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by Xinhua writer Li Jianmin
CAIRO, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- UN conference on climate change held in Morocco's Marrakech concluded Saturday after negotiations that finally achieved compromise over the text on outcomes, which has constituted the most outstanding topic among a series of major news events taking place in the Middle East region in the outgoing week from Nov. 13-19.
UN CLIMATE CONFERENCE ADOPTS DECLARATION FOR ACTION
Seventy heads of state and government attended the high-level segment of COP22 and the first conference of Parties to the Paris Agreement (CAM1), an indication of "irreversible momentum" for climate action.
Developing countries demand a change in the wording related to the fund in a draft decision to be adopted by the conference, Honadia revealed, and the document must make it clear that the Adaptation Fund "shall" serve the Paris Agreement.
The United Nations Marrakech climate conference on Thursday adopted a proclamation calling for the highest political commitment and solidarity in the fight against climate change, amid fears that the next U.S. administration may change U.S. policy in this regard.
This brief proclamation was issued to signal a shift towards a new era of implementation and action on climate and sustainable development.
The conference, which opened on Nov. 7 to pave the way for the implementation of the landmark Paris Agreement, has been overshadowed by the unexpected win of Republican candidate Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential election.
A major achievement of the talks is that the spirit of unity and flexibility demonstrated by all parties helped rebuild the international community's confidence in global cooperation on climate change, which has been overshadowed by uncertainty caused by the election victory of Donald Trump, delegates and civil society members say.
TURKEY DETAINS 73 ACADEMICS IN CRACKDOWN
Turkish authorities on Friday detained 73 academicians from the Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul as part of an ongoing crackdown launched in the wake of a failed coup in July, local media reported.
Istanbul prosecutors issued warrants for the detention of 103 academics from the university, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Of them, 73 have been detained by police.
Press reports said some suspects were accused of using the so-called Bylock messaging App adopted by an outlawed organization led by U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, who was accused of masterminding the coup attempt on July 15.
More than 40,000 people have been detained in the ongoing investigation, with some 80,000 others removed from public office in the purges.
BUMPY ROAD AHEAD TO RECONCILE YEMEN WARRING SIDES
The internationally recognized government of Yemen has rejected a peace plan proposed by the U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry shortly after it turned down a UN-proposed peace roadmap.
It is saying neither the U.S. nor UN plans can lay the groundwork for permanent peace or they may legitimize the Houthi-Saleh coup. Moreover, the two plans were not based on the Gulf Initiative, the outcomes of the national dialogue conference and the UNSC's resolution 2216, it says.
The government's rejection of the US and UN plans is a sign of total confusion of all including foreign players, the US in particular.
Observers argued that the US role toward Yemen is based on commitment to back the US biggest ally in the region, Saudi Arabia. Both countries are now seeking any peace deal before US president Barack Obama leaves office.
CEASEFIRE GOES INTO EFFECT IN YEMEN
A 48-hour ceasefire declared by Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen began on Saturday to allow the entry of humanitarian aid to besieged areas.
The two-day ceasefire that began from 12:00 noon in Yemen's timing (09:00 GMT) will be automatically renewed if the Shiite Houthi fighters and supporters of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh adhere to it.
The main purpose of the ceasefire is allowing humanitarian aid access to reach besieged areas including the southwestern province of Taiz, according to the Saudi-led military coalition.
UN "APPALLED" BY ESCALATION OF BATTLES IN ALEPPO
The UN said it was "extremely appalled" by the escalation in fighting in Syria, particularly in Aleppo. The statement on Saturday recounted instances of intensified violence, such as the raging conflict in the northern city of Aleppo, and the mortar shelling that targeted several residential areas in the capital Damascus.
It said such attacks targeted civilians and infrastructures, calling on all warring parties to cease "indiscriminate attacks."
The targets included hospitals in the rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo, and the university in the government-controlled parts west of Aleppo. It highlighted the need for all parties to accept the plan and accept to provide safe access to the affected people in eastern Aleppo.
IRAQI FORCES CONTINUE OPERATION NEAR MOSUL
Iraqi security forces on Saturday recaptured a town and two villages in south of the city of Mosul, while special forces fought heavy clashes with Islamic State (IS) militants as they pushed deeper into the eastern part of the city, a security source said.
The security forces have been fighting to push deeper into the eastern side of the city, but met resistance of the militants, who are fighting in small groups of well-trained fighters with snipers, suicide bomb attacks and many landmines, in addition to the heavy presence of civilians in their homes in Mosul districts.
The Iraqi security forces continued their advance in south and west of the city of Mosul, as fierce battles continued in the city to drive out the Islamic State (IS) militants from their last major stronghold in Iraq.
CHINESE FILMS WELCOME IN CAIRO FILM FESTIVAL
The Chinese cinema is very rich and future cooperation between Egypt and China, the guest of honor of the ongoing 38th Cairo International Film Festival (CIFF), is a necessity, said the festival's president.
China is this year's CIFF guest of honor because it is a very special year for the relations between Egypt and China, said CIFF President Magda Wassef.
Wassef noted that Egyptian filmmakers have discovered many excellent Chinese movies through film festivals around the world, such as those of Canne and Berlin.
With 204 contesting films from 61 countries, the CIFF jury will award the Golden Pyramid for best film, the Silver Pyramid for best director, the Bronze Pyramid for best first or second work of a director, Naguib Mahfouz Prize for best screenplay, as well as other prizes for best actor, best actress and best artistic contribution.
TURKEY VOWS REFERENDUM FOR EU BID IN 2017
Turkey could hold a Brexit-like referendum next year on whether to continue membership talks with the EU, Turkish President Erdogan said Monday, local NTV reported.
Erdogan slammed European Parliament (EP) President Martin Schulz for his remarks that the EU could impose sanctions on Turkey following its anti-terror arrests.
In a televised speech, Erdogan cited to calls from some EU members states to stop membership negotiations with Turkey and said "You are even too late. Make up your mind immediately," he said.
Meanwhile, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus also slammed European Parliament President Schulz on Monday for signaling that the EU could impose sanctions on Turkey following its anti-terror arrests.
BATTLES CONTINUE TO RETAKE AL-RAQQA FROM IS
One week after the operation began to retake al-Raqqa from the so-called Islamic State (IS), Turkey still has misgivings about the U.S. handling of the fighting against the militant group both in Syria and Iraq, while a Turkish confrontation with the Syrian Kurds is not ruled out.
Ankara is concerned that Washington is trying to create a Kurdish entity along the Turkish border in northern Syria by using the IS as a tool.
Many towns and villages originally captured by the IS in civil war-torn Syria and Iraq were later liberated by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) outlawed by Turkey or the People's Protection Units (YPG), seen by Ankara as PKK's Syrian offshoot.
OIL PRODUCERS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUTPUT CUT DEAL
Oil producers said Friday after a meeting in Doha that they are optimistic about reaching a deal at next Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting in Vienna.
Officials from eleven OPEC and non-OPEC member countries gathered today in an informal consultative meeting to discuss talks on output cut under the general terms of a proposal tabled in Algeria in September.
Qatar's Energy Minister Mohammed Al-Sada said that Friday's meeting came within the framework of meetings held periodically by countries inside and outside the OPEC to negotiate the stabilization of oil production.
Talking about Iran and Iraq freezing oil production, he noted that the meeting touched on all issues related to fixing oil production. Iraq and Iran both want exemptions from any OPEC cuts in output.
DUBAI TO BUILD WORLD'S LARGEST E-LIBRARY
The Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum has issued Friday a law to establish a one billion dirham (USD 272 million) library with two million e-books, making it the world's largest electronic collection.
Spreading over one million square feet, the facility will include eight specialized libraries, can accommodate 42 million visitors annually and will host over 100 annual cultural events.
''We want this library to serve as a cultural forum, an incubator for knowledge and a civilization centre in the region,'' said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed. The announcement marks the culmination of the UAE government's program "2016 -- the year of reading."
THE WEEK AHEAD
Ceasefire in Yemen, battles in Mosul, Aleppo and al-Raqqa and OPEC's oil output cuts as well as Turkey's widening crackdown will remain focus of topics in the Middle East region in the upcoming week from Nov. 20-26.
A 48-hour ceasefire declared by Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen began on Saturday to allow the entry of humanitarian aid to besieged areas. The main purpose of the ceasefire is allowing humanitarian aid access to reach besieged areas.
Turkey vowed to hold a Brexit-like referendum next year on whether to continue membership talks with the EU, which aroused wide concerns over its ties with EU.
Oil producers said that they are optimistic about reaching a deal at next Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) meeting in Vienna. However, Iraq and Iran both want exemptions from any OPEC cuts in output. Enditem
