COP28 United Nations Climate Conference

France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a press conference at the COP28 United Nations climate summit in Dubai on December 2, 2023. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

December 2, 2023, 11:51 pm

Macron says ‘total destruction of Hamas’ would take 10 years of war

French president says Israel’s objective must be made clear, adds renewed fighting demands greater ceasefire efforts

Israel's President Isaac Herzog (3rd right) shakes hands with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai, December 1, 2023 (Courtesy)

December 1, 2023, 1:08 pm

As truce ends, Herzog, Qatari Emir seen in first public meeting of countries’ leaders

Meeting comes as Qatari-brokered ceasefire with Hamas collapses; President meets King Charles, other world leaders, on sidelines of UN environment summit in UAE

By ToI Staff

This handout photo shows President Isaac Herzog meeting with his Emirati counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Dubai, November 30, 2023. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

December 1, 2023, 12:16 am

Herzog meets UAE leader on sidelines of climate summit in push to free Gaza hostages

At COP28, Israel’s president appeals for Emirati chief ‘to employ his full political weight’ and help free remaining hostages held by Gaza terror groups since October 7

By Agencies

People walk through the venue for the COP28 UN Climate Summit with the Al Wasl Dome in the background at Expo City, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, NOvember 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)

November 30, 2023, 6:41 pm

Israel sending just 28 officials to UN climate confab, in shadow of Hamas war

Foreign Ministry originally planned 1,000-strong group, including ministers, president and PM; pared down pavilion to promote 4 Gaza-area tech companies, hostage solidarity corner

By Sue Surkes

Human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor uses his iPhone in Ajman, United Arab Emirates, on August 25, 2016. (AP/Jon Gambrell)

August 31, 2023, 11:42 am

Rights groups urge US action to free Emirati activist ahead of Dubai climate confab

19 groups including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International press Blinken to use COP28 conference as leverage on UAE authorities over jailed Ahmed Mansoor

By AFP

An ultra-Orthodox Jew walks outside the army recruitment office in Jerusalem, August 16, 2023. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

August 17, 2023, 2:07 pm

Daily Briefing Aug. 17: Why the Haredim may halt support for the judicial overhaul

Editor David Horovitz on front-page ads in support of IDF chief Herzi Halevi and how ultra-Orthodox priorities may have shifted; environment reporter Sue Surkes on worst polluters

By ToI Staff

COP28 UAE President Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber attends a joint press conference on the second day of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin, Germany, on May 3, 2023. (John MacDougall/Pool Photo via AP, File)

August 16, 2023, 2:55 am

PR firm says it may tap US Jews to boost image of UAE oil boss ahead of climate meet

Contract signed by former ADL-Israel head Zev Furst and Abu Dhabi’s Masdar proposes mobilizing ties to ‘US Jewish Establishment’ to improve optics in run-up to UN’s COP28 summit

By Sue Surkes

A wildfire burning through the night. (Cathy Withers-Clarke, iStock/Getty Images)

August 3, 2023, 4:22 pm

‘Oppenheimer’ offers a timely warning on the dangers of the climate crisis

Scientists thought the chances of an A-bomb destroying Earth were ‘near zero.’ We know now that climate change could obliterate humanity, but we continue along our destructive path

By Sue Surkes

COP28 UAE President-Designate visits award-winning Kenyan fintech leader M-KOPA on the sidelines of Africa Energy Forum. (AETOSWire via AP)

August 1, 2023, 7:58 pm

UAE to allow climate activists to assemble at COP28 amid ban on unauthorized protests

Abu Dhabi says it will enable protesters to assemble ‘peacefully and make their voices heard,’ earning praise from Climate Action Network International

By Hashem Osseiran

People attend the UAE Climate Tech Forum in Abu Dhabi, May 10, 2023. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP)

July 31, 2023, 10:29 am

Green organizations to boycott UN COP28 climate confab in Dubai

Zalul and Adam Teva V’Din cite government’s climate failures, while student-led Green Course plans annual march for climate to coincide with opening day of international meet

By Sue Surkes

A youth walks on cracked and dried up soil at the Hawizeh marshes, which straddle Iraq's border with Iran, in the southeastern Maysan province on October 8, 2022. (Asaad NIAZI / AFP)

July 4, 2023, 7:55 am

Israel to send 1,000-strong delegation to UN climate confab, led by PM, president

Biggest official group so far will take part in 70 blue and white events aimed largely at leveraging climate tech for regional, international partnerships

By Sue Surkes

A young fragment of coral harvested from a nursery is shown off the coast of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili).

June 10, 2023, 10:40 am

UAE uses coral nurseries to help restore reefs dying in warming seas

Marine project rehabilitates corals bleached by rising sea temperatures and sun glare

By Malak Harb

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) receives an invitation to the COP28 climate summit in November in Dubai from Mohamed Al Khaja, the UAE ambassador to Israel, May 25, 2023 (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)

May 23, 2023, 1:00 am

After months of delays, Netanyahu receives invitation to visit UAE for world summit

PM, along with Herzog, invited to attend global COP28 climate confab in November; individual visit by Israeli premier to Abu Dhabi was canceled months ago and not yet rescheduled

By Lazar Berman

Syrian President Bashar Assad attends a meeting with his Russian counterpart at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 15, 2023. ( Vladimir GERDO / SPUTNIK / AFP)

May 16, 2023, 1:21 pm

Back in the Arab fold, Syria’s Assad invited to COP28 climate conference in UAE

Invitation is latest move to rehabilitate Syrian president after years of being frozen out of regional politics due to his government’s brutal crackdown and civil war

By Jon Gambrell

A man experiences a driving simulator of a flying taxi at the Dubai Roads and Transportation Authority's stand during the World Government SummitWLD in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Feb 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

February 13, 2023, 2:15 pm

Dubai eyes flying taxi liftoff by 2026

Emirate’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed details new developments ahead of expected launch of six-rotor aerial vehicle

By JON GAMBREL