Global

More than 100 countries have reached an agreement at the United Nations climate conference in Glasgow to stop deforestation and land degradation by 2030. It is the first significant pledge during the UN climate summit that started on Sunday. Forest-rich countries such as Brazil, Russia, Canada and Indonesia also support the plan.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said in her speech at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow that the European Union will do everything in its power to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent. She therefore stressed that there must be a global price for greenhouse gas emissions. She said there must be a clear price for carbon dioxide emissions, "because nature can no longer pay it".

Russian and Chinese warships conducted the first ever joint patrol in the western part of the Pacific Ocean on October 17-23, Russia’s Defence Ministry reported on Saturday.

Diplomatic and political sources in various capitals in Europe and the Middle East suggest that Iran may be ready to resume  talks on the "nuclear file" in the coming days. A senior Iranian diplomat is expected in Brussels later this week for further discussions ahead of the resumption of the official negotiations in Vienna.