Today’s Headlines and Commentary

More than 100 world leaders, whose countries represent approximately 85 percent of the world’s forests, pledged Tuesday to end deforestation by 2030 at the COP26 climate summit, according to the New York Times. The international pledge will be backed by $12 billion in government funds and $7 billion from private companies to restore forests in a variety of ways. Deforestation is a major driving force behind greenhouse gas emissions.

Yahoo said Tuesday that it has pulled out of China, citing an increasingly challenging operating environment due to the Chinese government’s increasingly strict rules for businesses, reports the Wall Street Journal. The pullout coincided with a new privacy law that would require organizations and individuals that handle the personal information of Chinese citizens to limit data collection and acquire user consent, which went into effect on Nov. 1. Yahoo’s withdrawal was largely symbolic, as the company began shutting down its main services in China starting in 2013.

The Biden administration on Tuesday announced plans to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas drilling, reports the Washington Post. The proposals, established by the Environmental Protection Agency, could establish standards for old wells and more strictly repair methane leaks. This proposal would reduce about 41 million tons of methane emissions through 2035. Separately, nearly 90 countries have joined the U.S.- and EU-led effort to slash methane emissions 30 percent by 2030. 

French President Emmanuel Macron said that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison lied about the sunken $66 billion submarine deal that damaged relations between the countries, according to the Washington Post. Macron accused Morrison of not disclosing negotiations with the United States and Britain. Barnaby Joyce, Australia’s deputy prime minister retorted on Sunday, “We didn’t deface the Eiffel Tower. It was a contract.”

President Biden ended duty-free access to Ethiopian exports on Tuesday, citing human rights violations, reports the Hill. Biden wrote that Ethiopia is not in compliance with the eligibility requirements for the African Growth and Opportunity Act because the country is responsible for “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.”

The value of the digital currency inspired by the popular Netflix series “Squid Game” collapsed from a high of just over $2,860 to zero on Monday, with the unknown creators making $3.3 million, says the Washington Post. The cryptocurrency, called Squid, dropped in value after the token’s creators abandoned the project in exchange for real-world cash in an apparent scam.

ICYMI: Yesterday on Lawfare

Jen Patja Howell shared an episode of the Lawfare Podcast in which Natalie Orpett sat down on Lawfare Live with Mark Nevitt and Erin Sikorsky to discuss the reports addressing the issue of climate change as a national security threat released last week.

Jenny Jun and Nadiya Kostyuk wrote about the pros and cons of a proposed reporting mandate by victims of cyberattacks.

Darrell West shared an episode of TechTank, in which West, Tom Wheeler and David Simpson discuss the future of U.S.-China relations and the implications of the growing competition for supply chains, cybersecurity and international commerce.

Emily Dai shared the dissent to the Supreme Court’s denial of cert from the ACLU for access to court records from the FISC and FISCR.

Rohini Kurup shared the letter from seven military jurors urging clemency for Majid Khan, a detainee held at Guantanamo Bay.

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