Russia not in danger of trading oil at a loss, says Lavrov
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Russia does not see the risk of trading oil at a loss due to the redistribution of...
Business
Iran signs big contracts to increase oil production
Iran sealed contracts worth billions of dollars with domestic companies to boost its oil production in the face of Western...
Geostrategy
Economy
Sri Lankan economy contracts 11.5 percent in Q1 2023
COLOMBO, SRI LANKA - Crisis-hit Sri Lanka's economy shrank by 11.5 percent in the first quarter just before an IMF bailout...
- The contraction in the first three months compared with shrinkage of 0.5 percent in the corresponding period of 2022.
- A currency crisis from late 2021 led to severe shortages of food, fuel and medicines and triggered months of protests.
Business
UAE Ministry of Energy joins National ICV Program
DUBAI, UAE - The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) has joined UAE's National In-Country Value (ICV) program following a...
- The MoU supports national strategic objectives to boost the growth of the industrial and advanced technology sectors.
- It aligns with the National ICV program's aims to enhance economic growth by redirecting government expenditure into the national economy.
Business
GCC ramps up ESG efforts amid green investment push
Businesses are getting ready for COP28 by moving from starting ESG programs to growing them, and those who know the...
- Businesses are getting ready for COP28 by moving from starting their ESG programs to growing them, and those who know the benefits of ESG Reporting may gain a lot, say experts
- Companies in the region have also been cautioned against viewing ESG as synonymous with Corporate Social Responsibility or merely as a "tick the box" obligation
Business
Green activists cry foul as Shell decides to steady oil production
Campaign group Global Witness labelled Wednesday's announcement as a "climate-wrecking U-turn", urging it instead to invest far more in cleaner...
- The group said Wednesday that it had already cut average daily liquids production to 1.5 million barrels per day by the end of 2022 on divestments.
- That marked a 21-percent reduction from 2019, or the equivalent of cutting output by two percent per year until 2030, according to the company.
Economy
Peak in oil demand ‘in sight’ before end of decade: IEA
"The shift to a clean energy economy is picking up pace, with a peak in global oil demand in sight...
- IEA forecast in its Oil 2023 medium-term market report that annual demand growth would slow sharply over the next five years
- Energy prices soared last year after Russia, a major exporter of fossil fuels, invaded Ukraine and cut deliveries of natural gas to Europe
Economy
Regulating energy providers crucial for sustainability
“The new policy will contribute to the UAE’s GDP and help achieve financial returns that amount to AED21.5 billion (US$5.85bn)...
- UAE enforces policy to regulate energy providers, boost infrastructure, and foster investments, innovation, and modern technologies in the sector, says energy minister Al Mazrouei
- The new policy outlines contractual frameworks and public-private partnerships, targeting energy and water consumption reduction, carbon footprint, and building operational costs
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia announces international conference on Sudan aid
Saudi Arabia announced that it would jointly lead a conference on the humanitarian response to the war in Sudan next...
- Saudi Arabia and the United States have been mediating in the eight-week conflict.
- The kingdom played a leading role in evacuating thousands of foreigners from Sudan early in the war.
Geostrategy
Iranian nuke expert, EU officials review Tehran’s atomic program
A landmark deal in 2015, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), gave Iran sanctions relief in...
- Germany's foreign ministry said the meeting took place on Monday and that discussions broached topics concerning Iran's nuclear program.
- Iran's nuclear program has long been the subject of scrutiny from Western powers, resulting in sanctions that have hit the country's economy.
Business
DEWA commissions 6 new transmission substations in Jan-April 2023
DUBAI, UAE - Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has commissioned six new 132/11 kV transmission substations from January to...
- The project included 3,450 meters of 132kV ground cable to connect with the main transmission network.
- The new transmission substations are in Al Jaddaf, Tilal Al Ghaf, Bani Yas, Jebel Ali Port, Marsa Dubai and Al Yufrah 1.
Business
Greenpeace denounces UK energy firm over coal-fired power station
LONDON, UK - Greenpeace slammed Britain's power grid operator on Monday after it requested the reactivation of a coal-fired power station...
- National Grid ESO has asked energy firm Uniper to fire up a coal unit of its power station in Ratcliffe-on-Soar, central England.
- Temperatures in Britain could exceed 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday and remain high this week, forecasters say.
Russia not in danger of trading oil at a loss, says Lavrov
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – Russia does not see the risk of trading oil at a loss due to the redistribution of...
Business
Company News
Latest News
Clean energy sees marked investment rise since 2020
With a 40% increase in clean energy investments since 2020 and a focus on innovative policies, the global community is...
World unites at COP28 to shift away from fossil fuels
Nearly 200 nations in Dubai have collectively endorsed an agreement to move away from fossil fuels, marking a significant step...
COP28 UAE
Digitalization has high environmental costs, says UNCTAD meet
DUBAI, UAE - With global attention on the COP28 climate summit, UNCTAD’s eWeek 2023 highlighted digitalization’s potential to accelerate climate...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Russia, Saudi say sovereign Palestine state vital for regional peace
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Russia and Saudi Arabia expressed concern on the present situation in Gaza and said that a...
- The two sides discussed the developments in Palestine and expressed their deep concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
- Russia and Saudi Arabia stressed on the need to stop military operations in the Palestinian territories, and the need to protect civilians.
COP28 UAE
COP28 draft deal calls for ‘reducing’ fossil fuel production, consumption
The draft no longer mentioned a "phase-out". The text prepared under COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber, the head of the...
- The document calls for reducing the consumption and production of fossil fuels in "a just, orderly and equitable manner so as to achieve net zero by, before, or around 2050".
- A previous draft on Friday included the word "phase-out" which climate campaigners, low-lying island states and the European Union have been pushing for.
Business
ENEC, X-energy sign agreement
The firms will collaborate on nuclear energy technologies.
- The MoU was signed at COP28 and comes in line with ENEC’s recently announced ADVANCE Program.
- The central aim of ENEC’s ADVANCE program is to harness the latest advancements in nuclear energy technologies.

