Middle East

Middle East heating nearly twice as fast as global average: report

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AFP) – The Middle East is heating at nearly twice the global average, threatening potentially devastating impacts on its people and economies, a new climate study shows. Barring swift policy changes, its more than 400 million people face extreme heatwaves, prolonged droughts and sea level rises, said the report released ahead of the UN’s COP27 climate summit in Egypt later this year. The study found an average increase of 0.45 degrees Celsius per […]

Qatar to reopen old airport to ease World Cup traffic

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) – Qatar is to reopen the mothballed Doha International Airport next week, airlines said Wednesday, as it seeks to ease pressure ahead of the 2022 World Cup. Doha International Airport has been in semi-retirement since it was replaced in 2014 by the nearby Hamad International Airport, which has since become a major hub in parallel with the growth of flag carrier Qatar Airways. Ahead of the World Cup which is expected to […]

Israel concedes soldier likely shot Al Jazeera journalist

by Jonah MANDEL Agence France-Presse JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP) — The Israeli army conceded Monday for the first time that one of its soldiers had likely shot Palestinian-American reporter Shireen Abu Akleh after having mistaken her for a militant. “There is a high possibility that Ms Abu Akleh was accidentally hit by IDF (Israel Defense Forces) gunfire that was fired toward suspects identified as armed Palestinian gunmen,” said the army’s final investigation report into her May […]

Hamas executes Palestinians for ‘collaboration’ with Israel

Gaza City, Palestinian Territories (AFP) The Hamas Islamist movement ruling the Gaza Strip announced on Sunday that it executed five Palestinians, including two for “collaboration” with Israel. The executions for collaboration are the first carried out in the Palestinian coastal enclave for more than five years. “On Sunday morning, the death sentence was carried out against two condemned over collaboration with the occupation (Israel), and three others in criminal cases,” Hamas said in a statement. […]

Five wounded in shooting on Israeli bus in West Bank

Jerusalem (AFP) Five people were wounded on Sunday in a shooting attack on an Israeli bus in the occupied West Bank, medics said. “We saw two gunshot victims outside of the bus who were being treated by IDF (Israeli military) medics and other people who were at the scene,” said paramedic Matti Carmi, from the Magen David Adom emergency medical services. Those shot in the northern West Bank incident were both conscious and were airlifted […]

US says latest Iran response on nuclear deal ‘not constructive’

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States said Thursday it had received a new response from Iran on reviving a nuclear deal but that it was not “constructive.” It is the latest in a back and forth between the adversaries via mediators from the European Union, whose foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Wednesday had hoped for a resolution within days to revive the 2015 nuclear accord. The European Union put forward on August […]

Microsoft to create 36,000 data centre jobs in Qatar

LUSAIL, Qatar (AFP) – Technology giant Microsoft announced Wednesday it will create 36,000 jobs in Qatar to boost the Gulf state’s efforts to move away from reliance on its oil and gas industry. Created with support from the Qatar government, the new cloud data centre will be one of the US firm’s biggest international projects. Microsoft Qatar general manager Lana Khalaf said it will help the tiny Gulf state become a “digital hub for the […]

Qatar says it will build world’s biggest blue ammonia plant

DOHA, Qatar (AFP) – Qatar announced Wednesday that it will build the world’s biggest plant making blue ammonia — one of the new fuels being touted as a cleaner energy source. Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi said the plant would cost $1.2 billion and start production in early 2026. State-owned Qatar Energy, a firm that is making huge profits from liquefied natural gas, said the plant would produce 1.2 million tonnes of ammonia a year “making […]

Iraq protesters disperse after Sadr demands end to deadly clashes

by Guillaume Decamme Agence France-Presse BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFP) — Iraqi supporters of powerful cleric Moqtada Sadr withdrew Tuesday from Baghdad’s Green Zone after he demanded an end to fighting between rival Shiite forces and the army that left 30 dead and hundreds wounded. The clashes that erupted on Monday pitted Sadr loyalists against Shiite factions backed by neighboring Iran — violence that prompted Iraq’s president to push for early elections and the prime minister to […]

Fighting in Iraqi capital leaves 23 dead after Sadr quits politics

by Guillaume Decamme Agence France-Presse BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFP) — Fighting between rival Iraqi forces raged for a second day Tuesday with rocket fire echoing from Baghdad’s Green Zone where 23 supporters of powerful Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr have been shot dead, medics said. Tensions have soared in Iraq amid a political crisis that has left the country without a new government, prime minister or president for months, and escalated sharply after Sadr’s supporters on Monday […]

Shelling targets Baghdad’s Green Zone amid deadly chaos after Sadr quits politics

by Guillaume Decamme Agence France-Presse BAGHDAD, Iraq (AFP) — Shelling targeted Baghdad’s high-security Green Zone Monday, a security source said, after Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr said he was quitting politics, sparking chaos in which 15 of his supporters were killed. Tensions have soared in Iraq amid a political crisis that has left the country without a new government, prime minister or president for months, and escalated sharply after Sadr’s supporters stormed the government palace following […]

In risky recyling venture, Gazans burn plastic for fuel

JABALIA, Palestinian Territories (AFP) – Living in one of the poorest parts of the Middle East and facing some of the region’s highest fuel costs, Palestinians in Gaza are burning plastic to make affordable diesel. It’s an economic and practical solution in a territory blockaded by Israel for 15 years, but one which poses serious environmental and health risks, experts say. Standing before rusty metal machinery and fuel containers, Mahmoud al-Kafarneh described how he and […]