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BAKU, Azerbaijan — World leaders are converging Tuesday at the United Nations annual climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan although the big names and powerful countries are noticeably absent, unlike past climate talks which had the star power of a soccer World Cup. But 2024’s COP29 climate talks are more like the International Chess Federation world championship, lacking the recognizable names but big on nerd power and strategy.

How a healthy skin microbiome protects against chronic health issues The Washington Post

BANGKOK — A driver killed 35 people and injured another 43 when he deliberately rammed his car into people exercising at a sports center in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai, police said Tuesday. Police had detained a 62-year-old man at the sports center in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai following the ramming late Monday, on the eve of the country’s premier aviation exhibition by the People’s Liberation Army that’s hosted annually in the city. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] One of the four hospitals that took in people for treatment said it had more than 20 injured, state media reported Monday. No motive was mentioned, and police said investigations continued. Police identified the man only by his family name of Fan, consistent with the practice by Chinese authorities.

JERUSALEM — Israel has failed to meet U. S. demands to allow greater humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, where conditions are worse than at any point in the 13-month-old war, international aid organizations said Tuesday. The Biden administration last month called on Israel to “surge” more food and other emergency aid into Gaza, giving it a 30-day deadline that was expiring Tuesday.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Dutch appeals court on Tuesday overturned a landmark ruling that ordered energy company Shell to cut its carbon emissions by net 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels, while saying that “protection against dangerous climate change is a human right.” The decision was a defeat for the Dutch arm of Friends of the Earth and other environmental groups, which had hailed the original 2021 ruling as a victory for the climate.

Autism may be caused by toxins breathed in by millions every day - as scientists reveal states most at risk Daily MailExposure to air pollution during pregnancy early childhood may heighten autism risk study suggests The WeekAutism may be caused by toxins breathed in by millions every day MSNAir pollution may increase risk of a child developing autism BBC Science FocusAir pollution may raise risk of autism, study finds Manchester Evening News