World on track to dangerous warming as emissions hit record high: UN
Scientists are in broad agreement that warming above 1.5C relative to pre-industrial times risks catastrophic consequences, and every effort must...
Geostrategy
Hundreds in south Lebanon mourn Hezbollah members killed in Israeli attacks
Nabatieh, Lebanon -- Hundreds of people gathered in south Lebanon's Nabatiyeh on Sunday to mourn five Hezbollah members killed in...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
G20 shirking ‘critical’ climate issues: UN climate chief
The G20, which accounts for about 85 percent of the world's economy and greenhouse gas emissions, will meet in New...
- Simon Stiell, the head of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said technological solutions are within reach to curb the warming that is already showing effects.
- The G20 summit is the next major set of negotiations in a packed calendar of meetings crucial for action on global warming, culminating at the UN COP28 talks in the UAE.
Big power disputes cast shadow on Southeast Asia summits
The 10-member Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) was holding separate summits with China, Japan, South Korea, the United States...
- Host Indonesia told an ASEAN leaders' summit on Tuesday that the bloc would not become a proxy for big power competition as US-China tensions continue to flare over Taiwan
- Wednesday's meetings will be more regional in scope before an 18-member East Asia Summit on Thursday to be attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov
Geostrategy
Arab-Japan ties to see expansion to cultural, environmental, energy fields
Cairo, Egypt-- Vowing to expand their relations to cultural, educational, environmental, and energy fields, Arab states and Japan have expressed...
- Bahrain's foreign minister said dialogue reflects the strong ties and joint commitment between the Arab and Asian regions to further enhance cooperation
- The minister emphasized the importance of both sides' commitment to supporting pluralism, international law, peace, stability, and prosperity for all
Economy
Israel suspension of Gaza exports risks ‘catastrophe’: businesses
Osama Nofal, of the Gaza economic ministry, put the value of Gaza exports to Israel and the occupied West Bank...
- Israel's army chief on Monday ordered a halt to commercial deliveries from Gaza to Israel after an alleged attempt to smuggle explosives
- The Gaza Strip has been under a crippling Israeli blockade since the Islamist group Hamas seized power in the Palestinian territory in 2007
Geostrategy
‘Multilateralism only option to tackle global crises’
Stressing that “we are in a race against time” on issues from climate change and biodiversity loss to education and...
- Outgoing UN General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi emphasizes the importance of international cooperation
- Kőrösi also calls for urgent action on climate change, education, gender equality, and sustainable development
Geostrategy
Saudi, Iran exchange ambassadors after years-long rupture
Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran resumed operations last month. In June, Iran marked the reopening of its embassy in Riyadh...
- Two countries agreed to resume diplomatic relations and reopen their respective embassies following a China-brokered deal announced in March
- Riyadh and Tehran severed ties in 2016 after Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran were attacked during protests over Riyadh's execution of the cleric Nimr al-Nimr
Geostrategy
Egypt president calls for measures to slow birthrate
Cairo, Egypt -- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi called Tuesday for measures to slow the birthrate in the Arab world's most...
- "We need 400,000 births per year," said the leader of the country of 105 million inhabitants which recorded nearly 2.2 million births in 2022.
- Sisi intervened when his minister of health and population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, told a conference that "having children is a matter of complete freedom".
Geostrategy
World inches step closer towards plastic pollution deal: UN
Some 175 nations are working to reach a landmark agreement by end-2024 that will curb plastic pollution, which ends up...
- Global plastic production has more than doubled since the start of the century to reach 460 million tons and could triple by 2060 if nothing is done. Only 9% is currently recycled.
- The draft deal, published by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, will form the basis of fresh talks in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on November 13-19.
Geostrategy
Xi’s G20 no-show hints at China’s shifting diplomatic priorities
Beijing, China - President Xi Jinping's unexplained decision to snub the G20 summit underlines Beijing's frayed ties with other major powers...
- Beijing's foreign ministry said Monday that Premier Li Qiang would join the leaders of the world's biggest economies in New Delhi this weekend, effectively confirming Xi's absence
- No reason was given why Xi will not attend the summit, which he has not skipped since coming to power, except Rome in 2021 when he participated by video link owing to pandemic
Israel’s sports team makes landmark visit to Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - An Israeli sports delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday to participate in the World Weightlifting...
- Three Israeli weightlifters are set to compete in different weight classes during the World Weightlifting Championships
- Israeli athletes are expected to participate in a competition in Qatar in December, even though neither Saudi Arabia nor Qatar maintains diplomatic ties
World on track to dangerous warming as emissions hit record high: UN
Scientists are in broad agreement that warming above 1.5C relative to pre-industrial times risks catastrophic consequences, and every effort must...
Geostrategy
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Qatar Prime Minister sees some progress on Gaza truce
"We need to find an answer for the ultimate question: how to end this war. That's, that's basically, I think,...
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia and Qatar to settle Syria’s World Bank debt
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced on Sunday that they would settle Syria's debt to the World...
Geostrategy
Massive explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port kills 18, injures 800
Although the cause of the blast was not immediately clear, the port's customs office said in a statement carried by...
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Geostrategy
Palestinian president Abbas appoints Fatah veteran Hussein al Sheikh as potential successor
Abbas's close aide, 69-year-old Hussein was appointed as the first ever vice president of the Palestine Liberation Organization after the...
- The PLO is empowered to negotiate and sign international treaties on behalf of the Palestinian people, while the PA is responsible for governance in parts of the Palestine.
- The PLO is an umbrella organization comprising several Palestinian factions, but not Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which are currently at war with Israeli forces in Gaza.
Geostrategy
Russia says retook Kursk from Ukraine with North Korean help
The Russian army has fully liberated the border Kursk region from Ukrainian control with the help of North Korean soldiers,...
- Gerasimov especially hailed the "heroism" of the North Korean soldiers taking part in the operation, who provided significant assistance in defeating the group of Ukrainian forces
- However, the Ukrainian Chief of Staff acknowledged the situation on the battlefield was "difficult", while insisting Ukrainian forces were still holding positions in Kursk
Geostrategy
Hamas says open to 5-year Gaza truce, one-time hostages release
Cairo, Egypt - Hamas is open to an agreement to end the war in Gaza that would see all hostages...
- The Hamas official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the Palestinian militant group "is ready for an exchange of prisoners in a single batch and a five year truce
- Hamas has consistently demanded that a truce deal must lead to an end to the war, a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a surge in humanitarian aid