57-Country Climate Coalition Advances at COP31 as Kyu Opens in LA

International climate delegates, British cultural figures, and California hospitality leaders marked major milestones this week as a 57-country fossil fuel transition coalition advanced its global road map at the United Nations COP31 climate summit in Antalya, Turkey. In London, King Charles III joined musician Elton John on Apple Music to celebrate the monarch's 78th birthday and the 50th anniversary of The King's Trust, while in Southern California, Miami's wood-fired pan-Asian restaurant Kyu opened its first West Coast flagship inside Century Plaza.

According to KCBS Radio, Ireland and the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu stepped in as co-leaders of a 57-country coalition working to phase out fossil fuels after Colombia withdrew from the initiative. Originally launched at an April gathering in the Colombian port city of Santa Marta under former President Gustavo Petro, the coalition changed leadership after President Abelardo de la Espriella took office in August and Colombian Environment Minister Fabio Arjona announced Bogota's exit on the opening day of the COP31 talks in Antalya. Ireland and Tuvalu will co-host the next international transition conference in July 2027, while International Institute for Sustainable Development Senior Policy Adviser Natalie Jones noted that 23 countries have already announced national or regional transition road maps following the November 3 release of the COP30 presidency road map.

In the United Kingdom, ABC7 News reported that King Charles III marked his 78th birthday on Saturday with a guest appearance on Elton John's Apple Music "Rocket Hour" podcast to commemorate the 50th anniversary of The King's Trust. Founded by Charles in 1976 with his Royal Navy severance pay to support young people aged 16 to 30 across education and employment programs, the charity has long been supported by John, who performed his anthem "I'm Still Standing" 40 years ago at a 1986 concert marking the organization's 10th anniversary.

Meanwhile, in California dining news, Hoodline reported that Miami-born wood-fired pan-Asian restaurant Kyu opened its first California location on Monday, November 9, in a 6,000-square-foot dining room and outdoor patio at 10200 Constellation Boulevard, Suite 225, inside the Century Plaza development in Century City, Los Angeles. Founded in Miami in 2016 before adding a Las Vegas Fontainebleau location in December 2023, the Century Plaza flagship—located at the property owned by brothers David and Simon Reuben—is led by corporate executive chef Raheem Sealey, culinary director Emre Koyel, and general manager Harley DeMeyers, serving a Thai rice stone pot with king crab, 30-day-aged rib-eye, and 45-day-aged tomahawk with dinner hours from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and a weekday happy hour from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.