海角大神

World leaders gathered in Brazil today for the first day of COP30, the annual United Nations climate conference. Now in its 30th edition, this year there are notable absences in Bel茅m, known as the 鈥済ateway鈥� to the Amazon rainforest. Leaders of China, India, and the United States 鈥� the world鈥檚 three largest polluters 鈥� are not attending. Despite resistance from Washington, which withdrew from the Paris Agreement this year, a U.S. delegation of more than 100 state and local leaders is participating.

Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa arrived in Washington for the first-ever visit by a Syrian leader to the White House, marking a seismic shift in the two countries鈥� relations. Once a U.S.-designated terrorist, Mr. Sharaa will meet U.S. President Donald Trump today for talks expected to center on Syria joining the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State. Syrians are pushing for economic sanctions to be lifted as the nation seeks to rebuild following a nearly 14-year civil war.

Two top BBC leaders resigned聽following a leaked report from a former independent adviser, who accused the outlet of bias in publishing a 鈥渃ompletely misleading鈥� edit of President Trump鈥檚 Jan. 6, 2021 speech. 鈥淭here have been some mistakes made and 鈥� I have to take ultimate responsibility,鈥� director-general Tim Davie said. The resignations come after a difficult year for the BBC, which has also been criticized for its handling of issues related to Gaza and transgender rights.

European leaders skipped a summit聽of the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. The German chancellor and French president were among those to cancel plans to attend after President Trump announced sanctions against the meeting host, Colombia. Many in the region are worried about聽U.S. military escalation.聽European Council President Ant贸nio Costa yesterday urged 鈥渄ialogue, not division 鈥� partnership, not isolation.鈥�

China commissioned its most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian 鈥� a milestone in its effort to project naval power in the Western Pacific. Chinese leader Xi Jinping, head of the armed forces, has ordered China鈥檚 military to become a 鈥渨orld-class force鈥� by 2027. The U.S. has a bigger and more sophisticated aircraft carrier fleet, but China has narrowed the gap with the Fujian.

The Supreme Court will hear a religious liberty case today from Damon Landor, a devout Rastafarian. Prison officials forcibly shaved his long dreadlocks, grown for religious reasons, in 2020. The court will determine whether Mr. Landor can recover money damages. The case centers on a 25-year-old act that bars the government from imposing a 鈥渟ubstantial burden鈥� on religious exercise within state institutions.

Kendrick Lamar topped the 2026 Grammy nominations, netting 9 nominations at a time when hip-hop鈥檚 popularity may be waning. For the first time since 1990, there are no rap songs in the Top 40 charts. Mr. Lamar will be vying for album of the year with competitors including Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, and Bad Bunny. The Beatles received a Best Rock Performance nod for 鈥淣ow and Then,鈥� the band鈥檚 鈥渘ew鈥� song constructed from an old John Lennon demo.

鈥� From our staff writers around the world

Non-citizen U.S. military members have been essential to the United States since the country's founding. But聽if聽they commit a crime and serve time in prison following an honorable discharge, should they then face deportation as well?

Fallout over Tucker Carlson鈥檚 interview with Nick Fuentes, a purveyor of antisemitism, is revealing divides in the conservative movement, shaped by an information environment with far fewer gatekeepers.

Within sight of the towering pyramids of Giza, the just-opened Grand Egyptian Museum draws a line across thousands of years of history to a modern nation redefining its own political and cultural identity. While today鈥檚 Egypt plays a key role in world affairs, its various problems, from authoritarian rule to economic woes, have left its citizens looking for direction.

So this month鈥檚 glittering opening of the museum and its exhibits 鈥� built and curated over two decades 鈥� has provided a welcome dash of color, glamour, and national pride.

鈥淚t is a gift from Egypt to the world and we are proud to finally share it,鈥� Tourism and Antiquities Minister Sherif Fathi said. (Ancient Egypt鈥檚 other gifts to the world include inventions relating to mathematics and metallurgy, the solar calendar, the sickle, and papyrus.)

鈥淔or Egypt, this moment goes beyond tourism or heritage,鈥� wrote Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based journalist Megan Tomos. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about soft cultural power, and the reclamation of narrative through design, culture, and storytelling.鈥�

Construction on the sprawling complex began in 2005. Its imposing entrance is dominated by a statue of King Ramses II, rising more than 30 feet tall and weighing 83 tons. The star exhibit pulls together for the first time the entire contents of the tomb of King Tutankhamen. But the range of themes and presentations is expansive, going beyond a spotlight on kings and queens to depict 鈥渙rdinary鈥� aspects of ancient society, including the role of women in the household.

鈥淭o make Egyptology truly accessible beyond academia, you have to meet the people where they are,鈥� an expert, Monica Hanna, told The New Arab. 鈥淧eople often underestimate the widespread thirst for knowledge across all levels of society. The challenge lies in presenting complex ideas in a way that feels approachable and engaging.鈥�

Already, since the soft opening of several galleries late last year, thousands of Egyptians and others have visited the museum.

But beyond monumental architecture and tourism dollars, the crux of hopes and ambitions for the museum lies in the quest for modern Egypt to tell the stories of its distant past. For centuries, Egyptology was considered a Western tradition. Thousands of artifacts were removed 鈥� legally and otherwise 鈥� and are still housed in museums in Europe and the United States.

The Grand Egyptian Museum, according to museum consultant Dina Touta, now places Egypt 鈥渁t the forefront of research, preservation and interpretation of its own heritage.鈥� Its state-of-the-art conservation facilities 鈥渨ill shift the focus of Egyptology back to Egypt.鈥�

In the words of The Statesman, a newspaper published in India 鈥� another former colony that has sought to repatriate historical artifacts 鈥� 鈥淓gypt has transformed its most ancient treasures into a modern declaration of identity.鈥�