2025-07-13 16:58

BEIJING, July 13 (Reuters) - The world needs China to show more leadership on climate action, EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said on Sunday, highlighting the importance of cutting planet-heating emissions and reducing the Chinese economy's reliance on coal. Hoekstra is in Beijing for high-level talks with Chinese officials on environmental and climate issues at which he also wants to encourage China to stop building new coal-fired power plants and phase out use of the fossil fuel. Sign up here. "We do encourage China to take more of a leadership role going forward and really hit the road with meaningful emission reductions in the next couple of years, and also move out of the domain of coal," Hoekstra told Reuters in an interview. The number of coal power plants in the pipeline has been increasing in China - the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter, according to the World Economic Forum. In the first three months this year, China's approved 11.29 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power plants exceeded the approval rate in the first half of 2024, a June report by environmental group Greenpeace showed. Last week, Hoekstra told the Financial Times the EU was holding off on signing a joint climate declaration with China unless Beijing pledges a greater commitment to reduce emissions. "We are open to looking into a potential declaration, but ... the thing that is most important about these types of statements is the content that goes into it," he said when asked about the issue, without specifying what commitment the EU hopes to see from China. Hoekstra said the EU is interested in seeking areas of cooperation with China ahead of the COP30 U.N. climate conference that will be held in Brazil in November. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/cop/eu-wants-see-china-taking-more-ambitious-climate-action-2025-07-13/

2025-07-13 15:25

July 13 (Reuters) - Several Saudi companies, including utilities heavyweight ACWA Power and a subsidiary of oil giant Aramco (2222.SE) , opens new tab, signed power purchase agreements on Sunday for clean energy projects with a capacity of 15 gigawatts and investments worth around $8.3 billion, the Saudi state news agency (SPA) said. ACWA Power signed seven agreements as the main developer, in partnership with the Water and Electricity Holding Co (Badeel), owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Aramco Power, a unit of Aramco, according to SPA. Sign up here. The projects include five photovoltaic solar plants in the cities of Aseer, Medina, Mecca and Riyadh, and two wind power projects in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is aiming to build up to 130 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2030, it said last year. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/saudi-firms-sign-83-billion-clean-energy-deals-2025-07-13/

2025-07-13 15:03

By Gus Trompiz and Ardee Napolitano PARIS, July 13 (Reuters) - French cheese and wine producers have warned of the damaging impact that U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened 30% tariffs on imports from the EU would have on the country's agriculture industry. Sign up here. A 30% duty would be "disastrous" for France's food industry, said Jean-François Loiseau, president of food lobby group ANIA, while Francois Xavier Huard, CEO of dairy association FNIL, said: "It's a real shock for milk and cheese producers - this is an important market for us". "It's a new environment we will have to get used to - I don't think this is temporary," Huard told Reuters on Sunday, referring to shifting rules and flaring trade tensions. He noted the industry may have to rethink its strategy relating to the markets in which it operates. France's dairy sector exports nearly half of its production, including to the United States, which imports mostly cheeses such as Brie but also fresh products like yogurt and butter. It risks losing annual sales worth tens of millions of euros, said Huard, noting the sector sells 350 million euros ($409 million) worth of dairy products to the U.S. annually. French food exporters are worried that additional import taxes could push up prices of their products beyond the reach of inflation-strapped shoppers in the United States. "Products like wine, especially, are consumed for pleasure -if you have less money to spend, you might forgo the purchase," said Yannick Fialip, head of association CNPA, which promotes French food exports. "We will be less competitive," Fialip added, noting a weaker dollar had already added pressure on exports to the U.S. The European Union said on Sunday it prefers a negotiated solution on trade with the United States, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying the bloc would extend its suspension of countermeasures to U.S. tariffs until early August. ($1 = 0.8555 euros) (This story has been corrected to rectify the estimated amount of losses in paragraph 6) https://www.reuters.com/business/french-wine-cheese-makers-say-us-tariffs-would-hit-hard-2025-07-13/

2025-07-13 13:11

July 13 (Reuters) - Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports on Sunday signed a $800 million agreement with UAE's DP World to bolster Syrian ports infrastructure and logistical services, Syrian state news agency SANA reported. The agreement follows on from a memorandum of understanding signed between the two sides in May. Sign up here. The deal with DP World, a subsidiary of United Arab Emirates investment company Dubai World, focuses on developing a multi-purpose terminal at Tartous on Syria's Mediterranean coast and cooperation in setting up industrial and free trade zones. The signing ceremony was attended by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order terminating a U.S. sanctions programme on Syria, paving the way for an end to the country's isolation from the international financial system and for the rebuilding of its economy shattered by the civil war. The removal of U.S. sanctions will also clear the way for greater engagement by humanitarian organisations working in Syria, easing foreign investment and trade as the country rebuilds. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/syria-signs-800-million-agreement-with-dp-world-bolster-ports-infrastructure-2025-07-13/

2025-07-13 01:44

SYDNEY, July 13 (Reuters) - Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in Shanghai on Saturday for a six-day visit to three Chinese cities where regional security tensions and economic ties are likely to dominate talks. Albanese's second visit to China, where he will meet President Xi Jinping, comes after Canberra stepped up screening of Chinese investment in critical minerals and as U.S. President Donald Trump rattles the global economy with sweeping import tariffs. Sign up here. Here is a timeline of relations between Australia and China over recent years: Nov 17, 2014 - Australia sealed a landmark free trade agreement with top trade partner China, concluding a decade of negotiations. It comes into effect in late 2015. Dec 5, 2017 - Australia, concerned about Chinese influence, announces a ban on foreign political donations to prevent external interference in its politics. Aug 23, 2018 - Australia bans Huawei Technologies from supplying equipment for its planned 5G broadband network, citing national security regulations. Apr 2020 - Australia seeks support for an international inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. China's then ambassador to Australia says that in response to the call, the Chinese public would boycott Australian wine, beef and tourism. Jun 9, 2020 - China urges students going overseas to think carefully before choosing Australia, citing racist incidents, threatening a $27.5 billion market for educating foreign students. Aug 2020 - Australian citizen Cheng Lei, a business anchor for Chinese state television in Beijing, is detained. Nov 27, 2020 - China announces temporary anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wine. Shipments of Australian live lobsters, timber and barley are also blocked or restricted around this time. China's embassy lists 14 grievances with Australia, including the blocking of 10 Chinese investments on national security grounds. May 22, 2022 - Australia's Labor Party, led by Albanese, wins the general election ending almost a decade of conservative rule. Nov 15, 2022 - Albanese meets Xi on the sidelines of the G20 in Indonesia. It is the first leaders' meeting since 2016. Jan 3, 2023 - China allows three government-backed utilities and its top steelmaker to resume coal imports from Australia. Aug 5, 2023 - China ends 80.5% tariffs on Australian barley. Oct 11, 2023 - China releases Australian journalist Cheng Lei after three years in a Beijing prison on national security charges. Oct 22, 2023 - China agrees to review dumping tariffs of 218% on Australian wine. Australia pauses WTO complaint. Nov 6-7, 2023 - Visiting Beijing, Albanese tells Xi and Premier Li Qiang that a strong relationship between the two countries was "beneficial into the future". Xi says stable bilateral ties served each other's interests and both countries should expand their cooperation. Jan 18, 2024 - Australia rejects comments by China's ambassador seeking to deflect blame from China's navy for the injury of Australian military divers in an incident near Japan in November. Feb 5, 2024 - A Beijing court hands Australian writer Yang Hengjun a suspended death sentence , opens new tab, five years after he was first detained in China and three years after a closed-door trial on espionage charges. Mar 29, 2024 - China lifts tariffs on Australian wine, triggering a surge in imports. Dec 3, 2024 - China lifts final restrictions on Australian beef. Dec 12, 2024 - Australia strikes rugby league funding deal with Papua New Guinea that is contingent on its Pacific Islands neighbour rejecting security or policing ties with China. Dec 26, 2024 - China resumes imports of Australian lobster. Feb 21, 2025 - Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong raises concerns with Chinese counterpart over inadequate notice given by the Chinese navy of a live-fire exercise in international waters between Australia and New Zealand that forced airlines to divert flights. May 3, 2025 - Albanese's Labor government is re-elected for a second term in national elections. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/australia-china-trade-flows-security-tensions-shape-ties-2025-07-13/

2025-07-12 17:05

CAPE TOWN, July 12 (Reuters) - Azule Energy, a partnership between BP (BP.L) , opens new tab and Eni (ENI.MI) , opens new tab in Angola, discovered gas in its first gas-specific exploration well off the country's shores, the national oil and gas agency ANGP said late on Friday. Found in block 1/14, the Gajajeira-01 well drilled in the lower Congo Basin encountered gas and condensate-bearing rock, with preliminary estimates suggesting gas volumes could exceed 1 trillion cubic feet and up to 100 million barrels of associated condensate. Sign up here. "This is a landmark moment for gas exploration in Angola," Adriano Mongini, CEO of Azule Energy said in a joint statement. "The Gajajeira-01 well is the first dedicated gas exploration well in the country and its success reinforces our confidence in the potential of the Lower Congo Basin." The block is operated by Azule Energy (35%) in association with Equinor (30%), Sonangol E&P (25%), and privately owned Angolan company Acrep S.A. (10%). https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/angola-discovers-offshore-gas-first-gas-specific-exploration-well-2025-07-12/