Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told top U.S. climate diplomat John Kerry that poor U.S.-China relations could hinder cooperation on climate change (SCMP). The Joe Biden administration has attempted to pursue climate cooperation with Beijing; at the same time, it has sanctioned Chinese officials and maintained tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
 
Kerry is currently in China to meet with his counterpart Xie Zhenhua. Kerry said he will urge China to move its peak emissions target (WaPo) earlier than 2030 ahead of November’s UN climate conference. However, Wang said that broader U.S. moves that treat China as a “threat and an adversary” put such cooperation at risk. The Biden administration has left in place tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods and has yet to complete a review of trade policy with China, prompting some U.S. business leaders to call for more definition and less antagonism (NYT) in the countries’ economic relationship.

South Korea is developing a surface-to-surface ballistic missile that is designed to destroy underground missile facilities and could be operational by 2026, Yonhap reports. The United States lifted restrictions on South Korea’s missile development earlier this year.

The Taliban said they will soon announce (TOLOnews) the formation of a new government in Afghanistan. A member of the group said that Mawlawi Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s supreme commander, will lead the government.
 
This Backgrounder explains the Taliban.
 
India: Authorities cut internet services (Hindustan Times) and increased security patrols in India-administered Kashmir in an effort to curb protests following the death of Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said that reopening a U.S. consulate in Jerusalem for Palestinian affairs is a “bad idea” (Times of Israel) that could destabilize Israel’s government. A U.S. spokesperson said Washington plans to go through (Reuters) with the decision.
 
Iran: In his first comments about nuclear negotiations with the United States since taking office, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran wants to negotiate with the West (Axios) but suggested it is not in a hurry. He said the new government needs up to three months to plan.
 
This Backgrounder unpacks the Iran nuclear deal.

Italian energy company Eni said it discovered an oil deposit (AFP, Reuters) off the shore of the Ivory Coast that could contain as many as two billion barrels of oil.

Nigeria: Four state governments imposed restrictions on commerce and transportation (AFP) aimed at stopping mass kidnappings and other violent crimes. They include bans on cattle markets and caps on fuel sales.

Former Danish Immigration Minister Inger Stoejberg’s trial begins today (BBC) over accusations that she unlawfully ordered the separation of couples seeking asylum in 2016. It is Denmark’s first impeachment trial in almost thirty years.
 
Europe: The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control announced that data on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines show there is no urgent need (AFP) for fully vaccinated people to get boosters.
 
For Think Global Health, CFR’s Luciana L. Borio, Celine Gounder, and John P. Moore discuss why decisions on boosters are so complicated.

The New Development Bank—launched in 2015 by the BRICS bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—announced it admitted (Reuters) Bangladesh, the United Arab Emirates, and Uruguay as new members.
 
Brazil: Vice President Hamilton Mourao told Brazilians that they could face energy rationing (Reuters) due to a historic drought. Much of Brazil’s electric grid is supplied by hydropower.
 
On The President’s Inbox podcast, CFR’s Alice C. Hill discusses steps governments can take to adapt to climate change.

In a five-to-four vote, the U.S. Supreme Court failed to block (NYT) a Texas law that prohibits most abortions after six weeks, a time frame during which many people are not aware they are pregnant. President Biden said the law, the most restrictive of abortion rights in the country, violates constitutional rights (White House).