Countries that together produce around 30 percent of global methane emissions have pledged to reduce their outflows (State Dept.) by 30 percent by the end of the decade, top U.S. and European Union (EU) climate negotiators announced yesterday. 

Methane is a far more potent (CNN) greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. U.S. and EU negotiators are pushing for more countries to join the pledge ahead of next month’s UN climate summit. The world’s top four methane emitters—Brazil, China, India, and Russia—have yet to get on board (NYT). Yesterday’s announcement came as newly published research in Nature estimated that 85 percent of humanity lives in areas that may be affected by human-induced climate change. 

The indebted property developer missed its third set of such payments (Nikkei) in less than a month, signaling that a default next week is likely without a new cash infusion.
 
North Korea: At a weapons exhibition, leader Kim Jong-un called the United States “hostile” (CNN) and blamed it for rising tensions in the region.

Officials said at least five Indian soldiers and two suspected militants were killed (Reuters) in the clashes yesterday, the deadliest altercation for Indian forces this year.
 
Afghanistan: Group of Twenty (G20) leaders will discuss ways to address humanitarian and security concerns in Afghanistan at a virtual meeting (VOA) hosted by Italy today.

Preliminary results suggest Muqtada al-Sadr’s party was the biggest winner (WaPo) in parliamentary elections, while an Iran-aligned bloc fell behind.
 
Turkey: President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey is determined to eliminate threats (Al Jazeera) in a part of northern Syria where Kurdish fighters killed two Turkish police officers on Sunday.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to rule (AFP) on a case Somalia filed more than seven years ago over the countries’ maritime boundary. Kenya has called the court biased and said it does not recognize its jurisdiction.
 
Ethiopia: The army launched a large-scale attack (BBC) on several fronts against rebels based in Tigray, the rebels said.
 
For the Africa in Transition blog, CFR’s Michelle Gavin looks at Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s push for control in Tigray.

The “France 2030” plan envisions investing (Bloomberg) the funds over five years in sectors such as nuclear and renewable energy, semiconductors, and robotics.
 
This Backgrounder explores the revival of industrial policy.
 
Austria: Former foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg was sworn in (BBC) as chancellor after Sebastian Kurz stepped down from the position over corruption allegations.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, commonly known as AMLO, presented a constitutional reform that would revoke contracts (AP) for thirty-four plants. The move could be challenged under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade pact, or USMCA.
 
Colombia/Panama: A record nineteen thousand children have crossed the jungle border (CNN) between the two countries this year, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said.

The vaccine advisory group for the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended an additional COVID-19 vaccine dose (AFP) for people with weakened immune systems. The WHO has advised against giving the general population boosters before the end of the year, citing vaccine distribution inequity.
 
For Think Global Health, CFR’s Samantha Kiernan and Serena Tohme track vaccine diplomacy and donations.