In America's dusty Corn Belt this spring, the land was drowning. In China's Yangtze River basin, it's bone dry. Farmers in both are fighting a losing battle to save the soil.
Dozens of private hospitals have declared bankruptcy in China during the past two years, pushed over the edge by the cost of complying with the country's "COVID zero" policies.
The Japanese firms, both members of the Net Zero Banking Alliance, were identified as the two biggest lenders in a report by a group of 28 nongovernmental organizations.
While some analysts view China's approach as "unsustainable," many health experts say the country has no choice but to continue given its less developed health system.
Beijing has improved its air quality since China won its bid to host the Games, but the Ministry of Ecology and Environment has said the risks of winter smog remained "severe."
Xi Jinping's expected absence from the talks could indicate that the world's biggest carbon dioxide producer has already decided that it has no more concessions to offer at the U.N. summit.
Meng Wanzhou arrived in China on Saturday, ending her near three-year U.S. extradition fight, the same day two Canadians detained by Beijing for more than 1,000 days returned home.
China no longer feels obliged to consider requests for deeper carbon cuts after former President Donald Trump rejected U.S. climate change commitments.
The U.S. hopes to keep climate issues separate from disputes with China on trade, human rights and the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under a footbridge in southwest China's Yunnan province, a lone female elephant makes a rare appearance at a clearing on the edge of thick forest, ignoring the heavy rain and the gathering crowds to graze and bathe in the chocolate-colored water. Usually, visitors hoping to ...
