The Sansasyonel - International (English)

A new analysis says more than 100 companies and industry groups linked to fossil fuel interests have sent delegations to the UN climate talks in Turkey. The Cop31 conference in Antalya is thought to be the largest of the annual gatherings in their three-decade history, with more than 92,000 participants registered. According to the Kick Big Polluters Out coalition, which includes around 450 environmental groups, 103 entities with a track record of obstructing climate action or furthering fossil fuel interests are at Cop31. These include 60 fossil fuel industry bodies and 16 financial companies that fund fossil fuels. Some of these delegations are larger than those from nations most vulnerable to climate impacts. Nepal has just one-sixth as many delegates as these groups. Prakash Dalal from Pro Public/Friends of the Earth Nepal said big polluters had caused loss of livelihood, emotional damage, trauma and survival challenges for people, and that he could not tolerate the disproportionate space given to them compared with civil society and Nepal’s delegations. The analysis says 30 banks with delegations at Cop31 account for more than $2.2tn in fossil fuel financing over the past five years. Environmental advocates have called for greater transparency and conflict-of-interest disclosures for those attending and influencing the climate talks. According to Transparency International, nearly one in five participants at the Antalya talks chose not to disclose their relationship to the delegation they were attending with. BlackRock is in France’s delegation, while Darren Woods, Exxon’s chief executive, is with the US Chambers of Commerce. Oxfam counted 94 private jet flights to Antalya since Saturday, 23 times more than average. Forbes considers 18 registered attendees billionaires; together, they have nearly $200bn in wealth. They include climate advocates Michael Bloomberg and Andrew Forrest, as well as Turkish mining magnate Ahmet Çalık and Indian fossil fuel executive Pranav Adani. https://thesansasyonel.com/en/more-than-100-companies-and-groups-linked-to-fossil-fuels-represented-at-cop31-study-says-34099

Folklore is experiencing a resurgence in modern culture and community activities, with young people engaging in traditions both digitally and face-to-face. A two-year investigation into folklore across England, led by the Centre for Contemporary Legend at Sheffield Hallam University, is set to wrap up this December. The study draws from data collected from nearly 2,000 individuals. Experts define folklore as shared customs, narratives, and beliefs handed down through generations, ranging from seasonal events to daily routines. Preliminary results reveal that about one-third of those surveyed believe in the existence of ghosts. Additionally, younger participants were found to be twice as prone to believing in conspiracy theories, demons, and curses compared to their older counterparts. The survey also revealed that 51% of those questioned take some action when they spot a magpie, such as giving a salute, saying something or spitting. Sophie Parkes-Nield, a researcher, explains that folklore can help people connect with others in their community and across different age groups, while also providing an activity away from screens in today’s digital world. Ellie Bailey, co-founder of south London’s Folk Club, ties the resurgence to the climate crisis, pointing out that folklore often experiences a revival during times of national difficulty because it unites people and links them to the natural world. Bailey adds that many traditions are now being re-examined to become more welcoming to all. The researchers acknowledge concerns that folklore might be misused by nationalist groups, but they argue that many customs are rooted in local culture and have always been varied. https://thesansasyonel.com/en/friday-briefing-why-people-are-turning-to-folklore-in-our-disconnected-age-33903

At 9pm, Sky Documentaries presents The Drug Lords Next Door, John Sparks’s investigation into how the Albanian mafia came to dominate the increasingly large UK cocaine market. It explains how buying directly from South American cartels, violently expunging rivals and embracing technology helped the Albanians gain control. At 7.30pm on Channel 4, Unreported World goes to Juárez, Mexico. Guillermo Galdos’s film gains access to the city’s drug cartel and finds gangsters who were recruited at horrifyingly young ages, including a 13-year-old hitman. He also visits rehabilitation facilities that aim to rescue children. On Apple TV, Being Heumann, Siân Heder’s fact-based drama, portrays disability rights activist Judith Heumann, played by Ruth Madeley. It focuses on Heumann’s leadership of a coalition of wheelchair users, blind and deaf activists who occupied a federal building in San Francisco in 1977 to protest the failure to sign regulations that would ban state discrimination against disabled people. Children in Need 2026 airs live from Salford at 7pm on BBC One, hosted by Mel Giedroyc, Sara Cox, Alex Jones, Rylan and Tyler West. France plays South Africa in rugby at 7.15pm at the Stade de France, followed by Scotland against North Macedonia in football at 7.30pm. https://thesansasyonel.com/en/tv-tonight-an-absorbing-investigation-about-the-albanian-mafia-33830

Tron, Tether, and Chainalysis have introduced the Digital Crime Task Force to tackle illegal cryptocurrency activities involving Tether’s USDT on the Tron blockchain. The organization states it will collect intelligence and collaborate with law enforcement to reduce the interval between identifying threats and implementing enforcement measures, such as freezing assets before offenders can transfer money. This move comes after the breakup of the T3 Financial Crime Unit, a coalition established in 2024 by Tron, Tether, and TRM Labs. Bloomberg revealed earlier this month that the unit was disbanded due to delayed responses and poor coordination. According to Chainalysis, scams powered by artificial intelligence generated 4.5 times more profit in 2025 compared to traditional methods, with impersonation frauds increasing over 1,400% year over year. The task force intends to concentrate on romance and investment fraud, hacking incidents, financing for terrorism, and cyberattacks from North Korea. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino noted that AI allows criminals to act faster than before, stating that simply waiting for victims to report crimes is no longer sufficient. He mentioned that Tether has frozen over $7 billion associated with illegal activities, collaborating with more than 360 law enforcement groups in 73 countries. https://thesansasyonel.com/en/tron-tether-and-chainalysis-form-new-alliance-to-tackle-ai-powered-crypto-crime-33517

Former Australian foreign affairs minister Bob Carr says officials in Canberra and Washington acknowledge that the United States will never build and sell nuclear submarines to Australia. Carr, a leading critic of the deal, describes the $368bn AUKUS agreement as the two countries “living a lie.” He expects American-operated submarines will instead be stationed at bases in Australia. Speaking on Guardian Australia’s weekly Australian Politics podcast, Carr said a future US president would likely decide that China’s military might made transferring three or more Virginia-class submarines too difficult. He said spending so much on one defence platform puts budgetary pressure on others. The Albanese government says AUKUS is proceeding as intended and notes that US President Donald Trump has pledged full support. Defence Minister Richard Marles said this week that AUKUS was “absolutely happening.” Australia has paid more than $3bn to support US submarine manufacturing, part of promised payments of about $4.6bn over the deal’s lifetime. The first US Virginia-class submarine is due to arrive in Australia in 2032, with another arriving every four years, before the SSN AUKUS model comes online in 2042. Delays and cost blowouts in production of submarines for the US navy have led to scepticism that Australia will receive the in-service boats. Earlier this month, a crowdfunded public inquiry called the plan “the worst, riskiest and most costly defence decision ever made by an Australian government” and urged its immediate termination. The Albanese government was dismissive of the inquiry report. https://thesansasyonel.com/en/aukus-deal-is-living-a-lie-australia-will-never-get-nuclear-submarines-from-us-and-both-sides-know-it-bob-carr-says-33967

China has dismissed the possibility of hosting the Cop33 UN climate summit in 2028 following extended discussions, as reported by The Guardian. This opens the door for other Asian nations to step forward. Earlier this year, India explored the option for several months before ultimately declining to host. Uzbekistan, South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand are among those being mentioned as potential contenders, according to The Guardian. It is not anticipated that a host will be selected at the current Cop31 conference taking place in Turkey. China has not provided an explanation for its choice. Analysts quoted by The Guardian speculated that the U.S. election timeline might be a factor: Cop33 is set to take place from 6 to 17 November 2028, coinciding with the U.S. presidential election on 7 November. The conference will feature the Paris Agreement’s global stocktake, which evaluates how well nations are reducing emissions in accordance with the aim of capping temperature rise at 1.5C. Al Gore stated he had backed the idea of China hosting the event, while ex-U.S. secretary of state John Kerry noted that China is outpacing others in developing and deploying low-carbon technologies. China’s capacity for generating renewable energy has now exceeded that of coal, and its greenhouse gas emissions seem to have decreased slightly this year. https://thesansasyonel.com/en/china-rules-out-hosting-cop33-climate-summit-in-2028-33974

Duran Duran’s drummer, Roger Taylor, is set to leave the band due to worsening tinnitus. In a message, Taylor explained that he had come to a point where he had to heed his body and medical advice. He described the choice as one of the most difficult he had ever made, adding that performing with the group had been the highlight of his life. Taylor expressed appreciation for the recent UK and European tour, being honored at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, and reuniting in the studio with Nile Rodgers, who leads the band Chic. He said he was departing at a peak, with unforgettable memories to hold dear, and had “nothing but love” for his bandmates Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and John Taylor. Taylor was one of the original members of Duran Duran, joining with Rhodes and John Taylor. He contributed to the band’s first three records, which came out between 1981 and 1983. Following a performance at Live Aid with the group, he departed, later explaining that he felt the need to better understand himself. He made a short return in 1994 before coming back for good in 2001. Taylor went on to record six additional albums with the band, starting with 2004’s *Astronaut* and concluding with 2023’s *Danse Macabre*. https://thesansasyonel.com/en/duran-duran-drummer-roger-taylor-leaves-band-due-to-tinnitus-33803

Vladimir Putin informed U.S. representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff that Russia would strike any foreign forces sent to Ukraine. During Thursday’s meeting at the Kremlin, he also demanded complete Russian authority over four Ukrainian territories that Moscow alleges it has annexed, and dismissed the idea of foreign peacekeepers, describing their presence as a “continuation of war.” These comments followed Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s statement that there is a “window of opportunity” for reaching a peace agreement before 2026 ends. Witkoff noted that European officials will participate in the next phase of discussions. He and Kushner are heading to Dublin to update Zelenskyy on the outcomes of their meeting in Moscow. European leaders remain divided on selecting one individual to lead talks. The top diplomat for the bloc, Kaja Kallas, proposed she work with António Costa, who heads the European Council, in representing the EU. French head of state Emmanuel Macron remarked that “the nature of the discussions will shape the structure,” whereas German leader Friedrich Merz argued that Putin must first be at the table before naming a European negotiator. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy criticized Starlink for complicating Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian drone strikes. He noted that Starshield, the military variant backed by the Pentagon, had faced speed restrictions of 100mph (161km/h) along battlefronts and in areas under Russian control for several days. Kyiv has reached out to Washington in an effort to obtain clarification regarding the interruption, which Zelenskyy indicated seemed intentional rather than due to a technical issue. https://thesansasyonel.com/en/putin-says-russia-will-target-foreign-troops-deployed-to-ukraine-33850

Artists and game creators are countering the Trump White House’s political video games with satire of their own. The White House’s online game collection, Arcade, reworked popular titles like Tetris and Flappy Bird to promote the administration’s policies. After the Tetris Company warned that it took copyright infringement seriously, the game was removed from the site days later. This spring, the Secret Handshake group released two free games satirizing the administration’s actions on Iran and Greenland. More than 350,000 people have played them online. Developer Richie Branson partnered with the nonprofit All for America to create Tax Evaders. The game lets players select Trump and other officials as pilots before they destroy health care and line billionaire pockets. Since July, it has drawn more than 50,000 players and over 2 million page impressions. Advertising colleagues Alfie Souter and Carlota Real developed Corrupt Invaders using ChatGPT. Players steer Trump’s “$400m Qatari gift” jet to collect another “$1.4bn in crypto,” with the score subtracted from Trump’s reported cryptocurrency earnings. Branson says Tax Evaders aims to show how officials destroy beneficial programs with the same combination of enthusiasm and indifference as players blowing up enemy ships. The creators are using familiar game formats to challenge the administration’s use of gaming culture for political messaging. https://thesansasyonel.com/en/to-them-were-just-npcs-the-artists-and-activists-challenging-trumps-video-game-propaganda-33893

Tron, Tether and Chainalysis have formed the Digital Crime Task Force to tackle illegal crypto activities. The project aims to detect and stop unlawful actions involving Tether’s USDT on the Tron blockchain. The firms stated that the task force will collect intelligence and collaborate with law enforcement to reduce the time between identifying a threat and responding, such as by freezing assets before offenders can transfer the money. Key areas of attention include investment and romance frauds, breaches, terrorist funding and North Korean cyber threats. The partnership comes after the breakup of the T3 Financial Crime Unit, established in 2024 by Tron, Tether, and TRM Labs. Bloomberg revealed this month that the group was disbanded due to delayed responses and poor coordination among its participants. In a statement, Chainalysis noted that scams powered by artificial intelligence generated 4.5 times more profit than traditional methods last year, with impersonation fraud increasing over 1,400% compared to the previous year. Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, stated the firm has frozen over $7 billion associated with illegal actions, collaborating with over 360 law enforcement bodies across 73 nations. https://thesansasyonel.com/en/tron-tether-and-chainalysis-form-new-alliance-to-tackle-ai-powered-crypto-crime-33827