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☆ What to watch at COP28 on Saturday?
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Delegates walk past flag posts at the Dubai's Expo City after attending the World Climate Action Summit, during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 1, 2023. Among the headliners expected to speak at COP28 are U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, whose video address had originally been scheduled for Friday. Governments also are poised to announce a promise to triple renewable energy capacity, boost nuclear energy capacity and rein in emissions of methane. Friday's first day at the summit highlighted tensions between the United Nations, whose secretary general urged leaders to commit to quitting fossil fuels, and the COP28's UAE hosts, who have urged cooperation with oil companies. ___For daily comprehensive coverage on COP28 in your inbox, sign up for the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter here.

Persons: Thomas Mukoya, Kamala Harris, Mia Mottley, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Katy Daigle, Diane Craft Organizations: United Nations, Change, United Arab Emirates, REUTERS, Rights, UAE, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Dubai, United Arab, COP28, Barbados, Gaza

☆ Countries at COP28 approve climate disaster fund deal details in early breakthrough
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A man wearing a thawb walks past flags of nations participating in the UNFCCC COP28 Climate Conference the day before its official opening on November 29, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Countries at the U.N. COP28 summit on Thursday agreed on deal details for a disaster fund to help nations reeling from damages caused by the climate crisis. So far, the pledges to the fund include $100 million from Germany, $100 million from the United Arab Emirates, $17 million from the U.S. and $10 million from Japan. High-income countries, which account for the bulk of historical greenhouse gas emissions, have long opposed the creation of a loss and damage fund to compensate low-income nations. Avinash Persaud, special climate envoy to Barbados, said that the deal reflects "a hard fought historic agreement."

Persons: Friederike Roder, Roder, Avinash Persaud Organizations: United Arab Emirates, UNITED, EMIRATES, United Arab, Bank, Global Citizen Locations: Dubai, United Arab, COP28, United Arab Emirates, COP27, Egypt, Germany, U.S, Japan, Barbados

☆ Exclusive: World's top MDBs to launch debt-for-nature swap 'task force' - sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The task force creation is the most significant step so far in showing that the global club of multilateral lenders, which between them have trillions of dollars worth of firepower, will significantly ramp up their support for these deals. Four sources involved in the plans, which are expected to be announced at the COP summit's 'finance day' on Monday, say the group will formally be called the "Task Force on Sustainability-linked Sovereign Financing for Nature and Climate". It will initially be chaired by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and U.S. government's Development Finance Institution (DFC), said three of the sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Both lenders have been involved in all the recent swaps which have also included Barbados and Gabon. At their simplest, the swaps work by buying up a country's bonds, often at a discount, and then replacing them with cheaper eco-labelled ones that come with the special MDB guarantees.

Persons: Chico Mendes, Amanda Perobelli, MDBs, Marc Jones, Christina Fincher Organizations: Chico, Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, Institute for, Environment, Resources, REUTERS, Reuters, Force, Sustainability, Nature, Inter, American Development Bank, government's Development Finance, World Bank, European Investment Bank, Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, ADB, Infrastructure Development Bank, Reuters Graphics, Conservancy, Thomson Locations: Pocone, Mato Grosso, Brazil, Belize, Barbados, Gabon, Beijing, U.S, Sri Lanka, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Colombia, Ecuador

☆ High cost of capital a bane for energy transition ahead of COP28
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Divya Chowdhury | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Rula Rouhana Acquire Licensing RightsMUMBAI, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Advocates for the energy transition are concerned ahead of the COP28 summit in Dubai about the high cost of capital available to make change happen, as policymakers ratchet up their rhetoric on the need for tight monetary policy. COP28 is widely expected to focus on climate finance, specifically to build on the G20 nations' commitment to triple renewables deployment to about 11,000 gigawatts by 2030, which will need funds of around $4.5 trillion. Climate finance is going to be the "Achilles' heel" of COP28, said Vaibhav Chaturvedi, fellow at the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). Linda-Eling Lee, head of the MSCI Sustainability Institute, said companies and investors cannot be expected to commit long-term capital to the energy transition if policymakers change track suddenly. Agreements on greater transparency in disclosures, along with innovations in finance, will help mobilise more private sector funds, Lee said.

Persons: Rula, Gauri Singh, IRENA, Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Chaturvedi, Linda, Eling Lee, Lee, Divya Chowdhury, Jan Harvey Organizations: Abu Dhabi Sustainability, REUTERS, Rights, International Renewable Energy Agency, Reuters Global Markets, Council, Energy, Bridgetown Initiative, World Bank, Bank, MSCI Sustainability Institute, Finance, Thomson Locations: UAE, Abu Dhabi, Rights MUMBAI, Dubai, Barbados, Bridgetown, Mumbai

☆ The Crown, the Cabinet and the UK’s legacy of slavery
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +11 min

British banks backed large parts of the U.S. slavery economy, and British factories were the world’s largest customers for the cotton produced by plantations in southern U.S. states. In 1663, it was granted a monopoly by King Charles II for the British slavery trade. In 1794, Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin, a machine that would transform the U.S. slavery economy. Mill owners including the Arkwrights, one of the richest families in the industry, were Smith family clients. Two British travel writers visited Farm Pen in 1837, when the land was still in Smith family hands.

Persons: ”, Nick Draper, George Smith, King Charles, Hunt, Trevor Burnard, “, ” Burnard, Smith, Edward, René Payne, Payne, John Tunno, John de Ponthieu, … ” Edward Payne, slaveholder John de Ponthieu, de Ponthieu, buryed, King Charles II, John Montagu, Edward Montagu, Montagu, ” John Montagu 11th Earl of Sandwich, Edward Montagu , 1st Earl of Sandwich, Nicholas Radburn, ” Radburn, Brookes, –, Eli Whitney, Rothschild, Geoffrey Clifton, Brown, William, James Brown, James, Clifton, Harriman, Draper, Morgan Chase, Joseph Sturge, Thomas Harvey Organizations: America, University College London, “, Wilberforce Institute, University of Hull, ”, Reuters, Company of Royal Adventurers of, Royal African Company, The Company, Royal Adventurers of, Lancaster University, Traders, Transatlantic, Brown Brothers, Brown, Harriman & Co, Planters Bank of Tennessee, Planters Bank of Mississippi, Rio, Spanish Town Locations: Britain, U.S, British, Caribbean, British Caribbean, America, English, Nottingham, London, West India, Bristol, Liverpool, United States, South Carolina, Charleston, Barbados, Africa, North, Clifton, New York, Louisiana and Mississippi, Louisiana, Jamaica, Kingston, Spanish

But all Wright's family wants is for the 38-year-old businessman to be returned home. That position was reaffirmed Friday by the U.S. State Department in response to questions about Wright’s arrest. Some former Trump administration officials say Wright’s arrest is just the latest example of Maduro acting in bad faith. “He loved the nomadic lifestyle,” said Stewart, who didn't know her son was in Venezuela until she learned of his arrest. Wright’s family is speaking out because they feel the U.S. government hasn’t done enough to free him.

Persons: Biden, Savoi Wright’s, Nicolás, hasn’t, “, ”, Erin Stewart, Wright, Joe Biden, Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Machado, Matthew Miller, Donald Trump's, Juan Guaidó, Kimberly Breier, Trump’s, Elliott Abrams, Maduro’s, Stewart, ” Stewart, Venezuela’s, Tarek William Saab didn’t, Luke Denman, Airan Berry —, — Eyvin Hernandez, Jerrel Kenemore, Joseph Cristella —, Moizeé Stewart, Wright’s, ” ___ Goodman, Tucker Organizations: U.S, Venezuelan, Associated Press, Oakland, U.S . State Department, Trump, Maduro, State Department, Loyola Marymount University, Green, FBI, U.S . Embassy, The State Department Locations: California, Venezuela, OPEC, Barbados, United States, Latin America, Washington, Colombia, Houston, Berkeley , California, Oakland, Miami, South America, U.S, Investigative@ap.org

'Cop28 UAE' logo is displayed on the screen during the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) under the theme of 'United on Climate Action Toward COP28', in Abu Dhabi, UAE, January 16, 2023. REUTERS/Rula Rouhana/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON/BRUSSELS, Nov 9 (Reuters) - More than 60 countries have said they back a deal spearheaded by the European Union, United States and United Arab Emirates to triple renewable energy this decade and shift away from coal, two officials familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. Some major emerging economies like Nigeria, South Africa and Vietnam, developed countries like Australia, Japan and Canada, and others including Peru, Chile, Zambia and Barbados have said they will join the pledge, the officials told Reuters. One of the officials told Reuters negotiations with China and India to join the pledge are "quite advanced," although neither has yet agreed to join. Reporting by Valerie Volcovici and Kate Abnett; Editing by Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rula, Valerie Volcovici, Kate Abnett, Tom Hogue Organizations: Abu Dhabi Sustainability, REUTERS, European Union, United, United Arab Emirates, Reuters, EU, Thomson Locations: UAE, Abu Dhabi, WASHINGTON, BRUSSELS, United States, United Arab, Dubai, Nigeria, South Africa, Vietnam, Australia, Japan, Canada, Peru, Chile, Zambia, Barbados, China, India

☆ You can own part of this 279-foot-long superyacht for $3.2 million and stay on it whenever you want — see inside
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Brittany Chang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Superyacht Holdings is giving millionaires the chance to cohabitate the $117 million Victorious superyacht. Superyacht Holdings is taking a (relatively) democratized approach to superyacht ownership with its first target acquisition, the €110 million — about $117 million — Victorious. And because the ship is currently in operation, Superyacht Holdings won't have to do any refitting work. The Locastro brothers says several former employees from The World now work for Superyacht Holdings. Superyacht Holdings hasn't acquired its vessel yet, but this isn't uncommon for ship startupsBuyers can purchase more than one unit.

Persons: —, Thomas Locastro, Matthew Locastro, Matthew, Matthew said, Locastro, James St, John, Justin Thorton Organizations: Superyacht, Service, Holdings, Superyacht Holdings, Monaco, Prix, AKYACHT, Superyacht Holdings hasn't, British Virgin Islands Locations: Spain, France, Croatia, Greece, Caribbean, Turkey, Saint Lucia, Barbados, British Virgin

☆ Opinion: King Charles expresses regret for slavery and colonialism, but where’s his apology?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Opinion Keith Magee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In his role as head of state, King Charles is his government’s servant and representative. Backed by his undoubted convening power, King Charles could make a historic contribution to the debate about reparatory justice. Crucially, King Charles is not just the British head of state and the head of the Commonwealth. Every day that passes without a similar statement from King Charles is a day too many. He could take inspiration from CARICOM — the Caribbean Economic Community — and its 10-Point Action Plan for Reparatory Justice.

Persons: Keith Magee, King Charles III, Keith Magee Arron, Charles, “, ”, Prince Charles, swerved, Bell Ribeiro, Addy, ” Ribeiro, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, King Charles, —, Willem, Alexander Organizations: University College London Institute for Innovation, CNN, Commonwealth, Labour, Commons, Parliamentary, Conservative, North, Twitter, —, Economic, Reparatory Locations: Kenya, Commonwealth, British, Barbados, Rwanda, Africa

A loss and damage fund would be the first United Nations mechanism dedicated to helping countries that have suffered irreparable climate-driven damage from drought, floods and rising sea levels. "There was a lot at stake at this meeting," Avinash Persaud, special envoy to the Prime Minister of Barbados and the country's representative on the U.N. committee, told Reuters. Developing nations argue that rich countries responsible for most of the historical CO2 emissions causing climate change should be obliged to pay - something the United States and other rich nations refused to accept. Mohamed Nasr, Egypt's lead climate negotiator and representative on the committee, told Reuters such pledges would be crucial to the overall COP28 negotiations. If rich nations fail to follow through, he said, it could reopen decades-old fights that have derailed past climate deals - with poorer nations demanding "compensation" from rich nations for causing climate change, or refusing to agree to cut emissions faster without substantially more financial support from rich countries.

Persons: Rula, U.N, Persaud, Jennifer Morgan, Mohamed Nasr, Nasr, Valerie Volcovici, Kate Abnett, Christina Fincher Organizations: Abu Dhabi Sustainability, REUTERS, COP28 Finance, Bank, United, Reuters, U.S . State Department, European Union, Climate, Thomson Locations: UAE, Abu Dhabi, United Nations, Dubai, Barbados, United States, U.S, Egypt, COP28, Germany, Europe's, Berlin

☆ Britain's King Charles visits Kenya with colonialism's scars in focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/9] Britain's King Charles inspects the honour guards as he is hosted by Kenya's President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, Kenya October 31, 2023. Accompanied by Queen Camilla on his first visit as monarch to a former colony, Charles arrived in the capital Nairobi overnight. Charles' visit comes at a time when former colonies are demanding that Britain do more to recognise the abuses of its colonial past. Nandi King Koitalel Arap Samoei led a decade-long rebellion until he was assassinated by a British colonel in 1905. Charles also plans to meet entrepreneurs from Kenya's bustling tech scene, tour wildlife facilities and travel to the southeastern port city of Mombasa.

Persons: King Charles, William Ruto, Arthur Edwards, Queen Camilla, Charles, Kenya's Nandi, Buckingham, Kenya's, Nandi King Koitalel Arap Samoei, Samoei's, Kipchoge araap Chomu, Aaron Ross, Hereward, Hereward Holland, Michael Perry, John Stonestreet Organizations: Kenya's, State House, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Kenyan, Commonwealth, Kenya Human Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI, Uhuru Gardens, Barbados, Jamaica, British, Mombasa, Hereward Holland

☆ Britain's King Charles begins Kenya visit steeped in 'painful' colonial history
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( Duncan Miriri | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/6] Britain's King Charles is hosted by Kenya's President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, Kenya October 31, 2023. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya Acquire Licensing RightsNAIROBI, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Britain's King Charles begins a four-day state visit to Kenya on Tuesday, his first to a former colony, during which he plans to acknowledge "painful aspects" of a shared history that included almost seven decades of colonial rule. Accompanied by Queen Camilla, Charles arrived in the East African country overnight and will be received by Kenyan President William Ruto in the capital Nairobi on Tuesday morning. Buckingham Palace says the visit is a reflection of the two countries' close cooperation on economic development, climate change and security issues. The most notorious period of British rule came near the end, during the 1952-1960 Mau Mau revolt in central Kenya.

Persons: King Charles, William Ruto, Thomas Mukoya, Britain's King Charles, Queen Camilla, Charles, Buckingham, Camilla, Queen Elizabeth, Nandi, Koitalel Arap Samoie, Samoie's, Kipchoge araap Chomu, Aaron Ross, Hereward, Hereward Holland, Michael Perry Organizations: Kenya's, State House, REUTERS, Rights, Kenyan, Kenya Human Rights, Commonwealth, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Rights NAIROBI, East, Mombassa, Barbados, Jamaica, British, Hereward Holland

CARACAS, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Venezuela's Supreme Justice Tribunal said on Monday it has suspended the results of an opposition presidential primary that took place this month, despite an electoral deal between the government and the opposition that allows each side to choose its candidate. The opposition and the primary's winner Maria Corina Machado have insisted repeatedly the Oct. 22 vote was transparent and fair. Both the investigation and the ruling come at the request of lawmaker Jose Brito, who the court said wanted to participate in the primary. The ruling "temporarily suspends the primary until there is a final decision from the tribunal," said lawyer and university professor Jose Vicente Haro. Some observers said the opposition parties that participated in the primary should simply recognize Machado once again as their unity candidate, making any ruling on the contest moot.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Jose Brito, Brito, Machado, Jose Vicente Haro, Mayela Armas, Vivian Sequera, Matt Spetalnick, Julia Symmes Cobb, Jonathan Oatis, Bill Berkrot Organizations: U.S . State Department, State Department, National, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, United States, Maduro, Barbados, Caracas, Washington

☆ Machado formally wins Venezuela primary, government warns against foreign interference
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado attends an event to receive the credential as winner of the October 22 opposition's primary election, in Caracas, Venezuela October 26, 2023. The country's attorney general said on Wednesday his office has launched a criminal investigation into the primary and members of its organizing commission. Machado, who won about 93% of votes in the primary, met with about 10 foreign diplomats on Wednesday at her party's headquarters, sparking the government's objections. Rodriguez, the government's top negotiator in talks with the opposition, told the diplomats the primary violated electoral rules because it was organized without the help of electoral authorities and violated the Barbados deal. Machado, however, said the investigation into the primary is a "clear" violation of the Barbados deal.

Persons: Maria Corina Machado, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro, Machado, Maduro, Jorge Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Jesus Maria Casal, Vivian Sequera, Mayela Armas, Deisy, Julia Symmes Cobb, Rod Nickel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Venezuelan, The U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, U.S, Barbados, The

The opposition and the primary's winner Maria Corina Machado have insisted repeatedly it was transparent and fair. The U.S. State Department is aware of the accusations and called for an investigation, a spokesperson said, adding the primary was "an important milestone" for Venezuela. The investigation, requested by lawmaker Jose Brito, will center on accusations of electoral violations, financial crimes and conspiracy, Saab said during a press conference. The electoral violations stem from the primary being organized without the National Electoral Council, Saab said. Voter rolls for the primary included 2 million people who neither registered nor participated, Saab said, and financing for the primary has not been made public.

Persons: Tarek Saab, Maria Corina Machado, Machado, Nicolas Maduro's, Nicolas Maduro, Jose Brito, Saab, Jesus Maria Casal, Mildred Camero, Roberto Abdul, Hadi, Vivian Sequera, Mayela Armas, Julia Symmes Cobb, Natalia Siniawski, Oliver Griffin, Helen Popper, Marguerita Choy, Rod Nickel Organizations: Venezuela's, Washington, U.S . State Department, Electoral Council, Saab, Voters, Thomson Locations: CARACAS, Washington, Maduro, Barbados, U.S, Venezuela, Sumate

☆ A JetBlue plane tipped backwards, its front wheel off the ground, while passengers were getting off at JFK
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A JetBlue plane tilted back with its nose in the air as passengers got off, the airline said. A passenger said it tilted when around half the passengers were off, and its tail hit the ground. AdvertisementAdvertisementA JetBlue plane tipped backwards, with its nose in the air and its front wheel off the ground, after landing at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. JetBlue said in a statement that the plane tilted back "due to a shift in weight and balance" while passengers were getting off, the Associated Press reported. At that stage, "the plane abruptly tipped backwards so quickly and so intensely that the tail of the plane hit the pavement of the jet bridge and part of the plane door broke."

Persons: —, John F, TikToker, Sinead Bovell, Bovell Organizations: JetBlue, Service, Kennedy International Airport, Associated Press, AP, Port Authority of New, CNN Locations: —, New York, Bridgetown, Barbados, Port Authority of New York, New Jersey

☆ Exclusive: US easing Venezuela oil sanctions after election deal -official
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Matt Spetalnick | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela June 12, 2023. The U.S. imposed tough sanctions on Venezuela to punish President Nicolas Maduro's government following his 2018 re-election, which the U.S. and other Western governments rejected as a sham. Since 2019, U.S. sanctions have banned state-run oil company PDVSA from exporting to its chosen markets. The official warned, however, that U.S. decisions on relaxed sanctions would depend on Maduro complying with the latest agreement and working toward free and fair elections. Some opposition figures told Reuters on Monday they doubt Maduro's administration will follow through on the election pledges.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Ebrahim Raisi, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Joe Biden's, Nicolas Maduro's, Biden, Donald Trump's, We're, Maria Corina Machado, Maduro, Matt Spetalnick, Marianna Parraga, Mayela Armas, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Venezuelan, U.S . State Department, Reuters, U.S, EIA, Biden, Thomson Locations: Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela, U.S, Maduro, Caribbean, OPEC, The U.S, Barbados, BARBADOS

[1/2] Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a meeting with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at the Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela June 12, 2023. It was not immediately known how soon the U.S. might act or how far it could go with sanctions relief. U.S. sources have also said any relaxation of sanctions would be reversible if Maduro fails to meet his election commitments. Maduro, president since 2013, is expected to run for re-election but has not yet formalized his candidacy. The U.S. imposed sanctions on Venezuela to punish Maduro's government following a 2018 election that Washington considered a sham.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Ebrahim Raisi, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Joe Biden's, Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Jorge Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Gerardo Blyde, Machado, Maduro's, Washington, Deisy Buitrago, Vivian Sequera, Matt Spetalnick, Julia Symmes Cobb, Will Dunham, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union and United Nations, Reuters, U.S, Petroleum, Thomson Locations: Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, WASHINGTON, U.S, Washington, Maduro, Barbados, Qatar, Houston

☆ Oil falls below $90 a barrel on report of US-Venezuela deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Erwin Seba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell by 0.29 cents, or 0.37%, to $87.30 a barrel. Easing sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry could result in increased oil supply. "It's more of the same on Monday in terms of the conflict in the Middle East being contained from affecting crude oil supplies," said John Kilduff, partner with Again Capital LLC. Both oil benchmarks had climbed nearly 6% on Friday, taking Brent 7.5% higher on the week and WTI up 5.9%. Crude oil storage tanks are seen in an aerial photograph at the Cushing oil hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, U.S. April 21, 2020.

Persons: Israel, Brent, John Kilduff, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Putin, John Evans, Robert Harvey, Yuka Obayashi, Emily Chow, Susan Fenton, David Evans, Deepa Babington, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Monday HOUSTON, . West Texas, Traders, Brent, REUTERS, U.S, Israeli, United, US, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Gaza, Israel, U.S, Barbados, Palestinian, Cushing , Oklahoma, Rafah, Egypt, Israel's, Russia, Iran, Syria, United States, Moscow, Russian, Saudi, London, Tokyo

The opposition considers the bans unlawful, and Washington has rejected any roadblocks to opposition candidates' race to the presidency. The agreement to be signed on Tuesday would lift all public office bans, one opposition source told Reuters, but its wording is too vague to inspire confidence that Maduro will honor the deal. Four other opposition sources agreed, with one saying the deal was largely negotiated by the United States. "We all have our doubts, but we're exhausting our options," said another opposition source. The U.S., which is expected to loosen some sanctions in recognition of the government-opposition deal, will act only once the deal has been signed, sources told Reuters on Monday.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela Milton Rengifo, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Maria Corina Machado, There's, Maduro, What's, Benigno Alarcon, Andres, Alarcon, it's, Marianna Parraga, Mayela, Deisy Buitrago, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Maduro's, United, Andres Bello Catholic University, Mayela Armas, Thomson Locations: Venezuela, Miraflores, Caracas, Rights CARACAS, HOUSTON, Barbados, Washington, United States, U.S, Doha, Houston

The negotiations, meant to provide a way out of Venezuela's long-running political and economic crisis, will take place in Barbados. The U.S. State Department celebrated the announcement of the return to talks but did not mention sanctions relief. Some members of the opposition said on Monday that they doubted Maduro would follow through on his promises. But with no substantial investment in Venezuela's oil sector for over a decade, any real oil output increase will take time, according to analysts. The return to talks between Maduro's government and the opposition was announced in a statement published by Norway, an observer.

Persons: Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, Jesus Maria Casal, Venezuela's, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro, Joe Biden's, Donald Trump's, Maduro, Maria Corina Machado, Maurel, PDVSA, Maduro's, Washington, Biden, John Barrasso, Mayela Armas, Matt Spetalnick, Marianna Parraga, Julia Symmes Cobb, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Electoral Council, Primary Commission, REUTERS, Rights, U.S . State Department, Reuters, U.S, Republican U.S, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, WASHINGTON, HOUSTON, Washington, U.S, Maduro, Barbados, United States, Venezuelan, The U.S, Qatar, China, Russia, Cuba, Ukraine, OPEC, America, Norway, Houston

☆ US, Venezuela to announce oil sanctions deal on Tuesday -report
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The Biden administration and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government are expected to announce a deal on Tuesday that would ease U.S. sanctions on Caracas' oil industry while opening up Venezuela's 2024 presidential election, the Washington Post reported on Monday. The Post, citing two people familiar with the talks, said the sanctions relief was expected to be announced after Venezuela signs onto election commitments at a meeting in Barbados. Venezuela and U.S. envoys have met several times since last year in a renewed effort to solve a long-running political and economic crisis in Venezuela, including discussions on a presidential election, with recent progress indicating fresh oil sanction exemptions, five sources previously told Reuters. Representatives for the White House and the State Department had no immediate comment on the reported Tuesday announcements. Reporting by Katharine Jackson and Susan Heavey; editing by Jasper WardOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Nicolas Maduro's, Katharine Jackson, Susan Heavey, Jasper Ward Organizations: Biden, Washington Post, Reuters, White, State Department, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Barbados, U.S

Any U.S. action would come only after Venezuela's opposition and Maduro's representatives sign an agreement under which he commits to a presidential election date and to the lifting of bans on some opposition candidates, these two sources said. It would also allow participation of opposition figures who are currently barred from holding office, the source added. Reuters reported last week, citing five sources, that Venezuela and the United States had progressed in talks that could allow at least one additional foreign oil firm to take Venezuelan crude oil for debt repayment if Maduro resumed negotiations with the opposition. Two of those sources had named France's Maurel & Prom (MAUP.PA), a joint venture partner with Venezuela state-run oil company PDVSA, as a possible recipient of a comfort letter. The return to talks was announced in a statement published by Norway, an observer of the talks, which are meant to provide a way out of Venezuela's long-running political and economic crisis.

Persons: Elvis Hidrobo Amoroso, Jesus Maria Casal, Venezuela's, Leonardo Fernandez Viloria, Nicolas Maduro, Maduro, Maduro's, Maurel, Maria Corina Machado, Mayela Armas, Matt Spetalnick, Marianna Parraga, Julia Symmes Cobb Organizations: Electoral Council, Primary Commission, REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Caracas, Venezuela, Rights CARACAS, WASHINGTON, United States, Washington, Barbados, U.S, mull, Israel, Norway, Houston

☆ Russia destroyed 300,000 tons of grain since July in port, ship attacks, Kyiv says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Barbados-flagged bulk carrier Super Martinelli arrives at the sea port of Odesa after restarting grain export, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Ukraine May 21, 2023. In summer, Moscow quit a U.N.-brokered deal that had allowed exports of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea safely. Russia has attacked port facilities on both the Black Sea and Danube River. Kubrakov said 21 grain-loaded vessels have already used a new "humanitarian" grain corridor in the Black Sea that Kyiv established in August. He said that under the previous U.N. Black Sea Grain Initiative, Ukraine had exported 33 million tonnes of grain, with 60% of that shipped to African and Asian countries.

Persons: Super Martinelli, Serhii, Moscow, Oleksandr Kubrakov, Kubrakov, Olena, Ron Popeski, Rod Nickel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Russian Defence Ministry, Initiative, Thomson Locations: Barbados, Ukraine, Russia

REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMARRAKECH, Morocco, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Barbados is hoping to execute a "debt-for-climate" swap early next year to secure savings of around $300 million over a 15 year period to fund clean water supplies, the island state's finance minister told Reuters on Tuesday. In September 2022, Barbados carried out a "debt-for-nature" swap, which saw $150 million of international bonds swapped for cheaper debt, generating $50 million for marine conservation. The savings from the island's mooted "debt-for-climate" swap will be used to upgrade a water treatment plant to help better manage water resources and improve food security, Straughn said. Barbados's previous debt-for-nature swap funnelled money towards protecting and rehabilitating the surrounding Caribbean sea. A debt-for-climate swap would be an almost completely new concept, though, and one that other climate change vulnerable countries are likely to want to explore.

Persons: Toby Melville, Ryan Straughn, Straughn, We've, Rachel Savage, Marc Jones, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Inter, American Development Bank, European Investment Bank, International Monetary Fund, Thomson Locations: Bridgetown, Barbados, Rights MARRAKECH, Morocco, Marrakech

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