#Climate Week in Riyadh

[greenfue]

COP28 Changemakers Majlis empowers youth at MENA Climate Week to participate in building a sustainable future

The COP28 Changemaker Majlis hosted by the Youth Climate Champion provided a platform at MENA Climate Week in Riyadh for youth to express their ideas, aspirations, and concerns to leaders. The initiative is part of a series of gatherings leading up to COP28.,It aims to rally a network of changemakers around a shared purpose to co-create tangible solutions for a more sustainable world. The network…

[mariacallous]

Elon Musk just dragged ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence programs into the Trump crosshairs by repeating his warning that current AI models are too “woke” and “politically correct.”

“A lot of the AIs that are being trained in the San Francisco Bay Area, they take on the philosophy of people around them,” Musk said at the Future Investment Initiative, a Saudi Arabia government–backed event held in Riyadh this week. “So you have a woke, nihilistic—in my opinion—philosophy that is being built into these AIs.”

Although Musk is himself a polarizing figure, he is right about AI systems harboring political biases. The issue, however, is far from one-sided, and Musk’s framing may help further his own interests due to his ties to Trump. Musk runs xAI, a competitor to OpenAI, Google, and Meta that could benefit if those companies become government targets.

“Musk clearly has a close, close relationship with the Trump campaign, and any comment that he’s making will hold a big influence,” says Matt Mittelsteadt, a research fellow at George Mason University. “At a maximum he could have some sort of seat in a potential Trump administration, and his views could actually be enacted into some sort of policy.”

Musk has previously accused both OpenAI and Google of being infected with “the woke mind virus.” When Google’s Gemini chatbot produced historically inaccurate images, including black Nazis and Vikings, in February, Musk saw it as proof of Google using AI to spread an absurdly woke outlook.

Musk is clearly no fan of government regulation, but he backed a proposed AI bill in California that would have required companies to make their AI models available for vetting.

The first Trump administration also targeted perceived bias at Big Tech companies with an executive order that sought to hold platforms such as Twitter, Google, and Facebook accountable for censoring information for political reasons. The pressure had a tangible impact, with Meta ultimately abandoning plans for a dedicated news section on Facebook.

Mittelsteadt notes that Trump’s VP pick, JD Vance, has also talked of reining in Big Tech companies and gone as far as to call Google “one of the most dangerous companies in the world.”

Mittelsteadt adds that Trump could punish companies in a variety of ways. He cites, for example, the way the Trump government canceled a major federal contract with Amazon Web Services, a decision likely influenced by the former president’s view of the Washington Post and its owner, Jeff Bezos.

It would not be hard for policymakers to point to evidence of political bias in AI models, even if it cuts both ways.

A 2023 study by researchers at the University of Washington, Carnegie Mellon University, and Xi’an Jiaotong University found a range of political leanings in different large language models. It also showed how this bias may affect the performance of hate speech or misinformation detection systems.

Another study, conducted by researchers at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, found bias in several open source AI models on polarizing issues such as immigration, reproductive rights, and climate change. Yejin Bang, a PhD candidate involved with the work, says that most models tend to lean liberal and US-centric, but that the same models can express a variety of liberal or conservative biases depending on the topic.

AI models capture political biases because they are trained on swaths of internet data that inevitably includes all sorts of perspectives. Most users may not be aware of any bias in the tools they use because models incorporate guardrails that restrict them from generating certain harmful or biased content. These biases can leak out subtly though, and the additional training that models receive to restrict their output can introduce further partisanship. “Developers could ensure that models are exposed to multiple perspectives on divisive topics, allowing them to respond with a balanced viewpoint,” Bang says.

The issue may become worse as AI systems become more pervasive, says Ashique KhudaBukhsh, an computer scientist at the Rochester Institute of Technology who developed a tool called the Toxicity Rabbit Hole Framework, which teases out the different societal biases of large language models. “We fear that a vicious cycle is about to start as new generations of LLMs will increasingly be trained on data contaminated by AI-generated content,” he says.

“I’m convinced that that bias within LLMs is already an issue and will most likely be an even bigger one in the future,” says Luca Rettenberger, a postdoctoral researcher at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology who conducted an analysis of LLMs for biases related to German politics.

Rettenberger suggests that political groups may also seek to influence LLMs in order to promote their own views above those of others. “If someone is very ambitious and has malicious intentions it could be possible to manipulate LLMs into certain directions,” he says. “I see the manipulation of training data as a real danger.”

There have already been some efforts to shift the balance of bias in AI models. Last March, one programmer developed a more right-leaning chatbot in an effort to highlight the subtle biases he saw in tools like ChatGPT. Musk has himself promised to make Grok, the AI chatbot built by xAI, “maximally truth-seeking” and less biased than other AI tools, although in practice it also hedges when it comes to tricky political questions. (A staunch Trump supporter and immigration hawk, Musk’s own view of “less biased” may also translate into more right-leaning results.)

Next week’s election in the United States is hardly likely to heal the discord between Democrats and Republicans, but if Trump wins, talk of anti-woke AI could get a lot louder.

Musk offered an apocalyptic take on the issue at this week’s event, referring to an incident when Google’s Gemini said that nuclear war would be preferable to misgendering Caitlyn Jenner. “If you have an AI that’s programmed for things like that, it could conclude that the best way to ensure nobody is misgendered is to annihilate all humans, thus making the probability of a future misgendering zero,” he said.

[head-post]

EU eager to enhance “strategic co-operation” with Gulf states

The first-ever summit between the European Union and the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) will take place next week, with Europeans aiming to forge closer ties on regional security and economic issues, Euractiv reports.

The first summit between EU leaders and six Gulf countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – is expected to take place in Brussels next Wednesday.

The GCC, headquartered in the Saudi capital Riyadh, is a regional organisation that seeks political and economic co-operation among the six Gulf states. European Council President Charles Michel told Euractiv:

[One of the priorities in terms of outcome] is a political message that we want to make our relationship between EU and GCC more strategic.

Language of the declaration

A key issue to watch will be how the two sides manage to resolve the balancing act of the summit’s joint declaration, the text of which has been sent back and forth by both sides over the past weeks.

Several EU diplomats told Euractiv that, as the declaration is intended to cover a wide range of sectoral co-operation issues, they expect a “Christmas-tree approach,” meaning that a hardline stance is unlikely to be taken.

The joint statement should reflect the ambitions of the two regions, but at the same time temper expectations for far-reaching co-operation on free trade agreements and visa liberalisation. One EU diplomat said:

Trade will be the most prominent theme, add to that focus on energy and climate, connectivity, humanitarian aid, security dialogue, and people-to-people contacts and human rights – basically, something there for everyone.

A second EU diplomat said:

A number of member states have asked for stronger texts on Ukraine and the denouncement of Russia and on sanctions evasion, some push for stronger text on gender and human rights.

Geopolitical issues

EU member states, long accustomed to viewing co-operation with the Gulf through a US prism, have struggled to reshape their relations with the region.

Over the past year, especially since the outbreak of the war between Israel and Hamas, the EU has increasingly turned its attention to strengthening ties with regional players.

Most recently, a new international coalition to find a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has gained momentum as a result of negotiations organised by the EU on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

According to some diplomats, EU leaders are likely to test how far such co-operation can go, as there is broad agreement on condemning the October 7 Hamas attacks and Israel’s war on Gaza, as well as the need to de-escalate tensions in the region against the backdrop of the situation in Lebanon. Michel told Euractiv:

On the geopolitical topics – the Middle East, Russia’s war against Ukraine, other wars and conflicts like in Africa and Sudan – we want to engage with [the GCC] and encourage them to play a stronger role in defending our rules-based order [and further support for the UN charter].

But the latter may prove challenging, EU diplomats say, as the bloc desperately tries to ward off accusations of double standards in its response to the situation in Ukraine and Gaza. A third EU diplomat said:

It’s not likely we’ll be able to achieve much at this summit, not with Ukraine and the wider Middle East on fire simultaneously.

Trade co-operation

Analysts say the European Commission believes bilateral deals with individual countries in the region are now more feasible. Attempts to forge an agreement between the regions have so far failed since they began in 1990.

Frustrated by the lack of progress on a deal between the regions, the UAE is lobbying Brussels to start negotiations on a trade pact separate from the GCC talks, Reuters reported in March.

At the same time, the Europeans are concerned that negotiating bilateral trade deals risks alienating other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, which would prefer a deal between the regions.

Launching such bilateral talks would require a new mandate from EU member states, which EU diplomats say could take several months.

In the meantime, the UAE maintains close ties with Russia, prompting Western countries to push Abu Dhabi to crack down on companies circumventing Western sanctions against Moscow through its territory.

But legally binding human rights provisions, environmental standards and specific language on government procurement are likely to remain long-standing issues if negotiations continue.

Read more HERE

[socialvinod]

Streamlining Supply Chains: Solutions From A Leading Freight Forwarder In Saudi Arabia

Are you struggling to navigate the complexities of global trade and optimize your logistics operations? Have you considered the impact that an expert freight forwarder in Saudi Arabia can have on your supply chain efficiency?

In the fast-paced world of global trade, the efficiency of supply chains is crucial for maintaining competitiveness and ensuring timely delivery of goods. As you seek to optimize these complex systems, it’s essential to understand the strategic role that effective freight forwarding in Saudi Arabia can play. At BAFCO, we specialize in providing cutting-edge freight forwarding solutions that tackle the challenges of modern logistics, helping you streamline operations and enhance reliability without compromising on speed or cost. In this blog, explore how partnering with BAFCO, a reliable freight forwarder in Saudi Arabia, can bring unparalleled benefits to your business.

Understanding Freight Forwarding

Imagine you’ve just started a business that imports electronics from various countries to sell in local markets. As exciting as it sounds, the process of getting these products from the manufacturer to your warehouse involves several complex steps and paperwork. This is where freight forwarding comes in.

What is Freight Forwarding?

Think of freight forwarding as the travel agency for your products’ journey across the globe.

A freight forwarder in Saudi Arabia ensures the smooth transit of goods from the manufacturer to your doorstep by managing all modes of transportation—sea, air, and land.

Role of a Freight Forwarder in Logistics

Coordination: Manages relationships with carriers to secure cost-effective and efficient transport routes.

Documentation: Takes charge of all necessary paperwork for customs, ensuring your goods move through borders without delays.

Warehousing: Handles storage needs, whether goods need to be kept safe before shipping or upon arrival, ensuring they are secure and ready for the next leg of the journey.

Risk Management: Navigates the risks associated with global transportation, from dealing with regulatory requirements to ensuring cargo safety.

Why BAFCO?

With our extensive experience in freight forwarding in Saudi Arabia, BAFCO excels at streamlining complex logistics processes.

We focus on making international shipping simpler and more reliable, allowing you to concentrate on expanding your business.

BAFCO’s Comprehensive Logistics Solutions

Ocean Freight: Choosing Between FCL and LCL

Scenario: Imagine you’re launching a new product line and need to import 500 units from China. Using Full Container Load (FCL), you could rent an entire container, ensuring your goods travel together, reducing handling risks, and arriving faster. However, if you’re just testing the market with 50 units, Less than Container Load (LCL) would be more cost-effective. You share container space with others, which helps keep your costs down while still getting your products where they need to be.

Air Freight: Fast Tracking Your Deliveries

Quick Tip: Need those promotional items before the big trade show next week? Air freight is your best friend for urgent shipments. It’s a bit pricier, but when time is of the essence, it ensures your materials arrive long before the opening ceremony.

Ground Transportation: From Warehouse to Doorstep

Example: You’ve got a shipment of locally made furniture ready to furnish a new office in Riyadh. Our ground transportation services ensure your stylish desks and chairs are delivered directly from the warehouse to the office without a hitch, whether it’s a short ride across the city or a long haul across the country.

Warehousing: Safe and Sound Storage

What Happens: Let’s say you import a large quantity of electronics. Our warehousing services offer a secure spot to store these valuable items. With climate control and 24/7 security, you can rest assured your stock is well-protected until it’s time to move out.

Project Cargo: Handling the Big Stuff

Real-Life Challenge: Need to ship a wind turbine blade? That’s no small feat! At BAFCO, we specialize in project cargo, which means we’re equipped to handle, load, and ship unusually large or heavy items safely and efficiently.

Container Terminal Operations: Keeping Things Moving

Behind the scenes: Every minute counts at the ports. Our team works tirelessly to ensure your containers are loaded and unloaded swiftly, helping you avoid costly delays and keeping your supply chain on schedule.

Customs Clearance: No More Paperwork Panic

Imagine This: You’re importing specialty coffee beans, and the paperwork maze seems endless. As expert freight forwarder in Saudi Arabia, BAFCO takes care of all the customs formalities for you. We handle the documents, pay the duties, and ensure your exotic beans make it to the local cafes without a hitch.

By choosing BAFCO for freight forwarding in Saudi Arabia, you’re not just shipping goods; you’re streamlining your entire supply chain process. Let us handle the complexities of logistics, so you can focus on growing your business. Whether you’re a seasoned importer or just starting out, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.

Global Reach and Local Expertise Freight Forwarder in Saudi Arabia

Understanding Certifications and What They Mean for You

Navigating international logistics can be daunting, especially if you’re new to the game. This is where BAFCO’s affiliations and certifications come into play, ensuring that your goods are not only handled by experts but also comply with international standards.

IATA (International Air Transport Association): When BAFCO handles your air freight, being an IATA-certified forwarder means we adhere to the highest safety and security standards in the aviation industry. This ensures your air shipments are both safe and efficient.

FIATA (International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations): This affiliation turns the complex world of freight forwarding into a smoother process for you. It means we are recognized globally for maintaining the highest levels of professionalism in freight forwarding, which translates to fewer delays and problems for your shipments.

WCA (World Cargo Alliance): Being part of this global network allows us access to logistics partners anywhere in the world, ensuring that no matter where you need to send or receive goods, there is a trusted partner on the other end.

Case Study: Efficient Handling Across Borders

Imagine you are a Saudi Arabia-based electronics retailer needing to import the latest gadgets from South Korea. Here’s how our certifications and global affiliations benefit you:

Efficient Coordination: With our WCA partnership, we connect with trusted partners in South Korea, ensuring your electronics are picked up promptly and handled with care.

Safety and Compliance: Our IATA certification means your air freight from Seoul flies smoothly, with all regulatory and safety protocols rigorously followed, minimizing risks of delays or damage.

Customs and Clearance: Thanks to our FIATA affiliation, navigating through customs becomes a breeze. We handle all the necessary paperwork and legal requirements, ensuring your gadgets reach the Saudi market quickly, ready for sale.

These affiliations underscore our promise to you for reliable and expert freight forwarding in Saudi Arabia. Whether it’s a simple shipment or a complex logistical challenge, BAFCO’s global reach and local expertise ensure that your cargo is in safe hands, making your business more dynamic and competitive in the bustling markets of today.

So, you’ve seen how BAFCO navigates the complexities of global logistics, whether it’s getting the latest fashion to your doorstep before the festive season, ensuring your construction project materials are timed perfectly, or sourcing the finest coffee beans for your new café. 

With our IATA, FIATA, and WCA affiliations, we’re not just another logistics company; we are your gateway to optimized and hassle-free freight forwarding in Saudi Arabia.

Our certifications aren’t just plaques on the wall—they are a promise to you that every shipment you entrust to us is managed with the utmost care, professionalism, and expertise. 

We understand the pulse of global logistics and, more importantly, the specific nuances of freight forwarding in Saudi Arabia. 

This means no matter the size, scale, or complexity of your shipment, BAFCO has the capability and the global network to handle it efficiently.

Imagine a world where all your logistics needs are handled by top-tier professionals who are as committed to your business as you are. That world is right here with BAFCO. 

If you’re looking to streamline your operations, cut down on unnecessary delays, and ensure that every part of your supply chain is smooth and efficient, it’s time to get in touch with us.

Why wait to transform your logistics challenges into solutions? Contact BAFCO today, and let’s make a smooth, efficient, and reliable freight forwarder in Saudi Arabia a cornerstone of your business success. 

Let’s chat about how we can tailor our services to meet your unique needs and help you excel in the competitive market. Your logistics solutions are just a conversation away.

FAQ’s

What services does BAFCO offer in freight forwarding in Saudi Arabia?

BAFCO offers comprehensive logistics solutions including ocean freight (FCL and LCL), air freight, ground transportation, warehousing, project cargo handling, container terminal operations, and customs clearance.

How does BAFCO ensure the safety and security of shipments?

BAFCO adheres to strict safety standards and maintains certifications with IATA, FIATA, and WCA. These certifications guarantee that all operations meet global safety and security requirements. Additionally, BAFCO employs advanced tracking technology to monitor shipments in real time.

Can BAFCO handle oversized or special project cargo?

Yes, BAFCO specializes in handling project cargo that requires special logistics arrangements due to its size or weight. Our team has extensive experience planning and executing the transportation of oversized items, ensuring they are handled with care and precision.

What are the benefits of using BAFCO’s warehousing services?

BAFCO’s warehousing services provide secure, flexible storage solutions with features like climate control and 24/7 security. Our warehouses help streamline your supply chain by ensuring your goods are stored safely and efficiently, ready for distribution when needed.

How does BAFCO streamline customs clearance processes in Saudi Arabia?

BAFCO leverages its expertise and local knowledge to facilitate faster customs clearance. Our team handles all paperwork and liaises with customs officials to ensure compliance with all regulations, thus minimizing potential delays and extra costs.

Read More: Click Here

[crimechannels]

By • Olalekan Fagbade Presidebt Tinubu flying out to attend 5th Arab-African Summit holding in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia President Bola Tinubu is to attend the Arab-African and Saudi-Africa summits holding this week in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, disclosed this on Sunday while briefing State House Correspondents in Abuja. He said that the attendance of president was predicated on the administration’s drive to use all avenues to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the various sectors of the economy. ‘’The president will use the summit to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the country. The two summits will surely yield tangible economic benefits for the country and Africa. He added that the president would be aggressive, like in all other of his engagements, in attracting genuine foreign investors into different sectors of the economy. The Arab-African Summit is aimed at establishing practical solutions for developing Arab-African cooperation and catching up with the emerging and influential international powers in African. The summit seeks to identify fields for cooperation, build a common vision for sharing knowledge and experience, and identify projects and frameworks for improving bilateral and multilateral ties between Arab and African countries. ‘’In light of the geostrategic shifts unfolding in the international system, Arab countries are collectively and diligently seeking to diversify their strategic partners. ‘’This effort has created opportunities for establishing promising strategic partnerships in several fields with many actors in the international community,’’ Dr Khalid Manzalawi, Assistant Secretary-General for International Political Affairs of the League of Arab States, said at a meeting in Cairo in October. Some of the objectives of the Summit include reinvigoration of the Arab-African Relations, addressing issues relating to conflicts and counter-terrorism as well as tackling challenges such as poverty, education, health, food security, developmental matters, debt crises, and global challenges like climate change, migration, and humanitarian aid. The Summit was last held in 2016. Ngelale said that detailed briefing would be made in the course of the various meetings by the president with investors, which are relevant to the economic rejuvenation of the country. He said that the president would be accompanied to the summit by cabinet members, the business community as well as other relevant government functionaries.(NAN)

[thxnews]

Aramco: Leading the Way to Sustainability

  Paving the Path to Carbon Neutrality

Saudi Arabia's 2060 Net-Zero Ambition Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In a bold move towards addressing climate change and curbing greenhouse gas emissions, Aramco, one of the world's foremost integrated energy and chemicals companies, announced a suite of groundbreaking projects aimed at reducing its carbon footprint. These initiatives, unveiled on the sidelines of MENA Climate Week 2023, represent a significant step towards Aramco's ambition of achieving net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions across its wholly-owned and operated assets by 2050, while also aligning with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's 2060 net-zero goal.  

Amaco in Calgary, 2019. Photo by Jason Woodhead. Flickr.  

Innovative Approaches for a Sustainable Future

Ahmad Al Khowaiter, Aramco's Executive Vice President of Technology and innovation, expressed the company's commitment to innovative solutions to combat climate change. "These projects highlight just some of the innovative ways that Aramco aims to help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change," he said. "This includes new and groundbreaking approaches that align with our vision of a circular carbon economy."   Lower-Carbon Hydrogen Following the success of a pilot project in Denmark, Aramco is set to collaborate with Topsoe, an industry leader in energy-efficient technologies, to construct a lower-carbon hydrogen demonstration plant at the Shaybah Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) recovery plant in Saudi Arabia. Expected to produce six tons of hydrogen per day, the plant will employ renewable electricity for electrified steam reforming of hydrocarbons, yielding lower-carbon hydrogen for power generation, with captured CO2 subsequently sequestered.  

New energy savings boiler plant. Photo by USACE Europe District. Flickr.   Direct Air Capture Aramco is also partnering with Siemens Energy to develop a Direct Air Capture (DAC) test unit in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. With the capacity to capture up to 12 tons of CO2 per year, the test unit is a precursor to a larger pilot plant expected to capture a staggering 1,250 tons of CO2 annually, scheduled for completion in 2024.   Novel CO2 Sequestration In yet another innovative stride, Aramco has successfully piloted a CO2 sequestration method using in situ mineralization. The process involves dissolving CO2 in water and injecting it into volcanic rocks in Jazan, Saudi Arabia, resulting in the permanent conversion of CO2 into carbonate rocks. This pilot project was a collaborative effort between Aramco and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, introducing various technologies to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.   Geothermal Energy Aramco is also exploring the expansion of its renewable energy portfolio through geothermal energy, leveraging naturally heated underground aquifers to produce electricity. Identified areas on Saudi Arabia's west coast have already been mapped using advanced subsurface technologies, and investigations are underway to assess the extent of geothermal resources at each location.  

Vintage photo of Aramco workers. Photo by Tribes of the World. Flickr.  

Aramco's Transformation into a Sustainable Energy Leader

Aramco, officially known as the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, has a rich history and ambitious future objectives. Established in 1933, it has played a central role in shaping the global oil industry and boasts vast reserves of crude oil and gas fields, making it the world's largest integrated oil company. Yet, Aramco's vision extends beyond traditional hydrocarbons, aligning with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2060 net-zero goal.   Pioneering Clean Technologies Aramco is actively investing in research and development projects focused on clean technologies, such as hydrogen fuel cells and carbon capture, as part of its transition towards a sustainable energy future. The company aims to be at the forefront of innovation, driving progress across various sectors globally. While its status as a dominant oil producer will remain pivotal for the foreseeable future, Aramco's vision surpasses conventional boundaries. The company aspires to be not just an energy provider but a catalyst for innovation, pushing the envelope and championing sustainable practices. In doing so, Aramco exemplifies how even traditional energy giants can pivot towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.   Sources: THX News & Aramco. Read the full article

[blogynews]

"Unveiling the Intriguing Strategy: Why I Refuse to Sacrifice Safety in Oil Production"

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has stated that the influential Saudi and Russia-led oil producers’ alliance, known as OPEC+, is prepared to wait for “real numbers�� before making any adjustments to their policies in response to price volatility in the crude market. Speaking at the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week in Riyadh, Prince Abdulaziz emphasized the importance of…

[blogynewz]

"Unveiling the Intriguing Strategy: Why I Refuse to Sacrifice Safety in Oil Production"

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has stated that the influential Saudi and Russia-led oil producers’ alliance, known as OPEC+, is prepared to wait for “real numbers” before making any adjustments to their policies in response to price volatility in the crude market. Speaking at the Middle East and North Africa Climate Week in Riyadh, Prince Abdulaziz emphasized the importance of…

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Happy Pride Month #PrideMonth #HappyPrideMonth #LGBTQIA+ #endchildlabor #savethechildren #savetheocean #moratorium #savetheplanet #mamiwata #mamiwatafilm #mamiwatacobalt #mamiwatabackrooms #mamiwata #backrooms

[tearsinthemist]

It was the latest in a series of unprecedented nearly back-to-back sandstorms this year that have bewildered residents and raised alarm among experts and officials, who blame climate change and poor governmental regulations.

From Riyadh to Tehran, bright orange skies and a thick veil of grit signaled yet another stormy day Monday. Sandstorms are typical in late spring and summer, spurred by seasonal winds. But this year they have occurred nearly every week in Iraq since March.

government workers and residents to stay home in anticipation of the 10th storm to hit the country in the last two months. The Health Ministry stockpiled cannisters of oxygen at facilities in hard-hit areas, according to a statement.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this Climate Change News story:

The US and Saudi Arabia blocked a Swiss push to develop geoengineering governance at the UN Environment Assembly this week.

Switzerland withdrew its resolution at the summit in Kenya on Wednesday evening, after several failed attempts at compromise, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), an observer organisation, reported in a summary of the talks.

The proposal would have directed the UN agency to study controversial geoengineering technologies, as a first step towards discussing if and how they should be regulated internationally.

But the US and Saudi Arabia opposed any move that could crimp their ability to tackle climate change through geoengineering – and continue producing fossil fuels, according to two sources observing the negotiations, who asked not to be named. Brazil also voiced opposition, but less forcibly, they said.

The Trump administration has teamed up with Riyadh to push back in a number of international climate change negotiations over the past year, including over a strategy to reduce emissions from the shipping sector and on a statement welcoming the latest UN climate science report.

[newstfionline]

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

U.S. weighs possible resumption of offensive arms sales to Saudis (Reuters) The Biden administration is discussing the possible lifting of its ban on U.S. sales of offensive weapons to Saudi Arabia. Senior Saudi officials pressed their U.S. counterparts to scrap a policy of selling only defensive arms to its top Gulf partner in several meetings in Riyadh and Washington in recent months, three of the sources said ahead of President Joe Biden’s visit to the kingdom this week. As Biden prepares for a diplomatically sensitive trip, he has signaled that he is looking to reset strained relations with Saudi Arabia at a time when he wants increased Gulf oil supplies along with closer Arab security ties with Israel to counter Iran. Soon after taking office early last year, Biden adopted a tougher stance over Saudi Arabia’s campaign against the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, which has inflicted heavy civilian casualties, and Riyadh’s human rights record, in particular the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist and political opponent Jamal Khashoggi.

Extreme heat pushes highs over 110 in Texas as power grid nears brink (Washington Post) A serious summer heat wave is baking Texas with record temperatures and high humidity. Heat advisories and excessive heat warnings blanket much of the Lone Star State, with the National Weather Service calling the conditions “extreme” and “dangerously hot.” On Sunday, more than a dozen record highs were set throughout the state as temperatures soared as high as 113 degrees. Houston shot up to 105 degrees, matching its highest temperature ever recorded in July. Sunday was the state’s second-hottest day since at least 1950, according to Maxar, a weather consulting firm. The record-challenging heat is forecast to persist through Tuesday, combining with a moist lower atmosphere to produce heat indexes above 110 degrees in the southeast part of the state. The statewide scorcher is enough to induce record high demand and tax the state’s beleaguered power grid, prompting the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to issue a public appeal for conservation during the hottest times of day.

Crypto plunge is cautionary tale for public pension funds (AP) When the Houston Firefighters Relief and Retirement Fund bought $25 million in cryptocurrencies, with the fund’s chief investment officer touting their potential, retired fire Capt. Russell Harris was concerned. Harris, 62, has attended the funerals of 34 firefighters killed in the line of duty. He was already worried about his pension after an overhaul by state and city officials cut payments as they grappled with the ability to pay out benefits. He didn’t see crypto, unproven in his eyes, as an answer. The plunge in prices for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in recent weeks provides a cautionary tale for the handful of public pension funds that have dipped their toes in the crypto pool over the past few years. Many public pension funds across the U.S. are underfunded, sometimes seriously so, which leads them to take risks to try to catch up. That doesn’t always work out, and the risk extends not just to the funds but to taxpayers who might have to bail them out.

Mexico, US presidents to meet amid newly tense relationship (AP) The U.S.-Mexico relationship—a straightforward tradeoff during the Trump adminstration, with Mexico tamping down on migration and the U.S. not pressing on other issues—has become a wide range of disagreements over trade, foreign policy, energy and climate change. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is to visit Washington on Tuesday to meet with President Joe Biden, a month after López Obrador snubbed Biden’s invitation to the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles. Mexico’s leader had demanded that Biden invite to the summit the leaders of Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela—all countries with anti-democratic regimes—and he has also called U.S. support for Ukraine “a crass error.” On that, and other issues, it’s clear López Obrador is getting along much worse with Biden than with Donald Trump, who threatened Mexico, but wanted only one thing from his southern neighbor: stop migrants from reaching the border. “At the end of the day, the problem is that you have the complete mismatch in this relationship,” said Arturo Sarukhan, who served as Mexico’s ambassador to the U.S. from 2006 to 2013.

A year after protests, Cuba struggles to emerge from crisis (AP) A year after the largest protests in decades shook Cuba’s single-party government, hundreds of people who participated are in prison and the economic and political factors that caused the demonstrations largely remain. Streets and public squares filled with protesters on July 11 and 12, 2021, some answering social media appeals, others joining spontaneously to express frustration with shortages, long lines and a lack of political options. Since then, a few things have changed: The Communist Party government has made its most expansive—if still limited—opening in six decades to private enterprise, authorizing small and medium sized companies. And the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed a gradual revival of the critical tourism industry. But the overall economy remains dire, with long lines and rapidly rising prices for limited goods. That has fed a huge increase in migration, principally to the United States.

The race to become next British prime minister (Reuters) British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss entered the race to replace Boris Johnson as prime minister on Monday, taking the number of candidates in an increasingly bitter and unpredictable contest to 11. The race for a new leader followed one of the most remarkable periods in modern British political history, when more than 50 government ministers quit, denouncing Johnson’s character, integrity and inability to tell the truth. With many lawmakers unhappy with Johnson remaining in office until a successor is found, the party is likely to accelerate the election process. It could insist that candidates have the backing of around 30 lawmakers to enter the process, before voting begins this week to whittle the number down to two. Around 200,000 members of the Conservative Party will then choose a winner after weeks of hustings across the country.

Europe on edge as Nord Stream Russian gas link enters shutdown (Reuters) The biggest single pipeline carrying Russian gas to Germany began annual maintenance on Monday, with flows expected to stop for 10 days, but governments, markets and companies are worried the shutdown might be extended because of the war in Ukraine. The Nord Stream 1 pipeline transports 55 billion cubic metres (bcm) a year of gas from Russia to Germany under the Baltic Sea. Last month, Russia cut flows to 40% of the pipeline’s total capacity, citing the delayed return of equipment being serviced by Germany’s Siemens Energy in Canada. Europe fears Russia could extend scheduled maintenance to restrict European gas supply further, throwing plans to fill storage for winter into disarray and heightening a gas crisis that has prompted emergency measures from governments and painfully high bills for consumers.

Spain swelters as temperatures soar in second heatwave (Reuters) Spaniards kept to the shade in parks, headed for the beach or sipped iced drinks to tackle stifling temperatures as high as 43C (110F), as the country experiences its second heatwave this year. Warm summer sunshine combined with a hot air front from North Africa have sent temperatures soaring, state meteorological forecasters AEMET said on Sunday, and the heatwave could last until July 14. The highest recorded temperature on Sunday was 43C (110F) by the Guadalquivir river near Seville in southern Spain and in Badajoz, towards the west of the country, forecasters said.

Ukraine hit by widespread Russian shelling, apartment toll rises to 18 (Reuters) Russia opened fire with artillery, multiple rocket launchers and tanks around Ukraine’s second largest city Kharkiv and shelled cities in the east, Ukraine’s general staff said on Monday, after a strike that killed 18 people in an apartment building. The rocket strike on the five-storey residental block in Chasiv Yar on Saturday night also left two dozen people trapped in the rubble, the emergency service said. The rocket attack was part of Russia’s push to capture all of Donetsk province, which makes up part of the industrial Donbas region in the east along with Luhansk province, where Moscow declared victory earlier this month. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia had carried out 34 air strikes since Saturday.

Debt dominos (Foreign Policy) In May, Sri Lanka defaulted on some of its debt for the first time in its history. Sri Lanka’s default could be just one of many in emerging market countries this year, as the war in Ukraine, the coronavirus pandemic, and the rising value of the U.S. dollar combine to damage already weak economies. Bloomberg’s Sovereign Debt Vulnerability Scorecard finds that El Salvador, Ghana, Egypt, Tunisia, and Pakistan are the closest to following Sri Lanka. The risk of cascading crises is why Western leaders need to focus not just on the war in Ukraine but the wider “global economic unwinding driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate breakdown, and degradation of the international political and economic system,” Mark Malloch-Brown writes in Foreign Policy.

Shanghai fears a second lockdown as China battles BA.5 outbreaks (Washington Post) The arrival of the BA.5 coronavirus variant in China is threatening economically damaging lockdowns across the country, including in Shanghai, where many residents only recently emerged from a grueling two months of confinement in their homes. Over the weekend, the country’s most populous city confirmed that the increasingly dominant subvariant of omicron had arrived only weeks after officials declared victory against the coronavirus following a citywide lockdown. Even though total numbers of infections in China remain low compared with many other countries—the National Health Commission on Monday reported 352 locally transmitted cases—Beijing remains deeply concerned that the highly transmissible subvariant’s arrival will lead to a mass outbreak and a wave of deaths, especially among the under-vaccinated elderly population.

Chinese Police Database Was Left Unsecured Long Before Hackers Seized It (NYT) A Shanghai police database with a vast trove of personal data that was seized by a hacker or group had been left online, unsecured, for months, security researchers said, in what is probably the largest known breach of Chinese government computer systems. The leak, which came to light after an anonymous user posted in an online forum offering to sell the personal information of as many as one billion Chinese citizens, exposes the privacy risks of the Chinese government’s vast surveillance and security apparatus. The authorities in China collect vast amounts of data on citizens by tracking their movements, scouring their social media posts and recording their DNA and other biological markers. Yet even as the state amasses ever greater amounts of personal data, it has sometimes been lax in erecting safeguards, such as by parking it on unprotected servers. But news about the leak has been swiftly censored and removed from the Chinese internet and social media platforms, a sign that the government recognizes the explosive nature of the apparent breach.

Elections in Japan (1440) Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling coalition secured a supermajority in the upper chamber of the country’s parliament yesterday, in elections held just two days after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The results may allow lawmakers to achieve one of Abe’s longtime goals—revising the country’s constitution to allow for a traditional military force. In principle, the document currently disallows permanent war-capable forces.

With Biden, Palestinians seeking freedom get permits instead (AP) For more than two years, the Biden administration has said that Palestinians are entitled to the same measure of “freedom, security and prosperity” enjoyed by Israelis. Instead, they’ve gotten U.S. aid and permits to work inside Israel and its Jewish settlements. The inconsistency is likely to come up when President Joe Biden visits Israel and the occupied West Bank this week for the first time since assuming office. Israeli officials will likely point to the thousands of work permits issued to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, allowing them to make far higher wages and injecting much-needed cash into economies hobbled by Israeli restrictions. Biden will likely tout the tens of millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinians he restored after it was cut off during the Trump years. Supporters say such economic measures improve the lives of Palestinians and help preserve the possibility of an eventual political solution. But when Biden is driven past Israel’s towering separation barrier to meet with Palestinians in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, he will hear a very different story—about how Israel is cementing its decades-long military rule over millions of Palestinians, with no end in sight.

At Least 21 Dead After 3 Tavern Shootings in South Africa (NYT) At least 21 people were killed over the weekend as gunmen opened fire on three taverns in South Africa, in what the police described as “random” shootings. The three separate attacks, hundreds of miles apart, have brought into sharp focus South Africa’s high rate of crime and gun violence. According to police statistics, the country recorded 5,760 murders last year, or 9.5 murders per 100,000 people, a 66 percent increase from the previous year. The police station serving the Sweetwaters community has the second highest number of murders reported in the country, according to the official statistics.

[mariacallous]

It wasn’t long ago that most of the world was focusing on a U.S.-Saudi-Israeli “big Middle East deal.” The current climate of death, destruction, and the catastrophe that is unfolding before our eyes is a long way from the exuberance surrounding potential Saudi-Israeli normalization in the weeks and months prior to the war.

While some observers may be surprised by Hamas’s heinous Oct. 7 attacks and the eruption of a major war, others had long dreaded such an outbreak of violence. Due to the desperate desire of both Israel and the United States to see a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, the unresolved and simmering Palestinian issue was largely ignored.

Both Israel and the United States had their respective reasons to push for normalization. For Washington, and in particular for President Joe Biden, being the broker of such a major deal would cement his legacy in history and provide a needed diplomatic talking point for the 2024 election campaign.

For Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, having Saudi Arabia—the custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites—recognizing Israel would be a strategic victory. If Saudi Arabia agrees to normalize relations with Israel, there will be little else to pressure the Netanyahu government, or any future Israeli government, with to ensure significant concessions and facilitate a political settlement that ushers in security for both Palestinians and Israelis.

As soon as the war erupted, there was an ominous feeling that a humanitarian catastrophe was going to ensue. There was little doubt that Arab states would condemn Israel. What was less clear was how Arab states would use their leverage. The energy landscape has changed dramatically from 1973, and therefore, the “oil card” was not going to hold much sway today.

This then raises the question of how Saudi Arabia will use its leverage in this crisis. While oil is no longer an effective instrument of leverage over the United States and Israel, Riyadh does have some tools in its diplomatic arsenal that—if deployed properly—will give it a say in shaping the future of Israel and Palestine.

As the war continues, both Israel and the United States are losing credibility. Forcibly displacing refugees from their homes, and then cutting off humanitarian essentials, is hardly a way to gain any support, let alone legitimacy for a military campaign. As the humanitarian catastrophe grows, the United States is losing international credibility, not least in the Middle East. While it is unrealistic to see any Saudi action that could force Israel to stop its war in Gaza, Saudi Arabia is using its symbolic position as the guardian of Islam’s holiest sites against Israel.

Riyadh is leading a diplomatic effort designed to generate an international narrative that questions the legality of Israeli military aggression, and the U.S. diplomatic cover it is utilizing. Not only are the Saudi ruling elites rejecting the Israeli self-defense argument, but they are also going on the diplomatic offensive. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan is leading a diplomatic committee mandated by the Arab League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to tour various international capitals and argue for an immediate cease-fire.

The committee’s first stop was in Beijing and then Moscow. This was a clear signal to Washington that Saudi Arabia has other options in this ever-evolving multipolar world. In addition, the committee’s presence in the United Nations and the constant proposals by the Arab-Islamic group are designed to keep diplomatic pressure on the United States, by highlighting it as an obstacle to a cease-fire.

The Saudis are also using an overlooked diplomatic tool: silence. Their outright refusal of any political discussion before a cease-fire is also generating pressure by disallowing Israel a clear political horizon after the campaign. As the Saudi foreign minister said last month: “What future is there to talk about when Gaza is being destroyed.”

The Saudi ruling elites have another reason to avoid any discussion about the “day after.” They believe entertaining this idea won’t help achieve a permanent cease-fire and could be seen as being complicit in giving the current Israeli campaign a tacit legitimacy that is missing. Riyadh has been there before.

In 2006, when the Hezbollah-Israel war erupted, the then-Saudi ruling elites had a pragmatic position that balanced criticism of both Israel and Hezbollah. Saudi Arabia stated at the time that while it supported pan Arab causes, a “distinction must be made between legitimate resistance and uncalculated adventures undertaken by elements inside [Lebanon] and those behind them.”

Given the measured response, and the general expectation of an outright condemnation of Israel, this dual criticism was interpreted as tacit sign of tolerance of Israel’s behavior. This is something that Riyadh wants to avoid today. It does not want to allow itself to be politicized for Israeli political ends. In other words, the Saudi ruling elites want to avoid being “spun.”

Netanyahu is often dubbed the “master of spin.” The Saudis know that if they initiate any political discussion about the day after, or even hypothesizing about future scenarios, this will certainly lend itself to Netanyahu’s spinning tendencies. One can see how Netanyahu spun medical assistance to Gaza by the United Arab Emirates as if the Emirati support had been based on Netanyahu’s request, and not a response to the dire medical crises ensuing there. Saudi Arabia has a good sense of how its actions and statements can be spun in a way that suggests the Saudis and Israelis are on the same page regarding the day after for Gaza, which is far from the reality.

Where Riyadh has real leverage is when it comes to financing. Israel will never match the financial capacity of Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Its economy is struggling, and according to a recent report by the Bank of Israel, it is losing $600 million a week during this campaign. The Israeli central bank has also suggested that the war costs from 2023 to 2025 will amount to some $53 billion.

This is precisely what gives Saudis, GCC states and Arab states leverage, as any reconstruction efforts can be used to nudge Israel toward a genuine peace process. Otherwise, it will only be a matter of time until the region finds itself in the same situation again—if not worse.

The Saudis have never been averse to financial support to the Palestinians. They have provided a great deal of that over the decades, and it does not look as if such support will subside soon. What the Saudis are averse to is rebuilding a decimated Gaza for the sake of Israeli security—especially given that Israel was the party that carried out the destruction.

There is currently wishful thinking in Israel and Washington that Saudi Arabia and other GCC states will pay the bill for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. According to a leak to the Israeli press, Netanyahu reportedly told a parliament committee on Dec. 11 that “the first step in Gaza will be to defeat Hamas. After that, I believe that the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia will support the rehabilitation of the Strip.”

To assume that Saudi Arabia and GCC states would readily agree to pay for the reconstruction of an inherited catastrophe, and then take responsibly for its security, reveals the naïve illusions entertained by many in Israel and the West. Western and Israeli discourses often depict the GCC states as irrational actors that spend first and think later—as if the GCC states’ only function in the world system is to throw money at other states’ problems. This is far from the reality. Nowadays, nothing in Saudi Arabia is spent unless it is deemed to be serving the kingdom’s interest; “Saudi Arabia first” is the principle that Saudi’s foreign policy is based on.

One of the difficulties of raising Saudi funds for reconstruction efforts is that Saudi Arabia itself is undergoing its own rebuilding process. Currently, the country has set itself a mammoth task of restructuring the state, building mega projects that are crucial to its Vision 2030 initiative, in the hope of eventually diversifying the Saudi economy away from oil to ensure the survivability of the state for generations to come. The Saudis do have the money, but it is for investing in Saudi Arabia’s future. Yet, this does not mean the Saudi ruling elites are not willing to invest in a future Palestinian state and contribute significantly to the rebuilding of its infrastructure.

The incentives for Saudi Arabia and other Arab states to contribute toward a reconstruction of Gaza can be increased if done right, within the right framework, with the right horizon, and with the right goals. Chief among these common goals is regional security, as this war has shown that the Palestinian issue is something that cannot be swept under the rug any longer.

This war also demonstrated the spillover risk—from the Lebanon-Israel border to Houthi attacks on international ships in the Red Sea off Yemen’s coast—it has the potential to destabilize the entire region. This regional risk can serve as leverage for the Saudis vis-à-vis Israel and as an incentive to pursue lasting peace.

“Regional prosperity” is a term commonly used by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It is precisely this angle that one can see Saudi investment in the restructuring of Gaza but only as part of a political process with clear political horizons that seeks to resolve the core issues of this conflict. Saudi Arabia already has leverage over Israel by not offering normalization, but Riyadh leading a reconstruction effort only amplifies Saudi political leverage over Israel, as without functioning infrastructure in Gaza, security concerns for Israel will only increase.

Given the nature and complexity of this conflict, there is no single leader who can take charge but rather a few leaders who can influence the situation by using their respective leverage in a harmonized, coordinated process. To assume that Riyadh will take charge, notwithstanding the kingdom’s recent muscular foreign policy, is not likely.

The truth is that Saudi Arabia has always had a leading role in this conflict, but it preferred a leading-from-behind approach. This approach allowed it to use its diplomatic and symbolic weight without being on the political front line and potentially risking its strategic interests. The Saudi ruling elites came to the conclusion that they had mustered a great deal of political effort for a fruitless process and thus have never injected themselves into the intricacies of the Palestinian-Israeli final status negotiations.

The problem with the previous peace process is that it proved to be structurally doomed to fail, given the dramatic asymmetry in power between Palestinians, Israel, and its ardent defender in Washington. Before Riyadh steps up and shows greater assertiveness on this issue, the Saudi ruling elites need to see a clear political horizon and an improved structure to the peace process. At that point, they might use their considerable financial leverage to shape the outcome.

[salam2050]

Saudi Arabia Pledges More Than $1 Billion In New Climate Initiatives

Saudi Arabia Pledges More Than $1 Billion In New Climate Initiatives

Saudi Arabia aims to reach “net zero” emissions of greenhouse gases by 2060 (File) Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler pledged more than $1 billion for new global environmental initiatives on Monday, taking further steps to bolster the green credentials of the world’s top oil exporter. Two days after targeting carbon neutrality by 2060, and ahead of next week’s COP26 global climate change…

[thxnews]

Secretary Blinken Shares Insights at Gulf Cooperation Council Meeting in Saudi

  SECRETARY BLINKEN:  Well, thank you very, very much, and it’s really wonderful to be with all of our colleagues today.  And I thank each and every one of you for joining.�� Sayyid Badr, thank you for your leadership of the council.  It’s greatly appreciated. And let me also recognize the newly appointed GCC secretary general.  We will miss having Sayyid in Washington, but look forward to our partnership and friendship through the GCC. As President Biden affirmed when he was in Jeddah just a year ago, the United States is in this region to stay, and we remain deeply invested in partnering with all of you to build the brightest and strongest possible future for the Middle East. And indeed, the GCC is at the core of our vision for a Middle East that is more stable, more secure, more prosperous, more integrated. Together we are working to achieve a durable resolution to the conflict in Yemen and bring desperately needed relief to millions of Yemenis.  We continue to counter Iran’s destabilizing behavior, including its nuclear escalation and recent seizures of oil tankers in international waters. We’re combating terrorism throughout the Middle East and around the world, a topic that also brings us to Riyadh this week.  And we’re determined to find a political solution in Syria that maintains its unity and sovereignty, that meets the aspirations of its people, that complies with international law, that upholds the core principles of the UN Security Council Resolution 2254. We share a commitment to lowering Israeli-Palestinian tensions, maintaining a horizon of hope, and working toward a two-state solution.  And we’re also collaborating with countries in the region to widen and deepen the normalization of relations with Israel. Responding to the latest crisis in Sudan, we’re continuing to push to silence the guns, to press for humanitarian access, to help the Sudanese people realize their demands for a transition to democracy. But I think one point of emphasis for us is that our engagement with you, with our partners, our engagement in the Gulf, is not solely defined by the challenges that we’re facing, as acute as they may be. Together, the United States and the GCC are pursuing an affirmative agenda for the region and beyond – infrastructure development, climate mitigation, health security, food security.  In these and other areas we’re advancing shared priorities that have the potential to diversify economies, to build greater resilience, and ultimately deliver practical results for our people. If you just look at the green tech revolution which our countries are accelerating through research and investment in clean energy, smart grids, critical minerals, desalinization. COP 28 – which, of course, the UAE will host this November – is an opportunity to showcase the Middle East’s significant advances and ambitious plans to transition to clean energy and investments in climate-smart agriculture that will both help tackle the climate crisis but also strengthen food security, which is an acute need around the world. As we transition to this greener future, it’s important that we build out existing energy infrastructure as well, and we applaud the remarkable strides that you’ve made linking GCC power grids to Iraq, as one example. We’re also continuing to deepen our science and technology cooperation beyond the energy sector, including through joint research initiatives, university-commercial partnerships, and cutting-edge collaboration in areas like data sharing, biotech, and outer space. And I simply want to thank you all on behalf of President Biden, on behalf of the United States, for your partnership, and very much look forward to discussing what more we can do in the spirit of the GCC’s charter to further coordination, to further cooperation, to further integration across the Gulf.   Sources: THX News & US Department of State. Read the full article

[orbemnews]

The 12 months the Fed Modified Endlessly WASHINGTON — As Jerome H. Powell, the Federal Reserve chair, rang in 2020 in Florida, the place he was celebrating his son’s wedding ceremony, his work life gave the impression to be getting into a interval of relative calm. President Trump’s public assaults on the central financial institution had eased up after 18 months of regular criticism, and the commerce struggle with China gave the impression to be cooling, brightening the outlook for markets and the economic system. But the earliest indicators of a brand new — and much more harmful — disaster had been surfacing some 8,000 miles away. The novel coronavirus had been detected in Wuhan, China. Mr. Powell and his colleagues had been about to face a few of the most attempting months in Fed historical past. By mid-March, as markets had been crashing, the Fed had minimize rates of interest to close zero to guard the economic system. By March 23, to avert a full-blown monetary disaster, the Fed had rolled out almost its total 2008 menu of emergency mortgage applications, whereas teaming up with the Treasury Division to announce applications that had by no means been tried — together with plans to help lending to small and medium-size companies and purchase company debt. In early April, it tacked on a plan to get credit score flowing to states. “We crossed a number of purple traces that had not been crossed earlier than,” Mr. Powell stated at an occasion in Could. The Fed’s job in regular occasions is to assist the economic system function at an excellent keel — to maintain costs secure and jobs plentiful. Its sweeping pandemic response pushed its powers into new territory. The central financial institution restored calm to markets and helped maintain credit score obtainable to customers and companies. It additionally led Republicans to attempt to restrict the huge device set of the politically impartial and unelected establishment. The Fed’s emergency mortgage applications turned a sticking level within the negotiations over the authorities spending package deal Congress accepted this week. However even amid the backlash, the Fed’s work in salvaging a pandemic-stricken economic system stays unfinished, with thousands and thousands of individuals out of jobs and companies struggling. The Fed is prone to maintain charges at all-time low for years, guided by a brand new method to setting financial coverage adopted this summer time that goals for barely increased inflation and assessments how low unemployment can fall. And the Fed’s extraordinary actions in 2020 weren’t aimed solely at maintaining credit score flowing. Mr. Powell and different high Fed officers pushed for extra authorities spending to assist companies and households, an uncharacteristically daring stance for an establishment that tries mightily to keep away from politics. Because the Fed took a extra expansive view of its mission, it weighed in on local weather change, racial fairness and different points its leaders had usually averted. “We’ve typically relegated racial fairness, inequality, local weather change to easily social points,” Mary C. Daly, president of the Federal Reserve Financial institution of San Francisco, stated in an interview. “That’s a mistake. They’re financial points.” In Washington, reactions to the Fed’s greater function have been swift and divided. Democrats need the Fed to do extra, portraying the eye to climate-related monetary dangers as a welcome step however only a starting. They’ve additionally pushed the Fed to make use of its emergency lending powers to funnel low cost credit score to state and native governments and small companies. Republicans have labored to limit the Fed to make sure that the function it has performed on this pandemic doesn’t outlast the disaster. Patrick J. Toomey, a Republican senator from Pennsylvania, spearheaded the trouble to insert language into the aid package deal that might have pressured future Fed emergency lending applications to stay to soothing Wall Avenue as a substitute of attempting to additionally instantly help Primary Avenue, because the Fed has completed within the present downturn. Republicans fear that the Fed might use its energy to help partisan targets — by invoking its regulatory energy over banks, as an illustration, to deal with oil and gasoline corporations as monetary dangers, or by propping up financially troubled municipal governments. “Fiscal and social coverage is the rightful realm of the people who find themselves accountable to the American individuals, and that’s us, that’s Congress,” Mr. Toomey, who might be the following banking committee chairman and thus certainly one of Mr. Powell’s most necessary overseers, stated final week from the Senate ground. Mr. Toomey’s proposal was watered down throughout congressional negotiations, clearing the way in which for a broader aid deal: Congress barred the central financial institution from re-establishing the precise amenities utilized in 2020, however it didn’t minimize off its energy to assist states and corporations sooner or later. Up to date  Dec. 27, 2020, 3:56 p.m. ET Democrats stated the brand new language was restricted sufficient that the Fed might nonetheless purchase municipal bonds or make enterprise loans through emergency powers; Mr. Toomey informed The New York Occasions that doing so would require congressional approval. The divide advised that the scope of the Fed’s powers might stay a degree of debate. As Mr. Powell, 67, faces stress from all sides in 2021, he might discover himself auditioning for his personal job. His time period expires in early 2022, which signifies that President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. will select whether or not to renominate him. Mr. Powell, a Republican who was made a Fed governor by President Barack Obama and elevated to his present place by Mr. Trump, has but to say publicly whether or not he desires to be reappointed. His probabilities might be affected by the Fed’s coronavirus disaster response, which has been credited as early and swift. Mr. Powell was at Group of 20 conferences in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in late February when it started to grow to be clear to him that the coronavirus was unlikely to stay regionally remoted. He checked in along with his colleagues in Washington to see what emergency powers the central financial institution and Treasury Division had at their disposal. By the point his 14-hour-flight landed at Dulles Worldwide Airport on Monday, Feb. 24, shares had been plummeting. He opened his telephone to quite a few missed calls and emails. From that time, the central financial institution’s response kicked into gear. That Friday, the twenty eighth — the identical day Mr. Trump referred to as worries in regards to the coronavirus a “new hoax” unfold by Democrats — Mr. Powell issued a press release conveying the Fed’s concern. On March 3, the following Tuesday, the Fed made its first emergency charge minimize for the reason that international monetary disaster 12 years earlier, the primary of many steps the Fed would take to avert a catastrophic market meltdown. Some analysts warned that the Fed’s rush to accommodate the economic system with decrease rates of interest could be poorly focused. What might rates of interest do within the face of a pandemic? Quite a bit, it seems in hindsight. The Fed’s charge cuts set the stage for a refinancing increase and, extra not too long ago, a rush to purchase homes. The choice of Penny Achina, a first-time residence purchaser simply outdoors Houston, exhibits how Fed coverage can cascade by the economic system. After enthusiastic about shopping for a home for 4 years, Ms. Achina, a 31-year-old medical technologist, took the leap in 2020. “I stated — it’s both you sink otherwise you swim, and the rates of interest actually enticed me,” she stated, and he or she is ready to shut subsequent week. With 3 p.c down, she was accepted for a 2.5 p.c rate of interest on a 30-year mortgage. When individuals like Ms. Achina purchase homes, they typically then spend cash on new couches and fridges to fill them. Larger shopper demand prompts companies, additionally attracted by low charges, to borrow cash to spend money on tools to supply extra. The central financial institution’s rescue might but have unwanted effects. Whereas most economists imagine that runaway inflation is unlikely, a minority warn that value will increase, which have been quiescent for years, might be kindled by enormous authorities spending and a post-pandemic financial surge. Policymakers have been looking forward to indicators of monetary extra as their instruments have helped shares soar and corporations to subject debt at a surprising tempo. Jobs stay the Fed’s largest problem. Whereas low charges are serving to many employed individuals like Ms. Achina, thousands and thousands of others are out of labor. Decrease-wage employees, ladies and minorities have been notably prone to lose their livelihoods. The Fed’s low charges and bond purchases could do little to instantly assist individuals who hire, personal few shares and discover their jobs eradicated. Many economists say the $900 billion help package deal handed on Monday will should be adopted by extra. A few of its key provisions, corresponding to prolonged jobless advantages, will expire earlier than spring. “We have now a troublesome interval to get by,” Loretta Mester, president of the Federal Reserve Financial institution of Cleveland, stated Friday, stating that companies and households will want assist in the following few months as coronavirus instances swell earlier than vaccines are broadly distributed. Even after the restoration takes maintain, the Fed is prone to be gradual to carry rates of interest — and that’s when these left behind within the pandemic could really feel the extra widespread advantages of its insurance policies. If its insurance policies work, the Fed might pave the way in which for the type of secure, inclusive progress that was taking maintain initially of 2020. Mr. Powell has repeatedly referred to as job losses “heartbreaking” and has pledged to make use of the Fed’s powers to attempt to restore the job market to its former energy. “We’re considering that this might be one other lengthy growth,” he stated at a information convention in mid-December, as he vowed to spice up the economic system “till the growth is properly down the tracks.” Supply hyperlink #changed #Fed #Year