Donald Trump has set a combative tone for his coming second presidency's policies by nominating veteran oil executive Chris Wright as US energy secretary.
During his election campaign, Mr Trump pledged to maximise America's crude oil production and continued to deny climate change.
Mr Wright, who has been chief executive of Colorado-based Liberty Energy since 2011, seems to fit the job description. He is a vocal supporter of oil and gas development and shares Mr Trump's disputed views on the global climate emergency.
The appointment of Mr Wright still needs to be confirmed by the US Senate, but that appears certain to happen as Mr Trump's Republicans have seized control of the chamber.
The oil executive joins several divisive personalities appointed to the Trump cabinet, the most notable of whom are Matt Gaetz as attorney general and Elon Musk as head of Doge – not the memecoin, but the newly created Department of Government Efficiency.
Career energy leader
Mr Wright graduated with engineering degrees from University of California, Berkeley and Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the 1980s.
His first major career endeavour came in 1992 when he founded Pinnacle Technology in San Francisco, which claims to have "created the hydraulic fracture mapping industry and its innovations [that] helped launch commercial shale gas production in the late 1990s". He was its chief executive until 2006.
In the middle of that stint, in 2000, he became chairman of Texas-based Stroud Energy, an "early shale gas pioneer", a position he would hold until 2006.
It was in 2010 that he joined Liberty as the executive chairman of Liberty Resources. He became chief executive of the group the following year and executive chairman of Liberty Midstream Solutions in 2016. He remains in all three positions to this day.
A 180-degree reversal
If confirmed, Mr Wright will take over from Jennifer Granholm, who has championed tapping renewable energy sources, including wind, solar and nuclear, and transitioning to electric vehicles, an industry the US has heavily supported with government subsidies.
As with his first administration, Mr Trump is lining his cabinet with people who often share his views on disputed issues.
As energy chief, he said, Mr Wright would "be a key leader, driving innovation, cutting red tape, and ushering in a new golden age of American prosperity and global peace".
Mr Trump praised Pinnacle's role in launching the "American shale revolution that fuelled American energy independence, and transformed the global energy markets and geopolitics".
The president-elect is seeking to further boost America's leadership in energy production. The US is the world's largest crude-producing nation, with annual output just under 14.84 billion barrels per day, about a fifth more than Saudi Arabia's, data from Worldometer shows.
This is expected to support US companies and government revenue, and ensure security for the world's biggest energy consumer.
'Impossible without carbon' view
Mr Wright is not afraid to share his contrarian views on climate change. In a video posted on his LinkedIn account, he stresses that climate crisis, energy transition, carbon pollution, clean energy and dirty energy are "five commonly used words around energy and climate that are both deceptive and destructive".
In the same video, his denial is front and centre: "There is no climate crisis and we're not in the midst of an energy transition either."
He also touts the benefits of carbon dioxide, claiming that "humans and all complex life on Earth is simply impossible without carbon dioxide", while lambasting the term "carbon pollution" as "outrageous".
Mr Wright's strong support for crude is also a personal matter: in an emotional podcast posted on Our American Stories in 2020, he said "if not for fossil fuels, I wouldn’t have celebrated my 14th birthday".
Mr Wright was referring to how the energy industry has contributed to the advancement of several key sectors, such as medicine; he was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes when he was around 13, and argues he would not have lived longer if not for those innovations spurred by energy.
Climate change legitimacy
Scientific information taken from natural sources, such as ice cores, rocks, and tree rings, and from modern equipment, all show the signs of a changing climate.
But in 2017, Mr Trump infamously pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement, which is the foremost global effort to tackle climate change. That was completely reversed in 2021 when President Joe Biden, who defeated Mr Trump in a bitter 2020 election race, rejoined the cause in his first day in office.
Now back in power, Mr Trump has hinted that he plans to, again, pull out of the accords. However, certain corners, including Russia and ExxonMobil chief executive Darren Woods have encouraged him to remain in the group, arguing that instead of going against it, it may be better to make the agreement more efficient.
International action remains too slow to achieve the Paris 2015 goal of limiting the average global temperature rise to not more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, despite the annual meetings between global leaders, owing to politics and other realities. This year is expected to be the hottest on record and would break the 1.5°C limit.
Much remains to be seen on how the second Trump administration will deal with climate change and energy. But one thing is certain: America is poised for another unpredictable four years, which may have significant effects long after that.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SERIE A FIXTURES
Friday (UAE kick-off times)
Sassuolo v Bologna (11.45pm)
Saturday
Brescia v Torino (6pm)
Inter Milan v Verona (9pm)
Napoli v Genoa (11.45pm)
Sunday
Cagliari v Verona (3.30pm)
Udinese v SPAL (6pm)
Sampdoria v Atalanta (6pm)
Lazio v Lecce (6pm)
Parma v Roma (9pm)
Juventus v Milan (11.45pm)
RESULTS
Main card
Bantamweight 56.4kg: Mehdi Eljamari (MAR) beat Abrorbek Madiminbekov (UZB), Split points decision
Super heavyweight 94 kg: Adnan Mohammad (IRN) beat Mohammed Ajaraam (MAR), Split points decision
Lightweight 60kg: Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Faridoon Alik Zai (AFG), RSC round 3
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Taha Marrouni (MAR) beat Mahmood Amin (EGY), Unanimous points decision
Light welterweight 64.5kg: Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) beat Nouredine Samir (UAE), Unanimous points decision
Light heavyweight 81.4kg: Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Haroun Baka (ALG), KO second round