News diary 27 November-3 December: King Charles opens COP28, Hancock at Covid inquiry, Evan Gershkovich detention deadline

A look ahead at the key events leading the news agenda next week, from the team at Foresight News.

King Charles III during a visit to the experimental forest at the University of Bordeaux in Floirac, France to learn about efforts to combat the effects of climate change on forests, as well as the devastating impact of last year's forest fires. Picture: Arthur Edwards/The Sun/PA Wire

A look ahead at the key events leading the news agenda next week, from the team at Foresight News.

Leading the week

The world’s leaders convene in Dubai for COP28 on Thursday (November 30) to review commitments to reduce carbon emissions, as well as undertake the first global stocktake under the Paris Agreement. Longtime climate activist King Charles delivers the summit’s opening address on Friday (December 1), and eyes will be on how his words might be interpreted versus the policies put forward by his prime minister, who has faced criticism over a significant U-turn on net zero policies. Rishi Sunak confirmed his attendance at the climate talks in advance this year, sidestepping the controversy he faced in 2022 when he was forced to row back on plans to skip them. On Saturday (December 2), Pope Francis becomes the first pontiff to attend the conference as part of his attempts to modernise the papacy.

While US President Joe Biden is not expected to attend, observers will be looking at the relationship between the US and China, two of the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, as key to the success of the talks. The pair’s climate envoys resumed talks in California earlier this month, raising hopes that they could find some common ground head of the meeting in Dubai. Despite the positive messages, the summit is not without its critics, with many taking aim at the host nation. COP28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber himself is head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, which has sought to increase its oil production over the last few years. Though the big names will be around to open the conference, the crunch talks on an actual agreement usually come at the end of the summit, which wraps up on December 12.

Following a string of more detail-oriented sessions with Chris Whitty this week, the Covid-19 Inquiry returns in force next week with a succession of political ‘big beasts’ set to appear to provide further revelations on government operations during the pandemic. On Monday (November 27), metro mayors Sadiq Khan, Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram appear before the inquiry to outline how London, Manchester and Liverpool approached the challenges of the pandemic, followed on Tuesday (November 28) by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, who is called to explain his role through the pandemic as the then-Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Wednesday (November 29) features evidence from former Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab, who famously stood in as Prime Minister in April 2020 when Boris Johnson was hospitalised with Covid, followed by former Chancellor and late-pandemic Health Secretary Sajid Javid. The week’s biggest draw, though, will be a prolonged two-day session on Thursday and Friday (November 30-December 1) with former Health Secretary turned reality-TV star Matt Hancock that will undoubtedly dive into the multitude of controversies that took place under his tenure.

Select and enter your email address

Future of Media

Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday.

Press Gazette Daily

Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time.

Future Of Media USA

Our weekly dose of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers.

Marketing Matters

A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.

Your email address

Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.

Thanks for subscribing.

After hosting summits on AI and food security already this month, Rishi Sunak again welcomes a host of international figures to London for the Global Investment Summit on Monday (November 27). The prime minister will use the event to bang the drum for the UK as an investment destination, and the attendance of the likes of Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman represents something of a coup for Number 10 after a mixed year for the UK economy.

The highlight of the technophile prime minister’s agenda for the day is a keynote discussion with Schwarzman on investing in skills for the future, while elsewhere there’s a showcase of new technologies by carmakers McLaren and Aston Martin, computing firms Fruit Cast Ltd, Delta G and Quantum DX and nuclear energy companies Tokamak Energy and Core Power. While the summit may see Sunak start the week on a high, the prospect of seeing his government’s fiscal plans unpicked at Treasury committee sessions with the OBR and influential economists on Tuesday (November 28), before a grilling for the Chancellor on Wednesday (November 29), means it could be rather short-lived.

Looking abroad

Following news that a four-day humanitarian pause in fighting between Israel and Hamas began this morning ahead of the first planned hostage exchanges later today, the conflict looks set to dominate the international news agenda once again next week amid a flurry of diplomatic activity. With US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly planning a visit to Israel early next week ahead of the NATO ministerial on Tuesday and Wednesday (November 28-29), there will be much interest in whether the pause can be extended beyond Tuesday, when it is due to expire unless Hamas agrees to release more hostages.

Tuesday also sees Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visit Turkey for talks with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva begin visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and the annual debate on the question of Palestine and the situation in the Middle East at the UN General Assembly in New York. On Wednesday (November 29), the UN Security Council will debate the situation in the Middle East, which coincides with International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, likely marked by further protests over the conflict.

One of the more surprising figures that may turn up in Israel next week is X owner Elon Musk, who, according to Israeli outlet N12, is due to visit the sites of Hamas’ attacks on Israel near the border with Gaza as well as meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Musk has faced criticism from all sides of the conflict, battling accusations of antisemitism and uproar over plans to provide Starlink internet coverage to Gaza as well as condemnation for plans to ban pro-Palestinian terms including ‘from the river to the sea’ and ‘decolonisation’.

While it’s still unclear whether or when Musk will touch down in Tel Aviv, he’ll almost certainly have to field questions on the X controversies, including the decision by several major companies to pull their advertising from the site, when he’s interviewed at the New York Times’ annual DealBook Summit on Wednesday (November 29). Alongside Musk, speakers include US Vice President Kamala Harris, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, Disney CEO Bob Iger, Warner CEO David Zaslav, FTC Chair Lina Khan, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan.

Also look out for…

November 27

Trial begins for two teens charged with murder of Brianna Ghey
Trial of six French minors linked to murder of Samuel Paty
Charles Michel visits Hungary for talks with Viktor Orban
Young Thug trial begins
Tusk Conservation Awards

November 28

British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference
Former Wilko CEO at committee session on firm’s collapse
Inquest into death of headteacher Ruth Perry begins
Memorial service for former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter
Jenni Hermoso testimony for legal complaint over World Cup kiss
Iain Duncan Smith speaks at Heritage Foundation on China, Russia and Iran
WeWork bankruptcy court hearing

November 29

OECD Economic Outlook
Parole decision deadline for Jon Venables
Sentencing for child who admitted killing woman hit by car
Ofcom and BBC chairs at VLV Autumn Conference
Jonathan Majors asaault trial begins
Ursula von der Leyen addresses European Business Summit
‘Hong Kong 47’ national security trial resumes
USA Swimming US Open Championships

November 30

WMO provisional statement on State of the Climate 2023
Minister at committee session to update on HS2
RMT referenda close on dispute with train operating companies
London premiere of Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé
OSCE Ministerial Council
OPEC Conference meets
Ron DeSantis and Gavin Newsom Fox News debate
Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich’s current pre-trial detention period ends
Royal Variety Performance

December 1