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TOKYO (AP) — Japan signed a deal with the United States on Thursday to purchase up to 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles as part of its ongoing military buildup in response to increased regional threats. In November, the U.S. approved a $2.35 billion sale of two types of Tomahawks — 200 Block IV missiles and 200 upgraded Block V versions. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesJapan and the United States agreed to expedite the deployment “in response to the increasingly severe security environment,” Kihara said. The government quickly approved a shipment of Japanese-made Patriot missiles to the United States to complement the U.S. inventory. “There is a new Japan emerging, a more competent Japan,” he said.

Persons: Fumio, spender, Minoru Kihara, Japan Rahm Emanuel, ” Kihara, Emanuel, Japan's, ” Organizations: TOKYO, —, China . Defense, U.S, Kihara, United, Japan’s, “ Locations: — Japan, United States, Japan, China, North Korea, Australia, Britain, Tokyo, South Korea, U.S

Zelensky and Trump loom over DavosTwo people are having an outsize impact at the World Economic Forum, and one of them isn’t even there. One is Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, who put on a full-court press of business and global leaders at the forum in Davos, Switzerland. Zelensky isn’t the only leader at Davos worried about Trump. The Ukrainian leader has sought to shore up global business support. And the annual wine tasting hosted by Anthony Scaramucci, the financier and former Trump official, well, ran out of wine.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Donald Trump, Zelensky, Vladimir Putin, Andrew, Trump, Putin, “, ” Zelensky, Republican Party ”, DealBook, thumped, JPMorgan Chase, Steve Schwarzman, Blackstone, Ray Dalio, David Rubenstein, Carlyle, Michael Dell, John Kerry, Biden’s, Anthony Scaramucci, Christine Lagarde, Christopher Waller, Nelson Peltz’s, James Gorman, Morgan Stanley, Mary Barra, General Motors —, Bob Iger, Disney’s, Murray Auchincloss, Bernard Looney, Auchincloss, Yi Fuxian Organizations: Trump, Economic, Ukraine, Republican Party, Republican, JPMorgan, Congress Center, Dell, European Central Bank, Fed, Disney, General, BP, University of Wisconsin – Locations: Davos, Switzerland, Europe, Ukraine, American, Iowa, Bridgewater, China, Beijing, Russia, Britain, U.S, Asia, University of Wisconsin – Madison

☆ Israel-Hamas War U.S. to Return Yemen’s Houthi Militia to Terrorism List
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Michael Crowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

But even the lesser label of specially designated global terrorist group could jeopardize U.S. and Saudi efforts to construct a lasting peace deal to end the conflict. The conflict created a humanitarian catastrophe that Mr. Biden, as a candidate in 2020, vowed to address. Following a debate within the Trump administration, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and a specially designated global terrorist group in mid-January 2021. In February 2021, less than three weeks after Mr. Biden took office, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken reversed Mr. Pompeo’s designations. Asked by a reporter last week whether he considered the Houthis a terrorist group, Mr. Biden did not equivocate.

Persons: Biden, Yemen’s, Trump, Jake Sullivan, Tim Lenderking, Mike Pompeo, Antony J, Blinken, Tom Cotton, Mr, ” Mr, Cotton, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “, ” Organizations: U.S, State Department, Economic, Sana’a Center, Strategic Studies, United Arab Emirates, United Arab, U.S . Agency for International Development, United Nations, Associated Press, Republican, United Locations: Houthi, Yemen, Iran, U.S, United States, Saudi, Gaza, Israel, Davos, Switzerland, Al Qaeda, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Arkansas, United Arab

☆ Premarket stocks: The rich and powerful are meeting in Davos. Here’s what they’re talking about
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Climate catastrophes: Climate change is a hot topic as leaders meet to discuss balancing economic growth with sustainability. Davos comes just days after scientists around the globe reported that the average temperatures last year reached a new record high. The report also said that cooperation among global leaders on the issue is scarce. So while leaders will likely discuss the use of fossil fuels and green development, there may not be much agreement. Leaders gathered in Davos Sunday to discuss Ukrainian President Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan to end Russia’s war with his country.

Persons: Isaac Herzog, Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron, Li Qiang, Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, John Kerry, Satya Nadella, Sam Altman, Jamie Dimon, Brian Moynihan, Larry Fink, Donald Trump, ”, Philipp Hildebrand, CNN’s Richard Quest, ” “, ” Nicolai Tangen, CNN’s, “, Kristalina Georgieva, OpenAI’s Altman, Microsoft’s, Zelensky’s, JPMorgan’s Dimon, Herzog, Klaus Schwab, Tami Luhby, Elon Musk, Bernard Arnault, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, Warren Buffett, Nabil Ahmed, ” Ahmed, Jordan Valinsky, Comité Organizations: New, New York CNN, World Economic, National, Business, Microsoft, JPMorgan, Bank of America, BlackRock, Republican, GOP, ” BlackRock, Bank, Norges Bank, International Monetary Fund, IMF, State, Amazon, Oracle, Berkshire Hathaway, Oxfam, Workers Locations: New York, Davos, United States, Iowa, Europe, Taiwan, India, Mexico, China, Covid, Champagne, France

☆ Opinion: For the Houthis, war is a way of life
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

I think they’re probably ill-advised because I don’t think they’re going to do what they are intended to do. I don’t think they’ll deter the Houthis. This is such an unequal war because the whole character of war has changed. I don’t think it would make the slightest bit of difference whether the US designated them or not. I think they’re on the way to becoming Hezbollah.

Persons: Peter Bergen, CNN —, ”, Elisabeth Kendall, Kendall, PETER BERGEN, ELISABETH KENDALL, It’s, we’re, Elisabeth Kendall BERGEN, KENDALL, KENDALL, it’s, they’ve, didn’t, Abdul Malik al, I’m, Mohammed Hamoud, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Biden, Trump, They’re, don’t, Ali Abdullah Saleh, Saleh Organizations: New, Arizona State University, Apple, Spotify, CNN, US, Girton College, Cambridge University, Islam, Atlantic Council, Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, UN, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Foreign Terrorist Organization, United Nations, Hezbollah, United Arab Locations: New America, Yemeni, Red, Yemen, Sanaa, Saudi Arabia, Hudaydah, Suez, Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Gaza, BERGEN, Israel, Islam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ”, fragmenting, Washington, America, Beirut, Lebanon, Lebanese, United Arab Emirates

Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesZelenskyy is following that up with his first trip to Davos as president after speaking by video in previous years. The corporate chiefs will hear “what kind of immediate assistance is needed” and lay out how private and public sectors can help Ukraine rebuild one day, forum organizers say. The session will draw NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck and U.S. envoy for Ukraine's economic recovery, Penny Pritzker, among others. While the geopolitical situation has oozed gloom, businesses appear more hopeful — in part from prospects that artificial intelligence can help boost productivity. Leading Western stock indexes shot up in 2023, and falling inflation raised hopes of a decline in interest rates.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Jordan, Premier Li Qiang, Ursula von der Leyen, Jake Sullivan, Donald Trump —, Putin —, White, Viola Amherd, Jens Stoltenberg, Robert Habeck, Penny Pritzker, Gitanas Nauseda, José Manuel Albares Bueno, Satya Nadella — Organizations: European Union, Russia, Hamas, Premier, United States, Ukraine, —, Bruins, Spanish, Microsoft Locations: DAVOS, Switzerland, Swiss, Davos, United States, China, Qatar, Zelenskyy, Russia, Bern, Ukraine, ”, East, Europe

☆ Pope Francis considers first trip home as pontiff to ‘suffering’ Argentina
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Christopher Lamb | Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Pope Francis on Sunday said he hopes to make his first trip to his homeland of Argentina since becoming pontiff more than a decade ago, as the South American nation grapples with an economic crisis. New Argentine President Javier Milei, who once called Francis “an envoy of Satan,” last week formally invited the pontiff to the country, which faces triple-digit hyperinflation and soaring poverty. It’s a difficult moment for the country,” the 87-year-old pope told talk show “Che Tempo Che Fa,” on Italian channel Nove. The “possibility of making a trip to Argentina in the second half of the year” is being considered, possibly after a visit in Polynesia in August, Francis said. “I would make the trip to Argentina if it can be done.

Persons: Pope Francis, Javier Milei, Francis “, Satan, ”, Francis, “ Organizations: CNN, Sunday, New, ”, Warner Bros, Discovery, “ Locations: Argentina, American, New Argentine, Polynesia, Nove, Ukraine

☆ Nauru cuts diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favor of China
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Nectar Gan | Eric Cheung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Nauru has severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan and established ties with China, the Pacific Island nation’s government said in a statement Monday, in a blow to Taiwan’s effort to retain its dwindling number of diplomatic allies. Taiwan also confirmed diplomatic relations had been severed in a press briefing Monday, two days after Taiwanese voters gave the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) a historic third term. During the DPP’s eight years in power, Taiwan has lost 10 diplomatic allies to China. Naura’s switch of diplomatic allegiance to Beijing leaves Taiwan with only 12 diplomatic allies, mostly small nations in the Pacific Ocean and Latin America as well as the Vatican. This is the second time Nauru had severed diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Persons: Lai Ching, Lai, Hsiao, China’s Organizations: CNN, Nauru, Democratic Progressive Party, Party, Taiwan Locations: Taiwan, China, Taipei, Beijing, America, Nauru

☆ Unofficial US delegation says support for Taiwan remains ‘rock solid’ after voters defied China
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Nectar Gan | Eric Cheung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Hong Kong/Taipei CNN —Former senior US officials reaffirmed “rock solid” American support for Taiwan in a visit Monday after the self-ruled island defied threats from China by electing a new president loathed by Beijing. “And we hope that the United States will continue to support Taiwan to deepen our cooperation in this area,” he said. An unofficial US delegation meets with Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te and Vice-President-elect Hsiao Bi-khim in Taipei on January 15, 2024. Since then, the US has maintained close unofficial ties with Taiwan and is bound by law to provide the island with the means to defend itself. Asked by reporters to comment on Taiwan’s election results Saturday, US President Joe Biden said: “We do not support independence.”

Persons: Lai Ching, Biden, Tsai Ing, Stephen Hadley, ” Hadley, ”, James Steinberg, Lai, Hsiao Bi, “, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Yoko Kamikawa, Xi, Joe Biden Organizations: Taipei CNN — Former, Taiwan, Saturday, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan's, China’s, Ministry Locations: Hong Kong, Taipei, China, Beijing, Taiwan, United States, Washington, Taiwan Strait, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, Tokyo, Japanese, Kuomintang

☆ John Kerry to Step Down as Biden’s Climate Envoy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Annie Linskey | Andrew Restuccia | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

John Kerry at last month’s climate conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Photo: Fadel Dawod/Getty ImagesWASHINGTON— John Kerry is stepping down as the president’s special envoy for climate by this spring, according to a person familiar with the decision. The change comes weeks after Kerry, 80, played a key role during a recent climate conference in Dubai, helping to forge a compromise among nearly 200 countries aimed at reducing fossil fuels.

Persons: John Kerry, Fadel, WASHINGTON — John Kerry, Kerry Organizations: Getty, WASHINGTON Locations: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

☆ John Kerry, the US climate envoy, to leave the Biden administration
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON (AP) — John Kerry, the U.S. special envoy on climate, is stepping down from the Biden administration in the coming weeks, according to two people familiar with his plans. Kerry, a longtime senator and secretary of state, was tapped shortly after Joe Biden's November 2020 election to take on the new role created specifically to fight climate change on behalf of the administration on the global stage. "John Kerry's tireless work to deliver global progress on the climate crisis has been heroic," former Vice President Al Gore, who has focused primarily on climate in his post-public office life, said in a statement Saturday. While his gravitas has made him a central climate figure around the world, Kerry also has strong critics who argue America's climate policies don't amount to leadership in fighting global warming. The Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate law in U.S. history, is pumping billions of dollars into renewable energies.

Persons: — John Kerry, Biden, Joe Biden's, Axios, Kerry, Obama, Han Zheng, John Kerry's, Al Gore Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Senate Foreign Relations, Massachusetts, Senate, Democratic Locations: Kerry, Paris, Beijing, Pacific, United States, COP27, Egypt, U.S

☆ Who is Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s new leader and why does China dislike him?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Nectar Gan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

On Saturday, Lai, 64, the current vice president from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won a widely watched election to become Taiwan’s next president. Confetti flies over crowds as Lai Ching-te speaks to supporters at a rally at the DPP's headquarters on January 13, 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan. It was 1994, less than a decade after the DPP first emerged from Taiwan’s democracy movement against the authoritarian rule of the Kuomintang (KMT). Louise Delmotte/AP‘Chill out’In the lead-up to the election, China made no secret of its desire to prevent a Lai victory. Hours after Lai declared victory, China dismissed the outcome of Taiwan’s elections, saying the DPP “does not represent mainstream public opinion” on the island.

Persons: CNN — Lai Ching, Lai, Taiwan’s, “, ” Lai, we’re, ”, Xi Jinping, ” “, –, Tsai Ing, Lai Ching, Annice Lyn, I’ve, Louise Delmotte, Hou Yu, Beijing’s, Tsai, Xi, Beijing, Hsiao Bi, Hsiao, ” Lai Ching, Ann Wang, ’ Lai, ” Yang Wei Organizations: CNN, Communist Party, Democratic Progressive Party, “, DPP, Kuomintang, KMT, Communist, ih, National Taiwan University, Reuters, Taiwan People’s Party, Taiwan Affairs Office Locations: Taiwan, China, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, Tainan, Taipei, United States, ”

☆ John Kerry steps down from Biden administration
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

John Kerry stepped down as special envoy on climate on Saturday. Biden brought on Kerry in 2020 to serve in the National Security Council's first climate position. AdvertisementJohn Kerry , the US special envoy on climate, is stepping down from the Biden administration in the coming weeks, according to two people familiar with his plans. The New York Times, citing a person familiar with the matter, reported that Kerry handed his resignation to President Joe Biden on Wednesday. During his tenure with the Biden administration, Kerry was often seen working with China on climate goals and encouraged the US to work with China to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Persons: John Kerry, Biden, Kerry, —, Joe Biden, Axios, Obama, Han Zheng, John Kerry's, Al Gore Organizations: Kerry, National Security, Service, The New York Times, The State Department, Times . Staff, Times, National Security Council, Paris Climate Accords, Senate Foreign Relations, Massachusetts, Senate, Democratic, State Department, White, Business Locations: China, Kerry, Paris, Beijing

WASHINGTON (AP) — John Kerry, the U.S. special envoy on climate, is stepping down from the Biden administration in the coming weeks, according to two people familiar with his plans. Kerry, a longtime senator and secretary of state, was tapped shortly after Joe Biden's November 2020 election to take on the new role created specifically to fight climate change on behalf of the administration on the global stage. Kerry was one of the leading drafters of the 2015 Paris climate accords and came into the role with significant experience abroad, as secretary of state during the Obama administration and from nearly three decades as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Biden’s decision to tap Kerry for the post was seen as one way the incoming president was making good on his campaign pledge to battle climate change in a more forceful and visible manner than in previous administrations. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesKerry represented Massachusetts for 28 years in the Senate and was also the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004.

Persons: — John Kerry, Biden, Joe Biden's, Axios, Kerry, Obama, ” Kerry, Han Zheng Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Senate Foreign Relations, Kerry, Massachusetts, Senate, Democratic Locations: Kerry, Paris, Beijing

☆ New Zealand ex-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern weds longtime partner
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —New Zealand’s former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern married her longtime partner Clarke Gayford in a private ceremony on Saturday, finally tying the knot after canceling ceremonies during strict Covid-19 controls she imposed on the country. She became a global icon for left-leaning politics and women in leadership as prime minister from 2017 to January last year. Ardern, one of just two women to have a baby as national leaders, took her daughter to a United Nations meeting. Among the guests was Ardern’s successor as prime minister, Chris Hipkins, the current opposition leader, the New Zealand Herald said. In her final speech in parliament, Ardern told Gayford, a New Zealand television presenter, “Let’s finally get married.” The couple’s daughter Neve, is five years old.

Persons: Jacinda Ardern, Clarke Gayford, Gayford, Chris Hipkins, Prince William’s Earthshot, Ardern, “ Let’s, ”, Neve Organizations: CNN, New, United, New Zealand Herald, Harvard University Locations: New Zealand, United Nations, Hawke’s, New, Wellington, Christchurch

Taipei, Taiwan CNN —Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party pulled off a historic third consecutive presidential victory on Saturday as voters shrugged off warnings by China that their re-election would increase the risk of conflict. The counting of votes has concluded, with Lai – the candidate of Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – receiving just over 40% of the total votes, according to Taiwan’s Central Election Commission (CEC). Taiwan’s opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party candidate Hou Yu-ih garnered 33.49% of the votes, with Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) candidate Ko Wen-je received 26.45%. A spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office insisted the election result “does not represent the mainstream view on the island.”“Taiwan is China’s Taiwan. “There’s multiple times that China could cause a fuss over a DPP victory, either now or later this year,” Nachman said.

Persons: Taiwan CNN — Taiwan’s, Lai Ching, ” Lai, “, Hsiao Bi, Lai –, Taiwan’s, –, Hou Yu, Ko Wen, je, Xi Jinping, Xi, Yasuyosh Chiba, Tsai Ing, Lai, Tsai, China’s, ” Xi, Hsiao, ”, Jaw Shaw, kong, Sam Yeh, Biden, Wang, Lev Nachman, ” Nachman, Nachman, hasn’t, they’ve Organizations: Taiwan CNN, Democratic Progressive Party, Commission, Kuomintang, KMT, ih, Taiwan People’s Party, Taiwan Affairs Office, Xinhua, China’s Communist Party, Party, Taiwan, Communist, DPP, Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan’s, Illinois State University, National Chengchi University, China’s Taiwan Affairs, Taiwan “, Analysts Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, China, United States, Beijing, ”, China’s Taiwan, AFP, “, New Taipei City, Washington, Taiwan Strait

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s president-elect, has vowed to safeguard the island’s de-facto independence from China and further align it with other democracies. Lai, 64, emerged victorious in the election Saturday on the island of 23 million people that China claims as its own. He is currently vice president with the Democratic Progressive Party, which has rejected China’s sovereignty claims over Taiwan. Lai has vowed to strengthen the island’s defense and economy, which depends heavily on trade with China. As vice president, Lai helped promote Taiwan’s interests internationally.

Persons: — Lai Ching, Lai, ”, Lai Ching, Sung, Joe Biden, Camp David, Antony Blinken, Mike Johnson, ” Lai, Tsai Ing, Bi, Hsiao, Shinzo Abe, ___ Adam Schreck, Seung Min Kim Organizations: Democratic Progressive Party, Atlantic Council, America, White, Camp, Street, Harvard, U.S . Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Taiwan Strait, Beijing, New York, San Francisco, Paraguay, U.S, People’s Republic of China, Maryland, Taipei, Ukraine, Tainan, United States, Japan, Bangkok, Washington

☆ John Kerry Bows Out as U.S. Climate Envoy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Lisa Friedman | More About Lisa Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

John Kerry, President Biden’s special envoy for climate, plans to step down from the Biden administration by spring, according to two people familiar with his plans. Mr. Kerry, 80, has served as the president’s top diplomat on climate change since early 2021, working to cajole governments around the world to aggressively cut their planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. He led the U.S. negotiating team through three United Nations climate summits, reasserting American leadership after the country withdrew from the Paris climate agreement during the Trump administration. Mr. Kerry championed cooperation on global warming between the United States and China, the world’s two largest polluters, during times of tension.

Persons: John Kerry, Biden’s, Biden, Kerry, Trump Organizations: U.S Locations: Nations, Paris, United States, China

☆ John Kerry to step down as US climate envoy
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —US climate envoy John Kerry plans to step down from his post by this spring, a source close to Kerry confirmed to CNN. Kerry is leaving the position after three years at the helm of US climate diplomacy under the Biden administration. Kerry specifically prioritized restarting international climate talks between the US and China, and was key in negotiating the November Sunnylands agreement, a wide-ranging climate agreement between the two countries before COP28. And in 2019, Kerry co-founded a bipartisan initiative of world leaders and celebrities to combat the climate crisis called World War Zero. In 2009, when Biden became vice president, Kerry took over his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Persons: John Kerry, Kerry, Biden, Axios, Joe Biden, Michael Dukakis, George W, Bush, Barack Obama Organizations: CNN, Economic, Munich, Conference, Democratic, Biden, White, Senate, Gov, Senate Foreign Relations, Navy, Silver Star, Star Locations: Dubai, Kerry, China, Paris, Massachusetts, Vietnam

☆ The Point - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Patrick Healy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Chinese officials had strongly warned Taiwanese voters not to choose as their next president Lai Ching-te, a Harvard-educated doctor whom it detests as a separatist. China cautioned that the election of Lai could lead to war in the Taiwan Strait, and it interfered in the election to try help Lai’s rivals. Taiwan’s voters took that all in and then did what mainland Chinese can’t do openly: They defied President Xi and elected Lai as president. They have made “China’s reunification” a nightmare to most Taiwanese voters. I lived in Taiwan in the 1980s, studying Chinese, and have been here countless times since.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Lai Ching, Lai, Xi, Tsai Ing, Jinping, Hsiao Organizations: Harvard, People Liberation Army Locations: Taiwan, China, Taiwan Strait, Hong Kong, New Jersey, United States

☆ Vote counting begins in closely watched Taiwan election
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

With China intensifying its rhetoric on its claim over Taiwan, global observers are billing this Taiwan election as highly pivotal for security in the Asia-Pacific at a time of testy U.S.-China relations. If Lai and Hsiao win the Jan. 13 vote for the Taiwan presidential office, it would mark the first time any political party has stayed in office for more than two consecutive terms since Taiwan introduced direct presidential elections in 1996. Campaign posters for various legislative member candidates in Taipei, Taiwan, on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023. China's Taiwan affairs office has characterized the self-ruled island's election as a choice between "peace and war, prosperity and decline." "China has always meddled whenever there is an election in Taiwan, but this time, it's the most serious."

Persons: Hou Yu, Hei Leung, Ko Wen, policymaking, Tsai Ing, Ko, Cynthia Wu, Jing Bo, jiun, Sam Yeh, Jing, Tsai, Lai Ching, Hsiao, United States —, Lai, Timothy S, Rich, Jaw Shaw, kong, Hou, Kevin Luo, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Xi, Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Rong Xu, Democratic Progressive Party Lai Ching, Yasuyoshi Chiba, DPP's Lai, Weeks Organizations: ih, Anadolu, Getty, Democratic Progressive Party, Kuomintang, Taiwan People's Party, China, Local, KMT, Taiwan Studies, University of Oxford, AFP, Taiwan, Rich Western Kentucky University, Taiwan's National Police Agency, New, DPP, University of Minnesota, Western Kentucky University, U.S, China -, APEC, CNBC, Former U.S, Bloomberg, Taiwan's DPP, Beijing, Cross Straits Service Locations: Taichung, Taiwan, Taipei, Asia, Pacific, U.S, China, Hsinchu, United States, Overconfidence, New Taipei City, China - U.S, Beijing, Taiwan Strait, Kaohsiung

☆ What the COP28 deal means for the U.S. as oil and gas production hits record levels
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-13 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The agreement, known as the global stocktake, was hailed as "historic" by COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber during his closing speech. Samuel Corum | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesU.S. climate envoy John Kerry said Wednesday that the COP28 agreement "sends very strong messages to the world." The fight to end oil, gas and coal must now be taken up at the country level with the United States leading the way. Fossil fuels and climate financeUnder Biden, the U.S. passed the most aggressive climate investment ever taken by Congress, a bill known as the Inflation Reduction Act. Nonetheless, the White House has frequently received sharp criticism over its plans to expand oil and gas production.

Persons: Joe Biden, Cyril Ramaphosa, Joe Biden's, Sultan al, Jaber, Samuel Corum, John Kerry, Kerry, Jean Su, Jason Bordoff, Su, Nikki Reisch, Reisch, Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Brandon Bell Organizations: White, Washington , D.C, Bloomberg, Getty, European Union, Washington Hilton, United, Center for Biological, . Energy, Administration, Russia, Center, Global Energy, Columbia University, CNBC, Center for Biological Diversity, Center for International Environmental, U.S, Biden, Marathon El Locations: South, Washington ,, Connecticut, Washington , DC, United States, China, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Ukraine, America, Marathon El Paso Refinery, El Paso , Texas, The U.S

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

☆ Pacific Islands lash out at COP28 presidency: ‘We weren't in the room’ when deal was announced
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-13 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Anne Rasmussen, the lead negotiator for the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), told the COP28 Presidency in a closing statement: "We are a little confused about what just happened." "It seems that you gavelled the decisions, and the small island developing states were not in the room. Participants attend a presentation at the Moana Blue Pacific pavilion of Pacific islands prior to the opening ceremony of the UNFCCC COP28 Climate Conference at Expo City Dubai on November 30, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesFor Pacific Island nations, however, and many other island and low-lying coastal states vulnerable to rising sea levels, the deal falls severely short. For the Pacific Islands, climate change poses an existential threat.

Persons: Michael Runkel, Tina Stege, Anne Rasmussen, Sean Gallup, Brianna Fruean, we've, Fruean, weren't, Toeolesulusulu Cedric Schuster Organizations: Getty Images, United Arab Emirates — Representatives, Pacific, United Arab, Marshall, Alliance of Small, States, UAE, Expo City, Getty, Big Oil, Pacific Climate Warriors, CNBC, UNITED, Natural Resources, United Arab Emirates Locations: Ouvea, New Caledonia, Getty Images DUBAI, United Arab, United Arab Emirates, Pacific, Expo City Dubai, Dubai, Paris, DUBAI, EMIRATES, Samoa, States

☆ Anger and frustration as COP28 draft text omits fossil fuel phaseout
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-12 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber speaks to the media at the U.N. climate conference on Dec. 10, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The draft text for a COP28 climate deal that does not include the phasing out of fossil fuels has drawn widespread criticism from major players, highlighting enduring rifts on the international summit's final day. The document, published by the United Arab Emirates' presidency of the climate summit, stressed the need to reduce emissions, but did not call for the doing away of fossil fuels altogether. Scientists say fossil fuels are the single biggest factor contributing to potentially life-threatening climate change. Many of us have called for the world to largely phase out fossil fuels, and that starts with a critical reduction this decade."

Persons: Sultan al, Jaber, Wopke Hoekstra, Hoekstra, John Kerry Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Pacific Locations: Dubai, United Arab, DUBAI, U.S, Union, Africa

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