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☆ Falling Domestic Fares and an A.I. Arms Race: What Travelers Can Expect in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Christine Chung | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +21 min

Arms Race: What Travelers Can Expect in 2024 At the start of what promises to be a very busy year, we look ahead at what you’re likely to encounter. With 2023 in the rearview mirror, we look ahead at what travelers will face in 2024. At United Airlines, for example, smarter software can offer rebooking options and issue food and lodging vouchers when a flight is canceled, rather than just rebooking a flight. United Airlines has suspended its flights indefinitely, said Josh Freed, a United spokesman. This year, travelers are expected to choose faraway places and board small ships, according to Virtuoso, the consortium of luxury travel agencies.

Persons: Chanelle, Hayley Berg, ” Ms, Berg, “, Robert W, Mann Jr, ”, Chad Burt, Oren Etzioni, Gilbert Ott, Hopper, Greg Forbes, Delta’s, Neville Pattinson, Mr, Pattinson, biometrics, Laura Lindsay, Joshua Smith, Smith, Laurel Brunvoll, Michael Zeiler, Airbnb, We’ve, Jamie Lane, ‘, ’ ”, Jan Freitag, “ We’ve, David Whiteside, Brian Kelly, Guy, Leigh Rowan, “ There’s, Kelly, Rowan, ” Mr, James Thornton, Sharm el Sheikh, Khaled Ibrahim, Harry Rubenstein, Rubenstein, Eyal Carlin, Josh Freed, Jack Ezon, Tom Marchant, Beth McGroarty Organizations: World Tourism Organization, International Air Transport Association, Analysts, Express Global, ”, airfare, University of Washington, United Airlines, Transportation, Administration, Salt Lake, International Airport, Denver International Airport, Delta Air Lines, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, La Guardia Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, biometrics, Thales, Air, American Airlines, Global, “, —, MidX Studios, LivSmart Studios, Hilton, Hyatt Studios, Accor Hotels, Boston University, Visa, Mastercard, Walmart, Target, Savanti, Chase, Intrepid Travel, Amisol Travel, East Travel Alliance, United, Consumers, Ki’ama, Wellness, Global Wellness Institute Locations: United States, Point.me, Salt, North America, London, Rome, Tokyo, Cancún, Las Vegas, Cayman Islands, Polynesia, Europe, Norway, Denmark, Air Canada, Bergen, Flam, Scandinavia, Italy, France, Malta, Slovenia, Maryland, Spain, Portugal, Britain, Egypt, India, Mexico ; Cape Girardeau, Mo, Niagara Falls, N.Y . Texas, Burnet, Sulphur Springs, New York, Vienna, Marriott, Israel, Jordan, Oman, Oman —, Tunisia, Northern Africa, Sharm, Cairo, Amisol Travel Egypt, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ramle, Kimberley, Western Australia, Mitre, Patagonia, Ki’ama Bahamas, Bahamas, South Africa, Hudson, Tuxedo Park, N.Y, Malibu , Calif, Mexico

☆ Big Oil Bets on Hot Air in Climate Talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Carol Ryan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The closing plenary at the COP27 climate summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, last year. Photo: MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY/REUTERSOil-and-gas companies are banking on a glacial pace of progress on cutting fossil-fuel use in this year’s round of climate negotiations—and they may well get it. Climate Change Conference, COP28, begins Thursday with an oily twist. It is being hosted by the United Arab Emirates, which pumps more than 3 million barrels of oil a day. is a member, will have a pavilion at the climate summit for the first time.

Persons: Sharm El Sheikh, MOHAMED ABD EL GHANY Organizations: REUTERS, United Arab Emirates, of, Petroleum Locations: Sharm El, Egypt

REUTERS/Ammar Awad/ Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK/LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Travelers are canceling or postponing planned vacations to the Middle East and North Africa due to fears of the Israel-Hamas conflict worsening, and as touring companies have also altered itineraries and canceled flights. Travel operators say the war is affecting demand for travel to nearby nations including Egypt, Jordan and Turkey. German airline Group Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) said on Thursday their Middle East bookings have not been affected by the war, with only an initial dip when the conflict started. Spanish travel agency Essentialist said it has canceled 75% of trips to the extended Middle East and Northeast Africa region. The conflict's effect on travel demand to the Middle East may extend beyond the holidays and even just neighboring countries.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Israel, Todd Elliott, Konrad Waliszewski, Willie Walsh, Kathleen Oberg, Patrick Scholes, Essentialist, Matt Berna, Khaled Ibrahim, Doyinsola Oladipo, Joanna Plucińska, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Cruise Line Holdings, Royal Caribbean Group, International Air Transport Association, Group Lufthansa, AS OMAN, Marriott, Intrepid Travel, Americas, East Travel Alliance, Thomson Locations: Damascus, Jerusalem's Old City, East, North Africa, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Orlando , Florida, Israel . Washington, Cyprus, Lebanon, Valencia, Spain, Spanish, Northeast Africa, Australia, Norway, Sharm el Sheikh, Oman, UAE, New York, London, Chicago

☆ Thanks, From Your Newsletter Anchor
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Somini Sengupta | More About Somini Sengupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Today, I wrap up my turn at helming this newsletter. It’s why I chose to anchor this newsletter for you. I wanted to show you, in short, bite-size pieces, not just the perils of global warming, but who is doing what to address it. I wanted to walk us through sometimes impenetrable debates and explain, simply, how it matters for everyday people in our everyday lives. I wrote from a place of neither hope nor despair, exactly, but from the perspective of an OK-now-what-do-we-do pragmatist.

Persons: Douglas Alteen, Manuela Andreoni, Claire O’Neill, Adam Pasick, Sharm el Sheikh, “ Locations: Sharm el

☆ Fiance of U.S. citizen detained in UAE fears he will be extradited to Egypt
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - An Egyptian-American national detained while visiting the United Arab Emirates fears he will be extradited to Egypt for criticising authorities there ahead of the country hosting the COP27 climate conference last month, his fiance said on Sunday. The UAE, a close ally of Egypt, arrested Sherif Osman, who resides in the United States, on Nov. 6 at the request of an Arab League entity responsible for coordinating law enforcement and security matters, a UAE official confirmed to Reuters on Thursday. The United States was aware of Osman's arrest in Dubai, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Thursday, and was "watching his case closely and providing appropriate consular support". Osman's fiance said she had travelled to the UAE with him to meet his sister, who lives in Dubai, and his mother who had planned to visit from Egypt. The UAE official had said the UAE "strictly adheres to all internationally accepted standards" in detention cases including regular consular access and legal council.

☆ A Microsoft Leader’s COP27 Takeaway: It’s Time for Companies to Get Things Done
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-01 | by ( Dieter Holger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +9 min

Microsoft Corp. President Brad Smith says there are plenty of emerging opportunities for business leaders to take climate action. The executive who has helped spearhead the tech giant’s sustainability efforts says companies need to step up and do their part. I thought some of the European companies were present but not with senior leadership, not with as many senior leaders as a year ago. But I think if you look over the next 30 years, companies are going to locate manufacturing where there is green energy. It really does serve the world well and our individual companies well if we can standardize some aspects of this.

☆ American Arrested in Dubai at Risk of Deportation to Egypt
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Stephen Kalin | Chao Deng | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

DUBAI—An American citizen arrested recently on a visit to the United Arab Emirates faces possible extradition to his native Egypt after criticizing Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and calling on Egyptians to protest in videos he made while living in the U.S.Sherif Osman, 46, an Egyptian-American dual national, was one of a handful of Egyptians abroad urging people to organize demonstrations during a United Nations climate summit in November held in the Egyptian beach city of Sharm El Sheikh and attended by world leaders including President Biden.

☆ At COP27, Poorer Countries Secure Climate-Damage Fund Without Pledging Faster Emissions Cuts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Matthew Dalton | Stacy Meichtry | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt— Poorer countries secured a deal at United Nations climate talks to create a fund for climate-related damage as part of a broader agreement that failed to yield faster cuts in global emissions. The accord at the COP27 summit in this Egyptian seaside resort hands a victory to poorer nations that have demanded that money since the first U.N. climate treaty was signed three decades ago.

☆ COP27 Sets Up Climate-Damage Fund for Poorer Nations but Rejects Faster Emissions Cuts
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Matthew Dalton | Stacy Meichtry | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt— Poorer countries secured a deal at United Nations climate talks to create a fund for climate-related damage as part of a broader agreement that failed to yield faster cuts in emissions sought by wealthy nations to avert more severe global warming. The accord at the COP27 summit in this Egyptian seaside resort hands a victory to poorer nations that have demanded that money since the first U.N. climate treaty was signed three decades ago.

☆ U.S. Climate Funding Shortfall Hampers Bid to Cut Developing Countries’ Emissions
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Matthew Dalton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—The West’s diplomatic push at the United Nations climate summit faces a major obstacle: the long-running struggle inside the U.S. to deliver funds for the developing world’s response to global warming. The U.S. has lagged behind other wealthy countries in providing funds for poorer countries to cut emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change. The Trump administration sharply cut climate finance in its budgets. The Biden administration has promised to boost climate finance to $11.4 billion annually, but its request in last year’s budget was cut from $2.7 billion to $1 billion during Senate negotiations amid Republican opposition.

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt — Governments from more than 190 countries struck a deal Saturday to set up a fund that would pay for climate-related damage in vulnerable countries, officials said, handing a victory to poorer countries that for years have pushed for the move and removing a major sticking point in United Nations climate talks. Negotiators representing developed and developing countries agreed to the measure in the final hours of the COP 27 United Nations climate summit held in this Egyptian seaside resort.

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—A deal was struck at United Nations climate talks on Saturday to set up a fund that would pay for climate-related damage in countries deemed particularly vulnerable, officials said, handing a victory to poorer nations that have pushed for the move for years and removing a major sticking point in broader negotiations to address global warming. The fund would earmark money for what is known as loss and damage: When rising seas, more powerful storms and other effects that scientists link to climate change cause destruction that is sudden or potentially irreparable.

☆ Europe, Canada Willing to Back Climate Damage Fund—but Only If China Helps Pay
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( Matthew Dalton | Stacy Meichtry | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—The European Union and Canada are willing to back the creation of a fund that would pay for damage linked to climate change in the most vulnerable countries—but only if wealthier developing nations such as China contribute. The proposal, made by the EU at United Nations climate talks in Egypt, calls into question China’s status as a developing economy that traditionally receives climate funds from the wealthy world. China has been pushing for this climate-damage fund as part of a coalition of 133 developing countries.

☆ Resurrection of U.S.-China Ties Boosts COP27 Climate Talks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Chao Deng | Sha Hua | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—The revival of formal dialogue between the U.S. and China at United Nations climate talks in Egypt is injecting diplomatic momentum into negotiations that delegates say have been rife with division. Cooperation between the U.S. and China is critical if the world is to avoid the most catastrophic effects of climate change, according to climate scientists. Without the world’s two largest emitters of carbon dioxide working together, they say, it will be impossible to meet the target of limiting global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius and preferably 1.5 degrees Celsius.

☆ COP27: Activists hoped Egypt would bring a focus on Africa. They were disappointed
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt CNN —The crowd was loving what Bhekumuzi Bhebhe had to say, cheering loudly as he yelled “don’t gas Africa!” into the megaphone. Bhekumuzi Bhebhe speaks at a protest against the development of new fossil fuel projects in Africa. Experts and activists are stressing that many African countries are getting locked in fossil fuel investments that are polluting and will likely prove uneconomical in a few years. “Africa has contributed very little to the climate problem, but the fossil fuel companies are using that to their advantage. What Elmaawi, Adow and other activists want is for the COP27 conference to help African countries foster more investment into renewable energy.

☆ New Climate Early Warning System Aims to Plug Weather Blind Spots Around the World
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Eric Niiler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—The United Nations and the U.S. are working to expand the network of weather stations across sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia and the Caribbean and Pacific island regions to create a climate early-warning system that can better anticipate severe droughts, heat waves, tropical storms and floods. Less than half of the U.N.’s 193 member countries are covered by early-warning systems, and less-developed and island nations are contributing only 10% of the weather data that the World Meteorological Organization requires under international agreements.

☆ New Climate Early-Warning System Aims to Plug Weather Blind Spots Around the World
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Eric Niiler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

☆ Analysis: In final week of COP27 climate talks, success hinges on 'loss and damage'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

[1/2] People pass in front of a wall lit with the sign of COP27 as the COP27 climate summit takes place, at the Green Zone in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt November 10, 2022. Some negotiators and observers warn that failure to agree on such "loss and damage" funding could sour the U.N. talks and thwart other deals. At last year's U.N. climate summit all countries agreed to set tougher climate targets this year to keep average global temperature rises to the 1.5C limit that scientists say would avoid global warming’s worst impacts. A relaunch of U.S.-China collaboration on climate change, which China halted earlier this year, could help boost negotiations at COP27. Germany and a group of climate-vulnerable countries launched a "Global Shield" scheme on Monday to attempt to improve insurance for climate disaster-prone countries.

☆ Pelosi says Republican's 'red wave' turned into a 'little, tiny trickle'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, speaks to the media during the UNFCCC COP27 climate conference on November 11, 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. As states across the country continue to count votes in a tight battle for control of the House of Representatives, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Democrats "haven't given up." Republicans had hoped, and many had openly anticipated, a "red wave" would wash Democrats out of their majorities in both branches of the legislature. A California man, David DePape, broke into the couple's San Francisco home, wielded a hammer and was prepared to kidnap and break the kneecaps of Nancy Pelosi, federal prosecutors revealed in a criminal complaint. DePape, 42, was charged with the federal crimes of attempted kidnapping of a federal official and assaulting an immediate family member of a United States official with the intent to retaliate against the official.

☆ Carbon Market Under Pressure to Deliver Billions in Climate Funding
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Amrith Ramkumar | Shane Shifflett | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Some carbon credits are tied to preserving forests in countries such as Nigeria, but verifying the climate benefits is often a challenge. The U.S. government and United Nations are touting plans for businesses to funnel billions of dollars to developing nations to fight climate change. The efforts rely on a tiny carbon-credit market that has struggled for years with uneven standards and conflicts of interest. A global effort unveiled by U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and a U.N. Africa-focused credit initiative are two of the hallmark pledges of the climate summit continuing in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. The goal is to fill the financing gap to fund the transition to clean energy in developing countries.

☆ Curbs on rights weaken Egypt's climate talks, campaigners say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Dominic Evans | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

[1/2] People walk outside of the Sharm El Sheikh International Convention Centre during the COP27 climate summit opening in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt November 6, 2022. Climate action "requires more people on the street, more voices, more independent research, more independent reporting, more accountability when climate obligations are not met," said Tirana Hassan, Human Rights Watch's acting Executive Director. "That's not going to happen under governments such as the Egyptian government which is excluding civil society, independent journalism and academia," she told a meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh this week. Despite those criticisms some delegates argued that there was a benefit to holding the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh to shine a light briefly on Egypt's record. "This is a huge opportunity," Egyptian journalist and human rights advocate Hossam Bahgat said.

The Biden administration on Friday announced plans to significantly tighten regulations against methane emissions from domestic oil and gas drilling. The Environmental Protection Agency said the proposed standards would reduce methane from the oil and gas sector by 87% below 2005 levels. In the United States, oil and natural gas operations are the nation’s biggest industrial source of methane, according to the EPA. The Biden administration announced its plan to reduce methane emissions in November 2021 at the last U.N. Last year, the U.S. and the European Union launched the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce the world’s methane emissions by 30 percent by the end of the decade.

☆ Biden to Announce Restrictions on Methane Emissions at COP27
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Eric Niiler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—President Biden is moving to tighten restrictions on emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and boost funding for developing countries to adapt to the effects of climate change and transition to cleaner technologies, according to the White House. Mr. Biden is expected to announce the measures in a speech before a United Nations climate conference, known as COP27, according to a fact sheet released by the White House ahead of the address. The measures include plans for the Environmental Protection Agency to require oil-and-gas companies to monitor existing production facilities for methane leaks and repair them, according to administration officials.

☆ Biden Announces Restrictions on Methane Emissions at COP27
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Eric Niiler | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt—President Biden is moving to tighten restrictions on emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and boost funding for developing countries to adapt to the effects of climate change and transition to cleaner technologies, according to the White House. Mr. Biden announced the measures in a speech before a United Nations climate conference, known as COP27. The measures include plans for the Environmental Protection Agency to require oil-and-gas companies to monitor existing production facilities for methane leaks and repair them, according to administration officials.

Setting out what he said were Saudi Arabia's steps to produce cleaner energy and reduce its carbon footprint, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said: "The world is hoping to crucify us." Instead, he said, Saudi Arabia would be holding the rest of the world to account. Among Saudi Arabia's contributions, he said Saudi Arabian state oil producer Aramco (2222.SE) had the lowest methane emissions by any measure. Saudi Arabia is also working on producing hydrogen using renewable energy and aims to be the lowest cost producer, Prince Abdulaziz said. "You need to invest to decarbonise existing resources like oil and gas while building your renewable sectors.

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