Experts say climate change increases the risk of extreme rainfall, seen here in India. EPA
Experts say climate change increases the risk of extreme rainfall, seen here in India. EPA
Experts say climate change increases the risk of extreme rainfall, seen here in India. EPA
Experts say climate change increases the risk of extreme rainfall, seen here in India. EPA

Cop26 leaders set challenge to fund disaster prevention in poor countries


Tim Stickings
  • English
  • Arabic

World leaders attending the Cop26 summit have been challenged to overhaul aid for developing countries, which experts say face increasingly extreme temperatures and worsening natural disasters.

Britain and Germany backed a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that recommended changes to debt and aid rules to reflect the higher risk of catastrophes.

Amid warnings that it is too late to stop some of the effects of climate change, structural reforms and an increase in technological and other support could be introduced by 2025 in a drive to make a billion people safer from disasters.

A report issued on Monday by the OECD said climate change would “make the future extremely unrecognisable”.

Extreme heat, considered rare in the past, is already becoming the norm in many parts of the world, it said.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the UK’s international trade secretary, appealed to donors and aid agencies in Glasgow to help prevent climate-related disasters such as floods.

She said donors should help to build early warning systems and enable humanitarian agencies to prepare for disasters.

“The risks of loss and damage are growing, and we don’t need further evidence of it. We’ve got plenty of it, sadly,” Ms Trevelyan said. “It is right in front of all of us, wherever we live on our wonderful planet.

“There is much further that we all need to go. As those impacts of climate change grow, it’s imperative that we step up early action.”

The OECD report said donor countries should rethink how to support countries that are not eligible for direct development aid.

Protecting people from the inevitable impacts of climate change is one of Britain’s four priorities for Cop26, along with cutting emissions, raising money and securing international consensus.

The UK wants to take forward a project established at Cop25 in 2019, which brings together experts to help vulnerable countries.

Known as the Santiago Network, it has provided support to countries including Chile, Indonesia, Jamaica and the Philippines.

“Success will require solidarity across and within nations,” said OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann.

“Developed countries need to scale up both financial and technical support to developing countries and make such support more accessible and predictable.”

  • British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. AP
    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. AP
  • Boris Johnson greets US President Joe Biden. AP
    Boris Johnson greets US President Joe Biden. AP
  • Journalists listen to a live transmission of the speech by Boris Johnson. AFP
    Journalists listen to a live transmission of the speech by Boris Johnson. AFP
  • Sir David Attenborough delivers a speech during the opening ceremony. Reuters
    Sir David Attenborough delivers a speech during the opening ceremony. Reuters
  • Prince Charles arrives for the summit. Getty Images
    Prince Charles arrives for the summit. Getty Images
  • A view of the opening ceremony in Glasgow. AP
    A view of the opening ceremony in Glasgow. AP
  • Boris Johnson speaks to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres as leaders arrive at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. AP
    Boris Johnson speaks to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres as leaders arrive at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow. AP
  • Boris Johnson greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of their bilateral meeting. Getty Images
    Boris Johnson greets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of their bilateral meeting. Getty Images
  • A member of staff adjusts flags before the arrival of leaders in Glasgow. Getty Images
    A member of staff adjusts flags before the arrival of leaders in Glasgow. Getty Images
  • Boris Johnson and Antonio Guterres in discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron. Reuters
    Boris Johnson and Antonio Guterres in discussion with French President Emmanuel Macron. Reuters
  • Environmental campaigners with 'big heads' of world leaders, including Joe Biden and Boris Johnson, dress in kilts and carry bagpipes as they gather in Royal Exchange Square, central Glasgow. PA
    Environmental campaigners with 'big heads' of world leaders, including Joe Biden and Boris Johnson, dress in kilts and carry bagpipes as they gather in Royal Exchange Square, central Glasgow. PA
  • Delegates queue as they arrive at the event. AP
    Delegates queue as they arrive at the event. AP
  • Boris Johnson waits to greet leaders as they arrive to attend. AFP
    Boris Johnson waits to greet leaders as they arrive to attend. AFP
  • A protester dressed as a dinosaur roars outside the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow. PA
    A protester dressed as a dinosaur roars outside the Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow. PA
  • Boris Johnson and Antonio Guterres hold a conversation with Narendra Modi. AP
    Boris Johnson and Antonio Guterres hold a conversation with Narendra Modi. AP
  • Red Rebellion activists participate in a protest at Glasgow Central Station. Reuters
    Red Rebellion activists participate in a protest at Glasgow Central Station. Reuters
  • Joe Biden attends the opening session of Cop26. AP Photo
    Joe Biden attends the opening session of Cop26. AP Photo
  • Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives at the Cop26 summit. PA
    Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives at the Cop26 summit. PA
  • Boris Johnson greets Antonio Guterres and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh. AP
    Boris Johnson greets Antonio Guterres and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh. AP
  • Emmanuel Macron speaks to reporters. Reuters
    Emmanuel Macron speaks to reporters. Reuters
  • Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (C) poses for a photograph as she meets climate activists Vanessa Nakate (R) and Greta Thunberg. AFP
    Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (C) poses for a photograph as she meets climate activists Vanessa Nakate (R) and Greta Thunberg. AFP
  • A man tries out virtual reality goggles at the SECC in Glasgow, the venue for Cop26. Getty Images
    A man tries out virtual reality goggles at the SECC in Glasgow, the venue for Cop26. Getty Images
  • Boris Johnson welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Getty Images
    Boris Johnson welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Getty Images
  • Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi arrives at Cop26. PA
    Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi arrives at Cop26. PA
  • Indonesian traditional dancers perform. Reuters
    Indonesian traditional dancers perform. Reuters

Funding shortfall

Disaster response is only one of the areas for which developing countries are asking for money from rich nations. They need additional funds to reduce emissions and transform their economies.

A promise by rich nations to organise $100 billion of annual climate funding by 2020 has been pushed back to 2023. Governments say fund-raising from the private sector has been disappointing.

Cop26 negotiators are expected to begin work on agreeing to a more ambitious target when the $100bn promise expires in 2025.

Many developing countries are particularly vulnerable to climate-related disasters such as floods and droughts.

Attributing specific weather events to climate change is an uncertain process, but the consensus is that disasters will be far more likely if global warming is not kept in check.

OECD experts said extreme high temperatures would especially affect tropical oceans and areas in the Middle East and North Africa.

Even in an unusually cool year in the future, hotter temperatures than have ever been experienced in the past will be recorded on some days, the OECD report said.

“Lives, livelihoods, even the social and economic stability of countries and regions are at risk,” it said.

“Future generations will carry the burden for inadequate climate action by current and past generations.”

Marathon results

Men:

 1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13 

2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50 

3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25 

4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46 

5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48  

Women:

1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30 

2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01 

3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30 

4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43 

5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01  

How to get exposure to gold

Although you can buy gold easily on the Dubai markets, the problem with buying physical bars, coins or jewellery is that you then have storage, security and insurance issues.

A far easier option is to invest in a low-cost exchange traded fund (ETF) that invests in the precious metal instead, for example, ETFS Physical Gold (PHAU) and iShares Physical Gold (SGLN) both track physical gold. The VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF invests directly in mining companies.

Alternatively, BlackRock Gold & General seeks to achieve long-term capital growth primarily through an actively managed portfolio of gold mining, commodity and precious-metal related shares. Its largest portfolio holdings include gold miners Newcrest Mining, Barrick Gold Corp, Agnico Eagle Mines and the NewMont Goldcorp.

Brave investors could take on the added risk of buying individual gold mining stocks, many of which have performed wonderfully well lately.

London-listed Centamin is up more than 70 per cent in just three months, although in a sign of its volatility, it is down 5 per cent on two years ago. Trans-Siberian Gold, listed on London's alternative investment market (AIM) for small stocks, has seen its share price almost quadruple from 34p to 124p over the same period, but do not assume this kind of runaway growth can continue for long

However, buying individual equities like these is highly risky, as their share prices can crash just as quickly, which isn't what what you want from a supposedly safe haven.

T20 World Cup Qualifier

Final: Netherlands beat PNG by seven wickets

Qualified teams

1. Netherlands
2. PNG
3. Ireland
4. Namibia
5. Scotland
6. Oman

T20 World Cup 2020, Australia

Group A: Sri Lanka, PNG, Ireland, Oman
Group B: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland

Results

2pm: Al Sahel Contracting Company – Maiden (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: AF Mutakafel, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

2.30pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: El Baareq, Antonio Fresu, Rashed Bouresly

3pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Alkaraama, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

4pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Lady Snazz, Saif Al Balushi, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Hive – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

5pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – (TB) Handicap Dh64,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

GAC GS8 Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm

Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh149,900

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

PROFILE BOX:

Company/date started: 2015

Founder/CEO: Rami Salman, Rishav Jalan, Ayush Chordia

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Technology, Sales, Voice, Artificial Intelligence

Size: (employees/revenue) 10/ 100,000 downloads

Stage: 1 ($800,000)

Investors: Eight first-round investors including, Beco Capital, 500 Startups, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Hala Fadel, Odin Financial Services, Dubai Angel Investors, Womena, Arzan VC

 

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

Naga
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EMeshal%20Al%20Jaser%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdwa%20Bader%2C%20Yazeed%20Almajyul%2C%20Khalid%20Bin%20Shaddad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Tomb%20Raider%20I%E2%80%93III%20Remastered
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Aspyr%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20Nintendo%20Switch%2C%20PlayStation%204%26amp%3B5%2C%20PC%20and%20Xbox%20series%20X%2FS%0D%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dr Graham's three goals

Short term

Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines


Intermediate term

Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations


Long term

A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness  

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Voy!%20Voy!%20Voy!
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Omar%20Hilal%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhammad%20Farrag%2C%20Bayoumi%20Fouad%2C%20Nelly%20Karim%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
List of officials:

Referees: Chris Broad, David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Andy Pycroft, Ranjan Madugalle and Richie Richardson.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Kumara Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Ian Gould, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Bruce Oxenford, Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Sundaram Ravi, Paul Reiffel, Rod Tucker, Michael Gough, Joel Wilson and Paul Wilson.

Various Artists 
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
​​​​​​​

CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Enterprise-grade%20security%20and%20privacy%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Unlimited%20higher-speed%20GPT-4%20access%20with%20no%20caps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Longer%20context%20windows%20for%20processing%20longer%20inputs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Advanced%20data%20analysis%20capabilities%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Customisation%20options%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Shareable%20chat%20templates%20that%20companies%20can%20use%20to%20collaborate%20and%20build%20common%20workflows%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Analytics%20dashboard%20for%20usage%20insights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Free%20credits%20to%20use%20OpenAI%20APIs%20to%20extend%20OpenAI%20into%20a%20fully-custom%20solution%20for%20enterprises%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners

Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta​​​​​​​
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)

UAE gold medallists:

Omar Al Suweidi (46kg), Khaled Al Shehhi (50kg), Khalifa Humaid Al Kaabi (60kg), Omar Al Fadhli (62kg), Mohammed Ali Al Suweidi (66kg), Omar Ahmed Al Hosani (73), all in the U18’s, and Khalid Eskandar Al Blooshi (56kg) in the U21s.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20PlanRadar%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2013%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECo-founders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EIbrahim%20Imam%2C%20Sander%20van%20de%20Rijdt%2C%20Constantin%20K%C3%B6ck%2C%20Clemens%20Hammerl%2C%20Domagoj%20Dolinsek%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVienna%2C%20Austria%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EConstruction%20and%20real%20estate%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E400%2B%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20B%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Headline%2C%20Berliner%20Volksbank%20Ventures%2C%20aws%20Gr%C3%BCnderfonds%2C%20Cavalry%20Ventures%2C%20Proptech1%2C%20Russmedia%2C%20GR%20Capital%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sugary teas and iced coffees

The tax authority is yet to release a list of the taxed products, but it appears likely that sugary iced teas and cold coffees will be hit.

For instance, the non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.

Cold coffee brands are likely to be hit too. Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.

The%20Crown%20season%205
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Test

Director: S Sashikanth

Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan

Star rating: 2/5

Updated: November 02, 2021, 7:21 AM