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Saudi Arabia Launches Int’l Center for Sustainable Travel, Tourism Research

Countries including the US, China, France, Spain and the Netherlands will be involved in the research, in what is viewed as a key step toward worldwide tourism sustainability (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Countries including the US, China, France, Spain and the Netherlands will be involved in the research, in what is viewed as a key step toward worldwide tourism sustainability (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Launches Int’l Center for Sustainable Travel, Tourism Research

Countries including the US, China, France, Spain and the Netherlands will be involved in the research, in what is viewed as a key step toward worldwide tourism sustainability (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Countries including the US, China, France, Spain and the Netherlands will be involved in the research, in what is viewed as a key step toward worldwide tourism sustainability (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC) has unveiled a new global research hub on the sidelines of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week in Riyadh.

This initiative, spearheaded by the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, aims to serve as a reference for applied research, best practices, and practical tools designed to expedite the travel and tourism sector's transition towards achieving zero carbon neutrality.

The establishment of this center is a response to the fact that the travel and tourism sector has been responsible for over 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions since 2019.

Without measures to curb these emissions, carbon emissions in the sector are expected to increase by 20% by 2030.

The center has stated its intention to address this issue by forming partnerships with 100 universities and international organizations from around the world by 2030.

These collaborations will focus on investing in practical tools and resources that will promote sustainability within the sector.

Notably, prestigious academic institutions in the US, China, France, Spain, and the Netherlands have already joined the research hub to realize this vision on the ground.

Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Saudi Arabia’s tourism minister, hailed the launch of the center.

“Our objective is clear. With the support of the Sustainable Tourism Global Center and the Ministry of Tourism, we aim for the (new) center to be an indispensable hub of solutions and tools, benefiting every stakeholder,” he said.

The Saudi Tourism Ministry’s special adviser, Gloria Guevara, highlighted the importance of trustworthy tourism data in empowering sustainability projects.

The research hub can serve as a “beacon of modern, trustworthy information” targeted to the particular needs of small and medium-sized businesses, tourists and local communities, she added.

As part of its launch, the research hub showcased a variety of sustainable solutions for the industry, including solar thermal water heaters and sustainable food options.

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Business

Oil Hovers Near Six-month High with Nuclear Talks and US Tariffs in Focus

Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
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Oil Hovers Near Six-month High with Nuclear Talks and US Tariffs in Focus

Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo

Oil prices steadied near a six-month high on Monday as the US and Iran prepared for a third round of nuclear talks while increased economic uncertainty was also in focus after the latest US tariff upheaval.

Brent crude futures were up 9 cents at $71.85 a barrel by 1308 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 15 cents to $66.63, Reuters reported.

Growing concern over potential military conflict between the US and Iran pushed Brent prices up more than 5% last week to their highest since July 2025 at $72.34.

"With the next, and possibly last, round of the Iranian nuclear talks not until Thursday, focus is on the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down import tariffs and the subsequent reaction from the government," said PVM Oil Associates analyst Tamas Varga.

The US Customs and Border Protection agency said it would halt collections of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act at 12:01 a.m. EST (0501 GMT) on Tuesday.

However, Trump said on Saturday that he would raise a temporary tariff from 10% to 15% on US imports from all countries, the maximum allowed under the law, after the US Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.

"This morning’s weakness is a defensive move, and needless to say, with the uncertainty surrounding a US military intervention in Iran, the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war and now the US Supreme Court’s decision, oil price direction is not (clear), but volatility is guaranteed," PVM's Varga said.

Iran has indicated it is prepared to make concessions on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions and recognition of its right to enrich uranium, a senior Iranian official told Reuters ahead of Thursday's third round of nuclear talks between the two nations.

While prices on paper had moved higher, softer prompt spreads and weaker physical differentials pointed to pricing being based on geopolitical concerns rather than an actual lack of oil in the market, Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note.

Business

Chevron, Iraq Agree to Exclusive Talks Over West Qurna 2 Oilfield 

A view of West Qurna oilfield is seen in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, March 29, 2014. (Reuters)
A view of West Qurna oilfield is seen in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, March 29, 2014. (Reuters)
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Chevron, Iraq Agree to Exclusive Talks Over West Qurna 2 Oilfield 

A view of West Qurna oilfield is seen in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, March 29, 2014. (Reuters)
A view of West Qurna oilfield is seen in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, March 29, 2014. (Reuters)

Chevron has entered into exclusive talks with Iraq over the giant West Qurna 2 oilfield, moving closer to acquiring the field from sanctioned Russian oil firm Lukoil.

The talks, which Chevron said will include the exchange of confidential data, could expand the US oil major's footprint in ‌Iraq after ‌the country decided to nationalize the West ‌Qurna 2 ⁠field and unwind ⁠Lukoil's interest in the project.

Iraq nationalized the field last month after the US imposed sanctions on Lukoil to put pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATION RIGHTS FOR ONE YEAR

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's office confirmed the signing of the deal between Chevron and the Basra Oil Company.

The agreement between ⁠BOC, Lukoil and Chevron allows for the temporary ‌transfer of the West Qurna ‌2 contract to BOC, which will subsequently assign it to Chevron after ‌terms of the new contract are agreed, al-Sudani's office said in ‌a statement.

Chevron will have exclusive negotiation rights for one year, al-Sudani's office said.

Iraq's government must approve the agreements, and certain steps are contingent upon other approvals including from the US Office of Foreign ‌Assets Control, Chevron said.

Competitive economic terms will be essential to upcoming negotiations, Chevron added.

'AMICABLE SETTLEMENT' WITH ⁠LUKOIL

The Iraqi ⁠cabinet approved last week an "amicable settlement" with Lukoil over the transfer of operations of the oilfield to BOC. Lukoil has until February 28 to sell its assets under the sanctions.

West Qurna, one of the world's largest oilfields, accounts for about 0.5% of global oil supply and nearly 10% of Iraq's output.

A deal for Chevron in West Qurna 2 would mark a further push into Iraq for the US oil major.

It has agreed to develop several fields in the country as part of an international expansion since completing a deal to acquire US oil producer Hess for $53 billion in 2025.

Business

EU Reportedly Set to Freeze US Trade Deal Approval Over Trump Tariff Risk

FILE PHOTO: Containers are loaded on freight trains at the railroad shunting yard in Maschen near Hamburg, Germany November 14, 2019. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Containers are loaded on freight trains at the railroad shunting yard in Maschen near Hamburg, Germany November 14, 2019. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo
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EU Reportedly Set to Freeze US Trade Deal Approval Over Trump Tariff Risk

FILE PHOTO: Containers are loaded on freight trains at the railroad shunting yard in Maschen near Hamburg, Germany November 14, 2019. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Containers are loaded on freight trains at the railroad shunting yard in Maschen near Hamburg, Germany November 14, 2019. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo

The European Union is poised to freeze the ratification process of its trade deal ‌with the ‌US and is ‌seeking ⁠more details from ⁠President Donald Trump’s administration on its new tariff program, Bloomberg News reported on Monday.

Zeljana ⁠Zovko, the lead ‌trade ‌negotiator in the ‌European People’s Party group ‌on the US deal, told Bloomberg in an interview that the ‌EU has "no other option" but to ⁠delay ⁠the approval process to seek to clarity on the situation.

The center-right EPP group is the largest political bloc in the European parliament.

Trump said Saturday that he wants a global tariff of 15%, up from the 10% he announced a day earlier.

American and EU officials sealed a trade deal last year that imposes a 15% import tax on 70% of European goods exported to the United States. The European Commission handles trade for the 27 EU member countries.

The value of EU-US trade in goods and services amounted to 1.7 trillion euros ($2 trillion) in 2024, or an average of 4.6 billion euros a day, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat.