Dubai faces massive clean up after deluge swamps glitzy desert city
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Reuters Dubai, a city in the desert proud of its modern gloss, faced the towering task on Thursday of clearing its waterclogged roads and drying out flooded homes two days after a record storm saw a year’s rain fall in a day. Dubai International Airport, a major travel hub, struggled to […]
The storm that brought Dubai to a standstill
Dubai, United Arab Emirates Reuters A storm hit the United Arab Emirates and Oman this week bringing record rainfall that flooded highways, inundated houses, grid-locked traffic and trapped people in their homes. At least 20 people were reported to have died in the deluge in Oman while another person was said to have died in […]
Russia and Ukraine stage major POW exchange after UAE mediation
Kyiv, UkraineReuters Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday announced their first exchange of prisoners of war in nearly five months, with more than 200 freed by each side after what both said was a complex negotiation involving mediation by the United Arab Emirates. Russia’s Defence Ministry said 248 military personnel had been handed over by Ukraine. […]
Nations strike deal at COP28 to transition away from fossil fuels
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReuters Representatives from nearly 200 countries agreed at the COP28 climate summit on Wednesday to begin reducing global consumption of fossil fuels to avert the worst of climate change, signalling the eventual end of the oil age. The deal struck in Dubai after two weeks of hard-fought negotiations was meant to send […]
Stop posturing and aim high, UN climate chief tells COP28
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReuters Countries at the COP28 climate talks need to stop posturing, aim high and agree on a way to end the “fossil fuel era as we know it”, UN climate chief Simon Stiell said on Wednesday, as tension over the future of coal, oil and gas came to the fore. Stiell was […]
Climate finance in the spotlight at COP28 climate talks
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReuters Money pledges stacked up at COP28 in Dubai on Monday as delegates sought to address the huge gap between what is needed in climate finance and the amounts so far on offer. The United Arab Emirates, the host of this year’s conference, pledged to mobilise $US270 billion in green finance by […]
Britain’s King Charles III urges rapid environmental repair in COP28 speech
Dubai, United Arab EmiratesReuters Britain’s King Charles III said on Friday the world was “dreadfully far off track” on addressing climate change and that the global economy would be in peril unless the environment was rapidly repaired. In an opening address to the COP28 UN climate summit, King Charles III told world leaders the dangers […]
Essay: Faith leaders can influence the world on climate change
US Catholic Cardinal JOSEPH W TOBIN, in an article first published on Religion News Service, says we must align our spiritual values with our actions toward the planet and each other…
Sudanese general accuses UAE of supplying paramilitary RSF
Cairo, EgyptReuters A top Sudanese general has said the United Arab Emirates is sending supplies to the Rapid Support Forces, publicly accusing the UAE of involvement in its war with its powerful paramilitary rival for the first time. Army leaders had previously only hinted at interference from unnamed neighbouring countries in the seven-month-old war, which […]
Human rights groups send COP28 demands to UAE, governments
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters More than 200 civil society groups have written to the United Arab Emirates, host of this year’s COP28 UN climate summit, and all participating governments with a series of demands concerning the Gulf nation’s human rights record. The UAE, a Gulf trading and tourism hub, big oil producer and a US ally, […]