KSA Takes Lead in Climate Donations

This Is Beirut 2023-12-04 20:16 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Africa Climate Change COP28 Development Dubai environment Saudi Arabia Sustainable Development UAE United Arab Emirates

Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister brushed off Western contributions to a recently established climate loss and damage fund, describing them as "insignificant," while emphasizing Riyadh's financial commitments to developing countries on Monday. Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman dismissed Western donations to a new climate loss and ...

Ukraine Faces Aid Concerns in Third Winter of the War

This Is Beirut 2023-12-04 14:39 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

CONFLICT Russia Ukraine United States

As Russia intensifies attacks in the east, Ukraine seeks additional foreign aid, as the war enters its third winter.  As the war enters a third winter, the frontline has largely remained static for the last year, despite a massive push by Ukrainian forces this summer with Western military hardware. Ukraine's air force said on Monday that it ...

Landslide for Venezuela’s “Yes” Vote on Essequibo's Annexation

This Is Beirut 2023-12-04 11:46 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Annexation Essequibo Guyana Nicolas Maduro South America This is Beirut Venezuela

95% of voters chose to support the "yes" camp in the referendum on Venezuela's annexation of the Guyanese province of Essequibo, according to results published on Monday, December 4. However, it seems unlikely that Nicolas Maduro's regime will attempt to seize this resource-rich territory by force. Venezuelan electoral authorities on Sunday ...

Deadly Bomb Attack on Catholic Mass in Philippines

This Is Beirut 2023-12-03 21:29 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Catholic church Philippines Pro-Islamic State Maute

On December 3rd, a bomb attack during a Catholic mass in the Philippines killed at least four people and injured dozens. President Ferdinand Marcos attributed the attack to “foreign terrorists,” while security officials suggested it might be a retaliatory act for recent military operations against Islamist militant groups. At least four ...

Venezuela Holds Referendum on Disputed Oil-Rich Essequibo

This Is Beirut 2023-12-03 21:16 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Essequibo Guyana Hydrocarbons ICJ International Court of Justice Nicolas Maduro Oil & Gas United Nations Venezuela

Venezuelans commenced voting in a referendum on Sunday, December 3, aimed at bolstering the government's century-old assertion over the oil-rich Essequibo territory, currently under the control of neighboring Guyana. "Essequibo is ours!" say posters plastered on walls lining the streets in Caracas, part of an intensive campaign by the government ...

Essequibo, the Next Geopolitical Hot Spot?

Malo Pinatel 2023-12-03 11:00 - Reading : 9 minute(s)

Essequibo Guyana Nicolas Maduro Oil and Gas South America This is Beirut Venezuela

On December 3rd, Venezuelans will cast their votes on the annexation of Essequibo, a region under the governance of Guyana but claimed by Caracas. The outcome of the vote raises concerns about a potential military conflict between the two South American countries. After Ukraine and the Middle East, is Latin America on the brink of a new escalation ...

Tourist Killed in a Knife Attack in Paris

This Is Beirut 2023-12-03 10:24 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Emmanuel Macron France Germany Investigation paris attack

On Saturday, December 2nd, a man wielding a knife attacked a couple of foreign tourists in Paris, resulting in the death of a German tourist and injuries to two others, prompting French President Macron to express condolences, while the suspected attacker was swiftly apprehended.  The man who stabbed a tourist to death near the Eiffel Tower in ...

COP28 Highlights: Funding Challenges and Renewed Commitments

This Is Beirut 2023-12-02 16:57 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

COP28 Pollution Renewable Energy UAE

COP28 in Dubai starts with the UAE leading climate initiatives, but concerns arise over attention-grabbing pledges potentially diverting from crucial issues like fossil fuels and formal negotiations. Meanwhile, nations will collaborate to achieve a global renewable energy generation capacity of at least 11,000 gigawatts by the decade's end. The ...

US Strikes Kill 37 "Terror Operatives" In Syria

1970-01-01 02:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

USA

US forces conducted two separate strikes in Syria, killing 37 "terrorist operatives" including members of the Islamic State group and Al Qaeda affiliate Hurras al-Din, the military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said Sunday. A September 24 strike in northwest Syria killed nine "terrorist operatives," including senior Hurras al-Din leader Marwan ...

Hezbollah Must End 'Terrorist Attacks' Against Israel

1970-01-01 02:00 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Hezbollah Israel United States

The United States said Thursday that Hezbollah must stop its attacks against Israel if it wants to ease tensions in the region. Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah, in a speech following the explosion of thousands of communications devices in a stunning assault widely attributed to Israel, vowed to keep fighting Israel "until the aggression on Gaza ...

Von Der Leyen Names Her European Commission Lineup

1970-01-01 02:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

European Union

After weeks of fierce political horse-trading, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen unveiled Tuesday her new top team to help steward the EU through the next five years of global uncertainty. Faced with Russia's war in Ukraine, the potential return of Donald Trump as US president and competition from China, the formation of the new ...

Accused Testifies in High-Profile French Rape Trial

1970-01-01 02:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

"I am a rapist," a 71-year-old Frenchman accused of drugging his wife so he and scores of strangers could assault her told a court Tuesday, returning to the dock after being ill for around a week. Dominique Pelicot used a cane as he slowly entered the courtroom in the southern city of Avignon, before sitting on a blue armchair to give him enough ...