Analysis Iran’s mismanagement in focus as fires ravage 25-million-year-old forests Prolonged wildfires are raging across Iran's northern Hyrcanian forests, highlighting mismanagement, insufficient resources and climate stress, and forcing volunteers and foreign aid to intervene. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Syria attends Brazil’s COP30 as most Middle East leaders skip talks Two years after the UAE and Egypt hosted back-to-back climate conferences, global headwinds are threatening climate action as talks begin in Belem amid notable absences. United Arab Emirates
Over 200 hospitalized in Tunisia’s Gabes as anger over pollution crisis grows President Kais Saied is facing one of his biggest challenges yet as demands for the closure of the city’s phosphate processing plant increase. Tunisia
Drought-stricken Iraq sends delegation to Turkey to discuss water cooperation Turkey recently agreed to release more water to Iraq amid the drought in the country, indicating improving coordination on resource management after years of tensions over Turkish dams. Iraq
Environmentalists call Eilat oil shipping disaster waiting to happen Environmental groups claim that the new project to transport Gulf oil via Eilat to Europe is likely to damage the local unique coral reef. Israel
Saudi Arabia plans to plant 10 billion trees in the desert Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s tree-planting program raises environmental awareness, helps society reconnect to nature and creates employment opportunities for rural communities. Legacy: Gulf
Qatar LNG expansion plan turns spotlight back on methane emissions The natural gas industry is a major emitter of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that receives less attention than carbon dioxide, despite having a much higher warming potential. Qatar
Israel protects two rare fish species in Mediterranean Environmental Protection Minister Gila Gamliel published a law amendment to protect the Goldblotch grouper fish and the dusky groupers, but marine life lovers say the measures are not enough to ensure the recovery of these species. Israel
Oil spill in Mediterranean reaches besieged Gaza Strip An oil spill in the Mediterranean washed up to the shores of the Gaza Strip, threatening the fish wealth and the beach season amid great challenges for government agencies in Gaza to clean the beach given their lack of appropriate resources. Palestine
Egypt forges ahead with campaign to make the Nile 100% plastic free The VeryNile initiative has been working since 2018 to remove plastic waste from the Nile River and has launched a project to support the fishermen of Cairo by providing them with additional income and access to health services. Egypt
Iran’s capital suffocating amid blame game over pollution For nearly a month, residents of the Iranian capital have been exposed to record-high air pollution amid the government’s confusing explanations and failure to work out a solution. Iran
The battle against the bottles: Israel extends law on plastic containers The Knesset Economics Committee has now approved extending the Bottle Deposit Law, so it will also include family-size plastic bottles. Israel
Yemen’s Houthis grant UN inspectors access to aging oil tanker Experts say the FSO Safer, a dilapidated vessel that contains more than a million barrels of light crude oil, is at risk of rupturing and spilling more oil than the Exxon Valdez. Yemen
Israel not ready for climate change challenges Israel is increasing its goals for the use of renewable energies, but the Ministry for Environmental Protection says it is nowhere near enough. Originals
Saudi Arabia warns of ‘oil spot’ near aging tanker off Yemen's coast UN officials have described the FSO Safer, an aging vessel that contains 1.14 million barrels of light crude oil, as a ticking time bomb. Saudi Arabia
Access to Asi River turned into left-right battleground in Israel A tweet by Yair Netanyahu turned a battle over accessing the Asi River into a political war between right and left, Ashkenazi and Mizrahi. Israel
