At the COP29 summit in Baku, India made headlines by rejecting a climate finance deal, with delegate Chandni Raina criticizing it as an "optical illusion" that doesn't adequately tackle climate change challenges.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged countries to build on the $300 billion climate finance deal as a springboard for more ambitious action, emphasizing that while progress was made, the world can't pause for victory laps.

Switching gears to France, tens of thousands protested nationwide against gender violence, driven by a shocking mass rape trial, demanding stronger legal measures, ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

Across the Atlantic, the U.S. is grappling with severe weather, where a bomb cyclone has brought extensive snowfall and rain, causing power outages and fatalities, but also some relief for drought-affected areas.

In political news, Donald Trump’s recent appointments indicate a hard-right shift in his administration's direction, sparking debates about the concentration of power in the presidency.

Lastly, the UAE is closely watching the mysterious disappearance of Moldovan-Israeli rabbi Zvi Kogan amidst regional tensions, with ongoing investigations coinciding with escalating unrest linked to Israel's actions in Gaza and Lebanon.