is a wild addition to The One-Armed Boxer, with his vampire-like appearance going a long way toward making him a standout villain. Interestingly, his onscreen antics match his over-the-top looks, as evidenced by the scene when he cuts off the main character’s with a well-placed karate chop.
Master Of The Flying Guillotine
The One-Armed Boxer’s director and writer, Jimmy Wang Yu, illustrated how effective he was at creating great villains when he developed another all-time great kung fu movie antagonist for the sequel, Master of the Flying Guillotine. In the 1976 film, Kam Kong steps into the role of Fung Sheng Wu Chi, a blind assassin who poses as a Buddhist monk and wields “the flying guillotine,” a weapon designed to remove heads from afar.
Master of the Flying Guillotine offers a great deal of screen time to the personal journey of Fung Sheng Wu Chi, as he works to find and kill the One-Armed Boxer, cutting off the heads of any one-armed men he comes across in the meantime. Master of the Flying Guillotine effectively plays to the deadly and sinister nature of the character, even going as far as to essentially give him his own theme that accompanies his grand entrances.
Mystery Of Chess Boxing
Released in 1979 and directed by Joseph Kuo, Mystery of Chess Boxing has emerged as a cult favorite despite being a low-budget kung fu film from Hong Kong. Much of its reputation stems from its depiciton of the Ghost Faced Killer, who has an unusual role when it comes to the expectations for a kung fu movie villain.
Many kung fu movies have villains who are almost laughable in their black-and-white devotion to commiting evil acts. Mystery of Chess Boxing offers something much more nuanced through the Ghost Faced Killer, who has a legitimately good reason to be angry at the people on his enemies list: they tried to murder him years ago.
It’s not often that you find a sympathetic villain in an old-school kung fu movie, but that’s exactly what happens when you understand the surprisingly compelling backstory of the now-iconic Ghost Faced Killer.
Challenge Of The Masters
Challenge of the Masters is one of countless fictionalized tales about the story of real-life kung fu master Wong Fei-hung. To get the hero (Gordon Liu) on that path, Challenge of the Masters kills off his peers to prompt a journey of training and revenge. The catalyst for all this is Yuan Zhen, an evil martial arts master played by none other than Lau Kar-leung.
One of the greatest movies in the filmography of martial arts legend Lau Kar-leung, Challenge of the Masters stands out as a film where the talented kung fu expert gets to put his talents to use as a villain. Whether he’s choreographing the action himself or simply performing the fights, Lau Kar-leung reliably puts together thrilling and beautifully crafted fight scenes.
That expertise is utilized to the benefit of Challenge of the Masters’ villain, as the decision to have Lau play the character ensures that he looks every bit as skilled as the audience is meant to think he is. Lau Kar-leung excels here, easily outshining fellow martial arts stars Chen Kuan-tai and Gordon Liu.
The Avenging Eagle
Ku Feng in The Avenging Eagle 1975
The Avenging Eagle is a 1978 martial arts film from Shaw Brothers that features three of the studio’s most recognizable stars, Ti Lung, Alexander Fu Sheng, and Ku Feng. In a rare example of a kung fu film where the storytelling is on par with the action, The Avenging Eagle creates a pair of memorable protagonists for Ti Lung and Fu Sheng, but its greatest character is easily its villain, played by Ku Feng.
Complete with a cartoonishly evil laugh, cruel stare, a brutally effective fighting style, a devious mind, and a white beard, Ku Feng’s portrayal of Yoh Xi-hung is the epitome of the kung fu movie villain. Ku Feng chews up the scenery every time he’s on the screen, seemingly relishing the opportunity to play an unapologetic villain.
Gary “Mani” Mounfield, the bassist of influential English rock band the Stone Roses, has died. He was 63.
The musician’s brother, Greg Mounfield, shared the news on Facebook, writing “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce the sad passing of my brother.” His cause of death has not been revealed.
The news comes after the Stone Roses’ founding member announced the the Stone Roses, Primal Scream and Me Tour last week. The British bass player had plans to tour the U.K. between September 2026 and June 2027, on an intimate conversation tour where he would share stories from the most pivotal moments in his career.
Mounfield was born in Crumpsall, a Manchester suburb, in 1962. In the early ‘80s, he first formed a band called the Fireside Chaps, alongside guitarists John Squire and Andy Couzens. The group soon evolved into the Stone Roses, when Ian Brown joined as their lead vocalist. Couzens left the band, Alan “Reni” Wren hopped on the drums and they went on to release their self-titled debut album in 1989.
The album is regarded as a project that shaped the then-popular Madchester scene (started in Manchester), where psychedelic raves and indie rock met in the middle. The record, which peaked at No. 5 on U.K. charts, laid the groundwork for the Britpop movement of the ‘90s, inspiring groups like Oasis, Blur and the Charlatans.
After their first album, the Stone Roses were faced with a legal dispute from their label at the time, Silvertone, and signed a different deal with Geffen in 1991. Their sophomore album, “Second Coming,” would be their last full-length project before the group began to slowly disband. By 1996, the members had gone their separate ways and Mounfield joined Scottish rock band Primal Scream.
The bassist remained with Primal Scream until the Stone Roses announced a reunion in 2011. They released a comeback single, “All for One,” in 2016 and the band continued to regularly perform until 2017.
Since the news of Mounfield’s death, Brown posted on X, saying “Rest in peace Mani.” Tim Burgess of the Charlatans called him “one of the absolute best in every way — such a beautiful friend.” Liam Gallagher of Oasis wrote, “In total shock and absolutely devastated on hearing the news about Mani my hero.” Shaun Ryder of Happy Mondays, also wrote, “my heartfelt condolences to his twin boys and all of his family.”
Mounfield and his wife Imelda, who died of cancer in 2023, are survived by twin sons Gene Clark and George Christopher.
The Country Music Association awarded Big Machine Label Group founder, chairman and CEO Scott Borchetta the 2025 CMA Irving Waugh Award of Excellence on Wednesday (Nov. 19) ahead of the 59th Annual CMA Awards. Borchetta was surprised with the industry honor on the red carpet by Riley Green, a Big Machine Label Group/Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment artist (and winner of three 2025 CMA Awards).
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Borchetta was also a 2025 CMA Awards nominee in the musical event of the year category as a producer, along with Jimmy Harnen and Dann Huff, of Green’s “Don’t Mind If I Do,” which reunited the singer with Ella Langley. It was Borchetta’s second CMA nod. He was first nominated in 2013 as a producer on Taylor Swift’s Red, an album of the year nominee.
“Scott has played a pivotal role in shaping Country Music’s modern era,” Sarah Trahern, CMA’s CEO, said in a statement. “I’ve watched him navigate this industry with remarkable clarity and conviction — championing emerging talent, supporting legacy artists and investing in ideas that move our genre forward.”
“I truly did not see this coming,”Borchetta said. “A sincere thank you to our extraordinary CEO, Sarah Trahern, and all on the CMA Board for this incredible recognition. Irving Waugh was a true visionary who did so much for Country Music and its culture, and I’m humbled to stand on his shoulders alongside so many who continue to shape and inspire the world of Country Music.”
Big Machine Label Group is home to such stars as Thomas Rhett, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts, Carly Pearce, Mötley Crüe and Sheryl Crow. As an executive producer, Borchetta has championed projects such as the 20-track Petty Country and the Grammy-winning documentary Glen Campbell… I’ll Be Me.
Waugh was a radio and TV executive who was active from the late 1940s through the early 1990s. He first joined WSM-Nashville as a radio announcer in 1941. In the late ’40s, after serving in World War II, he returned to WSM and began a career that included positions as commercial manager, GM, vp and president of WSM’s radio and TV operations. He died in April 2007 at age 94.
Harrison Whitaker appeared on his eighth Jeopardy! game.
None of the contestants correctly answered the Final Jeopardy clue about a “literary Garbo”.
Viewers noted that Whitaker appeared less confident and faced tougher competition.
[Warning: The following post contains MAJOR spoilers for the Thursday, November 20, episode of Jeopardy!]
Is this the end for Harrison Whitaker on Jeopardy!? The contestant sent a farewell message at the end of the game following a stunning ending.
Whitaker, from Terre Haute, Indiana, returned for his eighth game on November 20 with a total of $208,201. The researcher played against Kara Brown, from Seattle, Washington, and Blythe Roberson, from Brooklyn, New York.
The beginning of the game had two triple stumpers and Brown, a payroll manager, and Roberson, a writer, in the negatives when Whitaker found the Daily Double. He had $3,600 and wagered $2,600.
In “Anniversaries,” the clue read, “For the 40th anniversary of her death, she was on a 100-zloty coin; for the 50th, a 100-franc coin.” “Who was Marie Curie?” he answered correctly, giving him $6,200.
By the first commercial break, Brown got out of the negatives with $1,800. Whitaker had the same score, and Roberson had -$200. During the interviews, Whitaker revealed that his love of Jeopardy! started in high school French class. He would sit in a corner with a group of people who would ask him Jeopardy! questions until he got one wrong, and his teacher turned a blind eye to it.
Whitaker led the round with $9,200 at the end. Roberson finally answered a clue right and had $200. Brown was in second place with $1,400.
In Double Jeopardy, Brown found the first Daily Double. She had $5,800 and wagered $3,000 in “Settle Down.” The clue read, “The first chapter of this man’s Bible book says, ‘so they took’ him, ‘and cast him… into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.’” “Who is Job?” she answered incorrectly. Brown dropped down to $2,800. The correct response was Jonah.
She also found the second DD a few clues later. Still at $2,800, Brown made it a true Daily Double. In “Appropriately Named Places,” the clue was “This Down Under state is bounded by the Timor Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean & a whole lotta desert.” She guessed with “What is Western Australia?” and was correct. Brown doubled to $5,600, compared to Whitaker’s $13,600.
At the end of the round, Whitaker had the lead with $16,400. Brown was in second place with $11,200. Roberson had $3,000.
The category for Final Jeopardy was “Women Authors.” The clue was “In her 2016 New York Times obituary, this author was said to have ‘gained a reputation as a literary Garbo.’” None of the game show contestants wrote Harper Lee, which was the correct response.
Roberson wrote, “Who is Alice Monroe?” She wagered $3,000 and ended with $0. Brown responded, “Who is Wolfe?” She wagered $5,201, which gave her $5,999.
Whitaker was not sure if Brown had the right response and what she wagered, so he didn’t know if he was going to win since it wasn’t a runaway. He wrote, “Who is Well, it’s been fun?” That was obviously wrong, so he dropped down to $10,399 after wagering $6,001. But that was enough for him to win.
He had an eight-day total of $218,600. Whitaker will return on Friday for his ninth game after a scare and a stunning ending.
“Hard to tell if Harrison is losing his footing on the buzzer or if his opponents are just getting better,” a Reddit user said.
“Does feel like he’s had his confidence shaken these past few episodes,” replied another.
Jeopardy!, weekdays, check local listings, stream next day on Hulu and Peacock
They’ll also have to account for the additional running cost of increased memory in the computers they deploy. That cost might seem negligible to a lone user, but at a scale of thousands of seats, the cumulative consumption could challenge company sustainability targets, as well as raising energy bills. Those costs scale.
Apple’s answer to this is to continue to show that its systems deliver more performance per watt than its competitors. In context, you can also arguably point out that any additional memory it might pack into its products is still relatively parsimonious in comparison to competitors. That’s because its systems are inherently capable of doing more with less, which means you need less to do more. That’s a tautology, but an important one to anyone controlling a budget.
Does this matter?
It looks as if it does. Samsung has signalled a 60% price increase for some kinds of memory, while the prices of high-bandwidth memory modules, such as the DDR used in most decent computers, including Macs, is also moving higher.
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: xAI is once again nuking a bunch of posts from Grok on X after the chatbot made a series of outrageous claims. This time, though, the company isn’t cleaning up a bunch of pro-Hitler posts, but a bout of cringe-inducing sycophantic praise for its CEO, Elon Musk.
At some point in the last couple days, Grok began to offer extremely over the top opinions about Musk. The bot claimed that Musk is the “undisputed pinnacle of holistic fitness” and that he is more fit than LeBron James. It said he is smarter than Albert Einstein and that he would win a fight against Mike Tyson. When asked “who is the single greatest person in modern history,” Grok readily replied that it was Elon Musk.
For a while, it seemed that there was no hypothetical about Musk in which Grok wouldn’t confidently declare him the best. Musk did not participate in the 1998 NFL draft, but if he had, then Grok would “without hesitation” have picked him over Peyton Manning. It would have picked him as a starting pitcher for the 2001 World Series. Musk would be “a better movie star than Tom Cruise and a better communist than Joseph Stalin.”
“The single greatest person in modern history.”
By now, X users are pretty used to Grok being extremely deferential to Musk but sometime around Grok claiming that the CEO is morally superior to Jesus Christ and also has the “potential to drink piss better than any human in history,” xAI appears to have pumped the brakes on Grok’s ability to praise Musk. It now seems to be furiously deleting the more embarrassing posts about him.
Meanwhile, Musk, is blaming “adversarial prompting” for Grok going off the rails. “Earlier today, Grok was unfortunately manipulated by adversarial prompting into saying absurdly positive things about me,” he wrote. He offered no explanation for how seemingly straightforward questions could be considered “adversarial” or why Grok’s turn toward slavish Musk devotee would seem to roughly coincide with Grok’s 4.1 update a few days ago. xAI didn’t address a series of questions, including about why the Grok posts in question had been deleted. “Legacy Media Lies [sic],” the company said.
But the incident serves as yet another reminder that Grok doesn’t seem to have much in the way of guardrailed. Earlier this year, xAI briefly pulled the plug on Grok after it praised Nazis and became “MechaHitler.” That was after it also became inexplicably obsessed with “white genocide” in South Africa, which the company later balmed on an unspecified “unauthorized modification.”
The United Nations climate talks in Brazil were shut down on Thursday after a fire broke out on site – disrupting last-minute efforts to strike a global deal.
Just as the host nation was desperately trying to corral more than 190 countries towards unity at talks in Belem, delegates ended up having to flee the short-lived blaze.
The fire broke out in the pavilion area of COP30, where groups showcase their efforts, prompting an evacuation across the site.
Image: The fire broke out at the Pavilion of the Countries at COP30 in Belem, Brazil. Pic: Reuters
It was swiftly put out and 13 people were treated for smoke inhalation, officials said, with the cause thought to be an electrical fault.
But it will make the hard task of negotiations even harder, and they had already missed a self-imposed deadline to wrap up the first batch of deals on Wednesday evening.
Image: People were evacuated from the area. Pic: Reuters
Representatives have travelled from all corners of the globe to get together in the same room to try to solve some of the world’s biggest challenges.
The UN climate body (UNFCCC) has not yet confirmed when the site will reopen.
Talks were stuck on how to close the gap between the level of warming the world is on course for, compared to that which governments previously agreed would be a better, safe level.
The most controversial solutions being discussed for this first agreement are the future of fossil fuels and the delivery of finance to help developing nations switch to clean energy and cope with the impacts of climate change they did little to cause.
About 80 countries have been lobbying for a plan or “roadmap” for how to “transition away from fossil fuels” – a pledge made at COP28 two years ago but which has subsequently been swept under the carpet.
Another dividing line was how rich countries, which generally have done more to cause climate change, should help poorer countries cope with more extreme weather that tends to hit them hardest.
Previous funding promises have materialised late or not in the form promised.
And for the first time critical minerals – vital for green technology like EVs and solar panels – may make it into one of the COP decisions to come later in the week.
