海角大神

After Russia鈥檚 defeat in Kharkiv, the pressure was on Vladimir Putin to respond. Today he did, by announcing the escalation of the war in Ukraine through the mobilization of 300,000 Russian troops.

In championing Ukraine, President Biden is waging his signature global campaign for democracy. But addressing the U.N., he did not lose sight of other vital challenges that much of the world cares more about.

Russia鈥檚 military setbacks in Ukraine have undermined President Putin鈥檚 standing with his allies and dealt a blow to his dream of reasserting Russia鈥檚 superpower status.

In our progress roundup, change comes to a notoriously dangerous road in Bolivia, child marriage rates drop in Nigeria, and Belgian city centers prioritize safety for people.

Television shows are, by nature, feats of celebrity. But our commentator finds humility and heroism center stage in the award-winning sitcom 鈥淎bbott Elementary.鈥�

Denmark has broken the ice on a difficult issue in debates over global warming. Yesterday it announced it will start giving money to countries that feel the worst effects of climate change and yet are the least responsible for it. The decision by one of the world鈥檚 most industrialized nations could set a precedent for similar countries in acknowledging how their historic use of fossil fuels requires them to lift up less-developed nations.

Copenhagen鈥檚 initial pledge is modest 鈥� $13 million. That鈥檚 compared to an estimated $70 billion needed annually by developing countries for adaptation to climate change. But the recognition of responsibility signals potentially larger funding to help such countries become resilient to adverse weather events, especially if the money is directed toward clean governance and local support.

Danish Development Minister Flemming M酶ller Mortensen said the move would have a healing effect on 鈥渘egotiations between rich and poor countries, where the debate about loss and damage for far too long has been full of conflict.鈥�

Since 2013, every United Nations climate summit has officially recognized the need for 鈥渓oss and damage鈥� compensation. The idea is that wealthier nations should help offset the long-term effects of their carbon emissions. The effects range from damage to homes to damage to ecosystems and culture.聽

Putting a number on such compensation has been difficult. A lawsuit in Peru shows why wealthier nations have resisted giving climate aid. A local farmer is suing an energy producer in Germany over the possibility that its emissions helped melt glaciers that resulted in the flooding of his village. Where, richer countries ask, are the boundaries of liability?

Earlier this year, a group of 48 developing countries calling itself the V20 group of vulnerable nations sought to address that concern. It established a fund to both share the burden of climate costs and show that such funding can be fairly and transparently used.

Taking responsibility for the adverse impact of emissions has gained some ground. Scotland and a region in Brussels made modest 鈥渓oss and damages鈥� pledges at last year鈥檚 climate summit in Glasgow. At the U.N. this week, 16 countries, including Germany, agreed to support biodiversity 鈥� which helps mitigate climate change and its effects.

鈥淥nly through dialogue, cooperation, and sharing of ideas, information, and experiences, we will be able to advance concrete initiatives that can help people, communities, and countries at risk,鈥� wrote A.K. Abdul Momen, Bangladeshi foreign minister; Mr. Mortensen; and Birgitte Qvist-S酶rensen, general secretary at DanChurchAid, in Climate Home News. 鈥淥ur goal is to turn dead-end discussions into cooperation and action helping us all to manage climate induced loss and damage.鈥�

Climate resilience need not mean cycles of helplessness and recovery from weather events. It can mean rejuvenation through economic cooperation and higher standards of governance. Denmark has helped the world take a step in that direction.