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☆ Russian demand for Dubai property is slowing — but China's is picking up, DAMAC chairman says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

But that wave is slowing down, DAMAC Chairman Hussain Sajwani says. But other countries are coming in strong, especially Chinese coming back," Sajwani told CNBC's Dan Murphy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Tuesday. "Dubai is, you know, surrounded by more than 100 countries with all kinds of issues and challenges. While China's economy faces challenges at home, Dubai is benefitting from those who can spend outside of the country. "So a lot of people coming and residing in Dubai anyway."

Persons: Hussain Sajwani, Sajwani, CNBC's Dan Murphy Organizations: Economic Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Gulf, China, Davos, Switzerland, India, Europe, Dubai, Israel, UAE

☆ Elite cocktail bars in the UAE have a new way to draw in customers: luxury ice from arctic glaciers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

You need the "purest ice in the world," harvested directly from the rapidly melting glaciers in Greenland. At least, that's what Arctic Ice, a startup based in Greenland, is hoping will catch on as it begins selling glacier ice to upscale cocktail bars in Dubai. "Our pure iceberg ice has little to no taste, ensuring it doesn't alter the flavor of beverages as it melts, unlike ice made from tap or mineral water," reads the Arctic Ice website. Representatives for Arctic Ice and Natural Ice did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. AdvertisementArctic Ice isn't the first to come under fire for using glacier ice to chill drinks.

Persons: —, Malik V, Rasmussen, commenter, Martha Stewart, Martha, Greta Thunberg Organizations: Service, Business, Arctic, United Arab Emirates, The Guardian, Guardian Locations: Greenland, Dubai, Nuuk, Denmark

☆ Saudi Arabia isn’t ruling out befriending Israel. But it may come at a higher price
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +70 min

Fatima Shbair/AP Mourners collect the bodies of Palestinians killed in an Israeli airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza, on December 24. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa/picture-alliance/AP Relatives and friends bid farewell to the body of Al Jazeera camera operator Samer Abu Daqqa in Khan Younis, Gaza, on December 16. Mahmud Hams/AFP/Getty Images Israeli soldiers form an honor guard at the funeral of Israeli reserve soldier Master Sgt. Mohammed Saber/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Children use candles for lighting in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Friday, October 20. Maya Alleruzzo/AP A boy carries salvaged belongings from the wreckage of his family's home in Khan Younis, Gaza, on October 11.

Persons: UAE CNN —, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, ”, “, “ There’s, ” Prince Khalid bin Bandar, ” Ali Shihabi, Shihabi, Israel, Blinken, Evelyn Hockstein, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Abraham, Biden, Yousef Al Otaiba, Israel “, ” Otaiba, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Firas Maksad, Abir, Prince Khalid, Maksad, Jamal Khashoggi, ” Maksad, ” Prince Khalid, Isaac Herzog, Oded, Abed Rahim Khatib, Noam Galai, Majdi, Sufian Dagash, Ohad, Abed Zagout, Harel Ittah, Ariel Schalit, Khan Yunis, Stringer, Elisha Yehonatan Lober, Mount Herzl, Maja Hitij, Fatima Shbair, Ahmad Hasaballah, Mohammed Salem, Yaacov Elian, Boris Dunavetski, Amir Levy, Mohammed Abed, Mahmud Hams, Alon Lulu Shamriz, Ilia Yefimovich, Abu Daqqa, Khan, Khan Younis, Ben Shelly, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Eviatar Cohen, Mostafa Alkharouf, Mohammed Dahman, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Atef Safadi, Gal Meir Eisenkot, Eisenkot, Gadi Eisenkot, Leo Correa, Alexi Rosenfeld, Alleruzzo, Amir Cohen, Gil Cohen, Menahem Kahana, Sergeant Aschalwu Sama, Tsafrir, John MacDougall, Ahed Tamimi, Nasser Nasser, Viktor, Helena Brodski, Kiril Brodski, Ammar Awad, Jack Guez, Jabel Mukaber, Mahmoud Illean, Alexander Ermochenko, Younis, Mustafa Hassona, Asher, Raz, Doron, Schneider, Jaafar Ashtiyeh, Majed Al, Ansari, Mohammed Hajjar, Said Khatib, Jalaa Marey, Victor R, Liron Snir, James Oatway, Ashraf Amra, Ahmad Gharabli, Rizek Abdeljawad, Major Jamal Abbas, Shir Torem, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Christopher Furlong, Hatem Ali, Avraham Fetena, Sgt, Raz Abulafia, Fadel Senna, Nasser, Matan Meir, Haitham Imad, Roni Eshel, Eshel, Kenzo Tribouillard, Sadi Berek, Salah al, Varda Goldstein, Nir Oz, Bernat, Tomer Appelbaum, Mohammad Abu Elsebah, Khaled Ibn Al, Walid, Ya'akov Ozeri, Ronen Zvulun, Mohammed Alaloul, Neil Hall, Saeed Jaras, Mohammad Abu Hattab, Mohammed Talatene, Ditza Heiman, Salman Habaka, Yuval Zilber, Jalaa Merey, Ahmad Salem, Ali Jadallah, Anas al, Yosef Vahav, Kiryat Shmona, Albert Miles, Ilan Rosenberg, Manna, Tamar Chaya Torpiashvili, Abed Khaled, Tamir Kalifa, Yoav Gallant, Jehad Al, Kafarnah, Teddy, Dan Kitwood, Dima Vazinovich, Sagiv Ben Zvi, Omar El, Yasser Qudih, Francisco Seco, Mohammed Saber, Ali Mohmoud, Mai Yaghi, Yam Goldstein, Nadav, Khaled Joudeh, Samar Abu, Leon Neal, Hatem Moussa, Wolfgang Schwan, Yousef Masoud, Shadi Tabatibi, Belal al Sabbagh, Janis Laizans, Gallant, Ofir Libstein, Aza, Belal Khaled, Hod, Ayal Margolin, Brendan Smialowski, Netanyahu, Kenny Holston, Kfar Aza, Mahmoud Khaled, Dor Reder, Violeta Santos Moura, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Antonio Macías, Macías, Eli Albag, Liri, Sergey Ponomarev, Dor Kedmi, Saher, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Yuri Cortez, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Agha, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Oren Ziv, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Tali Touito, Ahmad Hasballah, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Lana Nusseibeh, “ That’s, Abu Dhabi, Anwar Gargash, ” Gargash Organizations: UAE CNN, Hamas, BBC, CNN, Palestinian, West Bank, Reuters, United Arab, Abraham Accords, Israel, UAE, Arab League, Saudi, Fox News, Washington Institute for Near East, Middle East Institute, Israeli, Getty, of Health, Congressional, Republicans, United Nations Security, AP, European Hospital, Mount, Rockets, UN, Anadolu, Museum of Art, Security, Nova, Magen, Getty Images, Kiryat, Islamic Jihad, Red, Tel, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical, Young, AP People, Schneider Children's Medical, Sisters, Schneider Children's, Ofer, Cross, Foreign, Artillery, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Al, Unicef, AP Journalists, Israel Defense Forces, Modern, Nasser Hospital, Nasser Medical, Najjar, Israel Defence Forces handout, Shutterstock, Reuters United Nations, Shifa, Palestine, Pictures, Bloomberg, Israeli Apache, United Nations Relief, Works Agency, Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, IDF, EyePress, New York Times, Nasser Medical Hospital, Deir Al, Tel Aviv University, Reuters Civil, AP Rockets, AP Israel's, Regional, Israel's, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Ben Gurion International, Aris Messinis, Haim, Puma, Mount Herzl Military, Anadolu Agency, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, United Nations, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, Wall, Shihabi Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi, United Kingdom, Gaza, United States, ”, Palestinian, East Jerusalem, Al Ula, Reuters Israeli, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, Washington , DC, Jerusalem, Abir Sultan, AFP, Turkey, Gulf, Tel Aviv, Israeli, Rafah, Maghar, Anadolu, Netanya, Khan, Khan Younis, Shaul, Shefayim, Jazeera, Kidron, Kfar Saba, Nahal Oz, Herzliya, Ashkelon, Petah Tikva, Ramallah, Egypt, Ofakim, Jabel, Khezaa, Gazan, Sisters Aviv, Beitunia, Gaza City, Galilee, Lebanon, Al, Aqsa, Al Bureij, Deir Al Balah, Xinhua, Pekiin, Mavki'im, Haifa, Sderot, Beit Hashmonai, Europe, Rishpon, Odem, Gaza's Al, Deir Al, Balah, Bureij, Kfar Aza, Meron, Jerusalem's, City, Jerusalem's Old City, Deir Balah, Mahmud, Southern Israel, Yanuh Jat, Netaim, Golan Heights, Shareef, Beit Guvrin, Kiryat, Al Aqsa, Kibbutz Be'eri, Ashdod, Holon, Najjar, Ichilov, Kibbutz Shefayim, Deir, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Deir al, Kibbutz Kissufim, Zahra City, Ras, Israel's, Yehuda, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Shmona, Ahli, Gan, Kfar, North Sinai, Beit Kama, Cyprus, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Modiin Maccabim, Mount Herzel, Yassin, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion, Dhabi, Dubai, Al Arabiya

☆ Russia is seeking to fan the flames of war in the Middle East amid Western airstrikes against the Houthi in Yemen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Read previewIn the wake of US and UK airstrikes in Yemen early Friday, Russia sought to portray itself as an opponent to impetuous Western aggression. Zakharova said the strikes showed a "complete disregard for international law" and were "escalating the situation in the region." AdvertisementYemen's Houthi loyalists lift their weapons as they take part in an armed parade on December 20, 2023, in Amran province, Yemen. The Houthis say they are acting in support of Palestinians amid Israel's attacks on Gaza, and are targeting vessels bound for Israel. A wider conflict in the region would divert Western focus away from helping defend Ukraine from Russia's invasion, and sap Western resources.

Persons: —, Maria Zakharova, Zakharova, Iran's, Yemen's, Mohammed Hamoud, Israel, shouldn't, Hanna Notte, . Robert Dover, Vladimir Putin, KREMLIN.RU, Putin audaciously, Putin, Anna Borshchevskaya Organizations: Service, Business, UN, New York Times, Center for Strategic, International Studies, UN Security, University of Hull, Dover, United, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Hamas, Washington Institute Locations: Yemen, Russia, Amran province, Iran, Red, Gaza, Israel, Africa, Russian, Moscow, Ukraine, Qasr Al Watan, Abu Dhabi, United Arab, Handout, REUTERS Russia, Russia's, Saudi Arabia, UAE

☆ Sanctioned Western tech is still entering Russia and powering its military machine, new analysis shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Russia is still obtaining large volumes of Western technology critical to its war in Ukraine, even as sanctions show some sign of taking hold, new analysis shows. Moscow imported more than $22 billion worth of critical components between January and October 2023, Russian trade data shows. Over the same period, it also imported almost $9 billion worth of "high-priority" battlefield components, which Western authorities have specifically sanctioned. The report's authors said the data suggests that some export controls are working, and that Russia has been unable to find reliable substitutes for many Western components. Zelenskyy did not provide evidence for his assertion, and Russia has separately said that its production of military equipment has stepped up.

Persons: —, Russia —, Bilousova, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: United Arab, KSE Institute, Russia, CNBC Locations: Russia, Ukraine, China, Hong Kong, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Western, Japan, South Korea, UAE, Moscow

☆ UAE defies fintech slowdown with a 92% jump in funding — against a global plunge of 48%
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The data from Innovate Finance, a financial technology industry body, shows that investment in fintechs last year sank $51.2 billion, down 48% from 2022 when total investment in the sector totaled $99 billion. The total number of fintech fundraising deals also sank considerably, to 3,973 in 2023 from 6,397 in 2022 — a 61% drop. That marks the first time the UAE has made it to the top 10 list of most well-funded fintech hubs in 2023, according to Innovate Finance. "Some of the markets now adopting this technology, we're seeing that reflected in investment numbers," Innovate Finance CEO Janine Hirt told CNBC earlier this week. Hirt noted that the momentum in Asia and the Middle East offered an opportunity for the U.K. to boost cooperation and partnerships with countries in those regions.

Persons: Janine Hirt, Hirt Organizations: CNBC, Finance, United, East Locations: fintechs, United Arab Emirates, UAE, France, Germany, Asia

☆ A slew of new conflicts could erupt in 2024, analysts say — while the world is watching Gaza and Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-28 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

- | Afp | Getty ImagesWith the eyes of the world on the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, an unprecedented number of potentially "catastrophic" conflicts are going under the radar, analysts have warned. The U.N. estimated in October that more than 114 million people were displaced by war and conflict worldwide. There is good reason for that — it is currently the most dangerous place in the world to be a civilian." The political turbulence comes amid ongoing armed conflict in eastern DRC and widespread poverty, and precedes further regional elections early next year. If you look at Myanmar, of course you've got this huge population in Bangladesh of displaced Rohingyas, and also displaced within Myanmar itself," she said.

Persons: Abdel Fattah al, Burhan, David Miliband, Miliband, Isabelle Arradon, Rapid Support Forces —, Gen, Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, Khalifa Haftar —, Arradon, Félix Tshisekedi, U.N, Antonio Guterres, you've, We've, It's Organizations: Afp, Getty, Rescue, Crisis, CNBC, Rapid Support Forces, UAE, IOM, UN's, Organization for Migration, Sudanese Armed Forces, Democratic, Government Locations: Red Sea, Port Sudan, Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Libyan, Khartoum, Darfur, METEMA, Ethiopia, Metema, AFP, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of, Congo, DRC, Goma, North Kivu, Kigali, Kinshasa, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Shan, Sagaing, Kayah, Rakhine State, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal

☆ Russia wants to topple dollar dominance, but it isn't even able to deliver oil to India with alternative currencies
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-27 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

This delayed six cargoes of Sokol oil the IOC was supposed to receive from late November to December, Reuters reported, citing shipping data. It isn't immediately clear how much Sokol oil is stuck at sea due to the payment issue. AdvertisementIndia has emerged as a major buyer of Russian oil following swathes of Western sanctions against Moscow. This means that dollar trade with Russia is restricted — and this is important since the greenback is the international trade currency of choice. To be able to buy Russian oil, India insisted on settling trades in the rupee earlier this year.

Persons: —, Rosneft, It's Organizations: Service, Russian Sokol, Indian Oil Corp, Reuters, Business, United, UAE dirham, IOC, Business Insider, Sokol, Bloomberg, Moscow Locations: Moscow, Russian, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Sokol, India, Sri Lanka, Russia, Ukraine, China, Delhi, Beijing

COP28 president Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber speaks during the Transforming Food Systems in the Face of Climate Change event on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit at Dubai Expo on December 1, 2023. "We delivered world first after world first," the UAE summit presidency said in a further social media update. And we have language on fossil fuels in our final agreement." Many believed the COP28 summit could only be considered a success if it resulted in a deal to phase out all fossil fuels. COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber sparked a backlash earlier this month after he claimed there is "no science" behind calls for a phase-out of fossil fuels.

Persons: Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Ludovic Marin, Licypriya Kangujam, Sean Gallup, Wopke Hoekstra, Alok Sharma, Sharma, CNBC's, Simon Stiell, We're, John Kerry, Selma de Montgomery, Avinash Persaud, Mikhail Gitarskiy, Sultan al, Jaber, he'd, Al Organizations: Food Systems, Dubai Expo, Afp, Getty Images, UAE Consensus, UAE, United Arab Emirates, Getty, Russian, BBC, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co Locations: Dubai, UAE, United Arab, United Arab Emirates, Pacific, Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Asia, North America, Paris, United States, China, Denmark, Barbados, Moscow, Abu Dhabi

☆ Governments take action to keep offshore wind projects on track
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Susanna Twidale | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] Scroby Sands offshore wind farm can be seen off of the coast at Great Yarmouth, Britain, October 24, 2018. Investors told Reuters governments have since shown willingness to pay higher prices, helping to restore confidence in the future of the industry. Britain's last auction in September failed to attract any offshore wind projects, with developers saying the guaranteed price on offer was too low. Britain's Octopus launched a dedicated fund with Japan's Tokyo Gas (9531.T) to invest 3 billion pounds ($3.7 billion) in offshore wind projects by 2030. Soeren Lassen, head of offshore wind Research at WoodMac said more than 50 GW of offshore wind tenders globally are planned for 2024.

Persons: Chris Radburn, ”, Jonathan Cole, Corio's Cole, Keith Anderson, Anderson, Marc Hedin, Nathalie Gerl, Germany's RWE, Soeren Lassen, WoodMac, Susanna Twidale, Nichola Groom, Scott DiSavino, Simon Webb, Jane Merriman Organizations: REUTERS, Governments, Investors, Corio Generation, Power, New York, Energy, New York State Energy Research, Development Authority, Aurora Energy Research, Research, Ireland, Aurora, Gas, Thomson Locations: Great Yarmouth, Britain, U.S, New York State, China

☆ COP28: UAE signs deal with Bill Gates' nuclear company on advanced reactors
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Bill Gates' advanced nuclear reactor company TerraPower LLC and the United Arab Emirates’ state owned nuclear company ENEC said on Monday they have agreed to study the potential development of advanced reactors in the UAE and abroad. “For the UAE, we're looking for a future for the clean electrons and molecules that will be brought to reality by advanced reactors,” said Mohamed Al Hammadi, CEO of ENEC, during the signing ceremony. "Bringing advanced nuclear technologies to market is critical to meeting global decarbonization targets," said TerraPower President and CEO Chris Levesque. The UAE currently has one traditional nuclear power plant, near Abu Dhabi, which began producing electricity in 2020. The MOU between TerraPower and the UAE said they would explore uses for advanced nuclear reactors such storing power on the grid and providing the energy needed to produce hydrogen, and decarbonize coal, steel and aluminum plants.

Persons: Bill Gates, Thomas Mukoya, ENEC, ”, Mohamed Al Hammadi, Chris Levesque, TerraPower, Richard Valdmanis, Kim Coghill Organizations: Microsoft, United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Rights, TerraPower, United, UAE, The UAE, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, UAE, Abu Dhabi, U.S ., Wyoming, TerraPower, Russia, TerraPower's Wyoming, Ukraine, United States

☆ COP28: Abu Dhabi teams up with HSBC, others on climate finance think-tank
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

DUBAI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi will host the newly launched Global Climate Finance Centre in partnership with nine founding members including the World Bank, lender HSBC (HSBA.L) and asset managers BlackRock (BLK.N) and Ninety One (N91.L). Described as an independent think-tank and research hub, the centre will look at barriers to investment into low-carbon projects and develop the financial frameworks to overcome them. "It will put Abu Dhabi and the UAE at the forefront of driving global change in sustainable finance, providing a positive legacy for years to come," COP28 President Sultan Al Jaber said in a statement on Monday. Reporting by Maha El-Dahan and Simon Jessop; editing by William JamesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Abu, Sultan Al Jaber, Maha El, Simon Jessop, William James Our Organizations: Climate Finance, World Bank, HSBC, BlackRock, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Abu Dhabi, UAE

☆ Putin to visit UAE, Saudi Arabia this week - Russian news outlet
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsMOSCOW, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia this week, Russian news outlet Shot reported on Monday, citing Putin's aide Yury Ushakov. Markets reacted with scepticism to the deal because of doubts about whether the voluntary cuts would be fully implemented. The figure of 2.2 million bpd included an extension of existing Saudi and Russian voluntary cuts of 1.3 million bpd. Shot quoted Ushakov as saying Putin would go first to UAE and then to Saudi Arabia, where negotiations would take place mainly with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE is a member of the court either, so Putin can travel to both countries without fear of being arrested under the ICC warrant.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Klimentyev, Yury Ushakov, Brent, Putin, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ushakov, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, United Arab, UAE, Soviet Union, Criminal Court, ICC, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, OPEC, Saudi, China, United States, Ukraine, UAE

In this year's gleaming host city of Dubai, billboards advertise the benefits of wind energy, climate ambition and Exxon Mobil's (XOM.N) carbon capture projects. This is seen by some as a sign of success and by others as a dangerous distraction from the business of combating climate change as over nearly three decades global oil demand, carbon emissions and temperatures have marched steadily upward. "It's a lobby fest where polluters can schmooze with politicians, all under the guise of tackling climate change," Pascoe Sabido, a researcher at the Corporate Europe Observatory, which scrutinizes corporate influence on policy-making, said. Delegates walk at the Dubai's Expo City during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 4, 2023. For daily comprehensive coverage on COP28 in your inbox, sign up for the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter here.

Persons: Exxon Mobil's, Pascoe Sabido, Alden Meyer, Meyer, Lisa Jacobson, Jacobson, Thaier, We're, –, Daniel Lund, Joko Widodo, COP28, Jake Schmidt, Darren Woods, General Antonio Guterres, Al Gore, Valerie Volcovici, Katy Daigle, Kate Abnett, Sarah McFarlane, Bernadette Christina, Richard Valdmanis, Alexander Smith Organizations: Exxon, Corporate, Observatory, United Nations, Business Council, Sustainable Energy, Global Strategic Communications Council, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Natural Resources Defense, Exxon Mobil, Drillers, U.S, Reuters, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Dubai, Berlin, The Hague, COP28, United Arab, Fiji, Indonesia, China, UAE

☆ Aramco chief says renewables still not enough to cover demand
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

President and CEO of Aramco Amin Nasser attends the Energy Asia conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia June 26, 2023. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/ File photo Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Saudi oil giant Aramco's Chief Executive on Monday told a panel on the sidelines of the COP28 climate summit in the UAE that that all the renewable energy coming to market is still not enough to handle additional demand. Aramco CEO Amin Nasser added that more investment in the oil and gas sector is still needed. Reporting by Maha EL Dahan and Yousef Saba Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Amin Nasser, Hasnoor Hussain, Yousef Saba, David Goodman Organizations: Energy Asia, REUTERS, Rights, Maha, Thomson Locations: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saudi, UAE

On Monday, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, energy minister and the key climate negotiator, for the kingdom, was a no-show at the Saudi Green Initiative. "The climate finance that they have pledged at this COP28 is simply not enough," said Pakistani activist Zaigham Abbas, whose country was devastated last year by widespread flooding. Elsewhere, France and Japan said they would support a move by the African Development Bank to leverage IMF Special Drawing Rights for climate and development. This year also features the biggest-ever representation of business at the annual U.N. summit, amid hopes for more private investment toward climate causes. "The scale of the climate crisis demands urgent and game-changing solutions from every industry," COP28 President Ahmed Al-Jaber said.

Persons: COP28, Johanna Geron, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, Nicholas Stern, Mia Mottley, Antonio Guterres, Zaigham Abbas, Abu Dhabi, Ahmed Al, Jaber, Simon Jessop, Maha El, Al Sayegh, Alexander Cornwell, Elizabeth Piper, David Stanway, Katy Daigle Organizations: of, European Union, REUTERS, Companies, Saudi, United, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Green Initiative, Crown, Grantham Research, Asian Peoples ' Movement, Development, African Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, BlackRock, HSBC, Finance, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Dubai, Brussels, Belgium, Companies UAE, DUBAI, COP28, United Arab, Saudi Arabia, Sharm el, Sheikh, Egypt, Paris, China, Grantham, Barbados, France, Japan, Copenhagen, Abu

☆ John Kerry responds to COP28 president's claim there's 'no science' behind fossil fuel phase out
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The remarks, which were made by Al-Jaber during a live online event on Nov. 21, were described as "farcical" by climate scientists. Asked to respond to Al-Jaber's comments, Kerry replied, "That's not the argument." watch nowA spokesperson for COP28 wasn't immediately available to comment when asked about Al-Jaber's comments. A spokesperson for COP28 told The Guardian: "The IEA and IPCC 1.5C scenarios clearly state that fossil fuels will have to play a role in the future energy system, albeit a smaller one. A "phase out" commitment would likely require a shift away from fossil fuels until their use is eliminated, while a "phase down" could indicate a reduction in their use — but not an absolute end.

Persons: John Kerry, Sean Gallup, Sultan Al, Jaber, Kerry, That's, CNBC's Tania Bryer, COP28 wasn't, COP28 Organizations: U.S, Getty, Getty Images, UNITED, EMIRATES —, The Guardian, Climate, COP28, United, Al, Guardian, United Arab Emirates, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Locations: China, UAE, Nigeria, Dubai, Getty Images Dubai, EMIRATES — U.S, United Arab Emirates, Al, Abu Dhabi

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore speaks during an interview with Reuters at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 3, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfliky Acquire Licensing RightsDUBAI, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Climate advocate and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore on Sunday slammed the UAE - host of the COP28 climate summit - saying its position as overseer of international negotiations on global warming this year was an abuse of public trust. "They are abusing the public's trust by naming the CEO of one of the largest and least responsible oil companies in the world as head of the COP," Gore said. That data came from a coalition he co-founded called Climate TRACE, which uses artificial intelligence and satellite data to track carbon emissions of specific companies, Gore said. "The current state of the technology for carbon capture and direct air capture is a research project," Gore said.

Persons: Al Gore, Amr Alfliky, Sultan al, Jaber, Gore, Darren Woods, There's, Valerie Volcovici, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Reuters, United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Rights, Sunday, Democratic Party's, Exxon Mobil, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, UAE

☆ Climate summit leader said there’s ‘no science’ behind need to phase out fossil fuels, alarming scientists
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The president of the COP28 climate summit, Sultan Al Jaber, recently claimed there is “no science” that says phasing out fossil fuels is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, in comments that have alarmed climate scientists and advocates. The future role of fossil fuels is one of the most controversial issues countries are grappling with at the COP28 climate summit. Al Jaber was asked by Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and current chair of the Elders Group, an independent group of global leaders, if he would lead on phasing out fossil fuels. While some argue carbon capture will be an important tool for reducing planet-heating pollution, others argue these technologies are expensive, unproven at scale and a distraction from policies to cut fossil fuel use. “They are not going to get any help from the COP Presidency in delivering a strong outcome on a fossil fuel phase out,” he said in a statement.

Persons: Sultan Al Jaber, Al Jaber, Mary Robinson, Robinson, ”, Al Jaber’s, what’s, Romain Ioualalen, Al, ” Joeri, Mohamed Adow, Angela Dewan, Rachel Ramirez Organizations: CNN, ”, Guardian, Elders Group, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, UN, International Energy Agency, IEA, Stockholm Environment Institute, Change, Imperial College London Locations: Paris, “, Abu Dhabi, Stockholm, UN, UAE

☆ Al Gore Slams COP28 Climate Summit Host UAE, Says Its Emissions Soared
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Valerie VolcoviciDUBAI (Reuters) - Climate advocate and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore on Sunday slammed the UAE - host of the COP28 climate summit - saying its position as overseer of international negotiations on global warming this year was an abuse of public trust. "They are abusing the public's trust by naming the CEO of one of the largest and least responsible oil companies in the world as head of the COP," Gore said. That data came from a coalition he co-founded called Climate TRACE, which uses artificial intelligence and satellite data to track carbon emissions of specific companies, Gore said. Gore urged delegates to agree to language in the final text issued at the summit to phase out fossil fuels, without caveats or mentions of carbon capture technology. "The current state of the technology for carbon capture and direct air capture is a research project," Gore said.

Persons: Valerie Volcovici DUBAI, Al Gore, Sultan al, Jaber, Gore, Darren Woods, There's, Valerie Volcovici, Will Dunham Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Sunday, Democratic Party's, Exxon Mobil Locations: UAE, Dubai

☆ COP28: No-shows and walkouts as Israel-Hamas war looms over crucial climate talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Angela Dewan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Israeli President Isaac Herzog spent his day on Friday meeting with high-profile leaders at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai. Herzog was supposed to give an address that day calling for action on the climate crisis. The Israel-Hamas war is casting a shadow over the COP28 climate talks. The UK's King Charles III shakes hands with Israeli President Isaac Herzog at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai on December 1, 2023. The Middle East has long been wracked with conflict, but the climate crisis was one area that was helping repair old rifts.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Herzog, King Charles III, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Cyril Ramaphosa, Israel, Rishi Sunak, Israel “, ” Sunak, Iran doesn’t, It’s, Jordanian King Abdullah II, “, ”, Ulrich Eberle, Biden, ” Eberle, Joe Biden, —, Jordan, Ayman Safadi, Al, haven’t, Alden Meyer, ” Alden, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, United Arab, European Union, United Nations, Hamas, Presidential Press, Reuters, South, Israel, UN, Crisis, Gaza, “, UAE Locations: Dubai, Gaza, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, United Kingdom, India, Israel, Iran, China, Jordanian, SeanGallup, UAE, Palestinian, Al Jazeera, Ukraine

☆ Kamala Harris announces new $3 billion US pledge to global climate action at Dubai summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Kyle Feldscher | Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Harris said the US would pledge another $3 billion to the Green Climate Fund – the main finance vehicle to help developing nations adapt to the climate crisis and cut fossil fuel pollution. “Today we are demonstrating through action how the world can and must meet this crisis,” Harris said. Harris’ attendance at the summit in Dubai is in line with her recent steps to ramp up public messaging on climate change. We must treat the climate crisis as the existential threat it truly is. In what represented an early success, several countries pledged millions of dollars to help nations hit hardest by the climate crisis.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Harris, ” Harris, Coal, “, Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, –, CNN’s Priscilla Alvarez, Sam Fossum, Ella Nilsen Organizations: DC CNN —, US, Environmental Protection Agency, Past Coal Alliance, Energy Information Administration, UAE, Japan, Biden, Republican, Washington Post, University of Maryland Locations: Washington, Dubai, United States, Israel, Gaza, Germany, Paris

☆ Exxon Mobil CEO urges COP28 to focus on reducing emissions — not phasing out fossil fuels
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

There's also an ongoing debate about whether an agreement should center on "abated" fossil fuels, which are trapped and stocked with carbon capture and storage technologies, or "unabated" fossil fuels, which are largely understood to be produced and used without substantial reductions in the amount of emitted greenhouse gases. "We cannot save a burning planet with a firehose of fossil fuels," Guterres said. "The 1.5-degree limit is only possible if we ultimately stop burning all fossil fuels. Not everyone is on board with calls to phase out fossil fuels, however. An Exxon Mobil gas station in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 203.

Persons: Darren Woods, There's, Steve Sedgwick, Woods, U.N, António Guterres, Guterres, Phaseout, David Paul Morris, Exxon Mobil's Woods, Tengku Muhammad Taufik, I'm Organizations: UNITED, EMIRATES, Exxon Mobil, United Arab Emirates, United Arab, Exxon Mobil Corp, Economic Cooperation, APEC, Bloomberg, Getty Images Bloomberg, Getty, Exxon, Big Oil, Petronas, Natural Resources, Mobil Locations: Dubai, COP28, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Asia, San Francisco , California, San Francisco, China, UAE, Washington , DC

☆ UAE's Masdar to develop 150 MW solar project in Angola
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, known as Masdar, is planning to develop a 150 megawatt solar power project in Angola to provide renewable energy to 90,000 homes and support economic growth, including jobs, the UAE state news agency WAM said on Saturday. Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water and Masdar, the Gulf state's clean energy developer, signed a concession agreement to build and operate the ground-mounted solar power project in the Quipungo region of southern Angola, the statement said. The project is part of a wider commitment made by Masdar this year to develop 5 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects across Angola, Uganda and Zambia. "Africa has what it takes to become the world’s renewable energy powerhouse," Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 president, said in the statement. Angola wants to increase its national electrification to around 60% by 2025; less than half of the population has access to electricity at present, the statement said.

Persons: WAM, Sultan Al Jaber, Rachna Uppal, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, United, United Arab Emirates, Angola’s Ministry of Energy, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Abu Dhabi, Angola, UAE, United Arab, Quipungo, Uganda, Zambia, Africa

☆ Harris says the US will ‘under no circumstances’ permit the forced relocation of Palestinians
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Sam Fossum | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Vice President Kamala Harris said in a meeting Saturday with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi that Washington will not allow for the forced relocation of Palestinians or any redrawing of the current border of the Gaza Strip. “Under no circumstances will the United States permit the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, the besiegement of Gaza, or the redrawing of the borders of Gaza,” Harris said, according to a statement from the vice president’s office. However, regional leaders like Jordan’s King Abdullah II have expressed concerns that Israel could use the conflict to seize parts of Gaza or expel its Palestinian residents. It’s unclear what role Israel plans to play after the conflict ends. During their meeting, Harris and Sisi discussed “ideas for post-conflict planning in Gaza including efforts on reconstruction, security, and governance,” the statement said.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Abdel Fattah el, ” Harris, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Harris, Sisi, “, Joe Biden, Biden, CNN’s Shania Shelton Organizations: CNN, United, West Bank, United Arab Emirates, Palestinian Authority, White Locations: Washington, Gaza, United States, Dubai, Egypt, UAE, Jordan, Israel, Qatar

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