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John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate speaks during an earlier interview with Reuters, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on October 31, 2023. REUTERS/Abdel Hadi Ramahi/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The United States and China have reached "understandings and agreements" on climate issues that will help ensure progress is made at the COP28 talks starting late this month in Dubai, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said on Friday. China envoy Xie told diplomats in September that phasing out fossil fuels was "unrealistic" while key technologies like energy storage remained immature. China now has 360 gigawatts of coal-fired power capacity in its project construction pipeline, he said, but "they're trying very hard to move away." Right now, "it is irresponsible to be funding a coal-fired power plant anywhere in the world," he said.

Persons: John Kerry, Abdel Hadi Ramahi, Kerry, Xie Zhenhua, Xie, David Stanway, Tom Hogue Organizations: Reuters, United, REUTERS, Rights, Bloomberg, Economy, Thomson Locations: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Rights SINGAPORE, United States, China, Dubai , U.S, Sunnylands , California, Singapore, COP28

☆ Palestinian envoy criticises West for Gaza stance, calls for more support
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Emma Farge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Israeli attacks by air, land and sea were triggered by deadly Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7. that killed 1,400. When it comes to us they are put aside, they're violated, they're not used, they're belittled," he told a gathering of diplomats and reporters. Israel says it abides by international humanitarian law at all times and blames Hamas for civilian deaths, saying it uses people as human shields. In the same speech, Khraishi also asked democracies for more support for a ceasefire, and to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, saying humanitarian aid was not enough. Countries are considering calling a special session of the Geneva-based Human Rights Council to debate the Gaza crisis, he said.

Persons: Ibrahim Khraishi, Denis Balibouse, Geneva Ibrahim Khraishi, they're, Ursula Von der, Khraishi, Emma Farge, Nick Macfie Organizations: Human Rights, United Nations, REUTERS, Rights, Palestinian, Ukraine, European Union, EU Commission, Thomson Locations: Palestine, Geneva, Switzerland, Israel, Gaza . Palestinian, Gaza, Ukraine, East, Dutch

☆ HonestReporting accepts news groups had no prior warning of Oct. 7 Hamas attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Crispian Balmer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

HonestReporting's Gil Hoffman told Reuters his organisation had not claimed to know that there had been any prior knowledge by the news groups of the Hamas attack. "I was so relieved when all four of the media organisations said they didn't have prior knowledge," Hoffman said in an interview by telephone about the article. "I still very much think that the questions were legitimate and the answers were adequate from the media organisations themselves." Reacting to the HonestReporting article posted on X, the Israeli Foreign Ministry had described the use of the various images by the four news groups as "a serious violation of journalistic ethics." Despite HonestReporting's suggestions that the Palestinian photojournalists had secured their images in coordination with Hamas, he said he was "happy" their pictures had been published.

Persons: Esa Alexander, HonestReporting, HonestReporting's Gil Hoffman, Hoffman, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Danny Danon, photojournalists, Crispian Balmer, Edmund Blair Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Associated Press, CNN, The New York Times, Palestinian, Israeli Foreign Ministry, Likud, United Nations, AP, Jerusalem Post, HonestReporting, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, Beirut, Lebanon, Israeli

☆ Biden-Xi summit could be last chance to stabilize U.S.-China relationship: Op-ed
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Dewardric L. Mcneal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Presently, this relationship faces more challenges than it has encountered in the past two decades. They must also rebuild the essential habits of cooperation to address the existential challenges that have arisen. However, this deep-rooted reliance underscores their vulnerability to disruptions and uncertainties in the ever-shifting landscape of U.S.-China relations. Such a shift toward stability isn't just beneficial for these corporations but stands to bolster the overall bilateral relationship between the two nations. The summit could be the final chance to stabilize the relationship, demonstrating to domestic audiences in both countries and global stakeholders that a workable, if not entirely ideal, management framework for China-U.S. relations is possible.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, John Kerry, Paul J, Richards, Xi, Biden, Antony Blinken's, Janet Yellen, Gina Raimondo, Chuck Schumer, Gavin Newsom's, Yellen, Dewardric McNeal Organizations: China, Department of State, AFP, Getty, Biden, Asia Pacific Economic Conference, U.S, APEC Summit, Apple, Nike, Caterpillar, Longview Global, CNBC Locations: Washington ,, United States, China, U.S, Taiwan, Bali ., California, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, South China, San Francisco, China's, Francisco

☆ Iran envoy says Tehran had no direct role in Hamas’ Israel rampage, or proxy attacks on US forces
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Jennifer Deaton | Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Iravani said there was cooperation and collaboration, but that Iran was not directing any of those operations. He likened Iran’s role to that of the US in providing assistance to Israel. Tehran has long been accused of arming Hamas and other Iran-aligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, as regional attacks by its proxies have escalated and become increasingly frequent. CNN pressed Iravani as to whether Iran supported Hamas’ murder of women and children and its hostage-taking on October 7. Hezbollah, the Iran-backed Shi’a movement based in Lebanon with one of the most powerful paramilitary forces in the Middle East, has also said that Hamas’ attack was kept secret from them.

Persons: Amir Saeid Iravani, Iravani, “, ”, Defense Lloyd Austin, General Hassan Nasrallah, Nasrallah Organizations: CNN, Republic’s United Nations, UN, United States, Pentagon, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Defense, Quds Force, US, Hamas, Israel Locations: Iran, Lebanon, Israel, Houthis, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, IRGC, UN, Tehran, Gaza, East

☆ Germany Accused of Silencing Pro-Palestinian Voices at U.N. Rights Forum
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Sarah MarshBERLIN (Reuters) - Germany faced accusations from Muslim countries of silencing pro-Palestinian voices and failing to do enough to tackle Islamophobia in a United Nations review of its human rights record on Thursday. German authorities have cracked down on pro-Palestinian groups since the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, and refused to authorize many pro-Palestinian protests, saying the curbs are to stop public disorder and prevent public antisemitism. Germany's Commissioner for Human Rights Policy Luise Amtsberg said there were limits on the right to peaceful demonstration in connection with criminal acts. Separately, Chancellor Olaf Scholz said earlier on Thursday that the country that perpetrated the Holocaust could not tolerate antisemitism. All 193 U.N. member states are subject to scrutiny as part of the review process established in 2008.

Persons: Sarah Marsh BERLIN, Luise Amtsberg, Olaf Scholz, Sarah Marsh, Bill Berkrot Organizations: United, NSU, Germany's, Human Locations: Germany, United Nations, Israel, Gaza, Geneva, Turkish

☆ China has a sweeping vision to reshape the world — and countries are listening
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

All this coincides with longstanding calls from countries across the developing world for an international system where they have more say. Beijing, he added, sees the US as merely “paying lip service” to the “liberal order” to hurt other countries. Sergei Savostyanov/Sputnik/ReutersIn recent years, even some countries that have for decades embraced a close partnership with the US have drawn closer to China and its vision. “Is China really trying to promote multipolarity — or does China just want to (become a) substitute (for) US influence over the world?” he asked. They also raise questions about how a more militarily and economically powerful China would behave globally, if left unchecked.

Persons: Xi Jinping, —, Xi, Vladimir Putin, General Antonio Guterres, ” Xi, , Shen Hong, they’d, ”, Yun Sun, liberalize, Sanjit Das, Shen Dingli, ‘, ’ ”, Russia’s Putin, Bashar al, Assad —, Assad’s, Sergei Savostyanov, Ali Sarwar Naqvi, “ We’ve, James Marape, ’, Rubens Duarte, Li Zhiquan, “, Tong Zhao, Zhao, Ted Aljibe, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Zhang Youxia, Beijing’s, Gilberto Teodoro Jr, BRICS, Weeks, Joe Biden, Sergio Lima, ” — Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, United Nations, Forum, China, Communist, CNN, Beijing, Washington, Getty, Stimson, Bank, World Trade Organization, . Riot, Bloomberg, Initiative, Asian, Global, Sputnik, Reuters, Center for International Strategic Studies, Papua New Guinea, multipolarity, China News Service, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Global Security Initiative, NATO, Russia, Philippine Defense, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, United, New, Seven, Ministry, Global Security, Group, UN, Communist Party Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, United States, Ukraine, Gaza, Russian, Xinhua, Washington, South, Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, America, Shanghai, West, Hangzhou, Israel, Pakistan, Pakistani, Islamabad, Papua New, Brazil, Indonesia, Europe, Asia, Scarborough, South China, AFP, Moscow, Russia, “, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Palestine, India, South Africa, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates, New Delhi, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, ” Beijing

The Israeli military said it had not agreed to a ceasefire and would continue its operations outside of localized humanitarian pauses. Patel said those fleeing their homes should have the ability to return, but said Washington does not have control or jurisdiction over the areas in question. "Those now in the south must have every ability to return to the north when that is safe to do." Hamas gunmen from Gaza burst through the border to Israel on Oct. 7 and killed 1,400 people, Israel says. Since then, more than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed in a relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip - home to 2.3 million - by Israeli forces, say Palestinian health officials in Gaza.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Vedant Patel, Patel, David Satterfield, Antony Blinken, Satterfield, Simon Lewis, Humeyra Pamuk, Daphne Psaledakis, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, United, State Department, Middle East, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, U.S, Washington, Gaza . U.S

☆ Evacuations from Gaza Strip resume through Egypt's Rafah crossing
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An ambulance for injured Palestinians who will be transported to receive treatments at Egyptian hospitals, waits to move towards the Egyptian side of Rafah crossing, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, November 7, 2023. REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsCAIRO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Evacuations from the Gaza Strip into Egypt for foreign passport holders and Palestinians needing medical treatment resumed through the Rafah crossing on Thursday after being suspended for a day, Egyptian security and medical sources said. On Thursday, two sources said that 695 foreign passport holders and dependents, including Egyptians, were able to cross. Evacuations from Gaza through Rafah began on Nov. 1 for an estimated 7,000 foreign passport holders, dual nationals and their dependents, as well as a limited number of people needing urgent medical treatment. Rafah is also the only entry point for humanitarian aid going into Gaza.

Persons: Abu Mustafa, David Satterfield, Satterfield, Yusri Mohamed, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Aidan Lewis, Alex Richardson, Barbara Lewis, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Thursday Israel, United Nations, Aid, Thomson Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Rights CAIRO, Egypt, Israel

☆ Janet Yellen to host China’s top economic official ahead of expected Biden-Xi talks in San Francisco
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Bryan Mena | Juliana Liu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Yellen’s talks with China’s new economic tsar will set the stage for the high-stakes potential meeting expected between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in San Francisco. The United States is the host for this year’s summit, which is an annual gathering of top leaders in government and business of the 21 economies in the Pacific Rim. The United States is the host for this year’s summit, which is an annual gathering of top leaders in government and business of the 21 economies in the Pacific Rim. US and Chinese officials are seeking to shore up diplomatic ties and cooperation on economic issues. The International Monetary Fund recently upgraded its forecast for China’s economic growth based on Beijing’s policies aimed at propping up the country’s ailing property sector.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Lifeng, Yellen’s, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Antony Blinken, John Kerry, Gina Raimondo, Wang Yi, “, Biden, Xi, ”, Mattie Bekink, Yellen, ” Yellen Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Economic Cooperation, Washington, Economist Intelligence, Network, Treasury Department, Biden, CNN, Monetary Fund Locations: China, Washington, Hong Kong, Asia, San Francisco, United States, Rim, Beijing, Shanghai, decouple

[1/5] Garment workers come out of a factory during lunch hours at the Ashulia area, outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, November 8, 2023. A panel of factory owners, union leaders and officials agreed to the increase unanimously, said Siddiqur Rahman, the owners' representative. "We continue to recommend that the government of Bangladesh adopt an annual minimum wage review mechanism to keep up with changing macroeconomic factors," the letter said. In addition to the wage increase, the government has said that workers would be given a 5% annual increment. Babul Akter, president of the Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, urged global brands to pay more, saying: "There could be some problems for the owners to cope with the increased salaries."

Persons: Mohammad Ponir Hossain, Siddiqur Rahman, Rahman, Inditex, Hugo Boss, Fazlul Hoque, Hoque, Levi Strauss, Armour, Sheikh Hasina, Akter, Abdus Salam Murshedy, Murshedy, Krishna N, Ruma Paul, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights DHAKA, Reuters, Inc, Knitwear Manufacturers, Association, Labour, Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Puma, Bangladesh Garment and Industrial Workers Federation, Envoy Group, Walmart, Hasina's Awami League, Das, Thomson Locations: Dhaka, Bangladesh, DELHI, China, Zara, Ukraine, New Delhi

☆ Israel-Hamas War Israel Says Its Troops Are in the Heart of Gaza City
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Aaron Boxerman | Victoria Kim | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

The Shati refugee camp in Gaza City was one of the neighborhoods hit by Israeli airstrikes on Monday. Hundreds of thousands of people have remained in northern Gaza despite warnings to move south. David Satterfield, U.S. special envoy for Mideast humanitarian issues, estimated on Saturday that at least 350,000 to 400,000 people remained in northern Gaza. Bushra Khalidi, Oxfam International’s policy lead for the Palestinian territories, said that her in-laws were among the many people who had abandoned their homes in Gaza City, only to return. In their case, the place where they had sought refuge, in central Gaza, received an evacuation order from the Israeli military.

Persons: Al Salya, ”, “, Ms, Ahmed Ferwana, Al Shati, Ferwana, Iyad, David Satterfield, Mohammed Dahman, Bushra Khalidi, ‘, ’ ”, Khalidi, Mohammad Abu Salmiya, Al Shifa, ” Dr, Abu Salmiya, Arijeta Lajka, Riley Mellen, Iyad Abuheweila Organizations: Jinan Al, The New York Times, Associated Press, United Nations, Hamas, Oxfam Locations: Gaza City, Gaza, Jinan, Jinan Al Salya, Rafah, Egypt, Jabaliya, Swiss, Rimal, Al Shifa, Israel, Al

☆ How shipping more US natural gas to Europe helped fuel CO2 pollution
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Tim Mclaughlin | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The administration approved five U.S. LNG export licenses to serve the European market following Russia's invasion, having approved none beforehand. U.S. special climate envoy John Kerry told Reuters last year that greenhouse gas emissions were an inevitable "downside" to increasing LNG exports to European allies. CO2 emissions from the energy-intensive process of liquefying gas for export mark only one stage in the industry's overall climate impact. Critics argue that it is unclear whether the U.S. gas export boom to Europe is displacing coal or delaying a transition to renewables like solar and wind. NextDecade Corp has said its proposed terminal near Brownsville, Texas, could remove more than 90% of its expected 6.4 million tons per year of carbon emissions.

Persons: Arathy, Biden, John Kerry, Robert Fee, Critics, Alexandra Shaykevich, Sempra, Susan Richardson, Tim McLaughlin, Richard Valdmanis, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Reuters, Cheniere Energy, United, U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Energy Regulatory, Biden White, LNG, The Energy Department, FERC, U.S, Energy Information Administration, Reuters Graphics, Washington, Venture Global, CCS, SEC, Talos Energy, NextDecade, Thomson Locations: Freeport, U.S, Freeport , Texas, United States, Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Texas, Cameron, Louisiana, Brownsville , Texas

The pandas’ departure from the National Zoo leaves Zoo Atlanta as the only other US zoo to feature pandas from China, and not for much longer. First lady Pat Nixon welcomes China's giant pandas on April 20, 1972, at Washington's National Zoo. They have since become the parents of seven giant panda cubs born at Zoo Atlanta, according to the zoo. Staff at the National Zoo say they’re hopeful China might one day send over more giant pandas. Plans for the exhibit, with a welcome sign announcing the “Giant Pandas of Chengdu” and a panda-themed gift shop, aren’t clear.

Persons: Tian Tian, Mei Xiang, Xiao Qi Ji, Nixon, Mao Zedong, Richard Nixon, ”, Mao Ning, Richard Nixon’s, Mao Zedong’s, Pat Nixon, “, Hsing, YaYa, Xin Xin, David Culver, Fernando Gual Sill, CNN Xin Xin –, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Yang Yang, Lun Lun, Steve Schaefer, –, Bob Lee, Jane Mahalik, “ Pat Nixon, ” Mahalik, Jill Biden, Yong Xiong, Melissa Gray Organizations: CNN, Smithsonian National Zoo, ” Zoo, National Zoo, Zoo, AP China, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Washington, of Public Service, Memphis Zoo, Atlanta, Chapultepec Zoo, Pandas, Zoo Atlanta, Getty, Scotland, Edinburgh Zoo, Adelaide Zoo, Chengdu Research Base, Staff, National Locations: Washington ,, China, what’s, Zoo Atlanta, Beijing, United States, City of Peking, Washington, Atlanta, Russia, Mexico City, Chapultepec, Mexico, “, China’s, Moscow, Qatar, AFP, America, Zoo, Chengdu, New York, Los Angeles

☆ Beijing is ready to improve ties with US, says Chinese vice-president
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Laura He | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —Beijing is ready to improve ties with Washington, a senior Chinese official said Wednesday, days before a highly anticipated potential meeting between leaders Xi Jinping and Joe Biden in San Francisco. Ahead of that potential meeting, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has invited Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, known as the country’s “economic tsar,” for a two-day meeting starting Thursday. Washington has sent four cabinet officials to Beijing since June, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Climate Envoy John Kerry and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. “The foundation of Sino-US relations lies in the people, and the source of strength lies in people-to-people friendship,” Xi added. Biden and Xi last met face-to-face in November 2022 for a three-hour talk in Bali, Indonesia, at a G20 summit.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, ”, Han Zheng, ” Han, Biden, Xi, Janet Yellen, Antony Blinken, John Kerry, Gina Raimondo, Wang Yi, Jake Sullivan, Xi Han’s, ” Xi, Yellen Organizations: Hong Kong CNN —, Washington, Bloomberg, Economy, Economic Cooperation, US National, Getty, Sister Cities Conference, Relations, China, Treasury Department Locations: China, Hong Kong, Hong Kong CNN — Beijing, San Francisco, Singapore, United States, Asia, . Washington, Beijing, Washington, Bali , Indonesia, Ukraine, Israel

☆ Star-filled Euclid images spur mission to probe 'dark universe'
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Tim Hepher | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

PARIS, Nov 7 (Reuters) - European astronomers on Tuesday released the first images from the newly launched Euclid space telescope, designed to unlock the secrets of dark matter and dark energy - hidden forces thought to make up 95% of the universe. Scientists believe vast, seemingly organised structures such as Perseus could only have formed if dark matter exists. "The rest of the universe we call dark because it doesn't produce light in the normal electromagnetic spectrum. Tell-tale signs of the hidden force exerted by dark matter include galaxies rotating more quickly than scientists would expect from the amount of visible matter that can be detected. We think there's lots of dark matter in that cluster and pulling these galaxies together," she added.

Persons: Carole Mundell, Mundell, Euclid, we've, Europe's, NASA's James Webb, You'll, Tim Hepher, Steve Gorman, Alex Richardson Organizations: European Space Agency, NASA, Reuters, Hubble, ESA, SpaceX, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, Thomson Locations: Darmstadt, Germany, Spain, Ukraine, Florida, Los Angeles

They knew it would be perilous, but Jinan Al Salya and her family decided to heed Israeli directions to evacuate the northern Gaza Strip and head south. They fled their car before a shell hit it, sending it and their luggage up in flames, Ms. Al Salya, 20, said in a telephone interview. “I’m in total shock.” Ms. Al Salya said she believed the shell that hit the car had been fired by an Israeli tank; the Israeli military declined to comment on the incident. Despite intensifying Israeli ground operations, continued air and artillery strikes, a mounting death toll and a critical lack of resources, hundreds of thousands of people remain in northern Gaza. David Satterfield, U.S. special envoy for Mideast humanitarian issues, estimated on Saturday that at least 350,000 to 400,000 people remained in northern Gaza.

Persons: Al Salya, ”, “, Ms, Ahmed Ferwana, Al Shati, Ferwana, Iyad, David Satterfield Organizations: Jinan Al, The New York Times Locations: Jinan, Jinan Al Salya, Gaza, Rafah, Egypt, Jabaliya, Gaza City, Swiss

Israeli airstrikes hit two refugee camps in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing scores of people, health officials said. The strikes came as the U.S. keeps urging Israel to take a humanitarian pause from its relentless bombardment of Gaza and rising civilian deaths. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Ramallah in the West Bank for a previously unannounced meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Political Cartoons View All 1234 ImagesCurrently:— Gaza has lost telecom contact again, while Israel’s military announces it has surrounded Gaza City. — A U.N. official says the average Palestinian in Gaza is living on two pieces of bread a day.

Persons: Israel, Antony Blinken, Mahmoud Abbas, Blinken, Mohammed Shia, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, evacuee Sara El, Masry, –, JORDAN, Jordan, King Abdullah II, ”, Michael Hertzog, ” Hertzog, OBAMA, Barack Obama, “, he’s, ” Obama, I’ve, Alp Toker, Juliette Touma, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Ismail Haniyeh, IRNA, Khamenei, Haniyeh, JERUSALEM —, Jacob Lew, Biden, ” Lew, Isaac Herzog, Lew, Antony Blinken’s Organizations: West Bank, Iraqi, Hamas, Ministry, WHO, GAZA, SYDNEY AIRPORT SYDNEY, Nine, Sydney Airport, Australian, United Arab Emirates, Mideast, Central Command, FIRE, NATIONS, Inter, Agency, UNRWA, United Nations, Jordanian, Twitter, ISRAEL, CBS, JERUSALEM, Paltel, Associated Press, Hezbollah, U.S, Israel, Embassy, . Riot Locations: Gaza, Ramallah, Baghdad, Jordan, Israel, United States, Egypt, Qatar, Gaza City, —, U.S, Berlin, israel, Sydney, Rafah, DUBAI, United Arab, Suez, ., Ohio, America's, Iran, UN, Palestinian Territory, GAZA AMMAN, Jordanian, GAZA, Palestinian, IRAN, TEHRAN, Lebanon, GAZA JERUSALEM, Beit Hanoun, TURKEY, ISTANBUL –, Ankara, Turkish

☆ UN bodies make united call for humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Mohammed Al-Masri Acquire Licensing RightsGENEVA, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The heads of several major United Nations bodies on Monday made a united call for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza as Israeli strikes intensify nearly one month into the conflict. "We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. Palestinian envoy to the United Nations Riyad Mansour responded that Griffiths should call for a full ceasefire. "You should be saying clearly and loudly in line with IHL (International Humanitarian Law) that a ceasefire should take place," Mansour said. Israel has rebuffed mounting international pressure for a ceasefire, saying hostages taken by Hamas militants during their rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7 should be released.

Persons: Mohammed Al, Masri, Volker Turk, Tedros Adhanom, Martin Griffiths, It's, Griffiths, United Nations Riyad Mansour, Mansour, Israel, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Emma Farge, Janet Lawrence Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Rights, United Nations, Human Rights, World Health Organization, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza City, Gaza

A loss and damage fund would be the first United Nations mechanism dedicated to helping countries that have suffered irreparable climate-driven damage from drought, floods and rising sea levels. "There was a lot at stake at this meeting," Avinash Persaud, special envoy to the Prime Minister of Barbados and the country's representative on the U.N. committee, told Reuters. Developing nations argue that rich countries responsible for most of the historical CO2 emissions causing climate change should be obliged to pay - something the United States and other rich nations refused to accept. Mohamed Nasr, Egypt's lead climate negotiator and representative on the committee, told Reuters such pledges would be crucial to the overall COP28 negotiations. If rich nations fail to follow through, he said, it could reopen decades-old fights that have derailed past climate deals - with poorer nations demanding "compensation" from rich nations for causing climate change, or refusing to agree to cut emissions faster without substantially more financial support from rich countries.

Persons: Rula, U.N, Persaud, Jennifer Morgan, Mohamed Nasr, Nasr, Valerie Volcovici, Kate Abnett, Christina Fincher Organizations: Abu Dhabi Sustainability, REUTERS, COP28 Finance, Bank, United, Reuters, U.S . State Department, European Union, Climate, Thomson Locations: UAE, Abu Dhabi, United Nations, Dubai, Barbados, United States, U.S, Egypt, COP28, Germany, Europe's, Berlin

☆ World Bank to host climate loss and damage fund despite opposition from developing nations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Countries have moved a step closer to getting a fund off the ground to help poor states damaged by climate disasters, despite reservations from developing nations and the United States. The deal to create a “loss and damage” fund was hailed as a breakthrough for developing country negotiators at United Nations climate talks in Egypt last year, overcoming years of resistance from wealthy nations. The committee, representing a geographically diverse group of countries, on Saturday resolved to recommend the World Bank serve as trustee and host of the fund — a tension point that has fueled divisions between developed and developing nations. Housing a fund at the World Bank, whose presidents are appointed by the US, would give donor countries outsized influence over the fund and result in high fees for recipient countries, developing countries have argued. To get all countries on board, it was agreed the World Bank would serve as interim trustee and host of the fund for a four-year period.

Persons: Jennifer Morgan, — we’re, ”, Harjeet Singh, “ Rich, “, Sultan Ahmed al, Jaber Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Bank, Housing, World Bank, Berlin, Action, US State Department, Reuters Locations: United States, Egypt, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, COP28

A spokesman for the health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Israeli forces had struck the camp overnight, killing at least 47 people. In a separate attack, 21 Palestinians from one family, including women and children, were killed in strikes overnight, the health ministry said. 'NO WORDS'"We demand that you stop them from committing these crimes immediately," Abbas told Blinken, urging an "immediate ceasefire" from Israel. The Palestinian health ministry said three Palestinians were killed in the incident, which it described as clashes with Israeli forces. Another Palestinian was killed by Israeli troops in the West Bank city of Hebron, the ministry said.

Persons: Gazans, Mahmoud Abbas, Antony Blinken, Jonathan, Saeed al, Abbas, Blinken, WAFA, Israel, Pope Francis, Matthew Miller, Mohammed Salem, Benjamin Netanyahu, Crescent, Gaza's Tal Al, David Satterfield, Cindy McCain, Mc Cain, Abu Dis, Nidal al, Ali Sawafta, Simon Lewis, Dan Williams, Yusri Mohamed, Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, Clauda Tanos, Michael Perry, Ingrid Melander, William Mallard, Alexander Smith, Conor Humphries Organizations: U.S, West Bank, Israel, U.S . State Department, Gaza, Reuters, United Arab Emirates, Hamas, REUTERS, Palestinian, Food, Thomson Locations: GAZA, RAMALLAH, Egypt, Ramallah, Israel, Rafah, Gaza, U.S, Qatar, Saudi, Jordan, Amman, United States, Palestinian, Al, Quds, Gaza's, Gaza City, Jerusalem, Hebron, Ismailia, Cairo

The deal to create a "loss and damage" fund was hailed as a breakthrough for developing country negotiators at United Nations climate talks in Egypt last year, overcoming years of resistance from wealthy nations. The committee, representing a geographically diverse group of countries, resolved to recommend the World Bank serve as trustee and host of the fund - a tension point that has fuelled divisions between developed and developing nations. Housing a fund at the World Bank, whose presidents are appointed by the U.S., would give donor countries outsized influence over the fund and result in high fees for recipient countries, developing countries have argued. To get all countries on board, it was agreed the World Bank would serve as interim trustee and host of the fund for a four-year period. "Rich countries ... have not only coerced developing nations into accepting the World Bank as the host of the Loss and Damage Fund but have also evaded their duty to lead in providing financial assistance to those communities and countries."

Persons: Tarusila, Loren Elliott, Jennifer Morgan, we're, Harjeet Singh, Sultan al, Jaber, Gloria Dickie, Valerie Volcovici, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Local, REUTERS, United Nations, Bank, Housing, World Bank, Action, U.S . State Department, Reuters, The U.S, Washington DC, Thomson Locations: Village, Fiji, United States, Egypt, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, U.S, Berlin, COP28, London, Washington

☆ Arab World, US Split on Gaza Ceasefire as Israeli Offensive Presses On
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +7 min

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Israeli military said it was trying to stem violence and protect Palestinian civilians. The Israeli military said it would enable Palestinians to travel on a main Gaza highway, the Salah a-Din road, during a three-hour window on Saturday. Fighting was "fierce" near an Israeli outpost on the outskirts of Gaza City, CNN reported, saying Israeli soldiers were battling Hamas fighters hundreds of meters to the north and south. If we need to get inside Gaza house-by-house, it's exactly what's going to happen," one Israeli soldier told CNN.

Persons: Nidal, Simon Lewis, Suleiman, Khalidi, Antony Blinken, Israel, Blinken, WAFA, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Joe Biden, Biden, Ayman Safadi, Sameh Shoukry, David Satterfield, Salah, Nidal al, Suleiman Al, Dan Williams, Michael Martina, Jarrett Renshaw, Humeyra Pamuk, Paul Simao Organizations: Reuters, Israeli, Blinken, Israel Defence Forces, West Bank, Palestinian, Turkish, United Nations, Bank, CNN Locations: Al, Khalidi GAZA, AMMAN, United States, Gaza, Washington, Israel, Palestinian, Rehoboth Beach , Delaware, London, Berlin, Paris, Istanbul, Jordanian, Jabalia, Ankara, GAZA, Amman, Gaza City, Khalidi, Jerusalem

REUTERS/Jonathan... Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreAMMAN, Nov 4 (Reuters) - U.S.-allied Arab states will press Secretary of State Antony Blinken for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza at a meeting of foreign ministers in Amman on Saturday, as Washington tries to persuade Israel to agree to temporary pauses to allow in aid. Health officials in Hamas-run Gaza say more than 9,250 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since then. Blinken is in Amman for meetings with Arab officials after visiting Tel Aviv on Friday. After meeting Blinken on Friday, Netanyahu said Israel refused a temporary ceasefire that did not include the release of hostages. Lebanon's caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza during a meeting with Blinken in Jordan on Saturday, Mikati's office said.

Persons: Antony Blinken, Philippe Lazzarini, Jonathan, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, Matthew Miller, Netanyahu, Blinken's, David Satterfield, Satterfield, King Abdullah of Jordan, Olaf Scholz, Najib Mikati, Mikati, Miller, Tom Perry, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, Hamas, REUTERS, Washington, United, Israeli, Health, Tel, NATO, Saudi, State Department, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: East, Israel, Palestinian, Amman, Jordan, AMMAN, Gaza, United States, Food, Tel Aviv, Turkey, Jordanian, U.S, Middle East, Rafah, Iraqi, Iran, Tehran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon

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