By Arab NewsBy Alex WhitemanMaturation of Gulf states’ economies presents further opportunities to deepen the relationship between the region and the UK, the new Lord Mayor of the City of London told Arab News before departing for COP28 in the UAE. “When it comes to that investment it’s enormously welcome, but what I think is great is it shows how Saudi and other Gulf states have really matured their economies,” Mainelli said. “And then, interestingly, the Lord Mayor will typically spend two weeks of travel around the Gulf each year. “I believe there’s a lot more work to be done when it comes to carbon markets … but we do need to get these to work,” he added. It is “fairly evident” that the Gulf is determined to find workable solutions to address the climate crisis, he added.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A new case of cattle anthrax has been confirmed in southwest North Dakota’s Grant County, bringing the number of cases in the state to 25 this year, according to state agriculture officials. Those cases have led to about 170 cattle deaths, North Dakota State Veterinarian Dr. Ethan Andress told The Bismarck Tribune. The year’s North Dakota outbreak is the worst since 2005. Most people associate anthrax with the weaponized version used in 2001 attacks, when five people died and 17 others were sickened from letters containing anthrax spores sent through the mail. ___This story has been corrected to note that this year’s outbreak is the worst since 2005 in North Dakota, not South Dakota.

ConocoPhillips celebrates start-up of new natural gas field offshore Norway(WO) – On Friday, Dec. 1, the Norwegian Minister of Petroleum and Energy Terje Aasland visited the Ekofisk Complex with partner companies, contractors and authorities, celebrating the start-up of the Tommeliten A natural gas and condensate field in the North Sea. Representatives from partner companies, contractors, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, as well as local authorities took part in the celebration. The Tommeliten A field started production on Oct.13, delivering natural gas to Europe nearly six months earlier than scheduled. The total resource potential is estimated in the range of 120-180 MMboe, mainly comprising of natural gas (approx. The field is a U.K.-Norway trans-boundary field as it extends from Norwegian Block 1/9 into U.K. Block 30/20.

Beijing No 35 High School students Tang Yingxi, 17, and Jiang Huanlin, 18, along with their teacher Peng Minjie, bagged the Global High School awards in the East Asia and Pacific categories for their vacuum glass solar PV panels. They can also be applied to electric cars for emergency electricity generation, according to a video released by the Zayed Sustainability Prize. Peng said the award couldn't have come at a better time as their school is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year. Tang Yingxi (center), the brains behind the solar PV panels, is joined by his team mate Jiang Huanlin and teacher Peng Minjie after the Zayed Sustainability Prize awards ceremony in Dubai, UAE, on Dec 1, 2023. It' the importance of designing those new materials, especially for such energy and new combined materials, for the school.

The U.S. State Department has praised Morocco’s comprehensive counterterrorism strategy, which includes vigilant security measures, regional and international cooperation, and counter radicalization policies. In its latest annual report released Nov.30 on terrorism in the world, the State department said the United States and Morocco have a long history of strong counterterrorism (CT) cooperation, hailing the Kingdom’s CT which continued in 2022 to mitigate the risk of terrorism. The State Department report also cites Morocco’s engagement in countering the Financing of Terrorism. Morocco is a member of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force. Morocco’s imam training center in Rabat trains imams mostly from West Africa, said the State Department report.

The global burden of diabetes significantly increased between 1990 and 2019 among older adults, according to study findings published in Wiley. As the world’s population shifts toward older age groups, especially in Asia, Europe, and the United States, the prevalence of diabetes has grown among adults older than 70 years of age. Outcomes were the prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) of diabetes between 1990 and 2019 among individuals aged 70 years or older. However, the researchers noted a higher prevalence rate among men aged older than 90 years compared with women of the same age. Between 1990 and 2019, diabetes prevalence rates increased more among men compared with women across all age groups.

About: Energy, appoints Thierry Bolloré to its Board, where he will steer the company’s automotive and partnership strategy. The company focuses on innovative battery development using high-quality data to expedite strategic decision-making throughout the supply chain. Its software platform, ‘The Voltt,’ empowers customers to enhance in-house battery development programs, reducing costs and integrating seamlessly with existing modeling software, thereby reducing time to market. Thierry Bolloré, as a Board Director, sees the industry at a crucial point in its electrification transition, highlighting the pivotal role of battery modeling and development. Thierry believes About:Energy is well-positioned to lead the industry’s growth as battery demand rises, expressing delight in joining the Board at this pivotal time.

Valdosta, GA (31601)TodayShowers and thunderstorms. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..TonightCloudy with periods of rain. Thunder possible. Chance of rain 80%.

There has been growth in Results-Based Financing (RBF) in West Africa specifically, with Nigeria seeing the bulk of investment. The Global Off-Grid Lighting Association (GOGLA) report – Unlocking Off-Grid Solar: How Results-Based Financing is driving energy access and powering productivity – says that RBF can deliver supply-side subsidies. “Although overall there is a prevalence of schemes in East African countries, there has been a progressive growth of RBFs in West Africa since 2020-2021. “Examining the total funding committed through RBF programmes shows that they have been predominantly concentrated in East and West Africa. In East Africa, funding is more evenly distributed among key markets such as Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia.

Israeli security forces fired teargas and rubber bullets to disperse Palestinians who gathered in the West Bank town of Beitunia to welcome prisoners released from Israeli jails early on Friday. Under a deal between Israel and Hamas, the prisoners were freed in exchange for hostages being kept in the Gaza Strip. Israel had said it would not allow celebrations to be held for released prisoners in the parts of the West Bank it controls

In this episode of Hold Your Fire!, Richard is joined by Crisis Group’s Iran Project Director Ali Vaez to talk about Iran’s position on the war in Gaza and its advantages and drawbacks for Tehran. They also assess how the war has affected Iran’s nuclear ambitions, with its nuclear program ever more advanced and a potential nuclear crisis looming. They talk about Iran’s relations with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states and the prospects that diplomacy in the region can reduce risks of a wider war, either related to Gaza or Iran’s nuclear program. Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. For more analysis on the risks of U.S.-Iran escalation, check out our Q&A Understanding the Risks of U.S.-Iran Escalation amid the Gaza Conflict, as well as our Iran and Israel/Palestine pages.

Kimsuky is a well-known advanced persistent threat (APT) group active since 2013 that works on behalf of the Kim Jong Un regime. "Recent actions, including the OFAC sanctions of today and increased global awareness of these cyber threats, are forcing North Korea to adapt its strategies," Barnhart explained via email. "While these measures have undoubtedly disrupted the regime's cyber activities, it is crucial to recognize that North Korea remains a formidable threat." "This highlights the need for heightened vigilance and a comprehensive approach to combating North Korea's cyber threats." "APT43 and DPRK-aligned cyber threats pose a significant and evolving challenge to the global community."

The MENA region's share of global LNG exports declined from 47% in 2013 to about 30% by 2020, as LNG exports from Australia and the US have grown. Qatar is the top LNG exporter in the MENA region, accounting for 70% of regional LNG exports in 2022. Algeria’s LNG exports have remained stable over the last 10 years, ranging from 1.3 billion ft3/d to 1.7 billion ft3/d. Most of the MENA region's LNG exports are shipped to South Asia and East Asia, which accounted for 65% (9.7 billion ft3/d) of the region’s LNG exports in 2022. In 2022, MENA’s exports to Europe averaged 4.5 billion ft3/d, 30% of the MENA region's total LNG exports.

Inspector General of Royal Armed Forces & Commander of the South Zone, Lt. General Mohamed Berrid, received Thursday in Rabat Jean Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations. No details were disclosed on the issues discussed during the meeting which comes after the talks held Wednesday by the UN official with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. Speaking to journalists following his talks with Moroccan top diplomat, Mr. Lacroix thanked the Kingdom for its long-standing commitment and contributions of Royal Armed forces to UN peacekeeping operations. “We look to the future with Morocco,” he said, highlighting the challenges facing the UN in its peacekeeping operations. Morocco is among the top ten countries in the world that contribute to UN peacekeeping operations.

Older genres classed in the World Music category and headlined by Angélique Kidjo continue to inspire newer genres, Afrobeats and Amapiano. Sign up Also receive offers from The Africa Report Also receive offers from The Africa Report's partnersA Wikipedia entry is often reserved for big tunes like ‘Mnike’. Sign up Also receive offers from The Africa Report Also receive offers from The Africa Report's partners4. Asake featuring Olamide, ‘Amapiano’ (Nigeria)Asake’s Fuji twist on ‘Amapiano’ often takes surprising turns, including a dated Apala word, Dunya. The Amapiano dance party is about slick choreography and that choral response, in this instance, the repetitive ‘Kilimanjaro’, which is either a mountain or some kind of reveller’s summit.