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Energy Sector Goes Eco Way

GRAHAM STUART, BRITISH MINISTER FOR EXPORTS: ‘The UK will encourage our global partners to embrace and adopt new technologies in five critical areas that will be pivotal in the quest for clean growth – clean energy, green transport, nature-based technological solutions, climate adaptation and resilience, and green finance.’

The stake holders in the energy sector are pondering ways to adopt sustainable and environmental way to meet the consumer demands. The global oil and gas industry has an “historic opportunity” to lay the foundations for a more sustainable future, the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum and Conference (ADIPEC 2020 Virtual), the world’s largest online gathering of oil and gas industry players, has heard.

In his address at ADIPEC’s Strategic Virtual Conference, the UK Minister for Exports, Graham Stuart, made the comment as he warned “the price of inaction could not be greater as we face an existential battle to keep global mean temperature below 2 degrees.”

Stressing the world’s transition to clean power needs to speed up by four times its current rate, Stuart said, “We owe it to future generations to confront the cause and the impact of climate change — and the adoption of clean energy is central to achieving this goal.

“The scale of the challenge is clear; to meet the goals set out in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the global transition to clean power needs to progress four times faster than at present.

“The UK will encourage our global partners to embrace and adopt new technologies in five critical areas that will be pivotal in the quest for clean growth – clean energy, green transport, nature-based technological solutions, climate adaptation and resilience, and green finance.”

Stuart added that “with more than $15 trillion-worth of investment expected to be made in new power capacity globally by 2050, around $11 trillion of which will go into renewables, we are working to position the UK as the partner of choice for low carbon and renewable energy businesses worldwide.”

“As the world seeks to build back better in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have before us an historic opportunity for global change in the quest for sustainability,” he said.

“Clean growth presents the biggest economic opportunity of the 21st century for nations worldwide. We are committed to working with governments across the globe, including with our friends in the GCC, to share the opportunities of green, secure, affordable energy to meet the dynamic demands of a fast-changing world.”

Citing the investment of Masdar, the United Arab Emirates sustainability company, of more than ₤3 billion pounds in UK offshore wind, Stuart said Innovative British green technology businesses are perfectly placed to work with ADNOC and other partners in the GCC and across the Middle East to fulfil their clean energy ambitions.

“Innovative British green technology businesses are perfectly placed to work with ADNOC, other partners in the GCC and across the Middle East to fulfil their clean energy ambitions – from renewables expertise to world-leading capabilities in areas such as smart energy systems, sustainable construction, precision agriculture, green finance, and electric vehicle manufacturing.”

Stuart said the UK is “spending unprecedented sums in greening the British economy,” pointing to a ₤2.5 billion investment in clean growth innovation by 2021 and a record increase in public R&D investment with a commitment to reaching ₤22 billion per year by 2025.

“We know it is businesses, even more than governments, that will be the main drivers behind this great global transition,” Stuart said. “This is the moment for us all to redouble our efforts to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and act with renewed urgency to tackle the causes and the impacts of climate change upon our planet. Now is the time for us to work ever more closely together, nations and businesses alike, to help shape a greener, cleaner more prosperous future.”

ADIPEC 2020 Virtual – the online version of the world’s largest annual oil and gas exhibition and associated conferences, runs until November 12th under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and is hosted by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNOC.

Up to 10,000 industry professionals from over 100 countries have registered for the ADIPEC 2020 Virtual programme, organised by dmg events. More than 100 companies are virtually exhibiting the latest technology and services to address the pressing needs of an evolving energy landscape.

Innovation for the post COVID industry is high on the agendas of both the ADIPEC 2000 Virtual Strategic Conference and its associated Virtual Technical Conference, which are the largest industry online knowledge sharing events of their kind with over 700 speakers delivering more than 100 hours of live and on-demand content.

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Arab News UAE News

Speaker of Egyptian parliament hails UAE’s humanitarian role

Dr. Abdel Aal made this statement while receiving Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan, President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace…reports Asian Lite News

Dr. Ali Abdel Aal, Speaker of the Egyptian House of Representatives, has commended the UAE’s international humanitarian and development role, as well as the outstanding role of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace in disseminating the values of peace.

Dr. Abdel Aal made this statement on Thursday while receiving Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Jarwan, President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace, who praised the support provided by Egypt, under the leadership of the President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, for the efforts to promote peace.

The council now has members from over 75 countries and offices in all continents, he added while explaining its work, which includes cooperating with many international organisations in promoting tolerance and peace.

Under the framework of combatting the coronavirus pandemic, Al Jarwan said that the council formed an international committee to provide aid to various countries, and has cooperated with several international organisations in implementing strategic projects.

Peace and tolerance have become necessary around the world, he stressed, noting that the council aims to promote these noble values.

At the end of the meeting, Al Jarwan presented several publications about the council, which include its organisational structure and its work during the coronavirus crisis.

Al Jarwan was also received by Counselor Abdel Wahab Abdel Razeq, Speaker of the Egyptian Senate, who welcomed him and expressed his happiness at this visit, which reflects the deep relations between the two countries and their peoples.

The President of the Global Council for Tolerance and Peace expressed his desire to cooperate with the Egyptian Senate in promoting tolerance and peace in the region and the rest of the world.

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Asian Lite Daily Digital – November 12, 2020 – INDIA: G20 Summit To Boost Global Economy

INDIA: G20 Summit To Boost Global Economy; ‘Seeds of the Union’ Show To Mark 49th National Day; GCC Cements Ties With China – all in Asian Lite Daily Digital – Please click here to read.

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Arab News Asia News Syria

Russia resumes trade mission in Syria

Russia closed its previous trade mission in Syria on January 1, 2006…reports Asian Lite News

Russia will reopen its trade mission in the Syrian capital of Damascus by the end of this year, according to a decree by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin published Wednesday.

In the decree, Mishustin instructed the Ministry of Industry and Trade to approve the organizational structure and recruit staff of the trade office, the Xinhua news agency reported.

Russia closed its previous trade mission in Syria on January 1, 2006.

In another decree, Mishustin ordered the closure of Russian trade missions in Ukraine and Lithuania, without giving a reason.

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Knesset votes to approve Bahrain ties

A total of 62 members of the Knesset voted to endorse the US-brokered agreement, with just 14 against…reports Asian Lite News

Israel’s parliament voted Tuesday for the normalization of ties with Bahrain with a clear majority of lawmakers in favor. Arab News reports

A total of 62 members of the Knesset voted to endorse the US-brokered agreement, with just 14 against.The Arab-led Joint List opposes normalization of Arab states’ ties with the Jewish State as long as it continues to occupy Palestinian territory seized in the 1967 Six-Day war.

Speaking in the televised debate, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chided the party for its attitude to the deal but said there would chances to “fix it” in future, implying more diplomatic accords in the pipeline.

“A strong Israel brings other Arab countries closer to it, including those that have not yet made public the normalization that is developing between us,” he said. “I am convinced that there will be more countries that will officially join the circle of peace.”

The UAE in August became the first Arab state to establish relations with Israel since Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994. It was quickly followed by Bahrain, and later by Sudan.

Last month, The Israeli cabinet has approved the country’s normalisation accord with Bahrain, ahead of a vote in parliament on the historic agreement.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said that the cabinet approved submitting the accord, titled “The Establishment of Diplomatic, Peaceful and Friendly Relations between the State of Israel and the Kingdom of Bahrain” for Parliament’s approval, reports Xinhua news agency.

The agreement, signed at the White House on Septermber 15, was approved unanimously, Tzachi Hanegbi, the Minister of Settlement Affairs, told local media.The cabinet of Bahrain approved the deal on October 19.

The Israeli cabinet ratified the normalisation agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the cabinet said in its statement. The accord was signed at the White House together with the Bahraini accord in September and approved by the Israeli Knesset in an 80-13 vote on October 15.

US President Donald Trump made the announcement at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sudan’s Sovereignty Council chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok on the phone with him.

But Palestine has slammed these peace deals, saying they were a “new stab in the back of the Palestinian people”.

Also read:Israeli airline to commence direct flights to Bahrain

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Bahrain mourns the death of Prime Minister

Bahrain’s Prime Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa passed away this morning at Mayo Clinic Hospital in the United States of America.

By order of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Royal Court of Bahrain has declared official mourning for the Prime Minister.

The burial ceremony will take place after the repatriation of the body, and the funeral will be limited to a number of relatives.

The Bahrain King ordered the announcement of an official mourning for a week during which flags will be flown at half-mast, reports Bahrain news Agency.

Government ministries and departments will be closed for three days starting Thursday.

Also Read: Israeli airline to commence direct flights to Bahrain

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COVID-19 infections exceed half a million in Iraq

Iraqi officials believe that such rates are widely acceptable with daily recoveries either higher than or equal to the daily COVID-19 infections….reports Asian Lite News

Sayf al-Badr, Iraqi Health Ministry’s spokesman, said that the COVID-19 pandemic is under control in the country and the ministry has followed plans to contain the increase in infections.

“Until now, the health situation is under control and we affirm the need for the citizens to adhere to the health-protective measures,” al-Badr told Xinhua in an interview on Tuesday.

The recovery rate from the coronavirus in Iraq is about 86 percent and the death rate is about 2 per cent, according to the Health Ministry’s reports.

Iraqi officials believe that such rates are widely acceptable with daily recoveries either higher than or equal to the daily COVID-19 infections.

In recent months, the Iraqi Health Ministry has followed a multi-pronged anti-COVID-19 plan despite the fragile health systems amid years of wars, conflicts, and corruption that left heavy damage to its health institutions.

The ministry has worked on increasing hospitals’ capacity, managing so far to provide more than 11,000 hospital beds after opening several makeshift hospitals across the country, and providing medical protocols to treat COVID-19 patients.

It is also working to bring in the coronavirus vaccines after being approved by international health organizations and is seeking to make Iraq one of the first countries to receive such vaccines.



The ministry on Monday said that 501,733 people had been infected with COVID-19 since the outbreak of the disease in the country in February, of whom 11,380 had died, while 432,233 patients had recovered.

The Iraqi health official repeatedly attributed the increase of COVID-19 infections to the public’s failure to comply with health instructions and to a stronger testing capacity with the increase of labs in Baghdad and other provinces.

From the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, the Iraqi Health Ministry has struggled to increase its testing capacity. It has increased the number of laboratories to 70 and will open new labs in the coming days, in addition to training the health staff on working on PCR labs.

The ministry also plans to enhance health awareness by increasing health programs broadcast on Iraqi Health Radio that covers all Iraqi provinces.

Mohammed Ghanim Mahdi, director of the National Center of the Teaching Laboratories of the Medical City, said that the laboratory is well-equipped and is taking part in the ministry’s efforts to contain the pandemic.

The director said that the work is going on in the Chinese-donated and built laboratory and “our situation now is stable and much better compared with five or six months ago in terms of preparing and supplying laboratory materials for detecting infection with the coronavirus.”

Mahdi praised China’s early medical aid to Iraq, including the efforts made by the Chinese expert team at the beginning of the pandemic, saying that “the Chinese team helped us build and equip the PCR laboratory and we are still in constant contact with them (the Chinese experts).”

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US State Dept. nods F 35 sale to the UAE

The US State Department approved F-35 fighter jets sale to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an arms sale which was questioned by some congressional Democrats.

In a statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced a massive arms sale package with an estimated price tag of US $23.37 billion, which includes up to 50 F-35 jets worth US $10.4 billion, 18 MQ-9B drones worth US $2.97 billion, and US $10 billion of munitions.

“The proposed sale will make the UAE even more capable and interoperable with US partners in a manner fully consistent with America’s longstanding commitment to ensuring Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge,” said the statement.

Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge refers to a US legal standard that Israel maintains a military technologic edge over other regional countries.

Reports said that the F-35 deal between the United States and the UAE was a part of the US-brokered agreement to normalize ties between the UAE and Israel that had been signed in September.

F-35 fighter jet during a training exercise

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially opposed the UAE’s purchase of the F-35, but Israel’s position changed after the United States pledged to ensure Israel’s military edge in the region.

The State Department informally notified Congress of the F-35 sale two weeks ago, leading to concerns among congressional Democrats.

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel said in a statement at the end of October that Congress must analyze all of the ramifications of the export of F-35. “Rushing these sales is not in anyone’s interest.”

The Democratic congressman noted that the potential F-35 sale to the UAE would change the military balance in the Gulf and affect Israel’s military edge. He also expressed concerns about the possible leaks of F-35’s sensitive technology, and the sale might generate demands from other Arab states for advanced weapons in exchange for normalization with Israel.

The proposed sale needs to be approved by Congress. If the sale is completed, the UAE will become only the second country in the region to fly these stealth fighter jets after Israel.

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Asian Lite Daily Digital – November 11, 2020 – ‘UAE Will Not Accept Interference From Iran, Turkey’

‘UAE Will Not Accept Interference From Iran, Turkey’; Huge public engagement for ‘Designing the Next 50’; Advantage BJP as Nitish Withers in Bihar – all in Asian Lite Daily – click here to read the full edition.

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Israeli airline to commence direct flights to Bahrain

In the first phase, the new route will include two weekly flights starting from January 31, 2021…reports Asian Lite News

Israel’s Israir has announced that it will operate direct passenger flights to Bahrain, becoming the first airline to announce a regular direct route between the two countries after they agreed to fully normalise relations in September.

In a statement on Monday, the airline said that flights from the Ben Gurion International Airpor outside Tel Aviv, to the Bahrain International Airport near the capital Manama will take about two and a half hours, reports Xinhua news agency.

In the first phase, the new route will include two weekly flights starting from January 31, 2021.

The direct flights became possible after Saudi Arabia agreed in early September to allow Israeli planes to fly over its territory.

In September, Israir announced it will operate direct passenger flights to the United Arab Emirates, which also signed a normalization agreement with Israel.

Also last month, Arkia, Israel’s second-largest airline, had announced direct flight services to Dubai, which will begin from January 3, 2021.

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