- Fans hail Trump's 'guts' as he returns to site of rally shooting
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Miami on track for MLS record points after win in Toronto
- Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
- Madrid beat Villarreal to level Liga leaders Barca
- Thuram treble fires Inter past Torino and up to second
- 'Fight': defiant Trump jets in to site of rally shooting
- Mexico City's new mayor sworn in with pledges on water, housing
- Israel on alert ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Guardians maul Tigers in MLB playoff series opener
- Macron criticises Israel on Gaza, Lebanon operations
- French rugby player whistled but 'serene' on return amid ongoing rape case
- Retegui hat-trick fires five-star Atalanta to hammering of Genoa
- Heavyweights Australia, England off to World Cup winning starts
- Visiting UN refugee agency chief decries 'terrible crisis' in Lebanon
- Spinners come to party as England defeat Bangladesh at T20 World Cup
- Search continues for missing in deadly Bosnia floods
- Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- France's Auradou whistled on Pau return in Perpignan loss amid ongoing rape case
- A 'forgotten' valley in storm-hit North Carolina, desperate for help
- Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
- Hezbollah heir apparent Safieddine out of contact after strikes
- Liverpool stay top of Premier League as Arsenal, Man City win
- In dank Tour of Emilia, Pogacar shines in rainbow jersey
- DR Congo launches mpox vaccination drive, hoping to curb outbreak
- Trump returns to site of failed assassination
- Careless Leverkusen held to Bundesliga draw
- O'Brien's 'superstar' Kyprios posts landmark win on Arc weekend
- Liverpool suffer Alisson injury blow
- Habosi helps Racing beat Vannes before Auradou's playing return
- Thousands march in London in support of Palestinians, 1 year after Oct 7
- Israel readying response to Iran missile attack
- Schutt, Mooney help Australia beat Sri Lanka in Women's T20 World Cup
- Liverpool extend Premier League lead with win at Palace
- Djokovic 'shakes rust off' to make third round of Shanghai Masters
- 'Imperfect' PSG fighting on all fronts - Luis Enrique
- Struggling Pakistan look to thwart adaptable England
- Child 'trampled to death' in asylum seekers' Channel crossing: minister
- Gauff fights back to set up Beijing final against Muchova
- Guardiola claims Premier League won't delay season for Man City
- Israel to mark October 7 attack as Gaza war spreads
- Gauff fights back to reach China Open final
- Recovering Stokes ruled out of first Pakistan Test
- Hezbollah battles troops on border as Israel pounds Lebanon
- Alcaraz, Sinner breeze into third round of Shanghai Masters
- Bagnaia wins Japan MotoGP sprint to cut Martin's lead
- Alcaraz breezes into third round of Shanghai Masters
- Gaza cultural heritage brought to light in Geneva
- 'Bullet for democracy': Trump returns to site of rally shooting
- Italy targets climate activists in 'anti-Gandhi' demo clampdown
'Time to deliver': pressure grows for climate deal in Dubai
The president of the UN's COP28 climate talks urged negotiators to compromise on Sunday, warning "failure is not an option" as efforts to reach a deal on phasing out fossil fuels met resistance from top oil exporter Saudi Arabia.
Less than 48 hours before Tuesday's scheduled deadline, the United Arab Emirates' COP28 chief Sultan Al Jaber said: "I want everyone to show flexibility to act with urgency and to find the common ground.
"The time has come for us to shift gears. The time has come for us to deliver," he told reporters.
- 'We need to find consensus' -
Jaber organised a majlis -- a traditional Gulf Arab meeting held in a circle -- with ministers in a bid to reach a compromise.
"Failure is not an option. What we are after is the common good. What we're after is what in the best interest of everyone, everywhere," he said ahead of the meeting.
"We need to find consensus and common ground on fossil fuel, including coal," Jaber added.
Earlier, Germany's chief negotiator Jennifer Morgan urged Jaber, the UAE's climate envoy and state oil company chief, to push for an ambitious agreement.
"There is a real urgency of action to keep the planetary pain threshold of 1.5 degrees in reach," she said, referring to the goal outlined in the 2015 Paris agreement.
"The COP presidency has reiterated many times that they are here to facilitate an ambitious decision. This means there needs to be strong language on the phase-out of fossil fuels in line with 1.5C."
- 'Blockers at every stage' -
Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, is said to be the chief opponent of attempts to phase down or phase out fossil fuels, along with India, a major coal producer and consumer.
"I've been following Saudi Arabia in this process for over 30 years and they have been blockers at every stage," said Alden Meyer, senior associate at E3G climate think-tank.
"However, if the (COP28) presidency and other countries can succeed in getting China, India, Russia and others to move and accept some kind of language on fossil fuel phase-out, the pressure on the Saudis will be overwhelming."
A strong final agreement also depends on wealthier nations pledging to provide financial help so that emerging nations can install more solar and wind technology and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
"It is clear that least developed countries will not be able to go at the same speed as G20 economic powerhouses," Morgan said.
"They have to meet development needs but also have the opportunity now to leapfrog unsustainable decisions. This is why we need a package that combines energy transition and energy access."
- 'Deep cuts' -
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres kept up the pressure, urging delegates to agree big cuts to emissions and calling on oil and gas companies to lead the energy transition.
"I urge fossil fuel companies to use their enormous resources to lead the renewables revolution," he told the Doha Forum in Qatar.
"And I urge global leaders at COP28 in Dubai to agree on deep cuts to emissions in line with 1.5 degrees. That is the only road not only to climate sustainability, but economic sustainability."
- Prayers from the Pope -
At St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, Pope Francis, who missed COP28 following a bout of bronchitis, instructed his followers to pray for a good outcome in Dubai.
"I ask you to pray for us to have good results to safeguard our common home and protect populations," he said during his weekly public prayers.
- 'Not nearly enough' -
Adding further urgency, the International Energy Agency released an assessment showing that non-binding pledges by governments and oil and gas companies so far at COP28 would fall far short of what is required.
The pledges -- tripling renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency by 2030, and sharply reducing methane emissions by energy companies -- would cut energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by only 30 percent of what is needed by 2030, the IEA said.
"While the pledges are positive steps... they would not be nearly enough to move the world onto a path to reaching international climate targets, in particular the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius," it said.
G.Teles--PC