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Bloomberg Germany brushed aside US concerns about a major natural gas pipeline that will deliver Russian gas to Europe, suggesting President Donald Trump’s administration appears to be protecting its own interests. German Economy Minister Peter Altmaier defended the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline as Chancellor Angela Merkel meets President Vladimir Putin in Russia. The US warned it may impose sanctions …

Bloomberg Macquarie Capital is seeking to pare its stake in Taiwan’s first offshore wind farm, people with knowledge of the matter said. The Australian firm, which is an arm of Macquarie Group Ltd., has been reaching out to potential buyers for part of its 50 percent holding in the Formosa I project in the sea off northwestern Taiwan, according to …

GENEVA / WAM The UAE participated in the 2nd edition of the AI for Good Global Summit, which was organised by ITU in Geneva, in partnership with other UN organisations. Addressing the three-day event, Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, spoke about the UAE’s role in leading the international drive for AI governance to serve …

Bloomberg Crude in London posted the longest stretch of weekly gains since 2011 in a market seen as being increasingly balanced as a result of OPEC’s produ-ction cuts. Both Brent and West Texas Intermediate crude slipped, paring weekly gains. Global prices have been supported this week by concerns over US sanctions against Iran, shrinking stockpiles and production shortfalls in Venezuela. …

Bloomberg Some of the world’s biggest fund managers are ratcheting up the pressure on oil and gas companies, expressing fear that a lack of action over tackling climate change could risk their investments. The comments come days before Big Oil kicks off annual shareholder meetings, where they are already facing calls from smaller investors to set clear targets on climate …

Bloomberg BP Plc and ConocoPhillips are in discussions for an asset swap deal that would see the UK energy major gain a greater foothold in a key project in the North Sea and the US explorer get Alaskan assets, according to people familiar with the talks. BP is considering taking Conoco’s 24 percent interest in the Clair field, in which …

Bloomberg Environmental groups opposed to US natural gas exports just found an unlikely ally: the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The government agency that regulates futures and options markets found that shipping gas overseas could raise costs for Americans. Domestic prices could rise as much as 20 percent due to the burgeoning industry that liquefies gas so it can be shipped …

ABU DHABI / WAM Hussein Al Nowais, Chairman of National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC), a subsidiary of the Senaat Abu Dhabi, announced the company achieved a profit of AED700 million in 2017, an increase of 57% that the previous year, despite impact of low oil prices. Its revenues increased 21% to AED5.7 billion, an indicator of comp- any’s topline performance. …

DUBAI / WAM UPS officially opened its new 32,000 square metre package sorting and delivery facility in the south east of England. At $163 million, the new London Hub is one of UPS’s largest single infrastructure investments outside of the United States in the company’s history. “Every single day, we see evidence of a more inter-connected world of commerce. And …

Bloomberg The International Energy Agency cut forecasts for global oil demand growth in 2018 as the highest prices in three years put a brake on consumption. “The recent jump in oil prices will take its toll,” said the Paris-based agency, which advises most major economies on energy policy. Crude has climbed 17 percent this year, trading near $78 a barrel …