Live updates: Follow the latest news on Cop28
After a late night of hard bargaining, the final text from Cop28 was unveiled to the world – and every country backed it.
It will not satisfy everyone – it never does. But it succeeds in reconciling many of the goals of the most urgent climate campaigners with the need for an affordable and orderly transition. Cop28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber hailed it as 'The UAE Consensus'.
After considerable international criticism of the decision to host the event in a major oil producer nation and the choice of president, the outcome shows the wisdom of reconciling contrasting interests rather than sticking to ideological positions or unsustainable vested interests.
The UAE’s broad network of diplomatic contacts and the Emirate's credibility as a superpower in traditional energy that has also moved boldly into low-carbon energy was essential.
The goal of limiting warming to no more than 1.5°C is reaffirmed. The aims of tripling renewable energy and doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvements are included. Following much debate over “phasing down” or “phasing out” fossil fuels, the text is the first in Cop history to acknowledge explicitly the role of fossil fuels.
It includes accelerating the “phase-down” of unabated coal power, that is, without carbon capture and storage. For fossil fuels in general, the agreed phrase is “transitioning away”. Some experts do note that it “calls on” parties to pursue these aims, a relatively weak term.
From the point of view of the oil and gas industry, the text has a clear role in carbon capture and storage and properly emphasises the need to cut methane emissions. The role of natural gas as a transition fuel is implicitly acknowledged.
Some of the other specific areas of Cop28 take into consideration health, food system, food security, and the acknowledgement of mountain ecosystems, a specific request from some attendees. The important role of artificial intelligence in climate solutions, highlighted at the event by the Columbia Centre on Global Energy Policy, is also highlighted.
After the success of the first day in agreeing to the “loss-and-damage” fund to compensate countries for unavoidable climate effects, the role of finance and the private sector was addressed, as was the failure of about 2021 developed countries to meet the target of $100 billion of annual climate finance. However, apart from several contributions made during the summit, there is no commitment for extra money.
Some countries, notably vulnerable island states, are worried that the decision does not go far enough, given the rapidly worsening situation. Discussions can only set a path, not compel members to walk down it. Ultimately, countries and businesses need to live up to their commitments.
There is plenty to hide behind in this text, for those not properly committed to tackling climate change. There is plenty to build on, for those who want to avoid climate disaster and seize the green economy opportunity.
This region needs to build on what it has achieved in these discussions. That means living up to the promised methane cuts, and the prompt, large-scale deployment of carbon capture and storage. If the oil and gas industry is serious about playing its part in the energy transition, there is no time for half-measures and excuses – now it has to deliver.
Robin M. Mills is chief executive of Qamar Energy and author of The Myth of the Oil Crisis
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Fireball
A plume of black smoke rose from a fuel storage facility in the village of Kalynivka outside Kyiv on Friday after Russia said it had destroyed the military site with Kalibr cruise missiles.
"On the evening of March 24, Kalibr high-precision sea-based cruise missiles attacked a fuel base in the village of Kalynivka near Kyiv," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
Ukraine confirmed the strike, saying the village some 40 kilometres south-west of Kyiv was targeted.
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
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Favourite vegetable: “I really like the taste of the beetroot, the potatoes and the eggplant we are producing.”
Holiday destination: “I like Paris very much, it’s a city very close to my heart.”
Book: “Das Kapital, by Karl Marx. I am not a communist, but there are a lot of lessons for the capitalist system, if you let it get out of control, and humanity.”
Musician: “I like very much Fairuz, the Lebanese singer, and the other is Umm Kulthum. Fairuz is for listening to in the morning, Umm Kulthum for the night.”
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Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
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Plastic tipping point
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
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Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
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- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
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Six large-scale objects on show
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- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
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- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
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Tomorrow 2021
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Top 10 most polluted cities
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- Delhi, India
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- Bagpat, India
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