Middle East & North Africa

UAE: As COP28 negotiators wrestle with fossil fuels, activists urge them to remember what’s at stake

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — In the bustling halls where global climate talks are being held, onetime farmer Joseph Kenson Sakala of Malawi is sharing the story of how fossil fuel development upended his life — and hoping that negotiators listen to many such stories and then move decisively to cut use of the coal, oil and gas warming the planet.

UAE: A missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels strikes a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, the rebels and authorities said Tuesday.

Israel and the US face growing isolation over Gaza as offensive grinds on with no end in sight

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel and the United States were increasingly isolated as they faced global calls for a cease-fire in Gaza, including a non-binding vote expected to pass at the United Nations later on Tuesday. Israel has pressed ahead with an offensive against Gaza’s Hamas rulers that it says could go on for weeks or months.

Huge Fire Erupts At Mini-Refinery With Reservoirs Explode In E. Iran

TEHRAN, Dec 11 (NNN-TASNIM) – A huge fire broke out yesterday morning, at an oil refinery in the eastern Iranian province of South Khorasan, leading to the simultaneous explosion of several gas condensates reservoirs.

The fire started at one of the reservoirs of the mini-refinery, which is located in Birjand Special Economic Zone, at 8:45 a.m. local time (0515 GMT), the report said.

UAE: Azerbaijan picked to host COP29 in 2024

DUBAI, Dec 11 (NNN-KBC) — Oil rich Azerbaijan will host the next conference of the United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP29) in 2024, after days of marathon lobbying by the Eastern European nation.

The country managed to wither strong competition from Armenia, which was also bidding to host the 2024 round of the climate talks.

The development comes amid a stiff stalemate at the ongoing COP28 in Dubai, with only four days before the meet closes here in the United Arab Emirates.

UAE: COP28 enters crunch time with countries at odds over fossil fuels

DUBAI, Dec 11 (Reuters) - With the COP28 climate talks entering crunch time on Monday, U.N. climate chief Simon Stiell urged countries to come together to reach a final deal for the summit - where they were facing off over whether to call for an end to fossil fuels.

Stiell said there had been progress in resolving some disagreements over the last day, but warned that "each step back from the highest ambition will cost countless millions of lives".

UAE: Iranian foreign minister says neither Iran nor Israel believe in a two state solution

DUBAI, Dec 11 (Reuters) - The only thing Iran and Israel share is that both do not believe in a two-state solution, Iran's foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Monday via translation at an international forum in Doha.

During the forum, Amirabdollahian reiterated Iran's proposal that a referendum be held to determine the fate of Palestine, with only descendants of those who lived there prior to 1948 being permitted to vote.

Qatar: UN chief regrets Security Council's failure to demand Gaza ceasefire, U.S. veto widely condemned

DOHA, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to "press to avert a humanitarian catastrophe" in the Gaza Strip and reiterated his appeal for a ceasefire.

Guterres made the remarks at the Doha Forum in Qatar, two days after the United States wielded its veto power during a Security Council emergency meeting to quash a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Palestine: Israel battles militants in Gaza’s main cities, with civilians still stranded near front lines

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli forces battled Palestinian militants in Gaza’s two largest cities on Monday, with civilians still sheltering along the front lines even after massive waves of displacement across the besieged territory.

Israel has pledged to keep fighting until it removes Hamas from power, dismantles its military capabilities and returns all of the scores of hostages still held by Palestinian militants after being captured during the Oct. 7 surprise attack into Israel that ignited the war.

Palestine: Battles rage across Gaza as Israel indicates it’s willing to fight for months or more to beat Hamas

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Battles raged across Gaza on Sunday as Israel indicated it was prepared to fight for months or longer to defeat the territory’s Hamas rulers, and a key mediator said willingness to discuss a cease-fire was fading.

Israel faces international outrage after its military offensive, with diplomatic support and arms from close ally the United States, has killed thousands of Palestinian civilians. About 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been displaced within the besieged territory, where U.N. agencies say there is no safe place to flee.

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