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
Israel’s Bennett meets Bahraini premier at climate summit For the first time, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met in Glasgow with Bahraini Prime Minister Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Israel
Plight of Iranian environmentalists raised at Glasgow summit An Iranian advocacy group seized the opportunity of the UN climate change conference to highlight the plight of Iranian environmentalists facing pressure and prosecution under the Islamic Republic. Iran
Turkey's Erdogan backs out of Glasgow climate summit Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erodgan made the last-minute decision to skip the UN climate summit on Monday, saying British authorities failed to meet his security demands. Turkey
In Glasgow, Israel’s Bennett pledges net zero emissions by 2050 Addressing the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett vowed that Israel would reduce greenhouse emissions to net zero by 2050. Israel
Reports: Iraqi fish dying from highly contagious disease Koi Herpesvirus is deadly for carp, which are a staple of Iraqi cuisine. News Brief
Flurry of activity in Israel as Glasgow climate summit approaches Israeli President Isaac Herzog has established the Israeli Climate Forum ahead of the COP 26 summit in Glasgow. Israel
At OECD, Israel joins global battle against climate change Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg and Energy Minister Karin Elharar are both in Paris for the OECD ministerial summit, pledging Israel’s commitment to battle global climate change. Israel
Three Israeli ministers visit Emirates on sidelines of Dubai expo Three Israeli ministers are using the opportunity of the 2020 Dubai Expo to visit the country and meet with their Emirati counterparts. Israel
Cyclone wreaks havoc on Oman The storm caused death and destruction throughout Oman and also hit Iran. News Brief
Gazans open eco-friendly rest house on the beach A group of artists in Gaza established the first eco-friendly rest house on the enclave’s beach, where people can sit and enjoy the free services in exchange for food leftovers. Palestine
The Takeaway: What will it take to jumpstart Iran nuclear talks? Jihadi spat in Idlib; Palestinians’ fashion feud; Lapid pivots left; Palestinians reject Armenian land sale in Jerusalem; Turkey’s generals and Syria; Qatari artist bemoans plastic pollution; and more! In less than 1,200 words. Iran
Qatari artist takes creative stand against plastic binge Pictures of an abaya covered with plastic wastes invite Qataris to reflect on their plastic consumption as pollution from disposable products surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Legacy: Gulf
