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☆ The Greek islands are grappling with a water crisis as tourist season kicks into gear
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-23 | by ( Laura Paddison | Chris Liakos | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The Greek Islands, known for their idyllic towns, rugged landscapes and sun-baked beaches, are in the grip of a serious crisis. “They combine lack of water resources — shallow aquifers, rare rivers or dams — with a tremendous rise in water demand during summer,” he told CNN. Kottakis blamed the crisis on Leros on a failure to maintain the island’s two desalination units, which are both in disrepair. Tourism is “unsustainable and zero-planned,” which is leading to a tremendous rise in water demand, said Mylopoulos, the university professor. Multiple wildfires raged and at least six tourists, including British TV presenter and doctor Michael Moseley and an American tourist, died as high temperatures scorched the Greek islands.

Persons: ”, Dimitris Lianos, Lianos, what’s, Stelios Misinas, Nikitas Mylopoulos, Kostas Lagouvardos, Panagiotis, Krontiras, ” Kottakis, Timotheos Kottakis, Kottakis, Mylopoulos, Michael Moseley, Vassilis Psomas, ” Krontiras, ” CNN’s Allison Chinchar, Brandon Miller, Sara Tonks Organizations: CNN, Reuters, University of Thessaly, National Observatory of, Farmers, Greek Navy Locations: Crete, Kefalonia, Naxos, Prokopios, Greece, Cycaldes, “, National Observatory of Athens, Panagiotis Krontiras, Tinos, —, Lagouvardos, British, American, Sofiko, Corinth, Greece's Peloponnese

☆ A helicopter can now deliver you to 11 Greek islands in a quarter of the time a ferry takes
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Shubhangi Goel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

A new company, hoper, offers scheduled helicopter flights to 11 Greek destinations. Flights drastically cut travel time compared to traditional ferries, which can up to take six hours. More companies are offering premium travel options, like Blade and Uber's helicopter services. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Athens-based helicopter company hoper, which launched this summer, is the first that lets customers book scheduled flights to and from 11 destinations.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Athens, Mykonos, Santorini

☆ Peak China may pose peak danger
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

For example, last week it installed a floating barrier by a rocky outcrop in the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines - which Manila promptly removed. A war between the United States and China still seems unlikely - because both sides know that the economic and human costs of a clash could be catastrophic. The United States and its Western allies are also worried that China could browbeat Japan and South Korea, two nations economically important to them. Meanwhile, the United States and other allies are imposing controls on the export of technology such as advanced chips to the People’s Republic. What’s more, the United States is finding it hard to maintain an emollient message.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping “, Biden, Victor Sebestyen, Xi, Michael Beckley, Beckley, Hal Brands, Vladimir Putin, ”, Donald Trump, Goldman Sachs, Tufts ’ Beckley, Una Galani, Streisand Neto Organizations: People's Bank of China, REUTERS, Reuters, Austro, South China, Beijing, Tufts University, Washington, San, Economic Cooperation, Tufts, Thomson Locations: Beijing, CHINA, Greece, China, Vietnam, U.S, Taiwan, United States, Germany, France, British, Ottoman Empire, Hungarian Empire, Ukraine, South China, South, Philippines, Manila, China’s, India, People’s Republic, Japan, South Korea, America, Pacific, Washington, Hanoi, San Francisco, Asia, Taiwan Strait

☆ The BRICS are better off disbanding than expanding
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

(South Africa wasn’t on his list.) O’Neill likes to tease the BRICS that their economic performance subsequently went downhill - particularly after the much smaller South Africa joined in 2011. Since then, Russia, Brazil and South Africa have all struggled economically. The fault line between India and China, which fought a small war in the Himalayas in 2020, is one reason the BRICS club has done so little. Besides, most developing countries don’t want to be forced to choose sides in a showdown with the United States.

Persons: Jim O’Neill, Goldman Sachs, O’Neill, Vladimir Putin, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Africa wasn’t, Reuters Graphics Reuters, New Development Bank, Bank, Global, U.S ., Thomson Locations: TINOS, GREECE, Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Johannesburg, Africa, Africa’s, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Cuba, Kazakhstan, United States, Iraq, Republic, Ukraine, Russian, New Delhi, Soviet, Philippines, Mexico, Indonesia, Thailand, Nigeria, Vietnam, Malaysia, Bangladesh

☆ Robin Hood tariff could curb airline emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Nevertheless, aircraft are responsible for about 4% of global warming from carbon emissions and the vapour trails they leave behind in the sky. A more viable short-term option is to run planes on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). The third option is to tax either the kerosene that airlines burn or the emissions they spew out into the atmosphere. So far only the EU, United Kingdom and some smaller countries are doing this via emissions trading schemes (ETS). To work, the plan would need to channel Robin Hood, the legendary English outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Robin Hood, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, Aviation, Reuters Graphics Reuters, SAF, European Union, EU, Transport, FLYERS, International Civil Aviation Organisation, United Nations, ICAO, ETS, Airlines, Council, Clean Transportation, Thomson Locations: TINOS, GREECE, Europe, America, China, Greece, United Kingdom, United States

The MT Arman 114 was carrying 272,569 metric tons of light crude oil, valued at 4.6 trillion rupiah ($304 million), when it was seized last week, the Indonesian authorities said. The Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) was suspected of transferring oil to another vessel without a permit on Friday, the Southeast Asian nation's maritime security agency said. "MT Arman was spoofing their automatic identification system (AIS) to show its position was in the Red Sea but in reality it is here," Aan told reporters. Along with the Arman, authorities detained its Egyptian captain, 28 crew and 3 passengers, who were the family of a security officer on board, the agency said. A "shadow" fleet of tankers carrying oil from sanctioned Iran, Russia and Venezuela has been transferring cargoes in the Singapore Strait to avoid detection, a Reuters analysis showed this year.

Persons: Arman, Stefanno Sulaiman, Fransiska, Lincoln, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Indonesia's Maritime Security Agency, AIS JAKARTA, Malaysian, Thomson Locations: Marore, Cameroon, Iranian, Indonesia's North Natuna, Iran, Russia, Venezuela, Singapore, Indonesia, Panamanian

☆ Shipping tax could yield $100 bln climate windfall
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

TINOS, June 12 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The shipping industry emits 2.9% of the world's greenhouse gases. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsPOLLUTER PAYSThe shipping industry uses fossil fuels to power its boats. That said, industry leaders such as container giant Maersk (MAERSKb.CO) are moving into green shipping. This potentially large sum is attracting the attention of people outside the shipping industry, especially those focused on climate change. If a country refused to apply an agreed tax, the international shipping industry would effectively be unable to operate from its ports.

Persons: TINOS, Emmanuel Macron’s, Tristan Smith, Marshall, UCL’s Smith, Al Qaeda, Peter Thal Larsen, Thomas Shum Organizations: Reuters, International Maritime Organisation, United Nations, European Union, EU, Reuters Graphics Reuters, University College London, Shipping, Climate Fund, World Bank, International Chamber of Shipping, Marshall, Al, Trade Center, Thomson Locations: Paris, Danish, Marshall

☆ Rich world has three ways to win over global South
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Another reason to care about developing countries is that their actions will help determine whether the planet fries. Even rich democracies in temperate regions will feel the consequences, mainly in the form of mass migration unlike anything they have yet experienced. THREE P’SThe rich democracies’ goal should not be to pull the global South into their camp in advance of a possible clash with China. When it comes to promoting prosperity, rich democracies are similarly vulnerable to accusations of double standards. As one developing world observer told former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers: “When we’re engaged with the Chinese, we get an airport.

☆ Even a weak Russia is a problem for Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

TINOS, Greece, Feb 20 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Almost a year after Russia invaded Ukraine it is hard to see Vladimir Putin winning his war. After all, that would involve either Ukraine surrendering land, which it cannot accept, or Russia giving up all the territory it has occupied including Crimea, which Putin won’t do. Radoslaw Sikorski, a former Polish foreign minister who is now a member of the European Parliament, says Russia only reforms itself after military defeats like the Crimean War, the Russo-Japanese War, World War One and the Cold War. Europe, which was late to appreciate the danger posed by Putin, won’t quickly forget the lesson even if he goes. Yet even a Russia weakened by a year of war and sanctions remains a problem for Europe.

☆ Economic war with China would be MAD
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Hopefully, fear of the economic equivalent will do a similar trick when it comes to a showdown with China. To see whether MAD will be enough to prevent war between America and China, look at just how disastrous such a conflict – which could be triggered by a Chinese invasion of Taiwan - would be. THREE SCENARIOSA Chinese invasion of Taiwan would lead to economic repercussions of a totally different order. A Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be hellish, but some scenarios would be especially ghastly from an economic perspective. Despite all these concerns, America might run the risk of economic war.

☆ How Joe Biden can help save the planet at COP27
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Hugo Dixon | Andre Cabette Fabio | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

States such as Pakistan will also complain that they are already suffering the consequences of climate change despite having done very little to cause it. PULL IT TOGETHERAmerica and other rich countries have a series of policies which could accelerate the just transition across the Global South. Developing and emerging economies, excluding China, need $1 trillion a year in investment, according to a new report from the Rockefeller Foundation. And they need help adapting to the ravages of climate change. If America and other rich countries negotiate a whole-economy transformation with India, they will kill two birds with one stone.

☆ Ukraine has more pluses than minuses for climate
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

This new “dash for gas” could lock in irreversible global warming or create a mass of stranded assets, according to Climate Action Tracker. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterZOMBIE DIPLOMACYAs if this is not enough, climate diplomacy has broken down. Dialogue between Xie Zhenhua and John Kerry, the two countries’ top climate diplomats, created momentum around last year’s COP26 talks. The agency now expects global gas demand between 2021 and 2025 to rise by less than half the amount it previously forecast. The world is heading to at least 2.4 degrees of warming, if not more, according to Climate Action Tracker.

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