Our daily expedition around the world

🇦🇪🇺🇳 The 28th UN Climate Conference (COP28) kicks off in Dubai today. Representatives from nearly 200 countries will convene for 12 days to discuss fast-tracking energy transition, slashing emissions, and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement to phase out fossil fuels by 2050. The UAE is expected to use the global spotlight to promote an increase in oil and gas production, saying it uses renewable energy to power part of its production and is also investing in carbon-capture technology.

💥 Israel-Hamas war update: Saudi Arabia’s government has reportedly approached Iran with an offer to boost cooperation and invest in its economy if Iran stops its regional proxies – including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen – from turning the Israel-Hamas war into a wider conflict. Hamas released a total of 16 hostages yesterday, including 10 Israeli citizens, in return for 30 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel. It marked the final exchange under the cease-fire agreed to by both sides, which was extended for one more day yesterday minutes before it was set to expire. One more thing: of the 180 prisoners released by Israel since last Friday, 128 of them were detained and hadn’t been charged, put on trial, or given an opportunity to defend themselves, per CNN.

🇬🇧 Uber will begin listing London’s famous black cabs in early 2024. Black cab drivers, who must memorize thousands of routes in London to become certified, can now sign up on Uber to take booked journeys, with the US-based company offering a no-commission deal for the first six months. A group representing the majority of London cab drivers dismissed the offer, saying they don’t want to align black cabs – the world’s number-one-ranked taxi – with Uber’s poor safety record.