
EU condemns ‘Israel's' killing of journalists in Gaza
"The EU condemns the killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in an (Israeli military) airstrike outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, including the Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif," she said after EU foreign ministers discussed the war in virtual talks.

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Italy's PM voices concern to President Abbas over escalating Israeli actions
Ammon News - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held a phone call this afternoon with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, during which he expressed sincere appreciation for Italy's crucial humanitarian support and its firm stance on the Palestinian cause. According to a statement issued by Palazzo Chigi, Meloni shared deep concern over recent Israeli decisions that appear to be heading toward further military escalation, emphasizing that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is unjustified and unacceptable." The Prime Minister called for the urgent need for an immediate cessation of hostilities, in order to continue providing humanitarian assistance to a dire civilian population. She also agreed with President Abbas that Hamas must release all hostages and accept that it has no future in governing the Strip. Meloni also reiterated Italy's commitment on the humanitarian front, through the Food for Gaza initiative, including the airdrops currently underway, and the evacuation of more than 150 children in need of treatment so far. She informed President Abbas the arrival of additional children in need of medical care in Italy in the coming days. During the call, the Prime Minister "finally affirmed Italy's readiness to play its part in the stabilization and reconstruction of Gaza, reaffirming the need to work towards a political process leading to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East through a two-state solution."

Ammon
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Climate security is energy security
Ammon News - NEW YORK — For all the uncertainties generated by Donald Trump's administration over the past six months, one thing is clear: 'climate' technologies are out, and 'energy' technologies are in. But while going along with this rhetorical shift may appease some, it should be recognized for what it is: a change in wording. The fundamental economic and technological forces that are pushing the world away from oil, coal, and gas and toward low-carbon, high-efficiency technologies have not abated. Over the past two decades, climate change has been a leading item on the global agenda, driving efforts to deploy technologies that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Those efforts are now facing headwinds, and not just in the United States. Geopolitical developments elsewhere, like Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, have called attention to the importance of energy affordability and security over other considerations. 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This is somewhat understandable, even if it is shortsighted. Germany, Europe's largest economy, has been in a recession for more than two years, with high energy prices a chief culprit. Climate technologies that are already commercially viable could help, of course. But taking full advantage of the lower prices of solar, wind, and (increasingly) batteries requires a willingness to reform power markets and pass these savings to households and industrial consumers. It also calls for more upfront public investment, an area where climate priorities compete with other priorities like national security that are often perceived to be more immediate. In grappling with these tradeoffs, the European Union delivered the kinds of efficiency measures that Trump's 'Department of Government Efficiency' (DOGE) had promised but failed to achieve. For example, Europe dialed back its carbon border adjustment mechanism by requiring 90 per cent fewer companies to comply. On the surface, this seems like a decisive blow to the goal of establishing a carbon tariff for imports, commensurate with Trump's DOGE hatchet. But unlike Trump and Elon Musk, the EU ensured that the remaining 10 per cent of importers still accounted for over 90 per cent of emissions. This outcome is far from ideal when viewed solely through a climate lens. But viewed from a broader climate-economic perspective, it is exactly the kind of surgical intervention that DOGE promised but never delivered. Still, fiddling at the climate-policy margins ignores the bigger picture. While Europe and America are taking steps back, China is leaping forward. It alone accounted for over 40 per cent of the record $2.1 trillion of global investment in the energy transition last year – more than the EU, the United Kingdom, and the US combined. The balance is even more lopsided for specific clean-energy technologies. China produces around 75 per cent of the world's solar panels and 80 per cent of its lithium-ion batteries. That dominance is the result of a concerted green industrial policy, in which innovation plays a key role. The claim that China only manufactures and assembles is woefully outdated. China's electric vehicles, for example, are second to none. BYD, the country's leading carmaker, recently unveiled a groundbreaking charging system capable of adding 470 kilometers (292 miles) of range in just five minutes, putting the company in a league of its own globally. China's dominance extends to technologies that are not yet competitive without price support. LONGi, one of the world's top solar manufacturers, formed LONGi Hydrogen in 2021 to pursue green hydrogen production. It now leads the world in electrolyzer manufacturing capacity. These are not isolated examples. China's ambitious industrial policy has helped lift five other Chinese hydrogen companies into the global top ten. Have Europe and the US already lost this race for the future? While the US now seems hellbent on turning itself into a petrostate, the EU has a chance to revive its clean-energy fortunes. It is even starting with a significant policy advantage: a CO2 price hovering around $100 per metric ton means that most low-carbon technologies – from clean electrons and electrification to clean molecules like biofuels – are already economically viable. Others, like green hydrogen, will need further support to help climb the learning curve and slide down the cost curve. According to Bernd Heid, a senior partner at McKinsey & Company who leads its Platform for Climate Technologies, around 90 per cent of climate technologies will be in the money by 2030 with a $100 carbon price. While China dominates with six top-ten global players, three of the others are European. The Swedish startup Stegra is building the world's first low-carbon steel plant using electrolyzers made by ThyssenKrupp Nucera, in which the German steelmaker has a majority stake. Despite recent political developments, the US, too, has shown that rapid change is possible. Although breaking China's solar manufacturing dominance will be difficult, the US has made significant inroads just over the past three years. Earlier this year, it exceeded 50 gigawatts of panel manufacturing capacity, a fivefold increase since 2022. These 50 GW in panel supply roughly matched US demand. True, onshoring the solar supply chain comes with costs that can be justified only by priorities other than the climate, such as national security or promoting domestic manufacturing. But that is the point. 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Roya News
2 hours ago
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Which countries joined global push for Palestine recognition since October 2023?
Since the brutal escalation of 'Israel's' military campaign in Gaza following October 7, 2023, a powerful wave of international solidarity has swept across the globe, with nations stepping forward to recognize the State of Palestine or pledging to do so at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September 2025. As of August 2025, approximately 147 of the 193 UN member states recognize Palestine, with the recent and upcoming recognitions poised to push this number higher. This growing movement reflects a resounding rejection of 'Israel's' relentless occupation and the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. These recognitions affirm the Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and statehood, offering hope to a population enduring unimaginable suffering under 'Israeli' bombardment and blockade. - Countries that have officially recognized Palestine - Between April 2024 and February 2025, 10 countries formally extended recognition to Palestine as a sovereign state. The list includes: Barbados (April 19, 2024) Jamaica (April 22, 2024) Trinidad and Tobago (May 2, 2024) The Bahamas (May 7, 2024) Ireland (May 28, 2024) Norway (May 28, 2024) Spain (May 28, 2024) Slovenia (June 4, 2024) Armenia (June 21, 2024) Mexico (February 5, 2025) - Countries intending to recognize Palestine - The momentum for Palestinian statehood is set to intensify at the UN General Assembly in September 2025, with several nations pledging to recognize Palestine in a collective stand. These countries include: Australia (September 2025) France (September 2025) Malta (September 2025) San Marino (planned for 2025, exact date TBD) - Conditional recognitions - Two significant Western countries, Canada and the United Kingdom, have conditioned their recognition of Palestine on political and peace-related developments. Canada: Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada would recognize Palestine in September 2025 if the Palestinian Authority (PA) commits to holding elections in 2026 and implements other democratic reforms. United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the UK's intention to recognize Palestine in September 2025 unless 'Israel' agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza, takes concrete steps to end the humanitarian crisis, recommits to a two-state solution, and clarifies that no annexation of the West Bank will occur. - Actively considering the recognition of Palestine - Portugal: Portugal is actively considering recognition, with discussions underway as of July 2025. New Zealand: New Zealand's Cabinet is set to make a formal decision in September on whether to recognize a Palestinian state. - 'Israeli'-US anger - The Israeli Occupation has fiercely opposed these recognitions, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeling them a 'reward for terror' and falsely claiming they strengthen Hamas. Such rhetoric dismisses the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people. The United States, 'Israel's' staunchest ally, has echoed this opposition, with President Donald Trump calling France's decision 'reckless." The US has repeatedly vetoed UN resolutions for Palestinian full membership, obstructing global efforts to uphold Palestinian rights. Yet, the tide is turning. The recognitions by Ireland, Norway, and Spain, and the planned actions by France, Canada, and the UK, signal a growing defiance of US-'Israeli' dominance in shaping the narrative. These nations are prioritizing the cries of Gaza's people over diplomatic deference, recognizing that peace cannot come without justice for Palestinians.